OVEBHEAKD WHISPERS , CERTAIN number of days ago my attention - f\ \ tention was direct ed toward a young man of not alto gether prepossess ing appearance who appeared to be waiting nearly op posite to my win dow for the coming at some other person. His counte- mance was expressive of vacant insipid- izty , his gait irregular and his manner confused. His dress was nondescript very effective , no doubt but quite in appropriate either to business Joccupa- -tiouor to the pursuit of legitimate pleasure. He paced backward and forward r&om. corner to corner with an air of self satisfaction ludicrous to behold. "Sometimes he stroked the corner of a x'ery pale'mustache at others he bit the fingers of his curiously tinted gloves -and after waiting some time I noticed vtliat his step quickened , a sickly smile passed over his face , and he advanced with an extended hand toward a 3-oung lady who was approaching > quietly. A sweet little creature she was , too. Her innocent face wore a pleasedex- , m-ession , and she blushed a little as .she recognized the man. She was by no rtneans beautiful ; but she was tastefully tiiupareled. Her quiet dress contrasted strangely with his dandy gaudiness , mid there was aquiet attractiveness in iberbearinggencraily , which interested i very much. She could not have ! > eeii more than sixteen , I think ; and i looked from her to her companion. "Were they lovers ? If so , I pitied her e-Toeedingly. She gave him her hand vrith a confinding smile a dainty lit tle hand it was. lie raised it to his lips , "This act of gallantry convinced me 'of itself that there was something wrong. No gentleman would have at tempted such a breach of etiquette in "tie public street. They passed from my sight together , iind I could not resist the notion that their meeting was a secret one that -3ier friends knew nothing of her ac- tjijauitauce with this Adonis , toward irnose lacs her eyes turned , lovingly. I was sorry for her and wondered how atvould all end. Would she discover Iicr error , or did she love him despite alt obstacles ; and was it in his power . .to make her happy ? A fev- hours later they passed my -window again. The same quiet con fidence seemed to exist between them. JElis had evidently exerted his utmost of fascination. Her hand rest- his arm , and she was listening - : ing intently to his conversation. Thcy jparredat the spot where they had met , and liis last words were uttered rn that peculiar whisper which is so mack more easily overheard than the ' ordinary tone of voice. I caught the following words : "Remember , dar- -luig , Wednesday , at 11. The Southeastern - eastern station. " Was it an elopement he was plan ning ? I thought so. She was confused - . fused , but I saw that she assented to ius desire and was loath to part from iTum"then.but ; at last she tore herself : aira.y and walked thoughtfully down 1fche etreet , turning once round and 3 > iushiiig very much when she saw that Fat -was watching her retreating foot steps. / Wednesday at 11 ! This was Mon- -flay evening. But after all , why sfcoxuM the assignation interest me ? WlihaS. . I to do with it except that 5. had much sympathy with the sirl ivhen I noticed the gratified , selfish satisfaction with which he passed in an opposite direction. is a strange fatality about -coincidence. The next morning being Tuesday I had an appointment at STolloway ; and , as I usually do on such occasions , I took the tramway. Having business on hand I had quite forgotten , for the first time , my inter est tu the couple I had seen the day Jbefore. My thoughts in fact , were very wan- r3firuig ones. They always are during -thes short journeys , for the number of strange people , the variety of indi- < -eidual taste expressed in their appar- elt and the curious remarks and matches of broken conversation . -jwhich all the passengers must over hear ] , help to create a sort of chaos .In my mind and send me dozing physi- vcaUy and mentally. CQpon entering the car I was follow ed , by two ladies , who seated them selves opposite to me and thus at tracted my attention. One of these ladies was past the smiddle age , a widow apparently. The -other was some years her juniorbut her face wore a patient air of resignation and "Composure which led me to judge Ahatshe also had lost her husband several years. Her face seemed to be strangely familiar to me. Yet to the best of my knowledge , we had never met before. Where could I have seen that face ? She whispered something to her 'friend I did not overhear ; a fragment of conversation that had been"inter- , runted by entering the car , probably. ' .Then she was silent a moment , and -sifter ward ( still addressing her friend ) ; She * made a second remark , and I "iheard these words quite plainly : "Uneasy about Ethel frequently .in the evening , " 'ZThe words made no impression on -me at the moment , but they occurred to me a shot time afterwards. I think the words impressed themselves upon my mind at the instant of my reoRirition of the lady's features. There was a strong resemblance between - -tween this lady and the young girl I 'had scrutinized the evening pro viously. . This lady was her mother , possibly. Could the child indeed be Ethel upon whose account anixety was express- In that possibility was it my duty to interfere ? The next words made me more cer- SSffl tain that EtTvsl and my heroine were the same person. "She will leave for the country to morrow. I hope the change will do * her good. Her aunt has promised to take charge of her for a few weeks. " I felt that I must speak "then. It occurred to me that if I had a daugh ter who had formed a secret attach ment to a man like the one I had seen last night I should look upon the in formation as an act of greatkindness. I might be wrong. I must use great caution , then there could be no harm resulting from word of mine. "Pardon me , " I said , "is your daughter a young lady of about 10 years , and does she sometimes wear " Here I described the dress of the young girl. The girl looked at me for a moment in blank astonishment ; and , , being ap parently satisfied with her scrutiny , she answered "Yes. " She will leave London from the Southeastern Station ? " The lady answered "Yes , " again. "Pardon me. I have good reasons for asking these qestions , " I continued "Was the date and time of her de parture fixed by yourself or by the young lady ? " The person addressed evidently thought me insane ; but she answered my question , and her answer gave me the clue I needed. "My daughter remarked last evening that she would like to visit her aunt to-morrow , and that , with my per mission , she would leave by the morning train. The invitation had been standing some time. I was to have accompanied my daughter. Un fortunately , I am called to Canter bury upon business this afternoon. " "I think I shall induce you to post pone your journey , " I remarked. "Will you mind answering me one more question ? Has the young lady any male friend ? I mean , is there any young gentleman she meets by an ap pointment , having your iiermission to do so ? " "Certainly not , " said the lady in dignantly. "My daughter is much too young to accept attentions from gentlemen. " Then I described to her the meeting I had witnessed with the languid and gorgeously gotten up Adonis. I spoke of his manner toward the young lady and of the appointment he had made with her. "You are mistaken , " said the ma- f.rnn fvimrllv "Tlir * i-muicr l.nrlvvn j . . . not Ethel. " I had partly expected this , and yet I was morally certain that previous to our conversation the lady had said to her friend : "I am growing quite uneasy aboift Ethel. Do you know she frequently leaves home upon all manner ot excuses in the evening ! " And she had admitted to me that this same Ethel would leave town alone on the Wednesday morning train from the Southwestern station , and that my description of her was the correct one. Good breeding , of course , should have prompted me to apologize for the interruption and make no further remark whatever , but I was so con vinced that the young lady had no intention of visiting her aunt but that she did intend to elope with the cava lier of yesterday that I sacrificed the point of etiquette and returned to the attack. Suffice it to say that I induced my traveling companion to postpone her journey until the next day ( but to leave her home as at present arranged and remain at herfriend's house ) ; fur ther , I obtained her promise to be at the Southeastern station at the hour fixed for her daughter's departure , and I promised to arrange for some place Avhere she could see without be- mq sej u. I succeeded in doing this , and , of course the reader knows the sequel. The languid Adonis , in the extraor dinary costume , was standing on the platform. Presently the young lady joined him and he took charge of the little baggage she had carried with her. She burst into tears , but he quickly reassured her. After a time he would have handed her into the train , but the now nearly distracted mother rushed from her concealment and the girl fell fainting into her arms. The youth disappeared promptly , but he was unearthed a few days af terwards. He was one of a worth less , dissipated set. He "intended to marry the girl , " he said , and then to "come upon her friends" for a new start in life. Hapily , his designs were frustrated by the coincidence attend ing two whispers. Ethel , poor child , was inconsolable at'the loss of her "own true love , " but she will learn wisdom in time , and when she finds her true love in reality she will thank me for my window scrutiny and for what followed it. She will teach her children to avoid incautiously formed acquaintance ships , and relate to them how narrow ly she escaped falling into the toils of a schemer , whose self-introduction , in the first place , was an impertinent in sult , and whose flattery was vile. New York World. Crook's Councils of War. Then it was that his subordinates began to notice one of Crook's pecu liarities which he retained through life. He held his first "council of war. " Crook's councils of war differed from those of any other general , living or dead. He never asked any one for an opinion , never gave one of his own but taking his rifle in hand , strolled a short distance away from camp , sat down under a rock , crossed one knee over the other , clasped his arms about his shins , and occasionally rub bed the tip of his nose with the back of his right hand. This last was the infallible sign by which the troops afterward learned to know that one of Crook's councils of war was in pro gress. He communed with himself , canvassed all the pros and cons of his predicament. Century. In hiring help ns a rule it will pay to secure the best. Good help is as eco nomical on the farm as any where else. THE WOMAN'S WOELD. MATTERS TO INTEREST AND IN STRUCT THE GENTLE SEX. Spring Wraps Traveling Dresses-- Shopping or Knitting Bag The Women Who Pleases Care of the Hands Hints for the Home. The Kind Word , Do we ever need a reminder , in our nurried lives , of the grace that lies in the kindly spoken word ? It may be as we pass a friend in a crowded shop , or nod to her as we hasten by her door on our morning walk to the mar ket or the ferry , that wo utter the gentle greeting , leave behind us the Hash of the happy smile , and brighten a day that was perhaps overcast. Kindness costs little. Why should we not be lavish of it in a world where nobody sfyuuls alone , but where rich and poor , " sad and glad , lofty and low ly , and are bound in one bundle Travelling Dresses Wool dresses for journeys in early spring are being made of light tan , or gray tweeds , or Cheviots of solid color , or striped , and of the dark blue serges that are always popular , They have a fitted coat and plain skirt. Such a gown is complete for the street with out a wrap , but a flowing cape of the material of the dress should be added in case further warmth is required. It is also well to add shirt waists of wash silk or of gingham to wear in stead of the coat on warm days ; one of these , with the skirt and cape , make a pretty suit , and are a pleasing va riety. An English turban or toque of chip the color of the gown should be trimmed with dark velvet folds close on the sides and high at the back ; or else a black hat is worn The veil is of sheer grenadine , and the gloves , of heavy kid lightly stitched , are lighter in shade that the gown. New ulsters are described below. Care of ths Hands , There are not nearly as many secrets in hand treatment as people imagine. A little ammonia or borax in the water you wash with and that water just win Keep i > iie SKIII ciear ami soft. A little oat meal mixed with the water will whiten the hands. Many people ple use glycerine on their hands when they go to bed , wearing gloves to keep their bedding clean , but glycerine does not agree with every one. It makes some skins harsh and red. These people should rub their hands with dry oat meal and wear gloves in bed. The best preparation for the hands at night is white of an egg with a grain of alum dissolved in it. Quacks have a fancy name for it , but all can make it. They also make the Roman toilet paste. It is merely the white of an egg , barley flour and honey. They Bay it was used by the Romans in olden times. At any rate , it is a first rate thing ; but it is sticky , and does not do the work any better than oat meal. The roughest and hardest hands can be made soft and white in the space of a month by doctoring them a little at bedtime ; and all tools you need are a nail brush , a bottle of amonia , a box of powdered borax and a little fine white sand to rub the stains off , or a cut of lemon , which will do even better , for the acid of the lemon will clean anything. Shopping or Knitting Bag. A shopping or knitting bag is some thing the use of which will soon prove its value. Seven-eighths of a yard of plain tinted satin , twenty inches wide , will be needed for the foundation of the bag. The center square is of stiff canvasor buckram , covered with plusher or silk , with embroidered bands , or an arobesque done in outline. This is stitched to the center of the satin foundation. The bag is lined with thin silk , or it may be left without lining aud joined at the sides with a Jrawu cord effect. The hems are deeply turned at the top , and casing for double ribbons put in to draw the whole together. For : i shopping bag , the colors should be dark-brown or gray embroidered with yellow silk and gold thread. An open cavas for the square to be worked with cross stiteh , can be bought at the art stores , and also small leather handles , or straps , which are fastened to the canvas. The bog should be made a good size , or it loses its purpose , as the receptacle for the manylittle packages ages- that accumulate in a shopping tour , to small to be sent , but with a provoking habit of slipping away without notice. In a work-bag the colors can be brighter. Gold satin , with a center piece of the oblong Turk ish pieces , richly embroidered on Turkish canvas or blue , with the Ori ental squares in blue and pink are beautiful combinations. Ladies Home Journal. The Woman Who Pleases "She knows just how to talk to all kinds and conditions of men , " was the recommendation given for a bright woman who makes her living as much by her ability to please us as by her actual labors , says the New York World. Seeing that woman after wards , and observing her closely , one could not but be impressed with the truth of what had been so id. She was gay with the gay , silent when any one else wanted to talk , talkative with the shy , always good tempered , never too animated , and never , never visibly in pain nor in tears. She was always charming , bright , sympathetic and sweet. She was witty , too , but not terribly so. She kept her wit to Illu mine conversation and to lighten dull spirits ; not to burn Hearts , nor scorch sensative feeling. Every body went from her presence feeling comfortable in spirit and with reasonably satisfied hearts. She was a peacemaker and a courage-strengthener. There ar * > two or three dozen of such women in thg world , and when you find one sue will tell you that it is almost impossible for her to get an evening to herself , because so many dear , kind friends are apt to drop in of an evening. And she will add : "I'm glad it's so , for ! should not be able to get through the day without the prospect of these pleasant evenings. I wish the days might be all evenings with a time table that never crept beyond the limits of 8 to 11 p. m. " Spring Wraps. Capes and coats promise to be equally popular as spring wraps. It is merely a matter of choice between a loose flowing garment and one close ly iitted. The materials used are Meltons of light weight , diagonals , and ribbed cloths , in very light shades of mastic gray , tan , and reseda. White and brilliant red cloths are seen in youthful wraps. Black is chosen alike for very elaborate garments and for those that are simple , inexpensive and useful. Figured cloths , with wav ed lines , bows , blocks , and spots , are combined with plain fabrics in some dressy French mantles. The new capes are cut very full , and are even all round. Their average length of twenty-five inches permits them to fall low on the hips. One simple and graceful shape is made of a single piece of cloth perfectly round , with a space for the neck taken out in the centre , and a slit from the cen tre to the edge made for the opening in front. This is very pretty when made of light qray ortan Melton , with the edges cut smoothly and left raw , and a turnover collar of darker vel vet. The lining is a brocade of gay bright colors , and does not quite reach the edge of the cloth. A circular capo of reseda green cloth made in this way has also a thick pinked frill of the cioth falling below the velvet collar and is fastened by two straps across the chest. More elaborate capes of Ight faced cloth retain the flaring collar and. pointed yoke of black ostrich feathers' worn during the winter , and are em broidered with jet , gold , and colored stones. These capes differ from the last in being rounded high on the shoulders , with fulness falling thence to the end in thick pleats beside the fitted back forms , which are studded with nail-heads , and held close to the figure by a ribbon belt inside. The more scant fronts pass under the sides , which may be plain or pleated , and the arms are slipped between. Such capes are made ot the pale Par ma-violet shades now worn ; also of gray , tan , or reseda , as well as black clofn. Driving capes that will also be worn at the sea-side and mountains during the summer are made of red English serge , rough-surfaced yet pliant , aud woven in wide diagonals. They are lined throughout with black twilled silk or satin surah , and are trimmed with black. They have fitted forms in front and back , held in place by an inside belt. The shoulders are slight ly puiied , and deeply folded pleats tall over the front. The small slightly flaring collar is covered with black passementerie and lined with black velvet. White serge capes are similar ly mader and trimmed with sjold galleon loon brocaded -\\ith \ silver leaves. White ostrich tips form the collar. Harpers Bazaar. ATHOME4 Home Hints. Baking powder should always be mixed with the flour dry. Whiting or ammonia in the water is prefprable to soap for cleaning windows dews or paint. Salt sprinkled over anything that is burning on the stove will prevent any disagreeable odor. Linhne.it for Painful Joints. Take 1 of soap liniment , six fluid drachms ; tincture of aconite , ten flnid drachms. Mix. To be rubbed upon the joints at bed time. Devonshire Junket. Put warm milk into a bowl ; turn it with a little rennet ; then add some scalded cream , sugar , ami cinnamon on the top , without breaking the curd. To Mix Mustard Mustard , three parts , salt , one part. A small quan tity of essence of cayenne improves the flavor , in the opinion of many. Mix with hot water. Stewed Tomatoes Put a dozen and a half of tomatoes in a stew-pan with two tcaspoonfuls- vinegar , a little salt and pepper ; coverthem close , and let them stew for ten or twelve min utes. utes.Mead Mead , or Honey Wine. Honey , for ty pounds * ; cider , , twenty-five gallons ; ferment , then add rum , one gallon ; brandy , one gallon ; cream of tartar , twelve ounces ; bitter almonds and cloves , of each , half an ounce. Spice Sausage. Black pepper five pounds , cloves and nutmegs , each one pound and a half , ginger two pounds and a half , nnniseed and coriander seeds , of each three-quarters of a pound ; powder and mix. To Kill Cockroaches A teaspoonful - ful of well bruised plaster of Paris , mixed with double the quantity of oatmeal , to which add a little sugar , this latter is not essential then strew it 0:1 the floor or in the chinks who * e they frequent. Plum Pudding without Egcs.- Quarter of a pound of suet , three tablespoonfuls of flour , quarter of a pound of currants , or raisins , one spoonful of sugar and spices ; to which add a middle-sized carrot , which must be boiled the day before , and mashed to the pulp ; mixwell together , and bo : : three hours. What is Castoria is Dr. Samuel Pitcher's prescription for Infimts and Children. It contains noifher Opium , Morphine nor other Narcotic substance. It is a harmless substitute for Paregoric , Drops , Soothing Syrups , and Castor Oil. It is Pleasant. Its guarantee is thirty years' use by f Millions of Mothers. Castoria destroys Worms and allays ll feverishncss. Castoria prevents vomiting Sour Curd , cures Diarrhoaa and Wind Colic. Castoria relieves teething- troubles , cures constipation and flatulency * Castoria assimilates the food , regulates the stomach and bowels , giving healthy and natural sleep. Cas toria is the Children's Panacea the Mother's Friend. Castoria. "Castoria la an excellent medicine for chil dren. Mothers have repeatedly told mo of its good effect upon their children.11 Da. G. C. Osaoon , Lowell , Mass. ' Castoria is the best remedy for children of which I am acquainted. I hope the day is not far distant when mothers will consider the real Interest of their children , and use Castoria in stead cf the various quack nostrums which ore destroying their loved ones , by forcing opium , morphine , soothing syrup and other hurtful agents down their throats , thereby sending them tc premature graves. " DB. J. F. KINCHELOE , Conway , Ark. Castoria. "Castoria fa so well adapted to children that I recommend it as superior to any prescription known to me.11 IT. A. AncrrEn , M. D. , Ill So. Oxford St. , Brooklyn , N. Y. " Our physicians in the children's depart , mcnt have spoken highly of their crperi- enco in their outside practice- with Castoria , and although wo only have among our medical supplies what is known as regular pnxiucirf , yet we are frco to confess that tha merits of Castoria has won us to look with favor upon it. " UNITED nosprrju. AND DISPENSARY , Boston , Auxir C. SMITH , Prea. , The Centanr Company , T7 Morray Street , Never Yorlc City. . ' ) i ! posmvs 6 Warren St.NewTorT& JACK u A FIVE CENT CIGAR Try this popular brand. It is one of the finest nickel cigars ever placed on sale in McCook. F. D , BURGESS , PLUMBING , Steam and Hot Water Heating , North Main Avenue , McCOOK , - NEBRASKA. ' A stock of best grades of Hone , Lawa Sprinklers , Hose Keeld aud Hose Fixtures , constantly on band. Ail work receives prompt attention. J. S. McBRAYER , House lover % Drayman , % * McCOOK , NEB. ouse and Safe Moving a Spec ialty. Orders for Draying left at the Huddleston Lumber Yard will receive prompt attention. DR. nnMranErs' SPECIFICS are scientifically and carefully prepared prescriptions ; used for many years la private practice withsuccessaud for over thlrtyyearaused by the people. Every single Spe- clflc Is a special cure for the disease named. These Speciilcs cure- without drugging , purg ing or reducing the system , aud are in fact and cleedthesovcreismreiaediesoftlieAVorld. rjsroFrRTfcirAi.ros. cunes. PRICES. 1 Fevers , Congestion , inflammation. . . . 25 i ! Worms ? \Vormi e\er. Worm Colic. . .VJ5 3 Cryinsr ColicorTecthingorinfnnU , ti5 4 JJiarrLea , of Children or Adults ' . ? 5 .Dysentery * Griping. BIHotw Colic. . . . .15 * Cholera Morbus , Vomiting lie 7 Coughs , Cold. Bronchitis iio 8 Nwnralirin , Tootl-ache.Faceache _ ; > ! > jjeadachesrSIeklleadachc. Vertigo .Uo 111 Jlyspepsia , Billons Stomach y.5 11 Suppressedor-Painftil Periods. .US 1V5 V/Iiftc.1 , tooVrofnse 1'eriods 2Z 1JI Croup. Cough , DifilcultBreathlu ? . . . . , 'J5 1-i Salt ithcuin , ErysipelasEruptions. .ti. > 15 Ilbcuinatlsni , .RheumaticPains. . . . . " 5 1 Fever nnd Atine. Chills , Jlalarla .11) 17 Piles , Blind or Blecdinff -TO 19 Catarrh , Influenza , Cold lu the Head .50 iiO Whoopintr Condi * Violent Coughs. . .TO 514 < ; pneril Debility.i'bysicaUVeakness .50 it7 KliIncylHsease .SO US Nervous JJehility 1.00 'JO llrinary Weakness , \VeUingBed. .50 3al > iacaseaofthcUcartralpltatlonl.OO Sold by Drog/itets , or sent postpaid on receipt of price. Da. HUMPHREYS' JUVUAL , (144 pages ) richly bound in cloth and sold , mailed free. HumphreysMIcdicincCo.109FuUonSt.xy. Children Cry for Pitcher's Castoria. When Babj- was sick , we gave her Castoria. When she was a Child , shetaied for Castoria , PThen she became Miss , she clunjj to Castoria , Whea she had Children , ahe gare them Cactorf * . KiLPATRLCK BROTHERS. li ! i ' 2orses branded on left hip or left shoulder. P. O.nddress , Imperial. Mi Chase County , und Beat- | rice. Neb. Kan-re.Stink- Ills' Water and French man creeks , Chaao Co . Nebraska. Brand as cut on side of some animals , on hip and sides of some , or any where on the animal. ALLEN'S TRANSFER , Bus Line. , Baggage Dray . F. P. ALLEN , Prop. , McCOOK , NEBRASKA. C3P Best Equipped in the CitF. Leave order * ! iTo i at Commercial Hotel. Good well water fur nished on t-bort notice. To cure Biliousness , Sick Headache , Constipation - pation , 3Ialaria , Liver Complaints , take the safe and certain remedy , ITsc the SMAM , Size (40 little Beans to the bottle ) . THEY ARE THE MOST CONVENIENT Suitable * oxr aXlAjro. . , Price of cither size , 25c. per Bottle R MEN F ONLY' J ; . r"WIVUUB DSBttEfr : , Jf