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Show story a silence fell on the group. No one spoke for several minutes. The youth, known only by the sobriquet of Crack Lash, sat gazing abstractedly into the fire. He had r tard no part of the story, for his By JOHN R. MUSICIC, mind was still on his home, Author ol Mjrotoriou Mr, Howard, Th where dwelt mother and the fair Charlie Allendala'a Dark Stranger, being who had .promised to be his Double, Etc wife, for whom he bad braved the dangers of the wilderness. Copyright. 18T, by Robbbt Bonaa'a Boat, At early morn the little camp on All rights reserved. the Yukon was astir. Paul was the last to awake. Youth is healthful CHAPTER I. and innocent, so sleep lingers longer Strange Information. From the flowery fields of Califor- about its eyelids than those whose nia to the barren region of the Klon-dyk- bodies are freighted with disease or from 1849 to 1897, is a wide minds burdened with cares. Wheres George? asked Gid, as he reach, but the gulf of time is bridged over and the hopes and fears of toasted steaks. Been gone these two Mars, Big thousands of hearts follow the argonauts who go to search for the Port answered Alone? golden fleece in the confines of the Yes. .Arctic Circle, as they did forty-eigh- t Thats strange. years ago the palifomia prospectors. Breakfast was disposed of, the dogs The real story of the discovery of gold on the Klondyke is not generally fed and harnessed and the party preknown, and to unravel that mystery pared for their journey up the river to Dawson City, then an insignificant Is the purpose of this story. On a certain night, about three years village, and yet lucky George had not ago last May, five men were seated returned. As the sun rose higher the mud and about a camp fire,, built under the south side of a cliff, among some pine snow made travel more uncomfortable, trees, near the banks of the Yukon yet Paul trudged on, uncomplainingly. river, fifteen miles above Dawson City. He could bear any burden or hardAs some of this party have become ship without a murmur when he reHer of flected that it was for Laura. well known by the development the Klondyke gold fields, it will be presence gave strength to his arm as well to Introduce them to the read- and keenness to his eye, spurring him er before we proceed with our story. on to efforts more than superhuman. When they halted at noon they were That large man dressed in moose-skicoat and trousers, with a bear skin compelled to get to leeward of the thrown ever his shoulders, was once smoke to protect themselves from the well known in the great northwest as mosquitoes. But little had been said the most daring hunter, miner and of their missing companion. Lucky adventurer in all Alaska. He was George. Gid followed his trail through as honorable as he was brave, and as the snow without difficulty, and gave kind hearted as he was sullen. His it as his opinion that he was going name was Jack Ralston, but along the straight to Dawson City. Glum Ralston, who had not exYukon he was commonly known as Glum Ralston. pressed an opinion on the subject for Ralston was once an American some time, at last said: Boys, I heard him say somethin He was getting along in years for his hair was growing frosty, yet his one day bout goin up the Klondyke. What for? asked Gid. frame was still strong and his heart Said a squaw man told him there had not abandoned its hope. or George W. Cormack, Lucky was heaps o' gold , along that air George," as the miners nicknamed stream. Glum informed him it was one of him, sat on the log just opposite Glum Ralston. George was an Eng- the tributaries of the Youkon which lishman, a brave, adventurous fellow, had been but very litt 3 explored. Lid who was also an expert miner. Per- remained with his head bowed for a haps it was his knowledge of geology few monents, his mind lost in thought and mining that tended to his suc- At last he said: cess. Nevertheless, the miners atBoys, he's tryin to give us the slip, I am afeard, or run a cold deck tributed it to luck. Gld Myers was a man of thirty, on us, said Gid. What if he does: asked Port with pale blue eyes and sandy comWe dont lose much. Gid had had considerable plexion. We might if he struck pay dirt experience as a hunter and prospector, but in the' miner's parlance had said Gid. Wont we be Just as likely to strike never struck It rich. Porter Allen, or Big Port, was a pay dirt as George? No. giant in size, being over six feet In Why? height, with broad shoulders and sinBecause George is allers in luck. ews of steel. He was forty, his hair and long beard quite grizzled with Every time he draws from the deck its a trump. If a feller holds a time and exposure. The fifth was a young man of straight George has a flush. I'll gamtwenty-twor twenty-thre- e years of ble my dogs an packs that he makes age, with the freshness of youth and a ten strick right now. There was a silence, and the men Innocence still on his face. While his older companions were smoking their sat and smoked and steamed, to drive pipes, the younger man of the party away the mosquitoes. At last Paul gazed abstractedly into the glowing broke the silence by saying: If there is gold on the Klondyke fire. His mind went back over the mountains, rivers and seas to his let us go and find it ourselves." Now yer shoutin, cried the prosquiet little home in Fresno, where Why not go to the Klonhe had left his widowed mother, dear pectors. to his heart, and one still dearer. dyke ourselvei? Truth is, boys, said Glum, Ive Her name was Laura Kean. They never had any very exalted opinion o were lovers and betrothed. While he sat gazing into the fire Lucky Georges honesty. If he makes and seeing only the face a big strike we can, o course, come of his betrothed, his companions toast- in for a claim, but hell strike out ed and ate their suppers and talked the best an' work on the others withowin it. out us of their present situation. to set out at once for decided Glum, how long ye been In AlasThey ka? asked Lucky George. the Klondyke. It was a journey atIts now twenty-ontended from beginning to end with years. MAn never been back to the great danger and hardship. Glum States? Ralston was the only member of their No. party who had been on the stream, Are you ever goin? and he acted as guide. Dont know, he answered, with a Again night came on, and they went sigh. Itd be like goin back to a into camp and prepared their supgraveyard now. Most everybody I pers. Paul was a little disheartened knews dead. If but he did not on this night. Continual disappointfinish the sentence. His weather-beateRisment had made him heart-sick- . eye seemed to gleam with softer ing to relieve his cramped limbs, he light as he gazed Into the fire, and turned his back toward the fire and Gid Myers thought he saw a shade gazed across the hill of moisture gathering there. into the darkness beyond. To his surGlum, you otten promised us you prise he discovered a glow on the would tell your own story sometime woods far in the distance. For a how you came here, and why you moment be gazed upon It in doubt, have spent all these years in Alaska. and then, touching Gid Myers, who Why not tell now? asked Lucky sat near, on the arm, he whispered: George. Look off there, Gid, in the direc' Glum moved uneasily on the log on tion I am pointing. Dont you see which he was sitting and, clearing anything suspicious? Gid Myers did his throat, said: as directed, and said: Boys, taint much of a yarn when Yes, tharB somethin onnatural. its spun. I came to Alaska in 73 in Crack Lash." the sealin schooner Eleanor. We What is it? had good officers and crew, an the WeL, Id say it was th glow from sun never shone on a better man than a camp fire like our own. our captain. We all loved him and Gid, suppose we go and reconwould have died for him. noitre. We may make some discovWell, we had no luck sealing, and ery. the captain and sailors went with a Keep your eyes peeled, boys cauparty of Indians who said they knew tioned Big Port It may be a mighty where gold could be found. I didnt sight more riskyn ye think. believe them, and wouldnt go. But Oh, let us alone for that; well let he asked me not to leave Alaska no red nigger o the north woods get till he came back, and I promised. the drop on us. At the end of six months an exThrough the dense wood, across raplorin party came back with the cap vines, snowdrifts and muddy streams o one o the sailors which they had the two pressed on over hill and dale, found on the snow several days Jour- until, after three hours painful toll, ney away. they came upon a bend in the stream Winter was on us, and we ran into called the Klondyki, where, on passSitka, where we anchored until spring. ing around a spur of the cliff, all of a It was a hard winter, and I have sudden the full glare of torches and often wondered why we didn't all die, fire light fell upon them. It was a but all but two pulled through, and strange and unexpected sight that met when spring came on, an the captain their view. A great fire was blazing, hadn't hove to in sight, the first mate to which was added the light of pine said he was going back with the ship. knot torches stuck in the ground. Two men were at work with picks, They tried to make me go, but Id promised the captain Id stay until shovels and pans. Late as it was, he came back. dark as it was and tired and hungry Our ship sailed away, an I stayed as they were, they toiled on and on. around the town for a while, an then Crack Lash, Gid gasped in a went on a cruise with some hunters. hoarse whisper, its Lucky George We branched off into the woods. I and the squaw man, Lattlmer." Yes. didnt tell the story of my captain and the Injun chief with the gold "What are they doin? beads for a good many years. Then "Digging! Great heaven, look at I went into the interior to try to the shining ore! See! the buckets find him. I got in with some moose and pans are full of nuggets and dust. hunters and traveled one whole sum- Oh, Gid! Gid! It's a bonanza! mer and part of a winter and nearly Hush, they will hear you. I am going to make myself known starved an froze a hundred times, but not a word could I hear of him, to them. so I suppose I am doomed to make And be shot? my last voyage from this port. When "Why should they shoot me when I meet n.j captain on that unknown we are friends? If they are like savsea to which we are all steerin. Ill age dogs over a bone, then we can ell him I kept my promise. shoot first Gid consented to go to them, and. en the cx sci'or had finished his IfiSpB far-awa- e, n o d n e n wood-covere- d advancing to within a hundred paces, they called to the diggers. At first they were a little confused, but Lucky George, who was a shrewd fellow, saw It was best to admit to the discovery. Come down, boys; come down, he I tell you we have cried, cheerfully. made the greatest strike in the world. Look at the work of a few hours. George, are there more good claims? Plenty of them. Let us all set to work, stake out the best and get the very cream before the world finds it out. Lattimer here put me onto this; he got it from the Indians. This was the discovery of the great gold fields in the Klondyke. Lucky George got the tip from Lattimer, the white man with an Indian wife, and had determined to work it alone if he eould do so, but now that his friends had found him, he decided to make the most of it and divide. The others were sent for, and claims for all staked out. Next morning with the dawn of day Paul began to work his claim. From the first shoverful of earth, he began to take out gold. His pica seemed attracted to the largest nuggets, and his pan was always rich in ore. He washed out a thousand dollars worth of dust and nuggets to the pan. He forgot breakfast, lunch or dinner, but toiled on. The small moose-skibags were quickly filled, and then he poured the renewed accumulation into a water bucket. His eyes gleamed with the fire of the insane, and in his mind he saw only the faces of sweetheart and mother and took no thought of rest, health or the danger which his accumulation brought him. There was danger hovering over the His claim was some happy youth. distance up the stream from the others, and one day, as he was toiling and heaping up the golden treasure, two pairs of fierce, avaricious eyes glared at him trom the dense foliage of pines. They watched him a long time as he toiled, and then exchanged knowing looks, winks and smiles, w'hich said: Let the fool toil on. When he has taken his thousands from the earth we will have it. After the first few days he stopped long enough to eat and sleep a few hours at a time, dreaming of home and of making loved ones there happy. Little did he dream that a storm cloud was gathering over the loved ones at home and another over his own head, threatening to ruin himself and all most dear to his heart. (To be continued.) INQUIRY ABOUT JOBS TURKEY. Important Point Man Was Anxious to Have Settled. Mr. Brownlow of Tennessee has among his constituents an itinerant preacher who is not only an eloquent preacher, but, in his opinion, has a knowledge of the scriptures second to no ones. So confident Is he that he can make clear the most obscure passages that he invariably asks his hearers to bring him any puzzling text they wish explained. At the close of a very large a JiA successful meeting a country bumpkin sitting in the back of the hall lr. response to the pastor's invitation announced that there was a matter, a very important matter, he would like to have unraveled. . Happy that an opportunity to show his erudition had come at last, the wise man encouraged the fellow to come to the front and present his problem. What I want to know Is, said the bucolic, "is whether Job's turkey was a hen or a gobbler. And when the preacher turned red and coughed, to hide his confusion, his interrogator remarked in a voice that was audible through the whole hall: I'll be durned if I dont stump him the first time. RAMIE A FAILURE HERE. Impossible to Grow or Manufacture It Profitably in America. A gentleman connected with the ag- ricultural department declares that and manufacture ramie in the United the efforts of certain parties to grow States are simply wasted. He states that the successful growing, marketing and manufacturing of ramie is a dead issue in every country except China, where it has been raised for centuries and prepared by slow and laborious hand processes for which the Celestials are famous. He states further that millions of dollars have been spent in this country and Europe trying to invent a machine for decordicating ramie, but without success, and that it is too late for any one to attempt to resurrect an issue as dead as that of ramie in the United States, where it has been given a fair test and proven a failure. He also states that there are many persons who are honestly misled in the matter and still think that ramie can be grown and manufactured in this country with profit, and who every now and then sink their substance in enterprises engineered by persons who are similarly misled. A Ventriloquists Joke. The following Incident is well worth repeating and in the words of an eye witness: While overseeing a gang of men, who, with mule teams, were hauling loads of dirt, a friend of mine a ventriloquist came up and stood by my side. Presently a mule, driven by a fellow, balked right In front of where we were standing. The flery-temper- driver lost his temper and began to beat the animal. Every now and then the mule would turn his head and look reproachfuly at the fellow but refused to budge. Now just watch him, the ventriloquist whispered in my ear. At that moment the fellow gave the animal a kick with his heavy boot. The mule turned his head and looking the man square in the face opened his mouth : Dont you do that again. The voice sounded as though it came direct from between the mules parted lips. The whip dropped from the fellows hand. For a moment he stared at the mule, and then, without a word, he bolted down the street as fast as his legs could take him. Cakes Looked Like Books THE LITTLE ANIMALS Aloysiua Cotl in Chicago The bay mare stands at my kitchen door, And saucily shakes her head For a bite of apple, pinch of salt Or a sugared crust of bred. But, oh, for the little wooden horse - As an illustration of the thrift and foresight of the housekeepers of the early period, Halsey P. Clarke, the veteran town clerk of Richmond, tells this story, says the Providence JourI love the calves in the pasture-lAnd the cattle In the barn. nal: His father, David Clarke, was The geese that squat by the water in Providence at one time, and being trough And guoble through the tarn. obliged to stay over night, for in But, oh. when the evening shadows fail, those days the means of travel was And the ache of the lonely dark, 1 turn to the palmed animals, by horse and wagon or horseflesh, In a little wooden aik! which was necessarily very slow, he And. one by one, I take them up. put up at a tavern, and in the room And cuddle them to my breast, For the love of the careless little Noah he occupied were four beds, for there was not much space wasted in the That set them here to rest Here by the sunny window-sea- t. bedrooms of the taverns. BeIn a corner of his room, fore retiring for the night Mr. Clarke Where curious roses climb and peep. And wonder into bloom. and a friend who was with him struck I have mothered many an orphaned lamb up an acquaintance with another ocewe. fallen and faint For the cupant of the same room. The friend And many a downy duckling housed of Mr. Clarke whispered to him not From the weasel and the new: But now, that every mother's babe to tell the stranger where they came On the farm is safe at rest. from and to try to find out whence I turn to the little wooden sheep And fold them to my breast! he had come; so they inquired of him d Aioysius Call In Chicago where he had come from, and he Sunday Magastne. told them he had just been down iu South country, in the town of Richmond. He said that when he arrived in town it was nearing dusk, so he drew up at a tavern and inquired of the landlord for lodging for the night. Record-Heral- d 1 found in a corner And the little groom that straddled him And rode him out to play! Old Rover naps on the shaded porch. While his great, brown, kindly eyes Follow me to the garden gate And back to my bread and pies. But, oh, for the cotton dog on wheels That romped on the velvet floor. And the little master that shall come And play with him no more! The Spanish cock with the crimson comb. When he hears my feeding call, Be answers with a flap of wings And a crow from the garden wall. But. oh, for the plaster cock that crowed When my baby pressed the spring Mv tlnv poultryman that hauled Him round upon a string! Sunday Magazine ot old-tim- e Record-Heral- Cost of White Plague Tuberculosis causes annually more than 150,000 deaths in the United States at the average of 35 years. At e is this age the normal about 32 years, so that the real loss of life covered, measured in time, is represented by 4,800,000 years per anIf we assume that the net num. value of a year of human life after the age of 35 years is at least $50, the real loss to the nation resulting from the disease (a large proportion of which Is known to be needless) may be estimated at $240,000,000 per after-lifetim- which all other social problems of a medical character sink Into significance, and It is safe to say that the possible prevention of a large portion of the Mortality from this disease is justly deserving of the solicitude, the active personal interest and liberal pecuniary support of all who have the real welfare of the people of this na- The landlord replied in the affirmative and sent a boy to take his horse, as he was on horseback. Tbe gentleman went with the boy and removed the saddlebags and brought them into one-hal- si of Devotion T reader of the Odd Tales of the who Is a subscriber to th Town London Times, which, Just now, is republishing items that appeared in that paper 100 years ago to a day, sends the following as a sample, says the Baltimore Sun: Some pleasantry was played off a few days ago at Brighton on a respectable law officer and his wife, who have made a summer excursion there. An invitation, couched in due form and bearing all the marks of authenticity, was sent to them desiring their company at the pavilion The gentleman and in the evening. lady. Justly proud of the distinguished honor thus conferred on them they knew not how attended at the appointed hour and were ushered into the saloon. In which were many persons of fashion, to whom they were A embarrassment necessarily ensued, but it was wholly unknown. Some increased to a tenfold degree when they were announced to tbe illustrious master of tbe house, who bad no recollection either of his guests or tbe invitation in his name. An explanation ensued, when his royal highness, with all that urbanity which distinguishes him as tbe most finished gentleman in Europe, was pleased to declare that he felt himself much indebted to tbe ingenious person who (by forging his invitation, la order, perhaps, to sport with their feelings) had afforded him tbe pleasure of their society and acquaintance, however unexpected, and that he was perfectly happy in the opportunity of receiving them. His royal highness conducted himself toward them during the whole of the evening with the most liberal and marked attention, and thus converted a rencontre, which was produced by the most malignant motives, into a source of honor and perfect satisfaction. Girl Caught When the Democratic convention of the 1st congressional district met at Ocean City an incident occurred that made some ten or fifteen sturdy men feel somewhat small, says the Baltimore Sun. It was about 10 oclock on the morning of the convention that some one standing on the porch of the Plimhlmmon hotel saw an unusual object in the ocean not far from the shore. The attention of several other persons was attracted, and in a few minutes the cry went up, A shark! A shark! and there was a rush for the beach. When the crowd arrived within about thirty feet of the waters edge the great fish could be plainly seen floundering about in the shallow water, each wave bringing it closer into the shore. Not a man in tho crowd cared to abridge the distance between him and the shark, and each time the waves rolled the fish toward the shore there was a hurried retreat. Adjourned Supreme Court On one occasion Wayne MacVeagtr succeeded in adjourning the supreme court before the usual hour. Mr. never remained in Washington over night if he could help it, and on this occasion he greatly desired to take the 4 o'clock train for Philadelphia. Although talking to the court, he kept his eye on the clock and at 3:43, giving himself just enough time to reach the station, he ceased bis argument and said: May it please your honors. I move that the court do now adjeurr. I atch the 4 Mac-Veag- h a Shark After about ten minutes had been passed in watching the battle of the shark to get out to deep water again, a little girl, sunburned came down to the and golden-haired- , Bhore. For a minute or two she watched with the others and then without the slightest hesitation walked by herseif right out into the water up to her knees, selected her opportunity and caught the shark by tbe tail. Without more ado she lugged the fish up on the beach and dropped it on the sand, while the crowd of men gasped in astonishment at her nerve. After the whole thing was over, nearly every one in the crowd was able to explain that the shark was on Tj a "dog shark, not of the species and perfectly harmless! The shark measured about four feet fish, if long and was an he was harmless. bare-legge- d Last night Quill dropped in at the laboratory and the doctor remarked: Say, neighbor, remember that International Power tip? Well, she touched 52 on Wednesday and I let her go. I cleaned up just $1,700, thanks to you, but that Isnt the best of it. On Oct. 19 the Missus and I will have been married seventeen A good many things might years. happen between now and the 19th, so I thought Id cinch the anniversary with a little something to make it worth remembering. Therefore, having banked the seventeen hundred, I drew a check for the amount and gave it to the best part of me this morning, and she wanted to know what It all meant, and 1 said: " Well, honey, as an investment pure and Bimple, I've calculated you've been worth to me at least $100 a year for the last seventeen years, so I She gave thought Id better settle. me a bat over the ear and did some other stunts In which you wouldnt be Interested, and, womanlike, she wanted to know where I got it, but all I said was; Now, youre commencing to begin again. It you have any more like that, bring em around. The Missus liken what she knows about 'em. New York Sun. ricks of the Forger! Tit-Bit- s. Joke Turned Out Well books. While he was wondering why there was such a number of books in thin tavern-m- ore books, he thought, than were in the entire town the woman of the house came in and stirred up tne fire preparatory to cooking the evening meal. He inquired of her: Why is it that you have so many books here in the kitchen? Is the towns library here, or what is it 1 the astonished Books! exclaimed woman, I dont see any books. Where ore they? Show me them. Eight here on that shelf," replied the man, Books! said she, over your head. Oh, la! them aiut books; theme We expect the town johnnycakes. council here to dinner next week, and weve baked them Johnnycakes sos to be ready when they come. Whether he mistook the johnnycakes.packed neatly on end upon the shelf, fot books or not, it is hard to sv, though there is no doubt that tbe story did not lose anything in the telling, but by actual count there were seventy-nin- e johnnycakes on the shelf. Lucky Flier in Stocks It was a hot night In the first week of last August. The pharmaceutical chemist was sitting among the bottles and test tubes and mortars in his tion at heart. laboratory. His family were in the Biggs estimates that New York city country and he wished that he was sustains an annual economic loss of with them. He happened to be in and that the nation at his laboratory because there wasnt $23,fl)0,000, large must sustain an annual loss of any other place he wanted to go and because of tuberculosis. because he had some work to do. annum. $30,000,000 These astounding and almost in- There are nearly 10,000 deaths from About 10 oclock his friend Qulil Sevdropped in for a nip of the doctors comprehensible figures are far from consumption in New York city. in Scotch on his way home. being an exaggeration, but let us as- en thousand persons died in Illinois f of this mor- 1903, half of them between the ages sume that only Say, Doc, said Quill, "do you want estito take a little flier in the market. tality is preventable, and we have a of 20 and 50 years, while the net possible saving to the nation of mated loss to the state alone, because Id rather take a flier into the counThis esti- of this disease, was $36,000,000, and try, was the reply. But Blnce I $120,000,000 per annum. mate does not take into account the the medical authorities of that state cant do that, lets hear your proposiretion. social, moral and sentimental value have found that consumption Is of at least 100,000 lives, which, under sponsible for more deaths than "Buy a little International Power, different conditions, might reasonably typhoid fever, scarlet fever, diph- said Quill. Its a stock with a histheria, all forms of bronchitis, influ- tory, I know, but I got it pretty hope to continue for many years. The mortality from tuberculosis Is, enza, measles and smallpox combined. straight that on or before Oct. 15 itll New York Medical Journal. be selling at 52 or better. It comes therefore, a problem compared with so straight that, if I had some money to gamble with, I'd buy a little myself and hold for about a ten point rise, just to have leeway enough. Ill think about it, replied the docJust as their decision was reached tor, and after a Two New York girls, near friends, nightcap with his of man. their the happened dispute same love fell in with the young subject friend, Quill, he went home. The next moa for to them moment He spoke If any one should think for a along. day Quill dropped into the laboratory that any censure attaches to him, ment, but about all he had to say was and tbe doctor said; was lot It be said that he was not at that he had lost his umbrella and Im in, got a hundred at 35, and my all to blame. The girls are both so looking for. JL . broker was curious to know who put to their then The adjourned is girls absolutely impossible lovely that it me on. for any man who has the use of his respective homes to write the notes, effect to that were the both eyes to meet them and not capitulate which at once. They got to comparing notes they wanted him to call that evening. the other day. Finally one of the When No. 1 was safely ensconced in girls vowed that the young man con- her boudoir she made up her mind cerned cared more for her than he did that she would win, even if she had Space prohibits the brief recapitulafor her chum, who promptly asserted to stretch matters a little. Therefore tion of remarkably ingenious frauds that the reverse of the proposition she indited this note: yet fresh in the public memory, but was true. Dear Fred I am very sick. Per- the principal aim of the forger of toThey agreed to test it, and soon hit haps I may die. Come this evening." day is toward the Indorsements on The time of trial arrived, and, re- checks upon a plan. Each was to write the planned to be stolen subseas it may seem, Fred called call to markable him note a man asking young to signature, says London quent tbe of 2. The No. on that explanation hour. And, seeing at a certain No pains, expense or trouble he could not obey both commands at whole matter, however, is contained swindlers in order once, it was to be conclusive proof in the other, note Fred got. It ran are spared by the to obtain a business memorandum that the girl whom he favored was thus: Ive bearing the signature of the firm of Dear Fred Come up in possession of bis heart. After this payees, and upon a printed copy of got your umbrella. they felt better. the former the forged signature of the latter Is sent to the drawer of the stolen check, thus allaying suspicion A T e house and, throwing them down iu the kitchen, stepped up to the fireplace to warm himself. Over the fire place was a mantel shelf, which was nearly half as long as the room Itself, and upon looking up he saw on the shelf what be supposed to be a row of the temporarily. Two swindlers of this type ascertained that a gentleman was in tbe habit of sending two checks for substantial amounts periodically by post. Opening a small account at tbe same branch of the bank, at one of these times, the thieves contrived to obtain possession of the checks from the post box wherein it was the gentlemans custom to post his letters. Receipts were sent bearing Imitations of the previously obtained signatures of the payees and the crossed drafts bearing forged indorsements were paid through the post into the forThe checks mers own account. could thus be drawn upon almost immediately and at the earliest possible moment tbe swindlers withdrew and cleared with the cash. The bank repudiated the customer's claim, but after a long action was ordered upon appeal to make good his loan Again, late on a Saturday morning; purporting to emanate from the London or other office where a wealthy customer keeps an account, a telegram may arrive addressed to the manager of a local branch of that bank at some fashionable resort, ada reliable vising that Mr. and responsible customer, la arriving in the town, and requesting that every courtesy and attention be shown him. The wire is followed by the advent of himthe respected Mr. self a prosperous-lookingentleman who, producing a check for, say 1,000, requests the immediate opening of a current account As the check Is drawn by him In favor of self the usual forma. ties are easily subscribed to by the personator of tbe genuine customer, and if an astute bank manager denies "Mr. permission to draw upon the check until cleared he can scarcely refuse to Issue a checkbook, which the swindler can use for all it is worth previous to his departure for other scenee on the following evening. This trick has been successfully carried out In several Instances. o The Frigate of Eternity When aeas run high like mountains Suggested by reading Rudyard Killing's The Soldiers Last Chantey In swelling, poem. 8he forges through thin silvery spray. The Seven Seas. Proud music of the storm is welling. The earth Is a huge frigate, riding The thundeis growl hoarse roundelay. Along the shoreless sea of Time. The lightning's lance is redly flashing war A man of her Helmsman guiding. And yearning like some fiend in pain. She surges with a sweep sublime. will muster. Big brood ng clouds like Titans clashing Cosmopolite her liecrew In argosies drench hill and plain. in the hold, The muineers , The steerage holds the men that cluster Like some great frigate nobly sailing. Tho mariners so stanch and bold. Some transport for Eiysian strand. The ship Is stout, and stanch the seamen. Wan wintry winds are weirdly wailing. The pilgrims yearn for native land. In every age a dauntlesa crew Has manned the craft, and sons of freeThrough summer's sott. salubrious season, men. Through shaggy winters sleet and Are still on deck to see her through! snow. Let changelings prate, and cowards palThrough Aprils tears and autumns treater. son. Let tonguesters shriek, and shriek In She hears our hopes, our joys, our woe. vain, Let crafty cowards cringe and falter. Whnt harbor wiil she touch, I wonder? She holds her course In fierce disdain. What port will greet her ae a guest? cannonades will thunder Through wind, through rain she minds Ceestinl When she drops anchor ends her quest. the Master friends will greet tha vanished Dear And plunges through thin, aerial foam, No Noah's ark to meet disaster. stranger rosele-flown before, f faces for home. No Flying Dutchman faint Shy, d And soothe the No rear she fears, or hidden treason: sleep will rarger, The stars her beacons through the His peiil and Life's voyage o'er! n'ght. J4MES E. KINSELLA. Serene she rides through stormy season. The wind and wave are her delight. Registry Division Chicago Post Office. soft-eye- Totems for Indian Graves. telegraph blank which her husband marble totems, to mark the lost in the street one night last week graves of Indian chiefs at Haines, and a messenger picked up. It reads: Jennie had a born at Alaska, are almost completed at Tacoma. The monuments are to sup- oclock. Both doing well. Fine Walter. pounds.- plant the old wooden totems, carved weighing Thats good enough so far as It by the Indians themselves. They are made on the same lines as the for- goes, remarked the man to whom mer totems and represent the same the finder showed it, but what would oclock train for home. The cool tribal superstitions and legends. One Walter have done, if it had been audacity of the request seemed to is a large bear, sitting on its twins? All those forms would have paralyze the justices, but the chief haunches, hilt having in place of a been wasted. New York Sun. justice made the customary order bears head a grotesque head with without a protest and Mr. MacVeagb staring eves and grinning mouth. The Makes Quite a Difference. Is a cord of wood much, pop? . got his train. figure is of white marble and the eyes and mouth are lined with gold leaf. Well, my son, it all depends on He Knew Him. The other totem Is a shaft of pure whether you are burning it or chopJiggins has a new girl; she's white marble surmounted by a marble ping it. Rams Horn. he says. fish of the whale killer type. Ill bet you a good deal ae didnt Hard to Handle. say that at all. Almost Too Methodical. My automobile never goes where Ill bet you anything A woman of methodical habits and I expect it to. Hold on! Youd lose. Im ready And I never expect mine to go rigid observance cf a system in her to bet all I own that he said household tnu't lave arranged this where it does. man-eatin- g Two |