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About The Columbus journal. (Columbus, Neb.) 1874-1911 | View Entire Issue (April 4, 1906)
F3F!d5 5s35f!BEK LS8S U ' l:v ft- sms L -W SuGEOBGE PJOTOOflE 2zp.&r&izrc CHAPTER XII. Continued. So they speed out into the October night, and the messenger is left be hind he has arrived just a minute too late hut then he is in the employ of the telegraph company, and it will be to their profit in the end. The journey is made without any mishap, and reaching the city by the sea, they find the good steamer await ing them. As the steamer starts about down, o take advantage of the flood-tide, they go on board at once, and see that f their effects are safe. The ladies go below Dick hears Pauline tell one of the officers that if a message ccmes for her to awaken her at once. Colonel Boh knows noth ing about this business, and as iuck will have it, he is the one whom the messenger bringing the telegram stum bles against, after boarding La Gas cogne. "Mademoiselle Pauline Westerly," reads the man, from ihe his envelope. "The lady has retired." remarks Colonel Bob, indifferent!', thinking it some shopping package that has come at the last hour, sent by express. "Who will receive this?" asks the French messenger. "Yours truly. There, I sign. What charges?" "Sixteen francs, eight centimes." "Great Scott! Well, here you are. jn in ion of extortion. A vaunt!" and ColueI Bob slaps the telegram into his iwcket, resumes his walk and his cigar, changes his coat in the morn ing for a pea-jacket, better adapted to the cool, frosty air on the sea, and of course, man-like, entirely forgets that the one discarded contains a message that cost him more than sixteen francs. So wags the world each message that does not come may have found a repository in some forgetful man's pocket, but it certainly has a halting place somewhere. Colonel Bob does not hear Miss Pauline in the morning inquire of the officer if any message came, for the simple reason that he does not hap pen to be near at the time, and as no subsequent allusion is made to her dis appointment, the telegram from Mon sieur le Prefect lies deep in the re cesses of his coat-pocket, forgotten. Thus fate has a hand in the game, and does not intend that important disclosures shall be prematurely made. Perhaps Colonel Bob may suddenly re member a certain fact under peculiar conditions. Senor Lopez, his black-eyed daugh ter, and Tordas Barcelona are also passengers as far as New York. The gentlemen studiously avoid each other, though Barcelona fumes secret ly every time one of the comrades casts an eye upon him, as he imagines they laugh at his disfigured nose, and tie eye that still shows the effect of having a lighted cigar tnrust into u very tender affairs these optics of ours appear to be. and they cannot be roughly treated to fire with impunity. They have a pleasant vojage; the weather is delightful, much more so than is usual about the first of No vember, when gales may be looked for and fog-banks to detain travelers The professor is on board; with that wonderful London assurance that has distinguished him in times past he pursues' his game Dora, the fair one who has charmed him. Colonel Bob looks on, amused. This little man of science arouses strange 'feelings within him. He knows Dora is only having sport with the learned professor, but it is a serious business with the latter, who looks at time as though he would fight all creation for her sake. She amuses herself with his oddi ties, foreettinc that in thus playing with human passions, she may be handling edge tools that cut keenly, no matter if they are small. The New Mexican sheriff is no fool, and he brings Dora to her senses by flirting with a young woman on board, quite a fine-looking girl, who seems to be a stranger to Dora. When she can stand it no longer she leaves the professor talking to the air about the wonderful bugs and insects he exyects to discover around the giant volcanoes of the valley of Mexico. Ixtaccihuatl and Popocatepetl, and glides to Dick's side. "Who is that girl?" she asks, almost choking. "The one Bob seems so pleased with? Well, you see. Miss Dora, here's quite a little romance that brings them together. She's the daughter of a rich Philadelphia dry-goods mer chant. Bob had the pleasure of sav ing her life during the fire, and I've no doubt she appreciates it, judging from the way in which she looks at him." Dick rubs it In rather severely, for he has no sympathy for the flirt who can hurt the honest feelings of a man she loves, and who is devoted to her. Dora gulps down a lump that rises in her throat and manages to restrain fcer tears. iiuwapt, ' ft. O ' SfcPg-Sgw' O nr. i mm ishl? Jm P4WJNE "Would you mind asking Colonel Bob to come here, Mr. Denver on very particular business?" That is frank enough, and Dick obeys, tailing his companion's place beside the young lady. He sees Dora draw the Sheriff of Secora County aside, and knows a peace is soon ar ranged. Dora flirts no more, since the cure has been radical the flirt who once feels the pangs of jealousy realizes what she has been inflicting on others. So, if a doctor had to take his own pills, he would make them less drastic. After that the eccentric little profes sor is given the cold shoulder, and has to herd by himself. He scowls at the colonel across the dining-table, and treats him with freezing contempt, to all of which the other pays not the slightest attention. Perhaps the time may come when Professor John may force himself upon the notice of his rival, since he, by the peculiar laws of nature that cause birds of a feather to flock together, is drawn to make friends with the Mexican hidalgo, and the scowling Barcelona, who seem to have a grievance against the two comrades. This alliance adds one to the num ber against our friends, but they care little about it. At present all is rosy hued love waves her soft pinions above them the very air seems to breathe gentle music, keeping time to the pulsations of the engine, or the rolling of the waves parted by the steamer's bow. It comes in the warm sun's rays, it is found beneath the faint moonbeams, ever the friend of lovers from time immemorial. So they sight the lights of the High lands, and the electric fire on Lib erty's statute welcomes them to the harbor of New York. A day spent here, and again the cry is, "All aboard for Mexico! " They speed away across the continent, from New York to St. Louis, thence to Texas, and at Nuevo Laredo find themselves on Mexican soil. Now it is on to the capital. CHAPTER XIII. Lassoed on the Calle San Felipe .Neri. One afternoon, about the middle of November, a gentleman issues from the well-known Hotel Iturbe, in the quaint City of Mexico, and saunters along as though striving to kill lime. The man is plainly an American there is something very familiar in his walk, and when be turns his head in front of a dry-goods emporium, C &IOftt&Qff20QSXCW:4ffZZZ' otherwise known as a merceria. to fol low with his eyes a handsome olive skinned senorita who has just left her carriage to shop, we recognize our Dick Denver. This of course means that the little party of travelers have reached their destination, since he would not be here alone. His manner is thoughtful, for Dick has already seen evidences that the whole power of Senor Lopez which is considerable ii Mexican circles, as his family is an old one. once very prominent will be exerted to over throw the hold Miss Pauline of New York has upon the EI Dorado Mine. If it were in the hands of a man. the result would be different he conld control matters by force; but a young girl may be intimidated Mexi can women are not in the habit of meddling in politics or business, and it is not expected that because Miss Westerly is an American girl, she will defy for any great length of time the powers that are arrayed against he: Dick Denver knows how far wrong is this supposition he has made a study of Pauline, and he finds her a most remarkable girl in many respects she is as daring as she is beauti ful, as gentle in one way as she is unyielding in another. When Senor Lopez endeavors to force her to abdi cate and allow his side the control of the great El Dorado Mine, he runs against a rock that will not yield. The evidence that Lopez is at work has already cropped out. While en route the train on the Mexican Na tional was stopped by a band of ban dits about the ranges of the mountains south of San Luis Potosi. who would have run things to suit themselves, only for an accident that had sent a regiment of Mexican lancers on this particular train, to attend some man euvers at the capital. The soldiers made it hot for the ras cals, and our two Americans joined them with enthusiasm, for they had nor seen service for some time Of course the bandits fled in consterna tion, convinced that they had caught the stick by the end that had been in the fire, and the train was allowed to go on its way In peace. Dick Is pondering over that event now he is positive he saw one of the leaders of the bandits holding a hur ried conversation with Senor Lopez who joined their train at Monterey just before the retreat was sounded, and although he has not mentioned the fact to the others, he thoroughly believes this whole affair must have originated In the scheming brain of the Mexican hidalgo that these ras cally contrabandista and outlaws are In the employ of the Lopez conspira tors. This, then, Is bat a shadow which coming events cast it will be foV lowed by darker and still more serious ones, for Don Lopez has sworn a sol emn oath to wrest the balance of power from Pauline Westerly, and manage the great mine that was for merly the sole property of the Lopez estate. Now, Dick is a peculiar man -in bis way opposition is apt to arouse the mule in his nature, and make him un yielding. Something about this cow ardly combine against a woman stirs his blood and makes it fairly boil. "She must win she shall win, if I have to shed every drop of blood in my body for her!" he says, under bis breath, but he means every word of it. Dick is sauntering along a quiet street now a couple of young ladies on a balcony flirt their fans and seek to attract his attention, but be seems to be too preoccupied for such busi ness. He passes a church, that of Santa Teresa. People are coming out it is some special service, for early morning is usually the time when the worshippers assemble, consisting for the most part of women. Some one brushes against him then comes a low cry from a woman's lips the vail is thrown aside; he sees Juanita. "You have arrived in safety, Senor Dick I was afraid some accident high happen to you," she says, laying one hand on his arm. "Some rascally pirates did stop the train, but you see they hadn't counted on our having the military chaps aboard. We joined forces and squelched them. Your worthy father didn't seem at all afraid of them, for I saw him talking with the leader." She drops her eyes in confusion. "The saints forgive him; be is very fierce in his passions, and he hate3 you, senor, as the rattlesnake does the foot that disturbs it when in the act of charming its prey, and like that same sepent, he will eagerly strike the offending heel. Beware. Senor Den ver! you take your life in your hands when you enter Mexico." (To be continued.) GOV. HUBBARD'S GARDEN JOKE. Coat Must Have Been in a Position to Take a Record. When Richard D. Hubbard was gov ernor of Connecticut his company was eagerly sought for in all places he frequented, not excepting the pri cey of his home, by many office-seekers. One individual in particular, who was very persistent in his pleas for an appointment, but not so in his neatness nor cleanliness of costume, continually sought Mr. Hubbard. One day this man called at the State House with a very much soiled shirt front and grease-covered vest and frock coat, but a beautiful button hole bouquet was placed on the lapel of his coat. "Good morning. Governor," said he, "fine morning." "Beautiful morning," replied the governor. "There, what do you think of this?" said the visitor, pointing to the bou quet. "Where do you think I got it?" "Don't know," said Mr. Hubbard, "perhaps it grew -there." Washington Man Lives Cheaply. There is a Virginian in this city who has not done a stroke of work during the social season for ten years. He lives at afternoon teas. It does not make any difference whether he is invited or not. He waits outside a house where there is a tea and follows in a party of guests. His manners are so affable and his knowledge of peo ple so extensive that he is rarely thrown out. He flits from house to house, and always lingers longest at the luncheon table. Those who know him say he eats nothing but the" stuff he gets at the luncheons mostly salad, croquettes, and crackers, with claret punch and tea. The only clothes he has are his afternoon re galia. "He reminds me," said a naval of ficer, who had run against him several times, "of a man I met in London. He lived the same sort of a life but did not appear until after dark. His motto was that no gentleman needs more than two suits a suit of evening clothes and a suit of pajamas." Washington Star. Chronic Illness. Squire W., of a certain town near Philadelphia many years ago, was celebrated locally for his cellar of wine (and sometimes stronger). But the temperance movement came his way. and one day a neighbor hailed him in the street with: "Squire, what do you think I heern? I heern them cold water folks hez grabbed you in and you be jined!" "Yes," answered the Squire. "My woman and me's signed the pledge. We haven't got a drop in the bouse now, except a little we kept for sick ness. And to tell the truth we haven't neither of us seen a well day since!" He Felt Safe. "Mark my words." declared Mrs. Ferme. laying down the law to her long-suffering husband, "by the end of the century woman will have the rights she is fighting for." "I don't care if she does," replied Ferme. "Do you mean it?" cried his wife. "Have I at last brought you round to my way of thinking? Won't you real ly care?" "Not a bit. my dear," returned her husband, resignedly. "I'll be dead then." Never Was There. Lawyer You say you left home on the 10th? Witness Yes. sir. Lawyer And came back on the 25th? Witness Yes. sir. Lawyer (severely) What were do ing in the interim? Witness Never was in such a place. Green Bag. Looked Well. "You met Miss Pechis yesterday, I understand?" "Yes, did she mention It?" "Yes, she said you looked a great deal better than you usually do." "She did?" "Yes; what are you mad about?" "I was wearing my automobile when we met" JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER'S BHlTBBnVnnB tX5e BflDCslSCBBlA'OIBR109B33HV3BIVVBIBSBBISDBBBHH HBHBBBBnTflB? WQBv KBB3KtSSBSOBKBftKKSBKBB9BuBBmBtBB9KSsBSBOKIM FOB WOMAN'S VANITY BIRDS AND BEASTS ARE TURED AND KILLED. TOR- Every nine One Plume and Feather in Femi- Headgear Costs the Life of of God's Creatures Christian Principle Involved. This is an age in which as never in any other, women are coming before the world as workers for reform. They exhibit in an ever increasing de gree "the divine unrest," dissatisfac tion with wrong, desire to right it. oui mere is one iorm 01 wrong cruelty which women are not con- sistently trying to remedy. I say not consistently. The same woman who will interfere on behalf of an over loaded or ill-treated horse, and who would perhaps rescue a starving cat or dog, Is often to be seen with a flay ed alive seal's skin on her back, and on her head the plumage of slaughter ed birds. To all appearances uncon scious of her culpability, she adver tises the fact that she either will not read, or does not regard the state ments so well authenticated, and in the case of bird plumage so widely and repeatedly published, concerning the barbarities perpetrated in obtain ing these things. Last October Mr. William Dutcher of New York city, president of the National Association of Audubon So cieties, made an address in Philadel phia at the annual meeting of the American Humane association, in which after mentioning what has been often repeated the fact that to ob tain the white aigrette so largely worn, involves not only the destruc tion of parent birds, for these plumes grow only at the time of nesting, but the death of their young from starva tion. He spoke also of the brutal mur der of one of the wardens in the em ploy of the -association by a plume hunter at Oyster Key, Florida. This law breaker, for whose nefarious trade feather wearing women are re sponsible, resented the interference of the warden and killed him. Such women may now reflect, if they will, on the fact that the thoughtlessness and vanity of their kind have inci dentally been the means of murdering a man, and leaving his wife a widow and his children orphans. They are also responsible for encouraging a trade of the most brutalizing tenden cies. No man can sr.end his time kill. ing, with all the haste and reckless ness possible, innocent birds at the nesting period, leaving the young to starve, without himself losing the last remnant of feeling. Such a man is getting the education of a criminal. Women who wear the products of his evil work are before God responsible, whether they think about it or not. Mr. Dutcher. in' his address, spoke of the killing of birds in general; the utter folly of It on account of the loss to agriculture through the ravages of insects; the cruelty, and the impos sibility of existence for the human race were it not for the birds. He spoke of the laws his association has secured and is aiming to secure, and there was one at least of bis hearers who hoped that the day might speedily come when women cruel enough or heedless enough to wear bird plumage shall be liable anywhere to arrest and fine as law breakers. Millinery that costs suffering and slaughter, the killing of God's beauti ful, innocent and most useful creatures, should be condemned by Ostrich feathers can be humanelv tak en from the fcird. but there Is reason to believe that even these are cruelly torn out in many instances. Honiton Lace. Honiton lace is made at Honiton, in Devonshire. Eng., remarkable for the beauty of its figure and sprigs. "Honi ton application" is a lace made by working sprays, flowers and other parts of a pattern on the lace pillow and securing them to a net ground made separately. In modern manu factories hand-made sprays are often sewed upon a machine-made ground. "Honiton guipure" is a lace of large flower patterns, with a very open ground, which is generally sold under the name of Honiton lace. Artificial Surf Bath. German lake resorts and other In land watering places are Interested In a novel artificial surf bath which was tried last summer in the Starn berg lake, near Munich. A big tank Is built, or a portion of a lake or 'riTer is Inclosed. At the outer end is placed the wave making machinery, which consists of either an oscallating partition or a large plunger which is dropped Into the water at regular in terval. The result la a curious sub atltnte for natural wares. women claiming to be civilized, and left to savages and barbarians. No really humane woman wants to wear even as much as a chicken feather,-be-cause all feather-wearing tends to pro long the fashion. One of the most incomprehensible things connected with the senseless and cruel bird plume fashion is the silence of ministers of the Gospel. Why can they not see that for a woman to deck herself with the re sults of cruelty and brutality is incon sistent with Christian profession? There is a crying need that people in ajl the churches should be told de finitely and specifically what applied Christianity Is. Participation in cruelty is a sin from which professing Christians are far from being exempt and it constitutes a serious and well grounded cause for criticism among outsiders who are humane. They laugh at a Christianity which harps continually on God's mercy to us, but says little or nothing about the mercy which we. in consequence, should show to every living creature. Can the justice of this criticism be denied? M. F. Lovell, Secretary American Hu mane Association. BROWNLOW MAN TO WATCH. Tennessee Congressman Evidently Has Keen Business Instinct. Congressman Brownlow of Ten nessee stood in the house lobby with a young member from Ohio when Con gressman Watcher of Baltimore came along. "Look out for that man Browl low," said the Baltimore man, "or he'll get your watch." "Who do you mean?" asked the alarmed young Ob loan. "Just what I say. He's the greatest confidence man in congress. Listen. I have not much use for seeds, so I made an arrangement with Brovnlow last year to trade him my 4,000 pack ages of seeds for something that would be useful to me. It was a com plete reciprocity agreement. He got my seeds and when I went around to him to get my plunder all he gave me was two copies of a report of the de partment of agriculture two years old. You look out for him or he'll get your watch." Breweries Handicapped. Congressman Bartholdt of St. Louis at one time got up a bill in the inter est of breweries. Just then the con sciences of his colleagues were in their usual acute condition over the evils of the demon rum and Bar tholdt's proposition was downed by the usual W. C. T. U. majority. Bar tholdt sat and glowered while the next bill was put on its passage. It was a measure giving some new privileges to a railroad company. It went through pretty nearly unanimously and then the house adjourned. As the members went out one of them asked the St. Louis man what made him look so glum and sour. "Mein Gott!" he said, and it came straight from an overcharged heart. "If the breweries could only issue passes!" Chicago Chronicle. Ponderous and Polite. Winston Churchill, the English au thor, has brought upon himself consid erable amount of good-natured criti cism on account of a ponderous phrase he invented. In speaking of an un truthful statement made by a political opponent he referred to it as a "ter minological inexactitude." One writer says that should other authors follow Mr. Churchill's example we may ex pect to read something like this in a revised version of the George Wash ington's cherry tree story: "Paternal progenitor, I am constitutionally and fundamentally incapable of excogitat ing, ratiocinating or insinuating a ter minological inexactitude." Innovation in Parliament. An innovation is said to have crept into the English House of Commons recently, when hand-clapping, fami liar the world over, but forbidden in the mother of parliaments, was for the first time heard. The custom of the house calls for "Hear! Hear!" as the expression of approval, often ironical. "Hear! Hear!" according to learned authorities, is a modern shortening of "Hear him! Hear him!" the regul lar parliamentary shout of approval down to the early part of the last century. Last of the Pottawattamie, The Pottawattamie Indians are about all in. Their lands are being sold rapidly. Their annuities from the government are decreasing, and when they do draw their head-right money the young bucks hurry to the joint towns and squander it in drink ing aad gambling. Already the In dian traders, who formerly gave the red man unlimited credit, are tight ening the reins and establishing more of a cash basis In their dealings. Holton (Kas.) Recorder. WELL-GUARDED HOME SAVING CROPS FROM STORMS. Scientist Believes He Can Success- fully Do This. Let Jap and Russ fight their fel lows. Herr Stiger of the meteorologi cal bureau of Vienna battles with the clouds. In almost every country on the continent where agriculture is the people's mainstay there is a systemat ic use of scientific warfare with cloud shooting cannon for the purpose of dispelling threatened hail storms. Herr Stiger began his experiments with the fundamental principle of dis turbing the intense stillness which prevails before a hailstorm. He dem onstrated the fact that after the firing of a shot a small whirlwind arises easily perceptible in the reflected sun shine. This whirlwind ascends with a piercing whistle which lasts thirty seconds in daytime and twenty sec onds at night. At a distance of 200 feet the wind destroyed a strong dia phragm. The experts who attended could plainly see the wind rise from the mouth of the funnels with light ning rapidity possessing all the as pects of a shot. The most marked ef fects were produced by horizontal shots. For the experiments, shields built of thick paper and linen were placed at intervals of from forty to 100 yards from the mouth of the can non. When the circle of wind enfold ed these shields they were torn from the frames, the solid posts and frame work snapped in two, and were cast from eighteen to twenty-two yards, while a large mastiff standing near was whiffed into the air, turned sev eral somersaults, and was flung to the ground lifeless. Pleased by Congressman's Error. Colored cloakroom attendants in the house of representatives are individu ally and collectively voting thanks to Congressman Hughes of West Vir ginia because of a mistake he made. He favorably reported from the com mittee on accounts a resolution in creasing their salaries from $C0 to $70 a month. The resolution was agreed to at once. Just as the result was an nounced Mr. Hughes realized that he had been directed by the committee to report the resolution with the rec ommendation that it should not pass. Next day he moved to reconsider the action. But his motion was laid on the table by a vote of 96 to 41, thus affirming the increase. Author's Ample Wardrobe. It would not be advisable for the average man to follow the example of Gabriele D'Annunzio in the matter of traveling outfit. Recently on a jour ney D'Annunzio took fourteen trunks and an Italian newspaper had the en terprise to make an inventory of their contents with the following result in part: Seventy-two shirts. 144 pairs of plan socks, twenty-four pairs of silk socks, forty-eight pairs of day gloves, twenty-four pairs of evening gloves, eight' silk mufflers, eight violet umbrellas, ten green parasols, twenty dozen handkerchiefs and 100 colored cravats. Owes Much to Susan B. Anthony. The late Susan B. Anthony was a great friend of the young reporter. She had a keen news sense and lost nojime in giving facts to the inter viewer. At one time a young man from the West had been given a trial on a Washington paper and was told to knock around town and see what he could find. There was some sort of a woman's convention there, so he hunted up Miss Anthony and threw himself at her mercy. She told him at once all about the convention and its work, the result beingthat he was permanently engaged next day and is now a leading correspondent. AAAAAAAWWWM Biggest Freight Car. The biggest freight car in the world is being constructed in the St. Paul railroad shops at Milwaukee. The largest freight cars at present are of 100,000 pounds' capacity and are looked upon as monsters. The new car will have a capacity of 200,000 pounds. It is being built to transport a ninety-ton section of a base for a blast engine which is being shipped to Bethlehem, Pa. The car is fortv. one feet long, has four instead of two trucks, and sixteen Instead of eight wheels. 8ervian Official Swineherd. In any Servian village there Is only one swineherd and he leads all the pigs of the community. In the morn ing he goes through the streets blow ing his horn and the pigs come out' of their own accord and fall in behind him and follow him to the pasture. At night he brings them home and they disperse to their sties In the same orderly way as they pass the houses to which they belong. They require so attention and no atngUaf onL THE DANCk CF THE SEAGULLS. Why Their Rhythmic Treat Bring Worms to Surface? "It Is no uncommon sight to see gulls, or other birds, dancing or pad dling upon the sand," says a writer. "Curlews and most other shore-feed Ing birds do the same thing, the ob ject being to frighten the worms from their retreat below, when they ap pear to be instantly swallowed up: But the really interesting part of the performance is why shonld the worms be so frightened by the shak ing produced in the sand as to come to the surface? "The inference, of course, is that they have a greater dread of some en emy beneath, whose approach they be lieve to be heralded by the vibration which his movements through it im part to the sand. "When the angler wants to collect earth worms, in a place where it is not convenient to dig, he is accus tomed to push a stick into the ground, and by moving that about impart a vibration to the soil around, which has the effect of forcing those worms within its influence to crawl to the surface. This is precisely the prac tice followed by the dancing gull and with the same result. ' "But on land we are led to suppose that it may be an attack from a mole which the worm fears; while on the wet sands there are, of course, no moles to be dreaded. "Are the worms thinking back, through a remote ancestry, to a time when they were dwellers upon dry land and were acquainted with the mole, or his forbears, or what is the true solution of the matter?" Chica go News. VISITOR THERE FOR BUSINESS. Thief Personates Spirit of Mother-in-Law and Robs a Guest. "Who's there?" shouted the occu pant of a hotel bedroom, as he heard a noise in the corner of his room. There was no answer and the queer noise stopped. "Anybody there?" No answer. "It must have been a spirit," he! said to himself; "I must be a medium. I will try." (Aloud.) "If there is a' spirit in the room it will signify the. same by saying aye no, that's not what I mean. If there is a spirit in the room it will please rap three times." Three very distinct raps were given in the direction of the bureau. "Is it the spirit of my sister?" No answer. "Is it the spirit of my mother-in-law?" Three very distinct raps. "Are you happy?" Nine raps. "Do you want anything?" A suc cession of very loud raps. "Will you give me any communica tion if I get up?" No answer. "Shall I hear from you to-morrow?" Raps are very loud in the direction of the door. "Shall I ever see you?" He waited long for his answer, but none came and he turned over and fell asleep. Next morning he found the "spirit" of his mother-in-law had carried off his watch and purse, his trousers and his great coat. Portland Ore gonian. Hurt Sailor's Sense of Beauty. "I liked the girl," said the sailor, "only her ears was too long." He finished his drink at a gulp. "Like all of them Borneo girls," he said, "she was slim and lithe. Her teeth was white. Her eyes was clear. "But them ears! The lobes was, three inches long. And do you know, why? Because she had stretched them out, had lengthened them by pullin them continually with her fingers from childhood, the same as a China woman from childhood continually squeezes her feet in a steel box to make them small. , "Wherever I went in Borneo I found the same long ears among the 'native girls. In Samarinda, in Sam pit, in Kudat, it was the same, and it 'was the same in Telokopii, in Banjar main, and in Pasir. The young wom en had ears that nearly touched their shoulders. The young girls all sat in the sun pullin their ear lobes with their fingers so as to make them long. "Sickenin'!" Money in Dead Flies. The Southwark county court judge was astonished to learn that the four shillings for which a corn merchant sued a corn dealer was the balance of an account "for dried flies." "What on earth do you do with them?" inquired Judge Addison. "They are used in the making of chicken food," replied the plaintiff. He explained that a bag of eighty-one pounds of dried flies was supplied to the defendant at eight pence per pound, and according to the custom of the trade the gros3 weight was charg ed for. The defendant contended that he ought to pay only for the net weight. "Ycu surprise me when you talk about eighty-one pounds of dried flies in bulk," said the judge. "Where do you find all these flies?" "They are imported." "Where from?" "America." The case was adjourned for further evidence. London Chronicle. Kept His Word. Biggs Old Brown died last night." Diggs "Well, he was a man of his word, anyway." Biggs "What do you mean by that?" Diggs "Forty years ago he pro posed to an aunt of mine and de clared he couldn't live if she refused him." Biggs "And did she refuse him?" Diggs "Yes; and now, true to-his word. Brown has ceased to live" Demand for Labor. Labor is so scarce in New Zealand that the government of that colony :has asked its high commission In Lon don to find in England and send out ;1,000 laborers for the construction of a new railway In the North Island. .Three years' work Is guaranteed, aad Inducements will be offered them to tremaln permanently. There la also iSreat demand for agricultural laborers fn western Australia. S -AjtoJ jFr'tJli '. .ffln...... A
