Walkerton Independent, Volume 47, Number 35, Walkerton, St. Joseph County, 26 January 1922 — Page 2

WALKERTON INDEPENDENT Published EJvery Thursday by THE INDEPENDENT-NEWS CO. Publishers of the WALKERTON INDEPENDENT NORTH LIBERTY NEWS LAKEVILLE STANDARD THE ST. JOSEPH CO. WEKKUEB~ Clem DeCcudree, Bulleee Maaacer W. A. Eadley, Editor SUBSCRIPTION RATES Ono Tear D M Six Months M Three Months M TERMS IN ADVANCE Entered at the post office at Walkertoe. InL. as second-class matter. [lndiana] \ STATE ^EVS : Montezuma. —The First National bank was held up and robbed by three men. They escaped with $2,000 in silver and currency. Lafayette.—At the regular monthly meeting of the Indiana Soldiers’ home, which closed at Lafayette, reports submitted by the commandant showed a membership at the present time of 1,V7l, 298 men and 773 women. Applications for 28 more were received by the board and acted on favorably. The applicants included Civil war veterans more than ninety years old and Spanish war veterans in their forties. Terre Haute. —Officials of District 11, United Mine Workers of America, have started a move for an investigation of the controversy in Kansas among coal miners and officials, and will also aid in fighting the Kansas industrial court law. A committee to represent the district, which includes the most of Indiana's coal fields, and to make the investigation ’has been named. The committee will be assisted by District 11 attorneys. Peru. —The largest circus corporation in the world has Just been completed at Cincinnati, 0., by a merger of the Hagenback-Wallace, Sells-Floto, Howe’s Great London, and John Robinson shows, according to word received. The capital stock is $2,000,000 and the concern is incorporated under the laws of Ohio, it was said. The corporation likely will maintain its offices in Cincinnati, but all the shows will winter in Peru, it was said. The Robinson and Howe Shows are now in Peru. Indianapolis. —The state board of medical registration and examination, at its semiannual meeting in Indianapolis, re-elected the following officers: Dr. W. A. Spurgeon, Muncie, president; Dr. E. M. Shanklin, Hammond, vice-president; Dr. W. T. Gott, Crawfordsville, secretary; Dr. Paul Tindall, Shelbyville, treasurer. Miss Lucy Campbell was continued as the clerk of the board. The board de- . cided that there would be no January examinations for the licensing of physicians, due to the limited number of applicants. The board meets in January and July. Indianapolis.—Governor McCray and M. E. Foley, secretary of the Indiana reformatory relocation commission, announced that the commission has got | down to 47 possible sites for the new institution. It has eliminated all except that number from nearly 200 site offers. On January 21, the commission will visit sites which are included in Marion and Hamilton counties. Mr. Foley said the commission has in mind “four or five” sites in the two counties. He said it has in mind “seven or eight” in Hendricks county, and “five or six" in Morgan county. The commission will inspect the Hendricks county sites January 20, and the Mor- J gan county sites. January 19. Lafayette.—Uncurtailed Issuing of tax-exempt securities was criticized in resolutions adopted by 1,000 representative farmers of Indiana, who met at Purdue university to outline their views and outline suggestions for President Harding’s forthcoming agricultural conference at Washington, D. C. The resolutions, in addition to the [ suggestion concerning securities, included the following proposals: Establishment of a national policy re- 1 Uting to agriculture. Legislation recognizing the right of farmers to combine for the purpose of marketing, processing, sorting and distributing their own products. Extension of rural credits. Construction of the St. Lawrence deep waterway as a factor tn obtaining lower freight rates for the transportation of grain and other farm products. Approval of the action of the War Finance corporation in extending short time credits for agricul- : tural purposes. Indianapolis.—“ Nothing is more certain than death and taxes and, while I the average individual spends time and money to ward off death, he does not j pay much attention to keeping down public expenditures, which cause taxes," says the annual report of the state board of tax commissioners, • which has just been completed. The ' report says that too many public offidais look more after the spending of public money than after the saving of it. The board points out in its report that tax appraisements do not make taxes, but that expenditures make taxes and that efforts to regulate taxes by tinkering with valuations is only a makeshift because taxes are levied to pay for expenditures made by public officials. The board estimated that Hoosiers paid about more in taxes last year than they did the jear before. “As eternal vigilance is the price of liberty, so will eternal vigPance on the part of the taxpayers aid in bringing about a reduetion of taxes, and the best way to accomplish this is to reduce the amount of money to be spent,” says the report. Alexandria. —When a farmers’ short course is held in Alexandria, January 31 and February 1, 2 and 3, every available storeroom in the city will be utilized for demonstration purposes. Professors of agriculture at Purdue university will have charge of the show. Indianapolis.—The state board of health at Its quarterly meeting voted to hold the annual convention of public health officers of Indiana at the time of the public health institute to be ^pnducted by the board in Indianapolis,

QTie Qreen Pea Pirates By PETER B. KYNE Author of "WEBSTER —MAN'S MAN,” "THE VALLEY OF THE GIANTS,” Etc. Copyright, by Peter B. Kyne

HORRID WAR. Synopsis. — Captain Phineas P. Scraggs has grown up around the docks of San Francisco, and from moss boy on a river steamer, risen to the ownership of the steamer Maggis. Since each annual inspection promised to be the last of the old weatherbeaten vessel, Scraggs naturally has some difficulty in securing a crew. When the story opens, Adelbert P. Gibney, likable, but erratic, a man whom nobody but Scraggs would hire, is the skipper, Neils Halvorsen, a solemn Swede, constitutes the forecastle hands, and Bart McGuffey, a wastrel of the Gibney type, reigns In the engine room. With this motley crew and his ancient vessel. Captain Scraggs is engaged in freighting garden truck from Halfmoon bay to San Francisco. The inevitable happens; the Maggie goes ashore in a fog. A passing vessel hailing the wreck, Mr. Gibney gets word to a towing company In San Francisco that the ship ashore Is the Yankee Prince, with promise of a rich salvage. Two tugs succeed in pulling the Maggie into deep water, and she slips her tow lines and gets away in the fog. Furious at the deception practiced on them. Captains Hicks and Flaherty, commanding the two tugboats, ascertain the identity of the “Yankee Prince” and. fearing ridicule should the facts become known along the water front, determine on persona' vengeance. Their hostile visit to the Maggie results in Captain Scraggs promising to get a new boiler and make needed repairs to tiie steamer Scraggs refuses to fulfill his promises and Gibney and McGuffey “strike.” With marvelous luck, Scraggs ships a fresh crew. At the end of a few days of wild conviviality Gibney and McGuffey are stranded and seek their old positions on the Maggie. They are hostilely received, but remain. On their way to San Francisco they sight a derelict and Gibney and McGuffey swim to it. The derelict proves to be the Chesapeake, richly laden, its entire crew stricken with scurvy. Scraggs attempts to tow her in, but the Maggie is unequal to the task and Gibney and McGuffey, alone, sail the ship to San Francisco, their salvage money amounting to SI,OOO apiece. His crew having deserted him. Captain Scraggs Induces them to return. At an “old horse” sale the three purchase two mysterious boxes which they believe to contain smuggled “Oriental goods.” They find, instead, two dead Chinamen. Scraggs seeks to "double cross” his tw’o associates, but Mr. Gibney outwits him and makes a satisfactory financial settlement with the Chinese company to whom the bodies have been consigned, leaving Scraggs out in the cold. Gibney resents McGuffey’s action In lending money to Scraggs without consulting him, and after a terrific wordy combat the three separate, McGuffey becoming assistant engineer on an oil tanker, Gibney disappearing, and Scraggs, forced to lay up the Maggie, takes a subordinate position on a ferry steamer. Senor Lopez, Mexican revolutionist, makes Scraggs a generous offer for transportation of munitions to Lower California. Scraggs accepts, and the old Maggie is once more put into commission. Arriving at his destination, Scraggs finds his old companion, Mr. Gibney, Is the consignee. Time having softened animosities, the reunion Is joyful.

CHAPTER IX—Continued. “Why?” demanded Captain Scraggs, Instantly on the defensive. “Not that I’m holdin’ any grudge agin you, Scraggsy,” said Mr. Gibney affably, “but I wouldn't a-had you no more now than I would when we was runnin’ in the green-pea trade. It’s because you ain’t got no Imagination, and the Maggie ain't big enough for 1 my purpose. Havin’ the Maggie sort of puts a crimp in my plans.” “Rot,” snapped Captain Scraggs. 1 'Tve had the Maggie overhauled and shipped a new wheel, and she’s a I mighty smart little boat. I’ll tell you. i I’ll land them arms in Descanso bay all right.” “I know’ you will,” said Mr. Gibney sadly. “That’s just what hurts. You : see, Scraggßy, I never Intended ’em ! for Descanso bay in the first place. There’s a nice healthy little revolution fomentin’ down In the United States of Colombia, with Adelbert P. Gibney playin’ both ends to the middle. And there’s a dog-hole down on the Gold coast where I Intended to land this cargo, but now’ that Scab Johnny’s gone to work and sent me a bay scow Instead of a sea-goln’ steamer. I’m in the nine-hole Instead o’ dog-hole. I can never get as far as the Gold coast with the Maggie. She can’t carry coal ■ enough to last her.” “But I thought these guns and things was for the Mexicans,” quavered Captain Scraggs. “Scab Johnnjand Lopez told me they w’as.” Mr. Gibney groaned and hid his face tn his hands. “Scraggsy," he said sadly, “it’s a cinch you ain’t used the past four years to stimulate that imagination of yours. Os course they was purchased for the Mexicans, but what was to prevent me from lettin’ the Mexicans pay for them, help out on the charter of the boat, and then have me divert the cargo to the United States of Colombia, where I can sell ’em at a clear profit, the cost bein’ nothin’ to speak of? Now you got to come buttin’ in with the Maggie, and what happens? Why, I got to be honest, of course. I got to make good on my bluff, and what’s in it for me? Nothin’ but glory. Can you hock a Chunk of glory for ham and eggs, Phineas Scraggs? Not on your life. If ft hadn’t been for you buttin’ in with your blasted, rotten hulk of a freshwater skiff, I’d—” Mr. Gibney paused ominously and savagely bit the end of his cigar. As for Captain Scraggs, every drop of blood in his body was boiling in defense of the ship he loved. “You're a pirate,” he shrilled. “And you’re just as big a hornet as you ever was,” replied Mr. Gthpey. “Always buzztn' around where you

| ain’t wanted. But still, what’s the use of bawlin' over spilt milk? We'll drop into San Diego for a couple of hours and take on coal, and about sunset we'll pull out and make the run down to Descanso bay in the dark. We might ns well forget the past and put this thing through as per program. Only I saw visions of n schooner nil my own, Scraggsy, and—well, what's the use? What's the use? Scraggsy, you're a natural-born mar plot. Always buttin’ In, buttin' In, fit for nothin’ but the green-pea trade. However, I guess I can turn Into my old berth and get some sleep. Put the old girl under n slow bell mid save your coal. We’ll have to fool away four or five hours In San Diego anyhow and there ain’t no sense in crowdin' the old hulk." “Gib,” said Captain Scraggs, “was that really, your lay—to steal the cargo, double-cross the Insurrecto junta, and sell out to a furrin’ country?” “Os course It was," said Mr. Gibney pettishly. “They all do such things in the banana republics. Why should I be an exception? There's half a dozen different gangs fightin’ each other and the government in Mexico, and if I don’t deliver these arms, just see ali # the lives I’ll be savin’. And after I got Ihe cargo Into Colombia and sold It, I could have peached on the rebels there, and got a reward for it. and saved a lot more lives, and come away rich and respected.” “By the Lord Harry,” said Captain Scraggs, “but you've got an Imagination, Gib. I’ll swear to that. Gib, I take off my hat to you. You’re all tight and shipshape and no loose ends bobbin’ around you. Don't tell me th' scheme's got t' fall through, Gib. Great snakes, don't tell me that. Ain't there some way o' gettin’ around it? There must be. Why, Gib, my dear boy, I never heard of such a grand lay In my life. It's a absolute winner. Don't give up. Gib. Oil up your imagination and find away out. Let’s get together, Gib, and make a little money. Dang it all, Gib, I been lonesome ever since I seen you last.” “Well.” replied Mr. Gibney. “I’ll turn in and try to scheme away out, but I don’t hold out no hope. Not a ray of it. I’m afraid, Scraggsy, we’ve got to be honest.” Saying which. Mr. Gibney hopped up Into his berth, stretched his huge legs, and fell asleep with his clothes on. Captain Scraggs looked him over with the closest approach to affection that had ever lightened his cold gray eye. and sighing heavily, presently went on deck. As he passed up the companionway. the first mate heard him murmur: “Gib's a fine lad. I'll be dad burned if he ain’t.” At six o’clock next morning the Maggie was rounding Point Loma, heading In for San Diego bay, and Captain Scraggs went below and awakened Mr. Gibney. “What’s for breakfast. Scraggsy, old kid?” asked Mr. Gibney. “Fried eggs,” said Captain Scraggs. remembering Mr. Gibney’s partiality for that form of nutriment In the vanished days of the green-pea trade. “Ham an’ fried eggs an' a sizzlin’ pot o’ coffee. Thought away out o’ our mess, Gib?” “Not yet,” replied Mr. Gibney ns he rolled out of bed. “but eggs is always stimulatin’, and I don't give up hope on a full stomach.” An hour later they were tied up under the coal bunkers, and at Mr. Gibney’s suggestion some twenty tons of “I'd Sooner Die Fightin’ Than Let Them Stand Me Up Agin a Wall in Ensenada." sacked coal were piled on top of the fo’castle head and on the main deck for’d, in case of emergency. They lay in the harbor all day until about four o’clock, when Mr. Gibney, by virtue of his authority as supercargo, ordered the lines cast off and the Maggie steamed out of the harbor. Off Point Loma they veered to the south, leaving the Coronado islands on the starboard quarter, ten miles to the west. Mr. Gibney was below with Captain Scraggs. battling with the problem that confronted them, when the mate stuck his head down the companionway to report a large power schooner coming out from the lee of the Coronados and standing off on a course calculated to intercept the Maggie in an hour or two. Captain Scraggs and Mr. Gibney sprang up on the bridge at once, the latter with Scraggs’ long glass up to his eye.

“She was hove to under Hie lee of the island, and the minute we came out of the harbor and turned south she come nosin’ after us,” said the mate. “Hum !” muttered Mr. Gibney. “Gasoline schooner. Two masts and baldheaded. About a hundred and twenty ton, I should say, and showin’ a pretty pair of heels. There’s somethin’ up for’d—yes—let me see —ye-es, there’s two more—holy sailor! it’s a gunboat! One of those doggoned gasoline coast patrol boats, and there’s the federal flag flying at the fore.” “Let’s put back to San Diego bay.” quavered Captain Scraggs. “I’ll be durned if I relish the idee o’ losin’ the Maggie.” “Too late,” said the philosophical Glbner. “We’re in Mexican waters now, and she can cut us off from the bay. The only thing we can do Is to run for It and try to lose her after dark. Tell the engineer to crowd her to the limit. There ain’t much wind to speak of, so I guess we can manage to hold our own for a while. Nevertheless, I’ve got a hunch that we’ll be overhauled. Os course, you ain’t got no papers to show, Scraggs, and they’ll search the cargo, and confiscate us, and shoot the whole bloomin’ crowd of ns. I bet a dollar to a doughnut that fellow Lopez sold us out, after the fashion of the country. I can’t help thinkin’ that that gunboat was there Just a waitin’ for us to show up.” For several minutes Mr. Gibney continued to study the gunboat until there could no longer be any doubt that she Intended to overhaul them. He made out that she had a long gun for’d, with a battery of two one-pound-ers on top of her house and something on her port quarter that looked like a Maxim rapid tiro gun. About twenty men, dressed in white cloth, could be seen on her decks. Presently Mr. Gibney was Interrupted by Captain Scraggs pulling at Ids sleeve. “You was a gunner once, wasn’t you. Gib?" said Captain Scraggs in a trembling voice. “You bet I was." replied Mr. Gibney. ! “My shoot in’ won the trophy three times In succession when I was on the old Kearsarge. If I had one good gun and a half-de<*ent crew, I’d knock that gunboat silly before she knew what bad hit her." “Gib. I’ve got an Idee," said Captain Scraggs. “Out with it,” said Mr. Gibney cheerfully. "There was four little cannon lowered into the hold Hie last thing before we put on the mafn hatch, and the ammunition to load ’em with Is stowed in the after hold and very easy to get at.” Mr. Gibney turned a beaming face to the skipper, reached out his arms, and folded Captain Scraggs in an embrace that would have done credit to a grizzly bear. There were genuine tears of admiration in his eyes and In his voice when he could master his emotions sufficiently to speak. "Scraggsy, old turpot, you've been a long time cornin’ through on the Imagination, but you've sure arrived with all sail set. I always thought you had about as much nerve as an oyster, but I take it all back. We’ll get out them two little jackass guns and fight a naval battle, and If I don’t sink that Mexican gunboat, and save the Maggie, feed me to the sharks, for I won’t be worthy of the blood that’s in me. Pipe all hands and lift off that main hatch. Reeve a block and tackle through that cargo gaff and stand by to heave out the guns.” But Captain Scraggs had repented of his rash suggestion almost the moment he made it. Only the dire necessity of desperate measures to save the Maggie had prompted him to put the idea into Mr. Gibney’s head, and when he saw the avidity with which the latter set to work clearing for action, his terror knew no bounds. “Oh, Gib,” he wailed, “I’m afraid we better not try to lick that gunboat after all. They might sink us with all hands.” “Rats!” said Mr. Gibney, as he leaped into the hold. “Bear a light here until I can root out the wheels of these guns. Here they are, labeled ‘cream separator.’ Stand by with that sling to—” “But, Gib, my dear boy,” protested Captain Scraggs, “this Is Insanity!” "I know it,” said Mr. Gibney calmly. "Scraggsy, you’re perfectly right. But I’d sooner die flghtln’ than let them stand me up agin a wall in Ensenada. We're filibusters, Scraggsy, and we’re caught with the goods. I, for one, am goin’ down with the steamer Maggie, but I’m goin’ down flghtin’ like a bear.” “Maybe—maybe we can outrun her, Gib," half sobbed Captain Scraggs. “No hope," replied Mr. Gibney. “Fight and die is the last resort. She’s eight miles astern and gainin’ every minute, and when she’s within two miles she'll open fire. Os course, we won't be hit unless they’ve got a Yankee gunner aboard.” “Let's run up the Stars and Stripes and dare ’em to fire on us," said Captain Scraggs. “N<>,” said Mr. Gibney firmly, “my old man died for the flag an’ I've sailed under it too long to hide behind it when I’m in Dutch. We’ll fight. If you was ever navigatin' officer on a Colombian gunboat, Scraggs, you’d realize what it means to run from a Mexican.” Captain Scraggs said nothing further. Perhaps lie was a litrte ashamed of himself in the face of Mr. Gibney’s simple faith In his own ability; perhaps in his veins, all unknown, there flowed a faint of the heroic blood of some foi gotten sea-dog. Be that as it may, Something did swell in his breast wheh Mr. Gibney spoke of the flag and ills scorning to hide

behind It, and Scraggs’ snaggle teeth came together with a snap. “All right, Gib, my boy,” he said solemnly, ‘Tin with you. Mrs. Scraggs has slipped her cable and there ain’t nobody to mourn for me. But if we can’t fight under the Stars and Stripes, by the tail of the Great Sacred Bull, we'll have a flag of our own,” and leaving Mr. Gibney and the crew to get the guns on deck. Captain Scraggs ran below. He appeared on deck presently with a long blue burgee on which was emblazoned In white letters the single word Maggie. It was his own houseflag, and with trembling hands he ran It to the fore and cast its wrinkled folds to the breeze of heaven. “Good old dishcloth!” shrieked Mr. Gibney. “She never comes down.” “D—d if she does,” said Captain Scraggs profanely. While all this was going on, a deckhand had reeved a block and tackle through the end of the cargo gaff and passed it to the winch. The two guns came out of the hold In jig time, and while Scraggs ami one deckhand opened the after hold and got out am\SST Qj SJ" & 11-^^ eSI-7 fa I ^<s K* j \ j “My Maggie’s Tail Is Shot Away." munition for the guns, Mr. Gibney, assisted by the other deckhand, proceeded to put one of the guns together. He was shrewd enough to realize that he would have to do practically all of the work of serving the gun himself. In view of which condition one gun would have to defend the Maggie. He had never seen a mountain gun before, but he did not find it difficult to put the simple mechanism together. “Now, then, Scraggsy,” he announced cheerfullj- when the gun was finailj’ assembled on the carriage, "get a sizeable timber an’ spike it to the center o’ the deck. I’ll run the I trail spade up against that cleat an’ that’ll keep the recoil from lettin’ the gun go backward, clean through the opposite rail and overboard. Gimme a coupler gallons o’ distillate an’ some waste, somebody. This Cosmoline’s got to come out o' the tube an’ out o’ the breech mechanism before we commence shootin'.” The enemy had approached within three miles by the time the piece was ready for action. Under Mr. Gibney’s instructions Captain Scraggs held the fuse setter in case it should be necessary to adjust with shrapnel. Mr. Gibney inserted his sights and took a preliminary squint. "A little different from gun-pointin’ in the navy, but about the same principle,” he declared. “In the army I believe they call this kind o’ shootin’ direct fire, because you sight direct on the target.” He scratched his ingenious head and examined the ammunition. “Not a high explosive shell In the lot,” he mourned. "I’ll have to use percussion fire to get the range; then I’ll drop back a little an’ spray her with shrapnel. Seems a pity to smash up a fine schooner like that one with percussion fire. I’d rather tickle ’em up a bit with shrapnel an’ scare ’em into runnfn’ away.” He got out the lanyard, slipped a cartridge in the breech, paused, and scratched his head again. His calm deliberation was driving Scraggs crazy. He reminded Mr. Gibney with some asperity that they were not attending a strawberry festival and for the love of heaven to get busy. “I’m estimatin’ the range, you snipe,” Gibney retorted. “Looks to be about three miles to me. A little long, i.iebbe, for this gun, but —there’s nothin' like tryin’,” and he sighted carefully. “Fire,” he bawled as the Maggie rested an Instant in the trough of the sea —and a deckhand jerked the lanyard. Instantly Mr. Gibney clapped the long glass to his eye. “Good direction —over,” he murmured. ‘Til lay on her waterline next time.” He jerked open the breech, ejected the cartridge case, and rammed another cartridge home. This shot struck the water directly under the schooner’s bow and threw water over her forecastle head. Mr. Gibney smiled, spat overboard, and winked confidently at Captain Scraggs. “Like 1 spearin’ fish in a bath tub,” lie de- ' elared. He bent over the fuse setter, s “Corrector three zero,” he intoned, “four eight hundred.” He thrust a cartridge in the fuse setter, twisted it, slammed it in the gun, and fired again. “Over,” he growled. Something whined over the Maggie and threw up a waterspout half a mile beyond her. I “Dubs,” jeered Mr. Gibney, and

sighted again. This time his shrapnel burst neatly on the schooner. Almost simultaneously a shell from the schooner dropped into the sacked coal on the forecastle head of the Maggie and enveloped her in a black pall of smoke and coal dust. Captain Scraggs screamed. “Tit for tat," the philosophical Gibney reminded him. “We can’t expect to get away with everything, Scraggsy, old kiddo." The words were scarcely out of his mouth before the Maggie’s mainmast and about ten feet of her ancient railing were trailing alongside. Mr. Gibney whistled softly | through bls teeth and successfully sprayed the Mexican again. “It breaks my heart to ruin that craft's canvas,” he declared, and let her have it once more. “My Maggie’s tail is shot away,” j Captain Scraggs walled, “an' I only rebuilt it a week ago.” Three more shots from the long gun missed them, but the fourth carried away the cabin, leaving the wreck of the pilot house, with the helmsman unscathed, sticking up like a sore thumb. “Turn her around and head straight for them," the gallant Gibney roared. “She's a smaller target cornin' bows on. We’re broadside to her now.” “Gib, will you ever sink that Greaser?” Captain Scraggs sobbed hysterically. “Don’t want to sink her,” the supercargo retorted. “She’s a nice little schooner. I’d rather capture her. Maybe we can use her in our business, Scraggsy,” and he continued to shower the enemy with high bursting shrapnel. When the two vessels were iess than two miles apart the one-pounders came into action. It was pretty Shooting and the wicked little shells ripped through the old Maggie like buckshot through a roll of butter. Mr. Gibney slid flat on the deck beside his gun and Captain Scraggs sprawled beside him. “A feller,” Mr. Gibney announced, “has got to take a heatin’ while lookin’ for an openin’ to put over the knockout blow. If the old Maggie holds together till we re within a cable length o’ that schooner an’ we ain’t all killed by that time, I bet I'll make them skunks sing soft an’ low.” “How?” Captain Scraggs chattered. “With muzzle bursts,” Mr. Gibney replied. “I’ll set my fuse at zero, an’ at point blank range I'll Just rnke everything off that schooner's decks. Guess I’ll get half a dozen cartridges set an’ ready for the big scene. Up with you. Admiral Scraggs, an’ hold the fuse setter steady.” ‘Tin agin war.” Scraggs quavered. “Gib, it’s sure h —ll.” “Rats! It’s invigoratin’, Kcraegsy. There ain’t nothin' wrong with war, Scraggsy. unless you happen to get killed. Then It’s like cholera. You can cure every case except the first one.” They had come Inside the minimum range of the Mexican’s long grin now, so that only the one-pounde«W continued to peck at the Maggie. Evidently the Mexican was as eager to get to close quarters as Mr. Gibney, for he held steadily on his course. “Well, it’s time to put over the big stuff," Mr. Gibney remarked presently. “Here’s hopin’ they don’t pot me with rifle fire while I’m extendin’ my compliments.” Captain Gibney, a victor, organizes “The Syndicate.” (TO BE CONTINUED.) CONDITION HARD TO IMAGINE What Would Happen to the Sun and Other Heavenly Bodies if There Were No Atmosphere. Were the earth deprived of its atmosphere and existence possible under such conditions, we should find that no rosy dawn would herald the rising of the sun in the darkened east, or gorgeous colors mark its setting in the west. The sky would be dark by day as well as by night, says a writer In London Answers. The stars would shine brightly through the entire 24 hours, but we should see thousands more of them than are now visible on even the clearest nights. They would not twinkle In the least. They would be seen almost up to the very edge of the sun itself, but immediately round the sun there would be a glow having the appearance of broad wings, and red flames would add tlieir grandeur to the Impressive scene. The zodiacal light would appear as a broad beam of light In the spring, up to the left o’ the place where the sun had set. It would be possible to study this remarkable object, and no doubt to solve quickly the mystery which has clung to It for so many centuries. The appearance of the milky way would be far more magnificent than it is now, seen even from tropical countries. A big comet would be seen months before it got to the sun, and we should witness ft sweep round the sun with incredible speed and dart off into space again. Mercury and Venus could have their movements followed with ease, and any other planet there might be between Mercury and the sun would soon be discovered. 1n a Case Like That. A family that moved recently to e new home on Prospect avenue, well out south, was visited at once by a budding young merchant. He pre sented himself at the kitchen, a HttH fellow, one dirty hand continually taking a pencil from behind an ear and then replacing it. “Want to take milk from us?” be Inquired, sure that everyone knew “us.” The housewife said she didn’t mind. Out came a scrubby pad of paper, which was handed over, with a request: “Sign here.” “When can we have milk?” the housewife inquired, with an eye tc making plans on the next meal. “Well,” said the young merchant desiring to be specific, “just mom ing and evening, ’cause that’s the oul. time our cows give te ’—Kansa* City Star.

CRAMPS, PAINS AND BACKACHE St Louis Woman Relieved by Lydia E. Pinkham’s Vegetable Compound St. Louis, Mo.—“l was bothered With cramps and pains every month and

had backache and had to go to bed as I could not work. My mother and my whole family always took Lydia E. Pinkham’s Vegetable Compound for such troubles and they induced me to try it and it has helped me very much. I don’t have cramps any more, and I can do

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tny housework all through the month. I recommend your Vegetable Compound to my friends for female troubles.”— Mrs. Della Scholz, 1412 Salisbury Street, St. Louis, Mo. Just think for a moment. Lydia E. Pinkham’s Vegetable Compound has been in use for nearly fifty years. It ia prepared from medicinal plants, by the utmost pharmaceutical skill, and superior methods. The ingredients thus combined in the Compound correct the conditions which cause such annoying symptoms as had been troubling Mrs. Scholz. The Vegetable Compound exercises a restorative influence of the most desirable character, correcting the trouble in a gentle but efficient manner. This is noted, by the disappearance, one after another, of the disagreeable symptoms. A Particular Customer. “Are you an experienced pharmacist ?” “Yes, madam, I understand the business thoroughly In theory and in practice.” “Very good. I wish a hair net.” — Louisville Courier-Journal. Church Is Cheaper Still. “It’s really a waste of money for my husband to go to the theater.” “Why so?” “He sleeps nearly all the time. A 25cent seat at the movies would do just as well, and besides the movies are ! nice and dark.” —Boston Transcript. Cuticura Soothes Itching Scalp. On retiring gently rub spots of dan- ! druff and itching with Cuticura Ointment. Next morning shampoo with Cuticura Soap and hot water. Make them your everyday toilet preparations and have a clear skin and soft, white hands. —Advertisement. Derivation From the French. The French for “What shall I say of it?” is qu’en dlrai, and that has i been corrupted into our word quandary. Happy Day! Rub—Did you enjoy your vacation? Dub—Very much. At the last minute I couldn’t go. Tied Up. Knicker—“ Smith says all he Is he owes to bls wife.” Bocker —“Another of those frozen credits.” Unnecessary. North —“Your scheme won’t hold water.” West —“But I’m not planning to sell stock.” How It Is. “What's the difference between Insurance and assurance?” “Well, yet can't sell one without the other.” ■^^ZXTTHEFIRST SIGN OF A COLD-USE Sr Jfggk TOO LATE Death only a matter of short time. Don’t wait until pains and aches become incurable diseases. Avoid painful consequences by taking COLD MEDAL I Ths world’s standard remedy for Hdrer, liver, bladder and uric acid troubles—ths National Remedy of Holland sines 1696Thrss sizea, all druggists. fry fly Goia M—Jal o® essay bos aad accept no imitation Garfield Tea Was Your Grandmother’s Remedy

For every stomach and intestinal ill. This good old-fash* loned herb homa remedy for constipation, stomach ills and other derangements of the sys-

tem so prevalent these days is in even I greater favor as a family medicine than in your grandmother’s day. Back Ache? This old, reliable kidney remedy relieves backaches quickly, permanently. DODD’S KIDNEY PO US check kidney disorders which too often lead to Bright’s disease and other dangerous ailments. Actnow-t di-ease Fk* this, unchecked gets worse instead of better. Stop JQQr today — be free from pain and fotwe lUB, Dodd's has been a stand-by in thousands ox homes for over two generations. Good Druggists and DODD'S- three D*s in nsm* , Money back ts It fails to relieve. Carre bor only dOc. Ask your druggist or send price direct to DODD’S MEDICINE^OX. Buffalo N.Y. A ^x-^Diamona^. Never ctwt Pillc^-" Gripe Laxative J 1 ' * W. N. U, CHICAGO, NO. 3-1922.