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V. -j .MWiMMiUMMMinMHWIinnVMWlVlWIWMWWMMIMWlWlMMWlMMMO jj 1 XtLE FARM A tale -1 -IN- \tf. OF i^THE HILLS BY FLORENCE WARDEN. Copyright, 1899, by Florence Warden. CHAl'TEIt I. ..*4# LOST DROTHER. On the 15tU of September the Rev. Granville Masson wrote from Llnn dadno to his younger brother, a stu dent at St. George's hospital, London: My Dear Reggie—I don't know whether it is that my temper becomes shorter as the end of tny holiday draws near, but 1 can't stand tals plaot at alL It is full of people, and the crowds bother me. The weather is magnificent, which, •f oouno, accounts tor the fact that the numbers of the visitors have not yet begun to thin. As lor m/ health, 1 don't know whether it is aqj betters but, on the other hand, 1 don't think it la «ny worse. My cough is still rather trouble* •ome at night. 1 am a regular "pale young curate" now, and I think I rather resent the Cympathetic glances the old ladies throw in my direction. It is evident that they consider mc "Interesting," a distinction at which, to do me Justice, you will own I have never aimed. I think I shall go on, staying a day or two at Bettws-y-Ooed, to .8outb Wales, to get away from the eternal camera and bicycle and from the equally eternal young lady with the high pitched voice and the novel which she carries about and never read*. Yours, GRANNY. On the 24th of September the same writer dated his letter from AberyBt wlth: Dear lamrto Tills place it better not quite eo full. OB the other hand* 1 don't feel quite so well. Thia to to be accounted for, however, by the **—T in the weather, which is now wet and oold» I have been out to the Devil's bridge, but I am going to do something more interesting. 11MM are some much less frequented and wilder regions to be explored in this part of Wales than up In the north* wftdch is like Regent street. Don't be surprised If you don't hear from me for a fortnight. I shall be on tramp. Yours, QBAKKT. Reginald Masson* who was much ^troubled about the health of his broth er, wrote off to htm at once on re oetpt of this letter begging him not to be too venturesome and not to begin eoplorios-unknown tracts of country ln. weather so unpropitious. He got one more letter, dated Sept 80, acknowledging his note of warning and announcing that Granville had pot off his expedition in deference to his brother's advice. The weather having now changed for the better, however, he intended to proceed with out further delay. Be wrote In a robust and cheerful tone, as if in the highest spirits over his proposed excursion. He had got hold of an odd creature, he Bald a wild, uncouth, redheaded son of the mountains, who was going to act as his guide and to coach him up in all the old Welsh tales and superstitions. And then his brother beard no more. At the end of one week Reginald was curious at the end of the second im patient after the lapse of a third he was anxious and worried. The weather had grown bitterly cold for the time of year, and already reports had reached London of snow in the mountains of Scotland and of heavy rains In Wales. He wrote half a dozen letters to Aberystwith, addressed to his brother, to the proprietor of the ho* tel where he had staid, to the chief of jh. But all without much result 1 proprietor of the hotel wrote that Rev. Granville Masson had left the el on the morning of Oct. 2 and had ken the train with the intention, as he stated, of alighting at Trecoed and of making a tour on foot from that town among the points of interest in the neighborhood. The chief of police wrote that he had heard of no accident befalling any traveler recently In the country. And the letters Reginald bad addressed to his brother were returned to him. Thoroughly alarmed, he determined to go down into Wales himself and to make inquiries, starting from the small town of Trecoed. It was near the middle of November when he ar rived at the place and made direct for the principal inn. Here, at the very outset of his researches, he came upon the track of his brother. The inn keeper nodded Intelligently at the first questions put by Reginald Masson. "A young clergyman, tall, thin, gray eyes and brown hair? Yes, sir he was here for one night about five weeks ago. But I can give you the exact date by looking at my bookB, and I can show you his portmanteau. I suppose I am right sir. In thinking you are his brother?" "Why, what made you think that? We are not supposed to be at all alike." "Not in face, sir, but In voice. 1 could have recognized the voice any where, and that in spite of the way of speaking young clergymen always have." "And can you tell me where he went to from here?' "He was going to explore the coun try and make his way down gradually to the south by the Black mountains valley and along the ^en up the Wye and The landlord was looking through his book. "It was on the 3d of October that he went away." "Was he alone?" "He was alone when he left the house, but I had warned him not to cross the mountains without a guide, and he said he had engaged one." "Ah! We can find him out, I sup pose, without any trouble?" But the landlord shook his head du biously. "I don't know about that sir. It wasn't one of our regular men, I know that It was some one he bad met be fore he came here, near the Devil's bridge, 1 understand, who had told him a lot of the local stories and legends and had arranged to take him across by Llyu Foel to Llaudu." "Did he mention his name?' "Well, he T!*ay have done, sir, but if so I've forgo^eu it." At this point of the conversation man whose composite style of clothing suggested Chat, In the oft season, he filled various functions at the inn, edged near enough to the speakers to show that he wished to join in the con versa tlon. Reginald Masson turned to look at him, and the man saluted. "Beg pardon, sir," said he In a strong Welsh accent, "but was you speaking of the clerical gentleman who left some of his luggage here a few weeks back?' "Yes, ym. WeUr II wit wb» mm Mwjprt jrtm Mljft has, IfcindlifrMttiwrt wi' v^LPf. *i*y '^-'g- H- -jpi^-T^^ MYSTERY- 1 by hiiusi'-If, \s ifu jusWialittle hag car tied across litui oil a strap." "By himself?" "Yes, sir. But look you, as soon aB he had left the house, not more than a quarter of an hour after, there come up a fellow who asked for him and who went off lifter liiin, a fellow I know very well, sir." "Well, and who was it?" "It was a big, redheaded fellow, Blr, who's employed ou one of the sheep farms over in the hills yonder. He comes in most every market day." "And can you tell me his name?" "No, sir. I only know him through seeing him about. He drives in the sheep, and he buys and sells In the market for his master. So I've gath ered. A rough looking customer." Reginald Masson's heart sank. Then a passion of energy and anger seized him. It was impossible to doubt that some evil had befallen his brother, and this information seemed to point to the direction In which he must look for a solution of the mystery. Although he was burning with im patience to prosecute his inquiries, It was too late to do so that night. Al ready the little town was asleep the lights in the windows were for the most part extinguished there was hardly a footfall in the street. Reginald went up to his room, but he could not sleep. This rough, red headed fellow who had come to the hotel Immediately after Granville's de parture from it could be, of course, no other than the "wild, uncouth son of the mountains" of whom his brother had written In his last letter. To find this man, therefore, was plainly the first thing to be done. On the following morning the waiter who had given him the Information came up to Reginald and told him that he had made inquiries in the town that morning and learned that the name of the redheaded man was unknown, but that he was called "Coch Tal" as a nickname In the sheep market at Aberayron. "And have you been able to find out where he lives?" asked Reginald. "Yes, sir. It's up in the hills yon der, over by Llyn Poel. He's In the employ of a farmer yonder. Mr. Tre garon of Monachlog farm." "Is that far off?" "It's a matter of five or six miles, look you, up along the valley. But it would be hard for yon to find without a guide, sir, being right up among the hills." "Well, you can find me a guide, can*t you?" "Oh, yes, Bir! You don't think of going today, Bir, do you?" "Certainly I do. Without a mo ment's delay." "Well, sir, It's a nasty day for such a walk. We shall have snow before midday by the look of the sky, and when the snow comes on it's hard work for them that knows the paths well to find their way among the hills." "Well, hard work or not, I I have to go. And If you can't find me a guide must go without one." Reginald was eating ham and eggs, but with very little appetite. His anx iety and feverish eagerness to be on "Beo pardon, sir," said he in a twwj Welsh accent the road made breakfast a hard task. "All right sir. I'll find you a guld* sir," said the waiter. And then he shuffled away with ap parent haste until he reached the door of the coffee room, when he turned slowly and hesitatingly and came back again. His tone had become mysteri ous. "I think perhaps I ought to tell you, sir, something they told me this morn ing when I was asking about the young man Coch Tal." "Well, what was it?" "I Aqigaln .to fetch hlB was told, sir, that he's not been seen so much in the town lately—not since the beginning of last month, in fact He's been 111, they think don't look the same man, sir, when he does come, as he used to look." "Thank you. Now see about getting me the guide, there's a good fellow," said Reginald, as he jumped from his seat and began to button up his coat. "My boots, please." "You've quite made up your mind to go, sir?' "Quite." log- 0a1fl cotne back here?" •*&•») saId he might and he ml, tfhe didn't come, he was to |pdw where to scud bis lug gage "And \vTRit was the date of that?" asked. Reginald Masson, whose anx iety was not much allayed by this in telligence. The matter of obtaining a guide into the hills proved, however, to be less easy than Reginald had supposed. He had to wait so long, in fact before the waiter, who had undertaken the search for one, returned to the inn that at last Reginald, unable to control his Im patience any longer, told the landlord to send the guide after him and start ed ou his journey into the hills alone. The fiakes of snow bad already be gun to flutter down, and he was strongly advised to give up his expedi tion until the following day. He would not however, hear of any delay. He started at a brisk pace, quite un disturbed by auy thought that his jour ney might be one of difficulty or even danger. The lightly falling snow threw a soft veil over the landscape, softening the rugged outline of tho hills toward which he was going aud filling up the ruts In the road. He had gone some distance, walking quickly and deeply preoccupied with his gloomy thoughts concerning his brother's fate, wheu it occurred to him to wonder why the guide was r'' Buch feoktti back along tba he had come. At least it would be more correct to say that lie tried to do so, for he now percelvcd that the snow had for the last ten minutes been coming down so fast as to reduce the wide space over which he had traveled to a fiat expanse, in which to trace out the road by which he had couio was to his Inexperienced eyes an impossibil ity. His very foot tracks, not having been made in deep suow, were already obliterated, and the wind was driving the flakes straight into his eyes as he stared and stared, vainly trying to ret ognize some landmark by which he could find Ills way back. He felt that to venture farther with out the guide would be madness. Yet to back, now that the snow was driving from that direction, was al most equally difficult As he paused for, one moment deliberating and blinking to keep the suow out of bis smarting eyes, he heard a man's voice behind him, evidently at some dis tance, singing one of those wild, half mournful, wholly tender Welsh bal lads which are forever on the lips of these people of tne mountains. Reginald Masson turned again, fac ing the mountains once more. With his back to the wind it was easier to see, and he managed to distinguish a dark figure on the rising ground a lit tle way ahead of him, making its way slowly through the snow In the direc tion of the bills. Reginald shouted, but the man went on singing and took no notice. Against the whitening background and through the veil of falling snow his figure stood out, seeming to be gigantic In size. There was nothing for Reginald to do but to follow this, the only human fig ure in sight Quickening his pace, not without difficulty, for the road had dwindled Into a rough foot track, he came up with the stranger at a point where the path began to wind round the side of a hill. By this time the town was so far behind and the snow was falling so thickly that Reginald Masson felt that the only safe thing to do was to addresB himself to this stranger, who could hardly be as Ig norant of the country as he was him self. The man had quickened his pace and was now making his way, still singing to himself, with long strides, which made it difficult for the town bred Masson to overtake him. So that at last Reginald had to speak from be hind, without having had one oppor tunity of seeing the face of the man he was addressing. "Can you tell me," called out he, "if 1 am on the right road for Monachlog and how far off It is?" The man in front had stopped with a disconcerting suddenness before his Interlocutor had got to the end of his question. His body, which had beeu bent nearly double as ho ascended the hill, stick In hand, had become upright and rigid: but he did not turn round, and he did not answer. Reginald, coming a step nearer and trying to get a look at the man's face, repeated his question. lie might as well have poured his words Into the ears of a statue of bronze. The stranger, a man of enor mous height, dressed In the rough clothing of the hillside peasant, his bead and face almost hidden behind the collar of a coat which he wore, cloak fashion, over his shoulders, an swered never a word—did not even turn his face toward his questioner. Supposing that the man was deaf, Reginald, who was now close to him, touched him on the arm. But the mo ment he did so a paroxysm of terror seemed to seize the fellow. He shook off the light touch with an abrupt and violent movement and, still without turning his head, began to run up the hillside path as if for his life. For a few seconds Regiuald watch ed him In amazement thinking that the fellow must be an imbecile. But then it occurred to him as possible that it might be only the uncouth na tive way of treating a stranger, a way compounded of rustic shyness and su perstitious fear, for fear was apparent ly the emotion uppermost in the heart of the flying countryman. The snow was now coming down In larger flakes the Bky bad grown heavy and lowering. After one more glance back Regiuald saw that to fol low this son of the mountains was his best chance of safety. The man had now got so far ahead, however, be ing evidently used to these paths In all weathers and sure of foot as a mule, that Reginald had some difficulty lu keeping him in sight Up the rugged, slowly ascending footpath, which he would never have been able to find but for the footprints of the peasant, winding round the hill, descending again, turning, twisting about among the rough hill tracks, now with a peep into glens and valleys where the gray shadows lurked In the corners, now shut In on all sides by the bare and stony hills, Reginald followed his unwitting guide. The way grew wilder as they went The hills grew loftier, stonier patches of dark gray rock showed black against the snow, while here and there a tuft of bush and brier, or a lonely, stunted tree, stood up from the white ground like a gaunt, misshapen figure, bent Into strange curves by the weight of the snow it bore and seeming to point with a dark, fieshless finger into the recesses of the barren hills. The figure In front had never once turned, and Regiuald felt sure that the sturdy mountaineer was unaware that he was serving as guide to the stran ger whom he had treated so cavalierly. At last, after a rough and toilsome de scent of a barren hillside, made dan gerous to the foot passenger by great quantities of small loose stones, the pursuer having at last gained some what, upon the pursued, the two found themselves in a cleft of the mountains, through which a wild, weird sight pre sented itself to the view. In a rough basin formed by the stony, barren mountalus lay stretched before their eyes the dark waters of a lake which looked inky black against the snow which lay all around. Here and there on Its borders a great gray bowlder, snow capped, but bare and dark on its scooped out sides, stood upou the flat expanse of uutrodden snow. Nothing else, uot a tree, uot a bush, broke up the monotonous stretch of bleak, desolate shore aud black, lonely pool. As the big snowllakes .fluttered down swiftly and softly into the black waters, each absorbed as soon as It fell, Regiuald shuddered, with a sudden hideous faucy that in some such silent, grim fashion a lone ly traveler might be swallowed up by tho cold, placid waters of this moun tain tarn in the shadow of the hills. a long time in coming. At the same moment the thought came Into his mind, with an ugly per sistency, that it was in this very same fashion that Granville had started on the expedition which had, in all prob ability, been a fatal one to him. -CHAPTBR II. OOGH TAX. IS FOUND. BlilBW niMQ wfflRf VMS m| /"•WVijff by whisk Even the rustic In front seemed to be impressed by the wild and awful desolatlou of the scene. At any rate, be paused and thus gave Reginald an opportunity of gettiug up to him. Determined not to be evaded or avoided this time, Masson seized tho huge peasant in a strong grip aud with an unexpected movement brought him face to face with himself so suddenly Mar»*K,"!3 \N down. As he did so his round cap fell off, and Reginald Masson, with a great He began to run up the hillside path as if for his Ufe. leap up of the heart, saw that his head was covered by a thick crop of short red hair. "Coch Tal!" shouted Masson. The peasaut made no answer except by a guttural exclamation. But his face, which had been red with exercise, blanched to a livid pal lor He scrambled to his feet, and with one wild stroke of his stick, which Reginald was quick enough to avoid, he sprang like a deer down the narrow ravine and disappeared behind A spur of the hill. CHAPTER III A WILD MAN IltTIST. W3 With a savage shout as the huge mountaineer escaped him, Reginald Masson sprang down the ravine after him. Ho could not doubt that this was the very man of whom he was in search, the man who could give him, If he chose, some news of It would amouir. Granville's fate. That this information would have to be wrung out of him by the ungen tlest means, and that when obtained. to little more than a tissue of lies, he felt sure. In the wild eyes and blanched cheeks of Coch Tal Reginald had read the signs of an abject, sick terror, which warned him of what he already guess ed, that his brother's fate had been a tragic one and that this rough, uncouth creature, whom he had taken for his guide, was cognizant, to say the least, of the details of it As he stumbled down the mountain side In hot pursuit, Indeed, Reginald felt not a doubt but that he was chas lng'bis brother's murderer. Everything that be had heard and seen seemed to confirm this impression, which stamp ed Itself each moment more firmly In his mind. There dashed through his brain, even as be ran, stumbling, leaping, sinking In tho suow at every other step, those words of the waiter at the inn, telling him that Coch Tal had beon 1U since the beginning of last month—the time of Granville's disappearance that he had been seen less in the town since that d&te that ho had seemed, since then, "a changed man." These circumstances, trifling In them selves, became important when taken in conjunction with the man's horror at the souud of Reginald's voice. He felt that It was the resemblance be tween his voice and his brother's which had struck such terror into the mind of the peasant—terror which had become more acute when he heard his own ulckname pronounced by the lips of a man whom he had never seen be fore. And while these thoughts, stimulat ed by the fierce passion which possess ed him, chased each other through Reginald's mind, his feet flew from point to point of the rough way with ever Increasing rapidity, it seemed as if the exaltation of his mind had communicated new powers to his body, for he followed Coch Tal with moro ease, more security, tliau before, and, rounding the hill at a great pace when he reached tho foot of it, he found himself only a little way behind the object of his pursuit The peasant heard him, gave one look round, and uttering once moro the guttural exclamation, like the cry of a wild bird, which had chilled Regi nald's blood when they first came face to face, he went on his way. at a swifter pace than ever. On they went again, pursuer and pursued, with the snow and the wiud driving at their backs, filling up the crevices and the ruts In thorough foot tracks and swirling Into drifts to right and left of them. Up the rough side of a mountain which looked as they approached it like the stone wall of a huge fortress or prison up, up, up, tearing his hands on the crags of rugged graystone which jutted like piu points out of the snowdrifts, went Regiuald, his teeth set and his heart beating like a ham mer In his breast. The mouutalueer could beat him at this work could climb like a cat where his pursuer could only crawl. And the distance between the two began rapid ly to increase. The peasaut was out of sight when Reginald reached the top. There were now only the footprints in the snow to guide him, but eveu as he took the first step forward in the track Coch Tal had made a gust of wind, which he felt with redoubled force ou this bleak hilltop, whirled the snowfiakes round him in a blind ing storm, forcing him to turn and to shelter his face. When for some sec onds the blast had howled and whis tled and roared in his deafeued ears and the drifts had swept up from the ground in blinding sheets of stinging spray, there was a sudden lull, a mo mentary calm, and as the wind died the snow fell less heavily. Reginald raised his head, shook him self clear from tho thick white coat ings of hard, dry snow aud looked arouud him for the traces of the peas ant's footsteps. They were goue, all trace of'them swept away under the smooth white sheet. He shivered as he looked about him down into the dark waters of the black tarn below him on his left baud at the barreu hills, on the sides of which great perpeudicular slabs of cold gray rock relieved the white mass and disclosed the stony bareness of the soli at the lowering clouds above, which seemed to be descending on his head at the never ending prospect of hills, bare and cold and white and melting Into forlorn gray dtstauces on every side. Look which way he would he could see no sign of human habitation. Chill ed to the marrow with something which was worse tliau cold, worse al most than fear, he recognized the des perate situation lu which he was plac ed and knew that tho chances of his getting back to Trecoed alive were lutiuiteslmnlly small. Although he had left the Inn before noon, with the day before him, he saw by his watch that it was already 4 I o'egggfcujyift. th9„giM.~s)L.tjui vJotsr & evening was alrendy gathering lu 'tho valleys aud ravines beneath. Where should he turn? Not back by the way he had come, even if that had been possible. For he had passed not a hut, uot a cottage, and he could uot hope to liud his road to Trecoed before night fell. The Making a rapid exploratiou of the small tableland on which lie stood, Reginald fancied that he descried, half way up the side of a hill on his right, of lower elevation than the one upon which he was staudlng and less rug ged lu appearance, a gray, shapeless something which looked like the frag ment of a ruined building. In his des perate plight even such a chance of a precarious shelter for the night as a ruin might afford caused him a sensa tion of something acute as joy. To discover this possible refuge was one thing, but to get to it was another. So Reginald Massou soon found as hs started down that side of the mountain which appeared to offer the most direct route. This descent was the most peril ous thing he had undertaken that day the mountain was steep, strewn with loose stones, and its pitfalls and in equalities were hidden beneath the snow. Any sort of path or foot track was of course .not to be discerned a way had to be found, haphazard, between the-jutting gray crags and a stunted growth of rugged pine trees which grew on the side of this hill at a little distance from the summit. Having passed through the narrow belt of wood, Masson found himself, without warning, on the brink of a per pendicular cliff which formed one side of a mountain pass 100 feet below him. The snow was falling heavily again, the daylight had grown fainter, and the ruin toward which his steps were bent was no longer in sight. He turn ed back, and making his way among the rough tree trunks, which afforded Jfoswn sprang down the ravine after him, some valuable assistance in the scram ble among the stones, he got at last to the bottom of the bill and, turning to the left, reached something Uke lev el ground. Then he stopped and looked about him. The silence, the loneliness, were awful, The big flakes of snow touch ed his face like the cold fingers of dead hands. Before him he saw nothing but the bare, bleak Bides of the moun tain pass and a black patch beyond which he knew to be the waters of Llyn Foel. At his feet trickled in a thin, snakelike line the feeble lake fed stream which became some miles away a fair sized river. Behind him was a dreary white waste, and all around were frowning heights of gray, grim hills, with the night shadows growing black in the crevices which the snow could uot reach. The oppression on his spirits was so great that he felt It a labor to draw breath. With difficulty groping In his mind toward a remembrance of the relative poBltious of the pass, the mountain he had descended and the hill upon which be had discerned the ruin which it was his ambition to reach, he at last turned his back to the paes and made his way with diffi culty beside the stream, the course of which be followed. He had gone some 50 yards and had seen or heard nothing to help him on his way, wheu a sound suddenly reach ed his ears and seemed to pierce the air like an arrow. It was nothing but a moan, a cry, pitiful, agonizing. But it was the sound of a human voice. |y aa coNTiNPBpJ ANOTHER FI6HT WITH REBELS. Our Troopa Lose One Killed and 81* Wounded. Washington, Dec. 11.—The war de partment has received the following from General Otis: "Manila, Dec. 9—Dispatch from Young at Vlgan yesterday "Suspect ilcnTra "riTI sayB es caped Spanish prisoners report four hours' engagement 3d inst, between his troops and Agulualdo's guard near Cervantes, fifty miles southeast Vigan, with heavy loss to enemy, who is be ing pursued. Our loss, one killed, six wounded inhabitants of own accord join troops repairing trail and carry ing subsistence. Have pushed col umn to San Jo«» south Bangued, Howe's column en rear trail Batch elor*s battalion, Twenty-fourth, out of reach north of Bayombong, evidently descending river. Natives report fight ing occurred twenty miles north. Navy reaches Aparrl tomorrow column of MacArthur's troops, Twenty-fifth In fantry, reported near Iba, west coast Zambales Grant's column near Sublg bay Lawton In Bulucan province to day with sufficient troops to overcome opposition and scatter enemy." It Is probable that the troops which engaged Agulualdo's guard are Hare's command, as he was reported to be close in the Insurgent leader's rear. General Otis also cables as follows re garding tho revolt In Negros: "In formation received that Negros revolt of minor Importance Byrnes In rapid pursuit of disaffected party Hughes in mountains Panay en route Capiz." Shooting of Rev. Cheney. Racine, Wis., Dec. 8.—Tlie mysteri ous shotting of Rev. D. B. Cheney and his wife has aroused every citizen In this city. Should the culprit be caught It Is uot improbable that he will be severely dealt with at the hands of a mob. But little hope Is entertained by the doctors attending Mrs. Cheney, as the bullet tired by the burglar— for such the people here believe he was—passed through her neck and tore Its way through the membranes of the air passage. Rev. Cheney's condition Is equally precarious. He was Bhot twice, one of the bullets striking him In the groin. Racine, Wis., Dec. 0.—Henry J. Corbett, a picture solicitor of Milwau kee, is now in the custody of the po lice here for the attempted murder of Rev. Mr. and Mrs. David B. Cheney of this city. Corbett has been posi tively Identified by Mrs. John Arm strong, a neighbor of the Cheneys, who encountered the assassin In the street to ho wU I •a ~C0Dh6CH66 Michigan Willi the crime, but is unable to tell the po Where he was between the hours of in and 11, when the shooting oc curred. Negro Burned nt the Stake. Marysville. Ky„ Dec. T.-DIck Cole man, the uogro murderer of Mrs. Lash brook, was taken from the officers by a moli of 1,000 men aud burned at the stake. The mob, led by the husband of the negro's victim, dragged the shrieking criminal through the princi pal streets of the town, bound him to small tree, set tire to brush and tow about hi in, and stood guard until he was dead. The scene was an awful one. anil around the funeral pyre were thousands of maddened people, headed by the husband of the dead woman. Four Hour, of Flame Burn. $1,000,000. Augusta, Ga., Dec. 11.—A Are whicli had its origin In a dry goods store here shortly after 2 o'clock yesterday monr lug burned four hours and laid waste a block In the center of the business portion of the city. The damage will approximate $1,000,000. There were no casualties. Found Donrt ltt Best. New York, Lice, a.—Policeman Charles L. Heusle and a young wom an, said to be Mamie Jackson, 25 years old, were found dead in bed in a room of the House of Lords, a Houston street hotel. They had been killed by ens. the two jets in the room being found turned on. All windows were closed tightly and the transom over -the iloor was shut. Whether it was an accident or suicide is not known. Holl»uler»r 111 Petition. Washington. Dec. 11.—Burrows of Michigan has presented to the presi dent an elaborately prepared petition asking lliat the chief executive tender Hie good otliccs of the United States the settlement of the difficulty be tween Oreat Britain and the two South African republics. The petition was «:i:ueil ly a committee representing a large number of Hollanders in Michl lau. Peculiar Fatal Aooideafc Movllle, la., Dec. 8.—Miss Sarah McDermott, of this place, shot and killed herself under peculiar circum stances. She was In the presence of her sweetheart, Hank Stevenson, who hail been calling on her. The young woman asked the man If he had seen her new present. He replied In the negative, and she walked over to a trunk, taking from it a 22 calibre re volver. It was unloaded and she handed It to Stevenson. Later, how ever, she put two catrldges In the cylinder. There was a snap and a re port and the frlrl fell dead with a bul let Just over her heart. Stevenson declares he did not see how It hap pened. Death of Judge Woolaon* Des Moines, la., Dec. 8.—John S. Woolson, federal judge of the southern district of Iowa, died at his home here Monday of a complication of stomach troubles from which he had been suf fering for two years. He was 57 years old. Judge Woolson was for many years a resident of Mount Pleasant, and was a prominent member of the state senate for two terms. In 1891 he was appointed to the federal dis trict bench by President Harrison and has served since. He removed to Dea Moines about a year ago. He leaves three daughters, REPORT OF THE CONDITION Ot The First National Bank at Man chester, in the State of Iowa, at the Close of Business, Sept. 7, 1899, RESOURCES Loans and discounts Overdrafts, secured and unsecured. U. S. Bonds to secure circulation.... Bunkltig bouse, furniture and fixtures Duo from National Banks (not re* servo agents) Due from approved resorve agents... Checks uud otber cu«h limns Notes of other National Uauks Fractional paper currency, nickels and cents Lawful money reservo in Bank, viz: 1 Specie 9 14 608 20 1 Legal-tender notes 9,000 00 23 658 20 Redemption fund with U. S. Treasur er (5 per cent of circulation) 5C0 63 ll&r.7ir os 4.381 C4 19,500 00 0,5200 00 30,970 76 10,576 39 ii. 162 The amount subject to ho drawn at sight on deposit witli solveut bunks or bank ers: Xat'l Bank of tho KepubUt. 25 685 00 Total 1290,378 01 LIABILITIES. Capital stock paid In $ 50,000 00 Surplus fund.. y,ooo Total $290,378 01 State of Iowa, County of Delaware.—ss. I, M. F.Le Roy cashier of the above-named bank do solemnly swear that the above state ment is true to the best of my knowledge and belief. M. P. Le Roy, Cashier. Subscribed and sworn to before mo thls7tk day of Dec., 169?. ENNIS BOtiGS -y'-V Notary Publio. Correct—Attest. J. W. MILES. H.O.HAEBERLK. A. H. BLAKE Directors* Amount of Bills, U. S. Uoudb and other ovldeuces of debts di counted or purchased actually owned by tho Manchester Markets. «3 40@$3 55 Steers, por cwt Heifers, nor cwt Cow*, butcher's stock, per cwt Canners, per cw* Turkejs, per lb *... Ducks, white, per lb Ducks,dark,per lb.... Chickens, per lb Old HonR, per lb Com. per bu Oats, per bu H»y, wild, per ton Tame hay Potatoes, per bu Butter,creamery,per 1b Butter, dairy, per lb Eggs, per doz Timothy seed Ch'\fr s»-f»d JJC-O? 4 00® 5 00 3 fl0& 4 00 00© 8 00 more Urain-0 you give the children the •"no re health you tastes distribute through their systems. Grain-0 is made of pure grain*,^and when properly prepared like the choice grades of coffee but costs about I much. John Clerk, aftnrward known as Lord Eldln, was Mmping down the High street nf IMJnliurgh one day when he heard a young lady remark to her companion. -That Is the famous John Clerk. t!a» lame lawyer." He turned round nnrl said, with his "not unwonted coarseness:" "You He, ma'ara! 1 am a lame man. but not a lame lawyer." Lord Justice Rraxfield. too, appears to have failed in sex, for. when told that a brother Judge would not sit that day, on ac count of having just lost his wife, he, who wa: fitted with a Xantippc, re plied: "Has ho? That is a trude excuse indeed. wish wo had a' thr same." The person who disturbed the con gregfttion last Sunday by coughing, is requested to call on Gregg & Ward and get a botte of Foleys Ilone and Tar which always gives relief A TbotiKhtfn] HnMbaal, "You asked tun to bring you some pin money this i::urning." said the young husband. "Yes," she replied, with an air of ex pectancy. "Well," said he, "I thought I might as well save you a trip down town, so I brought you a paper of pins instead." —Chicago News. For Pneumonia. Dr. C. J. JMshop, of Agnew, Mich., says:"I have used Foley's Honey and Tar in three very severe cases of pneu monia the past month with good re sults."—Gregg & Ward. The Uiilck, the ucau and the Other. Mrs. Casey and Mrs. Murphy met in a street car and were discussing family affairs. "And how many children have ?ou, Mrs. Murphy?* "Foive. Two IivIn. two dead and wan In Philadelphy." Si!ushin*» Benj, Ingerson, of Button, ind., sayB: he had not spoken above a whisper for months, and one bottle of Foley's Honey and Tar restored his voice. It is used ry largely bv speakers and singers.—Gregg & Ward. nroia a task and ttf fear It Is to make It our master. To set about It cheerfully at once Is to become Its mas* top Love Is the salt that preserves affec tions nnil actions from tlie corruptions of life. 82 SO IiOSt. Many have lost confidence and hope as well as health, because they have been told their Kidney disease was in curable. Foleys Kidney Cure is aGuar anteed remedy for the discouraged and disconsolate.—Gregg & Ward. 00 Undivided protlts, less exponses and taxes paid 2,298 52 National Bank notes outstanding.... H.2fiO 00 Duo to State Bankn and Hankers,.... 1,458 50 Individual deposits subject to cheok. 75.714 50 Demand certificates of deposit 140,656 49 A mail Is hiTui'lably disappointed whet) the imui he Is snltl to look like Is pointed out to him.—Atchison Globe. Chapped bands, cracked lips and roughness of the skin cured quickly by Banner Salve, the most healing oint ment in the world. 25c. "One Minute N. STATEMENT Of the Condition of the Delaware County State Bank, Organized under the laws of Iowa, located at Manchester, lowajlu the county of Delaware, at the close of business on the 2nd day of Decem ber A. D., 1899, made to tho Auditor of State as required by law: ASSETS. Bank $230,732 7fi Amount of cash on hand, described as follows: Gold coin $12,007 50 Silver coin and bullion... 681 23 «1 Legal tender and national bank notes and subsidiary coin $ 9,804 00 Drafts and checks on otber solveut banks and other cash Items not dishonored, on hand aud beloufi lug to the bank $ 1,725 22 $24,817 or New York City $ r»,704 01 Union Natioual Bank, Chica go, 111 .$ 21.8N 1C Socond National Bank, Du buque. Iowa $ 32,759 16 Des Moines Savings Bank, Dos Molues $ 28,7«)3 G9 Sundry other bunks $ so $ Revenue stamp acct Overdrafts $ The value of real property $ 13,347 90 The value of personal proi erty (owned by the bank).? 2,imm 00 $15,847 90 lotal Assets $SG9.8W £3 LIABILITIES. The amouut of capital stock actually nald up in cash $ co.ooo on rhe total amount due depositors, as follows): Amount sight deposits Amount time doposlts. The amount of undivided' profits, as follows: ...#131,039 79 ..$101.997 24 $293,037 (after $ 12,000 00 Surplus fiuid Other profits ou liaud deducting taxes aud ex penses) $ 4,818 3(1 $10,818 Total UublUtlo.s Amount of nubilities totlio Hank 011 tmrtot the directors I As borrowers, a,023 51 As endorsers $ a.tfir, 00 I State of Iowa, Delaware County—ss. We. Win. O.Cawley. I'reslilent. andOlius. .1. Soeds, caslilor of the Hank above inuiied, do solemnly swear that the foregoing state ment is full, true and correct, to the best of our knowledge and belief that tlie assets therein sot forth are bona lido the property of said Hank In its corporate capacity and that no part of the same has been loaned or advanced to suld Hank for the purpose of being exhibited as a portion of Us assets. \VM. C. CAWI.EY, 1 President. 1' W. TIKKILL, [SEAL] Notary uMimki Vice-president. CHAS..I. SEEDS. a Sworn to before me aud subscribed lu m: presence by Win. C. Cawley. R. W. Ttrrlll ani Ohas. J. Seeds this 7tli day of December 1899. CALVIN YOltAN" otary Fublle of Iowa In and for Delaware county. Attested by: C, W. Keai o' any, H. F.Arnold, DIreoton. -f Ki Cough Cure is the best remedy I ever used for coughs and colds. It Is unequalled for whooping cough. Children all like it," writes H. Williams, Gentryville, Ind. Never fails. It is the only harmless remedy that gives immediate results. Cures, coughs, coldB, hoarseness, croup, pneu monia, bronchitis and all throat and lung troubles. Its early use prevents consumption.—H. C. Smith. Holiday Excursions. For the Christmas and New Year Holidays the Chicago Milwaukee & St. I'aul railway will sell excursion tickets to points within 200 miles at fare CALIFORNIA NEW ORLEANS Pullman Tourist Sleeping Car FROM 3.087 51 $364 00 5 22 Personally couducted. ltuns rsi ,»Vk through to Los Angeles and OH P.Afin San Francisco, via New Or- wi I lunuv leans In connection with the EVERY Southern Pacific, leaving Chi? WEDNESDAY cago on the Ceutral's fast MORNING "New Orleans Special "con nection also made by this tralu with dally trains out of New Orleans for the Pacltlc Coast. The Limited, from Chicago every even'ne. connects on Mondays aud Thurs days at New Orleans [after December 18,1899] with tho SUNSET LIMITED J[ the Southern Pacific, giving special through servlco to Sau Francisco. pLORII) A VIA Nashville and Atlanta THROUGH SER VICE FROM CJi- 1 connecting llues to Nash- Double dHily service is maintained out of St. Louis via the Illinois Cuutral and XJOIIIS vllle, Chattanooga and Atlanta, through sleep- lug cur to Jncksouvllle. Florida, being carried on the DIXIE FLYER leaving St. Louis every evening. This train, us well as the Day Express leaving St. Louis in the momlug, are both solid tralus to Nushvllle, having through coaches and "—tin, .. ing for all principal points in the Southeast, such as Charleston. Wilmington. Aiken and Savannah, sleeping cars, running via Martin, Term., and the N. & St. L. liy. Connecting via this .line Charleston. Wilmington. Aiken and for all points iu Flor da. TWO SOLID FAST VESTIBULE TRAINS DAILY FROM CHICAGO TO MEMPHIS AND NKW ORLEANS. HOMKSEEKKRS' EXCURSIONS to certain points in the South on the lines of the Illinois Central and Y. & M. V. Railroads will be run on the first and third Tuesday of eaoh month dur ing the winter season, Full particulars concerning all of the above oao bewail of Menu of the lulnoli Oentnl or by addreiilngA. H. Haniou, OTP. A., CIIIOIRO. Again the publishers of the DEMO CRAT 5H 5 5 6 00Q7 00 20 2G 22 15 80® 90 3 50@4 00 What do the Children DrinkP Don't give them tea or coffee. Have you tried the new food drink called GItA It is delicious and nourish ing an'L takeB the place of coffee. The have decided to give its old and new subscribers who pay one year's sub scription in advance, a present of either one of the following: 20®28 20 5 00 Famous Frontiersmen, Pio neers and Scouts, Being narratives of the lives and ex ploits of the most renowned Heroes Trappers, and Explorers of this coun try, etc. It is a book of 540 pages, has over 250 full page portraits and illus trations, and is bound in English silk cloth, stamped in silver. The Home Physician and Cen tury Cook Book All grorers sell it. 15c.Jandas 25c. Sot Very Polite. An elegantly bound book of "The best courtesy to the fair 353 pages and over 300 illustrations. It should be in every family. The Boston Globe sayB: "It iB better and more fully illustrated than any other book of the kind." The St. Paul Dispatch pronounces it book for the purpose we have ever seen.' The Minneapolis "ommerclal-Bulle tin, commenting upon it says: "There has never been a superior book of its kind issued." "It is," Bays the Detroit Evening News, "just what its name implies—A family book." Poultry Culture. Written by SRSf It Hits the Bpot. When suffering from a severe cold and your throat and lungs feel sore, take a dose of Foley's Honey the and Tar, when be at once re grateful feelin affected will will say: BorenesB will lieved, a warm and healing of the partB experienced and you IT HITS "It feels so good. THE SPOT." Guaranteed—Gregg & Ward, I. K. Felch the greatest living authority on poultry raising. It iB nicely bound In cloth and con tains over 400 pages of valuable in formation to every one Interested in the raising of poultry. It has over sixty illustrations and treats on the breeding of poultry, location, buildings and fur nishings, fesd and care of fowls, from shell to griddle, artificial incubation, diseases of fowls and their medical treatment, mating turkeys, ducks, geese, etc. Pooular American Dictionary. Bound In cloth. Contains over 32,000 words with accurate definitions, proper spelling and exact pronunciation. It is enriched with 400 illustrations and be sides being a dictionary of the English language, it contains a compendium of classical quotations list of scriptural names popular names of states and citieB metric system of weights and measures mythological names: Ameri canisms government and constitution of the United States biographical dic tionary of distinguished men vocabu lary of English synonyms. Also spec ial departments on commercial and legal questions banks and banking: interest tables and laws agricultural tables legal phrases and maximB, ETC^ the whole forming a library in itself. Prince Bismark And the Re-establishment of I|the German Empire, by Max •Frederick, This great work (sprinted in Qerman text, is appropriately Illustrated, con tains nearly 300 pages, is handsomely bound in silk, and a fine portrait of the "Iron Chancellor" is shown on the tront cover. The Condensed Code of the Laws of Iowa. Being a condensation of all the gen eral statute laws of this state (except the code of procedure) contained in the code of 1897. Murray's Horse Book, Treats on the origin, characteristics and one third for the round trip. 50w2 ANNOUNCEMENT FOR WINTER TOURISTS The Illinois Central desires to call attention to tlie unexcelled service tlmt Is offered by Its lines to the south (or the season of 1899-11)00. and training of horses, and gives remedies for their diseases. Tells how to select and how to care tor dairy cows, and how to educate and train dogs. Dairy and Creamery Is a semi monthly newspaper pabllshed the 1st and 15th of each month and 1B devoted to the dairy,creamery and stock interests. Remember, every old and new. sub scriber who pays all arrearages and one year's subscription in advance to the DEMOCRAT, is entitled to receive his choice of either one of the above premiums. If Sent Bv Mail. Eighteen cents in addition to the sub scription price is required to prepay postage on "Famous Frontiersmen, Pioneers and Scouts," and ten cents for postage on each of the other books, ex cept the Code of Iowa. Periodicals. We will also furnish to our paid-in advance subscribers at reduced rates and at actual cost to us, almost any of the leading newspapers and magazines published. The readers of THE DEMOCRAT may rest assured that It will, during th coming year, maintain the high standard of excellence it has attained and continue to be, as it has been for many years past, the leading newspaper published in this county. LIVERY AND FEED STABLE Firat-olaBS rigs to be had at all times. Buss to all trains and passengers taken to or called for in any part of the olty. FrowseSHetheriagtoa PROPRIETORS,