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oar execrable veMtoufh, breathing the stifling odor from gnrllo and turpnollns, wblch. as you know, la the dls tlnctive flavor of caffs In the lower ( slant of our city. "I spoke of the tyrant President Cruz and the bunions that his greed ami Insolent cruelty laid u|>on the |>enpic. And nt that Kearny's tears (lowed. And then 1 dried them with a picture j of the fat rewards that would be ours | when the oppressor should be over 1 thrown and the wise and generous Val j devln In his seat. Then Kearny leap- ' ed to Ills feet and wrung my hand with the strength of a roustabout, lie was mine, he said, till the last minion ot the hated despot was hurled from the highest peaks of the Cordilleras Into , the sea. "I paid the score and we went out. t Near the door Kearny's elbow over turned an upright glass showcase, smashing it Into little bits. I paid the storekeeper the priee he asked. " 'Come to my hotel for the night.' 1 said to Kearny. 'We sail tomorrow at noon.' "lie agreed, but on flie sidewalk he fell to cursing again in the dull, monotonous. glib way that he had done when I pulled him out of the coal cellar. " 'Captain.' said he. "before we go any further it's no more than fair to tell you that I'm known from Ratlin's bay to Tlerru del Euego us "Ran Luck" Kearny. And I'm It. Everything I get Into goes up In the air except a balloon. Every bet 1 ever made 1 lost except when I coppered It. Every boat I ever sailed on sank except the submarines. Everything 1 was ever interested in went to pieces except a patent bombshell that I invented. Everything I ever took hold of and tried to run 1 run into the ground except when I tried to plow. And that's why they call tne "Had Luck" Kearny. 1 thought I'd tell you.' " 'Dad luck.* said I. 'or what goes by the natne. tuny now and then tangic th .? affairs of any man. Rut if it persist beyond the estimate of what tve may call the "averages" there must be n cause for it.' "'There Is.' said Kearny eiupluitieallv .... .....II, ...'....I ^^^SS8^JB0fS?BJI ISKS^nP p?T^mry' Storks VI.?Phoebe By O. HENRY [Copyright by Doubleday, Page & Co.] ** . possible element of good luck or bad luck?if there I Is such a thing as luck?has lntiuenced 1 voiir cnroof or u>Nla?ail for or n?nlno? I Ssucb a? extent that you were to nttributc results to the opof tho aforesaid good luck or k?" question (of almost the dull inof legal phraseology) was put ve sat in Itoussclin's little red if6 near Congo square, in New i. 11 fuccd, white hatted, finger captains of ad venture came ofItousselln's for the cognac, amo from soa and laud and lary of relating the things they 'ii?not because they were more ful than the fantasies of tlie ses of print, but because they o different. And I was a perweddlug guest, always striving my buttonhole over the linger of these mariners of fortune, nptain MalouO was a Ilibernocreole who had gone to and the earth and walked up and n It. lie tuoked like any other essed mun of thirty-live whom Iglit meet except that lie was sly weather tanned and wore chain an ancient ivory und gold in charm against evil, which idling at all to do with ills answer to your question." said ptuln, smiling, "will lie to tell e story of Had Luck Kearny, i, if you don't mind hearing it" eply wus to pound on die table usselin. lllng along Tchoupltoulas street gilt." began Captain MalouO, "I , without especially taxing my In small man walking rapi<lly me. lie stepped upon a woodr door, crashed through It and ired. I rescued him from a soft conl below. He dusted ibriskly, swearing fluently in a [ettl tone, as an underpaid aeles the gypsy's curse. Uratl the dust in his throat seemIt lor fluids to clear them away. ! for liquidation was cxk heartily that I went with \ cafe down the Street, where Mome vile vermouth and bltacross that little table I ^ irst clear sight of Francis ^Blc was about tive feet sev tough as a cypress knee. Hv:is darkest red. his mouth ^Htc slit that you wondered Hod of his words came rushH Ills eyes were the brlght^^Kitest blue and th(> hopefulsaw. lie gave the douthat he was at bay and better not crowd him fur|^^Br;uu a gold hunting expcMast of Costa Itlca.' he mate of a banana H^^Lte the natives were pan^^kIi from the beach sands jHj^Brian, red calico anil parthe world. The day ml lea te H^^A'ts a government ^^^H^Minerals from a given BKt choice 1 take coast |^^B^Brccn blue gruss 1 for Him 1 y H buck blew up ^|^H^WIMB0ro beloyv quarantine. ^r I was due to bust through that cellar door here tonight, so I hurried the rest of the way up the river, roustubouting on a lower coast packet that made a landing for every fisherman that wanted a plug of tobacco. And now I'm here for what comes next And it'll I lie along, it'll be along,' said this queer L Mr. Kearny; "it'll bo along on the I beams of my bright but not very parI tlctilar star.' I "'From the first the personality of j Kearny charmed me. 1 saw in him I the bold heart, the restless nature and I the valiant front against the buffets I of fate that make his countrymen such I valuable comrades in risk nud ndvenm | tore. And just then I was wanting l| such men. Moored at a fruit coinpn 1 uy's pier 1 had a ;V>0 ton steamer I ready to sail the next day with n cargo | Bm of sugar. lumber and corrugated iron > 1 for a port in?well, let us call the cotiu ? try Kspernndu It has not bCOp long KB ago, and the name of Patricio Mnlonfl lis still S( liken there when its unset Ml tied polities are discussed. Itencain I sugar and iron were packet! a pgrjj nusnnd repeating rlf1(>s. In Aguas 1 P Frias. the capital, Don Itnfncl Vnlde- ! I -t~ ? ITIV1. UlUllfllCI VI will, I'^l M*I M III lO H i greatest hearted and moat able i>n- ' trlot, awaited my coming. No doubt ; you have heard, with a .smile, of the | Insignificant wars and uprisings in those little tropic republics. They make but a faint clunur against the 1 din of great nations' battles. Hut j down there, under all the ridiculous I I uniforms and petty diplomacy and I senseless counter marching and In- ; | trigue, are to be found statesmen and I patriots. I>on Rafael Valdevia was I . one. His great ambition was to raise W Ksperando into peace and honest prosperity and the respect of the serious nations. So he waited for my rifles in 1 Aguas Frlaa. But one would thluk I I am trying to win a recruit in you! L ,No; it was Francis Kearny I wanted. , L And so I told him, speaking Long over A of the gulf all the storm clouds of the Atlantic seemed to have concentrated above us. We thought surely to sweeteu those leaping waves with our sugar and to stack our arms and lumber on (he floor of the Mexican gulf. "Kearny did not seek to cast off one lota of the burden of our danger from the shoulders of his fatal horoscope. Lie weathered every storm on deck, smoking a black pipe, to keep which nlight rain and sea water seemed but as oil. And he shook his list nt the black clouds behind which ills baleful \ star winked Us unseen eye. When the skies cleared one evening he reviled his ' malignant guardian with grim humor. " 'On watch, uren't you. you red headed vixen? Out making It hot for little Francis Kearny and his friends, according to Hoyle. Twinkle, twinkle, little devil! You're a lady, aren't you? dogging a man with bad luck Just be cause ho happened to be born while your boss was H floorwalker. Get busy and sink the ship, you one eyed banshee! 1' boob e! ll'm! I will sliow it to you.' "Surprised. 1 kept by his side until , we en me to ('until street and out hit > ; the middle of its great width. "Kearny seized me l?y an arm and pointed a tragic forefinger at a ratlici brilliant star that shone steadily alio thirty degrees above the horizon. "'That's Saturn." said he. 'the sti that presides over bad luck and e\ and disappointment and nothing doin and trouble I was born under tha; star. livery move I make up bobSaturn and blocks it. lie's tlie lioodo planet of the heavens They say he's Td.odti miles in diameter and no solidei of body 'han split pea nip. and l.c got as many disreputable and imiiiv nant rings as a big city. Now. wba kind of n star is that to lie born in. dor?" "I ashed Kearny where he had ob i ned all tills astonishing knowledge "'Kioto Azraih. the gie t astrologer of (.'leveiand. said he. "i'hat met ! looked at a glass hall and told me i > I name before I'd taken a chair II prophesied the date of lay birth at: . ; death Lefoie I'd said a word. Am j then he east my horoscope, and the I sidereal system socked me In the sole.i piexus It was liad link for I'raiu Kearny from A to Irani and for hi friends iliat were Impli ateil with hi:t I'or tlir.t I gave lip $10. This A/.rat It was sorry, but he rospe '?> 1 Ids p gv si.m 11 ii i nr.r !i to teal the heaven 1 wrong for aav man ! was u!gh time, and l:e took me out on a hrlenn #? t VI- % l.-w ! | lit- *il\ Villi he showed 11.i* wl:it'll Futurn wtv ' and Ir?w t?? Ir, i il in (liTcri'iil lm!i*i? nil's mid I,>:i. i; mil's . "ill,i S;i:i:.;i wasn't ill. II?? vvn only l!i?? men liiij?!? ; up II" fumis-hcso i:r.ir!i lii i lack ,li. i tiny allow IiIim a miiik "I' deputy SIi'.'k let's in lie!| hand it u'.'t 'I hey "re "In tlhliiliK and rcvi lv iny and li :ti;riir.* ill" mud I lie mail' supply nil the line, ecli one throwinv: ilie ho;>d? i? mi Ills particular district. " 'Yuii see t!>::f ii'jlv little ml star ih'i'.il e|;;!it inches .tin.re ami t" IIIiT-'ht uf S.i I urn V Kcarnv askeil me Well, that's tier. Tint's Flmclc Site's u'"t lite In i hnt'Kc. "My t!:e day nf you liirth." says A/.nt'i to me. "your lite Is fUthjcclcd to the lii'liten e of Saturt:. My the h ear and minute of it vim must dwell nitdet' the svvav and direct ait fhorlty of Pltoclie. the tdtilli satellite." So said this A/ratli ' Kearny shook his list viciously skyward 'Curse her she's done her work well.* said he liver since I was nstrolmrlzcd Ind hick has followed me like my shadow, as I told you Ai d for many years he fore Now. captain. I've told you my handicap as a man should. If you're afraid this evil star of mine miKht crip > pie your scheme leave nie (Mil of It." j ( "I reassure I Kearny as well as I coiihl. I told hint tint for the time we would hattlsh hoth astrolo*?y and astrotiontv from our heads The manifest valor and enthusiasm of the man drew me 'ly-t us see what a llttl" count ire and dilluenee will do itKuinst had luck,* I said. 'We will sail tomorrow for llsperando.' "Fifty miles down the Mississippi our steamer broke her rtldder. , We sent for a tue to tow us hack and lost three dn.vs. When we struck the blue waters jp?! I Rubbing Eases Pain Rubbing sends the liniment tu.Viling through the flesh and quickljl Stops pain. Demand a linimcilt that you can rub with. The bed* rubbing liniment is MUSTANG LINIMENT s, Good for the Ailments of Horses, Mules, Cattle, Etc. Good for your oion Aches, Pains, Rheumatism, Sprains, Cuts, Burns, Etc. 25c. 50c. $1. At all Dealers. \ k IHT- Sounds as mild Hr^ ' jM ;| milkmaid. y I Vou can't Judge jn-M--rt j?^i' a w<>man l).v her Y n n in c. Why l. r^o^N couldn't I have 1 T I / ll 'UUl 11 ,Unn stnr ' \ I I / il L 1 can't make tlie i 1 11 I ll remarks to PlioeJ IL i\ \ |J be. you be?blast\lltAn "For eight days rUjfi rO*"^ gales and squalls and watersjKJUts beat us from our "Got busy, you ono course. Five days eyed banshee!" only should have Imwloil no In TT-O pernmlo. Our Jonah swallowed the bad credit of it with appealing frankness. but that scarcely lessened the hardships our cnuse was made to suffer. "At last one afternoon we steamed into the calm estuary of the little Rio Escomlido. Three miles up this we crept, feeling for the shallow channel between the low banks that were crowded to the edge with gigantic trees and riotous vegetation. Then our whistle gave a little toot, and in five minutes we heard a shout, and Carlos?my brave Carlos Quintana ? crashed through the tangled vines waving his cap madly for Joy. "A hundred yards away was his camp, where MOO chosen patriots of Esperando were awaiting our coming. For a month Carlos had been drilling them there in the tactics of war and filling them with the spirit of revolution and liberty. ' 'My captain?compndre inio!' shouted Carlos, while yet my boat was being lowered. 'You should see them in the drill by companies?in the column wheel?in the inarch by four?they nre superb! Also in the manual of arms ?but. nlns, performed only with sticks of bamboo. The guns, captain?say that you have brought the guns!" " 'A thousand good ritles. Carlos," I called to hint. 'And two Catlings.' " 'Valgame Dlos!' he cried, throwing his cap in the air. 'We shall sweep the wonu: "At that moment Kearny tumbled from the steamer's side into the river. He could not swlin. so the crew threw him a rope and drew him back aboard. I caught ills eye and his look of pathetic but still bright and undaunted consciousness of his guilty luck. I told myself that, although lie might be a man to shun, be was also one to be admired. "I gave orders to the sailing master that the arms, ammunition and provisions were to lie landed at once. That was easy in the steamer's boats, except for the two Catling guns. For their transportation ashore we carried a stout flatbout "In the meantime I walked with Carlos to the camp and made the soldiers a little speech in Spanish, which they received with enthusiasm, and then I had some wine and a cigarette in Carlos' teut. "The small arms and provisions were already ashore, and the petty officers had squnds of men conveying them to camp. One Catling had been safely landed. The other was just being I hoisted over the side of the vessel as we arrived. I noticed Kearny darting about on board, seeming to huve the ambition of ten men and to be doing the work of five. I think ills zeal bubbled over when he saw Carlos and me. A rope's end was swinging loose from some part of the tackle. Kearny leaped impetuously and caught it. There was a crackle and a hiss and a smoke of scorching hemp, and the Catling dropped straight as a plummet through the bottom of the tlatboat and burled Itself in twenty feet of water and five , feet of river mud. "1 turned my back on the scene. 1 1 heard Curios' loud cries as if from | some extreme grief tuo poignant for words. I heard the complaining murmur of the crew and the maledictions of Torres, the sailing master. I could not hear to look. "By night some degree of order had been restored in camp. Mllitnry rules were not drawn strictly, and the men were grouped about the (Ires of their several messes, playing games of chance, singing their native songs or discussing with voluble animation the contingencies of our march upon the capital. "To my tent which had been pitched for me close to that, of my chief lieutenant, cnine Kearny. Indomitable, smiling, bright eyed, bearing no traces of the buffets of his evil star. Rather was his ns|H*ct that of a heroic martyr whose trtbulntions wore so high sourced and glorious that he even took a splendor and a prestige from them. " 'Well, captain.' said he. 'I guess Catarrhal Deafness Cannot Be Cured by local applications, as they cannot roach the diseased portion of the car. There Is only one way to cure catarrhal deafness, and that Is by a constitutional remedy. Catarrhal Deafness 1s caused by an Inflamed condition of the mucous lining of ithe Eustachian Tube. When this tube Is \nflanird you have a rumbling sound or t.Vipcrfect hearing, and when It Is entirely closed. Deafness la the result. Unless ths Inflammation can bo rrduced and this tube restored to Its normal condition, hearing will ba destroyed forever. Many cases of dcbfnsss are caused by catarrh, which Is an) Inflamed condition of the mucous surfa.led. Hall's Catarrh Cure acts thru the bidod on the mucous surfaced of the sys"V? will give Ons Hundred Dollars for any case of catarrhal Deafness that cannot rr Hall's Catarrh Curs. Circulars Druggists. TJa. J. CUKHBY A CO.. Tttldd* a . ViM f *...,; v ?...... L ifei I *99d?dBen*V?B9SSSfi9SK9S99B9SS9SBea you realize that Bad Lack Kearny is still on deck. It was a shame, now, about that gun. She only needed to be slewed two luches to clear the rail, and that's why 1 grabbed that rope's end. Who'd have thought that a sailor, even u Sicilian lubber 011 a hunana coaster, would have fastened^* line iu a bowknot Don't think I'm trying to dodge the responsibility, captain. It's my luck.' " 'There are men. Kearny," said I gravely, 'who pass through life blaming upon luck aud chance the mistakes that result from their own faults and Incompetency. I do not say that you nre such a man. But if all your mishaps are traceable to that tiny star the sooner we endow our colleges with chairs of moral astrouomy the better.* " 'It isn't the size of the star that counts,' said Kearny. 'It's the quality. Just the way it Is with women. That's W11V tl'OV I'll VO fllO hltmnof nlnn^fo masculine mimes ami the little stars feminine ones?to even things up when it comes to getting their work In. Suppose they hn<l railed my star Agamemnon or Hill McCnrty or something like thnt iustead of Phoel>e. Every time one of those old hoys touched their calamity button r sent me down 01 e of their wireless pieces of bad luck I could talk back and tell em what I thought of 'em in suitable terms. But you can't address such remarks to a Phoebe.' "'It pleases you to make a Joke of It. Kearny." said I without smiling. 'But it is no joke to me to think of my Catling inlrcd in the river ooze.' " 'As to that.' said Kearny, abandon- ! ing his light mood at once. *1 have already done what I could. I have had some experience in hoisting stone in quarries. Torres and I have already spliced three hawsers and strtftched them from the steamer's stern to a tree on shore. We will rig a tackle and have tlie gun on terra firma before noon tomorrow.' "One could not remain long at outs with Bad Buck Kearny. " 'Once more.' said I to him, *we will waive tills question of luck. Have you ever had experience in drilling raw troops?' I "'I was first sergeant and drill master.' said Kearny. 'In the Chilean army for one year and captain of artillery for another.' "'What became* ?<f vonr cfimnmniii' I asked. " 'Shot down to a man,' said Kearny, 'during the revolution against Bnlmacoda.* "Somehow the misfortunes of the evil starred one seemed to turn to me their comedy side. 1 lay bock upon my gnat's hide cot and laughed until the woods echoed. Kearny grinned, j 'I told you how it was.' lie said. " 'Tomorrow,' I said. 'I shall detail too men under your command for manual of arms drill and company evolutions. You will rank as lieutenant. Now. for God's sake, Kearny.' 1 urged him. 'try to combat this superstition if it is one. Bad luck may be like any other visitor?preferring to stop where it is expected. Get your mind off stars. Look upon Esperaudo as your planet of good fortune.' " '1 thank you. captain.' said Kearny quietly. 'I will try to make it the best handicap I ever ran.* "By noon tlie next day the submerged Gatling was rescued, as Kearny hud promised. Then Carlos and Manuel Ortiz and Kearny (my lieutenants! distributed the rifles among the troops and put them through an incessant rifle drill. We flred no shots, blank or solid, for of all coasts Esperaudo is the stillest, and we had no desire to sound any warnings in the ear of that corrupt government until they should carry with them the message of liberty and the downfall of oppression. "In tho afternoon came a mule rider bearing a written message to me from Don Itafael Ynldevla in the capital, 1 Aguas Frias. j "Whenever that man's name cornea to my lips words of tribute to his greatness, his noble simplicity and his conspicuous genius follow irrepressibly lie was a traveler, a student of poo- i pies and governments, a master of scl- i ences, a poet, an orator, a leader, a soldier, a critic of the world's cam- ! paigns and the idol of the people of Esperaudo. I had been honored by j ids friendship for years, it was I who | first turned his mind to the thought : that he should leave for his monument j a new Esperaudo ? a country freed j from the rule of unscrupulous tyrants I and a people made happy and prosperous bv wise and imnnrtinl loc!sl??tii?t> ! When he hud consented he threw himself into the cause with the undivided ! zeal with which ho endowed all of his I acts. The coffers of his great fortune were opened to those of us to whom were intrusted the secret moves of the game, ills popularity was already so great that he had practically forced President Cruz to offer him the portfolio of minister of war. "The time. Don ltnfael said In his letter. was ripe. Success, lie prophesied, was certain. The people were beginning to clamor publicly against Cruz's misrule. Hands of citizens in the capital were even going about of nights hurling stones at public buildings and expressing their dissatisfaction. A bronze statue of President Cruz in the botanical gardens had been lassoed about tlie neck and overthrown. It only remained for me to arrive with my force and my thousand rifles and for himcslf to come forward and proclaim himself the people's savior to overthrow Cruz in a single day. There would be but a half hearted resistance from the (XX) government troops stationed in the capital. The country was ours. He presumed that by tills time my steamer nau arrived at ijuintana a ramp. IIo proposed the 18th of July for the attack. That would give us six days In which lo strike camp and march to Agnus Frlas. In the meantime Don Itafaol remained my good friend and compadrc en la causa de la Uhertad. "On the morning of the 14th we began our imirch toward the sea following range of mountains, over the sixty mile tint 11 to the capital. Our small arms and provisions were laden on pack mules. Twenty men harnessed to each Catling gun rolled them smoothly along tin flat, alluvial lowlands. Our troops, well shod and well fed. moved with alacrity and heartiness. I and my three lieutenants were mounted on tho toogk uuMuit"tu pontes of the covin-1 try. ''A tulle out of camp one of the pack BBHHE mules, becoming stubborn, broke a>ny from the train and plunged from the path into the thicket The alert Keurny spurred quickly after It and Intercepted Its flight. Rising In his stirrups, he released one foot and bestowed upou the mutinous anllual a hearty kick. "The mule tottered uud fell with a crash broadside upon the ground. As we guttered around It It walled Its great eyes almost humnnly toward Kearny and expired. That was bad, but worse to our minds was the concomitant disaster. Part of the mule's burden had been 100 pounds of the finest coffee to be had In the tropics. The bag burst and spilled the priceless brown mass of the ground berries ' among the dense vines and weeds of the swampy land. Mala suerte! When you take away from an Rspcrandon his coffee you abstract his patriotism f>it11 r>n twir ?.# itio ....in.. .. tiler. The men begun to rake up the precious stulT, but I beckoned Kearny back along the trail where they would i not hear. The limit had been reached, j "I took from my pocket a wallet of i money and drew out some bills. " 'Mr. Kearny,' said I, 'here are some funds belonging to Don ltafacl Valdevla, which I am expending In his cause. I know of no better service it can buy for him than this. Here is $100. Luck or no luck, we part company here. Star or no star, calamity j seems to truvel by your side. You will return to the steamer. She touches at Amotnpa to discharge her lumber aiul iron and tbeu puts back to New OrI leans. Hand this note to the sailing master, who will give you passage.' 1 wrote 011 a leaf torn from my book and placed it and the money in Kearny's hand. "'Goodby,' I said, extending my own. 'It is not that I am displeased with you, but there is no place in this expedition for?lot us say, the Senorltu Phoel?e.' I said this with a smile, trying to smooth the thing for him. j 'May you have better luck, component.' "Kearny took the money and the paper. "'It was just a little touch,' said he. 'Just, a little lift with the toe of my boot. Ilut what's the odds? That blamed mule would have died if 1 had only dusted his ribs with a powder puff. It was my luck. Well, captain. I would have liked to be in that little light with you over in Aguas Frias. Success to the cause. Adios!' "He turned around and set off down the trail without looking back. The unfortunate mule's pack saddle was transferred to Kearny's pony, and we again took up the march. "Pour days we Journeyed over the foothills and mountains, fording ley torrents, winding around the crumbling brows of ragged peaks, creeping along rocky flanges that overlooked awful precipices, crawling breathlessly over tottering bridges that crossed bottomless chasms. "On the evening of the 17th we camped by a little stream on the bare hills five miles from Aguas l-'rias. At daybreak we were to take tip inarch again. "At midnight I was standing outside my tent inhaling the fresh cold air. The stars were shining bright in the cloudless sky, giving the heavens their proper aspect of illimitable depth and distance when viewed from the vague darkness of the blotted earth. Almost nt its zenith was tin- planet Saturn, and with a half smile I observed the sinister red sparkle of his malignant attendant?the demon star of Kearny's ill luck. And then my thoughts strayed across the hills to the scene of our coming triumph, where the heroic and noble Don Kafacl awaited our coming to set a new and shining star in the firmament of nations. "I heard a slight rustling in the deep grass to my right. I turned and saw Kearny coming toward me. He was ragged and dew drenched and limiting. His hat and one boot were gone. About one foot he had tied some makeshift of doth mid grass. But his manner as ho approached was that of a man who knows liis own virtues well enough to lie superior to rebuffs. " 'Well, sir/ I sahl. staring at him coldly, 'if there Is anything in persistence I see 110 reason why you should not sueeeetl in wrecking and ruining us yet.' " 'I kept half a day's journey behind/ said Kearny, tishing out a stone from the covering of his lame foot, 'so the bad luck wouldn't touch you. I couldn't help it. captain. I wanted to he in on this game. It was a pretty tough trip, especially In the department of the commissary. In the low grounds there were always bananas and oranges. Higher up it was worse, hut your men left a good deal of goat meat hanging on the hushes in the camps. Here's your $100. You're nearly there now, captain. Let me in on the scrapping tomorrow.' " 'Not for a hundred times a hundred would I have the tiniest tiling go wrong with my plans now/ I said, 'whether caused by evil planets or the blunders of mere man. But yonder is Aguas I'rlas, five miles away and a clear road. I am of the mind to defy Saturn and all Ids satellites to spoil our success now. At any rate, I will not turn away tonight as weary a traveler and as good ,n soldier as you are. Lieutenant Kearny. Manuel Ortiz's tent is there by the brightest lire. Hunt him out and tell him to supply you with food and blankets and clothes. We march again at daybreak." "Kearny thanked me briefly, but feelingly, and moved uwy.v. "He had gone scarcely a dozen steps when u sudden flash of bright light Illumined the surrounding hills. A sin later, growing, hissing sound like es raping steam tilled my ears. Then followed a roar as of distant thunder, which grew louder every instant. This terrifying noise culminated in a tremendous explosion which seemed to rock the hills as an earthquake would. The illumination waxed to a glare so fierce thai I clapped my hands to my eyes to sare them. I thought the end of the world had come. I could think of no natural phenomenon tliut would explain it. My wits were (daggering. "The deafening explosion trailed off into the heavy roar that had preceded it, and through this I heard the frightened shouts of my troops as they stumbled ffom their resting places and rushed wildly about; also I hoard the liarsh tone* of Kearny's voice crying. 'They'll blame |tu>n nte, of course, aud Ml "She came back looking fngbUpAL 3H " TLave culled,' str*g srtgp'nud; dug 1 Ills bell uuuiy times, bulBe d*x b?ioc 1 answer.' flj 1 "I knew where his sleeping* woai ] was. Kearny and 1 pushed by her and Jt went to It. I i>ut my shoulder against & the thin door and forced it open. fi 'In un arfiichalr by a great table cot* I i rcil with maps and books sat Don lta- V fuel with liis eyes closed. I touched his hand. He had been dead ninny 1 hours. On his head above one ear was ? u wound caused by a heavy blow, it ? I had ceased to bleed long before. "I made the old woman call a idozo and dispatched him in haste to fetch llerr ltergowitz. "lie came, and we stood about as if wo uni'ii 1,-ilr ..i * !??S5aanMnmHHMnRv what the ;K*?ol* Kearny that can *iv?-yotfr?i? answer 1< "I opened my eyes. The hills were still there, dark nml solid. It httd not been, then, a volcano or an earthquake. I looked up ntjthc gk.v and saw n,aooiet-llke trail croflRtyff tWyrenlth and extending westwan?m j trail wan hi# ! fainter and narrowlr eilrh niionwNit. "'A meteor!' I'-calleif aioqtl. 'A meteor has fallen. There Is 90 danger.' "And then all other sounds wero drowned by a great shout from Kearny's throat. He had raised both hands above his head and was standing tiptoe. " 'Phoebe's gone!' he cried with all his lungs. 'She's busted and gone to : li?I! Look, cnptnln! The little redheaded hoodoo has blown herself to smithereens, she found Kearny too tough to handle, and she puffed up with spite and meanness till her holler blew up. It'll be "Ilad Luck" Kearny no more. Oh. let us he joyful! " 'Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall: Ilumpty busted, and that'll he all!' " "I looked up, wondering, and picked out Saturn in his place. Hut the small roil- KvlnlfHlH' llllillniiPf I" '? ? v .. I.iiuumij ill HID > IV mil,), "A fragment of a detonating meteor." which Kearuy had pointed out to me as Jiis evil star, liad vanished. I had M'ou it tiiere hut half an hour before. There was no doubt that one of those awful and mysterious spasms of na I Hire had hurled it from the heavens. "1 flapped Kearny on the shoulder. " 'I.lttle man,' said I, 'let this clear the way for you. It appears that astrology has failed to subdue you. Your horoscope must hi' cast anew with pluck and loyalty for controlling stars. I play you to win. Now, get to your tent and sleep. Daybreak is the word.' "At !> o'clock on the morning of the 18th of July 1 rode into Aguns Frias with Kearny at my side. In his clean linen suit and with his military poise and keen eye he was a model of a lighting adventurer. I had visions of him riding as commander of President Valdevia's bodyguard when the plums of the new republic should begin to fall. "Carlos followed with the troops and supplies, lie was to halt in a wood outside the town and remain concealed there until lie received the word to advance. "Kearny and I rode down the Calle Anclni toward the resldencia of Don Kafuel at the other side of the town. As we passed the superb white buildings of the Fniverslty of Esperando I saw at an open window the gleaming spectacles and bald head of Ilerr llergowitz, professor of the natural sciences and friend of Don Rafael and of me and of tin? cause. He waved his hand to me with his broad, bland smile. "Then? was no excitement apparent in Agnus l'rias. The people went about leisurely as at all times. The market was thronged with bareheaded women buying fruit and enrne. We heard the I twang and tinkle of string bands in the patios of the cantinas. We could see that it was a waiting game that in?n kiimh'I was playing. "His residenela was a largo but low l>iiil?linir around a great courtyard in grounds crowded with ornamental trees and tropic shrubs. At his door an old woman who came informed us that Hon ltal'ael had not yet arisen. "'Tell him.' said I, 'that Captain Malone and a friend wish to see him at once. Perhaps he lias overslept.' I Fine Youi r? For prices and ter ^ We also liand I Buggies an I flrnrfieldj r Noi W rite me and I will e days of a severe case of Pi lei oot pain, knife or detention suffer from this disease wh^ right, here in Sooth Carolina | -Jo:;,:: .....i ciuiiiim uy l IIO UWllll I shock. Thus con the lot Mux of a fee drops of lilood from one man's veins drain Uie life of a nation. "Presently llorr Itergowitz stoc, : I | and picked up a darkish stone the s' e i of an orange which he saw under tl"? table, lie examined it closely thronga his great glasses with the eye of s ience. " 'A fragment,' said he. 'of a dot on ting meteor. The most remarkable one in twenty years exploded above li...* city a little after midnight this morning.' "The professor looked quickly up at the ceiling. We saw the blue sky through a hole the size of an orange nearly above Don lJafael's chair. "I heard a familiar sound and turned. Kearny had thrown himself on the floor and was babbling his cnnipem".'.,;:.i of bitter, blood freezing curses against the star of his evil luck. "t'lwloubtedly I'hocbo had been fi ; .1nine. Even when hurtling on her w >v to iiery dissolution and everlasting doom tile la^l vvoi'il l. ol I....... - " Captain M alone was n?>| unskilled in narrative. He knew the |mtint where a story should end. I sat reveling in his effective conclusion when he aroused tne by continuing: "Of course." said he, "our sehete s were at an end. There was no one to take I ton Rafael's place. ??ur Utile army melted away like dew before ta > sun. "Due day after I hud returned to New Orleans I related this story to a friend who holds a professorship in Tula tie university. "When I had finished he laughed and asked whether 1 had any knowledge of Kearny's luck afterward. I told hitu no; that 1 had seen hint no more, hut that when he left me he had expressed conlidenee that his future would he successful now that his ilueky star had been overthrown. "'No doubt." said the professor, 'he is happier not to know one fact. If ho derives his bad luck from IMhk c. the ninth satellite of Saturn, that : lidous lady is still engaged in overlook in.ur his career. The star close to Saturn that he imagined to be her was ,<w that planet simply by the chat, e of its orbit. Probably at differ* at times he has regarded many other stars that happened to he in Saturn's neighborhood ns bis evil one. The real Phoebe is visible only through a very good telescope.* "About a year afterward." continued Captain Ma lone, "I was walking down a street that crossed the I'oydras mar M-i. .\u immensely stout, pink fared ItHly in black satin crowded me from tlit* narrow sidewalk with a frown, liehind her trailed a little man laden to the gunwales with handles and ha of trends and vegetables. "It was Kearny?hut changed. I stopped and shook one of his hands, whieh still clung to a bag of garlic and red peppers. "'How is till- lurk, old eonipanero?' I asked him. I laid not the heart to tell hi in the truth about his star. " 'Well,' said lie, 'I am married, as you may guess.' " "Francis." called the big lady in deep tones, 'are you going to stop in tlu> street talking till day?' " 'I am coining, I'hoebe, dear,' said Kearny, hastening after her." Captain Ma1on6 ceased again. "After all. do you believe in luck?" I asked. "I>o you?" answered the captain, with his ambiguous smile shaded by the brim of his soft straw hat. Photographs. I Will be at Chesterfield en Saturday before tl.e 1st and 'ltd Sundays in each month to take pictures. Studio up stairs over Square Deal Drug Store. o-li tt Jerome Douglass. A ONE CARLOAD ! lie Mules ms call at stables le firat gra<l? d Harness l^nnt/>n ( r\ rui ici tu. | ICE xplain how I was cured in 4 h of 40 years standing, with frop- 1 * ""?A No one need ^V^^/^^Hcure can be had