I OREGON STATE ITEMS OF INTEREST I
OREGON RICH IN GOOD OIL.
Reported Big Strike Hat Been Made
in Malheur County.
Vale Every day's boring in. the
Vale oil fields increases the certainty
that Oregon is destined to become one
of the greatest oil producing states in
the country, say prospector and oil ex
perts who have witnessed the results
of the well-sinking now in progress
by half a dozen different companies in
Northern Malheur county.
The Malehur Oil & Gas company, af
ter sinking a well 1,700 feet and get
ting well into a chocolate formation,
which is regarded as a sure forerunner
of oil, capped the well and refuse ab
solutely to allow visitors to approach
it This action is believed by others
operating in the district to have been
prompted by the fast that oil was act
ually struck in the Malheur well and
that the company prosecuting the de
velopment work has some reason for
not allowing it to become known that
oil has actually been found in commer
cial quantities. The Baker-Malheur
company is down 900 feet and has let
a contract for sinking its well 1,100
feet deeper, having taken this action
after oil expetts from Pennslyvania
and California had expressed the be
lief that oil would be struck at a depth
of 1800 to 2000 feet
The Columbia Oil & Gas company,
which is largely owned in Spokane, is
down 1200 feet with a 12 inch drill
and is passing through the same form
tion that was found in the cel
ebrated Kern river district in South
ern California. It was from this well
that the sample of oil was procured by
the special government representative
of the geological survey whose report
on the discovery resulted in a recom
mendation being made by Secretary
of the Interior Ballinger that the whole
district be withdrawn from entry and
reserved as a source of fuel supply lor
the future use of the United States
navy.
The well being sunk by the East
em Oregon Oil company is down
800 feet and has passed through, two
stratas of oil sand. The drill in this
well recently encountered hot salt wa
ter, which is regarded as a sure indica
tion of oil in commercial quantities.
The Mammoth Oil & Gas company is
another of the companies sinking a
well in the district. This company is
owned by mun who have operated in
other oil fields, and they express the
greatest confidence in the district
, One of the best drilling rigs in the dis
trict has just been set up by the Vale
Oil & Gas company, which is prepared
to expend 125,000 in developing its
claim. D. M. Hunt, who has had 25
years' experience in the oil fields of
West Virginia, Ohio and California,
, and who is now superintending the de
velopment work of one of the largest
concerns operating in the Vale oil
fields, says:
"The Vale district is the most
promising that I have ever seen, and I
shall be greatly surprised if it does not
turn out to be one of the greatest oil
producing sections of the United
States." .
Buys Apple Land.
Pleasant Ridge Dr. J. A. Pettit,
S. C. Pier and Stanhope Pier have re
cently purchased a 400 acre tract of
apple land at Pleasant Ridge, Wasco
county, 12 miles south of The Dalles.
The land is to be planted in the best
varieties of apples and sold in 10 acre
tracts. An abundance of water may
be had for irrigation purposes, which
it is proposed to bring to the tract
The country around Pleasant Ridge la
very similar to the Hoed River dis
trict, the soil and climate being much
the same, and it is believed by scien
tific apple growers that the famous
Hood River apple will grow to perfec
tion there.
Bast Peach Land In Oregon.
Portland W. H. Lang Co., have
old the Cliff farm, located on the Wil
lamette river 18 miles above Portland
and two miles from Canby.. It has
one half mile of river front, boat land
ing on the place and is one of the best
located farms en the Willamette River,
is nearly all improved, has fairly good
buildings and ia well stocked. The
v consideration was $18,750.. It contains
, 160 acres, part of which is the best
peach land in Oregon. The peaches
off 460 trees adjoining this land this
season sold for 1 1,600.
Water Fight Promised.
1 Siilem Judge William Galloway, Id
tlio equity division of the circuit court
for MHrion county, has granted an or
' dor allowing State Senator Hart, of
linker county, io file a writ of review
demanding that the state board of water
control be required to remand Its order
relating to the proposed irrigation pro
jeet of Thief valley. Senator Hart rep
resents t lie Cookingliam and rinklon
burg interests, who are attempting to
gain rights in tho valley.
Local Men Invest In Apple Land.
Winston Dr. Byron E. Milller and
Henry Foe. a retired capitalist from
v Duluth, Minn., have closed a deal with
T. R. Sheridan, president of the First
National bank of Roaeburg, for the
purchase of a portion of the Sheridan
and Agee holdings of apple lands, lo
cated near Winston. This is one of
the choicest tracts of fruit lands io
Southern Oregon. The purchasers in
tend planting about 250 acres of the
tract to commercial apples during the
coming year. " '
SURVEYORS FINISH WORK
Now Ready to Establish a Permanent
Survey to Klamath Falls
Klamath Falls Southern Pacific
surveyors who have been establishing
the permanent survey between Klam
ath Falls and Natron have completed
the work and have departed for Red
ding, Cal., where they are to take up
the permanent survey of the road from
Redding to Alturas and thence to this
city. Large forces are employed on
the road- to the north of Klamath
Falls. Winter quarters have been es
tablished. About three miles north of
Klamath Falls a small temporary city
has been established. In this vicinity
it is necessary to make several deep
cuts and large fills. It will require
several months to complete thaae diffi
cult undertakings. Construction camps
are strung out for a distance of more
than 20 miles.
New Partner in Weston Mill.
Weston E. S. Isaac, of Walla
Walla, one of the northwest's most
successful flouring mill men, has pur
chased an interest in the Weston flour
ing mill. The mill has been running
with power from a large gas engine,
but under the new management it is
probable that the long contemplated
plan of using the waters of Pine creek
during a portion of the year for pow
er will be put into execution.
Several thousand bushels of wheat
still rnmain in the bands of farmers in
this section, who are holding out for
the expected" $1 a bushel." Never
theless, close to 8.000 bushels were
bought by Frank Price the past week,
the agent here for the Kerr-Gifford
company, paying 95 cents per buBhel,
Petition for Train.
Salom A petition signed by several
hundred people residing along the line
of the Corvallis & Eastern railroad, be
tween Albany and Hoover, was for
warded to the railroad commission by
K. L. Payne, asking for a train for the
passenger truflic alone. The petition
sets forth that patrons of the road are
compelled to use a logging train, and
that it takes five hours to go from
Hoover to Albany, a distance of 58
miles.
A.-Y.-P Prize Certificates Received
Salem Certificates for grand prizes
awarded to the state of Oregon for its
general educational display, for its
hops, wool and complete display of
woods at the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific ex
position have been received by Govern'
or Benson. A certificate of honorable
mention for the flax display from this
state was also received.
Hood River Will Pave Streets.
Hood River It has been . decided
that Hood River will have paved
streets before another winter. - It is
estimated that it will cost between
$50,000 and $60,000 to da the project
ed street work.
Oil Near Dufur.
Dufur J. E. Porter, who has been
drilling a well at Three Mile, struck a
small now of oil at a depth of 167 feet.
Operation has been stopped and a com
pany is Doing lormea to raise money
to sink a deep well.
PORTLAND MARKETS
Wheat Track prices : Bluestem,
$1211.22; club, $1.10; red Russian,
$1.08: Valley, $1.05.
Barley Feed and brewing, $3031
per ton.
Corn Whole, $36; cracked, $36 per
Millstuff s Bran, $26 per ton ; mid
dlings, $33; shorts, $28.60(if29.60; rol
led barley, $31.
Oats No. 1 white, $32.60(33.50
Hay Timothy, Willamette Valley,
$18(11,20 per ton ; Eastern Oregon, $18
(TS21.60; alfalfa, $160i!l6.50; clover,
$15(316; cheat, $1516; grain hay
$16((i!l6.
ButterCity creamery extras, 39c
fancy outside creamery, 3c35c per
lb.; store, 22ii!24c. Butter fat
prices average lc per lb. under
regular butter prices.
Poultry Hens, UOP.UXc; Springs,
14fi)14Xc; roosters; 9((iH0c; ducks, 18
(ftl9c; geese 14c; turkeys, live, 22r
dressed, 26(i28c.
Eggs Fresh Oregon extras,42) per
dosen; Eastern, 30(i 35c per doien.
Fresh Fruits Apples, $13 box
pears, $11.60 per box; cranberries,
$9 per barrel.
Potatoes Carload buying prices
Oregon, 60(f 80c per sack ; sweet pota
toes, l?4((i 2cper pound.
Vegetables Artichokes, 75c per
dosen; cabbsge, ijcper pound; eel
ery, $2.75(83.25 per crate; garlic, 10c
per pound; horseradish, $1.60 per box
pumpkins, i,((j;ihc; sprouts, He per
pound; squash, lHic; tomatoes, 75c
Sack Vegetables Turnips, $1 per
sack ; carrots, $1 ; beets,$1.60; parsnips
$1.50.
Onions Oregon, $1.60 per sack.
Cattle Best steers, $4.604.75
fair, to good, $4rtis4.25; medium and
feeders, $3.50(d 3.75; common to me
dium, $2.60M3.75; bulls $22.50
stags $2.603.60; calves, light, $5.25
5.60; heavy, $4(C4.75.
Hogs Best, $8.6018.75; medium.
$7.50w!8; stackers, $6 60(i6.75.
Sheep Best wethers, $5.005.75
fair to good, 4.Z0Qt.7o; best ewes,
$4.60(35.00.
Hops 1909 crop, 1 8(0.22 )tc; 1908
crop, normal: 1907 crop, 12c; 1906
crop, 8e.
Hides Dry hides, Icq;i9c per
pound; dry kip, 17(18c per pound
try calfskin, 19i21c per pound; salt
ed hides, lOtdillc; salted calfskin,
16(iC16c per pound ; green, lc less.
CONFLICT SEEMS IMMINENT.
Railroads Say They Can't Pay Higher
Wages.
Washington, Dec. 27. Some members
f the interstate commerce commission
and many railroad officials believe they
can see rapidly approaching one of the
severest contests between labor and
capital in recent history. This does not
necessarily mean that railroad men gen
erally are expecting big strikes in the
aliur world. Such strikes, however, are
always among the possibilities when
alior and capital clash. It is firmly
elieved by the railroad men that this
struggle will be begun by the railroad
ilior organizations, will rapidly spread
o other lines of work and may even
ually result in a complete readjust
ment of industrial conditions.
The situation with respect to railroad
labor is unique in the history of this
or any other country. Never before
has labor enjoyed such high wages.
During the recent periods of great pros
perity wages in the railroad field have
mounted very high. As a result, labor
men have become accustomed to living
on an entirely different plane from for
merly. They are living m better neigh
borhoods, are dressing bettor, are edu
cating their families, and altogether are
taking a different view of life.
Notwithstanding the fact, however.
that exceedingly high wages, compara
tively speaking, have enabled the la
boring classes in the railroad field to
better their conditions, they now find
themselves unable to live on their pres
ent rates of pay. One of two things
must result, namely, cither the railroad
iiborer must return to his old styles of
ivhig or he must have increased wucos.
Railroad managements everywhere rec-
ugm.e mis economical tact.
They say, however, that thev would
be willing to increase wages if they
could do so without menace to the
property intrusted to thoir care. They
say, with some show of reason, that it
s impossible for railroads to continue
to absorb the increased cost of living on
behalf of their employes and at the
same time stand the increased cost of
all material and everything which en
ters into the operation- and maintenance
of a railroad. The point has been
reached, they insist, where railroads
must receive more for the transporta
tion services if they are to continue in
creasing wages. Upon this platform
tne rauronds say they must stand
firmly.
BLIZZAED IN THREE STATES.
Trains Stalled and Chicago Faces Coal
Famine.
Chicago, Dec. 27. The entire west
nnd northwest, from Winnipeg, Man.,
to tho lower tier of Illinois counties,
along the Ohio river, are hard and fast
in the grip of the Storm King. An
average of seven inches of snow blan
kots all this vast territory, crippling
all transportation lines, bringing intense
suffering to the poor, making acnto the
coal famine which menaces Chicago and
other big cities and reducing supplies
of all kinds because tho railroads can
not transport farm products to the
cities.
Menirer renorts from Michiirnn imli.
cnte thai state has suffered most se
verely. A few telegrams drifting
nirougn ten or blockades in "all direc
tions. Grand Trunk and Pere Mar
quotte trains are absolutely snowbound.
At Detroit streetcar traffic is badlv im-
paired, and tho car ferries have been
fast in the ice of tho Detroit river for
24 hours.
Trains into Chicago from all direc
tions are from three to ten hours late,
mid unless the storm soon abates con
ditions will be much worse. While the
elevnted trains aro running fairly well
tne surface roarls are badly handi
capped. Not only is Chicago's trans
portation badly hampered, but the city
is racing a coni lamine.
It becanio apparent three days ago
that tho supply would run short, and
every railroad tapping Illinois and
Indiana coal fields had raado arrange-
ments to' tako advantage of the doul lo
liolulny to rush a big supply to thif
nnd other cities. With the roads bend
ing every effort to get passenger trains
through the snow, howover, the moving
of freight was absolutely out of the
question, and the Urge Biipply of coal
waiting to be moved still remains on
the sidetracks.
Charitable associations are burdened
to the limit by calls for assistance.
Jump to Save Is Fatal.
Camden, N. J1., Dec. 27. White
Christmas brought death and sorrow to
two families at Malaga, N. J., this
afternoon. Mrs. Mary Price was killed
by a train. William Hageman, who
made an attempt to save her, received
injuries from which he died. Mrs.
Prico was standing on the platform at
Malaga when she slipped and fell on the
tracks, just as the train was pulling in.
Without hesitation Hageman jumped
to rescue her, but before he could drag
her from danger both wero struck by
the locomotive.
"Tramp" Pays Old Score.
Denver, Colo., Dec. 27. Seven years
ngo James L. Harvey, now a Rio
Grande switchman here, was brakemaa
on a freight in Oklahoma, and befriend
ed a tramp. Today Harvey receive 1
a letter from the tramp, Charlen Mc
Namara, now a rich miner of Mur.-ay,
Idaho, enclosing a check for $500 m a
Christmas gift. Harvey permitted Mcs
Nnniara to ride over his division, gave
him clothes, a meal, a bed and a 2 bill.
Dying Woman Effuses Aid.
Los Angeles, Deci 27. Mrs. Polly
Rolotin, who suffered frightful burns
last night, when she used kerosene to
encourage the fire under the family's
Christmas turkey, died early today, bo
spite her fatal burns, Mrs. Bolotin re
fused to accept medical aid until as
sured by sight that her five children
were safe.
The Redemption
1 fJcvVid (Jorsot?
By CHARLES FREDERIC GOSS
Copyright, VXHK by Th Bowen-MerrlU Company.
CHAPTER X. (Continued.) 1
Now that the confidence of Pepeeta
had been secured, David's part In this
drama became comparatively easy. He
listened to the brief conversation In
which by a well-constructed chain of
fictitious reasonings the judge riveted
upon the too eager mind of the child
wife the conclusion that she was free.
When this arch villain had concluded
bis arguments every suspicion had
vanished from her soul, and as he rose
to depart she took him by the hand
and bade him a kindly and almost af
fectionate farewell. "Do not afflict
yourself with this painful memory,"
she said gently.
"I shall not need ft afflict myself,"
he replied; "my memory will afflict
me, for I am as guilty as If tho result
had been what I had expected; and If
In the coming year you And a moment
now and then In which you can lift up
a prayer for a man who has forfeited
his claim to mercy, I beg you to de
vote It to him who from the depths of
his heart wished you joy. Good-bye."
With many assurances of her par
don, Pepeeta followed him to the door
and bade him farewell. When she re
turned to David her face was lumin
ous with happiness, and although he
had begun already to- experience a re
action and to suffer remorse for his
successful Infamy, it was only like a
drop of poison In the ocean of his joy.
Did I not tell you that all would
be well?", she cried, approaching him
and extending both her hands. "But
how sudden and how strange it is. Ii
is too good to be true. I cannot real
ize that I am free. I am like a little
bird that hops about its cage, peeps
through the door which its mistress'
hand has opened, and knows not what
to think. It wishes to go; but u is
frightened. What shall It do, David?
Tell It! Shall It fly?"
"I also am too bewildered to act ana
almost too bewildered to think," he
said, with unaffected excitement and
anxiety, for now that the time and op
portunity for him to take so momen
tous a step had come, his heart failed
him. It was only with the most vio
lent effort and under a most pressing
necessity that he pulled himself to
gether and continued:
The little bird must ny, ana us
mate must fly with It. There are too
few hours before daylight and we
must hot lose a single one. But are
you sure that you are quite ready? Is
your mind made up? Will you go with
me trustfully? Will you accept what
ever the future has in store 7
She took his in her strong arms,
printed her first kiss upon his Hps,
and said: "I will go with you to the
ends of the earth! I will go with you
through water and through Are! The
future cannot bring me anything from
which I shall shrink', It it lets us meet
It hand In hand!"
Silently and swiftly they gathered
together the few necessities of a sud
den journey, stole out of the quiet
building and hurried away to a livery
stable. In a few moments they were
rattling down the rough cobble-stone
pavement to the river. The ferryman
who had been retained for this very
purpose, pretended to be asleep. They
aroused him, drove onto the platform
of his primitive craft and floated out
upon the stream. As the boat swung
clear of the shore they heard music
Issuing from the cabin windows of a
steamer under whose stern they were
passing. It was the "Mary Ann." They
listened. The music ceased for a mo
ment and a deep voice called out
"B-b-bravo! Another song!"
They recognized it instantly, and
Pepeeta pressed close to the side of
her lover.
"You hear It for the last time," he
Whispered.
The swift current seized the boat.
twisting it hither and thither till It
seemed to the now trembling fugitive
a symbol of the stream of tendencies
upon which he had launched the frail
bark containing tneir united lives.
"I wonder If I am strong enough to
stem It?" he asked himself, as the boat
grated on the beach.
"Can we And a minister who will
marry us at this time of night?" Da
vld said to the ferryman, although he
bad been careful to ask this question
before.
"Two blocks south and three east.
second door on the right hand side,'
he answered laconically, as he recelv
ed the fare.
Such adventurers passed often
through his hands and their ways were
nothing new. The fugitives drove hur
rledly to the designated house, knocked
at the door, were admitted and In
few minutes the final act which sealed
heir fate had been performed.
CHAPTER XI.
When he awoke the next morning
from a revel, the doctor crawled back
to the hotel aa best he could, his head
throbbing with pain, his wits dull and
his temper wild. Stumbling up the
long flight of stairs which seemed to
him to reach the sky, he burst open
bis door and entered the room. It was
empty. Pepeeta was nowhere to . be
seen. It took him some moments' to
comprehend that he did not compre
bend. Then he called, "Pepeeta! Pe
peeta!"
The silence at first bewildered, then
aroused him, and crossing the corridor
be entered David's room. It, too. was
empty. He was now thoroughly as
tonlshed and awake. Recrosslng the
hall he once more entered his room
and began In earnest to seek an ex
planatlon of this mystery. It did not
take him long, for on the table were
tying the Jewels In which he had In
veeted his profits and which he had
confided to Pepeeta and bealde' them
a piece of paper on which he slowly
availed out these startling words:
AU Right Referred
"I have discovered your treachery
and fled. PEPEETA.
He drew his hand across his eyes,
took a piece of his cheek between his
thumb and first finger and pinched It
to see if he were awake, then read the
words again, this time aloud: "I have
discovered your treachery and fled.
Pepeeta." "Treachery?" he said.
What t-t-treachery? WhOse t-t-
treachery? Fled? Fled with whom,
fled where? I wonder if I am . still
d-drunk?"
At last, and almost with the rapid
ity of a stroke of lightning, the whole
mystery solved Itself. It flashed upon
his mind that Pepeeta had abandoned
him, and In company with the man
he had bo Implicitly trusted. The ser
pent he had nourished in his bosom
had at last stung him! Tearing the
paper into shreds, and stamping upon
the floor, he cursCd and raved.
A purpose shaped itself instantly in
his mind, and he began its execution
without delay. He made no confidant,
took no advice; but having smoothed
his ruffled clothing and combed his
disheveled hair so as to excite no
comment and provoke no question, he"
passed through the hotel corridor and
office, greeting his acquaintances with
his accustomed ease, and made his
way to the livery stable. He went at
once to the stalls where his famous
team was accustomed to stand, and to
his astonishment and delight found his
horses both there.
"Tom," he said to the hostler, "did
you hire a horse and b-b-buggy to a
young couple last night?"
1 did not," answered the surly
groom. ,
"I am in no mood for trifling. Out
with It, you scoundrel!" he cried, seiz
ing him by the throat.
With a sign of terror the groom In
dicated his readiness to come to terms,
and the doctor relaxed his grip. Still
trembling, he told the truth.
"Do you know which road they
took?"
He waved his hand toward Ken
tucky.
"Put a saddle on Hamlet no, on Ro
meo, he ordered, tersely .
The groom entered a box stall and
let out the black beauty. The doctor
glanced him over and smiled. And
well he might, for every muscle, every
motion betokened speed, Intelligence,
endurance.
The pursuer made a single stop on
his way to the river and that was at
a gun store, from which he emerged
carrying a pair of saddle bags on his
arm. In the holsters were two loaded
pistols.
He smiled as he mounted, having al
ready consummated vengeance In his
heart. Once across the river and safe
upon the Louisville pike, he loosened
the reins. The horse, whose sympa
thetic heart had a) ready been Imbued
with the spirit of his rider, shook his
long black mane, plunged forward and
pounded along the hard turnpike. His
hoofbeats sharp, sonorous, rhythmical
seemed to be crying for vengeance;
for hoof-beats have a language, and
always utter the thoughts of a rider.
The forests, hills and houses flowed
past him like a river. Occasionally he
halted an instant to inquire of some
lonely traveler If he had seen a horse
and buggy passing that way, but he
was cunning Inough to conceal his
anxiety and to hide his joy as every
answer made him more certain 'that
he was on the trail of the fugitives.
The road was perfectly familiar. He
had traversed it a hundred times, and
not having to Inquire the way he had
only to remember and to reflect An
undercurrent of speculation had been
flowing through his mind as to where
he should overtake the fugitives.
For a mile or two the road was per
fectly straight and the rider, shading
his eyes, glanced along It. In the dis
tance a moving object attracted his at
tention, and as he gazed at it, long and
strainlngly, the terrible Bmile once
more wreathed his white Hps. There
were only two things present to his
consciousness the carriage upon
which he was swiftly gaining, and the
fierce smiting of the horse's hoofs
which seemed to be echoing the the
cries of his heart for vengeance. On
he swept, nearer, nearer, nearer. He
was now within hailing distance, and
his brain reeled; he forgot his discre
tion and his plan. - .
"Halt," he screamed, in a voice that
cut the silent air like a knife. -
A face appeared above the top of
the buggy, and looked back. It was
his foe. With a howl of rage, he
snatched a pistol from the holster and
fired. The bullet went wide of the
mark and the next instant he saw the
whlp-lash cut the air and descend on
the flank of the startled mare. The
buggy lurched forward, and for aa In
stant drew raplaly away. Overwhelm
ed by the fear that he might be baf
fled In his vengeance, he drew the
-other pistol and Bred again more wide
of the mark than' before.
He flung the smoking weapons Into
the road, and again drove the spurs In
to the steaming sides of his horse.
There fcould be no doubt as to the re
sult of the chase after that. The half-
maddened animal was overhauling the
fugitives perceptibly at every , enor
mous stride, and In a few moments
more shot by the buggy and up to the
head of the terrified mare. As he did
so, his rider reached out his left hand
and caught the mare by her bridle.
reined up his own horse and threw
both of the animals back upon their
haunchea
in another instant tne two men
stood confronting each other on the
road, the quack black and terrible, the
Quaker white and calm. Not a w
was spoken, and like two wild beasts
emerging from a jungle they sprans; at
each other's throata. They were add
ly, but not unequally, matched, 'rol
while the doctor was short, ihltk-set -and
muscular, but clumsy and awk
ward like a bear, David was tall and
slim, but lithe and sinewy as a pan
ther. Locked In ' each other's arms,
they seemed like a single hideous mon- '
ster in some sort of convulsion. As It
waa impossible for them in this dead
ly embrace to strike, they wrestled
rather than fought, and Lit with teeth
and tore with hands with equal feroc
ity. At the Instant when the two infuri
ated men seized each other in this .
deadly grip, Pepeeta fainted, while the
terrified r mare backed the buggy Into
the bushes by the roadside. ' Romeo,
snorting and pawing the ground,
snuffed at them a moment as Is pro
foundly concerned at their strange
maneuvers, then .turning away, began
to crop the rich blue grass In entire
indifference to the results of this mad
quarrel between two foolish men.
The combatants surged and swayed
back and forth along the dusty road,
tripping and stumbling in vain efforts
to throw each other to the ground.
Their danger lent them, strength, and
their hatred skill. At last, after pro
tracted efforts, they fell and rolled
over and over, now one on top, now the
other. Suddenly and as If by a single
Impulse changing their tactics, their
right hands unclasped and began to
feel for the other's throat A sudden
slip of David's hold permitted the doc
tor to turn him over, and sprawling
across his breast he pinioned him to
the earth. - His great hand stole to
ward the throat of his prostrate foe'
and fastened upon it with the grip of
an Iron vise.
The beautiful face turned Bale, then
grew purple. This would have been
the last moment In the life of the Qua
ker had not his right hand, convulsive
ly clawing the road, touched a piece of
broken rock. It was as If a life-line
had swung up against the hand of a
drowning man. The exhausted youth
untwisted the grip of the iron hand,
flung off the heavy body, mounted up
on It, crowded the great head with its
matted hair and staring eyes down In
to the dust, seized the stone with his
right hand, raised it and struck.
The effect of the blow was two-fold
paralyzing the brain of the smitten
and the arm of the smlter. Across the
low forehead of the quack it left a
great gaping wound like a ' bloody
mouth. A death-like pallor spread it
self over his countenance, the lids
dropped back and left the eyes storing
hideously up Into the face above them.
David's arm, spasmodically uplifted
for a second blow, was suspended in
air. He did not move for a long time;
and when at length his ' scattered
senses began to return h threw down
the stone, rose to his feet and exclaim
ed in accents of terror, "I have killed
him."
He could not overcome the fascina
tion of-the lifeless face and wide-star
ing eyes. They drew him towards
them; he stooped down and felt for the
nulse, which waa imperceptible; laid
his hand upon the heart, but could not
feel it beat; he raised an arm, and It
fell back limp and lifeless.
Suddenly one elemental passion gave
anger, and now In Its turn gave way
to the Instinct of self-preservation. Ha
looked toward the carriage and saw
that Pepeeta had fallen Into a swoon.
"Perhaps Bhe has not seen what has
happened," he said to himself, and a
cunning smile lit up his pale face.'
Stooping down, he seized the loath
some object lying there in the dust of
the road and dragged it off into the
thick shrubery. Stumbling along, he
came to a hollow made by the roots
of an upturned tree. Into this he
flung the thing, hastily covered it with
moss and leaves, and stood staring
stupidly at the rude sepulchre. He ex
perienced a momentary feeling of re
lief that the hideous object was out
of sight; but the consciousness of his
guilt and his danger soon surged back
upon him like a flood. In such mo
ments the mind works wildly, like a
clock with a broken spring, but some
times with an astonishing . accuracy
and wisdom.
(To be continued.)
The Family Pair.
The wriggly stillness of the study
period was broken by a slamming door,
and a thin boy in dirty, ragged clothes
slouched across the room. Half-way to
the teacher's desk he drawled, "Pa
wants that you should let Jim go horns
right now." As Miss Davis looked a
little doubtful, he added, "He kin corns
back right away." ,
The permission given, the two badly
soiled, half-starved sons of the most
shiftless family In the district shuffled
down the stairs. Very shortly. Jim re
turned, wearing a pleased and lmpor
tant smile on his pathetic little face.
"I come as soon's I could. Pa's
brother's dyln' to Poplar," be an
nounced, cheerfully. 'That's why pa
wanted 'me."
"But you weren't gone long you
didn't stay home. I can't see why
you went at all," answered the bewll
ered Miss Davis. , .
"Why, pa's goln," explained Jim. .
"Yes. but what has that to do wlU.
your' asked the. teacher.
"Pa had to have his suspenders,"
was Jim's matter-of-fact reply.
Salted Blm.
"These summer girls would rathe
wait than eat," remarked the hotel
clerk.
"Think so?" inquired the proprietor.
"They say so themselves." .
"Then I guess I'll add a walu or
two' to the dance program and cut a
couple of courses off the dinner bllL"
Louisville Courier Journal.
. Breaklaa- It Ocatly.
Her Richard! Why on earth ar
you cutting your pie with a knife? -
Him Because, darling now, under
stand, I'm not' finding fault, for I
know that these little oversights wll
occur because you forgot to give me
a can opener. Cleveland Leader.
The blessed work of helping the
world forward happily does not welt
to be done by perfect man. George
Bitot - 1 - - -