Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

m m i 4 . €51 !& ___ -jS 7W inrn irijn VOL. VI. She old-time compositor stood at his case When the sunlight, grown old, kissed the twilight so young, And deftly before him the letters he flung each might be found in its usual place. And the afternoon ray, As it glided away, what the ditty Paused a moment to hear might be That he chanted so low, As his hand, to and fro, Kept the metal a-clicking from a round to z. “Oh, we build ’em up so carefully, A little at a time; The work, the play, The grave, the gay, Ihe The laughter and the rhyme: wisdom wrought so pray’rfully, . The tales of joy and pain— . . . - The deeds of men We note; and then Wo tear’em down again.” . .. I THE ROMANCE OF M $ * THE RAJAH’S RING. m By R. B. YOUNG. ae M ONFESSION is in ‘ A order aud I’ll ad¬ mit it was a mad, a foolish affair, but I think I paid pretty A y! dearly for the part I played in it. So or uot > 1 am never ,\V\' likely to forget that • mm0 & j® it was exactly half sr&n that quiet, court- ss “Could I speak with you in pri please?” I had been absorbed in the signatures upon two paintings that had just been pledged with me at my snug Oxford street establishment; I looked up, to see two well-dressed . meu, one of whom had a dusky, un mistakable Anglo-Indian appearance. Evidently gentlemen upon important business; I recollect that I whispered : some instructions to my two assistants, *ad led the way expectantly at once into the private room. ‘ “Yen are Mr. Bradgate himself?” be began; and I nodded, “Ah, that is right, then—His Highness was recommended to you as a keen and likely man. It is—er—quite a delicate matter, I must tell you; we are rely¬ ing upon your discretion to a great extent. You observe”—with a cau¬ tious laugh—“I had to bring His Highness’s valet as a bodyguard—one never knows. Well, then, Mr. Brad I represent the Rajah Dim of course, you are aware that ke has been staying over here for some -weeks. It so happens that he is tem¬ porarily in slight difficulties; of course, he will use his letters of credit when ‘it, suits him, but for the moment he instructs me to leave in your hands, for the nominal sum of. a hundred pounds—this ring.” Well! I scarcely took in tho last words, or the curiousness of the state¬ ment as a whole. He had released the spring of a small ivory box, of de¬ licate foreign workmanship, and placed carelessly in my hand. One glance only—and I had a difficulty to repress a huge gasp and an incredu¬ lous word. Accustomed to handling .valuables, I know my brain started whirling. It was no curio, but au ex¬ traordinarily fine ruby, one of the ■ largest I had ever had the thrill of ; seeing, and giving out the richest Saoment Miio.od-red coruscation. For just the I held it up against the light ■ r —and then stood staring. '■■ “The—the Rajah Dliu Djaleen? A hundred pounds on this?” Mind, the thing was worth, at the most cynical computation, twenty times ' the amount, but I had already half made up my mind to decline the deal hardly knew why, except that in¬ stantly there had shot uppermost the instinctive idea that the jewel was be ing missed somewhere or other. And yet fnot His “Yes, less, certainly. Highness must redeem it in a day or ■ so.” |muu. A second stare at the fascinating Then, with a “One moment, #lemen!” I hurried out and took ■ ' mrn my “Distinguished Visitors’ finest ■t.” Aye, there it was: “At the End Hotel, His Highness the IgPion, Bkiah Dhu Djaleen.” That was no then--and yet I had the mis still. A moment more I hesi and then happened to catch sight of my wife’s shadow on the glass door of the sitting-room beyond. It ■ was only a stray impulse—I seldom or never consulted her upon business matters; hut I went in, closing the door behind me. “Milly, look quick! It’s genuine. 'Two strangers want a hundred pounds it. I could manage the money, iut v “Why, you’re quite pale!” Her book dropped. “I say! l^n’t it su¬ perb—but all that money! No, I wouldn’t. Aud that settled it—back I went. “Sorry, gentlemen, but I’m afraid I Icofcldn’t kngijit’s advance such a sum at a mo Hfemld notice without some guarantee. Bose recommend you to a big firm by, now, who would— f He had snatched the box back al Lcaost rudely. AN EPITOME. And the sunbeam smiled there, ere it glided afar— For sunbeams must hasten at duty’s stern call— And, in due course of time, let it’s radiance fall On a palace that languished beneath an ill star. And its master cried, “Where Are tl*s splendors so fair That reflected my rule o’er a people once proud?” And he wept in his woe, And the sunbeam se.ng low, Till the winds caught the chorus with mockery loud: “Oh, we build ’em up so carefully, A little at a time; The work, the play, The grave, the gay, The laughter and the rhyme; The wisdom wrought so pray’rfully, The tales of joy and pain— The deeds of men Ws note; andthon We tear ’em down again.” , “I understand a gross insult to His Highness!” Turning, he made some remarks in a gibberish-Hindustani—I could only conclude — to his companion, the dusky-looking man. The latter replied in the same way, with a number of in¬ dignant gestures. Finally, the breath was all but taken out of me when the first speaker wheeled round. “Yes, it is most provoking. His Highness must have the money within an hour or so. There’s the ring —one of a dozen he wears every day. It must go. Take it, and I will give you a receipt for—yes, for £250. Now, sir!” Two hundred and fifty! Then, if not before, it ought to have dawned upon me that there must be something radically wrong. A rajah in need of cash to that extent!—a giant ruby of¬ fered for a mere song! But I suppose that not one man in a thousand but would pause with such a unique temp¬ tation dangled before .him. It might be stolen property, it might turn out the rashest deal; but—two hundred and fifty! I know I stood, sick with a wild longing to close with the bargain, and be alone with that gem, till his voice broke in, impatiently: “Declined! Then perhaps you will oblige us with the address of the peo¬ ple you mention. The rajah waits.” “Ye-es. One moment, sir—I will give that for it.” I hardly knew my own voice, or what I was doing, as, holding tho box tightly, I turned round to the safe for my cheque-hook. But the saving thought had occurred to me that they could not cash the cheque until next morning, and in the Meantime I should be able to make inquiries—andperhaps stop payment. In one sense,the trans¬ action was fair enough. I had started writing, when “Not a cheque—no!” he put in firm¬ ly. “Mr. Bradgate, you need not be so chary—I have told you His High¬ ness waits for the money. Well, let me see: I can take a cheque for a hundred, and the rest in notes. If not-” I could not let it go—there was no help for it. Besides, some one else would be sure to snatch at such an ex¬ traordinary bargain. Five minutes later I had desperately counted out the notes, taken my receipt, and watched the two jump into a cab wait¬ ing a few yards away. The ruby was mine—and yet, the moment that cab was out of sight, I regretted having purchased it, even at such a price. Now I had it myself I was almost afraid to open the lid of the box. Pooh! absurd! I had paid the sum they asked. I locked it away in the safe, and went back to my pictures as if nothing had happened. No use, they had lost every vestige of inter¬ est. The relief was immense when eight o’clock, and closing time, came round. “Going for a stroll, Milly. Sha’n’t be long, if any one calls. Did I take the ring in? No fear!” A despicable half-lie, but somehow it did not seem safe to tell even my wife of that amazing stroke of busi¬ ness. Walking away, I was standing .outside the West End Hotel before I realized it. I had had a vague inten¬ tion of asking an interview with the rajah or some responsible person the in his suite, but the mere sight of gorgeous attendant, standing sentinel at the entrance, somehow drove that thought out of mv mind. It was long enough before I mustered the nerve to stroll tip and put a casual question,— much longer, could “Rajah staying you tell me?” “Eh? Prince Dhu Djaleen? No, he leaves in a day of two, after the Prince of Wales’s reception. Any message, sir?” “No, thanks—merely cariosity.” hs I drew a long breath I walked off. Not a word of ahj robbery! bona After all, it could easily Ife might a not fide affair! Come to that, I, be thanked for making any, imperti¬ nent investigations. Possibly;, indeed, the rajah would send to purchase the jewel |(ondon. back at my If own I price, heard ll^efore ^nothing he left. not, V “To thine own self be true,and it will follow, as nij.dR the day, thou cans’t not then be false to any man.” LINCOLNTON, GA.„ THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1898. before he sailed—welL there would be no developments to rear. Imagine! Nevertheless, twice before dawn I had to sneak down stairs to make sure that the ruby was safe there, and that the deal had been no dream. And in the dark—how it shone! Truthfully, when morning at last came, I could say that I had seen the entire night go by with open eyes. One o’clock, and nothing tragic had happened. My assistants had gone out to dinner, and I was alone behind the counter, casting up accounts, when I heard some little hubbub at the door. I craned my neck to see —if ever a man’s heart seemed to jump into his throat at oiie sickening hound, mine did then. It was like a hand laid on a thief’s shoulder. A four wheeler had stopped close by; two men had alighted and were pushing their way through a knot of people— to my door. Just time I had to make the effort of my lifetime, choke down an awful lump and steady my nerves, as they entered—a police inspector and a swarthy Hindu, turban and ail. The former closed the door, and then came forward with an open note-hook. “Mr. Braclgate, jeweller and pawn¬ broker, No.---, Oxford street?” “At your service,” I got out, just above my breath. That Hindu’s eyes were staring at me almost viciously. Oh, that moment! “Ah! Then he has told the truth for once, and saved a lot of trouble. Mr. Bradgatt., you received an official notice yesterday to the effect that a ring, etc., belonging to the Rajah Dhu Djaleen, had been stolen, and that you were to be on your guard against ae • cepting it in pledge?” “Eh?” I said, dazedly. Glancing round for some inspiration, I saw Mil ly’s face pressed against the glass of that inner door. “Would you mind stepping this way?” I asked, and led the way to the private room. “No, I knew nothing whatever of that,” I said, once inside. But for a super¬ human effort, I could have collapsed on the spot. The Hindu jabbered something fiercely about a “ru-bee” and “rob baires,” pointing to me. And I—be¬ fore 1 knew what I was doing—I had taken the bull by the horns and blurt¬ ed out the facts. “Oh, I see! You have called about a ruby ring-fchat I purchased yesterday from two of the rajah’s people? I un¬ derstood it was a private, bona-fide transaction. You don’t mean to say it was—” “Nonsense!” Theinspector snapped his notebook sarcastically. “I am rather surprised that actf* a man of your experience did not upon the fact at once. Stolen, sir, by two of the smartest gentlemen cracksmen alive, v/ho had been staying at the same hotel. Information was brought to the Yard, and by a sheer miracle we heard what had become of the article—one of them had confided in a pal. Ah, is this it?.... Mr. Bradgate, I shall have to ask you to step hack to the hotel with us. This is a big matter for all concerned.” Oh, Heavens! Round and round the room seemed to whirl; I had given a shudder of very loathing as I put the box into his hands. “Has it—has it gone too far, then?” I faltered. “You see how I stand: I acted in good faith, and I lose two huudred aud fifty by it, as it is. Sure¬ ly, you—surely it is enough if I hand over the ring—it need not get into the newspapers?” He hesitated, look¬ ing doubtfully at the Hindu, and I played the only apparent move. I took out a couple of fivers from my pocket book, and pressed them into his hand. “There, that’s for your trouble. I’m sorry it has happened—don’t make it worse for me, and perhaps ruin my business.” A dreadful pause. Then,— “Very good, Mr. Bradgate, I’ll clo my best, It rests with the rajah. He has his ring, hut there were other articles. So far as we’re concerned, the matter need not go beyond the Yard, unless they’ve laid hands on the precious pair. Very well—good-morn¬ ing! Still I’m surprised!” Holding my breath, I waited there until the cab had had time to go—and then, I think,I sat down and indulged in a few minutes’ faint. What a dis¬ grace—fiasco! Two hundred and fifty pounds, two fivers—and no ruby! And later that day, when I had to confess the truth to Milly—well, words fail. But the] worst] blow of all was to come. The next morning, as I stepped out to keep an appointment, the first thing that caught my eye was .a flam¬ ing newspaper bill, with these horrible words: “West End Hotel robbery. Daring theft of rajah’s jewels!” . . . How I walked into that shop, found my copper and out again, I shall never know. Next moment I was trying to keep my senses, and realize the mean¬ ing of the following paragraph: “Yesterday evening the police re¬ ceived information that an audacious and extensive theft of jewels aud clothes, belonging to Prince Dhu Djaleen, had taken place at the West End Hotel, among them being a ruby ring of great value. It is surmised that the thieves must have found their opportunity to force the jewel-case two nights previously, while the rajah and his suite were paying a visit to the Lyceum Theatre, but the theft has only just beeu discovered. The police are naturally reticent, but suf¬ ficient has transpired to leave it clear that they connect the theft with the disappearance from the hotel of two smart men who had been staying there as visitors from New York. The de¬ tectives are busy, but it is not yet known whether any clue has yet come tohand. At a late hour last night, the victimized rajah informed a press representative that nothing had been heard of the stolen jewels.” Yesterday evening! Nothing had been heard of the jewels! How- What 1 I did not keep my appoint ment that morning. In fact, I could not afterwards have told how the a wful day passed at all. My brain was a complete chaos, and not until night did a glAm of light penetrate there. I had purchased every edition of the ‘■‘evening” papers, but it was reserved for Ihe “second extra special” to con¬ vince me that I had been tricked and fooled as surely a man was never tricked before or since. One brief paragraph was enough: “In connection with the West End Hotel robbery, the police have suc¬ ceeded already iu tracing a portion of the plunder to a common lodging house iu the neighborhood of Oxford street, intormation having been given that a parcel was left there by two men, containing Hindu costumes and other articles—obviously the proceeds of a theft. There were also found a police inspector’s uniform, a bottle of varnish stain, and other miscellaneous articles not accounted for—the theory now being that the thieves disguised themselves as 1 Hindus, and by this means gained an entrance, unnoticed, to the rajah’s rooms. Whether or no, the description of the two men who went to the lodging house leaves no doubt that they are identical with the two ‘Americans’ who quitted the hotel without paying their bill, aud that a deep plot had been carried out suc¬ cessfully by a pair of expert betel thieves. They have now completely vanished, and none of the missing jewelry has been traced. It remains to be seen whether the police are once again to be baffled. The rajah sails from Southampton to-morrow.” Yes! and it remained for me to realize the stupendous fact that I had been doubly defrauded. In a flash, now, the miserable truth dawned up¬ on in . The two who had sold me the Ttiby •’••u-e -identical with the pair who had piayed inspector and Hindu, in the broadest daylight, a day later— this tvas their daring, brilliant scheme for obtaining possession of the jewel again. Just one grain of consolation I had. That check for T100 had not been presented—one of the miracles of the whole affair. They had vanished in¬ to thinnest of air, those two, and at that point, so far as I was concerned, ended the romance of the rajah’s ring. But, never again, never!—Tit-Bits. A Mathematical Mule. A writer in Lippincott’s Magazine tells a rather remarkable mule story. The animal in question was used to reinforce the regular teams, being hitched beside them on a certain steep incline on one of the Cincinnati street railroads: The inule made a certain number of trips in the forenoon (I have forgotten the number, but will say fifty for the sake of convenience), and a like num¬ ber in the afternoon, resting for an hour at noon. As soon as it complet¬ ed its fiftieth trip it marched away to the stable without orders from its driver. To show that it was not guided by the sound of the factory whistles and bells, the following remarkable action on the part of this animal is vouched for by the superintendent of the line: On a certain occasion, during a musical festival, the mule was trans¬ ferred to the night shift, and the very instant it completed its usual number of trips it started for the stables. The combined efforts of several men were necessary to make it return to its duty. At: night there were no bells or whistles to inform the mule that “quit¬ ting time” had come; it had counted the tnps, and having finished its quott, it thought that the time for rest and food had arrived. Tombstone Fasliions. Tile fashion in tombstones is chang ing. Fewer widows place over the gravis of their husbands hands point ing in the direction where the most partiil would not expect to find the deputed. unangehc Fewer angels deceased. drop flowers A sim¬ overfire ple inscription on a granite block suf¬ fices in most cases. Seldom are text inscribed and the catalogue of the virtiee of the deceased is almost un¬ known. It is a pity that the custom of inscribing the birthplace is falling intodisuse since when found on old tomjstones it has frequently proved a noams of tracing ancestry.—New Yore Post. Fned For Wearing Cycling Costume. Tiere is worthy magistrate atStras bur;, Germany, who has a certain an¬ tipathy for cycling costume. A cycle ma er named Blonhke, who had been sumnoued for some breach of regula tioi appeared to answer the charge dresed for a ride. Thereupon the mapstrate fined him, not alone for the offwse charged, but five marks extra for“appearing before the Court un- j j beomingly dressed.” -R’-mingkanj Gaettp, * A REL IEF. I r v» learnt a lbt o’ Spanish words. I’ve got so I bin tell ’Bout “ultimatums,” “protocols” An’ “armistsodf,” I hull as well. But joyously the time V Whom I kin rest my brain By An’”What’s askin’ “How’s^he theieiiauee price o’rain?” of wheat?” : .Old friends is beet.. These recent Were dazzlin’, it is true. The clash of steel—the roar of guns— But They thrilled us through an’ through. swords may turn to plowshares now. In comfort, once again, We’ll query, “How’s the price o’ wheat?” An’ “What’s the chance o’ rain?” —Washington) Star, PITH AND POINT. “I can assure you that I am a bach¬ elor from choice.” “So I suppose but whose choice?”—Standard. “Wonderful about that spinster 101 years old?” “Yes; I suppose she is really about 117.”—Detroit Free Press. “See that little man with the gray whiskers? He is a war inventor,” “Guns or torpedoes?” “Neither. Stories.”—Indianapolis Journal. Tom—“How did you come to get discharged after growing bald in his service?” Dick—-“The boss manu¬ factures a hair-restorer.”—Judge.. He—“And what do you think of the engagement ring I sent you?”, She— “Oh, it’s just splendid, I never had such a fine one before.”—Tit-Bits. “Did you go for a ride on your wheel yesterday?” “Well, it was a ride when I started, but it turned into a walk before.! got back.”—Truth. She—“They tell me, professor, that you have mastered all the modern tongues.” He—“All but two—my wife’s and her mother’s.”—Standard. She—“And did you think of me while in camp, dear?” He—“Oh, yes; I thought of you every time ] fell out of my hammock.”—Yonkers Statesman. People should occasionally have company at their houses to find out how amiable and agreeable the other members of the family can he.— Atchison Globe, Head Bookkeeper--“The old man is talking of taking me into partner¬ ship. ” His Wife—“You’d better put the property in my name first.”—Cin¬ cinnati Enquirer. “I’ve been watchin’ this chimney for more’n an hour,” said Davie dis¬ gustedly, “t’ see it carry th’ smoke off', like pop said it would, an’ it hasn’t moved!”—Judge. Mrs. Flint—“No, I make it a rule never to give away anything at the door.” Soiled Spooner—“Well, den, maddim, I don’t object to havin’ de presentation made iu de parlor.”— Puck, “Who was it said, ‘All the world loves a lover?’” “I dunno. Some idiot who never lived next door to where there was an eighteen-year-old girl with a steady fellow, I guess. ”— Cleveland Leader. “The trouble with you is that you have been eating and drinking too much and haven’t taken enough exer¬ cise. What have you been doing lately?” “I’ve just come home from Porto Bico on sick leave,’’—Cleve¬ land Plain Dealer. Wifey—“Do you think there is a man who coftld conscientiously say to his wife: ‘You are the only woman I ever loved?”’ Hubby—“Only one that I can think of. ” Wifey—“Who? You, dearest?” Hubby—“Oh, no; Adam.”—Boston Traveler, A recruit, wishing to evade service, was brought up for medical inspec¬ tion, and the doctor asked him: “Have you any defects?” “Yes, sir; I am short-sighted.” “How can you prove it?” “Easily enough, doctor. Do you see that nail up yonder in the wall?” “Yes.” “Well, I don’t,”— Tit-Bits. Great Picture Buyer (to hostess)—■ “What do you think of an artist who painted cobwebs on the ceiling so truthfully that the servant wore her¬ self into an attack of nervous prostra¬ tion trying to sweep them down?” Hostess (a woman of experience)— “There may have been such an artist, but there never was such a servant.”— Standard. The Procrastinating Spaniards, The proneness of the Spaniard to procrastination is proverbial, but the Spaniard in Spain is a model of alert ness when compared with his West Indian descendent, who has grown up under the languor-inducing rays of the tropical sun. Even the word “rnana na,” such a favorite with his ances¬ tors, has dropped into disfavor with the Porto Bican as conveying the idea of an entirely uncalled-for degree of punctuality. But the adveut of the Yankee has changed all this. Already the sleepy inhabitants have caught, in some degree, the spirit of that tireless energy which has come to be regarded as among the most prominent traits of the American people. It is, no doubt, a little too early to prophesy that our new citizens will ever become “hust¬ lers” in the full sense of the term; but it is nevertheless true that they are now receiving an object lesson, and if is easy to see that they are profiting therefrom.—New York Sun. Ostr'"h taming is a very profitable , , . „,.stry m America; here it is com P^d there are over 150,000 tame ” NO. 21.1 rniRCTC DASH FOR WATER Poor Soldiers Faced Death to Relieve Their® Comrades’ Thirst. Win. Me Masters, an 'American sold; who wore a medal of honor award aim lale) by vote Glasgow, cf Congress, Montana, and who boH iltSjffi \ y at was in a little village of western New Yorfl At the breaking out of the Civil War* lie enlisted in tin Union army, and served all through it in the Army of the Potomac. In numberless engage¬ ments he fought bravely, winning an honcmable reputation as a soldier; but the occasion ic which he was to win bis medal of honor was yet to come. At the close of the war he enlisted in tha regular army, and went to the West to fight the Indians. In 1878" he was in the detachment under Reno, which was operating, with; Custer, at the Little Big Horn. The fighting had been desperate, and the plains all; about were swarming with. Indians. The wounded under Reno suffered intensely for water, which could only be obtained from a stream which lay in the range cf the Indian fire. To go this stream was almost certain death. Nevertheless the wound¬ ed, must have water, and the com¬ mander called for four volunteers to go and fetch it. Four soldiers instantly stepped out of the ranks. One of them was William McMasters, the veteran of the Civil War, and another was a young man named Dan Sullivan, who had enlisted from Illinois. The four meu were laden with canteens, and gripping their mus¬ kets, they started for the water. They had gone but a little way into the open when, one of them fell, pierced, by ail Indian bullet, and lay .dead on. the ground. The other three ran on,, with the bullets whistling about them, and succeeding in reaching the stream. They filled their canteens and started, back. The bullets were whistling now worse than before, for the Indians had concentrated their fire, and were de¬ termined that not one of the soldiers should get back. Another man fell, and McMasters and Dan Sullivan, kept on alone. Very soon a bullet struck. Sullivan, but he ran just the same. McMasters helped him as well as he coukl. but fee knew that he was sent to bring back water, and not to save a comrade. All four men had practically offered up their lives when they started nut. Sullivan staggered on, mortally ■wounded, but he brought h -fca his command before he fell. MeMas ters brought his too, and he was un¬ touched. He had but to resume his place in the ranks after handing over his canteens, without assuaging his own thirst. Sullivan’s work v. as over. He had clung to his musket unwilling though he felt himself to b. dying, to leave it to be captured by the victori¬ ous redskins. Sullivan was cared for by the sur¬ geons, and possessed so large a fund of vitality that he survived to be sent home to Illinois. There he died and tha musket that he had held so valiantly was placed in the museum of the his¬ torical society at Springfield, where 1' still remains. McMaster’s bravery was not for: ten. A medal of honor was awai d him by Congress. His service over went to work at his trade, which ■ ,, that of a mason, and passi the re-. mainder of his life peacefully. Not a Desirable i cn-nl Young man—I am to . -vi-ied In about a month ami I'm h o', ug for a home. What is the rent of taese fiats? Janitor—Hum! Did the girl you in¬ tend to marry ever have a mother? “A mother? Certainly.” “A grandmother?” “Of course.” “Hem! Let mo see. Did that grand¬ mother have a daughter?” “Why, yes.” “And did the daughter have a daugh¬ ter?” “Great snakes! Of course.” .! “Very sorry, sir, but I can’t rent one of these fine flats to people like that. I'm afraid having children runs iu tha family.”—New York Weekly. GEORGIA RAILROAD. —a n r^ Connections. For Information as to Routes, Sched* —ules and Bates, Both— Passenger and Freigh: Write to either of the undersigned, j You will receive prompt reply fl reliable information. JACNSJI fl JOE. W. WHITE, A. G. T. P. A. G. P. A. Augusta^ Ga. 3. W. WILKES, H. K. NICHOLSON, C. F. & P. A. G. A. Atlanta. Athens. W. W. HAEDWICK, S. E. MAGH4U S. A. C, F. A. Maoon. Maoofc, M. R. HUDSON, F. W. OOFFIN. S. F. A. S. F. & P. A. Mmed geviilq. Au gust*. m