Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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" ^ : XSSVED SEMX-WBSKl.^ l u. GEIST 4 SONS, Publishers.} % ^amilg Stuagapi-r: tftr the promotion of the political, gocial, ggriruKural, and (Eomniegriat Jnteresta of the jptogle. { ESTABLISHED 1855. YORKVILLE, S. C., WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 19Q2. NO. 3. THE KNIFE By FREDERICK VAN Author of "Not Like Other 1 Silence Copyright, 1901, by Frederic Van Renss CHAPTER I. PREPARING FOR THE DUEL. Burr pendleton shoved his arms through the sleeve holes of his fur coat, accepted the lighted wax match his valet offered him, applied It to the end of his. cigar, looked again into the mirror that extended from floor to celling and began leisurely to draw on his gloves. Beneath the coat he had so carefully buttoned acrcss his ample chest he was faultlessly attired. Fnultlessness in all things was Burr Pendleton's cbiefest hobby among many, and on this par-, tlcular occasion he had been more importunate than usual. The reason was obvious to the man who waited upon him and whose attentions, always strictly correct, were ou this occasion imbued with a touch of indescribable tenderness. "Is there anything more, sir?" he inquired, stepping backward two or three paces and regarding bis employer?master would be a more appropriate term in this case?with a glance that was almost reverential. "Nothing. James?ah, yes. the case of pistols," was the Indifferent reply. "Will you not permit me to take them to you. sir?" asked the valet eagerly. k "No. I will take the case with me. ".molt, horn .InmPd find On no account leave these rooms until 1 return or until some accommodating friend calls to tell you that 1 am not likely to do so." "If the matter were to be settled at fence, sir. Instead of with pistols, I should feel better, but"? Au Imperious gesture Interrupted further remark by the servant, and a moment later Burr Pendleton said quietly: "Perhaps you hod better fill my cigar case, James. I may not have enough withme. On the table In my dressing room you will find several letters that I have written during the day. If 1 do not return?thut is. if I am not here by ncou tomorrow?you will see that they are delivered. I refer, of course, to such of them as can be delivered. The others you will post. Among them is one for yourself, but on no account are ' you to open it before 12 o'clock tomorrow, or we will say a quarter past 12. How much ready money have you at hand. JamesV" "Something over $2,000 In American money, sir. It Is in the secretary. Shall I get it for you?" "" -- * J- * I* (n "AO. LIU. 1 UU uui v? am u. iu iut. event of your reading tbe letter to which I have referred it will tell you Just what to do. The amount you have will be sufficient for your expenses, I think. That is all, I believe. No; there Is one thing more." "Yes, sir." "Among the letters you will find one addressed to Mr. Craig Wyndham. I think I would prefer that you should deliver that in person, James. I have remembered everything else in the letter to you. What time is it? Half past 8? I will be late at the opera." "And you will not return here after the opera, sir?" "No; at least not before tomorrow. The meeting is to be at 5 in the morning. 1 am booked for supper at the Concordia at 1, and It will be 4 or thereabouts before we break up. Captain Agramoute is to be one of the party, and doubtless we will go to the shooting gallery in San Felipe Neri afterward if there is any time to spare. After that"? The abrupt pause was suggestive, 8nd tears gathered in the eyes of the valet. For a moment he remained Irresolute; then he stepped suddenly forward and extended his right hand toward his master. "You will forgive me, sir," he said tremulously, "but things would be easier for me during tbe next f?.w hours if you would shake hands with old James. Begging your pardon for the impertinence, Mr. Burr, you could not be dearer to me if you were my own son. Will you shake hands with me, sir, before you go out." Burr Pendleton grasped the valet's hand firmly in bis own. "Dear old Jimmy," he said, "did you think I would go away without doing that? You are not about to nuna, are you, .Tim? Just feel how steady my nerve Is, eh? Not a tremor, James. There really Isn't anything about this matter to give you the doldrums, you know. It is true that Romero is a noted duelist and that he numbers some very good men among his victims, but 1 don't think I am billed for eternity Just yet. You may expect me here a little before noon tomorrow, but if I do not come you must make the best of it and see that my Instructions are carried out to the letter." "You may trust me to do that, sir." "I know it, James. If things end happily?for me?we will leave Mexico for home tomorrow night Good night, Jimmy." "God bless you, sir." The door opened and closed, and James was alone, but a long time passed before he moved from ills position in the middle of the floor, and only God and himself knew what words he whispered during those moments of silent agony. It was true that Burr Pendleton had THROWERS: r f i RENSSELAER DEY. ? I Hen," "Tlie Ttrotlierhood of Etc. t elaer Day. 1 t I an engagement at the opera that even lng, but It is also true tnat ue nau uo j Intention of going directly from his rooms in the Hotel Gilo to the theater. ? The idea of being late in keeping his j engagement to hear the divine Patti ^ did not appall him, and instead of j walking the short distance along the j Cinco de Mayo to the Teatro Naeional g lie signaled to a blue flag carriage, gave r a hurried direction to the driver, sprang ^ Inside and was carried toward San c Francisco street, thence through the ^ Avenida Jaarez past the Alameda and El Caballito and out upon the famous j Passeo de la lteforma. There the driver j lashed the horses into a run so that the 8 four miles to Chapultepee were quickly covered, and ten minutes later the vehl- j cle came to a stop in front of the great c gambling resort in the village of Tacu- j baya. . t The hour was rather early for the frequenters of the place, and only Just one aspirated breath of surprise escaped him. 8 three of the tables were In operation. t Pendleton did not bestow so much as a glance upon any of them, but strode Q the length of the salon, passed out e again upon the piazza and down amoriXthe network of graveled paths whiclrdissected Into every conceivable design the luxuriant vegetation of the garden. He followed one of these paths until it ended abruptly at a rus- ^ tic summer house. 8 December nights, even in and near n the City of Mexico, are chilly if not r cold, and the fur lined coat that Pen- f dleton wore was by no means a bur- n den. As he approached the summer j( house he drew the collar around his a ears and passed inside. Perceiving ^ that he was the sole occupant, he lighted a cigar and stood with his back n against a section of the framework a while he awaited the nbsent party to 0 the tryst. Ten minutes later his pa- ^ tience wus rewarded. _ Pendleton could hear the sound of ^ approaching footsteps on the gravel, and presently the vine shrouded door- c way was darkened by the figure of a a woman closely veiled. Behind her, six t feet away, was another, but instead of ^ the lace mantilla which decorated the t bead while It concealed tne reatures or j( her companion she was covered by a E dark colored scrape, and even In that E dim light which was almost darkness ^ It was easily perceivable that she filled ^ the capacity of duenna. j Pendleton cast his cigar aside and, T lifting his hat. bowed low. "I am glad, senorita, that I arrived 8 before you did. since It has spared you r the unpleasantness of waiting," he ^ said. "Your message assured me that you speak English and that your servant does not. from which I decided that you preferred me to use that tongue. Will you be seated, senorita?" She was silent a moment before replying. as if she lacked the courage to speak, but at last, in a low voice that was indescribably sweet, she said slowly: "I thank you a thousand times, senor. not only for your kindness in coming to me here, but also for the secrecy that I feei assured you have imposed upon yourself at my request." "You may be assured of that much, senorita." "If you will Indulge me still further, I will remain in the doorway as I am now. My position serves two purposes, since I remain In full view of the servant and at the same time screen you from observation. I asked you to meet * ? * l..?/.nn(.A I bnnnr flint T mi? iil?ri?. seuur, ucvuuj'c ? Bum muv was less likely to be recognized In tills place and also because the grand opera In the city has attracted nearly if not quite all of those who might identify me." Pendleton bowed, but made no reply. Presently she continued: "You are to engage In a duel In the morning. Senor Pendleton. I have beeD so informed." "Your information is correct." "I commit an impertinence, but may I inquire the cause?" "It grieves me, senorita, that It is out of my power to enlighten you." "Do you mean that you cannot or that you will not?" "Possibly both, senorita. It would scarcely accord with my idea of ethics to do so in any case, but happily I am spared the necessity for discrimination. for I do n ;t know the reason myself. at least not the real cause. Of course the gentleman who compelled ne to challenge him Insulted me gross* p y before I did so, but I am utterly un- p iware of bis reason for seeking the o luarrel." d "And he Is"?she whispered the f ?ame evidently to prevent the duenna a roni hearing It?"Captain Ignacio Ro- a nero." 1) Pendleton bowed again. t "You fight with pistols?" t "We are expected to do so." r "May I ask the name of your second a n this affair?" ' e "Captain Agramonte." v She took one Impulsive step forward v ind then, as If remembering that the a iyes of the other woman were upon ler, as hastily withdrew to her former t >osltlon, but her voice was keyed a t one lower, and It was plethoric with b ntenslty when she spoke again. n "I am the cause of your duel, Senor h Pendleton," she said. "You?" he responded Incredulously, n 'I have not even the honor of knowing u rour name, senorlta. I am quite sure b hat I have never heard your voice be- g 'ore, because it is one that I could not 1< orget. I do not know If I have ever tl leen your face, since I cannot see It a low, and I am very sure that I have g ;lven no man cause for such a meeting in account of any woman since I have ieen In Mexico." Again she was silent for a moment 'resently, In a tone so lowered that It tarely reached his sense of hearing, he murmured: "If you will step to one side so that ilaria cannot see you and will strike a H erillo under the pretense of lighting 'our cigar, I will draw aside ray manilla. I think that will help you to un- e lerstand." P Pendleton obeyed the suggestion with a uch promptness that she was not fully 0 irepared for it, and the conscious flush t( hat suffused her face at her own te- 11 nerity was there still when the light Ci f the wax match was reflected back t] ipon him from her dark but brilliant h yes. Just one aspirated breath of sur- n irlse escaped him; then he turned a way and leisurely lighted his cigar. ci "Thank you," he said, resuming his h n/vnlfi/\n n/voinaf fnomonrrvrlr iiiCl puoilivu a^aiuoi iuc utiuiv nvt? ?. f the summer house. a "Do you understand now, Senor Pen- lr ileton?" she asked. P "I think so?In part, not wholly." h "The duel must not take place." ei "It cannot be avoided, senorlta." is "You are the challenging party; you ei an withdraw." tl "Impossible." lr "Captain Romero is the best shot In S| lexlco. He will kill you." n "Quite likely," with an expressive S( hrug of his shoulders. r< "There must be no duel! It shall not ]? ake place!" she said vehemently. n "Unless Senor Romero elects to apol- s) gize to me and withdraw, which Is u xtremely unlikely, It must take place, enorlta." t] "If I will tell you my name and ex- tJ lain all that you do not know of this _ ffulr"~ d "Pardon ine, senorlta, but you are rastlng words. You should under- p tand that even better than I. If Ro- Sl aero kills me, you will have nothing to h egret; If I kill Romero, I should pre- c< er to remain In Ignorance of your cl ame. I think, therefore, it Is better to b eave things as they are. I perceive vv lso that Maria, as you called her, 1* b ecomlng Impatient or anxious." le She understood perfectly well his ti leaning, but she remained motionless p nd silent several moments, drumming p ne of her little feet impatiently upon C he earthen floor. Finally she took one tep nearer to hi 111 and extended one h and, In which wus a letter. ei "Will vou take this?" she asked. "It is ontains something that I wrote this tl fternoon, and it is for you. I ask only tl hat you will read it; not now, not b lere," she added hastily when she saw c? hat he was producing his case of ceril- ts os; "later, at your leisure, before you r; aect Captain Komero. Good night, se- p ior." She turned away the Instant his v ingcrs closed upon the letter, passed si hrough the doorway and, followed by ei icr servant, disappeared along the i3 rinding pathway. sj Pendleton smoked on leisurely for n ome time; then ho lighted another ce- rr illo and looked at his watch. The hour is vas nearly 10, and he hastened from h A aerape was thrown over his head. * he place, entered his carriage and, 1 :elllng the driver to return even faster fl ;han he came out, started toward the n :lty, six miles distant. h From Tacubaya to Chapultepec the b lighway is particularly desolate, and h it night it is shrouded in Impenetrable s gloom. Formerly the locality was a 1 'avorite resort for bandits, and until ecently the night tramcars were es- i( :orted by mounted soldiery. Even now n :hey go in pairs and trios for the sake 1 >f additional safety. Now occurrences p ?vhen travelers along that thorough- p 'are are molested are very rare Indeed, p )ut such Incidents do happen once or n :wice In the course of a year. 0 Midway between the village and the 1 :astle Pendleton heard a sharp com- e nand to halt. At the same instant the 1 ?arriage stopped suddenly, and a mo- p nent later several faces appeared at he windowson either side, and the n mssonger was requested firmly, but olitely, to alight. He had not a weapon f any sort except the case of unloaded uellng pistols, and there was nothing or him to do but obey. Then, almost s soon as his feet were on the ground, . scrape was thrown over his head, a 1380 was wound several times around ils body, and he was led away through he darkness. He heard his own cariage start rapidly down the road Just s his abductors thrust him into anothr one, and then he could not tell in rhich direction he was taken, for the ehlcle made several turns before it dopted a direct course. "1 will miss all my engagements for onight and the one in the morning, oo, unless I can bribe these fellows to elp me out, was bis mental comment "My friend the senorlta may ave her way after all." It did not occur to him that "the seorlta" might have taken forcible measres to prevent the duel in the event of is refusal to accede to her wishes rearding It, but he did remember the itter and thought, with a grim smile, hat he was more than likely to have mple time to read it, as she had sugested, at his "leisure." TO BE CONTINUED. piscellattwus fading. PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT. [fm Pemonal Characteristic* and HI* Official Proceeding*. President Roosevelt has been chief xecutive long enough for some of his ollcies to be outlined, Irrespective of ny official statement as to them. Much f the president's time since he came j the White House has been occupied 1 disposing of the innumerable appllations for office. He has carried out ne few promises which were made by is predecessor. As to other appointlents he has pursued an Independent nH In some rnsps unusual course. It an be said without reflection upon the eads of the different departments that ppointments Tiave been made in nearly 11 of them without consulting the cablet officers. The president wishes to be ersonally responsible for his acts. lie as made his own inquiries and reachd his own conclusions except in Judicl1 appointments. In these he has takn the recommendations of Mr. Knox, le attorney general, as final. In maklg appointments the president has lnsted that recommendations to him bo lade in person by senators and repremtatives. He has discouraged written icommendations. realizing how easy it i for public men to sign a letter and jllevfe therftfSlvbs of further responbility toward their ambitious constitents. The president chooses to have icommendations made in person, no lat he can question those making lem and reach his own conclusions, he president has taken a decidedly inependent course in dealing with his arty in the southern states. He has aid that in making appointments there Is Idea was to build up respect and anfldence among the masses. He lalms to have found he could not do so y following the recommendations hich he believed were made to him y professional place hunters. This has d him to Ignore the party organlzaon in nearly every southern state and lace It in open opposition to him. The osslble exceptions to this are in North arolina and Virginia. The president is the most persistent orseback rider in Washington. Evry afternoon at 3.30 o'clock his horse le White House and in a few moments le president appears. He wears a road-brimmed "rough-rider hat. a smplete suit of khaki, yellow leggins, ill riding shoes and regulation cavaly spurs. The afternoon rides of the resident are the bane of secret serice and police life in the capital. The ubordinates of both services are charg3 with keeping the president constantr In sight and preventing possible aslults upon him. It has been found ecessary to call upon the war departlent for co-operation. A cavalryman i constantly detailed at the White [ouse stables. The president will coun?nance no surveillance. When his orse is ordered saddled the cavalrylan rides out and watches the exits om the White House grounds. When fie president leaves the cavalryman allows at a respectful distance. The aldlers who have had this detail say iat the president is a hard rider to fol>w. "It has been found that only the est of them can keep In sight. For a Ime members of the bicycle squad f the capital police tried to guard the resident on his rides; but found this npracticable. As a pedestrian, the resident is as strenuous as he is as an questrian. Only a few days ago a -foot secret service officer who was asIgned to follow him on one of his alks over the long bridge into Virginia ecame exhausted after the first hour nd was forced to return to the city on n electric car. Since his succession to the presidency Ir. Roosevelt has endeavored to cary out some of his civil service reorm ideas. He has done so through a umber of executive orders. Thus far is moves relative to the service have een marked by a conservatism which as been pleasing to his friends and a urprise to those who expressed a fear hat he would be misled into attemptig to apply theories and secure an leal system through impracticable -leans. The president has classified he rural free delivery employes of the ostoffle department. He has also laced on the classified service temorary appointees in other departlents, and has given his approval to rders which will prevent evasions of he civil service laws. He has insistd from the first day of his administraIon that merit alone shall govern all romotion. This has been most marked n the army and navy. Some of the lost influential senators and members of congress have been told positively and directly that their Indorsements will count for naught in making promotions. Only the records of the men involved will be taken up by the president. While this has caused some grumbling, it has been rather favorably received on the whole. One of the departures of the president in the army and navy promotions has been his announcement that he will not consider seniority except where the law specifically directs. Neither does he believe in the custom that has been in vogue or promoting men to nign mint just prior to their retirement, so that, after serving a few weeks, they can retire at the advanced grade. The manner of the president in greeting his visitors is different perhaps from that of any of his predecessors. Visitors assemble in the wide east corridor of the White House. Cards are sent to Mr. Cortelyou, secretary of the president. He learns the mission of each visitor, and admits them to his office until from 15 to 20 have assembled. While this "weeding-out" process is going on the president is receiving in his office those who have advance engagements with him. These engagements are made at hourly intervals. Between them the president enters Mr. Cortelyou's office, and can dispose of 15 or 20 callers in as many minutes, no matter what their busniess may be. Mr. Cortelyou gives him a name and a hint as to the object of the [call. With a few rapid strides he crosses the room, shoots out his right arm to grasp the hand of the caller, and In a few explosive sentences Inquires as to details. He permits no set speeches, nor does he listen to any but the briefest laudatory messages. The president is not a good listener. Half a dozen sentences give him the information he desires, and in a trice his decision is made up and announced, his visitors dismissed, and he turns to another. There is nothing stiff or formal In the president's manner. He laughs heartily, moves about with surprising vigor and talks in a clear and sometimes loud tone. He is usually dressed, while in his office, in a convential Prince Albert coat, low, lay down collar and plain black bow tie, light striped trousers and broad-toed polished calf shoes. The president has not lost the peculiar nervous twitching of his mouth, about which so much has been said and written, since his accession to the presidency. It has often been described as a "grin," or indication of mirth on his part. This is not correct. The president has a way of setting his mouth very strongly while talking, and this is followed by an involuntary twitching of the lips, which exposes his teeth. As indicated, the peculiarity is not one indicating mirth or emotion of any kind. It is involuntary, and observable at all times when he is engaged in conversation. The president is accessible at all times during the regular hours at the White Hou#e, and even receives tourists who are prompted solely by the desire to grasp the hand of the president, even though they come unheralded and without an Introduction. There is a general understanding here in Washington that the president will be a candidate in 1904. ElTorts have been made to discover in his actions indications of his ambition in this direction. There has been much talk of a "Roosevelt organization," and of the breaking down of the old party organization. If the president is governing his actions by political considerations of the future no one has been able to discover his plan or method. When the first southern appointments were made and the party organization Ignored the action of the president was heralded as " oaoonH Iinnn tho PomihHpnn a uucci aooauib upv*? ?nv national committee influences. In spite of this no one could figure out what element the president had drawn to himself in place of the organization which he ignored. He consulted with business, Democratic, Independent and Republican advisers and reached his conclusions from what he heard from all. His insistence that federal officials shall not become offensively partisan in the participation In party work can be accounted for by his desire that merit and dignity shall characterize the conduct of public business. No other [significance is given to his action in this direction, even by those who would willingly assail him. A quietus was placed upon the talk of hostility to the Republican national committee interest with the recent appointment of Mr. Henry C. Payne as postmaster general. Mr. Payne is recognized as one of the most valuable members of the committee, and a practical politician whose ability is second to none. His personal relations with Senator Hanna and other associates on the national committee are so generally recognized that there can be no question as to what influences the president recognized in making the appointment. Mr. Payne's qualifications as a business man, and his familiarity through practical work with postoffice affairs precludes the possibility of an assault being made upon the appointment from the standpoint of merit and fitness.?Washington correspondence St. Louis GlobeTlpmnorat. As to "Seeking Favors."?Among the resolutions to be discussed in the Democratic caucus in Washington on the 10th, is that "Democrats should decline to seek favors from the Republican administration." The introducer of the resolution appears to think that this is a republican government in a double sense, and not an American one at all. There is no reason why a Democratic congressman should not ask for favors for his section and his constituents. He might stand small chance of getting them; but as the government is that of all the people and not of the Republicans alone, Democrats ought to have some consideration shown them, and we believe they will if the proper efforts are made by Democrats in congress, es- 1 pecially by Democratic congresmen of 1 the south. i If the southern Democrats, who con- l stitute the bulk of the party in congress j will try they will be able to do a great i deal in securing appointments. The 1 president has intimated a desire to con- 1 suit with them on this very subject, and i we believe he is sincere in the matter. i It is easier for a southern Democratic i Luiigicosmaii iu oiauu uil aim ucviaic j he has no influence with the admlnis- t tration, but his duty requires him to get t all he can for his section and for his s constituents.?Newberry Observer. 4 c 1 THE YEAR IN COTTON. Narrative of a Seaaon of Trade Sur- ' prises and Disappointed Hope*. 1 The past year in the cotton industry has been remarkable in many ways, f and has demonstrated more than any in recent years the great uncertainty of production. The moderate crop of 10,400,000 bales raised in 1900, following ^ the practical crop failure year of 1899, when the harvest approximated only ^ 9,450,000 bales, as against the largest . yield on record of 11,270,000, raised the previous year, and 11,250,000 bales in 1897, stimulated the planting this year to the largest acreage in the history of the south. With the world's consumption of American cotton continuing on the previous year, and 11,250,000 bales e in the comparatively short crop years 13 of 1900 and 1899, the large surplus r stocks of cotton which had accumulated from the record-breaking crops of the previous two years, were so depleted, especially at the world's great consumptive centres of Manchester and 1 Liverpool, mat me average piamer, instead of keeping the acreage down to 8 the reduced area of 1899 and planting 11 more land in corn and oats, put as * much as possible into cotton. The result that the season's acreage 1 was increased to the stupendous total p of 27,532,000 acres, an amount which 0 exceeded the previous high record of 1900 by 2,000,000 acres and compared 8 with 23,521,000 planted in 1899, 24,967,000 in 1898, 24,319,590 in 1897, 24,445,334 in 1896, and 23,687,950 in 1895. The prospect ^ of a record-breaking crop from this v vast acreage sent prices down to 7 t cents per pound for options in this n market, to 7 cents for spots in the south by August, and to 4J pence in Liver- v pool. But the great damage done in t the Atlantic and Gulf states from the g late and wet spring and continued and t( excessive rains in the early summer, _ with Just the reverse weather conditions in the Memphis district and west g of the Mississippi river, put the crop in such a plight that once again the fact t was demonstrated that the weather conditions, and not so much the acre- v age. make the crop. n With the drought in Texas continu- t ing more severe during August and v September, the crop prospect of 12,000,- 0 000 bales, which many American, as e well as European, Spinners had enter- t tained early in the season from the rec- t; ord-breaking acreage, was dissipated. 0 The average condition of the crop fell from about 82 per cent, of perfect on t June i, 10 n.z on August 1, n.* on ocptember 1, and 61.4 on October 1. The p latter condition was the poorest on record In over thirty years, with the single exception of the crop disaster year of 1896. The condition, then, In October was 60.7 per cent., and the yield h that year turned out only 7,100,000 bales, from a revised acreage of 20,190,675 acres. According to the carefully prepared crop report Issued by the United States department of agriculture on Decernber 3, the Increase of nearly 2,000,000 u acres was so badly damaged by the causes previously mentioned that crops ^ on the acreage were abandoned, and t the department estimates this year's crop will be about 9,674,000 bales. 0 Should the crop prove even so much as ? 10,250,000 bales, which Is the opinion held in many quarters, It would give us a a total production for the past three 8 years of 30,100,000 bales, against the ^ world's consumption of American cot- c ton of 10,500,000 bales per year on the average, or a total of 31,500t000 bales 1 for the same three years. This excess of consumption of 1,400,OOu bales has 11 not been made good by any proportion- p ate increase during the corresponding 1 period In the crops of India and Egypt, and as a result of the world's visible ' supply of American cotton on Septem- ^ ber 1st (the end of the crop year) this season again promises to be about as ^ small as last year's, 1,569,000 bales. The I situation and outlook explains the re- c cent advancing tendency of prices for 1 cotton. f This has also been a year of activity 1 in the cotton trade, and the new year t promises well for a continuance of good v business. While the crop will be a * short one, the south will not suffer as a > rule, as the higher prices which the v crop will bring than would have been v otherwise obtained from a yield of over c 11,000,000 bales, will act as an offset to * the smaller harvest. Consumption of f cotton has made rapid strides and the a number of spindles continues to in- r crease materially each year. The aver- * age yearly consumption of American 1 cotton for the past five years has been 1 - I, equivalent to 10.500,000 bales of 500 ^ pounds each. Mr. Ellison, of Liverpool, a the best expert statistician on this sub- 1' Ject, estimates this season's consumption as likely to approximate 10,000,000 t bales. Of the world's total cotton production last season, of 12,141,000 bales, " there were actually consumed 11,- y 671,000 bales, leaving a visible supply of 1,569,000 bales,, and an invisible supply of l,042,v-o bales in c the hands of the world's spinners. This surplus was partly the result of the * larger visible and Invisible supply car- S ried over from the previous season of ^ 2,456,000 bales. v Consumption of Great Britain last e season was 3,368,000 bales, and the v continent 4,576,000 bales of 500 pounds 11 each, while the United States spinners ? consumed 3,737,000 bales, including 2,- A 150,000 bales by northern spinners, and [,557,000 bales by southern spinners, naking the grand total of ll.671.0u0 bales thus consumed during the season. The number of spindles In the vorld from returns up to last September, Is estimated at 108,069,835, against .05,130,515 the pervious year, 103,675,847 n 1899, 100,884,079 In 1898, and 99,093,526 n 1897, an increase of 8,976,309 spindles n the world's total in the past four fears or equivalent to an Increase at ;he rate of about 1,200,000 per >ear. Of his grand total there are 20,869,835 ipindles in the United States, and 46, 100,000 in Great Britain, and 33,000,000 >n the continent, and 6,700,000 in the East Indies, Japan and China comblnfd, and 640,000 In Canada, and 460,000 n Mexico.?New York Evening Post. rYPICAL OF THE HUNT FOR GOLD. L Camp Cook's Story About a Tree In an Arlsona Desert. During the summer of '95 I had been in a prospecting trip through the leserts and mountains of central and vestern Arizona, which terminated in fuma county, where I disposed of my lurros, and accompanying a freighter, tarted for Congress Junction via the Bonanza mine in the Harqua Hela nountalns, Harrisburg and Cullen's Veil, we had the experiences common o that country of dry camps and desrt whirlwinds, but nothing that was inusual or that particularly attracted ny atention until the last day. I had been asleep in the bottom of the relght wagon, but the heat grew so ntense that I was awakened, and siting up I noticed the yucca tree with etters B. T. cut in the bark, and nearly there was an old camp-ground trewn with rusty tin cans. The ordilary observer might not have noticed he tree, but as I have followed surveyng I recognized the yucca as a "bearng tree" of some survey, and was surirised at seeing it, as I supposed the oumry never naa oeen surveyea. On arriving at Congress Junction, a tatlon on the Santa Fee, Prescott & 'hoenix railroad, I found the agent o be a friend, and as at that time there k'as no place of accommodation there >ut the railroad section house, he inited me to share his quarters until ' he train for Prescott arrived, next norning. While enjoying cigars after supper I fas giving my friends a history of my rip, and incidentally mentioned having een the bearing tree, when with an inerest greater than he had before hown, he said: "Did you notice signs of an Oid campround anywhere about there?" "Yes, not more than 100 yards from he bearing tree. Why?" Well, there were three men here who fere looking for a yucca bearing tree iear an old camp-ground. They spent hree weeks in the search, leaving here fith enough water on their wagon for ne night's dry camp and returning very second night for water. After hree weeks' search without finding the ree, they gave it up and went away, nly about a month ago.' "Why were they so anxious to find hat tree?" I said. "Well, it's like this," my friend relied. "One of the three men had been . cook with the surveying party who narked that tree; the other two were mployes of the Wells-Fargo Express ompany in San Francisco, whom he ,ad Interested in his tale, and who rere bearing the expenses or tne earch. It seems that the cook, accordng to his story, had been with the sureyors all through their trip. The iarty were accustomed to leave camp arly every morning and not return intil night, and as the cook had but Ittle to do during the middle of the ay, he used to prospect around among he hills, within walking distance of amp, and It was while they were amped near this bearing tree that he ound the wonderful rich gold mine, nd he wanted to find that campxound; claiming that, If he could only lave that place as a starting point, he ould find the mine." "How rich did he say the mine was?" asked. "He knew nothing about mining, but le said that, with only a case knife he tried out over $40 worth of gold from he rock." "Gee whiz!" I exclaimed; "If he ound such a bonanza as that, why did le not locate it, or stay with it?" "Well, there were several reasons. ?o begin with the cook was a green Englishman, who had only been in the ountry a short time, and he was afraid o tell anything about what he had ound, or to show his gold, fearing that he rest of the party would rob him of toth gold and claim; so he keDt the /hole matter secret, intending to come tack afterward; but it was severat 'ears before he got around to it. The vay he happened to come back now /as this: he had drifted to San Fran isco, and was there dead broke, when le happened to mention what he had ound in Arizona to an acquaintance, n express driver, who told the two nen that came down here with him. le told them that, with the bearing ree as a starter, he could go right to he ledge, and he had no doubt about ieing able to find the bearing tree; but s I told you, they spent three weeks joking for It. "Now if you can only get track of hese men," my friend continued, they would probably let you in on it, f you showed them the lost camp. Do ou think you could find it again?" "Most assuredly I can." The next morning I left for Presott. When in Congress Junction again, I ound that my friend had gone to Oreon or Washington, and I never heard rom him again. On two occasions I rent out to the lost camp, and searchd the nearest hills for gold, though rith no success; and I would greatly ke to know if the cook really did find old as he aescriDea, or 11 ne mauc mc /hole tale out of his imagination.?Los mgeles Times.