Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 20, Number 85, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 June 1899 — Page 6

HIDDEN TERROR

rl CHAPTER XlV.—(Continued.) Mr. Charlford passed his hand in a troubled manner over his brow, appearing im■aeraed in thought. His companion interrupted him. g* “You must make up your mind within five mihtttes, Filton; I cannot sit gaping *t you all night. Now then” —taking out a gold repeater —“I give you live minutes —which is five times too long.” Then the speaker closed his eyes, and 'Waited for the answer. Slowly it came, as if spoken with infinite pain. “All I can arrange is to give you five thousand to-night, and five thousand—borrowed money, mind—six weeks hence. The f rest 1 will raise before Mabel's wedding 4ay. Will that satisfy you?” “1 will agree to those terms. It is a | Urge sum, but”—laughing gleefully—“l don't imagine you will feel much grief in reducing the portions due your son and daughters. Ha, ha!” “Stop that!” interposed Charlford. "Res' member, if you make me desperate —if you -drive me to a last stand —I shall do as Samson did—crush my enmies, even if I -crush myself.” “Nonsense —you won’t do that!” said -the man, assuming a lighter tone. “And -old friends should pull together. It is all agreed then?” “Sign this first, to show you have receiv- ' ~ed it. You have made life pretty hard for roe for a good many years to come,” said -Charlford. “All right—here goes! Where shall I I <et my next installment?” | “In London. I will let you know. I 'Will meet you at the usual place in the •city. Now shall we have some wine after all this wretched business?” £ “ *Tis anything but wretched to me, Fil<on," replied the other. “Wine? To be «ure, and a bit of that pie, too! I am as as a hunter, for I have not dined.” “Eat then,” said his unwilling host, ■carving the pie, and interrupting in order "to pour some wine into the glass which Mabel had substituted for the one into '■which he had dropped the liquid. The visitor emptied his glass, saying: ■“That puts new blood into me!” “Drink some more then,” urged his corns' -panion, whose face had grown very pale .and whose hands trembled. “I’ll eat now; keep me company,” said | 'the man. I “Oh, I dined in town—had a capital dinner, too —so I’m not hungry! And, to tell ’the truth, business such as ours doesn’t ■help the appetite.” “Not yours, perhaps, but it helps mine. "Fifteen thousand pounds! I shall marry K «gain, Filton, and marry an heiress.” “By all means. I wish you luck!” responded Charlford. “Don’t be a day over the time for pay- ; -Ing the next installment, or I shall consider our bargain void.” S “No fear,” answered Mabel’s father, I -dryly. “Well, keep faith with me, and I will "beep faith with you,” replied the man—.““otherwise I shall know how to retaliate.” “Who doubts it?” said Charlford, laughing. “There —don’t be foolish! Get to the Crow and Eagle, and sleep off your |> -suspicions.”

The man waved his hand, and, without .response in words, went down the passage, crossed the threshold and was lost to view. Mabel's father followed, and stood gaz•ing after him. Then he began to mutter to himself. “The Crow and Eagle—the Crow and > Eagle,” he breathed. “What will John think of it when he reads the —the account in the papers? Let him think what he will, he will be the gainer!” Muttering thus, he stole back along the passage toward his own room. He was >*ot in his usual calm, cool temper, ready ‘for any emergency, eager to find fault, quick to assert his own will. E’er once he ■was glad that no eyes were upon him; he must rest, collect himself, be armed at all points for the coming day, and all that it anight bring. “I have borne with him long enough,” he murmured; “and, fool as he is, he did not know where to stop! He goaded me to it. It was his own doing.” Mabel, half hidden by the cabinet and S by the intervening pieces of furniture, < could not be seen immediately as he reg entered the room, and she caught the last sentence which fell from her father’s lips —"lt was his own doing.” No doubt now remained in her mind as to his intentions -toward the man who had just left him. Her eyes grew dim. She tried to cry, "Father—father!”'but could not articulate. | Then Mr. Charlford, advancing into the -room, caught sight of her, standing, as if transfixed with horror and with grief. ft “Mabel,” he cried, his face assuming a livid hue, “why are you here?” With a stifled exclamation she sprang toward him, then fell at his feet. “Why am I here?” she gasped. “Why, heaven must have sent me, father, in order that I might save you! Oh, father, let me save you! You will be glad all the / rest of your life!” k “Save me?” he echoed, completely overwhelmed for the moment, doubtful how to answer her, uncertain as to how much she < knew. “Yes, father—yes! Listen!" She sprang to her feet and spoke in a low and unsteady voice. “Already, unknown to you, L 1 have saved you! I—l poured away—that which you meant him to drink! He has ip «not drank it! Are you not thankful, fath-EX-rt? And I will stand by you to the end, f If you will let me.” g At her words he staggered backward; P <*K could not speak in answer to her minE .filed pleading and accusation. B? Pierced to the soul as she was by this gi dßUte confession of his guilt,-Mabel bore e -up bravely. gt, “Yes, look up, father,” she whispered—b •you are saved! Henceforth let me trans•act yonr business with that man. Do • •ft#’ toXlftw v fin rw.pl #* pvpt to hi m

me see him for you. I can do more than you think; and you can trust me.” She joined her hands beseechingly, and her tone grew more and more pleading, as he still did not answer her, but sat with his bowed head between his hands, as if stricken too deeply for speech. How was she to guess what vile thoughts revolved within his mind? How was she —guileless as she was, full of high ideas of duty and self-secrifice —to imagine the ignoble scheme which ’ this man was concocting in order to deceive her and to save himself? “Answer me, father!” she cried. “Oh, listen to me! Am I not ready to give up everything in order that you may be safe and happy?” Slowly then he uncovered his face and looked at her, meeting her gaze, so full of entreaty, with well-assumed grief and agony. “Now, my dear child,” he gasped out, “what must you not have thought? W’hat must you not have suffered? Oh, I will explain all to you presently—all! But first let me assure you, my angel-child—-whom I have never really known till now —that that fearful thing of which you I was guilty is without foundation. Mabel, your father could never have planned such a crime as murder. That which I poured into the glass was but a sleeping draught, made to taka effect in a few hours, in order that my cruel enemy might be shipped off to America — whither indeed he intends to go almost immediately. Once out of the country, he would not return —for he dreads crossing the sea—and I could have arranged our business' by letter. It must be otherwise now; but, my child, I do not the less feel your tender devotion. Henceforth I will strive to requite it!” Mabel experienced such a revulsion of feeling, such a deep, inexplicable thankfulness that her father had not contemplated a crime, that she burst into tears, sobbing out: “Is what you say true —really true, dear father?” “My poor child,” he returned soothingly, “what can I say to convince you? Nothing, perhaps; but let me take a dose myself —then you will credit my assurance;” and he made a movement as though he would have poured something into a glass. “No, no, father!” cried Mabel. “I am already convinced. Don’t drink it! How frightened I should be to see you go into a deep sleep!” “My darling Mabel, never were you so dear to me as now. Ah, my child, you have never known, never guessed, the secret of my unhappy life! To-night you must be told it.” “Father, I grieve to give you a moment’s pain; but perhaps it is better I should know it —then I might turn away my thoughts from it. As it is, night and day I shall say to myself that there is some terrible, hidden thing in your life.” “Hidden —yes,” he said, in a changed and softened voice—“hidden, and, though terrible, not terrible in the sense of being disgraceful.” “Not disgraceful!” she cried, in a tone of rapture. Then, after all, she need not be separated from Neville; and she lifted up her eyes in unutterable thankfulness.

CHAPTER XV. “If there is nothing disgraceful connected with the secret of your unhappy life, why need you be unhappy, dear father?” asked Mabel. “Dear child, you speak like an unsophisticated, pure-hearted girl—as you are,” rejoined Mr. Charlford, with a melancholy smile. “But to my tale. When you and Dick were almost babies, I left your dear mother to go with your uncle to the West Indies to see my dying cousin, who was enormously wealthy, and who had gone abroad a year before, hoping that the warmth of the tropics would prolong his life. “You have heard of accidental resemblances so striking as to lead to cases of mistaken identity? Unfortunately, I had not been long in attendance on my dying eousin before I found that I myself was an instance of what I have just alluded to.. There was a man who often passed me in the street, or whom now and then I ran up against—a man who regarded me with looks so full of indignation and scorn that at length I addressed him, asking if we had ever met before. “‘Wretch,’ he answered, with a menacing gesture, ‘do you insult me further by pretending ignorance? You know where we have met before! You know that you have broken your promise not to remain in the same city where she is! And you feign ignorance! Or course, you are aware that she is here. If you have a shred of manly feeling, a particle of honor, leave this place before she becomes aware of your presence.’ “I warmly entreated my unknown accuser to suspend his judgment until I had convinced him of his mistake; but in vain. I acquainted him with my name and the object of my journey. He merely became more infuriated. “ ‘As if two or three years could cheat me of my senses!’ he cried. ‘Traitor, I should recognize you in any place, even although we have met only once before I encountered you here! If you value your miserable life, quit this city before another sunset!*

“With that he rushed upon me, unprepared, defenseless as I was. Stunned by the blow, I fell, and knew no more until I found myself in bed in my hotel. It seems that some bystanders interfered to save me, and that my enemy—whom 1 supposed to be some lunatic—fled. Not till long afterward did I understand that this man, Arthur Lane, identified me mistakenly with a person who had grievously wronged him, and sown dissension between him and his wife. “I had recovered from the shock, and had nearly forgotten the circumstance in my daily visits to my poor dying cousin and in my thoughts of home and of your mother, when, one day, feeling oppressed by the heat, restless also with anxiety because of letters I had received from England, concerning your mother’s health —I was unwilling to leave my dying relative, who implored me to stay with him till the last—l walked to a lonely place to de In my present difficult portion. I was unconscious that the man Lane who

had once before attacked me had dogged my footsteps for some time. No presentiment warned me of my danger, no guardian angel caused me to look up and be prepared to meet my foe. “Oh, my dear child, what followed was too cruel and wholly unforeseen—undeserved! Without an instant for preparation, I found myself suddenly called upon to battle with my direst foe, and that for life. “He sprang upon me —his hold was fierce as that of a madman—yelling out defiance and threats; he swore to have my life’s blood. What could I do but defend myself? My opponent, however, was the more powerful man of the two —the combat was very unequal; but in such straits one fights till the last. My strength was giving way—he was aiming to grip my throat. I made a despairing effort and hurled him from me; and he fell—fell backward, and did not rise again.” “You had killed him, father!” gasped Mabel. “Rather say that he had killed himself, Mabel. His own fierce anger had made him refuse to listen to any explanation.” “You are guiltless, then, father?” said Mabel, softly, when she could speak. “Guiltless? Yes, my child. The difficulty was to make men think so. I was arraigned for the murder, as it was called, and I was weak enough to give a false name in order that the ancient name of Charlford should not be dragged cinto court.” “Oh, father!” murmured Mabel. “It was an error, not a crime,” said Mr. Charlford, with a sigh. “I have lived to understand since then that all concealment is wrong. But to you, my child — my noble child —I am confessing all the truth—the truth I would have spared you. Under the name of Filton I stood my trial. There was a full inquiry, and the medical man called to give evidence expressed his opinion that the violent excitement of the struggle had caused Arthur Lane’s death, the man being in an advanced stage of heart disease. My story would have been believed, and I should have been released, but that a brother of the wretched man who had attacked me came forward with false evidence. He swore that he had witnessed our quarrel, which, he said, I had provoked. This asservation was fatal to my cause. I was condemned.” “Poor, dear father!” whispered Mabel, clinging to him. “But you were saved!” “Uncle John contrived my escape. 1 fled, Mabel—fled from what was called justice. No one suspected that the socalled criminal Filton was in reality Richard Charlford, a wealthy English gentleman, for during my trial my poor cousin had died, and I had succeeded to half of his enormous wealth. I escaped—gold will do much—and I was preparing to embark for England, when Lane’s brother traced me, stopped me, and declared he would again denounce me. And your mother meanwhile lay dying without seeing me by her side. For a few thousand pounds my false accuser consented to leave me unmolested and to settle in the far West. And I yielded.” “Poor, poor father!” murmured Mabel, with tender compassion. “Mabel, that man has gone on increasing his demands, till now he asks fifteen thousand pounds more, and ten thousand from your Uncle John, because he knows that he is wealthy and loves me and that he is sensitive about the family name.” Mabel gave a weary sigh. Alas for her hopes! With this accusation hanging over her father, baseless though it was, she could not wed Neville Wynmore. “Neville —oh, my love!” she cried to herself. “It is good-by forever in this world!” Her father watched her narrowly. “Mabel,” he said, presently, “look up, my dear girl! You said yourself that I was unfortunate, but not disgraced.” “Yes —yes, father, because you are innocent,” she answered, softly, but in a pathetic tone. “Still do you not see that I cannot consent to marry Neville? I will be forever silent —silent as the grave—but he and I must not meet again.” She rose tremblingly to her feet as she concluded, and her father kissed and blessed her, then led her from the room, watching till her graceful form and woebegone face disappeared in the gloom overhead. “So that danger—as great a one as I have ever encountered —is over!” he muttered, emptying a glass of brandy, and passing his hand over his knitted brow. “I have converted her from a horrorstricken child, silent only from duty, into a warm ally full of compassion and trust. Well done! And now for the future. It will be too annoying if she sticks to her resolve, and I lose the position it would give me in the county to have a daughter married to a man like Lord Wynmore.”

CHAPTER XVI. A few days after Mabel’s agitating interview with her father the county was electrified by the tidings that the marriage between young Lord Wynmore and Mabel Charlford was definitely broken off. The poor bride-elect lay ill and silent through the long days. First the family medical attendant and then a great London physician came to prescribe for her; but all in vain. The doctors ordered immediate change of air. At this news Lord Wynmore fled to Charlford House again, but he found thgt his lost love had already been moved from home. “Where have you sent her?” he asked, almost fiercely, in his despair. It was her sister Caroline who saw him, for Mr. Charlford had accompanied his suffering child. “My father has taken my sister to a lovely country cottage surrounded by woods and fields, where she can have the complete solitude recommended, together with fresh air. I begged leave to keep her company, Lord Wynmore, but was told not to ask it for the present. It is very hard to see her as she is—perfectly listless, caring for nothing.” “I must see her, Caroline,” was all he said.

Miss Charlford gave him the address, and the next day Neville presented himself at Mabel’s new abode. With profound emotion he gazed at the house which inclosed all that he held most dear; but there were no signs of cheerfulness about the place—no flowers, no open windows; all appeared dull and cold. Another glance showed him that there were iron bars to all the windows. He rang hastily at the door; a neat maid servant quickly answered the summons. “Take my card to Miss Oharlford,” he said, in a voice choked by emotion. “Is Mr. Charlford here?” "Yes, sir—yes, my lord; but Miss Charlford, poor young lady, doesn’t see any visitors—she isn’t fit for that But I’ll take up your card, my lord.” “Bring me an answer from her, and here

is a sovereign for you,” said Neville, lowering bis voice. “I’ll be sure that Miss Charlford has your card, my lord;” and with that the maid ushered him into a neatly furnished room looking on to a long garden at the back, where an old man was mowing the grass. At the end of five minutes the maid returned with a note in Mabel’s handwriting. Neville tore it open and read: “I will not reprove you for coming here for tidings of me, for I know well that I should follow you to the ends of the earth if we could change places. But I dare not see you. We parted forever when we last said farewell. My heart follows you, but do not try to see me again. M. C.” “Where is she?” said Neville, in a husky voice, to the waiting servant. “In her own room, my lord, where she sits night and day. ’Tis a bad case, the doctors say.” “Good heavens, they told me there waa no danger! What is the matter?” exclaimed Lord Wynmore, heart stricken. “Don’t you know, my lord? Then it’ll come with a shock on you. Miss Charlford has lost her reason.” He staggered back. His own bright lovely Mabel insane! Was this the meaning of bringing her to the cottage? He sank down upon a chair, overwhelm.' ed with misery, but was roused by hearing Mr. Charlford’s voice and step, and started up to meet him. & “Why was I not told?” he cried, wringing the elder man’s hand. “Why was I not told? But it cannot be true! What did the doctors say? Has she had every possible advice?” “The very best. You can talk to Dr. Crane yourself,” answered the other, in a low, agitated voice. “I could not bear the idea of sending my darling child to a private asylum, so I have taken this place for her, and she has a trained nurse to attend on her. It is not thought desirable to let her sisters come here yet.” “Why was I not told?” repeated Neville, frantically. “We hoped against hope,” said Mr,. Charlford, “and even here we meant to have tried every means of recovery before you were tortured with the knowledge of the truth.” (To be continued.)

It Makes a Difference.

“I understand your uncle brought eight hundred thousand dollars back from the Klondike.” ~ “No.” “No? Why, that was certainly the report” “Yes, that was the report at Dawson City; but when he got to St Michael’s, rumor let it drop to six hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars.” “Well, that’s a pretty good sum.” “Of course it is; but after he had sailed we got word that the actual value of his nuggets probably wouldn’t exceed three hundred and eighty thousand dollars.” “Still, he could do the handsome thing by you if he wanted to.” “No doubt about that at all; but when he landed at Seattle the newspaper reports from there gave his fortune as only one hundred and ten thousand dollars.” “Even that is a good deal of money.” “Very true; but the next time we heard from him he was in San Francisco, and the best they could make of it there was a little less than, fifty thousand dollars.” “Pretty good pay for a year’s work, any way.” “Unquestionably; but he reached Chicago this morning with a letter of credit of thirty-five hundred and sixteen dollars, which represented the total value of the gold that he and his partner had brought down and delivered at the San Francisco mint, and they want me to board them for nothing all winter, so that they can have that for their expenses when they go back.”

Magnetic Disturbances in Russia.

The Russian province of Kursk proves to be one of the most remarkable areas of magnetic disturbances yet known. Mr. Moureaux reports that the differences between theory and observation are so great that it is not possible to draw isomagnetlc lines, and the magnetic force is as great as it would be in the immediate vicinity of the magnetic poles. The dip of the needle ranges from 48 to 79 degrees. At two points, about 450 yards apart, the declinations are minus eleven degrees and plus forty-five degrees, and the variation at two places about a mile and a quarter apart is from minus thirty-four degrees to plus ninety-six degrees. Nothing near the surface to cause these anomalies is known to exist.

Latest Form of Dementia.

Golficltls is a permanent addition to English manias and is attracting the attention of thinking alienists. It Is designated the fourth dementia by an English physician. The mania differs from others in that it is most acute In Its chronic stages and is incurable. Its symptoms are a loathing for legitimate business, an abnormal disposition to nervous irritation, a passion for giddy and eccentric garments, a profound contempt for truth, a hatred for domestic restraint, accompanied by flushed face and a depraved love of out-of-doors. *

The Sun.

Mr. Borkedal, of Norway, announces that the sun Is burning out more rapidly than Is usually believed, and that unless something Interferes our grandchildren will see its extinction. Mr. Mohn, also Norway, has checked Mr. Borkedal’s calculations and finds them correct.

Lucky People.

There are millions of the inhabitants •f the Philippine Islands who never knew the dominion of Spain and never saw a Spaniard. Organ-Grinders in Vienna. In Vienna organ grinders are allowed to play only between midday and sunset. ' //, . It’s a wise proverb that knows its own sire.

SUIT TO BREAK A WILL FAILS.

Divorce of Former Wife of Defendant Held to Be Void. The will case of Oliver A. Hewlett vs. Mary E. Hubbard, in the Laporte Circuit Court, has been brought to a sudden ending by a decision of Judge Richter. Hewlett was married several years ago in Stark County. He left there and went to reside in Berrien County, Michigan. Mrs. Hewlett applied for a divorce, causing notice to be served on Hewlett by personal service of the sheriff of Berrien County, Michigan. The sheriff served the summons and made his return to the Stark County, Indiana, court, upon receipt of which the divorce was granted. Hewlett, who was 40 years of age, then married Mrs. Haine, a wealthy widow of New Carlisle, this State. She died, willing her property to relatives. Hewlett then brought suit against the administrator of the estate, Mrs. Mary E. Hubbard. Ex-Congressman Benjamin F. Shively raised the point that the divorce granted by the Stark County Circuit Court to Mrs. Hewlett was null and void for the reason that notification of the application for divorce had not been published in a weekly paper in Stark County, as provided by law, when the defendant resides in another State. Judge Ri’chter held that the point was well taken and the big will case collapsed.

FARMERS DUCK A DEPUTY.

Fish Commissioner Having Hard Time with Violators of Gamp Laws. Oscar Welty, of Kokomo, who, since the resignation of J. J. Hildebrandt, of Logansport, as deputy fish commissioner, has been looking after violators of the fish and game laws, is not finding his lot an easy nor a pleasant one. At Burlington, a few days ago, he was roughly handled by some farmers who do not believe in the new fish law, which prohibits fishing in any manner in the running streams of the State during the months of May and June. The farmers decided to make it warm for Welty, who had been keeping an open eye in their neighborhood, and they blacked themselves up with burned cork and proceeded to Wild Cat creek to fish. One of their number was detailed to let Welty into the secret for half he might make out of the case. The officer made his way to the place and at the point of his revolver placed the men under arrest and lined them up upon the bank of the creek, but the violators of the law watched their chance and disarmed the deputy, who was dragged into the water and made’to promise, after being almost “ducked” to death, that he would not molest them again.

MURDER NEAR KOKOMO.

Farmer Found, Shot and with His Skull Crushed In. Luther Sampson, living on the Jonas Parks farm, six miles southwest of Kokomo, was found with his head crushed and a bullet in his body. At 2 o’clock the other morning he was awakened by a noise in the yard, and thinking his cattle had broken in, he went to drive them away. When but a few feet from the door a masked man stepped out from the shrubbery and felled him with a sandbag. The assassin then fired a bullet at the heart of the prostrate and unconscious man and disappeared before he could be recognized by the family.

GREAT OIL STRIKE.

Well Near Hartford City Flows Fortyfive Barrels an Hour. The Standard Oil Company completed the largest oil well that has "been drilled in the Indiana field for over a year. It is located on the Nelson farm, in Washington Township, and is flowing forty-five barrels an hour. It is a monstrous producer and at the present price of Indiana crude, 80 cents a barrel, is paying its owners as well as a Klondike claim. The big strike will greatly stimulate operations in that portion of the field.

LIGHTNING INVADES A MINE.

Two Men Working 125 Feet Below the Surface Are Struck. A peculiar accident which took place during the heavy electric storm in Center Point, has recently come to light. William Bucholtz and Fred Muller, miners, were at work more than 125 feet below the surface, when a bolt of lightning struck the mouth of the shaft and following the pipes down into the mine struck the men down unconscious. Both have recovered. This is the first time that men below the surface of the earth have been known to suffer from lightning.

FARMER KILLED BY HOGS.

Man Who Had Quarreled with His Wife Loses His Life. Benton Coleman, who owned a large farm near Darlington, left home several days ago, after a bitter quarrel with his wife, with the avowed intention of drinking himself to death. Later his body was found in the woods. Empty whisky bottles were at his side, and the supposition is that while helplessly drunk hogs had killed him. Coleman had several hundred dollars in bills, which were trampled in the mud about his body.

ESCAPES BY WAY OF WINDOW.

Prisoner Leaps from Third Floor and Evades the Officer. Albert Brewer, a plumber claiming Chicago as his home, was arrested at Muncie on charges preferred by Miss Sarah Smith, of Ladoga, Ind. Deputy Marshal Snodgrass, of that place, arrived later and took charge of the prisoner, who asked that he be allowed to go to*the Madison Hotel and secure some clothing. This the officer permitted, and while the latter was waiting below Brewer jumped from the third-story Window and escaped.

Definition.

Hungry Higgins—Say, what’s a dipsomaniac? Weary Watkins—lt is a guy that still has money left after drinkin’ all he wants.

Office Chat

“It is said that a full-grown elephant can carry a load of two tons.” “Yes, and even then he probably wouldn’t wobble as much as you did under the load you carried when you started for home last night”

One of Many.

Clara—l thought you told me young Shallow had very little to say? .j Maud—So, I did. Clara—l found him quite talkative. -

RECORD OF THE WEEK

INDIANA INCIDENTS TERSELY TOLD. Changes In Salaries of Poetmasterg— Railway Wreck Caused by Boys— Killed Himself Before Hie MotherFee and Salary Law Valid. The Postoffice Department has made the following changes in postoffices and postmasters* salaries in the State: Richmond advanced from second to first class; Bedford, Franklin, Greenfield, Greensburg, Hartford City, Kendallville, Martinsville and Newcastle advanced from third to second class. Increases to— Increases to— Albany $1,500 Ladogasl,2oo Albion 1,400 Lafayette 3,100 Alexandria ... 2,200 La Porte2,soo Attica 2,700 Lebanon2,2oo Auburn 1,800 Liberty 1,500 Aurora 1,700 Ligonier 1,800 Bedford 2,000 Linton 1,200 Bloomfield ...’. 1,400 Logansport .... 2,700 Bluffton 2,300 Lowell 1,200 Bourbon 1,400 Martinsville ... 2,300 Bremen 1,100 Middletown ... 1,200 Brookville .... 1,500 Mishawaka .... 2,200 Butler 1,600 Monticello 1,700 Cambridge Cy. 1,500 Muncie ,2,900 Clay City 1,100 Nappnee 1,400 Clinton 1.400 New Castle2,ooo Columbia City. 1,800 New Harmony. 1,200 Connersville .. 2,200 Noblesville .... 1,900 Converse 1,200 North Vernon.. 1,800 Corydon 1,300 Notre Dame.... 2,100 Crown Point .. 1,600 Pendleton 1,300 Decatur 1,800 Plainfield 1,400 Edinburg 1,400 Remington .... 1,300 Evansville .... 3,300 Richmond 3,000 Fairmont 1,500 Rochester 1,800 Fowler 1,500 Rushville2,loo Franklin 2,000 Seymour 2,200 Garrett 1,500 Sheridan 1,300 Gas City 1,600 South Whitley. 1,200 Goodland 1,400 Spencer 1,600 Goshen 2,600 Summitville ... 1,200 Greenfield .... 2,000 Thorntown .... 1,500 Greensburg ... 2,000 Tipton 1,800 Hammond .... 2,600 Union Cityl,9oo Hartford City . 2,000 Upland 1,200 Huntingburg .. 1,400 Valparaiso2,soo Huntington -... 1,400 Veedersburg ... 1,200 Indianapolis .. 3,900 Warren 1,300 Jasper 1,200 Warsaw 2,100 Jonesboro 1,600 Williamsport .. 1,200 Kendallville .. 2,000 Winchester .... 1,800 Kentland 1,400 Worthington .. 1,600 Knightstown .. 1,700 Decreases to — Decreases to— Genevasl,ooo Lawrenceburg .SI,BOO

Fee and Salary Law la Valid. The Supreme Court in a decision announced the other day holds that the fee and salary law under, which the compensation of all the State and county officers is fixed is constitutional. Judge Jordan declined to concur in the decision. The effort to have the law declared invalid was backed by the County Officers’ Association. Mother Seen a Son's Suicide. William Nehl, the 17-year-old son of Joseph* J. Nehl, a prominent citizen of Union Mills, shot himself through the heart because his sweetheart refused to accompany him to a concert. The youth was standing a few feet away from his mother when he fired the fatal shot and as he fell his life blood was sprinkled over her. Bo ya Derail a Train. Small boys placed railroad spikes on the Baltimore and Ohio Southwestern Railroad track near Proctor, and the eastbound accommodation struck the spikes and left the track near a bridge. Had it not been for the prompt action and watchfulness of Engineer Sullivan a fearful wreck would have resulted and many lives lost. The boys fled to the woods. Woman Fatally Shot by Boya. At Lafayette, Mrs. William A. Hoover was fatally shot while passing through an alley to her residence. Two boys are under arrest, each charging the other with the shooting. Within Onr Borders. Nearly 500 of the Benbow family attended the reunion at Muncie. Cloudburst at Washington. Water three feet deep on a part of Main street. Anderson has so many cases of measles that the board of health run out of cards. New hall at Notre Dame will be dedicated next September, in honor of Father Corby. Indiana Glass Company closed sos plant at Middletown, rather than pay union wages. The increasing demand in the bottle trade has caused a corresponding increase in price. Quite a rivalry has sprung up between Indiana towns over which can report the most robberies. East Germantown was the first town in the State of less than 1,500 inhabitants to transfer its school property to the township. Charles Crecelius, New Albany, secretary of the State Board of Pharmacy, has received over 4,000 applications for licenses. Three freight coach gnd a dozen people were injured on the old Midland, near Noblesville, by the engine striking a cow. After sticking two hours, the Lafayette mad stone sucked all the hydrophobia out of William Edwards, who was* bitten by a dog at Hillsboro. Claude Hilton, 10, Plainfield, fell from a tree While trying to get a bird’s nest. His nose was mashed flat, and part of his tongue was bitten off. Miss Catherine Graham, a society belle of Evansville, and a niece of Gov. Bradley of Kentucky, was given a judgment in the Superior Court against David Gilbert, a merchant, for $5,000. She sued for $25,000, alleging breach of promise. John Peil, late of Baltimore, has begun suit for SIO,OOO damages against the Sanitary Enameling Manufacturing Company, composed of Baltimore people who recently purchased and greatly enlarged the hollow ware factory at Muncie. Peil claims to have been the possessor of a secret enamel which he disclosed to the firm for a consideration. After they were acquainted with the ingredients he claims they broke their contract with him by discharging him. Edward Fitzpatrick, 15 years and 7 months old, is the youngest graduate the Terre Haute high school has had. The Hartford City Natural Gas and Oil Company has notified its patrons of a 50 per cent reduction in the price of gas for domestic purposes. John Year’s elevator, Overman & Zimmerman’s store and the Odd Fellows* Hall at Amboy burned. The loss is $«,- 000. On petition of the creditors of the Wayne Club, the most fashionable society