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About The Oregon daily journal. (Portland, Or.) 1902-1972 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 1, 1908)
THE OREGON SUNDAY JOURNAL.: PORTLAND,. SUNDAY "MORNING, NOVEMBER I, 1903 . ' '- - - . . ... - . ' " l j 1 " ' . , . ' ' '''""v ' - ' ' ' i, , (Copyright.. 3130g.r Th North Amerlcaa Company) ' -. -- ' - "' 1 m'immi AMouseinArmar PERHAPS wdu or you may lemera ber how Uttle Elsie was impris oned In lb Immense clock which stood In the hallway et grandpa' house. Sh had always supposed a big slant Jived there, jrou know, and that It was h who boomed forth solemnly th half hours and the hours. And when aha , saw the door ajar and no one within she felt tempted to hide there, just to see how U felt Then the door swung to and ahe waa Held faat Inside. Grand pa had rescued her, so that really no harm was done; but ever afterward aa ahe passed along that hall, by the old clock, she couldn't help shuddering. Months after this adventure happened she paid another visit to grandpa and grandma, accompanied by her father and mother, as was her custom. - she ran out to the barn as soon as she had greeted every one at the bouse, and there saw her friends among the ani mals. - When she had satisfied herself that not one of her old pets had been slight ed, and when she had said "Good after noon" even to the geese, she made her way back to the house. Running up the steps, across tne porch and then through the great oaken doors, soon she' found herself in the hall. Timorously she tip toed along. She had almost reached th REMOVED THE CASQUE stairs leading to : the sitting room . on the floor above., when suddenly' she heard a funny creaking noise. Elsie quickly turned her head. What a sight met her eyes I Right behind : her stood a complete suit of armor, worn by one of Elsie's ancestors far back in the Middle Ages.. " And now It' seemed that this suit of mall waa turning its headpiece toward her, while it squeaked and creaked as tnough striving to speak. , One moment the little girl looked, spellbound ; then she darted upstairs with- a shriek- "Grandpa! Grandpa! the armor baa come to life!" she cried. Of course, all the folk descended to the hall at once.- And when father re moved the casque of the figure what do you think he found? Nothing but a little mouse, which eaped to the floor -and darted through the hall. This little mischief-maker, ft seems, built his nest In -the armor, and he it was who moved the head and made the mysterious 1 squeaks. . ' ' - TTtxe ?v6ocIoo Qucerv MRS. LACERC gazed anxiously across the table at the colonel, who nervously toyed with the food before him, "Aren't you feeling well?" she asked, solicitously. "You look worried." ; 'I beg 'ydur pardon," exclaiiued the colonel, rousing himself from his reverie. "Th fact Is," he added, frankly ,"I am a bit worried. Until lately everything ba gone well witb my new project for th manufacture of paper bags from bagasse, the woody fiber of sugar cane. Uut now the darkles' appear discontent- -ed both those in the fields and the workers In the mill. Why, even old Uncle Toby; who Is usually aa open and cheerful as the day, Is moping and sullen. The hands seem to think they deserve . higher wages, although for merly . they always were contented. I don't understand it." LOUIS EXPLAINS Louis and Marguerite listened to this conversation, of course, without saying a word. But when breakfast waa oVer, and theywere trudging toward the stables to have their ponies saddled for the usual morning canter, Louis gave expression to the thoughts which troubled them both. "I knew something was the matter," be muttered. "And, do you know. I think it's' all on account of that, nice looking darky girl they c&4l "Handsome Sue, who came here to work about two weeks ago. Her people all believe she ran do all sorts of wonderful magic through her voodoo charms. She has a iireat Influence among them an influ-. . ence which 1 don't believe will make tor unv good. ; .. . - .. i .' "Did I tell you of what happened to .? last weekt I was paddling in the i a you toward Lake Pontchartraln. It as about ' eight miles from Pecan ;rove, if you measure the distance as the crow , flies, when I crew up under an overhanging. cypress to rer a mo-ii.i-iit. All at once there came to me the fund or voices, mingled in a kind of iiant, That started me Investigating. j pnuureu iuiij w quieuy as l could. Jt seems thattheyhad some one on' the ... wpout to come in viW Of th group there w.. - merice. and when I scrambled bp the tank I found a greet number of foet. j -ints. tmt'no on? was there. Yet I'm fine when I, was in the boat I heard mrh;..th,. voces that of 'Handsome ow f AT THE smithy, in the glare of a blaaing forge. Paul wrestled with 4 troublesome problem. Where DID they go? Closely his eye would follow .the comet flight of pale golden sparks, created in myriads with each rhythmic descent of the ponderous hammer. Darting from the glowing metal like tiny stars, they twouJd hang suspended In the air. All a'gllttering and a-mmerlng they would be. until a fairy breath would blow them out. Then gone would be sputter and shimmer and star. And lltfle Paul would rub his eyes and won der and wonder Just WHITHER they had vanished. But Paul was not ao much absorbed In this problem as to be indifferent to happenings out of doors. Suddenly he exclaimed: "Oh, father, there's a man coming 'down the road and he bar a gun and wears soldier clothes!" Shading his tyes with his hand, the blacksmith gazed from the doorway along the one, straggling thoroughfare of the village. An instant later he bel lowed : " 'Pon my word, If it's not Remsen young Dick Remsen! Well, well, Dick; so you're home again!" The wayfarer was easily within range of the smith's powerful voice, and he shouted lustily. In return,."K!ght you are, John!" Having cordially shaken hands, the two engaged in animated conversation. It seemed that Lord Howe's troops had sailed for Halifax, and Dick, a private in the Continental Army, was home from Boston on a short furlough. "Before long," commented John Elli ott, '.'we'll see a British fleet riding here in the sound; mark my words." - "Then they'll go as did the other fleet!" fiercely responded Dick, shoul dering his musket with an eager move ment. Turning to go, he observed little PauL - v "Have you no greeting for me. lad no greeting for your old friend Dick?" Paul came forward shyly. Of course, he always had a welcome' for Dick, but this wasn't the same Dick to whom he had been accustomed. HIS Dick wore no uniform ot- buff and blue; nor was "PEERED THROUGH Marguerite noddci her head thought fully, as she replied, "Yes, there's something strange about that girl. 1 wish we knew more about her." "I have it!" cried Louis. "Today, of course is a holiday, being All Saints Day. It a ten to one Sue is holding a meeting out there in the bayou. Sup pose we take tho two hounds, and pole down the stream in the little scow. We might be nbiv to break up their Jab barree and do a good turn for father Becaus. if they believe he knows wh"t s going on. 1 11 wager they won t be so aiHtious to held their council again to plan mischief" Are you game?" 4H4a sister recklessly whispered, "Yes " And aoon the two were steaithi y mak ni.llt.helLr.LtOW,a.rd boatndftg. without ieing- observed by $Tt& stablemen. They quicklycast off the painter. In a moment till tun,, of Iht bayou hid them rrom view """ ot lne A long voyage It was to their deati , nation. After winding for a full h,r ; through m Wtuous Biya""f thS Louisiana bayou.; they came to the la- goon. Over this they poled,- then nait fields of cotton and rice-and suga? and sweet potatoes; then again into the bayou, traveling silently along gloomy watery paths, shaded .by thick ly growing pine and cypres. Turtles ; snd -snakes would splash off dead stumps of tree at th boafg approach. 1 -MlKI " : the JJick be remembered - it to carry big, heavy musket. During' the men's conversation he had watched Dick with . laeoien eyes of astonishment, clutching a corner -of hia father's leather apron the while. Tins lear soon passed away, however, and so much did Paul learn from "Pri vate Dick" about the soldiers that he longed for the time when he himself could carry a big, heavy gun and march away to fight. Several weens passed. In the mean time John Elliott enlisted In the army. Mrs. Elliott. Aunt Harriet and Paul were left by themselves In the little house and the village of Bucschwlcka was without a blacksmith. One peaceful summer's day, still In the year 1776. John Elliott's predic tion was -fulfilled. Into Long Island sound sailed a British fleet; therefrcm swarmed an army of red-coated sol diers. Lord Howe had come from Hall rax. With him In the encampment on Staten Island were troops of 30.000 well-trained men. THE ..UK OK Him o'oij.' Beneath them catfish, drum, crapple, buffalo-fish and black bass disported themselves. But the adventurers were not to be tempted today. They were after greater prey. "Aren't we almost there?" whispered Marguerite,- when for hours they had steadily progressed away from Pecan Grove, in the direction of the lake. "Almost," tersely responded Louis. Then he raised his hand. "Did you hear that?" he asked in a low voice. Marguerite nodded. From afar off there came the sound of a quavering chorus, rising, and falling In mournful cadences. Afterward there was a min ute of quiet, then came a succession of qui,ck. savage yells that fell confusedly on the ear. Louis again bent to bis work of forc ing the punt through the tangled brush, while Marguerite set about quieting the hounds, whtf had become exceedingly restless. At last they rounded the bank Louis had described that' morning. He one had witnessed their approach. "You stay In the boat with the dogs, while 1 reconnoiter," said the boy: Carefully drawing himself up the slip pery embankment, he sidled from one tree t another. . ;. . Meanwhile, his I sister waited with growing impatience. .It seemed, a full hour had elapsed when, the lad re turned. ..-.' "Bring thj) dogs,', he arttculaled. tt 5 A "CUT IMMENSE CHUNKS FROM A HAM" Scarcely two months later there was borne to the ears of those who re mained in Buesckwicke the sound of strenuous conflict. The rattle of mus ketry could be distinguished clearly, together with the persistent boom of cannon.' Paul huddled close to his mother as she and Aunt Harriet sat In pale-faced anxiety. At last the tiring ceased; silence again reigned over the hamlet. Wishing to escape from the stifling air of the closed T,oom Paul took advantage of a fa vorable opportunity to steal away to the red barn. High up in the hayloft he secreted his small person. Cer tainly no redcoat could find him There! All at once the boy was startled to hear a fumbling at the door latch. The door swung open and a soldier in the Continental uniform staggered In. After a momentary indecision he desperately climbed to the hayloft, flinging himself down, exhausted, near the lad's hiding place. Paul's first impulse was to bury himself deeper in the hay. Then, although 'his heart NOT that the monkey was an un gracious host no. Indeed, he was anything but that. When the tortoise arrived at his house on the evening before, he had made the old fellow welcome, saying: "Come In. Mr. Tortoise, and I shall make you as comfortable as I can." And when the rabbit came wearily to a halt beforethe monkey's door, and begged the favor tof a glass of water, the monkey straightway pulled him Into the house and declared that he should lodge Ihere for the rest of the night. So. too. the kangaroo waa forced to become the guest of the kind Mr. Mon key. his mouth, though making no sound, and beckoning with his' hand. - With the dogs held in leasn, Ihey traveled with little difficulty toward the open space among the trees, where the negroes were holding their voodoo meet ing. There was no fear of being de fected now, for the darkies wef so hilarious thst they could not have heard a cannon above the uproar. Peering through the screen of bushes, the eyes of the two grew big stnd round. Upon a large box In the middle of a clearing stood "Handsome Sue," garbed in clothes and scarfs of brilliant colors In which red predominated. Bound and round the box she writhed In a peculiar . sort of dance, while about her In a great circle danced negro men and women with queer. Jerky, convulsive move ments. THE NEGROES FLEE Then, with a sign of warning to Mar guerite. Louis released the dogs. Right Into the center of the meeting ground dashed the two huge animals. One glance, and with cries of alarm and ter ror, every negro was In flight. So sud den was the disappearance that Mr guerlte and Louis could hardly believe their eyes. They recalled the dogs, who were about to pursue some of the ne groes. '" ' So excited were the boy and girl that they could hardly accomplish th Jour ney back home quickly enough. And when they burst In upon their father, the colonel, you can imagine how In terested he was in their story. . "You shouldn't have done It," he said, when the tale of their escapade was . concluded. "Nevertheless, I'm glad, -indeed, to learn of these doings among my hands. I believe I can now go about remedying my troubles in the proper way." As a result of the children's discovery. "Handsome Sue" was discharged on the, morrow. She It was. nq doubt, who had Incited the darkies to make sucb unrea sonable demands. There was-a. general -murmur of protest and somewhat of defiance when Sue Was tld -to depart. A few of the hands left with her. but the rest, now removed rom-lbe influ ence of the voodoo queen, soorr "became the capable workers they were for merly, and all discontent- seemed to vanish., -r , - , ..- Marguerite and Loujs often recalled "Handsome Sue," and wondered whether she became the queen of another body of voodoo worshipers, Marrnarlte was -just a teeny, weeny bit afraid that per- .. . haps the "queen" might' east some " horrible spell upon them, as was inti mated by her .old bursa But Louis scoffed at the Idea and declsred He wss - i ready to meet any numher of '"!" andjat grjmgj foqry went thump, tliumu. l(iuui! ie lound courage to, peer through the hay screening. hvim into the wounded man's-dust-begrlmed face. private uick! ' ue gasfed. thrust ing aside the hay. "Lieutenant Diek." corrected the man as he feebly smiled. Again, there came a noise at the door: Lieutenant Dick motioned the boy to be silent. The- next instant there entered four British troopers. Reasoning from the quantity of pro visions carried their foraging for food had not been unsuccessful. The. troopers had Jested for a while about the Americans' defeat, when one of them, busily occupied In cut ting Immense chunks from a ham with his claspknlfe, remarked: "I believe about 3000 of the rebels got away. They've scampered toward the fort ny the ferry. ,Lrl Howe's orderly says we're going to clean them out tomorrow before daybreak least, so he heard the general say. Shortly afterward the soldiers In Wherein the Quests Do But It was for the very reason that the monkey Indignantly refused pay-P ment that the three Wayfarers wished to return his kindness in some fitting way. Had he not something to do work of some sort with which they might aid him? No. said the monkey at first, and then he bethought himself that t waa high time his wheat were sown. Did the tor toise, the rabbit and the kangaroo wish to help him? It would not take so very long. Of course the three Vould help. And' they straightway stung the bags of grain about their shoulders. Over the field they went, sowing the grain Indus- (nningf Ofin Airships '"A''-;:"'!" ' " "v- V );'" ; '''.' ' J: " v "-"' i. '"'''. ''' '-"'' -V;. -".'V. ' . high humor tramped from- the barn. "Going to attack the fort tonlghtl I must warn our men! I've simply got to do It!" Dick, with an effort, raised himself to his elbow; then be, collapsed. "Confound this leg!" he moaned, his features working with anger .and naln " For a minute he lav aulet. his eyes closed. Suddenly he looked up at Paul. "Lad," said he, "your father told me he would turn Dobbin Into the woods. Is the horse still there?" "Yes, father took Jupiter svwaywltk him," replied Paul, "but Dobbin Is In the woods." ' - "Perhaps the British haVen't found him," Dick murmured, reflectively. Looking . straight Into Paul's eyes, he said: "Lad, I taught you to ride. Are you willing to catch old Dobbin, and ride to the ferry with the message I will give you? Will you do this for me, and for your country?" ' Paul drew himself up to his fuu height, and clenched his sturdy little fists tightly. "Yes, Lieutenant Dick.' be whispered steadily, although his lip quivered the least bit. Dick hastily wrote upon r a piece of paper. When finished, he read aloud i "Colonel ,Hall: "l "Am lying wounded at Bueschwlcke. Fort should be abandoned Immediately. British attack, tomorrow morning "LIEUT. RICHARD REMSEN." As though in afterthought, the lieu tenant scribbled -another little note. Both pieces of paper he rolled Into tiny pellets. He handed them to Paul, saying: "Take this first piece of paper and give it to the soldiers at the fort that Is. if you can. Should British men stop you, destroy the paper (swallow it, if you have to), tell them you nave just come from the fort, but have lost your way, and. show them this other pellet. Now, lad, you'd beat be off. May God bless you!" (TO BE CONTINUED.) Monkey's Hxrrn - trlously. So hard did they work that by noon the task waa finished. There upon the monkey Invited them to din ner, after which he speeded them upon their way. The monkey had almost forgotten about his three guests when the shoots of the young wheat began to appear above the ground. Out to his Held trudged the monkey to examine Its growth. But when there he stared aghast. . How did it happen that the wheat grew in such, peculiar fashion? Then the solution of the problem pre sented Itself to him. The tortoise, la sowing, made such slow progress that the grains were Caliph-Merchant XOUR MAJESTT. there remains) . " I 2i la treasury., What .hill ww do t detrn the expenses of our household?" "Dp aa you bay done la th paaV" returned the oallpb, with a scowl: 1u th people." , . ' The grand -vizier book his ' bead doubtfully, They ar already on the point of revolting because of thelt heavy Uses," said he, -nor do r"thtaa tiorrWni ubroU to t further lmposv. "Qo". cried the caliph, "you weary me- Why, after my having , appointed you th look after my affairs, do VoS com to me- with your troubles Have) " "SELLS THE GOODS" you not sufficient brains to plan I Leave. Sfflculty."1 tS'nk ot Way out And when the caliph had smoked sev enteen narghllehs which, aa you know, are a sort of water pipe he hit upon a scheme. .The next day it was .announced throughout Bagdad that the caliph nim seir was about to sell merchandise upon the main street. v J?J S0"?; tho whoI population of the; city flocked to where the caliph sat under his tent, erected on the sidewalk .nd ""'rounded with bales of costly fab-'lc,"- Th" caPh had but to flx his own FhS Ji0 tnay "ur that he made tnem high enough and the people bought and bought until be had dis posed of all his wares. w" long before the callphj 21? ,!.uc.nu.vaft "um" ,n tho way oC profit that his treasury was again filled, whereupon he promptly retired from, business." The very first thing he did after resuming his throne was to order t2vFra,nd. vU'er DUt to death, because of his lack of cleverness. Bo, you see, the caliph couldn't have been a very good man. even though he had mucH brains. dropped very close together so close that when they grew up tfley would make it difficult for the monkey to pas) through the waving top. And the rab bit ran so swiftly that the wheat was), distributed over a vast tract of ground, only a grain or two appearing In any. one place. While the kgaroo deposit ed a handful of wheat at each hop, so that the wheat grew up In widely sep arated clumps. And the monkey found that the tor toise, the rabbit and the kangaroo bad unintentionally made nlrn the Uoghlag stock of every one thereabout; People, came from far and near to view thla strange-looking field of grain, and poked all manner of fun at th monkey. r a A
