Nebraska Newspapers

    DAKOTA COUNTY HERALD; DAKOTA CITY, NEBRASKA.
The Last Shot
bt
FREDERICK
(Copyright, 1914. by
u
SYN0P8I8.
At their homo on tho frontier between
the Browns and Grays Marta Qnlland and
lier mother, tntert&lnlne Colonol Wester
llng of tho Grays, seo Captain Lanstron
of tlir Urowns Injured by a fall In bis
aeroplane. Tt-n years later, WesterllilK.
nominal vlco but real chief of staff, re-enforces
South 1m Tlr and meditates on war.
Marta tolls him of her teaching children
the follies of war and martial patriotism,
and begs him to prevent war while he Is
chief of stuff On tho march with tho 63d
of the Drowns Private Stransky, an
archist, Is placed under arrest. Colonel
I-Jinstron bejcs him oft. Lanstron calls on
Marta at hur home. She tells Lanstron
that she believes Fellor, tho Kardener, to
be n spy. Lanstron confesses It l tr.UB
and shows her a telephone which teller
lias concealed In a secret passage under
the tower for use to benefit the Ilrowns
In war emergencies. Lanstron declares
his lovo for Marta. Westerllng and tho
Gray premier plan to use ft trivial Inter
national uftalr to foment warlike pa
triotism In army and people and strike be
fore declaring war. Partow, Hrown chief
of staff, and Lanstron, made vlco, discuss
the trouble, and the Hrown defenses. Par
tow reveals his plans to Lanstron. Tho
Gray army crosses the border lino and at
tacks Tho Browns check thorn. Artil
lery, Infantry icroplanes and dirigibles
engage. Strnnsky, rising to make the
anarchist speech of his life, draws the
Oruy artillery fire. Nicked by a shrapnel
splinter ho goes to Berserk and fights "all
a man." Martn has her first glimpse cf
war In Its modern, cold, sclentlnc, mur
derous biutullty. The Browns fall back
to the Gallntid house Stransl.y forages.
Marta sees a night attack. The Grays
uttuck In force. Keller leaves his secret
telephone nnd goes buck to his guns.
Jiand to hand fighting. The Browns fall
back uguln. Marta asks Ijinstron over
the phone to appeal to Partow to stop
the fighting. VanilnllHm In Ihn nnllnnd
!i0," VrterlliiB and his staff occupy
...i- uiMiiuiii nouse arid no begins to woo
Marta.
CHAPTER. XIV Continued.
Tho subjective enjoyment of tho
declaration kept lilm from any keon
notice of tho effect of his words.
Lanny was right. It had been a war
of deliberate conquest; a war to
gratify personal ambition. All her Ilfo
Marta would bo ablo to llvo over again
tho feelings of this moment. It was as
ir slio wero frozen, all except brain
and nerves, which wore on flro, while
tho rigidity of Ice kept her from
springing from her chair In contempt
nnd horror. But a purposo camo on the
wings of diabolical temptation which
would pit tho art of woman agalnBt
tho power of a man who set millions
ngalnst millions in slaughter to gratify
personal ambition. Sho was thankful
that sl.o was looking down aB sho
spoke, for sho could not bring horsolf
to another compliment. Hor throat
was too chilled for that yet.
"Tho ono way to end the feud bo-
tween tho two nations was a war that
would mean permanent peaco," ho ex
plained, seeing how quiet sho was and
realizing, with a recollection of hor
children's oath, that ho had gono a lit.
tlo too far. Ho wanted to retain hor
admiration. It had becomo as precious
to him as a now delicacy to Luctlllus.
"Yes, I understand," sho managed
to murmur; then she was ablo to look
up. "It's all so ImmonBo!" alio added.
"Your Ideas about war seoin to bo a
peat deal changed," ho hinted
casualty.
"As I expressed thorn at tho hotel,
you mean!" sho exclaimed. "That
seems ages ago ages!" Tho porptex
Ity and indecision that, In a spaco of
Bilonco, brooded in tho depths of hor
eyes camo to the surface in wavering
lights. "Yes, ages! ages!" Tho waver
ing Ilghtu grow dim with a kind of hor
ror and sho lookod away fixedly at a
givon point.
Ho was conscious of a thrill; tho
thrill that always presagod victory for
him. Ho realized hor ovldont dis
tress; ho guessed that terrlbio pic
tures wero moving before hor vision.
"You see, I havo been vory much
stirred up," sho said half apologetical
ly. "Thero aro eomo questions I want
to ask quite practical, solllsh ques
tions. You might call them questions
of property and mercy. Tho longer
tho war lasts tho greater will bo tho
loss of llfo and tho misery?"
"Yes, for both sides; and tho heavier
tho expense and tho taxes."
"If you win, then we ehall bo under
your flag and pay taxes to you?"
"YeB, naturally."
"Tho DrowuB do not increase in
comilatlon: tho Grays do ranldlv Thv
aro a reat, powerful, civilized race.
They stand for civilization!"
"Yos, factB anfl tho world's opinion
agree," ho replied. Puzzled ho might
well bo by this peculiar catechism. Ho
could only contlnuo to reply until ho
should seo where sho was loading.
"And your victory will moan a now
frontier, a now order of International
relations and a long pcaco, you think?
Peace a long peaco"'
Was there over a eoldler who did
not light for peace? Was thero over a
call for moro army-oorpo or guns that
was not mado In tho namo of peaco?
Ho had his ready argumont, spoken
with tho forclblo conviction of an ex
pert "This war was mado for peaco tho
only kind of peaco that thero con bo,"
he said. "My ambition, if any glory
comes to rao out of this war, 1b to havo
later generations Bay: 'Ho brought
peacal' "
Though tho promlor, could ho havo
heard thiB, might have Bmllod, ovon
grinned, ho would havo understood
Woaterllng's unconsciousness of Incon
sistency.. The chief of staff had "ot
himself a task In victory which had
no military connection. Without know
ing why, he wanted to win ascendancy
over hor mind.
"The man of action!" exclaimed
Marta, her eyes opening very wide, oa
they would to let In tho light wbou
she heard something now that pleased
her or gavo food for thought. "The
man of action, who thinks of an Ideal
bb a thing not of words but as tho end
of action!"
"Exactly!" sold Westerllng, sen
lblo of another of her gifts. Bho
ould get the essence of a thing In a
ow words. "When wo have won and
ot another frontier, the power of our
nation will be saoh In the world that
Urn Drowns can nerer afford to attack
PALMER
Cbules Scribner'a Sons)
us," ho went on. "Indeed, no two of
tho big nations of Europo can afford
to mnko war without our consent. We
shall bo tho arbiters of International
dissensions. Wo shall command peaco
yes, tho peaco of force, of fact! If
It could bo won In nny other way I
should not bo hero on this voranda In
command of an army of Invasion.
That was my Idea for that I planned."
Ho was making up for having over
shot hlmsolf In his confession that ho
had brought on tho war as a final
step for his ambition.
"You mean thnt you can gain peaco
by propaganda and education only
whon human nature has so changed
that wo can have law and order and
CIDDd
on
II I
l
"I Want to See an End of the Killing."
houses are safe from burglary and
pedestrians from pickpockets without
policemen? Is that It?" sho asked.
"Yes, yesl You havo It! You have
found tho wheat In tho chaff."
"Perhaps becauso I havo beon see
ing something of human nature the
human naturo ot both tho Drowns and
tho Grays at war. I 'havo soen tho
Browns throwing hand-grenades and
tho Grays In wanton dlnnrrinr in mir
dining-room directly thoy wero out of
touch with tholr officers!" sho said
sadly, as ono who hates to accopt dis
illusionment but must in tho foco of
logic.
Westerllng made no todIv oxcoDt to
nod. for a movement on her nart nrtv-
occuplod him. Sho leaned forward,
as she had when sho had told him ho
would becomo chief of staff, heir hands
clasped over hor Unco, her oyoB burn
ing with n question. It was tho attl
tudo of tho prophocy. Dut wlUi tho
prophecy she had been a little mys
tical; tho lira In her oyes had precipi
tated an idea. Now it forged another
question.
"And you think that you will win?"
aho asked. "You thlrik that you will
win?" sho ropeatod with tho Blow em
phasis which demands a caroful an
swer. Tho dcliberatcnces of his reply was
In keeping with her mood. Ho was de
tached; ho was a referco.
"Yes, I know that wo shall. Num
bers make It bo, though thero bo no
choice of skill between the two sidos."
His tono had tho confidence of tho
flow of n mighty river In its destina
tion on its way to tho sou. There waa
nothing In it of prayer, of hope, ot des
peration, as thero had boon In Lan
atron's "We shall win I" spoken to her
In the arbor at their last Interview.
She drew forward slightly In her chair.
Her oyos scorned much larger and
nearer to him. Thoy wero sweeping
him up and down as It sho wero Beolng
tho slim figure of LaiiBtron in con
trast to Westerllng'8 eturdiness; as It
sho wero measuring tho might of tho
llvo millions behind him and tho threo
millions behind Lihistron. Sho let go
a half-whlspored "Yes!" which Boomed
to reflect tho conclusion gained from
tho power of his presence.
"Thon my mother's and my own In
terests aro with you tho interests of
peaco aro with you!" sho declared.
Sho did not appear to seo tho sud
den, uncontrolled gleam of victory In
his oyes. y this tlmo it had becomo
a habit for Westerllng to wait sllonUy
for her to como out of hor abstrac
tions. To disturb ono might mnko It
unproductive.
"Then If I want to hulp tho cause of
peaco I should holp tho Grays I"
Tho exclamation was moro to her
solf than to him. Ho was silent. This
girl In a voranda chair dnslrini ni.i
him nnd his five million bayonets and
four thousand guns! Qulxoto nud tho
wmuraiiis- -out it was amazing; It waa
fine! Tho golden glow ot tho sunset
was running In his veins In a paoan
of personal triumph. Tho profllo
turned ovor so little. Now it waa
looking at tho point whoro Dollarmo
had lain dying. Westerllng noted tho
smile playing on tho lips. It had tho
quality of a smllo over a task com
pleted Dollarmo's smllo. Sho start
ed; sho was trembling nil over In tho
roslstanco of somo lmpulso omo Im
pulse that gradually galnod headway
and at last broke its bonds.
"For I can help I can help!" sho
cried out, turning to htm In wild In.
decision which Boomed to plead for
guidance. "It's so terrible- yet If It
would hasten pcaco I I know much
of tho Urowns' plan of defonsel I
know where they ara atrong In the
ms?! istaJL
Zi.ZZMlC9X2?lm F-:k. t
wHWSm&y&s.
XiHJuZvCCJvLI .&'a. X HfHku T
4 4
II rat lino and and ono placo whero
they aro weak there and a place
whoro thoy aro weak In the main
Uriel"
"You do!" Westerllng explodod. Tho
plans of tho enemy! Tho plans that
neither Bouchartr-o eaturnlno cunning,
nor brlbeu, nor spies could ascertain!
K was llko tho bugle-call to tho hunter.
But ho controlled hlmsolf. "Yos, yes!"
Ho was thoughtful and guarded.
"Do you think It le right to tell?"
Marta gasped half inarticulately.
"Right? Yes, to hasten tho inevit
able to savo lives!" declared Wester
llng with dollbernto assurance.
"I I wnnt to seo an end of tho kill
ing! I" sho sprang to her foot as
If about to break away tumultously,
but paused, swaying unsteadily, and
passed her hand across hor eyes,
"Wo intend a general attack on tho
first lino of defenso tonight!" ho ex
claimed, his supremo thought leaping
Into words.
"And you would want tho informa
tion about tho first lino to-night if if
It Is to bo of service?"
"Yes, to-night!"
Marta brought her hands together
In a tight clasp. Her gazo fluttered
for n minute ovor tho too-table. When
she lookod up her oyes wero calm.
"It Is a big thing, Isn't It?" sho eald.
"A thing not to be dono In an impulso.
I try novor to do big things In an Im
pulse. Whon I seo that I am In dan
ger of It I always say: 'Go by your
solf and think for half an hour!' So I
must now. In a little while I will let
you know my decision."
Without further formality sho start
ed across tho lawn to tho torraco
stops. Westerllng watched her sharp
ly, passing along tho path of tho soc
ond torrnce, pacing slowly, head bent,
until aho was out of sight. Then ho
Btood for a tlmo getting a grip on his
own emotions boforo be wont Into tho
houeo.
CHAPTER XV.
In Feller's Place.
What am I? What have I done?
What am I about to do? shot as forked
ehadows ovor tho hot lava-flow of Mar-
ta's Impulse. Tho vitality that Wester
llng had felt by suggestion from a still
profllo rojolced In a quickening ot paco
directly sho was out of sight of tho
voranda. All tho thinking sho had
dono that afternoon had boon in pic
tures; somo saying, somo cry, some,
groan, or some smllo went with every
plcturo.
Tho eittlng-room of tho tower was
empty to other eyes but not to hers.
The lantern was In tho corner at hand.
After her hastening stops had carried
her along tho tunnel to tho telephone,
sho set down tho lantern and pressed
the spring that opened the panel door.
Another moment and Bho would be op
barked on her great adventure In the
finality of action. That little ear-piece
bocamo a specter of conscience. Sho
drew back convulsively and her hands
flow to her foco; she was a rocking
shadow in tho thin, rcddleh light ot
tho lantern.
Conscious mind had torn oft tho
mask from subconscious mind, reveal
ing tho true naturo of tho change that
war had wrought In her. Sho who had
resented Poller's part what a part
sho had boon playing I Every word,
every shade of expression, overy tell
ing pauso of abstraction after Wester
llng confessed that he had mado war
for his own ends had beon subtly
promptod by a purposo whoso actuality
terrified her.
Hor hypocrisy, sho realized, was as
black as tho wall of darkness boyond
tho lnntorn's gloam. Then this demor
alization pnssod, as a nightmare
passes, with Westorllng's boast again
In her cars.
When war's principles, onoctod by
men, woro based on sinister trickery
callod strategy nnd tactics, should not
women, using such wonpons as they
had, also fight tor tholr homcB? Mar
ta's hands swept down from hor oyes;
sho was on flro with roaolution.
Forty miles away a boll in Lan
Btron's bedroom nnd at his dosk rang
simultaneously. At tho tlmo ho and
Partow wero seated facing each other
acroes a map on tho table of tho room
whoro thoy worked together. No per
suasion of tho young vico-chlef, no
edict of tho doctors, could mnko the
old chief take exerclso or shorten his
hours.
"I know. I know myself!"' ho sold.
"I know my duty. And you are learn
ing, my boy, learning!"
Every day tho flabby cheeks grew
pastior and the pouches undor the eye
brows heavier. But thero was no
dimming of the eagle flashes of the
eyes, no weakening of tho will. Last
night Lanstron had turned as white
as chalk whon Partow staggered on
rising from tho table, tho volns on his
tomplos knotted blue whip-cords. Yet
after a fow hours' sloop ho reappeared
with firm Btop, fresh for tho fray.
Tho paraphernalia around theso two
was tho same as that around Wester
llng. Only tho ntnosphore of tho staff
was different. Each man was perform
ing tho part set for him. No man know
much of any other man's part. Partow
alono know nil, and Lanstron was try
ing to grasp nil and praying that Par
tow's old body should still food his
mind with energy. Lanstron waB thin
ner and paler, a new and glittering In
tensity In his oyes.
When word of Feller's defection
came, Lanstron realized for the first
tlmo by Partow's manner that tho old
chlof ot staff, with all his deprecntlon
of tho tolophouo schemo na chimerical,
had grounded a hopo on It.
"Thero wi.e tho chanco that wo
might know bo vital to tho defonso
what they woro going to do boforo and
not aftor the attack," ho said.
Yot the story of how Follor yielded
to tho temptation ot tbo automatic bad
mado tho nostrils of the old war-horso
qulvor with a dramatic breath, and In
stoad of tho command of a battery of
guns, which Lanstron had promised,
tho chlof mado It a battullon. Ho had
drawn down his brows whon ho heard
that Marta had asked that tho wlro
bo loft Intact; ho had shot n ehrowd,
questioning glanco at Lanstron and
thon beat a tattoo on tho tablo and
halt grinned as ho grumbled under his
breath:
"She Is afraid ot bolug lonesome! No
harm dono!"
A woek bad passed since the Grays
had taken the Galland bouse, and still
no word from Marta. The ring ot the
bell brought Lanstron to hie feet with
a strrtled, boyish bound.
"Vory springy, that tendon of
Achlllesl" muttered Partow. "And,
my boy, take care, tako caro!" ho
callod suddenly In his sonorous volco,
aa vast and billowy as his body.
it was Marta'e volco and yot not
Marta's, this volco that boat In nerv
ous waves over tho wlro.
"Lanny Yes, I, Lanny! You wero
right. Westerllng planned to mako war
deliberately to satisfy his ambition.
He told me so. Tho first general at
tack on tho first lino of defenso Is to
night. Westerllng says sol" Sho had
to pauso for breath. "And, Lanny, 1
want to know somo position of tho
Browns which Is weak not actually
weak, maybo, but some position whero
tho Grays expoct terrlbio rosietanco
and will not find It whoro you will lot
them in!"
"In tho name of Marta! Martn,
what"
"I am going to fight for tho Browns
for my homo!"
In tho sheor satisfaction of explain
ing herself to horsolf, of voicing her
sentiments, sho sont tho pictures which
had wrought tho chango moving across
tbo screon before Lanstron's amazed
vision. Thoro was no room for Inter
ruption on his part, no question or
need of ono. The wlro Boomed to
quiver with the militant tension of her
spirit. It was Marta aflamo who was
talking at tho other end; not aflamo
for him, but with a purpose that re
vealed all tho latent strength of her
personality and daring.
"I shall have to ask Partow. It's a
pretty big thing."
"Yes only that Is not all my plan,
my little plan. Aftor they havo taken
the first lino of defense and they
will get It, won't they?"
"Yes, we shall yield In the end, yield
rathor than suffer too great losses
thero that will weaken the defense on
the main line."
"Then 1 wnnt to know whoro It Is
that you want Westerllng to attack on
tho main llnc,so that we can got him
to attack thero. That that will holp,
won't It?"
"Yes."
"Of courso, all tho whllo I shall be
getting news from him whon I havo
proved my loyalty and havo his com
pleto confidence and I'll telephone It
to you. I am suro I can get something
worth whllo with you to direct me;
don't you think so, Lanny? I'll hold
the wlro, Lanny. Ask Partow!" she
concluded. Of the two eho was the
steadier.
"Well?" said Partow, looking up at
the sound of Lanstron's stop. Then ho
half raised himself from his chair at
sight of a Lanstron with eyes In a
daze of brilliancy; a Lanstron with
his maimed hand twitching la an out
stretched gesture; a Lanstron In the
dilemma of being at tho same tlmo
lovor and chief of Intelligence. Should
he let her make tho sacrifice ot every
thing that he hold to bo sacred to a
woman's delicacy? Should ho not re
turn to the telephone and tell hor that
ho would not permit her to play such
a part? Partow's voice cut In on his
demoralization with the sharpness of a
blade.
"Well, whal, man, what?" he de
manded. Ho feared that the girl might
bo dead. Anything that could upset
Lanstron In this fashion struck a
chord of sympathy and apprehension.
LanBtron advanced to tho tablo,
pressed hlo hands on the odge, and,
now mastor of himself, began an ac
count of Marta's offer. Partow's form
less arms lay Inert on tho tablo, his
soft, pudgy fingers outspread on tho
map and his bulk settled deep in the
chair, whilo his eagle eyes woro see
ing through Lanstron, through a moun
tain range, Into tho eyes of a woman
and a general on tho veranda of nn
"I'm Going to Fight For the Browns
For My Home!"
enemy's headquarters. The plan meant
giving, giving In tho hopo ot receiving
much In return. Would ho got tho re
turn? "A woman was the Ideal ono for the
taBk wo lntrustod to Fellor," ho mused,
"a gentlewoman, big onougb, adroit
onough, with her soul In tho work as
no paid woman's could bo! Thero
seemed no such ono In tho world!"
"But to lot hor do It!" gasped Lan
stron. "It Is hor suggestion, not yours? Sho
offers horsolf? Sho wants no per
suasion?" Partow asked Bharply.
"Kutlroly hor suggestion," said Lan
stron. "Sho offers herself for her
country for Uio cause for which our
soldlora will glvo their lives by the
thousands. It Is u tlmo of sacrifice"
Partow raised his arms. Thoy woro
not formless as ho brought thorn down
with sledgohammer forco to tho table.
"Your tondon of Achlllos? My boy,
she Is your sword-arm!" Ills sturdy
forefinger ran along the lino ot fron
tier under his eyo with llttlo staccato
leaps. "Eh?" ho chuckled significantly,
finger poised.
"Let them ud the Bordlr road and
IfllliRB
on to redoubts 88 and 37, you mean?"
asked Lanstron.
"You have ltl The position looks
Important, but so well do wo com
mand It that It Is not really vital. Yob,
the Bordlr road la hor bait for Westor
ling I" Partow wavod his hand as if
the affair wero settled.
"But," interjected Lanstron, "wo
have also to docldo on tho point of the
main defenso which she Is to make
Westorllng think Is weak."
"Hm-m!" grumbled Partow. "That
is not necessary to Btart with. We can
give that to her later ovor tho tele
phone, can't wo, eh?"
"Sho asked for it now."
"Why?" demanded Partow with one
of his shrowd, piercing looks.
"Sho did not say, but I can guess,"
explained Lanstron. "Sho must put all
her cards on tho tablo; sho must tell
Westerllng all she knows at onco. If
sho tolls him piecemeal it might lead
to tho supposition that sho still had
somo means of communication with
tho Browns."
"Of courso, of courso!" Partow spat
ted tho flat of his hand rosoundlngly
on the map. "As I decided the flrat
tlmo I mot her, she has a head, and
when a woman has a head for that
sort of thing thoro Is no beating her.
Well" ho was looking straight into
Lanstron's oyes, "Well, I think we
know tho point whero wo could draw
them In on tho main line, eh?"
"Up the apron of tho approach from
tho Engadlr valley. We yield the ad
vance redoubts on olther side."
"Meanwhile, we havo massed heavily
behind tho redoubt. Wo retake the ad
vance redoubts In a counter-attack and
" Partow brought his flst Into his
palm with a smack.
"Yes, If we could do that! If wo
could got thom to expend their nttaok
thero!" put In Lanstron vory excitedly
for him.
"We must! Sho shall help!" Par
tow was on his feet. Ho had reached
across tho tablo and seized Lanstron's
shouldorB In a powerful If flesh-padded
grip. Then he turned Lanstron
around toward tho door of his bed
room and gave him a mighty slap of
affection. "My boy, tho brightest hopo
of victory we havo is holding tho wire
for you. Toll hor that a beardod old
behemoth, who can kneol as gracefully
aa n rheumatic rhlnoceroB, Is on both
knees at hor feet, kissing her hands
and trying his best, in the namo ot
mercy, to keep from breaking Into
verso of his own composition."
Back at tho telephone, Lanstron, In
tho fervor of tho cheer and tho enthu
siasm that had transported his chief,
gavo Marta Partow's message.
"You, Marta, are our brightest hope
of victory!"
(TO BE3 CONTINUED.)
SEEMS THAT INSTINCT ERRS
Deluded Rabbits That Make Homes
In OH Pipes In California
Birds' Grave Error.
That almost unerring Instinct which
carries animals through grave dan
gers has lod in many Instances in the
Midway and Sunset oil fields of Cali
fornia to tholr undoing, tho Scientific
Amerltan remarks. Chief among such
victims aro rabbits and water fowl.
A jackrabblt and a cottontail find a
nlco round, smooth hole. Thero are
many such In tho oil fields where oil
piping is a necessity for tho transpor
tation of oil to tho roflnorlos. Tho rab
bits decldo to set up housekeeping
thero. Tho cottontail desires a per
manent home, and tho Jackrabblt
wants a refuge safo from malevolent
man.
Soon thoy discover their habitat Is
being moved. No doubt they are
frightened, but they instinctively stay
within their rotreat Ono end of tho
holo is qlosod. Even then they do not
leave soon tno other end of tho holo
is darkened. Then it Is darkness
eternal for tho furry pair.
Somo tlmo later it Is discovered that
a nowly laid oil plpo Is choked. After
a groat labor the lino is disjointed and
tho remains of many rabbits removed.
Thousands of rabbits havo been thus
exterminated In tho oil fields.
Tho death rate among wator fowl Is
ovon greater. Again, as with tho rab
bits, Instinct leads them to certain de
struction. Evory llttlo lake of oil In
the vicinity of a gusher is a trap for
the unthinking birds. At twilight and
dawn these tar-colored lakes appear as
bodies of water to the deluded fowL
Good Legs or Crutches.
Professor O'Shea's article, In which
he speaks of parents who fail to help
tholr children by helping them too
much, points out a common weakness.
It Is easier, for all of us to tell some
thing than to teach It. So It Is easier
to tell the boy who wants to use the
word "ordinary" how to spell It than
to glvo him tho help that means ho
will bo ablo to spell the word again
himself. But what will he do when
ho wants to use tho word Bome time
when no one Is by to help him? Ho Is
not really learning his leBson any moro
than a child would bo lenrnlng to walk
who never let go his mother's hand.
Tho boy or girl who leans always on
some ono else may get through this
work, but ho Is not getting an educa
tion. It Is no real kindness to htm to
teach him always to rely on others.
Whon ho gots away from school Into
tho competitive life of men and wom
en ho will find himself sadly handi
capped If ho must always ask some
ono elso how his work Is to bo dono.
Milwaukee Journal.
Aptly Answered.
Paddy Oaffnoy was after getting tho
old-ago pension, and wended his way
to tho post ofllco for his flrat grant.
Paddy couldn't writo his name, but
managed to mako a cross nil right
Tho postmaster, wishing to havo a
Joko with him, said: "Now, Paddy,
don't you think 'twas hardly worth
your whUn to como so fnr to mako
that croa-r "Well," replied Paddy,
"no cross, no crown, mo boy."
True Devotion.
Llttlo Katharine had a big dog
which sue loved doarly Ono cold
night Bho asked If tho dog could como
Into the house for n whllo. Hor moth
or said; "Yes; but as soon as ho bo
gtnB to scratch, you must put him
right out." Later Katharlno was heard
to exclaim1 "O, Uottlo, don't scratch,
toll me where It Itches, and 111 scratch
It for you "Chleag. Tribune
MANY BACHELORS IN BRITAIN
Newspaper Points Out That There Is
Plenty of Material for the
"New Army."
England Is tho land of bachelors, so
thnre Is plonty of material for our
"now army" without any of tho mar
ried men. Indeed, wo could safely
exempt not only tho married but the
betrothed and still raise an nrmy of
500,000 men, assuming, as wo suroly
may, that only one man In two be
tweon tho ages of twenty nnd thirty
flvo Is physically fit. One works it
out in this way: In England and
Wales alono thero aro 4,250,000 men
botween the ag09 of twonty and thirty-five,
and over 2,250,000 of thom aro
bacholors. To give tho round figures,
between tho ages of twenty and twen-ty-flvo
thero aro 1,275,000 bacholora to
275,000 married men; from twenty-five
to thirty there aro 750,000 bachelors
to 750,000 married men (half and
half), and from thirty to thlrty-flve
thero aro 375,000 bachelors to 1,000,
000 married men. This gives us our
total of 2,250,000 bacholors of all re
crultablo ages in England and Wales
alono.
It remains to show that thero aro a
million bacholors who are not en
gaged to bo married (or rathor who
aro certain not to marry, for tho num
ber not engaged to be married must
bo larger). Between twenty and twen-ty-flvo,
naturally, most men are bach
elors; to be oxact, flvo out of six are
unmarried. Between tho ages of twen-ty-flvo
and thirty one man In two Is
a bacholor. Between thirty and thlrty-flve
ono man in four Is a bachelor.
Between thlrty-flvo and forty ono man
In flvo Is a bachelor, between forty
nnd forty-flvo ono In seven, and be
tween forty-five and fifty ono in eight.
Ono may consider that men who are
Btlll unmarried between thlrty-flvo and
forty aro pretty confirmed bachelors,
so ono may tako it that one-fifth of
tho total mnle population has no in
tentlon or expectation of marrying.
This gives us over eight hundred thou
sand bachelors. Assuming half ot
them to be physically fit, that gives
us 400,000 men. Tho remaining 100,
000 could bo thrown In by Scotland
nnd Ireland, representing tho propor
tion of their population to that of
England and Wales. Manchester
Guardian.
The Latest Amusement.
Down In New Mllford, which Is In
Connecticut, a new form of amuse
ment has been discovered. Of course
It may not appeal to all of us but
ihat Is to bo expected, you know. Not
all of us bellovo In poker, pugilism or
nny ono of half a dozen other diver
eions that might be mentioned, do we?
Tho now game which Is to put Now
Mllford on tho map with Petrograd,
Czenstochowa, Przomysl and the other
prominent places, Is this: Catch a
nlco, lively rooster. Place It in a
store window alongside a can of corn
containing 1,000 or moro kernels.
Starve the rooster for 21 hours. Then
register your guess as to how many
kernels It will eat at a meal and up
FCt the corn. The game is said to bo
highly diverting to persons partici
pating. It contains an clement of cruel
ty, to bo sure. This is held by some
to add zest to the game. By others
It Is said to arouse Indignation and
disgust. What the rooBter thinks of it
cannot bo recorded, of course. Yes
some of us aro easily amused, that's
a fact. Detroit Free Press.
Man Wanted.
Representative W. R. Oglesby of
Now York Is known to fame socially
In Washington as the champion golf
player In tho houso, and, while on tho
links lately ho heard the following
story told by a senator friend.
It seems that this senator has a sister-in-law
who is a woman of some
years nnd Is much loved by her nieces
nnd nephews, who aro yot of a ten
dor age, believing In Santa Claus. Last
Christinas tho kids wero skirmishing
around to get stockings big enough
to hold tho goodies and presents they
expected Santa Claus to bring.
"Well, Aunt Mary," chirped one
plump boy, "how big would a stocking
havo to bo to hold all you want?"
"Not very large, Charlie," laughod
tho aunt. "All I wish could Just fit In
a pair of sox nicely."
Self-Control.
Ono valuable way of practicing self
control is in checking grumbling, and
an unnecessary display of vexation at
potty Inconveniences. A workman
has fulfilled his task imperfectly, some
order Is wrongly executed, some ono
keeps you waiting unreasonably; peo
plo are careless or forgetful, or do
what thoy havo In hand badly. Try
not to be disturbed, be Just, and show
tho parsons to blamo whero they are
wrong, even (If it bo needful) make
them do the thing ovor again proper
ly; but refrain from diffuse or vehe
ment expressions of displeasure. A
naturally quick, Impetuous person will
find that to cultivate a calm external
habit Is a, groat holp towards gaining
tho Inward oven spirit ho needs. H.
L. Sidney Lear.
The Black Sea.
Tho Black sea in without rival in
changes of namo expressive of human
feelings toward It. To tho ancient
Greek navigators It was at first known
as tho Pontus Axonos, tho Inhosptt
ablo sea, on account of tho savagery
shown by tho natives of Its shores.
Later it became the Pontus Euxtnus,
tho Hospitable sea; elthor simply for
tho sake of changing an ill-omened
namo to a tlattoring ono, or in allusion
to tho growth of Greek commerco nnd
colonization round tho sea. Finally
tho Turks called It tho Black sea, be
pauso Its sheltered oxpanso. Its
storms and Its fogs contrasted with
tho bright Aegean which they had
previously known.
Ready Means to Identification.
Richardson Wright recently mado
an appointment to meet a strangor in
a Hartford hotel, and ovor tho tolo
phouo ho described himself as being
a round person with an Incipient
mustache When tlm stranger finally
found him Mr. Wright asked how he
was ablo to recognize him bo quickly
Back camo tho ready answer: "Looked
up 'Incipient' In tho dictionary," Kan
as City Star
10 TILL UNOCCUPIED
CANADIAN LANDS
THE CANADIAN GOVERNMENT
ASKING FOR INCREASED ACRE
AGE IN GRAIN, TO MEET
EUROPEAN DEMAND.
Thero aro n number of holders of
land In Western Canada, living In the
United States, to whom tho Canadian
Government will shortly mako nn ap
peal to placo tho unoccupied areas
thoy nro holding under cultivation.
Tho lands aro highly productive, but
In a state of idleness they aro not
giving any revenue beyond tho un
earned increment and aro not of tho
bonefit to Canada that these lands
could eaBily bo mado. It Is pointed
out that tho demand for grains for
years to como wilt cause good pricea
for all that can bo produced. Not
only will tho price of grains bo af
fected, but also will that of cattle,
hogs and horses, In fact, everything
that can be grown on tho farms. Whon
placed under proper cultivation, not
tho kind that is often resorted to,
which lessens yield and land values,
many farms will pay for themselves in
two or thrco years. Careful and In
tensive work Is required, and If this
Is given in tho way It Is given to the
high-priced lands of older settled
countries, surprising results will fol
low. Thero aro those who aro paying rent,
who should not bo doing so. They
would do better to purchase lands In
Western Canada at tho present low
prico at which they aro being offered
by land companies or prlvato individ
uals. These havo been held for tho
high prices that many would have
realized, but for tho war and tho finan
cial stringency. Now is tho time to
buy; or If It Is preferred advantago
might bo taken of tho ofTer of 160
acres of land free that Is mado by the
Dominion Government. Tho man who
owns hts farm has a life of indepen
dence. Then again there aro those
who are renting who might wish to
contlnuo as renters'. They havo some
means as well as sufficient outfit to be
gin In a now country whero all the
advantages are favourable. Many ol
tho owners of unoccupied lands would
be willing to lenso them on reasonable
terms. Then again, attention Is drawn
to tho fact that Western Canada num
bers amongst its most successful farm
ers, artisans, business men, lawyers,
doctors and many other professions,
Farming today Is a profession. It i
no longer accompanied by tho drudg
ery that wo were acquainted with a
generation ago. Tho fact that a man
Is not following a farming life today,
does not preclude him from going on
a Western Cannda farm tomorrow,
and making a success of it. If ho is
not In possession of Western Canada
land that ho can convert Into a farm
ho should secure some, mako it a
farm by equipping it and working It
himself. Tho man who has been hold
ing his Western Canada land waiting
for tho profit he naturally expected
has been Justified in doing so. Its
agricultural possibilities are certain
and suro. If he has not realized im
mediately by making a sale, ho should
not worry. But to let it Ho idle Is not
good business. By getting it placed
under cultivation a greater profit will
como to him. Have it cultivated by
working It himself, or got somo good
representative to do it. Set about get
ting a purchaser, a Tenter or some
ono to operate on shares.
Tho department of tho Dominion
Government having charge of tho Im
migration, through Mr. W. D. Scott,
Superintendent at Ottawa, Canada, la
directing tho attention of non-resident
owners of Western Canada lands to
tho fact that money will bo made out
of farming these lands. The agents
of tho Department, located at different
points In tho States, aro rendering as
sistance to this end. Advertisement.
A Sting In His "Compliment."
"My dear," said Mr. Hawkins to his
better half tho other evening, "do you
know that you have one of tho best
voices in the world?"
"Indeed?" replied tho delighted Mrs.
H., with a flush of prldo at tho com
nllment. "Do vou really think so?"
4IT .1I J I ..nllmiHj ilin llrtOf '.
less husband, "otherwlseitt would Jmv
been worn out long ago
TAKE SALTS TO FLUSH
KIDNEYS IF BACK HURTS?
Saya Too Much Meat Forms Uric Acid-
Which Clogs the Kidneys and
Irritates the Bladder.
Most folks forget that tho kidneys,
llko tho bowels, get sluggish and clog
ged and need n flushing occasionally,
elso we havo backache and dull misery
In the kidnfcy region, severe. head
aches, rheumatlo-,i.wlnges, torpid liver,
acid Btomachf sleeplessness and all
sorts of bladder disorders.. -"
You simply must keep your kidneys
active and clean, and the moment you
feel an acho or pain in tho -kidney
region, get about four ounces otTad
Salts from any good drug store here,
tako a tablespoonful In a glass of
water before 'break'fast for a few daya
and your kidneys will then act fine.
This famous salts, is made from tho
acid of grapes and lemon juice, com
bined with llthla, and Is harmless to
flush clogged kidneys and stimulate
thom to normal activity. It also neu
tralizes the acids In tho urlno so it
no longer Irritates, thus ending blad
der disorders.
Jad Salts is harmless; Inexpensive-;
makes a delightful offefvescent llthla.
water drink which everybody-should
tnjto now and thon to keep their kid.
noys clean, thus avoiding serious con
plications.
A well-known local druggist says he
sells lots of Jad Salts to folks who be;
lleve in overcoming kidney troub'lo
vhllo It Is only trouble. Adr.
He Felt for Them.
"I bato to seo two girls kUs e&cb
other."
"Envy, eh?"
"Not at all pltj."' St. Louts Tlmeft,