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THE BANKER'S HS9E ; OR Diamond f!nt. T>iA;mrvnfL BY NATHAN D. UP.NEB. CHATTER XXXI f.?(Continued.) The young men were drinking wine *nd conversing g>yly. The table which they encircled w?s covered with bouquets, fruits, balf-eiuptied salvers, bottles, glasses ami the general debris of an exnAncirn t'aimt. Mora than this, a wander tig Eastern juggler named Ah-Ben-Medan, whose performances were at that time making something of a sensation in fashionable circles, was occupying an open splice near the table, and preparing an exhibition for the special entertainment of the banqueters. The pl*te was shut off from prying outsiders ly rows of tall tropical plants arranged in gTeen boxes, and further privacy was insured by special -waiters who had been hired to stand on .guard in the passages leading through the plants at intervals, and connected with'the great crowded gurden outside. "You have your cue," whiepeied Jasper to his companion, as they arrived upon the border of this secluded merriment. "We had better blander in together, wh&n jou can make the necessary excuses. But remember not to drins any more wine, or, you may defeat our plans." "You don't understand me," was the Impatient reply. "Wine never overcomes me at this hour of the daw." They then pushed their way through.1 one of the passages, and carelessly thrust aside tne waiter guarding it, as though unconscious of the space within being occupied. The young men at the table at once looked up, more or less indignant at the intrusion. Jasper made a motion to retire with well-simulated embarrassment, and Kolling6tone at once began a string of apoloE'es when hie glance fell upon Noel Marwe, and he broke off to exclaim: "By Jove, though, isn't that Mr. Marlowe, of Highcombe? Excuse us, gentlemen. How could we know that this little 1 nook was occupied? There was such a 1 deuced confusion on the outside, you know." ] "Ah, it's Boncourt's friend, Captain < Bollingstoce," saidXoel, smiling. "Corns, ] since you are here, you might as well join i ns. Captain. The more the merrier." |< jasper had surmised the young man's j disp o6ition pretty correctly. Though little given to dissipation of any sort, many ot Noel's friends were just the reverse in their habits, and he had this day yielded to the prevailing desire for a good time generally. He was a little he ited with wine, und the result was a pleasing enlargement of his amiable tmd democratic qualities. "Come, Captain," continued he, rising with extended band, "you shall join us, tor we are about to have a novel exhibition all to ourselves. My friends here Will make no objection to the addition, I am certain." "Not I, for one," cried Sir Harry Wilding, turning in his seat with equal cordiality, now that the intrusion was explained. "Nor I; the more the merrier," said Lord Squanderall, who was at his elbow,' and the same sentiment was echoed by two others on the opposite side of the table. Captain Eollingstone was charmed, and said so; but, unfortunately, he was not alone, being accompanied by his friend Mr. Bently, a capital fellow, just e back to England alter many years' ab-' c oripfi in fnriMori rmrts. and then Mr. Bently himself, modest, almost blush- 1 ing, and apparently about to beat a hasty r tttreat, was first discovered to the ban- J queters. His appearance was greatly in r hie favor, and it was good-naturedly in-j J iited that both the Captain and his friend 1: hould be of the party. Thus it came about that the group at t the table was increased from five to s ^peven, acd in a very few minutes the o test of understandings prevailed. Jasper was an excellent conversation- d list, when he chose to be, especially as narrator, and he was soon interesting I Hoel and a young squire named Calkins, 1 who was seated directly opposite to him, f ky a running account of adventures in a California and South America; while Hollingstone, if not equally fluent of ad- s dress, was making himself scarcely less* c ntertaining to Squanderall, Wilding, anct o tHe fifth original guest, another young g squire of thickset and athletic propor- a tion.% named Poins, by a fund of anec- o dots in relation to the races and othetf t sporting events, and by the expeditious and unalterable gravity with which ho mptied his glass, and signed its replenishment to the white-cbokered waiter in "attendance. I ? - ? ..AijAAAklA V-v /\ TT* fttf A* f V) A f I ' 11 WllB JLiUHViCtkUiO, UU?C?Ci, Squanderall confined his indulgence to e claret, and that he was, contrary to habit, t the most taciturn and preoecupied of tho C party. It had become generally understood I vsmong his companions that he was in love 1 -with some one?hopelessly, it war ...r- j ther conjectured?and he had been left to j 4he quiet fostering of h's usual mood, r after a little preliminary bantering. 3 Presently, when the new order of c affairs had been thoroughly establiphod J around the table, and the participants 'v aeemed to have got thoroughly interested in each other, to the exclusion of outside t considerations, there occurred an amusing c Interruption in the form of a long-drawn, mailing sort of yawn, or sigh, close at t ^Tke, all looEeJ awl ">ere a I general burst of laughter. ? It was fully justified bv th? ou4-~?vu. i ? Ah-Ben-Medan- " . " .. , ? Hasten' ' ? 1116 afore-mentioned j .. juggler, finding himself altogether forgotten, had either gone to sleep ? suddenly waked up in tho position i where he had been neglectfully '.eft I standing from the moment of tho neT- ] comers' entrance into the inclosure, or bad adopted this method of enforcing a j recognition of his existence. He was a swarthy, ill-favored fellow, j inelaborate Oriental costume, and there ( lie 6tood, on the bright colorid rug which j he had spread out as a preliminary to his experiments for the amusement of his pa trous of the time being, with his clenched lands raised to his ears, his body arched backward, his turbaned head thrown back, while from his gaping, cavernous mouth was issuing the lugubrious, caterwauling expression or extreme weariness that has been referred to. , "Hallo! we've forgotten our howling dervish," cried NoeL "No matter; he is hired by tho hour." ( aid Squanderoll. "But why not start him up in his juggling that people are talking so much about?" s iid Wilding. "Me make begin right off at once, if ?*hibs so say," sa d tho Oriental, gravely recovering his equilibrium. Then there was a brief and noisy discussion as to what species of te9ts should be made of tho juggler's skill; and, while it lasted. Kolling-itone found occasion tc ifhhspor to Jasper, who was at his lof lbow: "Tho fellow is double-charactered. I recognize tim f.s a sometime confederate of Boncourt, otherwise De Mauleon. Look out for developments, if he should make young Marlowe the subject of his experiments." Jasper gae a slight Btart, and then devoted him>elf to observing the Oriental narrow lv. The latter good-humoredly put an end to the discussion by euddenbr taking ud I/o i d cm] ii an del all's u"at, wliTCu wa5 lying on the bench at its owner's si le, and turning it upside down, when, upon beine shaken, a swarm of common yellow butterfi cs were made to flutter out from its interior. He gravely banded baik the bat, and, by a gesture, requested & silk handkerchief with which young C&Lkios ohocced to l>e brushing his forehead. Upon this being handod to him,:he shook it airily out, aud then drew forth from within its folds, successively, a hnndful of loose snuff, some clay pipos, a un trumpet, aim msu? i^u uro ^ Other tricks followed, equally interesting and . then, retiring a rew step*, njf-TJen-Aleaan made a profound salaam, as though requesting an opinion of what ho had performed. This was given most favorably, as might havk been expected The juggler tbeu drew himself up with a confident air, raised his arms so that his wide, flowing 6leeves fell back, leav? ing them bared to the elbow, and announced his intention of affording 6om? experiments of a more mysterious order. But at this interesting moment there was an interruption, a sudden altercation and scuffling being heard to take place in one of the leafy Dassages'eonneoting with the main garden. "What does it mean?" eried Sir Harry, looking up angrily, as did the rest. One of the servants then came running in, considerably excited. "It's a drunken man, or otne shamming drunk, gentlemen, who is trying to force his way in here. He says he's __ :-a: 1 - t j ?e X>A1.1 ail mumuiu lticuu ui vu^tuiu a.vwM?xi.gstone." "Oh, that mny be a different matter," said Noel. "Are you expecting any one, Captain?" "No, no; of course not," said the Captain. "Why, let mo see," turning to Jasper, "it may be that infernal cad, Twiggles, who tried so hard to force hie company on us to-d .y. No, no; of course he's no friend of mine." "Put him out, then!" called out the athletic Poins, with a pugnacious look coming into his face. Bnt it was only just at th'.s point that "he" came in. There was renewed scuffling, fresh altercation, and then auother waiter came backing into the reserved space, closely followed, in a lor.d and aggressive manner, by the pseudo Jiggles, whose devouring anxiety'to keep "his man" in sight had been so wholly uncontrollable as to even prompt him to this questionable HCU. "Oof! flunky! I tell you I must see my Wends, nnd will see them!" he blustered, tapping down his hat and flourishing his cane, after the manner of a drunken man. but at the same time taking in the entire company and everything that was joing on in a swift, sweeping glance. "Demnition! would you keep me from my friends? Ah! Captain, are tou there, ndeed? And you, too, Bently? Would ou really believe that this insolent waitsr " "Priggles, you're sprung, you're drunk, rou're a bore, you're a nuisance!" drawled jut Hollingstone in a lazily disgusted tone, s-hile Jasper resorted to his eyeglass. 'You forget that you are no longer in a avern, but ultogether out of place?being imong gentlemen." "What, you supercilious ingrate!" roared ;he spy, in unaffected rage. "Do you treat ne in this way. after borrowing my money, Irinkinc mv wine, nnd treating me as an squal? ?Cursa it all, if I should 6ay all I ;hink aboat you " But he was not permitted to say any nore. The athletic young Poins at this uncture bouuded out of his seat like a jolt, and the next instant the intruder vent down in a heap, under a well-diected blow from the shoulder. Then there was a general burst of merirneut, and the waiters had their revenge, while the luckless spy was jumpid and hustled out of tho inclosure and >ut of the garden. Though bad enough for Wormer, this ittle incident freshened up the entire jartv; more wine was opened, young Mr. Joins smilingly deprecated sundry rotiarks, more or less complimentary, and Ih-Ben-Medan was ordered to go on with tis wonder working. "Me now show sahibs what me do." snid he Oriental, gravely bowing. "Me show econd sight Will one sahib give watch , little?" Sir Harry handed him his watch, after [eiachine it from the chain. The juggler fumbled it between his lauds, while standing very rigidly, with lis eyes closed or apparently closed, and iresently named the name of the maker ,nd the number of the watch. In a similar manner he afte.ward decribed the contents of a pocket-book, a ignr-case, some ivory tablets and other .rticlos in the possession of the same gentleman; and then passed fiom one to mother of the party, continuing his exminatiouB and descriptions ox various hings. CHAPTER XXXIII. JUGGLING TO A PURPOSE. It seemed very incomprehensible tc >rotty much overy one present, with, perlaps, the single exception of Rollingitone, whose pecul.ar experience enabled !il& to be more critical than any of his fcmpanions. "Sleight-of-hand, my boy, and tht jesrear's eves are not really closed at all 1* 10 multerea over and over again in >er's ear; and to this he presently whislered, in addition. "D'ye mark how th( ascal is gradually edging toward young Jurlowe? Ha! Boncourt, my boy, that leep one, Boncourt's at the bottom of it! Lnd this may yet give us the opportunitj re are seeking." It did seem, before long, ns though here was some occasion for these secret nmments. Noel had manifested much interest iD Ire juggler's proceedings from the outset, ,nd he looked up with a slight flush oi >xpectation when at last approached, fter all the others on his side of the able had submitted the eont^ij gf tteii )Ocket8 to lao r , M y. The juggler hai taken hp Ms *?> fug ind hung it over x^i- ^ 0 mough prejaratory to taking h'.S departure, but still ingered, and 'made his salaam before Stoel. "Will the sahib deign to make Bome final tests?" he asked. "Why not?" said the young man, laughing, and l:e produced a package of miscellaneous papers, secured by an elastic band, which he handed over. "Describe the (ontents of that packet, without undoing it, and I'll have some faith in you." Jasper and Rollings!one at once became absoruingly interested, and the former's fingers begun to twitch anticipatively. Ah-lJen-Medan did not this time close his eyes, or make a pretense of doing bo, bat fastened them twinklingly now opon ;he young man's face, and now npon his awn hands, in which ho slowly turned the packet over and over, as a blind man alight have done, to discover as much as possible of its nature by the sense of touch. "There is no paper of much importance here, sahib," said ho at length, in a dull, half-inquiring tone. "I didn't anv there was," was the laughing reply, "iiut you can describe such as there are." "Certainly, sahib. The paperB are five jn number, perhaps et;ll another; but my pecond sight is obscure as to the presence of a sixth." "There are six. Go on." \ "I can distinguish c;early now," went On the juggler, in a strangely muffled and absorbed tone, real or pretended. "There is a receipted bill for repairs of S dogcart; another for veterinary services; three brief notes in a lady's handwiiting, signed Adele; and?a::d" (Jasper at this juncture could scarcely control his excitement) "a mere memorandum, in lead pencil. whose characters I cannot make out." "The description is truthful." said Noel, taking back the packet and giving the man a soveieign, with a ^ood deal of sat siaction. "Give him something else!" cried several voices. "Test him, as we did, with 4TerYthinc on von* usrscs- * ? ~Vi. *'v--jCVvciT/ 3Li "But li is nffrflly worFn vkile,','j;niQ Noe\ with a sudden reluctance. "Wowever my cigar-case contains something beside cigars; let him describe what it | is." And he presented the case. "Underneath the cigars, cf which the ca6e is quite full," said Ali-Ben-Medan, | with unexpected promptness, "there is a ( handsome bloodstone, recently loosened from a finger-ring, which the -eahib in. ( tends taking to a jeweler to have reset." "Right again," said Xoel, taking back ] the case. i "The sahib has also?perhaps in the ] trousers' hip-pocket?a large red morocco pocketbook, which contains -something | besides money," said the juggler, in a slow, hesitating voice, as though rather ( seeking to confirm a half-oonoeived im- | pression than to state a fact. , ""What Is it To you u Tliave?"-exclaimed i Noel, fiusliing, half in surprise and hall in anger. "Come, come, Marlowe; out with ^tha < pocketbook!" cried several voices. "1'oa 1 had the laugh on us." 1 "l'es, Noel; turn and torn about is the -I fair thing," said Sqnanderall, laughing. "Didn't I let the fellow turn my old 1 betting-book inside ont for Che amuse* ( ment of yourself, among the rest?" ? ~'j.ne samo need not iear mat i win minutely describe the piece of paper which the pocketbook contains," said ! the juggler, eagerly. "I will mention >t nothing more than the signature, if he ^.wishes." "The signature is pvetty much nil I j really know about the paper myself," t thoughtfully observed the young man. as 4 ihe reluctantly produced the pocket-book f from the pocket that had been indicated, "I.am at a loss to know even how I cama * iby it:" i "Why, here's a mystery?a wheal within ? a wheel!" cried Sir Harry. "Tell us 6ome? ? ithing about it, before Ah-Ben exercises 1 himself upon it, Noel." 6 "I only know,"said Noel, with increased t uneasiness, "that, while dressing myself on last Sunday morning, I found the piec# ^ of writing roferred to, wrapped up in a t newspaper, which I had snatched up t hastily from my father's office-table ou the night before." ? Jasper;, especially, was now hanging ' upon hie words with breathless interest. i "I concluded that I had snatched it up \ inadvertently with the newspaper. A f glance at the signature and contents in- c creased the mystery of its having com? into my possession, even in this way. t "In the first place, I was sure that th8 X signature was but the woakest sort of forgery?a miserable imitation, as was t< tne rest or the writing, or me nanuwru- \ ing that it pretended to represent. In c the next place, it containod a charge?a d self-accusatory charge that, under other, y circumstances, would have proved laugh- t able. Ab it was, unable to account foj n the paper's origin, and unwilling to an- ii noy, perhaps needlessly distress, the per- ?; son bearing, but not identified with, the t signature affixed, I put it away in this i pocket-book, where it has remained ever since, in the hope of ridding myself S finally of it and my perplexity. ii 'However, this has not prevented my s thought frequently recurring to the mat. b ter, and with a nameless 60rt of uneasi- h ness for which I cannot account. That t' is nil there is about it." t: "Mysterious enough, too," said Sir a Harry, laughing. "Well, hand over the book to tbo seer." s Ah-Ben-Medan, upon receiving the t Eocket-book, turned it over and over in a is hands, with more attention than he b nad bestowed upon any proviousiy suomitted article, and even pressed it fre- v quently aud somewhat convulsively now e to his forehead and then to his breast; n while his twinkling little eyes kept wan. f dering back nnd forth between Noel and t Jasper, the latter of whom had now tha utmost difficulty to control" his excite- p ment. o "I find the red morocco hard to sea ? through, but the contents of the wallet j; are rapidly growing more distinct," said ^ the jnggler, in the same strained, muffled 1 tone as upon former occasions. "Ah, 5 now everything is clear. The sahib's ? pocket-book is well provided. There are ? three five-pound notes, two ten-ponnd cotes, nvo or six sovereigns, nnd soma P loose change. There is also a gold lead. 8 pencil. Now, I see the piece of writing n referred to. It is upon paper worn at tha ? creases, and apparently "yellowed and stained with age. Heaven! the words ii J not false, have indeed a terrible meaning, The writing bears a date more than I1 seventeen jears ago, and it is signed, Gilbert' " } "That will, dol" exclaimed Noel, flush, mg, and utVoo came tirn'e snatchingTanci ^ the pocket-book and returning it to its f, receptacle. "The proof of your wonder- j working is sufficiently evident." a " A c flio cnViili nlonspq " kairl Ah."Rati. n Medan, making bis final and profonndesl ^ salaam to fho entire company; and then, jt turning e* iftly upon bis heel, he with. a drew. "Why, the chap has gone off without waiting for tho two guineas we promised him!" suddenly exclaimed one of the 'party. "So he has," said another. "And did you notice one odd thing about him? When he first introduced himself it was in pigeon-English, and after that, as though forgetting himself, ho spoke as well as any of us." "No matter," said Noel, laughing a little nervously. "His performance was for all that a most extraordinary one." "It seemed so to most of you, simply because you are not used to observing tricks of legerdemain," said Eollingstone coolly. "I suspect that the fellow is more a knave than anything else. Townrd the last I hilf-remembered havmg seen him in anenicimia Pfimnnnv." "What?" "Really?" "You don^ sr.ri J bo?" exclaimed several TA'*^ *"* ^ Xevortl,. iSS, jjj8 sieigbf-of-hand was -perb. There is a chance that he paid himself for his trouble out of the pocket-books that he held in his hands. Let there be a general examination, at least.* This advice was at once acted upon. Sit Harry Wilding, Lord Squanderall, and y Mr. Caikins, all of whose wallets had S( passed through the juggler's hands, reported, after a brief exam nation, that nothing had been taken from them. Bv.t no sooner did Noel look inside of his pocketbook than he gave a start, n turning pale. a "I've teen robbed!" ho exclaimel. j "What?" "The deuce!" "Is it possi- ? ble?" "HaB ho taken your money?" rj "No," said Noel, answering the last . question first, "my money seems to bo intact. But the paper?the mysterious ( paper?it is no longer here! He has surely robbed me of that!" "Great heavens!" groaned Jasper, with an alarm and earnestness exceeding the \ loser's. "The paper is gone, you say? gone once more?" ______ p CHATTER XXXIV. * OOME AND GONE BEFORE ONE'S VERT ETES. j1 The great and unexpected earnestness 1 of this remark, on the part of "Mr. Bent- t ly," as a matter of course cau?ed all eyes ? to be turned toward J. sper. . "Why, Mr. Bently," said Noel, with a forced "you goom as much disturbed about my loss ns-I am myself! Is it possible that you can throw r?ny light upon the origin of tLo paper?" < "I? Bless me! how should I?" ex- J cluimed Jasper, recovering his composure I with an effort. "I don't know what possessed me, I am sure. But your sudden ' distress was so evident, Mr. Marlowe, 6 perhaps it was merely natural for me to l reflect it." ( "But you Raid, 'Gone?gone once f more!' just as if this wasn't the first time it had disappeared. I don't understand." "My friend Bently's sympathy, doubtless. merely got the better of him for the moment," said Ilo/lingstone. coming to 1 the rescue. "The question now is, to re- 1 cover the stolen document, if you think ] it worth your while, Mr. Marlowe." B "I certainly do think so," said Noel, still disturbed. ."An unscruDuloua per- 1 - -n. V, - * i - . ron might?m'ght cause much distress by using it against?against some one who is near and dear to me. If it is possible to recover it I must do so at any cost." "I think I can show you the way to do an irifVi row 5itt1? flolnv " fiftid Rolling stone, toseing off, perhaps, his fifteenth Dr twentieth glass of the champagne, which seemed to rather sharpou than lloud his faculties. "In the first place, do you happen to know of any one who could wish to use, Dr try to use, the missing paper in the manner you fear?" "No, indeed-, aad, as for the immediate thief, this jngg'.er??" "He is not to be thOMght of; he is evidently but the t00Hrf-a greater intelligence," interrupted Iiollingstcrie. "Now, do you all let me try to get at the bottom of this thing in m? own way. "I suspect that this juggler came here ?was 6ent here?for the express purpose Df obtaining that paper, and for just nothing else. This is obvious, since the paper is the only thing that haq been stolen; whereas, if the juggler had been i common thief, on his own account, he would doubtless have confined his sleieht>f-hand to the abstraction of money, to >o much of which he had equal access, ind yet not a shilling of which he took. "Still more, he hurried off with the Dapey, not even venturing to stop for the Ar<4l?> AAminn a nim " wu.gujljeu? iiUUDOHJ 0ULUAAJ5 vvr ui&u. "True," said Noel. "Why, the world lost a Yidocq when it jut Rollingstone into the army!" called >ut -Sir Harry, while all the rest were 'rowing equally interested. "This is as jood as.novel-reading." "Let me.goon, then," said the Captain. 'N.ow let,mo ask how you came to engage Lh-Ben's-services. I know he has made something of a sensallon In hofh Town md country circles of late; but I want to enow from which of you came the proportion to engage him for this present litle oocasionV" "Let's soe," said Sir Harry. "Poins, it vas either you.or Calkins who first made he suggestion, just as we were leaving he club." "It wn? I,"-saidMr. Poins, with a slight lush; and iheai he added, laughing, 'Well, I'll be frank in the matter, even f it expels associations that I othervise would have kept dark about, oven rom you fellows. The suggestion was mly mine at Mcond-hand." "May 1 ask ae to who originally made he suggestion to yon, Mr. Poins?" said lolliugstoue. "Of course yon may; and, since I seem o be regularly in for it, I will explain. Vhle I was breakfasting at the club this Homing, and thinking you fellows might rop in on me any minute (I had received our letter the night before, Sir Harry), he waiter brought me word that a gentle* inn, whom he had never sec-nbefore, was q the reception-room inquiring for me. Bring him right in here,' 6ays 1; and ben who should come in but?well, no natter. "I don't believo any of yon know him. >uffice it to say that he isn't often seen a any of the bang-up clubs any more, ince certain disgraceful revelations that ave recently got abroad concerning both im and his fair partner. Nevertheless, he man is handsome as an Italian porruit and, besides, being a dead-shot, is of most fascinating address. "Then, again, you know my general tyle is to be deceutly polite to pretty inch every fellow who has not done me ny personal harm. So I asked him to it down, and he did bo. "After chatting gracefully to me on a ariety of topics, lie asked me if I hi l an ngngement for to-day. I said yes, and sectioned my expecting you fellows up rom Highconibe. It's likely enough hat I also mentioned your names. "When he had learned how we proofed putting in the day, in just the sort f random way that wo have since dopted, he said to me, 'Ah, Poins, I see ow it is. Your friends are not often .ere in the city, are they?' 'Not much at bistinieof the year,'Ireplied. 'Wouldn't ou like to treat them to something really ovel and unique?'he asked. Of course, nnswered in the affirmative; and then e mentioned this fellow Ah-Ben-Medan'a erformances, gave me hi3 address, anil aid he thought wo could hire him at allost any time during the day at a guinea n hour." Well, I liked the idea from the rst, for I had heard a good deal about 10 fellow's skill, and Lady Dnrtle had aid me that she had made quite a featre of his performances at her garden jte last month. As soon as?as my visor found out that I had taken hold oi le idea, he wished me good-morninj, ad went off, apparently in a pretty good umor. That's the whole story. You jllows fell iu with the notion as soon a9 broached it, and I sent to the juggler'i ddress, engaging him to meet us here lis afternoon, which he did. I didn't link it worth while to mention my visor's name; in fact, I am rather mortified t erer having made his acquaintance, Eter what has happened." (TO BE CONTDJUED.J ' * 1 ? Not in Her Set. Chick?"My ma won't let mc talk to ou. She says you don't belong to her ;t There is a fresh and undefinablc doland for big fiuger rings. A girl with silver-cornered wallet goes into a cwelry store, asks to see some rings, and its her middle finger over her glove. That means a thumb ring, and just now t is considered immensely lucky to wear >ne on a journey or going off. In* tho cold, unsympathetic days of rinter it may be all light to talk about emancipated women,r but when the oft, velvety zephyrs of spring begin o woo the nodding dai.-ies and thesuniisaed heather blushes red with bloomng roses it seems to bo time for woman o lock arms, not horns, with man and, ilioulder to shoulder with hint, set out n sea'rch of au ice-cream parlor. Unitkd Statks cents exhibited in sounection with a meeting of the American Numismatic and Archaaoogieal Society show that the earlier productions of those coins are much luperior in their designs to others more ecently issued. Tho most prized coins m accouut of their rarity are the issues )f 171)9, 1793, and 18U. If Marion Mauola keeps on getting carried aud nnmarried at the rate she las recently established, she will soon lave to hire a private secretary and itenographer to keep track of what her lame ia. i flTTIVFSE MIlSTif!. JLXA.-L1 JJX/XJ v* THE VARIETY OF MUSICAL -INSTRUMENTS. How Rhythmic Sounds Are Produced ?The Expense of Equipping: ail Ear-Splitting String Band of Ten Pieces. The ordinary Mongolian orchestra, such as is to be usually found dispensing tunes for the delectation of Celestial ears at the Chinese theaters in this city, is composed of (en pieces, and cach player has his peculiar instrument, ou which he is an .adept. He .also performs upon it with an apparent stoical indifference as to the sccrc6 of his fellow-musicians. ALARM. DRUM. To thoroughly equip au orchestra with proper instruments entails a cost of S69.50, which amount any nervous householder who has ever had the misfortune to reside within earshot of one at practice would be willing to advance twice over in order to have it moved on. After purchasing the instruments players are needed, and their services vary in price according to ability, expertness and reputation. The Mongolian musician vaiues nis acuity at irom 91 to per m'ght, but if he has climbcd the ladder of fame he will demand from $5 to $20 per nigbt. The drum, in the estimation of the Chinese musician, is the most important instrument, which opinion is likewise shared by the juvenile American. A Chinese drum costs ?12, and has much the same appearance as a keg constructed of light wood, covered with cowhide. This instrument is beaten with a pair of heavy wooden sticks, and produces a booming sound, which grows extremely monotonous when it is continued for several hours. The alarm or taps is a Chinese musical device of peculiar construction. It consists of a framework of wood upon which is set a conical top of Laid wood covered with calfskin. Projecting from the top of the frame is a hollow square the size of a cigarbox covered with rawhide. Sounds arc produced by striking the top, which emits bass notes, and the projecting hidecovered square with drumsticks. This tuneful instrument cosfs$3.50. The cymtals of the Chinese are of hammered brass, similar in design to those used by American bands, and cost ij'lS. Brass gongs shaped much like a tambourine are used by Mongolian musicians >V"' in the make-up of their orchestras. A first-class gong can be bought for $15. JL gong of concave form and of very tight weight, that gives forth a tingling sound, is another orchestral instrment. It costs $2.50. Mongolian liddles are of peculiar construction and emit sounds which from a musical point of view are as inharmonious as the instrument is unoouth in appearance. Divestod of Its strings g Chinese fiddle has the same appearance as a mallet, with the handle long and flattened to about an inch in width and an eighth of an inch in thickness. In the lower part of tho handle are inserted two keys, one nliove tne otner. loeacn of the ?keys are attached two strings of horse hair or catgut; the other ends Arc firmly wound about the mallet head. What varied and discordant sounds are produced when the Chinese firidler runs his bow across the strings! .And besides the Chinese have the temerity to ask ?7.50 for such a device. The banio of the heathen may be very appropriately likened to a small size frying pau with a very long handle. The drum is covered with snakeakin drawn tight. Three keys and four strings complete the instrument, which is sold for 1)5. ' - * J- , < . ' The bass banjo is the size of a large ^ize snare drum and about half the depth. Four keys and the same number ot strings are used. The sum of $2.50 will buy one for ordinary use. A Chinese flute is purchasable at seventy-five cents if of ordinary make and without ornamentation. It has ten finger holes -and gives veut to shrill and discordant notes, which delight Chinese ears, but hasshlv crate nnnn thnco nf f!mi. casian. In some cases Chinese orchestras contain several flutists, who, when together, appear to vie with each other ^in the emi^iar.' of the most dismal and shrill tunes that ever lacerated human nerves. The clarionet is to the Mongolian what the cornet is to us. Its evident use is to add variety to the clamors of the drums and cymbals and the discordant _ sounds of flute and fiddle. It is a sort of mediator between all those revolutionary instruments, and has a tendency to veneer the discord, -which apparently is the basis of all Chinese music. The Mongolian ear has I ecome inured to such strains, and to the child of the flowery kingdom it speaks of home, tragedy,^ve and revenge. So as long as he downot take summary vengeancc upon his musically inclined fellow-countrymen let him enjoy to the full the agonies 01 souna wmcn mongolian orchestras produce.?San Francisco Chronicle. A Palatial Pavilion iu Siani. The King of Siani is said to have in one of his country palaces a wonderful pavilion. It was built by a Chinese engineer as a refuge for the king during the extreme heat of the summer. Tho walls, ceilings and floors are formed of pieces of plate glass an inch thick. These are so perfectly fitted together with a transparent ccment that the joints are invisible, aud uo fluid cau penetrate. The pavilion is twenty-eight feet long and seventeen wide and stands in the middle of a huge basin of beautifully colored marbles. When the king enters the pavilion the I single door is closed and cemented. Then the sluice-gates are opened, and the basiu is filled with water. Higher and higher it rises until the pavilion is covered, and only the ventilators at tbe top connect it with the open air. When the heat of the sun is so great that the water almost boils on the surface of the freshest fountains this pavilion is deliriously cool. And this is the way the kind of Siatn cools himself of! in hot weather. It sounds very delightful.? Chicajo Herald. An Impertinent Interruption. Gladys?"Isn't it nice to be here alone?" Rude Boy?"But you hain't alone. He's wid yer!" Postage Stamps at Every Corner. The English Postmaster-General, Mr. Raikes, has given his sanction to a private enterprise which promises eventually to turn every pillar box into a postoffice. The pillar box in England takes the place of the box which is fastened to a lamp post here. It is a good sized construction, built entirely by the Postoffice, ^_ ji i a.\. - ? ~ 11 iL ~ i iluu Has Liiu merit ul uuiuiujl; ?ui iulj iuitcrs and packages that people wish to put into it. Mr. Raikes has given his permission to the Stamp Distribution Syndicate to attach twenty of its automatic machines for the sale of postage stamps to twenty tTlSllr f" 1 11 p TIIE POSTOFFICE. pillar boxes in London. This will bo as an experiment. If it is satisfactory in every way and the machines do not cheat the public, the company will be allowed to fix them generally to pillar boxes. Mr. liaikes, it should be remembered, is the gentlemau who recently caused so much trouble in England by forbiudmg the establishment there of a district messenger system of the American kind, on the ground that it was an infringement of the Postoffice rights. He gave way in thatc a3C, and now has grown progressive. The machine to be used is about twenty inches high five deep and can be screwed to n box of any pattern. At the top is a slot into which you drop a penny. Then you pull out. a handle and push it back. The stamp drops into a tray at the back of the machine. It will be in the cover of a small note book contained in an envelope. The company expects to be reimbursed for giving 60 much more for a penny than the Postoffice by the money received for advertisements in the note book. The only addition to this contrivance necessary to make it an efficient postoffice is that of a pair of scales, with weights, and a table of rates. The accompanying sketch shows the machine attached to the pillar box, as it will be in London, und the scales and the table of rates which should be added. The machine refuses to work for any coin smaller than a penny (2 ceuts), or of metal baser than silver or bronze. Discs of iron or lead, though they are the right size, are bent double by it.? (Yea; York Sun. Old Bachelor?"Dd you expect to marry or do you prefer to keep your I liberty, Miss Van Sand!'' Miss V au Sand?"What a funny question. I intend to do both."?Brooklyn Li/e. There are in the Tnited States 209,949.79 miles of railroad track of all descriptions. ..I - ".v - y -vr-V ~'V\r, v i - ' ' * V V' - ?^ \ POPULAR SCIENCE. The husk of maize is being used in th$, manufacture of paper. Liquid chlorine is now supplied as an article of commerce by a chemical estab lisbment on the Rhine. A spirograph for drawing spirals and j volutes in a 9imple manner as one draw*:1 circles has been devised in Paris. The Manilla hemp plant, which is very. ;i__ iL_ i r i x. _ Bimuar 10 cue uauana, is iouna 10 mrive best in soil composed of decayed vege-: table matter. The sun is tremendously large. It is equal to 1,300,000 earths, but owing to. its small density its weight equals thatof 1 only 332,000 earths. Strychnine has been found to increase the amount of gastric juice secreted in the stomach, the general acidity and the ' quantity of tree acid in the secretion. Recent German tests have shown that, the loss in weight of steel rails from j wear and rusting is in about an inverse i proportion to the tensile strength of the ! metal. AmoDg French dairymen the use of hot water for milch cows is growing in. favor. It is alleged that one-third more j milk is yielded than when cold water it1 given. A "pneumatic bridge" has lately been > designed for comparing the resistances' of various orifices, as electric resistances; are compared by the "Wheatstone' bridge." The idea that the action of light on fugitive dyes will eventually teach usj something concerning the character and: size of molecules has been advanced byi Captain W. de TV. Abney. Nitrate of soda has again been tried as f a fertilizer of tomatoes. The result was! a very marked increase of crop in every case, the most profitable increase coming' from the use of nitrate alone. Late statistics credit Prussia with nipe- j ty-one persons over 100 years old, and j show that of over 7000 persons of mcrel than 100 who died between 1864 and! 1883 not less than 155 were more than.' . 109. .j f It has been shown that the ciimate oft many Italian provinces has beeen changed' by the steady destruction of the forests.' The Government is seeking to remedy ( the matter by offering valuable prizes for' tree planting. _ ?{& A new switch for electrical work lookS| like an ordinary door-bolt. "Vfaien the; bolt is thrown forward it makes a contact between two lugs on a split coppar" ' ring. When thrown back the contact Z completely broken. *tv3 Hitherto all the fuel used on thej Italian* railways ha3 been imported, bnfcj an attempt is now being made to use the' lignite of which the country possesses large beds. Very satisfactory results! have so far attended the experiments. ?j A woman in one of the London hospitals is afflicted with an ovarian cysi weighing more than 154 pounds?much more than the patient herself. Such morbid growths of great size are not rare, but this is the largest on record. In morel than 1000 cases known to Sir Spencer! Wells, none had exceeded 125 pounds in weight. j The great prevalence of locusts in Cyprus in modern times is believed by Sir Robert Biddulph to be due to the de struction of the^forests. The resulting-, barrenness of the soil has favored locustj life, and, as the wood growth is 'not likely to be restored, the crowding out'' of the pest depends on the increase of population and cultivation. The use of nitrogen as an anaesthetic was recently successfully tried in Eng-1 land. Nine patients took the gas, and! in every case the result was the produc-J tion of complete anaesthesia. The pulse was first full and throbbing, then feeble.' In the advanced stage the respiration was,deep and rapid and there was lividity ofj the surface, the pupils were dilated, andj there was more or less jactitation of the limbs. 4 "Why Fruits Change Color. ; On October 25, last year, I told the great family of the curious why leave* change from a dark or light emerald' green to yellow, scarlet, red, brown and' many intermediate tints. Below will bej found the best opinions of leading! scientists as to why most fruits undergo! similar changes during the ripening pro-j cess: 1. It is known that as fruits come ( to mfttnritv there is a process of absorp tion of material from the tree's sap, as well as cell-growtii within the fruit it-| self. 2. That the absorption of oxygen' and the giving off of carbonic acid gas is an action strictly analogous to the respiration of animals. 3. That there is a transformation of vegetable fibre into sugar and water. The rapidity and per-' fection of thisproccss depends principally upon the amount of sunshine to whichr the fruit is exposed while it is going on.: The outer membranes of most all fruits assume a positive color when theripcDingj change is coming on, but why one plum. annthpr hlue. one aon'.e red " B'1-"-" "? ? , and another yellow, the most rigid re- I search has failed to discover; but that the I primary changes in the color of each. B particular species of fruit is due to the I reasons given above there is not one least I doubt. When fruit has turned all its I fibre to sugar and water the absorption. I of oxygen must be checked by cutting R off light and air; or, if allowed to continue, the next chemical change involves the decomposition of the sugar, fnd the fruit becomes "rotten." The action of frost upon fruit is to crystallize all of its contained moisture. If this can again be converted into sugar by a very gradual process the sugar of the fruit is found to be uninjured.?St. Louis Republic, Choosing an Indian Chfcf. Thursday was a big day for the Indi?DS. It was the occasion of choosing a succcssor to the late Chief Homiiie of the Walla Wallas. About 3M Indians had a mammoth tepee constructed on the Umatilla, south of Athena, and many from this place and neighboring towns were present. Ili-u mucamuck was on hand, but all was eaten. After the feast; the Iudians elected No Shirt first chief and Umapined second chicf. Young Chief, Man-that-eats- no-meat, Billy Five Crows, Cash Cash and others delivered speeches in the native tongue, in the maiu a eulogy on the departed chieftain and winding up by the belief No Shirt, a nephew of Iiomilie, would make as good a leader, aud wanted to live in peace. The robes, cattle, horses and aH the personal effects of the deceased chief were, according to their custom, divided among the relatives, in value of several thousand dollar^.?Athena (Washington) Press. i