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(Copyrlulit, by
HE west bound stopped
at San Uosarlo on
at 8:20 a. m. A man
with a thick black
leather wallet under
his arm left the train
and walked rupldly
up the main street ot
the town. Tin re were
other passengers who
also got off at San Hosarlo, but they
lther slouched limberly over to the
railroad eating house or the Silver
Dollar saloon, or Joined the groups of
idlers about the station.
Indecision had no part In the move
ments of the man with the wallet,
was short In stature, but strong
built, with very light, closely trimmed
hair, smooth, determined face, and
aggressive, gold rimmed nose g uts.
He was well dressed In the pre willing
astern style. His air denoted a quiet
but conscious reserve force, If not
actual authority.
After walking a dirtance jf three
squares he came to the center of the
town's business area. Here another
street of Importance crossed the
main one, forming the hub of San
Rosario'8 life and commerce. Upon
one corner stood tho postoffice. Upon
another Itubensky's clothing empori
um. The other two diagonally oppos
ing corners were occupied by the
town's two banks, the First National
u 1 the Stockmen's National. Into the
BVst National bank of San Rosario
the newcomer walked never slowing
his brisk step until he stood at the
cashier's window. The bank opened
for business at nine, and the working
force was already assembled, each
preparing his department for the days
business. The cashier was examining
the, mall when he noticed the stranger
standing at his window.
"Bank doesn't open 'til nine." he re
marked, curtly, but without feeling.
He had had to make that statement
so often to early birds since San
Rosario adopted city banking hours.
"I am well aware of that," said the
ot.ier man. In cocl, brittle tones. "Will
you kindly rclvo my card?"
The cashier drew the small, spot
less, parallelogram Inside the bars of
his wicket, and read:
J. F. C. NITTLEWICK,
National Bank Examiner. :
,
"Oh er will you walk around In
side, Mr. er Nettlewick. Your first
visit didn't know your business, of
course. Walk right around, pisase."
The examiner was quickly Inside
the sacred precincts of the bank,
where he was ponderously introduced
to each employee In turn by Mr.
Edllnger, the cashier a middle-aged
gentleman of deliberation, discretion
and method.
"I was kind of expecting Sam Tur
ner round again, pretty soon," said
Mr. Edllnger. "Sam's been examining
us now, for about four years. I giu-si
you'll find us all right, though, con
sidering the tightness In business.
Not overly im:eh money on hand, but
able to stand the storms, sir, stand
the storms."
"Mr. Turner and I have been or
dered by the comptroller to exchange
districts," said the examiner, in his
decisive, formal tones. "He is cov
ering my old territory iu southern Illi
nois and Indiana. I will take the each
'first, please."
Perry Dorsey, the teller, was al
ready arranging his cash on the coun
ter for the examiner's Inspection. He
knew it was right to a cent, and he
bad nothing to fear, but he was nerv
ous and flustered. So was every man
In the bank. There was something
so icy and swift, so impersonal and
uncompromising about this man that
bit very presence seemed an accusa
tion. He looked to be a man who
would never make nor overlook an
rror.
Mr. Nettlewick first seized the cur
rency, and with a rapid, almost jug
gling motion counted It by packages.
Then be spun the sponge cup toward
him and verified the count by bills.
Ills thin, white fingers flew like some
expert musician's upon the k ys of a
piano. He dumped the gold upon the
counter with a crash, and the coins
whined and sang as they skimmed
across the marble slab from the tips
of his nimble digits. The air was full
of fractional currency when he came
to the halves and quarters. He count
ad the last nlckle and dime. He had
the scales brought, and he weighed
very sack of silver in the vault. He
questioned Domey concerning each ol
the cash memoranda certain checks,
charge slips, etc., carried over from
the previous day's work with unim
peachable courtesy, yet with some
thing so mysteriously momentous In
bis frigid manner that the teller was
reduced to pink cheeks and a stam
mering tongue.
Tbts newly Imported examiner was
o different from Sam Turner. It bad
been Sam's way to enter the bank
with a shout, pass the cigars and tell
the latest stories be bad picked up on
bis rounds. His customary greeting
to Dorsey had been, "Hello, Perry!
Haven't skipped out with the boodle
yet, I see." Turner's way of counting
the cash bad been different, too. He
would finger the packages of bills In a
tired kind of way, and then go into
the vault and kick over a few sack ot
liver, and the thing was done. Halves
and quarters and dimes? Not for
Bam Turner. "No chicken feed for
me," h would say when they were set
before him. "I'm not In the agricul
tural department." But, then, Turner
was a Texan, an old friend of the
bank's president, and had known Dor
sey since he was a baby.
While the examiner was counting
the cash. Ma. Thomas B. Kingman
known to every one as "Major Tom"
the president of the Frist National,
drove up to the side door with bis
old dun horse and buggy, and cam
tastes. H saw th exainjtter busy
HENRY
BmnBiMmnmrvrif)
Ainalee Magatlne Co.)
with the money, and, going Into the
'Tony corral," as he called It. In
which his der-k was railed off. ho be
gan to look over his letters.
Earlier, a little Incident had oc
curred that even the sharp eye3 of the
examiner had failed to notice. When
he had begun his work at tho cash
counter, Mr. Ediinger had winked sig
nificantly at Roy Wilson, the youthful
bank niesserger. and nodded his head
slightly toward the front door, ttoy
understood, took his hat and walked
leisurely out, with his collector's book
under his arm. Once outside, he made
a bee-line lor the Stockmen's Natlon
il. That bank was also getting ready
to open. No customers had, as yet,
presented themselves.
"Say, you people!" cried Roy, with
the familiarity of youth and long ac
quaintance, "you want to get. a move
on you. There's a new bank ex
amlner over at the First, and he's a
stem-winder. He's counting nickels
on Perry, and he's got tho whole out
fit bluffed. Mr. Edllnger gave me the
tip to let you know."
Mr. Buckley, president of the Stock
men's National a stout, elderly man
looking like a farmer dressed for Sun
day heard Roy from his private office
In the rear, and called him.
"Has Major Kingman come down to
the bank yet?" he asked the boy.
"Yes, sir, he was Just driving up as
I left." said Roy.
"I want you to take him a note. Put
it Into his own hands as soon as you
get back."
Mr Ruckley sat down and began
to write.
Roy returned and handed to Major
Kingman the envelope containing the
note. The major read It, folded It,
and slipped it into his vest pocket.
He leaned back In his chair for a few
moments as If ha were meditating
deeply, and then rose and went Into
the vault. He came out with the
bulky, old-fashioned leather note case
stamped on the back In gilt letters,
"Bills Discounted." In this were the
notes due tho bank with their attach
ed securities, and the major, in his
rough way dumped the lot upon his
desk and began to sort them over,
By this time Nettlewick had finish
ed his count of the cash. His pencil
fluttered like a swallow over the sheet
of paper on which ho had set his fig
ures. He opened his black wallet,
which seemed to be also a kind of
secret memorandum book, made a few
rapid figures In It, wheeled and trans
fixed Dorsey with the glare of his
spectacles. That look seemed to say:
"You re safe this time, but "
"Cash all correct," snapped the ex
amlner. He made a dash for the in
dividual bookkeeper, and, for a few
minutes there was a fluttering of led
ger leaves and a sailing of balance
sheets through the air.
now orten ao you Balance your
passbooks? he demanded, suddenly.
i-r once a month, faltered the
Individual bookkeeper, wondering how
many years they would give him.
"All right," said the examiner, turn
Ing and charging upon the general
bookkeeper, who had the .statements
of his foreign banks and their recon
cllement memoranda ready. Every
thing there was found to be all right.
Then the stub book of the certificates
of deposit. Flutter flutter zip zip
cnecK: ah rigni. L,ist or over
drafts, please. Thanks. H'm-m. Un
signed bills of the bank, next. All
right.
Then came the cashier's turn, and
easy-going Mr. Edllnger rubbed his
nose and polished his glasses nervous
ly under the quick fire of questions
concerning the circulation, undivided
profits, bank real ' estate, and stock
ownership.
Presently Nettlewick was aware of
a big man towering above him at bis
elbow a man of sixty years of age
rugged and hale, with a rough, griz
zled beard, a mass of gray hair, and
a pair of penetrating blue eyes that
confronted the formidable glasses of
the examiner without a flicker.
"Er Major Kingman, our president
er Mr. Nettlewick," said the cash
ler.
Two men of very different ' type
shook hands. One was a finished
product of the w orld of straight Jines
conventional methods and formal af
fairs. The other was something freer,
wider and nearer to nature. Tom
Kingman had not been cut to any pat
tern. He had been niuledrivtr, cow
boy, ranger, soldier, sheriff, prospector
and cattleman. Now, when he was
bank president his old comrades from
the prairies, of the saddle, tent an
trail found no change In him. He
bad made his fortune when Texas cat-
t'.e were at the high tide of value, and
had organized the First National
back of San Rosario. In spite of his
largeness of heart and sometimes un
wise generosity toward his old friends
the bank had prospered, for MaJ. Tom
Kingman knew men as well a be
knew cattle. Of late years the cat
tle business had gone to pieces, and
the major's bank was one of the few
whose losses had not been great
"And row, ' said the examiner, brisk
ly, pulling out hla watch, "the last
thing Is the loans. We will take them
up now. If you please."
He had gone through the First Na
tional at almost record-breaking speed
but thoroughly, as Ue did every
thing. The running order of the bank
was smooth and clean, and that bad
facilitated his work. There was but
one other bank In the town. He re
ceived from the government a fee of
$25 for each bank thut he examined.
He should be able to go over those
loans and discounts In half an hour.
If go, he could examine the other bank
immediately afterward, and catch the
11:45, the only other train that day
in the direction he was working. Oth
erwise, he would have to spend tba
night and Sunday in this uninterest
ing western town. That is why Mr.
Nettlewick was rushing matters.
"Corns with me, sir," said Major
Kingman, in bis deep voice, that
united tba southern drawl with ths
rhythmic twang of tbe west; "we will
go over them together. Nobody In the
bank knows those notes as 1 do. Some
of m are little wobbly on their legs,
and sume are Mavericks without extra
many brands on their backs, but
they'll most all pay out at the round
up."
The two sat down at the president's
esk. First, the examiner went
through the notes at lightning speed.
nd added up their total, finding It to
gree with the amount of loans car-
icd on the book of dally balances.
Next, he took up the larger limns, in-
ulrlng scrupulously Into the condition
of their indorsees or securities. The
new examiner's mind seemed to
course and turn and make unexpected
dashes hlUier and thither like a b ood
bound seeking a trail. Finally he
pushed aside all the nites except a
few, which he arranged In a neat pile
before him, and began a dry. formal
little speech.
"1 find, sir, the condition of your
bank to be very good, considering the
poor crops and tho depression In the
cattle interests of your state. The
clerical work seems to be done ac
curately and punctually. Your past
due paper Is moderate In amount, and
promises only a small loss. 1 would
recommend the calling In of your
large loans, and the making of only
sixty or ninety-day or call loans until
general business revives. And now,
there Is one thing more, and I will
have finished with the bank. Here
are six notes aggregating something
liko $10,000. They are secured, ac
cording to their faces by various
storks, bonds, shares, etc., to the
value of $70,000. Those securities are
missing from the notes to which they
should be attached. I suppose you
havei them In the safe or vault. You
wlK permit me to examine them."
Major Tom's light-blue eyes turned
unflinchingly toward the examiner.
"No, sir," he said, in a low but
steady tone; "those securities are
neither In the safe nor the vault. 1
have taken them. You may hold me
personally responsible for their ab
sence.
Nettlewick felt a slight thrill. He
had not expected this. He had struck
a momentous trail when the hunt was
drawing to a close.
"Ah!" said the examiner. He wait
ed a moment, and then continued:
"May I ask you to explain moro defi
nitely?"
"The securities were taken by me,"
repeated the major. "It was not for
my own use, but to save an old friend
In trouble. Come in here, sir, and
we'll talk It over."
"Your statement,
be began, "since
"I OPENED THE SAFE AND
you bav failed to modify it, amounts,
as you must know, to a very serious
thing. You are aware, also, of what
my duty must compel me to do. I
shall have to go before the United
States commissioner and make "
"I know, I know," said Major Tom,
with a wave of bis band. "You don't
suppose I'd run a bank without being
posted on national banking laws and
the revised statutes! Do your duty.
I'm not asking any favors. But, I
spoke of my friend. I did want you
to hear me tell you about Bob."
Nettlewick settled himself In nla
chair. There would be no leaving
San Rosario for him that day. He
would have to telegraph to the comp
troller of the currency; he would have
to swear out a warrant before the
United States commissioner for the
arrest of Major Kingman; perhaps he
would be ordered o close the bank
on account of the loss of the securi
ties. It was not the first crime the
examiner had unearthed. Once or
twice the terrible upheaval of human
emotions that his investigations had
loosed had almost caused a ripple in
his official calm. He had seen bank
men kneel and plead and cry like
women for a chance an hour's time
the overlooking of a single error. One
cashier had shot himself at his desk
before him. None of them had taken
It with tbe dignity and coolness of
this stern old westerner. Nettlewick
felt that he owed it to him at least
to listen If be wished to talk. With
his elbow on the arm of bis chair,
and his square chin resting upon tbe
fingers of his right band, the bank ex
aminer waited to hear the confession
of the president of the First National
bank of Snn Rosario.
"When a man's your friend." began
Major Tom, somewhat didactically,
"for forty years, and tried by water,
fire, earth and cyclones, when you
can do blm a little favor you feel like
doing it."
("Embezzle for blm $70,000 worth
of securities." thought the examiner.)
"We were cowboys together, Bob
and I," continued the major, speaking
slowly and deliberately, and musing
ly, as If bis thoughts were rather of
tb past than the critical present,
"an4 v prospected tog etbsr for gold
mm r It teF
mm i v
and silver over Arizona, New Meitco
and a good part of California. We
were both In the war of 'sixty-one, but
In different commands. We've fought
Indians and horse thieves side by
side; we've starved for weeks In a
cabin in tho Arizona mountains, buried
twenty feet deep In snow; we've rid
den herd together when the wind blew
so hard the lightning couldn't strike
Will, Bob and 1 have been through
some rough spells since the first time
we met In tho branding camp of the
old Anchor-Par ranch. And during
that time we've found It necessary
more than once to help each other
out of tlpbt places. In those days It
was expected of a man to stlrk to his
friend, and he didn't ask any credit
Tor it. Probably next day you'd nerd
him to get at your back and help
stand off a band of Apachea. or put a
tourniquet on your leg above a rattle
snake bite and rldo for whisky. So,
after all. It was give and take, and if
you didn't stand square with your
pardner, why, you might bo shy one
when you needed him. But Bob was a
naii who was willing to go further
than that. He never played a limit.
"Twenty years ago 1 was sheriff
of this county, and I made Beib ray
chief deputy. That was before the
boom In cattlo, when we both made
our stake. I was sheriff and col
lector, and It was a big thing for me
then. I was married, and we had a
boy and a girl a four and a six year
old. There was a comfortable house
next to the courthouse, furnished by
the county, rent free, and I was
saving some money. Bob did most of
the offlco work. Both of us had seen
rough times and plenty of rustling and
danger, and I tell yon it was great to
hear tbe rain dashing against the
windows of nights, and be warm and
safe and comfortable, and know you
could get up In the morning and be
shaved and have folks call you 'mis
ter.' And then, I bad the finest wife
and kids that ever struck the range,
and my old friend with me enjoying
the first fruits of prosperity and white
shirts, and I guess I was happy. Yes,
I was happy about that time."
The major sighed and glanced casu
ally out of the window. The bank
examiner changed hla position, and
leaned his chin upon his other
hand.
"One Aintcr," continued the major,
"the money for the county taxes came
pouring in so fast that I didn't have
time to take the stuff to the bank
for a week. I Just 6hoved the checks
into a cigar box and the money Into a
sack, and locked them In the big safe
that belonged in the sheriff's office.
"I had been overworked that week,
mr
THE MONEY WAS GONE."
and was aboi sick, anyway. My
nerves were out of order and my sleep
at night didn't seem to rest me. The
doctor had some scientific name for
it, and I was taking medicine. And so,
added to the rest, I went to bed at
night with that money on my mind.
Not that there was much need of be
ing worried, for the safe was a good
one, and nobody but Bob and I knew
the combination. On FYlday night
there was about $6,500 in cash in the
bag. On Saturday morning I went
to the office as usual. Tho safe was
locked and Bob waa writing at his
desk. I opened the safe and the
money was gone. I called Bob, and
roused everybody In the courthouse
to announce the robbery. It struck
me that Bob took It pretty quiet, con
sidering how much it reflected upon
both him and me.
"Two days went by, and we never
got a clew. It couldn't have been
burglars, for the safe had been opened
by the combination In the proper way.
People must have begun to talk, for
one afternoon In comes Alice that's
my wife and the boy and girl, and
Alice stamps her foot, and ber eyes
flash, and she cries out: 'The lying
wretches Tom, Tom!' I catch her in
a faint, and bring her 'round little by
little, and she lays her head down
and cries and cries for the first time
since she took Tom Kingman's name
and fortunes. And Jack and Zl' la
the youngsters they were always
wild as tiger cubs to rush at Bob and
climb all over him whenever they
were allowed to come to the court
house they stood and kicked their
little shoes, and herded together like
scared partridges. They were having
their first trip down into the shadows
of life. Bob was working at his desk,
and he got up and went out without
a word. The grand Jury was in ses
sion then, and tbe next morning Bob
went before them and confessed that
he stole tbe money. Ho said be lost
It In a poker game. In fifteen minutes
they bad found a true bill and sent
me to arrest the man with whom I'd
been closer tLau a thousand brothers
for many a year.
"I did it, and then I said to Bob,
pointing: 'There's my bous , and
brt's my office, and up there's Main.
and out that way Is California, and
over there Is Florida and that's your
range 'til court meets. You're In my
charge, and I take the responsibility.
You be here when you're wanted.'
'"Thnuks. Tom," he said, kind of
carelessly; '1 was sort of hoping you
wouldn't lock me up. Court meets
next Monday, so If you don't object,
I'll JiiKt loaf around the oHre till then
I've geit one favor to ask. If It Isn't too
much. If you'd let the kids come eiut
In t!:e ynrd oncn In a vhile and have
a romp, I'd I ke It."
"'Why r.ot?" I answered blm.
'They're weLoine, nnd ro are you.
And come to my house, the same as
evr.' You see. Mr. Nettlewick, you
can't make a friend of a thief, but
r.cither can you make a thief of a
frl nd, all at once."
The examiner made no answer. At
that moment was beard the shrill
whistle of a locomotive pulling Into
tho depot. That was the train on the
little, narrow gauge road that struck
Into San Rosario from the south. The
major cocked his ear and listened lor
a moment and looked at bis watch
Tho narrow-gauge was In on time
10:35. The major continued:
"So Bob hung around the office,
reading the papers and smoking. 1 put
another deputy to work In his place,
and. after a while, tho first excite
ment of the case wore cff.
"One day when we were alone In
the office Bob came over to whero 1
was sitting. He was looking sort of
grim and blue tho same look he used
to get when he'd been up watrhlng for
Indians all night or herd riding.
Tom,' says he, 'It's harder than
standing off redskins; it's harder than
lying In the lava desert forty miles
from water; but I'm going to stick It
out to the end. You know that's
been my style. But If you'd tip me
the smallest kind of a sign If you'd
Just say: 'Bob. I understand,' why
It would make It lots easier."
"I was surprised. 'I don't know
whnt you mean. Bob,' I said. "Of
course, you know that I'd do anything
under the sun to help you that )
could. But you've got me guessing.
" 'All right, Tom,' was all he said,
and he went back to his newspaper
and lit another cigar.
"It was tho night before court met
when I found out what ho meant. I
went to bed that night with that same
old. light-headed, nervous feeling
come back upon me. I dropped off to
sleep about midnight. When I awoko
I was standing, half dressed In one
of the courthouse corridors. Bob was
holding one of my arms, our family
doctor the other, and Alice was sha
king me and half crying. She had
sent for the doctor without my know
ing It, and when ho came they had
found me out pf bad and missing, and
had begun a search.
" 'Sleep-walking,' said the doctor.
"All of us went back to the house,
and the doctor told us some remark
able stories about the strange things
people bad done while In that condi
tion. I was feeling rather chilly after
my trip out, and, as my wife was out
of tbe room at the time, I pulled open
the door of an old wardrobe that stood
In the room and dragged out a big
quilt I had seen in there. With it
tumbled out the bag of money for
stealing which Bob was to be tried
and convicted In the morning.
" 'How the jumping rattlesnakes did
that get there?" I yelled, and all hands
must have seen how surprised I was.
Bob knew in a flash.
" 'You darned old snoozor," he said,
with the old-time look on his faco, i
saw you put It there. I watched you
open the safe and take It out, nnd 1
followed you. I looked through tho
window and saw you hide It in that
wardrobe."
" 'Then you blankety-blank, flop
eared, sheep-headed coyote, what did
you Bny you took It, for?"
"'Because,' said Hob, simply. 'I
didn't know you wore asleep.'
"I saw him glunce toward the door
of the room where Alice and Jack and
Zilla were, and I knew then what It
meant to be a man's friend from
Bob's point of view." .
Major Tom paused, and again di
rected bis glance out of the window.
He saw some one in the Stockmen's
National bank reach and draw a yel
low shade down the whole length of
its plate-glass, big front window, al
though the position of the sun did nut
seem to warrant such a defensive
movement against its rayB.
Nettlewick sat up straight in his
chair. He bad listened patiently, but
without consuming interest, to the
major's story. It had Impressed him
as Irrelevant to the situation, and It
could certainly have no effect upon
the consequences. Those western peo
ple, he thought, had an exaggerated
sentimentality. They were not uum
neES-like. They needed to be protect
ed from their friends. Evidently tho
major had concluded. And what he
cnid amounted to nothing.
"May I ask," said the examiner, ' u
you havo anything further to say that
bears directly upein the question ol
those abstracted securities?"
"Abstracted securities, sir!" Major
Tom turned suddenly In his chair, his
blue eyes flashing upon the examiner.
"What do you mean, sir?"
Ho drew from his coat pocket a
batch of folded papers held together
by a rubber band, and tossed them
Into Nettlewlck's hands, and rose to
his feet.
"You'll find those securities there,
Blr, every stock, bond and share of
'em. I took them from the notes
while you were counting the cash. Ex
amine and compare them for your
self." Tbe major led the way back Into
the banklngroom. The rxamlner,
astounded, perplexed, nettled, at sea,
followed. He felt that be had been
made the victim of something that
was not exactly a boax, but that left
him In the shoes of one w ho had been
played upon, used, and then discard
ed, without even an Inkling of tbe
game. Perhaps, also, hla official pr
sltlou had been Irreverently Juggled
with. But there was nothing he
could take hold of. An official report
of the matter would be an absurdity.
And, somehow, he felt that he would
never know anything more about the
matter than he did then.
Frigidly, mechanically, Nettlewick
examined the securities, found them
to tally with the uotej, gathered bis
black wallet to depart.
"I will say," he protested, turning
the Indignant glare of his glasses
upon Major Kingman, "that your
statements your misleading state
ments, which you do not condescend
to explain do not appear to be quite
th thing, regarded either as business
or humor. I do not understand such
motives or artio'i
Major Tom looked down at blm so
rrneiy and not unkindly
"Son." he said, "there are plenty of
thlrgi In the b;:parral, and on the
pia.iies, and up the canyons that you
don't understand But I want to thank
you for llstinlng to a garrulous old
Iran's prosy suu h s. We old Texans
love to talk about our adventures and
our old romrailes, nnd the home folks
have long ago learned to run wh n
wo btgin lth 'Once upon a time,' so
we have to srln our yarns to the
stranger within our pates."
The mnjru Miiilt d. but the examiner
only bowed ro.dly, and abruptly quit
ted the hi;nk Thpy saw him travel
diagonally across the street In a
straight line nnd inter tho Stock
men's National bank.
Major Tor.i sat down at his desk,
and drew from his vest pocket the
note Key had given him. He had read
it oneo. but hurriedly, and now, with
something like a twinkle in his eyes,
he road again. These were the words
he read:
"Dear Tom:
"I hear there's one of Uncle Sam's
grayhounda going through you, and
that means that we'll catch him Inside
of a couple cf hours, maybe. Now, I
want you to do something for mo.
We've got Just $2,200 In the bank, and
the law requires that wo have $20,
(100. 1 let Rors and Fisher have $18,
000 lute yesterday afternoon to buy
up that Gibson bunch of cattlo. They'll
realize $10,000 In less than thirty
days on the transaction, but that
won't make my cash on hand look any
prettier to that bank examiner. Now,
I can't show him thoBe notes, for
they're Just plain notes of hand wl b
out any security In sight, but J u
know very, well that link Ross a d
Jim Fisher are two of the finest wh
men Ood ever made, and they'll do t .
square thing. You remember Jitn
FiBher he was the one who shot tl it
faro dealer In El Paso. I wired Si n
Bradshaw's bank to send me $20,0' 0
nnd It will get in on the narrow gau
at 10:35. You can't let a bank exa.v
iner In to count $2,200 and close your
doors. Tom, you hold that examiner.
Hold him. Hold him If you have to
rope him and sit on his head. Watch
our front window after the nnrrow
gauge gets In, and when we've got the
cash inaldo we'll pull the Bhade for a
signal. Don't turn him loose till
then. I'm counting on you, Tom,
"Your Old Pard.
BOB BUCKLEY,
"Prest. Stockmen's National."
The major began to tear the not
Into Binall pieces and throw them into
his waste basket. He cave a satis
fied little chuckle as ho did so.
"Confounded old reckless cow-
puncher!" he growled, contentedly,
"that pays him some ,on account for
what he tried to do for me in the sher
iff's office 20 years ago."
HIS RIGHT OF ADMISSION
Hungarian Immigrant's Good Answer
to Gateman Who Would Have
Stopped Him.
A light-blue cradle, built in Hun
gary, and Intended originally for one
child, parsed through tho New York
office recently. In tho cradle,, quiet
as new-born kittens, according to
writer in the Sun, were two babies.
Tho mother held one end of the cra
dle nnd another Hungarian woman lm-
mlKiant K'W'Ped the olher.
Tho bnblps are twins, nnd were
born aboard a steamship of a Bremen
line. Tho fattier Is a mechanic In a
Now England factory, and has been in
America n few me'iiths. He Bent his
wife prepaid tickets to his now home.
She surpeeted that she might become
a mother on the trip, nnd so got the
village carpenter to make her a cra
dle, as the did not want tho baby to
have only the cradle of the deep to
rock In.
The second day out tho twins came,
and that cradle seemed a little too
small for two. However, the young
mother inado It do by putting the ba
bies end to end, so if one wanted to
put the big toe of tbe other in his
mouth, he could do so and not know
whether or net he had the toe attach
ed to his own person.
At Ellis Island the people In au-tl-orlty
vere a bit doubtful about th
right of the mother and twins to en
ter, 'lie Austiirn immigrant home In
KCth fctrect t't'cidcd to become sponsor
for t'.e.'.i r.tid they were taken up
theie lo bo baptized. As tho mother
r.nd ti e worvan at the other end of
the crad'e t::rted to enter the Third
r.vc-:'ue elevated at the Battery a gate-
!."-! 1: i'ed them, saying:
"You can't carry big bundles like
that en tl ere trains."
An ii(.'fiit of the Austrian Immigrant
!.cn;e l ulled down a coverlet from the
face of one of the twins.
"This is not bundles," he remarked;
"this ia ) ( pi"-"
A nl the twins and their attendants
wore f emitted to pass on.
No Happlnets to Be In Love.
To be In lovo Is not to be happy.
At least that Is what Mrs. Elisabeth
York-Miller, novelist, says: "It la bet
ter." says she, "to be In ldve than not
to be In love, but one certainly is hap
py only occasionally. One Is Inclined
to be restless and doubtful. We al
ways are rather annoyed to be thrown
Into the society of people In love. W
vaguely recognize tbe Irritation, the
self-cente red petulance of their moods.
There Is tho cloud that always threat
ens to hurst and the most rapturous
of lovers ate mindful of the expected
downpour. It makes them suspicious
and miserable. If the man is late for
an appointment, If tbe girl does not
post the promised letter In tin.
nothing Is too small to precipitate me
storm. Lovers live in a whirl of mis
understanding and recrimination and
happiness Is the last thing they seem
to get. For every moment of bliss
granted to lovers, a hundred tears
are shed. Sweethearts, tormented by
Jealousy, behave as though they would
prefer to fcinit each other up In a
cage."
An Expensive Aqueduct
New York's new aqueduct will oost
$162,000,000.
FLAX IS PROFITABLE
Wonderful Paying Proposition In
Western Canadian Prairies.
So much Is heard of the wheat, oati
and barley grown In the prairie lands
of western Canada, and so much has
been told of tho wealth to be made
out of the raising cf cattle on
the succulent and rich grasses
of those fertile plains, that a
most Important prrduct has been al
most lost sight of, Flax. Recent pross
reports advise us that on one of the
laat boats to clear from Fort William
(at the bead of Lake Superior) for
Buffalo, there were 241,000 bushels of
flax valued at $"8.1,220, and on another
boat leaving the same day there were
2S8.000 bushelB valued at $720,000.
There has been a big demand for Ca
nadian flax this season, and the lake
movement has been very heavy. Flax
la always a sure crop, and gives to
the farmer who is anxious for quick
return after getting on his land, the
chance he is looking for. There is
opportunity for thousands yet, on the
tree homesteads of 160 acres, and
many of these are available within
short distance of the lines of railway
that are already built or under con
struction, either on the main line or
branches. Besides these tree gract
lands there is an opportunity to pur
chase from railway and land com
panies at reasonable prices.
The display ot western Canada's
groins in the straw as well as
threshed grains and grasses recently
made at St Louis waa an excellent
demonstration of what the country can
do. It proved splendid as an illustration
ot the resources of that vast prairie
country, which during the past year
bas again proven its ability to pro-'
duce excellent yields ot wheat, oats
and barley and flax. Not only this,
but the splendid herds of cattle are
source of large revenue. There is
a fund of information to be had by
reading the Canadian government lit
erature, copies of which may b had
free by applying to your nearest Ca
nadian government agent
TOO FREQUENT.
Connie Why did you quarrel with
Dick?
Grace Why, he proposed to me
last night.
Connie What of that?
Grace Why, I accepted blm only
the night before.
STUBBORN ECZEMA ON HANDS
"Some nlno years ago I noticed
email pimples breaking out on the
back of my bands. They became very
irritating, and gradually became
worse, bo that I could not Bleep at
night. I consulted a physlclnn who
treated me a long time, but It got
worse, and I could not put my hands
in water. I was treated at tho hos
pital, and it was Just tho samo. I waa
told that it waa a very bad case ot
eczema. Well, I Just kept on using
everything that I could for nearly
eight years until I was advised to try
Cutlcura Ointment I did bo, and 1
found after a few applications and by
bandaging my bands well up that the
burning sensations were disappearing,
I could sleep well, and did not have
any Itching during the night I began
after a while to use Cutlcura Soap for
a wash for them, and I think by using
the Soap and Ointment I was much
benefited. I stuck to the Cutlcura
treatment and thought if I could use
other remedies for over seven years
with no result, and after only having
a few applications and finding ease
from Cutlcura Ointment, I thought It
deserved a fair trial with a severe
and stubborn case. I used the Oint
ment and Soap for nearly six months,
and I am glad to say that I have
bands as clear as anyone.
"It is my wish that you publish this
letter to all the world, and if anyone
doubts it, lot them write me and I
will give them the name of my physi
cian, also the hospital I was treated
at." (Signed) Miss Mary A. Bentley,
93 University St., Montreal, Que.,
Sept 14, 1910.
In Different Parts of the House.
Caller (to little daughter of the
house) Hullo, dear? Where are you
off to?
Daughter of tho House I'm just
going up to watch Marie do mother's
balr.
Caller Oh, dear! Then I'm afraid
we shan't be able to see your mother.
Daughter of the House Oh, yes;
you'll find ber down there In tbe
drawing room.
Malady Worth Having.
"I can't understand my husband,
doctor; I am afraid there is some
thing terrible the matter with blm."
"What are the symptoms?"
"Well, I often talk to blm for bait
an hour at a time and when I get
through he hasn't tbe least Idea what
I've been saying." -
"Don't worry any more about your
husband. I wish I bad bis gift."
Stray Stories.
Dr. Pierce's riennant Pellets first pat up
tO year &go. Thev regulate and invinor
lte. (toinnch, liver and bowels. Sugar
boated tiuy granules.
She Raved.
Mr. Burble That elocutionist
some queen, isn't she?
Mr. Bored A raving beauty.
T fCRB A eil.O IN ONK DAT
Tuts 1.AXA1IVHI li!l".W( Oulnloa ttMeta,
1 rutffrUtirrfuDd Diont-y if It fiu to cure, M. y.
UoV t. d titfuuiuro la un etch Ik. KUi.
Avoid pushing to the front by going
back on your friends.
la