Democratic Sentinel, Volume 16, Number 19, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 May 1892 — Page 3

THE HEIRESS OF MAPLE LEAF FARM

CHAPTER VII. inrsTKßr. The snow fell deep that night. It was the first wintry storm of the season, but the over-freighted olouds hovered low until dawn, and field, forest and farm lay clothed in a robe of spotless white when day broke. There was not a tremor in the form of Parmer John as he came down to the breakfast table, not the quiver of a muscle was visible in his sturdy face. He was even cheerful, and he spoke to the hands and to Ralph Prescott as if nothing in the world had happened to disturb the serenity of the home circle, as if the vacant ohair at his side did not exist. If the iron had pierced his soul he had cauterized the jagged wound with the pride, stubbornness and-endurance that would have made of him an excellent martyr in the days when they burned men at . the stake. He gave his orders calmly. When he apportioned Ruth’s customary work to the dairymaid there was not the token of a tremor in his volee. Anxipus-faoed Ralph Prescott approached him as he bustled to the door in his great coat. “Mr. Elliott,” he said timidly, "I want to speak to you ” “About that girl?” demanded Elliott, turning sharply. “About JRuth—yes. You know * “Stop! I forbid you ever to mention her name under this roof again. She is as dead to me as if she were buried fathoms deep in the sea. I’m sorry for you, my boy, bat you and I must try and work some comfort out of the mudidle a lying tjiief and a disobedient daughter have left us in.” Ralph Prescott looked glum and then crafty. Affairs were bad, decidedly %o. He had lost Ruth. A far more sordid thought oppressed his mind just now, however. Would he lose old Geoffrey Forsythe’s money as well? He wandered about restlessly that day, over the farm, through the village. There was no trace of Ruth. The storm might have swallowed her up, for all the clue the most persistent inquiry brought as to her whereabouts. “She’s gone with him,” muttered Prescott, sourly. “They were married, sure enough and legally enough, for the minister says so. Paul Dalton has won the prize, but if I can win the money—” He reflected over that phase of the case for many hourse. Old Geoffrey, as he understood it, had left his fortune equally divided between himself and Ruth. That of course had the tacit condition attached that they would eventually wed one, another. Now, as soon as the old recluse understood the new complications in affairs, he might make an entirely diiferent disposition of his wealth. , He was whimsical and crotchety. Getting older, he disliked to be disturbed. “Since he talked to me about that mosey I lost at gambling, that some busybody told him about, he hasn’t been so bland to me," soliloquized the anxious Prescott. “I half believe, if he did not think I was to marry Ruth, he’d change the will, and cut me off without a shilling. I only wish he’d die while the will stands in my favor! Had I better go and see him? I will. I must look sharp, or I’ll find myself in a pretty bad position. My revenge! Bah! Matters are far worse for me than before I tried to down that miscreant of a Dalton. I’ve lost everything, and he has gained everything he was after—the girl.” Ralph Preston did go to the home of the recluse. He found Geoffrey propped up in bed, and looking like a man at his last gasp. He greeted his visitor crossly, and with a searching glance that Prescott did not like. “You don’t seem to be feeling as well as usual, TJncle Geoffrey,” suggested Ralph. “No!” snapped the recluse. “Do you think anyone is worrying very much about me?” “Why “Oh, I know you all. Waiting for my shoes after I’m dead.” “Hadn't I better stay and help you till you get better?" “I’ve got help.” “What! you’ve got ” “A nurse. What are you staring at? Am I begrudged that little outlay* in my old age?” Ralph Prescott was silent, none the less amazed. For ten years the recluse had tabooed all kinds of help. The schemer caught sight of a feminine form in the next room, her somber black dress, colored spectacles, and close-fitting cap making her resemble a woman of fifty. He found that he could neither cajole nor entertain his crusty host, and he tArtlr hie 1 pqtto “I don’t like the looks of things,” he muttered. He liked it less that evening. A chum at the tavern Informed him that old Geoffrey had sent that afternoon for bis lawyer, and that later a doctor had been hastily summoned. “I’m going to have a talk with old Elliott to-night.” mused Prescott. “Km going to know if I’m to expect a fortune or nothing. I’ve been abused and deluded all around, and I’m going to get something out of the wreck in some way.” There was an alarm at Maple Leaf Farm, however, before he reached home. A messenger had come from old Geoffrey in hot haste. The invalid was dying, he said. And when Farmer John reached the lonely house in the village the old man had breathed his last. At the funeral the next day few noticed particularly the reticent, plainlooking nurse who had been with Geoffrey Forsythe in his last illness. Her presence was not questioned even when, after the funerpl, the few mourners gathered at the 'house to meet the lawyer of the recluse at his own request. Farmer John looked glum and uninterested, but Ralph Prescott’s crafty face glowed eagerly. “I simply wished to inform you of the requests of the deceased," spoke

BY GENEVIEVE ULMER.

the lawyer. “He made a new will yesterday, destroying the old ope.” “Ah!" Ralph Prescott fluttered restively. “To your daughter, Mr. Elliott, he has left this house and ground, with the expressed wish that the nurse here, Mrs. Easton, keep It in order till she chooses to appear.” Farmer John set his lips savagely. “To you,” addressing Ralph Prescott, "he has left four receipted bills—debts you contracted at the horse races last week. ” The plotter turned white with rage and chagrin. “Maple Leaf Farm, Mr. Elliott, goes to you individually." “And what of the rest of his fortune—the stooks, bonds and money in bank?" gritted out the baffled and disappointed Prescott. “All that he has bequeathed, for some Btrange reason best known to himself, to Mr. HUiott’s former superintendent, Paul Dalton!" was the lawyer’s amazing reply. CHAPTER VIII. LIGHT! The affairs of Farmer John and his family had become a source of unremitting speculation for the gossips of Bidgeton, and the disappearance of Ruth and the strange will of Geoffrey Forsythe constituted a veritable ninedays' wonder. People were amazed. Just as a cyclone, terrible, sudden and blighting, sweeps over a smiling landscape and leaves ruin and devastation in its track, so the unexpected had come to Maple Leaf Farm, wrecking hearts, destroying the home rest, and leaving traces of bitterness, hidden only by stubborn pride and the mute endurance of a stoic. People talked, but Farmer John gave no explanation of it all; only from the farm hands could they gain the particulars, and rumor at‘last sifted the situation down to several very significant and startling facts. Paul Dalton, an ex-convlot, had robbed his generous master and had stolen away his daughter. John Elliott had indignantly evicted his former superintendent, and had disowned his child for wedding him secretly. These two, man and wife, fugitives, banished, had undoubtedly met again, and in some obscure town were eking out an existence, that could only end in dire punishment for an unfaithful steward and a disobedient child. Ralph Prescott, a baffled, disappointed Schemer, had come out at the extremely small end of the horn. Unmasked as a spendthrift, he had been left a pauper and a sullen, brooding, revengeful man; he was harbored by John Elliott out of sheer pity and sympathy for his double loss of bride and fortune. As to Farmer John himself, he accepted the gift of the farm without gratitude or interest. Life had been robbed of its sweetness, and his future seemed barren, vapid, well-nigh unendurable. The nurse of-old John Forsythe still remained at the former home of the recluse. She saw but few, and spoke to none. Her position as protector of Ruth Elliott’s interests until the latter should see fit to return and claim her legacy was sanctioned legally, and Farmer John did not care enough about it to question her right of wardenship. Only one point electrified all the village, and mystified surly Ralph Prescott —the strange will that Geoffrey Forsythe had made. '» Why had he left the bulk of his wealth to an utter stranger—what subtle influences had lnduoed him to disinherit a former favorite, to practicatly beggar his own kith and kin, for a man he had never exchanged a dozen words with, whose very existence even he might not have known up to a few days previous to his death. “There’s trickery in it,” said the gossips. “The will cannot be broken,” affirmed the lawyer, stanchly. „ “There’s mystery under It all," solllo.quized Ralph Prescott, darkly. “Why, and how did old Forsythe make that will? Where is the fortunate legatee?" Over the solution of this double problem the baffled schemer cogitated until he nearly went mad. He thirsted for revenge. He coveted Dalton’s good fortune. He longed to humiliate Ruth. From a sneaking, cowardly schemer, Ralph Prescott was fast emerging into a dangerous plotter. A comfortable home was guaranteed him at Maple Leaf Farm as long as he wished to remain there, but that did not suit him.. He wanted money for his gambling exploits, and Farmer John efisted. He visited the tavern early and late. Seeking solace for his disappointments in the Wine cup, he became a silent, sullen devotee at the festal board, drowning his care! in inebriety, and ready to quarrel with the flfst man who even gave him a pleasant word. At the end of the week he was no nearer guessing the rights of the matter of the singular will than before. One night, however, there came a development that interested him, staggered him, aroused him out of his apathy with a shock, and set in vivid action all the scheming elements of his of his evil nature. A great crony of his was a young fellow named Evans, a clerk in the village post^fice. He came to the tavern to drink with his friend, and upon this especial evening he made the casual remark: “I say, Prescott! that nurse, Mrs. Easton, up at old Forsythe’s house, is getting to be more of a mystery than ever.” “Is she?” growled Prescott, wearily. “Yes. She comes and goes with that black veil of hers drawn down, like some specter. To-day, though, she mailed a letter at the postofflee that I saw.” “Did she?” "For a fact; and say, Prescott, who do you think it was directed to?” “Well, who?" “Guess?” “Oh, don’t bother me What do I care about it?” “You will when I tell you that the letter was directed to your esteemed friend, Paul Dalton. ” Prescott looked up, a startled, evil, lurid glow in his wicked eyes. “What!" he ejaculated. « “Yes, Paul Dalton.” Ralph Prescott sat looking into nothingness, but his breath came fast, and his eyes emitted scintilations of hatred and revenge. “What was the address?” he asked. "I only saw the name. I was going to fish out the letter later, but forgot it.”

The Information set every orafty instinct in Presoott’s nature agog. I£ suggested much. Why was this mysterious, unknown Mrs. Easton corresponding with a man whose address even the lawyer did not know. Was she the head and center of some plot that had induced old Geoffrey Forsythe in his dying moments to change his will in favor of the outcast of Maple Leaf Farm? “I’ve struck a cluei" muttered Prescott convincedly, as he left the tavern alone. “I’ve wanted to find out where Ruth has gone to, where Walton is. That woman knows. She knows, too, every detail of the will business, I’ll venture. She is the one to watch. What a dolt I have beent I’ll find out something about all this entangling mystery now, or know the reason why. Straight to the vicinity of the former home* of old Geoffrey Forsythe the schemer betook himself. He was too familiar with its gloomy surroundings not to be able readily to gain a point of vantage to lnspeot the house unseen. The grim-looking, closely shuttered domicile promised little to reward his quest, until he came around to some bushes upon which faced a wing of the old structure. Two rooms here were used as a sit-ting-room and kind of library, and the window shades of the latter apartment were not yet lowered, and a table-lamp illuminated its somber furnlshment At a little stand sat the nurse, Mrs. Easton. She was writing, and several closely written sheets of a letter lay beside her. As though tired of her task or uncertain how to proceed with the epistle, however, as Prescott peered, she arose, and with a gesture of weariness, proceeded to the adjoining apartment, closing the door after her. To the shuttered window of this room Prescott hied himself briskly. A chink through the rotted wooden slats offered a full view of the apartment. He saw the woman approach a mirror. She removed her glasses, manipulated her hair and olose-flttlng cap, and then, turning, she lay down on a lounge as if to rest. Her faoe was turned now so that Ralph Presoott saw it plainly. As he did so, a cry of utter incredulity, comprehension and bewilderment escaped his lips. For a startling transition had taken plaoe. Mrs. Easton, the nurse, was Mrs. Easton no longer! All that pertained to that mysterious personage had disappeared with the removal of the spectacles, the coil pf white hair and closely fitting widow’s cap. Instead, a fresh young face, a little oarewom, a little anxious, but dear as a rosebud, and bewitching as that of an houri, looked forth from a mass of golden ringlets. “Marvel of marvels!” gasped the astounded schemer, a great light shining in upon his mind with the force of electric radiance —“it is she!” fTO BB CONTINUED. 1

Inefficlent.

Good-will counts for very little by itself in a sick-room. Of all persons in the world, a nurse must know how to go ahead and do what needs to be done, without questions and without fuss Mrs. Swisshelm had a new appreciation of this truth when she came to need a nurse for herself after wearing herself out in nursing wounded soldiers. When I lay ill, a friend told me of an excellent woman who had come from afar, and tendered her slices to the government. She had parted much influence and spent much effort to get into a hospital as nurse, but had failed. Hearing of my illness, her desire to be useful led her to tender her services. Her generous \offer was accepted, and I was left for an afternoon in her care. I wanted a cup of tea. She went to the kitchen to make it, and one hour after came up with a cup of tea, only this and nothing more, save a saucer. To taste the tea I must have a spoon, and to get one she must go along a hall,' down a long flight of stairs, through another hall and the kitchen, to the pantry. When she had made the trip the tea was so much too strong that a spoonful would have made a cup. She went down again for hot water, and after she had got to the kitchen remembered that she had thrown the water away, thinking it would not be wanted. The fire had gone out, and the woman came up to inquire if she should make a new one, and if so, where she should find kindling. She had spent almost two hours in running to and fro, was all in a perspiration and a fluster, had done me a great deal of harm and no one any good, had wasted all the kindlings for the evening Are, had used teq enough to serve a large family for a meal, and had fairly illustrated a large part of-the hospital service rendered by women oppressed with the nursing mission.-

A 'Prehistoric Canoe.

“A prehistorlo canoe was unearthed not long ago in digging a canal through Barton, near Manchester, England, and it appears to be an extremely interesting relic,” said a ''traveler at the Laclede. “It was brought to light by the steam shovel and imbedded in the sand about twenty-five feet below the surface. With some difficulty the canoe was removed to a shed in the vicinity of the engineer’s office and examined. It was found to consist of a portion of an oak tree, roughly hewn and fashioned. In length, this relic of a long past age is thirteen feet eight inches from end to end, with a width of two feet six inohes. Notwithstanding the lapse of centuries the marks of the ax are distinctly visible in the Interior of the canoe, the width of the blade of the instrument used —whether of flint or iron—being apparently about three inches. Unfortunately the vessel sustained some damage in the ruthless grasp of the ‘navy,’ the bottom having been cut through at the bow end while a portion of one side was broken in. But for this mishap the canoe would probably have been recovered practically intact. I saw the boat just after it was taken out. The bow is shaped so as to have a projecting block, through which a hole is driven, evidently for the purpose of fastening it by means of a rope. A gunwale runs clear around the canoe, which is shaped just like a modern Indian canoe, and fastened by means of pegs of wood. Not a particle of iron was used in its construction, and it was practically impossible to fix the exact period of the canoe.”

Acquired.

Biggs—“What, a sweet-tempered woman your wife is?” t>iggy—“Yes. She was ‘central’ In a telephone office for eight years before I married her.”—Somerville Journal. Thebe are 87 daily papers In Paris, against 25 in London.

WHAT OF THE WEATHER.

; <r • HOW THE OUESTION IS ANSWERED IN ADVANCE. Night Scenes at the Signal Office—Curious Cipher Dispatches—Halting the Forecasts—How the Reports and Weather Haps Are Prepared and Distributed. Circle Sam’s Prophet*.

UNCLE SAM employs three professional prophets, I sayb u Washington I _ cor respondent. Their occupation is sqmewhat like tliat of the African rainmakers. They foretell the weather, |l|9 predicting wet and dry spells, hot waves WBMsjand cold waves, ]2rerfloods and gales. So 3W&3 .long as their predio11*1*1111111 pt— tions turn out oor-m-«Hv* rect nobod y pays HW |much attention. If [ J- they make a mistake U 1 howls of derision

and indignation arise. People have no use for prophets who exhibit fallibility like ordinary mortals. Prophesying about the weather is always an anxious business. It is very different from running an oracle after the Delphic pattern, dispensing ambiguous replies to fool questions. If the rainmaker of the Congo promises a shower and jt failß to arrive he is discredited as a fraud. It is much the same way in the Signal Office at \Vashington. The weather reports, which como by telegraph to the Oflleo at 9 o’clock every night, are curiosities in themselves. Here is an actual specimen, illustrating the style: Boston, Murch 14.—Bashful barmaid damnable bony hirsute pirate. It is wonderful what a lot this means. “Bashful” signiflos that the barometer is 30.12 and the temperature 30 degrees Fahrenheit. “Barmaid” tells that the wind is from the north and that fifty-two hundredths of an inch of rain lias fallen during the last twenty-four hours. “Damnable” says that the velocity of the wind is twenty-two miles an hour and that the highest temporature during the day was 42 degrees. “Bony” declares that the sky is covered with cirrus clouds. “Hirsute” makes it known that the observations were made at 8 p. m.; that the dew point is 80 and that the local prediction is for fair weather. “Pirate” communicates the fact that the highest wind velocity during the day was fifty-two miles an hour, Eaoh letter in every word means something, and in this way it is possible to condense a deal of information within a brief space, each observer having his own key to the cipher for making up dispatches. These dispatches begin to pour in at 9 o’clock in the evening from 150 signal stations all over the country. As fast as they arrivo they are translated by an expert into ordinary English. He reads them aloud in a sing-song tone, while four skilled men at desks close by jot down the information they convoy on as many butline maps of the United States. On each map the 150 signal stations are indicated by as many small ciroles, in which the facts noted arc penciled with symbols and figures. One operator records the condition of the olouds and the direction of the wind at every point. If it is clear at Chicago, for example, he leaves that qirele unmarked. Supposing that it is cloudy, he marks lines across it. If partly cloudy, he shades only one-half of the circle. Rain is indicated by the letter “R,” snow by the letter “S.” The point from which the wind blows is shown by an arrow. By equally simple means the second operator records changes of temperature, and the third puts down barometric changes. The fourth registers the temperature and barometer at the time the observations wore made, the velocity of the wind and the amount of rainfall during the past twenty-four hours. These maps, when finished, present a oomplete picture of the meteorological conditions at 8 p. m. all over the United States. Upon their showing the prophet —only one of the three i» on duty at any given time—bases his* predictions. Meanwhile, however, other things have been going on. , Two swift compositors, sitting on tall stools at oases, near by, set up in tabular form the data given In the dispatches as fast as the- translator reads them off. Instead of single letters they have type words and figures in their boxes, decimals to indicate barometer heights, etc. Thus they are enabled to do the work with surprising rapidity, and so accurately is it performed that no reading of proofs is necessary. The table made in this way is to be printed in the righthand lower corner of the weather map' published for the next day. At the same time still another expert sits in front of a brass plate exactly the size of a weather map of the United States. The plate, is perforated with 150 square holes, corresponding in position. to the signal stations. They are not labeled in any way, but he knows them all by location perfectly, so that when thp translator of the dispatches calls off Sacramento or Minneapolis, he fits a little slug of lead into the right bole without a moment’s hesitation. The slug bears an arrow crossing a circle, and the way in which it is set to point indicates the direction of the wind. If you will look at a weather map you will see these arrows scattered all ’over it’, and will also notice that the circle through which each passes shows the state of the weather at that station. Supposlrg'that it was clear at the hour of .observation, the circle will'be white; if rainy, it will be black. The usefulness of this brass plate will be presently seen. t Ihi 1 rjphot Get* In Hl* Work. At this stage of the performance, when the contents of the 159 dispatches have all been noted on the maps, recorded upon the brass plate, and set up in type, the prophet steps in. He has been keeping an eye upon the situation all the while, but now the time has come for him to analyze the present situation and forecast the future for one day, two days, three days ahead. No wonder that he passes his hand through his hair, while his eyes assume a glassy look, premonitory of a prophetic duck fit, as he feels the afflatus of inspiration coming upon him. Turning to a clerk at his side, he begins to dictate in a low voice, saying: “For New England, fair weather, westerly winds, followed by increasing cloudiness and probably light snows.” And so on until the prospect for the entire country has been declared in detail. The clerk writes the forecasts with a stylus in manifold, one copy being handed at once to the printers, who set it up in type. All the words necessary for the purpose are cast entire in separate types, so that it is quick work; but the case containing them has no less than 1,050 boxes, and that is a good many for the compositors to keep in mind. The other copies of the manifold are passed over to clerks, who telegraph the predictions to the press associations and to observers in different parts A the country. The copy in type is to be printed in the left-hand lower corner of the weather map. Before uttering his predictions the prophet has drawn lines of equal temperature and barometric pressure—vou

may see tnem on any weather ohart—» upon the map which has been already prepared with data noted down respecting these matters. Also, he draws a line circumscribing the area ip which rain is falling. The map Is then laid on the brass plate, the iype slugs in which have been duly inked, and a sort of press is shut down upon it, transferring all the arrows and circles to the map. Thus prepared, the map goes to Another room, where the lines and arrows are transferred by rapid processes to A lithographio stone. Copies from the forecasts and tables of figures set up by the compositors are likewise added upon the stone, and plain maps of tho United States are used to print the result upon, producing in this manner the completed weather charts. Predictions and weather oharts are issued every twelvo hours. Maj. Dunwoody is senior phrophet; the two oth rs are Prof. H. A. Hazen and Lieut. Glassford. Tho Major makes a better average of accuracy In the forecasts than either of the others, although he relies muoh loss than thoy upon rules. Inspiration goes a long way in the business of phrophocy. Incidentally, it is worth saying that the most important office of the signal servioels not to mako predictions, but to study meteorology, for the benefit of farmers chiefly. The advantage to them of being able to obtain the fullest information respecting climatic conditions in any locality, so that they can know where to settle and what orops to expect suocess with, is obviously incalculable.

SHOT BY HIGHWAYMEN.

Train Robbers Resort to Murder ami Flee Without the Plunder. One of the most daring attempts at train robbery that ever occurred in Florida took place at 1:80 o’clock tho other morning on the Jacksonville, Tampa, and Key Wost lload, just north of Monroe Junction, four miles from Sanford, Fla. Tho West India fast mall, which left Tampa carrying two oxpress oars, tho United States malls and some passenger coaches, was boarded at Monroe Junction by four men. When just north of the junotlon and while the train was running at about live miles an hour, two of the men got on the engine and presented revolvers at tho heads of Engineer Dumas and his fireman, ordering them to keep quiet at the peril of losing their lives. The onglneer and ilroman being taken by surpriso could do nothing but obey, as he determined action of the desporadoes showed they meant what they said: The two other men entered tho express oars, which were occupied by Messenger W. N. Saunders and Special Agent I. M. Cox, and attempted to ovorpowor them. The two expressmen, although taken by surprise, made a desperate resistance and the robbers then deliberately shot Saunders, two balls taking effect in his broast and hoad, killing him instantly. Mr. Cox had his man at bay and was about to subdue him, when tho other robber, after killing Saunders, fired at Cox twloe, one ball hitting him in the arm and the other hitting him in tho faco, tho ball penetrating to tho Jo ft eye. His nose also was shot nearly off. The dosperate villains then hurriedly and without securing any booty jumpod from the oar, fearing that the noise of the firing would bring the train hands to tho rescue, and fled to the woods, which aro particularly dense is that section. There was between $35,000 apd $40,000 in tho safe.

Rallroads In India.

Railway travel in India may be made very cheap, for although firstclass fare is three cents a mile, tho second-class is but a coat, and a half, and third-class only a half cent. One has little trouble with his baggage at the stations. As soon as the train stops, says the author of “Indlaka,” he has only to go to the door of ids compartment and call out, “Kuli hai?” which means, “Is there a porter about?” and the question will bw answered by one or perhaps half a dozen barefooted natives. At the time of the decennial pilgrimages, thousands of natives take the train, crowding In with such persistency that there is no withstanding the pressure. Sometimes the railroad officials stand near the cars, and with great bamboo rods beat away the pilgrims, pounding them over the head and shoulders with all their might, in prder to prevent the dense crowd from overwhelming the train. * The pilgrims and the ordinary natives use the third-class carriages, hut Europeans are taking to them very rapidly. When Bishop William Taylor was making his four years’ evangelistic tour through India, he succeeded In setting that economical fashion. It was not then considered respectable to adopt such humble means of travel, and he was asked: “Why do you 'ride In third-class cars?” His reply came on the instant. “Because there are no fourth-class cars!” Since then, it has been respectable for Europeans to travel by any class.

Business Instinct.

When the “street" says of a man, “He has a long head for business,” it credits him with an instinct for discovering a profitable investment or scenting a bagain. An illustration of this “long head” was given by the late Judge Pratt, of Oregon, at tho beginning of his business career. Mr. Bancroft relates the anecdote in his the Builders.” During a trip from Portland to San Francisco Mr. Pratt and Captain Crosby, the commander of the vessel, conversed about the probable price of lumber in San Francisco. Pratt thought the vessel’s cargo would bring at least $25 a thousand feet. “I wish you would guarantee me that figure,” said the captain. “Well,” rejoined Pratt, “there is no reason why I should guarantee you any sum, but it seems to me that lumber ought to bring that price there,” and he gave his reasons. “Will you buy my cargo, laid down at San Francisco, at S2O a thousand?” asked the captain. “I will;” and a contract was at once drawn up and signed by both parties. As the vessel entered the harbor of San Francisco she was boarded by a purchasing agent of the United States government, who offered $250 a thousand for the cargo. The offer was declined; the vessel went up to the city, where the lumber was sold for S4OO a thousand. Mr. Pratt cleared $lO,000 by his venture. W hat is claimed to be the plow which General Putnam left In the furrow, up fn Connecticut, when he rushed to the defense of his country, 116 years ago, is exhibited in front of a hardware store in Danielsonville, Windham County, Conn., near his old home. The antiquity of tho relic seems to be unquestioned, but the Hartford Courant betrays a doubt as to whether “Old Put” ever guided It through the solL

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OF FRESH INbfrirtA NEWS. PERUSE THE FOLLOWING: 1 ■ Important Happenings of tho WeekCrimes and Casualties Suicides— Heaths—Weddings, Sts, Minor state Item-, A new paper Is to be started in Monroo City. Wobk on Nappaneo waterworks is under way. Terre Haute electric street railway line is being extended. Mrs. Barbara Gaumf.r, 70, was found dead In bed in Madison. Greenfield will have thirty-flvO arc lights of 2,000 candle powor. Crawfordsville wants tho undertakers’ convention! to hold its session tkero. Charlie Colt.iNS. Michigan City,made a hole In. Fred Wonsrockett’s face with a ftobert rifle. At Now Albany, Ferdinand Hallman committed sulaldo by drowning himself In Sliver Crook. H, W. Gragg, near Covington, tried to catch on to a freight train and had both feet cut off. The wet woather has been a damponor on Hamilton County crops. Farmers are away behind. Honry Mknkk, a Gorman, was killed by a freight train at Newpolnt. Ilis homo was near Kingston. Albert Henderson, born In 1815, is dead in Lafayetto. lie was organizer of several associations. Mrs. Jessie B. Davis, Scottsburg, jumpod from a buggy daring a runaway and was badly hurt. There havo boen 327 marriages in Kokomo the past yoar and elghty-ano applications for dlvorco. A factory to mako surgical chairs and tablos has boen secured for Anderson; capital SIOO,OOO. The Essox family hold thoir sixth annual rounlon In llopo. There wore five generations prosont. After all, tho glass factories in Indiana will not close down for tho summer vacation until June 30. Fort Wayne has a man called “Jack tho poisonor.” Several dogs have crossed tho lino with his assistance. Mrs. Minkßva F. Wigginoton died at Martinsville of consumption, she being the last member of hor family. Eaton, north of Muncio, it Is said, will get tho great Whlteley reaper works that aro to be moved from Springfield, Ohio.

Mrs. Nick, who sued Isaac Newton Dicks, in Greenfield, for slander, has boon given a verdict of 1 cent. The coats , amount to SI,OOO, William Kennedy, 12 years old, foil from tho top of a forty-foot troe to the ground. Ho struck on tho side of his head, and will probably die. Foktville Board of Health lias ordered the marshal to compel citizens to clean their front door yards. If thoy don’t, thoy will bo arrostod. Charles Conrad of Clark's Hill, Tippocanoo County, dlod from lockiaw, caused by a slight wound In lifs hand that developed blood-poisoning. Miss Rosa Amick Is (load in Now Market, near Joffersonvlilo. Hho was the smallest woman lo tho world and for flftoou years travoled with circuses. The sovonth annual reunion of tho Forty-sixth Indiana Regiment will bo held at Delphi, Ind., Aug. 20 and 27. The Sixteenth Indiana Battery will meet at tho same time and place. At Elborfeld, Henry Loneman was kicked to death while grooming a stallion. His body was removed from tho stall with groat difficulty, tho vicious animal not permitting any one to go negr. Samuel Davis, editor of the Stark County Republican, has four children, two boys and two girls, who aro accomplished musicians. They give concerts as a sido issue when newspaper business is dull. O. K. Dunbar and Frank Carroll started from Ccntrevllloiio deliver a lot of plows from the agricultural bouse of J. A. Dunbar & Co. to Jacksonburg, six miles distant. In crossing Greonsfork Croek tbe hortos became unmanageable, the wagon overturned, and both animals woro drowned. The men escaped with difficulty. A few months ago Richard Foley, a molder of Jeffersonville, went to Indianapolis to secure work. After several davs spent in futile effort to obtain employment, having spent all bis money, bo climbed Into a refrigerator car to ride homo again. The door was locked on him, and ho nearly froze to death before reaching Louisvillo, where the car was opened, Soon after consumption sot In from tho chilling bo received, and be never recovered, dying the other evening. At Evansville, Horman Kasiing, a German, while laboring under a temporary insane freak attacked his wife from behind and struck her four vicious blows with an ax. She foil unconscious in a pool of blood. Kasiing then locked himself in a room and hacked his hoad in a irightful manner with tho same ax. Ho fell from exhaustion, caused by loss of blood. His skull is crushed, and he and bis wife will both die. Kasiing thought the Lord had commanded him to kill his wife and blmselL . George Heflin, a farmer, of German Township, Bartholomew County, bad a valuable cow crippled by having Its leg broken. Hoping to save the animal he attached his bay-fork rigging to tbe limb of a tree, Intending to lift it to Its feet and keep It In one position until tho broken bones unltod. To do 1 this It was necessary to attach a horse to the rope the same as In unloading a load of Kay. Tbe horse becarno frightened at the cow and ran away. Up wont the cow to the distance of thirty feet, when the rope broke. Tbe horse went through a fence near by. THo cow is now dead. CnABLES Mcßride. While out riding in a skiff, with two other young men, near tbe Kentucky and Indiana railroad bridge, at New Albany, lost his life. The small craft was caDsized by the heavy wind. The other two men clung to the skiff until help reach them. Rease Snooks, night coal-heaver at Laketon Junction, attempted to jump on a Wabash railroad engine, but fell under tbe wheels. His right arm was badly mangled, and the doctor found it necessary to amputate the member at tho shoulder, after which he was taken to tbe railroad hospital at Peru. It is not believed he will recover. A member of the freshman class in Wabash College was expelled lor “cribbing” in mathematics. The class, numbering fifty, threaten to leave school unless he is forgiven. The big deal by which a syndicate of Chicago and Cincinnati capitalists obtained control of the immense papermill of the Diamond Match Company, Wabash, has just been consummated. Tbe new conmany -organized to take the property will be styled the Wabash Paper Company, and the capital stock fixed at $600,000. The Diamond Match Company will hold but a small block of the stock, but will take, for the next five years, fifteen of the thirty-five tons dally product of the mill.

Muncik is being bothered by a gang of kid thieves. Loogootee, by recent count has 1,309 souls within its borders.' Gosport has decided to pen up hep hogs by a vote of 103 tcr4s. A gang of barn burners are getting In their work in Owon County. Rudolph Voltz of Michigan City, was killed by a train in Chicago. Real estate in IValparlaso is advanc* ing in price. Looking for a big boom there. A new pipe organ costing $4,200 has been placed in tho Lutheran Church, Fort Whyne. Five freight cars Wqre Smashed In Liberty by a train breaking in twa Loss, SI,OOO. The Presbyterian Church of Knigbtstown has purchased a two-thousand-' dollar pipe-organ. >• Judge Thomas F. Davidson Is dead In Crawfordsville. He was born in Covington, Ind., in 1839. ’Squire Keigwin, Jeffersonville, Is said to havo married 7,000 ruhaway couples during his time, • A cave in Shelby Connty has been fitted up for pic-nlc parties. One large hall, it is said, will hold 300 people. Louis Gant, of Martinsville, was picking at a dynamite cartridge, when it'explodod, tearing off his fingers and both his thumbs. Jake Wilson, in attempting to Jump on a moving engine, at Brazil, missed the step and fell under the wheels. He will probabty die. Horsemen in Morgan County have decldod to havo a wpek’s racing at Martins- ‘ villo in July and another week in October this year. The hetrs of James H. Luthor, of Crown Point, who began to distribute his wealth before bo died, are preparing to have the clever old man tried as to his sanity. He is worth 875,000. The body found Mav 1 on the L. A N. tracks noar Evansville, turns out to be that of Jamoa Sherwood, a nephew of William Princeton, ono of the most prominent men In Evansville. Elmer Conklin wa| literally cut to pieces on tho Chicago and Indiana coal road near Yeddp. He was unfortunately fastened hi a cow-pit when Btruck by tho train. Conklin loaves a wife and two chlldron residing at Yoddo. < Committees from Red Men Lodges at Now Castle, Hartford City, Richmond, Winchester, Dalosvlllo, Selma, Now Corner, Alexandria, Anderson, Cambridge City, Falrland, and other places In the district, mot In.Muncio, and decided to give their annual picnic at New Castle, Aug. 23.

The Bank of Spiceland was organlzod at Splcoland with a paid up capital of $30,000. Following were oloctod directors: Joslah P. Rogue, 0. H. Guynn, Nathan Scovell, Oliver Greonstroot and O. H. Nixon. The offleors arc: President, Joslah P. Boguo; Vice-President, O. 11. Nixon; Cashier, Charles U. Guynn; Assistant cashier, Thomas K. Millikan. May 3, Lemuel Crockett of Cambridge City,.who had been drinking heavily, quarreled with a Jew namod Polasky, pulled his rovolvor and began shooting; Marshal Drlschol interfered, but Crockett fired three shots at tho Marshal, wounding him id the loft hand. The desperado was arrested and the lury the other day gave him top years in the penitentiary. John Bush, a well-known farmer of Washington County, while at work in bis field was approached by one of hIS neighbors, Ezra Nicholson, who began quarreling. Only a sow words were passed whon Nicholson drew a huge' knife and made a lunge at him. Bush tUrnod and fled, and had run but a short distance when be saw a singletree laying In his path. Quick as thought he picked it up, and, turning suddenly, struck his antagonist a blow on tbe bead, braining him. Nicholson cannot receiver. Bush was arrostod, but immediately released on bail. i

WAiiAsif'Olrcult Court Is askod to decldo tho ownership of, >OOO, the same bolifg a very peculiar case. Last fall, at the sale of tho effects of Henry Walker, deceased, a tool chest was bid off by E. L. Ulttonhouso. Somo time afterward he found snugly hidden In the cbost twenty government bon'd coupons of >3O oacb of the old 5-20 Issue and bad them cashed. A good mahy year's beforo George Knoop lived in Walker’s family and is said to havo owned government bonds. He Is also dead, and whfn his family heard of tho find they sued' lift tori house for the SOOO. Tho case Is being watched with milch Interest. Patents have been issued to Indiana Inventors as follows: Charles Bow, Angola, door check;' Martin L. Clements, Indianapolis, wire fence; Arthur D. Cochran, Indianapolis, street car curtain; llontbn Deardorff, Hagerstown, assignor of two-thirds to J. H. Kldwell add W. G. Matthews, corn-plantei*; John W. B, Wiggins, Pranktou, assignor of one-half' to J. V. Keck, Arcadia, wire fence; John Hanley, Torre Haute, folding electionbooth; Allen W. Helms, Aylosworth, bridle-bit; John H. Idea, Bourbon, photographic kit; Albion Smith, Richmond, game-counter; John W. Trainer, assignor to Fort Organ Company, Fort. Wayne, stop action for organs; Clarence L. Welch, assignor of one-half to J. W. Clark, Marlon, Melting furnace. South Kokomo, with a population of 2,500, has po saloon, and the latest effort to start one has jurft been repelled. Last September George Englert made application, but the Commissioners decided against him. He appealed to the Circuit Court, and when the case came to trial the Court-room was filled with women, who protested against the proposed ginmill. Englert then took a change of venue to Tipton County. More thin one hundred south-side residents, principally women, went to Tipton to attend the trial, taking with them baskets of lunch, prepared to stay till It was ended. The case went to the jury and in fifteen minutes they brought in a verdict against the saloon. There Is great rejoicing in South Kokomo. The applicant Is out about S3OO costs besides attorney's fees. It Is said that a Henry County man, while drinking out of a spring, swallowed a snake. A doctor gave him an emetic and he vomited out eight snakes. Men have been killed for telling such stories before now, TnEif have some very brave officers in Peru. One night Merchant Policeman Paden saw a strange man standing near a building as if watching something. The man was allowed to remain and the next, morning it was found the building had* been burglarized and SIOO taken from Puterbaugh Bros.’ hardware store. The man bad only been guaijjlng the burglars. Frank Slaughters, a young man, 21 years of age, residing at 27 Wright street West Inckanapolis, attempted to board a moving train on the Peoria division of the Big Four railway/west of the river bt Indianapolis. Missing his hold, he fell under the wheels' and had both legs taken off, the right leg below and the left above the knee. Granville Talmage, aged 18, of London, Ohio, was drowned in the Wabash River at Peru, and the body cannot be recovered owing«to high water. He. with a companion, Clay Brown, floated down the river thrfee miles on a raft, and becoming scared endeavored to swim ashore. Brown sank twice, bnt by desperate effort reached the shore.