#y < 'Mynhe ? 9999999 BY ST. QEOR( 9999999 COPTBIOnT 1893, E< Q CHAPTER XIII. [Continued.] The two boats seem to be about equal in point of speed, as mey continue to Keep the same relative distance apart. Perhaps, in a genuine race, with a wind like this, their craft could gain the advantage by "blanketing" the other and cutting off her supply of wind, but this will not pay under present conditions. Although Joe has made the conditions of the duel, being the challenged party he really leaves the selection of the ground to his rival, having only stipulated that it shall be among the hills that lie above Cairo. Sandy and Mr. Grimes stand together near tMe bow of the vessel, listening to the music of the water as her prow cuts through the tide of the Nile like a knife, curling the foamy suds on either side and hurling them back in rolls. Both of them are duly impressed with all their romantic surroundings, and the war correspondent is jotting down ideas in his mind that will be called upon to supply space in some forthcoming article. At the same time it is evident he has something worrying him. Mr. Grimes is quick to notice such things, as he has made a business of reading faces. "What's wrong, Sandy?" he asks abruptly, as he removes bis cigar to flip the ashes from the end with his dexterous little finger. "Who said so? How did you know? Hang it, Mr. Grimes, you read men as I would books. You may have buried yourself out in Colorado?you took good care to study human nature." "Then you confess you are bothered, my boy?" continued the other, steadily. "Well, yes, I've been wondering. You see, we know this baron is a sly schemer?" "Admitted." "And not to be trusted out of sight." "Ordinarily I should not dare to put my life in his charge. You're right, Sandy." "Well, we've let him select the spot for the r.ffair. How can we tell but what he may spring some shrewd game on us. Can you promise that yonder dahabeah has not half a dozen hired assassins on board, ready to annihilate us in case the baron feels the necessity'.'" Mr. Grimes laughs, and there is a reassurance in his manner that speaks for itself. "Sandy give over worrying. I believe the strongest proof we can have that the baron means no treachery is his astonishing confidence in himself. He has fought duels before and believes himself invincible. Hence it seems a picnic, a walk-over to him." "Vefy true, very true, sir. but you must admit there is a chance that " "Always 'that,' my boy, but you also forget something of interest ? our selves': 'What are we nere rorr as a member from the South asked in a Republican convention. If Joe can take care' of the baron, surely we will be able to look after his friends, be they two in number or a dozen." "Well spoken, Mr. Grimes. My mind Is already clear on that point. I believe we wy* come out of this thing with flying colors. My trouble has vanished even as the smoke of this cigar fades into space." Sandy is himself again, and that means a cheery friend, a faithful com1 * AA?1 A raue, one wiiom juyuueei' owe wuju not better were he to search the globe over. As the daylight grows stronger the moon wanes in power; it is no longer a strife between the two as to which must win, for Luna is already out of the battle. Cairo is left far behind upon the east bank and, looking back, they can see the first shafts of sunlight glinting from her numerous domes, although the mighty god of day has not yet shown his smiling face to those upon the River Nile. It is a strange spectacle, and one that appeals to the artistic in their natures, but all of them are very familiar witn the scene, so that the desert, the pyramids, the city of the four hundred mosques, its queer people and the storied Nile itself?all these things do not appear so strange to their eyes as would be the case were they newcomers to the land of Egypt. Besides, their mission is of such a nature that tlieir thoughts are bound to stray to it from time to time?when men are bent on an errand of a deadly character they are not expected to laugh and joke as if going to a wedding. "Come back to the cabin, Sandy. I think we would be wise to examine our firearms. Nothing like making sure that everything is in working order. These hyenas and jackals of the desert strike with amazing quickness when they do show up. Come!" His words are significant, and his companion has no difficulty in understanding. Together they pass the sailors squatted about on the forward k, after their usual manner wlie? iiiii at work. These fellows are Arabs, and not the best-looking chaps Mr. <>rimes has set eyes on. He gives Sa:uly a nudge, but this wideawake newspaper man has already noted the "Fine collection of buzzards, eh7 Must say the captain has looked far and wide to lind a game set. They'd tlcrlit". too, 1 reckon." he whispers. They find Mynheer Joe lying upon the roof of the cabin, a pillow under his head, which the captain of the boat has brought out, ?md to all appearances enjoying Ins cigar. Together they enter the cabin. Upon the table is seen a quaint flagon and a glass. Mynheer Joe moves toward ir. but be finds the hand of Mr. Grimes before hint. "Not allowed, my friend. Heaven knows what sort v- drug there might / % t V ?J T ? ? 1 ER JOE. }E FATHBORNE. JBERT BONNEK'B SOXS. ' | bo in this. If you must steady your . I ? * Y,n nrndllPPS fl KnlJlll iitrws> AUU flask from one of bis pockets. But Joe shakes his head. "That isn't in my line, sir, though I thank you all the same. I've seldom found a time when my nerves needed strengthening by such artificial means, though I confess that my life was once saved by a small amount of liquor. The fellow drank it who was left to execute me, and got into such a maudlin condition that I easily overpowered him and made my escape. Except as medicine I have no use for the stuff." A minute later all of them are busily engaged in examining their revolvers, which are found to be in good condition. "Take charge of mine, Mr. Grimes," remarks Joe, who, of course, cannot be thus burdened when about to enter upon an engagement that will require all his agility. "With pleasure, sir, and should the occasion arise for using it, I trust you will find tha: I can make each shot A -1 ~X " ~ no wnilttQAlf PvTT COUI1C UltUUSL US Itcu txa j uuioui. the way, Joe, you didn't for get to bring tbe rubber footholds I borrowed from the professor?" "Never fear; I have them. The baron will not get his work in through a slip on my part, if I can help it," returns Joe, touching a pocket of his blouse, where a small package of some sort is hidden. Presently they pass outside again, to find that the sun has arisen and a new day begun. They keep a short distance from the shore in order to catch the full benefit c t the breeze, but every palm stands out in bold relief. The scene is such as can be gazed upon any day along the lower Nile, and yet one never tires of looking upon it. Numerous sails dot the broad river, some beating down, while many fly before the breeze. A string of camels forming a caravan can be noticed above the bank, doubtless bound for the far-off cities, between which and Cairo quite a trade is carried on in this way. Here some travelers on donkeys can be seen, making an early start for the pyramids. Now and then slaves are discovered at work with the poles and buckets known as a shedoof, and which primitive method of engineering in the way of lifting water from a lower level is still practiced in the land where they carry on agriculture just as their forefathers did two thousand years back. An occasional windmill is seen where some house nestles on the bank,' but this is generally the property of foreigners. Upon the river freight cangias are met with, heading to or from Cairo. Those boats which have the fair wind are supposed to keep out of the way of others, but the reis in command of their craft seems to be in something of a daredevel spirit this morning. He swings the dahabeah in so close to one of the heavier craft that he comes within an ace of having the sandal trailing behind sunk. rnu~ nrxTTT olmncf Vinlf nn bnnr 1 UU DUU JO uvti uiuivoi. "M..* v*? high. When will the boats come to land? Surely there Is no need of traveling a great distance from old Cairo in order to discover a good dueling ground. Perhaps the baron has a particular spot in view. He may even have been a principal in some affair 'of honor that has culminated in a meeting up the Nile, and his success at that time inspires him to select the same rendezvous agafn. Our friends show no impatience, whatever they may feel. Sandy, looking ahead, directs the attention of his comrades to a point. "Like as not we're aiming for that. I can see rows of tombs in the rocks back of it. Such a place would make an admirable spot for the duello. Re member the old stories I've read of steamers on the Mississippi stopping to let a couple of passengers fight on some sand-bar, and the spectators burying one of 'em th^re. This puts me in mind of it. Where could you find a better place to dispose of the unfortunate victim than in one of thpse empty rock tombs? Capital idea! Jove; I'll improve on this subject when I write it up, see if I don't!" Sandy gets no further, as he feels a grip on his arm, and, turning, sees Mr. Grimes making expressive grimaces intended to warn h m that he is treading on dangerous ground. Mynheer Joe, however, does not seem at all affected, but treats the matter as a huse joke. "I think, for my part, I prefer being buried in a modern cemetery, and 1 authorize you, my friends, in case the worst (oiULSt to seu iiiut ujy puur remains are taken care of. In my pocket will be found, a letter addressed to you, Mr. Grimes, concerning the little matter we were speaking about last night. You can lev the person most interested see it. There?I am done. I have made my peace, but I want both of you to understand that it is not Mynheer Joe's intention to drop before tb? sworu of the Rnssian. I hope to snow him how an American can uphold the honor of his flag even at the sword's point." Confident words, fcnese, but they express the feelings of the man. It is partly this assurance concerning his own powers tfcat lias brought Mynheer Joe safely through numerous deadly perils in the past. Fear will never riarnlvzn his nrm when face to face with clanger, nor can nn antagonist expect to reap any lx-nelit from such a source. liy this time they sot' that Sandy was not far out of the way when he marked this point as the scene of tlieir expected debarkation. The lending dahabeah makes a graceful sweep and comes about at the point, landing at a roeir that seems especially adapted for swb business. ]>'?vr it is their turn; the old rcis himself J as charge of the tiller, and gives his order in a loud, shrill voice that strikes the tympanum in a painful way, as though some boy is indulging in the agonizing delirium of beating upon empty pans. The Arab sailors can no longer be termed lazy; they in inn around in the liveliest possible manner and carry out the commands of the captain. Not an inch out of the way, they shade the wind out of the sails, and j the boat brings up gently alongside the other, to which It i- at once secured. The baron and his party can already be seen upon the suore. Under his arm the Frenchman carries a long, slender package, without doubt the swords which are destined to occupy so prominent a place in the coding event. There is a third member of the party, the man known as Colonel Taylor, and also a short individual who carries a surgeon's case in his hand. When our friends join them words are passed between. The principals bow in a perfunctory way, but Mynheer Joe smiles in a careless manner that must set the Russian duelist to thinking. They do not need to go far away; the ground is right there among the rock tombs, but it is advisable to move on a little for several reasons. It is not their intention to have the sailors on board the boats witness the affair, and just beyona tne rocics uiey are apt i to find a spot where the sun will not throw his fierce rays into the eyes of either, causing a momentary blindness that may prove fatal. So they walk alon~ two and two, Mr. Grimes bringing up the rear. In five minutes they come to a pause, and the French officer sweeps his arm around with a dramatic gesture, saying: "Behold, gentlemen! The ground selected for the duello!" CHAPTER XIV. A LITTLE AEFAIB AMONG THE MOKKATAN HILLS. No one can reasonably offer any objection to the selection of the ground, since it is level enough for all practical purposes, and certainly so isolate thn* thprp dnes not seem to be any danger of interruption. The association with the strange tombs hewn in solid rock ages ago, by the Egyptians, might make some men nervous, but it does not appear to have any such effect upon either of the two who have met here to face each other ir a combat for honor. Mr. Grimes, in company with the French officer, goes over the ground step by step and announces that he is perfectly satisfied with the location chosen. It certainly cannot be improved upon, and might not be equaled, so they are well content as it is. "Now for the weapons," says the American, whose business-like methods cause the other to suppose he has figured in duels before. The French officer has heard of desperate affrays happening in the South and the West. How is he to know flint th*? rwrtifinntors in these scrim mages are, as a general thing, the very lowest scum of society, and that Southern gentlemen, as a rule, have given up their former allgiance to the code as a settler for all difficulties? Picking up the package, he unrolls it. Within, wrapped in chamois skin, lie two handsomely made swords, of delicate but magnificent appearance. These he draws from their separate scabbards and holds toward the American. "Select which one you please," he says, quietly. Mr. Grimes crooks his finger, and when Joe, who is watching, sees this, he comes at once to the side of his friend. "Try these blades," says his second, curtly. The explorer takes one up, and makes a few movements with it. "Careful, the baron's looking at you," whispers his mentor just then, and Joe sweeps the air no more with tlie blade. He bends it double over his knee, allowing it to fly back again. Then the second sword is also put through its paces. Mynheer Joe's face is a study, for he finds it a pleasure to handle such weapons as these. "How.does monsieur find them?" asks the Frenchman, eagerly. "Superb?beyond comparison!" replies Joe. "Which do you choose, monsieur?" [To be Continued.] The Bud and the FnllGrown Rose. Shortly before the Duchess of Tcck's death she and her daughter were attending a charity bazaar opening, when the provincial chairman took the floor and commenced to eulogize the merits of their distinguished patroness. After he had exhausted his eloquence on "the great charity and large and liberal views" of the Duchess his at tention was directed to the slender lndy at her side, and Princess May had a turn. Remembering the Duchess of Teck's substantial proportions, the ludicrousness of his remark is apparent, when he wound up a flowery sentence by hoping that the Duchess of York would "develop on the same broad lines as her mother." The Duchess of Teck, wo never failed to see a joke, was immensely amused, and joined the audience in a hearty laugh.?Xew York Telegram. Klectroplatlnc After Embalming. Dr. Yariot, of Paris, 1ms discovered a process for embalming bodies which it is thought will prove a great success. He not only embalms, but metallizes the bodies by the Kuolt process, just as it is done with a fork or a spoon. In this manner they can be preserved indefinitely, and in such perfection that the most imperceptible wrinkles and lines are reproduced, and the embalmed body has the appearance of a metal statue. Rats are fine swimmers. They nre nearly as much at home iu a swollen stream as in the placid cellar of a well stocked mansion. In fact, the whole rodent family, including squirrels anil other species, learn to make themselves at home in the water when necessity requires it. Hie Coal Field*. There are 54U0 square miles of coal fields in Great Britain. ~ *** - ?-? ' r\ ' r * ''* *~\J ' - <*- ' i ??? VfSlpI- ^1,1 MAP OF THE UNITED STATES, ! | Shall We Ha?e a I Floating Exposition? ? ^A/(N^VW!>/\^VTWW?A^VR^^^^ TOiv1>/CnvTw^^\ The twentieth century will undoubtedly be prolific of marvelous enterprises, and among them may possibly figure the gigantic scheme suggested by Mr. 0. P. Austin, Chief of the Bureau of Statistics, In a recent number of the Geographic Magazine. This is nothing less than a floating exposition, to carry samples of our merchandise around the world, bringing buyer and seller in personal contact, and establishing that mutual understanding of wants and conditions which would be an enormous factor in promoting trade. Happy in the knowledge of our superlative excellence as agriculturists, as handicraftsmen, as producers of pvervthinor the world roauifes. both for its sustenance and for its tools of trade, we have hitherto neglected to display to the world at large the tangible evidence of our skill. Expositions held at great cities are of necessity limited in scope. Time and money are required to visit them, and however great may be the number of travelers to a given point to see an exhibition of the products of the world's workers, those who remain at home are of greater number. These are the buyers whose trade might be secured by the ingenious plan imagined by Mr. Austin, whose wealth of statistics enables him to disburse facts with a liberal hand. From xta loom + n f lio ?mnnrto nf Asia, Oceania, Africa and the American countries south of the United States amount to over two billion dollars a year. No Monroe doctrine can prevent our South-American -friends from bestowing their patronage where they will; but if we "hustled" to show our misguided fellow-Americans that It would be vastly to their interest to trade with us, a goodly part of this colossal sum might reach the pockets of our traders. Nearly all of the importations referred to are of the very class of goods which our people want to sell?foodstuffs, textiles, mineral oils, machinery and manufactures of all kinds; yet our sales to these grand divisions in the best year of our commerce, 1900, only amounted to about $200,000,000, or about ten per cent, of their purchases. Most of the cities through which these two billion dol, . . _ _ _ _ iars' wortu or goods "are distributed lie on the sea-const, and could be easily reached by a fleet of vessels loaded witu samples of American products and manufactures. The chief obstacle to the introduction of American goods in these countries is the lack of knowledge of our producers as to local trade requirements. The internal traffic of the United States is carried on principally among six geographical divisions. In New England dairying, trucking, and mi?ed farming have received their fullest development, and the same may be said of New York and parts of other Middle States. The entire Northeast, incluling New England, New York, and the leading Middle State3, is also so largely engaged in manufacturing as to comprise wLat may be called the industrial section of our country. The second division may be designated the cotton belt; Kansas and Nebraska the corn and winter-wheat belt; Montana and Wyoming the springwheat belt; the Rocky Mountain States are devoted to the production of wool and live-stock: the Pacific Const are still primarily agriculturalwheat, barley, lire-stock, timber, and fruits constitute the basis of their prosperity. This geographical grouping of economic activities lies at the basis of the internal commerce of the United States. A Heating exhibition, carrying samples of these varied and marvelous productions of our soil's fecundity and our people's Ingenuity, would be a realization of the tabs of faerie to the inhabitants of other lauds than ours.? Olive Logan, in Harper's Weekly. " Den IIHi's" Cionp Squeak. Success with a book Is something like having lightning strike you. Up at Mackinac last summer General Wallace told me how narrowiy "Ken Hur" eseniwrl nill?lIf?lHnn It vie ovumiiwul by two of Harper's readers, who reported rather adversely 011 ir, thinking it would not be a good seller. Finally Mrs. Harper, a lady of strong religious tendencies, read if, and advised her husband to risk the expense of printing the book. Then there was "Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde," which ran a somewhat similar gauntlet and was almost rejected.?Booth Tarkington, in .Washington Interview ^/1 "" BHl {t / " a*. ^r\?l . w | " >L '' ______ Mi i: x i c o \ 'Om SHOWING APPROXIMATELY THE P An Ancient Scorpion. In the Silurian rocks of Scotland, which were laid down as calcareous muds when our earth was in its infancy, have been found many interesting fossil remains. In this huge cemetery of millions of years ago, among the many reminders of former life, Is found the earliest remains of FMI ^ ^ ^ ? SCOBPION "WHICH LIVED MILLIONS OP * TEAItS AGO. scorpions. Scorpions of those early days were sea creatures, and it is only In comparatively recent times, as the naturalist reckons it, that the scorpion has taken to dry land. In the current journal of Microscopical Science, Mr. R. I. Pocock describes a new species, which he names in honor of its discoverer, Dr. Hunter, Palaeopbonus Hunteri. Thus we find one of the very earliest air breathers possessed of a poison spine, and it will be noticed that they have changed very little in ap- : pearance through the millions on millions of years they have been in existence since Silurian times. Horseshoeing Back. Shoeing a fractious horse is not a task to be envied by anyone, and there Is always danger of accident to the man who performs the work in the ordinary manner, as the animal ..ems possessed of the idea that the hoofs were made to defend itself. To overcome these difficulties John Cea, of Grundy Centre, la., has designed the horseshoeing rack shown in the illustration, the inventor claiming that the mechanism will hold all parts of the animal securely in any desired position, at the same time relieving the horse of all strain and depriving it of the power of injuring itself or the blacksmith. It will be seen that numerous straps and windlasses are provided, which will not only firmly hold f ,. ; fnEVENTSINJUR! TO SHOEI? AND HORSEeach foot, but will lift the auiraal bodily from the iloor and keep him suspended while the labor is going on. It is also probable that after a few applications of the machine to a fractious horse he could be induced to stand quietly while being shod without the use of the appliances. Damages For a Misfit Cork Le~. In the District Court at Marion (Kan.) a cltizeu was sued by a Kansas. City firm for the price of a cork leg furnished more than five years ago. The citizen set up in defense that the leg didn't lir, and that it made him walk like what he called a "step-audgo-fetch-it.*' The jury must have thought that step-and-go-fetch-it gait was something awful, for it not only released the citizen from paying the bill, but also gave him damages to the amount of $3.?Kansas City (Mo.) Journal. ? The number of deaf mutes la the United States is over 111,000; the number of totally blind is 88,924. j "^11 1 in r ecv. p. '' o i;' RODUCTIVE AREAS OP THE PRINC DOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOCP g Boats Made of Weapons. ? j? Floats Easily Thrown Together For 2 - Army Use. 5s 30000000000000000000000000 Tf hoc alroaro hppn fl RnPfKB nroblem to make the cavalry of a great army more mobile by finding means and measures to cross streams and rivers In a quick and efficient manner. Of course, in case of necessity, those hindrances are simply overcome by swimming, but these means are always accompanied with more or less risk and discomfort. The German Army administration has lately Introduced new boats which are said- to be the best and most effective ever made for the purpose. It Is a so-called "lance boat," and was Invented by Adolf Key. The boat can be constructed by using twelve to sixteen cavalry lances in less than five minutes' time, and may be readily i I L J FP.AME OP LANCES BEADY FOR COVERING taken to pieces again in less than two njinutes. As soon as the lances are placed in the required position, the frame thus constructed is covered with a water-tight coat of canvas, and the boat is ready for Immediate use. Two or four additional lances are in less than one minute changed into rudders. The rudder blade consists of a piece of canvas two feet in length and five inches in -width; by means of eyelets and hooks the blade and rudder shaft are soon connected; the rudder for three L&T\CC BOBJST oe.dk d oin & Vii\qI* hone. ' ^ blade, when folded together, can easily be Carried in the pocket of the rider. The whole boat, including rudders, when ready, weighs sixty-four pounds. One of the accompanying cuts represents a pack horse carrying the entire outfit for three boats. The strategic value of these boats is said to be immense. Up to a short time ago there were attached to each German cavalry regiment two special wagons, carrying l- ii U L. J m i ? l. . ?- JW LANCE BOATS JUST ADOPTED 1 several boats to meet such emergencies, but this menus of transportation presented many difficulties, and in ' many instances tlie boat-wagons were not able at all to keep pace with the riders and !n coses where the boats 9 -T }i \ - ,r / I ^ 1 1IPAL COMMERCIAL STAPLES. ?From'Harper's Weekly. were most needed they were not at' The Introduction of these boats. greatly cuts down the number of men and horses required for the purpose of H providing a means of transportation I across streams, and, therefore, repre- H sents a great saving, estimated to rep- H resent the total of 550,000 marks. The B entire German Army will be equipped I with these boats In the next six months. B Catching: Squid a New American Industry B In this country that modest cephalo- B pod, the squid, or cuttlefish, is not fl much appreciated, being used exclus- fl Ively for bait. The Chinese and many H other people, however, are extremely fond of it, and in the accompanying fl photograph native Hawailans may be H seen fishing for the squid with extern* porized spears In tidewater pools, I wherein the luckless mollusks have, been left almost high and dry by the H retreating sei. In annexing Hawa'l B we have annexed a race of .squid eat- H I Squid, which furnish the familiar I cuttle bones for canaries to sharpen I nmn ova tho fnrnritA food Ifl of numerous fishes. Tlieir "schools'*sometimes number millions, and now, and then immense numbers of themi are stfanded on the New England coast, owing, it is said, to a funny, habit they have of staring at the moon. On a moonlight night they will fix their eyes upon the lunar orb and swim backward with the help of their siphons, until at length they come up high and dry on the beach. Every squirt of his siphon forces his squidship higher up on shore, until he is hopelessly grounded, and must perish miserably.?New York Herald. Social Peits. Only the other day an unhappy man In a New Hampshire city shot and killed bis wife and then shot himself. When dying he told his friends that" the mania to kill had been born Jn his heart under the influence of the gossip of neighbors. He knew nothing aeainst his wife, but the whispering of persons he believed to be friends, and doubtless who thought tnemselvc* his friends, made him mad, an? he killed the woman he loved. Be wary of the tale-bearer, who approaches you in the guise or mendsliii> to speak ill of another. The person who listens willingly to gossip i* as bad as the gossiper. If we cannot speak well of another why speak of him at all? Silence hurts no one. Idle talk often breaks a heart, xuinj a home, or takes a life. Gossip blighted tl.'fc romance of Romeo and Julie:, and laid the lovers cold in death. Gossip has ruined not only men, but empires. Gossip is a vice, and the more dangerous because a common vice, and one that few persons even try to guard, against.?Boston Globe. ~ ~ I I The guava tree bears fruit mere H months in the year than any other H| semitropical fruit. H Half the battle is lost when you ad* H mit your own weakness. M ? J