TRONG AND TEADY
By HORATIO
CHAPTER XXI.
Though Walter was in a room on the
second floor, the distance to the ground
was not so great but that he could easily
linng from the window sill and jump with
out injury. Before following him in his
flight, we will pause to inquire how the
robber, unexpectedly taken captive, fared.
Nothing could have surprised Jack
more than this sudden turning of the ta
bles. But a .minute since Walter was
completely in his power. Now, through
the boy's coolness and nerve, his thievish
intentions were baffled, and he was plac
ed in the hnmilinting position of a pris
oner in his own house.
"Open the door, or I'll murder you !"
he roared, kicking it violently.
There wos no reply, for Walter was
already hnlf way out of the window, and
did not think it best to answer. Walter
had proceeded hnlf a mile when he Btop-I'i-d
to rest. Two or three times he had
tripped over projecting roots which the
darkness prcveuted his seeing in time to
acoid.
"I'll rest a few minutes, and then push
on." he thought.
It was late, but the excitement of his
petition prevented him Uuiu fooling
sleepy. He wished to get out of the
woods into some road or open field, where
he would be in loss danger of encounter
ing Jack, and where perhaps he might
find assistance against him.
lie was leaning against an immense
tree, one of the largest and oldest in the
forest. Walter began to examine it. He
discovered, by feeling, that it was hollow
inside. He oscertalned that the interior
was eaten out by gradual decay, making
a large hollow space inside.
"I shouldn't wonder if I could get in,"
he said to himself.
lie made the attempt, and found that
he was correct in his supposition.. He
could easily stand erect inside.
"That is curious," thought Walter.
The tree must be very old."
He emerged from the trunk, and once
more threw himself down beside it. Five
minutes Inter and his attention was
drawn by a soiled of approaching foot
steps. Jack ho.l tripped over a root, and
was picking himself up in no very good
humor. The enemy, it appeared, was
close upon him. ,
Walter started to his feet in dismay.
His first thought was immediate flight,
but if he were heard by Jack, the latter
would no doubt be able to run him down.
"What Bhall I do?" thought Walter,
in alarm.
Quickly the hollow trunk occurred to
him. With as little delay as possible he
concealed himself in the interior. He
was just in time, for Jack was by this
time only a few rods distant. Walter
counted upon his passing on; but on
reaching the old tree Jack paused, and
said aloud, "Where can the young rascal
be? I wonder If I have passed him? I'll
rest here five minutes. He may straggle
along."
With these Vords he sank upon the
round, in the . very same place where
Walter had been reclining two minutes
before. He was so near that our hero
could have put out his hand and touched
him.
It was certainly a very uncomfortable
situation for Walter. He hardly dared to
breathe or to Btir lest his enemy should
hear him.
"He's led me a pretty tramp," mut
tered Jack, "but I'm bound to get hold
of him to-night. If I do, I'll half kill
hi in."
Tlien I hope you won't get hold of
ftini," Walter ejaculated, inwardly.
He began to wish he had run on in
stead of seeking this conceal men t. In the
first case, the darkness of the nijtht would
.have favored him, and even if Jack hnd
heard him it was by no means certain
that he would have caught him. Now an
unlucky movement or a cough would be
tray his hiding place, and there would
be no chance of escape. He began to feel
his constrained position Irksome, but did
not dare to seo relief by change of pos
ure. "I wish he'd go," thought our hero.
But Jack was in no hurry. He ap
- pea red to wish to waylay Walter, and
was constantly listening to 'catch the
sound of his approach. At length Wal
ter was relieved to hear him say, "Well,
' I shan't catch him by stopping here,
that's sure."
Then he started, and Walter, listening
Crtently, heard the sound of his receding
6t ps. When stiHicient time bad elapsed,
lie ventured out from his concealment,
mid stopped to consider the situation.
What should he do? It was hardly
prudent to go on, for it would only bring
lain nearer the enemy. If ho ventured
hack, be would be farther away from the
edjje of the woods, and might encounter
Meg, who might also be in pursuit. lie
did not feel in danger of capture from
this quarter, but the woman might find
nunns of communicating with her hus
band. On the whole, it seemed safest, for
the present, nt least, to stick to the friend
ly tree whih had proved bo good a pro
tector, lie stood beside it, watching
carefuPv, intending, whenever peril
lltreate-ed, to take1 instant refuge inside.
This was not particularly satisfactory,
but lie Hoped Jack would Roon tire of
the pursuit, and retrace his steps to-
ward the cabin. If he should do that,
lie would then be safe in continuing hii
flight.
Jack pushed on, believing that our hero
era in advance. It had been a fatiguing
ALGER, JR.
day, and this made his present midnight
iramp more disagreeable. His hopes of
overtaking Walter became fainter and
fainter, and nature began to assert her
i'ights. A drowsiness which he found it
hnrd to combat assailed him, and be
knew he must yield to it for a time at
least. '
"I wish I was at home, and in bed,"
he muttered. "I'll lie down and take a
short nap, and then start again."
He threw himself on the ground, and
in five minutes his senses were locked in
a deep slumber, which, instead of a short
nap, continued for several hours.
While he is sleeping we will go back to
Walter. He, too, was sleepy, and would
gladly have lain down and slept if he
had dared. But he felt the peril of his
position too sensibly to give way to hie
feelings. He watched vigilantly for an
hour, but nothing could be seen of Jock.
That hour seemed to him to creep with
snail-like pace.
"I can't stand this watching till morn
ing," he said to himself. "I will find
some out-of-the-way place, and try to
sleep a little."
Searching about he found such a place
S3 he desired. He lry down, end was
soon fast asleep. So pursuer and pur
sued hnd yielded to the spoil of the same
enchantress, and half a mile distant from
each other were enjoying welcome re
pose. Some hours passed away. The sun
rose, and its rays lighted up the dim re
cesses of the forest. When Walter open
ed his eyes he could not ,at first remem
ber where he was. He lifted . his head
from his corpetbag, which he had used
as a pillow, and looked around him in
surprise; but recollection quickly came to
his aid.
"I must have been sleeping several
hours," he said to himself, "for it is
now morning. I wonder if the man who
was after me has gone home?"
He decided thnt this was probable, and
resolved to make an attempt to reach the
edge of the forest. He wanted to get
into the region of civilization again, if
for no other reason, because he felt hun
gry and was likely to remain so as long
as he continued in the forest. He now
felt fresh and strong, and prepared to
start on his journey. But he had scarce
ly taken a dozen steps when a female
figure stepped out from a covert, and
he found himself face to face with Meg.
Not knowing but that her husband
might be close behind, he started back in
alarm and hesitation. She observed this,
and said, "You needn't be afraid, boy.
I don't want to harm you."
"Is your husband with you?" asked
Walter, on his guard.
"No, he isn't. He started out after
you before midnight, and hasn't been back
since. That made me uneasy, and I came
out to look for him."
"I have seen him," said Walter.
"Where aud when?" asked the woman,
eagerly.
It was strange that such a coarse brute
should have inspired any woman with
love, but Meg did certainly love her hus
band, in spite of his frequent bad treat
ment. "Did he see you?"
"No, I was hidden."
"How long did he stay?"
"Only a few minutes, to get rested, I
suppose. Then he went on."
"In what direction?"
That way.V
"I'm glad he did not harm you. He
was so angry when he started that I was
afraid of what would happen if he met
you. You must keep out of his way."
"That is what I mean to do if I can,"
snid Walter. "Cnn you tell me the short
est way out of the .woods?"
"Go in that direction," said the wom
an, pointing, "and half a mile will bring
you out.
"It is rather hard to follow a straight
path in the woods. If you will act as my
guide, I will give you a dollar."
"If my husband should find out thnt I
helped you to escape, he would be very
angry."
"Why need he know? Tou needn't tell
him you met me.
The woman hesitated. Finally love of
money prevailed.
"I'll do it," Bhe said, abruptly. "Fol
low me."
She took the lead, and Walter follow
ed closely in her steps. Remembering the
night before, he was not wholly assured
of her good faith, and resolved to keep
his eyes open, and make his escape in
stantly if he should see any Bigns of
treachery. Possibly Meg might intend to
lend him into a trap, and deliver him up
to hor husband. Ho was naturally trust
fill, but his adventures in the cabin
tuiglit him a lesson of distrust.
CHAPTER XXII.
(Waltcr followed Meg through the
woods. He felt sure that he would not
have far to go to reach the open fields.
He had been delayed Iieretofore, not by
the distance, but by not knowing in what
direction to" go.
Few words were spoken between him
and Meg. Remembering what had hap
pened at the cabin, and that even now
he was fleeing from her husband, he did
not feel inclined to be sociable, and her
thoughts were divided between the money
she was to be paid as the price for her
services, and her Jjusband, for whose pro
longed absence she could not account.
After walking for fifteen minutes, fhey
cam to the edge of the forest Skirting
it was a meadow, wet in nnrrn rnr ni
surface was low.
Where is the roadr
'You'll have to cross this meadow, and
you
1 11 come ot it. It is'nt mor'n quarter
of
mile. loull find vnitr wnv wall
enough without me." '
Walter felt relieved at the nrosnecf nt
a
speedy return to the region of civiliza
:n. It seemed to him as if he hnd
tion
passed the previous nii-hr for atcai in
some wild frontier cabin, instead of in the
center of a populous and thriving neigh
hood, within a few miles of several flour
ishing villages. He drew out a dollar bill
ia oncrea it to Meg.
'This is the monpv T n rrraari tn natf
you," he said. Thank you, besides.'-'
i near my husband s storm." she nM.
hurriedly. "Fly or it will be the worse
for you."-
Thtnk you for the caution." uniH Wn 1-
ter, rousing to the necessity for iinmed-
ne action.
"Don't StOD to thank me. Cir !" !.
said, stamping her foot impatiently.
lie oDeyea at once, and started on a
run across the meadow. A minute Inter.
Jack came in sight.
"Why, Meg, are you here?" he said,
surprise., "Have you seen the boy?"
He did not wait for nn nnwr tnr.
looking across the meadow, he saw the
ing ngure ot our hero.
"There he is. now." he exclaimed. In a
tone of fierce satisfaction.
'Let him go, Jack," pleaded Meg, who,
spite of herself, felt n svmnnthv tnr
the boy who, like herself, had been un
fortunate. He threw offsthe hand which she had
ilaced upon his arm. and dashed off in
pursuit of Walter.
Walter hnd Hie start nnd hnd nlron.lo
succeeded in placing two hundred yards
between himself and his nnrsner. TKit
Jnck was strong and athletic, and could
run taster man a boy of fifteen, and the
distance between the two constantly di
minished. Walter looked back over his
shoulder, as he ran, and, brave as he was,
there came a sickening sensation of fear
n.i he met the fierce, triumphant glance
of his enemy.
"Stop!" called out Jack, hoarsely.
Walter did not answer, neither did ha
obey. Only a few rods in advance was
a decn ditch, at least twelve far n-trio
over which a single plank was thrown as
a nrictge lor toot passengers. Walter
sped like a deer forward and over the
bridge, when, stooping down, he hastily
puuea it over arter him, thus cutting off
his enemy's advance.
"Put back that plank," roared Jack.
"I would rather not," said Walter.
"You'll be sorrv for it. then onM
Jack, fiercely.
He had walked back about fiftv feet.
and then faced round. His intention was
clear enough. He meant to jumn over
the ditch. Our hero took the nl nnlr nnd
put it over his shoulder, moving with it
inrtner down the edge. An idea had oc
curred to him. which hnd not vet ma.
gested itself to Jack, or the latter might
nave Deen less confident ot success.
Jack stood still for a moment nnd
then, gathering up his strength, dashed
torwara. Arrived at the brink, he made
a snrinz. but the soft hnnlr vleldod htm
no support. He fell short of the opposite
DanK Dy at least two feet, and. to his an
ger and diseust. landed In the tt'fltor an A
slime at the bottom of the ditch. He
scrambled out, landing at last, but with
the loss of one boot, which had been
drawn off by the clinging mud in which
it nod become firmly planted. Still he
was on the same side with Walter, and
the latter was now in his power. This
was what he thought; but an instant
Inter he saw his 'mistake. Walter had
stretched the plank over the ditch a few
rous turtner up, and wns passing over it
in safety.
(To be continued,)
Why He Kicked.
"Some people are chronic kickers,"
growled the hotel clerk, "nnd It's no
uso trying to satisfy them."
"What's" the trouble now?" queried
the reporter.
"You saw thnt solemn looking chnp
innldng a get-nway us you came In?"
rejoined the ninn behind the ton-enrnt
sparkler. "Well, he registered nbout
hnlf an hour ago and was shown to his
room. Now what do you suppose hap
pened?" "I pass," said the pencil pusher.
"A few minutes Inter," continued the
key Juggler, "he rushed back to the
office, innd as a March hnre, nnd jump
ed all over me, figuratively speaking.
It seems thnt he hnd coirie here fdr the
purpose of doing the suicide act by
turning on the gas and I assigned him
to a room lighted by electricity."
Part of the Treatment.
"So you believe in charging heavy
fees?"
"Yes," answered the physician, "but
only for the patient's own good. If
you can make him feel that he has nn
Investment with you he is more likely
to follow Instructions carefully In or
der to pet his money's worth." Wash
ington Star.
In n Qnnndnry, '
Brother Yes, I like Jack well
enough, but how did you ever happen
to marry a ninn a head shorter than
you are?
Sister I had to choose between a lit
tle man with a big salary aud a big
mnu with a little salary.
Udclena Sacrifice.
Edyth It's too bnd thnt Clara was
In love with Jnck when he proposed to
me. I feel sorry for the poor girl.
Maymc Why, she Is in love wltb
Tom. She never cared for Jack.
Edyth Oh, dear! I never woull
have accepted him had 1 known that
A Bad Break.
Wife Why did you give that phon
ograph away Just before we were mar
ried? Didn't you think I could use It?
i Husband My dear, I gave it away
to keep peace. Don't you .know that
' no house is big enough for two talking
machines?
And at the last report he was still
trying to square himself. Detroit Free
Press.
Recognition.
The men who devote their time to
the country's service should be recog
nized," said the official.
"Well," answered Farmer Corntnssel,
"some of 'em should and others 'ud be
more respected If they could approach
the payroll In disguise." Washington
Star.
Leas Lavish nea.
"Do you think your Insurance com
pany Is being conducted more econom
ically?" '
"I'm sure of it," answered the hope
ful citizen. "It doesn't send me nearly
as many blotters and calendars as It
used to." Washington Star.
No Stranger to That.
Mrs. Highmus I suppose at some time
in your life you struggled with the Nibe
lungonlied? Mrs. Gaswell O. yes; I had an awful
siege of that in '93. I had to take all
kinds of nasty medicines before I got it
out of nfy system.
Not Quite the Same.
Mios Eato - lie tc!d ec once that I
was quite pretty.
Miss Chellus Yes, he also told me
that you were quite pretty once.
Philadelphia Press.
A great extension of the Siberian rail
road is proposed along the River Amur,
and as it has met with hearty approval on
the part of the present ministry, it is like
ly to be constructed. It will open up 40,
000,000, acres of corn land.
State of Ohio, City of Toledo 1
Lucas County. j
Frank J . f heney makes oath that he la senior
nnrtnpr ef thn firm r( V T ri. ........ j. j . i
w- ---- - v.. . . v. v liucy vo., UU1I1K
usiness in theClty of Toledo, County and State
. i. . 1 nrui win pay me Bum
of ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS lot each and
every case of Catarrh that cannot be cured br
the use of Hall's Catarrh Cure.
a FRANK J. CHENEY.
Sworn to before me and an baerlbed In my pres
ence, this 6th day of December A D 1886
(Seal.) w- GLKASON,
rr ,i. v . t Notary Public.
Hall's Catarrh Cure la taken internally, and
acta directly upon the blood and mucous sur
iacesof theaystera. Hand fortcatlmonlala free
ov f,JCHENBYtCO.,Toledo.O.
Sold by all drunifiata, 7Se.
Take Bail'a Family fills lor oonitipatlon.
Reaction.
Salesman Hat, sir? Yes; what kind
do you wish to look at?
Customer Well, my wife wears a Mer
ry Widow affair. It you have something
that ia the exact opposite of it, young
man, that's what I want.
Salesman Then you want a plug hat,
of course, with a black band around it
That Is the nearest we can come to a
Disconsolate Widower bat. Chicago
Tribune.
Gave It Up.
"Uncle Henry, how big a tarpon did
you ever catch?"
"Why, Sammy, once I but how big a
tarpon did you ever hear of?"
"Seven feetiten inches is the record."
"I'm not going to try to beat that, Sam
my. I have only a few years to live, and
I want to go to heaven some day."
A Financier.
Judge How many times have you
been arrested before?
Prisoner Five, sir.
Judge Then I shall feel it my duty
to impose the maximum fine "
Prisoner But, your honor. Isn't it
only fair to give a reduced rate to reg
ular customers? Judge.
Premature.
. nusbnnd (on overland train) You
mustn't mind it, Maria, if I take several
doses of spirits during the day, from now
on. It's the only thing that will cut this
alkali dust that gets into one's throat.
Wife You won't have to do it to-day,
John.. I've been making wmei inquiries,
and I find we don't strike the alkali re
gion for 500 miles yet.
The Wise Men.
"After all, it's the wise man who can
change his opinion."
"But the wisest men simply can't do
it."
"Why not?"
"Because they've been dead for
years." Catholic Standard and Times.
Medicines containing Mercury are often given to persons suffering with
Contagious Blood Poison, and so powerful is the action of this drusr that it
frequently removes the symptoms in a short while, and shuts the disease
tip in the system to do greater damage to the delicate internal members
When, however, the treatment is left off, the disease always returns and the
pat ent finds that his health has been injured by this powerful mineral ad
lie is often left with weak stomach, disturbed digestion, reurial r&inT
tism, etc. The action of S. S S. is entirely ifferen't It conSns
Mercury, nor any other harmful drug,, but is made entirely of healine
c eansing roots and herbs It cures Contagious Blood Poison by reluovhS
the virus from the blood. It searches out every narticle of tZ Z i S
and does not leave the least trace for future oltCks S S S in
addition to curing the disease, builds up and strengthens every cart of'th
body. Its fine tonic effects tone up the stomach and digestion imorove thl
appetite and regulate the entire system. Home treatment book containing
valuable information about the different stages of the disease nrui
medical advice desired sent free to all who write. d any
THE SWIFT SPECIFIC CO., ATLANTA, GA,
The
General Demand
of the Well-Informed of the World ha
! always been for a simple, pleasant
and efficient liquid laxative remedy of
known value; a laxative which physi
cians could sanction for family use
because its component parts are
known to them to be wholesome and
truly beneficial ia effect, acceptable
to the system and gentle, yet prompt.
In action.
In supplying that demand with its
excellent combination of Syrup of
Figs and Elixir of Senna, the Cali
fornia Fig Syrup Co. proceeds along
ethical lines and relies on the merits
of , the laxative for its remarkable
success.
That Is one of many reasons why
Syrup of Figs and Elixir of Senna is
given the preference by the Well-
informed. To get Its beneficial effects
always buy the genuine manufac
tured by the California Fig Syrup Co.,
only, and for sale by all leading
druggists. Price fifty cents per bottle.
Ilia Bony Day.
"Ethel," he whispered, "will you mar
ry me?"
"I don't know, Charles," she replied,
coyly.
"Well, when you find out," he' said,
rising, "send me word, will you? I
shall be at Mabel Hicks' until 10
o'clock. If I don't hear from you by
10 I'm going to ask her." Tld-Bits.
E1TC St. Vitus' Dance and orvom UIMMumi ptrma
rllJaenUr nrtd by llr. l.lne'i Great Nerva Ka-
torer. end for TREE S3. 1)0 trial bottle and treatise.
Dr. B. H. Kline, Ld., Wl Arch St., Philadelphia, Pa,
A Dellciona Cnatnrd.
The recipe for this delicate dessert
has been handed down in my family
for many generations: Into each Indi
vidual custard cup put the yolk of one
egg, add one heaping teaspoonful of
sugar, two gratings of nutmeg and five
tablespoonfuls of sweet milk. Incorpo
rate thoroughly and set the cups in a
pan of hot water. Bake In a moderate
oven until firm. When cool, cover with
a meringue, using the whites of the
eggs for this purpose, and al!ow one
tablespoonful of powdered sugar to the
white of each egg. Through the very
tiptop of each snowy mound drop a
teaspoonful of orange marmalade. De
lineator. Mother win And Mrs. Winston's Boothlno?
Syrup the beatremedr to use foi their chiWrTtt
(luring the teething period.
Bat Never Call Illra Early.
He Funny thine about your sex.
Call a woman "a bird" and she's pleas
ed. But call her a hen or an old crow
and she gets angry.
She Nothing exclusively feminine
about that. Call a man "a sad doe"
and he feels good. But call him "a
miserable cur" the same thing and
he'll knock your head off. Boston
Transcript
Knew One of tbe Firm.
Attendant fshowinir him th rnncrfi f rial
structure) This house is built on wbaf
is known as the "slow combustion" plan.
air. I'neuntch Ah. ves: I think I
know S locum. I have seen him t ths
club; but I have never had the pleasure
01 meeting .Mr. Uustion. Chicago Trib
une.
Brazilian railroads in operation at the
beginning of Inst year had a total length
of 10,770 miles. In addition there were
1.0O2 miles under construction and 4,177
miles being surveyed or already approved,
making the total mileage about 1C,S53
miles.
No Canae (or Alarm,
"Look, officer !" shouted the exciter
citizen. "Thnt big department store Is
afire!"
"What makes you think so?" asked
the officer, calmly.
"Why, don't you see all those wom
an, shoppers comlflg down the fire es
capes?" "Oh, yes ; but thnt Is not the sign of
fire. You see, they can't get through
the revolving doors with those bla
hats."
,
la the Concrete A are.
First Government Officer (a few years
hence) Anything particular on hand to
day? Second Government Office!- Yes; I've
got to go this afternoon to take part In
the molding of the corner stone for a new-battleship.
CONTAINS
oNO MERCURY