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About The Eugene City guard. (Eugene City, Or.) 1870-1899 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 17, 1889)
The Captain's Money. A Tale ol Buried Troasure, Cuban Revolt and Adventure Upon the Sea. IN FOUR PARTU BY JAMES FRANKLIN FITTB. i in lalkl.'.V i' you, Mr. I'rawlonl n though I ihould lie in another world twenty-four hours hence. YWII marry Nellie. I want you to h um III m I have Dei er trusted her ami her IIKlllllil'. Tln-n- bare been times whon my dear wife dm al upon my knee, and ,,,,!., timkll) wWi "Toll me iwinu thing "I "iir affair. Aaron. You nlvi. ii inoiuy enough; lut if you hiuild !. drow I lit sea. pray what N id we knew hIhmU your property ? And I luivi) always ut I"''' ""' wl,h some Joke, about my not belngdrow I on thti voyage, or her ability logot an other husband. I have aaid thing that pained ben but leave never hinted at tlic i ruili. Why? Slu 1 1 us ever Im worthy of nil con- Hdi'iuf; Nellie has worthy of it- 1 cm only say that my heart wan routed by my loeeM, and by the cruel in -achery i had net with. When tlio Itnnnlng Mow of my lirst wito'i lie trayal ol In a poo me, jTaAroraa rei oath that neither man nor worn- an should nw again taaveacha to dupe or iwlndtk me. With the woman Hint I afterward took to my boaom, thi was " pledge far better broken than kepi Hut I had made it to niy mdf; my experience justified it. If any thing could, and I perversely clung to it. Thi, Mr. Crawford, la my story. I make no apologies for mjeonduet in the light that la now given me, I ihould have aetad differently. 1 see now that the qncctlon n to whether Nellie and her mother aball have what will right full) i iong to them whan 1 am gone ibouki not depend upon whether you will i scape from the danger ol our present iltiiation. Hut you will cscapo -1 know you will. I don't often pray not an often n I should-but I did play an hour ago that you might be pared, for the sake ol Helen ami her mother - and fur your own sake. Now yon know nil. II you survive ate, you w ill know what to do. If you go to tin' old house at I'rovineetowr without , tell thorn toll them 1 loved them dearly. I think they know it now. Id' good to them. That's all. UT ll.-OIUITKU IV. " TIIK MAN AT Til K WIIKBI. The day went on till the middle of the afternoon. An landsmen keep time, it was near four o'clock. In the great events impending over this ves sel and all who lived and moved upon her, we do not proMne In give the minute dataihi ol the happeninga of A row ii.iii mow. the day. Shortly after meridian tin practiced eye of the Captain detected tigna ol shoal water, and soundings wnc at once taken. From ten fath oms the line soon shortened to six- -then to four. The bottom soon be rarae visible, appearing to be a w hite play. Par In the diatanoe the Captain with his glass sighted the shores of Klephmta. Small islands were passed; The water ahoaled mere rapidly. Three fathoms were reported then two and a half Sail was laboriously ihoctolied, the mate literally driving the Bran to the aid. The Captain went In loW to consult Ills , h ills The hark now crept along alowh and il' ultfullv, with frequent changes ol course. The Captain stood near the wheel, giving continual directions. At one tune the water shoaled to less than two Mtbonti, 'The eland ol New Providence is just ahead, Mr. Hardy," said the Captain. "I was in hopes to work retted to Neaanu to-night; but I dare not try it. I know enough of the Ha hamas to In' cautious ot Irj lug to keep a course at night in shoal water. 1 think We'll tie up to the shore MUidcr, if we can Rod a good anchorage, and wait till morning." It w as now near sunset Hick PurVla came In leliev c 111.- Ill ii t , i! Ill, heel Mr. Hard) walked forward. He stum, bled and fell over something near the Im- -ladder. He rose to hla feel. What mystery Was this? Dick Purvis had JlMl re lic veil him at the wheel here lav the BOaty Of the man himself, hatless," coal less, his skull crushed liv a savage Mow from the capslan-har that lay Is side him smeared with blood. A horrid tOaptetoa of the truth flashed apoa him. Willi a warning shout he i ashed hack to tin w heel The Captain had ju-t ol... rv. d a deviation in the cm , and aiigrih cor- reeUsil it. Iiie aorthf" he shoaled Pun is, what's the matter with Mu" Tue nun at the wheel i an autom aton; he iiIm-v.. the order given liini. ami in obeying them, he nlwn.v 'repeal the oiih i On (hi- Hvasiou the Captain's dins;.- lion was i again. There wa t repeated. He gnve. it , uo answer. TV man' lied oxer Ids eyeaj he bent band gra-ped the wheel. was i iiiuvsled. ue I nil. I nay!" volbo so that his f Voilh- the excited i '.a tain. ."You tool, sl i failed otrrTiTeM f -obits Hlready." And itill no annwer. The wheel flew round swiftly In the helmsman's hands, and the vowel' bow. obeying the direction, lay straight toward th shore of the island. With a furloiiH yell the Captain ieit the wheel. The man resisted. A powerful blow from the Captuin'a list eamied him to ipill his hold and "tagger back. His er.p fell off; tliu man was revealed, .in. emit of noor mnrdered Dick I'lll'V K lilt 1 M' H" I'll in ti www I llfllltill I m I 1 .... j flu' wafted not ii inment or attack. Without a word he darted forward, and was lost to sight. Promptly a the Captain sel.e.i The wheel and set the course due north, the vecl was t lar off to answer the helm in time. There was a trembling through every timler a shudder a shock another, and she ceased to ino . The Nellie Willis was hard and fast aground on tho shoro of New Trovi- ! dence. ! I'AItT H.-rilAITKR V. TKIICK WITH TIIS MUTINKSKS. At lirsl, not a word passed Iwtweon thti three men standing them by tho now useless wl I. In. rn thr Vl'SSol ll.'lil Jlli i'iin-o "I""" " ...!..i., ..uil ,.i i nisi I i own liv Hill, in ' -niij "M" ' - , Tew,,;;; ess Than two fathoms, and .....idly to the shore. The the hows iiml aslem was Ii It shoaled rapidly wind had continued so fresh that the headway Of the vessel drove her hard onto the bottom when her course was treacherously changed, and at h ast half her keel was fast in the clay. 8ho lay motionless, slightly careened over to the port side. Tho sun was setting. In the brief lull that followed this first stunning blow ol the muti rs, Captain Willis anxiously swept the horizon with his glass. The broad Bahama Channel waa before him, but the view was hero and there cut of by islands. No sail was in sight. We have said that at lirst no word was spoken by the Captain, Crawford or the mate. The scene deserihed in the last chapter had passed almost in a Hash; but Its terrible meaning was perfectly undcrst I. It needed no explanation from the mate to tell tho others that Purvis had been murdered for the purpose of disguising the viper whom the Captain had warmed and cherished to his own undoing. Five minutes passed dreadful min utes, that seemed like hours. Nothing was as yet stirring forward; not a man was to bo seen. Crawford and the Captain grasped each his revolver; the mate had a heavy capstan-bar, which he had kept handy .since the anchor was weighed, It was Ids pistol that Crawlord had. The situation was one to reipiiru no words, and hardly to allow of words. They realized that a desperate death- grapplo was at hand. Kaeh quietly stood ami nerved himself for it. Probably tho same anxious question occurred to each ol them. They were to contend with four times their own number. The were to light .where de feat meant death! Was there shelter or protection of which they could avail themselves? The open deck w as before them. As far as amidships there was no shelter save the boats slung at the sides and the slight coop over the cabin stairs. They were useless. Once the Captain looked inquiringly at Orawford, ami pointed down tow ard the cabin. Crawford shook his head. Without a word, each understood and consented. To seek the shelter of the cabin would he to put themselves at the mercy ol the mutineers, like rats in a trap. A no in loiddenlr mi., ii, .! nliovn the deck Iron, the forchold or rather, his head was at lirst elevated above it, and Ids band waved a white handkerchief. "I've got a proposition to make to you, on the part of the ere w. if you'll promise to hold your pistols oil' I'll come out and talk w ith you," The voice was that ol Louis Hunter. Captain Willis heard il, and ground his teeth with rage. "Come," was all he could say. "Hut you won't shoot," " II you are brief no." Busier reached the deck, and oame hesitatingly alt. " Halt P the Captain cried, when he w as about a rod away; "what d'ye want?" " I'd like lirst to explain myself," said the renegade. " I'd like to baVC vou understand that what I've done has been under conuiulsioii. ami onlv i because 1 was threatened with death'. I I want to mediate between you and the crew. 1 believe I can save vour , lives; at least. I know w hat they are I willing to do. I'll befriend vou if you'll let me." I " " You are an infamous liar, as w,.u , as a damnable traitor," the Captain exclaimed. " If ever a man w ould be j, ist, lied in breaking his word, I elumld be now, with such a fiendish scoun drel as you are. I don't know what it is keeps me from pulling a ball through you." Hunter turned very pale, and fell back a Iter Hut urn .ov sat. f,,r tl, . nOOOdad was so near to the low coast would give up his snip to a Wf 01 mu of that part of the Island that a man ti rs while there was breath in his - what do you want?" ; driven into his side. Ho sank to the "The crew sav thev will have !he,Joi' , , , ship. 1 tnppoee thev want t ntandc- A "f ,r,u,"i went up from the mutineers. " AMSWKK HIM IIVWK.IKP" her; lhc know von have gold in your .ahiii. They couldn't agree about tailing her, or you'd all been killed in the night and the "hip taken down to tin; Isle of PlmM. They ay that if you'll give up your pistols, you shall be safely put ashore." Captain Willis exchanged a few words with Crawford, while the rene gade continued his talk: I'd advise you to do it You've got lire-arms, it. is true; but they'll do 1 1-..I I la. ..!... ,,,, ,,1,-r. VI) II 1IC L'HMl Ml i-Mint; jii.i - J in: V i uL drsiM-niU'; you niul not look ' .a llt for the slightest otiartcr If you decline their twins. You may kill one or two of them; but your fate is certain. What do you say? Just hand over jour pistols to me, and I'll tell them you have yiebb d." "Answer him." the Captain said, in a low tone to Crawford. "I can't com mand myself to do it I should cer tainly shoot him before I said ten words." 'Your terms arc declined, sir, anul Crawford. "We are all agreed that not the slightest trust can be placed in tho crow and still less in yourself. We expect to die; but wo prefer to din like brave men, lighting for our lives, rather than give up our arms and be butchered the next moment If any of vou think that Captain Minn m - . g ihmiv. men vou oou i in " . . - ' & .rri., sen,, on your ouMhroaK and We'll meet , them. Though we never expect to see wn where there's any danger. A hoarse murmur, mingled with shouts, came up from thu hold. "I care little lor your sneers," said Hunter. "You are in a desperate posi- tlon, mid you might save yourselves if you would be advised by me; but il vou won t, your mood is) upon your own heads. You hear those cries? impact that means that the crew have got at a cask of rum down there, and are priming themselves for their work. For thi" last time -will you surrender?" "Hack with you!" thundered the Captain. "My patience is exhausted: I'll have no more parly with such as you." He cocked his revolver and laid il across his arm. Louis Hunter heard tho alarming click, and tarried no longer. Hurry- jug forward, ho ran lown tho ladder and disappeared. PAST D.-CHAPTTOVL a HUM or mood. There w as no more delay. Fired by their potations, and eager for revenge and plunder, the mutineers rushed up to tho deck, headed by the giant mulatto. Evan the stowaways, usually spiritless and weak, were now half crazed with liquor, and ready to rush blindly alter their leader. "Don't wait," said Crawlord. "These pistols are good for twice the distance. dive them one now. Hoth revolvers wero discharged at the same instant. 1 he mulatto was TIIK l API AIN Ml UPKKKn. bramiishing his knife and shouting to the crew to come on. Ills towel lUL' form was the mark at which both pistols were aimed, and both carried true. He tumbled dead to the deck, with two halls through his body. With a Irantic yell the three remain ing negroes rushed aft, knives in hand, the others closely following. Once more the pistols were heard. One hall broke the arm of one of the Cubans, the other plowed an uglv gash in the cheek of one of the stowa w a s. Nine lo three the infuriated muti neers bounded upon the little group by the w heel. There was time for another shot; but both pistols missed lire. At close quarters there was for three minutes a tremendous, hut hopeless. '"'ggl Tl"' ,m"0, ,,,,1IIK ! g""d blow with !"sl'm'' as struck to the heart by a " ( "IU,n " MU' "" "''iug l uso his rev olver again, was seized about the body from behind and thrust half a doaen times through the breast Either 101 I lie wounds would have killed him. For a moment Henry Crawford kept his assailants off by the powerful blows ol his lists. His pistol hail been knocked from his hand as he tried lo use it again. Two men fell In-fore his blows, when a cowardly knife thrust went through his hack. He turned and clutched the throat ol the negro with lh"h hands, when another knife was The groans and curses of the wound ed also broke forth, making the scene a pandemonium of horrors. The prostrate bodies of the brave I men who had fallen in defense ot the shipwreck were treated with insult and Indignity. Kicks were liberally W itowed upon them, their watches taken, and their pockets rilled. The mutineers then proceeded to the work a plunder. The door ol the cabin was broken down, and their in- sens.ue rage was tirst gratitliM by the moment then went ' rtl. Tini IW destruction of the furniture and bed- returned with a pannikin of w ater ding. The lin kers were kicked in, and ' laWnf the wounded man's head, he the Captain's little stock of wine was ' placed it to his lips. The long draught instantly consumed. The two liags ot revived him; he partially r.ued him gold were discovered, and exultingly el! upon his arm. brought forth. -U it vou?" he asked, as he saw "Divide fair play'" several ehout cd. Hunter standing by him. "I did not One of the negroes pound out the i,. , i this fmm" ,m Thank you. Odd in a glittering bejjn Jjje table. ' r-rbana I have wrnnsod you in' my i.i Tegariieuriwr.iriTov -'" looked like a lienil from me pn. 0gry faces, llaming with drink, gath ered round, and some hands clutched the knives again. "Bring more drink!" shouted tho fellow, who hail taken tho division upon himself. "More drink, and we'll divide." In a few mintitos a great bucketful of tho fiery li'uid was brought into the cabin, and each man took a draught from the tin dipper. Then they crowded around tho table. Their red eyes glared like tho eyee ol wild ls-nsU. Their breath came thick and abort and their hands eagerly clutched the gold pieces that wero one bv one dealt around to thOBL At such a time and under such con ditions it needed but a spark to cause an explosion. Two pieces wero accidentally handed to ono of the Cubans at once. Half a dozen voices demanded that ono ol them bo given back. The man refused, with an oath; tho negro who was mak ing the distribution leaned over tho table, seized him by tho throat and plunged his kuifo into his heart In the twilight obscurity of tho cab in tho scene that followed could 06 likened to nothing but a raging hell. The table was overturned and the gold was scattered to tho corners of the cabin, while the human demons eager ly sought to clutch it. They cut and thrust with tln ir knives; they cursed am. upon the floor. Horrid hW given and received; blood gatho edm pools upon the Hour. The tumult was dreadful but brief. Sotno lay dead, others were overcome by exhaustion and the stupor of drunkenness. Silcnco presently prevailed. The moon rose in placid splendor ii)Min that scene of botVOf and desola tion. The wind had died awav, leav- ing only the long swell of the sea. Tho bark lay grounded and motionless when the bright moonbeams poured into the cabin and Hooded the deck. Dead bodies were everywhere, and everywhere blood. PAST H CHAPTU VII. thk r.aa or noec. While this turmoil of strife and slaughter had lieen raging, the arch plotter ol the mutiny was safely hid den down in the bold among the casks and bales. Deliberately calctilatingon the sure result of plunder and drink on the unbridled passions of the crew, and fearing h-t the blind rage of some of them might lie turned against himself, he kept hidden until all was quiet, again. Then he cautiously ascended to the deck, and made his way for ward. The body of the mulatto lay spraw led mil by the hatches. That of Purvis 1 iv near it. He stepped over them and passed on. Near the stern he paused and looked for a moment at the ghast ly scene there disclosed. Captain Willis and the mate lay on their backs, their dead faces turned up to the sky; Craw foul la v upon his breast, his face resting on his folded arms. Hunter descended the cabin-stairs. One of the bodies had fallen against the door, ami continued pushing with his shoulders was necessary to open it. Inside, the horrid scene disclosed by the light of the moon, from which most men would have lied in affright, seemed to make hardly an impression upon him. He had come for the small part ol the Captain's gold that w as there. He would have it, though every coin was wet w itli blood! What w as he? it might here be asked. A very liend in human form a man only in shape? We can only say that nature does sometimes make such men as Louis Hunter, The depravity ol a person's ancestors lor generations past docs at times seem to have descended to one common heir. The lust ol gold that had been kindled in this man's heart, the mad tires ol revenge upon a suc cessful rival in love, had stimulated him to the engineering of the atrocious deeds that we have recorded; nor was his hellish record yet complete. Inside the cabin, ho stepped briskly about it, scooping up the scattered gold and putting it into the canvas ia ke, n his careful search for the coin.-ho moved aside the bodies, and one of the w uinded men, feeling his bauds, re vived a little, and piteously begged for witer. His lingers clutched a gold Coin. Hunter tore it from him, but pa'd not the least attention to his it ans. In his groping over the Moor In the gold pieces, his handl became wet with blood, w hich he cooly wiped ii'i on the clothing of one of the pros- tt ate bodice. At last the bags were Ii led again. He carefully tied up their mouths, and re-ascended to the deck, cm rying one under each arm. He paused a moment) looked at the three bodies lying near the wheel, and started forward. A thought struck bim; be paused, and slowly returned. Taking hold ol the body of Henry Crawford by the shoulders, he rolled it emm upun llie back. A deep groan startled him. He fell back in a kind of panic. The groan was repeated. "Ah -you' iv not dead, my line ah .ow !" he soliloquized. "You might as Well be." Stooping dowu he opeucd the wounded nun's vest. He saw that the coagulation of blood had stopped the flow from the knife-w onmls. "Hut I hardly think you'll recover, my friendr1 he remarked, with a latanic smile. He thrust his hand into the inside vest-pocket, and drew forth the pict ure. He opened the case, and g.uod at the smiling features. The madness of rage possessed him; he threw it Idowtt stamped on it and ground it to powder beneath his heel. Crawford opened his exes. "Water." he feebly gMpad. Louis Hunter ivganied him lor a .,.-.,..t.i. " May be you'll be so good as to tell p what you havo thought,' said Hunter, with his habitual snocr. I thought you wero linked with the mutineers, and worso than thoy. If I was wrong, pardon me." "Well, sir, since you want to know how it was, you shalff It waa I who j.'.ntfil'All 1 In- U'hflll' business Those crazy fellows who have been killing each other down below since mey paiu their respects to you and your friends - they had the heart for mutiny and murder, but they needed a head. I became the head. I plotted every thing, as well as helped them execute. And we'requitesuccesslul, nsyoiisee." Crawlord, faint and wounded as ho was, seemed to be struck as never be fore with the extent of tho man's de pravity. He looked at him with hor ror and loathing. "You appear very much shocked," pursued Hunter. "Well, you may look aa you like and think what you please; but you'ro going to die right thero where you are." "Coward -miscreant!" cried Craw ford. "Would you murder a sorely wounded man who has fallen in de fense of his friendr1 "You use rather harsh terms," re plied Hunter, concealing the triumph ol his revenge under his sneering man ner. "But I'll tell you just what I'm going to do, and then you can call it what name you please. Here I have the gold that our highly-esteemed friend, the late Captain Willis, brought with him from Havana. It's no very great turn that is, in comparison with what he secreted in the cellar of the old house iii Provincetowii; but it will take me comfortably there, and keep mo until I can mature and carry out a plan to get that treasure. For I'll havo it by (ieorge, I'll havo it! You see, I know the Captain's secret I suspect -cd something ol the kind there in Province town, and I coaxed him to take me on this voyage, that I might discover hla secret What d'ye think ol me now?" "You are a devil," Crawlord said. "Thank you. Take some more water: I want to keep you nlive till I can tell you what I mean to do. You are the man who came between me and Helen Willis. Here you are, dying a miserable death, while 1 am going back to gain the Captain's treasure and win his daughter. Ha bow does that pict ure strike you?" "God will never permit such villainy to triumph," Crawford said, faintly but firmly. "1 tell you now, you will be overtaken and punished. Helen Willis is not for you! not for you! Dear Nellie! God help us both! but she's not lor you!" "She's certainly not for you!" Hunter retorted. He camo close to Crawford, ho even knelt over him and glowered upon him. "I did not finish telling you what I meant to do. It will be convenient, and I think prudent, for me to destroy all the evidence of this little affair. Dead men tell no tales, you know, and I think I can tell a story about it that will be believed. I shall fire the vessel; I shall destroy you and all of thoso drnnken beasts below that are still alive. 1 shall wade ashore, reach Nas sau some time to-morrow, take the lirst steamer for Mew York, and the rest is easy. So farewell, Mr. Craw ford! You'll begin to think you'd bet ter died iif Cuba." He delayed no longer. Taking up his bags of gold, he hurried forward and down into the hold. He remained there at leant twenty minutes. When he came up again lie went to the bow, fastened a rope about tho bowsprit, and b t himself dow n into the water. It w as hardly knec-deep. Ho waded ashore with his treasure under his anna, He paused a moment on the low bank to take a larewell look at the bark and the motionless bodies on ber deck, plainly defined by the moonlight Then he disappeared. The night wore on; the moon mount ed higher in the heavens. All was pro foundly silent and quiet about the ves sel and the adjacent waters and land. : Henry Crawford lay prone on his bach, his head pillowed on the body of poor, faithful Hardy. Somewhat re vived by the water, he was still too weak to rise, or even sit np. He lay thus quietly; his eyes ah, how exqui site is the mockery ol circumstances! tixed on the North Star. He could not measure time; in the agony and weariness ot his awful situv tioii, an hour might have been a week. This man was cast in an heroic mold; in him were the blood and the nerve to perform any great action that occasion brought in his way. So he was not one to despair. He had never despaired, however appar ently hopeless the situation! Perhaps he came nearer to it that night than ever before. For, while he lay there among the dead, abandoned to perish, with aching wounds and strength drained away, he became conscious ot a strong smeil ol smoke. Soon the pungent scent of burning tobacco was plainly to Is? rceived. A thread ot smoke ascended from the itmjanion-way. The whole for ward deck presently smoked from every seam. Soon a great volume of thick black smoke poured out. A long tongue of tire leaped mjUt .aught the. sJuajuda "YOU'RE 00IN0 TO DIE mOHT THERE." .,rl ran up to tlio stiils. The hissing sertients ol flame ran every wiiuic i"j ........ ..ml involved every tiling Hie i ''" . - - above the deck in the conflagration. ii.. ,i were the ifieal volumes ot smoke that ascended from tlio hold that they obscured tho light ol mo moon, and floated aloft in great col umns. Tt.n it.miK ronred in tho rigging; thev hissed nnd cracklod below; they - . M J A ..1 enveloped tho whole lorwaru pan, oi the bark, and with swift and relentless tongues camo aft Merciful God! to die so!" Craw ford moaned. "Father in Heaven, help and succor me!' Only the night heard htm and the etars, tho ocean and Coil! PART III.-CIIAITER I. NEWS rilOM Till SOOTH. The month of September was draw ing to a closo. The season waa re markably mild, the weather fair and pleasant that autumn along the Upper Atlantic shores of our country. Upon the afternoon of this day from the high ground near the old IIkIoII House, at Provincetowii, the bay was spread out. like a beautiful panorama to the view. Outward and inward bound vessels, Home with clouds of canvas spread alow and aloft as they started upon vova"cs of thousands of miles; others coining in with sails reefed, to be towed up to the city; two or three steamers, trailing behind them a long black w ake of smoke from their funnels; lishing craft by the score, and hero and there a beautiful yacht on a short pleasure cruise these were the characteristic features that enlivened the bay, and made it appear the busy picture of life, commerce and enjoyment that it was. We have heard from the lips of the owner of the old house a brief descrip tion of it To that little need be added. Yet a stranger, especially if he had an eye to the picturesque and tho Incon gruous, would have scanned the old building with curiosity. It was so large, and the uninhabitable part of it so extensive, that its last owner hail thought bcHt not to do any thing for the appearance of the unused part. Therefore, while about one-third of it, atone cud, was neatly painted, the windows hung with green blinds, and Ivy clambered over the door, the great er part ol tne ouiiuiiig was iniie- ttalned, weather-beaten and nearly In ruin. Windows were shattered and several sashes were missing. Doors hung by a single rusted hinge. Loosened clapboards sounded in time of high wind. If houses, like men, have their life and death, both were surely embraced In this old relic of colonial days. The hour was about the middle of the afternoon. Mrs. Willis stood in the doorway, looking down the street. Sin was anxious and troubled. By Un careful reckoning that her husband had made before bidding her adieu, after making all allowances for deten tions ami unfavorable winds, he should have returned a week ago. The av pcarance of the bark was familiar to her, and often she came thus to the door and scanned the ocean beyond the cape, hoping to be gladdened by the sight of the home-returning Nellie, Her daughter went daily to the poet-ofSce; she had gone there now, and Mrs. Wil lis paused at the door and waited, as she saw her slowly approaching. "She has no letter," thought the wife, with a sigh. "She docs not w alk fast." A group of battered nnd supei anu ated sailors, who loved to come up here and take observations of the bay from a neighboring sand-hill while smoking their pipes, observed Mrs. Willis at the door and Helen coming back from the town. "Them folks nre gettin' anxious," one observed, "'Bout the harkP" There was a grunt of assent "Well, thev needn't A week or two weeks over time ain't nothing on a v'y'gc to the gulf." The oracle of the party, nn old, one eyed fellow , whose face looked like a thickly-knotted section of oak-bark, pulled vigorously for a moment, and then nnnotinoed,in u mysterious way: r-x-Justice Strong is often refoirud to as the most Bensiblo man in Wash ington. He sorved ten yoars on the Supreme bench and then retired on full pay. In 1KH0 he resigned, and has since lived quietly in Washington, lecturing occasional ly and performing faithfully tho one duty that the law requires of him. Whenever tho Su premo Court is required to take part in any public ceremony. Judge Strong puts on his robo nnd walks with them in tho procession. In considerat ion of this and his past servioes ho receives ten thousand dollars annually from Uncle Sam's treasury. A pleasant story is told nt San Francisco of tho wife of the Mexican President. The Spanish Opera Com pany recently found itself in distress in that city. It seems that one of tho musicians was something of a poet, nnd ho had dedicated somo verses once or twice to Mme. Dinz. She was very much pleased with the compli ment and told him if she could ever serve him in any difficulty sho wo.ild bo happy to do it. He recalled her promise and asked her if she could assist the poor opera people back to Mexico. Immediately a telegram came from the kind lady authorizing them to bo sent home at her expense, said to be some three thousand dollars. The Revengs of Tim. Tapeyard Who is that stunning girl you raised your hat tol Ribbouley-Miae Ooklie Bullion. Tapeyard (timidly Sbedidnt return your courtesy Perhaps she doesn't know you. Ribbonley (bitterly)-Nol ths does not know me now- but when 1 am the only young man at Ocean Foam next maimer she will not only know me but pine for me in vain. -Lowell Citiien. A Smart People. First Thief I've got a sure and safe thing now. I go to bouses lo a hurry and ask for a Bible with big print to read to a net man Tbey give dm the family Bible In a hurry, and I aaU 'em at second hand book atorea Second Thief-1 tried that in one city, but it dklnl wort. Everybody seamed to see through the game, f.a- they aaid tbey hadn't any Bible. I Just tell you there ain't uc gettui' ahead o' them Chicago folks A nilmpta of lad Llnri Both tho steward nnd tliu ,(M,k vx remonstrated with "Mn,ia t.ih bringing into the kitchen of the v'h" FlriOHA T,Rlieb Hinmla ,f .. m poor, (1imv hungry street urchins to bo fed " ! at lust Peter snid that M i 1 "V4 must be told. ",ncu' lad flow into a rage mn PMinito we Ills inn her lltnsidf nod .... a. ,, tier out searched tho place for Ins'bu'v fill hor 1 Meanwhile tlio small objects 0f r charity waited at tlio lower door-J2! Peter had absolutely refused to fat tli.aaa "Btepinsido." " The indignant boy spieo hi, f.lt just crossing tlio yard, with .. bowed, eyes to the ground, tnlkitin earnestly to Mr. Sowurd ns they W(ln? ed to the department of state togatber Ho cried out to him at once: "Father, father! can't I bring IW poor, cold, hungry boys lionm 23 mo whenever I want tof Isn't it n. kilcUonl" m Bv this timo Tad bad his father by thoiiand, who stopped short to listen to tlio fruntic appeal. "Can't I trivo them n snnJ . dinner today, say? They're just as hiimrrv as bears, and t wo of ', the boys of a soldier, tool and, fmn. er, I'm going to discharge Peter thii mitiuto if hodon't get out tho meat and chicken and pies and till n,e tilings wo had left yesterday. Say mayn't I? Isn't it our kitchen la' ther?" Secretary Seward was shaking with laughter. Mr. Lincoln turned to hitn witli a twinklo-- "Sewurd, advise with me. Thiscano requires diplomacy." Mr. Seward patted Tad on the back and saidjio must be careful not toruu tho government in debt, nnd the presi dent took Tud's little brown bands in his own big ono, and with a very droll smile bid linn to "run along home aai feed tho boys," and added: "Tell Peter that you nro really re quired to obey tho Biblo by getting in tlio maimed nnd tho blind, and tliut hs must bo u better Christian than he is!" In less limn nn hour Mr. Seward said thoy passed through the yard on their way to tlio cabinet meeting, and no less than ton small boys wero sit' ting with Tad on tho lower steps, crocking nuts and having a "Stan Dinner. Mr. Lincoln remarked (hat tho "kit chen wus ours." Wido Awake. Water I'owcr. Tlio artesian wells of Dakota are probably tho most remarkable for pressure and tho immense quantity of water supplied of any ever opened. Moro than 100 of such wells, from 500 to 1,600 feet deep, are today in success ful operation, distributed throughout twenty-nino counties, from Yaiutton, in tho extreme south, to Pembina, in the extreme north, giving forth t con stant, never varying stream, which ii in no wise affected by the increased number of wells, and allowing a gauge pressure in somo instances as high at 160, 170, 175 and 187 pounds to tin square inch. This tremendous powct is utilized in tlio more important towm for water supply, (iro protection and the driving of machinery at a wonder ful saving on tho original cost of plant and maintenance when compar ed with steam. In tho city of Yank ton a forty horse power turbine wheel, operating n tow mill by day and an electric light plant by night, is driven by tho force of water flowing from an artesian well, the cost of obtaining which was no greater than woulu havo been tlio cost of developing the same power, not counting the contin ual outlay necessary, had steam been employed, for fuel, repairs, and the salaries for engineer ami lircman. What has been accomplished through tho aid of natural gas and cheap fuel in building up manufactories else where, may somo day bo rivaled on tho prairies of Dakota by tapping the inexhaustible power stored in naluro'i reservoirs beneath tho surface. -Fin and Water. Building a Ileus,. In Samoa. Tlio negotiations between thoskiliea and wily carpenter and tho prospec tive Sanioan house owner would amuse, but hardly meet the ap proval of tho business man of today. Under the propitiating in fluences of knvtt, the necessary presents nro produced to induce tho carpenter to undertake the con struction of a house. It is begun at once, without any terms of agreement, and the work advances until tho car penter thinks more presents necessary, and ho ceases work. Additional gifl being made, the carpenter continues tho construction until ho deems it nec essary to demand another contribu tion, when he again stops work u tho contribution is not forthcoming labor is suscndcd on tho incomplete house, never to be undertaken (or completion bv another of the cratt; and forever afterwards it remains un finished and a public reproach to IM good name of tlio unfortunate owner, who, at the time of its beginning, not knowing what may bo the ideas of tne carpenter as lo the cost of its construc tion., must cither call upon the com munity for aid, which is generally freely extended, orsuffcr the liumiim tiou of this unfinished monument- Century. Sh Wan't at Home. Wliilo Hamilton Fish was secretary of state Mrs. Fish made it her ttWJ nblo practice to return all calls ma" upon her. Of course, many " " tlirong were unfashiouable, but u made no difference. -. Ono day a lady of East aibiM"" thought she would see what an onxj reception was like, and so eb?'0! ed the crowd through Mrs. 1,1?DV"T lors and dropped her card at the In duo timo Mrs. Fish a carrup stopped before a small frame wu East Washington, and the WJIJ moment was occupied in ! Jj but not aristocratic occupauou scrubbing tlio front steps. Mrs. Fish stepped out of hera riago and, presenting her caru, to seo the lady of the house. , "Sho is not in," said tho UvlfJg; Iv, and resumed her scrubbing. Mrs. Fish aeturned to her carnap Chicago Herald. -According WOr. Howship Did furred tongue is not necessarily taZ9 symptom, lo some peratms -' have a clean tongue, and to berisJ Impossible to ax any degree or limit ing as a necessary aeoomnioiuit to p health. A oew and curious alloy l Prod"!fVj placing on a clean crucible an "Jjast per and an ounce of antimony and "J them by a strong beat. The eomPjj be hard and of a beautiful voiW bo j alloy has not yet been applied to any a , purpose, but Its excellent quan"-. . ,n.l..nt of ill mine, entitle H W c MMtaV