Omaha Daily Bee Newspaper, July 21, 1894, Page 10

WHERE THE COUNTY STANDS | Publio Busines t in Plain Shape for Popular Perusal, CLERK SACKETT'S ANNUAL STATEMENT Mowt Complote Showing of the County's Re- celpts, Expenditures and Financial dition Kver Made—sources of Revenue ~Distribution of Expen Con For the first time in the history of Doug- las county are t records in such a condition that it is possible to make a complete finan- statement from the county office and strike a bal- showing the true condition of the and labilitles at this date and intelligent perusal of tuis ment must certainly afford the taxpayers of this county great satistaction, from which it appears that even in these timecs of great financial distress and depression, the credit and standing of Douglas county have con- tinued to increase until the county Is today in the best financial condition in its history. A year since I took occasion to say that with proper financial management the neces- sity for registering and paying Interest on Douglas county warrants would cease. The condition of our funds at the present time serve to bear me oit In the correctness of that statement, for although the amount of the annual levy has been reduced since 18 yet every warrant issued by Douglas county has been redeemed except about $2,000 in the “goldiers’ relief fund,” to the redemption of which the board cannot apply any of the pro- ceeds of any other fund and in consequence thereof these warrants must wait the colec- tion of the tax of that fund alone. Never before since the organization of this county has this, the most stringent period of the year, been passed without the neces- sity of registering warrants in all the funds and paying from two to six months' interest at 7 per cent on the same, When we note the amount of warrants that have been universally carried at interest by this county it becomes to some degree ap parent to what extent the management of the finances has been modified in order to bring about these results. The amount of warrants outstanding at the following date July 1, 1891 January 1 July 184 29,841 68 Janua § 87 July 1, 2 1164 01 January 39 81 JUly 1, 1BM..ciiieiiicinennans e ,100 00 In addition to having paid up in full the above floating debt, which with unpaid claims on hand had amoutited to nearly if not quite $300,000 on Jaunary 1, 1892, there have been pald the following sums, which are also an addition to the floating debt of that date: Hospital judgment, paid. . 841 Insane judgment paid 31 Rebuilding county hospital Interest on judgments. Tnterest, on warrant siiice Jan- uary 1, 1592 Total BT These judgments are of long standing, one of them dating as far back as 1886. The amount expended on the hospital was ap- plied to rebuilding that portion of it which fell down as a result of faulty construction. This amount, together with the interest paid, practically amounts to a dead loss to the tax- payers of $19,724.40, which might Lave been avoided by proper management. Statutory estimate of funds needed for the fiscal year, beginning July 1, 1893, made January 10, 1893 General fund Road fund Bridge fund Bond sinking Insane fund Soldiers' relie Hospital fund....... Total estimate, - Levy for the flscal year of 1893 and 1894, made July 8, 1803: General fund, 9 Road fund, 2' mills. Bridge fund, 2 miiis Boldiers’ relief fund, 2-10 milis... Insane fund, 8-10 milis............. Bond sinking fund, 13 milis. .} Total clal clerk's ance nase's careful 140,09 00 7, 38,2] $382,129 88 00 RESOURCES. Tevy of 1W........ Unexpended baianc: Collections " of "the unexpended balance of levy of 181 and prior years. . 5 Balance in special ‘cash fund... Proceeds of sale of road im- rovement bonds... ){gelh.nuuut! collections, ete. . Total . EXPENDITU General fund...... Road fund. i Bridge fund....... Road' improvement ‘fund Soldiers’ rellef fund.. nsane judgment fund. ngane fund............ Bond_ sinking fund.... Total Balances as shown by the ledger at the close of business June 50, 1894. General (fund Road fund Road Improve Bridge fund 45,051 2 Insane judg 78 57 Hospital” judgment fu 5,816 Soldiers’ Trelief fund 1,108 Bond sinking fund S0 Insane fund.. Hospital building Total (A complete tabulated statement of the financlal transactions of the fiscal year end- ing July 1, 1894, was provided by Clerk Sackett, but is omitted from this lssue for want of space.) It may seem strange that a corporation doing as much business as Douglas county should by any process lose sight of any considerable amount of its assets, but such has been the case; - on account of the fact that no record of the transactions between this office and the treasurer's office have been kept it was {mpossible to know at all times the true balance between the debit and credit sides of the accounts, when the transactions of the two offices were carried together, and in consequence of which the actual assets of the county were constantly increasing T reasons for this might be fully explained, but I deem it inadvisable to undertake It in a statement of this kind. It is sufficient to say that the tax lists and records the county have been caretully revised and checked up during the last two years and have been put into such shape that it is now possible to place upon the ledger all the assots of the county, The tax lists have been lieved from the burden of carrying a larg amount of uncollectuble tax, made so by reason of the fact that much of it was fllegally levied, and in many cases personal tax is carried against parties now dead or insolvent. This, with the exception of a portion” of the ‘personal tax for the years 1887, 1888, 1889, 1890 and 1891, reduces the showing down to what are probably the actual assets of the county and a liberal estimate has been mado mn this statement of the uncollected portion of these years, and it is very probable that when the tax sball have been coll:ctod the interest will amocunt to enough to bring the total up to the present estimated figures without allow ance for uncollectable tax, It is necessary to bear In mind assets of a corporation such as Douglas county are different from those of an ordin ary commercial enterprise, in that the county never draws its check against the money collected, but against the money to be col lected, that is the levy, and therefore, in arriving at actual balances, there is always an element of unceriainty as to whether the money will te collected or not The following statement exhibits the sources and labilites of Douglas county as carried to the ledger for the fiscal year beglnning July 1, 1594 ASSETS. Lovy of 184 uncollected 3 Levy of 1583 uncollected balance Levyy of 1892 uncollected balance Levy of 1891 and back years bal- anc A Uncollocied balance state insane tax (estimated) 1 Balance of 1883 tax over l"l‘ RRAT Tasstys #1A WhITAnLs Bai Halance hospital building fund, due to other funds.... 382,129 98 112,106 72 29,30 05 277 66 161,412 55 9,612 15 3 6ons2 11 ‘fees L$ 233786 7L 50,400 18 b 1,286 40 4759 07 1990 00 396 25 of that the an 107,387 00 40011 500 00 21,206 06 61,584 19 | | Due City 850971 | THE OMAHA DAIIY BI<E. SATURDAY, JULY 21. 1894, Balance special cash fund........ Due from city of Omaha, keep: ing prisoners... Due from city of South’ r)mnm. coping prisoners . Due from ex-Treas. Snyder..... Balance cash on hand (less im- provement fund) o Mol st l l;\l(ll lT”.H . Warrants outstanding July 1... § Unpald claims July ) . Uncompleted contracts July 1., of Omaha and South Omaha (uncollected) Balance (assetts for i8 1204 6 140900 00 Total . $ 710,788 01 Note-—The above figures are approxtmately ccrrect, yet in some casca they lack verifica- tion owing to the fact that we have been crowded for time to complete the work of comparing and proving the Agures. Thue it appears from these figures that Douglas county is in the best condition financially that it has ever been, and while the present administration cannot claim that it is entirely the result of their labors, yet it is true that the judiclous management of the public affairs of this county during tho last three years have contributed very materially to the result. With a proper management this county need never bo financos nor need the expenses be a burden upon the taxpayers of the county unless some unforseen mity occurs requiring the expendituro of a larger sum of money than is at present contemplated TAXES OF 1504, The Board of Bqualization for the present year adjourned on the 6th of July, after completing their labors. The result is as follows: Chicago Clontarf Douglas st Om in the future cramped for asscased valnation $ 240,440 72 assessed valuation.... 9,710 00 assessed valuntion.... 2 16 iha 1 valuation 00 khorn assessed valuation... 04 orence assessed valuation 2 Jefferson assessed valuation. . McArdle assessed valuation Millard assessed valuati Platte Valley assessed valus Union _assessed valuation § Waterloo assessed valuation.... West Omaha assessed valuation. South Omaha assessed valuation Ifirst ward assessed valuation.. Second ward asscssed valuation. . Tird ward assessed valuation.... Tourth ward assessed valuation d assessed valuation... tion. assess Eighth ward as: Ninth ward assessed valuation. 184, . total valuation. 817,010,708 00 nds, total valuation. 821 00 sonal, total valuation......... 901 62 Total .... Ceveneen. S24,681,430 62 The assessed valuation for 1504 has been reduced $793,901.38 from that of 189 Upon this valuation the levy has been made as follows: General fund, 9 mills Road fund, 2 mills. Bridge fund 7-10 mills nking fund, mills. Soldiers' rellef fund, 3-10 mill. Total, 15 mills., .8 am,2 Notwithstanding the fact that the times have been growing harder and money closer in all lines of business, yet Douglas county has been able to increase its financial re- serve and at the same time reduce its levy. The levies of the last three years being as follows ing . BT, The bonded debt of this county has been increased $150,000.00 during the last year by the issue of that amount of bonds voted to aid in the permanent improvement of roads "and highways. The present debt is as follow. Five per cent funding bonds is- sued July 1, 1887, due July 1, 1907 . Five per cent funding bonds is- sued July 1, 1891, due July 1, 1911 e Six per cent court house bonds issued Jan, 1, 1881, due Jan- uary 1, 1901, called’ and re funded 'July 10, 150 Four and one-half ro: fhent bonds dated July 1 issued January 1, 189%.5... 1892, Total annual interest.........§ 25190 00 The annual interest payment will be re- duced $1,785.00 by the refunding of the court house bonds, which have been called and for which 4% per cent bonds will be exchanged. The fact that the securities of this county bearing only 4% per cent interest sell at a premium at times of such general financial depression gives evidence of the fact that they are regarded as gilt edged in the mar- ket. Two such sales having been made this year, one of $150,000 at $500 premium and one of $119,000 at $600 premium, both drawing 4% per cent Interest. DISTRICT COURT. In closing there are a few items to which I wish to call special attention, one item is that of the district court which has grown to such proportions in the last few years that it now costs more than any other one department of the government of this county. The cost of maintaining the district court has been as follows: Total cost 1891 levy $ Total cost 1892 le otal cost 1593 le This amount has now grown to such an extent that it absorbs nearly one-fourth of the amount allowed by law to be levied in the general fund and should court expenses g0 on Increasing and assessments decreasing it must be necessary to provide some other means for furnishing funds upon which to run this department of the county govern- ment. 33,363 14 51,459 59 65,710 91 REVENUE, The revenue provisions of the statute, so far as they relate to this county, have sub- served thelr usefulness. The county has outgrown nearly every provision of the revenue law and about the best that can be sald of this is that it should be referred to the next session of the legislature for an entire revision. A revenue law which per- mits the publication of returns that indicate to the world that such a county as this is going down hill In the value of its property, oven In such times es these. Is a curse to the community, more especially when those reports and returns do not exhibit one-tenth part of the truth, and it is to be hoped that the representatives of this district will use their best efforts to so remodel our revenue laws that an honest assessment of all prop- erty may be obtained CHARITY. It is difficult to make any comparative estimate of the expense of*this department for the past year on account of the fact that the resources of the county have been more severely taxed to care for persons dependent upon charity this year, than ever In the history of the county, but nevertheless this department makes a most satisfactory show- in| and feeling that the public wiil be in- terested in knowing how and to what extent the county has contributed to the support of the general poor, I append a detailed state- ment of this branch Prior to this year the number of applica- tions for assistance made to the county has never reached 800 in any one year. About the only comparison that can be drawn is in the' following manner. Total cost of maintaining the poor outside Douglas county. Hospital Paid £ 5 Number ! Cost 3 . . ™ Pald (l 'y of 189 teeee 20,820 51 Number of applicants, Cost per applicant, .. Paid from levy of 1593 Number of up!rlh ants, :Z,W\( Cost per applicant s Thy followlng exhibits a detailed statement of tle charity department outside of the poor farm and in charge the commitioe on eharity and the county poor agent, for th yea/ ending July 1 Total number of & 1,192 1013 15,808 35 1 lity 1,079; Dane, man, Polanders, 108; 3; 119; French, 14; Itallan, emian, English, 61;' Russian, 3 Arablan, The length of time d in the eity at the tlon {s s follows: One month, 22 2 nths, 22; § months, 20; 4 months, 9 onths, 12 6 months, months, 1 months, 9; % months, 7; 10 months, 7; 336; & years, 17; 3 years, 143; 4 years 5 years 6 'years, 1; T ye yenrs, 110; 9 years, T: 10 years, 82; years, $1; 13 years, 42 ars, $1; 16 years, 13 years, 18; 19 years, 8; 2 ye years, 8; 28 years, 6 years, 22; 3 years, 4; 31 years, 4 2 years, applicants had re- date of their appli- 5y ¥ ;2 years, 1; 30 years ana more ;2,000 CAUSE OF DISTRESS. Inability to obtain employment. Sickness Cripples Crime v Drunkenness Insanity ..... Total Number families Number of single partics. persons o represented of persons number o mily Total number: represented V5 v Total number of persons including single applicants. ... Number of applications refused..... Number of applicants furnished ' as- sistance other than transportation Total Fiess Joves Average nthe which as- sistance has been given to each ap- plicant ¥ i Total in ‘famiiies epresented, number en to all applicants .as above.... 5,800 r of r pendents o Number of ten dependents...... 1,702 It may not be generally understood just how this assistance is furnished to these applicamts, Prior to September 1, 1893, it was the custom to give to such partles as the county wished to assist, orders upon grocers and other dealers for one, two or more dollars worth of goods, either once, or per week or per month as the order stated. In this way the county was too often imposed upon by such persons who used these orders to buy things not actually needed,. such as tobacco, cheese, green vegetables, sewing material, expensive canned goods, etc., 8o that the true object was defeated in many cases With a view to improving the efliciency of the service and at the same time make the funds relieve the most distress possible, the system in vogue at Chicago was adopted, which consists in having a ‘“county store’ or dispensary where the goods themselves are purchased at wholesale by the county and put up and distributed to each applicant in person after a careful examination of the conditions surrounding each cas Under this system it is apparent that the county has saved nearly If not quite 50 cents on_the dollar invested. Since the adoption of the present system on September 1, last, the following supplies have been disbursed Flour .... Sugar 177475 1bs en Beans Rice .. Hominy Oat meal Corn meal . Salt pork . Coal These have ]] 600 bars J 1,400 1bs. been distributd upon 6,104 orders to 1,903 applicants and at a cost to the county of $19,490.58, not including the cost of maintaining the dispensary In conclusion I have only to say that a careful comparison of this statement with such as were issued one and two years ago will show where decided improvement has been made in the manner of conducting the affairs of this county and while much has been done in that line, yet the present Board of County Commissioners recognizes fully that in many other ways can the public serv- ice be dmproved and much needless expense saved to the taxpayers, FRED J. SACKETT, County Clerk. — THE CAPTAIN’S VISITOR. The Pompous Captain and the Lic General. During the summer of 1868, being in the service of the United States, I was stationed at Fort Wallace, Kan., says an officer in the Chicago Record. In those days the arrival of the overland mail coach was an event of some importance, and those of us who were oft duty used to be on hand at the post trading store and welcome it, and incidentally to note the number of bullet holes made in it since the last trip. One morning there got off the coach from the west a tall, middle aged man wearing a broad slouch hat, a long linen duster and a pair of cavalry boots, into which his trousers were carelessly stuck. Seeing my comrade and me in close proximity he approached, and we, recognizing him, gave a military salute, which he gracefully returned. He inquired who was in command of the garrison. 1 answered: “Captain B is temporarily in command in the absence of Colonel " He desired to be directed to Colonel —'s quarters. We pointed out the house. Then I returned to the office, where I was on duty as clerk. aptain B was a pompous martinet who had never smelled powder in his life and was detested by both officers and men. In due time he arrived, and having noticed the tall man he called to his orderly: “Orderly, go and ask that man sitting in front of ‘Colonel ——'s” quarters whether he is an officer.” The orderly the affirmative. Said Captain B——: “Give my compli- ments to that officer and say that I desire his presence at headquarters.” The orderly did s Shortly after enter the tall man. Cap- taln B—, looking quite stern, asked: ‘“‘Sir, are you an officer in the army?” am “To what branch of service long?" “Not ent.” “On what duty are you?" “Well, I have been traveling a lately through the west. “Are you on leave of absence?’ *“Not_exactly. Well, sir. did it not strike you that it was your duty to report at ' these head- quarters immediately on your arrival in the garrison?” The tall man admitted that it had not struck him; in fact he was tired and hungry and thought more of breakfast and a little rest than anything else. Said Captain B——: “Well, sir, that is no excuse for a breach of military etiquette. We keep here a book in which we require all officers entering the garrison to register. Orderly, hand the register to the officer. You will be good enough to write your name, rank and regiment, with such remarks as will be necessary. The gentleman leisurely took the pen and quietly wrote: “William T. Sherman, lleutenant general, United States army. tenant returned with an answer in do you be- to any particular branch at pres- little i A RESORT OF SUMMER, A Spot in Persin Where the Thermomoter Shows 130 in the Shad The hottest region on the earth's surface is on the southwestern coast of Persia, on the borders of (he Persian gulf, says an ex- change. For forty consecutive days in the months of July and August the mercury has been known to stand above 100 degrees in the shade night and day, and to run up as high as 130 degrees in the middle of the af- ternoon. At Bahrin, in the center of the most torrid part of this most torrid belt, as though it were nature's intention to make the place as unbearable as possible, water from wells Is something unknown. Great shafts have been sunk to a depth of 6500 feet, but always with the same result—no water Nothwithstanding this serious drawback, a numerous population contrives to live there, thanks to copious springs, which burst forth from the bottom of the gulf more than a mile from the shore. The water from these springs is obtained in a most curious and novel manner. Machadores, Whose sole Oc- cupation Is that of furnishing the people of Bahrin with the life-giving fluid, repair to that portion of the gulf where the springs are situated and bring away with them hundreds of skin bags full of the water each day. The water of the gulf where the springs burst forth is nearly 200 feet deep, but the machadores—divers—manage to fli their goat-skin sacks by diving to the bot- tom and holding the mouths of the bags over the fountain fets; this, too, without allowing the salt water of the gulf to mix with it ‘The source of the: submarine fountains is thought to be in the hills of Osmond, 500 miles away. Being situated at the bottom of the gulf, it Is & mystery how they were ever discovered, but the fact remains they bave been known since the dawn of history - - ates East, For full Information concerning summer excursions call at the Chicago, Milwau St. Paul ticket office, 1504 Farnam street, address F. A. NASH, General Agent, Excursi TAKING IN A TENDERFOOT How He 8tacked U‘p af the Pezinning and Cashed Tt &t the End. A PROFESSIONAL "TAKEN FOR A SUCK:R A Rattling Poker tory with Tncidents that Would Do Credlt (o Canada B Miracle of ¥ight Aces in e Pack, 'he The exploits of Canada Bill on trains and towns between the Mi; uri river and the Pacific In the later '60s and early 'T0s are a fading memory to the old timer. In the heyday of his career Mr. C. Bill was about as smooth a manipulator of the pasteboards as border times produced. His versatility as a card sharp was supplemented with a genius for mimicry and disguises, which en- abled him to pluck many a professional who had thought Willlam a verdant from Way- back. The incidents of the following story, related by Julius Chambers in the New York Recorder, dovetail with the peculiar characteristics of Canada Bill and his shad- owy Image will be readily recognized in the tenderfoot who was an “unwilling” victor in the game: PLAYING FOR A SUCKER. He looked a ‘“tenderfoot,” sure enough. He boarded the train at Cheyenne, modestly accosted the conductor, secured a stateroom that had just been vacated and took posses- sion with the shyness of young man mak- ing his first long journey. He did not attempt to make the acquaint- ance of any of his fellow-travelers, Several of us, who had journey all the way from the Pacific coast together, knew each other s0 well that we did not feel slighted, how- ever, by his lack of appreciation, In' our car and that just ahead us were several suspicious characters. He who caught my fancy particularly was a tall, grizzly-haired man, cleanly shaven, ex- cept a flerce bfick mustache, evidently dyed. The skin of his face was yellow and parch- ment-like, Day and night, ever since leaving Sacra- mento, these men had been playing poker in one or other of the smoking compartments. They had kept mostly to themselves, taking In a stranger from time to time as was necessary to complete their numbe Al- though they were professional gamblers, they were looking for other game than the mere casual traveler from whom they might be able to win a few dollars. Of course T was too old to be deceived by the pretense that these men were strangers. The old thoroughbred whom I have described af- fected to treat his. associate from the for- ward car with absolute disrespect. The latter personage was dressed after the man- ner of a cowb: far as the broad- brimmed hat and the top boots wer cerned; but he made no display of firc sald nothing about the number of his vic- tims, and treated the sarcastic remarks of sociates with an indifference that really commanded a good deal of respect for him. A Mormon elder, who had ‘“stacked up against this game during one whole day's session between Elko and Ogden, had lost considerable money; but the regular players stood almost even atid no occasion for any ill-fealing or bitterness had arisen. ROPED IN. The next morning after we left Cheyenne I went into the smoking compartment after breakfast. The young ‘‘tenderfoot” soon followed me thitfier. He lit a cigar and gazed out of the, window, apparently quite indifferent to the game olready in progres Only five men Werg playing and the young stranger was asked if he did not want to “set in.” At first he demurred, saying he did not know much about the game. Be- sides, he did not feel very well; traveling upset him, he explained. He then inquired regarding the character of the game and was told that it was a modest table-stike -game, nominally a ante. He didn’t appear to understand very clearly what a “table-stake” game was, but finally agreed to take a vacant camp stool at the table. On being asked to declare the amount of money he was prepared to risk he said, in- differently: “Oh, I don't care. What Is the average stake among you?" he asked, turning to the first man on his lett, “I declared $500," was the reply. “Three hundred,” said the next man. “A thousand doilars was mine,” added the fine old man with the black mustache, as his eyes keenly sought the face of the stranger, The statements of the other two players es- caped me, but they declared for amounts in the neighborhood of $500 each. According to these statements, therefore, there was about $2,800 on the table. The ‘“tender- foot” drew a large roll of bills from his pocket, and quietly counted out $3,000, mostly in $100 bills, and placed the money before him, declaring to lose that amount. There was an expression of manifest sur: prise upon the faces of most of the players; but the old man's eyes gleamed with satis- faction, Here was a bird for the plucking at last! Patience had been rewarded, and the fine old man would be able to leave the train at Omaha with enough money to en- able him to play faro bank when they reached Chicago. RUNNING SMOOTHLY. However much the average gambler may care for a “short card” game faro is his de- light. It is to him the quintessence of earthly pleasure and he would be satisfied to die any hour if he were sure of an eternity at a faro table in the world to come. The cards were soon dealt and the game ran along smoothly for an hour or more. It was so dull and uninteresting that after watching the muddy banks of the River Platte for awhile I had fallen asleep. I was awakened by the porter announcing dinner and was about to leave the compart- ment to prepare to go to the dining car when my attention was attracted by the conduct of the old gambler, who happened to be the dealer. I divined, more than de- scted, an attempt on his part to draw a card from the bottom of the pack. The result was that I sat still and watched de- velopments, The cards were frequently changed and the discarded packs were thrown out of the window. Having seen the young tenderfoot defrauded out of one jack-pot with more than $100 in it by a card Qealt from the bottom of the deck my sympathies were strongly enlisted in his behalf, One thing about him impressed me very much, 1 felt sure that he had detected the fraudulent deal, but he said nothing whatever and lost his money like a thorough- bred. The deal had gone round the table and was again in the hands of our old fellow- traveler of the black moustache. He had called for a new pack of cards. When they were brought the ‘joker" and the “blank” were destroyed, the pack shuffled by the dealer and finally cut by the man at the right of the dealer. HE HAD SAND. The “tenderfoot,” who sat opposite the old gambler, regarded the pretty pink backs of the cards as they were thrown out with the curlosity of a child, He commented upon the artistic designs that embellished them The “ante” had been raised $10 blind and it, therefore, cost $20 to get cards. ‘“‘Tender- foot” casually looked over his hand and in a way quite unprofessional threw out two of the pastehoards, made good his $20 and raised the “ante’ $50 more. Both the men behind him “stayed,” and the fine old man, who was dealing, Saw the ante, the blind and the raise, and added another $100. The “‘age hand” dropped out. The man who “went blind" did the same. The “tender- foot” took up the two cards he had previously tossed upon the table in front of him, sorted over his hand again, saw the $100 raise and timidly said “Five hundred better." For the first time I turned my eyes In his direction and looked him squarely in the face. I could see that his breathing, though short and quick, was regular. There was not a tremor In his muscles and his volce was as calm and deliberate as that of a judge administering the sentence of death. As 1 looked into his eyes—the eyes of youth and of gentle raising—I saw In them the cold heartlessncss of the experle 1 gambler, 1 noticed that he no longer tossed his long curly halr back from his temples with a shake of his head; that his care- lessness, his studled Inattention, his frequ Inquiry regarding the amount of the ante of had all been assumed. As an electric shock the realization came to me that 1 was about to witness a death grapple between two professional gamesters who lived by their trade, with whom any act that msured sue- coss was fair and In whose hearts pity was unknown. The unexpected raise by the gentle “tonderfoot” was as much of a surprise to tho people at the table as to me. The fourth and fifth hands at once dropped out and the delay that had given me time to make my study of the youngster's face was oceastoned by the old man’s hesitation as to whether he would merely “stay” in the game or ‘“rafse back.” He finally “made good,” and, the first and second hands hav ing quit, the game resolved itself into a contest between the “tenderfoot” and the old thoroughbred The call for cards followed DRAWING FROM UNDER. The “tenderfoot,” adhering to his original determination, drew two card Leaning forward to look out of the window, I in voluntarily glanced into his hand and I wa amazed to see that it contained abso- lutely nothing of value. He was holding up three odd cards of different suits. What ho obtained in the draw will never be known. Before I had recovered from my surprise the “tenderfoot” asked indifferently “Does the ‘age’ pass?’ Never," was the curt reply of the dealer The fact that he would have to bet first seemed to annoy the ‘tenderfoot.” He straightened out his arms as K weary, dropped his hands to the side of his camp stool and hitched it closer to the table The whole movement was that of an in- dolent man momentarily annoyed. And as be straightened up he said, almost peev- i<hly ory well; I bet you $50 without look- s he was searching through his pile of notes for a $50 bill, most of them being larger or smaller than that denomination, I distinctly saw the dealer do what I had been expecting to see done from the begin- ning. He had placed his five cards slightly to his right, and when he laid down the deck the long nail of the little finger of his left hand “leld out” five cards from the bot- tom, and he placed the rest of the pack adroitly upon his previous hand, remarking as he did s “I don’t take any." THE LAST CALL. As 1 was sitting almost behind him I had no difficulty whatever in seeing the four aces fn his hand which 1 confidently expected to find there. The fifth card not visible. I felt no remorse, however, for the pretended “tenderfoot.”” I had d cided definitely regarding his character and felt that he was entitled to his fate, As I expected, the dealer raised the bet $200. The “tenderfoot” looked over his hand, apparently for the first timo after the draw, “saw” the $200 raise and then inquired “How ‘much you “Exactly $1,200," was the pr “Well, then I raise you $1,200 I call; what have you got “Four aces,” replied the “‘tenderfoot,” lay- ing them on the table. The old man never turned a hair, but asked in a voice as calm as the last request of a dying saint: “What is your side “The king of hear foot,’ adding the fifth already upon the table. The old gambler, being the dealer, dared not show his hand. He reached across and turned the five cards displayed by the “tenderfoot” back upward. They matched the others in the discard exactly. He then looked over his own hand again and taw that his fifth card was a ten of spades. As he bunched his cards and laid them thoughtfully upon the table he merely said: “It wins; I overbet my hand.” He then bunched all the cards on the table—the pack must have contained eight aces, for “tenderfoot” had evidently worked 4 “hold-out” when he hitched up his stoo and tossed them out the window. . . . . B . As I gave the porter his tip on the fol- lowing morning in Omaha he said to me in a garrulous sort of way: Nice man, that ‘tenderfoot.’ He gave mo a $20 shiner for a wample pack of all the cards on the train.” “Great guns!” I exclaimed. he do this?” “Tho night he came aboard of a stake have you before t reply. card ?" ' said card the to “tender- the four “When did LIBERALITY OF A CONFEDERATE. Chapter In the History of the Lost Cause. Frank Riggs, the son of the famous banker and his father's successor in the financial circle at Washington, told a correspondent of the Chicago Record an interesting story that corrects a false impression which many good people have carried for years. During the second term of President Grant, a man of the same name of Pickett sold to the govern- ment of the United States the records of the executive departments of the southern con- federacy. From these documents was ob- tained much evidence that prevented the pay- ment_of claims of southern citizens, who pretended loyalty for losses growing out of the war. In a single instance they saved several millions by showing that malil con- tractors throughout the south had been paid from the. confederate treasury for services performed by them for the Postoffice de- partment of the United States before the out- break of the rebellion. They proved to be of great value in many other directions, and the price paid Mr. Pickett for them, which was something like $60,000, proved to be one of the most profitable investments ever made by the government. Pickolt had been the chief clerk of the nfederate State department or held some similar office which made him custodian of the archives. When President Davis and his cabinet fled from Richmond Mr. Pickett carted the records away and hid them in some place that escaped tne searchers of the union army, and the manner of their disap- pearance was a mystery until they were de livered to ecretary Fish. It was alwa; believed that Mr. Pickett pocketed tle money and he was universally condemned by south- ern people for betraying the secrets of the lost cause for a price. cts have never been told,” said Mr. or Mr. Pickett exacted the strictest pledges of secrecy from my father in regard to the disposition of the money. But both of them are dead now, and there Is no reason why the truth should not be known. Mr. Pickett never had the benefit of one penny of the money he recelved from the govern- ment for those records. He deposited the en- tire amount as soon as he received it in our bank to the credit of 'George W. Riggs, trustee for,' and it was distributed in small amounts among the widows of confederate officers. Mr. Pickett made out the list of the people to whom he wished It sent. The checks were all signed by my father. Fach one was accompanied by a lotter, which he prepared, and which my father signed, saying that the' inclosure was forwarded at the re- quest of a gentleman who felt an interest in their welfare, but for reasons of his own de- sired that his identity should not closed. The account was carried for years, and all the checks an vouche now packed away in our bank." - The Musher's Mistak An elderly lady who keeps a fashionable uptown school, and who lays no claim to good looks, tells the following in the New York Journal as a joke on herself: “The other night I left the home of a friend, half a mile above my house. It was pouring with rain. 1 had on a heavy mack- intosh and a thick veil, but no umbrella. I started to walk home, when a swell-looking young man approached, raised his hat with @ mashing smilo, and asked me to come under his umbrella. I took his arm with a smile and walked with him to my door. He sald sweet things all the way. When ! reached my door 1 thanked him for his sheltering escort. He suggested a little sup- per. I said ‘oung man, who do you take me for?" at the same time raising my veil and look- ing at him in the full glare of the electric light. He jumped half way across the street and cried ““The devil - Nutural Mistak One of the oddest experfences that I ever had with my stammering, says a man who has an incurablo impediment in his speech, happened in the shop of an apothecary in London. As I was suffering from a stomach trouble, I went into the apothecary's to get a little iplcac. “I want ip-1p-ip-ip- unable to get out the rest “Some what?" he asked “Ip-p-ip—"* “Hooray!" shouted the apothecary top of his voice. He thought I was him the word Lo cheer, A Hidden some I stammered, at the OIOIQIOIQIOIOIOIOI.I. Every Jack Can Have a Jill, and Place to Put Her. READ THIS BILL. $99.95 Puts Them to Housekeeping. KITCHEN Cook StOVE ... 82.50 Cooking Outiit iy . 0,00 Kitehen Table . 1 Two Kitehon Chalrs Weingor, Tub, Water P id L chen Caplioird rigerator. Extea Furnishings Al Wool Carpot “'I;"M:n‘.."xl.‘l‘plu[m i o Docorated Dinnor Sot orated Table Lump.. Lounge Two Window Shades, .. CHAMBER Al Wool Carp 45 Antique Ohamber Set Woven Wire Spring... . Best Wool-Top Muttrosy Pair Pillows Decorated Toilot S6i.... Window Shades.. ...v.... Total. . $9 9 9 5 These Are House Furnishing Days We are Outfitting now Howmes for Li Professional Men, Merchants, Millfons You see, wo accommodits everybody. Any young mun can 1ot t0 somuience o tho sealé wo tabulito today, flo ean puy & Httlo down tnd o little \.n'll‘l{mnllli,l:lnd xlu‘llllu' e dd to his bill from time to time. oW noxt week ad Use an Outtit for an Eight-ikoom Hous: This glve: you m|'h\ a of what can ono for #1100, We can show '\n l\\vnll\l' othor \ht!)‘."‘lj ments for siie nionoy Abs we will submit soon a hlgh-toned 10-Room House Our 'I‘erms Presents for All v 92,46 oring Men, $10.00 worth of goods, sitors Receive Souv 100 wock or 84.00 & month, 5,00 worth of gooas, #1.50 u week or £6.00 a month 50.00 worth of goods, $#2.00 4 woek or 88.00 a month $75.00 worth of goods, #2.60 0 week or $10.00 a month $100.00 worth of goods, #3.00 1 woe th of goods, #4.00 0 week' or 815 With 45 worth of goods, an Album With 810 worth of goods, & Souvenir Spoon. With $256 worth of goods, a Bisque Or- nament. With $50 worth of goods, a Framed or $12.00 & month worth of goods. a Center Tablo With #100 worth of goods, palr Laco Curtains, $200.00 wo )0 & month Mm&e&.lOI.I.IOI.I.IQIQIQI.I.I.I.I.IIOI.IOIOIOIQI.I. I Close Evenings at 6:30, Excopt 8aturdays, During July and August. Send 10¢ for postage on big '94 Furnitura Catalogue. Baby Carriage and Refrigerator Catalogue Mailed Free. Record of A (reat Event THE'BOOK O THE BVILDERS: The Euthentic Mistory of the Whorld’s Faiv 3% oy ) THE MEN WHO WUILTIT It Costs Little or Nothing AND PROVIDES YLOITEW T T HEA PICTURE GALLERY 100 400 Paintings Sketches It cost the publishers over 100,000 Dollars, but costs you less than 1,000 cents 5 coupons and 23 cents, or sent by mail 5 cents extra, in coin, stamps nop Address, F. D. Millet Director of Decoration. D. H. Burnham Director of Works. AND RINC accepted. Memorial Department, Omaha Bee. 0 OWERE‘ROM GASOLINE DIRECT FROM THE TANK. GHEAPER Tian STEAM, No Hoiler, No Steam. No Engineer BEST POWER for Corn and Feed Mills, Baling Hay, Running Separators, Crenmeries, &o. OTTO GASOLINE ENGINES Stationary or Portable. PRTRCTR I B BLo2 M. P, Bend for Catalogue, Prices, etc., desoribing work L he done ]OTTOGAS ENGINE WORKS, 334 & Walnut Sts,, PHILADELPHIA, PA. Chicago, 245 Lake St, Qmaka, 107 8, l4th St