Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Lexington wheatfield. (Lexington, Or.) 1905-19?? | View Entire Issue (Oct. 18, 1906)
sBetwe Two fires By ANTHONY HOPE "A wise man will make more opportunities than he finds. " Francis Bacon. CHAPTER XI. I hnd brought the $10,000 with me. I produced them and put them on the ta ble, keeping a loving hand on them. "You fully understand my position, Colonel?" I said. "This thing is no use to me unless I receive at least $320,000 to pay back principal, to meet interest, end to replace another small debt to the bank. If I do that, 1 shall be left with a net profit of $3,000, not an extravagant reward. If I don't get that sum I shall be a ' defaulter, revolution or no revolu tion." "I can't make money if it's not there, he said, but without his usual brusque ness of tone. "Butto this we agree. You ere to have first turn at anything we find, up to the sum you name. It's to be hand ed over solid to you. The Signorina and I take the leavings. You don't claim to share them, too, do you?" "No," I said, "I'm content to be a preference shareholder. If the money's found at the Golden House, it's mine. If not, the new government, whatever it may do as to the rest of the debt, will pay me that sum." Wit hthat I pushed my money over to the Colonel. "I expect the new government to be very considerate to the bondholders all round," said the Colonel, as he pocketed it with a chuckle. "Anyhow, your terms nre n creed, eh. Sienorina?" "Azreed !" said she. "And I'm to have To country seat?" "Asreed !" said I. "And the Colonel's to be President and to have the Golden TTouse and all that therein is. "Agreed ! agreed ! agreed !" chanted the Signorina; "and that's quite enough ousi ness. Success to the Revolution !" T had risen to co. when a sudden thought struck me. "Where's Johnny Carr? I sny, Colo nel, how indiscreet was he last night? Do you think he remembers telling you about it?" "Yes," said the Colonel, "I expect he does by now. lie didn't when I left hiin this morning." "Will he confess to the President? If he does, it might make the old man '' keep an unpleasantly sharp eye on you He knows you don't love him." "Well, Carr hasn't seen the President yet. He was to stay at my house over to-day. lie was uncommon seedy this morning, and I persuaded the doctor to give him a composing draught. Fact is, I wanted him quiet till I'd had time to think. You know I don't believe he would own up the President would drop on him so ; but he might, and it's better they shouldn't meet." "There's somebody else he oughtn't to meet," said the Signorina. "Who's that?" I asked. "Donna Antonia," she replied, "ne's retting very fond of her, and depend upon it, if he's in trouble he'll go and tell her the first thing. Mr. Carr is very. confi dential to his friends." We recognized the value of this sug gestion. If Donna Antonia knew, the President would soon know. "Quite right." said the Colonel. "It won't do to have him rushing about let ting out that we know all about it. Ile'i all right up to now. "Yes, but if he gets restive to-morrow morning?" said I. "And then you don t want him at the Golden House on Friday evening, and I don't want him at the bar racks." "No, he'd show fight, Carr, would,' said the Colonel. "Look here, we're in for this thing, and I'm going through with it. I shall keep Carr at my house till it's all over, even if I have to use force. Master Johnny is better quiet." "Suppose he turns ugly?" I suggested again. "He may turn as ugly as he likes,1 wild the Colonel. lie don t leave my house unless he puts a bullet into me first. That's settled. Leave it to me. If lie behaves nicely, he'll be all right. If not " "What shall you do to him?" asked the Signorina. "Oh, leave it to the Colonel ; he'll man ege nil right," I suggested. "Now I'm off," said the latter, "back to my friend Johnny. Good-night, .Sig norina. Write to the President to-mor row. Good-night, Martin. Make that Kiieceh of yours pretty long. Au revoir till next Friday." I prepared to go, for the Colonel lin gered till I came with him. Even then ve so distrusted one another that neither would leave the other alone with the Sig norina. We parted at the door, he going off up the road to get his horse to ride to his "ranch," I turning down toward the l'iazza. We left the Signorina at the door, look Ing pale and weary, and for once bereft of her high spirits. Poor girl! She found conspiracy rather trying work. I was little troubled myself. I began to see more clearly that it doesn't do for u man of scruples to dabble in politics. I had a great regard for poor Johnny, and I felt no confidence In tho Colonel treating him with any consideration. In fact, I would not have insured Johnny's life for the next week at any conceivable premium. Again I thought It unlikely that, if we succeeded, the President would survive his downfall. -1 had to repeat to myself all the story" of his treachery to mo, lashing myself Into a fury against Iiiin, before I could bring insolX to think ith resignation of the Imminent extinc tion of that shining light. What a loss lie would be to the world I So many delightful stories, so great a gift f manner, so immense a personal charm -all to disappear into the pit ! And for hat? To put into his place a ruffian ithout redeeming qualities. Was It ortli while to put down Lucifer only to enthrone Beelzebub? I could only check this doleful strain of reflection by sternly recalling myself to the real question the state of the fortunes of me, John Martin. And to me the Revolution was necessary. I might get the money ; at ast I should gain time. I was animat ed by the honorable motive of saving my employers from loss and by the over- helming motive of my own love. If the continued existence of Johnny and the President was incompatible with these legitimate objects, so much the worse for Johnny and the President. remain mere ror a day or two. i n dm- r- ter, and though I've cut the affair at the I O lTif rprrirj barracks to-night, I fully exiwct to be I"! up and about this afternoon. Ever yours, JJ ff'Jl1"'' jf "G10O. M'GUICGOU." l:Ui Vv: iru, du 1-aiL JB UU Ilia UiUA iiuu iinvj to remain there, is he? Very likely, I expect; but I wonder what it means. I hope the Colonel hasn't been very drastic. However, everything soeuis right; lu fact, better than I hoped." In this more cheerful frame of mind I arose, breakfasted at leisure, and set out for the bank about eleven. Of course the first person I met on tho street was one of the last I wanted to meet, namely, Donna Antonia. She was on horseback, and her horse looked as if he'd done some work. At the sight of nio she reined up, and I could not avoid stopping as I lifted my hat. "Whence so early?" I asked. "Early?" she said. "I don't call this early. I've been for a long ride ; in fact, I've ridden over to Mr. Carr's place, with a message from papa ; but he's not there. Do you know where he is, Mr. Martin?" "Haven't an idea," said I. "He hasn't been homo for four nights," she continued, "and he hasn't been to tho ministry, either. It's very odd that ho should disappear like this, just when all the business Is going on, too." "What business, Donna Antonia?" I asked blandly. She colored, recollecting, no doubt, that the business was still a secret. "Oh, well, you know they're always busy at the ministry of finance at this time. It's the time they pay everybody, isn't It?" "It's the time they ought to pay every body," I said. "Well," she went on, without noticing my correction, "at any rate papa and the President are both very much vexed with him ; so I offered to make my ride in his direction. "Where can he be?" I asked again. "Well," she replied, "I believe he's at Colonel McGregor's, and after lunch I shall go over there. I know he dined there on Monday, and I daresay he stayed on. "No," thought I, "you mustn't do that, it might be inconvenient." So I said : "The Colonel says Carr told him he was going off for a couple of days' sail in hU yacht." "It's very bad of him to go," she said, but no doubt that's it. Papa will bo angry, but he'll be glad to know no harm has come to him." "Happy to have relieved your mind," said I, and bade her farewell, wondering whether Don Antonio would find no harm had come to poor Johnny. I had my doubts. CHAPTER XII. The next three days were on the whole the most uncomfortable I have ever spent in my life. I got little sleep and no rest; went about with a revolver handy all day, and jumped every time I heard a sound. I expended much change in buying every edition of all the papers; I listened with dread to the distant cries of news- enders, fearing, as the words gradually became distinguishable, to hear that our secret was a secret no longer. I was bound 'fo show myself, and yet shrank from all gatherings of men. I transact ed my business with an absent mind and face of such superhuman innocence that, had anyone been watching me, he must at once have suspected something wrong. I was Incapable of adding up a row of figures, and Jones became most solicitous about the state of my brain. In a word, my nerves were quite shat tered, and I registered a vow never to upset a government again as long as I lived. In future the established consti tution would have to be good enough for me. I verily believe that only the thought of the Signorina prevented me making a moonlight flitting across the frontier with a whole skin at least, if with an empty pocket, and leaving the rival patriots of Aureataland to fight it out among themselves. Happily, however, nothing occurred to justify my fears. The other, side seemed to be sunk In dull security. The Presi dent went often to the ministry of finance, and was closeted for hours with Don Antonio ; I suppose fhey were perfecting their nefarious scheme. There were no signs of excitement or activity at the bar racks ; the afternoon gatherings on the Piazza were occupied with nothing more serious than the prospects of lawn tennis and the grievous dearth of dances. The official announcements relative to the debt had had a quieting effect, and all classes seemed Inclined to wait and see what the President's new plan was. So passed Wednesday and Thursday On neither day had I heard anything frors my fellow-conspirators ; our arrange ments for writing had so far proved un necessary or unsuccessful. The latter possibility sent shiver down my back, and my lively fancy pictured his excellency's smile as he perused the treasonable docu ments. If 1 heard nothing on the morn ing of Friday, I was determined at all risks to see the Colonel. With the dawn of that eventful day, however, I was re lieved of this necessity. I was lying in bed about half-past nine when my servant brought in three letters. "Sent on from the bank, sir," he said, "with Mr. Jones' compliments, and are you going there this morning?". "My compliments to Mr. Jones, and he may expect me in five minutes," I re plied. The letters were all marked "Immedi ate" one from the Signorina, one from the Colonel, one from the barracks. I opened the last first and read as follows ; "The officers of the Aureataland Army have the honor to remind Mr. John Mar tin that they hope to have the pleasure of his company at supper this evening at 10 p. m.. precisely. In tho unavoidable obsence of his excellency the President, owing to pressing cares of state, and the Hon. Colonel McGregor from indisposi tion, the toast of the Army of Aureata land will be proposed by Major Alphonse DeChair. "P. S. Friend Martin, speak long this night. The two great men do not come, and the evening wants to be filled out. "ALPHONSE DE CHAIR." "It shall be long, my dear boy, and we will fill out your evening for you," said I to myself, well pleased so far. Then I opened the Signorina's epistle, "Dear Mr. Martin," it began "Will vou be so kind as to send me In the course of the day twenty dollars in small change? I want to give tho school chil dren a scramble. I enclose check. I ain so sorry you could not dine with me to night, but after all I am glad, because I should have had to put you off, for I am commanded rather suddenly to dine at the Golden House. With kind regards, be lieve me, yours sincerely, "CHRISTINA NUGENT." "Very good," said I. "I reckon the scramble .will keep. And now for the Colonel." "Dear Martin I Inclose check for $300. My man will call for the cash to morrow morning. I give you notice be cause I want it all In silver for wages. Carr and I are here together, both seedy. Poor Carr is on his back, and likely to An IiikoiiIoiik IloiMt-wlfe, A young wife who finds entering for two without u wiurto of provisions per plexing makes a part of her own cook ing butter. A bottle of cream, unless It happens to be needed for a dessert, Is never used up, so she turns what la left Into n bowl, day by day, until she accumu lates enough to pay for churning. Then she beats It Into butter, drains off tho buttermilk, salts It ami works out tho moisture. Left-over peas go Into pureo of pen soup tht) next day. Cold corn Is used un in fritters or succotash. Cold mashed potatoes reappear In potato Dakes or potato pancakes, says tho New York Evening Sun. Tho ways of meat fragments are many, tho housewife's repertoire of "cut lets," souffles, croquettes, ragouts and the like being n . long one. "Tho rafcout," sue whispered In a friend's ear, "is nothing but mother's 'stew,' with less gravy, only, some way, not half so good." We Trust octors D If you are suffering from impure blood, thin blood, de bility, nervousness, exhaus tion, you should begin at once with Ayer's Sarsaparilla, the Sarsaparllla you have known all your life. Your doctor knows it.too. Askhimaboutit. Tnii mint Ionic woll aftor tlie ennilltlnn of your llvurnuil liowoln. 1 1 iiUihs thorn Ik dully action of tl' hnwols, poisonous proiliictii aro ahsorlrori, nniKlnx henihiolio, 1 il 1 1 chihi k-hr. win h, dvunoimtii, "d thus imivetitliiK tli Hur B:lar(lhl from lolii 11" Iwst work. Ayr' rllla lira nvur tuna, aci komuv, un uRii..... lie done 1 only one pin at uuumoo. i I ill llIM Mado by J. 0. Ayor Co., Tjowoll, JUam. Also mnuuinaturorB OI 7 HAIR VIOOR. Anne ami1.. CHKRRY PECTORAL. ii ore Itoutfh on lli'ltltr. ' Tommy What Is tho "height of fol ly," pa? Pa Your sister's benu, my son. Ila is six feet two. Artificial Milk. Artificial milk is one of the latest attempts of science to duplicate by synthetic processes the products of na ture. In Germany, where chemistry has reached Its highest state of develop ment, they are offering a so-called ar tificial milk, which Is recommended loam that thoro for use In bakeries as a substitute for the natural product. According to one of the reputable German chemical journals, this latest product of the la boratory consists of a mixture of sy rup and" (same oil, emulsified with some pn.eld substance. Tula s of stifllc'otit strength to be diluted by the container with nine parts of water. It is stated vtiat lu some of tho south ern states, remote from milk supplies, au artMclal substitute Is made froiq cotton-seed oil In much the same mua ner. I'rolml.lr Went All Illjitat. "J. Smith, Famished Geological' Struc ture, 111." This was the address on tho letter postmarked "Boston, Aug. 27, 11)00." "Try Starved Hock," wrote tho edu cated railway postal clerk just below the address. Chicago Tribune. CIIAPTEIl XIII. When I arrived at the bank I dispatch ed brief answers to my budget of letters ; each of the answers was to the same purport, namely, that I should be at the barracks at the appointed time. I need not trouble the reader with the various wrappings in which this essential piece of intelligence was involved. I then had a desperate encounter with Jones; business was slack, and Jones was fired with the unholy desire of seizing the opportunity thus offered to make an exhaustive In quiry into the state of our reserve. He could not understand my sudden punctil iousness as to times and seasons, and I was afraid I should have to tell him plainly that only over my lifeless body should he succeed In investigating the contents of the safe. At last I effected a diversion by persuading him to give Mrs. Jones a jaunt into the country, and thus left in peace, I spent my afternoon in making final preparations. I burned many letters ; I wrote a touching farewell to my father, in which I took occasion to point out to him how greatly his im prudent conduct had contributed to in crease the difficulties of his dutiful son. I was only restrained from making a will by the obvious imprudence of getting it witnessed. I spent a feverish hour In firing imaginary shots from my revolver, to ascertain whether the instrument was in working order. Finally I shut up the bank at five, went to the Piazza, partook of a light repast, and never was I more rejoiced than when the moment for ac tion at last came. As I was dressing, lin gering over each garment with a feeling that I might never put on, or, for that matter, take it off again, 1 received a second note from the Colonel. It was brought by a messenger, on. a sweating horse, who galloped up to my door. I knew the messenger well by sight ; he was the Colonel's valet. My heart was in my mouth as I took the envelope from his h:inds. The fellow was evidently in our secret, for he grinned nervously at me as he handed It over, and said : "I was to ride fast, and destroy the letter if anyone came near." I nodded, and opened it. It said : "C. escaped about six this evening. Be lieved to have gone to his house. He sus nects. If vou see him. shoot on sight." "Had Mr. Carr a horse?" I asked of the man. "No, sir; left on foot. Couldn't come along the road to Whittingham, sir, it's patrolled." There was still a chance. It was ten miles across country from the Colonel's to Johnnv's. anil six miles on from Jolin- nv's to Whittingham. The man divined mv ithomrhts. "lie can't en fast. sir. he's wounded in the leg. If he goes home first, as he will, because he doesn't know his horses are gone, he can't get here before eleven at the earliest. (To be continued.) Drawing It Fine. "She Is daft on the subject of germs and sterilizes or Alters everything In the house." "How does she get along with her family?" "Oh, even her relations are strained." Harper's Weekly, Temtlntr Flour, There are several methods of testlirtj flour, one of which at least should be known to every purchaser of house hold provisions. If lloar Is white with a yellowish straw-color t'c It Is good, while If It has a bluish cmt, or black specks In it, It Is the opposite. Flour can also be tested by its adhesiveness wet and knead a Utile of It between the fingers ; if It works oft and sticky It Is poor. If a little flour Is thrown against a dry, smooth surface and It falls like powder, you may know that It Is not of the best quality. If flour squeezed in the hand retains the shape given It, when the hand Is relaxed, it Is a good sign. $100 Reward, $100. The rcadors of this payor will tie pleased to ih.i i in. rn iHRtuiiLHt ono dreaded disease .l,.,r ...l..nru lius llHKIl alllo tO C.Ure ill all Hi slages, and that is Catarrh. Hall's Catarrh Cure is the only positive euro known to the medical fraternity. Catarrh being a constitu tliuial disease, requires a constitutional treat ment. Hall's Catarrh Cure in taken intorniilly, acting directly upon tho l.lnod and miicoui sunaues of the system, thereby destroying the foundation of the disease, and giving the '" tieut streiiRlh by building up the conHtitutkpi and assisting nature in doing its work. 1 lie proprietor have so much faith in its curative powers that they oiler One Hundred foliar; for any case that it falls to cure. Heud for llbt 0,AdssUltt F. J. CHENEY & CO., Toledo, 0. Bold by druggists, 75c. , Hail's family 1'llU are the best. Spiced Grape. rulp the grapes, cut the pulp In a saucepan, and stew gently until soft enough to be rubbed through a strain er to remove the seeds. Weight the pulp, and to five pouuds of It add a pint of vinegar, four pounds of brown sugar, three tablespoonfuis of ground cloves and two of ground cinnamon. Stew all together until very thick, then pour Into jelly glasses and seal. Next Summer. A million or two of people who have spent this summer at tho seashore are strongly disposed to spend next Bum mer in the back country or tho moun tains. If they persevere In this deter m'natlon their places will be Oiled by persons who have spent this summer In the mountains and the back coun try and don't want to go back. It has been a very trying summer, muggy, foggy, 'skeetry, damp, moist, hot and miscellaneously plaintive, but It has been about as bad In ono place as In another. Harper's Weekly. riTfl Pt. Vitus' Dance ana an nervous Diseases f 1 1 5 permanently curi-d hf Dr. Kline's Cln-at Nerve Bi'suirer. Heml for FHKK ?2trlil bottlo and treatiso.Ur.lt ILKllne.Ld. K31 ArcuHt.,Pulla.,l'a, Strawberry Float. Squeeze every bit of juice from a quart of strawberries. Beat three egg-whites stiff with sugar to taste, and whip Into this meringue the squeezed berries. Sweeten a pint of rich cream, and pour Into It the jui6e of the berries. Line a glass bowl with macaroons, pour the strawberry cream upon these, then heap the meringue on top of all. Serve soon. Gooh o berry Fool. Put Into a Jar one quart of green gooseberries, with two tablespoonfuis of water and two cupfuls of sugar ; set the jar In a saucepan of boiling water and boll until the fruit will mash ; beat to a pulp and put through a coarse sieve. To one pint of pulp add one half pint of cream and one cupful of milk; add the milk, first gradually, beating well. Serve cold. Devil's Fooil Cnk. Cream one-half cup of butter with one and one-half cups of sugar, add three beaten eggs, one-half cup of grat ed chocolate dissolved in one-half cup of hot water, a teaspoouful of vanilla, and one and a half cups of flour that has been twice sifted with a heaping teaspoonful of baking powder. Bake lu layer tins and put together with boiled Icing. Rich Vanilla Ice Cream. Make a custard of a quart of milk, seven eggs and two cups of sugar, or more If you wish the Ice cream to be quite sweet. "Boil lu the custard sev eral vanilla beans. When the custard Just coats the spoon remove from the fire and set aside to cool. When cold strain out the vanilla beans, afld a quart of rich cream and freeze. Would Salt Hint Hotter. The Judge Mr. Twiggles, do you wish to poll the jury? The lawyer (who had lost his case) No, your honor; but it would afford me infinite satisfaction if I could club the jury. ' Mothers will find Mf. Wlnslow's Soothing Byrup the best remedy touse for tholr children during the teeming foriou. One of Ilia Gloomy Mootla. "Honesty is the best policy, to be sure," moralized the professor, "but in the casa of too many men it is a policy that haa a surrender value." To Break in New Shoes. iiinv shake in Allen's Foot-Ease, a powder. It cures hot, sweating, aching, swollen feet. Cures corns, ingrowing nails and bunions. At all druggists and shoe stores, 2ic. Don't accept anv substitute. Sample mailed FREE. Address Allen a. uimutea, w itoy, is. i. Uncle Allen. "Many a man," said Uncle Allen Sparks, "dates all his other reverses from the evening whec his best girl turned bun down." A TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE. How a Veteran Was Saved the Am putation of a Limb. B. Frank Doremus, veteran, of Roose velt Ave., Indianapolis, Ind., says: "I had been showing symptoms of kid ney trouble from the time I was mustered out of the army, but in all my life I never suffered as in 1897. Headaches, dizziness and sleeplessness first, and then dropsy. I was weak and help less, having run down from 180 to 125 pounds. I was hav ing terrible pain in the kidneys and the secretions passed almost involuntarily. My left leg swelled until it was 34 inches around, and the doctor tapped it night and morning until I could no longer stand it, and then he advised amputation. I refused, and began using Doan's Kidney Pills. The swell ing subsided gradually, the urine be came natural and all my pains and aches disappeared. I have been well now for nine years since using Doan's Kidney Pills." For sale by all dealers. 50 cents a box. Foster-Milburn Co., Buffalo, N. Y.
