Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 34, Number 88, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 July 1902 — Page 7

CHAPTER XVlll.—(Continued.) “In the first place, it struck us all that It was ar strange thing that the head should have been cut off. There seemed no motive for such mutilation, unless to render identification difficult, in which case the clothing and jewelry might also easily have been removed; or unless there were a plot to make it appear that the body of a stranger was that of Miss Wynne. After the finding of the body,” I went on, “it occurred to me to try and put on the foot of the dead woman one of the shoes which had been found stuffed inside the crown of the hat. Even allowing for the swelling of the flesh, the body having been for some time in the water, it was evident that the shoes—which I can state upon ohth were those which Miss Wynne wore on the afternoon of her disappearance—would in any case have been several sizes too small. The woman whose body was found in the moat, though of much the same height and general build as-Miss Wynne, had feet which were considerably larger. And this was also true of the hands, for, allowing for sweling, as with the feet, there were signs that the skin had been torn in forcing on the rings." “I think it is impossible to rely upon any evidence of this sort," one juryman said audibly to another. My heart sank a little, but still I went on: ‘ “When my uncle, Sir Wilfrid Amory, took us under his care we were both children, and played constantly together. It was in Sussex, one day, when Miss Wynne was almost 8 and I 12 or 13, that we were wading barefooted in a brook,

and my cousin, stepping on a sharp stone, hurt herself seriously. She was unable to walk for some time, and when she did recover a sear was left on the sole of her right fobt, which in those days she very often displayed to me. It is not now more than six months ago that the old episode happened to come up in the course of conversation, and my cousin assured me that the scar Was still as strongly marked as it had ever been. It was peculiar, and unmistakable, at least two inches in.length—a dead white seam, jagged as the teeth of a saw. “I very carefully examined the feet of the body now lying in this house, and on neither is there any sear whatever.” There was a visible stir among the jurymen. I paused for an instant, and was asked by the coroner if this piece of evidence completed my statement. “No,” I returned, “I have still something else to say, of equal, if not more, importance.” Deliberately I removed the gold links from my cuff and pulled up the sleeve of my right arm. Between the wrist and elbow, an anchor and heart, neatly tattooed in blue ink, were distinctly to be seen. “I learned the trick of doing this sort of thing from an old sailor when I was a boy," I said. "I did this tattooing myself, and my cousin insisted upon having a design of the same kind on the inner side of her right arm, above the bend of the elbow. And now, if you will have the doctor who examined the body recalled, you will hear from him the confirmation of my words—that there Is wo soar upon the foot, nor stain of tattooing upon either arm.” I had finished; I had said all that 1 meant to say, and I felt that the aspect of the case was changed: but, still, the time which intervened before the finding of the verdict passed more heavily than any moments my life had ever known. At last it came. "Murder, by a person or persons unknown, upon the body of a woman unknown.” “Thank heaven!” said Uncle Wilfrid, beneath his breath. But Haynes-Havi-land did not fspeak. He went up to my uncle and spook hands, but there was that in his face which contradicted the cordiality of his action. “Terry," Uncle Wilfrid said, “I did mean to be the one to tell Consuelo. But, on second thoughts, I would prefer it to be you. Go to her, and put an end to her suspense.” I knocked at her boudoir, and Consuelo herself opened the door. “I have good news,” I said, and told her what the verdict had been. She took it calmly; but she held out both her hands.

“And for it all I have to thank you,” she said. “Once you saved ray life. Now you have saved what is worth more to me and to those who care for me. What reward will you have?” “I have done nothing,” I returned. “I do not want, much less ask, a reward." "But if I offer it to you?” My pulses leaped. "Then, there is but one thing on earth 1 have begged of you, and—you refused it. Do you still refuse?" “How can I tell, unless you ask it of me again?” “You told me that was what must do.” “But I am a woman. May I not change my mind?” “Consuelo, give me your love." “What if I promised you my love, and could not promise that you and I should ever be more to each other than we are at this moment?" Her hand wns on my breast, holding me at arm's length, when I would have come nearer than I had ever dared to do before. “I should consider myself the happiest man alive to have won that inestimable gift. Is there any hope that I may win itr , “You never knew that—it sas already won,” she said, in a low voice. "But your cousin Paula knew. Women'are wiser In such matters than men." "You love me!" I cried; ‘‘then 1 shall never cess* to hope, I shall never rest, I shall move heaven and earth until 1 have gained all.” “To gain all you must indeed move heaven and earth,” she echoed, “for there are obstacles you do not dream of in the way." “I shall beat them down," I exclaimed

HE WOMAN IN GRAY

BY ROBERT ESTES DURAND.

buoyantly. “Now that you have told me you love me, what obstacle is mighty enough to stand between you and me?” “Mr. Thomas Gordon!” announced a footman, appearing at the door.

CHAPTER XIX. He had been at Martenhead all day, it seemed, and had now come with •congratulations. But I could see that his sudden appearance had depressed Consuelo. Both ladies retired especially early that night. I had hoped for a few more moments of heaven with Consuelo, but I was denied them. She was very tired, she said, and her face confirmed her words. For long I sat brooding, and at 1:30*1 got up with a sudden inspiration for a stroll to the river side before going to bed. I had scarcely stepped out into the white purity of the night when two voices made themselves audible —Consuelo’s and Miss Traill’s. They were on the other side of the huge tree, out of my sight, as I was out of theirs. “Are you sure he is coming?" said the Woman in Gray. v “Well, one is never sure of anything that he is going to do; as I’ve told you before, I can’t control him.” “You will be very foolish if you don’t pay this price. But, see, here he comes. I’m sure it must be he.” I lay still on the rustic seat under the black shadow of the cedar. “It is he,” I heard Mis Traill say. “He would prefer doing business with you alone.” The man I could not see, but I knew that he had come, for the Woman in Gray spoke haughtily, breathing the one word: “Well?” “Well," repeated a heavy masculine voice, with an Unpleasant provincial drawl. “I’ve heard from Naomi, and I’ve come to see if I can’t get you to consider' matters. You’d better, ypu know, for you are under my thumb; and if you don’t do what we want, you can guess what the consequences will be." A word or two more I caught, and then they walked away beyond hearing. I was glad of this. never once did I remove my eyes from the short, squat form of the man. Moments elapsed. Sometimes the two strangely assorted companions glided on side by side; sometimes they paused, in earnest conversation. But at last, with a gesture which seemed to tell of utter desperation, the Woman in Gray hurried swiftly away without one backward look. She was evidently going to the house, and at first I feared the man would follow her. But he did not do so. He stood still, his chin sunk into the hollow of his hand, the moonlight shining full upon him. For several minutes he appeared to reflect, and then began walking toward the gate. It would have been easy for me to follow and catch up with him, but this I did not wish to do. I wanted to follow him to his lair, wherever that might be, and, if possible, discover something so much to his disadvantage that he would be as completely in my power as he had persuaded Consuelo to believe she was in his.

My quarry slouched along the lawn until he struck into the avenue; then on again, until within fifty yards of the porter’s lodge, when he'took to the grass once more, and suddenly disappeared through an aperture in the thick hollyhedge, for which he had apparently intentionally been making. I gave him a start, and then plunged through the thicket. A long, straight road now stretched before us, extending on the one hand to Martenhead, on the other to a town of considerable size, called Witherton, about four miles off. For a few seconds he’ seemed undecided which way to go, then 0 turned in the direction of the latter place. At the station I managed to persuade the porter to sell me his overcoat, nnd had it buttoned upon me, when I saw my man going to the ticket office. I stood in the background while the fellow purchased a third single to Ralston. Getting into the train, I was glad to find that we had a carriage to ourselves, my unsuspecting quarry and I. I started a conversation, and, after a time, he said: “Ever heard of Sir Wilfrid Amory, who has lately bought a big place near Martenhead?” “Oh, yes—Lorn Abbey. I’ve heard his name.” “Ever seen a tall, fine-looking young woman he’s taken to live in his house? —adopted her for a daughter?” “She is already famous throughout the rotintry for her beauty." “She is good-looking. Better-looking than she used to be when I knowed her first.”

"Ah, you’re old friends, are you?” “Friends! Not much. You wouldn’t think, to look at me, if you have ever seen her, that wo could have much in common; but I tell you there aren’t many people on earth who know her as well a* me and mine do. She's cheated me out of my just dues. Thinks she's too high for me to hurt her. If I should so much as o[>cn my mouth about that pearl nritteu she wears on her hand by day and night, she'd be famous, I can tell you, for notify thing beside her beauty.” I could bear no more; patience and caution were gone like a flame blown out by a puff of wind. I was about to answer in a way which would have surprised him when, with a mighty shock and a wall which seemed to rise from the lips of every one among the hundreds of passengers, I was thrown headlong upon him, under a shower of splintering timbers add crashing glass, a thunder of sound breaking over me like the wives of ocean. After the shock catqp cessation Of all motion. I lay still for a moment. Then I looked out of what remained of the window, and saw that such passengers as could were swarming out from the wreck-

ed carriages in front and behind tae. The air was vocal with shouts and cries, and above all wffs the sound of escaping steam. I remembered my companion, and proceeded to unearth him from beneath a broken seat. His right leg was bent under him, and hung so limply that I was certain it must be broken. I had no friendly feeling for him, but I could not see him suffer. I soon brought him back to consciousness. A dozen or so among the passengers were injured, and when I had done whatever J could I got a doctor from the village to look after my charge. When his leg was set, he was able to tell us—a bit of information I received without surprise—that he was Jonas Heckleberryy of the Spider Farm, near Market I’eytou. The place was not more than fifteen miles away, the surgeon said, and the best thing for the sufferer would be to have him conveyed home at once. This task, with an imptflse which did not spring from charity, I took upon myself. By this time it was nearly 10 o’clock in the morning, the breakfast hour at Lorn Abby. Would Consuelo have thought of me, I asked myself, and wondered at the unexplained absence of her lover? The telegrams which I sent both to her and to Uncle Wilfrid from Ralston seemed cold and meaningless, and Consuelo’s I wrote and tore in pieces several times before I could satisfy myself. It was a four-mile drive from Market Peyton to the Spider Farm, and as 1 began to think we must be nearing the place I looked out with curiosity. Whatever there was that was “queer” about Jonas Heckleberry’s business I meant to know. Whatever might be learned against his character and pursuits I intended to have within my knowledge, that, if he lived and attempted again to trouble the Woman in Gray, I might be prepared to turn the tables upon him. The farm gate we got to at length, and I found to my -surprise that it was locked with a padlock, fastened to a chain. I easily vaulted over the five or six bars, however, and fancied I should have no difficulty, when the nature of my errand became known, in obtaining the key, that the carriage might be driven up to the house. ' The road inside the gate was thickly grass grown, as though a wagon but seldom passed over it, and the house itself, I soon saw, was a large and rambling one. Heavy wooden shutters were drawn over all the windows on the ground floor. I seized the rusty knocker, and beat out a summons which echoed dismally from room to room within. .... ' ' -■

In response came the baying of a dog, but there was no other sign that my loud knocking had been heard. Again I repeated it, and at last, discouraged, began pushing my way through the wilderness of weeds to the back of the house. I went to the left, and I had skirted the side of the building, and arrived at the back, when a movement at a half-shut-tered window attracted my attention. I stepped close up- to it, and peered inside. A face retreated, and another remained—a face unlike any that I had ever seen before. It was long, and covered with a series of flabby wrinkles bagging under deep-set, bloodshot eyes, and, though the cheeks were as dark as an Indian’s, the huge, prominent nose was a pale flesh-pink. At first,, as I peeped between the shutters, under a curtain of vines, into the darkness within, I believed this face to be human. But in an instant I saW“that it was that of an enormous dog of a breed I had never met with. Though the room into which I gazed was dark as looked into from outside, a cross-light from a half-open door revealed the figure of a little old vroman. On jied head was a great flapping cap; across her sunken breast a black-and-white check shawl was folded. A stray length of gray hair fell over a yellow, receding forehead, and I was struck with an eerie sensation as I observed how wonderfully alike were the two faces—that of the big dog and the tiny woman. Both were old, flabby, long-lipped, sunkeneyed, animal in expression, though, Indeed, it seemed to me that the dog’s was the more intelligent and benevolent of the two. “Don’t be alarmed!” I shouted. "1 have brought you news of Mr. Jonas Heckleberry. Pray come to the door, and let me have a few words with you.”

CHAPTER XX. My only answer was a rush for the ’door behind her, through which the uncanny creature retreated, loudly slamming it after her retiring form. I ran down the road to the gate where the landau awaited me, and wrenched off the chain. “Drive in,” I said, curtly. In a few more moments we had stopped at the back of the house, whither I had bidden the driver proceed, as I felt that I should not be able to break in that solid-looking door of oak nor unfasten the closely barred shuters. I proceeded forcibly to wrench up the lower sash of the window through which I had looked. • Hardly had I done so when the huge dog, which had been anxiously awuitiug its opportunity, leaped out. I stood ready, with my blood up, for the encounter, but with a snarl in my direction he sprang past me towards the landau, upon which he began to fawn, with whinings and contortions of his great body. Having made an opening for myself, I climbed through window and dropped down Into vast and gloomy kitchen. I stood still, staring, forgetting for the instant the errand upon which I had come, and then suddenly something-scut-tled across my feet.

It was a hairy-legged spider, with a fat, bloated body as large as a shilling piece. I sprang aside, for I had always had a loathing of spiders. Myriads of spiders limped or darted along the boards, and their crowding bodies and wriggling legs gave, from a distance, an effect as though the walls themselves had moved. With all speed I got myself out of the repulsive room, opening the door through which the old woman had disappeared. This, I found, led into a bare, wide passage with a stairway at one end. Half way up was a small landing, with a door and a window, past which I would have gone had not something sprung out at me with the unexpected viciousness of a jach-ln-ths-box. « _■ ** I had Just time to ward off a blow aimed With no less formidable weapon than n broken beaded ax; and then, quickly removing it from the withered little band that grasped it, I held at arm's length the old woman who had lately fled from me below stairs. “I am sorry," I saM, “to restrain your I freedom for a moment, nuidam. Only be

patient one moment, until I have Informed you 1 that Mr. Jonas Heckleberry—whom I can hardly be mistaken In supposing to be your son—is outside in the carriage you can see from this window, seriously injured in a railway accident.” I released her thin litle 'arm, which I had been tightly holding, and had the satisfaction of seeing her trot with youthful alacrity .down the stairs. I followed, and having seen her crooning over the half-conscious man, I found that opposite the horrible., room of darkness in which rioted the army of spiders was a second door, which V unceremoniously flung open, and found myself in a combination of kitchen and dining room. Here I dumped some bedding I had found upstairs, upon the ragged carpet. I hastened out to the landau. The old woman had chmbed in beside her son.j and was listening, with a quieter and saner expression than she had worn, to the mutterings which fell from his lips. (To be continued.)

A Parrot Performer.

The capacity of the gray parrot for Imitation is well known. A Contributor to Nature describes a young bird who was a “born actor,” as the phrase Is, and who had not only the power of mimicry, but also the more remarkable power of accompanying his words by appropriate dramatic action. He played with a piece of wood exactly as a little girl plays with her doll. He would take the wood in his claw and would say to it, imitating the voice and gestures of his mistress or one of the servants: “What! Are you going to bite me? How dare you! I will take the stick to you!" Then he would shake bls head at the wood and say: “I am ashamed of you! Whom did you bite? Go to your perch!” He would then take the wood to the bottom of his cage, and putting it down on the floor, would hit it with his claw several times, saying: “Naughty! I'll cover you up, I will!” Then he would step back from it one or more pades, put his head on one 1 side and say, as he looked at it: “Are you good now?” The writer of this letter says that no attempt was ever made, deliberately, to teach the parrot this or any other of his histrionic performances. He picked them up spontaneously from his own observation, and pieced them together from memory. He was brought to his owner straight from the nest in Africa; therefore his dramatie instinct was intuitive, and had not been strengthened by association with the stage and its people. This remarkably clever gray parrot died at the early age of one year and eleven months.

Tilden’s Campaign Method.

It was Mr. Tilden’s faith in the power of the people to form a correct judgment on any question submitted to them that led to bls final triumph. “I have spent over >2,000 for postage in this campaign,” he said to a young man after 1874. “Do you mean to say that you sent out 06,000 letters?” asked his astonished visitor. “That’s about the number,” answered Mr. Tilden. “But where did you get their names?" “My long connection with the Democratic State Committee had familiarized me with the chairmen of the County Committee in almost every county in New York. To him I therefore sent for a list Of names of men la every village in his county.” “And did you send printed letters to them?” “Better than that," Mr. Tilden said, while his gray eyes twinkled: “I sent each of my correspondents a lithographed fac-slmlle of my own handwriting.” “And how did it work?" “Splendidly,” he answered, In conclusion, says the Utica Observer. “After I was elected and had gone to Albany occasionally I’d have a call from a citizen who would , introduce himself to me by means of one of my letters to him, and who would say: ‘I didn’t think you knew me, Mr. Tilden, until I got this.’ ’’

Roosevelt’s Heavy Life Insurance.

Since he became chief executive of the nation, President Roosevelt has become one of the most heavily insured men In the United States. The President has taken out a policy for >50,000 in a New York company, besides continuing policies for smaller amounts which be had taken' out long before he was elected Governor of New York. President Roosevelt's policies. It Is understood, exceed by >15,000 or >20,000 those held by President McKinley. Mrs. McKinley was paid about >60,000 on policies on her husband’s life.

How to Avoid Trouble.

A young oock naw a weathercock on top of the house, and. thinking him a rival, began crowing fiercely. "If'you keep on making on a noise like that,” said the old bird, “they’ll wring your neck for you.” The young cock looked thoughtful. “Take example by me. I’ve got along and have been looked up to for half a century by simply, keeping my bill shut and turning with the wind." The moral Is obvious.—Philadelphia North American.

American Invades Norway. y

John Dnnfee, of Syracuse, N. Y., has been awarded the contract to build and equip a railroad among the fiords and hills of Northern Norway. He will be the firtit American contractor fe construct a railway In Norway. Any man with ideas In advance of his age la likely to wear clothes away behind It. An old bacbelAr says that matrimony la the best cooking school.

WORK Of CONGRESS.

IMPORTANT LAWS ENACTED IN FIRST SESSION. Scope of Legislation Covers Singular Problems—Philippine Government Engrosses World's Attention—Canal Measure Climax of Fifty Years’ Effort. 1 ■ ■ • , ' ' ■ - , The first session of the Fifty-seventh Congress has been marked by exceptional business activity, with many questions of far-reaching general interest engaging attention. With the exception of the Cuban reciprocity bill most of the larger subjects of general legislation have been enacted as laws. Notable among these is the isthmian canal bill, which consummates the efforts of half a century to link together the waters of the Atlantic and the Pacific. Aside from its national and international importance this bill probably involves a larger sum of money than that in any other single undertaking by the government outside of war expenditures. The Philippine civil government bill is another measure of far-reaching importance, extending to our remote Pacific possessions a system of internal civil government, together with coinage, currency, banking, corporation’ timber and homestead laws. Among the other important general laws enacted are the following: Repealing the war revenue taxes. Extending and making more effective the Chinese exclusion law. Establishing a tariff on goods to and from the Philippines. Extending the charter of national banks for twenty years. Establishing a permanent census office. Restricting the sale of oleomargarine by placing a high tax on imitation butter. Providing a diplomatic and consular service for Cuba. Establishing an extensive system by which the government will aid In the irrigation of the arid sections of the West. The repeal of the war revenue taxes reduced taxation $73,250,000 and is said to be the largest single reduction of taxation ever made in this country. By this step the last of the taxes imposed at the beginning of our war with Spain was. wiped out. Philippine Tariff Act. The Philippine tariff act imposes 75 per cent of the Dingley tariff rates on articles coming from the Philippines to the United States and also imposes on articles entering the Philippines from the United States the rates of duty established by the Philippine commission. The oleomargarine act results from several years of agitation. It places a tax of 10 cents a pound on substances colored to imitate butter. The irrigation act is of special importance to the development of the West. It creates an irrigation fund in the Treasury Department into which are to be paid the proceeds of the sales of public lands in the arid States. This fund in turn is to be used in storing water and establishing irrigation systems, the irrigated sections to be open to homesteaders, who are to be charged a proportionate share of the cost-of the improvement. The Chinese exclusion law continues exclusion “until otherwise provided by law,” and also applies the exclusion “to the island territory under the jurisdiction of the United States.”

Bills Still in Progress.

Aside from these important laws there are a number of other measures of general importance which have passed one or both houses, but have not progressed to the final stage. These include the anti-anarchy legislation, which grew out of the assassination of President McKinley. Bills, restricting anarchy and throwing safeguards about the President have passed both branches of Congress, but it has been impossible to reach an agreement in conference, so that the subject goes over until next December. A bill giving statehood to Arizona, New Mexico and Oklahoma, known as the omnibus statehood bill, passed the House and the Senate has determined to take up the matter early in the next session. Other Important Laws. The ship subsidy bill secured early attention in the Senate, but the end of the session has come without the measure being reported to the House. As it passed the Senate the bill grants graded subsidies to steam and sailing vessels of American build. In the House it has been deemed desirable to let the subject go over until the short session, when it is expected a bill on the subject will be reported and urged to passage. The bill creating the Apalachian forest reserve, including a vast tract in the Apalachian mountain section of the South, has received favorable attention in both houses, but has gone over for final adjustment of differences until next December. Another bill passed by the Senate and likely to become a law changes the marine hosjiital service to a national health bureau hnd gives the bureau larger powers and facilities for co-operating with the State health authorities in quarantine and health affairs. The bill to establish a cable between the United States, Hawaii and the Philippines was retired by defeat in tj>e House of Representatives. Halt by the Way. Several other measures have advanced to a certain stage and have then halted without much prospect for fufther ad-

The Greatest Dry Dock.

New York is to have the largest dry dock in the world. The cradle upon which monster vessels will rest above the water while having the hull scraped and the scams closed will be built to accommodate a vessel 1,200 feet long, or 500 feet longer than the biggest steamship now afloat. It is predicted within the next ten years that vessels 1,000 feet in length will be plentiful.

Long Search for Kidnaped Girl.

After traveling for almost two years and covering 30,000 miles, Mrs. Marion Thornton Egbert of Chicago has found her kidnaped child In India. The child was kidnaped in Chicago in 1900 by her husband, from whom she is uow divorced. Mrs. Mary Henderson, a 22-year-old negress. wife of Henderson, committed suicide at the farm of McCurdy Bros., nix miles north of Bedalia. Mo., by swallowing carbolic acid. Jealousy prompted the deed.

APPROPRIATIONS ARE NEAR THE BILLION-DOLLAR MARK.

No session of Congress except in. timet of war hu equaled the total approprijw tion of the first session of the Fifty-sev-j enth Congress, it has been practically, a “billion-dollar The total for the first session of the Fif-ty-sixth Congress was >710,150,857. That increase of >217,683,410 includes >175,000,000 for the isthmian canal. Provision* is made in the bill that >130,000,000 off this amount shall be provided for by bonds, but this does not detract from the appropriation as an! obligation of the government. ■ >3 The appropriations and the purposes for which they were made are as follows: Agriculturals,2Bo,o6o Army 91,300,000 Diplomatic 1,957,925 District of Columbia 8,550,000 Fortifications 7,333,955 Indians 9,200,000 Legislative 25,396,5811 Military academy 2,627,000 Navy 78.530,000* Pensions 189,842,230' Postoffice 138,416,590! Rivers and harbors, new work 26,726,442 Sundry civil, including omnibus public building 60,125,359 Deficiencies, urgent and general 206,300,000 Omnibus claims and miscellaneous 5,000,000 Isthmian canal, authorized but not actually appropriated .... 175.000,000 Permanent appropriations 123,921,220 Total >927,836,262 As shown by the foregoing table, the largest increases are in the postoffice, navy and urgent deficiency bills and in the appropriations for new work on river* and harbors. vancement. These include the bill for the election of United Stites Senators by direct vote of the people. It passed the House by practically a unanimous vote, but in the Senate has received little attention and is not likely to pass. The House passed a bill relating to the immigration laws, codifying and amending these laws in relation to important changes. It has been reported to the Senate, but there is not much prospect Of its passage at this session. 'The bill defining the meaning of conspiracy in injunction cases passed the House of Representatives, but has not made much progress in the Senate. New Portfolio Delayed. On the other Rand, the Senate passed an important measure creating a department of commerce, to be presided over by a cabinet officer, but it has made no progress in the House, not having been reported from the committee on commerce. Another bill of interest to the commercial world is the pure food measure, which was drafted by the pure food congress and after extended hearing was reported from the House committee on commerce, but not passed. The Fowler bill probably was the most important financial measure which has been brought before Congress. After considerable public discussion and several conferences by the members of the House it has gone ovet- for consideration next December. Another financial measure, known as the Hill bill, providing for the coinage of subsidiary silver and for the retirement of the present standard silver dollar, has passed the House, but has not been acted on in the Senate. Enacted Into Lavra. Among the other important measures of general legislation not heretofore named which have been enacted finally as laws are the following: To prevent the sale of firearms, opium and intoxicating liquors to the natives of certain of the PacTtlo Islands. To promote the efficiency of the revenue eutter service and to provide for the retirement of its officers. To refund the duties paid tn Porto Rico on articles Imported from the United States during the military occupation. Appropriating s2< 0,000 for the relief of the volcano sufferers at Martinique. Authorizing the erection of Y. M. C. A. buildings on United States military reservations. Regulating the introduction of eggs of game birds for purposes of propagation. Providing for the protection of game in Alaska, particularly the large game, such as moose, caribou, etc. Extending an Invitation to the French government to participate In the unveiling at Washington of the statue of Marshal De Rocha m beau. Refunding the amount of legacy tax paid by charitable, benevolent and eleemosynary institutions. The amount of appropriations for the session will run unusually high, owing in part to the amount required to build the isthmian canal. 'rhe appropriation bills have contained little general legislation, being confined chiefly to the regular needs of the various branches of the government. The naval bill provided for an addition of two armored cruisers, ttyo battleships and two gunboats to the navy, and a provision is still in controversy as to whether one of each class of these ships shall be built in government yards. Investigations During the Session. There have been several investigations during the session which have attracted much attention. An, investigation of conditions in the Philippines conducted by the Philippine committee of the Senate has led to the examination of many witnesses high in the conduct of civil and military affairs in the islands. Another Senate inquiry has related to the condition of affairs in Cuba, especially as to sugar. In the House sensational charges made in connection with the purchase of the Danish West Indian islands led to an investigation which, it.is believed, disclosed the groundless nature of the charges.

Notes of Current Events.

The Cumberland Presbyterians will establish a college at Adgerton, forty mile* southeast of St. Joseph, Mo. Chicago officials have discovered th* wornout horses slaughtered in that town und the meat sold fur beef. Julie Opp, the actress, has been divorced in Ixmdon from Robert Lorraine, an actor, to whom she was married in 1897. There has been severe cold in the district of Perpignan, France. Crops ar* liable to be ruined and the farmers are in despair. The rumor that Great Britain intends to purchase the district of Lorenzo Marques, in Portuguese East Africa, has caused great excitement in Portugal. The Finance Minister, Dr. de Lukaca, announced in the Hungarian Diet that he will shortly introduce a bill providing for the abolition of sugar bounties in Hungary and will mgke proposals which the government thought would be beneficial to the sugar Industry of the country. 1 - •