A Christmas Gift
Worth Having
Br CERTRUDEE. WHARTON
Copyright, 1510, by American Pri
Association.
"Mrs. Austin," wild tho clergyman,
"you nro on tlio commlttoo on decora
tion for Christmas this year."
"Indeed, Mr. Rice, tho others must
'get on without mo. I havo no heart for
tho work."
Tho good man turned away without
trying to porsuado her. Ho know that
thero was f sorrow always with hct
and Intensified on this Ghrlstmiw iinnl
vcrsary. Her husband, Edgar, had gone
nway from her six years before and
had novor returned. Every year her
llttlo boy hod asked, "Mamma, Isn't
papa coming homo for Chrlstmns?"
and every year nlio had been obliged
to put him off by saying! "Not thin
year, Arthur dear. Perhaps ho may bo
with us next year." Hut fllio only nald
It to lighten tho child's disappointment,
for sho did not bcllovo ho would over
cotno.
Edgar Austin was nn artist and hod!
an artist's tomporntneut. Ho had mar
ried n woman with n very practical
disposition, and when hard times enmu I
on and ho was not nblo to hcII his pic
turcs she had lost hur pntloucu at the
hnrdshlpa she was obliged to endure
and had told her hUBband that ho had
better lonvo such "ldlo work" as "daub
lng" and tako up something that
would bring more steady and practical
results.
Whllo Edgar was painting ho for
got tho troubles that wcro always
present with hor. It was her part to
eco that the. rent was paid and tho
other necessaries of llfo woro provided.
SInco she had llttlo mouoy for them
sho nt hiht lost all patience and up
braided her husband. Thero seemed
( biit one thing for hhn to do to save
himself from breaking down under tho
strain to go away from her. One day
ho took his llttlo boy, who was then
four years old, in his arms and nfter
a long cmbraco went Out of tho house
and did not return.
At times Mrs. Austin received small
donations from tho clergyman, which
ulio supposed en mo from his parishion
ers. On this and what sho wau ahlo to
earn sho managed to get on. She
know thnt it was her want of sympa
thy for hor husband ,lu his profession
during a trying tlmo that had driven
hi in from her, and bitterly sho rued It.
Sho would havo called hhn hack, but
she did not know whero to find him.
Tho child had been his constant com
panion, often playing in tho studio,
and tho artist Said that ho could al
ways do bettor work with his boy near
hlui. For six years tho easel hnd
stood with nu uullnlshcd plcturo on it,
and tho Btudo remained luovory re
spect no it was wiion Austin loft It
Tho day boforo Christmas, tho clergy
man enmo to tho house, with n Inrgo
basket 'on his arm nnd bmptlcd It on
tho kitchen table.
'These things," ho said, pointing to
ono hcap,."nro for supper tonight and
these for your dinner on OhrlstmnH
day."
"How many kind people' thero aro in
your chtirchl But how1 could nny con
grogntlou help being kind with such a
pastor?"
"And, Arthur," tho clorgyninn con
tinued, speaking to tho llttlo boy, "I've
got n nlco present for you and ono for
uintnnm. too, wl'lch I shall bring In
this evening bs'.oro dtnnor that you
may havo It Christmas ovo and enjoy
It nil Chrlstmns dny,"
Mrs.' Austin took great pains in pro
paring tho supper, brought out a net
of china sho bud received ns n wed
ding gift and sot an extra placo nt tho
tnblo for tho pastor. It was dark bo
foro B o'clock, and sho lighted tho
lamps, and Arthur' was delighted nt
tho smell of the good things coining
from tho kitchen. Ho had forgotten
that tho minister was coullng and,
seeing tho extra place, naked:
"Itf that for papaV
Tho mother hurst Into tenrs. With
nil tho comfort on this evening, bless
ed to nil Christian families, tho hus
band ulut father was still away, per
hnpi dead.
At 0 o'clock there was n tap on tho
door, Arthur rnn to open It. crying,
,"II'b all rondy, Mr, Rlcei" Hut Instend
of Mr. Rico thero was another, who
picked tho boy up and held him to his
breast. Tho mother cumo from tho
kitchen to see her husband standing In
tho doorway embracing hi child, Thon
In n moment sho. too, was taken to
tho man's nrnm. and uIhhoh from moth
er and child wcro rained on tho artist's
fnco.
"Wlfo," ho said, "my fortuno Is
made I havo scut you through Mr.
Rico all I could earn little umugb, I
grant but now I can sell pictures as
fast an I can paint them. A year aftor
lenvlug you I found moans to tako mo
to Purls. A fow months ago I painted
a plcturo that won hung in the Billon,
and it mado n groat lilt. Hut wo must
not Htay hero, when 1 inn not yet
known. HtfddCH, my picture will
bring higher prices coming from
abroad. Wo must go back to Paris."
Thon they nil But down to supper,
tho happiness that had so suddenly
como with this Christmas ovo tingling
In their very finger Hps. Hut tho trnu
Billon wns too quick for Arthur to un
derstand, "Papa." said tho llttlo man, "I
thought you was Mr, Rico. What does
It, all moan, anyway?"
"It mentis," paid tho mother, "that
when people aro doing tho best thoy
can It's wicked for others to nmko It
all (ho harder for thorn by complaint,"
"Not wicked." said tho father, "only
a niitunil giving Way undor what a
turo cannot endure."
A CHRISTMAS
SURPRISE
By EDWARD L. SCARRON
Copyright, 1910, by American Vtct
Aacoclatlon. .
I nm or was u telegraph operator.
I hod been married long enough to bo
tho father ot u smnll boy and know
what It Is to huvo coal bills, doctors'
bills, clothing bills, grocery bills In
deed, nil kinds of bills coming In and
a small salary with which to pay
them. My wlfo proved n financial
gem or I don't know how wo should
havo mado ends meet I turned It all
over to her, nnd sho brought tho cuds
together as well as sho could. I felt
that a nest egg should bo started, but
every tlmo wo tried to start ono some
of our small family was taken ill and
n doctor must bo called In and paid or
extra clothing must bo purchased or
Boino ono of tho many oxtra necessities
must bo provided, nnd It didn't look ns
if that nest egg would over bo stnrtcd
or if it wcro started that It would bo
continued.
Then nnotlmf child, a girl, enmo
along, nnd what boforo was an even
thing between salary and necessities
began to bo a grndunl running behind,
Ono day n gentleman enmo Into tho
telegraph ofllcc whero I worked and
sat down at a desk to wrlto n mes
sage. Ho seemed to bo doing (more
thinking than Writing. After sitting
thero tin hour or moro ho got up nnd
went out. In another hour ho came
buck, wroto out n mcssago nnd handed
it in to me.
"I bhould uso n clphor for that," he
saldt "but I hnven't ono. You'll havo
to send it In plnln English, ns I havo
written it, Thcro's no tlmo to com
municate by mall."
I counted tho words, told him the
cost, which ho paid mo, nnd took his
dnpnrturo.
I saw that tho mcssago waB an Im
portant one, considered In u financial
sense. It wns tho announcement to
parties In Now York thnt tho sender
had complotcd tho nmnlgamutlon of a
number of companies Into one trust,
provided his notion were ratified by
tho Now York parties. In order to
close tho deal ho must explain what
wns proponed nnd get their authority
to do so. It occurred to mo that nn
operator In n financial center might
sell out his secret for n big prlco nnd
inako n lot of money out of It. It did
not occur to mo to tako advnntngo of
my position to mnko money, for the
reason thnt I hnvonlwnys been op
posed to making "money dishonestly,
nut 1 saw ho necessity for Bending tho
mcssago In such form that It could be
used by nny except tho parties for
whoitrit Was Intended'. Wo operators
aro used to various devices for keeping
such telegrams from tho public, nud I
know n vory simple method of sondlng
tho mcssago whereby only thoso for
whonvit was intended could benefit by
It. I sent It by this method.
In tho afternoon tho gentleman carao
In nnd nsked If I hnd Bent his tolo
gram. "Yes," I said, "1 havo. but not Just
tho way you wroto It,"
"How did you send It?" ho nsked,
bristling,
"I didn't think of suggesting n snfo
way till you had gono out. So I acted
without your authorization."
"Well?"
"I sent tho first, tho third, the fifth
word, nnd so on to tho end, by our
company nnd gavo tho second, tho
fourth, tho sixth, and so on by un
other company. Of rourso neither of
tho two dispatches alono menus nny
thing. Thon I sent n third telegram
tolling tho parties how to read tho two
former ones. Thoro- Is a cost of 00
contB for tho third mcHsngo."
Ho stood gaping nt mo for n fow mo
ments till ho got tho Hchomo through
his head, then pulled CO cents out of
his pockot nnd gavo it to mo.
"Much obliged," ho said, "l wonder
I didn't think of that myself."
llo was going out when ho turned
and said: "(Jlvo mo your nnino, I
reckon I owo you n box of cigars for
that."
I wroto my namo on a telegraph
blnnk and handed It to htm, rejoicing
In tho prospect of getting n box of ci
gars, if ho remembered tho matter. I
lovo cigars, but couldn't afford to
smoko anything but a plK nnd poor
tobacco at that
This was aloug In September. I
pulled nwny on my pipe for n couplo
of months, Jioplug each day would
bring the box of cigars. Hut thoy
didn't come. Indeed, thoy never came.
Things looked rather blue for Christ
mas that year. Tho children were get
ting old enough to expect glfta, and I
wished I could glvo something to my
wlfo as Bomo return for doing nil the
work )n lieu of a servant. Ono morn
ing I received an envelope stamped
"Tho Consolidated Copper and Load
Company." 1 opened it nnd found n
cortlflcato for a hundred shares of tho
stock of tho said company mado out
in my namo.
I couldn't understand what it meant
or whero it camo from. I Inquired
whnt the stock of that company was
selling nt nnd found tho last quotation
to bo 70. This mado tho shares worth
?T,000. I wroto tho company for nn
explanation, and tho only explanation
I got Was that tho stock stood in my
namo on tho books of tho compnny.
Then 1 thought of tho clphor tolo
gram nnd tho box of cigars I novor
got.
I've hart somo Chrlstmns comfort
slnco'thon, but nothing llko that which
gavo mo tlio nest egg I had so long
pined for.
A PENITENT
A Burglar It Broueht Back to the
Fold on Climtrnas Morn.
Dy EMMAEDMONDS
Copyright, 1010, iy American Press
Association.
Miko Conovcr, burglar, tho day bo
foro Christmas stood on a sidewalk in
a great city and watched tho shoppers.
On the other side of tho streot was a
largo Jowelry storo, in and out of
which throngs of pcoplo were going
and coming, many of them carrying
tho goods they hnd bought rather than
risk not getting them before Chrlstmns
morning if left to bo sent homo by tho
delivery wagon.
Mlko wns watching for somo pros
perous looking pcrsou to como out of
tho store, his pockets bulging with
smnll packages ho know tho smnll
ones to bo tho most valuable Intend
ing to follow him homo and during tho
night relieve him of them. Presently
ho hit upon an elderly gentleman with
mutton chop whiskers nnd a gold head
ed cane, who, ns ho emerged from the
store, was cramming the snld smnll
packages down Into his pocket. Mike
followed him, noted tho houso ho en
tered nnd went nway.
Tho town clocks .were striking ono
hour nfter midnight when the burglar
bent his steps to the house In question,
passed from tho front steps on to n
balcony, Inserted a Jimmy under u
window sash, pulled out tho screws
tint held the sash, raised It and en
tered u largo drawing room. The
Chrlstmns presents woro doubtless
kept above, so, feeling his way up
Btalrs, ho found a hall lighted by a
gas Jet turned vory low. Ho turned
It a trlflo higher In order thtf better to
soo tho wuy nnd, looking Into nn open
door, snw two llttlo children asleep
with their" iirms about each other. To
tho mantel hung two long stockings
bulging In every part On a bureau
was u crucifix.
Mlko had been brought up n Catholic
by an honest, hardworking mother
nnd remembered when n lad quite well
grown seeing his llttlo brother nnd
sister, both less than ilvo years old,
lying In bed together in this fashion.
Ho romcmbcred It especially because
ho had Just porno In with somo toys to
put luto their stockings. Tho sight
took him back to thoso days when ho
hnd not yet gono to tho bad, nud there
enmo n sinking nbout his heart He
passed back through a narrow hnllway
nnd, opening a door, entered n portion
of tho houso that seemed to be an ad
dition and cut off from tho rest Tho
door had scarcely closed behind him
when he heard u low volco say:
"Domlnus voblscum."
Mlko started, and his knees trembled
bonenth him, Whcnco camo the
voice from the colling, from under
tho Uoor or from behind curtains? It
had been years since Mlko hnd gono
to mnss, niuch less to confession, and
now It Hcomcd to him that ho was In
a church; thnt tho priest had turned
from the nltnr to the congregation nnd,
spreading his nrms In nn nttltudo to
bless them, had Intoned tho Latin
words meaning "Tho Lord bo with
you."
Iustlnctlvoly Mlko bowed his head
nnd mado tho sign of tho cross on his
forehead.
Then suddenly n woman's volco be
gan to sing that beautiful hymn "Ah'o
Sanctlsslma" ("Hall, Most Holy Moth
er"). From the moment Mlko hoard
tho first noto ho began to droop, Grad
ually ho bent almost to the floor, nnd
when tho words "Ora pro uobls"
("Pruy for us") wero sung ho sank upon
his knees. When tho song stopped the
penitent was Bobbing llko a child.
Suddenly n light was turned on be
hind him. Hut Mlko remained on his
knees. Ho wns too overcome by the
music to mnko nny reslstnnco.
"What nro you doing hero?" nsked
the gentleman Mlko had shadowed
that day,
"I camo to rob you, sir," Mlko re
plied In n honrso whisper, "but X havo
been turned from my purpose, first, by
your two llttlo children with their
hanging Btocklngs and, second, by whnt
I havo hoard hero. Am I drenmlng
thnt I am In a church? Is this a dwell
ing, or hnvo I gono mad?"
"Neither. Wo nro lloman Catholics
here, and I have purchased a phono
graph as a Christmas present for my
.wife, who Is a very dovout woman.
It Is Intended for such. I left It wound,
and I suppose something has gono
wrong with the machinery nnd started
It up. 1 heard tho singing and camo in
to shut the thing off."
Then Mike rose from his knees, but
with his bend still bowed said:
"I am ready, Hlr, to go to jail and
suffor tho punishment I desarvc. nut
never ngalu will I commit a crlmo
Tho lnlluenco of our holy church and
my old mother when I wns n boy has
boon brought back to me tonight to
save mo from sinking any lower. I am
armed, sir, and could kill you in u mo
ment, Hut fear nothing. Go to your
telephone, if you hnvo ono In tho house,
and call tho police."
The gentloman stood looking nt Mlko
for BOmo moments without Bpenklng,
then Bald:
"I shall not telephone for the police.
The police represent tho law. Our
church has dono what the law can
never do. Tho Inw can only punish!
tho church has brought a sinner to ro
pontnnco. Go your way, and tomor
row, If you will call at my place or
business, 1 will glvo you work."
Mlko Is now earning nn honest liv
ing and hangs stockings for his own
chlldreu oik Chrlstmns ovo. Hut ho is
never comfortable In presence of a
phonograph. Somehow It connects him
with n past thnt distresses him and
which he wishes to forget
if
Lots and
if)
ft
For Sale. Now in Water
Go's Third Addition to
$ Tracts of 2.14 to
J) EASY TERMS. Seven
A. WICKSTROM, Supt.,
HERSHEY, NEB.
'ft
Ends Winter's Troubles.
Tomanv. winter 5q n sunann nf trnnhln
The frost bitten toes and fingers, chap
ped hands nnd lips, chilblains, cold
Horns, rflfl nnrl rnitrrh nlrtna nmvo fl.in
But such troubles Hy before Bucklen's
ttriucu ouivo. i. inai convinces.
Greatest healer of Burns, Boils, Piles,
Cuts. Sni-PR. FVznmn nnrl fin
25 cents nt Stone Drug Co.
A DRUNKARD
Is Not a Criminal. Why
Treat Him as Such. Ony a
Poor Unfortunate Who
Needs Help, Why Not
Help Him. Send
Him to a Neal
Institute.
Thn Nnjal t'ntnl-nnl fntntmAnl
tho rtnrindinnl. nrrnQinnn1 11- mnrlnvotA
drinker, tho habitual and excessive
drinker and the nervous man who
hns fo drink to keep from becom
ing moro nervous. It takes away all
inclination to drink, all desire and crav
ing for drink by neutrelizing tho poison
of alcohol in tho system and ridding tho
hi nnd nf tha naionn tiv n rnnirl
of elimination leaving the drinker in
mo surne normni conauion no was in
bofore tasting liquor, so far as the
affect of nlenhnl mnv hn rnnpnmnrln11
appetite for drink gone and ho is anew
num.
NO HYPODERMIC INJECTION.
Tho Nnnl intnt-nnl Imntmnnf afTontn
a. nnrfoct
hypodermic injections.
A frnnrnnfoAfl hnml nnrl luintmnf !o
given each patient agreeing to effect
n perfect cure or refund tho money at
the end of tho third day.
A. MODERN TREATMENT.
Thft Nnnl In a Phvolranc f fn
iiiuunuK uuuib; ii is uic most modern
and perfect of known treatments,
originated by n physician, compounded
by n physician and administered by
experienced physicians. It never falls.
Address lock box 2G2, Grand Island,
Neb. Phono Bell- phone 205 or 595. Ind.
U J.1.1. L.1.1L. fi 1- 11. . . .
187 for n copy of our book nod con
tract We give bank roferoncos. We
frorl onlv the Liniinr flriin nnrl
Tobacco habit.
NOTED RUPTURE
EXPERT HERE.
Sceley, who Pilled (he Czar of
Russia, will be al the Pacific
Motel, North Plalle.
P. II. Seolov Of flhipnirn nnrl Phlln-
delphia, the noted truss export, will bo
111 uie raciucnotci una wilt remain in
North Platto on Friday and Saturday
only, December 16th nnd 17th. Mr.
Seeley snys: "Tho Spormatic Shield
TrusB as now used nnd approved by
tho United States government will not
only rotnin nny case of rupture per
fectly, nffordlng immedinte relief, but
ciosea uie opening in 10 days on tho
average case, and costing only propor
tionate witli common trusses." This
instrument received tho only award in
England nnd In Spain, producing re
sults without surgery or hnrmful in
jections. Mr. Seeley has documentary
rofarunces from tho ITnltml fitntnci nmp.
ernment, Washington, D. C, for your
lOBpeciiun. ah ennruy cases without
charge, or If nny interested call ho
Will bo Crlnd tO fihnw thn lni wlthnnt
charge or fit them If desired. Anyone
rupmruu snouiu remember tne ante
nnd take advantnero nf thin nnumini
- -- - -
Uis Iiomo establishment
70 Dearborn street, Chicago.
l A. J. AMES. MA1UB AMES. fJ
II Doctors Ames & Ames. :i
S3 f
$ Physicians and Surgeons,
Ofllce over Stono Drug Co.
Phones L Office 273
1 nones f nHl(inpo 070
- " w M
X.A
Small Tracts of Land I
HERSHEY, NEB. U
2.42 acres from $80 to $500 each,
According to Location.
per cent interest on Deferred Payments. Apply to (fjl
THE
First National Bank,
of North Platte, Nebraska.
UNITED STATES DEPOSITARY.
Capital and Surplus $140,000.
ARTHUR McNAMARA, President,
E. F. SEEBERGER, Vice-President,
N. KEITH NEVILLE, Vice-Presiuent,
F. L. N00NEY, Cashier.
Every family hns need oi n good, re
liable liniment. For sprains, bruises,
soreness of the mussels nnd rheumatic
Enins there is none hotter than Cham
erlain's. Sold by nil dealers.
IT BEATS,the
How our 10c
HOME MADE BREAD
has taken with ladies who are particu
lar nbout what kind of Bread they buy.
They show their good judgment when
they purchaso a loaf of our 10c
Home Made Bread:
It is made from tho best of flour and
great care is used in the making. It is
certainly different from the ordinary
Bread you buy. Be sure nnd ask for
m
DICKEY'S
Home Made Bread
per loaf.
10c
as
Keith Theatre
Wednesday, Dec. 14,
"Im coming to sell North Platte
a line line Of plain and fancy
laughs." Bob Blake.
HENRY B. HARRIS presents
THE
TRAVELING SALESMAN
A comedy in four nets by James
Forbes. Author of "The Chorus
Lady" and the "Commuters."
Twenty-one Weeks at Illinois
Theatre, Chicago.
SeaU on Sale Monday.
PDinCC Lower Floor, $1.50, $1.00
rniULfl Balcony, $1, 75c and 50c
Banks On Sure Thing Now,
"I'll never be without Dr. King's
New Llfo Pills again," writes A. SchTn
geck, 647 Elm St.. Buffalo, N. Y.
"They cured me of chronic constipation
when all -othors failed." Uneaualed
for Jaundice,1 Indigestion, Headache,
Chills, Malaria and Debility. 25 cents
at Stono Drug Co.
ST. LUKE'S HOSPITAL
EAST FllUNT STKUJrJT,
NORTH PLATTE, NEB.
Medical Staff:
Dr. D. T. Quigley. Dr. G. B. Deut.
Dr. V. Lucas.
A general hospital for all acute and
chronic coses medical, surgical
and obstretric. Open to the medi
cal profession. For further infor
mation address,
W. M. CUNNINGHAM, Mgr