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. ? rsSXJEO SEMI-WKKKI^^ ' ^ l. m. grist's SONS, Publishers. } % ^amitj Jletrapper: |[or the promotion of the Political, JJociat. ^grieuttorat and ?ommeitcial Interests of the people. { trrs^oL$k copV^e ckXANC8' :''m ESTABLISHED 1855. YO RKvIlLE"s7c., FRII)AY,1vtARCH "(t, 1908. NX). 19. | | o 1 IBy CLARENCI HfllfWWHWIIHWIWWfWflfW CHAPTER VII. Through Day to Night Again. Strange things happen in this world Some cynical philosopher has said thai that is because there are women in it I think him a pessimist, and his words quite unworthy of attention in an ag< in which optimism has done everything. while pessimism has dolefullj growled about It all. Still, strange things do happen * ' -1 strange tnings iook pmce uu mc ci?u? day of November, eighteen hundred anc seventy, and the cause was feminine, nc less a woman than Mrs. Gilbert Senn nee Elsie Barron, being responsible foi some remarkable complications, some very remarkable complications?unless indeed, a careful examination of the whole matter would enable one to place some of the responsibility on the shoulders of Miss Lurllne Bannottie. The first strange event of that day which I have to record is an early morning call made by Mr. Prier upon Mr. Senn. A call upon him might not have' been a very remarkable thing when one consider's Prier's profession and Senn's recent past: a friendly cal! ?even a call with friendliness as a pretense?was somewhat strange?was more than merely strange?was astounding. Senn, used to banking hours, and unlikely to be in a hurry to face the sort of day he had every* reason to expect, was not yet dressed when Prier's name was brought up to him. He was nearly ready for the work of the day, however, and not willing to delay whatever business Prier might have on hand; he accordingly directea the boy to show him up at once. A shadow crossed his face when the boy had gone and left him alone; the thought that the detective might have his arrest on hand for his morning business came to him. and it was not a pleasant one. Suppose a man has sold honor and integrity?suppose the case?for a definite price, should one wonder at a shadow on his face if payment failed in some particular? A tap at the door. "Come in." The door opened. "Good morning, Senn," said Prier. His tone was cordial, conciliatory, reassuring. "Good morning. Mr. Prier." "I've got bad news, Senn." "Yes; what is it?" "Donald Rnrrfen is dead." ** "Donald Barron dead? Where? When? How?" The color was falling away from Gilbert Senn's face, as you may have seen the bright hue of some chemical solution change and fade under the influence of some other chemical whlc* was being poured down through it. The news of Donaald Barron's death was falling heavily into and through Gilbert Senn's hopes and plans and purposes, robbing life of much which it had held, robbing it of more than he himself quite understood as yet?of? more than any other must be allowed to even guess. No wonder the color in his face faded?faded?faded! "He was founud dead in his bed this morning." "Dead?in?his?bed? Merciful God! Murdered ?" The detective watched Senn narrow*"" rP' oil ornrtA frAm thA ly. 1 lie uuiur nua ?it ru.iv cashier's face now, leaving it like ashes. Prier did not answer immediately. When he did he said, quietly: "The doctor calls it heart-disease, I believe." "Ah?" Only one word, half exclamation and half question, and the color coming back into the speaker's face. "Hut doctors are mistaken, sometimes." said Prier, and watched grimly to see how white Senn became again. "You were In the house last night?" asked Senn. "No." "Indeed? I did not know you had been at the hotel at all. You are done with Mr. Bar? that is. done with the case, I presume?" "With the bank robbery: yes." "I meant that." "But you know that crime is a strange thing: that is, perhaps you know it." Prier paused. Senn Hushed hotly under the cruel thrust, but made no answer. Prier continued: "Crime Is a strange thing: discovei one guilty one, and you often lind r clew which helps to bring others tr justice: like virtuous actions, which repeat themselves in a thousand forms so crime moves in circles. I have fount one point in a circle: I shall follow tilt long curved line until it brings mt back, again, to the robbery of Ponalf Barron's bank in the little city o| Boomville. Do you wonder at that?" He looked squarely into fJilberi Senn's eyes. Oilhert Senn looket squarely back at hiin. "I do not wonder at that." the cashier replied, "nor do I blame you. Conviction Is often Injustice, and punishment often outrage. But your intern Is natural. I think it commendable." "Thank you." said the detective, dryly. Senn flushed again. Possibly he hat forgotten for a minute that he hat made his confession in Frier's presence He was very anxious to learn more regarding Mr. Barron's death, and Priei had deliberately led the conversatioi away. Senn asked himself if Priei had some hidden purpose in doing a: he had done; he resolved to push hi: questions. If he must, until he knewal that could be known. "Who brought word to you at th< hotel?" he asked; "and when?" The detective moved a little uneasllt In his chair. An honest man. even i man whose profession Is the conservation of Integrity and the detection ant punishment of wrong, may And it hart to explain an act which has no bette reason than "impulse" or "instinct." "I was not at the hotel: I was on thi street last night." said Prier. tmmmmm man Mi an an an mm i AW 2 B OU TELLE. ' | "Watching?" "Watching?waiting?walking." "You think, then, that lightning does sometimes strike twice in the same t place?" "I don't know what to think," mUtter5 ed Prier. springing up and taking a 5 nervous turn up and down the room before seating himself. r "I suppose my?my?that is, Mr. Barron's daughter, sent for you?" "Well. no. In fact, when I went there i she would not allow me to be admitted. ' My luggage was sent to the hotel. I > could not so much as get a slimpse be. yond the door." it wno Sunn's turn to take a nervous 1 walk over the length of his small apart . ment. He took It. "This is strange," he said. "Inexplicable." "Unexpected." "Unprecedented." "And what is the reason? Why did ' she do it?" i "Because she's a fool! Because she's t always had her own way! Because she > has been spoiled and petted into the noi tion that she's a heroine! I had to have I an interview with her; there was no other way: there was as much likell' hood of her having robbed the bank, considering the case abstractly and from a stranger's standpoint, as there was of?of?of your owning to having done it! My half suspicion angered her; she delcared she would be my act! ive and relentless enemy, and " "I pity you!" cried Senn. "What?' demanded Prier, in aston' ishment. "Nothing. Forget that I spoke. I meant nothing. But. seriously, you have led me away from the one thing which more than another interests me Just now. Will you tell me all you ' know of Donald Barron's death?" "Willingly and promptly. I was on the street last night, and all night, as I have said. It isn't necessary for me not* vvhv t fnnnd the street pleasant er than a bed would be; a detective isn't a mere machine; a detective may have notions and fancies, as well as another man: it is enough that 1 was there. Early this morning I went up to the door; the house was still as death?still as the grave. I listened. There was no one stirring within. I rang the bell. There was no answer. I waited long?waited longer than I should have done when I was young in the years before' experience had taught me patience. I hang again. There was no sound of moving footssteps below stairs; no sound from the laggard feet of the lazy servants; but I heard footsteps?light and soft, a woman's beyond doubt?run along an upper hall. I heard a door open, slowly? cautiously?almost noiselessly?listeningly, if you can understand the sense in which I use the -word. You may have noticed, possibly, that inanimate objects, moved by human hands, give out sounds that are a true exponent of the feelings of those who move them." Prier stopped short. The two men looked into each other's eves. Senn said nothing. "Have you ever noticed that fact?" persisted Prier. "Possibly?I may 'have?I don't know," said Senn; "please go on with your account." "I will. The statement I made is a true one. though. I would as soon lie In an adjoining room and listen to a suspected man, as to watch him. The man outside has advantages " "For God's sake go on with your story." cried Senn, his face very white again. "I must know all the particulars. * and soon. Unless you tell me I must find some one who can and will." Prier laughed. "And I have been called the talkative detective." he said. Senn was becoming terribly impatient. "You may be a talkative detective," I he replied, "but you're a very unsatis1 factory sort of man; you say much but ' tell little " "Exactly?exactly " "And you know I am anxious to know all." l "And you shall! I spoke of the open i ed door. There was a pause. Then the door shut with a slam?a harsh, horrible, despairing bang. And then? Senn leaned forward, eagerly. "And then?" he whispered. "And then a shriek rang through the r house which I pray I may never hear i the like of again. Can you imagine > love and sorrow and despair and?" "Who shrieked? Whose voice was . it?" 1 "His daughter's; your wife's." Senn turned away his head?un? doubtedly to hide something in his face. I i?I?I think my imagination may r be less vivid than yours is. I cannot imagine the shriek that you heard." t "You should have heard it." 1 "I?I would have given my life to have listened." said Senn. under his breath. "I rung again." continued l'rier. "but no one seemed to hear me. The house I was instantly full of tumult. Doors opened everywhere within. There were excited questions, and incoherent answers. There were hurried footsteps > ..I-.... tlio V>.> II,,-a I'U '111/1 nn Ihp stairs ? tlM'IIK IIIC linu tt (1,1 r* KIIXI *' ? 1 I tried the door, now: it was locked. I put my shoulder against it: it was too - strong for my effort. Then I heard r Mrs. Senn speak: she was giving an i ? rder to a servant; her voice was rer pressed and full of pain; standing out< side, while she was within and at the s head of the stairs, I could gather no 1 more of what she said than that she was sending for a physician; the ser} vant started down the stairs; she called him back: there was a new tone in her voice. What can kill a woman's i "unreasoning anger? Surely not death! - Certainly not loss, i heard the order 1 she gave hlin: Mr. Prler is not to pass 1 the threshold of this house on any prer tense. Have his luggage sent to the hotel!'" p "And you?you gave up your rights in that way?" "I had no rights. The case was dqne; the offender had confessed; my employ- ; er had pardoned; the money had been i restored: I had no rights. So far as < the bank robbery was concerned " I "Why do you keep saying that?" in- j terrupted Senn; "your words are a puz- i zle: you are an enigma." < "Thank you. I read, but am never i read; I talk to .learn, never to tell; I 1 make friends to help myself, never to y help others! I am frank, and no one i understands me; I study?study? < strike! I am an enigma. Thank you!" < "But why?" i Frier laughed again. t "Ask me no questions, and I shall not t be under the necessity of lying to you," ; ho said. "But you saw the doctor?" 1 "Oh, yes. I saw him. He said Don- t aid Barron was dead. He said the r cause was heart-disease." * "But doctors are mistaKen, sometimes," said Senn. "That remark Is not original," replied Prior, gravely; "they are mistaken sometimes!" There was another tap at Senn's door. The caller was admitted. He proved to be a messenger with a letter for Mr. Senn. Senn read It?twice. Then he handed It across to the detective. liet us read It, too, since his action shows that It Is not to be personal and private. It is the second strange thing which I have to record against this day with which we are dealing? this receipt of a strange letter by Mr. Gilbert Senn. The letter was as follows: "Boomvllle, Me., Nov. 8th 1870. "Mr. Gilbert Senn, Dear Sir: My father was found dead in his bed this morning. I am almost prostrated with grief. But I know that business must go on today, notwithstanding what has happened, or the name of Barron be covered with disgrace. Xo one knows the condition of the business better than you do; you have been acquainted with its details for many years. It is my wish that you should attend to opening the bank and meeting all demands today. What shall come after that, must depend on circumstances; I hind myself to nothing whatever. "Elise Barron-Senn. P. S.?I have forbidden the ad- o mission of Prier to the house. If he remains in town I shall make it exI ceedingly unpleasant for him?if I can. "E. B. S." 11 "You'll do it?" asked Prier, handing e the letter back. "I suppose I must. It's awkward, 11 though, that the safe cannot be opened v at once. The delay of sending for an 8 expert is going to be almost ruinous." n "You lOOK ai me ruin or wus mism in a different way from what you did v yesterday?" "Is that unnatural? I am an owner s In it now." v "Are you? Do you suppose Mrs. 8 Senn will give you a half-interest now? Do you suppose you'll be a partner? to I'll venture to say you'll be discharged I from your position when night comes, to I think you are mistaken in some of y your estimates of the character of the 8 lady who has become your wife. v Among your mistakes Is the one of h supposing that she'll carry out the bar- " gain her father made with you, or she * for him; she made that to save him, to and she failed in securing him long life r and happiness; she has made the only s sacrifice to you she will ever make, s Push your claim, and she will fight you to the death. That is the sort of wo- i] man Mrs. Elsie Barron-Senn is." "Her?her father's death Is?is?a f sort of?of advantage to her, is it?" said ^ Senn. <? "It does away with the only reason d she ever had to make concessions to a you, I think; for I don't believe sne would ever have married you merely to * save the money. It gives her a new v line of battle. It makes your enmity n safe." h "You think she will hate me and per- n secute me. as well as follow you with s her hatred and persecution?" a "I do." c "Will she dare?" h "Why not?" c "I?I don't know," faltered Senn. u "Xo," said Prier, positively, "I think e you don't." v Senn held out his hand. "We are alike in misfortune, then." " he said, "and should be friends. You * are the only one I can trust." c Prier did not take Senn's hand. He d turned away his head to hide the grim s smile?that one we have seen so often i! ?which would flash up into his face n this time despite his efforts to prevent it. His nervous hand sought his precious pocket again, as it had done so many times before. s "The only one? Are you sure you can trust me?" "Not sure," said Senn, sadly; "but t one must always take risks." "I'll help you with that safe," said ii Prier. "I studied the manufacture of locks, once, and I think the two of us h can find a way into Donald Barron's t safe." s "Thank you. Let us be going." v "And one must run risks, as you say." t Mr. Prier let his hands fall, naturally |; enough, into the pockets of his over- h coat. There was a pair of handcuffs in g the left hand pocket, a loaded revolver t in the right. Perhaps detectives are \ always equipped in that way. Perhaps f not! ii I think not! b *?* ?*? j How fast news travels! Especially s bad news! And especially in a smauia town! This morning- of which I am r telling was a morning long before (as t time goes in these modern high-pres- t sure days) the invention of the tele- ii phone. . a Rut Boomville's citizens did not need f ?did not miss?could scarcely have used?that coming invention. il Eight o'clock! "Donald Barron was t found dead in his bed this morning!" e The milkmen knew it! The butchers v knew it! The hired girls knew It! And t then, suddenly, every one knew it, and every one was talking of it. Every one k was asking <|uestions which no one t could possibly answer; but that was of a little consequence, since no one waited for an answer. Had he been ill? Was v it murder? Would there be an inquest? c Were the doctors fully satisfied? Was f it heart-disease? And so on?and so on?and so on. Until? I "Did lie kill himself?" said some one. t "Could it be poison?" asked another, r "It was suicide!" "I thought so!" a "Poison, of course!" became lines in j the horrible chorus of suspicion and r hate and dread and despair which fell 1 from the lips of the hurrying crowd who dashed away toward the bank g where the money of so many of them was on deposit. Nine o'clock! The bank wasn't open ^et. A hungry-eyed and stern-mouthed gathering of men and women and children filled the whole streets in front ol the building, filling it from sidewalk to sidewalk. The snow under their feet ivas having its beauty and purity tumid into mud and mire, much as the nemory of old Donald Barron was suffering in their conversation. Not much vas said aloud, but there were murmurs in low tones which had much of ?ager earnestness in them; curses were ;oupled with the name of the dead; nen looked at the strong front door of he bank, or at the safe seen dimly hrough the window, and whispered together grimly of force and lire. Ten o'clock! The restless and reckess'murmur had grown into a sullen oar. There were men in the crowd, tow, with pick and crowbars, a halficore came up a side street bearing a luge oaken beam; some one started a :heer, and it grew into a wild and frenlied shout. A sudden hush fell upon he multitude. Two men were hurryng toward the bank. The mob fell ;aek to let them pass. They were Senn ind Prier. Some one threw a stone. It passed dose to Senn's head. It went straight hrough the heavy glass of one of the ront windows of the bank. There was m angry chorus of loud cries; when nen are called upon to face loss hrough fraud they may become almost >easts. The feathering was scarcely ess than an Irresponsible, unthinking nob. There was a crush forward toward the building. Senn turned. He raised his hand. There was silence again. "You have money in there," he said, luietlv; "that is, some of you have. I issure you there is enough and more han enough to meet every demand. Vait?be reasonable?have patience, .nd you shall have your pay, dollar for lollar. But you must wait. Mr. Baron is dead. The knowledge of tt>e ombinatlon which will open the safe lied with him. My companion. Mr. >rier, is an expert " . "Is he a detective?" shouted some >ne. "Is he a detective?" howled the rest. "He is a detective," said Senn, even nore quietly than before; "hut he is an xpert " "What's he here for? Was there any etnlon Tllrl ho OAITIP tO RflOm - ille to find It?" were some of the an;ry questions which were hurled at dm from hot throats. He waited longer this thne?waited intil the mob had howled Itself hoarse -waited until there was an unbroken Hence again?waited until every eye /as turned in his direction. Then Senn poke: "If you think I am frightened, or to e frightened, you are much mistaken. forgot fear, years ago. If you will :eep silence, I will explain to you; if ou persist in your interruption, I shall o into tfie bank at once. Let another /indow break, and some one will be mrt. ?I.bave law upon my side, and, f any man comes up these steps with he idea of forcing his way into this uildlng, his relatives will have it to egret and mourn o\er. Do you undertand? Will you keep silence while I peak?" The answer was sullen and unwlllng, but it was "Yes." "Very well. There was money stolen rom the safe. Mr. Barron did send for Ir. Prler to help him recover the mony. The money was recovered. Every ollar of it is in the safe. Mr. Prler nd myself were present when it was eplaced. It was at my suggestion that ?- LI *1? ...LUU IAAL lit? t'UIUUlUU l it'll w inuu U])Ciin hie: iwvi\ ras changed. Mr. Barron died last ight. The doctors say he died of eart disease. Whether that be true or ot, it is certain he did not kill hlmelf. Mr. Prier and myself will go in nd try to open the safe; no one must ome into the bank until It is open; I ave telegraphed for an expert to ome; he will not be likely to arrive ntil tomorrow: when the safe Is open, very claim will be promptly met. Now, '111 you trust me, and do as I wish?" "Yes," was again the answer, though t was even more sullen and unwilling han before. It is only when men beome utterly savnge that a half-hunred bodies prove greater than one trong will: the history of the world * the history of the triumph of the lan-mental over the man-muscular. Prier and Senn went In. "Pluck!" said Prier. Senn laughed, as he wiped the perpiratlon from his face. "I enjoy It," he said. "Armed, of course?" asked the detecive. "No." said Senn, gravely, "but no one a the crowd knew it." Eleven o'clock! Senn and Prier had een trying for almost an hour to open he safe. So far, there had been no uccess attending their efforts; there /as no promise m Mictcsn, ?u kh a.^ lie crowd could sec. But all were falry quiet?tolerably reasonable?for they iad something new to talk about. Hud >enn married Elsie Barron? Was it rue that Rev. John Kane had said so? Vhat was it done for? Had he money? low did he get it? When did he save 1? Was it to be used in saving the usiness? Did he buy a wife with it? las Aldrieh heard of it? What does he ay? Every one questioned; who could nswer? It seemed that the once Elsie Jarron was now Elsie Senn; further han that, all seemed uncertain. But he crowd had found faith, somehow, ri finding this information; there was clear majority, now, who believed tarron's indebtedness would be met. Twelve o'clock! Walter Aldrieh came lown the street. The crowd drew back o let him pass. He did not look to ither side. No one had ever seen him vith a face so white. He had heard he news, doubtless. He walked straight up the steps. He mocked at the locked bank door. Senn iad seen him coming, and he met him t the door, which he opened promptly. Aldrich entered. He staggered as he ralked. Put Senn, steady-limbed and aim, was as pale as was the man who lad once been his friend. Prier, working busily at the safe, mused a moment and looked out at the wo men. The next instant he had buried out to where they were standing, nd had forced himself between them, experience is a great help in reading a nan's soul in his face?his passions in lis posture. "There must be no blood shed here, fentlemen," said the great detective. Senn pushed him roughly aside. "Let him kill me if he wishes," he i said, wearily. "I am willing he should [ have his desire; I took that risk; I shall neither resist nor run." ' Aldrich stink into a chair. The exi presslon of his face changed strangely. "I?-I will not take the guilt of blood upon my soul." he said. "God forgive i me if I ever had a thought of that. I? I didn't come for that. I came to ask i a question. Ls it true?" "Is what true?" asked Senn. ! "Is Elsie Barron your wife?" i "She is." "Why did you marry her?" ! "I will not tell." "'rr1?" Aldrlch gasped, springing to nis reet, and advancing toward Senn. But Senn stood still, his arms folded across his chest. "Kill nic, Walter; kill me, and I will bless you with my dying breath. But I will tell you?nothing!" Aldrich paused. The two men faced each other, the eyes of each fastened fascinatedly upon the other's face for several minutes. Then Aldrlch turned, hurried down the steps, and ran up the street without looking back. If blessing comes only to the hearts of those who have never known temptation, then blessing will pass Walter Aldrich by; but when those who have conquered their passions are awarded, verily he shall find Joy. One o'clock! Two o'clock! Three o'clock! Four! And still the crowd lingered in the chill of the wintry day; and still Prier and Senn worked at the safe. Half-past four! Prier rose wearily to his feet from the kneeling posture he had been in. He had conquered at last. He swung the door of the safe open. Patience and skill had conquered the secret. The best of locks could not have baffled him. "Thank you," said Senn, and, having grown wise from his morning's experience, he did not try to shake hands; "thank you. How shall I ever repay you? It only takes patience aid perseverance?only those?to do anything." Prier put his hand dejectedly to his forehead. "Does it require no more?" he asked, slowly. "I um not sure. Some live? some win?some have all there Is In happiness. And some Excuse me. please, and let me go away for something to eat. You will remember that I walked all night, and have had nothing yet of either rest or food today." Prier went away. Senn threw the outer door of the bank wide open. The men with notes and drafts crowded in. Men and women?and sometimes children?fought and struggled for places in the line. The bank employes were all near at hand. They took their places. The obligations of Donald Barron began to come In; the money of the dead man began to go out. It was a strange scene. Telegraph and messenger had spread the news everywhere. No one who had a demend of any sort was absent?If he could possibly be present. Mr. Senn wrote' a brief note to the banker's daughter: "Boomvllle, Nov. 8. 1870, 4.45 p. m. "Mrs. G. Senn: We have the safe open. My Idea is to keep the bank open until all demands have been paid. I would advise discounting all claims which are not yet due. Does my plan meet with your approval? "Gilbert Senn." A still shorter note came in reply: "Boomvllle, Nov. 8th. "Mr. Senn: Act as you think for the best interests of the business. "Elsie B. Senn." A notice was accordingly written in huge letters on a large sheet of cardboard, and placed In front of a light In the front window: NOTICE! All Demands Now Due Will Be Paid In Full! All Claims Maturing Later Will Be Paid In Full When Due, or Discounted at Usual Rates, To-Night! The Bank Will Be Open Until Midnight"^! The depositors and other creditors came and went. Men came In with looks of doubt upon their faces. They went away satisfied. At twelve o'clock Senn closed the bank. There had been no call for money for a half-hour. ? ? n* tKa hofol " uonie 10 m.v niviii a i me uviv.i said the detective, "and take supper with me. You must be very hungry." "I am very hungry," said Senn; "but I am very tired, too. Will you please excuse " "I can't do It. I did not sleep last night at all; you did?that is, I suppose you did. I am willing to give up another night: you must give up one. I must have a talk with you." "Very well, 1 submit. I am too excited tonight to sleep much, and " "And the future is very uncertain?" "Very." Prier fell a step or two behind his companion for a half-minute, as they walked away In the winter midnight. He raised his right hand toward heaven. He was very earnest. Hi? Hps moved. What did he say? " if I don't hang somebody!" were the last words. I regret having to record that the first part of the whispered remark contained a much stronger word than "blamed." To be Continued. The average Arab drinks nine or ten cups of coffee daily. Eggs are sold in Denmark by the score more commonly than by the dozen. 'X'j The various countries of the world now use 13,40(1 different kinds of postage stamps. iW The film of a soap bubble is so thin that 50,000,000 of them would be required to make one inch. The college at Valparaiso with 5.141 students ranks second to those on this continent in point of enroll ment. The cold storage company of London sometimes has charge of $750,000 worth of furs belonging to its patrons. iti"' For cracks in stoves: Finely pulverized iron?procured at a druggist's?made into a thick paste with water-glass. tiT a good locomotive will travel 1,000,000 miles before it wears out. With ordinary care it ought to last twelve years. djUiscrUiuuoMs fading. , . CLEARED HIS CLIENT. Episode In the Legal Career of Senator ' Stewart. "Every true lawyer will be loyal to his client above all things," said for- . mer Senator Stewart: of Nevada. "I ^ once heard that great lawyer, Senator . Davis of Minnesota, say, 'When a man places his life In my hands there Is * some danger that I may go to the penitentiary, but there is no danger that ? he will hang." "Senator Davis meant to convey the ' idea that he would resort to every A conceivable means to save the life of c any client who placed that life in his keeping. That was the principle which c encompassed me when I was In crim- 1 inal practice. Because I went to ex- r tremes in saving a man from the gnllows I quit criminal practice. "My last criminal case was a singu- ' lur one. I was practicing law in Nevada and had achieved quite a reputa- r lion as a criminal lawyer by reason of several almost phenomenal successes. as luck would have it. The rougher element seemed to have confidence In ? me and to feel safe in placing their Interests In my charge. Thus It hap- 0 pencd that when a man named Ellis was arrested for killing a man named v O'Brien, on a mining claim, a friend * of Ellis came to me and paid me a retainer to de;'end Ellis. I accepted the a retainer without making any inquires 1 as to details or particulars. I was H busy with other matters. "Just before the case came to trial I looked into it and found that the 0 case against Ellis was a strong one. In fact, I did not see how Ellis was to ^ have a ghost of a show for his life. I could find no plea on which to defend him. The community was prejudiced against 'him, and some of my best friends came to me and begged me not to defend him. I had accepted the retainer, and I was Ellis' lawyer. It * was my duty to save him. If possible. a Consequently I told my friends that! 1 was Ellis' lawyer and that I Intended J to clear him. For the life of me. I 1 didn't know, how, though. "As trial day drew nigh, Ellis grew J* more and more nervous. He sent for me again and aguin to come and see him, but I persistently refused to do so. I felt that he was guilty. I be- 11 lieved that he would lie to me and 1 confuse me. I stayed away from him ' and sent word 'hat I would be on h hand to defend him. He was obliged * to be satisfied. No other lawyer would take his case. But I made a 8 bluff of telling all over town that I ,v was going to clear Ehis. Meantime r had been making desperate plans for my client. "Onlv ?aor r>rQvlnna ? tV,a trial P V/IIV J VUt V ? IVUQ IV VI1V/ 11 IUI of Ellis a popular young Irishman s' named Barney had been convicted of 8 Si murder on circumstantial evidence. Subsequently the real murderer was found and lynched. The case of poor unfortunate Barney was fresh In the c minds of all, and the man who had " been his attorney and had earnestly er pleaded for his life was now the presiding 1udge. Mcreover, the principal ^ witness against my man Ellis had been the principal witness against poor Barney. J "There was another witness, who Q was afflicted with an Impediment In his speech. When excited he would ^ stutter and go through such contortlons that nobody could understand anything that he said, and his gestures were the wrlthlngs of an insane Q man. I had no witness for the defense and had to clear my man with the wit- ^ nesses for the prosecution. . "There had been a row on the . D mountain side, and the evidence showed that Ellis had murdered a man a named O'Brien without provocation w except that O'Brien had claimed prior right to the mine of which Ellis had take possession. O'Brien had gone ^ Into the mountain to assert his claim, and Ellis had killed him In the pres- ^ once of two witnesses. "Well, when Ihe time came for trial h Ellis sent wor-.l to me that he wanted <l to talk to me In the courtroom, but I sent back word for him to keep his ^ mouth shut and see me immediately h after the trial was over. The poor ?1 devil sat In the dock and eyed me ' wistfully. I could see that he had confidence In me as a criminal lawyer n who had never lost a case, but his ? life was at stake, and he was guessing hard. I allowed the prosecution to V make out its case with its witnesses n and offered 110 nhiection of iinv kind. ? I told them that I was busy and want- h ed to get through with the trial as lj soon as possible and as soon as Jj my client was acquitted must take up jj another case. Involving a great deal w of property. Tt was a bluff, of course B but a bluff sometimes beats a full hand. "When my turn came 1 took the principal witness for the prosecution. 0 and I went after him in this fashion: 'You are the man that swore away the life of poor Barney last year. His n blood cries aloud for vengeance. We ^ si all know, everybody here knows, judge and jury and all the people know, that fl you swore away the life of that poor C l?ov when he was innocent. You seem J"1 St to make it your business to testify in n such cases. You evidently like to si place yourself in a position where you can swear away human lives. Every- si body knows that poor Barney was tt here in X'evada, and his aged mother S: weeping in Ireland, when you swore j* against him. and he was hanged al- ol together on your testimony. I don't si know what you have against Ellis ^ here, but of course you have some grudge." it "Here the prosecuting attorney g' properly interfered and demanded jj that the witness be protected from ^ insult, but the judge ruled that the h man who swore away the life of poor h Barney deserved no protection. That , decision hud an immediate effect upon Q] the jury and r could see it. i was o not defending Ellis directly, but I was successfully prejudicing the minds M of the jury against the witness. I kept ^ on abusing him and finally compelled ai him to admit to judge and jury that ^ he had been mistaken in the Barney ^ case the preceding year. Then T t ranted and shouted: t( " "How dare you come into this * . t( court to swear away another human t( life? How dare you appear before a e< jury of intelligent men. all of whom know of the Barney case? You ad- Q] mit that you were mistaken in the h Barney case and your testimony handed that unhappy lad. You are also mistaken in this case unless you are njuring yourself. But you can't hang Bills with your prejudiced testimony. [ thank find that the people of Xevaia did not mob you last year, and I lope that they will not lynch you tow, but you had better get out of his community as soon as you can or [ will not vouch for your worthless ife. Get off the witness stand and jet out of my sight.' "He dlssapeared. He was almost cared to death, and the 1ury could lee that too. While he was getting >ut of the room I called for the other vitness, and he came to the stand in L nervniiK trom>illn? u.uink indicated that I already had him scarid almost to death. He was very riuch exeited and evidently expected ne to go after him as I had gone afer the other witness. He could icarcely stammer Us name, and .this s what T did to him: "'You saw O'Rrlen, the dead man, alse a shovel and try to brain Kills lere. You saw Kills run away from dm. You saw O'Brien run after Ellis dear to the edge of the pit. Your >wn eyes witnessed the fact that Ells did not draw his gun until he was ibout to be brained and knocked into he pit. Now. tell the Jury the truth vlthout any hesitation or quibbling. )ut with it!' 'The poor fellow began to stutter ind stammer and shake his head. He aised his arms and waved t.hern ibout his head. He stammered and Inally put his hands to his eyes, tears f vexation flowing, and then I shoutd: " 'Tears will not avail you. Let our conscience work. You know the ruth, and you know that this deed ras done In self defense. Tell the ruth or get off the stand.' "He got off the stand. The 1ury lid not know that he was a stutterer, 'hey saw only that the witness was trlcken dumb before a determined ttorney. and they saw from his tears hat he was regretting his direct tes imony. My case was won. It took ess than five minutes for the Jury to ender a verdict of not guilty. "As soon as the verdict had been enriered Ellis came to me and asked f his life was saved, and I replied: Vour life is safe for just about ten ilnutts. These people are now going o the saloon, ar.d as soon as their .hisky takes effect they will come ere and run you up on a rope. While hey are drinking you must scoot up tie mountain side and disappear. Now et out as fast as your legs will carry ou.' "No man ever shinned up a mounain side with more expedition than :ilis did that morning. He disapeared in the brush, and nobody ever aw him again in those diggings. I ot on my horse and also disappeared, s I did not know what the mob might e tempted to do when they failed to nd Ellis. Of course, after they ooled down, none of them blamed le for saving rry client, although hey were all satisfied that he was ullty. Even the jurymen told me fterward that they did not see how hey ever acquitted him. "That was my last case in criminal ractlce. I declared that I would ever again take the case of any man harged with murder. I felt that I r? r\ /I An a *v\ 1 r /liifir O a O 1Q Tl't'OT onH <14.1 uwnc inj uuij no c* mn jci uuu ad saved the life of a client who rusted that life to me, but I was eeply impressed with the belief that could not do it again under any ircumstances. So I quit criminal ractice and went into politics. But I ad not seen the last of Ellis. I had ismlssed him from my mind entirely, ut ten or twelve years afterward I as In Salt Lake City participating in public meeting. Late at night I as walking to my hotel when a man ushed out of a little alley, handed me purse of money and said: "Take It. t's yours. You earned more, but that ? all I have now. You saved my fe. I'm Ellis.' With that he disappeared, and I ave never seen or heard of him ince. All of the circumstances were gainst him, and yet maybe he was inocent. A man who will go out of is way to pay a debt as Ellis did must ave some good qualities in him. In tie purse I found the neat sum of 750, which must have represented is savings for a long time. I preume that he had been watching my rovements and followed me on that ccasion in order to pay for my serices and let me know that he real:ed something of their value to him. Whether he was innocent or not I did ly plain duty in defending him. No ther course would have saved him rom hanging, and it was well for im that he got out of sight as qulckr as he did. Those were strenuous ays in the mining regions. If Ellis i alive, he will not blame me for telllg the story. If he was Innocent, he ill be glad to have it told."?Smith ?. Fry in Los Angeles Times. THE BATTLE OF THE YALU. ne of the Queer Incidents of This Great Naval Conflict. This strange incident of a great aval battle was told by Commissioner [cGiffin of one of the Chinese warilps in the battle of the Yalu beveen the Chinese and the Japanese eets in 18114: "About this time the hih Yuen boldly if somewhat foolardily bore down on the Japanese juadron's line. Just what happened o one seems to know, but apparently le was struck below the water line y a heavy shell, either a ten inch or thirteen inch. Be that as it may, le took a heavy list, and, thus fatlly injured, her commander. Tang hi Chen, a most courageous albeit a lost obstinate officer, resolved at ast to avenge himself and charged ne of the largest of the enemy's lips, intending to ram. "A hurricane of projectiles from oth heavy and machine guns swept own upon his ship. The list became lore pronounced, and just before ettlng home to his intended victim is ship rolled over and then plunged ow first into the depths. She righted erself as she sank, her screws whirllg in the air and carrying down all ands, including her chief engineer, ir. Purvis, shut up in the engine >om. Seven of her crew clung to ne of the circular buoys kept on the ridee and were drifted by the tide >ward the coast, where they were ?scued by a junk. "Stories told by these men vary so luch as to be unreliable but all gree on one incident: Captain Tang ad a large dog of most vicious temer, unruly at times even with his laster. After the ship sank Captain ang, who could not swim, managed ) get an oar or some small piece of ood. This would have been enough > support him had not his dog swum > him and, climbing up on him, forc3 him to release his grasp. Thus he liserably drowned, and the brute lared his fate, perhaps the only case 11 record of a man being drowned by Is dog." THE SUPPLY OF HICKORY. ' <y? This Is a Most Valuable Wood and It Is Getting Scarce. Automobile and carriage manufacV * % turers, along with the men of the allied vehicle industries, are giving very serious consideration to the question of the future supply of hickory timber. This wood, which is one of the most important of all woods, since no satisfactory substitute for It has been found, plays a more Important part among the commercial timbers than. many people realize. For automobile and currlage wheels, /^ where strength, toughness, and reslll*pey arc essential qualities, no othetl' ?_> wood has been found in this country t that will take the place of hickory. Manufacturers say that no steel or /fy t.fl./v U.w. mm,*4- If ?>uc d|/uac nan i uccu iuuiiu uinu y ( will withstand the weqr and tear of the hickory spoke and for this reason /(j the welfare of the vehicle Industry <* -* seems dependent upon the conserve - y Hon of the hickory supply. Three of the largest associations of hickory users In the country, the Natlonal Wagon Manufacturers Association of America, the Carriage Builders' Rational association, and the National Hickory association have completed a series of cooperative tests with the United States forest service and the trade considers the results highly important. The tests covered a close study of the properties of different woods used In vehicles and Implements, supplemented by mechanical test i to ascertain the relative strength of different woods and different forms of construction and to test the accuracy of the present system of grading. In a report of the tests made by H. B. Holroyd, forest assistants and H. S. Betts, engineer In timber tests, of the forest service, the fact is brought out that there is an error of over fifty per cent In the grading of vehicle stock, due largely to the prejudice of the manufacturers against the use of red hickory. It is shown that in clear stock, weight for weight, the red hickory is as strong as the white. By bringing this fact to the attention of the manufacturers, it is hoped that much of the hickory which was formerly left as waste In the woods will be utilised by the trade and thus prolong the rapidly disappearing supply of hickory. Such practical results as arc given In the report, which a letter to the forest service at Washington will secure free for any one who wishes It, show conclusively the value of such studies In solving problems connected with the grading of stock, the utilization of new for old woods, and the conserving of our future supply of timber. The supply of good hickory In the United States is known to be very limited. * The cut last year (or lumber was a little less than 150,000,000 feet, and it is estimated an even greater amount was used (or automobile and carriage wheels, axle caps, gears, axles, poles, single trees and neck yokes, and it is figured that at the present rate of cutting the supply will last about fifteen years. Reports are made from time to time of the discovery of suitable substitutes for hickory in foreign countries. The two woods which come nearest to having the quality of the hickory seem to be one of the eucalyptus and the crowfoot elm, both of Australia. Only time will tell whether these woods will prove satisfactory substitutes. In the mean- . while, American hickory users will be obliged to conserve the present supply and take steps to guarantee a future supply by encouraging private planting of the tree, whose wood is becoming more precious each year.?U. S. Forester. SAVED SHIP BY MIXING FLOUR. How the Captain of the Ethiopia Kept Her Afloat. Probably the largest loaf of bread ever kneaded was that made by Captain Wilson, of the Anchor liner Ethiopia, which has just been sold for the junk heap, says the New York World. The announcement of the sale to "foreign account" of the famous Atlantic packet begins the last chapter in the history of a vessel that has outlived many a larger and more pretentious ship built of steel. Few ships have survived after such a close call as the sturdy little halfround-stern steamship had when she collided with an iceberg as big as an acre lot. The vessel had in her cargo a lot of flour in sacks. The Ethiopia had left New York on June 2, 1894, bound for Glasgow. On the afternoon of June 6, while going at three-quarter speed through a dense fog, she hit an iceburg, the shock throwing everybody off their feet. The passengers rushed for the lifeboats, and Captain Wilson, then believing the ship could not stay afloat, ordered the boats swung out. Her bows had been crushed clear to the collision bulkhead, which held. On receiving this report from his officers Captain Wilson assembled the passengers in the main saloon and assured them that there was no Immediate danger. The carpenter reported however, that water was coming through the bulkhead at an alarming rate. Captain Wilson, according to Shipping Illustrated, remembered how he had often watched his mother mix bread and how sticky the dough became. He called all hands, ordered them to leave off praying and fall to. Bag after bag of flour was turned out of the main hatch and carried forward by both crew and passengers. Abaft the bulkhead the sacks were piled In tiers as closely as possible. The bulkhead was completely reinforced by a wall of flour. When the flour became saturated with the sea water the result was a bulwark as Arm as cement. The Ethiopia was put ahead at one-quarter speed. Then for two days more the crew worked shifting the cargo aft. so as to lift the broken Ai.f nf wotor Sho U'fl I th^ll uuna uul ui m iuvi . ,v..v ? v.~ - forced ahead at three-quarter speed. She was due in the Clyde on June 13, but did not get there until June 17. Those who saw her coming in marveled that she kept afloat. Captain Wilson received a gold medal, a watch and a purse for his good work. The passengers divided i 1,350 among the members of the crew.