Evening Star Newspaper, November 4, 1923, Page 76

The Condem By Courtney Ryley Cooper ned ‘g. b 4 “"We've got those cables strung through the ends of the cars. The neck hoose | hfinmm to lilummf with light | twine, Il walk Into it as soon as| “That's all t, boys,” he begine to tug away from the nlhsr[tamly. "Go onflf:l'th ynuyr' o!.hs: w:ar;? lariat, when we slip it around his hind | Guess I can handle this bull by my. feet. I'll wave my hat. Then pull |self. B awayt Late that night the torches gleam | LR ton the lot of the World’s Amalgamated. engineers returned to their | Horses, hook-roped by the dogzen to I cabs. Canvas-men looped the hub-deep wagons, struggled and pant- cables through the drawbars of the |©d and coughed, while down at the engines and fastened them. runs a great beast in a rope harness/ nagerie attendant slid to the opening |Pulled wagon after wagon Into place 8t the car and started to creep, within, |for the journey. Beside him watked o But Rags, back bristled, testh show. |tired man who turned now and then to son ta leave me alone—had a right to beat Rajah—right—they'll neve——'" ‘The volce ceased. Mathews rose. HE long. canvas-covered ‘cars of the World Amalgamated Cir- cus rocked and swaved with the uneven roadbed of a side- line rafiroad. It was night—a black night of slashing rain and shricking winds and jagged lightning. In the dripping, tarpaulin-covered cat-cages the feline jungle beasts roared and hissed and leaped. Here and there | along the rocking train huddled figures in slickers and storm coats made their | way from one den to another, carefully | listening at the side-boards for sounds of battle—the conflict of savage beasts which turn upon one another with a madness bred of darkness and fright. In the horse-cars the hostlers made the rounds of the antmals, petting| them and reassuring them. Back in the executive Pullmans, superinten- dents and managers made their plans for the next day, plans for wet lots, | for dangerous, rutty rings and a slip- pery hippodrome. The World’s Amalgamated now was In the grip of & midsummer tempest, and with the next show-stané a hun- | dred miles away. . Everywhere about the dripping train there was discom- | fort—danger. Far ahead, in the biggest of the| clephant cars, a great, shadowy hulk turned and twisted and trumpted as sought to evade the attacks of a| “bull-hook” in the muscular hands of & man who cursed and shouted at him. | His chains had parted as he lunged in| fright during an outburst of thunder; | now he was an unfettered monster | stumbling from one side of the car to the other. The trainer's voice rose to & scream: ‘Get over there, Rajah!” he shouted, and drove the bull-hook deep into the soft flesh behind the great elephant's ear. “Get over there, or I'll—" i Then he turned quickly, as a swish | of rain sent his attention to an opened ventilator and the dripping figure clambering within. ““That you, boss?" “Yes! What the devil are you trying to do to'that bull?* A man had dropped Into the circle | of light, his eyes blazing. “Haven't you got any more sense than to hool([ an elephant when he's scared? Get out of here!" The other man drew back sullenly. “He broke his chains, Mason. I had| to do something!"' “You didn’t have to try to cut him [ to pieces. Rajah!” & The command was sharp, yet with ! & friendly quality. The beady eves of the elephant turned in the direc- | tion of his master. Slowly Mason went forward. “Come on, Rajah, old boy!” he shouted. “Everything's all right—everything's all right!” * Xk x E grasped the brute's trunk and and clung to it, slapping the pachyderm about the mouth, blows which were only friendly pats to the thick-skinned mammal. The elephant,, squealed—a call of friendship—then ceased his twisting. Soon he was only a great, swaying hulk again, his beady eyes fastened on the man who, to him, meant friendship and protec- tion and love. Mason reached for the stay-chain; then as he turned ' he | paused. “T thought I told you to get out of here,” he satd abruptly. 'm golng.” Brace moved surlily toward the ventilator. “Well, move, then. You've only got twenty minutes to pack your stuff. We stop for water at Larretsville.” “My stuft?” The assistant paused on the ladder, then slowly clambered | down again. YWhy—why, bo: ain’t going to red-light me?" “Ain’t 17" Magon dropped the chain, came. forward. Brace stood with hands shifting along the taped handle ' of his heavy bull-hook. “You're through! There ain't & man on this show can sail into a cat'or a bull without getting .stepped off for it. You get out of this car and off this train! You're through!” “I've got a right to my money!" YMoney? Nothing doing! 7's cow- ards like you thst— He paused. “2 you've got apything coming to you, you're fined that amount. And you'res red-lighted at the next stop. Maybe the next show you go on you'll—well, aren’t you going? “No, I'm n¢ going!” Mason doubled his fists. “Just you please. Get off or be put.off.” ¥I'm not going. You're red-lightin’ me off this show because you're jeal- ous o' me, Mason. I'm & better animal-man than you ever thought o’ being.” 3 “Get up that ladder, Brace, and pack upt™ “I'Il not! Mt | clacking blow, a gasping cr: | his ery echoing again and again. v ) A THE SIDE-WALLING RIPPED FROM THE MENAGERIE TENT, AND, CHAINS CLANKING, PICKET PINS CLATTERING, RAJAH CAME, A TRUMPETIN REVENCE. J “Get up that ladder!” forward. The bull-hook cireled; a snapping, Slow- Iy Mason sank to the straw-covered floor of the car. Brace stood over him, glowering, menacing. Then sud- denly he went to his knees. “He's dead!" * Trumpeting, the elephant moved slowly toward the body of his falien master. Brace leaped quickly to the protection of the shadows. If one tremendous hoof could only obliterate the red mark of that blow! Out of the shadows came Brace, his weapon brandished high in the air. “Rajah!” The hook sank deep. The animal writhed and turned. A great hoof struck flesh—and for a second and third an fourth time. Then Brace, driving the elephant into the rear of the car, stood staring down. The mark of the bull-hook: was gone. A moment later, dripping, scrambling, he clambered from car top to car top, to the Pullman, his volce shrieking: “Flag down the train! Rajah's gone bad—he's killed Mason!" - * Xk ok X RAKE shoes gripped and slipped and shrieked. Half-dressed men tumbled from the Pullmans to race along the tracks to the bull cars. The gleam of the lanterns through the hastily opened door, displayed Rajah's big form, half kneeling be- side the crushed 'body of his master, Mason came | | “All right, bull men! Put down the run and get that elephant out o there before he takes another streak! Hop to it—Bartwell! Janes! Cas- sidy! Brace!” They slipped the wide wooden run- way into place and drove the elephant down to be chained and picketed. Then, while the three other bull men picked up the crushed body .of Jim Mason, the menagerie superintendent asked Brace: ¥What happened?” “I—I don't know, sir. I was mak- ing my way along the top of the bull cars when I heard Mr. Mason shout- ing down here, and a terrible racket. I climbed inside, Rajah trampled him. 1 drove Rajah back with the bull hook, but it was too late. Mason told;me privately that he always was a bit afrald of Rajah. “Funny he never came to me about 8till, Mason always tried his best —guess he thought he could handle him.” 5 “That was about it, sir.” YHate to see this!" There was a tone of sorrow in the superintendent's voice. “Old Rajah was the first el. phant this show ever had.” Hix eyes grew reminiscent. “Guess it wouldn't have been the show it is today with- out Rajah. Used to be about the ‘whole thing—helped unioad in the morning, worked around the lot, made parade, acted as about all the men- agerie we had, went In performance, and then put the show back on the | train at night. But I guess he's gane now. Mason wasn't mistreating him?" Brace’s eyes gleamed, *Of course, when I saw him last he was hooking him pretty. bad; but then, he was fighting for his 1ife.” “Sure. Borry to see it happen. Mason was a good man, and Rajah was a good old bull. But I guess there isn't much chance for him now, Better watch him pretty close.” ¥YMe, .‘fi “Yeh. You take all your time to Rajah-—see if you can pull him out of it. If it was just & grudge proposi- tion against Mason alone, there's a good chgnce. So—" “Yes, sir. I understand, sir., I'll handle him, all right.” Brace spoke cockily. “As soon as them other men get back, we'll run him into the car again and ‘chain him. The storm seems to be letting up.” “Hope £ The superintendent went on. . “Hop to it.” The .train was again on the move, and Brace, back In his bunk in the sleeping cars, stared fixedly the faceboard of the Dberth above him Safe! Safe from suspicion! Safe— with a reputation of feariessness. But the next morning—- * % k% door of the big bull car slid open In the gray of dawn, and & man hurried to the shadowy form of the elephant within. He loowed his chain and prodded the beast in the shoul- ¥Get with ft.” The elvphant G, PLUNGING MONSTER OF his eyes rolled and his trunk began |behind the flapping ear for & bit of a to curl slowly upward. A {1l {nap. Night, when the torches gieamed trumpet blast sounded, angry, threat- (on the street corners to mark the ening. Brace moved /into the more |route to the loading runs, side by side open space of the car. they would go to the cars, there to be “Rajah! Get around there and out |locked up for the night, two lonely of this car! things without a master, without an But the elephant's forelegs were | intarest—save each other. moving like the stamping of a child| This, too, ate into the composure of in a tantrum. His small beady eyes | Jard Brace. Rags he desplsed, even rolled, showing the red-rimmed |though he petted him. Rajah he whites. Bweat came to the trainer’s hated and feared, and from this fear forehead. Gray lips moved In & |grew an idea. He had killed the whisper: master; now he must kill the el “He's next to me!” phant. Al “I'm afraid we'll have to dig up some more chains around the show, Mr. Mathews,” Brace sald with a tired {whine. “He about wore me out last night” ‘Wore you out?” The menagerie su- perintendent turned In surprise. “You don’t mean—' “Yep.” Brace sald it with an air of sorrow. “T've seen it for a couple denly took on & new note, & querulous note. The padding of the great hoofs ceased. A little squeal cime from the elephant, and he moved forward as a woolly little dog, barking with all his midget strength, came bounding up the runway, bounced into’ the car, sniffed about the straw, then began Jjoyously frisking about the legs of the elephant. It was Rags, Mason's nondescript little compinion of the circus, just reléased for the day from the dog wagon and sear¢hing for his master. Here and there he trptted, barking with & surprised note wen Mason aid not answer. The elephant stared down at him. Rags, merely an endured; thing until this moment—for an ele- phant by Instinct hates a dog—in- varlably denoted the présence of Jim | Mason. Rajah squealed delightedly and extended his trunk slowly toward the little mongrel. Rags' leaped and wag- ged his tail. i For a long moment they stood and sniffed at each other in animal silence. They appraised oach other and were satisfied with thelr findings, while in the background s murderer stood star- ing &t the strange pair. Brace bent forward, whistling to the mongrel and ‘c:;!::a '::d'm soft words and &n ex- | o\ on turned angrily toward the Rags bounded and leaped about the picket line. It was not heip he man, sallying toward him, then rush- (Deeded; it was chains—chains that ing happily to the whelter of the ele- | Would bind the massive legs so that phant's legs. The trainer straightened, | Brace could beat and gouge Rajah in with the knowledge that Rajah again|the bull car at night, eo he could was calm. Still petting the dog with | torment him until he gained what he one hand, Brace mought the doorway|desired, a surly, viclous animal, wait- of the car, and turned. ing for the chance to crush with his “Come on, Rajsh,” he ordered and |trunk the first person who came the elephant obeyed. There was no at. | within range. And that would hap- titude of yielding, only of tolerance. pen; some passing workman would A ocanine friend had intervened; that|forget and walk too close. But those was all. chains were a week away. It irrl- The dog often scurried about the|tated him. Surlily, he turned to his circus lot in Vain search for his mas-|work, only to growl at the query of ter—but inevitably he returned to|an elephant tender: Rajah. And the elephant came to) “Bugles sounded for the parade. watch for him. At night Brace tled |Hadn't we, better lead ‘em out?” a string to the collar of Rags and led| “Lead ‘em out yourself!\ Rajah him toward the cars, and in their rear, |don’t go in parade any more.” & shadowy bulk, followed Rajah in| Then, while the rest of the ele- placid confidence. But he followed |phants departed to join the long line Rage, not the man! of glittering wagens, Brace swerved Rags slept in the thick bedding of roughly toward the barking Rags and straw which covered the floor of the struck him with his pitchfork. elephant car, a new home made for “Cut that out!” he snarled, and him by Brace. went back to his work. The dog, . pussied by the absence of his big 8 for Jard Brace—Rajah obeyed Dlaymate from the parade, trotted him because Rags obeyed him, under the side wall to velw the as- There was nothing in the mentality of ; 86nbling of the street pageant. Then the dog to teach him distrust of the man who each day brought him dainties from the cook house, and who petted him, even while he wanted to choke him. Brace longed to strike out into a new life where he eould forget and be could pull him through. But I had to stay In the car ail last night and fight him most of the time. Almost got the best of me two or three times.” Mathews shook his head. “Sorry to hear that, Brace. You're sure he's— “Sure of it, Mr. Mathews?" Brace stared at him. “Why, last night 1 was afraid I wasn't going to get out.” “I'd better order those chains, then. How many’ll you need? Four or five?” “I'd feel safer with six—forged.” “Sure. But we can’t pick ‘em up closer than Fort Worth."” “Fort Worth? Why, that's over a week awsy." = “I know it. Can't help it, though. It's the closest place. I'll wire in the order. You can any help you need in the meantime.” * % ‘which reminded him, hour after hour, of the man he had killed; at night he must sleep In & car which contained ing the night on the bull-car with Rags and the elephant. But évery shadow cast & passing switchlight brought him Wisions of & tottering form; every glanking of Rajah's picket-chain et ivering; finally he clambered over the tops of the cars back to his berth in the Pullman. ¢ He grew gaunt. His eyes hollowed: his features took on s haunted, beaten look. The little mongrel rarely left . ALIITLE DOG SHELTERED BENEATH THE BULKY of weeks—but I thought maybe 1| he hurried back in, once mors to bound about Brace, barking and yap- ping. Again the pitchfork traveled in his direction. “Get out of here!” But Rags persisted. Seething with anger, the man struck him, cureed, and with & kick of his heavy boot gent him shrilling with pain to the pro tion of Rajah's legs. Then It was that Jard Brace leaped “creaming to one side and made for the side wal as a bellowing roar came from behind him, and the wind from a smashing blow of a trunk fanned his face. Then came the crackling of wood, and a tremendous form, loosed from his bondage, broke forward In pursult. Jard Brace, h hands clawing, ran toward the as- sembled parade, his' voice high with the warning: ‘Quick—quick with those bulls! Circle 'em! Rajah's broken loose— he's gone bad again!” The side-walling ripped from the menagerie tent, and, chains clanking, picket-pins clattering, R came, plunging monster of re- ed acrobats, hysterical ‘woman performers. Rajah, blind with rage, amashed into one of the other elephants, rebounded, strove valnly to find & loophole in the circle, then slowly, grudgingly subsided. Far across the lot, huddled under = wagon, a wreck of a man cowered, ready to run again, should the ele- phant line break. The commanding 'volce of the menagerie superintendent rang out: “Hold them bulls in line there until we can run a side-wall around here. Somebody get the boss and tell him he'll have to make parade with- out the phants. Where's Brace?” “Over here.” He crawled from be- eath the wagon. ‘The menagerie superintendent rode toward him. “What happened?’ “He just went bad, sir. I was spreading the straw when he made for me.” For & long moment the superin- tendent was sileat, biting his lip. At last: “Hate to do it—but I guess I've got to. Go down and tell the train- master we'll want two switch engines @t 4:30. Tell him to spot the Rajah bull car between ’em, and to noose up two half-inch cables.” “Yes, sl Jard Brace hurried for the raflroad yards. An elephant ex- eoution. Free! Free at last! ‘While he stumbled on across th rutty lot, an Inquisive, fluffy little mondesdript of a dog trotted through the elephant circle and took his place between the front legs of a thing condemned. * LL that afterncon Rags remained there, looking Inquifingly at the ide-walling which had been thrown about the elephant, the legs of pac- |sade ing armed men, which showed be- s neath the lower edge of the canval and the heavy, stocky hoote of th eircle of elephants on guard inst another outbreak. Far away the band played in the big top, and the crowds shouted and applauded; the clowns roamed about the hij track; the rings flashed with the spangles of the equestriennes and resounded with the cludding hoofs of the “rosin-backs.” Only one thing was missing—no massed elephants appeared, no cracking of bull-whips or shouts of command from the pachyderm . trainers, no ludicrous ‘hootohie-codtchie,” no base Ddall game, no blowing of harps in the trunks of comical giant clowns. ¥or|oar. the elephant herd of the World's Amalgamated stood at their posts of duty, the death guard about a con- demned member of their own tribe. An anxious-eyed lot superintendent glanced toward the sky, then seat forth sourrying messengers to sume mon the stake and sledge crews ‘Word traveled within the tent to the bandmaster; and the music—the ¢look of the circus—quickened in signal of the approach of bad wi chariot races thundered about the hippodrome track; the ropes of the reserved seats wers loosed, and the crowds massed for the homeward journey. At the menagerie connec- tion the manager summoned his first assistant. " “Cut the concert short. Blow com- ing. Looks bad. Want to lower the peaks of the big top. Look after ft, will you? I've got to go down to the runs. They're going to bump off that Rajah bull. He's gone bad again.” Outside the menageris, the strip of side-walling pulled away, the elephants were being pushed closer to the oon- demned Rajah and formed Into & hol- low square. Then came the query: “All set?" “Ayel ‘All right. Jones and Kendall lead he rest of you keep pace. Now——* ‘Hey, Mathews!" It was the voloe of the lot superintendent. ‘‘How long {you going to be?” “Don’t know. guess.” “Well, keep the bull herd down at {the cars, will you? 4And send back any men you can spare. She looks awful black over there In the west." “I'll let you have five in & half hour, as soon as we get the nooses hitched. Mathews spurred his horse to rejoin the strange march of death—where & titanic beast went willingly forward| because his comrades of the herd were near him, and beside him trotted a faithful little companion of fair weather and foul—the dog Rags. Far in the background another figurs moved, & gaunt-faced man who watched the great mass of the hollow square as it crossed the lot and reached the rail- road tracks. The wind had risen, soud- ding the black clouds across the sky, and whistling eerily through the slats of the stock-cars. Rajah raised hi trunk and trumpeted querulously; it was the first storm since the night| Mason had dled. Again he shrilled, and again. Mathews, the superinten- dent, spurred his horse about the hol. low square. “Hold them bulls tight in line! Jones —Kendall! Swing to the right and bring Jennie and Maud straight up to the runway. Then pull 'em off quick, one on each gide of the run—and hold ‘em thers, The rest of the herd will force him in! At the runway Rajah hesitated, then, crowded from the rear by his herd- mates, went onward. But the little dog stood on the runway and barked, with a new threat in his tone. The canine mind is quick to sense the un- usual, and Rags never had seen his; \ 'Bout en hour, ‘I any other 'time save nightfall. From the right and the left two switch en- gines puffed lasily. The enginsers climbed from the cabs to recelve their instructions. Mathews leaned from his dle. “Tll give the signal,” he sanounced. BEAD OF ‘The | around Als neck, the: ing, blocked him. Mathews raised in | nis saddle. “Somebody get that dog away from there! Attendants called Rnd cajoled. o avail. % A driving rain began to patter. Men turned up their coat collars and glanced hastily at the sky, Rajsh’s trunk was ourled high. Hi eyes showed white rims and red rims His forefeet moved restlessly. A biinding flash of lightning creased the sky and the elephant bellowed ex- citedly, milling nervously about. -Then something tightened on his hind legs and & shout came from the rear of the To “All right, Mr. Mathews! I've got him, He' "Good! ment" Figures moved atop the car. Then slipped—it aln't in menagerie gritted his teeth. “HAvS to get In the car and put it Bomebody get that dog away from that door—we' never be able to do anything with him kedping that bull stirred up. Here 'vou!” He turned toward gaunt man, slinking along at the side of the cars. “You know this dog—get him away from here” Jard Brace stared. To—lp— “Oh, he's sate enough. Hind legs laseoed. Grad that dog! We've got to go In the oer to. put on the neck noose!™ The tralner hurried forward. He —-but the only answer was & snarling bark. Again—agaln. Then & chorus came, exclted, tens "Quick! Grsb that dog—grab that dog! That bull's going bad again®™ Jard Brace seized “the snapping, yapping mongrel and ran with him out of the ring of elephants and men. “Keep going with him—take h over to the tent and keep him there Back In the elephant car, Rajah bellowed and raged. For he had seen! He had recognized a being ‘whom he hated, bearing away the one thing In the world he possessed and loved! . Vainly they strove to enter the car. Then shouts! Steam shrieked from the whistle of the rear switch engine. Then the engine began to pull, striv- ing by main machine strength to throw the great beast to the floor and hold him there. But a new shout of warning sounded, & new milling of men: “Ease up, th This knot's slip- ping! This knot's——' The switch engine whistled in warning—at the jerk of the release of & heavy load. Rajah kicked and padded with his bleeding hind hoofs, freed them, then with one crash struck the side of the oar with his full welght and tore through! In vain they strove to block hls path with the other elephants. An opening showed and through it he went, in & stralght, rushing drive toward the one thing in the world he hated, just fading under the side wall of the menagerte tent, still with Rags in his grasp. LR rI\na storm broke. The great tents yed and billowed, dripping figures olung to the guy ropes. Planks crashed. Straight on Rajah went—on to the side wall and within. One thing stood before him, arms wide, face white, ghastly. The great trunk swung high sad laced dow: ward; hoofs stamped; long tuaks drove deep, and yellow ivory dripped superintendent at a frightened yelp. Above, wom thing crackled; ropes gave way in gale. A quarter pole fell, then second and third. The teat sagged the center poles began to sway. Rajah wheeled and trotted to his little companton. He pushed at him gently with his trunk, and the dos crawled toward him. Then slowly the big brute first settled to one kn. then the other, and finally to ohouching position oh all fours, while the Mttle mongrel crawled to the pro- tection of his heavy breast and nes- longer. agalnst the thick-boned Rhe elephant. But it did not toush the warm, fluffy little thing against his breast. And slowly, softly, the can- vas came down and covered them from the wind and lightning and The storm Drenched work- men, hurrying to.the rescue of, the , Jerked the canvas from & noull.umumau‘;: little dog sheltered beneas Dulky head of Rajsh. Mathews, the superintendent, was summoned on the run. Then they heard: “Don‘t you red-light me, Masont” It high-pitehed, frantic voice from canvas. T had tell you 't kill you— Quick!"” Mathews marked thing, whose eyes stared but lips re- pat him. There was kindness In the man's voice as he spoki "Good old boy! That's it—take ’er away there. Take 'er away. That's the stuff—slack up now, old boy! Just ;.I’u'v mofe trips—then you hit for the Mathews walked op again, while be- hind him a great animal followed, faithtully, placidly, limping slightly, * and stil farther in the rear thers trotted a cocky, fluffy littls nondel script dog. ¢ (Oopyright, 1023.) ————— “Paper Straws.” N the manufacture of what are popularly called “paper straws’ there are some interesting features. The paper of which they are mado is cut into strips at the factory, about 2,000 sheets being cut at o time, each descent of the knife mak; * ing that many strips. The paper i rolled by a long steel &pindle oper- ated by machinery. In less time than Is required to tell it, the stri of paper is rolled into a tube a held in that shape by a bit of paste, which was applied to the fres end before the winding began, Thé next operation is to coat the straws with parafin, which s ac- complished in a taxk half tull of melted parafin. Through this tank Dasses a vertical shaft and it is furnished with platforms in which wire baskets are placed. Hundreds of the paper tubes are plled Into the baskets, which are dropped Into the hot parafin for a moment and then holsted into the upper part of the tank. By this time the outsides of the tubes are coated and the insidesy filled with the parafin. Then, to sempve the parafMn oon- talned in the tbes, the baskets are whirled around In the upper tank until the unnecessary paraffin fis thrown off and\the coating dried. Be- fore this coatihg ‘the straws arc easily crushed, but when they hav. been dipped into the parafin and turned out upon the table, where they are cooled and dried, they be- come tough and are easily handled. The next step In the process is to cut the newly manufactured paper etraws Into proper lengths so thut they may be packed for shipping. Six rubber bands are placed around a bunch of the long straws at such places that whien the bundle is saw into three sections, each short bundle will show a Band at each end. The saw used for the cutting {s thin and its teeth are quite thin. About 600.- 000 straws & day are turned out by the factory, but In the busy season this number is sometimes Increased to 1,000,000, Long Power Line. THE“ is in operation in southern California an eleotrical power line approximately 400 miles long. It has {ts source high up in the moun- talns near the town of Bishop, ang extends to El Centro, in the Imperial valley. The line is capabdle of carry- ing 10,000 horsepower of energy, and - a year was required to build it. For a long time engineers thought that 200 miles was the maximum distance that electricity could be conveyed over a power line, and therefore the comple- tion of this 400-mile line and its suc- cess have elicited considerable Inter- ost. The power is employed to supply several small towns and many ranches in this fertile valley, but the largest / great companion sent to the carf st carmine. Again—then Rajah turned,’ .. .4 of it is utilized for pumping wa. ter on the desert. It is distributest from four substations—Banning, Coa- chella, Calipatria and El Centro. T valley possesses local power plants) but the rapld development of the country necessitated an increase of the supply from some big plant out- sid ) Rocks Resemble Sponges. Tn sponge rocks in Montana have, attracted the attention of tourists and sclentists by reason of the re- markable tracery and porosity of their formation. They appear like vast pleces of pumice stone Intricat 1y carved by nature into innumerable cells, webs, and cavel Some of the pleces are almost threadlike. The rocks are stated by geologists to be caroniferous sandstone. The sponge- like formation is of course due to both water and wind erosion, the mofter particles of the rock having been washed down or blown away, leaving the harder portions standing. Mm persons have wondered about the so-called waves of ether which, we are told, transmit eound by the wireless telephone. Mountains do not obstruct them, but how is it when the distance is such that &« straight line between two stations ‘would pass below the surface of thy earth. ‘An authority in such matters declares that the path of the ether waves is not & straight line, but fol: lows the earth's curyature. Ordinary obstructions do not interfere with