The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, July 24, 1898, Page 31

THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, SUNDAY, JULY 24, 1898. 31 i AN - BINNIE AND HERE was a rifles. Bullets san tore their way through the bushes and glanced among the rocks that studded the Cuban mesa. A file of soldie: wearing the Spanish uniform led by a swarthy of ficer came forward on a brisk run, al- most before the e had caused had die sharp rattling of g shrilly as they ghway upon standing. when v ad out in & 1 n r the man whor twigs that had ited en! their captain Are you go- and let the . Antone and and watch, for the still in hiding. f he be sure that there to-night and Quesada, t young ers, at once examined their “Have no fear of us, good said Quesada, as he grinr ¢ and showed a row of white f which hi particula; “The Yankee, let him show 1 here for an instant,will be a quick to that place where all the 1kees will soon be if I have my full other follov and s00: b 1 quick succ sada fell prone up t and then g the spun th were badly arly over their a spare, e suit On the head of this per- who was the son one who had fired the shots that had laid the sentries as a broad sombrero. Such a e eyes ere gray and fear- and had withal an expression of good The sombrero, thrown partly back, showed a broad and high forehead, which was smooth and indi- cated very young manhood. Around e brow clustered a ms air, dark brown in color. was large and firm, but had a s, hinting s ughing phil straight and finely molded. S were small. Altogether this 8 fine looking Young man, for while his figure was spare, it was finely knit and unques- tionably athletic. “T had to do it or be killed said the young & STh other way to s 2 ¥ 2 these sentries would have had no more pity for me than they would for a wild beast had they ever happened to see m Not that I am looking much for pity. Ah, what have we here?” n li Something that sparkled in the after- noon sun caught the glance of the » young fellow. He bent over and > glittering object. Ah,” said he with a sudden start an look of pain, “it is the lovel Donna Julia. Let me open the locket. From a niche under Donn ture fluttered out a upon which something s written. This was quickly se The next in- gtant the two sentries were left alone. The bushes were moved slightly and then all was silence. But now the Spanish captain and his followers came once more upon the scene. The Span- fards were intent upon finding out who had fired the shots of which they had heard the reports. Two shots meant to them that both sentries had fired, and they returned, expecting that they Julia’s pic- of paper é)m@ @@ @D \ P [PAG EDITED By P <= would find the Yankee whom they sought, and that he would have been shot by both of the sentries. But when they saw their wounded sentries their rage was overpowering. Ramon, tk in’s lieutenant, went to Quesada and ra his head and then went to the prostrate form of An- tone. “My comrades,” he said, ‘“who can have done thi The Spanish captain was fierce for the destruction of the mysterious Yan- He shrewdly guessed that the 4 ee had doubled upon his tracks and had come back through the thicket ile a search was making for him other side. This w the truth; ytain had guessed the solu- riddle too late. The Span- bullets had come uncomfortably to the Americ One had grazed s right shoulder, and it was his blood that had stained the pathway in the woods. He had worked his way through the hole in the hedge and then, knowing all the secrets of woocdcraft and Indian tricks, he had Kept per still while the voices of his purs ay in the distance and only the who were uttering their s, remained. iselessly, with skill that an Indian ht well have envied, he worked his y backward, on his stomach, until he came to a tree with a trunk suf- ficiently large to hide his body. A few seconds more found him in the tree, d in such a position that he could sentries plainly, and no branch twig v in the way of a perfect im. ‘With as much deliberation as f there had not been an enemy within a hundred miles, he examined his | tols carefully. He replaced one pis tol in his belt, and then, with his fa- vorite firearm, took careful aim and fired twice. It was quite character- istic of him that he did not look to see whether the first bullet had found an enemy. He had never missed an aim in his life. Now, when so much, in fact, his life, and a mission that he held very much dearer than his life, were at stake, his nerves were as steady as If he had been made of marble. He was on the ground almost as soon as he had pulled the trigger the second time. Then, hav- ing done what has been already de- scribed, he once more crawled into the 2dge and waited. Spanish captain and his pc turned to the sentries he emerged from the thicket on the other side and sped like an antelope along what would have seemed no trail to an eye less prac- ticed. But he never paused and never was at fault. Long before the cap- n had tried to retrieve his mistake the American was miles distant, and there was no human being who could have followed his footsteps, as he took pains to repeatedly cross and recross his tracks. Then he broke the scen by swinging along from limb to limb of low, overhanging trees. Just the sun was setting he found himself upon the top of a high hill, and in the heart of a seemingly untrodden wilder- ness. But that savage place had rielded up all its secrets to the intrepid lad. He paused a minute and then uttered a low ery, in imitation of a mocking bird’s whistle. He waited a minute and listened, and then repeated the signal. A similar call was heard.. The next instant a young boy, whose features marked him unmistakably as an American, came into view. “Well, Binnie,” said the second Amer- ican to appear in the story, “what brings you here? I supposed that you were already many miles upon your way.” “I made a good start certainly,” said the one who was addressed as Binnle, “but a file of Spanish soldiers were in the way and they narrowly let me es cape them. I think, from the indica- tions of this day, that it is about time for us to move, for the Spanish soldiers did not happen along in this unfre- quented part of Cuba merely by chance. Some one must have made it a point to tell the Spanish commander that possi- bly he might find something to interest him if he would come up here.” “But you have been shot, Binnle” said the other, noticing his bloody sleeve for the first time. “Yes, Ned, the soldiers nearly made me a non-combatant. You know what that means in Cuba if I had fallen into the hands of Blanco’s men. But I am not hurt badly, only a flesh wound. And that does not trouble me much. Just a day or two of rest while we are planning and you are reconnoitering and with the application of some of your simples I will be as good as new once more.” as— The two Americans, while they were eating their simple evening meal, not darin= to make a fire for fear the smoke \youlq reveal their hiding place to the Spaniards, who would be sure to fol- low the trail if they had the slightest indication to guide them, discussed the events of the day and both were of opinion that the chances of success in the enterprise in which they had en- gaged would be better if they should seek s«:me other place of hiding for the present. they sit talking we may make a study of them. Binnie has re- ed his hat and his extreme youth is made plainer than when we first saw him in the forest. He does not look now to be older than 17, and that, in point of faect, is his real age. comrade is as young. He is more heavily built than Binnie, but he fully as tall, about 5 feet and 10 inches. He hasz blue eyes and light flaxen hair. His mouth, like Binnie's, marks him for a determined spirit and for great courage. The light of irrepressible fun dances in his eyes as Binnie tells how cleverly he outwitted the Spanish captain. “The mysterious paper that you found in the locket,” said Ned, “let us look at that.” The writing was in Spanish. That would not have hindered the knowledge of its contents from dawning upon the searchers for the key of the mystery had it not been written in a cipher. Long the lads pondered over the writ- ing, and many ways they adopted to solve its riddle, but all in vain. Their curiosity was increased by the signa- ture of Blanco at the bottom. Had they in their possession a message in- trusted to a spy? The fact that the soldier from whom it had been taken was dre: i uniform of a Span- ish soldier and that he had been V- ing as a private did not interfere h this supposition. Late at night the lad ber, but the cipher mess the sleep bf both. “Wake up, Ned,” said Binnfe, “I have the key.” Ned opened his eves and found Bin- nie with the mysterious paper in his hands. “It is so simple, Ned, that we must have been stupid not to see it at once. “And whht does it say, Binnie? “Here it is:” To all trusty may come, greeting. trusted with the bringing to me Dons thedaughter of the Cu uez, who has sto. place arms and ammunition, of which is known to Donna Julia Permit the bearer freely to pass an out question. BL. “And so themanfrom whom you took this writing was to carry away Donna Julia?” “So it seems."” “How did he come by her locket?” “That we will learn soon, I hope.” “To-morrow ?" to-morrow.” The boys once more slept and sought slum- ge troubled Spaniards to whom this The bearer is en- were LRI WR . not roused again until daylight. They at once ate their breakfast and planned their day of work and adventure. D. H. W. ( To be Continued.) MARGARET'S DOLL HOUSE. BY ESTELLE BAKER. ARGARET wanted a doll's se—'‘a. real, truly doll's —with the walls all pa- :d and carpets on the floor, just as it was in her little room. Margaret js a little California girl and she is 8 years old he has sweet brown 33 a winsome face and long, brown ur e c Her parents are not poor, but never- theless they are not rich enough to buy ell se like those they in the toy stores So her brother, W told her he would make her one. Will is just 15 and he is a real good brother, as you will s One Frida her a doll’s hou afternoon when Will got ret asked him v build her a doll's if she would argaret went home from school Marg t da a if he would ne house and he find him a big bc next door to M . So B . Davis and asked for one. Mrs. Davis had promised her one and so she gave here a great box in which she had packed me things when she came from New York. It was so big that Margaret could lie down in it and still have plenty of room in which to kick about. Then she got Eddie Davis and Charlie Edwards to drag the big box over to her hous:. They put the little Davis baby Lucille into it and pulled her over to Margaret's house. She laughed and crowed while having her ride in the box. Then, the next morning, when Mar- garet awoke she found that Will had gone into the back yvard and was mak- ing the doll's house. She slipped her clothes on just as quick as she could and ran out to see how he was getting on. He had pro- cured some wall paper from some in cured some wall paper from the cellar and the farther end of d turned the box on its side and the; nailed some redwood blocks acrc until the box was divided into three parts, kitchen, parlor and bedroom. He had painted the kitchen floor red, and stretched a piece of rag tightly from one end of the dining room to the other -and made it a carpet. Then he cut the wall paper into pieces to fit the walls and ceiling and pasted them on. Then he took his saw and cut a square hole in the back room for a window. Margaret wondered what she would do for furniture. So he gave her 50 cents to buy some at the candy store, where she could get paper furniture filled with candy. The parlor set was of paper and c her 10 cents. The remainder of the money was spent in buying things for the kitchen. ‘When Margaret brought them home Will helped her cut the furniture out and place it in the rooms. Then Will got a few pieces of muslin from his mother and cut them into squares, so that they were window curtains. Then the house was finished and Mar- HED QUARTERS OVDE BEUMBKING s garet placed her dolls in it. Mamma is soon going to get her a li tle piano for the parlor and papa thinks the doll house is just too cute for anything. FAIRIES IN THE DELL. BY RUTH EMILY CROCKER. The flowers grow in little beds ‘Within this mossy glade; The violets droop their modest heads, The rose is here arrayed. "Tis pretty in this dainty place, Scene of the fairies’ ball— The ladies dressed in silks and lace And they are sweet and tall. The men are dressed in purple velvet Made by fairies’ hands Their hats are in the latest style And have black ribbon bands. Their supper s of honey dew And berries ripe and sweet They eat and then they dance again ‘With tiny, tripping feet. Oh, fairles, dainty, shy and young; In secret do you d: Why don’t you let us see you? Oh! We long to get one glance, The reason must be you're so shy And much afraid of us, But now 1 will be going, s 1 will not stop to f; dzirni The Troy Times tells of a little girl who had been naughty. When bedtime came her mother said to her: *“Now, Mabel, when you ---- your prayers, be sure to ask God to help you not to be a naughty little girl.” Mabel promised that she would add this petition to her rrayers; so when she had finished her usual form she spoke as follo “And now, God, please keen Mabel from be- ing a naughty little girl.” There was a pause, then she concluded: ‘Never- theless, thy , not mine, be done!" FRISCO'S SOLDIERS. BY G. M. BARTHOLD. *Frisco's soldiers were the first to go, And you can rest assured they were not And you can bet they'll fight that mean old Spain For blowing up our battleship, the Malne, THE CELEBRATFION. BY ALMA S. BEMENDERFER OF ANGELS CAMP. HE Rollins farm, on which Sam and Jake lived with their parents, is situated in the Sacramento Val- ley, far from any large town. As the boys had few friends they hailed with delight their cousin, Jim Hobson, who came from San Francisco. He had expected to visit them on_ the Fourth of July, but was sick, and so did not arrive until some days later. In the meantime the news had come that the Spaniards had- surrendered at Santiago de Cuba, and so Jim brought along his fireworks, which he had not been able to use on the Fourth, his purpose being to celebrate the surren- der of Santiago. The fireworks were packed in a plain ‘wooden box, on which, for fun, he marked in large let- ters, “Dynamite—Please Handle With Care,” an order the trainmen obeyed to_the letter. His trip was so pleasant he was al- most sorry when the cars stopped at the station, where he was met by Sam and Jake with a large farm wag- on. They were surprised when they learned what the box contained. On the way home Jake remarked: “I say, Tom, what do you suppose father will say about those fireworks? We were forbidden to buy any, for since the Rogers sheep range burned over he is very careful.” “Nonsense,” laughed Tom. “Why I intend to set them off on the river away down on the swamp. He could not say no to that any how, for that is a safe place; and, for my part, I don’t see the use of telling him about it. We are old enough to manage a little fun like that without burning any one out. Sam, you are 15, Jake is 13 and I am 16, Just put the box in the barn, or any place. It will not spoil till we celebrate.” All doubts were swept away by this argument, and on reaching home the box was hid in the barn under the hay. That evening, while sitting on the porch, Sam pointed to a little cabin a half mile away, but in plain sight from where they were, “See that place, PUZZLE—FIND THE PLAYER'S MONKEY. From the Baltimore American. THE IMPRISONED DOLLY. BY CHARLES A. KEELER. I've a dear little dolly Shut up in a book, Who's always so jolly Whenever I look That mamma has told me If I'd be so gz She never would Or send me aw It must be so dreary Between the dark leaves; I'm sure she gets weary And shs in her s| Altho’ it is folly, I'll tear out the page And let my dear doliy Step out of her cage. s fellows? Well, the queerest old chap lives there; a regular old curio. I am going to take you up and show him to you some day. He has planted all sorts of things, and not enough of any one kind to make it pay. His clothes are always patched. Guess he does it himself, and the way he putters around and tries to irrigate with that old windmill makes me laugh. He has been here three months; bought eighty acres of land. That plowed around to one sidé of the cabin is hi “Boys,” said Tom suddenly, “would it not be a splendid joke as we are going to the river to give him a taste of the fun just on the plowed ground. ‘We could not hurt anything there, and to see him poke his head out of that window to see what is going on would be more fun than a picnic.” They all laughed at the mere idea. “Now,” remarked Sam, “all we need to do is to arrange the contents of that box in a basket. Those we will need first on top.” This was soon done, the mischievous boys selecting giant fire crackers, as they could be arranged on a long fuse and set off with dispatch. After dark the boys crept along by the timber, which threw weird shadows over the cabin and plowed ground. With care a long line of fuse and fire crackers was laid by the cabin. “Hand me that punk,” whispered Tom, as he felt around the basket hunting for the end of the fuse. But he never found it. As Sam was about to do as directed some sparks from the end of the punk fell into the basket. In an instant the whole place was lit up. Roman candles, blue lights, sky rockets, fire crackers, pin wheels, bombs, ete., were discharged in all di- rections and the fields were raked over as if there was a battle. The fire crack- ers going off every second and the blue | lights and smoke giving the scene a weird, grotesque appearance. The boys were taken by surprise and, very much singed and powder-burned, they tried to put out the small fires started in the stubble and short grass, running to the pump for water and trying to beat them out with wet sacks. They had nearly succeeded till it got into the tall grass and was fanned up by a steady breeze toward the house and buildings. The hoys heard some one shout, and looking around saw the old man run- ning toward them. In a short time by his help the fire was extinguished, but not before it had cleared the grass from five acres of pasture land, and been the means of stampeding some horses in an adjoining fleld, who broke through the fencing out into the road, where they were soon. lost to sight. ‘When all danger was passed the boys and the old man went into the house dining- roem to get supper and talk it over. He proved very agreeable, and told them something of his history, and they wondered why they ever thought of making sport of him. It seems he was an old soldier, and he was making the place a home for his daughter-in- law and grand-children, for his son had enlisted to go to Manila. “And this boy,” he said, patting Tom on the back, “will make a famous sol- dier. He worked like one to put out that fire, and doesn’t seem to mind burns like some boys." This praise made Tom feel rather cheap. But he went on to say, as he had been to town, he did not see the fire till he came in sight of the boys back firing. At this news the boys felt more at their ease, for they argued he did not see the celebration. But next day, while out hunting for the stray horses, they saw some one who did, a woodchopper, who lived mnear the swamp, but he promised not to tell their secret. WE SAID GOOD-BYE. BY CHARLES ELMER UPTON, PLACERVILLE. We sald good-bye, the fleeting hours Have into f()rtnlgh(s grown, Falr are earth and sky to-day, Yet my heart is lone. Yearning for the little folk Now so far from me, Longing for the dear old home I no longer see. God grant throughout life’s journeying Those tender feet may know The paths of love and innocence, That ever upward go. And surely, when eternal dawn Tllumes the fading sky, Soul will answer unto soul Where none shall say good-bye. BUMPKINS AND RABBITS. LL the children will see this morning how_ hard their good friend Bronstrup has been work- ing during the past week to truthfully picture the new sur- roundings of the Bumpkins who are on one of the Philippine islands. They did not reach Manila, as they hoped, but arrived at an island which has the jawcracking name of Tolehtfotseinnuf, so called by a native chief who had learned to spell backward when he was young, and who was the jolliest canni- bal then alive. His songs were so side- splitting that the missionaries called him Old Tickleribs. He got even with them at dinner time and left to his chil- dren a soap box full of hymn books, for which the missionaries had no further use. The failure of the Bumpkins to find Manila explains the lack of Manila rope to tie the Bumpkin house together with. But, never mind, there are snakes and Bronstrup shows how these can be used. Three rabbits, who are tired of war, are pictured to-day. Two of them have fallen in love and Bonnie is amused at their attentions. We will hear more from this trio. e g Mamma — Never say you can't There’s no such word as can't. Tommy—There always seems to be such word when I ask if I can have more jelly. THE BOY LEFT ALONE. BY JEAN BLEWETT. It's the lonesomest house you ever saw, This big gray house where I stay— I don't call it living at all, at ail— Since.my mother went away. Four long weeks ago, and it seems a year; “Gone home,” so the preacher said, An' I ache in my breast with want- ing her, An’ my eyes are always red. : 3 sm[y out of doors till I'm almost roze, 'Cause every corner and room Seems empty enough to frighten a boy, And filled to the doors with gloom. I hate them to call me to my meals, Sometimes I think I can’t bear To swallow a mouthful of anything, An’ her not sitting up there, A-pourin’ the tea an’ passin’ it An’ laughin’ to see me take Two big lumps of sugar instead of one, An’ more than my share of cake. I'm too big to be kissed, I used to say, But somehow I don't feel right, Crawling into bed as still as a mouse— Nobody saying good night, An’ tucking ‘the clothes up under my chin, An’ pushing my hair back, s0; Thlnis a boy makes fun of before is chums, But things that he likes, you know. i There's no one to go to when things g0 Wrong— She was always so safe and sure; ‘Why, not a trouble could tacKle a boy That she couldn’'t up and cure. There are lots of women, it seems to me, That wouldn’t be missed so much— ‘Women whose boys are about all grown up, An’ old maid aunties, an’ such. I can’t make it out for the life of me ‘Why she should have to go, An’ her boy left here in this old gray house, A-needing an” wanting her so. T tell you the very lonesomest thing In this great big world to-day Is a hlxkbuy of ten whose heart is roke ’Cause his mother is gone away.