Newspaper Page Text
Ml
IN HIS ^t^s
OWN TRAP.
BY PHILIP BEAUFOY.
THE smoking concert of the staff of
Messrs.Cardew &Co.,the great en-:
gmeering firm iu Westminster, was in)
I ?11 Bwing at the Broad Street hotel,,'
and everything was going as smoothly'
as the orgauizers could have wished. |
Two of the non-professional per-i
formers who assisted at that entertain-'
ment were Jack Langley and Arthur
Mayhew. Langley was one of the most
popular men in the office. He had a
kind, unselfish nature, which made him
liked on all sides; whilst, whenever the
firm had any festivity in progress, he
charmed everyone with his beautiful
baritone voice. His popularity and his
singing made him hated by one man,
\ and that man was Arthur Mayhew. \
The two young men occupied rather
subordinate positions in the office.
Langley was one of the assistant book
keepers, whilst Mayhew, who was tw
year* his junior, was In the corrcs
poudence department. Mayhew had
always been the acknowledged singer
of the office until Langley came, and
then he had to take a back seat, for he
knew that the newcomer could give
him any amount of points at the sing
Ing business and beat him every time,
Thoroughly jealous by nature, May?
hew conceived first of all a violent jeal
ousy, and later an intense hatred of his
rival, and he resolved to do him an evil
turn when the first opportunity came
Langley was in fine form to-night.
He sang the song noted on the pro?
gramme, and at the end of it received
an enthusiastic encore. He sang again,
receiving even a greater reception than
before, and at the close, the excited au
iHence, greedy for more, called for him
afresh. The chairman, Mr. George
Cardew, then arose to his feet and an?
nounced that Mr. Langley "would
oblige again later on." Then the noisy
young men settled down and waited
talmly the next turn.
A little later in the evening Mayhew
came on. He sang his best, but his best
was not to be compared with Langlcy's
worst, and though the indulgent audi?
ence applauded him moderately, he
knew in his heart of hearts that he did
not deserve one round of applause. And
yet, knowing this, he hated the man
who was winning praise which was
thoroughly deserved.
At length the end came, as it comes
to everything. In the cloak-room a
noisy band of riotous smokers demand?
ed their hats and coots, and Langley
found himself beside Mayhew.
"Halloa, Mayhew," he said cheerily.
''Congratulate j-ou, my boy. Your song
went all right, I'm sure."
He said this in all good nature, for he
felt sorry for the other man, and
wished to comfort him as far as possi
b!c. But Mayhew, sick with jealousy,
a::d excited with the alcohol he had
been drinking, turned on him savagely.
"Confound you and your congratu?
lations," he said; "keep them toyour
eelf. Good-night."
Turning abruptly on his heel, he
made his way out of the cloak-room,
leaving Langley aghast at his behavior.
"Old Mayhew must be a bit hurt, and
no mistake," remarked a young fellow
who stood close by; "fancy his going
on like that."
"Poor chap," said Langley; "after all,
I don't wonder at his being upset. It's
awfully discouraging when you feel
that you haven't made a real success."
And all the way home he was think?
ing of Mayhew, and saying to himself:
"I'oor Mayhew?poor old chap."
Whilst Mayhew, as he walked home?
ward, was saying: "I hate him?I hato
him?I hate himl"
When two men are brought constant?
ly together, one of them desiring to in?
jure the other, an opportunity for do
lug so invariably presents itself sooner
or later. In the case of Arthur May?
hew, it arrived sooner than he expected,
and it fell out in this wise.
About two months after the concert
recorded at the beginning of this his?
tory, the firm were much distressed to
find that some one in their employ wa9
robbing them week after week. One
day postal orders would vanish, then
other valuables, and so on. Even per?
sonal property was appropriated, and
at length there came the ?ay when Mr.
Cardew said that the scandal must go
on no longer. He accordingly communi?
cated with the police, and a detective of
great experience was sent down to in?
terview him.
Now, so that the news of the detec?
tive's advent should not become public
iu the office, Mr. Cardew arranged for
his visit to take place at seven o'clock,!
when everybody was supposed to have
gone home. And this indeed was the
case, all the staff having departed with
the exception of Mayhew.
He was just about to close his books
for the night and put on his hat and
coat, when the sound of voices in the ad?
joining room, which happened to be
Mr. Cordew's private office, made him
*lraw back and listen attentively. The
partition between the two walls was so
thin that he was able to hear distinctly
every word that passed between the
partner and the detective.
It may be wondered why Mayhew de?
sired to overhear the conversation. He
did so simply because he made a prac?
tice of eavesdropping whenever he had
4i chance. In days gone by he had
{ncked up one or two valuable "tips"
?v thiB rather disgraceful process, and
Jie therefore listened now with all his
*ars.
"FirBt of all," said the detective, "I
jmust ask you If everyone has left the
office, for the plan I am about to pro?
pose to you, Mr. Cardew, is one which
must never go beyond ourselves if it is
to have any possible chance of success."
i ueneve everj-one nas gone home,"
returned the other; "but let us come
and make certain."
Hearing these words, the ingenious
Mayhew supped behind the huge safe
in the corner of the room, so that when
the two men looked in, they saw no one
there.
"We're safe enough," said the detec?
tive, gruffly. "And now, sir, I'll detail to
Jou What I propose." :
"Go on," said Mr. Cardew, quietly. "I
urn Ustenlng. Whatever you propose
In reason shall be carried out, and I
am resolved to discover the culprit con?
cerned In all these disgraceful thefts,
tven if it costs me ? 1,000 to do it." )
The detective gave the partner a
somewhat contemptuous look, as
-though he despised him for his display!
of excitement. Then he Bald, very]
elowly and deliberately:
"What I propose is this, sir. Next'
Saturday morning, at 11 o'clock, leave
on a conspicuous part of your desk in
this room you purse. Let it be well
nlled with gold?not with notes?-forj
thieves often fight shy of notes for ob^
vicus reasons. Nates have numbers,
and numbers arz awkward things some?
times. Let the gold, therefore, be the'
only thing in the purse, and leave it
>a T Kava said where everyone can see
I
it. You might scuttcr one or two other
articles of personal property, such as a
handkerchief, a eigar-case, etc., on the
desk, so as to give the business an un
prearranged appearance. Having done
all this, let it be known that you ure
going out and will not be back for a
few hours. Come back at one, and see
if the purse is still on the desk. If it
is not, send downstairs for me, and I
shall be in waiting ut the door with a
couple of plain-clothes men. Your next
action will be to have every door in
the place locked, and allow nobody to
leave until he has been thoroughly
searched. If you have a cloak-room or
hat-room, thut must be searched also,
as it is quite as likely the thief would de?
posit the stolen property in his over?
coat as anywhere else."
Mr. Cardew rose and paced the room
excitably.
"My dear sir." he said, speaking in a
quick, nervous tone, "I really don't
think I could possibly sanction such a
course as that It is most un-English?
most arbitrary?most humiliating."
"Doubtless it is," returned the other,
coolly; "but it's about the only way I
can see of clearing up this business.
If you'll allow me to make the remark,
sir, 1 would remind you that just now
you said you would give a thousand
pounds to do so."
"So I would, so I would, but I cannot
humiliate my assistants, some of whom
are old and trusted servants."
"There will be no humiliation. You
can explain the circumstances, and I
am sure every sensible man-jack of
them will see that the course taken is
the only one under the circumstances.
Besides, you can tone it down by an?
nouncing a holiday, or something of
that sort, to make up for their tem?
porary inconvenience."
"Yes, I might do that," replied Mr.
Cardew, musingly; "and after all, i t
you say, when they realize the circum?
stances, they cannot possibly take of?
fense. Well, well," and here he sighed
slightly, "if you are convinced that this
course is for the best, take it, by all
means."
"Very good, sir," said the detective,
as he rose to take his leave. "On Satur?
day next, then, at one p. m. I shall be
at the door. If you want me you had
better let me know yourself, as in cases
of this kind third persons are always
dnngeroui. Good-night, sir."
He left the room quickly, Mr. Cardew
accompanying him to the door, and let?
ting himself out at the same time.
Then Mayhew slowly took his way
home, thinking deeply all the time.
Here was a chance at last, a glorious,
wonderful chance of getting his rival
Jack Langley into disgrace. It would be
as easy as smoking a cigarette. On Sat?
urday he woidd find an excuse for en?
tering the partners' room and he would
then take the purse.secreting it in Lang
ley's overcoat pocket downstairs in the
cloakroom. He would have no dif?
ficulty in finding the coat among the
large number thero, for Langley's peg
was No. 66, just above his own, which
was 35.
Then there would follow the finding
of the purse in his hated rival's pocket,
and then, perhaps, the police station,
and the subsequent disgrace of a crim?
inal trial. Perhaps the firm would let
him off, but at any rate he would be
dismissed, and his talents and popular?
ity would rankle no more in the plot?
ter's heart. Yes. It could be done, and,
by Jove, it would be done.
He knew that young Langley had
lately been a little pressed for money,
and had obtained advances from the
cashier. This would make his guilt all
the more palpable, and it seemed to him
as he thought over the foul plot that
fate itself was on his side, aiding him
and aibetting him in the vile scheme
thc? now was alive in his subtle brain.
Saturday morning came in du
course. At 11 o'clock Mr. Cardew en?
tered the large office where all the
workers were engaged, and said to the
cashier in a voice that all could hear:
"I'm going down to the works. I shall
be back in an hour or so."
Within 20 minutes of his departure.
Mayhew cautiously approached his
loom, and there, sure enough, on the
partner's desk lay a small purse. Ho
did not stop to examine the contents,
hut, hastily putting it in his pocket, he
rushed downstairs into the cloakroom,
which, fortuately for him, wus deserted.
Yes. That was Langley's coat, but he
must make sure by looking in the pock?
et and seeing some documentary evi?
dence, to make certainty more certain.
He accordingly pulled out the first pa?
per that came to hand, an envelope ad?
dressed "J. Langley, Esq." The right
coat, of course. With n quick move?
ment he placed the well-filled purse In
the right-hand pocket of the overcoat,
and then carelessly sauntered back to
the office and went on with his work.
At one o'clock Mr. Cardew returned.
Very agitated, he went rapidly to his
room, and found the purse missing. In
an instant he was out in the great of?
fice, where he said in a loud tone:
"Gentlemen, a disgraceful robbery
has just been committed in my room.
Let no one leave the office on pain of in?
stant dismissal."
Everybody except one we know sat
dumfounded. Mr. Cardew went on:
"A detective and two of his men are
waiting below to make a thorough
search of ever,, body in these offices. 1
have to apologize to you, one and all,
for submitting to such a process, but it
is inevitable. If anyone objects, he must
resign his position in our employment"
No. No one objected. Messrs. Cardew
& Co.'s employes were too well off to
risk losing their comfortable situa?
tions, and they would rather have been
seurched every day and night than have
resigned the same. Mr. Cnrdew, finding
all going smoothly, summoned the de?
tectives, und, one by one. each employe
was taken into the partner's room and
thoroughly searched.
The inquiry proved useless; but the
detective did not give in.
"With your leave," he said, turning to
Mr. Cardew, "we'll have a look at the
overcoats now."
Mr. Cardew led the way. Five min?
utes later he returned, looking very
stern. The purse was in his hand and
one of the detectives was currying an
overcoat. Mayhew grinned with joy.
His triumph over his rival was at hand
at last. But he changed color, and a
sick feeling rushed to his heart, when
Mr. Cardew tapped him on the shoulder
and said:
"Come into my room at once."
Wondering and amazed, be obeyed,
followed by the detective.
"Mayhew," said the partner, sternly,
"is this your coat?"
"Yes, sir; that is my coat."
"Do you know that this purse has
just been found in that very overcoat?
My boy, I won't be hard on you, but you
had better confess."
Mayhew was too thunderstricken to
speak. He could only stand and stare
at Mr. Cardew as though he had gone
mad.
"Come," said the latter, putting his
hand on his shoulder, you are very
young, and perhaps if I give you one
chance you will turn over a new leaf.
You can go, but never let me see your
face again."
Still wondering, still amazed, the
j wretched youth slunk from the room,
and no one at that establishment ever.
saw him more.
How had It occurred that the purse
deposited by Mahew In Jack Langley's
pocket had found its way into the pock?
et of the plotter himself ?lthappenedin
the most simple and yet in the most
wonderful manner. Jack Langley's
overcoat pocket contained a large rent
at the base, and when Mayhew bad in?
serted the purse, he had, of course, not
known of this, otherwise he might
have remembered the ominous fact that
his own coat with the pocket wide
open was underneath. By some strange
cause, perhaps by the passing of some
one in the cloakroom, who stumbled up
against the coats, or by a heavy wagon
going in the street and shaking the
floor, the weighty purse had fallen
from the coat above into the pocket of
the cont beneath, so that Maybew'a
coat, which occupied the latter position,
received it. And that is why Jack Lung
ley was not disgraced, and why he who
would have disgraced him waspunished
himself.?Tit-Bits.
THAT WELL-DRESSE? LOOK.
RoanoBB Why American Men Do Not
Have It.
While on the subject of ou "?'?tiona]
social shortcomings, a word truth
in regard to the general appearance of
our men might not be amiss. Every one
who has been abroad is struck with the
generally smart look of Englishmen ns
a whole, whether they be the "commer?
cial gents" of Liverpool, the brokers
and business men of "the city" or the
club men of Pall Mall. All, as a rule,
have a well-dressed, well-groomed look
that with us is lacking. There is hard?
ly a truveled American woman that ha?
not felt this to be a grievance.
"It Is so horrid to have Britishers look
nicer then the gentlemen nt home!" ex?
claimed a patriotic Daisy Miller, who,
in her vernacular, expresses universal
feminine sentiment on the subject, for
American men, as a rule, are slovenly
(not dirty?Heaven forbid! but untidy
and careless). A certain set, it Is true,
that has leisure and means, is as well
dressed and as thoroughly groomed as
any set in England, but it is with men
of affairs that the distinction is
marked. In England the samo class
look, as a whole, Hdedly superior, and
it is simply their clothes and the way
they are worn and the generally
scrubbed look of their faces that make
the difference. It is useless to ignore
clothes as a powerful factor in our lives.
If the tailor does not actually "make the
man," he certainly has a great deal to
do with the semblance. Carlyle recog?
nized this, and in his "Sartor Rcsortus"
he dwelt on the dignity of habiliments,
and pictures with grim humor what a
set of monkeys ths high dignitaries and
law-givers and military bodies would
all appear at any great public functiou
if deprived of their garments.
One of the greatest causes of untidi?
ness among men who can afford to dress
and appear well is the lack of proper
valeting. In England every well-to-do
man has his clothes taken care of by a
servant, and If he has not his own es?
pecial man there is always some one in
the household whose duty it is to see
that his coats axe well brushed, his
trousers cleaned and pressed, his shoes !
polished according to their kind?rus?
set, patent leather or calfskin?hats
brushed, and ell the details which in this
country?except the shoes perhaps?a
busy man is supposed to see to himself.
A mistaken economy I for a suit that is
properly brushed, folded and looked
after will last twice as long as one that |
is neglected.
In America a man arrogates to him?
self a certain credit in not caring for
clothes?"he has no time for such non?
sense"?the consequence being that
when conventionality demands a recog?
nition of its claims it requires an es?
pecial effort, which is often apparent.
Many political and business men will
say that it is a distinct disadvantage to
'ress well in this country. Older mer?
chants regard a punctiliously dressed
clerk with disapproval. Public men say
that their constituents distrust "frills,"
w hile a large majority simply do not
want to take the trouble to dress, and
yet these very men like their woman?
kind to be well dressed, and grudge no
expense as for ns the latter are con?
cerned, while they themselves wear
slovenly clothes and do not even try to
look fresh and neat*?N. Y. Tribune.
Why He Wej Excused.
Dennis McCnrty, a true son of Erin,
was suing his neight-or, William Smith,
for damages occasioned by the defend?
ant's carelessness in allowing his don?
key to escape from his stable and tres?
pass upon plaintiff's premises, thus do?
ing much mischief in his garden. Mc
Carty stepped into the witness box to
give evidence in support of his case, and
when he had finish*.-! the lawyer who
appeared for the dtjfendant proceeded:
to cross-examine him.
"Now 3'ou mean \a say that all this
injury to the property of which you
speak was caused uoiel/ by Smith's
donkey?"
"Sartinly, sor."
"Oh, indeed; and tyhere did you first
see this animal which you declare has
been the source of ho much mischief?"
"I saw him tied up in defendant's
sthablc."
"Yes, and where did you next see
him?"
"On my premises, to bo sure."
The lawyer now &aw his chance, and
in his best manner pressed the ques?
tion.
"How did you know it was the same
donkey?" ?
"How did I know?" was the derisive
exclamntion. "If I saw yez tied up
in a sthable, don't yen suppose I'd know
ye when yez got loose?"
The plaintiff was excused from fur?
ther evidence.?Spare Moments.
Horse and Horse.
Old Grimm (severely)?My young
friend, did you ever stop to think that
man is the only animal that smokes and
drinks? ?
Young Swift (airily)?No, but I have
noticed that he is the only animal that
makes fool remarks about other peo?
ple's business.?N. Y. World.
Photographie.
Edwin?Do you wish proofs of my
love? *
Grace?No; my negative makes them
unnecessary.?TJp-to-Date.
An Eye to Business.
"Mr. Speaker," the new member
quavered, "I should like to rise to a
question of privilege."
"The gentleman from Kansas has the
floor."
"I want to know if I got a right to
mention that I got a lot of pure Jersey
heifers to sell in the speech lam going
to have put in the Record for circula?
tion in my district."?Cincinnati En?
quirer.
Need (or Reform.
Lawyer (after many insinuations and
much twisting of previous testimony in
his questions)?Do yon know, sdr, that
you are under oath ?
Witness (testily)?Yes, end I wish you
were.?N. Y. Weekly.
Good Ground.
Mrs. Talkerly?So yon are going io
marry Col. Landly, my dear. And I
hear you love the ground he walks on.
Miss Sharplcigh?Yes; It *>elongs to
him.?TR-Bita. .** * ? ^: . _._j'
"WHIP PO' WILL."
When atealthy Shadows westward creep,
And stars through purple curtains peep
And south winds sine: themselves to sleep;
From woodlands heavy with perfume
Of spicy bud and Aprli bloom
Comes through the tender twilight gloom,
Far off and mellow
"Whip po' Will-Will oh,
Whip po" Will-Will oh!
Whip po' Will, whip po" Will, whip po'
Will-Will ohl"
The bosom of tho brook la filled
With strange alarm, tho thicket thrilled
By startled echoes, and most skilled
To run the labyrinthlno race
The fireflies light their lamps in haste
And Join in that tumultuous chase
Fleet-footed fellow?
"Whip po' Will-Will, oh.
Whip po' Win-Will oh!
Whip po' Will, whip po' Will, whip po'
WI11-WU1 oh!"
From hill to hill th' alarums fly,
The marshy brakes take up tho cry,
And where the languid waters Ho
In calm repose, and shyly speeds
The heron through the rustling reeds,
Tho tale of that Will o' Wisp's misdeed*
Borne on the billow;
"Whip po' Will-Will oh,
Whip po' Will-Will ohl
Whip po' Will, whip po' Will, whip po'
Will-Will oh!"
Who is this Will? What has he done?
Has ho in some wild freak of fun
Made frightened children homeward run;
Or dimly glimmering through the fog
Led some lone traveler through the bog
By stagnant pool, o'er fallen log,
Tussocks of willow?
"Whip po' Will-Will oh.
Whip po' Will-Will oh!
Whip po' Will, whip po' Will, whip po'
Will-Will oh!"
Where is he now for whom they shriek?
Is he Just playing hide and seek
Among the dogwoods down the creek?
Or has he sought his grotto gray,
And flung his phantom torch away,
There resting from his prankish play,
Prone on his pillow??
"Whip po' Will-Will oh,
Whip po" Will-Will oh!
Whip po' Will, whip po' Will, whip po*
Will-Will oh!"
?Montgomery M. Folsom, In Chicago
Times-Herald.
I Why He Foreswore CardsJ
* * * j*
gj THREE ESCAPES THAT INDUCED A Z
MAN TO QIVE UP POKER.
' ' T DON'T care to play," said the quiet
little man iu the smoking com?
partment on the first evening of the
trip eastward from San Francisco. There
were only four men on the car who had
thus far shown signs of being com?
panionable, and he was one of the four.
They had dined and were enjoying their
cigars together. The talk was desultory
and amounted to little. One proposed
a game of cards, and two of the others
were ready, but the little man declined.
The pause that followed was a little
awkward. They did not even know one
another by name, and the wording of
the refusal seemed curt. The little man
seemed to realize this, for after a mo?
ment of silence he continued:
"Nothing: would have given me great?
er pleasure a year ago than to join you
In a game of poker. In fact, nothing
would give me greater pleasure now,
but I am done with cards, and I believe
anyone of you would refuse, as I do, if
cards bad cost you what they have me."
The others spoke a few polite noth?
ings, to the general effect that it was a
free country and nobody was obliged
ta play anything he didn't want to play,
and one?the youngest in the party
said:
"Unlucky, I suppose."
"H'ml Well, I don't exactly know as
you'd call it that," said the little man,
reflectively. "I 'most nlways win when I
play, or used to, that is; butl've had some
of the cusscdest, narrowest squeaks
in the game that could easily be im?
agined, and I made up my mind some
time since that I'd had enough of 'em.
And as I can't play cards without get?
ting back into poker, I just naturally
quit cards."
"Story about it?" asked the young
man.
"Y-yes. Sort of. But I'm no story
teller."
"Man won't play cards. Ought to do
something." This was the young man's
appeal to the other two. They nodded.
"Well, I don't know as I mind spin?
ning the yarn," said the little man after
i little hesitation, "seeing that you don't
any of you know me, and you won't
any of you be likely to see me again
after we separate at the end of the trip,
[f you knew me I wouldn't care to tell
It just as it was, and it wouldn't be
worth telling any other way. The
first narrow escape I had was from
state prison, and a good deal worse. At
least I count it was worse, for I would
have taken with me to prison the con?
sciousness that I deserved to go, and
according to my notion the knowledge
that you deserve punishment is a deal
worse than the punishment itself.
"The game fascinated me, as it fas?
cinates everybody, I think, who plays
it much. I played more and more, and
us I generally held my own, and won
more often than I lost, I got to playing
harder and harder till I was not con?
tented with anything but a big game?
the bigger the better. I have traveled
three times nil the way between Chi?
cago and Washington to get into a game
with genuine high rollers. Of course
1 couldn't do that sort of thing without
a good supply of ready money and a
considerable amount of spare time. I
had both, for I had a fair cush capital
and a business of my own that paid me
well. And my business was in such a
condition that I could leave it to my em?
ployes for a week at a time.
"One night thci-e was a particularly
stiff game at the club I frequented most
In New York, where I then lived. The
limit was off, and a raise of a thousand
was made several times during the even?
ing. I had expected hot work, and had
put $3,000 in my pocket that afternoon.
There was one man In the game that I
particularly wanted to beat, partly be?
cause he was a noted player and I had
never met him before. I watched him
carefully, and twlce ln tfco course of
three or four hours' play I was satisfied
that he took in a fairly large pot on a
bluff. I had nothing in my own hand
either time, and didn't care to pay to
see his cards, but I felt sure that if he
had bluffed twice successfully, as I was
positive he had, he would do it again.
"Presently he tried it. Of course I
could only suspect him unless I called,
but I decided to risk it, though I had
only a pair of sevens when I came in
after the jackpot was open, and I hadn't
bettered in the draw. It had been
opened for $500, and my antagonist had
raised it a thousand before the draw.
That'B what made mo come in on so
small a hand, for I concluded he was
trying to steal the pot, which was big
enough to justify the attempt, for there
was over a thousand in it before he
spoke.
"I stood the raise and r>o did the
opener, who stood pat. My man drew
two cards and I drew three. As I said,
I caught nothing. The opener bet a
thousand and my man went back at
him with another thousand. I simply
made good, but the opener lost his
nerve and laid down a small straight
without calling. My man had evident?
ly reckoned on my dropping out also,
but rav bet became a call when the
opener quit, and he showed flown tuu
sixes.
We had some little chaff over it, nnd
the game went on. I didn't know till
next day how near ruin I had been jnst
then. When I went to my office in the
morning I found that my cashier had
gone to Canada, and that Instead of
having several thousand dollars in
bank, 4 I had supposed I had, my ac?
count v as overdrawn. That docs not
sound like ruin, I confess, but I was the
trustee of certain funds amounting to
about $5,000, and I was called on for a
settlement that very day. If it hadn't
been for my winnings the night before
I wouldn't have settled, and if it hadn't
been for winning that pot on a pair of
sevens I would have had to quit the
game, for I was a lo?er before that
hand. The consequences would have
been frightful.
"Another narrow escape I had was
from being a married man. I was en?
gaged to be married to n lady who
broko the engagement because she
had learned that I had played poker.
Perhaps I ought not speak of this as
an escape, but I know that she made 1 lie
man she afterward married most mis?
erably unhnpp3r. What would have
happened if I had marired hr.r I can't
say, and I don't eijoy thinking about
it.
"The most wonderful piece of luek
that ever happened to me, though, was
In a poker game in San Francisco, when
the stakes were net particularly heavy.
In fact, we were playing five-dollar
limit, and nobody won or lost more
(ban a couple of hundred in the game.
The men iu it WCjfC all members of my
club and were supposed to be gentle?
men, though one of them, ns it proved,
was not. We had played till after mid?
night, and there was nobody but the
five players in the room when we
caught this fellow cheating.
"The accusation made a row, of
course, and the fell )W drew a revolver
and attempted to slyiot the fellow who
had accused him. Another man struck
at the pistol as he fired, and the bullet
grazed my temple. That was as close
n call as anybody could want; but the
luck of it lay in the iact that I was ris?
ing from my chair as the shot was fired,
and my foot slipped as I was in the act
of rising. This caused me to lose my
balance and in falling back, my head
just moved out of range, so that I had
only a grazed skin on my forehead in?
stead of a bullet in the brain, ns I would
have had if I had not slipped.
"In order to save a scandal we al?
lowed the fellow to resign from the
club, and the story was never made
public. I thought the thing over pretty
seriously, though, and after a time I
concluded that poker was rather too ex?
citing for me. I think I got supersti?
tious about it; but anyhow, I have
never played cards s?nce."?N. Y. Sun.
A ROMAN PICNIC.
An Incident of the Life of n Grent
Painter.
On the sad occasion of the death o'
Lord Lcighton an august personage
Wrote of him, nnd justly: "There was
something even jrreater than his work,
and that was the man himself." A
pretty incident of the great painter's
early life is told by Giovanni Costa.
In the month of May it was the cus?
tom formerly for all the artists in Rome
to indulge in a picnic at Ccrvnra, a form
in the Roman enmpagna. There used
to be donkey races, and the winner of
them was always the hero of the day.
On one of these picnics we had halted
at a small town three miles out of Rome
for breakfast. Everyone had dismount?
ed and tied his beast to a paling, and
all were eating merril}'. Suddenly one
of the donkeys kicked over a beehive,
and out flew the bees to revenge them?
selves on the donkeys.
There were about 300 of the poor
beasts, but they nil unloosed themselves
nnd took to flight, kicking up their
heels in the air?all but one little don
kej', who was unable to free himself,
and so the whole swarm fell upon him.
The picnic party also broke up and
fled, with the exception of one young
man with fair, curly hnir, dressed in
velvet, who, slipping on gloves and ty?
ing a handkerchief over his face, ran
to libcrnte the poor little beast. I had
stnrted to do the same, but less reso?
lutely, having no gloves. So I met him
as he came back, and, congratulating
him, asked- him his name.
His name was Frederic Leighton.?
Cornhill Magazine.
More Natural.
Rev. Walter Colton, author of "Ship
and Shore," nnd other books, gave a
most forcible illustration of the charac?
ter of an officer on board the ship to
which he was attached as chaplain. The
officer was always meddling with other
people's business, and was seldom in
^is own place. Consequently he was
most unpopular with the sailors. One
of them, goaded to unusual irritation,
said one day: "I do believe that at the gen?
eral resurrection the lieutenant will be
found getting out of somebody else's
grave!"?Youth's Companion.
?"Did I understand you to say that
you didn't have any company in the
kitchen while I was out, Katie?" "Yis,.
mum; that's what I said." "But I smell
the tobacco from a pipe all through the
house." "Yls, mumi; the policeman
was in for ihalf an hour, mum; birt we
were In the parlor."?Yonkers States?
man.
Gold Coin* Worth ?220 Each.
It is snid that the largest gold coin
now in circulation is the gold ingot or
"lool" of Anam, a French colony in
eastern Asia. It is a flat, round gold
piece, and on it is written in India ink
its value, which is about $220. The
next sized coin to this valuable but ex?
tremely awkwnrd one is the "obang"
of Japan, which is worth about $55, and
next comes the "benda" of Ashantee,
which represents a value of about $40.
The California $50 gold piece Is worth
about the same as the "benda." The
heaviest silver coin in the world also
belongs to Annm, where the silver ingot
is worth about $15; then comes the Chi?
nese "tacl," nnd then the Austrian
ilouble thaler.?Chicago Times-Herald.
A Double Swindle.
First Street Loafer?It's a shame,
Bill, to t hink that anyone would swindle
a poor hard-working man in that way.
Second Street Loafer?Why, what's
your trouble?
"Here I worked hard for half a day
painting up a sparrow into a red-head cd
Belgian canary and I am blowed if the
fellow I sold It to didn't give me a bad
half crown for it."?London Spare Mo?
ments.
A Doubtful Reform?
Bjoncs?My wife went in foi dress re?
form last year.
Black?Good 1 How much did it de?
crease the expense?
Bjones?Decrease? It cost morel?
Up-to-Date.
Revision Needed.
Wilklns?Such idioms as "Between
the devil and the deep sea," though very
expressive, are not exactly np to date.
Simpson?They're not? Well, how
would you improve on the one you
quoted, for instance?
"Well, I think a more modern plan
would be ,to say 'Between the trolley
car and the scorcher.'H?Punch.
MOVABLE BERRY SHANTY.
It Savon Lot* of Time and Labor and
I? Easily Made.
I send you a sketch of my movable
berry shanty, which is much liked by
those who have seen it. My berry patch
is 80 reds long and 40 rods wide, with
u road running lengthwise through the
center 9 feet wide, hence my ob?
ject in making a movable shanty. My
first step was to go in the woods and
cut two straight poles 12 feet long
and 0 inches through, and a num?
ber of small poles 2 inches in diameter.
Then I went at it as though I was about
to make a large wood rack, using n
l^-iinch auger. I first bored the holes
for the cross pieces and fitted them in,
using the 2-inch poles. I then bored
MOVABLE BERRY SHANTY.
the holes for the stakes (using the same
auger), putting one on a side, 7 feet
high on one s:de and 5 feet on the
other, in order to give it sufficient
pitch. Tor stays to nail around the top
of the stakes I used 1x4 pine,
which I procured by ripping an old
bonrd fence in two, putting a sufficient
number on top to support the canvas.
For $1.50 I bought enough old sail?
cloth to cover the entire shanty. The
bottom of the sills on each end should
be beveled, so as to prevent dirt from
clogging in front while it is being
drawn. If properly made the entire
weight should not exceed 250 pounds.
One horse easily draws mine back and
forth through my patch. I hitch to
either end, using a log chain attached
to the corners. If the cheap canvas is
not easily procurable, half-inch siding
could be used for the roof and old
blankets for sides. The entire cost is
small, and it is much more convenient
than one made of old boards and sta?
tion?r}'. Much time is saved in carry?
ing berries. I often move mine twice a
dny, keeping it directly opposite the
pickers.?Rural New Yorker.
GOOD INSECTICIDE.
Gasoline, It Is Claimed, "Will Accom?
plish Wonders.
A most excellent insectitide is gaso?
line. The housewife can easily rid her
carpets of moths and fleas by its use.
For such purpose take a common water?
ing pot with a fine rose, and having
raised the windows and opened the
doors of the room so the fumes may
readily pass out, for they are explosive,
sprinkle copiously around the margin
of the carpets and then more lightly
over the whole. Every insect and every
egg of un insect that is touched will
be destroyed as if by fire.
In the garden it is no less useful.
Perhaps the best way to apply to plants
standing in the ground is with a brush,
an old paint brush answers the purpose
well. Take any convenient dish or pot
and fill two-thirds with water and the
balance with gasoline. The water will
retard evaporation and assist in spread?
ing the gasoline to every infected por?
tion when the brush is applied. Most
kinds of scale are killed effectually with
one application.
For ridding plants in pots of insects,
fill a tub or other deep vessel nearly
full of water and pour a little gasoline
on surface, then dip the plant top down?
wards, and at once withdraw. Every
portion will be touched with the gaso?
line, and it will do its perfect work. I
have not tried it on tender plants, and
should hesitate to do so till a trial
should be first made on a leaf or two,
as a test.
I save my seed peas from the weevil
by first letting them get dry, when
they are put into a convenient dish, cov?
ered with water into which has been
poured a little gasoline, say a cupful to
half a peck. Thcpeasare then thorough?
ly stirred for some minutes, when they
are drained off and put away. A sec?
ond application is rarely necessary. In
this case the gasoline has to penetrate
the peas and kill the eggs of the weevil,
and it does it most effectually.?Ameri?
can Gardening.
Nature's Wonderful Laws.
The growing of a berry calls into ac?
tion some of the most wonderful laws
of nature. In the growth of plants we
find these laws in perfection. We also
find in various forms a complete sup?
ply of every element required for the
full development of both plant and
fruit. Nature gives us all these prod?
ucts without stint. She simply asks
in return that we assist her in some of
the smaller details of the work. She
asks that the soil be made rich and
well prepared. That the plants he of
good quality and carefully set out.
That frequent hoeing and cultivation
be given. That plants be protected
from winter frosts and summer
drought. That no insect pest or fungus
disease find an abiding place with
them.?M. A. Thnyer.
Regular Supply of Lettuce.
For a regular supply of lettuce dur?
ing the hot months, sow thinly where
they are to remain, in drills 12 to 14
inches apart, plants to be gradually
thinned out to six or eight inches apart.
This method allows the tap root to pen?
etrate undisturbed into the soil, thus
securing moisture and coolness, and
does not induce surface roots, and
also lessens their tendency to bolt to
seed in hot dry weather?nn advantage
worth securing. Golden Queen, Big Bos?
ton and Trianon Cos are excellent vari?
eties for general use.?American Gar?
dening.
Can't
This is the complaint of
thousands at this season.
They have no appetite; food
does not relish. They need the toning up of
the stomach and digestive organs, which
a course of Hood's Sarsaparilla will give
them. It also purifies and enriches the
blood, cures that distress after eating and
Internal misery only a dyspeptic can
know, creates an appetite, overcomes that
tired feeling and builds up and sustains
the whole physical system.. It so prompt?
ly and efficiently relieves dyspeptic symp?
toms and cures nervous headaches, that it
seems to have almost " a magic touch."
Sarsaparilla
Is the best?In fact the One True Blood Purifier.
.i rt*ai are the best after-dinner
H00d S PllIS pills, aid digestion. 25c.
WILL NOT FAIL TO CURE
Dr. Greene's Nervura the Greatest and
Grandest Remedy in the World.
State Prison Chaplain and Eminent Clergy?
man Pronounces Dr. Greene's Nervura
a Priceless Boon to Humanity. It Cures
the People.
Rev. D. C. Easton, Ckaplaix of the New Hampshire state Prisox.
Never before in medical annals Las any istlicpver of health and strength?it makei
medicine received such wide-spread praise ami the sick well.
endorsement from physicians, druggists and j Here is the advice to nse Dr. Greene's Ner
all classes of the people as is bestowed upon | vnra from Rev. D. C. Easton of Concord, N.
the great eurer of disease, Dr. Greene's Nerv- II., Chaplain of the New Hampshire State
ura blood and nerve remedy. It purities and i Prisor, and Past Chaplain G. A. It. Depart
invigorates the blood, making pure, rich, red ! merits of N. II. and R. I., who is the most
blood, and it is therefore the grandest of blood ' prominent clergyman and Christian worker in
medicines. It gives life, strength, encrgv, i New England. 'He says:
power and vigor to the brain and nerves, and j "Dr. Greene's Nervura blood and nerve
hence is the greatest nerve tonic, brain invig- remedy has been used in my family with sat
lrant and nerve restorative ever before known i Is factory results. I am now using it myself
in the world's historv. It banishes headache, and have also personal friends who have been
backache, neuralgia, rheumatism, and has thus j cured by it and assert that it is a priceless
demonstrated itself to be the 6urest and quick- . boon for suffering humanity."
est pain reliever in existence. It cures stomach, I Use Dr. Greene's Nervura blood and nerve
liver, kidney and female complaints with a remedy now and get well. Dr. Greene's Ca
positive certainty which is unequaled and un- thartic Tills arc the perfect piils for bilious
rivaled, and which has caused weak, nervous, ness and constipation. Dr. Greene, 33 West ltth
tired out, sleepless, run down and debilitated St., New York City, the most successful phy
sufferers everywhere to rccosnize Dr. Greene's sidan in curing disease, ran be consulted free,
Nervura blood and nerve remedy as indeed in person or by letter. There is no chargu
the Kinjr of Medicines. i whatever for consultation, examination or ad
Dr. Greene's Nervura is the best medicine vice, and tiie price of the medicines is so low ait
possible to take because it cures the people?it j to place a positive cure within reach or all. -
You. Need
Another H^it,
Something different from what you bought earlier?something for a change that
is chic, stylish and just suits the season. We have just the thing?not too ele?
gant, hut just dressy enough, and it doesn't cost much. If you need a hot
weather hat, a dainty finish lor your summer suit, we have it. An examination
of our stock shows we have too many hats on hand, and to reduce these and
also to give our customers a bargain Unexcelled in Tazewell.
We Shall Cut the Prices on Them
Exactly One-Fourth.
Then a hat will cast you only $2.20 and a $'2 hat will cost you only $1.50 and
a $1 hat only 75c, the rest in the same proportion.
Do Not Lose This Opportunity.
TAZEWELL MILLINERY CO.
THE WOOLLY-APHIS.
Different Modes of Killing Thi? Very
Destructive Insect.
The Missouri experiment static has
made extensive experiments with dif?
ferent methods of killing the woolly
aphis or apple-root plant louse. Follow?
ing is a summary of the discoveries
made:
The limb form of this insect can be
readily killed by one or two thorough
sprayings with strong kerosene emul?
sion. Apple seedlings, buds and grafts
should be planted in a small trench
filled with finely powdered tobacco or
tobacco dust and lightly covered with
earth. This will keep the woolly-aphis
away. Apple nursery stock should have
a liberal supply of tobacco dust applied
to the roots every spring iu order to kill
the woolly-aphis and prevent it from es?
tablishing itself there. It should be ap?
plied by removing some of the earth
from around the roots, filling the ex?
cavation with tobacco dust, and lightly
covering it with earth. Newly cleared
timber land should be cultivated in corn
or other crop for two years before the
apple trees are set out, in order to kill
the woolly-aphis that may be on the
roots of the wild crab and allied trees.
Apple nursery stock should have the
roots cleaned and dipped foraininute in
strong kerosene emulsion, in order to
kill the woolly-aphis that may be there.
In planting apple trees tobacco dust
should be freely used among and over
all the roots, and close around the trunk,
tn order to kill and prevent the woolly
aphis from establishing itself there.
Every spring, as soon as settled warm
weather appears, each tree should have
a liberal supply of tobacco dust applied
to its roots by removing the earth from
around the trunk for a distance o? two
feet and four inches in depth, evenly
filling this with the tobacco dust and
covering it with earth. The root form
of the woolly-aphis may be cheaply and
easily killed and kept away from an
apple tree by the liberal use of tobacco
dust. About five or six pounds of this
substance should be applied as above di?
rected to the roots of every infested tree,
and half this amount should be applied
in a similar manner each succeeding
spring, costing approximately two
cents per tree per j'car. This insect
may also be killed by injecting one fluid
ounce of carbon bisulphide two feet
away from the trunk on two sides of the
tree, but the use of this substance is not
advised except in extreme cases, since a |
little carelessness may injure the tree, I
and it is always necessary immediately
io treat trie trees witn tooacco aust in
order to keep the inseot away.?Coun?
try Gentleman.
QUICKLY-MADE HEDGE.
Woodbine Grown Over ft Frnme Gives
Satisfactory Results.
Making a hedge with ordinary hedge
plants requires a good many years of
waiting before the full realization of
one's anticipations. Many are de?
terred from starting hedges because of
this long period of waiting. The ac?
companying illustration shows a "short
cut" to a remarkably handsome hedge.
A "form" is made of wire netting, the
sides and top also being covered.
Along the base on either side of this
quickly-growing vines are plantedjj
whidh soon cover the wire with a mass
of green that becomes more and more
dense and beautiful each succeeding
year if the proper sort of vines is
used. The "proper sort," in the
writer's estimation, would include our
common woodbine. It is a quick
grower and its foliage is remarkably
handsome, both in the green state and
when touched by autumn frosts.
There are many other vines, however,
that would answer admirably for this
purpose, so that all tastes can be
suited. Such a hedge needs only such
annual clippings as will suffice to keep
the vines growing evenly all over the
wire?as thickly in one place as in an?
other. Cedar stakes should be used
nnd carefully set in analring such a
hedge, since once made and covered
with a black growth of.rines, it will
be inconvenient to make inferior re?
pairs, though stakes can, of course, be
driven down through the netting if
necessary.?Webb Donnell, in American
Gardening.
Wanted-An Idea S3
Protect yotir Idea* i they may bring you wealth.
WrlteJPOHN WEDDERBDRN A CO., Patent Attor?
neys. Washington, D. C, for their $1.800 prtie offer
And new list ot one thousand taTenUoin wasted.
