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THE JOURNAL.
Published Weekly.
COCHRAN', GA.
t■ ■ s
Mercury hasn’t struck bottom yet.
Oheerup, old man, it will be still
colder.
The -noiseless soup spoon calls for
a noiseless soup mouth
Keep your Kurd up. The pneu
monia germ is seeking to hand you
one.
London society has experienced a
Jar, having taken to roller skates
again.
The Salome music has been trans
ferred to phonographic records, but
no one wants Salome in that form.
In Pennsylvania is a woman who
has waited nine years to be hanged
and is in no particular hurry even
yet.
It took a postal card 36 years to go
from Connecticut to Indiana Pet a
dollar he had it In his pocket all the
time.
There is said to be a wealthy wom
an in Denver who has never worn a
hat. That’s probably why she Is
wealthy.
Men thirty years old are estimated
to be worth $16,000 to the country,
and a good many would like to cash
iln on that basis.
New York physicians are going to
charge for “telephone consultations."
Thus is another avenue of free ad
vice closed to the world.
Cnts and dogs as household pets,
therefore, are a menace. So also is
the mule, although he carries his dan
gerous germs in his heels.
A New York woman says it is ut
terly impossible for- her to live on
$3,000 a year. What hard work some
people do make out of living!
Over in Europe somebody has paid
$72,000 for a grain of radium. Still
radium is a long way from being eon
sidered one of the necessities of life.
The department of agriculture’s dic
tum that Welsh rarebit is digestible
and hygienic would probably carry a
wider popularity if extended to mince
pie.
Somebody claims to have invented
a new kind of mince pie. It might
help more if somebody would Invent
a better kind of pill to be taken with
mince pie.
Most of this country’s $250,000,000
fire loss may be needless, but, as tho
man said coming down on the train.
It demonstrates that the people have
money to burn.
i The Long Island youth who has
fallen heir to a fortune on the condi
tion that ho never become a clergy
man may be said to have fallen into
some easy money.
American mules are preferred to all j
other kinds In South Africa. American
mules receive their early tutelage In
strong, rich language, which perhaps
puts ginger Into them.
A Philadelphia man has been arrest- I
ed for stealing 200 pounds of human
hair, or about enough for four up-to
date coiffures, an especially serious of
fense in view of the present fashion.
f ;
We’ve heard many people sing that
old song about wanting to be an angel,
but it could be observed that they
were always afraid of getting their
feet wet during the grip season.
Pittsburg has already begun an an
nexation movement against 1912. It
is the early bird that stands well In
census tables.
The arrest of a Greek army officer
for the appropriation of $4,000,000 of
the government’s money leads one to
believe that all the financiers do not
hold forth In Wall street.
Two young Englishmen have been
sentenced to four years in prison for
taking pictures of fortifications in
Germany. Leave your camera at
home and avoid trouble when you go
to Germany.
Here comes a snuffy old professor
who says that college women are fail
ures. We suspect that the star-eyed
goddess he had been making eyes at
has flunked on her examination in
conic sections.
There is a bunch of bachelors In a
certain Dakota city who are advertis
ing themselves as matrimonial bar
gains. We wonder If they have been
marked down and out in their own
town.
In about two months the Ohio rivet
will show the grand old Mississippi
that there are some rivers which
have no intention of going out of
■business permanently.
Chicago barbers propose to charge
one dollar for cutting the hair of
"tightwads” who shave themselves. It
will not work. The average Income of
an American family being less than
SBOO, the average man can hardly af
ford to pay $45 a year to a barber for,
Bay. 300 shaves. Besides the waste of
time.
v if Jml
SYNOPSIS.
The story Is told by Nicholas Trist. IPs
chief. Senator John Calhoun, offered the
portfolio of secretary of state in Tyler’s
cabinet, is told by Dr. Ward that his time
is short. Calhoun declares that he is not
ready to die, and if he accepts Tyier’s of
fer it means that Texas and Oregon must
he added to the Union. He plans to learn
the intentions of England with regard to
Mexico through Baroness Von Kitz. secret
spy and reputed mistress of the English
ambassador, Pakenham.
CHAPTER 11.
By Special Dispatch.
In all eras and all climes a woman of
great genius or beauty lias done what she
chose—Oulda.
“Nicholas,” said Calhoun, turning
to me suddenly, but with his invari
able kindliness of tone, “oblige me to
nignt. I have written a message here.
You will see the address—”
“I have unavoidably heard this
lady’s name,” I hesitated.
“You will find the lady's name above
the seal. Take her this message from
me. Yes, your errand is to bring the
least known and most talked of wom
an In Washington, alone, unattended
save by yourself, to a gentleman's
apartments, to his house, at a time
past the hour of midnight! That gen
tleman Is myself! You must not take
any answer In the negative.”
As I sat dumbly, holding this sealed
document In my hand, he turned to Dr.
Ward, with a nod toward myself.
"I choose my young aide. Mr. Trist
here, for good reasons. He is lust
back from six months in the wilder
ness, and may be shy; but once he
had a way with women, so they tell
me —and you know, in approaching
the question ad feminam we operate
per hominem.”
Dr. Ward took snuff with violence
as he regarded me critically.
“I do not doubt the young man’s sin
cerity and faithfulness," said he. “I
was only questioning one thing."
"Yes?"
“His age.”
Calhoun rubbed his chin. “Nicho
las," he said, "you heard me. 1 have
no w ish to encumber you with useless
Instructions. Your errand is before
you. Very much depends upon it, as
you have heard. All I can say is, keep
your head, keep your feet, and keep
your heart!”
The two older men both turned
now, and smiled at me in a manner
not w holly to my liking. Neither was
this errand to my liking.
It was true, 1 was hardly arrived
home after many months in the west;
but 1 had certain plans of my own for
that very night, and although as yet I
had made no definite engagement with
my fiancee, Miss Elizabeth Churchill
of Elmhurst farm, for meeting her at
the great ball this night, such cer
tainly was my desire and my inten
tion. Why, I had scarce seen Eliza
beth twice in the last year.
“He might be older," said Calhoun
at length, speaking of me as though I
were not present. “And 'tts a hard
game to play, if once my lady Helen
takes It into her merry head to make
It so for him. But if 1 sent one shorter j
of stature and uglier of visage and j
with less art in approaching a crino j
line —why, perhaps he would g£t no;
farther than her door. No; he w’ilL
serve —he must serve!"
He arose now, and bowed to us j
both, even as 1 rose and turned for 1
my cloak to shield me from the raw’ j
drizzle which then was falling in the
streets.
So this, then, was my errand. My
mind still tingled at its unwelcome
quality. Dr. Ward guessed something
of my mental dissatisfaction.
“Never mind. Nicholas," said he. as
we parted at the street corner, where
he climbed into the rickety carriage
which his colored driver held await
ing him. "Never mind. I don't my
self quite know what Calhoun wants;
but he would not ask of you anything
personally improper. Do his errand,
-hen. It is part of your work. In any
case—” and I thought I saw’ him grin
In the dim light— “you may have a
uight which you will remember.”
There proved to be truth in what he
said.
CHAPTER 111.
In Argument.
The egotism of women is always for
two.—Mine. De Stael.
The thought of missing my meeting
with Elizabeth still rankled in my
soul. Had it been another man who
asked me to carry this message. I
must have refused. But this man was
my master, my chief, in whose serv
ice I had engaged.
For myself, his agent, I had, as I
say, left the old Trist homestead at
the foot of South mountain in Mary
land. to seek my fortune in our capi
tal city. I had had some three or four
years’ seml-diplomatlc training when
I first met Calhoun and entered his
service as assistant. It was under
him that I finished my studies in law.
Meantime, I was his messenger in
very many quests, his source of infor
mation in many matters, where he
fcxd no time to go into details.
Strange enough had been some of
Uu oiraumstances in which I found
54-40
TIGHT
BY IMERTON HOUGH
AUTHOR OF THE MISSISSIPPI BUBBLE
ILLUSTRATION? by MAGNUS G.KJETTNER.
COPYRIGHT 1909 BCBBy-MfiRRILI. COMPANY
myself th-rust through this relation
with a man so intimately connected
for a generation with our public life.
For six months I had been in Missis
sippi and Texas studying matters and
men, and now, just back from Natchi
toches, I felt that I had earned some
little rest.
Vaguely In my conscience I felt
that, after all, my errand was justi
fied, even though at some cost to my
own wishes and my own pride. The
farther I walked in the dark along
Pennsylvania avenue, into which final
ly I swung after I had crossed Rock
bridge, the more I realized that per
haps this big game was wor"*--Jaying
in detail and without quibbl* as the
master mind should dictate.
I was, indeed, young—Nicholas Trist,
of Maryland; six feet tall, thin, lean,
always hungry, perhaps a trifle freck
led, a little sandy of hair, blue I sup
pose of eye, although I am not sure;
good rider and good marcher, I know;
something of an expert with the
weapons of my time and people; fond
of a horse and a dog and a rifle-ryes,
and a glass and a girl, if truth told.
1 was not yet 30, in spite of my west
ern travels. At that age the rustle of
silk or dimity, the suspicion of ad
venture, tempts the w’orst or tliq best
of us, I fear. Woman!—the very
sound of the word made my blood
leap then. I went forward rather
blithely, as 1 now blush to confess.
“If there are maps to be made to
night,” said I, “the Baroness Helena
shall do her share in writing on my
Knock at the Third Door in the Second Block Beyond M Street.
chief’s old mahogany desk, and not
on her own dressing case.”
That was an idle boast, though
made but to myself. 1 bad not yet
met the woman.
CHAPTER IV.
The Baroness Helena.
Woman is seldom merciful to the man
who is timid.—Edward Bulwer Lytton.
There w’as one of our dim street
lights at a central corner on old Penn
sylvania avenue, and under it, after
a long walk, I paused for a glance at
the inscription on mj’ sealed docu
ment. I had not looked at it before in
the confusion of my somewhat hur
ried mental processes. In addition
to the name and street number, in Cal
houn's writing, I read this memo
randum; “Knock at the third door
in the second block beyond M street."
I recalled the nearest cross street;
but I must confess the direction still
seemed somewhat cryptic. Puzzled, I
stood under the lamp, shielding the
face of the note under my cloak to
keep off the rain, as I studied it.
The sound of wheels behind me on
the muddy pavement called my atten
tion. and I looked about, A carriage
came swinging up to the curb where
I stood. It wh3 driven rapidly, and
as it approached the door sw’ung open.
I heard a quick word, and the driver
pulled up his horses I saw the light
shine through the door on a glimpse
of white satin. I looked again. Yea,
It was a beckoning hand! The negro
driver looked at me inquiringly.
Ah, well, I suppose diplomacy under
the stars runs much the same in all
ages. I have said that I loved Eliza
beth, but also said I was not yet 30.
Moreover, I was a gentleman, and
here might be a lady in need of help.
I need not say that in a moment I was
at the side of the carriage. Its occu
pant made no exclamation of surprise;
in fact, she moved back upon the
other side of the seat in the darkness,
as though to make room for me!
A dark framed face, whose outlines
I could only dimly see in the faint
light of the street lamp, leaned to
ward me. The same small hand ner
vously reached out, as though In re
quest.
I now very naturally stepped closer.
A pair of wide and very dark eyes
was looking into mine. I could now
see her face. There was no smile
upon her lips. I had never seen her
before, that was sure—nor did I ever
think to see her like again; I could
say that even then, even in the half
light. Just a trifle foreign, the face;
somewhat dark, but not too dark;
the lips full, the eyes luminous, the
forehead beautifully arched, chin and
cheek beautifully rounded, nose clean
cut and straight, thin but not pinched.
There was nothing niggard about her.
She was magnificent—a magnificent
woman. I saw that she had splendid
jewels at her throat, in her ears —a
necklace of diamonds, long hoops ol
diamonds and emeralds used as ear
rings! a sparkling clasp which caught
at her white throat the wrap which
she had throw n about her ball gown—
for now I saw she was In full evening
dress. I guessed she had been an at
tendant at the great ball, that ball
which I had missed with so keen a re
gret myself—the ball where I had
hoped to dance with Elizabeth. With
out doubt she had lost her way and
was asking the first stranger for in
structions to her driver.
My lady, w-hoever she was, seemed
pleased with her rapid temporary
scrutiny. With a faint murmur,
whether of invitation or not I scarce
could tell, she drew back again to the
farther side of the seat. Before I
knew’ how or why, I was at her side.
The driver pushed shut the door, and
whipped up his team.
Personally 1 am gifted with but
small imaginatio’n. In a very matter
of fact way I had got into this car
riage with a strange lady. Now in a
sober and matter of fact way it ap
peared to me my duty to find out the
reason for this singular situation.
“Madam,” I remarked to my com
panion, “In what manner can I be of
service to you this evening?”
”1 am fortunate that you are a gen
tleman," she said, In a low and soft
voice, quite u.3tinct, quite musical in
quality, and marked with just tfce
faintest trace of some foreign accent,
although her English w-as perfect,
I looked again at her. Yes, her hair
was dark; that was sure. It swept up
in a great roll about her oval brow.
Her eyes, too, must be dark, I con
firmed. Yes—as a passed lamp gave
me ajd—there were strong dark brows
above them. Her nose, too, was pa
, trici&n; her chin curving just strongly
a fipip|lpE|
enough, but not too full, and faintly
cleft, a sign of power, they say.
A third gracious lamp gave me a
glimpse of her figure, huddled back
among her draperies, and I guessed
her to be about of medium height, A
fourth lamp showed me her hands,
small, firm, white; also I could catch
a glimpse of her arm, as it lay out
stretched, her fingers clasping a fan.
So I knew her arms were round and
taper, hence all her limbs and figure
finely molded, because nature does
not do such things by halves, and
makes no bungles In her symmetry
of contour when she plans a noble
specimen of humanity. Here was a
noble specimen of what w’oman
may be.
I was not In such a hurry to ask
again how I might be of service. In
fact, being somewhat surprised and
somewhat pleased, I remained silent
now- for a time, and let matters adjust
themselves; wkich is not a bad course
for any one similarly engaged.
She turned toward one at last de
liberately, her fan against her lips,
studying me. And I did as much, ta
king advantage as I could of the pas»
ing street lamps. Then, all at once,
without warning or apology, she
smiled, showing very even and w-hite
teeth.
She smiled. There came to me from
the purple-colored shadows some sort
of deep perfume, strange to me. I
frown at the description of such
things and such emotions, but I swear
that as I sat there, a stranger, I felt
swim up around me some sort of am
ber shadow, edged with purple—the
shadow, as I figured It then, being
this perfume, curious and alluring!
It was wet, there in the street. Why
should I rebel at this stealing charm
of color or fragrance—let those name
it better who can. At least I sat, smi
ling to myself in my purple-amber
shadow, now in no very special hurry.
At last I could not. In politeness,
keep this up further.
"How may I serve the baroness?”
said I.
She started back on the seat as far
as she could go.
"How did you know?” she asked
"And who are you?”
I laughed. "I did not know, and
did not guess until almost as I began
to speak; but if it comes to that, I
might say I am simply an humble
gentleman of Washington here. I
might be privileged to peep In at am
bassadors’ balls —through the win
dows. at least."
“But you were not there —you did
not see me? I never saw you in my
life until this very moment—how,
then, do you know me? Speak! At
once!” Her satins rustled. I knew
she was tapping a foot on the carriage
floor.
"Madam," I answered, laughing at
her; “by this amber purple shadow,
with flecks of scarlet and pink; by
this perfume which weaves webs for
me here in this carriage, I know you.
The light is poor, but it is good
enough to show one who can be no
one else but the Baroness von Ritz.”
I was in the mood to spice an ad
venture which had gone thus far. Of
course she thought me crazed, and
drew back again in the shadow; but
when I turned and smiled, she smiled
in answer—herself somewhat puzzled.
“The Baroness von Ritz cannot be
disguised,” I said; "not even if she
wore her domino.”
She looked down at the little mask
which hung from the silken cord, and
flung it from her.
“Oh, then, very well!” she said. “If
you know who I am, who are you,
and why do you talk in this absurd
way with me, a granger?”
“And, why, madam, do you take me
up, a stranger, in this absurd way, at
midnight, on the streets of Washing'
ton?—l, who am engaged on businest
for my chief?’’
She tapped again w-ith her foot on
the carriage floor. “Tell me who you
are!” she said.
“Once a young planter from Mary
land yonder; sometime would-be law
yer here in Washington. It is my mis>
fortune not to be so distinguished
in fame or beauty that my name is
known by all; so I need not tell you
my name perhaps, only assuring you
that I am at your service if I may be
useful.”
(TO BE CONTINUED.)
Begging for Toothpicks.
“Hold-up men of all kinds have
stopped me on the highways and by
w-ays of the city, but the limit was
reached the other night,” says C. H.
Peckham.
“I had just left the theater when a
man touched my arm. *
“ ‘My friend,’ he said, ‘will you
please stake me to a wooden tooth
pick?”
“So dazed was I that I was taken
off my guard.
“ ‘Wait here,’ I said, ‘and I’ll go In
the Gillsy and get you a handful.’
“I did, and he accepted them with
profuse thanks.
“ ‘lt’s getting so now,’ he said,
'that a gentleman can’t even pick up
a match in a hotel unless he Is pay
ing $5 a day for a fifty-cent roam.’ m
| DYSPEPTIC PHILISOPHY.
What the theater really needs i 9 a
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty
to Audiences.
Why are we supposed to have more
respect for gray hairs than for a bald
head?
A man can face the w’orld witMS
sood heart if he can also face It
s good liver.
From a masculine point of viexm
would it be heresy to question the sexl
of the devil?
Some fat men are meaner than oth
er men simply because there Is more,
of them.
Many a man who thinks he Is in
love lives to discover that second
thoughts are best.
Some men are born great, some ac
quire greatness, and others have great
aess thrust upon them, but it doesn't
seem to take any of them long to get
rid of it.
The Modest Model.
The late Julia Ward Howe, though
a woman of very good appearance,
was extremely modest.
“She once posed for me.” said a
Boston painter the other day. “But
she hesitated a long time before con
senting. To urge her on I said:
“ ‘Don't be afraid. I’ll do you jus
tice, madam.’
" ‘Ah, she answered, 'it isn’t justice
I ask for at your hands; it’s mercy.’”
Not Just Off the Shelf.
Little Marget has the childist trait
of curiosity, especially in regard to
the age of her elders.
“How old do you think I asa, dear?”
counter-questioned the spinster aunt
to whom the child had put the imper
tinent query. The little girl consid
ered earnestly before replying:
“Well, I don't knew, Auntie Alice,
but you don’t look new!”
INSIDE HISTORY.
Some Self-Explanatory Letters.
Battle Creek, Mich., Jan. 7, ’ll.
Dr. E. H. Pratt,
Suite 1202, 100 State St.,
Chicago, Illinois.
My Dear Doctor:
"Owing to some disagreement with
magazine several years ago
they have become quite vituperative,
and of late have publicly charged me
with falsehoods in my statements
that we have genuine testimonial let
ters.
“It has been our rule to refrain
from publishing the names either of
laymen or physicians wbo have writ
ten to us in a complimentary way,
and we have declined to accede to the
demand of attorneys that we turn
these letters over to them
”1 am asking a few men whom 1 -
deem to be friends to permit me to
reproduce some of their letters over
their signatures in order to refute the
falsehoods.
“We have hundreds of letters from
physicians, but I esteem the one that
you wrote to me in 1906 among the
very best, particularly in view of the
fact that it recognizes the work I have
been trying to do partly through the
little book, ‘The Road to Wellville.’
“I do not sell or attempt to sell the
higher thought which is more impor
tant than the kind of food, but I have
taken considerable pains to extend to
humanity such facts as may have
come to me on this subject.
“In order that your mind may be re
freshed I am herewith enclosing a
copy of your good letter, also a copy
of the little book, and if you will give
me the privilege of printing this over
your signature I will accompany the
printing with an «explanation as te
why you permitted its use in publi
cation in order to refute falsehoods,
and under that method of treatment I
feel, so far as I know, there would be
no breach of the code of ethics.
“I trust this winter weather is find
ing you well, contented and enjoying
the fruits that are yours by right.
“With all best wishes, 1 am,”
Yours very truly,
C. W. POST.
Dr. Pratt, who is one of the most
prominent and skillful surgeons In
America, very kindly granted our re
quest in the cause of truth and jus
tice.
Chicago, Aug. 31, 1906.
Mr. C. W. Post,
Battle Creek, Mich.
My Dear Sir:
“I write to express my personal ap
predation of one of your business
methods, that of accompanying each
package of your Grape-Nuts produc
tion with that little booklet “The
Road to Wellville,” A more appro
priate, clear headed and effective pro
sentation of health-giving auto-sugges
tions could scarcely be penned.
“Grape-Nuts Is a good food In Itself,
but the food contained in this little
article is still better stuff. I commend
the practice because I know that the
greed and strenuousness, the conse
quent graft and other types of thiev
ery and malicious mischief generally
can never "be cured by legislative ac
tion.
“The only hope for the betterment
of the race rests in Individual soul
culture.
"In taking a step in this direction,
your process has been so original and
unique that it must set a pace for
other concerns until finally the whole
country gets flavored with genuine,
practical Christianity.
“I shall do all that lies In my pow
er to aid in the appreciation of Grape-
Nuts, not so much for the sake of the
food itself as for the accompanyina
suggestions.