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NOBODYS PROPERTY (Copyright, 189S, by The International Literary and New Service.) SYNOPSIS. Alfred Layburn returns to his Alabama home at the close of the Civil war and finds poverty staring him in the face—a situation that his mother does not seem to realise. There are even no horses or mules left to work the farm and make it yield them a living. Layburn is going to marry Mary Kdgewood, and this fact urges him more than anything else to get on his feet again. He feels a pang of jealousy when Mary tells him tnai a young Federal officer, Captain Adams, whom she had nursed back to health while he was ill with typhoid fever dur ing the visit of the Northern army to their vicinity has, strangely enough, re turned as commander of the Federal gar rlßon of the town, and ls calling on her constantly. Layburn finds an old friend. Jack Meriweather, who is in equally hard luck. The two men learn from an old planter named Palmer of a scheme by which they may be able to enrich them selves. It ls this: The Confederate taxes were collected by the tithes system, and the cotton thus obtained was stored awaj until a favorite opportunity arrived to sell It. The approach of the Federals caused the authorities to hide this cotton in the swamps. Now, when the war is over, it ls still there, and it being impossible to restore it to its original owners. Palmer argues that It is nobody's property, and might as well be taken by the brave men who fought for the South. He knows where about fifty bags of It are, but the difficulty ls to get the teams to haul It out of the swamp. The two men jump at this scheme and try to hire teams from a man named Brown, who they think can be trusted. But Brown, In spite of tempt ing offers, refuses to let his teams for several days, and the young men believe that he means to forestall them; where upon Uncle Ben, an old negro who has remained upon the Layburn plantation after the emancipation, proposes that they go after the cotton in a flatboat and a skilf. He knows where it is and will guide them. When the men get to the place they find Brown and his black ser vant already at work with the cotton. They frighten him away, load the cotton on their boat and store it in Layburn's gin-house. Brown believes that it was the j.ankees who surprised him ln the swamp, and when he finds out his mis take he resolves on revenge. Taking Jake, his negro servant, for witness, he goes to Captain Adams and tells the story of Layburn's taking the cotton. Adams suspects that Brown is not altogether in nocent, and sending him from the room the Federal officer questions Jake and soon obtains the whole history of the transaction as well as the fact of Mary Edgewood's engagement to Layburn. PART 111. When he had learned all that Jake knew, Adams again assured the negro that no harm should happen to him through Brown. Then he gave him a five-dollar bill, and opened a door in the rear of the office, which communi cated with the back stairs, for the ne fro to make his exit. The captain next summoned Brown '1 Shall See That You Receive the Extreme Penalty." # from the room across the hall. The informer could not conceal his surprise and alarm, as his eyes made the circuit of the office and failed to find Jake. "I have dismissed the negro, Mr. Brown," said the officer, without ask ing tbe merchant to be seated. "I presume the d—d rascaal has been telling you a pack of lies," said Brown, perceiving instantly the change in the captain's manner. "Unfortunately for you, Mr. Brown," replied Adams, "Jake has told the truth. It appears, sir, that you at tempted to appropriate the cotton yourself ln the most contemptible and underhanded manner, and, being baf fled in your dishonorable scheme, spite and disappointment have led you to in form upon others. That duty requires me to act upon your information causes me sincere regret." "It ls all an infamous He of that scoundrel," exploded Brown, in a rage, "and I'll shoot htm on sight" "No, Mr. Brown, you will not shoot Jake," said Adams quietly. "I give you notice that If Jake suffers any vio lence I shall arrest you, and you will be tried by a courtmartial. Further, tf you are found guilty, I shall make It my business to see that you receive the extreme penalty." The captain looked at the merchant for some time in silence, then added: "For some of the lowest and basest actions there is no punishment as signed by law. The nature of your guilt come* under this bead. Tou may go, «tr." SAMUEL MINTURN PECK At this contemptuous dismissal Brown sneaked from the room. When he reached the foot of the stairs, he stopped a moment to try to pull him self together and resume his usual manner. Then he walked down the street to his place of business, sooth ing his malicious soul with the thought that Layburn and Meriweather would lose the cotton they had hindered him from appropriating. It was true that he had been despised and suffered con tumely, but he had sown his revenge with a wide hand, and the seeds would not fall to bear bitter fruit for hie ene mies The Edge wood mansion, like most ante-bellum Southern homes, was em bowered in a mass of greenery. Great oaks, stately relics of the primeval for est, stood sentry about its wide door, and here and there a lofty pine tow ered in the air, lifting its crest above all other growth, and as it swayed softly in the breeze, sang to the ear of fancy drowsy legends of the long ago. The house itself was built ln the col onnaded Grecian style, first introduced by Thomas Jefferson soon after the Revolution—a style eminently suited to the warm climate of the South; and up the white columns, softened by the shade of the gnarled oaks, rose vines and Jasmines, went clambering in a riot of bloom and fragrance. On one side of the house stretched a spacious garden, filled with roses, myrtles, pinks and other old-fashioned flowers, Which grew and blossomed in! a kind of wild liberty, delightful to the eye. In the center of this bosky Eden was an old summer house covered with trailing honeysuckle, whose graceful tendrils interlaced lattice and roof in so intricate a manner as to enable the frail structure to defy the disintegrat ing hand of time, even after the frame work had gone to decay. It was sunset, and Mary Edg*wood was seated on a bench in the summer house listening to old Ben Layburn, who stood by the door with his hat in his hand. The girl was intensely interested, for her snowy tatting had fallen unnoted to the ground, and she clasped and un clasped her hands as if she were great ly troubled. "Miss Mary, you ax me how black Jake find all dls out when he done lef de room? Dis de way hit was, young miss. When de cap'n let Jake out de door, Jake say he skeered to go down dem back stairs kaze he didn't know whar Brown mought be, so he crouched down outside de door. Den when Brown come back in de room whar de cap'n was, Jake 'Ilowed he'd listen and hear how de lan lay wid Brown and de cap'n. Jake say he curls to know ef de cap'n gwine stan' by him lak he said he gwine do." "And you are sure, Uncle Ben, that Captain Adams ls going to arrest Mr. Layburn and Mr. Meriweather and take the cotton away from them?" "Dat what he gwine do, Miss Mary. Jake hyem him say dat he's powerful sorry dat his duty compels him to act on de Inflammation." The young girl's anxiety deepened and her fingers trembled visibly. "An' I knows, Miss Mary, dat Cap'n Adams is gwine arrest Marse Alf dis night. Kaze when I hyem Jake's tale I went a-pyrootin" down to de garri son, and I cotch a word or two what de cap'n drap, an' lay in' dem words 'longside o' wha< I knows already, I ilow de cap'n's sroly gwine Jail Marse Alf an' Marse Jack dis night 'fore sun up." "Haven't you warned Mr. Layburn?" "Bless Gawd, Miss Mary, I dunno whar he ls. He and Marse Jack went off together dis mornin' an' Marse Alf aln' been back since. But dey's corn in' back to-night for I hyem 'em say dey gwine carry dat cotton to Mobile on de steamboat what goes down de river to-night." "H*v» you Informed Mrs. Lay bum LOS ANGELES HERALD* SUNDAY MOPNING, AUG. 1898. the danger that threatens her son?" asked the girl. "No, Miss Mary, I am' tole her noth in" 'bout It, 'twouldn't hep Marse Alt. An' ole miss, she's dat ole and shaky de shoe* mought kill her," said old Ben. " 'Sides dat. Miss Mary, I knowed Marse Alt didn't want ole miss to know nothin' 'bout dat cotton till hit was sole and he had de money in his han", kaze, you see, he's plannin' to give ole miss a pleasant surprise," added the old negro, looking earnestly at Miss Edgewood. "Why have you come to me, Uncle Ben. I am only a weak woman and can do nothing," said the girl, picking up her tatting and trying to resume her work. "Miss Mary, I come to you kaze I was nlgli crazy, an' I was bleeged to talk to somebody," said tine old negro, with faltering voice, and tugging at his old wool hat. "Den —den, Miss Mary, I knowed how hit Stan's 'tween you an' Marse Alf. 'Taint all for de miss dat Marse Alf's resking hisself to get dis cotton. Purthermo', Miss Mary, I come to you kaze dar's some'h'n' you kin do to hep Marse Alf, ef so be you'll dcs do hit." Old Ben eyed the girl closely as she struggled with her tatting. "Ez you say, young miss, you's weak an' you's a woman. But some times de weakest ls de mos' powerful. You know de Scrlpter say dat David laid out Goliah wld a pebble frum de brook an' a sling." "Surely, TTncle Ben, you don't wish me to kill Captain Adams with a pair of scissors," said Mary Edgewood, smiling. "No, little miss, I don't want yer to do no killln' 'cep'n wld yo' pretty face an' de sweetness of your voice," said Ben. Then advancing a step under the honeysuckle vine he added in a lower tone: " 'Pears to dlB ole nigger dat It you was to ax de cap'n not to tetch Marse Alf, and to let dat cotton alone ha mought do hit. You see, hit's dis way, Miss Mary. De war's over an' done wid, an' what good would hit do to Jail Marse Alf?. He ain't gwine fight no more. An' what in de name o' Gawd would be de use o' takin' dat cotton "way frum Marse Alf and Marse Jack? De Unointed States is so rich hit wouldn't make 'em much richer, and hit would make Marse Alf and Marse Jack mons'ous poor. Dem young marsers b'longs to de quality, an' dey dcs bleeged to have some money to buy plows and corn and mules to start plantin' wid, for, de Lawd knows, ef de quality ain't 'llowed to have noth in" an' de country's is give up to de poor white trash what never seed 'le inside of a carriage and never rid be hine a Kaintucky horse, what's gwine come o' dis poor 'stracted lan!" "But, Uncle Ben, Captain Adams may not grant my request," said the girl, meditatively. "Well, if so be he don't, Miss Mary, we won't be no wuss off. But, Lawd, he ain't gwine say no, dat he ain't. You knows, little missie, dat you never looked a man squeer In de face wid dem blue eyes of yourn an ax him to do some'h'n' an' he never done hit. An' de cap'n ain't gwine be de fust one to say no, for a soldier can't refuse a pretty 'oman nothin'." Uncle Ben scanned the girl's face to see the effect of his reasoning, and, perceiving that she still hesitated, he brought forward his latst and strong est argument. "Furthermo', Miss Mary, hit's dcs impossible for de cap'n to say no. Didn't you an' your ma' take him home an' nuss him when he was at de pint o' death. Bless Gawd, dat man would a been dead dis minute ef he had a staid in dat ar prison, and he knows hit. An', little miss, do you know whut de culled folks say?" "What do they say, Uncle Ben?" ''Well, de culled folks 'How, an' dey's good at readin', dat de cap'n loves you mighty nigh as hard es Marse Alf., Now, dar's some men would do deiri level best in dem conditions to git Marse Alf In trouble, but de cap'n ain't [ dat kine." "Does Captain Adams know that Mr. Layburn and I are,—are fereat friends?" "Yes, Miss Mary, he got hit from Jake. 'Cordln' dat nigger's account he dcs turned hlsself wrong side out." It was now quite dark, and Mary Edgewood rose to return to the house. She had almost resolved to follow Ben's suggestion and seek an interview with Adams in behalf of her lover. One lin gering doubt remained, and she said to the negro as she left the summer house: "I will do what I can, Uncle Ben. I have great respect for Captain Adams. I believe he is conscientious, and for that reason I fear he may think that his duty forbids him to grant my re quest." Old Ben scratched his head. "I'm dcs an ole nigger, Miss Mary, but hit 'pears to me hit would be more lak duty for de cap'n to favor two Irnn erble young gentlemen of de quality lak Marse Alf and Marse Jack, dan to play Into be lian' of a under handed man lak dat Brown whut used to be a nigger trader." eeeeeeeeee Mary Edgewood did not tell her mother of her Intended Interview with Captain Adams lest she might forbid it. But she took her negro mammy. Aunt Martha, into her confidence, and Informed the old woman that she must accompany her. The faithful creature was vastly Impressed by the import ance of the proposed visit, and im mensely flattered by the position of trust that she was invited to fill. It afforded Mary much comfort to And that Aunt Martha saw no impropriety in the proceeding. Garbed in a large figured calico gown and a voluminous white apron, and her head encircled by an enormous turban, Aunt Martha, with her two hundred and fifty pounds of flesh, deemed herself a chaperone for a princess. "Honey," said the old creature, "ef yo' ma' ain't to know nothin' 'bout dis business wid de cap'n, you can't go till ten o'clock. By dat time ole mlss'll be snoozln' away ln her bed an' we can crope away unbeknownst." "Very well, Aunt Martha." "An", honey, 'taln't nothin' wrong what we gwine do, but to keep meddle some folks from talkin', you better wear a thick veil." By ten o'clock the stillness of night had settled down upon the little coun try town, and tne young girl crept out of the gate with her faithful attend ant, and gilded along through the darkest and least frequented streets to ward Captain Adams' quarters. If her heart continued to throb as tumult ously when she arrived in his presence, she feared that ahe might not be able to tell her errand. When they reached the barracks they were stopped by a sentinel. "Halt!" said the soldier, "who comes there?" Mary Edgewood'■ heart almost stopped beating, and she could not ut ter a sound. That she would be halt ed by a sentinel had never occurred to her. "Who comes there, I say?" repeated the soldier. "Somebody to see de cap'n," said old Martha, stepping forward ln front of Mary. "Who Is It?" said the sentinel, still barring the way. "Mr. Soldier, we don't want no fool ishness," said the old negress, swell ing up as only a negro can. "Hit's a lady o' de quality what's got pressln' business wld de cap'n." "Who is this lady of quality?" per sisted the sentinel. "Look a hyer, Mr. Soldier man, hit's de lady o' quality whut nussed de cap'n when he was sick and brung him back to life, an' if you don't let her pass you gwine git yo'se'f in trouble, you sholy ls." The sentinel laughed and gave way, and as the young girl and her attend- ant passed him he politely directed them where he said they would find the captain. Adams did not occupy his office in the evening, but the room across the hall, to which Brown had withdrawn that morning during the officer's ex amination of Black Jake. This apart ment, though far from luxurious in its appointments, was fitted up with some regard to comfort. It contained a pair of easy chairs, a lounge and a num ber of rugs. The walls were adorned with a few good pictures and decorat ed with several articles of bric-a-brac, mostly of a military character. At the moment of Mary Edgewood's visit, the owner of the apartment was sit ting in one of the easy chairs, smok ing his pipe, and never dreaming of the great honor about to be paid him. "Come in," he caiiea out in response to Aunt Martha's knock. It was his orderly, he thought, and did not turn his head. "Well, what do you want?" Captain Adams " began Mary Edgewood. The officer sprang to his feet as if he were electrified. "Miss Edgewood!" he exclaimed, and stepping quickly forward he placed a chair, Into which the young girl sank trembling from head to foot. "Thank yer, sah," said old Martha to the captain, with a curtsy. Then turn ing quickly to her young mistress, "Thar—thar, honey, set right still and repose yerse'f. Dar ain't a bit o' hur ry, not a bit in de world." "Let me bring a glass of water," said Adams, hastily fetching a goblet of ice water from an adjoining room, for which Mary thanked him silently with a glance of her blue eyes. Meantime Aunt Martha began to fan her young mistress with an Immense turkuy-tail fan. "Cap'n," said the old negress across the turkey tail; "vlewin' de fact dat you is a geni'man who's been a gues' o' de Edgewood fambly, my little mis sle hopes dat de pressln' nature of her business will 'scuse de onexpectedness of her visit dis evening." "Certainly, Aunt Martha," said the captain, who still remained standing. "A visit from Miss Edgewood does me honor at any time; and whatever may be the nature of her business, I am so grateful to the young lady and her mother that any opportunity to serve them will afford me a pleasure Impos sible to express." The young officer addressed Aunt Martha, but his eyes were fixed upon Mary Edgewood. As a sunflower drinks the sunlight, the old negress listened to the captain's words, and when he finished her face beamed with satisfaction. Meantime her young mistress had ln a great measure recovered from her nervousness. "Do not stand, Captain Adams; my business may occupy several minutes," said the young girl, stopping Aunt Martha's fan with a gentle gesture. The officer took a chair. In his sur prise and pleasure at seeing Mary Edgewood, It had not occurred to him that she might have come to Intercede with him ln behalf of Layburn and Meriweather. Consequently the dis agreeable thought that duty might force him to deny her request never entered his mind. After a rather long pause, he wondered why she did not disclose her mission. "Your mother is well, I hope, Miss Edgewood?" said Adams. "Quite well, Captain." "And all is well at home?" continued the young man, trying at random to afford an opening for the young girl. "Quite so." The Indescribable expectant stillness which often precedes the introduction of an important topic, settled upon the room after the last reply, and the ten sion grew with each second. It was impossible to speak of indifferent sub jects. The silence finally becoming; un bearable, Mary spoke. "Captain Adams, I have been told that you intend to arrest Mr. Meri weather and Mr. Layburn to-night. Is It true?" Adams' mind was instantly illumi nated in regnrd to the visit, the em- barrassment—all. It would be very painful—the remainder of the inter view, and he would need all his resolu tion to avoid granting the request of this woman whom he loved better than all the world, and loved hopelessly loved hopelessly, unless —at this point a horrible temptation assailed him. Alfred Layburn arrested, it would not be difficult to dispose of him and leave a clear field to himself. Only for a moment did he suffer the base Idea to linger In his mind. With a mighty ef fort 'he put It aside, but it left him ter ribly shaken. "I regret to say, Miss Edgewood, that your Information Is correct." "Of what crime, may I ask, are these gentlemen accused?" asked the young girl diplomatically. t , What Right Have You to Attach My Cotton?" "The cause of their arrest is the ap propriation of certain bales of cotton collected as tax in kind by the gov ernment of the late Southern Confed eracy, vhich cotton, by the surrender of the Confederate authorities, civil and military, has become the property of the government at Washington." "Has the detachment been sent to make the arrest?" "Not yet. I have ascertained that It is the intention of Messrs. Layburn and Meriweather to take the cotton to Mobile by the boat which leaves to night. I have deemed It most conven ient as well as fitting to make the ar rest at the moment of departure." "I presume, Captain Adams, that, as an officer ln the Federal army, you will deny that the Confederate government had any legal or moral right to collect taxes from the people of the southern states?" sn.ld Miss Mary quietly. "Certainly I do. Being In rebellion against the national government It had no rights whatever. All taxes collect ed by the authorities at Richmond Does Captain Adams Know That Mr, Layburn and I Are Great FriendsT were nothing less than masked rob beries." "And you think that robbery does not. impair the right of the original own er?" continued the girl quickly. "Certainly not, Miss Edgewood," re plied the officer, never dreaming of the snare that was being laid for* him. "Then, captain, what right have you as an official of the United States gov ernment to attach my cotton? Some of the bales that you propose to selxe to-night came from my plantation; they were part of a tax that I could not avoid paying, and according to your assertion their collection was a masked robbery; what is true of a por tion of the cotton is true of It all. Now, iwhat right have you to attach that cotton and perpetuate what you have declared to be a robbery?" Adams saw the pitfall, but It was too late. He turned very red, and after beginning several sentences and inter rupting himself, he said finally: "It would take a long time to explain the matter clearly. Miss Edgewood. In brief, this cotton was collected to de fray the expenses of the rebel govern ment, and it Is part of my duty to seize all contraband of war." The officer concluded the sentence complacently, as If glad to find him self on firm ground once more. His self-congratulation was premature. "Captain Adams, how could this cotton be used to defray the expenses of the Confederate government, when the Confederacy no longer exists, and how can it be termed contraband of war when the war has ended?" The officer bit his Hps and said noth ing. At this point Aunt Martha nodded her head triumphantly, but the young girl repressed any satisfaction that she may have felt, and lowering her voice till it was scarcely louder than the night breeze outside, she added: "You see, there are two sides to the question, Captain, consequently let us arrange a compromise and call this cotton nobody's property." "And If I agree?" asked Adams. "Then, Captain, let the cotton re main in the possession of the present holders." "I —cannot, Miss Edgewood. When I was assigned the command of thlß post, I was put upon my honor." "True," said the girl; "but you were allowed some latitude of judgment ln the performance of your duties. Hon or demands that you should be just, of course, but Justice may be tempered with mercy. Think of the malicious motive of the base person who brought you the information. Then call to mind the necessities of the two young men. Captain, do not make the ar rest." Adams was silent. "Captain, Mr. Layburn and Mr. Meri- weather are almost penniless, and if you take this cotton and send them to prison there are those dependent upon them who may suffer." The officer was still silent. She drew nearer. "You profess great esteem for my mother; let these young men go free for her sake, —for mine." Adams felt that he must soon yield, but he felt a self-tormenting, morbid desire to hear the girl own her love for Layburn. "Give me another reason?" he said huskily. He felt how ungenerous was the ex action, but he could not keep back the words. Mary Edgewood understood. "Do not harm Alfred Layburn, for he Is the man I love." Adams still delayed, and the next moment the whistle of a steamboat rang through the night. At the sound Mary Edgewood clasped her hands to gether and exclaimed Joyfully: "The boat is oft, and he ls safe—he Is safe!" "Miss Edgewood, you forget that there Is telegraphic communication be tween Onkville and Mobile." "Oh, Captain, you will not tele graph!" said the girl with tears ln her blue eyes. The man looked at the girl with the hopeless love that only the eyes can express. "No, I will not telegraph." THE END. RATTLESNAKE DAVIS. Mysterious Old Man Who Follows a Most Peculiar Occupation on the Shores of Lake George. Nobody ever knew Rattlesnake Davis by any other name. That might have been his Christian name and his sir name for ought of evidence to the con trary, and while there was firm cre dence in the belief that Davis was his slrname, there was also a well ground ed notion that if he had any patron it was a rattlesnake. Rattlesnake Davis never answered to any other name be cause no one ever knew any other name to call him, and no other appella tive could possibly have been more ap propriate or expressive, for he seemed to have no other relation in life than that which existed between him and the only noise-makers of the reptile species. Rattlesnake Davis is known to every body who has ever come within the borders of Warren County, New York. He has been for years a lapsed tradi tion to the folks who make the Lake George country their home as well as those who seek sport there ln winter or cooling rest in summer time. No one | knows where he lives. He was never i suspected of having any relatives. His whole life is wrapped in the coils of the rattlesnake. This reptile was never suspected of having a pronounced commercial value before Davis took it in hand. While he doesn't farm them, he does harvest them, and he makes them yield revenue ln a surprising fashion. The federal government, with a view to the exter mination of the rattlesnake, offers a bounty of twenty-five cents for every set of rattles. It was this modest prof it which first enticed Davis into his strange profession. He next discov ered that the oil of the rattlesnake had a value. From this source he realizes from 3eventy-five cents to one dollar on every rattler killed. He next looked to a market for the skins, which are often very large, always substantial, and frequently disclose glossy colora« tions and shadings of exquisite tints. According to the size and beauty of a skin he gets from one to eight dollars for it. In the aggregate then a snake a day represents a good weekly profit. He finds his market for the skins on the verandas of the big summer hotels on the shores of Lake George. The weird effects in the sheets of scales have an Inexplicable fascination for women, who are his principal custom ers. Frequently he brings his goods to market alive in a glass-covered box. He makes the uncanny monsters squirm about, disclosing now a soft shimmering skin, again a brown set of scales shading to black, or a blue back fading lmperceptbily into a yellow belly. Davis has spent years at his trade, or his art, as his dexterity and expert ness would suggest that even t>o un canny an accomplishment would be called, more years than any of the Lake George folk remember. It seems to them that the time wasn't when the little old man with the hooked back and bearded chin wasn't gliding a'ong the shores with his primitive Inst: - ments of capture on a hunt toe his strange prey. The available time, as he has held, for capturing the rattlesnake is t.. early dawn, and this is time of day when he is most frequently seen abroad at his professional labors. The reason Davis has found Warren County so rich a field ls'because the rattlesnake's epl curian diet is the frog, and the shores of Lake George are alive with the green croakers. After an all-night musical vigil the frog Is apt to be caught nap ping about sunrise and this time the rattler finds most propitious for his for aging. The naturalist having discov ered these traits bases his operations upon them. Davis' weapon is a long pair of wood en shears, the leverage at the far end like a pair of manicure scissors. He has his own unrevealed method of ap proaching his prey, but once located, his long prongs are sure capture of his victim, for his skill ls unerring. He brings the two points of his wooden, shears to bear on the snake Just back of the head. Unless his prey is uncon trollable and apt to be unduly annoy ing he does not kill it. He removes the fangs and makes the captive discharge his deposit of poison and then boxes him for future disposition. Sometimes he kills him directly, sells the rattles to the government and the oil to its particular market. But If the reptile's coat is particularly fine he saves him alive, for the tortuous windings dis close the light affected gloss In a seem ingly Irresistible way to his fair patron* on the hotel piazzas. No one knows much about Rattle snake Davis. He appears and dlsap-, pears sometimes at intervals of weeks, sometimes of months, mysteriously as the reptiles he pursues ln the tall grass and among the rocks on the lake shore. His activity of years has not dimin ished appreciably the native stock of rattlers ln Warren County, and he is not beyond a certain discrimination ln singling his victims for market, for they increase and multiply in spite of his continued depredations and the young are seen ln hurried flights down their mother's throats at the approach of strangers. He seems to have the commercial possibilities of the Individ ual snane well developed and If his hunts have been persistent he must have secreted somewhere a snug for tune of which there Is no sign of out ward and visible application ln his un kempt pioneer clothes. A novel mode at the moment Is to have little crystal plates containing a few fine berries, arranged on their own leaves, placed before each guest at din ner, the idea being to refresh the ap petite between the various courses.