THE OMAHA DALLY 11KK : TtIUK I > AY , FEBRUARY J7 ; 1808 *
$ A THE SIGN OF THE UJJlli Jail J ' . Aji
4 Ild\v It DM Kodncy Hirncs a Good Turn , ? T
T II.V iriH/iim Allir/vij' f.Vi 'j/Oj/ , 4 T
( Copyright , 1 8. Ijy H ft Mcrlurc Co. )
PAIIT I.
A Dlflckwell 'bun , rolllnR eastward along
Cornlilll , London , reluctantly slowed up at
the rear of tlm 'Horni ' Exchange to let tvso
parfngprs off. The one was a tall , well-
built Rcntleman of middle age , light-bearded ,
cli d In blue serge and with a nautical air
about him ; tils comranlon was a ullm , good-
Icoltlng lad , some 18 or 19 jears of age.
The captain drew the lad Into a shady
raBKigo a little removed from the bustling
crowds on Cornlilll. "I have business to
transact here , " he said , pointing to the broad
entrance way of Lloyd's , where arc the
headquarters of the shipping Interests of
the world. "Of course you don't want to
go with me , but In this great and strange
city It Is very easy to "
"I won't run Into any danger , " Inter
rupted Ilodney , "and 1 won't get lost. I
rcmcmbui a good bit about London , "
"I'm sorry you can't nee more of It on
this occasion , " Bald his father. "Two days
Is little tnougb , and It would huve been
twlco . .a much but for the storm that
brought us Into the Mersey forty-eight hours
overdue , And I regret mere than all , my
boy , that you must go back with me on
Wednesday , Instead of taking the delightful
trip that we planned for you In June. 'Hut '
1 hope you will have the opportunity next
BUinmcr. "
"Don't talk abcut It. father , " said Rodney -
noy , In a low voice.
"It w s n. heavy 'Wow , " declared Captain
name's , his face suddenly clouding. "II Is
no Joke to lose 300 , and to replace that sum ,
as I was bound In honor to do , took nearly
all of my savings. "
He brcko on" abruptly. "What are you
goliiK to do with yourself nuw ? " be added.
"Take a stroll ' .long the river below Lon
don bridge first , " Itodncy replied "and than
I may run up as far ns ChoUen on a penny
steamer. 1 will come back by 'bus and get
supper somewhere on the. strand. "
The captain nodded. "You o n't go wrong
en that , " heald , "but keep a watch on the
hours , young man , and don't fall to imct
mo at ir.iiston btatlon at 10 o'clock. "
"I will ho on hand , " promised Ilodney
7Io made a move to go , but turned quickly
1 > rk. "Fatter , do you think Stephen Lay-
conic could Le In London ? " he asked.
"Tho.t's no telling , " the captain replied ,
with a shrug of his slioulilriH.
"you are certain he stole the money ,
father ? "
"Vcti , I nm convinced of Hut no doubt of
It In tin world. Ho stole It and he will keep
It , If tl'eio Is tiny left by now to keep. No ,
Ilodnuy , don't hope for the recovery of the
300. IlenumLer , Button station , nt 10 sharp.
Take a King's Crow 'bus on the Strand , or
at the top of St. Martin's lane. "
" 11 was1 a hard /bbw of fate , " the lad re-
fleeted bitterly. Urlcily , how It all came
nbcmt was > o follows. During the last voy
age of the City of Moscow from Liverpool to
New York , stym * three weeks previous , there
WIM on board a stingy and eccentric Ameri
can from the wwt. He wanted what monej
he had with him put In a safe place , but
ulLBcd to trint It to the purser , ns was
tha usual custom. Captain names , on
olferlng , out of purs kindness , to take charge
cf It for him , received from the passenger
the sum ot 300 In English gold and notes
which ho loclted up In a small Iron sufr
in bis cabin. The last night out being
stormy , the captain was on the bridge until
nearly dawn guarding nguinst the perils ? 0 :
the American coast. Then the coming on
Jjoard of tl.o pilot enabled him to onatch a
tow hours of sound sleep in ba ! cabin.
Hy midday the City pf Moscow was swingIng -
Ing up the North river to her dock , and
now , when the pat'-cngsr demanded his
money , It wts found to have mysteriously
dhui'pcarcd from the captain's locked
fcafe. Meanwhile the gangway h.id been
dropped to the pier and a little later It
was learned that one of the deck atcwards
had Bosrctly slipped off the vessel with n
llow of paFEengers. A search ravenlod the
fact tint he had packed his beauty belong
ing and taken them with him ,
Ileyond a doubt the deck steward , Ste
phen Laycock by name , was the thief. He
was a young Englishman of 22 , a bright
and willing worker , and had bscn employed ,
on the itenmcr for three years. It wai
clear that he bad pilfered the safe key
from the sleeping captain's pocket In th >
dark hours of the morning , taken the in one )
and then cheucn ( light In preference to th (
risk of suspicion and detection
"I only wish I could run across Stove , "
Ilolncy said to himself , ns .1 tide ot wheeled
traffic checked dim under the statue of old
King William. He suddenly made a grab nt
STRUGGLING DESPERATELY THEY
CAIMW TO THE TOP AGAIN.
his shirt sleeve and bitched It up to tlu <
elhow. On the ( leshy rart of his arm , sev
eral Inches abovu the wrist , a celled cerpeni
was admirably tattooed In half a dozen bril
liant colore. Ho looked at It with aiiKC ) '
eyes , remembering how and when It came
there. Two years ago , while crcwslng the
Atlantic for the first time with his father ,
ho and Stephen Laycock had been fairly
chummy. An old Bailer , a friend of Steve's ,
liad , wltb more zeal than discretion , pricked
the same snaky design on nn arm of each
lad. There lad been a row , of course , ami
Captain Ilarncs had been very angry. It
nas not pleasajit now for Ilodney to IVel that
ho and that contemptible thli-f were branded
alike for life ,
For two hou the lad lingered amid Uic
memories and sights of the historic old
tower. Then , circling around by way of
Tower hill and the mint , ho came , toward
C o'clock , to the water stairs beneath the
Tower bridge.
"Want a bit of a ride , air ? "
The volcu had a hetcty and hcuest ring ,
and It belonged to the occupant of a wherry
that had Juit grated alongside the lower
itep a thickset , youngish man , with deeply
bromal face and clad In blue trousers and
a worn shirt of the txitr.o color.
"Hullo ! I didn't see you land , " exclaimed
Ilodney. "Yes , I wouldn't mind a little ride.
How much farther down are you going ? "
"Only to Wapplog , sir. Come along If
you like. "
Rodney ticaltatcd an Instant. Then re
membering that ho had some tlmo to spare ,
und templed by hlx love of the water , he
stepped Into the wliorry and took the ntern
acat ,
"TliuuH you kindly , sir , " tald the man as
the lad gave him ( sixpence ,
"I suppose you ure a watcrmin , and thU
is > our boat , " said Ilodney ,
TCio man shook his head. "I'm only a
poor devil of a sailor In ' rd luck , " ho re
plied. "H the wherry was mine I'd manage
to make a llvlu1 out of It , as euro as my
oaino'a Torn I'ugsley. "
"I'm sorry ( or you , " said Rodney , who was
Impressed Ijy the seaman's honest face. "It's
hard to bo out of work In a big city like
this. If another shilling will help you
along "
He broke off with a sharp cry , which was
echoed at the same Instant from a different
quarter. A fussy lltlte tugboat had glided
quietly and ( suddenly from behind the stern
of o big merchantman , and was steaming
diagonally up stream across the bow of the
wherry.
"It's all right , sir , " exclaimed Tom Pugs-
ley , who had shot a quick glance over his
shoulder ; "we ain't a goln' to collide , "
But , nevertheless , so unexpectedly and
clooe at hand had the tug loomed up , there
was Imminent danger. The eallor knew
thh , and It flustered him a bit. With both
hands he Jerked at one oar jerked BO hard
that the blade snapped off at the rowlock ,
and he fell sldewajs against the gunwale.
The tug and the wherry met with a crash ,
tnd the latter capsized In the twinkling of an
eye.
Rodacy went far down toward the Thanu
mud. but he waa a good swimmer , and did
not lose his presence of mind or his breath.
Striking out hard , he came to the surface ,
where he shook the water from his eyes
and looked about him , He had passed under
the tug. and It was now some feet astern.
Close to one side was Tom Puga'ey , feebly
splashing to keep his mouth above water.
There was n bleeding wound on his fore
head , evidently caused /striking the hot-
yet. When I seen the farpcnt on your arm
I reckoned you was him , an' of course "
"I see , " Interrupted Rodney. "H was a
natural mistake. "
"Hut rnthcr awkward fur you , " laughed
the captain , "However , I'll make amends
as fur as pavslblc. Come along now , both
of you. "
The termination of ( he Interview1 was a
great relict to Rodney , for ho wanted to
consider what was wisest to do In the face
of this unexpected development. "Stephen
Laycock l somewhere In London , " he Bald
to himself , a s he a < nd Tonj Pugsloy followed
their conductor below deck.
Arrived at Captain Dowers' cabin , that
bluff but well-meaning Individual rigged his
gucats In some Ill-fitting garments of Ms
own , and sent their wet duds to be dfled at
the cook's galley. Then , spreading out some
food and a bottle of spirits on Hid ch'Srt ' ta
ble , he urged .Rodney to eat aud drink.
At lost a footstep made him look up , and
ho saw Tom Pugslcy.
"Aro our things dry yet ? " he asked.
"Not quite , lad , " Itic sailer itnswcrcd. "I
come to 'avo a private word with you , "
"Yes ; go on. "
"It It's Jutt this , Elr , I sort o' thought ,
when ) ou was spXakln' with the captain ,
that you seemed anxious yourself to find
this other tattooed chap "
"I am anxious , " exclaimed Rodney.
"And 'as 'e wronged you , sir ? "
"Yes , he robbed my father of a large
sum of money but what do y6u mean ? "
"I mean I've got t'other tattooed chap fur
you , " wsthe whispered reply. "Alfred
Dyer Is the name 'e goes by , an' 'e's staj In'
at my lodgln place yonder In Upper Eatt
Smlthfleld. "
"Can he tie the same ? "
"Yes , sure. 1 seen thu serpent on Ms arm.
when 'e was washing 'Is 'nnds , an' didn't
know I was about. "
"Th/ick hravenl" exclaimed Rodney , 1m-
"YOU SNEAKING THI CF ! " GASPED RODNEY.
torn of the tug , End this seemed to have
jtunned him. No Immediate help was at
.and , and ho was In peril of drowning.
RoJney knew the fearful risk ot trying
io aid q man In such a condition , but he
vas too plucky to hesitate for en Instant
U cnce he swam up behind Pugsley , and
ook a tight hold of his collar. The half
unconscious sailor twisted around , seized
the lad by the hair , and both sank beneath
the tide.
Struggllng.dceperately , they came to the
: op again , Ilodney grimly holding his breath ,
and now unable to break loare had ha w'ehul.
Crnce more ho was dragged down , and he
ave hlmSelf up for lest ; thoughts of parents
and home flashed acrocs his wide-awake m nd.
Then he saw light , and gulped a mouthful
ot air. The-tug was alongside of him , and
ho felt strong arms grasp him and pull him
in board.
In a moment the bravo lad was all right
and able to Ihank hls"rescuers. The struggle
had drawn. ha ! _ hlrt elccve. far up , and the
'attooed serpent on his elbow wcs exposed
.o plain view * Tom Pugsley was In much
better shape thtn might have been ex
pected. - ' "
"God bless you , young gentleman ! " he
whispered family , leaning toward Rodney.
"I shan't furgot 'ow you saved my life
that blow sort cf stunned me. Put us ashore
at Wapplng stairs , If you don't n/Uid , lr , "
he added to the capta'n of the tug.
The captain nodded asaent , and gave or
ders to put on B tea in. Just then the tug
drifted close under the bowa of a rakish-
looking cargo steamer , on which the name
"Lapwing" was painted In huge letters of
red. Over the rail leant some ot the crow ,
and between thrsu suddenly crowded a red-
fared , sandy-bearded man. Ono downward
glance ho cast at the tug and Ita occupants ,
and then yelled excitedly :
"Hold on there below ! Stop and make
fast ! Do you hear ? I want that lad there's
a warrant out fur htm ! Heave the young
scoundrel up ! "
PART II.
"I say , hold on there ! " came angrily from
the cargo steamer. "Don't you be taking
that chap away , or I'll give you trouble.
Ho's a deserter from my vessel , an' I want
him. "
"Is that so ? " demanded the captain.
"Of course It Is , " was the reply , "else why
should I say It ? "
"I never saw the fellow before , " exclaimed
Rodney. "It's a mistake , s.r , "
"Take him , " the captain said , curtly , "and
settle the row between you , It's none of my
bualnew. Look sharp above ! I'm golug to
glvo > ou both the half-drowned rats. "
Tom I'ugsley went first , and no sooner
had Ilodnoj'B feet touched the deck than the
ualloia who were holding him dropped him
as though he had been a hot potato. They
broke Into loud shouts and jeers.
"It's the wrong party ! " declared one. "I
thought ho looked It.mi of queer. "Ay , so
It Is ; hero's a rummy go ! " cried another.
"Hush your noise ! " thundered Captain
Jerry Howerti. Striding Into the group he
peered Hist at Ilodney'b face , and then at the
tattooed reptile on his bared elbow. His Jaw ,
dropped , and his features turned from red to
purple. "Ay , ay. " ho muttered , "Why ,
bless mo , If > ou ain't a different chap alto
gether ! Hang uiy Infernal luck , I say !
I'm sorry , youngster , an' yet the mistake
was no more than natural , lad , about that
India-Ink sarpent on your arm , Might you
have had a brother tattooed the same ? "
"No , I have no brother , "
"A pal , then ? Come , did you ever know
a person with a sarpeut on his arm like |
) ours ? " I
Rodney hesitated a moment , ot/servlng
that Tom Pugslcy was gazing at him curi
ously , The mystery was growing clear to
him , and he was uncertain how to answer.
"Two of u had the serpent pricked on our
arms at tuts same time by an old sailor , a
couple of years ago , " ho dually said. "Tho
other chap was a steward on the ship I
crusted in , "
"Name of ? " "
Carson"cagcrly demanded tke
captulu ,
"No Laycock. "
"Was. he about 20 ycara old , dim and
sandy-haired , with graIsh eyes ? "
"Yes , that fits him , " absented Ilodney.
"It's the Identical chap , only ho glvo a
different name , " cried Captain Dowers.
"Very likely , " ald Ilodnoy. "What do
you want with him ? What has ho done ? "
"Done ? " echoed the "
angry captain , "Why ,
the rascally skunk signed with me fur the
round trip , and ( htn skipped out as soon as
wo got , into , tup/fuwes. | That was three
days ago , ca' the jiollco ain't found him
pulsivoly grasping and sliaklng the sailor's
hand. With difficulty lie repressed his ex-
cltetnoat and after asking several other
leading questions , and thinking earnestly
for a short tlmo , he submitted to his com
panion the plan that seemed most promis
ing of success. First , however , ho tolJ him
all about the robbery.
"I'm sure ISteve has the money yet , " ho
snld , "but ho may have hidden It , and It
that's the case It won't do any good to
arrest him on either charge. I hate the Idea
of his getting off scot free , but I'll agree to
that to gain my end. "
"Exactly , lad , " assented Tom.
"So v.'o'll go to this place as soon as we
get on shore , " ' .Rodney continued.
PART III.
They turned from the river up Night
ingale lane , between the high , dingy walls
of grci t dock warehouses , and 'five ' minutes
rapid walking brought them to Upper East
SmlthffeU.
"That's the place , " whispered Tom , pointIng -
Ing to a sign on which could be read :
"Lodging for seamen and emigrants. "
"All right , " replied Rodney. ' 1Here goes !
Don't wait more than a minute or two. "
With a fast bei.tlng heart he crcssed the
street , and pulling his collar up and his hat
down a little ho slouched carelessly Into a
building that looked Incapable of sheltering
the possessor of anything like 300.
"I'd like to see Alfred Dyer , " ncdncy
said to the grimy ycuth In attendance.
"You know him , eh ? " was the reply , ac
companied by a keen glance.
"Yrs ; he's i.n old friend. "
"The chap's in , " said the grimy youth ,
apparently satisfied. Wo flourished his
greasy knife and pointed to an open door
atound the corner to the left. "That way ,
next floor back. "
Ilodney followed directions and reached
a gloomy bill. "He ascended a flight of
narrow , uncarpeted stairs to an upper hall ,
which was In darkness save for a thin , up
right bar of light a few , yards straight
ahead. To this the lad advanced cautiously ,
and pushing a partly open 'door back on Its
hinges , he boldly enttred ,
The room was smull and dingy , lighted
by a cheap oil lamp on a shelf , and with a
small open window at " 'the"rear. . And on a
low bed. reading u flashily Illustrated p-per ,
sat Stephen Laycock. Ho glanced up , and
when ho saw his visitor the paper fell from
his hands and his bronzed checks turned
pale.
"Rodney Ilarncs ! " ho exclaimed hoarsely ,
and with a ghastly attempt at a smile , "It
alu't really you ? "
"That's Just who It Is , " replied Rodney ,
pushing the. door shift and stepping nearer ,
"and you know what I want. Givemo the
money you stole from father's cabin. "
"I havNi't got It , " muttered Stove. " 1
don't know anything about It. "
"Don't deny It , " said Rodney. "It's no
use. I'm not going to waste tlmo In words.
You nearly ruined my father , and you've
got the money right there | h that belt. Hand
It o\er , Steve , You shan't got away with
I It to the cape is you're planning to do. "
"Who told you "
"Never mind ! I want the money with
out any fuss. And It will bo for ) our own
good to glvo it up " '
"What's In this belt Is .mine , " Steve In
terrupted angrily. "Dluff won't work , my
fine cl.ap , and II I choooee to go to the cape ,
I'll go. What proof bavo _ you that I stole
* * " " "
"
any money ?
"It's enoutti that I. KflQW Jt , " Rodney an
ew ercd quietly ; "I don't J.eed proof. Look
here , Kteve , how a bout-.Cup tain Jerry Dow
ers of the IJ pwlng ? "
Sieve turned colcc * again , ' and a gleam
of fear ehone In hU cyes. J'Who who did
you say ? " he stammered ?
"You beard me , " Rodouy. replied. "I wld
Captain Dowers. He's not far off this mln-
ute , and ho wants you pretty badly. "
Two steps brought Steve to the end ot
the bed and with hl8"bacti ncarer the win
dow. Here he halted , but said nothing , ills
hands were clenched and there was a hard ,
menacing look on his face.
"Hucry up , " continued Rodaey , who woo
keenly on his guard , "You understand the
fix you're in there are no two ways about
It. I'll only watt a mfciiito longer , and then
I'll about for help. "
"Will you ? " muttered Steve. Swiftly hli
right hand slipped behind him , and as
swiftly It reappeared clutching a small shiny
revolver. "Don't dare open your mouth , "
ho wbUpcred , flerU'ly. . "I'll shoot at the
first jsoucd ! Stand right there "
"You sneaking thtefl" gasped RoJney ; and
with ( hat he made an agile U p forward and
struck up Steve' * aotnirctchcd irm. The
weapon flew against tha wall , and the next
Instant the two hnd. grappled. lx > cked to
gether they Tell to tHe floor , rolling over and
o * r , and breathing hard as they fought for
mastery , Steve did not darn to cry out , And
Rodney kept silent because he still had
hopes of gaining his cml.
They were pretty evenly matched and for
several minutes the struggle ncnt on , a brief
advantage shitting constantly from one to the
other.
"You'll bo caught , " panted Rodney. "Give
up ! "
"Never ! " Steve hissed. . "I'll fix you "
There was a sudden" commotion down
slalrs loud voices , the slamming of a door ,
and then heavy footsteps clattering upward.
With an oath Steve threw all his strength
Into a lust desperate effort. He forced his
antagonist over , hurled him against a chair ,
and broke loose. Dut Rodney had seized and
broken the money-belt , and It remained In
his hands.
Just then , as Stcvo stood to his feet , the
door flow open and Into the room fairly
pitched Captain Jerry Dowers. "I've got
you , my runaway chicken ! " ho cried.
"Not yell" snarled Stove. In a trice he
was across the room and through the window ,
and a dull crash told that ho had landed on
the nearby roof of a shed or outbuilding.
With a bellow of rage and a brief glance at
Ilodney , Captain Jerry Dowers , plunged In
pursuit. 'Ho ' recklessly straddled the win
dow olll , and there was another noisy crash
as he dropped. Then followed a hoarse ont-
cry , and the clatter of feet along a paved
court.
Ilodnoy tucked the precious belt under his
Jacket and darted Into the hall , where ho
came face to face with Tom Pugsley. The
latter , with a gesture of silence , drew him
Into an unlit room a few feet aw-ay and pulled
the door nearly shut.
"It's my lodgln' , " ho whispered. "Walt
ere a bit an' then we'll find a chance to
slip out. You were right about the captain ,
sir o must 'avo 'card us talkln' on deck. "
The house was now ringing with noise ,
and In quick succession five men clattered up
the stairs , 'As soon as they had entered
Steve's room Tom and Rodney crept out and
down , meeting no person on the way. The
door at the front end of the lower hall was
unlocked , and by this they gained the street
unseen. They turned the first corner and
hurried on by devious ways to the Mlnorles.
Here they luckily found a hansom , and dur
ing the rapid ride that followed Ilodney de
scribed his adventure to his companion.
"I'm certain the money Is In the belt , " he
concluded , "and I'm glad we got away all
right. There would have been no end of
trouble explaining matters to the police , and
It might have kept father from taking out
his ship on time. "
"Yes , we're lucky , " assented Tom , "an1
no mistake. I knew what was up the min
ute I seen Captain Bowers go In the door ,
an' I was afraid 'e'd spoil > our trick. "
U was Just twenty-eight minutes past 10
o'clock when the cab rattled Into 'Euston sta
tion , where Captain Barnes was waiting im
patiently. He promptly abandoned h's inten
tion ot catching the night express to Llvcr-
popl and all three went to a room In a neigh
boring hotel. The belt was found to contain
exactly 295 , and this sum was further
reduced by a gift of 5 to Tom
Pugsley , when the whole story of the recov
ery of the money had been told.
Rodney's reward was a generous one. He
eujo > od the tour through Scotland and on
the continent with his cous'n , and when he
Joined his father's ship at Liverpool , nearly
a month Inter , he found that Tom Puesley
was the happy owner ol a snug berth on the
City of Moscow. How Stephen Laycock's
flight turned out , nnd whether he fell into
the cluthes of Captain Jerry Bowers , Cap
tain Barnes and his son did not ascertain ;
nor did they trouble themselves much about
the matter. But Rodney has conceived a
deep aversion for the tattooed serpent on his
arm In spite of the service it did him and
ho is still fceoklug In vain for a recipe war-
lanted to remove India ink prickings from
the human skin.
Every season brings a new crop of cough
remedies , but they cannot compete with that
grand , old Dr. Bull's Cough Syrup.
LV JIATTKIl OF I'UXCTU.VTIO.Y.
How the Ac < or Iijiliic-cil - the Hold
Clerk to > - fe f 'Hm'TJn.
The advance agent ot a dramatic com
pany , If he wishes to be kind to those who
follow io his wake , relates the New York
Telegram , sends from each city or town
back to the company a list of the hotels ,
prices and other InforraatUn , so that when
the "players have come" thither they can
select an abid'ng place adv'sediy. Some
times , which Is the safer way , the * agent
gets the- clerks of the several hotels them-
selvco to write out a schedule of prices , etc. ,
and then the hotel cannot go back on Its
offer.
In a very fashionable watering place ( la
summer .time ) recently the big Never Again
comptny were to appear for "one night
only" ( quite a Iocs enough engagement for
the strongest attraction ) , and there all the
very "swell" hotels are closed In the
winter. The beat caravansary open l.i
the cold weather Is very near the
cpera house Is , la fact , owned by the
owner of the play house. You CEiinot get
a better Idea of this hotel than from thin
paragraph , taken from what the clerk wrote ,
and which was sent back to the Never Again
comprny , and was duly posted in the prompt
cntrrnco of the theater In. which the com
pany was then playing. It read as follows ,
omitting the hotel's name :
" Hotel. Ratco Single , $2.50 per day ;
double , $2 ; one room only , with bath , $3.50
for the one who gets it. "
Notice the sixth word from the end of
the paragraph , for it was an Important
factor 'n what followed.
When the company reached the town
which wo will call Oidport , more for the
fun of it than anything else Fritz Williams
took a cab and hurried to this hotel and
claimed the room with the bath , which was
duly assigned to him. The company re
mained In town Just ono meal short of a
whole day , and when Fritz went to pay hlu
bill he was told that he owed $3 50 cents
being deducted from a full day'a charge on
account of the meal not being taken. Fritz
paid It , and then brought out from his pocket
the "hotel call , " as It Is termed profession
ally , which documeat he had obtained from
A. L. Levering , the company's manager ,
who , by the way , was 'n the scheme , and
knew what Mr , Williams ws up to , end ,
moreover , was standing at his elde to give
the young player "moral support , " so to
epeak ,
"Is this your writing ? " asked Fritz of the
clerk , showing the notice from the
hotel.
The clerk took it and looked at It and re
plied :
"Yes , that's mine. "
"Well , you're going to stand by what
you've written there,1 aren't you ? " said Fritz
severely that Is , severely for a little man. .
"Why , certainly ! " replied the aatciilshod
clerk ,
"Them I'll take the $3.60 now , if you
please , " said Mr. Williams.
" . " the clerk with
"What $3.DO ? ejaculated ,
wide open eyes. "I dpn't quite understand
you. "
"Don't understand ? DIfVi't you write this ?
Isn't It as plain as day ? Read It , man !
Read It ! "
"Why , I have but what has that to do
with $3.60. "
"Don't you cay there 'One room only with
lath , $3.50 for the qo ; who gets It , ' and
didn't I get It ? Why , I think I'm lettng ) pu
off cheap when I remqmber the size of that
bath tub. It was Just big enough to get one
foot "
The clc-rk Interruptfd , < Mto voice , "De-
ponds on the size of the foot , " but really
was so nonplussed tar a momcst that ho
opened the money drawer and teak out a
$2 bill and a $1 bill , and a 50-cent piece , and
was pass'ng them ove-r to Fritz , as If he
the clerk was In a trance. Dut Levering
und Williams and several of the other mom-
pay their bllio , and had overheard the dialogue
logue- , burnt out Into a tumult of laughter ,
and the clerk came to hla senses , blushed
and said :
"Well ! I guess we'll make It a 'small
cold bet , ' luatcad of the $3.50 , eh , Mr , Wil
liams ? "
"No ! No ! " replied Fritz , laugh'r.g heart
ily , " 1 gucfH beer for the crowd will osttle
thlo. "
"All right. " said the clerk , "and I'll bet
a basket I'll not make that mistake agn'n
'Never Again , ' eh ? " And all adjourned to
the next room , and the bo > s came tear
musing their train on account of the ad-
Journmeijt.
Coughs and Hoarseness The Irritation
which Induces coughing immediately re
lieved by use of "Drcrwu a Bronchial
Troches , " Bold only la boxes.
A miVIPIVS IIITTHU HOMA.M't ; .
t'niiiilillKhcil Detail * from n
llnlcil Divorce t'nur.
A prominent attorney ot Philadelphia has
romances pigeon-holed In his desk that In
nil probability will 'never sea the light of
day. They are romances of real life their
actors being people In Philadelphia , who arc
seen every day on the street and In private
life. 'By ' a strange co.ncldcnco they all
sought the same attorney. " 1 cannot di
vulge the names of my clients , " ho said tea
a reporter of the I'hlladelphla Bulletin , "but
let mo tell you that those boxes contain
stories that would , mnke fiction pale were
I to show their contents ,
" 1 will allow jou a glimpse Into ono ot
them , " bo added compassionately , "by re
citing a few outlines. The. first Is n divorce
case. .Nothing startling about that you will
say. Well wait a moment and perhaps you
will think differently. The petitioner Is n
young nnd beautiful girl , only Just turned
18. The respondent Is a fair-haired , handsome -
some boy , who less than a year ago was
graduated from the University ot Pennsyl
vania. They have been married three years.
The girl Is the daughter ot a rctlroil mil
lionaire , who knows nothing whatever ot his
daughter's marriage. The boy Is the only
son ot a widow , whose slender means Just
teiabled her to give him a college education ,
The first meeting \\na at a commencement
at the Academy ot Music. It was a case of
love at first sight , followed by all the
ecstasy of love's young dream , Including
cltndestlnc meetings nt the house of a
friend. It could only have one ending.
E\cry day Intensified their love , and filally ,
unable to support their Joy alone , a secret
marriage woj prcpcscd , and the boy and
girl became man and wife. She was then
15 and he 19.
"Tho first year rolled around In one de
lirium ot happiness. The second year loumt
the girl a debulante , sought after by many
handsome fellows. The third year found her
dissatisfied nnd distracted with the unalter
able conviction that her marriage was a
great ml/stake , and that her husband , who
was four years her-senior , had taken ad
vantage of her tender years and Inexperi
ence. All this tlmo she resided at her
father's palatial dwelling and never did the
faintest suspicion enter the old man's mind
that his only child was a married woman ;
HL 9s hr R ly rfUi i "ion now
"After leaving the university the ) oung
husband failed ! to get employment. Ills mind
leaned more to athletics than either business
or a profession. Ills girl wife was wallhy.
This , perhaps , made him IndilTeient on 'ho
subject o-f work. Her father gave her plenty
of spending money. She gave most of It to
him ; nnd then , as women will do , she got
tired ot hla Inactivity. Ho loved her to dis
traction. She grew cool. She could not help
It. A complete revulsion of feeling came
over her , and she commenced to feel the
yoke of matrimony heavy upon her neck.
Then she came to me.
I taw tnut her love was dead. I had
' nown them both since before they were
married. Their brief honeymoon waa spent
beneath my roof and she IM Oat I wnn
the one for her to coino to and , perhaps ,
I wcs. She told mo that he- had never con
tributed a penny toward her support. I
laughed , as I knew her circumstances and
his. She pouted and beat a tattoo on the
carpet with her-pretty little foot. She meant
to get rid of him.
"That night I sent for him. He came to
my house and we talked until 3 o'clock In
the morning. He was beside himself with
love for her and would not llatcn to a word
about separation. The following afternoon
I made a separate appointment for both to be
at my .house at the same time. This meetIng -
Ing was a surprise to both. She said all
she could say to kill his love and demanded
a divorce on the ground of non-support.
She shed bitter tears , upbraided him for
taking advantage of her youthful Innocence
and finally begged him In the name of her
dead mother to release her or she would
kill herself.
"I did not think she meant It for a mo
ment ; I am too old a lawyer. But It was
dlfferei.t with the young husband. He
trembled like a leaf , burst into tears and
told her she was free to obtain the divorce
at once. He would never ccutest it. The
world should never know they had been mar
ried. He left for South America about a
month ago forever so he said , at parting.
The girl "
Just at that" moment a beautiful , dashing
girl entered the lawyer's office , attired In
the most costly raiment. Her large brown
eyes denced with the light of health , her
cheeks were like roses as she sat herselt
down In a large arm chair In the office with
cmch a delightful air of freedom that the
Bullet'n reporter simply stared with admira
tion.
tion."That Is the girl , " said the lawyer In his
ear , as he led the reporter Into the next
office. "It is very sad , isn't it ? " But the
reporter had not time to ask for whom be
fore the door closed and the lawyer and his
fair client were left In deep consultation.
We are anxious to do a ilttie good in this
world and can think of no pleasanter or bet
ter way to do It than by commending One
Mitiuto Cough Cure as a preventatlve of pneu
monia , consumption and other serious lung
troubles that follow neglected colds.
Coiillrmx I.mill ( iraiiiN.
SANTA FE , N. M. , Feb. 1C. The United
States court ot private land claims has con
firmed the Jaramlllo grant , a small tract
wltbln the Lob.to claim , on the Chalma
river In Rio Arrina county. The Rio To-
suque Pueblo Indian claim for valuable lands
in Tesuque valley , nine miles north of Santa
Fe , Was confirmed.
Arnold's Brome Celtry cures headaches ,
lOc , 25c and 50c. All druggists.
AN
To MOTHERS.
WE ARE ASSERTING JN THE COURTS OUR RIGHT TO THE
EXCLUSIVE USE OF THE WORD "OASTORIA , " AND
" PITCHER'S CASTORIA , " AS OUR TRADE MARK.
/ , DR , SAMUEL PITCHER , of Hyannis , Massachusetts ,
was the originator of "PITCHER'S CASTORIA , " the same
that has borne and does now
bear the fac-simile signature of
This is the original "PITCHER'S CASTORIA" which has boon
used in the homes of the mothers of America for over thirty
years. LOOK CAREFULLY at the wrapper and see that it is
the kind you have always bought , / $ / / * * on the
and has the signature of Wt - Jj/e& x&W wrao-
per. No ono has authority from me to ust ) my name o.v-
cept The Centaur Company of which Chas. H , F/otohor J9
President ,
March 8 , 1897.
TMI CtNTAUn COMPANY , YT MURRAY % YRICTi WIW YO CUTT.
< 4L4L4aM
OFFER RELIEF TO THEIR
LESS FORTUNATE
SISTERS
3 * RELIEF't'S
* &
3 V v
&
't'/S SI/TBfS'S'Sf
/ VAt /
% W QCQUllf
The justly famed Complexion Specialists , The Misses Dell , ol No. 78
Fifth Avenue , New York , now offer the public generally the Complexion
Tonic which they have so long ; used successfully in personal treatment un
der the patronage of the leaders of New York's elite society.
It was only after the repeated solicitations of friends and acquaintances
that The Misses Bell were induced to make known the secret they had for
years held so sacred.
4 Myinnrn ILL ' 5
is entirely different and far superior to anything ever before offered In that it
has almost immediate effect in clearing and brightening the skin. U is not
a cosmetic in any sense of the word , as it does not cover up the blemishes
as powders and pastes do , but is a colorless liquid that , when applied to the
skin , does not show , but its effect is marvelous , as it cleanses 'lie pores of
the skin of all poisonous and foreign fillings and dissolves entiiely freckles , I
pimples , blackheads , moth patches , excessive oiliness or redness in the skin.
Its use is so simple tint a child can follow directions aud get the best result.
The Misses Bell have placed the price of their wonderful Complexion Tonic
at $1.00 per bottle , which is sufficient to clear the ordinary skin. Sr
The Misses Bell expect to sell thousands of bottles from this an
nouncement , and , in order to satisfy the most skeptical that their Complexion
Tonic is exactly as they represent it and that they have absolute confidence
in its wonderful merit , they will send it to you safely packed in plain wrap
per , free from observation of the curious , so that
* 6ne Settle fasts l u % tking
if the effect is not exactly as claimed , so that you take no risk in sending
for this wonderful complexion purifier. & -
The price , $1.00 , places it within the reach of all. It will absolutely fc
clear a poor complexion and beautify a good one. It Is indeed a boon to fcfc
women , and this genrous offer should be accepted by all. fc
Ladies can address The Misses Bell on all matters of complexion and
hygiene in the strictest confidence , and satisfactory advice will be given
promptly without charge. An interesting pamphlet will be sent upon re
ceipt of stamp.
Address all communications and send all orders to THE MISSES DELL , or
HE THAT WORKS EASILY WORKS SUC
CESSFULLY. " 'TIS VERY EASY TO
CLEAN HOUSE WITH
UNA , Davidson Co. , Term. ,
Sept. ICth , 1807.
I enclose the names of some afflicted
women. Please write them about Wine
of Cardui. I want them all to get the
medicine. It has done a great deal
for me. I suffered from both falling
of the womb and painful menstruation.
I think I will never be without Wine
of Cardui in my house again. It is
the medicine of all others for weakly
women.
MRS. W. K. NICHOLSON.
There are thousands of American women who feel just as Mrs. Nicholson
does about Wine of Cardui. They know it is the medicine of all others for
weak and suffering women. There is a good reason for the unparalleled
success of Wine of Cardui. Nine-tenths of the sickness of the average woman
comes primarily from some derangement or weakness in her delicate menstrual
and genital organs. A little trouble there affects her whole system. Wine of
Cardui acts directly upon these afflicted organs. It makes them strong and
healthy. They do their work painlessly.
LADIES ADVISORY DEPARTMENT. Then a woman is soon well all over. Often
For odvlco In casei requiring ipo *
elal direct loni , < 1 < lrtjM , l lngiruip-
terns , Laatet' 4 < J * > U6rw Dtpattmmt , a few doses of this wonderful medicine * ' ,
.
The CbuttuBoonailedlclueCa.
CbttUnoos * , show that happy result. I
A Large Bottle of It Only Costs SI.OO at Your Drug Store.