The Scranton tribune. (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, May 27, 1896, Page 10, Image 10

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THE SCBANTON TRIBUNE .EPES DAT MORKIOT, MAY 27, .1896.
10
i .
I aTT Mm mm UJ
Ccuright, lfc9, by Bsch.Uer,
, SYNOPSIS. . . .
Toog Parmalw hus killed the slri whom
a h. been courtinn unsuccessfully. Hotn
re resilient of Hatch's Clearing, intieor
gta. The author suggest that. If you
with tin explanation, you go to Hatch s
Clearing and Inquire for Mrs. I'rueit.
There you vrtll Und her and her husband.
Jerd Pruett. Mrs. Pruett will tell you
that Took Parmalee wi not vrasy, una
she will narrate a story which has some
curious points of Interest, and which bears
directly on the case. Loorany Parmalee
was tlm belt-of Hatch's Clearing during
the war. The fame of her beauty reached
Hildrcth. of Hall county, so that, when
she came to the camp-meeting at Taylor s
range, he made himself very attentive to
her. He being considered the finest young
fellow in the region. looranv accepted
his attentions und neglected honest John
Wesley Miilirons from her own place; so
Miilirons went off home.
PAHT III.
As may be supposed, John Wesley
Miilirons wasn't feeling very well when
he rode- off. leaving Loorany sitting
close to Hlldreth, of Hall, under the big
umbrella. And yet. he wasn't feeling
very much out of sorts, either. His pa
tience was of that remarkable kind thut
mountain life breeds the kind that be
long" to the everlasting hills, the over
hanging sky. It can be best described
(If you have a mind quick to draw para
bles) by a story that has been told on all
the mountains In the world where peo
ple abide since oh, since the year 1.
The weather cornea up and shakes
hands with the mountain. "You are
till here," It says. "Oh. yes," replies
the mountain. "Well, I'm going off
and warm up." the weather says. "I'll
iret warm here," the mountain rejoins.
The next time the weather comes up
and says: "I'm going: on somewhere to
cool off," and the mountain answers:
"I'll get cool here." It was the same as
to taking a bath or getting dry. The
weather went after It. while the moun
tain sat still and enjoyed it. At last
the weather got mad and Invented a
thunderstorm, thinking to frighten the
mountain, but the mountain was no
tickled with this thut after It made
friends with the weather It Insisted on
having a thundersorm at least twice a
week during the warm season.
So John. Wesley Miilirons. as he rode
home, laughed to himself at the thought
that he was the mountain and Loorany
the weather. It was an uncouth
thought that couldn't be worked out
logically, but It pleased John Wesley
to hug the idea to his bosom, logic or
no logic. And so he carried It home
with him 'and nursed it long and pa
tiently as an Invalid woman In a poor
houses nurses a sick geranium.
After the camp-meeting Hlldreth of
Hall became a familiar figure on Tray
mountain, especially In the neighbor
hood Hatch's Clearing. As the year
"I SEED 'EM," REMARKED JOHN
WESLEY, CHUCKLING.
' 1863 was a period of war, you will won
der how such a strapping young fellow
as Hlldreth of Hall kept out of the
confederate army, since there was such
a strenuous demand for food for the
guns, big and little. The truth Is, It was
a puzzle to a good many people about
that time, but there was no secret at
all about It. The Htldreths, both of
Hall and Habersham, had a good deal
of political Influence. If you think war
shuts out politics and politicians you
are very much mistaken. On the con
trary, it widens their field of operation
and thus sharpens their wits. In the
confusion and uproar their increased
activity escapes attention. Thus It hap
pened that Hlldreth of Hall was a com
missary. He had a horse and buggy at
the expense of the government and the
tax jpayers of the country had to pay
him well for every trip he made to Tray
mountain.
Under these circumstances, you un
derstand, courting was not only easy
and pleasant but profitable as well, and
Hlldreth of Hall took due advantage of
the situation. He would have made his
headquarters at Mrs. Pruett's, but
somehow that lady, who was thirty odd
years younger then than she la now.had
Ladles, Gents,
and Children,
Turkish and Russian Baths, SI. Roman Baths, S2.00. Electric Baths, S2.00. Massage Treatment. 82.00-
Greatest Offer in the World to Summer bathers. I have reduced the prico of my plunge bath to 25 cent's so that all can enjoy the comforts at this extrorrinary low rate.
Can you swim ? If not come and learn. You can receive instruction and enjoy a bath for 25c. Fathers come and bring your
Healtt, Lunrj, Refinement. OPEN DAY and NIGHT. SUNDAYS to 12. TUESDAYS, LADIES'
Tuesdays are for Ladies and Misses. On those days we have a force of expert lady attendants who thoroughly
Announcement.
.."' . .
iSt. U. X Purcell wishes to announce
to the pabHo that he has opened new
TmfclaB, Biiifwin anA Roman Baths at
Ht Linden street, Boranton, with a view
f sunetlnr th. tnoreaaln demands of
the pubUo modern improvements. This
eataMlehment Is under cxoellent man
agement, la characterised by oleanll
aeae, attention and moderate charges.
And ta under -the direct supervision of
the proprietor (late of Hammen Bath,
Dublin who h&d sixteen years exper
1mm to the business.
The Bathe are constructed on a ays
tea wbtoh combines oompiete ventila
tion wtlh the hlrhest avUable terrrji
ture, and whether sotwht as a luxury or
Ella t!!, PURCELL, PROPRIETOR, 503 Linden
IMS
Johnson and Baohellm
no fancy for the young man. She po
litely rejected his overtures, and so lie
made arrangements to. put up at old
man Miilirons of all pluces in the
world. It was such a queer come-off
that John Wesley used to go behind the
corn crib and chuckle over it by the
hour, especially on Sundays when he
had nothing else to do.
It is plain to everybody except
John Wesley- Miilirons that Loorany
was perfectly crazy ubout Hlldreth of
Hall, but a good many, impressed by
Mrs: Pruett's prejudii-e agulnst the
young man, hud their doubts as to
whether he was crazy about Loorany.
On the other hand, there were Just as
many, Including the majority of the
young people, who were certain, us
they said, that Hlldreth of Hall loved
Loorany Parmulee every bit and grain
as hard as Loorany loved him. between
the two friendly factions you could hear
all the facts in regard to the case and
still never get at the rights of It.
Once Mrs. Pruett took John Wesley
to task in a kindly fashion. "I never
know'd you was so clever, John Wesley,
tell I Beed you give the road to Hlld'eth
o' Hall an' Loorany a-standin' right
spang In the middle wnltin' to see
which tin 'ud git to 'er fust. Oh, yes,
John Wesley, you er e'en about the
cleverest feller in the worl.' "
"How come. Mis. Pruett?" he In
quired blandly.
"Why, bckaze you was so quick to
give way to that chap from below."
"Shuske! that feller hain't a bother
In' me," exclaimed John Wesley.
"Oh, I hope not," said Mrs. Pruett;
"the Lord knows I do. Fer ef he ain't
a-botherin" you. I know mighty well he
ain't a-brotherln" Loorany. Ef you
could'a' seed 'em a swlngln' In the bul
lace vine, as I did yestlddy you
wouldn't a thought Loorany was both
ered much. Well, not much!" Mrs.
Pruett added sarcastically.
"I seed 'em." remarked John Wes
ley, chuckling.
"You did?" cried Mrs. Pruett. She
was both surprised and Indignant.
Lor,' yassum! I thess sot up an"
laughed. S., I: 'The feller thinks le-
kaze he's got his arm 'roun' Loorany
that she s done his n! I laughed so I
was afeared they'd hear me" '
Mrs. Pruett said afterwards that her
heart Jumped into her throat when she
heard John Wesley talking In such a
strain, for the Idea flashed in her mind
that he was distracted and it so im
pressed her that' for one brief moment
she was overtaken by fear.
"Well," she said, trying to turn the
matter off lightly, ."when you see a
fellow wi' his arm aroun' a gal an'
she not doln' any squeal!)!' to speak of,
you may know it's not so mighty long
tell the weddin'."
"Yassusm." responded John Weslay,
still chuckling, "It may be so wl' some
folks, but not when the gal Is Loorany
Parmalee. No, ma'am! You thess
wait."
"Oh1, It hain't no trouble to me to
wait," said Mrs. Pruett; "but what'd
I do ef I was a-standin' in your shoes?"
"You'd make yourse'f eomfertuble,
thess like I'm doln'," remarked John
Wesley.
Mrs. Pruett was so much disturbed
that she told her husband about it, and
suggested that he look Into the matter
to the extent of muking such inquiries
as a man can make. But Jerd shook
his head and snapped his big fingers.
"Oh, come now, mother," he said, "It's
wther to soon' er it's too late. An" that
hain't all, mothei by the time 1 git
done tendin' to my own business an'
your'n 1 feel like drappln' off ter sleep.'
Matters went on in this way until
late in lNti", and then there came a time
when Hlldreth, of Hall, ceased to visit
Hatch's Clearing. Some said she hud
been "conscripted into the war," as
Hatch's Clearing. Some snld he hud
been appointed to another olllce thut
took up his time and attention. But,
whatever the cuuse of his absence was,
Loorany seemed to bo satlslied. She
went about as gay as a lark and as spry
as a grounil squirrel. John Wesley,
too, continued to take things easy. He
made no show of elation over the ab
sence of Hlldreth, of Hull, and never
Inquired about it. He hud never ceased
his visits to the Parmalee's, but he
went no oftner, now that his rival had
disappeared from the field, than h-. had
gone before. As Mrs. Pruett remarked,
ho was the same old John Wesley In
fair weather as he was In foul. Patient
and willing, and good-humored, for all
his seriousness, he went along attend
ing to his own business and helping
everybody else who needed help. Thus
In a way he was very popular, but.
somehow those who liked him least
had a pity for him that was almost
contemptuous. , John Wesley paid no
attention to such things. lie Just
rocked along, as Mrs. Pruett said.
It was the same when, one day In the
spring of 1X64, Hlldreth of Hall came
riding up the mountain driving a pair
of handsome horses to a top buggy.
PURCELL'S
TRY
the alleviation of pain must satisfy the
most sang-ulne expectations.
To those who are In the habit of us
ing; those baths nothing need be writ
ten, printed or distributed In the way
of circulars or pamphlets to Induce
them to continue the use of the baths;
they know the beneficial effects they
.reoeive from them and use their Influ
ence In getting others "to go and do
likewise.' It Is thoso who have never
enjoyed the pleasure and benefit that
we must give ,our attention. We are
often asked by those who have never
enjoyed the luxury of these baths, 'will
it hurt us; does It weaken a person;
what do you do?" Buch questions to
us seem ridiculous. Tet it should not
be so when we reflect how little is gen
erally known ot the baths in this coun
He wore a gray uniform, and the coat
had a long tall to It a sure sign he was
an officer of some kind, for Jerd Pruett
had seen Just such coats worn by the
otllcers in the village below. .To be
sure there ought to have been some
kind ot a mark on th sleeves or shoul
ders; but no matter about that; no
body but otllcers could wear long-tailed
coats. That point was settled with
much argument.
And the buggy was new or had been
newly varnished, for the spokes shone
In the sun. and the sides of the body
glistened like glass. What ot that?
Well, a good deal, you may be sure; for
some people can put two and two to
gether as well as other people, and
the folks on the mountain hadn't
been living for nothing. What
of that, indeed! Two tine horses and a
shiny tob-buggy meant only one thing,
und that was a weeding.
Everybody was certain of that exceDt
John Wesley Miilirons. When Mrs.
r-rueii iwittea nun with this over
whelming evidence he had the same
old answer ready: "You all thess wait.
"Well, we hain't got long to wait,"
said Airs. Pruett.
"You reckon?" exclaimed John Wes
ley, with, pretended astonishment.
Then he chuckled and went on his way,
apparently happy and unconcerned.
Hlldreth, of Hall, remained In the
neighborhood about a week, and was
with Loorany Purmalee pretty tuuch all
"BY THE TIME T OIT DONE TEN
DIN' TO MY OWN BUSINESS
AN YOUR'N."
the time, except when he was asleep.
They took long buggy rides together,
and everything seemed to be getting
along swimmingly. But one morning
early Hlldreth. of Hall, hearnessed up
his horses with his own hands and went
off down the road leading to Clarks
villo. It was noticed after that that Loor
any wns not as gay and as spry as she
had been. In fact, the women folk
could see that she was not the same
girl at all. She used to go and sit In
Mrs. Pruett's porch and watch the road,
and sometimes her mind would be so
far away that she would have to be
asked the same question twice before
she'd make any reply. And she had a
way of sighing that Mrs. Pruett didn't
like at all. You know how peculiar
some people are when they are fond of
anybody. Well, that was the way with
Mrs. Pruett.
PART IV.
Nearly two months after Hlldreth,
ot Hall, went away with his two fine
horses and his shiny top-buggy. Tray
mountain got wind of some strange
news. The word was that conscript
otllcers were coming up after some of
the men, both old and young, who were
of the lawful age. The news wns
brought by a son of Widow Purvis, Jerd
Pruett's sister, who lived within a mile
of Clarksville. She had gone to town
with butter and eggs to exchange for
some factory thread "spun truck,"
Mrs. Pruett called it and she heard It
from old man Hathaway, who was a
particular friend of Jerd Pruett's.
Word reached the mountain Just in
time, too, for within thirty-six hours
four horsemen came riding along the
road and stopped at Mrs. Pruett's. And
who should be leading them; but Hll
dreth, of Hall! Mrs. Pruett saw this
much when she peeped through a crack
In the door, and she was so taken aback
that you might have knocked her down
with u feather. But In an instant she
wus as mad as fire.
"Hello, Mrs. Pruett!" says Hlldreth,
of Hall, "Where's Jerd?"
"And who mnv Jerd be?" inquired
Mrs. Pruett, placidly.
The young man's face fell at this, but
he said with a bold voice:
"Why, don't you know me, Mrs. Pru
ett?" ,
"I mought 'a' seed you' before, but
folks Is constant a-comln' an' a-gwlne.
They pass up the road an' down the
road an' then they pass out'n my mind."
"Well you hoven't forgotten me, I
know; I'm Hlldreth of Hall."
"Is that so. now?" remarked Mrs.
Pruett. with JUBt the faintest show of
Interest. "It "pears to me we hyearn
you was dead. What's your will and
pleasure wi' me, Mister Hall?"
The unconscious air with which Mrs.
Pruett miscalled the young man's name
was as effectual as a blow. He lost his
composure, and turned almost help
lessly to his companions. If he ex
expected sympathy he missed It. One
of them laughed loudly und cried out to
the others: "Weil have to call him
Hlowhard. Why, he declared by every
thing good and bad that he was Just as
chummy with these folks as their own
OWETurkish,
sons or send them and
try and especially by those who have
not had the time and opportunity to
avail themselves of the same.
Description of the Bath.
The baths are comprised of one of the
finest cooling rooms in the state, every
attention having been paid to proper
ventilation, the lower floor comprising
the Kusslan, Turkish and Roman baths,
together with the electric and other
scientific treatments so highly recom
mended by physicians. All that "cap
be done has been done to secure the
perfect comfort of the patron and the
visitor Is assured of the utmost privacy.
kin. And now. right at the beginning-. I
they don't even know his name." .
nneres your .nusbana; inquireu
Hlldreth of HalL "if he don't know
me he will before the day's over."
"He. may know you better'n I do."
said Mrs. Pruett, "but I hardly reckon
he does, bekaze I'd uios' likely 'a'
hyearn on It."
"Where Is he?" Insisted the young
man.
"Who? my ol" man? Oh, him an' a
whole passe I of the boys took their
guns an' went off to'ards Hillman's spur
bright an' early this morn in'. They
said signs of a b'ar had been seed thar.
but I allowed to myse'f that they was
thess a-gwine i.n a frolic."
Mrs. Pruett took off her spectacles,
wiped them on her apron and readjust
ed them to her head, smiling serenely
all the while.
"We may as well go to the Miilirons',"
remarked Hlldreth or Hall.
"I don't care where you go. so you
don't lead us Into a trap." remarked
one of the men.
They turned away from Mrs. Pruett's
and rode farther Into the settlement.
Hut they soon discovered that Tray
mountain hud practically closed Us
gates against them. The women they
saw were as grim and as silent as the
mountain. Hlldreth of Hall had been
.telling his companions what a lively
place, (considering all the circum
stances) Hatch's Clearing was, and this
added to his embarrassment and in
creased his irritation. So that you may
well believe he was neither gay nor
good humored when, after pushing sev
eral houses, he came to Miilirons',
where he had been In the habit of mak
ing himself free and familiar .
Everything was as Rrlrn and silent as
the grave, and John Wesley sat on the
fence as grim and as silent as any of
the surroundings.
"There's one man, anyway," re
marked one of Hlldreth's companions.
"Be blanked If I don't feel like going up
and shaking hands with him that is,
If he's alive." For John Wesley neither
turned his head nor stirred.
"How are you, Miilirons?" said Hil
dreth of Hall, curtly.
"Purty. well," replied John Wesley,
without moving.
"We are going to put our horses un
der the shed yonder und give them a
handful of fodder," Hlldreth of Hall de
clared. John Wesley made no reply to
this. "Did you hear what 1 snid?"
asked the young man, somewhat petu
lantly. "1 hyearn you," answered John Wes
ley. Whereupon Hlldreth of Hall spurred
his horse through the open lot gate,
followed by his companions. They toog
off saddles and bridles, made some halt
ers out of plow lines, and gave their
horses a heavy feed of fodder. Then
they returned to the house, and found
John Wesley sitting where they had
left him, and In precisely the same
position.
"Can we get dinner?" asked Hlldreth
of Hall.
"I reckon not," replied John Wesley.
"Why?"
"Nobody at home but me an' the torn
cat, an' we're locked out. Maybe you
can git dinner at Parmalee's when the
time comes. They're all at home. But
It hain't nigh dinner time yit." John
Wesley slowly straightened himself out
and came off the fence with an apolo
getic smile on his face. "Ef these gen
termen here don't mind. I'd like to have
a word wl' you, sorter private like." He
looked at Hlldreth of Hall, still smiling.
For answer, Hlldreth of Hall walked
to a mountain oak a hundred feet away,
followed by John Wesley. "What do
you want?"
"I s'pose you've come up to marry
the gal?" suggested John Wesley.
"I have not," replied Hlldreth of
Hall.
"I mean Loorany Parmalee," said
John Wesley, pulling a small piece of
bai k from the tree.
"It matters not to me who you mean,"
remarked Hlldreth.
"I Just wanted to find out," John
Wesley went on, fitting the piece of
MRS. TPRUETT SAW THIS MUCH.
bark between thumb and forefinger as
if it' were a marble. "I alters allowed
you was a d dog." The bark Hew
Into the face of Hlldreth of Hall and
left a stinging red mark there as John
Wesley, with a contemptuous gesture
turned away.
Hildreth's hand flew to his hip pocket.
"Watch out there!" cried one of his
companions, in a warning tone. "He'll
shoot!"
"I reckon not," said John Wesley
r i
LINDEN STREET.-
Russian, and
we will instruct them and
An inspection of these baths Is desired
by the proprietor In order to appreciate
the Advantages to be gained by fre
quenting them.
Perspiration Not Weak
ening. It Is common to associate profuse
perspiration with debility, and to Imag
ine It to be weakening to the system.
This Is a mistake, perspiration Induced
by passive means cannot weaken. Trav
ellers resort to the Baths for refresh
ment and tnvlgoratlon. . Perspiration
drains away no living tissue, hut merely
without turning his head. "The fact of
the business Is, gentlemen, they won t
narry one on you shoot. A bulldog 'U
light.- but you let him toiler sheep
killin' noun' to the pastur; an' a bench
legged fice can run im. You all mayn't
believe it. but it's the fact-truth."
But John Wesley would have been
shot all the same If the thought hadn't
flashed on Hlldreth's mind that the
house was full of armed mountalners.
This stayed his hand not only stayed
his hand but, apparently, put him In a
good-humor. He followed John Wes
ley and said:
"As you are so brash about It. we'll
go and see the young lady. Come on,
boys."
"What about the horses?" asked one
of the men.
"Come on." said Hlldreth of Hall In a
low voice. "The horses are all right.
These chaps don't steal. Come on;
that house Is full Of men."
"I told you you were leading us Into
a trap," growled one of his compan
ions, " and here we are."
When we were out of sight. John
Wesley went Into the lot and looked at
the horses. Us was so much Interested
YOU
SPIL'D MY GAME. HE
REMARKED.
in their comfort that he loosed their
halters. Then he cast a glance up
wards and chuckled. A wasp nest as
big as a man's hat was hanging be
tween two of the rafters, teeming with
these Irritable Insects. John Wesley
went outside, climbed up to the top of
the shed, counted the clapboards both
ways, planted himself above the wasp
nest, and with one quick stamp of the
foot knocked a hole in the rotten plank.
The noise startled the horses, the wasps
swarmed down on them, and the next
Instant they were going down the road
the way . ther had come, . squealing,
whickering, kicking and running like
mad.
When they were out of bearing John
Wesley went Into the house by a back
door, got his rifle and went off through
the woods.
Hlldreth of Hall and his companions
must have hud a cool reception at Par
malee's, for in about, an hour they
came back In some haste. If they were
alarmed, that feeling was Increased
ten-fold at finding their horses gone.
Their sadlcs and bridles were where
they had left them, but the horses were
gone. They held a hurried consulta
tlon In the lot, climbed the fence
instead of coming out near the house,
skirted through the woods, and enter-
ed the road near Mrs. Pruett's, moving
as rapidly as men can who are not
running. A half mile farther the road
turned to the left and led through
ravine.
On one bank, hid by the bushes.
John Wesley sat with his rifle across
his lap, lost In meditation. Occasion
ally he plucked a rotten twig and
crumbled It in his Angers. After awhile
he heard voices. He raised himself on
his right knee and placed his left foot
forward as an additional support. Then
he raised his gun, struck the stock
lightly with the palm of his hand to
shake the powder down, and held him
self in readiness. When the men came
In sii?ht Hlldreth of Hall was slightly
in advance of the others.
John Wesley slowly raised his rifle
and .was about to bring the barrel to a
level with his eyes when he saw a flash
of fire on the opposite bank, and heard
the sharp crack of a rifle. He was
so taken by surprise that he raised him
self In the bushes and looked about htm
Hlldreth of Hall had tumbled forward
In a heap at the flash, and the other
men Jumped over his body and ran like
rabbits. Before the hatful or smoke
had lifted to the level of the tree tops
they were out of hearing.
John Wesley crossed the road and
went to the other side. . There he saw
Loorany - Parmalee leaning against a
tree, breathing hard. At her feet lay
a rifle.
"You spiled my game," he remarked.
"Is he dead?" she asked.
"E'en about," he replied. She threw
her head back and breathed hard. John
Wesley picked up the rifle and exam
ined it.
"Was you gwine to kill him?" Loo
rany asked.
"Well, sorter that away, I reckon."
"Did you have the notion that I'd
marry you afterwards?" v
"I wan't a-gwine to ax you," said
John Wesley.
"Will you take me now, jest as I
am?"
"Why, I reckon," he replied, in a
matter-of-fact tone.
In course of time a boy was born to
Loorany Miilirons. and the event made
her husband a widower, but the 'child
was never known by any other name
thun that of Toog Parmalee and Toog
was the chap that shot his sweetheart.
All these things, as Mrs. Pruett said,
were the cause of the difficulty you read
about In the newspapers the other day.
"Thribble the generations," she added,
"an" sin's arm Is long enough to retch
through 'em all."
(The End.)
'A '"h - s V
BATHS
Roman.TRY OWE.
help keep them healthy.
poisonous matter that Is highly Injuri
ous to the system and In the loss of
which the bather Is the gainer in many
ways.
The Baths are endorsed by the most
eminent clergymen and physicians, the
press and public to be the greatest re
lief and cure for all bodily ailments.
The frequency with which the Baths
may be taken, depends otrthe object In
view. For those In health once a week
may be sufficient. For invalids the fre
quency must be regulated by a medical
adviser who understands its effects and
proper application. This Is Important
as It is a great and powerful remedial
agency requiring care and Judgment in
its use.
THE CELEBRATED
DIAMOND TRAIL
Vali Effort to Stop SmuoUui troa
Cauda.
UNCLE SAM'S AGENTS PUZZLED
Although the Matagglrrs Take Well
Known Roaies, It Neeas Almost
Isa possible for the Treasary Officials
to Convict Them,
From the New York Sun.
United States Commissioner Shields
discharged from custody a few days
ago Alvln 8. Strasburger. a Maiden
Lane diamond dealer who was charged
with attempting to bribe James H.
Heffernan, a United States deputy col
lector of customs, stationed at Mon
treal. The dismissal of the charge was
made entirely upon the weakness ot the
testimony offered by the complaining
witnesses and the failure ot the case
marks one more futile effort in the en
deavor that United States Treasury
agents have been making for over
twelve years to prevent the flooding of
the country with smuggled jewelry by
way of what has become known to
them as " the Crest Diamond Trail
The failure of Heffernan's cast) caused
not a little amusement among the older
government agents, nearly all of whom
have had experience with this line of
frauds upon the custuins revenue, and
nearly all of whom have seen their
best laid plans for the capture of
smugglers go wrong. Heffernan who
Is stationed at Montreal for the special
purpose . of protecting the customs
revenue on the northern frontier, be.
came convinced thnt . a man named
Baxter, who was making frequent trips
between Montreal and this city, wns
engaged In diamond smuggling. He
followed Baxter to this city and to
the place of business of Louis Stras
burger t. Co., dealers In diamonds at
16 Maiden Lane. There he saw Baxter
take from his pocket a wallet contain
ing twenty-two unset diamonds. This
wallet the officer possessed himself of,
but he did not arrest Baxter. It was
at this point, Heffornan sayB, that
Strasburger offered him a bribe of $100
to settle the matter. The official's testi
mony was so unsatisfactory that
Commissioner Shields discharged
Strasburger, and doubts are expressed
whether the stones seized by Heffernan
can be held.
FEW CATCHES MADE.
An occasional brilliant seizure of
smuggled jewels by Treasury officers
always gets Into the newspapers: the
failures the public seldom hear of; yet
the records of the Treasury department
are full of the history of months and
even years spent by the brightest of the
government agents in efforts to catch
and convict diamond smugglers, and
nearly every case has ended exactly as
this latest endeavor of Heffernan's.
For years thousands of dollars' worth
of gems have come into the United
States without paying duty, and by far
the greatest number have come by way
of Iiattsburgh. Oovernmentagents have
devoted thousands of dollars and their
best energies to trapping smugglers
only to fall, and today the older agents
fight shy In detail to this class of work,
and look upon attention to It as
time thrown away. To the younger
men In the service there Is always a
temptation to take up this work. In
addition to the glory of making a bril
liant capture the seizing officer gets
25 per cent, of the value of the goods
seized, when they are forfeited and
sold. Diamonds are staple, and when
sold at auction, generally fetch some
where near their value. Urged by
these considerations, the officers new
to the service enter upon their Investi
gations with ardor and zeal, only to
find 'themselves up against insurmount
able obstacles at the end.
The key of the whole situation Is
found In the fact that diamonds are on
the free list of the Canadian tariff sche
dule. Under the Canadian customs
regulations the importer is presumed
to make a declaration of his imports,
.vhether free or otherwise, but this
ule Is not rigidly enforced as regards
roods free of duty, and many Importers
if precious stones take advantages of
:.his laxity. The diamond dealers in this
oity have brokers in London, Paris,
Vienna, and Amsterdam who purchase
from them regularly. By far the
ijreatest. number of the purchasing
houses are located in Paris. Dealers In
this city who n'Bke a business of evad
ing the customs laws and the duty have
a regular system of running their goods
into the country. The jewels are sent
to Montreal by parcel post, and held
at the prist ofllce until called for. There
the agent or the purchaser or con
signee in this city secures them, and
takes what seems to him the best
and safest method of running them
across the border. In the long run the
smugglers have found the shortest and
most direct route the safest, although
they must run the gauntlet of the cus
tom house at Pittsburgh, and of late
years the customs force on the New
York frontier has been greatly
strengthened. In ten years there have
been half a dozen notable seizures of
gems smuggled through Canada Into
the United States.
THE HOWELL CASE.
In 1883-6 the Treasury authorities
made a determined effort to stop this
smuggling of diamonds by way of the
Montreal postoflice. and the Canadian
customs otllclols extended to this Gov
H
DAY ONLY. Happiness, Health, Lnxory, Refinement
understand the ladies' wants.
Effects of the Bath
Its first physiological effect Is to per
fect the respiratory function of the skin
to give a living and healthy cuticle.
The skin Is thus fitted for Imbibing the
oxygen of the atmosphere throwing off
the carbon from the blood two most
Important procetses when we consider
that the skin Is provided with no less
than seven million pores, designed to
assist the several secretive organs In
discharging refuse matter from the
system. Some ldra can be formed of
the Importance of keeping it In a per
fectly healthy state. To a person lia
ble to take colds from exposure to si ght
drafts, the feeling of defiance to cold
Imparted by the Baths is one of the
Street, Court
ernment every aid in their power. The
case waa placed in the hands ot Special
Ut T tI AA wfc...
was then station at Plattsburgn. Ha
fellow of gretu courage and consider-
A Kl A ilutanilva alrtll A onMa I sbo-aii
attached to the New York office with a
wiue acquaintance among aiaiaen ltm
Jewelers was detailed to work up tha
case in this city. One diamond lutuoi t
Ing firm, with branches in London an4
Paris, was then doing an extensive
business in precious stones and under
selling Its competitors. , Reputable Im
porters who paid their duties suffered
greatly from the competition of firm
which smuggled half their stock and
evaded the 10 per cent. duty, and they
were always willing to aid the Govern,
jnent with any information obtainable.
From these firms and from .
special agents stationed In
Europe. Information came that the
diamond firm referred to was consign
ing large quantities of precious stones
to Montreal. The agent of the firm waa
followed to that city by Howells. who
visited the postoflice and saw him re- '
celve a package. K was consigned to '
tne firm, was "declared." and was said
$"oownta'n 1reolous 8tone valued at
Certain that the agent would leave
for New York. Howells watched the
outgoing trains, and entered the sleep
er for New York attached to the night
express to find his man the only other
occupant. As the train left Pitts
burgh, Howells stepped over to the
agent and demanded the package. The
man, without any appearance of sur
prise, blandly denied having any con
traband articles about him. He de- '
clined to be searched, however, and
dared the special . agent . to touch
him at his peril. Howells, whose
resemblance to Orovr Cleve
land, both In face . and figure, was
marked, took the agent by the shoul
ders, laid him on his back In the aisle,
and sat on him while he searched him
thoroughly. The man had no sign of
a diamond about him
liorrltled. Howells lifted the man ta
his feet with the most profuse apolo
gies. A suit for damages against the
government and himself stared him In
the faue. Strangely enough, the agent
accepted the apologies without further
protests and did not pursue the case.
Later it was learned that the firm had
been advised of Howell's movements by
an employe of the Montreal postoffice,
and the agent had passed the package
of stones to another man, who had car
ried them to Windsor, crossed the river,
and shipped them by express from De
troit to this city.
ONLY AN ANNOYANCE,
For eighteen months work on- these
cases was continued without diminish
ing the Influx of smuggled stones. TwS
or three arrests and seizures wei'5
made, but the Impossibility of Identify
ing absolutely individuals and unset
gems rendered all efforts nugatory.
Two or three times what was consid
ered good cases were worked up, but
while It could be ascertained easily that
Jewels consigned to a firm entered the
postoffice at Montreal, all trace of them
wa lost after that. The government
finally relaxed Its efforts, and only
spasmodically since have efforts been
made to head off the Inflow of diamonds
by way of the Plattsburgh trail. When
pursuit on the Plattsburgh route be
comes too hot, the trail changes to St. '
Albans; to Niagara Falls, to St. Ste
phens, and at times to Detroit. It nev
er leaves the settled lines of travel,
however. There are no detours through
woods and swamps, no hiding by day
and traveling by night. The dangers
of the customs service are less dreaded
than the perils and discomforts of un
known routes. In short, as an old, well
trained smuggler put it in a day or two
ago, "the customs service Is looked up
on as an annoyance, not a real danger."
NEW' WOMAN IS CHINA. .
Fin de Siecle Fcminiuity Even in the
Cclestiul Ilingdoiu.
From the Saturday Review.
Thoe who labor under the common lm-
pression that eastern women are non
entities, and that their western sisters
monopolize energy and wisdom, may be
enlightened by a story told In the North
China Herald, of a certain "new (Chi
nese) woman" in Shantung. This
young lady, who Is a daughter of a mag
istrate, acts as treasurer in her father's
yamen a post usually considered suf
ficiently Important to require an expert--enced
accountant. She keeps the books,
looks up accounts, reckons with all who .
have payments to make, pays the bills,
and sees thnt her father is not cheated
by such as think that a chit of a girl
she is not yet out of her teens can be
hoodwinked. Woe betide such wight,
for he soon finds himself arrested and
tied up to receive proper punishment.
No wonder the mandarin is reported
to have made 50.000 taels in six months.
No wonder, either, that enemies have
multiplied around him, and that every
effort Is being employed to oust him
from his berth. A Chinese gentleman,
In conversation lutely with a foreigner
at Chungking, expressed himself hes
itatingly as to the wisdom of educating
women. The Chinese have accumulat
ed vast experience during the millennia
of their nutional experience. Can they
have experienced the new woman?
Overheard at the Portrait Show.
'D'Auber "Who Is that homely woman
rhapsodizing before the picture of tlm
handsome society matron?"
D'Anselo "She's the original of the
painting." New York Herald.
RHEUMATISM Is caused by lactic aold
In the blood. Hood's Saraapnrilla neu
tralizes this acid and completely and per
manently cures rheumatism. Be sure te
get only Hood's.
HOOD'S PILLS cure nausea, sick head
ache. Indigestion, biliousness. Sold by all
druggists.
Ladies, Gents,
and Children
most striking results, The habitual
use of these baths remedy this, givlnir
at the same time beauty to th skin and
Uealth to the body.
Attendants.
In connection with the baths will be
found the best attendants as well as
a skilled chiropodist, also a flrst-c'avs
barber. The Baths confer benefits in
calculable, Intensify health, melancho
lia Is driven away, and removes the
craving for artificial stimulants.
It hns become a question with me not
what the Baths will cure but what they
win not cure,
House Square.