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About The Oregon scout. (Union, Union County, Or.) 188?-1918 | View Entire Issue (May 23, 1889)
THE BISON'S EXTINCTION. Ur. Cnrrcr TpIU How tho Orent Ilcrdi Wurc Wiped Out. "As tho Indians hunted them, tho race of bison would probably litwo , int.fiil forever, but about 1SGG tho white i men turned their nttontton to tho shaggy monsters of tho plains. Largo Eastern firms organizou muuuii; par-, i nnd nald tho shooters 2.50 for eaah bison whoro ho lay dead on tho i plains. I then wont to Southern No-, braska and became a professional hunter. Tho bison consisted of two largo divisions, the one living in the South nud tho other In the North. Their only common feeding ground was along the Republican river and its "branches in Nebraska. Tho Indians '.vero well aware of that fart, and hostile tribes lmvo had many u fight for that territory. It was not until 1873 that tho Government put an end to this by sending tho Pawnees South and tho Sioux to their Northern reser vations. Prior to that time wo had to do all of our hunting at tho risk of be ing scalped at any time. "Our favorite gun was an army model of tho Springfield rille, lf-cali-'aer and loaded with ninety grain? of powder. Tho whites patterned after tho Indians and hunted on horseback. Having wagons to haul our game, wo did not earoto "elrelo" thorn as tho In dians did. When a herd was located wo would mount our best horses and as quietly as possiblo approach the herd from tho leeward side. As soon as thoy saw us tho fun would begin. Although of a low build, the bison will make a very interesting race with a horse for ten miles. Wo would press up on tho right Hank of tho herd and ride so closo to tho animals that our guns would touch tho sldo when fired. Tho most deadly shot was to fire quar tering through tho lungs so that the animal would bleed to death. In this way wo would follow tho herd as long as our horses could stand it. On one of those runs I killed 113 bison, nono of which wore moro than 100 yards apart. In riding back an awful sight was presented to tho eye. Tho trail was marked by dead and dying ani mals. An occasional big bull would havo a broken back so that ho could only get up on his fore logs, and noth ing could look moro furious than his shaking head, with coal-black eyes glaring in a death stare from his haggy front. Wo received our pay for tho animals dead on tho plains, and wagons followed us up, quartored the animals and shipped tho saddlo and tallow to Eastern markets. "About 1871 the hide-hunting began. Prior to this time littlo or no attention was paid to tho skins, but when tho ftmnnrl fnr flmm ppniitorl n hindi mifa tho meat was allowed to rot upon tho plains, and this magnificent race was extinguished simply that extravagant tastes might bo satisfied. With the improvements in firearms an entirely different modo of hunting was adopted. The Springfield army gun was super ceded by a Sharp tiO-caltbor and loaded with 120 grains of powder. Tho hunter used his horse only in find ing a herd. This done, wo would go to tho leeward side so that tho scent of the powdor and report would not reach tho animals, and find a suitable shelter about 1.000 yards distant from them. I havo killed them at a distanco of a mile. Hunting in this way wo had to be very particular, and watch tho herd closely. Liko a hord of cattle, tho bi&on are always on tho go and aiv apt to walk out of rille range in a short time. In moving, however, thoy al ways havo a leader and tho triek was to kill any ono that started to load tho others olT. Ry thus killing tho load ers, wo could often shoot for an hour from behind ono clump of grass, and when thoy had moved out of range, tho 'skinners' would como up, cut tho hide In tho ordinary way for skinning, tio t.ho animal's head to a stake, hitch a team of horses to tho hido, and jork It olT. No ono will ovor know what im mense numbers of bison wore killed by these hldo-huntors, but to my certain knowledge three-million hides wore shipped from tho banks of tho French man river in ono winter. Tho hido hunters, by a system of fires, Icopt tho bison from tho streams until many of them perished, and thousands of others wore easily killed. At tho closo of that winter a man could go along tho banks of tho Frenchman for fifty miles by simply jumping from tho carcass of ono bison to that of another. Consid ering facts of this kind, it is not sur prising that a small, tamo hord and a few old circus animals represent tho great herds which, less than a quarter of a century ago, blackonod miles of prairies as u thunder cloud darkens tho sky." Kansas City Times. Athens, Ga., has a man who rents rights to court his daughtors to the youthful swains of that neighborhood at fivo dollars a head per annum. This includes lights and fires. ropnlrs 'on tho front gate, tho bottoming of dismantled chairs, Sunday evening cake-and-cider lunches, and strong muzzles for all tho dogs. There are six girls under this particular roof, all of whom aro young, pretty and amlablo, and so nono of them aro over more than twenty-four hours at a time without a boau. whllo tlin nlfl mnti lu filu'ni'u nrnvlflfirl with bacco. Trov Times. .... .hvuiiiu a ..... . w .. w KJ iktiui' .. w , The song called "Columbia, tho Gem of the Ocoan," was takon from tho Rritishera, who havo a song callod "Old Jinglnnd, tho Gom of tho Ououn." A society haaioon forraad for tho granting of premiums for tho killing of animals preying upon tho aldor ducU- THE DEATH'S-HEAD MOTH. An Oinlnou'I,(niklnc liupct with nil In tcrrMlnc Hitory. A short timo before tho outbreak of the French revolution there appeared in Europe a largo moth, boarlng on tho back of Us thorax a hideous death's head. It had been Imported Into Eu rope with its nativo plant, tho potato. It was not long before It was found that this ominous-looking insect de stroyed and devastated tho hives of bees, feeding on tho honey It plun dered from them. It swooped down In tho dead of night, making havoc of tho hive, and resistance was In vain, as tho stings of tho bees could not pene trate tho soft downy covering of the moth. Tho owners of bees tried various means to prevent tho onslaught of this terrible enemy, but all in vain, and at last tho bees solved tho problem them selves. They built a wall of wax with loop holes In it sufficiently largo to allow themselves to pass but not largo enough to admit their enemy. In appearance tho death's-head moth is largo and dark-colored, with yellow markings, and measures about fivo inches from tip to tip of its ex tended wings. On the thorax or mid dlo portion of the body aro pale mark ings representing a hideous death's head, hence tho name of tho insect. The caterpillar is greenish yellow, with black spots on tho back and cross lines of blue and white. It is our common potato worm. Ono of tho strange characteristics of this peculiar moth is a plaintive, squeaking sound which it emits, the manner of its production having as yet no satisfactory explanation. On account of tho piratical markings on its thorax, it has always been re garded with superstitious dislike and aversion. In Mauritius a superstition prevails that it sheds a dust from its wings that causes immediate blindness if it falls upon a person. For this reason when ono of tho moths enters a habitation a sceno of consternation ensuos. Tho chrysalis is quito interesting, somewhat resembling a jug in its shape. Tho long handle is commonly supposed to bo the tail of tho insect, but it is in reality tho tonguo-caso. This latter organ tho tongue is of extraordinary length to onablo it to reach after tho honey In flowers hav ing a deep corolla. A Madagascar species has a tongue nlno and one fourth inches in length. Tho chrysalis is frequently foand In digging in tho ground whoro potatoes havo been planted. Noble M. Ebor hart, Ph. D., in Chicago Journal. SUBMARINE BOATS. The Cruft Recently Sulmilt t oil to Uncle Sihii'h Navy Depurt nimit. Tho following description of sorao of tho most important features of tho subsurfaco torpedo-boat lately sub mitted to tho Navy Dopartmont by tho Columbian Iron Wo.ks of Baltimore, and tho uses for which it is intended. 3orvo to clear up several points which might possibly have caused a misun derstanding as to tho nature of the craft. Tho boat Is cigar-shaped, and is capable of being operated undor three dilTerent conditions: First, above tho surface, that is, with nearly half ft it above water; second, awash, that is, with only a fow inches of tho back exposed, together with tho conning tower; third, completely submerged, that is. with nothing whatovor .-.bovo tho surface. In tho last condition, which is tho primary condition for torpedo warfare, tho boat's means of offenso is a horizontal tube directly in its axis, from which aro discharged aiglit-inch projectiles eithor by piiotr matic power or by powdor. These projectiles aro capablo of giving sov aral hundred foot rango, and tho gun md projectile aro constructed on u principle first propounded by Lieutenant-Commander Rtirber at tho United States torpedo station in 1873. but separately invented, and proved successful by Mr. Holland, tho inventor of this boat. In liou of this submarine gun, the boat will bo fitted with any kind of locomotivo torpedo that tho Navy Department may desire to bo fired from this or a similar tube. In addition to this tube in tho axis of tho boat, thoro is another eight-Inch tubo, fitted at an angle, for over-water iro at distances of a thousand yards or thereabout. It is intondod to uso this tubo for throwing dynamite sholls. tin ier circumstances where tho boat can not approach tho enemy within torpedo range, or whoro it may bo preferable not to try to do so. Tho boat has a ioublo skin on tho upper forward part, joparated by about a foot of space; ind this space is filled with water, which Hows frcoly into it. Abaft of this, and forward of tho gun-room, is a vertical bulkhead of sovoral inches of Iron. When, therefore, bho is lying iwash, and using her upper pneumatic un (which makes no smoke), sho will bo almost Invisible to tho enemy, nud, if struck by machine-gun projectiles, jlio is almost certain to be uninjured. Science. An Ohio poultry raiser has mado i curious discovery. Ho hays that if you go out to feed a flock of chickens ind will cause thorn to wait, thoy will Invariably, as thoy crowd about you begin a circuit around you from right to loft In front, and contlnuo this rovo .ution as long as you stand thoro. No lmount of interruption or munourlng jan confuse thoin or compol them to tako tho contrydlrectlon at any tlmo. Tho Pennsylvania Sonato rocontly pasbod a bill authorizing tho appoint ment of women as physicians in insane Lsylums whore women aro confined. YET WAH. Ills namo was Yet Wah, With no hlRh soiitullnK "Ah." To fonn a front step to his namo. A wash house ho kept. Where ho feasted and slept. An J rustled for n ashee and fame. Now, Vet was a man Whom tho rest of his clan Regarded as pure to a fault: So with limitless trust Their hoarding they thrust In tho tea chest that served as hU vault. Vet winked his o(T eye As ho saw the clilnk tly Thro tho slot iu his Improvised bank; "Mo sabtiee." said he. With a chuckle or pjee, "Fool Chlneeniuti allee. saino crank!" Time raoldlv passed. Till Yet Wah at last Decided tils harvest to reap. So ono silent night He arose, lit his Hcht, Tho bad rusolution to keep. "Like Mellcan clerk." Said he, with n smirk. "Wo steal Vtn an" then run awayt Me brave mo no care i - How Chineetunn swear V Iu Canada Yet Wah will stay I" " ' With half nervous rest - Mo crept to the chest. Unlocked It, and raised up the IU; Then. invnug Inso, Ho sprang up. ild eyed. With a face as palo as tho deniL "Wlw" for- Mtick-ahU" Was his terrltled cry, As ho sank out or breath, 'gainst tho wall; "Some heap bad Chlneo Bteu here before me. An' stealeo my money an' all! "Thro'.a holo In tho bottom Some roffuey chap got 'em; Kl-yll It makeo mo sick t Dlmeby some Chlueo Ho lay it on me Say mo stole 'em. and kllleo mo qulckl" IJko n hideous dream. So ended Yet's scheme. And, fearlnc tho crisis, lie "dusted;" Like u shadow of night, Mo slunk out of sight. Himself, like Ids bank, nearly busted I Yankee Blade Ho Played to I.oo. Ho was n keen, slmrp looking young man, and lie said tottio ludyof tho house ou Second nvenuo as ho stood in tho hnll: "Madnnio, I linvo called for tho suit of clothes which needs brushing nnd fixing." "What sulti" sho asked. "Your husband's Sunday suit, ma'am. Ho called as ho went down this morning." "And ho said 1 was to let you havo themf" "Yes'm." "Did ho appear In good health nnd spirits!" "Why, certainly." "Ivook nnd act natural?" "Of coursa Why ilo you ask?" "Because ho has been dead eighteen years, and I havo some curiosity on tho subject I" "I I havomadoa mistake, perlmpsl" stam mered tho young man. "I'orhniw you havo. Tho man you saw go out of hero an tiour ago is my brother. You may havo hotter luck in tho next block with tho old fashioned confldenco game. Good morning I" Detroit I'Yco Press. Tho Proper Dogs for it llarbcr. Mr. Spicor has just settled himself in tho chair for a short cut, when tho artist in at tendance threw over him a calico apron on which were pictured iuuumerublo littlo grey hounds. "That is very appropriate," said Spicer. "Vy do you call zo littlo dogs appropriate, Mr. Spizarof" asked tho barber, as ho tucked tho apron into his victim's neck until his eyes bulged. "Because," gasped Spicer, "greyhounds aro good to catch tho haro." Such a silence fell upon tho room that tho milliner next door looked in toseo if auybody had died. Philadelphia Press. A Sensible Girl. "Not yet, Henry," sho whispered softly; "indeed, you must not speak to papa yet. I do lovo you, love you sincerely, but you must wait a littlo longer." "But why, Margaret?" ho asked, reproach fully. "Why must wo wait so long; surely you do not doubt moi" "No, Henry," was tho low reply, "I do not doubt you, but I think we will bo so much happier when your Mtlnry has been increased to $7 per week." Philadelphia Inquirer. Ills Apology. Mr. Billus was standing up in a street car, holding tightly to a strap. Tho car gavo a sudden lurch, ho lunged forward, and an ex clamation of pain camo from tho lips of tho lady sitting next to Mrs. Billus. "If you didn't keep your great big hoofs sticking out so carelessly I wouldn't stuuiblo ovor tlietn," growled Mr. Billus. "Whon a woman hasn't any moro sense I beg your pardon sincerely, madam. 1 thought it was my wife's foot I stopped on." Chicago Trib une, Got tho Quarter. Dudo (to chaneo acquaintance) That shab by looking fellow is making right for us. Bet ho wuuts to borrow money. Ho, hot I'll got ahead of him. Pleuso, sir, can't you lend mo a quarter or a dimo to get something to cat? Shabby Fellow Certainly (Hands out a quarter.) Now, young man, If you nro through begging of this gentleman, I would like to speak to him. Ho is one of tho depos itors in my bank. Now York Weekly. Ill Weary Ketiirn. "When did you get back from Washing ton, Sammy?" "Lost week." "Como back ou tho limited P "No. That was tho stato of my finances, I worked my was back on tho freights." Chicago Herald. Unexpected. Bella Don't I look liko a perfect fright in my now sucquo, though? Clara (absented mlndodly) Yes. Bella You mean thingl I'll nover speak to you again to long as 1 live I Burlington Kreo Press. Ile l-iio Is Sweet. : "Ilo, hoi So you nro tho boy who plays with pigs la clover, aro you P Life, Illeli Npeed Wiirruntcu. Chicago Man No uwi talking; compared to Chicago everything lu Philadelphia U ilow. Phlladelphian Everything tlowl Just you take a look at our gas meters. Philadelphia Record. I "Who aro tho fools of tho human race?" This la an easy one. If tho juory wore, Who nro tho wise? It would bo a poser. Roston Courier. Soarandtlop (grandiloquently) "Yes; it pays to do right. Honesty io tho best policy after all." Krankley "Why don't you havo It renewed?" Time. Tho drama Is getting moro and moro realistic. Real babies, real water, real burglars, are among tho advertised realities. Wo have hopes of a future play with real actors. Raltlmoro American. "What is tho future of Ireland?" exclaimed the Senator, In earnest tones. "Ireland." said tho now school ma'am calmly, "has no future; It Is a noun." Rurdette. As tho warmer weather comes on, metals begin to expand. A tun-dollar gold piece reaches a groat deal further whon tho gas-man and tho coal-man havo relaxed tholr grip. l'uck. Clementine "If I had known you married mo only for my money 1 would never have accepted you. Montague "And if I'd known you wore going to bo so closo with it 1 would novor havo proposed." Life. Miss Rackblto (who has been dis cussing several of hor friends' mis deeds) "Now, you know, 1 novor re peat scandals Mrs. Candor "Xo, my dear, I've heard you Invent them." Philadelphia Press. Picture Dealer (exhibiting a paint ing) "That, sir, is a genuine Turner." Purchaser "Yes, I see. You lmvo to turn it around a good many times bo fore you can make out what it is." America. Old Lady "My dear, do you really think you aro fit to becomo a minister's wife?" Engaged Niece (from tho West) "Yes, indeed. 1 don't mind bolng talked about at all." X. Y. Weekly. Father " oil, how did yon como out on tho boan-guosslng contest?" Dull boy "I guessed there was loO beans in tho jar, and thoro was D.-'OO." Father (sadly) "I'm afraid you'll novor bo tit for any thing but a weather bureau chief." Philadelphia Record. A warning: Jay Gould will pass through (or go through) tho city at two o'clock this afternoon, en route to the Southwest. If tho citizens will ex hibit a littlo activity, perhaps they can got tho town nailed down before Mr. Gould arrives. Torro Hauto Express. Husband "Woll. lovo, havo you somo cold chicken for supper, as you promised?" Nowly-niudo bride "Yes, darling; I bought a beautiful llvo chicken, and it has been yelling in tho refrigerator for moro than two hours. I think It must bo cold by this time." Lowoll Citizen. "Yos," said Dumloy, proudly, "I wasasoldlor In thowarof tho rebellion, and if I do say it myself, I mado a good one." Tho thrill of admiration which was about to start through the party was suddenly stopped by Foathorly, who ?aid musingly: "Lot mo seo, Dumloy, it was in 'C-l. wasn't it, that you 7fero drafted?" Epoch. Jenos (to Rrown who had just dropped in to borrow a fiver) "Woll, I'll do it this timo, but I wondor you are ashamed to bo always in debt. Look at mo. I don't owo a penny." Rrown "Daro say not, old man. You haven't a borrowing faco. Nobody would trust you." Pick Mo Up. "I remember riding homo In a horse-car with Henry W. Paine one day," remarked a story-tollor, apropos of this eminent Maine jurist. "Palno was reading a sheepskln-bound volume of law reports. A mutual acquaintance hailed him and said: 'Soo horo, Palno, do you have to study law still?' 'This isn't law,' said Paiuo, 'It's only a col lection of decisions of tho Massachu setts Supremo Court.' " Lowiston Journal. Stanley's Love Affair. Ilonry M. Stanloy, tho explorer, had an early lovo affair at Omaha, Nob., the particulars of which havo been ro contly given out on "undoubted author ity." It was when ho was young, htindsoino and fond of advuuture. Ho fell In lovo with an actress who was then on tho boards of tho old Academy of Music a vaudovillo actress. Sho was a coquotto, and flirted with young bloods of tho city who had moro money than Stanloy. When Stanloy got per fectly crazy In his affection for hor sho arranged a meeting with him after tho performance, and, posting her friends, hud them stationed behind tho scenes to observe tho results. Stanloy, honest In his infatuation, knelt before tho woman and protested dosporatoly. Sho amused herself at his expense for some time, and then called in her concealed friends, much to hor lover's surprise and disgust. N. Y. Graphic. An Angel of Mercy. A little girl was graciously pormlttcd, ono bright Sunday, to go with her mamma to hear papa preach. It was a time of groat rojoioiug and ros poind blllty. and tho littlo fuco was all alight with happy anticipation. Now it chanced that on this special occasion papa's Horinon was on tho "warning" order, and his earnest voico rang out solemnly in the Sunday quiet. After a moment of breathless surpriso and, horror, tho littlo listener's soul was wrought upon with a great pity for tho poor mortals upon whom so much wrath was duscondliig. Siio rose ex citedly to hor feet, and, hor wide, re proachful oyos just peeping ovor tho back of tho seat, called out, in sweet abiding tones: "What for Is you scolding all tho pcoplo so, pupa." Harper's Ymmg Pcoplo. PUNGENT PARAGRAPHS. FORTY MINUTES' READING. Tho Variety nnd Kttrtit nf Information That May lie Kmlly Gained. The question of what and whon to read, and moro than all, how to rend, is most important to ovory one. Thoro nro no exceptions to this among those who Are old enough to road any thing; they must all rend something if they want to keep nbovo ground with live pcoplo; tho question is ono of choice. The habit of reading is worth a great deal; that of thoughtful reading is wort li more. Ry It one gains information, discipline, power; nnd It Is power we nro all struggling for. There nro thou-sand- of young men and women aim lessly frittering away golden opportu nities. Some aro doing it unconscious ly, novor realizing seriously tho im portance of a thoughtful course of read ing, and so their earlier years wasted, they will find their later years poverty stricken in mind and morals. One s earlier years aro seedtime for harvests of rich and precious enjoyment in the autumn of life. A writer iu tho Troy Times makes a strong appeal to tho thousands of young men and women to Mke up some judicious course of read ing, and thus enlarge their sphere of life, and the power and enjoyment of living. Hj recommends tho Chau tauqua course of reading as having been tested over o'ght years, and says: "To day there nro over ono hundred thou sand persons scattered all over tho world pursuing this with profit Mid de light. Tho school at Chautauqua Lake is a college in one's own liouso. It is for busy po plo who loft school years ago, and who yet desire to pursue some systematic course of Instruction to keop abreast of tho rapid progress In all de partments of knowledge. It is for high school and college graduates and for people who nover entered eithor; for mot chants, mechanics, appren tices, clerks. farmer boys, shop girls, mothers, busv houso-keopers, for people of leisure and wealth, who do not know what to do with their tlmo; for poor people who struggle hard to make ends meet; for everybody who may havo hunger of heart and mind for something bettor than thoy now havo. Tho Chautauqua enterprise is a pro tost against tho idea that scholarship Is tho monopoly of tho professional classes. Education is for everybody who hungers and lias pluck. Chautau qua protests against tho idea that youth Is the only timo that an education can lio acquired. Tho man nod woman of forty can got an education." Nearly every ono can so economize timo as to give forty minutos a day on tin average to a systomactto course of reading. Many a ono who protends to bo a busy person wastes moro than that amount daily. And many road that much time and more, whoso reading does not count much because it is at random without aim or direction. It is not wise to spend time and strength this way, it wokkens rathor than builds up. Life is too important and serious to fritter it away in aimless and in dilTerent reading Wo need tho help of tho best minds and thoughts In all do partmonts of life and labor. Treasure Trove. MOROCCO'S TREASURY. It I rilled I)' Moan of KxuctloiiM and Authorized Theft. Tho Moroccan soldior is not so much a man of war as a collector of taxes, and from timo to timo his muster sends him, without law or rule, to visit tlioso whom ho finds either too rich, or rich enough for him, tho Sultan, to claim his share of tho prize. Ruplno is tho onlv rosourco of tho treasury. Each Pasha lovles his share on all tho bar trains concluded on his territory. This stato of affairs has, howovor, boon im proved since tho intervention of Eu ropeans In Morocco. Rut not so many years ago, and In tho second half of this century, tho most horrible tortures were infllolod both upon Mussulmon and Jewish morchants in order to forco them to avow tholr fatal riches. Mr J. Drummond Hay, in tho narrative of his journoy on tho banks of tho Loucos, rclatos dreadful details: nion shut up in ovens, wedges driven in undor tholr nails, children smothered slowly boforo tho oyos of tholr parents, a man shut up in tho cago of a chained lion whoso chain was loner enough to onablo him to como within an inch of tho victim, who could not mako tho slightest move ment without bolng rent by tho talons of tho boast. Doubtless tho stories of Mr. Drummond Hay aro exaggerated at tho present day, and perhaps thoy wore whon ho wrote. Rut this fact remains, in essen tial points at loast; tho treasury is filled by means of exactions and authori.uil thefts; and every olilclal consclonco may be bought. This is truo from ono end of tho social scalo to tho othor. When tho morchunt has tortured tho slave, and when tho Pasha has rilled tho morehnnt, tho Sultan omploys slinl lar means to rellovo tho Pasha of his booty. Many a Pasha, after finally getting rich, Is betrayed by one of thoso around him and denounced to tho Emporor as a great capitalist. There upon ho Is sent for to court, and J,ho good sovereign spoils him of ovory thing, even to tho last ploco of money that s eeps Iu his coffers or in his pock ets, ovon to tho last Jlon, to tho lust rhant, to tho last terra-cotta vase which is sold In tho marketplace. Then, a second Job, tho Pasha is sunt back to his subjects so that ho may begin an other period of oppression. If, how ovor, tho Master has reason to suspect that any portion of tho treasure bus been kept back or hidden, ho has tho Pasha beaten, and thon sends him to spend the rust of his days in tho con templative shades of a prison. Runja niba Constant, In Harper's Magazine. OUR AWFUL FIGHTER. A True Slory of Why Ilo Joined Cn an4 Why He Left U. It having become noised about that wo were going to mako n horseback trip through a portion of tho cattlo country, various indi vidual!! tnitdo application! for situations, wo needed only n cook and a man to tako chargp of the laggan but tho applicants kept com ing, and tho day tieforo we left n chap np eaml who Introduced himself as Awful Davis. "Ixwk-n-hero. fellers." ho liegnn In a busi ness way, "I want to bo counted tu on this. Indeed, its n slight vn me that you haunt applied for my service. You'd havo tiecn In a party picklo to havo gono Htthout tho un- lersigued. hen asked to explain what culiar valuo ids services might have to ti ho uttered a ong whistle of surprise anil replied ' W ell, you aro innocents, and no mlstakel Who's going to do your lighting for you?" As the lmltaiiM were nt eaco wo didn tex- pei't any trouble. 'Uhl you don tl Mess me, but what dear, giHid littlo hoysl Injuns! Noliody said In juns. It's the liite men you've got to look nut lor You're going mining tho fullest lot in tin-w hole world They aro right on tho light all day mid all night. Any ono of tho gang can turn himself loose and hammer Halifax out of tho w holo llvo of you in tea minutes ' He wanted to go along to do our lighting. He would turnish hisown tuulo nud mako tho trip tor a dollar a day nud his keep. When tisked If he had any recommends ho put oniui injured air and answered: "Ami you never heard of Awful Davis I Nover heard of the man who has lit lift y-sii lights mid come out on top every timet Iur tend that you want n certillcato of character trom a feller who lights, standing, kneeling, or lying on his Ixickl This makes mo weary I" W o talked it over nnd finally engaged him. and w hen informed of the fact ho replied: "Very well, gentlemen. I-rom this mo- ment you aro In my keeping. Just pint out tho kuss you want pulverized nnd Pll do tho business. 1 shiui t put airy limit ou you. I ni to light day or night and to lick six men n day if you could bring about threo or four a day for the next week I should feel obliged, as my liver U a lectio torpid and 1 want ex ercise. " During tho first day's rldo wo mot but few iiooplo. Ono of thoso was an old Indian, lanio in tho left leg, Mid Awful Davis halted tho party and observed: "Lients, did 1 hear any of you toll mo to lick thiseopor reptiloi" None of us had told him so. "1 leg your pardon, genbt. I waut yoti to understand that I'm alius ou hand. Pd tlku to git down and hammer him for tho benefit of my liver; but of course I'm under orders." o hail pitched camp and wero waiting for supjier w hen a cowboy rode up. Tho greet lugs wero friendly, and ho got down to havo t bito with us. Ho was hardly ou the ground betoro ho saw our Awful lighter and uttered a humph 1 of disgust. "What you got tharl" ho asked, "lie's our lighter." "Your tighter! Did you bring him along to light anybody or nnythlngt" "ilo hired to us to do our lighting, but ho'a had no show yet." "Woll, I'll give him ashowl Como out o that, you cowardly kyotol" The Awful was skulking bohind tho bag gage, ilo rose up at tho command, uud the lowboy shouted at him: "Hill Whoosou, 1 know ye, nnd I owo yo one. Como out hero and earn yor hlrol" "Is that you, Jim Phillips" queried our Awful its ho advanced a step. "Of coin-so it's mo, you yaller cur from tho bottom lauds I" "And you want to fight!" "1 want to show these 'ero gents that you ir' tho biggest liar uud coward lu America! L'omo out herol" "Ueuts, is it your wish that I projuco a. funeral hero?" asked tho Awful as ho turned, to us, "shall 1 bung his feechurs iuto ooo bloody mass kill him deadur'n u boef boau with ono blow I" Wo answ ered that It was. "Hero tlo ono hand behind mo tio both, bands behind mo tio my foot togotber, and I'll lick him then I" howled tho cowboy. "Jim Phillips, you haven't got two mlnita to exist I" solemnly announced tho AwfuL "I'm comiu' fur yo liko a dozen cyclones ailed liitoonol Look out, now I" Ilo spit on his hands and stepped back, ea if to gut n running sturt, uud next thing wo aeard was tho tluunpl thump! of hUfeetaa 3o lied afar into tho darkness, Somo tima hiring tho night ho returned for hismulow Vext morning we found tho following ex? plauatiou bcruwled on a ploco of paper and ituck iuto a split stick: "ticozed with cudoat yilliiess good-bL" Now York Sun. Ills Ciiro tho Suddett. "This Is tho soventh timo within two hours that you havo asked mo when tho train left for Lansing," replied tho policomuu at tha Third street depot to a young man with a. uitcliel. "Is It ngolnst tho InwP "No, but it is ruthor annoying to mo." "Well, If It annoys you how do you think ( must feel about it) Tho faro is $'J.I'0, and I've got to think of somo way to get out thoro m $1.50." Detroit Kreo Press. Wise uud Old. Ilo (rejected sulton You condescended to look upon my suit with fuvor once, Mb bond. She Yes; I was young and foolish than. I havo gained wisdom with ago. Ilo (suvngelyi Ilow very wiso you must bo by this time. Yankco Uludo. A llrvutiilnc Spell. A sleepy littlo soul at boil timo found it bard work to keep awulco when sho knelt iown to say her prayer. Half way through uio Btopel und sighedt "Well, Pvo got froo tho wont of it, mumma." Now York Trib ana m A Friendly Crltlo. Stamp Clerk iat postotllco window) You'll havo to pay letter iiooUigo ou thU package. It's lint class matter. Persevering Author wbout to send hU munubcrlpt on its soventh trial trip) Ah, thunk voil Couldn't you cot a ikoIiIou a I iditor fcomowherol Harper's Wuoklv.