Ligonier Banner., Volume 32, Number 40, Ligonier, Noble County, 6 January 1898 — Page 3

éﬁWﬂWﬂtﬂWMﬂMﬁWé £A‘ : ' - A CLEW BY WIRE £ - Or, An Interrugted Current. % = BY HOWARD M. YOST. § - Cooyright, 1896, by J. B. Lippincott Co. AN RPN AN RAA NSNS AAARARABANE ' CCHAPTER XTI *|| |- - A groom was sent to Twinehurgh for a doctor. This was contrary to Mr, Morley’s wish. He insisted that a doctor was not necessary, and it/ was only to appease the anxiety of his daughter ~that he finally consented to. See a medic4l man® - : b ‘But all the daughter’s entreaties could not move him to go to bed. He lay down on the couch in the library, and Florence sdt beside him, holding one of his hands. I left them thus together and went outside. . _Before I left the man’s voice had resumed much of its usual vigor. For one who had seemed to be as near collapse as he, strength returned very rapidlv. 1T

* Notwithstanding my pity for Florence, there was great pride and joy in my heart, - The sweetest girl in the world was. mine. (ANI troubles, mysteries, the heart-sickness of the past year, seemed petty and trivial beside this thought. Mr. Morley had given ‘his consent to our marriage; indeed, it was an absolute-command. = ‘The scene under the trees came'back to me, and I couldnot repress a shudder, as I thought of the. father’s horrible premonitions and the overwhelming effect produced by them: ~ .+ . 1 walked about the grounds. or re‘clined on one of the many seats scattered around, determined to await the doctor's arrival. My mind would constantly revert to the ‘secfet troublé which was so evident and powerful a factor in-Mr. Morley’s life; and what it was that could so affect a gentleman eof his stand'ing‘a_nd wealth furnished me matter for speculation. The great mnotive and influence in the father’s life, I knew, was his love for his only child. Therefore it seemed that the hidden trouble must arise from some sorrow or danger which threatened’. Florencéf The thought caused me considerable unéasiness. . : :

I had ‘not realized how. morbidly’ sensitive the robbery had made me, un-' til now: Alltheunfathomed events and} incidents which had- cecurred ’during‘fv the two days T had been here scemed in some indefinable way connected with the affair, or the result of it. : o The doctor arrived much sooner than I had ‘expected. Indecd, the idea of giving medical advice to a greaff than. like Mr. Morley was incentive steong enough to cause a country physician to kill his horse in the endeavor to reach the patient as quickly s possible. After ¢nite a time spent over Mr. Mor-* ley, the doctor stepped out on the porch, and, drawing on his gloves, delayed his departure to answer a few questions which Florence, who had followed, put to him: It was impossible for the worthy physician to - conceal wholly his sense of importance, al-. though he tried to appear as though it was by no means.an unusual thing to be found administering potions to millionaires. i =

Florence anxiously listened to his words of advice, and then withdrew. I had someée hope of speaking to her, but she only bestowed on me a sad, sweat smile; which told of her love for me as well as her anxiety for the father, =and with that I had to be content. .

s the doctor was returning immediately to Twineburgh, I proposed to accompany him. He expressed his pleasure in having a eompanion, and I climbed into the carriage beside him. - I was anxious to tell Sonntag of the thirderous attack upon me. On/ the way, finding the worthy doctor willing to answer questions, I"was' soon , pos+ sessed of his opinion of my lawyer and d@gent. This opinion was avery highone.

Sonntag seemed to have the elements of popularity in him. DBut there was something about: the old fellow I did not understand; there seemed to be a great unknown depth to him beyond the mere fact that he was a country lawyer and my agent. Nevertheless, I felt that he was to be trusted. T felt safe in his hands.. My own opinion beéing so heartily corroborated by the doetor'made me all the more satisfied. ' But my trust and confidence in the old layeyer soon received a shock. - YWhen we arnjivegl at Sonntag’s office I ‘sprang from the buggy, and, after thanking the dQ'é}or, walked up to the door. . Sonntag was walking back and forth _with his hands behind him earnestly conversing with some one inside. - There was also a rear door to the lawyer’s office. \A man was standing near this door, and when I entered the oifice he quickly stepped cut; not S 6 quickly, however, but that T cayght a glimpse of his face. It was Hunter, or Skinner, as you please, ar The thought of the treachery he had been guilty of toward hét'in whose pay he wass came to me and- inflamed ‘me

-with sudden and uncontrollalle anger. Uttering an expletive, under the spur of a strong impulse, I made a spring for him. Out through the door I followed Lim, and‘down through the yard.- He had too much the start, however, and was over a high board fence at the bottom of the yard before'l could come up . to him. ' iy . e I retraced my steps to the lawyer’s office. The old fellow was standing in the door i‘\and seemed to have been highly diverted by witnessing the chase, judging by his face. = = “The raseal! . the ‘villain!” T exclaimea,qushing past the lawyer‘into -the offic¢ and sinking down, panting for breath. “If ever I get my hand on him, I'll wring his neck!” S . Sonntag closed the door and then turned toward me. “What'‘have you against him ?” he asked. : I recounted the shooting incident, to which Sonntag listened with a whimsical expression. : : " .“H'm! And he shot at you when you ‘called him Skinner, eh?” he remarked, when I had finished. “Must be éomething in his former life; but then—well, ' it’s strange, certainly. Why, I always address him as Skinner, and he never _afttempted to shoot ~me; ‘indetq, he ~never:seemed fo notice.” .- .. “Then it is evident his attempt to _shoot me was not for my calling him %e m@%nn :lag,” I continued, earnesly, “do you - uppose he is in any way concerned in %, “Who, Skinner?" Good graefous, not “that is, X can’t say, but T thinknot.” R Sel s LBT OR Seße e e S R

“What were you talking to him about?” I asked, eying the old fellow with some impatience, for the more I conversed with him the less I could understand him. PE

“Oh, about a matter of freight,” my agent replied, indifferently. “It was trivial, then?” ‘“Yes, yes, of no importance whateve}‘.” i : R

“Mr. Sonntag, it is from no wish to know the subject of your conversation with that wretch of a Skinner that I ask the question. Dut I happened to see you just before I entered the office, and I am a trifle curious to know if you usually speak as earnestly on unimportant topies as you evidently did to him.” The lawyer regarded me a moment: He seemd to be debating some question in his mind.

“Was I earnest?” he finally inquired. “Everything about me seems to be mystericus!” I exelaimed, piqued to ?mpatience at his' wholly dodging my question. “There’s one mystery that will be cleared up soon, however,” I added, decidedly. , Y

““Yes? -And that is—=" . -+ “The cellar mystery.” " Sonntag again cautioned me against being "tbo precipitate. _ “?{hen give me some good reason for your caution!” I exclaimed. “It’s getting monotonous following people’s advice without having a reason for so doing. Tl'll do so no more. "I have half a notion to get out of the place. Ever since my arirval, petty trivial circunistances have harassed me and kept me in an'irritable mood.” :

“iVell, ‘maybe it would be best for you to visit some of your friends in town,” Sonntag said, reﬂectivelyk “if only for a few days.” : !

“No, sir. Ihave no friends, and your seeming desire to have me away makes me the more determined to stay. But a course of supimeness is done with. Now Tl'll take the reins, and see what™s to be made out of the driving.” . “Just as you please about that, of course, Mr. Conway. DBut I-do beg of you, and it is for your own interests I speak, delay the.attempt to enter the cellar until to-morrow.” \

“Why ?”./I curtly asked. j “You'll know in the morning,” ‘my awyer replied, with a smile. ~ ) 1

“I may be dead by that time,? I re= plied. *“Certainly if I must be the target for every assassin’s bullet, iny coffin might as well be ordered new.” Saying “which, I took my own pistol from my pocket. “You seethat? Well, it means that after this I'll be as handy with a pistol as’others are.” ; ' Mr. Sonntag eyed me rather suspiciously, as though naqt at all certain but that-I would level the weapon at ‘him. i o ‘

“Those things are dangerous, Mr. Con\\'ay; and are liable to go off without warning,” he remarked, dryly, after I had returned the pistol to my poclket.

©“Yes, I know that. And if £there should be cccasion for it to go off inmy < : . e - L 1 'c‘ i : R 1 7 U . = (A’ eotbl T i > ¥ S FRE Bl o ~,.:‘-u;;‘-':,‘ _." SN e t Php ot % 2 S by gn e AT Fo = HEERn R RN : - e ;‘{:ﬂ‘,ﬁ::,.;;aig }ig.é.:‘ s ‘e | | | Wb e : | R :::::r_i‘-js%_;:-?"_;f WEmaas Siam | USRI TR . Vi [ ; 2l %z%,;;.;", g ;ﬂ-u-_, WY g i N — Gt r : -7 o& || el | | 7 f__________—_——-——‘—————_—'ﬁ‘ ! l _ Was it really the face of Horace Jackson? ‘hand, you may be sure it will be for the purpose of hitting something. I believe my peace is threatened, if not my life. ITow do I know but what that cellar under my roem has been used, maybe ‘s being used, for some criminal purpose? If that is true, my arrival in Nelsonville and taking up my abode right in the midst of hidden crime would naturally prevent any C_Onti‘nuance of operations; and endanger the sécret. I Dbelieve that attempts are being made to cause me to leave; if mysterious’ demonstrations cannot accomplish it by frightening me, then the purpose is to reinove me by death.” “There may be something in what i you say,” Sonntag remarked, after a moment's thought. “But promise me you will not attempt t 6 shoot the station agent,” he added,yvith deep earnestness. :

- “What? Make no defense against his cowardly attacks?” I exclaimed,in amazement at my lawyer'srequest. ~ “He will not repeat it, you may be sure. At least promise to defer retaliation until to-morrow.” - :

“*“And get shot in the meantime!” “No. I said it would not happen agaip’ - ; : : :

“Just let me get my hands on him. I'll choke the life out of him,” was the only reply I made. ; ‘ “Oh, yes; that’s all right. Choke him all you want to, but please, Mr. (bnway, no shooting. I don’t mind telling you that any headstrong course on your part may upset a few well-laid plans for your own good, which give promise now of fruitful results. - Wait until to-morrow. You shall know all then, I promise you.” L It is impossible to convey by.words the seriousness of my lawyer’s-manner in making these remarks. : When I was conversing with Mr. Sonntag there was something about him which compelled me to feel trust and confidence, notwithstanding bhis many sayings bearing on some secret purpose which he was so careful not to reveal. | ; i

" “Well, I give up trying to make you out,” I said, after considering his words and being impressed by them. “Y¥ou certainly are the most inexplicable specimen of a country lawyer. VVFAO are you, anyhow ?” ; *Your lawyer and agent, and, Mr. Conway, let me add, in sincerity, your frieﬁdg«,’,’ S et o

Somehow I could not but beljéve him at the tiime. His words carried convietion.

“Pardon me for seeming impertinent,” Sonntag said, as he accompanied me to the door, “but have you seem Miss Morley simnce your arrival?” : O e = “And everything is all right?” “Ye&.”»' s : 5 :

“You intend marrying her?”

“YT have her father’s consent.”-

“Ah! I congratulate you.” Sonntag extended his hand and smiled. But the smile died away immediately, and the expression which followed strangely disturbed me. Was it sorrow? For what? Or was it pity? Surely not pity for me! : I went from the office resolved to follow my lawyer’s adviee just this once. To-morrowiyvas not far distant, and 1 would know all then. Wondering very much what this all would prove to be, I started on my five-mile walk homeward. " TFortunately, I encountered Sarah, who had driven to Twineburgh to do some trading, and who was just climbing into her wagon as I came up. “Hello, Sarah,” I called, as she was about to take up the lines. “Will you give me a Lift?” ! She looked around in surprise, then ‘expressed hep pleasure at seeing me again as I climbed up beside her. As we were crossing the track at Sidington, I was considerably surprised to see the station agent at work on the platform handling some freight. The fellow really seemed to be übiquitous. I had encountered him in Nelsonville, in Sonntag’s office, and now again at the station attending to his duties. - His back was teward us and he did not notice the wagon and its occupants. Sarah pulled up the team at my re«quest and I climbed down from the wagon. I was curious to note again what effect my presence would have Qn the fellow. . When I had moved some. distance from the team (for I did not propose to endanger Sarah’s life in cas€ he took it into his head to fire at me again), placing iy hand on my revolver as it rested: in my pocket, I called to him: ; ' . “Hello, there! I say, you, Skinner!” —~ The fellow dropped the truck handles “and turned quickly.. Then he fled swift1y along the platform toward the.door of the station house; through which he ‘Yeited, | ek o

But I ‘was not watching him. - His flight and the mannex of it was perceived simply because his form was in the line of vision. .

It was upon the bow-window in the telegraph office that my gaze was fixed. For, at my hail, a face had appeared at that window, and then was quickly withdrawn.

Did my sight deceive me, or was it really the face of Horace. Jackson?

Following a mnatural impulse, I sprang upon the platform and went to the door. It-was locked. Then I tried the door leading into the ladies’ wait-ing-room, but that was also locked. I walked around the place a few times and peered-into each window, but no one was to be seen. )

- It was no surprise that the fellow Skinner should wish to avoid me, but if the other face I had seen belonged to Jackson, why should he desire to hide from me? - c ;

~ Probably Jackson, having heard that I was residing at Nelsonville, and knowing fhat I must therefore have met Florence Morley and have been informed by her of his contemptible manner of trying to win her, thought it best not to meet me. D If he wvished to avoid me he was at liberty 'to do so. Itwasa trivial circumstance, at any rate, and so I left the platform and climbed back upon the wagon. et

‘“YVhat for he run so?” inquised Sarah, as sheldroveon. . : ' ' . .“Oh, I have a little account to settle with him, and he is afraid of me, I suppose,” I replied.

~ “Der vas anoder mamn too—in de vinder,” she continued. T “You saw him, then. Yes, [ thought there was. DBut I douldn’t find either of them, and the doors were alllocked.” Sarah was much puzzled at the occurrenee, and made numerous remarks and asked many questions in the endeavor to obtain more light; but I did not gratify her curiosity and answered ony in monosyllables. My mind was in even a greater whirl of perplexity than my old nurse's. Why had Skinner tried to shoot me, and why, after thus showing some powerful animosity toward me, should he now appear such a craven that’he fled, evidently in great fear, from my presence? What was the fellow’s real intent and purpose in engaging himself to Florence as a detective? ‘Was he really a detective? ; Jackson had recommended him to Florence. WWhat bond existed between Jackson and Skinner? And, moreover, who was Sonntag? These three men seemed somehcw strangely connected with my life, but how and to what end ?

“Sarah, do you know anything about Mr. Sonntag?” I finally asked. “Ach, yes. He is your lawyer, ain’t he?” '

“Yes, yes. But do you know anything about him? He has not been in Twineburgh very long, has he?”"

“No. Aboud six months. He is a very nice man, andl a goot von, too,” Sarah replied, convincingly, - ~ “That seems to be the gencral opinion regarding him. Do you know anything about the station agent?” “I ton’t know nodding aboud him.” “He came here about the same time that Sonntag did, I believe.” .- “Yes, I guess so 0.” - | “Sarah,” I.begah, again, after a pause, “can your husband be relied upon to face danger?”

*“Danger?”’ e “Yes. Don’t be alarmed; I don’t know of any; but supposing some sudden danger arose before him, would he have the courage to meet it ?” “Yes, if T vas with him,” was Sarah’s reply. e “When-you are with him?” |,

“Yes. I ton’t know, if he vas alone, bud he fight de devil if I am py him.” . I could not restrain a burst of laughter at the idea of the great powerful farmer being courageous only in his wife’s presehce. Sarah joined heartily in my’ merriment, and remarked that her husband could be relied upon to do just what she desired. “Well, then, can you and Jake come over to Nelsonville to-morrow morning early and help me dig a way into the cellar?” I asked, again becoming serious. S e

“Sure we can,” Sarah replied, excitedly. . : ! . “And bring a crowbar along, and a sledge-hammer, if you have them. If we cannot cut tlie thick beams in the floor of my room, we may be able to dig through the foundation wall. This is the last night I will spend in the old house with the mystery of the cellar remaining unsolved, if there is any mystery at all.” o > ©+, | [TODBE CONTINUED.]

ngE LATEST FASHIONS.

Boy’s Calf Shoes Make Excellent Walking Boots for, New York

Novel Evening Bonnet—Lavender and Light Blue the Newest Color Combinations — New School 7 Dress Models. -

A number of New York girls, who were continually trying different walking shoes, in the hope of getting something which was just right, think they have.succeeded at last.

The idea they have hit upon is this: Instead of purchasing ladies’ shoes,

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these buckles bear the monogram of the owner. Gowns of other colors have slippers to match—of satin, if it is not possible to get tie proper shade in kid.

A novelty for the golf girl is a pair of plaid slippers, worn with plaid stockings,.and garters of plaid ribbon. Sandals are having a run for use with negligee dress, but their constant use is

& b ~’v. | _ el S - A : 34 PR 5 € %ﬁ I\4‘3 Z /:f('\ MRy G 0% 9 s, (e SAATIO) " g 7 - 1 BT T O . : :‘(” A 7’,??;l’?’[«2&@“’ i o j '-.;‘ {,ﬂ[ «:“ Y \ f o o e TN ; /[“ ‘\\ A \\\\ \ \\‘ 0\ : /////{}'J\\“\ \Q\\ \\\ N\ : 20 RRT L\ VR LR SN, = i LRI ‘ 2 ///,///}\.\ \ RN \\ %7 7 "'///L»‘qt AN il _ oY | FOR THE GIRL OF ONE GOWN. * apt to thicken the ankles, and the wise woman passes them by. THe gay Parisienne, ever ready to miake the most of the modes of the time, has hit upon a novel idea for a theater bonnet. ‘ : , As announced before in these columns, the proper way to dress the hair for evening is a la pompadour, with the hair rolled into-a knot high at the crown of the head. RS Around this knot the Parisienne winds garlands of flowers, when she goes to the theater, wearing it instead

S SIS oy 3 P R B el ©Fy e H) :3:," ) P, e D ) W 1 .'-;’ . ' - : = _.4's:'-:, el L { A }94% (/"‘z"}’ﬁ R N\ A ) N\ N y - P «7 7(s s A LATEST IN SHOES AND SLIPPERS. of an evening bonnet. The effect is wost charming,; especially when worn by the more youthful feminine contingent, and the idea, if generally adopted, will tend to banish all complaints regarding theater hats. : In most cases, of ¢ourse, the flowers used are artificial, but it is quite a pretty idea for a young girl to use the natural blossoms. Roses, orchids, hyacinths, are oftenest selected, and are twined in a narrow wreath,with a small spray upstanding at the left side.. . Quite the newest color combination is light blue and lavender. At first thought this might seem like a rather useless combination, but gowns of light blue gloth and cashmere are becoming

very popilar in Paris, and are, indeea. seen among the new American importations.. * : : -

The girl of one gown would not bewise in selecting so daring a coloring, but nothing could be more charming in a larger wardrobe than a very best gown of blue and. lavender, made after the model shown in the picture. Light blue cashmere, of a very soft, silky quality is used. The skirt is very full, and is gathered into shape at the top by means of five shirrings, which extend down well over the hips. Each shirring is covered with a tiny black velvet ribbon. Beneath the lowest shirring the skirt is laid in tiny accordeon plaits, and as it is circular in shape, the effect is' that of a sun-plaited.skirt. At the back it hangs in a decided train. - The bodice has many unique features. The sleeves, matching the skirt, have puffed shirring all the way to the shoulder. They have, however, no extra fullness at the top, and in that way avelike the very newest sleeves, which fit absoTlutely plain over the shoulder, without .a relieving puff of flounce. The main part of the waist is tight-fitting, without a suggestion of the blouse, for it is ‘being hinted by folks high. up in the i costumery world that the blouse is | gradually, very gradually, disappearing.

To return to the waist, however, it is covered with queer designs of black chenille, and has a yoke and slash on the left side of lavender satin.

But a few days longer and school will be open once again. And with the midwinter opening comes the need of other school gowns, which for little folks are now quiteas elaborate and overtrimmed as for their mothers. "

Three pretty gowns in course of constrﬂuétio‘n will serve.as excellent models for little maids of school.The first is of brown and cream cheviot of a light weight, because heavy goods sliould never be selected for a child's ;gown. This small gown has a round skirt, edged with mink, 'uﬁd;a round blouse waist. The yoke is of brown velvet, with two mink-edged straps over each shoulder. Beiow the yoke are three folds of cheviot finished

with a box plaiting of the same, also edged ywith mink, and below that the blouse. The sleeves are tight-fitting edged with mink. The waist is encircled with brown velvet.

Another gown, this time for a younger child, is of soft gray cashmere, adorned with cream lace. A band-of it extends from waist to hem on each side of the skirt, over stripes of green satin ribbon that are finished in bows at the hem.. The waist of this gown is also bloused, and has first a small, square yoke of .green velvet, . and about that a square, lace-edged yoke of cashmere. Very natty is the third gown, of tobacco brown cloth, trimmed with green and brown plaid silk in bands on the skirtand waist, in 'a charming plaited vest. Tt makes a most delightful combination for a child with red brown hair. ] ) THE LATEST.

Little Pitchers, Ete.

. Little Oscar (at the breakfast table, suddenly)—DMa, has sister Constance told you anything this morning? Mrs. Motherly—No, Oscar. Why do you ask? ¢ Little Oscar (innocently)—Well, then, she must have forgotten all about ity for as Mr. Squeesicks was leaving last night I heard her say: ~ “Why, Mr. Squeesicks! I'll tell mother!”"—N. Y. Weekly. i ,

Prominent Citizens.

“Yes,” said the visiting Englishman, “your country is most extrhordinary. You have so many ‘prominent citizens.’ You have 400°or 500 prominent citizens in little towns that a man could walk around in ten minutes.” ‘ v

“Why, how can/ you tell? You have just landed.” . € : “I have been reading some accounts of lyndhings.”—Puck.

Cauation.

“I believe,” said Mr. Meekton, “that ail men are born equal.” i . | His outburst caused Mrs. Meekton to look sharply at him over the top of his paper and he hastened to add:

“You will observe, Henrietta, that I said ‘all men.” Of course’l do notundertake to limit the heights of superiority which others may naturally occupy.”— Washington Star. )

Thing She Will Believe.

“The man who tries to convince a woman is a fool,’ said ‘the man who had been married eight years. “It’'sa thing that can’t be done.” “Say,” replied the man who had been sued for breach of promise, “l guess you never tried to convince a woman that she was the most beautiful creature on earth.”—Cleveland Leader.

Not Enough.

Kind Lady—l am sure you would learn to love my children. ° Nurse—What wages do you pay? - Kind Lady—Fourteen dollars' a month. ; ;

Nurse—l'm afraid, ma’am, I could only be affectionate with them at that price.~tnek, .

: Too Smart for Him, : “Yes,” said young Softleigh, “I like to sée a smart, well-educated woman, but I wouldn’t care to marry one wha knew more than I did.”

- “I'm_very sorry,” replied Miss Cutting, “to hear that you have resolved to remain a bachelor all your life.”— Chicago News. o

Gone for Good.

Dauberleigh: (shivering) — Is your watch going, old man? HeCE S Pen Dennis (gloomily)—No, it’s gone. QWD XOPIR .. . v e

: ‘ MONEY VALUE, - , Ttn zn;qhasing Power Fixes the Standard of the Dollar. - We can make nc progress in oun knowledge of the money question until we have a clear understanding and correct qouéeptjon of the meaning of the terms used in discussing it. -~ . Perhaps the most important-word and the one frequently employed in this discussion is the word value. In itslargest sense, it is associated with utility and includes everything that is useful and which contributes to the comfort and well-being of mankind, and is called value in use. In an economic, sense, that is, value in exchange, it is a.,‘ relation between things, as ratio is a relation between numbers, = | It would be manifestly absurd to ask i for the ratio of a given number—l 6, for instance—without giving some other mumber with which to compare it. If ‘that number is four then the ratio between them is four, because four is cont;&in‘ed in 16 four times.. Inlike manher, it would be absurd to ask for the exchangeable value of a thing without mentioning or implying some other. thing with which to compare it. “YValue in what?” is the necessary re‘sponse to this question. Value is exchange. The only sense in which the word can be employed in this discussion is a relation and implies the presence of two things and a comparison Dbetween- them. The value-of a thing is some other thing that will be given in exchange for it, and “is always ~expressed in the terms of the thing for which it will exchange. . For instance, if one bushel of wheat will exchange for one dollar, then the value of "one" dollar in terms of wheat is one bushel of wheat, and the value of one bushel of wheat in terms of money is onv dollar. As value -is simply a Telation there - can be no such thing. ‘as intrinsic relation; there can be no such' thing as intrinsic value; a relation can be expressed, but it cannot be measured. . Y

The déxchangeable relation of commodities cannot be ascertained by simply comparing them with eachiother. Aside from the inconveniences of exchange by barter, il is:impossible to determine by inspection and comparison how many units of one- commodity should be given in exchange for a given number of units. ef any other commodity. For instance, how many bushels of oats or corn should be given im exchange for a given number of bushels of wheat; and as the market relations. of -these commodities are constantly changing it is impossible to foretell what their market relation will be at any future time. 'This difficulty is obviated by the selection of some third commodity or material thing.in the terms of which, as an intermediary, all values are expressed, and which is universally receivable for what anyone has to sell, with the confident assurance that it can readily be exchanged for what anyone wishes to buy. The intermediary so selected and employed is money. Its universal acceptability as monéy makes it money; and whatever best performs the functions -of money is-the best money, wholly regardless of the material of which it is made. The selection of this intermediary and putting itintoa form for use as mone}’ir a function of'so;;el_'eign power for the state. In our country there is no room for controversy on this point. , f(‘ o In article, secticn 8, paragraph's, of the constitution of the United States, authority is given to congress “to coin money, regulate the value thereof and of iforeign coin and fix the standard of weights and measures;’” and our supreme court has held that the impression: of the stamp of the government upon paper for monetary use is the exact equivalent of its impression upon the metals; that the issue by the government of paper money is in legal effect coining money, thus showimzg that the money quality does not reside in the substance of which money is -made, but is imparted to it by the supreme power of the state; in other words, that monéy is wholly a ereation of law, aid that consequently all money is fiat money. ; : & Associating the power to coin’money with that of fixing the standards of weights and measures clearly indicates a similarity of the purposes and objects to be accomplished by.the exercises of these powers. To “fix the standard of weights and medsures” is to provide a standard or scale in which the weight and. dimensions of the objects which are the subjects of commerce shall be expressed. ' The value of money is its relation to .other forms of p,roqut)',_"in other ‘words, its purchasing power. It ‘has no other value. To regulate the value of money is to maké of it a standard or scale in which the value of commodities and other forms of property shall be expressed. A scale cf valuation.is.quite ‘as necessary for purposes of trade and commerce as a scale of weights and measures. ‘ v o

’ Accordingly, by the act of 1792, section 20, which organized our monetary t system, and is preserved in'sec¢tion 3563 of the revised statutes, it is provided; l “The money of account of the United | States shall be.expressed in dollars or | units, dimés or tenths, cents or hundredths, and mills or thousandths, a } dime Leing the tenth part of ‘a dollar, a cent being the hundredth part of a dollar, a mill the thousandth part of a ‘dollar, and all accounts in the public offices and proceedings in the.courts of the United States shall be kept and have conformity to this'regulatién.” - - What regulation was this, unless it was a regulation of the value of money? The dollar is simply the unit of this scale and in the keeping of accounts all values are expressed in the terms of this mnit, its multiples and fractions, and for this reason it is called the unit of value. Therefore when we say money is the standard of value we mean by it that it is a scale of valuation ' in which the value of commodities - and other forms of property are expressed. and by which their exchangeable relations can be readily determined; for instance, if the unit of one commodity is worth $1 and that of another commodity is worth $2 then one of the former will exchange for two of the latter. _ Section 9 of the same act provides: “There shalt be from® time to. time struck and coined at the said min't units or dollars each to the value (thatis of the purchasing power) of the Spanish milled dollar as the same is now current, and to contain three hundred and “seventy-five grains and four sixteenths of a grain gf pure Sx S hawaend at 4. sixteen grains o "‘

the *unit,”” and Hamilton said in his mint report-that this would be appropriate designation of it, but as the colonists had long been-accustomed fothe use-of the Spanish dollar as their unit of account it was called the “dollar,” that is, by the statute above quoted, it is-the unit in the scale of valuation. Thus viewed it is as illogical and-absurd to talk of a “fifty-cent ‘dollar” as to talk of a six-inch foot ‘measure or an eight-ounce pound. Any change in the purchasing power of the unit or dollar changes the secale, and, as the value of all property is expréssed in ‘the terms of this unit; its multiples and ‘fractions, this thange affects all property or the general range of prices, while the market price of particular commodities will vary. or oscillate ow"i‘ng to causes affecting.these commodi“ties,”such as the supply as’ compared ‘with the demand for them, ete. ’

A just and honest scale is an even scale, the unit of which does not rise far 7 the injury of debtors or fall to thein- ' jl}iy of creditors, and an honest dollar’ is an unchanging dellar, one which does not require a larger sacrifice to cbtain. it when a debt matures than when a debt was contracted, however long aor short ‘the intervening period may have been: The value of the unit of moneyv is

not at all-affected by the charaeter of the material in whieh it is embodied. If all the money in this country could be instantly changed and embodied in some other substance or substances, with - a corresponding denomination. without any prospective increase in ifs quantity,,or changein other things, thtre would be no change in the value or purchasing power of the unit or the priees of commodities -of their exchaPgeable relations.. It is only by incredsing oi: ‘diminishing the number of units or dollars in eirculation that the value or purchasing power of the dollar or;unit is ehanged; as the number of dollars is inereased, the value or purchasing power of each dollar is diminished; as the number of dollars in circulation =is diminished the purchasing = power of each Temaining dollar is increased. To suppose that dollars can have different values is as absurd as to suppose that bushels of wieat of the same grade can have diﬁ‘ef:ent—yalues in the same majket. One dollar. endowed with.the legal ten‘der function and (-irculniing as n:‘m:‘f_\". is of the same gradeis of ‘the samae grade and value as every other dollar. ‘When the material of which the dollar is"made is worth more as a commedity than assmoney, then, of course, its ccmniodity: value wilt be greater than its value ag money; but as money it can never rise above or sink below its legal valuation. = - ) ;

The gold in a ten-dollar gold p?c‘(‘é may as.a commodity he worth more than $lO, but- it is a legal'tender foronly $lO, for the law shich authorized its coinage for ‘monetary use says: “It shall be of the value of 10 units or dollars;” soevery dollar,wwhetherembadied in the silver coin or the gold eoin or floating upon paper, has the same value as every other dollar. How mislzading, then, are the current phrases in party platforms requiring “one dollat to beas goad as every other doliar.” ete. " All money is an emanation. frem the supreme power of the state. and itisa breach of good citizenship to try fc inspire a want of confidence in this money, and the official acts and utterances of our late president diserediting our silver dollars cannot be reconciled with a sense of patriotic duty. a sentiment he so fondly applauds. In the destruetion of values the cost of his administration was vastly greater than that of the c¢ivil war. =~ °

HENRY G. MILLER.

POINTED PARAGRAPHS.

.. ——Again we remark that, as an eyeopener, Mr.-MeKinley is' more of d suecess than as-a mill opener.—Atlanta Constitution. A )

—;lKetrenchlnent and revenue isnow the cry of the administration. Curious that republicans never grow economical until there is nothing to spend.—St. Louis Republic. : - ——A calamity howler, it seemis, isa - person who yon't make oath that a deficit of $9,000,000 per month is indisputable evidence of national prosperity. —Chicago Chrenicle. * ) {:‘—‘—'—_T‘he’ Hanna men have hard work to hold those who are “regular” in the faith. . They.are impudent when they reach out for people.who were never Hanna men:‘—Cincinnati Enquirer. _——DMcKinley prosperity has spread itself over New England among the operatives of the cotton mills as weil as through the cotton fields of the south. The result of this will be’ thai more™ “hcg and hominy” will be raised in the sonth, and less cotton, and the farmers of the northwest will find less demand for the products of their labor. And so it goes-all round the circle.—Louisville Dispatch. e '

- ——This aristo¢ratic tendency in the republican party, its sympathy and tolerance for the practices of monarchy "and barbaric extravagance at- the expense of the people, are rapidly alienating the:people from it. But for organized bribery and coercion .in the last presidential election the election of Mr. McKinley would have been impossible. His reelection is out of the question.— Columbus (0.) Press. . : ‘——The republican party is in trouble bécause its own. notes are coming due and it has no way of meeting them. It promised that its tariff would give leverybody employment at good wages ‘and put a surplus into the treasury. ‘lt has-had "its pwp Way about the tariff, and wages are going down while the ‘deficit in the tréasury is piling up. If the republican party had. taken the ground that commercial and industrial_ conditions were independent of the action of governments, it might be less disturbed by a trade depression.—N. Y. Jouraal. - i : : - ——Already almost every one of the great essentials under modern condi‘tions of life have been “trusted.”. The laws- of trade have, for the most part, been abrogated by vast accumulations ;of capital. Many things are practically “trusted,” where the designation has been avoided. There has been scarcely a week since McKinley was inaugurated which has not seen the birth of one of these gigantic monopolies. The people must act through their legislatures. ‘They must act promptly, for their ownpreservation and for the praservation of fp'eo.ce; _ For sane, reasoning men, who 'have no desire to subvert order'or unset= tlo the rights of property, will nok: sit quiet while 200 odd combinations sport with the destinies of the country, even to the matter of very life amd death.—-Rochester (N. Y.) Herald, TVeFA T SR L W g (YOO ER e e