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About The North Platte semi-weekly tribune. (North Platte, Neb.) 1895-1922 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 14, 1913)
' 5 Jf ? s Around Snake Corner A Stagecoach Story f By CLARISSA MACKIE t The stngo climbed tho steep moun tain road, the black horses fcrululng against tho heavy load of passengers. "Whoo-up!" shouted Iko Williams as ho guided the team around a sharp corner where jutted a great split rock. "Aro there any snakes around hero?" asked a timid passenger. Iko Williams turned a ruddy face toward the passengers, nnd ns his light brown eyes met those of a plump little woman in tho coiner ho winked signifi cantly. Tho plump little woman looked very severo and turned her eyes away. "Yes, sir; this is called snake corner, and It's a funny thing that every time I reach this particular rock every stranger aboard wants to know if there nre snakes hereabouts." "Well, aro there any snakes?" de manded the thin woman sharply. "There are snakes sometimes, ma'am. Onco I was coming up from Cherry Brook with a load of folks, and Just as we reached snako corner one of the wlmmen screamed and fainted, nnd tho others r.U hollered to beat tho baud. Of course I stopped nnd looked to see what was tho matter." "What was It?" demanded the pas sengers breathlessly. "Trash 1" sniffed Debby Bowno. "It was a whole passel of black- :snakes n-sunnlug themselves on the big rock. "I was some flustered, because I knew, all my passengers being wlm men, I'd have trouble between the wlm men and tho snakes nnd tho bosses liere, who ain't got no use for reptiles. "I'm a quick thinker, and" Mr. Williams paused nnd cast n suspicious Slunco among his passengers. "I thought somebody biffed," he said ag gressively. No one mnde reply. Dobby Bowne was staring through tho open doorway, and the little dark man appeared to bo asleep. The other six passengers were hang ing breathlessly on the words of the stage driver. "Go on!" they cried impatiently. "Whnt did you do then?" "I got down from my scat and, tak ing my whip, I went up to the rock nnd laid it on to them snakes till there wnsn't. one to bo seen. Then I dumb back to tho stage and drove on. "Tho wlmmen all cried with joy over getting rid of tho snakes, and when we reached the top of the hill this one we're climbing now I happened to look back, and what do you suppose I see?" Ike paused dramatically. "What did you see?" they asked in chorus. "Snakes!" said Iko, frowning at the recollection. "About fifty blncksnnkcs, assorted sizes, all humping themselves along tho road, trying to ontch up with me. I reckon they would have dumb up over the wheels and right Into tho stage If I hadn't done some quick thinking. "I'm something of n reader," pur sued Ike modestly, "and. being Inter ested In the critters, I'd read consider able about snakes. So I took my har monica out of my pocket and, getting out of the stage, I went back nnd played 'Yankee Doodle' to them pur suing reptiles, nnd I'll be blamed If the hull lot didn't stand still like they was charmed, and then I played n march called 'The Uetreat.' And you'll hardly believe mo when I sny that the hull regiment of blncksnnkcs turned tall and humped themselves backdown the rond. "Whoa! Hero you are! Willow House!" With tho words Iko halted his horses with a flourish before the door of tho little mountain inn. With tho single exception of Dobby Bowne, tho occupants of tho stage dis mounted at the Inn. While some of them were paying the driver, tho foreigner leaned toward Debby Bowno. "Does ho speak of n truth?" ho In quired, nodding toward Iko Williams. Two red spots glowed in Debby's cheeks. "Tho truth is not In him!" she said emphatically. "You know him of a certainty, that ho lies?" asked tho man sharply. "I was engaged to marry him," said Debby with dry bitterness. "Was?" repeated tho man doubtfully. "Was," emphasized Debby, "until fifteen minutes ago." "Ah, with many thanks for tho con fidence." smiled tho stranger, bowing himself away with his heavy basket. Just as tho stage was nbout to re sume Its journey with Miss Bowne as Its solo inmate that smnll person skip ped alertly down tho stops nnd slam med tho door upon the empty vehicle. "Ain't you going to rldo up to the lane with me, Debby?" demnnded Ike in dismay. "Xot today." returned Debby crisply. "I'd rather walk thnn ride with such a story toller as you are. You remem ber what T snld the last time you told that snake story!" Dobby Bnwno gathered her lilac skirts neatly from tho dust nnd tripped away, leaving Iko Williams to stnro after her until she had quite disappeared Into tho opening of Whlppoorwlll inno, where she lived. "I'll bo blamed!" ejaculated Ike, slapping his knee with ono big brown hand. "Woll, whnt do you want?" hu growled nt tho llttlo forclgnor who wns stnudlng by the wheel looking up nt him. "Beg pardon, but I forgot to pay you for transportation nnd most enjoynblo rido nnd ngrcoablo story," said tho stranger politely. "Huh!" wns lko's reply. "And the llttlo lady with the eyes of n dove, sho has gone away?" nsked tho mnn. "You moan Miss Debby Bowne?" growled Iko ominously, Tho mnn nodded doubtfully. "Tho lady who said she was engaged to you." "Was?" bristled Ike. "Is, you mean." "Beg pardon, but sho said, 'Was en gaged till fifteen minutes ngo.' Ah, monsieur is most rude I" cried tho fitranger as he skipped back beyond ronch of Ike's whip. "Llttlo rati" growled Ike, his faco now sobered to grim nnger ns ho turn ed tho stngo about nnd returned down tho mountain. When ho passed snnko corner ho smoto tho blnck horses so savagely that they ran all tho way down tho mountain side, requiring nil of Mr. Williams' strength nnd ncrvo to control them. Back In Whlppoorwlll lano Debby Bowno wns crying softly to herself over her broken engagement to the bluff stage driver, and nt Willow inn tho llttlo foreigner was preparing to entertain tho guests that evening with sundry conjuring tricks. The next nftornoon Iko Williams drove ids stage up tho mountain rond. There was only one passenger inside, nnd she was strangely silent and unre sponsive. So quiet was Debby Bowno thnt Ike began to believe that there was some truth in what tho foreigner had hinted to him. Was his engagement to Debby u thing of tho pnst? Ho did not dare ask her for fear of the answer. Dobby Bowno worked in the postof flco nnd rode homo in tho stage every afternoon. It Is not surprising that sho grow tired and annoyed nt hearing Ike's oft repeated snako stories, which wero calculated to inspire strangers with dreadful fear. Only a short week ago sho had told Ike that If ho ever repeated tho black snake story in her hearing their en gagement would ccaso at once. Now ho shot a glance from his merry brown eyes nt the third finger of her loft hand. Tho gnrnot engagement ring wns gone. Their engagement was at an end. Now they wero turning nround snako corner. Iko was lost in gloomy meditation on tho front scat when the off horso shied violently. "Whoa!" shouted Ike, and with n glance nt snnko rock ho pulled tho trembling horses to n standstill nnd turned his head to ntare nt the great fissured rock about which ho im,i woven so many tales to scaro the un wary traveler. Coiled on the rock was an Immense serpent, scaly nnd glistening, with horrid bond lifted and swnying gently to and fro. "Good heavens!" breathed Iko through his sot teeth. Debby leaned from a window nnd stared, terrified. Then, stepping jauntily out of the mountain path, came the foreign pas senger of the day before. Ho bowed politely to Ike, laid his hat against his heart when he saw Debby nnd at tho same instant glimpsed tho sunke on tho rock. "Mon Dleu!" ho squealed shrilly. "Kill It, monsieur!" "Kill It yourself!" roared iko testily, his muscled arm straining nt the reins as his horses plunged madly. "But has not monsieur n happy thought In this grcnt emergency? It Is true these aro not blacksnakes. but" he shrugged his shoulders sug gestively. "Get out of the way!" shouted Iko angrily. "Perhaps monsieur would play 'Yan kee Doodle' on his harmonlcon!" grin ned tho amused foreigner. "Tims could ho soothe tho frightened serpent, oven as ho did in tho good story ho related. Ah!" At that moment the blnck horses broke nway nnd dragged the careening stage after them. Debby Bowne, white lipped nnd trembling, saw Iko Williams regain mastery of his team, turn them nbout and drive back to snnko rock Just In time to see the foreign conjurer stuff ing the great serpent into an odd look ing basket. "na! Monsieur is tho bravo run nway," chicled tho Joke loving French man ns ho securely fastened the cover of tho basket that contained tho an cient, half stupid and entirely harm less reptile, which wns ono of the properties of his porformnnce. Iko Williams grow redder and redder ns the Fronchmuu disappeared, nnd Debby Bowno sat silently within, wit ness of his humiliation. Glnnclng out of tho corner of his eye, ho discerned Debby in the net of slip ping tho garnet ring back on Its ac customed finger. "You coming over this evening, Ike?" asked Debby softly. "Yes, If you wnnt me," ho said hoarsely. "Of courso I want you," snld Debby Bowno gently. And Debby hnd part of her reward when tho very next time sho rodo In tho stngo a timid passenger nsked: "Why do they call this snnko cor ner?" "Because there ain't any snnkes here,", replied Ike, with a twinklo in his eye. PONDEROUS SEA ELEPHANTS. They Have Two Foot Trunks nnd Flip, pers Tipped With Claws. That which fs believed to be the IhmI herd of wjii elephants known to t'xlst Is to bo found nt Guadalupe Inland, off tho west coast of Mexico. In the hurd there are now only about thirty speci mens. The sea elephnnt I v.u Important link In the chain of evolution nnd Is the largest of nil flu footed animals. The adult male N nbout twenty-two feet In length nnd N nbout olKhtreet hlcli when propped up on his front flippers in n natural position. Thi'sii" uivm bulls welsh from two to three tons nnd have a trunk, or proboscis, which, when relaxed, hangs down over the mouth nbout two feet. In the em! of this the nostrils nre placed rather wide npnrt, and when they breathe their whole mass trembles In tiny undula tions to the very end. Tho flippers are thick and tipped with heavy daws. There Is a tall about one foot and n half long, sepa rntod horizontally in two divisions. This tnll nets ns a propeller, to resist tho huge creature when he comes In through tho breakers. He holts his back flippers and tall so as to catch the full sweep of the wnves. and then allows himself to be washed up on the bench. Coarse, bristly linlr grows sparsely from tho back nlong the body, nnd n tough protecting crust or flesh reaches like a shield from the lower Jaw down over tho chest nnd round to the back of tho neck. This blbllke nfTnlr Is nnturo's provision for protection in tlmo of battle. Tho mule fights vl clously in tho mating season, and the chest protector prevents much loss of Ufa Sea elephants live on various kinds of small fish and use tho trunk to seize them with. Afterward the food is transferred to tho mouth precisely ns clephnnts mnnngo it. THE NOHTH PLATTJE BUSINESS COLLEGE Will be opened as soon as 30 students are enrolled. Help establish this school by signing for scholarship, your inter terest and support will encourage others. No collections are to be made until the school is opened. That EGGS BY THE YARD. Korea Also Produces Oysters Weigh Ten Pounds Ench. Whllo in tho orient a correspondent had occasion to call on friends who lived near Seoul, the prlnclpnl city of Korea. Ho tells tho following story: Ono morning my hostess, while giv ing orders for the necessary things from tho market for the day. mention ed four yards of eggs. I accompanied tho steward that day on his marketing trip, and when tho eggs were nsked for tho grocer reached down In a bar rel and brought out the end of a Inrgo straw rope. He measured off Un required length on the counter. Just as n dry goods store clerk would measure off cloth, rolled it up and put it In the basket without a smile. The eggs were Inside of this hollow strnw rope, with a string tied on the outside of it be tween each egg. This effectunll.pro- tccted tho eggs from being broken while handling. Another day my hostess ordered two "small" oysters for dinner. This or der caused me to wonder n little, for I know thnt there would be seven to dine, besides tho servants, but when tho oysters arrived all wns explained. Tor one weighed four nnd a half pounds, nnd tho other flvo pounds. On Inquiry I wns Informed that some of tho oysters on the northern side of Korea weigh as much ns ten pounds. Chrlstinn Science Monitor. DAY AND NIGHT SCHOOL. This college will be located in the business section of the city, which will be especially convenient to young ladies attend ing the evening school. No charge for use of typewriters. No charge for diplomas. COTJK ES OF STUDY. Business Course Embracing Bookkeeping, Banking, Commercial Law, Commercial Arithmetic, Rapid Calculation, Business Letter Writing, Commercial Papers, Spelling and Penmanship. Shorthhand Course Embracing Shorthand, Typewriting, Penmanship, Spelling, Business Letter Writing, English Grammar and Punctuation. Combined Course Embracing all studies in both the Business and Short hand courses. No Entrance Examination. No Classes. Individual Instruction. All Graduates will Receive the Benefit of Draughon's Employment Bureau. ' For further information in regard to special rates, course of study, etc., see S. P. RANDALL, Field Sectetary, Ritner Hotel, North Platte, Nebraska. Tm Bathing and Bellowing. Primitive mnn boiled his water with hot stones. Thnt was not the only use ho made of them, nt any rate, if lie was a Scythian. Tho Scythian prac tice described by Herodotus has been claimed by some ns the first recorded caso of smoking. Having spoken of a kind of hemp that grew In the conn try, Herodotus proceeds: "Now. the Scythians, taking the seed of this hemp, go Into their tents and then throw tho seed upon the stones heated white hot As It Is thrown on It W burnt Into smoke, producing so mudi that no Greek vapor bath could snr pass It And tho Scythians, delighting In It. bellow. This takes the plnee f wnshlng for them.'' It seems as though they hnd discovered the Turkish bath nnd tho cigarette. Declare War On Colds. A crusade of education which aims "that common colds may become un common within the next generation" has been begun byprominentNew York physicians. Hero is a list of the "don'ts" which the doctors say will prevent the annual visitation of the cold: "Don't sit in a draughty car." "Don't sleep in hot rooms." "Don't avoid tho fresh nir." "Don't stuff yourself at meal time. Overeating reduces your resistunrt." To which we would add when you take a cold get rid of it as quickly as possible. To accomplish that you will find Chnmherlnin'a cough remedy most excellent. Sold by all dealers. PEEE! For a Few Days Only Stone Tho Widow's Dower. It is certain that "dower." the estate for Hfo which the widow acquires nt her husband's death, was not known among tho early Saxons, hi the Uw of King Edmund the widow is directed to bo supported wholly out of the per sonal estate. Dower Is genera llj n crlbed to the Norniuns. but It was llr-i Introduced Into the feudal system Emperor Frederick II.. who was ion temporary with the English Henry III . nbout 1250. Tho Usual Way. "It would never do for the farmers to get Into tho financial business of tho nation." "Why not?" "From force of habit they would nl ways bo waiting to water tiielr stock." Daltimore American Homo Finance. "Wombat. loan mo ." It's for an in vestment you nro Interested In " "Whnt investment of yours nm l Interested In?" "My daughter wants to buy u birth day present for your son."-Pittslnin:h Post Superfluous. Tommy Pop. what do wo mean superfluous? Tommy's Pop Suporllu ous, my son, means well. It's like n bachelor giving ndvlco to a married man. Philadelphia Itecord. 9 will offer with each package of A-C-0 two live Goldfish with half-gallon globe. The beautiful fish require littlo cure nnd will grow nicely. Take a globe homo with you. This is done solely to induce you to try A-C-O, that wonder sul remedy for Croup nnd Colds. Once used, no family will be without it. First come first served. Croup Kills 57,000 Babies. The U. S. Burenu of Vital Statistics nttribute this number of babies' deaths each year to the monster CROUP. ARMSTRONG'S CROUP OINTMENT is absolute insurance against CROUP. Ensily and quickly applied; it prevents nttneks. Loosens tiglit, croupy coughs, cures celds, hoarseness and congestions. Uur stock ot Patent iMedicines, Per fume, Toilet Articles, Etc., is u lend ing feature with us. We would like to be your Family Druggist. If you nro too busy to come to our store, phono us your wants. STONE DRUG CO. NORTH PLATTE, NEBRASKA. V.t jMmijjMMiimii..'teitiii 25K22fi5HL APOLLO HOTEL PERRY J. LATHAN, CHIROPRACTOR G20J Dewey Stroot Phone 70 For Thirty or more Years. We have been making, repniring cleaning, and altering clothes fot tno people of North Platte, Wo have aimed to give satisfaction, and we guess we have been successful, else tho people would not now pat ronze us. Give us a chance to do your work. F. J. BROEKER. Entrance north of tho Nyal drug store. OIIDHR OP HEARING ON PETITION FOR AP I'OINTMKNTOK ADMINISTRATOR. Tho Stnte of Nehraiikn, Lincoln County, 8. In tlio County Court. In tho matter of the estate of William Shrcnr, Sr., deceased. On rending nnd fillni? tlio petition of Lester Walker, jiraylnK that administration of mid estate may ho grunted to himself as admin istrator. Ordered, That Dec. 2nd, 1013, at 0 o'clock n. m. Is asslKned for hearing said petition, when all persons Interested In said matter may appear at a county court to ho held In and for said county, and show causo why prayer of petitioner should not ho granted; and that notice of tho pendency of said petition and tho hearing thereof ho given to all persons Interested In said matter hy puhlishing a copy of this order in tho North I'latto Tribune a legal seml-wiekly news paper printed In said county for threo successive weeks, prior to said day of hearing. Dated Nov. 8, 1913. iill.3 JOHN GRANT, County Judge. 1030 GLENARM STREET DENVER, - COLO. Fred It. Ginn, Prop. II. Wiuiur Way, Mgr. 75 rooms with private bath; GO rooms without bath. Rates with bath, $1.60. Rates without bath, $1.00. Special rates by tho week or month. Cafo In connection. Elevator service, hot and cold wa ter and telephone In every room, Ono block from Orphetun theatre, two blocks from Broadway theatre. L To ko Seventeenth Street Car HELP WANTED If you have a good work ing knowledge of Shorthand, Bookkeeping, Business Prac tice, etc. such as taught in our school, we can place you with the big business houses ot a good salary in a short time. Get into action today and know more about our school by addressing the HASTINGS BUSINESS COLLEGE Hastings, Nebraska. I pjJTRONIZE THE RAT I If.' House of Good Show lH I 1 When in Norm PI a lie. 1 H Motion Pictures. Runs Every n Night. Matinee Saturday After- I noon at 2:130 O'clork. I I 10 CENTS. 1 Oldest Dank in Lincoln County McDonald State Bank North Platto, Nebr. CAPITAL STOCK $100,000.00 We Solicit Your Uuilnsas. Two Attractions. North Platto has two attractions it pretty women and tho cigars made by Schmalzried. Both attractions nro pleasing; and both nro in demnnd. Porhnpsyou have not been smoking Schmnlzried cigars and don't know how good they are; if so, try them. You will not be disappointed. J. F. SCHAIALZRIED, The Maker of Good Cigars. Signet Chapter 0. E. S., NO. 55 Meets 2nd and 4th Thursday of every month at Masonic Hall at 7:30 p. m. Wft 0mf INWMjlMWlu0mwW'' jf fiFO. R. I1FNT. Physician and Surncon, Olllce over McDonald Bank. Phones l Office 130 i nones nn ..r v 55 k T AMPQ MAIMtt Aura V Doclors Ames & Ames, Physicians and Suroeons, I Office ovor Stone Drug Co. Phonos l Office 273 l nones ReBidonce 273 si S 8 wm Dr. D. C. Crocker. Osteopathic Physician PHONE RED 021. Olllce Phone 410 Res. Blk G52 Bertha E. Mangon, M. D. Physician and Surgeon Deaeaici of Women and Children Specialty NORTH PLATTE, NEB. Now MeCabo Blbg. Dr. J. K. Elms, Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Glasses fitted Also Homeopathic Physician and Surgeon. Office over McDonald State Bank. North Platto. Phone 30. -A CU-W.t.-J