THE JEWELLED TALISMAN miTAMANWCAVALIER ! . MRS. CAROLINEmORNEj CHAPTER IX. ( Continued. ) "This is a dangerous business" "Not .so much so us it appears to be. " "I'm afraid that you'll iind that it it , . " "By no means. After altering a bingle date , I .shall cause it to he restored to the place it was taken from. " "What benefit to you can the altera tion be ? 1 can see none/ ' 'T will tell you. One of the letters I received yesterday was from my Aunt Dermont , who , after the death of Mr. Burlington's wife , presided over his household. She mentioned that a will , by which Mr. Burlington left me the whole of his property , a f i\v leiracieh ex- copied , and dated June 8 , 1 ( . " < , had re cently come to light. I at once recollect ed that this one waj written exactly three years later , to a day. " "Rather a .singular coincidence , I should think , that both wills should be written the same month and the same duy'of the month. " "Both singular and fortunate. A slight erasure , and a single stroke of the pen will make the nine a six. " "True , but an alteration which must be so delicately made as to defy detec tion , will require a cunning as well as a careful hand. " "Two requisites which mine isn't defi cient in. Judge for yourself. " As he finished speaking he took anoth er parchment from his pocket , unrolled it and handed it to Mildred. "Yon didn't tell me that your Aunt Dermont not only mentioned the will , but sent it. " "I hadn't made up my mind then whether to show it to you or not. Look at the date. " "I thought yon said it was dated 10'oG. " "So it was , when I received it. " "Can it be possible that the figure nine which L-see here so fairly inscribed was a six ? " "It can be. " "Button don't count on receiving any -immediate benefit for your trouble. " "Whether I do or do not must depend on circumstances. I must put things in train , so that if 1 don't win the bride , 1 j may secure the fortune. If we succeed in estranging Alice and Ilarleigh I think that 1 am neither so ill-favored that pa tience and perseverance will not finally bring her to listen to my suit. " "In which case , neither of the wills will be of any value to you. " "No ; but if , on the other hand , Har leigh should marry her. he will find that instead of the .rich heiress he expected , that a hundred acres in the very heart of the wilderness is his bride's only dower. " "The time will never come whenAlice Dale will be Clarence Harleigh's bride. Swift and sure agents must be made use of to prevent it , should others fail. You will return to England the first opportu nity that offers ? " " " ' "Yes. "I will go at the same time. " "That is right. To remain here among bears and savages , and worst of all , Puri tans , if nothing is to be gained by it , is what 1 should have no. fancy for. " CHAPTER X. Clarence Harleigh , during the first three or four weeks after hi * arrival in England , had , with one or two excep tions , absented himself from court. No doubt , he felt that the companionship of Mich men as Rochester , Buckhurst , Har ry Jermyu , a mere butterfly , Killigrew , the graceful , insolent and showy Duke of Buckingham , with scores of others whose vices outnumbered their virtues , would not encourage him , either by precept or example , to pass through his two years' probation in a manner to satisfy his se vere and exacting judge. A dozen or more courtiers were group ed together in : the banqueting hall , through which , jonly a few years previ ously , Charles 1" . had passed to the scaf fold , chatting on various subjects , some of them pretty liberally seasoned with court scandal , to pass away the interim which would elapse previously to the en trance of the king. "Will Harleigh. be here this evening ? " said one of them , addressing Harry Jer- myn. "I believe he has graciously conde scended to give his promise to that ef fect , " was the reply. "I understand now why the bright glances of a certain lady's eyes might as well fall on an iceberg. " "How came you to be enlightened ? " in " quired the first speaker. "Lord Arrau tells me that his ob Iitc duracy must be laid to the charge of a tco little rustic he found in the new world. " of "And what is more unaccountable ti still , " said Killigrew , "Dame Rumor says JfiI she is a Precisionist , and eschews all I gayer apparel than a sad-colored gown , a kerchief of cambric and pinners of the F same. " "And stiff with starch " said tl so , anoth tlgi er , "I venture to say that , like the enor giy mous ruffs worn by Queen Bess , they y would stand alone. " a "I shouldn't wonder , " said Killigrew , C "if Ilarleigh should turn to be a Puritan himself. " lafc "Nor I , " said Jermyn. "I have sus fc pected he had a leaning that way ever tlw since he returned from the provinces. " tlO "I' advise you , " said Killigrew , "to be O on your guard , so as not to manifest any tln surprise should he make his appearance n here this evening with his hair cropped a ] after the fashion of the Roundheads. " ed "And wearing a steeple-crowned hat ecdi and a sad-colored doublet to match his di lady love's gown , " said Harry Jermyn , sc who probably being reminded of his own clih well-fitting pourpoint of rich purple vel cliw < vet , with a .silk embroidered handker w chief , which sent a faint odor of musk ro through the room as he drew it from his roPi pocket , he brushed away a particle or Pi two of the glistening powder , which had si : been used to heighten the luster of his th : long , wavy hair , from one of the sleeves. ev At this moment the entrance of Har leigh in a dress whose richness and ele th thA gance accorded well with his manly and A somewhat haughty style of beauty , caus ed a smile to curl the lip of Bucking ham. Almost at. the same moment the ' king made his entree by a different door. He advanced towards the group in an easy , familiar manner , for many of those | composing it had been his companions , ' not only in many a hair-breadth escape , but in numberless wild adventures and mad frolics , during his years of exile. ! While noticing those present with a j grace and good humor natural to him , a slight disturbance attracted attention to wards the door by which Harleigh had found ingress , and , at last , rising high above suppressed words of remonstrance , were heard these words : "I must go in , for 1 am the bearer of something for his majesty which my wife Margery has for many a year preserved as the apple of her eye , giving it a plsjce in a box of polished maple , the whole time , by the side of her best headgear. " "Neither the permission nor the order is necessary , " said Charleslaughing , as the usher stepped hastily forward , a stoutbuilt yeoman following close to his heels , with his broad , round face a good deal flushed from excitement. A word from Buckingham caused the usher to fall back , while , with firmly planted steps , the man made his way to wards the spot where the king stood. When arrived within a short distance of him , happening to catch sight of the Duke of Buckingham , he stopped with a puzzled air , and scratching his head to assist his memory , alternately regarded the king and the duke. "I should say that this was the king , " said he , in a low tone to himself , fixing his eyes on Charles , "though the other one is dressed such a nation deal finer. " "Wiser heads than his have supposed that the divinity that doth hedge a king is made of no better stuff than laces , ribbons and jewels , so don't be puffed up , George , " said Charles , addressing Buckingham , who , like himself , was in finitely diverted at the man's mystifica tion. Another look , longer and more search- ing than the others had been , appeared to overcome any lingering doubt , and ap proaching Charles more nearly , he knelt at his feet , at the same time hugging a parcel , round which was wrapped a snowy napkin , closely to his breast. "What is your wish , my good friend ? " saad Charles. I "It is only that your majesty , " and he busied himself with undoing the nap kin , as he spoke , "would graciously please to accept this curry-comb. " "Oddsfish , man ! better give it to my groom. " "Not for a gold ducat , " said the man , "would 1 again have it touch horseflesh. " "Why , there's nothing dangerous about it , I hope ? " said Charles. 'No ; an' plfease your majesty , but it would be puttin' a slight on my good Dame Margery , who has kept it in the maple box with her best headgear ever since I curried the bay mare with it that carried your majesty beyond the reach of those who were seeking for you. " / "Let me see , " said Charles , adjusting his periwig. " ! ' think I have some recol lection of a bay mare that served me , on a certain occasion , which might have claimed kindred with the wind , as far f as speed was concerned , and it was well e for me that it was so. A dozen blood- thirsty dragoons kept ine in sight for ten t minutes or morel then all but one began . s to lag , and it wasn't long before he fol lowed his example. " a "Her name was Speedyfoot , please t your majesjy. " "She was well named. Yours is Hen- , drick Dykes ? " K "It is , please your majesty. " "It does please me , and that right well , to meet you in a place where , at the time you did me such good service , there ap peared little chance of my ever being ad mitted. I thought , at the moment of your T entrance , I had seen that honest face be- ' fore , " said Charles. Then speaking to h some one in attendance , he gave orders y that Hendrick should be provided with a refreshment and lodging , while , turning si to Hendrick himself , he charged him not siB to so away in the morning till he had B " either"seen or heard from him. "I thought , " said Harleigh , who , with two or three others , was standing a little ' apart , "that Gilbert Falkland was to be clo here this evening. " o "So he is , " said he whom he addressed. f "I shouldn't wonder if , instead of being tl lined with gold , which would enable him la resume with fresh spirit his old habits law ; luxury , his pockets were found to con tain nothing better than a few worthless Oiy grants signed with the mark of some Oidi Indian ] chief , wilder than his lands. " di diei He had hardly finished speaking when ei Falkland made his appearance. eifi "Ah , here is my patentee , fresh from n the new world , " said Charles , cordially F giving him his hand. "I heartily welcome Fm you back to merry England , even if you m are ; the owner of as many acres as are contained in my United Kingdoms. " aie "I can assure your majesty , " said Falk e : land , "that there would be ample space m for my .domain between the Thames and in the Tweed , the whole of which is not fr worth the space shaded by the Royal is Oak. When the grim old Puritans called istt that part of the world a howling wilder ttB ness < , they couldn't have hit on a more B ippropriate appellation , it being inhabit chiefly by bears and wolves. " "I half expected , " said Killigrew , ad- Iressing Falkland , "that , during your ab sence , you would espouse the red-skinned d5 laughter of some Indian chief , and bring tier here to illume and enliven the court , " with the jewels in her nose and the bells round her ankles. " P. "I have seen an Indian maiden , " re- A ilied he , "whose brilliant"eyes would shame the rarest diamonds ever dug from he mines of Golconda ; I wouldn't except ai ven this splendid jewel. " As he spoke , he tossed upon the table .he opal filched by Mildred Dacres from tLSi \lice Dale , which in its descent , seem- Si atJa ed to flash with every hue of the rich and tempting fruits and sparkling wines ranged near. At sight of it , Harleigh's face flushed crimson. The next minute the blood receded , leaving lip and cheek as pale as death. "A love token , I'll be bound ; is it not , Falkland ? " said Harry Jermyn. Falkland smiled , but made * o reply. "I think I've seen this gem Before to day , " said Buckingham , takinfr it up and examining it. "I thought I wasn't mis taken. It is the one , Ilarleigh , you pur chased at Lingard's , previous ! T to your going to America. " "I don't pretend to say whei. or where it was purchased , " said Falkland. "The first and the last time I ever saw it , till I could call it my own , it adorned the neck of one more beautiful and bewitch ing than the most celebrated of the beau ties of Windsor , portrayed by Sir Peter Lely's pencil. " "You had better mind how you let the little Castlemaine , and some others , hear you compare your forest beauties with those of the court , " said the Duke of Buckingham. "Has tins' little wood nymph of yours a red skin ? " inquired Killigrew of Falk land. "Yes , as red as the freshest rose in June , save where the empire of that queenly flower is disputed by its sister , the lily. " "Her name ? " said Charles , beginning to be interested in Falkland's somewhat high-flown description. "Alice Dale. " "What ! the daughter of Reginald Dale , who , I've been told , a short time before his decease , caused that stiff old Puritan , Nathan Walworth , to be appointed her guardian ? " "The same , your majesty. " "And he soon afterward emigrated to America ? " "He did. " "I remember him well , " said the Earl of Arran. "He served under Cromwell , as a captain of dragoons , that used to stable their horses in the stalls of the cathedrals. " "If I mistake not , " said Buckingham , "one Burlington , who owned a princely estate in Wiltshire , was the fair damsel's uncle , that Falkland is in such raptures about. " "He was , " said Arran. "It is she , 'then , who stands in your light ? " said Harry Jermyn. "That is not quite clear , " replied Falk land. 'True , if you marry her. It will then be much the same as if old Burlington had made you his heir , which , I've heard he once contemplated. " Meanwhile , Harleigh had remained si lent , though with compressed lips and flashing eyes. He now drew Falkland a little aside. "Dare you say , on the word and honor of a gentleman1 , that Alice Dale gave you that opal ? " he demanded. "Till you make it appear by what right you ask the question , I will say nothing about it. " s'By an Englishman's right. " "And by the same right I refuse to an swer a question asked with so much ar rogance. " "I am not in a mood , just now , to clothe my language in the garb of humil ity. I demand to know if Alice Dale gave you that opal of her own free will. " "It was freely given " "It is false. She never gave it to you. " "What I have said is true. " "I shall not take your word. " "Let the sword decide it , then ! " Charles' , who had caught enough ol what was said to understand by this time what was going forward , now inter posed. "You seem to forget , " said he , "that this is neither a place nor a presence for lover's broils. Both of you will please consider yourselves under arrest you , Gilbert Falkland , for proposing to decide the question by the sword , and you , Clarence Harleigh for provoking him to ilf . Remember that you leave this place for , ready furnished lodgings in the Tow er. But come , " and his features relaxed into their usual good-humored expression , "we have already let our feast of fruits stand waiting till one might well deem it feast for fools. Saying thus , he took his place at the table , and the others , including Harleigh and Falkland , who dared not refuse , fol lowed his example. ( To be continued. ) g Children Must JLaugh. The sense of humor is a variable feast , undergoing different forms in ref- erence to race , individual and society. If your little boy fails to respond with , liis tribute of childish merriment to I y your parental joke , that , depressing as at times it must be to you , does not i seem to me a matter about which to He : awakei nights , because , after all , dear Brutus , thefault may 'not be so much o b ' > with the child as with the'joke ! If , however , little N. or M. , as his cate- T chismal name may be , never makes his cl : own small childish jests , never plays foolish tricks upon you , at which , by I „ L the same token , he expects you to laugh ; if he never is mirthful , Instinct with joyousness , with natural gayety heart and the sunshine of vigorous young < animal life and spirits then in ii ii.tl deed , his condition is abnormal , or his .tl .tlC environments all wrong , and you must C : find : a speedy way to put him into a f natural : and ) smiling rapport with life. o > For laughter as a mere outlet for ani s mal spirits is natural to man. Playfulness we share with our furred Cl and feathered brethren , but the audible Clp > expression of mirth is monopolized by O" man , the least natural of all the ani O"ti tih mals. It helps to differentiate him h from the lower level of the monkey ; it tl one of the marks of his inferiority to the high spiritual gods. Harper's ci ciS Bazar. S ( Something Wrong. wol "Now , John , see here ! " she began , olT with set jaw. "I must have $20 to- ' T si day. " All right , " said John promptly , fr "here it is. " inai "Goodness , John ! " she exclaimed , ai paliug visibly , "what's the matter ? tt Aren't you well ? " Philadelphia Press. fc Not Alone. Miss Withers I believe Arthur is r afraid to propose to me. ' Belle Of course he is , and there are thousands of others just like him. Smart Set er WOMAN'S LOVE FOR THE BRUTE. HY is it that the surgeon who serves on the firing line is so cially ignored ? asks James Creelman , the veteran war correspond ent who writes of "The Man in Uni form" in the Pilgrim. No man who has seen real fighting can deny that the military surgeon is usually the man who bears the brunt of duty in any action. He must face the dangers of the fight without the excitement of fighting. He saves life while the oth ers destroy it. But who thrills at th'e sight of a military surgeon ? One is driven to the conclusion that the social idolatry of the fighting man in uniform is founded on the innate ad miration of women for brute force. Disguise it as you will , the fact re mains that the man who kills is more attractive to the feminine heart than the man who saves. It is the uncon scious tribute of weakness to strength , and the more terrible the strength , the more ruthless its manifestations , the more irresistibly fascinating its heraldry becomes. The man in uniform may be an uncouth , graceless'fellow , without a useful thought in his head- still , he represents that mysterious power chartered to slay. One to destroy , is murder by the law ; And gibbets keep the lifted hand in awe ; To murder thousands , takes a specious name , 'War's glorious art , " and gives immor tal fame. J It is an odd thing to reflect upon in this glorious Christian Twentieth cen tury ; and yet , no nation can preserve its integrity or its institutions without the use of soldiers. The Chinese em pire , with 400,000,000 Inhabitants , was conquered in 1894 by little Japan. The soldier occupies almost the lowest rank In Chinese society ; In Japan the sol dier Is the aristocrat. And it is true of all history , that when the soldiers of any nation ceased to be a special ob ject of honor that nation perished. A leading tailor says there is to be tlT my amount of silk strappings used on tlsi svool gowns. A wool veiling just "cre siN ated" by him has a skirt the lower N mlf of which is trimmed with a heavy pattern , done in narrow stitched bands ) f taffeta , but in a darker shade than se : he veiling. The blouse and upper S part of the sleeves are trimmed In the [ jame way , and the large collar is also W jdged with silk bands. cl pi The batiste robe dresses continue to re rem > e the rage , and in these days of bar- m jains they are'bought up as eagerly as le t the season was not more than half es pent. Embroidered batistes are lively , ro ven at 37 cents and upward. Women ar vho have ideas and taste buy a few rards of the embroidered batiste for rimming and the plain for the gown ; th : his makes an inexpensive dress , and Hi f properly made will look as well as ui $75 robe dress. The embroidery nc ounters are filled to overflowing with of genuine bargains in these batiste em- ui roideries , as well as the handsome st ( vhite embroideries , at a "mere song. " be Dhose for undermuslins are especially bt heap , while some rare treasures are he o be found in the remnant boxes for til few stray pennies. 'pr Folly of Oversensitiveness. te : Oversensitive people are usually rery fine-grained , highly organized , and ntelligent , and , if they could overcome his weakness , would become capable , lOi onscientious ( workers. This failing an tor ( it is a failing , and a very serious go ; ne ; , too is an exaggerated form of lelf-consciousness < , which , while eutire- ro y different from egotism or conceit , th causes self to loom up in such large ba roportions tin the mental retina as to ivershadow everything else. The vic- fO Irn of it feels that , wherever he goes , th le is the center of observation , and ke hat all eyes , all thoughts are focused frc ipon him. He imagines that people are < k riticislng his movements aud his per- th on , and making fun at his expense ; wi vhen , in reality , they are not thinking loc if him , and perhaps did not see him. he surest way to conquer morbid sen- foi Itiveness is to mingle with people as we reely as possible , and , while apprais- be < ag your own ability and intelligence , thmi t least as Impartially as you would hose of a friend or acquaintance , to orget yourself. Unless you can be- 1 ome unconscious of self , you will nev- AI r either appear at your best or do the ! coi iest of which you are capable. It reho ! uires will power and an unbending de- TL ermination to conquer this arch rfi- to my to success , but what has b tt done an be done , and many who vr * I down by it for years have , by their 1 own efforts , outgrown it and risen to commanding positions. O. S. Marden in Success. To Have an Obedient Wife. See your wife as seldom as possible. If she is warm-hearted and cheerful in temper or if , after a daj's or a week's absence , she meets you with a smiling face , and in an affectionate manner , be sure to look coldly upon her , and answer her with monosyllables. If she forces back her tears , and is resolved to look cheerful , sit down and gape in her presence till she is fully convinced of your indifference. Never think you have anything to do to make her happy , but that her hap piness is to flow from gratifying your caprices ; and when she has done all a woman can do , be sure you do not ap pear gratified. Never take an interest in any of her pursuits ; and if she asks your advice , make her feel troublesome and impertinent. If she attempts to rally you good- humoredly , on any of your peculiari ties , never join in the laugh , but frown her into silence. If she has faults ( which , without doubt , she will have , and perhaps may be ignorant of ) , never attempt with kindness to correct them , but continually obtrude upon her ears : "What a good wife Mr. Smith has ! " "How happy Mr. Smith is with his wife ! " "Any man would be happy with s.uch a wife ! " In company never seem to know you have a wife ; treat all her remarks with indifference , and be very affable and complacent to every other lady. If you follow these directions , you may be certain of an obedient and heart-broken wife. Physically Perfect Woman. A perfectly formed woman will stand at the average height of 5 feet 3 inch es to o feet 7 inches. She will weigh from 125 to 140 pounds. A plumb line C dropped from a point marked by the tip of her nose will fall at a point one inch in front of her great toe. Her shoulders and her hips will strike a straight line up and down. Her waist will taper gradually to a size on a line a drawn from the outer third of the col larbone to the hips. Her bust will measure from 28 to 30 inches , her hips a will measure from G to 10 inches more si than this , and her waist will call for a belt from 22 to 28 inches. The upper tl arm of the perfectly formed woman will end at the waistline , and her fore arm will extend to a point permitting tec the fingers to reach a mark just below the middle of the thigh. She should measure from her waist to her feet ai about a foot more than from the waist to the crown of her head. Her neck fc should be from 12 to 14 inches around , her head erect , and on a line with the oc central plane of her body , anfl her foot should be of a size and shape to con form to her hands. The well-propor tioned woman wears a shoe one-half the size of the glove her hand calls for. Thus , if a woman wears a six glove in she should also wear a three sho . ? New York New * ai tth Children's Punishments. It is never wise to punish a child too , as ' severely. No pudding at dinner , being sent out of the room , a curtailing of ' fie 'SIl jaines , or some little treat omitted will be quite sufficient to show the si ihild that it la in disgrace , and will vc irobably be a punishment which it will vcLj remember. Lj Threatening or frightening all aaughty children Is worse than use less , and th : never , never shut up a child , especially one at all nervous , in a . .cam oom or cupboarS ; m alone. The agonies ind terrors , none the less horrible for hi jeing Imaginary , that some children " sa lave suffered from punishments of "be his sort have spoilt their nerves for ' gr ife , and in some cases have 'st seriously ' mdermined their 'ba health. To take no lotice of a fault is often the best way itoi f punishing a child. Children are all inconscious actors , and , having a : trong sense of the dramatic , enjoy tei eing by naughty enough to raise a scene ; nit a wise mother tin will not argue with ler child , or declaim , but will wait un- m the tantrums are over , and then talk re juietly. This will make far more Im- ression than a scolding In the heat of emper. : oc Observations. ! ho Girls who know say that when you fan ose your appetite for chocolate fudges ind want to write bad poetry , Cupid's is oing to "git yo' if yo' don't watch out. " There's a heap of money spent for wa ouge , false frizzes and eyebrow pencils festi hat should be invested in soap and ath brushes. Ifri bf A woman who bought two bonnets ] 5 cents at a millinery stampede says nei hat ; it's a shame the way these shop- the eepers get a poor mortal's money away art rom her. sta I j " Some misguided girls have an idea " hat : to dress the hair artistically Is to rind it up In a criss-cross mop that xiks like a pile of jackstraws. , Po ' The vanity microbe knows that it haa ound a free lodging house with no 1 rood-sawing to do when it creeps into ind brain cells of the giddy , shallow- linded damsel. I tne . tics Women's Rights in Abyssinia. In the matter of women's right * am Lbyssinia is far in the lead of other the ountries. All affairs of the Abyssinian sol orae are looked after by the woman , 'he house with all its contents belongs the vife. nd if the husband of- - snd * hei she turns him out until he L > oo s i'j pectaat * > d liKaes * INVESTIGATING "WATER CURE.Jf Be Handle * Would Case How Snch a Before n Jud-e and Jury. If the "water cure , " as practiced in In the Philippines , were investigated optm court by our judge , jury and wit ness system here at home , says the Ohio State Journal , we might expect a diulpgue between the plaintiff and his attorney , who begins the conversation something like the following : "What is your name ? " " .lose Emilio de Sohgissimo. " ( Of course the defendant would nt _ the witness'having a once object to name like this and the objection would be noted. ) "What is your nationality ? " "I am a Filipino. " "What is your business ? " "I am engaged in the insurgent busi ness. " "How long have you worked at that trade ? " "About three years. " "Did you ever hear of the remedy known as the 'water cure ? ' " "Yes , sir. " "From whom ? " "The United States soldiers. " "Did they recommend it highly ? " "Very. " "For what maladies ? " "Insurgentitis. " t "Did they prevail on you to take the water cure ? " "Yes , sir ; six or seven of them pre vailed on me. " "Will you state plainly , Jose , to the jury just bow this 'water cure' wiis administered ? " "The soldiers bound me securely and while five held me the sixth inserted a hose nozzle into my mouth and turned on the water. " "You mean to say , then , that this 'water cure' is an internal remedy ? " "Both internal and external , sir ; you see , when my capacitj' was taxed to fits utmost the water overflowed and ran down my neck and over my person. " "Why di'd you not protest ? " "I was too full for utterance. " "Will you please stato , for the benefit of the jury , how much water you swal oIt lowed , as near as you can judge ? " "I should say about two barrels. " ( At this point the defendant would object and an expert specialist on the capacity ! of the human stomach would be called on to testify. ) "Will you kindly state to the jury what discomfort this caused you , if any ? " "I experienced a moist sensation and feeling of fullness that seemed to border on the point of explosion. This was probably due to the fact that I am ; not accustomed to taking water in such large quantities. " "Did the soldiers hold any conversa tion with you while they were admin istering the 'water cure ? ' " "Yes , they asked me to tell all the secrets I knew. " J ' "Did you do it ? " 'U "Certainly ; I told them all 1 knew , and more , too. " "Did the operation impair your thirst for water ? " "Yes , I drank enough water on that occasion to last me all summer. " "That is all. Call the next witness. " The Carp Nuisance. An influence that seems to have a rery material effect upon the bass fish ing in Lake Erie is that of the German arp. It is very generally believed among sportsmen and fishermen alike that the carp is to our native fish the English sparrow to our birds. S'o one accuses the carp of having suf- icient enterprise to eat other fish even small fry but it roots among the spawning ) beds and is believed to de- rour eggs by the million. I have heard this complaint about Lake Erie , at the St. Glair flats and ilong the bays of Wisconsin , showing hat everywhere in the lake region the arp is held in the same disrepute. How uuch truth there is in the stories of lis : spawn eating would be hard to iay , but It is certain that carp are to e found by thousands all about the jreat lakes. Some of them are mon- iters < in size and all root about the anks of bay and bayou and the bot- oin of every shallow place. Many small lakes have been entered , ays a writer in Outing , and their wa- ers turned from crystal to mud color the rooting. There is no doubt that hey disturb spawn beds and do an in > aense < amount of harm , whether they < egg-lovers or not. Office Hours of JReed. Hon. Thomas B. Reed goes to Maine ccasionally < and occupies his summer tome near Old Orchard Beach during warm months. He has become so uuch in demand in New York that he often asked if he intends to become permanent resident of the city. The ray he parries the question is inter- sting. "I find , " he said to a group of riends , "that the financial importance a New Yorker is gauged by the earli- ess with which he leaves the city or lateness of his return ; his riches measured by the length of time he tays away. " "But how about yourself ? " asked one. "Well , he said , slowly , "I am still eeping ' office hours. " Philadelphia 'ost. ; Photography in Business. The camera promises to become aa idispensable in business affairs as the rpewriter. It is now being used in reproduction of documents , statis- cal tables and other papers' whose uplication by hand would be laborious expensive. In a very brief period camera reproduces these with ah- lute correctness and with much labor ived. About six weeks after the wolf ap- -ars at a man's door , it looks to him if it were holding a family reunion.