Heppner times., October 20, 1904, Image 6

I Secret of tbe Plundered S&fe j
5j By EMILE (i AUORIAU K
rr, -r, , '-'
CHAPTER X.
Rsout shook Prosper' hand, rloeed the
door after him and hurries! up th street,
leaving Prosper standing Immovable and
overcome by disappointment. He was
aroused from his glwmy reverie by hear
ing the red-whiskered man aay, in a ban
tering tone:
"So these are your friends?"
"Ye," said Prosper, with bittern.
"You heaid him offer me halt of his
fortune ?"
"That was Tery stingy on his farX:
why did he not offer the whole? O.Ter
tost nothing, although I hare no doubt
that this sweet youth would cheerfully
five ten thousand francs to put the ocean
between you and him."
"For what reason";"
"Who knows? Perhaps for the same
reason that he hau not set foot iu his
uncle's house for a month."
"Hut that is the truth, monsieur, I am
sure of it."
"Naturally," said Nr. Verduret. with a
provoking smile. "But." he continued,
with a serious air, "we have devoted
enough time to this Adonis. Now, be
Sood enough to change your dress, and
we will go and esll on M. Fauvel. It is
necessary: so come on. You must have
confidence, put on a brave face."
Prosper had hardly passed into his
bedroom when the bell rang agaiu. M.
Verduret opened the door. It was the
porter, who handed him a thick letter,
and aaid:
"This letter was left this morning for
M. Bertomy. I was bo flurried when he
came that I forgot to hand it to him. It
U a very odd-looking letter, is it not,
master?"
It was, indeed, a most peculiar mis
give. The address was not written, but
formed of printed letters, carefully cut
from a book, and pasted on the envelope.
W. Verduret went into the next room and
closed the door behind him.
"Here Is a letter for you," aaid M.
Verduret.
Prosper at once tore1 open the envelope.
Rome bank notes dropped out; he counted
them; there were ten. His face turned
purple. The letter. like the address, was
composed of printed words cut out and
pasted on a sheet of paper. It was short
but explicit:
"My Dear Prosper A friend, who
knows the horror of your situation, sends
this. There is one heart, be assured,
that shares your sufferings. Go away;
leave France; yoo are young; the future
la before you. Go, and may this money
bring you happiness"'
"Everybody wishes me to go away,"
tried Prosper; "then there must be a con
spiracy against me."
"Now," said M. Verduret, "we must
take advantage of this evidence, gained
by the Iraprndence of our enemies, with
out delay. We will begin with the por
ter." He opened the door and called out
The porter entered, looking very much
surprised at the authority exercised over
his lodger by thia stranger.
"Who gave you thia letter?" said M.
Verduret
"A messenger, who said be was paid
for bringing it. He ia the errand runner
whs stands at the corner of the Rue Pl
galle." ,
"Go and bring him here."
After the porter had gone M. Verduret
read the letter over several times, scan
ning the sentencea and weighing every
word.
"Evidently thia letter was composed
by a woman," he finally said, "Never
wonld one man doing another a service.
nd sending him money, nse the word
'happiness.' Now let us see If we can
ilscover whence the printed worda were
taken to compos, thia letter."
He approached the window and began
to study the pasted words with all the
crapulous attention which an antique
rian would devote to an old pallmsest.
"Small type," aaid he. "very slender
and clear; the paper is thin and glossy
I have it!" be cried: "now I have it.
These words are all cut from a prayer-
book. We will look, at least, and then
we shall be certain."
He moistened one of the words pasted
on the paper with his tongue, and when
It was sufllciently softened he detached
it with a pin. On the other side of this
word was printed a devout Latin word,
Deus.
"Ah, ha," he aaid, with a little lough
Of satisfaction, "I knew it. But what
bas become of the mutilated prayer book
Can it have been burued? No, because
a heavy bound book la not easily burned.
It la thrown in some corner."
M. Verduret was interrupted by the
porter, who returned with the messen
ger. "Ah, here you are," he aaid, encour
agingly. Then he showed, the envelope
of the letter and aaid:
"Do you remember bringing this letter
here this morning"
"Perfectly, monsieur. I took partlcu
lar notice of the directions; wa don't
often see anything like it."
"Who told you to bring It, gentle
man or a lady?"
"Neither, monsieur; It was a porter.
I have never seen blm before."
"Very well; I will give you ten francs
a day if you will walk about the streets
and look for the porter who brought
this letter. Every evening at eight o'clock
come to the Archangel, on the Quay
Baint Michel, give me a report of your
acarrh and receive your pay. Ask for
M. Verduret If you find the man I will
give yon fifty franca. Don't lose min
ute. Start off!"
"Monsieur," said Prosper, when the
porter hod left tin room, "do you still
think you sea a woman's hand In this
affair?"
"More than ever, and a pious womnn,
too, who has two prayer books, since she
could rut up one to write to you. Are
you ready to go to M. Fauvel's? Yes?
Come on, then; we hare certainly earnei
our broakfuht to-dsy."
CHAPTER XL
The visit to M. Fauvel was very stiff
and formal. Only a few words were ex
rhangtid between the banker and M
Verduret, who was Introduced as a rela
tive of Prosper, and then the two left
the oitlce.
"I hope you are satisfied, monsieur,"
Prosper sald.iu. a gloomy tout, when
they reached the street, "yon exacted
this paiuful step, and I could only ac- ,
quiesoe. Have I gained anything by
adding this humiliat'-m to the othera :
which I have suffered?" j
"You hava not. but I have," replied
XI. Verduret. "I could find no way of
gaining access to XL Fauvel. ' save
through yon; and now I have found out
what 1 wanted to know. I am convinced
that M. Fauvel had nothing to do with
the robbery."
Prosper and his companion had stop
ped to talk more at their ease near the
corner of the Rue I.afitte. M. Verduret
seemed to be anxious, and was constant
ly looking around as if he expected some
one. He soon uttered an exclamation of
satisfaction. At the other end of the
vacant space he saw Cavaillon, who was
bareheaded and running. He was so ex
cited that he did uot even stop to shake
hands with Prosper, but darted up to M.
Verduret and said:
"They have gone, monsieur. They
went about a quarter of an hour ago."
"Then we have uot an instant to lose,"
and he handed Cavaillon a note lie had
written some hours before at Prosper's
house.
"Here, send him this, and then return
at once to your desk: you might be miss
ed. It was very rash in you to come out
without your hat."
Cavaillon ran off aa quickly as he had
come. Prosper was stupefied.
"What!" he exclaimed. "You know
Cavaillon ?'
"So it seems." answered M. Verduret,
with a smile; "but we have no time to
talk; come on, hurry!" And he eet the
example by striding rapidly toward the
line Lafayette. lie suddenly stopped
before a door bearing the number 81.
"We are going in here," he said to
Prosper; "come."
They went up the steps, and stopped
on the second floor, before a door over
which was a large sign, "Fashionable
Dressmaker." A handsome bellrope htag
on the wall, but M. Verduret did not
touch it. He tapped with the knuckles
in a peculiar way, and the door Instantly
opened as if some one had beeu watching
for his signal on the other side. The
door was opened by a neatly dressed
woman of about forty. She quietly usli
fred XI. Verduret and Prosper Into a
neat dining room with several doors
opening into it. XI. Verduret asked. In
a low tone, pointing to Hue of the doors:
In there?"
No," said the woman. In the same
tone, "over there, in the little parlor.
XI. Verduret opened the door pointed
out, and pushed Prosper Into the little
parlor, whispering as he did so:
"Go In, and keep your presence of
mind."
But this Injunction waa useless. The
instant he cast his eyes around the room
Into which he had so unceremoniously
been pushed without any warning. Pros
per exclaimed, in a atartled voice:
"Xladelelne."'
It was indeed XI. Fanvel's niece, look
ing more beautiful than ever. Standing
in the middle of the room, near a table
covered with silks and satins, she was
arranging a skirt of red velvet embroid
ered in gold. At sight of Prosper all
the blood rushed to her face, and her
beautiful eyes half closed, as If she were
about to faint. She recovered from her
momentary weakness, and the soft ex
pression of her eyes changed to one of
haughty resentment In an offended tone
she aaid:
"Ton promised me npon your honor,
monsieur, that you would never again
seek my presence. Is thia the way you
keep your word?"
"I did promise, mademoiselle, but so
many thlnga have happened aince that
terrible day that I think I am excusa
ble In forgetting, for one hour, an oath
torn from me in a moment of blind weak
ness. It is to chance, at least to another
will than my own, that I am Indebted
for the happiness of once more finding
myself near you. Alas! the Instant I
saw you my heart bounded with Joy. I
did not think no, -I could not think
that you would prove more pitiless than
strangers hava been, and cast me off
when I am so miserable and heart
broken."
"You know me well enough. Prosper,
to be sure that no blow can strike you
without reaching me at the same time,
You suffer, I suffer with you; I pity you
as a sister would pity a beloved brother.'
"A sister!" said Prosper, bitterly
"Yes, thst was the word you used the
day you banikhed me from your pres
ence. A sister! Then why during three
years did you delude me with vain
hopes? Waa I a brother to you the day
when, at the foot of the altar, we swore
to love each other forever, and you
fastened around my neck a holy relic,
and said, 'Wear this always for my sake,
never part from It, and it will bring you
good fortune.
Madeleine attempted to Interrupt hlra
by a supplicating gesture; he would not
heed it, but continued, with increased bit
terness:
"One month after that happy day-
year ago you gave me back my prom
ise, told me to consider myself free from
my engagement, and never to come near
you again. If I could have discrnered
in what way I have offended you! I'ut
no, you refused to explain. You told me
that an Invincible obstacle had arisen
between us and I believed yon, fool that
I was! The obstacle was your own
heart, Xladelelne. I have always worn
the medal, but It bas not brought me
happiness or good fortune."
CHAPTER XII,
As white and motionless aa a statue,
Xladelelne stood with bowed head before
the storm of passionate reproach.
"Prosper, my brother, my friend, If
you ouly knew "
"I know but one thing, Madeleine, and
that is that you no longer love me, aud
that I love you mora madly than ever,
Oh, Madeleine, heaven only knows how
I love you!"
He was silent. He hoped for an an
swer. None came. But suddenly the l
lence whs broken by a stifled sob. It
waa Xladelelne' maid, who, seated In
corner, was weeping bitterly. He turned
tu surprise, and looked at the weeping
woman; this neatly dressed waiting maid
was Nina Gypsy,
Prosper was so etartlwJ that ha became I
perfectly dumb, IU stood there with
ashy lips, and a chilly aeuaatlon creeping
through hit veins, Mranwhlla Madeleine
had tucceeded In recovertug her usual
calmness. Slowly and almost uucouscl- I
oualy she had. put ou her bonnet . and
ahawl, lying on the aofa. Than sha ap
proached Prosper and anld;
"I wish to tell you that I have for
gotten nothing. But, oh! let not this
knowledge give you any hope, the future
la blsnk for us; but If you love tue you
will live. You will not, I know, add to
my already heavy burden of sorrow, the
agony of mourning your death. For my
sake live; live the life of a good mau,
ud perhaps the day will coma when I
can justify myself In your eyes. And
now, oh, my brother, oh, my ouly friend,
adieu! adieu!"
She pressed a kiss upon his brow, and
rushed from the room, follow ed by Nina
Gypsy. Prosper waa alone. He seemed
to be awaking from a troubled drvmn.
He tried to think over what had Jut
happened, and asked himself If he were
losing his mliul. or whe'ther he had really
spoken to Xladelelue, and seen Gypsy?
He was obliged to attribute all this to
the mysterious power of the strange man
whom he hud seen for the first time that
very morning, and who had entered the
little parlor,
"l thank von fur your past services,
ni'Misieur," said Prosper to him, "and de
!
cline them for t'ie future, s I have no
need of them. If I attempted to defend
my honor and my life it was because I
hoped that XLideleine would be restored
to be. I have been convinced to-day that
all is Rt an end between us; retire from
the struggle, and care not what becomes
of me now."
Prosper was so decided that XL Ver
duret seemed alarmed.
'You must be mad," he finally said.
"No, unfortunately I am not. Xlade
lelne has ceased to love me, aud of what
Importance ia anything else?"
'Do vou suspect nothing? you did not
see what was hidden beneath her words?
Perhaps It waa not a delicate thing to
do, but as long as the object Is good we
need not look too closely at the means.
I listened, and I am glad thst I did,
because uow I can aay to you, Take
courage. Prosper; Madeleine loves you;
she has never ceased to love you."
Like a man who, feeling himself at
the polut of death, puts faith In the doe-
tor's promises. Prosper saw a ray of
hope In XI. Yerdnret'e positive assertions.
"Oh," he murmured, suddenly calmed,
"if I could only believe"
"Believe me. I am not mistaken. Ah,
you have not guessed, as I did, the suf
ferings of this generous girl, struggling
between her love and what she believes
to he her duty. Did not your heart bound
at her words of farewell? She Is not
free. In recalling her promise to you
she obeyed a superior, irresistible will.
She sacrificed herself, for whom? We
shall soon know, and the secret of her
self sacrifice will reveal to us the secret
of the plot of which you are the victim."
(To be contlnued.i
ORTHOGRAPHY IS FAULTY.
Old-Fashioned Hpelllnu Bee
lie a Good Thing,
Would
There la much complaint that the
rising generation can't spell, says the
Albany Argus. True, there was com
plaint that some of the forefather
could not spell. George Washington
Andrew Jackson and other men emi
nent In our history conducted a spell-es-you-please.
Ancient men of letter
were poor spellers, iu many Instances.
Still, the average lias gone downhill.
appear. Perhaps the memory of
the tingling cheeks, and the ready
birch in the teacher' hand, which ac
companied a "spell-down," makes us
children of an older growth think that
we learned to spell better than do
these youngster, nowaday. Usually,
with the old methods. It did not pay
to miss the same word twice.
Why 1 It," the, question used to
go, ' mat all the bad speller become
Ign painters?" Is It because of the
strict union rules, nowadays, that the
bad speller bave deserted sign paint
ing and overflowed Into the other oc
cupation? Have modern method of
teaching overlooked the desirability of
teaching the boys and girls spelling
and the three Rs, In order to cram
their little bends with ornamental ac
complishments? There ha been a widespread belief
that the restoration of the old fashion
ed spelling-bees, "rpell up and pell
down," would be a good thing. The
Brooklyn Eagle thinks ao to such an
extent that It bas offered prizes, on
condition that the public school prin
cipal will let tbelr pupils take part
In a series of spelling match es. But
without success. The principals do
not take kindly to the notice. The
Eagle says:
"The nub of the matter Is just this:
The public school children cannot
spell. The principals of the high
schools know that they cannot spell,
as does everybody else who bas occa
sion to receive letter from them. If
a series of competition were held this
most troublesome fact of the school
situation to those on the Inside might
be revealed to the great body of par
ent and taxpayers. Then there might
arise such a hue and cry for common
senae and the fundamental of edtica
tlon a would annoy the authorities
who now make out our scientific and
philosophical course of study, which
slights spelling for general lnforma
tlon about everybody from Confucius
and Buddha down to Admiral Togo,
If the school siioum once begin to
make time enough for fundamentals.
of which spelling Is easily first, there
I no telling how many fads and frills
would have to be cut out to find the
time for essentials."
NlifhtlnK Wrong;.
"Saw," snapped the mitrblo-hearted
female, "I ain't got nothlii' cooked fcr
enny low-down trump."
"Youse lief got de wrong dope sheet,
main m," replied the hungry hobo. "I'm
er tramp, all right, all right, but
ain't no low-down one. I'm at do head
uv me profesHhun. .Bee?"
hi. in
A clean and cheerful house make
happy home.
TO MY MOTHER.
( gently with her, Tlmej these many
years
Of life have bronght mora smiles with
them than tears.
I.sy not thy hand too harshly on her
now.
But trace decline so alowly on her brow
That (hka the sunset of the Northern
clime,
Where the twilight lingers In the sum-
mer time.
Ami fades at lt Into the silent night,
Kre one may note the panning of the
light),
So may she pass, nluce 'tis the common
M
As one wh, reetlug, slreps and knows It
not.
John Allan Weyth In the Century.
i.iiieiiitasii oi lie CI.
NY luck. Puke?"
She looked up with a forced
stullo as her husband entered
their -studio, they termed It, but lis
it matter of fact It was their garret
mid the only room they bad.
He shook his bend wearily as he
placed the canvases on the table.
"The dealers are full up, Hint I
haven't sold one."
"Never mind," she answ ered, tender
ly "luck nnts-t change, noun."
"Heaven ouly knows that ours ha
beeu black enough since we married."
"Dearest, " she anld, reproachfully,
and she gathered closer to her breast
the sleeping child, whose face was so
dear to her, with the blue eyea of her
husband and Its halo of fair, curling
locks, "there la little Huth."
Xliirmaduke Sefton gazed moodily
Into the lire. Ills thoughts were far
from pleasant ones, I'ntll four year
ago he hud never known that dread
feeling of want His father. Sir Mar
iiuiduke Sefton, a very wealthy inuu,
had completely spoiled lilm. Not a
wish remained uiisiitistlcd, and his al
lowance Was a princely one.
Thin bringing up hail the usual re
sult. Duke made up his mind thnt he
was an artist and nothing would shako
hi in In tills) connection.
Not even the threat of tils father's
dire displeasure would persuade him
to throw down his brush.
There la no doubt that In time Sir
Xlurmaduke would have relented and
have countenanced his sou In his ar
tistic ambition, but aa luck would have
It, Duke went Into the country to paint
landscapes. There he met Huth, hi
wife, the daughter of the vicar, andat
once proceeded to make love. A few
weeks afterward he proposed to her
and wus accepted.
Sir MttTiuaduke did not rage when
the engagement was announced to
blm. He wrote a few lines.
Marry this girl and I have done
with you. Not a sou will you have.
The choice remains with you."
Duke did make his choice and mar
ried. The Inevitable occurred and lit
tle Ruth was the crowning blessing to
happy marriage. Not for two year
did they begin to feel the pinch of
poverty. The ready money which he
had and the realization of tils Jewelry
kept them going for that length of
time. But the Inst six mouths had
been a weary fight with starvation.
Their "studio" coat them four shil
lings a weekan attic off the Gray's
Inn road and their food corn them of
ten less. Their thin faces and wearied
sullies were speaklug evidence of their
llf.v But little Ruth's bouny face bore
Igiis of a mother's love and care.
"There Is plenty of lard and ota-
toes. I "t us fry them," Ruth said.
heerfiilly, as she placed the child on
her bed.
The next morning they were awak-
ned by the child's chatter. The sun
was shining brilliantly through the
windows of the roof.
I will go the rounds again," he
said, as he took up bis canvases. "I
will be buck soon with your breakfast.
hope, darling. Good bye, little one."
There were tours In bis eye as he
caned to kiss his little girl.
Ills wife stood looking at the open
loorway, through which her husUmd
hud disappeared. Then, with a sigh,
she started cleaning their room.
The little one looked on for a while
In a few moments she grew tired and
wandered to the landing head, She
walked down a few steps.
' Her mother went on with her work
now and then stopping for a moment
to dash the streaming tears from bcr
yes.
Little Ruth reached the street.
"Which way did dad go?" she lisped
to herself.
After a momenta hesitation alio
turned to the left A hundred yards
ahead she reached Theobald's roa
mid toddled along lu the direction 'of
Oxford street.
I dud him soon dad, dear dad. He
Is crying, poor dad," she murmured
A sudden run to cross the street, a
shriek, the pulling up of horses, and
the flttle one lay motionless lu the
iirms of a kindly policeman. A quar
ter of an hour afterward she was be
ing atended to by the house surgeon
of a neighboring hospital.
"A simple frncfure of the arm," ho
remarked to the nurse. "It was
providential escape."
"What's your name, little one?" Im
asked. '
"Ruth Sefton," she answered, obe
diently.
"Where do you live?" was his next
question.
"Far awsy, up high," she repllei'
pointing with tier hand to the celling
"What la the name of the street r
"Ruth doesn't know," she answere
decidedly.
"What Is your father's name?"
asked tb nurse at a hazard.
END OF THE STRAW HAT SEASON.
nisi Yii'-'?Sr-r -"r rS
Peregrlnatlou Pete T1ie will come In hiitidy when I go South for the)
w 1 n tor. ( M net una 1 1 Po t.
"Mariii'duke Sefton," she replied,
proudly, and theu cried aud moaned
with Mm pidn.
A few minutes Inter Sir Xlurmaduke
Sefton was called to the telephone.
"Halloa!"
"What?"
"A child Injured? Why do you tele
phone me? Father's linnio
Mnrmaduke Sefton? Am I the only
one In the world? The name
Is certainly an uncommon one, as you
aay."
His stern face softened for a mo
ment. Yes, I'll come round." he said, at
In St.
A quarter of an hour afterward he
entered the children's ward. His face
turned white as he gazed Into the
child's blue eyes,
Private ward, please," he said, curt
ain! at the millionaire's word the
ly.
little one was taken Into another
room.
While little Ruth slept Sir Manna
duke stayed by her side looking medi
tatively at her face.
Duke Sefton returned In alxoit an
hour to his bouse. There was a smile
on his face as he entered.
One sovereign. We shall have a
bust, darling."
But his wife was lying lu a faint on
the floor. Quickly ho brought water
for her, but when she came round shu
began to shriek, wildly.
Little Ruth has gone," was all she
could soy.
Then ensued twenty-four hours of
agony to the distracted parents. In
the morning a policeman came and
told them where the child was.
They rushed round to the hospital,
but when they were received with the
utmost respect and taken to a private
ward they wondered excedlngly.
With tearful cry Ruth ran to her
child and crooned over her. Duke
kiielt by the other side of the tied.
Ixsk!" cried little Ruth. 'Me says
that he Is your dad. Why don't you
kiss him?"
A tall figure stepjied from the corner
of the room
Duke, forgive me," Sir Xlarmaduke
broke In, eagerly, and there was a
tone In his voice that made his son
wonder.
For a moment there was silence.
"Kiss him, dad," the child cried.
And the two men's hands met In a
In-arty grasp, while the mother's tears
fell over the child's pillow. -r-llltiHlralml
Bits.
JONAH. AND THE WHALE.
etalla of Ills Ksperlenre from Hub
blnlcal Legend.
When Jonah went to Joppa he found
no ship, for the vessel on which he In
tended taking passage had sailed two
days before bis arrival; but God
atiscd a contrary wind to arise and
the ship was driven back to port. In
his Joy Jonah paid his passage money
In advance, contrary to the usual cus
torn, which did not require payment
until the conclusion of the voyage. Ac
cording to some, he paid even the full
value of the ship, amounting to 4,'ssl
gold denarii. When tbo storm arose
the kind-hearted sailors, evidently re
specting the rl li Nissenger, first low-
cnnl Jonah only far enough for the
water to reach his knees. Seeing that
Die storm subsldisl, they drew lilm
back Into the ship, whereupon the sea
at once arose again. The sailors re
peated the operation several times with
the same result, each time - lowering
him deeper and deeper, until Dually
they threw lilm Into tho sea.
The fish which swallowed Jonah was
created In the very beginning of the
world for that special purpose. There
fore this flsli bad so large a motitii and
throat that Jonah found It as easy to
pass lntd Its belly as hn would have
found It to enter tho portals of a very
large synagogue. It had eyes which
were as large as windows and lamps
lit lip Its Interior. According to Hiiolli
er opinion, a great pearl suspended In
t tin entrails of the fish enable! Jonah
to see all that was In the sen and In the
abyss. The fish lnfrrniid Jonah that
he whs to bn devoured by Ievinthiin.
Jonah asked to ba taken to tlio moil-
ster, when he would save both his own
life mid that of the lUli. .Meeting Iv
vlatlmn. he exhibited the "seal of Abra
ham." whereupon the monster shot
awny a distance of two days, To re
ward him for this service lue tlsh
showed Joinih all the wondrous things
In the ocean (c. g the path of the Is
raelites across the Red Sea; the pillars
upon which the earth rests). Thus tin
spent three days and three night In
the belly of the flh, but would not
pray. God then resolved to put him
Into another fish where he would be
less comfortable, Cramped for room
nud otherwise made miserable, Jonah
finally prayed, acknowledging the fu
tility of his efforts to escape from God
I Psalm exxxlxi, From volume 8 of
Jewish P.ncyclopedla, Just published by
the Funk & Wagmills Company.
MAILS IN TIME OF WAR.
I'uaalliitf Questions Malwd by Keren t
Acta of KussU.
The present war bid fair to lead to
some fuller understanding concerning
the statu of the malls In time of war,
says the New York Tribune. Russia
and Japan are both apparently acting
ii I von the theory that all malls consign
ed lo a belligerent port are subjeet to
seizure as oontralwind of war,, or at
least to detention and search. Japan
has contented herself with the seizure
of malls sent out from Port Arthur.
Itussla has gone much farther than
that lu stopping British and German
ship In the Red Sea and taking from
them In bulk all mall sack marked for
Japan,
The status of the malls In time of
war has bona the subject of much con
troversy, but lias not been clearly de
fined In treaties or In works ou Inter
national taw. Hostile dispatches, mili
tary orders and the like, excepting the
messages of ambassadors, have been
recognized a contraband ami, of
ourse, subject to seizure. Not only Is
the IrniiHiMirtatlon of them equivalent
to the carrying of contraband giNMls,
but the fraudulent transportation of
them la regarded a a peculiarly hostile
ai't, subjecting the offending vessel lo
the severest penalty of confiscation.
Such Is the argument of Sir William
Scott. But a regular mall carrying ves
sel, which receives inch dispatches In
the ordlnsry course of moll carrying,
lu Ignorance of their character, Is not.
according to Hautefetillle, subject to
penalty. The principle apply, of
course, only to hostile dispatches. Or
dinary malls of commercial, personal
or other non belligerent character
should certainly enjoy a different stat
us and would seem to lie entitled to
exemption from seizure when under
neutral flag.
Mr. Howard long ago expressed tha
American view of Uie case when he
said that "there Is no recognized sanc
tion of the principle that a bona fide,
authenticated and sealed public mall
of a friendly or neutral power, found
on a commercial vessel navigating be
tween two neutral ports, can be vio
la ted lawfully, either by a naval officer
or a prize court, merely because the
vessel on which It is found la searched
and seized as contraband."
A Monkey's Intelligence,
An extraordinary Instance of the In
telligence of a monkey In the. Royal
Park, .Melbourne, Australia, has been
chronicled. A monkey In a large cage
whs trying to reach a nut which had
been thrown down on the gravel path.
Putting Its arm Ui rough the bars and
stretching a far a possible, It found
thnt the nut was Just beyond his reach.
There was straw on the floor of tho
cage, and going to the back, where It
evidently expwted to find the straw
less damaged, It tested straw after
straw, discarding them one by one, not
thinking them strong enough for the
purpose. At last It found a satisfac
tory one, returned with It to the front
of'thn cage, mid very quickly, with this
aid, honked (ho nut close enough to be
picked p.
Old people sometimes complain be
cause they are left alone so much, but
the truth Is that they would bn bond
to death If the young pcoplu tried to
entertain them, j