Is there really something to the belief that reptiles are sometimes rained down from heaven or has somebody lost two perfectly good alligators in the vicinity of West Liberty, Iowa? That is a question West Liberty would like to have solved. Two perfectly sane, entirely responsible, utterly truthful and eminently respectable families report the finding of alligators in their front yards, said front yards being separated only by the width of the passing road. On the farm of David Nauman an alligator was found prowling about the garden and was destroyed by an excited member of the Nauman family. On the place of Charles Carter, across the road, Mr. Carter in person made the discovery, captured the alligator, and now has it on exhibition. West Liberty people say it has rained hard enough of late to account for ’most anything, but, beyond accrediting the advent of the alligators to the sky, are at a loss to advance an acceptable theory. Interesting New Inventions. A doorknob connected with an electric lamp that may be switched on by pressing a button has been patented by a New York inventor. The invention is expected to help materially in the sometimes difficult process of finding the keyhole after dark. The doorknob is illuminated. The same principle is applied to the doors and dials of safes. A cattle guard invented by an Arkansas man, a section foreman, has been approved by railroads. It is made in three sections, so that it can be removed for track surfacing. The guard consists of rollers, which are made in a frame resting on top of the ties. A Philadelphia University professor has invented a dust-proof, fire-resisting glass case for museum specimens. Wireless apparatus that weighs but eight pounds, yet will transmit messages twenty-one miles and has received signals more than three hundred miles, has been invented by a New Jersey man. A sand box for automobiles, like the familiar device on locomotives, to distribute sand under their tires to prevent skidding, has been patented by a Massachusetts inventor. What is believed to be the largest conveyer belt in the world, 893 feet long by thirty-six inches wide, has been made for an Ohio stone quarry. To keep the base lines of ball grounds dry when it rains, a Pennsylvanian has patented a canvas cover, easily rolled for removal. Sue for Wages Earned Back in Slavery Days. After more than a half century has passed since the freeing of the slaves, a suit was filed a few days ago in the supreme court of the District of Columbia to gain compensation for work performed by them during the years 1859 to 1868. The suit was filed by H. N. Johnson, of Louisiana; Rebecca Bowers, of Texas; C. B. Williams, of Mississippi, and Mamie Thompson, of Tennessee, against William M. McAdoo in his official capacity as secretary of the treasury.