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=—r?QT—; LIKE QTEEE MEM; By Frederic Van lionsselaer Dey, Author of “Tlie Brotherhood of Silence,” “The Quality of a Sin,” Etc. ; Copyright, 1001, t>y Frederic Van Ileustclaer Dey. CHAPTER 11. CKAIQ THOMPSON. KHONTIETtSIIAN. V t wjis the work of the annual ■gj Ok “round up" in the Smoky val ley, which nestles in tlie era brace of towering mountains along tlie western boundary of the state of Nevada. Upon the crest of a rise of ground which overlooks the entire valley a horseman, who had just risen over the height, reined in his mount and with hated breath and eager enthusiasm surveyed the spec tacle before him. “It Is grand—beautiful!” lie exclaim ed aloud. “It is strange that my fa ther lias never permitted me to see it before; strange that he hesitated now. But J am here In spite of him. and he Will not send me back. He must not. I will not go.” The youth turned his head and look ed back in the direction from which he had come, and there was a pleased. If somewhat anxious, smile upon his face When he noted toward the southeast a heavy cloud of dust which extended backward along the trail as far as the eyes could reach, imt which was stead ily though slow!/ coming nearer. To his practiced eyes that cloud explained that beneath it was moving an army of cattle numbering several thousands, that their track lay over tlie ridge when* lie was standing and that their destination was the valley beyond, where tlie different brands were to tie singled out and separated, sorted and assigned to their respective owners. For an entire week—perhaps for two. for the number of cattle was known to be greater this year than ever before — the Smoky valley was destined to be come a scene of life and activity. There would be collected there cattle and horses by the tens of thousands, ran cheros and vnqueros by the dozens and scores; there would be trials of skill of every kind which finds proficient per formers and ardent admirers in the wild, free life of ranchmen and their cowboy assistants; there would lie fighting aim frolic, danger and pleas ure—all tilings desirable and every thing supposedly attainable for Lisle Maxwell, the margin of whose life hitherto had been the limits of his fa ther’s ranch. As he looked again toward the valley he could see that thousands of cattle had already arrived. They browsed along tin* mountain slopes as far as his vision could extend.and his keen glance could detect here and then* the figures of horsemen on guard near tin* en trance of passes where they were sta tioned to prevent the animals, gathered with such difficulty, from straying again. Hoarse heliowings anil mutter ing murmurs drifted along tin* moun tain sides, telling of disputes between rival steers which had met now for the first time, and away up tlie valley glis tened a lake beside which In* could dis tinguish the outlines of a corral, near which lie knew was situated the camp. Lisle was undetermined what to do. His Impulse was to ride on into the valley and make himself known to the men. who one and all were acquainted with his father and who would there fore make Idm welcome. Some of them were acquaintances of his own, for lie had met and learned to know several ranchmen and cowboys who during years past had made occasional visits to his father’s ranch. On tlie other hand, he feared the anger of his fa ther. whom tints far in life he had nev er dared to disobey in other than very little tilings. “If I await him here, he will send me back again.” mused Lisle: “if 1 go on, he cannot, or, at least, if he does so, I will have seen something of what 1 came to see.” While lie still hesitated the entire scene changed. The moving panorama hi the distance faded from view as his Interest centered upon an incident that was taking place almost in the Immedi ate foreground. Up tlie side of the mountain toward him. and not a quarter of a mile away, plunged a madly galloping steer, and behind it. too distant to cast Ids rope, but nevertheless with the ready loop of bis riata swinging in his hand, rode a horseman He was sonibreroed, fringed, gilt spurred and bedecked in his b**st. for cowboys attire themselves for tlie annual “round up” with as much care as a debutante lavishes up on her “coming out" ball. Tlie cowboy spurred his horse un mercifully. but the steer was lithe limb ed. swift and wild. It ran as free as an antelope and as easily led the pace, tossing his tiorns and bellowing. Yonng Maxwell quietly took the coil ed lasso from the pommel of his sad dle, disengaged the loop, balanced it in bis light hand, seized the reins in his left, settled himself more firmly in the saddle and waited. Then, when the steer came nearer, he started his horse forward by touching his heels gently against the animal’s sides, guiding him toward tlie left by an almost imper ceptible pressure with ids right knee. Tin- horse had also prc**tved the ap proach of the steer r \1 Its pursuer and knew thoroughly v 11 what was ex pected of him. In advancing the speed was gradually increased, so that when the steer dashed over the brow of the hill Lisle Maxwell, with the loop of his riata coiling like a huge serpent above his head, was within easy casting dis -1a::•••<* of the object of ids attack. The steer, startled by the unexpected apparition directly in front of him, swerved to the right, while the horse that young Maxwell rode described a graceful curve to the left. At the same Instant the horsehair lariat flew from tlie rider's hand, the horse stop ped. planted his feet firmly In the sod and braced himself for the shock that was to come, and the next instant the steer, firmly held by the rope, which had caught one of his hind feet, plung ed headlong upon the ground, tearing up tlie earth and sod and bellowing furiously. In an instant he had struggled to his feet, but instead of seeking to escape be turned and faced the enemy with lowered head, muttering distant thun der ns he picked up clouds of dust and gravel with his forward hoofs and threw them viciously into the air. Then he charged, but the horse, obey ing a slight pressure of the knee, easily avoided him. dashing past the infuri ated lieast so closely that Lisle could have touched him, and in another mo ment the steer was again dragged to tin* earth by the suddenly tightened lasso. It was at that Instant when the orig inal pursuer appeared upon the scene. Another writhing, twisting coil of rope darted through the air just as the steer was struggling to his feet It settled over tlie animal’s horns and bead and seized his throat, and the beast was i • *S "V* w The steer tons again dragge l to the earth. captured. It was not the first time that he had been comp-*Red to succumb to the power of mind over matter, and as soon as be found that he was indeed a prisoner his wild rage gave place to sullen docility, and lie allowed himself to he led away over the road lie had come, knowing Jlint those relentless loops were still fast upon him and that at the first sign of resistance he would again be dragged remorselessly to the earth. “Well done, sonny!” shouted the stranger. "Mighty well done for a younker like you. What outfit are you with?” “Maxwell’s. The bunch is two or three miles behind me. to the east.” “Dick Maxwell's, eh? Crescent and cross." naming the brand worn by Richard Maxwell’s cattle. “What may your name lie?" “Lisle Maxwell." “Good, good! So you’re Dick Max well’s kid. You're a younker. suYe enough, lint you ain't as young as you look unless I'm mightily mistaken. I saw you when you first came to this re gion. and that's nigh ou to 17 years ago. You must have been most 2 then. llow old are you. anyway?” “I am 18.” “Well, you don't look it; not by two or three years. Is the old man with the outfit?” “Yes.” “Wliat are yen doing here? Why ain’t you (mck with the hunch?” “That's my business, sir. At all events, it doesn’t concern you.” The stranger chuckled audibly. “I’ve heard tell that you was sassy,” he said, "but you ought to wait till you grow inore’n you have before you try your sass on strangers. Some of ’em ain't as good nntured as 1 am. Never here afore, was you?” “Never." “Well, you’ve got a mighty uncom mon lot to learn: don’t forget tHat. But I’ll stand sponsor for you with the boys, and that won’t do you any harm. I’m Craig Thompson. Maybe you have heard of me.” Lisle looked upon his companion with added interest then, for indeed he had heard of Craig Thompsoh. and not much good of him had been told either. A man who Is thoroughly feared is never cordially liked, and Craig Thompson was one of those. He was a “strange admixture of gentleman and rough, a college bred man who for nearly 30 years had been adapting him self to the circumstances of his sur roundings and gradually had become a part of them. He was one of those men whose age It Is impossible to esti mate. for he appeared at once older and younger than he really was. His alertness and energy subtracted from his years, while his gray hair and beard .and weather beaten skin added to the estimate that one placed upon them. With the exception of Lisie’s father, he owned more cattle than any other man on the range, and he had been in Nevada longer than any of his neighbors. But all of this bad nothing to do with his reputation. That was derived from a habit of his that was known and feared by every one who knew him. There we>-p frequently weeks at a time when he was possess ed by what was known r.s his sullen fits, and during those periods it was as much as a man's life was worth to _to_ him and curia! to cross him. When he came out of them, he was as loquacious as lie had previous ly been taciturn, as kindly as he had formerly been ugly, as gentle ns he had been rough, as tender as he had been hard and cruel and murderous. He was a strange mixture of saint and devil, of kindness and brutality, of generosity and merciless cruelty—a paradox and that which begets more outside interest than any other human attitude, a mystery. “Why ain’t you ever been here be fore. sonnyV’’ he asked presently. “Or may lie that ain’t any of my business either.” “My father would not permit me to come.” “Oh. that’s it. eh? And he gave in ibis time, did he?” “No." Craig Thompson cnuckled again. “Don’t you see. Lisle, that you have answered t’other question? That's why you’re ahead of the hunch. Just jump ed the stockade, flew the corral, lit out. stampeded ail by yourself, same's that steer yen roped in such good style, and Dick thinks you’re rounded up safe and sound at home, ell? Is that the ticket?” “That is exactly the situation. Mr. Thompson.”replied Llsleslowly. "When I first raw you swinging after tlie steer. I was wondering whether I had better keep down the valley or turn back and meet my father. But you have answer ed the question for me. for now I've got to help you in with this steer.” “Humph! Look here. Lisle. Just consider that we’ve shook hands, will you? That makes us friends. Now, I’m going to give you some advice, and it strikes me that for a kid who has passed all his life, if it ain’t only 18 years, punching cattle, roping steers, shooting stars out of the sky and occa sionally pinking an Indian or a maver ick man—for that’s what I’ve heard about you—you need it as much ns any feller I know. In the first place, don’t ‘mister’ any of the boys up here on this mesa, or they’ll make a curiosity out of you before you’re 24 hours your present senior. In tlie second place, when you have once started out to do a tiling don't turn back on any account. Do it or drop in your tracks facing it. It’s a whole lot better to he shot be tween the eyes than it is to be kicked behind. That ain’t elegant, but it’s God’s truth. In the third place, tie up to Craig Thompson for anything that you can foresee at this writing, and if he happens to have one of his fits on don’t you mind ’em. They ain’t for everybody, and they M’on’t be for you. Here comes two of my boys. They’ll take this critter, and we can ride in more sociably.’’ * They were soon relieved of the care of the steer, and t hey rode on si lently side by side for some distance. "Why wouldn’t Dick ever let you come here before?” asked Thompson presently. “I don’t know. lie would never tell me,” replied Lisle. “Well. 1 can tell you.” "You can! Why is it?” “I’ll tell you by asking a question or two. Didn’t you wing one of my cow boys, a fellow named Cummings, about a year ago when he was over at your place after a bunch of steers that had strayed away?” “Yes.” "What did you do It for?” “Because he was impertinent.” “Exactly. What did he say? 1 ’ “He said that I was cut out for a wo man and spoiled in the making. I con vinced him that I was quicker with my gun than he was. anyway.” i “Correct. lie ain’t forgot it. and he won’t very soon. He’s gone back east, but lie left a piece of one of his ribs out here to remember you by. How ever. that Is why Dick don't want you to come here. See?” “No.” “He’s afraid somebody else will say the same thing; that’s all." Llsie brought his horse to a sudden stand. His face darkened and his black eyes flashed ominously. “Do yon say tlie same thing?” he asked quietly, but in a tone which con veyed much more than did the words that were uttered. “Lord, what a fire eater you are! No! I don’t say tlie same thing, but it would be a compliment if 1 did. for women are a hanged sight better than men. But that ain’t here nor there. Some of the boys will say it. or something very much like it. and If you are going to shoot every one that does you had better lose no time in selecting a good place to start your graveyard. You won’t be long in filling it.” "Why should they say such a thing as that?” “Well, there are a good many rea sons. Are you going to take what 1 say friendly or are you going to get mad?” “I’ll not be angry.” “Good. Well, I s’pose it’s because you ain’t developed much. Y’ou’re 18. and you look in some ways like a boy of 14. Your voice ain’t changed enough to suit tlie taste of such people as like to arrange other people's affairs for ’em. That’s one thing. It’s a good voice, hut it’s soft and tender and kind er cooing, like a girl's. ’Twon’t hurt It any if you add a pound or two to its weight." “What else?” “Nothing else that I can Just put my finger on unless it’s your whole outfit. You have speut so much of your time in the house reading and studying, playing your piano and such like that your face has got something in it that men don’t wear much out here. It’s called refinement, and these cusses round here think that all tlie refine ment in the world belongs to women. I want you to understand that every reason that any of the crowd such as you will find here can have for telling you tHat you are like a woman is a compliment, and you ought to take it as one. Don’t get mad. Smile and look pleased, for. Lisle, there ain’t no better thing on tlie top of Cod’s earth than a good woman." “Udon’t believe that yon know,” said Lisle"quietly, but with such deep con viction that Thompson gazed at him earnestly for a moment in silence. "Don't I?” he said presently in a voice that was perceptibly altered. "We!!, maybe I don’t, but I think I do. Some day. rnaybe. I'll tell you tlie story that makes me think so. Now. tell me why you said that.” “My father has taught me ever since I can remember that women are tlie curse of the world, and I believe him. He is wise concerning everything else, and lie would not instruct me falsely." An ar.dib'e grunt was tlie only reply that Craig Thompson made, and the two rode on in silence several rods. “1 would like to see a woman.” re marked Lisle, permitting his train of thought to end in a spoken sentence. “I have never seen one in my life.” “Whoa!” cried Thompson, pulling his horse up with a jerk. Then lie Jammed ids spurs deep into the animal’s sides, so that it snorted and made twp or three buck jumps before it settled down again into ordinary decorum. The ranchman’s face was working in tlie strangest fashion, but whether with an effort to suppress a laugh or an oa tli it is impossible to say. At last, more to himself than to the young man at liis side, the Nevadian remarked: "Any man who will give a boy that sort of fodder to chaw oil is a blamed scoundrel.” Lisle Maxwell heard the words. He halted his horse as suddenly as Thomp son had previously checked his and by a sudden pressure of one of his knees compelled it to turn so that it stood di rectly across the path of tlie other ani mal. His right arm straightened out, and Thompson found himself looking into the barrel of a“. 44.” "Take that back. Craig Thompson,” said Lisle in a low tone, but there was an Intense meaning behind the words. The ranchman had never been nearer death than at that instant, and he knew it. But he only smiled, and there was something in the altered ex pression of his face which Nevadians were not accustomed to see tljere. All the hard lines had disappeared. All tlie harshness was gone, and his eyes, which ordinarily gave back a steely glitter for every gaze which they en countered. softened into a translucent sparkle while he said slowly:* "I’ll take it back. Lisle, every word of it. for the Lord knows that I never meant it to sound as you took it. You needn't put your gun down till I’ve got through talking, ’cause I've got some thing to say. and after that, if you want to use it on me. you cau go ahead, and I won’t make any kick. 1 like you. Lisle, and I would honor you for killing me if you did it to resent an imputation against your father. I spoke on gener al principles. And now you listen. You’ve heard lots of bad things about me, and. supposing me to be as bad as them reports, do you think It would be logical to believe every other man in the world bad because I am or every ffl Thompson found himself looking Into the barrel of a ,1 .44.” man good because your father is? ’Taln’t sense, is it? If you know enough to know that we’re all born of women, and ! suppose you do, yoxf know that a woman was your mother, and there’s one little fact you want to tie to all your life, because if you dou’t there won’t be anything else that is worth trying to. It’s this: Your mother was a good woman if every other wo man ever born into the world was bad. and so was my mother and the mother of every one of that wild set of fellows that’ll soon be raising hades around here. A woman may be bad before she’s a mother, and she may be bad after she’s a mother, but there ain’t no exceptions to the rule that every one of ’em is good when she’s a mother, so. you see. Lisle, I didn’t cast any reflec tions on your father when I said that. I only took your mother’s part without thinking of him at all, and I wouldn’t be of much account as a friend to you or to any man if I didn’t do that. That’s right, put up your gun. Now, shall we shake hands? That’s the tick et. Maybe when you know me better you’ll—know me better.” Then, side by side, in the beginning of a friendship which was destined to continue through bitter trials for Lisle Maxwell, they rode Into camp just as the van of Dick Maxwell’s outfit rose over the ridge where their acquaint ance began. t [to be continued.] ' ’ mn 7 '-.■vtman Oi Benefit to You, D. S. Mitchell, Fulford, Md.: “During a long illness I was trou bled with bed sores, was advised to try DeWut’s Witch Hazel Salve ard did so with wonderful results. I was perfectly cured. It is the best salve on the market.” Sure cuie foi piles, sores, burns. Be ware of counterfeits. CANDY CATHARTIC < C- 1 Z.'Z. C. K”pr roki in ' ink. f ’• . 'ink' who Ii ts to sell “something just as good.’’ A\£getahle Preparation for As* similating the Food and Regula ting the Stomachs and Bowels of Promotes Digestion.CheerfuF nessandßest.Contains neither Opium,Morphine nor Mineral. NOT Narc otic . Mtepe of Old £r. SAMUEL PITCHER PuntfJaK Seal' . dlx. Senna * 1 /Un - I A*.' Seed <* 1 Minn Seed - I Ctan/tsd Samr MAtoji’wn- rUermr. / A perfect Remedy forConstipa- Tion, Sour Stomach,Diarrhoea Worms .Convulsions .Feverish ness and Loss OF SLEEP. Facsimile Signature of NEW YORK. Al b.monlhs old )5 DosYs -KC IN| EXACT COPY OF WRAPPER. LOOKING FORSOUTHERNFARMS ! Northern Real Estate Agentb Reach j New Orleans ori Their Tour, i I New Orleans, Nov. 23. —An ex : cursion of over 100 real estate | agents, about equally divided be | tween Illinois, Indiana, lowa and ‘ South Dakota, arriced here today I on a tour of the southwest. I The mission of the excursionists j is to effect an organization of the I real estate ag.-nt sof Louisiana,Ken j tucky, Tennessee and Mississippi, i together with those of the west and northwest, and to arrange a plan whereby*the bits of country estate for sale in the south will be placed with the northern agents. The latter report many inquiries in their section for ‘southern farms and other real estate, and believe that they can make sales if given a chance to do so. At a meeting held tonight at the St. Charles Hotel, at which th£ New Orleans real estate agents were present, an organization was perfected and a plan arranged for an interchange of business between the northern and southern agents. The excursion leaves here tomor row for Hammond, La., stopping over at Jackson and Canton, Miss., and Ridgeland, Tenn., and reach ing Chicago November 27. Judge Maddox Goes to Washington Atlanta Journal. Congressman J, W. Maddox, of t ie Seventh, passed through At lanta yesterday en route to Wash ington. Although congress does not meet j until next Monday, Judge Mad dox goes a week in advance to meet a special committee appoint- I ed at the last congress. I When the appropriations were | read in * the close of the fifty-sixth congress, among the items was ! several thousand dollars to pay some 40 or 50 capitol employes for ’“extra service.” Judge Maddox suspected sotne -1 thing wrong and halted proceed ings here. He accidentally secur ed some facts which absolutely con firmed his suspicions. He then unmasked his batteries and made it so hot for those recommending these special sums that the items were stricken out of the bill. The house then appointed a spe cial committee consisting of three republicans and two democrats, Judge Maddox being one of the democratic members, to meet one week in advance of the fifty-seventh congress, investigate the several items and make a report for con gress. This committee will also draft a bill which will make such frauds as regards capffol employes impos sible in the future. This bill will set forth the duties, number and salaries of all these employes. Buy and Try a Box Tonight. M hile you think of it, go buy and try a box of Cascarets Candy Ca thartic, ideal laxative, tonight. You’ll never regret it. Genuine t.-* stamped C. C. C. Never i bulk. Ail druggists, 10c. } Kflucato Yonr Eotrols j C:r ;/ Or.Mmrtic, mr iu;. wO Ai 0.0 c, i'u. For Ultras The Kind You Have Always Bought Bears the / Signature f\¥ (\Jr se For Over Thirty Years THE CENTAUR COMPANY. NEW YORK CITY. Asa preventive as well as cura : tive medicine, Hood’s Sarsaparilla | is pre-eminent—its great merit is merit is fully established. A YVtifc'clertfnl Discovery. The last quarter of a centurv rorf| many wonderful discoveries in meuicine, but, none that have accomplished more for humanity than that sterling old househJ "'medy, Browns’ Iron Bitters. It seems! < ontain the very elements of good health, and neither man, woman erchild can take it without deriving the greatest benefit (’Towns’ r-OT. Bitters ’s sold by all dealer* O^STOnI A.. Bears the /9 The Kind You Have Always Baa# 1 8 *°r , Tax Collecto s Notice. I I will attend the places named bdnil on tile days stated for the purpose collecting State and County taxesJ B the \ e >r 1901 to-wit. * Sd| i'arte-sville Oct, 7,19, 31 s Dec. 14, 16, 17, JB, 19, 2n. JMfIKJ Emerson Oct. 8, 2®‘: Nov, 1 ai 1 atfk>na Oct. 9, 25. Novi l ’ Stamp Creek Oct, 10, 28; i* I Wolf Ceil Oct, 11, 29; Nov,, H Cassville Oct, 12; Nov, 2, 23 ■I Pino Log Oct, 14, 80; Nuy.l V Salacoa Oct. 15, 31; Nov, 2p ■ Sixih Oct, 16; Nov, 4, 21. Adairsville Oct, 17; Nov, oi ■ Kingston Oct, 18; Nov. 6, a ■ Euharlee Oct, 21 Nov, 7, Da Iron Hill Oct, 22; Nov,B; Dek I. Taylorsville Oct, 23; Nov, 90 fee,6. Stiiesboro Oct, 24; Nov, 11; lie,". White Nov, 18. Bono’s Shop Nov, 22. | Boonsleys Nov, 2m Lin wood Noy, 27. Cement Nov, 28. I Ford Dec, 3. Hitchcocks Dec,s. Sugar Hill Dec, 9. Rogers Dec, 10. Cass Station Dec, 11. Ladds Dec. 12. Donthitts Dec, 13 I am required by the laVs to maw settlements, and issue filat for all paid taxes on Dec 20th. 1 have giyj lax payers the longest t no possible loops the tollowing front mv i nstruc tions from the Compti ]• , dener* The Legislature impoweri .c ; require! me to cause taxes to be <v o-d byw 20th of Dett, next and up are J any tax collector to do s ma® my duty to issue flfa’s a/ h al! ' every collector wno has ,• i setu his account and place if J , s in hands • I an ofheer for collect! u. I now | wana you that, the lav relating to* faulting collectors wiJ he rigidly strictly enforced and he securitie. 9 i your bond notified if/your sriUei)i® a ' are not promptly mafe, I hope tax pf i ers will give prompt Attention and in** payment within the ,iuie nauisd. 1 j rate is ($14,84) fourteen ; ars 9 eighty four cents pe* thousand This !6th day ot S|.ptemhei 1901^ Tax Colle)<!t or Bartow Idhe! f £ „r Divorce. K Mariah Youngi/in tne Superior^* vs. 0 f Bartow Ben Young f Georgia- Lib®' ■ / Divorce. ■ July term. Vjß To the defendant, Ben Young- 9 are hereby no dfied, required sl ‘“ ■ manded pers mH llv or by atwru / rt , be and appei/ r Ht the Superior c he hold in a n d for said count) ' tow on the/second Monday i ■* next, thei/ H nd there b “® and i„ plaintitt’s/Hbel fora divorce. “ e fifl fauli theifcof the court will m T to justice/ shall appertain- fifl \\ it neat 3 the Honorable A judge oti S aid c.ourt. ttsi jr., ■ / L.W R 1 rojM - f| to Debtors and Cred^“^B is hereby ’•• •’•' th y, °l tl/ <e estate of Linford A ' , hei’ lim '•ea? ,e<i, to render in <•< 0,1 . ,|,e W mi V.ids(at once) in irdeMfl I’ r Jipcrly made out rni i:Pf W l< j f aid deceased are her. . )(1 diem. X* uiake immedaite pa.' l ()1 V flersigned. November m- ; A dm r-i I JOE M ‘ M(l< > ,i,priintW| I E-t. of Linford A her j be cured of ,f n L ,-fmg 1 m- 1 "L ! gfl Wv t. made well, s.rvMi^ i r