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AN IMPORTANT COIN.
THE CENT IS NOW MORE IN DEMAND
THAN EVER BEFORE.
The renny-ln.tho.81ot nnd the Itargnlii
Counter Ilespnnslblo fur It Incri-mrd
Ue Ono Automatic Mnctilno Coin puny
Take In Hnir a Million n Day.
Notwithstanding tho rumpus raised
by the disputing friends of gold and
silver, the most useful and hard-working
member of tho coin family Is of
neither of these materlnls. It con
sists of 95 per cent, of copper nnd G
per cent tin and zinc nnd bears on its
face the legend "one cent."
Two recent devices have been large
ly responsible for the Increased use of
our only copper coin. One Is the penny-ln-thc-slot
machine, which lias spread
over the land like tho locusts of Egypt
within the last two or three years.
A single automatic machine company
In New York City takes in half a mil
lion pennies a day. As there Isn't a
crossroad village In tho country that
hasn't a chewing-gum, klnetoscope,
music or weighing machine operated
In this way the number of coins re
quired to keep them all going is en
ormous. The other Invention respon
sible for the rise of the cent Is tho
"bargain counter." Tho craze for 49
cent and 99-cent bargains makes work
for a lot of pennies. Superintendent
Mllman of the New York Sub-Treasury
said the other day that It was no un
usual thing for one of the great depart
ment stores which make a specialty of
"bargains" to take $10,000 worth of
cents one million pieces at a time.
The penny newspapers and In some
places three-cent street-car fares have
also Increased tho field of operations
of the one-cent piece.
"Tho cent Is really the most interest
ing and least known of our coins," said
Mr. Mllman, "and there are some very
cuHoub facts about it. The Sub-Treasury
is the clearing-house for the pen
nies In circulation in the metropolitan
district, and the penny is for us a
barometer, a calendar and an accurate
Index of business conditions.
"Why, in the middle of July there
was a week or more of cold, rainy
weather and the supply of pennies
coming in for exchange into larger de
nominations fell off one-third. A
heavy storm or the sudden coming of
cold weather, anything that keeps tho
penny-spending part of our population
at home, Is accurately reflected in the
falling off in the supply of cents com
ing to us for exchange. All through
the summer the pennies accumulate on
our hands, but when cold weather
comes and the children get back to
school, and retail trade revives, there
Is a great demand for them.
"Come this way," said Mr. Mllman,
"If you want to see the way wo handle
pennies," and he led the way to the
minor coin division, where half a
dozen clerks were busily at work. In
one corner of the room was a stack
of canvas bngs reaching nearly to tho
celling and making a good-sized py
ramid. "Those aro all pennies." said
the director. "I suppose there are
some one hundred million pieces there,
and we have more below." In another
corner of the room was a stack of loose
coins piled high above tho heads of
the clerks, who were busily counting
them off into the canvas bags. The
pennies arc kept in bags of one thous
and each, and when they come in they
are all counted over.
There are several unique features
about the coinage of pennies, and the
work is managed in a somewhat dif
ferent fashion from the turning out of
gold and silver coins.
In the first place, although the
United States Government is tho only
authority entitled to indulge In the
manufacture of coins, our Uncle Sam
uel does not prepare the blanks from
which pennies aro made. He finds it
cheaper to let out the work by con
tract than to do it himself, and It Is
at present in the hands of a Cincinnati
firm. They prepare the copper blanks
In sheets large enough to turn out ono
hundred pieces each. It is not known
exactly how much the Government
pays for these blanks, but the price is
in the vicinity of $1.25 per ono thou
sand, or a trifle over one mill for each
unstamped cent.
When the copper sheets ready for
stamping reach the Philadelphia mint,
where all our minor coins are made
each one is tested to see that tho alloy
Is in the right proportion. Thence
they pass directly to the coining room.
Here the sheets are cut Into strips,
from which the round blanks, called
"planchets," are first punched, and
these are run directly through the
stamping machines, where they re
ceive tho Impressions from the dies.
Pennies are not counted by tho la
borious process of handling each piece,
but by a device known as the "count
ing board," by which five hundred are
counted at a time. Tho counting board
is an inclined plane, with columns the
exact width of a cent, separated by
copper partitions In height exactly
equal to the thickness of tho coin. The
cents are spread over this board and
fall Into the grooves prepared for
them, all surplus coins falling off Into
a trough. Then the counting board la
emptied Into the canvas bags, which
are carted away to be shipped to any
part of the country. Washington Star.
What WmiM llllnu- 1 1 rat.
Warwick That man Wilkins Is a ge
nius. He has the finest plan I ever
heard of for raising the temperature ol
Alaska.
Wickwlre What's his scheme? Go
Ing to fasten an aurora borealls in po
sition bo It will keep off the north
winds during the day?
Warwick No; he's going to build a
hotel and advertise the place as a coo)
summer resort. Puck.
ARABIAN WOMEN AND MARRIAGE.
Their Life It Full of Sentiment anil Quaint
Customs.
Arablnns have peculiar ideas on the
marriage question. An Arab will in
vnrlnbly offer lnnrrlngc to his brother's
widow. It Is considered n sign of re
spect to tho dend brother nnd the liv
ing woninn by so doing, as the Semitic
tradition in the Hebrew and Christian
Scriptures tells us. In au Arab town
n statement made before the cadi con
stitutes nil the essential marriage cere
mony. In the desert tho only neces
sary function Is the slaughtering of n
sheep within or before tho tent of the
bride's father. Arabs not Infrequently
change and exchange wives, to the
high satisfaction of all concerned. If
a man Is dissatisfied with bis wife he
mny return her to her father, but he
must also return her marriage portion
in full, and If she be of the Hcdouln
blood a she camel must bo added to
the original dower. Arab wives as a
rule are treated with consideration
and with no small share of tenderness.
In Arabia woman's position Is one of
dignity, her attitude one of self-rc-sspect.
Arab men are as full of senti
ment as of prowess, and no more
ashamed of the one than the other.
In some Arab tribes a man and maid
on breaking together before throe wit
nesses a Hat, thin cake of almond paste
aro formally iilllauoed. An Arab has
an absolute right to tho hand of bis
girl cousin. He must formally re
nounce that right before she can
marry any one else. When a girl has
more than one male cousin, tho prior
claim is the oldest cousin's, or. in
some tribes, that of the oldest unmar
ried eous;n. The man must provide all
necessaries for bis wife and if she has
money or earns any she spends It In
dross. If she makes blm a skull cap
or a handkerchief he must pay for her
work.
In the land of Ishmael no honey
moons mo ever taken by tho bridal
couple after the ceremony has boon
performed. However, It frequently
falls to the lot of the bride-elect to
previous to the marriage. If
make a very trying journey
Is to be married to a man In a n
boring town she goes to him no
to her, for she Is leaving her 1
and he Is not what more natural
that she should be put to the ii
venloneo? Hcsldos, it Is consh
luck lor the bride to cover the
tanco. if there Is any, between lief
and her future husband. And what a
picture she makes as she comes rid
lug proudly her nuptial camel! She
rides In a litter, canopied by embroid
ered, tassoled and tinseled silk or line
clctli. fin the canopy Is an appropri
ate text from the Koran, embroidered
in gold. The camel wears a proud
plume of ostrich feathers. His long
neck is dyed deep with brilliant han
tiab. His face and bead and bung
with wee mirrors, which Hash in the
sunlight. Ills grotesque bulk and his
gaunt legs aro swathed and bung with
phulkarls strange eastern cloths be
dlgbt with squares and ovals of look
ing glass and long, thick stitches of
rich silk. Some girl or woman friend
rides with the bride, and attendants
and protectors precede and follow bur.
Springfield Republican.
Thwlr I'ixeil Tastes
The circulation and distribution of
books during the last century may bo
Illustrated by the following anecdote
of the Scllly Islands there are 3uf, out
of which four or live only are Inhab
ited. The library consisted of two
books, a copy of tho Ulble and the
"History of Dr. Fuustus." The latter
book was handed about from house
to bouse and was dropping to pieces
by continual thumbing, until at last lit
tle was loft either of bis wonderful en
chantment or of bis terrible cm).
This being made generally known, a
meeting of the inhabitants was called,
and it was resolved that as soon as
tho season permitted any Intercourse
with Cornwall a fresh suppply of
books should be sent for. What books,
however, were to be ordered? The
meeting considered this question very
earnestly. At last It was uuanlmously
agreed that tho Penzance bookseller
should be ordered to send them, at
once, one now book, a new copy of
"Dr Fuustus."
Unintentional Injury.
"Young man," said the Senator to
the reporter, "you have done me Irre
parable harm."
"What have I done?" asked the be
wildered reporter.
"I got in largely on a temperance
platform, as you mny recollect."
"Yes, sir."
"And you speak of mo In this morn
ing's paper as 'drinking my coffee with
gusto.' It will take me more than a
lifetime to got it out of the heads of
my constituents that gusto isn't some
kind of alcoholic beverage." Cincin
nati Knqulrer.
Wn Crrtnliitv ICxriiaalile.
The teacher of a city school recently
received the following note explaining
the absence of one of the pupils the
day before, according to Harper's
Hound Table: "Please excoose Henny
for abs 'iits yesterday. Illm and me
get a i banco at a ride to a funeral In
a cbanlge, an' I let him stay at home,
as be had never rode in a cbarrlge an'
never went to a funeral nor bad many
other pleasures. So plose excoose."
Iciioriiiil KiliK-utor.
Willie Say, pa; didn't you tell mo
the other tiny that it was wrong to
strike any one smnller than your
self? Pa-Yes. Willie; that's what I said.
Willie Well. I wish you'd write my
teacher a note to thnt effect. I don't
think she knows about it. Chicago
News.
REST. -.
Let ns rest ourselves a bit,
Worry? Wave your hand to It;
Kiss your linger tips and smllo
It farewell a little while. i
Weary of the weary war
Wo lmvo cotno since yesterday.
Let It fret us not, In dread
Of tho weary way ahead.
Whllo wo Tet look down not up
To ftcok out tho buUoroup
And the dnlsy, wlioro tliey wave
O'er tho green homo of tho eravo.
Let us lautioh us smoothly on
Listless billows of the lawn,
And drift out aoross tho main
Of our ohtldlsh dreams again.
Voyage off, beneath the trees.
O'er tho field's enoliantod seas,
I Where tho lilies aro our satis.
And our seagulls, nightingales.
Whore no wilder storm shall boat
Thau tho wind that waves tho wheat
And no (outposts burst abovo
Tho old laughs wo used to love.
Lino all troublca-giiln release,
Languor and exceeding poaco,
CntlMiiif Idly o'er tho vast
Culm mid-ocean of tho past.
Let us re.t inirsolvo a bit,
Worrj V Wave your hand to It
KM yotirllnger-tlpa and smllo
It farewell a llttlo while.
James Wlittcomb Klloy.
THE OTHER GIRL.
On my arrival at the station, Lady
Mannlngton, Molly and the French
maid hud collected their chattels and
aloud round the Immense heap In atti
tudes denoting various degrees of Im
patience. I apologized.
"It's of no consequence." said Lady
Mannlngton, in a tone signifying It
was of the greatest. Molly shook her
head at me and smiled. I looked at
the two ladles ami the French maid
and then I looked at tho miniature
conveyance.
"The brougham Is only seated for
two," I hinted.
"Celeste can walk," said Lady Man
nlngton. "I should prefer to walk, niamtna,"
said Molly, with an air of much good
nature.
.u dy
So Molly and I started to walk over
the crisp snow, .lust outside the sta
tloii 1 helped her over tlio stile. "We
may as will take the short cut," I ob
served; "It Is not so very much longer,
and I have so much to say to you."
"V, b.it about?" asked Molly.
I hesitated. "It is about a friend of
mine" 1 replied at length.
"t.h:"
"lie la In the deuce of a moss," I be
'..i.i:. confidentially, "1 want your help."
"What can 1 do?" asked Molly,
- polling her eyes.
"You can advise mo," I replied, tak
ing courage. "A wonians' wit"
Molly was pleased. "(Jo on, Mr.
Trevi r."
"I fear you will think my friend par
ticularly foolish," I said, sorrowfully.
"Very likely," replied Molly, indiffer
ently. "1 assure he has many good points.
Hut It happened a girl wanted to
marry him."
"What:" exclaimed Molly.
"I can't think what she saw In him,"
I replied, uncomfortably.
"She could not have been quite nice,"
said Molly, decisively.
I stopped to lest the strength ci the
ice over tho p.ool.
"1 have seen her look quite nice," 1
remarked, th night fully.
"You know her?" asked Molly,
qul.kly.
"Oh, yes. It wasn't really the girl
who wanted to marry my friend; ll
was l.cr mother. I moan the mother
wanted the girl to many my frkinl.
1 l.ope 1 make myself clear?"
"I don't think that Improves mat
ters," retorted Molly.
"My friend was In love with an
other girl a really nice girl. In fact,
a quite splendid girl. Ono of the very
best," I said, kindling.
"You know that girl, too?" asked
Molly a little coldly.
"Yo-os." . .
"Well?"
"My friend was staying at n country
house, and so wore both the girls and
her mother, and sln "
"Who?" asked Molly.
"The gin whose mother wanted her
to marry hlin. 1 ilo hope 1 am clear.
She got blm Into a quiet corner, and
Gtinchow or other my friend found out
she had hold of his hand. I don't
know how It happened. It just oc
ct.ru .!."
"Ihr.v clover of your friend to find it
cut," said .Molly, suronstirally.
I woU on hastily. "And then he
ppw her head coming nearer and near
er his shoulder, and lie didn't know
what to do."
"I wonder," said Molly, "ho did not
call for help."
"You see," I went on, "he was afraid
she would propose, or or the mother
n.. lit come. He guessed the mother
v..- .irony near. Then he thought of
t) thor girl, and he got Into a dread
fi ..anlc. In fact he lost his head."
"It could not have been a great loss,"
observed Molly disdainfully.
"No-o. Hut It was the only ono he
had, and lie was accustomed to It. He
didn't know what to do . So he said
ho was already engaged."
" Did ho say 'already?' "
"Yis." It was a cold day, but I
mopped my brow with my handker
chief. Molly uttircd n penl of silvery
Inugbter. "1 am really almost sorry
for that girl, but it served her right."
"The girl dldu't turn n hair. Su
HHIHHBnHHni-v-
LHbHB&BH oin
lHU.v
mwii
simply Rtrnglhtencd herself up and
asked to whom he was engaged."
"Well?"
"lie blurted out the nnmc of the
otber girl. He couldn't think of any
other name."
"To whom, of course, he is not cn
gnged?" "No. And 1 don't suppose- uho
would have him."
"Is that your whole story?"
"Vc v nearly. The girl went nwny
and told her mother, who enme up
gushingly nnd congratulated blm. She
Is n true sportswomnn. Afterwnrd
she went, about telling everybody of
the engagement, nnd my friend hna
had to receive congratulations ever
since."
"How nwkwnrd!" said Molly, medi
tatively. "Has tho other girl heard
of It?"
"Not yet. This all happened yester
day." "Yesterday?"
I nodded. "And the worst is the
other girl Is expected to nrrlve at the
Towers almost Immediately."
"Dear me," said Molly. "And your
friend Is at the Towoin now?"
"1 didn't menu to let It out," I re
plied, a little abashed.
Molly began to laugh. "It Is most
ninuslng; but why did you tell me
about It?"
"1 want your advice."
"Who Is the other girl?" asked .dolly,
curiously."
"Please don't ask for names," 1 Im
plored. "What," 1 asked, with elaborate In
difference, "would you do If you were
the other girl?'
Molly stopped and broke off a spring
of red berries. They wore not so rod
sis her lips. "Of course." she said, "I
should be very annoyed."
"Ah, or course," said I, forlornly.
"At any rate, 1 should protend to be
very nnno,od."
"Hut, really-" I began, delighted.
"Oh thnt would depend on the
man."
"Supposing, for the sake of Illustra
tion." said 1, surveying the white ex
pause of a neighboring field, "I was
the man?"
"This Is nosense," said Molly. "We
can't make believe to that extent."
"Why can't we?"
"You could never be so foolish."
"Hut if-"
"Let us talk about some thing sensi
ble," said Molly with decision.
"Hut my poor friend is depending on
mo for advice."
She thought. "Of course, your friend
must get away from the Towers be
fore the other girl arrives."
"You aro quite clear ho ought to go
away?" 1 asked mournfully.
"There can be no doubt about that.
Just fancy everybody rushing to con
gratulate the other girl, and your
friend being present at the time.
There might be a dreadful scene."
"I can picture It," I said, repressing
n groan.
We hnd arrived at the entrance to
the uveiiue. I stopped and held out
my hand.
"Good-bye," I said.
"What do you mean?" she ex
claimed. "I 1 am going away. I am the
man."
I do not think I nm mistaken. The
color faded slightly from her face.
"And the other gin?" sue queried
faintly.
"You nro the other girl."
Tho red replaced the white. She
stood quite still, with her eyes bent
downward; and then she began to
trace figures In tho snow with the toe
of her tiny boot.
"Good-bye." I repeated.
She looked up. "Of course, I am very
angry," she said. And then she smiled
and hold out her hand. I took it hum
bly and forgot to relinquish It.
"Miiniina will be getting anxious,"
she remarked. "We must hurry.
Hut wo did not hurry. Plok-.io-Up.
Tim (iiiv.'i imii'k Ittisiiril for Sunday.
"It was during the administration of
Governor Albion K. Parrls," says the
Kennebec (Me.) Journal, "that General
Lafayette made his memorable tour of
the United States, and paid his visit
to Maine. It was a Sunday that the
General concluded thni visit and pro
posed leaving the State from Portland.
Governor Panis remonstrated with
blm for taking his departure on that
day and said: 'If you will postpone
your trip until Monday I will myself
escort you to the Stnte lino with all tho
military honors.' Hut Lafayette, ac
customed to the Continental Sabbath,
Insisted on not altering his plans, nnd
left Maine on Sunday, while the Sabbath-honoring
Governor of a God-fearing
Stale attended his church service
as was his habit."
Hand I'alnlHil Slmn s'nlea.
If you want to be lu style, as iarls
sees II. have your boot soles Illus
trated. Cupids, landscapes, poster girls, ac
tresses, anything, in fact, that Amer
icans can prop up In club windows,
and show the passing throng.
This Illustrated footwear 1h now to
be seen In tho show windows of all
the fasliii.nablo shoe shops on the
Paris lxnilevard and in the Hue do in
Palx.
These figures are hand painted. The
wealthier the customer, tho higher
priced the painter.
A Chinese philosopher has been
found In the kitchen In one of our
Western college presidents who makes
this distinction between the Orient
nnd the Occident: "In China the men
boss the women; In Amotion the wom
en bots the men." "Do I 'boss' Presi
dent lllank?" Inquired Mine. Presi
dent. "Xo, you no lwiv him," re
joined the astute Chinaman, "but he
do what you hay." Chicago Advance.
A STRANGE WOMAN.
BY TAW. I'HODBN.
I hnd sold my mill, and was on my
way homo. It was evening when 1
reached Qrnnvlllo, where I took tho
stage. An old woman was my sola
companion, She nppenrcd to bo ono
who had seen much trouble In life, nnd
at tho present tlmo sho seemed weigh
ed down by some special care.
Sho was rather a large woman,
somewhat bent, and quite unwleldly
In her movements. Sho wns evidently
used to hnrd work, for whon 1 took
hor nrm to help her In, nlthough It wub
under hor shnwl, I could feel tho
Btrcngth of ono well used to the la
bor of houso and farm, so common i
with woman of that region. Her dross
was shabby, and her face wns covered
by a black veil, which was disturbed
but once to my knowledge, and that
was when I had been looking out In
to tho dnrkncsB, nnd snw it drop when
I turned back my head. Sho was very
hoarse, and any attompt to respond to
somo passing remark from mo would
sot her Into n violent fit of coughing.
Weighed down by hor troubles as sho
was, I saw that she should be left to
herself, and so I said but little.
Tho country through which wo wore
riding wiir a dreary ono, and pictures
of road-agents, and tho cleaning out of
my five thousand dollnrs, not to speak
of a worse fato than robbery, would
occasionally come up to my Imagina
tion. I wasn't nervous, but tho con
sciousness of the tempting bait I car
rlcd with mo was sufficient to nwakon
certain apprehensions In splto of my
self. Three months before this, n stage had
been stopped some twenty miles from
hero, and one of the passengers who
had attempted resistance was shot.
Why might not this ono bo tho next
to take Its turn?
I could but wish thnt a vigorous mnn
wns sitting In the sent opposito in
placo of that helpless old woman. As
far as I could learn, sho was to Btop
at a crossing two miles this Bldo of my
destination, where her son wns to tako
her homo In his wagon. 1 should have
four miles of It alone, though, to toll
tho truth, I felt more lonely with such
company ns this than If I had boon by
myself.
Finally she appeared to fall Into a
doze, her bowed head and swnylng
body Indicating a long flight Into
dreamlnnd. Sho hnd been watching nt
tho bedside of a consumptive daughter,
and now must go homo to tend n grand
child that was suddenly stricken down
with diphtheria.
"You need your sleep, my good soul,"
I thought. "Wo know not who lmvo
tho greatest trials in life. Mine Is at
present an Imagined evil, yours Is in
the real."
As tho stngo rumbled over tho un
even rond in tho gloom of that wild
nnd Bwampy country, tho spectral pines
retreated endlessly to tho rear, roveitl
Ing an occasional star appearing In tho
north, that seemed to gazo In admoni
tory silence upon me.
My oyos had got so tiBod to tho grow
ing darkness that I could mako out ob
jects near mo with some distinctness.
At ono time I noticed that tho old wo
man was uneasy In hor sleep; tho ac
tion of her hands Indicated some
thing exciting. They wore under her
shnwl, but the movement was very
perceptible. I had hoen looking from
the window, and I observed this unea
siness when I turned my glnnco In
side tho stngo.
I wiiB gazing curiously on the shabby
figure whon n suspicion darted through
my mind that sent tho blood to my
heart. I had read of such things, and
why was this not hut pshaw! my
moucy was simply a magician conjur
ing up visions and spectres of the
night.
Tho stage slackened up, nnd then It
stopped. The slurnborcr started and
nwoke. For nn Instnnt the entire fig
ure seemed to chnnge In Its aspect.
Every lino of tho cumbrous body was
full of vigor that Ill-compared with
tho air of exhaustion which had previ
ously characterized It.
I was Interrupted In my observations
by the entrance of a fresh passenger,
whose deep, heavy voice bad already
lndicnted a powerful physique. Ho wos
a formidable looking customer. His
groat height compelled him to stoop
considerably au ho entered, and when
ho took his seat by the side of tho old
woman, tho stago nppenrcd to settlo
on his side.
I could mnko out hut little in tho
gloom, but this man's face was suffi
ciently distinct to show a resolute
character, fearless and ready In nn
emergency. He had an aggressive air,
and the reserve of a man who was not
to bo made free with, ho peered Into
my fnee from under ills heavy brows,
and then glanced at the sleeper by his
side.
I couldn't quite analyze my feelings
when I found this third passenger
shut up with me. That he was a man
not unused to violence was apparent.
As a bravado or the leader of a vigi
lance committee he could readily act
his part. Which role would he incline
to? There were still several miles to
cover, and I wns Interested.
I did not like the way he had of turn
ing his eyes on thnt old woman. I
couldn't make out In the dark just
their expression. What struck mo as
being rather singular was her utter
stillness after the vigorous start she
had given. She couldn't have fallen
again into a sleep as quick as that. I
confess to a. creepy sensation as I
viewed this pair opposite me.
"This is a dreary ride for any one
who has reason to wish his Journey
over," said the new passenger, at last,
In his bass voice.
What did he mean? Did he know
about my money? Here was a deepen
ing of tho mystery. It certainly was
becoming a dreary ride to mo, I con
trolled myself, nnd pointing to tho wo
man, aald,
"Ono llko her might well call It so."
"How's that7"
"SlckncsB at her home perhaps
death! "
"Ah!" and ho turned n look upon tho
unconscious subject of our remarks.tho
moaning of which I could hardly fath
om. The northern lights wore now shoot
ing up In tho henvens, reflecting a dim
light In the stage.
A vision of my cheery homo rose to
my mind. Mother nnd children woro
pictured In that pleasant sitting-room,
talking perhaps of father and his re
turn.
Should I over sec those dear ones
ngaln? What If Dut my meditations
were Interrupted by tho heavy voice of
the passenger.
"Heturnlng homo, I tnko It, Blr?"
"I am."
"You consider this n safo road, do
you not?"
"Never heard of any trouble here."
It's going on around us, though.
Heard of tho pull last night?"
"Tho pull?"
"The robbery on the Hanson road,
I menn."
"Robbery!" 1 gasped. "I did not
hoar of It."
"Oh, yes; It's getting pretty near."
"Nothing worse, I hope."
"Murder!" and tho speaker's volco
sank to a still deeper tone.
The old woman started In the cor
ner, as If disturbed In her dreams.
Ho glanced meaningly at Iter, and
then directing his thumb that way, ho
said,
"An uncommon slcopor."
"Tired out."
"We'll not disturb hor."
"Tho murderer tins a dovlllsh name,"
ho snld, after n brief silence.
"Which?"
"The last robbor no, not tho last,
exactly, for tho robber and murderer
of all is ono man."
Tho stago entered a gully thickly
Blinded with trees, and when tho pas
senger snld this In his abysmal volco,
my scalp crept over my head. It was
so dark that not even his herculean
form could be seen.
"What was tho nnmo?" I asked, In a
hush.
"Lcft-hnndcd Dick."
Tho stago went very slowly nt this
point, nnd my ear caught a movement
as If tho Blooper was again uneaBy, and
was ndjustlng her shnwl.
"Why that?"
"Ho lost his right hand In a fight,
and ho Is a demon with his left."
"I'd rather tackle a dozen than a
left-hander."
"This man is cqunl to n dozen. I
know ho hns murdered as many ns
thnt."
Tho Impression wns gaining on mo
that tho mnn before mo was honest.
Ho struck me, moreover, as having a
purpose hero In this stngo known only
to himself, but which I began to sus
pect. Ho acted like ono that had seri
ous business In hand.
"Is thero no way of trapping tho
fiend? I think If ho could come Into
your grip, sir, ho would fetch up pret
ty quick."
"Size doesn't nlways toll," ho return
ed. This fellow 1b llko a madman. He
neither fears nor waits."
"How does he keop It up?"
"He's cunning as the devil. He goes
disguised."
"How!" I exclaimed. "Disguised.
Hut his handlcss arm "
"Oh, that's easily fixed. If he's a
man ho has It In his pocket "
"If he's a man! How elso docs he
go?"
The stage emerged into the open
country. The aurora was at its height,
and throw Its palo light into tho stage.
The shawl of the sleoplng woman was
suddenly twitched at tho hands, and I
noticed that the old black veil was
somewhat awry. I also noticed that
her neighbor had changed his posi
tion. "My good woman, I hope your sleep
hnB rested you," I slowly uttered,
sharply eyeing her shawl In the gloom.
Her answer was a violent fit of
coughing.
Tho Btngo was moving rapidly, and
It rocked us to s.nd fro. The coughing
ceased, and a startling transformation
followed.
By an instantaneous movement the
shawl and skirt, the veil and bonnet
were thrown aside, and a man was re
vealed, his right arm a stump, In his
left a long-hladed knife.
"Loft-handed Dick!"
As I pronounced this dreaded name, I
threw myself Into a position of de
fence. I was not the object of attack,
however. Llko a flash of light the vil
lain struck at tho breast of the man he
feared. As the deadly knife descend
ed, tho nrm vus caught In a human
vise. With fearful oaths he struggled
to free himself, but the giant was on
the alert, and bore down on the assas
sin with all his weight and power.
The outlaw was not to be easily
overcome. He was truly a madman in
spirit and strength. I now took part
In the struggle, and the fellow was soon
brought under. His arms were pldlon
ed behind him. and the driver, who had
stopped his horses, was directed to
move on.
The road-agent was duly disposed of
by his enptor, who proved to be the
most daring and formidable sheriff In
that part of the country.
I reached my home In good spirits,
and my arrival was a glad surprise. I
said nothing of my adventure till the
next day. You may well Imagine that
there was thanksgiving in that house.
Mrs. Todgera Mrs. Monson wears k
sealskin sacque, but I've never heard
her petticoats rustle yet Chicago
Nbwb.
.?Wva)kv
