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About The Falls City tribune. (Falls City, Neb.) 1904-191? | View Entire Issue (March 17, 1905)
, - - ATE 0r mr cuiw w' , . Copyright , 897 , by L . Tennyson N\l'ly. Copyright , 1S:9 , by Street and Smith. CHAPTER XXII The War of the Elements. Immediately Jack was on his feeL When danger threatens he Is not the man to dream. "Vou want to tell me something , old man-ron1Cthlng deucedly unpleasant , \m1CS6 I'm very much mlstnlwn. Now , . . have It out , without any apolog The " sooner these things are known the quicker they cnn be met. " That ' Is the greeting Job Smithers ( r < < elves. He Is unable to repress his surprlre. ! "You'ro a quick one to get on to trouble , sir But there's no use in tlis gulsing matters. These soldiers Jlaven't found out anything ; wrong yet , but It will soon burst on mem like a thunderclap , and then you'l1 see the wildest scurrying around here image mable. " " "By Jove , .you arc right , Smithers ! " hi what Jack instantly exclaims. "The wind has chnngell. " ' "It is even so. Presently it will grow stronger , and nothing can prevent - vent that raging forest fire from coming . Ing down on us by another route. " Senor Jack Is not naturally despondent . ent , and he as a usual thing does not let I a loophole that promises results escape him "It it came to the worst , perhaps we might let the carriage swing over to the old stand again. There the fire has burned everything possible , and we might be able to stand It , " suggests Smithers , though he advances the idea ' . . . dubiously , as though having little faith . .r' ' \ tn it hlmRett. "Not with a ton of ammunition in the car , " declares his companion , L Quickly ; "that would be invIting eath. A single spark , and away we would go , every mon of us. " "Wo11 , of course , before the nm was made that would have to bo removed , and scattered about , since it would no doubt kick up quite a neat little circus. I can see no other plan , unless we all made for the river. " ( "Slx mites awar. We would never . . reach it if the wind grew Into a gale , . . . . . ; ' . , as is possible , and the fire swung round , cutting us off. " "Ah , sir , you are so quick to punch boles In my poor plans , I am sure you i have one ot your own to submit , " laughs Job , Smithers. Jack shakes his head and resumes MnOklng. "An I can suggest Is that we sit quietly down and resign ourselves to the inevitable " "Not give up the ship-that isn't your way , sir. There's something back of It. You have made a dlscO\ erf. Yo ! believe the situation Is robbed of Its terrors ; hence your serene ' rene manner. Tell me what it is , that I may join In your SAtisfaction. " ' . uTM same old story has gone on t , . since the world began-that eternal - warfare that will never cease to be. " , "Eht" gasps Smithers , dimly , suspecting - pecting his emplo'er's mind may have been affected by the many strange experiences that have of late crowded upon them. I ! . . . "The war of the clements-between fire and 'nter-a vendetta that can never cease so long as nature exists Now you grasp the Idea ? " Smithers 'docs. He turns his face upward to view the forbidding heavens - ens , and as he does so a drop of rain splashes in one of his e'es. Never was such more devoutly received. "Sir , you are right. It is coming. The change ot wind may precipitate .t IIOOncr. Yes , we can hope for a deluge In time. " . Just as they have calculated , the Windl having changed its course , be- gnat to increase its force. Presently ( things show a new phase. Up to this , time the fire has had a hard lime eating . ing up against the breeze , but now It begins to jump. 'fho soldiers have been made aware of this new danger. They are all the qui vivo , and stand ready to meet the emergency. If the fire draws too close before the rain comes it Is their Intention to dispose of the animuni- tlon and try Smithers' pll1n , desperate - ate though It scems The drops of rain fall faster that before , hut as yet without the least benefit. This is not what Jack wants , : what he expects , having seen tropical I showers ere now. Only a deluge will satisfy his aspiration under these eh' cumstances. The rattling , roaring sound increases . creases In volume. It Is like a cane nonade now as the masses or water pitch down upon the burning forest. Another minute and the flood gates ' of heaven seem to bo opened. A tropical storm bursts UPQl1 them without the slightest warning. Thunder - 'der crashes , and vivid lightning flames about them. The forest fire is extinguished In a jiffy , for In the everlasting warfare between these rival clements water usually proves the victor. All are relieved , since they have been saved from another Bravo dan- ger. ger.Tho The rain ceases after a time , almost as suddenly as It began , though the electric glow continues for quito n period. Jack , standing In the door of the carriage , sees a singular spectacle whenever the lightning illumines the cene. The Spanish soldiers who were ! unable to find shelter still stand there , dripping wet , growling anathemas at the fickle fortune that threatens to roast them one minute and almost drowns them the next. Of course , the expedition can go no further , and their one hope Is a safe I _ / / , ' - - / / ' 2'I i ' 1\J \ . Q. y i -z . Z - o "Now , have It out without any apologY . ogY " return to Ha\'ana. Betrayed , they have fallen Into a snare , and will be lucky indeed to bring half of their number safely Into port. One thing Travers Is sincerely sorry for. In asking questions he finds that , the gallant Gen. Toledo , to whom they are indebted for a very great favor , has not been seen since the disaster at the bridge , and as he was on the engine at the time , the chances are he wilt never call upon Jack in Havana . vana to claim the generous contribution ' tlon which the American promised In return for his kindness. The night wears away slowly The day breaks with a rather dismal . mal prospect ahead since there is nothing to eat within many miles ot them. Tra'ers remains In the come pnrtment of the guard. lie harllly cares to taco the others , since the senor has undoubtedly seen beneath his disguise , and of course Informed his dear friend Spencer About nine o'cloclc n whistle In heard , and when smoke over the outer . m' hill announces the coming of n train , the Spanish soldiers burst Into a vociferous cheer that no doubt considerably - Rlderabl startles the driver on the i engine just coming Into 'Iew. Of course their troubles are now I at an end , so far as reaching Havana is l concerned. Since the bridge Is destroyed . stro'ed , there can he no forward movement of the train ; and when the soldiers have climbed aboard , the stranded carriage Is taken In tow , and the crab . like \ journey begun , Senor , noblado , having been baffled in the outset of his grand coup to secure possession . session of the famous Cuban leader , will doubtless think twice before again starting upon such a desperate undertaking ' taking , which , IC known to the secret sympathizers of the rebels in the capital , would place his life in datt- ger. ger.About time middle of n hot clay the train arrives In Havana , and the whole city is electrified hy the startling . ling intelligence that the expedition was ambushed , the train dynamited , and but for the good fortune that placed unlimited ammunition In the hands of the soldiers after the rebels had exhausted their stock , not n man of the mllltar force might have returned - turned to tell the talc. CHAPTER XXI11. I - "Dolce Far Nlente When the train has drawn up in the shed that good Havana citizens term a station , Jack hovers round , eager to have a parting glimpse of the woman he loves. Senor nohlado gives himself away , now that the danger Is a thing ot the past. He Is reserved and haughty , his very : manner telling more plainly than words the fact that ho has discovered . covered : ! the truth concerning Jaclt's idenUt lie thanks the foreigners for their assistance , and does not forget to convey . vey the respects of the ladies , excusing . Ing their non'appearance on some specious plea. As for Spencer , that worthy also keeps religiously In the background since he has learned the astounding truth from the old don. Jack pretends to depart , hut hovers near , and IR rewarded by seeing the ladles escorted to a carriage by their ca , 'aUers , He has his eyes glued on the symmetrical . metrical figure ; there is a yearning In his Intense gaze. Perhaps in some subtle , mysterious manner It is come munlcated to the object of his mute adoration ; for Jessie without warning turns her fair head and looks straight at him. His very heart ceases to beat , but not by the slightest sign does he betray . tray himself That hateful promise given In Edinburgh stands between -a deadly barrier. Ah , what causes the blood to leap like \ mad through his veins ? A little web at lace has been shaken toward him. She has scen-she recognizes him ! Heaven Is kind indeed. Now nothing stands in the way of this raising . Ing his hat gallantly , and returning her salutation : and that one smite Is enough to haunt Jack Trnvers , for he is very much in love with his own wife. They are gone Jack discovers that the dingy station . tlon Is no longer illumined. He seeks Smithers , and finds that worthy has had an eye on the part , for the first thing he does is to congratulate his employer on the progress made. At the house of Lola Montez they find a cool retreat , and do ample jus- tice to the meal that is soon set before . fore them. Jack is endeavoring to study his companion , but when such a human sphinx is concerned , It requires considerable . slderable acumen to penetrate beneath . neath the mask he wears The mysterious connection he hall - - with the remarkable senorita under whose roof they have found shelter arouses Jack's deepest curiosity , and ho hopes the time will noon como when Job Smithers will take him Into his confidence. Then , again , it scorns 80 singular } that Lola Montez should turn out to bo the same girl whom ho was enabled . ahlOlI to serve long ago in quaint old Santa Fe , and thus severed the core dlnl relations then : ! existing between Spencer and hlmsotr. Rosily , It would appear as though there might he an unrolling of the scroll of destiny In all this , and .Taelt can only wish the spinning sisters of Fate would display a little moro or . . I 'I fi'o r _ _ _ . t - lti i' 'r ; ' ! - i fit , . . Mr - . . ' , Jf : / - . " ' 1 ( _ . , /1'/ . . , He is very much In love with his own wife the future to hlR eager e'es. Will ho win her hero In old Havana town ? Heaven grant It ! All other thlngs-a11 alms In life sink into utter Insignificance when compared with this He Itl by degrees building all his castles In Spain on the foundation of a response to his wooing ; nor will he deny time hope that daily and hourly grows stronger in his heart-the belief that In good limo his probation will come to an end -the reward of Jacob be his porllon. Slowly the afternoon passes way. Jack has not retired to his room ; the court , with its rippling fountain , 18 helter ; for the tight breeze passing tllrough makes a cooling current of nlr. Indeed , drowsiness overcame him white ho sat there smoking , and hence he has yielded to the somnolent god without conditions. The sound of music greets his ear as his senses return. The day Is fad- Ing. Already shadows begin to crawl along the stone walls enclosing the court , and through the arch he can see them gathering in the garden , where the myriad of flowers send out their intoxicating perfume , and the larger fountain splashes Its scented , water unceasingly. Jack is wide awake now. He listens , and hears a volco-hears a Spanish melody that once before greeted his ears. The voice Is no strange one ; he remembers its deep , rich contralto cadence. And as he sits there and hears the song from beginning to end , hero comes into his mind a picture that seems In startling contrast to Limo peaceful one upon which his eyes are resting at the present : moment. ( To be continued ) Bible Class Miss4s Its Teacher Young John D. Rockefeller is In Europe . rope , but he is keeping in touch with his New York Bible class by mail. A letter says he is coming back \ In March and will at once resume his celebrated . ed Sunday discourses. The membership . ship has fallen off sadly since he went away and he is much grieved thereat. PartIcular Where She Lays , A hen In Wl11lamsvl11e , N. H. , has her own peculiar taste about a nest. Every day for two weeks she has taken the china egg over the edge ot a box tour inches ' ! high , rolled It halt way I around the edge of the square box I Into a corner and aid an egg beside itG