The Syracuse Journal, Volume 7, Number 2, Syracuse, Kosciusko County, 7 May 1914 — Page 6

The Wisdom of Nicodemus Railroad Brought to Terms by a Smart Dog. By L. H. BICKFORD Coryrtfht by t. H. Bickford

The Sunrise Limited swept past the lower pasture of Mrs. O’Hearn's Nebraska farm every afternoon at 8 o’clock, and Mrs. O’Hearn’s dog. Nicodemus. sallied down to the fence and barked at it He was an unlovely auftnal of no breeding whatever, .a canine outcast deserted by an emigrant, and his hostility to all railway movements was pronoun’ced and even excessive, although his best effort and longest rum were reserved fdr the flying vestliftiled train that came so fleetingly out of the east and shot by him with contemptuous roar and shriek. A year, after Mrs. O’Hearn's bus band hhd been snatched from the field of toll she lost the companionship and nourishing daily gift of her only cow. That the doable calamity distressed her was not phenomenal, but the departure of Michael O’Hearu was with-' in the number of things reconcilable since the movements of Providence are to be accepted without question and are, indeed, but instances of the expected. Mrs. O’Hearn, a faithfully and notoriously religious person, resigned herself to the simple hope that Michael was to be met in another country. The taking off of the cow left no such since its spiritual future did not concern her. From the day the engine of the Sunrise Limited swept the animal in all literalness from the face of the earth (it had be£n rather foolishly investigating the nutritious qualities of cinders, Mrs. O’Hearn faced a world that appeared to be singularly unsympathetic. Where it had condoled with her in her flrst bereavement it merely smiled over her second. Obviously, in the eyes of the community, the least fitting place for a cow to browse was in the line of a lightning express. The station agent at Bxeter intimated as much when Mrs. O’Hearn called upon him and depicted, with admirable detail, the circumstances of her misfortune, fie would,.,he declared, lay the matter before the proper officials. A week later she came again, and her visit toft memories of life, color and action. She demanded to know whether the equivalent had been sent. The equivalent, she had somewhat exactly figured, was $39.15, ttiis itemization including $39 for cow and 15 cents for the purchase of milk thrice weekly from a neighbor. Her following visit disclosed fully as close calculation, for the equivalent had mounted to $39.30. and it wus plain to the agent that her arithmetic canned with it rules of interest and equity that would never be aceepted by the company even if It deigned to recognize her claim for the cow. itself. On this occasion and on many occasions thereafter he. mentally convinced that his prevarication would not outliye his tenure of office, asserted that only the president of the road had authority*in the matter of destroyed cows and. having made It clear to her that her claim had beoa duly forwarded. besought her to follow methods less spectacular and to exercise some patience. Having so frankly thrown himself on her mercy, he made a personal truce with the lady, but each week a new bill was presented with its accumulation of figures, together with verbal expressions of disregard for the president of the company and his lax methods of business. At first th® efforts of Nicodemus amused the freight crews, who threw lumps of coal at him. This was to the advantage of Mi's. O’Hearn, since coal was a luxury, and the daily performance resulted in a small measure of the precious fuel to add to her store of wood. Stie began to wish, indeed, that the-attention of the passenger engineers might be equally attracted and , that their resentment might take the same form. After a time, however, and from long familiarity the sport ceased to interest the passing trainmen. and but for an occasional missile the dog barked without purpose, although*he never relaxed his endeavors. The flight of time brought no spirit of charity to evereast the bitterness of Mrs. b’Hearn. And it was quite by way of v ‘coincidence that on the day she had jwepared her weekly statement—which now had SI.BO added to the principal—something entirely unusual In railway equipment should engage. although tardily, the attention of Nicodtfgius. This was an abbreviated edition of the despised “flier." for the engine drew but two cars, the last a wonder of luaprious construction and painted a bright yellow. The train had stopped, and around one of the sets of wheels stood three men variously engaged In drawing cotton from an aperture, poking it about with a stick or dousing water upon the stealing mess. A venerable gentleman who had descended from the gorgeous car to watch the operation finally strolled over to 'the fence and. attracted by some wild blossoms, somewhat awkwardly scaled the barrier and ambled pleasantly about the green fields/ lost in contemplation of the simplicity of nature’s yvonders. Nicodemus came into action by a spring in the air, a shrill bark and a series of contortions that brought his haunches almost to his chin. When he felt the ground after the first flight he had made two yards, and his hair swept the wind as be rushed on. Here, in his dog's comprehension, was something tangible, something not only to bark at. but to bite. The venerable gentleman dropped the flowers he had gathered and turned unsteadily to the fence, but made such poor progress that Nicodemus, with terribly gleaming teeth and a bounce like a kangaroo, ran into his legs. There was then a fall of dog and man. with a singularly active display of man, considering age and lack of recent athletic training, and as the venerable gentleman came

upright Tie did the only thing that seemed to his bewildered mind of rational purpose. The fence was still a great way off, and the speed of the dog had impelled that animal on a few feet but he was even now reversing himself. Nearer than the fence branched a tree. Two comforting knobs, within easy reach, projected from the trunk. And before he quite knew’ how he did it the venerable gentleman, with amazing agility, was seating himself on a lower branch of the tree, while the dbg was making earnest and savage efforts to reach his dangling legs. The Incident naturally served to interest the men at the car wheels. They came to the fence in a body, calling out to the dog to desist, and one. braver than his fellows, mounted the rails In an effort to distract Nicodemus from his prey. He put one foot down s on the opposite side as if he would come into the pasture. It was with-I drawn almost on the instant for the dog. nw animated by a desire to engage ali comers, sprang at the would be intruaer, and his white teeth closed on a boot\heel. The man of courage, giving way to profanity, fell buck into the arms of his companions. The three stood In -doubt and conference, but made no new move, while Nicodemus returned to guard the tree with now and then sudden sportive excursions in their direction. Into this excitement, after some minutes, came Mrs. O’Hearn, her arms bared to the elbows and a rolling pin in one hand. She waddled down, red and breathless, her flour smeared apron telling of baking day. her bearing that of ponderous surprise. She came to a halt just beneath the branch on which the venerable gentleman Was perched, and the dog wagged her a welcome and made another dash for the fence describing, as he returned, a circle. The man in the tree viewed her advent with positive pleasure. He at once connected Mrs. O’Hearn with the ownership of the dog. and he was also impressed that his position was absurd, so. although his tones were pleasant, chagrin was somewhere apparent. He smiled genially, conscious that he had put the case concisely at least A wfl W fa' 'm., rfTW Jw 7//I kJ* ****•..’ I fl ' ' '* C iftwW/n 111 If III' ffi i WwCW 'Wr ilvJli’mO / W. HI J !IWW W* ' “SO YE AIRE THE PRESIDENT UV THE RAILROAD?*’ while Mrs. O’Hearn, with an aumoritative. “be shut, now.’’ forced Nicodemus to lie down, although his oody still quivered from the exertions of the chase and the consequent canine delirium. “Ye’re bein' wan of these flower pickers that preserves them in schrapbooks, mebbe," ventured the lady, in a spirit of conciliation, as she grasped Nicodemus by one ear and shook him roughly, “or p’raps wan of these professors that can till ye the varieties uv the posies by the schmell uv thim." “1 am not a botanist." said the venerable gentleman, preparing to descend. but eyeing the dog warily, “although you must confess that either a botanist or a railway president would appear equally out of place in a position such as I have found myself—a position.’’ he added, to show that he. had a sense of humor, “that I never thought possible out of the pages of a comic weekly.” The manner of Mrs. O'Hearn changed. as changes the face of nature tinder the sudden burst of the tempest. She released the dog. which sprang again at the tree trunk, and her utterance was one long inspiration. “Oh. ho-o-o-o-o." she 'emitted, with a slight questioning inflection, and her blue eyes showed the glitter of steel. “Oh, ho-o-o-o-o-o-o!” Arms akimbo, she looked up at him. “So ye aire the prisident uv the railroad?" The venerable gentleman, reconsidering his determination to come down, clutched the tree branch firmly and called out a warning to the engineer, who had again sought to climb the fence and again found himself beset by Nicodemus. “That." he answered, "is my office. Now”— He wondered why the woman was so interested in this fact, but his affirmation, calculated to impress, was cut short by an exultant cry from the squat figure beneath him. “Thin ye aire the same wan that's been kapin’ me out uv the price uv a cow this t'ree mouths." proceeded Mrs. O’Hearn. "Ye"— She cast about for an expression that would at once convey her contempt and ahger. “Ye murtherer!" she concluded. The trio at the fence, now enjoying the exclusive attention of Nicodemus, since it was obvious that the woman commanded the situation at the tree, resorted to missile throwing. The venerable gentleman looked perplexedly about him. “Upon my soul, my good woman," he ventured, "you surprise me. 1 know nothing of your cow. You have surely mistaken me for some one else. I do not recall that I have ever before been in this locality." “Ye’ll remlmber it. thin, from this

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ye’ll be sudrrln’ till Tve me equivylint an' me reshtititiou for the evil ye’ve done me. ’lt's the prisidint of the road,' says the station agent, 'that is considerin’ your claim. Mrs. O’Hearn, tin* it’ll be all might in toime, but he’s a very busy man.' ’Ye're not so busy but ye can put your hand to yer pocket an' projuce the $39 for the cow ye’ve murthered in cold blodd along uv your ig'naraut injine dhrivers an* she doin' no barrum to thim or anny wan. An’ it's the extra money 1 want for the milk I’ve bought since me bereavement.' ” The situation seemed clearer. “You do not. then, accuse me of driving off your cow?" asked the ven-■ erable gentleman. "Dhrivin' her off?" repeated Mrs. O’Hearn, striving to compass her scorn by raising her voice to its highest pitch. "It's makin' mincemeat uv her an' wid no stiioppiu’ for an apology thut 1 claim ye to be the ridhanded assassin ye aire." "1 do not run the engine," asserted the venerable gentleman uselessly. “If you have lost a cow, Mrs. O'Hearn, through any carelessness of the employees of the road you may be sure your claim will receive due consideration. You can hardly expect to advance it, however, by keeping me here. And you have been misinformed. The president of the road does not adjust these masters that come out of the—the misfortunes of cows. Your claim has probably been delayed.” Mrs. O’Hearn glared, while Nicodemus. rushing past her in gleeful pursuit of a rock thrown by the engineer, came wiggling back, licked the rolling pin and returned to the fence. "Consideration!” exclaimed the lady. “It's today that me equivylint comes to forty dollars and eighty cints, an’ it's in the three ye’ll sthay an’ ye're hired murtherers lookin' on from the fence beyaut like gorillas in a cage before 1 sthir from the sphot or call off me dog. an' luck to him for knowin' a thafe whin he sees wan." The venerable gentleman started to parley, looked bewildered, sighed and fumbled in the breast pocket of his coat. He finally withdrew a somewhat worn pocketbook bulging with papers. From these he extracted two greenbacks. Then he searched as well as Jhe could in personal safety the pockets of his trousers. He finally gave up in dismay. "I am sorry to saj’ that I haven’t the amount you ask. If you will accept S2O I assure you the remainder will be forthcoming.” Mrs. O'Hearn raised the rolling pin. "It’s the equivylint or not one cint," she declared. “But. as 1 have told you. 1 do not possess the amount 1 rarely carry with me any ready money.” he added, with a shade of exasperation, as if Mrs. O'Hearn could have been previously acquainted with his habit in that regard. "You can git it” asserted the amazon inflexibly. The venerable gentleman sighed again and called out to the engineer: “I say. Hawkins, do you happen to have any money?” "A few dollars, sir.” "I have a little change.” supplemented the fireman, while the conductor reached into a pocket. “If the three of you could make up a purse—the thing is absolutely ab-' surd, but we cannot remain here arguing with this woman. 1 shall ask you to loan me $20.” “An’ 80 cints.” Interrupted Mrs. O’Hearn. “Exactly,” acknowledged the venerable gentleman, although not agreeably, "and 80 cents.” There was a search of overalls and blouses, and in the moment of suspense the president considered that it would not be at all unlikely that the ridiculous situation would be further complicated by the discovery that the combined wealth of the crowd did not make up the meager sum required. He was consequently relieved when the balance was forthcoming to the final ten cent piece, a contribution from the porter. This, by direction, was thrown over the fence, to be guarded by Nicodemus. The two bills fluttered from the hand of the president, and Mrs. O’Hearn, picking them up. turned them over carefully. Then she moved over to the’second collection, and. satisfied with the accuracy of her count, and she was not quick at coin values, called the dog. grasped it by one ear and ambled back toward the house with no concluding word. But she evidenced her faith by locking Nicodemus in the barn, whereupon the venerable gentleman descended. When the dog wns released and shot off down .the pasture to renew the sport the special had gone. He sniffed at the tree and. tesumably living over the late adven'mre in his Imagination, barked in a jaroxysm of joy. Read The Journal ads. today.

Kosciusko Court News The distribution voucher was filed Monday in the partition suit of Geo. Dewart and others against William Dewart and others. The report was affirmed and the commissioner was discharged. The court found for the planliff in the sun of $1,236.20 in the foreclosure suit of the Stat? bank of Syracuse against Fletcher E. Marsh and others. The final report has been filed in the partition suit of William Munson against Albert Munson and others. Extension of lime to May 25 has been granted in the filing of the report in the ditch petition of Omar F. Neff and others. The court found for the plaintiff and ordered the sale of real estate in the suit of Hosea B. Little, administrator of the estate of Mandane Little, deceased, against Ada Prugh and others. The appraisement was filed at $4,000 and the bond was fixed at SB,OOO. —New fishing tackle just received. Prices are very reasonable. Quality Drug Store.

— J. W. ROTHENBERGER . : Undertaker : | SYRACUSE, t t IND.

Annual May White Sale

Table Linens Bleached Mercerize Damask a splendid quality at 45c a yard, May White Good Sale, at yard 35c. Bleached Mercerized Damask, 64 inches wide, May White Sale, at yard 48c. Bleached Mercerized Damask very fine imported goods, 75c quality, Sale price yd. 59c Bleached Linen Damask, 72 inches wide, a splendid bargain, May Whije Sale, yd. $1.19 Bleached table cloths, size 66x66 inches, all linen bleached table cloth, regular $2.00 values, May White Sale, each $1.59. Hemstiched tablecloths, best German table damask, we have only three doz. to sell, actual value $1.99, May White Sale, price each $1.19.

Wash Goods Manchester Cumbray in plain colors, pink, blue and grey, regular 10c quality, Sale priee at yd. -. 6 1 2c Silk Ginghams in fancy checks and plaids, all colors, the regular price is 25c a yard, Sale price at yard _slsc Mercerized Cords, this cloth is 37 inches wide, and a splendid cloth at 25c a yard, Sale price at yardlsc Fancy Foulards—these are half silk and sell regular at 50c a yard, Sale price at yard — Chambray Ginghams in plain colors only, 32 inches wide, regular 15c quality. Sale price at yard 12 12c Bleached Cambric 36 inches wide, a splendid quality at 12 l-2c a yard, May White Sale price at yard 8c Bleached Cambric —Diamond A, Brand Cambric, 36 inches wide, regular 10c value at yard. j ? 1-2

Salo Now on

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Timely Coat-Suit Sale Junior and Ladles’ Suits. All new spring styles, regular SIO.OO and $11.98 suits, reduced to ... j ,$8.98 Pretty suits of all wool Serge, gaberdine bedford cord, new shades, regular $12.50 and $15.00 values are now reduced to., SIO.OO Handsome Sprins Suits. Silk poplins, Gaberdine, French Serges, crepe poplin aud poplins, in all season’s fancy coats with minerat skirts, regular $20.00 to $22 50 values uow reduced t 0520.00 Ladies Spring Suits. One lot of last seasons Spring Coats in 48 to 54 in. lengths White Serges and asso ted Spring Colors, wonderful values, choice atJ..... 1.51.68 Another lot of high grade coats, in 40 and 45 in lengths, colors in tans, blues, black and white, priced to close at $5.00.

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Flouncings 45 fnch beautiful embroidered dress flounciings, Voile and Swisses —deep showy work, many beautiful patterns to select from, Ssc and 75c values to close 49c -$1."?5 and SI.OO flouncings 69c a yard 45 inch and beautiful embsoidered voile and Swiss flouncings, deep showy eyelet, these are regular $( 25 and SI.OO values at yard .J. - --69 c 55 inch Swiss embroidery flouncing, deep eyelet work, these embroinerics formerly sold at $1 50, at yard’.... 89c 42 inch beautiful embroidered voile dress flouncing, heavy worked designs, full skirt width, $2.50 values, to close yd SI.OO