'VAGiTLlGUr W Mask of Blindness By GERALD THORNS $ 0 fc f Cp7rUbt. tilt, by tli Wuttra Nwi par vnwm. She had never loved Anson Rurdett In a true souse, and such a thing as becoming his wife had never entered Iter thought, yet, when misfortune came upon him, there was born In the Datura of Leila Raleigh pity, mingled with mistaken duty, that amascd her mother and sisters, "I shall make any sacrifice necessary as a friend," she told them. "If poor Anson Is to go through life helpless, blind, and asks me to shnre his trou bles I will marry him at his bidding." "Leila, you talk wild!" scolded her Ulster, Adelaide. "You never really cared for Anson, tie has no claim up on you. It Is sheer folly." "Rut I feel so sorry for him." said Leila. "lie certainly paid me more at tentlon than lie did to other girls." "And out of an Impulse of sympnthy you would tie yourself to a man unable to make even a living? Leila, this Is all sentiment," declared her mother. Nothing more was said at the time, but Mrs. Raleigh knew that Leila was a person who always acted upon her convictions, though neither romantic nor heroic. Intensely loyal to iter friends, sympathetic and tender-heart ed, Leila had exaggerated her sense of duty towards a man who had never spoken to her one word of love. A strange condition of affulrs had come about. There was an athletic club In Rossmore to which nearly every young man In the town belonged. It bad been started and mainly supported by Wilton Porter, who had been left quite a fortune, Rurdett, too, was a mem ber, and one day, while practicing with tbe Indian club, Porter lost his grasp on one of them, and It whirled through the air with terrific ' force. Burdett stood directly In the path of the flying missile. It landed squarely between his eyes, he went down like a shot and the shocked and horrified Porter went through twenty-four hours of crushing anxiety, remaining at the hospital whither Rurdett was con veyed until the physician assured him that the patient would live. Porter's heart sank, however, as be waa told that It looked as though the nerves of the eyes had been paralyzed and An aon Rurdett might be blind for life. . A high caliber, sensitive young man. all the Joy of life seemed to have de parted for Torter. Ue gave up all of bis time to the care of Burdett. "Hopelessly blind, perhaps," report ed an expert oculist, "although the case Is of a variety tnnt has seen some remarkable cures, but through time alone. In the meantime Porter had become acquainted with Leila Raleigh. Prom the first he was attracted by her and, although he knew that she and Bur dett were friendly, he never suspected that there was any mutual affection between them. Leila kept secret even from her mother and sisters thut, while she was not as yet engaged to Rurdett. there was a tacit understanding between them that some day they would marry. She, however, had become disappoint ed In Burdett A position had been offered by a manufacturing concern out of sympathy for hla affliction, where he could answer calls at a tele phone. "I don't have to drudge, he told Leila, audaciously. "Porter' has plenty of money and la acting nrlneelv about It lie took away my sight let mm pay for It" One day Burdett called upon Leila and asked her to marry him. lie told her that he bad an opportunity to se cure a pretty little farm In Florida, where they could enjoy life without anxiety, lie asked her to think It over and give her answer the next day. That same afternoon Wilbur Porter ap peared and laid hla heart at ber feet "It Is too late," said Leila simply, and after the disappointed suitor had gone away she hurried to ber room and wept all the long night, though she scarcely kenw why. Burdett called up on her the next morning, Irrationally eager and excited. "We must get married at once, Leila," be said. "See," and he drew a packet of bank bills from his pocket "There Is five thousand dollars, and all ours. I am going to buy the farm at once and" "Why where did you get all that money T" Inquired Leila. "From Porter. ' I went to him last evening and told him what I wanted, and he said he would do anything to make me comfortable and happy wltb you." 4 "But you can't do any work on a farm." she said. "Oh. yes, I can. Leila, Tm going to tell you a secret. 1 have been able to see for oTer a month. I Just pretended not to 8 ' !! tten, to work this scheme on Porur" Sl.e v.-mw! facing him, trembling from l.ti. ! in foot. He fairly shriveled as si e (i-ji"mi-ed bis petty meanness, as she tot. I blra that If be did not at once return the money to Porter she would expose him to tbe world. Then she left him and he, even more despic able tt rn she had dreamed, thinking more of the t.ney than Iferaelf, disap peared tut 8iuu day with bis Ill-gotten gains. The truth came out as it was bound to, and after a while Wilbur Porter re newed hla appeal for Leila's love. It had already been hla longer before than be realised. ALLIANCE iHKi:NIIOt'RH IS MO INSTITUTION (Continued from Pace 1.) of architecture of Its kind. The walls are cemented up for several feet, and over ten tons of glasB went Into the building. - Inside may be found plants and flowers of every kind In profusion. Hardly an inch of 'space Is wasted. Kven the paths between tbe flower boxes are lined with potted plants, some full grown, others beginning to penetrate the soil. Below the boxes are planted mushrooms a new venture In Alli ance, although Mr. Tatro has had re markable success In other places with tbem. Just now another greenhouse Is in process of erection a more or less temporary structure, which will be used as a propagating house. The avrage man or woman who patron izes a florist doesn't realize that ev ery plant must be planted and trans planted two or three times; that the flowers he Is buying today were planned for over a year ago. Prep arations are constantly being made to care for future business. Just now thousands of lilies are being grown for Christmas and Easter use. It's a revelation to go through the greenhouse. There are tulips from Holland, and the bulbs and plants of dozens of other varieties. There is a glorious collection of chrysanthe mums in almost every known color. The carnation collection Is especially beautiful. We saw for the first time a yellow carnation. Mr. Tatro has Just nineteen of these plants, and wouldn't part with one of them for the world, although he sells the flow ers at the regular price. There are over five thousand carnations at tbe greenhouse now, and three thousand more will be put In the new green house when it is completed. The va rieties Include White Enchantress, Pink Enchantress, Yellow Prince, Mrs. C. W. Ward and others. There are thirty thousand bulbs at the greenhouse, narcissus, daffodil, tulip and hyacinth, all of which will be. forced so they will be ready for spring. . Another side of the business Is the growing of radishes, lettuce, toma toes and other vegetables for table consumption. Radishes and lettuce are sown every few days. There are over four hundred plants of head let tuce now In the hotbeds. Of course, it Is apparent that Alli ance cannot use the entire output Of the Aliance Floral company. Ship ments are made to a good many towns In this section of the state, and a considerable business has been built up. However, those who live in the city are always given the first consideration. The company Is pri marily an Alliance concern, and It Is Mr T.atro's desire that it serve All! ance people before all others. The following from the Nebraska State Journal concerns a former Al liance resident: "Miss WUma Wood, former state university student, who Is engaged In reconstruction work, has received special recommendation from the surgeon general of the United States army. Miss Wood, who before entering Reed college for training In reconstruction work, was teaching physical education at the University of Montana at Missoula, is mentioned by a Missoula paper as one of two nurses from there to re ceive praise. 'The local nurses named,' says the account, 'are Miss Ellen Hemmlck and Miss Wllma Wood, both of whom were assigned to Wort Des Moines, Iowa, after com pleting their training. Not only did the Montana women furnished from Reed college rank high from physical and educational standpoints, but also from that of personality, the surgeon-general declares." It Has Always Been Our Aim To give to the bereaved the most in service and equipment for their investment. Three licensed embalmers and full equipment await your call, day of night Geo. D. Darling MOTOR AMBULANCE Day or Might Phones Day, 139; Might 8. 299, 933. W. II. HARPER. Prop. HARPER'S- W. It. HARPER, Prop. SHOP EARLY STORK CLOSES AT 9 :00 P. M. SATURDAY y-cv" -vfr 0 COA SATURDAY r DAY Continuing the smashing Sales Event that is the talk of the entire city $3450 Values to $59.50 TWO GREAT GROUPS OF COATS AT TWO VERY LOW PRICES FOR SUCH EXCEPTIONAL STYLE AND WORTH 50 o Values to $74.50 4 'Coat sales have come and gone and if such a coat sale as this would go on forever there would be but one coat house in Alliance," exclaimed an enthusiastic little woman in atten dance upon our great purchase coat sale. Every woman who compares values voices a similar opinion. Have you compared! Saturday the sale will be at its height may we suggest your attendance! It's a money-saving proposition of the first magnitude. Fur Collar Coats Self Collar Coats Pile Fabric Coats Novelty Fabric Coats Including Silvertone, Bolivia Cloth, Broadcloth, Silvertip, Pom Pom, in Taupe, Reindeer, Brpwn, Navy, Beet, Gray, Copen, 5xford, Plum, Foch, Wistaria and Black. SATURDAY A Dress Selling Event TWO SPECIAL PRICE GROUPS OF INTEREST TO EVERY WOMAN WHO APPRECIATES VALUE . $23.5 and $33.75 Dresses Worth Up to $49.50 Dresses Worth Up to $59.50 Beautiful styles for afternoon and street wear. Satin, Georgette, Velvet, Serges, Tricotine, Tricolette, Duvetyn and combination effects, many stunningly trimmed with Fringe, Beads, Chenille, Tucks, Embroidery, Angora and buttons. Short or long 6leeves. PAY CASH WE do not have any charge account. Why pay more for your Merchandise and pay for bad accounts. Our Merchandise is selling at Less than Wholesale Prices Today. Two expert sales men to help you select it Mr. Back and Mr. Ehinger . WOMEN'S WEARING APPAREL ENTIRE MIDI'! :: SECTION WE SELL FOR CASH MA li ii "R-FFm Big Store Cash Store COMPARE OUR VALUES ALWAYS 4 i t i 1