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About Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 11, 1900)
" "i B rc ROD 6leV6rflal6'S dy SoiAmrd W. Iloplclno. CopytlRhted , 1ECB , by llobtrt Dormer's Sons. CHAPTER VI. ( Continued ) . The gang ho was with had returned for another load. Rob heard them muttering among themselves , and ho looked up to see the cause. Ho was amazed , and felt a thrill of terror rush 'ov6r him , for there1 , standing with Cap- taln Klvjn and Torrovo , engaged In earnest conversation , wan Lomuol Gtarno. Now Rqb thought surely ho would bo killed , Ifo thought ho now understood nome of the hatred ho had Incurred. Starnc , Elvfn and the captain of the "Black Cat" were all In one gang. Therefore , If Starno had any reason to wish hln death , the others must have the same reason. There was no way to escape them now. Ho could not turjj back. When they were taking up tholr loads Torrovo'Yushed out and beat Rob with his rope's end BO that poor Rob kept his face- bent down almost to the ground till ho got clear of his tor mentor , which was not until ho was part way up the ridge. The boy's heart wns broken with grief and terror. What should ho do ? To continue in this way was simply to bo killed. Was there no hope of es cape. Ho went Into the caverns again , and this time the black Interior scorned to the tortured fellow like a haven of rest. And when the gang turned to leave a sudden Inspiration cnmo to Rob. Ho know that the last of the cargo was not on Us way to the cave. It was possible that ho would not bo missed If ho did not return. With no definite purpose , except to escape the blows and curses of Torrovo , ho darted away from the gang and hid In a black recess behind a pile of bales of to bacco. The men came In with their bur dens , and then went out. Those who went out now did not return again. TJio last of the contraband cargo was is ? LIT UP THE GLOOMY CAVERN. in. The last blask fellow had gone. The caverns were as still as death , ex cept for the trickling water on the rocky walls. Rob cruched in his to him almost an entire day. His limbs achod. His face was sore from Torrevo's blows. His hands had swollen from the excessive labor ho had performed. The weariness at last overcame him. First ho fought against the drowsiness , then welcomed it , for it brought with It forgctfulncss of his troubles. Ho found some bales of cloth , took them Into his hiding place , and lay down upon them. Soon he was last asleep. How long the boy slept ho did not know. But ho awoke at last with a start , and wondered how long ho had been there. Ho loft his nook and went toward the entrance to the caverns. Then ho made a discovery that made his heart almost stand still. The entrance had boon closed with n great stone. He was locked In. CHAPTER VII. For several minutes Rob stood there In the dark cavern looking at the thin streak of light that came In through a chink by the sldo of the blockad ing rock , with a terrible sense of ter ror. Ho wag literally burled alive. Ho did not know how often the smugglers , or pirates , or whatever the gang might be , came to this place. If their visits were limited to such times as the "Black Cat" brought car goes of smuggled goods , then it was certain that ho would ho confined thcro for weeks , and perhaps months , and that meant that ho would dlo there. When 'the full sense of the disaster broke upon him , his boyish heart throbbed with fear. As a young and healthy American , ho loved life. Ho loved his mother , and he had looked forward to the day when , having by tvklll and attention to his uncle's busi ness , won wealth and position , he could make a comfortable home for that dear mother , for which she would not bo beholden to any one for char ity. To dlo with this brilliant pros- l > ect before him would "be bard. But to dlo in that dark hole , a lingering , painful death by starvation. Oh ! It was terrible. But Rob was a true American boy. After the Hrst few minutes of stupefaction - faction his spirits returned , and he began to think of finding a way out. Ho groped about the opening , now so well blocked by the heavy rock , but the largest nperature ho could iXd wnn simply largo enough for him to put his hand through. Ho could not move the rock an Inch. While thus engaged In his futile ef forts the thought came to him that perhaps this was not an accident. Per haps , after all , Lemuel Starnc hud recognized him had told Captain El- vln- who ho was and ho had been missed , traced to the caverns and lock ed in to await a terrible death by star vation , or to bo kept until they saw fit to release him and kill him some other way. Any way ho looked at It , death necnied certain. With n dull heart Rob left the open ing , now , alas ! opening no longer , and groped his way In the darkness through the caverns. It was dark as night , and darker. Thcro were no moon and stars In this damp and growsomo place to shed a little light and chcerlness. All was dark and damp and dismal. In his aimless wanderings , Rob's feet struck against something , and he at once thought of the torches the men had used when they brought In the goods. The thing he had kicked sounded like one of thcso. lie stooped and picked It up. It was Just what ho thought It was a torch mode of some kind of soft stuff like cotton waste , wrapped on a bar of Iron and soaked In oil. The odor from It show * ed that It had l > 3en recently used probably by the men who had been with him. But a smothered torch gives no light , and Rob could not feel that ho was any better off than before. Ho had never learned to smoke , and therefore carried'iio matches. If ho only had a match ! Suddenly it occurred to him that ho did not have on his own clothes , but the fantastic garmentu given him by Captain Torreyo , of the "Black Cat. " Instinctively ho felt In the pockets of his velvet Jacket. First he brought out a package of Spanish cigarettes , which he threw away , not having any use for them. In another pocket oh , Joy ! he dls- covnrod n box of matches. It was something to wear the jacket of a smoker , after all. With feverishly trembling fingers , Rob lighted n match and applied It to the torch. In an Instant It burst into flame and lit up the gloomy cavern around him. The smoky flame , while It gave light enough for him to see , made the shadows even more terrible. And with Ihe light held above his head Rob gazed with strained eyes Into the Inky blackness of recesses opening out on three sides. But Rob had been through the cav erns when a dozen such torches had been blazing , and he know there was nothing there that would harm him. There were no wild boasts. So. bolsterIng - Ing up his courage with this one con soling thought , ho began a thorough exploration of the place. From one cave to another he went , closely ex- asilnlng the sides , always on the alert to catch a glimpse of what might bo another opening. But ho saw none. There wore the great stores of contra band goods enough to make a dozen men rich If sold at fair prices , but nothing that Rob wanted. To nil the rest of his discomfort now came the pangs of hunger. Ho did not know how long ho had slept ; therefore ho could not Judge how long ho hnd been In the caves. But Ho know ho was very hungry. Ho now applied himself to searching for something to eat. ' There was plenty of "tobacco , eas'lly distinguished by the odbr. - i ' ' ' . \-iti But Rob could not cat this , There wore casks of liquor , but JVrb had never touched n u'fop cf St , ftn-t cvon the bottles of which there worn many , did not seem to point to a v/ay to spare him any pain. Ho found plenty of bales of stuff , silks , canslmoros and everything In ( lint linn that wan dutiable. But not a < frlng to cat. After traversing room after room and vault after vault , Hoi ) entered a large rock chamber , dry and cool , and thcro ho stood , more amazed than ever. It wan nn arsenal. Hero were stored hundreds of rllles , pistols , swords , knives In fact every kind of weapon. And around the sides of the chamber were kngB probably containing pow der and cases probably containing cartridges , Even to Rob's young mind It was evident that this was more than a more smuggler's resort. All those arms wore there for a purpsie he know not what. But ho could not cat them. Weary , hungry and disheartened , Rob wont back and examined his bed. Finding It clean and dry , ho dragged It to the opening , and extinguished his light. Rob's object In-getting near the opening was twofold. In the first place , there was a little light there , and It was less grewsomo than back In the black recess ho had slept In bo- fore. In the second place , he would be In the way of any person entering the cave , and could not bo overlooked as ho might be If ho went to sleep in a hidden spot. And Rob had now be come HO terror-stricken at the gravity of his situation , and the awful proi- pcct of starving to death In that place that ho would have welcomed any one even Lemuel Starne himself , If that worthy had appeared to let him out. Rob sat on his bale of cloth 'for a long time , blinking at the little streak of light , and listening to the trickling and dropping of the water In the cav erns around him. To his excited Imag ination It seemed as If this noise was growing louder , and he thought per haps the roof was breaking , and would let In the water from the river. This meant a speedy death by drowning. All the events of his past life came up before him. He thought of his mother , and the tears ran down his cheeks. Ho wondered It his uncle had missed him , and If a search would be made. But he dismissed this hope , for It would surely have been reported that he was lost overboard from the Royal Mall. The weariness was too much for him at last , and with great sobs shaking him he fell asleep. Even this time ho did not know how long ho slept. But he was awakened by hearing 1501110 one outside the cave. Ho snt up and listened intently. There was no mistake about it. Some one was certainly outside. Rob's heart now beat violently. Was this some wandering native , who would release him from his prison , and enable him to go to Buenos Aires and find his uncle ? Or was It Lemuel Starno returned to finish his fiendish work ? The eagerness to got out was great er than fear of Starnc , and Rob plac ed his mouth near the crack and gave ta loud "Halloo ! " "Ho ! " came In the well-known voice of Captain Torroyo , of "El Gate Negro. "Are you there , after all ? " "Oh , yes ! Lot mo out ! Lot mo out ! Please , Captain Torreyo , let mo out ! " "You are a Jewel ! " exclaimed Tor reyo In a tone that Rob did not un derstand. "Bo easy. " Rob was now flushed with hope , and looked , expecting to see the great stone roll away , leaving him free. But the noise suddenly ceased. Bob waited a moment longer , and then called again. "Captain Torreyo ! Dear Captain ! Let me out , won't you ? " ( To bo continued. ) HONEYBEE'S WINGS. A MIcroRcnpIo Vluw f Ono of Mature' * Wonderful Schemes. At a meeting of the New York Mlcrosoplcal Soclnty the president of the organization exhibited , besides other things , the honeybee's wing , showing the booklets by means of which the lower of the two wings of the boo is Joined to the upper wing In flying thus making them prac tically n single wing. Tho. upper of the two wings Is about half nn Inch in length , the lower a little shorter. The wings come together where they are joined to the body ; they are other wise separate. When the bco goes Into Its hive , It folds its wings together , ono leaf over the other , BO that they will take up less room. When It goes abroad , it spreads Its wings and couples them together with the hooks. When looked at under the microscope , the upper edge of the lower wing Is scon to bfl ro-onforced as though It had an extra plate or rib stretched along there , and to this rib , spaced apart at regular Intervals , though they are nil contained within a total space of little more than a quarter of an Inch , there arc attached nineteen or twenty tiny , bony hooks. There Is n little thickening at the base of each hook , whole nature has strengthened it , and ono is Inclined to regard the hooks as ingot separately and to look for the rivets wherewith they were secured to the plato or rib from which they spring. The lower edge of the upper wing , as looked at under the microscope , is seen to bo curled up into a flange or trough. AVhon the boo comes out of the hive , It hooks the liooks on the upper edge of the U i/er wing into the flange or trough at tha lower edge of the upper wing and GO makes the two wings practUallf ono. New York Sun. woirai Y oinns IIIEE. PROSPERITY BRINGS A DIG BOON TO LABOH. Ouo Hundred unil Fifty Tlioniiind Opcr- nUi i Itccoho Increase ofVnj ; < l Jn tJio Trxttlo riictorloi of Mew mid tlio South. The wage-earner's share In the general - oral prosperity la coining to him in liberal allotments. On top of the vast Increase In wages paid , as shown by the recent Industrial census of the American Protective Tariff league , cov ering conditions as they existed in March , 1899 , have come additional In creases since that time which affect millions of men who work for wages and other millions dependent upon them. Lust week some 00,000 opera tives in the great cotton manufacturing centers of New England were granted a lioeral advance In wages. Next come the 20,000 workers In the mills con trolled by the American Woolen com pany , who have Just secured an in crease of 10 per cent. Last , and most significant of all , since It shows how Irresistibly con tagious Is the epidemic of higher wages In prosperous times , and be cause It brings the wage rate of that section more nearly to a parity with the wage rate of competing localities in the north , comes the announcement from Augusta , Ga. , that the cotton manufacturers of that city are to raise the wages of their 8,000 employes on Jan. 1. This is regarded as an Indica tion thp.t other mill men of the south will also take action on the question. Manufacturers In the north , with very few cxccplons , now have granted an advance , and the step has been taken In spite of the knowledge that If wages In the south remained unchanged , New England manufactur ers would bo placed at a decided dis advantage. The news from Georgia , therefore , Is welcome Intelligence to northern manufacturers. It Is estimated that by Jan. 1 from a hundred and forty to a hundred and fifty thousand cotton mill operatives In the north will bo working under an advance of wages , and that the ad vance in the south will bring the total in the United States to above a hun dred and sixty thousand. All this Is in perfect accord with the claim that protection tends to increase wages by increasing the sum total of employment. T.ho cotton and woolen manufacturers of the United States have a stronger grip than ever before upon the great homo market , with Its 75,000,000 of liberal buyers. Hence the. rise in wages. The connec tion is obvious and indisputable. Not Corn , but "Money to Ilnrn. " The free traders think that they are kicking the high beam of humor when they say that protectionists take to themselves and to the policy which they support the credit for the blessing of abundant crops. By their so-called "Joking" along this line they hope to distract attention from the very plain and Important fact that , although the protective tariff does no take the place of Providence and cause abundant crops to grow , It does make the gifts of Providence of some value by 1'ur- nlshlng a market and a fair price for the farmers' crops , however abundant. In free trade days many western farm ers , for lack of an opportunity to sell their corn at even a decent price , were forced to burn It as firewood In order to get any benefit from It. They had corn to burn. Today , as always in protective times , they sell their prod ucts at a fair price , and have "money to burn. " Good crops and no market for them means tantalizing diasppolnt- mont. That Is what free trade brings to the farmer. Good crops with a good market , a ready sale and fair prices tnttiu , prosperity. That Is what pro tection gives the farmer. He may choose between the two. The choice ought to bo an easy one , and there Is Httlo chance that the western farmers wljl have any hesitation in making their decision. They have given con siderable evidence that they think that McKinlcylsm Is good enough for them. Small Cause for Comfort. It Is eald that Mr. Bryan is over joyed at the election llgures in Ne braska. Wo don't begrudge whatever comfort he Is able to get out of the re sult. If the number of votes cast In the state election for the fusion ticket seems to suggest a compliment to Bryan , the prosperity of the state un der the McKinlcy policy of protection , as compared with the depression and misery which existed there under the Bryan policy of free trade , certainly re flects the utmost discredit 'ton Mr. Bryan's pet policy. And It Is not like ly that the people of Nebraska will for get from whence their prosperity came when they como to vote on a national policy in a national election. A state can afford to compliment a popular son at a state election. But Nebraska may sing a different song in 1900. Whether she does or not , though , will make little difference. The rest of the country will put a quietus on Mr. Bryan and on the policy of free trade , in which ho believes. President McKInley can take plenty of comfort from the returns from the rest of the country , and the business men of the country can settle back In the assur ance of continued prosperity and the surety that the country as a whole will not contemplate the possibility of another frqo trade experience. They Toll a CheorlnjStory. . A recent Issue of the South Bend Tribune , a newspaper which is thor oughly representative of Republican sentiment in that garden spot region of prosperity and enlightenment , north ern Indiana , coutalns--an interesting budget of expressions by local business men concerning the remarkable de gree of business health which prevails In that thriving city. The Tribune says : "Besides business hbuses which have como here many pcopie have been drawn In the general need of more workmen of a good class In some ol the factories. This has swelled the population , which Is variously es timated at from 33,000 to nearly 40- 000. It IH stated that the now city di rectory presents enough names to make the estimate of population over 39,000. I'Viw people arc out of work If they really dealro to labor. Some factories are running overtime with the largest forces in their history , which , coupled with the splendid state of commercial interest , speaks volumes for South Bend as an active , growing and pro gressive business center. " Uniform testimony to improved con ditions and an increased volume of business arc given In these Interviews with the wholesale and retail mer chants of South Bend. They all tell a cheering story of the changes wrought by "MoKlnley prosperity. " THREE DEMOCRATS Thoroughly Disunited with IJryaiilsm find TnmniiinyUm. Living In the same block In Now York city arc three men who voted for Bryan In 1890 , but who now unlto In declaring that they have had their 1111 of Bryanlsm and Tammanylsm , and will no longer train with a crowd that seeks to belittle the country's grand record of expansion , progress and pros perity. These converts to RepublicanIsm - Ism write to the New York Sun as fol lows : "To the Editor of the Sun. Sir : We , the undersigned , take great pleasure In reading the brief but brave statement of J. Maglnnls In the Sun of Nov. 23 regarding the level head of our pres ident , William McKlnloy , through all the country's troubles since the begin ning of the war with Spain and up to the present time. "We are three Democrats , living In the one block , and wo all voted for Bryan In 1896. But listening to the Tammany snarling at our system of government , at our progression , at our successes during our late two years' wars and at our expansion , so nobly acquired , and the doctrine of these same' Tammany masqueraders , dis guised in the robes of independence , liberty and freedom , are In our estima tion not safe for the country at large to follow. "This country Is now In the highest condition of prosperity over known , and why not let It continue on that same road and keep the same good , en gineer at the throttle ? "But the cry Is , the worklngman doesn't prosper. We arc worklngmen , and we say they do , in spite of all the great hordes of Italians and other cheap Imported labor. We will vote for Mac next fall , and let well enough alone. H. Nolan , "M. Hart. "S. Cassldy. "New York , Nov. 30. " The signers of this declaration rep resent a type of the average shrewd , level-headed American citizen , who can be fooled sometimes , as he was In 1892 , but not all the time , and who finally nets his thinking apparatus to work and figures things out for himself. It was Inevitable that as a result of this mental activity a change of political predilection should occur. Such a change has taken place , and Is still goIng - Ing on all over the country. The year 1899 has been a wonderful eye-opener. There are many thousands of men who In 1900 will follow the program out lined by Messrs. Nolan. Hart and Cas sldy : "Vote for Mac next year and let well enough alone. " Goldou Days In the AVctt. The recent new discoveries of zinc and lead In southern Missouri , which have given a spur to industry all over the state , is only one of the factors , which are giving an Impetus to the business and social development of this section. The gold discoveries of Colorado rado , Montana and other mining states , which are frequently chronicled , Co not attract much attention , but they are contributing to thn Immense in crease in the production of that metal In the United States which Is taking place every year , and which Is likely to score n bigger gain this year than In any previous time since the Cali fornia and Pike's Peak gold fields were first opened. These are particularly halcyon flays for the western states. The great grain crops are contributing their quota to the sum of the factors which are mak ing 1899 the most prosperous year which the west has over known. The gains of this region arc reflected In the tublo of bank clearances published every week , the returns of the earn ings of the railroads centering In this section , which are given to the public occasionally , and the total of the trans actions of the postofflccs , which are given out by the government every month or two. The figures from the postofllces , which have Just been fur nished from Washington , show a gain in every western city , the Increase in some cases being almost without ex ample In its extent. St. Louis Globe- Democrat. Difference Uutivccu flood and Had. Out of these evidences of prosperity can be drawn added reasons why In telligent business and working men of the country should give their support to the party of sound money and pro tection in every contest which arises , whether In city , or state , or nation. The difference between good and bad legislation can bo estimated by the dlf&rence between the good years wo nro now enjoying and the bad years of the Democratic regime. San Francisco Call. Up to this century the night before Christmas In many villages special w'atchcs were told off to guard the mlnco pics and other dainties against thieves. This Christmas lare was en joyed In common during the merry making that followed. A Sunday school teacher telling her class about Jacob's dream how in n vision ho saw a ladder reaching from earth to heaven , with angels walking up and down. "But , " Interrupted the youngest member of the class , "why didn't they fly ? " Wlnler Tours. Should you desire Information re garding California , Arizona , Texas or Mexico , and thn long limit , low rate , round-trip tickets , sold to principal points , the various routes via which the tickets can be purchased , or re garding one way first and Eocond-closs rates , through sleeping car lines , first-class and tourist , call upon or nd- < dress W. O. Nelmyer , Gen'l Western i Agent , Southern Pacific Co. , 233 I Clark St. , Chicago ; W. H. Connor , ) Com'l Agent , Chamber Commerce | Bldg. , Cincinnati , Ohio , or W. J. Berg , / Trav. Pass. Agt. . 220 Elllcott Sq. , Buf- I folo , N. Y. / 1 V Important Inventions. Patents have been allowed upon ap plications prepared and proaecuted by L us for interesting subjects as follows : rTe To C. W. Cross , of Grlnnoll , for an auxiliary air heater adapted to be con nected with a stove in such a manner that it will receive and direct the pro ducts of combustion and nld in warmIng - Ing and circulating air In a room , as required to maintain a uniform tem perature , by admitting cool air at Its bo torn , heating it and discharging it at us top. An undivided half is assigned to W. S. More of same place. To J. Morgan , of Atlantic for a plant planting machine adapted to be ad vanced across a field by horses to set out cabbage and tobacco plants in rows at regular distances apart. A boy on the machine hands plants in succession to automatic plant holders on a wheel and as the wheel revolves It places the plants In a furrow In ad vance of the wheel by a furrow opener and furrow closers Immediately cover the roots and rollers pack the ground around the roots. An undivided half has been assigned to E. Whitney , of Chicago. Printed consultation and advice free. THOMAS G. ORWIG & CO. , i , Registered Patent Attorneys. Des Molnes , Iowa , Dec. 27 , 1899. A Boston Sinn Pleased. In conversation with some friends , n prominent Boston man told of his sufferings from rheumatism and ner vousness , and one of his friends gave h5m some advice , which will be men tioned later , and which has proven to be of incalculable value. To successfully act on this advice. It was necessary to make a trip of over 2,000 miles , but he undertook It , and now thanks his friend for the ndvlce , as he finds himself fully re lieved of his old trouble and has returned - i turned to his home feeling able to t-ope with his business demands , a new man. The ndvlce given was to go to "Hot Springs , " South Dakota , and there take the baths and enjoy the finest cli mate of any health resort in America. If this man was satisfied after mak ing a long trip , those residing within a few hundred miles and similarly af flicted can certainly afford to try it , or rather can't afford to neglect to try It. Ask any agent of the 'North-Western Line for full particulars , or write J. R. BUCHANAN , General Passenger Agent , P. E. & M. V. R. R. , Omaha , Neb. If you have not tried Magnetic Starch try It now. You will then use no other. llulf ItntcH South via Omiihii and St LotilH mid AVuhtiHli ICoutPH. On the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month the above lines will sell home- aeekers ticket * ; to southern points for one fare ( plus $2.00) ) round trip. WINTER TOdRIoi RATES now on sale to Hot Springs , Ark. , and all the winter resorts at greatly RE DUCED RATES. Remember the O. & St. u. and Wabash - bash , the shortest and quickest route to St. Louis. Remember the 0. & St. L. and 0. . K. C. & E. Is the shortest route to Qulncy. Unexcelled service to Kansas City and the south. For rates , sleeping car accommoda tion and all information ca.i at the QUINUY ROUTE OFFICE , 1415 Far- nam St. ( Paxton Hotel block ) or write Harry E. Moores , City Passenger and Ticket Agent. Omaha , Neb. New Inventions. Among the patents Issued last week was one for an apparatus adapted to - inated sign ; while u an electrically ilium- \ obtained a patent for -casted. A.n Ohio man ' ioffce while being fumes arising from collect aud utilize the Nebraska Inventor obtained a patent for a curiously constructed foot operat ed hammer. Among the prominent manufacturers buying patents were the following : Griffin Wheel Co. . Qhlcago , 111. Spotless Steam Sponger Co. , Cleve land , Ohio. American Turret Latin ? Wks. Co Cincinnati , Ohio. Mason Machine Works , Taunton Mass. Calumet Tire Rubber Co. , Chicago , Veeder Mfg. Co. . Hartford , Conn. Ball-Bearing Co. , Boston. Mass Campbell Printing Pres3 & Rite Co New York City. " Parties desiring free Information as to the method of procuring and selling patents should address Sues & Co Patent Lawyers , Bee Bldg. , Omaha' ; A new kind of filter , designed to pur ify the water supply of large cities is ' being tested at Evanston. 111. it' is the Invention of Louis Gathmann , de signer of the spgmental wire-bound Bun , and consists of the mechanical sepaintlon of impurities from water by centrifugal force , on the principle of a cream separator. An additional de- vlc..kllls ' by electricity any germs that may'have escaped.