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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Advocate, 1897-10-21, Page 6DOCTOR JACK. By ST. GEORGE RA.TaBORNE. CUNTIN11 ..0. Dela Carlos grins, and mutters " Car- ajo '. the drug is already having an ef- feet," but in this he deceives himself, for it is only the smoker's+content that has possession. Then he admires the diamond pin Jack hands him—a de- cided beauty—sad is loud in his thanks. They sit here for some little time in- dulging, Tack • smoking furiously hi or- der to use his cigar up as speedily as possible, and the Spaniard watching him out of the corner of his eye white he talks. To his surprise shows no signs of giving way to the somnolent god. Something is undoutedly wrong; either the drug has lost its power or else— Won Carlos hardly dares conjecture the other possibility. He grinds his teeth in secret rage, and y."t feels compelled to act plea- sant, but the task is such a hard one that Doctor Jack perceives he is trou- bled, At length the American athlete Mis- sies the butt of his cigar into the recep- tacle near by, and rises to his feet, donning his light ovreoat as he does 00. In vain the other begs him to re- main. He might as well talk toa stone wall, and secretly curses at the misfortune that bas beaten him so neatly at his own game. He does not understand it now, but perhaps he may when he gets a chance to ex- amine that cigar stump still smolder- ing in the cuspidor. So Doctor Jack takes his hat, bids his host " buenos noshes," and passes out of the door. There is a little gar- den in front, and a couple of lamps hanging from trees show the path to the mile. It is otherwise as dark as Egypt, and as the door closes behind him. Tack makes a bee line for the exit, which he has no trouble in passing,. though generally doors and gates are well harried in Madrid after nightfall, as thieves abound in the strange old Spanish city. Once upon the street he looks around for his vehicle, and of course fails to find it, since Don Carlos was so kind as to countermand his order hours ago. Doctor Jack mutters a malediction upon the stupidity of Jehus in general and Spanish ones in particular. Ile is also put out because he stayed so late, as this must of necessity keep him from fulfilling his engagement at the Fonda Peninsular to the letter, and in his eyes it is very important that he give Avis no cause for complaint at this stage of the game. Such a man, however, is not at a loss for means to carry him through. Since the vehicle has failed him he has his own powers of .locomotion, and selecting his course, starts off with a swinging stride down the driving avenue at a pace that promises to bring him to the plaza in the heart of the city within half an hour's time, provided no accident befalls him while en. route. There are lights here and there up- on the Calle del Prado, and these help the stranger in a degree. Time was, and not so very long ago, when the honest' citizen of this burgh desiring to go out at night had to take a guard along with him, and unless the moon shone, have a link -boy run ahead to light up the way. The Madrid of to- day has made giant strides, however, though far in the rear of such a bril- liant city as Paris. The street is not deserted, though its life is nothing compared with the heart of the city in the plaza known as the Puerta del Sol. where the pulse of the populace beats, and all gay sights are concentrated. Doctor Jack meets several slouching fellows, who look at him inquisitively, and with such evident menace in their manner that, considering the circum- stances surrounding him, the Ameri- can may well be pardoned for holding himself in readiness to do battle. He is the worst man in Madrid for such footpads to tackle, as they may find out to their cost. The hourses become more numerous, and he sees more signs of life. Soon he will have to leave this lighed thor- oughfare, and plunge into a narrow street that by devious turnings will, if he have rare goodluck, eventually take him to the public square. If danger is to descend upon him it will probably be at such a time, but there is really no way to avoid the dis- agreeable task. Music greets his ear. Beyond a wall comes the serenade song . of some dark -eyed senorita enjoying the cool air of the evening in the midst of her friends. perhaps with a stalwart and gallant lover seated at her side. Over the way the musie is more weird. A gipsy bolero, as the fandango is call- ed at times, is getting under way, and although matters are tame enough at this early stage, Jack shudders as he remembers the wild orgy upon which he gazed while in the company of Don Carlos on the previous evening. Passing on he enters among a. more animated scene, and finally is filled with joy to actually discover an al- quazil, to whom he puts a question and hands a piece of silver, whereupon the guardian of the peace tells him in Spanish that if he enters the first cane on the right, and follows it pertinaci- ously, he will at length reach the point he is struggling for. So once more Doctor Tank strides on, covering the ground much . alter the style of a prize pedestrian on a spurt. Slow going Spaniards look after him In wonder, and shrug their shoulders as they mutter something about the crazy heretics who get loose upon the streets of their wonderful city. Jack has already found it warm work, and removing the light_ overcoat, eateries it upon his left arm. Later on he has cause to rejoice that it was. not hanging fromthe other, or, worse still, on his back. • Coming to the narrow calle he glances down it in dismay, looks around with a last forlorn hope that there may be some vehicle in sight he calf engage or buy, and discovering none makes the plunge with a groan. It is terribly dark here after coming from the broad and lighted Del Prado, until Jack's eyes become accustomed to the gloom he can see absolutely nothing, and in consequence the very first thing he does is to come in con- tact with some unknown person tra- velling slowly the other way, In his best Spanish he hurriedly apologizes, and goes on, leaving his victim almost stupefied with astonish- ment. Progress is being made, though of a somewhat costly nature, but this man. never yet conceived a ,project that he was not ready to devote all his ener- gies to in order to excute, and he will reach the grand central plaza if he has to walk over the half of llfadrid's pop- ulation first. Such a man is Doctor Zack. No wonder fortune smiled up- on him in the old Mexican mines. The earth is bound to open its treasure caves before the knock of a man who possesses the obstinacy of a mule add- ed to the courage of a lion and the shrewdness of a fox. At the same time Jack, is muttering little anathemas concerning the pov- erty stricken nature of the metropolis that cannot afford to light all her streets, while he gathers neck over soe streets, while he gathers himself up after nearly breaking his valuable neck over some obstacle which In New York he would have believed must be an ash box. Gradually, however, he grows into a better frame of mind. His eyes are be- coming more accustomed to the gloom, and he can see—to a limited extent, it is true, but enough to avoid any fur- ther collisions, for which small favour he is correspondingly thankful. All goes as merry as a marriage bell now, and when he reaches a light that outs the blackness of the calle, pro- ceeding- from a shop, Jack takes a no- tion to see what tine remains. So, bending over, he looks at his watch, and finds that it lacks ten minutes of eight. This is encouraging—if it does not change he will be almost on time. He takes out his handkerchief, and w pes his fade, for such rapid walking has heated his blood. Then he again breaks away, and moves rapidly along. Before twenty seconds have passed he makes a discovery that hardly pleases him. By chance he turns his head to learn what distance he has put between himself and the area of light from the shop window, when he sees several dark figures stealing af- ter him. There are three of them in all, and it does not need their skulking man- ner to tell the American that they are not honest men, These footpads in- fest all large c sties, not so much in our country as abroad, and yet there are scores of streets in New York, near the river,, perhaps, where a respect- able man takes his life in his hands if he saunters along at night. Here is a contingency which Jack does not exactly relish. In the first place these chaps will not fight like brave men, and this places him at a double disadvantage. Then again he must only use the revolver he carries. as a. dernier resort, for it is an easy thing to get mixed up in a scrape with the authorities in a Continental city, and the burden of sympathy is always against the foreigner, who is looked upon as a crow, to be universally plucked by inn -keeper and footpad alike, so long as his money is kept In the country. There are two things Jack can do under this streess of circumstances, and, after all, it is but a choice of evils—he may start on a run down the street, with these fellows after him, or else continue his rapid walk, and meet their attack when it comes. The first of these he is averse to do- ing under any and all circumstances, for he looks upon sucfi rascals as ver- min; hence, he concludesto go right along and meet danger as it flies. At any moment the assault may come, and he places his revolver in his left hand, where it is hidden by the folds of the coat he carries, and yet ready for instantaneous use. Instead of the cane growing lighter, he now reaches wkat appears to be the worst part of it. At this hour the city is not wrapped in silence by any means, but over this place, per- haps the abode 02 vice and sin, the gloom of a church -yard seems to rest, as though its inhabitants had tempor- arily forsaken it for more profitable fields of labour—the lighted squares, where cafes glitter and money abounds. Footsteps sound behind him. Doc- tor Jack realizes that his enemies have crept closer, and are about ready to spring upon him. The prospect of a stiletto in the back is not a very al- luring one to this man of the world, who in times past has always made it an object to keep his face toward the enemy, be it lion, panther, jackal, or mad bull in the arena. Consequently he believes the time has come to turn, and, wheeling half around in the way he faced the furious mob in the streets of Barcelona at the time his treacherous guide, Francisco Marti, betrayed him. The movement must have been in- spired by his good angel, for it saves his life. Just as he turns, something strikes him a severe blow—it is a. knife that had been meant for his heart through his back. Now it cuts into his coat a terrible gash that ruins the garment, as the blade passes through many folds, and just draws blued from his arm. Thus the little affair in the Calle San Pablo is commenced. Doctor Jack is a fair and square man he does not like to have the favours all on one side. Tit for tat is a good motto un- der the circumstances. Accordingly that terrible right arm of his, so admired by the observing Don Carlos, shoots forward with un- erring impetus. There is heard upon the night air a hollow thud, like the stroke of a trip hammer, and the stricken wreth measures his length ,up- on the cobble stones five feet away. By this time the other two have reached the spot. They either do not realize what has hapened to their companion, on account of thedark- ness, or else have determined to avenge his fail; for they come at the American at bay with the impetus' of twin cyclones. He is ready, to meet all corners. and so long as that superb arm fails him not, can render a good account of his stewardship. 7t is all over in almost a wink. The three ruffians have struck a snag ween they attack the wayfarer. Had they known that their intended victim was the hero of the bull -ring, about whom all Madrid is talking, money could never have hired thein to attempt an act. Every one of them has had a bitter experience with the muscle -knotted arm .of the athlete -the first still lies where he fell, and the other two are groaning as they attempt to crawl or stagger away. As for Doctor Jack, he has no com- plaint to make, but resumes his jour- ney toward the plaza, which will Boor loom up before him bright with eights. and gay with people, a tremendous contrast to the avenue which he has used in order to reach it. The last men' who leaned for him came near seizing his throat between his teeth, for he sprang at Jack in the manner of a bull -dog, but,the other gave him such a shaking, and hurled him against the wall with such t igan- tic power that the wretch must still be of the opinion that he is a sec- ond Don Quizote, and the person whom he meant to attack a, vengeful windmill. It is to be hoped this will end the matter, Jack thinks. Surely none of these discomfited. Spanish footpads will dare follow him, but there may be others just as bad, and quite a little space remains to be traversed ere he reaches his Eden. He keeps himself in readiness for such an emergency, but breathes a sigh of relief when, ahead, he sights the glowing plaza, and realizes that in all probability his adventures of the night are over, for, although such a remarkable adept in the use of his powers at a boxer, a fencer, and a marksman, Doctor Jack Evans always feels a reluctance about turning his gifts to account against any fellow human being, however vile. Presently he debouches from the dark calle into the plaza. It is little trouble now to find dozens of carriages when he does not want them—half an hour back he would have paid fifty dollars, or pesos, for a. vebicle. The Hotel Peninsular is not far away, being one of the best caravan- saries in the city of Madrid, and con- sequently adjoining the throbbing heart of the city, as the ever -lively Puerto del Sol is called. When Doctor Jack finds himself at the door of this building beyond all doubt, safe in body and limb, he again consults his faithful timepiece, and a grim smile of satisfaction wreathes his face as he sees that it still lacks two minutes to eight. He has won against all obstacles. " Just a breathing spell to wash my hands and brush my hair," he muses. So he finds his way to the wash- room of the hotel—he has seen better,. but never mind, many hotels on the Continent have none, so he feels he has reason for congratulation. Here he performs his ablutions, finds the skin on his knuckles a ''trifle scratched where it came in contact with the cranium of the first land pirate, runs a comb he takes from a pocket through his curly locks and moustache, then once more seats him- self in a stuffy little parlour, dimly lighted. waiting to be shown into the presence of the girl who has already' entered into his life, though he has known her but six hours instead of that many years. CHAPTER VIII. While he sits there waiting, Doctor Jack revolves a number of things in. his mind. He goes back to the min- ute when he first set eyes on Avis Morton, and in a general way remem- bers the conversation that ensued. Somehow or other he has a queer feeling at the prospect of seeing this girl again—he had never supposed Jack Evans would ever experience the pangs of love, but it is ever so. Tremendous difficulties have been surmounted in his endeavour to keep the appointment on time, and the manner in which he has brushed these aside show the kind of a man he is. Jack does not dare analyze his feel- ings toward Miss Morton. It has come upon him with the sudden rusb of an avalanche. He calls himself a fool, but that does not mend matters a particle. " Just as I always predicted. I said that if I ever did fall in love it would be like tumbling over a precipice head first," he mutters, with something of a woe -begone face, as though for once his iron will proves of little avail against the insidious force of the god Cupid, who has wrestled with him. Then he looks about the stuffy little room, taking secret pleasure in the an- ticipation, of what is before him. Time passes --the minutes seem hours to him. Why does not the messenger appear to show him up ? Can Miss Morton have other callers ? His mind becomes disturbed. He springs to his feet to pace the room, and thus ease himself of the str'nge feeling that makes him so nervous, when he comes face to face with the object of his thoughts, who enters the room, stuffy and dimly lighted no more, Jack thinks, for she brings radiance with her. " You are punctual, Doctor Jack,". she says, holding out her hand im- pul.sivel y, which he takes with an eagerness he does not disguise. " I began to, think I would be un- able to be so. Visiting at the house of a friend, I was pressed to stay, and did so until I believed I had just time enough to enter my carriage and come here. Upon bidding are Don good -night I found that my stupid driver had gone away, either temper - easily or for good. That gave rile but one alternative. I must walk here, for I could get no vehicle, and would not return , to worry my friends." . " And you did this ?" she asks, with wonder. " Nothing could hire me to go through those nari,ow streets after nightfall. I would he in constant fear of being robbed '+—something in his face catches her quick eye-" tell me, did you have an experience of this kind ?,' Tack' had not meant to speak of his little engagement—he is not the man to boast of his prowess—but with those eves upon him lie can not well get out of it. " There were several cowardly sneaks who thought to down .me. I foolishly took out my watch to consult the time, and I suppose they saw it. However, they failed to do me up." " You hardly look like a 'man who has gone through ` an encounter with footpads." (To be continued.) Bill Nye and the Cat. One winter . about 12 years ago I was visiting Bill Nye at his home in Hudson, Wis., for a few days, and one evening we were doing the chores preparatory to a good time later on in a euohre party. We were going from the woodshed to the back poroh, well loaded with stove wood, when it occurred to Nye that he would knock down a huge icicle that hung over the poroh steps, lest it should fall and hurt some one. At least this was what T thought was running in his head. He took a good, handy stove stink from the lbad on his left arm and threw it, as I sup- posed, at the ioiole, but the missile went far of the mark and killed a oat that was rubbing herself against a corner of the kitchen. "That's the way I always. do 'em," said Nye, utterly unperturbed, "No stray old strange oatcan come around here rubbing the paint off my new home in any suoh manner as that; hence she is my meat." Nye hadn't seen that oat until be had killed hers Chicago Tinges -Herald, Not Petty Larceny. "Sere," explained the guide, "are the imperial law courts. Yonder a roan is being tried for stealing a wife," "Yes, they are introduoing some of his old letters, in whioh he tells her haw very dear she is, the objeot being to prove grand lemony and not mere petty larceny," Even in the barbaric' domains of the sul- taxi tho protection of property appeared to be the first concern of the law,—Detroit Journal. A Useless Question. Cragin—I respeot a man who is really in search of information, but there are some personswho seem to ask questions simply for the sake of asking them. Digby— That's so. There's Ditmer, for instance. Ho asked mo today when I was going to pay that $10 I borrowed of him last month,—Boston Transcript. A KLONDIKE ROMANCE. Or, How Placer Pete Devised a Rapid Transit System. Placer Pete—Four hundred miles from Klondike and no way to get there. But look at them birds! "Well, we're off in a bunch!" "I'll jist let go of one and drop grade - ally l" "Oh, this ain't so worse, I guess!"— New York Journal. WOMAN'S DELIGHT. trope de chine in the loveliest tints im- agiaable will have, high place among ele gant dress textiles fortwo seasons to come, White bolts look well only on slender women, a. conclusion one reaches.daily ae they are behold oircling the ample waists of overstout persons. There will be a great vogue during the fall and winter seasons of repped silks of every description and Dolor, corded silk and wool and all wool materials. But very recently a mixture of many opposite colors in gowning was the rule. Parisians, from whom we take our initia- tive in fashion, are now declaring in favor of harmonies. The hardy Sootoh tweeds and cheviots bold a very favored place in the season ea - fore us tenting popular dress fabrics de- signed for traveling, shopping, walking and similar uses. Ribbon belts with loops and ends are still in high favor, and many fasten on the left side at the back, with two long,. slender standing and falling loops on the right in front, the standing ends reaching up well on the waist, Among autumn skirt models are many finished with throe very deep flounces, the three wholly covering the closely gored foundation, or there are many rows of tiny frills set on from belt to hem, and in this case the sleeves and upper portion of the waist are likewise trimmed, Overdresses appear caught up at one side, or in regular pointed apron style, some very long, the point reaching to the skirt hem, others in laveuse fashion, the lower edge faced with a bias fabric con- trasting in kind and frequently in Dolor with the material forming the overskirt. The latest flat of fashion is that only when they aoaompany a toilet or costume in black and white effects are white gloves stitohed with black any longer indispensa- ble for day wear. Doe calor, biscuit, mushroom, almond and pale brown and tan shades are, strictly spooking, more fashionable. --Now York Post. CURTAIN RAISERS. Charles A. ;Bigelow will have a promi- nent part in "The French Maid." Frank Perloy will manage the Bosto- nians and "The Sporting Duohess" this Beason. Paula Edwards will play the leading role in "Tire Whirl of the Town" when it goes on tour. Harry Bagge had only good things said of his performance in "The Privateer" by every oritic in New York.. Lillian Burkhardt, Charles Dickson's talented wife, is seriously considering a proposal to head a fine stook company. James O'\eill will make a special Lea- tore of "'The Dead Heart" this season, whioh be will revive in speotaoular form. If the Neer York .Baseball club wins the pennant, Frank McKee will be a rich man. The odds he obtained aro tremen- dous. Fanny Davenport begins her season on Oot. 18 at the Boston theater. It will last 26 weeks and embrace only the large cities,. Jacques Kruger and Clara Palma have boon apooiaily engaged by Rioh & Harris for important roles in "Courted Into Court." It is not generally known that Oliver Byron once was a pretty good tragedian. He played "Richard III," "Hamlet" and "Othello" when a young man. Charles B. Hanford, who accompanies Thomas W. Beene as leading man and manager, will appear at the Wednesday matinees in "Ingomar" and "Virglnius." Annie Irish has a strong part in "A Virginia Courtship," and it is said to be a prototype of Lady Gay Spanker. Eugons Presbrey, the author, has strengthened the role in view of Mies Irish's engage- ment by W. H. Crane to originate the character. HOWE'S HITS. It is terribly bard to do the right thing. It always seems an effort for some men to be good natured. Even if a man has nerve he d elikes for occasion to arise for using it. Some people 'have no appreciation of anything beyond something to eat. When a man is silent in a quarrel with his wife, it is because there is refuge in it. We have seen a good many web hens in our time, but have never yet seen one that was mad. Trying to economize makes enemies. As long as you turn your money loose you are a good fellow. A musical laugh is one brought forth by one of your own jokes. All other laughs are more or less grating. There are some men who don't know what greatness is until they have some ono working under thorn. We have only one objection to old'fash- ioned people -when you see anything you like particularly to eat they say it in 'not good" for you. • As soon as a man and his wife have saved up enough money to afford plums in their pudding their trouble begins in finding a competent girl to cook it. —Atch- ison Globe. BUSINESS. In progress there is originality. In originality there is progress. No now thing was ever built by a whol- ly conservative builder. No new thing was ever built by a whol- ly original builder. Success in business is neither in over - originality nor in overconservatism. The monument of success is made of equal pasts of conservatism and progressive originality. The fool can be original. The fool can be conservative. It is the wise man who uses both of these successful elements, so mixing thorn that the good of each enhances the value of tin, other and the bad in cacti dissolves by the bad in the other.—Hardware. THE INDIAN UPRISING. England is inclined to consider that In dian uprising as ameer Russe.—Washing= ton Post. That outbreak on the Indian frontier aeon's something more than ameer baga- telle to the Afghans. --Philadelphia Press. Turkey carving, instead of being carved, is now undoubtedly the dream of the Mo- hammedan world.—St. Louis Post -Dis- patch. It now suspected that :the sultan's 'am- bitions have progressed beyond the mere massacre of Armenians and that he bas stimulated the Mohammedans in India to undertake a similar enterprise with refer- enoe to Englishmen.—Washington Star. • THE FRUIT HARVEST. How to Save TInoh Handling and Conse- quent Binising of the Fruit. The methods of the commercial or, thardist are not those of the average farmer with from 10 to 100 barrels of fruit to care for, though in some points the methods of each ought to be similar. For instance, the small and the large CATCH SHEET Or CLOTH'. grower alike ought, if possible, to piok all fruit from the trees, since only un- bruised fruit can be depended upon to keep well. It is a ,fact, however, that nine farmers out of ten gather their ap- ples by shaking the trees violently, thus bringing the fruit to the ground in a shower. Pounding upon each other as they fall, it is small wonder that almost every individual apple becomes bruised. Many farmers continue this practice, while realizing its evils, because they cannot seem to find tine to pick the fruit or find help to do it. As a good step in advance of the plan of shaking the fruit to the ground a plan originally illustrated in The Country Gentleman is here reproduced: A largo sheet of cloth is provided, with an opening in the center, as shown. This opening has a stout draw string run into its edge, so that it can be drawn up about the tree trunk and firmly tied. Rings are sewed to the edges, and the sheet is supported 'beneath the tree as shown. One side is made slightly high- er than the other, so that the fruit will gently roll toward the basket. This plan will save an enormous amount of bruising. When one can do so, itis wise to have a quantity of crates provided, so 4.' \\%.10110.11", CATCH SHEET IN POSITION. that a wagon box can be filled with the full orates and thus hauled to the cellar or other storage place. This saves much handling and consequent bruising of the fruit. Disease of the Baster Lily. A bulletin has been issued from the agrricultural department on the disease of the Easter lily, which destroys in this country from 20 to 60 per cent; of the entire crop, exclusive of the bulbs which fail to grow or that make worth- less plants, the loss from which ranges from b to even 80 per cent. The disease is characterized by spotting and distor- tion of the'leaves and flowers, and usu- ally the stunting of the plants. The principal causes assigned are wornont soil, premature removal. of flowers and Sower stems, premature harvesting of bulbs, carelessness in se lection of propagating stock, bad treat. went during the forcing and the depre- dation of insects. As remedies it is sug- gested that only strong and vigurous plants be used for propagation, crop ro- tation should bepracticed, chemical fer- tilizers used and premature digging avoided. Culture of Gloxinias. Mr. Hogan, writing in Gardening, says on the culture of gloxinias: I plant the dry bulbs in a mixture of dry sphagnum moss, chopped fine and mixed with sand, so that when the bulbs make roots they can bo lifted out of the moss without breaking the roots. As soon as a good start is made and two or three ieages show they are potted in. light soil composed of one part good pot- ting soil and one part leaf mold and sand mixed together. We are very careful about the. watering, When the bulbs are in the moss, they are given plenty of water, being careful to sprinkle any ilry spots on the moss. They are kept in t temperature of 65 to 70 degrees at night, with 10 to 15 degrees more in the daytime. We consider it essential not to wet the leaves, and we give shade as soon as the sun gets so hot there is danger of burning.• `,American Pomological Society. At the twenty-fifth biennial session of the American Pomological society at Columbus, 0., the Iowa nurseeeenan L. atrous was elected president to succeed P. J. Berckmans, who has held the *Mice of president tot many years. Other officers are G. W. Campbell, Del- aware, 0., vice president; W. A. Tay= lot, Washington, secretary; L. R. Taft, Agricultural college, Michigan, treas- urer. The membership fee was reduced from $4 to $2. It is probable that the society will meet next year at Boston.