St. Joseph County Independent, Volume 17, Number 29, Walkerton, St. Joseph County, 6 February 1892 — Page 2

ROYAL RANGER RALPH; ob : The Waif of Hie Western Prairies. BY WELDON J. COBB. CHAPTER XXVl—Continued. It was fuily two hours before the bandit band reached the ravine. The rain was now falling in torrents; the situation was a most gloomy and uncomfortable one. Before them ran the river, broad and deep, and with a swift current. “Ha! What is this?” Danton’s words announced that he had found a canoe. It was quite large, and evidently belonged to the Indians. Where it lay there were marks on the bank as if a second canoe had recently been there. “The girl must have escape 1 byway of the river,” remarked Despard. “Yes, and she had help.” “How do you know that?” “There are the footprints of two porsops here.” “Ha!" “Both small and apparently those of women. ” “Then sho had a companion?” “Undoub edly. One of them w’ore moccasins. ” “An Indian?” “The Modoc princess. ” “Impossible!” “It must bp White Fawn.” Despard tiithed pale. He dreaded the vengeance of Shadow Snake and his I daughter. “Let us hasten,” he said. “And take the canoe?” “Yes.” “It will not hold more than half of us.” “Then let the others cross over and get away from the Indians as best they j can. ” This plan was consummated. A portion of the band were rowed across the river. Despard, Danton and the others then directed the canoe to midstream aad allowed it to proceed down the stream. They passed the cliff and the ravine in safety and soon left it far behind. Apparently they were safe from pursuit, and wou d net be followed in time to be overtaken. The Modocs, in the ravine I beyond their foe in the fort, had not witnessed their departure. Somewhere down the river, in advance of them, I they theorized, was the canoe containing the Modoc princess and their escaped captive, Inez Tracey. CHAPTER XXVII. : THE MODOCS. The plots and movements of Dyke ! Despard, the bandit leader, were fast appr. aching a climax, as he was soon to learn in a tragic and unexpected manner. The Indians whom his spy had discovered in VhS ravine were indeed mem-be-s of Shad w Snake's tribe, and he । had avoided a deadly conflict by his । * timely escape. The savages had located his bad trailed h‘m tn the I hjs^psll n the fort. When the rain and mist obscured the 1 outlaws he-did not retreat from the in- ( trenebment, -but endeavored to watch 1 the cliff as best* he could. Thus hidden by the gloom, the out’aws escaped without his knowledge. He was amaze I when at last the mists were dispersed . and he saw no trace of his enemies in the vicinity. Instead, a score of dusky warriors were ascending the winding mountain paths. What did it mean? He was perplexed and somewhat alarmed at the discovery. The savages seemed to be following a trail and were coming directly to the summit of the cliff. Sooner or later he must be discovered, and resistance against such su- : T.crior numbers would be fol.y. Besides I by this time White Fawn and Inez must have efected their escape. He could not explain the mysterious disappearance of the bandits, but he observed that there was a possibility of leaving the fort and retreating before the Indians reached the summit of the cliff Darrel began to creep behind the rocks in the din ction the Modoc princess and Inez had gone. He saw, some distance away, a place where he might essay a descent to the valley, and hastened to reach it. Suddenly he started in dismay. As if by magic, two stalwart savages had darted across his path. Before he ; could retreat or advance they had seized him securely. They gave utterance to a triumphant yell, and began to lead him toward the ravine where their chief was. Parrel faced his enemies boldly as they gather«d around him. Shadow Snake listened .to the rapid words of Darrel’s captors, in explana- j lion of their researches. 'then he turned • to the prisoner. “Ugh!” he ejaculated; “who is the pale- j face?” Shadow Snake did not evidently recognize Darrel as the man he had liberated at White Fawn’s°request at the outlaws’ stronghold in Lone ( anyon. In his new disguise, the Mcdoc chief did not suppose ' his present prisoner and his daughter’s friend to ba the same person. “I am the friend of the White Fawn,” he sad, simply. The chief started. “Ugh! The pale-face knows the princess?” “Yes.” “You have seen her of late?” “A few hours since.” “Where?” Briefly Darrel related how ho had met the White Fawn. He told the Snake that he had once saved his daughter’s life. He related how he had rescued Inez from Despard, and detai'ed the pursuit and the attack on the mountain hut. The t old chief's eyes blazed fiercely as Darrel spoke Despard snamc. “Ugh!” he uttered savagely. “The Black Crow..shall be trailed Whither has he gone?” “I do not know. ” “And the Fawn?” “Escaped by the ravine to the river. ” Shadow Snake held a brief conference with his braves. “The Eagle shall be the friend of the Snake,” said the Modoc chief to Darrel. “Together we will find and punish the Crow. ” Darrel showed the rattlesnake chain

, White Fawn had given him, and this ce- I । mented the confidence and friendship of j the Modoc braves. Shadow Snake a-t | once went around the cliff, and reached the ravine on the other side “The canoes are gone!” he uttered angrily, as they came to the spot where । Despard had reached the river. Indian sagacity soon formed a theory as to their theft, which proved to be the I correct one. The canoes they learned i ha I evidently been taken at intervals. “The Fawn went first with the paleface maiden,” explained Shadow Snake. “Why do you think so?” Darrel venture I to inquire. “Because the boat was pushed into the i I water as an Indian would t o it, and the I paddles were use! at the side to aid its । i progress. The Crow has gone in pursuit, j Some of his men were taken across the ! river. ” “Why?” “Because there was not room enough for them in the canoe.” Shadow Snake gave rapid orders as he arrived at these conclusions. He di- | vided his band, and sent half of them in | pursuit of the outlaws who had crossed the river. With the others and Darrel j Grey he started down the banks of the j stream. Meanwhile the objects of Darrel's so- , ’icitude, White Fawn and Inez, had met with some exciting adventures. The Inj dian maiden and her charge had man- । aged to reach the ravine in safety after i leaving Darrel Grey. They had ob- | served the canoes, and White Fawn ; selected one of them. She knew that j the river led to some settlements, and I for the present her only thought was to place Inez in a position of safety. The rain made the r situation ex- ; tremely uncomfortable, but White Fawn ; i resolutely plied the paddles, and they | I made swift progress. It was not until ' I after noon that any incident occurred | that in any way tended to alarm them. , At a point where the river divided, j as she looked back, the Fawn saw a canoe coming down the stream about a ! mile distant This caused her to hasten ■ the progress of their own boat An hour later, in the distance, she heard I the sound of shooting, and she deter- ! mined to abandon the canoe ; Then followed a wear}’ tramp through | the forests. At last, towards nightfall, i they reached what looked like a mining settlement Then a small village came ! into view, and on its outskirts they came across a rather pretentious inn, desigi ated by a large sign-board as the Fair Play Tavern. “We have reached a place of safety,” said the Modoc princess, as she designated the ta ern. “You are wearied and pale See; yonder is a white squaw, j Speak to her. ”

A woman, apparently the landlord's ■ wife, was visible at the rear door of the I : inn. Inez approached and addressed her. She told her briefly that she and her I companion had lost the r way, met with | bandits, and wished to remain at the inn I all night The sight of money influenced the woman to agree to give them shelter. A sigh of relief escape! the lips of i Inez as she found herself with White : Fawn in a comfortable room of the i tavern. She, however, expressed a - deep anxiety for her lover s safety. LWhite Fawn stated that with the mornI ing she would return to the scene of their r cent adventures A meal was served in their rooiti, aflffA two new-arrivals. Ata glance she recognized them as Danton and Dyite Despard. CHAPTER XXVIII. AT THE TAVERN. The two men who 1 ad just entered I the Fair Play tavern were indeed Dyke I Despard and his evil accomplice, Dan- i ton. At the sight of them new terror I and apprehension seized the timid Inez, | and even White Fawn looked anxious > and ennpprnnd

ana concerned Bad they, however, known the true . condition of affairs with the outlaws I they would have been less fearful of j their j ower to injure them, lor retribution, swift and terrible, seemed to have followed the bandits, and the arrival of their leaders at the tavern was in the nature of a flight from their enemies. The canoe containing the outlaws ; had nearly overtaken the fugitives. I The Modocs had pursued the bandits, i Despard and 1 is men 1 ad been attacked I by the Indians at a bend in the river. Shadow Snake was their leader and j Darrel Grey was among them. Before , the startled outlaws cou:d ] repare for a ; defense, a deadly hail of leaden bullets j was poured into their midst. Instantly the river became the scene | of the greatest confusion and excitement The canoe, penetrated by the bullets, sank in midstream, and those not killed or wounded tried to swim to ' the opposite shore. I Os their number only two escaped— I Despard and Danton—and they were both slightly .wounded. Os the others not one escaped the dread vengeance of the Modocs. । The bandit leaders gamed the shore, evaded pursuit, and, as has been seen, reached the Fair Play Tavern shortly ; after the arrival of the fugitives. They entered the bar-room, seeking to i e ade notice, and passed into the anto- ! room behind the bar. The landlord, who was the banker, merchant and magistrate of the place, followed them with j no sign of recognition on his face. | “Well, gentlemen ”he began. “What! you don’t know us?” said Danton. i “Despard!” he finally ejaculated, after I staring at them for some moments. “Exactly, and in trouble. See here, । Marvin, we’re in a bad box, and we’ve i got to leave the country. ” “How is that?” ' “Close the door and we will tell you.” The landlord did so, and Despard began speaking in a rapid, confidential tone. His words indicated that in the past the ! now presumably respectable landlord of ; the tavern had been a man as unprincipled and criminal as himself. He narrated his recent adventures, and informed Marvin that he must sheli ter them for a day or two, and then pro- ! vide them with h rses to leave the ! country. “It's lucky you were disguise 1 when you came in here,” said Marvin, “for the community are terribly aroused about your helping the Modocs in the attack on the wagon train.” Despard scowled andiooke 1 disturbed. “Well, well,” he said, impatiently; “c an you stow us away in a place of safety?” “Yes. ” “'A here?” “There’s a room yonder that no one ! can get to except through here.”

“But if the vigilantes knew we were । here and should search for us?” “There’s a trap in the floor leading to the cellar and thence to the stables. How are the vigilantes going to know it?” “Because we have many enemies on our trail, and will undoubtedly be closely pursued. Bring us something to eat ■ and drink, will you? We are nearly I famished.” i Despard and Danton retired to the room beyond the one they were in. “We’re safe enough here,” remarked the latter with a complacent glance at their comfortable surroundings. Despard surveyed the apartment crit- ' ically. “Not if Ranger Ralph and that young scout Grey trace us, ” replied Despard. j “Where does this door lead to?” , “To the outside hall, I suppose. But | it’s bolted heavily on this side.” “Dm going to see.” Despard was some time operating the bolt, which apparently had not been used for years. He finally slid it back in its socket and opened it cautiously It led, as Danton had suggested, to a hall that ran from the upper to the rear portion of the house. Despard seemed determined to understand his surroundings, and to be prepared for an escape under all contingencies. He' stepped into the hall, which was in complete darkness, and closed the door after him Ho saw that to attempt to leave by the rear of the house would be folly if the place was surrounded. He cautiously asc led the stair a few steps. “If it comes to the worst Wl can retreat, ” he muttered. “Ha! What was that?” Distinctly from the hall above he I caught the sound of voice \ He thrilled I wildly as he recognized them, for they were tho e of Inez and White Fawn. “Return t j the room,” the latter was I saying. “But every moment wo delay is fatal, with that man in the house. “The Black Crow can not know that wo are here,” responded the Indian maiden. “He will so n learn of it. Let us fly. ” “And bo pur nod and overtaken by 1 him? No, wo are safer hero. Return to the room, and 1 will find <. ut our true peril. ” “Then see the landlady,” urged Inez. “If she will provide us with horses we will leave at once ” “Be it so. 1 wil return so n.” 'lhe eyes of the outlaw chief gleamed triumphantly. The fugitives ho had aband med as effectually escaped were under the ,-ame roof. Ho must devise a plan to secure Inez and the diamonds at on o. Tho Mod c princess was about to de-

scend the stairs. She mu t not discover I him yet. Despard silently retreated and I cautiously re-entered tho room where Danton wa'. He started as ho did so. Danton stood by a tablo pale and a’armed. Confronting him with drawn revolver were two men. Their backs were to Despard, and they had not noticed his entrance. The outlaw stood spellbound as ho recognized one of them as Darrel Grey. Tho other reveale 1 himself by speaking at that moment. “Jim Danton,” he was saying, in a low, determined tone, “if you do not instantly tell us where Dyke Despard- is I w.ll kill you!” Jt was the outlaw’s bitterest e^emy who spoke—Ranger Ralph. fui andM CHAPTER! flash Dyke Despard realized thffiggy vital moment in all his plots ha£ 1 ?^" rived. J He knew that a word to tho rouAi but honest throng in the b.ir-room 07 the tavern would lead to his arrest, tm^ a trial in which Judge Lynch would award him the fate of death by hanging How those two men happened to meet I at the tavern—how they had managed i to penetrate to this room—he could not

surmise. i i Even Danton, terrified at tneir sudden ; । appearance, did not notice Despard's ! return to th; apartment. । For a moment the outlaw chief seemed about to draw a weapon and spring upon his unsuspecting foes. Then his eye flashed fiercely, as a surer and more silent means of disposing of them came to his mind. i Marvin had told him of the trap-door , : leading to the cellar. As his eye fell ! upon the floor, he noted that both of the ! newcomers stood upon that portion of |it which comprised the trap. Sunk in I the floor at the extreme < dg? was a i small bolt. To draw this back meant to > release the trap do >r, Despard doubted i not. He determined to boldly risk all on ' operating it, to the disaster of his foes. । :He steppe 1 forward cautiously. Uis hand reached the bolt. There was a | creaking sound. Ranger Ralph turne I quickly, but too late to avert the disaster. The door fell with a crash. Doth men were precipitated into the gloom and darkness of the cellar. A low cry of i malignant triumph escaped Despard's I lips “BaTed!” he cried. “Quick, Danton, i the lamp!” His companion brought the light tr the trap. Despard peered eagerly into the bark vo'd. Fully fifteen feet below, upon a rocky, uneven floor, lay two forms. Apparently the fall had robbed | their em mies of sensibility. A ladder led from the trap downward. This Despard pulled up into the room. : Then he closed and locked the trap-door just as the landlord entered the room. The 'att r seemed somewhat excited. “I guess you were right about being pursued,” he said. “Why so?” asked Despard. “Two men came into the bar-room a few minutes since who acted very suspiciously. ” “Where are they now?” “I don't know. They disappeared very mysteriously. ” “They came here. ” “What?” ejaculated Marvin, incredulously. “Yes, they came here.” “You knew them?” “As our deadliest foes. ” “And they are gone?” s “Into yonder trap. ” In graphic language Despard detailed । I what had occurred. ‘ “Can they escape readily?” he asked' j as he concluded his recital. “Not unless they know the way to a secret door to the stables. ” “Tlmn let us act. Marvin, do you : wish to make a few thou and dollars. ” ’ “Os course I do ” “Very well. In this house now there are two girls.” Marvin started. “How did you know ' i that?” ho asked surprisedly. | “I do know it One of them—the

white one—l love. The other, an Indian girl, has her fortune in diamonds in her possession. ” The landlord's eyes gleamed availciously as Despard unfolded his plan. Marvin was t> act in immediate collusion with them. “Tho men in the cellar will be insensible till we are away,” said Despa:d, “You got your wife to pretend to befriend the girls.” “I’ll fix all that, only I must not appear as being in your plot. It would hurt mo i among my customers.” “We’il manage all that.” Thus it was when, half an hour later, Inez and White Fawn stole from the tavern. The landlady had pretended to aid them but was only acting under orders from her husband She told them . to go to an old hut a few rods from tho ! house, whore she would bring them horses a little latter. Sho had left a lantern with them, and tho two girls stood silent and alone, watching its flickeringraysand anxiously awaiting the woman’s return. A wild cry of dismay arose from Inez Tracey’s lips, as the doorway suddenly framed two forms In a m -ment Despard and Danton came into view. The latter seized the Indian girl. Despite her struggles, her arms were quickly bound behind her. “You have not escaped us yet,” hissed Despard, as ho grasped Inez' arm. “Mako no outcry if you value your safety.” Paralyzed with terror, poor Inez stood pale and mute, shrinking in horror from the triumphant face of her enemy. “Danton,” spoke tho outlaw chief, “you know your part. Search tho Indian girl for the diamonds. ” White Fawn did not speak, but her dark eyes flashed fiercely on the man who had so wronged her. Danton uttered a cry of delight as he drew from the dress of the Indian girl a small box, which he examined hast ly. “The jewels?” asked Despard, eagerly. “Yes.” “\ cry well. Secure them safely and watch your captive.” There was a mocking smile on the face of W Hito Fawn, despite her perilous situation. “Now, then,” spoke Despard quickly to the shrinking Inez, I l ave only a few words to speak to you ” “Miscreant! Will your evil plot- and persecutions never cease?” “Not until you are my wife.” “That wil! be never. ” “We shall see. I have your fortune, in the jewels and the deeds to the lands your father left you.” “I care not ” “But I covet your love. If you wed me and go with me, yonder girl shall live. Your lover Dnrrpl Gvov nnd

xuur ivver uarrm urey ana your friend Ranger Ralph are lying insensible in the rear of the tavern ” Inez uttered a frantic cry of grief. “All shall die, unless you wed me. Outside the hut is a magistrate. Agree?” Poor Inez sobbed bitterly. “Danton, kill the Indian!” L'anton raised a gleaming knife. “No, no!” shrieked Inez, frantically. “I agre <” Almost at the same moment Marvin entered the hut. It was a strange scene—a dread mockery—a delirium of emotion—in which Inez only knew that she heard the words that made her Dyke Despard s wife to save her friends. Almost in a swoon, led from Ute Ujgt,, aud placed on a horse. Despard held the bridle and mounted »«- other.y■ ■ ’y t„ >-«ence rqiguyd over ’the scene. And in >hp near distance, Dyke Despard was “T nA am ffm limz—his wife—successful, apparently, at last in securing the fortune for.which ho had so long and deftly plotted. CHAPTKK X?»a. CONCLrSION. “Hold!” Like a shock the word rounded upon

the hearing ( f Danton. It was les - than an hour after the departure fn m the hut, and he and his companion had gained a moonlit mountain path, and were rapidly making their way from the vicinity of the tavern. Inez, weeping bitterly, allowed Despard to lead her horse as he would, and he did not annoy her by speaking to her, although he kept a ch se surveillance over her e cry m .vement Dant n hat lagged behind, his hor o having loosened a shoe He had dis mounted and was about to ha ten to rejoi > his companion, when he became conscious th it two men blocked his way. One of them fia-hed quickly by him, and he thrilled a he se med to re ognize in him his dreaded enemy, Banger Ralph. Th ' other had gained his side si quickly that they were face to face “Draw a wea; on and I fire,” spoke the ominous voice of Darrel Grey. He held a gleam ng revolver in his hand, before which the craven Danton quailed in terror. “Fling your weapons in the road—quick!” There was no mistaking the stern menace in the young scouts voice. Danton sullenly complied with his demand. “You are my prisoner,” spoke Darr >l. “In a few moments I shall take you back, a bound captive, to the settlement. We escaped from t e cellar —we saw your victim, White Fawn. Return at once t e lox of jewels you took from her. ” Danton drew the box from his coat. Then suddenly he flung it far over the edge of the cliff. Darrel uttered a cry of dismay. “Kill me if you will. I have robbed you of half your triumph,” cried Danton. “Ha! lam not beaten yet!” Taking advantage of Darrel’s dismay at the loss of the jewels he had sprung towards him. It was a fatal movement, for it startled the horse, and Danton's foot became entangled in t e drooping reins With a cry of terror, Darrel saw the horse drag him a few feet, and then send him crashing over the edge of the precipice. Danton hal met his doom in the rockchoked li.er below! A series of shots s me distance ahead warned Darrel that his friend, Ranger Ralph, had probably met Despard. A few minutes later he came upon them. The ranger had indeo i overtaken Despard, bad torn his grasp fro n the bridlerein of Inez’s horse, and then a deadly conflict had ensued. They had emptied their revolvers at short range. Neither had been seriously injured. Just as Darrel reached the spot, the outlaw had carted up a steep incline. “We shall meet again!” he crie 1. “You have triumphed this time—help.” The word gurgle! in his throat. As

- he reached the summit of the eminence, j a deafening detonation rang forth. Pierced by a hundred bullets. Dyke Despard fell dead. Ho had run directly into an ambush of ■ the very Indians who had accompanied Darrel to tho vicinity of Fair Play. A - moment later Shadow Snake appeared. , His vengeance was complete—his foo 1 was dead, and the outlaw band of Despard was swept from the face of tho • earth. j Two hours later affairs had resumed a quiet aspect Inez, enraptuied at again meeting Darrel, was conveyed by , the Modocs to a settlement farther down ; tho river. > Ho4*o White Fawn met her father, • and here there was a tearful parting, for 1 she started forth with her father’s tribe > to find some trace of the husband of 1 whom she had been robbed py the villain Despard. I One month later her grateful friends were ha»ppy to know that sho had found • him—a prisoner in a hostile tribo. They wore reunited, and returned with : Shadow Snake to their old camping ground, peace being declared with tho • white inhabitants of the district. s Ranger Ralph related a long story of 1 his search for Inez, and the next day a visit was made to the valley where Danton was killed, resulting tn tho find- ] ing of tho box of jewels. Marvin was not punished for his share in Despard’s plot, as nothing definite could be proven against him. Walford, the hermit, was found and a month later was present at the marriage of Inez and Darrel. The happy pair removed to California, 1 and both their old friends accompanied them. Often they see tho brave Indian girl j who so befriended them. Amid their happiness they never forgot these stanch friends of tho past, i And among them all, they reckon none J more highly than the intrep’d scout who i followed all their reverse fortunes in the I days when they sought to secure the i treasure of Lone Canyon—the King of 1 border detectives, Ranger Ralph. [the e xa] A Frog on an Outing. In the early part of this summer wo had a seveie thunderstorm, accompanied with a high wind, about sundown. The next morning, on entering the sitting room, I saw an object on tho carpet near tl.o window of an unusual anpearance, and presumed some one had ; purchased a green rubber frog and I placed it there for mischief. Cn acldser 1 inspection I found it was a live frog, wiiite boily, quite a dark-green body, ' and b ack spots, black stripes across tho ( legs, body three inches long. He was '

very live y, and I found him perched on the low window still when 1 came back ' with the watering pot to secure my visitor. I covered tho top with excep- j tion of a small space for air, intending, j after my 1 eturn from tho city, to leave ; him out and seo if he started in th- di- ! rection of the nea cst water, some dis- I tance off; but before the rest of tho family saw him he had somehow made his escai e. I had often heard of it raining frogs, । toads, etc., but hero I had stronger evidence than I had ever heard of, as this front room was the second story, and a very high one, therefore ho could not have jumpeirup. Ho was not born there, ■ except he_\\aai.^^o on the wings the wind. He cou’d not bo account d for ! except the storm ninlriM* »<•.. -- than that distnn e. an I carried I tv.v;.l;..:VV.:::: r ..."L.A":..rAh'.'...A. room by tho storm before the windows . wore closed, whi h I learn was done after tho fury of tho storm had com- I mpn ed —Nature's Realm. Ingrowing Toe Nails. Charles B. Williams, resid nt physician P nnsylvania Hospital, Philadel- j phia, writes to tho Scientific American as follows: “I have noticed in several of the lato

issues of your valued paper some methods of treatment of ingrowing nails. As I have had a number of cases come under my notice in dispensary practice, i probably the course of treatment that we pursued may be of interest to some of y,rtr readers. “In all cases, and even in several forms of ingrowing tie nails, where ono would oe disposed to think the only procedure wou d be to cut off a portion . of the offending nail, together with the matrix or bed of the nail, we resorted to the simple metnod of packing the ingrowing portion of the nail with cotton, i After t. c nail has been well packed, s few drops of tincture of chloride of iron are allowed to soak into the cotton. The iron acts as an astringent, hardening the usually very tender and s nsitive granulations. It also deadens pain to a great extent, and by its stimulat ng ac- i tion causes healthy tissues to form rapidly. The packing is repeated three t mes weekly, and at the end of one or two weeks the use of the iron may be discontinued. The nail, however, is to to be well packed with cotton until the ingrowing portion has grown out and is able to be properly trimmed. In trimming the nail one should be very careful to cut them straight across, and not to carry the scissors deep down into the corners of the nail. “I have seen some of the worst cases of ingrowing toe nails cured by following the above plan of treatment.” A Colorado Handler Tells a Story. A Colorado rancher relates the following st >ry: “As most people kn w, black wool brings from five to ten cents less per pound than the corresponding grade of white wool. In order to insure the separation of the inferior product, as our shearing operations progressed, we once placed the black sheep in a pen by themselves. There were sixty-three of ' the black sheep thus isolated in the 1 corral on the night I speak of. Some ' time during the darkness a wo'f entered ; [ the pen and killed a ewe and two lambs. ■ Cn tb.e following morning we were greatly surprised to find that the wool on tl e remaining sixty had turned perfectly white from terror. ” It is reported that the author of thio story is a chuich member in good iugThe application of the talc or French chalk to textile fabrics is a French invention. It is used in the proportion of about 6 per cent, of the weight of the । fabric, which it gives a beautiful luster . I and softness. A veteran hunter says that there are ’ twice as many large game animals in 1 ( Maine now as there were ten years ag >, 1 ' and attributes this fact to the faithful ' I enforcement of the game laws. — i “I am closing out my entire stock,” said the farmer, as he put up a wire > fence.

SPURGEON IS NO MORE. THE FAMOUS LONDON DIVINE PASSES AWAY. After Months of Illness the Noted Preache* Succumbs to Gout While Sojourning fo r Health in the South of France—His Distinguished Career. k Great Preacher Gone. Telegrams announce the death at ! Mentone, in South France, of Rev. Charles H. Spurgeon, pastor of the Lon- | don Metropolitan Tabernacle. Mr. SpurI geon had long been a sufferer from gout, and about seven months ago his condition became so serious that even then , his life hung in the balance for weeks. ; Eventually his naturally rugged consti- | tution overcame the disease so far as to permit of his being removed to Mentone, where he had been for some time. At first the mild climate to which he had gone proved beneficial, and the famous preacher’s physicians were beginning to look for their pastor’s complete re- ' covery. A few days ago alarming symptoms made their appearance. The reverend gentleman grew steadily worse, । and the end soon came. j Mr. Spurgeon was born at Kelvedon, 1 Essex, June 19, 1834, and was educated at Colchester, Maidstone, and elsewhere, finally becoming usher in a school at i Newmarket. Having adopted Baptist views, he joined the congregation which had been presided over by the late RobI ert Hall, of Cambridge. He subsequently became pastor at Waterbeach, ( and his fame as a preacher reaching m A 1 : a1 Aka ■ JI <,i CHARtXS H. SPURGEON. London he was offered the pastorate cf the church meeting in New Park Street Chapel in Southwark. He first preached before a London

congregation in 1853, with so much suci cess that ere two years had elapsed it was considered necessary to enlarge the j building, pending which alteration he ; officiated for four months at Exeter Hall. , Ihe enlargement of the chapel in Park street, however, proved insufficient ami ; hearers multiplied with such rapidity that it became expedient to engage the Surrey Music Hall, and Mr. Spurgeon’s : followers determined to build a suitable I edifice for their services. The Metropolitan tabernacle was accordingly built and opened in 1861, and ever since when the great preacher occupied its rostrum on Sundays there was present a congregation averaging ov< r 6,000 persons. , Mr. Spurgeon once pree -hed to a con|gr. a ' ■ i' men b„ vu» .... and an orphanage which was begun at 1 the instance of a lady friend who sent ; Mr. Spurgeon a check for SIOO,OOO with ’ which to 1 egin it. About three hundred , orphans are fed, lodged, clothed, and I educated in this institution. With the । exception of Mr. Gladstone he received 1 the largest mail of any man in the three kinsrdonis. A great manv of his letters

a gifiiL nittiij vi mb letters from sailors, from poor fellows whom lie had managed to help out cf the gutter, were simply addresssed Spurgeon. England. To these he replied cheerfully and was always ready to give advice. Nor was this all. He gave freely of his money. In fact, he was a poor man. If it had not been for the kindness of his congregation he would have been penniless. In person Mr. Spurgeon was short, thick-set, with a face by no means handsome and markedly English in type. But ; he had kindly manners that rendered him agreeable to those who knew him. Though he had accomplished so much I labor in his life he has been for years a frequent sufferer from rheumatism, a disease which troubled both his father and grandfather. | In recent years, since he had had much ill health, much of his parochial work has been undertaken by Mrs. Spurgeon, who is a devoted, unselfish woman, with a pleasant face and voice that win her friends everywhere. She : is a ministering angel among the poor of the great city. In every respect she has proved herself a worthy helpmeet for the great preacher. 1 Th ir twin sons—their only children—• are both engaged in the ministry. The War Is Over. Chili always was a Pacific country.—• i Boston Traveller. j It is now of no consequence whether ; the Capitan Prat sails or not. —Louis- ! ville Courier-Journal. Chili’s back-down appeared simultane- • ously with tb.e President’s back-up.— Memphis Avalanche. ; Chili will come down, but she evidently prefers the installment plan to the dull thud. —Washington Post. Chili takes to her dish of crow with great alacrity. She might as well make the best of it. —Kalamazoo Telegraph. That Chili now has a pair of black ' eyes is admitted by those who perversely omit the last dotlet in spelling.—Baltimore American. i Chili isn’t quite as blusteringly warm as she was a week ago. L’ncle Sam is ■ something of a base-burner himself.— ! Cincinnati Gazette. I t The Chilian war talk ami its ending have demonstrated that while Mr. Har- ■ rison has the loudest mouth Mr. Blaine . possesses the heaviest feet. —Milwaukee • Journal. j The war is over. Chili takes it all back. Apology, reparation, and good ! feeling will follow, and Chili will have 1 an exhibit at the World’s Fair at Chicaj go.—Pittsburgh Gazette. Chili’s respect for the American flag and uniform seems to have been of sud- ’ den birth. Perhaps our naval preparaj tions had a good deal to do with it.—lndianapolis Journal.