Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 20, Number 109, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 October 1899 — Page 3

THE PATRIOTS TALISMAN.

CHAPTER XI. When Segton reached his quarters he found Douglas alone up to receive him. Be had expected this, and had expected . to tell to his beloved comrade the story at his meeting with the two noble champions of liberty—the marquis and the baron—at the chieftain’s headquarters; but he had almost forgotten that meeting, at least for the present; and, when he had seated himself before the fire, he told the story of the two miscreants he had encountered in the thicket. The lieutenant listened with breathless attentipn, and his words of indignation at conclusion need not be transcribed. They were to .the point, however, and were delivered with a true, soldierly heartiness that could not, under the circumstances, have offended a prelate. “And you have left the bodies where they fell?” he queried, when he had gained breath. “Yes, £>ouglas: and I have been thinking what I shall do. At the present moment you and I are the only two who know of the matter, and I think we had better, if possible, hold the secret awhile. Let it once get wind, and it would fly through the camp like wildfire, and then, if there are accomplices within our lines, they will take the alarm.” “I understand, Captain; and, i’ faith, you , are right. We will keep this thing hushed for a day or twd, and let the provost keep watch.” “Exactly, Douglas; and this is ♦hat we will do—you know the path?” ( “Yes.” “Then do you call up two of our most trusty men—say, Sergeant Knox and Qorporal 8100d —and go with them to the ■pot. You will find it about midyay in the thicket. Wrap the bodies in horse blankets, and let our men take them upon their saddle-bows, and bring them directly to the hospital. I will, meantime, arouse Dr. Rush, and have him ready to receive them. Once in his hands, die can hold them secret as long as he pleases.” “It shall be done, Captain; and I suppose we cannot be too'expeditious.” “Hurry is the word, Douglas.” The lieutenant went to the hut of the non-commissioned officers, where he called up the two men designated, and ere long the three were mounted and on their way. Those of the men who had heard, and had not been called, were too well nsed to the calling of members of the troop, for secret service, at all hours of night and day, to be surprised, or to ask questions. Seaton found Dr. Rush up, and when he had told his story, the good man was ready to assist him in any way. “You were wise to come to me,” the doctor said. “There may be some deep plot behind all this, and the only way to get at it is to keep secret. If these villains had accomplices in our camp, we may find them if we keep our own counI sel. Do your own suspicions lead you in any particular direction?” “Only in the direction of Philadelphia.” - “I think you are right there, Seaton. They made a bolder attempt upon Harry Lee’s life. Bat come —I must have my steward prepared. He is trustworthy and safe.” j ‘ -V,

Meantime Lieut. Douglas and Mb assistants bad found the bodies of the two dead wretches, and, without observation, had wrapped them \ip for transportation. The commissioned officers of Seaton’s cavalry had unobstructed pass,, with the countersign, throughout the camp, by night or day, so our lieutenant had no. difficulty in reaching the surgeon general's quarters with the secret of his charge intact. Dr. Rush led the way to a small operating room, where the bodies were placed upon a table, and the door secured. Then candles were brought, and the faces exposed. They were hard, resolute looking faces, with skins dark, and the hair black and coarse and straight. “There’s Indian blood in those men,” ■aid Douglas, with decision.* "Or was,” responded Rush, “before Beaton let it out. Yes,” he added, emphatically, “they are two half-breeds, and of the Huron stock. Thole men have not been enlisted; they have worked their way into our camp secretly. We will look for more of them on the morrow.” “They .have on our uniforms,” suggested Sergeant Knox. “Of which our Tory neighbors are sure to keep a supply on hand,” quietly nodded Douglas. “No doubt they could have obtained major generals’ uniforms had they desired.” “I think we cah do nothing more tonight,” said Seaton. “No,” replied the doctor. “I will keep the bodies close while there is need of it. You will call on the provost in the morning?” “Yes.” When the captain and his lieutenant were once more in their hut, they talked the matter over at their leisure, but without arriving at any satisfactory conclusion Oh the following corning, as Seaton was; arising from his breakfast of broiled steak, a messenger arrived from th? provost marshal. “What is it, Sergeant?" “Col. Dunning wishes to see you at his quarters, sir, as soon as you can make it convenient.” “SometMng relating to the prisoners I brought in, I suppose?” “I think so, Captain.” “I will go-at once.” As the station of the provost was full three-quarters of. a mile from Seaton’s quarters, he called for his horse, and having given his directions w to his first lieutenant, he started off. He thought, as he rode, that he should kill two birds with one stone. He would answer the provoet’s calt and at the same time broach the matter of soies in the camn. SSrdld he dresm of the revelation that awaited him. The provost marshal of the army, for

Sylvanus Cobb,Jr

a cordial interchange of friendly greetings, proceeded at once to business. “Captain, one of the prisoners which yon brought in yesterday is evidently dying. I did not know he was wounded when I received him, but I was called to him in the night, and we found a bullet in his side. It is a curious case. The fellow imagined that the shot had struck his canteen and glanced off, while the fact must have been that the nerves were so separated, or demoralized, that an utter numbness of the parts wounded followed. But he feels enough now, and the doctor says he must die. The bullet is somewhere in his lungs. Two hours ago he called for you. At first I paid little heed, but as he grew urgent, and swore solemnly that it was a matter of life or death, I .concluded to send for you.” “Is the man living now?” “Yes.” “And conscious?” s * “Yes. We have given him spirits to stimulate him.” “Do you know his name?” “He gives it as Tremaine—John Tremaine.” “The name is strange to me, but I will see him.” “He wants to see you alone. Will you have it so?” Seaton hesitated before lie answered to this. It might be but a plot, after all—a part of the same plot which had appeared against his life on the previous night., “We will see him together first, Colonel; and after that, if we conclude that he is honest, you can retire, If you wilL”

CAPTAIN SEATON HEARS FROM HOME.

The prisoner was found In the hospital department of the provost’s quarters, and alone, he being the only one of the lot on the surgeon’s hands. At first sight, Seaton would have hardly recognized him as a human being. The effect of the wound in the lungs had been to produce a bloat of. the face, or a puffing of the skin, until the outline of the features was almost entirely obliterated. The man did not seqm to be in pain, though evidently - weak, and breathing with difficulty. He heard the steps of his visitors ,and by great effort managed to open Ms eyes sufficiently to look out between the puffed lids. “This is Captain Seaton,” said Dunning. “I know him,” whispered the prisoner. “Captain, I want to tell yon something. Can I have a drop more of ram? I am faint.” “Do you wish particularly to see m« alone?” asked Seaton. “Yes.” Our hero turned to the provost. “Colonel, if you are willing, I will grant this man hip request.” - “All right. I shall be in my office, if you want me. There is brandy in that bottle, and you may use it as you please.” After the colonel had gone, Seaton lifted the prisoner to a sitting posture, and braced his back with an extra straw pillow, after which he gave him a generous draught of brandy. “Now, my man, what have you to say to me?” - “You don’t know me?” “I do not.” The spirit had produced a marked effect, and the man spoke more strongly. “My name 1b John Tremaine,” he said. “Your father once saved my life at the risk of Ms own. It was in the Chesapeake Bay, when the brig Jamestown was lost. Did he never tell you the story V 1 “Yes,” replied Seaton, “I know that he saved several lives on that occasion.” “Well,” pursued the prisoner, “mine was one; and when I offered to thank him, he told me if I would be truly grateful that I should save a life in turn, if ever I had the chance. I have had more than one chance since that time, but I have killed instead of saving. But now the words come back to me. lam dying, and those that led me into tMs scrape wouldn’t help me if they could. But it Isn’t vengeance I am after; it is only justice. I want to pay Gen. Seaton for having my life, and perhaps I can do it now by saving the life o£ hip son. Mightn’t I have jnst a drop more of that rum?” The captain had become startlingly interested, and he administered another dose of the stimulant without demurring. “Tremaine, yon speak of saving my life. Do you think it is-in danger?’ Our hero, by a great effort, put back every outward manifestation of feeling. One might be led, from Ms tone and manner, to doubt Ms knowledge or remembrance of any possible danger to Mmself. The prisoner, after he had wiped his lips with his tongue, looked up with a surprised and pitying motion of the head. . bough his face was puffed and swollen beyond the* capacity of emotional expression, yet Mere were signs of feeling which were not to bo mistaken. “Captain Seaton, there is danger. There are in this camp men who would

word—aye, who have received their pay for the work!” * '"Man! do you know this?” r “Yea, sir. I know all about It. I don’t want to be a traitor; but I’ve thought I should be a traitor if I dropped off without taking advantage of this one last chance to keep my promise to your father, for I promised him that I would save a life if I could—an honest, deserving life.” “But, my man—this danger that you speak of—what is it?” “Ah, beware, Captain Seaton! There are in your camp two men who have come to kill you. They left Gabriel Van Tromp’s house, so they must have come in before this. They wear the uniform of your soldiers, but you may know them very quickly if you see them, for they are Huron half-breeds. They are dangerous men, sir; and if yon do not secure them, they will surely do their bloody work. Don’t you go out at night; nor don’t you go out alone at any time, until those two Hurona have been found.” “And you know there are but two of them?” “Only two, sir.” “Who sent them on this errand of death?’ “Why, sir, I suppose you might say that Kirk Fagan sent them.” “Aye, but who employed Kirk Fagan? Hark ye, my 'man: You cannot suffer more from either friends or enemies. Let your conscience be clear in this last hour. Who set Kirk Fagan on?” “The British, sir. They sent a man up from Philadelphia.” “Who was that man?” The prisoner hesitated, and looked towards the brandy bottle. Seaton caught the look and gave him another draught —a generous one. “Now, John Tremaine, who was the man that came up from Philadelphia?” Under the influence of the new and powerful potation, the dying wretch spoke resolutely, as though he were doing a duty. “It was Jacob Eastcourt, sir." Seaton caught his breath and tightly clenched his hands and his teeth. He was not entirely surprised by this revelation, and yet it smote him hard. “You know this—you are sure of it, Tremaine?’

“Yes, Captain. 1 saw Mr. Eastcourt at the Pike Tavern.” “And the two men who were to have—who have come into camp to kill me — were they of your band?” “Who—the Hurons, sir?” “Yes.” “No. They came up with Eastcourt. They are two of Gen. Howe’s sconts.” “John Tremaine, I have one more question to ask you—but, first—Were you bora in America?’ “Yes, sir, in PhiladelpMa.” “Then, in this last hour, you can afford to speak a single word in behalf of the country that gave you birth. How many banded royalists are there in the district of the Chester farms?’ “Not many, sir. They are scattered. They could be brought together, though, say—a hundred or more.” “Will yon tell me where they generally rendezvous?” The man shook his head. “That would be treachery to my own companions, sir. I wouldn’t have , mentioned Kirk Fagan’s name, only you’ve got him in hand. As for Jacob Eastcourt, he would sell his own brother tomorrow for gold; and as for the Hurons, they’re nothing to me. But, Captain, you’ve got our leader. If your camp is further molested, It will be by a new arrangement.” Tremaine had not spoken connectedly and coherently, as we have wrritten, nor had be spoken in language.so plain and proper. At times, he had choked and gasped, and bitterly cursed his own weakness, and at others he liad seemed to swell internally, almost to the stopping of his breath. “Ail right,” said Seaton. “I will not press you on that point. But tell me, were there any marks upon these Hurons by which they might be readily distinguished?” “Yes, sir. The one called Wolf-tooth had a frightful scar over his right eye, made by a hatchet. The other ” At this point the prisoner gasped and i struggled, and appeared to be suffocating. 1 Seaton summoned the provost, but no hn- j map aid was to benefit the sufferer fur-1 ther. He had spoken his last word, and i with that speaking had gone forth his last 1 gasp of life. In the outer .office, before a comfortable fire, our hero sat down and told Dunning the whole story—told of the attack Hie preceding night, and its result, and of the revelation which had been made to him by the dying prisoner, simply keeping back tbe name of Jacob Eastcourt. He could not speak that name in such connection just yet. “And so yon see, Colonel, yon are happily relieved from what I had thought might be. a perplexing work. .It is all j made clear. The two Hurons were alone. on the mission, and they are dead. It is fortunate I found this man before he lied!” » “It certainly is, Captain. And this man most have been trusted by the leadAM ” (rit “I should suppose so.” “Of course he was,” said Dunning, etn- 1 phatically. “How else should he have known that Sir William Howe was engaged in the work? My faith! he may 1 have papers about his person. Let us jo and search. I have thoroughly overruled the pockets and clothing of Fagan, but I-did not bestow such care upon this man.” i

They returned to the room wners Ad dead man lay, and after much search they found a email vellum pouch, in which were three papers. This pouch had been concealed in a. broad flannel belt which he had worn around hia loins. The first paper -examined was what might have been the roll of a section, or detachment of a Tory company, with the name of John Tremaine at the head. The second was a rough plan of the encampment of Valley Forge. The approaches were correctly drawn; and the redoubts, and intrenchments, and abatis, with the pickets, were set down with sufficient accuracy for all practical < purposes. The third paper was a pass, signed by Sir William Howe’s on hand, and countersigned by the adjutant general of the British army, admitting “the Bearer, lohn Tremaine, a trusty Friend of England, within our lines at Philadelphia at afiy time.” And the document further required that officers on duty should extend to said John Tremaine all needed assistance which he might at any require. “Colonel,” said Seaton, after a little reflection, and after they had discussed the matter in a general way, “I wish you would let me keep this detachment roll and this pass.” “Certainly. Keep the three, Captain. They properly belong to you, and, surely, you are to be trusted with them.” “Thank you. And, my dear Colonelone thing more: Will you let me have the hat and coat which this man- had on when I captured him?” “With pleasure. You shall have his hat, coat and breeches,” “There is no telling,” pursued Seaton, “of what use they may be to me. You know the nature of the work I am liable to be called upon to do.” “I understand perfectly,” returned the provost. “I know that upon you and Lee our chieftain mainly relies for successful raiding against the Tories. My faith! it is a grand idea!” And when Robert Seaton left the quarters of the provost marshal, he bore with him the pass and the garb of the Tory scout. Had he then a thought of how he might u&e them? Perhaps not clearly. But he had a strong presentiment! (To be continued.) Copyright.

Wild Beasts and Pans.

A pan is to wild creatures one of the most terrifying products of civilization. Kula is a district in the Himalayas, consisting of a chain of the most lovely valleys conceivable, with this drawback among others, that each hillpath that rune by the inhabitants’ hats, more often than not contains a lurking leopard. One day a worthy Kula housewife came out from her cooking, and, standing on the ledge of rock at her door, emptied a pan of boiling water Into the rank herbage growing below. It fell splash on the back of a sleeping leopard, who Jumped perpendicularly Into the air as high as the roof of the hut What might have happened next, who can say? But the astonished woman dropped the pan with a dang upon the rock, and the leopard took one leap down hill. The pan followed, and the leopard’s downward leaps became longer and swifter as the pan bounded after It from rock to rock. When last seen the leopard had just achieved a leap of about 350 feet to the very bottom of the ravine, thousands of feet below, and the pan bad whirled about 500 feet over it on to the opposite side. The leopard would have, eaten the old woman with but a pan,* the contents of which first scalded half the hide off him and then bounded clanging In bis wake from the top of the Himalayas to the plains below was something he couid not face.

Telephones of the World.

A correspondent desires to know how many telephones are used In the different countries of the world. The following table, gathered by tbe statistics department of Sweden, gives the latest available Information: Number of Distance Instruments covered, Countries. In use. miles. Sweden (1887) 56,600 74,568 Norway (1897)... 80,678 33,481 Denmark (1885) 10,500 9,321 Great Britain and Ireland (1884) 69,645 83,401 Holland 8,000 4,971 Belgium (1885) 1 9,227 16,235 Germany (1896) 161,101 147,093 Austria (1896) 21,616 46,376 Hungary (1896) 10,293 17,940 Switzerland (1897) 28,846 47,694 France (1894) 27,736 63,230 Italy (1896) 11,991 13,049 Spain 11,088 14,282 Russia 18,495 40,391 Japan 3,232 5,262 Philippines 452 592 Algiers 835 224 Tunis 200 281 United States (1896) 772,627 825,711 Cuba 1,818 1,181 Canada (1898) 33,500 44,020 Mexico (1896) 9,000 11,807 Uruguay (1896) 3,269 8,117 Total, including, nine countries not mentioned 1,288,163 1,509,499

German Growth in Brazil.

Attention is called to the fact that gradually Germany Is getting a strong foothold In Brazil, and that there Is a possibility of a bteach of the Monroe doctrine In the future. Germany already controls tbe commerce of BrazlL More than one-third of all the merchants in the country are of German birtb or descent Each year tbe emigration of Germans to Brazil is increasing. There are, according to the latest reports, 465,000 Germqn-bom residents In the republic, to say nothing of the large number who have been born in Sonth America of German parents.

The True Definition.

“How would yon define luck’” was asked of . the man who has made more money than he knows what to do with. “It Is the product of a reasonable amount of ability, backed by tenacity.” Some of the modern society novels were evidently written with a decollete pen. _ Some people are so fierce about their “rights” that they forget the rig&ta of others. . . A girl may be an expert at handling curling tongs and yet know absolutely nothing of draw poker. A fool knows other people's business better than a wise man knows his own.

HAVE A FLOATING ISLAND.

Michigan Inventor Will Build One While Yon Wait. Frank W. Flanders, of Sturgis, Mich., has Invented a floating island—not the kind that mother used to make —but a real live island, that can be towed from place to place to suit the convenience of its proprietor. He has built one such now, and has it anchored in a little lake near his home, where he can spend day after day upon it, either for the purpose of work or recreation. He proposes to make Islands to order when letters patent are issued at Washington for his Invention, so if you are a millionaire you can have an archipelago of your own, if you choose,

where you may summer or winter free from the vulgar gaze, but still in reach of any water resort in the world. Indeed, this Island is a most accommodating spot. It is constructed so that Its platforms are high and dry above water, where no wave can splash. It has no rocking motion and Is perfectly stable. Though it floats upon air-tight casks, there is no danger of their puncturing. It can be towed upon any water and rolled upon any land. In short, it is possible to use it for any purpose conceivable where a stable and safe float Is demanded. The island that Mr. Flanders has built as an experimental model is twelve feet by sixteen in size. On It nineteen persons have been supported without taxing Its capacity. One man with a rowboat can move it about readily, while two persons can roll it high and dry on the beach. It bears the weight of one tree and a large numbeT of bushes and shrubs, while a goodsized tent erected on it affords protection from the weather for siz persons at night. Of course you will not be limited as to verdure. You can have any number of plants you desire, if you wish to buy an island, or can place any other such restriction upon your order. In short, you will be absolute monarch of all you survey.

NIAGARA SUSPENSION BRIDGf.

Only One of Its Kind, steel Arches Being in Vogue. Another tie has been forged between the Dominion of Canada and the United States in the shape of a new suspension bridge erected between the famous Queenstown Heights and the Lewiston mountain. This bridge Is the only structure of the kind now spanning the gorge, as all the Did suspension bridges have been supplanted by steel arches. This bridge Is destined to be a link in a belt line electric traction

THE NEW SUSPENSION BRIDGE ACROSS NIAGARA.

service about the beautiful Niagara gqrge. It has a cable span of 1,040 feet, and a suspended span of 800 feet It i* sixty-five feet above tbe water, and therefore hangs suspended midway between the dlff-iopa and the water's edge. It has a width of twen-ty-five feet and through the center runs a single track for electric cars. There are 800 tons of metal In the bridge, and tbe cables weigh 200 tons more. These cables once formed a

part of the old suspension bridge Ghl stood close to the Falls, having bCeM cut in two for this new bridge. WlgS so cut, however, they do not HE out thir entire cable span, and tar this teamuim short distance at each end la filled oaf with eye-bars.

Some Dig Hole* Merely for the I>lmM of 'the Thing, f : fly'laP Ventilation, or rather the want of ggl must be a difficulty in the underground! life of almost all mammals. The rafcif bit and the rat secure a current of air? by forming a bolt hole In canneetMH| with their system of passages, but Him fox, the badger and many of the flajH voles and mice seem indifferent to any

THE FLOATING ISLAND.

such precaution. There is no dotfbgll j that whatever gave the first impifii» | to burrow, many animals look npoUkm this to us most unpleasant exertion m|| | a form of actual amusement 'lt alsirl j confers a right to property. I Prairie dogs constantly set to warfc|| 1 to dig holes merely for the love of th*' J | thing. If they cannot have a auitabla> : | 1 place to exercise their talent in th«yl| J will gnaw Into boxes or chests of drawria f ers and there burrow, to the great defc*4| 1 riment of the clothes therein contati||fl f ed. In an inclosed prairie dog “town’ll f they have been known to mine untf£|g 1 the superincumbent earth collapia|9j and burled the greater number. Jujl f young prairie dog let loose in a small?! 1 gravel-floored house Instantly dug a| | hole large enough to sit in, turned!! | round in it and bit the first person wJm|9J attempted to touch him. Property ggNM'f him courage, for before he had beestfij as meek as a mouse. 1 It is noticeable that the two weakeptn and least numerous of our mice, tb«| dormouse and the harvest mouse, d* j not burrow, but make nests, and that ! these do not multiply or maintain their Jj numbers like the burrowing mice aaftS voles. But the fact that, there area members of very closely allied some of which do burrow, while otbes||9l do not, seems to Indicate that the habit j is an acquired one. ■ In this connection it is worth noting 1 that many animals which do not bur- Jj row at other limes form burrows: ha 1 which to conceal and protect tbettjjl young, or, if they do borrow, make*! different kind of a more elaborate || character. Among these nursery b«rrows are those of the dog, the fox anfifl sand martin, the kingfisher and thefl sheldrake. Foxhound litters never do ] so well as when the mother is all owed J to make a burrow on the sunny sidSH{ of a straw stack. In time she wilt a work this five or six feet into the stferaßS and keep the puppies at the far end,!

while she lies at the entrance. Vlxenl either dig or appropriate a clean bln row for their cubs, which Is a nal ord habit, or, at any rate, one acquired fri|| viousiy to the use of earth by a«9 foxes.—London Spectator. f

Kansas has two bend of hog, one-third of a horse, and one-Sll of a sheep for every man, womd&ji child in tbe State.

BURROWING ANIMAL&

Live Stock in Kansas.