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Machine
Ott fL O i
GH , what a night it was ! 'Twaj
as If the usual winter slush 01
the London streets had vaporizer
itself , and settled down again in tlu
atmosphere as tog.
Thcti it was Christmas eve. That
made it worse. The poor in London
often find it hard enough to keep up
their spirits in spite of cold , starvation ,
and neglect Yet oven to the most mis
erable and desperate of us all , tho com
motion that heralds Christmastido , the
busy going to and fro of those with
money to buy , ami the hearty display
on tho part of those who have anyth.ny
at all to sell all those arc something to
f see , oven if you bu : eu't sixpence to buy
a dinner with , or a friend on earth to
greet with the "Compliments of tho
Season. " But when King Fog blurs
and overshadows everything , the tem
per of the unfortunate classes is severe
ly tried.
I was very savage that night ; savage
? . 'ith myself , savage with my employ-
ers , and savage most of all with my
miserable lot in life. Once on a time
I M'as a well-to-do householder , with a
flourishing watch and ciockmakor's
business. But after a while things
went badly , somehow or other , and I
suppose I took more than was good for
me. At last the business broke up ;
and then but there ! what's the use of
looking back ? I had now joined the
ranks of tbe struggling and hopeless ,
and It seemed hard that , halt-suffo-
cutcd with fog , I should be trudging the
grimy streets between Clorkenwell and
St. James' with a heavyish weight to
carry on such a night and at such a
season , while the rich and lortunate
were eating and drinking and enjoying
themselves more than was good for
them. Bah ! it made my blood boil to
think of it all. And yet I felt the jus
tice of it all. It was cause and effect.
. As we make our bed , so we must lie
open It
The fog grew so thick as I went
along that'I ' I who have been familiar
with every square yard of London ever
i since I can remember knowing any
thing came for a moment to a stand
still , and had to admit that I had lost
my way. I knew well enough how I
had come Red Lion Square , High llol-
born , Broad street and the Dials. I
ought to bo in Cranborne street or Lei
cester Square ; but , for the life of me , 1
could not.see two yards in front to
make sure. *
Only with some difficulty did I ascer-
, ' tain that there were houses at three
'
paces distaiu-e. I reso'lved to pumi on ,
- . , however , keeping my disengagoU hand
uponthe walls and lintels and doors ,
'in order to have something substantial
to go by. Even this was awkwar.l , and
my progress SO'MI became slower than
ever. So thick was the fog , that with
my hand on a lamp post I literally
could not distinguish the flame of the
gas above me. Nevertheless , I stum
bled onward in hope of mooting some
one to diiect me. But no one came in
sight I suppose I had got into a slum ;
one of those places where , they say , so
many foreign desperadoes lie in'hid
ing ; and 1 was inu.ing on the evil re-
. putc or some of the back streets in the
most luxurious city hi the world , when
.all of a sudden I was roughly seized , j
and before I had tiuie to use my tongue '
'
'Iwas dragged within a neighboring i
doorway. The door was immediately
slammed , and ruthless hands hustled
mo down a dark passage and into a
back room , from which U felt sure ) it
was impossible to summon assistance ,
however loudly I employed my lun-rs.
Hapiuly I was not injured in any way
, -ouly greatly alarmed ; and fortunately
I had retained enough presence of mind
to hold tight the handle of the oodon
box which I carried in my baud. If I
had dropped it ! Well , I would rather
not speculate upon what would have
happened if I had dropped that box.
The room into which I bad been
thrust was lighted by a single gas jet. 1
There was nothing about the apart
ment itself to suggest that my life was <
In danger , for it was an ordinary sitting
room , fitted up with something like ]
feminine care. But I was very quicklj
made lo understand , by the men who
had dragged me into the house , that i
they were capable of anything in pur-
suit of their object There were only
two scoundrels present , thdugh it had
Boomed as if a full score .were taking
me prisoner.
"Now ! " began one of the bullies , a
cress-eyed , burly brute , standing bet
tween me and the door. 3
"Well , " I 'said , as he paused. The
box I carried .was rather heavy. I
placed it cautiously upou the table in
the center of the room , and asked ,
"Pray , what is the meaning of this
* "
treatment :
"Moneyreplied the burly black
guard , with laconic frankness. 1
A The second ruffian , who was mean"V
time looking at me over his friend's
/shoulder , confirmed this explanation
. with a nod ; but the request , or rather b
Semaiid , made to a man in my position o
f life seemed to me so absurd that I s
could not restrain a little laugh. b
The cross-eyed party frowned ana
i \ grily.
t ' "We can't stop here all nlghf he L
, dlurted out in menacing tones. u
< "I'm sure I don't wish you to do so , " d
I rejoined , trying to gain time. n
"Well , then , out with the blunt ! " put
in the second bully ; "and look sharp ! " e ;
Saying which , he drew from his pocket
a life-preserver ( as people are pleased " :
to call the murderous weapon ) . H
"Really , gentlemen , " I answered pa-
clficially. "I am "sorry I cannot oblige pi
you. At the present moment T don't f <
possess a cent in the world. " OT
I "Won't do , " returned tho cross-eycc
one , incredulously. "Gammon ( lam
. bunkum ! Turn out your pockets. "
"With pleasure , " said I , boinganxiou- :
to promote a feeling of confidence , and
suiting my action to the words.
The .second ruffian approached and
helped me. Ho handled my pockets and
patted my waistcoat to satisfy himself
that I hid nothing. It soon became
clear that I had spoken the truth , and
he returned to his place between the
table and the door to consult with bis
comrade as to their next step.
"What have you got in that box ? "
then inquired the gentleman with du
plex sight , perceiving for the first time
that I had at least one portable article
in my possession. "What's inside that
box ? "
"That is my business , " I replied ,
sharply. '
"Come" , come , we don't want any of
your pertness. Open up , and look spry
'
about it" * .
"No. "
"Yes , " he roared , adding a frightful
expression which I should be sorry to
repeat.
"No , " I said , very firmly. -
The two men gin need at one another.
My opposition was beginning to enrage
them. I wondered what they would do
next They evidently meant mischief ,
and I anxiously watched the burlier
blackguard as he hesitated , and then
apparently determined to open the box
nimself. He stepped forward.
"Good heavens ! " I cried , holding out
my hand to stop him. "You don't know
what you are doing ! You will be blown
to atoms ! "
The man started back as if he had
been struck. I pursued my advantage ,
after a little smile at the situation.
"I will open the outer case , " said I ,
after a pause , "and explain. But by all
that's sacred , if cither of you comes
one step nearer , I'll touch the spring
nnd we'll all go tc atoms together ! Do
you think I'd stick at finishing the busi
ness ? Do you think a man cares two
straws about what happens to him
when he makes an infernal machine ,
and carries it about , dynamite and all ,
on bis way to sot the blessed thing
going in a tidy corner of well , no mat-
tor where for the good of his coun
try ? " The two ruffians stood as if
turned to stone. "Ha , ha ! " I laughed.
"You don't know what stuff an anar
chist is made of ! "
The bullies turned as pale as ghosts.
They had not bargained for this sort of
thing. I gave them no time to doubt
me and recover. In a moment-I in
serted a key in the lock of my wooden
case , turned it. and raised the lid. Open
ing an inner mahogany box , I displayed
the face of a dial.
"This , " I said , solemnly , "is the clock.
If I turn this screw 1 sot the indicator
for whatever hour or minute I desire.
If I touch this button , I start the ex
ploding mechanism. This brass rod
ends in a detonating fuse. I have only
Lo release this spring , and blow tho
whole street down. "
My cowardly captors uttered an ox-
? lahiatiou of surprise and terror. They
scorned to have entirely lost their pow-
jr of articulate speech.
I looked at a clock a trumpery ,
jheap , French ticker on the mantel-
) iece , and continued remorselessly.
"It is four minutes to 10. I will now
urn the screw , and sot the indicator to
ixplodo at 10. I will then touch tho
> utton , and yet the dynamite medianj j
sm in motion. This will give you three
niuutes to open this door and the front
loor wide and to make yourselves
carce. If you don't do so , pretty
liiick , the infernal tiling will take its
ourse and I don't think I should moot
ithev of you in Paradise. "
The two ruffians , petrified with ter-
or , glared at me while I made th'uw -
' '
ssary movements.
"Now , " I said , firmly , "you have
hree minutes in which to do as I said ,
md remember at the very first sign
f any attempt at violence , I touch this
pring under my finger arid blow you
oth to smithereens. Now only two
linutes and a half left"
The cross-eyed villain glanced at me ,
iien at his comrade , and lastly at the
ice of the dial. A bare two minutes of
2spite remained. But it was enough
him to deliver a parting shot , in
-ords that forced themselves hoarsely
* ora bis throat
"Well , " he said , "of all the Mcphis-
ipheles I ever set my blessed eyes on ,
au're the most horrible ! "
And without another word he and his
orror-stricken companion hurried out
here was but one minute more to go.
hey were clearly awake to that.
I heard thorn fling the front door open
istily , and run clattering along the
ivement in the street for dear life ,
here was not the slightest chance they
ould attempt to interfere again with
te anarchist
N
I shut up my box In Its case , taking it
r'the handle , quickly made my way
it into the street The fog had lifted
ightly. I perceived that there was a
- -street opposite , and I ran down it
i fast as my legs would carry me.
Before very long I found myself in
Jicester Square , and in another ten
inutes I rang the bell at the back
ior of a well-known clock and watch-
"
> inSt , James' .
The door was opened by my employ-
ei
"Confound it all , Jeremy ! " he said , iiei
ei
thought you were going to fail me. eiPi
ave you brought the chronometer ? " Pi
'Here it is sir. Ir
, One-pcuad-ten , Irte
te
ease. And here's my little account
r repairs and other work. It's been
ring some time. "
I "Come in , Jeremy , and I'll give yoi
your money , and a glass of. grog
! You're only just in time with the chro
nometer. Lord Bluebury starts tin
first thing toinrrow morning to meei
"nJ = yftflit in the Mediterranean , and hf
wouldn't go without the instrument foi
i auythinsr. "
"Weil here's the article , and a verj
pretty old timekeeper it is , too. Yot
i don't see anything to beat it nowadays
I told you you'd have it to-night and I
never tell aii untruth to anybody. "
1 And then 1 remembered riiat what I
was asserting as to my truthfulness
was not strictly accurate. But I said
nothing more ; for , if I had confessed
how near I had been to losing Lord
, Bluobury's valuable chronometer alto-
| gether , I'm sure 1 should never have
j been given another job to do at home
j so long as I lived.
It was a narrow escape , that little
adventure. But I can't help iaughinj ,
lo myself whenever I think of pool
Jeremy as a full-blown anarchist.
"Of all the Mephisto-pheles I ever
set my blessed eyes on , " said the cross
eyed gentleman , "you're the most hor
rible ! "
And yet you wouldn't think it to look
at me. Argosy.
YANKEE BANK NOTES BEST.
American Printers Head the World Ir.
Kxecution'of Fine Work.
Nowhere else in the world has the
art of printing bank notes been per
fected as It has in tSe United States.
Jacob Perkins of Massachusetts made
great advances in printing early in the
nineteenth century when he substitut
ed steel for copper plates and devised
a method of making transfers of tht-
original engraving in soft steel , which
by being afterward hardened could be
printed from. Through his exertions
in connection with other American
bank note printers the bank notes of
this country many years ago attained
that superiority In artistic and mechan
ical execution over those of all other
nations which they have always since
maintained.
Many and important improvements
have been made in this country in the
making of bank notes , notably in the
lathework , by which portions of the
note designating its denomination are
usually executed and various new de
vices have been tried from time to time
to baifie the counterfeiters. The most
effective is that now used by the guv-
erumeut , whereby notes , bonds , etc. ,
are printed exclusively on paper which
has small fibers of silk of various col
ors incorporated in its texture. After
the plates are prepareextreme ! care
Is required in every process. The bi > .st
ink , nicely ground and mixed , must be
used , and the paper wetted with exact
regularity. The best workmen can
hardly print more than 600 impressions
in a day.
The numbers on bills and bank notes
are printed by a very iuguuious me
chanism which makes it impossible to
commit any fraud by printing two
notes of the same number. The
paratus consists of a series of brass
disks , of which the rirn is divided oy
channels into projecting compartments ,
each containing a figure. The numbers
1 to 9 having been printed in the course
of the revolution of the first disk , the
second disk then presents the figure 1 ,
which , combining with the 0 of the
first disk , forms number 10. The sec-
3ud disk now remains stationary until
In the course of the revolution of the
first disk the numbers 1 to 19 have
been printed , when it presents the fig
ure 2 and does not move again until
mother revolution of the first disk com
pletes the numbers 20 to 29. Thus the
; wo disks proceed until ninety-nine
lotes have been numbered , when rlie
, hir < Pdisk comes into operation an 1 ,
, vith the first two , produces 100. Con-
= equentiy , the first disk performs 100
evolutions to ten of the second and
me of the thinl. The notes may he f
lumbered independently by this pro-
: css without the possibility of error ,
he machine meanwhile boinir its own
: heck.
He JJackcii Appreciation.
She was yor.ng and nicely 'dressed
.rid fairly prtity. The ar 'was full
yhen she entered it , and most of the
itters were women. The girl looked up
nd down the long lines of raglans and
laring hats , and then planted herself
irectly In front of a youngish man
rho sat near the stove. She stared
own at him in a superbly scornful
annncr. but he was an old bird and it
videutly didii' ; iu. : , . . ' : .
Then her scornful stare changed to
ne of deep 'mUcnation , and this in
urn melted in 1.0 a iook of pained sur-
rise. But the youngish man stood it
11 in a thoroughly hardened manner.
The look of surprise became a look
f pity , and presently the girl stooped a
ttle and remarked : "I'm afraid you
on't know who I am. "
He looked astonished , but managed
> answer : "Your fear is well grounded.
[ ay I ask who you are ? * '
The girl stiffened with conscious
ride. !
"I am one of this season's buds ! " she
lid with a superb air of superiority.
But even then she didn't get the
at Cleveland Plain Dealer. r <
Stranjje Etiquette.
If the King or Queen of England
gn their name in a visitor's book , it
customary to provide them with a : h
jw ppn , which is not used by the in
) sts or the other guests unless it be in.h
mded them by the royal visitor. An- .h
her small point of etiquette connect-
[ with pens and paper Is that In writ-
g a letter direct to the British BOV-
eign , it is written on thick , white
Lper"on one side only , and Is placed 15vi
an envelope large enough to con- vi
In the letter unfolded. 10
]
v7hen a woman gets good and mad
e IB pretty apt to tell the truth. to
v
A statement issued by the clgarmak-
rs of New York shows thai 5400.000
ens spent in sustaining tho strike o/
i aembcrs in tht State recently.
The Lead City ( S. D.j Minors' Union
oasts of OIIP of the finest building ?
wucd by organized labor in America ,
t was completed in the spring of 1SD4
, t is three stories in height , with c
asemout , is built of cut stone , a tin is
0x112 feet , the building was erected
.t a cost of $00,000.
A terrific labor war is expected le
it. Louis The building trades domain ;
hat all work in their line for the
Vorld's Fair be doiuby union men
Chi1 Contractors' League has issued il >
iltimalum , in which it is declared thai
ympathetic strikes will'not be toier
ited and non-union men will bo hiroc
vheii necessary.
Sir Charles Dilkp , M. I' . , spoke olo
luently of the Irish trades unions it
Dublin. He is in favor of the trades
mions and the influence they exert in
'arllament. He urged the delegate * tc
ratch closely the increase of uaval and
ther government work in Ireland , anil
o see that the work was so placed as
0 favoi the Irish industries and Irish
vorkingmen.
Boston is the latest city to considoi
he project of building a labor temple ,
md In all' likelihood the workiugnien
f that city will have one before long
ifter agitating the question for sev
ral years the Central Labor Union ha ;
et to work to accomplish the object
tnd a committee has been appointed tr
: oufer with the Building Trades Coun
ul and report plans for the erection oJ
1 building.
Boot and shoe workers of Chicag <
md the West are arranging a cam
jaign to unionize all factious now out
ido the fold. The tight will probablj
3egin in Chicago. It will' be on the
; uerrilla order , one employer being ap
Dronehed at a time. If an employei
eftises to pay tho union scale , then fi
trike will bo called , and until it is set-
led the schedule will not be presented
o any other.
The paper-hangers believe that thoj
ave at last secured undisputed au
onoiiiy of the paper-hanging trade
nd that they will soon be divorced j
rom the painters and decorators , whc
ave claimed control of the paper-
angers heretofore. The recent con
ention of tho Brotherhood of Paiut i
rs. Decorators and Pa per-II angers at
) etroit , voted by a good majority tc ;
rrant autonomy , and if the genera !
uembership in its referendum vote up )
( olds this decision the paper-hanger
vill be free.
{ OW DOG SAVED MASTER'S LIFE
'eejran Was Caujrht Under Tree and
Tijer Took His Boot Home. |
John Iteegan , a farmer of Gulf Sum !
lit , Pa. , went out upon a hill near hii i
ouse to cut down trees , taking witi i
im his dog Tiger. He cut a tall oak j
rhich fell in such a way that it ,
nocked him down and imprisoned bin
i a little depression. Had it no >
eon for the depression his lifo woulc
ave been crushed out , but as it wai
e washeld a prisoner and. struggli
3 he would , he could not free him
He shouted mid his dog appeared
'igor apparently realized at once tin
ungerous predicament in which hii
uister was placed and also tho I'acs
iat ho could do no good on the spot
e tugged awhile at the imprisoned
lan and then started off for home 01
wild rush.
Arriving at the farmhouse ho seti \
ich a howling that the attention ol
; ery one on the place was attracted
him. All wondered what could b\ \
te matter with him , never suspecting
le true cause/of his trouble. No at
ntion was paid to his noises except
scold him.
The dog now made off'back to when
s master lay , and a few momenU
ter was again heard howling at tin
rmhouse door. The first person wh (
jproaehed him saw that he had oni
his master's boots In his mouth , an (
was at once surmised that something
as wrong with Iteegan , and that tin
telligent brute was trying to convej
message.
rhe dog barked with delight whel
veral of the farmhands set off witl
n to see what was up. The men foutu |
> egan almost unconscious and suffer
U greatly , says a New York Work Viii
ecial. The unfortunate man was re iih
ised and was found to have suffere < h
serious injury. s ;
CIger is now a great hero. ab
ak
tlh Expenditure of Ammunition. k
'Where's your husband ? " asked-oni I
iman of the other as they met in th
) cery store.
'I suppose he's talking politics witf a
nr husband , as usual , " was the anc \
er.
'It strikes me they both might
tter engaged. " SI
I wouldn't disturb them for any
ng. Let them use up their complain ie
r , powers on the trusts and suet
ngs. It leaves that much less foj el
s meals. " Washington Star.
th
TLe World's Great Cities ,
bl
'here are in the world 270 cities hav-
t"P
more than 100,000 inhabitants each-
having more than 500,000 ; and 12
a population of more than 1,000.-
to
fu
laughing at a man's funny story wiB lil
ase him more than telling him t lilm <
en yourself.
HOTEL INVENTIONS.
Waldurf-Astoria Manager Is Pestered
( by Freak Devices and tschcuiem.
Mr. Coldt , of the Waldorf-Astoria ,
Is tired of would-be inventors. "It
| makes me very tired , " said he the oth
er day , "to hear complaints about our
.system of paging cards.
"Now , I have made this system of
paging cards first introduced , by the
way , by me a special study since 1
' a mo hero , as 1 appreciate the fact
-b.-Jt the highest recommendation a ho
tel ran have is the olficioucy of the
service , specially that of card deliv
ery. Nothing is calculated to irritate
a guest more than the discovery that
she has been called upon by a friend
when he or she has been in the hotel
at tho time and lias not known about
it
"At a greatly increased expenditure
I now employ young men as pages in
stead of boys as formerly , because
they are more intelligent and discrim
inating. I used to have the names call
ed out as well as the numbers of the
rooms , but this was often embarrass
ing or objectionable , rnd so now 1
only have tho number of the room an
nounced , which is a private matter
known only to the occupant.
"It Is amusing , though , that men
sometimes become so engrossed in con
versation at a round table in tho cafe
that they do not heed the calls under
their very noses. Of t mrse , when the j
pages identify or know the persons
tlie card or letter is delivered without
the usual announcement"
Mr. Boldt is a shining mark for In
ventors. Scarcely a day passes that
he Is not sought or rather besought
by some enthusiastic inventor anxious
to have him adopt the new patent for
obviating or producing this or that in
his great hostelry.
One promoter has a scheme for sev
eral monstrous switchboards like those
in the stock exchange for the notifi
cation to guests of callers by the au
tomatic dropping of disks containing
the number of the room. This Mr.
Boldt considers Impracticable , because
his guests do not want lo be bothered
looking at such things , and will not
when they are engaged in tho cafe.
Another has a turnstile system of
chocking in their revolution the rota
tion storm doors , and thus preventing
a draught through the spacious and
gusty corridors. This Mr. Boldt finds
ill right in theory , but decides it would
Inconvenience tho guest in the : om-
[ nirtmental door.
A third lias an idea that he could
place a tally at the various doors of
those who entered , and it could be au-
Qouuced officially the next morning
: hat so many hundred people hud vis
ited the place tho day before.
Probably tho most irritating crank
nventor , says the New York Times , is
he one who wishes to record on a
switchboard conspicuously displayed
D the halls the vacancies at tho ta-
jles or rather the vacant tables in the
estaurant.
"If , " observes Mr. Boldt , "this sys-
em were adopted there would be a
lot every night among those awaiting
nbles , as each would consider it his
urn next , regardless of the fact that
he tables had been previously en-
: aged. I never consider any expense
n improving my system , but I really
; et very weary of these impracticable t
5
uggestions , especially when advocated 5r
r
iy patrons. But you must give every
ne a hearing or you may rniss some-
biiig good. "
SHE KNEW HER NAME.
'aithfnl Cow Saves the Ivife of Her
Little Companion ?
It Is q kitidly : md affectionate custom
o give an individual name to each of
lie animals wo possess , and a etory a
by the Humane Alliance shows tif
at times it may also be a useful f <
ustom. A Scotch farmer was the hero
f the adventure.
"I was a lad keeping Donald Mac-
'atighton's cows. " bo says. "There
ere three of them. The dun was Bell ,
ic red one was Cowslip , and the black a
ras Meadow-Sweets. E
"The cows knew their names like ir
irO'
iree children , and would come right O'
cross the leas when called. O'P' '
"One day when I was not with them , P'O1
ut had been given a holiday and gone O1
ilberry hunting up on the side of the C (
ill , I climbed until I was so high that
got dazed , and lost my footing upon
le rocks , and carac a-tumbling down
id snapped my ankle , so I could not S <
Sd
ove. d <
"It was very lonesome there. It EC
emed to me that it was hours that I rii
y there hitching along among the th
thm
acken. I thought how night would m
une and nobody would know where I nc
as. I could not move for the anguish ncw ;
my foot , ! i"d it was of uo use to
.lloo , for there was naught In sight
ve the crows and daws a-skirling
: ainst the sky. My heart was fit to
oak , for I was but a lad , and mother
sked to me for bread , and I thought es ]
ha
would never see home again.
<
'After a while I spied a cow beneath ,
wl
azlng on a slip of turf just between
rift and the hill. She was a good nij
3g way below , but I knew her ; it mi * <
is Cowslip.
'I shouted as loud as I could , 'Cow- ex ]
14
pi Cowslip ! Cowslip ! '
'Cowslip , when she heard her name , tri ]
't ' off grazing and listened.
called again and again. What did
s do ? She just came a-tolllng up and
and up they are rare climbers ,
se hill cattle. She slipped and stum-
id , but up and up she came till she
° Ia
iched me.
She made a great to-do over me ;
Iced me with her rough , warm
igue , and was as pleased and as piti- II
as though I was her own. Then , DOV
e a Christian , she set up a voice and lonj
aned moaned so long and BO loud to 1
it they beard her In the rale below. the
"To hear a cow moaning like * DA
they knew meant that she waa In trou
ble. Me they would not have looked
for , even if they had heard me. So they
came a-searching and seeking , and they
could see her red and white body ,
though they could not see me ; and sa
they found me and carried me down.
And it was Cowslip that saved my
life. "
"SHE BURNS GREEN I
llovr the Finder Announced Hi Di
covery of 15orix.
The greatest discovery of borax IB
the United States was made in the tor *
ribly hot region known as "Death Val
ley , " and in a most romantic way. Th
Chicago Record-Herald tells the storyt
In 1SSO Aaron Winters lived with hia
wife , Hosie , in a gulch known as Ash
Meadows , not far troin the mouth ol
Death Valley , lie was sofond of his
wife that he would not allow her to b
long absent from him , although theli
little hut on the side of the mountain
was 100 miles from the nearest neigh
bor , in a wild , rugged , forsaken coun
try.
try.One
One day a desert tramp came along
and spent the night at the Winteri
home. He told the hunter about th
borax deposits of Nevada. When he
went away Winters thought that h
had seen deposits of the same kind oa
his explorations into Death Valley.
Accordingly he and his wife wenl
together to make the search , having
previously provided themselves witi
certain test chemicals , which , when
combined with borax and Ignited ,
would produce a green fir me.
Having procured a piece of the auf > '
stance which he believed to be borax ,
Winters and his wife waited for night
fall to make the test. How would II
burn ?
For years they had lived like Plutei
oh the desert , entirely without luxuriea
nnd often wanting for the very neces
sities of life. Would the match change
all that ?
Winters held the blaze to the sub
stance with a trembling hand , then
shouted at the top of his voice : "Shi
jurns green , Rosie ! We're rich ! We'r
rich ! "
They had found borax. The mini
cvas sold for SiiO.OUO , and Winters tool *
jis Ilosie to a ranch in Nevada.
A Generous Kepast.
If it is true that a rose by any othet
lame would smell as sweet , It should
ilso be true that what we call an Earlj
lose , when we speak of potatoes , bj
my other name would taste as good ,
jut all potatoes are not so poetically
lamed , as two women discovered just
fter they had iiuished a farmhoust
unclieou.
They were out on a bicycle tour , and
locarne very hungry , as bicycle riders
ften do. As there was no inn any-
rherc within easy reach , they applied
t a farmhouse for food. An old man
. -as working in the potato patch , and
hey attempted to negotiate with him
or a Umclipon.
He was very willing to do what he
on Id , and reassured them by declaring
lat although he was afraid there waa
ot much else to eat in the house , h
ad plenty of potatoes , aiid he could
icommend them as the finest In the , , -
juntry. -
The luncheon was entirely satlsfae-
> ry , and after the guests had finished
, they spoko enthusiastically of tbeli
jpast and praised the potatoes in par-
L-ular.
"Yes-s , " said the old farmer , slowly ,
rou might ha' done wuss. You have
tton two Schoolmasters , two Black-
uiths. four Kidneys and a couple 0 *
rhite Elephants.
Mutton as a Motor.
Greon , the English historian , one daj
iked a friend which of all the Inven
ts of their uay had done the most
r the people , as a whole . His friend
lesscd this and that , but the answei
as :
"Beyond doubt , sixpenny photo
phs. "
reply involving quite as great'an
isurdity as that was made by Cecil
iiodes in answer to a lady who , seek-
? to draw him out , suggested that h
-ed his phenomenal rise to the Im-
tus of noble sentiments.
'Madam , " returned Mr. Rhodes , " 1
; e my fortune simply and solely t
Id mutton. "
'Cold mutton ! " gasped the lady. Q
. Rhodes , what do yon mean ? '
'When I was young , " continued th
uth African millionaire "
, "Iwas _ sa
sed with cold mutton , and I hated U
cordially , that I resolved to gron
h in order to put It on one side foi
J rest of my life. Yes , madam , cold
itton was at the
root of my success-
tle sentiments nad nothing to de
th it. "
Man of Strict Veracity.
te had been out slaughtering deei
I when he
returned
naturally hlj
inds expected a good hunting story ,
ecially so because he was known t *
e a masterly Imagination.
Hello , Jones , " chorused several
en they met him on the street thi
ht that he returned "did you bar *
ch luck this time ? "
ou bet , " he answered , just as thej
ected.
3ow many deer did
you kill on TOW
. " ' asked one.
slnety-nlne , " he replied soberly.
Slnety-nlne ? "
queried another , ia
lulously "Why didn't you make II
tindred f
Sir ! " he said la a voice that geared
n , "do you think I would tell
ikety-blank lie about one deerr-
nphls Scimitar.
Continuous Rainbow Show *
the coldest parts of 8Ib rl * a rate-
may sometimes b stn all day
in a cloudless sky. It l supposed
due to fine particle * of laow It
*