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McHBNRT PL.AJNDEAUER. r< *! ETTOY, .WX,^' y fV oaasswcass When the Colorado Burst Its Banks and Flooded the Imperial Valley of California^ S^'vSf4 MS*# Ednati Aiken OiMtl|li>i Botw Kmin Ooafaj CHAPTER XXIX. CHAPTER XXVII--Continued. *-12-- Hie night was bright with stars. "Bright as day, isn't It?" Because her voice was curt, and she had not ased his name, the rising Inflection helped a little! Hateful, to stumble over a nit in the road! Of course, he'd make her take his arm! Of course I Rickard grasped her elbow. She walked along, her head high, her cheeks flaming, anger surging through her at his touch. Stupid to press this companionship, this awkward silence on her. If he thought she was going to entertain him, as Gerty did, with her swift chatter, he'd be surprised! Any other two people would fall into easy give-andtake, but what could she, Innes Hardin, find to chatter about with this man stalking along, grimly graspLng her arm? Close as they were, his touch reminding her every minute, between them walked her brother and her brother's wife--and there was the Mexican--hateful memory! Of course she could not be casual. And she would not force it. He had brought this about. Let him talk, then! Oppressive that silence. Then it came to her that she would ask him the question that his coming had aborted. A glance at his face found him smiling. He found it amusing? Not for worlds, then, would she speak. And they stalked along. Unconsciously she had pulled herself away from him. He took her hand and put it in the crotch of his arm. "That's better," he said. She wondered if he were still smiling. Their path led by his tent. Neither of them noticed a subdued light through the canvas walls. As they reached the place a figure darted from the door. "Oh, sehor, I thought yon would Jrtver come." It was the wife of Mai- ' ' donado. Her expression .was lost on Innes. The face was quivering with terror. ' "Mr. Rlckard," Innes* words like Idcles, "I will leave you here. It is quite unnecessary to come farther." 0iite unveiled her meaning! T5" It came so quickly that he was not r ready; nor indeed had Gerty's innuendoes yet reached him. But the situation was uncomfortable. He turned sharply to the Mexican. "Come in," he took her roughly by the arm. She would wake up the camp with her crying. He put her in a chair. "Now tell your story." The woman *ted got to be a nuisance. He couldn't have her coming around like this. He had seen that look in the girl's eyes-- .. /"Murdered? Who did you say was S^-jflurdered?" . ' • She lifted * face, frightened Into ftiiggardness. "Maldonado and the • jprl." * < The night was stripped to the .trag- "You found thejn?" f H e r f a c e w a s l i f t e d i m p l o r i n g l y t o .' jim. "Oh, senor, it was not I. By the "* Mother of Christ, it was not L" V-t Rickard was hot sure. Her fear ' % atade him suspect her. "Who was It. ;; J*>u think r* "Felipe,"' she gasped. "He got away ' from the rurales--he came back. He f » Went home--there was no one there, iome one told him where she had gone. He came to Maldonado's. Lu- • !«rezia, the eldest, opened the gate. He A Was terrible, she said. He rushed past ,r her. And when he came out his hands were red. The children heard cries. iey were afraid to go in. I got there last night. I went in. They were not (ulte cold--I was afraid to stay. It Would look like me, senor. Will they take me, senor?" She was a wreck Of terror. "Not If what you tell me Is true. }Vow, get to bed. I'll give you some- "The Indian, the murderer. Just as they describe him on those, notices. I must have fallen asleep. I'd been reading. I heard a noise In the brush and there was his face staring at me. Her breath was still uneven. I screamed and ran. Silly to bo ao scared." A Glimpse of Freedom. The siding was deserted. The Pal-i myra had run out to Tuscon. Marshall; | had gone without apprehension. They did not expect now to have setbacks, to have to extend the time set for the He started toward the Willows, but I ultimate diversion. The days were she grabbed his sleeve. J^Oh, don't." flowing like oil. The encampment was She flushed, thinking to meet the quiz- fining up with visitors, newspaper men; zical smile, but his eyes were grave. Wh0 came to report the spectacular He, too, had had his fright. They stood capture of the river, staring at each pther. "I'm afraid--" Rlckard's day badly begun, piled upi she completed. How he would despise with vexations. By sundown, he was her cowardice ! But she could not let wet to the skin, and mad as a sick Arihim know that her fear had been for gooa cat. him! In this jaundiced Juncture, Mac- He was looking at her. Suppose any-1 Lean, Jr., brought down his dispatches thing had happened to her! He had a to the river. He read of the burning minute of nausea. If that brute had 0f a trainload of railroad ties. Rlckard hurt her--and then he knew how it swore. was with him ! "Anything else pleasant?" He looked at her gravely. Of course. "A letter from the governor--from He had known it a long time. It was | dad." MacLean read that his father true. She was going to belong to him. If that brute had hurt her I | begged a small favor of Rickard. "Godfrey, the celebrated English She shrank under his gravity; this I tenor, is on my hands. His doctors was something she did not understand, have been advising outdoor occupa- They were silent, walking toward the tlon. I am sending him to you, ask encampment Rickard did not care to ing you to give him any Job you may talk. It was not the time; and he had I have. He Is willing to do anything, been badly shaken. Innes was tremu- Put him at something to keep him oclously conscious of the palpitating si- cupied lencfe. She fluttered toward giddy MacLean saw Rlckard's face turn speech. Her walk that day, Mr. Rick- red. "Suffering cats! A worn-out ard! She had heard that water had opera singer! What sort of an opera started to flow down the old river bed; does he think we're giving down here? she had wanted to see it, and there Why doesn't he send me a fur coat, or was no one to go with her. Her sen- a pair of girl twins? Give the tenor tence broke off. The look he had a role! Anything else? Pile it all turned on her was so dominant, so ten- on." der. Amused at her giddiness, and "Oh, and one from Godfrey himself, yet loving her! Loving her! They He's in Los Angeles. He says he'll be were silent again. here tomorrow." He did not wait for "You won't go off alone, again." He I his chiefs reply, had not asked It, at parting. His in- At the supper table, Rlckard. dry flection demanding it of her, was of and in restored humor, alluded to the ownership. She did not meet his eyes, invasion of high notes. "Pity the parts Later, when she was lying on her are all assigned! The only vacancy bed, face downward, routed, she tried ls ,n the kitchen. I won e „ to analyze that possessive challenge of w<^'d ,iket° be u°de" . his gaze but it eluded words. She The next day when the inc dent had summoned her pride, but the meaning been forgotten, and while Rlckard was called her. sense and mind and sopi I up at the Crossing on the concrete $ Godfrey Blew Into Camp. of her. It cried to her Rickard, whom your brother hates, once the lover of Gerty Holmes, I am the mate for you. And I'm going to come and take you some day. Some day, when I have time!" Oh, yes. she was angry with him; she had some pride. "Why didn't he thing that wll) make you sleep." He tell me then?" she^crled in a warm tufeustled her out and prepared the I mult to her pillow. "For I would have draught. given him his answer. I had time, He wondered as he got into bed as ample time, to tell him that it was to the truth of her story. Disgusting, such animal terror! Awkward hole, that. Fate seemed possessed to queer him with those Hardins! ' CHAPTER XXVIII. a A Discovery* V-\ <#WFtoart!er of Maldon£roShook the camp next morning. Three rurales, In brilliant trappings, rode up to Rlckard's ramada. The leader, entering the office, announced that they were on the track of a criminal, the murderer of a rurale, Maldonado. He was an Indian named Felipe. He repeated the story Rlckard had heard before. Would the senor give his respected permission for notices to be posted about the camp? A description of the Indian, a reward for his capture; the favor would be Inestimable. Rickard saw the notice later that day. It was nailed to thf back platform of the Palmyra. He was on Marshall's trail, his chief having failed to keep an appointment with him. They were to test the gate that afternoon; Marshall was returning soon to .Tucson. Rickard turned back toward camp, deep in thought; so Intent that a sharp cry had lost Its echo before the import came to him. He stopped, hearing running steps behind him. Innes Hardin was loping up the bank like a young deer, with terror in her eyes. "Mr. Rlckard!" she cried. "Mr. Riakard!" She was trembling. Her fright had not true." For she wanted a different sort of lover, not a second-hand discard ; but one who belonged all to herself ; one who would woo, not take her with that strange sure look of his. "You'll be waiting when I come." Ah, she would not. Indeed! She would phow him! And then she lay quite still with her hand over her heart. She would be waiting when he came for her! Because. though life had brought them together so roughly, so tactlessly had muddled things, yet she knew. She would be waiting for him! Before he had left her, Rlckard had followed a swift Impulse. Those bronze lamps averted still? Was she remembering-- last night? No mistake like that should rest between them. He must set that straight. That much he allowed himself. Until his work was done. But she knew--she had seen-- how it was with him! "I wonder if you would help me, Miss Hardin? Would you do something for that poor crazed woman? I wanted to ask Mrs. Hardin, but for some reason I've got into her black books. Just the little kindness one woman can give another. A man tlnds It difficult. And these Mexican women don't understand a man's friendship." Her eyes met his squarely. His tantalizing smile had gone. He was mak Ing a demand of her--to believe him, his request his defense. The glances, of yellow eyes and gray, met with a shock, and the world was changed for gate, Godfrey blew into camp. He was like a boy out on a lark. His brown eyes were dancing over the adventure. He explored the camp and came back bubbling. It's the biggest 1 ever saw. But say, Junior, that's what they call you, isn't it? Tm the only Idle man here. Can't you give me something to do? I'll do anything. I'd like the boss to find me busy when he comes in." MacLean softened the offer. Perhaps until Mr. Godfrey learned the ropes he could be of general use. They were short-handed the present moment-- there was another hesitation--in the kitchen! Ling, the Chinese cook, was overcrowded--so many visitors-- Great," crowed Godfrey, slapping him off the shoulder. "I don't want to feel in the way. I want to earn my board. Lead me to the cook!" That evening, the dinner was helped on its way by the best-paid singer of England. In an apron, borrowed of Ling, he was "having the time of his life." Ling, pretending to scold, had been won Immediately. Rickard, hearing of the Jolly advent, forgot his vexation, and immediately on his return made his way to the mesquit inclosure --to greet the friend of George Mac- Lean. After dinner, MacLean carried off "LCasey Ihla Prize to the ^elta, where Godfrey earned his welcome. Gerty Hardin forgot to flirt with the engineers; she had discovered a new sensation. The wonderful voice twisted her heartstrings ; it told her that the heart that has truly loved never forgets, and she knew that she could never have really loved, yet, because the youth in her veins was whispering to her tht^: she could still forget. Godfrey saw a mobile plaintive face turned np to the gibbous moon; he swept it with thrills and flushes. She was a wonderful audience ; she was also, his orchestra, the woman with the plaintive eyes. He played on her expressions as though she were a harp. Later, he was presented to Mrs. Hardin. She told him that the camp would no longer be dull; that she had tea every afternoon in her ramada. She convicted him archly of Britishhood. "She knew he must have his teaf' "You American women are the wonders of the world 1 Nothing daunts you. In the desert, and you give afternoon teas. I'll be there every day!" He gave her open admiration; she looked young and wistful In her soft flowing mulls, the moonlight helping flfer. She fell Into a delicious flurry of nerves and excitement. Later, she wandered with him from a rude gaping world Into a heaven of silvered decks and gleaming waters. He told her of himself, of his loneliness; his music had dropped him to self-pity. , Gerty Hardin heard her bars drop behind her. She snatched her first glimpse of freedom. the jump. A spur track was rushed across the by-pass above the gate, as the closing of the Ill-fated gate with the flasliboards was no longer possible. A rock-fill was the only means of closure. In the distant quarries men were digging out rock to fill the call from the river. Marshall came down to see the completed spur. Before he reached the Intake, the first rock train had moved onto the spur track. The trestle had settled, the train had been thrown from the rails and wrecked. Marshall came in from the damaged trestle, bringing Rlckard and Crothers. Mrs. Marshall had invited Innes Hardin to dine with them. Innes fell to flushing, and chilling, as a lithe-muscled figure came directly to her. His eyes--where was the look she had feared, of possessive tenderness? The quizzical gleam was gone. On guard t A solemn business, loving, when you know that it means--life! On guard, though, to her! She pulled her fingers from his strong lingering clasp, and joined Mrs. Marshall. Rickard had his soldier look on. She was watching him covertly as he talked,with his host and Crothers, as though she were not there; as though something were not waiting for him to claim. How could he be talking, oblivious of everything else in the world except the river? Was that--loving? Could she think of anything else when he was In the same room with her? He was a soldier of fhe modern army. It came to her, a sort of tender divi nation, that he would not divide his thoughts, even with, her, with love, until his battle was won. Well, couldn't she understand that? What her accusation against Gerty? Sex honor-- keep off the track! Wasn't that her own notion? Oughtn't she to be proud of him? She had brought a nest of waspish thoughts tumbling about her ears. Gerty! He had loved Gerty. He couldn't love her, if his thoughts had ever lingered, with that same seriously solemn look on the false little face of her sister-in-law. After dinner they were standing In the shade of the Palmyra. It was a soft still afternoon. The fierceness of the savage desert had melted to her days of lure. Beyond, the turbid waters of the Colorado bore a smiling surface. There was nothing to hint of treachery. It was a minute of pleasant lassitude, snatched from the turmoil. Rlckard had succumbed to the softness of the day and his mood. He was enjoying the thought of Innes' nearness, though she kept her face turned from him. He knew by the persistence of those averted eyes that she was as acutely conscious of his presence ;.s he was, restfully, of hers. Deliberately, he was prolonging the Instant. A stir on the river had caught the alert eye of Tod Marshall. He swore a string of picturesque Marshallian oaths. Rlckard's eyes Jumped toward the by-pass. The placid waters had suddenly buckled. Majestically the gate rose and went out. Months of work swept away! The gate drifted a hundred feet or more. Some unseen obstruction caught it there, to mock at the labors of man. Innes, aghast, turned toward Rickard. His face was expressionless. There was a babel of excited voices behind them, Bodefeldt, MacLean, Tony, Crothers, Bangs, all talking at once. Her eyes demanded something of Rlckard. A fierce resentment rose against his calmness. "He knew It,' she rebelled. "He's been expecting this to happen. It's lo tragedy to him!" There was a stab as of physical pain; she was visualizing the blow to Tom. She heard Marshall's voice, speaking to Rickard. "Well, you're ready man's clear notes mingling with Gerty's childish treble. "Godfrey!" Her mind Jumped to other tete-a-tetes. Of course! So that was what was going on. And she not seeing! If not one man, then another! Horrid Uttle clandestine affairs I The meeting was awkward. Speedily Innes got rid of the news. Mrs. Hardin shrugged. "I believe Til go out." Plaintively, .she made the announcement, as though it were just evolved. "Now, the camp will be horrid. Everybody will be cross and everybody will be working." As she left the tent beyond, Innes could hear th* vibrant volca flf God' Ho Found Wooster at the Rlvsf1 Bank. frey persuading Mrs. Hardin to stay there a few weeks longer. She could hear him say, "This will delay the turning of the river at the most but a few weeks. Rlckard told me so a week ago. And think what It would be here yithout you!" "They were all expecting it!" resisted Innes Hardin. She turned back toward the river. She must find Tom. CHAPTER XXXI. CHAPTER XXX. Rlekard Was Heading for tho By-Pass. flushed her; cheek to brow was glow-1 both. Life, with its many glad voices, *ng with startled blood. He saw an was calling to senses and spirit, the odd flash of startling beauty, the veil girl's still rebellious, the man's sure, of tan torn off by her emotion. The I Rickard put out his hand. "Goodwave of her terror caught him. He night!" To both. It carried the sound put out his hand to steady her. She of "I love you!" She put her hand In rtood recovering herself, regaining her | his, then tore her fingers away, furlspent breath. Rickard remembered thft this wafe the first time he had seen her since the murder of Maldonado, Since the meeting with the Mexican woman at bis teat- "Whai wm U (lightened youl" ^ . *' * . ' " * ' K.y ous with them for clinging. Where was her pride? When he had time! She flijd into her ten£. Neither of them had seen' Gerty Hardin watching them from door. Tho Dragon 8cores£ The Palmyra was once ag&lfi on It# siding. Marshall was at th$ front again; having made another of his swift dashes from Tucson. This time he expected officially to close the gate. Claudia was with him. She never left the car, unless it were to step out to the platform to see what sho could from there of the river work. Hardin and Rlckard had been devoting anxious weeks. A heavy rainfall and cloudburst In the mountains of northern Arizona had swollen the feeders of the Gila river which roared down to the Colorado above Yuina. The eroding streams^ carried mountains In solution which settled against I the gate, a scour startiug above and [below It. Relief had to be given on for this." She did not hear the answer, for already Rlckard was heading for the by-pass. Marshall and the young engineers followed him. To Innes that wreck down yonder was worse than failure; it was ruin. It Involved Tom's life. It was his life. This would be the final crushing of his superb courage--lier thoughts released from their paralysis were whipped by sudden fear. She must find him, be with him. The next Instant she was speeding toward the encampment Estrada met her on the run. \ Had Gerty heard? The pity that she must know! She woutkl not be tender to Tom; her pride would be wounded. She must ask her to be tender, generous. Her footstep's slackened as she came in sight of the tents. She heard voices la th« ramada, • A Sunday 8pectaclo. Trouble with the tribes was well grown before it was recognized. Disaffection was ripe, the bucks were heady, the white man's silver acting like wine. Few of the braves had dreamed at ever possessing sums of money such as they drew down each Sunday morning. Rlckard began to suspect liquor again. In the Indian camp Sunday was a day of feasting, followed by a gorged sleep; the next day one of languor, of growing incoheslon. Rlckard spoke of It to Coronel. "Like small baby," hunched the old shoulders. "Happy baby. Pretty soon stop." With the next wages went a reprimand, then a warning. Still followed bad Mondays. Rlckard then Issued a formal warning to all the tribes. The situation with the Indians is serious," said Rickard to MacLean. "They're getting liquor In here, some way, the Lord only knows*.how. Anyway, they're not fit for burning Monday morning. I've just sent them word by Coronel that it's got to quit, or they do." "Suppose they do?" MacLean was startled. Not an Indian could be spared at that stage of the game. "Bluff!" Rickard got up. "They won't take the chance of losing that money. I'm off now to the Crossing. I'll leave you In charge here." The next morning Wooster broke into the ramada where MacLean 'sat clicking his typewriter. "Everything's up. Rlckard's done it now. Sent some all-fired, independent kindergarten orders to the Indians, Says they have to be in bed by ten o'clock, or some such hour 09 Saturday and Sunday nights. It's a strike, their answer. That's what his monkeying has brought down on us." "They're not going to quit?" "They've sent word they won't work on Mondays, and they will go to bed when they choose Saturday nlgpts. Losing one day a week! We can't stand for that. Luck's been playing Into his hands, but this will show him ap. Thls'll show Marshall his pet clerk. Tell Casey there'll be no Indians tomorrow." He sputtered angrily out of the office. Rlckard seemed pleased whan Mao Lean made the announcement a few hours later. His secretary was weighing him. "What do you Intend to do about it?" "Call their" bluff," grinned Casey, Bhowing teeth tobacco had not had a chance to spoil. "Boycott them." MacLean found Wooster at the riverbank with Tom Hardin, The two men were watching a pile-driver set a rebellious pile. Two new trestles were to supplement the one which had been bent out of line by the weight of settling drift. Marshall's plan was being followed, though jeered at by reclamation men and the engineers of the D. It. company. "Stop the mattress weaving and dump like hell 1" had been his orders. "Boycott the Indians, well I'm blowed," the beady eyes sparkled at Hardin. "Now he's cut his own throat." . . "By the eternal!" swore Hardin MacLean left the two engineers matching oaths. There was an ominous quiet the next day. Not an Indian offered to work at the river. A few stolid bucks came to their tasks on Tuesday morning; they were told by Rlckard himself that there was no work for them. Rlckard appeared lgnor&nt of the antagonism of the a&giaeeca. An unfathered rumor started that Rlckard was In with the Reclamation Service men; that he wanted the work to fall; to be adopted by the Service. MacLean broke a lance or two against the absurd slander. He was making the discovery that a man's friendship for a man may be deeper than a man's love for a woman. He was a -Rlckard man. He was made to feel the reproach of It. Wednesday not an Indian reported. Coronel passed from camp to camp, his advice unpopular. Scouts sent out to watch the work on the river reported It was crippled. The white man would be sending for the Indian soon. The waiting braves sat on their haunches, grinning and smoking their pipes. Saturday <night the camp went gloomily to bed. On the Indian side there was no revel, no feasting or dancing. Rickard did not tarn in until after midnight, planning alternatives. He was sleeping hard when MacLean, at dawn, dashed into his tent. "Qulbk, what does this mean?" It was a splendid spectacle, and staged superbly. For background, the sharp-edged mountains flushing to pinks and purples against a one-hued sky; the river-growth of the old channel uniting them, blotting out miles of desert Into a flat scene. On the opposite bank of the New river, five hundred strong, lined up formidably, their faces grotesque and ferocious with paint, were the seven tribes. The sun's rays -glinted up from their firearms,, shotguns, revolvers, Into a motley of defiance! Cocopahs, with streaming halt-, blanketed Navajos, short-haired Plmas, those In front reining in their silent -pinto ponies, and all motionless, silent In that early morning light "What does It mean?" whispered MacLean. Rickard did not answer. He had one nauseous Instant as he looked toward Innes' tent. Then he broke into laughter. • "See, the white horse, no, In front--" "By Jove," MacLean slapped his thigh. "Coronel! They had me buffaloed. What do you think it lsF Rickard stepped out into the w»® of morning air and waved a solemn salute across the river. Gravely It was returned by Coronel. "What does it, mean?" demanded MacLean. "It means we've won," chuckled his chief, coming bacK into his tent. An hour later Coronel led In a picked group of the tribes. If the white chief would recall the boycott the Monday strike was over. The white man's silver had won. (TO BE CONTINUED.) ILLINOIS State News Mlt'l'l'l'llllVl'l'lltVl'l'l'Mt EACH HAS INDIVIDUAL COLOR Cities by No Means Alike In Hues Which Attract tho Eji the Traveler. - f "Have you ever noticed how cities sometimes seem to have their own special colors?" asks Julian Street in American Adventures," the book In which he and Wallace Morgan recorded, In words and pictures, what they think is the most picturesque part of our country--the South. "Paris is white and green--even more so, I think, than Washington," Mr. Street continues. "Chicago ls gray; so is London usually. though I have seen it buff at the beginning of a heavy fog. New York used to be a brown sandstone city, but is now turning to one of creamcolored brick and tile; Naples is brilliant witfr pink and blue and greeu and white and yellow; while as for Baltimore, her old houses and her new are, as Baedeker puts It, of 'cheerful red brick'--not always of course, but often enough to establish the color of red brick as the city's predominating hue. And with the red-brick house--particularly the older onesgo clean white marble steps, on the bottom one of which, at the side, may usually be found an old-fashioned Iron Scraper,' doubtless left over from the time (not very long ago) when the city pavements had not reached their present excellence." Ancient Time Recorders. Perhaps the first reference to attempts to reckon time by mechanical means Is found In Isaiah 38-8, written supposedly about 713 B. C., "the sun dial of Ahaz." Pliny says that Anaxlmander Invented a sun dial about 550 B. C. The first sun dial at Rome was placed in the Temple of Qulrinus. about 298 B. C., when time was divided into hours. The clepsydra, or water clock, was the next time record* vented. 1 Foundation 0/ Brotherhood. "The doctrine of the Brotherhood of Man Is a beautiful dream, hut it remains forever the baseless fabric of a dream, unless it is founded upon the deepest of all realities, the Fatherhood of God. To better our social conditions we need close thoughts, careful study, a diligent application of the best methods, but at last without faith In the eternal foundations there can be no final adjustment of social difficulties, and all earthly wisdom is but as sounding brass and clanging cymbals. Dr. Samuel dmlth. "Out of tho Mouths of Babea." Willie, to talkative caller--"Well, now that you've come, I suppose I shall have to go for the doctor." Talkative Caller--"Why, Willie?" Willie--"Father says you always make him ill 1" Dream Tears. Far better to dream of crying thao of laughter, for tears io^p^dream mean joy and merriment In real life; while laughter, when it ls drtam laughter. jrfff.nj;»a difficult circumstances. Belvldere--The next "great moral ' victory will be over tobacco, Mrs. Ella- ':<• abeth MacFarlane told the Boon# county W. C. T. tJ. convention here. Jacksonville.--If a resolution adopt* ed by the Ministerial association atits regular meeting is approved, there will be no more Sunday funerals in Jacksonville. Dixon.--The highest price ever paid a Lee county rural school teacher will be to Miss Ruth Book of Palmyra township, who will receive $90 a month during the next school year. Waukegan. -- Great Lakes Naval Training station here expects to keep , ' 20,000 men on peace basis. Since the armistice was signed between 25,000 and 30,000 men have been released. Freeport.--A foundation fund of $100,000 ls being raised for the Trlstate Medical society, composed of phy- •' sicians and surgeons of northern 9»- nols, southern Wisconsin and eastern Iowa. ' Aurora.--A resolution demanding that the Aurora, Elgin & Chicago Electric line reduce Its fares in Aurora to five cents, now that the war is qver, was introduced in the city counclL The fare is now six cents. Urbana.--The annual lnterscholastlc track and field meet which has al* ways been one of the biggest athletic events in the University of Illinois calendar, will be revived here this year on May 16 and 17, after a two-year period of non-existence. Beardstown.--The Thomas Knight farm, about seven miles northeast of this city in the Sangamon valley farming section, was sold to Chris Kuhlman. The farm consists of 359 acres, 200 of which is under cultivation. The consideration ls said to be between $50,000 and $60,000. Freeport. -- The circuit court of Stephenson county' through Judge Bauer, dismissed the bill of M. M. Baumgartner of Freeport, who sought to have set aside and declared null aivd void the merger of the American Stars and Equity, a fraternal Insurance society, organized several years ago in this city with the North American Union of Chicago. Springfield.--The following examinations to be held in Chicago have been announced by the state department of registration and education: Architect September 15, 16, 17; barber, June 17; dental, June 23, 24, 25, 26; emhalmer, June 20, 21; midwife, June 16, 17; , nurse, .Tune 27, 28; pharmacists, regl^ tered, June 10, 11; assistant, June 12, 13; apprentice, June 6; physicians, June 16, 17, 18, 19; qualifying certify cate, May 23. • Batavla. -- Mayor James' Fredendall, Labor party leader of Batavla, quit his work and went on strike with several hundred other molders and pattern- makers at the plant of the Shumway foundry. The strike was general throughout the Fox River valley, practically every plant employing molders at Aurora, Batavla, Geneva, St. Charles and Joliet being affected. The men, Recently unionized, are demanding '$>6.25 and an eight-hour day. Chicago.--Industrial leaders of Illinois are preparing to make vigorous protests against «the proposed plan of the United States railroad administration to make sweeping changes in the present freight tariffs. It is claimed that the proposal to change rates. Inch originated on a plan made li» Indiana, has made it impossible to get business on a settled basis, and thafc if the proposed shifts are made the result will be disastrous to all shippers in Illinois. ^ Toluca.™An election scandal involve "<&• X n Ing politicians and unnaturalized citi zens Is predicted here as a result o|M the operations of detectives engage® following the recent election. Proof has been obtained that 125 men vote* who neglected to take out their nat uralization papers, while many otlS* , ers, It Is charged, procured their papers through fraud and various misrepresentations. Most of the illegnl voters were said to be employees of the coal mines of this vicinity, Chicago.--Rainbow day in Chicane found Shivering, rain-drenched crowd# of Illinois people waiting at everjr point where they could get a look at Rellly's Bucks. The demonstration. while dimmed, was eloquent. Fro* 8:30 o'clock, when the liomesick guar ners of the famous One Hundred and Forty-ninth field artillery arrived at Park Raw station, until 3:30. when they entrained *or Camp Grant, ami the last act of military service, the* were taken to Chicago's damp, warm heart with an enthusiasm that nothing could check. Maj. Leonard Wood and Gov. Frank O. Lowden paid tribute to the One Hundred and Forty-ninth re|P«' iment and Col. Henry J. Reill.v till short speeches following the lunchesil tendered the returning heroes. ; Sterling.--As a result of a recount. J. P. Overholser was declared elected mayor of Sterling over M. G. Vansant by 21 votes. The official canvass hy the city commissioners had previously declared Vansant elected by three votes. Springfield.--"Lithuanian day" will „ be a big event In Springfield some tl*e during the month of July. Th* Knights of Lithuanians are going t© conduct the event. There are more Lithuanians In Sangamon county of any other foreign-born people, and it Is planned to make the occasion a long remembered holiday. -J* Cajlinville.--Oil borings in MacoujHo county have proved so encouraging that a company has been organized to erect a pumping plant. \\ ells have been sunk west of this city. It is believed that there Is a heavy deposit of the fluid underlying this section of the state. Waukegtn. -- One hundred wire , drawers of the American Steel and Wire company plant here have been laid off, owing to a Slack in business activity resulting from the ending of ^ the war. One hundred others were recently dismissed. Tht placi eiupioy®