TJ
iWMMff' P&i
THE FATAL STAll.
4 I'nnrtli of tliilr Story.
iT Is Fourth
in San Francisco.
The clear, bluo aky,
iir like .a mnmmotU
bowl cut from ono
, ? groat turquolB nnd
turynod over ho
town, la a back
ground for thou
sands of Hags float
ing from tho roofa
of public buildings
and windows of private patriots. All
tho dags are big. Everything is on u
largo scale in California, tho fruit that
Is exposed for sale, tho great roses that
enamored youths nro buying for their
adored ones. Tho children arc playing
in tho streets with mighty torpedoes,
that mako an explosion calculated to
deafen one. Large men, with nmplo
ladles on their arms, may bo seen In
ovory direction. Immense baBkots aro
being homo to the doors of tholr. cus
tomers by grocers, butchers and con
fectioners, lmmenso auppors aro to bo
given tonight, and many happy returns
of tho glorious Fourth will be drunk
In rivers of champagne. Everything
1b on a largo scalo but tho Chinese,
"whoso email figures and alert move
ments aro In marked contrast to tho
bulk and eize of everything elso on
which tho cyo falls.
Vet little Washy-Washy balances on
Ills head a clothos-baskot that would
servo him for a cradle, or in his kitchen
- for he le, v. favorite took whit Cali
fornia housowlves stirs a pot in which
lie might easily bo boiled himself.
In the arms of San Francisco sleeps
Chinatown, the curious offering of old
China, of which Americans think that
they know all that is to be known be
cause they can visit tho shops nnd go
Into all tho strango places, and, If thoy
aro In tho humor, mako themselves
elck with an opium-pipe among opium
emoklng Chinamen.
Lin Ham Is an ordinary dealer. Ho
beeps so shop. Ho executes orders for
tho favored few In each ho puts n
surprise an invention for the day. His
aro tho curious boats, all mado of col
ored fire, moving on tho water, appar
ently "by means of a stream of flro nt
tho stonj, manned by little men In bluo
and gOIQ and crlmsou, and all going
oft In -it wonderful flash and whiz nnd
cputter t jast. His aro those cylinders
which,.j-ising into the air, dlschargo
wondty'ful sprays and stars and Jewels
skyward, while at tho same time flery
aittle acrobats let themselves earth
ward by gojden ropes and only vanish
as they .touch tho ground. His was tho
fircat green dragon thnt colled and
darted- moonward, and wroto "July"
WBBP?
?c3&&
S
CLINKS UP AT THE FACE OF A
TALL MAN.
across the sky before it changed Into
tho'flag of our nation, which every ono
0 aarmred last Iudependoneo Day.
At present something that smells
very curiously is smoking and steam
ing in queer fashion, in what looks like
a little furnace, and Lin Ham, while
still busy with his hands, twists his
head about aud blinks up into tho fuce
of a tall man in a curious, theatrical
costume, who stands with hU bare arms
folded on his chest, and look down up
on him. Tho man wants Lin Ham to
Invent a fUi trick.
"Such thing are costly," he says. "1
do not say that I have anything of Uif
IP
JK1
c j?m
&.&.&
?SrMMiKt raft .aisS'JC
mmmar iVTST--" . -a
sort, but if I had, you would not buy
them, Mln Toko."
They nro speaking in Chinese, for
Miu Toko, though not a child of Chin
ese parents, has been brought up by
them. You can bollevo tho story that
his fathor was n Russian nnd his
mother a Tartar when you look at
him.
A little Chinese boatwoman took him
from his dying mother's arms and
nursed him with her own, somewhere
near those quarters whoro there are
English warehouses and tho barbarian
comes to traffic in tea aud porcelain,
and ho stnrTOd and played nnd swam
about with her own, and early In-his
boyhood came to San Francisco. There
he dwelt In Chinatown, and became re
nowned amongst tho showmen of San
Franciso for his acrobatic feats. To
night ho is engaged to assist In a pcr
formnnco on tho lawn before tho man
sion of Benson Dlashflcld, Esq. Mr.
Blashflold will havo flroworks and
n great riuppor, tho crowning fea
ture of which will bo tho feats of
Mln Toko, who, amongst otuor things,
iL'i WW &u.
"COME TO ME ALL YE BUTTER
FLIES."
throws a ropo into tho air, where It Is
caught by somo unseen power, sends a
kitten up Us length until it vanishes
from sight, sends a monkey to find it,
follows himself aud draws tho ropo up
after him, and ton minutes after Is
heard calling from tho inside of a
great lacquered box to be let out, and
there ho is, indeed, colled up llko a
great serpent. Oh, there is nothing
Mln Toko cannot do, arid no ono ovei
discovers how ho does anything.
Now he laughs.
"I know you havo what I want, or
can mako It in a twinkling, Lin Ham,'
he answers. "As for nionoy, 1 am rich
er than you think. Name your price
I have told you what I want to kill a
man without a knife or a blow or
poison to kill him so that It seems to
be done by the hand of Fate; so that no
ono can suspect me."
"Is he a Chinaman?" asks Lin Ham
"Ho is an American," said Mln Toko
"Ho has taken tho womin I love from
me. This rich man, to whose house 1
go to-night, has a daughter. I love her
You grin! Why not? I nm hand
some; I am no Chinaman; I am famous,
I nm a favorite -with tho ladles, and
Bho smiled on me. You grin again
Of course, the rich man would say no
I did not mean to ask the rich man.
If sho loved mo, that was enough. 1
could spirit her away where they would
nover And us. That la what I mean to
do." a
"You are mad!" says Lin Ham.
"No," says the acrobat. "Sho could
bo won. She can bo still, If I can kill
this man."
"Do you mean her father?" cries
Lin Ham.
"No. To-night they celebrate her
marrlago," said tho acrobat. "To-morrow
the bridegroom will take her away.
To-night I must kill him. She will be
a widow for awhile; afterward, mine,"
"It is tho dream of a madman," says
Lin Ham.
"Does it matter to you?" asks tho
acrobat. "I know that It was you who
mado tho toy tho rich tea merchant
gavo to his wifo when he louud she
waB false to him. The little bird that
perched on hor wrist and sang and bit
her fingers like a real bird, and of the
bito she died. I know It was you
who "
"No more reminiscences!" cries Lin
Ham. "I admit that I have another toy
that, with a slight addition, I could
mako in ten minutes wwuld wipe your
rival out of existence. But of what
avail would It bo? Rich American
ladles do not marry such as you. Her
relatives would kill you if you touched
her hand." '
"I havo kissed It thrice when wo
wero alone," says Mln Toko. "Yes, I
havo kissed her hands three times.
Tho next time It should havo been
hor mouth. Let mo kill this bride
groom so that sho cannot suspect me,
and it shall bo yet. Look!" Ho thrusts
his hand Into tho bosom of his tunic
and draws forth a pouch. "Seol" ho
whispers, piling bank notes before Lin
Ham. "How much for that toy?"
Tho eyes or tho old man glitter. Ho
gathers up tho heap In hU claw-llko
hands, and says, slowly: ,
"This sum makes me havo enough
with which to return to China and I've
thero happy for tho rest of my life.
After all, what does ono more dead bar
barian matter? But I will tell you
this: Unless you can make your rival
take tho toy in his own hands, it Is use
less." "I can mnnngo that," Mln Toko re
plies. Tho old Chinese goes to a littlo -ccess
in the room, before which hangs a
beaded screen, and comes back, nold
ing In his hand a curious kite.
"You fly it llko any other kite," ho ex
plains. "When at its full length, you
begin to call: 'Come down, butterfly!'
A butterfly descends the cord and flies
away. 'Follow rose!' you say. A robe
glides down the string and drop3 to
ashes. 'Come down, pretty mouse!' you
call next. Thfc inonso ettiii5 and
-una up your shoulder and Is none.
Thou you call for a bluo bird, Jor a
vhlto bird, for a red bird, for a yellow
Jlrd, a green bird. Thus It might end
.vlth the applause of the people. But
.ot mo work upon this kite ten minutes
longer and add one trifle more, and
then thero will bo something else to ace.
Then you mny call aloud: 'Como to me
aut of tho sky, bright star.' And far
lbovo you you may seo a star hlne,
aright as any in the heavens. At this
moment, ho whom you wish to kill
must hold the cord, for that star brings
Jeath As It touches the man's breast
life departs from him. Mark me well,
the other things that come down the
cord are Innocent as drops of dew.
Tho star is fatal."
"I understand," replies Mln Toko.
'Hasten with your work, Lin Ham."
A little later tho old Chinese puts in
to tho hands of the younger man a pa
per box covered with shining roses, but
terflies and birds, nnd says to him:
"Mln Toko, tho great performer, you
have bought ot mo a pretty kite, which
brings down from heaven the birds' of
the air, and tho flowers tho spirits
;jluck. For all I know, you may coax
the stars down Its cord also. It Is well
&
"I DIE FOR YOU."
made. If any accident happens, thnt
Is tho fault of others, not mine. I nm
not responsible."
"I absolve you from all responsibility,
Lin Ham," replies Mln Toko.
Ho throws about him n cloak that
covers his theatrical costume, and
carries the box downstairs, where u
carriage containing tho parapher
nalia used in his exhibition awaits
him, and is driven to Mr. Blashfleid's
residence Tluro they colobrato not
only tho glorious Fourth but a wed
ding. Early in the evonlng, the rich man's
duiighter, Rosabel Blashflold, had
been marrlod to Mr. Arthur Ware, the
son of anothor California magnate.
""
yw Iff
There linn been the usual rocoptlon, tho
usual display of gorgeous presents, a
flno band has been playing, professional
dancers have done their part; now they
aro ready for Mln Toko nnd his per
formances. The wholo lawn la flooded with elec
tric light, and, in mighty tents, all
decorated with roses, they aro sotting
forth n feast. Tho bride and bridegroom
sit upon a sort of throne that BccraB
mado of orango blossoms. TIcrB of
seats, occupied by peoplo In evening
dress, surround tho lawn, leaving an
irehwny through which the performers
enter. It is opposite the bridal-throne;
and, as Mln Toko passes through, bow
ing and smiling, his eyes meet those
of the bride, and he seems to give her
special greeting.
Standing In the midst of the circle,
ho begins to ga"ther, from heaven
knows whero. white roses, of which ho
makes a mighty ball, how, no ono can
guess. This he throws toward tho
throne. As it floats in the nlr It opens
and forth flies a little pink Cupid, who
fllng3 kisses abroad and flies skyward
and Is gone. Thunders ot npplauso fol
low this compliment to the bride, and
then the little boy-ln-waltlng on Mln
Toko brings in tho chairs, the tables,
the fans, tho wands, tho boxes, nnd the
show begins. It Is sufficient to say
that tho man seems to be able to over
come the laws of gravitation, to Etnnd
upon nothing, to fold himself up llko a
foot-rule, to put himself away in spaces
that seem impossible; and to do all this
gracefully, with beautiful accessories.
Tho bride's oyes nover leavo him.
Mln Toko did not boast falsely. Though
his position and residence in China
town seem to her to place him as far
beneath her as though sho wore an
empress and ho a serf, she has always
admired him intensely, and sho knows
that he is in lovo with her. Sho has
often wished that he wore of her raco
and kind. He has been mado a sort
of pet amongst (.he Callfornlans be
fore whom ho has performed, and he has
had opportunities to speak a few words
to her and. as he said, to kiss hor hand
thrice. To-night sho feols that sho
bids him adieu and to-night he fascin
ates her strangely.
When at last, as usual, he Inquires
If any two of tho audlenco will assist
him In somo closing performances,
sho whispers to her bridegroom:
"Come, Arthur, let ub go."
And tho young man replies.
"Awfully bad form; but if you wish
it, bf course."
It is a look that Mln Toko has given
hor that makes her do this thing, and
tho bridegroom hands hor down Into
tho center of tho lawn, and they thrco
stand together there.
"Will you be pleased to help mo fly
this kite, sir?" says Mln Toko to tho
bridegroom, as he flings into tho air the
thing wo know of. "See, this is how!"
The kito darts upward swiftly In a
moment. Its brilliant bn-ast is no
longer visible. Only a long copper
colored cord shimmers in the air from
Mln Toko's hand moonward.
"Come to me all yo butterflies!" ho
cries. "Come! Como!" And down tho
cord sweep a myriad butterflies and
cover tho performer's bosom and van
ish. "Little mouse!" ho cries. "Come,
little mouse!" and whistles exquisitely.
And the little pray ijiome Tc.eu dowc.
sits on his shoulder and is gone. "And
now, sir," Min Toko says, with a bow
to tho groom and a smllo to tho bride,
"If you llko you may call a bluo bird
and a white bird, a red bird, a yellow
bird, a green bird, and after that ono of
tho stars from heaven." And ho put3
tho cord Into tho bridegroom's hand,
who calls loudly:
"Here, you blue bird, como If you
can!" And thero Is a blue bird and
amidst shouts of merriment, and while
tho bride claps her littlo palms and
showers smiles about her, tho birds of
all colors como down.
The green bird has arrived and dis
appeared when suddenly tho brido puts
forth her hand playfully and snatches
tho cord from the bridegroom's hand.
"You shun't havo all the fun," sho
says, with a pretty pout. "I intend to
call the star down myself. Ah, how tho
cord pulls! No, you shan't touch It. 1
will do it alone. What do you say, Mln
Toko? 'Brightest star of heaven come
to me!' Li that right?"
She beams on him and lifts her sweet,
shrill voice and call3 aloud, and far up
in tho sky appears a great diamond
star, that shimmers and glows as it
conies earthward. And, with one wild
spring, Min Toko snatches tho cord
from the bride's hand, saying some
thing that sho only hears as ho does so,
and pushing her ilercoly from him so
that sho fulls Into her bridegroom's
arms.
Then tho star is upon Miu Toko's
breast and ho lies upon the ground, and
tho gaudy kite flutters down and lies
beside him; and those who gather about
him Bee that ho io dead, with the fear
ful burn of electricity upon his bosom.
Tho kito must have attracted it, they
say. Plainly, when he snatched it from
the bride's hand, ho saw that thero was
danger. Poor fellow! How brave! How
noble!
There are no moro festivities that
night, of course no feast, no fireworks.
All night the bride weepa bitterly,
and when, In tho morning; her bride
groom bears her away, sho is still
broken-hearted.
Tho words that Min Toko whispered
as he snatched the fatal cord from hor
nro still ringing in her ears. Sho will
ncvor repeat them to any one, but sho
can nover forgot thom. They wero:
"Adieu, my love! I die for you!"
Look Out for Your Hoy.
Giant firecrackers thiB year aro four
teen inches long, and contain powdor
enough to break a plate-glass window
whon exploded on the curb. Small boys
will not only have to look for tholr
fingors on the Fourth, but parents Will
have to look for their boys. Kansas
City Journal.
BLOOD CURDLING ISN'T IT.
Oath Uioil tiy I'eucefut OoJipntle When
They Aro Ileal Wicked.
Whon tho country about Port Jorvls,
N. Y., was excited about the Snyder
poisoning case tho othor day n long,
lean, lenthor-vlsnged chap wont Into
Goshon to buy somo things "at tho
store," sayB tho New York Hornld. The
clerk .was discussing tho tragedy with
another customer nnd gave a most ex
aggerated account of the case, winding
up with tho remark:
"And they say she looks like Mrs.
Halllday, who killed her husband over
to tho foot of tho Shawnngunk moun
tains." Tho lean chap was from "over Shaw
angunk way" himself, and he under
stood the comparison. He listened,
open-mouthed, nnd then, slnpplng his
off leg, he exclaimed suddenly:
"By ginger spruce!"
It may look very simple, but to hear
the expression In peaceful Goshen with
that lean chap's emphasis is enough
to glvo a man a turn. Upon Inquiry I
learned that tho oath, or whatever you
may choose to call It, Is n popular ono
in tho country about there, being the
proper thing to say under most cir
cumstances, if emphasized properly.
Thus by 'getting the pressure upon
the proper word or the propex syllable
of the proper word a man can express
joy, Borrow, amazement, anger, dis
dain, irony nnd so on.
It Is history in Goshen, for InBtnnce,
that when Case Salome was chosen
constable he pricked up his cars and
exclaimed, "By ginger spruce!" with
tho force on tho "ginger," and that
when Aleck McLeod's Mary accepted
Zed Tompkins ho cracked his heels
together and said the Bame thing, the
emphasis Increasing right up to
"spruco" and hanging on thero till
Zed lost his breath.
Perhaps I cannot illustrate better
tho popularity and force of this ex
pression than to relate that when a
stercoptlcon went to Goshen a short
time ago and gave a show "up In the
hall" each picture was greeted by a
united "By glngerspiucc!" from
every man, woman and child present,
tho showman having elicited an out
burst of delight and amazement un
equalled thoro since "Silly Bill" Askln
got somo money from an undo out west
and treated every one to an oyster
supper.
THE "INDEPENDENT THEATER.
Dototnl to tho Trim Interest of 11. o
Drama In Kiunla.
The organization of tho Free theater
was a notable event in our dramatic
life, says Novoye Vremya (St. Peters
burg). Early last year tho first at
empts wore made to produce literary
and artistic plays, and, although thero
was no regular company, tho degreo of
success attained was gratifying. Among
tho playp produced were "Henry IV."
and other Shakespearean dramas. Ger
hardt Hauptmann's "Hannele" fol
lowed and had to be given thirteen
times, the audience being large nnd en
thusiastic. Encouraged by this sign of
public favor, the managers leased a
theater, organized a regular company
and inaugurated a series of remarkablo
productions of Russian plays, now a.nd
old. Tolstoi's "Power of Darkness"
was given, and this alone was a great
service to art as well as literature. Tho
play was discussed widely and thor
oughly and created a sensation. The
Free theater also secured special per
mission of the local authorities to pro
duce a play by Potekhin. It is safe to
say that neither of these plays would
ever have been staged by private man
agers. A number of great foreign playa
followed by Ibsen, Sudermann, Mae
terlinck, Victor Hugo and others. In
all soventy-two performances were giv
en, and the average receipts were 802
rubles (said to be unusually large for
Russia). Considering the great finan
cial and artistic obstacles which tho
movers in this enterprise had to over
come, the record of the first year is
excellent. The public willingly patron
ized tho Free theater, and at all events
thero remains the fact that a new
private theater has been established
which subordinates all considerations
to tho true interests of literaturo and
the drama.
State lllvalry lit Kx-rSovernom.
The death of ex-Gov. Robinson of
Chicopco leaves Massachusetts with
only five ex-governors living. Con
necticut can do better than that. She
has seven to show In ex-Governors
Hawloy, Ingersoll, Andrews, Harrison,
Waller. Lunsbury and Bulkeloy, and
they will average up quite as well as
those of the Bay state In point of
ability and character also. Now Ha
ven (Conn.) Nowa.
CriMiie-tleOtpiithe.
He looked not upon tho wine whon it
was red,
But with an eye on crenie-de-mentho
was often seen;
And this because he'd always heard It
said
That abovo the red old Ireland puts
the green.
Philadelphia North American.
Never,
Cunliffe "Did Roarer ever realize
any of his political ambitions?" "No,
poor fellow; ho never got any higher
than the position of a favorite son."
Philadelphia North American.
Somewhere.
"Don't you know It is wrong to fish
horo on private grounds?" "Well, sir,
tho lino must bo drawn somowhere."
Yonkors Statesman.
An English profwtslonal crlcltoter's
yearly income 5b on tho average $750,
which is less than tho wages ol the
hotter claes of worknu-n
Trntm-Mlmlialppl Invention.
Omaha, Nebraska, Juno 27, 18MJ.
Amongst tho Trans-Mississippi invent
ors who received patents the past week,
Messrs. Sues it Co., United States Put
ent Solicitors, Bee Jluildinir. Omaha,
Nebruskn, report the following: Dan
iel Harmon, Davenport, Nebraska,
road prader and ditcher; Clnrenco II.
Judson, Council Bluffs, lowu, card
bhootcr; George Lamos, Fort Madison,
Iowa, gas engine; Ueorgo I). Foster,
Preston, Iowa, portable corn shock
press; John II. Nelson, Omaha, Ne
brnsku, drink mixer; Georgo R. Perk
ins, Schuyler, Nebraska, photographic
tank; Hans II. Sioh, .Millard, Nebras
ka, improved combination cart, and
Conrad Stroobol, Omaha Nebraska, ro
vcrslble plow.
Amongst tho curious inventions is
sued tho past week aro found tho fol
lowing: a. machine for weaving cross
wires in wire fences; an electrical en
ergy indicator; a fodder bundlcr; a
liutton hole sewing machine; an anti
train robbery apuratus; an improved
pencil ior arc-lamps; a mechanism for
converting continuous rotary motion
into alternates rotary motion; a pneu
matic flro alarm; a bicycle skirt com
prising attached bloomers; and a spring
actuated saddle post for bicycles.
A copy of any of tho abovo patents
will bo mailed upon receipt of 10 cts.
Tho lllavkwnter Stale.
Nebraska has been termed the Black
water State. Tho explanation of this
poetical nickname is found in the fact
that tho water of tho principal streams
is as dark as that of the rivers flowing
r-om the )ogs of Iroland. Tho soil ol
Nebraska is very rich and loamy, nnd
it is said there arc peat beds in the
state, the statement being apparently
confirmed by tho color of tho water,
which is caused by tho presence of or
ganic matter.
Au empty h"ad and a rattling tongue go
well together.
Ecooo"
my-Just think -every hottlc of Hood's Sarsa
p.iilll.i contains 100 doses. This Is truooulyof
Sarsaparilla
The One True Wood rurlfir. All drusfjlsts. 81.
Hood's Pills "nre lilllousncss, headache.
Diixbak
is tho namo
of tho
o
iC BIAS
.C i;e?i 7ctccw
SKIRT BINDING
&
m
uA A W.
8jT
that is rainproof and shed3 water. It
wears like th other S. II. & M.'s and
does not turn gray like tho cheap kinds.
Put it on your truvelingand sea-side gowns
If your dealer will not
supply you we will.
SampUs shotting labels anil materials mallttlfrte.
" Home Dressmaking Made Easy." a nev 72 paea
book by Miss Emma M. Hooper, of the Ladles1 .
Homo Journal, giving valuable points, mailed (ot
25c.
5. H. & M. Co., P. O. Box 699, N. Y. City.
f0
Y OF GOLD
And Description of Cripple Greek.
Every Page Illustrated.
Price 50 Cents.
2 IW Out out till nd anil wnil with iid'nti
9 (itanip ur ullverj and booW will bo mailed
19 postpaid.
5 ' O W. CRAWFORD,
V 1312 Masonic Temple, Chicago, III.
(
When xyu come in hot
and thirsty, HIRES Root
beer. Uado onlj br Ttif Chirle E tllrM Co., Philadelphia.
-c. p.ikac9 niakci 3 cMDa 314 tTcrjivnert.
Do you more good than
all the doctors in Christen
dom a month at Hot
Springs, South Dakota.
One of the healthiest
spots on earth an ideal
place to spend the summer.
Book about Hot Springs free if you write
to J Francis, Gen'l Passenger Agent Bur
lington Haute, Omaha, Neb.
WELL MA6HSNERY
Illustrated catalnmio Bhowlne WELL,
ATIGEIIS, KOOKDHlLl.liymiAUUO
AND JETTTNU MAUlllKiiKV, etc.
bEHT Fui. Havo been teetod and
all warranted.
Sioux City Kngtne and Iron Works,
buucobnont to l'rrh SIrir. Co.
Sioux 'li Innn,
TUCROVTXIX.VC'HtbK M CII11EKV Co
lilt Wt r.leventU Mrct Kan?lltl Mo
BUGGIES SJ.
lOOatjrles. Oood vuriety of
arcond hand OarrUKft ana
Wagona, Nobody ei. ou
imuMMONT'cAimiAGEca
ISlli and Harney SW, Omaha
f Successfully Prosecutes Claims.
Lata Principal liifim'.Dor U B Pension iiurenu.
3y iilwtwar laaJJudHnnngclnlma, atl) auiue.
flDIIIM Hub! tCured. Kt. In 1171. Thousands
1 1 1 1 1 1 m cured. C'beajiest and beat cure. Fbxk Trial.
ul '"III state cae. Pa. Minsii, Qulncy, Mlclu
UHDSEY OMAHA RUBBERS!
W. N. U OMAHA 27 1005
When writing to ndvertisors, kindly
mention this paper.
I tuau iinrnL nil tioc rnno, I
Beat Cough Byrup. Tate Good. Uco
iu umo. noia or aruxsisia.
tclwiraanflWEI
on u I B Ufa
snui uii
IV
iSUSfl li
1.
i
I