The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

THE "OLD SOMERSET" DEAL | "Awâ€" I'm with you there," re- plied Mr. Craven. "I have not lunched yet." The upshot cf it was that the two men adjourned to an hotel near by, vhere Mr. Wenter engaged a pri- vate room. After the meal he plied hig guest assiduously with wine, though he himself drank but Bpar- ingly. The result was that he ob- tained in writing a promise from Mr. Craven to buy the Old Somer- Bcl Mine for £20 000. "Of course, Mr. Craven, busi- ncBs is business," said Mr. Wenter. '1 ought to have some guarantee for this." "I am not accustomed to have my word doubted," began Mr. Craven, with a drunken attempt at dignitv. Weuter instantly began to paci- fy the injured aristocrat, and even- tually learned that £30,000 was lodged at the International Bank 'n tiio name of Vernon St. John Ciaven â€" a fact that he verified dur- ing the afternoon. "Very well, Mr. Craven," Wen- ter said. "I will call at your ho- tel with the necessary documents as Boon as I can get them in order." Mr. Wentcr's first duty on reach- ing his office was to turn up an Kiiglish Peerage, by which he found that Vernon St. John Craven was the third son of a duke. He also saw Mr. Craven's name in the list of saloon passengers on the R. M. 8. Denbipch Castle. "That means eleven thousand for n'e," he muttered, rapturously. ".Another deal like, this and I can retire." He called on Vr. Oregory that afternoon and tt.'d .him that he could not find a piirchaser for the Old Somerset Mine, but that he was willing to buy it himself. "I cannot give more than fifteen thousand," he said. "Then you can reckon the deal is off," remarked Mr. Gregory, calmly. Then followed a period of hag- gling. Slowly Mr. Gregory's lim- it was lowered and Mr. Wentcr's price was raised, until tiiey cried quits at £18,000. An appointment â- was fixed for the following after- noon fur the title-deeds to be trans- ferred to Mr. Wonter's name, and then the wily scainp T/ithdrew. "Hang him," ho muttered, vin- dictively. "That only means eight thousand now. Well, I'll make Craven weigh out for expenses, anyway." On the following afternoon Mr. Wenter entered the office of Mr. John Hankin, a solicitor, and found Mr. Gregory waiting. With him was a gentleman whom he recog- nized as Judge Witmoro, a raag- istrnte. who lived some miles out &f Sydney and who was much re- spected. The transfer was made and the title-dc'ds handed over. Judge Wit- more signing as witness. Then, UR though he was tearing out his heart strings, Mr. Wenter produc- ed notes for £ 18,000 and handed them over to Mr. Gregory. I Following this transaction Mr. \ Wenter sought Mr. Craven, but i was informed that the latter had ! gone away for the week-end and would not be back until Monday af- ternoon. So Mr. Wenter was forc- ed to wait, but lie wrote a note to liiii client stating that he had se- cured tlie mine for him, and that he would call and see him on the following Monday. Ho carried out this promise, but on arriving at the hotel was presented with a letter from Mr. Craven, in which the lat- ter said he had forgotten Mr. Wen- ttr's address, Out would Mr. Wen- ter go on to Limbula, as he (Mr. Craven) had gone to see the mine. Mentally confounding the energy •jf his client, Mr. Wenter set out foi Limbula and arrived at the mine at about seven o'clock. Work bad ceased for the day, but there were several miners standing around the Old Somerset shaft. "Is there a Mr. Craven anywhere about, do you know?' he asked. "Best ask Jack Gregory," said tlie man. He knows most every- body about." "What can he be doin^ herd" Wenter thought as he hurried along he had no right still to be taking out gold. He rapped at the door and a voice bade him enter. A brawny man sat before a table piled up with nuggets. "I'm looking for Mr. Jack Gre- gory," said Wenter. "Then you needn't look no fur- ther, for you're looking at him." "Ehl" gasped Wenter. "You are joking, I suppose. I want the Mr. Gregory who owned the Old Somerset Mine." "Well, I'm Jack Gregory who owns the Old Son.erset." "You own iti" cried Wenter. "Why, it belongs to me." The man gazed at him critically. "You look as though you're sober," he said, "but you talk as though you're silly drunk. I own the Old Somerset, and it'd take a bloom- ing millionaire to buy it." "But, man alive! I bought it Inst Friday," shouted Wenter. "See here; here's the title-deeds." Jack Gregory examined them and laughed contemptuously. "Forgeries," he remarked, calm- ly. "That's what they are. "They're darned good ones, though. Here" â€" ho went on unlocking a small safe â€" "here are the real title-deeds. Ko, you don't"â€" this, as Mr. Wen- ter made an excited grab at them. Then Mr. Wenter began to alter- nately rave, implore, and threaten. In trembling tones he told the story of the purchase of the mine. "Was it last Monday week you saw this chap?" Jack Gregory ark- ed. "Yes," cried Wenter. Then Gregory gave an apt de- scription of the "Mr. Gregory" who had called on Mr. Wenter. "Is that him?" he asked. "Yes, to the life." "Lor' bless you, that's my mine manager ; at least, he was. Now i remember you. He brought you down one day last week ; told me he wanted to show a friend over the mine. And you sold my mine to this Mr. Craven. Snakes ! but it's the funniest thing I've ever struck. Say, was this Craven a tall chap with an aristocratic dial?" "Yes, yes!" "That's my manager's old chum. My word I they've done you pro- per. You paid up; has Craven paid?" "Not a cent!" Mr. Wenter screamed. Jack Gregory went into a parox- ysm of laughter, which so madden- ed Mr. Wenter that he made a furi- (.us spring at the mine-owner, and was knocked down for his pains. I "None of your nrionkey tricks now," Gregory said. j "I'll have the law on yon," yel- 1 led Wenter. "Where's your mana- ger? What's his name?" "He's left, and you can find out his name somewhere else. We called him Smith, but that's not bis pro- per name," said Gregory. "Now hook it, while you're safe." Mr. Wenter, tears of rage and fear pouring down his face, gath- cied up his useless papers and ran. He reached Limbula to find the train gotic. Ho raved like a road- man, and was within an ace of spending the night in jail. But at length he spent a sleepless night in the only hotel at Limbula, ani travelled to Sydney by the first up train in the morning. On the way he got out at the station nearest Judge Witmore's house, and called en that gentleman. To his horror the judge disclaimed all knowledge of the transaction, and speedily proved to Mr. Weuter that he was not in Sydney on that particular day. Off bolted Mr. Wenter into Syd- ney. The EDlicitor's office was not yel open, so he went on to the ship- ping company's cfiBce, where he in- quired after Mr. Craven. Here lie met with another rebuff, for he received a totally fresh address. He found a new Mr. Craven, utterly unlike his client. This gentleman admitted having made a confidant ot a Mr. Brown on the way out whose description tallied with that of Mr. Wenter's client. Off he rushed to the hotel where the fictitious Mr. Craven had put up, to find that his client had aever returned, but had paid his bill from Melbourne. Mr. Wenter was almost broken down by the time he reached the police-station. He told the whole story, and efforts were made to trace "Mr. Gregory" and "Mr. Ciaven" without success. A few months later a letter reach- ed Mr. Wenter from London. It ran as follows : â€" Ten years ago two young men, whose names need not be mention- ed, landed at Sydney with a consid- erable amount of~rooney, almost all of which was fleeced from them by- Mr. Wenter. So they resolved to get level some day. The chance came when a sudden strike of gold was made in the Old Somerset Mine. One of these young men, who called himself Smith, was mine manager to Mr. Jack Gregory; the other, who had taken the name of Brown, had returned to England. Brown came out to Australia in or- der to work with Smith in getting even with Mr. Wenter. His part was to act as a green new-comer, but to learn something en route to satisfy Mr. Wenter's suspicions. Prior to his arrival. Smith went in- to Sydney with the Old Somerset title-deeds, which he showed Mr. Wenter. Afterwards he had them very carefullv copied. Then Smith called on Mr. Wenter and agreed to buy the mine for twenty-six thou- sand pounds, though he hardly pos- sessed twenty-six thousand pence. It was Smith, who is a talented amateur actor, who made up as Judge SVitmore, and so gave a fin- ishing touch to the deal. The astute Mr. Wenter was kept waiting while Smith and Brown made tracks, but both Smith and Brown wish they had been present when the cute Mr. Wenter inter- viewed the real Mr. Gregoryâ€" it must have been very funny. Cheer up, old friend ; we have got more than even. We trust other poor wretches you have driven to desperation will also get even with you some day. Yours gratefully, SMITH AND BROWN. P.S.â€" It may interest you to know that Brown was as sober as your- self at that lunch at the hotel. Mr. Wenter's remarks,' though picturesque and pointed, are hard- ly fit to print. Doubtless they can well bo imagined.â€" London "Tit- Bits. ♦ ON THE ATLANTIC LINER. She â€" "Did you observe the great appetite of that stout man at din- ner?" Hoâ€" "Yes; he must bo what they call a stowaway I" THY THIS. It is not easy to start an argu- ment by tolling the average man that he is working too hard. WtnpWBo^esFreM m Every mother, every father, ever/ head of every local home, is now given an opportunity to test the finest household balm the world knows ! Chapped places, eczema, ulcers, scalp sores, scalds, cuts, bruises, bums, face blemishes. Bores due to blood-polEoningâ€" all are healed by Zam-Buk. i I Send tl.isRdvortlfoiiipnt, thoimtiio I |nf IhlH pawr uiiil lo maiiip to Zmn- I , Tciromo, iinil wo wlU uiail I ••â- <' First it soothes th« pain ; then its anti- septic essences kill all disuas'O goruis on a wound. Then it builds up new tissue. Mothers have proved it beat for the dolioate skin of baboi. It is purely herbal, never goes rancid, never stains, is free from the usual nnitnal fats, and mineral poisons. It is used the world over I Why 1 Onoo you try it you will know. All stores and druggists, 60o. box or post free, Zam-Buk Toronto. SOME ROYAL PRIVILEGES CURIOUS CL.ilMS HIS HAJES* TY CAN MAKE. King Edward Has Many Perqui- sites Which Uc Could Claim But OocB Not. Having illegally changed her name, and assumed the British flag, to which she had no right, a large steamer was, in the Australian courts, recently pronounced forfeit to the King. Of late years our British mon- archs have been so modest in assert- ing their -legal privileges and pre- rogatives that comparatilvely few people have the faintest idea how wide are these privileges, or how great are the powers of the Crown. The best knovn and most valu- able of Royal perquisites is the money of people who die intestate and without leaving known rela- tives. Their estates revert to the Crown. Each year a large sum is thus credited to the income of the Crown. All wrecks of the sea belong to the King, if he choos** to claim them. So do the Roy-l .'.^ll, whales and sturgeon, and the Royal bird, the swan. Saltpetre is another Royal per- quisite. The Sovereign has, by an f'ld law, the power to enter any man's land to dig for saltpetre, or to send anyone lo dig. THIS ANCIENT PRIVILEGE dates from the days when salt- petre was invaluable to national safety as an indespensable ingredi- ent of gunpowder. Strictly speaking, all gold and silver found in the United Kingdom 13 the absolute property of the Crown. Even as it is, a very stiff license must be paid to the Crown for the privilege of working preci- ous metals to be fouud in these inlands. The King may also enter any man's land for the purpose of mak- ing fortifications. This Royal pre- rogative is by no means obsolete, for of late years land has been ac- quired for this purpose from un- willing owners along many parts of our Southern and Eastern coasts. Compensation is, however, given. The copyrights of the authorized versions of the Bible and the Book of Common Prayer arc vested in the Crown, but authority to print them was grar'ted by charter to the universities of Oxford and Cam- bridge, and by license to the King's printers. KING M.\Y PARDON. It lies with the King to pardon, if he BO pleases, any convict in any prison in the country. There is only one exception to this rule. By au Act of George III. it is stated that the King cannot pardon per- sons convicted of certain forms of Sabbath breaking. Not a penny piece in the way of taxation may be collected in Great Britain without the authority of Parliament, but no such restriction obtains in any colony acquired by conquest. There the authority of the Crown alone is legally suffici- ent to levey and collect taxes. Nor could anyone legally object if the King were to set up a mint of his own, and coined money for his own use. Even if the metal were base, it is doubtful whether anything could bo done without special legislation first. The King 43 the one person who could not be arraigned for this form of counter- feiting. AS HEAD OF THE CHURCH, it lies with the King to appoint any oualificd person to a bishopric, and v/hat is not so well known a fact ie that the King is supreme patron I f all livings, and could, if he pleased, at once fill any that hap- pened to be vacant. In the matter of conferring titles, the King's power is practically un- ttniitcd, and there seems no reason- I'.ble doubt that he could make ev- eiyono a peer if he so desired. Cer- tainly, no subject to whom the Sov- ereign offered a title could refuse lo accept it without breaking the law. Many small perquisites come an- nually into the possession of the King. The Dukes of Marlborough and Wellington each present small replicas of the French flag and Uoyal Standard on the anniversar- if-s respectively of Blenheim and Waterloo. "The six Cashmere shawls of the kind which Queen Victoria treasured so highly are al- so sent annually, while heriots and quit rents t.) the Crown take many ft rms, amo:ig the more curious be- ing niilk-wliito greyhounds, horse- shoes, and red rosea. â€" London An- Pessimism is the power of enter- taining all the aches without eating any of the apples. CONSUMPTION'S STARTING POINT Lies In Weal:, Watery Blood. Or. WilllaiDs' Fink Fills Make the Blood EiGh and Red. Bloodlessne^s is the starting point of consumption. When your blood is thin and watery your whole health declines. Your face grows pale, your appetite fails and your heart jumps and flutters at the least exertion or excitement. \ou are always neak and wretch- ed and lose interest in everything. This is the point from which you may easily step into that hopeless decline that leads to consumption and the grave. What is actually needed to bring back health and strength and energy is the new rich blood Dr. Williams' Pink Pills actually make. In all the world there is no other tonic medicine like them, and all who feel weak and easily tired should take these Pills at once, and regain new health. Miss Ada Burke, The Range, N. B.. says;â€" "I feel that 1 cannot say too much in favor of Dr. Williams' Pink Pills. In March, 1907, I was attacked with whooping coiigh which clung to me for several months, and when the cough disap- peared I was left weak and_ run down. All summer I was ailing, but when the autumn came 1 seem- ed to be completely worn out. For 0. whole month I never moved out- side the house, and could scarcely walk about the house I was so weak. I had no appetite, my color was a greenish yellow. I had se- vere headaches and would be almost breathless at the least exertion. I took several bottles of medicine, l.ut it did not help mc, and then my mother got me three boxes of Dr. Williams' Pink Pills, when I had used them I was much better and by the time I had taken an- other three boxes I was again en- joying the best of health, with a hearty appetite, good color amd re- newed energy." If you want new health and new strength try Dr. Williams' Pink Pills, a fair use of this medicino will not disappoint you. Sold by medicine dealers or by mail at 60 cents a box or six boxes for S.ftO from The Dr. Williams' Medicine Co., Brockville, Out. A PREFERRED CREDITOR. We have just heard a good story about a merchant who recently failed. He called all his creditors together, and offered to settle with them at 10 per cent., giving them Ins notea payable in thirty days. As most of the creditors had lit- tle hope of getting anything, they eagerly accepted the proposition. One man, however, stood out for better terms, and all efforts to get him to agree were futile. Final- ly, the bankrupt took him out into the hall and said :â€" "When you come in and sign with the others, I will make you a pre- ferred creditor." "All right," said the objector. "Under those circumstances I will agree to a settlement." "The papers were signed, and all the creditors left, except the one who had been told he was to be preferred. "What are you waiting fort" said the man who had failed. "Why, you said I was to he pre- ferred. I am waiting to know what I am to get." "Well, I "tell youâ€" you will get nothing." "Get nothing? Why, you prom- ised to make me a preferred credi- tor, if I would sign with the rest." "And so you are; I make you preferred. I tell you now you get nothing. The others wait thirty days before they know it, and then they get nothing." AS THE HILL YOU CLIMB. Take the trouble as it comes, As the hill you climb ; When thunder beats his drums, March in time. Lookin' trouble in the face, You're a winner in the race. SAMPLE COPY FREE Would you like to have a sam- ple copy of The Fanner's Ad- vocate and Home Magazine! THE BEST AGRICULTURAL AND HOME PAPER on the American Continent. No progressive farmer can af- ford to be without it. Publish- ed weekly. Only %\.M per year. Drop postcard for free sample copy. Ageiifs Wanted. Address: "THE FAR:423'S ADV0CAT2 " Mention this paper. Londorr, Out. 19(1