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IS8UB3D TWICE -A. WEEK--W EDNE8DAY AND SATURDAY. i. m. grist & sons, Publishers, j %^amilg Houispager: ilor ",e fNisofion "f ",e jpolitol, fSoriat, ggrirulfural, and Commercial Jntorests of The jSoutlt. J tbrm|lnS?;<?Py,e/iVJ^anci;' VOL. 43. YORKVILLE, S. P., AV EDNESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1897. NO. 827" CHAPTER VIIL LOYAL FRIENDS. It was on Friday morning at daybreak that the desertion of Trumpeter Waller was reported to Lieutenant Blnnt. It was Friday nigbt that the telegrams were sent to Laramie and that Charlton'8 letter left by stage. It was Saturday afternoon just before parade that the mail was distributed at Fort Sanders, and that very evening, before Major Edwards had received and bad time to read his letter from the west, the sergeant had started on bis long and fatiguing journey All night long in sleepless misery he sat in a corner of the caboose, occasionally rising and tramping unsteadily to and fro. At Cheyenne a delay of half an hour occurred, and he left the train and paced restlessly op and down the platform under the freight sheds. He dared not go down to the lighted offices and the crowded passenger station just below him. It seemed as though every one knew of Fred's 6tory by this time He oould see the gleam of forage cap ornaments and the glint of army buttons among the people at the depot and knew there were several officers and soldiers there. Never before had he known what it was to shrink from facing any man on earth, but tonight, though be almost starved for further news from his boy, 1J kimool# frt XIO UUUAU UUb UlliJg U1UIDOM w www them and ask. Along toward morning, at Pine Bluffs, a herdsman got aboard, and what he had to say was of startling interest Hitherto the Indian war parties had kept well to the north of the Platte, "Bat," said he. "ever since Friday the Sidney road has been swarmng with them, both sides of the river, and they are killing everything white they can lay their hands on. " "My God!" thought Waller. "And Fred must be in the very midst of them 1 Better so," he added, "if indeed he can be guilty. " The herder had evidently been sorely frightened by all he beard, and he was hnrryiug to Sidney to join a party of cattlemen who were camping there. He had been drinking, too, and took more and more as the night wore on and became mundliu in his talk. It was 9 o'clock on Sunday morning when they reached Sidney station, and the first thing that old Waller saw was a strong concord wagon, with a four mule team and an army driver. Two infantry soldiers, with their rifles and girt with cartridge belts, were standing close at hand. Two officers were stowing their rifles inside the wagon, and an orderly was strapping the tarpaulin over the light luggage in the "boot." One of the officers the sergeant knew instantly, an aid-de-camp of the commanding general. The other was older in years and bore on his cap the insignia of the staff The younger officer saw him before he could step into the office, ana &ergeani waner kdbw ii?klbw, too, with the quickness of tbongbt, that he bad heard of Fred's disappearance and presumable crime He could have shrunk from meeting bis superiors in the shadow of tbis bitter sorrow and disgrace. Even while be could not accept the belief that bis boy was actually a deserter and a tbief, he knew full well what other men must think. But Captain Cross was a cavalryman himself and had known old Waller for years He dropped his rifle came straight forward and took him by the hand. "Sergeant, 1 don t believe it of your boy I've known his father too long, " was all he said as he pressed the veteran's hand. Poor old Waller, worn with anguish, long vigil and utter lack of food of any kind, was now so weak that he could only, with the utmost difficulty, choke back the 60bs that shook his frame. Speak he dare not He would have broken down Cross led him to the lunchroom at the station and made him swallow a cup of coffee, then gently questioned him as to what he knew. "We go at once to Red Cloud?Colonel Gaines and 1?and maybe on the road I shall hear something of him. Sergeant, test assured your son shall have fair play, "said the aid-de-camp as he was about to turn away. "But, captain?I beg pardon, sir," broke in Waller hurriedly in almost the first words he had spokea "Where is your escort? Surely you won't take this route without one?" "There isn't a trooper at Sidney, sergeant. We have a couple of infantry men in the wagon and another on a mule. That's the best we can do, and we'vo got no time to 6pare. We must be at Red Cloud tomorrow, and this is the shortest line." "But, sir, haven't you heard? The Sioux are out in force and all along the road, both abovo and below the Platte. There's a Herder on the train who told us. He got aboard at Pine Bluffs this morning." "Ican hardly believe that," answered Cross. "Captain Forrest with the Grays is scouting south of Red Cloud Captain Wallace was ordered to watch the fords along the Platte on this line. Captain Charlton is out, or at least the whole troop hus been, and there are three more. Surely Major Edwards would know over at the barracks if the Indians were anywhere between us and the river?we'll get an escort from Captain Wallace the other side?but he has not heard a word." "But I beg the captain to hear what the man says, 6ir." urged Sergeant Waller "He's been drinking, but he tells the same story practically that he told us when he got aboard Let me (ind him, sir." author of '"fort frayne." ^?|gp> "an army wife" Etc Etc. ?V V COPmiGMT, 1097.BT f.TENNTSON N?tU\ And find him he did, even more maudlin and thick tongned by this time, and evidently determined to make the most of his dramatic story for th> benefit of the two officers and swarm of interested lookers on He only succeeded in inspiring the colonel with mingled incredulity and disgust. "I don't believe a word of it," he said to Captain Cross "And we are losing valuable time We must start at once." An hour later this peaceful Sabbath morning tho sergeant stood, cap in hand, before Major Edwards on the veranda of bis pleasant quarters. Two pretty children were playing with a big, shaggy, lazy staghound, pulling bis ears and tormenting him in various waya A pleasant faced lady came forth, sunshade and prayer book in band, and at sight of her the little ones reluctantly rose and bade good by to their four footed friend, and the party started slowly away across the green parade to the post chapel, nodding and smiling to the spruce orderly, who stood respectfully aside to let them pass Mrs. Edwards glanced quickly and sympathetically into the sergeant's sad face as he stood there before her husband's easy chair She knew well what it all meant, but there was nothing for her to eay Small parties of infantry officers and of ladies and children joined them on the way to the humble wooden sanctuary; the soft notes of the bugle were sounding church call; a warm, gentle breeze from the southern plains stirred the folds of the big flag; the sunshine was joyous and brilliant, and all spoke of peace, order and contentment Yet there stood Waller with al LUUbb UUlBlllJg UCtll t, uuu J uuudi, uuij a few miles across the grassy ridge to the north, rode that little party of officers and men to almost certain death. The major looked up as he finished reading the letter placed in his bands. "I have no words to tell yon of my sympathy and 6orrow, sergeant. Of oourse you know my plain duty in the matter. The sheriff has been notified, and two of his deputies already have gone out to seurch. He would hardly be mad enough to come anywhere near ns if guilty But if he is takeu he will be held here under my charge, and I will see that you have every proper opportunity of visiting him. The adjutant tells me you had beard something of the Indians being south of the Platta What was it?" "A man who boarded our train at the Bluffs, sir. He claimed to have had to ride hard for his life yesterday afternoon, and that there were scores of the Sioux this side of the river I took him to Colonel Gaines and Captain Cross, sir, but the man had been drinking so "J don't believe a word of it." he said to Captain Cross. much that they distrusted him entirely. They left the station before I started for the barracks, sir " The major sat thoughtfully gazing out across the parade a moment, then answered: "We have had no rumors of anything of the kind, and they would be almost sure to come this way to us if any one heard of such stories There are no settlers along the road after leaving the springs out here until you reach the Platte. I can hardly believe it, but we'll see what can be got from the man when he sobers up Now the sergeant major will go with you to the quarters, and I will see you later in the day." But later In the day that promise was forgotten in an excitement of far greater magnitude. CHAPTER IX. LURKING FOES. Church was over. The bugler had just sounded mess call, and the soldiers in their ueut "undress" uniform were just going in to dinner, when a man on a "oow pony"?one of those wiry, active little steeds 60 much in use around the cattle herd?cume full speed into the garrison and threw himself from 11 ' ? i. w.-j? nj 3?? Tt I tne Baauie ai jiiujor iiawuru? gui?. a? was the telegraph operator at the railway station. In his hands were two brown envelopes, and Major Edwards, as he stepped forward to meet him, saw in his face the telltale look of a bearer of bad news. "I've no idea whoso horse that is, major. Thero were a half dozen of 'em in front of a saloon there in town, and I jumped on the first I saw These have just come?one from Laramie, one from Omaha. I dropped everything at the office to fetch them to you. " Edwards tore open first ouo and then the othor. The first read: ""Couriers in front oT CaptaJU wanace report lurge war parties along the Platte and some across, raiding the Sidney road. Four teamsters killed, scalped and mutilated three miles south of river Bodies found. Warn back everybody attempting to go that way. " The second was from the office of the department commander himself: "Indians in force south of Platte, on Sidney road. If Colonel Gaines and Captain Cross have started, send couriers at once to recall them. " The major's face was dark with dismay "They have been gone nearly four hours," he exclaimed. "Even if I bad swift riders ready, who could catoh them in time?" "I've been a trooper all my life, sir," came sudden answer "uive me a norne I and carbine and let me go. " j The major might have known 'twas Sergeant Waller True to his word and arranging with the officers of the court martial to return in case his further testimony was required, Captain Charlton set forth at daybreak on Saturday, intending to push straight through to Red Cloud as fast as mules could drag or horses bear him. To the Niobrara crossing the road was hard and smooth when once they cleared the sandy wastes of the Platte bottom. He bad a capital team, a light ambulance and a little squad of seasoned troopers to go with him as escort It was a drive of nearly 90 miles, but he proposed resting his auimals an hour at the Niobrara, another hour at sunset, feeding and watering carefully each time, and so keeping on to the old agency until he reached bis troop late at night No danger was to be apprehended until the party got beyond the Rawhide and not very much until they were across the Niobrara, but Charlton and his half dozen troopers had been over each inch of the ground time and again, and very little did they dread the Sioux. After midday the little party had halted close beside the spot where Blunt's detachment had made their bivouac bo short a time before. Here were the ashes of their cook fires and the countless hoof prints of the horses. Here, too, was the trail in double file, leading away northward across the prairie, a short cut to the Red Cloud road. Charlton followed it with his keen eyes and noted with a smile how straight a line its young leader must have made for the "dip" in the grassy ridge a mile away, through which ran the hard, beaten track. Blunt prided himself on these little points of soldiership, as the captain well remembered, and when obareed with guiding at the bead of a column was pretty sure to fix bis eyes ou sotue distant landmark and steer for that, with little regard for what might be going on at the rear. The ambulance mules, tethered about the tongue, were busily crunching their liberal measure of oats. Each cavalry horse, too, buried his nose deep in the shimmering pile his rider had carefully poured for him upon the dry side of the saddle blanket. The men were contentedly eating their hard tack and bacon and drinking their coffee from huge tin cups with the relish of old frontiersmen. One trooper, a few yards away out on the prairie, kept vigilant watch. Pondering deeply over the strange and unaccountable charge that had been laid at his young trumpeter's door, the captain was slowly pacing down the bonk, puffing away at the brier root pipe that wus the constant companion of his scouting daya Suddenly he heard the sentry call, and, turning, saw him pointing to the ground at his feet "What is it Hortou?" he asked, going over toward him. "Pony tracks, sir. The Indians have been nosing around here since our men left" There were the prints of some half a dozen little, unshod hoofs dotting the sandy hollows in the low ground near the streum and easily traceable among the clumps of buffalo grass beyond. Charlton could see where they had gathered in one spot, as though their riders were then in consultation, and then scattered once more along the bank. Two hundred yards away stood the lonely log cabin, all that was left of what had been the ranch, and following the trail the captain presently found himself nearlng it Two tracks seemed to lead straight thither, and before he reaobed it were joined by several more. Close to the abandoned hot the ground was worn smooth and hard, yet in the hollows were accumulations of dust blown from the roadway up the 6tream. Around here the pony tracks were thick, and just within the gaping doorway were footprints in the dust, some of spurred boot heels and broad soles, one still more recent of Sioux moccasins. Through the solid log walls two small square windows bad been cut and narrow slits for rifles, in the days when the occupants had frequent occasion to defend their prairie castla The opening to the subterranean "keep" was yawning under tho eastern wall, its wooden cover having long since been broken up for fuel. Charlton stood for a moment within the blackened and dusty doorway and glanced curiously around him. Except for the new footprints it looked very much as it did when he had first taken occasion to inspect the interior, earlier in the summer. There was nothing left that any one could carry away, and he wondered why the Indians should have troubled themselves to dismount and prowl about An Indian i kofna o Knnoo nn oonornl nrinninloo nnH enters one only^wheu* Tfe"~expVcts~lio make something by it. Those recent boot prints, nearly effaced by the moccasins, were doubtless those of some of Blunt's party. Cariosity had prompted some timekilling trooper to stroll out here and take a look at the place. The sunshine streaming in at the open doorway made a brilliant oblong square upon the earthen floor and lighted up the grimy interior. The steps cut down to the dark "dugout" were crumbling away, and it was impossible to see more than a few feet into the passage leading to the underground fortress, where as a final resort in an Indian siege the little garrison conld take refuge. A lanforn or a oandle would show the way, but Charlton .had neither. Taking out his match case, however, he bent down, struck a light and peered in. Somebody had done the same thing within the last day or two, for there were the stub ends of two matches just like his in the dust at the bottom of the steps, and there, too?yes, he lighted another match and There was the print of cavalry boots. studied it carefully?there was the print of cavalry boots going in and coming out again. Whoever was his predecessor, he bad more curiosity than the captain. Charlton had seen prairie "dugout" forts before and did not care to waste time now CHAPTER X. IN SUSPENSE. Returning to the open sunshine, he made the circuit of the bouse, and on the north side stopped and studied with an interest he bad not felt before. A stout post was still standing on that side, and to the post a cavalry horse had been tethered within two days and stood there long enough to paw and trample the gravel all around it. Charlton was cavalryman enough to read in every sign that the steed had been most unwillingly detained* In evident impatience be had twisted twice and again around that stubborn, bullet scarred stump, and the troop commander oould almost see him, pawing vigorously, tugging at his "halter shank," and plunging about his hated but relentless jailer, and neighing loudly in hopes of calling back his departing friends. Charlton felt sure that as the troop rode away some one of the men had remained here some little time. A hundred yards across the prairie was the "double file" trail of tbe detachment on its straight line for the ridge, and here, only a little distance out, were the hoof prints of a troop horse both coming and going. Even more interested now, the captain went some distance out across the prairie, and still he found them. Leaving the hut and following to overtake the troop, the horse had instantly taken the gallop. The prints settled that But what struck Captain Charlton as strange was that the other traoks, those which were made by the same borse in coming to the hut, were still to be found far out toward the northeast It was evident, then, that the rider bad not turned back from the command until it had marohed some distance from the Niobrara; that be bad not gone back to the bank where they had been in camp, as would have been the case bad he lost or left something behind, but bad come here to this abandoned hovel southeast of the traiL Now, what did that mean? One other thing the captain did not fail to note? that horse had cast a shoa Late as it was when he reached the camp on White river that night?after midnight, as it proved?Charlton found his young lieutenant up and anxiously awaiting him. When the horses bad all been cared for and the two officers were alone near their tents, almost the first question asked by tbe captain was: "Did you give any man permission to ride back after you left the Niobrara Friday morning?" "No, sir." answered Blunt in some surprise. "No one asked, and every man was in his place when we made our first halt." Immediately after reveille on Sunday morning, a good hour before the sun was high enough to peep over the tall white crags to the east of the little camp, the two officers were out at the line, superintending the grooming of the horses. Fifty men were now present for duty, and 50 active steeds were tethered there at tbe picket rope, nipping at each other's noses or nibbling at tbe rope itself and pricking up their oara aa tho nnnt.nin StODDed tO Dat Or tO apeak to one after another of his pets. Always particularly careful of his horses, Captain Charlton on this bright sunshiny morning was noting especially the condition of their feet. Every one of those 200 hoofs was keenly scrutinized as he passed along the line. But there was nothing unusual in this. He never let a week go by without it "You seem to have had a number reshod within the last few hours, sergeant, " he said to Graham as he stopped at the end of the lina "Yes, sir, I looked them all over yesterday morning. Every shoe is snug and ready now in case we have to go out. Seven horses were reshod yesterday, and over 20 bad the old shoes tacked on." Grooming over, each trooper vaulted on to the bare back of his horse and rode In orderly column down to the running stream, and still Charlton stood thore, silently watching his men and noting the condition of their steeds. Blunt was bustling about his duties, every now and then looking over at his soldiery captain. Something told him that the troop commander had made a discovery or two that had set him to thinking. He was even more silent than usual. At 7 o'clock, after a refreshing dip in a pool under the willows close at hand, the two officers were seated on their camp stools and breakfasting at fhti fhti mocd phnat: Ovpr limflllO the brown buildings of the post, half a mile away, the bugles were sounding mess call, and the infuntry people were waking tip to the duties of the day. Down the valley, still farther to the east, the smoke was curling from the tiny fires among the Indian tepees, and scores of ponies were grazing out along the slopes, watched by little urchins in picturesque but dirty tatters. All was very still and peaceful. Even the hulking squaws and old men loafing about the agency storehouses were silent and patiently waiting for the coming of the clerk with his keys of office. One or two young braves rode by the camp, shrouded in their dark blue blankets and apparently careless of any ohange in the condition of affairs, yet never failing to note that there were 50 horses and soldiers ready for duty there in camp. Their breakfast finished, Charlton said that he must go at once to the office of the post commander over in the garrison, and that he might be detained some hours. "It will be well to keep the men here, Blunt, for we may be needed any moment. " And yet as be was riding away with bis orderly Cbarlton stopped to listen to what Sergeant Grabam bad to say. "Sergeant Dawson and Private Donovan wanted particularly to go over to the post for a few bours tbis morning, and so did some of tbe others, but I told tbem tbat tbe captain's orders were we sbonld all stay at oamp; we were almost sure to be wanted. They were all satisfied, sir, but Dawson and Donovan, who made quite a point of it, and I said I would carry their request to the captain. " And to Blnnt's surprise, as well as tbat of Sergeant Grabam, tbe captain ooolly nodded. "Very well. They've both been doing bard work of late. Tell them to keep their ears open for 'boots and saddles;' otherwise tbey may stay until noon. After dinner perhaps I will give others, a chance to turn." Fifteen minutes later Captain Cbarlton was in consultation with the post commander, and after guard mounting they returned to the colonel's house, where a tall infantry soldier, the provost sergeant, was awaiting him. CHAPTER XI. HEMMED IN BY SAVAGE FOES. Back at the oavalry camp there was no little subdued chat and wonderment among the troopera Lounging in the shade of the trees along the stream and puffing away at their pipes, playing cards, as soldiers will, and poking fun at one another in rough, good natured ways, the men were yet full of the one absorbing theme?Fred Waller's most nna/vrnintnhlfi diHannenranca and the loss of so maob of their hard earned money. "Iwonld have bet any amonnt," said Oorporal Wright, "that when the old man"?the oaptain is always the "old man " to his troops?' 'got baok he would ride over Sergeant Dawson roughshod for letting Waller slip away on his guard, but I listened to him this morning, and he talked to him just like a Dutch uncla I tell you, Dawson felt a heap better after it was over. He said the oaptain never blamed him at all." Noon came. So did an orderly telling Mr. Blunt that the oaptain wished to see him over at the telegraph office and to order the horses fed at onoe. Fortyeight big portions of oats were poured from the sacks forthwith. Dawson and Donovan were not yet baok. "Leave theirs out," said Sergeant Graham. "They'll be back presently. This means business again and no mistake. Where's the trouble now, I wonder?" Shall we look and see? Far to the south, far beyond the bold bluffs of the White river, far beyond the swift waters of the Niobrara?"L'Eau Qui Court" of the old French trapper?far across the swirling flood of the North Platte, and dotting the northward slopes, swarms of naked, brilliantly painted red warriors in their long, trailing war bonnets of eagles' feathers are darting about on nimble ponies or, oroucbing prone along the ridges, are eagerly watching a dust cloud coming northward on the Sidney road. Behind them, between them and the Platte, are the weltering mutilated bodies of half a dozen herders and teamsters and the smoking rains of their big freight wagons. Like the tiger's taste of blood, the savage triumph in the death of their hapless foes has tempted them far beyond their accustomed limits. Knowing the cavalry to be scouting only north of the Platte, they have made a wide detour and swooped around to this danger haunted road, eagerly watching for the coming of other white men, who, like the last, should be ignorant of their presence and too few in number to cope with such a foe. Here along the ridge north of the little branch of the Platte half a hundred young warriors crouch and wait Farther back, equally vigilant, other bands are biding among the brakes and ravines near the river, while their fcouts keep vigilant watoh for the coming of cavalry. Forrest's grays and Wallace's sorrels cannot be more than a day'8 ride away, and will be hurrying for the road the moment they know tbut the Indians have slipped around them. Wallace, up the Platte, has already heard. It is 8 o'clock this hot, still Sunday afternoon, and they have been six hours out from Sidney, driving swiftly and steadily northward, when, as they reach the summit of a high ridge and stop to breathe their panting team, Colonel Gaines takes a long look through his Qeldglass. Just in front is the shallow valley of the little stream now called the Pumpkiuseed, though pumpkins were uuheurd of features in the landscape of 15 years ugo. Off to their right front, several miles |way, lie the low, broad bottom lauds tf the Platte; across the Pumpkinseed, I mile distant, nuother ridge like the Dne on which they halted, only not so bigh; to the westward a tumbling sea of prairie upland, all buttes, ridges, ravines, coulees, but not a living soul is anwyhere in sight. Far as his practiced eye can sweep the horizon and the broad lowlands of the Platte not a sign of a living, moving object can Colonel Gaines detect. Turning around, he trains his glass upon the tortuous road they had been following, and along "I can't make out." which the dust is slowly settling in their wake. Something seems to attract his gaze, for he holds the binocle steadily toward the south. Naturally Captain Cross and the two soldiers follow with their eyes. The third infantryman has dismounted and is readjusting the girths of his saddle. "What is it?" asks Cross. "I can't make out," is the reply. "Something is kicking np a dust there, some miles behind us?a horseman, I should say, though I've seen nobody. Wait a few minutes. He's down in a swale now, whoever it is." Everybody torus to look and listen. Those were days when such a thing as a siugle horseman following in pursuit had a meaning that is lacking now. Three, four minutes they wait in silence. Then the colonel suddenly exolaims: "I have him?a mere dot yet!" Presently he lowers his glasses and dusts the lenses with his handkerchief. His face is graver. "Whoever that is, he is riding for all he is worth," he says. "I half believe he wants to catch us." Another long look, utter silence in the party. A mule in the wheel team gives an impatient shake of his entire system, and chains, tugs and swing bars all rattle noisily. "Quiet there, you fool I" growls the driver angrily, and with a threatening sweep of his long whiplash. Then the silence becomes inteuse again, and every man strains his eyes over the prairie slopes shimmering in the beat of the July sun. Suddenly an exclamation bursts from two or three pairs of bearded lips. Far away, but iu plain sight in that rare atmosphere, a speck of a horseman darts into view over a distant ridge, sweeps down the slope at full gallop and plunges out of sight again in a low dip of the rolling surface. "Nn man HHps like that unless there is mischief abroad," matters Cross as be swings out of the wagon to the ground. "Give me iny rifle, Murray." Then, sadden as a thunderolap from summer sky, with wild, shrill clamor, with thunder of hoofs and sputter of rapid shots, with yell and taunt and hideous warcry, from the very ground itself, from behind every little ridge, up from the ravines, down from the prairie buttes, hurling upon them in mad, raging race, there flashes into sight of their startled eyes a horde of painted savages. "The Sioux! The Sioux!" yells the driver as he leaps from his box. "Hang on to your mules!" shouts dross. "Down with you, men! Fire slow. They'll veer when they get in oloser. Now!" Bang! goes Cross' piece. Bang! bang! go the rifles of the nearest soldiers. The mules plunge wildly and are tangled in an instant in the traces. Over goes the wagon with a crash. Bang! goes Gaines' big Springfield as he coolly spreads himself on the ground. An Indian pony stumbles and hurls his rider on the turf, and Cross gives an exultant obeer. Yet all the same he knows fall well that now it is life or death. The little party is hemmed in by a host of savage foes. TO BE CONTINUED. An Infantile Drunkard.?Dr, Ernest S. Lewis tells the New Orleans Times-Democrat the fbllowing story of youthful depravity and impertinence: "During my last trip tc Europe I sat at a table near a French lady and her little boy, a seven-yearold youngster, who drank a glass ol claret at each meal. Two or three days out the lady failed to appear at dinner, but the youngster came to the table and aranK wine wnn a ze&i worthy of a man. He first drank a glass of claret, then three glasses ol white wine, and then another glass oi claret. I marveled at the youngster not showing any sign of intoxication whatever, but after his fifth glass ol mixed wines I thought it time to interfere, both on general principle and out of consideration for his absent mother. I did not know just what to say, but finally spoke pleasantly to him in French, saying: 'Don't you think you are drinking a good deal of wine for one of your years, my boy ?' I got my answer quickly. It was: 'Don't you think you ought to mind your own business, sir?' I decided on the spot that I might as well, and did." No Microbes In Tobacco.?There is one thing about tobacco that has always surprised microscopists, and which is highly favorable to that distinguished weed. It is the purest of all vegetable substances when placed under a microscope. There is an entire absence of micro-organisms ol every description. While almost all else in nature, even some of the acids, are alive with animated substancesbacteria, auimalculm, microbes or fungi of some kind?tobacco is entirely free of everything of the kind. It presents nothing to the microscope but its fibers and texture?its organic structure. Nor does this condition appear to change. All through the different processes of its manufacture, after being removed from the stalk, it presents the same appearance. The microbe appears to shun tobacco, probably because of its destructive qualities to the lower organisms. ^UscrUancous ^carting. IN REPLY TO "W. S. G." A Correspondent Defend* the No Drinking on the Premise*, Etc. Editor Yorkville Enquirer: I regret very much that I feel that it devolves upon me to take issue with "W. S. G." on that most important issue of the dispensary. Knowing, as I do, the tirade of abuse that is used upon this just, and, I believe, most beneficial law, and that feature after feature finds its opponent. I ask "W. S. G." to call a halt. From the inception of the law, the gates of hell have been thrown open to defeat it and make it unpopular. We have witnessed with much sorrow the judicial ermine of the state trailing in the dust of injunction. But the saddest of all blows comes when UW. S. G." would tear down the most important and beneficial feature of the law ; that of not allowing whisky opened on the premises. First, let me say, the dispensary is not here to reform hogs and old sots that even the fire of hell would not purify. No; but it is here to take away the temptation from the youth who is not so low. Save from the depths of degradation the young of our land, and the next generation will he a sober, Christian loving people. As I said at the first, we do not desire a law to reform the habitual drunkard. No, the sooner they drink their foolselves to death, the better off we will be. Has "W. S. G." tasted of the fire ? Has he been wrapped in the arms of "social drinks?" Has he ever just stepped in the bar for fun and met friends, and when the hour for departing came, had to leave on the arms of a friend ? I can say the old, grizzled, gray, sworn-in sot is going to have his drink, yea though it cost life itself; but let the law be made as obnoxious to the young as possible, that they will form no attachment for the vile stuff. May God in Heaven pity those poor women who are wedded to the profane drunkard. The state should furnish them all with a barrel of "fuss X" and a free funeral. My position is simply this; let us have a dispensary law honestly administered, where all can purchase. No whisky to be opened on premises. Because then "social" drinking is encouraged. Because there is no place to assemble. Because in it you cannot get mixed drinks. Let "W. S. iG." think of these things, and instead of abuse, try and uphold the law and try and have it amended. h. w. t. WATER FOR ONE. According to Professor Allen we should drink from one-third to twofifths as many ounces as we weigh pounds. Therefore, for a man weighing 168 pounds there would be required 56 to 64 ounces daily, or from one and one-half to four pints. This is a very indefinite answer. The amount of water required, says The Journal of Hygiene, depends on the year, the amount of work done, and the kind of food eaten. In hot weather we require more than in cold, because of the greater loss through the skin, though this is in part made up by the lesser amount passed away through the kidneys. If a man labors very hard, he requires more than if his labor is light. A man working in a foundry, where the temperature is high and the perspiration profuse, not infrequently drinks three or four gallons daily. If the food is stimulating and salty, more water is required than if it is bland. Vegetarians and those who use much fruit require less water than those who eat salt fish and pork, and often get along on none except what is in their food. In most cases our instincts tell us how much water to drink far better than any hard or fixed rule. For ages tbey have been acquiring a knowledge ' of bow much to drink and transmit' ting that knowledge to descendants, ' and if we follow them we shall not go far out of the way. ' It is of more use to us to know that ' pure water is essential, and that im . pure water is one of the most dangerous drinks, than to know how much ! of it is required daily. If one lives in ' a region where water is bad, it should be boiled and put away in bottles well corked, in an ice chest, and in addition P one should eat all the fruit one can, if . fruit agrees. Fruits contain not only pure water, but salts which are needed to carry on healthfully the functions P of life. Southern Talent.?Southern talent is making itself felt everywhere in this country. Woodrow Wilson, a native of Augusta, Ga., and comparatively a young man, is professor of jurispru, dence at Princetou university and has already achieved not only national but European reputation. Professor Blewett Lee, who, it is said, has declined a professorship at Harvard, with a salary of $7,000 a year, because he prefers to remain in Chicago, where he can prosecute his legal busiuess and at the same time retain his connection 1 with the University Law school, is a son of General Stephen D. Lee, president of the Mississippi Agricultural and Mechenical college.?Montgomery Advertiser. J6T According to recent statistics, there are about 2,000 women practicing medicine on the continent or North America, of whom 120 are homceopathists. The majority are ordinary practitioners; but among the remainder are 70 hospital physicians > or surgeons, 95 professors in the ; schools, 610 specialists for diseases of i women, 70 alienists, 65 orthopedists, ! 40 oculists and aurists, and finally , 30 electro-therapeutists. In Canada , there is but one medical school exclus sively devoted to the training of med ical ladies; but in the United States, in 1893, there were 10, one of theui being a homoeopathic establishment.