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V, ; i ADeallWildLands OB, THE Fight for the Musselshell Millions. BY LEON LEWIS. CHAPTER XII,?(Continued.) The driver mounted his box again, And palled away into a darkness and lolitude that was almost phenomenal, oon leaving the river far behind him. i A quarter oi an hour later, in a deep, narrow ravine, tho travelers suddenly encountered a tree which had been felled across the road in such a way as to prevent their passage. "What does this mean?" asked Perry, noting the nature of the obstructive. "It means that the stage was held up here a day or two ago," replied the driver, "and that no one has cared to take the trouble of cutting away that tree. We shall have to go around it." Push on, then." It was easier said than done, the carriage having to back a score of yards before It could get out of the ravine, but tt length, after a great deal of swearing and flourishing of his lantern, the driver ??t clear of the difficulty, and drew out to a curve almost at ri&ht angles with Ids previous one. * At the end of another quarter of an hour the travelers found themselves In the midst of a group of armed men who bad taken possession of an open space Id the center of a dense forest, and had kindled i huge fire, around which the; were gathered. "Why do you stop here, driver?* asked Perry, as the carriage came to a halt "Because we are not going any farthei fn this direction," was the answer. Your name is Perry Wynans, is it not?" "What has that to do with our Jour pey?" asked Perry, after a moment'* hesitation. "A great deal, sir. Are you not Mr. IWynans?" * "I am, if the matter concerns you, answered Perry in a tone of annoyance. . "I was sure I could not be mistaken,1 declared the driver. "You came West on the same train with Jerry Sklddej and his brother." This remark, under the circumstances, was in the highest degree suggestive. "What has all this to do with our jour aey to Musselshell?" asked Perry, looking out anxiously upon the evil-looking laces by which the carrriage was now "A great deal, Mr. Wynans," answered the-driver. "Let me come to the point Ton are Perry Wyn->ns, and this young lady is Elfie Tower, the cousin of Daisy Stridden You think you are on youi 4; way to the mines you bought some years ago of Hiram Skidder and Charles Tow?rv" t. "Well9" queried Perry, Impatiently. "Well," avowed the driver, pushing back his bat from his forehead and un* buttoning his coat, "you aro not on your .way to Musselshell but you have fallen - into the hands of a man who has tbe best of reasons for holding fast to you. Permit me to Introduce myself, as you have doubtless heard of me. My name is Sam Gaddler, at your service." The villain Inclined him;>elf with mock politeness, appearing to enjoy the suppressed scream of terror which came from Mrs. Rankle, the breathless stare of Elfie, and the violent start of Perry. "In a word, Mr. Wynans," added the Jubilant plotter, "I have been Informed by telegraph of your proposed advent Into our midst, and have taken my measnres accordingly. You and Miss Tower, with the old woman, are now my pris- I nners." "What are your Intentions?" demanded Perry after a brief bat painful Hence. My Intentions are to take yon to a secure place I have in readiness," answered ' Qaddler, "and these men will bear tie company, taking care that yon do not make your escape. This Is all J need to i say at present. We shall go Into camp for rest and sleep In the morning, and I J may then give you further information." Turning to his men he added: "Fall in, boys. We'll eet under way.* No time was lost In complying with < this order, and In another minute the 1 carriage had resumed progress, with a . new driven on the box and half a dozen armed ruffians on horseback around it We need not say what were the feelings of the travelers. They realized that they were in a terrible situation. CHAPTEB XriX. "MB. MCRBOW." ( Along a rude trail in Fergus County . -walked a man of striking aspect, who as leading a horse by the bridla. Any practiced eye could have laxnomea we uivuauua uy m tingle glance at man or beast. They bad come a long distance and were weary. The man with his cramped quarters In the saddle and the horse with his burden. The traveler was generously allowing bis jaded steed to recuperate his forces, while he himself gave a necessary extension to his muscles. The watchful glances of the pedestrian would have even suggested that he was eonscious of being in a dangerous situation, or that be bad recently made his scape from some deadly peril 1 As much was suggested, too, by the tout hunting-knife and revolver in the traveler's belt, and by the rifle slung Across his shoulder. The reader will doubtless divine his Identity. lie was Charley Baker, the young mining expert, who had been so closely pressed by Sam Gaddler and his minions. Bis garb was more or less torn and also stained with blood in several places, and bis limbs and features exhibited a number of cuts and bruises which attested how narrow had been his_escape. "The day is getting used up,"*he ejaculated, with a glance at the declining la a T ~ T7..J BUD, ~anu X SCO uv Sign ui a, UUU5C. Hivjdently, old fellow," he added, turning to his horse for want of a better comrade, we shall have to pass another night under a tree." He looked around as keenly as thoughtfully, continuing to trudge on-, ward. 1 "And Colonel Whipsaw," he added; where, can he be?" Did those rascals kill him?' The gloom on his face deepened, and attention to his surroundings became ctlll more anxious and earnest, put suddenly he started and halted. Despite the loneliness of the scene ha was traversing, he had caught a glimpse of a dwelling. It stood on a bold, bare foothill, which towered several hundred feet above the level of the plain. It was big enough for a castle, and looked like ono, yet It stood three miles from the trail. In a singularly isolated situation, and one Chat was practically inaccessible to travelers. To reach it on horseback or with 8 wagon it was necessary to make a long scent of one of the sloping sides of the foot-hill to the rear of it The traveler was not only surprised al what he saw but_puzzled. _ C- "A . . - [ What can it be?" be asked himself, The abode of some robber? The retreat of some hermit? The headquarters of some new mill' tary post or Indian reservation? "There's only one way of arriving al the truth, old fellow," he said, again addressing his horso, "and we'll take it." Gaining his saddle, he rode toward the mysterious edifice. As he neared the foot-hill he saw that long flights of steps had been built between its base and summit, and realized that a direct approach was quite In order. His resolve was soon taken. He would ride slowly to the foot of the declivity, keeping a arood lookout. If everything seemed right he could hitch his horse at the base of the hill and take his way up the Incline to the mysterious dwelling. If he saw anything to arouse his apprehensions, ho could beat a retreat. ,> He had nearly reachcd the foot-hill in execution of this design, when he noticed a shed long enough to belong to a cavalry barracks, and several bit9 of shaded wall and earth?works suggestive of masked batteries. The underpinning of the house was very high and contained a great number of small windows, bearing a strange resemblance to loopholes. In a word, the nearer the traveler came to the edifice the more suspicions did u p.nt>ear to him At length "he drew rein. Should he advance or retreat? Ere he had decided the qaestlon ft woman appeared at one of the front windows and beckoned him to come nearer. The next Instant she emerged from the houBe, taking her way briskly toward the brow of the foot-hill, from which she again signaled him to resume progress. ' If she had been younjr and pretty he might have refused, for fear of some plot; but she was old enough to be his mother and as plain as a plckstaff. Then, too, she was visibly In trouble, her every look and gesture displaying anxiety and excitement Besides, what was to be feared from a lone woman? Nodding assent to her appeals, he hastened to ride nearer the long snccession of terraces she was in the act of descending. ' "I trust yon will pardon me, sir," she said, as she came to a halt at the foot of the last flight of steps just as the horsemfcn reached them. "I see you are a stranger in these parts and hope you will befriend me." A qnick, searching glance told the traveler that he had nothing to fear from being civil. "I am perfectly at your service, madam," he assured her. "You were not coming here to see Mr. Morrow?" she continued. "Certainly not*" was the reply. "Until this moment I was not aware of his existence, or even of the existence of this dwolling. New, is It not?" "Just finished, sir." "Ana tne owner is snr. raorrowf The woman assented. "I've never heard.of him before," said the traveler, "and my presenoe here has nothing to do with him. My name is Charley Baker. I am a mining expert, and have been sent to the Musselshell by the owner of the famous gold mine, Perry Wynans " , ' The woman Interrupted him with a. violent start "I've heard of you," she said, lowering her voice instinctively. "Didn't you have a terrible fight yesterday with Sam Gaddler?" "I didl" The fellow who Is superintendent for old Jerry Skidder, and who Is In love with his daughter, Daisy?" "The very same." . "And you vrere nearly klllled?" I can't deny It" "And would have been done up alto* jether If Colonel Harvey Whlpsaw, of Rattlesnake Ranch, had not come to your rescue?" "You are quite right madam. "Good! Now let me give you a little Information in return for your confidences. Mr. Morrow Is no Morrow at all, but is simply Sam Gaddler. He has built thi9 palace with the money he has stolen from old Skidder, and has also secured about ten thousand acres of land around us. , Charley Baker uttered his delight He was never more pleased. The In rormation tnus reacmne mm eeemea a . direct play Into his hands. Perhaps he could yet get square with his enemy. "And where Is Gaddler now?" he asked. "He has gone to Intercept Perry Wynans and a young girl who is traveling with him?a Miss Elfie Tower, who Is to marry Wynans, and who is joint owner with him of the Musselshell mines. They were due at Custer about one o'clock this morning. * "To Intercept them, dM you say?" "Yob, sir," assured the women. "Old Jerry Skidder and his daughter were on the same train with Wynan9, and they telegraphed to Oaddler from time to time all the facts of the situation." Charley Baker looked startled. "And you think Gaddler will get hold t of Mr. Wynans?" he asked. 8 "Oh, the thing was accomplished within a few minutes after the arrival of the train at Custer.* ? The hearer seemed lost In horror. { "All Gaddler had to do," pursued the i woman, "was to disguise himself and ] appear at the station as a back-driver, j offering his services to the young couple, j which were accepted. The moment \ they were seated In his carriage he . drove them to a secret and solitary place, where he had a number of men in ] watlng, and the rest was easy." "So that they are now prisoners?* "Exactly." ' "But how do you know th4s?" Mr. Gaddler sent one of his men ahead to tell me, so that I would have ( everything in readiness. I am Mr. Uaodler's housekeeper. My name is Mrs. Cotter." "Ah; then he Is coming here with his prisoners?" queried Baker. Mrs. Cotter nodded. "And what time wi^ he arrive?" "About 0 o'clock." , Baker looked at his watch with an air of suppressed Jubilance. "It is half-past 5 now," ho said, "so that your employer will soon be here. You are not alone. I suppose?" "No, sir. There are eight or ten men 1 at the stable; the most of them asleep, but two or three are playing cards." "But you are not tie only woman od the premises?" "For the present, yes, although there was a cook until this morning and o couple of chambermaids until yesterday." . "Why did thoy leave?" "Oh, the loneliness of the place, and the wild ways of Claddler and his men!" Baker was moro than Interested. He wa9 positively fascinated with the Idea which had occurred to him of placing himself between Gaddlcr and his intended viotims. "And I should have gone with the girls, too, if ^hey had been frank enough to give mo the chance," added Mrs. Cotter. "As it is. I beckoned yon hero, 6lr, to ask you to take mo away with you, I being afraid to travol alone through all the wild country between here and the nearest settlement." "That's all right," returned Baker, his delight deepening. "Depend upoD ' mel" CHAPTER XIV. TROUBLE B BE WING FOB GADDLZ& It did not take Charley Baker threa seconds to decide upon his course. "You will realize, Mrs. Cotter, after what you have told me," he hastened to add, "that I cannot leave this place until Mr. Wynans and his betrothed have been freed from the hands of their enemy." "Oh, certainly." "Then, too, I have a little account of my own to settle," pursued Baker. "After our terrible fight of yesterday, Colonel Whlpsaw and I were pursued a score ox miies Dy oam <jaaaier ana nis ruffians, and barely escaped with oar Uvea We were hunted so closely, In fact, that we got separated, and I have oeen looking several nours in vafn hereabouts for the Colonel, It having been understood that he would make his way In this direction if he should succeed in throwing off his pursuers." "Perhaps he's killed, sir." "It's only too likely," admitted Baker, "as they were close at his heels when I last saw him, but I will hope for the best. Can't you introduce me into thi9 house without my being seen?" "Certainly^" answered the woman, after a sharp look around. "And what Bhall we do with the horse?" "I'll take him to the stable and give some explanation of his presence.. I can say that he has thrown hi9 rider, oz otherwise made hl9 escape, or I can pretend to have picked him up on the prairie without knowing anything about him. .Leave ail mat to ma." "Thank you, madam. And now contrive to smuggle m? Into the house.* "This way,, thecu" There was no difficulty In the matter, as the event proved, and. Baker soon found himself in possession of one of the front rooms of the dwelling, with an excellent supper before him. fie bad barely made amends to his stomach for its privations duriug the day, when hifc kind entertainer came harrying back to him. She was in a flatter of excitement Quick, Mr. Baker!" she cried. "You must go into hiding! Mr. Gaddler and his prisoners are oomingl" She waved ber hand toward one of the windows, offering him a pocket glass, and Baker hastened to look out "Sore enough!" be muttered, hit gaze resting upon a considerable body of horsemen that were approaching, less than a mile distant. "I can make tiiem out! There's barely time for me to beat * IViA WVtm TTAn Vl Q T7A nl OPdH a icvioav uu xuo * wu* j v? uww ?? my disposaL If I should have urgent' need of your advice or assistance, for myself or my friends, I will hunt you up later. "It Is all understood, sir," said Mrs. Cotter, with a sigh of relief. "Permit me to make a last request, however. At whateyer moment you may_leave the liouse, or in whatever way, I beg you to remember that I wish to depart with you." "I won't forget you, assured Baker, with kindly respect. "You will of course keep an eye on the prisoners, helping them in any way you can, but you need. Bay nothing about my presence." Nodding understanding^, Mrs. Cotter burried away In the direction from which she had come, while Baker proceeded to the quarters she had assigned him. and which were naturally?at his suggestion?the very rooms which had been put in order for the expected arrivals. As he had duly foreseen, he found himself in the hrst of a handsome suite )f apartments. "Here." he said to himself, after a ,?anco at the handsome rurniture, Jisludlng a bed In one corner, "will be odged Mr. Wynans." He crossed the apartment to an open lnn? rohlfh BApmpri to invito attention. :nd looked into a large and airy room jeyond, which, was furnished with taste' ul elegance. . "And this," ho concluded after a keen )ut rapid survey, "will be given to the adies?for I see there are two of them." E?e referred, of course, to Elfie Tower md Mrs. Rankle. After carefully noting his surroundngs, he took an extended stroll through ihe palatial mansion, occasionally taking i glance at the newcomers from a yinuuw. Returning In dne coarse to the suite issigned him be waited with what paiience he could for the developments of .he drama In which he was figuring. His patience had become well-nigh exlausted, and ho was even beginning to >o fear that something had gone wrong yhen footsteps and voices resounded on ;he principal staircase, and Sam Gadller threw open the door leading Into ,tae suite and entered, followed by his jrisoners. He was covered with dust and travelitained, as well as greatly fatigued, but n what a merry and jubilant mood he vast His entire visage was a picture of ilnister jubilance. "Well, well, Mr. Wynans," he was laying, "I consent to your remaining tear the ladles, but you must comprelend that none of you are to leave these wms without permission. To do so vill be to run the risk of being shot by a :ouple of my men, who have already )een posted on the landing. You under itand the matter?" "Perfectly," was Perry's quiet answsa "As to the ladles," pursued Gaddlei\ 'they cannot fail to be pleased with the adjacent apartment. It is one I have lad fitted up in the latest style for Miss Daisy Skidder, who is about to becom? ny wife, and it is heedless to say that 1 lave not counted the dollars expended ipon It* He threw wide open the door of the room in which Charley Baker nad so lately taken refuge, and even glanced within It, to assure himself that his housekeeper had duly executed nla order* Fortunately Baker was ready for such an emergency, having slipped into one of the capacious closets adjacent How promptly Elfie and Mrs. Rankle took a look at the apartment assigned them, need not bo stated. "It seems to be an outer room," was the first remark of Elfie, as she turned away from the entrance. "Ills an outer room," affirmed Gaddler, "but that fact won't help you. The sashes are manufactured from the best of steel, and a man with a rifle and bulldogs will be on guard day and night under these windows until I have no further occasion to treat you as prisoners. " "That'll bo a long time, I'm afraid," said Elfie, with scornful defiance. "You still persist in your purpose?" "Naturally." was the ruffian's answer. "As I have said, I shall Kdep you here until you and Mr. Wynans have deeded to me the mines of which I am in possession. " "You'll keop us here a long time, then," declared EHie. "For the present, have you any object ons to ridding us of your company?" (iaddler gnawed his lips savagely, but did not make any answer. Instead ho turned to Perry, with the remark: "It only remains for mo to add, Mr. Wynans, that your meals will bo served hero for tho present. As yon and the ladies will probably suspect all fooJs and liquids of being drugged, I beg to mention that your jailers will have orders to taste them to any extent, and I have no doubt they will quickly stow away every drop and mouthful you may see fit to consign to them. I will look in upon you from time to timo. at my convenience. For the present, gooi-by." ? ' He stalked away In wrathful and gloomy sullenness, after closing and locking the door behind him. CHAPTER XV. n? A TICKLISH SITU^TrON. The first proceeding of El fie, after the withdrawal of Gaddler, was to advance to her lover and throw her arms around him. With the keen, thoughtful instincts of oav eKfl nAmnn 1 *? tr\r\ T*rr?l 1 UU1 OU.N) OUU WV/mpiUUVUULU VUI/ IVV H V?? the agonies he was enduring at that moment?his burning self-reproaches, his regrets, his apprehensions. "It will be all right, darling," she assured him, with a tenderness which attested how closely their loves had become knit during their long journey to Montana. "We shall bo rescued by some heaven-sent deliverer or mako our escape. Do not doubt it." Perry groane'd, caressing hen "It is not your fault, darling, that wo are prisoners," insisted Elfie, her sweet face glowing with love and affection. "Do not fret at our situation." We ought to be thankful that things are no worse," said Mrs. Eankle. "That Gaddler is capable of burying us all alive in separate holes. It's something that we are together, and that there are three of us with stout hands " "Four!" suggested a mysterious voice from the apartment which had been assigned to the ladies. Mrs. Rankle was ready to accept the Idea of something supernatural. "Did you hear that, sir?" she asked, nervously. "Just as I was saying there are three of us, I distinctly heard the word " "Four!" came again from the adjoining apartment ?Is some one there?" asked Perry, na vnnmAnf nf Kowi 1/1 armonf Hi BP UiV/UJUIil.y* l/U TTIJUVt UiOUih "I certainly heard ihe word four," affirmed EJfie Tower, sinking Into a chair. ' "It's only some of Gaddler's people who are trifling with us," suggested Mrs. Rankle. "Or It maybe a parrot." If the occasion had not been so serious this suggestion would have probably produced an explosion of laughter. It was certainly hard upon Charley Baker, as much as he strove to disguise his T^toa, to have It compared to a parrot's. "And the fourth will now put* In an appearance," added Baker. "Only?no noise! No excitement! Remember that ail our lives are at stake." In the strange and wondering hush that succeeded, Baker made his appearanoe In the doorway, calm and smiling, with his finger on his lips. "Charley Baker!" exclaimed Perry, rushing toward him and seizing his hand "What a pleasure! and, especially, what a surprise!" Baker murmured an Incoherent response, but did not fail to give the hand ot his friend and employer a hearty shake. "And this young lady Is the ono I announced to you by telegraph, Charley ?Miss Tower, who Is to be my wife," pursued tbe young millionaire proudly, facing about and advancing to his betrothed. "As a near friend of m!n<?? darling," he added, "Charley knows who and what you are, and will be proud and happy to make your personal acquaintance. A few pleasant words were exchanged. Mrs. Rankle coming In for her share of attention, and then Elfie exclaimed softly: "You are not a prisoner, Mr. Baker?" "Not In the sense that you are. Miss Tower," replied the mining expert. "I mean by this that Gaddler is not aware of my presence." "Bravo!" commented Perry. "Excuse me if I stare at you, Charley. It seems a sort of return from the dead. Gaddler has been telling us that he killed both you and Colonel Whipsaw yesterday!" "It's not that villain's fault that I am alive," returned Baker. "He certainly did all he could to make true his declaration!" "Tell me all," rejoined ferry, waving his friend to a chair and sitting down, while Elfle and Mrs. Rankle proceeded to explore their now quarters. "The villain got trace of your presence at the Musselshell?" "He did?the very day of my arrival," replied Baker. "He also followed me to Colonel Whlpsaw's, and seemed to divine at sight the business which had brought me here." "And then tried to kill you?" "Asyou shall see." . It was a very stirring narration that Knf nonH nnt. llniTAP nnnn oulvo^UVU, UUH ??u "-0? -r? its details, they being covered by the facts which have already been given. "And you, sir?" asked Baker, when he had concluded his revelations. In response to this suggestion, Perry hastened to relate the experiences he and Elfie had had with the Skidders before leaving Chicago, and to narrate how Gaddler had captured them on their arrival at Custer. [XO BE CONTldUJtUj TEMPERANCE. XO POLICEMAN NEEDED. A correspondent of the Manchester Guardian describes n visit to Iona: The island belongs to the Duke of Argyll, but he allows no one there to keep a publio house. Consequently, though there are several hundreds who live on the island, there Is not a policeman among them. The-nearest public bouse and the nearest policeman are some five or six miles nway. DEAD DBUNK AT THBEE YEARS. One day recently the medical staff at the Episcopal Hospital, Philadelphia, treated a three-year-old baby for seven hours. In an attempt to sober up the toddler who had been given a half-cup of whiskev by a relative, it was said. When asked by the doctors why whisky was given the child, the parents seemed surprised, and the father ref>lled that It was customary for people who ived in his neighborhood to give whisky to theijr children. TBS QUESTION FOB YOU. "L-i wi T rpKrt*. la f YY imi UUKUl L 1U UVI XU<?i 40 WUW For myself I answer, that If during my life time I haye spoken ns God wishes me to speak and extended an arm in defence of yirtun and sobriety as God wishes me to do, to God I leave the responsibility of the results. Let oaeh ono do the Rood within his i.wii reach, and he has done his full duty. If allot us who are here this morning do our duty, Immense good shall be done. Ten just men would have saved Sodom from destruction : a fow hundred zealous moral heroes in America will save the nation.? Archbishop Ireland. WHAT IT WOULD DO. The money paid foroneglass of beer would pay for one loaf of bread. The money paid for ono elas3 of whisky would pay for ono pound of beef. The money paid for two glasses of beer would pay for a psck of potatoes. Tho money paid for two glasses of whisky j would pay for one pound of coffee. The money paid for three glasses of beer j would pay for a quarter of a pound of tea. ! The money paid for threo glasses of whisky ! would pay for a dressed fowl. Tho money paid for four glasses of beer . would pay for a dozon eggs. The money paid for four glasses of whisky j would pay for throe pounds of butter. Tho money paid in one month for two j glasses of beer a day would pay for a half | ton of coal. Tho money paid In ono month for two J glasses of whisky a day would pay for a salt | of clothes. The money paid In ono year for three : glasses of beer a day would pay the rent for . a small suite of rooms for one year. The monoy paid In ono year for throo I ' glasses of whisky a day would pay for an j outfit of household furniture. | i The money paid Jn one year for foui < glasses of beer a day would pay for a car- ! riage. j 1 The money paid In one year lor four glasses of whisky a day would pay for a horse and harness.?Worcester Herald. WAR BALLOONS. INTERESTING EXPERIMENTS IN MILITARY AERONAUTICS. The Emperor of Germany Very Much Impressed With Their ValueFiring at an Aerial Target ?Captive Balloons. ~T TMPEROR WILLIAM, of GerI f 1.? . i.? p?i in a LI j f nun uauiiciiii^o LU" j 1 wards conquering the air as well as the lands and seas, and it is now settled that within a short time His Majesty will make his first balloon ascent. If the winds be agreeable and the Empress will al J REDDIlKD AND FAliIiINCk low herself to be persuaded that there is absolutely no danger in the experiment, the Kaiser -will enter upon his aeronautical journey before or at the close of the "Grand Fajl Parade," on the Tempelhofer Field. This parade in former years was always held on the anniversary of the battle of Sedan, SHOOTING AT A \ but the date has been changed since 1 the development of the German-Franco i friendship. 1 Great preparations are being made t by the heads of the aeronautical sec- I inn nf +V10 ftormnn Armr fnr fVio r*r?m- i W. v?w ' ?J ? ing event. A biand new balloon,provided with the most intricate and new- ] est patent appliances, has been con- ' structed and is now being tried in all i kinds of weather, that is, in all kinds ' which the heavens provide. i "I wish we would experience a shower a thunderstorm between now 1 and the day the Emperor proposes to i make his ascent," said the chief of the < section to a correspondent of the New 1 York Press. "Of course, I know ex- 1 actly how the balloon ought to act un- 1 der those circumstances, but I would < I j TOWING THE BALLOON. 1 ' \ like to be sure. There must be no + chance for an accident of any sort." ^ From another source it is learned that the Kaiser will perhaps first try ^ his luck as an aeronaut during his ? stay at Heilgoland. La^t year ho es- , tablished an aeronatical station at ' that point, in which ho takes intense ua tci tot. U The correspondent was permitted ^ to take a photograph of one of the ^ experiments, undertaken with a captive balloon. The latter was filled on the deck of one of the warships and fastened to the mast. Then it was sent 1500 feet into the air. One of tl the men in the basket 6aid afterward t] the situation was an indescribably in- a teresting one. They had to follow every movement of the ship, but at tlie same time 6ecmed to float in limit- b less space. They wcro able to hear b sounds from the ship and coast; every object beneath them was steeped in white, while above them they saw green fields, or at least something bearing a strange resemblance to such. The Kaiser, after each balloon journey, summons all participants before him to ask them personally and separately about their observations and sensations. Of course, if William choose to do so, he might go up in a balloon from one of his warships, unknown to anybody but his officers and crew, who are bound to secrecy. Still it is hardly probable that His Majesty will pursue such a course. He is too fond of advertising his deeds and capabilities tc forego the pleasure of seeing himseli in print as the first imperial aeronaut oi tne world. The special interest taken by the Emperor in aeronautics of late has encouraged the aeronautical section of the army to some highly interesting, and likewise highly expensive, experiments in destroying balloons. The double-column engraving printed with this article shows a battery of artillery in the act of shooting at a so callcd "war balloon," supposed to be sent up by a besieged garrison- When the correspondent took the photograph the battery was experimenting on a captive balloon. Later on a "free balloon" will be substituted for that on the line. The balloon filling was provided from steel flasks containing com* pressed gas, so called, the flasks be* ing about the size of sugar loaves. They are transported on a vehicle not unlike a gun carriage. The men turned the compressed gas into hydrogen gas in very short order, and the process seemed to be a very simple one. As the invention of compressed gas is not the exclusive property of the German Army, its leaders must the more provide against being served by the enemy in the same manner as they intend,to employ to spy ontihe move ments and intentions of adversariea | In the Franco-German War many balloons -were brought down by shots ! mm i ???????????n . 'ft ] 1 t : ] < i c CAB BALLOON. * Eired by the infantry. Since then a * 3mall caliber rifle has been introduced, c cvhose bullets cannot harm a balloon * jo as to endanger it permanently, as ^ the pressure of the gas closes up the ? small holes produced by the bullets. i The aeronautical section therefore i resolved to try their luck with guns. * rhey let a balloon ascend 9300 feet c ind then fired at it with shrapnells. I rhe first shot went above the object, ill the re3t hit it. . The balloon was seen to swing riolently from one side to the other, t ifter it was once hit, and soon clouds I yt smoke broke forth from its in- o terior. At the same time it shrunk together and began to sink steadily. n7V?rtTi V*nl1/\r?n Ttroa finftllr hrnnrrhf. lown the basket was found to be in:act, while the balloon proper showed nany holes torn by the bullete; the ropes were in fragments. ^ The conclusion arrived at is that ;he captive balloon cannot be safely mployed in war. War aeronauts will lave to ascend much higher than any ope in existence allows. The qaes- ' ion'is, how high will they have to go n order to esoape the bullets of guns? Probably nobody can answer that [uestion, for improvements in gun* aaking are going on steadily. c ? a Stairs In Samoa. si In Samoa, where he makes his ^ tome, Robert Louis Stevenson has Q lone much in the way of instructing he natives in European methods of rork. He tells an amusing story in ^ his connection. A new house-boy ^ tad been engaged, and on his arrival ras lost in awe and admiration of the aagnificence of the mansion. He was given a large backet of rater and told to take it to the bedoom np above. He looked up, and, ? tointing, asked if it was there? On ^ >eing answered in the affirmative, he . eized the bucket in his teeth, and J >efore any one could remonstrate ho ( tad rushed up one of the posts of tho 0 oranda. The whole family ran up he staircase, and when they showed ? lira that that was tho usual mode of ;etting to those rooms, he was over- ^ towered with delight, and for two or , bree days could do absolutely nothog but race up and down stairs, a buckling and crowing in an ecstasy ^ f joy. And when detachments of is friends came to visit him they ^ ere always taken to see the stairs the rcf thine 1?SanFrannisco Examiner. I3. 0 tI ? . g Woolen goods feel warm because -w ^ool is a poor conductor of heat, and ii lie Roods made of wool contain within heir substance large quantities of air, lso a poor conductor. p ti Boiled water tastes flat and insipid ecause the gases it contained have eea driven ott by heat. ii r Best Biile Shot ot Her Sex. An interesting proofof the heredity of skill is to be found in the case of Miss Lizzie Utschig, of San Fran~ijt% j WTRA TiTETTB UTSCHia. | cisoo, who has only been handling a I rifle four months and yet who ia^J proDaoiy tne best rifle snot of her sex in California. "I suppose it is natural that I should know how to handle-a rifle," she said, when asked concerning her accomplishment by a reporter for the Examiner.*. 4 We all shoot. My father, John Utschig, is one of the champions, you\ know. He has made the best*target record in California. Then there is my mother. She is a good shot, and my brothers and sisters have all made excellent scores." Miss Utschig achieved distinction. as the best markswomanin California V at a recent monthly shoot of the Ladies' California Schuetzen Club by making a total of 112 out of a possible 125, and winning the club's medal for June. The range was 200 yards at a twelve-inch target, with a dead centre no bicrorer than a dollar and almost in visible through the sights. She wolf the medal at the May shoot also, scoring a total of 109. The medal for April was won by Mrs. J. Utsohig, Miss Utschig's mother, with a total of 110. Miss Utschig is pretty, petite and only twenty years of age. John Utsohig, the father of Lizzie, accounted the best shot in California. Not long ago he scored 25, 25, 25, 25, 24 in a three-shot pool. In the first pool he made three centres, and in the next pool he scored 25, 24, 24. these are two of the best pools on record at 200 yards range. Four . years ago he made a tour of European cities with a picked team of California marksmen and brougnt back a dozen valuable prizes won in international: . jontests in Berlin, Vienna, Bremen md Geneva. A Short Life. The most remarkable instance of rapid growth is that reoorded by the Blench Academy in 1729. It was a x?y six years of age, who was five feet iix inches in height. At the age of Ive his voice changed, and at six -ears his beard had grown, and he ap J - t TT? J _ peoreu u mau ui lumjr. ue puDecaseu H jreat physical strength, and coald I ;asiJy lift to his shonlders and carry *4 jags of grain that weighed 200 M sounds. His decline was as rapid u/M lis growth. At eight his hair and^V jeard were gray; at ten he totteredinjfl lis walk, his teeth fell out, and his "J lands became palsied; at twelve he J lied with every outward sign, of ex- M reme old age. ?Picayune. A Fish With a Torch. fl| Scientists have recently introdutie^^B i novelty in the animal world in the ihapeof the linophryne lucifer, but E t is a deal easier to call it by its I :veryday name?the torchfish. He is I i deep sea fish carrying on his nose an E >rgan which he can illuminate with jhosphorescent light or extinguish it pleasure. He does not use his lan>ern to guide him on his pathless :ourse in the dark depths of ocean or !liable him to look around him. but rhen meal time comes he lights up to attract smaller fishes, which, mistakng the lanteru for a phosphorescent nsect, dart straight for it, only to ind their way into the capacious jawsP >f linophryne lucifer.?Detroit Free Press. j Italian Buffaloes. The Italian buffalo is a breed of cat- j Ie but little known outside of the reality of which it is a native. The rigin of the breed is unknown. The ITALIAN BUFFALO. attle roam about in a semi-wild state, nd are very diffcult to control. Iu pite of this they are very prolific so hat there is money in keeping up the erds. No crossing or improvement f the breed has ever been attempted. In color the cattle are reddish black r black, shaped somewhat like the orinary cow, but with a larger and eavier rump. They have short, round ecks and large, curved horns. They re to be found chiefly in the vicinity f Naples, where it is calculated thsre re 12,000 of them. They are chiefly sed for yielding milk for a peculiar ind of cheese called "latinicus." Phile giving milk they are also used >r tilling the soil until the ago of jurteen years, when they are turned ver to the butcher. The animals are large, the bulls Uii 1 Uq ^/v/u.iXS.10 UUVI vuv? V,^?is7 600 and 1700 pounds. The buffaloes 2quiro little care, and get little, hey are never fastened, and never oused except in very severe weather, j ad then the protection is only such 3 a heavy shed will afford. Their >od is largely the wild grass, but hen hay is fed it i3 thrown into the ushes, so that it may not bo trodden nder foot. The herders try to havo ie calves come in the fall, that the reatest milk supply may be in tha inter, when there is the ino^t proit 1 the cheese. The greater part of the grain imorted into Germany comes from Aus:ia-Hungary. There are 147 Indian reservations 1 the United States.