THE LATCH KEY.
4 t
Nor
It was a peremptory "no
Gllf'tl flu nwilliiti' ut.'ilnm liui
such ns mother seldom used.
for she was gentle ill disposition.
"No, Freddy, don't think imy more
about it."
"Car.'t you make a:i exception jnt
tills once?" Indued i-'rcd, my brother,
looking !iJ;o a persecuted sinner.
"No! You iulj;ht lose it; someliody
might II rid it; we milit lie exposed to
ail sorts of calamities; someone might
net into the house "
"Stop, mother, you are picturing Im
probabilities to yourself."
"Secondly." continued our mother,
"you nre too young to curry a latch
key. I don't wish you to be out late at
night; you nre the only male protector
we have, und I wuut you to be at home
with us."
Under any other circumstances Kred
might have been proud to be called our
"only male protector," but this dis
tinction made no Impression upon him
now. When mother had taken the
latchkey from the keyboard and con
signed it to her pocket, Fred wasn't In
the kindliest frame of mind.
Two months ago we had moved from
the little town where we were born to
a large city mother, Fred and I. We
were still upset and confused by the
sudden radical change from country
quiet to the bustle of a metropolis.
Mother certainly came much against
her Inclination, but Frc ddy exhibited
nn unusual musical talent, and I, too,
was modestly gifted with a propensity
for drawing, and we felt the needs of I ed to the front door.
instructive advantages which we could No; It was not there,
"Yes.'
"Here Is the key!" I threw it down
Into the street.
"Yes!"
"Don't leave It in the keyhole; bring
it up with you!"
"n.iitr. rshV
"And take off your boots; don't let
mother hear you."
"Very good!"
I seized the lamp and hastened out
on the stairs to light my belated broth
er on his way. The key was turned In
the lock below. Then there was a
pause. Freddy was evidently taking
off his shoes before coming up the
stairs.
"You are a " I was on the point
of whispering, when I heard the boot
less step quite near me, but I suddenly
checked myself. From out of the shad
ow of tlie chairs emerged a shining
helmet with waving plumes, and be
neath It the strange face of a young
man. with a dark brown mustache and
black eyes, the whole figure arrayed In
knightly armor evidently In mas
querade suit.
I had Just presence of mind enough
left not to cry out aloud. A few steps
sufficed to bring me within the shelter
of our hall, and ns I closed the door I
saw the tall stranger how profoundly,
then all was dark. I was terribly
frightened at first, but when soon after
I camp to my senses I realized that
the stranger had my Key, perhaps he
had left It In the lock. I rekindled the
lamp, arranged my toilet and descend-
MOTHKR nANKKI) Ml'. Ills CAKO.
not obtain In our uatlve town. Our
maternal parent was unwilling that we
should go forth Into the world alone,
and so the little home was sacrificed,
and we set up an abode elsewhere.
Our mother, who had been the most
founding soul in the world, was sus
picious of everything and everybody in
jut new surroundings and insisted
that the house, should be locked and
bolted at 10 o'clock every night. At
that time we bolted the door to our
apartments. At half past 10 the front,
door was locked by the janitor, ami
everybody was supposed to be safely
tucked n way In bed.
"Hlilieiiloiis," growled Fred, nfter
mother had left the room with the key
In her pocket, "to expect a grown man
to be at home every night lit 10."
Fred was invited to a little supper,
after the concert at which his music
teacher was to render the star num
bers. "She will let you stay out till 11 If I
nsk her. and I will sit up for you."
"You know mother goes to bed at 10,
so if I should be u little behind time,
don't mind, Milly, don't mind; that's a
good girl."
"Very well, brother mine!"
"Or hall' an hour, or an hour! She'll
be asleep, any way, and I'll Just cough
gently under you window, und then
you'll come down and let me In."
"See that you watch is not too far
behind lime. Freddy," I laughed, 'und
I'll see what can lv done."
"I'll go down now and try It on! If
you hear me cough, let me know."
Freddy went nut. A moment after
ward I heard him cough Immediately
under my window. I looked out and
nodded to him. "All right, old fellow,
I can hear the signal."
Mother finally was prevailed upon to
give her permission for Fred to stay out
until 11, and after supper made herself
comfortable in the big arm chair with
the evident Intention to wait for the
"male protector" of the family.
At 10 o'clock she looked pretty sleepy,
and the strike of the next half hour
awoke her from her first nap. She
gathered up her knitting.
"lie will soon be hero now, Milly,
It's really not worth while for both of
us to sit up. I'm going to bed but not
to sleep until he Is safely nt home."
I bade mother good-night. In loss
than five minutes, I know, she would
be sound asleep. An Interesting book
would help me over the next hour. He.
fore I knew I was deeply Involved In
the love affair of a young couple, nnd
when I turned the hist page of the book
It was twenty minutes past midnight.
A sudden thought struck terror to my
heart. Fred may have been here and,
absorbed as I was In my story, I might
not have heard the signal. I rushed to
the window, but nobody was to be seen.
Ttie minutes dragged with leaden slow
ness. A quarter of 1! Where could
he be? At 1 o'clock I brgan to divest
myself of my dress nnd slipped Into
my gown. Then 1 arranged my bnir
for the night and had Just finished put
tin? one side of my head Into curl
papers, when the signal came.
I went to the window, opened It Just
bit and said softly: ,
"1 that vou, Freddy J'
In my excite
ment I hnd forgotten to note whether
the knight had gone down or up the
stairs, after admitting himself with my
key. There was nothing left for me to
do but to go from one floor to the other
and llnd the culprit. I rang the bell of
the lower fiat timidly enough. It
brought to the door an old man.
"Have you a young man lodger who
has just come home? lie has my "
"No!" growled a voice, and the door
was slammed In my face.
1 went to the next floor nnd repeated
the experiment. A young servant maid
came to the door.
"No," she said, when I Inquired after
a young man in it masquerade suit; no
young mail lived on their premises.
Fast our own door I now stumbled
nnd went to the floor above. My i.nock
brought to the door a rolly-polly little
old woman In dressing sack and night
cap.
"What Is It, child?" she nuked, anx
iously, for she knew me. "Is your
mother 111? t'au we help you?"
"No," I whispered, "but I have Just
by mistake glveu our latchkey to a
strange young man In a masquerade
suit because I took him for my brother.
I iocs he live with you?"
"No, my dear young lady."
Tears came to my eyes. I was nt my
wit's ends.
"Hut a young artist has Just moved
into the garret room. I'erhaps he Is the
ti.an you seek."
Yes. It must be he! But how could I.
ft young woman, go to n young man's
quartets In the middle of the night to
demand the return of my latch key?
My old friend came to my rescue,
called her husband, nnd scut him up
stairs to ask for my key. We could
hear their voices, first unintelligible,
atul then the voice of the stranger rang
out In the tone of Injured Innocence.
"What; not returned the key? I laid
it at the feet ot the youug lady?"
And so It was. When wo three came
I down to our door and held the lump
viuav iu iuc uoor, we ioiiiiu it lying
where he had said. I thanked my
Mimm
nmmm
Tim wuoi.k Fiounn Attn ay cr
KNi.mri.v irtMoii.
neighbors for their kindly assistance
nnd hasteued to the wiudow to look out
for Fred.
There ho stood, shivering In the cold,
anxiously waiting for admittance. He
bad not much to say, but grabbed the
lamp and UUsujipearivd lu his room. I
did not blame him, though he was woe
fully late In coming home.
Next morning we found that our
mother was unaware of the adventure
of the night. She had slept the sleep
of the just, for which I was profoundly
thankful.
Just us we were ready to sit down to
dinner the bell rang. My mother
opened the door nnd bowed a youu;
man into the parlor.
"I came to beg your pardon for the
disturbance I caused last night," I
heard the voice of a young man say.
"Disturbance! I know nothing of It.
Milly!"
I came In, red as a peony, and ready
to sink Into the floor. Mother handed
me his card. "Mr. Charles Uowuiau.
Artist," It said.
"You must tell me all about It, Mr.
Eowman," continued my mother, "for
I don't know what you mean, really."
And he told her just what had hap
pened. Mother's face grew longer iimS
longer as he proceeded with his nar
rative. "Stupid men!" I thought. .Tust at the
end he showed n grain of sense.
"When did all this happen?" asked
my mother, excitedly. ' I went to bed
at 10 o'clock. I hope that Fred came
home nt the proper time. Milly."
The youug man's dark eyes turned
upon me.
"I don't know Just to the minute, hut
It must have been about 11 o'clock ot
thereabout."
1 blessed him. for that answer.
Mr. Howman's first unfortunate visit
was followed by many more. He be
came my brother's friend, then my
sweetheart, und now he It my be
trothed. Late lu the spring we are te
be married.
HOW THE EARTH IS HELD
IN SPACE.
Mr. Clarence Alva of St. Louis, according to the Post-Dispatch, has thought I
a little scheme which gives a very good idea of the manner hi which the eartll
Unit lu Bijai.e. Mr. Alva rays a p""to mny rot the rictit iilcn if m mn,,.-, 1
.... 1 ..I .1 .I!...,.,-!.. ..,.T.f,.,:,n .,!.... .... .1.... .1
01 uiagnois aim piuee iul-iu uul-uuj uiinr utu umt-rau iiuu lap currents lilj
flow in opposite uirecnons. .as hiiowu iu me cut, uiey niiouiu lie an nail or so frl
each other. The magnets should be rather strong anil should be nt the sameil
and strength. Then the experimenter should make a little sphere of paper or J
light substance, and fasten two pieces of steel or similar metal to the ball, the itl
being almost exactly opposite, men comes tne woru or so ptai-ing themihml
the exact center of the Ktiace between the magnets. If the e.neriini.iitprl
this he will have the sphere remaining in the air without any visible matal
support. It is 'quite u trick to get the thing lu correct operation, but Mr. ul
says it can he done.
YOUNG PHIL SHERIDAN.
Not Urilliuiit, but Studious and In
dustrious at West Point.
I'p nt West Point there is n slender,
smooth-faced young man who Is work
ing day and night to emulate the glo
rious record of his father.
It Is "young Phil Sheridan." lie Is
already a soldier by Instinct. In a few
years he will be a soldier In reality.
So far he has taken but little Inter
est in the athletic sports of his class
mates. He Is not a foot-ball player.
He Is n bad hand at base-ball. He
plays tennis nnd enjoys It. Most of nil,
however, he Is n thorough student.
While not exactly a brilliant youth,
young Sheridan Is persistent and In
dustrious, and It would not be surpris
ing If lit the end of four years' study
he should be graduate at the head of
his class.
It was not only his own but his moth
er's desire that be should become a sol
dier, and by the time he receives iii:i
lieutenancy It Is possible that we may
Indulge In a war with a foreign power
that will enable him to show his mettle.
Like poets, however, great soldiers
seem to be n question of birth and In
stinct. In this connection a prominent
West Point olllcer recently said:
"It Is almost it certainty that If wo
were to go to war now the successes
that we might achieve would nit de
pend upon the sons of our dead mili
tary heroes. 1 do not know of one who
has been graduated at tills college who
has shown any especial brilliancy.
"Sheridan Is ns brilliant ns any of
them. Military genius does not shine
In times of peace, however. It takes
war to bring out n soldier's qualities,
and It Is likely that In case of an arm
ed conflict new generals would spring
up from humble lieutenants who have
barely mannged to scratch through
their examination.." New York Journal.
COL. GEO. M. RANDALL.
Soldier Who Wilt Command Uncle
Sam's Troops in Alaska.
Lieut. Col. George M. Randall, who
Is to command the United States troops
in Alaska, has had an eventful earner
In the army of the United States. He
nllsted In the civil war us a private in
the Fourth United States Infantry in
April, 1801. In October, 1801, he was
made a second lieutenant. lie served
with the Fourth until he reached the
rank of major, when he was placed in
command of the Fourteenth New York
artillery. At the close of the civil war
he was made first lieutenant of the
Fourth United States infantry, and In
the army reorganization wus transfer
red to the Twenty-third Infantry as
captain, lie served ns captain oud ma
jor of the Twenty-third during .ill of
the Important Indian campaigns of the
West and was made lieutenant colonel
of the Eighth Infantry In 1S!)4. Col.
Itandall has been five times bre.'etted
by Congress for gallant und meritorious
conduct In battle, ns follows: Sept. 17,
ISO'2, brevetted captain for service at
Antletain, Va.; April 2, 1X05, brevetted
major for gallant services at Petors-
I burg, Yu.; April 211, lSlio, brevetted
j lieutenant colonel and colonel for gul-
hint services at Fort Steedman, Va.;
I Feb. 27, PS'.IO, brevetted lieutenant col
' onel for gallantry In actions against the
I Apache Indians nt Turret!; 1800, bre
j vetter colonel for gallant services
against the Apache Indians nt Pino,
I Arizona, nnd for distinguished services
i in Indian campaigns. During the eam
' paigns of ("Jen. Crook against the Sioux
Indians Col. Itandall, then major of the
I Twenty-third, was his right-hand man,
j serving as one of his staff officers and
commanding his Indian scouts. Itun
I dall's tight against the Apache Indians
j at Turrett Mountain In 1S73 served to
i close the Apache war, which had been
In progress several years. The Indians
I liaJ taken refuge on the summit of Tur
J rett Mountain, where they were cer-
tufii no enemy could follow. Unndall
surrounded the stronghold at night. He
made his men crawl up the face of the
mountain on their hands nnd knees.
They reached the summit nt midnight,
and at dawn Col. Itandall led a fierce
Seals Love Music.
The well-known love of seals for mu
steal souuds often leads to their de
struction. When the Eskimo hunter
sees none of his prey about he begins
whistling, and sooner or later Is sure to
attract an appreciative seal within
reach of his harpoon. Lying at full
length at the edge of the Ice he contin
ues whistling low, plaintive, calling
notes, nnd presently a Tew of the ani
mals will draw near to the spot, liftmg
themselves as high as they can out of
the water, and slowly moving their
heads to ami fro, as If keeping time to
the music. By nnd by one seal, more
daring than Its fellows, will come very
close to the hunter, who then Jumps to
his feet and slays the creature, while
Its mates make off as quickly as possi
ble. Pearson's Weekly.
LIEUT. COI.. RANDALL,
charge against the surprised Apaches,
many of whom, In their efforts to es
cape, dashed over the nreclnttniw oi,i
of the mountain to death. The defeat
mu.ve me npiru oi me tribes and peace
was soon made with them. Col. Itan
dall is a man of fine physique and Is a
magnificent looklmr soldi pr fid lo nw
tremely affable nud has thousands of
menus mrotiir noiit tha v,.ut n u
I " uti HUB
I Indomitable will power, combined with
i extremely good 1udi?nu.nt nn,i
l - ' ' - u..u tv I". L
, ter officer could have been selected by
i u..vernmeni to protect American
Interests on th Atnui.-.ti,.ui..i.
..."-.tinmiuu VU1U1U-
bla frontier.
Ciertiiiiny'll Many Sn clclp.
Germany's proport.un of suicide Is
larger than that of any other European
country.
There Is a He going around about nn
old-fashioned child that was not nn'tv
lit Tor Tat.
A M . ... '
. e..-K.nown artist received a cir-
cu.ur irom a wnisky firm, Inviting him
tO loin In A pnmiutltlnn .
. ....uuuu lur a poster.
Only one prize was to be given, nail
the unsuccessful drawings were to be-
Com a tl,A r,w,.nnM - . i. .
y.uiimjr ui ine arm.
He replied as follows:
"Gentlemen: 1 am offering a prlzo
and should be glad to have yoj J
part In the competition. tv1i. J
bottles of each kind should be semi
examination, and all whisky that li
adjudged worthy of the nrlze w
main the property of the uudersip.
it is also required that the carriaje
paiu py tne sender."
This letter ended the corresponds
DON'T KISS THE DOG.
A Very Bad Habit Which Often Ui
to Molinnunt DiaeuBes,
Don't kiss your dog, no matter li
dear he or she may be to you! Ah
from the fact that It is a nasty bi!
IT'S A DANOE1IOUS HAlllT.
there is grave danger to the humin
Ins from all sorts of microbes i
germs, which are fonder of the hr
helm? than of the doe. Tills tail'
amply proven by scientists, and '
the Board of Health, sa.vs me
York World. As a matter of fact
latter body has several well untie
rated cases of d nhtlierla wniw
f irm flrvrm nn ltd TPf' onls. DlsH
all kinds lurk upon the lips and I
p n, .1,,.. i ,i,,it u'lii u-nniknH
even though of high pedigree, ml
the course of his Journeys w -the,
acquaintance of dogs of lest'
gree. From them he will gather
crobea as well ns Ueas. Then tie'
return home to his fond mistress to
tribute his collection Indlscrlnito
Then Ills mistress will pick Mai l
her arms nnd will hug """1 ks 1
Tvnhnlit rttnhtlierla. enncer and
eases too horrible to mention may rf
from the caress.
Thyslclans have repeatedly "
ni7nlnLt tlio tinhl-t of kissing Ml
i rtumnKP. Evert
swiuiiigiy io iiitc j
, 00 irheresi
tne papers curouicie w j
disease has mysteriously
where the source of contagion v
. t i t nf everv ten '
cases, dog kissing is to blame. Bull
lng aside tne possiuuuj - ,.
.....I- habit shoul'i
uiseuau eiiLiicij, j
stopped by all self-respecting 1
for what man wouiu cuic
knowing that they had prevlow
.i.j ii i.i.,olr n doe? 1
. . , a ma v he: no v
ter now cieuu u us - , j
how great a favorite, 11 : .ho J 1
no matter what tue uw
kissed.
Aronnd the World on
Miss Annie Londonderry. j
can woman who has made' 1
the world on her bicycle,
lng an account of her epe
was unattcnaeu, am .
years and two months for w "i
the trip. ,
... . . . f the MH
Bmitn uiu mini ' . ,ji
go to hear Dr. Fourthly P"1 "1
main cabin this mornim,.
Brown-Yes, but most of
when be announecu m
"What was itr tc
"Cast thy bread upon tn
Life.
It I. a rare man who corns'
like to teU how It lou- "
dona.