Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 34, Number 90, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 July 1902 — Page 2

CHAPTER XX. — (Continued.) "This man and I,” I said, alluding to flk*. driver, “can carry him-indoors for you, and you shall set about making him some broth. You have no idea how much good that would do him.’* When Heckleberry had been laid down •a his Improvised bed, and the few instractions which the surgeon from Ralston had given me for this crisis in the affair carried out, I sent the cabman away with a generous fare, and a leaf torn from my note book, which was to be given to a doctor in Market .Peyton, and which, I hoped, would bring him over to the farm in the course or the afternoon. When all was finished, and the old woman, the dog and I left alone with Heckleberry, who was now delirious and raving of the accident, I suddenly felt a warm touch upon my hand as I stood looking down at my strange patient, and, tunring quickly, I saw that the great dog was smelling me and caressing me with his tongue. I patted the huge head, almost out of proportion with the body, and saw that the woman was gazing with some apparent astonishment at the picture. “That dog is Jonas’," she said, the first words with any weight of sanity in them which I had yet heard her speak. “He bites strangers—if strangers come here. Only they don’t come very often." “I should imagine not,” I returned fervently. “You see, the dog understands that I mean well by his master, and is grateful for that" “Yes,” she vaguely responded. "But you oughtn’t to have come here, you know. Jonas won’t like it when he wakes up. He never lets anyone in, except them that comes to stay.” There was a slow, mysterious emphasis about her last words which I was at a loss to understand. “Those who come to stay?” I echoed, imprudently perhaps. She pointed to the ceiling and nodded. “Them that’s up there,” she whispered. “You don't mean the spiders?” I questioned curiously. She shook her head. “No; not the spiders, of course. Them that come Shut up in carriages at night. At the other place my daughter used to look after ’em, and I too. But that was before Ilhurt my head. Ah, how I used to make them jump and cry out when 1 went in with the whip! Them was the good old days. But we had to come away from there. It got too hot for us—that was what Jonas said. And Naomi had a good place. And then”—she lowered her voice—“then she came." “She?”

“Yes; the beautiful lady. Oh, the night •he was brought here, so white, halt dead! I thought at first she was one of them. But no; it was 'something worse than that. My daughter Naomi’s clever. Why, since Naomi went, you're the first that's been, barrin’ one o’ them. And he's out there now. Do ’you want to see?" She drew me by the eoat sleeve to the window and pointed outward towards the dark and rigid pines. “Under one of those trees,” she volunteered, “Jonas made me help to dig. And 1 swore never to tell. But he was always afraid I would, I know. That's why he keeps me away from everyone, •nd everyone away from me. Only you—--1 know now that you’re one of his friends.” A chill crept over me with her words. “Did—Jonas dig out there many times?” I questioned. “I’m not sure how many. He doesn’t tell me things any more, as he used. Once I waked in the night, and I could see him out there in the woods with a lantern, and I heard the sound of his •pade in the sand. Next day, when I went to peep into that room upstairs, he was gone. And I’ve never seen him •gain.” “By and by,” I said to myself, “I •hall have this blackmailer's secret laid bare before me a horrible secret it bids fair to be. Then let him look for no mercy from me."

Then I remembered the chance allusion •n the old woman’s part to the “beautiful lady" who had come to .them —whose coming seemed to have been an epoch in these strange and dreadful lives. “Heaven help her—it the Woman in Gray”’ I thought. But, though 1 might have drawn from those babbling Bps what I would, now that the creature’s confidence was won, I determined to guard Consuelo’s secret from myself as I would from the veriest stranger. When 1 heard it —as some day I hoped I might—l would hear it from "herself. “Are you and your son living alone in the house at present?” I asked cautiously, “or ” Aud I came to a significant pause. “All but—the last,” the beldame whispered. “Listen!” And again she pointed above. I obeyed. Save for the mutterings of Jonas, there was silence for a moment, •nd then I heard, or thought I heard, a faint, irregular footfall, that went dragtv to and fro over our beads. “What makes that sound?” I question- •* She started with a sort of nervous Jerk, like a toy which is pulled by a string - “What! Don’t you know?” she ingutrvd. “I’m not sure,” I responded cautiousA look of incalculable slyness crept •ver the thin face, and In that instant 1 aecognised a likeness to Mias Traill, who ■mat he, I was convinced, the old worn•b's “clever daughter, Naomi." “Ah, then, if you don’t know that you'd better go away from this- quick. Spiders? Yes; my son makes an honest •via’ out o’ them.. We rears ’em to sell to the wine merchants, you know, and gentlemen just startin’ of wine cellars, who to in a harry for the bottles in their kins to look like old. You has no idea

HE WOMAN IN GRAY

BY ROBERT ESTES DURAND.

what a call there is for ’em. sir, and not but two or three more spider farms in the country.” y The mother of the spider family seemed now to have completely forgotten her former revelations and her subsequent anxiety to rid herself of me. But I had had a lesson to festratarmy curiosity. What there was to be known of the hidden business at the farm I would find out for myself. Sometimes, I told myself, old Mrs. Heckleberry must sleep. Then, during the period of Jonas’ illness, I should only have the dog to reckon with. At Ralston I had sent to a chemist's and purchased such things as the young surgeon had told me would be wanting immediately. I had beef extract and also a cooling draught, in case of fever, for which he had scribbled a prescription on the leaf of a notebook. There was no clock in the room, and 1 was obliged to consult my own watch, -which. I did of ten er, perhaps, than. Jthere was any need, Apr when the hour had approached 5 I grew very restless and impatient. Always, as I put away the timepiece—a very handsome one, which my extravagantly generous uncle had given me on a birthday a year or so ago —I looked up to find the old Wyman’s eyes fixed upon me with a deep-set gleam of wolfish greediness. There seemed to be some “method in her madness” after all. I had calculated that the doctor would arrive by a little after S at latest. And, as I did not wish to run the risk of being barred out of the house at the Spider Farm before I should learn what were the secrets it contained, I had decided to give the doctor letters to post for Consuelo and my uncle rather than venture forth myself. I did not mean to tell where I was, for I believed that the mention of my presence in the home of the Heckieberrys would terrify and distress Consuelo. But I had planned what I would say, how satisfy her surprised, perhaps hurt, curiosity at my sudden absence at such a time —a time when I should most have wished to remain at her side. And mentally I had got the letter written. But 5, 6 a«d then 7 o’clock came, and no doctor had appeared. I had taken the responsibility of bringing Jonas Heckleberry home, promising that he should be well cared for, and I knew that he must, by this time, need a doctor’s ministrations. To be sure, I had kept myself busy in attending upon him, with what little help I could obtain from his mother. But more than I could do was necessary now, and I began mentally debating as to whether I should walk into Market Peyton, send off my letters and procure a medical man myself. “I am going for a doctor, some one who will do your son good and make him well again," I said at last, eying the old woman with authority, and speaking In a manner one might use with a slowwitted child. “I shall be gone two hours at most, and you must look after him as well as you can meanwhile, and then, when I return with the doctor, you must come and let us in.? “I’ll see about it,” she slyly answered. I did not know what mad thought might be growing in her mind. But it was the only thing to do. I must go to Market Peyton.

CHAPTER XXI. It was raining furiously, and was as dark as it might have been at that hour in March, instead of the beginning of May. But I went on toward the farm gate, which I had broken open at noon, with my head down and the collar of the porter’s coat pulled up to my ears. I had got through the gate and a quarter of a mile further on, perhaps, when suddenly I came into violent collision with some one walking rapidly in the opposite direction. “Hallo! Why can't you look what you're about? Surely there’s room enough in this road for two!” exclaimed an angry voice. I apologized, and found myself talking to a man not much more than my own age, perhaps, but almost featureless, veiled in a heavy black beard. A soft black hat, streaming with rain, was pulled well over his eyes, and a mackintosh was tightly buttoned round his throat. In one hand was a rather professional looking bag. and, in spite of my surprise that he should be walking, I began eagerly to wonder if this short-tempered gentleman could be the Market Peyton doctor or. his belated way toward the Spider Farm.’ “I beg your pardon.” I cried, civilly; "but are you on your way to see Mr. Jonas Heckleberry, of Spider Farm?” He had gone just past me a step or two in his hurry, but wheeled round hurriedly at my words. "I beg your pardon.” he echoed, with a look of being startled, “but I should like to ask what may that be to you?” "It is this to me,” I answered, "that 1 wish to know whether you are the doctor who was sent for early this afternoon from Market Peyton. “I’m Mr. Nobody of Nowhere,” he returned. with a peculiar laugh. "But, though I haven’t got an M. D. after my name, I'm a pretty good doctor for all that, and I'm the best Mr. Jonas Heckleberry is likely to get to-night. But, again. I’d be glad to inquire what affair it is of yours? You don’t come from the Spider Farm—that I know.” "There you’re mistaken,” I said coolly, “for I do come from there, and I’m going back again with you, if you are a doctor, as you seem inclined to hint.” “The deuce yon are!” he exclaimed shortly, and I caught ■ gleam of dark eyes under the slouch hat. I could. ng.t help laughing. “Let us drojj this badinage.** I sala/ ""anJTcorffi? to some sort of understanding.” I then went on to explain what 1 thought necessary. and at last repeated my question. Had I met the doctor? “You have, and you haven’t,” he returned. “I don’t live in Market Pay-

ton. But I had busineas there to-day. i | heard about the accid’WL And the fact is, I know the Heckleberrys; I lived once in the part of the Country from which they came, and I'm one of the few people it wouldn’t fret Jonas unnecessarily to see about him. Though, as I said, I'm ‘Mr. Nobody of Nowhere,’ and so it’s my whim to remain. I took a fancy when I heard the news to run out and doctor Jonas myself. I was able to satisfy the medical chap who was coming of my capabilities and the advantages of my presence on the scene, and as he was busy over a case which he didn’t care to leave, why—l. was welcome to have my way. And now good night to you; I must be hurrying on.” He was off as he spoke like a shot; but I was considerably taller and longer of limb than he, and I caught up with him again in a moment. “Not so fast, Mr. Nobody, if you please,” I said. “I’m going back with you to the hospitable shelter of the Spider Farm. I think I mentioned my intention once before." ‘ “I don’t recollect it,” he returned surlily, “nor is there the slightest need on earth for you to do so.” “I haven’t asked either your permission or your opinion," I retorted, losing my temper a little. “I shall go back, if only to see that you are a doctor, as you pretend to be.” “Fool!” I heard him utter below his breath; then, hastily opening the bag he carried, and shielding the contents from the downpour of rain with the cape of his mackintosh, he ejaculated impatiently: “There, if you doubt my word, look at that. Here lie my credentials.” The bag was stored with neat rows of bottles and some surgical instruments, several large ones wrapped in chamois skin. “I see,” I commented. “Still, I prefer to go back.” “Then allow me to inform you, sir, that you’ll be simply intruding where jou’re not wanted. There is no good accommodation for strangers at the farm, and Mrs. Heekleberry isn't exactly an ideal hostess. She got a fall downstairs once, and hit her head on the stone floor of a cellar, and she's been mad as a hatter ever since, poor woman!" “Well,” I said, “since you assure me that you can do all that is wanted out there, perhaps I shall reconsider my decision. Let me know how he gets on, will you?” And I fabricated, a name and a London address on the spot, with a quickness and plausibility of which 1 would not previously have believed myself capable. “You’re a man of sense!” my companion exclaimed. “For the second time, I wish you good night.” “Good night,” I echoed, and, turning at ohce, I commenced walking briskly away through the rain in the direction of Market Peyton. (To be continued.)

BOOKS OF AN EARLY DATE.

Before Abraham’s Time There Was a Literature of Much Value. An American excavating expedition engaged in operations at the ancient city of Nippur has recently unearthed documents that prove that ancient Babylon existed in a literary age, and that there was no small amount of culture in the time of Abraham, the patriarch. A library of clay books has been found which had already been lost and covered by the earth when Abraham was born. They are in the shape of tablets, of which it is calculated there were more than 100,000. The inscriptions on them relate to all the various branches of knowledge and literature studied at the time. The chief cities of Babylonia all had these libraries of imperishable clay. ,A contemporaneous record of events had long been kept and an accurate system of dating had been invented. The discovery of these libraries and the facts for which tfiey stand has an Important bearing on old testament criticism and history. It disposes once and for all of the contention that no written documents of the Abrahamlc age could have been descended to later tiinbs. Palestine, at that period, was a sort of dependency of Babylon, and Abraham when he moved westward was simply entering another part of the Baylonian empire. So even In Canaan he was surrounded by the influences of Babylonian culture. Another discovery, that of the site of the tower of Babel, is thought to have been made by a party of German excavators. It has usually been identified with the mount now called the Blrs-1-Nlmrud. But this was a mistake, for the Birs-l-Nlmrud represents the temple not of Babylon, but of the neighboring town of Borsippa. The tower of Babel was undoubtedly the greai tower attached to the temple of Blemenrodach in Babylon Itself. These same German excavators discovered the palace of Nebuchadnezzar, in which Alexander the Great died.

An Unofficial Offer.

Thomas, tenth Earl of Duudonald, at his death vice admiral in the English navy, tells in his “Autobiography of a Seaman” of an incident on board the Hind, on which he served as midshipman. The pet of the ship was a parrot, the aversion of the boatswain, whose whistle the bird leaned to imitate exactly. One day a party of ladles paid us a visit aboard. By the usual means of a "whip” on the yard-arm several had been hoisted on deck. The chain had descended for another. Scarcely had Its fair freight been lifted out of the boat alongside when the parrot piped, "Let go!” •' The order was instantly obeyed, and the unfortunate lady, instead of being comfortably seated on deck, was soused in the sea. Luckily for her, the men were on the watch and quiekly pulled her out, and luckily for the parrot the boatswain was on shore, or this unseasonable asanmptlon of the boatswain's function! might have ended tragically for the bird. • o What doth It profit a man if be maketh a three-bagger and dleth at third bzael

POLITICAL COMMENT.

Democratic “Arguments.” * 4 A good specimen of Democratic reasoning upon the Philippine policy of the administration was given in the House by Congressman Williams of Mississippi. Like other Democrats who read American history revised by themselves to suit their own ideas, he read into United States history a new chapter, and in the course of his remarks said: We are not doing in the Philippines what we did in Florida. We-are not doing in Louisiana nor in any other place ever annexed to this country what' we are doing in the Philippine Islands. Every man knows that heretofore we have annexed areas peopled with a white race or else peopled with an Indian race so sparsely settled that they did not interfere with home making in the annexed territory by the sons and daughters of American people. Every man knows that this is the first time that we ever undertook to annex against their will, fighting with arms against it, a people denser than that in the State of Mississippi today. The history of the United States says that we acquired all the land between the Mississippi River and the original States by a series of cessions by the original States without the consent of the persons occupying the land which had been acquired by the original States by occupation and conquest, without asking the consent of the previous occupiers. We acquired Florida and Louisiana in 1319 and 1808, respectively, without reference to the will of the inhabitants. We just took them in

Bryan—Catching trains from a flag-station isn’t what it’s cracked up to be.—lndianapolis Journal. •

as territories or provinces, and Florida was not allowed Statehood for six years, while Louisiana remained nine years subject to Congress. The territory acquired from Mexico by the treaties of 1848 and 1853 was taken in without any reference to the views of the inhabitants, and after over half a century Arizona and New Mexico are still Territories. Mr. Williams would do well to consult a volume on our Indian policies, recently published by the Government and embodying the decisions of the Supreme Court as to manner of obtaining our title to Indian lauds. The position of our Government, under every administration since the beginning, has’been that conquest and occupation gave title, without deferring to the wishes of the Inhabitants. Our Government has fought all our Indian wars, and some of them involved desperate fighting, to force the reds to submit to us. We have spent hundreds of millions of dollars in this country to force people to submit who did not want us to rule over them. Mr. Williams thinks that the size of the population transferred to us by treaty or conquest makes a difference. Because there are 11,000,000 of Filipinos, more or less, on the islands, he thinks we should abandon all efforts to reduce them to obedience and leave the country. We have been doing in the Philippines exactly what we have done In this country. We put down with the sword revolts of Indian tribes. Had the inhabitants of Louisiana and Florida risen in revolt, they would have been put down by the_sword. An atteihpted revolt In Louisiana, under the provincial government, was nipped In the budding by Governor Clalbourne by force of arms. It makes no difference whether there are few or many people In revolt against the United States in the Philippines. The United States will maintain law and order in the Territories subject to its jurisdiction.—Minneapolis Journal.

Bryan Has Burned His Bridges. It is announced that Mr. Bryan did not even acknowledge the receipt of the invitation sent him to attend the Tilden dub banquet In New York, which means that he did not wish to write a note of regret that he could not be present to help the harmonizing policy. This shows that Mr. Bryan is not disposed to be used by those who make

Cleveland and Hill the party leaders. In other words, Mr. Bryan puts up the signal that he has burned his bridges. Dewey Did It. The fourth attempt of the Democratic leaders to exalt Aguinaldo as a pure and unselfish patriot is going the way of the others. The Patterson plan to prove Aguinaldo a martyr to the bad faith of William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt-is ulready in pieces. In their recent speeches in Congress the Democratic Senators dwelt for weeks upon the treachery, duplicity and broken promises of William McKinley to Aguinaldo and his associates in rebellion. They impugned the motives of President Roosevelt in continuing to disregard the wishes of a great national leader who had sacrificed himself to secure independence of his people. They poured forth scathing denunciations on the army and navy in the Philippines on the assumption that Admiral Dewey, acting under the instructions of the President of the United States, had tacitly, if not openly, agreed to the Independence of the Filipinos and had given proniises which had been broken wantonly when the islands were annexed to the .United States. Then, to prove all these things, the Democratic Senators called Admiral Dewey as their star witness and Admiral Dewey proceeded to demolish their case. Under his clear, frank, blunt statement of the facts their effort to

PASSED HIM BY.

exalt Aguinaldo'at the expense of our own officers, to the discredit of our own soldiers, to the shame of William McKinley, and to the humiliation of. Theodore Roosevelt, wavered, weakened, and collapsed. On the unassailable testimony of the American who knew him best and who had the best opportunities for judging his character, his motives, and his aspirations. Aguinaldo was proved, not a statesman willing to efface himself to secure independence for his people, not a leader who aimed at the greatest good for the greatest number, not a patriot flaming with love of country, but a looter, a robber, and a trickster. After such a stunning blow (rom their own witness, Messrs. Carmack, Rawlins and Patterson will do well to sit down. They need a rest. So do about 80,000,000 others.—Chicago Inter Ocean.

* Balance In Our Favor. ' The extent that the short crops of last season affected our exports is seen in the falling off in the amount of $22,000,000 during May and $92,500,000 during the eleven months compared with the same periods a year before. The loss is mainly due to the styort crop of corn and oats and the lower price of cotton. During the eleven months of the fiscal year the amount of corn exported was 140,000,000 bushels and of oats 26,000,000 bushels. Although 200,000 bales more of cotton were exported, the value was less by $22,000,000. The shortage of corn has had an effect upon the export of cattle, hogs and provisions, the decrease in value being $3,600,000 in May. Turning to imports, the value thereof in May was $3,000,000 less than in May, 1901. For the eleven months, in spite of the fact that the imports were $75,000,000 more the last period than In 1901, the excess of exports over imports is $462,470,845. This is a smaller balance in our favor than we have had for four years, but it isjufflci&t

Remember the BrMge. The Democratic State platform declares against the protective tariff, to which this country is very largely indebted for its present prosperity. In November, however, the people wtlTremember the bridge which brought them over. Toe lesson of the free trade legislation which followed the Democratic victory of 1892 has not been forgotten. —TVrr« Haute Tribune.

RECORD OF THE WEEK

INDIANA INCIDENTS TERSELY TOLD. • Tornado Cansea Three Deaths and Mnch Damage to Crops—Youth Attacks Brother with Ax—Preachers Expelled by Mob at Winchester. -Three persons were killed and seven or eight badly injured in a tornado that passed over Vanderburgh County. The fatalities occurred at St. WendeL The dead are: Clarence'George, aged 80; Andrew George, aged 7; Chris Laugek The storm was about two miles wide and had a .fearful velocity. Many buildings were demolished. The house of Goedde was blown down and the old man, who was seated at the-supper-table with his-fam-ily, was killed outright. Laugel, -a farm hand, and the boy were buried under the ruins of the house. Frank Goedde was caught under the falling' building, and it is feared he cannot live. The house of Peter Wolf was carried away, and he was probably fatally hurt. The loss to property will amount to about SIOO,OOO. Considerable stock was killed, and for a distance of two miles every building and tree was swept away. The storm was especially severe at St. Phillips, and one life is reported lost, there. The storm struck Evansville also, damaging several buildings. A tow boat is reported sunk in Green river. At Nabb’s Station, Charlestown and Lexington, a number of residences and outhouses were destroyed, but no one was hurt so far as known. Somnambulist Kills Brother. Somnambulism was the.cause of a tragedy near Beck’s Grove. Grover Snyder, aged 18, was almost chopped to pieces by bis brother Ollie, aged 15, and is dying from blood poisoning. The boys are sons of Greenbury Snyder, a farmer. The father was absent from home the other night,- and the two boys were left alone with their mother. As a precaution against intruders Mrs. Snyder placed an ax near the door; Some time after the boys had retired for the night the mother was awakened by cries of distress. She hastened into Grover’s bedroom, where she came upon a sickening sight. Ollie had left his bed, secured the ax and was hacking away at his brother. The mother could not arouse Ollie. He seemed in a dazed condition. John M. Snyder, the boys’ brother, was murdered near Champaign, 111., two years ago. The muvder weighed heavily on the mind of the lad. During his sleep Ollie dreamed some one was attempting to kill him. He would start in his sleep and often aroused the entire household by his sjtrange actions. It was while in this frame of mind that he attacked his brother.

Bind and Gag Old Woman. Mrs. William Latta, aged 55 years, living alone on a farm on Haw Patch, four miles north of Ligonier, was bound and gagged by four masked men who had forced an entrance to her house. searched the house while the fourth stooa guard. They secured a gold watch, but less than $lO in money. They believed a large sum of money was secreted in the house, but could not make Mrs. Latta adjnit it. } Mob Expels Two Preachers. Winchester is aroused against a band of Pentecostal missionaries and as a result Matthias Klein and C. H. Huff, two ministers of the band, have been attacked by a crowd. They were struck with clubs and stones. The ministers would not fight and finally escaped, leaving town on the advice of the Mayor, who said he could not protect them. State News la BrieL Alfred Smith, Lafayette, committed suicide with morphine. Arthur Osborn, Scottsburg, accidentally shot himself. Will die. Guy Hamilton, New Ross, was run Over by a handcar and fatally injured. Indianapolis Zouaves won first prize at Kokomo carnival, with Peru second. Dundy A. James, newspaper man, Lafayette, died of cancer of the throat. W. H. Thomas’ business house, Harmony, burned. Loss SB,OOO, insurance SSOO. ' Brannigan & Smith, proprietors of a carriage agency at Wabash, made an assignment. Lowell Hubbard and Morris Whalen, boys, Sardinia, played with an old shotgun. Whalen is dead. Alonzo Hill, Big Four fireman, was overcome by heat at Thorntown and died. His home was Shelbyville. Joseph Haggatt, in jail at Salem, charged with murder of an infant child, hanged himself with a bed sheet. Thomas Rowe, George W. Rowe and Harry Rowe were killed by the explosion of the boiler of a thrasher engine near Mount Vernon. ’ Several thousand people gathered at Pennville and beard United States Senator J. P. Dollivhr of lowa deliver an address on “American Patriotism.” Edna and Elsie Beigh, daughters of Nelson J. Beigh of Claypool, were thrown from a carriage in a runaway and the former died from a fractured skull. The latter is probably fatally injured. The 8,000 employes of the Pittsburg Plate Glass Company in, Kokomo have been notified of an Increase of 5 per cent in wages. Skilled men will also be given premiums for least breakage of glass in handling. L. Whitney lies in a critical condition at his home in the southwestern part of Monroe County owing to a whipping administered by white caps. Twenty masked men dragged him from his bed, tied him to a tree near by and lashed him until he was almost dead. Whitney quarreled with Simpson Chambers, his fath-er-in-law, and in the fight that followed broke two of Chambers’ ribs. For refusing him money Benjamin Pierce, aged 18, shot and mortally wounded his aunt. Mrs. Perryman Pierce, aged 75, near Fayetteville. Curtis M. Baker, a farmer near Buffaloville, was killed in a windstorm that swept over Spencer County, He was in his home with his wife and seven children. All esea ped except Baker. Two . young Kentucklans-JSamuel Mooreland and Richard Ashiy—had a pistol duel in Madison. Five shots were exchanged, one of which passed through Mooreland’s clothing. Ashiy, who fled, was renorted as shot in the thick.