OR by sr. qcoRqc juthborne. . ? CHAPTEB XT. (Continued.] /?Bit yos wm come with ?? now ? hat Is. If yon feel abler' Uka Bandy, prho, htTtaf aoblj gireo up all hi* Ifciinii of winning the prise?they IMN about equal to one grain of aand to comparleon wtth the eeashore? do Stoee to bring the conquering hero to hla fate. "1 feel Uke a new man. That meal waa the first decent one I've enjoyed for pyrMTw, While the men lived on ooaree food. Gordon would not allow 1 the officers to feast. One thing, how ever, may prevent me from going with "What's tbstr asked both the oth *My clothes are in a dilapidated con tlltlon. See, here a yataghan cut a piece out entirely; tt would have taken ny leg, also. If better amled. I don't remember where they came from, so k must have received them during the engagement. ? few trilling wounds under them have healed up and 2 am feeling very well, thank you. In day time 1 can draw money from the bank here In Cairo and buy what I need. Meantime, you will have to excuse me to the young lady.** "Hang me If 1 will! Well find some Other means of reaching the same re sult," cries Sandy, who Is a great hand for surmounting obstacles. Mr. Grimes here put In his oar In the quiet way be has. Stepping up. he placee himself alongside the In trepid explorer. "Just about one size. I believe,** be aemarks. "Yes. It is so," saya Sandy, with a Chuckle, for he haa always had the reputation of being able to aee through s grindstone with a hole In the centre. "Then consider the matter settled, '/he gentlemen will accompany us to Shepherd's; he will go with me to my room and select from several traveling salts I keep on band." "But this Is too much " "I never accept a refusal. Mynheer Joe; so look upon It as arranged," with a wave of the hand that a prince might envy. The explorer looks at him curlonsly for a few seconds, and then gives In. "I thank you, sir. I will accept the loan until morning comes and the bazaars open." "Good!" ejaculated the newspaper man. "And now let's be tramping hack to the hotel. Left the beggar with the light on deck. Hope he hasn't been tossed Into the Nile. Glad to see you meet Molly. Hanged If I Wouldn't! Then I've got an hour's | work making up and sending my dis patch. I fancy one man In Cairo will want to cut his throat In the morn ing. 'TIsn't often the Herald gets left" He Is all txcltement. and there Is no need of further delay. Myhheer Joe turns to the rels. "Ben Hassan Kffcndl, I shall remem ber your kindness nlways," he says, taking the brown hand of the old cap tain. MI am already repaid. I hate El Mahdl. You were hls*enemy. It pleases me to help one who did him Injury. Kismet! It Is fate," says thd 'Arab. "On the morrow. If by chance yon Me my faithful Kassee come floating down the river on a raft, send him to Shepherd's Hotel. You will know him from his voice. It is like the whistle of a locomotive/' "But you said he wns drowned!" cries Sandy. "I hove it down so in black and white." "I trust you mny have to alter It, for somehow I can't force myself to believe him as one dead. Now I am ready, gentlemen." Thoy pnss out of the cabin and I .teach the deek o? the dahabeah, where the link-boy Is found In conversation With the crew, the members of which ?re naturally curious to discover all they can about the stranger tliey picked up in the river, who cried out that he was from Khartooin before Ben Hassan could rescue him. They mi^ht ns well question one of Cairo's four hundred mosques ns this lad. Ha can and does tell them about the gal' lant fight made by the two Franks When assailed by the mob of beggnrg In the street, but knows nothing of their relations to the guest of the reis. The flambeau-bearer goes ahead, and, one by one, the others walk the nar row plank that stretches from the roof of the cabin to the bank. When al) are safely landed, they strike off through the same street where the previous engagement took place. Evi dently these men are not mnde of ma< ] terlal to shrink from any hidden dan- j Iter. If the rascals who lay In wait I for them before choose to try conelu- j ?Ions a second time, doubtless they W|lj_Oudmeans to accommodate, the in. They are not molested while en route. Once or twice they see shad owy figures glide from dark arches ' ahead and vanish in the gloom, who; In all probability, belong to the same gang with which they had their form er adventure; but the fellows havs received too severe a lesson to think ?f enduring such ? rough handling a ?econd time. Presently, the lights of the grand ?quitre flame up beyond. Here, at least, darkness does not hold sway over the old city of Cairo. The varl !}?'? Weekly. ?tn iMwlMk ?r VM. The following d tN simplest. cheap est and best m?iM of anchoring cor ier potto I ever saw or aaed, not ex .tptlnf any plaa gtren to previous lumber* of The Jpltomist: Bet corn son hearj post* at corner and another timllar one eight 4r ten feet from It. Pit a bcace stick Eat ween tbem at the ?p. ? four bj four studding would >e about the right aiae. Then a cable ft three or tout strand of No. 9 wire, or its equivalent of other sizes, fas xned to top of second post aixl tie iround a log three feet long, or a large itone buried two and one-half or :hree feet deepi Are feet l?aek of cor ner post. The cable entering ground by corner post, trenching in back to inehor log; fill in and tamp earth solid around anchor log and you will have a post you can tie to.? Lewis S. 4 Iter, In The Epitomlst. lulling Hick CImi Poultry. A reader of this department writes t long letter, asking for advice as to how he shall go about getting togeth er a flock of high-class poultry, lie ?ays, among other things: "1 have 5fty laying hens of no particular breed; ?ndeed. I think they represent a mix ture of half a dozen breeds, and I want to use them as the foundation for my high-class fowls, for they are itood layers." There is absolutely no chance for success if a man goes r bout raising high-class poultry with a lot of mixed fowls as the foundation, yet farmers are quite given to trying tl)i6 plan, and when fallufe comes, cry ing down the poultry business. With such a flock as the correspondent re fers to the best plan is to keep them for egg production and for setting. Then let him buy a trio of high-grade birds of the breed he thinks will best suit his purpose. For this trio he should pay all be can possibly afford. These birds should be housed and yarded so that they cannot possibly come in contact with the common fowls. Then let him buy two, three or four settings of eggs of a high grade and of the same breed as his trio, but buying them of another breeder. CSlve these eggs to the most reliable setting hens in the common flock, and let her rare for the chicks until they can look out for themselves, when they should be allowed the freedom of the range until large enough to breed. As this period draws near see that tbe.v are kept away from the common slock, and breed the pullets io the cock of the trio and the hens of the trio to a strong cockerel of the hatched birds. In this way the breed is kept pure and the danger of inbreeding overcome. After a time, as the flock of thorough breds increases the common fowls may be disposed of. Beautifying Koiidilil*. ? The writer wn* much interested in going through a small park In n cer tain small town some time ago. Per haps it is wrong to dignify the plot ?>y ilie name park for it contained less than r?000 square feet in the form of a triangle. It was located at the Inter section of two roads, one of which wound sharply at right angles, meet ing a third road a hundred feet away and thus forming the triangle. This strip of ground was too small for building purpose*, so the owner con ceived the Idea of making a park of It. He had It properly graded and sowed grass and then laid it out in a simple, but artistic manner to trees and shrubs. Feeling that he wished to care for it himself he retained the title of it. but made it known that the public was welcome to use it and that, to all in tents and purposes, it was public property. As the trees grew and cast considerable shade out a friend had cheap but serviceable seats placed in his little park for the benefit of the weary. The "keep off the grass" signs apply only to adults, for children may roll on the grass all they wish. Ilere was a plot of ground worth, at build ing lot prices, perhaps $150 or 9_'00, made to benefit a whole town. More than that, it has Increased the value of the property immediately surrounding It at least one-third, and, best of all. it has been such an object lesson to the residents of this town of loss than 1000 souls that a real park of sqjne ten acres is being made near the central part of the town. Suppos ing one applies this general Idea to the beautifying of the roadside, by the planting of trees and the grading and seeding of the space between the road proper and the farm line? Is there any doubt but what it would pny? Tomato Orowlnt For Profit. On this subject a great deal depends on your location, proximity to market, kind of soil, etc.. etc., but believing that the solution of this problem de pends upon the number of dollars found in the grower's purse at the end of the season, will give our method. About March 1 we obtain a rather slmllow box about two by three feet nnd till It with Rood rich loam from some sheltered nook, place it In a south window and sow our' seeds. We avoid the extra early sorts as they me usually small, ill-shaped and away off in quality; but select some good old standard sort noted for quality, size, shape and firmness. As soon as the plants from these seeds are about three inches high they are transferred to transplanting boxes, one plant to each box and placed in a cold frame where they are well protected from frosts and exposed to all the sunshine possible until weather conditions are suitable for transferring them to open ground. F.y this time they are large stocky plants, almost ready to bloom, and can be transferred to open ground without materially checking their growth. We set five feet apart each way and cultivate twice per week /?r ?bout four vwkf with t bora* hoe. We then put a bcirj mulch of straw berry manure all over the ground be* tween the rows, limiting the depth on* lj by Quantity of manure available; In other words, put on sll you can get. If It mskes It solid six inches deep all over the ground. Now. If you are not in tbe market with large, luscious, rich, ripe, crimson fruit about the time your neighbor's tomatoes begin to bloom, reaping a bounteous harvest of dollars, and conferring an everlast ing benefit to the cooped up element in the towns and cities, then Ju*t charge to my accouut and 1*11 setth for all damages. Now just a word as to the yield of your vines cultivated ns above. We never could And any way to measure it save by the picking capacity of evfcry one we could get In the field; 1000 bushels is no exaggeration. Don't try to market your tomatoes in washing tubs and soap boxes, but put them up attractively In one-eighth bushel baskets, and see if 3'ou are not well paid for so doing by both in creased sales and an advanced price** O. 11 E.. in Indiana Farmer. Convenient Smokrhonwe. From the accompanying illustration It can be seen at almost a glance that such a smokehouse is convenient. ?afe and cheap. Such a house should be constructed on the following plan: Take some refuse studding for the frame and rafters and some refuse plank for the siding and rooting. Tlio dimensions can vary some in length and width, but none in height. The illustration shows a house built seven feet long, live and one-half feet wide, six and one-lialf feet high. The hori zontal lines (A) represent the Joists to hang the meat on, the vertical (B) represent the eight stud*' to nail joists to. Now. after you ..ave the house built and equipped, with the exception of having a place to put ; r?r Arc, you can dip a trench in the ground three and one-half feet long, twelve to sixteen inches wide, and six to ten inches deep, and you have the firebox; now set upon edge around the tirehox a single course of brick and you can then throw half a bushel of well-dried sawdust in the tirehox; to put on the finish of the tirehox get an old worn out sand screen and bend it in a semi circle. When you have your meat hung up ready to smoke und tire start ed. put this screen over your tiro and you can leave it and not have any fears of the meat falling into the lire because the wk*e screen will prevent it from laying on the tire if the meat should fall from its pin. Snch a smokehouse is more safe and far cheaper than any that has been con structed in this neighborhood fop years.? E. S. Brown, in The Epitomist. Slifrp Notf*. Zf there are ticks, the sheep shoulA be dipped after the shearing. Any good commercial dip may be used. They should not be put back In the pasture until they have stopped drip ping, as the dip will suit the grass. A box should be provided deep enough to submerge the nnimaT. Im merse the sheep for two or three min utes. Sheep can be turned on the rye ear ly in the spring, before the pastures are ready, and the rye crop will not he damaged. Stock sheep will do well on bright clover hay. with mixed hay. corn stov er and even a little straw for variety; but best results can be obtained only when some grain is given. A stronger growth of rye will take the place of that eaten by the sheep. The soil al^out tiie roots of the plants will be firmed by thein-? thus the heav ing l?y froft't will be overcome. Perhaps 110 better, nor cheaper, mut ton can be produced than on corn and clover hay and turnip*. About two pounds of hay and from one pound to two pounds of grain are about what a 100 pound sheep will consume. Have fresh water always at hand. Lambs begin eating grain at eight to ten weeks old. They should then be given grain in a side pen not acces sible to the mothers, and here the choicest (locks of clover buy can be placed for them. The grains should be of a flue and palatable nature. Oats, ground wheat and oil ineal are suit able grain*. A good home-made tobacco dip ran bp made by steeping twenty to twen ty-four pounds of tobacco for twenty four hours In sufficient water to cover. Boll for an hour before straining, after which allow to stand six to ten hours and then dilute to 1t States were following her example in the adoption of the State aid. Chair man McClintocl:. of the Commission, also delivered an address in which he took si roil g ground in favor of National nid. a sentiment which tins asso.-ia tion received with approval. The meeting or the American Iload inakcrs j.t Hartford was National in character and was very largely attend ed. twenty-nine States heing represent ed. including Oregon and California. Mr. Tor.Jer, of Oregon, told the con volition he had crossed the coutiiient in his youth, traveling miles in a "prairie schooner." and now he had re turned in a palace car to lift up his voice iu favor of Federal aid in the improvement of the Nation's high ways. Many others addressed the con volition, including Director Dodge President Katie of the Koad Makers iml State Highway Commissioner Mac douald. The National aid propn*ilioi: was endorsed with great enthusiasm. In a recent report State Commis sioner Macilonald of Connecticut says tluit State is "almost a unit for road improvement." Since 1 SJKl. when Stat? aid was adopted. H?" out of a possible HIS towns have had improvements made under that plan. The appropria tions nir.de hy the State have stead ii.v increased, suceossvie Legislatures hav ing appropriated Sl.lO.iM it (. $:;r?o.not> and $4."vo.ooo. liver Hon miles of roads have heen constructed. He says: "Our work in Connecticut is so similar in character to that embodied in tlie various hills for National aid that I must express my gratification that the matter has been taken up by the United States (?iiverumcnt. 1 be lieve it is the right and duty of the Oavernment. I have always taken On position that tlie public highway is a public possession, and that the public iu general should pay for its improve ment." K'iaiI* mill Farm Value*. It is rather .*111 important matter tliut money be spent intelligently on tlir improvement of highways in order t<. bring farm produce more elieaplv to market and Inereasp the farm vn Ihom l?y giving a better highway to carry farm produce on. This is shown very elearly from the olllcial figures of tlir last Federal census report, in which are tabulated, in comparative column*, "fhe increase (or decrease! in the value of farms, including land with improve ments, from 18' mi to llHNi." The total increase in all the Stales and Terri tories in tile United States in farm val ues in the ten years was *J7.0 per cent. Per Cent. The increase in farm values in Maine was 1.0 The inerease in farm values in New Jersey was !?.!> The Increase in farm values in Connecticut was -1.0 The increase in farm values in Vermont was 0.r? The increase in farm values in New Hampshire was 7.0 The Increase in farm values in Khoile Island was The increase in farm values in .Massachusetts was 2;?.7 In New York Stale there was a de crease of 0.1 per cent, in the ten years, "quailing ,*70.00').000. New Jersey, in the last ten years, has huilt 1f tiie State, by improving one mile in every ten of all the highways in all of the couujics. so that when the system !s completed I here will be a continuous ?trelch of main highways leading from ?tie county to another, throiigout the ??nt ire Slate of sooo miles, are told that 'hey can only have 91JKMI.000 to build roads with this year, and this SM.ooo,. 'mm ? will buihl I wenly-elght miles of Villhway In Orange County, and the itlmr counties that want it can go beiming. It seems that Ihe political Interests which neglect the expenditure of money for the Improvement of farm values ought lo become more conscious >f 1 Ho requirements of Ihe agricultural "omnuuiltles, or there will be a great iwnkening among the voters and tax payer*.-- New York Tribune. Turkish soldiers are building the Damascus Mecca Hallway, for which mon?y Is being raised by popular sub vrlptlon among Mohammedans in all Ciits of fhe earth, including the Phil* limine Islands. SEEDS PLANTED TOO DEEI\ x Garden sml* are usually planted too deep. .Small seeds require just enough covering to give them moisture and darkness. The soil should be very tine, so as to contain no lumps. Some seeds; however, such us peas and beans, should be plauted somewhat deep and the ground rolled over them. Pressing the earth on seeds hastens germination* and It also increases the chances for the seeds of weeds, hut If the rows are made straight it will not be difficult to keep down the weeds until the crop ?ets well started. OVERDONE GARDENING. One of the misfortune of garden low*, rrs is that they frequently plan to do more work than can be carried on suc? ~essfully. Almost every one who builds a house think* he would like to have a nice garden, and the nice garden 1s consequently arranged. But when It is found, as it too often If found, that it requires an expensive wages bill to keep the place in good order, what was expected to be a nleasure becomes an annoyance and * I tore. A small place, well cared fort 'i nd everything kept up nice and or* leriy, gives far more satisfaction than in overgrown place that is a drng on the means of its owner. In all out operations we are too apt to think we ran do more than we really can. In gardening matters it I* especially so* RAISING 1IOI.LY1IOCKS. (n the gardens of our forefather* the hollyhock was the most formal of all (lowers. For a century after its Introduction there was no change In Its form or the dull tints of its color* ings: in fact, it attracted hut few de? votees. However, the hollyhock ifl ?oming Into it own. as the hydridizertf have taken it in haml. and we now, ?lave the blooms single and double, of ill imaginable shades and colors? re* ?embling the quilled asters.- rivaling in form the choicest frilled and incurved ?hrysnnth(st trees as we ought? There is some* '.liinj; attractive autl majestic about a iir^'c. (all, symmetrical tree. A tract >f t.ond si/i'il timber 's a valuable part of any farm. Our forests are r rowing loss in area every year which night not to ho. ami would not if prop* ?r euro were taken. Various States aave recognized this and have brought ;argo tracts of luniher land which aro a old as forest reserve!*. No tree night to he cut until it has reached its* aiaturity, which is shown by Its di ninislicd growth and signs of coming lee ay. If this were followed Instead >f the greedy policy of cutting every thing clean regardless of its condi '.ion the supply of timber would not bo diminished ami higher in prlcc. Many who advocate the clean cutting )f deciduous trees think little of it, expecting the second growth to come an and i?o ready for cutting in twen '.y-flve or thirty years and so on. Tho ipeond growth will come on unless tho V'oung shoots sire oaten off by the eat ile, or the stumps have no vitality, !>ut this growth seldom amounts to more than Arc wood. ? Wesley N. l'cek# in tJreen's J'rult Crower. FRUIT TKKK (I II A IT I NT,. ? The grafting of fruit trees Iiiis to-day become such a common operation that ? here is no need to present the ordinary, methods, but that which is less known s that one may take young fruits of .?ertnin species and graft them on tho tiranches of other trees. This may, lie readily seen by looking ;i t tin* pros* !,nt photogr.-iph. which shows a pear )f the Duchesse d'Angoulente variety, grafted on a tree which was not Its parent. This pear was taken from a roller lion of newly born fruits, sit* the time when agriculturists thin trees which ire too heavily burdened with their '?barges, t !;?? fruit being immediately, placed on n branch one year of age by menus of that method of urraflintt known its grafting under tin* bark. Ono may easily sec tin- method pur sued 1>y examining the picture. Tim brnneb was cut at a length of four or ttve centimeters. an Incision being made toward the end in order to open Hip bark on one idde, while the stem of the fruit wan cut fblt. so that it might be Inserted under the rained bark, tho two generating zones -cambium? being tn close contact. Thin method seems to open yp a wide Held as m>ll from the HeiHitifle as fro.A the practical point of view. It Is ecny to see all the advantage that could b# derived from the metiiod for the pur pose of transporting fruits from trees too heavily loaded to those which liavs few fruits. -Le Nature, Taris. .* .