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HOLD YOUR COTTON! You Can Get Your Piano or Organ all the Same. ( Ludden & Bates Southern Music House will give you terms on an instrument that will enable you to pay for it when the farmers, by holding their cotton, have defeated the efforts of speculators and mill men to keep the price down. Holding is the means by which the price can be raised. By getting it from us you can hold your piano or organ at the same time you hold your cotton. Cotton experts recommend that you hold your staple for Ten Cents. We recommend that you act on this advice and rest secure in the faith that you can pay for your instrument. We will give you terms that will make payments easy and you will be buying from a house of forty years’ standing whose guarantee is positive and absolute. LUDDEN & BATES SOUTHERN MUSIC HOUSE, Savannah, Ga.; Tampa, Fla.; Valdosta, Ga., (Carter & Borough); Tifton, Ga., (Carter & Dorough.) Everything Musical,Cheapest That’s Good £ Best That’s Made Her 6Hristmas Journey BY EPES W. S.ARGEN l. Copyright, 1904, by Epes W. Sargent. With kindling eyes Gerald Con haven watched the smart trap disap pear down the road. Then he turned with disfavor to the red touring car which panted at the other end of the station. His suit case had already been put inside, so he one was holding the door of the tor.neau open for him, and he Jumped in. The car started forward with a Jerk that sent Conhaven against the back of the seat. “Confound you, go slower," he call ed angrily to the leather-clad figure at the steering wheel. “It’s bad enough to have to ride in one of these infernal contraptions without having you add to its innate cussedness by your incompetence.” There was no answer from the seat ahead, but, as if in mockery, the car shot forward still faster, and Con haven could only lean back helplessly in his seat. He was glad, afterward, that the rush of the wind prevented further speech, for when the car pulled up at Mrs. Loudon’s door the chauffeur fol lowed him Into the broad hall and proceeded to dived himself of the wind-armor In front of the Are. Mrs. Loudon bustled hospitably for ward with greetings for her guest, then she turned toward Conhaven's Nemesis who stood warming herself upon the hearth rug. “Of course I do not need to intro duce you to Elsie Tollman, ’’ she cried heartily. ‘‘Henri, our chauffeur, had to stay home to look after one of the machines, the boys were all out and Elsie volunteered to fetch you up." Conhaven began a stammering apology, but Miss Tallhaven broke In: “He was so busy admiring Daisy Vane’s cobs that I do not think he even knew w'hether his chauffeur was a man or a woman.” "Motoring is a great leveler of the sexes," ho retorted, glancing at the discarded jacket and cap. And this vas the beginning of hostilities which terminated on Christinas Eve In a quarrel that sent Conhaven to bed wholly miserable. From a boy Gerald had been a lover of horses. He had declaimed passion ately against the mechanical substi tute, which made the driver no better than an engineer, and had he Imag ined that the Loudens were so infect ed with the automobile craze he would never have accepted an invitation to their Christmas house party, even though he had Just returned from a ion* stay nbrond. He might even have turned back after his arrival had he not known from that evil moment In the hall that hla hnpptnena hung upon Elsie Tallmnn’s "yea." She had been In a finishing school when he had gone abroad, half a dozen yeara before, and he acarcely remembered her. Now ahe filled his thoughts sleeping and waking, and their intercourse had been a night mare all through the week preceding Chrlstmaa. Kh# believed that hi* refusal to properly appreciate the automobile was due to fear, not distaste, and laahrd along' th country' roads 'at the highiat speed a thirty norss-power ’’Yfcvfctfic wm tejs*•/, ihi hiiid)§4 >m pgMHMsly, wall* h* ignomlinugty tor sad is gti la tad M* neau “to keep from falling out,” as she explained. He would have refused these trips had it not been for his desire to be near her, and his refusal to take a ride the day before Christmas had precip itated a quarrel which threatened to become serious. It was in no Christmas spirit that he came down the stairs the next morning to find the entire party out on the front steps admiring the glis tening, high-power French car which was Elsie's Christmas present from her father, who had remained behind in town. Even Mrs. Loudon declaimed at the Khc reached forward and shrieked the nddrew* In his enr. foolishness of giving the girl such a powerful car for her own use. but Che Mtolid Frenchman, who acted as n*’r automobile experts dropped hla usual repote to rave over the beaut!** of th* car with It# silver-plated wetnl* work contrasting with the dark blue of the body and upbotatoHnf. Klaio took Ormesby out In U that very afternoon, to ffei aid's Intent* disgust# for Orrn-ebv was th# moat rabtd of i .. if j imiTMtiitfttly mi h'ksd’by O.nbavan, a foot *# which 1C lift was fully •••*’•• t|,. sfi*rnnttr m#*mM iniwmlntili ip (bubiviftt re#tlately fAilMf tb# SAVANNAH MORNING NEWS: SUNDAY. DECEMBER 25. 1904. We handle the famous Checkering, Mathu= shek, Everett, Ltidden & Bates, Lester, Ivers & Pond, and Kohler & Campbell pianos And the Very Best Organs. library, and when the two came in from their long run, he was possessed with a desire to boot Ormesby, who had assumed toward Elsie an air of proprietorship. It was almost time to dress for din ner when the telephone bell rang and a message from the city announced that Mr. Tallman had been seriously injured. Miss Tallman was urged to return to town immediately. Gerald got Mrs. Loudon to break the message to the girl while he call ed up the station to find when the next train would leave. "No chance for a train before 12," he announced regretfully, as he hung up the receiver. "There is a wreck on the branch, and it may not be cleared even by then.” Elsie started up from the couch. “The automobile," she cried. “I can go in that. Oh. papa, papa! I never thought I should have to use your present for this.” Sobs shook her frame, and the others gathered around to dissuade her from her purpose. It was only a forty-mile run to the city, and the trip could be quickly made, but there had been a thaw the r preceding day which had left the road Hlmoe* Impassable In apota. There would be a full moon, but even thla would not help much, and sever*l of the party luxated that ahe be restrain ed forcibly, If iieceaaary, from under* inking thla foolhardy feat. t'onhaven wae no paity to thla dls cuMiliMi. fie had flrone straight to the I F|abi*. Ten minute* later the blue | racer, wl*h full tanka and light* ablaa*. wa# at the door, and * on haven, ellJl In Ufa lounging coal, announced that i everything wn§ in readiness. Witii a frathfuj fta#t* In hi# dir##* Loan, bhd rate and usMbUmny sUp* ped into the leathern armor which had been brought from her room. She was helped into the tonneau and presently the chauffeur appeared and took his place at the wheel. With a snort and a puff the heavy car moved forward, the acetylene lights throwing a path of faint white along the moon-lit road. Before the car had turned from the path into the road It had gained full speed and went tear ing down the muddy track. For the first five miles Elsie scarce ly realized that she was under way, so completely had her father absorbed her thoughts, but the rush of clean, cool air cleared her clouded brain, and | she became conscious that she was traveling at a rate she had never made ! before. Although new, the car worked per fectly, and it rushed along with a steady whirr that gave even less indi cation of their speed than did the rush ing fence posts and trees beside the road. The chassis was heavy enough to steady the car, but the “lift” as they swung around a curve told her that they were making record time. Occasionally they would rush through sofne village where there would be a confused blur of light, a few sharp cries, faint on the wind, and then again darkness and the open country. Even in her grief Elsie could not but admire the perfect command the driver held over the powerful machine. She had not supposed Henri could handle a car so well, and she wondered vague ly what speed they were making. She had done forty miles an hour for a stretch of a few miles, but it seemed to her that they had exceeded this speed ever since they had started out. They had already reached the suburbs. The patches of light were closer to gether, and their speed was a little slower because of the carriages they met. Once a man ran out Into the road with upraised hands, and Elsie saw with sinking heart the gleam of brass buttons, but the chauffeur skill fully turned his car and the officer was left in the road shouting objurga tions at a car which was out of ear shot twenty seconds after It had passed. Then came the bridge across the river, and with a glad cry Elsie real ized that they were but four miles from home. She remembered that Ilenri did not know where she lived, and she reached forward and shrieked the address In his ears. His only re sponse was a nod: he never took his eyes from the road ahead, for while he had slowed down to the legal speed limit he was still tearing along and constant watchfulness was needed to avoid collision. She sank back Into her sent, won dering Idly If Henri had really under stood her, and gradually there was forced upon her consciousness the fact that she had seen a clean-shaven chin and Ups set fast. Henri was so piroud of his mustache. It was funny he should have shaved It off. It was. funny she should have noticed It ’ when—and there surged Into her brain the thought of her father lying, per- K A LOLA COMPANY’S High Grade Fruit Flavoring Extracts. TIfMKK UTAH lilt AND. “Fl lilfV AMI HI HI.M. I ll.’ i umil* A M HO*. M/ililDA OMANIJE. I.TdIIGI A l’lvA* 11, Ml MI AN % AMI.I A. •’I llli, 1H.1.1i ATE, bTftONU. Hail tli,. u*mnl quuili required Itigyct •wlk'rs. Tl*c mioh ik'ib'hu,* fin tor e* * ua.ii i > In uar. I b*H iwr irfaul snd In* asiiiisisl, kohl attd rc*.mi*ii***.*d* *t by all Scat-*less gossra. KALOLA COMPANY MAN I' FA< Tt HElth HIGH OHAJ/L LA 1 HALT k, . (stOMMlt, bt. W- C nMI hth, Vlas PraaMaM sad Owaisi Menage* haps dying, upon a bed of pain with none save, strangers and the servants to ease her brief span of life. She clenched iier hands in an agony of apprehension, and never realized that she was on the avenue, only a few blocks from home. A sharp note from the horn brought her to her feet, and with a glad cry she tore open the door of the tonneau and had slipped to the street. She was dimly conscious that Henri was following, 'but this did not matter. Her only idea was to get the news as quickly as possible. It was the butler who opened the door, and he gave a start of surprise. "Why, Miss Elsie!” he cried. "Did the second message miss you? It was all a mistake!” "A mistake?” she gasped. “Yes. ma’am. Mr. Tallman wasn't hurt. It was a stranger of the same name. They thought it must be ” He broke off shortly as the girl reeled, and was about to fall, but It was Gerald who caught her in his arms and boro her into the house. And it was upon Gerald that her glance fell when her eyes opened again. "I’m all right,” she smiled faintly as she stretched out her hand to him. “It was Just the reaction after all my worry." "Better to faint through Joy than grief,” he answered as he stroked the dainty hand. She smiled faintly and for the first time It impressed her as being odd that he should be here when he had been left behind at the Loudons. “How did you ever get down?” she cried as she struggled to sit up. "Rode down,” he answered coolly, as with one arm he raised her and with the other hand held a glass of brandy and water to her lips. "But how?” she persisted, as she felt t lit- liquor starting the warm blood through her veins. “Henri was drunk and I took his place," he .answered quietly. “But you are afraid of automo biles,” she said in amazement. “I never said so; you said so," he retorted. “I hate them because I love horses, but when the craze first start ed in France I won several road races. You see I wanted to give the automobile a fair trial, as I had sev eral big machines.” "And I used to make you ride in the tonneau so you wouldn't fall out,” she cried penitently. “What must you think of me?” His lips were mute, but his eyes were eloquent as he held up a slender golden circlet. Hhe raised her finger and he slipped it on. Hhe raised her face to him and their lips met Just as Mr. Tullman, summoned from the club, came hustling In. "Here’s a Christmas present for you. papa.” she cried, after she had devoured hjm with kisses. "He's the dearest fellow In the world, only I don't think he will ever forgive Fate for having let him win his wife i through an automobile." Gerald says he has. At any rate, the “Blue Buzzer” shares the stable with his pet trotters. Give our Repair Department a trial. It is complete in every detail. We can make your old piano or organ as good as new and will make a price on the work so low that it will surprise you. We move pianos with a wagon especially designed for the purpose, and also tune or store them. GREAT Alt .Ml EH UNDER GROUND. Mow tlie Husslan* and Japanese Are Passing the Winter In Manchuria. From the London Times. With November the cold weather be gins in Manchurtt, and is increasingly intense. Around Mukden the thermo meter does not usually fall below zero (Fahrenheit) until the middle of De cember, when night after night it may sink to 5,’10 and even 20 degrees below zero, and during January to 30. In the frequent northeasterly or north westerly blizzards no human beings can live under canvVts, Some may be quartered in native houses; but where, even supposing that the owners should be ruthlessly turned out, will accom modation be found for a half million of men? The answer is simple; the Japanese are already making use of underground dwellings; such ‘as the natives some times use, and which were used by the Russians during the winter after the Boxers had destroyed their railway buildings. The soil of Manchuria, ex cepting in certain places, is dry at this season, especially In the districts be tween Mukden and Liau-Yang, where it is, largely, loess and sand. The Japanese, who hold the low hills with gentle slopes, are in the better posi tion. The method ts to dig a trench about ten feet to twelve feet deep and varying in width, but generally about nine feet wide. A narrow stair way is cut leading down to the south end. At the base it is widened and a door frtime set up with a native door, turning on wooden pivots. The upper half of the door is open work, which, being covered with the opaque native window paper, admits light. The sun shines at midday down the steps, and. when the door Is opened, freshens and warms the room. Immediately with in, on one side, ts a cooking stove, <amp oven or boiler, in a simple and primitive style, to which both Rus sians and Japanese are accustomed. Along the length of the trench Is a platform some 2Vi feet high and six feet wide, made of hammered earth and rough, unhurried bricks. Beneath this are several simple flues, up and down which the smoke and heat from the cooking place finds its way, issu ing at the end, remote from the en trance. by a small chimney, cut in the solid ground. On this platform, which resembles the old style of green house flue and Is called by the Chi nese a kang, many men can sleep In warmth and comfort on a rough mat of dried grass. This mode of heating Is not only economical, hut the flues consume and carry off the earth damp or carbonic gas which always gener ates In underground dwellings. Across the top of the trench rough pieces of timber or poles are laid, and on these kaoliang stalks nr straw, upon which Is heaped the eurth excavated from the trench. This covering keeps out th# cold and I* practically shellproof. No rain falls, and but little snow, and the latter can. If desired, be swept off the roofs or mounds over the dwell ing. The Japanese have access to a large number of the native "surface” cosl mines, whera a course dust coal Is readily excavated and can be, when mixed with a little wet loose earth, burned in tha rough cooking places re ferred to, In which grass, rubbish and almost anything can also be consumed as fuel. Whilst the first twelve feet to twenty feet of i tie plain and low bills now occupied by the armies a*a dry In winter, good water can be found almost anywhere at twsnty-fiva feet to thirty feist below tbs surface. Midget *Tbr fat lady aays she had a hard tints malting both ends mot” <Jl*sa*ata< —"Was she In debt when she aatd <**'?" Midget— I "Mau otw waatrjr i's to put um bar beb.‘'—<hKa#s leaby Mawa. SHELTERING OF THE HOMELESS ONE OF NEW YORK PROBLEMS MUNICIPAL LODGING HOUSES FULL AND OVERFLOWING. Tlie City Inr illations On RlnrWWell’s ■aland Crowded—Over g.rtoA In nmtea of the Almahonae—The Met ropolitan lloapltal linn More Than 1,000 Patients Some ol Them On the Floors—The Tuherrnlosls Hue pitul ami Its lit Pavilions Filled. The Same Conditions Exist In Hrooklyn and Other Nelghborlnii Cities. New York. Dec. 2<—As a register of the extent of the destitution and the depths of poverty in the city, the Municipal Lodging House Is pretty re liable, and so crowded has It become that the city has been compelled to acquire a plot 100x100 feet in East Twenty-third street, near the river, and is about to erect thereon a modern building with the most improved methods of affording temporary shelter for the homeless. Although it is early In the season and the worst conditions have not been reached, the house In Second ave nue now used by the city as a lodging house has been taxed on several nights beyond its capacity, and emergency provision has been made on the pier at East Twenty-sljcth street for the overflow. Of course, there is the usual run of professional "tramps," but the law which prohibits anyone from sleeping in the lodging house more than three nights in a week weeds out a great many of v the regulars. The "baking” of their clothes and the compulsory bath are drawbacks to the enjoyment of this class, yet they will endure these discomforts as often as the law per mits for the sake of the bed and breakfast in warm quarters. The house holds 300. Over on Blackwell's Island the city institutions are crowded. In the alms house there are more than 2,500 In mates, snd the Metropolitan Hospital has more than a thousand patients, some of them on the floor. The tuber culosis Infirmary and the twelve pa vilions for that class of patients ara full. Brooklyn Is no better off than Man hattan, having more than 1,500 persona In the almshouse, and Its hospitals ara crowded. Home of the surplus from Black well’s Island is taken to the poor farm on Htaten Island, where anew dormitory and three cottages recently have been opened. WITH GIFT’S TO i HAMTIII Mr. Ulilstr Erl* airin'* Do ns Ilona la Celebrate Ills Birthday. Mr. Ouetave Eckstein, who recently sent to the president of the Hot heads Orphanage his check for 150 for the orphan boys’ Chrlstmaa, has mads sub •tanilsi donation* to Um* following • harm***, in ebaei vstw* of his birthday, wlit< h fslls *m Jan t Ml. Mary * <*r phari Monas, Me varnish Female Orphan Asylum, Kpta* <i*sl Orphsi, Homs, M. Francis Orphan Home. Lotties Porte* of >ht Foot, Hawse Orphans iivrssn MiMin 7