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cease Brown’s Bank Note. (9) O @@@©©®@® 1b Was the height of the season and Yarborough was full of visitors. The tide ‘was rippling shoreward over the silvery sands and defiant children, standing on the highest turret of their mimic castles, jumpâ€" ed down and ran backwards to es- Cl‘tDe the rush of the incoming waves. Above. high-water mark indolent inanmzxas tolled lazily in their canâ€" vas chairs, and in their waking mo- ments shouted reproof and warning to the venturesome oll'spring. The shout of the boatmcn mingled with the music of bands, and gay good humor rested upon the ruddy faces of the holidayâ€"makers who lined the parade, or gathered in groups to listen to the coon songs and hoary chestnuts of the nigger minstrels. In the comfortable smoke-room of the Queen’s Hotel half a dozen guests sat talking by the open window. The talk had drifted from trade to politics, from politics to the corâ€" onation, and then, by easy stages, to crime and criminals. Several deâ€" tective stories had been told with varying success; then one. told by a quiet, gentlemanly fellow named Lawson, started a discussion conâ€" cerning the confidence trick. “It passes my comprehension how people can be taken in so easily,” said one of them. “The trick has been exposed so often you would think every child in the country had heard of it, and yet scarcely a week passes without someone being foolâ€" ed by it. Serve the beggars right. I say. Such fools ought not to be trusted with money. I should like to see the man who could victimize me! He would be quite welcome to all he got.” “There is no fear of anyone trying it on with you, Brown.” said Malâ€" colm; “you never have enough money to make it worth their while.” ' “Oh! haven’t I? That’s all you .know about it,” retorted Brown, angrily. “I should be as plump a. pigeon as you, anyhow. The man who plucked me might get anything up to sixty quid for his trouble. But I am not that kind of fool who is soon parted from his money. I’m too cute to be taken in by the conâ€" fidence trick.” ' “For my part I think the victim is more to be pitied than blamed,” said Lawson. “When all is said and done, confidence is as necessary to life as. the air we breathe. It is the keystone to our commercial and so- cial systems. Without it trade would be paralyzed and friendship impossible. We each of as exercise it in our every action. lly sitting at this window we show our conâ€" fidence in the builder. By eating the food set before us we express our confidence in the cook. Whenâ€"â€"" “That is a different matter alto~ gether,” interrupted Brown, testily. “In ordinary business and in soâ€" cial life a man must take his chance of being imposed upon. But only a. born idiot would be taken in by a palpable trick.” “If he knew it was a trick,” said LaWson. “But the criminal does not spread his snare in sight of his vic- tim. He is a keen observer, and varies his methods according to the character of. the individual. And if you will. excuse my saying so, Ilrown, I think your everweening conceit and love of display would make you: an easy victim.” “You’d better try it, ,then," Brown. hotly. "I am no criminal.” answered Lawson, quietly. "If I were I should ask no easier victim.” In the silence which followed Brown rose from his seat and left the room, slamming the door heâ€" hind him noisily as he went. said “1 am glad you shut him up,” said . Malcolm, as the door closed behind Brown. “He is insufferable. to goodness someone would take a. rise out of him." “So do I,” said Rayburn. “Couldn't we manage it somehow? His smartness is undeniable, but when he boasts of it I always feel as if I want to kick him.” Lawson listened iln silence while they discussed several schemes for Brown’s undoing. .All were un- wieldy and none of them practical. Suddenly his- eycs twinkled merrily and he laughed softly. The others turned and looked at him. “If you play him at all it must be by means of the confidence trick,” he said, quietly. "That, will touch him on the raw, and put an effective stopper on his boasting.” "We should never manage it,” said Malcolm, dubiously. "Not. with the old trick. that â€" as he saysâ€" is too palpable. But a new versio might succeed; in fact, I’m sure it would. If you five are -willing to subscribe a. tenâ€"pound note each towards a fiftyâ€"pound note, I’ll work it for you. Of course, the note will come back to you again; but I want it to play him with. I’ll tell you the plan in my mind, and leave you to judge as to its feasibility.” The simplicity of Lawson’s. plan ensured its success, and as they were all keen on luuniliating Brown, they readily agreed to it. The co-operation Lawson’sâ€"Detective vis, of Scotland of a friend of Inspector Jar- Yardâ€"who was staying at the Star Hotel. was esâ€" sential to the success of the scheme. so they went in a body and viewed him. At first the inspector refused to r.ni:G='tain their suggestion. inter- I wish ' “When Brown finds that he has been fooled he may turn nasty,” he said. “He cannot harm you felâ€" lows, but if he reportedme to the authorities, 1 should get into no end of a row. And I cannot run the risk of being censured in order that you may fool him.” They assured him that though bumptious Brown was not mali- Icious. nothing to fear from Ihim,” said Rayburn. “He is a true sport, and knows how to take a ,beating. And so the inspector 'agreed to help them. They were in high glee over their .success, and greeted Brown efl‘usively ion his return to the hotel. Law~ ison apologized for his rudeness and .asked him to make one of his party to Norrich the following day. “We go by train and return by boat," he explained. “I pay all ex- penses and stand you a luncheon at the Criterion”. Brown accepted the invitation, and early the following morning they left Yarborougli for Norrich. They visited the castle and the cathedral, spent a pleasant hour in the pretty little village of Craupe, then drove to the Criteribn and 'did justice to the tasty luncheon Lawson had ordered. When the “You have waiter brought in the bill Lawson handed him a fifty pound note. A moment afterwards the landlord entered the room and regretted his inability to change it, but if they could wait he would send round to the bank. “I. fear we have not time,” said Rayburn, glancing at his watch. “It will take us all our time to reach the boat." Brown ‘-ofl‘ered to settle the bill, but Lawson would not allow him to ’do so. “But if you could change the note for me?" Glad of an opportunity to display his wealth, Brown counted out the change; then thrust the note careâ€" lessly into his waistcoat pocket, and they set out for the wharf. On the Bank Plain Lawson Went into the postoflice, while the others sauntered slowly to the boat. The captain waited several minutes afâ€" ter the time of starting, then, as Lawson did not put in an appear- ance, 'cast off. Just as the boat got fairly undet- Way Lawson came hurrying across the bridge. They waved their hats and cheered ironically and. with a jgesture of disappointment, he turnâ€" led and walked towards the railway station. “You fellows ought to have taken my advice and waited for him,” said Brown, indignitntly. "He will think we are a mean lot leaving him be» hind in that fashion.” “Oh, that’s all right,” said Ray- lburn. “He told me not to wait. IHe will be on the quay when we reach Yarborough.” ‘ When the boat reached anborough lLawson was not on the quay ito lmeet them. But as Brown stepped on to the wharf a burlyâ€"looking, .middle-aged man, with “official” Writ large all over him, came forâ€" Ward and asked to have a word 'with him... As soon as they reached the outskirts of the crowd the 'stranger handed Drown his card. He glanced at it, and read: “Detec- tive inspector Jarvis, Criminal Inâ€" vestigation Department. New Scotâ€" land Yard.” Brown looked at the inspector anxâ€" iously. “You need not be alarmed, Mr. ,lirown,” said the inspector, cheerin .ly. "I only want a little informaâ€" tion from you. Yo' 'lunched at Norrich with a persona. ~med Lawâ€" son and changed a fifty pound note Ifor him, I believe?” I Brown nodded. "Will you let me look at the gnote?” l Brown took the note from his pocâ€" lket and handed it to him. The in- ,spector looked at it carefully, then ,compared ‘it with a list in his hand. 4 “ll thought so,” he said briskly. “Is it a. counterfeit?” Brown ask- red, anxiously. I “011, no; the note is good enough, .but it is one of a number stolen from Barr's bank by a person named gtx‘rant. This is a list of the numâ€" lbers; you can see for yourself that ,the note is one of them.” [ While Brown compared the nnni~ Sbcrs the inspector continued: "We iknew Lawson was implicated in the irobbery, and I have been hunting 3him for several days, but it was not lunlil last night that I got wind of lhis hiding place. When 'I arrived lhere this morning the hotel people Etold me he had gone to Norrich. I :followed him there, and arrested lhim at. the railway station this af- ltcrnoon. 3 “Although a clever and dangerous .criminal, Lawson is not a. bad fel~ Ilow at heart, and in order to save you from being mixed up in the robâ€" bery he told me the circumstances sunder which you changed the note for him. I went to the Criterion and verified his story, then caught Ithe five train here.” The inspector folded the note and ‘placed it in his pocketâ€"book. Brown looked at him anxiously. “Here, I say, you don’t mean to :7 “Don’t distress yourself, Mr. Brown,” interrupted the inspector. “I must keep the note. but you will .sul‘fer no loss, or very little,‘at any .rate. The change taken from Law- son’s pocketâ€"£49 13s. 6d.â€"is yours, and will be handed ovor to you; but you will have to accompany me to Norrich in order to receive. it. If we hurry we shall catch the 7.30.” The cloud that had settled upon Brown’s face vanished before this cheering assurance. l "I suppose you fellows don’t feel élike coming back to Norrich with ins?” he said, to his companions, ‘who had listened eagerly to the inâ€" spector's story. “No, I don’t see’ that we could ’help you in any way,” said Ray- burn, answering for the remainder. “All right. I’ll see you at the hoâ€" tel when I get back,” said Brown, {as he turned and hurried with the {inspector to the railway station. Just before the train started a porter opened the carriage door and asked: “Anyone here named Jar- lvsr’ ' “That is my name,” answered the inspector. “Why?” "Telegram for you, sir," The inspector took the buffâ€"color- ed envelope and opened it. As he read the message his eyes sparkled brightly. ed the wire to Brown. It read: "Go Teccles immediately. Grant staying at Albion. Keep note, but. give Brown this telegram as proof of his identity.â€"â€"-Finch.’.’ While Browu was reading the tele- gram the inspector jumped on to the platform and the train got slowâ€" ly into motion. “You’ll be all right, Mr. Brown,” he said, Walking beside the train. "Finch, the chief constable. will hand you the money. .Goodâ€"bye.” Brown wished him “luck,” then settled himself in the corner of the carriage, and the inspector turned and left. the station. On the bridge he met Rayburn and his companâ€" ions. I “How did he take it?” they asked, eagerly. "Like a lamb,” laughed the inspecâ€" tor, as he took out his pocket-book and handed Rayburn the fiftyâ€"pound note. “I should like to see his face when Lawson meets him at the othâ€" er end. Which way are you go- ing?” - ' “Not particular," said Malcolm, as they turned and walked along the quay in the direction of the town hall. The inspector proved to be an en- tertaining companion. and the five friends spent a very pleasant hour with him. It was the first time they 'had come in contact with a real deâ€" tective, and the detective, glad of an ,appreciative audience, related some of his most thrilling experiences. “I must be off now,” he said, about nine o’clock. “See you again ‘in the morning. Tell LaWson 1 will call about ten. Fine fellow, Lawâ€" son. Never met his equal for mak- ing friends. Gets on well with evâ€" erybody. High and low, rich and poor, they all like Lawson. What time are they coming back from Norrich?” "By the last train. We are all going down to the station to meet them.” "I suppose he waiited plenty of time to smooth Brown over. Well, he’ll manage it 'if any living man can. So long.” Without speaking be hand- I to make the l 1 THE PEOPLE ARE NOW‘ PRO- TECTED IN TROPICAL AFRICA. MADE THE Jain 0E ' “Then, at least, just a few of his women.” , “Not a man or a woman." "Well, then, a little chilr .” "No, no, and once again, no." There was nothing to be hoped for from the inflexible British. About the same time the report began to No one was Killed to Accompany spread among the people that the the King Into the Other World. It has been a crime punishable with death for years past to kill slaves in the territory of the Congo Free State upon the demise of a great person. This had been the custom because it was thought neâ€" cessary that he should have plenty of company on his journey into the other world. Kings and chiefs and other important persons now have journey alone. This law is being strictly enforced, as far as the authority of the State exâ€" tends; and so the practice of human sacrifices is gradually being wiped out. _ It was a horrible evil, and the fact that the whites are insisting upon its abolition is a blessing to Africa. European influence is not always for the good of Africans, but the war the whites are waging with some of the hideous facts of barbarism, such as human sacrifices, cannibalism, fetichism and slave raiding, foot up a. large balance in favor of the Cau- casian in his account with Africa. The British are following the exâ€" ample ol‘ the Congo State in dealing sternly with these evils. A recent instance, to which a Roman Catholic missionary has called attention, is very interesting as showing the poâ€" tent influences for the protection of the people that are getting a firm foothold in the heart of tropical Afâ€" men. In 1899 the Government of the British was established over the large country of Ubemba which exâ€" tends between Lakes Tanganyika and‘Bangweolo. One of the most powerful chiefs of the tribe was Mwamba, who lorded it over a large district near Bangweolo. He was finally GATHERED TO HIS FATHERS; and the trouble the ruling family have been put to in'the matter of his burial is regarded as important in the history of his country, for it is believed to mark the end of one of the savage customs that have been depopulating that country. Mwamba had been dead for four- teen months, but he was not yet buried. His friends kept his body above ground all this time in the hope that they would finally soften the obdurate hearts of the British, who for some undoubtedly bad rea- son were opposed to permitting the dead ruler to enter the next world with an escort, befitting his import- ance. For Mwamba was a really good monarch. He had been a ty- rant whose name was a terror. He "Fine fellow.” said Leek: its UlcY'had mutilated a great number of his watched the inspector down the street; “but a blind man could see he is a detective.” “I was just thinking so myself,” said Simons. “He seems to have policeman stamped all over him. What are wegoing to do till train time?” “Let us go into the Steamâ€"packet and play cork pool,” suggested Rayâ€" burn, and the others fell in with his suggestion. They played pool until closing time, then walked down to the staâ€" tion. When the last train from Norrich arrived Brown and Lawson were not among the passengers who alighted. “They must have caught an earlier train,” said Malcolm; “we shall find them at the hotel waiting for us." The hotel wasin darkness, but as they were going upstairs the manaâ€" ger came out of his office. “Are Brown and Lawson in bed?" asked Malcolm. “In bed?" queried the manager; ‘ ‘noâ€"they’ve gone.’ ’ ' “Gone!” they chm-used. " Ione where?” “To London. I suppose. Mr. Lawâ€" son settled their bill last night, and a. porter called for their luggage be- fore you left this morning. I thought you wore all going down to the station to see them off.” The five friends looked at each othâ€" er in blank astonishment. “Were they here together?” asked inyburn. “Yes; didn’t you know that?” “No, I’m hanged if we did! We‘ thought they were complete strang- ers to each other,” said Malcolm as they turned and walked upstairs. ()n the landing they stopped and discussed the unexpected develop- ment. .. ' “It is no use puzzling our brains over the matter,” said Malcolm at length. “It is a mystery which on- ly Lawson could solve. My idea is lthat, being. pals with Brown. he did not like to bring him back here to face our ridicule. Well, we have had a good day, anyhow! I wonder what the inspector will say? Good- night, you fellows.” When the inspector did not keep his appointment the next. morning they concluded he must have heard from Lawson, and set out for the Star to learn what explanation he .had given him. As they passed the bank Rayburn went in to change the note. A moment afterwards he came out breathless with excitement. “It is us and not-Brown who have been had,” he pantcd. “What do you mean?” they asked, sharply. ’ “The note’s a counterfeit “Then so is the inspector,” said Malcolm. “It’s no use our going to the Star, for we won’t find him there.”â€"â€"London Tit-Bits. '!’ subjects. His crimes were more numerous than the hairs of his head. It was not reasonable to let him go into the other world without an es- cort worthy of his rank in the world from which he had departed. From time immemorial in that country the graves of defunct chiefs had been the scenes of veritable butcheries. It was the custom to drag the victims to the tomb of the chief would be very well content to make the journey into the other world alone. The body was buried without the usual sacrifice, to the great satisfaction of the majority of the people, but to the profound huâ€" miliation of the ruling family. Some hundreds of lives were saved by the determination to prevent this butchery on the grave of the dead man. +. THE LARGEST HARVESTER It Is Self-Moving, and Cuts a 36-Foot Swath. What is said to be the largest automobile in the world, and the largest combined harvester, as well, is now at work on a big ranch in Central California, .where it is being used in cutting 40,000 acres of bar- ley. The big machine consists of a traction engine, capable of handling seventyâ€"five tons, and which take: the place of sixty horses, a header or mowing machine, which cuts a swath thirty-six feet, and a thresh- ing machine all complete. The threshing machine and header are run by a thirty horse power engine, entirely separate from the traction machine, save that they both get steam from the same boiler. The apparatus moves over the ground at different speeds, according to the thickness of the crop, while all the time the header and thresher are going at full speed, whether the grain [be thick or thin. The average speed made is three and a half miles an hour, and 100 acres a day can be threshed by the machine. The drive wheels of this monster traction engine are eight feet in diameter and have tires fortyâ€"eight inches wide, on which are ridges an inch and a half high. Eight men are employed on the thresher. Half a minute after the header starts to work the thresth grain begins to fall into the sacks on the other side from where it is cut, while the straw falls into a cart behind. The heads are carried away from the header by a draper, or moving belt, fortyâ€"eight inches wide. They are carried through a colander, which breaks the beard from the barley and shells it at the same time, then by a narrow belt through two cleaners and finally to a bin, from which it is sacked. The sacks are sewed and set aside as fast as filled. When tivelve sacks have been filled they are allowed to slide off the cart on which they are stacked to the ground. Likewise when the straw cart is full it is dumped. This giant automobile is sixtyâ€"six feet long and half as wide, weighâ€" ing over a hundred tons. It uses oil as fuel, necessitating the use of four horses to haul oil and the water for the boiler as it travels around large areas. _____+.____ APPROPRIATE. "Your majesty,” said the cook 01 the king. of _the cannibal islands, "how will you’have the latest capâ€" I ‘ I c ‘ . ” late important personage; each one UVG Plepflled ? of them received on the head a single terrible blow from an ax or club. If the victim succumbed, as was 211â€" most invariably the case, this was a sure sign that his or her presence was agreeable to the dead person. If he survived, this showed clearly that his room was preferred to his com- pany and he was allowed to get well and THANK HIS LUCKY STARS. The British were on the ground keeping a careful lookout to see that no one should lose his life simply because Mwamba had died. Memâ€" bers of the ruling family repeatedly went- to the white men and reasoned with them. Mwamba certainly needâ€" ed women to cook his food in the other world. He required slaves to brush away importunate flies and wives to offer him the tribute of their adulation. In fact. everybody who, had been conneclwi with his court should be immolated on his tomb or buried alive in his grave. Surely the white men would not punish the petitioners for following the custom of the country or paying due honor to the dead. But. the stern white men were unyielding. “If you kill a single person,” they said, “on account of the death of Mwamâ€" ba, you will pay the penalty with your 'lives." One of these visits to the British occurred ten months after the death of the chief. “Well,” said the white men, “have you buried your chief yet?” “How can we bury him when‘you will not permit us to give him any companions? If we should bury Mwamba simply as an ordinary morâ€" tal he would avenge himself upon us and bring terrible calamities upon the country.” They Were informed again that if any effort was made to provide szunba with an escort they would form a part of it. Fourteen months passed and the body was still wrapâ€" ped in cloth awaiting interment. A deputation was sent to the British to make A.LAST APPEAL. "Mwamba, our chief, has now been dead many months and his body is not yet buried. We beg of you to let us bury with him at least a few slaves.” (two J) I "I ‘always like to cook my game in some Way appropriate to their national characteristics,” replied the king. "Of what nation is the ca',» tive ?” “He is an Irishman, your ma~ jesty. Is it your pleasure that he be done into an Irish stew ‘2” “Oh, no. You may make soup of him.” “But is that characteristic of the Irish, your majesty ?” asked the chef politely. “Certainly it That is the way they cook young men themselves in Ireland.” "I beg your pardon, sir, but I never heard of it.” “That, my dear sir, is because you have not had so much time to read as I have. I, sir, have often met, in my reading about Irishmen, with the expression, ‘a broth of a boy.’ " ._...._+.. LIGHTING TRAINS. The State railway administration in Prussia has just settled upon a system of electric lighting for trains which is attracting much attention in Gern'lany. The axleâ€"driven dyna- mo having been found objectionable because it borrou’s too much power from the locomotive, and the system of storage batteries being undesir~ able for other reasons, the plan adopted is to place on the locomo- tive a steamâ€"driven dynamo, which supplies a current to a small regu< lating battery in each car. Thus every car in a vestibuled train has a separate lighting system fed from its own accumulator, although the general supply comes from the gen- erator on the locomotive. Each car is provided with ceiling lamps and reading lamps. _+_ LET TO FOUR TENANTS. There was ‘a nice muddle at Pat. rick, Scotland, recently. By some blunder a house was let to four dif- ferent incoming tenants, and all the four flittings arrived together. One of the tenants came from a consid- erable distance. There was a great rushing to and fro on the part 01 the factor, and houses were got for three of the tenants, the too-much- let house having been left to the far- traveled flitter as a sort of mark of sympathy. i =W..-â€"\--v-s-- La; (WV _» . r. n \r’» x.‘ -' a .»,.r nhflaw ~'\.. ¢~..~ .~. . "x;