VOLXXXII
John Bickel's SHOE «
128 S. flain St.
Branch Store |2 5 N. . lain St,
Our largo pring stock is arris inp daily, and among this stock
will be found all the latest styles in Ladies a-i 1 Gents high grade foot
wear, at low prices.
Our Stock ol Men's is 'rrp 1 aKrt L«atl"
ers'— Russetts. —Kangaroo's, —Cordovans and
fine Calf shoes in all the latent styles—Large stock
of Men's Low Cut shoes.
Our stock of Ladies and Misses shoes is full,
comprising of the latest styles-—Razor Toe, I ic
cadilly—and narrow qiau Tees, ait ih< 1 ate«-r
and we have them in Black an>i Kussett, —ln
Lace and Button, Also large assortment of La
dies and Mioses Oxfords—Opera Toe and Instrap
Uppers. Ladies Cloti" Overgailers— at reduced
prices. Gilt-Edged hot Drosing.
Patent+LEATHER+ nfl TOfT i i
+TAN+ lUijlbH. *#* *#*
' The balance of our Winter stock to b- closed out regardless of
cost or value —Rubber Goods —Men ■> Rubber Boot-- Boston Can
dec or Woonsocket boots, at $2,00 per pair—Men sOi Grain Box
Toe shoes Double sole and tap, at *1.25 per pair—Men's every day
shoes at 90c —Women's oil grain shoes in Lace or Button, at 90c
Misses shoos at 75c —Children's Dongola shoes, sizes 4 to 8 at 40c —
Ladies Cloth and Brussel slippers, at 25c per pair
Full stock of Leather and Finding—Shooemak
ers' supplies ot all kinds. —Best Cordovan Razor
straps, at 25c —Boots and shoes made toorder —
Repairing neatly Done—Orders by mail will receive
prompt and careful attention All goodssent by
mail, we pay postage.
When in need of anything in my line, Give me
a call.
JOHN BICKEL,
12H S. Main Street,
BUTLER, PA.
THIS.++
Jq?,,
A tew words >n parting.
Go to HU<HLTO\ S for m\
Shot--; don't yot *;o a»y '>' t
p'a •; I h.ivr- .'-il ih<- n and ' -
arc th-/ bes ! . r • »"<ii v*hal I s.t.
Fu'l line Mi' «*> ami < h <Ji< •• r s "fan Siua - I'll for .1 K : n;_; a
prices - n harmony «iii i !. n<* •. Von tlon i i<«<J a '..1 |■<>i I •
bo .k to d« -»1 t» •i'
T.tn Smn** v» Ibe I.>i tl>i» »|' " t . N« w >!>• < -
a id Shapes.
Our Sh'tk m M// .> A"i » <• <t 1 (>/■ I' < • ' ' tl l •
ihott'ii in Built r. I a•• Ii a-td nn<- nm ■ i "r*.-. > ' ine m-' i
fastidious tasl- v I'ni i s oil tin e 731 <)0 M .00- 'M 3 Si . ,<>
— s2.oo —s2, so —and —s3 0.1 Do 1 1 la:' •> |<ay j- a \ .w~ ha\ r
price* way dowii an«j Qu 1 11 > way up.
#- B. C, Huwellon, -#
102 N. Main Street,
Kramer Wagons,
« "
u u
IX L
u a
a «
Farm "
a u
All parts of HARNESS our own make
at FACTORY PRICES.
5. 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.
Jamcsburg. N. J.
Send for large catalogue of
Lan'l and Water Fowl. The best
Pekin Ducks in the world.
W H Prop'r.
D- A MOUtfT, Sup't
mm & TAYLOR
Funeral Directors,
101 . Millet. • Butler: Pa.
HUSELTON'S
Spring
Ea*>v. >!\'i It ar«l c«»mforlab'e
I*o<>|v%<'• - or Suiiini"'
Our Ladies and Men's Tan and
♦Black Shoes, +
,A - -hi it .' (I « x. i' m< lj Hit s»v.
V < .!. i ,iil. m tilt an iinnti ii-i
> 11 ' '■■ ■i, ki> la ' <t' •. V i
K«' a ,- «| K;i/< i London; N<
Ul» a a "ti I" i en< h I • es.
s.ssss
ioo !.;'o 2.00 2.;0 3.00
$ $ $ $ $
W.rr ..•>'! '>i tl 1 tlian a"^
in I>. il<r.
Work f I am ess,
a «
Team "
U (6
Plow "
u u
Buggy
U U
DYED.
N w i* 'h»* tinn- to bav« your
Clitbinjr '.leaned or Dy*d, and
B»ve tbr 20 ver cent w« are offrr
iutr a' th'« nro*. A trial will en
vine® jou thitt w«- do /good wo'k
Porter* dry clt-annd sl,2"> p*r
pnir; HruffclH <»r Tapit-trv
c'cunrd with lit liftiuk- l()C iwr lard.
Butler Dye Works,
216 Center Ave.
THE BUTLER CITIZEN.
That
Tired Feeling
Means danger. It is a serious
condition and will lead to disas
trous results if it is not over
come at once. It is a sure sign
that the blood is impoverished
and impure. The best remedy Ls
HOOD'S
Sarsaparilla
Which makes rich, healthy blood,
and thus gives strength and elas
ticity to the muscles, vigor to
the brain and health and vitality
to every part of the body.
Hood's Sarsaparilla positively
Makes the
Weak Strong
" I have taken Hood's Sarsa
parilla for indigestion, that tired
feeling and loss of appetite. I
feel much better and stronger
after taking it. I earnestly rec
ommend Hood's Sarsaparilla,
and I call it a great medicine."
MRS. C. E. BRAXHCKST, 1318
Cambria St., Philadelphia, Pi.
Hood's
and
Only Hood's
■ I 1, _ ..... ea .y t<> fiuy. «asy U
liOOd S riliS Uikf.mrmcffsct. n.
No doubt many of the
readers of the CITIZEN
intend doing some pa
pering this spring. To
those who do,
Heineman
& Son,
I
invite an inspection of
their stock; and promise
that they will show.
The Largest Stock,
The l>est Selections
and Fair Prices.
More than this, no one
can ask Wouldn't it
be to your interest to
call at this store?
e. • D.
A business that keeps grow
ing through a season ol de
pression, such as the country
has experienced, is an evi
dence that people realize the>
save money by trading with
us. We know, and always
have known, the days of larg<
profits are past. Without
question we are giving M >N
for the money than last Y ai
Our stock is larger to select
from than last year
n .ALL AND SEE US
Colbert & Dale.
Are You Afflicted.
Now is the chance of a life-time
to be Cured.
The EXCELSIOR Remedies,
P<i«tiv»lv hikl Permanently enr>- al
canned by derangement of the
(imori. Stomach, l.iver «nd Kidneys.
Kbeuniatixm, Xeuriljris, Stomach nrnl
Livor Trxtiblft; »)l Kkiu OiHoase, 8t Villi-
Oar.cn. (icneral Debility, Nerv.m* IMiilit\.
Kick i»r Nervous liriulache. Catarrah, At -
«r Effect* of l«a()rip|>e. Ken-ult- Coini'lua",
(Jot) I'll pat inn and all il.h evil effect*
The Kxeel-inr Blood (,'looser and Bxeeli
nior Vegetable Hill*, are especially adopted
lor Mm above c.nmplainix their curative
power* are wouderful. TitY Til KM, the)
are guaranteed to cure. Send 11 • tour I*l
- and we «ill mail you THK KXCKI<-
SIOR IiKAIIKK containing testimonials,
of ImndiedM who tiave been cured l>< tin
Excelsior Kernedieii in your own Count*
and Slate. Aililress all c.omuiniiicaiion
to
Office HXCKLSIOR Medicine Co,
No. 126 8 Main St. - • Butler Pu
mm I Prescriptions
M A Spociaty.
At Redick's Drug Store.
We do oot handle anything T>u<
drugs nex» imn you *ro n>
need ol medicine please givo u» 1,
c«tll. W.i are heit'lqu trter* tor pure
BODA WATER
as WF use only porn fruit juices,
ali-o landle Paris Green, hello bole
insect powder, London purple and
other insecticides.
Kenpeetfallj,
J. C. KEDK'K,
J n ilt * 1 '<;! ote Low y
HU'ILKR. HA..
YQU CAIN Fir
wlil ■umlTu.t for MrvniMLim »t tuwmt \ I
lUTTLER. PA., THURSDAY. APRIL 1,8. 1895.
ds®oN©Ftß
Ip^f
a&fiSS I i o
CHAPTER X.
THE END OF TUB ISLANDER.
Our meal was a merry one. Holmes
could talk exceedingly well when ho
chose, and that night he did choose.
He appeared-to be in a state of nerv
ous exaltation 1 have never known
him so brilliant. He spoke on a quick
succession of subjects,—on miracle
plays, on medieval pottery, on Stradi
varius violins, on the Buddhism of Cey
lon, and on the warships of the fu
ture —handling each as thougli be had
made a special study of it. His bright
humor marked the reaction from his
black depression of the preceding days.
Athelney Jones proved to lie a sociable
soul in his hours of relaxation, and
faced his dinner with the-air of a bon
vivant. For myself, 1 felt elated at
the thought that we were nearing the
end of our task, and I caught some
thing of Holmes' gayety. None of us
alluded during dinner to the cau&e
which had brought us together.
When the cloth was cleared Holmes
glanced at his watch and filled up
three glasses with port. "One
bumper," feaid he, "to the success of
our little expedition. And now it is
high time we were off. Have you a
pistol, Watson?"
"I have my old service revolver in
ray desk."
"You had liest take it, then. It is
well to be prepared. I see the cab is
at the door. I ordered it for half-past
six."
It was a little past seven before we
reached the Westminster wharf and
found our launch awaiting us. Holmes
eyed it critically.
"Is there anything to mark it as a
police boat?"
"Yes—that green lamp at the side."
"Then take it off."
The small change was made, we
stepped on board, and the ropes were
JONES, IIOI.MES AND I SAT ON TUB DECK.
east off. Jones, Holmes and I sat in
the stern. There was one man at the
rudder, one to tend the engines, and
two burly police inspectors forward.
"Where to?" asked Jones.
"To the tower. Tell them to stop
opposite to Jacobson's yard."
Our craft was evidently a very fast
one. We shot past the long lines of
loaded barges as though they were sta
tionary Holmes smiled with satisfac
tion as we overhauled a river steam
er and left her behind us.
"We ought to be able to catch any
thing on the river," he said.
"Well, hardly that But there are
not many launches to beat us."
"We shall have to catch the Aurora,
anil she has a name for l<ein(f a clipper
I will tell you how the land lies, Wat
son You recollect how annoyed I was
at being balked by so small a thiug?"
"Yes."
"Well, I gave my mind a thorough
rest by plunging into a chemical
analysis. One of our greatest states
men has said that a change of work is
the best rest. So it is. Whey I had
succeeded in dissolving the hydrocar
bon which I was at work at. I came
back to our problem of the Sholtos. and
thought the whole matter out again.
My boys had been up the
river and down the river without
result. Tho launch was not at
any landing stage or wharf, nor hail it
returned. Yet It could hardly have
Wen scuttled to hide their traces—
though that always remained as a pos
sible hypothesis if all else failed. I
knew that this man Small had a cer
tain degree of low cunning, but I did
not think him capable of anything in
the nature of delicate finesse. That is
usually a product of higher education.
I then reflected that since he had cer
tainly been in London some time—as
we had evidence that he maintained a
continual watch over l'ondiclierry
lodge—ho could hardly leave at a mo
ment's notice, but would need wimp
little time, if it were only a day, to
arrange his affairs. That was the bal
ance of probaUlity, at any rate."
"It seems to tne to be a little weak,'
said I. "It is more probable that he
had arranged his affairs before ever he
set out upon hi* expedition."
"No, I hardly think so. This lair oi
his would be too valuable a retreat in
case of need for him to give it up until
he was sure that ho could do without
it. But a second consideration struck
me: Jonathan Small must have felt
that tho peculiar appearance of his
companion, however much he may
have top-coated hirn, would give rise
to gossip, and possibly be associated
with this Norwood tragedy. He was
quite sharp enough to see that. They
had started from their headquarters
under cover of darkness, and lie
would wish to get back before it was
broad light. Now, it was past three
o'clock, according to Mrs. Smith, when
they got the boat. It would be quite
bright, and people would be about in
an hour or so. Therefore, I argued,
they did not go very far. They paid
Smith well to hold his tongue, reserved
his launch for the flrial escape, and
hurried to their lodgings with the
treasure-box. 11l a couple of nights,
when they had time to see what view
tho papers took, and whether there
was any suspicion, they would make
tlioir way under cover of darkness to
some ship at Oravcsend or in tho
Downs, where no doubt they had al
ready arranged for passages to America
or tho colonies."
"But tho launch? They could not
have taken that to their lodgings."
"Ouite so. I argued that the launch
must l>e no great way off, in spite of
its Invisibility. I then put myself in
the place of Small, and looked at it as
a man of his capacity would. He would
probably consider that to send back
the launch or to keep it at a wharf would
make pursuit easy if the police did
hap(>cu to get on his track. How, then,
could lie conceal the launch and yet
have her at hand when wanted? I
wondered what. I should do myself If I
were in his shoes. I could only think
of one way of doing It. I might hand
the launch over to some boatbuildcr
«r rfpsilror, with «lir«-«-t.'n<HH to miiUi- u
trifling cbiinffi: in her Shu would then
rruiuvi'J td hta uhv'l -/r yunb uy^tiu
be effectually concealed, while at the
same time I could have her at a few
hours' notice."
"That seems simple enough."
"It is iust these very simple things
which are extremely liable to be over
looked. However, I determined to act
on the idea. I started at once In this
harmless seaman's rig and inquired at
all the yards down the river. I drew
blank at fifteen, but at the sixteenth—
Jacobson's —I learned that the Aurora
had been handed over to them two
days ago by a wooden-legged man,
with some trivial directions as to her
rudder. 'There ain't naught amiss
with her rudder," said the foreman.
'There she lies, with the red streaks.'
At that moment who should comedown
but Mordecai Smith, the missing
owner? lie was rather the worse
for liquor. I should not, of course,
have known him, but he bellowed
out his name and the name of his
launch. 'I want her to-night at eight
o'clock,' said he—'at eight o'clock sharp,
mind, for I have two gentlemen who
won't be kept waiting.' They had evi
dently paid him well, for he was very
flush of money, chucking shillings
about to the men. I followed him some
distance, but he subsided in an ale
house; so I went back to the yard, and,
happening to pick up one of my boys
on the way, I statiqned him as a sentry
over the launch He is to stand at the
water's edge and wave his handkerchief
to us when they start. We shall be
lying off in the stream, and it will be a
strange thing if we do not take men,
treasure and all."
"You have planned it all very neatly,
whether they are the right men or
not," said Jones; "but if the affair
were in my hands I should have had
a body of police in Jacobson's yard,
and arrested them when they came
down."
"Which would have been never. This
man Small Ls a pretty shrewd fellow.
He would send a scout on ahead, and if
anything mado him suspicious he
would lie snup for another week."
"But you might have stuck to
Mordecai Smith, and so been led to
their hiding-place." said I.
"In that case I should have wasted
my day I think that it is a hundred
to one apainst Smith knowing where
they live. As long as he has liquor
and good pay. why should he ask ques
tions? They send him messages what
to do. No, I thought over every pos
sible course, and this is the best."
While this conversation had been
proceeding, we had tieen shooting the
long series of bridges which span the
Thames As we passed the city the last
rays of the sun were gilding the cross
upon the summit of St. Paul's. It was
twilight before we reached the tower.
"That is Jacobson's yard," said
Holmes, pointing to a bristle of masts
and rigging on the Surrey bide.
•Cruise gently up and down here under
cover of this string of lighters." He
took a tmir of night glasses from his
■elect A frazed some time at the
shore. "I tcc my sentry at his pout/
he remarked, "but no sign of a hand
kerchief."
"Suppose we go down stream a short
way and lie in wait for them," said
Jones, eagerly. We were all eager by
this time, even the policemen and stok
ers, who bad a very vague idea of what
was going forward.
"Wo have no right to take any
thing for granted," Holmes answered.
"It ls certainly ten to one that they gr
down stream, but we cannot be certain.
From this point we can see the en
trance to the yard, and they can hardly
see us. It will tie a clear night and
plenty of light. We must stay where
we are. See how the folk swarm ovei
yonder in the gaslight."
"They are coming from work in thf
yard."
"Dirty-looking rascals, but I sup
pose every one has some little Immortal
spark concealed about him. You
would not think it, to look at them.
There Iji no a priori probability about
It. A strange enigma is man!"
"Some, one calls him a soul concealed
in an animal," I suggested.
"Winwood Iteade Is good upon the
subject," said Holmes. "He remarks
that, while the individual man is an
insoluble puzzle, in tho aggregate he
becomes a mathematical certainty.
You can, for example, never foretell
what, any one man will do, but you can
say with precision what an average
number will be up to. Individuals
vary, but percentages remain constant.
So says the statistician. But do I see a
handkerchief? Surely there ls a white
flutter over yonder."
"Yes, it is your boy," I cried. "I can
see him plainly."
"Anil there is the Aurora," exclaimed
Holmes, "and going like the devill
Full speed ahead, engineer. Make
after that launch with the yellow
light. By heaven, I shall never for
give myself if she proves to havo the
heels of us!"
She tin • I slipped unseen through tho
yard entrance and passed behind two
or three small craft, so that she had
fairly got her speed up before we saw
her. Now she was Hying down the
stream, near in to the shore, going at a
tremendous rate. Jones looked gravely
at her and shook his head.
"She is very fast,," be said. "I doubt
if We shall catch her."
"Wo must catch her!" cried Holmes,
lietwceu his teeth. "Heap it on,
stokers! Make her do all she can! If
we burr, tho boat we must, have them!"
We were fairly after her now. The
furnaces roared, and the powerful en
gine'. -.vbi/zol and clanked, like a great
metallic heart. Her sharp, steep prow
cut through the still river water and
sent two rolling waves to right arid to
left of us. With every throb of tho en
gines we sprang and quivered llko a
living thing. One great yellow lun
torn in our bows threw a long, flicker
ing funnel of light in front of us.
Bight ahead a dark blur upon the wa
ter showed where the Aurora lay, and
tho swirl of white fonin behind her
spoke of the pace at which she was go
ing. Wo flashed past barges, steamers,
merchant-vessels. In and out, tiehind
this one and round the other. Voices
hailed us out of the darkness, but still
the Aurora thundered on, and still we
followed close upon her t rack.
"Pile it on, men, pile It on!" cried
Holmes, looking down Into the engine
room, while the fierce glow from be
low iieut upon his eager, aquiline
face. "Oct. every pound of steam you
can."
"I think we gain a little,"said Jones,
with his on the Aurora.
"I aru sure of it," said I. "We shall
be up with her In a very few min
utes."
At that moment, however, as our
evil fate would have It, a tug with
three barges in tow blundered In
between us. It, was only by putting
our helm hard down that we avoid
ed a collision, iiml before wo could
round them and recover our way tho
Avrwi U«d gusin.il u tfOTd two
"AJTD THERE IS THE AURORA:" EXCLAIMED
HOLMES.
dred yards. She was still, however,
well in view, and the murky uncertain
twilight was settling into a clear star
lit night. Our boilers were strained
to their utmost, and the frail shell vi
brated and creaked with the fierce en
ergy which was driving us along. We
had shot through the pool past the
West India docks down the long Dept
ford Reach, and up after round
ing the Isle of Dogs. The dull blur in
front of us resolved itself now clearly
enough into the dainty Aurora. Jones
turned our searchlight upon her, so
that we could plainly see the figures
upon her deck. One man sat by the
stern, with something black between
his knees over which he stooped. Itcside
him lay a dark mass which looked like
a Newfoundland dog The boy held the
tiller, while against the red glare of
the furnace I could see old Smith,
stripped to the waist, anil shoveling
coals for dear life. They may have had
some doubt at first as to whether we
were really pursuing them, but now as
we followed every winding and turn
ing which they took there could no
longer be any question about it. At
Greenwich we were about three hundred
paces behind them At Itlackwall we
could not have been more than two
hundred and fifty I have coursed
many creatures in many countries dur
ing my checkered career, but never did
sport give me such a wild thrill as this
mad, flying man hunt down the
Thames. Steadily we drew in upon
them, yard by yard. In the silence
of the night we could hear the
panting and clanking of their ma
chinery. The man in the stern still
crouched upon the deck, and his arms
were moving as though he were busy,
while every now and then ho would
look up and measure with a glance the
distance which still separated us.
Nearer we came and nearer. Jones
yelled to them to stop. We were not
more than four Ixiats' lengths behind
them, both boats flying at a tremen
dous pace. It was a clear reach of
the river, with Harking level upon
one side and the melancholy Plum
stead marshes upon the other. At
our hail the man in the stern sprang
up from tho deck and shook his two
clinched fists at us, cursing the while
in a high, cracked voice. Ho
was a good-sized, powerful man,
and as he stood poising himself
with legs astride I could sec that from
the thigh downwards tliero was but a
wooden stump upon the right side. At
the sound of his strident, angry cries
there was movement in the huddled
bundle upon the deck. It straightened
Itself Into a little black man—the
smallest I have ever seen—with a great,
misshapen head and a shock of tangled,
disheveled hair. Holmes had already
drawn iis revolver, and I whipped out |
mine at the sight of this savage, dis
torted creature. He was wrapped In
some sort of dark ulster or blanket,
which left only his face exposed; but
HE SHOOK HIH TWO CLINCHED FISTS
AT US.
that face was enough to give a man a
sleepless night. Never have I seen
features so deeply marked with all Itcs
tiality and cruelty. His small eyes
glowed and burned with a somber light,
and his thick lips were writhed back
from his teeth, which grinned and chat
tered at us with a half animal fury.
"Fire if ho raises hi.t hand," said
Holmes, quietly. We were within a
boat's length by this time, and almost
within touch of our quarry. I can see
tho two of them now as they stood, the
white inan with his legs far apart,
shrieking out curses, and the unhal
lowed dwarf, with ids hideous face, and
his strong yellow teeth gnashing at us
In tho light of our lantern.
It was well that wo had so clear a
view of him. Even as we looked he
plucked out from under his covering a
short, round piece of wood, like u
school ruler, and clapped it to his
lips. Our pistols rang out together,
lie whirled round, throw up his
arms, and with a kind of chok
ing cough fell sideways into tho
stream. I caught one glimpso of his
venomous, menacing eyes amid tho
white swirl of the waters. At the
same moment the wooden-legged'man
threw himself upon the rudder and put
it hard down, so that his boat made
straight in for the southern bank,
while we shot past her stern, only
clearing her by a few feet. Wo were
round after her In an instant, but she
was already nearly at. the bank. It
was a wild and desolate place, where
the moon glimmered upon a wide ex
panse of marsh land, with pools of
stagnant water and beds of decaying
vegetation. The launch, with a dull
thud, ran up on the mini bank, with
her bow in the air and her stern flush
with the water. The fugitive sprang
out, but his stump instantly sank its
whole length into the sodden soil. In
vain he struggled and writhed. Not
one step could he possibly take
eitlwr forwards or backwards. Ho
yelled In Impotent rage, and kicked
frantically Into the mud with his other
foot, but his struggles only bored his
wooden pin the deeper Into tho sticky
bank. When we brought our launch
alongside he was so firmly anchored
that It was only by throwing the end
of a rope over his shoulders that we
were able to haul him out, and to drag
him, like some evil fish, over our side.
The two Smiths, father and son, sat
sullenly In their launch, but cumo
aboard meekly enough when com
manded. The Aurora herself wo .
hauled off and made fast to our stern.
A solid Iron die t of Indian workman
ship stood upon the deck. This, tliero
could be «o question, was tho same
that had contained tho 111-omeiied
treasure of the Sholtos. There was no
key, but it Km ->f considerable weight, '
so wo transferred It. carefully to our
own little cabin As wo Rteamcd
iftowly tfjujtmim vgu'n, wo fTuMivd otrr j
Bcarch-light in every direction, but
there was no siffn of the islander.
Somewhere in the dark ooze at the
bottom of the Thames lie the bones of
that strange visitor to our shores.
"See here," said Holmes, pointing to
the wooden hatchway. "We were
hardly quick enough with our pistols."
There, sure enough, just behind
where we had been standing, stuck
one of those murderous darts which we
knew so well. It muat have whizzed
between us at the instant that we
fired. Holmes smiled at it, and
shruggeJ his shoulders in his easv
fashion, but 1 c nfess that It turned
me sick to think ct 11.0 horrible death
which had passed so close to as that
night.
CHAPTER XL
THE GREAT AGRA TREASURE.
Our captive sat in the cabin opposite
to the iron box which he had done so
much and waited so long to gain. He
was a snnburned, reckless-eyed fellow,
with a network of lines and wrinkles
all over his mahogany features, which
told of a hard, open-air life. There
was a singular prominence about his
bearded chin which marked a man
who was not to be easily turned from
his purpose. His age may have been
fifty or thereabouts, for his black,
curly hair was thickly shot with gray.
His face in repose was not an tin
pleasing one, though his heavy brows
and aggressive chin gave him, as I had
lately seen, a terrible expression when
moved to anger. He sat now with hta
handcuffed hands upon his lap and his
head sunk upon his breast, while he
looked with his keen, twinkling eyes
at the box which had been the cause
of his ill-doings. It seemed to me that
there was more sorrow than anger in
his rigid and contained countenance.
Once he looked up at me with a gleam
of something like humor in his eyes.
"Well, Jonathan Small," said Holmes,
lighting a cigar, "I am sorry that it
has come to this."
"And so am I," he answered, frankly.
"1 don't believe that I can swing over
the job. I givo you my word on the
book that I never raised my hand
against Mr. Sholto. It was that little
hell-hound Tonga who shot one of his
cursed darts into him. I had no part
in it, sir. I was as grieved as if it had
been my blood-relation. I welted the
little devil with the slack end of the
rope for it, but it was done, and 1 could
not undo it again."
"Have a cigar," said Holmes; "and
you had best take a pull out of my flask,
for you are very wet. How could you
expect so small and weak a man as this
black fellow to overpower Mr. Sholto
and hold him while you were climbing
the rope?
You seem to know as much about it
as if you were there, sir. The truth is
that I hoped to find the room clear.
I knew the habits of the house pretty
well, and it was the time when Mr.
Nholto usually went down to his Slip
per. I shall make no secret of the
business. The best defense that I can
make is just the simple truth. Now, if
it had been the old major I would hare
swung for him with a light heart. I
.would have thought no more of knif
ing him than of smoking this cigar.
But it's cursed hard that I should be
lagged over this young Nholto, with
whom I had no quarrel whatever."
"You arc under the charge of Mr.
Atliclney Jones, of Scotland Yard. He
is going to bring you up to my rooms,
and I shall ask you for a true account
of the matter. You must make a clean
breast of it, for if you do I hope that I
may be of use to you. I think I can
prove that the poison acts so quickly
that the man was dead l>efore ever you
reached the room."
"That he was, air. I never got such
a turn in my life na when I saw him
grinning at me with his head on his
shoulder as I climbed through the win
dow. It fairly shook ire, sir. I'd have
half killed Tonga for it if he had not
scrambled off. That was how be
came to leave his club, and some
of his darts, too, as he tells me,
which I dare say helped to put
you on our track; though how
you kept on it is more than I can tell.
I don't feel no malice against you for
it. Hut it does seem a queer thing,"
he added, with a bitter smile, "that I,
who have a fair claim to nigh upon
half a million of money should spend
the first half of my life building a
breakwater in the Andamans, and am
like to spend the other half diggln'
drains at Dartmoor. It was an evil
day for me when first I clapped eyes
upon the merchant Achmet and had to
do with the Agra treasure, which never
brought anything but a curse yet upon
the man who owned it. To him it
brought murder, to Maj. Nholto it
brought fear and guilt, to ma it has
meant slavery for life."
At this moment Athelney Jones
thrust Ilia broad face and heavy shoul
ders Into the tiny cabin. "Quite a fam
"QUITJC A KAMI! V PARTY," UK RENAMED.
ily party," he remarked "I think I
shall have a pull at that flask, Holmes.
Well, I think we may all congratulate
each other, l'ity we didn't take the
other alive; but there was no choice. I
say, Holmes, you must confess that you
cut it rather fine. It was all that we
could do to overhaul her."
"All Is well that ends well," said
Holmes. "But I certainly did not
know that the Aurora was such a
clipper."
"Huiith says that she is one of the
fastest launches on the river, ami that
if he had had another man to help him
with the engines we should never have
caught her. He swears he knows noth
ing of this Norwood business."
"Neither lie did," cried our prisouer
—"not a word. I chose his launch lo
calise I heard that she was a flyer. We
told hiiu nothing, but we paid him
well, and he was to get something
handsome if we reached our vessel, the
Esmeralda, at Oravesend, outward
bound for the lira/.lis."
"Weil, If he has done no wrong wo
shall Fee that no comes to hlui.
If we are pretty quick in catching our
men. we are not so quick in condemn]
Ing them." It was amusing to notic*
how the consequential Jones was al
ready beginning to give himself airs on
the strength of the capture. From the
slight Mnile which played over Sher
lock Holmes' face, I could see that the
»l>eech had not Iwen lost upon him.
"We will be at Vsiixhall bridge
presently," said Jones, "and shall land
you, l»r. Watson, with the treasure
box 1 need hardly tell you that 1 ain
taking a very grave responsibility upon
myself in doing this. It is most irreg
ular: but of course an agreement Is an
agreement. I must, however, as a mat
ter of duty, send an Inspector with
you, since you have so valuable a
t#Largc. You wilJ djJyv, uodyubt?"
"It is a pity there la no key. that we
may make an inventory flrst. You will
hare to break it open. Where U the
key. my man?"
"At the bottom of the river," said
Small, shortly.
"Hum! There was no use you fir
ing this unnecessary trouble. We hare
bad work enough already through you.
However, doctor. I need not warn you
to be carefuL Bring the box bock
with you to the Baker street rooms.
You will find us there on our way to
the station."
They landed me at Vauxhall with
my heavy iron box and with a bluff,
genial inspector as my companion. A
quarter of an hour's drive brought us
to Mrs. Cecil Forrester's. The servant
seemed surprised at so late a visitor.
Mrs. Cecil Forrester was out for the
evening, she explained, and likely to
be very late. Miss Mors tan, however,
was in the drawing-room; so to the
drawing-room I went, box in hand,
leaving the obliging Inspector in the
cab.
She was seated by the open window,
dressed in some sort of white diaphan
ous material, with a little touch of
scarlet at the neck and waist. The soft
light of a shaded lamp fell upon her aa
she leaned back in the basket chair,
playing over her sweet, grave face, and
tinting with a dull metallic sparkle
the rich coils of her luxurianf hair, one
white arm and hand drooped over the
side of the chair, and her whole pose
and figure spoke of an absorbing
melancholy. At the sound of my foot
fall she sprang to her feet, however,
and a bright flush of surprise and of
pleasure colored her pale cheeks.
"I heard a cab drive up," she said. "I
thought that Mrs. Forrester had come
back very early, but I never dreamed
that it might be you. What news have
you brought me?"
"I have brought something better
than news," said I, putting down the
box upon the table and speaking jov
ially and boisterously, though my
heart was heavy within me. "I have
brought you something which is worth
all the news in the world. I have
brought you a fortune."
She glanced at the Iron box. "Is
that the treasure, then?" she asked,
coolly enough.
"Yes, this Is the great Agra treasure.
Half of it is yours and half is Thaddeua
Sholto's. You will have a couple of
hundred thousand each. Think of
that! An annuity of ten thousand
pounds. There will be tfew richer
young ladies In England. Is It not
glorious?"
I think that I must have been rather
overacting my delight, and that she
detected a hollow ring in my congratu
lations, for I saw her eyebrows rise a
little, and she glanced at me curiously.
"If I have It," said she, "I owe it to
you."
"No, no," I answered, "not to me,
but to my friend Sherlock Holmes.
With all the will in the world, I could
never have followed up a clew whloh
has taxed even his analytical genius.
As it was, we very nearly lost it at the
last moment."
"Pray sit down and tell me all about
it, Dr. Watson," said she.
I narrated briefly what had occurred
since I had seen her last—Holmes' new
method of search, the discovery of the
Aurora, the appearance of Athelney
Jones, our expedition in the evening,
and the wild chase down the Thames.
She listened with parted Hps and shin
ing eyes to my recital of our adventures.
When 1 spoke of the dart which bad so
narrowly missed us, she turned so
white that I feared she was about to
faint.
"It Is nothing," she said, as I
hastened to pour her some wat«r. "I
am all right again. It was a shock to
me to hear that I had placed my friends
in such horrible peril."
"That is all over," I answered. "It was
nothing. I will tell you no more gloomy
details. Let us turn to something
brighter. There Is the treasure. What
could be brighter than that? I got
leave to bring it with me, thinking
that it would interest you to be the
first to sec It."
"It would lie of the greatest Interest
to mo," she said. There was no eager
ness in her voice, however. It struok
her, doubtless, that it might seem un
gracious upon her part to be indiffer
ent to a prize which had cost so much
to win.
"What a pretty box!" she said, stoop
ing over it "This is Indian work, I
suppose?"
"Yes; it is Benares metal-work."
"And so heavy!" she exclaimed, try
ing to raise it. "The box alone must
be of some value. Where is the key?"
"Small threw It into the Thames," 1
answered. "I must borrow Mrs. For
rester's poker." There was in the front
a thick and broad hasp, wrought In the
image of a sitting Buddha. Under thia
I thrust the end of the poker and
twisted it outward as a lever. The hasp
sprang open with a loud snap. With
treinbliug fingers I flung back the lid.
We both stood gazing in astonishment.
The box was cmptyl
No wonder that It was heavy. The
Iron work was two-thirds of an inch
thick all round. It was massive, well
made and solid, like achest constructed
to carry tilings of great price, but not
one shred or crumb of metal or Jowelry
lay within It. It was absolutely and
completely empty.
"Tho treasure la loat," said Mlsa
Morstan, calmly.
As I listened to the words, and real
ized what they meant, a great shadow
seemed to pass from my soul. I did
not know how this Agra Ireaaur* had
weighed me down, until now that U
was tlnally removed. It was selfish,
no doubt, disloyal, wrong, but I could
realize nothing save that the golden
barrier was gone from between ua.
"Thank God!" I ejaculated from my
very heart.
Nhe looked at me with a quick, ques
tioning smile. ' Why do you say that?"
she asked.
"Because you are within my reach
again," I said, taking her hand.
Hhe did not withdraw it "Because I
love you, Mary, as truly as ever a man
loved a woman. Because this treasure,
"TUK TMCAHt'HK 111 IX)BT," SAID MIM
MOIMTAJT.
these riches, sealed ray llpa. Now that
they are (roue I can tell you how I lore
you. That is why I said: 'Thank God.'" j
"Then I say 'Thank God,' too," she
whispered, as 1 drew her to my side.
Whoever had loat a treasure, I knew
that night that I had gained one.
(TO na COKTI.NL «I>. )
The Coaspeasattea of Adversity.
Rlchlelgh—Lord, I wish I were yon.
I\x»rlelgh For heaven's sake, why?
ltlchleigh Why, you can h»vo the
tuu <jf proposing too very girl yxwtuotft .
Nol6
THE EFFECT OF FEAR.
laaafftaatlon ■ Potent Factor la Acqilrtl|
a Fatal DIINN.
"Ot the whole number of persoiu
supposed to die of disease," said |
prominent physician the other day, "J
should say that at least fifty per cent
are really carried away by fear. Wert
It not for this element mortality would
be far less than it is."
In support of this statement he cited
various cases where the element of fear
had entered largely in as a potent foot
tor to persuade people that their tima
had come. Presentiments, prophecies,
premonitions and general nervousness
all played their part. On the other
hand, a short time ago a patient of *
New York hospital was frightened into
getting welL This man was brought
in an ambulance, supposedly dying
from heart failure.
He was laid on a table and a diag
nosis showed him to be suffering with
hvsteria. The surgeon turned to on*
of his assistants and, asking for a knife,
remarked that he would cut down to
the heart and find what the trouble
was. The patient gave a yell and.
leaping from the table, started for th«
door. Remonstrance was in vain. That
man was cured and never came back.
Some time ago four criminals, cow*
demned in Russia to die, were t 'cen to
a house and shown several I .. in
which they were told a num.,. of
cholera patients had died. As a mat
ter of fact, the beds wore new. uever
having been slept in. The cri>.:iinal«
were informed that they would be set
at liberty if they would undergo th«
ordeal of sleeping several nights in tha
beds. From the prisoners' point of
view it was a possible, though a dea>
perate, chance of escape. They on*
and all decided to take the chances. At
the end of the time prescribed two
were uninjured and went free, but th«
Others developed all the symptoms an 4
died of Asiatic cholera.
Two physicians determined to taka
•dvantage of the impressionable mind
of a female patient and prove a theory
for the benefit of science. The lady
had complained of an itching on her
back. She was told that a blister
would be applied. Instead, a common
postage stamp was applied, and, so
runs the chronicle, performed all tha
offices of the plaster which was not
there.
A college professor was once the sut>
ject of a practical joke at the hands ot
the students. They met him one after
another, and each successively inquired
after his health, saying that he looked
ill. ne took to his bed, a physician waa
called and for days the professor linag.
ined he waa 111.— N. Y. World.
ONLY A MISTAKE, AFTER ALU
Aad Nothing for a ll**pect*bl« Color*4
Ge»tlrman to Worry About.
A serious blunder occurred In a West
Virginia county not long ago. A num
ber of the farmers had sustained losses
of sheep from their respective flocks,
and, being skeptical as to the efficiency
of the law officers, one night took tha
matter In their own hands. A dozen or
more of them proceeded some miles
away, to tho house of Rehoboth Jem
son, and, notwithstanding his protest*'
tions of innocence, gave him a sever*
drubbing.
The affair created no little stir, aa
Rehoboth wos a very respectable col
ored man, who owned a snug little farm
and was a deacon in the Buptlst church.
Be had the confidence and esteem oi
his white neighbors, who were so
worked up over the matter that they
considered the expediency of an investi
gation that should lead to tho punish
ment of the raiding party.
Within a few days the farmers discov
ar«d they had made an awkward mis
take, the guilty party having beea
caught red-handed and had made a full
confession; so, being in the main a right
good set of fellows they decided to offer
balm to Rehoboth for hi* many wounds.
Three of their number were designated
a committee with full power to act, and
they hastened to the discharge of their
duty. Old Rehoboth was sitting in his
neat little cabin with bandaged head,
while his wife was applying a cooling
waah to his lacerated back. The com
mittee looked foolish and scarcely knew
how to beg i; but finally one of tho
Dumber stammered out an apology, and
added that they were willing to pay a
reasonable amount aa recompense for
his sufferings.
"La, child, how you does talk, sholyl
Ameckin' sich a furse dat I's ershamed
on yel You Jea' git back ter yer homea
V stay dar. 1 aln' axln' nuffln' V don'
want nuftln'. W'y honey, ef I done tuck
on erbout de mlstecks er white folksca
I'd jea' be plum' mls'able harf de time."
—Chicago Tribune.
iroollag tha Eiifir.
A humorous old suburban farmer
(alia the following story of how he onca
fooled «. toll-gate keeper: "It waa
when 1 wan a drummer," he said, "and
selling K'xxi" around through country
towns In these parts. I was goln'
through one of these old gates, and I
slowed up a bit and asked of tho old
fellow at tho door: 'Ah, my friend, do
preachers pay to go through your
gate?' 'No, sir,' said he; and with a
profound obeisance he waved me on
and backed into his little room.
"Well, after that I passed through
some eight or ten times, when ono day
he accosted me as I drove up:
" 'Good day, sir,' he said; 'what
church do you preach at, air, may I
ask?'
" 'None, my good fellow, none,' I re*
plied.
" 'What! Didn't you tell me you wua
a preacher,' said he.
"'No,' I sold, 'I only asked you If
Breachcrs had to pay. I waa Just a
ttle curious to know.* Well, you
should have seen that old fellow'a face,
as It dawned upon lilm whero the joke
came in."—National Tribune.
('•r*«r Bafora Har.
"I suppose yon loved your last hua
band dearly," said Mrs. Hunter, of Jer
sey City, to Mrs. Lakeahore, of Chicago.
"I haven't married my last husband
yat, H was the reply. "If ywe mean to
express a supposition that I loved my
moat recent husband, I can say that I
did"— Town Topics.
Lack of Watar.
"Lady," began Mr. Dismal Dawson,
"you see before you a man whose nama
la mud—m-u-d, mud."
"There must l>e some mistake in your
calculation*," replied the
takes water to make mud."—lndianap
olis Journal.
Anxious to Participate
Small Son—Home of the boys Is start
ing a little bank, just for fun. Tha
shares Is to bo ten cents each.
Father—Would you like to be one of
the shareholders?
Small Son—Oh, no; but I'd like to ba
one of the borrowers. —Good Newa
Koough to Rraak All Ties.
Emmeline— So Marie's engagement la
broken. I thought sho and Harry loved
aacb other devotedly.
Mande—So they did; but they went
out sailing together last week and both
got sea nick.—Judge.
In K«w York, of ConrM.
New I'olloemau And whore la your
permit to peddle?
I'eddlor —1 have a verbal permit.
"Show It to me." —Alex Sweat, in
Texas Slftlnga.
Proof Posttiv*.
Little Tommy—Mamma, papa baa
boon drlnkliiK-
Mother—What makes you think so*
Tommy—Ho said that you wtoro (|)