. $i.oo a Year, in Advance.
" FOR GOD,- FOR COUNTRY, AND FOR 'TRUTH."
Single Copy, 5 Cents.
VOL. XIII.
PLYxAIOUTH, N. C, FEIDAY, MAY 23, 1902.
NO. 11,
g Miss
Tompkins' Mystery.
By Eugenia
IVB hilarious horsemen came
charging through the darkness
until within a few feet of an
m-going buggy. Then the
tforent fehouted:
j "Halt, or we shoot!"
' The buggy halted with a jerk, and
Its two occupants . nerved themselves
for what they knew wras coming. Al
most instantly lanterns were flashing
Jn their faces, other faces peering at
them. The road was such that the
horsemen could not surround the bug
gy, and several, half drunk, and hold
ing pistols, had dismounted to make
Inspection of the 'buggy's occupants.
"What name?" asked the leader, his
tone itself showing surprised disap
pointment. "Horace Tilly and mother," the man
answered. "What's the trouble?"
"Trouble be hanged! We are after
Ed Tompkins, the murderer, blast
him!" swore the fellow, satisfied that J
neither of the parties before linn could
be that much hunted person. With less
of whisky in him he might have been
harder to satisfy. Lowering his
lantern, he started to the' rear of the
vehicle, calling out, "No go, boys!
Xet's pass 'em!"
Yelling' and cursing the men managed
to remount their horses, and the small
man in the buggy trembled more vio
lently than his mother did when shouts,
of, "Pass 'cm! Jump the buggy!" split
the air.
The two parties were on a most dan
gerous piece of road, one side skirting
an abrupt hill, the other side but a foot
or two from a poorly guarded cliff
edge, rocks and river far 'below.
"They are just drunk enough to
try to jump us," quavered the small
man, peering back of, the buggy.
His companion quietly took the reins
In her large hands, and turning the
horse as close to the hill as possible,
held him there. "With yells that seemed
to some from demons rather than men,
the horsemen made a mad rush on
the backward track to gain space, the
leader whirling about first, and making
a rush directly at the buggy. In a
moment there was a fine fanning of ah'
about that vehicle, and then a noble
horse scrambled wildly, close to the
right forwheel of the buggy, balanced
himself, and dashed on. Another
splendid animal immediately followed
suit, and a third, their riders cursing
and cheering by turns, the lady in the
buggy holding her astonished steed
as best she ould, her son fairly cower
ing from fright.
. The two remaining horsemen de
fclined to make the leap.
"Drive on there, you road blockers,
and be quick about it!" they shouted.
And the road blockers drove on, their
horse not refusing to be quick, the
lines managed by the womau, while
her son, no doubt, thanked God for the
Shielding darkness.
1 Some two hours later Mr. Horace
Tilly purchased a railroad ticket for
his mother at a country station, saw
her comfortably seated in a coach,
kissed her wiih a really manly effort
,i conceal his tears, and again sought
his buggy. The same terrible piece of
road was to be re-traveled, ' this time
iclone, and a fear almost beyond con
trol set his body to trembling. But
the entire drive was accomplished iff
safety, and at about three o'clock in
the morning the horse was laboriously
unharnessed and put in a stall. Then,
mud spattered, tear spattered, and ut
terly weary, the alleged Horace Tilly
Climbed none other than the back steps
of Mr. Ed Tompkins' home, let him
self in with a latch Key, and in five
Iminutcs 4 became Miss Tompkins,
maiden lady, and r ow the only occu
pant of the house.
k Where her brother had hidden the three
Hays and nights since the murder, not
even Miss Tompkins knew. He had
stealthily let himself in the very night
that the officers grew careless In watch
ing his house, and had made good his
escape as described. Had the buggy
'and horse belonged to him he would
doubtless have been captured. They
belonged, however, to an old farmer
.who had for years been allowed to
put them in the Tompkins' barn when
he stayed ,overnfght in town.
I That vUiss Tompkins would or could
sustain bur part ptQo escape wosld
"8
D. Bigham.
have been almost impossible of be
lief to the townspeople, to all of whom
she was well known. She was a teach
er and had taught the alphabet to the
parents of many of her present pupils
Possibly there was not a man, woman
or child in the place who did not sin
cerely admire the timid, exceedingly
'dressy, faithful little woman who at
fifty was as patient as she had been
at twenty. Some people said that her
heart had been broken and thrown
away in her youth. If so, she had re
covered the largest fragment and it had
never failed her. It came nearest to
doing, so when she sat in the quiet
house and realized that her brother
had taken with him every- cent of the
money which she had 'laid away year
after year. The old age which she
knew was upon her made her very
shy of the lonely future no brother,
no money. So she began to. borrow
a daily paper from a neighbor, and
watch the want column, thinking to
see something by which she could add
to her earnings. One day she gazed
in great excitement at the following
advertisement:
"Any person wishing to sell the use
of his brains at the rate of seven
thousand dollars per annum, will
please apply at Perriwink Home Place,
near Fettersburg, Pa., on Thursday
morning, ninth instant, uetween the
hours ten and twelve."
Miss Tompkins kept her own counsel,
but a substitute was in her place at the
school the following Thursday morn
ing. -
About eleven of the clock on that
day, there were hitched in front of
Perriwink's fine house a buggy, a close
carriage, and a saddle horse. A young
lawyer had ridden the' horse, a
preacher and a commercial traveler
had come in the buggy, and Miss
Tompkins had stepped from the car
riage. The four were ushered into a
handsome room, where they sat in
stony silence, taking stolen glances at
each other, calculating, no doubt, as
to" the excellence of the several lots
of brains represented. The lips of the
commercial traveler several times
showed symptoms of a smile, and he
dared look nowhere but at the centre
table.
They were not kept waiting long. A
most gracious, fine looking old gentle
man entered, bowed and seated him
self so as to command the faces of the
four. Few words were wasted, and
it was soon clearly understood what
was wanted: a person of education and
high morality, who would at once take
up residence at tne farm, and assume
entire charge of a half witted son and
his property.
"In short," said the gentleman, "I
want to provide ease and satisfaction
for myself the few more years I may
live, and brains for my son against the
time when I shall not be here to guard
him, helpless."
The preacher could not accept be
cause of his calling; the lawyer be
cause of family ties; the traveler be
cause of disinclination; and Miss Tomp
kins because she had enough brains
to see that a man was. required to fill
the position. At least that is what she
said. But there was a queer flutter in
the fragment she used as a heart, her
face being so much colored thereby
that she looked more like her girlhood
self than she had in many a day be
fore. The eld gentleman gave her more
than the fourth of his attention, and
when the conference; was ended es
corted her to her carriage. When he
should have bid her good-bye he hesi
tated, stammered, colorea, and then
managed to ask:
"Did I understand you to say you are
Miss Linda Tompkins?"
A really natural, merry ripple of
laughter sounded in the carriage, and
Miss Tompkias said:
"No, you did not so understand, for
I did not say it. But that's who I am
nevertheless. Ilowd'y' do, Philip?"
With that she put her hand in 'his as
if just meeting him. "I knew you the
moment you entered the room," she
added, laughing again. ,
The Mr. Philip Passmore upon whom
Miss Tompkins had so unwittingly
called was the heart-breaker, accord
ing to the public, of Miss Tompkins'
youth, and after many years' resi
dence elsewhere, he had returned "to
die," he said, near his boyhood home.
But after this meeting with his old
friend, and after meetings with va
rious other old friends at Fettersburg,
he decided that he would live some
years 3'et. His advertisement did not
reappear, and in a short while the Fet
tersburg people had a sweet morsel to
roll under their tongues: Miss Tomp
kins had an almost constant visitor,
and seemed ridiculously happy, despite
the shadow resting on the family name
That her visitor had addressed her in
her teens, and was now a- wealthy
widower, glorified both of them in the
eyes of onlooking young people.
Miss Tompkins ceased to borrow the
daily. Then it was rumored that she
was buying her wedding outfit. And
she was.
But all in an evening the engage
ment was broken. That no one knew
why but added to the interest, and Mr.
Passmore affirmed that the cause of
Miss Tompkins' unusual behavior was
no better known to him than to the
public. He looked very dejected, and
once more began to think of the time
when his son would be without a pro
tector. People gave him all their sym
pathy, and called Miss Tompkins heart
less.
But by-and-by that lady lost the
cheerful demeanor she had kept up
immediately after the storm broke, and
she seemed humble, even meek, join
ing in conversation as if It were an
honor to.be allowed to do so. She
again began to watch the want column,
and to ask for little jobs of, sewing.
Then sympathy began to veer in her
direction. People said there was
"something rotten in Denmark," and
to nose it out would have been their
dearest delight. Soon they were pet
ting Miss Tompkins as in the days be
fore Mr. Passmore reappeared in her
life, and were really grieved that she
did not brighten. The change in the
nublic extended even to Mr. Pass-
more, and he acain called on Miss
ToniDkins. the act creating quite a
ripple. No other love affair had ever
caused such interest in Fettersburg.
Even the school children talked about
it. And they talked long, for weeks
went by, and months, the two parties
concerned changing not on any respect.
When winter was wTell advanced,
it was whispered about that the old
Tompkins place was haunted. - Some
told of unaccountable noises in the
basement when Miss Tompkins was
known to be at school; and others of
hearing a sepulchral cough in the back
of the house, a cough that sounded
exactly like that of old Mrs: Tompkins.
Perhaps these reports made Miss
Tonmkins more nervous than she had
been. She tried to laugh at them, even
oing to far as to tell her neighbors
that if they should see a thin coil of
smoke from her chimney during her
absence, they might know the ghost
was warming himself at her banked
fire. The thin coil of smoke had al
ready been noticed, making cold chills
creep up the spine of the superstitious,
who looked upon Miss Tompkins as
the bravest woman in the town.
But by-and-by when several more
winters had passed and the coil of
smoke continued to be seen, it ceased
to be talked of except among a few.
Mr. Passmore continued his visits at
intervals, and people were forced to be
reconciled to the course of events.
Then came a winter so cold that the
oldest inhabitants said they had never
seen its like. And the cold was re
sponsible for the renewal of the talk
concerning a ghost at the Tompkins
house. A light began to be burned all
night in a back room which some said
was Miss Tompkins' bedroom. It was
known that she had become almost
stingy of late years, and nothing but
fear of the ghost could make her burn
a light all night and every night. More
over, the lady was growing bent, and
paler and thinner and very sad.
Next door to Miss Tompkins lived a
preacher, and away in one night when
things were in stiff freeze, the preach
er's door bell jangled most urgently
and repeatedly.
"What's wanted?" he called from the
rear of the hall, as he stood shivering
in his night dress.
"It is I. Miss Tompkins," came from
outside. "Please Mr. Myers, go for
Doctor Parker as fast as you can, and
bring him to me."
"That I will. I'll send my wife to
wait on you till he gets there," was the
hearty answer.
But Miss Tompkins was half way
across the yard before be finished
speaking, and evidently it was not she
who. required the doctor's aid. Some
what later four pcopk fctood by a bed
In a back room of the Tompkins house.
On the bed was an emaciated, suffer
ing, most wretched looking consump
tiveEd Tompkins. His sister was
too excited to know or to care that her
face w-as wet where unheeded tears
had dripped.
"I'll help you, old fellow,'; said the
doctor, bending over the thin body, ex
amining it critically with eyes and
hands, only to gain time to recover
himself, somewhat.. "How long has he
been here?" he asked, straightening
himself, and looking at Miss Tompkins.
"Five years," she answered tremu
lously. The preacher and his wife started
perceptibly, and stared In silence at
the little lady, while the doctor cleared
his throat and looked away. All three
began to understand many things. The
doctor busied himself with his patient,
though he knew there wras no shadow
of use in his ministrations.
As for Ed Tompkins, he had known
that Death was at his side when his
sister left him to call aid, and now he
seemed to be conscious of her presence
alone; this kind sister, who all his
life had given him blessing for blight,
blessing for bliguc. He did not even
glance at the unaccustomed faces look
ing so pityingly at him. Seeing how
he watched her, Miss Tompkins
asked:
"What is it, Ed?"
"Just thinking," he answered.
"Thank you for all all."
She bent close to his head and whisp
ered to him, weeping.
At dawn a corpse was in the par
lor, and by breakfast time the whole
Fettersburg was agog with comment.
Of course Miss Tompkins had shield
ed a murderer in her house for five
years. But then he was her brother,
and had been sick all that time.. Wo
men said they were proud of Miss
Tompkins; men said she was grand,
and young people gazed at her house
in speechless awe. And Mr. Passmore
declared that a more perfect character
than Miss Tompkins' had never graced
the town. He couldn't have looked
happier if all Fettersberg had been
admiring bim instead of Miss Tomp
kins. About six months later, the much
lauded lady went once more to Perri
wink Home Place, this time not to
answer an advertisement. She went
in her own carriage and was greeted
as Mrs. Passmore. Waverley Maga
zine. yBuseye" Bay Craft.
A Crisfield, Md., correspondent wTites
to the Baltimore Sun: Stephen G. Mc
Cready, of Crisfield, gives the followr-
ing history of the boat known as the
bugeye. He has acquaintance with all
kinds of Chesapeake Bay craft for the
past fifty years, and says: "Captain
Clement R. Sterling built the first bug
eye that sailed on the Chesapeake Bay.
Captain Sterling was building a canoe
from three logs, and as he had plenty
of time, it occurred to him to use two
more logs and put on a deck. On his
first trip to Baltimore with this pecu
liar craft he w?as hailed many times by
passing vessels, whose captains invari
ably asked what was the name of the
queer vessel. To each inquiry Captain
Sterling replied: 'It's a bug's eye.' If
Captain Sterling were living at the
present time it is doubtful if he could
give an explanation of his answer, be-
yong saying that it was pleasantry.
The name stuck to the craft, and it
has been known ever since as the bug
eye. The first vessel or tnis class was
called a punt, and was made from one
log hollowed out; then came the canoe.
and, finally, the most complete vessel
of all the bugeye.
"The bugeye is now the most popular
vessel among oystermen in Somerset
County, and at least 100 hew vessels
of this type are built every yeai. Some
of them are of at least ten feet beam.
and cost $1200. They are very strong,
being built of the best logs."
Docking the Tails of Horses.
It is a pity that docking horses !s a
practice which needs legislative inter
ference, j Its cruelty and absurdity
ought to be patent enough to ordinary
humanity and common sense to bring
about its abolition. Why the unneces
sary suffering entailed by this practice
should be inflicted on so useful and
willing a servant of man as the horse
ia a mystery no one has yet succeeded
in elucidating. The mere plea of fash,
ion is pitifully insufficient, as even
fashion should hesitate to put a horse
docked for the hunting field in England
In the shafts of a carriage in America.
LuilllL::cro American,
THE END OF THE WAR.
(As it looks sometimes.) .
Ten sturdy burghers standing in a liner'
French's column captured one; then therS
were nine. -Nine
sturdy burghers, reckless of then?
fate,
Organized a little raid then there were
eight.
Eight sturdy burghers 00 hope undee
heaven
Tried to storm a blockhouse; then there
were seven.
Seven eturdy burghers played some littla
tricks
On a British armored train; then ther
were six. '
Six sturdy burghers now remained alive; j
Brilliant strategy soon made them five.
Five sturdy burghers not a burgher more
Tried to capture Kitchener; then there
were four.
Four sturdy burghers, chipper as could be.
Wouldn't hear of terms of peace;' soon
there were three.
Three sturdy burghers a cordon to cut
through
Sure enough they did it, but then there
were two.
Two sturdy burghers had a little fun
With a troop of yeomanry; then there was
one.
Then the British Army bagged the Only
One
And he was planning raids and traps until
they got his gun! .
William E. McKenna, in Puck. I
One touch of humor makes the wholei
world chin. Schoolmaster. i
Ethel "Were you very much sur
prised to meet her?"- Blanche "Sur
prised? Why, I didn't notice what she
had one!" Judge. , - 1
"Did you see those two women ex
change looks?" "Y-yes; but, somehow,
that dark one in red is still the better,
looking." Philadelphia Bulletin.
Tess "She's very mannish, isn't
she?" Jess "Awfully so. She can't
force her way through a crowd o
women at all." Philadelphia Press, j
Celebrities are lots of fun;
At least, I've heard it said.
The trouble is you're never one -Till
after you are dead!
Philadelphia Record. 1
t Miss Singleton "Society i3 all well
enough for those who are single and
want to marry." Mrs. Wedderly
"Yes, and for those who are married
and want to forget it." Chicago News.
He forced her pa to toe the mark.
'Twas quite a hit.
Alas! her pa did toe the mark,
But he was it.
Philadelphia Press. "
Her Father "No, sir; yoti can't have
her. I won't have a son-in-law who
has no more brains than to want, to
marry a girl with no more, sense than
my daughter has shown in allowing;
you to think you could have her." Chi
cago News. j
Claribel "I wonder what that crea
ture meant!" Lizzie "What creature?"
Claribel "Why, Tentworth, of course.
When I told him everybody said I was
improving in my singing, he said he
was delighted to hear It. The idea!"
'Boston Transcript.
"First of all," said the merchant to
the youthful applicant, "we'll have
to test your ability as a whistler. Sup
pose you try." "I am sorry, sir, but I
can't whistle at all." "Hang up your
hat!" cried the merchant, promptly.
"You're the boy we're looking for."
Boston Globe.
"Laura, these biscuits of yours are
unusually fine this morning. I think
I never tasted better." "George Fer
gutftin!" here she looked at him sus
piciously "what are you up to now?
Are you going to tell me you ean'8
upare the money for those rugs X
wanted to buy to-day?" Chicago
Tribune.
"They say," remarked the sweet
young thing, "that you. were never
really frightened." "Nonsense!" re
turned the man vho was honest, as
well as more than ordinarily brave.
"They forget that I was once one of
the principals in a " "Duel?" "No
in a swell church wedding." Chi
cago Post.
Forest Riches of the Philippines.
In many places'the great forests or
the Philippines, which are estimated
to cover at least 20,000,000 and per
haps 40,000,000 acres, are at present in
accessible through lack of roads. In
these forests more than 600 species of
trees have already been enumerated.
Some of the. trees attafn a height of
150 feet. They produce gum, rubber
gutta-percha, dyes, oils, tan-bark, tex
tile; gub'.taiicci, uieukus cjJ. t:.ULl:i'(