Jasper County Democrat, Volume 4, Number 43, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 February 1902 — Page 6

The Infernal Machine

V?O GH, what a night It was! Twas IHI as If the usual winter slush of the London streets had vaporized Itself, and settled down again in the atmosphere as fog. Then it was Christmas eve. That made it worse. The poor in London Often find it bard enough to keep up their spirits in spite of cold, starvation, and neglect Yet even to the most mlserable and desperate of us all, the commotion that heralds Christmastide, the busy going to and fro of those with money to buy, and the hearty display on the part of those who have anything jat all to sell—all these are something to see, even if you haven’t sixpence to buy a dinner with, or a friend on earth to greet with the “Compliments of the Season." But when King Fog blurs and overshadows everything, the temper of the unfortunate classes Is severely tried. I was very savage that night; savage with myself, savage with my employers, and savage most of ah with my miserable lot in life. Once on a time I was a well-to-do householder, with a flourishing watch and clockmaker’s business. But after a while things went badly, somehow or other, and I suppose 1 took more than was good for me. At last the business broke up; and then—but there! what’s the use of looking back? I had now joined the ranks of the struggling and hopeless, and it seemed hard that, half-suffo-cated with fog, I should be trudging the grimy streets between Clerkenwell and St. James' with a heavylsh weight to carry on such a night and at such a season, while the rich and fortunate were eating and drinking and enjoying themselves more than was good for them. Bah! it made my blood boil to think of It all. And yet 1 felt the Justice of it all. It was cause and effect. As we make our bed, so we must lie upon It. The fog grew so thick as I went along that I—l who have been familiar with every square yard of London ever since I can remember knowing anything—came for a moment to a standstill, and had to admit that I had lost my way. I knew well enough bow I had come—Red Lion Square, High Holborn, Broad street and the Dials. I ought to be In Cranborne street, or Leicester Square; but, for the life of me, I could not see two yards in front to make sure. Only with some difficulty did 1 ascertain that there were houses at three paces distance. I resolved to push on, however, keeplrtfc my disengaged hand upon the walls and lintels and doors, in order to have something substantial .to go by. Even this was awkward, aud my progress soon became slower than ever. Bo thick was the fog, that with my hand on a lamp post I literally could not distinguish the flame of the gas above me. Nevertheless, I stumbled onward in hope of meeting some one to direct me. But no one came in sight. I suppose I had got into a slum; one of those places where, they say, so many foreign desperadoes lie in hiding; and 1 w'as mining on the evil repute of some of the back streets in the most luxurious city in the world, when all of a sudden I was roughly seized, and before I had time to use my tongue I was dragged within a neighboring doorway. The door was immediately slammed, and ruthless hands hustled me down a dark passage and into a back room, from which (I felt sure) It was inqxjsslble to summon assistance, however loudly I employed my lungs. Happily I was not injured in any way -only greatly alarmed; and fortunately 1 had retained enough presence of mind to bold tight the handle of the wooden box which I carried in my hand. If 1 had dropped it! Well, 1 would rather, not speculate upon what would have happened If I had dropped that box. The room into which 1 had been thrust was lighted by a single gas Jet. There was nothing about the apartment itself to suggest that my life was In danger, for it was an ordinary sitting' room, fitted up with something like feminine care. But I was very quickly made to understand, by the men who had dragged me into the house, that they were capable of anything in pursuit of their object. There were only two scoundrels present, though It had seemed as if a full score were taking me prisoner. “Now!” began one of the bullies, n cross-eyed, burly brute, standing between me aud the door. “Well,” I said, as he paused. The box I carried was rather heavy. I placed it cautiously upon the table In the center of the room, and asked, “Pray, what is the meaning of thia treatment?” “Money,” replied the burly blackguard, with laconic frankness. The second ruffinn, who was meantime looking at me over his friend’s ■boulder, confirmed this explanation with a nod; but the request, or rather demand, made to a man In my position of life seemed to me so absurd that I could not restrain a little laugh. The cross eyed party frowned angrily. “We can’t stop here nil night,” he blurted out In menacing tones. “I’m sure 1 don’t wish you to do so," I rejoined, trying to gain time. “Well, then, out with the blunt!" put In the second bully; "and look sharp!” Baying which, he drew from bis pocket a life-preserver (as people are pleased to call the murderous weapon). “Really, gentlemen," 1 ngswered paofficially, “1 am sorry I cannot oblige you. At the present moment 1 don’t possess a cent in the world.”

“Won’t do," returned the cross-eyed one, incredulously- “Gammon—flambunkum ! Turn out your pockets." “With pleasure,” said I, being anxious to promote a feeling of confidence, and suiting my action to the words. The second ruffian approached and helped me. He handled my pockets and patted my waistcoat to satisfy himself that I hid nothing. It soon became clear that I had spoken the truth, and he returned to his place between the table and the door to consult with his comrade as to their next step. “What have you got in that box?” then inquired the gentleman with duplex sight, perceiving for the first time that I had at least one portable article in my possession. “What’s inside that box ?” “That is my business,” I replied, sharply. “Come, come, we don’t want any of your pertness. Open up, and look spry about it.” a "No.” “Yes,” he roared, adding a frightful expression which I should be sorry to repeat. “No,” I said, very firmly. The two men glanced at one another. My opposition was beginning to enrage them. I wondered what they would do next. They evidently meant mischief, and I anxiously watched the burlier blackguard as he hesitated, and then apparently determined to open the box almself. He stepped forward. "Good heavens!” I cried, holding out my hand to stop him. "You don’t know what you are doing! You will be blown to atoms!” The man started back ns if he had been struck. I pursued my advantage, after a little smile at the situation. "I will open the outer case,” said I, after a pause, “and explain. But by all that’s sacred, if either of you conies one step nearer, I’ll touch the spring aud we’ll all go to atoms together! Do you think I’d stick at finishing the business? Do you think a man cares two straws about what happens to him when he makes an infernal machine, and carries it about, dynamite and all, on his way to set the blessed thing going in a tidy corner of—well, no matter where—for the good of his country?” The two ruffians stood as if turned to stone. “Ha, ha!’’ I laughed. “You don’t know what stuff an anarchist is made of!” The bullies turned as pale as ghosts. They had not bargained for this sort of tiling. I gave them no time to doubt me and recover. In a moment I inserted a key in the lock of my wooden case, turned it, and raised the lid. Opening an inner mahogany box, I displayed the face of a dial. “This,” I said, solemnly, "is the clock. If I turn this screw I set the indicator for whatever hour or minute desire. If I touch this button, I start the exploding mechanism. This bliss rod ends in a detonating fuse. I ha re only to release this spring, and bbvv the whole street down.” My cowardly captors ottered an exclamation of surprise and terror. They seemed to have entirely lost their power of articulate speech. I looked at a clock—a trumpery, cheap, French ticker—on the mantelpiece, and continued remorselessly. "It is four minutes to 10. I will now turn the screw, and set the indicator to explode at 10. I will then tough the button, and set the dynamite myclianism in motion. This will jive you three minutes to open this door and the front door—wide—and to make yourselves scarce. If you don’t do so, pretty quick, the Infernal thing will take its course—and I don’t think I should meet either of you in Paradise.” The two ruffians, petrified with terror, glared at me while I made the necessary movements. “Now,” I said, firmly, “you have three minutes in which to do as I said. And remember—at the very first sign of any attempt at violence, I touch this spring under my flngft and blow you both to smithereens. Now—only two minutes and a half left.” The cross-eyed villain glanced at me, then at bls comrade, and lastly al the face of the dial. A bare two minutes of respite remained. But it was enough for him to deliver a parting shot, in words that forced themselves hoarsely from his throat. “Well," he said, “of all the Mcpblstopheles I ever set my blessed eyes on, you’re the most horrible!” And without another word be and bls horror-stricken companion hurried out. There was but one ruinate more to go. They were clearly awake to that. I heard them fling the front door oi»en hastily, and run clattering along the pavement la the street—for dear life. There was not the slfetitest chance they would attempt to Interfere again with the anarchist. I shut up my box In Its case, taking It by the handle, quickly made my way out into the street. The fog had Hftgd slightly. I perceived that there was a by-street opposite, and I ran down It as fast as my legs would carry me. Before very long I found myself in Leicester Square, and In another tsn minutes I rang the bell at the back door of a well-known clock and watchmaker's shop in St James'. The door was bpened by my employer. “Confound it all, Jeremy!" he said. "I thought you were going to fall me. Have you brought the chronometer?" "Here it la, sir. One-pound-ten, please. And here’s my little account for repairs and other work. It’s been owing some time.”

“Come in, Jeremy, and I’ll give you your money, and a glass of You’re only just in time with the chronometer. Lord Bluebury starts the first thing to-morrow morning to meet hts yacht in the Mediterranean, and he wouldn’t go without the Instrument for anything.” “Well—here’s the article, and a very pretty old timekeeper it Is, too. You don’t see anything to beat it nowadays. I told you you’d have it to-night, and I never tell an untruth to anybody.” And then I remembered that what I was asserting as to my truthfulness was not strictly accurate. But I said nothing more; for, if I had confessed how near I had been to losing Lord Bluebury’s valuable chronometer altogether, I’m sure I should never have been given another job to do at home so long as I lived. It was a narrow escape, that little adventure. But I can’t help laughing to myself whenever I think of poor Jeremy as a full-blown anarchist. “Of all the Mephisto-pheles I ever set my blessed eyes on,” said the crosseyed gentleman, “you’re the most horrible!” And yet you wouldn’t think ft to look at me.—Argosy.

YANKEE BANK NOTES BEST.

American Printers Head the World in Execution of Fine Work. Nowhere else in the world has the art of printing bank notes been perfected as it has in the United States. Jacob Perkins of Massachusetts made great advances in printing early in the nineteenth century when he substituted steel for copper plates and devised a method of making transfers of the original engraving in soft steel, which by being afterward hardened could be printed from. Through his exertions In connection with other American bank note printers the bank notes of this country many years ago attained that superiority in artistic and mechanical execution over those of all other nations which they have always since maintained. Many and important Improvements have been made in this country in the making of bank notes, notably in the lathework, by which portions of the note designating Its denomination are usually executed and various new devices have been tried from time to time to baffle the counterfeiters. The most effective is that now used by the government, whereby notes, bonds, etc., are printed exclusively on paper which has small fibers of silk of various colors Incorporated in Its texture. After the plates are prepared, extreme care is required in every process. The best ink, nicely ground and mixed, must be used, and the paper wetted with exact regularity. The best workmen can hardly print more than GOO impressions tn a day. The numbers on bills and bank notes are printed by ’a very ingenious mechanism which makes it impossible to commit any fraud by printing two notes of the same number. The apparatus consists of a series of brass disks, of which the rim is divided by channels into projecting compartments, each containing a figure. The numbers 1 to 9 having been printed in the course of the revolution of the first disk, the second disk then presents the figure 1, which, combining with the 0 of the first disk, forms number 10. The second disk remains stationary until in the course of the revolution of the first disk the numbers 1 to 19 have been printed, when it presents the figure 2 and does not move again until another revolution of the first disk completes the numbers 20 to 29. Thus the 'two disks proceed until ninety-nine notes have been numbered, when the third disk comes into operation and, with the first two, produces 100. Consequently, the first disk performs 100 revolutions to ten of the second nnd one of the third. The notes may be numbered Independently by this process without the possibility of error, the machine meanwhile being its own check.

He Lacked Appreciation.

she was young and nicely dressed and fairly pretty. The car was full when she entered It, and most of the sitters were women. The girl looked up and down the long lines of raglans and flamog hats, and then planted herself directly In front of a youngish man who nat near the stove. She stared down at him in a superbly scornful manner, but be was an old bird and evidently didn't mind. Then her scornful stare changed to one of deep Indignation, and this in turn melted into a look of pained surprise. But the youngish mau stood It all in n thoroughly hardened manner. The look of surprise became a look of pity, and presently the girt stooped a little nnd remarked: “I’m afraid you don’t know who I am.” He looked astonished, but managed to answer: “Your fear Is well grounded. May I ask who you are?” The girl stiffened with conscious pride. "I am one of this season's buds!” uhe said with a superb air of superiority. But even then she didn't get th® seat.—Cleveland Plain Dealer.

Strange Etiquette.

If the King or Queen of England sign their name In a visitor’s book, it is customary to provide them with a new pen, which is not used by the hosts or the other guests unless It be handed them by the royal visitor. Another small point of etiquette connected with pens and paper is that tn writing a letter direct to the British sovereign. it Is written on thick, white paper, on one side only, and Is placed in an envelope large enough to contain the letter unfolded. When a woman gets good and mad. she is pretty apt to. tell the truth.

GARDEN AND FARM

RAISING FALL PIGS. In my opinion, the best method of raising fall pigs for profit and best results Is to have them-farrowed in the latter part of August or first part of September. By so doing the pigs will get the age and growth on them before cold weather sets in, and will then be large and strong enough to keep on growing and make good.pigs with proper care and feeding. It is essential that they should have a warm, dry place to sleep in, free from draughts. The sow should be fed on shorts and soaked oats, with a quart of oilmeal in a barrel of slop. Do not feed a fall pig very much corn until after he is six months old. As a general thing, there is too much corn fed to young pigs, and I believe this is the cause of so many of them getting down on •their feet. Corn always causes indigestion among pigs. If they are early farrowed and kept growing they will prove a profitable investment.—W. R. Loveless, in American Swineherd. PREPARING FOWLS FOR EXHIBITION. . Good, vigqjous blood is important. Only robust birds can stand the strain of the exhibition season, and appear at their best. Some even die from the excitement and unnatural conditions. I do not feed them much different from ordinary while preparing for exhibition. If while at the show they are to be fed some patent preparation, I accustom them to that special food before sending them away. A good feed is half bran and half corn meal baked in a cake. Chopped cabbage has a loosening effect. While preparing for exhibition the bird should be placed in a coop by himself, but with company in coops close by to keep him lively and to get him used to show room conditions. Wash thoroughly a day before shipping. Clean the legs with soap and water, followed with vaseline, and wipe off. I use a knife with a thin blade to clean the dirt from under the scales. Wash head and feet, soap the bird thoroughly, rinse off, carefully putting a little bluing into the water, if a white bird. Dry near the stove, but avoid too strong heat. —T. A. Nourse, in New England Homestead.

FEEDING SHEEP IN COLD WEATHER. Careful feeding and regularity is the key to success in preparing stock for market. Begin early and prepare feed for winter. Don't wait till the time comes to feed, but be ready to take care of the stock. I have had much experience in sheep feeding for winter market. I don’t feed much corn till March, then I commence to feed it with oats and clover hay, and give them all they will eat. Six to eight weeks is long enough to feed lambs. Give them plenty of fodder and water. Soft water if it can be had to prevent kidney trouble. I am using cowpeas and alfalfa hay this year for my sheep. I think it is a grand feed. In buying up stock for winter market I find the best that I can and pay a little more for them than the market price. When fattened they bring a good price when shipped to market. I expect to shred fodder hereafter, so I can feed all my stock in the barn. Sheep must have a well ventilated stable. Keep salt where they can get it whenever they want it. I think sheep and lambs will bring a good price next spring. The late rains started the grass and helped to bring stock in better shape for winter. We can’t take too much care of our stock during the winter.—George H. Cresswell, in New England Homestead. CLOVER AS AN ORCHARD MULCH. Considerable publicity has been given to the remarks of W. T. Macoun of the experiment station at Ottawa, Ont., made at the American promological meeting In discussing the renovation of apple orchards. Mr. Macoun stated that the practice at the experimental farm had been to grow clover in the orchard throughout the year. As the clover reached the blossoming stage. It was cut and allowed to remain on the ground. The last growth of the clover in the autumn was not mowed, but permitted to stand as a cover during winter. This system is, in effect, a combination of green manuring and mulching. It differs from the ordinaray cultivation and cover Crop system in that cultivation is left out of the programme. A rather too wide application of Mr. hlacoun't remarks has been made. He was careful to state that this practice pertained to their own orchard and was the outgrowth of peculiar soil and climatic conditions. The subsoil of thia orchard is cold and impervious, lhe region in which it is situated is rarely visited with protracted drouths. The object in growing the clover is to aerate the soil, draw out Its surplus moisture and protest the trees from the effect of severe freezing In winter. Undoubtedly the clover mulching plan may be applied quite widely. I believe that It can be practiced with advantage in many of the colder apple growing regions, but I do not think it would be the best plan to follow in sections where rainfall during the growing season was et all uncertain. In such sections cultivation fs essential. The particular region described by Mr. Macoun is not a commercial fruit section. Apples are grown in an amateur way and fruit of fine quality Is produced, but no large areas are devoted to the industry. Possibly the business may develop later if thia plan

of orcharding is followed more carefully than It has been in the past— Professor John Craig, of Cornell University. SELL NEAR HOME. There is no better advice that can be given to any one who raises poultry and eggs for money than the above. Sell £our eggs and poultry near home, and in the end bet!-- profits will be realized It is astonishing how much the home markets are neglected in this respect. The summer hotels in the country, and the winter hotels in the South, frequently get all their supplies from some large cicv, even their poultry and eggs. I have asked a number of proprietors the reason for such an anomaly. I was astonish ? 1 at tire reply. In a few words he said that they could not rely on the homo supply of eggs or poultry. They Wuuld be willing to pay a little .more than the market rates for either, but the farmers had become so accustomed to sending their produce to the cities that they were slow in adopting anv other course. They would some days bring in plenty of eggs, and then for a week nothing would be heard of them. ■<Fhis Irregularity could not be endured. Yet as another instance of Jus! the opposite, there is an enterprising young woman who has a poultry farm not far from a summer resort. She has contracted to deliver ten dozen eggs a day through the summer season to the hotels at a uniform price of twenty-five cents per dozen The eggs are all fresh and she is to be relied upon. The hotels would even take more from her, and she Is making efforts to enlarge her plant. She says she is making more money with her summer eggs than with her winter products. Her ambition is to enlarge her poultry farm so she can supply the hotels with spring broilers and tender chickens all through the summer season. Her'income then will be entirely satisfactory. But even in ordinary towns and vil lages there aje always plenty of families who are willing to buy their eggs fresh every few days from some nearby poultry farm. The prices obtained in this way will be far more remunerative than those paid in some distant city. In the summer time fully forty per cent, of the eggs shipped fifty miles or more are partially or wholly ruined by hot weather. The loss sustained in this way is enormous, and the farmers are the ones to endure it. By all means the remedy is to cultivate the nearby markets. Do not try to ship eggs to New York, Philadelphia or other large cities if you live in the West or South. There are nearer markets which will pay you better.—Annie C. Webster in American Cultivator.

FARM HINTS. Turnips for mutton; corn for pork. In a well-run dairy only the poorer animals are for sale. A whole lot of dairy farmers do not get as much from their cows as their feed costs. A good food ration is shelled corn, one-half; rye or barley, one-quarter; oats, one-quarter. Don’t feed well and give good shelter; then allow your sheep to drink ice water to cool off: Oat fed lambs will stretch out, have healthy looking skin and red blood. Oats are muscle makers. Farmers should be careful that there are not any wastes. Such never benefit a farmer's financial condition. Whether young stock are a paying investment depends very largely on their care the first winter of their lives. It is a severe stram on the digestive organs of a sheep to feed corn alone in winter; put in a little rye. It is a laxative. In raising calves have a hand separator so you can give them fresh skimmed milk; then you have the prime requisites to success in calf raising. The cream will not rise as well or as fully, nor will it make as good butter after the milk has been exposed to a very low temperature for any length of time. By weaning the lambs early it gives the ewes a better chance to put on flesh, and if given good feed the lambs will make more satisfactory progress as soon as weaned. If the supply of water Is not abundant the cows become restless, feverish and fretful. One day passed in this manner will do very much Joward drying up the best cows. It is an important item to have a place for the milk where the proper conditions can be observed, as good butter cannot be made out of cream that has once got out of condition. Winter lambs require a great deal of attention, and unless this can be given, do not attempt to raise them. They usually sell for high prices and fully pay for all the extra effort expended. The hog compelled to go to bed hungry or thirsty will mulct his owner by running off one or more pounds of weight while fretting, grunting, squealing and clamoring for the missing ration. For the last month or six weeks before selling, the swine should be fed three times a day, and the feeding should be so timed that the animals will walk up to the trough and demand their feed.

Books of Medieval Days.

In the cathedral of Hereford, England, there are still about 1.600 books with the chains that used to be attached to hook* in the sixteenth century In eccleciastlQ and university libraries.

WIDOW IS SET FREE.

Mrs. Richardson Acquitted of Charge of Killing Her Hueband. At Plattsburg, Mo., Addie B. Richardson was acquitted of the charge of having murdered her husband, Frank B. Richardson, a wealthy merchant, who was slain as he entered his home Christmas eve, 1900. The announcement of the verdict was received with frantic enthusiasm nnd joy, not only by Mrs. Richardson and her own and her husband’s relatives, but by all of the spectators. John D. Richardson, brother of the dead man, seized the widow around the waist and raised her

STEWART FIFE.

MRS. RICHARDSON.

clear off her chair. HoMing her in his arms, he kissed her again and again, while the crowd cheered. After she was released by her brother-in-law, her venerable father, Adam Lawrence, seized her in his arms, and their tears of joy mingled ns they embraced each other. All of the relatives and the attorneys for the defense gathered around the father and dmightej-, and with tears es joy embraced or congratulated the latter and the little Richardson boys were bugged and kissed by scores of people. Notwithstanding the acquittal of Mrs. Addie B. Richardson, Stewart Fife, accused of complicity in the crime, must stand trial. This is the positive assertion of Prosecuting Attorney Charles F. Booher. “I want a jury to decide whether or not Fife was guilty,” said the prosecutor. Fife, who was nrrosted at North Yakima, 'Wash., is now in jail at Savannah. P- is the son of n wealthy resident <-< St. Joseph. His father bought for him an interest in a stere with Richardson. The latter, however, frequently complained that Fife did not attend properly to business, and he also rebuked his partner for spending too much time with Mrs. Richardson. Mrs. Richardson is distinctly a Southern type, pretty nnd petite. Before sh® was charged with the murder of her husband Mrs. Richardson was vivacious, and was popular in society in Savannah and St. Joseph. Mrs. Richardson is a daughter of Alexander Lawrence of Texas, at one time a Christian minister. Frank W. Richardson became addicted to drink in the latter years of his life, and there was trouble. Mrs. Richardson was seen at ttaies with Stewart Fife, a deck in the store ami a son of her husband’s business partner. Richardson abused her when drinking, and made accusations agnnst her, for which he invariably apologized when sober.

DOLE ASKED TO RESIGN.

11l Health Unfits Him for Duties as Governor of Hawaii. President Roosevelt has asked Got. Dole of Hawaii to send in his resignation, and the friends of Col. Samuel Parker claim he is slated for the post. Sanford B. Dole has been Governor since the islands became United States territory in June, 1900. and was President of (he Republic of Hawaii. It is said his continued ill health has made him unfit for the duties of the office and. compelled the President to seek a new man for the post. Col. Parker is a native of Hawaii, a Kanaka. He is one of the wealthiest men In the islands, owning large sugar plantations, cattle ranches and extensive real

GOVERNOR S. B. DOLE.

estate in Honolulu. He wns prime minister in the last cabinet of Queen Liliuokalani, but upon the annexation of the islands by the United States strongly advised the natives to submit, and, probably more than any other, influenced them in that direction. He was one of the delegates from Hawaii to the Republican national convention at Philadelphia and wus a member of the committee appointed by that convention to notify President McKinley of his nomination, making a brief speech on the latter occasion. He was the Republican candidate for Congress from the territory, and was defeated by seventy votes by Wilcox, the Iratlve candidate, in a three-cornered race, the Democratic nominee Prince David, a nephew of Liliuokalnni. Col. Parker and Prince David have for years had close business and friendly relations, which were further strengthened recently by a double wedding in Ban Francisco, when Parker married Mrs. Campbell, a wealthy widow of Honolulu, and Prince David married her daughter. The two eouples are now on a wedding trip. The vacancy in a cadetship at Annapolis jjaval academy has been promised the son of Rear Admiral William T. Sampson, and he will be appointed In time to take the next entrance examinations. Ths eon of the late Captain John W. Phillip of the Texas has been promised the alternateship to Admiral Sampson’s sou. A freight wreck occurred about fifteen miles east of Shawnee, O. T. Two engines were damaged and three negro tramps were killed. No others Injured.