Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 207, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 September 1918 — Page 2

Shorn Locks

By BARBARA KERR

(Copyright, 1918. by the McClure Newspaper Syndicate.) Percy Grosscup, the -handsomest man of the whole force, came jauntily into the room, smiled patronizingly at the stenographer and proceeded to the desk of his chief to see whether any collections had come for his department His chief was out, but lying open and spread out on his desk was the following remarkable, but self-ex-planatory telegram: “Don’t let Grosscup go pay five thousand worth it appearance asset of office.” As his eyes devoured It and the sense of it soaked In he could hardly hold himself together. “Why, why—five thousand is twice what I asked so They have at last realized what I am worth to them. Ah. Percy, you handsome dog—this means —” and chuckling to himself, he ran his hand through his curly hair, a gentle flush overspread him and, glancing slyly at the stenographer, he hurried out. Getting Into his coat, hastily catching up his hat. and swagger stick, he hailed the down elevator. Smiling at his exultant countenance In its little mirror, he threw back his head to get a refractory curl out of his eyes, straightened his hat, and half audibly chuckled to his reflection — ‘‘.Appearances asset of office.” “Aw, wot’s eatin’ ye? Pretty Percy. Must be a klssln’-bug, the way yq’re lookin’ at yerself!” sneered the elevator boy. A blush spread over Percy’s face at the howl of derisive laughter from the hoy. At another time he probably would have given him a good shaking, but now he was busy formulating his plans which must be executed quickly, 6.0 he had no time to teach the boy manners to his betters. That could be attended to later; there was other and pleasanter business on hand. The telegram was as good as actual money. The firm was never known to go back on a pledge. He would go and bind the bargain with a little down payment on a certain bungalow that he had admired —and so had she — then he could speak of It as his; also he would have set aside for him a certain suite of living-room furniture In a down-town window that he had had his eye on; then he would go and tell the girl and ask her to name the day. It Is quite wonderful how smoothly business runs when the man who has the price sets out to Jjuy. He was so jubilant that he was almost beside himself, but he managed either to suppress the outward signs, or to grin behind his hand, so as not to provoke any more such coarse and unfeeling remarks as those indulged In by the elevator-hop. Millicent Beauchamp lived with a widowed mother in a little cottage at the edge of town and helped out a email Income by teaching primary music classes: She was a wholesome, modest girl with sterling womanly qualities. So when she saw Percy coming, she wisely decided that she would not run away to change her dress, but would meet him as she would any other caller at that hour in the morning. Very sweet and winsome she looked as she swung the door open and asked “And what brings Mr. Grosscup out so early? Do we owe that firm of yours anything? And were you afraid we’d move?” Be It said to the credit of Percy that, despite arrogant egotism, he appreciated her worth, and for just a minute the question almost formed itself In his mind as to whether he was really good enough for her. He answered her laughing question. “If you do owe us anything,” he returned joyously, “that pink gingham dress w'ould just about settle It.” Then almost before he realized it, he was asking her to throw herself Into the bargain. “Are—are you proposing to me?” breathlessly asked Millicent. And Percy swept her into his arms to assure her at closer range that he was. The patter of staccato steps in the hall brought the people down to earth. Disengaging herself, Millicent In -a hushed little voice half whispered: “It’s mother!” But Percy was in one of those exultant, Impetuous moods that carries all before it, and turning hastily, he caught Millicent’s rather chubby little mother in an ecstatic embrace and, kissing her on the cheek with all the air of a happy, teasing son, repeated: "It’s mother!” Then releasing her a little ruefully, he begged pardon, neatly apologized and blamed his impetuosity, and the fact that he had not asked her consent at first, all to the pink gingham dress. Mrs. Beauchamp, very much perturbed, and with two tears that threatened to overflow their banks in spite Of much winking to force them back, •miled a little tremulous consent to •verythlng, then hastened oyt to take Sure of the rebellious tears and left die young people to their wonderful iccupation of planning a speedy marriage. “Well, now that’s settled, and I must get back to work or I might lose my job,” said Percy apologetically, after relating his good fortunes and listening to unstinted praise of his unusual bustoess ability. . Upon reaching the office he. walked

into his chiefs presence and awaited the news. “What, just got in? Late again?” asked his chief, as he jumbled his papers a little as though looking for something. He hated to tell Grosscup what was coming to him. Picking up the telegram, he coughed slightly and said: “Mr. Grosscup, the president thinks that we can dispense with your services after the first of the month.” Grosscup laughed aloud at the joke. The chief looked -at him amazed. “Well, I am very glad that you. take It that way. I was rather sorry for you, but—” His face and manner sobered Percy, who pointed to the telegram and said: “That doesn’t sound much as If I were canned.” The chief looked at the message as If he were really seeing it for the first time. He was seeing what Percy saw. He turned to the stenographer: “Miss Smith, please show Mr. Grosscup how to read a categorical telegram, and punctuate it for him.” Miss Smith, who was sorry for Percy, looked appealingly at the chief, who motioned her to bring the correspondence to his ’desk. . “You saw this before!” asked, or rather, asserted the chief. Percy could not trust himself to speak, but nodded his head. “Well,” said the chief more kindly, “then it will be a pretty hard setback, when you see the real message. To save time and money, we have a sort of code. We try to keep so well posted that few words are necessary. And taking his pencil he punctuated the telegram, and as he read it, ran his finger over the corresponding question in a letter. “The message says: “Don’t.” (Don’t take on another stenographer). “Let Grosscup go.” (Getting more now than he can or will earn till his hat gets down to normal. He ought to be called plain Bighead. Gross-Kopf must have been the original name). “Pay five thousand.” (For house on Beecher St.) “Worth it.” (To pay S2OO to remodel front.) “Appearances asset of office.” (So we are justified in paying that amount.) The stenographer had slipped out; she could not bear to, see his humiliation. The chief really had a kindly heart, and he fumbled his papers some more without looking at Percy. With a groan Grosscup sank into a chair, his hands before his face. Tears of mortification and disappointment were smarting his eyes. Once or twice he tried to speak, then he arose as if to go. “Sit down, son; you aren’t the first man to lose his job. You’ve got plenty of time to look around. We might even extend your time a month, till you get settled down somewhere —” . “Get settled somewhere! Yes, in that new little bungalow!” he burst out bitterly. Then he opened his heart and made a clean breast of the whole of the morning’s business. He stopped short at the maddening thought. “What will she say? How can I ever tell her?” Then manfully he pleaded his cause: “Just you name the figure that you can afford to pay me till my hat gets down to normal. I’ll go out and tell the girl the whole story, then I’ll marry her on the date set just the same, if she’ll have me. Til see if I can’t come out ahead of this deal after all —I’d like to show you once what I can do.” “It mightn’t be a bad venture,” mfised the chief, thoughtfully, “if you really mean it.” The curling lock fell over his brow, and feeling the look of half contempt that came over his chief’s face, he pushed the lock back savagely: “Lend me a quarter till I go out and get my hair cut,” begged Percy, ‘Til show you whether I mean It or not!”

Keyless Electric Lock.

An interesting device is described by a Chicago electrician: “I have attached a secret .Jock that does not require any key to opep it to the door of my room,” he says. “The lock itself is an ordinary electric lock, but it is the way that the contact is. made through it in opening the door that makes my scheme different from others. A vertical wire is suspended the full length of the panel on the inside of the door. Directly opposite the middle of the wire and quite close to it, a small brass plate is mounted. One end of the battery-and-lock circuit is connected with the vertical wire, and the other end with the brass plate. Whenever I desire to enter my roam, I simply knock on the outside of the panel; the wire vibrates, it finally touches the plate, the circuit is closed, and the lock opens.”

His Wealth in His Mind.

Imaginary wealth got a man into trouble in Edinburgh a few days ago. The man was being prosecuted for obtaining goods- on false pretenses. It was stated that he had been previously convicted in Edinburgh, and was formerly in the Royal Scots. He had a lively Imagination, and described himself as residing at Cranston house, Braemar. There was found in his possession a will, by which he bequeathed a number of legacies—giving $25,000 to one lady, and $5,000 to. the Sick Children’s hospital, Aberdeen. There was, hpwever, no Cranston house at Braemar, and all the wealth in the accused’s possession was about 11 cents.

That Professor Again.

Maid (to professor in study)— Madam has reftirned from her week’s trip, sir. Professor—Ah! Remind me by and by to give her a kiss. - ._

THE EVENING REPUBLICAN. RENSSELAER. IN<).

Good Designing in Separate Skirt

Those very handsome separate skirts that came in along with rich, new fabrics for summer set a pace for elegance and style that is not easy to keep up But the separate skirts for fall measure up to their standard, which is saying more for these heavier skirts -than could ever be said before. Many of the new skirts are made of cloths woven especially for them. These goods are plain, with borders in wide or narrow bands in contrasting colors, or patterned with wide bands in alternating colors over all their surface, or bordered with cross-bar bands, or perfectly plain. Now’ that the looms are busied with the affair of the separate skirt we may expect revelations in fine designing. In all the new models pockets, large buttons and novel girdles—nearly always w’ide —are style features On which designers have centered attention. In wool goods for plain skirts, jersey cloth remains a favorite and in silk poplin is not outrivaled as yet, although tricot may soon take the

Manufacturers of suits assure us that no supply of wool beyond that they have already secured Is in sight, and it follows that our spring clothes are likely to be made of some other sort of material. Already a variety of new materials is on the shelves of the stores and in the stock rooms of the factories. Whoever needs a wool suit would best buy it early in the season before the supply runs out. It may have to do service for the next three years; but it is easy to put up with this state of things. If all the wool is needed for the ever-increasing anpy, women will do without it. There are on hand just now suits and coats for fall in good wool materials and in many graceful styles. One of “them is shown above in a practical and plain model that will prove a good Investment. It will be noticed that the skirt is longer than for several seasons. This is an echo of French styles, which may or may not be accepted in America. American women like the cleanliness of shorter skirts and .they also like their most businesslike style and may Insist that, in street suits at least, the mandate for longer skirts be disobeyed.

lead. The skirt shown in the picture is an example of good designing in a separate skirt since it is modish and good looking. It is of rose-colored w’ool jersey with slit pockets on each side, finished at their edges with double rows of machine' stitching. The skirt is gathered with a little fullness at the front and more at the sides and hack, to a moderately wide waistband. It fastens at the left side where the wide tab extending from the top of the girdle is fastened down with a snap fastener.

The fichu of net, which’ has been such a favorite during the warm weather, gives promise of enjoying a decided popularity this autumn, especially for indoor frocks. Collars of filet and sets of collar and cuffs in this modish lace are still being worn on dark cloth and satin dresses.

Taffeta is a good choice for a young girl’s best dress.

About New Fall Suits

The suit pictured is of Himalaya cloth with large revers and an over collar of plush. The coat-has a plain body with skirt pointed at each side and plaited on. It is bound with silk braid. A narrow belt wraps twice about the waist, once following the high waistline In the body and again about the top of the coat skirt. It is also trimmed with silk braid. Uneven length in coats makes graceful suits, but this style feature passed the zenith of its popularity during the spring and summer. Coats in nearly all the new suits are cut straight around the bottom, are moderately long, and many of them have large pockets. Convertible collars are meeting with such favor that we are sure of this comfortable and chic neck finishings for ,the coming fall and winter at least ,In colors brown, biege and blue have the lead, with all shades of brown in' strong demand. But one cannot make a mistake in choosing any one of them.

Fichu of Net.

Taffeta for Young Girls.

STORIES OF AMERICAN CITIES

Pelican With Hunlike Proclivities Is Interned NEW ORLEANS.—BiII, the only white pelican In captivity In the South, beloved of every child, who has ever visited the flying cage in Audubon park, Is to be Interned for the period of the war. Bill Is charged with being

a slacker, a pro-Gennan, and of openly practicing German frightfulness. In his pelicanesque manner, Bill, for two years, has strutted about the cage. Far from exhibiting the beautiful domestic virtues of the emblematic bird of the state —the brown pelican—Bill has consistently acted In a rude, Hunlike manner and terrorized the other denizens of the cftge. Bill has been known to chase his Inoffensive companions in captivity about the inclosure, pecking at terns,

drivings ducks below the surface until they were almost suffocated and climbing with sinister Intent to the top of the cage and trying to garrote witik his enormous beak the innocent birds who had taken refuge there. He was captured some two years ago down Terrebonne way. A hunter shot Bill in the wing, and moreover cut him out of the airplane service. When retrieved by the dog he fought first the dog and then the hunter. His disposition much resembles that of a Mexican centipede. Finding it almost impossible to kill Bill short of deliberate murder, he was sent to the state department of conservation, in whose charge he has remained ever since. The other day,, with evident malice aforethought, Bill sought out a little duckling, Induced it to go into ihe water, and then deliberately tried to drown it by holding its head under water for several minutes. Running amuck, Bill ~ then took a fall out of everything in the cage and licked them all. The “happy family” of the flying cage blew up. It was no longer happy, but miserable. So Bill was sentenced to internment. He will spend the rest of his existence in an inclosed lake. It is surrounded by barbed wire. Bill is peevish, but there is class to him at that, and the children who are old pals of Bill are now notified that all future dates they have with him will have to be kept in the lake and not the cage.

Just a Little Diplomacy, and Behold! Iced Tea WASHINGTON— All is fair in love and war—and hot weather. If you don’t believe it/ask the Iceman. What icemen went through with in Washington a week or so ago only icemen know. The icemair is the target of house*,.

icemen to let him have some frozen water, Mr. Jones was above that. “I’ll die of thirst before I’ll do that,” he said. And, what’s more, he meant it, and stuck to it. But he got Ice. It was about six o’clock that evening. Heat waves chased each other hither and yon. Not an ice wagon was to be seen on the horizon. Suddenly a rumble was heard up the street. Nearer and nearer it came. > - It was an ice wagon—an emergency wagon! Up the staircase came a colored boy lugging a great chunk of ice. “Gee, if I can only get that,” sighed Mr. Jones. The boy came past. “Who is it for?” asked Jones, a gleam of hope appearing. “Well, now, I’ve forgot exactly who it is for,” answered the boy. “Man by the name of Jones, wasn’t it?” asked Jones. “It might have been Jones,” said the boy, hesitating. • “Then you’ve got the right Icechest,” cried the triumphant Joones. “Bring it right in here.” And that was how Mr. and Mrs. Jones came to have ice tea that evening, after all.

Prunella’s Vengeful Spirit Caused Much Trouble NEW YORK.—Prunella, a cat at 665 Cauldwell avenue, could not for the nine lives of her understand why residents of Cauldwell and Westchester avenues did not appreciate her supercontralto voice which she raised nightly

above the tenors, basses, sopranos, etc., of her alley quartet. Nor could Prunella discern the reason why neighbors showered her and her band with milk bottles, brickbats and flowerpots when she serenaded nightly with purely American cat music, while Beauty, a thoroughly yellow. German canary bird belonging to Mrs. Helen Dwinell of (JTCauldwell avenue, was permitted to warble night and day only those airs she learned in the Harz mountains. Last Thursday, with murder in her

eye, Prunella decided to end Beauty’s life. But Beauty had been taken from the front window and was warbling a German melody from the kitchen window. With a few swift movements Prunella reached the window, sprang upon the ledge, and with her claws she opened Beauty’s cage. Maybe Beauty thought Prunella was inviting her to join a songfest. At any rate Beauty hopped out of the cage and into Prunella’s jaws. Mrs. Dwinell had only one recourse —the law. She filed suit in the municipal court of the Bronx, asserting that Mr. Samson, being the Owner of Prunella, is responsible for the deeds of the cat and seeks to recover $25 damages for Beauty’s death. Prunella has left the neighborhood, evidently la search of some place where she can preserve that ninth life. Wife Objected to Being Kicked Down Coal Chute DETROIT. —It was a source of surprise to Mrs. Matilda Ruffery when Fred, -her husband, brought home a handsome piece of silk and told her to make the nicest dress she could. When, after the gown was finished at the expense

took care of him. She was a good-lookjng young woman about twenty-one years old, and Fred seemed entirely satisfied with the care he was getting. “After he got well, hewent to a store and bought the silk. I was a little surprised, and I was more surprised at the interest he took in the making of the dress. ■ “He would hover around my chair and make suggestions as to trimming. I had never known him to be so much concerned over my wardrobe. “Then he told me it was for the girl who had taken care of him. I was disappointed and told him so, and he kicked me down the coal chutes”

wives all along the route. If he gives them ten cents worth of ice, they want to know why he won’t give them 2|> cents worth. And if his ice runs out and no more is to be had —woe upon him! It was the hottest day of the year. For two days running a certain man —we will call him Mr. Jones —had gone without ice in his apartment. Appeal to rival icemen brought forth answers aplenty, but no ice. As for going out in the street and beseeching

of punctured fingers and overtaxed eyes, he told her that it was Intended for another woman, there was something of a scene. It was the basis of a divorce suit in which a decree was granted by Circuit Judge Dingeman. "We had an arrangement with~a family of neighbors that when there was sickness in one family the other family should give all possible assistance,” Mrs. Ruffery explained. “Fred got sick and a young woman from the neighborhood came in and