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About The Red Cloud chief. (Red Cloud, Webster Co., Neb.) 1873-1923 | View Entire Issue (June 11, 1914)
JV jSfe " vt RID CLOUD, NEBRASKA, CHIEF I- ,. T- 1-. DSOCnVDSTWOFin ifrr ISABEL GORDON CURTIS Author jf lTKeVomarrorv Wolverforvs" ILLU5TPAT10NSr ILUWOIOTiYOlMr- V.WI ixji i i 11 ' SYNOPSIS. Enoch Wentworth. newspaper miin, and Andrew Merry, nctor. nflor tho jjucsts nt pokor pitrty depnrt, pluy n lout hand, tho stakes to ba abosluto control of tho Tut uro of tho loser. Wentworth wins and 8 hey decide to keep tho matter secret. oicns. Knooh'a sister, becomes Inter ested In Mciry, Knowing of his short comings from her brother she tries to jaroino tho actor's ambition. He outlines (tho plot of n play ho has had In mind land tho girl urges him to no to work ton It. When ho completes tho play and reads It to Wentworth tho latter do (nnnds It as the forfeit of the bond won pn the poker Kamo. Wentworth Interests ,Oswald In tho play and preparations for elaglnr It aro begun. Dorcas In asked to romy "uordelia," the loading part In tho Wy. Bhn expostulates wltii tn n er brolhor ffor tnklnir all tho credit for tho piece pnii ignoring ml Ignoring Merry. Dorcas recognizes for crry among- the down-and-outs In a Ibroft ry a A II ti ne. CHAPTER VIII Continued. Dorcas glancod at tho handful of tnon cowering In a shadowed corner. 'A sudden fear solzed her, tho feminine terror of midnight streets. "You don't Imaglno," sho whispered, "that I shall havo any trouble 7 It Is possible I am making a mistake In the man. Are there dangerous characters among them?" "Not exactly dangerous," said tho officer slowly. "If they're dangerous It's from hunger. It ain't onco a yoar you find a crook In tho bread lino. It's too to: oo easy to spot thorn, waiting as thoy for an hour or two In that light." "Thank you," said tho girl. She crouched behind a half-drawn curtain In tho shadow of tho carrlago, watch Ing oagorly the gathering of homeless, hungry men. Thoy began to creop to ward tho bakory from every direction, most of them with a shambling step that told of 111-Bhod foot or shamed roluctnnco to bog for food. Tho skies had been lowering for hours, and Just before midnight tho first Btorm of tho winter camo down. It began with keen, tiny needles of lco, but they stung and froze, for tho wind drove them In merciless, piercing flurries. Tho loi tering men crowdod together aud turned tholr faces sullenly from each furious cloud of sleet Hunger was bitter enough without the storm. Dorcas watched through misty eyes. She wondered at the still patience of the throng. Delow her In a basement a warm red light burned, and through an open door the wind blew the fra grance of boiling coffee across the street. She saw a man thrust a slim white-faced boy Into a sheltor botween the wall and himself. "It I were ntarvlng I couldn't be pa tient and courteous," shq thought. SUvWS.' lOHO He Turned and Stared at Her. " The smoll of food would madden mo. B would batter a door down." She started suddenly, then for a moment she scarcely breathed. Down Tenth streot slouched a tall, stooping jflgure. The man wore a shabby over coat which covored bis body almost to the feet; Its collar was turned high about his neck and an old slouch hat hadowed his face. Dorcas could see title between but a bristling board. he keenost detective searching for ndrew Merry would not have glanced wico at the figure; Dorcas' eyes fol lowed It with grave perplexity. She had been startled into recognition the Light before when ttie man pulled the shabby hat down over his face. She Icaaght a glimpse of Merry's long, (white, slender Angora and noted an Inpatient, peculiarly graceful gesture which was characteristic of him. Dor leas had seen It frequently, sometimes rwhen be was on the stage, sometimes while he had talked with her. He paused before facing the glare 0 Broadway and pulled the hat brim carefully about his face; It might have been for shelter from tho stinging blasts of sleet or for better conceal ment Then he seemed to gather him self together with energy born of des pair. He stepped quickly forward and took his place at the end of the bread WW l lino. A hundred men stood between him and tho beneficence of food. Oth ers were closing In behind blm. Here and thore one man turnew to speak to anothor; tho man Dorcas was watch Ing stood Immovable. Ho thrust his hands deep in his overcoat pockets, his eyes wero fixed on tho whitening sidewalk bosldo him. Dorcas turned to tho opposite window and noddod with an eager gesture to tho officer. His hand went up. He spoke to the cabman in a low voice. "Drive round through University placo to Tenth then up toward Ilroadway. Pull up half-way down tho block." The man turned his horse and moved down the street. CHAPTER IX. A Man of Honor. Dorcas broathod a sigh of relief when her cab drow up beside tho bread line. She had thought during her brief drlvo around the block of the possibility that tho man might leavo his placo; but there he stood, motion less, with hoad bent defiantly against tho stinging eddies of sleet She stopped from tho carriage and passed swiftly along tho sidewalk besldo tho line of a city's poor. Sho hesitated for a few seconds whon sho reached the corner, then she stretched out her hand and laid It on tho wet sleeve of tho man boforo her. Ho turned and stared at her for ono dazed moment. Ho did not speak. Instinctive cour tesy reminded him that this was no placo for a woman In a midnight storm, and his deslro to protect her caused the hungor to bo forgotten. He stopped quietly from the sldowalk and without a word moved beside her down tho streot Tho 'rnqvomont caused a scoro of men to .turn with quick curl oBlty, but suddonly a cry ran down the line: "Tho door's open!" Everything elso yielded to the march toward food. Dorcas swiftly led the way to the carriage. When sho opened the door and beckoned Merry to enter he hesi tated, the blood flushing Into his wan face. "What do you want. Miss Dorcas?' he asked quietly. "I want to talk with you," answered the girl. "Do get In, please out of the storm " Merry handed her In, then followed and shut the door. "I cannot go home with you," he announced stubbornly. "Enoch Is away. He's In Montreal, and thore Is nobody at homo except Jason and me. I have so much to say to you," she cried appeallngly. "We can't talk driving through the streets on such a night as this." Merry stared at her for a mlnuto with dogged obstinacy in his gaze. "Won't you como?" urged tho girl Impotuously. Her color deepened and nn eager light shone in her oyes. "There is so much 2 want to say. We shall bo quite alone. You can trust Jason. Afterwards you may go away it you wish and I will promise never to attempt to And you. I will try to forget you." Morry stretchod out his hand and touched her arm, leaning forward un til his face was close to hers. "Miss Dorcas, don't say that. Slnco I left you that night on Juniper Point I havo lived a lifetime of happiness and hor ror and remorse. Ono thing alono has saved me from going over the brink of tho precipice, simply one thing." He lifted his eyes to hers. "Tho one thing," ho repeated, "that I could not fling away was tho memory that you trustod me, that you believed In me, and were waiting for me to make good." N "I trust you now," cried the girl, her voice breaking Into a sob. "I am still waiting for you to make good. Won't you come home with me?" The cab stopped In front of the Waverly Placo home. Merry followed her reluctantly up the steps. She paused for a moment while she ad Justed the key In the lock. "Would you mind seeing Jason?" sho asked hesitatingly. "He can help you with dry clothes. He will bq as glad to seo you as I am." "Ring for him," answered Morry quietly. "Jason and I aro old pals." Half and hour later Merry walked Into tho library wbero Dorcas was waiting tor him. It seemed as If the ruoro resumption of clean, comfortable clothing, oven though hunger still marked him, had given the man fresh valor, now dignity. Ho laughed nervouuly. "It is a re juvenation, Isn't It?" he asked as be glanced at himself In the mirror, "Ja son unearthed some duds I once left here." Jason was an excellent valet andT hot bath, a shave, and fresh raiment had made a man of Merry. The lock ot fair hair which habitually fell over his forehead made him look almost boyish, although his faco was pallid and careworn. "I havo eaten nothing since morn ing." Dorcas said. "I told Jason to servo suppor here, on a little tablo be side the fire, where It Is cpzy and cheerful."' Merry dropped Into a cbalr. He wondered It the Intense enjoyment ot the goed things of life was puro sensu ousness. The odor of hot coffee, the sight of a daintily sot tablo, the ra diance of a coal fire, the glow of red shaded lights, and the storm shut out doors brought a tingling pleasure which seemed Uko mero animal grati fication. Ho shivered for a moment ae he listened to the storm. Ho won dered what had made it posslblo for him to bravo homolessnesB and hun ger and squalor. Looking back on It ho realized ho had borno It as a man lives through pain undor tho power of an anesthetic. Tho misery of his mind had dulled tho sordid wretchedness of mero existence. To Morry that supper was a festival, not wholly because It was the satis fying of ravenous appetite, but because It was the crisis if his life. Dorcas sensed that if her own hunger was real, Morry would not feel that she was foedlng a famished outcast. Jason beamed upon them In sheer enjoyment when ho brought ln full dishes and carried away empty ones. Dorcas was light-hearted and gay, as happy as thoy had been during their first ac quaintance at the shore. For a mo ment, while Morry drank his coffee, the memory of a few horrible weeks Intruded on tho prosont. "Miss Dorcas," he began abruptly. "Why did you" She stretched out her hand appeal lngly. "Don't bring in whys now. We are so comfortable. I don't ask for an ex planation I don't want to give any. Can't you seo I'm In Happy Valley for a little while? I am so glad to have you hero again." Merry smiled Into her eyes. "I'll obey you, bless your gentle heart 1" Tho girl rose and reached to a shelf bohlnd hor for a box of cigars. Merry lit one, lounged back in a cushioned chair, and puffed rings ot smoke towards the red Are. They sat In silence after Jason had carried away the dishes. Their quiet was broken when tho clock struck one. The man started. "Miss Dorcas, you wanted 'me here to talk. I cannot .rob you of a fight's sleep." "I am as wide awake as a cricket I slept all tho afternoon." "First of all," Merry asked gravely, "how did you And me 7 'Scores of men and women passed me day after day, people I havo known for years. Not ono of thorn recognized mo." "They wero not searching for ybu." "You wore?" Dorcae nodded. "How did you find me?" he per sisted. "Last night on my way home from the theater with Mr. Oswald our cab stopped In a block, and It was opposite where that line ot men stood. I was looking at them when I saw you pull down your hat. When Mr. Oswald left me here I drove back to Tenth street, but the line had dispersed. I went again tonight Just hoping." "Who is Mr. Oswald?" asked Merry abruptly. "Don't you know? Haven't you been reading the papers? Mr. Oswald la the man who is putting on your play." "My play?" Andrew dropped his half-smoked cigar on the table. "Your play," repeated Dorcas In a quiet tone. "They have been, search ing everywhere for you to play 'John Esterbrook.' Enoch Is In Montreal now, looking for you." Merry laughed harshly. The girl claeped her hands together. "Mr. Merry, tell me, are you and Enoch no longer friends?" Andrew picked up his cigar and puffed It until the red spark revived. Thon ho laughed again. "We aro not exactly frlendB. Has he told you any thing?" . "Yes, he told me only It seemed so strange, so hard to believe after our talk that day at the point that somehow I cannot understand It" Merry watched her keenly. He was throttling a temptation to tell every thing that had come between him and the sunshine of existence. He felt sure of tho girl's sympathy; ho knew sho would understand. Ho had begun to realize his own dependent nature. First there had been his mother, then for years he had leaned upon Enoch's strength and friendship. When ho was left alono It was outer darkness. Every fiber of his being longed not so much for redress as for understanding and sympathy. "Miss Dorcas, I will begin at the day when I left you and" Suddenly he realized ho could not tell the siory ot Enoch's disloyalty to hor. "Miss Dorcas, I need your help terribly." "I am ready to help you In any way I can," she answered quietly. She knew ho was nerving himself to a con fession, and she understood what an ordeal It was to the man. She crossed tho room and laid a paper before him, pointing to the bold headlines stretched across the top ot a page. The words fairly leaped at Merry. TREMENDOUS SURPRISE Enoch Wentworth the Coming Drama- tlst He read on down through the col umn. Fellow Journalists had banded together to give Enoch a royal Intro duction. Merry's name was not men tioned, though there was frequent ref erence to a famous star, who had the leading part In consideration. Oswald was referred to as a newcomer in the ranks ot New York managers. His lavish production ot Wentworth's drama was described in figures ap proaching prodigality. Merry road It through to the last sentence, then the paper fell t0 Q0 floor n(- no burled his face tn his hands. , Whilo Dorcas watched, her heart ached for him. It was hard to hold ia check the soothing touch she would have given to a woman or to a child. "Oht" she said In a piteous whisper, - l "It war a mistake," Ho did not answer or lilt his head from his hands. "I pleaded with Enoch. I told him It was all wrong, terribly wrong, for him as well as for you; that whon you returned he must sot things straight I told him It was not even collabora tion; it was wholly and distinctly your play, yours alone " "Collaboration?" repeated Merry perplexedly, raising his eyes. "Ho told mo everything," cried tho girl hurriedly. Sho was trying to save him tho full confession of bis down fall. Sho did not wish to listen to It "Everything!" repeated Merry in credulously. "Yes, everything. Oh) If you had como back only two or three days ago things would have been different." He rose abruptly and crossed to the window. "Miss Dorcas," ho did not turn to look at her, "what was tho' worst If I ss l-iaW-J-C ' " ' " M She Pointed to the Bold Headlines. thought you had ot mo whon Enoch told you what happened?" Tho girl paused for a minute before she answered. "I thought you were weak." "Weak!" The man repeated the word as If trying to comprehend Jts meaning. "You should not have allowed Enoch to stand as the author ot your play, no matter what the circum stances were. He Is not happy over It today. His nature seems to have changed. He is not easy to live with even. Oh, I wish It had never hap pened!" Merry waited In silence. "Things must come right, even If this lie has been told." She pointed at the paper which lay at her feet "There Is one way. You can play the convict so wonderfully that people must realize that you yourself created the part" "I shall never play the convict" Merry's voice was slow and resolute. "Oh!" cried Dorcas, "who can? Why, I thought your heart waa set on tho character." "It was once." "I cannot understand." The man did not attempt an expla nation. "Andrew Merry," she hesitated as If searching for words which would not wrong her brother, "did Enoch do you any any Injustice?" She waited for an answer during an Infinitely long silence, so It seemed to her. Then tho. actor spoke abruptly. "No. As I look back on It now, I went Into It with .my eyes open. I sim ply learned that there Is no way to gauge human nature." Again there was a silence. Dorcas was trying to understand, trying to be loyal to her brother, even while her heart, aching with unspoken sympathy, turned to Merry. "Why don't you want to play 'John Esterbrook?' " she asked quietly. "I don't suppose I have a decent rea son, except that when I gave up. the play I lost all Interest In It 'John Esterbrook' is no more to me today than 'Silas Bagg.' " "Gil!" cried the girl aghast "How you have altered t" "I have." Merry spoke In a hoarse whisper. He returned to his chair by the Are and bent to warm his fingers by the blaze. There was another long silence. Dorcae was tho first to break it "Even It It were against your incli nations, would you do something to make some one very happy, some one who -believes In you who cares a great deal for you and about your fu ture?" Morry spoke gently. "Miss Dorcas, I'm afraid you are mistaken? There la nobody In the world to care." She rose to her feet and, leaning on the mantel, glanced down at him with eyes from which embarrassment had suddenly fled. "One person cares very much. I do. I have set my heart on your suc cess. Youshave a great future won't you work for 'it? Besides, I am selfish." Her eyes shone with eagerness. "I want to play 'Cordelia.' Mr. Oswald has offered me the part. I have studied It I could play It tomorrow if you would be my teachor." Merry turned with a quick gesture as If to push temptation away from him. "Don't 1" be cried. "Ah, Miss Dorcas, don't go Into stage life I" "I shall go Into. It sooner or later." She spoke with quiet determination "I feel sure I can play 'Cordelia;' be- rides, It would be so much easier to maku a beginning wltn-Luuni j-ikI Air. Oswald and you." Merry rose and paced for a few minutes about tho room, then turned to tho window and gazed out at the deserted city. The sleet ot midnight had changed to a raging storm. The wind drove the snow in sudden flur ries, piling it In drifts across the square. "Mies Dorcas," ho said, "como here." The girl crossed the room. "Why," she crlod, "It is a fearful night!" "Yes. It's a fearful night for the homeless. Do you know where-1 might havo found shelter tonight If It had not been for you? Perhaps there's a hallway somewhere that I could have slipped Into, and for an hour or two the police would have left mo undisturbed. I might havo found an empty bench on a ferryboat, or tho Bowery missions are open; only before one can make up his mind to seek a lodging there, they are filled tc suffocation." Dorcas shivered. "If I had known during these weeks that anybody cared or believed In me perhaps I should not have gone so far down tho hill. I did not dare even to hope that you thqught ot me again." "Andrew," said the girl, "I care so much that I cannot tell you. Some queer strain In my nature makes me happiest when I have eome one to care for. QlrU at the convent used to come to me in all sorts of difficulties; tho ones I loved best were the ones who needed me most They called me 'Little Mother.' " "'Little Mother.'" repeated Merry; then he laughed huskily. If the girl had known men she would havo seen absolute famine for love, for sympathy and human understanding In tho eyes that were bent upon her. "I take' back what I said a few min utes ago, Miss Dorcas, about the stage being no place for you. Women like you are needed there." "Thank you," she said with a happy smile. "Won't you como bnck? Such an opportunity Is waiting for you. Besides, I could never play 'Cordelia with anyone but you, and you must be my teacher." Merry did not answer immediately. Dorcas had grown accustomed to the long pauses In their conversation and waited quietly. When ho looked up their eyes met his pleaded with her dtfrlng ono speechless moment for all his shortcomings, for shirked respon sibilities and failures. "Miss Dorcas," he said, "when a man has lost hope, ambition, his faith In human nature and everything that makes life worth while, If he has gone down into the depths and still has the desire come to take up life again- 1b there any quality left that will help him?" "Yes," Dorcas moved as If by a sud den Impulse and laid her fingers upon tho man's arm; "he has honor. So long as one Is a man of honor, there Is no end of a chance." "A man of honor I" As he repeated the words bis face paled suddenly. It was the same attribute which Enoch had accorded to htm. Dorcas watched him intently, her eyes full ot eager anticipation. She could see him undergo some strange mental struggle. When he looked at her his face had changed. Instead of apathy there were lines ot grim deter mination about his mouth. "Miss Dorcas," he said slowly, "make 'Cordelia' the woman you are yourself. I am weak and broken now, as 'John Esterbrook' was; still a chance came to him at the end. I will do the beet I can It you stand by me." Dorcas stooped for a second. With a caressing touch she swept the lock from his forehead. "I promise to stand by you," she whispered. "Good night" CHAPTER X. Zllla Paget. "Do you mind It I am atrociously frank with you?" It was Grant Oswald who spoke. Enoch Wentworth and he sat far back In the darkened orchestra at the Goth am, watching a rehearsal. Wentworth nodded, but turned a startled glanco upon tho man beside him. "Simply because I know how power ful your play Is, I want to suggest a touch hat will make It stronger." "What?" "Understand, this Is not criticism. If you don't think well of it we'll never mention It again." Oswald ap proaehed the subject diplomatically. He had begun to discover a strangely uneven temper In Enoch. There were days when ho stood upon the heights of triumphant anticipation, then came intervals when everything and every body were at odds. "What did you think ot changing T" "It 1b not changing," Oswald spoke thoughtfully. "What I havo In mind is elaboration. You have made 'Cor delia a loyal, tender woman, but the mother ought to be moro of a foil to her. She la cruol now, vain, selfish and docelttul, but she Is not bad enough. When It can be done, I be lieve In choosing an actress who has something in common with the role she Is to play. Character comes out every time, oven In acting. Don't you agree with me?" "To a cortaln extent." (TO BH CONTINUED.) Nourishing Drink. If you oversleep and the good man of the house does not have time to eat his breakfast make him a gen erous cup of coffee and add to It a beaten egg and plenty of cream. He can drink this in one minute and will scarcely miss his breakfast People often have egg drinks at soda foun tains, but seldom think of preparing laem at noma. It was her husband who finally brought home RUB-NO-MORE. Nowshe's enthusiastic about it. She had in tended to buy RUB-NO-MORE WASHING POWDER. But over looked it. Don't you overlook it. RUB'NO-MORE WASHING POWDER Is a sudtes dirt re mover for clothes. It cleans your dishes, sinks, toilets sad cleans and sweetens your milk crocks. It kills germs. It does not need hot water. RUB-NO-MORE RUB-NOMORE Washing Powder Carbo Naptha Soap Five Cents All Grocers The Rub-No-More Co., Ft.Wayne, Ind. W.L.DOUGLAS SHOES MH'sttsmra& Who's IUTC U MIssMiBoystChlldrsri SI.SO SI.7S S3 S2.M S4 10UCAN8AVEM0UEVI ttrcft vaua X MirutaM Tils, kj kaV' itaBMf M nl.ilila tfc.lTll fBrlBfcfl.r .fcMS. WMinnffM. ws whir I ua.tfc. Urt l atkr ot .. ...vv m IB U WCT10. tsks no UDSUIUI $1,006,879 XXCREABZ ee iKm ! of ihm VT, . Douglas aho in 1913 otvr 1919, reason rorwnm mnorm mmm ?. im in fXm matmm of Cm IT. X. VoU0taaaho9Ubeauffthir Mfra MBeet n yi ws ii an tonv fpar . . . . Aik fwxr dealer to tbowYim th Mod of W. I. txmcUi ahaM ka It mUIm for tUXLfMO, 9L0& SMO, 00a MU. If ih W.aVDouBTUi ihMi air not fbrtaiw n jronf rlelaltj, order direct from fkwlory. thon nt tnrj mtrooar m int ramujr in pncfs, poaiar rrtw. wnv rar luumvM cwif Mowing now to orar vy nun w.UBOToiAi. no totrfcnmv vrocKOB. smm. AGAINST WOMEN'S POCKETS New York Newspaper Gives Eight Reasons for Its Opposition to Proposed Move. 1. Because pockets are not a natural right 2. Because the great majority ot women do not want pockets. It they did, they would have them. 8. Because whenever women have had pockets they have not used them. 4. Because women are expected to carry enough thlngB as It Is without the additional burden of pockets. 6. Because It would make dissension between husband and wife as to whose pockets were to be filled. 6. Because It would destroy man's chivalry toward woman If he did not have to carry all her things In his pockets. 7. Because men are men and women the women. We must not fly In the face of nature. 8. Because pockets have beon used by men to carry tobacco, pipes, whisky flasks, chewing gum and compromis ing letters. We see no reason to sup pose that women would use them more wisely. New York Tribune. A German economist Professor Wolff, estimates that by 1920, If the present tendency continues, Germany's birth rate will be tho lowest In Eu rope. Many a woman's idea of a good husband is one who can carve without getting any spots on the tablecloth. 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