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About Heppner gazette. (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912 | View Entire Issue (May 21, 1908)
The Firm of 1 Girdlestone i A. CONAN DOYLE CHAPTER XVI. (Continued.) It was Saturday the third Saturday since Girdlestone and his ward had dis appeared. Dimsdale had fully made up his nund that, go where he would, Ezr should not escape him this time. On tw consecutive Saturdays the young mer chant had managed to get away from him, and had been absent each time until the Monday morning. Tom knew, and the thought was a bitter one, that these day were spent in some unknown retreat in the company of Kate and of her guardian This time at least he should not get away without revealing his destination. The two young men remained in the office until two o'clock. Then Ezra put on his hat and overcoat, buttoning it up close, for the weather was bitterly cold Tom at once picked up his wide-a-wake and followed him out Into Feuchurch street, so close to his heels that the swinging door had not shut on the on before the other passed through. Ezra glanced round at him when he heard the footsteps. There was no longer any pre tense of civility between the two, and w henever their eyes met it was only to ex change glances of hatred and defiance. A hansom was passing down the street and Ezra, with a few muttered words to the driver, sprang in. Fortunately an other had just discharged its fare, and van still waiting by the curb. Tom ran up to it. "Keep that red cab in sight,' ho said. "Whatever you do, don't let it get away from you." The driver, who was a man of few words, nodded, and whipped up his horse. It chanced that this same horse was ei'her a faster or a fresher one than that which bore the young merchant. The red cab rattled down Fleet street, then dou bled on its tracks, and coming back by St Paul's plunged into a labyrinth of side streets from which it eventually emerged upon the Thames embankment. In spite of all its efforts, however, it was unable to shake off its pursuer. The red cab journeyed on down the Embankment, and across one of the bridges, Tom's able charioteer still keeping only a few yards behind it. Among the narrow streets on the Surrey side Ezra's vehicle pulled up at a public house. Tom waited patiently outside until he should reappear. In a very few minutes young Girdle- atone came out again, accompanied by a tall, burly man, with a bushy red beard, who was miserably dressed. He was help ed into the cab by Ezra, and the pair drove off together. Tom was more bewil dered than ever. Who was this fellow and what connection had he with the mat ter on hand? Like a sleuth hound the pursuing handsom threaded its way through the torrent of vehicles which pour down the London streets, never for one moment losing sight of its quarry. Pres ently they wheeled into the Waterloo road, close to the Waterloo station. The red cab turned sharp round and rattled up the incline which leads to the main line. Tom sprang out, tossed a sovereign to the driver, and followed on foot at the top of his speed. As he ran into the station Ezra Girdle alone and the red-bearded strangpr were immediately in front of him. There was a great swarm of people all around, for as it was Saturday there were special trains to the country. Tom was afraid of losing sight of the two men in the crowd, so he elbowed his way through as quickly as he could, and got immediately behind them so close that he could have touched them with his hand. They were approaching the booking office when Ezra glanced round and saw his rival standing behind him. He whispered something to his half-drunken companion. The latter turned, and with an inarticulate cry, like a wild beast, rushed at the young man. and seized him by the throat with his rawny hands. It is one thing, however, to catch a man by the throat, and another to retain that grip, especially when your antagonist happens to be an International football player. To Tom this red-bearded rough, who charged him so furiously, was noth ing more than the thousands of bull-headed forwards who had come upon bim like thunderbolts in the days of old. Witb the ease begotten by practice he circled his assailant with his long muscular arms, and gave a quick convulsive jerk in which every sinew of his body participated. The red-bearded mans stumpy legs described a balf-crcle in the air, and he came down on the stone pavement with a sounding crash which shook every particle of breath 'rem his enormous body. Tom's fighting blood was all aflame now, and his grey eyes glittered with joy as he made at Ezra. All the cautions of his father and the exhortations of his mother were cast to the winds as he saw hit enemy standing before him. To do him justice Ezra was nothing loth, but sprang forward to meet him, hitting with both bands. They were well matched, for both were trained boxers and excep tionally powerful men. Ezra was per haps the stronger, but Tom was in better condition. There was a short, eager rally blow and guard and counter so quick and hard that the eye could hardly follow it. Then a rush of railway servants and bystanders tore them asunder. Tom had a red flush on his forehead where a blow had fallen. Ezra was spitting out the fragments of a broken tooth, and bleeding profusely. Each struggled furiously to gft at the other, with the result that they were dragged further apart. Eventually a burly policeman seized Tom by the col 'sr. and held him as in a vW. "Where is he?" Tom cried, craning his neck to catch a glimpse of his enemy. -He'll get aawy after all." "Can't 'elp that," said the guardian of the peace phlegmatically. "A gen'elman like you ought to be ashamed. Keep quiet now ! Would yer then !" This last at some specially energetic effort on the part of the prisoner to recover his free dom. "They'll get away I I know they will !" Tcm cried in despair, for both Ezra and his companion, who was none other than Burt, of African notoriety, had disappear ed from his sight. His fears proved to be only too well founded, for when at last he succeeded in wresting himself from the constable's clutches he could find no trace of his ene ii'ies. A dozen bystanders gave a dozen different accounts of their movements. II rushed from one platform to another over all the great station. He could have torn his hair at the thought of the way In which he had allowed them to slip through his fingers. It was fully an hour before he finally abandoned the search, and acknowledged to himself that he had been hoodwinked for the third time, and that a long week would elapse before he could have another chance of solving the mystery. He turned at last sadly and reluc tantly away from the station and walked across to Waterloo bridge. It was some consolation, however, that he had had one fair crack at Ezra Girdlestone. He glanc ed down at his knuckles, which were raw and bleeding, with a mixture of satisfac tion and disgust. With a half smile he put his injured hand in his pocket, and looking up once more became aware that a red-faced gentleman was approaching him in a highly excited manner. It could not be said that the red-faced gentleman walked, neither could It be said that the red-faced gentleman ran. His made of progression might best be describ ed as a succession of short and unwieldy jumps, which, as he was a rather stout gentleman, appeared to indicate some very urgent and pressing need for hurry. His face was bathed in perspiration, and his collar had become flaccid and shapeless from the same cause. It appeared to Tom, as he gazed at those rubicund, though anxious, features, that they should be well known to him. That glossy hat, those speckless gaiters, and the long frock coat, surely they could belong to none other than the gallant Major Tobias Clut terbuck, late of Her Majesty's 119th of the Line. As the old soldier approached Tom he quickened his pace, so that when he even tually came up with him he could only puff and pant and hold out a soiled letter. "Head '" he managed to ejaculate. Tom opened the letter nad glanced his eye over the contents, with a face which had turned as pale as the major's was red. When he finished it he turned with out a word and began to run in the direc tion from which he had come, the major following as quickly as his breath would permit. CHAPTER XVII. Kate had come out with some vague idea of making a last struggle for her life and freedom. With the courage of de spair, she came straight down to the ave nue to the sole spot where escape seemed possible. "Good-mornin", missy," cried Stevens as she approached. "You don't look extra "aright this mornin', but you ain't as bad as your good guardian made me think You don't seem to feel no difficulty in get tin' about." "There is nothing the matter with me," he girl answered earnestly. "I assure you there is not. My mind is as sound as yours. That's what they all says," said the ex-warder with a chuckle. 'But it is so. I cannot stay in that house longer. I cannot, Mr. Stevens, I cannot: My guardian will murder me. He means to. I read it in his eyes. He as good as tried this morning. To die without one word to those I love with- ut any explanation of what has passed that would give a sting to death." "Well, if this ain't outragis !" cried he one-eyed man, "perfectly outragis ! Go- n? to murder you, says you ! What's he a-goin to do mat tor r "He hates me for some reason. I have u-ver gone against his wishes, save in one respect, and in that I can never obey him, for it is a matter in which he has no right to command." "Quite so!" said Stevens, winking his one eye. l Knows tne reeling myseu. "Why won't you let me pass?" pleaded Kate, "iou may have had daughters Of our own. What would you do if they were treated as I have been? If I had money you should have it, but I have none. lo, oo let me go: remaps wnen you are on your last bed of sickness the memory of this one good deed may out weigh all the evil that you have done. See, here is my watch and my chain. You shall have that if you will let me through." "Let's see it?" He opened it and exam ined it critically. "Eighteen carat it's only a Geneva though. What can you ex pect for a Geneva?" "And you shall have fifty pounds when I get back to my friends. Do let me pass, good Mr. Stevens, for my guardian may return at any moment." 'See here, missy," Stevens said solemn "dooty is dooty, and I wouldn't let on through that gate. As to this 'ere watch, if so be as you would like to Write line to your frii-nds, I'll post it for you t Bedsworth in exchange for it, though t be only a Geneva." 'You good, kind man, cried Kate, all excitement and delight. "I have a pencil n mv pocket. What shall I do for pa per?" She looked eagerly round and spied small piece which lay among the brush wood. With a cry of joy she picked it out. It was very coarse and very dirty, but she managed to scrawl a few lines pon it, describing her situation BJid ask- nj; for aid. "I will write the address pon the back," she said. "When you get to Bedsworth you must buy an en- elope and ask the postoffice people to copy the address on It." I bargained to post it for the Geneva, e said. "I didn't bargain to buy envel opes and copy addresses. That'e a nice pencil case of yourn. Now I'll make a clean job of it if you'll throw that in." Kate handed it over without a murmur. At last a small ray of light seemed to be finding its way through the darkness hich had so long surrounded her. Ste vens put the watch and pencil case in his pocket, and took the little scrap of paper on which so much depended. As Kate handed it to him she saw over his shoul der that coming up the lane was a small pony carriage, in which sat a buxom lady and a very small page. The sleek little brown pony which drew it ambled along: at a methodical pace which showed that It was entirely master of the situation. while the whole turnout had nn IndoscruV able atr of comfort and good nature. Poor kii'e had been so separated from her kind that the sight of people who, if not friend ly, were at least not hostile to her, sent a thrill of pleasure into her heart. There was something wholesome and prosaic, too, about this homely equipage, which was inexpressibly soothing to a mind so worn by successive terrors. "Here's some one a-comin'," cried Ste vens. "Clear out from here it's the gov ernor's orders." "Oh, do let me stay and say one word to the lady !'' Stevens seized his great stick savagely, "Clear out!" he cried In a hoarse, angry voice, and made a step towards her as if he would strike her. She shrank away from him, and then a sudden thought seiz ed her, she turned and ran through the woods as fast as her feeble strength would allow. The instant that she was out of sight, Stevens very deliberately and care fully tore up the little slip of paper with which she had entrusted him, and scat tered the pieces to the wind. Kate Harston fled as quickly as she could through the wood, stumbling over the brambles and crashing through the briars, regardless of pain or scratches or anything else which could stand between her and the possibility of safety. She soon gained the shed and managed to mount on the top of it by the aid of the barrel. Craning her neck, she could see the long dusty lane, with the bare, with ered hedges upon either side, and the dreary line of the railway, embankment beyond. There was no pony carriage in sight. She hardly expected that there would be, for she had taken a short cut, and the carriage would have to go some dis tance round. The road along which it was traveling ran at right angles to the one which she was now overlooking, and the chances were equal as to whether the lady would turn round or go straight on. In the latter case, it would not be possi ble for her to attract her attention. Her heart seemed to stand still with anxiety as she peered over the high wall at the spot where the two roads crossed. Presently she heard the rattle of wheels, and the brown pony trotted round the corner. The carriage drew up at the end of the lane, and the driver seemed to be uncertain how to proceed. Then she took the reins, and the pony lumbered on along the road. Kate gave a cry of de spair, and the last ray of hope died away from her heart. It chanced, however, that the page in the carriage was just at that happy age when the senses are keen and on the alert. He heard the cry, and glancing round he saw through a break in the hedge that a lady was looking over the viall which skirted the lane they had passed. He mentioned the fact to his mis tress. "Maybe we'd better go back, ma'am," he said. "Maybe we'd better not, John," said the buxom lady. "People can look over their garden walls without our interfer ing with them, can't they?" "Yes, mam, but she was a-hollerin' at us." VXo, John, was she though? Maybe this Is a private road and we have no right to be on it." "She gave a holler as if some one was a-burtin' of her," said John with decis ion. "Then we'll go back," said the lady, and turned the pony round. Hence it came about that just as Kate was descending with a sad heart from her post of observation, she was electnnea to see the brown pony reappear, and come trotting round the curve of the lane with a rapidity which was altogether foreign to that quadruped's usual habits. Indeed, the girl turned so very white at the sight, and her face assumed such an expression of relief and delight, that the lady who was approaching saw at once that it was no common matter which bad caused her to summon them. "What is it, my dear?" she cried, pull ing up when she came abreast of the place. Her good, kind heart was touched j nlready by the pleading expression upon t he girl's sweet face. "Oh, madam." said Kate, in a low, rapid voice. "I am shut up in these grounds, and shall be murdered unless help comes." "Be murdered !" cried the lady in th pony carriage, dropping back in her seat and raising her hands in astonishment. "It is only too true," Kate said, trying to speak concisely and clearly so as to enforce conviction, but feeling a choking sensation about her throat, as though an hjsterical attack were impending. "My guardian has shut me up here for some weeks, and I firmly believe that he will never let me out alive. Oh, don't pray don't think me mad! I am as sane as you are." (To be continued.) So Far, So Good. William II. Crane, the actor, tells of two Impecunious players ' who, during the period of enforced "liber ty," were compelled to dine at cheap table d'hote restaurants on the east side. One evening during each course of such a dinner one if the actors kept saying: "Honest, Frank, isn't this a good dinner? Isn't It good? Did you ever eat a better dinner in your life for 33 cents?" Frank was silent until the end of the fifth course, when his friend re peated his formula. Then, with a com mendable affectation of enthusiasm, Frank answered : "A splendid dinner, old man! A splendid dinner! Let's have another." Llpplncott's. ' t Innorrnct. She Are so many of the congress men named William? He Why do you ask such a ques tion? She Because I noticed that about all they did when the session opened was to introduce Bills. Cleveland Plain Denier. Satisfaction. "Well, my poor man, I hope I've sat isfied your hunger," said the good housewife after handing out a liberal supply of victuals to Mr. William Wraggles, Esq., tramp, etc. "Yes, mum," returned that worthy. I must confess that as a provider y've , filled the Bill." Toledo Blada Grafting: Methods. Apple trees are usually propagated In the nursery either by budding or root grafting two-year-old seedlings, Larger seedlings may be taken up and the roots cut into a great number of sections five or six inches long. Upon these the scions of the desired varle ties should be grafted by means of the whip and tougue method of grafting, as shown in the accompanying Illus trations. This grafting does not re quire any wax, the parts being simply held together by binding with twine or raffia. Boot grafting of this kind is usually done during the winter time, and the grafts stored In moist sand or soil until the ground is lit for plant ing them outside in the spring. They should then be planted in nursery rows, and in two or three years should make trees large enough to transplant to per manent positions. Top grafting is usually done by the cleft method, as shown in the illus trations. In this method the scions are cut wedge-shaped and fitted firmly into the cleft made ln the stock, which is usually cut off squarely where the branches are from one to two inches in diameter, two scions being placed in each stock. In this, as ln all methods of grafting, great care must be taken to get the cambium layer, or inner bark, of the stock and scion in contact in at least one side, for It is at this point that union takes place, and any It i il SAMPLES OF TOP GBAFTIITO. , faiiure to connect the cambium layers i of gtock flnd sclon Is sure tQ re8uJt ln failure of the scions. In top graft lug, the wounded surfaces should be covered with grafting wax. A good formula for this is: Four parts of res in, two of beeswax and one of tallow, by weight, melted together. Top graft ing should be done early in the spring, before growth commences. In all this propagation work great ' care should be taken to select scions frQm tree8 bear, the best t . rorIoHoo ,ntltnAa, fr nrnna. gatlon. Nurserymen, as a rule, are not careful enough in this respect and take scions from any trees so long as it Is of the desired variety. II. L. H. About Cow Testing. Prof. Fraser of the Illinois Experi ment Station says that a complete knowledge and mastery of the dairy business cannot be secured without testing each cow. Many farmers and dairymen think this testing of the cows Is too much trouble, and do not want to "fuss" around with It, but if they considered the profits to be realized from a herd of really good cows as compared with one of poor cows, or even a mixed herd, they would soon see that it really pays to "fuss" around with the scales and Babcock test. Where one cow will give good returns for her feed and care there may be another ln the stall next to her that is not paying her board, but is eating up the profits from the paying cow. But how Is the owner to know this if he does not test them? A pair of scales and a tester do not cost much, but they pay big profits on the Investment. Aatricoltaral Extension. One method employed by the State agricultural colleges of reaching the farm boys and girls of the country is through departments of agricultural ex tension. Such departments have been established at most of the older col leges and they are doing a vast amount of good. The extension department of Ohio is one worthy of the attention of the agricultural world, for through its monthly bulletins thousands of chil dren and teachers in the State have been interested ln farm education who would otherwise have never heard of the college and what It is doing. . Vaccination of Hoa-s. Secretary Wilson states in his anim al report that blood serum from hogs which have been proved to be Immune to hog cholera has been used in vacci nating other hogs, which are thus pro tected from cholera for about three weeks, as shown by experiments. If blood from diseased hogs, however, Is injected with the serum the protection extended to about three and a half niontna. Cultivation of Potatoes. Cultivation should commence Just as soon as the young plants begin to ap pear above the ground. The field may be gone over with a light harrow, or, better still, with a weeder. This Is a cheap method of cultivation, since a wld space is covered. It Is also effec tive ln breaking any crust that may have formed, In destroying small weeds and leveling ridges left ln planting. As soon as the rows can be seen the cultivator should be used. If the ground has become packed the first cultivation may be deep and close to tne plants. subsequent cultivation should be frequent. The conservation of moisture by frequent tillage cannot be too strongly eu forced. The old no tion that tillage must cense as soon as the blossom appears Is wrong. It should be continued as late In the sen son as the vines will permit. As the tops begin to spread out and cover the space between the rows they partially shade the soil and thus lessen the loss of moisture by evaporation. The cultivator should be set as nar row as the space between nnd keep It covered with a loose mulch. Experi ence and experiments favor nearly lev el cultivation. Excessive hilling in tensifies the injurious effects of dry weather. The best cultivator Is one having a number of small teeth, so that It will leave the soil fine nnd compara tively level. Pitch Fork Attachments. In gathering up freshly cut grass or hay, etc., with a pitchfork a small quantity adheres to the prongs of the fork each time a pile is lifted. In a short while the fork becomes clogged and useless, It being necessary to remove each par ticle by hand. In order that this cleaning may be done almost auto matically, a Wls-I consin man has de- cleans off hax. signed the attachment for pitchforks shown here. A transverse clearer bar Is arranged below the tines of the fork, guides on each end of the bar partly encircling the end prongs, permitting the bar to slide freely on the prongs. Pivoted on the handle of the fork is a bar which connects with other bars ex tending to the cleaning bar and to a sleeve which slides on the handle. By moving the sleeve on the handle the cleaning bar slides over the prongs of the fork, removing anything adhering to them. Dressing Chickens for Market. Have them In proper flesh and keep them from feed at least twenty-four hours before killing. Cut the throat so they will fcleed properly, leaving the head on. Scald in water that is not too hot, ln order to have the skin nice and smooth when dressed. A large kettle with plenty of water is much better than a boiler or small kettle. Draw entrails from a small aperture, crop end of wing bone over base of wing bone in front and back. When they have become perfectly cold by hanging by the feet, cut the head off smoothly close to the ears, nearly, and the skin will remain in place. This Is better than cutting the head off with hatchet or ax at killing, and tying sklD over end of neck. Poultry Tips. Eggs need to be turned ln the incu bator. Don't neglect It. Make the nests handy not only to clean out but to gather the eggs from. The wet grass is- no place for the young chicks to run unless they are ex pected to die of crampB. Fowls like green food as well aa an other class of stock. They need it In their business, so It Is good policy to keep them supplied. A bushel of grain a year for each laying hen Is said to be the proper amount to count on in estimating the cost of keeping poultry. Pis Pen Pointers. When fed dry, shelled corn is more economical than cornmeal to feed tc fattening hogs. The swine breeder Is responsible not only for the conditions he provides but for those he permits. The boy and the pig, generally speak ing, are the Important factors on the American 6tock farm. Desirable breeding qualities ln a herd are fixed by a long line of care - ful selection and breeding. , i When an all-com ration Is fed to growing pigs the muscles of the body ; do not develop to their normal size. To secure the best results care should be taken to feed the hogs according to age, conditions and time of marketing. In selecting breeding stock It Is an ,. . . . ., 1 , , noted for fertility, as this Is an Inner - 1 . 1 .,.it. ited quality. In the Sheep Fold. But don't neglect the old sheep. Feed them at the right time and In the right place. There Is that sheep with-hair la place of wooL Get her out of the flock, 1 iMii im wuhl w ire aiLer. not nair nil ii seem. Hrh of Edward IV. of H.gland, 1(503 Drury Lane theater, London., first opened. 1G82 La Salle descended the Mississippi and took possession of Louisiana. 1783 End of American Revolutionary war proclaimed by Congress. 1795 Marriage of George IV. of England and Caroline of Brunswick. 1798 Mississippi territory established. 1S08 Roman Catholic archdiocese of Baltimore established. 1814 Allied British and Spanish army entered the city of Toulouse, France ....The English under Wellington defeated the French under Sowlt at Toulouse. 1815 United States bank rechartered for twenty years, with a capital of $36V 000,000. 1816 First A. M. E. church organised. 1829 "General" William Booth, founder of the Salvation army, born in Not tingham. l&SO Mexico forbade further immigra tion from the United State. 1848 Most Rev. Randall Thomas David son, archbishop of Canterbury, bora. 1854 English vessel Furious, with a flag of truce, fired on at Odessa, one of the first hostile acts of the Crimeao war. 1861 Outbreak of the last great insur rection in Poland. 1863 Federal forces attacked Fort 8u ra ter. 1865 Gen. Lee surrendered to Gen. Grant at Appomattox Court House. I860 Civil Rights bill passed over Presi dent Johnson's veto. 1873 Gen. Edward R. S. Canby murder ed by the Modoc Indians in nortliern California. 1891 First locomotive passed through the St. Clair tunnel. 1894 Bering sea proclamation issned by President Cleveland. 1897 Peru suspended the coinage of sil ver.... War declared betweea Greece and Turkey. 1898 President McKinley sent a Mes sage on Cuba to Congress. .. .Battle of the Atbaxa. 1900 Gen. MacArthur succeeded Gen. Otis as commander in the Philip pines. 1903 King Alexander of Servia suspend ed the constitution of that country ....United States Court of Appeals declared the Northern Securities Company merger illegal. 1904 Mrs. Botkin convicted of morder in San Francisco. 1905 Battleship Minnesota launched at Newport News. 1907 Lord Cromer resigned as British agent and consul general in Egypt. . . United States Supreme Court decid ed the Isle of Pines was not Ameri can territory. In two colleges serious riots have oc curred. At Ann Arbor the Michigan Uni versity students subdued the local police and wrecked a theater which had eject ed one of their number. More than a score of them later were arrested and thrown into jail. At Georgetown College, Washington, D. C, 150 students turned the fire hose on one of the priests, smash ed the crockery in the dining room and marched in a body from the grounds be cause their request for a vacation on St. Patrick's day had been refused. President Jordan and the trustees of Stanford university have held their ground against the recent student revolt and the undergraduates as a body are again at work. The effort to get an agreement to withdraw signed by 250 students, failed, although much bitter feeling remains, due to the action of the faculty in suspending several students concerned in the revolt. President Jor dan says that the present trouble arose from the determination of the authorities to get rid of student drunkenness. Beginning Oct. 1 this year, by an ar rangement between the government of Prussia and the Carnegie Foundation for tn Advancement of Teaching, from twen- ty-nve to fifty American teachers who have graduated at some college and taught t OM ypar in a rojpge or h?g gchooI mat visit the schools of Prussia with all expenses paid by the Prussian government. Similarly. Prussian teachers will visit American schools. The trustees of the University of Wy oming have removed President F. M. Tia- del on charges of maladministration, in subordination and untruthfulness. Tisdel 'had charsed ,hp ,nisf with hurti 1 . .... the university by political machinations. He is a nephew of United States Senator Clark. The board of managers of Swarthmoro college has declined to accept land and J coal property bequeathed to the institu- , , V- a- M 7 , tion in int(,reoiiegi.te athletic sport. an4 same etas