The Exeter Advocate, 1896-9-3, Page 2THE ENDICOTTS.
By 01{ARLES L LEWIS (X. QUAD),
LOopyright, 1893, by Charles B. Lewis.]
The old king's highway, running al-
most due east and west between the cap-
ital cities of Indiana and Illinois, was
the favorite route of people "moving
west" by wagon. It was a stage route,
and there were roadhouses or country
taverns at frequent intervals. Many of
these buildings, con,verted into farm-
houses, are still standing, while others
were abandoned when the railroad was
opened and have long since passed out
of sight. Within a few miles of the line
dividing the two states the highway
winds up a long hill. On the crest, on
the north side of the road, are the black -
MAL There was a tavern live miles
west of Golden Hill. The pece.le were
up at 5 o'clock, but no such man as War-
dell had passed.
Hooper, as the officer was named, lo-
cated the disappearance between the two
taverns. Then he went over every rod
of the foiest, found nothing and prob-
ably came to the conclusion that War-
dell was put out of the way at Golden
Hill. It is judged that he did, because
he exchanged horses, shaved off his full
beard, exchanged his clothes and took a
new start, which would bring him there
about dark. That night there were
three other guests -all men. One was
ill and did not go to the table or sit in
the barroom, while the other two saw a
• fourth man about and even talked with
him, but could not remember whether
he wore whiskers or not and did not see
his horse at all. One thought he ate
breakfast with them, the other not.
Well, it soon came to pass that the
deputy was being searchedfor. He made
No. 3, and now there was, a demand that
the gang of robbers and murderers be
broken up at any cost, Everybody said
there must be a gang, but no one could
locate them or advance any proofs. At
one time more than 100 people were
searching the woods and fields along the
highways, and in the course of a month
a score of strangers were arrested on
suspicion. All identified themselves and
were discharged from custody, and the
mystery was complicated instead of be-
ing cleared up.
Just as the hue and cry were begin-
ning todie out a man named Abner
Williams, living in Grand Rapids, had
business which called him to Indianapo-
lis. He drove across the country with
a fine team, and the horses were sold in
Indianapolis. Williams was an invent-
or and had twit or three patent rights.
It was in connection with. these that he
traveled about the state and finally set
out for Illinois by the state road, as it
was called. He had heard all about the
three mysterious disappearances, and
like all others he supposed it was the
work of highway bandits. He had sev-
eral hundred dollars in cash with him,
and he was also well armed. He rode a
valuable black horse, and he gave out to
his friends that he should keep his eyes
wide open and give a good account of
himself if attacked.
Mr. Williams, as he afterward related,
reached the Golden Hill tavern about 8
o'clock in the afternoon. He intended
to ride on for at leas; 10 miles, but when
his horse came out of the barn after a
light feed he had cast a shoe. It was
two miles back to a blacksmith shop,
and Endicott offered to send his man
Tom with the horse. The blacksmith
afterward said that the shoe had been
pried off in the barn The horse was
not returned until about dark, and
Williams then decided to remain all
night. Some immigrants ate supper,
and there were three teamsters to stay
an night.
In pursuance of a policy he had out-
lined, Williams told each of these men
who he was, his business and where he
was going. He told them that under no
circumstances should be set out until
after breakfast, and something was said
aboet trading horses next morning,
Williams was given a bedroom off the
dining room. It had a window and a
second door, both opening on the back
yard. There was only a strip of carpet
on the floor. while the furniture was
poor and scanty, but it was the beat
room in the house.
A. TaaPDOon was LIPTED
ened foundation stones 'of the old Golden
Hill tavern, destroyed by fire years ago,
Forty rods east of the site is a deep gul-
with a creek at the bottom, except in
dry weather. The farmer who owns
the land will tell you that this place is
called Dead Man's gully and that for
the last 26 years the number of sight-
seers has averaged 500 a year. They
have worn a broad path from the site of
the house to the bank of the gully.
The Golden Hill tavern, as it was
known in the old days, was presided over
by a man known as Bill Endicott. It
was not a stage station, but nevertheless
a favorite house with travelers. The
man was scarcely 5 feet high., weighed
only about 100 pounds, and it was the
general opinion that he was about gone
with consumption. His wife was a sin-
gular contrast. She was 6 feet 1 inch in
height, weighed 160 pounds and was as
stout as the average man. Both man
and wife were glum and unsociable and
the very opposite of other landlords, but
the fare was better and the price cheap-
er than anywhere else on the road. No
one ever found out whether Endicott
was their real name or just where they
name from. but it was generally sup-
posed they had come up from Kentucky.
he. landlord was assisted by a man
about 30 years old, whom everybody
called Tom, and the landlady by a young
woman who might have been single or
Tom's wife. They were as glum as their
employers -even more so. Tom had so
little to say thatmany travelers thought
him dumb. The wants of guests were
always promptly attended to, however,
and while they thought the quartet
"queer" there was no cause for com-
plaint.
The tavern on the hill had been. open
about two years when strange rumors
passed up and down the road. Many
people passed to and fro on horseback.
One day an Indianapolis drover named
Alonzo E. Baker set out for Illinois to
buy cattle. He was a well known char-
acter, and the horse he rode was known
to stage drivers and others. Nothing
being heard of him for two months, his
wife sent a man over the route he was
supposed to have taken. Baker was
traced to Golden Hill and no farther.
He was met by acquaintances within
two miles of the tavern, and it being al-
most dark it was inferred that he would
put up there. Endicott kept no regis-
ter. When asked for information, he
stated thatBaker had stopped there for
supper and to feed his horse and had
then pushed on, saying that he had been
delayed during the day and must make
up for it.
The search was continued for weeks,
other parties having been induced to
take it up by the reward offered, but
neither Baker nor his horse was to be
found. While this search was going on.
a sevond was instituted. A resident of
Columbus, 0. named John Wardell
made a trip to 'Indiana to visit a brother.
While there he was offered a bargain in
lands near Hillsdale, ilis., and he set out
on horseback with over $1,000 in money
on his person. Wardell was a very tall
man, with very long black whiskers,
and he roe a white horse. When noth-
ing had been heard from him for several
weeks, his brother began a search, lie
was not only traced to the G -olden Hill
tavern, but men were found who put up
there with him. When Endicott was
questioned, he replied:
••1 remember the man very well. On
going to bed he requested to be called at
daylight, and my wife prepared. a special
breakfast for hire. He rode away to the
west."
It was useless to ask further questions,
for Endicott knew nothing more. None
of the other guests was up at daylight,
and so none could dispute his statement.
When a most thorough search failed to
unravel the mystery, people settled down
to the belief that a band. of robbers made
their headquarters in a thick piece of
4voods between the Golden Hill tavern
and the next stop. This forest was pret-
ty thoroughly searched, but the search-
ers made no discoveries. No tavern
, keeper on the route was under suspicion.
Horse thieves and highway robbers were
plentiful in those days, and they were
held accountable for the two murders.
The reWara. offered in the case of -W ar-
dell induced a deputy sheriff at Decatur,
Els., to take up the trails ffe began at
'the Indiana end and followed it to Gold-
en Hill. He got 1: P Same replies from
Endicott that others had received, but he
did not give up there. He found, for
instance, that a stage going east had
stopped for the night on that night at a
tavern 10 miles to the west. le had. left
at 5 o'clock in the morning, but had not
met "Virardell. It had been followed by
three tearastere, but they had not met
of after vision. According to his own
story, he did not lose consciousness when
struck. The landlord evidently thought
one blow suffioient. After striking it he
opened the back deor and let his wife in,
and as they stood before the bed she
asked:
"Do you think you finished him?"
"He's dead as a log?" was his reply.
"Well, let's get the money and. dispose
Of the body. Tom went away with the
horse an hour ago."
After removing ewerything frona his
garments the woman made a bundle of
them. • She then sat down on the edge
sf the bed, Worked her •right arm under
WilliatuV body, and with a half twist
got him on her back. He was a man
weighing 160 pounds ,and was all dead
Weight, but she carried him without an
effort, and the husband. went ahead with
a lantern which had been left at the
back door when she came in. At 50 feet
• from the back door they were in the
scrub. They inade‘straight for the ra-
vine, and upon reaching it the body was
flung into its depths.
You will think it curious, but the
liaree teamsters arose in the morning
and made no inquiry after Williams.
When Endicott incidentally remarked
that his other guest left before they were
up, they did not regard it as strange.
• They went their way and even forgot
his name. Williams remained at the
bottom of the ravine the rest of that
night and all the next day, dimly con-
scious all the time of his situation. Soon
after dark he revived sufficiently to
quench his thirst at a little pool, and
then he became fully conscious. He
could not walk, but all night long he
• was crawling through the woods to get
as far away as possible, expecting the
murderers would come that night to
dig his grave.
He spent the next day in the woods,
but about dark reached the highway and
hailed a passing team. Being left at a
tavern about 10 miles from Golden Hill,
a doctor was summoned, and it was a
week before he could tell his story.
Meanwhile the Endicotts had taken the
alarm and fled, and none of the house-
hold was ever captured. In Dead Man's
gully, only lightly covered with earth,
were the remains of the three missing
men. The tavern keeper doubtless
worked. in conjunction with a gang of
horse thieves, and Tom was the man
who rode the animals off to the point
where they were turned over. Failing
to get trace of the murderers, the indig-
nant pe.ople gutted the tavern and then
applied the torch, and the stranger who
travels that highway today will be told
by every farmer he meets to be sure • to
stop and view the spot.
ae,
_
—
-
e
Tun ITCSBAND WENT AllEAD WITEI A. LAN-
TERN.
Williams was not a drinking man, but
he took a whisky after supper, and upon
his retiring to his room the landlord in-
sistea that he take a "nightcap." This
was imbibed when the traveler was ready
for bed. He saw that the doors were
fast, but it being in summer and the
night rather close Williams left the win-
dow open. The drink left a queer taste
in his mouth. He fell asleep almost at
once, but after about an hour suddenly
awoke. Instead of beingnervous or rest-
less he was calm and quiet and felt that
it would be a great exertion to even
move a finger. He lay on his right side,
facing the room, and there was enough
light to enable him to make out all ob-
jects.
Willianas had no doubt been given
some sort of narcotic inthe liquor. After
the first effects he was stupefied only to
a certain extent. His brain was . active
enough, but his nerves were benumbed
and his muscles relaxed. He heard the
old clock in the dining room strike 11,
Nail he theught it was about 10 minutes
later when a trapdoor in the floor of his
root/land just opposite the bed was lifted
ap. A calelle was first lifted up and
placed on the flout by an arm, and then
Endicott followed. Williams could
neither move MT cry out. • It flashed
• aceoss his mind that the three missing
men had been killed in this very room
anti that he was to be 'victim No. 4, but
he was helpless. The landlord was
armed with somethings which looked like
a club, This wmipou afterward proved
• to bean iron bolt wrapped in a cloth.
Ho came over to Williams, looked at hien
for a few seconds and then struck him
on the head. ,
Medical men have differed as to Wil-
liams' condition.. Some believed that
everything happened just as he relaiad
it, while ethers insisted that it was a sort
Modern Book Criticism.
The "new criticism" again! In a no-
tice of the works of the great Hungarian
novelist, 'Moritz Jokai, the Pester Lloyd
gravely observes that up to the publica-
tion of his latest story. Jokai has used
exactly 70.816.404 letters. The compil-
ing of a concordance to an author is a
severe work, but is arithmetical ,child's
play compared with this novel feat of
reckoning up his precise amount of debt
to the alphabet. But the very newest
criticism is not to end here, it would
seem, for the critic goes from the A B 0
book to the compositor to inquire the
exact weight of the type used for Jokai's
70,000,000 and odd letters, He is in-
formed that Jokai's contributions to the
national literature, estimated from the
leaden point of view, weigh nearly 35-
500 kilograms.
"If the type was laid lengthwise," says
our end of the century critic, "it would
extend to a distance of 145 kilometers" -
that is. say, about 20 English miles -
"while," he continues, "if it were piled
up on end it would attain to an eleva-
tion 48 times as high as the Eiffel tower."
This is certainly treating Jokai as a man
of letters. -Westminster Gazette.
SOME ODD STORIES..
INTERESTING TALES OF ADVENTURE
ON SEA AND LAND.
k Voyage to the West Coast of Africa Forty
Years Ago -Attacked by Cannibals and
Saved by the Vision of a Vessel In the
Sky -The Mutiny Ended.
[Copyright. 1893. by American Press Associa-
tion.)
"1 was only 19 years old when I shipped
the first time," said my friend, the old sail-
or "The craft was a brig called the Swal-
low, and she was bound for the west coast
of Africa, having a cargo of cotton cloth,
boots and shoes, ruin in casks, needles,
brass kettles, cutlasses, old muskets and
other stuff that could be readily traded for
gold dust, nuggets and ivory with the nee
lives. In those days, more than 40 years
ago, fortunes were made in this trade, but
times have changed since then.
"We had another object besides taading,
tor we were instructed to look after the
schooner Ella Noble, which had sailed for
the very locality to which we were bound
and had never returned. What had become
of her was a mystery, for although she was
spoken when within a day's sail of the
African coast no further tidings had come
from her, and it was feared she had met
with some fatal disaster.
Labouehere Talks of Love.
On few subjects is there more non-
sense talked than on love. .9. girl begias
life with a dose of unattached affection.
Some one asks her to marry him, on
which she concentrates this affection
upon him. If some one else had asked
her, the concentration would have taken
place on the some one else. Having be-
come betrothed, she considers that she is
in that peculiar condition which is called
being in love. The best guarantee, how-
ever, for a happy marriage is not so
much being in love as a certain fitness of
things and a reasonable liking between
the contracting parties. If both tee
pleasant in their relations to each other,
the mere fact of living together and. hav-
ing identical interests develops affec-
tion. I know that this view of matri-
mony is contrary to the ideas accredited
in novels. It is, however, true. -Henry
Labouchere in London Truth.
Good For Man and Beast.
The movement started by a company
here to have its drivers scientifically
informed concerning horses and their
proper treatment cannot be too highly
commended or too widely imitated.
While some men are naturally cruel and
take pleasure in inflicting pain, they are
very few, the majority injuring the ani-
mals under their power more from ig-
norance than from their intention. Be-
sides the gain to humanity this step. is
also one of sound economic policy, as the
proper treatment of horses preserves
their health. and strength; and thus pro -
'bugs their usefulness. Men cannot too
on discover for their own good that
eruelty, voluntary or involuntary, is a
reactionary evil. -Baltimore American.
"CANOES KITTEN (ter FROM SITOREin
"The crew was mostly made up of the
roughest men tound 10 shipping offices and
atoms the water front, for the voyage was
not a desirable one, as there was sure to be
no little risk of life, and the food could not
be the best procurable by any means. I
was not at all favorably impressed by my
messnuttes. but my head was full of foolieh
notions about the romance in a cruise to
Africa, and 1 was more than eager to go.
Some of the romance faded what I was put
an salt rations and compelled to do the
duty of a common before -the -mast sailor.
be captain was a brutal fellow. as he
needed to be in order to command such, a
crew and keep them in subjection. He bad
IL voice like a foghorn and a scowl that was
black as a thtualerclond. The first mate
was a Spaniard named Corello. He had a
fiery temper and a heavy hand. but I fan
cied faira more than the skipper,
'For Rome reason Corello seemed to take
a liking to rue, itud L afterward had cause
to thank nip good fortune this was true.
He was not nearly so hard ou me as he
might have been, although I felt that my
lot was quite hard enough.
"It was not long after leaving port that I
observed queer actions among the sailors.
There was a great deal et' muttering, and
sometimes I wonld espy some of the men
with thew beads together, talking in low
tones. I did not like this, and so I told the
mate about it. He looked at me queerly,
saying guardedly:
" 'Marc caire. Zese men no like a tate
tier If zey hear you tell t'ings, some time
you get'- He finished by drawing his fin-
ger across his throat in a significant man-
ner
"From that time 1 felt sure there was
trouble brewing, but I remembered the
warning and was careful to keep my mouth
shut. My dislike for the captain increased,
and I actually grew to detest the mau after
saw him knock down with a marlin spike
a sick man whom he had ordered aloft, but
who was unable to mount the ratlines.
"During the first part of the voyage the
captain and Corello got along well enough,
and we had sighted the African coast when
they had their first quarrel. The skipper
attempted to bully the Spaniard, as was
his custom with the regular men, and Cor-
ello flared up in an instant. Hot words
followed. All at once the master grabbed
ap a light running block and flung it at
the mate's bead.
"The aim was true enough, but Corello
dodged. Then the skipper caught up a be-
laying pin and started for the Spaniard. I
saw a flash of steel, and Corello fell back
against the main hatchway, a knife in his
band. With a Spanish oath, he swore he
would out the captain's heart out if an at-
tempt was made to strike him with the be-
laying pin.
-For a little time the two men looked
straight Into each other's eyet, and then the
captain's hand fell. 1 expected. he would
order that Corello be seized and put in
Mous, but he did nothing of the kind. In-
stead he retired to his cabin, and I saw a
singular smile playing about the mate's
month. while 1 fancied there was a burning
power in his black eyes.
''Th at night Oorello came to me as I stood
my watch. He touched me lightly on the
arm, whispering:
'"I save you. Don't you be scare when
time come.' Then he was gone.
"I felt that a mutiny was threatened, and
I was in doubt about what to do. 1 did not
mean to join the mutineers, andI had about
determined to report my suspicions to the
captain when I was relieved from the watch.
A.s I was going forward I saw two forms
and heard the voice of Corello saying:
'Not this night. Tomorrow.'
"rhis relieved my feelings somewhat,
and I dared not attempt to arouse the skip-
per then, as 1 knew he would make a terri-
ble racket about it, so I went to my bunk.
I didn't sleep much, but thesnight passed
Without further iacident.
"Morning found , us becalmed at the
mouth of a large river. The sun came up
red and scorching, making the water shim-
mer like burniehed silver. Not a breath of
air tippled the surface of the sen or fluttered
the canvas we spread. By 9 o'clock a eort
of bluish gray haze crept over the sky, but
She heat was none the less oppressive. .
"The captain walked the deck and raved.
'Do you know where we are?' he snarled. at
Corello. 'The natives who inhabit this
.country are cannibals! What if -they should
take a fancy to attack as now? We'd all
be served iti soup and roasts!'
"The skipper seemed to blame the mate,
and in les.s than three minutes another row
bad begun. This time the master did or-
• der 'Soren° seized and ironed. But the m-
ike was tot obeyed. Not a man moved to
carry out the command. Instead the sail-
ors stood scowling at their captain.
" 'What's this?' he roar'ed, his face grow -
• trying a Stork by Jury.
What wonderful stories are told about
storks! A certain Baron Burchink told
Mrs. Andrew Crosse the following, which
she had printed. It is a story of a trial
'by a jury of storkS;
A male stork, having some grievance
with his mate, determined not to take,
the law into hie own hands, but let a
jury of his peers decide mathe case. The
baron says the storks selected an open ,
field, where they formed a circle and
met eliagailty lady M their midst. They
had a discussion, the outetasie of which
.Was that six birds left the ring and
pecked theniafertimate offender to death:
;ng black. 'Do you refuse te obey roe? By
e-1, this is mutiny!'
" 'We are seek of you,' calmly said Corea
'o.• 'We serve you ze way ze ()instable of ze
Ella Noble was serve. Grab him, ladsr
'Me skipper snatched out a pistol and
retreated a few steps, swearing to. blow out
the brains of the first man who, tried to'
touch him.' I saw a Portuguese creeping
catlike up behind the man, and I knew the
brig would soon be in the possession of the
mutineers unless some unforeseen moues
rence prevented. ,
"At this very instant landed Downes, a
cock eyed old tar, shouted:
"'Canoes puttin off 'from' shore loaded
with blackskins! There's piles of 'em, an
they're all armed, We're in for a fight!'
"In one instant the mutiny was over.
Every man realized our peril, and they
jumped to the rail to get a look at the 'ap-
proaching canoes.' Downes had told the
truth. A regular war party of the canni-
bals were coming off to attack the 'brig.
'Muskets and cutlasses, men!' thun-
dered the captain. 'Train the gun on 'Lem
auchblow 'era Out cif waterr
"Oar Only chance was to fight, and that
chalice was really a slim one, as we were
badly prepared for such an • encounter.
Our heavy gun was a rusty old thing, and
it was doubtful if it would do much excel/ -
don. But we were not destined to fire a.
shot.
"Suddenly a great cry went up from the
throats of the natives, and the canoea sat
motionless on the glassy water, while the
blaek faces of their inmates were turned
upward.
"'Great God! Look there!'
"The sailor who uttered the cry pointed
almost directly overhead, and there we saw
a most astounding spectacle. A 2 -Masted
schooner turned bottom upward seemed to
hang susganded in the air amid the bluish
haze that overspread the sky! Every sail
was set, but they hung idle like our own,
as if she were also becalmed, We could
look directly upon the deck, but not a liv-
ing thing seemed stirring about her. She
was deserted.
"But the most singular part of it all is
that I could read her name, and I ssvear she
was the lost schooner Ella Noble of New
Bedford, Mass.
"In a few moments she began to fade
from view. Dimmer and dimmer grew her
outlines, and she was filially swallowed up
and lost in the haze. When we looked at
the cannibals, every canoe was scooting for
the shore as fast as paddles could send them,
Those natives were the wont scared lot you
ever saw, and 11e had no mere trouble with
them.
"1 suppose it is easy enough to account
for the vieiou of the vessel in the sky by
calling it a inirmse. but sailors are mighty
superstitious, and there were some sober
men on the Swallow after that. No further
offer at mutiny 1111S made, and everything
moved sinoot lily to the end of the voyage.
"13ut we didn't find the Ella Noble, and
she has never been heard of since."
• THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
LESSON X.,. THIRD QUARTER -IN-
TERNATIONAL SERIES -SEPT, 6. 1
€reictan Text-`41lessed are they that dwe11,1
in thy house ;„ they wiU be still praising
thee.."--resalm 311: 4. •
After the dectisive Victory describedin
our last lesson, David returned to .Temsalem. Then followed several years of
-
peaceful development of the Kingdom.
• David's early exposures, his wars, and.
great cares left him a worn-out man be-
fore he was seventy.
• David had accomplished nearly all of
his liciart'S desire as to his kingdom. He.
found it small, he left it great. He found
religion at a low ebb, and left it earnest,
active, • organized for work. But there
was one great work on which he had set
his heart which he could not accomplish,
the rearing of a temple worthy of the,
religion of the true God..
David believed that If the heart was ,
right with God, things' would of them- '
selves go right with men. Solomon ware
willing to, receive the counsel of David.
Though young, high-spirited, of princely ,
rank, and already annotated King,he
bowed to listen to his aged father. Les-
sons of reverence for age and respect to
parents are to be drawn from this.
The Lesson -1 Citron. 22 ; 6403. '
7 And. David said to Solomon, My son,
as for me, it is in Iny mind to build. an
house untothe name of the Lord my
Clod.
8 But the word of the Lordl mime to
me, saying, Thou hest shed blood abund-
antly, and hest made great wars; thou
shalt not build an house unto my liarue,
because thou hest shed much blood upon
the earth in my sight.
David is not blamed for his great
wars. They were necessary wars, not
wars of aggression, but defensive wars,
OP keep the enemies of tho trne religion
from destroying the nation and the re- 1
legion it represented.
It was fitting- that the temple of the
true God for all the world sbOuld be a
temple of peace. It wee, intended to pro- .
claim peace, to bring peace, to teach -
peace to individuals and to nations.
9 Behold, kt son shall be bora to • thee,
who shall be a man of rest; and I will
give him 'rest from all his enemies round
about; for his name shall be ,Solom on ;
and I will give him peace and quietness
unto Israel in his days.
10 He shall build On holm for
name; and he shall be my son,and
1)9 his father; and. I will establish
tempo of his kingticen over Israel
The Leap of the Puma.
We were following the mule path that
winds over the Andes from Santa Rosa,
Chili, to Mendoza, in the Argentiue confed-
eration. We had left the Rio Blauco behind
US at midday, and now with the declining
sun turnieg the $uowy sununits above us
to molten gold we paused aud gazed upon
the awe inspiring masees of mountains
piled on every band, below. about and above
as. It was a scene that struck me dumb -
a sight never to be forgotten.
Suddenly the gaucho touched me lightly
on. the arm and polluted far down the mail.
"Look, senor!" he said excitedly.
saw a dark, crouching figure climbing
steadily and swiftly up the trail, steep and
difficult though it was. There was some-
thing familiar about that form, which I
perceived to be a man.
"Who is he?" I asked in Spanish.
"A ladrone-a mount:tie robber, We saw
him at the Ilio Blanco. Ile seemed to be
sleeping in the shadow by the station."
I remembered the fellow, although 1 had
scarcely given his a second look as lie lay
curled up by the mud wall of the mouutain
station, apparently sound asleep. Now it
was plain he had been shamming slumber,
and he was following ue with evil intent.
When we were sleeping soundly at night,
it was his thought to creep in upon us.
With swift and deadly thrusts his keen cu-
chilla would steal away our lives, and then
our mules, our packs and all we possessed
would be his.
He had not seen as, and so was uncon-
&Mous of being watched.
All at once a low cry left my lips:
"What is that?"
I had seen a huge, tawny, catlike figure
Shat crept swiftly to the brink of an aver -
hanging rock
rock and crouched close on its
belly. My companion saw it also, but be-
fore he could answer my question the beast
shot through the air.
Fairly on the shoulders of the mountain
robber lauded the great cat, knocking the
man flat in an instant. Over and over they
rolled, fightiug fiercely. The struggle was
brief and terrible, being brought to a ter-
mination in an unexpected manner. Over
the brink of a great precipice plunged the
combatants, disappearing in the unmeasur-
ed depths of a mighty abyss, the death cry
of the doomed man mingling with the howl-
ing snarl of the animal,
"That was a puma," said the gaucho
calmly. "The ladrone will not trouble us
tonight, senor."
Pt/eventing the Cattle Plague.
As our tarantass approached a small Rus-
sian village an tlee river !shim we observed
signs of nnusual excitement, Coming near
er, I saw a large number of cattle within
the limits of the collection of huts and poor
houses, while a strange procession was mak-
ing its way laboriously and noisily in a cir-
cle around the town.
First came a haglike' woman who must
have been at. least 8J years of age, and to
my amazement I saw she was dragging a
plow, while other women wore beating her
and goading her on with sticks. The en-
tire female population of the village was
following ba a long line, carrying pieces of
irou wbich they clanked together, beating
on tin dishes and chanting in a weird and
doleful man n er.
But what astonished Inc most was .the
sight of a woman who kept pace with the
one who was dragging the plow. She was
stripped of every srmed of clothing, but
about her neck she wore a horse collar. A
howling dog, evidently having espied us,
darted oat of the town and attempted to
cross the mark made by the plow, hut he
was immediately caught ad instantly
killed.
• Turning to my companion, I asked what
they were doiug,
"They are taking precautions against the
cattle plague," he replied. "The woman
who draws the plow is the oldest fenfale of
the village. The one wearing the horse
collar is a widow. All their cattle are with. -
in the circle they will make with that plow.
The dog they just killed was supposed to
he possessed of the plague, which caused
htm to try to escape from the eirele."
' They did not seem to notice our appear-
nitutoclevatuatie Isnap-eartsethiteidoutshopesatsraalangt: ueneiteall
the taraatass carried me beyond view.
WiLeaseet G. PATTEN.
my
will
the
Lan -
even.
David hail brought his kingdom to the
most favorable condition for a vontinued
peace. All the eouquered nations were
tribntary, and paid heavy taxes. But
what NVI1S the principle thing, true fear
of God prevailed througont the land.
Solonion means Peaceful correspond..
ing to the German Friedrich, Bich in
• peace.
11 Now, my son, the Lord be with
thee; and prosper thou, and build the
hous of the Lord thy Gad, as he bath
said to thee
Id Only the Lord give the wisdom and #
understanding, and give thee charge con-
cerning Israel, that thou mayest keep the
law of the Lord thy God.
God will be with us when we go to
him, live in communion with him, and
meek to know and do his will.
Solomon's great work was to build the
house of the Lord. It was for this work
that God chose him to be King.
No work requires more wisdom than
the Lord's work. And only lie can give
the true wisdom.
Wisdom and understanding would lead
lain to keep the law of the Lord. There
is no way to usefulness and success in
doing God's work exoept by a careful
obedience of bits law.
13 Then shalt thou prosper if thou ;
takest heed to fulfil the statutes and .
judgments which the Lord. charged
elosee with concerning Israel; be strong
and of good courage; dread not, nor be
dismayed.
God wants to prosper us. He greatly
desires our happiness but he cannot re- '
ward disobedience or prosper those who
refuse to walk in the only way that can '
bring true prosperity, through holiness.
Therefore, we must fulfil our part of the
covenant.
There would be hindrances, enemies,
discouragements, delays, and inaumera- .
ble trials, as there always are in doing a
good andgreat work, so there was need
for him to be strong and. of good courage.
14 Now, behold, inemy trouble 1 have
prepared for the house of the Lord an
hundred thousand talents of gold, and a
thousand thousand talents of silver; and
of brass and iron without weight; for it
is in abundance: timber also and stone
hews I prepared; and thou mayest add.
Ciento.
15 Moreover, there are workmen with
thee in abutalance, hewers. and workere
of stone and timber, and all manner of
cunning men for every manner of work.
16 Of the gold, the silver, and the
brass, and the iron, there is no number.
Arise, therefore'and be doing, and the
Lord be with theo.
There are two ways in which talents of
gold may be reckoned. One is to regard
talent as 150 much weight of gold.
In which case a shekels weight of gold
le worth $9.60 and a talent's weight $98,-
800. ..A. talent of silver is worth $1,900.
But there is another way of reckoning.
It is possible that the talent meant .
a certain value in silver, whether the
Amount was accumulated in gold or
silver. •' *
God IA building a spiritual temple in :
the world, and. also one in the soul of
each of his children. For both the same
things are needed. In both it is blessed
to see the Work going on.
• God's temple is built in peace. •
Clod needs not only the gifts of the
rich, and great, but the gifts of all. The
blessings have come to all. Let all give •
foi: the Lord's work.
A Perfume for Clothes.
A pleasant powder for perfuming
elothest packed away, which' it is said,
will keep out moths, is madeas follows: I
Put in a mortar an ounce eaoh of clove% I
nrameg, mace, cinnamon, caraway seeds,
wed tonquin beans. Pound them to a
poevder with six ounces of MIS. rasa
Fill little bags' made of muslin with tali
powder, and lay them among the cloth-
ing.
-
•
rtnowtoneetteg. •
The sunnier girl evil° goes in for colt
looting everything • is sure to be f esche-
ated by all the new pillows. Many Phil-
adelphia girls have' already 'large pollee-,
tious at downy cushions. 0310 girl In
parameter, who is soon to leave town on t
hoe summer venation, has bought an
extra size trunk for the express purpose.
ef carrying her pillows.