6 AN ASTONISHMENT. rhe-e's a mighty curious feller who Is livin' out our way, He never seenru as anxious as the rest to have his say. He listens to an argument as quiet as kin be An' never makes an effort to break in an' referee. An' once upon a time—us folks is talkin' 'bout it yet— ffi asked him his opinion so's to help de cide a bet. {t was on a general topic ttiat excited high and low. This feller thought a minute. Then he said he didn't know. We'd heard a lot o' people who had strug gled to explain Each query. It 'ud give you palpitation of the brain To hear the way they figured. An' their words were of such length That tryin' to remember them was Jes" a waste of strength; But the wisest of them never, with their great display of wit. Within my recollection made the memor able hit That he scored when, after thinkin' very carefully an' slow, faced the situation, an' confessed he didn't know. —Washington Star. KiNG- j| A Story o| Life In The {Vifi^ineS. [Copyright, 1895, by F. Tennyson Neely.l CHAPTER X.—CONTINUED. Armstrong took the missive held out to him and slowly read it, the general studying his face the while. The let ter bore no clew as to the whereabouts of the writer. It read: "March 1. '9S. "It Is six weeks since I repaid, all your loving kindness, brought shame and -sor row to you and ruin to myself by desert ing from West Point when my commission was but a few short months away, in an hour of intense misery, caused by a girl who had won my very soul, and whose words and letters made me believe she would become my wife the month of my graduation, and who, as I now believe, was then engaged to the man she married in January, I threw myself away. My one thought was to find her. and Uod knows what beyond. "It can never be undone. My career is ended, and I can never look you in the face again. At first I thought I should show the letters, one by one. to the man she mar ried. and ask him what he thought of his wife, but that is too low. I hold them be cause I have a mad longing to see her again and heap reproach upon her, but, If I fail and should I feel at any time that my end is near, I'm going to send them to you to read—to see how I was lured, and then, if you can, to pity and forgive. "KOI.LIN." Armstrong's firm lips twitched un der liis mustache. The general, with moist eyes, had risen from liis chair and mechanically held forth his hand. "Poor lad!" sighed Armstrong. "Of course —you know who the girl was?" "Oh, of course," and Drayton shrugged his shoulders. "Well, we'll have togo," and led onto .♦.lie misty light without. Over across the way were the head quarters tents of a big parade, hope fully awaiting orders for Manila. To their left, separated by a narrow space, so crowded were the camps, were the quarters of the officers of the —teenth infantry, and even through the veil of mist both soldiers could plainly see along the line. Coming tow ard thegate wits Mr. Prime, escorted by the major. Just behind them followed Mildred and 41 //USE fp The letter bore 110 clew to the whereabouts of the writer. the attentive Schuyler. But w here was Miss Lawrence? Armstrong had al ready seen. Lingering, she stood at Billy's tent front, her ear inclined to liis protruding pate. He was saying some thing that took time, and shu showed 110 Inclination to hurry him. Miss Prime looked back, then she and Schuyler ex changed significant smiles and glances, l'here was rather <1 lingering hand clasp before Amy started. Even then she looked back at the boy and smiled. "H'm!" said the general, as lie gazed, "that youngster wouldn't swap places with any subaltern in camp, even if he Is under charges." There was 110 answer from the strong soldier standing observant at his elbow. But when the chief would have moved Armstrong detained him. "One more question, general. In case you were away and wanted something you had .eft in this tent, you would send an aide —or orderly, or—would an order signed by one of your staff be sufficient?" "H'm, welt —yes, 1 suppose it would," •aid the general. CHAPTER XII. Opinion was divided at Camp Merritt is to whether Billy Gray should or ihould not stand trial. Confident as ivere his friends of hfs innocence of all complicity in Morton's escape, there re mained the fact that he had telephoned for a carriage, 1 lint a carriage had eonie *nd that a carriage with four men, ap parently soldier*, had driven rapidly townward along Point Lobos avenue. It was seen by half a dozen policemen as it sliot under the electric 1 if?lit ox-gas lamp. Then there was the bundle inside liis rolled overcoat that (Jray had per sonally handed Morton when a prison er. Everybody agreed he should have sent it by orderly—everybody, that is, except sonic scores of young soldiers in the ranks who could see no harm in it having been done that way, especially two "Delta Sigs" in the—teenth. Then there were the long conferences in the dark. What did they mean V All things considered, the older and wiser heads saw that, as the lieutenant could or would make 110 satisfactory explana tion of these to his colonel, he should to a court—or take the consequences. "You've made a mess of the thingand an ass of yourself, Billy,'? was Cordon's comprehensive if not consolatory sum mary of the matter, "and as Canker has been rapped for one thing or another by cam]), division and brigade com manders,one after another, he feels that he's got to prove that lie isn't the only fool in the business. You'd better em ploy good counsel and prepare for n fight." "Can't afford it," said Billy, briefly, "and I'm blowed if I'll ask my dear old dad to come to the rescue. He's had to cough up (shame on your slang, Billy) far too much already. I tell you. Gordon, I'm so fixed that I can't ex plain these things unless I'm actually brought to trial. It's—it's—well, you have no secret societies at the Point as we do at college, so you can't fathom it. I'm no more afraid of standing trial than I am of Squeers—and be d d to him!" "Good bawd, youngster—you, you aren't quite such an ass as to suppose a court is going to regard any schoolboy obligation as paramount to that which your oath of office demands. Look hyuh, Billy, your head's just addled! I can't work on 3'cu, but somebody must!" And Gordon went away very low in his mind. He liked that boy. He loved a keen, alert, snappy soldier on drili, and Billy had no superior in the bat talion when it came to handling squad or company. The adjutant plainly saw the peril of his position, and further consultation with his brother officers confirmed him in his fears. Schuyler, the brigade commissary, being much with the—teenth —messing with them, in fact, when he was not dancing at tendance on Miss Prime —heard all this camp talk and told her. Thus it hap pened that the very next day when he drove with the cousins (Mr. Prime being the while in conference with the detectives still scouring the city for the young deserter, who the father now felt confident was his missing boy)< Miss Lawrence looked Ihe captain full in the face with her clear, searching eyes and plumped at hiin the point-blank question: "Capt. Schuyler, do Mr. Gray's broth er officers really consider him in dan ger of dismissal?" "Miss Lawrence, I grieve to say that not one has any other opinion now." There could be no doubt of it. Amy Lawrence turned very pale and her beautiful eyes filled. "It is a shame!" she said, after a moment's struggle to conquer the trembling of her li;«. "Has —is there no one —influential enough—or with brains enough (this with returning • color) to take up his case and clear him ?" They were whirling through the beautiful drive of the Golden Gate park, passing company after company at drill. Even as Amy spoke Schuyler lifted his cap and Miss Prime owed and smiled. A group of regimental of ficers. four in number, stood, apparent ly supervising the work, and as Miss Lawrence quickly turned to see who they might be, her eyes met those of Col. Armstrong. Five minutes later the carriage returning drew up. as though by some order from its occupants, at that very spot. Armstrong and his ad jutant were still there and promptly joined them. Long weeks afterward that morning lived in Stanley Armstrong's memory, ft was one of those rare August days when the wind blew from the south east, beat back the drenching Pacific fogs and let the warm sun pour upon the brilliant verdure of that wonderful park. Earth and air. distant sea and dazzling sky. all seemed glorifying their Creator. I'right-liued birds flashed through the foliage and thrilled the ear with their caroling. The plash of fountain fe'.i softly on the breeze, min gled with the rustling of the luxuriant grow th of leaf and flower close at hand, it was not. chance that brought the stalwart soldier instantly to Amy's side. Her gaze was upon him before the carriage stopped, and irresistibly drew him. The man of mature years, the hero of sharp combats and stirring campaigns with a fierce and savage foe, the commander of hundreds of eager and gallant men, obeyed without thought of demur the unspoken sum mons of a girl yet in her teens. There was a new light in her clear and beau tiful eyes, a flur.h upon her soft and rounded elieek, a little flutter, possibly, in her kind and heart. Heaven knows his heart beat high with an emo tion he could not subdue, though liis bearing was grave and courteous as ever, but about that sweet and flushing face there shone the halo of a woman's brave determination, and no sooner had he reached the carriage side than, bend ing toward him, she spoke. Mildred Prime could not repress a little gasp of amaze. "Col. Armstrong, will you kindly open the carriage door? I want to talk with you a moment." Without a word he wrenched the handle and threw w ide the door. Light as a bird she sprang to the ground, her fingers just touching the extended hand. Side by side they strolled away across the sunlit lawn, he so strong, virile, erect, she so lissome and grace ful. Full of her purpose, yet fearful that with delay might come timidity, bhe looked up in his face: CAMERON COUNTY PRESS, THURSDAY, MAY 31, 1900. "Col Armstrong-, J have heard only to-day that Mr. Cray is in really serious danger. Will you tellrrathet —the truth?" Just what Armstrong expected it mifrht be hard to say. The light that had leaped to his eyes faded nlowlv nud his face lost something of the Hush of robust health. There was a brief pause before he spoke as though he wished time to weigh his words. '•] fear it is true," he gravely said. Then in a moment: "Miss Lawrence, will you not taUe my arm?" And he felt her hand trejjnble as sin- placed it there. It was a moment before she be gan again. "They tell me he should have counsel, but will not heed. I have not seen him to-day. There is no one in his battalion, it seems, whom he really looks up to. lie is headstrong and self-confident. Do you think he should—that lie needs one?" And anxiously the brave eyes sought the strong, soldierly face. "It would seem so, Miss Lawrence." She drew a long breath. She seemed to cling a little closer to his arm. Then —straight came the next question: "Col. Armstrong, will you do me a great favor? Will you be his counsel?" He was looking directly to the front as she spoke. Something told him what was coming, yet he could not answer all at once. What did it mean, after all, but just what he had been thinking for a week, that the girl's fresh young heart had gone out to this merry, hand some, soldierly lad, whom he, too, had often marked with keen appreciation when in command of his big company at drill. What possible thought of hers could he, "more than twice her years," have ever hoped to win? She had come to him in \ser sore trouble —and her lover's—as she would have gone to her father had he been a soldier schooled in such affairs. Armstrong pulled himself together with quick, stern self-com mand. Looking down, he saw that her eyes were filling, her lips paling, and a rush of tenderness overcame liitn as he sim ply and gently answered: "Yes, and there is no time to be lost." All these last days, it will be remem bered, Mrs. Frank Garrison with pret ty C herry Ripe" had found shelter at the I'residio. The palace was no place for a poor soldier's wife, and there was no longer a grateful nabob as a possible source of income. It is doubtful indeed whether that mine could be further tapped, for the effusive brother-in-law of the winter gone by had found dis illusion in more ways than one. Gar rison, busy day and night with his staff duties, had plainly to tell his capri cious wife that she had come without his knowledge or consent, and that he could not think of meeting the expense of even a two weeks' stay in town. He could not account for her coming at all. lie had left her with his own peo ple where at least she would be in com fort while he took the field. lie desired that she should return thither at once. She determined to remain and gayly tapped his cheek and bade him .have 110 concern. She could readily find quarters, and so she did. The regu lar garrison of the Presidio was long since afield, but the families of most of its officers Mill remuinedthere, while the houses of two or three, completely furnished so far as army furnishings go, were there in charge of the post quar termaster. From being the temporary guests of some old friends, Mrs. Frank and her pretty companion suddenly opened housekeeping in one of these vacated homes, and all her witchery was called into play to make it the most popular resort of the younger ele ment at the post. Money she lack, but 110 woman could eclipse tier in the dazzle of her dainty toilets. The Presidio was practically at her feet be fore she had been established 4S hours. Other peoples' vehicles trundled her over to camp whenever she would drive. Other peoples' horses stood saddled at her door when she would ride. Other peoples' servants flew to do her bidding. Women might whisker and frown, but for the present, at least, she had the men at her beck and call. Morn, noon and night she was on the go, the morn ings being given over, as a rule, to a gallop over the breezy heights where the brigade or regimental drills were going 011, the afternoons to calls, where in it is ever more blessed to give than to receive—and the evenings to hops at the assembly room, or to entertain ing'—charmingly entertaining the little swarm of officers with occasional angels of her own sex, sure to drop in and spend an hour. "Cherry" played and sang and "made eyes" at the boys. Mrs. Frank was w intome and genial and joy ous to everybody, and when Garrison himself arrived 'rom camp, generally late in the evening, looking worn and jaded from long r.ours at the desk, she had ever a comforting supper and smil ing, playful welcome for her lord, mak ing much of him before the assembled company, to the end that more than one callow sub was heard to say that there would be some sense in marrying, by George, if a fellow could pick up a wife like Mrs. Frank. All the same the post soon learned that the supposedly blest aide-de-camp breakfasted solus 011 what he could forage for himself before he mounted and rode over to his long day's labor at Camp Merritt. Another thing was speedily apparent, the entente enr diale between her raidiant self and the Primes was at an end, if indeed it ever existed. She, to be sure, was sunshine itself when they chanced to meet at camp. The clouds were 011 the faces of the father and daughter, while Miss Law rence maintained a serene neutral ity- They were lingering in 'Frisco, still hopefully, were the Primes. The de tectives on duty at the landing stage the evening Stewart's regiment em barked, swore that no one answering tlx; description of either of the two young men had slipped aboard. Those in the employ of the sad old man were persistent in the statement that they had clews—were on the scent, etc. He was a sheep worth the shearing, and so, while Mr. Prime spent many hours in consultation with certain ot these so called sleuth-hounds, the young ladies took their daily drive through the park, generally picking up the smiling Schuyler somewhere along t he way, and rarely omitting a call, with creature comforts in the way of baskets of fruit, upon the happy Hilly, whose limits were no longer restricted to his tent, as during the first week of his arrest, but whose court was ordered to sit in judgment on him the first of the com ing week. Already it began to be whis pered that Armstrong had a mine to spring in behalf of the defense, but he was so reserved that no one, even Gor don, sought to question. "Armstrong is a trump!" said Billy to Miss Lawrence, one fair morning "He'll knock those charges silly— though I dare say I could have wormed through all right; only, you see, I couldn't get out to find people to give evidence for me." "Do you —see him often?" she asked, somewhat vaguely. "Armstrong!" exclaimed Hilly, in open-eyed amaze. "Why, he's here with me every day." "Hut never," thought Miss Lawrence, "in the morning—when we are." The eventful Monday was duly ush ered in, but not the court. That case "Armstrong will knock tlieso charges sillu,' said Billu. never came to trial. Like the crack of a whip an order snapped in by wire on the Thursday previous—three reg iments, the —teenth regulars and the "Primeval Dudes," Armstrong's splen did regiment among them—to prepare for sea voyage forthwith. More than that, Gen. Drayton and stall' were di rected to proceed to Manila at once. Two-thirds of the members of the court were from these regiments. A new de tail would be necessary. The general sent for Armstrong. "Can't we try that case here and now?" he asked. "Certainly," said Armstrong, "if you'll send for Canker that he may be satisfied." [To Be Continued ] Sait'c of Snwhnw Says. A man can fight at the drop of the hat, but you can't count on his paying for his wife's in any such spontaneous fashion. The only way to find out yvhr.t you really amount to is to get the opinion of an intelligent and honest antagonist. A fool's mouth is always open for en gagements. People who arrive at the top of Fame's tower in an elevator soon be come dizzy and tumble off. Don't flatter yourself to save others the trouble. They won't appreciate it. Some men are only prevented from grumbling all the time by the necessity of sleep. A boy's greatest hero is tne man who tells him the biggest lies. The man who laughs at his own jokes should wear a placard citing his excuse for living.—Chicago Democrat. Saved JH» IVl'i I,lfe. Admiral Sir Ilenry Keppel, when he was gig's midshipman in the Tweed at Uio, got hold of a small monkey, which he smuggled aboard in the captain's cloak bag, and then stowed in the scut tle of the mid's berth, as pets of that nature were not allow ed. When under sail Keppel was invited to dine with the captain, and unluckily the monkey, who had been let for a run by a mess ma,e, found its way to the cabin. The c&pti/in called the sentry and ordered him tc throw the poor little beast over bold, but the marine's first movement frightened the monkey and sent it fly ing onto Keppcl's shoulders, clutching him round the forehead with its paws. Of course this at once proved who was the culprit, but the captain relented and the monkey was saved.—Chicago Times-Herald. llifcli I.lKht*. Follow the straight line in morals and the curved line in manners. If gratitude is allowed to cool it wRI be found only half as troublesome. Anything worth doing at all is worth doing before you get out of the notion. If a man gives a girl his picture in a frame, she thinks it is as good as a pro posal. When one small boy halloos any other boy answers him, no matter whether he knows him or not. Man is the architect of his own for tune, but he couldn't put the prelimi nary contract in writing. People who car. enjoy only the best of everything acquire a self-satisfied air, but they miss lots of fun. —Chicago Kecord. Mm oft li<* Mouth* of tin!><»». A small boy, on hearing some people say that they should not consider them selves properly married if they were not married in church, said: "1 should consider myself properly married if 1 got a good wife."—Sidney Town and Country Journal. Soiii4»t linen n Drawback. Many a man's ability to get credit has prevented him from acquiring wealth. —Chicago Daily News. A GREAT FATLT'KE. A Nov/ York Firm Makes ac Assignment. Price, Ifl«'<'orml<-k 1 Co., Cotton and Stork ltroker», SimiHiiil I'ayment —L,ial>ilitiena.r« Sal00,000. Mr. McCormiek Is of the well-known ( hieago family of agricultural implement fame, and Stew art-Wortley is a son-in-law of Hear Admiral Schley. The firm was organized January 2, 1807. Of the partners Mr. Crocker is now in Eu rope and Mr. Stewart-Wortley is on his way back from Europe. Early in the day rumors were cur rent that a prominent firm was in trouble and shortly before the official announcement of the suspension was made, it was generally understood that l'rice, McCormiek & Co. was the house referred to. Prior to the for mal announcement the cotton mar ket had broken over 20 points under terrific selling for both accounts from all directions. The firm has long been regarded as the leading support er of the market, and at one time it was said they were going to put Au gust cotton up to ten cents. The de cline of the past month, however, was against them, and despite their efforts they could not hold the mar ket up. Following the announcement of the failure the cotton market became panic-stricken and broke 10 to 13 points. The extent of the decline from the highest price when the bull movement culminated has been 122 points. Later in the session the market became more quiet, but con tinued to show a weak undertone on the generally very favorable crop ac counts. Early in the day rumors were cur rent on the stock exchange that there was some outside trouble, and by the time the failure was formally an nounced front the rostrum of the stock exchange the room and the street were prepared for the news. Nevertheless, it had its effect. There was a rush to sell that carried prices down sharply. There was a decline of about 1 per cent, in the standard railway shares and from 2 to 2 1 , per cent, in the balance of the list. While the firm was also a member of the produce exchange, the effect of the failure there was almost whol ly sentimental. Assignees Curtis anil Cromwell make the following announcement regarding the failure: "To the creditors of Price, McCor miek & Co.: We ask and advise that creditors holding stocks, bonds and other collateral to loans, and already well margined, hold the loans until reasonable opoprtunity be afforded the assignees to deal with the same, that unnecessary loss may be avoid ed." ALLEGED DYNAMITERS. Trial ol' Ucti Acciiheii of Trying to lle> Mroy a M olliind (anal Lock Hi Welland, Ont., May 2.">. —'The trial of Oullman, .N'olin and Walsh, charg ed with attempting to destroy Lock No. 24 of the Welland canal, was be gun here Thursday. Mr. Johnston, the crown prosecu tor, in addressing the jury, said he proposed to show in the evidence that Walsh and Xoliu committed the crime and to show the connection of Dull man with those two, the theory be ing that his was the master mind con trolling the other two. Several witnesses were heard, the evidence being with a view to identi fying Walsh and .N'olin as the men who took valises to the Welland canal on the night of the explosion. Miss Constable swore she had seen the two men goto the lock with their valises and leave hurriedly just before the explosion. Anti-Saloon LrajSnrS Convention. Chicago. May 2.". —The annual con vention of the Anti-Saloon league be gan a lour days' session here Thurs day. -lo states being represented. At the close of the address of President Price, iiev. 11. 11. Adams, superintend ent for lowa, said: "What can you tell us, Mr. President, of the stand of President McKinley on the liquor question?" Objections were made to the timeliness of the query, but Pres ident Price overruled them and said: "I sat for years by the side of Wil liam McKinley in the house of repre sentatives and know him for a very pure and clean man. My opinion is that he is a practical temperance man." Wood Order* an Ovcrlianling. Havana, May 25.—Mr. liristow. act ing director general of posts, has abolished the solicitor's bureau, ap pointing in its place a law clerk, with one stenographer, and thus saving s:J,7on annually. Many other reforms are promised. The inspectors are still over the postal accounts, and they say it will be a month before their report will be ready. (Jen. Wood has ordered that every depart ment of the island be thoroughly overhauled. The auditors are now dealing with the treasury and witU the North American Trust Co. Morning Tiredness In a serious complaint. It's a warning that should be heeded. It 13 different from an honest tired feeling. It is a cure sign of poor blood. You can cure it by making your blood rich and pure with ilood's Sar saparilla. That is what other jieople do— thousands of them. Take a few bottles of this medicine now and you will not only get rid of that weak, languid, exhausted feeling, but it will make you feel well all through the summer. Tired Feeling—"l had that tired feel ing and did not have life or ambition to ac complish my usual amount of household work. Hood's Sarsaparilla gave me relief and also cured a scrofula tendency." Mrs. R. Merritt, Dowagiac, Mich. Hood's Sarsaparilla Is the Best Medicine Money Can Buy. G RA| N-0 THE FOOD DRINK. Coffee injures growing children, even when it is weakened. Grain-O gives them brighter eyes, firmer flesh, quicker intelligence and happier dispositions. They can drink all they want of Grain-O—the more the better—and it tastes like coffee. All grocers; 15c. and 25c. In the Lnke Country of Northern Illinois, Wisconsin, Minne sota and Michigan, there are hundreds of the most charming Summer liesorts await ing the arrival of thousands of tourisu from the South and I'jast. Among the list of near by places are Fox Lake, Delavan, Lauderdale, Waukesha, Oconomowoc, Palmyra, The Dells at Kil bourn, Elkhart and Madison, while a little further off are Minocqua, Star Lake, Fron tenac, White Hear, Minnetoiika and Mar quette on Lake Superior. For pamphlet of "Summer Homes for 1900, ' or for copy of our handsomely illus trated Summer book, entitled "In The Lake Country," apply to nearest ticket agent or address with four cents in postage, Geo. H. Heafford, General Passenger Agent, Old Colony Building, Chicago, 111. Tito CJolden Rule in Texas. wi. en men learn to do unto others as they would have others do unto them, horse trad ing will have become one of the lost arts.— Galveston News. Tim Pinkham Remedies For disorders of iho feminine organs havo gained their great renown and enormous sale be cause of the permanent good they have done and are doing for the women of this country• if all ailing or suffer» ing women could be made to understand how ab solutely true are the statements about Lydia Em Pinkham's Vegetable Compound, their suffer ings would end* Mrs. Pinkham counsels women free of chargom Her address is Lynn, Mass« The advice she gives is practical and honest. You can write freely to her; sito is a wo mar?* ABSOLUTE SECURITY. Genuine Carter's Little Liver Pills. Must Bear Signature of See Fac-Sltnlle Wrapper Below. Very small and an euj to take as KUiJar. IOADTrD , d FORHEAQACHE ' bAm trio FOR DIZZINESS. SiTTLE FOR BILIOUSNESS. SIIVTR FOR TORPID LIVER. H PI LL? FOR CONSTIPATION. FOR SALLOW SKIN. IIFFIESEA J FOR THE COMPLEXION . OKNI'INU MU»T hav* j. IB C«nts I Pin-eIT " 1 m 2T~ w, 11. CURE SICK HEAC^CHE.