Decatur Democrat, Volume 37, Number 1, Decatur, Adams County, 24 March 1893 — Page 7

R POKE ff MOONSHINE. How Willis Farsell Secured a Wife and a Fortune. Ft i ~ . ■ - — BY FRANKLIN FILE.

CB4PTKH ll.—Continued. “They wish It to be published st once, ” ’ke.pxplalnod, uh the other finished the perusal, “bo as to send copies to their friends. ” •Great scoop, oh!" Burble cried, flinging up liln arms, and then hugging the manuscript. “Talk about the enterprise of metropolitan journals! Well, sir, we will compel them once to quote from the Clarion. Here, Eb, up. there! Copy—copy—copy!” And when the boy had descended the fourteen steps of the stairs with four of his own, clutched the paper and clambred up again, his joyous employer shouted after him, •Tell Johnson to double-lead that, and set the headlines big as a vendue poster. Leave over anything to got that in—anything but |x>lltius or live ads.” Turning to Fassell, he slapped that lugubrious gentleman on both shoulders and exclaimed: “ Don’t scowl! Let the scorpion across the way ■ting itself to death with malignant envy when ho sees our beat, but we should be as guy as red butterflies winging their way among yellow buttercups. If Election Day wasn’t to eome before our next issue, Willis, predestinate me to hades if I wouldn't put our rooster of victory right over that article!" At that moment the door opened, and Captain O’Flarretty and Miss Willowby entered. “Ah! this is Miss Grace Willowby," said the editor, beaming and bowing. “You have been described for the Clarion as 1 vely, and the Clarion never lies. I congratulate you, sir." And he shook hands rather inattentively with O’Flarretty, for his gaze was absorbedly fixed upon the prospective bride. “Be seated —pray be seated." But it was his associate who placed the chairs, and who received a “Thank you" from Miss Willowby. “So, me dear sor," said O’Flarretty, •you have granted our requlst and will publish our marriage in the prisint issue of your newspaper?" “It will be on the press in an hour," “ Burble replied “Oh. before it has happened?" Miss Willowby exclaimed. "But you said the Clarion never-never— —" “Never blared a false note or blazons ■ fiction. But it is prompt to a degree, amounting sometimes to anticipation, in telling the truth. As I understand it, you must be married by 12 o'clock tonight, and our paper will not be read outside this office before morning. What’s futurity now will then be an accomplished fact." "But you will not publish anything about the diamonds? That would be intoirely premature." "The article relates only that you and Miss Willowby have eloped from Quebec,” Fussell replied, with a tone attuned to matter which the speaker deemed deplorable; “thatyou arrived in this village yesterday—that is, to-day; that you were wedded last evening—which will be this evening; and that, in the absence of the Bev. Joshua Perkins, the ceremony was performed by his assistant,” with which the assistant's voice dropped by a despondent crescen,do Into a sigh so deep and internal that the others did not hear it. * “Diamonds! Diamonds!” ejaculated Burble. So they told him all about the twenty stones, uncut yet set in legal difficulty; that the wedlock awaited the advice of Judge Purry, and that the fortune was then in the lawyer’s safe. “In our safe,” remarked Burble, “for, like this office, it is shared by the Judge and me. See?" He turned the knob of the lock and opened the outer door. “But each of us has a private compartment, fitted with its own lock, the combination of which is not known to the other. Not that we are distrustful. The Judge and the journalist are bonded from heart to heart, like the Siamese twins. Silas Purry and Hiram Burble are Si and Hi in intimacy. Even now, at the very climax of a political campaign. when Si is a candidate on the Prohibition ticket and boomed by the humid and vapory apology of an opposition journal, while Hl sounds bugle blasts in the Clarion for his defeat and freedom’s victory, nevertheless our personal relations are not strained.” Col. Burble's eloquence was spoken to Miss Willowby, regardless of the two other listeners. “We bought these things of an agent. I paid for them in advertising, and gave the J udge one on his sixtieth birthday—about ayearago. We’re nigh the same age." “Oh, you’re not sixty?" was Miss WiUowby’s gentle protest. "If I'm not,” was the reply, “it’s because I’m closer to sixty-one—and a bachelor." Over that hardly pertinent or praiseworthy assertion he seemed positively gleeful, as he gazed in rapt admiration at the fair visitor. “How can you have so dashed all the hopes that you must have raised?” And she said that without so much as a suggestion of roguery. “Did you never once fall in love?" “Yes—once. So did Judge Purry—both with the same girl. She couldn't make a choice between us. After trying fora dozen 'years she gave it up—gave us up—and married a Massachusetts man. As it might have been, Si and I were sure to be enemies till death. As It was, we became sympathetic friends for life. Put I was telling you about these boxes. The locks are made to be set on four letters. You couldn’t hit on the combination in thousands of thousands of times trying. The Judge says he would be sure to forgot his if 'it wasn’t fixed In his memory by a memorable subject. So the diamonds are quite safe in the Judge’s box.” vrffiurble shut and locked the door of the safe. “And you're thinking, sor," said O’Flarretty to Fassell, "that the Judge will not come in till evening?” k“He has gone to a mass meeting Which Will not bo over until nightfall, ” Was the reply; "but I am sure he will keep his evening appointment here with you." “Thank you. Then Miss Willowby and I will kill an hour or so of toime, and return at. say,.B o’clock." - “I trust he won’t disappoint us," said Miss Willowby demurely. “I must be married before midnight, you know. ” In the garden of Colonel Burble’s hopeful fancy many acorns of fortune had been planted, with never one to grow into an oak of wealth. But the buoyant man was ready to take another ;chanoe. If this delicious heiress should somehow find O’Flarretty and yet should absolutely require a bridegroom before midnight, well She interrupted his thoughts, but did not at all disconcert his scheme, by asking: “And what was the name of the I lady whom you and the Judge jointly L “Oh, she ta only a memory—"

"But her name?" . “Dorothea. " As Miss Willowby bowed herself out of the office her last glance at Burble was mischievous, and he took it for encouragement; but what she was mentally saying to hersolf was this: “Oh, it is tun to find out things on the sly. Now, the ‘memory’ to which the Judge set the combination look was the woman he loved. Her name was Dorothea. So the four letters are in D-o-r-o-t-h-e-a. Yet a man thinks he can keep a secret." As for Burble, he hastily climbed the stairs to the composing-room. “Johnson," he said, “unlock that last form. I wish to make an alteration!" CHAPTEK iu. AN ISSUE or THE CEABtON Or I.IHXBTY. The conjoined offices of Editor Burble and Judge Purry remained as quiet as Miss Willowby had placidly left them for the space of ten minutes, and then came turbulence in the person of the lawyer, who struck the door open with a blow that mein enmity to somebody within. The editor had not come down from the composing-room, and it was Willis Fassell whom the Judge encountered. The young man had never seen anything like passion in this member of his tripartite chiefs, and he was too amazed to inquire about it; but not long was he left uninformed as to the object or subject of choler. “You scoundrel!" the Judge exclaimed. “You hireling of the opposition! You traitor in my camp! Oh. don’t look surprised. You must know what you wrote in the speech for old Sam Billings to deliver at the mass meeting. You were to put into that solid old farmer's mouth a plea for prohibition — a panegyric on my fitness for a return to the judicial bench. Aware of all that, you can Imagine the effect when old Billings read a plea for personal liberty in beverages, and a virulent attack on me as an enemy of the inherent rights of freemen. I could have killed Sam Billings, and I think I would have slaughtered him on the spot if judicial experience had not inclined me to moderation. But I secured the manuscript, sir, and here it is—in your own undeniable handwrlghting.” "Good heavens!" cried Fassell, instantly comprehending the disaster which had arisen from his confused state of mind. "Why, that’s an article I .wrote for the Clarion. •> 1 must have made a horrible blunder." "Horrible, indeed, but blunders are crimes in a political campaign. ” “What can I do?" “You can take your punishment, young gentleman, if this thing defeats me. The penalty happens to be mine to inflict, sir, and down you go if I,do. You wrote the verses that a woman in the Frolic Burlesque Company is going to sing at the Opera House to-night; didn’t you?” “In my capacity as associate editor of the Clarion, yes; but with a pledge of profound secrecy from the manager*. l " “Well, in my capacity as lawyer, the manager consulted me as to whether those verses were libelous. They touched upon the scandal in the church choir, you know." “Yes, I know — with the refrain. ‘That is what a naughty echo said to me!’ " “ The naughty echo says to me that, if I am not elected, the associate pastor will be exposed to all the awful consequences of that composition. At this juncture Colonel Burble came downstairs. His descent was noisier than had been usual with even that tumultuous individual, and the manner of his entrance, before he had spoken a word,informed Fassell that another third of the accident had occurred. But it was upon the agitated Judge«l*urry that Burble bestowed his first outburst of rage. “So you've attempted a trick on your bosom friend, Si?" he fumed and snorted. “You’ve bribed my associate to smuggle a violent prohibition article into the Clarion—making me say editorially that you’re angelically right, and I’m demoniacally wrong. ” “Slowly, Hi, and calmly. Hi," the now steadied lawyer said. “How about my associate supplying to one of my idiot ■ W — Ml IJM “A THICK OX YOUR BOSOM FBIISND." orators a harangue to deliver against me?” “Gentlemen," the culprit pleaded, “it was a purely accidental exchange of manuscripts. 1 was muddled by this elopement —by the arrival of a lady once a sweetheart of mine—by the duty of having to perform the ceremony making her the wife of another." “What is she to you?" Burble explosively demanded. “Nothing. And don’t let me see you trying to make her anything to you. I will forgive this accident, though I had to stop the press and open the form; but if you make the slightest overture of sentiment toward Miss Willowby. I’ll—l’ll ” “His salvation or destruction is in my hands," and Furry drew from his pocket a paper. “ Here is the variety show song written by Elder Verkins’ associate, rhyming the scandal in the choir, and each verse ending with ‘That is what a naughty echo said to me!’ Elder Perkins won’t; >e there to say: ‘Wo will omit, if you please, the first to the last stanzas, inclusive.' They’ll all bo sung, with pirouettes and pigeon wings. This original copy, in your penmanship, Willis, will go into my safe box. Next day after election you will know your fate. Now, you see the nocessity of getting out and hustling for the ticket. Hl, I exonerate you/ “Si, I hold you blameless," and the editor grasped the willing hand of the lawyer. But on their associate they frowned in unison, while he stood gloomily silent, with one hand clasping a chair, as though to save himself from being swept to utter destruction by his employers’ vengeance, and with the other nervously clawing his beard. comb the parting out of your whiskers,” said Purry. “That’s what you do when you’re going on duty for Elder Parkins.”

•And It will put a ministerial aspect on you." added Burble, "in readiness to unite Miss Willowby in wedlock with this O’Flarretty—or somebody." The article which Sim Billings had spoken was ordered into hasty type ior the delayed Clarion, and that delivered the editor out of the predicament. The speech which 81m Bill ng« had not spoken was sent to the Banner, to be published therein, and that would help to undo the damage which the candidate had suffered. But the manuscript of the topical song was locked in Purrv's box, and so there was no rift for Willis Fassell to see In the clouds that stormed over his dazed head. He sidled out Into the street, and wdnt home to a supper which he couldn't eat. Burble and Purry had no more than watched the wreck of their < mplqye float out of sight when Ebenezer, the devil, slowly descended the stairs step by step. That unprecedented method made the men turn to look at him. He carried carefully in his arms a small 1 wooden box. On discover ng that the , editor was not alone, the boy turned to | reascond, being all the time particular not to jolt the nox. “What’s that, Eb?" Burble asked. “I didn't know you wasn't alone, "and Eb tried to hide the mysterious thing behind him. “What have you there?” “Nothing." Burble caught him by the shoulder and whirled him around, whereupon he crouched down to the floor, gingerly holding fast to the box anA saving it from concussion. \ “You’ll be right sorry you knade me tell, Mr. Burble—afore the Jedge. You know what I ealdl That there wasn’t no zlm in the papter. Talu’t/ my idee that the muoh, nuther—though it’s better'n nothin’. But here’s the zim—in this box, and you’re a sacrificin’ it’ He set the box softly on the table, and lifted the cover. “Them’s the runnin’ gear out of an old clock. That tin cup in the corner is full of gunpowder.” “An infernal machine!" Burble exclaimed. “Perexactly. But it ain’t meant to blow up nobody. It’s jest zim fer the Clarion. It’s sent in by a political enemy. It goes off—biff—bang!—when nobody’s here. Lots of smoke, but no great shakes, and no particular damage. Big excitement though, and extra edition. Immense boom for the paper. That’s what it is." The boy was sternly commanded by Burble to go back upstairs, and not to say a word about his project “Now. Si,” said Burble, “I am going to prove my unimpaired affection and never greater esteem. That speech by Billings may hurt you. But to more than makjs good for that mishap, you shall have this infernal machine. Fiendish plot to kill a Prohibitionist! Resentful sentiment aroused! Triumph at the polls! Put it in the safe to-night, and have it delivered at your residence tomorrow. " “Hl, old man," said the emotionally grateful Purry, “I thank you for this sacrifice. We will talk it over in the morning. But could that boy be depended on?" "If he thinks a confession would send him before you, as judge, to be sentenced, he won’t dare to ever own up. All is fair in love and war." “And political campaigning is war," the Judge assented. Ho opened the safe, and had locked the explosive apparatus in his private box along with the diamonds, when Miss Willowby slipped on a bit of snow in entering. She was not saved by O’Flarretty from falling, because that gentleman had his eye on the lawyer and his mind on the diamonds. It was into Burble’s ready arms that she plunged, and they hugged her longer and harder than was absolutely needful in restoring her lithe, light person from an angle of thirty degrees to the perpendicular. But it was toward O’Flarretty, and for his failing to grab her, that she showed a shade of resentment “Oh, thank you, Mr. Burble," she said; “and you, Shamus, ought to thank him, too, for saving you the trouble of catching me.” “Me thoughts wor on the diamonds, darling,” he said. “It seems to me,” she retorted, “that they are quite as dear to you as I am.” That theory as to her companion’s mixed desire to possess her and her fortune was asserted impulsively, but it had been slowly formed in her mind during the day in consequence of his constant anxiety about the contents of the little leather bag. She was surprised and alarmed by her own words, however, and with the appealing gesture of a weak woman to the strong man into whose care she had placed herself, she smiled feebly on her impending husband. “Have you come to a decision. Mr Purry?" that individual said to the lawyer, failing utterly to discover the evidences of a revulsion in Miss Willowby’s feeling. “Is there, sor, any raison for furtherMelay of the marriage ciremony?" “I really can discover none," Judge Purry replied, as the couple took seats with him Inside his railing. “The of the bequest, you tell me, were " And there ho stopped, for, looking past his clients, he saw Burble making gestures to him. The demonstration was incomprehensible, however, and he continued: “Whether or no Miss Willowby is liable to prosecution on a constructive charge of larceny, and you, also, culpable as an aider and abettor of her act, I can see very clearly that your case will be bettered by the lady’s marriage to-day in accordance with the provision of the will.” Burble could not overhear the advice that was being given. He busied his hands with opening a bunch of newspapers just from the mail; but hie mind was occupied by a struggle to devise a waj- to substitute himself for O’Flartre tty as the bridegroom. No glimmer of a feasible idea flashed from his active intellect, on the black prospect. Was this ticket in the lottery of fortune only another blank? He was holding up a Quebec journal, and making a pretense of perusal, when a headline obtruded itself upon his comprehension. It belonged to a preliminary description of Miss WiUowby’s wedding, as it had been arranged to occur in the Canadian capital. “Come here, you substituted bridegroom,” Burble vivaciously cried, glad to interrupt the consultation. “Come here and read how Mr. Fergus Ferguson and Miss Grace Willowby were, ere this, to have stood at the altar.” O’Flarretty went over to the editor’s In closure and was followed by Purry; but Miss Willowby remained seated by the safe. For an instant she sat questioning herself whether she bad not made a foolish exchange of bridegrooms. Then she carelessly placed her hand on the knob of the safe by which she sat. The door swung open, for Purry had not locked it, and there, within her reach, was the box containing the diamonds. Thereupon a surprising thing happened. Miss Willowby thoughtfully, carefully, yet with no indecision, turned the knob of the Judge’s private box from one letter to another, until the four forming the combination had been touched in the correct order. The bag of diamonds was exposed. A glance at the three men convinced her that her act had not oeen seen. Quickly and noiselessly she emptied the diamonds into her pocket, replaced the bag, shut the box, locked it, closed the door of the safe, and remarked: "I suppose to-morrow's issue of that

paper will contain the flight of ths bride?" “And the disappearance of the diamonds," laughed O’Flarretty, exultantly. “I was to have been only an ooeher I at the wedding." "Bo this article says," Burble remarked. “It also mentions the opportune arrival of some members of your family from Ireland." “Jndade!" “Ton didn’t expect them?" O’l larretly d d not answer, but took the paper out of the editor's han Is and put it in ohi t own pocket. Then he >eturned to Mice Wlllo vby, wb > hod seen his sudden ccnsorsh'p oi the press, and who now saw his suppr’es od agitation over the published news of the O’ Fl arret y ’. “I have been amusing myself, ‘Shamtu*,' ” she calmly whl-pcred. “by gueesing a riddle. What makes yo i stare so? You heard Oolouel Burble tell of h s ■nd Judge luriy's love of one girl. 1 hen bo said ths the ■ udge’e private box In this sa e w io ke I on four letters, whieh ihe Judge de lared he’d be sure to lorget if they were not associated with a memory. I as ed the name of tbe giil It was 1 orotheo. My guess w«s that the natn.i ci n ained the lour le tors of tbe oumbinadon. Likely T-h-e-a, that being pretty an 1 pronounceable. I’ve just tiled it —out « ffil I THZ 00IZ1NEL BbBSFKS TH BIC of curiosity, you know. ‘Thea’ is the open sesame. “And tbe diamonds are there, darling?” "They are quite safe, Shamus." The editor and the lawyer were in a whispered dialogue, too. But Eb, the devil, noisily interrupted them with a copy of the Clarion, moist from the press. Burble took it and ran a critical eye up and down its columns. “Did they spell my name correctly?" Miss Willowby deturely inquired. “They’re so apt to make it o-u-g-h-by, instead of o-w-by.” . "And mine?" O’yjarretty. asxed with ardu us gayety. 1 "Well," Colonel Burble replied, “your name isn't printed at al. I made a < hauge in the types at the last moment This article says that Miss Grace Willowby,.Quebec's most beautiful and accomplished belle, came to Liberty and was married to a gentleman whom the editor did not deem it advisable to name. ” “Meaning me, sir, of course," and O’Flarretty bowed in sincere gratitude. Then, as Willis Faa-ell entered, he added: “Here is the gintieman who has kindly consinted to o Delate. Let the ceremony go on.” “Colonel Burble and I," said Judge Purry, very blandly, “have had a momentary consultation, and we advise delay.” “That’s not to be thought of, sor ” “The fact is that the engagement is off altogether," said Col. Burble, in an authoritative tone. “Off altogether!" Miss Willowby faintly echoed. “For the reason that, if the news which the captain has pocketed is correct, ids wife and two children arrived in Quebec yesterday." O’Flarretty was for a moment irresolute. When he bad ma le up his mind what tb say, it was this: “To the divil with the prying, meddling, gossiping papers. Good evening, gentlemen. Good-by, Mies Willowby; and I trust you may be able to get a satisfactory husband in my stead.” With that he backed out of the office, bowing. Then Cob Burble arose to the occasion. “Miss Willowby,” he said, “all the aspects of your situation point to the positive necessity of a husband." “Hush!" was her whispered response. “Don’t look toward the window or the s,fe —not one of you!” Raising her voice, she went bn: “You do me honor, sir, to offer your assistance, but I must beg at least two or three minutes of delay—until my unfortunate affair with Captain O’Flarretty is concluded. He took me for the sake of my diamonds. He has had to relinquish me, but he doesn’t mean to give up the fortune if he can prevent it by a desperate exploit.” After a furtive glance across the room she cont nued: “I told him how to open thd Judge’s box, b caus * I ' wished to tost his honesty. He has this instant gone out through thatwindo.r, into which he had sneaked, and is now escaping with my b ig. ” “Oh, we must capture him?” Burble cried. “No, no,” she coolly commanded. “I am too luckily rid of him to ever wish to have him brought, back. ” “But the diamonds?” “Oh, they have bothered me enough already. “Buttheirdoss leaves you penniless.” And Burble was eloquent as his own scheme began to dissolve into naught. “If wo can recover them a husband can instantly be materialized." “Without them!" And now it was Willis Fassell, suddenly resolute, who spoke. “Miss Willowby is the same dear young lady whom I wooed at New Haven live years ago, and to whom I now venture to offer myself again.” “And she accepts you," was her reply. “In honesty 1 must confess,” Fassell went on, “that a cloud hangs over me,” He meant the topical verses, which were in the Judge’s box. “Not until after next Tuesday’s election shall 1 know whether sunshine or etonh is to follow the cloud, but ——" The cloud was dispelled with an explosion like a thunderbolt. The door of the safe flew around on its hinges, and from the Judge’s open box issued the smoke and smell of burnt gunpowder. The interior was a mass of clock-work and charred papers. “The thief set the infernal machine off," said the editor. “And my dreadful doggerel is destroyed," said Fassell. “Whatever it was that you’ve lost,” said Miss Willowby, blushing prettily and letting him hold her slightly tremulous hands, in which were the twenty diamonds, "here is my fortune. Captain Shamus O’Flarretty will discover that he has stolen only a poke o’ moonshine." [THE ENP 1 Bulgarian Superstition. Among the superstitious natives of Bulgaria the prophet Elijah is believed to control the elements. During heavy thunderstorms the women fall on their faces and pray: “Dear Lord Elijah, do not drive so fast with your fiery horses.” Electric Railways. During last year the number of electric railways increased from 385 to 469, the capital stock from $155,087.313 to $205,870,000 and the mileage from 3,916 to 5,446 miles.

WINTER WHEAT CROP. ■ --*■ iT3 CONDITION IN MANY WESTERN STATES. Appearances Decidadty Against a Full Crop in lUlnote—The Outlook in Ohio Better than In Illinois or Indiana Re ported Good in Michigan. Condition ot the Wheat Crop. Reports from the principal wheatgrow.ng States In the West, as gathered by the Farmers’ Review, show that the erop 1b at that sta;e when not mu h can be told by appearances, but a lew weeks will show the true situation. In Illinois the appearances ore dec dedly against a full crop, but It is pro able that a few weeks will improve the outloor. At present on many fields the tops of the wheat plants have been killed, but the roots seem to be all right. In Indiana the general condition is reported as fa'r, which means a little telow an average. In Ohio the present condition is much ahead of that in Illinois and Indiana. More than half of the correspondents report the < utlook as good and that the crop appears to have come through tbe winter in flue shape. Most of the others report fair. In Michigan the condition is similar to that in Ohio, halt of the counties reporting the outlook as good. In eome localities the wheat Is still covered with snow. In a few localities it is believed that the wheat has been grea ly In ured, but there is no certainly of this, as the ice still rema ns. In other localities lhe snow is rapidly disappearing and wheat looks qu.te as well as it did last fall. In a lew counties it is small from the effects of the fly and drouth. On low ground some Wheat is known tQ_Jhave been smothered out by ice. In Tfentucky tbe general condition is fair. • It hrs been damaged in some counties by free;; ng and thawing, and has been lilted oit of the ground, but is again taking root and promisin' a fair erop. In Missouri the condition is hardly fair. Only one-fourth report tbe condition as a lull a;erage. Some correspondents report the wheat frozen out in places and that the fields wi.l have to be plowed up. In some of the fields the crop cannot be over one-half the ».■ erage. Generally speaking the early sown fields are good. Lato sown fields are of doubtful condition. In Kansas and Nebraska the condition is fair to good. The plant in some oounies is starting to grow and has a good color at the rco s. In lowa the condition is nearly an average. Snow is going rapidly. In Wisconsin the snow came early and kept the plant covered all winter. In some places where the snow has melted the condition appears to be fair. THE MISSOURI BOND TRAGEDY. A Deplorable State of Affairs the Outcome of Voting R. R. Bonds. Another chapter of misery is opened up in tbe history of the bond cases in Missouri, says a dispatch. One of the St. Clair County Judges, who had been in prison for several months for contempt of the Federal Court, was released on parole to attend the funeral of his daughter, who had died at a lunatic asylum, to which she bad b en dr.ven by the imprisonment of her father. Before he could arrange for the removal of the body he was called to the bedside of his wife, who was not expeo’ed to recover from the shock caused by the death of the daughter under such cruel circumstances. And the husband is so much prostrated that It is feared he may not long survive the death of hie wile, and may not even live long enough to be taken back to jail. The people voted bonds for the construction of a railroad which was expected to benefit them. The corporation to which the bonds were delivered did not complete the line, and the counties repudiated the debt, interest on which had been piling up e er s nee about 1870. The bondholders obtained judgments in the United States Circuit Court, and the County Judges have steadily refused to order a tax levy for the purpose of paying the debt. Judges were elect d only to go to jail- Two months ago the people of Cass County agreed to a compromise of 70 per eent, which was acceptable to the bondholders, the tines of the Judges were remitted, atd they were freed from imprisonment, one of them going direct from the jail to be sworn in as a member of the General Assembly. It Is probable that the wave of sympathy aroused by the affliction of Judge Copenhaver will cause tbe people of St. Clair County to demand a similar compromise. It is “said that both of the Judges are in favor of submitting tbe question to a vote of the people. . But such a Vote may not be order; <j for some months to come, aud during that time one or both of the Judges will have to lie in jail. The situation is not a pleasant one to be contemplated by the fell ws who misapplied the proceeds of the bonds. ASSAULTED AN EDITOR. R 'presentative Sheridan Uses His Fists In the Nebraska Capitol. Lincoln, Neb., special: The Nebraeha Legislature has given evidence oi i:s ability to furn sh sensations and many a hostile meeting, but the first actual knock-down and drag-out of the session occurred Thursday, when Representative Sherdian, of Red Willow C ounty, took it upon himself to chastise Editor E. Rosewater, of the Omaha Bee. The Bee has been criticis ng Sherdian. who is a Populist member. The two men met in the corridor just outside Representative Hall and the editor was taken to task ly the lawmaker. Following a heated argument Sheridan struck Rosewater in the breast and followed it up with a vigorous shaking. E. P. 1 oggen, ex-hecretary of State an employe of Rosewater in the Bee office, who was in the < orridor, ran up to the combattants and struck Sheridan a stinging blow on,the forehead. It brought blood, but apparently did not feaze the bel igerent lawmaker, for his right hand went out like a sash, caught Roggen full on the jaw and he went down in a heap. Net satisfied with this, Sheridan pounced on him and began belaboring him vigorously in the face. News of the conflict reached the hou e and the members rushed out pellmell, without the formality of an adjournment. Half a dozen pulled Sheridan off his foe ahd helped Roggen to his feet. The latter, the blood streaming from his nose and mouth, jerked away from the men holding him and r-ached for his hip pocket Sheridan, divining that he was searching for a weapon, again sprang toward him, but was held back, and the two men were taken to separate rooms and looked up. --The men are well matched physicially, both weighing over 200 pounds. BOY FIRE-BUG CAUGHT. Lewis A. Wright Confesses to Starting the Boston Blazes. Lewis A. Wright, a 17-year-old youth, was arrested by Pinkerton authorities for lighting five successive fires in the business district of Boston. Although young in years, he has shown himself a master-hand in hiding the evidences of his guilty work. On being confronted with the evidence he broke down and made a full confession. Within two months there have been more than a dozen fires in the business district, one entailing a loss of one life and $3,000,000, another the loss of five lives and $1,500,00(1 of property. In each case there was a suspicion of incendiarism.

AT I Merryman’S FACTORY You can get all kinds of Hard and Soft Wood, Siding, Flooring, Brackets, Molding, Odd-Sized Sash and Doors. Tn fact all kinds of building ma terial either made or furnished on short notice. ♦ Erie* Lines. Schedule In «flect Nov. 13. Trainn Leave Decatur ae Follows TBAINS WEST. N 0.6. Vestibule Limited, daily for I .... p vi Chicago and the west f No. a. Pacific Express, dally fori ». rt A Chicago and the west J No. 1. Express, dally for Chicago I p M and the west.. ...? I No. 31. Local j 10:35 A. M TRAINS EAST. No. R. Vestibule Limited, dally for I, -. v p New York and Boston I No. 12, Express, daily for New I j.an A y York f No. 2. Accommodation, daily ex- 1_ j.~. p ccpt Sunday I No. 30. Local > 10:35 A. M. J. W. DbLonc. Agent, Frank M. Caldwell. D. P. A, Huntington, Ind.; F. W. Buskirk, A. G. P. A.. Chicago, ill. LOOK HEREI I am here to itay and can sell Organs and Pianos eheeper than anybody else can afford te sell them. I sell different makua. CLEANING MD REPAIRING lone reatonabte Bee me first asfi asrv money. J. T. OOOTB,Decatur, Ind. i Scientific American Agency TRADE MARKS, DESICN PATENTS, “• COPYRIGHTS, etcJ For information and free Handbook write to MUNN k CO., 361 BboabWAT, NKW YORK.’ Oldest bureau for securing patents in America. Every patent taken out by us is brought before the puoiic by a notice given free of charge in the Scientific Smecican Largest circulation of any scientific paper In the world. Splendidly illustrated. No intelligent man should be without it. Weeklv. 53.00 a year: f 1.50 six months. Address MUNN Cam PUBUSHKRS, 361 Broadway, New York City.

The Lyon & Healy Organ Is the best and most salable Organ of the Day Organs sold on Installment Payments at Low Figures. SEND IOS CATALOGUE. Fred K, Shafer, Agt. BERNE. IND. ■' ' • ; ARANGE BLOSSOM M POSITIVE CURE FOR— ’ ®®Qo© ALL FEMALE DISEASES. I»t Cniit nc TUE CVUDTOUQ • a. tired, languid feeling. low spirited and despondent, with no apparmrt OUMt Ui InC viWllUmOi cause. Headache, pains in the back, pains acroea the lower part of bowals. Great soreness in region of ovaries. Bladder difficulty. Frequent urinations, Leucorrhcea, ‘‘J bowels, and with all these symptoms a terrible nervous feeling is experienced by the patient. THE ORAhWE BLOSSOM TREATMENT remorse all these by a thorough process of absorption, internal remedies will Dever remove female weakness. There must be remedied applied right to the parts, and than there is per* manant relief obtained. EVERY LADY CAN TREAT HERSELF. O. B. Pile Remedy.- I >I.OO for one month’s treatment. I O. B. Stomach Powders O. B. Catarrh Cure. I —prepared by— I O. B. Kidney Cones. J. A. McGILL, M.D., & CO., 4 panorama place. Chicago, ill. TOR SAT.TC T3Y Holthouse & Blackburn, Decatur. Ask for Descriptive CirAlars. HOFFMAN & SOTTSCHALK Keep a full line of Drugs, Patent Medicines, Paints, Oils, Groceries, Lamps, Tobaccos, Cigars, and a general stock of Merchandise. Prescriptions carefully compounded. LINN CROVE, IND. * ga At Magley, keeps a large stock of Dry |Ah||AAA Goods, Notions, Groceries, Boots, Shoes and in fact everything kept in a general IMj store. Buys all kinds of Country Produce 1 IIIJ H or which the highest market price is paid. Ka Nlf CHS Loss of Brale Power, Headache, Wakefulness, Lost Maa* w VJ Mood* Nightly Emissions, Qulckneu, Evil Dreams. Lack of \* I< I Confidence, Aervoainew. Lassitude, all drains and loss of Zji W IgMk jjgk power of the Generative Organs in either sex cauwd by over oxer1 jA tton, youthful errors, or excessive use of tobacco, opium oraUcuulanta which soon lead to Infirmity, Consumption and Insanity. Put up convenient to carry in vest pocket. Sent by mall In plain package to any address for >l. or 6 for So. With every S 5 order wa 11 1 give a written guarantee to cure or refund the noney.) BSFOUB AXD 4JTEK USDia. .. — For Sale by W, H. Nachtrieb, Druggist, Decatur, Ind. ”■ ’ a . ■ . ' . - ... ; .

Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad ITSIIM run on Ontrwl Atsndard Tlim.Kwi*’ uteu slower than Columbus or former UaM. Took effect Sunday, Dec. ML IM. GOING NORTH. STATIONS. No. 1 No. 3 No. 5 No, I ClnMnneU..lve HOham DlOptn Richmond »30pm lOIA . 1145 Wlnoheeter.... ail.JllU . 12 43am Portland 4 04. I2:t6ptn tXI Decatur 5 10.. 131.. 220 Ft.Wayne...arr 800.. 2 15.. 300 •• “ ...Ire 235 »«>.. "Otam Kendallville 341 423 .. 8 10.. Rome City 3 55 4 40 8 28.. Wolcottville 401 0.0.. Valentine 4 11 Sti.. LaGrange 419 6 05.. #51.. Lima 4». »«.. Sturgla..... 440 .. ASM.. 10 I# .. Vicksburg SUH . 6M.. II <i#.. Kalamazoo.arr ...... . 805 .. 1140».. " ~lve 4?nam »2f> 9 00. 12aipm Gr.BapidK.arr 6 45.. 910.. ...... 2 20.* “ “ ..Ive 7 30.. 1010.. 110 pm 415.. D..O.H.JcM.cr 10 45.. 727 Howard City 11 50 941 BlgKaplde 1236 am 945 Reed City ltd Cadillac arr 1130 .12 06 . 5 10 •• ....Ive 230 9 10 .. Traverse City 7 OCprn ....... Kalkaska 3 49 Petoakej 6:15.. 9 15.. . . Mar-klnac City, 9 00 10 36 GOING SOUTH. STATIONS. No. 2 No. 6 No. 4 No. 8 Mackinac City.) 715 pm 7 4oam 2<)opm Petoskey 1910 .. 920 .. 345 Kalkaska 13 36 .. 11 3ti .. 502 Traverse City.. 111 10 . 450 Cadillac . ..arr 220 am 115 pm 700 905 am " ■ . ..Ivei 215 11 36 Hsopm 910 .. Reed City 329.. 12 30.. 7 60.. o<lo.. Big Rapids 100.J2 5H.. .9 25. 9 45.. Howard City .I 45A,. 343 .. 920 10 )2 .. D..G.H.£M.cr! 905 16 05 .. 10 25. 11)5 .. Gr. Rapids .an" 633 .. i 515 .. 11 00 .. 150 .. “ ..Ivel 700 .. 600 . 1120 200pm. Kalamazoo.arr 950 .. 900 . 12 55am i 340 .. ..Ive- 956 .. ! 905 .. ..... .. 346 ~ Vicksburg 9 24.. 833 413.. Sturgis... 11019 .. i 920 605.. Lima 11033.. 1140.. 517 . LaGrange... .10 44 .. j 0 62 529 .. Valentine 1053 .. i 10 02 6 37,. Wolcottville. 1104.. 10 14 5 47.. Rome City- 1109 . HO 19 12 . Kendallville... 11 25 .. 110 39 . ~.. 6 OH. Ft. Wayne..nrrll24opinJlso 7 15 .. " ..Ivej 180 .. 1258 am 545 am Decatur i 146.. 112 68 - 630 Portland 2 40.. 165 .. 730 Winchester....! 317 I 2:W .. 809 Richmond 420 .. 1340 .. 815 Cincinnati-....! 7ikl . ‘H 55 18Q1nm Trains 5 aud 6 ntn daily between Grand Rapids and Cincinnati. 0, L. LOCKWOOD, Gen. Pass. Agent BRYSON, Agent. ", , Decatur, Ind First Class Night and Day Service batwnaa Toledo, Ohio, JAN Os St. Louis, Mo. free: chair cars DAY TRAINS—MODERN EQUIPMENT THROUCHOtn. VESTIBU.LED SLEEPING CARS ON NIGHT TRAINei tg-MEAL3 SERVED EN ROUTE, any *«r, Ms OR HIOHT, at modarau coat. Ask far tickets ria Toledo, St Louis & taom City LI For further particulars, call on nssrsrt Aa;ent of the Company, or addrem O. C. JENKINS. g—irsl rassMtsr AfWl, TOLEDO, OHIO, W. L. DOUGLAS $3 SHOE GENTLEMEN. And other specialties for Gentlemen, Ladies, Boys and XMK Misses are the * n WoMsee descriptive advertise--1 ment which will appear in Take no Substitute, but insist on having W« !>• DOUGLAS’SHOES, wttb : name and price Etamped on bottom. Sold by For Sale by Henry Winnes, Second door West of Adams County Bank, Monroe St.