Grand Rapids Herald-Review Newspaper, May 4, 1901, Page 3

IN THE WEB OF ~-...... A SPIDER. CHAPTER XV. (Continued.) “Well, Allen,” exclaimed his mother, ‘when hé had descended to the library, where she sat awaiting the close of his ‘4nterview, who is she, and when will she be able to leave the house? Really, this sudden conversion of it into a hos- pital is most uncomfortable.’ ’ “She is Miss Montrose, mother, and I think she will be fully able to leave het room by the end of the week.” “Her room? You surely do not ex- pect to allow a stranger the privilege of the entire house?” “Mother, I have taken a strange in- terest in this young girl. She is very desolate and very friendless. A singu- Jar fate seems to have led her to us. ‘Will you not discard your worldly ideas and help me in mine regarding her? I cannot account for my feeling concern- ing her, further than that I cannot cast her adrift upon the world. I have asked her to remain as companion to Cora, and she has accepted the posi- tion.” Mrs. Layton held up both hands in consternation. “Allen, this is madness!” she ex- claimed. “Why, the girl may be—prob- ably is—an adventuress—a—” “Hush, mother!” interrupted her son. “Cora is no more pure than she. On this I stake the responsibility of my action. Besides, it is taken now, and, 4n my own house, mother, I am mas- ter!” Rarely, indeed, did Allen Layton speak thus; rarely did any whisper re- mind his mother that the wealth and Juxury by which he was. surrounded had been amassed by his own toil—that she owed to him all that she possessed. His father had died bankrupt when the boy was but a child, scarcely able to comprehend the meaning of tha term. That had been twenty years be- fore. He had paid, dollar for dollar, his father’s debts since then; had first come slowly, and then’ more and more rapidly, into his coffers, un- til to-day, at thirty-two, he already stood on the topmost rung of the lad- der of success. “There is only one explanation possi- ble,” ventured Mrs. Layton, tearfully, but at the same time half-fearfully— “the girl has bewitched you. I verily believe you are in love with her, spite of, your engagement to Edith Lorri- mer.” Allen Layton’s face paled.,, He open- ed his ligs to answer; then, checking himself, he turned and walked rapidly from the room; and Mrs. Layton was left to the gist of his own reflections. CHAPTER XVI. “Tl find out who she is!” murmured ¥dith Lorrimer to herself, when, a few days later, after listening with all out- ward composure, to Mrs. Layton’s ac- count of the revolution effected in the household, that lady had at last taken her departure, congratulating herself that Edith had received the news so calmly. “I'll find out who she is!” and the resolve, this time, 'came from be- tween shut teeth. “Beatrice Montrose, indeed! It’s like some name out of a novel or on the stage. I could see Mrs. Layton was uneasy, too, for all she strove to hide it. Does she fear for” Allen, I wonder? She need not. I'll take care of my own, and, once pledged, Allen Layton’s honor would hold him like links of steel.” “Where is your protege?” she asked her lover, as that evening he walked into her drawing room. “Owing to your absence from town for the past two days, I learned, only to-day, through your mother, of her becoming @ permanent member of your house- ‘hold.” Allen’s face flushed. “I hope you approve of it, Edith?” he waid, earnestly. “I hope you'll find no cause to regret it Allen,” she answered, simply. She understood him better than the mother who bore him. The ‘wedge must be inserted very quietly—so qui- etly that it would arouse no suspicion in his mind even that she disapproved. But Beatrice, falling asleep that night, with a prayer of thanksgiving on her lips that for a little while she might find rest and strength with which to gird herself afresh for the coming conflict, knew not that she had made a new and powerful enemy—an enemy swayed by the strongest—most influential of all levers—a woman’s Jealousy! “May I come out and pay you a vis- ft, my dear Mrs. Layton? Aunt Ger- trude is very anxious to go South for a few weeks, and insists upon my ac- comrpanying her; but I will not go, al- though the thought of remaining in that great house alone fills me with horror. May I come to you?” “Very sweetly Edith spoke, as if ask- 4ng some real favor, and no one would have dreamed that it was she who planned and arranged the Southern trip for Aunt Gertrude, much against that poor, long-suffering lady’s will, in order that she might find the pretext to be under the same roof with Cora’s new companion. ‘We shall be charmed, know that,” answered Mrs. Layton, warmly. “Is not this your future home, my dear? I am sure it only rests with you when you shall come to it for good and all.” No flush, as she listened, rose to the girl’s clear-tinted, olive cheek, no hap- py smile of expectant happiness to her lips; but for the moment there glim- mered a strange light in the black, brilliant eyes. The next week the guest-chamber of special honor was assigned to her, and she had taken the first step in her voyage of discovery. The second was not distant. 3 “B, M. is earnestly asked to send some tidings to B. T.. Address Box ” 6. Barly in December, casually glancing Edith—you and weallth |, LILLIAN GILLIN. over the morning paper, this adver- tisement met her eye. “What a pretty, romantic name you have, Miss Montrose!” she said, care- lessly, looking up from its pages to where the two girls were sitting on the other side of the morning room. “And, by the way, here is an advertisement addressed to you.” The lovely face paled, and the red lips quivered. “Addressed to me?” she echoed. “Oh, you must be mistaken!” “You do not know any one, then, whose initials are B. T?” “B. T.? Give me the paper! Let me see!” She sprang up as she spoke, and, with unrepressed eagerness, crossed the room. “Nonsense, Miss Montrose! You scarcely can imagine I seriously be- lieved a personal in the columns of the Herald could have reference to you? It is a coincidence—nothing more?” And she coolly resumed her reading, while the girl stood, white and trem- bling before her. Slowly she went back to her seat. “B. 1.” The initials seemed to flash before her eyes in letters of flame. Constantly as Bertie had been in her thoughts, great as had been her anxi- ety concerning him, she had wholly forgotten that he must have suffered even greater expense concerning her. Doubtless he had discovered her flight from Grey Oaks, and knew 10 more. “You are pale and trembling, Miss Montrose,” said Cora, when she had returned to her chair. “Do go to your room and lie down. You must not forget that you are still an invalid, and that Brother Allen has put you un- der my care.” Tenéerly Beatrice stooped and kissed the sweet, upturned face, neither not- ing the quick glance of hate from the black eyes opposite at mention of “Brother Allen’s” name. “I believe I will go to my room, dear. Will you postpone our reading for a little while?” “She will come back for the paper!” thought Edith. “She will answer the appeal! How shall I get that answer into my hands? I verily believe she is connected with'a gang of thieves!” But her first surmise, at least, was correct. An hour had scarcely passed before Beatrice re-entered the room. Edith had retired into a distant win- dow, and let the curtain fall before her, so that she was screened from view. The paper had been carelessly thrown upon the table. A moment before she took it up Be- atrice pressed her hand to her heart. It seemed to her, from those printed pages that Bertie’s voice was actually calling to her. Then she glanced eagerly over the columns. She had found the place, for on a card she had noted down the number given, then, with a dry sob, hastened from the room. A little later, thickly-veiled, emerged from the house. Iready bonneted and cloaked for this emergency, at a little distance, Edith fcllowed her. As she supposed, her destination was the nearest lamp-post, into which she slipped her letter. Greeting her carelessly, as they met, Edith waiked on, only to retrace her steps and take her stand beside the box until the postman should make his next round. “T have just posted a letter which T wish to recall,” she said to him. “It is addressed to B. T., Box 66.” The postman glanced at her a mo- ment, but her eyes met his frankly. She was young and pretty and richly dressed. It must be all right; besides, she had the address which proved the letter hers. Opening the box, he sorted its con- tents. until he found that to which he referred. “ffere it is, miss,” he said. She slipped a note into his hand. “Thanks!” she murmured. “You have saved me great anxiety.” Then, with her precious prize in her hand, she walked swiftly home, and, going straight to her own room, care- fully locked and bolted herself within it. Cautiously and slowly she unfastened the envelope, so as to leave upon it no trace of the tampering. She might have wished to forward it to its destination. A closely-written sheet fell from it. ‘When she had finished reading it she knew all. That revelation was, in- deed, different from what she had sup- posed. The girl had done no wrong, then, and Allen’s pity had not been misplaced. Pity! Was it pity? Did she not know otherwise? Through the mad infatuation of a moment, knowing full well that his heart was in no wise moved, she had prought about his formal offering of his hand and heart. Once pledged, he would redeem his pledge; but latterly, he was changed—even his infatuation was taking wings. Her old influence was waning, and to this girl she owed it! Had she not some right to recognize the debt? She had seen Allen’s eyes rest upon her pale beauty with a glance she never had inspired. She had heard his voice soften, as it never had softened to her. She had noticed his avoidance of this stranger guest, and read in it another sign of his dis- trust of himself. It would make no difference in the fulfillment of the bond between them. If it had been merely his position, his wealth, his name, she coveted, she could have laughed in seorn and cared not at all. But Edith Lorrimer alone knew the secret work- ings of her own heart, and recognized that out of all the world it craved one thing alone, and that the passionate love of the man to whom she was be- trothed. Even in the moment of his declara- tion, keenest pain had mingled with her triumph. He asked her to become his wife, to rule 9s mistress, of his she home, but, regarding his heart, he was silent. Yet she had accepted him—yet she hoped to win him. And now fail- ure mocked her—failure, wearing the form of a rival’s beauty. She laid the letter on the flames of the wood fire dancing on the hearth, and watched it burn, “Be patient, Bertie,” Beatrice had written. “I am resting and gaining strength to fight with you in our com- ing conflict.” Randolph Chester! The name same back.’to her like a dimly remembered dream. She understood the recollection bet- ter when that evening—when they had already, after fifteen minutes in wait- ing for the master of the house, taken their seats around the dinner table— Allen, entering the room, closely fol- lowed by a dark, handsome man, turn- ed to his mother, and said, gai “My old friend, Randolph, ther!” adding, while yet the stranger bowed with courtly grace over the old lady's cordially extended hand, “Cora, dear, you remember Mr. Chester, let me pre- sent Miss Lorrimer, Miss Montrose, Mr. Chester.” “Merciful heaven! Miss Montrose!” But his words were all unheeded by her to whom he addressed them. The little head had sunk back on the cush- foned chair. Miss Montrose had faint- ed dead away! But further than one quick start of recognition, noted only by one pair of eyes, black and brilliant as his own, Randolph Chester had giv- en no sign that he and this new and unexpected addition to his friend's household had ever met before. CHAPTER XVIT. Beatrice’s swoon was not a long one, but it allowed her the pretext of with- drawing from the meal and seeking the retirement of her own room. Conversation flowed uninterruptedly without her; but Allen was pale and distracted. Never had Miss Lorrimer appeared more brilliant or more charm- ing. Mr. Chester's eyes dwelt on her admiringly. “I was proposing to Allen,” he said, as dessert was brought on, “that you should all come down for the holidays. I can hardly picture to you the dreary desolation of Grey Oaks slince my cousin’s death. You can scarcely imegine what a real act of charity you would perform if you would but en- liven my solitude.” “But why shut yourself up there, my dear Chester?” asked Allen, rous- ing himself. “I feel my presence necessary for many reasons. Foremost is this un- harpy affair of my cousin’s daughter. It appears that her mother was an Italian prima-donna, with whom my cousin lost his heart and offered heart and hand. As in her case the latter was disposed of, she could only accept the former. No one, however, sus- pected this until Mr. Markham’s death. it was a cruel shock to his daughter. unhappily, too, there was no will, so she was left penniless. The terrible disaster must have turned her brain, I think, for she left Grey Oaks one day, and we have since been unable to obtain no clue to her. I trust, howev- er, she may yet return, when I would be there to welcome her.” Clearer and clearer grew the story to Miss Lorrimer, while even Allen looked up with a quick, startled glance. It seemed to him he had uncon- sciously held a puzzle in his hands, of which the parts were fitting into place. Yet it must be a chimera of his own brain. Had not his guest met Miss Montrose as a stranger? Her faint, too, was easily explained by her recent illness. His own nature was too frank to harbor long the supicion of whose very existence he was scarce conscious. “Poor girl!” exclaimed Miss Lorrt- mer. ‘Was she young and pretty?” “Quite young and very pretty. You will be able to comprehend how sad it all has been for me, when I tell you that she was my affianced wife. I have been loth to take possession of my in- heritance; but her flight compelled explanation, and the law forced me to claim my own. . Do you wonder that the old house is desolate to me? Will you not cheer me up for a little time in its empty solitude?” ‘I think your plan most charming,” assented Edith, Cora eagerly echoing her words. “You will chaperone us, Mrs. Lay- ton?” asked Chester, with his old, winning smile. And so he won his point. It was arranged that the Thursday following the little party should be- come his guests. “Miss—pardon me,” he added, “but I did not catch the young lady’s name who is with you. You will explain to her that she is included in the invita- tion.” He spoke so naturally, so easily, that even Edith was for the moment checked in the building of her little wall of proof. Was it well that this girl should re- turn to her own home as an alien? She could scarcely prevent it, except by breaking up the entire plan; and, after all, it would enable her better to lay the scheme for future action. Flushed and eager, Cora related to Miss Montrose, whom she found lying, pale and quiet on her lounge, the proposed plan. To the young girl just budding into womanhood, Beatrice Montrose seemed a lovely visitant from another world. ° She adored the beautiful companion kind fortune had sent her. In her eyes she was without flaw or blemish. Al- though in reality but two years her junior, she was as a child beside her. She spoke now, with all of a child’s enthusiasm. “We are to spend the holidays,” she exclaimed, “at Grey Oaks, they call the place—a pretty name, is it not? And it is one of the show houses, they say, on the Hudson. Will it not be charm. ing, Miss Montrose? But are you not sorry for the young girl who supposed always it was to be hers? I hope she will come back while we are there. How cruel and unkind her father must have been to deceive her so!” “Cruel and unkind!” burst from her listener’s pale lips. “Hush—hush! you do not know what you are saying. It is all false, base and wickedly false; what you have heard. He, this poor girl’s father, was the best, the noblest of men!” “Ah, you know him—you knew her? Tell me about them both?” “No, no,” said Beatrice, regaining her composure, “but I have heard this story before; and differently told. I am Sorry I spoke of it, I—* But the effort at self-repression was too great. Her voice trembled and broke. She burst into bitter weeping. sobs shook her frame, while Cora’s arms clasped themselves about her, oe she strove in every way to soothe er. . Gradually the storm of pent-up emo- tion spent itself. “Promise me, Cora, to say nothing of what has happened. Some day, my dear, I will explain it to you. I can- not now. Neither can I go with you to Grey Oaks. You will leave me here.” “No, no; you are to go to. It was all arranged at dinner. And Mr. Ches- ter, particularly, invited you. He could not remember your name, but he said that you must come. How very, very handsome he is, Miss Montrose! Do you know, I think if he teld me to do anything in the wide world, I should feel I had to obey him. When he talks I shut my eyes, and his voice sounds like low music.” She spoke with a child’s innocence, but Beatrice glanced up, startled, into the sweet, childish face, which the faint crimson blood was flushing into warmth. What new danger was this which threatened, not her, but a charge she had assumed and considered sacred? Could she, in the light of this new knowledge, let her remain for two weeks or longer, under this subtle in- fluence, without her counteracting power? Besides, might not her refusal to go to Grey Oaks excite suspicion. There was another reason, too, for her acceptance. Twenty-four hours before she had had a dream. She fan- cied herself once more in the library at Grey Oaks. She was alone in the room, and sat, leaning back in an arm- chair and looking out through the open windows on to the rustling leaves of the old oaks. Suddenly, the rustling seemed to shape itself into words, at first low and indistinct, then growing louder and louder: “Beatrice—the will—the papers—you will find—are secret! Beatrice—the will —the papers—you will find—the secret —the secret!” Over and over again the leaves mur- mured these words, until they were in- delibly impressed upon her brain. They had been the last words spoken to her by her father; but in all the ex- citement and subsequent misery of that terrible time, they had taken no definite shape of meaning. She heard them now, as though for the first time; and as she listened, glancing up, she saw, standing framed by the French window, her father’s form. A look of infinite love and in- nate pity was in his dear eyes. She would have sprung te meet and greet him, but she was powerless to stir. Slowly, as she let her hungry, yearn- ing gaze rest on him, he lifted his right hand and pointed to a small music- room, beyond which there was & guest chamber. “The will—the papers—the secret!” the leaves rustled again, and then the dream ended—the vision vanished. Had it been sent to her for naught? She believed not. Away from Grey Oaks, what could she do to prove her right? The will, the papers were un- found. It remained for her to find them. “Cora,” she said, “on one condition, I will go with you. Promise me that no word shall transpire of the conver- sation which has taken place between us to-night, further than that you re- peated to me Mr. Chester’s very polite invitation to make one of your party, and that I accept it.” “T promise!” answered the girl, de- lightedly; and, with a warm embrace, left her, to carry the good news to their future host. CHAPTER XVIII. She had sworn in her own soul nev- er to return to Grey Oaks, save as its acknowledged mistress—acknowledged by the man who had dispossessed her, and by the world. ‘And now, when scarce three months later, the carriage rolled through the lodge gates, and the old, familiar scenes burst upon her view, Beatrice felt that she had, in a measure, per- jured herself. And yet, a voice within her whis- pered that it was a first step toward the goal of success, and as the cold wind blew through the bare branches of the oaks, she could fancy it bore to her the message of the dream. The great bronze door leading into the wide, spacious hall avas thrown wide open; the ruddy glow of the hall's huge fire-place shone out its welcome, while, bare-headed, Randolph Chester came forward to receive his guests. To each he murmured some courte- ous phrase of greeting, even to herself; though his eyes, meeting hers, held at once a challenge and defiant dare of her acceptance of it. : ‘A suite of rooms had been assigned her in the east wing, a portion of the house rarely- used, and farthest re- moved from the suite which formerly had been hers. Among the servants she saw not one familiar face. All the old retainers of her father had been discharged. Not one remained who could recognize their young mistress. Yes, one. Tyrrell stili held his place —indeed, had been promoted to the care of the lodge. He was a high fa- vorite, she later heard the servants whisper to themselves. Careless and indolent ,and half the time unfitted by liquor for his duties, he was rarely rep- rimanded or noticed by his master. In his cups, indeed, the fellow was wont to boast of this himself. But at dinner, a great surprise awaited her. Several courses had fol- lowed each other, when Randolph Chester rose in his chair. “ft wish to acknowledge a special debt of gratitude I owe you, my dear Allen,” he said, “and also your mother and your sister, for your kind care and protection of my cousin, whose sad story I have already related to you. Now that she has consented to return once more to my roof, I ask you, with me, to drink her welcome.” All glanced at each other’s faces, then toward Beatrice, who had grown deathly pale. She had not dreamed he would not permit her to remain in her false char- acter. He stood waiting, holding his filled glass uplifted in his hand. Her soul sickened with some unknown dread. (To Be Continued.) The State Day by Day. WINS BUTTER CONTEST. SMALLPOX RECORD. Official Returns From the Various Counties im Minnesota. According to the official report just published by the marine hospital, ser- vice at Washington there has been quite an epidemic of smallpox in Min- nesota during the past few months. There are more than 2,000 cases record- ed and the most satisfactory part of the report is that but few cases proved fatal. Following is the report as given by counties: Aitkin, Jan. 1-March 11.......... 29 Anoka, Jan. 15-March ll... ++ 68 Beltrami, Jan. 15-March 11. . 3 Benton, Dec. 14-March 11. - 16 Big Stone, Jan. 1-March 11.. +. - 62 - 30 - 31 Blue Earth, Jan. 28-March 11 Brown, Dee. 14-March 11. Caleton, Dec. 14-March 11. Carver, Jan. 1-March 11... Cass, Dee. 14-March 11... -i4 Chippewa, Jan. 15-March 11. oe Clay, Jan. 28-March 11...... ae Cottonwood, Dec. 14-March 11 - 8 Crow Wing, Dec. 14-March 11 - 2% Dakota, Dec. 14-March 11. - 22 Dodge, Dec. 14-March 11. ~ Faribault, Jan. 28-March 11.. 59 Goodhue, Jan. 15-March 11.... aye Freeborn, Jan. 15-March 11. cone 2h Hennepin, Dec. 14-March 11........ 45 Hennepin (Minneapolis), Dec. 14- March 30......... - 90 Houston. Jan. 15: Hubbard, Dec. 14-March 11. Isanti, Jan. 28-March l1...... Jackson, Jan. 15-March 11. Kandiyohi, Dec. 14-March 11 Lake, Jan. 1-March ll... Le Sueur, Dec. 14-March 11. Lyon, Dec. 14-March 11..... Marshall, Jan. 15-March 11. Martin, Jan. 15-March Il... McLeod, Jan. 15-March 11. Meeker, Dec. 14-March 11. Mille Lacs, Feb. 13-March 11... Murray, Feb. 13-March 11. Morrison, Jan. 28-March ll. Nicollet, Jan. 15-March 11. Nobles, Dec. 14-March 11. Olmsted, Dec. 14-March 11. Otter Tail, Jan. 1-March 11. - Pine, Jan. 15-March ll...... oe Pipestone, Dec. 14-March 1l.. Polk, Jan. 15-March 11 ie Ramsey (St. Paul), Dec. 14-Mch Redwood, Jan. 1-March 11. Renville, Jan. 1-March 11... Rice, Jan. 5-March 11 Scott, Jan. 28-March ll... Stearns, Jan. 28-March ll. Steele, Jan. 1-March 11 Stevens, Jan. 15-March 11. . St. Louis (Duluth), Dec. 14-March Swift, Jan. 1-March 11 Todd, Dec. 14-March 11. Traverse, Jan. 15-March 11. Wabasha, Jan. 15-March ll.. Wadena, Jan. 1-March 1l.... Waseca, Jan. 1-March ll.... Weshington, Jan. 15-March 11. Watonwan, Jan. 28-March ll... Wilkin, Jan. 28-March 11...... Wirfona, Dec. 14-March 11. Winona (Winona), Dec. 14-March Wright, Jan. 1-March 11.......... Yellow Medicine, Jan. 1-March Other places... oy Sim co aa no BRea bt oe, bt oo SHES wa hom am es, an a re opiane Total for state.......+.. MONEY FOR SCHOOLS, State Board of Investment Anproves of Loans Aggregating $18,612. | ‘The state board of investment, con- [atsting of Gov. Van Sant, State Treas- urer Block and State Auditor Dunn, has approved of school loans aggregat- ing $18,612, as follows: District No. 26, Meeker county, $2,- 600; No. 62, Winkin county, $750; Sul- livan township, Polk county, $1,500; Brunswick township, Kanabec county, $800; Kandota township, Todd county, $500; district No. 45, Stevens, county, 3600; No. 102, Clay county, $500; No. 17, Kittson county, $300; No. 63, Kittson county, $100; No. 27, Anoka county, $600; No. 197, Otter Tail county, $7: No. 35, Pipestone county, $600; No. 107, Houston county, $600; No. 48, Renville county, $500; No. 17, Becker county, $700; No. 7, Clay county, $800; No. 39, Cottonwood county, $600; No. 92, Nor- man county, $425; No. 56, Traverse county, $500; No. 28, Renville county, $900; No. 41, Aitken county, $300; No. 103, Morrison county, $600; No. 84, Red- wood county, $1,487; No, 40, Aitken county, $400; No. 105, Faribault county, $800, and No. 44, Aitken county, $500. MONEY NOW LYING IDLE. Road and Bridge Fund of 36,000 That Has Not Been Called For. Many roads and bridges will be built throughout the state this summer and many old ones improved by the com- missioners of a number of counties. There is $6,000 in the state road and bridge fund, appropriated by the past legislaturts, being a portion of appro- priations not called for by the various county commissioners. This, if not called for by Dec. 1, will revert to the internal improvement fund. The money has been idle so long that the last legislature decided that if the counties did not want it, it should be used for other purposes. When the fact becomes known that that sum is available for use and must be drawn at once, Assistant State Auditor Iver- son expects to see it withdrawn with~ out delay. The last legislature appropriated $33,- 800 for special road and bridge work during the next four years. There is now $20,000 in that fund. The balance will be available for use when called for. RURAL SCHOOLS WILL COMBINE. Assistant State Superintendent of Schools Nelson reports that many school districts and townships through- | out the state are seriously considering the advisability of consolidating for their educational advancement under the previsions of the new school law. The old law was cumbersome, as it restricted such consolidations to town- ship lines. The new law allows dis- tricts to combine regardless of those boundaries. => Twenty-pound Sample Scores 96 1-2 Points. The first of the monthly butter in- spection contests held by the state food and dairy commission was finished at St. Paul and the awards were as fol- lows: Andrew Hanson Stewart, first prize, $5; points scored, 96 1-2. * H. T. Sondergaard, Litchfield, second prize, $3; points scored, 96. M. P. Mortison, Stockholm, prize, $2; points scored, 95 3-4. The contest was held in the cold stor- age of the Minnesota Butter and Cheese company on Third street. Al- though this is a bad time of the year to secure high scores for butter, the 127 samples submitted to the inspec- tors of the state department showed a good average, better than was antici- pated. The butter scoring 90 points and over was sold as “commercial ex- tra,” bringing 1 cent less in the local markets than is charged in New York. The next grade to “commercial extra” is pure butter, which cannot be secured at this time of the year. On the first of each month Commis- sioner W. W. P. McConnell will hold one of the testing contests, awarding cash prizes to the three dairymen scor- ing the. highest averages. At the end of the year the dairyman scoring the highest average for the year will be awarded a gold medal by Gov. Van Sant. These contests are for the pur- pose of installing an interest among the buttermakers of Minnesota to raise the standard of the product. Andrew Hanson of Stewart, who won the first prize, is a buttermaker for the Milton Dairy company of St. Paul. third STATE WARDS ARE OVERFED. Rations at Various Institutions Not Well Balanced. At the quarterly meeting of the state board of corrections and charities at St. Paul recently the members were no- tified by President Leavett of the state board of control to arrange their books and statements preparatory to turning them over to the board at the last meeting of the charity board, which will be held in the latter part of July. The feature of the meeting was the lecture given by Mrs. Mary B. James, which was a study of the food supplies given to the inmates of the state insti- tutions on the plan of balanced ra- tions. Her investigations, which cov- ered a wide range, showed that as a whole the inmates of Minnesota's in- stitutions are overfed. The diet at the Stillwater penitentiary is almost per- fect. In some institutions food that contains too much fat is given for the amount of nitrogen consumed. In oth- er cases the reverse is the case. } State Agent Gates’ report was to the effect that during the past quarter, ending March 31, twelve persons have been deported; five to Europe, one to Canada and six to other states. Six- teen non-resident insane cases were re- ported to the board from various coun- ties in the state, besides one vagrant boy. Nine of the insane were deported, four were reported to the board for future action, and four were not acted upon, as their residence is unknown. Fergus Falls will be notified to erect a new lockup, and those at Farmington and Lake county were condemned. HINTS TO BUTTERMAKERS. McConnell Makes Suggestions—Gooa Starters Should Be Used. Ccmmissioner W. W. P. McConnell of the state food and dairy department has received and accepted an invita- tion to attend™the next buttermakers~ association convention of Blue Earth county, which will be held at Amboy. The theme of Mr. McConnell’s talk wilt be on the butter starters and the treat- ment of fresh milk before it is deliv- ered to the creameries. Mr. McConnell said that the aroma of butter is largely due to the starter, and the treatment of the cream before the starter is placed in it to cause the acidity. A poor starter will have a bad effect on the cream and thereby pre- vent the butter from showing a high standard. With different handling the butter might have been made to score very high. Mr. McConnell says dairymen make a great mistake when they cover fresh milk so that the air cannot get to it while it is cooling. He contends, and will so state before the Amboy con- vention, that milk which is cooling should not be placed in closed tin cans; that the top of the cans should be left open until the milk has cooled to the temperature of the atmosphere. Then it is time to cover it tightly. If the air is excluded while the cooling process is going on the cream which arises from it will not be the best, and the butter thereby suffers. NEW COMPANY MUSTERED IN. Princeton Guardsmen Take Place of Duluth Men in Third. The newly formed company at Princeton, Minn., was mustered into the Third regiment, N. G. S. M., re- cently, to take the place of Company G,_ formerly of Duluth. A thorough in- vestigation of the affairs of Company G was made recently, with a view to finding out just wether or not it was up to the standard of efficiency which is now necessary in the guard. The re- sult of ihe investigation led to the muster out of the company several weeks ago. There were several candidates for the vacancy created, and Princeton was selected, partly on account of the fact that it was north of the Twin Cities, where most of the companies of the Third are, and also because the place furnishe¢ company to the Fourteenth Minnesota volunteers during the late war. A large number of the members of the new company served at Chieka- mauga as volunteers. A. A. Caswell is captain of the mew Company G. The company numbers fifty men. Col. Cas Van) Duzee, Lieut, W. Ss. Brisbin, acting adjutant, and Lieut. i. D. O'Brien went from St. Paul to mus- ter in the men. it Major E. ML Van Duzee, Jr., also accompanied the — “paper war's of tae party to get the company st properly. 4 4