b Between Two .'Tires
By ANTHONY HOPE
i "A wise man will make more opportunities
; than he finds." - Francis Bacon.
"Yes," continued the President, "owing
to the recent sales of your real property
in this country (sales, due, I fear, to a
want of confidence in my administration),
you have at this moment a sum of $300,-
000 in the bank safe, Now (don't inter
rupt me, please) the experience of a busy
life teaches me that commercial reputa
tion and probity depend on results, not
on methods. Your directors have a pre
judice against me and my government.
That prejudices you, with your superior
opportunities for judgment, cannot share.
You will serve your employers best by
doing for them what they haven't the
sense and courage to do for themselves.
1 propose that you should assume the re
sponsibility of lending me this money. The
transaction will redound to the profit of
the bank.- It shall also," he added, slow
ly, "redound to your profit."
I began to see my way. But there were
difficulties.
"What am I to tell the directors?" I
asked.
"You will make the usual return of
investments and debts outstanding mort
gages loans on approved security but
you know better than I do."
"False returns, your excellency means?"
"They will no doubt be formally inac
curate," the President admitted.
"What if they ask for proofs?" said I.
"Sufficient unto the day," said the
President.
"You have rather surprised me, sir," I
said, "but I am most anxious to oblige
you, and to forward the welfare of Au
reataland. There are, however, two points
which occur to me. First, how am I to
be insured against not getting my inter
est? That I must have."
"Quite so," he interrupted. ; "And the
second point I can anticipate. It is,
what token of my gratitude for your time
ly assistance can I prevail on you to ac
cept?" "Your excellency's knowledge of human
nature is surprising."
"Kindly give me your attention, Mr.
Martin, and I will try to satisfy both
your very reasonable requirements. You
have $300,000 : those you will hand over
to me, receiving in return government 0
per cent bonds for that amount. I will
then hand back to you $153,000; $45,000
you will retain as security for your in
terest; in the event of any failure on the
part of Aureataland to meet her obliga
tions honorably, you will pay the inter
est on the whole $300,000 out of that
sura. That secures you for more than
two years against absolute failure of in
terest, which in reality you need not fear.
Till the money is wanted, you will have
the use of it. The remaining $20,000 I
shall beg of you to accept as your com
mission, or rather as a token of my es
teem. $20,000 absolutely $4o,ouo as
long as the Aureataland pays interest!
You must admit I deal with you as one
gentleman with another, Mr. Martin. In
the result, your directors get their inter
est, I get my loan, you get your bonus.
We are all benefited, no one is hurt ! All
this is effected at the cost of a harmless
stratagem."
I was full of admiration. The scheme
was Very neat, and, as far as the Presi-
dent and myself were concerned, he had
been no more than just in pointing out
its advantages. As for the directors, they
would probably get their interest ; any
how, they would get it for two years,
There was risk, of course; a demand for
evidence of my alleged investments or a
sudden order to realize a heavy sum at
short notice would bring the house about
my ears. But I did not anticipate this.
"Well, Mr. Martin," said the President,
"do you agree?"
I still hesitated. The President rose
and put his hand on my shoulder.
"Better say yes. I might take it, you
know, and cause you to disappear be
lieve me, with reluctance, Mr. Martin. It
is true I shouldn't like this course. It
would perhaps make my position here un
tenable. But not having the money would
certainly mnke it untenable."
I saw the force of this argument, and
said :
"I can refuse your excellency nothing."
, "Then take your hat and come aloug
to the bank," said he.
This was sharp work.
"Your excellency does not mean to take
the money now to-night V" I exclaimed.
"Not to take, Mr. Martin to receive it
from you. We have made our bargain.
What is the objection to carrying it out
promptly?" '
"But I must have the bonds. They
must be prepared, sir."
"They are here," he said, taking a
bundle from the drawer of a writing ta
ble. "$300,000 0 ier cent stock, signed
by myself, and countersigned by Don An
tonio. Take your hat and come along."
I did as I was bid.
' CHAPTER III.
It was a beautiful moonlight night,
and Whittingham was looking her best as
we made our way along the avenue lead
ing to the Piazza 1871. The President
walked briskly, silent but serene; I fol
lowed, the trouble in my mind reflected
in a somewhat hang-dog air, and I was
much comforted when the President broke
tho Hllness of the night by saying:
"Ynu have set your foot on the first
rung of the ladder that leads to fame and
wealth, Mr. Martin." .
T was rather afraid I had set It on the
first rung of the ladder that leads to the
gallows. But there the foot was; what
the ladder turned out to be was In the
tind of the 0H; SO I on cure,
and as we entered the Piazza I pointed
to the statue, and said :
Behold my inspiring example, your ex
cellency !"
Exactly, he replied, 'I make the most
of my opportunities."
I knew he regarded me as one of his
opportunities, and was making the most
of me. This is not a pleasant point of
view to regard one's self from, so I
changed the subject, and said :
"Shall we call for Don Antonio
"Why?"
"Well, as he's minister of finance, I
thought perhaps his presence would make
the matter more regular.
If the presence of the President, sam
that official, "can't make a matter regular,
I don't know what can. Let him sleep on.
Isn't his signature on the bonds enough .'
What could I do? I made one more
weak objection :
What shall we tell Jones r
What shall we tell Jones?" he echoed.
"Really, Mr. Martin, you must use your
discretion as to what you tell your em
ployes. You can hardly expect me to tell
Jones anything, beyond that it's a fine
morning."
We had now reached the bank, which
stood in Liberty street, a turning out of
the Piazza. I took out my key, unlocKea
the door, and we entered together. We
passed into my inner sanctum, where the
safe stood.
"What's it in?" asked the President. ,
"United States bonds, and bills on
New York and London," I replied.
"Good," said he. "Let me look."
I unlocked the safe and took out the
securities. IIe examined them caretuuy,
placing each after due scrutiny in a small
handbag, in which he had brought down
the bonds I was to receive. I stood by,
holding a shaded candle. At this mo
ment a voice cried from the door:
"If you move you're dead men !"
I started and looked up. The Presi
dent looked up without starting. There
was dear old Jones, descending from his
upper chamber, where he and Mrs. Jones
resided. He was clad only in his night
shirt, and was leveling a formidable gun
full at the august head of his excellency.
"Ah, Mr. Jones," said the latter, "it s
a fine morning."
"The President!" cried Jones; 'and
Mr. Martin! Why,, what on earth, gen
tlemen ?"
The President gently waved one hand
toward me, as if to say, "Mr. Martin will
explain," and went on placing his securi
ties in the bag. In the face of this crisis
my hesitation left me.
"Mr. Martin received a cable from Eu
rope, Jones," said the President, "in
structing him to advance a sum of money
to me."
"Cable?" said Jones. "Where is it?"
"We must have left it at the Golden
House. I saw it was on the table just
before we started. Though I presume
Mr. Jones has no right ?"
"None at all," I said briskly.
"Yet, as a matter of concession, Mr.
Martin will no doubt show it to him to
morrow?" "Strictly as a matter of concession per
haps I will, though I am bound to say
that I am surprised at your manner, Mr.
Jones."
Jones looked sadly puzzled.
"It's all irregular, sir," said he.
"Hardly more so than your costume !"
said the President, pleasantly.
Jones being thus made aware of the
havoc the draught was playing with his
airy covering, hastily closed the door,
and said to me appealingly:
"It's all right, sir, I suppose?
"Perfectly right," said I.
"But highly confidential," added the
President. "And you will put me under
a personal obligation, Mr. Jones, and at
the same time fulfill your duty to your
employers, If you preserve silence till the
transact on is officially announced. A
man who serves me does not regret It."
Here he was making the most of an
other opportunity Jones this time.
"Enough of this," I said. "I will go
over the matter in the morning."
His excellency walked up to Jones and
looked hard at him
Silent men prosper best, and live long
est, Mr. Jones."
Jones looked into his steely eyes, and
suddenly fell all of a tremble.
The President was satisfied. He ab
ruotly pushed him out of the room, and
we heard his shambling steps going up
the staircase. His excellency turned to
me. and said with apparent annoyance :
"You leave a great deal to me, Mr,
Martin."
He had certainly done more than tell
Jones it was a fine morning. But I was
too much troubled to thank him ; I was
thinking of the cable. The President di
vined my thoughts, and said:
"I must prepare that cable."
"Yes, I replied; "that would reas-
sure him. But I haven't had much prac
tice in that sort of thing, and I don't
oulte know "
The President scribbled a few words on
a bit of paper, and said
"Take that to the postoffice, and they'll
irlve vou the proper form; I will fill it
u."
Certainly some things go easily if the
head of the State is your fellow criminal
"And now, Mr. Martin, it grows late,
I have my securities; you have your
bonds. We have won over Jones. All
i?oes well. Aureataland is saved. You
have made your fortune, for there He
your $05,000. And, in fine, I am much
obliged to you. 1 will not trouble you
to attend me on my return, Good-night,
Mr. Martin."
He went out, and I threw myself down
in my office chair, and sat gazing at the
bonds he had left me. I woudored wheth
er he hud merely made a tool of me ;
whether I could trust him ; whether I had
doue well to rely on his promises. And
yet there lay my reward ; and I soon
arose, put the government bonds and the
$05,000 In securities In the safe, locked
up everything, and went home to my lodg
ings. As I went in It was broad day
light, for the clock had gone five, and I
met Father Jacques sallying forth. He
had already breakfasted, and was on his
way to administer early consolation to
the flower women in . the Piazza. He
stopped me with a grieved look, and said :
"Ah, my friend, these are untimely
hours."
I saw I was laboring under an unjust
suspicion.
"I have only just come from the bank.
I had to dine at the Golden House and
afterward returned to finish up a bit of
work."
"Ah, that is well," he cried. "It is
then the industrious and not the idle ap
prentice I meet?" referring to a scries of
famous prints with which my room was
decorated, a gift from my father on my
departure.
I nodded and passed on, saying to my
self : "Very industrious, indeed. Not
many men have done such a night's work
as I have."
And that is how my fortune became
bound up with those of the Aureataland
national debt.
CHAPTER IV.
After the incidents above recorded.
things went on quietly enough for some
months. I had a serious talk with Jones,
reproaching him gravely for his outrage
ous demeanor. lie capitulated abjectly
on being shown the cable, which was pro
cured In the manner kindly indicated by
the President. The latter had perhaps
been in too great a hurry with his heavy
guns, for his hint of violence had rather
stirred than allayed Jones apprehensions,
If there were nothing to conceal, why
should his excellency not stick at murder
to hide it? However, I explained to him
the consideration of high policy, dictating
inviolable secrecy, and justifying a some
what arbitrary way of dealing with a
trusted official ; and the marked graclous-
ness with which Jones was received when
he met the President at the Ministry of
Finance on current business went far to
obliterate his unpleasant recollections. 1
further bound him to my fortunes by ob
taining for him a rise of salary from the
directors, "in consequence of the favora
hie report of his conduct received from
Mr. Martin."
Peaceful as matters seemed, I was not
altogether at ease. To begin with, the
new loan did not apparently at all im
prove the financial position of Aureata
land. Desolation still reigned on the
scene of the harbor works ; there was the
usual difficulty in paying salaries and
meeting current expenditure. The Presi
dent did not invite my confidence as to
the disposal of his funds ; indeed before
long I was alarmed to see a growing cold
ness in his manner, which I considered at
once ungrateful and menacing; and when
the half-yer came round he firmly refus
ed to disburse more than half the amount
of interest due on the second loan, thus
forcing me to make an inroad on my re
serve of $45,000. lie gave me many good
reasons for this course of conduct, dwell
ing chiefly on the necessary unproductive
ness of public works in their early stages,
and confidently promising full payment
with arrears next time. Nevertheless
began to see that I must face the possi
bility of a continual drain on resources
that I had fondly hoped woul be avail
able for my own purposes for a consid
erable time at least. Thus one thing and
another contributed to open a breach be
tween his excellency and myself, and, al
though I never ceased to feel his charm
as a private companion, my distrust of
him as ruler, and, I may add, as a fellow
conspirator, steadily deepened.
Other influences were at this time at
work in the same direction. Rich in the
possession of my "bonus," I had plunged
even more freely than Detore into tne
gaities of Whittingham, and where I was
welcome before 1 was now a doubly hon
ored guest. I became acquainted with
the Signorina, the lady to whom the Pres
ident had referred during his Interview
with me ; and my acquaintance with the
Signorina was very rich in results.
This lady was, after the President, per
haps the best known person in Aureata
land best known, that is, by name and
face and fame; for her antecedents an
circumstances were wrapped in impene
trable mystery. When I arrived in the
country the Signorina Christina Nugent
had been settled there about a year. She
had appeared originally as a member of
an operatic company, which had paid
visit to our "National Theater" from the
United States. The company passed on
its not very brilliant way, but the Signo-
riana remained behind. It was said she
had taken a fancy to Whittingham, and,
being independent of her profession, had
determined to make a sojourn there. At
any rate, there she was. She establish
ed herself in a pretty villa, closely ad
joining the Golden House; it stood op
posite the presidential grounds, command
Ing a view of that stately enclosure ; and
here she dwelt, under the care of a lady
whom she called "Aunt," known to the
rest of the world as Mrs. Carrington
The title "Signorina" was purely profes-
sbna : for nil I know the name inu
gent" was equally a creature of choice
but. anyhow, the lady herself never pro
fessed to be anything but English, and
openly stated that she retained her, title
simply because it was more musical that
that of "Miss." .
(To be continued.)
Conies Natural to Htm.
Sinkers Did you ever notice Reel
ton's hook nose and flshllke eyes?
Corker Yes. It Isn't any wonder
that he tells Buch fishy stories '
Comfort for lien and ( hlckn.
It Is a cruel plan which shut off the
r almost entirely from the hen with a
brood of chicks by placing a board in
;'ont of the coop tit night ; nor Is such
plan necessary if (me will take the
ouble to build a coop or coops after
the following plan. Build the coop
fter the usual plan, sloping the roof
to the rear aiul covering the front with
nts except nt one lower corner, where
door should be arranged, so Unit the
lieu can be easily let out when desired.
To solve the problem of plenty of fresh
lr nnd nt the same time feredoni from
prowling Biniill nnlniiils, construct a
reen; make the frame large enough
ompletely to cover the front of the
oop and cover It with wire netting; tit
either side fasten a strap with a hole In
the end, nnd on the sides of the coop
COOP FOB THE CHICKS.
place a screw, over which the straps
are placed to hold the screen In place.
To make the screen still more secure
when nlaced haw the side pieces large
enough so that a long wire nail may be
driven In them about one-quarter the
.etiBth of the null, at the end; then sink
In the ground nt either end of the coop
two pieces of wood, each having a hole
in the end, into which the nail In the
end pieces of the screen will (it when
the latter is In position. In this way It
will be impossibhr-for the screen to get
loose. In the illustration, II, nt dotted
line, shows where the screen will come
when in position; A, the side piece of
the screen, with the long wire nail In
nosition : 3. 3. the stakes In the ground
to receive the nulls ; B, the screen com
plete; G, the swinging lnth by which
the door for the use of the ben Is kept
In place, and 2, the manner of attach
ing the small strnp to the side of the
screen. Indianapolis News.
What Make Quality In Ekks.
The grocer soon learns that he must
send good eggs to his customers or he
will not have them long, nnd the farm
er who Is progressive will soon learn
that he must do the same. The word
fresh," when applied to eggs, may
mean a great deal, or It may not. The
egg grower who wishes to create a reg
ular demand for his eggs nt high
prices must mnrket his stock promptly,
for there Is nothing that so disgusts
the experienced handler of eggs as to
find that the eggs that he bought for
fresh had been held In the country for
two or three weeks. Storage eggs, thnt
are put Into the refrigerator Immedl-
tely after they are laid, come out bet
ter, after four or five months nave
elapsed, than the eggs thnt are allowed
to remain In the farmer's pantry for a
month after they are laid before they
nre marketed.
The Trnck Garden Insect.
Tnsects infesting truck gardens very
often affect field crops as well, but it
should he borne In mind that pest ex-
termlntlng methods thnt are of no use
In large areas nre often the best in a
small patch where there Is more Inten
se cultivation, and where tne price
the output brings will warrant more
outlay.
itamibiiii TCtnnlftlon.
One-half pound of soap, one gallon
tpr. fwo callons kerosene.
of
Ul " - ---- c
Churn with a force pump for a few
minutes until it forms a smooth, butter
milk like emulsion ana reauce ten to
twenty-five times.
Fonl Odors In Cellar.
When cellars become musty or foul,
and odors are noticed, the best thing to
do is to close all the doors and windows
and burn enough sulphur to fill the cel
lar room with dense fumes. Leave It
closed for an hour or two, and then open
the doors and windows. Next, white
wash the walls and ceilings with two
coats of good whitewash. Sulphur gas
Is heavy and settles, hence care must
be used to agitate the air In the cellar
by selecting a windy day for the work.
Sulphur fumes will destroy all kinds of
germs.
L ?
, ( out nf HuUlnif a ('Hi'.
A (rood deal of discussion has often
been provoked as to the cost of bring
ing up n heifer calf. Mr. Chirk, of tho
Alabama experiment station, lias re
corded data. The record covered tho
period from birth to maturity approx
imately two years.
One of the calves, which weighed nt
birth fifty-six pounds, consumed during
the first year of lier life 151) pounds of
home milk, 273 pounds of skim milk,
(HI pounds of brnn, 224 pounds of hny
nnd was pastured forl(U days. When
she was 1 year old she lind cost $12.8(1
and she weighed 435 pounds.
During the second year her rations
were made up of sorghum liny, silage,
out straw, corn stover nnd n llttlo cot
ton seed nnd brnn. The pasturage pe
riod covered 224 dnys. The cost of tho
feed was $!).()!) for the second year and
she weighed nt the end 0U5 pounds.
Thus the total cost of feed up to the
time of maturity was $21.05.
No AU-Ilonnd Poultry Food.
A correspondent links for some poul
try food which will answer for general
purposes that Is, n food which will
make liens lay, which Is also good for
little chicks and which mny be used for
fattening later If desired. Novices in
poultry raising are quite likely to bo
more or less disturbed by the amount
of detail required to enrry on the work
successfully nnd nre generally seeking
for some short cut, especially In the line
of feeding. The same food which will
mnke hens lay without fattening them
will not do to fatten them on. Of
course, corn Is usually a pnrt of the va
riety fed hens nnd will of Itself fatten
them, but It Is not used by Itself ns a
regular diet for laying bens. It would
lie ns absurd to feed hens cracked corn
entirely as It would be to feed little
chicks tho whole kernel.
Water Before Feeding;.
This question of watering before or
after feeding has never been settled.
A leading English authority states that
horses should never be watered until
after feeding, but always before, esjie
clally If the feed Is grain. If a horse
Is very thirsty give him water anil
then wait a short time before feeding.
If possible, horses should always have
access to water. They will drink loss
and there Is much less danger of Indi
gestion or cholera. If a horse Is ex
hausted from overexerclse, the supply
of cold water should be limited. If
water Is tepid, a much larger amount
may be allowed.
Hob; Catcher.
Chasing hogs Is exceedingly amusing
when the chaser Is bent on pleasure
only. When It becomes an everyday
duty the funny feature disappears, and
Instead the air Is generally laden with
expletives not suitable to polite society.
SUUDUES THE 1100.
The hog Is an elusive beast. Being round
and fat and also slippery the chaser
Is not afforded any point of vantage to
obtain a firm hold. This Is true with
but one exception, and thnt Is his tail.
But here ngnln the chnser Is handicap
ped. Hogs' tails are so little and at
the same time so frail that not Infre
quently the hog emerges from the chase
minus his tall. A more sensible method
Is the use of the implement Illustrated
herewith. The Inventor, an Iowa man,
claims that no difficulty Is experienced
In getting the noose In position. When,
once it Is securely clamped on the hog's
nose it Is an easy matter to lead the
animal to any place desired.
New Use for Watermelons.
A Georgia farmer is said to have be
come the pioneer In a new Industry
namely, making sirup out of watermel
ons. He cuts the melons In halves,
scoops out the pulp, runs it through a
cider mill, presses out the Juice and
then boils the liquid for twelve hours
over a hot fire. Out of 270 melons,
worth $5 or $0 at wholesale, he gets
thirty gallons of sirup, and markets the
product at 50 cents a gallon. The re
fuse Is fed to the hogs, cattle and chick-,
ens, and the whole operation Is very
profitable.