Decatur Democrat, Volume 37, Number 18, Decatur, Adams County, 21 July 1893 — Page 7

THE TALE OF fl HAT; ; .kr.,/ ' • lyft, ■.L . ’ /H MMUMWMMMMMMMUMMIIIHMIMI I Or, Josh Merritt’s Mania—Written for This Paper. BY JULES VERNE.

CHAPTER TV. The Chicago flyer was on time, but the great city or the prairies had no attraction for Josh Merritt. Not until the 'Mtaln rumbled across the magnificent bridge spanning the father of waters at St. Louis did the Englishman deign to makes few turns on the plat’orm to get the kinks out of his long thin legs, and even this was but for a brief half hour. Ono after another Jefferson Cltt, Sedallt and Fort Scott were left behind him. but not until the train nulled Into Vinita and a band of Cherokees stalked beneath the car windows in sullen grandeur qf buckskin legglus, red blankets and eagle plumes, did GlnGhi rub hie eyes, give a smothered ex* olamatlon of horror and reach up to see If his pigtail was still there. Now began weeks of patient search, weeks of wandering on horseback among the various reservations, from tribe to tribe, from Cherokees to Arapahoes, from Comanches to Chickasaws, from Creeks to Pottawatomies, from Sacs to Pawnees. Often and often, when a halt was made in some village, a chief wearing a silk hat stalked out to greet the silent Englishman, but that long, hard face, with Ito small, glassy eyes, was each time turned in vain upon the headgear of the noble red man as GinGhi timidly handed him a plug of tobacco. It was not the hat that Prince Louis had given to Mr. Smith of Houston street. i Onoe, and once only, Mr. Joshua Merritt unsealed his mysterious Ups, when an Indian agent expressed a hope that he might be successful in his search for the coveted treasure. “Oh, yes, that’s so,’ murmured the collector, as if speaking to himself; j “that’s so. I shall find it; I find everything I look for; yes, that’s so; it’s only a question of time; no doubt you have heard what I am looking for now?” “Yes, sir,’ said the agent, "and I can hardly believe it, but you know more about these things than I do.* “Yes, that’s so; that’s so; you see, ■ this hat is not like any other hat in the 1 world.’ i "And hence you deem your collection I Incomplete without it?" “Yes, that’s so; that’s so,” came from Merritt slowly; and then he add#d, “and I’d give my head to get that hat on it" I “Is it a cooked hat, all gold lace?” in- ' qulred the agent, humoring this hartn- | leas monomaniac. . “Oh, no; but you rnurt excuse me if I ■efuse to describe it I must be wary—yes. that’s so; there may be some competitor in the field, that’s so; 1 must be wary, he might snap it up." . “No doubt you have some proof of its existence?" “Oh, yes. that’s so; that’s so; SIO,OOO Worth of proof—yes, that’s so—twenty years' hard work, that’s so—agents,correspondents, detectives, emissaries, that’s so—but I'm on the track at last I may find it on some chief’s head—yes, that’s so. ’ I “But what tribe does he belong to?” i’ “Can’t tell, that’s so—can’t tell—but if necessary I shall visit every one of ■ them. I shall ransack every village—that s so—it must be here—that’s so—that’s so. ” About the middle of the month, as Josh and Gin-Ghi—the former mounted on a tall, raw-boned, shaggy-maned, piebald horse, and the latter on an Indian pony as fat and sleek as himself—emerged from a deep gulch, through which they had been patiently toiling for six hours, they suddenly found themselves surrounded by a band of half Intoxicated Indians, whose war ipaint and wild demeanor boded no good to the Adventuresome pale-face and his yellow-skinned companion. They were I Kickapoos, and in a state of violent agitation, for Unite 1 States troops had lately driven them, back from an at- \ tempted loray across the Mexican ! border. A number of them had been ■lain. As they formed a circle around I the two lone travelers, executing a war ! dance and shrieking like howling . dervishes, Gin-Ghi gave himself iup for lost; but Joshua Merritt from his lofty perch looked down upon the dancing, howling, ges- , tlculatlng band, with a mien so dignified, an expression so stolid and ; rigid, that the Indians fell back abashed, uttering their deep guttural “hows” with a respectful demeanor. The Englishman ordered Gin-Ghi todlstribute tobacco. Not until he had made certain that his pigtail was still in place could the poor man recover his wits sufficiently to obey. And now, with a Slow and windmill-like wave of his ! long arms. Merritt directed the Kickapoos to conduct him Into the presence of their chief, Peeconowah, whose I name was well known to the great col- ' lector. The village was reached in half an hour, and in solemn silence the 1 bucks squatted around the two visitors. > Pipes were produced and smoke I, but i still the chief of the hiokanoos came not. The Englishman began to grow uneasy. He had not been treated ;With such discourtesy since his arrival [among the red men. Ho arose and began a long harangue, spoke of the mighty Empress, upon whose domain , the sun never sets, and as one of her ' rich and powerful subects, demanded that Peeconowah should come, out of Ivvi Fv mm®] Ww. j [•WOONOWAH, LEANING HEAVILY UPON TWO or HIS BRAVES.” * - - his wigwam. The fact Is, the chief ■was sleeping off a debauch and was not in a fit condition to meet this distinguished visitor. The I sad failure of bis attempted foray I across the Mexican border had soured Hfria noble red man and he had tasted I deeply of the insidious firewater; but as I the sun went down Peeconowah, leanLny heavily upon two of his braves, I made his appearance, wearing his army I hUnket. In a very careless and undlgnirfijd manner, while upon the back of his Head an old-fashioned, broad-brimmed, p—- -•— *• *

clinging desperately. As the chieftain took his place among his braves, the hat slipped off ana rolled on the ground. Quick as a flash Merritt’s long legs snapped him Into an upright position, and picking up the hat he replaced it upon Peeconowah’s head, with a respectful bow; but the keen observer would have noticed that as he did so he turned down the lining and glanced at U for an instant. It was the hat; the hat of all hats that Merritt’s very soul was yearn ng for; the hat that he had searched for ,in every corner of the world, ’ Upon the lining Merritt had read the words: “Pflnoe Louis Napoleon to his friend, William Smith, New York, April 17, 1837." Did Joshua Merritt give a wild yell of triumph? Did he kick his long legs high in the air? Did he draw out his wallet and spread crisp bank notes in Peeoonowah's lap? No, none of these. He calmly turned to Gin-Ghi and commanded him to give the chief of the Kickapoos, Peeconowah, or “Old Fox Fond of His Hole," a plug of Sweet Virginia tobacco. Joshua' Merritt, Esq., of Liverpool, the famous collector, was a very astute judge of human nature, and as he sat there on the ground, with his gaze riveted upon the face of “Old Fox Fond of His Hole," he felt both Instinctively and deliberately that the chief of the Kickapoos was no ordinary man, and the longer the Englishman studied the Indian’s face the more uneasy did he become, until at last about three feet of cold shiver began to play up and down his back. Rising slowly to his feet* Joshua walked to his horse, and, unstrapping a superb crimson blanket from his saddle, he threw it around Peeconowah’s shoulders, and at the same time lifted the Napoleon hat from the chief’s head and set it upon his own. It was a friendly exchange of gifts, but the chief was on his feet in an instant Quickly unbuckling a richly embroidered belt, he clasped it around the Englishman's waist, and, reaching up, repossessed himself of the Napoleon hat, which he replaced on his head with a deep grunt of satisfaction. The cold shiver seemed to Joshua to gain three feet in length, but no human eye could have detected any trace of displeasure in that long, hard, yeoipan face. Merritt now began a series of experiments upon Peeconowah. Drawing forth a handsomely carved silver pocket flask, he unscrewed the top and passed It to the chief, who merely took a long smell at the contents, sighed, and then handed it back to the owner. Evidently he resented the attempt of the stranger to plunge him into another debauch. Joshua Merritt’s hands were moist. k Such a thing had not occurred in twenty years. But he determined to play another card before the pow-wow should be broken up. Walking up to his horse he unslung a superb rifle from his Badale. Peeconowah’s eyes glistened as they fell upon the firearm. Placing it in the chief’s hands he asked as a return gift that the great chief of the Kickapoos would honor him by settling the hat he wo're upon his unworthy head. Peeconowah appeared to assent to the proposition, but suddenly withdrew to display the rifle to the females of bis family. Merritt’s heart came to a complete standstill. It was just so many seconds taken bodily out of his existence. In a few moments Peeconowah reappeared, and with a grunt of satisfaction lifted the hat from his head and placed it on the Englishman’s. Merritt made a start, and then his hand clutched at his revolver. He longed to send a bullet through the Indian’s heart, for he had deceived him. It was not the Napoleon hat. “Old Fox Fond of His Hole” had changed the hat while in his wigwam. He had tricked the Englishman out of the superb firearm. Merritt could feel his hands turning cold. And yet any demonstration of feeling would be fatal. He smiled and in Indian fashion grunted out bls thanks for the hat to Peeconowah, and then the powwow ended. Joshua Merritt was beaten, beaten at the very instant of triumph. Oh, it was bitter, very bitter. He felt like rushing into the chief’s abode and down like a dog. True, his own death would be the inevitable consequence, but what would It matter? Would life be worth living without the Napoleon hat? Heaven forbid! Nor would it be of any avail to spread gold before the cnlef’s •yes.. His answer would be: “The j great white chief at Washington supplies all my wants in winter, and in summer the hunting grounds are open to me!" Oh, it was terrible! AN hen bight came the Englishman threw himself upon his blanket with a groan that startled Gin-Ghi. All night long he tossed about in a raging fever, mumbling and muttering in his delirium. But the faithful and skillful Gin-Ghi knew how to administer such remedies that by daybreak his master fell into a refreshing sleep. Gin-Ghi had saved his life. Joshua Merritt was not slow to reach a certain conclusion. It was this: There is but one way to get possession of the Napoleon hat, and that is to steal it. It might cost him hie life, but he was firmly resolved to attempt It Rather death a thousand times than go back home to Liverpool without the Napoleon hat. ‘ The great collector knew exactly where he was. He knew that he could not be far, not over thirty-live miles, from Foitßeno, on the North Fork of the Canadian River. He had a good horse, and so had Gin-Ghi. If they could get but half an hour’s start of "Old lox Fond of His Hole” they could reach Fort Reno, and oneb under the protection of the American flag, he could laugh at the charge of having stolen an old hat, should Peeconowah make it, and In any* event the chief would be obliged to accept a few dollars in full payment of the damage done him. Gin-Ghi was t now to be put to good service. He was'to make friends With the children and squaws of the chief’s family, and above all was to do os much sleeping as possible in Peeconowah’s teepee. In this way they would become accustomed to his presence, and neither note his coming or going; little recking that the wily yellowsk nned Celestial was ’never wider ■take in his life. The Englishman, for his part, was too busy himself riding about collecting medicine plants, and In order that there might be no delay he Invariably saddled Gln-Ghl’e pony and took him along, under pretense of needing the animal to‘carry the bundles of herbs which he tied to the saddle-bow. In a’few days there was to be a hunt. The village would be quite deserted save by children and squaws. The plan worked to a charm. The real Napoleon hit was quietly replaced by the bogus one, and with the coveted bit of historic headgear pulled firmly down, over his head, Joshua Merritt swung his long leg over the saddle and dtabM out of the village But his joy was destined to be, 1 ." *.• M, ,r * •

short-lived, for scarcely had their horses ' warmed to their work when Gin,Ghi’s quick ears caught the shrill whoop of the pursuing Kickapoos. At first Joshua was inclined to poohpooh Gin-Ghl’s assertion and to assure him that It was only the cry of a stray I coyote. But It grew louder and louder. . There was no mistaking It now. Th* Kickapoos were after them. However, , as half of the distance to the fort had I already been put behind them, there was a chance yet to reach it In safety. “Ride, ride for your life, Gin-Ghi," yelled the long, gaunt Englishman, pulling the Napoleop het down tighter over his head and lashing hla horse | furiously. The little Indian pony had gone lame the day before, and although he made a gallant effort to follow the towering Rosinante bestridden by the tall Joshua like a wooden god, yet it was all in vain. The road suddenly roughened up and called for the surest of feet to avoid stumbling. A shrill, long-drawn cry of fright and pain suddenly assailed Merritt’s ears. Gin-Ghi had gone to the giound with his pony, aior the Infuriated Indians were in full sight Although he would willingly have given his own life to land the Napoleon bat safe In bis museum at Liverpool, yet Joshua Merritt was too ?;ood an Englishman to abandon a fel-ow-being in a moment of peril. He wheeled his horse about,' and, swinging himself from his saddle, with two strlda* reached the fallen Chinaman. The KickapAoa, with murderous shrieks, cams down upon-them; but calmly and quietly, as If facing a troupe qf stage Jpdlans, he spread his long, strong legs over the prostrate Gin-Ghi, and, drawing bls revolver, faced the howling band ! of Kickapoos with tight-set jaws. In another instant a dozen bullets would have pierced hls long body had not a protector sprang to his rescue. The black horse which brought this much needed help seemed to have ! leaped from one of the mountain gorges. To Merritt’s amazement the rider was a woman wearing a blue cloth riding habit set off by narrow gold braid, and a black felt hat, from which a single black plume streamed gracefully. As she reined In her superb black beast, which she had thrown between the Englishman and the Indians, the latter fell back with, a grunt of anger. ’ Shame, Peeconowah, ” cried the lady, whom Joshua now for the first time recognized as Mrs. Hetty Waldron, “to make war on travelers In this wayl How dare you attack a white man under the very shadow of Fort Reno, almost in my son’s hearing?” The chief gave a grunt of Indignation. “Dark lady”—so was Hetty called by the Indians—“this man has wronged Peeconowah," grumbled the chief. “He has stolen his hat," at which words there was a'general outburst of grunts of indignation. “Stolen your hat?" echoed Hetty in unfeigned amazement. “Yes, dark lady,” repeated the chief of the Kickapoos, “ 'tis even now upon his head. ” Merritt drew forth a handful of gold coin and tendered it to Peeconowah. "Yes. that’s so, that’s so,” be blurted out. “but I had no intent to steal the A WaC-A i JyWJL, .A All ]\ lf/1 * J IJKj* J* HE SPREAD HIS LONG. STRONG LEOS OVER THE PROSTRATE GIN-GHL hat; that’s so, I Intended to pay the chief for It, pay him well; that’s so, here’s the money.” “Peeconowah refuses," growled the Chief surlily. “Peeconowah must have hls hat. The great spirit sent it to him. It brings him good luck. Peeconowah feels that some great chief of the pale faces once wore this hat! Peeconowah needs no gold. The great chief at Washington provides for him! Peeconowah has spoken. ” As he listened to these words, Joshua Merritt was obliged to rest his hand on Gln-Ghi’s shoulder to keep from falling. "Sir,” cried Hetty with solemn visage, “if Peeconowah speaks the truth you must return this hat. Captain Waldron, I’m sure, would so order." The Kickapoos gave forth a loud chorus of grunts of satisfaction. Joshua looked dazed, for an instant his fingers refused to clutch the brim of the Napoleon hat, but he saw that he must obey, and with a groan of disappointment that touched Hetty’s heart, the Englishman lifted the Napoleon hat from his head and handed it back to Peeconowah. At Mrs. Waldron’s invitation, Joshua now mounted his horse, and followed by the bewildered Gin-Ghi, accompa- ’ nied his rescuer to Fort Reno, where Capt. Waldron gave his steamer acquaintance a real soldier’s welcome, but the daintiest cuts of wild turkey and prairie fowl and the most delicate I and insidious punches which Hetty I Waldron could con pound failed to lift ' the gloom from Joshua’s heart He was litera ly bowed in sorrow, and when he presented himself at the Captain’s quarters the next morning he seemed to have grown old in a single night. It was pitiful to note the deep lines that the gall and wormwood of disappointment had eaten into hls face. Jn a silent and mechanical sort of way, Joshua Merritt entered into the sports organized byCapt. Waldron to help them get through the day. Hetty did not join i them at dinner, and after Merritt had smoked his pipe for a half hour or so I over the nuts and wine, the Captain j arose and proposed that they should step over to hls mother’s quarters and pay their respects. As Merritt followed hla young friend into the house, which, though of rude exterior, was neatly papered and carpeted, the two men halted in the hallway to hang their hats on the rack. As they did so Waldron heard the Englishman suddenly catch his breath and then saw him stagger back against the I wall. The Napoleon hat was hanging on the rack! Making a great effort. • Joshua Merritt steadied hls body and his nerves, then cried out gayly, and in atone of voice that (apt. Harry had’ never heard Issue from that capacious > mouth before: “One moment. Captain; I wasn’t expecting to meet any ladles this evening, I fear I’m not in a very {resentable rig. Yes, that’s so; but then your mother is a wonderful woman—yes, that's so, wonderful. I’m more than delighted to meet her again." Hetty received her distinguished vis- | itor with a most charming grace and ; 1 ease, questioned him about the treas- 1 ures of his museum, described the fas- I cinations of life u) on the .plains, dilated upon the anticipated pleasure of aI sojourn In New York, as her son had ' been ordered to the East; in a word, ex- , hibited auch a delightin' «sow nt anlrita I < X t

and proved herself to be such an altogether charming talker, brimming over with wit And wisdom, that ten times In I on* hour Joshua Merritt felt himself 1 called upon to whisper the words “wonderful woman” In th* Captain's ear. ; The bugle-call sounded at 9, and the ! Captain rose and begged to be excused for • half an hour. No sooner had the door closed behind him then Joshua ; Merritt laid hold of Mrs. Waldron’s hands With a clamp-Hko grasp and whispered: “The Napoleon hat!" “Is hanging on my rack, Mr. Merritt." “Your price, your price, madam.'” came with almost arattle from Joshua's throat. “Oh, I don’t feel that I would be justified In selling a relic of such historical importance.” said Hetty, solemnly, "a / \ ® “»HE NAEOLbON HAT WAS HANGING ON TUB •BACK. 1 ’ hat worn by two worlds, so to speak! 1 shall send it to the Smithsonian Jnsti- | tutlon." Joshua Merritt gave a start a» if a i viper had stuck its fangs into hls hands. “Smithsonian Institution!" he gasped. And then there came a sudden change in his manner, and stepping to the window he cried out in a tone of voice so nearly cheerful as to fairly startle Hetty: “My dear Mrs."Waldron, what beautiful moonlight nights you have in America; shall we go out for a short walk? It’s rather oppressive In-doors.” “But, my dear Mr. Merritt," exclaimed Hetty, "I haven’t the countersign: we run a risk of being shot.” “I’ll take that risk, gladly, Mrs. Waldron,” replied the great collector, with a low bow. “Do you know, my dear Mrs. Waldron,” said Joshua, as they re-entered the house halt an hour later, “it looks to me as If the man in the moon had a hat on his head to-night." Three weeks later, when Mr. and Mrs Joshua Merritt were well on their way to New York, the great c dlector whispered to her: “But tell me, my dear Hetty, In heaven's name, how did you persuade Peeconowah to give up the Napoleon hat’” “ 'Twas simple enough," laughed Hetty; “the Kickapoos had lately murdered an Indian agent, and my son had quite made up his mind to recommend the War Department to send Peeconowah to the Dry lortugas. Is it plain enough now.'" “Wonderful woman,” ejaculated Joshua Merritt |THE END-! Copyright, by the Authors' Alliance. AU right a reserved. OUR SWEET NAVAL BELLS. The Foreigners Stopped Talking to Hear Our Ships' Bells Ring. The best gift that any American city has made to the cruiser named after it was San Francisco s service of plate to the beautiful ship of that name. There is so much of this great and costly set of plate that the cabinets containing it are found above and below stairs, in the admiral's and captain’s quarters and in the wardroom. All the pieces are large and heavy, she biggest being a huge punch bowl of great beauty of design. Every lid in theserviceis surmounted by a solid gold bear, the symbol oi California, and the effect of the bright yellow on the white silver Is very pleasing. Philadelphia did very poorly by her ship, now the flagship of Rear Admiral Gherardi. This gift is a great bronze clock that won’t keep time; indeed, it won't go. It bears the name of a Philadelphia flrm of jewelers, who would be wise either to put the thing in order or chisel the flrm name off. This clock is not beautiful. Its design is artistic, but does not work out effectively in bronze. If the silver bell that this, city ito give to the new cruiser New Yo 1 k is as melodious as a silver bed should be; the gift will be prized. Few know it, but the bells that ring out the hours and half hours in our white squadron were the de ight of our foreign naval visitors here and in Hampton Roads. All the bells on the white ships contain a great deal of silver, and produce clear, sweet and extra musical notes. Sir John C. Hopkins, the British vice-admiral, would stop his own part in a conver j sation at any time on his quarte deck on the Blake to listen to the bells on our Yankee ships. He said that they werq the sweetest bells he ever heard, and he wished they had i such ones in the British navy. In ! that navy the bells go Irom ship to i ship, as fashions in war change, and on some ship to-day the bell that rang out the time for Nelson or so Blake is toLing away as it did in its hour of glory. One of the Nelson’s bells may be on the Australia or the Partridge, but alas! the British do not carve the dates and,names of the ships on their bells, and so their especial merits are lost. The old I bells are thrown in the dockyards and ■ kept there until one Is ne d>d for a • new vessel. They arc deep-voiced. I gruff bells, whose sound soon dies out while the silvery peals of our bolls cling to the air and reaclj far out upon the waters.—New York §un. Where Women Do m They Ple Me. The Independence of Burmese women is remarkable. They manage affhiis, have stalls in the i bazaar, with which no one interferes, marry when they choose and divorce their husbands as soon as they please. No veils cover their faces; no melancholy seblusion prevents them from mixing with the/male sex. They dance and laugh with as many admirers as they and last of all they smoke—not dainty cigarettes on the sly, taking a whiff while "they read the latest French novel, as their European sisters do, but cigars—j longer than those men use in Europe; cigars a foot long and two inches in circumference, *the price about a penny; and they smoke them all day. — Amherst College was founded in 1821, “mainly for the purpose of educating poor and pious young men for the ministry.'* •ASirtA "V s. • w ii. ■.

CITY OF ALPENA. DeMriptlon of tbo Moot Macnlflcont Stool F»Men<«r Stramer on the Lakes. The Detroit and Cleveland Steam Navigation Company's new steamer •‘City of Alpena,” built by the Detroit Dry Dock Company, made her trial trip the 28th day of June, showing a speed of 20 miles per hour. She Is the largest and most magnificent steel passenger steamer on the lakes, costing over $300,000. The cabins are furnished in mahogany, and possess the novel feature, on the upper lakes, of an additional tier of state-rooms; the upper tier Is reached by a broad, endless gallery. There are IdO state-rooms and parlors, each provided with electric annunciators, wire and patent mattresses, Pullman blankets, and Illuminated by electricity. Electric lights in state-rooms are no more a noveiy, but the lamp-fittings on the 500 incandescent lamps will attract attention. The electric call button in each state-room, is a novelty, and one that will be thoroughly appreciated by the passengers. It is placed so that the passengers in each berth can reach it without rising. There 144 of these buttons on the boat. After looking over the boat, the most luxurious feature, and one that will be appreciated, is the barber shop and bathrooms, and just aft the ladies* and gentlemens’ toilet rooms. Parties who make a long journey by rail and have no time to go to a ho.tel before reaching the boat, or business men hurrying through their duties on a hot day may take a bath in the most approved style. Then there are two state rooms forward that are furnished a little mqje elegantly, and are more roomy than the others. In case anything should happen the boat, there are eight water-tight bulkheads that would keep the steamer afloat under any circumstances. The stability of the construction need not be detailed any more than to say that the builders whose boats have a reputation for strength and efficiency, have used more than usual care in building this boat. The general effect of the decoration, which is in the style of Louis XV., is dark, shading to light. The woodwork and finish are in Honduras mahonany, and the blue wilton carpets with old gold figures relieve the dark effect of the mahogany. The ornamentation in the main cabin is beautiful, but the second cabin, with its ivory and gold relief in contrast, surpasses it. The panels in the ends of the state-rooms are in gold, relieved by ornaments in raised gold. The dining-room has deadlights arranged in pairs, but the most important feature is the ventilation by the McCreary cold air system; air is drawn down a shaft through a ventilator and is passed over ice and cold water before it is liberated in the dining-room where a roast and the odor of victuals are usually given in addition to what is found on the menu card. A separate cabin is provided on the main deck for passengers without staterooms; The lower saloons hqve been devoted exclusively to the dining-room, kitchen, and pantry, thus separating the culinary departments entirely from the main saloons and sleeping apartments. In fact, all departments are supplied with every modern convenience that experience can devise or money procure to make this steamer unsurpassed for safety, comfort, and pleasure. The»dimensions of the new Floating Palace: — Length of keel, 264 feet; breadth of hull, 38 feet; breath of beam, overall, 70feet;moulded depth, Isfeet. The hull is of steel. The propelling power is low pressure compound beam engine of 3,000 horse power, diameter L. P. cylinders 66 inches bore, diameter H. P. cylinders 42 inches bore, and 11 feet stroke. The paddle wheels are of the Morgan feathering pattern, adopted by this Company for their great speed, without jar or noise. The boilers are double enders, equaling four boilers with Howden force draft; capacity 130 pounds steam pressure. Steam steering apparatus place this immense vessel under the contro lof one man. An interesting feature of the steamer is the stack, the style of having two stacks as in all other boats of the line having been abandoned for a single stack which is oval,and is six feet wide and seven feet long, and is feet high from the boilers to the top. In this boat only about one-half of the stack shows above the, top of the cabins. Divided up it would make ten moderate sized staterooms. The steamer “City of Alpena” runs between Toledo, Detroit,and Mackinac Island, making close connections at the latter point for Chicago, Petoskey, Bay View. Sault Ste Marie, Marquette,and Duluth. • Gossip that is Profitable, In China there Is a profession for ladies, strange, because openly and handsomely remunerated in the current coin of the realm. It is carried on bv elderly ladies, who go from house to house of rich people announcing their coming by beating a drum and offering their services to amus&Xhe lady of the bouse. The offer accepted, they sit down and tell the latest scandal and the newest stories and on dits and are rewarded at the rate of crown an hour, besides a handsome present should some portion of their gossip have proved particularly acceptable. —Chicago Herald. Reform in Spelling. The changes adopted by the society tor reforming speiring are the substitution of f for ph where posslb e, e for ;e or oe, the omission of the final ue. me and te in such word as dialogue, program and quartette, and of the final e wherever it is not required by the sound. Brieflets. • Make but few explanations. The character that cannot defend itself is not worth vindicating.—F. W. Robertson. ' A Texas woman who wanted to throw herself into her husband’s grave has just married a lightningrod man. It is bad enough to break party ties, but it isn’t half as embarrassing as to have them work around under your ear. One of the surprising things about a funeral is the ease with which the women of the afflicted family produce mourning clothes. Sam Jones, who is preaching in Dallas, Texas, says that a man should be 95 per cent- backbone. Thatdoesn’t leave much forcbeek. Switzerland has a town called St Gali. Now that’s a good place for the President to send Ward McAllister, and several others. A Harlem young lady san she longs for fingers like the prongs o< a pitchfork, with diamond rings enough to till them to the enda

Business Directory THE DECATUR NATIONAL HANK. Oafital. *M.*M. ■orplu, *W,K» OrigißlMd An«ut 14, UM. T. Dorwln, Pr.iid.nt; P. W. Malta, Tlo»-PTMldMit; R. 8. P.tMKm C*.hJ«r; T. T. Dorwia, P. W. Smith, Hmiry Dwk.., J. R. ■olbrook, B.J. T«vm>, J. D. Hal. ui XI P.teTMo, DlTMtora W. sr. pnpsrad to mako Loan, on food w<*rity, rw«lT. Dqpodta, f.rnl.h Dom.atl. and For.lfo Kiohant., buy and ..11 GOT.rnm.nt and Municipal Bond., and turniah Ij«tt.r. M Cradlt available in any of th. principal citlM of Europ.. Alw Passuza Tlok.t to and from Ola World, iaUudlnf tranaporthtion to DMttax, Adams County Bank Capital. *75.000. Burnhu, 75,60a OrfulMd in inL Offioars—D. Stndabakw. Pr.iid.nt: Robt. B, AUlaon, Vio^Prealdrat; W. BL Niblick, Caakt«. Do a fonaral banking buainMa. Collection, mad. in all part, of th. country. County. City and Town.hlp Order, bought. Foreign and Dome.tie Exchange bought and mid. LnMr..t paid on time daporita,. Paul G. Hooper, Attorney at Tjatkf Decatur, • m Ttufiono. KBYDT, B. K. JLANJT, J. V. ERTTUf £ MAUN, ATTORNEYS-AT-LAW, And Notarl.. Public. Pension Claim. Prosecuted, Office In Odd Follow.’ Building, Decatur, Ind. ■ETRANCS A MERRYMAN. J. I. FRANC*. A? J. ». MCRRYMA* A-ttorney* **t Law, DECATUR, INDIANA. Office No.. L Z and 8, over the Adam. County Bank. CoUection* a specialty. A. ». BOLLOWAY, Fliy*iiolaii Mb Sxxx-seoxa. Offioe over Burns' harnem shop, resldenoe one door north of M. ■. church. AU call, promptly attended to in oity or country nl<M •r day. ILTBS. m, l. iolloway, M. 0. c, Office and residence one door north of M. * shurch. Diseases of woman had children specialties. ” Leil Nelson, Yeteriwrj Surgeon, Decstur, Ind. Residence southeast cor. Decatur and Short streets. JQ. NEFTDNC, . DENIBT. Now located over Holthonee's shoe .tore, and Is prepared to do all work pertaining to the dental profession. Gold filling a specialty, By th. um of Mayo’s Vapor he i. enabled to extract teeth without pain. AR work warranted, MONEYTO LOAN On Farm Property on Loa* Tims. Wo Ooxzom&loolosZL. Low Bate es Interact. In any amounts eaa bo made at any time an* stop interest. Call on, or address. st. X. GRUBB, or P. MANN, Offieo: Odd Pallows' Building. Demins. / «. B. 8080, B. T. BOBtt Master Commissioner. 8080 & SON, ■ ATTORNEYS AT LAW. Beal Bstate and CoUection, Decatnr, Ind. O.P. M. ANDREWS, FlaTtmlolaxl <b Sxxx*KeoKt MONROE, INDIANA. Office and residence 2nd and 3rd doors west of M. B. church. Prof.* L. H. Zeigler, Veterinary Surgeon, Modus Operandl, Oro he •L ZJ tomv. Overotomy, Castrating, Rldg Ung, Horses and Spaying Cattle and Dehors Ing, and treating their diseases. Office over J H. Stone's hardware store. Decatur Indiana. J. 8, Coverdale, M. D. P. B. Thomas, M H DOCTORS 'Coverdale & Thomas Office ovr Pierce’s Dnir store. Decatur, Ind First Class Night and Day Service batwaaa Toledo, Ohio, St. Louis, Mo. FREE CHAIR CARS BAY TRAINS— MODERN EQUIPMENT THROUGHOUT. VESTIBULED - SLEEPING CARS ON NIGHT TRAINS! Sffi-gfdts SEBVtD EN ROUTE, utf iMar, Mt OR RItHT, at worf«r«» CMt. 11l hr tickeh th Toledo, St louit 1 bum City 1 & ClovekAmfßoute. For further particular., call oil neareM Agent of the Company, or addrem C. O. JENKINS, Smarti rummr ifA TOLEDO, OHIO.

The Lyon & Healy Organ Is the best and most salable Organ of the Day mSB Organs sum on Installment Payments at Low Figures. * SENE JOB CATALOGUE. Fred K. Shafer, Agf. BERNE. IND. __ _ _ ‘J 4

A.T Merryman’S FACTORY Yon can get all kinds oi Hard and Soft Wood, Siding, Flooring, Brackets, Molding, Odd-Sized Sash and Dodrs. Tn fact all kinds of building ma terial either made or furnished on flhrtrf nnfinp LOOK HEREI I am here to «tay and can Ml Organs and Pianos cheaper then anybody eIM can alerdt* . MU them. ImH different makw. CLEANINS AND REPAIHINB done reasonable Bee me fir»t and nW money. J. T. COOTS,Decatur, In 4. a ■ , .» I Scientific American A Agency TRADE MARKS, DESIGN PATENTS, Ss COPYRIGHTS, etcJ For Information and free Handbook write to *MUNN * CO., aa Bkoadway, New York. Oldest bureau for securing patent. In AmerioL Every patent taken out by us is the public by a notice given free of charge in the idtnfific >iuetitau Largest circulation of any srts-tlfic paper in the Splendidly illustraced. No intelligent man should be without IL Weekly. »3.00* Vmk Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad Trams run on Central Standard Time, 28 min utes slower than Coin n\bus or former time. Took effect Sunday, Junelß.lßßß. GOING NORTH. STATIONS. No. 1 No. 3 No. 5 No. 7 Cincinnati..lve 815 am 900 pm Richmond 2 20pm 1100 .. 11 50 Winchester.... 3 1,.. 1155.. 1234 am P0rt1and....... 4 04’.. 12a5pm 163.. Decatur 510 .. 131 .. 243 k't,Wayne...arr 600.. 215.. 215 “ ...Ive ... 2 35.. 3 20.. 805 am Kendallville 341 .. 4 25.... 910 .. Rome City 3 56.. 4 40.. 9 26.. Wolcottville 4 01 9 31 .. Valentine 411 943.. LaGrange 4 19.. 505.. 9 51.. Lima 4 29 10 03 .. Sturgis 1440 .. 526 .. TO 19 .. Vicksburg 5 36.. 620 . ,1109.. Kalamazoo.arr 16 05.. 6 50.. 1140 .. •• ..Ive 420ami6 25.. 7 10.. 1225 pm Gr. Rapids..arr 645 .. i 810 . 900 .. I 2 20 •' •* ..Ive l 720 ...10 30 .. IWpm 415.. D., G.H. A- M.cr 11045 .. I 117 .. Howard City JU 55 . 235 Big Rapids .12 46am 325 Reed City 1 12 Cadillac arr 1135.. 210 900 .. " ... .Ive 220 .. 510 Traverse City 700 pm Kalkaska 3 43 Petoskey 625 .. 910 Mackinac City 8 05.. 10 35 GOING SOUTH. ————ji i TSTATIONS. No. 2 ' No. 6 No. 4 No. 8 Mackinac City. 900 pm: 740 am 4 30pm! Petoskey 10 30.. 915 .. 255.. ' Kalkaska 12 38.. 41 18 .. 451 Traverse City 11 00.. 430 Cadillac ....arr 2 20am HVpm 630.. 740 am ” ....Ive 2 30.. 1 20.. i 635 pm Reed City 338 .. i 235 .. i 750 .. i 900 .. Big Rapids..... 4 08.. 3 07..! 8 20.. 932.. Howard City.. 500 .. i 357 .. I 920 .. 10 32 .. D..G.H.&M.cr 615 .. 600 .. 10 25 .. 11l 35 .. Gr. Rapids .arr 6 3').. 515 .. •1040 .. 1150 .. “ " ..Ive 7 00.. 6GO .. 11 20.. 200pm Kalamazoo.art 8 50.. 8 00.. 12 55am 3 40.. “ ..ive! 8 55-.. 8 05.. 345.. Vicksburg | 924 .. I 831 4 12.. Sturgts 1019 .. ,9 36 , 505 .. Lima 103.’.. 9 40.. 5 17.. LaGrange. ... 10 44 .. ' 952 .. ; 529 .. Valentine 1053 ..: 10 02 .. 1 5 37 .. Wolcottville... 1104 ... 10 14 . i 547 . Rome City 1109 .. 10 19 552 .. Kendallville... 1125 .. T 0 39 .. i 60S . ■ Ft. Wayne..arr 1240 pm: 1150 .. | : 715 .. “ " ;..lve 100 .. jUV'ami 545 am Decatur 146 . 13 58 .. :630 .. :... Portland 2 40.. I 2 00.. 7 30. Winehester.... 317 .. 241 .. s tip Richmond. 420 .. 340 .. i 915 Cincinnati 7n) .'I "7 1~. I-Liin-' ■ ■ Trains 5 and 6 run daily between Grand Rapids and Cincinnati. C. L. LOCKWOOD. Gen. Pass. Agent JEFF. BRYSON, Agent, DOcatur. Im! Lines. Schedule in effect June 4. 1893. Trains Leave Decatur as Follows o TRAINS WEST. N 0.5, Vestibule Limited, daily for) n ... n Chicago f ,“ 4U -. No. 3. Pacific Express,-daily tori ~ .. Chicago I No. 1. Express, daily for Chicago I. No. 31. Accommodation, daily. I except Sunday ~.-yvTRAINS E-VST. No. 8. Vestibule Limited, daily for (. p v New York and Boston J i r. »i. No. 2, Express, daily for New I p ~ York I 1 ’ M ’ No. 12. Express, dally for New I , York I No. SO. Accommodation, daily ex-. M cept Sunday...„.. ..: I An ’ J. W. DeLong, Agent. Frank M. Caldwell. D. P. A, Huntington, Ind.: F. W. Buskirk. A. G. P. A., Chicago. 111.