V OLXXXII
Grand Spring Opening
OF
MM miss, (ids ID WHIPS.
Silks, Crepons. Kaikie, Patina HenriettiiH. Serges, Novelty
Drw-e Gooas in black and color*, Separate Skirts iu all the
new Spring materials, Ladies Waists, Duck Suite.
See onr new Black Crppon Skirt, made ' Tbe lovely Wa,h Fabric for
;!de G 1 :;t t K- >&\
b,.. —. I f; KI ~f "XCt J.
We have too many engft(tin(i: styles broidery. Jet and Tem-el Trimming, But
through thin big store to think ot "over- tlinS) j. c
tiling them all It won'd require nil the ... „ cilka Y>-w Lace
*pace in tbe newspaper to mention seya Sew Tnlby DraP®'* k *; *' wilJ .
rately the many beantitnl and novel effects Curtains, Sash Curtain* andlt r »
in hats, Bonnet*. Flowm, Ribb.ns, Ac., dow Blind., Floor and Table 0.1 Cloth.,
in our Millinery Department. au( * Linoleums.
Wc cordially invite you to visit us whether you wish to purchase
or ret. Our sales-people will gladly show you all the styles, and
you Lie not pressed to buy. Reir ember the place, corner Mam and
Jeflerson streets, the popular store ot
Mrs. Jennie E. Zimmerman
*
A Card to the Public.
We desire to inform th» pnhllc tbat we have opened * firs' class M. r
chant Tailoring and Gents FuruisbiQ* Goods eaiHt>li*htne-it in the room oi>
the corner of Main and Jeffersoa stree's. opposite >hrt L »vry 11-use .-mce.
W« h (i pe by fair dealing and strict atteutioJi t» •iosit.ess to merit »
share of yonr patronage
We bave purchased a large st >ck of F »-eign and D mesne go e,
which will made op ia fir-T class HI vie
We emplov none tut the beat wrkmun and jjaarantee perfect sane
faction in ev*rj particular Call and See Us.
J. S. & J. P. YOUNG,
THE TAILORS and FURBISHERS. 10! Soati Kaln Streut, Butbr, Pa.
SPECIAL
Owinjr to » contemplated cbßnffe in <>nr business April Ih> it bee
necessary tha' we close cut our entire st >ck on or before that rl-ae
will therefor- nlace ..n <-»!»• this week ov -r 2 000 .<»ir* ot pan's 1 0M) Milte
nnderwenr. 1 20« VJenV 800 Boy's aud 600 rbilrtren's -ui's; 500
conic; 160» Hats; 3'»o solid jioid 50 H'»U-he-; 200 Chains. 1,000
Coll ir and Coff button ; 2,000 Sc»rt pins; 200 Suit waists.efc.
We here (rive you timely notice of special dava ales, at.d special "is
count, so tnat you can prepare to take advantage <-f these sales and secure
•ome of the bargains.
Bargain Days
Wednesday Jan. 30- Pants day —25 per cent off,
Friday, Feb. Ist _Ov- rcoat day —25 per cent. off.
Tuesday Feb s<b —Underwear day—2s per cent. off.
Thursday. Feb. 7th— Jewelry dav—2s per ceDt off,
Monday, Feb. 11th—Hat day—2s per cent, off
Special saleß PD certain lines of goods every day as long as those good
last These goods not subject to special discount. Pants former price 3
to 6 dollars, special price $1 50 os 3 50— Men's suits former price #4 50 t"
sl2 00, special price 250 to 750 Cl ildrens suits, former prior. i «
dollars special price 75c to $3 50,— fine goudola Hats former price $2 00 n>
$4 50 special price from 75c io $2 00- Boy's and Childrei-s Caps, former
price 15 to 25c special price 1 to 10c-Ui derwear former price 25c, Siecinl
price 15c Muffl-ts former price from 50c to $2 50 sp. cial price 25c to $1 25
Don't misa ti.is great sale -by borrowing money at 6 per cent y< u cat
■»T« 27 per cent net, now this may seem strange \etit ia true, and if yon
doubt it Just call around and we will convince r ou
D. A. Heck:,
Champion Clothier, Hatter and Furnisher,
21 N. Mair\ St., Duffy' Block, Butler, Pa
Kramer Wagons, Work Harness,
4t (C it <4
<4 " Team "
IX L " u
44 " PIOW "
it 44 44 44
Farm " Buggy
44 44 44 44
All parts of HARNESS our own make
at FACTORY TRICES,
s. B. MARTINCOURT CO
128 E. Jefferson St., Butler Pa.
Wholesale and Retail dealers in Buggies and everything belonging
to a Driving or Team outfit, at exceptionally low prices this spring.
Also a full line of Trunks and Valises.
PINE TREE FARM.
Jamesburg, N. J.
Send for large catalogue of
Lan i and VVate Fowl. Ti eb. st
Pekin Ducks in the world.
w H ORDWAY. Prop'r.
D. A MOUNT. Sup't-
HERKIMER & TAYLOR
Funeral Directors,
161. Main St, - Butler; Pa.
DYED.
Now in the time to have your
Clothing leaned or Dy >d. HUH
save the 20 per cent we are offur
io£ at. this time. A trial will c->n
vioee jou that we do g<>od wo'k.
Portiers dry cleaned. $1,25 per
pair; Brussels or Tapistry carpets
cleaned with ut lifting, 10c per yard.
Butler Dye Works,
216 Center Ave.
THE BUTLER CITIZEN.
There Never
Was a time in the history of
; Butler that you could buy
Mens, Boys and Chil
drens Clothing,
as cheap as you can now.
Call in and be convinced that
I have the best made and the best
fitting
SUITS
in the market at the lowest cash
prices.
The celebrated Szvi ct Orr Over
alls always on hand.
ONE ST. H. Burton
Idothier and
PRICE. # Furnisher
120 - S. Main, St.
FKEI%!_FREE!
Any customer buying Thirty
Dollars worth ol goods, will be 1
presented with a piece ot silver
ware warranted tor 10 years.
COMPARE PRICES.
221b trranulatei! Sugar tor 0O
23ib "A - ' " " 1 J'" j
25!b Yellow " " IWf |
5iD California K i>i»ns
41b •• Prunes -■)
2ilh " Fetches 25
2i11» " Apricots 2._> .
2jili " P»-as |
1 3011. Pail Jelly ij? I
1 Back Wi,it« Lily Flour
4 cans Tomatoes
4 " Sntfar Corn—
-4 " String Beans - ;)
1 '• House (taking Powder In
HENRY MILLER,
Opposite P. O.
Hotel HutJer
J. H. FAUBEL, Prop'r.
This house has been thorough
ly renovated, temodeled. and re
fitted with new furniture ami
carpets; has electric bells and all
other modern conveniences for
guests, and is as convenient, am)
desirable a home for strangers as j
can be found in Butler, Pa.
Elegant sample room for use or
ommercial men
Hotel Wiiliarl
Reopened and now ready for tbe
<<<p n < datir r of the traveling pnl-
I'C.
Kvery l hing- *■"« " 1 " 1 " nt«il.»
MRS. MATTIE REIHING, Owner
K H BROOKS. Clerk.
Ps EW
S< liestfturant
No 211 Centre Avenue (Whit
in re builriiii!.' ) convenient to P. &
•V depot Open all hours A>l
k'nd of lunchew and regolar meal».
T hac'-o ond Cigars fine coefectior e
•nd everything 1 to he found in a
first class Restaurant Give us a
.•*ll and we will do our hes' to tu
rn ui date you
W. J MATES
M anaire"
C. V. I).
A business that keeps grow
ing through a season ot de
pression, such as the country
has experienced, is an evi
dence that people realize they
save money by trading with
us. We know, and always
have known, tbe days of large
profits are past. Without
question we are giving more
for the money than last year.
Our stock is larger to select
from than last year.
AND SEE US.
Colbert & Dale.
Are You Afflicted.
Now is the chance of a life-time
to be Cured.
The EXCELSIOR Remedies,
Pontiyely and Permanently cure all
ilist-ases eitu.-ed by derangement of ttie
rtixnd, StoiuaCb, Liver arid Kidneys.
Rheumatism, N«-ur>lgi«, Stomach aim
Trouble; all rikin Disease, tSi VOII~
lhn.ee. General Debility, Nervous IM)iliu.
sii-k or Nervous d< adaehf, Oaiarrah, At'-
er Effects of LaGrippe, Fturnl- Complaints,
• aud all its evil effects
The Exoelsiur Blood denser aud Exeeli
sior Vegetable Pills, are especially adopted
ior the above complaints, their curative
powers are wonderful. THY THEM, thev
-ire guaranteed to cure, isend trnir ad
dress and we will mail you THE EXCELi
->IOK LEADEIt containing iestimoniai>
! Hundreds wltit nave been cured b\ th
Escelsior Keiundies iu j our own Coun'i
oid State. Address ail comuiauiuailous
to
Office EXCELSIOR Medicine Co,
No. 120 S M.iin St. - • Hutler Pa
MOURNING MILLINERY
FOR
SPRING 1895.
Owing to the very larg* stock we
carry and the limited room we have to dis
play it, We make a specialtv of show"
• Ing nnr mourning goods tirst each season.
t You will find every thing in this depart
ment made neatly and stylish.
While we have the very finest mourning
goods, we also have to suit the slimmest
pocket book. Orders promptly filled.
M. F. & M. MARKS,
ii,H3tull7S. Main St., - But'.cr.
HFTLF.R. PA..THURSDAY. APRIL -4. 18!>5.
Emuta Pedvlclc
Philadelphia, Pa.
Simply Marvelous
Intense Suffering of a Young
Girl Ended
White Swelling Cured by Hood's
Sarsapariila.
"Gentlemen—L'rged by the feeling that
•ome parent might have attention direct
ad to Hood's Sarsapariila through my
Statements, as mine was through that Mr.
Jno. L. McMurray of Ravenswood, W.
Va., I give the particulars ol my daughter
En '« « suffering and cure. In December,
188u, when four vears old, she injured her
right knee by a fall. The injury culmin
ated in white swelling. The limb
commenced to contract, and to en
able her to get around I made her a
Pair of Crutches.
While using these she had a second fall,
the knee grew worse and the limb con
tracted. The following August the doc
tors decided to bandage the leg. They
pulle<l the knee-loliit apart by main
strength and put It in a plaster bandage.
" During the six months the use of the
plaster-of-paria bandage was continued,
ft was renewed three or four times. The
limb grew worse instead of better. All
sorts of appliances and bandages were re
sorted to, but there was no improvement,
the disease continued its inroads.
Five Abscesses
formed on the limb. We took her to
a prominent hospital. The doctor said
it would be necessary to open the log and
scrape the bone, and perhaps finally to
Amputate the Limb.
She had wasted away to a mere shadow
and as I didn't believe she could survive
the operation, I made up my mind she
might as well die with two legs as one.
"Just at this time. I happened to read a
testimonial from West Virginia describ
ing a case so similar to my child's, and in
which Hood's Sarsapariila had effected a
cure, and I immediately decided to give
that medicine a trial. It took bold
From the First.
Before she had taken two bottles *
core or piece of bone came out of one of
the abscesses near the ankle. To come to
the point, three bottles of Hood Sarsa
pariila cured Kmmacompletely. Readers
of this can imagine my esteem for Hood's
Hood's Cures
Sarsapariila better than I can express it.
Hood « Barsaparilla is a family medicine
■with us. We warmly recommend It to
everybody." WILLIAM H. PEDRICK, 1414
South Seventeenth St., Philadelphia, Pa.
«j r»j||„ the after-dinner pill and
nOOll S i HIS family cathartic. 25c.
No doub* many of the
readers of the CITIZEN
intend doing some pa
pering this spring. To
those who do,
Heineraai
$ Eon,
invite an inspection of
ihvir stock; and promise
that they will show.
The Largest Stock,
The Best Selections
and Fair Prices.
More than th's, no one
'tan a sk. Wouldn't it
be to your interest to
call at this store?
'WHO IF e very iDßppr
p'ia e quotation
>TEALS you t uy your parser
of us.
MY We KEEP DO tra*->
but *ve do keep it
PURSE finest line of pnrs>
and pocket books n
STEALS tbe county,
We have the lat»*»t
TRASH.' and best things in
tjns line.
Purees and Lea»h< i
Books fron
5c td S3
All th<* New Lea'! •
J. H DOUGLASS',
Near Postoffice.
Seanor & Co's.
LIYERY, FEED AND SALE STABL
Rear of Wick House,
Butler, Pa.
The best of horses and first cla-s
riffr. always on hand and for hire
Best accumm dati >tis in town f
permanent hoarding and transieti
traiie. Special care iriiaran'eed.
SMIIIIH r"<>ni 'nr sixtv-five h«>r>es.
A jrood class of horses,both drivers
ari'l ilrat? h'>r»es always o;i ha■.rl mi
for uuder a all guara LUE; an' -
horses bought upon proper tin ifi
cati n by H. SEA NOR.
iUTLtK COUNTY
vUitual Fire Insurance Oompin ,
Office Cor.iViain & Cunningh m
Vl, f-. WICK Pros.
UKO. K. TT Kit Kit. Vice Pre*.
I, S. %re'r and Tre»»,
DIRECTORS:
\irrf Wi.-k tl<-uncrsoii Oliver,
>r. W. lrvln, i:unr> -«• I:eu»n,
V W UI I. KIN"RP
■■ H' Wiimii- H. i. KUngler
K-lf.«rer. i. - ,
«eo. Reuno, I LOTIII K-KU .
1 LOYAL S. McJUNKUi Age -t
f>#
M|woyß. n
CHAPTER YIIL
THE BAKER STREET IRREGULARS.
"What now?" I asked. "Toby has
lost his character for infallibility."
"He acted according to his lights,"
said Holmes, lifting 1 him down from
the barrel and walking 1 him out of the
timber yard. "If you consider how
much creosote is carted about London
in one day, it is no great wonder that
our trail should have been crossed. It
is much used now, especially for the
seasoning of wood. Poor Toby is not
to blame."
"We must get on the main scent
again. I suppose."
"Yes. And, fortunately, we have no
distance to go. Evidently what puzzled
the dog at the corner of Knight's
place was that there were two differ
ent trails running in opposite direc
tions. We took the wrong one. It only
remains to follow the other."
There was no difficulty about this.
On leading Toby to the place where he
had committed his fault, he cast about
in a wide circle, and finally dashed off
in a fresh direction.
"We must take care that he does not
now bring us to the place where the
creosote barrel came from." 1 observed.
"I had thought of that. But you no
tice that he keeps on the pavement,
whereas the barrel passed down the t
roadway. No, we are on the true scent
now."
It tended down towards the river
side, running through Belmont place
and Prince's street. At the end of j
Broad street it ran right down to tha
water's edge, where there was a small
wooden wharf. Tobv led us to the
very edge of this, and there stood
whining, looking out on the dark cur- !
rent beyond.
"We are out of luck," said Holmes.
"They have taken to a boat here."
Several small punts and skiff.s were
lying about In the water and on the
edge of the wharf. We took Toby ,
round to each in turn, but, though he
sniffed earnestly, he made no sign.
Close to the rude landing was
a small brick house, with a wooden
placard swung out through the second
window. "Mordecai Smith" was printed
across it in large letters, and, under
neath: "Boats to hire by the hour or
day." A second inscription above the
door informed us that a steam launch
was kept—a statement which was con
firmed by a great pile of coke upon the
jetty. Sherlock Holmes looked slowly
round, and his face assumed an ominous
expression.
"This looks bad," said he. "Those
fellows are sharper than I expected.
They seem to have covered their tracks.
There has, I fear, been preconcerted
management here."
ne was approaching the door of the
house, when it opened, and a little
curly-headed lad of six came running
out, followed by a stoutisli. red-faced
woman with a large sponge in her hand.
"You come hack and washed,
.Tack, she father comes
home and finds you like that, he'll
let us hear of it."'
"Dear little chap!" said Holmes,
strategically. "What a rosy-cheeked
young rascal! Now, Jack, Is there any
thing you would like?"
The youth pondered for a moment.
"I'd like a shillin'," said he.
"Nothing you would like better?"
"I'd like two shillin' better," the
prodigy answered, after some thought.
'"llere you are, then! Catch —A fine
child, Mrs. Smith!"
"Lor' bless you, sir. he is that, and
forward. He gets a most too much for
me to manage, 'specially when my man
Is away days at a time."
"Away, is he?" said Holmes, in a dis
appointed voice. "I am sorry for that,
for I wanted to speak to Mr. Smith."
"He's been away since yesterday
mornin', sir, and, truth to tell, I ainbe
ginnin' to feel frightened about him.
But if it is about a boat, sir, maybe I
could serve as well."
"1 wanted to hire his steam launch."
"Why, bless you, sir, it is in the steam
launch that he has gone. That's what
puzzles me; for I know there ain't more
coals in her than would take her to
about Woolwich and back. If he'd been
away in the barge I'd lia' thought
notliin'; for many a time a job has taken
him as far as Gravesend, and then if
there was much doin' there he might ha'
stayed over. But what good is a steam
launch without coals?"
"He might have bought some at a
wharf down the river."
"He might, sir, but it weren't his
way. Many a time I've heard him call
out at the prices they charge for a few
odd bags. Besides, I don't like that
wooden-legged man, wi' his ugly face
and outlandish talk. What did he
want always knockin' about here for?"
"A wooden-legged man?" said
Holmes, with bland surprise.
"Yes, sir, a brown, monkey-faced
chap that's called more'n once for my
old man. It was him that roused him
up yesternight, and, what's more, my
man knew he was comin', for he had
steam up in the launch. I tell you
straight, sir, I don't feel easy in ray
mind about it." ~
"But, my dear Mrs. Smith," said
Holmes, shrugging his shoulders,
"you are frightening yourself about
nothing. How could you possibly tell
that it was the wooden-legged man
who came in the night? I doa't quite
understand how you can be so sure."
"His voice, sir. I knew his voice,
which is kind o' thick and foggy. He
tapped at the winder —about three it
would be. 'Show a leg, matey,' says
he: 'time to turn out guard.' My old
man woke up Jim —that's my eldest —
and away they went, without so much
as a word to me. I could hear the
wooden leg clackin' on the stones."
"And was this wooden-legged man
alone?"
"Couldn't say, lam sure, sir. I didnt
hear no one else."
"I am sorry, Mrs. Smith, for I wanted
a steam launch, and I have heard good
reports of the — Let me see, what is
her name?"
"The Aurora, sir."
"Ah! She's not that old green launch
with a yellow line, very broad in the
beam?"
"No, indeed. She's as- trim a little
thing as any on the river. She's been
fresh painted, black with two red
streaks."
"Thanks. I hope that you will hear
soon from Mr. Smith. I am going
down the river; and if I should see
anything of the Aurora I shall let him
know that you are uneasy. A black
funnel, you say?"
"No, sir. Black with a white band."
"Ah, of course. It was the sides
which were black. Good morning,
Mrs. Smith. There is a boatman here
with a wherry, Watson. Wc shall take
it and cross the river."
"The main thing with people of that
sort," said Holmes, as we sat in the
sheets of the wherry, "is never to let
them '.U4t lucir liiigryatiou^gaij,
oe ol the slightest importance to you.
If you do, they will instantly shut up
"I'M SORRV. MRS. SMITH, FOB I WASTED
A STEAM LAUNCH."
like an oyster. If you listen to them
under protest, as it were you are very
likely to get what you want."
"Our course now seems pretty clear,"
said I.
"What would you do, then?"
"I would engage a launch and go
down the track of the Aurora."
"My dear fellow, it would be a colos
sal task. She may have touched at
any wharf on either side of the stream
I between here and Greenwich. Below
the bridge there is a perfect labyrinth
i of landing-places for miles. It would
take you days and days to exhaust
them, if you set about it alone."
"Employ the police, then."
I "Xo. I shall probably call Athelney
Jones in at the last moment. He is
not a bad fellow, and 1 should not like
to do anything which would injure
him professionally. But I have a fancy
for working it out myself, now that we
have gone so far."
"Could we advertise, then, asking
for information from wharfing'ers?"
"Worse and worse! Our men would
know that the chase was hot at their
heels, and they would be off out of the
country. As it is, they a»e likely
enough to leave, but as long as they
j think they are perfectly safe they will
be in no hurry. Jones' energy will be
of use to us there, for his view of the
case is sure to push itself into the daily
press, and the runaways will think
that everyone is off on the wrong
scent."
"What are we to do, then?" I asked,
as we landed near Millbank peniten
tiary.
"Take this hansom, drive home,
have some breakfast, and get an hour's
sleep. It is quite on the cards that we
may be afoot to-night again. Stop at
the telegraph office, cabby! We will
keep Toby, for he may be of use to us
ye*"
street post office, and Holmes dis j
patched his wire. "Whom do you
think that is to?" he asked, as we re
sumed our journey.
"I am sure I don't know."
"You remember the Baker street di
vision of the detective police force
whom I employed in the Jefferson
Hope case?" j
"Well," said I, laughing 1 .
"This is just the case where they
might be invaluable. If they fail, 1
have other resources; but I shall try
them first. That wire was to my dirty
little lieutenant, Wiggins, and I expect
that he and his gang will be with us
before we have finished our breakfast." i
It was between eight and nine o'clock |
now, and I was conscious of a strong j
reaction after the successive excite- i
ments of the night. I was limp ana
weary, befogged in mind and fatigued j
in body. I had uot thi> professional en- j
thusiasm which carried my companion ;
on, nor could I look at the matter as a
mere abstract intellectual problem. As
far as the death of Bartholomew Sholto
went, I had heard little good of him,
and could feel no intense antipathy to
his murderers. The treasure, however,
was a different matter. That, or part
of it, belonged rightfully to Miss
Morstan. While there was a chance i
of recovering it, I was ready to
devote my life to the one object
True, if I found it, it would prob
ably put her forever beyond my
reach. Yet it would be a petty and
selfish love which would be influenced
by such a thought as that. If Holmes
could work to find the criminals, I had
a tenfold stronger reason to urge me
on to find the treasure.
A bath at Baker street and a com
plete change freshened me up wonder
fully. When I came down to our room
I found the breakfast laid and Holmes
pouring out the coffee.
"Here it is," said he, laughing and
pointing to an open newspaper. "The
energetic Jones and the übiquitous re
porter have fixed it up between them.
But you have had enough of the case.
Better have your ham and eggs first."
I took the paper from him and read
the short notice, which was headed:
"Mysterious Business at Upper Nor
wood."
"About twelve o'clock last night,"
said the Standard, "Mr Bartholomew
Sholto, of Pondicherry lodge. Upper
Norwood, was found dead in his room
under circumstances which point to
foul play As far as we can learn, no
actual traces of violence were found
upon Mr. Sholto's person, but a
valuable collection of Indian gems
which the deceased gentleman had
inherited from his father lias
been carried off. The discovery
was first made by Mr. Sherlock Holmes
and Dr. Watson, who had called at the
house with Mr. Tliaddeus Shalto,
brother of the deceased. By a singular
piece of good fortune Mr. Athelney
Jones, the well-known member of the
detective police force, happened to be
at the Norwood police station, and
was on the ground within half an hour
of the first alarm. His trained and ex
perienced faculties were at once direct
ed towards the detection of the crim
inals, with the gratifying result that
the brother, Tliaddeus Sholto, has al
ready been arrested, together with the
housekeeper, Mrs. Bernstone, an In
dian butler named Lai Rao, and a por
ter, or gatekeeper, named MeMurdo. It
is quite certain that the thief or
thieves were well acquainted with the
house, for Mr. Jones well-known
technical knowledge and his powers
of minute observation have en
abled him to prove conclusively that
the miscreants could not have entered
by the door or by the window, but must
have made their way across the roof of
! the building, and so through a trap
; door Into it room which communicated
: w ith that in which the body was found.
This fact, which has been very clearly
made out, proves conclusively that it
j was no mere haphazard burglary. The
prompt and energetic action of the offi
cers of the law shows the great advan
tage of th£ presence on_bUj;h occasions
of a single vigorous and masterful
mind. We cannot but think that it
supplies an argument to those who
would wish to see our detectives more
decentralized, and brought into closer
and more effective touch with the
cases which it is their duty to investi
gate."
"Isn't it gorgeous!" said nolmes,
grinning over his coffee cup. "What
do you think of it?"
"I think that we have had a close
• V.rre ourselves of being arrested for
the crimo."
"So do I. i w u' In't. answer for our
safety now. if he l-pen to have
another of his attacks of energy. '
At this moment there was a loud
ring at the bell, and I could hear Mrs.
Hudson, our landlady, raising her
voice in a wail of expostulation and dis
may.
"By heaven. Holmes," I said, half
rising, "1 believe that they are really
after us."
"Xo, it's not quite so bad as that. It
is the unotficial force —the Baker street
irregulars."
As he spoke, there came a swift pat
tering of naked feet upon the stairs, a
clatter of high voices, and in rushed
a dozen dirty and ragged little street-
Arabs. There was some show of disci
pline among them, despite their tu
multuous entry, for they instantly
drew up in line and stood facing us
with expectant faces. One of their
number, taller and older than the oth
ers, stood forward with an air of loung
ing superiority which was very funny
in such a disreputable little scarecrow.
"Got your messag?, sir," said he,
"and brought'em on sharp. Three bob
and a tanner for tickets."
"Here you are," said Holmes, pro
ducing some silver. "In future they
can report to you, Wiggins, and you to
nie. 1 cannot have the house invaded
in this way However, it is just as well
that you should all hear the instruc
tions. I want to find the whereabouts
of a steam launch called the Aurora,
owner Mordecai Smith, black with two
red streaks, funnel black with a white
band. She is down the river some
where. ! want one boy to be at Mor
decai Smith's landing-stage opposite
Millbank to say if the boat comes back.
You must divide it out among your
selves, and do both banks thoroughly.
Let me know the moment you have
news. Is that all clear?"
"Yes, guv'nor," said Wiggins.
"The old scale of pay, and a guinea
to the boy who finds the boat. Here's
a day in advance. Xow off you go!"
He handed them a shilling each, and
away they buzzed down the stairs, and
I saw them a moment later streaming
down the street.
"If the launch is above water they
will find her," said Holmes, as he rose
from the table and lit his pipe. "They
can go everywhere, see everything,
overhear everyone. I expect to hear
before evening that they have spotted
her. In the meanwhile, we can do
nothing but await results. We cannot
pick up the broken trail until we find
either the Aurora or Mr. Mordecai
Smith. '
"Toby could eat these scraps, I dare
say. Are you going to bed. Holmes?"
"Xo; lam not tired. I have a curi
ous constitution. I never remember
feeling tired by work, though idleness
exhausts me completely. I am going
to smoke and to think over this queer
business to which my fair client has
introduced us. If ever man had an
easy task, this of ours ought to be.
Wooden-legped men are not so com
mon, but the other man must, I should
1 "That other man again!"
' "I have no wish to make a mystery
of him—to you, anyway. But you
must have formed your own opinion.
Now, do consider the data. Diminutive
footmarks, toes never fettered by
boots, naked feet, stone-headed wooden
mace, great agility, bmall poisoned
darts. What do you make of all this?"
j "A savage!" I exclaimed. "Perhaps
one of those Indians who were the as
sociates of Jonathan Small."
"Hardly that," said he. "When first
I sav» signs of strange weapons I was
inclined tc think so; but the remark
able character of the footmarks caused
me to reconsider my views. Some of
| the inhabitants of the Indian peninsula
! are small men. but none could have
i left such marks as that. The Hindoo
proper has long and thin feet. The
sandal-wearing Mohammedan has the
: great toe well separated from the
others, because the thong is commonly
! passed between. These little darts,
too, could only be shot in one way.
They are from a blowpipe. Now, then,
where are we to find our savage?"
"South American," I hazarded.
He stretched his hand up and took
down a bulky volume from the shelf.
"This is the first volume of a gazetcer
; which is now being published. It may
be looked upon as the very latest
authority. What have we here? 'An
daman islands, situated three hun
dred and forty miles to the north of
Sumatra, in the bay of Bengal.' Hum!
hum! What's all this? Moist climate,
coral reefs, sharks. Port Blair, convict
barracks, Rutland island, cottonwoods
—ah, here we are. 'The aborigines
of the Andaman islands may perhaps
claim the distinction of being the
smallest race upon this earth, though
some anthropologists prefer the Rush
men of Africa, the Digger Indians of
America and the Terra del Fuegians.
The average height is rather below
four feet, although many full-grown
adults may be found who are
very* much smaller than this. They are
a fierce, morose and intractable peo
ple, though 'capable of forming most
devoted friendships when their confi
dence has once been gained.' .Mark
that, Watson. Now, then, listen to
this: 'They are naturally / hideous,
having large, misshapen heads, small,
"A GI'IN'EA TO rilK BOY THAT FIXD9
THE BOAT."
fierce eyes, and distorted features.
Their feet and hands, however, are re
markably small. So intractable and
fierce are they that all the efforts of
the British ofiicials have failed to win
them over in any degree. They have
always been a terror to shipwrecked
crews, braining the survivors with
their stone-headed clubs, or shooting
them with their poisoned arrows.
These massacres are invariably con
cluded by a cannibal feast.' Nice,
amiable people, Watson! If this fellow
i had been left to his own unaided de
i vices this affair might have taken an
i even more ghastly turn. 1 fancy that,
: even as it Is, Jonathan Small would
give a good deal not to have employed
him."
i "But how came he to have so singular
a companion?"
t "Ah, tnat is wore tliau X can tell,
'ftipce, frqwcTqywe jiaft ttlrpa<}v t^er:
mined that Small had come from the
Andamsns, it is not so very wonderful
that this islander should be with him.
No doubt we »hall know all about it in
time. Look here, Watson; you look
regularly done. Lie down there on
the sofa, and se« if I can put you to
sleep."
He took up his violin from the corner,
and as I stretched myself out he began
to play some low, dreamy, melodious
air—his own, no doubt, for he had a
remarkable gift for improvisation. I
have a vague remembrance of his gaunt
limbs, his earnest face, and the rise and
fall of his bow. Then I seemed to be
floated peacefully away upon a soft
sea of sound, until I found myself in
dreamland, with the sweet face of Mary
Mors tan looking down upon me.
(TO RE COSTINC <D. )
BAD BLIZZARDS.
Some of the Terrors of the West
ern Prairie Snowstorms.
The Settler'* Cabin a FOOT Befnge from
the Icy l!la*t*— Appalling Louen Among
the Herd* and Flock* of
the Plain*.
The blizzard, as the plain man's ver
nacular designates the prairie snow
storm, is utterly incomprehensible to
one who has not experienced it. Gen
erated in the great storm-breeding re
gions of barren British America,* and
swept on arctic blasts along the vast
level reaches that stretch eastward
from the Rocky mountains, with no
forest to break its force, it becomes a
demon of the air, second only to tho
tornado or cyclone in destructivencss.
The moisture is ground as between
millstones, hurled with bullet-like en
ergy over hund-eds of miles of level
plain, and finally transformed into
yeasty sleet by the softening effects of
lower latitudes, falls in bleak showers
on the ranges of Texas and No-Man's-
Land.
Lack of cheap building material and
the brevity of the winter season on the
prairies contribute to make the settler's
cabin a poor refuge. When the blizzard
comes every resource of fuel is hus
banded, and it is faced with a grim de
termination to see it through, says tho
Detroit Free Press.
Hut not all are prepared even so well
as the settler. Occasionally a belated
emigrant, en route either to a chosen
claim on the frontier or toward the
pleasantly remembered east, where he
hopes to find old friends and helpers, is
caught by the blast. He may have a
tiny stove inside the canvas-topped
prairie schooner, but its heat can do
little against the power of the storm.
Sheltered by the low bluff of some ra
vine or water course he may weather
the dragging hours of suffering, but the
chances are that team and driver will
be found a ghastly monument to the
storm king's strength.
The farmer who has hurried ten or
fifteen miles to the nearest village to
secure supplies for the impending vis
itation is often overtaken before reach
ing his waiting family and perishes on
the road, for no matter how well he
knows the path, when the blizzard
rages his way is as that of the mariner
without a compass.
At the prairie schooihouses, where
the settlers' children are gathered
from a territory covering many miles
in every direction, the blizzard brings
terror to the pupils as well as to their
parents. Rescue is impossible until the
lull comes, and awful possibilities lurk
schoolmistress last winter failed to dis
miss her scholars in time for them to
reach home, and found herself and
them prisoners from a blizzard's ap
proach. A night and a day at least
were before her, during which her lit
tle charges must be protected. Deliber
ately she apportioned the food remain
ing iA the dinner pails, divided
the larger boys into squads and
put the younger pupils to sleep
on the benches. Then through the
bitter night she sang, declaimed, told
stories, invented games, and kept the
frightened children amused and cheered
as best she could. The following day
passed much the same, but 6till no
abatement of the storm nor any rescue.
Tbe second night was dreary indeed.
The children cried themselves to sleep,
hungry and cold. With her own hands
the teacher broke up desks and black
board to feed the voracious stove.
With the morning came a shout at the
door as the settlers shoveled away the
snow, and then the plucky girl to whom
the children owed their lives showed
her womanliness and fainted.
The loss among stock on the plains
by each blizzard is appalling. There Is
less exposure of herds and flocks now
than in earlier times, yet every season
causes tho destruction of thousands of
head of cattle and sheep on the ranges
and in the unsheltered corrals. Sev
eral years ago, during the height of the
Texas cattle trade, a blizzard in west
ern Kansas early in December de
stroyed more than half of 300,000 cattle
that were being herded on the open
prairie. At one railway station after
the storm, 35,000 hides were shipped;
at another, 20,000. One ranchman
found but 225 head alive out of 7,500
that had been grazing before the catas
trophe. Several hundred ponies and a
score of herders also perished.
The blizzard is a permanent feature
of the prairie winter. Nothing but a
decided climatic revolution ean secure
to the great trans-Mississippi region
immunity from its death-bearing pres
ence. Better preparations are yearly
being made to withstand its fury, and
to protect more generously the dumb
animals who suffer equally with their
masters. The signal service is render
ing aid in warning communities reached
by telegraph of the storm's approach,
while the settlers, taught by bitter ex
perience, take with each season better
precautions, and provide more intelli
gently for their time of need, which is
sure to come.
But with all man's care and defense,
the blizzard remains unconquered. It
is cruel, relentless and unmerciful as
6ome Norse god, from whose kingdom
it comes. It is one of the west's pos
sessions which is wholly and irredeem
ably detestable. In its forefront is ap
prehension; at its height, terror; in its
wake, desolation and suffering—some
times death.
Old-Time Weather Prophat.
What is supposed to be the oldest
European book on meteorology, Rey
man's "Weather Booklet'' (Wetter
buechlein), published at Augsburg in
1505, has recently been reprinted, and
it shows that in this science, as in
nearly all others, the beginnings of
our knowledge came from the east.
Reyman's rules for foretelling the
weather are highly commended for
their good sense. They were derived
from the Arabs, who taught us chem
istry, astronomy, mathematics and
many other things, for which we have
ceased to be grateful to them.
A Real Savins.
The Lady Shopper—What? I'ay W
for a lamp like that? It's outrageous
and I won't pay .'t!
The Astute S» You forget,
madam, that tlicj e has been reduced
to *4.99.
The Lady Shop -t reaching for hex
purse) —Oh, very 'v< 11, then; I'll take it.
—Chicago Recon I
The Sma! "■ )'« Fe«tlTlty.
He cares t t ?«r ibe ballroom
Th it rro . patroiase.
Th< sraail saowbaU
trjvst*
N014:
FAR^ARDIK.
TO MAKE A HOTBED.
A Bobjttt In Which Every Farmer Should
lie Interested.
A hotbed of convenient size for the
farmer may be made as follows: The
frame may be 16 inches high at the
rear and 14 inches in front from the
level of the ground, and covered with
sash of any desired size. The boards
are nailed together at the corners,
fastened to 2x3 inch scantling, but
gardeners first make a pit, 1 foot deep,
and use a framo 24 inches at the rear
and 22 inches at the front, according
to the kinds of plants to be grown. The
height at the front, however, depends
on the width of the bed.
Fresh horse manure, free from lit
ter, is generally used. It is the fer
mentation of the manure that creates
the heat. If the manure is too loose
it may create heat more rapidly thun
nure in a pile, allow is to heat some,
and then turn it over and well mix it
again before using it in the b tN»d.
Having trampled the manure 'v
cover with rich dirt to which has wtu
added one-fourth its bulk of fine, well
rotted manure. There -should bj no
lumps, stones or pebbles in the ho'bed.
If necessary, sift the dirt. The thick
ness of the dirt should be about G
inches. As there will then be about
a foot of space between the dirt and
the sash (the hotbed beinj 24 inches at
the rear) ample air space will thus be
provided. If the manure does not heat
up quickly and is slow sprinkle the bed
well with hot water, first adding a
small quantity of air-slacked lime to
the water. If too much heat is gen
erated use cold water alone. When the
heat reaches about 00 degrees plant the
6eeds in rows, but more warmth will
be required for the young plants
later on.
The frame should be well banked upi
with dirt- to prevent the effects of the
frost. The object should be to main
tain as even temperature as possible.
On clear, warm days the sash may be
raised slightly in order to admit air
during the middle of the day, but this
will depend on many circumstances.
The better plan is to hang a thermom
eter in the hotbed, and to visit it fre- 1
quently. As the heat from the manure
decreases the weather will become
warmer. Gradually accustoin the
plants to the atmosphere as much as
possible, and transplant to the cold
frame such as may be suitable for that
purpose. Some sort of covering should
be used over the sash at night, ouch as
an old carpet, with a few loose boards,
over the carpet. The temperature of l
the atmosphere must be the guide in
management, as the plants must not
be kept too warm or become lisble to
being chilled.—Farm and Home.
NEW CARDINAL POPPY.
A Pretty Flower Whieh Lend* Rlchneet
of Color to the Garden.
Each year sees a distinct advance
made in the production of new and
more beautiful varieties of our stand
ard flowers. The pansy, the sweet pea
and the poppy have in recent years
been each particularly fortunate in
the results of the attention which has
been bestowed upon them. I have
raised many of the newer varieties
of these three flowers during the.
vast season. hs«fui,Mrfty
colored blossoms that have ap
peared. Particularly gratifying litrve
been the results in the cultivation of
new sorts of pansies and poppies. The
most beautiful variety of the latter
that has made brilliant color in the
garden has been the new cardinal
poppv, an illustration of which is
given herewith. The.color is the beau-,
tiful combination of cardinal and
white, while the form is decidedly
handsome, a perfect head being
formed that is decidedly "feath
ery" in appearance. It is a de
cided acquisition to the list of poppies
and deserves to be widely cultivated;
NEW CARDINAL POPPY.
such beautiful -"varieties of our good
pld-fashioned flowers seeming to me to
J>e much more satisfactory to cultivate
in large beds, than a great mass of
this, that and the other flowers, some
pood, some bad and many indifferent,
bnd almost none possessing any de
cided character as a blossom. A few
beautiful varieties of flowers are far«
? .referable to the heterogeneous collec
ions one sees in many gardens—
Orange Judd Farmer.
How to Keep Flower* Freeh.
Lovers of flowers not rich enough to
bny often have various ways of pro
longing the life and freshness of the
few they get. Violets may be kept
fresh if placed in fresh water and cov
ered over night with a tumbler. Most
flowers will retain their freshness for
•everal days if kept over night in the
Open air. Anyone possessed of one of
those delicate French clocks that have
to be covered with a glass dome cannot
do better than sell or pawn the clock,
usually an object of neither use nor
ornament, buy flowers from time to
time with the proceeds, and use the
glass dome as a protector for the flow
ers at night, A will keep them fresh
for days
THE North Carolina experiment sta
tion says that there is no practical way
of preventing the attacks of the weevil
tipon chestnuts.
AFTER THE KISS.
"How dare you. sir?"
"Kiss vou? Why, your l>eauty chal
lenged tue, and I never take a stump."
"Poor fellow! Yes, I suppose yon
couldn't very well help it."
"From Band to Mouth."
I klmed her band, my h?art was all aglow—
IklS'Sc'l uer m uti—Vnc. .v all the aaselakoow;
I uiarrit.il tier: Thus fate dor. favors rive.
far. since that hour, "fronj hand to month"
W ° UT '' -pwiarruts '