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The Brussels Post, 1900-11-15, Page 7lION ';'Ill " MYSTERIOUS CRIME THE 8.8. NEPTUNE DRAFTER XVTI,—Continued, Ronald looked up suddenly.. "What are you going to do next?" lie atilcxl, wearily, "Wait, and see Roper. De id op his way deo, and I should not be our prised it he oame in the oame boat With her. So he nine, perhaps; give us clearer Information than we have already received," Ronald groaned..' "This is the irony of fate," he said, in a dull voice. "Had I known haw this ease was likely to affect the woman hove beet In the world, I would not have under- taken 1t, and the thing might have re- mained a mystery for ever,' "Possibly," replied Foster, pointedly; "but you forget, others might have taken it up. Besides, when you start- ed/ In the ease you did not love Miss 'Cotoner, and, moreover, did not know how closely she. was connooted with the author of the crime." [Ronald rose to bis feet and took his hat and stink.. "n am going to the hotel," he said, "to lie dowse I feel quite worn out." "When may I see you egain1" asked Foster, accompanying him to the door. "To -morrow, when Roper arrives," and Monteith loft the room without saying good -by. "Poor boy 1" said Gerald, as he went back to his work, "ho is very much out up -anal no wonder! Where will it all end; I 'expcot in smoke ; because the evidence istoo slight, even'. to convict that woman: Well, we shall see when Roper arrives." Ronald walked along the crowded street as in a dream, and paid no at- tention to the buzz of voices around and the noise of the traffic. So propos caplet' wee he with his own sad thoughts that he did not see that a man • was walking beside him, till the latter spoke, aryl then he looked up with a start, and saw Vassalla look- ing at him with an assumed smile. "Eh, snee friend;" said the Marchese, lightly, "In what day -dream are you lost 1" "Not a very pleasant ono," replied Ronald, coldly. "I was thinking of ons conversation this morning." Vassalla shrugged his shoulders. "You. might have more pleasant thoughts," he said with a sneer. "I might," returned M9nteith em- phatically. "I might have thought every word you aaid this morning true. The Marchese changed color a little and drew himself up haughtily. "Is this an insult, sir 4" he asked. "As you please," retorted Ronald, indifferently. "You will un- derstand my meaning plainly, when I tell you that I had the pleasure of an interview with Mies Cotoner this morning." "Indeed!" said Vassalla, his face looking as black as thunder; "and she "Moro . than you would have oared to bear," replied the Australian. "She simply contradicted every word you said, and'told me that her sister oame on,iboard and said good -by to her and • that you, the Marchese Vassalla, knew edit was there, and saw her down the gangway as she left the ship." ".ft's a lie," retorted Vassalla, livid with: rage; "Mrs. Versohoylo was not onr•board," "Go and ask Miss Cotoner; she will tell you differently," said Ronald, fiercely. "You are playing a danger - Das game, Marchese, fora have sworn to find out who killed Leopold Ver- soboyle, anti, by God, I'll keep my word." "You shall answer for this," hissed V./manila between his teeth. "When end where you please," re- torted the Australian. "If the days of duelling are past in England, they are not on the Continent, and If you -care to defend your damnable 1108,1'11 meet you anywhere yiiu Please." "You shall hear from me, Mon- e ---- Wear," /aid Vassalla, hoarsely, and he walked away without another word.' "The black villian," muttered Ronald, as he atrode along; "I be- Iteve he knows more about this affair than be Dares to tell. I've been talk - leg granail'laquently, I suppose; but I'll stick' to my word, and I think I can hold my own both with pistol and rapier," Quito` a style of conversation of the time of George IIIc, was it mot but all young even become romantic at Hines, and Ronald, brave lad that he was, meant all he said, being es much in earnest as any porlwigged beau of the eighteenth century, though iio carried' to cane instead of a sword. The Marchese Matteo •Vasaalla jump- ed into a hansom, and ordered: the Dab- mangy to drive to the Langham Hotel,, as he Was anxious to $ee Carmela, and find out all that had taken place be- tween her and Monteith. It was ne- cessary for him to do this, as he was anxious to win her for his wife, and the least slip on bis part might prove fatal to sapless. Be ;was mad with rage when he en- tered; the cab, but by the time It ar- rived ,at the Longhorn was quite calm and self-possessed, for he knew ho wouldneed to have all his with about him in the coming interview. He dis- missed his cab, and went up to the drawing -room, where he found no one. Ringing the bell ho asked after Car- mela, and was informed that she had gone to lie down ; but, determined to see her, he sent up a measage that he wanted her immediately on important business, and then calmly sat down to think over his line of action. The waiter soon returned with a massage that Miss Cotoner would be down shortly, and almost immediately, after he retired, Carmelo appeared, looking white and wan in her long, white dress, with her dark hair hastily fastened in a dishevelled knot at the back of her head: She oame quickly into the room, and would have spoken, but Vassalla gave her no time. "My cousin," he said; rapidly, do French; "I congratulate you on the :success of your interview this morning." "Wbat do you mean ?" asked Car- melo, haughtily. "Simply this," retorted the Mar- chese, quietly, "that T have seen Mon- teith, and he told me to. my face that you ,gave me the lie in goer conversa- tion with him." "1 did," she retorted, defiantly; "my sister was on board, and you bad no right to say otherwise." "Bah 1 You cannot see an inch before your nose," retorted Vassalla, taking out his pocket -book: "read this, and then see what your truth -telling tongue has done." Be beaded her Mrs. Verschoyle's letter, which she read eagerly, and, having finished, gave it back to the Murohose, with a cold smile. "1 see, she alsodenies being on board," elm said, quietly; "so you are both telling deliberate falsehoods; will you kindly explain this riddle?" "That hvill be easy enough, my cousin," answered the Marchese, with a sneer ; "I presume Monteith told youl all about the death of Leopold Verschoyle ?" "Well 1" she asked, turning a shade paler; though. Heaven knows, poor thing, she ryas pale enough before. "Weill" he echoed, mockingly; "don't you know that your sister was his wife, and, if it were known shehad been on hoard, ugly questions might be naked ?" "I understand what you mean," said Carmelo., clasping her hands, "you thick that she — had some- thing to do with his (loath." "I did not say so." "No; but you hinted as much." "Then accept the time I give, and deny that your sister was on board." "What 1 deny my own words ?" "Certainly," he replied, coolly, "bet- ter than," significantly, "the other thing." Treatment •` +, r CougYils wad Colds. Fens Indeed are the Tamely circles frons whence there has not been tak��6 some member as the resat; of neglected coughs and colds. 1 �i prudent mother le nonstanity on guard lest her Yittle ones fall prey croup, hronchdtis, or colds. She knows that if colds aye promptly cur- • ed there le certain protection azalnst consumption, pneumonia and other Lung trouble's. Boats of mobhatrs have lessened to trust ismp:doitly to Dr, Cease's Syrup of Linseed and Turpentine to promptly loosen t:bw Collet chest coughs, to allay the inflammations, to clear the air passages ,uand thiorowgh:y cure the mold. Theiir coiuftdence in this grand preeeription of Dr. Cihase has never been abakao,.because it has never failed to prove bem•ofiwial. It is of such unusual. merit as to base attained to by fer thio largest sale of any similar preparation. A HACKING COUGH.. Mr. W. tin Wylie, 57 Seaton Street, Toronto, states ;—"My :little grand- child ,bad {suffered with a meaty, 4iaak- imigctmglh fftr about eight weans when We powered a battle of Dr. Ohade's perula of Linseed and Turpentine. •Aftetr the Bret close she called it "honey" and Was ;ages' for medicine tions to name wetted, I. can simply elate thou. Peet of one bottle owed Ise, ert'1 tale is now well and as bright tits a 0010'1001." BRONQHITiS. 111x Wen., ll)avi,dsoe, Sit. Aedrewa QU,a., elates ;—"Dr. Qlease's.Syrup ej Linseed end Turpentine has cured sad of brtsnchieds. I Waive, •without sew cmc, tri,ecl lusaeiy remedies for the paid six years. :Goat winter Wluaa'Ihudd a aware aestaek and was unable to Worsk I procured a bottle of Dr, Chase's Syrup of Lleseed and Teepees Limo end atm happy to state that the tided bottle made me a well man," Dr. Chase's Syrup of Linseed and Turpentine, M'ntheer''e favorite remedy fair Croup, Ilvonebille, A8iblmn, .Coughs and Oal.le, 25 mau•ts e:boittle; 'ttmily siz•. r.. i• leg ab„uit three times es Mech., 00ots A,t tell dee,,tnrs, or ladwcitne,.t, rates & Co„rereads "I don't believe it; I don't believe it," she cried, vehemently, "Titaness, did eel kill him:' "Bow de you know?” he naked, pointedly, "Do yea also acme) her?" she said, turning fiercely on bine, eeon'e pobody," be said, coldly, "I merely tell you to hold your tongue," "1 will justify- myself to my sister, not to you," auk' Carmelo., proudly; "she will be here next. week." "Waal—Is she coming here ?" "My fatal! What cursed fool/ Wee men are,"'hecried; "write, telegraph anything, only say elle meet not come." "Why not.?" "Because there is danger." "Danger!" "les; that nfeddling young fool of a Monteith is trying to find out about Vorsahoyl0's death; if he is sue:manfut your sister Is lost." "Is ehe guilty ?" "For the 800011d time, I say—I did not say so." "Is sake guilty 4" •,Yes." Carmela gave a cry and turned away; this answer parted her Prem Ronald for ever. In an instant Vassalla was at her side—she felt his hot breath on her cheek. "But, I can save her, I can save flier 1" he said burriedly—" do one con- dition." "And that ?" "Your hand," and beput his arm round her waist. "Never;" She tore herself away with an indignant cry; "do you take me for hush money "Either that, or your sister will reap the reward of her crime, and our name will bo dishonored forever," "Think of your name alone," she said, imploringly ; "you will save her P' "On' the condition I mention. I don't Dare for the aame,1 only care for you. Why will you not marry me? You think of the Australian; he can be bunting" down your own flesh and blood ; and would he marry the sister of a woman whom he knows is a mur- deress'? Think again. I will save your sister and our family honor -on that opo condition—you must bo my wife. "If not ?" she asked, defiantly. "Events must take their course. I will not interfere. If you marry me you' will have an honored name, and the satisfaction of knowing that you have saved your sister. If you refuse, yoW wilt lose your honorable name, your sister, and not even gain your Australian; lover in return." "Mercy 1" elle cried, falling at bis feet. "No 1" He stood above her, calm and pitiless, stroking his beard. "1 will give anything but that," she murmured, "'I Dan accept nothing else." "You are a devil!" "Possibly. Your answer?" Sbe sprang to her feet with a face pale ae marble, and clang to the mantelpiece for support; bat though Vassalla saw she was weak he gave her no assistance, "Your answer ?" he demanded, piti- lessly ; "yes or no 4". "Yes," she whispered, and for the aeoond, time that day fainted. "Carmelo. Ootomer to Ronald Mon- teith "My Dear Iklr. Monteith—I write to let you know that in the interview I had with you yesterday, you misun- derstood some of my statements. My sister, Mrs. Verseshoyie, did not come an board wiot h me to say good -by, when the Neptune .sailed, but did so before I daft home. You will under- stand why I write this letter, 1 • "Yours truly, "OARMELA CDTONER." "Pear soul," said Ronald, banding the letter to Fester; "loan under- stand—she knows her stater is guilty, and would shield her," "Yes, I can see that," sand Floater, glameimg rapidly over the letter; "but how does she know her sister is guilty?" "I don't know," said Ronald, blank- ly. 'Hum," amsavered Gerald, booking keenly at him; "let las look into Chia. In the feet plane, diad you think she thought' her ulster guilty when you saw her?" "No," eagerly; I'm euroabo did not" ;then she must have seen someone im the meantime who 'told her the truth," returned Baster; "now, whom diad yon see in the meantime?" "No ono, except Vassalla," returns ed the Australian, einnooently, . "Exactly," said the barrister, "you saw Vassalla, and told him you knew that he and Mrs. Verschoyle had lied regarilhmg diet movements ern the night in question" "Walt" "Wells" echoed Fester, rather an - mimed, "can't you mug Vassalla knew Mr. Vorsctoyle was on board: amid alae that Ventin was her, husband. and bald Carm,min Cotoner ail about, 11; ea to Savo her sister rho has re. Molted, and w.i'tttee a law—a white lin poor soul! for -wibtiiich she Will be for- given' fm heaven." "Tanen eehustde yen thtank of the whole affada"?' tenial Ronald, ,eagerly. "Ithink ;hat Vassalla knxnws more about tlidcs effete than we give him credit,," repli'd reeler, "Shall I answer her letter?„ saki Nfontail:b, after epeeists, "If you like,” returned the ether, sbrruggi!ng hid shoulders. "Then I "Ronald Monteith to ClarAnele Coto- aor. "My Dear Mee Cotoner—I lyase re- oeived your letter. Believe me, I ad- mire and respeot your silence. "Yours truly, "RONALD MONTEITH. "And what abant your raarriagea" tuskedFoister. „I'll wait till 1 see how this thing is ole:ired up," said Ronald,'"aud then „Well?" "Whether her staler is guilty om. not I'll marry her," "That's a mistake," "What! A mistake to marry a noble woman like that?" said Ronald, "No, Feaster, she has been tried in the furnace, and hue, bo my eyes, seine out pure as gold," "Amen to that sweet prayer," quoted Foster, in his usual oyntoal voice. "Oarmefa 'Cotoner to Mrs. Ver- sciliwyte. "I cannot address you as sister till I know the truth of this terrible story. Your herbaria was on board the 'Neptune,' and you saw him there, though you denied doing so. The question I now ask you is, whether thds awful thing is true? Did you have anything• to do with your hues band's death, I kn'onv that you are cruel and proud, but Ido not believe you to be so base as Vassalla says. Re- fute o-fore we can meet agaisi, I want td be assured that your hands ars free from your husband's blood. "Your sister, "OARMELA." •"How did she find out's" asks Mrs. Versahoyle of herself; "no one could have known that my husband was on board. Carmelo certainly knew I went to see her off, but how did she descover that Lionel Ventin was my liaebamd? There must besome trots bar in the camp, and that traitor is Matted Vassalla. I will go to him to- morrow and find out the truth, If it is as Isuspect, he'll wish he bad held his bungee!" "Matted Vassalla to Carmelo. Coto - per. "So you are down at Marlow?• I hope youare enjoying the country, and getting back the roses to your clerks, for I wsiwt my bride to look her beat when married to me. London is very dull, and the only excitement is the arrival of your sister, from whom I have a nate, saying she will call cm me to -morrow. I will report bhe result of our interview in some future letter, though Ihope to deli.'cer it by word of mouth, as I am coming down to Marlow shortly, and will call on you at Sir Mark Trevor's place. Mr.' Monteith is still in, town, and still on hue wild-goose chase, from which I'm afraid he'll derive very little grati- fication. I am the only person who can prove, absolutely, that your sis- ter eaw her husband on beard, and had anything to do with hie death,' end I will keep my own counsel on condition that I receive my reward— your Anand. Adieu, my dear cousin, till we meet again. Yours toe aver, "MATTED VASSALLA." To be Oeutinued. SELF RELIANOE. Henry Ward Beecher used to tell the story of the way in which his teacher of mathematics taught him to depend upon himself. Iwas sent to the blackboard, and went, uncertain, full of whimpering. That lesson must be learned, said my teacher, in a very quiet tone, but width terrible intensity. All explana- tions and exouses he trod under foot wd'tla utter soca•mfu:mess, `I want that problem; I don't want any reason why you haven't It' he would say. 'I did study it two hours.' 'That le nothing to me. I want the lessen,. You may not study it at all, or you may study it 10 hours, just suit yourself. I want the lesson. It was tough for a green boy, but it seasoned me, In less than a month Idled the most imtenser sense of intel leetual iaidepondence and cotu•age to defend my reoidatrous. One day hie oold, calm vdiee fell up- on me tai the midst of a demonstra- ti+on,.'Nal' I hesitated and then went back to the beginning, and on reaob- ing the sauna paintr again, 'No1' utter- ed las a tone of conviction barred my progress,. 'Cho Jewett' and Ieat down inn red confusion, Its, too, was stopped with 'Nal' but want right: on, finished, and as he sat dons was rewarded with 'Very well.' 'Why,' Whimpered I, 'treated it ,just as be did, and you said 'No!' 'Why didn't you say 'Yes,' and stielt t•o 61? It be mut enough to knoW your tssncx. You meet know that you know 11. You shave Wetted nothing Nil you are sure. If all, the 'wnorld lays 'Not' yokir bualness 10 to say 'Yea,' and peeve it.' AN AROTUC EXPEDITION, IT WAS LED BY q;5J5XOTid DR. STEIN OF SWEDEN. Te explore FIWarm toad — Unique >ilefllo"la lin• 6¢a t.inc 1"unds-4004bt lin Oho Bnfet, Of tile Aix"rUlt len. Since years ago when two ,young and inexperienced Swedish expigrers, Sterling and Millistenlue, sailed north, in a crazy tub of a schooner, no each rash and remarkable ,Aretio veyago has been projected and carried into execution as the one known as the Stein expedition, The two young Swedes who passed into the great Arctic silence in their i11 fated craft have never since been bears] Pram, It ie now a queattee whether the same fate bee not befallen the 111 -equipped and inexperienced Stein expedi- tionn 'which started on Peary's relief ship, the Diana, to ex- ' ploro Ellsmere I,antl in July, 1809. Were it not for this•shadow of a pos- sible tragedy the Stein expedition could only be viewed from the stand- point of pure and, 'unadulterated comedy. • Never before has such a quixotic party started forth to ques- tion the silent Sphinx of the North. Dr. Robert Stein had long been known as an Arctic enthusiast, He was dubbed an Arctic crank, Ee bud projected :several expeditions to the North, but had formerly failed to get tbe necessary backing. ,About tour years ago he originated a remarkable circular. This he sent to a number of possible contributors to a proposed 'Arctic expedition. It offer- ed curious rrewards to contributors. For instance, for $1,000 a mountain of a certain elevation would reoeive the name of the donor; for $500 a lesser height would be christened,' and for $100 one still more moderate. This offer of geographical distinction did not, however, result in sufficient funds, and not until last year did the Stein' expedition take definite form. In 1857 Stein made a trip to the Arc - tie regions with the Peary expedition Int the Slope. He remained in the neighborhood of ;Wilcox Bead and Devil's Thumb while the ship was making, her month'e cruise in the North waters and collected a few geological and botanical specimens. He carte to lower latitudes filled with Arctic enthusiasm, By mortgag- ing a farm which he possessed, Stein succeeded in getting together asmall fund, and with this organized an ex- pedition to explore Ellsmere Land• Just before Peary left for the North in the summer of 1898 Stein arranged with him the terms upon which his ex- pedition and its supplies would be landed at Cape Sabine, Ellsmere Land, on the Peary relief steamer of the fol- lowing year. These conditions baying , been complied with, Stein end his party, with their outfit, assembled at Sydney, Cape Breton, in the early part of July, 1899, and sailed for the North Iin the Peary relief ship, the Diana. On his way to embark at Sydney Dr. Stein passed through New Carlo, and here he remained for a couple of daya adding to his equipment. Among the articles of his outfit were abouta dozen clocks. "On the morning fixed for the depar- ture of the Diana from Sydney," said Mr. Herbert L. Bridgman, command- er of the Peary relief ship, "trouble began. Stein's stores had been stow- ed, but no coal for him had been, put on board, nor had any been purchased. It was obviously impossible to take the expedition for a winter beyond the Arctic Circle without and the ship was delayed for two hours while some coal was secured fox Stein, In order to land his coal Stein proposed bags, each holding a hundred pounds, and he purchased in Sydney material suffici- ent for two hundred bags, "By dint of continuous urging the intermittent work on the bags was carried on, with the result that when Cape Sabine was reached, two weeks later, the explorer had fifty bags and 100 strips of olotb;. The remaining four-fifths of the coal was poured in bulk on the rooks, involving inevitably a considerable loss in the seams and crevices. "The day before Disco was reached I remarked to Dr. Stein that there was an impression current about the ship that he had not sufficient food supplies, and I asked him for definite information, that the matter might be clearly settled before departure from the last port of supply. I did notpur- pase to return to the States and in year or two have it ;said that I had left a party; without sufficient food to winter to starve at Cape Sabine, "Dr. Stein," continued Mr, Bridg- man, "was mast positive that his food supplies wero ample, saying that of seine items, particularly condensed milk, he bad three times as much as he wanted. "To be euro," said he, 'sino0 I leave learned that Dr. Mann re- quires tea every day, I am not cer- tain! that nave enough. We brought five; pounds of tea and tan pounds of coffee for the three of ue for a year, and tt may be ,wo shall want a little from you.' "To this I immodialely replied that not only tea and coffee but any other supplies necessary, to ei reasonable amount, to round out hie assortment well make ararythtng complete, would be tarnished cheerfully. "Ah Disco Dr, Stein, waiving the usual routine ivitation from the Goeer- nor for the ship's party to lazed,,pro- aeeded to visit the town and prodcout- oili s' 0 d o h s ciao t f r dogs, ender perinisdi n of the Royal Greenland Trading: Ooin- pany. Ten doge in good condition wore brought on board, and for their sweet a Dusk of oapeiin, about half a buerel, perhaps ono meet for five hungry doge. The wee the nolo food supply for these ten =heath except a small package containing about twenty pounds of seal meat. At Upernavile a few, minor supplies were purchased, and so the expedition loft civilization. "On the evening of August 4 the Diana mot at Ltab Benson, Peary's as. sistant, and learned from bine that Sverdrup and the Frani had wintered juste beyond Cooked Het Island, not fifteen miles from Stein's proposed base of operations at Cape Sabine. What ,Sverdrup bad done of 004050 no one knew, but there was every reason to believe that he anticipated much of the work that Stein proposed for him- self. "Stein's first impulse wae to change the scene of notion, and he made a proposition to be landed at Jones Sound. ?But as this would involve at least five hundred miles of /teaming, with no certainty that the landing could be made, the proposition was declined, "On the following morning the Diana pushed: out from her anchorage at Leah for Cape Sabine," continued Mr. Bridgman, "During the morning Steins said to me:—'Doubtless you are aware tlhtat I have embarked in this enterprise all that 1 have and more; that the other members of my party have also put their entire means into thea work, and we are all specially desirous that if it is in any way pos- sible we shall be landed at Cape Sabine.' "The assurance was given that every effort would be nude, and that, sa) far as- safety to ship and life per- mitted, the Diana would force her way through the ice and effect a landing. The Diana rounded the point of Cape Sabine to the southward, and just be- hind Brevoort Island a =mall sloping moraine was selected by Stein as the site of his future house. Among the rooks and ice foot the ship was moor- ed, and during the afternoon every one was busily engaged in discharging the effects of the Stein party. Hy eleven o'clock at night the last of the coal had been deposited, the last dog swung on shore, the final words said, and Dr, Stein, alter a personal inspection of the ship, declared that everything be- longing to him had been landed. "The equipment of the party was in the highest degree .unique. Frites, umbrellas ,cameras, bicycle wheels, hiay in bales and sawdust in barrels were included; also a large quantity of lumber, from ivhdeh a house was to be built, and a miscellaneous assortment of all kinds of tools and utensils, some adapted for farmers, others for lum- bering, and for almost every zone and purpose." Grave tears are now enter- tained as to the safety of the Stein party. NOT ENOOURtA.GING. We realize how enormous is the quantity of "literary labour lost" in the single field of fiction when we con- sider that if the task of producing a single year of it had been intrusted to eight writers, commencing their long labour on the day of Christ's birth, they would still have more than 189 years of writing before their task would, be complete. When we refloat that thus some- thing like 20,000,000 hours spent every year in fiction -writing in Great Brit- ain alone produce not a penny of re- ward, it is easy to see that even cross- ing -sweeping may be more roniunera- tive pn the whole than novel -writing. If those fruitless hours had been spent in this humble role of copying at, •say, tenpenoe an hour, our wauld- in, Niplings and Barrios would have been the rioher by over £833,000, to say nothing of ' the loss in ink and paper. Then, again, there are the writers whoa: faith in their powers, or whose vanity, induces them to publish their novels• at their own coot; and in the groat majority of these vases the balance is very mach on the wrong side of the ledger. On the other hand, there aro prob- ably at least thirty men and women in the United Kingdom whose fiction - writing pays them £1,000 a year and upwards, ranging, in perhaps two or three cases, into five figures, Some of .these fortunate writers Dan, in fact, almost dictate their own terms to publishers. For the rights of serial publication alone of asingle novel they may receive anything from £4011 to £2„000, and for publication in book form they are paid royalties very much on these lines; 15 per cent, for the, first 5,030, 17 1-2 per cent. up to 10,000, and beyond 10,000 copies as emelt no 20 per cent. xtudyard Kipling, it is said, receives even better terms than these. MEAT FROM AUSTRALIA. Tuve bx,ports of frozen meat from Australia, including frozen rabbits. game and fisih amounted in 1899 in velum to more Then $10,000,000. Tlhn great 'bulk of the oamorte whin; to the United ISbnigdoni. This industry is assum.iiag large proportions in Aus- tratite. In New Zealand there are peeking itemises, whore 800 hoails of matte and 1500 slx1101) 0,00 el/weltered and prepared .0or export ovary day. GLSANIS Or 1iU2 , I hilar ,Ta c We'clksou d doing w hid marriage." "Yee. W411 "s ao4s triage and pale now." "'Ss Ibet so a'" "Yes, I saw' Fre. stashing it in the peek yes terdae "We're going to 'five in a bettor neighborhood hereafter," said Uppish, the abjeetioneble next -130010 Woman, "A111 Sc are we," replied Mrs, l?ozypary. "01 are 50tH going to move, too?" . "No, We'ec going to stay right here." "Hots awfully greedy your airs 1 acid ems little girl to another, "Yes took the biggest apple from the bee- kat just as I was going to take 11 my- self." This is a baby. It is a girl baby, How sloppy its shin is! How red its' 55es. What boa'rld oontoettond it makes with its face, See how say Moly- it kicke. • Bow Ilke a demon it yells! Yet in a few sheet years some man will be half orazed with wild suspense, worshipping the very, air this being breathes, devoutly, kneeling at her feet, and frantioolle begging for one word, one prestrere of the stand, even a look, which will give him ?reps: "Do you consider him much of an actor 4" "Wall, rather too much, l:t wouldn't hurt bion to lose 00 or 70 pounds." Guide, showing !placed of historio in-' teredt—"It was 15 this room that, Wellington received his first commie - /don." Mr. Eiostele—"Hls first commission 1 Illi dot so 1' Guide— "Yes, sir; it is a fact." Mr. Eitisteln —"Vot percentage of oommission did One get 4" The work horse and the carriage horse stood Bide by side on the street. "I see you take your meals a la tart." sniffed the latter, looking disdain-. fully at the other's canvas feed bag.. "Yee," replied the equine toiler. "Don't you 4" "Neigh, neigh', Pau- line," and the proud aristocratic mare rattled the silver chains upon her. harness. "1 prefer mine stable d'oa't." Ethel—"Pa, is it love that makes the would go round?" Pa, lured to a baohelcrs' supper overnight, sadly "No, dear, not always." ABOUT DUTTS* On board Ber Majesty's ships, as is well kasown, tobacco is duty free, and Jack Is, of course, permitted to carry his stook from one ship to an- other, even when that other is a depot ship. But depot ships are somewhat out of date, and in their. place naval barracks have been erect-, ed at various ports. Thin re -ar- rangement recently gave the Custom officials at Devenport the obanoe to pounce Upon an unfortunate "handy- man" proceeding, by order, from his; ship to the barracks. He was ar- rested by the police and charged with "having illegally unshipped alb, 14oz. of tobacco, the duty on which had not been paid." Fortunately, the mag ietrate recognized the absurdity of punishing a man for proceeding from his ship to what -by the Service re- gulatioes—was, in elicit, another. ship in commission, and refused to .. convict, but the pollee took . posses - alma of the tobacco. But peouliar as are the ways of the British Custom House, they are surpassed by many other similar in- stitutions abroad. Thus the French, being desirous of shutting out Ger- ` man toys, imposed a very heavy duty. on them, and, for a long time, could not understand how, notwithstanding„ the Teutons appeared to be able still to undersell the home article. Ulti- mately it was discovered that the Germans had hit upon the device oil syringing the goods in in that they, described as the raw state—that is to say, certain portions would pass the Customs from Holland, others from Italy and Switzerland, and othe err again from England. The "raw material" thus passed by the unsus- pecting French Oustome Depart, meat was then put together, and tha triok was done. A funny story came from the Trans- veal in the days when Mr. I{ruger's officials collected the Customs dutiful there. An English actor in Pretoria applied for a parcel sent hien bypost from this coautry, and oontainine typewritten manuscript, but was men by a demand for duty on it as teeth - art, He expostulated, and was ohoWn the back of the address -label, om which was written "The Eiderdown Quilt," and he had to open the pack. age in order to convince 'the soeptioal officiate that the words referred to the title of a play, and were not liable to contribute 10 Mr. ICruger's exchequer. It may be noted that the Turkish Customs will not admit goods stamps? with a crescent, or bearing the im- print "Makers to Her Majesty," also that to consign pork to auy Moslem country is to court capital punish. meet, PREST?N 0 OF MIND, It is not everyone who can display the 000lnoss of the gentleman tubo onto carved a goose with aueh mis- Owed energy as to send it undo/ the cable, Seeing 'that 'the [emote evinced • some discomfiture, and an anxiety to know where it hal gone, he said:•.. All right, ladies sins gentlemat>, I have my .foot on it+