f
A Great
Y
21 5
s
Tbe caPe of flu "ieb fool." f
6 6 CnO 11 IS ll0USe t0 let"
looked very big nnd im
posing, this notice, and Mr.
Dart stepped complacently backward
to eye the general effect of It after he
lad wafered the document safely on
the side of the front door.
"If people can't read that they must
le blind! Now I'll go In and wait for
eome one to bite at the bait. No bother
of real estate agents for me no com
mission to eat up half the rent. I'll
transact my own bus'ness or else I'll go
Into an Idiot asylum!"
As he sat In the pretty reception-room
belonging to the house which he had
the good or bad fortune to own, he
looked not unlike a big bumble bee In
Jie heart of some huge tropic flower.
"It's trouble, trouble, and nothing but
' MOTIIKR, YOU MU-T TAKE IT.
trouble," grumb'ed Mr. Dart, as he
musi (1 after his own saturnine fashion
ever the trials Incidental to the position
of landlord. "When It Isn't taxes, it's
leaky water pipes, and when It isn't
that it's your neighbor's drains over
flowing your cellar or your tenant tak
ing French leave without paying his
rent. I wish I was baik on the old
fUonyflcld farm n:;aln, raising straw-
berths and auMlloweis. And 1 will
be, too. I'll give this house to Harry
Field; lie's a good boy and if he really
lias fallen In love with pretty Olive
Melton, It won't be a bad wedding pres
ent. 1 hope she's worthy of him but
women are all artificial nowadays. I
suppose I must let him have his own
wny and go with him to see her this
evening. For Hallo, there! What's
wanting?"
A tall, belligerent-looking man had
given divers energetic Jerks to the
bell-knob.
"Is this house to let?" he demanded,
Tory red In the face with much bell
pulling, as Mr. Dart thrust his head out
at the window.
"Yes, sir, It Is."
"How much Is the rent?"
"Two thousand dollars."
"It's too much for a house In this
locality."
"You think so, sir?"
I "Yes, sir, I do."
"Well, sir, what a consolation It must
be to you that you're not obliged to
pay it."
And Mr. Dart drew his head back
nnd slammed down the window, to the
Inexpressible rage of the tall man.
Hardly had he ceased congratulating
liiniself on this masterly maneuver
than a second peal reminded him that
"this house" was yet "to let."
This time It was a fat woman, with a
slovenly shawl and crumpled bonnet,
nnd an abundance of cheap rings on
her lingers. She went all over the
bouse, and opened all the closet doors,
investigated every separate cupboard
shelf, and dually came to the conclu
sion that the house "would do."
"For. you see. I want a large house,"
sa'd sh;', coniidently, to Mr. Dart. "I
keep a children's school and "
"You do, oh?' said Mr. Dart. "Well,
you can't keep It here."
"I've a great mind to take down the
bill," he thought, with milled temper
nnd face like a radish. "I hadn't an
Idea there was such meanness In hu
man nature! Dear, dear, there comes
somebody o" so -two ladles. I wish
they were not ladles! 1 can kick a man
downstairs when he says an Imperti
nent thing to me, but I don't know how
to deal with women! That nearest one
is n clipper!"
The ladles were evidently mother nnd
daughter-a subdued, weak-looking lit
tle woman In black, and a tall, hand
somo girl of IS or 10, with brilliant
black eyes, n complexion like snow and
roses, and a slngu'arly haughty way
of carrying her lovely head.
"Sir!" began the mother, ns they
vote usher d Into the ball by Mr. Dart,
but the younger lady Interrupted her.
"Do hold your tongue, mother," sto
said sharply. "1 can manage matters
BBS
msmM
a great deal the best. Are you the
agent of this house, sir?"
"Yes," said Mr. Dart, with a queer
expression in his eyes.
"And Is ?2,000 the lowest rent the
very lowest?"
"Yes."
"I told you so, dear," Interposed the
elderly lady, meekly. "Our means will
not "
"There you go again!" snapped the
daughter, "with your everlasting cackle
about means, means! I'm sick and tired
of the sound of it. Will you show us
the house, sir?"
Mr. Dart obeyed, in his Inmost heart
pity!ni the pubdv.ed mother; the tall
young lady swept like a queen through
the passages, pausing In each room to
survey Its adaptations for the purposes
to which she had assigned It In her
mind.
"I like the house," she said, Imperi
ously, as they paused at length In the
lower hall. "Mother, you must take It!"
"My darling," deprecated the mother,
"?2,0U0 a year! and papa's salary Is
only fl,20D, besides the interest we
have to pay!"
"Pshaw! do have done with your lec
turing. What do I care whether papa
Is pleased or not? I'm going to be mar
ried, thank gooilniss, and get away
from all your debts and grovelings and
grumblings. A rich fool for a husband
Is better than no husband at all!"
"But, my dear," the conversation had
fallen into an undertone, "you are not
sure of it yet, and "
"Yes, I am," said the daughter,
sharply. "Don't I tell you he's com
pletely under my thumb? And do you
suppose I would be married from .such
a hole as that little house in March
street?"
And turning to Mr. Dart, who was
an unwilling and uneditled listener to
the conversation, she said, In a louder
accent:
"We shall take the house. My father
will call nnd see you to-morrow. Let
this bill be taken down."
And she glided away, more like Queen
Semiramis than ever, with the meek
little mother following, a look of pained
perplexity on her face.
At 8 o'clock precisely Mr. Dart was
ready.
"Why, uncle," cried Harry Field,
gleefully. "How nice you look!"
"Do I?" saM the old gentleman, com
placently. "Well, I flatter myself I am
about the correct thing! Come on, my
boy, or we shall be late."
"It's not far," said Harry. "It's only
on March street!"
"March street! March street!" re-
MSMIST- - tV.:A
V'4 n ;Vi .ES5" ff,ft
mm.
OI.IVK SHRANK HACK.
peated the old gentleman. "It seems to
me as If I had somewhere heard that
name recently!"
But he could not remember where,
and was still racking his brain when
they reached the residence of the dam
sel whom Harry Field enthusiastically
termed "his guardian angel."
The apartment into which they were
shown was rather of the tawdrily
splendid order satin-covered chairs,
enameled with stray grease spots; mar
ble mantels, undusted, and a gaudy
velvet carpet, strewn with clippings of
thread and scraps of paper, forming Its
chief characteristics.
Presently in walked a tall, beautiful
girl, with black eyes and a wealth of
raven hair, a smile dimpling her cherry
lips nnd adding a new charm to her
lovely face.
"Olive!" said Harry, proudly, ns bo
advanced to greet her, "this Is my uncle,
Mr. Dart, nnd "
He stopped short In astonishment, for
Olive shrank back, coloring redder than
the reddest peony In all the gaudy car
pet patterns.
"Ah!" said Mr. Dart, plunging both
Ms hands In his pockets. "I think
we'te met before?"
tea-
iy'" . in. i.
"Met before?" echoed narry Field.
"When? Where?"
Olive Melton, remembering the very
free use of her tongue she had made,
was too near the verge of a fit of hys
terics to reply coherently, so Mr. Dent
calmly narrated the brief interview
they had that morning.
Harry's brow darkened ns he lis
tened. "A rich fool!" he muttered, "nnd
completely under her thumb. Olive, la
this true?"
She could not deny It she dared not,
with the cold light of Mr. Dart's glit
tering eyes upon her.
Mr. Dart's house was "let" the next
day to a widow and the two best apart
ments are occupied by the uncle and
nephew, who keep "bachelor's hall" In
fine style.
"And I believe," the widow says, In
reference to her two favorite boarders,
"that the old gentleman really means to
live and die a bachelor; but as for Mr.
Harry as long as there's youth there's
hope." .
But Olive Melton's chances are gone,
New York Daily News.
HE BEAT THE TRUST.
A Clever Fclieme Which Was Worked
by a Wheeltnaker.
"I don't care to mention names," said
a visitor from New Jersey, "but this Is
an absolutely true story of how one
uiau ai k-usL beat a big trust at Its
own game. He was at the head of a
small concern making let us say car
wheels (that's not exactly it, but pretty
nearly), and about a year ago he got a
private hint that the other ear-wheel
people were arranging a combine. He
said nothing, but Immediately commu
nicated with several of the largest con
sumers, and by offering confidentially
a reduction of about 15 per cent, se
cured advance orders that would oc
cupy him over two years to till, run
ning at full capacity. At the price
named every wheel would be made at a
loss, nnd his partners were badly
scared. He told them to keep their
mouths shut and wait.
"In a few months the trust was or
ganized, according to programme, nnd
one day a bland agent dropped in and
offered him a fair price for the plant.
He said he didn't care to sell. The
trust thereupon proceeded to put on
the screws in the usual fashion. In
other words, they cut rates, but,
strange to say, the little wheelmaker
didn't seem to care. Then they made
another and much larger cut with the
Intention of freezing him out at one
fell swoop.
"That was just what he was waiting
for, nnd through a third party he In
stantly placed orders covering all the
contracts he had made at a figure that
left hhn a handsome margin of profit
Without suspecting that the large or
ders came from their Intended victim
the trust people became alarmed at the
losses incurred In the freezing out pro
cess and made him another and much
better offer for his plant, which he
promptly accepted.
"Now the trust has the coneern and Is
obliged to run It day nnd night to make
wheels at 23 per cent, under actual cost
for the man it tried to ruin. As fast as
he gets them he turns them over.ou his
contracts, and reaps the intermediate
profit, while, needless to say, the trust
magnates howl with anguish every
time they make a de lvery. The little
wheeltnaker got enough out of the sale
of the plant to retire for life, nnd he Is
carrying out the rest of the campaign
merely for sport. He says It's great
fun to see a trust on the gridiron."
New Orleans Tinies-Demoerat.
Some Copious Languages.
Among all the European languages
the English is the richest so far as the
number of words Is concerned, and It
Is also the one which has added to its
vocabulary the largest number of
words within the last half century. The
latest English dictionaries contain not
less thau 200,000 different words. Next
in rank comes the German language,
with 80,000 words, and then come In
succession the Italian, with 3o,000; the
French, with 30,000, and the Spanish,
with 20,000 words. Among the oriental
languages the Arabic is the most copi
ous, Its vocabulary being even richer
than that of the English language. In
the Chinese languages there are 10,000
syllables or roots, out of which It Is pos
sible to frame 40,000 words. Another
notable language Is the old Indian Ta
mil, which Is now spoken In the south
of India, and which contains, accord
ing to the latest calculations, 07,042
words. In the Turkish language there
are 22.530 words, and thus It is richer
thau the Spanish and some other Euro
pean languages. A singular fact is
that aborigines, ns a rule, have very
limited vocabularies. The Kaffirs of
South Africa have nt their disposal
not more than 8.000 words, and the na
tives of Australia use ouly 2,000 words.
Folcil.
"I cannot reach his heart," she ex
claimed, pa-slenitely.
Further, the senoi Ita wept,
"This Is what comes," she exclaimed
some more, "of allowing myelf to bo
cajoled Into buying a stiletto at a bar
gain sale for It) conts."-IudlnuapoHs
Journnl.
The greatest objection to nearly
nverj boro Is his fool wife.
of
Thkre arc many superior
brands of baking Worth
powders, but
"Royal Baking Powder "
is recognized at once as the
brand of great name, the powder
of highest favor and reputation.
Everyone has absolute confi
dence in the food where Royal
'is used.
Pure and healthful food is a
matter of vital importance to
every individual.
Royal Baking Powder
assures the finest and
most wholesome food.
NEWS IN BRIEF.
The Duchess of Fife, accompanied by
the duke, is often seen walking in
Hyde Park and Kensington Gaiden,
London.
When a chameleon ip blindfolded it
loses all power of changing its color,
and ita enitre body remains in a uni
form tint.
"Our Duchess" of Marlborough by
her sweet ami winning ways is fast be
coming one of the most popular women
in England.
A successful firm of tea merchants
in London is com posed entirely of wo
men. The blenders, tasters and pack
ers are also women.
Empress Charlotte, of Mexico, re
cently celebrate.l her GOtli birthday at
the Chateau dn Bonchoto. where she is
confined. Although she does not look
her age, her mental condtion is hope
less as ever.
The lo8es by fire in this country
during the first four months of this
year amounted in round numbers to
150,000,000, against about 188,000,000
for the coresponding period of 1808.
A like rate of destruction continued
during the year will bring the figures
TVlA rt1pncnn4 MAiUJ l , - . .
"miuu una Denencial
effects of the well known remedy.
Sykup op Fiob, manufactured by the
California Fig Syrup Co., illustrate
the value of obtaining the liquid laxa
tive principles of plants known to be
medicinally la.ative and presenting
them in the form most refreshing to the
taste and acceptable to the system. It
is the one perfect strengthening laxa
tive, cleansing the system effectually,
dispelling colds, headaches and fevers
gently yet promptly and enabling one
to overcome habitual constipation per
manently. Its perfect freedom from
every objectionable quality and sub
stance, and its acting on the kidneys,
liver and bowels, without weakening
Taxations them, make it the ideal
In the process of manufacturing Acs
are used, as they are pleasant to the
taste, but the medicinal qualities of the
remedy are obtained from senna and
other aromatic plants, by a meod
known to the California Fio Sykip
Co. only. In order to get its beneficial
effects and to avoid imitations, please
remember the full name of the Company
printed on the front of every package
CALIFORNIA FIG SYRUP CO.
8AV FRANCISCO. CAL.
L0TJI8VILLH. KT. NEW VOnir w yr
to, U, by an DruS
An Excellent Conibinn Hon
is a
guarantee
There arc many imitation baking
powders, made from alum, mostly
sold cheap. Avoid them, as they
make the food unwholesome.
ROYAL BAKING POWDER CO., NEW YORK.
for 1899 to the enormous total of $150,
000,000 or 10 times as much as all our
battleships together cost to build.
The record of the greatest number of
notes struck by a musician in 12 hours
is said to have been made by Fadurew
ski, who Btruck 1,030.200 notes.
A large turkey buzzard, with a bell
fastened to one of its feet, has made
its appearance in Cumberland county,
N. J., for the tenth successive spring.
A custom peculiar to Buddhists ii
that of wandering about the country
with hammer and chisel and carving
iioly symbols upon rocks by the way
side. Schillings
Best
tea
sold only in
Packages
The Ohio law which permits th
publication of offloial notices in Polish
as well as German, in addition to Ea
glisb, on motion of council, authorizes
also the publication of such official no
tices in Bohemian. There are many
Bohemians in Cleveland and Toledo.
In every city or town in the Nether
lands you will find a Rosemary street.
In olden days only undertakers lived
in them, the rosemary being, in the
language of flowers, specially dedicated
to the dead.
There are approximately, 25,000 In
dians in the United StateB, and the
larger number of them maintain such
tribal organizations as exempt them
from the operation of the ordinary law
of the country.
PORTLAND DIRECTORY.
feiipe a nil Who Work.
PORTLAND WIRE ,t IRON WORKS; WIRB
"' lr'"' tc"c'"K:olllce railtiiK, eic. !M Alder.
Blacli lurry Hn1 9iii.ll.
riivsmv f. -. . . . .. ...
cl in,.,.. .7 i -: '--'INKS, nOILKKS, A-
i i WW r lr.si si., roriiHiiu, vu
MACHINERY, all kinds
...TATIIM JL Btumj
28 to 38 First Street F0RTLAN0. OR.
;,?' f i.! .?ou th? best bargains in Kenera"
t V KJiVenKln,e8' boilers, tanks, pumps.
I to? I f vtS windmills. The lie
equalled nlll, sold by him, Is un-
VrhoUi.i. Druintl.n and Plioto r.hl
S"PI'llf.
uurtn feirm, Portland, Oregon.
Willi f .y r . y r.tm