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About Savannah weekly news. (Savannah) 1894-1920 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 21, 1897)
Iqtime? I w WEEK VOTj 4.7 I THE MORNING NEWS. i /Established 1850. - -Incorporated 1888. V I J. H. ESTILL, President. ) LOGAN’S SAL BY G. B. BURGIN, Author of “His Lordship,” “The Boldro Diamond,” “A Quaker Girl,” “Bread of Tears,” “Tomalyn’s Quest,” &c. Copyrighted, 1896, by G. B. Burgin. CHAPTER 1. Logan's Sal came out of the frame into the sun and shook her magnificent red hair around her witii the wild untrammel ed grace so familiar to the inhabitants of the Four Corners—a grace which appeal ed even to old Ikey Marston as he lounged on Labelle’s veranda over the way, plan ning a political programme to wipe out the United States from the face of the earth, and leave his untutored fellow Ca nadians free from all questions of reci procity In the matter of trade. Logan’s Sal, however, did not care to dis cuss political questions of any kind on this beautiful summer morning. As an incidental concession to sentiment, and preparatory to a forthcoming ball she had washed her fiery locks with some innocent vegetable preparation which was held io have the peculiar property of fixing the gold in them and of eliminating the ruf ous hue popularly supposed to pertain ex clusively to childhood. But when she sat on an upturned barrel under the red maple In the yard, and “shood” away the chick ens who came to look at her, it was evi dent, to an unprejudiced observer, that as this bewildering mass of hair which enshrouded her became dry, so did its fiery hue assert itself. At first when Logan’s Sai emerged from the doorway into the open her hair hung in heavy, dark, dull folds around her shapely shoulders. Little whispering winds played hide and seek among it, riot ed in and out of the intertwining strands, or blew the clustered threads apart. Presently, using her long white fingers as a primitive comb—no one could account for Bal’s long slender fingers; old man Logan’s digits resembled twists of tobacco squared at the ends—she parted the clinging masses and, coming a little forward, waved them out behind her like golden sails. t The deep, dark hue changed to a lighter tint, little gleams-and glittering motes of gold came to the surface, caught the light, absorbed it, and disappeared as the long tresses swayed back to her shoulders. The straight masses began to break up into a soft rich halo round the girl’s nobly beautiful face, lending a sombre Uro to her blue eyes, which, indeed, were violet in the shade, and* only blue 'when heaven’s own sky sought to mirror itself in their sunny depths. The golden glory of Bal’s hair attracted the notice of a languid young Englishman who had just been deposited, luggage and all, in an apathetic group at Labelle’s door. Someone had taken his portman teau away and dusted tho stranger, who submitted to the process with as much in difference as if it did not concern him in any way. Sal, however, attracted by the bustle of the departing coach, peered through her golden environment and met the stranger’s eye. “Who is she?” in quired that worthy, turning to Ikey. “That?" inquired Ikey, pointing over the way. "Oh, that's Logan’s Sal.” “Not bad at all,” critically remarked the stranger, lazily watching a potato bug en deavoring to consume the varnish on one of his (the stranger’s) pointed boots. "Not bad!” declared Ikey. “Not bad! Why Sal’s a tarnation fine woman. Up right as a ramrod is Sal, with a nose as straight as the one you see on them little medals the temi»erance folks gives away in Sunday schools and sinh like foolish ness. She’s six feet in her mocassins ; aouple as a willow wand when the wind ain’t sorter knocked the life oulcn it. And her hand! My! You oughter ha' seen her lay out that drummer chap from Van kteek Hill when he sold her some stuff for plating spoons and she run him down with her pap's shot-gun after the spoons were spoiled. She just gave him one wipe, and he sorter went through the bushes on tho bank to'sudden glory, an' his remains were carted up to Labelle’s for repairs. ' He 'lowed afterwards to old Doc. Jimpson a mul« had laid him out." Unaware of this exaggerated nnd gross ly untruthful tribute to her personal prowess, Sal sat basking in the sun, look ing a little wistfully, maybe, at the Lau rentlan Hills on the opposite shore. "There are no men to conquer in this wood" was Bal’a unconscious cry, for Mr. Hank Pe ters scarcely ranked as a human being In her estimation, although she had prom ised, after the primeval fashions of Four t’orners folk, to accompany him to the ball. Mr. Hank Fetors bored her, and Sal did not like being bored. The stranger gazed across the village street at the lambent mana of hair which concealed Hal from his critical glance. "Are you—eh—familiar with Biblical his tory?" he asked Mr. Marston. "Lookee 'ere, stranger," said Ikey, ex pectorating at a hltching-post with a pre cision of aim which enabled him to hit it every time— "Lookee 'ere, stranger, it tn ay bo all right whar you come from to play questions of that sort on people. We think it down hyar kinder mean—sorter personal so to apeak; and onhcalthy. I’ve known a man taken unwell—suddenly un well. atranger—for lesx’n that, mind you.” The stranger laughed. "All right," he said. “1 was thinking of a lady who wash ed her hair am! dried it on the housetops, that was all. Hathaheba, I think her name was,” Ikey Marston considered. "Don't you believe It." he said thoughtfully. "Who ever told you that played you for a sucker. Bathshelut Vankloek ain't never done no auvh (oliahness. I’d like to see her a get tln' on a mansard roof when old man Van kloek was hoverin’ round. No, air. He'd yank her back with a polo quicker’n sud den death. * ■ "Ah, but this was some time ago,” said the stranger, caressing his budding mous tache. "You are right In surmising that the lady you mention had nothing to do with the—the Incident" "In course not,” Mid Ikey. "You've been fooled. Bathsheba ain’t that kind of girl. You’re a stranger, and the bovs sec it." "This temporary misunderstanding hav ing been fdraiithleimd out, my venerable friend," aald the stranger, again careas ing his moustache, "let us drawn all un it Induces in the flowing bowl, Mr.-Mr.?' "Mannon. ’’ said Ikey, with Joyful alac rity. "You’ve hit It. stranger, first time, if you mean drinks." "Your perspicacity is not at fault," sail the sit anger, with languid scorn. "I—ch iO. 'H-1 48 % 4y —did mean drinks. Landlord, have the goodness to assuage Mr. Marston’s thirst. He is my guest for the—the rest of the day.” “Ain’t fair.” hesitated Ikey. “Bein’ a stranger, you nat’rally don’t know what I kin do with the best part of a day afore me and a whiskey bar’l behind me.” “Oh, that’s all right. I’ll risk it.” “An' I kin go straight ahead, Mister?" enquired the gratified Ikey. “Os course, however devious your ulti mate movements may be,” said the stran ger. “ I presume the local lightning rod has been analysed by you so often that it is perfectly innocuous?” “Eh?” blankly enquired Ikey. “You've got me, stranger, I pass." The stranger motioned to the landlord to bring drinks, and Ikey modestly gulped down half a tumbler of whisky—whisky which would have eaten the rivets out of an ironclad—without winking. The stranger sat down on the verandah in a basket chair and refused the vile li quor placed at his elbow by the obsequi ous host. With hat tilted half over his eyes and chair propped against the wall, he languidly let the scorching eun play over him and permeate his being. One or two buggies were hitched to posts in the front of the hotel. Millette’s goat stolidly consumed the sleeve of a habi tant's coat as it hung down from a buckboard. The intense heat told visibly on the panting dogs beneath the vehicles. Only Sal and the stranger appeared to enjoy it. Lan guid fowls, half buried in dust, scorned to snap at suddenly rising grasshoppers. Above, the blue sky; around, the fresh sweet wind tempering the hot sun; in the distance, recently clothed wil lows, as the wind rustled among them dis played their silvery surfaces. Between the village and the mountains the Ot tawa rippled onward, its transparent wa ters dancing up to the light of the sun. Next door to the hotel, Old Man Waters steadily made up his garden for the sum mer, whilst his pet blue jay indulged in profane exercises as a squirrel danced up and down the same branch. Two or three thieving blackbirds waged war on a colony of innocent robins by the waterside. But dominating the landscape and making a brilliant spot of color in it sat Logan’s Sal wearing her long locks and singing "The little old log cabin In the lane." " The stranger languidly watched Sal for half-an-hour. He did everything languid ly, as if so fashionably attired a being could not reasonably be expected to dis play the energy of baser natures. "The stage for Caledonian Springs goes at two I think you said?” he remarked to Ikey. That worthy nodded to a tall, rawboned young fellow, clad in blue trousers, red sash, and cotton shirt. On his head, he wore a "cow breakfast,” that is, a large hat of common straw, ao called because occasionally used as a substitute for fod der when hay became scarce, Ikey regarded the newcomer with 111- dlsguished scorn. "It’s Hank Peters," he said. "Hank Peters, come a bothering Sal to take her to the ball to-morrow night." "To-morrow night, eh ?” enquired the stranger, without vouchsafing a second glance at Hank, who was now engaged in un angry colloquy with the somewhat wil ful Sal. "Yes; to-morrow night, in the Mechanics’ Institute." "Why Mechanics?” asked the stranger. "I dunno," said Ikey. “I've never seed none; but old Logan ’lowed to have tone about it. He reckoned to call it that. He did think of ‘The Tower,’ but that ain't no tower, and so he had to give in.” The stranger complacently shifted his chair a couple of inches. "Do I under stand you to say that it Is the custom in these primitive parts for a man to take a girl to a dance and engage to do so the day beforehand." Ikey’s utterance grew a little thick. “I can’t quite follow all them dictionary words, stranger, but that’s about the size of it." The stranger lounged into the bar. "Keep my things. I’ll stay over to-morrow," he said listlessly, and returned to the veran dah. " I'll go to the dance."ho said, resum ing his seat. “Introduce me to that young lady over the way?” "Dussent do it,” said Ikey. "That Hank Peters is the ugliest man in the place. He’d wipe me out.” "Oh, very well," said tho- stranger, "I’ll do It myself." Ikey’s speech became thicker. "Dutish hoshp’tal’ty,” he said. “Shah—shah— shan’t let you.” The stranger thrust Ikey back into the chair, poured out for that veteran soaker some more whisky, shook himself, stifled a slight yawn, and, slowly strolling across the dusty road, lifted the latch of the little gate. "Gosh!” said Ikey, trying to follow. But the whisky asserted itself, and chained him to his chair. Sal looked up with a smile at the hand some young fellow, as he saluted her with an easy bow. "Miss Logan, 1 presume?" he said, nonchnntly, and their eyes met. Logan's Sul had ever been famous for the quickness with which she arrived at conclusions. The somber fire of her blue eyes disappeared; her lips parted in a smile of delighted surprise, and she half rose, striving to curb her riotous locks as they wantoned around her. “Yes," she said, softly; that’s my name.” The stranger’s blufe eyes laughed back into hers, although a scarcely perceptible blush dyed his erstwhile brazen cheek. He I was saying to himself: "1 go no tis kismet.” This encounter of eyes last half a I second, perhaps three-quarters. When ! Sal lowered her long lashes. Hank Peters scowled. "My friend Mr. Marston,” airly explain ed the stranger, "has expatiated so elo | quently on your many virtues that I re , quested the honor of an introduction. Un fortunately, circumstances over which Mr. Marston—and his legs—had no control, prevented him from accompanying me across the road. He has been quenching his thirst for some little time past—quench ing it not wisely, but too well—and the— sun has proved too much for him. I there fore considered it my duty to explain his apparently shameful neglect of you.” Again the girl’s beautiful eyes were mo mentarily lifted to his. Sweet surprise, dimpled breaks of chin and lips, with pink blushes chasing each other over her white throat, made themselves manifest at this i display of consummate assurance and du plicity. Outwardly calm, he was gasping 1 to himself. "At Usi! at last ! My ideal woman. By heaven, this is living! Now, I know what the poets mean when they sing of love.” And she. How handsome he is! Does he see anything in me? Why have I this old cotton frock on? And my hair too ! What has Ikey said to him. Oh, my heart, my heart!” But she only smiled again, and looked inquiringly into his candid eyes. . “I did try to bring him over to present me to you, but he is so heavy, and I couldn’t wait, and so I came without him. My name is Clinton—Harold Clinton—and I’m doing Canada." Hank interposed with a scowl. “Clear out,” he said, significantly. "Clear out, or ” Clinton turned round.“ Now that I have introduced myself, Miss Logan, I’ve a re quest to make.” Peters suddenly pushed between them. The glory died out of the sunlight for the girl. She gave a little cry, as Clinton thrust Hank away with such force that he fell against the red maple and was half stunned. “May I have the pleasure of being your escort to the ball to-morrow,” said Clin ton, as if he had known Sal all his life, and was merely asking her for a dance. “Take care!” cried the girl, suddenly. “Take care. He has a knife!” But she was too late. Hank’s bowie flashed deep into Clinton’s side, and he staggered and fell. Ikey, realizing the situation, rose to his feet with drunken gravity, pulled out a re volver, and fired. Hank Peter’s hat fell to the ground with a bullet hole in it, but that worthy dodged behind a buggy and plunged into the river with a yell of defi ance. Ikey gazed over the way with drunken gravity : “Itsh a sholemn duty—return hoshp’tal’ty," he said. “I’ll go—go plug him for sure,” and he staggered off after Hank. The girl busily staunched Clinton’s wound with a strip torn from her own gown. He gratefully pressed her hand to his lips. “No, no. For God’s sake, no,” she im plored him in frenzied terror. “Keep still. Keep still. You’ll bleed to death. But he smiled into her face, raised him self with a convulsive effort, pressed his lips to hers, and fell back in a dead faint. With deft fingers, the girl made a rough compress, and bound up the wound. The glory of bis kiss lit up her beautiful eyes and shone through her tears. And all the time she was saying to herself, "My dar ling, my darting, you shan’t die. I’ll give my life for yours. You mustn’t die.” She dabbled cool water over his sunny hair —rested his head on her bosom—laid him gently down again. “He’s mine,” she said with dry lips. “Mine, mine, mine! He shan’t die.” "Os course not,” said Dr. Jimpson, as he drove opportunely up in his buggy and jumped hastily out. “I heard the firing way down yonder. Here, Labelle, take his heels. That’s it. Gently. Gently. Mind the door. Ground floor’s best. You wo men clear out. Gut away his clothes, La belle. Brins basin and sponge. That’s it. ClfiYoa op."ffed hTs' In stood an angel, whose golden, glowing wings wrapped her round with lambent Are. But great tears fell from her eyes, and rolled amid the golden flames without quenching their light. He tried to lift his arms towards the Shining One, but a keen pain darted through the side, the pangs of hell got hold of him, and all was blank. CHAPTER 11. lA>ur Corners’ society felt that righteous retribution had overtaken the too attract ive Miss Logan. And there would proba bly be a funeral on old man Logan’s hands in addition. Public opinion considered that Mr. Peters had acted with commend able promptitude in thus resenting the at tentions of a mere stranger to the belle of Four Corners. "While it is to be regret ted,” said the Four Corners News—. “While it is to be regretted that our es teemed fellow-citizen did not shoot his op ponent in fair fight, it must be remember ed that a bowie, though less stylish, is of ten more effective than a six-shooter. Should the stranger who thus succumbed to the charms of one of the many sirens in our midst, recover, he will of course have ample opportunity of eliminating Mr. Peters from the range of practical politics. Indeed, we are informed by Mr. Peters’ many friends and admirers that he has arranged for one or two other similar little matters to stand over until Mr. Harold Clinton is sufficiently recovered to try his skill with the six-shooter. “It is difficult to repress our admiration at Mr. Peters’ honorable, manly, and straightforward conduct—conduct which, in our opinion, has amply wiped out any little appearance of prematureness on his part when the row began. We would also request such of our fellow-citizens who have a spare afternoon on their hands, to tar and feather that effete old bush whacker Ikey Marston, whoso puerile shot-gun we. have so often escaped. Mr. Marston, indeed, called on us yesterday with that seconA-hand collection of old iron which he imagines to be a gun, and, because we refused to make any altera tion in our previous report of this affair, wantonly ‘pled’ three ’forms,' afterwards detaining us up a neighboring loft until the sheriff led him away for a few days’ geological seclusion in the county gaol. As editor we are willing to fight to the death, but as Reeve of the council, it is our duty not to run any risk. We trust that a tar and torchlight procession will greet Mr. Marston with becoming enthusi asm on his emergence from gaol. If not, we shall feel It our duty, as Reeve, to double his taxes. 'Bis dat qui cito dat' (Isatin) ; and we shall give him double as sessments with both hands.” But when it leaked out that the stran ger had been unarmed, Mr. Peters admir ers dropped off. It was felt that he had been hasty. An unknown friend of Miss Logan’s gave shape to the popular feeling by leaving eleemosynary jellies on the doorstep, with a statement in somewhat crude spelling that they had been pro cured from Ottawa. The jellies, however were better than the speEing. and when the fever had abated a little Clinton was nursed back to life and fed upon them. Directly he was well enough to recognize her, Sal perversely kept out of his way. Then it was at a critical period of his ill ness that Clinton made the acquaintance of old man Logan, a gentleman of few words and with a pronounced love for to bacco in its coarsest forms. Indeed, after many nights of delirium and pain, Clinton fancied that he must be dreaming still as his eyes fell upon the quaint figure of’old man Logan in a rocking-chair at the bed side—a figure resembling a seer of “eldest eld” with long white hair, streaked here and there with dirty red. "Where am I?” asked Clinton, faintly, trying to recall Sal’s beautiful face and form. Old man Logan had been told not to ex cite the patient. "I disremember,” he said. In a non-committal sort of war. "You ain’t in your own baronial hails so to speak, for sure; and you ain’t here, ’cause yesterdaj- you was a-fancyin' your self a 10-co-mo-live.” He pronounced SAVANNAH, THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 1897. each syllable with grave deliberation. “A 10-co-mo-tive in Afrikey, a 10-co-moting after elephants and suchlike foolishness. Sal says ” “Sal! Sal! Then it wasn’t a dream?” “If you could jest look at that hole Hank Peters carved in yer,” said old man Lo gan, thoughtfully slicing some tobacco off his plug, “you’d know more about it. You go to sleep, sonny, and renew yer youth, like the seagull and—and other birds.” “But where is Miss Logan,” feverishly enquired Clinton. “I—l want to thank her.” “Miss Morgan,” said old man, welding his bits of tobadco into one sooth ing homogeneous mass, preparatory to transferring it to the inside of his left cheek : “Miss Logan is at this ’ere mo ment up to Cameron’s barn, a-revellin’.” “Oh,” said Clinton, his head falling back. “Os course. I ought to have known. What does she care!” “She ’lowed to come home early,” said Old Man, alarmed at the effect of his words, but persisting in his statement. “Reports havin’ been circulated in this ’ere neighborhood ’bout that cuss Hank Peters. Sal’s gone to the dance to show she don’t care two-pence what people says about her.” But Clinton’s eyes suddenly closed; he seemed asleep, and Old Man smiled ap proval at the effect of his diplomacy. Sal came softly into ti.e room before his smile had faded away. “He’s looking very pale, father,” she said. “You—you haven’t been saying anything to him ?” Clinton (whose head was struggling in very deep waters, where breakers were buffeting and dashing over him) heard her voice. She had returned from-the dance then, this girl who could dance whilst he lay dying. Oh, she was a heartless co quette, not the angel of his dreams. He would haste to recover, shake the dust of this primeval country off his feet, never to see it again. And yet she was so beau tiful, so queenly, with such tender eyes, so softly bright, so sweetly pure and ptoud. He must see her once more. The girl spoke sharply to the old man. “He doesn’t look natural, father. What did you tell him?” Old Man chuckled. "I wasn’t goin' to let on, Sal, as you’d taken a fancy to him, so I ’lowed you’d gone to Cameron’s barn; and he just give a pleased little groan and went off like a lamb.” The girl dropped on her knees by the bedside with a despairing moan, for she could see that a sudden change for the worse had taken place in Clinton’s condi tion, but Old Man—he had the pleasing self-sufficiency and obtuseness of an os trich—went out on the verandah looking as if he had come triumphantly through a trying ordeal. Sal buried her face in the bedclothes, striving to restrain a sob as the lap-lap ping of the water against the wooden piers below sounded pleasantly in Clinton’s ears, and he once more swam faintly up to the surface of life. A lamp burned dimly on a table the other side of the room; the rest of it was in shadow. At the foot of the bed a wandering ray of light caught Sal’s wonderful hair. She was All in white white also. Constant watching had taken aw>iy her beautiful color. In the spare rays of moonlight which shone down on her, touching her hair with tender kisses, she looked the creature of another world. Sal’s sobs ceased. She was praying: “O God—Heavenly Father—look down upon us. Spare him. Give him back to me. Save and redeem him. He’s all I have. There’s nothing else in the world for me. Nothing, nothing, nothing. Thou know est how I’ve watched over him—wearied Heaven with prayers. Don’t let him die. We give ourselves to Thee, and walk in Thy ways. O God, don’t crush what Thou hast made. Spare us to live in Thy sweet world. All Thy creatures weep for us; all the voices of the night cry aloud to Thee; all the waters of the world wail to Thee for us, Thy miserable children. Spare us, good Lord. Spare us, for the sake of ” A faint voice called to her, and she lifted her sorrow-stricken head. "Dearest,” it said weakly, as if coming from afar off. “Dearest, come nearer. I—l cannot see you.” She crept nearer and moistened his lips. Her heart was filled with a great grief. He spoke in a faint whisper. “I’m going soon. Only I—l wanted to tell you I love you. dear. I—l love you.” “Hush!” she said, choking back her sobs. “I have prayed to God, and He will hear my prayer. You shall not die.” He wandered a little. "Ah, yes, I must die. I must. There’s no life left in me. I—l can’t remember. I saw you, wor shipped you; and then, and then—the knife and darkness. There’s no life. No life.” His eyes closed, and he seemed to be speaking to some one. “Love her, for—for my sake. You'll see her, some day. The glory on her brow— the lovelight in her eyes. Love her. Love her ” For a little space he was silent, and the waters of death surged up around and about him. His eyes opened again as if he were slipping away from the world and all he loved into unfathomable darkness of the unknown. With wild terror in her eyes the girl bent over him and pressed her young lips to his, having to call back his departing soul from the chill kingdom of dreams and shadows, as if the vigorous tides of life within her veins could be transferred to his. And his fleeting spirit on the threshold of Eternal Life, paused, poised itself for flight, then feared to pass the sweet young lips which barred its part ing, and remained. He slept, and death, hovering on the threshold, dared not untwine her fond pro tecting arms, but spread his mighty wings and fled away. Blow softly, winds of Heaven! Worship, all ye voices of the night! Stars rain down your golden smiles! And oh! ye wistful tides, waiting to hear a soul upon your breast unto the distant sea, linger no more, but burdenless flow forward through the night, for on the lintel love’s own sea! is set, and death and sorrow may not en ter there. • ••••••« After his protracted dwelling on the threshold of death, Clinton rapidly recov ered. Sal nursed, and petted, and bullied him in a somewhat defiant manner, only at times showing the strong feeling which had dragged him back into the world. "Dr. Jimpson’s explanation of the matter w’as very prosaic. ‘You’d jest run down like a clock.” he said; “and Sal. she can’t let things alone—l never knowed a woman yet what could—comes and gives you a shove and sets you goin’ again. I didn’t do nuthin’ ’cept tell our undertaker to git ahead of the Caledonia Springs man. feelin’ as he'd orter have first chance. I ain’t so sure, mind you, it’s best for Sai you have got well. Your high-toned Brithishers are jest a little obliverous sometimes. Maybe your father’s a lord?" "Shoddy,” said Clinton briefly. “Im pure, adulterated shoddy. When I get well if you dare to make such an imputa tion on my honor I’ll—l’ll choke you with your own pill boxes. Miss Logan has promised to be tny wife." “Shake,” said the doctor, cordially ex tending an elephantine paw. "Shake. Yer pa may be shoddy, but you ain’t. No, sir.” After the doctor had gone out, Clinton lay still on his couch waiting for the moon to rise. Sal was promenading the wharf with her sire, in order to get a little fresh air after nursing Clinton all day. He felt vaguely that he missed her; her absence showed how his whole being was wrapped up in her; the air did not seem so sweet when she was away. When she was near him his vitality increased; when she was absent he felt weaker than ever. Then he grew hungry and began to eat the delicious jelly at his elbow. Where the jelly came from no one knew. Clinton had at one time suspected Ikey Marston of present ing it, but that hardened old soaker pro tested with such pathetic scorn “them slops ain’t in my line, Mister,” that Clin ton was again puzzled. He put down the jelly spoon with an air of relief. “Dip into it hearty, stranger,” said a voice sheepishly, and a huge shock head of hair thrust itself into the room and disappeared again. Clinton thought he was dreaming. Suddenly the head reappeared. It was followed by the slouching form of Hank Peters. “Ketch hold, stranger,” he said, hurriedly. “It’s bananers; them soapy little yaller things that doesn’t want no chewin’.” Clinton stretched out his hand in all friendliness. “Come in, Mr. Peters, and thank you,” he said. "Weren’t you just a little bit too previous? I owe you an apology for slamming you up against that tree.” "I dussen’t,” said Peters, in the same strained, husky whisper. “You’ve got the gal, and w r e’ll call it square. That old fool, Ikey Marston’s, ’lowd for to wipe me out, all on account of this yer little argey ment; an’ I ain’t got no weppings left. He has one,” the redoubtable Mr. Peters shiv ered. “Yes?” x “It came over in the Mayflower, and worked down in Canady,” said Mr. Peters, presumably alluding to Ikey’s weapon. “It’s got a nozzle like a bell, and he fills it up to busting with cut slugs. When* it does go off they spreads for miles,” and again he shivered apprehensively. "Oh, but that’s all right; I’ll talk to Ikey,” said Clinton kindly. "I was quite as much to blame as you were. In fact, I began it.” "It’s that red hair of her’s,” said Mr. Peters, lamely. "It sorter blinds a man, and’ he’s carvin’ folks uf> afore he knows anything about it.” "Dutish of hosp’tal’ty,” said a thick voice on the threshold, and Ikey appeared solemnly swaying to and fro, but cover ing Mr. Hank Peters with the heirloom that worthy had so feelingly described. Mr. Hank Peters slowly backed into a corner. “Hansh up,” insisted Ikey with drunken gravity. Hank Peters hurriedly did as requested. "And his countenance all over. Suddenly like death did prove.” hosp'tal'tyJ' again insjgted Win —in flvd minutes;” and he brought the muzzlb of his old*gun in convenient, prox imity to Mr. Peters’ speaking countenance. "Ikey, you old idiot, drop that thing at once,” commanded Clinton. But Ikey deigned no other reply than his customary formula. It was evident that he meant mischief. Clinton could not lie there and see a man murdered before his eyes. He raved and stormed and im plored Ikey to relent, but in vain. "Dut ish hospital’ty. Hesh goin’ under,” was all that could be extracted from Mr. Mar ston. It was exceedingly probable if he carried out that threat that a good deal of iron would be extracted from Hank Pe ters in the shape of old nails, keys, and othef choice fragments. Peters was touched by Clinton’s anxiety on his behalf. "I ain’t goin’ to beg nuthin from an old fool like that” he said scorn fully "but I did let on to die like a man, an’ not be scattered round in bits, by thia yer dynermite cartridge.” At this insult to his beloved weapon, Ikey laid his finger on the trigger. Sud denly, a white hand clutched the barrel and threw it up; there was a roar as of an earthquake, and Ikey rolled on the floor, kicking, gasping, but completely sobered by the shock. Sal had noiselessly entered and grasped the situation—and the gun barrel—at the critical moment. Fortunately for her, the recoil of Ikey’s primitive weapon had been directed against his own person; that por tion of the human form which a cele brated humorist has somewhat euphemis tically designated "the lower chest.” When the smoke cleared away it was found that Mr. Hank Peters had done likewise. The ceiling was riddled with jagged holes. Old Man Logan arrived on the scene with an air of placid annoyance. "When you wants to blow the roof off,” he ob served severely, " ’praps you’ll make it convenient to blaze away at your own, Ikey. It’s sorter keerless if there’s any body upstairs. I’ll have to pick most of that scrap iron out of my bed. It’s tedi ous. Don’t you do it agin.” Ikey rose to his knees, and looked crest fallenly round. Then his eyes fell on the ceiling. "Thar ain’t another like her in the hull of Canady,” he said, affectionate ly patting the brown barrel of his favor ite. “I don’t know which end of her’s the wust. That thar Hank Peters would ha' been spread all over the room by this time if he’d stayed like a man.” > "Maybe you'll git up and have some sup per.” suggested Old Man, as if the matter did not admit of further discussion. Ikey shook his head slowly made for the door. “I don’t allow for to have much appetite this week,” he said mournfully. “When she kicks she sorter knocks the stuffin’ outen one,” and he melted away into the moonlight. Sal came to* the couch to calm her ex citable patient. “What would you like for supper?” she asked, with shy happiness. Clinton drew Sal’s face to his and shook down her beautiful hair until it rippled and flowed and flamed around him. Old Man discreetly looked the other way. "Dearest,”he’said, tenderly, "I think I could eat a wolf.” “In course,” said Old Man, blowing his nose violently; "in course, says you, you could eat a wolf. I’ll go an’ look for one,” and he went out, leaving the lovers together. (The End.) GOLD DEMOCRATS NOT DEBARRED. Alabama's Committee Ignoreii tbe Differences in. the Party. Montgomery, Ala., Jan. 20.—The state democratic executive committee met here to-day to consider the qualifications of democrats to participate in the primary elections to nominate party candidates. By a vote of 12 to 8 they refused to change the rule laid down last year. In other words democrats who voted for Palmer and Buckner are not barred from participation. They provided that those who participate in the primaries, shall con sider themselves bound to support the nominations made. HUNG AS A TRAITOR. Cubans Stop it Train and Make Many Prisoners—All Released But One. Key West, Fla., Jan. 20.—Passengers by the steamer Olivette to-night report that the Insurgents under Aranguren last Sat urday night stopped the train bound from Regia to Guanabacoa and made pris oners of seventeen Spanish officials, one of whom was a Cuban. They carried them to Juraco, where they hung the Cuban, and after three days liberated the Span iards and sent them to Guanabacoa. The Spaniards are loud in praise of the treatment accorded them by their cap tors, who, they claim, treated them as guests and not as prisoners. The insurgents were on the lookout for Gen. Fondeviela, the assassin, who was reported to be a pasesnger on that train. They were, however, disappointed, as he had passed the day before. The insurgents will make short shift of this officer if he should fall into their hands on account of the many murders committed recently in Gfuanabacoa. Weyler left Havana yesterday to join the Spanish column operating near Ha vana. Eighty-flve paciflcos were made prison, ers in Guanabacoa yesterday. THOUGHT THE WAR WAS OVER. The Spanish Premier Was Fooled and Now Talks of Resigning. London, Jan. 20.—The Daily News to morrow will publish a dispatch from Paris saying it is reported there that Se nor Canovas del Castillo, the Spanish pre mier, has stated to his friends that if Gen. Weyler does not succeed in crushing tno revolution in Cuba by the time the rainy season sets in he (Canovas) will resign. The writer of the dispatch asserts that negotiations were proceeding between tho government at Madrid and Washington, with a view of settling the trouble in Cuba, and that Prime Minister Canovas was preparing to announce that the war in the island was ended, when the pre mier was surprised and dismayed by the receipt last week of an intimation from Washington that Secretary Olney had not time to settle the Cuban question, and would relegate it to the administration of President-elect McKinley. DELGADO IS DEAD. He Wns a Newspaper Correspondent Charged With Being a Hebei Offi cer. Havana, Jan. 20.—Harry Delgado, the correspondent of a New York newspaper, who arrested some time; ago on the jnf he i >ig y■i ■ o has been tying Hl Ban Amwdsia hospital here ever since he was brought to this city by the authorities, died this morning. His body was ordered to be held at the disposal of the United States Consul General Lee, who immediately cabled the announcement of his death to Washing ington and requested the authorities to notify the family of the dead man and ascertain if they wished his body sent to the United States. No answer had been received by the consul general up to this afternoon re garding the wishes of the family. GLAD TO GET TOGETHER. Our English Cousins Congratulate Themselves on the Treaty. London, Jan. 20.—A meeting was held in Birmingham to-day to perfect arrange ments for a suitable celebration of the signing of the general arbitration treaty between the United States and Great Bri tain. Among the speakers was Mr. G. F. Par ker, United States consul at Birmingham, who said that the treaty would undoubt edly be ratified by the United States Sen ate, and that the people of both countries in the meantime must be patient. Mr. Parker said that he had recently made a tour of thirteen of the American states and had not, in the-course of his travels, seen a single trace of anti-Britlsh feeling. ALFONSO’S BIRTHDAY. All Political Prisoners Who Are Held on Minor Charges Pardoned. Havana, Jan. 20.—The eleventh anni versary of the birth of King Alfonso will be celebrated here on the 23d instant. Orders have been received by Captain General Weyler from the government at Madrid to review the cases of the po litical prisoners now in custody in the Havana and Pinar del Rio provinces, and to grant a provisional release to all those who are held upon charges of minor im portance and are not connected with the revolution in Cuba. PASTOR FOX FLEES TO THE WOODS. He Paid Too Much Attention to the Ladies and No End of Trouble Fol lows. Paducah, Ky., Jan. 20.—The town of Dycusberg, thirty miles below this city, is under guard to-night because of a threat to fire the place. Saturday night fifty masked men called at the country home of the Rev. William Fox, a Baptist minister, and ordered him to come out. Instead, he jumped out of a back window and fled to a dense forest. The mob fired on him several times, but he escaped unhurt. Fpx was charged with paying too much attention to married women, and Satur day afternoon several prominent citizens of Dycusberg ordered him to leave town. He refused to go, and the raid followed. Last night it was reported that mem bers of Fox’s congregation were going to bum the town of Dycusberg in retaliation for the minister’s treatment. A meeting of the town trustees was called this morning and guards were employed to watch the place to-night. Teuneanec’a College Faculty Pleased. Knoxville, Tenn., Jan. 20.—The faculty of the University of Tennessee, at a meeting to-day. passed a resolution rec ognizing the advance made In the treaty of arbitration, now under advisement in the Senate. The resolution says: “We believe that a confirmation of this treaty will hereafter be regarded as one of the most important and gratifying events of this century. ( WEEKLY 2-TIMES-A-WEEK $1 A YEAR) NTAA d ■{ 5 CENTS A COPY. t IN LA O, I DAILY, $lO A YEAR. f MONDAYS -AND THURSDAYS FOR OUR COAST DEFENSES. OPENING OF THE CONVENTION OF COAST STATES AT TAMPA. Hon. Fleming dußignon Makes al Rousing Speech at the Request oS Mr. Plant—Col. Estill Honored Among the Delegates to the Con vention—There Is a Spirit of Earn* estness That Pervades the Meeting Which Promises Well For Its Ef fective Work. Tampa Bay Hotel, Tampa, Fla., Jan. 20. —The coast defense convention was called to order at 3 o’clock p. m., with delegates present from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Illinois, lowa, Kentucky, Louisi ana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nebraska, New York, North Carolina, North Da kota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and from the army and navy. It is clear already that the convention which begafi here to-day, looking to the organization of a movement for the estab lishment and maintenance of better coast defenses along the water boundaries of the United States, will be more successful than any convention ever had In this coun try with a kindred purpose in view. It is evident that the men who came to Tampa to participate in the deliberations of this convention mean business. Tha trouble has been in the past that there was not sufficient interest in similar move ments to carry them through. This is not the case here. For the past two years the wars going on within ninety miles of the United States coast and the rumors of war run ning rife all over the confines of the re public have conspired to evolve out of tha very force of actual conditions the move ment which this coast defense convention* stands for and the personel of the gath ering, together with the sanction of every governor of the various states of the Uni ted States, to make this meeting such a one in point of significance as this coun try never saw before. When Gen. Schofield, who, until recent ly, served as commander-ln-chief of tha United States army, was made permanent chairman of the' convention, it could not be doubted that the American spirit was behind the movement for better fortifica tions along the coast of the United States. While the proceedings of the first day consisted chiefly in speech-making, it was apparent that the men who have gather ed are not here for child play. Gov. Bloxham of Florida made a stirring speech in bidding welcome to the delegates giving enthusiastic approval of the scheme in view. He was followed by representa tives of the city of Tampa and they, (X fcurn luJßfer. stlrrm> day was that of Hon. Flem ing dußignon of Georgia. Mr. dußignon. who is famed throughout the south as a. brilliant orator, never made a more effec tive speech than that which he delivered here to-day and it has been the talk of the* delegations from ail the states ever sinca it W'as delivered. He had been requested by President H. B. Plant of the Plant system to respond in his stead, Mr. Plant having been asked to deliver an address to the convention., Mr. dußignon expressed regret that Mr. Plant did not himself speak, declaring thati it was too often the case that the builders of a country’s wealth and the promoters of a country’s material advancement were too much disposed to insist that they were* not orators and claimed no part In pub lic speaking. He spoke of the value of state rights, local government as a nur sery of freedom, and said that it was the duty of all patriots to keep the national faith and honor as free from stain aa the luster of a cloudless sun. His speech received storms of applause throughout and was the decided hit of thet first day of the session. Attorney General Smith of Indiana, who followed Mr. dußignon, declared that if Georgians could have heard his speech they would have sent him to the United. States Senate, and all Americans would rejoice to have had him there. Col. J. H. Estill of Georgia has been doubly honored by the convention. He was selected as vice president from the state at large of the permanent organiza tion, there being one vice president from every state in the union. Col. Estill was also elected as one of the committee on resolutions, which committee will have In hand the general work of steering the con vention. Atlanta has played quite a prominent part in the first day’s session. It fell to the honorable privilege of Col. Charles Collier of that city to introduce Gen. Sco field of the United States army as tho chairman of the meeting. Other Atlan tians have figured prominently in the de liberations. Gen. Schofield’s address dealt with the necessity of improving the coast defenses. This work, he said, could be done at small expense, and was the best guarantee of peace. In the race between offensive and defensive appliances the advantage was with the latter, and he believed would continue to be. At the conclusion of Gen. Schofield’s address the convention ad journed until Friday morning. In tho meantime its members will visit the site of proposed fortifications, the cruiser Ral eigh, now lying in the harbor, and other points of interest. To-morrow the delegates will go on a trip down Tampa bay as guests of Mr. Plant, aboard the Margaret, one of his newest steamers. THE PRESIDENT WAS CRAZY. A Prominent Lonisville Banker In Adjudged Insane. Louisville, Ky., Jan. 20.—A. J. Speckert, who was president of the German-Ameri can Title Company when it failed last year for over $250,000, was adjudged insane in the circuit court this afternoon. Speckert’s injudicious investments wrecked the corporation and he fled the city. He returned a short time ago and attempted to kill J. C. Eisenman, his brother-in-law, whom he accused of rob bing him of $250,000 worth of Montana min ing stock. Speckert has been in jail ever since. An Earthquake in Greece. Athens, Jan. 20.—Severe shocks of earth quake have been experienced in the pro vince of Delvino Epiruso. A number of villages have been destroyed, and it fs feared that many of the inhabitants of the province have been killed or injured. A Big Flour Mill Burned. Petersboro, Ontario, Jan. 20.—The flour mill and elevator of the Consolidated Milling Company, was burned at mid night last night. The loss is $70,000; tha insurance $25,000.
