The Inter Ocean from Chicago, Illinois • Page 31

(CofJTTlaht, 190S. by W. W. Hines Death kindly Interposed and tared Mose Hardy from the awkward experience of riding a rail lifted from his own cabin fence. When tbe committee of firemen, cranesmen, and common shovelers appointed to represent tbe population cf Rlgg'a Gulch rolled Mose over la his bunk they found that bis case had been carried up to the highest court.

After the committee had recovered from its surprise it delegated Mike Donnelly to carry the iiews to the foreman's cabin, whither Mrs. Hardy, with her children, had fled for safety a few houra before. Mike's method of Imparting; the news was I nvolved. "I've come. Mrs.

Hardy," he said, crimping the edge of hl soft felt hat. "to inform you that It Is intirely safe fer yes all to go home. There'll be nothin doin beyant!" Mrs. Hardy dropped the apron which she had been holding in front of her face to hide the traces of tears. "Tou all ain't hurt him, Mr.

Donnelly?" Donnelly, who had Just caught sight of an ugly abrasion near the woman's temple, drew hia breath in aharply. "No. more the pity. We never got the cbsnst." Then realising that this was not an entirely delicate way to break sad hews, he slapped hia hat on bis head. Jerked it off again, shifted his weight from right to left foot and cleared his throat.

"I mean, Mrs. Hardy, that your husband hex took one drink too many, an' it's sint htm where they ain't passln no drinks aroun. Meg Hardy leaned against the doorjamb and turned white. The mark near her temple stood out more clearly than before. Don-neilv'a rleh Irish voice became odd It rentle and soothing.

worry, woman. Well glTe him a great buryin, flowers sint np from Rock port. If you like, and the praste himself down from Brownsville. When Rise's Gulch starts out to do anything It does it right, from the groun' up. Come, come, Mrs.

Hardy, you mustn't take It so hard. It's all fur the best, an' yes can stay right on In the cabin. ml mflilln fee 11 aiu 1111 poor devils without wives yea can live like a queen. An' the boya'll he makin' np a purse" Something In the drawn face, appeallngly near his own, stopped bis flow of words. He held out his hand without realizing what he was doing, hut the woman turned back to the house.

"I think," she said unsteadily. "I want to be alone." On the following Sunday RIggs Gulch gave the late Moses Hardy a great send-off. Social and color lines went down. The clerk in the commissary dug np a black derby from the recesses. of his long unopened trunk.

Nels Jensen, whose money went to Sweden with the regularity of pay day, asked credit at the commissary for a shirt, white, with Immense polka dots. The Hungarians, who apparently lived to work, and tbe negroes who admitted that they worked only as much as was necessary to live, were keenly alive to the Importance of the occasion. There was a general feeling that a blot had been removed from the camp's escutcheon. The epithets applied to the departed, a he Jay in state, awaiting the arrival of the white-haired priest from Brownsville, ranged all the way from "ornery," drawled by a Southerner, to the choicest adjectives In the vocabulary of the camp's expert. In a construction camp there are many more things a man can do, and many more that he may leave undone, and still be one of the boys.

But It he happens to have a wife he la expected to live up to certain un THE IXTEB OGEAX, SUNDAY MOItNIXG, JUXE 28, 1903. MIKE DONNEELEY'S CELEBRATION- BY W. W. HINES. WILL.

DOWIE FIGHT THIS DUEL? 7777777 1 1 II in I VM -j A .7 I 1 I I v. i yy l' it II I Who Is a liar? Mlrza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian, Punjab, India, wants to know, and he believes he can get the truth out of John Alexander Dowle. The Hindoo has challenged the Zionite prophet to a duel to death and Dowle has turned up his nose at the Oriental prophet and refuses to say a word. The man of Punjab is not a joker, and he wants Elijah the Restorer to know it. He asks the Zlon potentate to fight to tbe finish and be has named prayer as the weapon.

Furthermore, Mirza, who claims to be the promised Messiah, has laid down the rules for the deadly combat, and he demands that Dowie either "shoot or give up the gun." Dowie has not accepted the challenge. He has pot said that he will not. His followers say be basn't time for any Punjablans, and that be has enough to do in preparing to swoop down upon wicked New York In October, wben be intends to scrub tbe territory between the Bowery and the Bronx. Mlrza Ghulam Ahmad is Jealous of the nil-rois Messiah. He says some one is a liar and that he can prove it.

And be intends doing It by prayer a duel of prarer. He wants Powie to stand uu and pray that whoever of I I I --7-; mi: mm 17-- 1 77- -v7777 I t77 I t'f I 7 rvTaw written laws. Mos Hardy had smashed these laws into smithereens, and his offense waa tbe more heinous, since hia wife was the one good-looking woman of the camp. The tribute of a funeral, therefore, was not to the deceased. It was a mark of respect tor his wtfe, the only salve the rough men of Ring's Gulch could suggest for her lacerated feelings.

For the women of the camp It was truly a great event. The traditions of other days, customs of childhood and girlhood spent in other sections of the country, were revived in this hour. Each contrtbtued her little to a supply of somber garments for the widow and her 10-year-old daughter. When it was all over they set her forlorn cabin In order and kindly left her with her littl ones. Mike Donnelly had exchanged no word with her since the day when he bore the evil tidings.

During the funeral he had stayed in the background. Now, as he took his place at the ill-spread table of the boarding-house, he stared stolidly up one side of tba long, narrow table and down the other, studying the faces of the men. All the white men In the camp boarded here, and tonight the room was unusually quiet. The rattle of knlvea and forks against the heavy china and unsecured tinware rose above the voices, though tbe opposite condition generally obtained at the evening meaL Mike ate mechanically and said little. When men near at hand spoke he looked up and studied them well, as if passing judgment upon them.

He lingered at the table until the last boarder had slouched out to the bunk-room, then he motioned to the boarding boss to sit beside him, at the same tlma laying his pouch of smoking tobacco on the table. When the two pipes were burning in a-ood comradeship Donnelly spoke curtly, decis ively. "Hannigan. yes could spare five or tlx of yer boarders an niver mlsa em?" "Mebbe." grunted Hannigan, between pipe and teeth. -An' Mose Hardy's widow needs em." Hannigan did not answer at all this time.

He merely removed the pipe from hia mouth and gaped at the burly foreman. "She's got to live, an' that's the way she's goln' to do It." "All right." said Hannigan. without the least trace of regret or rebellion. "An I suppose you'll be one of the six?" "Sure! I'm goln' to see the woman gets fair play. Tou know them sons of guns an' their tricks.

She don't. I'll pick out the likeliest bunch an' steer 'em over there." "I'll bet she ain't got a whole dish in the house. They aay Mose smashed about all there was left on that last bat of hisn." "Well, he didn't amash any of yourn, did her The tone was an admirable mixture of cajolery and bully. Hannigan laid down his pipe in admiration. "Mike Donnelly, with that nerve of yourn you're wastin' time in these here backwoods.

You oughter be in politics. Of course, I'll loan me competitor dishes. An' shall I sind over me dishwasher, too, whin I can spare him?" The good-hearted Irishman chuckled at his own wit; then, as Donnelly rose to depart, he added: "I'm not worryin' that she'll be Interferin' with me business long. She's too likely a woman to stay single in this camp" Donnelly brought his fist down with a crash. "Shut up yer goeaipln head." Then Mike Donnelly slammed the door and stalked out into the night.

An hour later there gathered in the lamplight of Donnelly's cabin an oddly assorted group of men Haines, the commissary clerk Davltt and Lawson. the steam-shovel engineers; Riardon. ona of the "straw bosses," the pair Is a liar may perish Instanter. Mlrza has not named his seconds nor the place of com jat, but he wants a thousand men to back him np. and he is willing to give John Alexander an equally fair ahowlng.

Mlraav Is Kot Prosperous. Mlrza is a Mohammedan, and he is by no means an ordinary prophet. He is not a banker, nor a real estate agent and a builder of cities, nor a lace maker. He hasn't been very prosperous as a Messiah. Qadian isn't as profitable a field tor religious enterprise as Chicago, -and Dowie baa the Hindoo eclipsed when It comes to being a commercial Messiah.

While Dowle Is wearing a gorgeous purple roba and carrying a staff that reaches two feet above his bald poll. Mlrza has only a cast-off overcoat, a pair of white breeches, and a bamboo cane. And in the matter of whisker Mirza is considerably handicapped. Dowle-'s chin Is decorated with a snowfall that reaches to his watch chain, while the Mohammedan boasts only a straggling black beard that Jiardly bides bis collar button. But he eports a puffed and knotted turban that looks as religious, it it docs not outshine, Dowle's hairless pate.

lowie is long on prayer; in fact, his orisons ascend almost continually, but. accord- 7 7 I -7 i "It is entirely safe for and Murphy, who had charge of the dynamite. Their host looked them over with critical, even calculating eyes. Finally young Law-son clasped his hands around his crossed knees and Inquired, curiously: "I say, Donnelly, what have yoa got up your sleeve? A strike? Tou look as mys ing to Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, they sre not good prayers, and do not reach very high. Here Is where Mirza expects to get the best of the captain of the Zion City baseball club.

He says Dowle is a liar, and he is going to pray to the Ahmlghty to strike down the liar. The Zionites declare this Is unfair, and that Mirza would not be fighting on the square; for be would only be praying for the demise of hia rival and would not be asking the Almighty to judge between tbem. Mirza, in bis challenge, doea not say he is willing to coma to Zlon City. He favors long-distance prayers, and believes he can undo Dowle by tbe wireless method as easily as it he had him at bis side. The Mohammedan does not pose as a gleaner of shekels, but he does claim a large following.

Ho tells the Chicago prophet that be has 100,000 devotees at hia heels, and gives Dowie to understand he is no common exhorter. He has heard that Dowie ae-splses the Mohammedans and he wants to know why. Mlrza claims he was sent here for the reformation of the world exactly at the time fixed by calculations he has made on tbe Biblical prophecies. After this ha says to the chief Zionite: "You should remember that this challenge does not proceed from an ordinary Moham ft you all to go home." terious as If there was something up." "Well, yer as likely a lookln' bunch as I could pinch," he tcplied. dryly, "an" day after tomorry 11 be yer movin day.

I'm think-in. Some one's got ter keep the Widow Hardy, an we're the six as 'II do It. Tomorry beln pay day, yes all kin settle np medan. I am the very Messiah, the promised one, for whom you are anxiously awaiting." This Is not according to Dowle's calculation. Mirza then goes on In this wise: "Between Dr.

Dowle's position and mine the difference In this, that Dowle fixes the appearance of the Messiah within the next twenty-five years, while I give him the glad tidings that the Messiah has already appeared. I am the Messiah, and the Almighty God has shown numerous signs from earth as well as from heaven in my support. My following. which already claims 100,000 souls. Is making rapid progress.

"The proof that Dr. Dowle furnishes In support of bis extravagant claims is the very height of absurdity. He claims to have healed hundreds of sick men. But why did his healing power fail in the case of his own beloved daughter, where it should have been exercised In the highest degree Would Xot Shed Blood. The Indian claimant la a harmless sort of a fellow, and he doesn't desire to shed any blood in hia He believes be can settle his dispute with Dowle with no more serious consequences than the death of himself or his rival.

"Whether the God of Mohammedans or the God of Dowie is the true God msy be settled without the loss of millions of lives, which Dr. Dowle's prediction would wxites the Punjab man. "That method Is that, without threatening the Mohammedan public in general with destruction, he should choose me as his opponent and prsy to God that of us two whoever is the Uar msy perish first. I lock npon the Son of Mary as a weak human being, although I recognize him as a prophet of God, while Dr. Dowle takes him for the Lord -of the universe.

"Which of us la right Is the real point at issue. It Dr. Dowle la certain of the divinity of the Son of Mary, be should publish the proposed prayer with the signatures of at least a thousand men affixed to it. Upon receiving it, I should address the same rarer to Almichtv God and publish it with the signatures of the same numDer ol witnesses. "If Dr.

Dowie has the courage in arrant this challenge, ha will open a way for all otner inrtstians to the acceptance of the truth. In making this proposal I have not taken the initiative, but the Jealous God has Inspired me upon Dr. Dowle's presumptuous prediction all Mohammedans shall perish." Has av Little Side Information. Before the Oriental, reta firntivh wlf tv. prophet of the north shore he tells him a few viucr interesting iuua ininga about the Savior that are not generally known outside of Punjab and the adjacent provinces.

ah nnpario.ni discovery regaming Jesus Christ has been madn bv thm fnlinwn did not die upon the cross, but was taken down no aenseiess. BUDsequently the Son of Mary recovered, traveled eastward, and lived wiu age. ma lomD is situated in Khan Yar street at Srinagar. Cashmere." Dowle nrohahlv vlll nm T.t- ftuuiui Messiah's challenge for some time to come. frjcr are an uaen lor months ahead and ha Is so busy getting ready for hia Chrlstlanlzntion nf HnDom that v- t-.

paying any particular attention to Punjabi- ua mtMj cans, ug mer nuao partanS Or Messiahs clad in old overcoats and white breeches. Dewte Doesn't Like Prophets. If Mlrza Ghulam Ahmad takes It Into his bead to come to this country and beard he prophet In his own land office, ha will find, that Dowle hasn't been wasting any time foolipg with other Messiahs. He will find instead that Dowie has been engineering town-lot booms and directing the program of the collection takers between prayers. He will find a few stores where he can buy a new coat and a decent-looking hat, if he has the money, and be will find a hotel where he may sleep, if he does not neglect tha Zlon City cash drawer.

But Mirza will not find a warm welcome If he comes. Dowie isn't Inviting any rival propheta or Messiahs. He doean't want any side shows, and, what is more, ha never would listen to the Easterner's proposition, for Mlrza insists upon writing tbe prayer. The Zionites fear there is soma sort of a hidden trick in this very proposition, and they declare they know the doctor won't have anything to do with the plan. At any rate, over in Punjab Dowie will be discredited if he does not enter the duel.

But there are not many Hindoos In the Dowie flock, so. in the long run. It doesn't make much difference. But the question is not one of what the followers think about It. It In.

Who is a liar? Will Dowle fiKht it out! ir with Hannigan an' start fresh with, the widow. Yos're payin' Hannigan $15 a month. You'll pay the widow 117. an get yer washin' and mendin' thrown in. Most of you ain't gettin' no mendin' done at all, an' not enough washin' to be decent.

You'll each pay her S5 down to show you'll treat her decent next pay day, an I'll look after tbe rist at the commissary-" Young Lawson threw his bead back with a shout of laughter. "I aay, Don Quixote of Rlgg'a Gulch, we don't mind having a change of pasture, for God knows her grub can't be worse than Hanntgan's, but what does the widow say to all this?" "She ain't said anything yet. I ain't told her." Tbe group of men stared at him, doubting his words. "But she'll do it, niver fear. She's the sort that don't argify much, an ahe an' the young nns have got to live.

There ain't no place fer 'em to go to. an she ain't the sort to be bcholdin" to nobody fer her living. There wasn't a man dared offer her as much as a sack of flour whin Hardy was lettin 'em plumb starve, an' she with hardly a rag to her back. Yea all know that." A murmur of assent ran around the room. I want to say right here an' now that yes have all got to treat her white.

7' BOOKS ONCE Out of the flotsam and jetsam of worthless old volumes that drift from neglected libraries Into the hands ofbuyers of musty old books frequently there comes a relic to make the eyes of tbe bibliomaniac sparkle with the Are of greed. From out forgotten old chests, from the cobwebbed and dusty corners of dark old garrets, from the long-locked cabinets of some one-time bibliophile scores of these old volumes have drifted into the hands of collectors. Some of the volumes have a romantic history, sell for fabulous prices, and are, for once and all. rescued from the Ignominy of dust and pulp eating worms. On a shelf in a dark corner of G- W.

Barker's old book store in a basement on Dearborn street. Just off Monroe, three volumes stood. for months awaiting a purchaser. The gilt bad fallen from the title letters on the leathern back. The leather itself was scaled and scarred, and to add to the disgrace of dust and mold, a ticket marked "Price 1.50" hung from one of the three A few days ago the books found a buyer and now the set la pronounced pricelesa.

The three books had drifted Into the shop with a rather disreputable company of old French tomes. Whence they came Mr. Bsrker does not now remember. When they arrived In the shop they were dusted, tagged, and set upon a shelf to await a purchaser. But no purchaser came and there, along side an old copy of Cobb's poems and other volumes In various stages of decay, stood tbese'three patrician books, dogeared by an emperor and bearing tha Imperial crest of an empress.

BeleeaeI ts Xapoleea. These three volumes once belonged to the private library of Citizen Napoleon Bonaparte and later to the Empress Josephine. In the mind of the buyer of old books and of msny connoisseurs who have examined this set there is no doubt that Napoleon gained not a small part of bis knowledge of Louisiana territory from their pages. But that fact did not for a long time distinguish the trio of board-bound books snd they kept company with a lot of plebeian prints which have value only because they are aged. One day, however, the books were discovered, or rather, like Kipling's ship, they fcund themselves.

Along with many others they were taken down to be placed on a sidewalk stand at a reduced price to tempt the rassers-by whose Interest is not deep enough to induce them to begrime their bands in fondling the old treasures on the shelves inside. When Mr. Barker took the books from the shelf and opened one of the volumes he read the title page, which is printed in French and runs: "Voyage dans La Haute Pensylvanle et dans L'Ktat de New York, Par un Membre adoptif de la Nation Oneida. Tradult et pub-, lie par 1'anteur des Lettres d'un culiivateur American. Tome Second.

De L'Imprimerie de Crapelet. A Paris, Chez Maradan, Libra I re. rue Pavee 8. Andre-des-Arcs, n' 18 ANIX-1801." Discovered the Seal. But that told him little.

Then his attention was sttracted to a small, red circular stamp in one corner of the title page. Looking closely at it, he read: "Blblio-theque du Cltoyen Napoleon Bonaparte." That was enough. Mr. Barker tore off the tag marked "Price 11.60" and threw It upon the floor. He then looked at the other two volumes.

Tbey, too, bore the library stamp of the tiny Core lean. And as Interesting as this was a stamp upon both the front and back covers of each of the three books. It was the letter beneath Josephine's Imperial coronet. The purveyor of old books showed the books to local experts. He was confident the three volumes had belonged to Napoleon.

Some agreed with him. Others did not. Mr. Barker locked the books la his safe. A few days later a noted book collector of the Bast was in the shop.

He examined the books. He wanted to buy them, although be ridiculed tbe Idea that they could ever have1 belonged to Napoleon. But he Insisted on having tbem. He came again the next day. A month later he called and offered a large price for the three volumes.

He did not get them. They finally passed into the possession of Frederick W. Cornish, a Chicago attorney, whose home is at Lake Bluff. Mr. Cornish and Mr.

Barker have endeav There ain't goln' to be no klckln" about tbe grub. It'll take her a while to get used to havln' plenty to do with, an' until she does there ain't goin to be no back talk. More-somev-tr." be continued, wanning up to his task, "the first man as comes in drunk loses his seat at Widow Hardy's table. There'll be men fightia fer yer places, before the first month's up, so don't get gay." The chosen five were Inclined to regard It all as a Joke, but true to Mike Donnelly's prediction, before the first month rolled around they were the envy of the entire camp. There had been days at first when Meg Hardy had faltered at her task, wben red eye and muffled tones had dashed the spirits and appetites of her boarders, but that period of unrest and uncertainty, grieving, and rebellion was over, and Meg bad settled down to more than resignation.

She 'appreciated keenly her altered estate, and showed It in her efforts to please tbe men who contributed directly to her support and indirectly to their own comfort. Gradually the cabin took cn. a more habitable air. Some of the furniture vw home-made, but a barrel covered with gay calico was better than no center table at all, and tbe excelsior mattress ordered through the commissary was an Improvement over tattered quilts. Meg rose refreshed for her tasks each day.

and her children lost the bunted, frightened air which was their birthright. So came. spring into the hill-locked camp. The trees quivered and burst into bloom, tbe birds sought their mates, and the men smoked their pipes at night with a dreamy look in their eyes. And so, too, came summer.

The leaves hung close and heavy overhead, and the birds clung silent la their nests, and blood throbbed full and strong in sturdy veins. The philosophical Hannigan said to himself that the time waa ripe for five of the truant boarders to retire In favor of the favored sixth. Regular freight trains were now running between Rock port and Brownsville. Rlgg'a Gulch would soon hold nothing more than memories of the bustling construction camp, therefore It became Its temporary citizens to bold a Fourth of July celebration, and Mike Donnelly waa appointed to make the trip to Rock port as purchasing agent. In hia vest pocket waa the Joint fund of $100 or more to be spent in fireworks, liquid and otherwise.

In bis wallet reposed two months' pay, to be. expended how be had not yet decided. In his hip pocket was a flask, an antidote for loneliness on the trip. And In his memory rankled the picture which had met his eye just as the train pulled out. Young Lawson had been tossing tbe Widow Hardy's baby In hia arms in front of the Widow Hardy's door.

Many a time Donnelly had longed to perform the same feat, but be was morally certain that he abould drop tbe baby. Law-son never dropped anything, especially the opportunity of passing a pleasant, graceful word with his landlady. Donnelly took a pull at tbe flask. By the time, the train lurched Into Rock port the flask waa empty, and Donnelly was convinced that the Widow Hardy and Lawson were to be married. He had been a blind fool, and now it behooved him.

as the self-appointed guardian of the best-looking woman In Rigg's Glu'ch. to see that aha had an outfit that would dazzle the camp. By the time that the flask had been successively filled and emptied Donnelly felt fit to shop. i The setting sun shot relentless beams' Into Widow-Hardy'a cabin, where the chosen six were unpacking bales, barrels, and bundles which had been lugged from the depot. All the ether white men in the camp were loung i 7 OWNED BY ored to trace the travels of the books, but witbont But they have done one thing: they have established proof, they believe, that the books came from Napoleon's library, and that, lost from the other books of that library which hae been scattered and blown hither and yon, tbey finally, by.

the accident of chance, drifted to the second-hand book shop. Recovered tram av Wreck. The set was published in 1S01. In the introduction the publisher states that the chapters of the three volumes were taken from manuscripts recovered from the wreck of the vessel Morning Star, which went cn the rocks- of Heligoland while bound- from Philadelphia for Copenhagen. The manuscript waa written by a Frenchman who was an adopted member of the tribe of Oneida He had traveled over ail that territory east of thj Book Bearing: Mississippi, knew something of conditions in the territory west of and contiguous to the Father of Waters, an waa well versed In regard to the inhabitants, the development and the resource of tbe Eastern and South-era states and colonies.

In 1803, when Napoleon negotiated the sale of Louisiana, the set waa tbe very latest work treating of that territory. Bookmen who have closely examined the set declaro their belief to be that Napoleon consulted these three books for information rtgardlmr Louisiana. At many pages where the text bears expressly upon this subject the leaves have been-turned down. The re4 stamp of the Napoleonic library which appears on the title page of each of the books Is pronounced genuine by collectors of Napoleona. They argue that this set must have come into Napoleon's possession soon after lta lulprint.

and that it was then marked with his citizen'stamp. These same col- ing somewhat pointedly In the vicinity. The Widow Hardy and her children stood In the background, too dazed to speak. Only once had Donnelly faltered. That waa when they were walking np from the depot.

Lawson, with his eyes dancing, bad supported their somewhat unsteady chief. Then there came to Donnelly a sudden clear-. Ing of his vision, and be had not made a mis- take. Perhaps the goods should not hare been delivered until after the banns were read. And now, aa shouts of laughter ran through the cabin, he felt cold shivers chasing up and down his spine.

He wanted to get out, but his purchases barred tbe exit. Lawson had Just unearthed a bird, boused in a gaudy cage, and Davltt was holding np six pairs of Nottingham curtains with brass fixtures and poles. There was a box of artificial flowers, another filled with bolts of ribbon in assorted widths and colors, a bolt of mosquito netting, a stack of paper-covered novels, a heavy winter coat, and a pale pink parasol, a piece of turkey-red calico. Lawson, who had sisters at home, was doubled np with laughter. Donnelly drew himself up with a sudden assumption of dignity.

"Pwhat's the matter wld yez, ye blltherln Idjits?" be demanded, lapsing into hU brogue. "Kape yer hands off the Widow Hardy's weddin' outfit." Lawson straightened up! This was tragedy, not farce. He motioned the ether men to leave the cabin, and brought up the rear of the procession. Donnelly watched him with blinking eyes. "Lawson," he called weakly.

go to was the ungracious response, and the man nearest Lawson heard him murmur something about a frying pan and a fire. Indoors, the Widow Hardy bad sunk trpon a thirty-pound pall of cheap candy, and waa weeping silently. Donnelly bent over her awkwardly. "Sure, I didn't mane no barm. I did roe blst.

thlnkin' not to let yon go to your new husband without the flxln'a women folk likes. He'll ba back whin he's through ewearln'." The blank wonder in the widow's race acted on the befuddled wits of Donnelly like a cold shower. ''Ain't ain't you goln to marry Lawson?" he faltered. a Lawson waa aroused from his slumbers by a slight touch on his shonlder. Donnelly sat on the edge of the bunk.

"Lawson." he said In the voice of ona clothed "again and in hia right mind, "the dinky injlne's ready to make a special run to Rock port. I I forgot the be thrust a roll of bills Into Lawaon's hand. "Go you an' buy thim Infarnel fireworks, or the boys "Go yourself, you fool." snarled Lawson, turning his face to the wall. "I'll not." replied Donnelly. "I've give her me promise niver to touch another drop, an' 111 not take me chances alone on a spl-cial with a keg of whisky fer a sate." Lawson sat up and hugged his knees.

"If I thought The moonlight shone through the open door snd fell npon Donnelly's face. Lawson looked Icta tbe Irishman's eyes. He swung out of the bunk. "By God. old man, I believe yon mean It." "Mane It? Why, I ain't fit to tie the strings on her shoes, but I will be, Lawson.

so help me, I will be whin she comes to me." And Lawson stalked away to the waitlnc engine, leaving Donnelly with his face turned toward Widow Hardy's cabin. NAPOLEON locters say that the crest of Josephine must have been placed upon the covers at a later date, after ahe became Empress. Trawels Kersa at Mystery. How tbe books could? have journeyed to Chicago, and finally landed in a reposiiory for forgotten tomes, no one can explain. Mr.

Barker does not know from whom be them. He is sure they came in with a large collection of French books be received more than three years ago. With these ether books, most of which have disappeared into the hand's of buyers, they were bought for a song. When they were sold a few days ago they brought a pretty pile, sad it would take much more to buy them again. All three volumes are in a splendid state of preservation.

The board backs are all intact, although tbe leather hinges are cracked and worn. The. pages are yellow with age, but the print is still clear, and the Josephine's Crest. old maps and charts are aa plain now as tha day they came from tbe press. An attempt will be made by the present owner of the books to ferret out their history.

If there is aught of romance about them he wants toknow It. He is satisfied that the books really belonged to Napoleon's library, and played their part In one of the world's largest land deals. The set left the hands of the editor April 17. 1800, and were printed the follomitg year. They were inscribed to George Washington by 3.

J. D. C. Cheaper haa Ittrandeset-a Lamps. The general result stated by Mr.

Dunhnia of the Hartford (Conn.) municipal Tght plant, who has 4.0C0 Xernst lamps, is that ba can produce the same illumlnaou at a general cost of lens than one-half that of Incandescent lamps..