Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 39, Number 75, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 May 1907 — Page 2

THE SPY

BY J. FENIMORE COOPER

A STORY OF THE REVOLUTION

CHAPTER IX.—(Continued.) Frances abandoned her whole soul,to the music. Isabella moved from the win4ew as her last tones melted on the ear •f her admiring listener, and, for the first •baa, her eye rested on the pallid face of the intruder. A glow of fire lighted the countenance of both at the same instant, the blue eye of Frances met the brilliant Mack one of her guest, and both fell in •bashed confusion; they advanced, however, until they met. “This sudden change in the weather, •ad perhaps the situation of my brother, have united to make me melancholy. Miss Jim... j .... t> TtmHffllo in a latp t A n* “’Tis thought you have little to apprehend for your brother,” said Frances, tn the same embarrassed manner; “had S>u seen him when he was brought in by ajor Dunwoodie ” Frances paused, with a feeling of •hame, for which she could not account; and, in raising her eyes, she saw Isabella

“DO YOU LOVE DUNWOODIE?”

studying her countenance with earnestness. “You were speaking of Major Dunwoodie,“ said Isabella, faintly. “Hare yon seen him often?” “He is my relative,” said Frances. “Our Barents were cousins," faintly replied Trances. “And he is to be your husband?” said the stranger, impetuously. Frances felt shocked, and all her pride awakened, by this direct attack upon her feelings, and she raised her eyes from the ioor a little proudly, when the pale cheek mad quivering lip of Isabella removed her resentment in a moment. “It is true! my conjecture is true; apeak to me. Miss Wharton; I conjure you, in mercy to my feelings, to tell me — 4o you love Dunwoodie?” There was a plaintive eainestness in the voice that disarmed Frances, and the only answer she could make was hiding her burning face between her hands. Isabella paced the floor in silence until ahe had succeeded in conquering the violence of her feelings, when, taking the hand of the other, she spoke with ah evident effort at composure. “Pardon me. Miss Wharton, if my ungovernable feelings have led me into impropriety : the powerful motive—the cruel season—” she hesitated; Franees now raised her face, and tlieir eyes once more met; they fell in each other's arms, and laid their burning cheeks together. The embrace was long—was ardent and sincere—but neither spoke; and on separating. Frances retired to her own room without further explanation. While this extraordinary scone was acting in the room of Miss Singleton, matters of great importance were agitated in the drawing room. The disposition of the fragments of dinner was a task that required exertion and calculation. Notwithstanding several of the small game had nestled in the pocket of Captain Lawton'& man. still there was more left nnconsumed. than the prudent Miss Peyton knew how to dispose of to advantage. Caesar and his mistress had a long communication on this important business, and the consequence was that Colonel Wellmere was left to the hospitality of Sarah Wharton. All the ordinary topics •f conversation were exhausted, when the colonel touched lightly on the transactions of the preceding day. “We little thought. Miss Wharton, when I first saw this Mr. Dunwoodie in your house in Queen street, that he was to be the renowned warrior he has proved himself,” said Wellmere, endeavoring to ■mile away his chagrin. “Renowned, when we considef* the enemy he overcame." said Sarah, with considtration for her companion's feiings. “ ’Twhk most unfortunate, indeed, in every respect, that you met with the accident, or doubtless the royal arms would have triumphed in their usual manner.” “And yet the pleasure of such society as this accident has introduced me to would more than repay the pain of a mortified spirit aid wounded body,” added the colonel, in a manner of peculiar softaaaa.

“I hope the latter is but trifling.” said Sarah, stooping to hide her blushes under the pretext of biting a thread from the work on her knee. “Trifling, indeed, compared to the former,” returned the colonel. “Ah! Miss Wharton, it ia in such moments that are feel the full value of friendship and sympathy.” Those who have never tried it cannot •eslly imagine what a rapid progress a warm-hearted female can make in love, in the short space of half an hour, particularly where there ia a predisposition to the distemper. Sarah found the conversation. when it began to touch on friendahip and sympathy, too Interesting to venture her voice with a reply. She. bow*f»r, tamed her eyes oo the rolonel. and ■nw him gating at her fine face with an admiration that was quite as manifest.

and much more soothing, than any words could make it. CHAPTER X. V The position held by the corps of dragoons was a favorite place of halting with their commnndcr. A cluster of some halfdozen small and dilapidated buildings formed what was called the village of the Four Corners. As usual, one of the most imposing of these edifices had been termed “a house of entertainment for man and beast.” On a rough board suspended from a gallows-looking post, written in red chalk, “Elizabeth Flanagan, her hotcly”— an- -ebullition -of—the wit of some idle wags of the corps. The matron. whose name had thus been exalted to an office of such unexpected dignity, ordinarily discharged the duties of a female sutler, washerwoman and, to use the language of Katy Ilavnes. petticoat doctor to the troops. She was the widow of a soldier who had been killed in the service. The men were quartered in the adjacent barns, and the officers collected in the “Hotel Flanagan,” as they facetiously called headquarters. Betty was well known to every soldier in the corps, and, although absolutely intolerable to all whom habit had not made familiar -with her virtues, was a general favorite with these partisan warriors. Her faults were a trifling love of liquor and a total disregard of, language: her virtues, an unbounded love for her adopted country, perfect honesty when dealing with the soldiery, and great good nature. Such was the mistress of the mansion, who showed her blooming face from the door to welcome the arrival of her favorite, Captain I-awton, and his companion, her master in matters of surgery. “Ah! by my hopes of promotion, my gentle Elizabeth, but you are welcome!” cried the trooper, as he threw himself ftom his saddle; “this villainous fresh water gas from ths Canadas has been whistling among my bones till they ache with the cold, but the sight of your fiery countenance is as cheering as a Christmas fire.”

“Now sure, Captain Jack yee's always full of your eomplimentaries,” replied the sutler, taking the bridle of her customer; “but hurry in for the life of you, darling.” A long table, made of boards, was stretched through the middle of the largest apartment, or the bar room, and on it was a display of crockery ware. The steams of cookery arose from an adjoining kitchen. The captain of dragoons was in no manner displeased at the prospect of terminating pleasantly a day that had been agreeably commenced. He was soon surrounded by his comrades, who made many eager inquiries concerning his adventures. while the surgeon proceeded, with certain quakings of the heart, to examine into the state of his wounded. Enormous fires wore snapping in the chimneys of the bouse. The group within were all young men, and tried soldiers. Some were endeavoring to sleep on the benches which lined the walls, some were walking the apartments, and others were seated in earnest discussion on subjects

BETTY WAS WELL KNOWS.

connected with the business of their lives. Occasionally, as the door of the kitchen opened, the hissing sounds of the frying pans and the inviting savor of the food creSted a stagnation in all other employments. All -this time Dumvoodie sat by himself, gazing at the fire, and lost in reflection. He had made earnest inquiries of Sitgreaves after the condition of Singleton. during which a profound and respectful silence was maintained in the room : but as soon as he had ended and resumed his seat, the usual ease and freedom prevailed. A loud summons at the door of the building created a halt in the uproar, and the dragoons instinctively caught up their artn* to he prepared for the worst. The door was opened, and the Skinners entered, dragging in the peddler, bending beneath the load of uis pack. “Which is Captain Lawton?” said the leader of the gang. “He waits your pleasure.”” said the trooper, dryly. “Then here I deliver to your hands a condemned traitor; this is Harvey Birch, the peddler-spy.” . Lawton started a* he looked his old acquaintance in the face, and turning to the Skinner with a lowering look, he asked : * “And who are you. that speak so freely of your neighbors? But.” bowing to Dunwoodie, “here Is the commanding cer.”“Are you Harrey Birch?” said Dunwoodie. advancing with an air of authority. “I am.” said Rireji. proudly. “"“And a traitor to fflur country.” continued the major, with sternness; “do you know that I should be justified in ordering your execution this hight ?" “ 'Tis not the will of God to call a soul so hastily to his presence," mid the peddler, with solemnity. “You apeak the truth.” said Dun

■———■Mill II ■■■■—■■nil.. I I I woodle; "and a few brief hours shall ha added to your life. But as your offense is most odious to a soldier, so -it will be sure to meet a soldier’s vengeance; you jdie to-morrow/^ “’Tis as God wißs.” “I have spent many a good hour to entrap the villain,” said the Skinner, “and I hope you will give me a certificate that will entitle us to the reward." “Major Dunwoodie,” said the officer of the day, entering the room, “the patrols report a house to be burnt near yestet day’s battleground.” “ 'Tsvas the hut of the peddler,” muttered the leader of the gang; “we- have hot left him a shingle for shelter; I should have burnt it months ago, but I wanted his shed for a trap to catch the sly fox in." “You seem a most ingenious patriot,” said Lawton. “Major Dunwoodie, I second the request of this worthy gentleman, and crave the office of bestowing the reward on him amt' his fellows.” “Take it—and you, miserable man, prepare for the fate which will surely befall you before the setting of to-morrow's sun.”

“Life offers but little to tempt me jvitb,” said Harvey, gazing wildly at the strange faces Tn the apartment: “Come, worthy children of America !” said Lawton, "follow and receive your reward.” The gang eagerly accepted.the invitation, and followed the captain toward the quarters assigned to his troop. Dunwoodie paused a moment, from reluctance to triumph over a fallen foe, before he proceeded. “You have already been tried. Harvey Birch, Tind The truth has proved you to '‘’be an enemy too dangerous to the liberties of America to be suffered to live.” “The truth!” echoed the peddler, starting.

"Ay! the truth ; you were charged with loitering near the continental army, to gain intelligence of its movements, and, by communicating them to the enemy, to enable him to frustrate} the intentions of Washington.” “Will Washington say so, think you?” “Doubtless be would.” "No, no, no,” cried the peddler, in a voice and with a manner that startled Dunwoodie; “Washington can see beyond the hollow views of pretended patriots.” “Have you anything, wretched man, to urge to the commander-in-chief why you should not die?” said the major. Birch trembled. His face assumed the ghastly paleness of death, and his hand drew a box of tin from the folds of his shirt; he opened it, showing by the act that it contained a small piece of paper; on this document his eye was for an instant fixed —he had already held it toward Dunwoodie, when, suddenly withdrawing his hand, he exclaimed ; “No—it dies with me; I know the conditions of my service, and will not purchase life with their forfeiture.” “Deliver that paper and you may possibly find favor,” cried Dunwoodie, expecting a discovery of importance to the ca use. “It dies with repeated Birch, a flush passing over his pallid features, and lighting them with extraordinary brilliancy. “Seize the traitor-” cried the major, “and wrest the secret from his hands.” The order was immediately obeyed; but the movements of the peddler were too quick; in an instant he swallowed the paper. Dunwoodie whispered bis orders in the ear of a subaltern, and motioned to the peddler to withdraw. The interruption caused by this scene prevented further enjoyment around the table, and the officers dispersed to their several places of rest. In a short time the only noise to bo heard was the heavy tread of the sentinel, as he paced the frozen ground in front of the Hotel Flanagan. (To be continued.)

How He Lost His Opportunity.

How little the average person who is tiying to get oir realizes liow many things are occurring tn his experience which art?*trying to down him, and which are hindering his advance! A poor job, an unkind word, a stinging criticism, ingratitude for a favor, failure to give assistance when it was in his power, hard problems skipped way back in youth, a hasty act. an indiscretion of an unguarded moment. All things are likely to come up when fie least expects it and bar his progress. Many an able man with political ambitions has failed of election to Congress, or of appointment to some coveted office, because of some slip he has made, or of somebody, perhaps a private secretary, who has put in the word that checkmated the move for his advancement. Perhaps, it was a sarcastic remark about someone, who later was in a position to help him. that lost him the opportunity. Many a umn has lost his opportunity for advancement under the present administration by opposing and criticizing Theodore Roosevelt in his earlier career, wlien he did not dream that the former would ever oocnpy his present lofty position. You uever eau tell where a thrust of an unguarded moment will laud, or what effect a sarcastic remark may have on your future. lie is a fortunate man who guards hfs tongue, who tempers his acts with prudence and good judgment. —O. S. Mardeu iii jSuceeas Magazine.

The Very Reason.

Mr. Xuriteh —Wliat! You want to marry my daughter? Why, you ain't able to support yourself. . Young Nervey —Quite so. That’s the very excuse l gave to fuy family for wanting to marry your daughter.—Philadelphia Ledger.

Concentrated Hopes.

“Has that young man any expectations in life?” asked the stern father. “He has." answered the heiress. “What are they?” "Me.” —Washington Star.

A Good Show.

“How was the show?” “Fine; the plot was the thickest I ever saw." —Cornell Widow.

FARM GARDEN

Buttermilk Is given but little value on dairy farms, and where there are pigs they are allowed, the whole of the buttermilk. It is W very nourishing drink In the summer for farm help, and Is also excellent as an additional food for poultry of all kinds. Kerosene Is fatal to all kinds of Insects, and for that reason it is frequently used as a preventive of damage by the cabbage worm. An objection to Its use Is that the kerosene Impregnates the cabbage with its odor. The remedy Is therefore as obnoxious as the work of the cabbage worm. _ A handful of sawdust sprinkled with carbolic acid and thrown in the nest box will prevent vermin. The sawdust so treated can be also scattered In the stalls and pn the floors of stables, and flies and insects of all kinds will be less troublesome. Crude petroleum will be found excellent as a liniment for sores, and will also assist In keeping vermin away.

Bacteria In Milk Bottles. The host of bacteria that may lurk in p supposedly clean milk bottle has been the subject of investigation by the Wisconsin Experiment Station. Bottles ■which had been steamed for thirty seconds were found to contain relatively few bacteria, possibly 15,000 to a bottle. However, when the steam was allowed to condense and the water so produced to remain In the bottle at room temperatures for possibly twenty-four hours, the number of bacteria multiplied enormously and varied from 2,000,000 to say 4,000,000. In a series of steamed bottles exposed to the air for twenty-four hours but containing no condensed water the number of bacteria averaged 800,000 per bottle, while in a slmlllar series which had undergone the same treatment In all respects except they were' covered ■with a clean linen cloth, averaged about the same as freshly steamed bottles, all- of which shows the very great importance of keeping milk bottles, either empty or full, very carefully covered.^

Growing; Potatoes by Mulching-. It. A, Emerson, of the Nebraska Experiment Station, says: “Seven years' experience has shown mulching to be a fairly satisfactory way of growing potatoes on a small scale. A straw mulch has generally increased the yield over that secured from the very best cultivation. The quality of the product has not been hurt, except under very wet conditions. Tubers grown under, a litter mulch have been better for seed than others. Mulclilng Is practicable only when the mulchmaterlal Mnbeobta4nefl verr etrennly. The cost of spreading the mulch Is greater than the cost of good cultivation. Any coarse material can be used for a mulch. Old hay or straw, or even coarse stable litter, can be used if free from grain and weed seeds. The mulch should be about, four inches deep, and Is best spread Just before the plants appear, the ground.haring beep first harrowed once or twice after planting. Rather large seed pieces give better results than small ones where potatoes are to be mulched, since they give the plants the strength required to force tlieir way np through ffae straw. The seed pieces should be planted turn or three inches deep, and the hills can be as close together as 18x18 inches or 12x24 Indies.”

System on the Farm. Does things on time and in good time. Is the screw that never gets loose. Does away with eOess work. Provides a place for everything and keeps everything In Its place. Makes a crooked way straight. Sees there Is one or the other product of the field, bnruyard, dairy, or garden marketed every week. By Its very presence, generates habits of Industry and punctuality. Never wastes anything; but markets the by-products, sklm-milk, surplus fruits and vegetables. Spends money In farming, but little In farms. Stops the leaks and losses. ,Markets the farm product In good shape and season. Has the winter quarters ready when cold weather approaches and provides soiling crops when pastures get short. Maintains a rotation of crops. Is the lubricant that makes the farm work go smoothly. Watches each form operation with tlie keen eye of the merchant or manufacturer who wisely follows up each move to it? finish In the profit or loss column of JR* ledger. Is but another name for prudent foresight which looks far ahead, keeps an eye on the present and profits by the past. « V ChlekM **•■ or Sorehead la Pomltry. Chicken pox Is said by an Alabama bulletin to cause more mortality among

chickens In that State than any othar disease. There appears to be no wellmarked distinction between chickenpox, avian diphtheria, and roup, as these terms are ordinarily used. The literature relating to the subject la carefully reviewed. A number of Inoculation tests were made with organisms obtained from cases of chicken pox. r—ltThe author concludes that the cause of the disease Is not definitely known. Some evidence Is usually presented to show that bacillus cacosmus or some species of bacterium or pseudomonas may be factors In causing the disease,

but careful experiments failed to connect either one of them with the disease as the primary eause. Chicken pox may be carried by various Insects. The period of Incubation Is from two to twenty days. Chicks from 7to 8 months of age are most susceptible, and affected birds may recover In from two to eight weeks. Mortality varies from 50 to 70 per cent. The author reports satisfactory results from the application of lodoform and tannic or boric acid upon affected parts of the throat and eyes. A large number of other antiseptics have been used with fair success. A bibliography of the subject Is given and mention Is made of the chief points to be observed Id the sanitary management of fowls.

To Make Kerosene Emulsion. Every farmer should: prepare some kerosene emulsion now and keep It on hand all the time. You will need It as spring comes on. This emulsion Is made as follows: Kerosene, two gallons; common or whale oil soap, onequarter of a pound; water, one gallon. Heat the solution of soap and add it boiling to the kerosene; then churn the mixture for ten minutes. Be sure to have the water boiling hot when you add It to the kerosene, and churn It thoroughly; otherwise yon will have trouble In making it a good emulsion, which, when made right, should have a creamy appearance. To use this stock emulsion, dilute it with 20 gallons of water and apply It with a spray pump. If j»ou are dealing with hogs and no spray pump Is at hand, put the aqhqals In a narrow chute and apply It with a common sprinkling can. Kerosene emulsion Is one of the most useful remedies against insects, especially those that suck the sap from the plants or blood from animals which they attack and which therefore cannot be combated by the use of stomach poisons like Paris green. On the other hand, different plants vary In their ability to withstand the oil, so that care must be used to make the emulsion strong enough to be fatal to the insects without hurting the plants. The chief Insect pests for which it Is used are the various species of .plant lice or aphids and the scale insects. ~— l

Insect Injuries to Wheat. Since 1901 there has been In Nebraska, according to reports Issued by the Lincoln Experiment Station, a succedsion of unusually wet springs and summers, which have respited in the prodigious increase of a number of insects detrimental to the wheat crop, and these for a time threatened to completely ruin the crop of 1904-1905. As it was, the State'suffered a loss of nearly 5,000,000 bushels of wheat at that time through the depredations of these insects, which annually destroy at least ime-tenth of the crop. Bulletin No. 9fl takes up these destructive pests, species by species, discussing their appearance, distribution and life histories, the nature of the Injury done by them, and the methods of control of each. The insects thus considered are the Hessian fly, the wheat stem-maggot, the fritflies, the wheat midge, the wheat strawworm, and wheat joint-worm, the stalk borer and the wheat louse. Pre-eminent among these Is the Hessian fly, which became so alarmingly formidable in the fall of 1904. This Insect has been present in the State since ISO 7, varying In abundance from year to year, but becoming very abundant and harmful during wet seasons. It is double brooded, and destroys the wheat by the larvae lodging between the- sheath and the stem and absorbing the plant juices. The important preventives against its attacks are late sowing, and burning of the stubble, while a rotation of crop* and the destruction of volunteer grain are strongly recommended also. Such additional methods as the direct application of poisons or repellan t», the planting of decoy strips, the plowing under of Infested wheat, pasturing, growing resistant varieties of wheat and the proper management of soil and seeding are discussed and commented upon with special reference to local conditlona

The Wheat stem-maggot has proved to be a very destructive Insect also, and the burning of waste grass lands la winter Is necessary to control It, as It Infests certain wild grasses as well as wheat Against the wbeat-midge the deep plowing of the ground after barjest and the burning of useless'chaff after threshing Is recommended. The burning of the stubble Is the most effective measure against the wheat and wheat joint-worm. The stalk-borer and wheat louse, while destructive, seem to be well controlled by tlieir natural parasites

Labor world

Unions in Sweden have more thas 105,000 members. A new union of woodworkers has besa formed in Milford, N. H. The Sterling (Ill.) Labor Council has started a fund for a city hospital. International Association of Machinists has SIOO,OOO in the treasury. < A new union of inside metal workers has been organized in Cleveland, Ohio. Hotel employes have been active recently, nine unions having been formed. St. Louis policemen are framing a bill for a three-shift system and eight-hour day. .. jr— San Francisco unionists demand that the building trades recognize the steam fitters. • • • An official labor paper, to be published .weekly, -is contemplated by the Union Labor Council of Minneapolis. Three new butchers’ unions are to be 1 established in California, one each in Sacramento, Stockton and Vallejo. The labor unionists of Tennessee favor legislation which will require the labeling of all penitentiary made goods. Labor organizations of America hare 1,504 new unions this year, embracing a membership of 300,000 individuals. The Cincinnati City Council is considering an ordinance making $2 a day ! the minimum wage for city laborers. The Massachusetts street car men’s State convention, held in Boston, decided , to make the request for a nine-hour law. International Union of Carriage and ( Wagon Workers of North America headquarters will be located in Washington. Minneapolis Bartenders’ Union is out after the 1908 convention, and a committee is already in the field and at work. Minneapolis labor unions wiil make an attempt to obtain old city hall for a labor temple. The estimated cost is SBO,000.

A movement for the formation of a State Federation of Teamsters’ Unions is quietly progressing throughout California. A national union of wire workers is suggested by the Boston local of. that craft, and it has elected a committee to work to that end. The California State Federation of La- ■ bor reports that there are 227 unions j affiliated with the federation, represent- . ing 40,000 union wage workers. Active work for the $3 a day wage : rate in the Greater Boston district has been ordered by the Painters’ District Council of eastern Massachusetts. An eight-hour day has been established for the repair men in the Boston fire alarm service. Previously they worked eight-hour day shifts and took turns on a fifteen-hour night shift. It is stated that every retail clerk in Anaconda, Cal., is a trades unionist. | There is perfect harmony and an entire- ' ly satisfactory understanding between the merchants and the employes. Painters’ District Council of eastern Massachusetts has directed every affiliated local to begin at once the conferences with the employers regarding the establishment of the $3 minimum wage rate on May 1. a Chicago retail clerks, in a big meeting recently, voted to demand a nine-hour day, with double pay for overtime. Clerks in the smaller stores say they are working now from seventy to seventy-five hours weekly. \ .Unions affiliated with the Iron Trades' Council of San Francisco have been laying their plans with the object of securing an eight-hour day instead of the nine-hour shift which exists under present conditions. \ ’ Boston sheet metal workers have voted to establish a $3 a week sick benefit, and passed a law forbidding any member of the union working with non-union men or for other than union wages and full union conditions. A crusade is to be made against those concerts which do a Sunday business in Minneapolis, Minn. It will be conducted by labor unions, and they hope to close all concerns where labor is employed seven days a week. The 'Longshoremen's District Council of Boston takes the position that all lighter captains and engineers, who are not compelled to have United States licenses. do ’longshore work, and are 'longshoremen and not mariners.

Women clerks in Spokane have been invited to join the Clerks' Union, and an active canvass will be made to take every woman into membership. It is stated that many of them have expressed a willingness to join the union. Arrangements are being made to hold a meeting of representatives of blast furnace and coke workers employed in tbe mills of the Mahoning and Shenango valleys at Cleveland, Ohio, when demands will be made for an eight-hour day. The officers of the better managed and most successful cotton mills of Japan pay f. good deal of attention to the improvement of conditions among the help and to increasing the facilities for education,’ especially educati/n along textile lines. . —■? — 1

A statute prohibiting the employment of a child under sixteen years of age longer than ten hours in any one day has been declared by the Oregon Supreme Court' to be nn entirely Talid and proper exercise of the police powers of the State. Stationary firemen, in the office buildings in Chicago, controlled by the Building Managers’ Association, obtained an increase of 1 cent an boar in wages by the decision of an arbitration board. There is a rapture in the working agreement between the Locomotive and Firemen's Union of Great Britain, representing some 14,000 men, and the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants. San Francisco Riggers and Stevedores’ Union claims the distinction of being the oldest labor organisation in the United States. It was estsblished’in 1852 and never in its existence has it bad a strika.