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About The Columbus journal. (Columbus, Neb.) 1874-1911 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 18, 1907)
mPlpll . j : : t r , 3 - T' VKS"- IS 2' s- h sr -. i. ? ? ' t, " sT BryumnmtmMzrmsEv CHAPTER XXXI. Continued. "Then where?" I demanded impa tiently. "It mast be from one of the win lovrs of the story below." "Well, we shall soon see." . I poised myself to clamber through the window on the broad stone gutter, along which Captain Forbes must have made his way. Then I hesitated. "What! You are afraid!" cried the Avomaa fiercely. "If so, I will go- my - self." "So, I am not afraid," I replied with deliberation. "I am wondering what they will think when they come from the oratory presently, to find me gone. She will think that I am your accom plice." "I can easily tell the truth." "They will scarcely believe you. Shall I, or shall I not, tell them of Ferdinand's danger?" "But will they believe you? While you hesitate Prince Ferdinand may be assassinated. Is this a time for expla nations? Say that the fools persist in misunderstanding you. it is only a question of an hour or two at the most liefore you may tell the truth. Go, and I swear by the cause I hold sacred that if you save liirn the honor of Sir Mor timer Brett sliall yet.be saved." "Voi: nave promised much already only to deceive me," I said gloomily. "But I swear it! They are coming; I heard the door of the oratory open." I hesitated no longer. CHAPTER XXXII. I Escape from the Tower. I clung to my precarious support, lying prostrate on the broad stone gut ter. The roar of the swirling river beat at my senses confusedly; the sidtly height made my head swim. Something of the horror I had felt In rounding the overhanging shoulder of the mountain with Willoughby that fatal day came to me "now. But presently that giddiness passed. The extraordinary promise of Madame de Varnicr rang in my ears. How It was possible for her to explain away Sir Mortimer's damning words if the letters were genuine, I could not see. But this had been a day of miracles. Slowly I made my way toward the first of the flanking towers. The wind struck me with redoubled force as I turned the corner. 1 heard the ensign above lluttering loudly in the gale. I looked up. I could see it now. It - floated bravely in the spanking breeze. The moon, shining squarely on it, made it even possible for me to distin guish its design. It was the national Jlag of England, the royal arms in its center. Then I remembered the quota- - tiou from the Blue Book I had read early in the morning just before Cap lain Forbes had signaled to Helena: "The flag to be used by His Majes ty's Diplomatic Servants, whether on shore or embarked on boats, is the Union, with the Royal Arms in the center thereof, surrounded by a green garland." There was a grim irony in this flag flying proudly over the chateau in which Sir Mortimer lay dead. But' if Madame dc Varnier had spoken the truth in protesting that she did not know that the flag had been raised, why had Dr. Starva caused it to be flown? The strange perplexity Madame de Varnicr had shown when she had heard the flutter of the flag occurred to me now. Was it by any chance a signal a signal of as dread a portent as the double stamp? If that were true. I might disconcert Dr. Starva's plans materially when I lowered it presently. I had reached my goal now. For some minutes I was compelled to lie inactive, however; for the flag, belly ing in the gale, made it impossible for me to grasp the cords. As I lay there impatient, waiting my chance, I glanced below. I could see plainly the ladder of stones, as Ma dame de Varnier had called it, the ragged edges of the granite sparkling brightly in the moonlight. I leaned , over as far as I dared; they extended as far as I could see. As my eye traveled the line to the terrace below, the door of the great hall opened. A flood of light irradiated a portion of the terrace. I saw dis tinctly two figures conversing a mo ment at the doorway. One of these figures entered the chateau again, but the other, and I had recognized Dr. Starva by his great bulk before the door was shut, stole across the terrace and entered a brougham that stood waiting. As the carriage disappeared under the covered archway of the passage leading to the village street I made renewed efforts to reach the cords. I could readily guess Dr. Starva's mis sion. He had gone to meet Prince Ferdinand at the station. Heaven knows bow eager I was to be one of the reception committee! When at last I had caught one of the cords, I severed it thoughtlessly with my penknife. I had not counted on the strength necessary to hold so large a flag. The cord slipped from my hand. I expected the flag to fall and reached out frantically for the ether rope. But in some way the rope I had severed, and to which the flag was not fastened, became entangled in the pulley and the flag, falling halfway down the pole, remained at half-mast I now reached up as far as I could, standing on the stone gutter. I was about to sever the other cord, that to which the flag was fastened, when it occurred to me to attempt to disen gage the ropes from their fastening at the window below. I was complete ly successful. I estimated that I had now a length of at least 50 feet. When I had plaited the cords dou bled, and knotted them at Intervals to prevent them from slipping throagh ay hand, I made a loophole to slip (topyzxsiT.fsoe. ivLuurxEiaiCcaMZxmo over the last stone of my ladder when I should reach it Then taking the cord between my teeth, I lowered my self cautiously over the gutter. The wind was still blowing in fitful gusts. I had been reluctant to avail myself of the few extra feet of rope necessary to keep the flag afloat I fastened the end of the cord about the stone gutter, leaving the flag still fly ing at half-mast' There seemed a cer tain aptness that my carelessness in cutting" the rope had seen to it that the dead ambassador be fittingly hon ored. It seemed ages before my feet touched the first block of granite pro jecting from the smooth masonry. But once on my way the first part of my descent was made with no great dif ficulty. The roar of the river sounded nearer and nearer. I was more than halfway down now. The numbness had passed from my. arm; I was more confident; I tried to hasten my progress. Step by step I neared the terrace. And when I had reached it? The excitement of the escape, Madame de Varnier's vehement importunity, had engrossed my attention so far. The descent itself had seemed so hazard ous that the confronting of Dr. Starva had been forgotten. But how, was I to conquer him unarmed? Not by force certainly. Strategy must be my ally. Suddenly the perspiration broke out on my forehead. I had felt for my next step, and it was. missing. Frantically my feet reached down "Haddon!" for it I lowered myself one more round; still I could not touch it Then I laughed aloud in the ecstacy of my relief. I had reached the last round of the ladder. My arms ached. Merciful heavens, how they did ache! But I was full of courage in spite of my exhaustion. I lowered myself by my arms still an other round, and slipped the nose over the last of the stones I could reach. Then I trusted myself to the rope. In spite of the knots the friction burned my palms as if they were branded by fire. I could not regulate my speed; I was too exhausted for that I trusted to blind luck; I could only hope that Madame de Varnier's estimate was a conservative one. How far I actually fell I have no idea. My feet came to the pavement with a force that sent me headlong. But aside from the violent shock and a bruise or two. I had suffered no in jury. I struggled thankfully to my feet My arm was seized not too gently. If I had wished to make an outcry I should have been prevented by the hand placed at my mouthy I peered into the face of the man who had made me captive. I do not know whether I was more relieved than consternaiea to recognize Locke as we stood in the shadow. "Haddon!" he cried, as he made out my features. "Where in hell did you come from?" "Not he!i; Locke; say rather heav en." I pointed upward to the tower. "You must be in a desperate hurry when you essay the role of an angel to come flying through the air," he said grimly, and the hold on my arm tight ened. "Suppose you tell me your errand." CHAPTER XXXIII. Prince Ferdinand Comes to the Chateau. "Locke." I. panted, leaning breath less against the wall, "for God's sake let me go. It is a matter of life or death." "Gently not so loud." Again Us hand was placed at my month. He palled me back Into the shadow of an angle of the wall. He listened Intently. - There was a heavy footfall on the terrace: It sounded nearer. A muffleiLra a cloak, came to the edge of the band of moonlight He also, was listening., Presently he stole softly to the parapet, and looked down at the village. Neither of us spoke until he had resumed his beat before the great portal of the chateau. "Who Is he?" I whispered. Locke led 'me out of hearing, hug ging the wall. "You know as well as I. Now, then, for our deferred talk. This morning I asked you for some explanation of your extraordinary conduct You chose not to give it me. Well, I mean to have it now. Come, what -Is this errand that sends you flying through .the air for a hundred feet at the risk of your -neck? It appears to be press ing." I was still struggling for my breath. Jt was not physical,fatfgue that made me tremble so much as sheer despair at. the hopelessness of disarming Locke's hostility and -suspicions in the precious minutes that remained. At any moment now Dr. Starva might be returning. "The death-mask!" I began Inco herently. "Prince Ferdinand" His grasp tightened. He drew me roughly toward him in his surprise. "The death-mask! What of it?" - "Starva has lured Prince Ferdinand to the chateau. Already he has gone to meet him at the station.' When he returns with him here" "Ferdinand comes to meet Sir Mor timer." "Sir Mortimer, man, is dead." "Dead! And you have undertaken to fill, his place? It is very considerate of you." His voice vibrated with distrust But I tried to keep my temper. "If Ferdinand enters that door with Starva he will never leave it alive, un less help Is summoned." For a moment Locke's suspicions wavered. I had spoken with a solemn ity that touched even his skepticism. "And who has told you this?" he asked slowly. "Madame de Varnier, the Countess Sarahoff." "Ah, j'our friend of the kursaal Where Is she?" He Cried. I pointed upward. "In the tower there. The four of us Captain Forbes. Miss Brett, that woman, and myself were trapped by Dr. Starva. Don't you see, it was to clear the field for action to leave him free to accomplish his frightful work unmolested? Locke, this is no. time for talk. One of us must conceal him self in the hall there; the other sum mon help. Are you armed?" "Rather," he answered grimly. "It is that fact that should show yon the uselessness of struggling." "You have called me a tool more than once," I cried bitterly. "But you are a hundred times a fool that you are blind to the need of action." "All in good time, my friend. I have still a question or two to ask. If Cap tain Forbes is imprisoned in the tower there, why did he permit you to play the hero alone? Why Is he not with you? Have you pulled the wool over his eyes as you "did over the eyes of Miss Brett? It seems to me a little remarkable that he should trust a man who has tricked him more than once." Locke's cool question staggered me. I had no intention of lying, but my hesitancy did not lessen his growing distrust of my motives. "There was no more time to explain things to him than there is to you. Be sides, he would not have believed me," I muttered. "As J .do not believe you," he an swered, with some sternness. "As I shall not believe you until yon take pains to make things a little more clear. The Countess Sarahoff it is who tells you of the peril of Prince Ferdinand. She takes you into her confidence; that in itself scarcely strengthens my trust of you. But this lZHIIjl -"----- -....-l(nrij-inrLrL1j-irrin) of "Of coarse, I had plenty of good things to eat during the holidays at home In Mississippi," said Representa tive Candler to a group of friends, "and whenever I eat turkey I am re minded of whatvthe late Gov. McNutt used to say about the bird. . McNutt was a great eater. One day some friends were dUcaas lag the merits of the turkey as food, when McNutt said: " 1 thlak I am a pretty fair jadg of .woman hi the accomplice of Dr-Starra.-Why, then. Is she suddenly so anx- totKitoiaonactt.lu plans?! i v ' 'Starva has turned traitor. Have I cot told yon that he trapped Madame de Varnier with the rest of us?" , I was becoming desperate. The min utes was flying swiftly, and Locke was even more aggressive than when he had first surprised me. To .reason with him was impossible unless I told him all. There was' no time for that Force alone could rescue me from my dilemma. If it was hopeless to' disarm his suspicions, could J rob him of the revolver in, his hip pocket? I made no farther attempt to resist I stood passively, waiting my chance. "So Starva has turned traitor?" Locke questioned ironically. "But It the Countess Sarahoff is so anxious to outwit her former confederate if the life of Prince Ferdinand is actually in peril and she would save him, why did she not send a man for that desperate work? Why did she not let Captain Forbes escape instead of you? Would he be so averse to the saving of a king's life? Even if you believe her silly yarn, she has. tricked you. You are clay in her hands; her kisses have bewitched you." I made no answer to his taunts. Un consciously he had loosened his hold. I stood as one crushed by his vindic tive. Scorn. My attitude confessed defeat Locke believed the acted lie when he 'had contemptuously scoffed at the truth. "Once more, your errand, and no more lies. You wish to save Ferdi nand; you pretend that is the futile errand Madame de Varnier sends you on. You would penetrate the strong hold of a desperate band unarmed -you who only this morning saw a young girl's life threatened and raised no hand. If it was cowardice that made you hesitate, why should the coward play the hero so bravely now? Or was it that you are the ally of the very man whom you pretend you are anxious to confront empty-handed?" "I have done my best to move you. What do you want? I am in your hands." "I want the truth." "I have told you the truth. If I lied it might avail me more," I said bitter ly. "For the last time I entreat you. I have been proved a coward twice. But this was to be my chance. I hoped to retrieve myself. But fate blocks the way with a fool who cannot see when a man is desperately in earnest Ferdinand's murder is certain if we lift no hand to save him. Listen: in my pocket is the key to the little door just beyond you. Take it; let your self into the, ball; hide there and use the. evidence of your own eyes." "And let you slip from my hands? Not much! What is that?" He turned abruptly. The accom plice of Dr. Starvaywho had been keep ing guard before the door was running toward the passageway leading from the village street. I could hear dis tinctly the carriage wheels rumble over the cobblestones." "For the last time," I besought. "There is not an instant to lose." Still he hesitated, looking cautiously around the angle of the1 wall at the ap proaching carriage. His curiosity made him negligent. This was my chance. One arm caught him about the neck; the other reached for his weapon. Then I pushed him violently backward and covered him, retreating myself toward the little door, the key in my hand. "Stand back," I whispered fiercely. "Now take you choice. Go to the vil lage; you can't go too quickly, you stubborn idiot Come 'back with gend armes; batter down the door. Or else come with me. You have accused me of cowardice more than once. Show you are a man. Quickly, your choice!" I heard him chuckling softly to him self in the darkness. "Well, I'm damned!" he muttered, more than once. "Lead on. Macduff." As my key slipped into the lock he was at my side. , I pushed the little door open. The hall was empty, but brilliant with the light of a hundred candles. No nook or cranny afforded us a safe hiding-place. I leaped up the staircase with Locke at my heels. We had reached the gal lery as the great door swung open. Prince Ferdinand entered. Dr. Starva and his ally crowding him close on either side. The prince stepped into the hall with apparent confidence. But as he heard the door clang behind him he turned alertly to Dr. Starva. "Where is Madame de Varnier?" he demanded in French. "Madame de Varnier is unavoidably detained, your Majesty. She has dele gated me to receive you. Be assured, your Majesty's welcome shall, not be lacking in warmth. Will your Majesty pray be seated? There are urgent matters of state to be discussed." He pushed the prince brutally into a chair, bending over him with a hideous smile that would have done credit to the devil himself. Locke and I were crouching behind an antique rug that hung over the gal lery rail. He grasped my hand and wrung it hard; It was an apology that he had doubted me. and an assurance that he was with me now heart and soul. Ke bad seen enough already to prove to him that I had spoken the absolute truth. We listened breathless; yes, and wc could see as well, and with no danger of discovery. The rug was a museum specimen, and in places was worn through web and woof; it was a sim ple matter to widen the slits slightly' with our fingers. "Perhaps your Majesty did not no tice the flag that flies at half-mast over the tower," taunted Starva. "At half-mast, your Majesty! Ah, his J Majesty griW3 pale, friead Bratir.an. "His Majesty has imagination, growled the other ruCaa. tTO BE CONTINUED.) rnranrrir nnn-njnrinnnnnnjTJTTirijijini-uTJMu the Turkey good things to eat from 'possum and taters to terrapin and champagne but I confess I don't go very heavy on turkey. It 13 such an inconvenient kind of bird just a little top much for one man and not near enough for two.'" He who hides behind the trees Eden will hear the voice of God as walks along the paths. in he I " I M . t ar -T" 3 Whew the Palate frscemee Tired ef , the Old Preparations. There are a 'good many articles of food which are digested easily.. bat which lack flavor and the palate ieaa ily tires of them. One of .these la eggs, and the. diflcalty can he over come by serving them with some de cided flavor. Tomato saace,. an chovy, toast, stewed celery, and ayaay other things will suggest themselves to the mind of the housekeeper who is seeking to make this easily digest ed nutritive, food acceptable to some member of her family. Sometimes it can be flavored with a sprinkling of cheese, sometimes worked into the diet in some other form as custards: The. principle in dealing with the sim ple foods 'for invalids or people who have some difficulty In nutrition Is to use flavors In different forms with dis cretion to avoid tiring the taste and yet give' the amount of nutrition necessary under cover of different favors. MAKES LAUNDRY WORK EASY. Follow These Rirections and You Will Lighten Laser. You can do a morning's work in one hour and a half by following these directions: Put eight cents' worth of borax, five cents worth of salts tartar, five cents' worth of powdered ammonia, and one package of potash into five quarts of boiling water. Turn one quart of water onto the potash first and let it stand until cool, then add the rest Let the mixture stand 24 hours, and it is ready to use. This makes enough. for 20 washes. When ready to use, take one coffee cupful oT the "Quick and Easy," shave half a cake of soap, and add them to your boilerful of clothes. Boil half an hour. A good rinsing in your bluing water is all that is.necessary. unless some collar or wristband is very much soiled. Harper's Bazar. Regenerate Salts. Smelling salts can be made to last for years if fresh spirits are poured over the balls of salt from time to time, so as to keep up the original strength of the mixture. Many peo ple use spirits of ammonia in this connection, but a still more powerful specific may be found in a combina tion of this spirit with oil of lavender, in the proportion of two parts of the former to one of the latter. In pro curing the ammonia, however, care must be taken to avoid choosing aro matic spirits of ammonia, in error, the water which it contains prevent ing it from amalgamating with the oil. The Baby's Bib. Danish angora cloth is splendid material for infants' bibs on account of its weight, and it launders beauti fully. The embroidery should be done with a fairly heavy cotton and the stitches should be close and even. If daisies are used in embroidering the bib they should be worked in satin-stitched, the leaves voided, or, in other words, worked from mid-vein to edge on both sides. French knots may be used to fill the centers. A lingerie button and a little loop close the bib at the back. Potato Fritters. Take one pint of boiled and mash ed potatoes, one-half cup of hot milk, three tablespoonfuls of butter, three tablespoonfuls of sugar, two eggs, a little nutmeg, one teaspoonful salt Add the milk, butter, sugar and sea soning to the mashed potatoes, then add the eggs, well beaten. Stir until smooth and light, spread about one half Inch deep on a buttered dish and set aside to cool. When cold cut into squares, dip Into beaten eggs and in bread crumbs, fry brown in boiling fat and serve immediately. Boiled Salad Dressing. Yolks of three eggs, one teaspoon mustard, one teaspoon salt, two ta blespoons sugar, dash of cayenne, two tablespoons melted butter or oil, one and one-half cups rich milk, one cop hot vinegar, one and one-half ta blespoons cornstarch. Bring the milk to a boil in double boiler; heat the vinegar to the boiling point Mix dry ingredients thoroughly and moist en with a little milk. Add yolks and beat into hot milk alternately with hot vinegar. When cooked smooth and thick stir In butter or oil. Fig Jelly. Pick over, wash and soak over night in cold water one pound of cooking figs. Cook in the water in which they were soaked over a very slow Ire un til tender. Drain' off the liquid and to each pint or it add the juice of two lemons, a half cup of sugar and a half ounce of gelatine, soaked beforehand in three tablespoonfuls of cold water. Strain through a jelly bag Into molds wet with cold, water, and set aside un til cold; then put in the ice chest until firm. Eat with cream. The -jelly should be a rich amber color. Boston Ginger Bread. Place together one cup of molasses, one-half cup of butter softened, one half cup of sugar, two eggs, one cup thick sour milk, one teaspoonful each of ginger and cinnamon, one and one half teaspoonfuls soda sifted with three cups of flour; beat; bake in a loaf; serve warm, garnished with whipped cream. Dainty Pudding. Cut an angel food cake around the center; put on a thick layer of sweet ened whipped cream, and on top of this place marshmallows close togeth er. Then put on a thin layer of whipped, cream; place on the other half of angel cake, then whipped cream, and last of alb the marshmal lows. -' Chocolate Bread Pudding. Prepare a cup. of fine white bread crumbs; melt two squares of chocolate and mix with a quart of hot milk; add the crumbs, a pinch of salt and sugar to taste. Pour over the yolks of two beaten eggs, and bake till set; cool, spread with jam and cover with a meriagae. "They Say." A good maay people thlak it isn't a lie if they preface it with "they aey." WHAT ONE MERCHANT DID .!- t-1 " ' - . r 5-si . r- -w a a n -M vra Cumjt"d t of Hot Trad Laagne Tettifie to Vakedf PhbKdty Ok One ceantrv. merchaati writi the Home Trade league as follows: "Since I have adopted' the city Idea of advertising naming new( goods with prices, and at the same time making known what I desire to .dis pose of at or about cost to make room for new goods my sales have sot only increased very largely with rega lar customers, but I have secured many new ones. Not only this in stead of the .farmers' wives spending from a half to an hour and a half look ing about the store to see what there Is in stock they may want and taking the clerk's time who-otherwise would have a chance to sell goods' to several other customers, they come In and ask for the very articles they have seen advertised and which they have already decided they do want from seeing the advertisement In this week ly paper, and the'result Is I have been able to dispense with one of my clerks to whom I, was paying $500 per year." This merchant further says that this saving of clerk hire expended in this same kind of advertising during the year will, he is confident, increase his trade 50 per, cent and that he can already name 28 customers who but very recently have been 'buying their goods almost entirely from Chicago catalogue houses. . This experience without doubt can be, duplicated by thousands of other men In business throughout the coun try. It is to be feared thaVthe aver age merchant in the smaller towns Has allowed himself to get into a rut, and It is one from which he must swiftly emerge If he has any desire to "stay IS THE DESIRE TO GET SOMETHING FOR NOTHING. AN IGNIS FATUUS TO AVOID One Cause That Has Led to the Down fall of Many Fallacy That Ever Tends Toward Evil. A man who won the confidence, re spect and admiration ef the people of his state was elected to the United States senate. Soon it is discovered that he was "owned by the railroads," bought by favors and instead of repre senting the interests of the people who sent him to his high place in the nation's councils, preferred to rep resent the corporations that made it possible for him to ride over rail roads without cost. It is only a dem onstration of human inclination to get something for nothing. The member of a state legislature was accused of showing special atten tion to legislation favorable to the railroads and corporations. He was charged with riding on passes; and in fact it became known that his prin cipal supporters, too, rode free over the railroads. Another illustration of the human-desire to secure something for nothing. The mayor of a city regularly occu pied a box at the leading theater; handed out a free street car ticket to the conductor, enjoyed free drinks at the bare another example of the man who wanted something for nothing, and at last his greed caused him to enter into dishonest deals that landed him in the penitentiary. On certain days of the month at numerous supply depots conducted by county and city charities, long rows of men and women can be seen awaiting their turn to get a small supply of flour, sugar and other neces saries of life. Some are helpless, de formed, and their looks indicate want and misery, but there are others who have no appearance of need. Here again we find men and -women leaving pride and self-respect behind because of the desire to secure something for nothing. On special sales days In the retail districts of every large city great .crowds can be seen about the en trances of the great department stores, crushing, fighting to get to the bargain counters, all bent upon getting something of value for little or nothing. From the highest walks of life to the lowest the all-prevailing and dom inant trait in evidence to show the weakness of the individual, is the struggle to get something for noth ing. It is based upon a knowledge of this fraility of humankind that some great business enterprises are built Wonderful bargains are advertised, and the masses rush to buy, without calm reasoning in the matter of any comparisons of value. Good business judgment is cast in the background by the madness to get something for nothing. . The get-rich-quick operator uses the same methods to lead to his trap vic tims with dollars as do the railroads, the big department stores and the others who have certain objects to gain. It is always the promise held out to give something for inadequate compensation, without its equal in ex penditure of money or labor that al lows the frauds to succeed. There is magic in the "something for nothing" deal. It is a bait that catches people in every rank and walk of life. It often Is the cause of the downfall of men who have all the abilities to suc ceed. It is a fallacy that tends to ward evi There can nothing be gained without adequate compensa tion. "The something for nothing Is an ignis fatuus that (he wise will avoid. D. M. CARR. Genua proverb: Soase had rather at maca. than take saias to a now. HUMAN WEftKHfSS a in the game."1 The asBthoda of a eratkm ago, it' mast be resse are not necessarily adapted to taw conditions of to-day.- - By the persistent .and persevering use of every device for pafelicity the catalogue houses have built up their present enormous trade. It is not rea sonable to suppose they can he dis lodged from the position they occupy a position, as has frequently been pointed oat, that threatens the well being if not the exmteaee of every small community throughout the coaa try unless they are opposed with something like their own weapons. A favorite phrase much in use today to "Get business!" and to get Madness yoa mast go after it la it reasonable to expect it will come to yoa n soaght? " Take the experience of this Home Trade league correspondent as a guide. He had the goods. He wanted to sell them. His proceeding was simple. Throagh publicity, which im his case simply meant i attractive and truthful advertising, he brought the goods and the people together. Re sults were never in doubt To sum up, successfully to compete with the powerful catalogue houses of the cities the country merchant must in a measure adopt their meth--ods. They have won by publidty.1 Meet them on that ground. Match, advancement with advancement Yoa have the medium in your local paper. Let your advertisements, say .some thing, and mean what they say. Let the people know what you have to sell, and depend upon it, they will come to buy. SHARP PRACTICES. Schemes by Which People in Country Districts Are Defrauded. One of the winning games that is widely played is the giving of prizes for the sale of baking powder, flavor ing extracts, etc. Numerous con cerns are interested in this line of business. Premiums are offered to club raisers, and an outfit for can vassing is sent for a dollar or so, or perhaps furnished free if some person will vouch for the honesty of the ap plicant But a "bond" is required as security for goods sent The offer Is so attractive that many are induced to order a lot of the goods to get the premium. The goods are of the cheapest and most trashy kind. The soap, the extracts, the species are all of an inferior quality often adulter ated and unwholesome. The person who orders them realizes that the lot is worth little. If they are not sold by the agent, it matters little to the concern sending them out, as the-persons vouching for the honesty of the "agent" will be informed that they will be held for the price of the goods, and to save trouble, the agent will' send the money due, and make the best of a bad bargain. It Is a good thing to avoid all propositions that offer much for little. Mail Order "Booze." In almost every section of the coun try where prohibition is In force agents of order-by-mail liquor houses located In large cities, are to be found soliciting orders from consumers. They claim protection under the In terstate commerce law. They pay no license within the counties where they work, and the general quality 'of the liquor they sell can he classed along with the rank; poisons. The order-by-mail liquor house Is a poor institution to have dealings with. It is only a short time ago that the postal author ities tried to reach a Kansas City con cern which advertised largely in the weekly and monthly farm papers. There was evidence of fraud in al most every line of the advertising. Yet when the case came to trial one of the United States judges decided that the company had the right to say what was said in its advertise ments. Some of the whisky sold by. this outfit never came from a still It was a chemical combination that could be used for polishing brass. Still many who call themselves tem perance people will use the stuff as a "medicine." Alleged distilleries that sell direct to consumers find the crop of "suckers" large, and generally thrive off the numerous dollars that go to them through the mails and the express companies. Deception Practiced. Those who would not be defrauded by sharpers who use the advertising columns of the city papers would do well in carefully considering each proposition which attracts their atten tion. Remember that those who ad vertise are not philanthropists. Theyi are out after the dollars, and have nothing to give away, unless It is in exchange for money. The concern t that offers an exceptional bargain needs to be studied well before in vestment be made. Everything has a legitimate value, and is worth so much in the markets of the world. When it is offered at less than its apparent real value, look out for fraud and deception. Generally every good town affords the buyer a chance to obtain whatever he 'requires, and at a price consistent with quality. Those who patronize home stores are less likely to be deceived. Value of the Local Press. The farmer Is a friend of the local press. He is the spinal column of the editor's subscription list. The other sources of the editor's support are the merchants of the town and the business men in general. 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