The Abbeville press and banner. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, July 15, 1891, Image 6
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