ff A Political Vendetta «V WELDON J. COBB - K>— — cald. gloat vault of the great rotten Con chapter II. A vision of fairy-land; a ter­ aolidated Silver Company ! rac'd rise overlooking a vernal valley, a Then the mask fell. He turned from ata rely marble edifice, pa lace-like in rich sentimeut, emotion, tv the stern, merciless facttie and minaretted roof thia set in mission that had brought him hither. the midst of a ¿ardru full of sweetness, He glanced toward the drooping man taste nbd grandeur. before him. put but hla hand and touched t^n a lower level were as many as fifty bis limp and nerveless arm. The other neat new frame dwelling» in various suddenly started - aroused by the touch. •I ages of construction, but none occupied He starei! in confusion, then surprise— - death or desolation held dumb thia por­ and then the cold, haughty bearing of the tion of the singular landscape. aristocrat disguised hia recent weakness. Again, at the lowermost grade of the “How came you here?” he began. grassy slope black, grim stacks arose Gideon quickly produced a card. It from a wilderness of frame and stone fac­ bore two words.; his simple name, in aim- tory buildings—but there were no brist­ pk\ modest type. ling. red-lighted windows: all was cold, The courteous gentleman ever, he arose, dark and lifeless. Here, too, was silence, his hat removed, hia voice modulated low d.'ep and mournful—a dead or sleeping and respectfully. city of industry. “I do not know you------ ** There wa* light only at the palace on “1 am nobody, nothing of myself,** an­ the hill. Toward it. up the cindered nounce«! Gideon bluntly: “but I came for road, smooth as a race course and bor­ a great purpose. Now. Albert Tremaine. dered with a neatly cut stretch of sward, I have traveled a thousand miles to ask a man plodded his way in the gossamer you a single simple question.** moonlight—Gideon Hope. The latter regard*»«! him as though hr He was five years older than upon that were a madman—or a trickster spreading eventful night when the star of his des­ some specious snare. tiny had net in clouds of storm, disaster “The question,** hr said, however, con­ and svcrnw. but the stalwart fur:« was trolling rhe Instincts of caste—he. who. yet straight as a sapling—that face, in his time, had l»een a nabob of the which always reminded of the faces one nabobs. sometimes sees on old Komnu medals, pre­ “1 wish to verify rumor, report. You served its original statuesque dignity and will listen to me patiently—till yon know contour—only, the eyes were deeper set. the purpose that underlie« what may seem the hj» closer drawn. to you impertinence,** He had pushed up his bat from his “Proceed. sir.” brow, as Chough he wery fevered and the “You are the man. the multi-million­ falling dew a grateful boon. Once he aire of yesterday, who was drawn into the paused, to sweep with a glance, first sar­ net of a clever industrial ring, and— donic and then almost sad. the deserted fleeced.** factories, the silent homes, the towering The other’s fare became ghastly. He residence on the hill-top. Immediately this passing interest departed—his mind half arose, as if to resent the candid, seemed to react upon itself, his head torturing remarks. “Be patient.” said Gideon, calmly: his drooped, and he resumed his way with the firm, studied stride of a man with a defi­ eye and its power subduing his boot, as he intended that it should. “I will be brief. nite purpose, a goal in view. Like a thunderbolt from pure heaven You were drawn into a ‘gentleman’s agree­ had fallen the announcement of the chief ment.’ Thera was a ‘pool? Into it you of police that dreadful night in the long threw your bolding*, your millions. You ago—its memory wa* with this man now. tmated men whom you believed to be as it bad been night and day. unceasingly strictly honorable. You were given this place as your ‘share.* this town, with one through the long, dragging years. He recalled, eten now. words he had reservation : the mills here and the ma­ spoken, questions he bad asked, mechan­ chinery were to remain the pool possm sion.” ically. like a man under a leaden spell: “You are well informed.” bitterly inter­ “Who shut my brother in that trap of polated Mr. Albert Tremaine—“but all death?” the world knows now !” ‘‘It will never be known.”* “You are a good man, a just man, “Who was last seen about the worksF Mr. Tremaine.” proceeded Gideon. “You “The manager.** fancied, in the arrangement thus made, “His name?” “One of his names is Percival Keene.” that you saw the opportunity of carrying out a philanthropic plan, long and nobly “W here fir he F cherished. Yourself and your daughter “Vanished—like the others.” strove unselfishly for a model industrial “You can give me his pictnreF You “Yes—but he has twenty aliases, a city filled with model workmen. erected this magnificent home, you beau­ eoya! fortune to dissipate in obacurity.” tified yonder road stretches; you started “I shall find him!’* That had been hie object, his one mo­ Those substantial, comfortable homes for your workmen. I>id you not own it ail? tive for life. Since then Gideon Hope In ten years would not the natural rise had hunted half the globe. To his quick mind the truth was plain. in property doubly repay youF Tremaine’s head sank low in humilia His unsuspecting brother had visited the works. Lad made some vital discovery of tion and grief at a thought of the reality the company's rottenness—fatal informa­ promised, never attained. “What happenedF continued Hope. tion. which would mean prison and ruin for the schemers. He had died with his “The men. your partners, on a given day. voted to dismantle the mill, transfer rhe Secret! Who bad shut him in? It might never machinery to other distant works of the be discovered. But there was one respon­ pool. That meant rhe ruin, the death, of O’* town, its desertion by your proteges, sible head of rascality—“Percival the blasting of your hopes. Practically, Keane F This sweet, soft summer evening Gid­ it pauperised you.” “Yes!” eon Hope knew at last that he had suc­ ceeded -he had found bis man. “Out of all. you can not now realize Vp the hill and on be plodded. Now what was once a mere yearly salary. They the elr-gant mansion was squarely before have tied up the active dividends. You him: what a paradise*. are a frozen-out, deluded victim—the jeer, From a sumptuous lonnging room a the gibe of a directory of seemingly hon­ colored lamp* th-ew opales*ent glinting orable men—really, polished scoundrels.” rays across a sheltered, screened porch. “Yes!” A man. august and noble of visage, oc­ “I have come to you,” said Gideon, cupied a large chair. quietly, “to turn the tables.” Before him fluttered a feminine form Tremaine stared at him in wonder. arrayed in fleecy white, with a face so “I have come to you,” continued Gid­ radiantly rare and beautiful that Gideon eon. arising to his majestic height, some­ Hope, pausing, bad eyes only for her for thing of the old flash and fire coming into the moment. his face and eye, “to enable you to regain She put a newspaper, some cigars, a what you have lost, to make as the dust cup of some invigorating mixture at the under your feet those who sold you. I eltjow of the occupant of the chair upon aim at all, but I strike at one man—the a delicate little stand. head of the combination, Percy V. Kane.” lie nodded, forced a dismal, wan smile. At the mention of that name the fam­ Fhe rarpased him tenderly, and vanished ous iron master grew whiter, and sick at through the open French window. heart. He gasped : Gideon had come up the winding gravel “Curse him—because of her—my child walk slowly. Now. in shadow, he stood —deprived of the wealth, the position, •nd watched the man as he sat alone. the aspirations of a noble girlhood—curse The latter arose with a fierce, restless him !” sigh. He walked to the edge of the porch, “I strike at one man !” repeated Gid­ pressed his face to a north screen, and eon, and bis own features seemed turned bis vision could thus take in at one to stone. sweep all the salient points of the glori­ “WhyF ous landscape. “I shall not tell you. My motive shall But its beauties evidently had no not interfere with yours. I tell you what charms for him—even at a distance his I mean and what I can do: Within one face and manner showed that what he year, I promise, I swear, that the infam­ saw depressed and excite*! him alike. He threw out a hand with an express­ ous pool that wrecked your life shall I m » ive gesture—like one in mute, choking baffled. beat»n, at your behpst—you, the master; that this man. this fiend. Percy de*l>air: tottered hade to his seat. His head sank in his bands, his frame shook Kane, shall cringe at your feet—at mine —for merry !” with deep internal emotion. “You tempt me—revenge!” Gideon came up the steps. “I inspire you—justice!” solemnly pro­ He noiselessly opened the outer screen door, silently approached th* table, and nounced Gideon Hope. “Are yon a wizard, to pledge this?” sank into a chair opposite the other— “As you like—but I ran keep my word.” unheard, unseen. “You must possess a mighty weapon?” His eye dwelt momentarily on the win “Yea—polities !” dow wj>ac<* where that fairy vision of It was enigmatical, the reply—vague, grace and loveliness had fluttered a mo­ unsatisfactory—yet something of the mas­ ment before. His glance wandered past the exquisite ter genius in Gideon Hope’s nature flash­ draperies, across a rug worth its weight ed out with searchlight distinctness and In gold made In far away Persian looms, impressed the other fully. “Is it worth the effort—are you suf­ and then up the decorated wall to a ful! ficiently interested to listen to the details length oil painting. This seemed to apeak—it waa In color of my plans—in confidenceF “In confidence, of course. You are a •nd expression the faithful presentiment of the beautiful girl who had just passed remarkable man!” “No—only a wronged one. It Is a before it. mighty plan I have to submit. To shrink, the ordeal ones fared would be craven. CHAPTER III. Gideon nope’« eye softened—a rapt You shall enter on this agreement with longing sadness drove from his face some your eyes open. And then trust In me, in my inspiration. In my power, abso­ of its natural grim fierceness. In those sweet eyes was a latent some lutely.” The words thrilled, they were holy as thing that reminded of the fair bright spirit gone down to horrible death in the a hosanna, something of the spirit of a prophet arrnurd brathil Into their mys- tsricu« «Ignlfi-anc* Trvmaiar n*gai«h*l («id-on ll«p« fix- adly. 11« could imt irsst tbu man mh«r- wi«r tbsp «vrtoualy. tlmugh « tlrsugrr. an utter «1 ranger, to him. and lamiiertng with hia very heartstring* I” “To regain, to imuiali,'* hr muetnura* ■'There i« one vital element, one ran- tral polut, that mwat be primarily scradrd to, or the thing i* iuqxuuiible,“ «p«k« Gideon Hope, oracularly. "Ami that i»r "Your daughtvr." The aristocratic «-heel res ml—the gen- tieman. the father, spike ill the chillis* austerity nisnifrateil by tbe iron master. "Sir!” he crlrtl. "No listen. She is the pivot on whlra all sutvess must turn she lhe uMitis|iring that guide* controls. To my plan, blind ly, unqiK-slioningly, she must lend her beauty, her smra. her very life. A len­ der. gentle ladv oh. truly! but from the strong ordeal she will come unspoil««k anj —victorious!" "No!" Tremaine clench«*! his hands. “Sir." he said, with dignity, "this 1« a wild leioptatioa. an unheard ot proposi­ tion !" "Then it is uselrw*“ said Gin his own. so magnetic, so clear, and yet so troubl«*!. “Sir," she said, in a voi«-e that thrillsti him, "I base hearJ your propiaitltm. I will answer for myself. Injustice, «-ruelty, has been done us. Father, l trust this man." She put out her fair, dainty hands, ana rested them confidently, pleadingly. In the strong, earnest grasp of Gideon Hope. tTo be <*»>iina- aou aud make tbeir beadquartera at rortlaial, Gregory. Tarpou, lt««-kport ami other pla-v-a clom- to the water* ot the bay, says the Kansas City Star. In previous years when there was no game law In Texas to protect the wild fowl, professional market hunters op­ erated along tbe gulf coast aud slaugh­ tered tb«‘ ducks by the carload each sea son. This woeful dratructlou of wild game In Texas Is now a thing of the past. TbcMK who were engaged In ftie marketing of wild ducks made au effort before tbe last Legislature to have these fowl exempt from tbe provision of tbe law, but they were uot success­ ful. The owners of ponds and lakes which afforded unusually fine f«**llng ground for the ducks made big fortum-s out of killing uim I marketing tbe fowls be­ fore tbe game law was ena<-t«l. It 1* relate.<««> to piO.OOO each year from tbe sale of wild ducks which were killed by professional buutera and sportsmen at bls lake. Tbe water is shallow and wild rice grows abundant­ ly along Its sbor«*i and In Its 1**1. Aa s««>n as the weather begins to get -*xd the ducks literally swarm upon the wa­ ters of this lake. The owner. In addi­ tion to having a number of prote*sb>nal hunters constantly etuploye«l. also grauletl jieruiisslon to sisirtsnien to visit the lake, with the provision that they were to leave on the ground for mar­ ket purposes all ducks, over a limited number. Hint they might kill. W. J. Bryan has been on two hunts at this lake. On each occasion he was the guest of tbe lat«‘ Gov. Hogg. The sports­ men and professional hunters do their shooting from bliixls. The lake Is still a favorite resort for duck hunters, but the enormous annual revenue which It formerly brought to Its owner la now cut <»ff. The law now provide* that no hunter shall kill to exceed twenty-five duck* In one day. .Marketing the fowls la absolutely prohibited. Before legal re­ striction* were placed upon tills spirt it was no uncommon thing to »* pll«*a of dead dueka laying upon the banting grounds ami around the lodging plio-ra of sportsmen. The fowls were slaugh­ ter«*!, It is said, for tbe mere desire to i kill. It Is said by s|xirtstn n that one or I two hours of g««xl Hlexitlng a day ought ,'o satisfy the most ardent hunter. IF Is an easy matter to kill the limit of | twenty-five ducks In one day. When this Is accomplished the hunter usually goes after quail, or, If the conditions are favorable, he takes a look around for deer. In the artesian well region between Portland an«l Brownsville the ducks were more abundant this M-nson than ever before. This probably Is due to the fact that the water from the well* has formed many small pond* an«! lake* upon the ranches and the f«*edlng ground is fine for the fowls. F. tV. Fitzpatrick, consulting archl- t&l of the International Society of Building Comiiilsaloners, says the fire loss In the United Htatca every year Is 0100,000,000 greater than the nmount spent In new construction. In this estimate la Included the money paid annually for insurance and the cost of fighting Are. The number of Cblnrwe arattered throughout the world outalde of the Chinese empire la (Iren officially at 6,708,120 RECORD DRF.AKINO CLIMB Wnman ««-al»« Illahes« M< iwm «*I* I* * llalght et aa,«*«»» Fee«. Nllr«**»« from th« Air. A detail«*! a«**ount of lhe progivs» of th«» worka now In course of erection <>i> the falla of tin* Kvaelgloa at Nugod«!eu. In Norway, for the Mqiaratlou of atmoa pilerie nitrogen, on the aysttnu of M.'exrs lUrkelaml am! Eyd* I* given In La Naturo. Them- work* ar«* the property of a French compauy. and the available power la stated at Sd.ism b--n** power. A amxmd undertaking on a far larger arale la now iu course of construction to make urn* of th«* falls ot Itjukan. where uot less than 3MV mio horse power will be utllls<*l. Pho­ tograph* show that the buildings are now cumiiletml. ami that much of the machinery Is In place. The factory Is contain«*) In two setatrate division* the hydrtx-lts'lrie gctirratiiig atatlou ata! (he chemlcnl works. Imtslts of tla- revolving furtia«*-* with the Inter na I electrode* and the flame are* urr given. I.et XV >• mew lien Iweuhatup. Please do not get the Idea that the Incutmlor 1» so everlastingly aulomatl.- that you do nut uecd to give It any at­ tention. The result with the use of an Incubator Is a great d<**l like the re­ sults with the use of other thing* They will I»* In pru|x>rtlou to the effort you make to a great extent. Of course I am tad |ienk>tiall,v acquainted with you. but aa a l«mg distance pro|x>altlon I would a heap sight rather you would turn your machine over to your wtfe Tbe women folks have more natural gixxl «ense in rulslug poultry, ami you call tiet your lux.la they hxik after the tteniilcs and dltuc* In whatever they undertake. While a man that Is accua tomtsl to dealing In big money often overhsika aeemltgly Immaterial thing* that g-> to make the uw of Incubators and hnmdrt) it sui***«*—.M. .M John sou. Nebraska. Every mutt who work* oil * farm ought to kn6w lu>w to car* fur hor*«< Itjr "-•are’4 It la not meant that lis should know Just enough tn feed a horse, but lie must know how to take care of a mare In foal. how to break a cult ami bow to trait It to the twat ml vantage, lie should know all about Itoraea* fret and something shout shoe­ ing, too. Many a man Ims dropped Into a hue atul is-rmanent Job because he knew these tiling* lloraes are the moat valuable animal* on the farm, of course, amt the man who can take the best ear* of them I* the most valuable help. < ben**« In Fartaln*. Farmlug la imi wliat II wua twcnty yvar* ago front a n-vemie ataml|*ilnt. (Viro ami cotton w«-ro thè malli prod­ urla from whlcli thè fartuer drew lila Incoine, and thnt, tao, ouly once a year Now thè pi*«**« lina cbaugivl tip. In- «temi of thè una crup, coltoti, tarmi-r* bave iuvoked a multlplldty ut crup* ami noi ouly gruw corti ami cottoli for rvvenue. bui bave auppleiuented i»>ta- tue*. tn>th Irl.h and aweet ; poncho« ami la-ara. oiilona, indoli* In-rrlca, |n*anuta ami rlbtmii cane, all of whlch brliig money ut «il *ea»ui« of thè yaar. and there la a contlnued market (or what ho ha* to seti.- Sulpliur 8|>rliig* (Tea.) Gaxette. tirswlN« Date* 1« Teas«. An esperh-ntvsl date grower of (’all- tomia who visited the lower It Io Grande region of Texas two year* ago dls«s>vrmt large mimls-ra of «late ¡uilm- (rw* Mime of them very old but all of which were barren, lie proiswed u> pollenlae the trees artificially and share Ui the proeved* a pru|sialllon which waa eagerly ae I d - afford to have one, as It will save Its coat the Itrst a«*nM>n and will last for twenty years. You ran du a* much work with one of them aa ten IlM’U with hand bmw and do It better. Frail Jury from the midge and usually give a better yield of seed. When US i»er cent of the heads are a dead brown color the mower may be set to work The illnwtratlon shows a linger like mowing inaehlne attachment for bunch­ ing and laying the clover out of H m » way of the horses. To Prereot Tomato Rat, The disease often attacks plant* that are not sprayed. It 1« first noticeable as small black or brown *|Mits on the lea VPS and st«*m« of the plants. <»nir ring first on the lower mid older Isaivea. but with favorable w«*atber It tmreade rapidly till the plant is e Innumerable small, crescent shai«*ecliilly in fruit orchivds. where a plow Is liable to tear MP luirge roots atnl start suckers to growing ujt where the root Is cut. ftatlon for Cow«. Experiments conducted last year at the West Virginia Agricultural Ktatlon go to show that, whip- n ration of grain given to cows that are on pasture may keep them In somewhat better physical condltllon and keep up their flow of milk, the Increase In butter fat Is not sufficient to pny for the coat of the grain ration. This would aeern to lie on the assumption of a flush pasture and that the cows would eel additional gras* to take the place of the higher- priced grain ration. * I.esnmlnona Crop«. Traa at fh<» MAY FIRE3. Auelent Seotrh <'u««am XX til-h valve* llamwa s*crl*ee. Rarer«. August is tlte time to l-aik for txirv-rs l>lg the soil sway around the stems of fruit trees to the depth of 3 Inch«*«. scrape the hark with a knife, and If any aawiluat or exuding gum Is found It la time to get to work. I»lg out the borer and wash the uncovered parts with a mixture of mift <**w dung. Ilm«« wtxxl ashes nnd a little erode carbolic add. Then return the aoll. The qulnra. •Iwarf pear ami |*-ad> treea are yir- tlcularly affect«-«! by this (»eat (àrem ling. Lnat «vHiwm fanners of the South west were greatly nlnnii<»«| over the ii|»- (MMinincc of the wheat pinot louse, rotn- iikjiily known ita the grt«en bug. They Anni« * IVek I» U» »»»•«•« perstaten» iiKiuiitaln èiliuber of her m * x ami no irne who knows th«* history of la*r slrug- gira against III for­ um» amt renllaea her I n <1 o ni I laid« pluck will full to feel a m * u «* <*f per- Minai «allafnctlun at ths au«*v«a of her latest venturo. It la reported from Lima. Peru, that Mia* Peck ha* as­ cended I lun •■'« ran tn t he height of i'.t.mai feet, the highest laiiiit ever ' attain«*! by man or woman. Mias Peck hml previously rm" «•• South Aiiierh-ii twice to climb thia mountain, tin an earlier trial alie waa «ximpelled to give up the attempt after reaching a height of 1T.B00 feet, owing to the cowardice of her guhle* By reaching au altitude of 2fi.«O (eet Mia* Pack haa aacended higher than any other person, man or woman. In the world. The previous r<*sir«t was held by W. W. Graham, who reached a height of S.t.Min feet In the Himalaya* Ml«e Pis-tr began her m«im»f»ln Hltnle Ing In IKH.t. when all" srsle«l the Mat- terliorn Mhe aacemlcd .MsUfit K-irnia, In B-dlvla. ranchingV height of 'JOl-*8|0 feet. Itu'i«'nriiu. or Hiutacan, towers above a m>i:ible group of v«dci>nle sum­ mit* In the aonth «f Peru to lhe West­ ward of the great plateau In which Lake Tlteem-s II«-* Ml«a Peck haa surmount«*«! almost miiHVMlble obatsel«** chief among lItem the lack of mean*. Ml«« l‘r--k »«« at oli» tini» protesMir In a Western <*ol- lege, hut for many years ahe ha* laa*n ae of ob­ taining material for her lecture*. It has t»*en her ambition to climb lliias- «mran. r«*puted the hlgli«*nt inmintaln In the world, which all the climber* of th« world had failed to ascend. Kha haa haer«lat"il Io the face of constant dia «xiitra gemelli and has «tnrtmt on h«*r mlMilon each tints with Im rely enough money to take tier tlir-aigb her ach«d- ule, with no allowance for acvhlent and with hut M-anty equipment. 8nt men I rake, which lhey bnki*t ti|xiti it «tune |iln<**l In the «*iil*-ra. When they liiul eaten the cuatnrd. they illvli|<*| th» cake Into ns many «*|ual portfcUMl aa there were persons In tin- asm-inhly nml ilaulied one of tliom- piece* with char­ coal until It wa* |x-rf«*-tly black. They they p!a<**l all the pieces of the caae together In n bonnet, and each In turn drew one blindfolded, the holder of tho Ixinnet tiring entltl«*l to the last pl«***. The Ixiy who dr«-«» the blackened por­ tion wa* tlnnl to lie aner1fi<-<*t ami waa compell«*! to leap three tint«** through the flame*. Although the <*-rrm«iny had drgen- -■rat«*l Into a mere imstlme for hoy*. It Is evident thnt It muat on<*> tipoti it time have Involved the a-tmil mcrlfico -if a human Ix-lng In order to render the <■<■ tnlng summer fruitful. Gi'idiemnn'e Magazine. rained a t rettici-dot}* amount of dam- age. but thia year It* ravage* were much lea*. owing to the ap|>earmi<*e of a paraalte b«*e which destroys the bug. The her lays Its eggs on the laxly of the gr«-en bug. I which are shown tn the j picture on the wheat leaf. When the eggs hatch out the larva* feed on the bug until they be«-ome baaa, I when they lay more egg* on the bugs, nml this prix*- «■as la refx*ate ii Mugí» Iwfora Garrick np|»-nrml. and ns Ills blase of their l»-st friends.—Exchange. excellence threw all others Into <*om- Grosvlntf Ma»*rla. puratlve Inslgnlficamv* she never for­ Mangels grown continuously on I the gave hint nml t«H>k every opportunity suine lami for four year*, yielded over of venting her spleen. Kh«* was coarm*, nine tons of roots, containing one ton rude amt violent In her temper and of dry matter, while on land under ro­ spared tmhody. tation they yielded thirty-four Ions of One nlglit as Garrick was |ierforin- roots and four ions of dry nintter per Ing “King I»*nr" she stiaal liehlml the acre, at the New York Cornell Experi­ MTnew to obMTv«» him and, In aplte of ment Ktatlon. From 2r«.,«to minute mid s I iiimm I him the next, and plants of carrots, per acre, are sug­ at length, overcome hy his pnthetlc gested as proper atnnda. t