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. ••' .' i . 1' % 'V *} ' '"< 7 " r'i" > " - ^,rkzm*h ^ *r? jr- # v- .*> *>£* raj* -'w:^\ rv -: ; •> Tjr * \; " o ry^ ^rf, - * ^ ;; ^ ^ x ^ >.vivw • 'f *". x. ,r a; I'.V- V ' . „«f •YNOMIS.^,,.. ...^,.. tneets," a stftSr'tfT ^«ht /-Slight have happened," opens in Wash- • StgtoR with the United States and Japan • tear war, Guy HilUer, secretary of the 'British embassy, and Miss Norma Rot>- #ts, chief aide ctf Inventor Roberts, .we VHtroduced as Sovera, Japan declares war ,*; And takes the Philippines. Guy HHlier Sarts for England, Norma Roberta Rves Washington for. the Florida coast, await is captured by the Japs. All ports *re closed. Tokyo learna of missing Jap- . (Hiese fleet and whole world becomes con- •' .J;fenced that United States has powerful War agency. England decides to send • • -re fleet to American waters as a Canadian . protection against what the British sup- t" pose is a terrible submarine flotilla. Htl- " tier is sent with a message. Fleet mys­ teriously disappears. The kaiser is miss­ ing. King Edward of ^ngland if con­ fronted by Admiral Bevins of (he y nltea \ States. The Dreadnaught, biggest of Eng­ land's warships, is discovered at an im- • . (passable point in the Thames. The story .now goes back to a time many months "before the war breaks out, and Inventor Roberta visits the president and cabinet, felling of and exhibiting a metal produc­ tion. This overcomes friction when elec­ trified and Is to be applied to vessels. A lity for the manufacture of the my»- , j * terious discovery is built. The mys­ tery of true levitation Is solved. Roberts evolves a great flying ma- *8iine. The cabinet plans a radioplane #ar against Japanese. The start for the : -fceneof conflict with a large fleet of mon- • iter airships is made with Norma In cotti- irand. CHAPTER XVIII.--Continued. "Number One will engage the eruis- i |(r on the extreme right. Two will at- ' iack the battle ship on the port bow /#f the flagship. Three will take the '*|>attleshlp oat the extreme left," and bo #n, ending with the declaration that -,,;.the Norma would ope a the engage- >inent by striking the Ito tt the head _ |>f the triangle. «^p Fighting Bevins turned away from •' A-S#iS signal box when the last conflrma- ^ |||ion of his instructions had been re­ ceived and looked at the girl in the i^ood. At that high altitude the early * fays of the sun were shivering the §>om of the interior through the glass rts in the dome. As^lf in a glory silver she stood before him, out- irdly calm and emotionless; but in "sj^She splendid poise of her body, the ex­ pectant waiting of her hands, and the *. Jfteady scrutiny of the dials before her, ' ihe was the embodiment of sufficiency. Reeling Jiis look and waiting for his jmmand, she moved her head till her ^\,;jface was turned full upon him, and in ; ̂^|ier eyes shone the fire which through I ' ?|dl the ages has led valiant warrior® i ^o fields of victory. The glory of ^ ~%outh, the inspiration of patriotism, jind the determination of fearlessness were blended in their light and ex­ ultantly waiting the battle call. ', ? Accustomed as he was to the ter- flble intoxication of fierce conflict, the v^ray old admiral felt himself enthused by this slip of a girl. He was a man making the last fight of his life with the incarnation of the Goddess of War at his elbow and mutely cheering him on to the charge. Every ̂ nerve within him strung itself in tensity, the mus­ cles of his body seemed to contract until his head fairly shrank l>etween s.-v#fiis massive shoulders, his resolute jaw set with a snap, and his short hair deemed to bristle as he leaped toward her, gave way to his excitement and fairly shouted: "Now! Go to them! Quick, hard and fast! At them!" He jumped back to his point of ob­ servation, and even as he did so tha great radioplane shivered with a sur­ charge of energy, reeled drunkeniy through every fiber for the fraction of a second, gathered itself, and in one terrific plunge shot downward at such an awful rate of speed that the en­ gineers by the dynamos instinctively threw themselves to the floor, the man on the lookout seized the bars before him, gasping for breath, and the ad­ miral, startled, whirled toward the figure in the hood, fearing that some fatal accident.had occurred. There, erect, triumphant, and fierce, stood the woman glorified who was striking the first blow for her coun­ try's honor and her father's exaltation. She was fairly hurling the machine through space, her hands grasping the levers of descent and her eyes on the periscope which portrayed tlte posi­ tion of their helpless victims. Bevins, in a fury of excitement, shouted his approval with storms of ,fc-joaths, completely swept out of himself V \ ILLINOIS STATE the fierceness of the assault. "Good, ... "That's right! They're, our*! igood!" he shouted. ^-- i-- •-- wide. 8cream of Shot and Shell Broke Into a Pandemonium. ^ "KDpen her up .^^They're ours! Outside the hissing air was torn by y - w h i r l w i n d o f s m a l l s h e l l s f i r e d i n a ^ | ^panic-stricken attempt to fend off this versary which was driving down- ard upon the Ito. It was their last <^1hope at defense. They had tested their guns repeatedly at long range, and proved them ineffectual against an enemy that could travel with a aspocd beside which that of the swiftest Tilrd of prey was Insignificant. They liad watched those strange uncanny things lift themselves to a prodigious altitude with Incomparable ease, carry away and rejuvenate a wounded com­ panion which had been struck by the merest chance, turn toward each other as if in communication, whirl out in long lines betokening the perfection of control, had waited for a downpour of issiies; and then, when amazement ,t this marvelous demonstration had eached its climax, they had witnessed e sudden swoop in their direction, ow in hopeless impotence the men the deck of the doomed Ito\ lost their heads and ran frantically to and fro. Up to the very last, one or two f the gun crews elevated and fired-- levated and fired--with methodical precision like men in a trance and > . .actuated by habit only. v"' A*' The panic-stricken swallow vainly " . • • winging his way through the air la endeavor to escape tfce talons of ' M . » JLa . .VjUS! ' * v the darting hawk would have had more chance than they before this on* slaught. This gigantic embodiment of doom was leaping down upon them with such terrific velocity and at such an angle of flight as to preclude all possibility of defense. Irresistible, implacable, and noiseless, it was plunging for the final thrust. lis very method of attack was so surprising and so unexpected that they were awed with fear, helpless, benumbed, despairing and conquered. They were men done to death and suffering the agonies of wotlnds before the blow had fallen. It was all accomplished with such rapidity that not even the- most terrified had time to rush to the rails and throw himself into the sea. When the instant of death seemed imminent, they were paralyzed into inaction and cowered together, waiting for the shock of annihilation. And their suspense, although of a different nature, was scarcely more keen and heartbreaking than that of those in the radioplane which was hurtling at them. The admiral was still crouching like a man prepared for a blow, when Nor- ma with quick energy tilted over an­ other lever and checked the descent. Those within the shell felt their hearts come back to the normal and were once more able to breathe freely. It was like the application of a powerful brake to a falling elevator, save that there was no abrupt jar, no discordant sound of steel on steel, ..and no shock of friction. * "Look out! Look out!" they heard her call. "Hold fast! We're going to strike!" And then, even as they sought po­ sitions of security, the great radio- plane felt a sudden, sharp concussion of impact as the top of the fighting mast struck its bottom plate, crumpled like a match, and went crashing down* ward, a debris of twisted, useless steel. Even within the chamber there penetrated to them the terrified shieks and despairing cries of the men of Jagan. Another Quick smashing blow almost threw those at the dynamos from their feet, more cries were heard without and then, for the small part of a sec­ ond there was silence and immobility. Even the storm of fire from the other ships had ceased. Norma alone seemed endowed with power of movement, and sprang quick­ ly from lever to lever and switch to switch, issuing her battle cry. "The dynamos! The dynamos!" she called. "Full speed, and stand clear for fear of accident! I've thrown the ms^jnet currents! Quick! all your power be­ fore others can train a gun on us!" Her voice was sharp and decisive, and her words snapped like lashes, driving them to action. "Steady, steady!" With almost the lnstantaneousness of its stop, the radioplane shivered and throbbed with Increased energy. The dynamos hummed and roared, the Norma quivered like a race horse under a cruel whip, then steadied ltBelf, seemed to gather its forces to­ gether, gave one mighty lift, and be­ gan to ascend. The frightened cries from without subsided in stupefaction. The fighting admiral with clenched fists was running the length of the radioplan#. staring through the lower ports, and hoarsely voicing his exulta­ tion, his eyes flaming with the Joy of victory. Out ad the sluggish waves which had now changed to a coldly gleaming gray the other veaaels of tha Japanese fleet witnessed the beginnings of catastrophe. They had Been this In* credibly monstrous thing drop from ether upon their flagship, crumple its upper works like paper, attach itself to the turrets, and then with phenom­ enal power actually lift from the ocean 20,000 tons of steel--a floating fortress believed but an hour ago to be invincible--and bear it away. Even as they watched they saw this strange god which had grasped the pride" of Japan in his clutch deliberately sha­ ping his flight higher and higher into the great void of the heavens and passing out of their world. Of what use were guns against these strange visitants, whose only human mark was the flag of the de­ spised enemy? In hopeless screams of terror their sirens awoke the echoes with weird, despairing wails, and tteir engines under full speed sent the screws lashing through the water In a last desperate effort to escape by flight. And while their prows tore the waves the superstitious sailors took their disaster as an omen of heavenly wrath, reverted to the religion of their ancestors, and prostrated themselves In an agony of prayer; but every chance was denied them, and even their trust in speed to evade seisure was ineffectual. Even as the Ito, held fast by the Norma, was becoming a speck against the disk of the morning sky, another of those strange creatures made a scarcely less abrupt descent upon the Kashima. Stacks and masts went down with a crash as had those oth­ ers. The great wingless terror picked her up into the air before her engines could be stopped, and, with her screw beating the atmosphere like the flut­ tering fins of a fish captured by a marauding eagle, sailed off with her into the blue above. Once more they tried the effect of gunnery, when the Katori was threat­ ened; but it was futile, and, reading their doom, they waited their turn. It was not long in coming; for now by twos and threes they were torn from the ocean and lifted aloft. The col­ liers were the last to succumb, and their crews, realizing that the hulls alone would come In contact with the Implacable demons above, ran scream­ ing below decks to continue their sup­ plications to the deaf gods who had deserted them. From the thick glass of his port the admiral looked down upon his con­ quered foemen and watched the pre­ cision with which his orders were be­ ing obeyed. Each time a victim was seized he shouted: "Three's done her work!" or "Good boy, Seven! You've got him!" and so on enumerating each success. Some movement on the deck of the Ito close at hand arrested his atten­ tion. His brows came together again in a fierce scowl. "Stand by the mag­ net levers, Miss Norma," he com­ manded, "because o.f these fellows be­ low mean to show the least resistance whatever, we'll drop 'em!" She had been standing serenely in her hood, her head thrown back, revel­ ing in the glories of triumph. When the fate of the battle had hung upon her performance, and when her own life was threatened, she had thrown herself body and soul into the fray, wide eyed, unresistant, and without a tremor; but now, at the thought of be­ ing the executioner of perhaps a thou­ sand men, her face blanched, her limbs trembled, and her hands forgot their task and clasped together in im- ploration. She was the woman again, ready to plead for the lives of those she had conquered. "My God! You wouldn't do feat, would you?" she said. N The old gladiator of the sea turned upon her fiercely. "Do it? Do it? I'd drop them to hell as quick as I would to the bottom of the Pacific if they show fight!" he responded. "We're out here to teach a lesson, and they deserve all that's coming to 'em! War is ho child's game," he concluded grim­ ly, "and the first ship that wants trouble goes down like a thunder* bolt- As if to emphasise his remark, he sprang to the signal box and issued this sanguinary order to every radio- plane in the fleet, while Norma, faint and sick at heart, shut her teeth ami with a look of inexpressible pain turned back to her levers. But she was spared this dreadful work. The Japanese officers and men had learned the absolute futility of re­ sistance, and doubted the efficacy of appeal! Their one hope for life now rested in the humanity and leniency of those who held them in thrall. ^ It took no long chain of reasoning to conclude that an enemy who could pluck them from the seas and without visible effort lift them more than a mile high could as readily release his hold and send them to destruction with meteorlike speed. Even were It possible to destroy those monsters which clutched them, to do so would be self-annihilation. 't'hey were ignored, cut off from those above, and divorced from the waters beneath as if they were crea­ tures of no importance, to be treated like mere troublesome Insects, exter­ minated or spared as their captor's whim might dictate. The glory of an easy conquest ih the Philippines, the boastings which had followed the sub­ jugation of Hawaii, the pomp and cir­ cumstance of previous conquests--all were obliterated, all erased from the scroll of valorous deeds by an action which had lasted less than an hour. And now, like beaten legionaries chained to the victor's car, they were being carried away toward the risinr sun and an unknown fate. (TO BB CONTINUED.) NEWS FROM THE LEGISLATURE SPRINGFIELD. TOGA BALLOTING GOES ON. 8olons Quit for the Week Without Electing Senator--Hopkins Vote Practically at the Same Point. r Might Have Puzzled Solomon Deeieior* Over Which Country Squire Is Still Deliberating. "That is a complicated question," said a statesman of a certain practical proposal. "It reminds me of a question that was once put to old Squire Briggs. "The squire was noted for his long, Solomon-like head, and he was fre­ quently asked to settle disputes. " 'Squire,' said a farmer to him one day at the tavern, 'there's a difficult point I want you to settle, and what­ ever you say I'll abide by.' " 'Well, fire away,' said the squire, good humoredly, 'and IH see what I can do for you.' '"It's like this,' said the man. 'Blank- son wants to trade farms with me, but we can't agree on terms. "His land is better than mine, but I've got twice as many cranberry vines; his corn is all stacked and mine ain't, but I've got screens to four windows and two doors to the shack. There's less stones In bis meadow land than there is In mine, but there's more bog.' "The man paused and took breath. Then he went on: , ° " 'Now, I won't tell you which is which, hut one of us thinks Blankson's pointer dog Ought to be thrown in, and the other om thinks that w would just about even things up. Now what do you say is fair?' "At last accounts the squire was still deliberating. The Rural Quest. "So this is a first-class hotel?" drawled Uncle Hiram Hardapple as he carefully &ung his weather-stained hat on the corner of a radiator. » "Yes, sir," replied the polite waiter with a low bow. "Got any cut-loaf sugar?" "Thtifo is a bowl full at your elbow, Bir" "Got a lead pencil T' "Here is one, sir. Do you wtsh to mark off on the menn cards?" "Oh, no, sonny. I just want to mark points on these blocks of sugar, so we can have a sociable game of dominos when Mandy comes in. I calculate it will be some time before , dinner Is served." -.s-l •:Y- v Ceytonese Land Leeches. Land leeches are plentiful la Ctf Ion. These bloodsuckers hang oa bushes and trees and lurk in the grass The only way to get them off one's body is to squeeze a few drops of lem­ on on them. Then they fall to the 8TANDING IN SENATORIAL FIGHT. -Seventy-Eighth Ballot. Hopkins ...... *...........;.70 Foss ....14 Mason 1 Shurileff .19 Stringer' .25 Lewder i McKinley 2 Calhoun 1 Jlllius F. Smietanka .........16 L. O'Neil Brown ......14 G. W. English 1 Yates i Evans 2 A. J. Carpenter 2 Results of Earlier Ballots. Ballots. 1 26 37 SO 60 75 61 75 74 1 18 18 Hopkins ... Foss 16 19 Mason .6 3 1 2 Shurtleff ....12 16 17 18 19 McKinley .... Lowden ....... Stringer ... .76 Calhoun 8herman . . . . 4 Harrison Alschuler ..... Callahan McSurely Bauler 1 1 65 2 2 10 1 2 2 1 1 60 23 37 . . 1 1 . . 2 2 ft 16 Springfield.--Lawmakers of the Illi­ nois legislature scurried for their homes Thursday, leaving the sena­ torial situation as far from settlement as when the session convened months ago. Thus confirmation was almost given the report that there is no pos­ sibility of the state having more than one senator to represent It In con­ gress until 1911. Former Senator Hopkln's vote on the seventy-eighth ballot dropped to seventy, but this was caused by the legislators leaving for home before the session of the week had ended Thursday. On the seventy-eighth joint ballot the total vote of the joint session was: Hopkins, 70; Foss, 14; Mason, 1; Shurtleff, 19; Stringer, 25; Lowden, 1; McKinley, 2; Calhoun, 1; Julius F. Smietanka, 16; L. O'Neil Browne, 14; G. W. English, 1; Yates, 1; Evans, 2; A. J. Carpenter, 2. Wednesday the seventy-seventh joint ballot gave former Senator Hop­ kins 78 votes, a slight Increase over the count of the day previous. Foss had 17, Stringer, 34 and Shurtleff, 19. The complimentary Democratic vote Wednesday went to G. W. Alschuler, he being recorded with 20 ballots for a toga to his credit. Representative Riley was given six votes and .William Maloney seven. The sole incident of the session was an extended speech from Representa­ tive Michael Link of the Forty-seventh district (Dem.) in which he Implored the Republican members on the other side of the house to "come across" and if they insisted on having a sena­ tor from Aurora to vote with him for Representative George W. Alschuler of that city. The house was in an up­ roar most of the time while Repre­ sentative Link was speaking and when he named Representative Alschuler, the representative from Aurora was showered with books, pamphlets and papers until he ran from his seat. The seventy-seventh joint ballot was as follows: Hopkins, 78; Foss, 17; Mason, 2; Shurtleff, 19; Stringer, 34; Sherman, 2; Lowden, 1; McKinley, 2; William Maloney of Chicago, 7; Rep­ resentative Alschuler, 20; Representa­ tive Thomas H. Riley, 6; Calhoun, 1; Evans, 1. Cm the seventy-sixth joint ballot the total vote of the joint session was: Hopkins, 75; Foss, 16; Mason, 2; Shurtleff, 19; Stringer, 21; Lowden, 1; McKinley, 2; Sherman, 2; Yates, 1; Calhoun, 1; William Loeffier of Chi­ cago, 47. Kill Direct Vote Plan. The senate struck out the enacting clause of a bill intended to introduce In Illinois the Oregon plan of electing United States senators. It was fa­ thered by Senate Leader Dunlap and provided that candidates for the legis­ lature should state In their primary petitions whether they would abide by the vote on United States senator in the whole state. The bill also had a provision to compel the changing of the order by which names of candidates are print­ ed on the primary ballots so that each man should have the top place in some precincts. Regulates Employment Agencies. Employment agencies in Chlciy|0 will have to reform, say labor leaders, under the terms of a bill passed by the upper branch. This is Senator Clyde Jones' measure, providing sep­ arate supervision of employment agencies aside from the free employ­ ment bureaus. Under the Jones bill a chief inspector is provided, whose duty it shall be to Inspect employment bureaus. Under the present law in­ spection devolves on the free-employ- ment bureau officials. Feud Between Deneen and Oglesby. A feud between Lieut. Gov. John G. Oglesby and Gov. Charles S. Deneen which may develop big political im­ portance was revealed when through the influence of the lieutenant gov­ ernor confirmation of all Gov. De- neen's vacation appointments was postponed for two weeks. There are several score of appoint­ ments in the number held up, includ­ ing many asylum trustees, several Chicago appointments of Importance, and a host of notaries public. s Mr. Oglesby said the delay was due simply to the desire to look over the list and see what the senate was do­ ing, but it is the general understand­ ing that if the governor wants his ap­ pointments confirmed he will have to bargain with the lieutenant governor and concede several points in the game of politics as played in central Illinois and particularly Logan coun­ ty, froin which Mr. Oglesby comes. It is said that the move serves no­ tice on Mr. Deneen that the lieutenant governor must be recognized in the distributing of patronage. DOLLAR WHEAT HAS COME TO STAY IN LESS THAN FIVE YEARS Cfift TRAL CANADA WILL BE CALLED UPON TO SUPPLY THE UNITED STATE*. Pass Fult-Crew Bill. ^ < Railroad interests suffered defeat the senate Tuesday and organized la­ bor won a victory when the full-crew biil was passed and sent to the lower branch for concurrence. A motion to recommit the bill was laid on the ta­ ble before the roll call on its passage. The bill went through the senate with­ out a dissenting vote, receiving 38 yeas. John G. Drennan of the Illinois Central system was in the senate when the bill passed. The motion to recommit the bill was made by Sena­ tor Olson. It was tabled on motion of Senator Henson, who heads the senate committee on' labor affairs. The full-crew bill stipulates that a passenger train of six cars must have an engineer, fireman, conductor, brake- man and flagman. A freight train of 50 cars must carry six working per­ sons. Senator Henson, in talking for the bill, declared that long freight trains result in their breaking in two and causing death and Injury. Action on Wheat Corner Act. The bill aimed to prevent gambling In breadstuffs was reported to the house with the recommendation that it pass. This is the measure intro­ duced by G. H. Wilson of Quincy and intended to meet situations like the corner in wheat. It makes.it a felony for any person to sell grain or any commodity not owned at the time of sale. Trial by jury in contempt cases was Introduced by the house committee on judicial department and practice, which ordered reported favorably the bill on this subject demanded by union labor. The bill was amended in some particulars without changing its in­ tent Under it labor-union pickets held in contempt of court would have the right to demand trial by jury. Busse Bond Bills Win. Speaker Shurtleff with neatness and dispatch put over the mayor's bond bills in the house Wednesday. They were passed without a clause requir­ ing a referendum on bond issues, and in this shape go to the senate. Under the terms of the bond bills Chicago will be able to Increase Its borrowing power to the extent of $16,- 000,000. Those who favor a referen­ dum clause say they will make a fight for it in the upper branch. The test vote came on the first bill, known as house bill 293. The vote was 82 yeas to 58 nays. This was five votes more than the necessary constitutional ma­ jority of the house. Mixing of Coal Is Prohibited. Coal dealers were , hit Tuesday In a bill passed by the senate. Like the full-crew measure. It had been before the legislature In other sessions, but never stood the test of routine. The coal bill prohibits the mixing or blend­ ing of different grades of coal. Sena­ tor Clark, who introduced it, ex­ plained that the measure is intended to make a law that will provide tor the sale of wily "pure coal." Committees Inspect Waterway. Twenty-five" members of various committees interested in the construc­ tion of a lakes-to-the-gulf deep water­ way began the inspection at Joliet of the Chicago drainage canal, which is intended as the first link in the all- water route to the gulf. The trip along the canal was made In automobiles and launches. created of ute i Hat BBC la Bdosted by Solons. Representative George Hilton's bill against big hats was acted on favor­ ably by the house committee on mis cellaneous subjects. This is the meas­ ure limiting the width of brim of women's hats to 18 inches and stipu­ lating that hatpins shall not extend more than six Inches from the crown, also that the crown shall not be more than a cubic foot in size. Mr. Hilton says he has received more than 100 letters from women, favoring the hUL Criminals Affected bV Bill. A bin passed whicn discussion on the floor of the senate provides that physicians in state pris­ ons or institutions, to prevent procre­ ation, may "perform an operation of sterilization on habitual criminals, idiots and imbeciles^ when deemed necessary." Elevator Measure Passed. Senator Humphrey failed to bite passed his bill providing a safety pat­ ent device for passenger elevators. It failed of passage by a vote of 14 ayes to 15 nays. Humphrey changed his vote to nay and moved to recon­ sider -the vote by which it failed to pass. Denfcen Signs Tuberculosis Bill. Gov. Deneen signed the bill authoris­ ing the establishment and main­ tenance of sanitariums for the treat­ ment of tuberculosis by county gov­ ernments late Tuesday.' This meas­ ure, known as house bill 165, amends the act relative to counties so as to authorize thk expenditure of money for this purpose. It is another step in the state-wide movement to stamp out the white plague. The governor also signed the bill increasing the salary of the insurance superintendent front $3,500 to $5,000 a* year. .'"jHt # • . VirJr.Sta.i'.:&.*"i.r <£ SK.. »%• "Old Guard" Men Win Fight. The inn-keepers' bill ran against a snag in the senate. An effort was made to pass it and objection was raised by members of the "old guard." Senator Olson, who introduced the measure, finally had to agree to a postponement of consideration of the bill for two weeks. It fixes the liabil­ ity of an Inn-keeper at $250. In this and on 'the full-crew bill the new or­ ganization and the old guard In the senate clashed. The old senate organ- fetation leaders arew Aral Mni .:-•••• /• A couple of years ago, when the an­ nouncement was made in these coltv umns that "dollar wheat" had come to stay, and that the time was not far distant when the central provinces of Canada:--Manitoba, Saskatchewan and AIberta:--would be called upon to sup­ ply a large part of the wheat con­ sumption in the United States, there were many who laughed at the predic­ tions and ridiculed the idea of wheat reaching the dollar point and staying there. Both of these predictions have come to pass. Dollar wheat is here---'-: and it is not only here, but is here |ie stay; and at the same time, whatever unpleasant sensations it may arouse In the super-sensitive American, Cen­ tral Canada is already being called upon to help keep up the bread sup­ ply, and within the next five ye&ra will, as James J. Hill says, iitera&y "become the bread-basket of our in­ creasing millions." There are few men in the United States better acquainted with the wheat situation than Mr. Hill, and there are few men, if any, who are In­ clined to be more conservative 111 their expressed views. Yet It was this greatest of Ahe world's railroad men who said a few days ago that "the price of wheat will never be substan­ tially lower than it Is today"-- when it is taken into consideration that at that time wheat had soared to $1.20, well above the dollar mark, the statement is peculiarly significant, and doubly significant is the fact that in this country the population fa in­ creased at the ratio of 65 per cent., while the yield of wheat and other products is increasing at the rate of only 25 per cent. For several years past the cost of living has been stead­ ily Increasing in the United States, and this wide difference in production and consumption is the reason. This difference must be supplies by the vast and fertile grain regions of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta. There is now absolutely no doubt of this. Even the press of the country concedes the fact. Results have shown that no other country in the world can ever hope to equal those provinces aa wheat producers, and that no other country can produce as hard or as good wheat. Said a great grain man recently, "If United States wheat main­ tains the dollar mark, Canada wheat will be well above a dollar a bushel. for in every way It is superior to oar home-grown grain." With these facts steadily Impinging their truth upon our rapidly growing population, it is Interesting to note just what possibilities as a "wheat grower" our Northern neighbor pos­ sesses. While the United States will never surrender her prestige in any manufacturing or commercial line, she must very soon acknowledge, and with as much grace aa she can, that ahe la bound to be beaten as a grain pro* ducer. It must be conceded that a great deal of the actual truth about the richness of Canada's grain produc­ ing area has been "kept out of sight." as Mr. Hill says, by the strenuous ef­ forts of our newspapers and maga­ zines to stem the exodus of our best American farmers into those regions. It is a fact that up to the present time, although Canada has already achieved the front rank in the world's grain producers, the fertile prairies of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Al­ berta have as yet scarcely been scratched. Millions of acres, free for the taking, still await our American farmers; and when these millions are gone there are other millions In re­ gions not yet opened up to immigra­ tion. A few years ago the writer, who has been through those wheat prov­ inces several times, laughed with otb> era of our people at the broad statement that Canada was bound to become "John Bull's Bread Basket.** Now, after a last trip (and though he Is a stanch American) he frankly be­ lieves that not only will Canada be­ come John Bull's bread-basket, but It will within the next decade at least BECOME THE BREAD-BASKET OF THE UNITED STATES. Perhaps this may be a bard truth for Americans to swallow, but it is a truth, neverthe­ less. Aad it is at least a partial com­ pensation to know that hundreds of thousands of our farmers are profit­ ing by the fact by becoming producers in this new country. The papers of this country have nat­ urally made the most of the brief pe­ riod of depression which swept over Canada, but now there is not a sign of it left from Winnipeg to the coaaL Never have tha three great wheat rais­ ing provinces been more prosperous. Capital is coming into the country from all quarters, taking the form ctf cash for investment, industrial con­ cerns seeking locations, and, best of all, substantial and sturdy immigrants come to help populate the prairies. Towns are booming; scores of new elevators are springing up; railroads are sending out their branch lines in all directions; thousands of prosper- ous farmers are leaving their prairie shelters for new and modern homes--, ^ "built by wheat:** everywhere is * H growing happiness and contentment-- "j happiness and contentment built by wheat--the "dollar wheat, which has ;.*1 come to stay. Notwithstanding this. , the Canadian Government is still giv- •; ^ ing away its homesteads and selling pre-emptions at $3.00 an acre, and the ,, Railway and Land Companies are die- J: posing of their lands at what may be . ^ considered nominal figures. , ,, Too Wtee. : "Wffl yon take a chance m kfsetsg a pretty girl?" asked the young lady r .1 with the raffle tickets at the church ^ • fair. The crusty and confirmed bach- ' elor held up his hands in horror, "What, me!" he gasped. "No, indeed, ^ ^ I don't take any such chances as those. ; Chap took a chance like that one time Kf'i and six months later he married the _h J. young lady/* ' < I Adam had one _ for. He ne»'er had to weed his pa's ostion beds when the other boys were •!<«» ftahins. ' -"-v r ' ' v- ; - , - '• i \ - V - ' JW-' *'•1 ': -• ^ ^ s-^ *% . . ...""L Ik ,/ I#?. , iK. ~ A. * il a. _