Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 46, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 February 1915 — Page 3

THE HOUSE OF HOWE

By MAX HART.

(Copyright.) Far out amid the cactus and the eastern tourists lies the town of Cab Horse. It is as typically western as the Pacific coast, and at one time it manifested all the symptoms of becoming a city. Somebody discovered carbonated asphalt or rock salt or virgin gold in the vicinity of Potato Hill, and at the precise moment Cab Horse was about to take out a city charter, , order a new post office from Washington, print up a set of letter-heads and prepare for business as a bona fide and budding metropolis. Scientists who studied the rise and fall of Cab Horse were inclined for some time to lay the whole blame upon the slanting shoulders of Charley White. It is perfectly true that the bad luck attending Charley White immediately preceded the finding of precious mineral in the neighborhood of Potato Hill; but beyond that coincidence, there is nothing to turn the stern finger of accusation toward Mr. White. The facts speak for themselves. For a long time Charley could not do 80. About the time Cab Horse began to boom and the gambling element swarmed in from surrounding territory, Ike Dorgan started the Silver Stag on the street which would have been named Main street if anyone had thought it needed a name. The Silver Stag was a combination of all that is precious to the antigambling fraternity, the anti-dance section of the community and the Society for the Improvement of Morals In General. Ike Dorgan. accumulated thirteen thousand'dollars by way of profit and sold out to a person named Howe, and it was Howe who brought Charley White to the thriving village of Cab Horse, the reason being that Mr. White was in undisputed possession of the finest singing, yodeling and noisemaking voice west of Omaha., About the same time Charley White discovered Cab . Horse and its principal fount of recreation and amusement, the Silver Stag, Apache Nell discovered him.

Nell was a peculiarly fine specimen of young womanhood wasting its fragrance on the desert air, and if she had gone to New York, instead of squandering her time in Cab Horse, the Sunday papers would have printed her photograph and prominent artists would have beseeched her to pose for them. The natural a*d subsequent eventuality was that Nell found many interesting qualities in Charley White, and he returned the compliment. True, an irritated citizen named Kelley had threatened to remove most of Mr. White’s regular features because of Nell’s open preference for the singer, but |hat little disturbance passed over without calamity. Kelley attempted to drown his sorrow in the well-known liquid made for that purpose, and finally died of a broken heart, superinduced by a broken stomach, a couple of broken kidneys and a badly fractured liver. At the very height of his popularity Charley White suddenly and inexplicably went into retirement The singer came down from his pedestal and his song was hushed. Woe filled the throbbing atmosphere of the' Silver Stag and the chief bouncer explained without avail. While the regular patrons of the ■Silver Stag faced this new sorrow in melancholy and dejection, there was one who felt the disappointment greatest Cassandra had come in from the. East —Lady Cassandra, with the soft Italian voice and the dark eyes of the land at the foot of the Alps. She had appeared among the dancers In the Silver Stag, and immediately men and women noticed her. Apache Nell joked with Charley White about it. “The dark and mysterious lady appears to be hypnotised when you sing,” chuckled Nell after Cassandra had manifested her interest, for a week or more. There was a vague note of jealousy In her voice. “She’s a funny-looking wop,” Charley retorted Indifferently. "Let’s take a walk before the nine o’clock session.” For a month Cassandra paid silent devotion before the shrine of melody and at the end of that time her grief was great Charley White ceased to sing. “Why?” demanded Howe. “There’s something the matter with my throat,” Charley explained. “They>e come to like your singing tremendously;” Howe pleaded. “See a doctor. Fix your throat up as soon as you can, and when you come back there’s an extraflvs a week tacked on your pay.” The solitary Cab Horse physician peered down the White throat with fitting solemnity at the earnest request Of Mr. Howe, took charge of a four-dollar fee and announced that the trouble was probably a strain. “He will be well in a week,” declared the physician. "I hope an” Howe replied gloomily. But Mr. White was not well in a week, or in two or four weeks. He mooned about Cab Horse and avoided the Silver Btag. He hated to face the crowds and explain over and over that his throat had gone back on In confteauence tnnlnwi Ml off. md I

Howe pleated with tears in his eyes "1 can’t sing, if I can’t sing,” Charley retorted on these occasions *T couldn't produce a note, no matter how hard I tried.” “Talk to him,” Howe had begged of Apache Nell. "Rub his fool throat Make him get better.” Nell promised to do her best, but the lost harmony and the tender, soothing lilt of "I Wonder Who’s Kissing Her Now” no longer was wafted across the dismal tables of the Silver Stag. The Lady Cassandra disappeared without warning. Without the witchery of Charley’s tenor voice the varied attractions of the Silver Stag palled upon her. Whither she went no one knew, and few seemed to care. Time trudged by in Cab Horse. Apache Nell, on the morning of a sunny day, wandered afar from the purlieus of the town.! Two miles from Cab Horse she came jp a cluster of scrubby trees and halted to enjoy their slender shade. .In the act of brushing her .moist forehead with a dainty cambric handkershief she pauspd, and her eyes lighted. From somewhere came a sound — and the sound was the voice of Charley White lifted in song. Nell secreted herself skillfully and waited. Charley approached from the opposite direction. Harmony welled from him like a long pent-up oil well in the first fine, careless rapture of its shooting, and the echoes wound their tureful way over the smiling land. When he had reached the knot of trees Nell suddenly stepped into the road before him. “I thought,” she said sternly, “that you couldn’t sing! Why have you deceived Mr. Howe and me and everybody? Explain!” Charley removed his hat and hung his head. "Your throat Is perfectly right, isn’t it?’’ Nell demanded. Cnarley nodded dismally. "Then why?” Nell asked. "I lied about my he replied, slowly. “Therftjjns never been anything the mattpnprith it.” "Then why Wl ipn stop singing -at the Silver Stag?” "Because, Nell, I £ave enemies, and because by enemies have threatened to kill me.” The argument then ensuing lasted the greater part of an hour, and when it was ended Charley said: “For your sake I’ll go back. If I am killed my blood is upon your head.” "You will not be killed,” Nell said. The Silver Stag greeted its returning songbird with cheers. All was festive, and the crowds gathered about the yellow tables and spent money with abandon. At fifteen minutes past ten Charley White turned into the thrilling oratorio known as the “Wyoming Rag,” and at ten-sixteen a party of strap gers wandered into the Silver Stag and occupied a table. There were three men and two women, and their hilarity was unusual, even for a Silver Stag party. Their voices rose after a time, and Charley glanced over inquiringly. From laughter the newcomers drifted into earnest conversation, low in tone at first. One of the men rose and made a sweeping gesture. The two women shrieked. The other two men leaped to their feet. Revolvers were drawn in the twinkling of an eye, and in the twinkling of another eye the regulars of the Silver Stag were underneath tables and the strange party was standing in the center of a cloud of smoke. Their guns barked viciously. At the top of a long note Charley White ceased singing abruptly. Quietly he sank to the stage, his frantic hands tugging at his shirtband. Apache Nell reached him first. Her arms were about ‘him when Howe came into the room. The warm blood trickled through his coat and colored Nell’s waist. “I told you they’d get me,” he whispered faintly. A few hours later, when they had probed into and got the bullet out of his shoulder, Charley White sat up in Doc Meehan’s spare bedroom and cast a faint smile at Nell. *Tm going to get well,” he said cheerfully, and Nell patted his hand. "Of course you are,” she replied. “And we’ll be married as soon as I can get on my feet” Nell agreed. ' "You came near chasing your hus-band-to-be out of the-game ahead of his time,” the patient continued. "If I were a vindictive sort I might hold it against you. I wonder who that bunch was and what they had against me?” "They didn’t have anything against you,” Nell said slowly. "The bullet that hit you was an accidental shot” “After the warning I had!” he said scornfully. "Don’t kid me, NelL You can’t make me believe that.” "The person who wrote you the warning was not the person who shot you,” she persisted. 'How do you know that?” Charley asked. u - “Because,” Nell replied. "How do you know?” he insisted. "Do you remember the woman named Cassandra?” she inquired. He nodded wenderingly. “Well, there was a time when she got on my nerves with her big, black eyes fastened upon you as you sang. “I tried to laugh R off, and I oouldn’t You simply hypnotised her when you sang, and I felt miserable and — “Oh, I wrote you that Black Hand letter myself!” _ Than Doe Meehan came in with » Crash bandage.

THE EVENING REPUBLICAN, RENSSELAER, IND.

A scene of ruin, desolation and death is this picture taken immediately after a hot encounter between some Germans and French in one of the principal streets of Lille. A company of uhlans tried to force its way through the city. As they were passing through one of the main streets they were unexpectedly confronted by a detachment of French infantry. A hot fight ensued, and after a few minutes the German uhlans were driven back with heavy losses.

PUZZLED OVER NAVY

War Lessons Leave Uncertainty as to What to Do. American Btudents of Naval Affairs Will Have Much to Learn From European War—May Change Whole Bystem. By EDWARD B. CLARK. (Staff Correspondent Western Newspaper - Union.) Washington.—Congress was at sea for some time to know what it should do for the navy. It is still at sea as to whether or not what it is doing and has done are the right things to do. Here is the trouble: The navy department made its recommendations for battleships and smaller craft prior to the time that any naval lessons had been learned as the result of sea fights between nations now at war. The naval committee of the house of representatives amplified the building pro-, gram of the navy department, adding thereto several ships of war of various kinds. Now it is admitted that the sea lessons of the present war may tend to prove that the kind of ships which are to be authorized will not meet the requirements of the lessons learned from. the fighting now going on. * In the navy department today every detail of recurring sea engagements is being studied closely. The battle between the British ships Lion, Tiger, New Zealand and others, and the German ships Bluecher, Moltfte, Derfflinger and the others seems to have shown, so American naval officers say, the superiority of fast ships of the battle cruiser class with a certain number of big guns, over smaller ships with a much larger number of guns of slightly smaller caliber. The information concerning the battled between English and German vessels in the South Pacific, South Atlantic and Ih the North sea is- not as full as it might be, but the service men are able to read between the lines and they get a lot of material out of meager reports in which laymen might

PRINCESS MARY

This is & new photograph of Princess Mary, the only daughter of King George of Great pritatn. She is keeping'in close touch with her brother, the prlitte of Wale* who is bow at the

DEAD STREW STREETS OF LILLE AFTER BATTLE

not be able to find anything, even if they applied a microscope. The result of this study pf fighting as it occurs will show later when the estimates are made for another naval appropriation MIL . Some senators and representatives seem to think that it would have been far wiser thiß year not to have appropriated any money to build American men of war, except for a few of the smaller type whose worth for certain duties is well known. There seems to be a belief tijat the great fighting ship of the future will be not a dreadnaught, but the fast battle cruiser with heavy long range guns. —; The war is still going on and as in all human probability there will be more sea fights before it is over there will be plenty of lessons yet to be learned by the American students of naval affairs. Navy men say it is possible when the European war ends that there will be a complete change of ship building procedure on the part of all the nations of the world.

65-CENT ROOSTER COSTS $ 16

But Owner Has Satisfaction of Hav- . Ing It Back in His Pen After a Legal Battle.. Denver. —Sixteen dollars was the amount a rooster, worth 66 cents, cost Charles Utt, a resident of West Denver, not counting the loss of time spent in an endeavor to regain the bird. The rooster managed to escape from the pen in the rear of Utt’s home. It was wandering in the alley when Ralph Nissen, a small boy living in the same block', caught 1L The boy took it home and refused to give it up when Utt learned of its whereabouts. Realising that the boy would not give the bird up voluntarily, Utt had recourse to the law to regain his rooster. He hired an attorney to bring replevin proceedings in Justice Rice’s court at an expense of five dollars, put up the docket fee of five dollars, and then hired an auto to convey Deputy Constable Robert Shores to and from the Nissen home. He was out sl6 when Shores turned the rooster over to him.

LIKE HELEN KELLER

Five-Year-Old Boy Displays Remarkable Powers. Deaf Mute and Almost Blind, He Is In Fair Way to Become Famous —Result of Care and Proper Treatment. ... - St. Louis.—Ernest Smith, five years old, deaf, dumb and almost blind, was taken from the city hospital three years ago, after his mother deserted him, s by the Missouri Branch International Sunshine society, and is in a fair way of becoming as remarkable as Helen Keller, according to medical authorities, specialists and instructors in the Missouri School for the Blind. The child, who three years ago was not expected to live and who was declared to be mentally defective, is an excellent proof of what care, the proper treatment and skilled attention will accomplish. At five he displays a healthy devotion to the sports indulged in by boys of his age the world over and an alarming interest in the carrying out of mischievous pursuits. Since an operation performed several months ago, which restored to Mb in a slight measure the use of his left eye, he has displayed a sense of touch and 'perception which'have set his elders wondering, and which has determined then to secure for him the best advantages obtainable to make of himself other than an ordinary mote T He recognizes color* readily; is able to distinguish his Sunday clothes from

EAR SUSTAINS GUN THUNDER

German Scientists Claim Normal Hearing Is Not Affected by Heavy Artillery. Berlin. —The normal ear is not affected in any noticeable degree by tbe noises of even the heaviest artillery, according to conclusions based upon a long study of artillerymen by a Berlin ear specialist Of fifty-one artillerists observed for a long period by this specialist none exhibited any objective symptoms, and only four complained of subjective injuries, mainly “ringing in tbe head.” In investigations covering a whole year only one case of burst eardrum was found. Tbe ordinary recruit who serves only two years in peace times in tbe heavy artillery, bat rarely Incurs any lasting injury to his ears. Officers who have served many years not infrequently leave the service with chronic partial deafness or ringing in the ears. Investigation appears to sho*., however, that these sufferers d<d not have normal organs when they enlisted.

BISHOP OF LONDON

Arthur Foley W. Ingram, bishop of London, who has gone to the front as chaplain of the London rifle brigade.

those-of the every-day variety; he is quick to notice anything new in the wearing apparel or speech of the visitor in the home in which he is being cared for, and he makes known bis likes and dislikes in an emphatic manner, in everything running the gamut from foodstuffs to persons. In the opinion Of Mrs. F. W. Baumhoff, for 14 years president of the Missouri Sunshine society, and who resigned that post in order to devote her time wholly to canng for blind children under school age, the child’* powers of observation are nothing short of remarkable.

MAY EAT ONLY STATE BREAD

Dresden Residents Are Now Forbidden to Buy Their Supplies in the Evening. Amsterdam. —It is reported from Dresden that residents there are now receiving every evening bread which is destined for use the next day. They buy a large supply in the evening so as to be able to eat some of the brea- . when it is fresh. the Saxon government has ordered that In future bakers shall supply only stale bread in the evening. The government threatens to forbid the baking of cakes and other pastry.

Many Priests Killed.

Antwerp.—An astonishingly large number of priests have been killed In Belgians, the bishopric of Namur alone reporting ST oe*d and 13 missing.

Home Town Helps

TO KEEP DOWN INSECT PESTS Bird Houses in Field and Garden Are a Profitable Investment in Many Ways. Before erecting bird houses to attract the feathered songsters without whose presence successful gardening is impossible, one should first determine the kind of birds to which his premises are adapted. The question usually next arising is as to the number of birds that can be accommodated. Unless grounds are large, it is generally useless to expect as tenants more than a pair of each species, except martins. However, the singular intolerance shown by most birds during the breeding season to others of their kind does not operate between those of different species. A dozen different kinds of birds will pursue their several modes of hunting and raise their families on the same lot, but rarely itwo of the same soft. Of all our house birds, martins alone are social. The fact that there is a

Feed Shelter—No. 10, Side View of Food Shelter. No. 11, Food Bhelter Set on Top of Poet. No. 12, Food Shelter/Interior, Showing Suet Baskets.

limit to the possible bird population on any given tract must be taken into consideration. When the probable tenants have been decided upon, the selection of sites is in order, for the site often decides the style of house that is to occupy it In tbe final placing of bird houses, care should be taken to have them face away from the winds prevailing in stormy weather. The strongly developed homing instincts of birds can be relied on to attach them to the neighborhood where they first saw the light, and the identical pairs which nest in the houses provided for them one year wifi often return the next season to enjoy the same bounty and protection. The illustration shows one of the best ideas for building bird shelters.

PUT BAN ON STREET SIGNS

Four States Have Enacted Laws That Will Do Away With Blemishes on the Highways. Lawa designed to preserve the beauty of the highways by preventing, as far as possible, the placing of advertising signs on buildings, trees and stones the highways, are aow in effect in Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and New York. The New York law, which went Into effect recently, makes it a misdemeanor to place a sign on any tree, stone or structure within the limits of a highway, or on any private property without the consent of the owner. It Is also provided that any sign placed in violation of this law may be removed and destroyed by anyone, without resort to legal formalities. —Modern Me chanlcs. Living Landscape a Dominant Art. Warren H. Manning, president of the American Society of Landscape Architects, in extending a greeting to the American Civic association, at its annual convention in Washington, said: "I wish to state my belief that the making of living landscape will be the dominant fine art of the future, because it is one in which all the people and all the homes may have a place. I believe the time will come, if it is not already here, when men pf means will seek out the finest landscape outlooks, will purchase them as they now purchase artists’ pictures, and will take their friends to their galleries of living pictures with an even greater pride tb*u they now take them to their galleries of painters’ pictures."

All Alike Interested.

The man working on a salary, is as much interested In the permanent prosperity of the town as is the man who owns his own business, says the Herald of Palestine, Tex. And it Is only through cooperation that we can get prosperity. The thing* that tbnd to make a man’s business more prosperous st the same time tend to give more stable value to a man’s home and guarantee him more steady employment Yon can't get away from it; we are all to the Mins boat, andmustsink