RAILROAD STRIKE IS DECLARED OFP Basic Eight-Hour Day to Be Put : Into Effect by Managers. NATIONAL CRISIS MAIN FACTOR ConccMion Made Regardless of Forth coming Action by Supreme Court Chairman bsuea Statement. New York The conference commit tee of railroad managers early Monday morning authorized President Wilson's mediators to make whatever arrange ments were necessary with the rail road brotherhoods to call off the strike. The formal letter in which this au thorization was made was signed by Elisha Lee, chairman of the managers' committee, and was as follows: "In the national crisis precipitated by events of which we heard this (Sunday) afteroon,, the national conference committee of railroads join with you in the conviction that neither at home nor abroad should there be fear or hope that the efficient opera tion of the railroads of the country will be hampered or impaired. ' "Therefore, you are authorized to assure the nation there will be no strike, and as a basis for such assur ance we hereby authorize the commit tee of the Council of National Defense to grant to the employes who are about to strike whatever adjustment your committee deems necessary to guaran tee the uninterrupted and efficient operation of the railroads as an indis pensable arm of national defense." The announcement of the managers that they had yielded apparently came as a surpise to the brotherhood chiefs, for they were in bed when summoned again to the conference room. Earlier in the evening there had been a dis tinctly pessimistic feeling as to the prospect for averting a strike. Up to that hour the railroads had re fused to make the concessions granted, and the brotherhoods had stood fast to their determination to strike unless they won their demands either by the Supreme court declaring the Adamson law valid or by their employers grant ing them the eight-hour day. The men will get their present pay for 10 hours for eight hours' work un der the agreement. These concessions on the part of the managers are vir tually what the employes contended they would gain under the Adamson law if it were declared constitutional. Immediately after Secretary Lane had made his announcement the broth erhood leaders sent telegrams to all the general chairmen informing them that the strike had been called off. Submarines Sink Three Amer ican Ships Without Warning London The sinking of the Ameri can steamships City of Memphis, Illin ois and Vigilancia was announced Mon day. Fourteen men from the Vigilan cia are missing, as are some of the men from the City of Memphis. The crew of the Illinois landed safely. The City of Memphis, in ballast from Cardiff for New York was sunk by gunfire. The second officer and 15 men of the crew have been landed. ' A patrol boat has gone in search of the other members of the crew. The Illinois, from London for Port Arthur, Tex., was in ballast The Vigilancia was torpedoed with out warning. Allies Gain on 82-Mile Front; Sixty Villages Are Occupied London British troops, continuing their rapid advance on the heels of the retiring Germans, have occupied the important towns of Nesle, Chaulnes and Peronne. Along a front of about 45 miles they have entered the German positions to a depth of 10 miles in places. In ad dition the British have taken more thna 60 villages. The announcement of these gains was contained in the official report Monday from British headquarters. Yarrowdale Men on Way. Berne The 69 American seamen who were taken to Germany on the prise ship Yarrowdale stopped for lunch in Berne Monday and left at S o'clock for Lyons, en route to the United States by way of Spain. The men were met at the railroad station by Pleasant A. Stovall, the American minister, the entire legation staff Mid virtually all the members of the Amer ican colony. Mrs. Harold McCormick had given each one of the party f GO. Some bought little souvenirs, while oth ers invested in suitcase and clothing. Funeral Warship Named. Washintgon, D. C Japan hat as signed the armored cruiser Aiuma to bring home the body of Ambassador Guthrie. Mrs. Guthrie will return on the same ship. Day la Quiet la Dublin. Dublin St. Patrick's day passed quietly in Dublin. Many country peo ple came Into town but there were no processions. The church services were leargely attended. TO CLEAR SEA OF U-BOATS Preparation for Aggressive Action by Navy Ordered by President. Washington, D. C Preparation for aggressive action by the navy against the German submarine menace began Tuesday at the direction of President Wilson. The President authorized the expenditure of the $115,000,000 emer gency fund, provided by congress to speed up naval construction and pay for special additional war craft, and the suspension of the eight-hour labor law in plants engaged in navy work. , Immediately afterward, Secretary Daniels ordered the New York navy yard to begin building 60 submarine chasers of the 110-foot type, to be completed in from 60 to 80 days. It was said 40 of these could be laid down at once. With the President's approval, the secretary also ordered the graduation of the first and second classes at the naval academy. The first class will go out March 29, releasing 212 junior offi cers to fill existing vacancies, and the Becond in September, furnishing 202 more, a full year before they other wise would be available. While the energies of the navy will be concentrated for the present on efforts to get into commission craft de signed particulary to destroy submar ines and guard the coast, warship building generally will be speeded up under the recent agreement with pri vate builders and with the funds now made available. Allies Pressing Enemy Hard; Large Territory Being Regained Paris The French troops have oc cupied about 20 additional villages and small towns in'their advance on the re treating Germans. They have gone beyond Ham on the Somme river and Chauney on' the Oise, which brings them appreciably nearer to the St. Quentin-Laon line. At one point the advance Tuesday penetrated German lines to a depth of 22 miles. London The British advance still is being pushed rapidly, further large gains being recorded in the official re port from British headquarters in France Tuesday night. "The pursuit of the enemy," says the report, "continued Tuesday, our cavalry and advance guards driving back the enemy's rear guards. The ground gained extends for a depth' of from two to eight miles and 40 more villages have fallen into our hands." London The following official com munication is issued regarding the op eration of the British troops against the Turks in Mesopotamia: "During Saturday night General Maude's troops effected a crossing of the Diala river and occupied the vil lage of Bahriz and a part of the town of Bakubah on the left bank of the river. The enemy retired hastily to ward Khanikan." Bakubah lies about 25 miles north east of Bagdad on the Diala. Fifteen of Crew of Torpedoed Vigilancia Are Drowned Plymouth, via London Fifteen members of the crew of the American steamer Vigilancia lost their lives when the steamer was torpedoed by a German submarine. The survivors were in lifeboats from Friday morning until Sunday afternoon. Among those drowned' were several American citizens, including Third Officer Neils P. North and Third En gineer Carl Adeholde. This informa tion was given out by Captain Frank A. Middleton, of New York, who, with the survivors of the Vigilancia, has reached the mainland, and probably will make affidavits before the Ameri can consul. Captain Middleton said that his ves sel was sunk without warning. Two lifeboats were lowered from the Vigil ancia and the crew of 43 men got into them. Owing to the swell of the ocean, however, 25 men were thrown into the water. The boats of the Cap tain and the mates picked up ten of the men, but the other 15 were drowned. Sheila Lifeboat; Kills Eight Men. London A boat containing the first, second and third mates and five sea men of the Dutch steamer Selien char tered by the Belgian Relief commis sion, has been shelled by a submarine and all the occupants killed, according to a dispatch from Stavanger. "The Dutch steamer Selien," aays the dis patch, "has reached here bound for New York in ballast. She left Rotter dam Friday, bearing the usual desig nations of the Belgian Relief com mission, and was attacked at 6 o'clock Saturday afternoon. Seaplaaea Sav Ship. New York The British freight steamer Eastgate, which arrived here Tuesday from La Pallise, was recently attacked by a German submarine and escaped destruction only through prompt aid rendered by two French seaplanes. The incident was related by members of the crew, who pointed to holes in the ship's ventilators made by shells in support of thvir story. The place of the attack and the date were not divulged. OF THE PABjONAGE. fp ETHELWJESTQN fg IIXUSTRATED BY J, TI ifJ gT' c ' NEI llii Hi (Copyright, by the Bobbs Mr. STARR'S HEART SINKS WHEN HE DISCOVERS JERR0LD HARMER AND PRUDENCE EXCHANGING TENDER GLANCES AND SOFT WORDS Mr. Starr, widower, Methodist minister at Mount Mark, la., has five charming daughters. Pru dence, the eldest, keeps house for him. Fairy is a college freshman. Carol and Lark, twins, are In high school. Constance Is the "baby." The activities of the girls Prudence's work, Fulry's school affulrs, the youngsters' pranks and the fumlly perplexi ties, make the story. It is simply a recital of homely incidents glorified by affection. The pre ceding installment described an accident which Prudence suf fered during an early-morhlng bi cycle ride and her rescue by a strange and fascinating young man. CHAPTER IX Continued. -12- He went upstairs to obey, with de spair In his heurt. But to the girls, there was nothing strange in this ex actness on the part of Prudence. Jer rold Harmer was the hero of the ro mance, and they must unite to do him honor. He was probably a prince In disguise. Jerrold Harmer was a per fectly thrilling name. It was really a shame that America allows no titles Lord Jerrold did sound so noble, and Lady Prudence was very effective, too. He and Prudence were married, and had a family of four children, named for the various Starrs, before one hour had passed. "I'll begin my book right away," Lark was saying. She and Carol were In the dining room madly polishing their Sunday shoes, what time they were not performing the marriage cer emony of their sister and the hero. "Yes, dot But for goodness' sake, don't run her Into a mule! Seems to me even Prudence could have done bet ter than that." "I'll have his automobile break down In the middle of the road, and Pru dence can run Into It The carburetor came off, and of course the car wouldn't run an Inch without It." "Yes, that's good," said Carol ap provingly. "It must be a sixty-cylinder, eight horse power er tonneau or something real big and costly." "Twins I You won't be ready," warned Prudence, and this dire possi bility seut them flying upstairs lu a panic. While the girls, bubbling over with excitement, were dressing for the great event, Mr. Starr went downstairs to sit with Prudence. Carol called to him on his way down, and he paused on the stnlrcase, looking up at her. "Lurk and I are going to use some of Fairy's powder, futher," she said. "We feel thut we simply must on an occnslon like this. And for goodness' sake, don't mention it before bim ! It doesn't happen very often, you know, but today we simply must Now, don't you say anything about falling la the flour barrel, or turning pale all of a sudden, whatever else you do. We'd be so mortified, father." Mr. Starr was concerned with weightier matters, and went on down to Prudence with never so much as a reproving shake of the head for the worldly-minded young twins. "Father," began Prudence, her eyes on the lace coverlet, "do you think It would be all right for tne to wear that silk dressing gown of mother's? 1 need something over my nightgown,, and my old flnunel kimono is so ugly. You know, mother said I was to have It, and I'm twenty now. Do you think It would be all right? But If you do not want me to wear It " "I do want you to," was the prompt reply. "Yes, It Is quite time you were wearing It I'll get It out of the trunk myself, and send Fairy down to help you." Then as he turned toward the door, he asked carelessly, "Is he very good-looking, Prudence?" And Prudence, with a crimson face, answered quickly, "Oh, I really didn't notice, father." lie went on upstairs theu, and pre ently Fairy cnnie down with the dulnty silk gown trimmed with fine soft lace. "I brought my lavender ribbon for your hair, Prudence. It will match the gown so nicely. Oh, you do look sweet dearest I pity Jerrold Harmer, I can tell you that Now I must hurry and finish my own dressing." But with her toot on the bottom stair, she paused. Her sister was call ing after her. "Send father down here, quick. Fairy." Father ran down quickly, and Pru dence, catching hold of his hands, whispered wretchedly, "Oh. father, he be la good-looking. I I did notice It I didn't really mean to lit to you." - Merrlll Company.) "There, now, Prudence," he said, kissing her tenderly, "you mustn't get excited again. I'm afraid you are too nervous to have callers. You must lie very quietly until he comes. That was no He, child. You are so upset you do not know what you are saying today. Be quiet now, Prudence, It's nearly time for him to come." "You are a dear good father," she cried, kissing his hands passionately, "but it was a lie. I did know what I was saying. I did It on purpose." And Mr. Starr's heart was heuvy, for he knew that his fears were realized. CHAPTER X. Roused From Her Slumber. At twenty minutes to four, the.par sonuge family clustered excitedly in the sitting room, which the sunshine flooded cheerily. They were wnitlug for the hero of Prudence's romance. "Oh, Larkie, will you run upstulrs and bring my lace handkerchief? Would you keep these pearls on, Fairy, or would you take them off?" "I would keep them on, Prue. You do look so sweet, but your face is very flushed. . I am afraid you are feverish. Maybe we had better not let him see Prue today, futher." "Fairy I" exclaimed Prudence. "Lis ten, listen, girls I Look, Fairy, and see if that Is he! Yes, it Is, I know I can tell by his walk." Warm rich color dyed her face and throat, and she clasped her hands over her heart, wondering If Connie beside her could hear its tumult "I'll go to the door," said Father Starr, and Prudence looked at him beseechingly. "I I am sure he is all right, father. I you will be nice to him, won't you?" Without answering, Mr. Starr left the room. He could not trust his voice. "Listen, girls, I want to hear," whis pered Prudence. And she smiled as she heard her father's cordial voice. "You are Mr. Harmer, aren't you? I am Prudence's father. Come right In. The whole family Is assembled to do you honor. The girls have already made you a prince In disguise. Come back this way. Prudence la resting very nicely." When the two men stepped Into the sitting room, Prudence, for once, quite overlooked her father. She lifted her eyes to Jerrold Harmer's face, and waited, breathless. Nor was he long in finding her among the bevy of girls. He walked ajt once to the bed, and took her hand. . "My little comrade of the road," he said gayly, but with tenderness. "I'm afraid you are not feeling well enough for callers today." "Oh, yes, I am," protested Prudence with strange shyness. He turned to the other girls, and greeted them easily. He was entirely self-possessed. "Miss Starr told me so much nbout you that I know you all to begin with." He smiled at Fairy as he added, "In fact, she predicted that I am to fall In love with you. And so, very likely, I should, If I hadn't met your sister first" They all laughed at that, and then he walked back and stood by Prudence once more. "Was it a bad sprain? Does It pain you very budly? You look tired. I am afraid It was an Im position for me to come this after noon." "Oh, don't worry about thnt," put In Connie anxiously. "She wanted you to come. She's been getting us ready for you ever since the doctor left. I think It was kind of silly for me to wear my blue just for one culler." The twins glared at her, realizing that she was discrediting the parson age, but Jerrold Harmer laughed, and Prudence joined him. "It Is quite true," she admitted frankly. "The mule and I disgraced the parsonage this morning, and I wnnted the rest of you to redeem it fhis afternoon." She looked at him Inquiringly. "Then you had another coat?" "No, I didn't. I saw this one In a window this morning, and couldn't re sist It Was the ride very hard on your ankle?" Mr. Starr was puzzled. Evidently It was not lack of fuuds which brought tills man on foot from Des Moines to Mount Mark, half-way across the state 1 He did not look like a man fleeing from Justice. What then, was the explanation? "You must have found It rather a long walk," he began tentatively, his eyes on the young man's face. "Yes. I think my feet are a little blistered. I have walked farther than that many times, but I am out of prac tice now. Sometimes, however, walk ing Is a painful necessity." "How long did It take you coming from Dot Molnea to Mount Mark?" In quired Carol In a subdued and respect ful voice, and curious, withal. "From Des Moines," he gasped. "Good heavens I I did not walk from Des Moines 1 Did yon" He turned to Prudence questioning!. "Did yon think- I walked clear from Des Molnesr "Yea." And added hastily. "But 1 did not care If yon did. It did not make any difference how you cam.'' For a moment he was puzzled. Then he burst out laughing. "I am afraid we had too much to talk about this morning. I thought I had explained my situation, but evidently I did not I drove from Des Moines in the car, and" "The automobile," gasped Carol, with a triumphant look at Lark. "Yes, just so. I stopped at several places on business as I came through. I drove from Burlington this morning, but I got off the road. The car broke down on me, and I couldn't fix It broke an axle. So I had to walk in. That Is what I was seeing about to day, sending a man out for the car and arranging about the repairs." He smiled again. "What in the world did you think I would walk from Des Moines for?" he asked Prudence, more Inquisitive than grammatical. "I did not think anything about It until they asked, and I did not know about the car. You did not mention it." "No. I remember now. We were talking of other things all the time." He turned frankly to Mr. Sturr. "Per haps you have heard of the Harmer Automobile company of Des Moines. My father was Harvey Harmer. Two years ago, when I was running around in Europe, he died. It was his desire that I should personally take charge of the business. So I hurried borne, and have had charge of the company since then. We are establishing stiles agencies here, and in Burlington, and several other towns. I came out for a little trip, and took advnntage of the opportunity to discuss the business with our new men. That's what brought me to Mount Mark." For the first time In her life, Pru dence distinctly triumphed over her father. She Hashed him the glance of a conqueror, and he nodded, under standing. He liked Jerrold Harmer, as much as he could like any inun who stepped seriously into the life of Pru dence. He was glad that things were well. But they would excuse him, ho must look after his Sunday's sermou3. A little later the twins and Connie grew restless, and finally Connie blurt ed out, "Say, Prue, don't you think we've upheld the parsonage long enough? I want to get some fresh air." The twins would never have been guilty of such social Indiscretion I "My Little Comrade of the Road." as this, but they gladly availed them selves of Connie's "break," and fol lowed her out-of-doors. Then Fairy got up, laughing. "I have done my share, too. I think we'll leave the parsonage in your hands now, Prue. I want to write to Aunt Grace. I'll be just at the head of the stairs, and If Prudence wants me, you will call, won't you, Mr. Hurmcr? And won't you stay for dinner with us? I'm sure to disgrace the parsonage again, for I am no cook, but you can get along for once, surely. We spend more time laughing when the food Is bad, and laughter is very healthful. You will stay, won't you?" Jerrold Harmer looked very eager, and yet he looked somewhat doubtfully at Trudence. Her eyes were eloquent with entreaties. Finally ho laughed, and said, "I should certnlnly like to stay, but yon see I want to come back tomorrow. Now, will I dare to come back tomorrow If I stay for dinner to night? Wouldn't Connie say that was disgracing the parsonage?" Fairy laughed delightedly. "That is very good," she said. "Then you will stay. I'll try to fix It up with Connie to save the reputation of the house." No, they did not quote poetry, they did uot discuss the psychological In tricacies of spontaneous attraction, they did not say anything deep, or wise, or learned. But they smiled at each other, with pleased Investigating eyes. He put his hand on the cover let Just near enough to touch the lace on the sleeve of her silk dressing gown. And together they found paradise In the shabby sitting room of the old Methodist parsonage that afternoon. Do you belleva In long engage menta between lovers? Aren't engaged couplet able to btcemt well tneugh acquainted after tlx months to marry and make at much of a tueceu of the partntr. ship at If they had waited two or thret ytart? (TO BE CONTBftfSDJ EAT LESS MEAT IF BACK HURTS Take a glass of Salts to flush Kidneys if bladder bothers you. Eating meat regularly eventually produces kidney trouble in some form or another, says a well-known author ity, because the uric acid in meat ex cites the kidneys, they become over worked; get sluggish; clog up and cause all sorts of distress, particularly backache and misery in the kidney re gion; rheumatic twinges, severe head aches, acid stomach, constipation, tor pid liver, sleeplessness, bladder and urinary Irritation. The moment your back hurts or kid neys aren't acting right, or If bladder bothers you, get about four ounces of Jad Salts from any good pharmacy; take a tablespoonful in a glass of wa ter before breakfast for a few days and your kidneys will then act fine. This famous salts is made from the acid of grapes and lemon juice, com bined with lithia, and has been used for generations to flush clogged kid neys and stimulate them to normal activity; also to neutralize the acids in the urine so it no longer irritates, thus ending bladder disorders. Jad Salts cannot Injure anyone; makes a delightful effervescent lithia water drink which millions of men and women take now and then to keep the kidneys and urinary organs clean, thus avoiding serious kidney disease. IF YOUR CHILD IS CRO 8, FEVERISH, CONSTIPATED Look Mother! If tongue Is coated, cleanse little bowels with "Cali fornia Syrup of rigs." Mothers can ret easy after giving "California Syrup of Figs," because in a few hours all the clogged-up waste, sour bile and fermenting food gently moves out of the bowels, and you have a well, playful child again. Sick children needn't be coaxed to take this harmless "fruit laxative." Millions of mothers keep it handy be cause they know its action on the stomach, liver and bowels is prompt and sure. Ask your druggist for a BO-cent bot tle of "California Syrup of Figs," which contains directions fur babies, children of all ages and for grown-ups. Good health cannot be maintained where there is a constipated habit Garfield Tea overcomes constipation. Particulars. "There is much," said the philoso pher, "which every man would like to have cut out of the book of his life." "Yes," said the ordinary citizen, "especially his appendix." Exchange. Definition From The Trenches. "What are diplomats?" "Diplomats are the people who do the quarreling while we do the fight ing." Washington Star. Wife't Sport "Is your wife a sportsman?" "Yes, she's very fond of flat-hunting." Dartmouth Jack o' Lantern. DANDRUFF AND ITCHING Disappear With Use of Cutlcura Soap 1 and Ointment Trial Free. The first thing in restoring dry, falling hair is to get rid of dandruff and itching. Rub Cutlcura Ointment into scalp, next morning shampoo with Cutlcura Soap and hot water. Pre vent skin and scalp troubles by mak ing Cutlcura your everyday toilet preparation. Free sample each by mail with Book. Address postcard, Cutlcura, Dept. L, Boston. Sold everywhere. Adv. BE PRETTY! TURN Try Grandmother's old Favorite' Recipe of Sage Tea and Sulphur. Almost everyone knows that Sage Tea and Sulphur, properly compound ed, brings back the natural color and lustre to the hair when faded, streak ed or gray. Years ago the only way to get this mixture was to make It at home, which is mussy and trouble some. Nowadays, by asking at any drug store for "Wyeth's Sage and Sul phur Compound," you will get a large bottle of this famous old recipe, Im proved by the addition of other in gredients, for about 60 cents. Don't stay gray! Try It! No one can possibly tell that you darkened your hair, as it does it so naturally and evenly. You dampen a sponge or soft brush with It and draw this through your hair, taking one small strand at a time; by morning the gray hair disappears, and after another ap plication or two, your hair becomes beautifully dark, glossy and attractive. Wyeth't Sage and Sulphur Com pound is a delightful toilet requisite for those who desire dark hair and a youthful appearance. It It not Intend ed for the cure, mitigation or preven tion of disease. Resinol a safe,reliable skin -treatment GRAY HAIR DARK