Newspaper Page Text
oB I mSw RW ' 1118
VOL. XIX.
THE BOND ROBBERY.
BY JOE HAWKINS.
It was a jolly little farm-house. I had been
past the place many times, and-scented with
pleasure the honeysuckles which grew upon
the side —only a few miles from Chicago.
One would have thought the place belonged
to some old couple who, after having passed a
laborious life, had retired hero for peace and
content.
Still the shadow of death had passed over
the little house, and as I rode up to the gate
one morning I caught a glimps of a pale-faced
young girl, with her long, disheveled hair about
her neck and shoulders, and her eyes red with
weeping, who was looking down tho road with
anxious eyes.
I left the carriage hastily, and a rather smart
looking young man, who offered to take charge
of the horse, took my place.
The interior of the cottage was in keeping
with the outer adornments, which had been so
lavishly supplied by nature; but the blinds
were closely drawn, and there was an air of
gloomy depression that was almost suffocating.
The young girl had opened the door for me,
and she drew back with a. graceful bow as I
entered, but, without speaking,pointed thoway
to an iner room.
She seemed overwhelmed by some recent
griefthat deprived her of tho power of making
an effort of tho common courtesies naturally
expected of one apparently well bred.
But she was relieved of her embarrassment
by an elderly lady, who camo forward anil wel
comed mo as one who pad been long and anxi
ously expected.
A note from the chief of the Chicago police,
introducing me, informed them that I had been
detailed to visit the house, and that the nature
of the ease had been confided to mo.
I enjoined secrecy upon them as to my real
character, instructing to answer any in
quiries by saying that I was a distant connec
tion of Godfrey Holmes, who now lay lifeless
under the roof, as the doctor had said, from
the effects of poison.
I had secretly finished these preliminaries
when tiie young man who had taken charge of
jny horse strode into the room.
He was introduced as Charles Saxby, ami
■was a muscular, rather handsome man, with
piercing gray eyes, and an expression of con
siderable intelligence.
He was such a person as I would have se
lected for any employment requiring a large
amount of endurance and self-possession.
There was a certain easy coolness in his man
ner that led me to think he had not been bred
in the country, and I subsequently learned that
lio had been a student at law in an eastern col
lege, and had come west for the double purpose
of recuperating his health and pursuing his
studies more cheaply.
The.family at the cottage had consisted of
Godfrey Holmes, now deceased, a widowed
sister of his deceased wife, and his daughter
Amelia.
1 pon the death of bis. beloved wife, Mr.
Hoimcs had declared his intention qj remain
ing a widower, and his wife’s sister, a quiet,
unassuming woman, had taken charge of his
housekeeping.
Amelia, the daugher, was now in her seven
teenth year, her figure very elegant and her
appearance graceful.
Her face was very sweet; her eyes dark
brown, and abundant hair of the same color
was twined about her head.
Ono would have thought the natural conse
quence of lieing thrown almost constantly into
the society of as handsome a man as Saxby,
she would have lost her heart to him.
But the very opposite to this was the fact,
and he could have left the place at any mom
ent without regret upon her part. Her father,
however, bad been much engaged by him, and
had often hinted to bis housekeeper that ho
was sure he would be quite satisfied with such
a son-in-law.
Tho entire nighborbood shared in this good
opinion of Saxby. He and Amelia w'ould
make such a splendid match, they said.
Both were so handsome; so intelligent; so
similar in their tastes; besides, were they not
admirably matched as to worldly prospects.
Saxby had no wealth, it is true; but he camo
of a family of influence, and with the fortune
Mr. Holmes would be able to give, he could
rise high in the world. Amelia did not need
to marry for money, for though her father
possessed a little landed property, was he not
rich in the best securities of the government?
So, indeed, he had been ; but upon the very
night of his decease, all his stocks and bonds,
gold and mortgages, and his private papers
had disappeared, and no one could tell whith
er they had flown.
Here, then, were the two terrible circum
stances of robbery and suspected murder,
combining to bring utter desolation and ruin
to the family, so peaceful but a few brief
hours before.
It is little wonder that tho grief-stricken
girl had stood pale and niotioniessfin my pres
ence, when she knew the occasion of my com
ing.
About an hour after my arrival, a carriage
was driven up to the farm-house, and two
portly gentlemen in black coats, alighted and
came into tho cottage.
They carried two small cases wdth them
which brought disgreeable remembrances to
me, for i knew’ they contained tho glittering
trepanning knives and scalpels, which had
been dig layed before my gaze on numerous
painful occasions.
Soon afterward the coroner arrived, accom
panied > y a number of the neighbors, from
whom he proceeded to inipannel a jury.
Whit.! her aunt was busy receiving these in
dividual , 1. had an opportunity for a short in
terview with Amelia, and I learned from her
at that time much that was useful in my sub
sequent investigations.
The post-mortem examination was at length
concluded, and, somewhat to ray surprise, the
surgeons declared that the opinion of the old
gentleman’s physician, that death had resulted
from poisoning, was incorrect.
De.it . i had supervened from sudden conges
tion of the heart, there was not the slightest
trace of foul play, and the necessary certificate
lor interment was granted.
Winn 1 subsequently learned that Mr.
Holmes had suddenly fallen dead, and that his
doctor bad not reached him until long after
the breath had left the body, 1 did not think
this conclusion so strange.
It relieved me from a disagreeable weight;
. for iai s of poisoning are always accompanied
by distressful circumstances; and I now had
only to inquire into the disappearance of the
old gentleman's liox of valuables.
The lots of these would leave Amelia and
the old lady in poverty, for the latter was en
tirely dependent upon her brother-in-law, who
Lad no living relatives save these two.
The deceased had placed no faith in the
banks, and had always kept the small steel
boun I box in liis sleeping room.
He bad shown the content. to his daughter
and Iter aunt upon various occasions, and w hen
they had remonstrated with him about keep?
Ing to much value in so insecure a place, the
old n; in had smiled at their fears.
He had depended largely for the safety of
the box upon the fact that all per.-.ms. save
those immediately connected with him, were
ignorant of liis having these treasures.
Several, persons had been about the house
on tli ? nig'it of hit decease, ami the larger
number had been more or less in the b' d-room.
Amelia, young Saxby and several others
were mentioned by the old lady in particular;
but she declatwl that .he would suspect her
self or the other iiietnbent of the household as
•ut.ii as < no of the neighlx rs.
They w ere entirely ignorant of the existence
of the box, and this might be depended upon,
if their honesty were to be set aside.
Besides, it seemed impossible that anything
could have been the house with
out detection on that night of sorrow.
There was not an hour that some one was
not about, and either Amelia or her aunt bad
remained in the bed-room continually.
Still tho box was gone, and it must have had
some outside means of locomotion.
As might have been expected, I almost in
stantly pitched upon Saxby as the thief.
I folt convinced of it, although there was
nothing suspicious in the young man’s man
ner.
The difficulty before me was to reach the
truth in such a manner that no point of refu
tation would bo left. I must not only show
him to be the guilty party but also recover tho
stolen property, tho larger portion of which
would be readily negotiable, and could bo dis
posed of with little risk of detection.
I was asked to remain for lunch, and re
quiring sometime for thought, I accepted tho
invitation.
Soon tho elder lady, Saxby and myself were
seated at the table, Amelia being too indis
posed to join us,and the most rigid silence pre
vailed fur some time.
I was employed in secretly watching Saxby,
who,l soon discovered, enjoyed the cntiriFcon
fidcnce of our kind-hearted hostess.
She had already astonished him with the se
cret of who I was, and the occasion of my
presence at tho cottage.
When tho meal was over and the old lady
had gone to look after her niece’s comfort,
Saxby entered into a lengthy conversation
with me.
Ho talked well, but was much too ready in
his suggestions as to the missing securities, and
the longer I remained with him the streuger
became my prejudice against him.
After much agitation I decided that it was
only necessary to give the suspect “rope
enough and ho would bang himself.” I must
bo on hand, however, to see that he did not slip
his head from tho noose.
I conceived a plan and began to act upon it
at once.
I assumed a confidential manner, and in
formed the young man that I had thought of
some circumstances relating to the missing
bonds, in which I thought he could assist me.
“If you will go into the city with me,” I
continued, “I will tell you more.”
Saxby consented to this proceeding without
tho least show of reluctance, and we set out
together.
While upon tho way I feigned a story to
amuse him, and hinted, in a distant way, that
I was inclined to think that Mr. Holmes’ sis
ter-in-law knew more of the missing valuables
than any’ other person. I concluded by request
ing him Io watch the old lady's movements.
To do Saxby justice, he defended tho good
woman warmly and grow quite indignant at
my “venomous charge,” which I excused by
telling him that it was necessary to take every
precaution.
When wo reached Chicago, I took the young
man to the central police office, and prepared
to carry out tho real motive for my action.
While I caused Saxby to be detained in con
versation by a brother officer, a photographer
with his camera placed behind ti screen for the
occasion, skilfully pictured the man's features.
Then I dismissed him; but was cardful to
keep him in view until he left the city.
Before another day had rolled around a pho
tograph of the young man was in tho office of
nearly every broker in tho city.
Time passed, and the scheme bore no fruit;
Mr. Holmes had been in his grave nearly a
month, and his daughter’s fortune was still
undiscovered.
I had been playing a waiting game hereto
fore ; but now I decided to commence a de
cided action.
I hail not lost sight of Saxby during this in
terval, for a skilf ul shadow hail kept his move
ments continually under inspection; but he
had remained quietly at the farm and it had
come to nothing.
But one day the shadow came to me in per
son—Saxby was in town.
Ho only made a few purchases and returned
at nightfall. Evidently if Saxby was the thief
he was upon his guard.
It occurred to me to take advantage of his
absence to visit the cottage.
Both ladies received me very cordially and
hail a long story to tell of their pecuniary em
barrassments. Their little home could not
readily be converted into cash for anything like
its value, and, if it could, the idea of parting
with it was unbearable.
Saxby, the elder lady told me, during a short
absence of her neico from the room, had lately
received a remittance from his relatives, and
they depended upon him for the present.
But the old lady told me, with a sad shake
of the head, that the young man had a man
ner quite foreign to what sho had hitherto
known of him.
He had proposed marriage to Amelia, stat
ing to her that he w;is in daily expectation of a
sum of money from his friends, which would
place him a condition to provide for her aunt
as well as herself a pleasant home.
Amelia had rejected his offer, however, and
Saxby’s usual kindliness had not been proof
again-t the rebuff.
It was plain from the old lady’s manner of
telling the story that she did not exactly coin
cide with Amelia in her action: but she was
much troubled at the difficulties before them.
“If Miss Holmes would consent to follow
my directions,” said I, “there is no doubt you
may both bo relieved from your embarrass
ments.”
“In what manner?” asked the young lady,
who re-entered at that juncture.
“By tho recovery of the lost treasures. It is
merely an experiment; but its success would
place you and your aunt above want for the
future.”
When I aw that their curiosity was aroused,
1 communicated my plan.
It was for Amelia to favor Saxby’s suit for
the time, and make it a condition that, before
her final consent to the marriage was given,
her aunt should be provided for by a moderate
settlement.
It was very evident that the ladies did not
understand me, and I was exceedingly cau
tious in enlightening them.
Amelia began by declining my advice; but
after a long interview and a promise on my
part that no harm should come from the ar
rangement, she consented.
I returned to town quite jubilant, thinking
that niy success was as good as assured.
I left the inmates at the cottage considerably
mystified, for I had accused no one of the rob
bery. and they could not discern in what di
rection my scheme tended.
Not many days had passed when Saxby
came again to town.
The siiadow saw him safely seated in tho
reading room of one of the hotels aud came to
warn me in baste.
We concluded that the young man had come
on “business” this time, for it was early in the
duy, and he seemed more than usually
thoughtful.
I donned a disguise through which I thought
Saxby would ire unable to identify me if he t
should chance to notice my proximity, and
was soon in front of the hotel.
My ally hail informed me that Saxby had
already been into the street where the princi
pal brokers’ offices were located.
Ho had arrived too early, however, for his
purpose, and liod returned to the hotel to wait
until business opened.
So I concluded, and, when I saw him upon
tire street again, pausing occasionally to glance '
into the windows where tho signs told that
stocks and bonds were bought aud sold, I was I
in no way surprised,and prepared to swoop
down upon him at the proper moment.
At last be seemed to find a place to his fanny,
ami entered hastily, casting over bis shoulder
• t «iiti so th nt peculiar p» • tiliat yluii'-b
which denotes the unea,y conscieuco.
ATLANTA, GA., TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1887
I was upon the opposite side of the street,
but could watch his motions. I saw him, af
ter exchanging a few words with tho broker,
draw a package from his jacket from which
ho made a selection.
He entered into negotiations with the broker
and I soon saw tho latter paying over quite a
sum of money.
This Saxby placed in liis pocket aud turned
around just as 1 stepped upon the sidewalk.
His eyes flashed over me in an instant, and
I knew that I had been recognized despite my
disguise.
What a fund of cool nerve that young man
must have had! He surmised in an instant
the real state of affairs, and rushed out of the
office.
I seized his arm before he had fairly reached
the sidewalk, and. finding that escape was im
possible, he very wisely succumbed.
He returned with me to the broker’s office
and redeemed the securities he had negoti
ated. '
Then he was taken to tho police station.
“That five thousand dollars you negotiated,
what were you going to do with it?” I in
quired.
Saxby’s lip curied bitterly.
“That was for Amelia’s aunt in case I hud
married the young lady,” he answered,” I be
lieved I've been played for a sucker; a more
unprincipled man would have made a clean
job of it.”
I had to admit the force of this remark.
As tho rascal had been apprehended with
the evidence, of his guilt upon him he saw the
futility of attempting a defense.
He accordingly confessed that, as ho had
been alone in Mr. Holmes’ room upon tho
night of his disease, tho idea had occurred to
him of secreting the box of valuables, tho
secret of which the old gentleman had con
fided to him, and use them as a moans of com
pelling Amelia to many him, in tho event of
liis failing to gain her love.
He had watched his opportunity, and, when
all was quiet, had removed the box to a field,
whore ho had buried it in tlie earth.
The statement proved correct, and tho box
was found with its contents intact, save the
papers 1 had found upon Saxby.
The latter pleaded guilty to tho offense
charged, and in consideration of the fact that
the property had not suffered diminution, and
had been recovered through his confession, a
much lighter sentence was imposed upon him
that otherwise he would have received.
The ladies at the cottage were profuse in
their thanks to me. and I found my reward in
a check for a handsome sum; besides tho re
flection that peace and plenty bad been re
stored to deserving people through my instru
mentality.
.
THE TICHBORNE CASE.
How Sir Roger Intends to Establish His
Identity.
From the Globe Democrat.
New York, December 3.—Sir Roger Tich
borne, claimant, ponderous and serene, was at
liis post as usual today, as manager of a Chat
ham Square hotel. Sir Roger has been keep
ing very quiet during tho eighteen months of
his residence in Chatham Square, but tin*,
amount of line work he lias put in will make
things lively in England next spring; at toast
ho hones so. lie said:
“I think I have my case in such shape now
failure will be impossible. I go to England
on March 3, and will at once begin proceedings
in tiie probate court. Charles Russell and
John Clark, tho English lawyers, have been
retained. Was I confined in prison for four
teen years? Well, technically, yes. I was
sentenced to fourteen years, and good behavior
shortened it to ten years, seven months and
seven days. 1 was imprisoned on two charges
of perjury for claiming to bo Sir Roger Tich
borne, and denying that 1 was Arthur Orton.
Orton was afterward found in the Paramatta
lunatic asylum, New South Wales. They re
fused to commute the Orton part of my sen
tence, but changed my name on the prison
books to Thomas Castro. 1 propose to have
tho Tichborne and Doughty actof 1874 annull
ed. It was fraudulently passed. Only nino
members of parliament acting on it, when the
law requires at least forty. After my incarce
ration tiie verdict of tlio jury was confirmed,
and the trustees of the estate were empowered
to pay all the expenses of the litigation. They
amounted to £84,000. Had they not been paid
I could not again open the suit, as the English
law requires that tho expenses of one suit must
be paid before another is begun.
“Before I left England unknown to my
friends I willed away tho whole Doughty es
tate. 1 may seem strange that I could do this
during the lifetime of my father and uncle,but
their interest in the estate was for life only,
while mine was in fee simple, which allowed
mo to disposcof it as I pleased. Tho vessel
Bella, on which I sailed for New York, was
wrecked. Iler longboat was found by the
schooner Kent and taken to Rio de Janeiro,
and nothing further was heard of the other
boats, although they were picked up by anoth
er vessel anil taken to Australia. It was
thought in England I was lost. The under
writers paid the insurance and Vincent Gas
ford, one of the executors of my will, proved
tiie document and distributed tho property ac
cording to its contents. After I succeed in an
nulling tho act of 1874, Emory Alfred Tich
borne. the present possessor of the estate, will
hold tho property by ray will; then I will ap
peal to tho probate court and establish my
identity by at least 500 witnesses. Then, of
course, tiie will will not hold, and tho estate
will rightfully revert to me.”
How Licorice is Made.
Frum the New York .Mull and Express.
“It is almost an impossibility,” said a well
known pharmacist, recently to a reporter, “to tell
how much licorice is really consumed by people In
th • city of New York. Tic amonut is almost in
credible and probably reaches thousands of pounds
annually.”
“flow 13 the drug obtained?” w.as asked.
“A species of licorice is found o:i the shores of
Lake Erie, though a good deal conies from further
west. The plant from which It Is obtained is called
glycrrhiza. It grows very e cat, to the height of
ab <ut four or live feet and has few brunches. It
bears a Hower formed like that of a ]xa, but of a
violet or purple color. Tiie root hi its raw slate is
well known as the “licorice roo.” of commerce. It
attains a length of several feet and is often an Inch
in diameter. When the root has attained the age of
three years It Is taken up, and from this, before it
bcconn.B dri.-d, is made the extract of licorice,
som 'times known n ‘■punish licorice. The juice Is
I prepared by boiling the root with water, the de
coction Is then decant <1 off and eva| orated to
; plotc-con-sis'eiice for forming the substance into
sticks five or six Inche-1 eig ui.dnn inch hi diameter
I —these are the -p inlsb licoih cos commerce.”
“Is not the article adultera'.? 1.”
“Yes, it Is often nothingeis:; than a mixture of
[ til" juice with the wor n kind of gum arable. Me
ta lie Copper scraped off the ev.qsuratlng puns, Is
verg frequently present, and starch and Hour some-
I times coustitu.e nearly ou? half of tho ȟb.-tatiee."
German Piper: A man, being re pi '.ted by a
■ friend to buy him some talks, forgot all about the
j matter till he accidentally nut him: then, In bis
I conka on. le endeavor 4 to “set mailers straight”
| by nonchalantly remarking: “By tho way, 1 never
I got the letter you wrote about those book*.”
I Comm-rctal; Hrs. Waldo, of Boston-I
have a letter from your uncle James, Penelope, who
wants u? to spend the summer on liis farm. Pen
' elope, dubUMkly—ls there any society ta the neigh
; txirliorx'i" Mrs. Waldo-I ve beard him sneak of the
i II : t Ins and Gucrocys. I presume they are pleas
| ant people.
lopAE GRUPP.
By Wallace P. Reed.
For-,the Constitution.
It was a gloomy December day in the year
of grace 174—.
An east wind coming over the cold watersof
the Atlantic, and a wide expanse of salt
marshes, moaned through the pines and swept
thosandy stretch whore tiie little settloment
of Savannah was just beginning to pull itself
together.
The scene was not very attractive. A rude
but strong stockade containing a number of
shops and houses, the headquarters and bar
racks of the Military,and a few outlying cabins
of the more adventurous pioneers—this was
all.
In a comfortable room in tho most preten
tious building iu the stockade, the headquar
ters of tho commanding general, three gentle
men sat by a blazing wood tire. They were
drinking Madeira, aud their rubicund visages
showed that they were not unaccustomed to
this and even stronger beverages.
Onq of the three xvore a scarlet uniform,
glittering with a nrofuse emblazonry of gold
lace, but liis large spare figure indicated great
strength, mid his face with its prominent
Roman nose and brilliant eyes would have
stamped tlio.man in any circle as a remarkable
person, a born leader of men.
This man, the central figure of the group,
was penoral Oglethorpe.
The other two. dressed also in scarlet uni
forms, were brother officers. Ono was Major
Daftousie, the other was Captain Cardigan.
They were young men, but their apearanpee
showed them to bo gallant soldiers, well suited
to the business in which their general kept
them engaged night and day.
The three officers had something more seri
ous on hand than Aho discussion of their Ma
deira.
“Tho fellow will have to bo shot, then,” re
marked Major Dalhousie airily, as he swallow
ed another linnxper.
“I am afraid so,” replied Captain Cardigan,
adjusting his ruffles, “but it is a pity. Corpo
ralCrupp is a good soldier attunes. Lord!
But he can fight!”
“Zoundsl” exclaimed tlio general, “much
do I deplore such a necessity, gentlemen, but
discipline is more important in those savage
wilds than it is iu Europe. Hero warfare is
nothing but butchery, and wo need every man
in our small force. Now, when I was cam
paigning on tho continent,” continued the
general, as he paused to drain another glass,
“a little drunkenness, more or less, did not
matter. I myself once refused to take a
French officer prisoner because lie was so bo-
Did-leil lines. A spleiidid,
fellow he was, too. Once otir commands were
front lug er.-Ji other just as the fight opened.
Mid the Frenchman, taking off his hat, said:
‘Gentlemen, will you have the goodness to fire
first!’ ”
“That was grand!” cried Major Dalhousie.
“It was,” answered the general sententious
ly, “but it was not war. It was an attempt to
apply the. tactics of tho ball room to the battle
field. Well, my bull dogs accepted the invita
tion. aud in less than five minutes we had
driven the Monsieurs out of sight.”
“But,” said Major Dalhousie, “we are leav
ing tho subject. Must the corporal besbot?”
“To a certainty,” murmured Captain Cardi
gan, who had spilled his wine, and was peer
ing into his right boot under the impression
that something was wrong somewhere.
“Let us sec,” said the general, “you have
had the varlet in the guardhouse?”
“A hundred times,” replied the captain.
‘“Damme if 1 think he has ever left it,” re
plied tho major.
“And ye t lie fights?”
“Like a devil,” exclaimed both officers.
“He saved us from a surprise a month ago,”
put in the major.
“It is a serious case,” said the general. “Tho
trustees of our infant colony are determined
to prohibit tho drinking of rum, and all that is
brought here lias to be staved.”
“Blood and death,” interrupted tho major,
“how does the fellow get his tipple?”
“Tremenshus tnislitory to me,” said the cap
tain, who had just lost another glass of Made
ira, and was glaring at tlio water pitcher very
suspiciously.
“I think,” suggested the general, “that. I
wii. have tho corporal brought here. I desire
to question him.”
As the officers made no objection, a messen
ger was sent to the guardhouse, and in a few
moments the offender caino in, escorted by a
guard.
Corporal Crupp looked a little tho worse for
wear, and his face worn a surly expression, but
he did not appear to be vicious. Ho faced tho
three officers qifictly and waited for them to
speak.
“Corpoial, we have lost all patience with
you,” said General Oglethorpe sternly.
“I am not surprised,” was the sad reply,
“and 1 am ready to stand the consoqui nees.”
“You fell asleep while drunk on your post.’
“It is true,” admitted the soldier.
“Yesh, corp’l, and you’ll have to bo shot,”
interposed Captain Cardigan.
“I have no objection,” answered tho cor
poral stolidly.
“See here, corporal,” said [the general se
verely,“ You ars a man of intelligence. You
Know all about the prohibitory ordei of tho
trustees. Now, why is it that you will smug
gle rum, and drink it?”
For a moment tho corpoial was silent. Then
he straightened himself to his full height and
pointed to the table and the half filled
glasses.
"There,” he said, in a steady ringing voice,
"there is tho explanation. You place your
selves above tin: law. Do you not sec that
others will be tempted to do tho same? ft hen
Corporal Crupp breasts the cold and wet, and
secs his superior officers enjoying their wine,
don't you think that In: feels driven by some
demon to go and follow their example? Like
master, like man, you know.”
“linpudeut knave!” yelled the major.
“Gad! If ho was a gentleman, I’d call
him out,” said tho captain.
The commander rose from Ids chair aud
walked the room.
Then ho faced the culprit, and said :
“In your coars", blunt way, corporal, yon
have taught me a lesson. I don’t know that
it is possible to save you, but you shall have
another chance.”
He summoned a servant.
“Go and empty every drop of wine and
spirits in the bouse!” Ire ordered.
Tho officers jumped from their scats In stir
prist.
"I mean it,” said tho general. "There will 1
be uu more tippling among her majesty's ofil- |
ccrs in this colony, and the first man who dis
obeys this rule will find himself in tho guard
house.”
“But ,” »tammered the captain.
“I have said it,” was tho firm reply. “Now,
Crupp, 1 want you to go to tho Indian village
twenty miles north of here, and return with a
report of the war-like preparations there.”
“Genoral, will you trust me?” cried the sol
dier.
T did not say I trusted you. It is an experi
ment. I have placed myself and niy officers
under tho same discipline required by you.
You are, in honor,bound to accept tho common
lot of your fellow soldiers.”
Tho corporal stepped forward and kissed the
general's hand, and dropped a tear on it.
Then with a salulo he retired.
Corporal Crupp accomplished his mission
with signal fidelity.
He did more. Ho became tho host soldier
in the colony, and in tho course of tho war
with tho Spaniards rose to tlio rank of cap
tain.
When General Oglethrope returned to
Europe Captain Crupp accompanied him.
Long years afterwards Colonel Crupp was in
the habit of entertaining young officers with
reminisi onees of General Oglethorpe.
’ “Ah, ho was a man!” ho would say, “And
ho knew men, too. That, gontlcaicii, is tlio
great secret of leadership raid commandl”
THE GOLD
Half a dozen cabins divided liy a dusty
roadway, a blacksmith shop, and a store con
stituted the settlement.
The place was unusiialy lively this evening,
for some miners liad come up tho valley with
wonderful talcs of a claim down there that
was panning out gold by tho handful. They
Stood in tlio center of an eager group Hint com
pletely surrounded and filled tiie doorway of
the store.
I’reseutly a girl camo up the path with a
bucket on her head aud her sun-bonuet under
her arm. She was small and dark, and very
pretty, but sail-looking.
“I wish you would all lot me in,” she said.
The men separated, and as she entered tlio
store, ono of the new-comers asked who she
was.
"Slie's Doonson's daughter,” said a member
of the settlement, running his thumb under
his suspender ami giving it a liilcli.
“Aint ye never hearn of old I teen- on ?—him
as lives over on ‘Poverty Flat’? He’s mad,
they say, an’ I guess lie must bo, or ho
wouldn’t go on livin’on a worlied-out olaim.
He says the gold's there yet; but the other
man as owned it hadn't patience.”
As soon as the girl left the store, a man de
tached himself from the edge of the party, and,
hurrying round tho. store., struck a trail ihnt in
a few minutes would cross the one that Dean
son':. daughter was following.
Ho was a tall, line-looking follow, of any age
between Ir.a ntj Mid. thirty. Ho Wore tlio
typical miner’.-- clothes, but walked with tni
. <■ '<y ijrace, that suggested much mov‘-tain
c.limbi’ngi •?£ •
“Tell ye what 'tis, Doll,” ho began, hurried
ly, on meeting her, “It's a dreadful lonely life
fur ye down’ere on the Flat, with no uii but
the old man fur company.”
She didn't seem to think this required any
answer, and they walked for a time in silence.
Alter awhile ho begun again, but slowly, as
if wishing to impress her with the earnestness
of what lie wa . saying:
“I’ve knowed ye now, Doll, this six months
back, nn' I dun know how yo feels—but, afore
God, I’d rutlior hear you say: ‘Jack, 1 love
you,’tlian strike tho best payin'claim in tho
state.”
Sho stopped with a little gasp, and her hands
lightly clasped before her; down went tho old
sun-bonnet all unheeded.
‘Jack,’she cried, “Jack, do you moan It?”
“I ain't got no Bible, Doll,” ho said, solemn
ly, laying his hand upon her head, “but 1
swear it by Hie, next ono of God's works I hold
most sacred, anil that’s ye.”
“Then, Jin k,” she sobbed, “I do lovo ye.
I’ve mosi a-died fur font-you wouldn't cure fur
me, Lot’s go homo an’ tell dad, Jack.”
When they entered the cabin, they found
tho old man down on his knees before tho fire,
trying Io coax it into a blazo.
“Dad,” sho said then, “Jack says that ho
wants ter marry me.”
She had scarcely spoken before he sprang to
his feot with an oatli and dashed his pipe into
tiie fire. “Nover! Do ye think I’m goin’ to
letye waste yerself on a common mini r? Do
ye think I’ve been workin’ day in and day out
for ten years that yo might be an heiro ,s, anil
then let ye spend yer life in these diggin’s?
Ye’re goin’ to bo rich; tiie inoney’ll come
rollin’ in when the claim begins to pay.”
“Hold on, patdner,” cried Jack ; “the claim
will never ; ay. 1 dare say 1 ain’t good cnougli
fur Doll., but I can give her plenty to cat an’
to wear, mi’ that’s moro’n she gets now.”
But old Decnson made no an wer, for lie
had already returned to his gulden dream
ing.
The whole conversation seemed to pass from
him, and he went on patiently digging day
after day. lie hail bum a man of one idea
so long now, that it was imposisblo for him to
keep his mind on any outside inatt'.r.
"Doli,” ho said one day, “if this ‘lead’ don’t
bring somethin’, I’ll give up. But it’:i coinin’
tiffs linic; <» tliero ain’t notice worryin’. If
you go to tho sittlemint, bring home a charge
of powth r; I’m goin’ter blow up a rock tor
morrow.”
It was late the next day beforo Jack came
to see her, and Doll was watching for him at
the door.
“Dad's gone over to Sunken rock,” she said,
“that's whar lie’s workin’ now. Come
quick.”
Siie hurried out, and lie after her. It was a
long way to Sunken rock, and she wasted none
of her strength in words.
At last a sliaru bend in the path brought
them suddenly upon him. lie was sitting on
a tree-stump, his head in his hands, mumbling
to himself, and indifferently watcliing the
flame of a match creep slowly along tiie wick
leading to tire powder Ire had olaced in tho
crevice of the rock before him.
Instantly they saw his danger, Doll sprang
forward, but Jack pushed her back. Never,
it scoured to him, had lie moved mi slowly.
The old man was in his arms Ire stumbled
under his weight-—one step or twenty, he
could not tell. Thon camo n horrible sound as
if tire earth was opening under him, aud—ob
livion.
“Wai,” said Sall Stroll, telling about it at
the Hcltlcpient, “if that warn’t tire most ro
hiarkulfle thing! J wouldn't have believed it
if I hadn't a seen it. Thar war tire old man
all right; tbar war Jack Seton just stunned a
bit; that war Doll on'y upsot as war nateral;
and thar war the rocks lyin’ about them as
chuck-full of jrold as an egg of meat. Jack’s
goin’ to marry Doll. Ohl man Decnson
W'.nldii’t irear of It at first, hut he's given In
sumo since Jack saved Ids life. He never had
good sense, nohow, old D< enson—showed Unit
when he :>ot his ,clf down on that rock to get
Mowed to kingdom come. Ho war right about
ono thing, though that's this gold. Doll
Deen son'll own tho richest claim in tlio hull
state.”
a
AVw H'u in Nrirr: Yale student—And now, dear
Mabel, may 1 r ail you mine?
Mabel—Yes, Reginald, you've kicked a goal.
nt-lUli: “Do you know why they have nick
named old loan Mould, the grave-digger, ‘ChurUy?’"
“1 have nn Idea.”
“Because lie co , era a multitude of sins."
PRICE FIVE CENTS.
My Rattlesnake Adventure.
They told mo when I arrived homo that I
looked pile, and my wifo said she know I
should stiffer from so much wading in the cold
water after trout.
I am now going to relate what frightened
mo, and see if the readers blame tno if I looked
white.
It was on a bright Juno morning, in the year
1885, Eddie harnessed old Jimmy to tho wagon,
while I dressed up in my hunting suit and told
tho women to get tiie lunch ready. I had a
stout pair of corduroy pants made on purpose
for hunting and iishiug, aud in their make up
tho pockets were largo and long and hung
down on niy thighs in away I did not fancy.
“Hallo, how is this?” I cried, as I put my
spare lines in my left pocket, “I thought you
promised to alter these pockets before I would
want to use them again.”
“Who knows,” said my wife, “but tho
depth of those pockets may yet save your
life.”
I said no more.
“All ready,” shouted Eddie. I turned nud
saw eld .Jim’s face peering in at the window.
I jumped in and made off, taking the road
that led up in the heart of old Ossipoemoun
taiti to a valley called Canaan. After nbn tit
scramble for the horse, wo found ourselves
in tlio happy land—surrounded on all sides by
lofty niountains—we drove up to one of tho
Inrm houses and obtained a hitching-plaop
for '.nr horse ; then with our fishing tackle wo
started for Bean's pond—a wild, lonely place,
high up among mountains. Arriving there,
we caught six ty spaekled beauties. After thia
wc ate our lunch and caught twenty nioro
trout, and made up our mind wo hud caught
all we could carry over tho rough road, iind
wd had promised tlio women folks that wo
would get them some spruce gum, hence we
had taken our long-handlod chisol with us.
Upon tho irorth side of Ossipee mountain is a
heavy growth of spruce, and for It we aimed.
As wo toiled up the old logging road, we sud
denly camo upon u rattlesnake basking in tho
sun directly in our path. Eddie obtained a
stout polo, and with a few well directed blows
killed him.
Ho tin asttred tivo feet and a half, and had
two rattlers. Oh! howlshudder when I see
ono of those monsters! Talk to me of your
pillions, cobras, inoeeasins and yonr water
nukes, 1 think there is nothing more deadly
tlian our own Now England rattlesnnl-.e. I
know they give you warning of your danger
in sin ill, piercing alarms, but their deadly
spring is made at tho same time of tlio warn
ing. I tixik a stout lino and tied it round tho
body of tho snake, and Eddie dragged him
along, while I began niy huut for gmn. I
know froiu tiie nature of tho varmints tliero
must be another snake not a great distunes
off. But we were after spruce gum not rat
tlesnakes, and we hogan to skirmish round
bti 1. ly, for tho afternoon was passing. Up
tire side of the mountain we saw a monster
spruce, Uio wind oltjie proviouc
S]>ring. The top wins lodwtl uwoiig a
clump of scrub oaks. Along the sides of
this tree were many lumps of puto spruce
gum. I gained the side of the fallen tree, and
worked my way in among tho thick shrubbery.
As I begun to pick off tho lumps, I thought
what a lurking place for snakes. These scrub
oaks were about four foot high. I knew I had
stout garments on that would stand tho pull
ing of the bushes. I had secured twenty or
thirty lumps of gum, all within niy reach, and
was making a push further on, whi n I paused
as though a thunderbolt had burst upon mo,
from the clear heavens iibovo. Header, did
you ever hoar that alarm? If not, you may
have h'-ard tho shrill cry of our locusts, that
fly from tree to tiee during the warm days of
summer. Well then, you know something
about the alarm note of lire rattlesnake, and
this was what 1 heard, and what arrested my
stops.
In starting to spring back my heel caught
again t some plmtruetion, and in order to save
myself I was obliged to grasp a branch of the
fallen spruce, the only thing at hand stout
enough to support me, and in doing this I made
n slight spring to lire left. Merciful power!
My left foot camo down on something that
moved, and struggled and hissed, and I folt a
shock as though ten thousand galvanic batter
ies liuil soul their currents through me.
I cast my eye down, and I raw a bright bow
formed of two fine threads of light, clearly de
fined amid tho deep slnulo of tire scrub. I
know it was tire monster's eyes flaming, mak
ing a curve of light as the ugly head swept to
and fro. But only for u moment )ny fuot waa
on its body, not more than a third of tlio dis
tance from it.s tail, so that full two-thirds of
the body was free, and it was a largo snake.
Wlint did I do? What could I do? Within
one socond alter I looked down, the deadly
reptile was ready toslrike ; the head was thrown
buck, the upper jaw raised until it fairly lay
over towards the crest, and I knew tlio blow
was coming. I could i nly throw up niy hands,
start backwards and think of wife and children
at home. Oh! how my pa t life flitted before
my mental vision -was my life of wild rovings
all over the world to end hero on the side of
old Ossipee mountain? Tho blow c iure quick
and strong, striking too upon tho left thigh,
and I gave a spring backwards; 1 looked
downward t and saw that tire venomous reptile
was clinging to iny pants, tire hooked fangs
preventing his hitting go while I was in mo
tion. In another Instant, however, tire pre
hensile tail, or the lower part of tho body,
caught among tho bushes and the fangs were
torn away.
Backwards to tire sled road f staggered, faint
and dizzy, knowing that I had been struck,
and expecting every moment to feel tlio
touch or the poison on niy vitals. As I reached
lire logging roads Eddie was by my side. He
had noticed tiie fallen spruce and was making
li.r it.
But ire paused and gazed at me, exclaiming:
"Father, what ails you?”
"Bitten!” I gasped.
“A rattlesnake, father?”
"Yes, 1 said.
"Where?”
1 laid iny hand on my thigh, nbcro 1 still
felt tlio force of the blow.
“Let us look. AVe’ll cut Into it, bind on »
piece of tiie fat of the dead snake and then
drive for home. Quick, where is it?”
My thigh was exposi <l, fair and ruddy, but
not a mark of tho poisonous fangs was to bo
seen.
“There’s not a bite hero, father. Nor a sign
of one.”
Eddie's happy srnilo of assurance gave mo
strength, anil my thoughts came to my aid. I
looked where the threads of tho corduroy had
lx ■■ n started tip into loops by the tearing away
of tho snake’s fangs, and saw that it was di
rectly over tho objectionable pocket. 1 put
my hand into tho pocket and drew forth tho
only thing it contained, tho broad flat piece of
shingle with tho trout line wound upon it.
Tire lino was new and of fine; white silk,
and wo saw upon tho silken surface the stain
of tho snake’s deadly virus; but wo saw it
more plainly ujtdn the smooth wood. The
teeth hadJstrucK through pants, pocket and
three turns of the line, to tho wood, and we
could follow the yellowish green lines where
tho subtile poison had crept along tire grains
of the wood as plainly as though they hud
been drawn with a pen and ink.
■■ ■—e
PUbhurg ChrvnMe-Tekgmiih: “Nxllors me ft pro
fane set of men, are they not, especially those on
the men-of-war?" asked a lady of a naval officer.
“ Well,no,” was tiie reply; “In fact, the men on gov
ernment vessels are quite pious.” "You surprise
me! How do you account for it?" “By their von
s'.aut connecUon with wur ship, inuduin,"