DAKOTA COUNTY HERALD; DAKOTA CITY, NEBRASKA. 0mmmnimmmmMmmfmMmikmmmaimmr 4 HEART OF THE SUNSET By REX BEACH Author of "The Spollcn." "The Iron Trail, " "The Stloer Horde. " Eh. 'winiwnniwiiiiwmaii Copright by Harper & lirotbera CHAPTER XIV Continued. 14 "llonvcn knows I Out In the barn or under the house." Taking ndvnn itnge of the dressmaker's momentary nbsence from thu room, Paloma con tlnucd In n whisper: "I wlsli you'd talk to dad nnd see wlint you muko of him. He's absolutely queer. Mrs. Strange acenis to have n peculiar effect on him. "Why, It's nlmost as If" "What?" "Well, I suppose I'm foolish, hut Tin beginning to believe In spells. You know, Mrs. Strange's husbnnd Is a sort ..of necromancer." 'now silly I" There was no further opportunity -for words, ns the woman reappeared at Hint Instant; but n little later Alalre went In search of Blaze, still consid erably mystified. As she nenred the farm buildings, sho glimpsed n man's figure hastily disappearing Into the urn. The figure bore u suspicious re semblance to Blaze Jones, yet when mhe followed, ho was nowhero to bo (seen. "Mr. Jone3l" Alalre called. Sho re peated Blaze's name several times; tUicn something stirred. The door of n ibarncss closet opened cautiously, nnd out of tho blackness peered I'nloma's father. lie looked more owlish than cvcr behind his big, gold-rlmmcd spec ttnclcs. "What In tho world are you -doing In there?" she cried. Blaze emerged, blinking, lie was dusty nnd pei spiring. "Hello, Mlz Austin I" he saluted her -with a poor assumption of brcczlncss. "I was flxln somo harness, but I'm wight glad to see you." Alalro regarded him quizzically. -"What made you hldo?" she asked. "Hide? Who, mo?" I saw you dodgo In hero like a .-gopher." Blnzc confessed: "I reckon I'vq got Tthc willies. Every woman I seo looks aikc that dressmaker." "Pnloma was telling me about you. "Why do you hate her so?" "I don't know 's I hate her, but her 3ind her husband have put a Jinx on mte. Thcy'ro tho worst people I ever ssoc, Mlz Austin." "You don't really believe In such things?" Blaze dusted off a scat for his visi tor, saying: "I never did till lately, luut now I'm worse than n plnntutlon nilgger. I tell you there's things In "this world we don't sabc. I wish you'd set Paloma to flro her. I've tried and Called. I wish you'd tell her those Klrcssea nro rotten." "But thcy'ro very nice; they're love ly; and I'vo Just been complimenting Iter. Now what has this woman done to you?" It seemed Impossible that a man of Blaze Jones' character could actually lWTlMt? The Door of a Harness Closet Opened, and Out of the Blackness Peered Palona's Father. Uiarbor crude superstitions, nnd yet there was no mistaking his earnest ness when ho said: "I ain't sure whether she's to blame, or her husband, but misfortune has -folded mo to herself." "How?" -Well, I'm sick." "You don't look It." "I don't exactly feel It, either, but 1 nin, I don't sleep good, my heart's actlu' up, I've gpt rheumatism, my Htonmeh feels like I'd swullowcd some thing alive" "You're smoking too much," Alalre afUrmed, with conviction. But skepticism aroused Blazo's In dignation. With elaborate sarcasm, ho retorted: "I reckou that's why my best team of mules ran away nnd dragged me through a ten-acre patch of grass feurrs, eh? It's n wonder I wasn't Ulled. I reckou I smoked so much -that I give a tobacco heart to the best tliroc-ycar-old bull (u my pasture J -J,Va)L I smoked him to death, all right. I DeAlTON I VA Probably It was nlcotlno polsonln Hint killed twenty ncres of my cotton, too; nnd mnybo If I'd cut out tobacco I'd liavo floated that bond lssuo on tho Irrigation ditch. But I was wedded to cigarettes, so my banks nro closln' down on me. Sure I That's what a man gets for smokln." "And do you nttrlbuto nil theso mis fortunes to Palomn's dressmaker?" The man nodded gloomily. "That ain't half I Everything goes wrong. I'm scared to pack n weapon for fear I'll Injure myself. Why, I've carried a bowlo knlfo In my bootleg ever since I wns a bnbo In arms, you might say; but tho other day I Jabbed myself with It nnd nenrly got blood-polsonln'. This fellow, Strange, with his fortune tellln' nnd his chnnns and his conjures, has hocus-pocused tho whole neigh borhood, lie's gettln' rich off of tho Mexicans. Ho knows moro secrets than n pnrrot." "lie is nothing moro thnn n circus fakir, Mr. Jones." "Yes'm I Just tho same, these greas ers 'd vote him Into the legislature if he asked them. Why, ho knows who fetched bnck lllcardo Guzman's bodyl lie told me so." "Ileally?" Alalro looked up quickly, then the smile left her face. After a moment sho said, "Perhaps he could tell me something I want to know?" "No, don't you get him started," Blaze cautioned, hnstlly, "or ho'U put a spell on you like he did on me." "I wnnt to know what Ed had to do with tho Guzmnn affair." Blaze shook his head slowly. "Well, he's mixed up somehow with Lewis. Dave thinks Tad was at tho bottom of the klllln', and ho hoped to prove It on him; but our government won't do anything, nnd lie's stumped for tho time belli'. I don't know any moro about Ed's deiilln's than you do, Mlz Austin ; all I know Is that I got a ser pent In my household' nnd I can't get shed of her. I've got n lapful of troubles of my own." "This Is too occult for me," sho de clared, rising. "But I'm Interested In what you say about Mr. Strange. If the Mexicans tell him so much, perhaps ho can tell me something. I do hopo you have no more misfortunes." "You stay to supper," Blnzo urged hospitably. "I'll be in as soon as that tarantulas gone." But Alalre declined. After n brief chat with Paloma, sho remounted Montroso and prepared for the home- wnrd ride. At tho gate, however, she met Dave Law on his new mare, and when Dave had learned tho object of her visit to Joncsvllle lie Insisted upon uccompnnylng her. It was early dusk when they reached Lns Patinas; It was nearly midnight when Dnvo threw his leg across his suddle and started home. Alnlro's parting words rnng sweetly In his ears: "This has been tho plena nntest day I can remember.'.' Tho words themselves meant little, but Dnve had caught n wistful, under tone In tho speaker's voice, and fancied ho had seen In her eyes a queer, half frightened expression, ns of ono just awakened. Joso Snnchez had behold Davo Law at tho Las Paltnns table twice within a few days. He spent this evening la boriously composing a letter to his friend and patron, Geu. Luis Lougorlo. CHAPTER XV. An Awakening. Tlmo was when Phil Strange bonsted that ho and his wlfo had played every fairground and seaside umuscmcut park from Coney Islnnd to Galveston. In his battered wardrobe trunks wcro pnrts of old costumes, scrapbooks of clippings, nnd a goodly collection of lithographs, somo advertising the su pernatural powers of "Professor Magi, Sovereign of tho Unseen World," nnd others tho accomplishments of "Mile. Le Gnrde, Itenowned Serpent Enchan tress." In these gaudy portraits of "Magi tho Myotic" no ono would have recognized Phil Strange. And even moro dltllcult would It have been to traco a resemblance between Mrs. Strango and tho blond, bushy-headed "Mile. Lo Garde" of the posters. Nev ertheless, tho likenesses at ono tlmo had been considered not too flattering, and Phil treasured them ns evidences of Imperlshnblo distinction. But tho Stranges had tired of public life. For a long time the wlfo had confessed to n lack of Interest hi her vocation which amounted almost to n repugnance. Snake-charming, sho had discovered, was far from an Ideal pro fession for n woiunn ofoflnemeiit. It possessed unpleasant features, and even such euphemistic titles ns "Ser peut Enchantress" and "lteptlllan Mesmerist" fnlled to rob tho calling of n certain odium, n suggestion of vulgarity In the minds of tho more uiscnminnting. Tiuspiinu become so distressing to Mrs. Strnngo's finer sensibilities that sho had voiced n yearning to fort-iikc tho platform and pit for something moro congenial, and flunlly bho had prevailed upon Phil to make a change. Tho step had not been taken without misgivings, but n benign Providence had watched over tho pair. Mrs Strange was n natural seamstress, nnd luck had directed her and Phil to a community which was not only In need of k jood dressmaker but peculiarly ripe for tho talents of a soothsayer. Phil, too, had Intended to embrace a now profession; but lie had soon dis covered that Jonesvlllo offered better financial returns to u man of his ac cepted gifts than did tho choicest of seaside concessions, and therefore ho hud resumed his old culling under a slightly different guise. Bcforo long ho acknowledged himself well pleased with tho now environment, for his wlfo was far happier In draping dress coods upon tho figures ot her customers thnn hanging python folds about her own, nnd he found his own famo growing with every dny. Ills mcdlunilstlc gifts came Into genernl demand. The country-people Journeyed miles to consult him, and Blaze Jones' statement that they confided In the fortune-teller ns they would have confided In a priest wns scarcely mi exaggeration. Phil did Indeed become the repository for confessions of mnny sorts. Contrary to Blaze's belief, however, Strange was no Prince of Darkness, and took little Joy In somo of the se crets forced upon him. Phil was n good man in his wny so conscientious that ccrtnln Information he ncqulred weighed him down with a sense of un- iliPl jr " iv $ w VAUniHG "Over Her Head Floats a Skeleton " pleasant responsibility. Chancing to meet Dave Law one dny, he determined to relievo himself of at least ono troublesome burden. But Dave wns not easily approach able. He met tho medium's ulluslons to tho occult with contemptuous amuse ment, nor would he consent to a pri vate "reading." Strange grew almost desperate enough to speak the ungnr nlshed truth. "You'd better pay a Httlo attention to me," he grieved; "I've got a mes sage to you from tho 'Unseen World.' " "Charges 'collect,' I reckon," the Ranger grinned. Strango waved aside the suggestion. "It came unbidden, nnd I pnss It on for what it's worth." As Davo turned away, he added, hastily, "It's about a skeleton In the chaparral, nnd n red haired woman." Dave stopped; he eyed tho speaker curiously. "Go on," said he. But n public street, Strango ex plained, wns no place for psychic dis cussions. Dnvo ngreed. When they were nlono In the fortune-telling "pnr lor," ho sat back while tho medium closed his eye3 nnd prepared to explore tho Invisible. After a brief delay Phil began : "I seo a greut mnny things that woman I told you about, nnd three men. Ono of 'cm Is you, the other two Is Mexicans. You're at a water hole In tho nicsqulte. Now there's u shoot ing scrape; I seo tho body of a dead man. And now tho scene changes. Everything dissolves. I'm in n man sion ; nnd tho red-hnlred woman conies toward me. Over her head flouts a skeleton " Davo broko In crisply. "All right I Let's get down to cases. What's on your mind, Strange?" Tho psychic simulated n shudder a painful contortion, such us anyone might suffer if rudely Jerked out of the spirit world. "Eh? What was I? There I You've broke the connection," ho declared. "Did I tell you anything?" "No. But evidently you can." "I'm sorry. They never come bnck." "Hot I" Phil was hurt, Indignant. With some stiffness ho explained tho danger of Interrupting a seance of this sort, but Law remained obdurate. "You can put over that second-sight stuff with tho greasers," he declared, sharply, "but not with me. So, Jose Sanchez has been to seo you and you want to warn inc. Is that U?" "I don't know any such party," Strango protested. Ho eyed his caller for a moment; then with nn abrupt change of manner he complained: "Say, Bo! What's the matter with you? I've got n reputation to protect, and I do things my own way. I'm get ting set to slip you something, and you try to mnko mo look llko a sucker. Is that any way to act?" "I prefer to talk to you when your eyes are open. I know all about " "You don't know nothing nbout any thing," snapped tho other. "Jose's got it in for Mrs. Austin." . "You said you didn't know him." "Well, I don't. He's never been to see mo In his life, but his sweetheart has. Rosa Morales comes regular." "Rosa J Joso's sweetheart 1" "Yes. Her and Jose huvo Joined out together bluee you shot Panfilo, and they're framing something." "Whnt, for Instance?" The fortuue-teller hesitated. "I only wish I knew," ho said slowly. "It looks to bo llko u killing." Davo nodded. "Probably Is. Joso would llko to get me, and of course the girl" "Oh, they don't aim to get you. You ain't tho ono they're after." "No? Who, then?" "I don't know nothing definite. In this buslncso, jz" understand, a fel low has to put two and tvv iether. All tho same, Pm suro 'Joso ain't earr ing no epitaph for you. From what I've dug out of Rosa, he's acting for a third party somebody with pull nnd n lot of coin but who It Is I don't know. Anyhow, he's cooking trouble for tho Austins, nud I want to stand from under." Now that tho speaker had dropped nil pretense, he answered Dave's ques tions without evasion and told what ho know. It was not much, to Dnve's way of thinking, but It wns enough to glvo cause for thought, nnd when tho men finally parted It was with the un derstanding that Strango would promptly communicate any further In telligence on this subject thnt came his way. On tho following dny D.ivc's duties called him to Brownsville, 'iierc court was In session. He hnd planned to leave by the morning train, but ns ho continued to meditate over Strange's words, he decided thnt, before going, ho ought to advise Alalre if the fel low's suspicions In order thnt sho might discharge Jose Sanchez nnd In other ways protect herself ag:?lnst his possible spit". Since the matter wns ono that could not well be talked over by telephone, Dave determined o go In person to Lns Palmns that evertVig. Truth to say, he was hungry to so Alalre. By this time ho hud nlmost censed to combat the feeling she aroused In him, and It was In obedlen'o to nn Impulse far stronger than friend ly anxiety that he hired a machine nnd, shortly nfter dark, took the river road. The Fates are malicious jades. They delight In playing 111-unturod pranks upon us. JNot content with spinning and measuring and cutting the threads of our lives to suit themselves, they must also tangle the skein, causing us to cut capers to satisfy their whims. At no time since meeting Alalre had Davo Law been more certain of his moral strength than on this evening; at no tlmo had his grip upon himself seemed firmer. Nor had Alaire tho least teason to doubt her self-control. Dave, to be sure, had appealed to her fancy nnd her Interest; In fact, he so domlnntcd her thoughts that the Im aginary creature whom she called her dream-husband had gradually taken on his physical likeness. But the Idea that sho was In any way enamored of him had never entered his mind. In such wlso do the Fates amuse them selves. Alalro had gone to her favorite after dinner refuge, a nook on ono of tho side galleries, where there wns a wide, swinging wicker couch; and there, In a restful obscurity fragrant with flow ers, she had prepared to spend tho evening with her dreams. She did not henr Dave's automobile arrive. Her first lntlmntlon o? his presence came with the sound of his heel upon the porch. When he up penred, It was almost like the mate rialization of her uppermost thought quite as If a figure from her fancy had stepped forth full-i'lnd. She rose und met ilm, smiling. "How did you know I waited to see you?" sho inquired. Dave took her hand und looked down nt her, framing a commonplace reply. But for some reason the words lay un spoken upon his tongue. Alnlre's In formal greeting, hev parted lips, the welcoming light In her eyes, hud sent them flying. It seemed to him that tho dim half-light which illumined this nook emanated from her face and her person, that the fragrance which camo to his nostrils wns the perfume of her breath, and at the prompting of theso thoughts all his smothered longings roso as If at a signal. As mutinous prisoners in a jail delivery overpower their guards, so did Dnve's long-repressed emotions gain the upper Lund of him now, and so swift wns their uprising that he could not summon more than a feeble, panicky resistance. Tho nwkwardress of the pause which followed Alalre'si inquiry strengthened tho rebellious impulses within him, nnd quite unconsciously his frleudly grasp upon Her Angers tightened. For her part, as she saw this sudden chnngo sweep over him, her own face altered and sho felt something within her breast leap Into life. No woman could have failed to read the meaning of his sudden agitation, and, strango to say, It worked n similar state of feeling In Alalre. She strove to control her self nnd to draw away, but Instead found thnt her hand had answered his, nnd thnt her eyes were flashing recognition of his look. All In an In stant sho realized how deathly tired of her own strugglo sho had become, und experienced n reckless Impulse to cast away all restraint nnd blindly meet his first advance. She had no tlmo to question her yearnings; sho seemed to understand only thnt this man offered her rest nnd security ; thai In his nrms lay sanctuary. To both It seemed that they stood there silently, hand In hand, for a very long time, though In reality thero was scarcely a moment of hesitation on tho part of either. A drunken, brenthless Instant of uncertainty, then Alalro wns on Dave's breust, and his strength, his ardor, his desire, was throbbing through her. Her bare nrma wero nbout his neck; n sigh! tho token of utter surrender, fluttered from her throat. She raised her face to his und their lips melted together. (TO bb CONTINUED.) Cossack Superstition. Among the numerous superstitions of tho Cossacks thero Is a belief that they will enter heaven In n better stato of moral purity If they are personally clean when killed In battle. Stylo In Emotion. "Now some scientific sharp say there are styles In emotlous." "I be llovo It I know some women who 1 ways wear their iignlty raffled." NOME TOWN MELP5t SITE MATTER OF IMPORTANCE Should Be Selected by Home Builder Only After Many Things Are Taken Into Consideration. Selection of tho proper site, tho one most ndnpted to the style of structure contemplated, Is n question of great Importance to the prospective home builder. Mnny features should bo con sidered In choosing the locntlon. All of the rensons why much caro should be exercised In picking the right situa tion have an Important bbarlng on the enjoyment of tho home by the occu pants. Proximity to tho business of the head of tho house nnd to transit facili ties, schools nnd church should be as certained before n site Is decided upon Other features to he considered nre advantages from n publlc-facllltlef rlowpolnt good streets, drainage, gas ind water supplies nnd sanitation nenlthlncss and benuty of location street lighting, privacy and genera' "hnracter of tho neighborhood nre other fenturcs to be investigated. Relntion of the site's value and sur roundlngs to tho proposed cost of tin contemplated home should be consld ered. Size of the lot should nlsc crcntly Influence tho style of building The type of tho home should bo deter mined by definite conditions, In whlcl tho chnracter of the site and surround Ings nro of predominating Importance While a prospective builder maj have In his Imagination nn ndaptatlor or reproduction of n period design, 1) Is very frequently unwise to permit such nn Imagination to bo the deciding factor ns to what design a home shoulc represent. Errors In construction an often made through placing a repro rllt rnr? rlnaf rrn In nn InnnnxAnnlnfA nnf uv.x,i v4o,i. t tilt luuirinwinauu nut i ting, where n uniquely constructor.' j dwelling Is entirely out of plnce wltl Its surroundings. CITY PLANTS SHADE TREES Women of Oakland, Cal., Aid Superin tendent of Parks In Beautlflca- tion of Residence Streets. All of tho big residential streets Ir ' Oakland nro to be planted with shade trees, according to Lee S. Kerfoot, su pcrintendent of parks. He will be as slsted In the matter by local socletj women. j The plan had Its Inception nt after noon teas and other soclnl gatherings where society women met. The sub ject of lining the residence streets with trees of uniform growth and species was often discussed, and a committee appointed to take the mat ter up. According to the park superintend ent, the plan Is to use trees grown by tho city In Its conservntorles In Lakeside park. Poplars, willows and cucnlytus will probably be used, und no two vnrletles will be planted on any one street. V V 4 4 Ain't It So? If you want to live In the kind of a town Like the kind of a town you like, You needn't slip your clothes In n grip And start on a long, long hike. You'll only And what you left be hind, For there's nothing really new. 5 It's a knock to yourself when you knock your town, It isn't your town it's you. Real towns are not made by men nfraid Lest somebody elso gets - abend ; $ When everyone works nnd no- body shirks $ You can raise a town from the dead. . And If you can make your per- sonnl stake, Your neighbor can make one, J too. Your town will be what you J want to see; It Isn't your town It's you. J Dotted Line. - Getting Privacy About Home. Within the last few years Ameri cans have begun to discover thnt tho land about their house should be treat ed ns n part of the home nnd that It should have tho churm of Intimacy and privacy. They have reverted to tho ways of the early Colonial days, when the fence was not only a pro tection but nn ornamental part of the grounds. Some of tho fences around tho old houses In Snlem, Mass.; In Charleston, S. C, and elsewhere bear witness to the stato and dignity of the persons who lived behind them, and through tho gntcs one still gets glimpses of charms that would lose by half If they wero not secluded nnd kept for the persons who live In tho houses of which they form the setting. We are even borrowing the foreign Idea, hesitatingly, of turning our houses about, with their backs to tho street and their fronts to a garden of lawn and flowers which may bo as fully and freely enjoyed as the most com tortnble living room In tha lipuse. smmi m&&&iitkli SB truxtn fijfflffi tip ti ""myjjohatbiiTS. tTT ' V V,oniriKTMai4ty University of Notre Dame NOTRE DAME, INDIANA Offer Complete Courso In Agriculture Full courses also In Letters, Journalism, Library Sciences, Chemistry, Fharmacy, Medi cine, Architecture, Commerce and Lair. FOIl I1KST 8EIIVICE 8II1P Live Stock Commission Merchants at SIOUX CITY, Chicago or Kottaaa Oltj Watson E. Colnmnn, l'ateot Lawyer, WtttbliixUin, it. u. auijuq aun uuusa in-o. uatoireuunablo. Highest references Uoatscrrlcca. HE WAS WAITING PATIENTLY Constant Attendant at Play Was Bound to Be on Hand When Erring Wife Was Caught by Husband. A problem play was being produced In Chicago. Ono evening it wns dis covered that a certain man, evidently from the rural district, had attended the piny six nights In succession and always snt well down In front. Each night he leaned forward eagerly In his sent and drank In the words of tho drama. These facts were communicated to the theater press agent, who scented a good story. Approaching tho Inter ested spectator between the acts, ho apologized for his Intrusion and said: "Would you mind telling mo just why you nre so Interested in this play? Do you know some member of the cast?" "Nope," said the man from the out lands. "That ain't It. But I'll tell you nbout It. You know the scene In the private room of the restaurant, where the dark man and the other man's wife get up and leave by the left-hand door just a moment before tho woman's husband enters by tho right-hand door?" "Yes," said tho press ngent expect antly. "Well," said the Interested specta tor, "some night the husband's going to come In before they leave." Sociable. An orderly chosen from among the student officers at Ft. Harrison sits dally outside Brig. Gen. Edwin F. Glenn's office door. A different man Is chosen each day, and the other day the post fell to the lot of Charles E Shafo of Indlnnnpolls, snys the Indlnn apolls News. Shafo went on an er rand for the general, and returned Just nfter tho general had wished to spenk to an officer in one of the other rooms and thero being no orderly to summon him, had gone nfter the man himself. "By George," Shafo commented to the camp adjutant's orderly, a Tenth Infantryman, fresh from Ave years In Panama, "the general did some of my work for me." "Yeh, nln't thnt nice, now I" the nS jutant's orderly returned. "Why don't you go In there now and do some of his work for him, Just to be sociable?" Quite Happy. Through the wild ways of her good-for-nothing husband, n hard-working charwoman had to remove to n little two-roomed cottnge, where there was scarcely space to sneeze without shak ing the ornnnionts from tho mantel piece. "It's hard lines for you to be brought down like this, nfter what you've been accustomed to," said a sympathetic neighbor. "I don't doubt you feel very miserable, Mrs. Jones." "No, I don't," the charwoman stout ly denied. "I'm happier here by n long way than I used to be In tho old place. For ono thing, when my hus band comes homo In n brute of a tem per, he can't throw me down the cellar steps, as he used to do, 'cos thero ain't none now!" Pearson's Weekly. The True Word. Two elderly New York clubmen who have retired spend much of their tlmo gazing out upon tho Fifth avenuo throngs from their leather rest clmlrs at o club lounge window. Charles B. Towns wns sented near them the other dny. A very stunning woman of middle nge passed in n handsome turnout. "I wonder how old she Is?" snld one. "Woman Is ns old as she looks," was tho reply. There wns n pause. "And mnn Is not old until he quits looking," said the first and both resumed their gaz ing. Southern states conUiln 777 cotton mills, vnlued at $225,000,000. GbbMfr SAYS Try a dish of PostToastiesi with cream J for lunch on jioiaays on "3C