St. Joseph County Independent, Volume 17, Number 24, Walkerton, St. Joseph County, 2 January 1892 — Page 3

ROYAL RANGER RALPH; The W of the Western Prairies. DY WELDON J. COBB. CHAPTER XVll—Continued. Barrel ancPhis companion disappeared through the aperture in the wall. The two guards, recognizing the scout as an enemy, began firing at him. Th ' latter sprang behind the bowlder that had blocked the exit from the cave, and which Barrel Gray had forced aside in entering the place. It afforded a strong' intrenchment for him, and ho had his enemies at a decided disadvantage. A sharp fussilade ensued, during which ■one of the men, evidently wounded, retreated down the corridor with a savage how lof pain. His companion followed his examp e and beat a hasty retreat. Banger Ralph could hear them calling for help to their companions in the main outer cave. “They have sounded the alarm and will soon return with increased force,” decided the old scout. He watched at his post for some time, abandoning it only when a wild commotion arose in the corridor. Armed men bearing torches came rushing in pursuit of the fugitives. Among them the scout observed Despard and Danton. He glided through the aperture leading to the outside, and found himself in the same moonlit valley into which Darrel Grey had fallen a few ho rs previously. Darrel and Inez were nowhere in sight, and the scout supposed that they had succeeded in making their escape. He therefore set about finding some way himself to leave the valley. The apparently inaccessible walls of the place made the task seem almost a hope ess one, however. His investigations were forced to be desultory and brief-, for in a few minutes the outlaws arrived on the scene

The scout had just time to safely ensconce himself in a small thicket, when Les । ard and his men came into view. Immediately the little incosed valley was the scene of the wildest excitement. The men, with torches borne aloft, secured every portion of the place. A shout of triumph thrilled the scout, aud a minute later he saw several of the bandits emerge from a smaller cave, where they had found Darrel and Inez. In the g are of the lights Ranger Ralph could discern the pale, distressed fa e of Darrel and the despairing one of Inez. With exultant cries the bandits boro their ] risoners to the spot where Despard was. “Remove the girl to the cabin and guard her until morning,” ordered the bandit leader. “As to him.” and he indicated Darrel fiercely, “he has crossed our path once too often. He shall die. ” “No, no!” pleaded Inez, frantically; but she was borne away with her appealing words unheeded. grimly* I)esparir w “tt‘i‘trr^^ of the men were standing near him, but he realized that it would be folly to attempt to fight against such uneven odds. “There was another of them,” be * heard a voice say excitedly. “Ha!” ejaculated Despard. “Who?” His informant was one of the guards. “A man dressed like a half-breed.” Despard started violently. “He was friendly to the girl and the prisoner?” he asked. “Yes. ” “Then he was no half-breed at all. Danton, we have been deceived.” “Ry Tallula?” “Exactly. ” “You think he is no messenger from the Modocs?” “That’s it.” “Who is he. then?” “A spy—a friend to the girl. ” “Ranger Ra'ph, probably.” “Perhaps. Boys, search the valley thoroughly. He cannot have escaped, ” called Despard to the men. The bandits at once began a sys- I tematic scour of the v^'ley. From his covert the scout could see Despard and Danton and several of the men return to the eave. The outlaw chief repaired at once to the log house on the cliff wliere the disguised scout had been led by Vance. Inez, weeping, was seated in the room. Despard a fierce glitter in bis eyes, approached her at once. “Girl,” he said. “I have a few words to say to you ” Inez did not reply, but continued to sob bitterly. “You are entirely in my power,” resumed pespard, “and neither you non. your friends can defeat my plan . You must become my wife. ” Despard’s words aroused all the resentful womanliness in Inez’s nature. Sho started wildly to her feet, her eyes flashing, her face pale and defiant.

“Never!” she cried. Iler firm reply did not appear to disturb her captor. “There is no e cape,” he continued calmly. “I will die first!” “No; you wiH obey me. You will not •only become my wife but you wi 1 also do as I tell you regarding the fortune your father has left you.” "Take that fortune,' then. , Release my friends and myself, and it is yours.” “No, my fa r Inez,” jeered Despard. “Your charms have fascinated me, and I shall wed you. As to the fortune, that is in the hands of a man named Walford. You will visit him with me tomorrow morning. You will te l him that I am your legally wedded husband, and induce him to turn over your fortune to me. Then you will accompany mo to some distant country and become my wife.” Inez listened silently until Despard had concluded. “And if I refuse?” she demanded. Despard cam? a step nearer to her. There was a tierce glitter in his evil eye “Shall I tell you?” he hissed. “Yes. ” “The man you love, Darrel Grey, shall de!” With a cry of dread dismay Inez Tracey recoi cd. At that moment there was an int r ruption. One of the outlaws came rushing, excited and breathless, into the room. “Captain!” he cried, “we have found the half-breed!” “He is captured?”

“Na He is armed and tn a position where we cannot dislodge him.” Despard started from the place. “I give you an hour to decide your lover’s fate,” he crkd, warningly, to Inez. What the outlaw had reported was true. Ranger Ralph had been discovered. Driven to a place behind some rocks, however, he held the bandits at bay. They were forced to retreat before his rapid fire. Still he knew that when reenforcements came he must necessarily be dislodged and captured. With some dismay he saw Despard and others arrive on the scene. His situation was a critical one. Hopelessly he glanced up at the perpendicular walls before him.

Then ho reso'ved to battle desperately ! when his foes made another attack. Just ! then he seemed to hear a voice on the cliff above him. At the same moment a lasso dropped nearly before his face. “The lasso—seize it, quick!” spoke a low, silvery voice. The mystified scout obeyed. Some strong hand lifted him foot by foot from the ground. A series of savage yells escaped the bandits as they witno-sed his ascent. A ‘score' of bullets flattened against the cliff. Steadily the lasso was drawn in. The scout reached the top of the cliff uninjured by the shots of the discomfited bandits. A small but sinewy hand drew him i over the edge of th) cliff and led him! out of view of the outlaws in the valley I below. ' With profound curiosity Ranger Ralph surveyed life Strang rescuer. A cry of amazement escaped his lips as he recog- I ni ed her. It was White Fawn, the j Modoc princess. _____ CHAPTER XVIII. THE OLD HERMIT. For some moments Ranger Ralph stood silently regarding the beautiful Indian maiden who had rescued him from a position of peril in so timely a manner. “White Fawn!” he ejaculated in bewildered tones. “Yes, it is the child of Shadow Snake. Who is the half-breed?” She peered curiously into the scout’s face as she spoke. “I am no half-breed.” The Fawn thought scy at least she knew that he was an enemy of the outlaws. “Sho knows you now. You are the great scout. ” “Ranger Rafyh, yes. But how camo you here?” “The Fawn will tell her friend and rescuer all; but they must not remain here. ” “There is danger 9” “Yes; the renegades will soon be on our trail. Come.” She led the scout from the spot to a secluded portion of the valley. Ranger Ralph noticed that near by there was a horse bridled and saddled. In rapid tones the Modoc princess related how sho had rescued Darrei Grey and had led him hither.

She exp ained that when sho left him to reconnoiter the st onghokl of the bandits, he must have wandered into the valley and later had been captured. The scout listen d interestedly to her graphic recital, and noticed the fierce, re"You have seen him —you penetrated to his haunts to-night?” he asked. “Ye* s ” “And you know his pans?” “I know that with the morning he in- I tends visiting the old hermit they call ' Walford. ”

Ranger Ralph started “You arc sure of this?” he asked. “Yes; White Fawn is not mist ikon. ” “Then the outlaws have located the recluse?” “One of their men lias, and ne will lead the crowd there with the morning.” This information disturbed the scout not a little. The reader already knows that this man Walford was the friend to whom Inez Tracey’s father had intrusted the charge of the fortune intended for his orphan daughter. The old sco it knew Walford, but be had not seen him for years. Ho did not know his place of residence, however, except that it was located somewhere in the vicinity. Now that Despard had discovered it, | th • scout readily saw that unless Walford was warned the former would succeed in his plans to secure the fortune. “Do you know where Walford lives?” he asked anxiously of the Indian girl. “No. White Fawn only knows that it is about ten miles down the canyon ” The old scout reflected deeply. Inevitable disaster seemed imminent to al! his plans for rescuing Inez Tracey. r lhe Mcdcc princess watched his face impressively. Finally she asked: “What will my friend do?” “I do not know. Grey and the girl are captives, and the cave is well guarded. We can do nothing to rescue them. ” “White Fawn'will!” There was a determined look in the dusky face. “How?” “By going back to my father. Shame, disgrace at my misery, caused me to fear to return to my tribe. For the sake of the friends who saved her lite, the Fawn will go to the Modocs. They shall know all, and a terrible vengeance shall be brought against the Crow and Whig renegades. ” “You will go at on e?”

“Yes. I stole a horse from the outlaws. I can reach my tribe in a few hours. ” „ ‘{You must make haste. Once Despard has seen the man named Walford, he will fly the country.” “Fear not. The Modo • warriors shall be on his trail with the earliest morning H^it ” “They will rescue my friends —they will not include them in their vengeance?” “Fear not The Fawn wiil plead with her father's braves for the safety of her friends ” White Fawn sprang to the saddle of the horse near by\as she spoke. Ranger Ralph' saw her disappear rapidly down the canyon. He knew that he must remain inactive, so far as the outlaws were concerned, until the morning. He realized that it would bo folly to again attempt to penetrate to their stronghold. The thought of Wal for J, however, caused him to determine to endeavor to find the recluse, if possible. He made a wino detour of the cave and started down the canyon in the direction where he supposed the mountain home of the recluse to be. It proved to be a profitless journey. All the long night through he wandered up and clown the valley. Not a trace of human habitation could lie find.

The morning light did not materially change the situation of affairs. He final y determined to keep a close watch for Despard, theorizing that the outlaw leader would set out on his journey that jmorning for Walford's place of abode. * He ensconced himself in a thicket at the side of the canyon, and watched and waited patiently, 'it was nearly noon when his vigilance was rewarded. Comfng down the canyon, he saw finally a dozen or more persons. As they neared him he made out Despard, Danton and Vance off horseback. On another steed was Inez Tracey, surrounded by several of the bandits on foot. They had evidently loft Darrel Grey a prisoner at the eave with the remainder

of the band. They pissed so near to the scout that he could almost hear their conversation, j A look of utter despair pervaded the ; countenance of Inez Tracey. Apparently the threats of the heartless Despard had induced Inez io agree to his schemes. To save her lover's life sho had consented to sacrifice her fortune. The scout waited for some time after the cavalcade had passed by. Then, i cautiously and stealthily, he took up their trail. The bandits i rocoeded straight down ! the canyon, and Ranger Ralph followed | them at a distance until they finally j came to a lia t. They seemed to have I some difficulty and delay in locating the ; berm t’s home, their evident point of visitation. Suddenly the entire party disappeared from view in a break in the canyon. When the scout reached the spot he found a large opening in the rock. Into this cave-like aperture the bandits had evident y disappeared. Ranger Ralph threaded a dark, low passageway, groped his way blindly around and then paused. Far above his head ho could see a light glimmering 1 dimly. A series of steps cut in the solid rock seem d to lead to the point where thi light was. The horses of the party had been left just outside the place. The scout began to ascend the steps and at last arrived at the top. Beyond him was a large apartment til ed with evidence< o a !o ig career as hunter and trapper, consisting of troph.es of the hunt, the skins of various animals which w< r ■ hung up about t o place The apartment wai a gloomy one, and was lighted by a lamp hung by a chain j from the roof of the cave.

Standing beneath it was a man, whitehaired and august in appearance. H's clear, steady eyes were fixed upon Des- ■ pard, who was shihtly in advance of the I party that accompanied him At a g anco the sco it recognized the strange o d hermit. Walford, whom he had not seen for many years The latter was sp.e’king as the scout reached the shadowed extreme of the iave. “Who are you? What does this intrusion mean?” he demanded, sternly. “We came from Miner s Gulch,” was Despard's ready reply. “To seo mo?” “Yes.” “liow did you find this place?” “From description, Mr. W alford. You were the friend of a man named Tra* ey.” The hermit started. “Yes,” he said; “what of it?” “I came in behalf of that man’s daughi ter.” “Ha! Then you “Yes. ” t “M hat claim ” “As ti e affianced husband of Ine< ■ Tracey. ” Walford glanced suspieious’y at the intruder. “Allowing that there is a fortune,” he ' said, “I must have some further proof | that you are to receive it.” “it shall be forthcoming when you 1 want it,” replied Despard, promptly, j “Inez. ” At h’s word his despairing captive stepped forward. ITO BE CONTINUED.! 1 ‘

A Clergyman’s Advice. The Rev. Dr. Thain Dtv’d on, of Islington, Englai d. in a st rmon to young nu n, mad ■ the following rematks on life insurance: “If some of you will act upon the ahi el am going to give you you will hank m> for it tome day. While jo i are to hop ■ and pie; are for a long life ycu are to eontemp ate the jossib iity of being suddenly called away, and you ate to make provision, even in this word, against such a contingency. It is meanly selft-h for a man, dying in the pr’me of lie, and professing a Christian ho. e, to be re fe t!y happy while ho k ows tha‘ a< he steps into heaven his v ife and < hi dren will step into the work--1 o tse. I cay it is abominable. If you have the faint- st prospect of Laving any d *p< ndi nt up. n you, yon have no bu.-i---ness to spmd < n gratification all your weekly or your yearly sa’ary. It is not yours to spend. The first few :h L.’njs or the fir t few porn is belong t) them, and sh mid go t) ) ay the piemii m on a policy tl at at ’east w 11 keep them from beggary. Excuse me from mmt’oiirg this, but I am really provoked to see men, through sh er thoughtlessness, laying up for their families trouble tl at m gbt * a i!y have bei n spared 1 ad they only assured their lives in some sound and respectab e office. Now, next year is not the time to do it, if you can do it . o-m rrow: for you d< n’t mcd me to tell you the soon r ycu take the step the Jigh er the burden will be.”

Swearing vs. Praying. Old Ab icr Kiiby is one of ti e best known men in Milwaukee. He owns the Kirby House 1 h ire, and is generally a good citizen aid a prominent man. Mr. Kirby is at Hie 1 ead of a very fire family, wlm, oi.e and all, with tl e exception of himst If, are regular attendants at the church of Rev. Dr. Ashley. Piofanity s< ens t> be one of Mr. Kirby's strong points; ho is noted all over the Cream City for his pro ific swearing, and one day when lie met the e’ergyman, that individual asked if he could not be induced to attend church with his family, saying, ■I will do you good.” “In what way?” askel Mr. Kirby; “I am not re igi lusiy inclined.” “No, 1 suppose not,” said the preacher, “b:it that doesn't cut any figure; come to church anyway; jeihajs if you do you won't swear so much.” “Mol, now, Dec or,” said the old gent’em am “I do ft know that it hurts me to swear; joa tee, 1 swear a good deal ai d you pray a good deal, but we don't either of us n can anything by it.” —Arkansaw Traveler. A valuable bird deg owned by a Grass Valley (Cal.) man was recently shown a parrot. He immediately “pointed,” when polly marched up in front of him and said, “You’re a ra-cal.” The terrified dog turned tail and ran away, and is ruined for hunting, as he cannot now b> induced to “point” at any sort of bird.

IF YOU ARE IN QUEST OF FRESH INDIANA NEWS, PERUSE THE FOLLOWING: Important Happenings of the Week— Crimes and Casualties — Suicides— Deaths—Weddings, Ltc. Carried trie raciner-Seltor Out of Town.

Several days ago a man named William I Robbins opened a saloon in the town of Charlestown. Clark County, having only I a government license to sell liquor by I ihequart. Robbins conducted an orderly ' place of the kind, but the citizens of I Charlestown are bitterly opposed to the sale ot liquor. The temperance people as the town, among whom were the Revs. Jones and Cutler, Dr. Baird, Capt. George W. Coward, pension agent; William T. Armstrong, editor of the Clark County Record; Mrs. Jennie Y. Bean, Mrs. Graves, Misses McWilliams, Jackson, and others, went quietly to the place where Robbins had opened his saloon and informed him of their intention to close up his business. ithm less than an hour the entire stock and ■ fixtures in the saloon had been boxed and were ready for shipment, Robbins watehJng the ladies and gentlemen during the I progress of their work. Willing hands ' assisted in taking the property to the .0. & M. depot, from where it was con- | veyed, with its owner, Robbins, by the ' first, south-bound train to Louisville, leaving the determined Charlestonians • triumphant and jubilant over their vicI tory. Northern I’rison# The annual report of the Northern Prison, submitted to Governor Chase, I sets forth the condition of the institution. Warden French has only been in ' charge eight months, the first lour months of the fiscal year being under ' the Murdock regime. The Warden’s re- , port staves that there are in the prison SOO ' convicts. During the year 323 were discharged and Illi received. The receipts I of the year from contracts and miscellaneons sources, independent of the officers boarding house and stewards’ sales to prisoners, were $116,693.90, and from the library fund, 81,140, making the ' zross receipts SI 17,833.90. The net expense of maintaining the prison, independent of tite officers' boarding house i and steward's sales to prisoners, was <lo4,is 1.56. The directors —Messrs. Lev . I Mock, John Brodieand James Renihan — , ! <av in their report that they believt I everv prisoner should be given an op , 1 poituuity to attend school. The Boari > ; states that in its next recommendation ti • 1 the Legislature it will ask that bettei > ■ provision be made for the education o' ! prisoners. The directors also ask tha : the State Board of Charities give tin I prison more attention.

Wn t.i am Goi.i.iday, of Kokomo, was ; dangerously poisoned by eating canned 1 salmon. I The State Veterinary Surgeon has been notified of a supposed case of glandSers at Muncie. i A machine for husking corn has been ^vented and is in successful operation l«by I. 11. Hardy, at Hardy. Bedford to — . ..-a.neu i.n **IT- 11 for a w.o'. r, n nd., ~r ’“AH r_; aged 11, at Logansport, crushing his left i leg. The boy’s father demands >IO,OOO from the railway company. Abram Clymer, a minerat Evering’s , coal mine near Vincennes, was killed by i falling slate. His skull was completely I crushed. A wife survives him.

August Joest, young Frenchman, killed himself at Evansville. Intended to wed a married woman and she failed to get a divorce. That settled it. Miss Ai.lie Cravens, of Pendleton, was partially asphyxiated by natural g.is from a stove in her brother’s store. She was restored to consciousness with difficulty. Muncie is elated over the fact that twenty-five families will follow the Dowling shoe factory, now being removed from New York to its new property at Muncie. Miss Cora Ai.i.en, the young lady of Gosport who mysteriously disappeared last week, was found in a cave, tied hand and foot and nearly frozen. No Ci ne to her abductors. • The first American roofing-tin used in Montgomery County is being placed upon the barn of George Myers, near Alamo. The tin was made at Anderson, and appears to be of a first class quality. Jesse Boyd, of Chambersburg, killed an American eagle. The bird measures seven feet from tip to tip. It is supposed to be the mate to the one killed near there about a year ago by Adclphus Braxton. Miss Donnagher, of Shelbyville, who has eaten seven dogs in as many weeks, and who was reported to be gradually getting the best of her consumption, is down with the grip, and a serious setback is feared. The factory which was recently located at Pendleton to manufacture glass tubes and piping for conducting underground electric wires is being rapidly pushed toward completion. It will be ready for operation within sixty days. Benjamin Scudder, a school-teacher at Tipton, yanked Frederick Oglebay out of his seat for creating a disturbance, breaking the boy’s leg. Ho is the son of a prominent attorney. He and other bright urchins have been trying to run the school.

Much surprise was occasioned in Wabash, recently, by the announcement that Ella Ray, the young lady who recently obtained a judgment of §I,OOO against Edward Kisner, a wealthy young man, for breach of promise, was married five months ago to Fred Hipp, son of Councilman Chris Hipp, at Fort Wayne. Only last week Kisner, in ignorance that iiis former sweatheart was married, walked up and paid §5,000, the amount of the judgment, with costs, against him. The wedding of Miss Ray was kept a profound secret. In the Muscatituck River, Thursday, near Seymour, a young man named Busch, from near Salem, was drowned together with his team, while trying to cross the swollen stream. The body was not recovered. Frank Kimmel, a brakeman on the Pennsylvania road, was pushed from the top of his train by a tramp whom he had respectifully ordered off the train. The train was crossing the bridge over the St. Marys River, near Fort Wayne. Kimmel fell sixty feet into the water. Fortunately, the water was quite deep at this point and Kimmel received no serious injuries. The tramp escaped.

Fort Wayne Methodists are In the midst of a revival. Charles Stockwell, of Rushville, died from an overdose of morphine. George McPherson, aged 35. near Mitchell, ate a hearty dinner ami died. Henry Scott, farmer near Wabash, whipped his wife, and the “M bite Caps ’ paid him a eaii. Workers at the flint glass works, Muncie, have returned to their posts after a several days’ strike. Rev. A. K. Glover, of Crawfordsville, i has accepted a call to the Episcopal I Church at Madison, this State. i Mrs. Sarah Hili., of Danville, aged I 70, fell down her cellar stairs and re- ! ceived, perhaps, fatal injuries. Sixteen young women and gentlemen have been arrested and fined at Hope toi disturbing religious services.

Thomas Barr, who stole eight head of cattle in Brown County last August, has been captured in Gilman, 111. Isaac Downs, lately discharged from Northern Prison, has returned to Lafayette, and is thought to be insane. Well-diggers near Crawfordsville have unearthed some prehistoric bones, believed to be the remains of a mastodon George Graff, employed in the Journal official at Peru, had his fingers badly mashed while wiping off the press. The people of Dubois County are determined to ferret out the 11 hite Caps who whipped John Lee, and prosecute them.

The large barn near Evansville, owned by Isaac Odell, was destroyed by fire, caused by an exploding lamp. Loss, $7,000. The C mmissioners of Wayne County have selected Mr. W. P. Cook to fill the unexpired term of the late county clerk, Alfred L. Me Means. Farmers in the neighborhood of Swayzee, in Grant County, have organized a fair association and will give an exhibition next fall. Old Larrv Hart, of Peru, has reached his 105th birthday, and has the honor of being the oldest man in Indiana. He’s never been married. Nor less than twenty persons were poisoned at New Albany by eatinsr headcheese cooked in an unclean copper vessel. All will recover. Young men employed in factories at Muncie will organize a night school for the benefit of those who arc unable to attend in the Jay tim-. The question of city government for Winchester is being agitated. Tim Comi mereial Club of that city has taken the I matter up and will push it with vigor. Dog meat is not a new diet for conl sumption. John Hublingcr lived at Madison twenty-live years ago. ’Tis said ; he ate dog meat and was cured of the ! disease. . While the family were away from I home, thieves entered the residence of ' John Museimam two miles east of Catn- । den. and secured $225 in money, making | their escape. Caleb Garrett, formerly of Rich- ■ momi, and a soldier of the Eighth In- | diana Infantry, committed suicide at Tacoma, Wash., Dec. 8, by throwing | himself under an electric street-car. The tailoring establishment of M. A. , I Teague & Son, of Pendleton, was entered by thieve ami about SSO worth_of_poY /

pas stolen. This is tlio^Hdrd^hnJ®^^ Edwahd Smith, a well-known farmer, aged ?4 years, living at New Washington, while out hunting the barrel of his rille exploded and ti e breech-pin imbedded itself in his eye, destroying the member. Louis Schmitt, formally of New Albany, but for some years past engaged in farming in Vanderburg •County, accidently shot himself in t io left thigh while hunting, and bled to death before the How of blood could be stopped. Gas was turned on in the natural-gas mains between Sheridan and Crawfordsville recently. It was quite a sight to see what was blown out of the mains at the air-holes along the route. Rabbits were blown out by the dozen, and some of them have every hair on their body blown off, so great is the pressure of the g3,S. Mrs. Margaret Stevenson Peck, mother of the late Capt. William Peck, and one of the early pioneers of Putnam County, died at her home, near Greencastle, aged 8?. She fell a victim to the prevailing influenza, resulting in catarrhal pneumonia. Mrs. Peck leaves a large number of descendants, even to the fourth generation. Wm. Rozion, of West Hammond, stabbed two members of his family. One of his victims, a lad about fifteen years old, it is feared will die. Rozion buried a knife in the boy's side. Another son was stabbed in the face, and will bear the sears of the assault for life. Rozion

had been drinking excessively for several days, and was in a state of mind bordering on madness when he attempted tc murder his family. The 4-year-old daughter of E. Myers, a prominent citizen of Brazil, met with a terrible accident. While playing around a stove its dress caught fire and almost instantly the child was wrapt in Hames. The mother, in an adjoining room, ran to the rescue and made every effort to quench the flames, but failed. Several neighbors being attracted by the screams of the mother and child, rushed in and assisted in smothering out the fire. Tie child was burned to a crisp, but is still alive. The mother was alsc badly burned, as was another woman. The toll-pikes in Delaware County are having a tough time of it, and recently several of them have been presented tc the County Commissioners by dissatisfied ; stockholders. The farmers in many in- I stances refuse to pay the fee, and several. lawsuits have ensued. The other evening four farmers, John and Samuel Baell, Nelson Adams, and Jolin McClean, were going to Muncie on the Granville pike. A toll-gate was pulled down and locked on them for refusing to pay th*e 3cent fare. Samuel Baell hitched his ‘ team to the gate, pulled it down, and proceeded to Muncie. An accident occurred in German Township, Vanderburg County, by which Louis Schmidt was fatally injured. He had been out hunting, and was on his way home, when his gun was accidentally discharged. The load took effect in his leg, from which he bled to death. Four burglars attempted the robbery of Stout's drug store at Majenica, Huntington County. The safe was removed from the building, turned upside dowr on the street, and the burglars were । about to blow it open, when Postmaster 1 Craumer, a near resident, discovered the i party, fired three shots at them and they j fled.

FIRST CHINESE LOCOMOTIVE. Slade Out of Scrap Iron by Native Workmen in 1881. In 1878 coal mining was begun at Tongsan, about eighty miles northeast of Tientsin. It was arranged to build a railroad twenty-nine miles long, from the mines to the nearest navigable water, that is, to Lutai on the Feh Tang Ho, says the author of “Railways in North China.” It was then, in 1878, that Mr. Kinder went out as a resident engineer. Before the railroad work could be begun the authorities had decided to operate a canal twenty-one miles long, to a point within seven miles of the colliery, and to connect the canal and collery by a tramway to be worked by mules. This was done. Fortunately the gauge of 4 feet SY inches was, after much difficulty, sanctioned, but it was stipulated that no locomotives should be used, but . before The track was completed this had virtually become a dead letter. The country was easy, but several sharp curves were introduced to avoid graves. .Subsequently the owners of these graves, objecting to the noise so near the bones of their ancestors, allowed the remains to be removed and theline was rectified. This track was laid with thirty-pound steel rails, flange section, and ballasted with broken limestone.

During the winter of 1880-1 Mr. Kinder built a locomotive in the shops of the company. It was built entirely of odds and ends which could be procured without attracting attention. The boiler belonged to a portable winding machine. The wheels were 30-inch Whitney chilled wheels, which had been bought as scrap castings, and the frames were made of channel iron. Before this was finished its preparation became known and orders were issued that it should bestopped. Eventually, however,' through the offices of Li Hung Chang Mr. Kinder was allowed to finish the locomotive, which was christened the “Rocket of

China,” just 100 years after the birth of George Stephenson. On Nov. 8, 1881, this engine took a party of officials over the line at a speed of twenty miles an hour and after that the objections to locomotives were virtually abandoned. Mr. Kinder says there is little doubt that if this engine had not been built as it was, in China, and by native workmen, it would never have been allowed to run and the use of locomotives would have been postponed for many years. Freaks of Memory. The genuine genius has a great deal of trouble with his memory. Henry Clay couldn’t repeat a verse of any poem. He couldn’t repea^H^ old long meter doxolog^^gj^jH^^ from whoinjd^JjjjjJl^^^^^ friend of

Itt JM ■il igy . 'iCming. IT is <lll uiu anu > ton could repeat Homer. Charles James Fox once paid a visit to the town of Gorcum He was relating an incident that occurred there, but could not think of the name of the town. The next day he was giving a dinner, and while carving he startled his guests by calling out, “Gorcum, Gorcum.” The name of the town had just occurred to him. A London reporter took no notes, and yet, when an unexpected debate sprang up, and he was left alone, he could write it out verbatum. When listening he closed his eves. He called it “being held up by the ears." Prof. Lawson boasted that he could, if the Bible were lost, repeat the whole of it, with the exception of a few verses. Lord Macaulay made the same boast about “Pilgrim's Progress” and “Paradise Lost.” It will be remembered that none of the works named were lost, so that the gentlemen were never put to the test. It is a fact, however, that Macaulay had a wonderful memory. When a boy he went with his father to call on a gentleman upon whose table lay Scott’s “Lay of the Last Minstrel.” Young Macaulay read it, and when he reached home he repeated it.

How Grew Helped a Woman Journalist. I never saw any one who tilled a station of dizzy height with a more level head or a more charming graciousness of manner than the late expresident, says London Truth. His deportment at great receptions was ideal. The broad red ribbon of the Legion of Honor athwart his waistcoat appeared to stimulate him. One could take small liberties with him. “M. Ie President, I'm dying to have a good close view of the Queen Isabella, who is now surrounded by the diplomatic circle. How can I manage it?” said a lady jouralist one evening to him. ••I'll manage it,” was the answer. ‘"Go into the green-house and wait there.” M. Grevy a little । hit t took her majesty round the i grouml-floor rooms. She had on a lace dress, and he contrived that it should, through no apparent fault of his. get caught in a thorny plant. •The lady jouranlist was asked to disentangle the flimsy garment and to pin up a rent. This done, the muchi obliged queen, to whom M. Grevy presented her, returned thanks, and the whole thing passed off like a natural accident. M. Grevy’s eye twinkled, and as good as said: “There, now! Am I not a sly old fellow, and deserving of your best thanks?” Isabella was his client from 1860 to 1879. He had brought her husband to separate quietly from her, and her any number of services as a counselor and friend. She used to go and j dine with Mme. Grevy,and insisted on j obtaining for him the knighthood of , the order of the Golden Fleece, j Taking a bird's eye view seems to I Le a great oversight.