VOL- xxxviii sHalf F*rfce Sale* Jackets 'Capes | Wi now offer onr entire stock of stylish Jackets and Capes at just ! one-half the fiofmer low prices. This is a great oiportunily to save, The atacrln:t nt is still good. ALL GARMENTS NOW HALF PRICE. f FIRST COME, FIRST Served. £ A GENUINE CLEARANCE SALE is bcine yj JSgSj carried on with \igcr and will lis continued unf l stocks arc properly reiluced aivl all odd lots and tJh 1 roken assortments are closed oat. We quote a few clearance sale prices: J# >3" J J>J ti and *t oo Fancy Silks reduced t< 6»c \aSr „ 851- ai'd 7«; c Tancv Silks re !uced to Soc ft IJ V & ?f co and 75c Dress Gor.d* reduced to s<>" t H iff Lot Vc Dit ■ Good# reduce 'to - 2 5 c PJ A I W Or.*'ot #3 all Wool Blankest reduced to fa.so vf?/> / 1 ||| Ore lot 54.50 all Wool Blankets reduced to f} 25 p v Jfl 11 ii to and >1.25 'Vrapjers reduced to ..f I"O U ■P mill I'A Ktducc! prices oti L ues, crashes, & € /B \\ Flannelettes, Underwear, etc. *1 (P / V..1 goods are rc.t reduced in the same proportion a S,S those quoted. Sorr.e g'x ds are not reduced at ah j* but we give you enough bargains all through the stock J# to make it wcrth your while to come. iL. Stein & son,| S 108 N. MAIN STREET, EUTLER, PA G Bickel's January Prices. One lot Ladies' Fine Dong'ila Shoes jjjj One lot Ladies' Kangaroo-Calf Shoes One lot Ladies' Best Oil Grain Shoes One lot Ladies Warm-Lined Shoes 0 _ One lot Ladies' Lather-Sole Felt Slippers ;J One lot Missfs' Kangaroo-Calf Shoes I - ' One lot Children's Kaugaroo-Calf Shoes ' One lot Men's Holiday Slippers ' One lot Men's Fine Satin Calf Shoes Gokey's Hand-Made Kip Box-Toe Boots, long leg, 4 soles • Gokey's Copjier-Toe hhoes for Boys, sizes 10 to J_ Gokey's Copper-Toe Shoes for Boys, sizes 3 to 6 J Men's Double-Sole and Top Lace Working Shoes.. 1 '' Boys' Double Sole and Top Lace Working Shoes Our Stock of Felt Boots and Rubber Goods to be Closed Out Cheap Men's Best Felt Boots and Dnck Overs Men's Best Felt Boots and First Quality Overs j " Boys' Best Felt Boots and First Quality Overs ' Youths' Best Felt Boots and First Quality Overs * Men's Storm King Rubber Boots - ' Men's Short Rubber Boots 7 -- Boys' Rubber . Youth's Robber Boots Child's Rubber Boots . /- Men's Buckle Arctic* Men's Fine Self-Acting Rubbers ' High Iron Stands with Four Lasts Sole leather cut to any amount yon wish to purchase. Cat half soles and shoemakers' supplies of all kinds. Complete stock of Ladies' and Gents , Misses' and Children s Leggings and Over-Gaiters. It will pay you to visit this great sale and secure soma of the bargains being fTered. JOHN BICKEL, 12N SOUTH MAIN STREET. - - BUTLER. I'A C. E. MILLER 9 SHOPMAN To Make Things Lively For Thirty Days. GREATEST SALE EVER HELD IN BUTLER. Our holiday trade was large—unusually large—but We find we hive to 1 mmy Shoe* and Utibben In order to reduce nut stock wc aie going to cut the prices on all winter goods, such as Shoes, Slippers and Rubbers IT you've not bought your winter shoes or rubbers yt, cotn" to us—we are in better shape to serve you than nver before, We mean just what we say. Butler's Progressive Ahoe House Will se|| shot's cheaper dutlng the month of January than ever befole. We Itnv n'l spate not limelo tjutile ptiees,btM tnine In and see us Hbe how wt have i>rowu lit seven )tilts and gel a share til the bargains we ate oflMlng this month. We Intpe to mal<e many new IVlmhls litis veat. TRY AN tip TO BATE ftttOX HOtfUfl C. E. MILLER. .1015 WORK NedtljJ Dons' At The CITIZEN Neuralgia's Pangs Are tho warning cries from overworked, worried, weak, hungry and exhausted nerves— nerves that have been abused and neglected until outraged naturo could Btand tho strain no longer without a pro test. Evory piercing, cutting, tearing, burning, pressing pain of this dreadful disease is a call for help. Why not heed this call while relief is within your reach? Now is the time to begin; and the best of all remedies to use is Dr. Miles' Nervine. It is tho essence of nervo foods and a reconstructant of unfailing power, which nourishes, fortifies and refreshes the whole nervous system. Begin its use at once. Sold fey all druggists on a guarantee. Dr. Miles Medical Co.. Elkhart. Ind. THE BUTLEK CITIZEN. Is often a warning that the liver is » torpid or inactive. More serious BS troubles may follow. For a prompt, bj- ; efficient cure of Headache ana all gv liver troubles, take j® Hood's Piiis I While they rouse the liver, restore |SS full, regular action of the bowels, ra thev do not gripe or pain, tio not Sg irrit3*»" or "nflame the internal organs. Bj but have a positive tonic eflect. ■*£ at all dru?sists or by mail of Bp LOCAL 1 DISEASE and is the result of cc■ Jr nr.o sudden climatic chan .i*J h C :"H For your Protect: >n k we positively etate t - remedy doee n ' < ri y , u mercury or any oilieriiij-r- kg? Ely's Cream EalaiF'P^^ in a''icnow!ed_'c-d to bo the rr.'-'St thoronch care fr>r Na«nl Catarrh,Cc:d in liri 1 and liay I'cvtr c.r ail remedlca. It opens and c'ear.fo* the nasal paraapes, a!U7« piln and inflammat:on, hea!» the e< r, pr>>- tccta tlie membra: <• from cuMs rentoros the »er sea oftaateandimell. J*r:< es.ir.ar |)rnsr:-:»»>r»>ym-L . KLV BKO'I U£IIS, M Warren street, >-ew Vori. Cure that Oures { W Coughs, fe V Golds, k Grippe, (j V. Whooping Cough. Asthma, / ,S\ Bronchitis and Incipient A Consumotion, Is 1 OiJE A Tus GERMAN remedy* b. P Cur« XVroA 'a.T'A Vur.i a\\ Btiiler Savings Bank i->utler. Pa. Capital - $60,000.00 Surplus and Profits - - JOS. L PURVIS President J. HKNKV TROUTMAN Vjce-Presid. 'it WM. CAMPBELL. Jr Ca» l.i< r LOUIS B.STE:S ..... el!, r DIRECTORS -Joseph L. Purvis, .». Hei.rj TroutraaD, W. D. Brandon. W. A. Stein. J fV.iiiubell. Thp Butler Savings Bank is the Oldest Bunking Institution', n Butler County, (ii-ncral lianklnff business transiietu-a. We Mi)lli-|t accounts of ull pn.ducers, roer cbants, farmers and others. All bj»ln»s<» entrusted to us will receive prompt, attention. Interest paUl on time deposits. I'M K Butler County National Bank, Hutler Pen n, Capital pai.i in fjuo.rxw.rx) Surplus and Profits - f85.0tK3.cx3 los. Ilarttnan, President; J. V. Ritts, Vice President; John G. McMarlitl, Cashier, A. C. Km#, Ass't Cashier. A general banking liuslnem transacted. IIIUT»'H* paid on time deposits. Money I;mri(*d cm approved «ecurlty. We invlU) you to open an account with thlh b.tnk. IH iM'.CT'JK?* Hon. Joneph Hartinan. Hon. W. S. Wahlron. Dr. M. M lloovi r. If. Mr- HwiM'riey, V. V. (.'olliris I. <». Smith, Leslie I*. Ilnxlc 'I.M. I Ineff 10, V II Larl In, T. I. M 1 (11111. Dr. W Mi-c'iiniHeHK. li«'P Hoth. W. J. Murks. J. V. Ul«y*. A. L. lielbi r TH K Farmers' National Bank, BUTLER, PENN'A. CAPITAL PAID IN, $100,000.00. l orelufi exchunge liouglit Unil MIIIII. H|>••<*l it ijOi-ntlon ul \eii to I.'i nlei'tlons. til- l t« KI«M: lollN \ Oi:,M< INX I'iesldent 101 l N 111 ill'lllll'iV \ li!" I'lesllll'Hl r A HAII.M Casliler E \V. IIIMIIIAM Asslsttltil t asllli'l .l I 111 T/.1.l It Teller itiitM tone. .trill ti VOtltlklH*. 11. I, t'leeliind, t I AliiUttiH. tN Itov'l \V I Mi tn'i 1, It" iii v Millet .lo'ijrt Hiiin|il»«!v I'lios liny '. I.evl M. Wise null I 'Millets Milliiliy. llllitl'Hl pllltl MM I line deposit « \Vi |i>s|H i*t flllly sollell V'lllt- llllsllll'ss. Eyes nxamlttftd Fißßof Uliorqe PI. KIMKPAI MICH utid o»iUfei«ti H>-«| 'toiif In t mill ttntli-i I'rt. Now li llu> 11iim> 111 HrtVP Ymu UlMthiitu i QIIANSD II ihH WIMiI |;oho tthtl rt>li*UU ili 'iiiiui; m iUi-iii|' ilmin, 110-m in |Mhl outs ill |(4WM Wht ; tt» yon Mti ii, rtttil Vlittl i*» <tl I lie Itullci live Win ks 2lb Qontur dvenwe tit-»A. Wt- do tints work in out .|ooi ri|u|(n;io|il(.. I Ins ia tlit. tiim; of yciit lo Iwivt; ,t picture •) your lo 1 uiit: (jivu U4 U trial, An i.i |,u-\ i.e .1 uiio hto vi) Hliuiiiu lUiinl UQ.—iJt »V Yt>i'U. R. FISHER <SI SON "Tho pain from neuralgia in my head and eye* was so intense that I was blind in both eyes for three months and tho doctors kept mo under tho influence of morphine, The best oculists in the South treated mo but I got so bad that ut last ono of my eyes burs ted and had to be removed. It was Dr. Miles' Nervino that cured me, and I have not needed any medicine in over four years." LAURA E. JACKSON, Alvord, Texas. BL'TLEK. THURSDAY, (JANUARY 31, lyol a * -V V V V VY V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V ll JOHN TOPP, PIRATE ll I By Weatherby Chesney and Alick Munro. i * v A. * —. —.. -».— f * v «V • COPTniGHT, 1900. BV WEAXIIERBr CHESXET AND ALICK MtTSItA t " ? ILLUSTRATIONS uv*n. c. COCLTAS. I ' 1 ♦ ** X, r. . I : w ** " * ' ■" CHAPTER XXIX. "Twelve meii ou their legs," said the boatswain, waving bis book toward tbe buts, "an that counts in the old man an Tinker Torn, which is both crippled." "Twelve men." said I. "are more than every one would have got off the Iceshore ou which ten of them were lying." "Credit where credit is due. Master Topp," replied tbe boatswain. "All praise to your surgeoning. But for you an the old man an nevvy Job. which, though little better than natural in general, lias unstowed a few grains o' sense for this time o' need. 1 don't say but we should have lost a Laud or two more But as it is we got 12, an what I say is 12 men bain'! able to take the S -,iurge to England." "It could be done." Interposed Alec in a half musing tone, "if we could keep off the will". "But you can't." replied the boat swain gru: y • . ' as well try to escape flea* in ;i .<> : l:in tavern as scurvy <:t a ng <• • u•. ■'•• an new |y beah- I i.;eu i* p: t,cu: liable to it ilark cm C.v;>:.. ii Ir; . ... ! if the Scourge »:iis • i in Ie w,..i nolle but us I" ii' * tier »i.c'!l never woi Ii up Bristol ri-.. r" "But W . tlie tin n .-'am I'ckory tells of." said I *we ell ' •foul.l \ : I. :»■' il: lulled Alec, turning i»> ; man "Why i-apt • u an easy Los Koi)::i r islands they're <>:■ ::u .s u I . I ll al down in your i lia •- . !:• ;» ii* " Jme was a half Itis .1 iJ .;t'got bl..wn oft there in a fishing il; > • "How did tl:e\ ft there?' "Well, you see. they're a scratch lot- English I'renehers an Oanes—that banded together at the mines to escape. Tliey gets out. reaches the coast, seizes a boat an puts to sea They meant to reach one o the islands an live there till they could stent a ship that would carry theni home, but the boat was knocked to splinters in the surf on landing, an having no tools to build an other they found themselves safely jailed." "See. Alee." said I. unrolling a chart tnd spreading it on the ground. "Give fne a crew of six. and I'll take the Scourge round, leaving you others here. By keeping plenty of northing we shall be out of the usual track and can be back here In ten days without sighting a sail." But no Alec would not hear It. If we went al all. it should be with all hands aix.' t'd. and himself In com mand. And finally, after much discus sion. tills was what we decided to do. Further. It was resolved to leave the treasure • u Cave island for the present. The repairs to the Scourge were soon finished, and the earliest posslWe day was fixi d for the embarking But at the last an unexpect ed dlllletiltj arose. The old man re-, fused ai * tely to quit the Island. lie had been ailing of late, anil It seemed that lie had never ipilte recovered from the wound I • i ■< the battle with the galleon. Ills witi veie queerer than usual, and lie cmitlmiaU) complained of the cold, though the hot summer sun drew ntreaniH of sweat from the rest of us. We all felt great collect it for the old lltiltl, lllitl, tli'.i ; b we knew he would never phi J us fa I e, but would defend our treal ire even with magic arts If hied be, still we did Hot like to leave hint behind, ailltu as he was. But Unite of tr dated to gainsay Ids wish f.iipt our captain l ull* an hour did Alee Spend 111 tireless lllutllliellt trying to turn It I tit from Ids purpose and seem ed all the lliue to be strangely moved, Htouirh fttihl What cause we could not tell Hut lie failed Slid when at lilt Hie fteiitit'i'c «el nail and Hie old tinttl was left nil the tieaeli my hwoiii ship mate eiiveied It lin with Ills eye* lilt tie liit'l HtlHldeil lite MpH It tut hit) out ttf sIkIiI then with aln av y slitli lie tinted and went down to the eitliltl. It wits it * I I'M lift* ii 11 ft It-, lllitl |ieiliit|m we "Ittitlld litive (alien II Hft till itliieii uf 111 luelt I Imtlttll lam myself slliitit lat-H fft'e from ttlt|ti'i«llllitll* of all Itllel" I lllllsl liellme Hull lite old Ittltlt lei I "Mine fHH ItifiWleilHM uf Hil'dMl'lHlli' In luim llll'l !>l I i*iillltiil I Mult Hull lie lilietn llitll iIII' llli' ttolllil In mm It mil 111 I III' fsi nlilHii* »t|ij|'H Ilium 111 silielf lie WHlllil IlilH' WIII HiiI lis Hill |H'I llil|i«ii lis Willie I ii liiillitli sins. Hie neel l I'M H "en, Itlli I'M H Hill I'liltlitte, IKm i|h teen tif fHlt* H IMH# I'f «n 'I lilt 11 IllHVWVl'l i Is Iti'llllMF lull' Hill 1 llten llMl lite fllt l ii'MHHli'i Dial a ll|n ilnl I'M'lit mil, ainl Ilia I, liiii, on Ilia ftfi'iiiul ilu.i mil fl'idti l 'ii vm Islitml tliif llig Hie lil*l will I'M t<f Him |f Ihhm while Alee In Id Hit' di 1k I in m.t IMIIIU. but «nint: up wld'H iii a i,i 1111 .1 iivpfi ii •ein .i i liiti panning bin I,el with DIM rest Hiil HIM tiniiii v Hritii|.''i ivii4 dimmed, iillll inn' tin us iilin l H wire \v 111111111 avail Tlim wait i Hi'i'iuml only In I iii lit 11- Hie bliun to further fur.v, (Hid where at llrst wan (title, liiiobeiit ilaiiie, blue and Iraim |ut iful, nunn there ling#" In lull forth mi avalanche of |ul>y smoke, riven by greedy, shunting tongues of yellow Hie I,lke furies wu worked In Hie tttlug iug reek, and like a mucking fiend our uueiny grew In power and height. Inch hy Inch we were driven toward the stern, lighting desperately every step of the way Hpaniard was never so relentless a foe as Ibis one, which HWftlluwfd our watery missiles as fir t as we hurled tlietn iiud turned them to I dud tig steam that bit back at the sender. Panting mid worrhcd, we gathered, a HIOOKH grimed group, on the counter nml realized that we won* beaten A Hlioul arose that the powder room was on Arc, aud a luilf charred boat was dropped Into tint water. Springing In, we pushed off. Scarcely hail we pulled a cable's length away when the Heourge blew up. Masts, spurs anil deck nhwt up to ward heaven and then fell In a blazing fdiower around the coluum of smoke which marked the place where the shattered hull had sunk. The rent of tho night dragged Itself wearily through, and the mm rose upon an unlleeked sky. Tho boat was with out stores or provisions of any kind. Hhe hail neither compass nor sail, and with one pair of oars we could make little headway through tho calm, even had we known where to steer for. Which of us did not envy the old amii iti hU beautiful Island hermitage then? We I oked around nt the unbroken circle nt the lv•■lain. with the water It eni lnctiKed untarnished by a single zephyr and uleauiiut; like a glancing mirror of light, then at the cruel Bun that was nrchiug a course of scorching splendor through the cloudless vault above, and as we looked we took but little comfort from the cheering words which Alec spoke to us. What help could reach us from such a barren fiery wilderness? What oasis could we hope to lind in such a broiling, track less desert? But in spite of the enervating heat we tugged doggedly at the oars. The work, purposeless as It seemed, was some relief. To active men there is no torture like indolence in a case like this, for indolence is the advance picket of despair. # But each couple, though eager for I heir turn of toil, were glad enough to quit it at the appointed time. Water driven from the body in perspiration makes its want more keenly felt with in The burning thirst was aggravated by exercise. Alec, being sparely built, perhaps suffered least. I, a thirsty scul. ever given to quaffing what was offered, endured ten men's agony. In deed. as evening drew near. 1 began to fear that before another watch had run out madness or death must be the end of me. My time, however, was not yet come. As tiie sun went down in the west its dying glory lit upon a sail that peeped above the southern water line. With freuzied effort we made for it and feated that the darkuess would come down before we <-ou!d reach it. As wi drew nearer we made out that she was a i-arrai ' The breeze which brought lie! i: • lagged behind, anil she I■! I run into belt of calm. Ite la.vlng "t efforts not one whit, we push' ii liei-eei;. on. urging the boat with , t --trokes: I" : we were no gaunt i. i ■ worn : rters. no starve lings of i :t;i who had been eking out a liny':- pittance to make it last over ten In bodily health we were all hale «;i ! hearty and as good men as we were the day before, save for the mad thirst which consumed us. But that is n Hindi: - beside which all oth er emotions sink to nothing; passion and p: ' nee alike die when the thirst rage touches them. Urged by It we would have charged an army or have fled from one man. and so double bank ing our oars we tore toward the car rack. That she was Spanish from truck tc tiller mattered nothing. Her people clustered on the decks in n *rt ed sus pici< n could not stop us. "Water! Agua!" <-rted at them hoarsely. We cured for nothing else. We cllr. bed on board, aud the Span lards staid their hands, some because they feared to provoke desperate men, some through pity and others perhaps because they knew that when our burning throats were cooled we must yield at discretion. Regardleps of the hostile crowd we rushc' to the scut tle butt. Pm'ched, faint, panting, we deemed the tepid water a nectar lit for the gods and the green slime, whose tendrils clung t<> the dipper, the sweet est es ''ticei man's palate could be tickled with We drank and we drank and forgot in the satisfaction of the moment that the world held other evil thinus 1 i - :■ Vs thirst. Hut there was one at hand who would remind tis. A tall, handsome tun mM t »ttturn hud eutttp N|tMltlMlil til Htt< fuMHthl riniii HIM I'l'iiWll Hlltl wlttlill betele i(u tie Ml W Wlilll uu lilllt 'illli'iidt llltd lie mih hli'imt'tl Villi wlll'tt lllici' lllllld«u|||i« tip" bill b it 111 it Millie II double imi id' illlel, JillilW IM Mt BIIHIUI mil bidHfell I Hit 1 tdll Hlnlllt'M Mil II llllil I'lilllM HMHIII >N «• WIIM lite (i| Imiinu a n|' I lull MlflMMl del I 'H»'.|||||Hl H •IIMI I II RX, Tim lituiiiliu i Ui Im l'f inn Imbed mm fNW Wlilfll W* h>nl mnp»rt WM itranw L) iii.ii A VMI fraiii i" 1 " llllWi till\ IIIH bid Hill lif 111111, WM WIU'M (lei llli||»b lielll' llMdlllH Mtll Ml'l> »<•* 111 Urn lire I tun MIHIICI wii« ewriyllltf 111 In HlHllll In llll< lull 111 i« and PVt'lt Ills veiitfeful iiiielly tumid Invent fur lit Mil Mtulti Itllllltflllllll I'll In- Unit lie lillinvil Hull Hie plunder id' Hie tnilb'Hii, iii«uilie|- willi tdher buiily, In> hiiliwl.v hidden nil it lonely Island under Die uiiiird uf 11 crippled dotard, ilmilii I, - . Ida enutwurd voynw would lIUVC been broken. lie would have been charmed, 100, Httiv Unit llie bibles were so effectually turned, to renew Ids acquaintance with the old man, his former Jailer, fur thus the auto da fo hu pictured would have auother actor, lint he believed that all our guilts lay fathoms deep on the sen bot tom with the 111 fated Hcoui'gc, and we would not agitate Ids well bul uticed mind by undeceiving him. Don Miguel did not put us In irons In (lie hold, Ihough some of Ids underlings sujjKfhtcd It. No; he remembered the time when he wus our unwilling he.vcr of wood and drawer of wutcr, anil he prepared to pay back some of Ids debts In klud. We were mnilc to ply our craft as mariners whenever our serv ices were wanted, and for the rest of the time we were the slaves of any one who chose to command us. Kvery dirty Job In the ship fell to the Englishmen's share, and u curse or a blow was Hie payment. And though the gorge of one of us would now and ana In rise and a mutinous refusal tremble on his tongue, his mates would bid him knuckle under, grin if he could and bide ills time. "A coward's blows never for£et their father," Willie Trehaliou would mut ter prophetically. "Aye, uncle, an curses come homo to roost." his nephew Job would chuckle In reply. Outwardly no band of uufortuuutei was ever Uiyre numlu d by despair, more hopelessly reconciled to an Irrev ocable fate. To the dons' eves we were mock and submissive as Indians, going about our labors mechanic-ally, and, if we did not show great interest in each tr.sl;, at least we performed it effectively. We were careful not to court suspicion by excess of zeal, while we avoided additional tyranny by steady obedience. But we meant to escape. The car rack should never set us on Spanish ground. We would fire her powder room sooner, and perish with the rest of her crew in one overwhelming holo caust. In the meanwhile we lived in hope that the chapter of accident* would unravel the coil in which we had entancled ourselves. The pilot left the carrack nt the most easterly point of Trinidad, and then, bidding goodby to domestic navigation, we set out oi. the ocean voyage. For two days we beat, tack and tack, against easterly winds, sagging to lee ward like a haystack, and making hardly any headway. Then for three days the wind chopped round fair, anil we sped easily along our course. But after the third morning had passed the barren plain of ocean began to haze over, and «s tlie thickness in creased the? breeze died away, till at last the carrack lay motionless in the calm of a dense fog. Night came, and the gray twilight of the afternoon changed to inky black ness. All of us were asleep, tired out with the exertions of the day and glad to snatch a little rest. Suddenly Alec and I were aroused by a warning touch of Willie Treha lion's hook. "Listen!" he whispered. A strange sound came to us out of the blackness.- a sound that was half wail, half howl, but wholly weird and awful. "A water pixy." said I. trembling. "Sea wolves," said one of the men, sviio had raised himself on his elbow to listen. "They're scenting prey. We're in for a fearful storm, or they wouldn't be there. Sea wolves never hunts without a kill." The sound made itself heard again—a "Wa-a-o-o-w" rising doleful in the still night air and dying away into nothing with unutterable mournfulness. "A water pixy beyond doubt," said I agtiin. "A water fiddlestick!" replied the boatswain contemptuously. "That cry ionics from no creature what breathes through gills. It's my old cat, an that's his night song. U'you think 1 shouldn't know his voice among a thousand? Old Nep--you'll mind him, Master Topp?" I shook my head. "The night mist has got into your brain, Willie. You must be mistaken here," 1 said. "Mebbe it's Nep's ghost that's hail ing, uncle." "Nep's ghost be hanged!" replied the boatswain Irritably, turning on this last speaker. "Hold your tongue, Job, an let others speak that has sense." "But if it is Nep, Willie?" "This— if that's Nep, why, then, it's the Bristol Merchant too. Think a min ute. Why shouldn't it be her? Those on board couldn't be expected to wait for us up the great river till the crack o' doom. The three years that Captain Ireland told tiieui to bide there is up long ago, an, so believing that we're all swallowed up in the wilderness, they're making the best o' their way home with the news. Besides, listen again. There! I'd stake my hand on It that's Nep's voice! An, as Nep would never desert the Bristol Merchant, we must just try an frighten the dons Into setting us adrift. We'll maybe fall between two stools; but, anyway, It's our best chance." "If we can do it," said Alec, "but"— "Trust me to manage It, Captain Ire land," Interrupted Willie. "I've a weap on In mouth that would frighten tlie very soul out of n Spaniard, If the devil bred Spaniards with souls. Ask Master Topp. lie knows what I can do. Look at them now! Fearsome o' the darkness, they've lit a score o' lanterns an are clustered together like a flock o' sheep, a wringing their ynllcr hands with fright. Now's our time; now or never. An, miirkcc, tny tails, out Spaniard the most Spiiulsh o' them In trembling. If It'v laughter that makes your limbs shake, never iiiltid. The dirty hounds are too Beared to know the difference." And. w hifpering further directions lo Alee, he It'll lilui nwity, iilid the rent of us dropped down I lie htildern and uiln- Itled with Hie tl'l'lldillllg group 111 till' Wit Int. Again (lie iiii'liiiieliuly "Mh-A-o-u-W" Muni* In tin mil of I III' dm Itni MK, nml Mir, ntcpplim fni u ii id I 111 ii Hie Innlein Hut It I. "hipped ii clipped hand lo It Im Pill' Hllll i | led: "I.Nielli 'I liere'n Home ullt' litillhiii fniitt lln> umnllii'fttl." "Mht» I'lli- In iu)r lord u' Him m»nI" Wleil It 1111* 11 I I Hill I'll volet' 11 mil lllilfl, nml ii mil In i 11 Mm I In' tiimnymtl mm win li'lii'il| "lie eiiimm iitniiuililMt" 'I In Hi im I Imititli limn I lie wiili'ift eluni> In, i mm' n lliliil mili e, ili'i p nml it' Mii Until, n hlili II ali I'll tin I 11111 Ihnl WNIi "W ini ImiK nml by wltiii iitfiit iliim* Im i|in>miiiiiii led linn Miun»l "I Illtl Nepllllll'i liiltl It' lilt' Welti" fie iiifut'ii Hie uiii't "Winn hitip i ' liwir A I""I' id |i"lp|i||ljk I'lllliti llllit Illtl! Miami" lii' ", lilui lhi> nil id' Hu> Mpmi Im tin iltiiuli W lilt !> 111 Nipiuim smid 1111ji*iii«'iii "Willi! ship In I till IV f\llHWt>!' IIIO| inioi l««Mil ittmlitll Ivittiw ymi im! HUH I l"l . ( |',.H l| 1.1 II I I | ..111 |<ll II > Illtl I. timber 11mil Umbel lilt In tuny )mir I'll 11 n .ntiij IIWIU In blllli'll llt.V b. II wohes In Htelr invents mimittf llio |l|l|| .I'llllgl" iinlliw V" "I lent (ii'lllier mull ami tint' sen t|uv II," licymi lli" i'iuii inn lulu lit boldly, but Illl> p| lout 1111 lI I tlplcd 111111, SlljlUH lit 4 Whisper Hull II Will l"i| In lniupiuUo wlih Hid powers of ditrknt'ss soiuo* limes. And llimi, will* ii uiullel'oil uuulhti ittn lifter every simlinee, lie miswereil Neplline's ijut'sHous himself. "W'llllt curuoV" ipieiieil tho lord of Hie sen. Tho priest liiltl him. "What piissdiiuersV" "Thirty, of whom seven am women and three lufniiU" "And what crow?" "A liuntlred and stxty, nioHt potent." "No more? MotlUnkn Ihero'H #OlllO few yet unlold. Old ocean hath n queer flavor hereabout." "Thero are II lu tmiiicri, HiiKllsh sall orH, who are working 11 passage to Spain." "What!" bellowed Neptune. "Her etics on one of his majesty's ships! Heretics at large an unshackled! Thunder an tempests.' I'll destroy Hie whole lot o' you!" And so the farce went on, until at length the trembling Spaniards, find ing that their Crosslin;* and pater nos tern were useless, biigan to look upon us as so many .lonulm. Their saints were forgotten, and they were for heaving us overboard at once. lint Neptune would not allow It. "I'ollute not my sw.'ct brine with |he foul bodies o Kuiillshmetl," he I'lirnetl them. "Set lln in adrift In 11 itont. .in then uiy ulster's clilekens. which feed on cntTlon. will have the wherewithal to flesh their hungry beaks " Dun Miguel would have Jireventcd this, for lie alottc out of his hJiiji's com- pany doubted Neptune's genuineness, hut the others would not listen to him. Tackles were rigged with lightning speed, a boat was heaved out from the booms and lowered, and we were shoved down to it willy nilly, protest ing vigorously in obedience to Willie's whispered command. They would give us neither food nor water, neither com pass nor sail, nothing in fact but curses, and. bidding us shove off. threatened to quicken us with a saker shot if we did not hurry out of teach. v. e pulled on till the babel of voices 3:. . lie carrack had died away, aud , ,n. judging we were out of earshot the dons. Willie Trehallon gave a I cui.ar whistle, low and tremulous. A -Ught breeze had sprung up, and a i ter a moment's pause a faint se pulchial "Wa-a-o-w" was wafted to us over the stern. Around spun the boat, and willing backs, straining at the oars, sent her darting in the direction of the sound. Presently the rigging and hull of a brig loomed through the fog and a voice hailed to bid us keep our dis tance. "Bristol .Merchant, ahoy! We're your own mates." "Sheer off or I'll sink you. Ye're pirates, that's what y'are. Our mates is all swalley'd up by the wilderness or took by Spaniards. Sheer off, I tell ye!" "You've a black cat aboard there," bawled Willie Trelialion impatiently; "a black eat sailing under the name o' N'ep. haven't you?" "Mebbe we have, moblie we haven't. 1 bain't a-goin to argy wP ye. Sheer off an ha' done. There's a Spaniard away there through the fog. Go an plunder him. We ain't got the value o' a jack o' ale among us." "Wait a minute," said Willie Trelia lion. "See If Nep won't remember his old master's call." And the boatswain repeated his low whistle. "Ma-a-e-ow! Me-ear-wa-ow!" came shrill and distinct across the water. "Well I'm blamed!" exclaimed a fresh voice. "Ef that ain't Willie Tre lialion. et's his ghost. Nep'll answer to uoati o' us, ill conditioned ole var mint es 'e is." "Nep don't forget his old master if his old master's shipmates do. Now I'm telling you true. There's Captain Ireland here an Master Topp an just a han'ful o' others, all that is escaped out o' this murdering land. An now blest if our own mates will own us. though we've got gould enough stored up to buy Bristol city with." "Pull a stroke or two nearer," bawl ed the first speaker, and then added to those beside him: "And ye lads blow yer matches up ready to fire. There's witchcraft enough in that blamed old cat to get the whole lot o' us into trou ble yet. Boat ahoy, there! Best on yer oars again, an advance nearer at yer peril. Strike a light an let's look at yer faces." "We have nothing to strike a light with," broke out Alec angrily. "Man alive, the boat's not provisioned for a voyage. She's as bare as Willie Tre halion's bead. We've just escaped from the Spaniard yonder and are ab solutely unarmed. Come, I know you well enough; you are Martin Snale, whom I left in command." "Mebbe I be, an mebbe I bain't," re plied the man cautiously. "No disre spect to ye. Captain Ireland, if ye be Captain Ireland, but I'll just make sure before ye come any nearer that a lan tern's light won't shine clear through ye. The voices Is all right, but they say that Bperrlts keeps the voices after the body's shelled off oti 'etn, an I ain't a-goin to 'avo no ghosts aboard me." Alec stood up to be Inspected. A great horn windowed lantern was thrust out on the end of a boat hook, and Martin Snale. climbing Into the main rigging, made n penthouse of Ills two hands and peered at us from under them. The fog wns thick, the tallow dip flickered badly and Martin's wits were sluggish; consequently lie was very long In coming to n decision. At tlie end of nearly ten minutes' scrutiny he stepped down from Ills perch anil, bidding us remain where we were, dis appeared for awhile. Presently he re turned and, scrambling Into tin; shrouds again, bawled out afresh: "Ye looks all right; solid enough, too, 1 don't deny. But when a man's been a mariner nil the years I have ho learns that looks Is sometimes ilecelv lu. Ho I'll Just make so bold as to hcave this orange at OHM o' ye to see whether ll lilts anything solid enotmli to burst. If It does, ye can eumo rtliohnl." He lifted lit* linmt nml threw Tlio fellow fitilti n>ltiK t!ifu»i|»li Hip nlr, w tm Mopped by Wlllit' Treltitlloii'ii liflM )•(!(•>. The ImnlNwnlit never wliiueil, mid ttppnri'hlly (Hp slsht wf Hit' sent 11 it ■ t |xil|. 'in.l Int. • tin' Minimi' win nn imeerlpe hum ulrwiiiilim down Ids hiiiliil fiii i' wm* suitleient Mrtfllii Hindu ili'tumiileil im mure li'Ms, Mint we elliuli •'i| ti|i I lin 111 ii in I linnet wide nf mil «WU ••hi I'iiii, Hit l Mi'lwlnl Mfft'lmiil urn ii mil' 11• <lluiii iii iiii'i'iin* in fccMiiimi Mill Mill "111 I I lilt lint Imvi' Hi" mnIImI"mmII«iII nf It'lHiiM Unit Miuui'l liimw Imw w» lunl fnuM mil Mui'li'li %nl»t I' ."7. I'M ''' 111 I' I'M li In uliroitil Imvu tnkini tliu Hinllli cuttagc," —('hicltKo News. A II II I*l*l llt II• Kuddy lin ytui rciilly Iwllevo llmt drummers ure iih smart nm tliey nr# Nlllll 111 III'? I I||||||,\ I Ill'VCt' llclicVe 111 llH|IOMll« bllltlcs. They never Miceeeil In selling mo miyllilim Kuilil.v It lines look like u reflection upon llielr ii I I«*k«*« I smartness to at tempt It.—Hostoll i'l'llllHel'lpt No Ilia«• I%l»ltrr. Mr. Johnson I>lil you reninwk at <le eluli hint night ilnl I looked like a lob- Kter, hiili V Mr. Johnson No, niili. I am no Inn kliller, hull. If I wished to font any aspersions upon de lobule I' family, i should go right to a llsh market anil do it straight to deyr faces, sub. lint's uiy style, null! I'uck. Soiiirf Ii I iitf Mlii* It. "I stM* tlint General ClmfftM' wrote* a tiliarp li'ilrr about tin* stealing of t'ie nsironouiieiil instruments from the Pe king observatory. I>o you know what was In the letter?" ' "I dnuno exactly, but It was some thin like 'tilt a move on you an bring back them spyglasses!' Cleveland i'laln Deuler. I WMSQWEN A SMOKEHOUSE. A Plan Fur n ( omrnlcnl. <"be«p nnj Till}- Arrauiirmrnl. Here is a plan for a smokehouse which the correspondent who present- i ?d it in Ohio FarfftN says is handy and i cheap and also provides a place for I storing asiics n a<ly for use as a fcrtill- 1 zer iu the spring instead of piling ' B " c D A —; FLOOR PLAN OF SMOKEHOUSK. them in a heap on the ground to be : wasted, killing the grass for yards ! around and making a slovenly looking place. The lirst cut represents the floor plan. A. ash bin: It, brick arch; C, sewer pipe. You will see by the plan you do not have to go into the smokehouse, tilling your eyes with smoke, when you lix the lire. Get two pieces of six inch sewer pipe. Dig out a little trench in the ground, taking a few bricks and laying up a wall on the sides. Take a piece of sheet Iron and lay on the top. covering with a little dirt. This Is a complete outtlt for smoking hams and shoulders and no danger of settiug any thing on tire or getting the hams too hot. The second cut is the elevation. The building Is 7 feet high, 2 by 4 studding are used, sills 2 by (5 inches, doubled; plates 2by 4, doubled. The sides are covered with seven-eighths inch drop ELEVATION' OF SMOKEHOUSE, siding. The following materials will build it: Fourteen pieces 2 by 4, 14 feet; two pieces 2 by 6, 10 feet; two pieces 2 by G, 12 feet; five pieces 2 by 4. 12 feet; 235 feet drop siding, three bunches shingles, 00 feet six inch crown molding, 100 feet roof lxiards, four boards 1 by 12, 14 feet; two pieces six inch sewer pipe. Grent Amerlcnn Tobscro Exhibit »l l*arla. The tobacco exhibit at Paris was one of the largest and moat complete ex hibits which have ever l>een made. It contained about 2,000 samples, repre senting every type and grade of tobac co produced In the United* States. It took the grand prize, nine gold medals, five silver medals nnd honorable men tion for many of the exhibitors. Two significant facts were brought out in the Jury of awards. The Florida grown Sumatra leaf was found to require 25 more leaves to the pound of a given grade than the samples exhibited from the island of Sumatra. It received 20 points of excellence ngaliiHt 18 for the Sumatra nnd was pronounced by the Jury to be perfect. The bright yellow I tobacco of Virginia and North Caroli na was awarded 18 points of merit out of a possible 20, or the same as given to the Turkish tobacco, which It resem bles in tunny points and with which It most closely competes. While It was admitted trial the Turkish tobacco had a more desirable aroma, the North Carolina product, besides closely ap proximating this, has a larger leaf. Which can lie used for wrappers ns well ns for tillers for all tobacco cigarettes nnd plug. It costs much less to produce ntiil Is altogether more of n general purpose tobacco nnd Is therefore more desirable. Foreign countries are appre ciating this fact. Ilnnil) Ileitis In Hatcheries. To clean and carry a hog with ease use a short bidder (about six feet long will iloi mill place leys about a foot loiik utiilei each etui. I 'lace a little tar lli the sciildlliM water, mid the lion will elcntt easier. Fur a good hog semper til he a piece of ail old grass scythe about four Inches lu length. with edge miller dull In place of a scalding (lough n large cask laid In a aliiuliuit position will answer (lie purpose nl Miosl lis W ell Two good ( Mils placed 111 a slanting position aualust a luilhllug Is (lie simplest niolhoil of haiiuluii a ling easily To clean a polk blind thai Is tainted mnl has a bad smell ahont II wash II nil! It* rlemi KM jftitl ran, Iheti while wimh II Willi fiesll slacked lime, l.et Ihc barrel dry, and II Im ready for use. The Mine Mill not hurl the meal at all. » Kansas Farmer; I iillim t ro it 'l'll* Million Mains. Tile Bliilistlt'liili of Ihe department of agriculture reports l0,loo,tN*« bwlea us tbe pinhabit! colion production or thu flulled Hliiii w for II""' !■ The eallnint nil yield In bounds of lint cotton per acre Is na follow a: Virginia I»0 UrnUUw *W N.'illi I malts* I*w 1V»«« Kt hi.iilli (iiruitat .... I<" Aihsosaa MS OiuiuiH ............. T»aa»n» I" I'll.ii,l» IHI Miaw.url t75 Alul'Uiiitt I*l OkUltuiii* #ll VJu,i~ i|.|.t I.iU Indian Territory .... The acreage after eliminating all luuit from which no crop will be gath ered Ih eatluiatcd at !46,01H1,75M. THE UEE QUESTION. What Ihe lice Mini nl lin«l»i»eat SaTS About it llee's I'nni r of Ml*eblef. "Ho bees Injure fruitV' That quea tlou came up In lluugary two or three years ago, when grai>o growers lu a certain district accused the Insects of puncturing the ripe berries. The mat ter was referred to Professor Jabio uowsky. the state entomologist at Bu dapest. All the evidence kuown.to liliu was against the charge, and none of the observations at or near Budapest gave the least support to It. Hut no amount of negative evidence can dis credit evejt a single positive observa tion. lie Visited the district where the crime was committed. I saw I'rofess or .lablonowsky at Budapest lu 1800, and lie told me there was no doubt the bees were guilty as charged. Hut in extenuation it was said that there was i absolutely nothing else for them to eat ■at that season. The region Is sciul ! arid, and while there are plenty of I spring flowers there Is nothing for the I bees after midsummer. What was at I first an occasional feeding on a broken I grape developed into an occasional at tack oil a sound one, and this became ■ a universal habit in a surprisingly ' short time. The mouth parts of a l>ee. \0.3 while beanttfnQy adapted for 42! ::T --lnc nectar. have also well Jaws or mandibles. ami There :» »b"< - lutcly no reason why they should :w>r puncture ripe fruits to x*-t at the « if there Is nothing clw sqrtallv tractive. 1 do not !»l!fw that fruit piercins habit is it all a »r ■' one. and. m far as my own oti»»v > lions go. I have never seen a ')** n any fruit not previously injured y (Mime other i-anw I would he always liii'llnnl to seek a prior hreafc nutar than eowhkr the bee iitiilfy. lam a believer in t.ees ami frcpienrly *mc gest bee keeping in large orchard arena. I think their work in secnring a set .if fruit far outweighs the little mischief they may cause on ripe example*, .inrt after all if lack of suitable food ;• real ly at the l»«ftorn of their rani! "w tiy not feed the bees? Deliberately aaertflee a few juicy fruits to them or a few pans of sugar water or diluted mo lasses. or plant a clover parch whem they can get it or buckwheat or whar ever else may be in honey yielding condition when the fruits ripen, hnt keep the bees by all means. The Tees need them, says Profewwr J. B- Smirh of New Jersey in Rural New Yorker. Points Ahoai Tile and Larlas It. Tile when properly placed in a dltrh do not require a covering t small stones or gravel, and they will do bet ter work If the regular -wnl i» road for covering. Horseshoe tile are ant a* good for the purpose of draining a* round tile. While they would be rea sonably sure to stay in place if proper ly laid, they are not as -tßcient a» round tile. The reason they are not s» efficient is shown in the cat. If tmc a small stream of water is flowing, t spreads out over the entire Sat surface of the horseshoe tile, and there i» not depth enough of water to cause the re moval of silt or sediment which may accumulate. It is far more dltflcnlt *o lay horseshoe tile and do good worh than to lay round tile. If the rtmmi tile does not make a tight Joint with its neighbor, it may be turned until a place Is found where the Joint ia rea sonably satisfactory. If the horseshoe tile does not tit with its neighbor, then the shovel must be used ami .*arth re- Oo BOUND TILE—HORSISHOB TIL*. moved or tilled In as the occasion may require. If horseshoe tile are used, they will do better work if they are laid with the flat tile up, for then co»- ditlons as to the flow of water are pro duced which are more nearly like those present with the round tile. When round tile are laid. It la well to lay a piece of common tarred building paper over the joint before Ailing in with earth. No matter how tight the Joint is made there is always a slight open ing, and there Is a possibility that foil may pass Into the tile and obstruct the passage. After the tile are placed * small piece of building paper laid over the joint Just before replacing the earth will insure against obstruction, says L. A. Clinton among some items of advice given in Country Gentleman. Uitflliral BrvTltln. The Eastern New York Horticultural ■oclety meets Feb. 13-14, t'JWI, in York city. An authority on such matters advtmm the starting of forest seedlings in cfc* ■cod bed und growing in the nursery till they are strong euough to mammal themselves In the forest plantation. Active Interest appears In the subject of devising measures to save the New Knglaud forests. "Systeuiatlaed for estry goes band in hand with progress Ive agriculture, and they together form the backbone of any nation's lite u*U prossterlty,** as Frank YVtUlaw Pane says lu New Kuglaud Homestead. The annual crop of mushrooms u» France Is valued at SU.OUtMW*)» and it 'a said that there are tH> wholesale hrtna In Paris dealing exclusively in them. The Cornell experiment station ha* found beet pulp a good food (or milk cows and worth about half as much as ■llnge One hundred bushels or more v*f time per a or*' I* now seldom applied, tt l» now recognised that on poor sails eod sandy soils »he quantity applied at o»e time should be small. The Ohio station urges pNiatmtto* nf the soil Intended for sugar beet* by fall or winter plowing "tt* l subsiding and thai l-eet Hauling be .lone tut ear» ly as practicable, say In March and- April V lit hi *»• *#»«■ Mlnlivoa ItrlOlNt. »'»' bw«iuuiu* W liuu< pat lew* with )«u. I'Ucrv would* t tie H Messed thing Uvuc aMi |it>tl«i> If » tIUIM t keep tvUiu* you tv Oil It, You eouKlut po*»iWy Hi Ulget Oil, t iMi'l kUow. uia'iuu. I tuoltflil H»yfw*» teh do viluU w*kl ,m> rhHMilelpht* Vrw*. Wluulu* *'»«• ««|»v» y«M devote uiuvh thought ti> y»u£ poeiuaV" asked the vuiluout csphtfer "MU-hm your heart. uor »«ud U»« <•»*• m ill vwmlttor, "1 Ua\v> reached a h«#iti(ift where I i'hu afford to let thai pact tliu work t'alt oU the reader, "-lud^" m».n» I'ifM*. "VIM; ho'* awfully WUN bWdtd. . Why, I'm told that *»■» Jwut)ly % count" ••Si>7 Mebby he's ouv of tbes»s r*- cuuuU that the papers arc all taikia about just uow." Cleveland Dealer. ~~ 111 »•«** T*«. A oekbrated but very vain and «ec bearlut; Freuch painter iu 'ia.l a pi t \li>k ttiut was taken ill, and Iks had the audacity to send for ou«t of uw li-«(llUK physicians Ui the capital, on tin* as»uwptlou that a veterinary *»ir gi'ou was uot ({oo*l eui'unh for tfkt «ai uable dog of so great a f«r*oan#i aa himself. The phyalcUn who had been twuorKd with the summons was at ttrnt petri fied at Hit" Impertlaeacw of the notion. t>ut soon Rruvi'icd bis equanimity ami returned the following nj«rs»att«» r*» rb* knight of the hrnsi: ••Would M M be it<»«l ■mmjjh ro atep over to my bou**?, a* I fc»v« » couple of new window sburtur* aba* •rant palattaf?" Cfdlif ■■ Tbe roada In Normandy art- splendid for cyclini; th. disadvantage b»- Ins that the of many ouun routes hWea the beauty of tb* country, for which reason It la oft*n a good plan, when time la not an object, r© pick out the bywaya on the map. Thi* U the easier because not only ar» tbo bywaya excellently kept, but tn* name of a French village la plainly written up. nnd one doea not have rldlculoua dltflculty. as sometimes In Entfiand. a finding out where one la. S»Wenp<»»ai and milestones are abundant, and Uie decimal svstem rerulers them perfectly Him pie and exact. - "Hitfbwaya aud liywaya lu Normandy," by i/warmer.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers