I DIAMONDS I
FOR A DRINK
H. M. EGBERT
HwagMMnaowB
(Copyright, 1916, by W. O. Chapman.)
Vanderhulzen, the big Dutchman,
fetepped aboard the downcountry train
from Klmberley, South Africa, en route
for Cape Town. He laid hiB suit case
carelessly unon the rack, placed his
hand upon his breast to make sure
that the package for which he had
risked many years of freedom, was
there, and sat down in a seat, look
ing out at the desert landscape.
At Boshof a stranger came Into the
train, looked keenly about him, and
finally, spotting Vanderhulzen, seated
himself opposite him. Vanderhulzen
recognized him as a man named
James, from Klmberley also; he had
once been a mine guard, but had been
dismissed for some dishonesty. He
had contrived in some way to avoid
the clutches of the law, always severe
on buyers of diamonds from the native
quarrymen.
Vanderhulzen nodded surlily. James
was the last person in the world that
he wanted to see just then.
James smiled sardonically. "Come
Into the smoker, Van," he said, "and
we can discuss business."
Vanderhulzen uttered an oath and
his hand stole In a betraying manner
to the package inside his coat. He
saw James' eyes follow the movement
and realized that he was trapped. Sul
lenly he arose and accompanied him.
"Well?" he growled, as they took
their places in the empty smoker.
"Halves!" said James, laconically,
"I'm fly."
"Curse you!" Bald Vanderhulzen.
"It's a lucky thing you met me," re
turned Jame.8, quietly. "Do you know
Thompson of the Klmberley police?
"What of him?"
"He's In the next compartment. He's
undoubtedly wilting to arrest you as
"Hand Over the Bag!"
toon as you step off the train. If he
can get you to Cape Town without do-
lng so, he will save himself a lot of
trouble. That's why I came I got
wind of the affair.
The big Dutchman scowled fearfully,
Seven years on the breakwater for
Illicit diamond buying was the last
thing In the world that he wanted.
And the stones In his breast pocket
were worth twelve thousand pounds
anywhere.
' "What's the game?" he demanded.
"Halves?" questioned James.
"I suppose so."
"I've telegraphed for two saddle
horses to wait, at Kllpfontein station,
We'll gat there at dark. We can make
a dash from the train, mount and be
away before Thompson spots us. The
saddle-bugs are loaded with a week's
food. In three days we can cross the
desert to Khuma'a Land, where we can
pick up at. ox wagon and make our
way into Johannesburg. Thompson
Will be clean off the scent It will
take him a couple of hours to find a
horse, and then he won't know for
ure that we are going to Khama's
Land."
"I'm with you," replied Vander-
hulzen, curtly.
At Kllpfontein the program was
carried out. As the train drew, shriek
log, up to tha station, the confederates
leaped from the carriage. At the rear
of the platform a native man was
waiting with two saddle horses, tough
little Baauto ponies, of the kind that
would carry their loads where do
European horse could go. Two leaps
Into the saddles, two pulls at the reins,
and the thieves were padding quickly
through the single street ot the settle
ment and out Into the desert.
They looked tack when they reached
the sand. In the distance they saw a
crowd gathered about a tall man who
was making futile efforts to strike a
quick bargain for a hone.
They rode till evening. When the
moon came np they were alone upon
the desert Tbey dismounted, made a
fire from the scanty thorn scrub, and
cooked some of tho meat In James'
addle bugs. On either side of the sad
dle hung a large water bag, tha mol
ture from which, evaporating, kept th
contents cold as spring water. Thej
watered the horses scantily. Thej
watched by turns and started out al
dawn. It was ten miles to the nearest
water pool, where the water bags were
to be refilled.
"I believe we've missed the pool,"
said James, toward noon. All around
them was the shimmering desert, de
void now even of thorn scrub. The
horses panted from the heat James
gave them the last of the water.
'We'll strike another water hole
before dark," he said to his compan
ion. But they did not strike the water
hole, and by sunset the horses were
unable to proceed farther. James
was down, and Vanderhuizen's stood
trembling, and evidently on Its last
legs.
'We had better press on afoot.
said James. "I know there is a water
hole at the foot of the mountains."
And he pointed to where the blue out
lines of a distant range rose against
the cloudless sky.
He removed his saddle bags and
slung them across his shoulders, and
the two men proceeded wearily. James
lagged behind Vanderhulzen, who, tor
tured by thirst, walked like a man in
a nightmare. On they went, hour aft
er hour, till suddenly the big Dutch
man went down.
"You'd best leave me; I'm done for,"
he murmured.
James set down his Baddle bags,
opened them, and pulled out a bottle
of water. He held It In the air. Van
derhulzen leaped to his feet, to find
himself looking down the muzzle of a
revolver.
"Hand over the bag," said James,
briefly.
"You scoundrel!" shouted Vander
hulzen, through his swollen lips.
."This bottle for your half," James
pursued. "And I know where to find
the water hole."
Vanderhulzen glared at him; then,
with a gesture of despair, he took the
precious bag from his breast and tossed
It to the other. For a man will give
all that he has to save his life.
Next moment Vanderhulzen had
knocked the head off the bottle and
was gulping down the Hfe-givins
fluid. James watched him sardonic
ally.
"You will find the water hole half a
mile distant, at the foot of that eleva
tion," he said, indicating a hummock
In the sand. And he watched Vander
hulzen stagger away.
He went back to the horses and,
knocking the heads off the other hot
ties, poured the contents down theli
throats. The animals, revived, stag
gered to their feet. His own horse
was done for, but Vanderhuizen's
seemed capable of carrying him to bis
destination another water hole along
the wagon route across the desert,
which he knew like a book.
He clasped the diamonds to hii
breast as he rode, and chuckled, Th
scheme had been an excellent one and
had worked out better than he could
hare expected. He had heard in Kim
berley, by the merest chance, thai
Vanderhulzen Intended to go down
country. He himself had never dared
to purchase diamonds from the na
tives, but he knew Vanderhulzen'e
reputation as a successful and daring
thief, and it had occurred to him that
there was a splendid opportunity ol
compelling the man to share his plun
der with him.
The advent upon the scene of In
spector Thompson had been a little
disconcerting; but the same chance
which had told him of Vanderhuizen'i
maneuver had given him Information
that the police were on the man's
trail. He had then telegraphed to
Kllptonteln for the two horses and
everything had gone like clockwork.
It was no wonder that he chuckled
Looking back he could see the horse
still lying upon the sand, and Vander
hulzen, a tiny figure under the moon,
marching painfully back. His own
plans could not fail him. He would
Btrike the water hole, refresh hlmsell
and his steed, and then proceed in a
leisurely manner toward the wagon
path.
At last he reached the place. He
shackled his horse to a torn tree and
climbed the ascent toward the hollow
crater In which lay the pond. But when
he reached the summit he found him
self staring down Into a dry mud hole,
The water had dried up under the
Influence of the hot sun and an unus
ually long dry season.
For a few minutes he could not be
lleve his eyes. Then he lost his self
control. He would have to go back to
Vanderhulzen. And his bottles were
empty. He was parched with thirst,
and his animal was Incapable of pro
ceeding farther.
For hours he raved beside the watei
hole, clenching his fists and calling
down curses upon his luck. He spread
the diamonds in a little heap before
him and looked at the dull pebbles,
each one worth a little lake of wine.
And for all these he could not get 10
much water as would wet his Hps.
"I'll go back then back to Vander
hulzen," ho muttered, and flung him
self upon the rocks. "When 1 an
rested. ..."
But nature, outraged, revenged her
self upon him by drawing down hli
eyelids, and he slept profoundly.
"Got up, James!"
He started to his feet The sun wat
high In the sky. Before him stood
Vanderhulzen and Inspector Thomp
son.
"I want you, James," said the In
spector, fingering the bag of diamonds,
which he had taken from beside thf
sleeping man. "I thought Vander
hulzen was the man I was after, but
weil, you understand. Your horse li
dead, but you wont mind a little walk
ot twenty -Ave miles or so? Tog
we've got plenty ot water."
THE OLD GRIST MILL
BUILT in 1651 and still doing busi
ness Is the claim that is made
for New London's old town mill.
There is no doubt that the mill
Is still doing business, and the
records also show that the start of the
Industry was 264 years ago. The old
town mill is one of the relics in which
New London, Conn., takes special
pride, and the operations of the huge
overshot waterwheel are watched
with wonder by a great many visitors
In the course of a year. The mill is
public property, and while the rental
that the city receives from its use does
not make it much of an Investment in
a financial way, it is a great historical
asset and it would be difficult to place
a valuation on the property that would
be adequate to cover the humble struc
ture. While the age of the mill is gen
erally exploited, there are a great
many people, New Londoners included,
who are not aware of the fact that It
is not only old but that it was one of
the first monopolies ever established
In the commonwealth of Connecticut
by the authority of a town.
Was First Monopoly.
The town records show that a town
meeting was held on November 10,
1650, to arrange a system ot co-operation
with John Wlnthrop, the younger,
In establishing a mill to grind corn,
and the Interest in the project is
shown by an attendance of sixteen of
the freemen. There was no question
ibout the desirability of having a mill
to furnish meal, and it was decided at
that meeting that the people of the
town should be at the charge of "mak
ing the dam and heavy work belonging
to the mllne. Six men were selected
to do the work, and were ordered to
make it substantial and sufficient
They were to be paid two shillings a
day for their services , and six other
men were to rate the town to defray
the charge. The work was started In
1651.
The monopoly feature of the mill
proposition showed at that town meet
ing, for the records say:
"Further, It is agreed that no person
or persons shall set up any other mllne
to grind corn for the town ot Pequett
within the limits of the town either for
the present, nor tor the future, so long
as Mr. John Wlnthrop or his heirs, do
uphold a mllne to grind the town
corn."
The dam was constructed In due
course of time and the mill began its
operations. As far as the records In
dicate It was conducted to the satis
faction ot the people for a while, but
John Wlnthrop became governor and
moved to Hartford, and his death on
April 5, 1676, in Boston, left the mill,
with his other property, to his heirs.
and they evidently didn't care very
much whether the people had their
corn ground or not, particularly as no
body could set up an opposition mill
without taking a risk ot getting Into
trouble.
People Make a Fight
The monopoly clause in the Tote of
the town In 1650 was In force tor near
ly sixty years, but finally the condi
tions became so serious that It was
necessary to make other provisions for
the grinding of meal. In a town meet
ing, held December 26, 1709, the fol
lowing Tote was adopted:
"Whereas, The town has suffered
many years tor want ot a gristmill, and
no care taken by the heirs of former
Oovernor Wlnthrop for our relief there
in, who have some time claimed the
privilege ot supplying the town with
what gristmills are necessary, and the
present gristmill belonging to the late
Oovernor Wlnthrop being like to be
altogether useless in a little time, the
town therefore sees cause upon the re
quest of Robert Latimer, Stephen
Prentla, John Daniels, Richard Man-
PHOTO BY C-WPlCKARD
waring, Oliver Man waring, Jr., and
James Rogers, Jr., to grant liberty to
them, or the major part of them, to
set up a gristmill upon the falls ot
Jordan brook, where it falleth into the
cove."
As the result of that vote the old
Jordan mill was built in 1712 and the
business that the town mill did not
look after went out to what is now a
part of the town of Waterford. That
mill ground corn for many years, but
about a decade ago It burned down,
and has since been replaced by a mod
ern structure, while the original town
mill Is still doing business at the old
stand.
Old Merged Into the New.
While New London's ancient relio is
on the site of the original mill and the
building ' still Maintains the same
shape as that which was first erected
there. It Is doubtful If there' Is more
than one ot the first timbers still re
maining.
The big overshot waterwheel on the
mill looks as though it had been there
for a good many years, and It is not
unlikely that Borne of the visitors Im
agine that it is the original one that
was Installed In Wlnthrop's time.- As
a matter of fact it takes about twenty
years to wear out a wheel ot that sort,
and it is by no means an easy matter
to replace one when it Is gone. About
ten years ago the present one was
built and the man who was In charge
ot the building had some difficulty find
ing a millwright who would take the
Job of constructing the wheel. Finally
one who worked on the old wheel a
score of years previous took the Job,
but only on condition that it be by day
work. It cost the city about $1,000 to
replace the wheel, and ten years hence
it Is quite likely that It will be even
more difficult to have a Job ot that sort
done.
The relio is not maintained for the
sake of making money, and public sen
timent would be very much offended If
any change Bhould be made that would
put a stop to the operations of the huge
wheel.
Danaer of Tastlna Plants.
A child Is an adventurous person,
and the temptation to taste anything
which comes in his way is very
strone. It cannot be too often insisted
unon that this habit should be strong
ly inveighed against and children ab
solutely forbidden to taste any berries
etc.. or even to Dick them. But even
when really well trained in this
war and the majority are not acci
dents will hannen. and it is then that
the knowledge ot what to do Is so valu
able. Plants which frequently cause
accidents In this way are hemlock
which la easily mistaken for parsley
wild celery, wild SDlnach. deadly night
shade nerhaDS the most evil and most
commonly exoerimented upon of all
yew leaves, the berries ot the Juniper
and laburnum seeds. Also there are
the fungi, which children should never
be allowed to touch.
Rare Bird Killed In Scotland.
A rare bird, an excellent specimen
of the little own. which was killed on a
Blairgowrie district estate, Is prob
ably the only one ot the species ever
got in Scotland. The species has been
got In several parts of England, but
does not seem to have been noticed
either In Scotland or Ireland. Through
out most parts ot Europe the little
owl is a well-known resident It Is
abundant In France, Belgium, Holland
and Denmark, but has never been ob
served In Norway, and has only once
strayed to Sweden. In North Ger
many It Is far more common In the
west than In the east The little owl
was the emblematic bird ot ancient
Athens, and the attributed favorite ol
the goddess of Wisdom. -
PERFECI nsw... iu OBJECT
Man Wearing Pair of Tan Shoes Posi
tively Refuses to Allow Lady So
licitor to Blacken Them.
Mr. Brown had just thrust h's feet
beneath his desk and comfortably set
tled himself for a long afternoon's
work when the office door opened and
a lady canvasser entered with a satch
el slung from her shoulder.
'An agent!" groaned Mr. Brown, as
she advanced to his side.
"Good aftcrnon, sir," said Bhe, po-
lotely. "Have you any objection to a
lady blackening your shoes for you?"
Indeed I have!" responded Mr.
Brown, emphatically.
Oh, you mustn't mind a little thing
like that," said she, reassuringly. "It's
Just a matter of business. I'm intro
ducing a new kind of shoe polish, and
I can't sell you some unless I demon
strate to you what it is, can I? So
Just put out your feet and I'll black
your Bhoes in a moment."
I cannot permit it, madam," as
severated Mr. Brown. "On no account
will I permit you to do such a thing."
"I know, a great many gentlemen
do object to letting a lady do such
work, and a very great credit It is to
their gallantry," said the lady sales-
agent, simpering.
"Oh, I don't mind that," asserted
Mr. Brown, interrupting her.
"Why, what is your objection,
then?"
'Mine are tan shoes."
AIM IS POOR.
First Policeman Why do you think
she didn't intend to hit her husband
when she threw the plate at him?
Second Policeman From the mere
fact that she hit him.
Disillusioned.
' The cub reporter reported to the of
fice. He was distrait, blue, broken In
spirit.
"What alls thee; child?" queried the
kind-hearted city editor.
'It was my first assignment," ex
plained the cub, "and I found out that
another legend has gone glimmering.
De Fault, the thieving bank cashier,
never taught In Sunday school."
May Lead to Contempt.
He Do you know, you are so clev
er and charming and brilliant that I
really feel embarrassed in your pres
ence. She But you mustn't; really, you
mustn't
He (reassuringly) Oh, I dare say
I'll get over It when I know you bet
ter. Life.
The Wretch!
The general joker was watching a
suffragette and anti playing anagramr.
"Here is one women should know
how to use," said the genial joker, giv
ing them the letters otsve.
'It's votes!" cried the suffragette.
'Guess again," said the anti. "It's
stove." Judge.
Not Comfortably.
"A lot of woman customers In a
shoe store," remarked the clerk,
"seem to forget the simplest rules of
arithmetic."
'What do you mean?"
It Is mighty hard to convince them,'
he replied, "that 'six Into three' won't
go."
Two of a Kind.
"Yes," said the young drug clerk,
who had been trotting In double har
ness for nearly three weeks, "I've
sure got a boss wife."
"Well, you have my sympathy," re
joined the man who had dropped In to
buy bottle of hair restorer. "I've got
that kind of a wife myself."
A Shame.
"What Is the matchless statesman
peeved about?"
"Because he Is a matchless states
man."
"I don't get you?"
"He has a cigar and no one In the
crowd has a match."
Does It Now.
Hobbs I wish someone would In-
rent an alarm clock that would not
wake one, but make one want to get
up.
Dobbs Mine does that It makes
me want to get up and fire it out tha
window.
Her Way.
"That woman across the way treats
her husband like a dog."
"Poor man!"
"Oh, he likes It She's always feed
ing and petting him."
Their Class.
"Some malicious farmer must have
owed thank-you-marms on this road.
"Well, If he did, he's raited
tamper crop
HORSES
N WARFARE
Animals Carefully Trained for
the Service.
Perfect Understanding Established Be
tween Rider and Steed Before
They Are Allowed to Enter
Into Active Operations. t
The almost human instinct possessed'
by trained cavalry and artillery horses
provides a striking illustration ofj
equine Intelligence. They understand,
the words of command quite as well
as their riders and drivers and will'
answer to the regular calls in the most
perfect manner. One has only to
watch cavalry executing a turning
movement to realize how perfect the
understanding is between the horses
and the men, and after a few lessons -in
charging the horses will prick up
their ears the moment they hear the
word and throw themselves into the
rush as whole-heartedly as the riders.
Of course the animals have to go
through a strict course of training be
fore they reach this pitch of perfec
tion. As a rule, they are bought as
raw colts, and after the preliminary
breaking in getting used to bit, saddle
and rider they are taught to jump
and lie down. When this part of the
training is satisfactorily accomplished
the horse Is taught to halt sharply at
the word of command, to pull up in
its own length, even when galloping,
and to walk, trot and gallop in line.
This last is a very essential part of
his education, because when a charge
is ordered in battle it 1b essential that
all the horses should be kept in a
mass.
A very Important part of the train
ing is to teach a horse to stand fire.
At first the horses are terrified when
they hear the thunder of artillery and
the crack of rifles. They get' restless
and "whinny" with fright. After hav
ing been through the hands of the ex
perts at the cavalry school, however,
a horse will allow round after round to
be fired over Its body without moving.
Naturally a perfectly trained army
horse is greatly treasured. The Brit
ish army veterinary corps has been so
successful during the present war that
it is estimated that out of 27,000
wounded or sick horses that have
passed through the hands of the corps
10,000 have been returned for service
at the front again, while a very large
proportion of the remainder are mak
ing good progress at convalescent
farms.
The corps 1b now the largest organi
zation of its kind attached to any
army in the world. Many of the cases
it has dealt with have been wonderful
examples of surgical skill, and the
lives of hundreds of animals have been
saved, of which many would hitherto
have been condemned as Incurable,
even in times of peace.
ENJOY LIFE IN TREE TOPS
Romantic Young Couple Have Chosen
Abode In Which They Are Liv- ;
lng In Contentment
The choice of moderate elevations,
for home sites proves to be justified
by scientific experience. British med
ical men report that health and en-'
ergy are most promoted by living at
heights ot 300 to BOO feet, where winds
have a freer sweep than in the valleys
and the blood of anemic persons gains
a new abundance of red corpuscles. At
greater altitudes, on the other nand,
Professor Gaule of Zurich finds nerv
ous disorders common.
One solution of the altitude prob
lem has been found by a romantic
young couple living not far from San
Francisco. They constructed a dove
cote in a tree in order that they
might not be molested, and, finding
life in the tree tops delightful, made
their permanent home there.
Back From Cannibal Lands.
The Baron Erland Nordenskiold, the
Swedish explorer, who has just re
turned from two years spent among
cannibal tribes on the frontiers of Bra
zil and Bolivia, reports that he dis
covered Important ruins there of stone
age civilization. He brings home with
him some sixty chests ot scientific
material, notes and photographs. His
Swedish companion in the expedition,
was murdered by the natives. But
Baron Nordenskiold made the trip ac
companied by his wife, without mis-.
hap to either.
May Grow English Nuts Here.
Horticulturists at the Pennsylvania
State college have begun an exhaustive
investigation of the possibilities of
growing English walnuts commercial
ly In that state. Every known tree
of that variety in Pennsylvania will be
studied by experts, and from data ob
tained In a state-wide survey a report;
will bo issued to hundreds of persons'
now writing to the college for Infor
mation on the subject