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ATI'S of Ilrxton
T" -r KXUV Al l s of llcxton com
I 1 plcted tin? fixing of the wires on
JL the lawn of Haslcigh court. He
looked up at Ilic ilim light in tin? dress
ing room ami i-liucklcd softly as ho bunt
tin? last yard of wire.
"A trip In tirni'," said Mr. Apps,
"saves nine."
lie threw tin- rope ladder gently in
tln air. and at the lirst cIToi-t caught
tin- projecting nail.
"(lliii- on lioard the lugger,'" quot
ed Mr. Aiw, facetiously, as lie mounted
tin- rope ladder, "'and the. gurl is
mine.' "
lie opened the window very gently
anil soon stood inside the dressing room.
.Near i in- nihil- in die coiner 01 the room
was an iron safe.
"Well. I'm ji.m-n-il!" exclaimed Mr.
Apps. He loosened the Haps of his fur
rap and wiied his hrow with the back
of his hand. "Well. I'm jiggered! If
they 'aveu't been and left the key in it
for me."
"I might 'ave shed myself a lot of
trouble if I'd a-knowed."
Mr. Apps swung open the heavy door
uf tin- safe ami listened to tlie music
downstairs. Voting Lady Staplehurst
was giving (as Mr. Apps very well
kiiew a dance, u fancy dress ilance.
on her return from the continent, after
Iter term of widowhood.
"I'll Just see, lirst of all." he said, "that
the coast is clear, and then then for a
bagful."
Henry Apps stepped out Into the
broad passage. He slouched with his
jimmy slicking out of his capacious side
pocket a few steps toward the stairs.
Suddenly a girlish figure turned the cor
ner. "Itless my 'art!" cried Mr. Apps.
"Why. how do you do?" said the
young lady, stepping forward.
She gave a soft laugh that was very
pleasant. "Do you know that I recog
nized you at once in spite of the cos
tume'" She held the hand of Mr. Apps for u
inomeiil, causing that gentleman to
gasp for breath, and called one of the
maids.
".lust bring me a pencil and a card,"
she said. "1 must arriitigo for a car
riage to take Captain .Norman back to
his hotel in the morning. I wasn't sure
that lie would come."
"I can walk," remarked Mr. Apps,
with restored self-possession.
"1 won't hear of It, When shall we
nay, now'"
"Say In an hour's time," said Mr.
Apps. "I can go upstairs again alone,
change my togs and do all 1 want to."
"And can't you stay longer'"
She gave tin- card to the imild and or
dered It to be dispatched at once.
"I've got a busy night before me,"
urgi-d Mr. Apps. excusingly.
lie thought of his dog waiting on the
lawn, and feared It might give an In
opportune bark. Besides, the safe was
still open and the diamonds were wait
ing for him. lie had noticed with sat
Isfaeiion that I,ady Staplehurst was
wearing none.
"You were always an active man, cap
tain." "Always a-dolng something," agreed
Mr. Apps. "If it Isn't one thing it's an
other." He shook his head rctlcctlvcly. "I
often wonder 1 don't w rile a hook about
it all."
"I don't believe you will know any
body here, Captain Norman," she said,
is they walked downstairs, "but 1
couldn't help sending you a card, seeing
how friendly we were on the Peehawur.
Do you remember those evenings on
deck In the Heil Sea 7"
She was really tl very tine young wom
an, ami in her costume she looked ex
tremely well.
"Do 1 uotV" said Mr. Apps. with much
fervor. "Shall I ever forget 'em?"
"Anil then the Journey front Hrludlsl,
you know; and the funny little (.lerinau
you remember lilm?"
"He was n knockout, that German
was."
"And the girl who played the banjo,
ami "
"It was great," agreed Mr. Apps,
"great."
The large ballroom was very full. A
small covey of brightly dressed young
jieople tlew toward tlie young hostess
to eoniplalu of her temporary absence
from the room, and a broad-shouldered
gondolier shook hands with her and
took up her card with something of au
air of proprietorship.
"I thought I had left the key In the
excuse me." The young hostess took
buck her card from tlie gondolier. "I
am engaged to Cuptalu Norman, You
don't know blm? Allow me."
"Pleased to meet you," wild Henry
'Appa. '"Ow'i the world using yon?"
"That's an orlflual costume of yours,
Captain Norman," remarked tlie gondo
lier. "I don't know that I've ever seen
anything so daringly real before."
"Well, wot of it?" domnndi-d Mr.
Apps with sudden aggressiveness.
"Wot's tlie odds to you wot I like to
wear? You needn't think you ate "
"Captain Norman," Interrupted the
young hostess laughingly, "you mustn't
overdo the part. Look here. I've put
your name down for this waltz, but if
you like we'll sit it out that is. If you
promise to keep up that diverting east
end talk. I like it. Do you think we
can manage to do so?"
"Ita-rher," said Mr. Apps.
"And it is a capital make-up. Captain
Norman," she went on. "Do you know
that at tirst, just for one moment, I
thought you were a real burglar?"
"Fancy that, now," said Mr. Apps. He
was relieved at seeing an obvious way
out of Ids dillicnlty. "There's nothing
like doing the thing In proper, stritefor
ward w'y."
"And." said Lady Staplehurst. witli
her fan on her arm as she walked
across the room, fyou have got the east
end accent capitally."
" 'Tain't so dusty, is It?"
She beckoned to the gondolier.
"Captain Norman ami 1 are great
friends," she said, in an explanatory
way. "He has not been long home
from abroad, and he knows scarcely
anyone."
"Not a blessed soul," echoed Mr. Apps.
"You must let me show you around u
lilt. Captain Norman." said the gondo
lier, with determined gentility. "Can
you come around to my club one night
this week?"
"Whaflor?" demanded Mr. Apps sus
piciously. "Why, to dine. Say, Thursday."
" 'Evens knows where I shall be on
Thursday," said Mr. Apps. "I don't."
"You must consider me at your dis
posal if you require any Introductions.
I know a lot of good people, and to any
friend of I.ady Staplehurst "
"Oh, come oil tlie roof." said Mr.
Apps. with much discontent. "Wat's
tlie use of torking."
"Isn't it capital?" asked I.ady Staple
hurst of the gondolier delightfully.
"How much more Interesting It would
be if everyone would only talk to me
In their character."
I.ady Staplehurst arose with some
thing of haste in her manner and spoke
to Henry VIII.
"What regiment do you belong to,
Captain Norman?" asked the gondolier.
"Find out," said Mr. Anns.
"Am 1 too curious? 1 know very lit
tle of tlie army, I am afraid." The
gondolier was resolved to be agreeable
to I.ady Staplelmrst's friend. "! always
dodge the army nights in the house. 1
suppose you know several of tlie ser
vice members?"
"I know as many of them as I want
to know." said Mr. Apps, evasively. "A
man in my position in life 'as to be a bit
careful who he mixes up with
i he hostess returned from Henry
in.
"I can make nothing out of this man.
whispered the gondolier to her. six he
arose. -I think lie's silly."
i , - " ...
ii .on ivin-n ins qualities you
wouliln t speak of him like that." She
resumed her seat by tlie side of lletiry
Apps.
"Well, blow mcl" said Lady Staple-
mi si, screwing ner pretty mouth In
her effort to Imitate the cockney's ac
cent; "mow me if this ain't a fair take
I mean tike daliu," she laughed,
of no use. Caput lu Nortnau, I
talk as you can."
its n gift," said Mr. Apps, "that's
wnat it is."
"You dou't want to be Introduced to
anybody Here, I suppose?"
"Not me."
"You have heard "
She pointed In the direction of the
gondolier.
"All I want to."
"He's really making a big name in the
house, you know. 1 watch his career
with great Inton-st."
"Thinks a Jolly lot of hlsself."
"Oh. 1 think a lot of him, too," re
marked Lady Staplehurst pleasantly.
"And is that a Jimmy sticking out of
your Jacket pocket? This is Indeed
realism. Y'ou dou't know how it works
I suppose?"
"Well, I've got a kind of hldea," said
Mr. Apps. "lAHkee 'ere. You put this
lu and " '
Mr. Apps found himself getting quite
excited lu the explanation that he gave
It was a new sensation to meet one who
showed an Intelligent tuterest in his
profession, and he could not help feel
ing Mattered. Looking Up, he saw the
gondolier gazing at him.
" 'E don't look 'appy, that chap," Mld
Mr. Apps.
"It's
can't
"Will you excuse me for one mo
ment!" "Wot are you up to, miss?" e saM j
apprehensively. i
"I want to speak to him."
"Oh" (with relief). "I don't mind;
that."
While Lady Staplehurst was making
the gondolier resume his ordinary ex
pression Mr. Apps thought and thought.
Tlie couples promenading after the
waltz looked curiously at him.
"It's the ruminiest show yon was ever
In. 'Enry," said Mr. Apps; "you're 'av
Ing 'em on toast, you are; but you'll lie
gled to get upstairs ngen. Y'ou want
them diamonds, that's wot you want.
Time means money to you. 'Fury."
Lady Staplehurst hurried toward the
doorway. A murmur of amusement
went through the room as the guests
saw a new arrival In tlie costume of a
police constable, accompanied by a man
In plain clothes. Mr. Apps, thinking
over ills exploit, gazing abstractedly at
his boots, regretting their want of pol
ish, did not see them until the plain
clothes man tapped hint on the snoul
der. "What, Apps again?" exclaimed the
man.
"Ytts." said the burglar, discontented
ly. "Yns. It's Anns nirnlti. Mi- Walker
-villi v uir.v jjiuu .vou llle Lu oee nun, i
no diiglit."
"Alwavs 11 nlonsnro to mei.l n trentl,,- I
men like you." said Mr. Walker, cheer
fully, as he conducted him toward the
doorway. "I've wanted to run up
against you before."
Much commotion hi the ballroom at
the diverting little scene. General
agreement that I.ady Staplehurst was
a perfect genius at entertaining.
"TTur, loveliest girl," said the gondo
lier confidently to Lady Staplehurst,
"Isn't this carrying a joke rather too
far? That's a real detective."
"I know." said the loveliest girl, trem
bling now a little. "That's a real burg
lar, too."
".V real "
"Yes, yes. Don't make a fuss. I don't
want the dance spoiled. Take me down
to supper, like a good fellow." London
Tit-Bits.
GREAT WINTER SPORT
ICE BOATS SKIM THE NORTHERN
FROZEN LAKES.
Go Fuater thun the Wintt, and Rccatme
of the Great t peed Are Difficult to
MunuBe Danger Lies In Crucka and
Obstacles.
On WIiikb of Wind.
With winter comes the lee, nnd there
Is nothing that affords more sport than
a well-constructed Iceboat In the hands
of an experienced person. Ice boating
is not as dangerous as some other sports
on the Ice, but one must, always be on
the lookout for cracks In the Ice, logs of
wood and other obstacles. The Iceboat,
under favorable conditions, travels
nearly ten times faster than does the
ordinary sailboat, and therefore It Is
more difficult to handle. They have
many times mw i., .
tlie case of tl. ,wT" "lustrN
which, according t,i" tu, i' '
was much troubled w,t 'S;
though situated in a nun , J .
try. The engineers si,. "noilst
"ly could ,lu J T he
the troublesome overnowin I1
utilized. A tnn, .,V'ns "
made, tlie overtlowiii" n-,.!!
iolnlmr sf,.,., ..... ' -,na,ersli
shaft to the bott,,,,, , !,mH dt :
1.700 feet under ,,, leve,
ber excavations nt ii, L .. "
'V ; """c tills heavy f
of water was directed. 1.1.
drove r.1,.,.1,.1 lue
- - ---- neiieriitors, yrtu
turn, by an electric cable rnnn
the shaft, drove electric
lu this way all steam n..chC
dispensed with n,
nil fuel avoided and tlu-entire duI
machinery ... '. re.N
than this, the entire mines 'cant
What Franklin Accomplished.
Lord Jeffrey wrote of the American
Inventor and philosopher, "He never
lost sight of common sense." Philip G.
Hubert, Jr.. In a sketch of Franklin in
his recent book, "Inventors," says:
"Nothing In nature failed to Interest
him," and a catalogue of his achieve
ments, showing his activity and re
source, Is conclusive nroof nf ttio tn.
of both statements:
Franklin inspired and established the
Junto, tlie ploasantest and most useful
American club of which we have
konwledge.
He founded Hie Philadelphia library,
parent of a thousand libraries, which
marked the beginning of an intellectual
movement of endless good to the whole
country.
He tirst turned to m-ei
engine of advertising, indispensable in
an moiiera utisiness.
He published "Poor I?l-ln,-,i
ord of homely wisdom, in such shape
mm iiiiimreiis or thousands of readers
were made better and stronger by It.
He created tlie postottice system of
America, and was tt.e Hi-st -i,,i..
of a reformed spelling.
He Invented the Franklin stove
which economized fuel, nnd he suggest
ed valuable improvements in ventila
tion nnd the building of chimneys.
He robbed thunder of Its terrors, and
lightning of some of its power to de
stroy. lie founded the American Phllosophl
cal Society, the lirst organization In
America of the friends of science
He suggested the use of mineral
manures, Introduced the basket willow
promoted the early culture of silk ami
pointed out the advantages of white
clothing in summer.
He measured the temperature of the
Gulf Stream, nnd discovered that
northeast storms may begin in the
southwest.
lie pointed out tim
- ---v uutuuitige or
building ships in water-tight compart
ments, taking the hint from the Chi
nese, nnd first urged the use of oil as a
means of quieting dangerous seas
Besides these great achievements
accomplished largely as recreation
from his life-work as economist and
statesman, Benjamin Franklin helped
the whole race of Inventors by a re
mnrk that has been of Incalculable
value and comfort to theorists and
dreamers the world over. When some
one spoke contemptuously 0f Mont
golfler's balloon experiments, and ask
ed of what use they were, the great
American replied In words now his
babe?"'"0' What use new-born
i nw a r
SPEEDING I5EFOHE THE GALE.
been known to attain a speed of nearly
itiu miles au hour, while it Is no uncom
mon tiling for an ordinary Iceboat to
jog along at a speed of fifty miles an
hour. While Ilylng nt a high rate of
speed the least turn of the tiller may
cause the boat to change Its course, cap
sizing It, or, perhaps, running It Into
some olwtacle. .
Like sailboats, iceboats are of various
designs, each having some particular
advantage, but invariably the owner
will tell you that his Is the best possible
method. Tin? momentum of a boat de
pends largely upon its size and the
breadth of its. sails in proportion to the
dimensions of the boat. Nearly all
standard boats are rigged alike, or near
ly so, but the cheaper boats are more
for experiment and are often arranged
differently. .Most people Imagine that
after the lirst heavy fall of snow Ice
boating must lie dispensed with, but
such Is not the case. The iceboats are
so constructed that they will plow
through a foot of snow, the skates being
attached to a flange which raises tin-
worked by water power at a pa;!
financial saving.
A Glimpse of Kosa lionheor.
Mr. Vanderbilt and Mr. Avery wen:
down to By one morning to see Slu-
Uosu Bouhcur at her country place oi
the outskirts of the Forest of Fontaii
bleau. Her well-appointed trap nt
them at the stntiou, and carried fa.
to the house in time for luncheon. Mnr
Kouheur poured out their wine fortto
herself, and they talked of tlie forts
and the beautiful surroundings of kt
home. "Yes," she said: "but I her
them cutting down trees in tlie to:
sometimes, and every blow of the n
hurts my heart" She hud met Mr.AJ
gust Belmont, and had received
missions from him to paint two picture
when he was United States minister):
The Hague. She had told him that A
was exceedingly busy and couldi
paint them very soon, nnd lie had siM
"How long must I wait? One year-
two years? I am getting old, and 1
want them soon." She asked him tui
;
Ink Stains.
It Is said that when ink is spilled
upon a carpet or anything made of
woollen the snot aliniii.t i..,.,-... .
- . I'uuiruiuieiv oe
covered with common salt. When this
uosoruea nu the Ink It will care,
fu lv take it off .fth r"
spoon and apply more salt. KeeD do
i"S this until the Ink Is all taken up '
rsi- fl. ... i.. .
vul ""i''s win seep very fresh If a
small pinch of common saltpeter Is nut
in the water In which tw fj J..
duuiu. ins
ends of the atom v...i. .
little every dnv tn t-. .
orbing poreg, " BU
ICE YACHTING OX LAKE WINNEBAGO.
body of the boat about eighteen Inches
above the lee.
An Iceboat Is simple in construction,
being In the shape of a triangle. There
are three skates utuler it, two of which
are at the front. The fore runners are
generally much heavier and larger than
is the hind runner, for the reason that
they bear a lnrger proportion of the
weight. The tiller is nt the extreme end
of the boat, so that It requires little
force to steer the boat. The average
head of the Iceboat Is from 12 to 18 feet
long, and from 5 to 8 feet wide.
The spar Js at the bow of the boat and
the sail projects half way over the bow.
Most of the boats have only one sail,
which consists of about 50 yards of can
vas, but In many Instances a Jib, fore
sail and topsail are used. All sails may
be reefed.
There will be a greater variety of Ice
boats this winter than ever before.
They range from the small boy's boat,
which may be considered a toy, to the
larger ones which carry nearly as much
canvas as do some of the large schoon
ers. Worked by Water Power.
The Importance of employing good
engineering skill, where, although the
first cost of professional fees Is large
the amount may ultimately be saved
old he was, and when he said, "S
ty-one," she replied, "That Is my P
too." So she shook hands with him.
and told him she would paint the I
tures for him at once. Mme. Bonhee
related this incident to her visitors, i
added: "Mr. Belmont Is a great Vt
crat, Isn't he? When will he be elec
President of th United States.'
evidently thought hischances weret!
good, but Mr. Vanderbilt told h
thought they were about as good m
own, and his he considered painfWj
small; so Mme. Bonheur was enllghlj
ed on American politics. "At this tin
wiMr Xvanr "Hlie ft ill not seem -1
old. She bad a refined, wonuw'J ""I
and a very sweet voice. Her teni1!
ment was bright and gay. and tier W I
ner charming." Century.
Tho ton aim in riilnn isan Import11 1
tnDu..fUn II- DuiTAa AS a De I
tuoilLUUUU, 1 U I Jl DC.
llonnt n-liniv nontvta trn to lieaf the ' I
irraoln- It la mnreovpr. S bUSUJ I
Imnan n.l.nwA n.an hlltT H till
tha financial ottlintlon and 0tber I
make It serve the purpose of a club.
i- n..lct tuna Dflf
"ur" v , " Sir I
on ucc. mere m-ic w- -Newton.
William Collins, the t i
poet; Richard Parson, the great & I
and classical scholar.