TRONG
By HORATIO
CHAPTER XXII. (Continued.)
Jack ran hastily to the spot, hoping to
gain possession of the plank which had
been of such service to his opponent, and
want of which had entailed such misfor
tunes upon him. But Walter was too
quick for him. The plank was drawn
over, and again he faced his intended vic
tim with the width of the ditch between.
He looked across at Walter with a
glance of ballled rage. It was something
new to hiin to be worsted by a boy, and
it mortified him and angered him to such
an extent that, had he got hold of him
at thot moment, murder might have been
committed.
"Put down that plank and come
across," he called out. Walter did not
reply.
Jack might have waded again across
the ditch without indicting much addi
tional damage upon his already wet and
miry clothing, but he fancied that Wal
ter was in his power, and hoped he would
capitulate. To this end, he saw that it
was necessary to reassure him, and de
ceive him as to his own intentions.
"Come across, boy," he said, softening
his tone. "You needn't be afraid. I
liiIu'L iiicuu uuluiui(. I wai oiily try in
to see if I could frighten you a little."
"I'm very well off where I am," said
Walter. "I think I'll stay where I am."
"You won't want to stay there all day."
"I'd rather stay here all day than be
on the same side with you."
"Come, boy, I'll make a bargain with
you. You've put me to a good deal of
trouble."
"I don't see that."
"You locked me up In the closet, and
you've kept me all night huntin' after
you."
i "You . were not obliged to hunt after
me, and as for locking you up in the
closet, it was the only way I had of sav
ing my money." ,
Jack did not care to answer Walter's
argument, but proceeded : "Now I've got
you sure, but I'll do the fair thing. If
you'll come across and pay me ten dol
lars for my trouble, I'll let you go with
out hurtin' you."
"What is to prevent you taking all my
ooney, if you get me over there?"
"Haven't I said I wouldn't?"
"You might forget your promise," said
Walter, whose confidence in Jack's word
was by no means great. A man who
would steal probably would not be trou
bled by any scruples on the' subject of
violating his word.
"If you don't come, I'll take every cent,
and give you a beating beside." said Jack,
his anger gaining the ascendancy.
"Well, what are you goin' to do about
it?" demanded Jack, after a brief pause.
"I'll stay where I am."
"I can come over any time, and get
fcold of you."
"I'erhaps you can," said Walter. "I'll
take the risk."
Two hours passed, and still besieger
and besieged eyed each other from oppo
site sides of the bank. Jack grew more
and more irritable as the cravings of his
appetite incrensed, and the slight hope
that Meg might appear with some break
fast was dissipated. Walter also became
more hungry, but showed no signs of im
patience.
At this time a boy was seen coming
across the meadow. Jack espied him, and
the idea struck him that he might through
liim lay in a stock of provisions.
"Come here, boy," ho said. "Where do
vou live?"
The boy pointed to a small farm house
inlf a mile distant.
"Do you want to earn some money?"
"I dunno," said the boy, who had no
objections to the money, but, knowing
Jack's shady reputation, was ini doubt
as to what was expected of him.
"Go home, and get a loaf of bread and
ome cold meat, and bring me, and I'll
give you half a dollar."
"Didn't you bring your luncheon?"
asked the boy.
"No, I came away without it, and I
" can't spare time to go back.
It occurred to the boy, noticing Jack's
iazy posture, that business did not appear
to be very driving with the man whose
time was so valuable.
"Perhaps mother won't give me the
trend and meat, he said.
, 'You can give her half the money."
The boy looked across to Walter, won-
Bering what kept him on the other sldo
Our hero saw a chance of obtaining help,
"I'll give you a dollar," he called out
"if you'll go and tell somebody that this
man is trying to rob me of all my money,
I slept in his house last night, and he
tried 'to rob me there. Now he will do
the same if he can get hold of me."
"If you tell that, I'll' wring your neck,
exclaimed Jack. ''It's all a lie. The boj
slept at my house, as he says, and stole
some money from me. He escaped, but
I'm bound to get it back if I stay here
V.l day."
"That is not true," said Walter. "Car
rj my message, and I will give you
lo!!nr, and will, besides, reward the men
thnt come to my assistance."
The boy looked from one to the other
in doubt what to do.
"If you want your head broke you'll
io as he says," said Jack, rather uneasy,
"He won't pay what ho promises."
"You shall certainly be paid," said Wal-
ter.
"You'd better shut up, or it'll be the
worse for you," growled Jack. "Go and
set my breakfast guick, boy, and I'Jl
pay you the fifty cents."
"All right," said the boy, "I'll go.'
and Steady
ALGER, JR.
Fifteen minutes later Jack lose to his
feet. An idea had occurred to him. At
the distance of a furlong there was a
rail fence. It occurred to him that one
f these rajls would enable him to cross
the ditch and get at his victim. He was
not afraid Walter would escape, since he
could easily turn back and capture him
if he ventured across.
Walter did not understand his design
in leaving the ditch. Was it possible
tat be meant to raise the siege? This
seemed hardly probable. He watched.
th some anxiety, the movements of his
foe, fearing some surprise.
When Jack reached the fence, and be
gan to pull out one of the rails he un
derstood his object. His position was
evidently becoming more dangerous.
, Jack came back with a triumphant
smile upon his face.
"Now," ho said, "I've got you 1"
Walter watched him warily, and low
ered the plank, ready to convert it into
bridge as soon as necessary. Jack put
down the rail. It was long enough to span
the ditch, but was rather narrow, so that
some caution was needful in crossing it.
Walter had moved several rods farther
up, and thrown th? plrrnk ner-rmq. Tbonrh
his chances of escape from the peril that
menaced him seemed to. have diminished
since his enemy was also provided with a
bridge, and it became now a question of
superior speed, Walter was not alarmed.
Indeed, his prospects of deliverance ap
peared brighter than ever, for he caught
sight of two men approaching across the
meadow, and he suspected that they were
sent by the boy whom he had hiredThese
mm had not yet attracted the attention
of Jack, whose back was turned towards
them. He crossed the rail, and, at the
same time, Walter cross the plank. This
he drew across, and then, leaving it on the
bank, set out on a quick run.
CHAPTER XXIII.
'What's the matter?" asked one of the
two men as Walter came up.
'I got lost in the woods, and passed
the night In that man's house," said our
hero. "He tried to rob me, but I locked
him in the closet, and jumped out of the
window and escaped. This morning he
got on my track, and' would have caught
me if it hadn't been for that ditch."
'Yotrlocked him in the closet?" repeat
ed the other. "How were you able to do
that? You are only a boy, while he la a
strong man.
Walter explained the matter briefly. 1
"That was pretty smart," said Peter
Holcomb, for this was the name of the
man who questioned him. "You're able
to take care of yourself,"
"I don't know how it would have turn
ed out if you hadn't come up."
'I happened to be at. home when my
boy came and told me that Jack Man-
gum had offered him fifty cents for some
breakfast. He told me about you also,
and, as I suspected Jack was up to some
of his tricks, I came along."
"I am very much obliged to you," said
Walter, "and I hope you'll let me pay
you for your trouble."
"I don't want any pay, but you may
pay my boy what you promised him, if
you want to."
"I .certainly will ; and I never paid
away money with more pleasure. As
haven't had anything to cat since yester
day afternoon, I should like to have you
direct me to the nearest place where I
can get some breakfast." ' '
"Come to my house; I guess my wife
can scare up some breakfast for you
She'll be glad to see the boy that got
the better of Jack Mangum.
"How long has this Jack Mangum
lived about here?" asked Walter, after
accepting with thanks the oler of
breakfast.
"About five years. He's been in the
county jail twice during that time, and
there's a warrant out for him now. He's
a confirmed thief. He'd rather steal any
time than earn an honest living."
While this conversation was going on,
they had been walking toward the farm
house In which Peter Holcomb lived. It
was an humble one-story building, with
an attic above. ' On one side of it were
bioad fields, some under cultivation; and
there was an appearance of thrift and
comfort despite the smallness of the
bouse.
"Come in," said Peter, leading the way,
"John," be added, addressing the hired
man, who had accompanied him, "you
may go into the potato field and hoe. I'll
bo out directly."
Walter followed him into a broad, low
room the kitchen In which Mrs. Hol
comb, a pleasant looking woman, was en
gaged in cooking.
"-Mary," sold her husband, "can't you
scare up some breakfast for this yoflng
man? He stopped at Jack Mangum's last
night, and didn't like his accommodations
well enough to stay to breakfast.
"You don't say so," repeated Mrs. Hol
comb, her countenance expressing curios
ity. "That's about the last place I'd
want to stop at."
She went to the pantry, and speedily
reappeared with some cold meat, a loaf
of bread, and some fresh butter, which
she placed on the table.
"It looks nice," said Walter, "and
don't know when I have been so hun
gry.''
At that moment the farmer's boy, who
had served as Walter's messenger, came
Into the kitchen.
- "You got away," he said, smiling.
"Yes, thanks to you," said Walter,
"Here la what I promised you."
"I don't know as I ought to take It,"
said the boy, hesitating, though he evi
dently wanted it.
"You will do me a Juvor by accepting
it," said Walter. "You got me out of a
bad scrape. Upsides, you hnd a chance
to earn some money from Jack Mangum."
"I wouldn't have done anything for
him, at any rate. He's a thief."
Finally Peter, for he was named for
his father, accepted the dollar, and, sit
ting down by Walter, asked him about his
adventure in the wood, listening with
great interest to the details.
"I wouldn't have dared to do as you
did," he said.
"Perhaps you would if you had beet.
obliged to.
The farmer absolutely refused to ac
cept pay for. breakfast, though .Walter
urged it. It was contrary to his ideas
of hospitality.
"We 'don't keep a tavern," he said;
and we never shall miss the little you
ate. Come again and see us if you come
back this way.
"Thank you," said Walter, "I will ac
cept your invitation with pleasure, but I
shall not feel like calling on Mr. Man
gum." Walter thought he had seen the last ot
Jack Mangum ; but he was mistaken.
Three days later, while walking in . the
main street of Blverton, with a book un
der his arm, for he had received a fresh
supply from the agent at Cleveland, he
heard the sound of wheels. Looking up,
he saw a wagon approaching, containing
two men. One of them, as he afterwards
learned, was the sheriff. The other he
immediately recognized as Jack Mangum.
There was no mistaking his sinister face
and forbidding scowl. He had been tak
en early that morning by the sheriff, who.
with a couple of men to assist him, had
visited the cabin in the forest, and, de
Bpite the resistance offered by Jack, who
was aided by his wife, he had been
bound, and was now being conveyed to
jail. He- also looked up and recognized
Walter. His face became even more sin
ister, as he shook his fist at our hero.
'I vow I'll be even with you some
day !" he exclaimed.
"Not if I can help it," thought Wal
ter, but he did not "answer in words.
He was rather gratified to hear the next
day that Jack had been sentenced to six
months' imprisonment. He felt some
pity, however, for Meg, who might have
been a good woman if she had been mar
ried to a different man.
(To be continued.) '
OVEB OCEA1T FOB HOUB'S WOKK.
Engineer Would . Have Returned
Same Day If Steamer Sailed.
Alfred II. Williams, a mining engi
neer of the English metropolis, has Just
crossed the Atlantic ocean to transact
one hour's business, says the New York
Herald.
He arrived here on the steamship
Amerlka of the Hamburg-American line
Saturday afternoon. Before twilight
fell he hnd kept bis various appoint
ments, closed the transactions which
brought him to this country nnd would
now be on his way home hna there been
a vessel to enrry him. As it happened,
however, he has been compelled to wal'
until Tuesday.
It wns not only the brief time requir
ed to carry out his negotiations, but the
fashion in which his most Important
engagement wns kept that makes Mr.
Williams' visit out of the ordinary,
even in these dnys of fast travel. Apnrt
from his mining business he is also
Interested In railroad affairs In Mex
ico nnd it wns chiefly to consult with a
man from thnt republic that he made
his 3,000-mile journey. .
The pluee chosen for the meeting wn.
the "Waldorf-Astoria, but when the
Amerlka wns off Sable Islnnd Mr. Wil
liams' found he would be unable t
rencli New York nt the nppoluted time.
He could not send a message because
the big German liner wns too far awny
from Snble Island for wireless commu
nication. That same day, however, the
Kronplnzessln Cecllle, outward bound,
hove in sight, the message wns sent to
her and In turn 'transmitted to the lsl
and, whence it wns sent to this city.
When Mr. Williams reached the Wal
dorf his friend from Mexico wns await
ing him, they transacted their business
quickly and it was only then that Mr.
Williams discovered to his regret he
would have to wait until Tuesday be
fore he ould depart for home. He was
not Inclined to attach much Importance
to the fact that he had made a Journey
involving virtually two weeks at sea
to effect a transaction requiring no
more than one hour, because for yean
he has been a kind of Phlneas Fogg in
the matter of travel in record breaking
time and on three different occasion!
made the trip from London to Mexico
in eleven dnys, on swift steamships and
the Southern Pacific rallwny.
Couldn't Work Her. -
"All you married me for was m;
title," growled the duke.
"Well," replied the lielress, as slit
plnced her purse In the snfe and mixed
up the combination, "I at least go)
whnt I married you for and that li
more than you can say."
Ilia Great Sacrlflce.
"And you promise to give up clu
life altogether when we are married?"
"Absolutely, darling."
"How many do you belong to?"
"Only one, the Bachelor's club.H
Boston Transcript
The life of the modern battleship y
Dut down at fifteen yean.
Poet Have you read my last poem?
Friend I trust that I have. Judge.
Brlggs You say business Is looking
up? Urlggs That's what It Is. It can't
look any other way ; it's flat on its buck.
Ex.
Little New York Boy Say, father,
when will I be old enough so that I
won't have to get up und give my seat
to a ludy? Life.
"On my knee I begged her for a
kiss." "And what did she suy?" "Told
me to get up and be practical." Louis
ville Courier-Journal.
"My wife made an engagement for
me to dine at the BIngs. I forgot and
went Ashing." "Catch anything?" "Not
until I got home." Plain Dealer.
Curate I haven't seen your husband
at church recently, Mrs. Bloggs. What
Is he doing? Mrs. Bloggs 'E be a dolu'
six months, sir! London Opinion.
"Mnude wns nfrald the girls wouldn't
notice her ' engagement ring." "Did
they?" "Did they? Six of them rec
ognized It at once.' Cleveland Plain
Dealer.
Chnpple Have n cigarette, old man?
Snpleigh No; I don't smoke fool-kill
ers. Chappie Well. I don't blnme vou
fur lufiio!:i( to taUe cltuaws. CUiuiBo
Dully News.
"This Is a now shaving sonp I'm
using," said the barber. "How do you
like It?" "Applied externally," splut
tered the victim. The Catholic Stand
ard and Times.
Nell Maude has n new dressmaker;
what do you think of the fit of her new
gown? Belle I shouldn't ill It a fit j
I should cnll it a convulsion. Phila
delphia Record.
"Of course you piny bridge only for
fun?" "Of course," answered Mrs.
Spnngletou. "But it Isu't nny fun un
less you are plnying for money."
Washington Star.
"I heard him behind the door plead
ing tor just one. xuey must be en
gaged." "Nnw, they're married. It wns
a dollar he wns plendlng for." Louis
ville Courier-Journal.
"Do you consider your nerve is suf
ficiently steady to fit you for an air
ship nnvlgntor?" "Well, I've been out
In a canoe with a nervous fat girl."
Clevelnnd Plain Denier.
Tramp Can you assist me along the
rond, mum? Lady of the House Per
sonally I cnn.not; but I will unchain
my dog, and I know he will be most
: veaf,oa to do so! London Tlt-Blts.
'Ma !" "Well, denr?" "Does ' th
Bible honestly- say thnt we gotta love
our euenm-sf xes. "uee r "Wnnt S
me inuuerr i i wisut ia a picked
MitriiM II irrnnr. niiain uid " -I......I ...i
some
........... vi.i-iiiivu. iicuiuuu
Lender.
Heiress But, father, thnt hnndsome
forelgu count snys he will do something
desperate nnd awful If I do not marry
him. Father (dryly) He will. He
will have to go to work. Baltimore
Ymerlenn.
"Well, young man," thundered t!ia
head of the house. "S-nir," stninmered:
the youth, "I want to marry your d-d-daughter."
"Aw, take her and wel
come. I wns nfrald you were courtim'
the Cook." Ex.
"Walter," said a traveler In a rail
road restnurnut, "did you say I had
twenty minutes to wait or thnt It wns fruit allow one-foitrth pound of Biignr.
twenty minutes to eight?" "Nnytlicr. I'ut them into preserving kettle to
01 said ye had twinty minutes to nto, getlicr, nnd mid n very little water if
nn' tnot s nil ye did have. Yer train's
just gone." Everybody's Magazine.
The art photographer had (sited t!o
fnrm. "I wnnt to make nil exhaustive
study of this particular hit of land
scape," ho said, "nnd would like to have
your hired man retnhi his present po-
sltlon on. the fence there. Can ho sit
still? "For days nt n time," replied
he farmer. Clevelnnd Plain Denier.
She Said So Anyway.
The young limn who wns endeavor
ing to win the favor of Bobby's pretty
sister met the boy on the street one
morning nnd greeted him with much
cordlnllty.
"Er do you think your sister wns
pleased to know I had called the other
dny?!' he wns nt last forced to psk,
bluntly, nftcr several efforts to guide
Bobby's con versa lion In tlmt direction,
"Sure!" snld Bobby, with gratifying
promptness. "I know she wns. I
heard her suy so.
"When she enmo home mother snld,
'Mr. Brown called while you were out,'
nnd she said: 'He did? Well, I'm glad
of that!' " Youth's Companion,
The Modern Way,
"Advertisements on the scenery t" ex
claimed the s'.itr. "That's currying com
mericallHm really too fnr."
"It isn't comercinllsm," exclaimed
the mannger. "Wo wunt the scene to
look like a renl meadow, don't we?"
Tlt-Blts.
It tins been so long since some peo
ple were tough., that they forget they
ever were
To Keep Juice la a Pie.
Anyone who has ever had the Julc
from an apple, rhubarb or other pie run
all over the oven while baking know!
Just how annoying it is, says the Wo
man's Home Companion. I have over
come the difficulty by taking a strip of
clean white cloth about an Inch wide
and long enough to lap when put
around the edge of the pie plate,
wringing it out of hot water, doubling
together lengthwise, and pinning tight
around the edge of the plate. When
the pie Is baked take off this strip and
you will find the Juice in the pie In
stead of in the oven.
Chicken nitk Coeoanul.
Stew a chicken and remove the
bones. Grate a cocoonut and cover It
with water fifteen minutes; strain it
and add more water. This again
should be strained through a bag of
coarse cheesecloth, and the rich liquor
resulting about a plut added to the
chicken. Cook slowly a few minutes
and thicken with two tablespoonfuls of
flour mixed smoothly In cold water,
one-half teaspoonful of salt and three
tenspoonfuls of turmeric powder. Let all
cook up with the chicken, then lay it
on a plater surrounded by boiled rice
'nd cover pnrtly with gravy.
Steamed 1'each Pudding.
This excellent reclie comes from M.
Berry's "Fruit Recipes." Mix well a
cup of flour, two of bread crumbs and
half cup chopped nuts, preferably
almonds. Stir in the beaten yolks of
three eggs, three-fourths cup sugar, a
little lemon Juice and two heaping cups
chopped peaches. Lastly add the whip
ped whites of three eggs. Turn into a
well-buttered mold and steam two
hours. Serve with peaches pressed
through a sieve and sweetened.
Appetising Plan Utah.
For nn appetizing dish take the white
meat of a chicken, and two sticks of
crisp, bleached celery. Chop them to
gether flue, and season with salt, pepper
and vinegar. Allow this to stand a
while, then squeeze dry, and add two
tablespoonfuls of mayonnaise dressing
and mix well. Over some buttered toast
lay two or three thin slices of bacon,
and on top of this spread the chicken.
If not obJectl6nable, sprinkle chopped'
"hives over the whole.
Canned Peara,
To every three pounds of fruit alIov
one and one-half pounds of sugar and a
half pint of water.. Peel pears aud lay
them in cold water to keep them from
turning dark. When syrup is boiling
put In pears and cook until they are
dear and a fork will go Into them
, ensllv. Have lurs stnnrtlmr In nnn of
hot water, carefully Oil them with the
n ...
rrmr i-mir Hvnm iivdi- mum n n tn
top.
Sealyat once.
Quince Jelly.
Take nbout '""rteeu quinces nnd twk
Pou,lu8 of suBr- Divide quinces Into
fo,lr lm.rts aud m,t lnto keUlc "eurly
I covered with wuter nnd cook until ten
der. Pour Juice through n cloth. This
VIII make one quart of Juice. Clarify
Biignr, pour over juice of quinces and
'cook for fifteen minutes. Skim the
1 Juice. Then pour Into jelly tumblers.
Canned I'lueapnle. "
Pare rlix, juicy pineapples, cut Into
slices nnd inch thick. To one pound oi
me juice is not enougu. as soon a
they are well scalded put into jars nnd
"enl nt once.
Canned I'eachea.
To one pound of peaches use hah
pound of sugar. Put sugar on Are with
a littlo water nnd let It boll until clear,
Pack iars tlghtlv with Benches nnd fill
them up with syrup. Put Jnrs In a
large boiler of water, standing them on
Mabs of wood.
A Cookery MUhap.
If something lias boiled over onto,
the stove and begins to smoke and
cnuse an unpleasant odorv throw a
handful of suit on It, This entirely re
moves the objectionable smell of burnt
lookery.
Chicken Stewed with Dousrh.
' Another method Is to mix spices,
rnlslns, suit nnd butter through some
pnrtly boiled rice uud with It dress the
chicken, then wrap It in dough rolled
thick nnd boll It In a cloth (not too
vIght) hulf a dny.
Short Suiciceatlon.
Sonp well iipplhxl to drawer slldei
will keep the drawers In furniture aud
closets from sticking.
The skin from a boiled ham will b
more easily removed if ns soon as be
ing taken from the boiling liquor thi
ham be plunged Into cold water for a
moment. , -
Cheese may be kept from going moldy
by wrapping It In a cloth dipped in
vinegar and wrung nearly dry Covei
the cloth with a wrapper of paper and
Veeo in a cool place.
i