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Show ness; and the sound of his horses f.eet was now scarcely to be heard, as he galloped along the track leading to the BY HENRY W NESFIELD. mail-nigh- ts et shirt-sleeve- s, way. Then turning to the new arrival In the most affable way, as if nothing un- usual had occurred, he inquired if he would like some supper after his journey. Thank you, replied the stranger yes, I should like something to eat, and I dont mind if I had a drop of your best, just for the good of the house. As the man spoke, he showed signs of having had several drops of the best already. replied Sullivan, Certainly, sir, scenting a good customer as a terrier would a rat. Then, rinsing a tumbler in a wooden tub beneath the counter, he proceeded to polish it on a piece of old towel with a very professional air. Turning to the shelves, he paused, and seemed to be deliberating as to He then what really was his best. took down a bottle with a capsule on it, and, winking confidentially to his guest, remarked that he thought he would find that prime. The difference between the mixture contained in the bottle and that in the kegs on the shelf was that the former was nearly proof rum, and the latter a concoction of spirits of wine, tobacco, brown sugar, water, and a flavoring only of the real article. Mr. Sullivan kept a few strong sample bottles of the genuine liquid on purpose for great occasions, and If two nobblers of that failed to start them he did not know what would. Supper seemed to take a long .time to prepare, and the stranger indulged in another taste or two of the best. After his second dose conversation flowed more easily; the silence which attire had cast his upon the company began to wear ofT, and the landlord relapsed Into his usual jovial style. Do you know a station called Red- highly-respectab- le RAILROAD A station. That ladll break his neck riding like that on a dark night and serve A PELON CHAPTER IX (Continued.) But the Letter luck would be not for Long Jim. Another small one would follow, and then another. The pigeon was generally persuaded to take his saddle off. Then he would decide to stop the night, and no farther on the road would he go; while the news spread quickly that Long Jim was on the spree at Sullivans. On the afternoon in question the coach was expected up, and Sullivan had been several times to the door looking out anxiously for its coming. There was never any telling what profitable guests it might contain, so on there was always a decent supper laid in a room away from the common herd in readiness for more distinguished company. Theres the dust of the coach at last, cried a man, who had also been engaged in watching the distant track. Its two hours late; I expect theyve had a smash. It was nearly dusk when the coach pulled up at the door of the inn and discharged its cargo. Horses had to be changed, the fresh ones being already in waiting in the yard, and ten minutes were allowed for the dusty passengers to refresh themselves on lightning rum. Only one person among the twenty passengers got out with the evident Intention of remaining at this stage. While the coach remained and the bar was thronged with customers there was a perfect babel of voices and general hubbub and confusion all round. The stranger sat on a bench near the wooden counter. Presently the landlord came in. He had been taking a farewell glance at the departing mail, and was chinking some loose coins in as if he were well his trousers-pocksatisfied with the profits of the last ten miuutes. The dirty kerosene lamp threw a dim light upon the interior of the den, and Sullivan suddenly remembered his guest. Pulling down his which he usually rolled up above the elbow, he put on his most insinuating manner, as he preceived at a glance that he had no bushman to deal with. Unluckily, however, for the dignity of his deportment, Mr. Sullivan was so busily Intent upon scrutinizing his possible new prey, that he stumbled across a prostrate body in the doorway and fell flat upon his face. What are you doing, lying about like that, Sam? he cried indignantly, aa he struggled to his feet. Why, you are drunk! You ought to be ashamed of yourself, tripping people up in that disgraceful way. Out you go! Take your cooler outside If you dont know how to behave yourself; and seizing the unresisting sot by the shirt and trousers, he pitched him Into the road- BY him right, too. Ive never seen a shilling of his money, and dont suppose I ever shall. Drat such mean beggars, I say! growled Sullivan, as he stood at the door looking in the direction Baynes had taken. Mr. Hall was patiently waiting for the mail when Baynes rapped at the mont about here? inquired the stran- door. ger presently. Why, Baynes, how quick you have Redmount? I should think I did." been! he said, taking the bags from Mr. Hall, isnt it? Yes. Mr. Charles Hall; and a very nice gentleman he is. remarked Sullivan, inwardly thinking that he was nothing of the sort. Is it far from here? Only six miles. Follow' the creek, and you cant miss it. I thought as how you might be for Redmount. Perhaps Mr. Hall expects you? I dont know whether he does or he doesnt, answered the stranger shortly, and with the air of one who fancies he is being pumped. Just then supper was announced, and Sullivan show'ed his guest the way Into the best parlor. Now I wonder what lay hes on, he remarked, upon returning to the bar. New chum, I should say; dont look as if he had ever done any hard w'ork, to judge by his hands. Some relation of Mr. Halls perhaps, though he dont look quite the nob either. Hallo, is that you, Baynes? he exclaimed, as at that moment Baynes entered the bar, followed by a large kangaroo-dog- . I have come down for the mail bags. Is the coach in yet? inquired Baynes. Yes; been in an hour or more. Theres the bags on the floor. Thank you, said Baynes, picking them up, and making for the door, as if he were about to go. What, you arent going off like that, Baynes? Wont you have a taste of something? No, thank you all the same Id rather not. Well, I wont press you; married eh? What made you come down for the mail? You must be getting man quite a horseman. Im better than I used to be, and take all the riding I can get. Thats a fine dog, said Sullivan, patting the animal on the head; where did you find him? I declare you are getting quite sporty. I hear you bought twro horses too the other day is that true? Perhaps youll he bringing the missus down some Sunday to have a look at us. Perhaps. theres a gentleman here, just up by the coach for Redmount. For Redmount? echoed Baynes. Yes. Whats his name? dont know, but Ill soon find out. While Sullivan was making the inquiry within, Tom Baynes threw the s across the saddle, and, unhooking his bridle from the post, I mail-bag- mounted his horse. CHAPTER X. The night was dark, and the low veranda prevented the dim light from within shining upon his features as he sat silently in his saddle. Presently Sullivan eame out, followed by the stranger, who seemed unsteady in his gait, and had evidently been drinking. Are you from Redmount etation? asked the huskily. Yes, replied Baynes, looking down, and trying to get a glimpse of the mans features. But he did not succeed in doing so, for the stranger stood in the doorway with his back to the light. Do you know a chap by the name of Robert Luke? Luke? echoed Baynes and Sullivan in one breath. Yes, Luke Robert Luke. Why, you both seem quite astonished. I am his brother, William Luke. Sullivan was the first to speak. If you are Bob LukeS brother, I have bad news to tell you, which you dont appear to have heard. Bad news! What is it? lie disappeared from Redmount station some months ago, and nothing has ever been heard of him since. But he must be somewhere in the neighborhood, I tell you! I have a letter from him in my pocket, and in it he says, if he is not at Redmount when I arrive, he will be somewhere not far off. When did he write? asked Sullivan. Let me see, replied William Luke, pulling some papers out of his breastit is dated May 25th. pocket May 25th? cried Sullivan. Why, thats the very day on which he disappeared! Good heavens, and I have come all But stop, you halloa this way tell that man to stop! I have a message for Mr. Hall. But. while they were examining the letter near the lamp over the bar Baynes had started off Into the dark new'-com- er him. I shall have to make you postboy-i- Sullivans has generally so great an attraction for the men that they never come back with letters till midnight. I suppose the coach was in when you got there? Yes, sir, replied Eavnes; and I am sorry to say that I have got some bad news. Indeed! Thats unfortunate. But you have not opened the bag? No, sir; the driver brought up a letter for me from Sydney. I am afraid I must go down at once. The driver, Sam Jones? Yes, sir. Oh, thats a nuisance! I did not know you had friends out there, Tom. A sister, sir, lately out from home. She is very ill indeed, is expected to n-chief. George H. Daniels, general passenger agent of New York Central and Hudson River Railroad, recently delivered an address before the New York Pres3 Association. Among other notable things, he said: Four years ago I predicted that active efforts toward the extension of American commerce by commercial bodies, supported by a liberal and d policy on the part of our government, would undoubtedly secure to the United States the blessings that come from a great and varied commerce, and I said that the New York Press Association, and similar associations all over the country, could stimulate a public spirit that would insure the important results outlined. broad-minde- HI. must be of a superior quality, and the demand for American manufacturers began to increase and is increasing with each day, until nundreds of our factories are now running night ana day, and business in the United States was never in a more prosperous condition than it is on the 21st day of June, 1899. It has been said by a great Ameriwriter that trade follows the Our war with Spain has placed flag. can our flag upon the islands of the Pacific, directly in the natural track between the Pacific coast of the United States and Japan and China, and as we contemplate our growing commerce with these old nations we are reminded of the prophetic statement made at the completion of the first continuous line of railroad between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, by the joining of the Union and Central Pacific railroads, more than thirty years ago, by that prophet of his time, Thomas H. Benton, who, standing on the summit of the Rocky Mountains and pointing toward the Pacific ocean, said: There is the East; there is India. Mr. President, since the meeting at Lake George, four years ago, the fortunes of war have placed the United States in the front rank among the powers of the world, and we can no more shirk the responsibility which these events have brought on us as a nation, than we can shirk our responsibility as private citizens. At that time we had no idea that a war between one of the old nations of the earth and our joung republic would be fought; at that time we had no idea that American manufacturers would be furnishing locomotives to the English railroads, as well as Japanese, and no one thought four years ago that American bridge builders would go into the open market and tuceessfully compete for the building of a great die. steel bridge in Egypt; nor that in so Well, the coach will be going down brief a time American engineers would in a few days. be building railroads into the interior Im afraid sir, I cannot wait; I of China from the most important seamust go tonight. ports and furnishing locomotives by Tonight? Nonsense, man! How do the score to nearly every country on the globe. In a letter from a friend in you propose to go? On horseback, sir; I have two Tokio, Japan, written only a short time horses of my own. ago there was this significant senThere are some who seem to think You would get there much faster by tence: You will be interested in that we might get along without trade the mail. knowing that I have hanging on the with China, and that it is a new tanI I am going to take my wife along wall of my office a framed-picturof gled notion that Chinese trade can eswith me, said Baynes, in a faltering your Empire State Express, and we pecially benefit the United States. tone. expect in the near future to be haulYour wife? What next? Commerce with China is much older Surely ing a Japanese Empire Express, with an American locomotive. she is not in a fit condition for a than many suppose, for it began 115 have They now in Japan nearly 100 locomotives years ago, the first vessel sailing from ride! We might catch the coach at Menin-dethat were built in the United States. New York on Washingtons birthday, sir, said Baynes. That would In Russia they have over 400 of our in the year 1774. This vessel returned only be a hundred miles to ride; and I locomotives, and nearly every railroad to New York May 11, 1775. The sucIn Great Britain has ordered locomocess of the venture was such as to warthink she can manage that. tives from this country since the be- rant its repetition, and from that day Mr. Hall looked very much surprised. to this, trade between the United Baynes, however, remained firm in his ginning of the war with Spain. States and China has continued withintention of leaving, and so at last the out material interruption, until it ia squatter reluctantly gave his consent In this connection it will be interto his departure. now greater in importance and value to note in passing that the secesting than the that of any other nation trading I Its maddest thing ever heard ond American locomotive was built at with of, he grumbled. Taking his wife too, the West Point with the single exception China, Foundry, near Cold of Great above all things; and I flattered myself Spring, on the Hudson Britain. If we are to continue river, and wa3 we were all comfortably settled and evcalled the Best Friend, and from as one of the great nations of the erything was going on nicely! Well, that day to this the locomotive has world, we can hardly afford to ignore its always the way. been one of the best friends of all our a country that comprises of the land area and nearly his and Having paid Baynes wages people. But it is not alone our locoof the population of the globe. wished him good luck, Mr. Hall sugmotives that have attracted the attengested the advisability of his leaving tion of foreigners who have visited his wife in Sydney in some lodgings, our shores, our The influence of the press, particurailway equipment genand coming back as soon as he had set- erally has commanded admiration and in this country, is immense, and larly tled his business. is now receiving the highest compli--men- t, it is growing year by year, and with I suppose you will be off at daynamely, imitation by many of reasonable and reciprocour sister nations. Prince Michel light, he said. f, ity between the press, the transportaYes, sir, replied Baynes. Imperial Minister of Railways of tion companies and the commercial He is an energetic fellow, at any Russia, has, since his visit to the and industrial interests of the country, rate, thought Mr. Hall, and ought to United States a few years ago, con- there can be no doubt about our suget on out there. Plenty of pluck and structed a train on much the same premacy. lines as the New York Centrals Lake energy, with a little common sense those are the true elements of suc- Shore Limited. Only a short time ago, At times there have been periods of at the request of cne of cess. e legislation adverse to the great transThe men at the station were by no Imperial Commisisons Gerof portation interests of the country, almeans elated at the news of Baynes the most New many, York Central invariably the result of a misunsent to Berlin photographs of the derstanding of the real situation, and He had made himself departure. pleasant to all, and his good cookinf interior and exterior of our finest ears the hasty legislation of such times has and other data in relation to the opera- usually been repealed upon the sober had added to his popularity. However, when the sun shone down tion of American railways. Several second thought of the people, for in the upon Baynes hut the next morning it other countries have asked for similar language of our great Lincoln: You was deserted. The door stood wide Information and there is a general can fool all the people some of the open, and, beyond the still smoking waking up of foreign nations on the time, some of the people all the time, logs upon the hearth, there was no subject of transportation, brought but you cant fool all the people all about mainly by the wonderful achiev-menthe time. There are still some people signs of its recent inmates. of American railways. In the course of the morning a man who fear that consolidations, especialeame up from Sullivans, and said he ly of transportation companies, will wished to speak to Mr. Hall. The admiration of foreign nations result disastrously to the general inWell, what do you want? asked for us is not by any means confined terests of the country. There Is one the squatter sharply, as he eyed him .to railways. One Incident that startled example to which I wish to call your with considerable disfavor, knowing the entire world, and riveted the atattention, and which, I think, each of will appreciate. Forty-seve- n the fellow to be a lazy loafer of the tention of thinking people years you everywhere lowest type. to American achievments in machinago, there was issued an annual pass If you please, sir, theres a gentle- ery, was that of the United States bat- over the Central Line of Railroads, beman who came up by the coach last tleship Oregon, built at the Union tween Buffalo and Boston, and by the night down at Sullivans. Hes had a Iron Works in San Francisco, and Peoples Line of Steamboats to New fit. which steamed a distance of more than York; this pass bearing the following A gentleman down at Sullivans half round the globe, without signatures on the back thereof: Eze a bolt or starting a rivet, andloosening who has had a fit, eh? arrived kiel C. McIntosh, President. Albany and Schenectady R. R. Co.; Erastus Yes, sir; hed been drinking, and at her post off the island of Cuba prelast night he was seized with a fit. pared to perform any service required Corning, President, Utica and SchenecA very unusual occurrence at Sullof her; and then having given a most tady R. R. Co.; John Wilkinson, Presiivans Ive no doubt. Well, and what satisfactory account of herself on that dent, Syracuse and Utica R. R. Co.; about the gentleman who has been memorable 3d of July, 1898, off Santi- Henry B. Gibson, President, Rochester ago, she steamed back to the Pacific, and Syracuse R. R. Co.; Joseph Field, drinking and has had a fit? He told me to tell you, sir, that his and m ithout unnecessary delay crossed President, Buffalo and Rochester R. R. name is Luke, and thrt he ia a brother that great ocean to join Admiral Co.; William II. Swift, President, Western R. R. Co.; Isaac Newton, Peoples of Bob Luke him who disappeared Deweys fleet at Manila. On her arrival there the Secretary of the Navy reLine Steamboats; Job Collamer, Waand that he wishes to see you. tertown & Rome R. R. Co. Oh, does he? That alters the case. ceived one of those condensed mesYou can tell him I w'ill ride down In sages, for which the admiral who has Mr. E. D. Worcester, Secretary of the the course of the day and see him. shed undying luster upon the name of York Central, says he rode on a New the American navy is so noted, which When did he have this fit? of this kind from Albany to Bosticket on as read soon came follows: after he had hi3 It Manila, March IS, ton in the summer of 1852, and he resupper, sir, replied the man; and ha 1899. The Oregon and Iris arrived members the of distinctly signature had several more during the night here today. The Oregon Is in fit coneach of these Presidents. What would We had an awful time of It with him, dition for any duty. Dewey. you think if in preparing to attend sir, holding him down; and Sullivan annual meeting you had to write your was nearly frightened out of his life. These demonstrations of what Ameri- to eight different persons to secure A good job if he and the rest of can shipbuilders can accomplish, cre- transportation from New York to Niyou loafers had been quite frightened ated a desire on the part of every nav- agara Falls? I am sure you appreciate out of your lives, growled Mr. Hall to al power in the world for ships of the the fact that it does not himself. require eight Well, tell the man Ill look character of the Oregon, and the logletters to secure such transportation, In at him. Hell not die, drink doesnt ical conclusion of thinking people was nor does it require seven changes of kill people so easily worse luck! if we could build ships like the cars to make the that journey as it did in (To be Continued.) Oregon, anything else that we built 1852. r, one-twelf- one-four- Hil-kof- ts th th |