t 3 - HAMLIN COPYRIGHT, 1905. Bl "Because ye're one o' them," answer ed Kelly. "Yon boast of your power. Ye're a man of education-some say military education. You know wbat discipline is, but when it comes to con? trolling your men from insulting strangers and abusing women you set down. Now, listen to me. This is my last word on this .subject We are neutral. We have had no part in this row, and we will take none. Go on, work out ye're jackass plan, rouse the whole state, make a political issue of yourselves, but lave Raymond and Kel? ly out of it Lave our men alone. They are satisfied and earnin' good wages. As for1 my good advice, take it or lave lt If you take it ye win; if you lave it ye lose. I am for peace. I've done everything a man could do to tape the peace; I must do so. Every? thing I haye in the world is here-the mine, me wife and the babies. I want'. BO quarrel with anny man, especially ? with a miner, for I have worked for wages half me life, but I tell ye once more, boys, this mob business must not circle round that little cabin over there. If wan of your loafers so much ns puts his toe against my door FR kill him where he stands?* 7 He ended with a hoarse intensity that silenced the men who listened, and after a pause Raymond remarked, very quietly: "I stand with Kelly on this matter. Is there anything further you want to say?* Brock shook his heavy shoulders, as If to clear himself of a weight, and clumsily rose. "I reckon thaf s all yon stay ont?' "We stand clear,*' said Raymond. Carter fumbled for his hat "Of course you mustn't think we blame you, Kelly. You are right enough from your point of view, but what would be? come of labor if we all stood aside?*' "I don't know,** said Kelly. "There are wise men who have studied this problem-Hennery Garge, for instance -ye might look into his way. I'm dom sure your ways of violence will never cure the evil." As they stood on the threshold Brock spoke with a vicious sneer, "We'll re? port your answer." As the door closed behind them Ray? mond turned to Kelly with a look of great solemnity. "Matt, this means war for 1 ;." "Munro wiii stand between us and the union." V "I doubt it Matt. His power will vanish the moment he goes against the wishes of the miners. He couldn't feed his men and their horses without the union. He is in their pay, for all his boasting." Kelly looked thoughtful. "That is true." "Matt, you better take the wife and babies down to the valley." 'Tve spoken of that, but the little jrtfe w?l not go without me." "Then you must go. It is not safe for them here. The people below are in deadly earnest They're coming up here with an anny next time. You bet? ter take your little family and get out" . "I can't do that I can't leave here. Do you take the wife and the boys down to the Springs while I stay here and see that the work goes on." h-^They tossed this duty to and fro, each* arguing in favor of the other, till Raymond said. "Very well; let's leave it to the wife." I As they stepped out into the night Kelly cried out: "Here comes the snow. Munro's pickets have a hard night be? fore them." Kelly's sons were fast asleep in their bed, but the small mother still sat at her sewing, her head haloed with lamp? light 'Tm glad you've come," she said, "My heart is lonely without Ann. Do you think she'll ever come back. Rob?" "I hope so," he replied, but his voice had no heartiness of conviction in it 'Tm glad she's away-just now," said Kelly, coming straight to business, as usual. -And Rob thinks you'd bettet go down to the Springs also." "And leave you here. Matt Kelly? I will not. You'd be sure to get into trouble at once. If I go. you go." Kelly looked at Raymond with a comical lift of one eyebrow. '-That set? tles it-we stay!" "There's going to be trouble," warn? ed Raymond, "and you ought not to be fcpr*. Mrs. Krtly." will not be on the hill. I' . . ; rse?f, Matt." s'l LJ think so still, but at the I be safer far if you U were in the Springs." "What has happened tonight. Matt? You were not so blue when you went out." j He toIJ I: r quietly while she rocked j to and fro in Her"!ow c?ia?r. "She seem- j ed scarcely to listen, but at the end she j said: "You "id right. I am heartsick ? of these drinkin*, carousin* miners who go about making trouble for others. The most of them have no one but themselves, and they don't care what they do. If Jack Munro is tho man he boasts himself to be all tho time, he'll como in here and protect his friends." .'?lack is up against a bard streak o' weather. He's either got to stand in with the union or put up the money to feed and take care of his men and torsos and that's no small item when the snows have covered the grass. If be should join us. his power would be A^'?hls point tlie "argument stuck. &??fc&ay, the county attorney, and the S&eriif stood for war; the mayor and barnett, being for- the moment under "Iii? power of Raymond's earnest Sfeaee, pleaded rather spiritlessly for %t feast a stay in proceedings. T "think it all a ruse to gain time/' 'fca?d Mackav. "I think we ought to *r?? Shis man here and march at once, te- ls known to be a f riend of Munro*: Itt NSte allow him to go back he will in ?fcaymond smiled grimly. "My serr? ies as a spy are not needed. Every ^novement you make will be watched ^y a. hundred eyes, and back of the ^yes will be a gun." j The mayor rose. "Well, gentlemen, fit ?ont see that we can decide any /tfcitng here. We have Mr. Raymond's ; opinion that our attack on the hill will Jpesnlt in disaster. The sheriff is conS ^KQt: he eau win practically without a .struggle. This is no place to take a Vote on so momentous a subject" te?e he locked at his watch. "And it ls lunchtime. I suggest that we go to fen/oh and meet at 3 o'clock in the tommiitee room." After they were well out of the &onse Barnett said : "You see how it is. ^Tfasy are inexorable." "May I come in?" asked Mrs. Bar? ia^ "at the door.. "Luncheon is wait "Certainly," said Don. "The council ?iver." _' "Yon were all very quiet I expected bear loud voices and the sound of Sjiows." She came toward Raymond, face sweet with kindly interest ^How do you dd, Robert? It's good to ^ee you. How well you look!" As "they moved toward the door she added ^ a Sow voice, "I want to talk with ^rott about-you know who." She put him at her left hand and Ann ^xext him, an arrangement which pleas? ed him. The table was filled, as usual, >9Pi0i people "on their way to Califor fcia*** and Raymond felt himself to be ^8*e object of comment both above and below hoard, and it irritated him a "?This is a long way from Sky," he Said to Ann as his eyes absorbed the "S&fo???g, flower decked table and its tasteful service. "You left just ia "th??. It is white with snow up there ta&sy, and bleak and cold. Have you a? word of Louis?" **No" news whatever. I am sure he is r? his way up to you." am starting back at once, and ? X^ai take care of him. Trust him to Wfeen at last the hostess rose, the ^"?ung miner's heart contracted with a sodden realization that his hour of ?race was over and that the time had ^otae/pr his return to the stern reali ^tes\>f~ilfe. ?s. the hall he extended his hand in? -tfcsed resolution to Mrs. Barnett ^'Goodby. It's hard to leave you and "^?his 'glorious home" ^Must.you go today?" > j "*?es. ? ?nust hurry back. Kelly .?^fcs?as hie, and then there is Louis." /*Weil. if you must- But do come ?pain,. Rob. Don't mind who is here; "SSSne to see us. lt is always good to "fcave you here." j "'-As soon as this strike is over I will * gfc> soj* ne said very earnestly. ;Jlpb. Vol Vowed him to his room, and ! ^Raije resuming his big boots Raymond ^???: "'Don't let that sheriif head me s?2?. Sleep him for a couple of hours, "aad ?713 be out of his reach." ""Don't worry about the sheriff, old ?KSUi, sud throw your whole weight 3sgaiiist Munro's policy of resistance." "Tvc done that from the first." Ajan was waiting to see him as he DU.*' **? will do so. When do you go east?" _ ~Xoi till spring." V*Tb?n I may see you again." His V^ords iormed a declaration as well as SS. vjtyestlon, and his glance meant more .*ii-?s ??s Tone. - .rhaps," and she ward glance, "If you Nasa ?S soo?." ' -i: I ?dil do. (i'jodby." Gk*x&,?( and please don't be reek- , CHAPTER XXII. 2LYMOXD looked back occasion . ally, half expecting pursuit. He could see in the valley below the town the gleaming white ?snts of the little army hesitant to .?iynch, and its plan of invasion seemed ?te?ca of folly and madness. He spurred horse down the trail to meet the ?ht which rose to meet him from the Np&tteS like a chill, engulfing flood. An r s brisk ride brought him to the ?pea gad just at the edge of the peak vv ..Mme upon a forlorn camp, a small ?t 'ruder a fir, and a group of four : sitting about a fire. At their call % ? t?ztued and rode up to them. They rm outpost of Munro's guard, a ^*rt jo| the cordon he had thrown i round the peak "and camp. ~ j One of them knew him and, greel j him pleasantly, asked where he '. i been. \ ! He replied with candor, "Tve b down to the Springs to induce th faller legs" to put off their exp* tion." "What luck did ye haver "None. They're coming." Significant glances passed, and firelight brought out stern lines their faces. At length Brown, the < poral, said solemnly: "Well, if ti want fight they can have it But s Rob, does the captain know you're the road? There was a hullabaloo town about you last night. A lot of fellers think you went down to g away the camp, and some said if 3 ever came back they'd string you j Now, I g^ess you better stay h j while I r up and tell the cap you here." "I don't think that's necessary, 1 you might jog along with me if j 1 want to go. Otherwise I'll go alone. "Well, I'll teil ye, Rob," said Bro1 in an en?barrassed way, "these mi keys on the peak have got an aw: slant against you and Kelly, and the. two or three fellers who are worki against yo u underhand right aloi You don't want to take no chane They'll do ye if they can." Raymond was impressed wi Brown's earnestness and by the 1 mirable loyalty of his fellows camp I there in the snow. "Boys, what a you staying here for?" he asked. "Tl isn't a picnic. What do you do it for Brown answered, "We do it beean we want to help these miners stand < the flutes.' " j Raymond mused/ "But you're frier i ly toward Kelly & Raymond?" j "Sure thing. You fellers are all rig] j You've punched cows, and Kelly is ? j old broncho buster himself. But let r tell ye this, Rob, we're goin' to nei you and your men if these chaps COE up here the way they talk o' dom' i with Gatling guns' and all that. Tl boys have been rollin' logs for a fo all day. You can just about see from here-just on that point." I "Well, suppose we ride along," sa Raymond, and as he took a last lot around his heart warmed to the. rough souls who had taken sides in quarrel not their own, moved by blind desire to aid their fellows in_ war against privilege and social cast I Brown called another man out of tl group to ride with them, and thc started away. On the hill east of ti ? town and overlooking the valley ligb could be seen flickering. The corpori lifted his arm and pointed that wa; "There they are building the fort." Raymond's blood began to stir, hi military instruction to freshen, and fe , a moment, as he paused there in th darkness, he understood something c Munro's joy in a defensive campai gi but he said aloud: "It's all a mistak< Brown. They can't afford to fight th sheriff. The law is on his side." Brown grimly replied, "Well,' wer give him a little run for his monej anyway." Raymond smiled at the boyish quai ity of this remark, but made no com ment upon it, and allowed himself t< he led by a roundabout path to tb west side of the town. At last hi .guide paused. "You're all right now." "I wish you'd teil Jack I'm here an( that I want to see him," said Ray mond. "I'm much obliged to you." "Oh. that's ail right, Rob: take keer 0 yerself." And the two men rude off. "Good luck, boys." As he rode up io Kelly's cabin and called out. "Hello, toe house:" Matt opened the door and, with a lad on either sioe of him, peered out. "Is that you. Rob?" "The very same. Matt." "Well, now, wait a whist and I'll come and put out your horse." Mrs. Kelly called cheerily: "Rob, we're glad to see you safe returned. Are you hungry?" Ile slid from his horse. "I am emp? ty as a wolf in March," he replied. "Where's Louis?" "Louis! Ile hasn't returned. Didn't you leave him at the Springs?" "No. Ile ieft early this morning and Ann thought he had hit the stage road for the camp. I hope he hasn't gone wrong.'' This news took away a large part of his pleasure in the friendly hearth to which he was welcomed and, removing his outer garments, he bent to the blaze in sile;.rc while Mrs. Kelly spread some food before him. Kelly listi ned to the news of Louis' disappcaram e with less concern. "He's run into so;::e of Munro's men and is probably v > at headquarters. He couldn't got 1 >st. He knows the road. What's iii.' word from the valley?" "They're coming. Matt." "When?" "Tonight or tomorrow." ' "I've been receiving delega*" posters and all kinds of w been a lively day on the li buildin' a fort." "So Frank Brown told me. our men feel?" Matt rubbed his chin. "Tl ? little uneasy, to tell the truth." .Mrs. Kelly interrupted. "Sit n eat. Rob. Talk afterward." Raymond could see that Kelly disturbed, and that he had someth to t<>ll which he did uot care to ha Nora know. It wiis plain that he u ? longer mimuir/j : ..... . : : ager; and fits face feil gasify into stern lines. ?- . .. . . ,..?'-'' .Vj IK: ;?';: T*"ifc left the room to put the youngsters to bed, the big miner laid a sheet of paper before his partner. "What do you think of that?" Kaymond looked at the death's head warning, for such it was, with amaze? ment. It seemed at first sight a rough joke. In one corner glared the conven? tional crossbones and skulL rudely drawn, and to the right and beneath them sprawled the word "Beware!" All this was amusing, but the logic of the argument which followed gave him thought: This neutral business is played out. Either you are for us or you are for the dudes. If you are for the dudes, get out. If you are for us, send in your men to help us repel the invaders. This ls our first warning. Remember the Red Star! COMMITTEE. Raymond rose. "Let's go down to my shack. We can talk matters over there more freely." "I'll be with you in a few minutes," answered Kelly. It was warm in the cabin, for the faithful Perry had built a fire early in the evening, and after he had light? ed a couple of candles and kicked the fire into a blaze the room resumed its cheerful glcw, but he was too deeply disturbed over Louis' nonappearance to fully enjoy it. He took out his revolv? er and was examining it carefully as Kelly entered. "Did ye meet with any trouble, Rob!" "None. Some of the committee of safety wanted to arrest me and hold me as hostage, but Barnett stood 'emx off. I didn't see a soul till on my way batik I came on one of Jack's picket posts, where I found four men camp? ed in misery and eating snowballs for supper." "It's strange the power he has over them wild cowboys. Drunk or sober, they do as he tells them. His trouble will come with Brock and Smith, who are neither miners nor cowboys, for they are all tryin' to derive their power from Carter^ who is dead sick of the business and likely to fly the coop at any minute. Where you goin'?"^ "Uptown to take a look round for Louis." "You go not! 'Tis a poor time for you to visit the street. They have it in their heads that you are playin' the spy." "I must find that boy. He left the Springs at S this morning, and his sis? ter is worried about him." "I will go for ye, Rob. It's too dan? gerous for you." Raymond rose and laid a hand on Kelly's shoulder. "See here, Matt I want to talk plainly to you. You've got to bundle up that little wife and the boys and get out of here. I'm go? ing to take a hand in this game. I'm going to call the independents togeth? er and make a stand." Kelly faced him. "If ye make a stand I must be beside ye. What is your plan?" "I will not tell you unless you prom? ise to take Nora out of danger." Kelly's face grew stern, and his voice fell to a level hoarseness that sent a quiver through the young man's blood. "See here, boy, we struck hands on this partnership. We share and share alike. I am with ye nnd so is Nora. I am ready to dig a hole in tl ground and stand 'em off. woru out with their comin' and soin', sawin' now on this, now cw o' the question. They've d war on us. Now, by the powers we'!] me 'em halfway!" Raymond surrendered. Matt, here's my hand. T- : Nora and the mine too. fighting blood is up I don' dispute between us." "There they are builder Tvelly's eyes'began to begin to draw me breath For weeks "I've been w. me fist beneath the noses scallions, but for fear of . I could not." "Very weil, we'll send a meeting tonight. The move thc better. I feel a we arc acting a man's \. a big element here that monkey business. Half ; rally in eur support. I 1 we will serve notice on ound of hurrying feet ii 'd a moment later Lc room. .h. Rob, I'm glad yo; att!" Ile shook ba v. His skin was ! lining. "You ou. Tack is makin' '< man. They w a drunken fell our time." or -e w is is lil ill ie u, to el :iC lis ? Ie a nd i coldly. "There aro s? ... ral mmn??s " fc tho : ?or. You might l^egin at the ? lull mo why yon snea away again without saying goodby Ann?" The boy was not daunted. "As si as I heard what the sheriff's pl; were I wanted to leave, but it was dark; that was last night. I was afr to try it, so this morning I pulled early." "Where have you been all day?" "I've been with Jack. I met his n way down the canyon, and they t< me to headquarters, where I told story, and then I went to supper w Jack; and then this big row came and I stayed to see that. Oh, but li is fine! He faced the whole ero alone. One man wanted to clean < your cabin. He said it was a nest traitors. He drew his gun on Jack, 1 he hadn't time to pull the trigg Jack's bullet went through his arm.1 Raymond, who had been stuaying 1 lad with softening glance, interrupl him: "Now, see here, Louis, you down here b3r the fire. Don't let y< words all try to get out of the cor at the same time. We want to kn< all about it, but we don't want you hurry. It's only 10 o'clock, and y can get over a whole lot of ground midnight" The two men looked at each ott with grave eyes. The boy was tre bling with excitement, and his voi was high and strained. Kelly said gently: "My lad, 'twoi serve your sister better if you kept c of this. I don't like to see you ridi between the lines as a spy." "I didn't intend to be a spy. b when I heard the trick they were goi: to play I couldn't help hurrying back "What trick?" "Why, they're going to load all th< men into freight cars and make thc keep quiet, and then they're going run them through Jack's guard Boggy clear to the end of the rails." "That's a veiy nice plan," said Ra mond. "When do they intend come?" "Tomorrow night if the guns arri for which they are waiting." "How did you drop on to this?" "I heard Cousin Don tell Dr. Braid He wanted Dr. Braide to follow ne: day in case of accidents." "You've told this to Jack?" "Yes. I wanted to come and see yo Matt, but he said I could tell you ai erward" Raymond again looked at his partne "Well, I don't see that there is an; thing for us to do now." "Jack told me to tell you to be c your guard tonight. He said he'd con down and see you if possible. Oh, feel so cold," he ended, drawing nean the fire. "Fm all trembly over m chest" "I reckon you better strip off yoi clothes and go to bed. This has been hard day for you." He seemed stiff, and was shiverin convulsively. "I believe I will. Rob, don't feel any good." As Raymond helped him to undres the boy's teeth began to chatter, an he drew his breath with a hissin moan. "I guess I've taken an awfi cold, Rob. My breast aches so." "Matt, go ask Nora to come over an bring her little medicine case. Thi boy's got a chill right now." "A swallow of whisky will fix that, answered Matt as he went out. "Fl be back in a jiffy." Raymond bundled Louis into be and heaped him with blankets am furs, his heart deeply stirred with ans iety, for as the boy's mind turned fron the excitement of his day's experi enees to his condition he became deep ly depressed. He fairly collapsed. Mrs. Kelly, with her "emergenc: case" of medicine and a knowledge o: sickness gained in years of materna care in the rough country, was a grea comfort to Raymond, but she could no keep down his growing anxiety. Th< boy's body was so small and frai when stripped of its clothing! Undei their vigorous ministrations the suf ferer ceased to shake and at last fel into a hot, uneasy doze. Raymond, seeing this, whispered "You must go home. I will watch." "Xo, Rob, you must sleep. I forgol you had no sleep last night." "Oh, yes. 1 did. I took a nap at Bar? nett's. Please go to bed." To this arrangement she submitted, and. taking his seat close by the boy's couch, Raymond studied his Hushed face, more concerned at that moment over his temperature and pulse than with the brawling crowds, the invading force or the fate of his mine. When Munro knocked on his door he went out upon the threshold and repeated the failure cf his mission, while the captain of the vedettes listened with his horse's rein across his arm. At the end he merely said: "All right. Let thom come; they will find us ready. Did the kid turn up all right?" "He turned up. but he has taken a chill and is burning with fever." Munro seemed concerned. "He had nothing on but that little gray jacket. I tried to warm him up with some whisky and a supper. I hope he won't be laid up. Well, now, old man, what are you going to do-help us or the dudes?" "I can't decide anything tonight. I'm worried about this boy. If he is better in the morning I'll have something de? cisive to say to you." "All right; take your time, only don't take too long. It's up to you to decide. Good night. Keep me posted on the boy's condition." A half hour later Jim Dolan and two or three of his fellow reporters tum? bled in, eager to know what Raymond had seen in th? valley. To them he said: "Boys. I haven't a ! word to say. I'm sorry I can't offer j you a bed, for Louis, my boy friend, is very sick. Dolan. I wish you would ! send up the best doctor in Bozle. Tell ! him tiiore's money in it if ho comes j tonight" To Matt. Raymond 1 "(io on with your met ting I can ! do nothing tili th res this ' ! fever/' Am!. Keily went a-VIL. . relu { tautly, to meet with the leaders of ? te neutral party, robbed bf half his re: lution. for he, too, loved the sick lad. At 12 o'clock, when some of the men were passing, Raymond went out and called Baker and said in the tone of one who had at last decided on a plan of action, "I want you to carry a message to Boggy and see that it gets there." And Baker, having a long training as cowboy behind him, accepted his order like a soldier. . The telegram was addressed to the sheriff and read: They're on to your box car game. Look out; A PEACE LOVER. At 1 o'clock Kelly returned with low? ering brow. "I wish you'd been there, lad. They're afraid of Munro and vot? ed me down. We are to do nothin'." Raymond, submerged in the rising flood of his anxiety, looked at his part? ner dully. "Well, perhaps it's better so, Matt. I gave my word to Ann that I would care for this boy as if he were my brother, and I'm going to do it, re? gardless of every other consideration. If he grows worse I shall send for Ann, and then I will have double rea? son to keep out of the movement" Toward daylight Raymond called Kelly. "Send a message to Ann. Louis is a mighty sick boy and needs her care." CHAPTER XXIII. THE morning paper, which the maid brought to Ann while she still drowsed in her bed, con? tained the news of Louis* ar? rival at Raymond's cabin and his col? lapse. "All the early part of the night," the reporter went on to say. "bands of j I clamorous men marched from mine to j mine, calling upon the gangs to lay ! down their tools. Only two firms re ! mained unintiinidated - Reese Bros. I and Kelly & Raymond. In the midst ; of all this turmoil," said the reporter, ! "Raymond, one of the men most con? cerned, was standing guard over a sick I boy and would not leave his side for a moment." Ann glowed with a sense of i deep obligation to that watcher, j Mrs. Barnett knocked on her door r ; and called, "Have you seen the papers, 1 Ann Marie?" \ "Yes." "What are you going to do?" "I am going up there." Mrs. Barnett entered. "How can you i go, with that mob in possession? You ; must not go! It isn't safe for you, and I will not consent to have Don go again, i Who will protect you?" ! Ann flamed with wrath. "Have you ; no law out here that will protect a girl who goes to nurse her sick brother? I have nothing to do with your idiotic i i wars. I am going up there as a citizen j I of New York, not as a partisan of your j ' side in this struggle. I shall not leave that boy there to suffer alone." j "I can't find Don," said Mrs. Barnett j ' "He must have gone downtown. Some ; one has just phoned a message from j i Rob. He says Louis has taken a chill j "Then let us i/o."* s/i-c cried, rising. j and that you are to come, if you can, j but not to worry. ILe is well cared ; for." "Can we reach him by telegraph?" i asked Ann. "The operator says there is no direct j ccunection with Skytown, hui that the i wire from Bozle to the sooth is uncut. ' We can try." "Tell Don to wire Mr. Raymond that j I am coming at once, and that I will bring Dr. Bra i de if possible," answered Ann, alert and self contained. She rang Dr. Braide's telephone a ; , few moments later and called firmly. : "Dr. Braide. I want you to go with me j . to Skytown" His cool, indifferent voice cut her : short. "Who is it, please?" "It is Ann Rupert"- i : "Ah!" His voice changed-became swift, eager. "Certainly, certainly, Miss Rupert. I understand. I saw j . the note about your brother. It will be j a privilege. I will run over at once and discuss the best plan for getting there." Ann was eating her breakfast when , the bell rang, and the maid at her or- ! ! der brought the doctor into the dining j . room. i .SI am asking a great deal ol* you, i doctor. I will gladly recompense you , for any loss of patients," said Ann. ( "Please don't trouble about my pa? tients. It is a pleasure for me to serve ' you. I beg you not to bring it down ' to_SQ mercenary a plane." _ : [TO BE COSTIN VK1).} Hope writes the poetry of the boy, 1 but memory that of the man.-En.er- ! GOOD ROADS FACTS. ??nat l?v>y \\uuid ?save l or tue South -Tlie Cost of Hauling Cotton. Tn aa addres by John Craft, of Mobile, it was stated that the c< st io the farmers of the South is 50 c?. - a bale of cotton for an average haa '? of eight miles. If there were good roads the would he reduced to 10 cents a baie. Estimating a crop at 10,000,000 bal 3. this would mean a saving of $34,04 annually.. It costs under present road condi? tions 25 cents to haul a ton of fer-;.' zer mile. With good roads, th - cost would be 8 cents a ton. "I have studied for some year- the problem of working convicts on our public roads," said Mr. Craft, "and they have proved to be the most eco? nomical road builders to be had. The convict has long passed the experi? mental stage for road making. "Judge Eave, of Georgia, who was had twenty years' experience in work? ing convicts on our public roads, says: 'They are the best and cheapest road builders. While working convicts not a single overt act was committed or a single child, woman or man molested, or $1 worth of property depredated on. " i Mecklenburg county, X. C. has the finest macadamized roads, and it is being done with convie*, labor. It costs an average of 25 cents a day to guard, feed and care for convict la? bor when it is managed on business principles. As for the convict himself, statistics show that 90 per cent of those who are worked in the open air, properly fed and guarded, return to their families and cease to be a charge or a menace to the state, while of those who are kept in prison or are worked in mines, saw mills or similiar places, S 5 per cent berome hardened criminals. "Xor do I thnk it right to put the hones*, wage earners- in competition with the convict labor, or the manu? facturing industry vin competition with the one that hires cheap convict la? bor. { Indiana has more than 1,700 miles of good gravel roads. I remember when Indiana was considered one of the illiterate states in the Union. To? day she is prosperous and her people are no longer ignorant, but the state is dotted with he finest schools and colleges. "Massachusetts spends more money than any other state on her public roads. Xew York has just voted to is? sue $50.000.000 for her roads, to be spent in the next ten years.. Xew Jersey has fine roads, which have been of great benefit, and are the best in? vestment tho state has. Missouri is agitating a bond issue of $25,000.000 for her public toads. The province .">? Ontario. Canada, has 60.OOO miles of good roads, and ivom that ph-? a o me? nai improvement have been the re? sults of prosperity to'its farmers." Xew York Sun. $100 Reward, $100. The readers cf this paper will be pleased to learn that there is at least one dreaded disease that science has been able to cure in all its stages, and that is Catarrh. Hall's Catarrh Cure is the only positive cure known to the medical fraternity. Catarrh being a constitutional disease, requires a con? stitutional treatment. Hall's Catarrh Cure is taken internally, acting di? rectly upon the blood and mucous surfaces of the system, thereby de? stroying the foundation of the disease and giving the patient strength by building up the constitution and as? sisting nature in doing its work. The proprietors have so much faith in its curative powers that they offer One Kundi-ed Dollors for any case that it fails to cure. Send for testimonials. Ad dress: P. J. Cheney & Co., Toledo, O. / Sold by Druggists, 75c. 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Digests tvhat you eat. relieves indigestion dyspepsia, sour stomach, palpitation of the heart and constipation. SolA by all drug?