Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 99, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 April 1914 — Page 3

A Man in the Open

BYNOPBIS. The story opens with Jesse Smith .relating the story of h'ls blrth, early life In Labrador andr of the death of his father. Jesse becomes a sailor. His another morales the master of the ship and both are lost In the wreck of the vessel. Jesse Becomes a cowboy to Texas. He marries • 'Polly, a singer of questionable meials. who later Is reported; to have committed suicide. Jesse becomes a rancher and moves to British Columbia. Hate Trevor takes up the narrative. Unhappily married, she contemplates suicide, but changes tier mind after meeting Jesse. Jesse rescues Kate from her drink-maddened husband who attempts to kill her. Trevor loses his life In the Rapids. Kate rejects ■offers of grand opera managers to return to the stage ana marries Jesse. Their married life starts out happily. Kate succumbs to the pleadings of a composer to return to the stage and runs away with him. She Widow O*Flynn from tier burning house. Is badly burned herself and returns home, where Jesse receives her with open arms. Jesse calls •on neighbors and plans to capture cattle thieves. Kate Is rescued from the hands ■of the bandits. Jesse Is captured by the robbers, but by a clever ruse makes prisoners of the robbers. They are turned •over to a United States marshal, who has ■arrived with extradition papers. Jesse takes charge of the outlaw chiefs son. Hilly O’Flynn, having promised the chief to keep him out of his father’s profession. He takes Billy to Vancouver and the lad Is shanghaied. A son Is born to Kate ■and Jesse and Is named David. Jesw receives a letter from his first wife, Polly, 1n which she tells him she deceived him Into thinking she had killed herself. For the honor of Kate and their son, father and mother sparate. Kate and David go to England to live. Four years later Billy O’Flyntt arrives and tells Kate how Jesse lias been ruined and ostracised through the vindictiveness of Polly. Kate arrives lii British Golumbia, lays plans to -help ■old* friends and defeat the plots of Polly. Provisions and help arrive In time to *ave Jesse’s life. He hears of Kate’s arrival and of her plans.

CHAPTER lII*-—Continued. When he’d tended the horses, Iron set up a clock upon the shelf, so I might hear the ticking as time passed. He carried in armloads from the oleigh, he opened cases, he spilled out eaoks. He showed me maple syrup, . try-your-strength cigars, a dandy rifle with plenty ammunition, books, •clothes, candy, a piano which plays Itself, then garden seeds, and all sorts of things which you’d have honed for in the long ago. The place was like a barter store, piled to the beams with riches wasted on me, who hadn’t a neighbor left. Why, even Iron, who used to think for no one but himself, had a kitten for me, warm in his pocket, and forgotten until a case of hardware squashed out its best Sunday scream. Who’d ever think, too, that so small a bundle of fur and claws should have a purr to fill my whole bed with joy. Surely, I loved this world I’d so nearly quit, when after supper Iron loosed a gramophone. The Hudson’s Bay man had shown him a special “record” from England, the angel song in Chopin’s “Marche Funebre." We'had that first, the very song she used to sing in this cabin, times when I reckoned it a shameful thing for any man to cry. It was Kate’s voice. Oh, tell God, mother, that I’m very grateful. I heard her voice filling thiß place which used to be her home. Though my wife and I are parted tor all our years—love finds a way. 4^ A week or more had passed, and I’d my strength again. The river had frozen so that We could cross to the hunting grounds beyond, and when we came back our camp was full of meat The truth is scarce, being winnowed !by many preachers, and my grains when I try to eat them, are mostly {husks. Iron calls me a coward. But Polly only weighs ninety-eight pounds, and I two hundred, so that I couldn’t 'have managed to feel brave fighting {her. Then Iron claims it’s not the little woman I ought to fight, but the nblg evil she did in bringing all our eettlers to death or ruin. A woman's whim is light as thistle-down, but thistles choke the pasture unless you fight them, and Christ himself fought to the death against the evils which grew rank around him. I doubt I’ve been a cowardly sort of Christian. I’d got so far in thinking my morals needed repairs, when a new thing happened, pointing out the way. O’Flynn rode over burning the trail from the Hundred. My wife is there! O’Flynn has seen my son, he has spoken with Father Jared, he has come with Kate from England, and he left her nursing at Bolt Taylor’s bedside. Bhe is sending Surly Brown from Soda Creek with a cable, to build a new scow, start the ferry again. Ransome Pollock's to manage the Trevor ranch. Iron’s to reopen the Sky-line while she makes his peace with the owners— O’Flynn wants to run the packing. She is finding a doctor to take McGee’s practise. Tearful George 1b to buy an imported stallion, and drift him with a bunch of Bast Oregon mares to stock my empty pastures. The dead settlement is live again as though there had been no Polly, to rob, ruin, and murder among our pioneers. And then my wife will send young Englishmen to school with me for training. Btroke by stroke this Mr. O’Flynn comes lashing home the news into my hide, as though I were being flogged. He says be hated me always, but never despjped me before as he does now. My wife and 1 should change clothes, only Fd be too useless for a woman. Iron says thd same, and in a most unchristian way I thrashed ; the pair, knocking their heads together, for patting ms too mack in the

by Roger Pocock

wrong while I wanted my breakfast. They think there’s something in my argument. The news Is better for being discussed, and best of all I reckon this man Bure who is to side-track Polly, building a town at the foot of'the Hundred Mile Falls. The pines on the high land, too small a trash for lumber, are good enough for pulp to feed a mill, while paper Is the plate from which we eat our knowledge. 1 see the black bush turning into books, the lands in oats of pasture till they’re warmed for wheat, and when we come to the rocks then’s marble to build colleges for our sons, gold to endow them. The land too poor to r any other crop, la best for raising^men. It’s only because I’m happy I write nonsense, feeling this night as though I were being cured of all my blindness. I have a sense that though I sit In darkness, my wife is with me, and if my eyes were opened, I should see her. Is It our weakness Which gives such strength to love? CHAPTER IV.

At Hundred Mile- House. Kate’s Narrative. Mr. Eure Inspected the woods and water-power, then departed for the coast, secretly to buy timber limits, avowedly to find a nurse and a doctor. Mr. Tom Faulkner, his engineer, surveyed, then let contracts for temporary snow road, log buildings at the falls, and a telegraph line which would secure our business from being known at Polly’s post-office. Mr. Dale reopened the Sky-line mines, pending my arrangement with the owners. Mr. Surly Brown placed a cable and Uuilt a scow In readiness to renew hto' ferry business. Mr. Tearful George placed loads of forage a day’s march apart across the forest, then drifted live stock into Jesse’s r&neh. Father Jared sought out young gentlemen to be trained at Jesse’s "School of Colonial Instruction.” Mr. William O’Flynn became bartender, despatch rider, stable man, general adviser, and commander-in-chief at the Hundred. A bewildered Chinaman, with a yellow smile, cooked, scrubbed, chattered pidgin-Euglish, and burned Incense to Joss In the kitchen. And I, Kate, was busy nursing and keeping house, with never a moment to spare for the specters which thronged our forest After the snow road diverted traffic, my one visitor was Pete Mathson, who on Saturdays climbed the long hill for his rations. When my patient was well enough, he would talk with “Bolt” Taylor about old times In the gold mines, or on the high technio of pack-train harness, above the comprehension of a woman. Until the nurse came I was with my patient always, and slept in the same close room. On her arrival —how 1 enviedi that pretty uniform—Nurse Panton proceeded to set us all to rights.

He Carried in Armloads From Sieigh.

She was a colorless creature, supported ky routine as by a corset and Billy informed me that she needed to be shocked thoroughly. He told her that the patient, being a sailor, wanted: nursing done shipshape and Bristol fashion. Nurse and I were to have each four hours on and four off, with % two jpg or half watches, which would daily reverse the order, so giving us the middle watch by turns. Whether relieved at midnight or at four a. m. I would put on my furs for a little prowl outdoors. To leave the house when it was forty degrees below sero, felt like the plunge into an ley bath, but gave the same refreshment afterward. Once setting out on such an excursion I traversed the dining-hiall, entered the dark barroom, and opened the inner door which gave upon the porch. But this time I could, not push the storm door open. Something resisted, something outside thrusting at the panels, something alive. I fell back against the bar, imagining bears, burglars, bogies, anything, while I listened, afraid to breathe.

THE EVENING REPUBLICAN, RENSSELAER, IND.

It was then I heard a voice, a girlish voice outside in the Arctie cold, chanting a singsong recitation aa though at school: “Bruce, Bruce; . Huron, Desoronto; Chatham, Cayuga; Guelph—not Guelph —oh, what comes after Cayuga?" Then feeble hands battered against the door, "Teacher! Teacher!” But when I opened the door, the girl stepped back afraid. - “You’re not the teacher," she said; “oh, tell me before she comes. Sixtysix counties and the towns have all got mixed.” “Come In and let me tell y^u.” “I daren’t! I daren’t! You’re not the teacher. This la not the school. You’ll take me back!” She turned, trying to run away, but her legs seemed wooden, and she slid about aB though she were wearing clogs. “I won’t,” she screamed, "I won’t go back!” Then she fell. “Dear child, you shan’t go back.” But still she shrank from me. “Oh, leave me alone!" she pleaded. "Mayn’t I give you-some tea?” _ “You won’t take me back to Spite House?” “Not to that dreadful place.” “Do you keep girls, too?" “There’s only a nurse, and a poor dying man.” "And you’ll hear me the counties of Ontario?” "Why, yes, dear.” ‘Til come then,” but as she tried to get up, ‘it’s cramp,” she moaned. "Dear child, you’re freeling." "I'm not cold, it’s cramp.” She must have fallen through the snow which covered our water-hole, for she was literally incased in Ice up to the breasts. Finding I had not strength to carry her, I shouted for the nurse, who roused Billy, and then the Chinaman. Together we carried her indoors, gave her brandy, and laid her, dressed as she was, in Captain Taylor’s bath. Then while Billy rode hard for a doctor, nurse and I filled the bath with freezing water, which for eight hours we kept renewed with ice. She told me of a village among vineyards, overlooking Lake Ontario, just where a creek comes fumbling down from the Niagara heights. Her father, a retired minister, wasted his narrow means In trying to raise the proper grapes for sacramental wine. Mother was dead, and nine small children had to be fed and clothed, to appear with decency at church and school, so that they would not be ashamed among the neighbors. Then Uncle John found an advertisement In the paper. A governess was wanted for four children somewhere in British Columbia. The wages were so generous that there would be enough to spare for, helping father. It meant so much of proper food, and good warm clothing for the younger children. So references were exchanged with Mr. Brooke, who wrote most charming letters, and Uncle John lent money for the journey. My little sohoolma’am pursed her lips severely ever that loan, which must be repaid by Instalments. Mr. Brooke met Jenny at ABhcroft, and took her by sleigh nearly a hundred miles, getting more and more familiar and- horrid until, in a state of wild fear of him, she ran tor safety Into a drunken riot at Spite House. The waitresses were rude and cruel, Polly lay drunk on the floor. There were no children. After I learned from Mr. Eure that I was a prejudiced witness, without a shred of evidence, that no court would listen to hearsay, and that the dying girl’s confession would not be allowed in court except It were made under oath before a magistrate. Poor Jenny would never have told any man what happened at Spite House; she would not have given the last sane moments of her life to vengeance; and so there was no case against either Brooke or Polly In a crime which had earned them penal servitude. Vengeance? I think our prayers together did more good, and when the time came for Jenny’s removal to a bed of Unt soaked in carbolic oil, she was prepared to face the coming pain.

“Shall I die?” she asked. I could only kiss her. “Then,’’ she said, “even if it isn’t true, tell papa I died game.” She was Canadian, and there is valor in that blood. a „ Before she was moved, Doctor Saunderson, of Clinton, had taken charge, and since we lacked petroleum enough for a bath, approved what we had done. He used opiates, but the pain, after a frostbite is thawed! Is that whicft follows burning. On the third day came exhaustion—and release. I was obliged to give evidence at the inquest, and my profession has taught me / quietness, restraint, simplicity. The coroner might talk law, but I was dealing with men; it was my business to make them cry. There was no case against Brooke, but from that time onward visitors to Bpite House were treated as until they left the country. Tor the rest, I would not be present either at the foneral dk at the public

meeting, or see the press sum who came up from Ashcroft, or discuss the matter with any of my neighbors. The theme was one distasteful to any woman with claims to decency. These things are not discussed. And even-if through misfortune my relationship with Jesse become a common scandal, at least I need not share the conversation. To make a scene, to discuss my affairs with strangers, to seek public sympathy, were things impossible. Yet I heard enough. The waitresses were gone from Spite House, the constable waß dismissed from his position; the business of the post-office and stage-line were transferred to Mr. Eure’s stopping-place at the falls. Brooke and Polly were left alone, with no power, it seemed then, for any further mischief. Until It actually happened, I never expected that Brooke would visit me, but perhaps from his point of view the event was piquant. When I askod him to state his business, with a large gesture he claimed the visitor’s drink. It fa an old custom, which I broke. “You think I’m a villain 1" I made no comment “I’ve come to thank you, ma’am. If you’d pressed that girl’s case it might have been well —awkward.” I told him that had I known the law, 1 should have done my best to get him penal servitude for life. "That’s straight” be answered indulgently, “you always were clear grit, and that’s why I want —well, ma’am,” he lowered his eyes, “I’m going to confess. You don't mind?” he added. My eyes betrayed my one desire, escape, but he stood In the doorway leading to the house. “Your presence,” I said, "to distasteful. Please will you let me pass?" “Not till I’ve set thingß straight” There was no hell with which to summon help* and I should have been ashamed to make a scene. “Go on,” I said. “I dunno how you feel, mum, about life. I’ve been disappointed, starting In with Ideals, and there’re gone. I'm as straight as the world will let me, without my going hungry.” “Yes," Brooke sighed. "I’m a disillusioned, disappointed man.” I had a curious sense that this actor of life was trying to be real, and In the attempt he posed. “Not that I claim,” he went on, “that Spite House is anyways holy. It’s not. Of course, a sporting and gambling joint meets a demand, a regrettable demand, a thing we both abhor and would like to be shut of. But since demand creates the supply, let’s have it In high-toned style, not run by thugs. That’s what I say." His spacious benevolence seemed to confer partnership, yet to be shocked at my immoral tendencies. "However,” he sighed, "it’s over. It’s done with, shoved aside. There was money In it, but small money, and we pass on. Old Taylor may have told you that as far back as November we decided, Mrs. Smith and me, to run the house as a first-class resbrt for tourists. We bought the Star Pack-train from Taylor, and the old cargador is making our new riggings.” This was news Indeed!

“Of course pack-trains as such are out of date as Noah’s ark, and we’ve got to march with the procession. You’ll see In this prospectus,” he held out a paper, “well, I’ll read It. Let’s see^-yes —’Forest Lodge, long under the able management of Mrs. Jesse Smith, with great experience in’ * * • no, it’s further on —'Forest Lodge is the natural center for parties viewing the wondrous wilds.' That should grip them, eh? ‘Experienced guides with pack and saddle animals from the famous Star atajo,’ we can’t call them mules, of course, ‘will escort parties visiting the sceneries and hunting grounds of the Coast Range, the Cariboo, the Omenica, the Babine, and the Cassiar.’ That ought to splash!” Billy had warned me of bad characters settled on the. lands toward Jesse’s ranch. Were these Brooke’s “experienced guides?” “Naturally," Brooke folded his prospectus, “the sporting trade had to be closed right down before the tourist connection took a hold. Millionaire sportsmen out to spend their dollars, expect to find things just so. They want recherche meals, and unique dec-

BOTH GOOD AND BAD MEANING

Innumerable Superstitions Connected From Time Immemorial With Wild Creatures. There are very many superstitions connected with wild animals. In the case of a lion, it is believed that the wearing of a claw of this animal will bring great strength. People connected with circuses and shows have a saying that when lions get restless and uneasy, either ill luck or extremely bad wegther is at hand, and that when they continually wash their faces in cat-like fashion they are likely to have fits of ill temper in the near future. Numberless are the superstitions associated with the tiger. The natives of India believe that its whiskers are a deadly poison, and that when finely chopped and secretly put into a person’s food they will assuredly cause death. What is known as the “evil eye” is greatly dreaded in India, and to avert this parents hang the claws of tigers round the necks of their children. ; To see a wolf to supposed to ho s

orations, real champagne wine, and everything ‘imported’ even when If a made on the spot They don’t make no hurroar over losing a few thousand at cards, tyut they just ain’t going to stand seeing Polly laying around drunk on the barroom floor. jil tell yon when they comes I ain’t gmng to have Polly around my place. That's straight She’ll get her marching orders P. D. Q." So Polly was next for betrayal. “Yes." Brooke became very confidential. "What I require at Forest Lodge is a real society hostess, a lady. Yes, that’s what’s the matter—a lady. Now that’s what I come about Ever since I seen you, Mrs., I mean madam. I mean — K He became quite diffident, leaving the doorway, leaning over the counter.

“Would yon—” he began, “would you be prepared, ma’am, to —” My way was clear, and I ran. Billy had held these last few weeks that Polly’s funds were gone, that she was penniless. He begged me to let him destroy the great signboard across the road to Spite House. Failure to renew that would indeed be conclusive proof of the woman’s penury, but the meanness of such a test revolted me, for one does not strike a- fallen adversary. Were there any funds to promote black pines and mosquitoes as an attraction to millionaires? Brooke in his folly had divulged that foolish scheme, sufficient to complete the ruin of a poor wretched woman, before he abandoned her Interests to seek hla own. Was it true? I went straight to Captain Taylor. “Yes, Kate,” he chuckled, “the mar der’s out at last. You see I’m not exactly prosperous, and my retired pay Is a drop in my bucket of debts. And then our good friend Polly Invested all her wealth in buying up the mortgage on this ranch.' 1 “But why?” “For fun. For the pleasure of turning me out. She kindly granted me permission to sleep In that old barrel which used to belong to my fox, but then you see I really couldn’t be under any obligations to the lady.” “Did you pay off the mortgage?” “I did. So Polly strums rag-time tunes on my piano, Brooke wears mj early Victorian frock coat, they serve their beans and bacon with my family plate, the gentleman sports my creit, the lady has my dear mother’s dla monds which are really paste. My dear, they’re county society—you really must call and leave cards.’' “But the portraits!" “They stared at me so rudely that I burnt them. Ancestors ought to remember they’re dead, and they’d rather be burned, too, than be claimed as Polly’s aunts.” “And the Star Pack-train V* “A half-interest, my dear, a halfinterest, that’s aIL” “So you’re In partnership?” “Why, no. Fact to, old Pete has been working thirty-five years, with his faithful eyes shining behind that hair—lt’s silver now, eh? Well, I couldn't leave him in the lurch. And there’s the Hudson’s Bay to consider, with forts up north depending on ns for supplies. And I suppose, when I come to think of it. I’m rather proud es the outfit So, in my sentimental way, I made a deed by which Pete is managing owner, with a half-interest while Polly to sleeping partner with no right to interfere.” “You’ve told Peter* “No. I suppose I’ve got to own up r “You don’t want Pete to be cheated by hto partners.” “Yon’re right. Just open my desk and look inside. It’s the paper on top" I found and read the deed. “You’ve read it, of course,” I said. “It was read to me by the lawyer chap. Isn't it all right?" “Oh, yes,” I managed to say, “it*i all right—such fanny legal jargon. 1 looked at the names of the wit nesses, Cultus McTavlsh and Lowlived Joe, the worst characters In our district. The document read to the old blind man had been no doubt destroyed. The deed actually signed made Polly sole owner of the famous pack-train. My friend had bees cheated. (TO 818 CONTINUED.)

good sign, but if a man sees a woh before the wolf sees him, then he will become dumb for the time or loe* bis voice. For a hare to run across anyone’s path is considered a very bad sign in some parts of England, because lx olden times it was believed that witches transformed themselves into hares in order touring bad luck to their ene mies.

Companionship in Solitude.

Solitude tries a man in a way society does not, H throws him upon his own resources, and if these resources be meager, if the ground he occupies in and of himself be poor and narrow he will have a sorry time of it Hence we readily attribute some extra via tues to those persons who voluntarily embrace solitude, who livj alone in the country or in the woods, or in the mountains and find it sweet W t know they cannot live without oo» verse, without society of some sort; and we credit them with the power o< invoking It from themselves or Mss of finding more companionship with dumb things than with ordinary wtm

WAR REMINISCENCES

UNDER FEET OF GENERAL LEG George Kimball of Lexington, Mass* Lay Wounded In Hallway During Last Day’s Fight. *T had Just arrived from my horn* in Maine,” said George Kimball of 31; Forest street, Lexington, Mass., “when the war broke out I was twenty-one years of age and Just ripe for fight Inf. I enlisted in Company A, Twelfth (Webster) regiment “I was wounded at Fredericksburg and got back to my regiment two weeks before the march to Gettysburg. Never have I seen such enthusiasm as was shown when the boys were told that we were to march to Gettysburg, the thought of the army getting out of Virginia into free country being a very bright one. “As we came nearer we could hearthe firing and as we marched on we met A. P. Hill, who had just come up with troops to Seminary Ridge and had had a lively fight for four hours. "My regiment stood against the enemy until we had:fired all our ammunition and then fought with clubbed muskets and bayonets. “We were then ordered to charge on Iverson’s North Carolina brigade and as we went forward many of the rebels shook their handkerchiefs in the air as a signal that they would quit and came toward us. “In the excitement, somehow, my comrades bad gotten away from me and suddenly I discovered that I waa alone in the bunch of Confederates who had given up. We had been talking for some little time and the rest of my comrades had evidently fallen back. “I started to get away, but the Confederates, seeing that I was alone, ordered me to halt I started to run and they fired. At this time a cross fire was coming In from the Union soldiers and as I ran I was struck in the groin, the ball passing through to my hip. “I lay there and saw the armies sway back and forth and after a time was carried into the home of Rev. Mr. Baugher, near by, by the Confederates. I was there during the battle and for five days afterward. I was placed on the floor of the front hall and received good care from the Confederate surgeon, Doctor Fraser, who used to remark, ‘We’re all human, don’t be afraid.’ “I remember one incident as I lay on the floor. General Lee came Into the house to watch the progress of the battle from the upper floor of the house and In passing through the house he stepped over me very carefully. “As I got a little strength I could shift myself about and look out onto the field of battle. I saw Pickett come out of the forest into the open and make that famous charge. Out of the din of battle I beard a mighty cheer go np from the Union soldiers and I knew what that meant Then I saw Pickett’s men come straggling back carrying their wounded with them.” Mr. Kimball visited Miss Baugher in 1883 when a member of a committee sent to mark out various spots on the battlefield. Again in 1885 he visited the place and paid a visit.

OFFICERS TO DISCARD SABER

Weapon Considered Out of Date and Will Be Replaced by Straight Sword for Btabblng. The cavalry of the United States is to lose a weapon which has been associated with that military arm in all countries since time immemorial. It is the saber that is to go. The saber, as everybody knows, is a sword of curved shape, meant for a slashing blow. Under earlier conditions of warfare it did effective work. It Is now considered out of date. To take its place the cavalryman of the regular army is to be provided with a straight sword for stabbing. The new sword will be carried at the saddle of the fighting man on horseback, who, it is expected, will be deprived of the revolver which he has hitherto wont In a holster at his belt The reason for taking away the pie tol is that the cavalryman does not need more than one weapon to shoot with, namely, the rifle, which is suspended in a boot by his side. This rifle is shorter than the equivalent arm with which the soldiers of European nations are equipped; but it is the same weapon provided for the American Infantry. It is considered that with one weapon for shooting and another for stabbing, the cavalryman Is adequately armed. But the saber is a back number, and the new sword is expected to prove much more useful in practical warfare.

Why He Went

Jones, who doesn’t own a motor car, and is never likely to, was met at the motor show by a friend, who expressed surprise to see him there. "Well,” said Jones, "it’s lovely once a year to come and look at a whole mass of cars that you don’t have to dodge.”—Christian Register.

For Your Plants.

Carbide, the pearly gray powder left from acetylene lamps, is excellent for nee around plants. It stimulatas the growth of both flower* and foliage.