Omaha Daily Bee Newspaper, December 16, 1894, Page 19

| — f%r[%y;@%d(%h& THE OMAMA DAILY BEE: SUNDAY. DECEMBER: 16, 18Ya. 19 THE LOST OPAL OF MYSORE OR THE £EORET OF THE GHAUTS, By Willlam Murray Graydon, (Copyright, 1894, by the Author.) CHAPTER VII. FIGHT AT TIPPOO BARRIER. Quick as he gave the command Pink was crouching deep in the wayside vegetation The boys dropped clumsily beside him; for a second or two their hearts soemed to stop beating, and they felt an lcy chill through their veins, At no time had the fugitives been In a tighter place than now. It was terribly trying to lie there and listen to the ominous voice of danger in both dircctions—from the rear the faint metallic ring of iron-shod hoofs; from in front a londet and duller sound that as yet baffled recognition, Pink cocked his rifie, and glanced side- ways at Jack and Myles. They understood, and two more hammers rose with a sharp click. Paltu was busy at something else. He had one ear to the ground, and his hand was behind the other. “An elephant, sahibs,” he whispered, and just then an elephant actually did lumber intp sight a short ways up the cross-road. It was handsomely caparisoned, and bore on its back a square howdah, in which sat two persons, evidently servant and master. The latter was a stout, full-bearded orlental, with the dress and pompous bearing of a rich zemindar, or landholder. The other was an aged Hindoo, gray-haired and dignified. In front of the howdah was perched a thin and wiry little mahout. The hidden watchers drew long breaths of relief. Three rifle hammers were softly lowered to half-cock. “They're only travelers,” whispered Myles, “but they chose a mighty awkward time to drop along. Oh, why don’t they hurry?” “They can't disappear too soon,” replicd Jack. “‘Hatk! The troopers are coming nearer,” But, as {ll-luck would have it, the mahout halted the huge quadruped on the intersection of the two paths. The zemindar and his servant glanced uneasly down the crossroad They heard the tramp of the approaching troopers, and were discussing it in low tones. THE SBAHIB'S creep | pace the strange conduct of the old Hindoo, all had observed. “He wished to ecast an evil spell you, Sahlb Wyngard,” said Paltu. “More likely he was a thug” suggested Myles, laughing, “and was sizing up your neck for the sacred noose.’ I don't pretend to account for it Jack in a grave tone, “but I kno forget that look of his in a hurry.” Pink now came out of his brown study and proposed that the interrupted lunch shonld be finished. S5 haif of the bag of provisions was red and quickly eaten. The howdah was well stocked with food, but this the hoys did not touch. Meanwhile the elephant kept up its clumsy over wooded mountain spurs and through deep ravines. The path was at times imperceptible, but occasicnal glimpses ahead from hilltop gave Pink all the guld- ance that he needed. By 2 o'clock in the afterncon the fugitives had traveled ten miles on elephant back and were now in the very heart of the Ghauts. A few minutes later they emerged from a denso forest at the base of the twin peaks, which reared their stony heads 2,000 feet in air and stcod guard over the entrance to a narrow and somber valley. The mahout made the elephant kneel at Pink's command aml the weary travelers climbed out of the howdah. They were stift and sore from the violent jolting and it was good to feel the ground under fo't again. The mahout was the picture of fear, for he evidently believed that his captors were going to kill him. When Pink spoke a few words to him in Hindustanee his dusky face beamed with joy and he ralaamed pr-foundly. He made the clephant rise and wheeled him about. An instant later both had vanished in the forest and the fugitives were alone, Well, what next?" asked Jack. ppoo Sahib's barrier,” replied Pink, as he stifly led the way into the mouth of the valley. “Once we pass that we're safe.' The boys looked at one another mysterl- ously. “What is it like?"” exclaimed Myles, Not ‘aving scen It, I can't say exactly,” was Pink’s answer. “But we'll soon be there unless what I 'eard in the palace that night was all les.” With this the lads had to be content, and silently and in single file they followed their guide. For nearly an heur they traced the upward course of a brawling torrent that flowed through gigantic trees and dense vegetation. Here and there signs of a path were visible, but it had evidently not been trod by human fe:t for many years. The valley was less than a quarter of a wmile wide. It was really a gorge, for it was hommed in and deeply shadowed by parallel which upon * replied 1 shan't ) 7 “I'LL ATTEND TO THESE DEVILS.” It was a critical time for the fugitives, but thelr suspense was happlly cut short by the _«conception in Pink's brain of a stupendous idea. " ‘“‘Lads," he whispered, ‘“ere's a chance for Obey orders and do as I do. That's this Pink drew a b:ad en the rose suddenly up and zemindar’s breast, Al- most as quickly Myles and Jack had the servant and the mahout covered, The lat- tor trembled so violently that he let his goad fall to the ground. “Down with you,” commanded Pink, for- getting to sp:ak Hindustanee, “No fool- Ing. We're in a "urr, The zemindar was a plucky fellow, and his face flushed with rage. ’ “Dogs, ve shall pay dearly for this,”” he cried, in fairly gocd English. ~ “I am Holkar Singh, a landholder of Mercara in Coorg. I am journeying peaceably homeward through the territory of Mysore''— 'Get down,” pe'sisted Pink, angrily. ‘You're not going to be murdered or robbed. We only want ta borow your elephant for a while." ‘With an evil scowl on his face the zemin- dar nodded to the mahout, who instantly made the elephant kneel. Master and servant climbed out of the howdah and stood a few feet to one side. /Both bristled with swords and daggers, but neither had firearms. 3 “Up with you, lads"” cried Pink. now.” Myles and Paltu scrambled into the how- dah, and as Jack followed them he caught the servant's eyes fixed strangely upon him, There was no mallce in the look. It ex- pressed sudden amaz:ment and incredulity— even a touch of affection, as though the sight of the lad had vibrated some long-forgotten chord of memory in the cld Hindoo's heart, “Your elephant will be back 'ere by sun- set,” added Pink, turning to the zemindar. f you want satisfaction apply to the * British resident at Mysore In about a week from now. And y u'll be all the more likely to get it if you detain these cutthroats com- ing yonder as long as you can.'" The next Instant Pink was in the howdah, and as quickly the mahout tried to wriggle to the ground. But Pink leaned forward and caught the fellow by the back (f the neck, at the same time pressing the cold muzzle of a pistol to his forehead and jabbering angry Hindustance into his ear. ‘This gentle style of argument was effective nd the mahout instantly became as tractable a lamb. At a word from him and a touch of the goad the clephant rosa from his kuees, wheeled to one side and plunged up the mountain path with long and rapid strides, Hilkar Singh glared vindictively after his stolsn quadruped and called down fearful maledictions on the thieves. The aged Hinhoo stood with uplifted hands, straining his eyes to gel a last glimpse of Jack. Then » curve of the road hid them from view Pix darlng act had transpired in a very belef time and the fugitives now began to realize that they had once more eluded their bloodthirsty pursuers. The tramp of hoofs grew fainter and fainter in the distance until it could be heard 0 more, On and on went the elephant, striding clumeily over rocks and logs at & pace no hirse could equal on s0 rough a road. ‘The howdah swayed and shook dizzily, but the straps held as fast as did its occupants. The mahout clung to his perch like & monkey. “It wan't do the zemindar west a bt sald Plok. “We treated ‘im badly, 1ads, but it 'ad to be. Jove! ‘ow nearly the tropers nabbed us. Now we're out of dauger. From ‘ere the road pierces the Ghauts and I doubt if the ‘orses can follow at al “It was rare luck to get the elephant,” re- plied My “Youly I'm sorry we had to take it In that way. I can hardly believe We are near our journey's end.’ ““Two hcurs at nost nuhl to see us declared " then—*" there, - wm«mbrv and appeared to be _ The boys ::t“fit‘u"“&‘ They kept on the mahout and discussed “Lively ny ‘arm to walls of sheer rick only slightly lower than the twin peaks of which they were a con- tinuation. It was a wierd and dismal place, and the gloom was llko that of twilight. Except for hissing serpents that wriggled away before the travelers, there was no sign of life. Presently the walls. began to converge, and when they were only twenty yards apart Tippoo Sahib's barrier rose suddesly from the trees and jungle. The boys uttered cries of amazement, and cven Pink was impressed by the wonderful sight. Here was a fit monument to the anclent Mahometan rajah—a massive gran- ite wall 100 feet high that stretched across tho gorge from cliff to cliff. The stones were of vast dimensions, and had been well fitted together. Not a crevice or projection offered hopa of scaling the bar- rier. Its frowning front was sheer and smooth, and above its flat summit the moun- tain walls towered nearly 2,000 feet higher. At its base a rusty arched grating served as an outlet for the stream, which here rested tranquilly in a sort of pool before be- ginning its turbulent flow down the valley. Behind the grating was pitch blackness. “What did Tippoo Sahib mean by building such a thing?" was Jack's comment after a critical survey of the barrier. “Partly to keep the treasure safe,” replied Pink, *'and no doubt partly for other reasons known only to himself." “You don't. mean fo say that we must climb that wall to get at the opal?” ex claimed Myles. *“‘We can't do it, that's all. ““We might as well try to scale the cliffs, added Jack, laughing. 014 on, lads,” said Pink, a little sharply, “Did 1 say we were going over the wall? There's a way through it, according to old Tippoo's written document, which I ‘eard read and discussed in the palace—" “By the gratiog?” cried Myles and Jack, in one breath, ““Yes; that's the beginning of the combina- tion. Come on, there's no time to waste. The bloody troopers wiil kil their ‘orses to overtake us," Pink glanced uneasily down the gorge, and listened for a moment, Then he waded intc the ey pool, and the boys followed Lim, As the water rose to thelr hips they re moved their cartridge belts and revolvers and held them overhead, They were waist deep when they reached the grating, and peered curiously between the rusty bars. They saw a vaulted space with slimy walls to right and left. At the farther end, three or four yards distant, a broad sheet of water fell nolsily from a height of six feet. The place where the stream entered the barrler was invisible, though a dusky gleam of light quivered on the briok of the cataract, The barrier was evidently enormously thick—four yards at the lcast. It was equally clear, from the presence of the water- fall, that Tippoo Sahib had chosen a building site just where the siream dropped to a lower level. While the boys were looking within Pink had given Lis attention to the grating. Now he handed one of the spades to Paltu, and his rific and equipments to Jack and Myles. “'Old_those,” he shouted, loudly’ enough to be heard above the roar of the water. “Don’t mind the wet. We'll 'ave a fire to- night."” Then, With the other spade, he vigorously attacked the arched grating. But all in vain, he twisted, and pried, and jammed the stout fron In spite of nearly a century of wservice they were welded as tightly as ever luto the masonry. Pink stopped and looked in a troubled way at his companions as, he wiped the perspir tion from his face. ~ He was about to r new the attack when he suddenly discov- ered that the grating was only an inch or two under water. With & laugh ‘at his own stupidity he bobbed out of ¥ight like a flash. and an in- stant later his dripping head and shoulders merged on the funer side of the bars. our turn next, lads,” he shouted, “It ‘ere, give mo your traps first” The boys passed everything through the bars to Pink untll he fairly staggered with the welght. Phen, one by one, thoy took “‘n.ll“ plunge and came up inside the vault. For several minutes they huddied to- gether with shivering limbs and chattering eeth. Along each side of the vault was a plat- form of masonry taised a few Inches mhove the water, On the one to the right Pink deposited the weapons and other articles, Then he waded to the foot of tho waterfall and looked up at it with a smile of satis- faction. 0 man could scale that,” he muttered to himself; “and I doubt if there's a clean outlet above." AS he returned to hls companions he drew a waterproof mateh safe from his pocket and snapped the lid open. ,.oNow, lads,” ho exclaimed, “we must ave a little light for the next figure of the combination, You'll warm enough when the climb begins. The match had scarcely when it dropped with a hiss into tho water. Pink's face turned ghastly white, and he made a mad dash for the platform. The boys were astounded for an but a quick glance through vealed the awful truth. Rvery sense of chilliness left their veins as they saw Mogul Mir's ugly face and scarlet jacket emerge from the edge of the forest, Behind him came trooper after trooper, all on foot and all bristling with rifles and tul- wara, seemed a long really scarcely five second back at the grating, a rifle in his hands and 4 brace of revolvers in his bosom, ‘Ull attend to these devils,” he shouted, hoarsely. “Youll find a stone with a andle to it on the right side. It must be there. — Pull it ‘ard. Quick, lads, for caven's sake." But the boys stood still in the water as though petrified. A spell secemed to b upon. them. They heard a thunderous re- port at their ears and saw Mogul Mir spin around and clap one hand to his arm. Crack! crack! A trooper a log and another pitched the stream. The drifting powder smoke partly h'd the Goene .and ‘the roar of the cataract was rowned in shrill cries and ¢ belcl ey the angry belch “Are you mad?" yelled Pink, seeing that the boys were still there. “Off with you, Open that stone,” He stopped shooting long enough to thrust his ‘matchbox into Jack's hands and ferk him violently to the right. This broke the spell, and the three lad splashed hastily away from the bars bullets were whistling ovel el bulla & overhead and behind They climbed out been scraped instant, the bars re- though it was until Pink was went down like d first into upon the stone platform, Which was a yard bayond the grating, and thus out of range. They vaguely remem bered Pink’s instructions, and ran their hands up and down the slimy wall. With nervous fingers Jack scraped a match, and right in front of his breast he saw an iron handle protruding from a block of masonry two by three feet in dimen- sions. His shout of joy brought Myles and Paltu to his side, and all three took hold. For half a minute they tugged and pulled in vain, No aid could be expected from Pink. H: repeating rifle was empty now, and he was blazing away at the trcopers with a revol- ver in each hand. The curtain of smoke was all that saved him from the hot return re. “'Pull harder!” cried Jack. 1 ST can’t,” Myles yelled; “my fingers are breaking. Paltu lost his hold and staggered back. “Try a gun, lads,” roared . Pink, dodged to one side of the grating, keep them back much longer.” Then he thrust both pistols out at bars, and emptied the chambers in succossion. The command to try a gun was under- stood by the boys. In a_trice they had a rifle through the iron handle and were tug- ging at stock and barrel, Harder and harder they pulled, and sud- denly the stone swung far enough out to show that it was only six inches thick. “All together,” yelled Jack, and now, witn & creaking noise ‘the big slab grated clear around on a rusty pivot, revealing a yawn- ing black hole through which surged a fetid current of air. The boys cheered loudly, and shouted to Pink that the hole was open. “In with you, quick!” came'the hoarse reply. Myles and Paltu were the first to enter, and three fect back in the passage they found room to sit upright. As quickly as puossible Jack passed in the spades, weapons and ammunition. Then Pink sprang to the lad’s side, having fired the last charge of his revolvers, and both plunged into the hole. For a few scconds all four were huddled together in confusion, panting hard for breath in the hot, stifling atmosphere. Jack had mislaid the matchbox and could not find t. B Pink crawled forward and fumbled about with his bands until he fowrd an iron handle similar to the other, that was' riveted tg the inner side of the slab, “He called for help and Myles instantly re- sponded. Just as both began to pull the troopers swarmed up to the bars, and an instant later half a dozen of them dived under the grating and rose Inside the vault. But the great slab was now moving on its rusted pivot in response to the vigorous tugs of Pink and Myles. Nearer and nearer swung the outer end. ‘Only ‘alf a foot more,” cried Pink; and, as ho spoke, there was a scraping noise and a flash of yellow light. - Jack had found the matchbox. Alas! just then the slab stuck obstinately fast, and through the narrow gap that was still open the glare of the burning match shone on the dusky, ferocious’ faces of two of Mogul Mir's troopers. (To be Continued,) LITTLE MR. THIMBLEFINGER AND HIS QUEER COUNTRY. 1 Chandler Harrls, (Copyrighted 1594.) IL—THE JUMPING OFF PLACE. The children looked at Mr. Thimblefinger to see whether he was joking about the Jumping Off Place, but he seemed to be very serlous, “I have heard of the Jumping Off Place,” remarked Mrs, Meadows, “but I had an idea it was just a saying.” “Well,” replied Mr. Thimblefinger, “where you see a good deal of smoke there must be some fire. When you hear a great many dif- ferent people talking about anything there must be something in it." “What did the little girl see when she got to the Jumping Off Place?" inquired Sweetest Susan, “It was this way,” sald Mr. Thimblefinger: “When the whirlwinds from the south and the winds from the west, working in double harness, carried the thick clouds away, and the thunder with them, the little girl went back to the place where she had left the old man who had carried her up the mountain, “She found him waiting. He was sitting at the foot of a tree, sleeping peacefully, but he awoke at once, *'You see I am walting for you,' he said. ‘How did you enjoy your visit?' ***I didn’t enjoy it much,’ replied the little girl. ‘Everything was s0 large, and the Thunder made 50 much fuss.’ ““I hope you didn't mind that,' said the old man. ‘The Thynder 15 a great growler and grumbier, but when that's said all'’s said, I'm sorry, though, you didn't have a good time. T suppose you think It Is my fault, but it fsn't. It you say so I'll go to the Jumping oft Place.' { “‘Where's that? asked the little girl, ‘' ‘Just beyoud the Well af the End of the World." ‘UL it isn't 100 far let's go there,” said the lite girl. “So the old man Hfted her on his back, and they went on thelr way. They must bave gone very swiftly, for it wasn't’ long before they came to the Well ‘at the End of the World. An old woman was sithing near the Well combing her hair. She pald no atten- Uon to the travelers, nor they to her. When they had gone beyond the' Well a litthe dis- tance the little girl noticed that the sky ap- peared to be very close st handi It was no as he “I can't the rapid By CHAPTER tonger blue, but dark, and seemed to hang down Iike a blanket or a curtain.” “But that couldn't be, you know," sald Buster John, “for the sky is no sky at all. 1t 1s nothing but space.” “‘How_comes it they call it sky ef 'taint no sky?" asked Drusilla indignantly. “An’ how come 'taint no sky, when it's right up dar plain ez de han' fo' yo' face? Dat what I'd Iike ter know." W the moon Is thousands of miles away,” sald Buster John, “and some of the stars are millions and millions of miles far- ther than the moon “Dat what dey say,” replied Drusilla, “but how dey know? Whar de string what dey medjud ‘em wid? Tell me dat?” What about our sky?" asked Mrs, Mead- ows, smiling. “‘You would never think it vas only the bottom of the spring if you didn't know !t; now would you?" Buster John had npthivg to say in reply to this. Whereupon Swéetést Susan begged Mr Thimblefinger to pleags go on with his story. i “Well," said he, “if T'am to go on with it, I'll have to tell it just as I heard it. T'll have to put the sky Just where I was told it was. When the Iittie! girl and the old man came closs to the Jimbing Of Place, they saw that the sky was banging close at hand. It may have been far, itimay have boen near, . found that it 4id not come from the door, but from.the wall. I smiled. “You canfiot gome in that way,” T thought, ‘‘unless there are secret doors in thers walls, and even then you mus: open them for your- selt.”" 1 went on with my writing, but I soon looked up again, for I thought I heard a chair gently pushed back against the wall in a corner behind me, and almost immediately T heard a noise as if some little boy had dropped a number of marbles, or perhaps pennies, but there was no chair in the cor- ner at which 1 looked, and there were nc pennies nor marbles on the floor. Nisht after night I heard my ghosts—for 1 had <.me to consider them as mine, which I had bought with the house—and aithough I could not see them, there were =0 many ways In which they let me know they ex. isted that T felt for them a sort of com- panionship. When In the quiet hours of the early night I heard their gentle knocks 1 knew that were the circumstances different they would hdve been glad to come in, and I did not feel losely. ow and then I t%-ught T heard the voices of the ghosts, sometimes outside, under my window, and sometimes behind me in a dis- tant corner of the room. Their tones were low and plaintive, and I could not distinguish N THE OLD WOMAN WAS SITTING THERE. but to the little girl it scemed to be close enough to touch, and she wished very much for a long pole, So that she could see whether it was made of muslin or ginghams. “Presently they came (o a precipice. There was nothing beyond it, and nothing below it. ‘This," said the old man to the little girl, ‘'is the Jumping Off Plac: ces any one jump off here? said the little girl. Not that I know of,’ replied the old man, ‘but if they should take a notion the place is all ready for them.' ‘Where would I fall to it T jumpzd oft?* the little girl asked. “‘To Nowhere,' answered the old man. That is very funny,’ said the little girl. * ‘Yes,’ ramarked the 0ld man; ‘you can get to the End of the World, but you would haye to travel many a long year before you could get to Nowhere. Some say It fs a big city; some say It Is a high mountain, and tome say tis a wide plain.’ ‘The little girl went to the Jumping Off Place and looksd over, the old man holding her hand. “‘Why, I see there,’ she said. miliar & face. “The old man laughed. ‘Yes,’ he said, ‘the moon is very fond of shining down and it runz away from the sun every chance it gets, and hunts up the darkest places,.eo that it may shine there undisturbed. Today it fe shining down there where the sun can't see it, but tonight it will creep up here when the sun goes away and shine the whole night through.’ “Turning back, girl came again to the moon shining down She was glad to see so fa- old man and the littl3 Well at the End of the World. The old an was sitting there combing her long wite hair. This time she looked hard at the 1i®le-girl and smiled, sing- ing: i When the heart fa,young the well is dry— Oh, it's goodby, defirie! goodby! “‘But the old man shook his head. ‘We have not come herefcr nothing. Sister Jane,” he said. With that Le took a small viai, tied a long string to- i1and let it down the, well. He fished aloug until the vial was full of water, drew, the top and corked it tightly. The wakerksparkled in the sun as if it were full of’small diamonds. Then he placed it caretullyin his pocket. bowed pelitely to the old;&oman, who was still combing her long, white hair and smiling, litted the little girl 4o his back and returned along the road thdy had come, past the Thunder's house and down the mountain side until they reached the little girl's home. Then he took the wial of sparkling water frim his pocket. ‘Take it he said, ‘and wherever you go keep it with you. Touch a drop of it to your forehead when Friday Is the thirteenth day of a month and you will grow up to be both wise and beautiful. When you are in trcuble turn the vial upside down—so—and hold it in that position while you count twenty-six and some of your friends will come to your aid.' ‘“The little girl thanked the old man as politely as she knew hcw. “‘“Do you know why I have carried you to the Thunder's house and to the Jumping-Off Place, and why I have given you a vial of this rare water? The little girl shook her head. ‘Well, cne day not long ago y:u were sitting by the roadside with some of your companions. You were all eating cake. A beggar came along and’ asked for a piece, You alone gave him any and you gave him all ycu had.’ ““Wore you the beggar? asked the little glrl, smiling and blushing. ‘“*That I l:ave you to guess,’ replied the old man. He kissed the little girl's hand and was scon hid from sight by a turn in the road.” Mr. Thimblefinger stopped short here and waited to see what the children would say. They had listencd attentively, but they mani- fested no very great interest. “I reckon they think there Is more talk than tule in what you have t<1d,” remarked Mr. Fabbit, leaning back in his chair. “That's the way it appeared to me." “Well, I'll not say that I have come to the end of my story,"” remarked Mr. Thimble- finger, with some show of dignity, “but I have come to the part where we can rest awhile, €0 as to give Mr. Rabbit a chance to see if he can do any hetter. We'll allw the little girl to grow scme, just as she does in RN (To be Centinued.) THE GHOSTS IN MY TOWER. By Frank R. Stockton, Copyrighted 1894 Ly the Author, At one corner of my house is a tall, wide tower, rising high above the trees which sur round it. In one of the upper rooms of this tower I work and think, and here, in the evening and early part of the night, I used to be quite alone except for the ghosts. Before I had come to this house I knew that the tower was haunted, but I did not mind that. As the ighosts had never done any one any harm”T did not believe they would do me any harm, and I thought ] should really be glad' of their company, which must certainly be different from the company of ordinary.people. 8o, whe' I had arranged an upper rogm {0 the tower so that I might pleasantly work and think therein, 1 expected the ghosts to come to me, and should have been vesy much disappointed if they had not. v 1 did not exactly. understand these ghosts, of which I had heaed) nothiug definite, ex- cept that they haunsed ithe tower, and I did not know in what ‘wastthey wouid manifest themselves to me. Iiwas not long, however, after I had begun tosogoupy the room before the ghosts came to me.i One evening, a little before Christmas, after everybody in the house but myselfl had igone to bed, and all was quiet outside: and inside, I heard a knock, and was on the goint of saying, ‘‘come in!" when the kuock was repeated, and I words or phrases, but it often seemed as if they were really speaking to me, and that I ought to try to understand and answer them. But I soon discovered that these voice-like sounds were caused by the vagrant breezes £oing up and down the tall chimney of the tower, making aeolian tones, not of music, but of vague and indistinct speech. The winter passed, and at last there came a time when I saw one of the ghosts, It was in the dusk of the cvening, early in spring, and just outside of an open window, that it appeared to me. It was as plain to my sight as if it had been painted tn delicate half tones against a somber background of tender foliage and cvening sky. It was clad from head to foot in softest gray, such as the phantoms of the night are said to love, and over its shoulder and down its upright form were thrown fhe fleccy fulds of a mantle so mistily gray that 1¢ seemed to biend into the dusky figures it partly shrouded, The moment I saw it I knew it saw me. Out of its cloudy grayness there shone two eyes, black, clear and sparkling, fixed upon’me with questioning intensity. I sat, gazing with checked breath at this ghost of the tower. Suddenly I leaned forward—just a little— to get a better view of the apparition, when, like a bursting bubble, 1t was gone, and there was nothing before me but the back- ground of foliage and evening sky. Frequently after thut I saw this ghost, or it may have been one of the others, for it was difficult, with these gray visions, with which one must not speak or toward which it was hazardous to move even a hand, to become so well acquainted that I should know one from another. But there they were; not only did I hear them; not only, night after night, did my ears assure me of their existence but in the shadows of the trees, as the sum- mer came on, and on the lonelier stretches of the lawn I saw them, and I knew that in goodtruth’my home was haunted. Late one afternoon, while walking in my grounds, I.saw. before me one of the specters of my tower, ~It-moved slowly over the lawn, scarce’y” saeming to touch the tips of the grass, and with no more sound than a cloud would make when settling on a hill top. Suddenly it turned its bright, watchful eyes upon me, dnd then with a start that seemed to send a thrill even through the gray mantle which 1ightly touched its shoulders, it rose before_my very eyes until it was nearly as high as the top of my tower! Wings it had not, nor did it float in the air; it ran like a streak of gry electricity along the lightning rod, only, instead of flash- ing down it, as electricity would pass from the sky, it ran upward. I did not see this swiftly moving spirit reach the topmost point of the rod, for, at a point where the thick wiré approached the eaves, it vanished. By this time I had come to the conclu- sion, not altogether pleasant to my mind, that my ghosts were taking advantage of my forbearance, with their mystic knocks and signals, in the night, aand their visits in the daylight, and that there must be too many of them in my tower. I must admit that they annoyed me very little, and I was not in the least afrald of them, but there were others who came into my tower and who slept in some of its rooms, and to the minds of visitors and timorous maids there was something uncanny and terrifying in these midnight knocks and scratches. So, having concluded from what I had seen that day that it was the very uppermost part of the tower which had become the resort of these gray sprites, and from which they came to disturb our quiet and repose, I deter- mined to interfere with thelr passage from the earth to my tower top. If, like an elec- tric current, they used the lightning rod as a means of transit, I made a plan which would compel -them to use it in the conventional and proper way. The rod was placed there that lightning might come down it, not that it might go up, 50 I set myself to put the rod in a condition that would permit the ghos!s to descend as the lightning did, but which would prevent them from going up. Accordingly I thoroughly greased the rod for a considerable distance above the ground. “Now," said I to mysell, “you may all come down, one after the other, whenever you like. You will descend very quickly when you reach the greased part of the rod, but you will not go up it again, You are getting very bold, and it you continue your mad revels in my tower you will frighten people and give my house a bad name. You may be- come dryads It you like and shut yourselves up in the hearts of the tall and solemn oaks. There you may haunt the bluefays and the woodpeckers, but they will not tell tales of ghostly visits, which may keep my friends away and make my servants give me warn- ing." After that there were no more gray flashes up my lightning rod, though how many came down 1t I know not, and the intramural revels in the tower ceased. But not for long. The ghosts came back again; perhaps not s0 many as before, but still enough of them to let me know that they were there. How they ascended to their lofty haunts I could not tell, nor did I try to find out. 1 ac- cepted the situation. 1 could not contend with these undaunted sprites. One evening. In the autumn, outside the same window from which 1 had’ seen the first ghost of the tower, I saw another apparition, but it was net gne of the gray specters to which I had become accustomed. It was a Jet black demon. Its eyes, large, green and glaring, shome upon me, and it was as mo- tonless and dark as. a statue cut in coal, For only an lnstant 1 saw it, and then in a flash, like the apparition I had first seen from that window, it disappeared. After that I saw the demon again and agaln, and strange Lo say the ghosts in wy tower became fewer and fewer, and at last they disappeared alto- gether. The advent. of the black spirit seemed to have exerted an evll influence over the sprites in gray, and like (he Indlan In the De. Bonnefind of Laytonstone, Eng,, in writing of the value of Guaiacol in consum ‘‘My patient had consolida ption, says: tion of the apex of one lung, “had suffered from hacking cough and hemorrhage and was *‘rapidly emaciating. I put him on Cod Liver Oil and Gaaia- “‘col, with the result that the cough lessened, the hem srrhages ‘‘ceased and he gained seven pounds in two weeks.” Similar results have been the use of obtained in this country from Ozomvfsion TRADE MARK A scientific preparation of Ozone, Cod Livar Oil and Guaiacol, Mr. D. A. Wilson, Turaer’s Station, Henry Co., Ky., writes: “The use of the remedy was attended with most satisface “‘tory results, and it removed the impression I had previously “‘entertained that my case was incurable,” It is the kind physicians prescribe for colds, coughs, con= sumption, pneumonia, la grippe, bronchitis, asthma and all pulmonary compiaints; scrofula, general debility, anacmia, loss of flesh and all wasting diseases, FOR sALE BY KUHN & CO,, 156th and Douglas Streets, presence of the white man, they faded away and gradually become extinct. The last time I saw one of my ghoats it eppeared to me late on a November afternoon, among brown foliage of an aged oak, just as a dryad might have peeped forth from her y retreat, wondering If the werld were yet ‘open to her for a ramble under the stars. The world was open to my gray ghost, but only in one direction. Between it and me could be seen, among the shadows of the ground, the dark form of the demon, trem- bling and waiting. Then away from the old oak, away from my house and my tower, along the limbs of trees which stood on the edge of the wood, slowly and silently, my ghost vanished from my view like a little gray cloud, gently moving over the sky, at last issolving out of my sight. Now, in the early hours of the night my tower is quiet and still. There are no more knocks, no more wild revels in the hidden passages of the walls. My ghosts are gone. All that I hear mow are the voices in the chimney, but I know that these are only imaginary voices, therefore, they produce in me no feeling of companionship. But my ghosts really cxisted. e THE GR. TEST ON EARTIL Detroit ¥ : All hail the power of printer's ink, vhich makes a world of people think hat what it touches has new grace Of character and mind and fa And that, what is of small account ficd to great amount. ily it reaches down To depthis of nothingness and finds a crown Wherewith to fit the brow of what May be true greatness, may be not. It has the power to paint bad, gcod, To people every solitude, To make a thought, strai Or otherwise, materialize. It preaches to the millions and It makes the stupid understand; It puts an edge on what is dull. It makes the ugly, beautiful; M charms the master, wins the sla It cheers the living, deck Its language is in prose or verse, And speaks a blessing or a_curs In fact, dear reader, If you'll think, There's nothing quite like printer's’ ink e ey RELIGIOUS. Pres ht from the skies ve, the grave, The Lutheran church owns educational in- stitutions in the United States (o the value of $4,889,560. In Corea the Protestant mission force of foreign workers consists of twenty-six mar- ried men, fourteen sipgle men, and cighteen single ladies, representing the Methodist Episcopal, Presbyterian and Anglican churches. The trustees of the Brooklyn tabernacle have authorized Leonard Moody to sell the site of the burned tabernacle for $110,000. The property was purchased by the soclety four years ago for $00,000. The sale of the property will enable the society to pay all its debts. Rey. Dr. Henry M. Field, the accomplished preacher, traveler and editor, whom every one delights to honor, has just celebrated the completion of his fortieth year as editor of the Evangelist of New York City. The interesting incident is thus noticed by the Evangelist of last week: “Forty years ago this day (November 20, 1854) the editor of the Evangelist came to this city to enter on the work which le has followed since. When he came he was among the youngest, if not the very yourgst, in the editorial fraternity; now he is among the oldest. Forty years! That is as long as Moses was in the wilder- ness! After a military service of that length a soldier would be entitled to his dis- charge.” The Holy Coat of Argenteuil, in France, Is ono of the several venerable rellcs which are declared and ‘“‘proved” to be the identical seamless robe that Christ wore when He was“led to Golgotha to be crucified. It has numerous stains upon it, which the faithful believe and declare to be the stains of Christ's blood. There are, however, many in the church who doubt the genuincness of the relic, and to satisfy them the bishop of Versailles recently decided to submit the stains In the coat to scientific tests, to be made by MM, Lafon and Roussel, two emi- nent chemists of Paris. Their report, which has just been published, concludes as follows: ““To sum up: From the portion of the coat marked with rust-colored spots we obtained (1) A faint green coloration, with the tineture of gualacum and the essence of turpentine; (2) the revival of the red globules af blood, with the artificial serum; (3) the formation of crystals of haemin or of chloroydrate of haematin. These indications are sufficient to enable us to affirm that the spots examined are actually due to blood—and to human blood. Judging by the whole of our analysis, we presume that this blood is very old.” — INSTANTANEOUS COLDS, Colds are taken instantaneously. it, that's because you ney Just stop and think how how often you have You may not believe thought of it often you have heard others say, I know when I took cold It may have been known by o chill, or even & shudder; perhaps by exposure to a draught, or rough wind; maybe wet feet, or by standing on cold, damp ground— a change of clothing, often underelothing; pos- caught you with a lght wrap or coat; a nap carclessly taken with- out something thrown over you. Anyhow, you en you took ¢old, and the mind, the that taking cold, that you were helpless to resist was largely to blame, It you had had at hend, in your pocket say, o preventive, & proteelor, a specific, the mind would have bee ngthened, and a fow doses of T would have fortified the body and saved you an flincas. *7i," DR, HUMPHREYS' SPECIFIC, docs all this and more, *In & BPECIFIC for COLDS, GRIP, INFLURNZA, CATARRH, 8 SORENESH in BORE THROA’ IIATION and FEVEKR, and, coid, prevents pocumonla, diptheria and often wardi off con- sibly the treacherous weath knew w thought you were sumption. will hangs o, i “break up" o stubborn cold that A small bottle of pleasant pellets vest pockel. Bold by drugglsts or sent on r celpt of price, 260 or 6 bollles for 31 HUMIH. Y8 MEDICINE CO., corner Willam and Jobn streets, New York. fits your fine Gold'? b ted Watch SFYH ¥ EReRET iskry IN OMATHIA, Set of Teeth, $5; Warrantcd to Fit. i g, 27 Gold Cro eth, $6 'per tooth, ¥ Floor Paxtou Blk.. 16th and Farnam. ADY ATTENDANT. The Mercer Hotgl Cor. 12th and Howard Streots, Under new namagcment. will furnish BT- R MEALS and BETTER ROOMS (all stenm heated and electric Highted) thun any hotel in { Omaha for the rato of $2,00 per diy. Rooms with Lath 82 nd £3.0 ey o M next time you visit the ety irney streetear ab Union Dopot - I'rom Webstor stroet Dopot take car to Howard street, B. SILLOWAY, Manajor. DOCTOR SEARLES & SEARLES Diseasss Treatmentby Hail, Consultatida Free Catarrh, all diseases of the nose, Throat. Chest,Stomach, Liver, Blood Skin and Kidney diseas:s, Lost ~Manhood and ajl Private Dis= eases of Men, Call on or address, Dr. Searles & Searles, NEW 28 Live D2, B, 0. WEOT'D MERVE AND BRAIN TREATNENT is sold under positive written puarantee, by anthorizad agents enly, to ouro Weak Momoryt Jeoma ot Braig und Nerve Powar: Lost Munliood; i Night Losscs; Jévil Droams; Luok of onfldorce; Nervousness; Laseitndo; ull Deains; Loss of Powr of tho Generative Organa in either g0x, cansod by ovor-exertion, Youthful Krrors, or Exceesivo Uso of Tobacco, Opiem or Liquor, which loads to Misery, Consumption, Insanit Death. By mail, §1 & box; ix for $5; wit} itton guaranteo to cure or refund money, Weet's Tiver Pifls curo Rick Hoadncho, Iitiousmess Tiver Complaint, Hour Btomach, Dyspepsin and Constipation, GUABANTELS seued only by Goodmun Drug Co, Omaba. ' 1413 Farnam Strest, Omahn. Neb, “Sherif's sule. By virtue of an order of attachment and garnishment fssued out of the district court of the Fourth judicial district, within and for Douglas county, in an action wherein the Titchburg Worsted company is plaintift and Clarence J. Canan and John J. H partners as C, J. Canan & O ants, 1 did on'the 2th day of Nove A. 1. 189, altach as the property of the sald C. J. Canan & Co. a miscellaneous stock of ‘tallorings, consisting of cashmere, cheviot and knickerbocker suitings, broads cloth, worsted cloth, overcoating, buttons, thread, linings, and 'the fixtures contained in the stor J. Canan & Co. on Farnam stre 2th and 13th sireets, in the city of Omuha, and by virtue of an order of &ale on attachment issued out of the district court, and to me directed under date of the Bth diy of December, A. D, 1804, and duly signed by Frank 1. Moores, cleri of the district court, I will on the 20fh day of December, A. D, 1891, at 10 o'clock a. m., of sald day, at the above named store room 1 & Co., scll at public auction t bidder for cash, al of the above described goods and chatfels and fix- tures situate and belng in sald store room, to satisfy the Ritchburg Worsted company the sum of one thousund and thyee dollars (81,003.00), and interest on $1,000.00 from May, 1893, at the rate of G per Cent per annum, and the costs of sult, according o the judgs ment of the said district c rendered on the #th day of December, 1861, JOHN C.' DREXEL, 8herlff of Douglas County, Do Stockholders” Meeoting. Office of Lee-Clarke-Andreesen Hardwa Co., Omaha, Neb. 3 1594, herbey given to th Clarke-Andreesen Hardware compan, the annual meeting of the olders o the company will be held at the offices of the said company, 1219, 1221 and 1223 Harney street, in the city of Omaha, in the state of Nebraska, on Tuesday, Januury 8, A. D, 1895, at 8 o'clock p. m., for the purpose of electing o board of difectors for the coms any to serve during the efsuing year, and o (ransact such other husiness as mdy be presented at such mesting. Qe ABE, Beckihy LRE. President . M. GLAS rotary. DI MtoJ 8 Bun