t!)eXiQSj[ | COPTRIGHTED. I CHAPTER III—CONTINUED. But all the time I was taking the ▼ery keenest notice of everything which might possibly' help me. I am not a man who would lie like a sick horse waiting for the farriar sergeant and the pole ax. First I would give a little tug at my ankle cords, and then another at those that were around my ■wrists, and all the time I was trying to loosen them I was peering round to see if 1 could find something which was in my favor. There was one thing which was very evident. A hussar is but half formed without a horse, and there was my other half quietly graz ing within thirty yards of me. Then I observed yet another thing. The path by which we had come over the moun tains was so steep that a horse could only be led across it slowly and with difficulty, but in the other direction the ground appeared to be more open, and to lead straight down into a gently sloping valley. Had I but my feet in yonder stirrups and my saber in my hand, a single bold dash might take me out of the power of these vermin of £he rocks. I was still thinking it over and strain ing with my wrists and my ankles ■when their chief came out from his gTotto and after some talk with his lieutenant, who lay groaning near the fire, they both nodded their heads and looked across at me. He then said some few words to the band, who clapped their hands and laughed up roariously. Things looked ominous, and 1 was delighted to feel that my hands were so far free that I could easily slip them through the cords if I wished. But with my ankles I feared that I could do nothing, for when I strained it brought such pain into my lance •wound that I had to gnaw my mustache to keep from crying out. I could only lie still, half free and half bound, and see what turn thing's were likely to take. For a little I could not see what they were after. One of the rascals climbed up to the top of a well-grown fir he said a few words to TnE BAND. tree up on cne side of the glade, and tied a rope around the top of the trunk. He then fastened another rope in the same fashion to a similar tree on the other side. The two loose ends were now dangling down, and I waited with Borne curiosity and just a little trepida tion to see what they would do next. The whole band pulled upon one of the ropes until they had bent the strong young tree down into a semi-circle, and they then fastened it to a stump, so as to hold it so. When they had bent the other tree down in a similar fashion, the two summits were within a few feet of each other, though, as you understand, they would each spring back to their original position the instant that they were released. I already saw the diabolical plan which those miscreants had formed. "I presume that you area strong mar, colonel," said the chief, coming toward me with his hateful smile. "If you will have the kindness to loosen these cords," I answered, "I will 6how you how strong- 1 am." "We were all interested to see wheth er you were as strong as these two young sapling-s," said he."lt is our in tention, you see. to tie one end of each rope round your ankles and then to let the trees go. If jx»u are stronger than the trees, then, of course, noharm would be done. If on the other hand the trees are stronger than you—why, in that case, colonel, we may have a souvenir of you upon each side of our little glade." He laughed as he spoke, and at the sight of it the whole forty of them laughed also. Even now if lamin my darker humor, or if I have a touch of my old Lithuanian ague, I see in my sleep that ring of dark savage faces with their cruel eyes and the firelight flashing upon their strong white teeth. CHAPTER IV, It is astonishing —and I have heard many make the same remark —how acute one's senses become at such a crisis as this. lam convinced that at no moment is one living so vividly, so acutely, as at the inbtaat when a vio lent and foreseen death overtakes one. I could smell the resinous fagots, I could see every twig upon the ground, I could hear every rustle of the branches, as I have never smelled, or seen, or heard, save at such times of danger. And so it was that, long be fore anyone else, before even the time when the chief had addressed me, I had heard a low, monotonous sound, far away, indeed, and yet coming nearer at every instant. At first it was but a murmur, a rumble, but by the time he had finished speaking, while the assas sins were untying my ankles in order to lead me to the scene of my murder, I heard, as plainly as ever I heard any thing in my life, the clinking of horse shoes, and the jingling of bridle chains, with the clank of sabers against stirrup irons. Is it likely that I, who had lived with the light cavalry since the first hair shaded my lip, would mistake the sound of troopers on the march? "Help, comrades, help!" I shrieked, and though they struck me across the mouth and tried to drag me up to the tree, I kept on yelling: "Help me, my brave boys! Help me, my children! They are mur dering your colonel!" For the lament my wounds and my troubles had brought "HELP, COMRADES, HELP!" on a delirium, and I looked for nothing less than my five hundred hussars, kettle-drums and all, to appear at the opening of the glade. But that which really appeared was very different to anything- which I had conceived. Into the clear space there came galloping a fine young man upon a most beautiful roan horse. He was fresh faced and pleasant looking, with the most debonnaire bearing in the world and the most gallant way of carrying himself, a way which re minded me somewhat of my own. He wore a singular coat which had once been red all over, but which was now stained t-o the color of a withered oak leaf wherever the weather could reach it. His shoulder straps, however, were of golden lace, and he had a bright metal helmet upon his head with a> coquettish white plume upon one side of its crest. He trotted his horse up the glade, while behind him there rode four caveliers in the same dress —all clean shaven, with round comely faces, look ing to me mow like monks than dragoons. At a short gruif order they halted with a rattle of arms, while their leader cantered forward, the fire beat ing upon his eager face and the beauti ful head of his charger. I knew of course by the strange coats that they were English. It was the first sight that I had ever had of them, but from their stout bearing and their masterful way I could see at a glance that what I had always been told was true, and that they were excellent people to fight against. "Well, well, well!" cried the young officer, in sufficiently bad French: "What devil's game are you up to here? Who was that who was yellirg for help, and what are you trying to do to him?" It was at that moment that I learned to bless those months which Obriant, the descendant of the Irish kings, had spent in teaching me the tongue of the English. My ankles had just been freed, so that I had only to slip my hands out of the cords, and with a single rush I had flown across, picked up my saber where it lay by the fire, and hurled myself onto the saddle of poor Vidal's horse. Yes, for all my woundy the married sol diers' wives, who are expected to sew on missing buttons and do repairs, for which a small sum is deducted from the private's pav. Pat McGinnis had a good deal of trouble with his laundress; Sunday after Sunday had his shirt come back with the neck but ton off, or else hanging by a thread. He had spoken to her on the subject and she had promised to see to it, but still the but ton was not on properly. He got out of patience one Sunday when the missing button had made him late for parade, and exclaimed: "Bother the woman! I'll see if I can't give her a hint this time, anyhow." He then took the lid of a tin blacking box, about three inches in diameter, drilled two holes in it with a fork and sewed it onto the neck of the shirt that was next to be washed. When his washing came back he found that she had taken the hint; she had made a button hole to fit it.—Detroit Free Press. Arctic Eiploratlon. Smith—Of late years arctic explorers seem to have entered upon a race to see who can reach the furthest point north. Brown—Yes, and I guess the fellow who hugs the pole will win the race.—N. Y. Journal. An Old War-Horse of Journalism Dis cover* the Vlrtne of a Sen Medicinal Variety. There are only a few of them left. Since ('has. A. Dana's death, Joseph Me diil, the war-horse of the Chicago Tribune, is the chief surviving representative of the old school of virile, aggressive editorial giants. To have mud thrown at them was part of the profession at all times, but to find health in mud is rather a modern innovation. That is what Joseph Medill has been doing of late. Mr. Medill is an investigator and when the stories of the miraculous Magno-Mud at Indiana Mineral Springs began to spread over the country, the great editor became interested and eventually decided to try this mysterious substance on his own rheumatic limbs and weigh its value. He was accom panied by his private physician, a young Armenian scientist of high attainments. The great editor was mud-mummified daily for several weeks and gained visibly in iweight, strength and vitality. The final result of the experiment was an unqualified success. Mr. Medill went back to Chicago in September, and wrote an editorial about Magno-Mud with his own hand. Next, he sent his son-in-law for a little of the mud-treatment. In November he went down again, and since the new bath house is completed he expects to be a regular visitor four times a year. This mud-treatment in vYiich Mr. Medill found so much virtue, is peculiar, yet logical. After all, every form of life springs from the earth, which is the great destroyer and assim ilator of dead and effete matter. At the Indiana Mineral Springs is a beautiful little natural amphitheatre, the slopes being grown with magnificent oaks. At the foot of the converging bills, a big Lithia spring gushes forth at the rate of 3,000 barrels a day and floods the soil, which consists of a rich, black porous loam, fed by the deciduous foliage of the oak trees. This peculiar soil saturated with mineral salts for ages, is as soluble as sugar, and being devoid of clay is not sticky in ( the least. It is not, therefore, in any sense related to the conventional mud of the road-way. of the Chicago street or to the variety which clings to your heels. The mud is applied to the patient on a cot. the subject being entirely encased in the sul»,tance, steamed to a proper temperature. It then acts as a poultice, stimulates the skin, superficial blood vessels and nerves, opens the pores and lithiates the blood, dis solving all uric acid deposits. Nothing can be simpler or more rntinnal. Wise men make feasts that fools may eat and get tlie gout.— t bueugo Daily News. We notice that an optician is not afraid to take his own medicine. He alw ays wears glasses.—Washingtoil Democrat. Richard —"Tom is not so bad a chap, after all. At least, there's nothing mean about him." Robert —"Oh, get out! 'Richard—"l mean it. He told me he had a supreme eon tempt for the whole crowd. Now, isn't that generous, when he really ought to keep it for himself ?"—Boston Transcript. # —. Facilitated Transit.—"What, a bridge across the Styx?" Charon, the former boat man, winked significantly. "Bicycle," he rejoined, with laconic brevity. "Good roads movement, you know."—Detroit Journal. Quite Likely.—Brown—"What would you do if some one should leave you a hundred thousand dollars?" Jones—"l suppose I'd begin to realize how little a hundred thou •and really is."—Truth. "One great trouble wif folks," said Uncle Ebcn, "is dat dey's li'ble ter mistake d« smailes' speck on dab serenity foil de p'int whah patience ceases tcr be a virtue.'*— Washington Star. Definition.—Tommy—"Paw, what sort of a fighter is a 'cyclone fighter?' " Mr. Figg —"I don't know much about fighters, but I suppose he is one who goes blowing around."—lndianapolis Journal. Browne—"Did you ever see a man who reaV.y wanted tfie earth?" Towne—"Oh, yes. Browne—"Who was he?" Towne — first-trip passenger on an ocean liner."— Brooklyn Life. "Mrs. Struckct affects the antique in her house decorations —" " Yes, she told me the other day she was heart-broken because she couldn't get the shades of her ancestors for her parlor windows."—Truth. "Did Miss Flavilla seem pleased when you asked her togo to the theater?" "Pleased! She wanted to keep the tickets for fear something might happen to me."—Chicago Record. A boy gets to the sweater age just the ■junc as he gets the measles or chicken pox. —Washington Democrat. Chronic Rheumatism. From the Industrial News, Jackson. Mich The subject of this sketch is fifty-six years of_ age, and actively engaged in farming. When seventeen years old he hurt his shoulder and a few years after commenced to have rheumatic pains in it. On taking a slight cold or the Jeast strain, sometimes without any apparent cause whatever, the trouble would start and he would puffer the most excruciating pains. He sufTered for over thirty years, and the last decade has suffered so much that he was unable to do any work. To this the fre quent occurrences of dizzy spells were added, making him almost a helpleaa invalid. TN ALL SORTS OF WEATHER. He tried the best physicians but without being benefited and has used several specific rheumatic cures, but was not helped. About one year and six months ago he read in this paper of a case somewhat similar to his which was cured by Dr. Williams' Pink Pills and concluded to try this remedy. After taking the first box he felt some what better, and after using three boxes, the pains entirely disappeared, the dizziness left him, and he has now for over a year been entirely free from all his former trouble and enjoys better health than he has had since his boyhood. He is loud in his praise of Dr. Williams' Pink Pills for Pale People arid will gladly corroborate the above statements. His post office address is Ixirenzo Neeley, Horton, Jackson County, Michigan. All the elements necessary to give new life and richness to the blood and restore shattered nerves are contained, in a con densed form, in Dr. Williams' Pink Pills for Pale People. All druggists sell them. She Must Excuse Him. The voung woman tried to be aristocratic and did not look at the money she gave to the conductor of the car; but he meekly zave her back the lozenge on which was stamped: "I'll never cease to love thee," and said he was an orphan with five little brothers to support, and must be excused.— Roxbury Gazette. How*s Tli 1« 112 We offer One Hundred Dollars Reward for any case of Catarrh that can not be ured by Hall's Catarrh Cure. F. J. Cheney & Co., Props.. Toledo, O. We, the undersigned, have known F. J. Cheney for the last 15 years, and believt him perfectly honorable in all business transactions and financially able to carrj out any obligations made by their firm. West & Truax, Wholesale Druggists, To ledo, O. Walding, Kinnan & Marvin, Wholesale Druggists, Toledo, Ohio. Hairs Catarrh Cure is taken internally icting directly upon the blood and mucou; surfaces of the system. Price 75c. per hot tie. Sold by all Druggists. Testimonial tree. Hall's Family Pills are the best. Knew Ills Ilusiness. "My dear, why are you applauding that piece.'" asked Mrs. Snaggs, in a tone of re monstrance. "Don't you see no one els', is applauding? It is beyond the performer') ability and not worthy of applause." "I Know that," roplied Mr. Snaggs, "but we must app'aud pieces like that in ordei to get something worth listening to in the encore."—Pittsburgh Chronicle. Give the Children a Drink called Orain-O. It is a delicious, appetizing, nourishing food drink to take the place of coffee. Sold by all grocers and liked by all who have used it because when properly prepared it tastes like the finest coffee but is free from all its injurious properties Grain-0 aids digestion and strengthens the nerves. It is not a stimulant but a health builder, and children, as well as adults, can drink it with great benefit. Costs about Jar. much as coffee. 15 and 25c. "Lemme un'stan'," said Mr. Erastus Pinkly. "Is er locksmif er man dat knows all 'bout how ter open all kin's er locks?" "'Co's he is," replied Miss Miami Jones. "Well I dunno how 'tis, but I sho'ly seen it." "What did yoh done see?" "Er locksmif down in de mahket a buyin' 'is chickens." —Washington Star. To Care a Cold In One Day Take Laxative Bromo Quinine Tablets. All druggists refund money if it fails to cure. 25c. Made worse by cold. Neuralgia Deeds St. Jacobs Oil to cure. It cures. The young onion is a very seductive veg etable, but it invariably gives a man away. —Chicago Daily News. Fits stopped free ana permanently cured No fits after first day's use of Dr. Kline's Great Nerve Restorer. Free $2 trial bottle A treatise. Dr. Kline. 033 Arch st., Phila., Pa. When a man turns over a new leaf he is never satisfied until he gets it blotted up worse than the old one. Piso's Cure for Consumption has saved me many a doctor's bill.—S. F. Hardy, Hop kins Place, Baltimore, Mo., Dec. 2, 1894. Rome wasn't founded by Romeo; it was •Tuliet who was found dead by him. —Chica- -73 Daily News. Pleasant, Wholesome, Speedy, for coughs is Hale's Honey of Horehound and Tar. Pike's Toothache Drops Cure in one minute. THE MAN WHO LIVED. He should have been dead. But he wasn't, because " There's nothing succeeds like •uccess." There is no withstanding the living argu ment of the man who should be dead, who isn't dead, but who would be dead, but lor a preserving medicine. That's about the way it seemed to strike Editor Lawrence, of the Ohio Farmer, Cleveland, Ohio. He was afflicted with one of those colds that have, thousands of times over, culminated >ii consumption, when not promptly cured. In this condition he met a friend, a con sumptive, whom he had not expected to see alive. The consumptive friend recom mended Dr. J. C. Ayer's Cherry Pectoral for the editor's cola, on the ground that it had " helped him wonderfully." It helped the editor just as wonderfully, giving "almost instant reliel." But read his letter: "About two months ago. I was afflicted with a bad cold, and, meeting a friend, he advised the use of Ayer's Cherry Pectoral whic'i, he claimed, had helped him won- As he was a consumptive, whom 1 hau not expected to see alive for several vears, I concluded there must be merit in this preparation. I accordingly bought a couple of bottles, one of which I keep on my desk all the time. This is certainly the best remedy for a cold 1 ever used. It lives almost instant relief, and the J. C. jr«i Co. are to be congratulated on posses t'n Denver In I .rum Than 2M ll«gr> Only One \l», lit tin Itoulr.—»"ri»# Colorado Special." Beginning Feb. 6th, a new tiain wmt placed in service between Chicago am! Den ver via the Chicago, Union Pacific &. Nortb- Western Line, which will make the fastest schedule ever maintained between Chicago and Colorado's Capital City. This train will be known as "The Colorado Special" and will leave Chicago via the Chi cago & North-Western R'y at 10:00 A. M. eveiy day and reach Denver at 1:30 the fol lowing afternoon. Kastbound, this train will leave Denver daily at 3:30 I'. M.and reach Chicago 8:45 the next evening. Con nections will be made in the Union Depot at Denver to and from trains of all the Colo rado lines. Train will be vestibuled throughout, lighted with I'intsch gas, and will consist of Drawing Room Sleeping Cars, Free Reclin ing Chair Cars, Buffet, Smoking and Li brary Cars, coaches and Dining Cars serving all meals en route. A feature in connection with the service of this train, which will be appreciated by tourists, is that it will afford an opportunity for a daylight ride through the progressive and thickly settled portions of Illinois and lowa, which has been im possible heretofore, as all trains for Denver nave left Chicago in the evenipg. Daily service to Denver via The Pacific Limited leaving Chicago 10:30 P. M. will be continued. >1 u t ii al. Bank Clerk (scrutinizing check)— Madam, we can't pay this unless you bring some on« to identify you. Old Lady (tartly)—l should like to know why? "Because we don't know you." "Now, don't be sill}-! J don't know yo«*, •ither."—Truth. Pre*. MeKlnley Vs. Kree Silver. A battle of giants is going to take place this summer on 30,000 farms in America, not in talk or votes, but in yields. Salzer's new potato marvels are named as above, and he offers a price for the biggest potato yield also S4OO in gold for suitable name for his corn (17 inches long) and oat prodigies. Only seedsmen in America growing glasses, clovers and farm seeds and selling potatoes at $1.50 a barrel. The editor urges you tc try .Salzer's Northern-grown seeds, and to SEND THIS NOTICE WITH IOCTS. IN STAMII to John A. Salzer Seed Co., LaCrosse, Wis , for 11 new farm seed samples, worth SIO.OO, to get a start, and their big catalogue. k 3 Slie 'Was Rattled. A young girl, an ardent admirer of Mme. Melba, at a reception given for the latter, was so completely overcome when it came her turn to have a word with the prima donna, that, blushing crimson and looking up with a sweet smile, she murmured: "You sing, I believe?" —Philadelphia Pub lic Ledger. Did yon make your bruin-O tlila way 1 Here are the latest directions: Use OIK teaspooriful of Grain-O to two cups of cold water. Mix the Grain-O with half an egg and add the water. (Be sure to measure.) After the water gets to the boiling poiDt let boil for fifteen to twenty minutes. Use cream and sugar to suit the taste. If you have not cream use hot milk. A lady said: "The first time I drank Grain-O I did not like it, but after using it for ten days and forming the habit, nothing would induce me togo back to coffee." Thi» s the experience of all. If you will follow directions, measure it every time and make it the same, and try it for ten days, you will not go back to coffee. A Sweet One, Sam .Tohnsing—Yas, sail, niv gal's a hig!»- bolm leddy foil shuah! She is de cream ob sassiety, she is! Ben Toinkins—She is, hoh? Sort ob e chocolate cream, I guess.—Puck. Map I'uzzle Udnrator, Sent out by the Chicago Great Western Railway, is a dissected map of the United States printed on heavy cardboard and the puzzle consists in putting the pieces together so as to form the complete map. It will be found interesting and instructive to old and young. Send ten cents to Puzzle Dept.,. Chicago (ireat Western liy., Quincy Build ing, Chicago, 111. If a noisy baby has a real pretty mother, • crowd will forgive it a good deal quicker.- Washington Democrat. Contshlnt( I.cads to Consumption. Kemp's Balsam will stop the cough at once. Goto your druggist to-day and get » sample bottle free. Large bottles, 50 ccnte and SI.OO. Go at once ; delays are dangerous. Lots of very shiftless people get up early. —Washington Democrat. Swift uit an Arrow. Hoxsie's C. C. C. permeates the delicate tissues of the lungs, and removes every tracs of cold, cough or croup. 50 cents. Nobody uses over about six adjectives.— Washington Democrat. Lane's Family Medicine. Moves the bowels each day. In order tc be healthy this is necessary. Acts gently on the liver and kidneys. Cures sick headach*. Price 25 and 50c. The coat may not make the man, but law suits make attorneys.—Chicago Daily News. Bad feet from trout-bites are made sound By St. Jacobs Oil. It cures. Lots of people mistake a loud noise fo* ability to sing.—Washington Democrat. Any ache, from toothache to backache St. Jacobs Oil will cure. Everybody has some pet adjective.- Washington Democrat. The pain of sciatica is cruel. The cure by St. Jacobs Oil is sure. It penetrates. I There is only one sudden death among women to every eight among men. Slipped and fell; bad sprain. Neva* Mind. St. Jacobs Oil will cure it. " sing the formula for such a veiy valuable I- remedy."— \V. H. LAWRENCE, Kditor, The. 0 Ohio l armci, Cleveland, Ohio, r ? Keep a bott.'e of Dr. Ayer's Cherry Pee c toral handy, o 1 the desk, iu the office, on t the shelf or in the closet at home, and you rj will have at hjud a remedy that is capable 1 at any time of saving you suffering, money, i. and even life. There is no malady so 0 prolific of evil results as a neglected cold. _ There is no medicine so promptly effective 1 in curing a cold and eradicating t its effects, as Dr. Ayer's Cherry Pectoral, j Every traveller should carry it. Kvery 112 household should keep it. It cures every s variety of cough, and all forms of lur.g; and throat trouble. Asthma, bronchitis* croup, and whooping cough, are promptly I cured by it, and it has in many cases over ? come pulmonary diseases in aggravated! I forms, when all other remedies failed tc help and physicians gave no hope of cure i Those who tor convenience have wanted r> I smaller sired bottle of Dr. Ayer's Cherry i Pectoral, can now obtain it of their dealer i in half size bottles, at half price—50 cents. 1 Send for Dr. Ayer's Curebook, and read 112 more of the cures effected by this remedy, t The nook contains 100 pages, and is sent . free, on request, by tbc J. C Ayer Co., - Lowell, Mubi. 7