Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 95, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 April 1919 — Page 2

Will-’O-the-Wisp

By FRANK COMSTOCK

(Copyright.) With a soft purring sound such M • cat would make before a warm fire, the aeroplane «Hd through the night, banked, came deftly about as It neared the poplars at the end of the enclosure and dipped. A shadow fled across the lawn beneath it. Ashcroft lowered the forward planes, the Will-o’-the-wisp settled, ran along the grass for a little way. and a moment later he Jumped off and came orerwhere I stood. “What do you think of it?" he queried exultlngly. “I think," I replied “that you have perfected one of the most devilish contrivances ever possessed by a respectable crook. When do we start? "Half an hour," he said. "Come iualde and have a drinks When we had seated ourselves on either side of a bottle of sparkling Chabtis. he raised his glass and toasted our contlng adventure. “To the safe voyage of the Will-o’-the-Wtsp and the Honorable Georgia Calendar’s diamond dog collar," said he. And we drank It off with deep feeilhg. A month before I had come across Ashcroft, or rather he had come across me, and in a manner that left no doubt as to my intentions in visiting hint. The fact of it was. that bis home' being one of the most snug-looking villas in the exclusive section of Staten Island, and I being a gentleman living mainly by my wits. 1 cast my eyes upon it and computed mentally Just liow much I should be In if fortune should favor me with a clear field. The upshot of the thing was, that Just as I was about to descend from bis third-story window, together with what more or less valuahle articles I had managed to pick up in the course of my visit the electric lights were switched on and a bullet splattered the plaster down the hack of my neck. Ashcroft changed his mind after the first shot took me in. instructed me in what he was pleased to rail "the finer points of the game,’* and from that on we were inseparable. We distrusted each other most cordially and split the profits. He looked up at me from a long and silent meditation upon the virtues of the wine. "The wind will drop In about fifteen minutes, I should say, and the Honorable Mrs. Calendar’s little private roofparty takes place at eleven. We shnll just make it. Have you a revolver?" I got out my automatic and inspected Its contents, and he nodded in approval, , v

“Let us pray we shall not have to use them. Where are the masks?" We climbed aboard. The Will-o'-the-Wisp quivered, moved forward like a living thing. Ashcroft tilted the forward planes and we lifted. An Immense shadow was flitting •long the ground below us, but presently the moon went behind a cloud and we sailed through darkness. The country below us was an inky surface, with here and there a twinkling light that spoke of a house. Ashcroft moved the lever a trifle and iny seat inclined a fraction. I knew that we were climbing. Presently we righted and slid along on a level: Ashcroft let out another notch and the purring of the motor Increased to a muffled hum. A winding white ribbon that I knew was the turnpike was discernible below us and a black spot was racing along in our wake. ft was an automobile, and a faint tooting of the horn came Up, tp us. but the men in it never lifted their faces. “Two thousand feet.” said Ashcroft. “We shall just make it" Far below us to the right one could make out the varied lights of Coney Island. A little north of them the sharp. Imife-like streak of a searchlight from the Navy Yard swept-back and forth across the sky, once heading exactly In our direction, but we were beyond Its focus. * It looked like a toy city. I could hardly believe It was New York, that vague wilderness of roofs, the long strlhgs of lights that were the streets, the faint glow of Broadly, the crawling things that I knew? were the trains of the elevated railread. It was exactly 11 ;00 o’clock. Over Madison Square we circled again and slid down in a long glide until we could have shaken hands with Diana had we been in her vicinity. Then Ashcroft shut off the motor andP'We nosed earthward in a narrowing circle. Ashcroft is nothing If not accurate. We made our way cautiously across the two roofs that Intervened between the Wlll-o’-the-Wisp and the imitation Italian garden that sent a soft glow of light Into the night. Ashcroft softly parted the leaves of the arbor wall and we peeped in. " There were long rows of Japanese lanterns and flowers, and at a table that was loaded with enough silver to make you wish to get away with that haul and then die happy, sat five people. Three of them I did not know, the faces of the two men and the woman strange to mp. but 1 recognized at a glance the portly person of Lord Coventry. I had seen his picture In the fecent aociely news and in his shirt-front I

caught the glimmer of the famous Coventry studs. Then Ashcroft pushed swiftly by me and I followed him Into the light. We terrorised them for m moment—to tell the truth, we were a strange sight, in our long rubber cloaks, and vizor caps and the masks across our faces. * The butler near the door must have made some movement, tor Ashcroft’s revolver barked sharply and the fellow coughed and clawed aud crumpled across a little table full of empty dishes. My lord rose slowly to his feet and his florid face worked in fury. He was no coward. If he did have other defects. “What do you want?" he said. Ashcroft waited until the Tittle wreath of acrid smoke had lifted and then stepped forward. We had no time to lose now. It wasgunfortunate that we had to kill the butler. No doubt the sharp report had roused the curiosity of some Inquisitive citizens, and it was only a matter of time w hen help might appear on the roof. “You wjll unfasten your shirt-studs and drop them on the table in front of you,” he said curtly. : lie waved ills pistol and the rest slunk back. And then while I covered them, he went swiftly to Mrs. Calendar and undid the necklace, holding it up for a moment in the light in a sort of gloating satisfaction, and then slipped It intoehis pocket. I swept the studs Into the palm of my hand. There were six of them, large and blue-white, and they clinked together musically as I took them. I could see the. lord of Coventry quivering in impotent rage with his hands above his head; then Ashcroft whistled and we hacked through the shrubbery. How we haif-ran. across the black darkness of the Toofs I do not remember. I recollect Ashcroft working with sobbing curses at the propellers, the sudden roar of the Gnome as she spun in a shrieking circle, we rolled forward. shot over the edge, dipped with a sickening sensation to what seemed certain destruotlon--eaught the wind on our forward planes and mounted steadily. For a moment there was a splendid sensation in it all, a sertse of power and disdain for the Impotent little things that ran and shouted in the streets a thousand feet below us and turned up white faces in the yellow lights, gesticulating comically. I think they shot at us. When we had got up 2,000 feet we turned a little, and I could Just make out the dark outline of Staten Island in the bay below, —— -- - , , Then the Will-o'-the-wisp quivered and plunged aud righted again and swerved ami shot upward in air odd manner. I turned to Ashcroft.

He had slumped in a grotesque manned to the back of the seat, and there was a trickle of blood running down the shoulder of his coat. A sudden gust of wind rocked the aeroplane to one side and we dropped and shot forward with frightful speed down an invisible toboggan. With a desperate effort I righted the planes, and for an instant we sang along steadily. Then I lost control. Two thousand feet in the air I lost control of the aeroplane. Another descent and another upward lurch as I recovered. We were rocking furiously now. I dared to glance down. What I saw was that Ashcroft had fallen so that the engine connection was beyond my reach. I could not stop It. A sudden glare blinded my eyes. The Will-o’-the-Wisp had dropped into the path of the searchlight, and for an instant I looked down Into the heart of the dazzling radiance. I must have raised the planes again, for we shot upward, the searchlight swept by, and I fled Into the darkness, helpless on the back of the throbbing monster with a dead man for a passenger. Then there came a crack from somewhere in the maze of wires that netted and crossed behind me. Tn the white glare as the searchlight caught us again, Ashcroft’s eyes looked up at me in an unseeing manner. I think it was the left wing that gave waythe Will-o'-the-Wisp rlcochetted from side to side in a drunken fashion —collapsed in mid-atr. and then turned over aud over, and hurtled downward. ~ I don't know how I mauaged It. The shock of the water revived me a bit —I was more dazed than hurt —and there were one or two bltst>f wreckage floating about after I managed to dive and shed my heavy coat and get out from under all that; was left of the Will-o’-the-Wisp. I could see the searchlight playing about on the water in search of us, and it finally got the machine, but I kept out of its reach and paddled away. A tug was going by rather slowly and she almost ran me down in the darkness, but I managed to get hold of one of the trailing logs she bad fit her side, and when we reached wharf I dropped behind and scrambled ashore. i I skulked about the streets until my clothes were presentable and then made my way to a "'pawnshop whose owner knew me of old. and disposed of one of the Coventry studs. I don’t know what became of Ashcroft. - The® thing made a big sensation in the papers the next day. There were stories columns long about it. but this Is about the mosjt veracious account yoiu will ever get of the matter, that is, unless Ashcroft ever happens to crop op figfiia 1 77 -

THE EVENING REPUBLICAN, RENSSELAER, IND.

TRIP TO THE ISLE OF PINES

By EDITH C. CAMERON. WHEN a doctor pronounced the edict, "four months of rest and change of climate, with plenty of fresh air and sunshine,” the question arose, where to? The time was December, with all the cold and disagreeableness of a northern climate. Someone suggested* “Why not go to the Isle of Pines? There you could rest and have all the sunshine and fresh air that you need.” So when I learned that it Is one of the mpst beautiful and interesting spots to be found in the world, and situated almost at our very door, less than two hundred miles south of Key West and not as far distant from New York as the Mississippi, I decided to visit' It. I found there were many routes to choose from, but I selected the quickest one, most commonly used, by way of Jacksonville, Fla., Miami, and the delightful sea-rail route to Key West. From there a sea trip of six hours brings one to Havana, Cuba, and another by rail or auto, 35 miles, to Batabano, now the most important seaport on the south side of Cuba. The trains run to the dock, where one can take a comfortable boat making the trip to the Isle of Pines in a few hours. - * On reaching Jucaro, a port of entry, we have our choice of a number of automobiles for a ride over a government turnpike road, called here a calzada, to Santa Fe, a distance of five miles. We cannot help being surprised at the fine road, almost equaling any boulevard found in our northern cities. Our obliging chauffeur tells us that there are about one hundred miles of these calzada roads built and maintained by the government. All Comforts in Santa Fe. In the picturesque little town of Santa Fe, about five hundred feet above sea level, is a hotel meeting every requirement of the most exacting traveler. There are other less expensive establishments. Here are small American churches of almost every denomination, a bank, schools, clubs for both men and women, a chamber of commerce, a large Masonic temple and other institutions found in average American COmmUmtlftff - ' ’ /' - ----- 11 : After resting and bathing in the Santa Rita thermal springs—the privi T lege of guests of our hotel —one feels like a new being. All the tiredness of the long trip vanishes. The wealthy Spanish military and government classes came here from Havana to spend the summer for generations, as the Isle of Pines is much cooler than Cuba. The baths are marvelous for curing rheumatism, nervous troubles and obesity. The water comes from iron and magnesia springs. The history of the isle is replete with romance. How many of us know, I wonder, that Christopher Columbus, in his second trip to the new world, was lost in the keys, or small Islands, surrounding the Isle of Pines for a number of days, finally landing on the isle, upon which, after inspection and replenishing his supply of water, he bestowed the name of La Evangelista (the Evangel), later reaching the harbor of Batabano, Cuba. Pineapples and Pines. It is questionable whether the Isle of Pines gets its name from the wonderful pineapples, weighing from seven to fifteen pounds, growing so profusely there, or to the pine trees, the odor of which, when the wind is 1 ’ blowing in the right direction, can be noticed several miles from shore. In early days the Isle of Pines, like many other islands of the Caribbean ’was a rendezvous for pirates, and the south part of the island is often regarded as the “Treasure Island” of Stevenson’s tale. As recently as some thirty years ago a Spaniard who had lived a long: time on the Isle of Pines, as poor as the proverbial church mouse, suddenly blossomed oat) as a gentleman of great affluence? He moved with his family to Havana, the “Paris of the West Indies,” and to blftn was traced, as the source of circulation, a" large amount of old Spanish doubloons, “pieces of eight,” and other gold coins of the pirate days. It was generally believed he had discovered the cache

Native Homestead in Isle of Pines.

of -the hidden treasures of some pirate crew who were unable to return and claim their ill-gotten wealth. Even now there is more or less desultory search made from time to time by some of the natives for pirate treasures supposed to be buried in the caves and along the shores of the island; In 1776 the Spanish crown made a grant of the entire isle to a retired Spanish .naval officer, who at his death left seven sons, among whom the Isle of Pines was divided. From the original grant down to the Span-ish-American war the isle was the home of Spanish aristocrats who had large interests in Cuba. When Cuba and Porto Rico were lost to Spain, the leading inhabitants of the Isle of Pines, being pure Spanish, regarding the Cubans as inferiors, were very desirous, as the lesser of two evils, that the sovereignty of the isle pass to the United States. There was inserted in the treaty of Paris, negotiated with Spain, a clatfse which President McKinley interpreted as ceding the Isle of Pines to the United States. sSent Many Men to the War. The Isle of Pines is extremely patriotic, and has done its full share toward winning the war. While the American population is less than five thousand, and the percentage of the men who are over the draft age has been above normal, owing to the fact that many were originally attracted by its climatic and health advantages, nevertheless it boasts a service flag of over two hundred stars. Many bright young men have enlisted in various branches of the service. The women of the isle in their Red Cross work have raised thousands of dollars. In fact', more actual money to date has been raised here than has been secured and contributed by the American women in all Cuba. While all the wealthy Spaniards originally inhabiting the isle have sold their properties to the Americans and returned to Spain or Cuba, the working natives, “pineros,” as they are termed, remain to the number of probably twenty-five hundred or three thousand. These pineros are pure Spanish. They are industrious, working faithfully ten or twelve hours a day for the small wage of $1 to $1.50 per day and boarding themselves. As workers they are regarded as superior to the Mexican peons, Cubans or Jamaican negroes. They are a quiet, inoffensive people, fond of the Americans, and cases qf theft or bodily assault are rare. They are of a domestic temperament, marrying early and rearing large families. There are diversified amusements for tourists. Automobiling over good roads to all parts of the isle, deepsea fishing, tennis, golf and horseback riding are especial favorites, as well as sea bathing In the warm salt waters of -the Caribbean. As to the climate, I will not attempt a description, as I found it perfect.

Expect Find of Interest

The Spokane museum has leased a 160-acre Coplan ranch, near that city, and soon will begin "prospecting” for the complete skeleton of one of the largest mastodons ever unearthed. Parts of the skeleton have been located. The farm, which is a low, boggy plaee, has been the source of several mastodon skeletons unearthed in the past years. There are several more skeletons bogged in the place, it is believed, and the one the Spokane museum hopes to recover complete will stand 14 feet high with tusks extending about ten feet out from the Jaws. This will equal in size the largest mastodou ever unearthed, which was found on this same farm In 1878, and is now on exhibition at the Academy yf Science iu Chicago.

Very Platonic.

Peter Prosser didn’t believe in marriage. He kept on saying so. Platonic friendship was good enough for him, he affirmed. But one day Peter Prosser got married. His friends'wondered, and one of them asked a question. “Well,” said Peter indignantly, in reply, “I still believe in platonic friend* ship, of course, but I had to do something. Another fellow came along and got interested in the girl."

New Weaves and Shades in Serge

Spring Coats Are of the Box Type —Skirts Are Plain and Narrow. NEW MATERIAL FROM LONDON Waistcoats Add the Needed Touched of Color, While Heavy Braiding of Varying Type Remains in Favor. For so long a time now women have come to accept the tailored coat suit as the very foundation of their wardrobes that it is the first consideration as the yeasons change. Especially is this tine of the average woman whose wishes are controlled by expediency and determined by absolute need. There is no doublt about the fact, writes a prominent fashion correspondent, that American manufacturers have developed the supreme art in the making of the coat suit. It is now possible to buy such suits, so well built, so perfectly designed, that few tailors can excel, for as great care is given to detail as the master makers themselves can show. Some fpreign critic has said that there Is such a monotony about the clothes of American women that It is as if everyone were trying to be as much like her neighbor as possible, and originality is an unknown sartorial art in this country. I am sure this critic must have referred to the blue serge suits, for it is undeniably the custom to clothe ourselves in dark blue, resting secure in the choice of color and its suitability for all occasions. Let none hesitate this spring, for our favored blues are delightful to behold and lovely to wear. The smart little box coat with Its vest of contrasting material* is the model most in evidence at the opening of the spring showing. A new material coming from London Is a dark blue basket weave, loosely enough woven to be almost transparent and resembling the summer crashes of some seasons back, except that it has a smoother surface. Plain and Narrow Skirt One suit of this jnaterial has the same narrow and very plain skirt seen in all of the other models. The coat is of the box type, shorter than most

Fashionable Blue Serge Suit With Blue Linen Smock.

and with a rounding jacket and tight bell sleeves. With this coat is seen a vest of gray surah silk shot through with a scroll of darker gray. The vestee Is loosely hung over the bust and at the hips is wrapped in a loose sash effect, very baggy, and well below the waist line. The sleeves are finished with a cuff placed inside the blue and made of the gray scrolled silk. Of course tricollete, tricoline and other knitted fabrics are newer than all others, and will be smart indeed. Gabardine and whipcord are extremely fashionable as well, and an old material, always a favorite and delightfully exploited this year, is silk poplin. This is particularly suited for real warm weather, and makes a pleasing suit with a silken sheen that is lovely, and it also drapes gracefully. I observe a tendency to much braiding, both in the flat, narrow silken braids, of which row after row is used and placed both on the skirt and coat, and also the heavy silken cords are much used. The latter appears in an unusual effect in a tan whipcord, three rows of a heavy silken cord of a darker shade being placed side by side to form a collar at the back and extending along the front side of the box coat. At the waist the cords pass through a small flap of the whipcord and end in an ornamental flat silken disk at the bottom. Gives the Pulled-In Effect The flat silk braid Is used to give the pulled-io effect at the bottom of thp skirt, where one row will h»e placed above the other nearly to the depth of the knees. Again wider braid appears In a multitude of small loops set in rows along the bottom of the skirt and coat. Of course we have all noted that the vest, waistcoat, gilet or blouse, whatever. one chooses to call the smart little things we will wear underneath our box coats, axe the distinguishing

feature of this year's model. These little colored accessories are a Joy to the eye and are exceedingly becoming to most figures. Some of the newest are of organdie with little bibs for the upper part and an apron effect at the bottom, which is worn outside in the front. Narrow strings hold it iu place in the back and these little strings, tied in a bow, crisp and fluffy, show out from under* neath the coat. Tricolette, which is so silky and made in such beautiful colors, is one of the best materials to use for the tailored vest. It is yery good when made up perfectly plain at the top and finished at the bottom in a series of very wide tucks placed one above the other and showing as the box coat falls away in the front. It is not possible to de-

A Striking Frock of Serge and Beaded Taffeta.

scribe the beapty and richness of the new brocades which are used in this fashion. They are of almost barbaric splendor in a blending of superb colors with silver and gold threads. Of course the gilet now and then has a sash to give a draped line over the hips, such as shown in the London model I have mentioned above, but as yet the box coat .-for the greater number of models reaches so far below the waist line that the sash does not appear and is not necessary. We shall tire of these gorgeous bits of color as the weather grows warmer and demand the simpler things of batiste, organdie and washable fabrics so much a part of the summer and so crisp and fresh. Pique and linen have been cleverly blended In a smart waistcoat with the narrowest of black satin piping showing between the rows of the tiny pleats of linen, such as appear in men’s shirts. It is understood, I am sure, that few giiets show any collars, but fasten at the shoulders or button around the neck under the coat in the back just like the little dickeys in small boys’ sailor suits. A variation of the gilet is the linen smock, and by a curious fancy it is really unusual enough to be good looking. For instance, a sky blue linen smock is worn underneath a box coat of dark blue gabardine. The smock hangs perfectly plain, like a Chinaman’s coat in the front and shows through a slashing in the sides of the coat. No belt or sash confines the straight lines anywhere. Coat Dress in Favor Too. The coat dress is highly favored this year. It is developed in many pleasing ways, as, for instance, in a combination of blue taffetas and serge, showing a narrow and pulled-in petticoat of the serge, over which is worn the long blouse of blue silk thickly beaded in dull red and blue beads. At the waist there is a narrow belt of the beads falling in looped ends to the bottom of the x skirt. This is one of the best examples of the coat dress, as it has long sleeves of serge reaching to the \yrlst, and a collar of the taffetas thickly beaded and reaching nearly to the ears. By the way, this sort of design offers an excellent way to “make over," a thankless job and, as a rule, an unsuccessful one, but one most women undertake nevertheless. Though we shall see more of the short coats than the long, it does not mean that the long coat is not a la mode, for there are figures which cannot stand the thick, short look of the little hip length coat, and as our fashion makers are kind just now, there is no absolute decree as to length. Skirts are much longer, though we hear that Paris makers have them so much shorter. Why is it the English women never seem to be in a rage over the length of their skirts, but go along quietly year in and year but in a sensible length and fashion comfortable and sane? American wottten “dress up” as they live, never attaining comfort as they grow old, but always struggling to be stylish. Perhaps one reason for this Is that over here fortunes are made so quickly and many women denied the things they craved In their younger days are only able to attain them as they pass their youth and fling themselves into an Indulgence of style which never permits comfort and unfortunately too away with' dignity.