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About Heppner gazette. (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912 | View Entire Issue (April 28, 1910)
e.iiav-aiws i 77ie Devil -Stick i Br th Tha Mrstsry ol CHAPTER X Great was the dismay throughout the country side when It became known that Maurice Aylmer had been murdered. There was hardly a person of consequence in the county who could not claim at least a bowing ac qualntance with him. Moreover, Mau Hce was one of those men who are al ways popular, and much sympathy was manifested for his untimely death Also the mysterious way in which h had come to his end, the absence of any known motive, and the knowledge that the deceased had no enemies all these things combined to raise public curiosity to the highest pitch. Crowds of people came from all parts of the country to view the scene of the crime, and, if possible, to gain a glimpse of Jen and David, who as rel atlves of the deceased were notorious for the time being; but thanks to the presence of the police and the vigi lance of Jaggard, the morbid crowd of sightseers were unable to gratify their curiosity. The two men remained In seclusion, and saw no one save Dr. Et wald. A sympathetic message arrived from Mrs. Dallas, which, considering the way she had behaved towards Maurice, the Major regarded as gratuitous insult "Can't she let the poor man rest In his grave?" said Jen, wrathfully. "It is all through her opposition to the match that this has come about!" "Oh, you can't say that. Uncle Jen," remonstrated David. "Yes, I can, sir. If Maurice had not been prevented from seeing Isabella, there would have been no necessity for him to call on Etwald; and If he had not done that, he would not have been on the high-road In the night to meet with his death. Mrs. Dallas and her Infernal negress are at the bottom of this whole accursed business." Of course this was mere raving on the part of Jen, but the poor man was beside himself with grief at the loss of Maurice, and hardly knew what he was saying. Being In this frame of mind, he was by no means pleased when shortly after the delivery of Mrs. Dallas' message Dido made her ap pearance with a request for a person al interview. 3 shan't see that black witch," cried 'the Door Major. "David Etwald, send Jher away." "I wouldn't if I were yon Major! ald Etwald, judiciously; "she might 'e the bearer of valuable Information, likely to lead to the detection of Ayl mer's assassin." David left the room and remained absent for some time. On his return he stated that Dido had come with a message from Isabella, and that she refused to deliver it to anyone save the Major. Seeing that the negress was thus insistent, and wondering what Miss Dallas might want with him at so painful a time, Jen yielded, and Dido was admitted into the li brary. . She looked taller, more mas sive, and more sullen than ever, and though she trembled at-, the sight of Dr. Etwald who, by the way, kept -his dark eyes studiously fixed on her she was fairly composed when she ad dressed the Major. . "My HI missy want you, sar," said Dldo, going straight to the point "She weep! She ill! She make terrible bobbery, dat poo' girl. ' Massa come an' see my lil missy dis day!" "I can't at present! The' police are In the house; there is a lot to be at tended to. Tell your mistress. Dido, that I'll see her to-morrow.-" "She wants you to-day!" Insisted Dldo, obstinately. . . .. "I have given you the message," said Jen, sharply-. "Tell her I'll see her to morrow. And now, Dido, I wajnt t6 know what you have to do withthis crime?" ' ' massa! Ole Dido she do nuffin. Massa Maurice he die Voodoo! ' Oh, yes!" "By that devil-stick poison?" "Me don't know what debble-stlck la! I no touch him!" It was clearly impossible to learn anything from so obstinate a creature, so Jen repeated that he would call up on Isabella on the morrow, and dis missed the negress. As she left the room Dr. Etwald followed her, and on his return mentioned casually that he had been giving Dido some Instruc tions as to what was to be done with Isabella. "The girl is nervously excited," he explained; "and now that she has sus tained this shock of Mr. Aylmer's death there is no knowing what com plications may ensue." "You are a prophet of evil, Etwald! First my poor Maurice, now Miss Dal las!" "A to that," replied Etwald, with deliberation, "I foretell that Miss Dal las may get ill from perfectly natural signs. She was in love with Aylmer; she Is of a highly excitable and ner vous character, so It is easy to know that unless great care is exercised, her brain may be affected." "But with regard to Maurice?" "Quite a different thing. I read In his hand that he would be subject to a state of Life In Death." "Which, as we guessed, meant par alysis or catelepsy," said David. "But aa you see, poor Maurice Is dead. Your prophesy was false." "It would seem so. Mr. Aylmer Is dead, as you say; so the term Life tn Death cannot be applied to his pres ent state of non-existence. But you will admit that I foretold that evil would happen to him If he decided to marry Miss Dallas. It has turned out as I thought1 Author of Hansom Cab, "True, doctor," remarked Jen, keep ing his eyes fixed upon the swart face of the other. "And Is that all you have to say?" "All? What else do you expect me to say?" demanded Etwald, coldly. "Say who you think killed Maurice? Who stole the devil-stick?" "I can't- answer," said the doctor, taking up his hat. "A detective may be able to assist you on these points. En eace one!" "No," said Jen, taking David by the arm. "We don't need aid from the law to learn who killed Maurice, and avenge his death. David and myself will find the guilty person?" "Really. I hope you will succeed. But a case like this requires a trained intelligence such as you may find In detective. Of course, you may com mand my services. Major, but I'm afraid you will not succeed." When the doctor had taken himself off, and was walking past the library windows towards the curve of the ave nue where it ran into the woods, Jen looked after him with a lowering face, and laid an inquiring finger on David arm. "Do you trust that man, my boy?' he asked, gravely. No, returned Sarby, after a pause. I think he is a bad lot" "I am sure of it; and what's more," added Jen, nodding, "it is my opinion that he knows who killed Maurice, if indeed he did not do it himself." The hours dragged heavily along in that house of mourning. The body of the dead man lay In the little chamber which looked out upon the laurel-en circled lawn. It was covered with i white sheet, the hands were folded up on the breast, and flowers had been laid thereon by' the Major. Over the face a handkerchief had been thrown as the once handsome features were so discolored as to be absolutely repulsive to the sight There was something terrible in the rigidity of the long form, stretched out so stiffly under the sheet In the chamber, candles were burning, and Jaggard was watching near the corpse. He was to watch throughout the night David retired early to bed, as he was quite wornout with the anxieties of the day; but Jen was too grieved to sleep. He remained in the library, thinking over his great loss, and won derlng what wretch could have taken that young -life. Towards 12 o'clock he went to the kitchen, and had ft short conversation with the policeman, who was a stupid bucolic, youth with no more brains than a pumpkin. After wards he sought the chamber of death to see that Jaggard was not sleeping at his -post Finally, like the old sol dier he was, Jen went round the house, to satisfy himself that the windows and doors were bolted and barred. All these things done, he returned to the library. At first he read and then paced up and down, thinking of his dead lad, and finally as the hands of the clock rew to midnight he threw himself in to a chair,'' and worn but In body and in mind, the old man slept profoundly. Hour after hour passed in silence; the moon set, and the night grew darker, as the mind rose and moaned through the woods round the house. Save the muttering of the breeze and the ticking of the. clock, not a sound was 'to b heard in that silent room wherein Jn slept-heavily. - Suddenly he woke with a fetart' Someone was rapping gently on the shutlers'of the middle window. Glanc-Ing-at the -clock, Jen saw that It oat in the morning, and wondering who could be outside at' so untimely an our, he. rose to open the wlndrw,- Wtth care, begotten of old experience, he'plcked up his? revolver, and held It ready while unbolting the .window shutters. When they were thrown open, he saw a white figure with out- tretohed hands standing before- the window. Miss Dallas! You here? At this hour?' "Yes, yes," whispered the girl, step ping into the room. "I got out of my bedroom window and escaped from my mother and Dido. I want to see Mau rice. Take me to the death -chamber." Seeing from her looks that she was too distraught to be argued with, Jen led her out of the library and Into the dead man's room. Then he uttered cry, which was echoed by a wild hriek from the girl. The bed was empty the corpse was gone. CHAPTER XI. Astounded and horrified, the Major, with Isabella Dallas clinging to his arm, stood staring at the empty bed. The candles were still burning, but Jaggard had fallen from his chair, and was lying, a huddled heap upon the floor. The one window of the room as wide open, and the wind was haking a loose shutter to and fro. The shock of the discovery was so terrific that Jen, for once In his life, loBt his presence of mind. He was recalled to his senses by the wild voice of Isa bella. Maurice! Maurice! Where Is her she cried, leaving the Major and rush ing towards the empty bed. "You said he was here my poor dead love; but I can't see him. Where Is he? Where Is her Jen turned his horrified gaze on the poor glrL He did not know what to do. Isabella was In a dangerous state of hysteria. She had little on but a loose white dressing-gown, and her presence in the house at a o'clock in the morning was enough to overpower Etc. J a Jen's dense of the reasonable, inde pendent of the crowning horror of the missing corpse. At this Juncture the much-needed aid came from without David Sarby rushed into the room. He was half -clothed, pale as the white dress of Isabella Dallas, and evi dently, from the wild look in his eyes and quivering of his nether dip, badly scared. Stopping short a few paces from the door, he held up the lamp which he carried, to survey the aston ishing scene before' him. The sight of Jen tongue-tied and immovable, of Is abella weeping on her knees by the bedside, of the' bed itself vacant of Its dead occupant all these things were calculated to shock even stronger nerves than those of David Sarby Nevertheless, after a pause of sheer astonishment, he managed to stammer out a question. "Did did she cry out?" he asked, nodding towards the girl. "I heard a shriek." His presence and question unlocked the Major's tongue. 'Yes," he replied, In a hesitating manner, as of one unused to speech. "She came to the library window ten minutes ago, having escaped from the custody of her mother and Dido. Quite hysterical,, as you see, and bent upon seeing our poor dead lad. To pacify her I brought her, here, but, as you see " "The body Is gone!" cried David, hurrying towards the bed. "Gone! gone?" moaned Isabella, rls ing. "Oh, my dear dead lover!" "Jaggard!" "There!" said Jen, pointing to th. inanimate form of his old servant "We must alarm the house," cried Sarby, in a horrilied tone, and there upon walked swiftly towards the door. Before he could reach it the Major, having recovered his presence of mind, seized him by the arm. "No, no!" said Jen, hastily. "Do not bring anyone here as yet. We must think of this poor girl, David. Take her home at once. When you are both out of the house I shall give the alarm. You understand; no one must know that Miss Dallas has been in my house at this hour." "I quite agree with you," said Da vid, simply; and turning to Isabella, he took her gently by the hand. "Come, Miss Dallas. This is no place for you." "Maurice," muttered Isabella, looking piteously at him. "Maurice Is not here. Come, Miss Dallas; let me take you back to your mother." "My mother is so cruel," said Isabel la, in a low tone, "and I feel so ill," she continued, raising her hand to her loose hair. "Yes, yes; I must go home. But Maurice my dear Mau rice." "I shall tell you all about It to-morrow," answered Jen, , soothingly, and led her out of the room. "At the pres ent moment you must go home with Mr. Sarby. David, there Is a loose cloak of mine In the ' hall. Wrap it round her and come In the library. It is best that she should leave in the way she came." David did as he was told, and snatched up his old ulster after wrap ping up Isabella. In the library they found the Major reopening the shut ters of the window, which he had closed on the girl's entry. When he flung them wide, a gust of mind blew inward, sprinkling him with moisture, Rain," said Jen, drawing back. "All the better; there will be no spies about, and you can take Miss Dallas home without being observed." Taking the girl by the hand, David led her towards the window. ' She was In a half-dazed condition, the result of the strong excitement which had Im pelled her to make this midnight visit and her nerves being thus dulled, she surrendered herself passively to' the guidance of David. Only at the win dow did she pause, and look stead fastly at the.,Mjijori ; You must find out what has become of "my dear Maurice's body," she said, quietly. i promise you,-- repnea jen, witn a look of stern determination in his face. (To be continued.) i Ills Own Method. 'Did yon say you wanted to abolish our tyrannical system which enables persons who do little or nothing to ex act tribute from hungry strugglers?" asked the chairman of the meeting. That's , what I said," answered the Socialist orator, "and it got great ap plause." Yes. But don't you say it again. Remember, you got your start In life from tips while .you were waiter la 8 restaurant. Washington Soar. JTot a Bare Thing-. "If your mother bought four bunches of grapes, the shopkeeper's price being ninepence a bunch, bow much money would the purchase cost her?" asked the new teacher. "You never can tell," answered Tom my, who was at the head of the class. Ma's great at bargains!" Tit-Bits. Following- Inatroctlona. Wealthy Guest Have you a small room I may rent? Hotel Clerk (sizing him up) Why don't you take the three rooms up on the second floor, Instead? Wealthy Guest Can't do that. My doctor told me to avoid suites. St Louis Star. Sympathy. Minister I am astonished to se. you. I heard you had been Kiuea. Parishioner It was my brother who was killed. Minister What a pity! What an aw ful pity! Demeanor Analyaed. "Your chauffeur seems very respect ful," said the guest. "That air of deferential solicitude," replied Mr. Chugglns, "is not respect It is sympathy." Washington Star. Katarally. Medical Professor What Is the re- ult, young gentlemen, when a p tlent's temperature goes down as far It can? Student Why er be gets cold feet Cleveland Leader. nmat :.r -M I fcs - .1 i Siiraylng (or Applea. Experiments at Tragg Orchard, lo cated at Rockford, la., have proven that it pays to spray. In an orchard of 2,900 trees two small plots were sprayed. The average yield for the orchard was less than one-fifth bushel per tree, while In one of the plots un der experiment the yield averaged two bushels per tree. This is proof con clusive that if the whole orchard had been sprayed, and it could have been done at but little more expense, the result would have been 5,000 bushels instead of 500, or even less. The benefits of the treatment were not confined to Increasing the yield Not only was there more fruit and finer fruit where the trees were sprayed, but the fruit hung to the trees better. The great superiority of the sprayed fruit over corresponding grades of unsprayed fruits was appar ent to every one who examined the crop. The treatments may be given in this order: When the leaf buds are opening. Just before the blooming, Just after blooming, about two weeks after the third treatment, the last of July or first of August. In all this work it Is best to use liquid Bordeaux mixed with paris green or some other effective poison. 3. A. Beach in Agri cultural Epitomlst. Box for Silting Hem. I have often been troubled by hav ing hens fighting over their eggs. The hen that wishes to lay always prefers to get on the same nest with the hen that Is sitting, and the result Is sev eral broken eggs. I have fooled them by making a bdx like the one shown ia the cut. Each door opens into the nest where the hen is sitting, and from this nest there Is a little covered runway in which the hen can exercise. The nesU are made 14x16 Inches KEEPS HENS FBOM FIOHTIKO. and the affair will accommodate six hens. When a hen wishes to sit I put her In one of the nests and give her three or four china eggs until she has demonstrated that she Is willing to la- cubate In this new place. Mrs. M. K. Anderson, In Farm and Home. Honp and Cholera. Of tbe two diseases, says a poultry- man, we fear roup more than we do cholera. The best remedy for a bird In the advanced stages of roup is the hatchet. Upon the first appearance of any disease, the ailing birds should be isolated and the poultry house thor oughly renovated and dtslnfected. It U always well to have some good roup remedy at hand, as the time lost In sending for a remedy after the fowls become affected only gives the disease a chance to get firmly established. Selling Egga. A . real "poultryman" In the East sells bis eggs In a sealed package, on the outside of which Is printed the following: "If the seal of this pack age is unbroken, I guarantee the eggs contained therein to have been laid on the date stamped on the seal. The eggs are guaranteed sterile and to be the product of hens in perfect health, k8pt under the most sanitary condl tlons and fed only sound, wholesome 'eed." . - .1 - Benefit From Cowpeaa. It IS interesting to note Just how the cowpea crop benefits the soil upon which it grpwg and increases its pro ductive capacity. Itf the first place it does so by increasing the supply of nitrogen, which it transfers from the air to the soil by means of the bacteria which live on the roots of the plant. This added supply of nitrogen serves also to increase the growth of the plant' as well as enriching the soil during its growth. Mllo for Feeding Poultry. Many poltrymen prefer mllo to corn for feeding poultry. The seeds are of convenient size for feeding, and the composition Is nearly the same as that of corn. Dry-land farmers in eastern Colorado state that in an aver age season they can raise a ton or more grain to the acre by planting carefully selected seed and giving it thorough cultivation. It is their surest feed grain crop. Growing Spanish Onions. An experiment carried out by the New Mexico experiment station shows that Spanish onions may be grown with good success in that region. A clear profit of over $150 was realized from one-half acre of ground the past season, the product being shipped to the Chicago market. This does not take into account about 5,500 pounds of culls that would have brought at least 1 cent a pound. Crop for Cot-Over Laada. Observations of the sandy pine cut- over lands in Michigan, Wisconsin and Montana have been continued by the Department of Agriculture, and work begun In the growing of hairy vetch . . TV 1 1 U , S3 a Seea Bnu iuibsg uuy. tuv ugui sandy soils of the North promises M well adapted to this crop 3- v?. n, VI Good Grubbing Hoe. A light grubbing hoe for use about the garden or truck patch Is shown la the accompanying illustration from Popular Science. Secure a leaf of aa old buggy spring, about eighteen inch es long, and cut the ends off square and grind them 6harp. Two short pieces of strap iron with holes for rivets and one end of each upset and threaded for a nut will be needed to fasten the spring to the handle, which should be mint BUGQY-SPBIXO GRUBBING HOE. of wood. Assemble as shown In sketch and you will have a very handy llttlo tool for light work. Wonderful Work of Cow. According .to modern standards Ol measurements of a dairy cow, one that gives 6,000 pounds of milk a year, Is but an ordinary milker. And yet to elaborate this amount of milk, this cow must manufacture not less than 780 pounds of milk solids. The cow may weigh more than 800 ,or 900 pounds, and the dry matter of her body is only the half of this amount, so we see the cow may manufacture new material annually amounting to more than twice that contained in her own body. To do this wonderful work she must be In the best of physical con d it ion and must have an abundance of material containing the elements she needs. Alfalfa for Cows. Where there is an abundant supply of alfalfa, do not feed tbe dairy cows any timothy hay, but let them have all the alfalfa they can consume with out waste. A mixture consisting of 400 pounds of ground corn, 300 pounds of bran or oats supplements the al falfa very well. Seven or eight pounds of this combination Is sufficient to pro duce one pound of fat when fed with all the good alfalfa hay an animal will consume. If the droppings of the animal seem somewhat dry, do not hesitate to recommend the use of one pound of oil meal per. day. Farmers and Drovers' Journal. A Removable Clotheapoat. For the resident, proud of his lawn, there has been designed a removable clothespost which may be taken up after use on wash day and thus the lawn Is freed from any unsightly ob struction. The post and the socket base In which it Is held are separate. The latter Is 2Vi feet long and Is driven flush with the ground, a driv ing cap being provided for this pur pose. When In position the post Is Inserted and can be lifted out again, leaving the lawn free of obstruction to the lawn mower or other uses. The posts are made of special high carbon steel tubing. Chlckena by Natural Proceaa. y.ost farmers raise chickens by the natural process, and that is all right so long as you do not care to raise more than, say, 100 chickens; but when you get up into large numbers incubators are necessary. Brief Farm Hints. Celery Is getting to be the best pay ing crop the garden grows. It is a great mistake to feed pigs sour milk when they are learning to eat. Milk the cows clean every time If you would keep up a uniform flow of milk. The man, the cow, the feed, are three essentials to successful dairy ing. Choose for the breeding mare a solid color dark bay, black or chest nut. The disposition of a horse has a great deal to do with bis value on a farm. A farmer's wife will not find it hard to get private customers in town for genuine fresh eggs. Do not keep cows for a side Issue; make it a business, like any other branch of farm work. The fac that a DS w111 eat almost anything and turn it into meat does not imply anything will do for the hog. Stick to the old stand-bys for the main crop, and touch the novelties lightly. Some of them are fine, how- eer. Put in an ornamental or other tree in the front yard. They will double the value of your property In a few years. A very important thing In poultry raising is in caring for the eggs after they are laid up to the time they are marketed. A cow that gives rich milk and Is kept in good condition will produce a butter that does not need coloring matter at alL (MS .FASHION HINTS This outing suit of rose colored linen has small tucks psnneled in the sides of the blouse and skirt. Black linen is used for the belt, collar and deep cuffs. - A jaunty tie is drawn through the slash in the blouse front, giving just the required dash to the whole J oUlUGS A LAKH. Preparatory to Big Oil Vaatna Tbroagh Boring in Ita Bad. A fight for title to 4,400 acres of Fer ry Lake In Caddo parish, southwest Louisiana, and said to be an oil field valued at approximately 15,000,000, has been begun before Commissioner Den nett of the general land office. The claimant Is John a King of Tezarkans, Texas, who made entry over one year ago under the placer mining act. He claims that the area of the lake was neyer turned over b"y the government to the State of Louisiana, and as the attorney general of that State did not put in an appearance yesterday it is believed that the State is content to let the general government deal with the proposition before it in any manner It may deem advisable. Former Representative John J. Lenti of Columbus, Ohio; J. A Telller of Little Rock, Ark., and J. D, Korner, also of the capital of Ohio, made up the legal array which presented Mr. King's side of the case. At the close of the argument Commissioner Den nett took the matter under advisement Me did not announce when a decision will be rendered In the matter. For several months past It has been believed that the State officials of Lou isiana were going to put up a vigorous fight for the lake, which also has a considerable area in the State of Tex as. Several years ago, while prospect ing over the general oil field In the section where the lake Is located, Mr. King discovered that while tbe Stand ard Oil Company had located Us wells on all sides of the property, no attempt had been made to locate on the lake. He then went to work,- and made a close examination of the records bear ing on the question of title to the land on which the lake lies. This was for merly government land before the back water from the Red River overflowed the section and left the lake. He ascer tained, bo It was pointed out In the ar gument of the attorneys before Com missioner Dennett yesterday that the lake was never turned over by the general government to the State of Louisiana, and he lost no time in mak ing an entry on the 4,400 acres in ques tion, which is believed to be the rich est In the section in point of possible oil fields. With his entry he then made his plans to bring the matter to the atten tion of the commissioner of the gen eral land office, so as to perfect the ti tle before he begins operations for lo cating oil wells. He talked at length yesterday of the question and pointed out that as the lake Is only about two or three feet deep It will be a compara tively easy matter to locate oil wells In all parts of the area covered by the 4,400 acres In question. Mr. King Is positive from the Investigations he has made that the area Is of Immense value and hopes as soon as he gets title to begin operations. The section In which the lake Is lo cated in both Texas and Louisiana Is looked upon by oil experts everywhere as a particularly rich oil country, and this fact has been singularly brought out. It Is declared, by reason of the fact that the Standard Oil Company has come into the section and bought up all the land bordering on the lake. Washington Star. A Budding Merchant. . The Jeweler had left his new boy in charge of the store while he went borne to his dinner, but not until he cautioned the youth that all the goods were marked and that he must not let anyone take goods with him unless they were paid for. "Well, Sam," he asked upon his re turn, "did you have any customers?" "You bet!" said Sam, gleefully. "And I got his money, too! I sold one man all those brass rings you had that were marked 18c on the Inside, and here's the money a dollar and ninety eight cent I" Judge. Regmrdlaaf Immigrant. There has been during the past rear in Increase of 600,000 In the Immigrant population of the United States. In the meantime about 150,000 Immi grants returned home. Investigation shows that of those who return to their European homes the vast majority are unskilled laborers whose stay here has been comparatively brief. The me chanics and artisans stay In their new homes.