VOL.* xxxiv J ctiraking near to jg 8 QMSTMAS £HIMES! p jT-* * I hi* Store is asparkle with H \-C'fi>' I hints for Christmas give- yat 1&L d$ r ables. Not mean, skimpy stocks ]of with narrow assortments and )B| V . limited styles, br.t a bonntifnl. gg ~ j i*\s generons spread of everything MR ■ 4v ■p" worthy, and good, and sensible. Igsg *pl • : Y^- v More richness, more elegance. |§£ / -—; '• i \ v, ,\ more varied and lower priced than 9B r / iij ~ I Vy \ * ever. Gathered with a fore- fgg M ' $ r : -~ ij\ thought to your needs arranged j3|| \'V~' \ V —V with consnmate skill for easy ss^! rr* 'v-* V. r 'a . , , • 99E IV'Vj'j choosing, priced with rare bnsi- fig; -—' ness judgment for quick selling. «,—^ Sa A few dollars will buy more solid comfort and real enjoyment fct now than was ever known since the coming of Kris Krinujle. The store news to-day is therefore the doubly interesting, emit JSStf some of it if you choose, but you 1! be letter educated if you read it all. £3s We Extend a Cordial Welcome to Young and Old Citizens or Stranger, Visitor or Purchaser, gS Ml Parlor Couches, Decorated S Cabinets, Salad t^s« $10.0«. SB.OO. Dishes, * |j£ TXXgj Mahogany finish. The Covered with @2^ old price was£ls.oo CORDUKOY 5Q cents. Parlor Decorated Vase f§s Suits, Toilet Sets, Lamps, S§| $25.00. $5.00. $2.50. gj others at 835 S3O, and Finer ones cost ».30 v —.j 3B| $75. 12 pieces In a set. and {3.00. jesf Blacking Decorated Extension Cases, Vases Tables. S ' $3.50. Antique finish. Well; Jet Antique finish. 50 Cents. made. rSfrj j§{ | Decorated Writing Portieres, Water Desks, S2 Pitchers, $3.50. S2 ' so " gg dcfi Finer ones at and Have finer unes at ? 9SI 25 cents. t,oo ° $3.50 and $r,.00. %gg ja# Framed Decorated Decorated fesg »{ Pictures, kC SSI China Spittoons, 50c* 25 cents. «"i 25 cents. M — : - M sgj Hundreds of Other Useful Things jg Wi to Show You When 6 WT M sg You Come. gg iCampMl 8 yempieton J jgj BUTLER, PA p tThey Fit Well, jgs- will wear well. NEW YEAR IDEAS U iless your J clothes ?re up-to-date they might as well be I U several years behind the times. If you want l^e >es ' ideas in clothing you should get your Ft] clothing of men who have the ideas. Vou \ I want them to look well and wear well. If s; r they are not satisfactory you justly blame the ' { tailor. We make the clothes in correct style / .■ and you are sure of them fitting for we guaran- J tee them and make the clothes to suit you. (1. F KFCK MERCHANT TAILOR * * 142 North Main Street, Butler, Penn'a ® Boots ar icl Shoes To Suit All Come to us una you ii hnd our scock so large that you can find what you want —All varieties of shoes for sale at lowest prices—Our entire fall and winter stock is open and ready for your inspection— Our stock was never larger than the present- -Complete stock of La.lies' and Misses' fine Dongola, Box Calf, winter tans, Enamels in welt sole, mjde for winter wear. Ifi Men s shoes our stock offers many selections of winter tans, f lie enamels, cordovans, box calfs and many other. Have you seen our genuine water-proof shoe? It is a dandy—the upper extends around the welt to the edge of the sole—this in connection with sheet rub ber and cork bottom filling makes a complete join! that cannot be secured in any other way —A shoe thus made is more nearly water tight than can be made by any other process. Our stock of Men's and Hoy's heavy boots and shoes is large, and prices away down Full stock of Hoy's high cut copper toed shoes. Large and complete stock of rubber goods of all kind—Felt boots, Felt shots and warm lined shoes and slippers of all kinds at rock bottom prices. Full stock of sole leather and shoe findings—Sole leather cut to any amount you wish to purchase. High iron stands for rep airing. Do you wear box calf shoes? We have a polish put up for box calf shoes which keeps the leather soft and pliable. When in need of boots and shoes CALL AND SEE US. JOHN BICKEL. 128 S. MAIN St. BUTLER, PA. Advertise in the CITIZEN. THE BUTLER CITIZEN. State Libr* r T PROFESSIONAL CARUS. hK. S. A. JOH NSTON, DKNTIST ' Gold fillings I'ainless Extraction of , T. cth and Artificial Truth without plat.-s a sDeci.ilty,Nitrous Oxide or \ italiztd Air or Local nxstlietics used. , Ortice over Mi'lers groceiy, cast of j y house. ' I kli. \V. I'. McILROY, : 1 ' DKNTIST. Formerly I no-vi as the "I'eerlcss Painless Extractor . f Teeth. Located I permanently at in Hast Jefferson St., | Opposite Hotel Lowry, Butler. Will do I dential operations of ail kinds by the i latest devices and up-to-date methods. \' M. McALI'INh. ; » . DKNTIST. Main St. Xaesthetics Administered. I »R. J. E. FAULK. : i ' DENTIST, Painless extraction—No Gas—Crown ami work a specialty. Office—Room No. t. new Bickel build | »"«• DR. X. M. HOOVER, 137 E. Wayne St., office hours. 10 to 12 a. tit. 1 and to 3 p. tn. 1 I J. DONALDSON, FL • DENTIST. Artificial Teeth inserted on the latest improved plan. Gold Fillings a spec ialty. Office over Miler's Shoe Store. DR. CHAS. R. B. HI)NT, PHYSICIAN AND SURGEON, Eye, ear, nose and throat a specialty. 132 and 134 S. Main Street, Ralston building. I \Y H. BROWN, H . HOMOEOPATHIC PHYSICIAN AND SURGEON. Office 236 S. Main St., opp. P. O. Residence 31s N. McKcan St. OAMVEI, M. IUP PL'S, PHYSIC:.' N AN D SURGEON 200 West Cunningham St. I BLACK, IJ. PHYSICIAN AND SURGEON. New Troutman Building, Butler Pa. r A. RUSSELL, M. D. Li Room 3, Bickel block. Butler Pa Peoples Phone No. 309. Night call 173 H V. L. MeQUISTION, V • Civil, ENGINEER AND SURVEYOR, Office near Court House. p M. ZIMMERMAN 'I • PHYSICIAN AND SURGEON Office No. 45, S. Main stieet. over City Pharmacy. John W. Coulter, Attorney-at-Law. Special attention given to collections and business matters. Refernce: Butler Savings Bank, or Butler County National Bank. I B. BKEDIN, FJ. ATTORNEY AT LAW. Office on Maiu St. near Court House. 4 T. SCOTT, /L • ATTORNEY A', LAW. Office at No S South Diamond St. C H. PIIIRSOL, U» ATTORNEY AT LAW. Office at No. 104 East Diamond St. OH. GOUCHER, • ATTORNEY AT LAW. Office in Mi chell building. i M. CIIRISTLEY, A. ATTORNEY AT LAW. Office ou North Diamond Street, oppo site the Court House—Lower Floor. * LEX RUSSELL, A ATTORNEY AT LAW. Officv with Newton Black, Ivsn proper notification bv- SKA NOP. 4 X ACE, Telephone, No 219. Practical Horse Shoer WILL ROBINSON, Foimerly Horse Shoer at the Wick House has opened busi ness in a shop in the rear of the Arlington Hotel, where he will do Horse-Shoeing in the most approved style. TRACK AND ROAD HORSES j A SPECIALTY. i J the CITIZEN. 1 BUTLER P-A., THURSDAY, DECKMBKU L-\"5. Eaiiy to Take ai»y to Operate Ar»> features p 'culiar to Hood's Pills. Small in size, tasteless, efficient, thorough- As one man Hood's said: " Youn< rer know you have t.-ikiTi .t ..:i _I I over." 25e. C.' Hood iv Co., 111 Proprietors. 1 owell. Mass. a BE * v Tbe only pills o take v'.th Hood's Sarsaparilla. Tliouaantln are Tryißß Tf. In order to prove the groat merit of Ely's Cream Balm, the most cffectire cure for Catarrh and Cold in Head, we have pre pared a generous trial size for 10 cents. Get it of your druggist or send 10 cents to ELY BROS., 56 Warren St., N. V. City. I suffered from catarrh of the worst kind • ever since a boy. and I never hop- 1 for i cure, bat Ely's Cream Balm seems to do i even that Many acquaintances have used it with excellent results.—Oscar Ostriun, 45 \V:irren Ave., Chicago, 111. Ely's Cream Balm is the acknowledged cur - f >r catarrh and contains no cocaine, 1 mere .ry nor any injurious dru«. Trice, tO cents. At druggists or by mail. ?srrrl i * Everything we have in our / ; C magnificent display for the ) \ Holidays, are works of art. 1 L CALL AND SEE IT. 5 j C We have something for everx- j I '"Jdy. S ( BOOKS, GAMES, DOLLS, > j For the little one. Books of S j X the latest fiction and fancy V i / editions. I : p CHINA r.nd BRIC-a-BRACC / Leather and C S Celluloid g>xxls at. Q / DOUGLASS' s P 241 S. Main St., Butler. Pa. :We All Know I that the slovenly dressed man never rt-ceives the respect and | consideration the well dressed man gets. One secret in dres sing well lies in the selection of the right tailor. jour garments arc cut and made in cur own workshop in this city. We are particular about the fit, fashion and all the minute details in their construction. Would be pleased to show you a product of our shop and also give you a pointer in econ omy. fall patterns liUyV ysa^iawuu ALAND, MAKER OF MEN'S LOTH ES Counting The Cost. Have you ever calculated how much is saved in the run by having jour c'othing made by tailors who know their business? You get better goods, more care ful workmanship and the fit and style are worth a great ileal. It's a satisfaction to wear first class. well made clothes, and then it's economical as well. Clothes that fit, wear longer, look better and are more satisfactory to the wearer. Those who wear our garments appreciate this. Stop and calculate. Do you wear tailor-made clothes? In that case you have garments that last longer, wear better and suit you more completely than any other. Every garment is made in the best style. No accidental fits No disgraceful effects. It is cheaper to wear custom clothes than any others. Fall styles 011 display. WEDDING SUITS"A^SPEcIALTY, liM CO Cor. rjiamord. Butler. Fa ABRAMS, BROWN & Co Insurance and Real Es'ate. ST RONG COM PA NIKS PRC)MPT SETTLESIENTS. HOMII- LN,ni;ll|. < .1. «,f Ww York. Insur ance Co. or North Ami 11. :., of Philadelphia I'U l.'licnix Insurance of Krooklvn. V Y :in«l Il.ii tfonl Insurance Co. of ' Hartford Couti * OM-'h'K: Curnerof AbiluSt. and the I)iu» BIOIIU. uurlh «I Court iluusc. Rutlcr I n. ROBERT LOUiS STEVEn SYNOPSIS. CHAPTER I.—Billy Bones, an old sea dosr. much addicted to rum, lodges at Ad miral Benbow Inn. CHAPTER 11. called "Black Dog." mfets Bones; an Interview ends In fight and disappearance of stranger. Bones suffers apoplectic stroke. CHAPTER lll—Blind beggar comes to Inn presses something in Bones' hand and leaves. "Ton o'clock!'' Bones cries. "Six hours. We'll do th> m yet; ' at nhlch moment he Is struck dead by apo plexy. CHAPTER IV. THE SEA CHEST. I lost no time, of course, in telling my mother all that I knew, and perhaps should have told her long before, and we saw ourselves at once in a difficult and dangerous position. Some of the man's money —if he had any—was cer tainly due to us; but it was not likely that our captain's shipmates, above all the two specimens seen by me, Black- Dog and the blind beggar, would be inclined to give up their booty in pay ment of the dead man's debts. The captain's order to mount at once and ride for Dr. Livesey would have left my mother alone and unprotected, which was not to be thought of. Indeed, it seemed impossible for either of us to remain much longer in the house; the fall of coals in the kitchen grate, the very ticking of the clock, filled us with alarms. The neighborhood, to our ears, seemed haunted by approaching foot steps; and what between the deadbody of the captain 011 the parlor floor, and the thought of that detestable blind beggar hovering near at hand and ready to return, there were moments when, as the saying goes, I jumped in my skin for terror. Something must speedily be resolved upon; and it oc curred to us at last to go forth to gether and seek help in the neighbor ing hamlet. No sooner said than done. Bare-headed as we were, we ran out at once in the gathering evening and the frosty fog. The hamlet lay not many hundred yards away, though out of view, on the other side of the next cove; and, what greatly encouraged me, it was in an opposite direction from that whence the blind man had made his appear ance, and whither he had presumably returned. We were not many minutes on the road, though we sometimes stopped to lay hold of each other and hearken. But there was no unusual sound —nothing but the low wash of the ripple and the croaking of the crows in the wood. It was already candle-light when we reached the hamlet, and I shall never forget how much 1 was cheered to see the yellow shine in doors and windows; but that, as it proved, was the best of the help we were likely to get in that quarter. For —you would have thought men would hare been ashamed of themselves—no soul would consent to return with us to the Admiral Ben bow. The mora we told of* our trou bles, the more —man, woman and cliild —they clung to the shelter of their houses. The name of Capt. Flint, though it was strange to me, was well enough known to some there, and car ried a great weight of terror. Some of the men who had been to field-work on the far side of the Admiral Ben bow remembered, besides, to have seen several strangers on the road, and. tak ing them to be smugglers, to have bolt ed away; and one at least had seen a little lugger in what we called Kitt's Hole. For that matter, anyone who was a comrade of the captain's was enough to frighten them to death. And the short and the long of the matter was, that while we could get several who were willing enough to ride to Dr. Livesey's, which lay in another di rection, not one would help us to de fend the inn. They say cowardice is infectious; but then argument is, on the other hand, a great emboldener; and so when each had his say, my mother made them a speech. She would not, she declared, lose money that belonged to her father less boy; "if none of the rest of you dare," she said, "Jim and 1 dare. Back we will go, the way we came, and small thanks to you big, hulking, chicken hearted men. We'll have that chest open, if we die for it. And I'll thank you for that bag, Mrs. Crossley, to bring back our lawful money in." Of course, I said I would go with my mother; and of course they all cried out at our foolhardiness; but even then not a man would go along with us. All they would do was to give me a loaded pistol, lest we were attacked; and to promise to have horses ready saddled, ig case we were pursued on our re turn; while one lad was to ride for ward to the doctor's in search of armed assistance. My heart was beating fiercely when we two set forth in the cold night upon this dangerous venture. A full inoon was (beginning to rise and peered red ly through the upper edges of the fog, and this increased our haste, for it was plain, before we came forth again, that all would be bright as day, and our departure exposed to the eyes of any watchers. We slipped along the hedges, noiseless and swift, nor did we see or hear anything to increase our terrors, till, to our huge relief, the door of the Admiral Benbow had closed be hind us. I slipped the bolt at once, and we stood and panted for a moment in the dark, alone in the house with the dead captain's body. Then my mother got a candle in the bar, and, holding each other's hands, we advanced into the parlor. He lay as we had left him, on his back, with his eyes open, and one arm stretched out. "Draw down the blind, Jim," whis pered my mother; "they might come and watch outside. And now," snid she, when I had done so, "we have to get the key off that; and who's to touch it, I should like to know?" and she gave a kind of sob as she said the word's. I went down on iny 1 knees at once. On the floor close to his hand there was a little round of paper, blackened on the one tside. I could not doubt that this was the black spot; and, taking it up, I found written on the other side, in a very good, clear hand, this short message: "You have till ten to-night." "He had till ten, mother," said I; and, just as I said it, our old clock began striking. This sudden noise startled 11s shockingly; but the news was good, for it was only six. "Now, Jim," she said, "that key." I felt in his pockets, one after an other. A few small coins, a tlil«ib!e and some thread and big needles, a piece of pigtail tobacco bitten away at the end, his gully with the crooked handle, a pocket compass and a tinder box, were all that they contained, and 1 bepran. to despair. "Perhaps it's round his neck," sug gested my mother. Overcoming a strong repugnance, 1 tore open his shirt at the neck, and ''C""—' I I |p l board a sound that brought my heart into mj zaoutfa. there, sure enough, hanging to a bit of tarry string, which I cut with his own gully, we found the key. At this tri umph we were filled with hope, and hurried upstairs, without delay, to the little room where he had slept so long and where his box had stood since the day of his arrival. It was like any otht>r seaman's chest on the outside, the initial "B." burned on the top of it with a hot iron, and the corners somewhat smashed and broken as by long, rough usage. "Give me the key," said my mother; and though the lock was very stiff she had turned it and thrown back the lid in a twinkling. A strong smell of tobacco and tax rose from the interior, but nothing was to be seen on the top except a suit of very good clothes, carefully brushed and folded. They had never been worn my mother said. Under that, the mis cellany began—a quadrant, a tin eani kin, several sticks of tobacco, two brace of very handsome pistols, a piece oj bar silver, an old Spanish watch and some other trinkets of little value and mostly of foreign make, a pair of com pulses mounted with brass, and five or six curious West Indian she!!?. It hat often set me thinking since that ht should have carried about these shells with him in his wandering, guilty, hunted life. In the meantime, we had found noth ing of any value but the silver and the trinkets, and neither of these were in our way. Underneath there was an old boat-cloak whitened with sea-salt on many a harbor-bar. My mother pulled it up with impatience, and there lay before us, the last things in the chest, a bundle tied up in oil-cloth, and look ing like papers, and a canvas bag, that gave forth, at a touch, the jingle of gold. "I'll show those rogues that I'm an honest woman," said my mother. "I'll have my dues, and not a farthing over. Hold Mrs. Crossley's bag." And she be gan to count over the amount of the captain's score from the sailor's bag into the one that I was holding. It was a long, difficult business, for the coins were of all countries and sizes—doubloons, and and guineas, and pieces of eight, and I know not what besides, all shaken together at random. The guineas, too, were about the scarcest, anddt was with these only that my mother knew how to make her count. When, we were about half-way through, I suddenly put my hand upon her arm, for I had heard in the silent, frosty air a sound that brought my heart into my mouth—the tap-tapping of the blind man's stick upon thefrozen road. It drew nearer and nearer, while we sat holding our breath. Then it struck sharp on the inn door, and then we could hear the handle being turned and the bolt rattling as the wretched being tried to enter; and then there was a long time of silence both within and without. At last the tap ping recommenced, and to our inde scribable joy and gratitude died slow ly away again until it ceased to be heard. "Mother," said I, "take the whole and let's be going;" for I was sure the bolted door must have seemed sus picious, and would bring the whole hor net's nest about our ears, though how thankful I was that I had bolted it none could tell who had never met this ter rible blind man. But my mother, frightened as she was, would not consent to take a frac tion more than was due to her, and was obstinately unwilling to be content with less. It was not yet seven, she said, by a long way; she knew hei rights and she would have them; and she was still arguing with me, when a little low whistle sounded a good waj off among the hills. That was enough and more than enough, for both of us "I'll take what I have," she said jumping- to her feet. "And I'll take tais to square the count," said I, picking up the oilskin packet. Next moment we were both grop ing downstairs, leaving the candle by the empty chest; and the next we had opened the door and were in full re treat. We had not started u moment too soon. The fog was rapidly dis persing; already the moon shone quite clear on tho high ground on either side; and it was only in the exact bottom of the dell and round the cabin door that a thin veil still hung unbroken to con ceal the first steps of our escape. Fai less than half-way to tho hamlet, very little beyond the bottom of the hill, we must come forth into the moonlight. Nor was this all; for the sound of sev eral footsteps running came already to our e.ars, and as we looked back in their direction, a light tossing to and fro, and still rapidly advancing, showed that one of the newcomers carried a lantern. "My dear," said my mother, sudden ly, "take the money and run on. lam going to frlnt." This was certainly the end of both of us, I thought. How I cursed the cowardice of the neighbors; how 1 blamed my poor mother for her honesty and her greed, for her past foolhardi ness and present weakness! We were just at the little bridge, by good for tune; and I helped her, tottering as she was, to the edge of the bank, where, sure enough, she gave a sigh and fell on my shoulder. Ido not know how I found the strength to do it .it all, and I am afraid it was roughly done, but I managed to drag her down the bank and a little way under the arch. Fur ther 1 could not move her, for the the bridge was too low to let me do more than crawl below it. So there we. had to stay—my mother almost en tirely exposed, and both of us within earshot of the inn. CHAPTER V. THE LAST OF TIIK BLIND MAN. My curiosity, in asi nse. \\as strong er than my fear; for I could not remain where I was, but crept back I o the bank again, whence, sheltering my head behind a bush of broom, 1 might command the road before the door. I was scarcely in position ere my en emies began to arrive, seven or eight of them, runningliard, their feet beating out of time along the road, and the man with the lantern some puc-es in front. Three men ran together, hand in har.d, and I made out, even through the mist, that the middle man of this trio was the blind beggar. The next moment his voice showed me that 1 was right. "Down with the door!" he cried. "Ay, ay, sir," answered two or three; and a rush was made upon the Ad miral Benbow, the lantern bearer fol lowing; and then I could see them pause, and hear speeches [massed in a lower key, as if they were surprised tc find the door open. "Hut the pause was brief, and the bliud man again issued his commands. His voice sounded louder and higher, as if he were ufire with eagerness and rage. "In, in, in!" he shouted, and eursed them for their delay. Four or Jive of them obeyed at once, two remaining on the road with the formidable beggar. There was a paute tfr-'u a cry of surprise, and then a voice shouting from the house: "Hill's dead." But the blind mau swore at them again for their delay. "Search him, some of you shirking lubbers, and the rest of you aloft and get the chest," he cri^d. I could hear their feet rattling up our old stairs, so that the house must have shaken with it. Promptly afterward, fresh sounds of astonishment arose; the window of the captain's room was thrown open with a slam and a jingle of broken glass; and a man leaned out into the moonlight, head and shoul ders, and addressed the bliud beggar on the road below him. "Pew," he cried, "they've been be fore us. Some one's turned the chest out alow and aloft." "Is it there?" roared Tew. "The money's there." The blind man cursed the money. "Flint's fist, I mean," he cried. "We don't see it here nohow," re turned the man. "Here, you below here, is it on Bill?" cried the blind man again. At that another fellow, probably he who had remained below to search the captain's body, came to the door of the inn. "Bill's been overhauled a'ready," said he, "nothin' left." "It's these people of the inn—it's that boy. I wish I had put his eyes out!" cried the blind man, Pew. "They were here no time ago—they had the door bolted when I tried it. Scatter, lads, and find'em." "Sure enough, they left their glim here," said the fellow from the window. "Scatter and find 'em! Rout the house out!" reiterated Pew, striking with his stick upon the road. Then there followed a great to-do through all our old inn, heavy feet pounding to and fro, furniture all thrown over, doors kicked in, until the very rocks reechoed, and the men came out again, one after another, on the road, and declared that we were no where to be found. And just then ♦he same whistle that had alarmed my mother and myself over the dead cap tain's money was once more clearly audible through the night, but this time twice repeated. I had thought it to be the blind man's trumpet, so to speak, summoning his crew to the as sault; but I now found that it was a signal from the hill-side toward the hamlet, and, from its effect upon the buccaneers, a signal >") warn them of approaching danger. "There's Dirk again," said one. "Twice! We'll have to budge, mates." "Budge, you skulk!" cried Pew. "Dirk was a fool and a coward from the first—you wouldn't mind him. They must be close by; they can't be far; you have your hands on it. Scatter and look for them, dogrs. Oh, shiver my soul," he cried, "If I had eyes!" This appeal seemed totproduce some effect, for two of the fellows began to look here and there among the lumber, but half heartedly, I thought, and with half an eye to their own danger all the time, while the rest stood irresolute on the road. "You have your hands on thousands, you fools, and you hang a leg! You'd be as rich as kings if you could find it, and you know it's here, and you stand there malingering. There wasn't one of you dared face Bill, and I did It—a blind man! And I'm to lose my chance for you! I'm to be a poor, crawling beggar, sponging for rum, when I might be rolling in a coach! Tf you had the pluck of a weevil in a biscuit, you would catch them still." "Hang it. Pew, we've got the doub loons!" grumbled one. "They might have hid the blessed thing," said another. "Take the Oeorges, Pew, and don't stand here squalling." Squalling was the word for it. Pew's anger rose so high at these objections, till at last, his passion completely tak ing the upper hand, he struck at them right and left in his blindness, and his stick sounded heavily 011 more than one. These, In their turn, cursed back at the blind miscreant, threatened him in horrid terms, and tried in vaan to catch the stick and wrest it from his grasp. This quarrel was the saving of us; for while it was still raging, another sound came from the top of the hill on the side of the hamlet —the tramp of horses galloping. Almost at the same time a pistol shot, flash and re port, came from the hedge side. And that was .plainly the last signal of danger; for the buccaneers turned at once and ran, separating in every di rection, one seaward along the cove, one slant across the hill, and so on, so that in half a minute not a sign of them remained but Pew. Him they had de serted, whether in sheer panic or out of revenge for his ill words and blows, I know not; but there he remained be hind, tapping up and down the road in a frenzy, and groping and calling for his comrades. Finally he took the wrong turn and ran a few steps past me, toward the hamlet, crying: "Johnny, Black Dog, Dirk," and other names, "you won't leave old Pew, mates—not old Pew!" Just then the noise of horses topped the rise, and four or live riders came in sight in the moonlight and swept at full gallop down the slope. At this Pew saw his error, turned with a scream and ran straight for the ditch, into which he rolled. But he was on his feet again in u second, and made another dash, now utterly be wildered, rijflit under the nearest of the coming horses. The rider tried to save him, but in vain. Down went Pew with a cry that rang high into the night; and the four hoofs trampled and spurned him and passed bv. He fell on ltisjhidc. then —— - gently collapsed upon his face, and ' moved no motr. 1 leaped to my feet and bailed the riders. They were pulling up, at any rate, horrified at the accident: and 1 soon saw what they were. One, tail ing out behind the rest, was 11 lad that had gone from the hamlet I<* l.ive sey's; the reM were revenue « ficera, whom he had met by the way, and with whom he had had the intelligence to re turn at once. Some news of the lugger in Kitt's Hole had found its way to Su pervisor I>ance, and sent him forth that night in our direction, and to that cir cumstance my mother and 1 owe our preservation from death. Pew was dead, atone dead. As for my mother, when we had carried her up to the hamlet, u little cold water and suits very soon brought her back again, and she was none the worse for her terror, though she still continued to deplore the balance of the money. In the meantime the supervisor rode on, as fast as he could, to Kitt's Hole; but his men had to dismount and grope down the dingle, leading, and some times supporting, their horses, and in continual fear of ambushes; so it was no great matter for surprise that when we got down to the Hole the lugger was already under way. though still close in. lie hailed her. A voice re plied, telling him to keep out of the moonlight or he would get some lead in him, and at the same time a bullet whistled close by his arm. Soon after the lugger doubled the point and dis appeared. Mr. Dance stood there, as he said, "like a tish out of water," and all he could do wua to dispatch a man to B to warn the cutter. "And that," said he, "is just about as good as nothing. They've got off clean, and there's au end. Only," he added, "I'm glad I trod on Master Few's corns;" for by this time he hod heard my story. I went back with him to the Admiral Benbow, and you cannot imagine a house in such a state of smash; the very clock had been thrown down by these fellows in their furious hunt after my mother and myself; and though nothing had actually been taken away except the captain's money-bag and a little silver from the till, I could see at once that we were ruined. Mr. Dance could make nothing of the scene. "They got the money, you say? Well, then, nawkins, what in fortune were they after? More money, I sup pose?" "Xo, sir; not money, I think," replied I. "In fact, sir, I believe I have the thing in my breast-pocket; and, to tell you the truth, I should like to get it put in safety." "To be sure, boy; quite right," said he. "I'll take It, if you like." "I thought perhaps Dr. Livesey—" 1 began. "Perfectly right.** he interrupted, very cheerily, "perfectly right—a gen tleman and a magistrate. And, now I come to think of It, I might as well ride round there myself and report to him or squire. Master Pew's dead, when all's done; not that I regret it, but he's dead, you see, and people will make It out against an officer of his majesty's revenue, if make It out they can. Now, I'll tell you, Hawkins, if j-ou like, I'll take you along." I thanked him heartily for the of fer, and we walked back to the hamlet where the horses were. By the time 1 had told mother of my purpose they were all in the saddle. , "Dogger," said Mr. Dance, "you have a good horse; take up this lad behind you." As soon us I was mounted, holding on to Dogger's belt, the supervisor gave the word, and the party struck out at a bouncing trot on the road to Dr. Livesey's house. pro BE ooirmmnj.l Whiff ere —At! How de do? Well, out with It, old man. What success? You said you were going beck to your native town to hunt up your first love, from whom you parted years ago —the "airy, fairy Lillian" you raved about, you know. Did you find her? Bliffers (sadly)—Y-e-s. She's draw ing S2O a week as the champion fat wom an of a dime museum.—N. Y. Weekly. A Dear Girl. My love to me Is sweet and kind— The harsher winds but closer bind; For these ar« theater-times, you know— And she's a girl that likes to go. —Detroit Free Press. ACCOMMODATING. Old Lady—My little boy, do you smoke cigarettes? Kid—>*o, mum, but I enn give you a chew.—X. Y. Journal. A Vail Poem. Oh, now the festive moth doth win* Through closet and through hall. To ask his merry comrades If They're going to the camphor ball. —N. T. Journal. Ib Doubt. Ethel—Oh, dear me! I ilon't know what to think! Algy asked me last night if I wouldn't like to have some thing arourwd the house that I could love, and that would love me. Edith—Well? Ethel—Well, I don't know whether he means himself, or whether he la think ing of buying me a dog!—Tit-Bits. Nut Hard to Do. "Do you think I can see through you, sir?" indignantly usked the small man of the tall fellow who had crowded In front of him ns the procession came along. "Certainly," responded the tall man. "Don't you observe that I'm bow legged ?"—Chicago Tribune. A Tart Item. IHimbieton—l notice that Stirrup, the popular jockey, has gone insane. Flasher—Yes; but he finds congenial employment right along. Dumbleton —Don't say! In what way ? Flasher—Thinking up names for rac ing horses.- —Richmond Dispatch. Thej Will 11* WtlfSBC. Kpykes—J see by the papers that elec tricity lias been applied successfully to the forcing of early mall fruits. Spokes—Then I suppose that succeed ing years will see ohm-grown straw berries on the market earlier than usual. —Judge. Short dnffrrlng. "She never complains of her hus band's ill-treatment of her," remarked Squildig. "She suffers in silence." "If she suffers only when she is si lent," replied Mrs. McSwllligan, "she doesn't suffer long at a time." —Pitts- burgh Chronicle-Telegraph. No ol FISHING RODS. Thr tarlrd Assortment That the Aa«- Ivr No) Accumulate. A man devoted to angling might have from 20 to 50 fishiug rods. There are many tuen that own as many as 40, for_ fresh-water fishing only, which is here alone considered. At the outset of his fishing career, a man accumulates rod* with experience. Here is what might happen in the case of a beginner, to whom the co6t of rods w as not a matter of importance: He would start, say. with black bass, and buy a split bamboo rod weighing seven ounces, and ten feet In length. Out fishing he would meet a man using a six-our.ee rod, which seemed to answer the purpose just as well, and very soon he buys a six-ounce rod him self. After awhile he buys a bass min now-casting rod, with light tackle, a rod weighing four or five ounces, and measuring seven feet in length. He looks forward to the day when he can attach a live minnow to his hook and cast it 100 or 125 feet and not kill the minnow in the cast. Before he has reached this degree of proficiency, how ever, he is likely to begin on trout fly rods. And of these, before very long, he will accumulate eight- or ten, ranging in weight from three to eight ounces. He. will have rods for different kinds of Ashing—for fishing from the bank and for fishing while wading; and rode adapted to the. character of the water* fished, as to width of stream and strength of current, and BO on; and rods adapted to special regions and the fishes found in them. Then the angler begins buying salmon rods. lie is like ly to buy first a rod 17 feet in length and weighing 30 to 32 ounces. He flndft that too heavy and buys a rod 13% feet long and weighing 24 ounces. Lat«r he buys a salmon rod 14% feetin length and weighing 19 ounces. All the rods the angler has bought so far are a split bamboo. Xowhegoeein for a collection. He had begun to be especially interested in rods when he vas buying trout rods, and now he is more interested than ever. He goes In for novelties. lie buys, for instance,* greenheart salmon rod. Before the In troduction of the split, bamboo rod, which is now for fresh-water fishing displacing all the rods of wood.lncluddng bethabarra and lancewood, the green heart was the ideal salmon rod, and It is still used. Greeuheart rods were originally turned out. as they are still, ' by local makers in Scotland end Ireland. The most celebrated of greenheart rode, one of Scotch and the other of Irish make, are known to all salmon fisher men. The nrf>r buys. It may be, two greenheart rous of different lengths, one of 16", feet and one of 17 feet. H« may prefer to use his more modern •put bamboo rods, but he loves the green* heart. Then the angler provide# himself with grilse rods of two lengths, 18 feet and 13% feet, weighing 15 and 16% ounces. By this time he (has, perhaps, 15 or 20 rods, maybe more, and gradual ly he adds to his collection. Most anglers buy-new rods every two or three seasons; some buy two or three red® In a season. The constant tendency ol anglers as they become more expert is toward lighter rods. There are men who are lovers of fine fishing rods, and buy them though they may never use them. They may be noted anglers, who are prevented by circumstances from fishing, but, on seeing fine rods, buy them just because they like them. They may be men who never fish. There is, for instance, a man in this city who never fishes, though he belongs to a fishing club and has 30 fishing rods of the finest descrip tion, a perfect outfit. He never shoots, but he lias a fine collection of (runs. He buys these things because they are beautiful and perfect, and becausethey are of interest to friends who come to see him. Of rods used in fresh water angling, bas», and trout fly rods of split bam boo cost $1 to $75 each. The rod for $75 would owe its cost not to expenaiv* mountings, but to the material and workmanship, which would be of the best. There are rods with costly mount ings, that are sold at far higher prices, but these are made usually for presen tations, Salmon rods of split bamboc sell at S3O to $55, and grilse rods for $5 less than salmon rods.—X. Y. Sun. ltapld Extinction of the Seal. During the past two years, under the efficient direction of Dr. Jordan, elab orate Investigations, Including some thing like an actual count, have been made to ascertain the number of seals frequenting the Pribj-lof Islands; Othei studies have strengthened the conclu sion that the number has greatly di minished within the past decade and is now greatly and rapidly diminishing. In spite of the regulations of the Paris tribunal pelagic sealing has increased enormously, while legitimate killing upon the islands has been largely dis continued. That was a charming thrust of Lord Salisbury's when he eaid that the Knglish interest in the fur seal industry had for some years ex ceeded the American, for it is begin ning to be apparent that while the Americans have busied themselves ar ranging for arbitrations, seeking In ternationa 1 ■ ■pprr.'ion and organizing scientific commissions to prove again what had been prcvid before, their sleepless adver- v ere quietly gath ering in tLc profit-. a.lzing that the business must soon be closed up any how. In the report of 1892 the Brit' lsh oommi- ' no intention of indulging in Uuiuor v. he" they sug gested as one of the most 'esiroble measures the setting' • r nrt of at least one of the two seal Islands entirely for the purpose of bri seals for pelngic struieis, no lanu killing to be allowed there. —I'rof. T. C. MencienLall, in Appleton's Popular Science Monthly. How She Get* Along. Dorothy—l wonder how Mrs. Walkei :annges to get on with her husbands lie is such a slippery fellow. Mildred—My dear, she just walks over him rough-shod. —Detroit Free Pre*. A Harrowing Qoenflon. Murray Ilill—So your rich uucle Ne