-ww w-» w» | SPIRITED AWAY. J J BT 3.A. Bollbs. TLa inhabitants of Albuquerque, Jtfew Mexico, had become greatly ex cited on account ot a series of daring robberies that had been perpetrated in their midst. The principal dry goods store had been broken into, and SSOO dollars' worth of silks taken from the shelves and S2OO in specie and in bills stolen from the safe; the post office had been robbed; and even the vault of a bank had been blown open, and not less than $20,000 in money and $40,000 in coupon bonds had been secured by the miscreants. In not one instance were any of the fellows captured, and no clew as to their hid ing place or rendezvous for the plan ning of their robberies could be ob tained. Alarming as was the continuation of the robberies, it was surpassed by an occurrence that proved to be the cul nomination of the work of the despera does. One night the beautiful daugh ter of Colonel Bleeker, the richest citi zen of the city, was kidnapped. That the deed had been done by the robbers for the purpose of keeping the maid en captive until they could obtain a liberal ransom from the distracted la ther there could scarcely be a doubt. The circumstantial efidence showed that Helen Bleeker had been chloro formed while sleeping in her bed, after which a blanket had been wrapped about her and she had been borne from the house and spirited away. Helen had a lover named Malcolm Mac Donald, a shrewd young lawyer, who was confident that the headquar ters of the kidnappers were in the cra ter of lava beds about 20 miles south west of Albuquerque. This belief was not shared by many people, however, /or the cave had often been visited by hunters, contained no hidden recesses, and was not adapted to purposes of concealment or defense. But suffice it to say that MacDonalii knew what he was about when he resolved to attempt the rescue of the dear girl to whom he was betrothed.by organizing a party to search l'or her captors among the lava beds. Five of his friends, all of them stout-hearted and adventurous young fellows, agreed to aid him. Armed to the teeth, and mounted on good horses, the party quietly left Albuquerque three hours after the abduction of I-lel -3n became known. When they arrived within sight of the lava beds they placed their horses in the care of a trustworthy ranchman, and with watchful eyes walked toward their des tination. The lava beds were several acres in extent, and were in the shape of a low and broken cone, the top of which was hollowed out so as to resemble a lnige bowl. The latter was all that re mained of the crater of an extinct Tolcano, and so long had destroying influences been at work that the sides had considerably fallen away and crumbled until the once deep bowl was now so shallow that is was easy to walk into and out of it. The young men. holding their rifles in readiness in case of an attack, de scended into the great bowl and ad vanced until they came to the mouth of the cave. The opening was large, and from it a goodsized passage wound downward a distance of ten feet to the cave, which was about a rod long and shapad like a right-angled triangle. The adventurers satisfied themselves by a cautious exploration that the rob bers were not in the cavity. A little later, while, torch in hand, they were examining the bottom of the hollow, they discovered a square section of the lava floor was slightly separated from the surrounding lava. The excited men pounded on the slab of lava until they broke it sufficiently to enable them to grasp the pieces and remove them. A deep, hole was revealed, ex cept where narrow shelves extending on four sides had served to support the edges of the block. It was prob able that the party was at the entrance of the hiding place of the robbers, at the mouth of a second cave lying beneath the one they were in. The sup position was that one of the robbers had accidentally broken through the floor of the first cave at a point where it was thin, and had thus discovered the entrance to the second cavern. It was further surmised that in order to keep their valuable discovery a secret the outlaws had immediately cut a block of lava from the extensive beds outside of the cave and had fitted it above the hole in the manner al ready described. Mac Donald determined to make the descent of the shelving sides of the hole. He argued that the robbers were undoubtedly asleep at that hour, and that the chance of coming upon them before reaching the main cave was email. Seeing that they could not dissuade him, and admiring his bold ness, the young men discontinued their objections; and alter they had assured him that they would defend him should he come forth pursued, and would re yenge his death should he be killed, they bade him godspeed as he entered the cavity. He was armed with a long hunting knife and a brace of pistols, and carried in his hand a dark lantern. Closing the slide of the lantern so as to conceal the light he crept in darkness down the passage. At last he stood upright and moved on a level. He was in the cave. The sound of washing waters came to his startled ears, and he inferred tnat he stood up on the edge of a subterranean lake. After considerable hesitation he ven tured to turn on the light. A weird spectacle was presented to his view. Above was the roof of the cave, com- Dosed of lava, from which rocks protruded so much of themselves that it seemed as if they might fall at any moment The sides of the cav ern were equally rough, and with the exception of the shelf of lava on which Mac Donald stood the bottom of the cave was covered with a gloomy waste of waters. Soon MacDonalii s attention was ar rested by a singular sight. A huge mass appeared from the gloom beyond the reach of the lantern's rays and slowly advanced toward him. It was not atraft belonging to the robbers, as Mac Do nald had at first feared, but was an island of lava. That so great a mass of lava could float stemed incredible, until MacDonaid bethought him that the mass was undoubtedly composed of pumice, a feldspai~ic scoria pro duced by volcanoes, that, is lighter than water. It immediately occurred to our hero that the robbers were probably on the lava vessel, and he closed the lantern without delay. Once niore he was in intense dark ness. As the island came nearer he could distinguish a dim light. He at once came to the conclusion that the mass was of considerable size, and that the light arose near its centre from a camp fire around which the outlaws were probably gathered. He breathed more freely, feeling confident that he had not been discovered. When the kland had almost reached the shore it caused a slight swashing of the water, and guided by the sound, Mac Donald could aimost tell 4 where the floating lava was. Cautiously put ting out his hands, he felt them come in contact with a hard and moving surface; and as the island touched the shore he gave a leap of sufficient power to carry him well upon the singular craft. He sat still for a few moments, and to his alarm noticed that the island had not lingered at the shore, as he had hoped that it would do. It was already moving steadily away, and he surmised that the currents of the singular lake or river, so ran as to carry the mass round and round the cave. So regular appeared to be the movement that he believed the robbers had been able to ascertain just at what times during the 24 hours of the day (for he could not believe that the lake j was of so vast a size as to require days to make its circuit) the island could be depended upon to touch the shore that he had lett. After slowly climbing upward for six or seven feet Mac Donald came to the top of the island and men learned that the theory as to the dim illumina tion was correct, 'i.ie island was cir cular, about one-half acre in extent, and near its centre was the fire, now burning low. The island shelved from its elevated sides toward t.,e centre, and on account of the bowl-like sur- j face it was possible to see the entire j area, although its edges could not be distinctly seen on account of the in bility of the lire except in its imme- ! diate vicinity, to overcome the power of the intense darkness. Rolled in blankets and stretched around the fire were eight roobers, asleep, bout ten feet from the fire was a wigwam cov ered with strips of straw matting that had been laid upon the slanting poles of the frame. That his dear Helen was in this wigwam MacDonaid felt al most certain. How to act under the circumstances was most perplexing. To attempt to rescue Helen, or even to communicate with her, would be an undertaking fraught with the greatest hazard. While our hero hes.tated his eyes were attracted to some plunder that the robbers had left in a pile a short distance from where he stood. Among the articles were heavy horse blankets. A bright idea came to Mac Donald. He removed his shoes, went in his stocking feet to the pile, selected two blankets, folded them into as small a compass as possible, placed them on one arm, and. lantern in hand, approached the fire and the eight men, who slept soundly after the arduous work of the previous night When he was a few feet from the fire Mac Donald paused and laid the blankets on the lava. It was a singu lar and most exciting situation. Far from the aid of friends, in a cavern, on a mysterious lava island that floated in a subterranean lake of unknown depth and extent, our hero stood in the presence of foes who should one of their number happen to .awake and give the alarm, would sliest him down in an instant. Mac Donald did not, however, spend any time in thinking of the singularity and peril of his situation. In the most careful manner lie proceeded to cover the burning sticks with the blankets and to smother the fire. Owing to his precautions, should the robbers awake, before they could light their lanterns he could escape in the darkness. Once more the cave was wrapped in inky blackness. Mac Donald moved the slide of his lantern sufficiently to give him the little light that he need ed. He approached ths wigwam with a beating heart. At this moment one of the villains stirred and groaned. It was a moment of terrible suspense. The man muttered something and it seemed as if he must be awake. Mac- Donald closed the slide and waited, while the perspiration started from every pore of his body. But the dan ger passed. The man sank into deep slumber. Mac Donald gave himself a little light a second time, and peered into the wigwam. Yes, Helen was there! She recognized him, and did not scream. "What a dear, brave fellow you are," she murmured, "to risk your life for me!" She looked at him with tears in her beautiful eyes, and stroked his hair fondly. At this moment one of the villains awoke. "What is the matter with the fire?" he cried. Mac Donald had taken the precaution to close his lantern while Helen and he were whispering, so that there was no danger of immediate discovery. The man got up and began to fumble around. His companions awoke, and swore because they had been disturbed. Not a moment was to be lost. The situation was desperate, well nigh hopeless. Mac Donald feared that he had played a brave and most peri lous part only to be defeated. While he was in terrible suspense, not know ing what was best to do, the dear girl whispered to him, — "Let us fly. There is a boat. I came in it." "Can you find it?" "Yes; there is a stake with a red liag on it that will guide me to it." Meanwhile the robbers had discov ered the blankets, and were removing them from the fire. Two of the fel lows approached the wigwam. As they reached it Mac Donald and Helen left it, after he had hastily cut the cords that bound the maiden's hands. One of the men happening to touch our hero, the lat ter with quick presence of mind, felled his enemy to the lava. The robbers, now thoroughly aroused, hurled forth imprecations that echoed in a deafen ing manner throughout the cavern But t>hey could not readly find a lan tern. and could not tell where the fu gitives, running noiselessly in their stocking feet, were. The pursuers dis charged their pistols at random, and one bullet whistled by the heads oi our hero and heroine. They continued to run, keeping as nearly as they could a straight course. Mac Donald opened the slide of the lantern as soon as he dared to do it. They had reached the top of the height just above the shore; but no flag was in sight. The robbers saw the fugitives, yelled viciously and fired their pistols. Bul lets whistled alarmingly near the in tended victims. Mac Donald closed the lantern, and holding Helen's hand, walked along the island's edge. Again he allowed a gleam of light to escape. He saw the flag ten feet from him. and closed the lantern before the villians could fire. The steps of the pursuers sounded fearfully near. The fugitives ran forward, expecting each moment to be precipitated into the water. But fortune favored them. They fell against the flag pole, and re covering themelves in a second, slid down the island's steep bank. Mac- Donald opened the lantern. Thank God! The boat was at their feet. They sprang into it. Mac Donald handed Helen the lantern, cut the rope, grasped the oars, and they were afloat. At this moment three of the robbers, waving pistols, gained the summit of the bank. "Shut the lantern!" Mac Donald cried. Before Helen coul<J. obey the cavern rang with a great discharge of fire arms. The three men threw up their hands and fell forward into the water. Mac Donald knew that his friends had come to the rescue just in time. He looked behind him, and saw on the lava shelf his five brave companions waving their hands with delight. The boat touched the shore. Wil ling hands assisted our hero and he roine to alight. Awed by the fate of their comrades, the five robbers on the island sur rendered themselves, and, with most of the property which they had stolen, were taken back to Albuquerque in triumph. Young Mac Donald, the fair Helen and their five gallant friends were re ceived with raptures by Colonel Bleek er and his wife, and were lionized by all the people of the city.—Waverly Magazine. Of Interest to vtamp Collector*. In these days when new series of postage stamps are being issued by the United States and by other coun tries to commemorate great events, ex positions and anniversaries, the yeung stamp collector has plenty to oo to keep pace with the times. The recent appearance of the Pan-American stamps, in two colors and of very at tractive design, has set the interested ones to work with renewed zeal. The transmississippi issue of 1898 is now doubtless represented in every mdl regulated collection, as are the Colum bian exposition stamps of 1893. But there are other new stamps about to be issued, it is said, by foreign countries, and those who delight in the work will doubtless make an effor» to secure some of them. The Sultan of Turkey will commemmorate the 25th anniversary of his accession t the throne on September 1 with a stamp to be in use on that day only. Brazil has recently issued a set of commemmorative stamps comprising four values. A new stamp has been issued for Western Australia of the value of two pence half-penny. Another recent : stamp is the New Zealand one penny, printed both in and in New Zealand. Those printed in London are rare, but show finer workmanship than those of local print. Hereafter visitors at the Kansas state penitentiary will be charged 10 cents each. The sum goes towards paying the extra guard made neces- R»rv hv the visitors 2&ND $$ I New York City.— The comfort, con venience and luxury of the Kimona are established facts. Young girls, as well as their elders, find them essential MISSES' KIMONA. to a complete wardrobe and are pro vided with varying sorts to suit differ ent seasons. In warm weather white lawn with tigured border is charming as are dimity cheviot, madras, and China silk in various colors and com binations; for winter use flannel, flan nelette, cashmere "fld 911 materials used for wrappers are correct. WOMAN'S WAIST. The very desirable model form is made with a square yoke in frout and back that meet in shoulder scams, the full fronts and back being gathered and joined to its lower edge. The sleeves are large and ample, in bell shape, and all the edges are finished with contrasting bands. When desired in shorter length, the skirt porticn caa be cut off. To cut this May Manton Kimona for a miss of twelve years of age. seven and one-half yards of material twenty one inches wide, six and one-fourth yards twenty-seven Inches wide or four and five-eighth yards thirty-two inches wide will be required for the full length, with two and seven eighth yards for bauds; three and three-fourth yards twenty-one inches wide, three yards twenty-seven inches wide or two and three-eighth yards thirty-two inches wide, with one and three-fourth yards for bands lor short er lensth. Woinitn'R Waist. Blouse effects with revers and vests are exceedingly fashionable and make most satisfactory waists for stre" costumes as well as for indoor wear. The original of the smart May Manton model shown in the large drawing is made of tucked golden brown etamiue with vest of the plain material, full front undersleeves and stitched bands of taffeta in the same shade, small jeweled buttons, revers, stock and cuffs of Russian lace, but all soft mn teriajs suited to tucking are appro priate. The foundation for the waist is a fitted lining. On it are arranged the full front, vest portions and back and fronts of the waist proper, which are laid in fine tucks, while the froifts are finished with revers. The sleeves are made over a smooth lining to which the puffs are attached, and which can ha covered with the ma terial when plain sleeves are desired. The flare cuffs are attached to the lower edges of the upper sleeves and the stock is joined to the full front and closed invisibly at the centre back. To cut this waist for a woman of medium size, three and one-fourth' yards of material twenty-one inches wide, three yards twenty-seven Inches wide, two and one-half yards thirty two inches wide or one and five eighth yards forty-four inches wide will be required, with one and one fourth yards of taffeta, cue and one eighth yards of all-over lace and three and one-half yards of stitched bands to trim as illustrated. Primitive Indian Oesitjne. There seems to be a tendency io many things to primitive Indian de signs. It may not be that every de signer who uses them knows this, but any one noticing styles in general will see it. For instance, on a long and handsome evening coat which has ap plications of cloth upon net, the cloth of the upper part of the coat comes down upon the net in sharp, slender, irregular points above a more con ventional desigu. These sharp points are comparatively new and very mucn the same as designs that are to be seen upon old Indian rugs, and in them arc intended to represent light ning, perhaps, or some of the ele ments. A Pretty Variation. A pretty variation of a somewhat hackneyed form of evening dress wa» lately shown, the "etceteras'* of a black tulle gown (lightly sprinkled with square gold sequins) being all of gold. A little gilt fan, wreath of gold leaves in the hair, gold-headed black velvet shoes and gold embroidered Empire belt. Black gloves were worn and a broad gold bracelet on one wrist. "Woman's Tucked Skirt. Tucks not nloue bold their place but give every evidence of extended favor and are predicted as features of com ing styles. Tbe exceedingly graceful May Mauton skirt illustrated shows a lower edge, but shaped and gathered at the upper edge to fit the skirt. To cut this skirt for a woman of medium size, nine and one-fourtb yards of material twenty-one inches wide, eight and three-eighth yards twenty-seven inches wide, six and novel and graceful, arrangement that is economical at trie same time, as the nine gores mean the minimum of material, "he original is made of white louisine silk with appliques of cream Cluny lace, but all soft, pliablo materials are suitable whether silk, wool or cotton. The skirt !s cut in nine gores, each of which is tucked down the centre and all of which are shaped in scal loped outline at the lower edge. The upper portion fits smoothly and snugly at the waist line, the fulness at the back being laid in an inverted box pleat. The flounce Is straight at tlie NINE-QOKED TUCKED SKIRT. one-fcurtli yr.rds thirty-two inches wide or five and one-fourth yards forty-four inches wide will be re quired. t THE GREAT DESTROYS SOME STARTLING FACTS ABOUT THE VICE OF INTEMPERANCE. Poem: I.nut and Knund According; to a Professor of Philosophy In the Unl» verslty of Kerlln Many Male Ger mans Are Being litiined by Drink. James was an only son, A bright and noble boy, t A widow's trust and pride, A doting mother's joy. He was at home and school Both dutiful and kind. Of honest, open heart, '<• Of bright inquiring mind. The mother's wealth of lov# 81 le lavished on her boy; To whom she fondly clung, Her only earthly joy. A .Without his fathers hand, "y its guidance and Sad change in time she saw, And heard her son's complaint. That home was not as bright As scenes upon the street, Where folly's songs were sung, Hard by the scorner's seat. Corrupt companionship, Witn evil leaven fraught, In body, spirit, soul. Its subtle poison wrought. The voice within at first Condemns the lighter drinks; .Yet reason as he may, He through indulgence sinks. The mother patient bore The folly of her child; Her heatt, its agony, Suppressed to accents mild. She summoned all the strength Of self-denying love, That home, with added charms. Its sacred worth might prove. But Satan, suhtle fiend. By sin's delusion charmed, His victim blindly led. His captive's fear disarmed. Until debased, he trod Of fcell the very brink! And in his ravings cursed And fought the demon drink! The mother's tortured heart In agony now broke; And to his double crime The son in horror woke. But mercy spread her wings And brooded o'er the loss; And now. redeemed, he clings A contrite to the cross. The mother's tears and prayers, Preserved a pledge on high, Now falls in dews of grace From out the answering sky. •—C. B. Botsford, in National Advocate. Germany Has a "Liquor Frot4n •" The silly editorial claptrap so often in dulged in by a certain class of editors for the "instruction" of the American pub lic, declaring that there is 110 "liquor question" and no "evils of drink" in Ger many, where "everybody drinks beer," finds crushing rebuttal in the passage just quoted and in the following. Both pas sages are from Volume VI. of the "Hand worterbuch der Staatswissen-Chaften" (Encyclopaedia of Political Sciences): During 1885 the hospitals of Prussia re ceived 8163 patients suffering from deli rium tremens. . . . Awarding to the general estimate a great proportion of epileptics and the mentally defective, as well os idiots, are victims either of their own drinking hab its or those of their ancestors. . . But even among people regarded as healthy an extraordinary proportion of mental laziness, disposition to shun work, rude ness, narrow-mindedness, ignorance and immorality is begotten by drink and the saloon. According to the testimony of statisti cians and prison directors, prison chap lains, et al., such as Baer . . . one half at least of the acts of violence are traced to the influence of drink. That would occasion for the year 1889: 6803 cases of violence and threats against officials. 3030 rape and lewdness. 10.395 disturbance of the peace. 28.166 assault. 122 murder and manslaughter. 10,557 assault and battery. 27.667 assault to kill. 6130 compulsion and threats. 181 robberv and extortion. 225 incendiarism. These make 93,576 acts of violence that were brought before our courts. Thou sands of families suffer from the tyranny and extravagance of topers, the public or der and safety from their tendency to misdemeanors and crime, all higher en deavor from their stupidity and barbar ity; in regard to the community, the State and other social organisms they are dangerous parasites. Friedrick Paulsen. Professor of Philo sophy in the University of Berlin, in his "System of Ethics," says: "There are regions in Germany where no inconsiderable proportion of the male population goes to ruin as the direct con sequence of the mania for drink; and there is no province where the profoundest dis turbances do not extend from this cause over the entire life. The immediate ef fects of intemperance are: Undermining the industrial life, vitiating and destroy ing the family life, deterioration and ruin of the intellect and morals, finally the de cay of the body. Pauperism, crime, a host of diseases, insanity, suicide and a degenerate posterity comprise their dis mal escort." Drink and Crime, In 120 army prisons throughout Ger many forty-six per cent, of all the mur derers committed their crimes while under the influence of drink. Sixty-three per cent, of the cases of manslaughter, sev enty-four per cent, of serious injury to the person and seventy-seven per cent, of criminal immorality are due to the same cause. In the navy out of 1671 punishable cases during the last six years seventy-five per cent, oi the most serious cases have been due to drunkenness. —Berlin Letter to London Chronicle. A New llecr Kvll. The injury from beer is not from the al cohol alone, but also from the uncalled-for quantities of liquid beer drinkers take into tneir stomach. No one ever dreams of swallowing such a quantity of liquid with out alcohol, as hundreds of thousands of beer drinkers imbibe every day and never mistrust that they are endangering their health. Weakening the heart-musdc and the blood vessels are the consequences of such use of beer. Ravages the Life. The beery bliss of the academic, and not academic. Philistines, so prevalent in Germany, and the worship of the belly among the rich and distinguished, ravage the life as surely as the habit of drinking whisky among the poor. Can any one who sits by the hour in a beer saloon reeking with tobacco fumes, day after day, morning and evenings, in stupid conver sation, repeating tilings said a hundred times, or engaged in an inane game of cards, finally carrying home an empty, stupefied head, can any one who does that pursue any serious or grand object with earnestness or zeal?
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