Lincoln County leader., February 13, 1903, Image 6

SELBY'S SAFE.
IIEXEVER I get a new Job
that seems like a gold mine,"
observed Selby. "I Immediate
ly bogln to look around for the draw
Lnoks." "Kicking Bill, as usual," remarked
his friend Eggleston. "By George, I
helleve you'd kick In heaven because
jour wings were like a swan's instead
of a peacock's. What In the world
have you got to grumble about now?"
"It's Just like this," replied Selby.
"You see, I have some very large col
lections to make every Saturday night,
which I have to keep In the house un
til Monday. I don't like the responsi
bility. It's wearing on my nerves. I
haven't a peaceful moment while the
money's In the house and scarcely got
a wink of sleep. There Isn't a place I
can put It and feel that It's secure."
advice Is, first to take a nerve tonic,
and then to buy a safe."
, "That's what I'll have' to do," as
sented the other, "buy a safe. The
expense Is somewhat heavy, but I can't
stand the strain any longer. Look here,
Eggleston, .suppose you meet me to
morrow noon at Devron's and help me
to select one."
"Glad to do It, old man," answered
Eggleston, "but I'll charge you a fee
not only for my professional knowl
edge of strong boxes, but also for the
udvlce I have given you to-night."
The next day the two met at Dev
ron's. It was evident that the epithet
of "Kicking Bill" which his friends had
long ago bestowed upon Selby was not
a slander. According to him there was
not a suitable safe In the whole estab
lishment. One was too large, another
too small, a third not strong enough,
a fourth had too easy a combination.
After a couple of hours' examination
of the whole stock, and when the
weary salesman, having vainly extoll
od the merits of his wares with all
bis trader's eloquence, at length de
spaired of' making a sale, Eggleston
came to the rescue.
, "Come now, Selby, this Is all non
sense. Here's one that fills the bill.''
Selby protested; but Eggleston Insist
ed, and in the end carried his point.
The safe was Installed In the library,
which adjoined Selby's bedroom. Like
n child with a new toy, he spent the
first few hours after Its arrival play
ing with the combination until he could
almost work it with his eyes shut.
The first Saturday after his purchase
lie brought home a fat wad of green
backs, which he carefully deposited In
the inner compartment of the safe,
locked the door, put the key In his
pocket, closed the outer door and twist
ed the combination back and forth for
live full minutes; then opened It again
to make sure he had locked the Inner
compartment, and repeated, the whole
process.
lie went to bed that night with the
key to the inner door tied to his wrist.
Nevertheless, sleep was as difficult to
Induce as ever. If the floor In the hall
creaked he Imagined that some one
was stealing Into the library, and a
thorough Investigation had to be made.
But physical and mental exhaustion
Anally won the upper hand.
When he awoke the next morning
Ids first act was to feel for the key.
It had not been removed from his
wrist. Next ho hastened Into the li
brary. No dynamiters had been at
work on tho safe, which stood as If
gazing at htm In silent disdain at his
anxiety. lie quickly opened the outer
door, and, with trembling fingers, in
serted tho key into the lock of the in
ner compartment. A twist, a pull and
Its door was open. His heart leaped
violently to his throat, then dropped
exhausted and seemed to cease Its
beating altogether. Only gaping, mock
ing, hopeless, awful emptiness met his
searching eyes. Not the slightest ves
tige of the treasure remained.
' But who had extracted It, and how7
He reported the matter to the police,
anil detectives were sent to the house.
As is their wont, they Immediately sus
pected the servants, impossible; They
bad been In the family for years, and
even if they were dishonest, how could
they have gotten Into the safe, esp
elnlly as the key had never left his
possession for a single Instant, and the
dealer had assured him that there -ere
no duplicates.
What but no, it could not be! Yet
Eggleston had insisted rather deter
minedly upon his taking that particular
safe. No, he would not believe It of
his friend. Still, such breaches of
friendship were not unheard of. Could
It be that Eggleston and the clerk were
In collusion, and that Eggleston had
obtained a dupltcate key? But how
could he hare gotten Into the house?
Terhapa he had bribed one of the ser
vants. "
Although he doubted him, neverthe
less these suspicions made Selby very
uncomfortable. However, he did not
communicate them to the detectives,
who were utterly at loss for a clew.
Another Saturday arrived without
any hopeful developments.
After much hesitation Selby again
placed his collections in the safe, Sind
personally examined every door and
window before retiring. Not content
with these precautions, he arose at
various intervals during the night and
examined the contents of his treasure
box. All was well. In the small hours
of the morning he fell Into a deep sleep,
from which he was awakened some
time after daybreak by a knock at the
door. It was one of the servants. As
he was nev.er aroused from his slum
bers on Sunday morning, he surmised
that something was wrong. In response
to his InQuirixig glance the maid stuit
ed that between three and four o'clock
she had heard footsteps descending the
attic staircase, that she had remained
awake and listened attentively, but
heard nothing more, and that she bad
only at that moment dared to venture
out of her room.
Selby's first thought was of the safe.
Bushing into the library, he hastily
opened its two doors. Again it was
empty!
Next he climbed the attic stairs. He
found no trace of the thief up there,
The windows were not only all nailed
shut, but none of the dust-covered cob
webs which sealed them had been dis
turned. The scuttle to the roof like
wise was fastened on the Inside. A
search through the rest of the house
revealed nobody in hiding, nor was
there any visible means of exit, all the
doors and windows being locked from
within.
The servant who had awakened Sel
by was put through a rigid examina
tion by the police, who were of the
opinion that she was implicated in the
theft and had concocted her story to
divert suspicion from herself; but she
was either an, expert twister of the
truth or Innocent, for the ferrets of
crime, with all their skillful question
lug and cross-questioning, could find no
flaws In her testimony.
Saturday came round again, and the
detective in charge of the case had
made no progress. Although It was
not probable that a third robbery
would be committed, still he was go
ing to try the only method remaining
to solve the mystery namely, conceal
himself in the library that night. Sel
by alone was apprised of his intention
and admitted him to the house after
the servants had retired. When they
had both made sure that the contents
of the safe were thus far intact, Selby
locked the iron doors and went to his
room.
But he was ill at ease. Ills nerves.
unstrung by the worry of the past two
weeks, excited his imagination to the
wildest vagaries. He became distrust
ful even of the detective. What if he
should be an accomplice! The corrup
tion or the police force was notorious,
Might not this man be one of the most
corrupt? Iteaspn dispelled these fears
in part, but It was several hours be
fore sleep visited him.
Suddenly he was roughly brought
back to consciousness by a shake from
a powerful arm. He struggled frantic
ally to free himself.
"Calm yourself," said n voice, which
he Instantly recognized as that of the
detective. "What's the matter? Ev
erythlng's all right."
Everything all right! How happen
ed it then that the detective wait In
his room and how had an entrance
been effected, for he was sure he had
locked the door before retiring? How
but hla thoughts abruptly changed
their direction. Ills wandering eye
had gradually regained the power ol
seeing concrete things, and he all a:
once realized that he was not In hit
room. But where was he? Hefoiv
hlni stood the detective holding a flick
crlng candle.
"Are you awake now, sir?" asked tli
latter. "Yes." answered Selby.
"I,ook down at your feet, then."
Selby did as bidden. A loose board
had been removed from the ttoorlnu
and in the hole thus uncovered werr
three wads of greenbacks. Memories
of childhood came back to him. How
often when a small boy had he hidden
his youthful valuables beneath tha:
very board, but he had long since for
gotten Its existence. In an instant hi
comprehended the situation. It was
an odd case of somnambulism. His
ever-vlgllant .distrust had stolen a
march on his sleeping consciousness.
New York News.
Equally Tough.
Landlady White meat or dark?
Boarder It doesn't matter; I'm color
blind. New York Times.
OUR MINISTER TO VENEZUELA.
Herbert W. Bowed Admirably Adapted
for Any Emergency.
Herbert Wolcott Bowen, United
States Minister to Venezuela, has been
qualified by twelve years in the diplo
matic and consular
service of the na
tion to deal with
the contingencies
which may arise in
the distracted South
American republic.
He went to Vene
zuela in 1901, suc
ceeding Francis B.
Loomis. Prior to
that he was Minis
ter to Persia, hav
H. W. BOWEN.
ing been appointed to that post in 1899.
But it was in Spain, before the out
break of hostilities between that coun
try and the United States, that Minis
ter Bowen gained the especial experi
ence which will stand him in good
stead in the Venezuela imbroglio. He
first went to that country In 1890, be
ing appointed consul at Barcelona by
President Harrison. In 1895 President
Cleveland made him consul general.
Barcelona was the scene of manifes
tations of hostility toward the United
States in March, 1890. The feeling
was aroused by the passage by the
Senate of the Morgan resolution, which
recognized the Cuban insurgents. A
mob of soveml thousand porsops gath
ered in front of the United States con
sulate in Barcelona, and with shouts
and execrations demanded the destruc
tion of the building and the death of
the occupants. Consul General Bow
en appeared at the entrance and defied
the mob, which dispersed In a short
time without harming anyone, and do
ing little damage to the edifice. Mr.
Bowen was the last representative of
the United States to leave Spain at the
time of the actual outbreak of hostili
ties. vAfter the close of the Spanish
American war he was preparing to re
turn to his post at Barcelona when
made Minister to Persia.
Minister Bowen was born In Brook
lyn In 1850 and is distinguished as a
literary man of excellence and a poet
of considerable power. He is six feet
and three inches in height, of athletic
build and great personal prowess. He
speaks French, Spanish, German fend
Italian fluently and Is thus well
equipped for his present post.
URGED TO GROW NATIVE SlLK.
State Biologist of North Carolina Dis
tributing Mulberry Trees.
There is a new chapter in the awak
ening movement for growing native
American silk In the South, began by
Gerald McCarthy, biologist of the
North Carolina Department of Agri
culture, at Raleigh, N. C. The State
Is arranging to furnish free mulberry
trees to farmers who will experiment
in raising silk. All over the State of
North Carolina Mr. McCarthy is scat
tering this circular: '
"The first season's experience In slllc
growing hi North Carolina has proved
a most gratifying success. It has dem
onstrated that the women and chil
dren of the State may, by light and
interesting work during six weeks of
early summer, earn, without Interfer
ing seriously with their ordinary du
ties, at least $30. Those who can de
vote more time to the work may earn
much more.
"To place silk growing upon a perma
nent basis we must Increase the out
put of silk cocoons to a volume which
will attract to the silk reelers and
weavers, thus creating a home market
for the product of the silkworm. The
first and most necessary step is to in
crease the available supply of silk
worm food. We must plant mulberry
trees until each farm suited for this
kind of work has at least 100 trees.
Every farm having dry soil, lying be
tween Goldsborough and Statesvllle or
Ashevllle, can successfully grow silk.
"In order to encourage the planting
of the mulberry the State Department
of Agriculture will distribute among
the farmers of North Carolina In lots
of fifty and one hundred rooted seed
ling trees of the varieties best suited
for feeding the silkworm. Not moro
than 100 will be sent to one person.
"Silk growing will prove valuable as
nature study and a remunerative art
in schools and is well worth the at
tention of all who have supervision
over educational institutions. It is also
well adapted for charitable Institu
tions. Tubllc Institutions which wish
to experiment with silk growing will
be supplied with trees."
North Carolina Is only one of the
possible States for the growing of silk,
this scientist says, according to the
New York Times, ne expects a wide
range for Its production before many
years, far beyond the confines of the
Southern belt. .
Tho Shade Trees of Paris.
The city of , Tarls, France, spends
about $50,000 every year in maintaining
Its trees. There are about 87,800 trees
In the city, and they grow in rows along
the sidewalks: This number, however.
does not Include the trees In the parks.
Women patients are more popular In
hospitals than men patients. They
are easier to get along with, and com
plain less. But men are more popular
than women In boarding houses.
Wanted a Year's Guaranty.
"It's almost impossible, dear, to
lease a house for a shorter term than
one year, nowadays," he said, "so, to
protect myself, I must ask you "
"Ask me what?" interrupted his
bride-to-be.
"To agree not to seek a divorce
until the expiration of the first year's
lease." Catholic. Standard.
Quite Consistent. ,
Mlsa Mainchantz i suppose you've
heard of my engagement to Mr.
Jenks?
Miss Ascott Yes, and I confess I
was surprised. You told me once
that you wouldn't marry him for a
million dollars.
Miss Mainchantz I know, dear, but
I discovered later that he had two
millions.
Their Only Hope.
"I believe," said Mrs. Oldun, 'sharp
ly, "that there should be a law against
bachelors.
"Nonsense!" exclaimed Peppery;
"why, the only hope of some women
are the bachelors, for the widowers
are too particular." Philadelphia
Record.
To Break In New Shoes,
Always shake in Aliens Foot-Ease, a powder.
It cures chilblains, damp, sweating-, aching,
swollen feet. Cures Corns and Bunions. At
all druggists and shoe stores, 2e. Pon't accept
any substitute. Sample mailed FRE&. Address
Allen 8. Olmstead, LeRoy, N. X
Patience I understand Mr. and
Mrs. Styles are Just going away now
for their vacation.
Patrice Yes; they remind one of
Adam and Eve when they were leav
ing the garden of Eden, don't they?
"What an idea?"
"Well, you see, they, too, are going
away' for the fall." Yonkers States
man. For forty year's Piso's Cure for Con
sumption has cured coughs and oolds. At
druggists. Price 25 cents.
One Explanation.
Judge Winters are not so cold as
they used to be.
Fudge Oh, yes, they are. Only
now chronic liars have such a variety
of things, like auto, records, etc., to
lie about, that they can't devote so
much attention to the weather any
more. Baltimore Herald.
Exactly Alike.
First Rooter (shivering on bleach
erles) Why is a football "fan" like
one of the palm-leaf varieties?
Second Rooter 'Cause it never
shuts up. New York Times.
AVfcgetable Preparationfor As
similating ilicFoodandRcgula
ling the Stomachs ondBowels of
Promotes Digcslion.Cheerfur
ness andRest.Contains neither
OpiunxMorpliine norUieral.
Not Xarc otic .
Jtpe afOUDrSAKUIlPlTaWl
fiaryAm Seal'
Jlx.Smna
AW Strd
' rmw.
A perfect Remedy forConstipa
Tlon, Sour Stomach.Diarrhoea
Worms .Convulsions .Feverish
ncss and Loss of SLEEP.
Fac Simile Signature of
NEW YORK.
P35
EXACT COPy OF WRAPPER.
1 wjBBWwMilai . H
m
McCAULEY & BURBANK, General Machinists
Mine, Mill and Marin. work. General .
PROMPT ATTENTION TO OUT-OF-TOWN ORDERS.
Poole Bldg., Foot of Morrison St. , PORTLAND. OREGON
Moth
er
consumption for many years. At
last she was given up to die. Then
she tried Ayer's Cherry PectoriL
and was speedily cured." h
D. P. Jolly, Avoca, N.Y.
No matter how hard
your cough or how lono
you have had it, AycrV
Cherry Pectoral is the
best thing you can take.
It's too risky to wait
until you have consump.
tion. If you are coughing
today, get a bottle of
vnciiy -cwiuim ai once.
Three size : 25c, 50c., $1. All imrtfttt.
Consult your doctor. If h nj, tlt. i
then do as he says. If he tells ya Jh
to take It, then don't take It. He km,.?
Leare it with him. We are wtlii.
u. vi. a i iun ,j Liowell, Hui
Doting Dotage.
Miss De Spite I Just dote on
George, I understand he threw you
oven
Miss De Sweet Yes; In dotage on
io iwuis m uu Miuiusi, unyiQing.
Tough On Him.
"Miss Strong is exceedingly mat'eu
line, Isn't she?" remarked MIsb As
cum. "Most atwociously so," remarked
young Mr. Sissy, with some heat
"You seem to speak from emeu
ience?" .
"Yaas, I do. She got into the el
vatah with me in the Skyscrape build
ing one day and when she saw me she
deliberately wemoved her hat and
held it In her hand until I got off."
Didn't Walt to Hear.
Hewitt Gruett says that you are
afraid of him.
Jewett Afraid of him! Why, it
was only yesterday that I called him
everything that I could think of.
Hewitt What did he say?
Jewett I came away from the tele
phone as soon as I said all I had to
say. Philadelphia Inquirer.
Insanity In Berlin.
There are 300 new cases of insanity
in Berlin every year. A new asylum
is under construction, and the Tage
blatt says two more ought to be begun
at once.
For Infants and Children.
The Kind You Have
Always Bought
Bears
THC etNTAU COMPANY. NlW TOR CITY.
W IS El
mm
! "Rao Vn S .
For Over
! Thirty Years
TEH?31 UCE KILLER kills
LlWfiOn Poilltrv El'y applied Paint perctatt,
POBTLAMD SUED Co. P.rtUd. Or... C.MI A.-U.