THE COLUMBIAN. BLOOMSBURG, PA. A MYSTERY SOLVED. " "Oh, Max! I flung my arms round lil,? nek and klswd him I What shall i r "How could you make such a mis take?" "In the dunk he looked exactly like yarn. Of course, the moment he spoke tuy horrible blunder flashed upon me. and I flod. I simply cannot face him at dinner, to-night" "Oh, nonsense, Bay. I will see him and explain the matter. If be It so mimh like me, no doubt he Is a Tory eent fHlow." Thin conreriatlon took place between ji chnrniluic girl and her brother, who wore staying at a certain hotel In a well-known seaside resort. To this ho tel I came In search of health to re store a nervous system which had been tailing lately, and. Indeed, had never quite recovered from a shock caused by a horrible lucldent which hud hap pened to me several years npo. I had boen lured by a madman Into Jii house under pretence of playing a fame of billiards, to find myself a , prisoner with an armed lunatic, who forced me to play the game for the iljrlient possible stake life Itself. For tunately I won; but my opponent, al though be fulfilled the conditions of our game by shooting himself, with re finement of cruelty tied me in a faint ing condition to the billiard table so that I might witness his death. Indeed, til vlndictlveness went further than this, for he branded my leg with a hot Iron, and wrote a paper In which he accused me of taking bis life. I was charged with the murder, but acquitted, as the fact of my being dis covered bound, and the strange appear ance of the body attired In the cos tume of Mephistopheles a character the madman endeavored to assume ,vus suQlclent to prove my side f the etory. Naturully, I was anxious to colve the mystery of this most extra ordinary affair. I needed no proofs to convince mo that the man was mad. But there was a method In his madness. Until I met liim in a public billiard saloon, whence tie took me to bis house, I had never pet eyes on him before. Then what was the reason for the cruel hatred he evidently felt towards me? Two clues I possessed, but as each bad proved useless to the detectives. It was not likely that they would load me to a so lution of the affair. First I discovered that In braudln my leg the wretch had traced the let ters RAO HE. That these letters rep resented the German word "revengo." 1 was perfectly aware; but whnt was I to learn from that? That the man .was a German? I think not My other clue was a note which I found, during a subsequent visit to the fatal room, hidden under the carpet. Although It bore no address, I suppose it was meant for me, as It spoke of the writer being avenged at last after a chase half-round the world of one who ibad stolon his money, murdered bis In tended wife, and attempted to murder liim On reaching the hotel nnother shock awaited me, though of a somewhat pleasant kind. As I entered the hnll, a charming girl ran up to me, flung her Arms around my neck, kissed me, and murmured : "You darling, I'm so glad you've come!" In my embarrassment I said some thing, but the fair damsel had flown like a startled bird. "A little thing like that makes one feel at home directly," I said to my eelf with a smile. I looked forward to dinner that night with much eager ness, ami longed to see the lady who distributed her kisses so rashly. In the drawing-room, before the gong sounded, my wish was gratiQed. A man of about my own age. who bore a striking resemblance to myself, came towards me with the charming girl blushing at bis lde. He explained that the kiss was Intended for himself, and introduced his sister, who apolo gized for her mistake In the sweetest manner. I sat next to Miss Carstalrs at dinner, and In course of conversa tion remarked that once before I had been mistaken for another man with Dearly a fatal result to myself. "Ob, do tell me all about It," she said. I was about to do bo when she added: K "But, no; please wait until after dinner; then Max can hear the story too." We three took our coffee In the gar den that warm September night. "Now," exclaimed Carstalrs, hand ing me a clgnrette, "Bay Is dying to tiear your story, bo go ahead!" "Well," Kaid I, lighting my cigarette and thinking what a sweet name was Ray Carstalrs, "although It happened several years ago, the Incident still remain painfully fresh In my memory It was an adventure I had with a miul blllnrd-player." bllllwd-player." "Max." said bis sister, "doesn't thai r our. lad you of what happened at "Ys," he replied, before sho could finish the sentence, "but don't luUr rupt. Please go on," he added. In a moment It flashed upon me thai the sol nt ion of the mystery lay wlthlr. my grasp. This niao, who so strange!) resembled me, wa the Intended object of the madman b revenge! As I went through the horrible de tails of that fearful night they listened with rapt attention. "You are right!" exclaimed hoi brother, as I finished; "all you suf fered wu intended for me. Now foi any story, which will clear up the uiy .cry."' Miss Carstalrs rose. f "I think I'll run off to bed, Max. Fir rnry tired, and It's getting late." Phe kissed bor brotner, then gnv her band to mi. "Cood-nlght," uhi said; "let us hop It will be fin) to morrow." I finished the evening to Max Car stalrs' room; aad while we smoked be told his story. "Mark Malbraln was the man's name," he continued, "and I met him at a hydropathic establishment la the north, where my slstor and I were staying one summer seven or eight years ago. My sister was then about seventeen, and Malbraln, much to her : disgust, fell wildly la love with her. j "During the evening Rachel (yes, that Is her name Ray Is only a family pet j name) complained te me of Malbraln's seems he had continued . conduct. It to follow her round the room begging ; for a dance, and his manner beoame i threatening wkea she firmly refused. I I at once went to him and said plainly that Miss Carstalrs wished to have nothmg more to do with him, and, therefore, I roust request him not to speak to her again. "From the manner of his reply I gathered that he did not know Rachel was my sister, but Imagined we were lovers; and I did not think It worth while to uudecelve him. I decided to send Rachel home' In the morning; but remained myself for a few days longer. Malbraln was furious when he beard that my sister had gone, but he said nothing to me. "One evening after dinner we met in the billlard-room. To my surprise ho challenged me to a game, suggest ing that we should play for a ten pound note. I agreed, and the stakes were haiuled to one of the men pres ent. We played a hundred up, and, strange to say, tied at ninety. Mal braln seemed very excited, and of fered to double the stakes, throwing another ten-pound note on the table. I ngroed, for I felt cool and In good form. We plnyed on, and you may imagine the sensation when again we tied at ninety-eight! It was my turn now, and I am afraid my temper was rising, when I sarcastically asked Mal braln If he felt Inclined to double again. " 'Yes!' he shouted, pale with pas sion. 'Fifty a hundred, if you like!' " 'One hundred pounds,' I suld, tak ing out my cheque-book. "It was my turn to play. I tried for a cannon, and missed. Malbraln seized his cue, trembling like the pro verbial nsien leaf. Ho went to pocket the red. but he missed the ball entirely, giving a point to me. Of course, I won by my next stroke. " 'I hope you ore satisfied,' he said, hoarsely. " 'I am sorry,' I replied, If the stakes were too high; but later on you will have your revenge.' " 'Revenge!' he shouted, losing his self-control. 'I'll have my revenge! We'll play again, and you'll find the stakes still higher too high for you!' "I had good reason to remember these words whn I awoke one night, to find Malbraln In my room dressed In his fantastic costume of 'Mephisto pheles.' " 'Come,' he said, "one of us must die to-night Through you I lost the girl who would have been my wife. My money, too! But come to the bllllnrd rooin; we will play to-night. Did you not promise mo my revenge? And the stakes! You will find them high enough. Come, we will play for our lives you and I! Ila, ha! one of us shnll die to-nlghtl' "I knew as I sprang from my bed that the man was mad! We grappled together, the candle fell from his hand, and we struggled In darkness. Down we went 'on the floer, and I felt the cold steel of a revolver, which ex ploded, and a sharp pain came In my arm. Then I heard doors opening and voices, so I held on till some of the fel lows came In with lights. 'Mephisto pheles' was carried off to his own room, raving and struggling. The slight wound In my arm was dressed by the doctor connected with the es tablishment, who also took the unfor tunate lunatic under his care. "Yes," I said, musing on the strange account I had heard. "But I wonder why he charged you with murdering Miss Carstalrs? And he also repeated the accusation in the paper I found. I suppose It was some Idea he bad got bold of in his mad jealousy of you." "Yes," said Carstalrs. "You see, he thought wo wore rivals, and knew I was the cause of Ray's disappear ance." "Then there Is another thing that puzzles me. Why did the madman brand my leg with the word 'Radio'?" "It Is German for revenge," said Car stairs. "Yes, but Malbraln was not a (lor man, so why should he use that lan guage?" "Can't say. I suppose the marks have entirely gone by this time?" "Yes; but the police had them pho tographed, and I think I have got one of the photos. In my portmanteau." I found the card and handed It to Carstalrs. "It Is funny," be said, laughing, "to notice how beautifully the printing In done all except the full-stop, which is a bit too high up. By Jove! It must have licen pnlnful, though." "I never felt It at the time I was lu a faint, I supiMMe." "Ah, I have It!" cried Carstalrs. 'That full-stop explains it. Of course the word he meant to trace wai 'Rachel,' only for some reason b didn't finish the '1.' Ha, ha, ba! How Bay will laugh at you when she heart of your being tatooed with her name.1 80 my last tnoagnt tnat bigot wan of charming Ray Carstalrs. And how could It be otherwise? her name on my body, her Image In my soul, and her kiss on my Hps! As for the kiss I felt I could not honorably keer. what was not intended! for me. But 1 was soon able to return it, for, en another month had passed, Bay Car stairs promised to be my wife. DRIVERS SLEEP, HORSES WORK. I Hi! Thajr Carry tha Mall aaa Mk tha Usual Call! Without Oaldanoa. noraemen and others Interested In the problem of how moch a horse la capable of learning and bow acute are their senses, were greatly , sur prised by an art of the two large Nor man horses which are driven to one of a transfer company's wagons at Anderson's, Ind., says the Indianapo lis Journal. Reveral nights ago the driver went to sleep, and forgot that he had the mall to deliver at the Fan handle for the Chicago-bound train. The horses beeame very uneasy about u'n ml before train time, sad af ter waning unm wumn nve minutes of train time, they started off on a run to the poet-office, drawing up next to the door. The night clerk did not notice that there was no driver, and pitched In the mall pouches hurriedly. The horses then started off on a dead run for the depot and arrived just in time for the excited bussman, who bad, awakened, to throw In the mall. Tho Incident was kept quiet at the time, and as It hnpptmed at night this was an easy matter, but again the same thing happened. Ttie driver was late, ! and awaiting until they saw the hands of the clock on the court house were getting too near the train time. the horses started off. mode not only , their previous rounds, but this tlmo ' made the calls at all of the hotels, where many passengers who did not ' notice the driver was missing got In hurriedly. They were deposited safe ly at the depot just In time for their train. This Incident attracted a great deal of attention and admiration. I The question which arises is as to whether the homes were able to tell time bv tho clock, or whether it was thHr keen perspective qualities that had been trained down by constant service. At all events, horsemen con sider the performances as being re markable. The horses make about twenty trains a day on different roads and their performance Is therefore more remarkable than If they only made one traiu, and only at one de- IK)t. Hor.et Vad on lieefntenka. "Of all fads that fashionable people Indulge In over their pets, I think the straugest Idea Is that of giving their horses meat as a variation to their or dinary diet," said a veterinary sur geon. "Beef Is only used. It Is baked un til quite dry and hard, then minced very fine, and given mixed with oats or meal. The animals, so far from refusing, seem to relish the mixture, and It Is thought to Improve their condition and courage, but if contin ued too long they become vicious, and their coats deteriorate. "A well known titled lady expends a good-sized sum altogether In meat for her numerous carriage horses and hacks. She has one mare that will greedily eat a beefsteak unmixed with meal If mluced small, and It has one per week. I know a retired army colonel, too, a famous bunting man, who frequently gives his hunters beef tea and other 'meat extracts' In their bran-mash. Possibly It's not en tirely mere fad, for there Is one Lon don brewery whose horses are simi larly treated, and a famous race horse that won some liiiportiint events one season was given a partial diet of meat at Intervals." 8ba Was Very Practical. "It was a difficult matter to make up my mind which to accept," said the girl with a practical mind. "I understand that both are very bright." "Yes; they're Inventors." "There Is something noble In that profession. I cannot think without the profoumhwt admiration of these men who harness that giant force of nature to do the bidding of the hu man will." "Yes. That sentiment applies to William. He's at work on a flying machine and a new kind of electric engine. But one can't buy moquette carpets and dining room chairs with fine theories, you know," "Aren't you going to marry Wil liam?" "No. I accepted John. He's going to be a rich man. He has an inven tion under way for fastening on sus pender buttons so they can't come off." Nebraska State Journal. Flower Farms. The delightful labor of flower farm ing Is steadily on the Increase among the people of the Scllly Isles, the as tonishing quantity of 41 tons of cut blossoms, chiefly narcissus, being sent over to England weekly during tho winter season. The farms, which em ploy many hands and much capital, are excessively Interesting, and the sight of them In February or March Is worth even the risk of a rough voy age. Literally millions of whlto ami yellow blossoms, richly .fragrant, nes tle between tall hedges of euonymus and veronica, and form a fragrant picture exquisite us it Is unique. Philadelphia Inquirer. Pat's Vernolty. An Irish gentleman bad a splendid looking cow, but she kicked so much that It took a very long time and of ten was nearly Impossible to milk her; so be sent her to a fair to bo sold, and told his herdsman to be sure not to sell her without letting the buyer knew her faults. He brought home a large price which he bad ob tained ir it. uis master was sur prised, and said, "Are you sure you told all about berf "Bedad, I did, slrl" said tho herds iima. "The man asked m whether she was a good milker. 'Begorra, sir,' says I, 'Ifi what you'd be tired milking herr " iaov. nr. Jjonawun Uhifoly's Uidow STRICKEN WITH PARALYSIS But She Has Been Cured Long May She Live and long live the Remedy to Which She Owes Her Life. IWa ft 0omUa 1 The following Interesting interviews con- , cerolng the afflcacy of Dr. Williams Pink I rill lor rale i'eopio, nava lataiy Dean ra j ccived st the offloa of this ntwspapar. I The flnt ambndici a conversation with j Mrs. M. A. Whitaly, the widow of tba lata Rev. Jonathan Whlte.lT, D. D., an eminent . divine of the Methodist denomination. Mra. 1 Whitaly spoke a followi: I " I consider it my duty to tell for publi 1 cation the immenae heneflt I have derived from Dr. Williami' Pink PilU. Three years a;o I waa stricken by paralysis, and lav help. ' leas for months. I tu at last advised to try Dr. Williams' link Pills, which aftar snenjr 1 niiart rings I ooneluHed to do. as I had lost faith iu all medicines. The first hot helped me ! much, and the continued use of the pills ha ' worked and is working wonders. To-day I have driven twelve miles without fhticue. I cannot say too rauoh in praise of Dr. Wil liams' Pink PilU for they hara done me s world of Bood." I Mr. John W. Beatty, who Is a ronrrnotor and builder of Meadrille, of the highest respectability, save: '' Although I nave passed the meridian of lint, 1 am giaa to be ahle to aay that 1 hare but little or no use for medicine of any kind. But my wife is not so fortunate. During the last few years she has been a sufferer from dropsy and disease of the heart, and at . limee suffers greatly. A few months seo I she began taking Dr. Williams' Pink Pills for Hale People and has keen greatly bene fited by their use. She experienced a D 11 nib- ' hah and AnlitfiM, In tiaa limlia ami at tfmaa Moid eoewotly walk by reason of poor oil ANDY ir rj i) 10 iTawwre n u J d all 25so aail 'Urn" druggists IRQ AT TTTPT V ftniQlNTITrt to rare anr rae of rnnatipstlnn. rascareta are Ihe Ideal U11 ADOUbU 1 CiLl I U U All AO iCiCill tire, noirr erip or rl. hat rnuae easr natural results, ham ale and booklet free. Ail. RTKUMNfi ItKHHlV I'd.. I'Mrairn. Montreal. Can.. orKew Tors. 111. "He that works cessfully." 'tis very easy to clean house with APOLIO A61CF0R THE BSSKLET ONT-IGHF AND Burn GIVES BEST UG1IT IN THE W6M5 AisDAft5?iyrELySTC FOR SALE3BY THE ATLANTIC REFINING CO. The Artist In Gardening. Mrs. Schuyler Van Rensselaer, in " A Suburban Country Place," gives a description m The Century of Pro fessor Charles S. Sargent's home at Brookline, Mass. Mrs. Van Rensse laer says : The work of the painter, the sculptor or the architect is throughout a work of creation. His brute materials are supplied to him, but the thing which he makes with them is in all its parts his own. On the other hand, the landscape garden er is not wholly a creator. The thing which he produces was in some de gree begun by nature. His task is to originate in one spot, but to preserve in another, to suppress here, and to alter there. Yet rearrangementjjand elimination are artistic processes as truly as invention itself, and in each and every case the result the finish ed work of art as a whole is moved, is artificial, is a created thing. Thus the artist in gardening stands as an artist with the painter, the architect and the sculptor, just as the poet who turns a true tale into a work of art ranks as high as the poet who invents his theme. But every one does not remember Ihese facts. The triumph of land scape gardening ol the naturalistic as distinguished from the formal branch of gardening art is to create results which look as though, with very little assistance, nature might have produced them in some particu larly'gentle and human mood. And therelore nature usually gets the credit for almost the whole of the landscape gardener's work, just as she does for almost the whole of the sttfry teller's when his tale is known to be " founded upon fact." WadvM, Pa. .nl.il.,. t,t iha blood. All these anpleesant symptoms have disappeared and I coufi. deatly hope to see her a well woman era lona. I will also take the liberty to speak for a bmtber-in-law of mine, G. W. Myer, ho resides at BDenai-yTi"", meiA.. t. Ba ..t vu hi. affliction br reason 01 erysipelas in the face and a general breaking down of the system thai last winter he waa given up to die. Dr. Williams' Pink Tills for Pale People hare made him a new man and he is as one rescued from the very jaws of death." Mr. Prentice Fry, of Meadrille, testifies as follows: "JJy wife and danghter hare been falling in health for some time and the treatments of rhralclaus In their eases have been fruit lew. So much has been said of Dr. Williams' Pink Pills for Psle People thst I resolved to try them, and myself and family will slwars be gled that Providence threw such a medi cine in our way. The pale faces and wa.Ud cheeks of my wife ond daughter have disp peared, and the ruddy glow of health has renrpenred. Pen cannot record my feelings In the mutter, and all I cn fay is that 1 truat nil who are bowed down hy the heavy hand of physical Infirmity will learn that there is a aemedy thit cures and pluces siif. ferine humanity where they ran enjoy this earthlv existence. Ood bless the maker cl Dr. Williams' Pink Pills for Pale People." Dr. Williams' Pink Pills for Pale People are sold by all dealers, or will lie sent post puid on receipt of price, 60 cents a box. or six boxes for 12.50 (they are never sold in hulk or by the V by addressing Dr. Williams' Medicine Ch 6obeneotady, N. Y. CATHARTIC easily works suc Lippircott'a Magazine for Jane, 1897. The complete novel in the June issue of Lippincott's, "As any Gentle man Might," is a rattling tale of ad venture by William T. Nichols. The hero is an American, but the action is mamiy in tngiana, and the time is the early part of the present century, 1 he other stones. "To Him that Hath," by Annie Nathan Meyer, and "From the Grand Stand," by Jean Wright, are very brief. The former shows how subscriptions may be won for charitable work. "A Feathery Debut." bv Lalaire D. Morgan, is a charming account of a lamny of thrushes, whose domicile was in the writer's earden. Natural history is further represented by "A car 01 uaiiernies, Dy frank II, sweet. Fanny Bullock Workman describes "bpanish Plains and Sierras :" R. G Rooinson writes of "A Yankee Farm. er in Florida ;" and John Murdoch has some words on "Fireplaces of onuw. "College Athletics" are vindi by Albert Tyler, one of the American victors in tne uiympian games at Athens in 1896. Francis M. Butler writes of "Teacup Times," and Edward a. vanUe resurrects "New York's first Poet," namely. Tacob Steindam. whose works appeared in 1659 and 1UUI, ihe poetry of the number is by Julien Gordon, Carrie Blake Morgan, uu vjiace r. rennypacker. 1 he sugar-coating on Ayer's Pills not only makes them easy to take. but preserves their medicinal integrity to an indefinite period. It dissolves immediatly after reaching the stom- acn ana tnus permits the full effect of the physic to be speedily realized. fete MTTT V Fine PHOTO- GRAPHS and CRAYONS at McKillip Bros., Bloomsburg. The best are the cheapest. THE MARKETS. BLOOMSBURG MARKETS. conaicriD wiiilt. aiTAU men. Butter per lb $ .20 .10 .07 .11 ,06 .07 1. 00 30 .50 Eggs per dozen , Lard per lb t.. A l lam per puuuu Pork, whole, per pound Beef, quarter, per pound. . . . Wheat per bushel. Oats " " Rye " " Wheat flour per bbl. 4.80 I lay per ton 12 to $11 Potatoes per uusnei, Turnips " " .. S t.oo .10 .05 .08 ,c6 .07 .05 .it .! 3J .os .80 7S .40 '50 S 8S 8S .11 .10 r .10 .08 Onions " Sweet potatoes per peck Tallow per ID Shoulder " " Side meat " " Vinegar, per qt. Pried apples per lb Dried cherries, pitted. , , Raspberries , Cow Hides per lb Steer " CalfSkin.. Sheep pelts. , Shelled corn per bus. . Corn meal, cwt Bran, " Chon " Middlings " ...... Chickens per lb new., old. Turkeys " " Geese " " Durlta " " COAL. No. 6, delivered a.6o " 4 and s " 38$ " 6 at yard 2.35 " 4 and 5 at yard 3.60 The Leading Contenratorj n America-""'!,? Send lor ProipecHB giving full information. F ank W. Hal, General Manarer. NEW DINING ROOriS. A LARGE and well furnished dininc room lias been opened bv It IDDV miPllin onllie second floor of his nhMl AUKflfll;, r e , . taurant. Meals will be served nt the regular dining hours for 2 5c. and they can also be obtained at any lime. The table will be sup ..t:..j -.1. . .. m .. X jjiicu who me delicacies 01 tne season " the service will be first-class. Entrance by door between Bistaurant u Ualfaiera's grocery store. CD II 1 D&uaacntia Flatter Cures Lumbago by Touching THtSPO.t PATENTS Caveats and Trade Marks obtained, and 1J Patent business conducted lor MODKHATU FK KS OUli OFFICE 18 OPPOSITE TUB tJ. 8. PAT KNT OFFICE. We have no sub-aifencleB, all business direct, hence can transact paU'nt ouM di'hs in leas time and at Less cost than tuose re mote from Washington. Send modol, drawing or photo, with descrtp tlon. We advise if patentable or not, treaof charfrn. Our reo not due till patent Is secureo A book, "How to Obtain Patents." with reter ences to actual clients in your Btate.Countyi town sent true. Address C. A. 8NO W CO,, Washington, V- 0 (Opposite U. 8 Patent Otllce.) EXCHANGE HOTEL, G. Snyder, Proprietor, , (Opposite the Court House BLOOMSBURG, PA. Larra .nil rnnvnifnt tamnlfl rOOBlf. Bate rooms, hot and cold water, sud all moJeri convenience Wanted-An Idea Who ea h,'i of soui. WJ Protoot vour lileaa; thaw tnav lirlnir VuU Wnu JOHN WBUDEKBDRN CO.. Psumt . uoya. waauinatou, I, O.. for their l.8uu )- and list ol two hundrril lurouUoui waul wauwu A A 1 W I m SUBSCRIBE FOR THE COLUMBIAN