Democratic Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 40, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 October 1891 — Page 3

DOUBLE DICK AND JOE; The Poorhouse Waifs.

BY DAVID LOWRY.

CHAPTER XVII. LADT MORFORD. Jeremiah Jenks directed the driver of the cab to take him speedily to a fashionable quarter of the city. In less than half an hour he was set down in front of a fine-looking mansion. A model of a servant admitted the lawyer, and after seating him in the draw-ing-room took his card to his mistress A very handsome lady entered presently—a lady whose manner and dress indicated high social position. She looked at Jeremiah inquiringly. ■The lawyer fumbled, rom.stammered and managed to say: “This is an unexpected visit, but I had no other alternative The lady looked at him, but did not speak. She was giving due attention to him. “Madame—Lady Morford, I mean—l am the victim of mispla<ed confidence. ” Still she did not speak. Except a slight elevation of her finely arched eye-brows, the lady gave no sign. “I relied upon my nephew. Lady Morford, and he has deceived me, grossly deceived me. ” “In what manner does it concern me, Mr. Jenks?” “It does —yes, very much. He has possessed himself of my private correspondence—indeed he has acted shamefully. ” “Ah! I sympathize with you, sir; but unless it affects me immediately I do not see that I should be informed of a matter that affects you in a business and domestic way. ” This was said in an icy manner that made Jeremiah Jenks’ task all the more difficult, but he returned to the self-im-posed charge. “My nephew has, I regret to state, made use of the knowledge he discovered in your letters, to decieve me—us both—in regard to the whereabouts of your granddaughter.” Lady Morford looked at him sharply, then she said in measured tones: “How long, Mr. Jenks, has this deception been practiced?” “Three months, at least. “JVhen did you discover the truth?” “Within this hour.” Lady Morford was silent. She evidently awaited further revelations. Jerem’ah Jenks rose, paced the floor, and said in humble fashion, very humble, indeed: “I have discovered from my nephew that your granddaughter—or tho person I have reasons to believe to be your granddaughter —is not far from here ” “In New York!” Lady Morfoid advanced quickly toward the attorney and said, in a tone revealing deep emotion, “Unless, sir, you are prepared now —instantly—to take me to her, I will not listen to any communication you may have to make to me. Once for all, Mr. Jenks, 1 have done with suppositions and theories. I want something tangible. I have been a prey to misapprehensions, have been induced to thUtk many things that I find not a seadow of reason for now." “I am prepared to go with you—to go now. Lady Morford But ” “Then keep what you have to say for me on the way.” She hastened from the room, and in a •urprisingly short time stood before him with her bonnet on.

“My carriage will be at the door in two minutes. Now, proceed. Tell me where we are going.” “To Monsieur Dufaur’s academy. ” “I know it very well. I called there with an acquaintance only yesterday.” “Well, that is where we will find tho girl I have been seeking. ” “And how long has she been there?” “Several months, it seems.” “Months! Months in New York! We may have passed each other—l might have sat here while she wa3 dying near me! This is unpardonable!” “It is, my lady, it is. ” “Here is tho carriage—quick, I must not lose another minute. Every moment is precious to me. ” She was like a girl in her eagerness. When they were seated face to face— Jenks had sent his cab away—the lawyer related, with much humility, the manner in which his nephew, his bad nephew, had misled him and robbed him of an immense amount of money. But he could not take steps against his own flesh and blood—he revolted frona-even the contemplation of action against his nephew. Of course Lady Morford applauded his Spirit, and now that she was on the eve of embracing a grandchild, she felt as if she ought to exercise charity to all the world.

She heard all Mr. Jenks had to say, and pitied him, poor man. Was he quite sure this young person ■was the identical child he had been searching for so ong, and were the facts inch as would satisfy the curious world that she was truly Lady Morford’s grandchild? “Because, ” said Lady Morford, “unless the proof is convincing my nephew, who is deeply interested, will contest the claim now and after lam dead. He will leave nothing undone that ingenuity can suggest or money accomplish.” “I am convinced, Lady Morford, that the girl’s b : rth—all the evidence required—will be supplied.” “Are we not there yet?” said the grandmother. “We will soon be there now. One more block, Lady Morford. ” When the carriage stopped and the footman opened the door, Lady Morford, whose hand trembled, said as she laid it on Mr. Jenks’ arm:

“Pray be quick—let me get it over speedily, this meeting ” “We desire to see Madame Dufaur,” said the lawyer to the servant who answered the bell. «- “Madame Dufaur is not at home.” “Monsieur Dufaur, then; please inform him a lady wa'ts. * “Monsieur Dufaur is absent, too. ” “When will Madamo Dufaur return?” inquired Lady Morford, anxiously. “In an hour.” “And monsieur?” II don’t know; ho may be later.” “Can I see ” The lady turned to Mr. Jenks, “Her name?” “I do not know; they call her Joe, I believe. ” “Then can we see the young lady who is with Madame Dufaur—Miss Joe?” “I am sorry to say, madame, she, too, is out. ” “Is she out of the city?” Now, the servant thought the visitor meant in the neighborhood of the city, asdf Joe was out of town for an hour or two, and she answered: “Indeed, I am not sure. Maybe she is. ” Lady Morford spoke to Mr. Jenks again. “I will leave a note. ” “Whatever you may deem proper under the circumstances ” Lady Morford called for paper, pen and ink; then she wrote a few lines in a nervous hand, placed the note In an envelope, handed it to the servant, and turned to her companion.

“I can do no more at present • “No. We have done all that can be done now.” “If she does not ca’l on me—l will return. bhe will surely call —or send me word. ” “Surely such a note as that will bo attended to promptly.” The visitors retired, and the servant looked after them curiously. As she looked, a .handsome young man came up the street He had waxed mustaches, black eyes, and a military air. He was the leader of a brass band—and the girl’s lover. » He stopped, took off hi 3 hat and talked to her. She smiled, and talked to and at him with her brilliant eyes They were to be married soon, so it was not much wonder five, ten minutes passed away. Then the young man looked at his watch, gave a start, and exclaimed: “Possible! I’m off.” The servant sighed, remembered certain things requiring her instant attention, entered the house with a little cry of dismay—and the note which Was lying In her pocket, and which Lady Morford had placed in her hand with a solemn injunction, was as utterly forgotten as if it had never been handed her to give to her mistress “the moment she returned. ”

CHAPTER XXVIII. ANOTHER SURPRISE. When Monsieu” Dufaur and his wife, accompanied by Job Wonder, Dick, Ben Brown and his wife, returned to the Dufaur mansion, there was much rejoicing, much to be explained, and much more that nobody could account for. “What in the name of all that’s mysterious did that scoundrel .meau by pretending he was married?” said the down. He appeared to think the question an open one, for anyone to answer who could satisfy him. “I k n answer that, I reckon.” Everybody looked at Job. “There’s a long story hings to that there—l’ll cut it right short, an’ say this fellow’s in tho office of a cute lawyer hyer, who’s got his eyes on Joe hyer.” “A lawyer? What does a lawyer want with Josephine?” demanded Monsieur Dufaur. “Well, that’s what I hain’t found out yit, but I will. I’ll jist make it my business to find out. Anyhow, he wanted me to pay him a lot o’ money for keeping a sharp lookout on Joe, hyer, an' the boy. He was a keepin’ it right dose. ’ At least he said so. There was money in it somehow—or that pesky lawyer wouldn’t bothered none—lawyers don’t waste no time ’thout they git paid for’t, ’n blamed well paid, too.” “Well—but,” said Madame Dufaur, “Joe here has nobody—not a friend in the whole wide world! And no money—then why should that villain swear he was her husband!” exclaimed Madame Dufaur.

“There’s some reason for it,” said Ben Brown reflecting. “Perhaps Joe is a real live heiress. ” “You would make a beautiful heiress, ” said Mrs. Brown, “She is a beauty any way you take her,” said Job enthusiastically. “Come, come,” said Monsieur Dufaur, “you will spoil her! Joe—don’t let anything they say spoil you. ” “No, she won’t,” said the clown laughing, “she’d spoil hersolf, ” “Talking ’bout that, ” Job began laughing, when a sharp peal at the bell startled them. A servant went to the door. Tho drawing-room door was opened. All In it could hear what passed in the hall. “Pray tell Madame Dufaur 1 desire to speak to her. ” “O! ma’m,” the servantexclamed hastily. Then followed some words in a low, passionate tone, yhen the strange voice answered, “No matter now—say nothing, but bid Madame Dufaur hasten, my girl.” The listeners looked at each other. “At this hour!” said Monsieur Dufaur, shrugging his shoulders—“it is unheard of —amazing!” “Nevertheless, I will see her,’’saidhis wife, and she suited the action to the word, passing into tho hall. “O! It is you, Mrs. Howson. Pray come in. When Madame Dufaur ushered her visitor into the library, she stood waiting her commands. Mrs. Howson began without preface. “I called to-day, but you were out ” “I was not aware ” “No matter. You have wi:h you a young lady—her name is Joe.” “Josephine—yes. ” “Can I see her—is she sleeping?” “No—you can see her, certainly. But may I ask why you desire to speak with her?” “Why should I conceal it from you. The girl that I am seeking—that I was told is here—is, I am led to believe, my daughter’s child.” “Your granddaughter?” “Yes, my granddaughter.”

“Wonderful!” Madame lifted hands in wonder. “I will fetch her this instant And my husband, too.” To drag her husband and Joe into the library, to the surprise of the others, occupied but a moment. Thon the door communicating was closed. Mrs. Howson, or rather Lady Morford, rose as Joe entered. She gazed at the girl a minute, then taking her hand in hers said, in trembling tones; “You are her very self—the picture of my poor Louise ” Joe looked abashed. Monsieur and Madama Dufaur turned aside. “Let me look at you in the light ” Lady Morford turned Joe’s face to the light “The same skin, the same features; above all, you have your mother’s eyes and brows—the finest I ever beheld—and her hair There can be no doubt about it, child; you are my daughter’s child.. There are hnndreds who will say the same in England ” Then Joe felt herself drawn to the handsome lady’s breast, felt a tear on her cheek as she was kissed, held off, lojked at, and kissed more warmly again and again. Madame Dufaur was weeping silently, and Monsieur Dufaur wiped his- eyes suspiciously. Then Madame Dufaur said: “Let us go into the other room.” When Joe walked into the drawingroom beside Lady Morford, everyone was struck with the resemblance she bore to the handsome old lady. There was the same mouth, the same nose, the same eyes, “This is Josephine’s grandmother,” said Madame Dufaur. “Her grandmother!” Job Wonder looked amazpd. b’he clown looked at his wife. Dick suddenly felt his heart sink. He could not explain the feeling. It seemed as if the whole world was dropping, dropping away from him. “This is the most extraordinary circumstance that has ever come under my notice,” said Monsieur Dufaur. “We are, I think, about to learn why that scoundrel wanted to marry this lady's granddaughter. ” Lady Morford looked from one to the other. “I see madame is amazed. I shall tell you all. As these present were witnesses. they can verify my statement" Thereupon he recited, briefly the incidents of the evening. When he ended, Lady Motford reflected, then asked the name of the young man who was prepared to marry her granddaughter “His.name is Ike Jenks,” Dick answered modestly. “Yes, and a bigger rascal never lived, ” said Job Wonder. “I know him and his rascally uncle, Jeremiah Jenka”

Lady Morford turned to him with a smile. “I would like to speak with you again, Mr. Wonder, concerning some affairs.” “Glad to be of use to you, mum, ’speshaily if I can keep you out of that lawyer’s clutches, or help put his nephew in the penitentiary, whore he is headin’ now, an’ nothin' kin stop him.” “And this young man whose rare courage and presence, of mind enabled my granddaughter to avoid the snare set for her—whero is he?" said Lady Morford. Tho clown pushed Dick forward. “Here he is, madam.” Poor Dick blushed scarlet as Lady Morford caught his baud in Iters and said: “Y’ou are made of the stuff heroes are made of, my boy. ■ “You’d think so if you saw him bring Black and Firefly to time,” said the clown proudly. ” “He understands horses, then?” “Well, I’ve seen men who thought they knew it all, and Dick there knows more than they know—or at least he can do more. ” “How strange it all seems,” said Lady Morford, “Wei', I wilt leave you now. You need rest. Now you understand why I could not sloop. I had to come. ” Then kissing her granddaughter—she did not permit herself to doubt longer—she spoke apart to Madame Dufaur, bade the others good-night, and withdrew. In a few moments they heard her carriage roiling away homo. “She looks like one of the high folks in the pictures wo see,” said Job, when they were speaking of her. “High! So she is,” said Monsieur Dufaur. “She belongs to the nobility. ” “Why, how so? She calls herself Howson," said his wife. “Exactly; bat she is an earl’s daughter, and immensely wealthy at that She is called in England Lady Morford. ” “What!” exclaimed Madame Dufaur, kissing Joe “You are a born lady—an earl’s daughter. How glad I am. Yes — listen. She is a real lady, for she called to-day to ask me to bring Joe to her. She left a very important note with Maria, and Maria has forgotten it; and Lady Morford made mo promise not to scold the poor girl. Had I received the note she would not have been compelled to come in the dead of the night; but she could not stay away longer, she said.” “That was very kind; it shows breeding,” said Monsieur Dufaur; “I take off my bat to Lady Morford. ” “But how do we know you really are her granddaughter,” said Ben Brown, looking at Joe. “How—how —why, you can see; they look so much alike,” said Madame Dufaur. “Ah, but in matters Of this kind wo don’t go by looks. I don’t doubt it; I only want to prove it to all the world. ” “I have it! I have it!” All looked at Job Wonder. “There’s a woman in Barnesville poorhouse. She said Joe was rich—came of rich peop;e. Yes; she told me that, and that she knew more. I thought she was making a fool of me, dod-blast her, an’ she wasn't.” “It was old Mother Camp,” said Joe. “Yes, exactly; that’s her name. I’m goin’ right back to Mother Camp, and I’ll find out all she knows for five dollars. I’ll go to-morrow; you can tell your grandmother I’m off.” “Meantime, madamo here will show you all where to sleep for the remainder of the night,” said Monsieur Dufaur. Whereupon 4 they separated, and soon the inmates of Madamo Dufaur’s domicile were wrapjed in sleep. Dick was the last to close hfs eyes. And then—ah! there were tears in them, for was not Joe—his playmate, Joe—a lady, rich, and to become great, while who was he? What was he? “There is a great difference between us now,” Dick said to himself, as he fell asleep.

CHAPTER XXIX. IN WHICH MUCH IS EXPLAINED. When Job Wonder was preparing to return to his farm by way of Barnesville, he found, to his surprise, a note from Lady Morford. which read thus: I trust you will not deem it too much trouble, Mr. Wonder, to accompany me to Barnosville Poorhouse, where It Is necessary, for my own satisfaction and the protection of Josephine, to mako certain inquiries, which must be mado In person. The note was handed Job by Monsieur Dufaur. “Trouble! Not a bit of it I’d git up at night to accommodate her. She’s a born lady—she is. ” So in due time Job met Lady Morford (who was known as Mrs. Howson) at the depot. She had a servant with her—a man servant—so gentlemanly, silent, and discreet that Job thought him vastly “superior to Congressman Ruddersmith,” of Barnesville. Ben Brown accompanied the i arty, and with him was Dick. This was the most amazing thing to poor Joe. She marveled much at it That Dick should venture back into the jaws of death—that was how sho regarded Zeke Caper’s control—was beyond her comprehension. But sho did not know that Lady Morford'(had talked apart with Ben Brown and his wife, or that fortune hail taken a sndden turn in favor of two or three persons. YVhen the party reached Barnesville, Job, Lady Morford, and her servant set out together for tho Poor House, leaving 4 the clown and Dick to follow at their leisure. When Zeke Caper encountered Job, his face changed color swiftly. Job seated his traveling companion with a flourish of deference that mystified Caper. “We have come to look over the Poor Housp, Mr. Caper. This iady, Mrs. Howson, has heard so much of it that she is curious like, and so be I, (00. ” Then Job whispered aside to Lady Morfprd: “ I’ll find Mot.:er C mp, d’rec’kly. ”

They looked over the building, over the grounds, and suddenly Job spied Mother Camp, whom he beckoned to them. Mother Camp remembered Job’s timely gift. She was n d) slow to take the hint. She led them apart and turning to Job said shortly: •What is it? You want to know something?” “We do. This lady will ask you.” “Can you tell mo what the mother of the girl Mr. Wonder took home with him was called here?” “Yes. Simpson. That’s the name they put on the record. ” “Well, what name snould have been placed on the book?” “You knew her, eh? Maybe you knew her in England?” “Tell all you know, and be quick,” said Job, handing the old woman a bank note which she concealed hastily. “Howson —Louise Howson ” “How did you learn this?” Mother Camp looked around, then whispered: “She told me before she died. And the name of the doctor in New York who attended her three years. ” “The name!” said Lady Morford. “The doctor’s name?” “You can't go wrong—Clifford—John Clifford.” “And whate se did she tell you?” “She told me her child was, or ought to be, rich—rich. That if I would get some one to write to England, to her mother——” “She said that! Don’t deceive me. I am her mother!” Mother Camp looked at her and her face softened. “She did—it’s tpue. Then, before she could tell me her mother s name, she took a fit of coughing and—died.” “You’ll stand ready to swear to it,” said Job.

“Any fme. It’s the gospel truth.” “Do you know anythin’ ’bout who that boy Dick belongs to?” Mother Camp coughed. “Dicky Dick! O, well, why do you want to know?” “ ’Cos I’m his friend, and this lady is, too. ” “Why—whisper. His father died of the tremens —right hero. And they do say Dicky’s unc.e is jiving, and is worth hundreds of thousands. But it don't belong to the uncle. That's why Zeke Caper triod to kill him; he beat him and starved him. but the boy ran away. He ran away.” “And this uncle—whore does he live?” Job asked. , “In New York. But his name ain’t Dick. O, no; it’s Israel Hober!” “Great Scott!” exclaimed Job. At that instaut Ben Brown and Dick entered the grounds, and Job beckoned them to approach. “Who is this. Mother Camp?” The old woman gazod at him intently. “It’s Dick —it’s Dick.” “It’s me, Mother Camp And this gentleman is my friend —Mr. Brown.” The farmer took Brown and Dick aside and their amazemont was very great when he informed them of the facts learned from Mother Camp. “You’ll come to New York when we want you, ” said Brown, after the matter had been talked over and they understood clearly what must be done.

Zoko Caper did not encounter them again until they were leaving. Then he bowed politely, until his eye fell on Dick, when he grew very pale. “Here—you! I want you now—at once. How dare you come in this company?” “He did not come—l brought him,” said Ben Brown. “But I will come back, Mr. Caper, and when I do, you'll make up your mind to quit Barnesville.” Then the party withdrew. Upon their return to New York steps were taken immediately to verify Mother Camp’s statements. Dr. Clifford’s recollection was so clear he narrated ail the circumstances attending the illness and povorty of Mrs. Simpson. Israel Heber’s source of wealth also was easily discovered. His brother, who was addicted to intemperance, died childless —or his son died —and Israel came into half a million or more. “Tho way’s all clear for us,” said Brown to Wonder, as they talked the matter over with Dick. “How would It do to let me write a little letter to my Undo Israel,!’ said Dick. “Good! Do!” said Ben. Dick wrote just two lines, to tho effect that he was about to proceed against his uncle and Zeke Caper. When Israel Heber received the little letter, he selected a stout rope, and tho next da? the papers published an account of the “rich merchant’s mysterious suicide. ” A day later Zeke Caper stole away from Barnesville in disguise, westward bound, but Providence had marked a different course for him. A collision took place a short distance from Barnesville, and Zeke Caper was the only passenger killed. Tho same papers that contained the announcement of Caper’s sudden taking off devoted upwards of a column to the startling details of a conspiracy to wed an English heiresa The names alone were suppressed; but Isaac Jenks, Jeremiah Jenks, and Blinker’s name figured prominently. Jeremiah fled the city. His brilliant nephew, Blinker, and two of Blinker’s confederates were duly tried and sent to the State’s prison for various terms, Their punishment was deemed heavy. Monsieur and Madame Dufaur sofll conduct their admirable academy, and aro more popular, if possible, than over. If there is one man more jolly and jovial then J<)b Wonderin Acorn County, the inhabitants have not found him. The fact that he was.instrumental in proving Josephine Howson’s claims has made him, If possible, kindlier than ever. And Samanthy will never, never accuse anybody of anything until her dying day. Job’s wife talks of the time when young Lady Morford and Double Dick aro “coining out to the farm. ” Lady Morford speodily carried her granddaughter to England. It was said she had two objects in view—to silence her nephew forever, and to give her granddaughter the requisite degreo of polish. At her instance, Doublo Dick accompanied them abroad, and Dick would not be separated from Ben Brown; consequently Ben, his wife, and Dick formed as happy a trio as ever set sail for the old world. The fact that Dick was where he could see and apeak to Joe—he persisted in' calling her ‘Joe’ and sjie called him Dick—had much to do with the glow on his honest face. Ben Brown’s letters to his old friends, especially to Job Wonder, to whom he took a great liking. Indicate closer relations at some future day between Double Dick and Joe. (the end.]

The Alabama Claims.

I am reminded of a glimpse of some inside diplomatic history that was given me by a well-posted Washingtonian, says a writer in the New York World. The Alabama matter was being talked over as having a bearing on the Itata affair, w hen he said: “We hear a great noise now and again about arbitration as a moans of settling difficulties between nations that might otherwise lead to war. I learned long years ago that the way to win arbitration is to pack the commission. It was Caleb Cushing’s shrewd Yankee wit that won us the Alabama case. Secretary Fish had picked ont names to submit to Great Britain as arbitrators, when Cushing, who was one of the attorneys in the case, said: ‘You will lose the case if that is to be the commission, Mr. Secretary.' When Mr. Fish asked for an explanation, Cushing told him that the gentlemen selected had nearly all expressed themselves in writing against the grounds that the United States would take before the commission in demanding damages. Mr. Fish asked Cushing to select a set of arbitrators, and the list Cushing drew up was submitted to England and accepted. Every name supplied by Cushing was that of a man whom he knew was in print with an opinion in keeping with the argument Cushing intended to make for the United States. There ha * always been more or less rivalrv among the friends of Cushing and William M. Evarts as to which won the arbitration case for the»United States. Cushing spoke in French, in which he was an apt and eloquent scholar. He was the only American lawyer who addressed the commissioners in a language common to them all—the language of diplomacy. He had the supreme advantage in addressing them of knowing that they Were friendly to his argument.” A BROAD BTMPED OO&t,, ft dotted TBit, Checked trousers, a red tie. A stove-pipe hat, ft colored shirt, A oollftr very high. A pair or patent-leather shoes— Ob. picturesque display I X thought Itv ta dummy, Till it slowly walked away. “Ladies, ” said Ihe old gray-headed teacher. “I’m sorry to confess it, but I’d rather have five young men from the high school than one of you.” “So would we, teacher.” was the general reply.

THE POSITIVE TRUTH

THAT ALL THE HOOSIER NEWS IS HERE. What Oup Neighbor* Are lining—Matter* of General and Loeal Intelsst—Aocldeuta. Crimea, Suicide. Kto. —John P. Butman’s Store and barn burned near Paoli. —The packing house at Hammond killed 854 cattle one day this week. —Work is being pushed forward on the cathedral and window-glass factory at Red key. —Joel B. Weddle, a former citizen of Seymour, was fatally kicked by a mule at Marysville, Mo. —Cows which had been missing near Brazil were found in an old mine into which they had fallen. —J. W. Tarleton, of Martinsville, while fishing in White River, found a pearl worth 9300 in a clam-shell. —The safe in the Seavey hardware store at Fort Wayne was blown open by burglars and $250 was secured. —Tho Consumers’ Gas Company is having hard work to get its mains through farms in Hamilton County. —Miss Eliza Nudon, who lived alone in LaPorte County, was found dead in her kitchen. She was TO yearsold. —A muskrat measuring eighteen inches from tip to tip, was killed on the Highland railroad tracks at Hew Albany. —Sheriff Brown, of Jackson Countv, will resign his office to accept the position of chashier in the Seymour national Bank.

—The corn crop, ’tis said, will not come up to the expectations of the farmers, although there will be enough to go around. —George W. Crayton, an attorney of Mooresville, has begun suit for libel against O. H. Moucly, editor of the Mooresville Guide. —Ella Martin, of Evansville, got a verdict for $2,000 against Charles Collins, a mail agent on the E. & T. H. Railroad, for breach of promise. —County Assessor Schlamm, of Clark County, has uncovereoi $90,345 worth of property that was being held out by guardians and administrators. —Stephen Ridlin, of Fountalntown, Shelby County, hung himself in sorrow for his dead wife and the loss of his eyesight, which occurred about the same time. —There was a freight train wrecked on the Monon one mile below Orleans and seven miles south of Mitchell, which resulted in derailingand piling up ten freight cats with heavy loss. —During the past two weeks, Peter Maurer, having six children and a wife, a man named Moore, eight children and a wife, and a man named Rose, all of Evansville, have deserted their families.

. —An 11-year-old son of D. B. Myers, Millersburg, was riding a poney at full speed, when the saddlegirth broke, and the boy was thrown violently to the ground. He is not expected to live. —William M. Reeve's, of Crawfordsvllle, has been appointed District President of the Patriotic Sons of America for the counties of Warren, Tippecanoe, Montgomery, Fountain, Parke, Putnam and Vermillion. —Druggist T. M Clark, of Greenfield, left home mysteriously in the dead of night last week and sent word back that lie would never return. He was formerly County Superintendent of Schools at Tipton. Domestic troubles drove him to thus exile himself.

—Mrs. Bettie Shultz, who resides near Bean Blossom Postotfice, Brown County, is said to be 103 years old.. Seventy years ago she came to Columbus, when but sixty persons resided there. She rode behind an ox team, which had been driven all the way from North Carolina. She can yet read newspaper print, and is able to be about the housp. She has not been out of Brown County for fourteen years,

—The cylinder-head of the immense engine in the G. Y. Roots & Co.’s flouring-ndll at Lawrenceburg, blew out, making a noise like the report of a cannon. The engine is of the Buckeye pattern, 360 horse power, and was run at the speed of 100 revolutions per minute. The cylinder-head weighs over 500 pounds. It crashed through a door and dropped on the sidewalk. The one-and-a-half-inch bolts had been torn away as if they were putty. The damage to the engine is SSOO. Fortunately no one was hurt.

—Scarlet fever exists in New Albany to such an extent that it may almost be termed an epidemic, and though the disease is not of the virulent type, the physicians are having considerable difficulty in controling it. When the malady was first noticed the authorities insisted that the law in regard to the flagging of the houses in which the disease existed should be rigidly enforced, and now in all parts of the city may be seen houses on which have been placed large sheets of yellow cardboard bearing the words “Scarlet Fever. ” Up to the present time six deaths have resulted, but the presence of nearly half a hundred cases is causing considerable uneasiness. —Casey Ketcham celebrated her 101st birthday at Crawfordsville. She was (Jen. Richard Canby’s nurse during his infancy. —Clara Cunningham, a 15-year-old girl, has been arrested in Terre Haute for assisting in the ruin of Nellie Huhm, a girl but 13 years old, at Urban*, 111.

—Steps have been taken to organize a Brownstown and Seymour street railroad. The distance is eleven miles, and it is thought the line can be made for $65,000. —William Briggs fell out of a hickory tree, striking his head on a log and breaking his neck, near Fort Wayne. —A camp of gypsies near Columbus has been split on account of a double elopement of two pair of young Romany lovers. Samuel and William Wilcox hitched up an old gray mare and loaded Elizabeth and Lucy Stark in a gypsy wagon, and off they wenl. The oldest couple was only about eighteen years old. The parents fell out, and each had their followers, who separated and established two camps.

—Brazil Is talking of having a race course. — ( The grand jury is after saloons at Delphi. —Mnncle is to have a new eightpot gU ss factory to manufacture fruit jars. —Several cars were wrecked on the Rig Four, near Martinsville. Ho one hurt. mt . —Hathan Slakin, a wealthy farmer near Goshen, died of old age. He was 74. —Mrs. Mike Krischve, Michigan City, nearly killed Andrew Kintzei with a hoe. —The Masonic Lodge Building at Sharpsville, Tipton County, was burned. Loss, $20,000. —Alva Hewcomer was thrown from his buggy at Hoblesville and sustained serious injuries. —Charles Barringer, a butter egg merchant, is missing from bus. Creditors mourning. —Many are complaining Haute on account of sewer gas escaping from the pipes into buildings. —George Coons, near Franklin, fell from a ladder while picking apples and was so badly hurt he will die. —There will be thousands of rabbits this winter, and farmers yvill be glad to see hunters on their farms. —Thomas Weaver, Edinburg, has a sweet potato 27 inches around and weighing seven and one-half pounds. —lt is said that many cattle in Morgan County are afflicted with reinderpest, acontagiousdisease to be dreaded. —The members of the Twentythird Indiana Regiment have arranged for a reunion at Hew Albany, Nov. 12 and 13.

—Obed Way, an old citizen of Amboy, has a walnut rail which his father mauled in 1810 for his farm near Williamsburg. —C. A. Cross was gathering tan bark in Brown County when he found a deri of rattlesnakes. Four were captured alive and will be sold to Chicago people for $1(1. —George Delowtcr, of. Anderson, standing on the suspension bridge over White River, fished a queer-look-ing box from the water and found It contained a dead baby girl. —At Milder’s, Stark County, a tramp named Miller was arrested for arson. He visited tho home of a farmer and being refused food deliberately Area the buildings. —Myers Heller attempted to show how he could stand on his head In tho new school-building at Hew Albany, and pitched over backward into a cellarway. receiving severe injuries.

—“Ta Pat” was the name of the devil in the Delphi Journal office. He worked two weeks, got his wages and never returned. His wages he put in a slot machine and got a stick of chewing gum. —John Barr, of Brazil, hnd his clothes caught between rollers in the rolling-mill, but saved his life by holding on to an Iron shaft until all the clothing had been stripped from his body. He was terribly bruised. —Miss Lulu McCormick, who was assisting In an .eating-house on the Vincennes fairgrounds, took a blacksnake whip and chased a young dude over the grounds, cutting him at every jump, for offering an insult to her. —The output of Marlon's new gas well is 9,000,000 cubic feet dally. It was drilled within a short distance of four other wells. This goes to show that gas is not falling, but that the trouble lies in the -pipes becoming tilled with a hard substance like lime. —Henry Fickerman, night watchman on the K. & I. bridge at Hew Albany, was struct by a suburban train and received Injuries from which he died. Both his legs were cut off near the hips, and his skull was fractured in several places. He resided In Louisville and his body was taken to that city. He was 59 years old. —The Jackson County State Bank has been changed to the Seymour National Bank, and the capital stock increased from $50,000 to SIOO,OOO. The new directors are G. F. Harlow, B. F. Price, William Acker, F. M. Swope, Allen Swope, C. A. Robertson, Charles Leinlnger, 1). W. Johnson, Lynn Faulkconer, and Joseph Kllng. The directors met and elected officers for the new organization as follows: President, G. F. Harlow; Vice President, F. M. Swope; Cashier, E. D. Brown; Assistant Cashier, H. C. Johnson. The President is tho only old officer retained. The new regime will take charge in six weeks. —David Spear, of Harrison Township, in Delaware County, was in Muncie the other day, and exhibited a monster tooth of an extinct animal. The tooth Is supposed to be that of a mastodon, and weighs nine and threequarter pounds. It was found twenty-five feet under the ground, where other portions of tho beast were found. In removing the bones many were broken, but eight feet and eight inches of. a tusk, in a fair state of preservation, was taken out ip one piece. A portion of the shoulder-blade, measuring two feet and one and a half Inches was also secured. The Smithsonian Institution and several museums are after the find. —Homer Farmer, of Hoblesville, 18 years of age, by the accidental discharge of his gun injured his right foot so badly that his great toe had to be amputated.

—lsaac Warner and John W. Taylor, farmer! near Muncie, claim to be the biggest potato growers in Delaware County. The former has four potatoes whose combined avoirdupois heft is twelve and one-half pounds, while the latter claims to have counted eightv-four spuds in one solitary hill. —An infant daughter of Thomas Davidson was bitten by a spider and died of the poison. —One of the boilers of the American Strawboard Company at Anderson gave away recently The explosion shook all the north part of; the city as an earthquake, and the escaping steam attracted a large crowd to the factory. Fortunately none was injured. This plant has twelve of tne largest boilers in the city. The engineer and an assistant narrowly escaped being scalded by steam. The damage to the building was slight, and will be easily repaired.

BY RAIN AND SNOW.

WHEAT SAID TO BE RUINob IN NORTH DAKOTA. Grain In Stack* and Shock* Sprouting— Tli© ltcport.. Published In the Paper* Do Not Half Cover the Devastation—lmpos* Mlble to Get Teams and Machines Into the Fields. Tosses Keach Millions. The weather of the past few weeks has undone much of the good that waa done by the hue weather early in the season in North Dakota, and the farmers in the Northwest will suffer losses aggregating In the millions. The daraago can as yet only ho estimated, but that the loss will bo Tcry great-libera seems no doubt. The railroads had made special aruangemontg.to handles great crop, and the farmers considered their own plans amply sufficient. But so great was the wheat crop that, first, it was almost impossible to hire enough holp to soeuro the crop, and a very large part of it had to be left standing In the shoyk. Then it was found that the supply of thrashing machines was insufficient. and that caused a dolay whieh left fully half the crop still in the fields unthrashed when the rain camo. Bain has boon, general and abundant, and it is this which has caused the greatest loss. At Jamostown, in the North Dakota Jim Rivor Valley, rain and snow fell continually for a day and a night, and last week thero was but one full day’s wheat thrashing. Reports are received of grain sprouting in the stacks. At l'evil's Lake, in the northorn part of tho Stato, a hoavy rain foil, whieh will stop thrashing for several days. No grain has been stacked owing to tho scarcity of laborers. Lakota (N. D.) reports snow, with thrashing stopped ontirely, and fears that un'oss the woathor clears soon much of the grain will be unfit to bo thrashed. In the northern part of North Dakota there will, however, be more loss from lacx of laborors than from bad weather. Northwestern Minnesota gives about tbo same report as North Dakota. It commenced raining again about Crookston and continued all of one day. There have been only a very few days of dry weather in four weeks, and farmers are getting discouraged. In Traverse County and Central Western Minnesota the larger portion of tho wheat has not yet been thrashed and men and machines are greatly nooded. Colonel P. R Walker, of Minneapolis, says of tho situation: “I havo just returned from a trip through that sectlqn. It inado my heart ache to witness the ruin. In order to appreciate it one must actually see 1L Thero are thousands of acres of simply wonderful whoatfields almost utterly destroyed by tho rains. And the mud—lt Is porfeetly execrable. Day after day wo tramped in tho slush across fields—slush half knoo-deop. I went out with a Government surveying party to establish town lines, and tho rain and mud broke up our party, and wo were forced to abandon the work entirely. “The reports published In the papers do not lover half tho devastation. As far as the eyo can reach in every direction are great big shocks of wheat, and it all would Dave graded No. 1 hard had It been thrashed out before the rains felL

Now nothing can bo done. It is too late to save even a modicum. Were the shocks In a condition to bo thrashed, it would be a physical Impossibility to do anything with tho crop, for the reason that teams cannot haul tho wheat, to the thrashers nor hanl fuel to the ongines. “Tho difficulty in tho first place arose . over getting help to do the thrashing, \ but tho railway companies succeeded In gottlng both men and machine into the fields. When they arrived they wer* powerless. Tho mud was so deop that tho horses mired to their bellies, and nothing can be done now until the sun dries out both the soil and tho shocks of wheat. H lt is painful to stand on a prominence and survoy the situation. Everywhere thrashing machines are visible—all abandoned—and tho wheat for hundreds of mllos ruined." His Fart Was Too Heavy. W. B. Arnold, an actor in tho “Blue Jeans" Company, severed his connection with that organization at Zanesville, Ohio, upon rather extraordinary grounds. Mr. Arnold Is 60 years of ago. In his part as Col. Henry Clay Rtsencr he Is obliged to seize and carry bodily off the stage Miss Jennie Endsly, who tips the beam at 17T pounds This task was too much for the veteran, who was willing, howover, as a compromise to drag the fair one off. To this she objected, and a younger and stronger actor will be secured. *

Making Huge Guns.

Secretary Tracy and Commodore Folger, of the Bureau of Ordnance, made an official visit to the ordnanco department of the Bethlehem (Pa ) Iron Company. They witnessed the pouring of a | 180-ton casting, which is the largest ever made In this country. They also witnessed the forging of the first 13-inch gun made by the Bethlehem Iron Com- | pany. Armor plates were also forged. The visitors expressed themselves as highly gratified with the progress made on tho $4,000,000 contract.

Half a Hundred Mangled.

At Tipton, Ind., one of the 75-horse power boilers in A K. Dolman’s barrelheading factory exploded. Fifty hands were employed there, all of whom were injured to some extent, two fatally. The factory was va ued at about $15,00a Afterward fire orglnated in the ruins of tho Dolman factory and tho surrounding buildings were destroyed, together with a large amount of heading. A liKitLiN dispatch says that the Kaiser has expressed himself as deeply offended by the antl-Jewlsh agitation which tho bestowal or an order on a Jew living in Bielefeld has aroused. In reply to the representations sent through 1 C'tiauoellor Caprivi that the man had a bad character, the Kaiser has replied briefly and pointedly, rebuking the ; anti-Jewish prejudice that prompted the . 1 action. „.. . ; , I It was reported In Wall street that I Russell Sage and the Goulds are out j The story did not come In exactly that 1 shape, but was that stockholders of the Jj j Missouri Pad fie v\ ho had seen dividend 1 ’ day go by without the receipt of a divi- j| dend check were getting together and |l pledging each other to gather proxies to II bo ready to oust the Gould regime at the' || first opportunity. 1

Tiie London Times was graciously fl pleased recently to devote several col- ji umns to Chicago and the World’s I Fair. It thinks that Chicago is afl good-sized town, and that the Expo-: fl sition will be an affair worth seeing. Jig And now if Mr. Rudyard Kipling and fl the New York Herald can be concili-fl ated the only formidable obstacles in ■B the way of a successful World’s Fair fl will have been removed; H The Boston papers are so astounded J at the sttcco sos their bas.vbal) team in S| its recent contest with the New-Yorkerafll that they hint a suspicion that the laS-.fll ter were paid to “drop” the games.! Thi3 is quite as complimentary to the I skill of the local artists as it is to honesty of tho visi;ors —Dalroit FreaMl Press . Ip