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THAPPY
DAYS ‘eo
3
The boys did not waste a moment, They
hurried up the hill, and when they were
near the top, looking back, they saw the
tramp who had been hit by the stone on
the oink ot rising to his fee
The t hurt us now, Ned We can
et tot ¢ Op of the bull and vanish long
Before they can reach wu
t was a narrow escape, Jack, for our
wheels anyway. If they’d been ‘smashed
just at the start, Dick Carson would have
ad the laugh on us,”
“Tt's taught me one thing, anyway.”
» What's that ?”
“Why, that we must buy a couple of
six-shooters at the first store we come to.
Ifwe'd had guns with us we'd have
spared all this bother, I thought we'd not
need them till we got to "Prisco, but I see
I was wrong.
Ned Norton was now riding in front of
Jack Daring. The road was particularly
~ rough.
“ We've n
2
made a mistake, Neat shouted
Jack; ‘‘ we've got off the track
“Nota bit of it, This ee
Ned never finished the ‘sentence, There
was a crash, then a splash, and Ned Nor-
ton was sent flying over a rail intoa slimy
nd. ,
Pan the darkness Jack could not see his
chum, but he heard him’ floundering
“ ‘Sivim out, Ned! Where are you?”
As Ned did not appear Jack became anx-
ious, and he crept to the edgé of the pond
to see whether he could render any assist-
n he saw Ned slowly walking
nk.
Veh!" said Ned, disgustedly, “I'm a
show, There’s more mud than water in
that pond, Jack. I'll never beable to go
any further. Never!”
“There's a light over there about a hun
dred ards away. Woneer if they’d give
bed. Come on; we'llt
st was a farm-house they haa struck, and
the farmer’s wife gave a shriek when her
eyes fell upon Ned Norton, He was cov-
ered from head to foot with a green ard
red mixture.
“Sakes alive!” she exclaimed, ‘‘ who are
e
Jack explained what had happened.
“Sure enough, i. ell into our pond,
Come in, boys. lave a bed, why, of
course!”
, The farmer was as hospitable as his wife.
ed his clothing, and this was
immediately scoured: sofas to be ready for
im in the morning.
Then they soon feu asieep, for they were
very tire
Ii was no use for Jack to offer to pay for
what he and Ned had received at the farm-
house,
““Wedon't keep a hotel, mister,” cried
the farmer. w with, a laugh, and as the two
le away he and his wife stood look-
. ing after, them till phey were out of sight.
. y've got plenty of grit, missus,”
said ie farmer, “but round the world on
wheels! Ly gosh! they'll never get there.”
CHAPTER HI.
JACK'S ADVESTURE WITH THE BULL—THE
‘0 BOYS ON THE BRIDGE,
THE bora, made a very short stop at But-
falo, Having procured revolvers and other
necessaries, they turned aside to see the
Falls at Niagara, Then, for the next two
or three days they raced like steam engines,
not wasting any time in sight-seein
So they went until they came to C sicago.
Here they found letters from home, and a
package containing some clothing, which
was very usefu
From Chicago they took a southwesterly
route, intending to strike nyer, and
from there through the Rockies to San
Francisco,
The weather was beautiful, and there
having been since they started | an absence
of rain, the roads were in good condition
for fast time,
Ifow they scorched along! How they
coasted down the hills! There were no
ark policemen to interfere with their en
oyment now. They might do as they
pleased, for they met few people on the
roads, except in the towns.
“This is glorious i cried Jack,
* But a bit monotonous.
“ | Monotonous, Ned! W hy, what d’you
me:
“ It's the same old business, Jack, day
afterday, riding, riding, riding, nothing to
break fhe monotony but an occasional
tumble.”
« ‘Oh. that’s it!” laughed Jack; * you
don’t tumble off enough, only occasionally,
Well, my_dear Ned, you can cure that,
Tumble off as muchas you like, I won't in-
terfere.”
“Stop follsing! you know what I mean,”
“Td
on
** Well, why don’t we have some adven:
ture? Now v you" ve got it, That's what m
meant to say.
“AhL now Seat ents you. My dear
Ned, don't be impatient. Wait till we
cross the water eneererinto Asia, We
have enough adventures then, and don‘
you forget it.” .
In fact it was almost impassable, | a!
Ned let the conversation drop, and very
soon he and Jac! lown by a stream
and a ate the sandwiches they” had with
t
But when they had Passed through the
town, Jack left Ned behind for a few mo-
ments, while he rode on to find out wheth-
er they had taken the wrong road,
“Help! Help!”
Jack Pheard these cries for assistance
very distinctly, and he redoubled his speed
making the pedals tly round as he dashed
“The cries continued and then Jack saw
what was the matter. In a field were a
girlanda
The animal ‘appeared to be of a very sav-
age nature, and was endeavoring to reach
the
The. bull made a frantic rush at its in-
tended victim with head down, and bel-
lowing furiously as it advanced to the
girl was alive to her danger, but
seemed stunned with fear, and sherefore
almost incapable of helping, herse!
“Sori i
stance,
Perhaps the sight of help at hand ma
ave nerved her, for she did as Jack ha
eins Pe and the bull missing her, tlew
wi
"Evidently she was completely overcome,
and Jack, appalled, saw her sink on the
grass, apparently unable to do anything
further,
The bull by this time had checked its
mad career, and now, turning, it saw its
victim quite atits mercy. It madea ter-
rific noise—a cry of triumph—and slowly
tossing its head as it went, it made for the
girl,
Needless to say Jack had not been idle,
He had sprung from his wheel as soon as
he saw what was happening, and was
dashing across the fleld as fast as his legs
could carry him, But a considerable
tance separated him from the bull and the
rl
at He pulled his six-shooter from his pock-
et as an idea entered his head,
ng!
Jack was disappointed. Ie thought the
noise would have scared the
paiganwhite ranniag at his utmost speed,
had now considerably lessened the
distance between himself and the savage
anim
Looking ahead, he saw the bull pause for
a moment, regarding steadfastly its victim
t , and then the brute made
g
i
ready tu cha argc.
ack raised his six-shooter, took rapid
aim, and fired, It was the only thing eft
for him to “as, and he fancied that if he
puta bullet into the animal, as ie could
scarcely fail to do, it would undoubtedly
The ‘bullet. struck the bull on its near
hind le z, and instantly the animal came
tt hallowed with pain, and then turning
chen it saw it had to do with a new
ener
“ Run! Runt!” shouted Jack to the girl;
“ 3 have a chance no
y knew not what she tid, ile had
to think of himself now, The bull was
rushing at nine
ang! an,
Twice he tea, leveling bis weapon at
the head of the bull.
t made a “trantic leap forward, then
win a Broan the animal sank on the
almost at Jack’s feet, There was
Bothing to fear now from the brute, for
poth the bullets, just fired, had penetrated
t
A number of people were in the field
now, Ned Norton a amongst t!
Turning, Jack saw the girl ‘he had res-
cued clasped in the arms of a tall man,
and then a moment later the pair, and all
those with them, came towards where he
was standing.
ou_have saved my daughter's | life,
sir,” said the tall man, “and Tl never be
able to thank you en Rose, Gear,
thank your Preserver.!
“Oh, Ido, papa, 1 do! Oh, sir, but for
you the bull would have killed me! You
risked 3 your life for me, and I'll never tor:
nough, *
Jack, looking at her pretty face, thought
he would like to hare the chance of risk-
ing it it often, He made light of what he had
“Twas in no danger,” he said, ‘‘ but, of
course, I'm rery happy to have been of'as-
sistance—
“ My name is Ralston, sir,”
tleman, “and Rose is my only
never know what a debt I owe you.
day li perhaps be able to pa "
nel
said the gen-
child, Youll
Some
the world on your
wheala? ‘sald Trose Ralston, incredulously.
“Bat the girl had only escaped for the le
“Yes, that is what we've set out to do,
“Oh, but you are brave. My father Gon
myself are great travelers, but we go b:
train and steamer, Derbaps we may meet
again, during our trawelse”
“ T hope so,” said .
And then the party, ‘separated. ‘More
than once Jack lee i ack, and each
ime as he did he encountered the
bright eyes of Tose. ‘Ralston.
d was thoroughly fissatisfied now,
“This beats everything, © Brow wled.
“Just because I stayed bekind a min-
utes, Im heft out in the cold.
“That can't be he' ped. some day the
sane. thing may happen
when I save the life vot a flat nose,
copper “colored Asiatic, not a pretty girl
like Rose Ralston,
A LITTLE FUN.
“What are the pauses?” asked the teacher of
the primary school. “Things that grows on
cats,’ said a little boy.
“How did Sharpton win that $50 of you,
Chumpley#” * Met me he could show me a’ ‘star
tionary engine ru
“Ty must tell pout asccret, old man. Iam
ing to elope, and I want | to wear the correct
suits what proper!” “A cutaway coat, of
course.
Riggs—Ifalloo, old man! Bri; ee Excuso
me, sir; you hay ve the advantage of me,
Ig we were engaged to the same
git, but you ‘married her,
“What did ron flop. that clock in your room
for, Jane? ‘ause, mum, the plag
Jack roared w ith laughter, for Ned's dis- thing Tika some “ert sleep) ere niorning,
tress was quite comical. And so they | joynn It wasn wintey “aa the last time I
went on, nothing more being said about | wont to grandma's. It and it Moth:
the affair, and_both boys scorching alon;
with all speed, Darkness came on, ani
found them still riding.
n half an hour we shall be at our rest-
ing place fo for the night,’ said Jack,
reat Scott! What's this?”
“ Iiniloal” We've ade a big mistake,
Ned. Thunder! We ought to have struck
a bridge fifteen miles higher up stream,
vot this railroad bridge.”
ere’s no good wasting time, then.
t’s turn and ride back.”
“Stopabit. I'm doing some thinking.”
The Bridge in front of them was high
above the stream, formed entirely of wood,
and consisting, ofa single track only.
ve got it,” shouted Jack, quickly.
“What?”
“ not going back fifteen miles, you
bet your pwreet life. Look here, Ned, we'll
ride ncrpss the bridge.” .
Can’ done, Jack.”
“ Yes, t can, The wooden trestle on
each Shel is nearly a foot wide, You ride
one side, I'll ride the other.”
Ned was ashamed to say no, Here was
an adventure truly. One calculated is
make the hair stand on end, and he
een dying for some fun and excitement,
When the bors started to ride along the
arapet on either side of the rails they
knew that a fall meant death, for the
height was terrific, However, they took
these chances, and across the bridge they |°
went in safety until more than two-thirds
of the distance was covered, Then, behind
ise,
Es
ac
“The train! the train |’ he gasped,
Their peril was great now. Ifthe train
overtook them they would be smashed to
atoms, and already it was so close that the
beams from the head-light fell upon the
two boys,
i
; {ro bx Con’ STINUED,) : t
' Se
1S THE VERY SEST
PUBLISHED IN THE
ORLD. 1S **UP-TO- DATE” IN
EVERYTHING IT DOES.
Pm Ome
\
HAPPY. * pays
Bion Paper
Lighthouse Keepers A!ong the|gons
Florida _ Keys.
Tuk job of lighthouse keepers on the
Florida reefs is about the lonetiest way of
making a living in the catalogue of occu-
pations. The mental strain has | proven so
great in several instances that the keeper
grew melancholy to such a degree that he
ended it by blowing out his brains. The
system is now so arranged that the sudden
darkening of an important reef lamp by a
suicide’s bullet is not probable, for two
keepers are stationed in each light, for com-
pany's sake as well as to guard against
sicknes:
“These two keepers of the key lights for
o months ona stretch seldom see any
faces except their own and converse wit
nobody except each other, The light-
houses are, on an average, twenty miles
from land, and ships pass from ten to
twenty miles away.
built of four great fron pillars, founded
eep in the coral and towering toward
each other, Platforms of steel bind the
pillars together, sleeping and storage
rooms are constructed and the lamp crowns
all, The place is not perilous, but in a
2 storm must be what the colored folks
call “ lonesome” to an uncanny degree,
After two months of service the keeper
hasa month ashore to spend with his fam-
ily or how be pleases. The families of the
reef lightkeepers are not al
houses. They are looked wu
traction thet (aight cause the keeper to
neglect his di
Most of the Vepers have Bereloped into| &
omnivorous readers, Som them, hows
ever, have pursued a ateady
pir in,
one we have in mind prepare himeelf fe foe ao
admittance to the bar, and has since
come one of Key West's Tonk fminent
lawyers, He has a dramat nner of
expression, and learned it, so ‘the said, by
“norat o the winds and the waves,
and his single companion,
er—It blowed is not. proper. say it blew. John-
awful.
ny—It blew and it snew
First Ne ighbor—That’s avery dainty dog of
yours. ithrew him cold sau es this
Reighbor=W hat do you halve him for—a canni-
Bi r—Iave you had any experience in
shaving students? Appicant (for job)—Oh, he
sir; I always go over their faces twice with the
back of the razor and ask them if it pulls much.
He got the job.
Visitor—I Gon't like the looks of this place,
Your town mall and your cemetery is lal
Tiesides, I have. met three funerals already.
ative—Oh, tl ve nothing, sir, You seo, this
r
Lady: d you escaped from the wreck? In-
aigent. Seaman Yes, mum. Lady—How did
yous feel when the waves broke over you? Sea-
— Wet, mum, werry wet; but now, mum, I
feels dry, werry
“But it seems to me you ask very. high wages
when you acknowledge that you hay had
mue ich experience, said Shure,
pin’ ‘am, ain "tit harder for “me “when T don’t
w how?” replied Bridge!
Doe r—Just place this thermometer under
your tongue, Mra. Henpeck, a our lips
Light] ve josed. Mr, Hon npeck | int afew min-
utes of Speech! jess detight)—W Hat on Hl you take
fo on that instrument, doc!
ew Roo! mer (earcastlealis)—10 this all tho
sony there isin the room? Landlan
Ine Yes sir; all Twill allow you. New
r—Well, 1'll take two more room ns. I've Bot to
wash my fave in the mornin,
Jack—Maud wants why you shun
per er company 3 now, Tom—We ell, the facs fs, I'm
k—1 tor her, He and yon neodn' vehuin
hee any more, Tom (brightening! vel
Do you think sot Jack—Yes; she'll shun yon.
INTERESTING ITE ITEMS.
Little 4-year old May Hill is one of tho queer-
est human freaksin the matter of fingers and
toes that a person sees ina lifetime, She was
‘ort Worth, Texas,
A, ing from the top of her foot,
nnd ‘on ‘the fig eight ‘oot cight toes, She has nine
fingers three thumbs on the right hand,
an coven “ane ers and five thumbs oj left.
Each _ hand is divided into two Oo phlangen a
containing several fingers. T! the thumbs .
on the hand where one {hun of normal per-
ows. The fin n together
like ebfect. In all, the girl has forty-one tocs
A pe: ml diver Panty that one of the strange ef-
fects 0 of diving is the invariable bad temper F felt
1 Ui!
angry atsome imaginary wrong
in the boat aboy: re that 6 giv
sign: up, “ with the intent
of knocking the Feade ot tf the entire crew oo ny
fo for forget get what he came up for when thes Bure
The. Lon gon. ried tells this stot “A rat
Was caught alive on board a Mritieh naval vee.
sel in a trap, and the beast was thro from
the trapinto the water without, being killed.
A large gull, that was following m the wake of
the ship t to pick up scraps of { Town ove!
board by the steward, stopped eoveral timen,
endeavoring to pick the “rat up. Once the bi
got too close to the rat’s Jan he
abbed it by the neck. tera short fight th
rat ed in > silting the bind. When {
ul "yas dead e rat scra ee th ie
ind and, Noisting one ea as asail,
and ng the other asa rudder, succeeded
ttocrine or the shore, Whether the rat reach
shore or notisa question, rince the ship
poor 1 Rot outof sightof the skipper and its
craft,’
The Rev, A. R. Fowler, who fs minus both
hands, was arrested at Anniston, bei
p es and a mortgage on a farm,
Fowler was pastor of the Elberton Presbyterian
fhurch for three m x
os
ay ea
ground g the pe loss ot the Pande was not due
accident. Itis not explained how the alleg-
ea fo ‘orgeries were cor inmitted.
dy (decided-,
tom: