VOLXXXII
READ and REFLECT.
A GRAND OPPORTUNITY—With the dawn of prosperity juet
for« an aDri the improvement in business notwithstanding. We f '™ wnn ®
ago decidt-d to close ont oar entire stock of Mt-a'a B >ys' and Cbtldxe;•»
Clothing, which we will coDtinne to do at prices that will be to t»<e advan
tage of all desiring to purchase cl thing. No matter how hive or >ow
mm h money yon hare to invest, we know it will be bard ou tt-e C lottuag
bueines* hot ai- we are determined to clow oat we c»nuot help it Ui.r
stock is the l*rf*st in the county. Men's fine black worsted p»nu) "II wool
onlv $2.00. We have more pants than any two mores in town Uur
chiidren'a nuits are marvels of beaotr; -.11 tte lat»* novelties, *uch as' 1
Regent, Euclid Nfptnne Coiumbi-.R-efers, Jersey-. Kiiu «c. trorn &t»cta
op Boys' Double and Siutle Round and Square cornsr Plain or
Plsued—Alt will b« eoM witboul n-i-erve
PJT« will still cootii.ne lo c»rr» a tnl: and c mp'eie line •>» Hats, »».
•Shirts, Tit-*. Col I a'a roffr. H ndkwcfaief-, Uu i*r*ear, H -l* '• U«-.hil-.
Jackets Bweat*rs, Ua.brehps.
Brahbes Combo, JffctrhM. CfcunN. ('bum*, Coiler and <.ufl Hut
tout. Ac We still carry the Sen.per dem" Shirt, tbe uulaundr -
ahirt in ibe world ool* $1 00 Ou: 75 c«i>t -bin is -qu-il t.. au . *1 u
shirt on ibe market. Our line «f CheTL W, PercaJle aud Madras stiru-. rui
and complete. , .
Vie have found that one mau'« moi;*y is better than t»" mt-n » cte
and have adopted the cash plan and find that it work* wonder tv>
member that we are the old reliable, the pi >neor ol good goodn at low pr c »;
tbvt we have been here a quarter ol a eeotury ugaiuat all cmers ana g .ei>
have stayed with yon and done yon pood It will pay you to
mllec as we can save you Money, no matter how low you are off- reo go ?
Jpv have no baits to pull the wool ow your eyes. A fai , rquare deal i*
wuui ~.e promise and are nere to fulfil tbai prooiiae.
D-A-HECK, CS
121 N. Main St., Butler, Pa.
John Bickel's SHOE st—
-128 S. flain St.
Branch Store '25 N. riain st,
Our large prinp stock is arriving daily, and among this stock
will be found all the latest styles in Ladies and Gents high grade foot
wear, at low prices.
Our Stock ol Men's htuislaigt—J at<r,t LtalL
ers'—Russetts, — Kangaroo's, —Cordovans and
fine Calf shoes in all the latest styles—Large stock
of Men's Low Cut shoes.
t >ur stock of Ladies and Misses shoes is full,
comprising of the latest styles—Razor Toe, —Pic-
cadilly—and narrow quarc Toes, are the late. c t,
and we have them in Black and Russett, ln,
Lace and Button; Also large assortment of La
dies and Misses Oxfords— Toe and Instrap
Uppers. Ladies' Cloth Overgaiters— at reduced
prices. Gilt-Ed g* d hot Dressing.
Patent+LEATHER+ Lfl i 4
+TAN+ lUIiM. *4* #
The balance of our Winter stock to be closed out regardless of
cost or value —Rubber Goods—Men's Rubber Boots—Boston Can
dee or Woonsocket boots, at $2,00 per pair—Men's Oil Grain Box
Toe shoes Double sole and tap, at $1,25 per pair—Men's ev'ery day
shoes at 90c —Women's oil grain shoes in Lace or Button, at 90c —
M isses shoes 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 of 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.
Wnen in need of anything in my line, Give me
a call.
JOHN BICKEL,
128 S. Main Street,
BUTLER, PA.
++REMEHBER THIS.++
A tew words in parting.
Go to ff US ELTON'S for my
Shoes; don't you go any other
place; I have tried them and his
are the best, recollect what I say.
Full line Misses and Children's Tan Shoes, Fit for a King at
prices in harmony with the times. You don't need a fat pocket
book to deal here.
Tan Shoes will be especially popular this Spring. New Shades
and Shapes.
Our Stock in Men's Hoys ami Youths, excel anything ever
shown in Butler. They are stylish and fine enough to suit the most
fastidious tastes. Prices 011 these 75c 90c —$1,00 —$1,25 —$1,50
—s2,oo —s2,so—and —$3.00. —Don't fail to pay us a visit, we have
rices way down and Quality way up.
#- B. C, Huselton, -#
102 N. Main Street,
* THE QUESTION » often asked, What Paint shall we use?
THE ANSWER: If you are looking for covering
capacity, wearing qualities, general appearance, and
your money's worth, you must buy
THE SHERWIN-WMJAMS
OHVI Wort, Loo* 1 hit, Wtart Unfit, M«tt CeomomlocJ, full *«JWI.
Our prices are for ' 'best goods" first, last and all
the time. We are in the business to stay and
■RUSHES, 9. W. P. stays with us.
COLONS IN OIL,
HOUSE & COACH
V**NISHC« t
J. C. REDICK, 109 N. Main St.
HUSELTON'S
Spring Shoes
Easy, stylish and comfortable
Footwear for Spring and Summer.
Onr Ladies aid Men's Tan and
+Black Shoes, +
Are suth and extremely dressy.
We are ready with an immense
line in all colors, Russia Calf, Vici
Kid and Razor London; New
Opera and French Toes.
$ $ $ $ $
1,00 1,50 2,00 2,50 3,00
$ $ $ $ $
More and better styles than any
other showing in Butler.
-THE BUTLER CITIZEN.
Meadville, Pa.
Hood's Is Good and Great
It Cur«d Citarrh, Dyspepsia, Etc.
' " Hood'i Sarsaparilla has done mm mora
' good than any physician. I had catarrh
and dygpeptia 20 years, and tried different
remedies and prescriptions without ben
efit. The doctors told me
I Could Not Live.
One day after reading of the wonderful
cures effected by Hood's Sarsa par ilia, I re
solved to try one bottle. It did great and
food work »o I continued, and after tak-
In* four bottles it is with joy and glad
ness that I write that I am perfectly cured
And Am • Well Man Today.
My wife was troubled with nervousness
and a general tired feeling. She could not
walk any distance or do any heavy work.
Hood's Sar,a -
I partUa
Her rest was broken £ V | j |«pQ
St night. She has
taken Hood's Sarsa
par ilia and now she can do any ordinary
work without trouble, sleep soundly, and
go about without being over-fatigued.
We know It is a splendid tonic." J. M.
SLAYTON, 842 Cottage St., Meadville, Pa.
Hood's Pills become the favorite eathartio
wlUi every one who tries tlitm. 25c. per box.
C. X,D.
A business that keeps grow
ing through a season 01 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, the 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
CALL AND SEE US
Colbert & Dale.
Are You Afflicted.
Now is the chance of a life-time
to be Cured.
The EXCELSIOR Remedies,
PoKtiyely and Permanently cure ail
diftHaneH canned by of th*
Blood. Stomach, Livi-r and Kii!ney».
Rheumatism, N«-uriljrin. Stomach «n''
Liver Trouble; all Skin Di-ease, St, Vmi*
I>»r.ce. Gujersl IM)iliiy, Survnf Debility
Hiok or N<rv»n- Headache. I'Htarrsh, At -
er ijflect" of ljbGrip|ie. fVrr»l< Coin, li«in'-,
1 uml ~)l its evil effects
The Exrel'ior Blood tilenxer uml Exre!
Htor Vegetable I'll!*, are ei>|iee --illy adopted
|or the above coti<plaiiitrt ilieir < utnt \e
power* ire worderlul. THY TUlfiM, • • y
are to i:ure. send vour »<>-
(lrMtic and we «ill mail you THE EXCEL
SIOR LEADER containing testimonial*
of hundreds who nafe been cured b» th'
Excelaior Ren)«dieii in your own Coantv
and State. Address all communication
te
Office EXCELSIOR Medicine Co,
No. 126 S. Main St. - - Butler Pa
Great Public SALE
Carriages,
Buggies and
Harness,
On the premises of the undersign
ed,
T riiurßdoLy
MAY 2nd, '95,
A large lot ofSurries, Phaetons
Top Buggies, Spring Wagons,
Runabout Wagons, Wagons and
a number of light vehicles. All
new and of reliable manufacture,
15 Double Sets TEAM HAKNESS,
Medium and Heavy Grade, my
own work.
50 Sets Single BUGGY HARNESS,
All styles. Also Coupes, Express
and Single Wagon Harness, Lap
Robes in Fur, Wool and Phish
Horse Blankets; Summer Lap
Dusters and Mats; I r ly Nets, Col
lars, Check Lines, Halters, Hous
ings, Horse Brushes, Curry Combs,
Whips, Collar Sweats, Trunks,
Traveling Bags, Riding Saddles
and Bridles &c.
Terms on Five Dollars or less,
Cash. On all amounts over $5,
one years time with approved se
curity or 5 per cent off for cash.
JOS. ROCKENSTEIN.
146 North Main St., - - Butler, Pa
Don't forget the day and place.
It will pay you to take a day off
to attend this sale.
J. R. Karns, Auctioneer
WALL
********
PAPER.
utuuttun
All grades from Brown Blanks
up to the finest embossed Bronzes.
The better the paper the better
the Bargain.
Buy your good papers now and
get them at wholesale prices.
Window Shades in all the
latest colors at
DOUGLASS',
Near P. O.
YOU CAIN HNDpV™
JI fit" 111 I'lTTsn'n II ~l I lie Ad-< rtiairifc liun-i'. ui
K."'.; REMINGTON BROS,
» - t'J xmUfcCt fur ailvorUjiitru at loWwt \
BUTLER. PA., THURSDAY, APR LL *25, 18H5.
i^|WOUR^
oyS^
CHAPTER XII.
THE STRANGE STORY OF .JONATHAN SMAI.L.
A very patient man was the inspector
In the cab, for it was a weary time be
fore I rejoined him. His face clouded
over when I showed him the empt3*
box.
"There goes the reward," said he,
gloomily. "Where there is no money
there is no pay. This nights work
would have been worth a tenner each
to Sam Brown and me if the treasure
had been there."
"Mr. Thaddeus Sholto is a rich man,"
I said. "He will see that you are re
warded, treasure or no."
The inspector shook his head de
spondently, however. "It's a bad job,"
he repeated, "and so Mr. Athelney
Jones will think."
His forecast proved to be correct,
for the detective looked blank enough
when I got to Baker street and showed
him the empty box. They had only
just arrived. Holmes, the prisoner and
he, for they had changed their plans so
far as to report themselves at a station
upon the way. My companion lounged
in his armchair with his usual listless
expression, while Small sat stolidly op
posite to him with his wooden leg
cocked over his sound one. As I ex
hibited the empty box he leaned back
In his chair and laughed aloud.
"This is your doing, Small," said
Athelney Jones, angrily.
"Yes, I have put it away where you
shall never lay hand upon it," he cried,
exultantly. "It is my treasure; and if
I can't have the loot I'll take darned
good care that no one else does. I tell
you that no living man has any right
to it, unless it is three men who are in
the Andaman convict barracks and my
self. I know now that I cannot have
the use of it, and I know that they
cannot. I have acted all through for
them as much as for myself. It's been
the sign of four with us always. Well
I know that they would have had me
do just what I have done, and throw
the treasure into the Thames rather
than let it go to kith or kin of Sholto
or of Morstan. It was not to make
them rich that we did for Achmet.
You'll find the treasure where the key
is, and where little Tonga is. When I
saw that your launch must catch us, I
put the loot in a safe place. There are
no rupees for you this journey."
"You arc deceiving us, Small," said
Athelney Jones, sternly "If you had
wished to throw the treasure into the
Thames it would have been easier for
you to have thrown box and all."
"Easier for me to throw, and easier
for you to recover," he answered, with
a shrewd, sidelong look. "The man
that was clever enough to hunt me
down is clever enough to pick an iron
box from the bottom of a river. Now
that they are scattered over five miles
or so, it may be a harder job. It went
to my heart to do it, though. I was
half mad when you came up with us.
However, there's no good grieving over
it. I've had ups in my life, and I've
had downs, but I've learned not to cry
over spilt milk."
"This is a very serious mattci, Small,"
said the detective. "If you had helped
justice, instead of thwarting it in this
way, you would have had a better
chance at your trial."
"Justice!" snarled the ex-convict. "A
pretty justice! Whose loot is this, if
it is not ours? Where is the justice
that I should give it up to those who
have never earned it? Look how I have
earned it! Twenty long years in that
fever-ridden swamp, all day at work
under the mangrove tree, all night
chained up in the filthy convict huts,
bitten by mosquitoes, racked with
ague, bullied by every cursed black
faced policeman who loved to take it
out of a white man. That was how I
earned the Agra treasure; and you talk
to me of justice because I cannot bear
to feel that I have paid this price only
that another may enjoy it: I would
rather swing a score of times
or have one of Tonga's darts in
my hide, than live in a convict's cell
and feel that another man is at his case
in a palace with the money that should
be mine." Small had dropped his mask
of stoicism, and all this came out in a
wild whirl of words, while his eyes
blazed, aud the hand-cuffs clanked to
gether with impassioned movement ol
his hands. I could understand, 1
mw the fury and the passion of the
man. that it was no groundless or un
natural terror which had possessed
Maj. Hholto when he first learned that
the injured convict was upon his track.
"You forget that we know nothing ot
all this," said Holmes, quietly. "We
hare not heard your story, and we can
not tell how f»r justice may originally
have been on your side."
"Well, sir, you have been very fair
spoken to mo, though I can sue that 1
have you to thank that I have these
bracelets upon my wrists. Still, I beai
no grudge for that. It is all fair and
above-board. If you want to hear mj
story I have no wish to hold it back.
What I say to you is God's truth, every
word of it. Thank you; you can put
the glass beside me here, and I'll put
my lips to it if I am dry.
"I am a Worcestershire man myself—
born near I'ershore. 1 dare say you
would find a heap of Smalls living
there now if you were to look. I have
often thought of taking a look round
there, but the truth Is that I was never
much of a credit to the family, and I
doubt if they would be bo very glad to
see me. They were all steady, chapel
going folk, small farmers, well known
and respected over the country-side,
while I was always a bit of a rover.
At last, however, when I was about
eighteen, I gave them no more trouble,
for I got into a mess over a girl, and
could only get out of it again by tak
ing the queen's shilling and joining
the Third Huffs which was just starting
for India.
"1 wasn't destined to do much sol
diering, however. I iiad just got past
the goose-step and learned to handle
iny musket, when I wan fool enough to
go swimming in the Ganges. Luckily
for me, my company sergeant, John
liolUer, was in the water at the same
time, and he was one of the finest
swimmers in the service. A crocodile
took me, just as I was half way across,
and nipped off my right leg just as
clean as a surgeon could have done it,
just above the knee. What with the
shock and the loss of blood 1 fainted,
and I should have been drowned if
Holder had not caught hold of me and
paddled for the bank. I was Ave
months In hospital over it, and when at
last I was able to limp out of it with
this timber toe strapped to my stump
I found myself invalided out of the
army and unfitted for any active occu
pation.
"I was, as you can Imagine, pretty
down on my luck at this time, for I
was a useless cripple, though not yet
in my twentieth year. However, nay
misfortune soon proved to be a bless
ing in disguise. A man named Abel
white, who had come out there as an
look after his coolies and keep them up
to their work. He happened to be a
friend of our colonel's, who had taken
an interest in me since the accident.
HOW HE LOST HIS LEO.
To make a long story short, the colonel
recommended me strongly for the post
and, as the work was mostly to be
done on horseback, my leg was no
great obstacle, for I had enough knee
left to keep a good grip on the saddle.
What I had to do was to ride over tho
plantation, to keep an eye on the men
as they worked, and to report the
idlers. The pay was fair, I had com
fortable quarters, and altogether I was
content to spend the remainder of my
life in indigo-planting. Mr. Abelwhite
was a kind man, and he would often
drop into my little shanty and smoke a
pipe with me, for white folk out there
feel their hearts warm to each other as
they never do here at home.
"Well, I was never in luck's way
long. Suddenly, without a note of
warning, the great mutiny broke upon
us. One month India lay as still and
peaceful, to all appearance, as Surrey
or Kent; the next there were two hun
dred thousand black devils let loose,
and the country was a perfect hell. Of
course you know all about it, gentle
men—a deal more than I do, very like
ly, since reading is not in my line. I
only know what I saw with my own
eyes. Our plantation was at a place
called Muttra, near the border of the
northwest provinces. Night after
night the whole sky was alight with
the burning bungalows, and day after
day we had small companies of Euro
peans passing through our estate with
their wives and chilclran, on their way to
Agra, where were the nearest troops.
Mr. Abelwhite was an obstinate man.
lie had it in his head that the affair
had been exaggerated, and that it would
blow over as suddenly as it had sprung
up There he sat on his veranda,
drinking whisky pegs and smoking
cheroots, while the country was in a
blaze about him Of course we stuck
by him. I and Dawson, who, with his
wife, used to do the bookwork and the
managing Well, one fine day the
crash came I had been away on a
distant plantation, and was riding
slowly home in the evening, when my
oye fell upon something all huddled
together at the bottom of a steep
nullah. I rode down to »ce what
it was, and the cold struck
through my heart when 1 found
it was Dawson's wife, all cut
into ribbons, and half-eaten by jackals
and native dogs. A little further up
the road Dawson himself was lying
on his face, quite dead, with an
empty revolver in his hand and four
Sepoys lyinp across each otlicr in from
of him. 1 reined up my horse, wonder
ing which way I should turn, but at
that moment I saw thick smoke curl
ing up from Abelwhite's bungalow and
the llamcs beginning to burst through
the roof. I knew then that I could do
my employer no good, but would only
throw my own life away if I meddled
in the mutter. From where I stood
I could see hundreds of the black
fiends, with their red coats still on
their backs, dancing and howling
round the burning house. Some of
them pointed at me, and a couple of
bullets .sang past my headj so I
broke away across the paddy-fields, and
found myself late at night safe within
the walls at Agra.
"As it proved, however, there was no
great safety there, cither. The whole
country was up like a swarm of bees.
Wherever the English could collect in
little bands they held just the ground
that their guns commanded. Every
where else they were helpless fugi
tives. It was a fight of the millions
against the hundreds; and the cruelest
part of it was that these men that we
fought against, foot, horse and gun
ners, were our own picked troops,
whom we had taught and trained,
handling ouc own weapons, and blow
ing our own bugle calls. At Agra there
were the Third Bengal Fusiliers, some
Sikhs, two troops of horse and a battery
of artillery. A volunteer corps of
clerks and merchants had been formed,
and this I joined, wooden leg and all.
We went out to meet the rebels at
Shaligunge early in July, and we
beat them back for a time, but our
powder gave out and we had to fall
back upon the city. Nothing but the
worst news came to us from every side
—which is not to be wondered at, for if
you look at the map you will see that
we were right in the heart of it. Luck
now is rather better than a hundred
miles to the east, and Cawnpore about
as far to the south. From every point
on the compass there was nothing but
torture and murder and outrage.
"The city of Agra is a great place,
swarming with fanatics and fierce
devil-worshipers of all sorts. Our hand
ful of men were lost among the nar
row, winding streets. Our leader
moved across the river, therefore, and
took up his position in the old fort of
Agra. I don't know if any of you gen
tlemen have ever read or heard any
thing of that old fort. It is a very
queer place—the queerest that ever I
was in, and I have been in some rum
corners, too. First of all, it lsenormous
in size. I should think that the inclos
ure must be acres and acres. There is
a modern part, which took all our gar
rison, women, children, stores and
everything else, with plenty of room
over. Hut the modern part is nothing
like the size of the old quarter, whero
nobody goes, and which is given over to
the scorpions and the centipedes. It is
all full of great deserted halls, and
winding passages, and long corridors
twisting in nnd out, so that It is easy
for folks to get lost in it. Tor this rea
son it was seldom that anyone went
into it, though now and again a party
with torches might go exploring.
"The river washes along the front of
the old fort, and so protects it, but on
the sides and behind there are many
doors, and these had to be guarded, of
course, In the old quarter as well as in
that which was actually held by our
troops. We were short-handed, with
hardly men enough to man the angles
Vlf tilS WUikur unyl to
•
It was impossible tor us. therefore, to
station a strong g-uard at everyone of
the innumerable gates. What we did
was to organize a central guardhouse
in the middle of the fort, and to leave
each gate under the charge of one
white man and two or three natives. I
was selected to take charge during cer
tain hours of the uight of a small iso
lated door upon the southwest side of
the building. Two Sikh troopers ware
placed under my command, and I was
instructed if anything went wrong to
fire my musket, when I might rely upon
help coming at once from the central
guard. As the guard was a good two
hundred paces away, however, and as
the space between was cut up into a
labyrinth of passages and corridors, I
had preat doubts as to whether they
could arrive in time to be of any use in
ca&e of an actual attack.
"Well, I was pretty proud at having
this small command given me. since I
was a raw recruit, and a game-legged
one at that. For two nights I kept the
watch with my Punjaubees. They
were tall, fierce-looking chaps, Ma
homet Singh and Abdullah Khan by
name, both old fighting men who had
borne arms against us at Chilianwal
lah. They could talk English pretty
well, but I could get little out of them.
They preferred to stand together and
jabber all night in their queer Sikh
lingo. For myself, I used to stand
outside the gateway, looking down on
the broad, winding river and on the
twinkling lights of the great city. The
beating of drums, the rattle of tom
toms. and the yells and howls of the
rebels, drunk with opium and with
bang, were enough to remind us all
night of our dangerous neighbors across
the stream. Every two hours the offi
cers of the uight used to come round
to all the posts, to make sure that all
was welL
"The third right of iny watch was
dark and dirty, with a small, driving
rain. It was dreary work standing in
the gateway hour after hour In such
weather. I tried again and again to
make my Sikhs talk, but without much
success. At two in the morning the
rounds passed, and broke for a moment
the wearinessof the night. Finding that
my companions would not be led into
conversation, I took out my pipe, and
laid down my musket to strike a
match. In an instant the two Sikhs
were upon me. One of them snatched
my firelock up and leveled It at my
head, while the other held a great kniie
to my throat and swore between his
teeth that he would plunge it into me
if I moved a step.
"My first thought was that these fel
lows were in league with the rebels,
and that this was the beginning of an
assault. If our door were in the hands
of the Sepoys the place must fall, and
the women and children be treated as
they were in Cawnporo. Maybe you
gentlemen think that I am just making
out a case for myself, but I give you
my word that when I thought of that,
though I felt the point of the knife at
my throat, I opened my mouth with
the intention of giving a scream, If it
was my last one, which might alarm
the main guard. The man who held
me seemed to know my r thoughts; for,
even as I braced myself to it, he whis
pered: 'Don't make a noise. The fort
is safe enough. There are no rebel
dogs on this side of tho river.' There
was the ring of truth in what he said,
and I knew that if I raised my voice I
was a dead man. I could read it in the
fellow's brown eyes. I waited, there
fore, In silence, to see what It was that
they wanted from me.
" 'Listen to me, sahib,'said the taller
and fiercer of the pair, the one whom
they called Abdullah Khan. 'You
must either be with us now or you
must be silenced forever. The thing
is too great a one for us to hesitate.
Either you are heart and soul with ua
I USED TO STAND OUTSIDE THE GATEWAY.
on your oath on the cross of the Chris
tians, or your body this night shall be
thrown into the ditch and we shall
pass over to our brothers In the rebel
army. There Is no middle way.
Which is it to be, death or life? We
can only give you three minutes to
decide, for the time is passing, and all
must be done before the rounds come
again.'
" 'How can I decide?' said I. 'You
have not told rne what you want of
me. But I tell you now that If it is
anything against the safety of the
fort I will have no truck with it, so
you can drive home your knife and
welcome-'
" 'lt is nothing against the fort,' said
he. 'We only ask you to do that 'vhioh
your countrymen come to this land for.
We ask you to be rich. If you will bo
one of us this night, we will swear to
you upon the naked knife, and by the
threefold oath which no Sikh was ever
known to break, that you shall have
vour fair share of the loot. A quarter
of tho treasure shall be yours. We can
say no fairer.'
'"l Jut what is the treasure, then?"
1 asked. 'I am as ready to be rich as
you can be. If you will but show me
how it can be done.'
" 'You 6wear, then,' said he, 'by the
bones of your father, by the honor of
your mother, by the cross of your faith,
to raise no hand and speak no word
against us, either now or afterwards?'
"'I will swear it,'l answered, 'pro
vided that the fort is not endangered.'
" 'Then my comrade and I will swear
that you shall have a quarter of the
treasure, which shall be equally divided
among the four of us.'
" 'There are but three,' said I.
" 'No; Dost Akbar must have his
share. We can tell the tale to you
while we await them. Do you stand
at the gate, Mahomet Singh, and give
notice of their coming. The thing
stands thus. Sahib, and I tell it to you
because I know that an oath is binding
upon a Feringhee, and that we may
trust you. Had you been a lying Hin
doo, though you had sworn by all tho
gods in their false temples, your blood
would have been upon the knife, and
your body in the water. But the Sikh
knows the Englishman, and tho Eng
lishman knows the Sikh. Hearken,
then, to what I have to say.
" 'There is a rajah in the northern
provinces who lias much wealth, though
his lands are small. Much has come to
him from his father, and more still ho
has set by himself, for he is of a low
nature and hoards his gold rather than
spend it. When the troubles broke out
he would be friends both with the lion
and the tiger—with the Sepoy and
with the company's raj. Soon, however,
it seemed to him that the white meu'B
day was come, for through all tho laud
he could hear of nothing but their
death and their overthrow. Yet, being
a careful man, ho made suoh plans that,
come what might, half at least of his
treasures would bo left to him. That
,vy - wutt lu gold and silver he koyti
oy him in the vaults of his palace, but
the most precious stones and the
choicest pearls that he had he put in
an iron box and sent it by a trusty
servant who, under the puise of a mer
chant, should take it to the fort at
Agra, there to lie until the land is at
peace. Thus if the rebels won he would
have his money, but if the company
conquer his jewels would be saved
to him. Having thus divided his
hoard he threw himself into the cause
of the Sepoys, since they were strong
his borders. By doing this, mark
you. saiiib, his property becomes the
due of those wi.3 have been true to
their salt.
"'This pretended merchant, v. ho
travels under the name of Achmet, Is
now in the city of Agra, and de
sires to gain his way into the fort. He
has with him as traveling companion
my foster-brother Dost-Akbar, who
knows his Becrct. Dost-Akbar has
promised this night to lead hini to a
side-postern of the fort, and has chosen
this one for his purpose. Here he will
come presently and here he will
find Mahomet Singh and myself await
' ing him. The place is lonely, and none
i shall know of his coming. The world
! shall know of the merchant Achmet no
more, but the great treasure of the
rajah shall be divided among us. What
say you to-it, sahib?'
"In Worcestershire the life of a man
seems a ffreat and a sacred thing; but
it is very different when there Is fire
and blood all round you and you have
been used to meeting death at every
turn. Whether Achmet the merchant
lived or died was a thing as light as air
to me, but at the talk about the treas
ure my heart turned to it, and I thought
of what I might do in the old country
with it, and how my folks would stare
when they saw their ne'er-do-well com
ing back with his pockets full of gold
moidores. I had, therefore, already
made up my mind. Abdullah Khan,
however, thinking that I hesitated,
pressed the matter more closely.
" 'Consider, sahib," said he, 'that if
this man is taken by the commandant
he will be hung or shot, and his jewels
taken by the government, so that no
man will be a rupee the better for
them. Now, since we do the taking of
him, why should we not do the rest as
as well? The jewels will be as well
with us as in the company's coffers.
There will be enough to make every
one of us rich men and great chiefs.
No one can know about the matter, for
here we are cut oft from all men.
What could be better for the purpose?
Say again, then, sahib, whether you
are with us, or if we must look upon
you as an enemy.'
"'I am with you heart and soul,"
said I.
" 'lt is well,' he answered, handing
me back my firelock. 'Yon see that we
trust yon, for your word, like ours, is
not to be broken. We have now only
to wait for my brother and the mer
chant.'
" 'Does your brother know, then, of
what you will do?' I asked.
" 'The plan is his. He has devised it.
We will go to the gate and share the
watch with Mahomet Singh.'
"The rain was still falling steadily,
for it was just the beginning of the
wet season. Brown, heavy clouds were
drifting across the sky, and it was hard
to see more than a stone-cast. A deep
moat lay in front of our door, but the
water was in places nearly" dried up,
and It could easily be crossed. It was
strange to me to be standing there
with those two wild Punjoubees wait
ing for the man who was coming to his
death.
"Suddenly my eye caught the glint
of a shaded lantern at the other side of
the moat. It vanished among the
mound-heaps, and then appeared again
coming slowly in our direction.
" 'Here they are!' I exclaimed.
"'You will challenge him, sahib, as
usual,' whispered Abdullah. 'Give him
no cause for fear. Send us in with
him, and we shall do the rest while
you stay here on guard. Have the
lantern ready to uncover, that we may
be sure that it is indeed the man.'
"The light had flickered onwards,
now stopping and now advancing, un
til I could see two dark figures upon
the other side of the moat. I let them
scramble down the sloping bank,
splash through the mire, and climb
half-way up to the gate, before I
challenged them.
" 'Who goes there?' said I in a sub
dued voice.
" 'Friends,' came the answer. I un
covered my lantern and threw a flood
of light upon them. The first was an
enormous Sikh, with a black beard
which swept nearly down to his cum
merbund. Outside of a show 1 have
never seen so tall a man. The other
was a little fat, round fellow, with a
great yellow turban, and a bundle in
his hand, done up in a shawl. Ho
seemed to be all in a quiver with fear,
"WIIiT HAVE TOD IN THE BUNDLE?" I
ASKED.
for his hands twitohed as if he had the
ague, and his head kept turning to
left und right with two bright little
twinkling eyes, like a mouse when he
ventures out from his hole. It gave
me the chills to think of killing him,
but I thought of the treasure, and my
heart set as hard as a flint within me.
When he saw my white face he gave a
little chirrup of joy and came running
up towards me.
'"Your protection, sahib,'he pauted
—'your protection for the unhappy
merchant Achmet. 1 have traveled
across Kajpootana that I might seek
the shelter of the fort at Agra. I have
been robbed and beaten and abused
because I have been the friend of the
company. It is a blessed night this
when 1 am once more in safety—l and
my poor possessions.'
"'What have you in the bundle?'l
asked.
" 'Aa iron box,' he answered, 'which
contains one or two little family mat
ters which are of no value to others,
but which 1 should be sorry to lose.
Yet I am not a beggar; and I shall re
ward you, young sahib, and your gov
ernor also, if he will give me the shel
ter I ask.'
"I could not trust myself to speak
longer with the man. The more I
looked at his fat, frightened face, the
harder did it seem that we should slay
him in cold blood. It was best to get
It over.
" Talto him to the main tfuard," said
I. The two Sikhs closed In upon him
on each side, and the giant walked be
hind, while they marched iu through
the dark gateway. Never was a man
•o compassed round with death I re
mained at the gateway with the lan
tern.
"I could hear the mea-.urod tramp of
their footsteps bounding through the
Svddifflly* It ccadfcdj;
. ucara voices, and a scuffle, with
the sound of blows. A moment later
there came, to my horror, a rush of
footsteps coming in my direction,
with the loud breathing of a run
lng man. I turned my lantern down
the long, straight passage, and there
was the fat man, running like the wind,
with a smear of blood across his face,
and close at his heels, bounding like a
tijrer, the great black-bearded Sikh,
with a knife flashing in his hand. I
have never seen a man run so fast as
that little merchant. lie was gaining
on the Sikh, and I could see that if he
once passed me and frot to the open air
he would save himself yet. My heart
softened to him, but again the thought
of his treasure turned me hard and
bitter. I cast my firelock between his
legs as he raced past, and he rolled
twice over like a shot rabbit. Ere he
could stagger to his feet the Sikh was
upon him, and buried his knife twice
In his 6ide. The man never uttered
moan nor moved muscle, but la - where
he had fallen. I think myself that he
may have broken his neck with the fall.
You see, gentlemen, that I am keeping
my promise. I am telling you every
word of the business just exactly as it
happened, whether it Is In my favor or
not."
He stopped and held out his man
acled hands for the whisky and water
which Doings had brewed for him.
For myself. I confess that I had now
conceived the utmost horror of the
man, not only for this cold-blooded
business in which he had been con
cerned, but even more for the some
what flippant and careless way in
which he narrated it. Whatever pun
ishment was in store for him, I felt
that he might expect no sympathy from
me. Sherlock ITolmes and Jones sat
with their hands upon their knees,
deeply interested in the story, but with
the same disgust written upon their
faces. He may have observed it, for
there was a touch of defiance In his
voice and manner as he proceeded.
"It was all very bad, no doubt," said
he. "I should like to know how many
fellows in my shoes would have re
fused a share of this loot when they
knew that they would have their
throats cut for their pains. Besides, It
was my life or his when once he was in
the fort. If he had got out, the whole
business would have come to light, and
I should have been court-martialed
and shot as likely as not; for people
were not very lenient at a time like
that."
(TO BJC COHTINUtD.)
The Ratio of Bl*e to Price.
"You don't want that $25 hat, Mary,"
said Mr. Muggins, who was with his
wife in the milMner's store. "It's too
big, anyhow. Now, if the milliner
could only take off four or five feathers
it would be all right."
"That's easy," interposed the milliner,
sweetly, suiting the action to the word.
"I take them off so—see? And there you
have a love of a little bonnet."
And then, as Mr. Muggins felt for his
pocketbook smilingly, thinking of the
economy he had effected, she added:
"Now it's only SSO." —Chicago P.soord.
A Hard Question.
Modern Maid—l wish some advice.
Old Lady—Certainly, my dear. What
is It?
Modern Maid—Shall I many a man
whose tastes are the opposite of mine,
and quarrel with him? or shall 1 marry
a man whose tastes are the same as
mine, and get tired of him?— N. Y.
Weekly.
TourUta of the Future.
Little Dot —I wonder if they will
ever make flying machines that will go.
Little Dick—'Course they will and
they'll go about a thousand miles an
hour. An Englishman can leave Lon
don after breakfast, fly over to this
country to dinner, and be back home
writing a book about America before
supper. —Good News.
liiflultrly Worse.
Jones (despondently) That's the
worst joko I ever had played on me.
Hones —What's that?
Jones —My best girl promises to be a
sister to me.
Bones—Gad! Mine played a meaner
one than that on me. She promised to
be a wife to me, and, what is worse,
did it. —N. Y. World.
Exemplary Patience.
Ho (at the trysting place)— What a
time you have kept me waiting!
She—Quite to the contrary; it is only
six, and I did not intend to be here be
fore seven!
He—Just so; but you have mistaken
the day. I have been waiting here since
yesterday!—H umoristische Blaetter.
Couldn't Understand It.
"I never cu'd understand dis story
about Diogenes liuntin' around wit' a
lantern fur an honest man," remarked
a New York city salesman.
"Are you surprised that ho should
have found them so scarce?"
"Naw. Wat I dont see Is w'at he
wanted wit' 'im."—Washington Star.
There Are Some of This Klod.
Estimable Citizen (in his ufter-dinner
speech)— Every citizen must do his duty
at the polls, no matter what the cost!
The Same Citizen (on election day)—
No, Jacobs, I'm not going to vote. You
see, I'm extremely busy—and—well—
the fact is—lI—neglected to register.
—Chicago Record.
What Prevented aim.
"I can tell you, baron, that when my
offer of marriage was rejected by the
prima donna I was so miserable that 1
was on the point of throwing myself
out of the window."
"What prevented you?"
"Tho height."—Karlsbader Woahen
blatt.
Hl* Verdict.
The Bachelor—Of course, I congratu
late you. But, after all, isn't a baby a
good deal of a nuisance?
The Young Father (dubiously)— Har
dly that, you know. But there are time*
when it is a crying evil. —Pittsburg! -
Bulletin.
Overheard lu the Perk.
Bob Harcourt—They say Russell Bag*
never changes his mind.
Adele Fairfax—Why. I thought every
body did sometimes.
Bob Harcourt —Well, Sage wont.
He's afraid it will cost him something.
—Truth.
The Why and Wherefore.
Be knew that she owned a oouple of farms.
And he said, as he folded her tight In his trnui
"This treasure I'll take."
Tho smart servant maid, aa the aaw the em*
1 braoe,
Remarked, as she threw her hands to her face'
"For the land's sake."
—Philadelphia Record.
HOUND TO OCCUR.
- _ LlfeL
The Drama of the Future.
The Manager—l want a play immo t
diately for Mr. Brulseman.
The I'layright—All ritflit. Pick It
out. Here's heavyweights, next to 'en:
's tho welter-weights, and yoader"B •,
. pile of ligfrtwufchfr.—
IsTol7
TEABERRY JACK.
A New Jersey Drink That Enlivens th*
lIo(-KUIla( Time.
Just at this season of the year the in
habitants of Burlington county, N. J*.,
are winding up their big hog' and tea
berry season, and it is the most joyous
of the year. Next to the prize hog,
"teaberry jack" fills a long-felt want,
says an eastern exchange. It Is a bev
erage indigenous to this part of the
state, and rarely, if ever, found else,
where. It is a combination of native
Ingredients, all of which are raised on
the soil where the jack is made. The
formula is not furnished with each
bottle, but, judged from its effects, it
must have a proof as high as brandy
and be a near relative to the alcohol of
commerce. "Teaberry jack" is made
out of apple jack, which Is kept in a
secluded spot until it becomes a brown
ish amber and has the odor of age.
In the distillation and afterward the
apple jack is mixed with crushed tea
berries, sometimes called wintergreen
plums, or checkerberries. They have
the same flavor as wintergreen chew
lug gum. The odor is a combination of
apple blossoms and mountain tea-
V rrries, which is so fascinating that
the amount of alcohol in the drink is
forgotten. There is no burning or
harsh taste while the teaberry is
trickling down the throat; * 1 is
none of the rasping which whisky
causes when it is unmixed with water.
Water is not needed with teaberry jack
to make it palatable; it 1 eeds no dilu
tion. The natives drink it without
water, and its strength is indicated to
the eye or the taste only in the size of
the glass, which is the ordinary glass
of a country barroom—smaller in size.
The teaberry drinker is expected to fill
his glass, close both eyes and gulp it
down.
The season for teaberry jack is the
hog'-illing time in the wiuter, when
all the out-door work Is done on the
farm and the hogs are fat. Old tea
berry Is valued most, but it is hard to
keep it year after year—its taste is so
good, and the inhabitants require so
much of it during tho winter.
Teaberry jack affects a man cumu
latively. It begins with his toes, which,
If he has had eight or ten drinks, begin
to bo lively and somewhat intoxicated.
He feels as if the toes belong to some
other human being, and ho is some
what surprised at the exhilarated con
dition in which he notices they are.
The teab iTy jack gives him the mental
power to disassociate himself from his
toes, and to be a spectator of the way
in which the effects of the tipple start
from his toes to bis feet, then up to his
knees. This is tho danger signal, and
should not be disregarded. The native
Jerbeyman is accustomed to tho effects
of this drink, but to a visitor they are
fascinating and insidious. The effeet,
as it gradually extends upward, ig
cumulative and sudden. The last thing
to be affected is the brain, which re
mains entirely sotrer after the throat,
and tongue have started on a mad
career of inebriety. The tongue may
be running on at a great rate, while
the brain, in sorry sobriety, stands off
In mental attitude by itself, wondering
what is the matter with the tongue
that it is carrying on and making all
kinds of speeches. The legs may bo
dancing, while the rest of the body is
sober and amused at the antics of, the
Intoxicated legs.
MAKING THE BEST OF IT.
An Invalided Fisherman's Ingenious De
vice for CootiQulDf His Hport.
A cheerful example of ingenuity in
"making the best of it" is to bo seen at
an apartment house on Spruce street.
It takes the form of a long, light fish
ing rod fixed to one of the window
frames of a room on the third story In
such a way that the line depending
from it dangles over the sidewalk a
trifle less than seven feet from the
ground, says the New York Sun.
At the hook end of the line there is
fixed a light wire basket and at the
butt end of the polo there sits an ln
valid, chained to his chair by paralysis
of the legs. In his activo days the in
valid was a great fisherman, and, as his
wife is old and feeble, too, it has been
the old fisherman's fancy to rig up this
pole and set it for bites. They como In
tho shape of the morning and evening
papers, his mail, messages from old
cronies who know his whim, and Bmall
parcels from the neighboring trades
men, who also know his fancy.
When the old Waltonian is wheeled
in his chair to the window in the morn
ing his first glance is down at the
basket to see if there is any bite.
There nearly always is, and then the
window is opened, no mattor what tho
weather may be, the lino is wound in
on the reel until it reaches the end ring
on the polo, and then the "fish" is dex
terously landed.
Sometimes, BO the neighbors say, the
old fisherman makes believe to "play"
with the catch; and when, one day, a
friend loaded down the basket with
a shad that really required a good deal
of skill to haul in, the invalid fisherman
was so overjoyed when he did land it
that he could do nothing but smile for
tho rest of the day. The cold spell haa
bothered him a little, but when last
seen, during the recent high cold winds,
hohnd a heavy fur cap pulled down over
his ears, a woolen comforter wound
around his neck, fur gauntlets on his
hands, and was hauling in a package of
tobacco and a letter with all the con
centrated interest of a true angler hav
ing it out with a gamy fish.
Effect of I ashlon.
How quickly a fashion makes tho
wheels of trade go round! In a Phila
delphia trolley ear discussion the other
day a man said: "Yes, my brother's
mill is busy. Ho lias orders for one
thousand five hundred pieces ahead,
and he makes three thousand three
hundred and fifty yards a day! Ho
makes crinoline—hair cloth." Now, a
year ago this would scarcely have been
an item, but the enormous amount of
cloth used now in stiffening out the
hems of women's dresses and for lining
the entire back of the skirt of gowns
causes this demand. It is a com
promise, of course, between classic
folds and hoops that the crinoline
comes in to fill.
Parental SollcltudS.
Daughter—But, ma, 1 don't like him.
Mother —He is an only son, and Wa
father is very rich.
"Well, as to that, his father is a wid
ower, and may marry again."
"True. I did not think of that. Per
haps you'd better marry tho father "
—N. Y. Weekly.
About ICesourcee.
"Are Sisters Sally and Nancy re
sources, pa?"
"No, my boy; why do you ask that
question?"
"Because 1 heard Uncle Joe say that
If you would only husband your re
sources you would get along a great
deal better than you do." —Tammany
A Simile.
Tom—That new ofilco boy is like nab
{oral gas.
Jack—l dont 800 tho similarity.
Tom—Well, he generally goes oul
when ho Is most wanted.—Pittsburgh
Bulletin.
The Height or Optimism.
"How bright and cheerful Miss S. al
ways Is. She always makes the besto!
everything."
"Yes; slio even pretends to believ*
that a single life Is far prcferablo to s
married one." —Brooklyn Life.
One Way.
Would you keep a woman's love
When you earn It,
llere't. u wuy I'll tell you of—
Oon'V return It I
- •'f