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THE FARM I N THE HILLS CHAPTER IV. A CLEW TO THIS MISSING ONE Reginald Masson raised Ids head sharply and threw all the force of his lungs Into a shout which echoed In the hills. There was a pause, and his heart began to fail him agaiu, for fear that he should get no reply. Then above him on bis left band he heard a man's voice calling: "Hello! Hello!" He made out the direction whence the voice proceeded, a point almost Im mediately above him. He paused again, tut hearing nothing more, and fearing that this chance of meeting a fellow human being might escape him, he leaped across the little stream and be gan a vigorous attempt to ascend the hia This was comparatively easy, for in stead of the stones and crags of the last mountain he bad climbed his feet reached down through the snow to a spongy surface of dry heather, slippery In places, but less treacherous than the rolling stones. He shouted once more on his way up, but got no reply. Resolved not to let this opportunity of human companionship escape him, Masson thai went on quietly and as quickly as he could, without uttering any further sound. Prom the tones of the voice he beard—tones of acute suf fering—he Judged that the man who bad uttered them bad come to grief on bis way among the mountains and had wondered whether was Coch Tal who, In escaping from himself, bad met with an accident. As usual among the mountains, Mas son climbed for a much longer time than he had bargained for before he came to anything but little tablelands with more hills beyond. Again and again he thought he must have reach ed the very summit, and again and again on arriving at what he had sup posed to be the last point he found an other point to be scaled beyond. Then at last he found himself face to face with a man. Hot the redheaded peasant, but a creature as unlike blm as possible—a small, lithe, black eyed man, with a keen, hawklike face and a wiry little frame, a real sou of the Sllures, who stopped short in his hurried walk up and down the ledge of the mountain be occupied and glared at tbe intruder .with fierce eyes. "Who are you? Who are you? What are you doing here?" be asked in good t&ngllsh, but with tbe sharp Welsh accent very strongly marked. Although his words contained no welcome, and although the look in his £ttce was as uncompromising as his {words themselves, Masson was so much relieved by the sight of another human being that be answered buoy antly enough: "1 am a stranger in these parts. I've lost my way. I should be thankful for a night's shelter. 1 can't get back to Trecoed tonight" As he Bpoke And in tbe pause which succeeded his words Masson noted also that he had reached the very point toward which he had meant to make his way. for on a mountain ledge a little higher than the one on which they stood h6 saw the gray walls which had attract ed himfrom the neighboring mountaic and a ruined arch, lofty end pointed, which had once beeu the east window of an abbey church. Even in the first brief glance through the still falling snow and In tbe gath ering darkness be discerned that 8 stately Gothic doorway had been fill ed In to fit a mean little painted door and that a portion of what had oncc been a handsome pile of monastic buildings had been roughly roofed In for modern occupation. To the left of the door a window had been insert ed into the solid masonry, and through this window a feeble light glimmered so faintly that it threw no patch ot warning light on the snow outside. At the corner of the building a large snowdrift had already collected, aud this was gradually extending, as the snow still fell and the wind still blew, in the direction of the window. The farmer, after a long pause, an* swered Masson's request ungraciously •enough. His manner was short, 8harp fiurly. But it was less offensive than defensive, Masson thought, betraying as It did a mind ill at ease. "Back to Trecoed! What made you leave Trecoed on such a day as this?" be said gruffly, while his quick eyes looked searchlngly not at Reginald, but down Into the valley from which be bad Just climbed. "You must havo been out of your senses, man, to try. And across the hills too!" He seemed less pitiful for the stran ger's distress than scornful of his foUy. "Yes, it was a rash thing to do. 1 was to have had a guide, but 1 started without him." The other man laughed mirthlessly, contemptuously. "Oh, aye the guide knew better •what be was about than you did." "You won't refuse me a night's shel ter?" The man shook his head. "We've no shelter to give," he said ahortly. "I can pay for it well." The unwilling host looked at him with a little more interest, but he again shook his bead. 'Ifs not possible just now," said be in the Bame defiant, wholly surly tone. "There's illness In the bouse and no time for waiting on strangers with my daughter, my poor girl, lying at death's door." FLORENCE WARDEN. Copyright, 1899, by Florence Warden. Reginald Masson exam ined the mau's features, in which he Cound traces of no mean intelligence, and his dress, by which be guessed blm to be a small farmer, a man of higher class than Coch Tal. As he uttered these words the ex pression of bis face underwent a sud den change, and a look of unutterable anguish shone In his black eyes. "111?" said Masson. "Your daughter |11? Perhaps I can be of some use then. I'm a doctor." The man, who had turned away as if to hide his own distress, sprang up on him with a wild look of joy in his sensitive face. He seized Masson by the arm with the nervous grip of a .small, strong hand and, holding him tight, stared up into his face as if he would force out some truth which the other wished to conceal from him. "You—a doctor? No, no!" he said lioarsely, stammering In his excite ment "You say so—you say that to -get tbe night*s shelter you have been asking fort Noi no, you're not a doc KM If* tto to IMP* 5? A TALE OF MYSTERY. for—too much, loo much!" 'Lot me go," buUI Masson good hu momlly. "I can soon prove It to you, 1 thiuk. Lot me got at my pockets." But already the man was couvinced. Massou's attitude, his readluuss to give his credentials, had beeu enough for the eager father. At the lirst plunge iuto his pockets Massou brought out a small case of surgical instrumeuis which he always carried about him, aud the uiomeut be drew It out the little Welshman seized biui again and began to drag him up ward toward his dwelllug. "Come in, come iu.V said be in a bro ken whisper. "Come in, sir, and don't bear me malice for treating you so shabbily at lirst. I'm nigh beside my self, that 1 am, sir, and now—now—oh, thank God, thank God!" Aud the excitable little fellow burst Jnto loud sobbing aud climbed up the slope toward the gray ruin above, still holding Masson In a firm grip with one hund and hiding bis contorted face with the other. From the size of the ruined build" lng which had been converted Into a farmhouse and from the appearance of such of the old walls as were left Masson decided without difficulty that the remains were monastic, although the situation was higher than was usu ally the case with such peaceful Instl* tutlons. The position was, however, sheltered and pleasant, protected on the north Bide by a mountain of great steepness and so hemmed In by lesser hllU on the cast and west sides as to leave II open only to the milder south. As Masson allowed himself to be led forward be noticed that the ruins on the left and the fragments of an east window were the remains of a church of small size, aud he conjectured that the portion of the ruin which had been made habitable was what was left of the mouastery itself. In the darkntss, however, with the enow still falling, and his companion hurrying him forward, he had little leisure to take accurate note of his sur roundings. The ground, moreover, was uneven and rough, being Incumbered by stones aud by fragments of over grown ruin. They came upon the door quite suddenly, as they got round the base of a massive pillar, which, no longer supporting anything, stood by Itself like a sentinel before the incon gruous pile of old and new, mean things and stately, which formed the farmer's home. They dashed into the dwelling quick* ly, and the farmer, drawing his com- The room in which be found himself had evidently beeu tbe refectory of the monastery, for the stone pulpit in the wall where the reader used to stand during the dinner hour was still to be seen, though broken and imperfect on the south side of tbe room. A rough partltlou wall of lath and plaster had been erected just beyond this pulpit and in this partition were two doors leading to the other apart ments of the farmhouse. On tbe right opposite to the pulpit in the wall, was a huge open fireplace partly filled in with bricks, In which a fire of logs was burning. On tbe left wall, which was roughly whitewashed, the outlines of the low er part of a row of beautiful early English windows, divided by clusters of slender pillars, were plainly to be seen. Small latticed windows and more bricks and mortar filled up the spaces where the lights bad been. The huge beams of rough wood over-1 head, dark and dusty, showed that the farmhouse had stood in its present\ condition for a length of years. The floor was red tiled, clean and bright the oak settees aud presses, the pots and pans ou the white dresser, the neat hearth, tbe fresh white walls, all testified to tbe care of a housewifely hand. But tbe only creature in the room was a withered and bent old woman, wearing a large apron of check print! over her dark dress, a small shawl1 drawn tightly round her shoulders and a clean white cap, who sat in a rock ing chair almost over the fire, with crossed legs, a short pipe between her lips and her eyes fixed on the red heart of the fire. She neither spoke nor moved when the farmer and hlB guest entered only her eyes, black and keen as those of the farmer himself, turned slowly, But the only creature tn the room toot a withered and bent old woman. took In all the details of the stranger's appearance and then moved round agaiu slowly toward the glowing logs. Masson, bewildered and dazzled by the change Into light and warmth, al most staggered when be found himself once more on a level floor. Tbe farmer had advanced to the fire and, bending to warm bis bands In the blaze, said a few words to the old woman. They formed a question, Masson knew by tbe tone. But he could not understand it, as it was In the Welsh language. As the farmer's tbin, muscular hands were stretched out over the flames Masson caught sight of a ring on the little finger of his right band which caused him to shudder with a horror which chilled bis blood. It was an old fashioned ring, of sin gular design, lu a broad band of gold deeply and heavily chased was set a circle of plain gold half an inch wide, In which was an amethyst of a deep purple color. A most slngulai ring, not to be mis taken for another old fashioned, quaint clumsy, handsome, with an old For Ucgmuid Masson recognized il as a ring which had belonged to his own grandfather, a ring which hi* brother Granville had worn always GU the little finger of his left hand.^.^, CHAPTER V. A HOUSE OK MYSTERY. Reginald Massou could not repress an exclamation when he recognized his brother's ring on the farmer's hand. He came a step nearer, still with his eyes steadily fixed on tbe Jewel, until at last he touched it with his trembling finger. The farir r, who had watched blm in some surprise, frowned and drew back as the other advanced. "I beg your pardon," said Masson quickly, "but—the ring on your finger —I—I—have only seen one like It be fore." As he spoke he came a step I nearer still and seized the farmer's hand. His own agitation Increased as he examined the ring more closely and assured himself beyond a doubt that it was Indeed his brother's. "1—I— Will you tell me how you got It? You must forglv* the question. You will for give it when I tell you that when 1 last saw the rlug It was upon tbe hand of my own brother," His Hps formed the words, but did not utter them. He was unable to see or to think. The pitiful consciousness that the ring was now nothing but a relic of the dead unnerved, overwhelm ed him. The farmer's husky voice roused him after the lapse of a few seconds. "Ifs very strange, sir very strange, if what you say should turn out to be true," said he, less brusquely than be fore. "But for sure, it's a most un common ring, and It's true 1 haven't had it long, nor I can't tell who had it before me." Masson had roused himself already from tbe despondeucy and despair Into which the first sight of the ring had thrown him. As he turned toward the farmer the latter took the ring from his finger and put It luto the trembling hand of bis guest. "Maybe," weut on the farmer, "you'll see some marks, If you look at it close, by which you may tell for certain one way or the other." Reginald nodded. "I can Ideutlfy it beyond all shadow of a doubt," said be in a broken voice. "It was left to my brother by my mother's father. How did It come Into your possession?" "I'll tell you all about it, sir, present ly, when you have seen my daughter," said he. "But meantime you're wel- panlou in, shut the door and paused come to keep it sir, till you've beard for breath. all there is to tell about It When you Reginald looked round him with as tonishment and interest have beard that, you'll be able to say for certain, I expect, whether tbe ring was your brother's. This way, sir, please." The matter of the ring, singular as it was, seemed to have but little interest for him, so deeply absorbed was he in anxiety for bis daughter. But It was not unnatural that he should appear to look with something like suspicion at a guest who had made so strange a claim. As Masson advanced, there fore, toward the Inner door, which was held open for him to pass through, the farmer watched blm narrowly with bis keen black eyes. And Masson. returning bis gaze, was more impressed thau before by a coun tenance which changed so rapidly in its expression from despair to curiosity and back again to despair. They ikuvlhI into the back room, formed by the remainiug portion of the refi dory. It was evidently used a3 a wash'iouse, bakehouse aud as a place of .l iage, not as a living room. The^v: "Is were characterized by the same use of whitewash as In tbe big kiu ji'ii. a beautiful arcade with clusu:of slender pillars ou tbe left baud s.-«c. which time had defaced but lh.l., l..ivlng been lucluded In this modern "restoration." lu oue corner was a rough wooden stnlrcu... with a small landing at tbe top. t-:i each side of this was a door, UL i, !--lng ascended the stairs with the a't.or. Masson followed him Into a at tbe back, where there won* pad small beds and a few pieces of substantial old fashioned furniture. There were some strips of drugget on the c'^n floor. There were curtains of bi'.^.,. turkey red over the win dows, of which there were two, look ing west. Afire was burning In a small grate on the right, and the whole loom showed the cleauliness and care which bad been noticeable in the kitch en. On the top of a chest of drawers the farmer pointed out a IHtle medi cine chest Only one of the beds was occupied, and as the former led tbe way toward it the girl lylug in it turned her head quickly aud fixed upou tbe stranger a pair of large, glittering eyes. Masson took the chair beside tbe bed which the farmer placed for him and looked at her by tbe light of a caudle which her father brought across the room from the mantelpiece. While he made his examination the girl continued to stare at him fixedly, and as she did so her brows gradual ly contracted with a slight frown. Not a word had been uttered by any one of the three. At last the farmer spoke. "Well, sir?" said be in a tremulous voice. Masson looked up quickly and was touched to the heart. Down tbe farm er's thin, swarthy face the tears were streamiug like raiu. "She's very HI. ain't she, sir? My poor Gwyn." "She's 111 certainly, but you mustn't give way like that," said Massou. He had taken tbe girl's band and was feeling her pulse. The moment he spoke he felt a strong tremor run through her, and, glancing at her quickly, he saw that the strained, in tent look with which she had previ ously regarded him had changed to an expression of terror. Still she did not utter a sound. Perceiving that for some reason which be could not divine his patient looked upou him with fear, if not mis trust the youug doctor haste&ed to leave the room after uttering a few more reassuring words, each eae ef which seemed, however, to hftfV tbe effeet of deepening the lmpraiaftaa of horror with which be appearcf have inspired her. When he reached the dosic, threw, in turning to leave one last glance at the girl. had raised l*ae bead a little, the Mlv to watch him, and her Hps wei« aoting rapidly, as if she were^ormggj^Wet*! in "bade "her not to utter. So much struck was he by this atti tude of his patient that he turned to her father and said iu a low voice: "Is she always shy and afraid of strangers? My coming seems to alarm her terribly." "No, sir," answered the farmer. "Gwyn'8 not so shy, considering she lives In the wilds." The girl was still watching with the same feverish intentness, and Mnmrftni 1 His feelings had by this time pos sessed him so strougly that he dropped the hand of the farmer, which had remained passive and cold in his, and supported himself for a few moments against the wall by the fireplace. Tbe awful fears as to his brother's fate which had filled his heart for so long had, upon this strauge discovery, readied the point of acute agony. Al though he felt, he kuew, that he had need of all his coolness, of all his self possession, to get at the heart of the mystery upon tbe borders of which he found himself, neither feeling nor knowledge helped him in that first aw ful moment. "My brother! My poor brother!" Be had taken the girl's hand and wa$ Jccllno her pulse. who began to fear that this horror or aversion on her part would interfere with his chances of success with the case, went back to tbe bedside in the hope of fiuding some words to say to her which would put him on a more favorable footing. But on seeing blm approach, she sank back on her pillow and closed her eyes, lie stood for a few seconds looking at her face, which was that of well grown, handsome girl of some 18 or 20 years, with masses of black hair, and theu, as she kept her eyes resolutely shut and still uttered no word, he withdrew without disturbing her. At tbe door, however, for the second time, he saw that she had raised her head to watch him go out. CHAPTER VI. STRANGE MIDNIOHT VISITATION. The farmer scarcely waited to close the door of the room before question ing the doctor. "Will she gt?t over it, sir? Will she get over It? Ii's no use deceiving me, sir. 1 know she's very ill. But—will my dear get over it? Or will she—will she"— His voice faltered and died away. Great drops of sweat stood upon his forehead. lie clutched the doctor's arm In a grip of Iron. "We must always hope for tbe best" began the doctor. But at these doubtful words the farmer spurned him with so much vlo leuce that It was only by a quick move ment that Masson escaped being flung down the stairs on the tiles of the out house below. "I beg pardon, 1 beg pardon, sir," cried the farmer, contrite immediately, as he held out a beseeching hand to ward the guest he bad a moment be fore treated so roughly. "But if you knew bow I feel, what It would mean to mo if—If my girl—my bonny girl was to die"— Again his voice shook so much that it was almost inaudible, "you'd forgive me." He was trembling so much that he staggered aud held on by the rough stair rail for support. Masson, who had gone down two or three steps, looked up with warm pity into his drawn aud quivering face. "Indeed," said the doctor, "I am tell ing you the truth when I say you have no need to give up hope. Your daugh ter is very ill, there Is no deuylng that. But she is youug. She has a fine phy sique, and we may well hope to pull her through." "What do you call the fever, sir, that she's got?" "Pueumonia." "Ah! That comes of cold, don't It?" **Yes." 'That's got by being out in all weathers, looking after the live stock when I was 111 myself. Poor Gwynl My poor little Gwyn! If you knew what she was like, sir what a sun sine Bhe is about tbe place, why you wouldn't be surprised at my taking on so!" "Do you leave her alone up there?" asked Massou. "No, sir. I was up with her myself all night, and her grauny's been with her all day, till Gwyn herself sent her down stairs to get my tea for me. And tonight it's her brother's turn, only he's afraid, the blockhead!" •Til do the watching tonight But I should like you to tell her who I am that I'm a doctor aud that there's noth ing to be alarmed about She seems to be afraid of me." "Why, yes, sir 1 noticed It myself. I'll speak to ber. Aud thank you kind ly, sir, for your offer. I won't refuse, for you'll know what to do for the best for sure, and you wouldn't let her die, a young thing like that, If you could help it sir that I know." "Of course not. But you have more to hope from her youth and strength than from anything I or any one else can do." "And uow come, sir, and have a bite of something yourself. You must be starved, after all these hours In the cold. Come, sir come, and you're heartily welcome to the best we've got" Transformed Into the most attentive pf hosts to the guest who was ready to try to save his daughter, the farmer drew Masson into the kitchen, where another figure, that of a thickset, heavy looking lad of 10 or 17, now com pleted the straugo party. He was sitting cowering over the fire In his rough shepherd's dress, and when told by his father to lay the table for supper, he rose clumsily, pulled his hair by way of salutation to the guest and shambled awkwardly toward tbe dresser in obedience. "This gentleman," Bald the farmer, introducing Masson, "is a doctor, and he's promised to sit up with your sis ter, Tom. So you can make yourself easy, you can go to bed yourself and snore yourself hoarse." Tom raised his bead at this intelli gence, aud It was evident that he was much relieved In his mind by It He saluted agaiu and quickened his pace as he laid the cloth on the table. The old grandmother meanwhile sat by the fire In exactly tbe same position as when Masson had first entered the bouse. And she watched the stranger In exactly the same way as before, moving ber eyes, but not her head, and looking, now that he was less dazzled by the lights and able to take a better Tiew of her, more like a witch than •ver. The farmer, whose sense of hospital ity had grown keen with his gratitude to the doctor, now Insisted on bis com ing up stairs again to his own room, taking off his overcoat and bis wet boots and putting on a pair of carpet slippers belonging to the farmer him self. This bedroom, which was over the kitchen, contained two beds, like tho tunianV MUM-MM plain aud~solid manuer. An absence of the few small pictures and ornaments which had relieved the severity of the back room was the chief point of dis tinction of the apartment occupied by the farmer and his son. Everywhere there was the same exquisite cleanli ness: everywhere the same prevalence of whitewash. Here, as In the other rooms, the old windows had beeu filled up with bricks and mortar, and new ones, small, mean, latticed, had been Introduced Into the depths of tbe old monastic & [TO BE CONTINUED.] STATE NEWS NOTES. MATTERS O- SPECIAL INTEREST TO IOWA PEOPLE. Newton, la.. Dec. 18., Ex-Judge Horace S. Wlnslow died Monday night in this chy after a lingering Illness. Wlnslow was known throughout the stat*» as an eminent lawyer and Jurist. At the time of his death he was attor ney for the Chicago. Rock Island and Pacific railway. Horace S. Wluslow was born lu IMttsford. Vt.. In 1837, aud came to Newton In 18T. He was at torney for the Sixth judicial district of Iowa from 1802 to 1S(K5 and judge of the same district from 1874 to 1878. He was elected grand commander of Knights Templar of Iowa in 1880. He was a life-long Republican. Stabbing Affray In School House. Fort Dodge, la., Dec. 13.—A serious stabbing affray occurred lu the public schools of Lehigh, twelve miles south of here. The principal, O'Malley, a well-known educator, ordered James Elsbury, a pupil, to change seats. Els bury refused, when the principal en deavored to remove him by main strength. Elsbury drew a knife and stabbed O'Malley three times, inflict ing wounds from which O'Malley may die. The principal was taken to his home, where he now lies lu a precar ious condition. The boy who com mitted the assault was placed under arrest. May Sell .1 Court llmue Site. Des Moines, la., Dec. 1T.—The su preme court holds that the county board of supervisors may sell the old court house site and apply the proceeds to the erection of a court house on an other site. Some months ago a spe cial election was held and the proposi tion to sell tbe old site, purchase a new one in a different locality, and erect thereon a court house to cost $400, 000 was caiTled. There was hitter op position, however, to changing the lo cation, and tbe power to sell the site was attacked In the courts. •fan IOWH Railway. Sioux City, la., Dec. 14.—The Sioux Olty and Northern railway and its properties have been sold under an order of the federal court by Howard S. Baker, special master-ln-chancery, to William Stewart Tod and Robert E. Tod, of New York, of the firm of J. Kennedy Tod & Co. Tbe road was sold for $1,500,000. The property will be operated now in connection with the Sioux City and Western, also owned by the Tods, by the Great Northern. Fight Amoit* Myatio Shrinere. Des Moines, Dec. 14.—There is a fight among the Mystic Shriners of Iowa which will develop at the meet ing of the El Knhir temple in Cedar Rjpids, which began yesterday. The two Iowa temples—Kaaba at Daven port El Kahlr at Cedar Rapids—have been petitioned to allow a third to be established lu Des Moines. They op pose the actlou and at tbe Cedar Rapids meeting the friends of Des Moines will appear in force and at tempt to carry their polut. Det Moines Get* No Temple. Cedar Rapids, la., Dec. 15.—At the annual election of El Kahlr temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, the propo sition to divide one Jurisdiction and give Des Moines a temple was de feated, despite the strenuous efforts of tbe delegation from that city, which came by special train. The election re sulted: Imperial potentate, F. O. Evans, Des Moines recorder, J. W. Gelger, Marlon treasurer, IL T. Forbes, Cedar Rapids. Iow» Fruit Grower* Meet. Des Moines, la., Dec. 13.—Fruit growers from all sections of the state thronged the capital yesterday when the twenty-fourth annual meeting of the Iowa State Horticultural society was called to order. The opening ses sion was occupied with the officers' an nual reports and other business of a routine nature, followed by a discus sion of the future policy of the society. Ingram Adjudged a Bankrupt, Des Moines, la., Dec. 14.—C. O. In gram, tbe (ailed Mount Ayr merchant, has beeu adjudged a bankrupt. Be filed an admission of Insolvency and consented to tbe sale of bis assets. Tbe creditors have called a meeting In Des Moines Jan. 10 to organize to flght the preferences given by Ingram through transfers of property before hit failure. Concern 8 Per Cent. Sioux City, la., Dec. 14.—A final re port was made Tuesday lu the affairs of the Union Loan aud Trust company, which failed April 25, 1803. with lia bilities of $6,000,000, and precipitated the collapse of the Sioux City boom. The assets of the company brought a little over $500,000, whlcb was applied upon preferred claims. Train* Mait Not Stop There. Des Moines, la., Dec. 10.—Under or ders from the state board of health tbe Iowa Central Railroad company bas been instructed to make no stops at Coalfield, in Monroe county, until after tbe smallpox quarantine estab lished there bas been raised. Ten cases of tbe disease have developed there. Lot* or$50,000 by Fire. Sheldon, la., Dec. 14.—Tuesday night a fire started In Barrou Bros.' store and before it was subdued bad de stroyed $50,000 worth of property. Bar ron Bros, suffering the heaviest. The loss was well insured. llltnol* Central Extension, Des Moines, la., Dec. 14.—The Illi nois Central road, from Fort Dodge to Omaba, 130 miles, bas been formally opened. It will give tbe Illlinols Cen tral one of the shortage lines to Omaha. Wood Sail, for Cuba. New York, Dec. 18.—Major General Leonard Wood, the newly appointed governor general of Cuba, bas salted for that country on board the steamer Mexico. General Wood was accom panied by his aide-de-camp, Lieuten ant E. C. Brooks of the Sixth cavalrv. LEFT A HANDSOME FOETUNE. Dividing tho Most of It Among SUO Peo ple—Gift to the Poor. Mount Pleasant, la., Dec. 10.—The will of the late W. G. Sanders bas been filed for probate here. Tbe estate amounts to about $400,000. He was a widower aud left no children. Two thirds of lib estate he divided up among about 200 relatives and friends scattered all over the country. Every one who had been kind to blm or his deceased wife will get a check for $500 or $1,C00. He left $2,000 to the city cemetery fund, $2,000 to the Christian church of this city and $2,000 to tbe local Chris tian Scientists. The balance of bis es tate, amounting to about $100,000, he has left as a trust fund to be Invested, and the Income to be Med for the rsllef *f Hm 1 -v..\ i. 4 Pound iiillt.v of Monlor, Maninilti'. Mich.. Dec. 18.—Christ Kallio was found guilty of murdering .Tamos CasluMi at Ishpinilng, Micb.. on Oct. 9. and Jacob Lnssnnell, an ac cessory. guilty of manslaughter. The liien have not yet been sentenced. ,, Co*U tlie .icluMil DUlrlet $50,000. Sioux City, la., Dec. 18.—The Iowa supreme court, has rendered a decision which costs the Sioux City school dis trict $50,000. The district had secured Judgment in the lower court against the American Surety company for $50, 000, which was securty on School Treas urer Hubbard's bond for that amount The money was lost by failure of the Home Savings bank. Tbe supreme court reversed the lower court's de cision. Church'* Busy D*y I* Sunday. Des Moines, la., Dec. 16.—E. M. Donald, of Fort Madison, defendant In the case, appealed from a decision by the Lee cousty district court, that he must pay a subscription made on Sunday to a church. Donald set up a defense that the obligation having been entered Into on Sunday was ille gal and that there was no considera* tion. Both claims are overruled by the supreme court. College Must Pay Tax**. Des Moines, la., Dec. 10.—A decis ion was rendered In the district court here holding that Highland Park col lege of this city was established for pecuniary profit aud therefore should pay taxes. The college contended that It should be exempt from taxa tion for the reason that It was an edu cational institution. The decision will apply to number of colleges in the state. An appeal will be taken, (iailly nfShooting Her Husband. Osceola. In.. Dec. 18.—Mrs. Julia Crosby who was on trail on the charge of murdering ber busbaud, Nicholas Crosby, at their home at Woodbine, by shooting him, pleaded guilty. The shooting resulted from family differ ences nnd the case attracted wide at tention. She will be sentenced, it Is understood, to twenty years' imprison ment. Loan* to Parmer* Are Higher. Des Moiues, Dec. 18.—Iowa bankers and financial coucerus arc raising the rates on farm loans, aud whereas 5 and 5% per eeut was accepted until recently, and 7 per ceut. Is now de manded and secured. Bankers report that the demand for money is fully equal to the supply for the first time in two years. Iowa Horticultural Society. De Moines, Deec. 10.—The Iowa Horticultural society bas elected of ficers mul appointed committees for the ensuing year. The officers are: President. C. E. Gardner, Osage sec retary, Weslay Greene. Davenport. Tod* Have PttlU a Million. Sioux City, la., Dec. 18.—BondB rep resenting .fl.iOS.Olltl have lieeu paid by the Tods, of New York, for the Sioux City ami Northern, which they bought at foreclosure last Tuesday. They get possession Dec. 31. CUES MAM' FOR COM EMIT. Judge Scott of Omaha Summon. Hatch of Alleged Keoalollranl.. Omaba, Neb., Dec. 18.—Judge Scott Is finishing up his term on the district beucb with a brilliant display of legal pyrotecbnics and contempt cases. The Urst thing in the morning he cited Frank Harris of the Chicago Wreck ing company, which is tearing down the exposition buildings, for contempt for dismantling a building in tbe face of uu injunction. With this for a stifl'ter he took up the Dodd habeas corpus case. Judge M. K. Hopewell, who preceded Scott on the equity bench, was lirst cited and a deputy sheriff sent after blm. The charge against Hopewell is that he advised bis elleut, who has one of the children lu controversy iu his keeping, to pay no attentiou to Scott's order to pro duce it in court. The other parties wanted are persons who are alleged to be concealing the children and keep ing them out of tbe reach ot the sher iff. In all there arc nine persons in volved In the proceedings, but only the two preachers already lined have been brought into court. To Install Marco ill Sy.t-in. Toledo, O., Dec. 18.—Without wire or cable the Ann Arbor railroad will attempt to flash messages across Lake Michigan this winter. The negotia tions have beeu practically closed be tween Mraconl aud the Ann Arbor company. One of tbe otHees will be at Frankfort, on this side of the lake, and tbe western office will be at or near Menominee. Tbe distance will be about eighty miles, but agents of the Marconi system do not anticipate that they will have difficulty In giving the railway satisfactory service WASHINGTON'S LAST YEARS. Hie Htp,r Life with Rli Wife ml Mount Vernon. At tbe time of his retirement to Mount Veruon, after the expiration of bis term as president, "the tall figure of Washington was ouly slightly bent and be was still supposed to weigh up ward of 200 pounds," writes William Perrine of "Tbe Last Years of Wash ington's Life" In The Ladles' Home Journal. "Excepting his gray hair and bis false teeth and some trouble in bear ing there was little of the usual ap pearance of age in his muscular per Bon. his gait and his strong, pock marked face. Ue was affable and merry with his best frieuds, but while be had the true hospitality of a south ern gentleinau iu inviting every vis itor from a distance to his table or to a bed over utght, his politeness was gen erally formal. Yet if he particularly enjoyed the conversation of a guest he would pay him the compliment of lis tening to him uutil after 9 o'clock, or even of lighting him with the candle to a bedrooui for the night. Mrs. Washington at this time was a healthy, pleasant and uuostentatlous little woman, still showing traces of good looks and with seldom any other thought thau of playing respectably ber role of mistress of the house of a country geutleiuau, of caring for the negroes or of amusing herself with her knitting. She had great pride iu her recipe for making 'cherry bouuee,' and on a midsummer day she cut out 82 pairs of breeches for the meu work ing ou the farm. She had said that she aud the geueral felt like children just released from school when he left tbe presidency, and she told of her satisfaction in settling down again to tbe 'duties of an old fashioned Vir ginia housekeeper, steady as a clock, busy as a bee and cheerful as a crick et' Rousb on the Minister. Sir William Long tells a story of an old Scotch lady who could not abide long sermons. She was hobbling out of tbe kirk one Suuday when a coach man, who was waltiug for his people, asked her. "Is the minister dune wl' bis sermon V" "He was duue lang syue," said tbe old lady iuipatieutly, "but we. wauna stop!" The F«atol Hoar. "How happy the Dabney-Joneses look this eveuing. It must be their wedding anniversary," "No they've got their old cook back." -Oattoit Vim Prn*. tA a KWV'H iW 5'.' .•ST" There is a Class of People Who are injured by the use of coffee. Recently there has been placed in all the grocery stores a new preparation called (JRAlN-0, made of pure grains, that takes the place of coffee. It does not cost over as much. Children may drink it wth great benefit. 16cts. and 25 cts. per package. Try it. Ask for GBAIN-O. Her ThotiKhtfnlneaa, "Beautiful, my dear!" The elderly millionaire who had mar ried the famous beauty regarded the watch chalu admiringly, "A very delightful birthday present," he continued, beaming upon his fair jftung wife. "So massive and yet In such excellent taste." "I am so glad you like it," she ob served. "It was so cheap too. Just think. It cost only $15." "Only $15!" echoed the millionaire, In astonishment. "Fifteen dollars for this solid gold chain!" "Oh, of course it Isn't solid gold," she Interposed. "You could never get a solid gold chain for that price." "What Is it, then?" "Why, gold tilled, to be sure." "I see," said her husband, stroking his chin reflectively. "But why this sudden streak of economy? Dou't you think 1 cau afford to wear a solid gold chain?" "Of course you can," she assented. "But this one is guaranteed to last for ten years—and—aud"— "Well'/" said the millionaire inquir ingly. "Well, dear," she concluded, after some hesitation, "as that is quite as long as you are iikely to live, 1 thought it would be foolisch extravagance to pay any more!"—Harold Eyre In Worn an's Home Companion. The person who disturbed the con gregation last Sunday by coughing, is requested to call on Gregg & Ward and get a botte of Foleys Hone and Tar which always gires relief Appnllln* Brntnlttr* Miss 8lessor, Scotch missionary, wb» has been 24 years in Africa, has her self saved the lives of over 00 twins. When twins are born, they are at once taken from the mother, and If no one Intercedes they are at one# tak by tbe feet and head and have tbalr backs broken across a native woman's knee, in the Bame manner as one would break a stick. The bodies are than placed in an earthenware receptaola and taken to the bush, where they an devoured by the files, Insects or ani mals. Sometimes the little victims are put into these receptacles alive and are then catcu alive In the same way* The mother becomes an outcast If she does not at once take her own Ufa^ she has to flee to tbe bush. If sha ventures near the town or village, aha must see that she does not remain on the path when any other native la com ing. Her presence, according to their superstition, would defile the place for others. She must not drink from the same spring, must not touch anything even belonglug to her own relativea.— Misslouary Uevlcw of the World. For Pneumonia. Dr. C. J. Bishop, 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. ftnllroad Ties. A fact of some interest In railroad construction is the great diversity In the number of ties used to tbe mile on different lines, as well as In the dai and quality of timber. Thus, aceord Ing to the construction details ot the New York, New Haven and Hartford railway, the number of tleB is used on that line 1b 2,800 to the mile, thrw quarters of these being chestnut and one-quarter oak, while some roada«HM 2,000 only, or 2.500 to tbe mile. Mora than 00 per cent of the ties ara cot 8 feet long, 12 per cent 9 feet and the rest SV& feet long the nine foot ties an used chiefly by the southern and gulf 'group of railroads, where pine tlmtMr is very abundaut and cheap. The New England roads have their ties cut from five to six Inches in thickness, while the southern roads seem to prefer sev en incb ties the width of the ties like wise varies from five to six inches In New England to eight Inches In the central northern and the southern roads.—New York Sun. Benj. logerson, of Hutton, ind,, savs: he bad not spoken above a whisper tor months, and one bottle of Foiey'-s Honey and Tar restored his voice. It is used very largely by speakers and singers.—Gregg & Ward. Cnre of Rubber Goofta. In putting away rubber gloves, rub ber sponge bags and rubber bathing caps a liberal supply of talcum, or even ordinary toilet powder, should be applied to them on all sides, and they should be placed carefully in boxes without rolling. When they are needed for use again, they will not be found adhering in different places In a way that makes fullin^' apart daugerous, if not entirely disastrous It Hits the Spot. When suffering from a severe cold and your throat and lungs feel sore, take a dose of and Tar, when be at once re Foley's Honey the soreness will lleved, a warm grateful feeling and healing of the parts affected will be experienced and you will say: "It feels so good. IT HITS THE SPOT." Guaranteed.—Gregg & Ward. Gont'i Milk. Modern Mediciue says that goat's milk, contrary to the general Impres sion. differs from cow's milk not In be ing more digestible, but in being less digestible and less uutrltious, although It contains a larger amount of solid matter than cow's milk. It Is indeed the most indigestible of all milk. Goat's milk has a peculiar and unpleas ant odor and flavor, due to lifrclc acid, »r birclne. It contaius au excess of fat and therefore altogether too rich for an Infant's diet. Lost. Many have lost confidence and hope as well as health, because they have been told their Kidney disease was in curable. Foleys Kidney Cure isaGuar anteed remedy for tbe diBcouraged and disconsolate.—Gregg & Ward. A Uor story. Animals have seutlmeut. and they do reason. Lord Sandwich had two intel ligent. companionable little white dogs, lie was foud of both. They were much attached to him and devoted to each other. One white pet fell sick, aud he watched over the little creature. But no care sufficed to save it. aud It died. Tbe lovlug master said that he himself would bury the dog. and he did so. Tbe living Pomeraulau stood by, griev ing as sincerely as the bereaved mas ter. But the survivor could uever again endure Lord Sandwich, shunned him and was utterly irreconcilable for all time. He thought that tbe master had killed aud burled his canine oom rnda—London News. Chapped bands, cracked Hps and roughness of the skin cured quickly by Banner Salve, the most healing olnt mint in tht world. Mo. •'J vry Again the publishers of the DEMO CRAT 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: Famous Frontiersmen, Pio neers and Scouts, Being narratives of the lives and ex pioits 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 An elegantly bound book of 353 pages and over 300 illustrations. It should be in every family. The Boston Globe says: "It is better and more fully illustrated than any other book of the kind." The St. Paul Dispatch pronounces it "The best book for the purpose wo have ever seen.' The Minneapolis "jommercial-JBulle tin, commenting upon it says: "There has never been a superior book of ita kind issued." 'It is," says the Detroit Evening News, "just what its name impii^s^-a family book." Poultry Culture. Written by I. K. Felch the greatest living authority on poultry raising. It is nicely bound in cloth and con tains over 400 pages of valuable In formation to every one interested In tbe raising of poultry, It Jhas over sixty illustration* and treats on tbe breeding of poultry, location, buildings and fur nishings,'feed and care of fowls, from shell to griddle, artificial incubation, diseases of fowls and their medical treatment, mating turkeys, ducks, geese, ete. Pooular American Dictionary. Bound In cloth. Contains over 38,000 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 scriptura names popular names of states and cities 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 maxims, etc., the whole forming a library itself. Prince Bismark And the Be-eetablishment of tbe German Empire, by Max Frederick. This great work is printed In German 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 front cover. The CondensedlCode „of the Laws of Iowa. Being a condensation of all the gen eral statute laws of thiB state (except the code of procedure) contained in the code of 1897. Murray's Horse Book, Treats on the origin, characteristics and training of horses, and gives remedies for their diseases. Tells bow to select and how to care tor dairy cows, and how to educate and train dogs. Dairy and Creamery Is a semi-monthly newspaper published the 1st and 15th of each month and is devoted to the dairy,creamery and stock interests. Kemember, every old and new sub scriber who pays all arrearages and one year's subscription in advanoe to the DEMOCRAT, Is entitled to receive his choice of either one of the above premiums. If Sent By 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 Firs t-class rigs to be had at all times Buss to all trains and passengers taken to or called for in any part of the olty. 1 FrooMriogloi •V.'* ^PROPRIETORS* j* i_ & lu.