1
T1
The
Main, .
Chance
. T
X
Meredith Nicholson
Cl) hTUIOWT 10
Tub Bo ams-Mb 01. CoMeurv
CHAPTKK JCXI.
The nifht wind of the plainblew cold
la their faces aa they stepped out upon
the Great Itiver platform. There waa
faint of atom- in lb air and clouda rode
owlftly overhead. The voice of the train
mb and tbe throb of the loco root It, rent-
!
,v
. Ing for Ita long climb mountain ward,
broke strangely upon the alienee. A
greet figure muffled In a long u Inter came
down the platform toward the vestibul
from which tbe trio had descended.
"Hello," called It r I dan, cheerily,
-"there's only on like that 1 Good mora
lac, Hlahop!" '
"Oood moraine. Ken tie men," said B1h
p Delafleld, peering into their faces. The
waiting porter 'took hla baga from him.
"Has the boy been found yet J"
"No."
"I ahoutd have gone on home to-night
If I had known that. 13 lit what are you
doing here?"
Bar! dan told him In a few worda. They
wars following a alight clue, and were
going over to the old I'olndeiter place. In
the hop of finding Grant Porter there,
ftaiton waa holding a colloquy with the
driver of tha atatlon hack who had come
In quest of paesengera, and he harried off
with tha man to get a buck board.
Tha conductor aignaled with hla lan
tern to go ahead, and the engine answer
ad with a doleful peal of the bell. The
porter had gathered up tha biahop'a things
auid waited for him to atep aboard.
"Never mind," the bishop aald to him:
I won't go to-night." The train waa al
ready moving and tha bishop turned to
Rarldan and Wheaton. "I'll wait -and
oee what cornea of this."
"Very well," aald Haridan. "We won't
weed our bnge. Wa oan leave them with
the station agent."
Wheaton atepped forward eagerly, glad
to have something to do; ha had not slept
and waa grateful for the cover of dark
see which ahut him out from tha others.
When Wheaton went Into the atatlon.
tha agent eyed him curiously aa ha looked
up from hla telegraphing and nodded hla
promise to care for the bags. He remem
bered Haiton and Wheaton and supposed
that tbey ware going to Poindeiter'a on
ranch business. Saitoh drove up to the
platform with the burkboard.
"All ready." he aald, and the throe men
climbed In, tha bishop and Wheaton In
the back teat and Itaridan by Beaton,
Wbo drove.
Toe road proved to be la bettor condi
tion thaa Savtoa had ei parted, and he
kept the pool at their work with his
whip. The rumble of tha wagon rose
above tha men'a voices, and they coated
trying to talk. Too blahop rode with Jiia
head bowed on hla breast, aaleap; be had
learned tbe trick of taking Bleep whoa
and where he could.
. Wheaton felt the Bombing of hla handa
n feet la the cold night air and wel
comed the discomfort, aa a man long used
to a, particular aenaatlon of pala wel
comes a new one that provee a counter
irritant. He reviewed again tha ground
en which he might have aicuaad himself
from taking this trip. Nothing, he ar
gued, oould be more absurd than this ad
vent ore on An errand which might much
belter have been left to professional de
tect ivee. But It seemed a far cry back
to hla desk at tbe bank, and to tha tasks
there which be really enjoyed. In a few
boura the daily routine would be la pro
gress. Tha familiar ace pee o( the open
ing passed before him tha clerks taking
their places; tha tUmmlng of tha big
hooka upon the 'desks aa they were
brought from the vault : the Jingle of cola
la tbe rages aa the tsllerw assorted U and
evade ready for tbe day's business. He
saw himself at bli desk, the executive of.
fee i of the sroet substantial institution
est liarbsoa, bis signature carrying tbe
bank's pledge, eia position a at dignity
vud authority.
But bo waa oa William Porter's ser
vice; be pictured himself walking Into
the bank from a fruit lees quest, but one
which would attract at lent Ion to himself.
If they found the boy and released him
aafeiy, ha would share tbe thanks and
praise which would be tbe reward of tbe
rescuing party, lie had a idea that
Bnyder would be eeptured; and be even
planned bt bsl him escape U he coeid
do so.
Tbey went forward elewty, Tbs deads
ware mora aseipactly marshaled now and
tho stars wsn tewor. Suddenly Batten
brought tbs paalos to a eta ad and pointed
to a dark pila that loomed ahead of
thorn Tho Potedexter boas stood ftmh
ember ta tha thia etarllght.
' Saltan gat tho raiaa to Rartdaa gad
aaped sot. "Tag stay aara and I II
, ' aeeoaaelter a bit," ba mid. Ha walked
'wtftty toward tbe groat ban which lay
awtwssa him and the bewee, Tbara waa
aa alga at life la the piece. Ha treat
tbroavsk tbs barb-wire feaee Into tho eee
oi. He bad brought with baa a bay to
a raar deer, and ba started around tho
to try k tad to mako tap that
waa aot aetalil
At she aaraar toward tbs treat, glass
miliary araudul aadat uki lent, Tbs
the hones,- and ba could not determine
h tha visas had fallen from. The
I windows were all intact when ha left, ha
waa aure. He drew off his glove and tip
toed to the nearest panes, ran hla Angers
over tbe smooth glass, and Instantly
touched a broken edge. As ha was feel
ing ths frame to discover tbe site of tba
opening, the low whinny of a boras cams
distinctly from- within.
Ha stood perfectly quiet, listening, and
In a moment heard the stamp of a hoof
on the wooden door of tbt hall. Ha
backed off toward, tba drive, way, which
awept around In front of the house, and
waited, but all remained aa silent and
as dark as before. He ran back through
the corral to the other men, who stood
talking beside- the blsnketed ponies.
There's something or somebody la tba
boose," be. said. He told them of tha
broken window and of the sounds ha bad
heard. - "Wboever's there has no business
there and ws may as well turn him out.
Yodtwo watch the corner of tbs house,"
be. continued. Indicating Haridan and
Wheaton; "and you, Blahop, can stand
off here. If you "HI. and watch for signs
of light in the upper windows. The big
front doors are barred on. the Inside,, and
my key opens only the back door."
The door opened easily, and John step
peel into the lower hall. The placa waa
pitch dark. He remembered th posi
tion of the articles of f oral to re aa ba
had left them oa hla last visit, and start
ed across tbs ball toward tha stairway,
using bis lantern warily. When half
way, he beard the whinny of a home
which he could not eee. A moment later
an animal shrank away from him la the
darkness and was still again. Then an
other horse whinnied by the window
whose broken glass he Wad found oa the
out aids. There were, then, two horses,
from which be argued that there were
at least two persons In the bouse. He
found tba doors and lifted the heavy bar
that held them and drew tha bolts at
top and bottom. As tba doors -swung
open slowly Karldan ran up to see if
anything was wanted.
"All right," aald Saiton In a low ton.
'They're mighty quiet If they're here.
Rut there's no doubt about the horse.
Ton atay where you are and I'll aiplore
a little."
Tha horses stamped fretfully as he
went toward tba st sir way, but all was
quiet above. lis felt bis way slowly
up the stalrrall, whose heavy duat stuck
to his Angers, Having gained tba upper
hall, he paused to take freeb bearings.
His memory brought back gradually tbe
position of th rooms. la putting out
his hand he touched a picture which
swung slightly on Its wire -and grated
harshly against th rough plaster of the
wall. At tha same Inetant be heard a
noiee directly In front of him aa of some
ons moving about In tbe chamber at the
bead of the atalra. Th knob of a door
waa suddenly grasped from within, John
waited, crouched down, and drew bit re
volver from the aid pocket of his coat.
Th door stuck la the frame, but being
violently aha ken, auddenly pulled free.
Tha person who had opened tbe door
stepped back Into tba room and scratched
match.
"Wake up there,'' called a vole with
in ths room,
Baitoa crept softly across tba hall.
settling tbe revolver Into bis hand ready
for use. A man oould bt board mum
bling. Hurry up, bay, it's tims w were oat
of this."
Tba owner of th vole bow reappear
ed at th door holding a lantern ; ba waa
pushing some on la front of him. The
crisis had corns quickly; John Sax too
knew that bo bad found Grant Porter;
and be remembered that be waa ther to
get th boy whether ba caught bla ad
ductor or aot.
Tbe man waa carrying th lantern la
hie right hand and -pushing tba bay to
ward th staircase with hla left. As bs
came well out of th door. Saitea sprang
up snd kicked tbs lantern from tbe man's
band. At ths aama moment h mooed
the boy by th collar, drew him back
and atepped la front of him. Ths lan
tern crashed against tbe wall opposite
and want rolling down tbe stairway with
Its light extinguished. Baitoo bad drop
ped hie own lantern and the ball waa la
darkness.
Stop where you are, Snyder," said
Saiton, "or I'll shoot. I'm John Baitoa ;
you may ramember ma. He spoke hi
Steady, even tones.
The lantern, rolling down tbe stairway.
startled th bores, which stamped rest
lessly oa th ftoor. Th wiud whistled
dismally outside. He beard Snyder, as
be assuated tho men to ba, cautiously
feeling bk way toward tbe staircase.
"You may aa well atop there," 8xtoa
aald, without moving, and holding tbe
bay to tha loor with hi toft band. Ha
spoke ia sharp, even tones. "It's all
right, Groat," ba added In th asms key
to th boy, who was crying with fright.
Stay where yom are. Tba house la
aurrouaded, ftaydsr, ba west aa, "Yoa
may aa wall give in."
Tbe man aaM nothing. He bad fauna
tho stairway. Saddealy a revolver task.
sd and cracked, aad the bum weat bwp
lag down th ataln. The ball whistled
over 8a (tea's head, and th boy clutched
bias about tba lega. A bit of plaster.
a wee by tbe bulk. Ml from tba
coiling. Th noise of th tovoivoi roared
through tbs house.
Ita all tight, OraaV aWxtoft said
again. .
Tba futreadng maa slipped aad toR
at tbe avadlng. midway of tba atalra. aad
aa ba Mum bled to bai feet Sanaa ran
hack bsto tha room froaa wheat tbs Mmw
bad aamrgod, H threw up th window
with a oraa aad sbowtod to ate am as
"He's eoaalagl Got eat of the way
d tot him g I Tte karaU rtgbtr
Ha harried back toto tbs baD wbaro at
and toft wane, who etitihil
h. tba dark.
"To atay bora a awawto, O1
want got yag agaas," ha oaitoi aa ba ran
low was suortlagwlth frlgrit and making
a great clatter with its hoof. From the
sound Has i on kuw that the fleeing man
waa trying to moaut. and ae he plunged
down the last kiilf of tbe stairway th
bora broke through the door with th
maa oa bla back.
"Let him go, Warry yelled Saiton
Fitb all his lung,. - f
The bora waa already across ' tbs
theabold at a leap, bla rider bending low
over the animal's ne -k to avoid th top
of the door. Haridan ran forward, tab
log bis bearing by sounds. ,
"Stop!" be sbouieii. "('ome'on, Whea
ton!" Wheaton running toward
him at the top of his siieed: Ha rid in
aprang In front of tbe horse and grabbed
at tba throat-latch of its bridle. Tba
horse, surprised, and terrified by tba
no las, 'sod feeling the rider digging bis
beels Into hla side, reared, carrying
Warry oS bis feet.
"IM go, yoa foul," screamed th rider.
-Lt go, I say I"
"Let him alone," cried Wheaton, now
close at band; but Haridan atil) held to
the strap .at th throat of fEe pluriging
boras.
The rider sat up atraight oq his bora
and bla revolver barked into to night
twice In sharp surwttslon, (he . sounds
crashing against the hou e, and the
Bashes lighting up the straggling ' borse
and rider, and Baridnn, clutching at tha
bridle. Raridan'a hold loosened at tbe
first shot, and aa the second echoed into
th night, th horse leaped free, running
madly down tba road, past Blahop Dela
field, who was com jug rapidly toward the
bouse.' Wheaton and Saiton met in th
driveway where Raridun bad fallen. Th
flying borse coo Id be beard poundlag
down tbe bard road.
"Warry, Warry!'; called Saxton, oa
bla knee by bis friend. "Hold tbe lan
tern," bo said to Wheaton. "He's hurt."
Rarldan aald nothing, but lay very Mill,
moaning,
"Who's hurtT naked the bishop, com
ing up, Saiton bad recovered hla awn
lantern as b ran from the house. It waa
still burning and Wheaton turned up th
wick. Th thro men bent over Haridan,
who lay aa ho bad fallen.
"We must get him imlde," mM Saa
toa. "Tbe boras knocked him down."
Tba blahop boat over and put his arms
under itaridan ; and gathering him up aa
If Ae prone nun had been a child, b
carried him slowly toward th bouse,
Wheaton started ahead with ths lantern,
but Saxton snatched It from him and ran
through tho door Into th ball, and back
to the dining-room.
"Com In here," be called, and tbe old
bishop followed, bearing Haridan careful
ly In bis great arms. The others helped
him to place hla burden on the long table
at which. In Polndexter's day, many light
hearted companies bad gathered. Tbey
peered down apog bin ia th lantern
light.
i "It waa another another of my fool
lih chances," aald Warry faintly and
slowly, th words coming bard ; but all
la tbe room could bear. He looked from
on to a not her. "The boy's ssfe and well.
We got what we earns for. Just once
just one I got what I cam for. It
waan't fair In tbt dark that way
Hi volo failed. He lay very stUI for
severs! minutes.
"I never quite arrived quit arriv
ed." be went on. with his ayes oa tbs old
bishop, aa If tharware something that hs
would understand : "but you must fosaiv
all that" Ht BUUMM la a pat loot, tired
way. i
"Ton bar been a goodmao, Warry,
there's nothing that oaa trouble yoa."
"1 waa really doing better, waaat I,
Johnr ho wenvt on. still ssalllng. "Ta
bad helped you two1 bo looked from
hit young frksnd to tho older one, with
th intent noes of hit near-sighted gaas.
"Tell them" his eyas closed and hla voice
sank until It was almost Inaudible "tell
there at th hill Evelga tbe light at ail
of all tho year."
Th wtod sweeping roes tho prairie
shook tbe wtodowa ia the room aad moan
ed fa away la th lonely boas. The
bishop's errant hand rested gently oa tbs
dying sean's head: his rote roe la sup
plication th worda cowing slowly, aa H
be remembered them from a far-off timet
"I nto God's gracious, mercy and pro
tect ion wo commit tbee." Baitoa drop
pad to bis knees, and a tab broke from
him. "Tb Lord bleat the, and keep
thee. Tba Lord mako hi face to thin
upon the, and be gracious aoto thee."
Tbe akl man's voice waa very low, and
aaoh to a whisper. "The Lord lift ap bit
oouBtonaac upon tbs aad girt that
peace, both bow and everaaore."
(Ta b cootmaed.)
tUMl
Ptrey Ftokw i egotistically) Tea. I
that lov ta go traveling for plantar.
Mist TabascoYea, It b t donbl
plaaaara.
Ptrty PtckU DotibU plsaaur?
. Mlaa Talmaoa--o plat sura to
Ton and a plaaaar to yowr aeqoalas-
etwat
Lrttlo Mary bated to say BegaT
batata ah had beta toughed at as
often lor bar queer proauacloUoa of
tat ward. Bo when bar toother aaat
bar to tb store ta bay asaas, aba are.
asated tba Jag- to tha tier and aait
"Sown of that aad ana
qwivt-BoawtosKa.
Wigwag 1 atrer knew swob a fal
hrw aa Bjoaael He to alwapo lathi ng
fray livable. - -
HoapoheThoB, way awaaVt aw
VM BtorrkM r-PblUaalpbla aUoord.
1 aat any be waa very ewatawaa . afreet aaflh. ereasa or bwUer
Uka with alt bimsi,i- great deal at baetarla, tamevMea aad
"At to bow. ny water." , slsissi aaaatj at tat wto atiah at tat
-Toed aw to eeeeeew dsjwael ka tot ta waken th oew are
Whea Hay'" boa.
Thcrs's a trail of relief and a spirit
of fun
Comes over th farmer when baying
hi dono;
With hla haylofts atl swslllng with
swsst-scented hay
Hla smile la as cheery as aunehlne la
. Nay. --
Tba summer's half over, and out In
tho Held
Ho sees tho approach of a bountiful
yield; .
As tall aa his hat la ths goldon-toppad
corn.
Which wavat Ita long arms la tb
breeie of th mom.
Aa fair and at fragrant aa gardens of
old
Art bla fields with tbebr etubbt aa
yellow at gold.
With bla barn full of hay and bit bed
ding stacked high.
A tmlla on his fast and a gleam th
bla y;
Tb eattl provided with winter ra-
patt.
While apples and pumpkins art ripen
ing fast. i
Thsre's a emit of relief and a spirit
of fun
Comet over the farmer whan baying Is
dona:
Tha turnip art. growing, tbt melons
are prime.
Tha harvest approaching, bla boun
teous time.
Ah I Lucky the farmer wno wanders
afield -
And awes tho approach of a beautiful
yield!
-Beaton Herald.
Cultivation of Corm.
At the vera! experiment stations
florn baa received more thaa It thart
of attention, and many experlmcnta
have bean made m order to leara now
to dtrlva tho urgent yields and to
grow the crop moat economically.
Opinion differ, however, aa climate,
variety and toll are factor governing
every crop. The Indiana atatlon found
that the beat results were obtained by
planting seed In Hay. It baa been
shown that the greatest average yield
of both ears and stocks bar been ob
tained when tha sUlks stood about
twelvo or fourteen inches apart In tha
rows. Thick planting, however, re
duce the site of th earn, and uhe per
centage of grain, , but thick planting
baa, In dry Beaton a, produced the
heaviest yield of stalks and the high
est yield of earn. So far at depth of
eultlvattoa la concerned, th yield,
when eorn waa cultivated on, two
and throe laches, have been equal. In
continuous corn eulturt heavy appli
cations of fresh aorta manor have
aot been profitable, but tho effect of
a vary hoary application of manure
baa been noticed for many yearn.
There doe not teem to bt much differ
ence la yield due to any particular
implement used, while hiU and drIU
plantings of eorn hart produced tho
tame average yield. Tbt -cheeking'
of corn is still the moat popular and
profltaMa mod of growing tho corn
at th leant coat of labor. Th results
ht on station may not eorreapond
with tboot obtained elsewhere, bnt
where the work baa extended over a
number of years tb results should be
accepted an Important, If not ooncla-
tlTt.
A Tat Isrmtae.
Besides Ita use la to barnyard, thia
la handy for covering potatoes, level
ing rough ground, suing ditches, etc.
It should be mad of 1-lneh lumber,
nnd bard wood If possible: tha temper
should bt to I feet long; ad t feet
blgh; Itt lift will bo prolonged If
abod with a piece of Iron or ateet. a
shown; moreover. It wlD do good
work without tho Iron. Th oveoer
most bo at toast 4 feet frees ecreper,
t allow for lead, aad ta keep east
from under tho bursas feet. A very
largo barnyard atay be deaaed hi a
abort Unto, and ntvaral laadn of
maaur saved. Simply drive tbe lead
where waa ted. lift acraper ap by tbe
Imadrea, toavtag load, and repeat th
There are a hundred aad oa places
araar anllk oaa be oeateaitaated from
tat Una It In draws treat tb adder
till reacbot tha table hi the farm of
Filet, a
r- .
aum BABJTTAJm atsapaav
thtaa owe thttr exlstaoe ;a milk ta
th attendant and the place In which
the milk it 'kept. The-moment the
cow shows signs of being ill, or when
even a alight eruption la noticeable, a
person may contract disease by partak
ing of her milk. Impure water la an
other way In which milk; la eontaml
noted. If tha cow la oom palled bs'
drink out of a mud holt, filled with
disease germ, th cannot help but
drink n large number of those germs
Into her system, tome of them being
tare to reach her milk. Milking tha
oo w, into an open pall when the barn
hi filled with dust, and from which
there hangs an nntold number of dirty
cobwebs, of milking her In aa offon
Ively smelling lot where the fllth la
ankle deep, or milking a cow who
udder, flank and legs are covered with
dirt and nlth In euch case It It Im
possible to avoid contamination of the
milk. It la believed that more disease
germs art given the human family
through- milk than are given la any
other agency; and we alto believe that
leas attention It paid to tba tare of
milk than to any ther food consumed
upon the table.
L. 1 ' '"- "
itlatw Haras Cora.
' Dr. A A. Molcombo, Inspector of tha
United Statu bureau of animal boa
bandry, nays of treating bore corns:
"As la all otbss troubles, ' th canto
must bt discovered If possible and re
moved. In a great majority of eaten
tbe shoeing will be at fault For a
aound foot, perfectly formed, a flat
hoe with heels lest thick than th tot
and which rest evenly on tha wall
proper la tbt best. In flat feet It It
often necessary to concave the feet aa
much aa possible on tb upper surfaoe
to that the sole may not be pressed
upon. If the beels are very low tho,
heels of the shoe may be made much
thicker. If the foot It very broad
and th wall light toward tha heelt
a far shoe, retting upon the walla,
may aid to prevent exceaslv tension
upon tho eoft tlaaaet when tbe foot
receives the weight of - the body. A
piece of leather placed between tho
foot and shoe serves largely to destroy
concussion, and Itt nae la absolutely
necessary on tome animals to enable
them to work. Among the preventive
measures may bo
mentioned too
which serve to main
tain tbe suppleness
of the . boot. ' Tho
dead horn upon tho
surface of tha sole
not only retatnt
moisture for a long
time, but protecta
tha living horn be
Hoaaa coaite.
neath from 'the effects of evaporation.
For thia reason tbe sole should bt
pared aa Uttlt aa possible,
Coollatp- CWsass.
Different conditions on th farm
wlU govern airugteentB for tho cool
lng of cream. Where windmills art
wod, many - farma have cheaply con
structed mllk-houeet In which eaa bt
placed a tank or half barrel, through
which nil water ta led from tb wind
mill ta the atock-wattrlng tank. With
the cream cooled aad bald In that
tanks tha arrangement la everything
required.
Where windmills and mllkhouset
are aot used, -a half barrel can bt net
near tb pump and a cheap shade ee
structsd. Tb water can be pumped
by hand with am all expenditure of
time and labor. Tba cooling of th
cream will heat tbe water. Rub out
th warn water and pomp a fresh
supply In which tbe -cream can sol
aver night or through tb day before
being added to tbe. supply can. Wbea
another tot of warm cream It to bt
cooled, tb operation can be repeated
A large boa can bt est over the barrel
to protect the cream from tbe sua
Tba farmer ingenuity may suggest
aomt other protection equally at good
Ther are a dote or more arrang
mtnta. Inexpensively nnd anally made,
which eaa bt devised oa every farm
for the proper ear of cream. The
remarks suggest only the principle oi
keeping tho cream la good condition
Bom writers claim that aheap
ought not to bt pattarad oa land mora
than on Pear before H It plowed aad
re seeded, owing to parasite, hot at be
bean shown that sheep have been kept
fro from pa rati tea bp tb aaa of tar,
turpentine and aalL Bar S-lec holes
la a plan tog. AH with Bait aad smear
tar aroand the ton, and sheep will tar
their aoaat while eat lag aalL Sheep
taoa leara to tat tar. On aneep
releer kataa It mixed with terpen tin
aad Belt, where It It aeries! bio at all
tins, About one-half pint of tarpea
tla to oa sack of taH Is the proper
proportloa.
A atocknsaa clalaat that whoa calve
t or 4 peart M beeeawt etch aad die
with eeoere M to da to Indigent lo.
apparently, aad yield at matt
with potato If take ta ttaaa. A taa
apooaral twice a day gtvoa ta a Utthb
warm mflk after reeding win out
H aad If grvea wbea ta taH It bora.
aad eeattawsd bar a tow day, wfll ava
ls. Tb i lira hi the eeasaaaa
tM to drag
4 -
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A