ONE HULLUW;
. n.,l Af tha Pinrnvc
fjf TIv iwuvja.
fhrUllul and Bomantkj Story
Advantura
n Mimll.L, AUTHOR OF "BOOM
BUJ." 'WIW AD
OTM BTOBIBt.
. . i t n of iw - -.kb . . ..
... .1 A V SVLvi. V.
CHAPTER XIL
A TBAWU-EM CHILD.
vou chaps hi bean in thelch
U1
ci.r iravo V ' t- a Dtvuhai
til ttaav 01 iub vuiuirv ku "
-laiiP l mat BOUHUIU IIUI SHIT 1 IQ
I " . t-.-I-A-..
f Captain d"
g ino irutu, ia.. vavvra, rut
rz.- .Miain "YOtirson Hankti
tnQ v r-
all '
the death of my eateeuied friend,
1 lU HUUl" WUIIU J IB iUUfOU,
.1 . .... lt.n .V.n...,lr. U.
Miss IX'un 'v unu iit-i KiMuuniucr
.( find tne ckxi i am "ui omc uiau
anvuu
.....i fivtn. wdd luun u uu tuu iiwr
....tVi r nil HI H'LIVLTU til IUI unn, UI1U
.hA ia nlivp. It brieves mo sorelv
a. .
ThS lii" " "
. kaaaav eves oi hn yaw dm roan aim
iff Ml U"t"
Captain ataroriKni, WM apparent
L.j nn v in inn hair, and wn
pwuiirM 7. 7 .
.... irt n 0in nimseir at me merrv
the wns of Mother uaDera. no nad
i . K .... I i n ir in f hn nrfHtiir.n nf
. , r,-, mw. MMlffn to bo more
In tno I inure.
to the Captain's side and touched
lYvnA witn me. laniain. one wiuspona
fjjr. 1UCU OU iviWnvH v vv w uwa
J ii j . ......
Tdnn t)n ornaiAil in nnA nnrnA
tie room ana snppou name uui n
'r .. ....... Urn that atiwl nonr hn if tt1
nkTillOiruuvi.
I.. Lt.mil thpniifrh trio uiMrtnr(
uiu iiuoni' nu ---n - i ----
A. J ...... lm llt,.,..,n.rl
- Utflintrht wau nnf ppm v fi triiit
full v tin knmv 1h.it hin lifa
jpcviu" t 7
not DO worill tt pOftHH buuuiu uitj
.... f .1 .. ,iihit dnnrn it tn.-itiAt
. ,. ir Ua ha1 irntiA t . .. i far
to recede, however, and bo, making
of his weupon, he followed the hag to
celly Deiow.
IQe irun CIU9UU auuvo iuciu muiiiai
knew you was embarrassed up there
lue ikivj. nu 1 LUUU(JUl 1 WUU1U uiiuk
Here wnere you oouiu bucucl ireciy.
room, a small, square apartment, with
barrels stood about, and on one of th
pr ii n it i ti H" ru Mt'iLijc'i i nr vhii ii i
ft nose vou was exDecun' mis acciueni
i AflnMPi11
an ti.'i .ii'iit Ihnnt"
ooks tnal was "
ti very saa l am orry thai tne Dodj
taken away. There seems to be some
rv Huuub ii.
umcnucKie answoreu ninx
ipiain s hm mm ua yvv iticc, ciivuiu
na
nam j you meani"
itteniicd to the body. I was t'owi
L iL. I . ....... i th
gau up ou piuuwu uci ucio
maeous uiur inaicavea wnn a iau oi
the conter of the room, which set med
hu'hiT thun thrt aiMrrnnnHinv trri U Lid
heavens ! Do vou mean that Xura
iut;iu iHxiv litis moro unaer our cn
cried tbc ( antuin. tus face white ano
l mm i 1 1 nnw vnnpnnr "
and mine to the side of tho room, lift
spado that leaned against tho stones,
spade struck something beneath the
with a thud that was Rii!kcu iu.fr.
you satisfied? It won" t take me
u a uiiiinii '
i . .i . nn i in nnr nrmi " crrnnnii
wKm wOTOD U afJHL iiOL US SO UD.
Mlhan a . ........... i .
ol vw ....... ,.. . v.,..
lOllpd Miivttlirua no.) trtvuatinrr it tv
- v BUU N4I UOUUg IV W
hw Captain. "I'm opinioned that the
Mir-carrvm' this nix lma n cress a
Hollow
nmvaH n k I 1 . iv.i r T
w w mo tuvvoi iuui liuin mvjw
uu uau'jououess uoen stolen by tne
c inn t.i w... v. st.
' "' ana uiuotiva uuiulii, uu
o '. nun I ugo,
"U keep this," ho said.
n Mnnnn ... aV.
you nay for it, you may."
iavftM n,.t . u.n h..j trA .... .t
O .'I. t. uiiiij unuu. .111 uo,
flt .... . I , .
no handed over to his companion.
ui.,.U.IM.UlWI UC B.IU 111
tone.
nen does the next come?"
en I am master of the Vandible
..v wm. ivaiiUI 111 111 T VTaaj liuw,
uu ouona ui isLiutiB nuitcu
U il H i hi tnn.tn. T AnA II,J1,,D
. ..hi i,. iiiiulvi ui uuud uuuvn
l J m sovuvao.
va.ib ocvifLCU IUO IIIUMI'V, MOB
io retrace her steps to the room
Evidently she was thus far satisfied
til .,,..:."
uiuineni."
"lid of Captain SUrbriffht detained
. Hun Luis auieftir wmma w
-i vit.u wuispcriug my part iu n
Bn a fooL Cantaln
eemed sufficient answer, and the
rPil n i. v. a . ..
"w a uuiu uviQ, niw.i a
- nuiui wuu ui iritnu, ftapuiiu
oe more toward Lone Hollow.
was in a whirl, and he was not
bff firiH.u TT l , 1 1
hand and might prove dangerous
tooe to come.
-j -". means, nulla .ilLMTa niuj
that r f. rr.a nA. .hA T Ui
BM Irnnvn V.. . .. I ..! "
the C.mtil UWnt than
iflonot believe that the bod v of
T wmi wivu r aaesa v
tr.r win a u. ... i ok.
Poor orphan uiv how. ul the hub-
" ... ever ua 1UULU. OUC
- . u.u uufc. unco i siep inu oiu
la ... . , ... " ...
s.iim . ran n.rv in. wnr n
- K-ver that moves all mankind.
"0 that I am utterlv aafe. 1 have
uuw to reoeoe. my nana is lata
of the tree and I will proceed to
wmmation. I have the subtle poison
IDUtt An 1. I.
aW nun aL nnnr
eky Wentword did aot get that
r.i
answer it myself, or tend some-
- m.o ina oetween unct
Mechanic.
that every thing worked U
Vki.n Ik. . . 1 .
w. Bcucuiing viuata pT
C&nta. O. 1 i 1. . . .
. i" ownniDi rvaoatav atatttj
UaUtotoria tteavtnlnrhe was
nent from Grace
ffaftdfather was ill and in bad.
Mrtnajaly aick," said the
SiSfSaWiS
that has prostrated grandpa."
Certamiy. You may b able to checi
Wm up a bit. Any U0W1 lrom Lural"
'Be Arm. tny Sl.Valttt!
ender, hopefu voice. Tl-, U"t"11 m f
"Ktogiveuphop J will,
ssrs .hii7Mtheire m or is.
Lftsa1 aftaia
AS ",n WM Ras
J' 1)6 ,Uiet' fu,her' Tou aren't half aa
ud off as you pretend "
WorjiVa,,s.Mr-.PenrOJr Wh0 ut th
Wurd Hha Kat nn.i i... . .
i r. -..u irom tne
cd, rocking gently, and agiuting the air
ibout her thin face with ? kZgtSSl
an, seemingly utterly indifferent to the suf
fenngsof the sick old man.
"Un gmug to die, I tell you." groaned
Mr. andible. I p,ess I know how I feel
k f."""'1 "J h(,art' SjUrtta, and never
had. If Orai-o was like you I wouldn't leave
ier a cent. BUc's a Penroy, every inch of
' ,,7? bl0M lhe fr11 My children
were all bail, tho last one of 'em-"
"Just like their father, anyhow," inter
rupted the widow, spitefully.
A groan alone answered the heartless
words of a heartless daughter.
It waa true, as the old man had asserted,
Orace Penroy was like her lather, gentle,
kind and true, and it was these qualities
that had endeared the golden-haired g,rl to
the old millionaire. It waa undoubtedly
true, also, that had his grandchild been
like Iter motlior she would never have been
mentioned in connection with an inherit.
noe.
Captain Starbright advanced and stood
bv thO bod. The mnnmnt f hn nl.l man
! uim his countenance brightened.
1 am glad you have come, Captain. 1
am going to dio, and I nood your advice."
"1 hope it is not so bad as" that," said tho
Captain, as ha drew a chair beside the
couch and sat down.
"It is just that bad," declared Mr. Vandi
ble. "Send her out, will youl"
Of course, this last reforred to Mrs. Pon
roy. With a toss of her head the woman roae
to go.
"Don't let him make a fool of you, Captain
Starbright, as ho has done of overy body
else about this house."
With this parting shot the woman was
gone.
"Yes, I'm going to die this time, sure I"
declared Mr. Vandible. the moment Mrs.
Penroy was gone, "aud I want your advice."
"About whatl"
"About making a will "
"Indeed!"
Tho Captain waa interested at once.
"I want to ask you whom I had best em
ploy about drawing it up. I want it good
and solid, to hold water, for I don't want
any body picking Haws With It oner l am
dead."
" No, of course not. Haven't you a good
lawyer!"
"No. I never patronized them. I man
aged to get on well enough, ami lay up
money, without consulting a crafty lawyei
at every turn. My motto always was, the
lew vou have to do with such chaps tbe bet
ter. -
" A very good motto."
"Yes," with a low laugh. " In the pres
ent case, however, I suppose a lawyer must
come in."
"I suppose so."
"Whom would you recommend I"
" You trust to my judgment on this sub
ject)" queried the Captain, elated in spite
of himself at the turn affairs were taking.
'Implicitly."
"Then I would namo Soekmore Gripes, of
Stonefield. I have always found him relia
ble."
"Very well send for him."
" In the morning!"
"Now."
Captain Starbright came to his feet, then
seemed to hesitate.
" Is it necessnry fof such groat haste!"
"Do as I tud," ordered tho old man. "If
I die without making my will tho ungrate
ful Martha will got my property, aud I
don't moan that she Bhall have a penny."
"I will send for the lawyer at once, and
for a physician !'
"No, no. Send Orace here. I will seo
none of tho leeches, confound 'em," growled
tbe old man, in such a fierce way as tc
prove conclusively to tho Captuin that
Vandible was not in such desperate straits
as ho imagined.
Ho left the room, found Grace and sent
her iu to her grandfather, and then went
forth to tho stables.
"1 11 go myself," ho muttered. "I don't
believe tho old man will die to-night, but
it's woll onough to huve every thing pre
pared. I can see that every thing will go
to Grace. If I can make it contingent on
her marrying me, a master-stroke will bo
In. I know I can trust Seekmore Gripes.
He'd sell his soul for pelf." Soon after tho
Captain was on the road to Stonefleld.
CHAPTEll XIIL
ONE MINI IF TOO I.ATS.
It was two hours after midnight when
Captain Starbright and a companion wero
ushered into tho sick room at Lone Hollow.
" How is hoi ' questioned the Captain of
tbe girl, who sat besido tho couch.
" He has been very restless," answered
Grace, in a voice that evince J deep anxiety.
" I havo brought something that may do
him good," and tho Captain produced a
small bottle from an inner pocket, and
poured a part of tho contents into a glass
that stood on a stand at tbe bedside.
The old man refused to touch it, however
He glared at tho Captain's companion and
growled :
" A doctor-a miserable leech I Did I not
tell you it was a lawyer I wanted!"
M J nave brought one. Allow me to
introduce my friend Gripes, Mr. Vandible."
Tho sick man glared at the bald little
man who bobbed his head in recognition of
the introduction. Mr. Gripea waa thin to
... il u-ith nrniprtinir srav brows.
Ul.I llLja." - i 4 -
deep .. ferret eyes, and wrinkled neck
and cheeks, the very personiucauuu vi
sharp atiorncy.
He polished his hat with his elbow and
stood ready to make himself useful.
The Captain glanced at Orace, then at the
old man on the bed. He nodded to tho girl,
who understood, and walked from tho room
with the assurance that she would be called
if her presence was needed.
' Clearing his throat Lawyer Gripes as
sumed a seat at tne bedside, depositing his
I hat under tbe medicine-stand, and then said
in a low, insinuating voice :
I "I understand that you wish some legal
' papers drawn, Mr. Vandible !"
"I want a will made," returned the ola
man, bluntlv, and far from weakly.
I "Exactly, exactly," rubbing his hands to
gether rapid or. "I auppose you have da
cided upon the terms of this will V
"I have. I leave every thing I hava to
the world to my granddaughter, Oiaoa
Tben It will be a comparatively shor
proceaa to make out the n"
The old lawyer raoved aatda, drew son
fi fram m fa tarratb-r
MdtoJr. aad was soon writing rapidly
At length a touch oa the ahailder eaaed
to oLe writtof a-lk fi Cto
jtarbnght atooa at hie elbow. Ttatwo
lhanged glaneoa, Uo lawyer nodded, anal
aaa the Cajttala atoipiJ d. ,
Now, as to the terms at this wEl r
.-titlnail flaakaaare Qripea .
"la It necettary to enumeraUi tha nma.
trtyl"
"Not unleat you with to bequeath part"
"It 0 goes to By granddaughter, to tha
at farthing I told you that before," re
torted the old man, in a vexed tone.
"Very good. Ahem--it seems to me that
!n a certain contingency tome other pro
vltion ought to be made," tuggetted tha
lawyer, still holding hia pen tutpended,
flancing under hia spectacles at the old
man on tbe bed.
"Some other contingency! Confound it,
tlr, if you can't write out the document to
suit me you may go. I'll employ a man next
time of some tvntc, will"
"Very good, " answered Oripea, not tha
least disconcerted by the rude language of
the invalid. " It shall be aa you aay, only,
thould any thing happen"
"Happen! Confound It, air, what do you
expect to happen I"
"Nothing out of nature, yet you must re
member that it it sometimes tbe unexpected
that does happen. It it customary m will
ing property to provide for such a con
tingency. Kor instance, should this young
lady, your respected granddaughter, die
before this will la probated the property
would then revert to tha legal heirs if any
existed, which might be contrary to tha
wishes of tbe testator."
Then Mr. Seekmone Oripea dropped his
pen to tho paper once more for the purpose
of continuing hta writing.
"Stop! you're right," cned Vandible, in
a husky voice, his face growing suddenly
pale. "The ungrateful Martha ahall never
Inherit one cent, never a cent, say. Put
in another name in case of the con' ngoncy
you mentioned put one in, Mr. Gripea."
"Well!"
"Have you got It In I"
"I am waiting to hear the namo.'1
"Eh! Well, that's a fact."
Morgan Vandible contracted hia brows
aa if in deep thought Just then Captain
Starbright ateppod into hia vision. Thit
move at once gave the old man an idea.
" Yea, yea, that'a It," he whispered, seem
lag to grow weak auddenly. "Put in hit
name, the Captain's, ho'a a good friend tc
me, a good friend."
"Thank you, air," aaid tha Captain, with
hia hand on his heart, "you do me exceed
ing honor."
Scratch, scratch, scratch.
The pen of Seekmore Gripes was oaca
more at work. In a little time the impor
tant paper that was to convey mora than
million dollars was completed. It waa
business liko document the lawyer had
drawn up scores of them and bequeathed
all the Vandi'ilo property, realand personal,
to the testator' a beloved granddaughter,
Grace Poarsr. In case the girl should dn
Natoa . ,...,.,,. a.r, jo. two years away
then the projierty was to go to bis well
esteemed friend, Clintoa Starbright, ol
Stonetleld. The reading seemed to suil
Vandible. There was one clause In the will
that the lawyer had neglected to read,
most important clause. It was that Graci
Penroy was to forfeit the property if sh
did no marry Captain Starbright.
A look from the Captain gavo Mr. Seek
moro Grijies his cue. Tho two had talked
matters over before the present, and thi
scheming Captuin had hia plot well laid. Hi
believed Morgan Vandible waa too uearlj
blind to note tbe truth, even should hi
glance over tho written page, and so In
felt comparatively safe. Two executori
were named, tho Captain and Lawyei
Oripea.
After every thing was in readiness for tht
old millionaire's signature the will waa laii
on a book, Vandible propped up with pillowl
and the document placed before him to
sign.
"Place your name right there, air," d
ractnd Mr. Gripes, glibly, touching the de
sired spot with his oony Torennger.
The old man's hand trembled so that it
waa with difficulty that he held the pen.
"I I'm not just sure. The witnesses"
"Yea, yes, I will call them tho moment
you sign. The Captain will do for one.
Sign quickly.it's all right," declared Lawyer
Gripes, in his smooth, glib way.
"I suppose so. I feel bad, very bad," de
clared the old man, huskily. "Give ms
something quick!" -
Lawyer G ripes reached back and snatched
tha glass into which the Captain had poured
a liquid some time before, aud at once con
veyed it to the lipa of the old man. Hi
swallowed the contents at a gulp, then re
sumed his pen. He seemed strong, and hit
hand ceased to shake.
"It all goes to Grace, all," he muttered,
the ghastly look deepening on his shrunken,
old face.
"Yes, yes, but sign," urged Mr. Gripes.
The old millionaire carried his pen to the
paper, but his hand did not move to form tha
signature. Instead he jerked it away
suddenly, as though a new thought had
entered his brain.
"No; I will not sign. You must maket
new will."
This announcement came like a thunder
bolt to the strained senses of Captain Star
bright
"You are betide yourtelf, Mr. Vandible,"
aaid the Captain, stepping quickly to tha
bedside. "Would you deprive Grace of all
happiness by"
"No, no; you don't understand," inter
rupted the aged man. " Way back in Cali
fornia ia a man that I love. He may be liv
ing. Reports are not reliable. I loved that
boy, though he almost broke mv heart"
" But be is dead."
" You do not know it, Captain."
"lam willing to swear that such la tha
fact I aaw him die "
"I know; but you may have been mis
taken in the man. Karl must not be forgot
ten. Half my fortune is his."
" But this is nonsense," declared tbe Cap
tain, in a vexed tone.
uouthla name in therein place of yours
ani.1'11 sign, not otherwise," declared tho
skk man, seeming to take on new perverso
nesa with growing weakness of body.
" I'll fix it ; it's but tho work of a moment,"
said Mr. Gripes. Giving the Captain a know
ing glance, the lawyer removed tho paper
and pretended to make soma alterations.
Then he returned to the bed and placed the
will once more before the testator.
Aa Morgan Vandible raised bis hand to
place his name at the bottom of tbe docu
ment a swift change came to hia abrunken
face. The ashen hue of dissolution swept
over it
"I-Iam blind, I I"
A gasp, and the aged head, crowded with
its silver locks, fell forward; the pen fell
from nerveless fingers, Imprinting a black
stain where the name should have been, and
then all was still.
"My God, the man is dead!"
No, no; that can not pel" cned Captain
Starbright "He haan't signed the will!"
At this moment the door opened and
Orace Penroy entered the room.
CHAPTKB XIV.
Till WILL HIOriD ABP LOST.
Orace stood near tbe threshold with white
face and questioning eyes.
"I thought I heard grandpa call"
' It is nothing. Go out at once," ordered
Captain Starbright
At thla moment the girl caught eight
of the dead face among the pillows, and
with a shrill cry of alarm ahe darted for
ward and bent over tbe old millionaire.
"Grandpa! grandpa! speak to me," cried
Orace Penroy, ahrilly, aeixing one of hia
hands.
Tbe chill of death wa in the oldpalma,
and on the instant tbe girl realized the
truth, that the kind old man, kind to her
at least, would never spaak again. He waa
dead, had died without looking again upon
her face. The thought waa a most painful
one to poor Orace. She could not weep
then, for indignation held away In her
heart Turning upon Captain Starbright,
ahe cried:
You promised to se id for me and did
not Cruel man!"
Then, without waiting for a word from
him, she walked with bowed head and sor
rowful mien from the room.
Beekmore Gripes glided to the door with
r cat-like tread aad turned the key In the
" You ahould have taken that precaution
before," ho said, pirmng the Captain with
hia little gray eyea,
" It was an oversight on my part," admit
ted Captain Starbright.
" Which may prove your downfall."
" Don't croak, Oripea, whatever you do."
" The situation warranto It"
" 1 hope you are not ready to throw up
the tnonge
" VI hat can we do I"
The heartiest lawyer penetrated hit com
panion with a glance.
"Thit calamity ia ao tuddeo I am not pre
pared to etate," answered the Captain,
pacing the room with uneaay ttrides.
"No will hat been made," remarked the
lawyer. "Death thwarted you there."
"And the property goea to tho next of
kin!"
"Certainly."
SUrbnght thought of Mrt. Penroy and
groaued. Ho knew that the hated him, and
would be only too glad to order him kicked
from the house should ahe come Into posses
sion. Should ho permit this pale, worn out
woman to win the millions for which he had
Seen scheming to long! No, ho could not
thinkof it He believed now that a mistake
hail been matte in giving that potion to the
old man. Although it contained but one
drop of the "cough drops" obtained from
Mother Cabtra, that drops bad, the CapUin
believed, proved fatal.
"One minute more of Ufa and the will
would havo been signed," uttered tho Cap
tain at length, with a groan.
"That is true."
Captain Starbright bent over tho docu
ment as it lay spread out on tho table. Willi
a name signed at tho foot it would be a legal
document, as it was it was only so much
blank paper. The Captain waa not the man
to permit a fortune to slip through bis
Angers when there was a way to prevent It
'S A few strokes of a pen would Hx that"
he' aaia in a iow tone, giBnllng at a.
Gripes.
The lawyer looked wise, but aaid nothing.
Perhaps he waa keen enough not to advise
in such an emergency.
"It waa evidently the old man'a intention
to sign tho will," pursued Captain Star
bright "It was hisnt Intention," returned Mr.
Gripes, significantly.
" There is a million at stake, Mr. Oripea."
Tbe lawyer nodded.
"Just turn your back one moment"
Seekmore Gripes did ao.
He heard tho scratch, scratch of a pen,
then the Captain's voice:
"See here, Mr. Gripes."
The lawyer turned about aud came for
ward, peering over the Captain' a shoulder
at the paper now lying on tho table. One
glance sufficed to show thst tha will bore in
proper place the name of Morgau Vandible.
" How is that!"
" It looks fair," admitted the lawyer
" It U fair, I have only carried out the
old man's wishes."
" His. rim! intentions, certainly."
" Well, first intentions are the bent ones,"
asserted Captain Starbright "Iwant yeu
jo take possession of the will, Mr. Gripes,
and bring It forward at the proper time."
"Tlicro aro no witnesses as yet"
"True; that important part must not be
forgotten. WiU it do for mo to sign aa
one!"
"If no contest is mado thero might be no
objection," returned tho lawyer.
"I haven't any fear of that. Thero la only
one living direct heir, and she is willing and
anxious for such a disposition of tho proper
ty aa this will docreea."
Then the CupUin signed the paper aa a
witness. Mr. Gripea noticed that he wrote
the namo "Clinton Brandon."
ay miadte name," explained tne wiiy
Captain. "Should it bo necessary, I could
deny that it was mo that signed. Isn't that
proper!"
"Possibly."
Seekmore Gripes waa a man of few worda,
and ho was not lavish of tbeni on tbo pres
ent occasion. It might be that he did not
wish to fully commit himself to tho power
of Captain Starbright He was wily and
keen, and was seldom caught napping.
"If another witneaa is necessary you
will furnish one, Mr. Oripesl"
"Perhaps."
"Kemeiuber, thero is a million at stake."
A gaunt Malta twitched for an instant at
tho thin, wrinkled lips of the old lawyer.
He mado no reply, but folded and thrust tho
forged will Into un Inner pocket.
Day was beginning outside, and the
weazen faced old man prepared to do
part. "Wo will moot you after the funeral,
Mr. Oripea."
"Probably."
"Every thing seems satisfactory. I bid
you good-day for now."
After pressing Luwyor Gripes' hand the
Captuin showed him to tho door. Tho
lawyer's horse stood at tho gate, waiting
his master's return with no littlo impa
tience, manifested by pawing and an oo
casional whinny.
It was not until after day-dawn that the
death of old Mr. Vandible waa made known
to aU tho inuiutos of Lone Hollow. Mrs
Penroy manifetted more feeling than Cap
tain Starbright believed her capable. Orace
retired to hor room and refuted to see any
one. Sam was dispatched to Stonefleld with
orders for tho undertaker, who arrived at
tho houso soon after noon with a hand
some casket. Preparations were at once
made for the funeral, it not being deemod
necessary to hold an Inquost, alnce there
seemed nothing strango in Mr. Vandlble'a
sudden death, his age being nearly eighty.
Tho funeral waa a plain affair, tbe re
mains of tho old miluonalro being laid to
rest besido tho only other grave on tbe
premises, that of hie lato wife, who had
preceded him to tha better land several
years. Her body had been removed to its
present place only a few years before from
the citv cemetery, at tho wiah of the old
millionaire, who had strangely declared hia
wish to sleep In thla spot far removed from
the turmoil of the world.
Soekmore Oripea aat in bla room at hit
boardtng-houee (he was a bachelor) eagerly
scanning a legal document, no leaa a paper
than tbe last will and testament of Morgan
Vandible. ft waa a week subsequent to tha
funeral of the old millionaire
The window waa open, and a breath of
fresh night air fanned the withered cheek
of tbe acute lawyer.
He seemed satisfied with hia scrutiny
just aa a rap announced a visitor. Laying
down the paper, Mr. Oripea crossed the
carpeted floor and admitted Captain Star
bright. During this brif moment a hand ahot
from the outer darkness through tbe open
window, and quickly removed tbe paper
from tbo narrow table.
" I come, as you have doublesa guesses',
to speak of the wiU "
" Certainly, Captain. Here it Is."
Crossing to the table Mr. Oripea put out
his hand, anil then, glancing sharply about,
uttered a low cry.
" What ia it now, Seekmore!" queried the
Captain, quickly.
"Tbe wiU!" cried the lawyer. "It laid
on that table a momeat since, and now it la
gone I"
Eaay as SwImmin'.-BayvllWj Vis
itor "I would like to get you to teach
ms to sail a boat" Boatman "Sail
a boat? Why, it's as easy as swlio
mln'. Jest grasp the main sheet with
one band, an' the tiller with tbe other,
an' if a flaw strikes, ease up or bring
her to, an' loose the halyards; but
look out for the gaff and boom, or the
hull thlng'U lie In tbe water, and ye'll
be upaot; but If tbo wind la steady y'r
ail right, onlese y'r tor flow in iuffin'
to; 'cause then y'll be upaot aura
Jump right in an' try It; but, remem
ber, whatever you do, don't Jibe!"
QEOLOQICAL WONDERS,
WhsD llot-Honss Conditions rrsvalUd la
All Parts of Oar (I lob.
All through the primary and sec
ondury eHichs of geology. It la now
pretty certain, hot-hoiiao conditions
practically pmvailod almost without a
break over the wholo world from polo
to pole. It may bo true. Indeed, aa
Dr. Crcll believes (and his reasoning
on the point, I confess, is fairly con
vincing), that from time to time gla
cial periods in ono or other homlsphero
broke in (or awhllo upon the genial
warmth that characterized tho greater
part of those vast and immeasurable
primcvul cons. But oven If that wero
so If at long Intervals tho world for
some hours In Its cosmlcal your wua
chilled and frozen In an Insignificant
caput either extremity those casual
rplsodos in a long story do not
Interforo with the general truth
of tho principle that llfo as n
wholo during tho greater portion of
Its antique existence has boon curried
on miller essentially tropical condi
tions. No matter what geological
formation we cxiunlne, wo find every
where tho same talo unfolded In plutn
Inscriptions before our eyes. Tuke,
for example, tho giant club-mossea
and luxuriant tree-ferns nut nr.- printed
on shales of tho coal ago In Britain,
mid we see iu the wild undergrowth of
those paleozoic forests ample evidence
of n warm and almost West Indian
climate among the low basking Islets
of our northern carboniferous sous.
Or tnko oneo more tho oolitic epoch In
England, lithographed on Its own mud.
with Its puzzle monkeys and Its sago
pulms, its crocodiles and itsdeiuosaurs,
its winged pterodactyls and its whale
like lizards. All theso hugo creatures
and tlieso broad-leaved trees plainly
indicate tho existence of a tempera
ture over the wholo of Northern Eu
rope almost as warm as that of Utt
Malay Archipelago In our own dny.
Tho weather report for all tho oarller
ages stands almost uninterruptedly nt
set fair. Roughly speaking, indeed,
ono may say that through the long
series of primary and aocondary for
mations hardly a traco can bo found of
the lee or snow, autumn or wtntor,
leufiess boughs or pinched nnd starved
deciduous vegetation. Every thing is
powerful, luxuriant, vivid. Llfo, aa
Comtis fen red, was strangled with Its
waste fertility. Onco Indued, In the
PermlM uge, all over the temperate
raftOM. north and south, wo get pass
ing Indications of what Boom very like
a glacial epoch, partially comparable
to that great glaciation on whoso last
fi-ingo wo still abldo to-day. But
the ico ago of tho 1'ernilan, If
audi there wore, passed away
entirely, loavlng tho world once moro
warm and fruitful up to tho very poles,
under conditions which wo would now
descrlbo as essentially tropical. It was
with tho tertiary period porhaps, In
dcod, only with tho mlddlo subdivision
of that period -that the gradual cool
ing of polar and Intermediate regions
begun. We know from the deposits of
tho uhalk epoch in (ireenlund thut late
in aocondary limes ferns, magnolias,
mvrtles and sago palms an Indian or
Mexican flora flourished oxcoodlngly
In what is now tho dreariest and most
lco-clad region of the northean homls
phero. Later still. In the eocene days,
though the plants of Greenland had
grown slightly more temperate In
typo, wo still find among the fossils not
only oaks, planes, vinos and walnuts,
but also wellingtonloa liko the big
trees of California, Spunlsh chestnuts,
quaint Southern aallsburlas, broud
leavvd Uquldambnrs and Amorlcnu
sassafras. Nay, evon In glacier-clad
Spitzbergen Itself, whore the character
of the flora already begins to show
signs of Incipient chilling, we uovor
tholess seo among the eocene typos
such plants as the awamp Cyprus of
tho Carolinas and the welllngtonlas of
the fur West, together with a rich for
. vogutution of poplars, blrohos,
oaks, planed, hazels, walnuts, witter
llties and irises. As a whole thla veg
etation Btlll bespeaks a climate consul
ornbly moro gtnlal, mild and nquublo
than that of modern England. Mur
ray's Magazine.
-at.
Hia Grudge a Deep Ona
Father of Family (frownlngly)
Nancy, I have seen that sneaking
Chlbbsley hero two or three times
lately. He's no friend of mine, I can
tell you. I owo him a grudge, and
I'm going to get even with blm some
time,!
Eldest Daughter (maiden of vlne-gar-Uke
aspect) I'll thank you to
speak of him with a little more
' respect I am going to marry him.
You needn't oppose It, either.
Father (exultantly) Oppose HP By
George, It's the very thing. Marry
him as soon as you ploaao, Nancy the
infernal sneak! Chicago Tribune.
Nuggets From Practical Experience.
Scant foeding is gross extravaganco.
Buying huy cups may be a apeciea
of gambling with the weathor, but
they are good lottery tickets to hold.
If cultivation Is of the right charac
ter it can nut be too early or too often.
This is true outside tho corn field also.
It is of no use to expect to make
money In the chicken buslnesa unless
you are willing to watch every want
of the fowls; unless you are willing to
work early and late; and, unleaa you
are fond of poultry. The detaila are
minute, but each one la Important, and
they all lead to success, if rightly fol
lowedAmerican Agriculturist
Exatparallng Occasion.
There are two times when a man thinks
t woman's hat ia too high. One is when
t is in front of him at the play, and the
.tier is when It is his wife'a and be has
pay for It. Detroit Free Preaa
'lhe e Igbt-year old son of a dlatin
gulshed statistician and lecturer, whoes
brilliant Intelloctual qualities have ap
parently been transmitted to his off
spring, waa drawing plcturea at school
the other dsy, one of them being the
representation of a pig. After tne wora
of art waa completed to hia aatlafaotlon.
tbe youngster wrote thla legend beneath
It: "Thla la a domestic animal. Hs It
called a pig because ha Is ao aaiflebr
. SAVED THE CITY.
Tha ii or vi,,,, oi utile Han., a Rrava
Dutch Toniia-star.
Tho country of Holland, In Europe.
Is almost Biirrouiidod by the sea. To
be sure, there la nothing strange In
that, for alt islands are ontlrely sur
rounded by tho sea. But Holland Is a
low country, and If the poople hod not
built high banks to keep the water off,
whenever thero was a storm or n vory
high tido, It would wash right over
the wholo land, and sweon away all
tho houses ami drown the people.
Tho Holland folks built the banks
many years ago. They are called
dykes. Thoy are not only high, but
ro thick through there Is room for a
broad street on top. Trees are planted
along these streets, nnd it Is a pleasant
and airy place to walk.
Men are chosen whoso business It is
to watch theso dykes, and seo that tho
water, which Is always trying to break
through, never does. It Is necessary
to bo very watchful, for if there cornea
a break ever so small it must be stopped
at once, or It will grow biggor nnd
bigger, and It would take but a few
houra to bring on a dreadful flood.
And oven tho smallest Dutch child
knows the danger of being cureless
about the dykes.
Ono evening n little boy In the city
of Haarlem was on his way home. Ho
walked fast as it was gottlng late. It
was a quiet part of the city, and thoro
was no ono but hltn on tho street
Every thing was quiet, so quiet that
presently ho heard a soft, gurgling
sound, like that of running water.
Ah! II. in . knew In a moment what
that meant It meant that somowhoro
the sea had niudo a little road through
tho dyko.
Ho stopped, nnd looked carefully
and eagerly, and very soou ho found It
a tiny stream, that rippled and run
aa though It meant not tho least bit of
harm to any body, or to any thing.
But Hans knew better tliun that, and
tho (irsl thing ho d'd was to look about
lor something to Btop It Ho could
find nothing. What should ho do?
Should he run Into tho city and call a
watchman P But before ho could get
one, the little stream might become a
grout river. Ho looked up and down
tho empty street
"Well, there's ono thing I can do,"
aaid liars to himself, and ho wont up
to tho great dyko, and put ono of his
lingers into tho hole! It just tilled It.
"Isn't that lucky?" thought Hans.
"And now I'll stay here till somebody
cornea" And he did.
Tho twilight passed, and the night
came on; tho stars shone out one after
another; by and by tho moon came up
In tho east; very slowly the hours wont
by; It seemed to littlo Hans thut never
had there been ho long a night; once
he saw a man walking ulong on tho
dyke, but too far off for his voire to
reach hi in.
He grew tire. I and cold, but he did
not give up. Ho thought of the storioa
ho had heard of the damage done by
Hie Hoods In times past, when thotlykns
had given way. Ho thought of tho Ut
ile brothers and sisters ut home thut
might be swept away should ho louve
his post And so ho bravely staid
hv. though It seomod to him somutlmea
that ho Hhould drop down, ho was to
tired.
Every once in awhile he would call
out, and early Iu the morning a watch
man heard him and hastened to tho
spot. And It wus not long, you may
bo sure, before others camo, and tho
littlo break was stopped, and Huns wus
curried to his homo.
The Dutch uro u brave poople, and
fought many buttles In the past to save
their country from iu onomloB. But
among them thoro was nover a bravor
hero than this littlo boy, who, through
the long hours of thut lonely night
saved tho grout city from the aoa
Our Littlo Men mid Women.
THE GREEK PATRIARCH.
A formal Visit to tha Haad of tha Rus
sian Church In tha Baat.
The patriarch of Jerusalem Uvea In
one of tbo biggest und best mansions
of the holy city. The American Con
sul und myself In going Into it wound
in and through narrow-vaulted streeta.
We passed through arcadea and with
tho aid of the conau'ar cavaaaea pushed
our wuy through tho dense crowds of
pilgrims, Bedouins and Syrian which
are filling the holy city during this
holy week. We went, of course, In
Oriental state, dressed In our black
morning coats and preceded by tho
cavusses. Tho cavassos uro the guurd
of the 'on-iil on state occasions. They
are all Syrians who stand as straight
as West Point cadets, and who talk
with tho pompoua airs of drum-majora
Thoy wear gorgeous Turkish uniforms
embroidered with gold thread und
their short round-nbout vesta wore to
day covorod with enough gold to have
mado tho epaulettes for an army. Each
hud on full blue Turkish trousers,
which were gathered In zouave folds
at tho unklea, und the allver-handled
cimotar-llke sword of each clanked as
we marchod solemnly along. They
wore rod caps with long tassels on
their heuds. und ench had an iron-shod
ebony atoff in the right hand, the silver
hoad of which, aa he rutted it on the
ground, was on a level with his eyea.
These staffs were aa big round as your
wrist, and the silver heads were the
size of u man'a fist They were very
heavy , und us wo marched along tho
mon sarned tbe crowd to keep out of
the way of the "American Princes,"
by dropping them down on the stone
flags with a noise like that of a sledge
hummer on granite. Tbe masses
rushed up to the wall as we went by,
and not a few of the women crossed
themselves, and tome of the Bedoulni
acowled. ,
"Thla coffee la ao poor I can't drink
it" aaid the gunat "Juat ahut your
eyea, put it out of sight, and don't aay
any thing about it," was the reply of the
new waiter, who was a humorist The
guest did rot make any reply, but when
he came to pay he handed over to the
proprietor of the establishment soli
tary cent "Where's the rest of the
money?" "Juat ahut your eyes, put it
out of sight and don't aay any thing
more about it That ia what your new
waiter told me when I aaid the coffee
waa weak." Tha new waiter tendered
I his resignation. -Texas Sittings.
CONCERNING TUMORS.
The Kergnlsit Moitern I ri uie. nl nf
II. UI. and Carbunrles.
Within a few years there has accumu
lated evidence sufficient to satisfy moat
physicians that both carbunclea and
boils are purely local troubles, and of
parasitic nature. In former times they
acre considered of constitutional origin
tnd the fault of the blood. The actual
xeltlng cause is now held to be a mi
crococcus, and when this first eatab
llshes Itself In the skin the fact Is man
ifested by a pimple. Once implanted,
the germs multiply and spread, and aa
the tissues around the original center
or pimple become Infested there la ex
tended Inflammation and swelling.
With the germ theory of bolls practical
ly established, It follows that they are
ontagious, and it Is now accepted that
they are markedly so, and that where
"crops" occur it Is in consequrnco of
telf-lnfectlon "each successive boll
being due to the implantation In the
kin of fresh seeds or germs from the
preceding one." Not only by a system
f self-lnis-iilatlon may a person kept
up a continuous outbreak of bolls, but
it is possible for him to cause an erup
tion of the same In others. Intimate
sontact Is necessary in order that the
sasential genus may bo transmitted
from ono person to another sharing
the same led or wearing the same cloth
ing furnishes the favorable conditions.
Carbuncles are not Identical with bolls
they differ In many respects but they
evidently aro relatives, even if some
what distant, and are aliko in some re
ipocts. llnth, It is safo to assume, are
purely local and of parasitic nature.
When theso facta became ovldent to
physicians, of course they changed
their treatment. Once, In treating car
buncles, tho rule was to muko very
free incisions, and a number of
them, generally quartering the
abscess, and that had to bo done early.
Then there wns scraping to do, tho
iluughing and diseased mass being, as
far as possible, removed. At the pres
snt time that sort of treatment Is com
paratively rarely applied, except In ad
vanced stages of the disease, but, In
ttead, as soon as tbe carbuncle comes
under the observation of a physician he,
s a rule, trios to stay Its progress by
the menu-, of some agent which will de
stroy tho mass of germ growth. Car
bolic acid, but slightly diluted by moana
of glycerine, lathe most popular rome
.ly. That is injected Into the carbuncle
In a number of places for several days.
Considerable pain results from the oper
ation, but it generally lessens much In
the course of two or three hours. The
hem. lit of tho treatment is usually no
ticeable In twenty-four hours, and in
throe or four days often the disease is
arrested, the pain and swelling steadily
subsiding. When It Is considered that
under the old state of treatment of car
buncles intense suffering persisted for
days and days, and recovery waH delayed
for weeks, It will appear that the new
method Is far In advance. Hcsldes that,
when It Is applied early, there need bo
practically little danger from tho dis
ease, where once it often killed. In a
very early stage of oarbuncles and it la
the same with bolls It is almost always
possible to abort them by koeplng them
soaked In soino antiseptic solution. But
the period when that treatment can be
effective soon passes. Tbo conclusions
from the foregoing are that peoplosho
are threatened with bolls or carbunmcs
should seek medical advice early not
wait, as they now generally do, until
they think the trouble "has come to a
head" and the knifo la nooded. Boston
Herald.
VICTORIA'S DRAGOONS.
The Famous Iteglmeutof Which F.ugland't
IJneen Has Haeoiue Chief.
Tho First tluard Dragoon regiment,
of which her Majesty has become chief,
is not only ono of tho most distinguished
cavalry regiments in tho German army,
but in military history It will live aa
ona of tho participators In those epi
sodes which occurred at critical mo
ments In tho great battle of Vlunvlllo-Mars-la-Tour
on the 10th of August,
INTO, when there depended for the mo
ment on a more handful of horsemen
tho fate of some thouaands of their com
rades. Twice during that battle did the
Gorman cavalry, In order to avert the
Impending catastrophe, ride to certain
destruction; and on ono of these occa
sions it was the First Guard Dragoons
that, single handed, first arrested hho
almost triumphal onward march of the
enemy and thus helped to beat back tho
well-nigh overwhelming tide of ad
vance. The formation of tho regiment
dates from the lilst of February,
IBM, on which day King William
Frederick the Third issued an or
der to the following effect: "I
have determined to raise throe new
guard cavalry regiments in place of the
existing light cavalry roglment, and to
form them from the three, national cav
alry regiments which havo fought with
tbe army during the war, in order, not
only to give to the provinces to whloh
these regiments belong and to whleh
they owo their origin a fresh proof of
my kindly feelings toward them, and
which they deaerve, but also to testify
my satisfaction with the spirit shown by
the light guard cavalry roglment dur
ing the war." The three regiments
thus formed became tho guard lancera,
tho guard dragoons, and the guard hus
aara. The dragoon were composed of
tha guard dragoon squadron, two squad
rons of tho Pomeranian national cavalry
regiment, and a aquadron from the
Queen's dragoon regiment. The men
and horses from the national regiments
were selected w 1th spi clsl care. '1 hoss
men who had obtained, during the war,
the decoration of the Iron Cross were
first chosen, and then preference waa
given to any who had served during the
war. Fortnightly Review.
Extreme piety White gentleman
"Uncle Joe, yon never work on Sunday,
do you!" Uncle Joe "No, sah. You
doan ketch alch a 'llgious nigger aa me
wukkln' on Sunday. I ao keerful 'bout
dat I doan wuk on no day dat tech Sun
day. I doan wuk on Sat'day nor Mon
day, nuther; an' aometlmea I keep Sun
day de whole week. You got to rustle
'roun' ef you want tor find a nigger wld
mo' 'ligion den Pa got"- ' t
TTby no Quit?
Over $19,000,000 baa been spent in
Australia within the last fifteen years
in efforts to exterminate tha rabbit,
and late estimates agree thai he baa
also doubled in numbers during this
time. When tha rabbit strikes a good
thing ha hates to let go, small as ha ia
Detroit Fraa Preaa.
Mrs. Snowball Lisa, does yo' know
yo' Sunday school lesson t
Liza Nome; not penackly.
Mr. Snowball Liza, I done tola yo
eeverial times to ha keerful in yo
speech. Don' aay penackly; say pre
tackl. Yo' 'member dat, now I