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About The North Platte semi-weekly tribune. (North Platte, Neb.) 1895-1922 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 7, 1913)
THE NORTH PLATTE 8EMIAVEEKLY TRIBUNE. ifOTiims 14 0YN0P8I8. Georgo Anderson nnd wlfo ore a re ttiarkablo looking mnn como out of tha Clermont hotel, look nround furtively, wash hlii hands In tlio snow and pass on. Commotion attracts tlicm to tlio Clermont, whcrn It Ih found that the beautiful Miss Kdlth Challoner has fallen dead. Ander son describes thn man ho Haw wash hl.i hands In tho snow. Tho hotel manager lcclarcH him to bo Orlando Brotherson. Physicians find that Miss Challoner whs ntnbhed and not shot Oryce, an aged de tective, and Sweetwater, his assistant, tako up tlio case. Mr Chatloner tells of a batch of letters found In his daughter's lcsk, signed "O, U." All aro love letters except one, which shons that tho writer was displeased. This lotter was signed by Orlando Brothcrson. Anderson goos with Sweetwater to Identify Urotherson, who Is found In a tenement under tho name of Dunn. He Is an Inventor Broth erson tells the coroner Mini Challoner r f mined him with scorn when he offered her ila lovo Sweetwater recalls tho mystery of tho murder of a washerwoman In which sonio details were similar to the Challoner Affair Sweetwater gets lodgings In tho amo building with Brothcrson. Ho bores n holo In tho wall to spy on Urotherson. Ifo visits him and assists tha Inventor In Ms work. A girl snt by Sweetwater with Kdlth Challoncr'a letters Is ordered out by Brothcrson. Ho declares tho lotters Were not written by him, Sweetwater Is un masked by Brotherson, who declares he recognized him ftt onco. Tho dlseovorj' Is mode that tho letters signed "O. I)," were written by two different men, Sweetwater pocH to Dorby In search of tho second "O. u.." whom he expects to locate through ono Doris Scott, mentioned In the letters. She Is found acting as nurse for Oswald Brothcrson, who Is critically sick nnd calls tho namo of Kdlth In his delirium. Sweet water comes across a pocullar hut In thn woods. Ho soos a load of boxos marked "O, nrotherson," tnkcn-Jnto tho hut tinder tho supervision of Doris Scott. Doris tolls Challoner of seeing In a dream tho race of the man who klllod Kdlth. Tho door bell rings nnd she recognizes In tho visitor tho man of her dream. It Is Or lando Urotherson, who requests an Inter view with his brother, It develops that Orlando Is working on a flying machine. Oswnld Is told of Edith's death. Orlando tells his brother of his rcpulso by Miss Challoner, Orlando nnks his brother to assist In tests of his air car, as ho can trust no one clso Oswald rofuses owing to his wenkoned condition. CHAPTER XXXV. Continued. "Who's lhoro7" ho asked, imperious ly and with aomo Bhow of anger ' No nnnwor, but another quiet knock "Sppak! or go nway from my door. No ono 1ms tlto right to Intrude horo. What la your namo and btiBlncsB?" Continued knocking nothing more With an outburHt of wrnth.whlch mado tho hangar ring, Orlando lifted hlB flat to answor thlB appoal In hlu own flerco fashion from his own sldo of tho door, hut the Impulso pausod nt (ulHIlmont, and ho let lila arm fall again In a rush of solf-hatrod which tt wonld havo pained hlfl worst en emy, ovon little Dorla, to witness. As 1t reached his aldo, tho knock camo again. It waB too much. With an oath, Orlnndo reached for hlfl koy. Hut bo foro fitting It Into tho lock, ho cast & look behind him. Tho car was In plain Bight, filling tho central space from floor to roof. "A single glance from a stranger1 oyo, and Its princi pal Bccrot would bo a socrot no longer 'Ho miiBt not run such a risk. Beforo to nnaworcd this call, ho must drop uio curtain ho had rlggod up ngalnst uch emergencies as those Ho had but to pull a cord and a veil would fall boforo his treasure,' concealing It as effectually an nn Enatorn brldo Is concealed bohlnd hor yashmak. Stopping to tho will, ho tlrow that cord, then with an Impatient sigh, iurned to tho door. Another qulot but Insistent knock Erected him. In no fury now, but with n vaguo eonso of poront which gavo an as pect of farewell to tho ono quick glauco he cast nbout tho woll-known spot, ho fitted tho koy In tho lock, and stood ready to turn It. "1 ask you agnln your natno and ouslncBB," ho shoutod out In loUd command. "Tell them or" Ho monnt to say, "or I do not turn this key." Out nomothlng withhold tho threat. Ho know that It would perish In tho uttoranco; that ho could not carry it out. Ho would havo to opqu tho door now, responso or no response. "Speak!" was tho word with which ho 'Anlshed his doumnd. A final knock. Tulltng a pistol from his pocket, with his loft hand, ho turned tho koy with bis right. Tho door remalnod unopened. Stepping slowly back, ho starud at its unpalntod boards for a moment, than he upoke up quietly, almost cour teously: "Enter." Uut the command paused unheeded; tho latch was not raised, and only tho lightest tap was hoard. With a bound ho reached forward and pulled tho door opon. Then a Croat Bllonco Tell upon him and a rig idity as of tho grave solzod nud stif fened his powerful frame. Tho man confronting him from tho darkness was Bweetwator. CHAPTER XXXVI. The Man Within and the Mnn Without. An luBtant of silence, during which the two men cyod each othor; thon, Sweotwater, with an ironical smile directed towards tho pistol, lightly re marked; "Mr. Challoner and other men at the hotel aro acquainted with my purpose ad await my roturn. I haro como" ero ho cast a glowing look at the bugs curtain cutting off tho greater portion of tho llly-llt Interior "to of fer you my norvlces, Mr. Urotherson. I havo no other motlvo for this intru sion than to bo of uso. I am deeply Interested In your Invention, to tho development of which 1 havo already lent Eomo aid, and can bring to tho test you purpose a sympathetic holp which you could hardly find In any other person living." Tho sllonco which settled down at the completion of theso words had n weight which mado that of tho previ ous moment seem light and all athrob with sound. Tho man within had not yet caught his breath; the man with out held his, in an anxiety which had little to do with tho direction of tho weapon, into which ho looked. Thon an owl hooted far away In tho forest, and Orlando, Blowly lowering his arm. asked in an oddly constrained tono: "How long havo you been In town 7" The answer cut clean through any llngorlng hopo ho may havo had. "Ever slnco tho day your brother was told tho story of hln great mis fortune." "Ah I still at your old trlcksl I thought you had quit that business as unprofitable." "I don't know. I nover expect quick returns. Ho who holds on for a rlso sometimes reapB unlooked-for profits." Tho arm and fist of Orlando Broth crson ached Uo hurl thiB fellow hack Into tho heart of tho midnight woods. Dut they remained quiescent and ho npoko Instead: "I havo buried tho business. You will novor resuscitate It through mo." Sweotwator smUod. Thoro was no mirth in his Brllo though thoro was lightness in hlii tono ns he Bald: "Thon lot us go back to tho matter In hand. You need a holper; whoro aro you going tc find ono If you don't tako mo?" A growl from Drothorson's Hot lips, Nover had ho looked moro dangerous than In tho ono burning Instant follow ing this daring repetition of tho de tcctlvo'fl outraguous request. But as ho noted how slight was tho figure op posing him from tho othor sldo of tho threshold, ho was swayed by Ills nat ural admiration of pluck In tho physi cally weak, and lost his threatening nttltudo, only to assume ono which Swootwator aocrotly found It even harder to meet. "You aro a fool," was tho stinging remark ho heard flung at him. "Do you want to play tho police-officer hero and nrroat mo in mid nlr?" "Mr. Brothcrson, you understand mo as llttlo ns I am supposed to under stand you. Humblo as ray place is in society and, I may add, in tho depart ment wIiobo lntorcfttB I Bcrvo, thoro nro in mo two men. Ono you know passably well the dotoctlvo whoso methods, only Indifferently clover. show that ho has very much to learn. Of tho other thn workman ncqualnt- "How'b That for a Start7" oil with hammer and paw, but with somo knowlodgo too of" higher mathe matics and tho principles upon which grout mechanical Inventions depend, you know llttlo, nnd nniBt Imagine much. I wnB playing tho gawky whon I helped you In thu old house in lirooklyn. I was Interested In your airship Oh I recognized It for what It wnH, notwithstanding lta oddity and lack of oBtonalhlo means for flying but I was not caught in tho whirl of lta Idea; tho Idea by which you doubt less expect, and with very good reason too, to revolutionize tho Hclonco of aviation. But since thon I've boon thinking it over, and am so filled with your own hopes that either I muBt havo a hand in the finishing and sail ing of tho one you hnvo yourself con structed, or go to work myself on thu hints you have unconsciously given mo, nnd mako a car of my own." Audacity often Bucceeds whore subtler means fall. Orlando, with a curious twist of his strong Up, took hold of the detective's arm und drew him In, shutting and locking tho door carefully behind him. "Now," said he, "you toll mo what you think you havo discovered, to mako any ideas of your own arailablo X& .ANNA l&ffHARINE GREEN I Author op "the lhavenwobth case" itw jf iiamulu liAi.i. iminuuDi; ur iui:wnon;KirG pities ILLUSTRATIONS BY CHARLES XT. ROSSES COPYBIQHT 9H y STREET A .SMITH CUPYBIQ1IT lPU Toy PQDII, P1EAB fl CO In the munufneturu of a superior solf propelling alrflhlp." Sweotwater, who had been so vio lently whcoled nbout in entering that ho stood with his back to tho curtain conconllng tho car, answered without hesitation: "You havo a dovlce, entirely new so far as I can Judgo, by which UiIb car can leap at onco Into spaco, hold its own In any direction, and alight again upon any given spot without Bhock to th machlno or danger to tho people controlling it." "Explain tho dovlce." "I will draw it." "You can?" "As I see it," "As you boo it!" "Ycb. It's a brilliant idea; I could novor havo conceived it." "Y6u boll-are " "I know." "Sit hero. Let'n seo what, you know." Sweetwater sat down at tho tablo the othor pointed out, and drawing forward a piece of paper, took up a pencil with nn easy air. Brothcrson approached and stood at his shouldor Ho had taken up his pistol again, why ho hardly know, and as Sweetwater began his marks, his fingers tightened on Its butt till thoy turned whlto In tho murky lamplight, "You see," came in easy tones from tho stooping draughtsman, "I havo an Imagination which only needs a slight fillip from a mind like yours to send It in tho desired direction. I shall not draw an exact roproductlon of your idea, but I think you will seo that I understand It very well. How's that for a start?!' Urotherson looked and hastily drew bnck. Ha did riot want the othor to noto his surpiiso. "But that is a portion you nover saw," ho loudly declared. "No, but I saw this," returned Sweotwater, working buBlly on some curves; "and theso gavo mo tho fillip I mentioned. Tho rest camo easily." Brothcrson, In dread of his own an ger, throw his pistol to the other end of tho shed:' "You knave! You thief!" ho furi ously cried. "How bo?" asked Sweetwater smil ingly, rifdng and looking him calmly In tho face. "A thief is ono who ap propriates another man's goods, or. lot us say, another man's idoas. I havo appropriated nothing yot. I'vo only shown you how' easily I could do so. Mr. Brothcrson, tako mo In as your assistant. I will bo faithful to yoh, ,1 owoar It. 1 want to seo that machlno go up." "For how many people havo you drawn thoso lines?" thundered tho In oxorablo votco, "For nobody; not for myself oven. This 1b thj first tlmo they havo loft their hldlng-plnco in my brain." "Can you swear to that?" "I can and will, If you roquiro it. But you ought to hollovo my word, sir. I am square us a dio in all matters not connected well, not connected with my profession," ho smiled In a burst of that whimsical humor, which not ovon tho seriousness of tho moment could quite suppress. "And what suroty havo I that you do not consider this vory mattor of mlno ns coming within tho bounds you spenk of?" "None. But you must trust mo that far." Brothcrson survoyod him with nn irony which convoyed a vory differ ent mesaago to tho detectlvo than any ho had Intended. Thon quickly: "To how many have you spoken, dl lnllng upon this dovlce, and publish ing abroad my secrot?" "I havo spoken to no ono, not oven to Mr. Clryco. That Bhows my honesty ns nothing olso can." "You hnvo kept my aecreMntact?" "Entirely bo, air." "A that no ono, horo or olBowhcro, BharcB our knowlodgo of tho now points in this mechanism?" "I say so, sir." "Thon If I should kill you," camo in forocloua ncconts, "now hero " "You would bo tho only ono to own that knowlodgo. But you won't kill mo." "Why?" "Need I go Into reasons?" "Why? I say." "Bocauso your conscience Is already too heavily ladon to bear tho burden of another unprovokod crlmo." BrothorBon, staring back, glarod with opon foroclty upon tha mnn who dared to faco him with such un accu sation. "God! why didn't I shoot you on en trance! " ho cried. "Your courngo la certainly colossal." A lino Btnllo, without oven tho hint of humor now, touched tho daring do tectlvo's lip. Brothorson's angor seemed to grow under it, und ho loud ly repeated: "It's moro than coloBsal; it's abnor mal and " A momont'B pauso, thon with Ironic pausos "and qulto unnec essary savo as a matter of display, un less you think you need It to sustain you through tho ordeal you aro court ing. You wish to help mo finish and preparo for flight?" "I sincerely do." "You consider yourself competent?" "I do." Brothcrson's oyes fell nnd ho walked onco to tho oxtromlty of tho ovnl floor ing and back. "Well, wo will grnnt that. But that's not all that is necessary. My require ments demand a companion In my first flight. Will you go up In tho car with mo on Saturday night?" A quick nfllrmatlvo was on Sweet water's lips but tho glimpse which ho got of tho speaker's face glowering upon him from tho shadows Into which Brothcrson had withdrawn, stopped its utterance, and tho silence grow heavy. Though It may not hnvo lasted long by tho clock, the Instant of broathlcsa contemplation of each other's features across the Intervening spaco was of incalculable moment to Sweetwater, and, possibly,' to Brothcrson. As drowning men aro said to llvo over their whole history botween their first plungo nnd their final rlso to light and nlr, so through tho mind of tho de tective rushed tho memories of his past and tho fast fading glories of his future; nnd rebelling at tho subtle peril ho saw in that sardonic oyo, ho vociferated an Impulsive: "No! I'll not " and paused, caught by a new and lrreslstlblo sensation. A breath of wind tho first ho had felt that night hnd swopt in through somo crevice in tho curving walr, flap ping tho canvas enveloping the great car. It acted like a peal to bnttlo. After all, a man must tako somo risks in this life, and his heart was in this trial of a redoubtable mechanism in which ho had full faith, lie could not say no to tho prospect of being tho first to share a triumph which would send his namo to tho ends of tho earth j and, changing the trend of his sentence, ho repeated with a calmness which had tho force of a great 'le clslon: j "I will not fall you In anything. If sho rises" hero his trembling hand fell on tho curtain shutting off his vlow of tlio ship, "she shall tako mo with her, bo that when sho descends I may bo tho first to congratulate tho proud lnventpr of such a marvel." "So be it!" shot from tho othor'3 lips, his oea losing their threatening look, and, his whole countenance sud denly aglow with tho enthusiasm of awakened genius. Coming from tho shadows, ho laid hla hand on tho cord regulating the rlso and fall of the concealing curtain. "Hero sho is!" ho cried and drew tho cord. Tho canvas Bhook, gathered Itself into great folds and disappeared in tho shadows from which ho had just stopped. Tho air-car stood revealed a start ling, because wholly unique, vision. Long did Sweotwater survey it, then turning with beaming .face upon tho watchful Inventor, ho uttered a loud hurrah. Next moment, with everything for gotten between them savo tho glories of this Invention, both dropped simul taneously to tho floor nnd began that mlnuto examination of tho mechanism necessary to their mutual work. CHAPTER XXXVII. Hla Great Hour. Saturday night at eight o'clock. So tho fiat had gono forth, with no concession to bo mado on account of woathor. As Oswald camo from his supper nnd took u look at tho heavens from tho small front porch, ho was deeply troubled that Orlando had remained so obstinate on this point. 'For thoro woro omlnouB clouds rolling up from tho east, and tho storms In this region of high mountains and abrupt valleys were not light, nor without dnnger ovon to thoso with feet well-planted upon mother earth. If tho tempest should como up bo foro eight! Mr. Challoner, who, from eomo mys terious impulse of bravado on tho part of Brothcrson, was to bo allowed to mnko tho third In this small band of spectators, was equally concerned at this sight, but not for Brothorson. H1b fears woro for Oswald, whoso slow ly gathering strength could Illy bear tho strain which this additional anx- ioty for his hrothor's llfo must impose upon him. As for Doris, alio was in a state of excitement moro connected with tho past than with tho future. That afternoon aho'had laid her hand In that of Orlando Brotherson, and wished him well. Sho! In whoso broast still lingered reminiscences of those old doubts which had beclouded his Imago for her at their first meeting. Sho hnd not been able to avoid It Ills look was n compelling one, nud It had demanded thus much frqm hor: and a terrlblo thought to hor gentle spirit ho might bo going to his donth! it had been Battled by tho prospec tive aviator that thoy were to watch for tho ascent from tho mouth of tho grassy road loading in to tho hangar. Tho throo woro to moot thoro at a quarter to eight and await tho stroke and tho air-car's rlso. That tlmo was near, and Mr. Challoner, catching n gllmpso of Oswald's pallid nnd unnat urally drawn features, as ho set down tho lantern ho carried, ahudderod with foreboding and wished tho hour passed. Doris watchful glanco nover lofi tho faco whose lightest change was moro to her than all Orlando's hopea. But tho result upon hor was not to weaken her resolution, but to strength en It, Whatever tho outcome of tho next fow minutes, sho must stand ready to austaln her invalid through it. That tho darkness of early eve ning had deepened to oppresalon, waa unnoticed for tho moment. Tho fenra of an hour past had been forgotten. Their attention was too absorbed In what was going on boforo them, for oven a glanco ovorhead. Suddenly Mr. Challoner Bpoko. "Who is tho man whom Brotherson bus asked to go up with him 7" It waB Oswald who answered. "Ho has nover told me. Ho has kept his own counsel about that ns about everything elso connected with this matter. He simply advised me that I was not to bother about him any moro; that ho had found tho as sistant ho wantod." "Such reticence seemB unpardon able. You havo displayed great pa tience, Oswald." "Because I understand Orlando. Ho reads men's natures liko a book. The man ho trusts, wo may trust. Tomor row, ho will apeak openly 'enough. All causo for- rotlcenco will be gone.'' "You have confidence then In tho success of this undertaking?" "If I hadn't, I should not be here. I could hardly bear to witness his fail ure, even in a secret teat liko this. I should find it too hard to faco him aft erward"." "I don't understand." "Orlando has great pride. If this enterprise falls I cannot answer for him. He would bo capable of any thing. "Why, Doris! what is tho mat ter, child? I nover Bawsyou look like that before."' Sho had been down on her knoes regulating tho lantern, nnd tho sud den flame, shooting up, had shown him her faco turned up toward his in an apprehension which verged on horror. "Do I look frightened?" alio asked, remembering herself and lightly rifl ing. "I believe that I am a little frightened. If if anything should go wrong! If an accident " But hero sho remembored horself again and quickly changed her tono. "But your confidence shall be mine. I will be lieve in his good nngel or or In hla self-command and great resolution. I'll not be frightened any moro." But Oswald did not aeom satisfied. Ho continued to look at her In vague concern. Ho hardly know what to make of "Orlando!" a Shriek Went Up, "Or lando!" tho Intense feeling aho had manifest ed. Had Orlando touched her girlish heart? Had this cold-blooded nature, with Its stocl-llko brilliancy and hon orable but stern views of llfo, moved this warm and sympathetic soul to moro than admiration? Tho thought disturbed him ao ho forgot tho near nesB of tho moment thoy wore all awaiting till a quick rasping, Bound from tho hnngnr, followed by tho Bud den appearanco of an over-widening band of light nbout its upper rim, drow his attention nnd awakened them nil to a breathless expectation. Tho lid was rising. Now It was half-way up, and now, for tho first tlmo, It waa lifted to lta full height and stood a broad oval disk against tho background of tho forcBt, Tho ef fect was strnngo. Tho hangar had been'mado brilliant by many lamps, and tholr united glaro Dourlng from Its top and illuminating not only thu surrounding treetops, but tho brond faco of this uplifted diak, roused In tho awed spectator a thrill such as In mythological times might havo greet ed tho sudden sight of Vulcan's smithy blazing on Olympian hills. But tho clang of iron on Iron would havo attended tho flash and gleam of thoso unexpected Area, and hero all was still savo for that Bteady throb novor heard in Olympus or the hnlla of Valhalla, tho pant of tho motor cngor for flight In the upper air. As they listened in a trance of burn ing hopo which obliterated all else, this noiao and all others near and dis tant, was suddenly lost in a loud clat ter of writhing and twisting boughs which set tho forest in a roar and seemed to heave tho air about them. A wind had swooped down from tho east, bending everything boforo it and rattling tho huge oval on which tholr oyes were fixed as though it would tenr it from its hlngoB. Tho throo caught at each other's hands in dismay. Tho storm had como JuBt on tho verge of thn enterprise, und no ono might guess tho result, "Will he daro? Will ho dare?" whlBpered Doris, and Oswald an swered, though It seemed next to im posslblo thnt ho couhj have heard her: "Ho will dare. But will ho survive it? Mr. Challoner," ho suddenly about ed in that gentleman's ear, "what tlmo la It now?" Mr. Challoner, dlsengnglng himself from tholr mutual grasp, knelt down by tho lantern to consult his watch. "Ono mlnuto to eight," ho ahouted back. Tho forest wob now a pandemonium. Great boughs, Bplit from their parent trunks, foil crashing to tho ground In all directions. Tho scream of the wind roused echoes which repeated them selves, hero, thero and everywhere. No rain hnd fallen yot, but the sight of the clouds skurrylng pell-mell through tho glare thrown up from tho shed, cre ated such havoc in tho already over strained minds of tho three onlookers, that they hardly heeded, when with a clatter and crash which at another tlmo would havo startled thorn into flight, the swaying oval boforo thbm was whirled from Its hlngea and thrown back agalnat the treea already bonding under the onslaught of tho tempest. Destruction seemed tho nat ural accompaniment of tho moment, and tho only prayer which Bprang to Oswald's lips waa that tho motor whoso throb yet llngored in tholr blood though no longer taken In by tho ear, would either refu8o to work or prove insulFicient to lift tho heavy car into this seething tumult of war ring forces. His brother's life hung In the balance against his famo, and ho could not but chooBo llfo for him. Yet, as tho multitudinous Bounds about him yielded for a moment to that brother's shout, and ho know that the moment had come, which would soon sottlo all, ho found himself staring at tho elliptical edge of tho hangar, with an anticipation which held in it as much terror as Joy, for tho end of a great hope or tho beginning of a great triumph was comproased Into thla trembling Instant and if (TO BE CONTINUED.) Earth's Journey. Our world's journey In spaco la a long one, If wo are to accept tho con cluaions of Dr. Turner of tho Unl veralty observatory of Oxford and Prof. H. C. Plummor, royal astron omer of Ireland. Recent astronom ical work suggests that tho sun and its planets form a singlo unit In a vast system, tho stars In which, though separated by enormous dis tances, havo a common centor of gravity, and In responso to gravita tion all move in unison liko a stupen dous machlno. The paths of theso stars, Instead of bolng nearly circu lar, like thoso of tho planot8 around tho aun, nro much like tho oscilla tions of a pendulum. Tho calcula tions show that on this olongatod course our sun must travol 400,000, 000 years beforo completing a revolu tion, and that It passed near tho cen ter less than a million perhaps not moro than 300,000 years ago, and is now on tho outward stretch. Evil In Use of Drugs. In an nrtlclo on tho Indiscriminate uso of drugs tho Lancet takes tho samo position as that of tho Now York phyalclan who waa recently quoted in thla column. Speaking of "tho shrewd fellow" who suffers from lusomnla and purchases veronal as a safo (?) hypno tic, tho writer says: "Eight gralna have been known to prove fatal and ton grains not uncommonly give rlso to alarming Bymptons. But tho Bleop producor la used, nevertheless, by people who feel justified by mis leading paragraphs in 'medical col umns,' blind to tho risk of acquiring a drug habit," Now York Tribune. Nothing In It but Money. Tho lato Charles Major, author of When Kighthood was In Flower, was a sincere If not a very subtlo writor, und ho had no pntienco with tho lit eiary trickster. Mr. Major, at a dinner In Shelby villo, onco condomned tho literary trickster with tho epigram: "You con fool soma of tho peoplo all of tho tlmo but whon you consider what kind of peoplo thoy are, does it really seem worth while?" N t