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About The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 7, 1900)
,i t r-;wv -"?r-n- "t'f i s" ",'iiicr'i"T r"-sBF -srr, tTP"'rt! vsr , 18 THE SUNDAY OREGONIAN, PORTLAND, JANUARY 7, 1900. --1 NOOSE DANGLED FOR HER PERtt OP WOMAS MIXER, ACCUSED OF ROBBING SLUICE BOX. la Male Attire, in. Auburn. Camp, Sho Came Xear to Being Hanged Early Mining1 Incident. The snow had fallen two feet In Blue gulch, Baker county, "where Auburn was located. It was New Tear's eve, 1S62, and all operations about the camp had come to a halt The miners had either gathered in their cabins, or collected In groups in the larger buildings, for conver sation and companionship. The place was noted for the first -discovery of gold in Baker county, although at this time I cannot recall who made the discovery. I visited Auburn in 1S67, and then gathered the incidents on which this "story" is based. By erosion, or by some other oc cult force, nature had scattered gold around plentifully on both sides of the gulch. Auburn was then only a collection of cabins, the more pretentious having two rooms. The late Senator James EL Slater and family had moved to Auburn from Corvalhs, and they had the largest resi dence In the place, and the only cabin that "was provided with windows. But it was a dreary outlook New Tear's eve, 38 years ago, in that mining camp. The miners were impressed "by the surroundings. The gulch "was an oblong and wide depression, and a considerable portion had been prospect ed and some sluicing had been done. The cabins were located on the eastern slope. There were probably 60 miners there in ZS62, although the number Increased con siderably a few years afterwards. They were made up of all classes, rough, rugged and virile specimens of manhood, but gen erally had lived in refined circles before, and had been attracted to the new min ing camp with visions of wealth, which, however, but Xew realized in those days of uncertainty. Auburn was just the place that one might look for a tragedy, or a startling romance, for men were frequently given short shifts by means of a rope and handy tree in those days, when he was found too familiar with somebody else's sluice-boxes and no questions were asked. Mysterious Young Miner. In the Blue gulch camp there was a young-looking miner. In fact, there was a rather effeminate look about his face and person that indicated that he had seen better days, and that he was ill fitted for the life and vicissitudes of a miner. His appearance had often heen remarked on by the other miners of the camp, for he had only been in the camp hut six months, but, as he paid strict attention to his own business, no one ever tried to pry into his affairs. It was felt, however, that there was a history somewhere back in his life, hut that it concerned him alone. There was almost a womanly refinement about him that protected him from the roughness of the surroundings. "While he was spclable with the other miners, there was a cer tain reserve about him that held others aloof from him and inspired respect for him. He had a cabin all by himself off to one side, and with the help of two China men worked his claim, which proved one of the very best in camp. He had come in after the others had staked their claims and took what was left, and it proved to have been the very oream of the claims of the gulch, but Its possession was not disputed, and if any one in the camp had undertaken to dispossess the young fel low the "whole camp would have been up inarms. The young fellow called himself John Evans, but no one knew if that was his true name. No letters ever came to him, and he never asked .for mail at the log postoffice. He seemed utterly cut-off from the rest of the world. No work of any sort had been done for several days. Evans kept closely to his cabin that morning. It was reported that a sluice-box had been robbed of a large lot of dust, and that evidence pointed to Evans as the guilty man. A rough miner, who went by the name of Andrew Scroggins, said that he saw Evans examining the box the day before the snow had fallen, when there was no one around. He said Evans carried away something, but could not say that it was dust from the sluice box. Soon afterwards the owners found that the run of thf past month, amount ing to about JSOO, had heen taken from their sluice-boxes. Under the same cir cumstances, if it had been any one jlse, there would be hasty action, In view of the evidence, but with Evans it was a different propositien. "While the evidence seemed to point him out as the guilty par ty, there was hesitation to act But a meeting was called in the early morning before New Tear's eve. Evans had been invited to come, but had not been told for what purpose. At this meeting Scroggins told what he saw of Evans' visit to the sluice-boxes, and of his carrying away something. Denied the Robbery. Evans heard this statement, and for the first time learned that he was accused of robbery. At that time the penalty for the crime was ignominious death, for miners had to protect theselves as best they could. Evans arose, after the testi mony against him had been given, and in a clear voice denied the robber'. How ever, he admitted that he had gone to the "box, but not for the purpose of robbery. While this statement had its effect, it did not clear him, and there were grave and stern looks on the faces of the assembled miners, when he had finished and sat down. They were loath to believe he could be guilty of the robbery, out the evidence pointed to him with overwhelming force. He was told that he was a prisoner, and two men were placed at the door of the cabin to prevent any attempt at escape. A committee was appointed to make an examination of Evans cabin and see what could be found. The door was bro ken open and the Inside ransacked. About S500 in dust was found, but the commit tee made another discover; that led them to know that their prisoner was a wom an. When this discovery was made there was a hurried consultation, and another meeting was called in another cabin. Here all the miners were made acquainted with the disclosures that had resulted In thP Vslt to Evans' cabin. There were amaze ment and astonishment depicted on every face. The rough miners could have han dled a man found guilty of robbery, but this was a different case altogether. A woman in their midst! Here in Blue gulch, and accused of robbing a sluice box! They had sisters, mothers and wives somewhere back in civilization, and their thoughts went back to them as they remembered the prisoner. With all their roughness they were gallant men. Each one gripped his Colt six-shooter, and at that moment if any one had said the word "hang," there would have been serious trouble, but they did not know how to proceed. Scroggins, who had made the accusation against Evans, noticed the drift of sentiment, and tried to move away from the agitated group of miners, but he was given to understand that he was wanted to stay, and stay he had to. EinaPy, after much deliberation, a com mittee was appointed to Interview the prisoner and get an account of herself and how she happened to be in the camp. The committee started out with trepi dation, and each one racked out and came back and declared that they could not They could 'Interview" a man, but to Interrogate a woman, even if she were in male attire, was more than they could do. Admitted Her Identity. Finally, the oldest man in tne crowd was delegated to perform the task. The prisoner admitted that she was a woman. and told him her story. How she had been committed to an insane asylum back in Missouri by some people who had got possession of her property, and that In order to escape her persecutors she had assumed male attire, fled from the. asy lum, and had sought to bury herself in the most obscure place she could find. She thought tht at Auburn she would be safe, and having but little money left, re solved that she would try mining. Re garding the charge that she had robbed the sluice-box she said that she was not the guilty party, but, on the contrary, said that the man who was her accuser was the one who had stolen the dust The miner was convinced of the truth of her story. He told the guards at the door to go about their business, and the prisoner, who now said that her real name was Rachel McHenry, that she might go. The delegate then went back to where the other miners were anxiously awaiting his return. In a few terse sen tences he conveyed to them the informa tion he had obtained. There were fierce looks in the direction of Scroggins when he came to that part that referred to him. He was taken in charge at once and thrust Into the same cabin just vacated by Miss McHenry, and securely guarded. His cabin was searched, and a sack of $900 In dust was found, and as It was well known in the camp that he had accumulated no such sum, with the evidence of Miss Mc Henry, it was considered conclusive that he was the thief. Shortly after Miss McHenry had retired to her cabin, she reappeared, but no long er dressed In male attire, but as a wom an, and at once every mother's son of the miners fell in love with her. She in terceded in behalf of Scroggins, and he was given some grub and ordered to leave the camp. He had to walk to Baker City before he could obtain shelter or food, but he was mighty glad to get off that cheap. He was nearly dead when he got there. All this happened New Tear's eve. What a time the boys had that night In Blue gulch. If any of them are living, and I suppose they are, somewhere in the wide world, they will recall that time. In modern literature, they had a hot time in Auburn that night and Miss McHenry was the guest of honor at a long table, in the largest cabin In Auburn, around which were gathered the rough miners of the camp. Their hearts went out to her, and the thought that she had been accused of theft and had been a prisoner at their hands made them all the more anxious to make all the amends possi ble. They got the best grub that the camp afforded, and feasted until 12 o'clock when, just before 1S62 passed away and 1853 was born, each miner rose In his place and began marching past her around the room in the rude log cabin. Each one poured out on her plate an ounce or so of gold nuggets and dust until there was a big pile of glittering gold. Another Round "Was Made. "Come, "boys!" yelled one of the rough est miners, "let's go around again. This is the best New Tear's night I ever had. Move on there, fellers!" And so they made another round, and another plate of nuggets was heaped up. Then a committee of honor escorted her to her cabin, where a guard of honor was placed as long as she remained In camp. As Auburn was then no place for a woman, Miss McHenry resolved to return to civilization. Her claim was purchased by the miners for several times Its true value. She was placed on one of John Halleys stages one day, and took her departure. She left quite a vacancy in the camp. It may be said that she re turned to her old home, and, possessing means, soon recovered the property that had been taken from her. When I visited Auburn the last time I think it was in 18671 was directed to the little cabin where she lived while In the camp, by James Klrkpatrick, who was a clerk for Charles Goodnough. There were then in the camp only a few who could recall the event, as the others had scattered, true to the migratory disposi tion of f everlshness of miners. By a mere accident I met the lady in Portland In 1876, while on the way to Salem, and she confirmed the particulars of this story, hut then begged that it be not published until after her death. Only last week I saw an account of her death in a St. Louis paper, and then I thought perhaps the story of New Tear's eve at Auburn in 1SG2 might have an interest so I wrote out the bare facts as I obtained them years ago and stored them away- in my memory. She told me that she carried away from Auburn $5000 in dust, and that the miners had contributed $3000 that New Tear's eve. When she reached her old home she resolved that she would de vote her money and life to the cause of humanity, so that the liberality of the miners of Blue gulch toward her New Tear's night, 18G2, had been the means of eaucaung many a poor waif among the poor of St Louis. MR. O'ROONEY'S MANNERS. 3Irs. O'Rooney Assures Him They Are All That They Should Be. After an arduous morning's work of sedulously dodging those parts of his beat where trouble might be expected, Mr. Rooney came home to dinner, very wears', and sat him down with his hat on. "Mrs. O'Rooney," said Mr. O'Rooney, as he blew his nose delicately with 'his thumb and finger and dried It with a handsome cotton handkerchief, bordered with horseshoes, broadly etched In red; "Mrs. O'Rooney," he repeated, as he sat down to dinner, and, leaning forward, began to absorb his soup with audible enjoyment, while his left arm gracefully encircled his plate, "I've jlst resaved the folnest compliment ez the heart of man would be wlshin' fer, thanks be, frum the Widdy McCallahan." "An sure 'twas comln' to ye, fhwatlver 'twas, Michael, dear." said Mrs. O'Rooney with pride, as she set a platter of corned beef and cabbage before him. "Mrs. McCallahan," said Mr. O'Rooney, as he tipped his plate to secure the last drop of soup and reached across the table ior tne celery; "Mrs. McCallahan says to me. says she: 'Mr. O'Rooney, they do be tellln' me that 'tis yersilf has the gintle manest manners of any wan on the force,' she says to me. by the way, ez I was as sistln' her with her laundhry basket acrost the muddy sthrate. An' was It fer me to be afther conthradlctln a inriv n public?" asked Mr. O'Rooney, as he skill fully forked a large piece of meat Into his mouth and washed It down with gulps of scalding coffee from his saucer. "It was not," said Mrs. O'Rooney, with feeling, as she helped Mr. O'Rooney to half of a pie. "Aw, sure," she continued "the good heart of her fer a bllssln' ! I'li have her by. times to dinner, fer 'tis at the table, Michael, darlln', ye've the gift o' the folne manners. Praise the saints! 'twould make the praste hlsself an' him a settln' ferninst ye, grane with the invy." "Faith, I think It wud, Mrs. O'Rooney." M. C. BELL. He Did Not Know Her. The American tourist is so firmly con vinced that he is being cheated on all hands during his European travels that he occasionally oversteps the bounds of prudence. "What Is the price of this pin?" asked a young man-Jn a Paris shop, handling a small silver brooch of exquisite workman ship. "Twenty francs, monsieur," said the clerk. "That's altogether too much," said the1 young American. "It's for a present to my sister; I'll give you five francs for It". "Zen It would be I zat gave ze present to your sister," said the Frenchman, with a deprecatory shrug, "and I do not know the young mademoiselle!" Youth's Companion. HIS CLOTHES UNDID SUDDEN .AJTD PATHETIC UNDI3G OF A SEASIDE ROMANCE Fate's Rude Hand Remorselessly Severs an Idyllic Attachment At a Fisherman's Dance, "He has a handsome face." "Perhaps, but he looks like 'a hodcarrier suddenly come into a fortune." "I have seen handsome hodcarriers.' "That may be, but they were not, I ven ture to say, traveling in a Pullman. This man Is at odds with his present environ ment. Now, put him in a blue blouse and overalls and gave him a hod full of bricks or mortar, and I grant h,e might prove j Interesting enough as a type. He might even appear picturesque, but that English tweed does not harmonize with his par ticular style of beauty. Nature, wnen she fashioned his physique, never designed him to be dressed by a tailor." "Tour criticism reminds me of" "What? If you have a story, tell It, pray! Come, I am listening." "It Is not much of a story, I'm afraid." "Never mind, anything goes this trip. Just begin at the beginning, please, and J "I '"'m jfBSsdJ Jfy itff " " T'71a!-JljLrMi iln FmST SLEEPING - CAR BUILT BY GEORGE M. PULLMAN CONDEMNED AND RETIRED FROM SERVICE HAS TRAVELED FORTY TIMES THE EARTH'S CIRCUMFERENCE. A dingy old sleeping-car of primitive pattern, Its sides battered and its interior woodwork cracked and warped by age and hard usage, stands on a sidetrack In a corner of the main inclosure at Pullman, III., known as the "boneyard." "With a dozen of Its fellows, all in advanced stages of dilapidation, it has been condemned. It has made Its last trip, and whether it is to be torn down and Its material used in the con struction of more modern rolling stock, or "pensioned" and allowed to exist to illustrate tho progress that has been made In car building since its early days, will depend upon the wilt of tho company. As yet no orders touching Its disposition hae been Issued. Unusual interest attaches to this antiquated coach, by reason of its being the first of Its kind. It was the first sleeping-car built by George M. Pullman. Constructed in 1861, it was given the prophetic name of "Pioneer," and in gilt letters, badly chipped and scaled, thla name still appears upon its sides. Its experiences If a sleeping-car may be said to have experiences have been many and varied. In 1865 It was sent East to return with the funeral cortege of Abraham Lincoln. At least 10 governors of the state of Illinois have ridden in it, and it has transported many other people prominent in professional, political or business llne3. This is the second time, according to the Chicago Tribune, from which the above sketch la taken, that the "Pioneer" has been retired to the "boneyard." In 1SS9 the company decided to give it a long rest, and It was backed into the scrap heap, only to be resurrected and placed on exhibition during the world's fair. It was supposed that this would be its last appearance in public, but an unlooked-for emergency came on in the form of the Spanish-American war, calling Into use for the transportation of troops all the available rolling stock of the country. Again the "Pioneer" was oiled up and pressed Into service. Since then It has been In constant usage until a few weeks ago, when it was re turned from San Francisco and condemned. It la estimated that tho "Pioneer" has traveled over 40 times the circumference of the earth. stretch it out as long as you can. The monotony of life by rail never oppressed me as it does today J' "Well, what you said about the man and his clothes recalled an incident that occurred in a little town on the Oregon coast, several years ago. I was living there at the time, holding down a claim, If you know what that means" "I do not, but no matter; go on with Jhe story." "Neja was with me, and a girl, a young friends of hers, came down to spend the summer with us In our cabin by the sea "She was a very pretty girl, full of artis tic perceptions and romantic to a de gree that was often amusing. She was always raving in a gentle way about 'ef fects,' and calling our attention to pic turesque features in the landscape. A Portrait. "There was a handsome young fellow, alwaj'3 about, coming and going in his boat on the bay. We admired his man ners and his graceful ease In handling the oars. When Alene her name was Alene explained to us how out of the or dinary ho was and how far superior to any of the young men she knew at home, being, as she poetically expressed it, an unspoiled child of nature, schooled by wind and wave and trained by neces sity, why, we began to admire him. And Indeed he was pleasant enough to look upon, In his fisherman's blue, with a gleam of red at the throat, where the outer flannels were thrown open, to give the well-knit muscles free play. Alene said the modeling of that bronzed throat was classic. We did not dispute it. o had fine eyes, too, and an abundance of silky, brown hair, that waved closely un der the brim of his old, slouch hat, al ways worn on the back of his head. " 'He Is well enough as a feature In the landscape,' Neja admitted, 'and he Is use ful to fetch and carry, and to have about. If you want to go anywhere, but as for the rest one must have a romantic dis position, indeed.' "Alene had the romance, without a doubt, and the 'rest' followed as naturally as day follows night. We were, there fore, not In the least surprised when she came in from a moonlight walk on the beach one August night, after a prolonged adieu to the young fisherman, under the pine tree at the cabin door, and told us that she was engaged to be married. " 'Engagements, summer engagements especially, are delightful enough,' re marked Neja, casually, 'but, in the event of marriage, I wonder what you and your picturesque fisherman would live on.' "Alene was brushing out her beautiful blonde hair, preparatory to braiding it for the night. She turned upon Neja with the dignity of a young prlncesa " 'I am not so accustomed to luxury iuh.1. x Bna.ii snnnjc rrom poverty with the man I love,' she said, and Neja was silenced, if not convinced. "The summer drifted leisurely by, au tumn, the Ideal season of the year on the coast, deepened through dreamy days ana moonlit silvery nights. The winds and waves, save ior one or two glorious storms that kept us housed for days, were still. Time and place were conducive to romance. Alene and her lover were Idyllic In their devotion. We looked on and were amused, interested, and, finally, absorbed In the contemplation of so much unalloyed bliss. " 'It Is beginning to pall,' declared Neja; 'I wish they would quarrel, just to vary the monotony.' Idyllic Love. "But they did not quarrel. Alene was to return home In November, to prepare for her marriage, which was to take place, no one interposing objections, early In the spring. Everything might have gone well to the end of the chapter, but for an event whose consequences none of us could have possibly foreseen. "It was the last of October, and the fishermen decided to give a grand ball to celebrate the close of a prosperous sea son. Of course, we were invited. Alene, who wished to appear at her best for Johnny's sake, sent home for her pret tiest gown a dainty affair of silk and chiffon, which Neja pronounced alto gether too fine for the occasion. " I am not dressing for the occasion replied Alene. "The loft of the salting-house had been cleared of Us accumulated rubbish and given over to the dancers. The ball opened early. It was a dark night, with dashes of rain, now and then. Johnny came for us about 8 o'clock. We had long been dressed and waiting, full of anxiety for the safo convoy of Aleno and her chiffons to the scene of festivity. ''We hurried down to the landing, when we heard the sound of oars, and Johnny helped us into the boat The darkness hid all but the dim outline of his figure, but even that puzzled us. "What 1b the matter with him?" whis pered Neja to me, in the safe seclusion of the stern seat Aiene occupied the bow, where Johnny was carefully wrapping her up in oilskins. " 'I don't know,' I whispered back. " "He looks so queer.' " 'He certainly does, but it ia too dark to see why.' " T believe it's his clothes.' " 'Nonsense.' " 'It is his clothes,' repeated Neja, with conviction. "I said 'nonsense' again. "Arrived at the wharf, our escort had to look after the boat, and. leaving him!In citizen's name was Smith might add to secure it against the ebb and flow of the tide, we picked our way carefully along the planked walk and up the rick - ety stairs to the loft, where the dancing had already begun, to the sound of two I vfotlns and a flute? Z dressIngToom had been partitioned off In one corner, with the aid of a discarded sailcloth, a scarlet blanket and a patchwork quilt To Its uncertain seclusion we directed our steps, and there proceeded to divest ourselves of our cumfbersome wraps. Radiant Expectancy. "Alene was a picture In her dainty fin ery. Her face was radiant with expec- "Pioneer," in the "Boneyard." CptW'aaMfr. tatlon and happiness. Neja regarded her with an envious little sigh. " 'It's all for him,' she said. 'I wonder how it seems to be engaged and to dress for one man only.' "Johnny was waiting for us when wo emerged from the dressing-room. Neja clutched my arm. 'Look at him!' she ex claimed, in tragic tones, and I looked. Could that be Alene's handsome fisher man? Could clothes so unmake a man? Involuntarily I glanced at Alene. I saw her give a little start when her eyes fell upon him. She colored painfully, then grew pale, and I thought she was going to faint; but she was not that kind of a girl. She simply stood still and looked slowly all about the place, quite as If her lover did not exist. Poor Johnny evi dently felt that something was wrong. He was not at ease, and he had, In all likelihood, never seen anything in his life quite so dazzllngly beautiful as his be trothed, in her evening gown, with the flash of jewels on her breast and in her hair. "He approached and spoke to her timid ly, awkwardly; there was something touching in his plundering desire to please and tho surely fatal result. Alene glanced at him coldly, without speaking. " 'Won't you dance?' he said. " 'I do not care to dance this evening,' was her reply; then, to me: 'What a mot ley crowd, and how it smells of fish. Do you think we care to stay?' " 'Of course we do, cried Neja; 'that is what we came for, and I am going to dance, If I can capture a partner. Here, Johnny, If Alene won't dance with you, I will. Come along!' And she bore him orr, dazed and reluctant " 'I think,' said Alene, her voice per fectly calm and clear. 'I think I will get my wrap; this loft Is like a barn anil she disappeared behind the patchwork quilt, leaving me to watch Neja and the unhappy fisherman. I gazed at the latter In wondering amazement He moved with about as much grace as a jointed doll; every vestige of his former ease had van ished. He slouched; ho stumbled over his own feet; he did not know what to do with his hands, and he carried his head very much as if he had swallowed one of his own oar blades and It was still stick ing in his throat. A Shattered Idol. "Poor Johnny! The high standing col lar, black frock coat and fashionably cut trousers which he had been at such pains to procure In honor of the event had be trayed him to his ruin. His brief dream of happiness was over. I pitied Alene, but she might have been less cruel. She came out presently, all muffled up in her long cloak of furs. I did not look at her, but I felt her shiver. " 'This place Is dreadful; I have tnken cold already,' she remarked. " 'It is your thin dress. If I had known how cold It would be up here, I should have forbidden it,' I answered, feeling that a scolding would be the kindest thing, under the circumstances. " Tea,' she said, mechanically. 'If you and Neja wish to stay, I will get one of tho Busby boys to row me home; the tido is ebbing.' " 'Oh, I am ready to go any time I replied. 'They are through with the dance, I think.' "Neja came back, and I explained to her and Johnny that Alene had taken cold, and that It would be dangerous to keep her in this dress In that draughty place a moment longer. Poor Johnny' Nothing could make him more miserable than he apparently was already, and ha seemed relieved to lead the way to tha boat. Neja tried vainly to lighten the gloom of that homeward journey. We were all glad when we reached our own landing, and Neja and I hurried up to the cabin in advance of the lovers. "What happened after we left them we never knew, but in a little while Alene came up alone, and with a brief good night to us, retired to the tiny bedroom curtained off from the corner of ours. The next day but one she returned to her home In the valley, and, so far as I know she has never seen her fisherman since. 'It was his store clothes that did it Neja said, and she was right." "And so that Is your storyl Well, it only serves to clinch the argument In my favor; our handsome hodcarrier opposite is clearly out of place' "I give it up, my dear; you will always have the last word, and I guess in this instance you are right Anyway, 'dinner is ready In the dining-car so let US take up a more interesting subject1' SOUGHT TO OBLIGE WIFE RISKS INJURY TANI MSS OF REPU TATION IN ENDEAVOR, Tossed Hither and Thither in a Tur bulent Sea of Women Shoppers and Bargain Hunters, The suffering citizen stood smiling a sickly smile surrounded by a circle of swishing skirts. This is only a state ment of plain facts, not a study in sibilant phonetics, though the fact that the suffer- xo tnai suspicion, csmun naa come from i his happy home io do a little shopping ' for hl3 wife, with specific directions as t0 how ana wnere to do It He had a little "Bt on U "T articles. Includ- j ing a cake of soap, two yards of silk, a tootn Drusn, a rou or tape, a pair of black silk stockings Smith wished that his wife had left them off a box of hair pins, a dozen handkerchiefs, and various other articles, all of which he was to get at one store. Having reached the entrance, he paused in dismay at the surging mass of femin- ity rushing through the swinging doors. He wasn't at all certain that ft would be safe for an unprotected man to become Involved in that riot. He watched to see If any other men were bravo enough to go in, but saw none, though a few came to the entrance, looked about them, and fled precipitately. While Smith was con sidering what he should say to Mrs. Smith if he did likewise, a side eddy of the rush caught him and before he knew what had happened, the advancing billow had swept him past the portals and Into the dread precincts. That Is how he came to be standing and smiling a sickly smile. He stood because he didn't know where to go and he smiled to show to a cold world that he was still In the ring. The skirts swished volumi nously around him, and occasionally one of them got more or. less tangled up with him to his great distress, and the owner thereof said to him, in frigidly insulting accents, "I beg your pardon," and with ered him with a why-cumbereth-he-the-earth style of glance that swept him from head to foot The Bargain Counter. As far as he could see in any direction there was nothing but women in sight. They shopped. Smith wished that he knew how they did it He felt that he must make some move. He made it, and the' next instant he was the apex of a flying wedge plunging irresistibly toward a bargain counter. Smith struggled des perately. He didn't yearn for bargains. Already he would have been only too glad to give up all his money and get out with his life. But there was no with standing the Impelling forces behind him. He brought up against a plump lady, whose life was saved by the strength of her stays, as she impinged upon the edge of wo uuuiiier witn sucn rorce that it cracked and began to retreat Smith gave a mighty wriggle, slid off to one side and found himself against the counter, gazing Into the eyes of a little, red-headed shop-girl. The eyes seemed to be questioning him, but his faculties had heen shaken by the sud denness of his charge, and the gasps of the plump lady next him who had acted as a buffer disarranged his mental pro cesses so that he couldn't quite remem ber what he wanted. Presenetly his whole list of required articles shot Into his mind at once. He addressed the rqd-headed shop-girl: "Tooth - brush - silk - roll-o'-tape - silk-stocklngs-hairpins-hand " "Which?" said the girl intensely. Smith came to himself. "Tooth-brush please," he murmured. The red-headed girl fixed his left ear with a' stony glare and Intoned a recita tive to this general effect: "Third - elevator - upsecondnfloor-three-alsles-to-the-right-seven - to - the - left-left-across-and - down - the-middle-swlng-partners - four - eleven -forty - four-siss-boom-ah." "I I I beg your pardon." snfri Rmuv. The red-headed girl shifted her pene tratlng glare to his right ear and said the whole thing backward. Smith tr, hole in the crowd and crawled through It Several ladles said things to him that they would hardly haVe ventured to say to their own husbands. He passed over these testimonials of esteem and attained a space which seemed to afford a chance to rest and recuperate. .Hardly had he taken a free breath when a tremulous old lady trotted up, peered Into his face with near-sighted eyes and said: "Oh, Harold, I thought I never should find you, Why didn't you wait for me at the door, as you said you would?" It would have undoubtedly been the po lite thing to stop and explain, but Smith didn't have the time. He started away, the old lady following and plaintively call ing upon him to stop. A voice from some where suggested: "He's taken that old woman's purse. Isn't It a shame! Where's the store de tective?" That lent wings to Smith's feet. He soon distanced the proprietress of the un known .Harold. Presently a glad sight met his eyes. In the distance he saw a man. He struggled toward his fellow in misfortune. If he could but reach him they would clasp hands and together make their way out Into the pure air of freedom again. After dire hardships he reached the supposed man, only to find that It was a floorwalker. Some floor- walkers are human, however, and this was one of them. He appreciated Smith's position, and, talcing him In hand, ex plained to him for three minutes and a half the exact location' of the tooth brush counter and that of the soap coun ter, which was not more than a couple of miles distant, as well as the lost man could make out. Off he went and hadn't got fairly out of sight of his mentor when the last vestige of recollection had passed from his mind. He was standing before the elevator with out an idea whether he ought to go ud or down. It wasn't a healthful place to stand. Scores of hurrying women, urged by an apparent centripetal force, plunged in upon him from all sides and battered him until he was dizzy. A tall, thin speci men of womankind got a sharp elbow under his chin and directed his gaze heavenward, while a fat individual, carry ing weight, hurled herself against his de fenseless ribs until they creaked. When he presently got his face down a lovely vision who was nestling, though not with premeditation, close up to his shoulder, maneuvered a bonnet feather Into his eye and waggled it, causing him a temporary blindness, during which one of the deadly tribe of umbrella-bearers made a side swipe with her weapon and caved his hat in. Smith wiped the tears out of his eyes and tucked his hat under his arm. Immediately a severe woman marched upon him with a military precision of step. Before Smith could explain that ho was not her Harold, Percy or Marma duke, as the case might be, she demanded: More Trouble for Smith. 'Where Is the embroidery counter?" 'Tin sure I don't know, ma'am," replied Smith. "Don't know!" said she, looking at him as if he were a bug of some despicable kind. "That's a nice thing. Where are your curtains?" "I haven't got any curtains." "Well, you ought to have. What are you here for? Perhaps you will tell me where the linen counter is?" "If you're dealing in conundrums," said Smith, desperately, "I'll ask you one. Where's there a tooth-brush?" "I will not be Insulted by a floorwalk er!" cried the severe woman. "I will re port you. If this was my store " "If this were your store!" cried Smith, savagely, "I'd make you show me the way out of it, or I'd sue you for dam ages. I'm not the floorwalkerl" "Not a floorwalker! Then what right have you got to go around here without any hat on, as If you belonged here?" "The right of every man to protect his 6wn property. I wish you'd go away and look at a picture book," he added, nerv ously, for a big circle had gathered around, and he Inferred from overheard chance remarks that he was suspected of being either drunk or crazy, and probably both. At this unpleasant Juncture a short. thick-set man pushed his way quietly into the crowd and asked: "What's the matter here?" The form of the question was Immediate ly recognized by Smith. He grasped the newcomer by the arm. "You're the store detective, aren't you?' he asked eagerly. "I'm one of them," said tho man. "Any- inmg wrong?" "Are you a good detective?" asked Smith, anxiously. "I guess I'm good enough." "lou're the man I'm after," cried Smith, slipping a bill into the hand of the other. "If you're the real thing in a detective, just sleuth out the toothbrush counter for me and take me there." "That ain't so hard as it might seem to a stranger," replied the detective, and within three minutes he had landed the wanderer against a counter on the second floor, where he secured a place behind a customer to whom the shop girl was ex plaining that trying a toothbrush before purchasing was against the rules of the establishment The customer responded with some heat that she guessed she wasn't going to buy no toothbrush with out she had a chance to see whether It felt right or not, and departed, leaving her place to Smith. Two other women scrouged In beside him, however, and jabbed and poked and shoved him until he was ready to fly, but that ho was too tightly wedged In. Confusion Worse Confonnded. The result was that he got Into a con dition of mental confusion, again and hovered between toothbrush and soap, so that, by the time he came to be waited upon, he asked the clerk if she had any toothbrush soap. Realizing his mistake as soon as it was uttered he would have been glad to recall It, but the weird de mand was already on its travels. The first girl languidly asked one Mag, if she had evef heard of toothbrush soap. Mag hadn't, but she passed It on to Sadie, who didn't believe there was any such thing, but thought if there was Mrs. Biggs would be sure to know about It, so Mrs. Biggs was referred to and she appointed an In vestigating committee and the whole vicinity rang with toothbrush soap. In the course of time word came back to Smith that they had no toothbrush soap, but they had something quite as good that would do for cleaning all kinds of brush es; a patent cleaning combination war ranted to, etc. At the end of the oration Smith explained in quavering accents that he had made a mistake, and wanted just plain soap. He meant to say, just plain toothbrush, but got rattled again. There upon Mag, Sadie, the Investigating com mittee and all the other girls behind the counter said In weary monotone: ','Soap counter three to the left four down seven to the right across the hall," and at that point the unfortunate man fled and got downstairs by a piece of unlooked-for luck, having blundered upon the staircase, while looking for the elevator. He decided to go away and think out his course before trying any further, and wondered If there wasn't a smoking-room somewhere around the place. While he was looking for some one who might tell him, he caught sight of a line of stock ings waving gently in the draught not far away. He remembered, with a thrill of distress, that Mrs. Smith had been par ticularly Insistent about the stockings, so, fortifying his soul with the thought that It would soon be over, he advanced to the attack. At the point where he brought up there was an empty space near the counter, and the girl who had that part of It to attend to was up on a little ladder making a very high reach for a box. As she turned to step down, having got the box, her eyes looked directly down into Smith's. Seizing the opportunity, he leaned eagerly forward and asked: Thnt Settled It. "Have you got silk stockings?" The girl came down like a flash, after one startled glance from her feet to Smith. Her fact was red. hut there was a twinkle in her eye. She bent swiftly over to tho girl next her and said, In tones not so low but that they were audible to Smith: "Get onto the fresh geezer wantin' to know If mo stockin's are silk. I'll have to strike for a screen next time the missus chases me up to them high shelfs." This was the last straw for Smith. Tn two seconds he was out in the aisle, going anywhere to get out of the way. His progress was one long line of apologies to women who addressed him as "clum sy brute." Finally he was caught in a general movement and carried toward a spot to which a long lino was tending. He passed a floorwalker, stationary, by a miracle of static resistance, amid the cur rent, and cried out to him, pointing to the unknown ahead: "What's that?" "Rear exit," said the man. "What are you looking for?" "That's It," cried Smith, with a thrill of joy. Diving head foremost Into the thick of the tumult, he made his way. in one glad, destructive rush through ruin and devas tation and the shrieks of the despoiled and trodden to freedom again. New York Sun. STUFFED HIM SKIN-TIGHT RETRrBTJTIOjr FOM.OWS THEFT OF A "PROPERTY" MUTTOX CHOP. Nelll Dramatic Company's Advcnturo With Hungrily Acquisitive Young; Darky at Spokane. An amusing Incident occurred at Spo kane during New Year's week, at tha Au ditorium, where the Nelll company, billed for tho Marquam, of this city, for tho week beginning Monday January 15, was! then playing an engagements Thofio fa miliar with "Lord Chumley," which was the piece being performed by Mr. Nelll and his people on tha evening when tho thing happened, will remember that in tho second act, Chumley ha3 a chop served for his breakfast, in his attic lodgings. It Is the duty of the property man In tha case of the Nelll company, Joseph Hodge man to provide this chop and see that It Is on hand at the moment wanted. At the Auditorium performance, tho chop was provided all right, but just an Instant before the curtain was to rise, it was found to have disappeared. As its absence would spoil an effective bit of stage business, the curtain was held while Hodgeman and tho entire stage forco hustled to replace it Another chop was finally procured for Lord Chumley's (Mr. Nolll's) breakfast, and the performanco went on, without the audience having sus pected the momentous events transpiring "behind the scenes." Hodgeman had noted a couple of pick aninnies hanging about the stage during the evenign, and his suspicions as to tha theft of the chop fell upon them. Mean while the entire working force of the the ater, smarting under the odium of the affair, felt It Incumbent upon lt3 members to hunt up the culprit. The Cnlprlt Found. As tho curtain finally fell upon the play and the audience were leaving their seats, one of the pickaninnies called out from the recesses of the stage, as ha dragged the other little darky into light: "Hyah, MIstah Nelll! Hyah'3 the thief dat stole you' chop." Thereupon he pushed forward a forlorn, ragged, bareheaded youngster of about 10 years of age, who stood tremblingly before Mr. NellL "So you stole my chop?" Inquired Mr. Nelll, severely. The darky squirmed and dug hl3 toe3 Into the carpet, but said nothing. "What are you doing here? How did you get In?" asked Mr. Nelll. "I b'Icngs hyar; I work hyar," answered the child, defiantly. "You work here? What on earth- do you do?" "Wa'al, boss, dis yere drop curtain, a won't stay down right smart, nohow, an' I'se 'gaged ter set on do roller and keep It dar." A look of astonishment pervaded Mr. Nelll's face, but a glanco at the stage hands showed that this remark occasioned no surprise among them. "Why did you take tho chop?" asked Mr. Nelll. " 'Cause I done been hungry," said the boy. "Hungry? Are you hungry yet?" The boy grinned and squirmed, and tried once more to bury tho toe3 of his shoea in the carpet. i "You've been a bad boy, and must bo punished," said Mr. Nelll; "and tha sen tence of this court Is that you be taken henco to my dressing-room and there made to eat until you can't hold any more. Take him away, Edwin." Mr. NelH'3 valet. Brlce. was dispatched to tho nearest restaurant, and soon tho little darky was seated before a large tray of substantial edibles. The members of the company gathered around to watch the novel sight, and as the food rapldly dlsappeared. It was hard to say which was tho larger the boy's ever-filling yet never emptying mouth, or tho eyes with which he still devoured what was still before him. Finally there came a timo when he could eat no more, and still there was something left of what had been provided. Ho sighed heavily and looked anxiously at Mr. Nelll. "I'se pow'ful sorry, boss." "Sorry? For what?" "I'se done et ev'ry bit I kin," and tho boy eyed the remainder of the rpast wistfully. "Can't eat any more?" thundered Mr. Nelll. "This Is a vile excuse to escape your punishment, villain. You have got to eat every morsel of It." " 'Fore God, mlstah man," cried tha now terrified darky, "I kyant do it. I wish I could. My skin done been fit ter bust now." Committee of Investigation. "We shall see," answered Mr. Nelll. "Stand up on that chair! Gentlemen," he said, turning to the assembled mmbers of tho company, "I appoint you a com mittee of Investigation. Examine this boy well and give me your unbiased opinion. Do you think he can eat any more?" The committee began its duties, and as each one gravely turned him. from side to side and prodded him with their fingers, tho boy turned almost pale with fright, and was heard to say: "Good Lord! I wish I hadn't e't dat chop. I'd a had room fo' mo' I" At last the committee decided that the boy could hold more, at which he howled vigorously. The committee, however, ad vised that the rest of the food should bo held in another receptacle, and offered for that purpose a large paper bag. "Take that bag, you young rascal," said Mr. Nelll. "and put every bone, every crust, Into It. If you leave 30 much as a crumb, I'll mako you eat your wholo meal over again." The little darky jumped down from tha chair and hurriedly brushed everything from the tray into the bag. Then, being told to go, he went as far as the door, where he hesitated a moment Shifting restlessly from one foot to the other, but holding tightly the well-filled bag, he blurted out: "Say, boss, .Js yer gwlne ter play dXs yer piece tomorrer night?" "Yes; why?" "An ef I eat3 de chop as'in, does I g!t anudder supper?" A shout of laughter, in which Mtsa Chapman, the members of the company and Mr. Nelll joined, and a rush fr tho door sent the young ragamuffin scam pering out Into the street. "None Too Good Foh 31c." White folks puts on glasses so's ter set an read a book. Black folk3 in de kitchen all a-Iearnln' how ter cook. "White folks goes a-tastln' an a-amellinf all about A-huntln" easy wittles eoa dar stomachs won? give out. Hello. Mistuh Pohk-cJscp, Fat afl you kin be. You'a moa too rich foh white flk9. But you's none too seed fofe ae. Oh, run an' git de doctor 'caso do booe h4 got a pain. An de lady h4b hysterics ebry time de boss complain. Cullud folks aln' Jealous or de trouble dat dey finds "Wld nuffln on deir Btomachs n' detr over loaded mlnde. Hello, Iflatuh 'Possum, Hangln rum de tree. You's moa too rich foh white folks. But jou'a none too good foh me. Waafctnstoa Star. o About Time to Leave. "My love," he cried, "Is like a green bay tree'" "Weil, this being fall, it's about tlma for the green bay tree to lave' roared her father down the radiator. Phila& phia North American.