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The king r{ hon! E, . A NOVEL OF AMERICAN LIFE TTT^' r- ^ MAURICE CoDTltCbt, 18::?iid 1S!C I CHAPTER III. CONTINUED. 3ft wa3 soon disclosed, as be proceeded with bis statement, that what he meant by clever work was a most - atrocious method of procedure, involving the last decree of cruelty hort of murder, provided that such crnelty should become necessary in order to insure success iu the enterprise. The cavaliers pnt on black cloth Bpjtsks as soon as they reached tho bluff overlooking tho bay. It was not-usual for them to wear a disguise; bat this was an extraordinary exploit;it called for every precaution. Indeed, a piece of treachery scarcely evar before beard of, evea among rob-' bers, was in this act now to be done bj the King of Honey Island. No J one of the riders knew of this peculiar, phase of the matter, however, save the king himself. There was no hesitation, therefore,! and not a twinge of what a desperado* light eall conscience. The plan wa^ carried out with promptness, pre-! cision and success. Before Vasseur was fairly awaked be was bound hand and foot, and lay on the floor absolutely helpless, gazing wildly at his assailants. Fairfax, too, whs surprised in his bod. He made vigorous resistance; bat it was of no us?. Four men, each, as strong or stronger than he. cast themselves upon him and quicklyj overpowered him, binding his arms' and legs with brutal disregard for; ^^ihe torture inflioted, and thrusting a^ x gag between his teeth. "I kuow you! I know you!" creamed Vasseur, before his mouth was stopped. "I know you, Pierre Kamean. 10U migui just as wen take off that mask; it does not disguise you in the least. Ah, you treacherous, soulless, perjured TilJain!" The gag went in before he could taj more; but he lay on his back aul cursed with his eyes. Three of the cavaliers were now sent out to keep watoh.? Some of the ^servants had been arousod, but they were easily quieted; a word and the sight of a gnu or a saber in the hand -of a tall masked man sent them shirking and speechless into their cabins. The work which the riders had eome to do was accomplished in a Tcry short space of time. Yasseur's money and L;s treasure of precious tones were soon found and taken; but when the chief had examined the Latter he turned to Yasseur and said: "The cross is not here. Where is ft?" The man, being gagged, of coarse there was no answer; but tbo curses were still dashing out of his eyes, wnue Q.19 smau, compact irame sauua with a paSsion that no cords could bind. After gazing through his mask for a moment at tho grimacing counte? nance of his victim, the chief of the riders stooped and began to search ttbe fellow's clothes. Vasseur straiued desperately trying to break the cords that bound him, his fury fairly blazing from his dark face. Very deliberately the robber continued his quest till with a little start of satisfaction he laid hands on the worn leather case containing the amethyst r-r erosa. At this moment Vasseur spit out the gag with a great breath which sent it across the room. "Pierre Rameau, yon dastard'" lie creamed in Freuch. "You faithless and honorless houud! I'll kill you for this?I'll track you?dog you? follow you forever, or kill you!" The robber deliberately set his foot upon the helpless man's mouth and thus 8to]>2>cd his speech. "Fetch here that era?.' bo said to one of bis followers; but when be removed his foot aud before the g:ig could be used, Vasseur managed to ahriek: '*1 will infor.-u en yon?I will lead government troops against you?I'll have vengeance?I'll " "Go out aud mount; I'll come immediately," said the chief to his men. "Be roauy to ride iu9tantly." He drew a pistol and leveled it at Yasseur, but cheeked himself almost iu the act of firing. The four ca\ diers were mounted, one of them holding the chief's horse; they waited impatiently in the rather v. chill mcrniug breeze, and saw that a faint touch of dawu was whitening the sky-line of the day. When at last the chief came forth, he walked rapidly, and, mounting as ?t :? _ kn... 41%?s. ^ 41 iu m luiguij uuu v, oputxc tuo IUQ Word: "Come!" and galloped away. None of the cavaliers looked bohind; but if one bad, be migbt have seen a dicker of fire through the small vilidow-holes of Vasseur's house, aud a little later, thovp!ace was all aflame. Doubtless, the chief, who was aware that both Vasseur and Fairfax had, by the accidental slipping aside of his luask, seen his face, was desirous of thus putting an end to them and to the possibility of auy trouble from them thereafter Certainly, there was no othor reasonable explanation of his sndden change from the express purpose to leave Vasseur unharmed. At alt events, no act of that desperate man's life was more representative of his absolute heart?OMae8s or of his vromptuesa in do i O F.v IY ISLAND ZJC* DURING THE WAR OF 1S12. rrr?' THOMPSON, T?/\Vt?v# ttortnur'i SOB?. ing whatever seemed to him safest, without regard iu the least to anythiug save his own persoual success. Ho rode away from the burning house, leaving his two human victims to roast there, and the act did not even change a line in the expression of his dark, calm face. One thing was photographed in the memory of Fairfax: The singular cold gl~am of the robber's eyes, as they appeared to narrow nud lengthen with a cat-like stare. He might forget the other features of that face, even the slender whitish scar 6lauting across the left cheek; but the shape and expression of the eyes could not bo lost. He lay there thinking: "If I ever see you again, I'll know you." But the gag held back every effort to unpak. CHAPTER IV. ECHOES FROM LAWLESS DAY?. For a while it looked er if Vasseur And Fairfax would be roasted alive in the burning house, as the leader of the cavAliers had intended when he applied the fire; bat the servants rallied from their stupor of fright in time to come to the rescue. The two men, still bound and gagged, were dragged forth without any ceremony and left lying at some distance from the building, while the excited servants made heroio efforts to save first the house itself then the furniture. Their work was quite in vain, however, for the dry, resiuous pine logs and boards yielded to the llaraes as if with delight, flinging out such heat that nothiug less invulnerable thau a salamander oould have gone within the doors. Fairfax lay on his back under a figtree and watched helplessly and with what resignation he could command tho rapid and weird changes of the 6cene. The negroes had deemed it best to leave the men tied, seeing at a glance that to unbind them would require great effort and much loss of I salnahlii tima wliirh Vim? hflifAV V??' spent in efforts to save property. Meanwhile, the five cavaliers were speeding on their way to Honey islaud. Their ride back along the Black-' wolf Trail was far brisker than was their pace when wo saw them going down to the bay; indeed, by the time that full daylight was abroad in the woods, they were far up by the banks of Pearl River, galloping along single file, with a cane-brake on one hand and a wild jungleof live-oaks and tangled vines on the other. The chief had led them by a new route from Vasseur's to the trail, a croasway that ran past the humblo home of Lapin, the overseer of Mr. Vernon's plantation. Day was begiuning to shoot up', its first faint shimmer as they rode near the little place, startling a pack of dogs from their slumbers under a low shed and drawing from them a ] broadside of discordant baying. Some I domestic fowls, roosting on a rude : grape trellis, cackled lustily. Two savage-looking bloodhounds cleared the low yard fence at a bound and came tearing along atter the horsemen, as if to drag them from their saddles. "Don't shoot!" commanded the | cuier, lis one OI uic cavauers inu-n uia guu. "They'll quit when they discover our scent. Hold your fire." Sure enough it was so; the dogs turned about almost instantly, wheu they discovered that it was men iu the saddles, and trotted leisurely hack the way they bad come. While this was going on, a singulcr incident added significance to what would have otherwise been scarcely worth our noting. At the sound of the chiefs voice, some one in the house leaped out of bed and ran to the littl^ squaro window-hole that overlooked the path , along which the cavaliers were canterin;. A moment later, just as the chief was on the point of disappearing among the troes, a head covered with long, scattering, disheveled locks of white hair was thrust oat, the face showing haggard aud shrunken with intense excitement, aud tha sunken blue eyes followed iu strange wise the horseman's movements. The chief glanced back jnst at tliat poiut, bat he did not see the face ia the window-hole; if he had seen it and recognized it, the efl'ect upon him would have been greater thau a row of leveled guns could have produced. Little note made the grira riders of lUia moment; iaey am m?i- uuih it at all, iu fact, but galloped ou in reckless mood, knowing that there was no force to pursue tbem, and that every bound their horses made bore them tbat much nearer to the land of their comrades, the almost impenetrable wilderness of Honey Island, where their chief was king, and where the division of spoils was the only evidence of law. i One came upon their track, howover?a tall old man on foot and unarmed. He strode oat from Lnpin's cabin and followed the trail, stepping 1 slowly and firmly, yet showing as if | from within tho window of his couoi tenance a oonsaming eagerness and a great hope. It was thus that Alexander Max Burns once more got a glimpse of llie man who had stolen his child. That man's voice bad startled him from his t morning's sleep under Lapin's roof, aixl the harried look through the window had photographed on his braiu a picture of terrible significance to him. For the merest point of time his eyes had restod upon Kirk MacCollough. He muttered that name as he trudged deeper and deeper into the gloomy forest following the trail of the caTalier3. What is it that makes our consciousDC33 of an enemy's personal beauty something appealing and, in a way, distressing? An old duelist has been heard to say that ho would rather stand before au ordinary-looking dead shot than before a haudsouie buugler. The glamour of a fine, magnetic presence is strangely confusing; and the effect seems more powerful whou the face is an evil one, especially when the evil js not on the outside anu shows only elusively and by subtle indirection from within. Max Burns felt the fascination that dashed from tho robber-ohief'8 face, and for a time it almost uunerred him; the beauty it wore, like some shining mask, did not suggest at all times the dark spirit of the desperate and lawless man. Long, curling yellow hair and a fine full beard of tho same color; a straight nose; a good forehead; long, narrow, clear-gray eyes and a mouth indescribably haughty and stern iu its expression, were supplemented by a frame of unusual stature and symmetry, This was Pierre Ramean, formerly Kirk MacCollough, now the King of Honey Island, as old Max Bnrns saw him in the gray morning light, an apparition of unspeakable meaning to him, gleam like a phantom of evil for a second and then fade, as it were, into the gloom of tli? moss-hung woods. Certainly it was not the Kirk MacCollough of twelve years ago?not the slender, fair-faced youth who had stolen the girl?though the reckless half-smile still lingered and the old stamp of utter unrestraint was as plain as ever. No, not the boyish Kirk j MacCoIlough, but the man, fall-grown to liis prime, masterful, commanding, a leader of men, and yet there was no mistaking his identity. Max Burns was old, and for fifty years had been a preacher whose sermons had overflowed with sentimental tenderness; bat he had a side to his nature which was as hard as Scotch granite. It was with this hard side out that he was pursuing Kirk Mac-1 Collougk; and yet, even through this, ' the spell of the man's strong and beautiful face found its way to his heart. Tho effect of it was but temporary, so far as checking his determination was concerned; but it never quite left him daring the rest of the day as he slowly but steadily followed tho trail into the main road and toward the upper Pearl Kiver region. Literally, the preacher had no scrip for his journey, no staff, no means of living; he depended, as the old-time minister of the backwoods was wont to do, upon the hand of Providence. Here and there a trapper's or a hunter's hut, here and yonder a settler's cabin offered him rest, food, shelter. He did not tell his story; but- he prayed at the fireside of all, and he managed to leave behind him, whefo ; ever he went,a memorable something? ; sweet, strange and altogether wel-! como to the simple pioneer hearts, j Sometimes he fell among desperate j men, robbers themselves, or aiders . and abettors of them, and even with^ I tiiPOA lift w>i<i at home; for ha bore with hiiu the charm of childlike faith, J combined with the touching appeal of i unprotected old age. What helped him most of all, per haps, was his singing; for ago had I scarcely touched tho deep, rich music of his voice, aua his memory was stored with hymn tunes and tunes that enthralled the hearts of his entertainers. The strolling preachers of all de- ; nominations traversed our frontier re- ! gions in those days, and Max Burns p was accepted rs a member of the class withonta question, without suspicion, and made freely welcome by every household as a privileged if not in every instance a venerated person. Curions enough does it appear when recorded, but it is, nevertheless, a ! historical fact, that tho preacher found j a home for some time with one Dick Beoket, ^rell kuowu as a fighting fid-1 dler, who was a red-headed man, very j bow-legged, much frckled and badly scarred by an old kuife-cnt across the i nose, and whose cabin was about , three miles east of Pearl River, oppo- j site the southern end of Honey Isl- j and. This Dick Eccket was a trappor aud, to scmo extent a trader with tho Indians. His cabin was often tho stopping-place of the freebooters,with ? | i-- ? * A. wuurn ce itepi uu guuu ic.mn nuuuui baring anything to do with their enterprises. He charged liberal prices for their board aud lodging, and. so his place became known far and near as Dick's. He lived to a great age, dyiug in 18G7 on the banks of Pearl Piiver, not far from where his first cabin stood. It was from him, at first hands, that many of the Honey Island legeuds came into circulation in their present form. He fiddled as long as he lived, and was a noted story-teller. He took Burns in and became greatly attached to him, ever afterward call* | ing him Daddy or Parson Barns. Thus established within a compara\ tively short distance from Pierre Rameau's base of operations, the old man felt that at last he was on the point of reaching the end of his long wanderings. There could be no doubt now that Pierre Raineau and MacCoD lough were one and the same man, nor did it look possible for the outlaw to prevent his approach, provided that he could avoid recognition. (to be continued.) The despised .codfish-ball is quite transformed if it is moulded iu croI quette shape and offered with tartar sail c?. 5 HOUSEHOLD ? ? ? 5 > * * * ? MATTPrQ S Hn ' r r x Alin A A 5\mV.VAV.SSW.W,wJ Banana Cake. Beat to a cream a quarter of a cup of butter, add a half cup of sugar and one egg; when very light stir in enough flour to make u stiff dough; roll iuto a thin sheet and line a square, shallow baking pan. Peel live good, ripe bananas, and chop them very fine; put them over the crust in the pan, sprinkle over a half cup of sugar, the pulp of five tamarinds soaked in a quarter of a cup of warm water; squeeze over the juice of two Japanese oranges, put over a tablespoonful of butter cut Into pieces, a saltspoonful of mace and two tablespoonfuls of thick cream. Grate over the top two smail crackers, bake In a moderate oven a'half hour, and cut iuto narrow strips to serve. Cheme Bluque. Into a pint of milk put a pinch of soda and bring to the scalding point. Tn thic ndil i r?iin nf mutton etnr?k In which an onion has heen boiled and a cup of water In which rice has been cooked. Cook together in a good sized saucepan a tablespoonful of butter and two of flour. When they are thoroughly blended and bubble pour on them the white soup and stir until It thickens to the consistency of cream. Now beat In a half cup of grated cheese. Have ready In a bowl two wellwhipped eggs, and on these pour a little at a time, a cupful of hot soup, beating steadily to prevent curdling. Return the cup of soup, with the eggs, to the soup on the fire, beat for half a minute, season with salt and pepper and serve. Odd. but very good when properly made. Strawberry Omelette. Beat the whites and yolks of five eggs separately to a stiff froth. Melt two tablespoonsful of butter in an omelette pan over the tire to the bubbling point; mix the whites and yolks of the eggs together; add a saltspoonful of salt and whip the beaten eggs well together and pour them in the omelette pan. Let the eggs cook slowly, stirring them occasionally with the turning knife, and when they begin to set around the edge drop in n pint of strawberries, slightly crushed and sweetened. When the omelette is puffy and quite heated through fold it from one side toward the middle; then stand it under the frame of a gas broiler to brown over the surface. Turn it into a hot platter; ornament the top with strawberries, garnish the plate with the berries; dust the whole with fine sugar and serve. Dlihe* For an Invalid. Here are two dishes for the sick | member of the family. One is delicious: Clam Frappc?Take twenty hardshell clams, scrub with a vegetable brush until thoroughly clean, rinse and put in a stewpan with a scant three-quarters of a cup of cold water. Cover closely and steam until the shells open. I'ut the liquid through a fine strainer, strain and freeze to a mush-like consistency, only stirring occasionally during the half hour in which it Is packed in salt and ice. In some cases of severe gastric derangement this can be retained when everything else is rejected. A small amount may be frozen easily in a baking powder can. setting it in a tin pail and packing with salt and ice In equal proportions. Serve in a giass. Tiie other will be equally appreciated by a delicate palate, it is Browned Rice?Put some well washed rice on a bating tin in the oven and let it brown, shaking frequently so that it will color evenly. It is a good plant to keep a stock of this rice ahead in glass cans ready for immediate use. When deeded put two or three tablespoonfuls in a frying pan, cover with hot water, salting to taste. Let the rice cook thoroughly, adding more water as it swells, but do not stir it. Shake occasionally to prevent sticking. The Spaniards make this richer by browning the rice in hot drippings first, then adding a little ( sliced onion, tomato and garlic, and I covering with the boiling water.?Philadelphia Telegraph. - | Common catnip scattered around closet shelves is said to be useful in getting rid of mice. In removing a cold or frozen dish from a mold, wrap a cloth wrung from hot water around the outside of the , mold for a moment or two, wnen uie contents will slip out easily. Irons should always be kept in a dry place. A convenient thing to keep under the set tubs or In some other outof-the-way corner is a soap box. into which may be placed the flatirons. holders, stand and wax cloth when not in use. A small scrubbing brush is unexcelled as a vegetable cleaner. The water in which vegetables are washed should be lukewarm, not icy cold, as many housekeepers think. There is no advantage in very cold water, and It Is hard on the hands of the washer. Candied and crystallzed fruits are increasing in popularity for the table, as they are not only delicious In themselves, but are decorative and give a new touch to the table. Plum, cherries, peaches, glaces, like chestnuts; small oranges coated In sugar, citron, slices of lemon, and strawl>crrles? these are all suitable and*will be found a pretty variation upon the ordinary bejubons for a luncheon or dinner. -^IKi The Ills of Womt Nerves like a The relation of woman's nerves close; consequently nine tenths of despondency, "the blues," sleeplessi women arise from some derangemer her a woman. Herein we prove concli Vegetable Compound will quickly r Details of a Severe Case Ci " Deab Mks. Plxkham: ? I have be the past five years. About a month ago tion, accompanied at certain times befc aches. I read one of your books, and fin ficial effects of Lydia EL Pinkham'.* enccd by lady sufferers, I commenced its using a few bottles I feel like a new worn " I am recommending your medicine Sou that you have my hearty thanks for one so much good. 1 trust all suffering pound."?Mrs. Minjob Tietz, 020 First A Nothing will relieve this surely as Lydia E. Pinkham's soothes, strengthens, heals a female organism. It is a pos female complaints; that bea ache, displacement of the w ovaries, and is invaluable dui of which may help to cause Read what Mr " Dear Mrs. Pixbham : ? I will writ the benefit I have received from taking y time with nervous prostration, backa. ation. pain in the stomach after eating, a would lose my mind. I began to take ! Compound and was soon feeling like a highly. It does all that it is recommends " I hope that every one who suffers ? remedies a trial." ? Mrs. Mabib dat, El Free Medical Adi Mrs. Pinkham invites al! for advice. You need not I things you could not explain ter will be seen only by worn fidential. Mrs. Pinkham's vt troubles enables her to tell ; you, and she will charge yoi Another Case of Nervou " Dear Mrs. Pixkham : ? Allow mo ' derived from taking Lydla E. Plukliam I started to take it I was on the verge not sleep nights, and I suffered dreadful! heard of Lydia E. Pinkliam's wonderful immediately restored my health. " I can heartily recommend it to all E. Drirkixs, Lapidge St., San Franci 0rnnn forfeit if we cannot forthwith JUJ iloov*> testimonials, which will prove tl 3AYING PRAYERS IN ADVANCE S How Thoughtful Child Provided for fc Season's Enjoyment. ir Julian Hawthorne sometimes tells ci in amusing story of the childhood of p: lis daughter Hildegarde. T "Once, when Hildegarde was a lit* tr tie girl," he will begin, "she was tl alatpfi nvpr the f*t that w? were, hi ill going to spend the summer at the pi seashore. Particularly was she elated si jp the night before our departure, si Her eyes shone, her cheeks were ol flushed, and she could do nothing but 11 iance and clap her hands for joy. ai After she "had gone to her room t heard her chattering away like an insane person for a long time. I peeped in and saw her on her knees e, praying. Over and over again she 0] -epeated the same prayer. " 'Hildegarde,' I said, 'what on kj ;arth are you doing, child?' ; ^ " 'I am saying my prayers now for ill summer,' she answered, 'so that 1 won't have to waste any time on q them while we are away.'"?New j-j VTork Tribune. 1- J J 4?11m ?*tA?MAn C11 A i\ew iori\ juugt; Lena ?uun,u , :he way to keep thfir husbands is to , al 'learn to cook better and not insist on | aaving the last word." But some men "j would even be willing to put up with i :he cookiDg. 1 ni There is a great demand in Europe | sa !or American dentists. Again does Un- n< tie Sam strike terror and command ^ respect. ?* F The most dangerous hypocrite is a; ?e one who deceives himself. m ES Dropsy 1 I -'ffPV. f Removes all swelling in 8 to 20 I days; effects a permanent cure T vY in 30 to 60 days. Trial treatment ? /JfZlh. given free. Nothinjfcan be fairer iV Write Or. H. H. Green's Sons. 1 lo Sseciallsta. Bo* R Atlanta. Ua. I So. 26. ! m I SAW MILLS Hip " *" men. All our ? xiills arc fitted with the famous Heaeock-Kitiu i Pnt. Vnrlable Feed Works; the simplest, uioei | b( turable and best feed on the mnrket. , -MANLFAOTUKEll HY THE? oI SALEM IRONWORKS, M VlASTON.SAI,Eai, N. C. i b ;n Act upon the Firebrand. j and generative organs is very the nervous prostration, nervous less, and nervous irritability of it of the organism which makes isively that Lydia E. Pinkham's elieve all this trouble. ured in Eau Claire, Wis, en ailing from female trouble for > 1 was taken with nervous prostrare menstruation with fearful headid'ng manv testimonials of the bene? "Vegetable Compound, experiuse and am happy to 6tate that after tan, aches and pains all gone, to many of my friends, and I assure ft your valuable preparation which haa women will use your Vegetable Comivc., Eau Claire, Wis. (May 28, 1901). i distressing condition so i Vegetable Compound; it ,nd tones lip the delicate itive cure for all kinds of ring down feeling, backomb, inflammation of the ing the change of life, all nervous prostration. s. Day says: ;e you a few lines to let you know of 'our remedies. I suffered for a long che, sick headache, painful menstruind constipation. I often thought I Lydia E. Pinkham's Vegetable new woman. I cannot praise it too id to do, and more. T -.Ml T 1!- T? 19 1 U1U Will give MUtft U. ilUKUMIi* eanora, Pa. (March 25,1901.) dee to Women. I women to write to her >e afraid to tell her the to the doctor?your letlen and is absolutely conist experience with such you just what is best for i nothing for her advice. o is Prostration Cured. to express to yon the benefit I hare *s VegetalAe Compound. Before of nervous prostration. Could ^ [y from indigeston and headache. I medicine, and began its use, which 1 suffering women." ? Mits. Bertha sco, Cal. (May 21, 1901.) produce the eriginal letters and signatures at heir absolute genuineness. . Piokham Mediciue Co., L/nu, Mass. The Madrid Imparclal takes the panish government severely to task ir announcing a reduction of 140,000 i hiidcot nf 1904 for ntVblic edu ttlon. This reduces the total approbation for this purpose to $7,000,000. he Imparcial asserts that the coun y is already so backward in educaon and means of culture that all ope of progress has almost disapeared. For this reason the paper lys that the appropriation for schools lould be greater than that for any Lher purpose. The percentage of literacy in Spain is 70 while the arep ?e for Europe ranges from 14 to 25. IN EVERY WALK OF LIFE. I stimony and learn bow it can b? )ne. ' A. A. Boyce, a farmer, living three id a half miles from Trenton. Mo., lys: "A severe cold settled in my kid?ys and developed so quickly that I as obliged to lay off work on account ! the aching in my back and sides. or a time I was unable to walk at all, id every makeshift I tried and all the ediciue I took liaa noi me ?wSu ICS! Tect. My back continued to grow eaker until I was unfit for anything. rs. Boyce noticed Doan's Kidney ills advertised as a sure cure for just ich conditions, and one day when in ronton sii? brought a box home from has. A. Foster's drug store. I folwed the directions carefully when king them and I must say I was ore than surprised and much more atilied to notice the back ache dls[jpcariug gradually until It finally oppod." A Frkz TniM. of this great kidney edicir.c which cured Mr. Boyce will ; mailed on application to any part ' the United States. Address Fos;eriIburn Co.. Buffalo, JC. Y. For salo r all druggists, price 00 cents per box.