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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.