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About The North Platte semi-weekly tribune. (North Platte, Neb.) 1895-1922 | View Entire Issue (March 31, 1916)
THE 8EMI.WEEKLV TRIBUNE. NORTH PLATTE. NEBRASKA. or YourCountry? f U-. T 4 JOEL'S LEGACY HERE Is anothor class of heroes In rT this war bosldos thoao In the actu l S al fighting zono, of whom tho pub lic knows nothing unless an offi cial announcomont is mado of tho oxocutlon of Homo man or woman "convlctod of espionage" Thou sands of mon and women, on both sldos, aro risking tholr IIvcb ovory hour, ovory mlnuto of tho day, In tho socrot sorvlco. And thoy aro doing It for tholr country. There Is no roward for thorn In tho ohapo of docoratlons or public commendation. Tholr atom duty Is laid out beforo thorn. It Is for thorn to fulfill It. That is all. Thoy can hopo for no roward ozcopt tho satisfaction of doing tholr duty. At tho bost thoy llvo through tho conflict. At tho worst thoy aro capturod by tho onomy and moot an ignominious doath. 1 It takes as much courago to porform a duty llko this as to Ho in tho tronchos day aftor day and porticlpato in charges against tho onomy 'or dofond tho trench from tho enemy's assault and to bo at all tlmoa subject to a terrific artll lory bombardment or tho moro dreaded assault (wlth asphyxiating gasos. Tho man who moots his death In tho tronchos has at least tho consolation of dying amid his comrades and friends of dying a glorious doath. But tho Bpy has not this consolation. Every Bocrot-sorvlco ogont fools that hlB doath Is cer tain, and that when it comos it will not bo a glo rious ono. For ho will dlo alono, with nono of his frlonds about him. His peoplo back homo "will not know his fato. Ho will dio alono in' a forolgn country, not as a horo. but as a spy. I And yet if tho annals of tho socrot service bu reaus of tho various countrlos woro mado pub lic, It would toll of wonderful dcods of daring, of strength, fearlessness and of physical and men tal heroism. With tho arrival of tho first Oorman subma rines in C6nstnntinoplo, after tho Inauguration of tho Drltlsh Dardanollos campaign, thoro becamo known a story of tho heroism of ono of thoso Bocrot-sorvlco agents. His name was not given, and tho exact locality whoro ho porformod his Jlnal net of duty was not told, but an officer of tho Gorman U boat rolatod tho story to a per sonal friend. Wo will call tho Bocrot-sorvlco agont Johnnn. Ho wnB. a youngstor, hardly twonty yoars old, and a university man, a studont at Hnldolborg. He always had boon weak and dolicatu, and at tho beginning of tho war ho was not allowod to go to tho front. Ho bolongod to a wealthy fam ily,, had traveled extensively through Europo, and was an accomplished linguist. Ho mado applica tion to tho Bocrot-sorvlco bureau and his applica tion wus accoptod. Ho was sent to England. Thoro ho passed as an American. Ho had an American passport and was connoctod with tho EngllBh branch of an American concorn. How did ho do it? Tho history of tho Oorman secret-service will novor bo written, and not moro than a dozen living persons will ovor know its extraordinary ecopo. Tho passport proposition and tho con nection with tho London branch of tho Amort can concorn woro moro mattors of dotall with which Johann had nothing to do. It was after bo was established in London that hta real work began. Ho spoko por feet English, but ho used an American ac cent nnd affected Amer ican clothes and man nerisms, for ho know both well enough to af fect either successfully. But at any rato ho had worked In the French capital Bovoral months, still posing as an Ameri can who know but a few words of French, "al though ho was thoroughly familiar with tho French languago, whon ho was ordorod to iako cortaln ordors to a little French fishing villago and deliver them to tho commander of a subma rino boat which was duo thero about a certain dato on its way to tho Dardanelles. Tho Bubmarlno commander had orders to wait off tho coast for two nights for tho messenger, and If no sign camo to proceed on his way to tho Dardanollos. How tho secrot-sorvlco agent did it Is not known, but early ono morning ho was found on tho beach tied to a deck chair, and apparently half doad from oxposuro and oxhaustion. Two aged fisherman found htm and carried him Into a hut. Whon partially rovlvod, ho murmured a fow words in English and thon In brokon French, from which his roscuors gathorod that ho had boon In somo accident at sea. Also that ho was an Amorlcan on his way from Naplos to tho United States. As stated, tho villago was Isolated. Tho near est city waB Marseilles, and it would tako sev eral days for news to travel botwoon tho two points, especially In war timo. Johann remained in bod tho grcator part of tho day, tondod by a tlsherman nnd hts uged wlfo. Toward dusk ho Insisted on arising and walking out on tho odgo of tho cliff. Ho still appeared partially stunnod, but ho explained In his brokon Fronch that ho though tho fresh air would holp to clear his mind. "You nro too weak to walk," exclaimed tho old woman. "You muBt not oxort yoursolf. Tomor row, porhaps, yes, but not now." And she gently took him by tho arm to lead him back to tho cottage. "Sacro bleu!" suddenly exclaimed her husband and pointed out to sen. A trail of sparkB roso from tho black surfaco ofNtho water, and, asconding high Into tho air, burst Into n white glaro. Then darkness. Moro cries and exclamations woro heard, for other fish ermen had seen tho rocket. Then stlenco, whllo ovoryono waited. In a fow momenta roso anothor trail of lira, and a brilliant groon rocket explodod high in tho air. "Somo of tho boats of tho flcot ara nigh," cried a woman. "It is a part of tho war. It has reachod us horo." Hour after hour passed. Tho socrot-Bcrvtco agont lay, tonso nnd rigid, with his oar to a crack in tho thin partition botwoon his room and that of his hosts. Aftor a whllo ho heard them both snoring. Thon very gently ho roso, dreBsod hlmaolf, and opened n door, which lot him out Into tho opeu at tho roar of tho houso. It was a ruthor dark night, but thoro woro somo Btars shining, and, after Btandlng In tho night a fow momenta, his eyes became accustomod to ttiat for the finest sort of heroism how one lad died German cause the gloom. Thon hu started toward ttio little n ar bor at tho foot of tho cliffs. Skirting about tho licet, ho reached a small skiff, with its oars In It, tied to a stako. Quickly tho lad untied tho rope, and, shoving tho boat far out, sprang Into It. Ho waited until tho forco of tho shovo had spent Itself, then, cautiously, bogan rowing along tho beach. Ho was not strong, however, and it was an effort. Out ho kopt it up for a quarter of a mile. His eyes had grown nccustomed to tho darkness by now, and ho narrowly watched tho shore. At a certain point ho rowed inshore and pulled his boat aftor him up on tho sandy beach. Then ho approached tho cliff, and aftor a search found what ho was looking for a bundlo containing a precious rocket. Farther on, in a fissure of a rock, hidden undor a largo stone, ho found his packet of In structions. Ho bad loft both bundles hidden thero early In tho morning after ho had been landed by a fishing smack from Spain. Ho planted tho rocket in tho sand and touched it off. Instantly thero was a flash of flro and a trail of sparks as the rocket soared upward and burst Into a whlto light. Johann, with his precious packet In tho bosom of his shirt, sprang into the boat just as an an swering signal, a whlto rockot, soared upwards from the surfaco of tho water, nearly a half.mllo away. The tide had gono out and was almost on tho turn, but thero was a heavy swell and It was hard work rowing. But scarcely had tho lad gotton a hundred yards from tho shore when thero was a flash of light from tho cliffs near tho village. It cropt out over tho water and closo to the shoro, swooping and reaching out over tho ox panso of sea. Far out it caught a narrow black hull and hold It a moment. Thon It swept closer to shore and in a fow moments was focusod on tno tiny boat beating its way out to sea. Shots woro fired from tho shore, but tho lad, In the midst of tho glare, bent far over his oars, straining every effort of his feeble body to fulfill hts task. Somowhoro, farther along tho coaBt. tho signals of tho early ovening had boon obsorved, and a coast patrol had boon sont to investigato. From tho top of the cliff camo tho sputter of a machlno gun, and off to ono side tho lad, row ing desperately, saw tho bullets drop. Tho submarine was coming closor lnsboro and, turning his head, ho saw soveral men with rifles on tho tiny dock of tho monstor. From tho cliffs thero was anothor sputter and suddenly a sharp pain Btruck him In tho right breast and ho folt tho hot How of blood. But It appoarod to glvo him moro strength, nnd with apparently no ef fort ho drove his boat through tho water. Thoro woro answering shots from tho submarine. Thoy wero firing at tho searchlight on tho cliff and at tho spurts of llamo. But tho dark rod spot on tho front of tho lad's shirt was growing larger. And thore woro holos In tho bottom of tho boat, through which tho wa ter was spurting In thin Jets. Another bullot struck him In tho right arm. Ho gasped, thon con tinued hts rowing. A hall from behind him and ho suddenly stoppod rowing. Ho had reached tho submarlno. A ropo was thrown to him nnd tho Bklff pulled up closo to the undorsoa craft. Kindly hands helped him aboard whllo tho machlno gun continued Its Bput torltvg and a hall of bullotB struck tho water near by. Tho wholo thing had scarcely taken flvo mln utea. Tho agent was quickly takon bolow and ho hand oil his packot to tho commander. Tho boat was slowly submerged and disappeared beneath tho dark wators. "My work Is done," gasped tho lad, trying to choke back tho blood that wollod up from his lungs. "Wo did not daro rise to tho surfaco until tho next night." continued tho offlcor, In relating tho Btory. "And thon wo burled him In tho sea, whoro thousands of other heroes havo found tholr rest ing placo In tho last fow months." By MARY ANGELL PURVIS. Jool Cawlott's first thought on re ceiving notlco that ho had fallen heir to a hundred thousand dollars was to conceal tho fact from his neighbors It stunned tho llttlo man. In fact Ho had, Indeed, known of tho rich California undo: his mother had told him, as if sho sncko of a mvth: but by tho tlmo Jool was twenty, and left alono In tho world, ho had forgotten ail about him. Happily tho news camo through a ban Kranclsco lawyer, and nobody In Fourncres know. So Jool kopt right on with his llttlo dairy farm, and the noignoors attributed its gradual on largomont to tho profits of tho bus! noss. Ho folt himsolf altogether unworthy or tno wealth that was his. Ho did not know what to do with it. Hn nut it guiltily in a bank in another city, and loft It to accumulate, oxcopt for tno thousand or two ho used In buv ing pedigreed cows. "I nover thought Joel had such a head on his Bhouldors." tho no ehbors bogan to say. "If ho looked moro of man ho might havo something of n PICK among tho girls." But tho girls had always lauched at llttlo Jool, and, not knowing of his wealth, continued to make him the good-naturod butt of tholr pleasan trios. All except tho Stovens clrls. Dollv Stevens had always been kind to Jool when ho camo In shyly, rarely, of an ovening, for a chat, and sat with his hat In his hands on tho extreme edirn of tho chair. Porhaps that was be causo Maudio, hor llttlo sister, was a cripple. Sho had a twisted foot, and operations cost moro than was to bo thought of. Besides. Jim Stevens had always believed sho would "grow out f it, and when ho died the debts ta bo paid mado tho thought absurd. Al audio, aged twelve, looked to .Tool llko a beautiful bird trannod bv tho foot. She hobbled painfully from room to room, out however bad her pain, sho always had a smilo for Joel. Tho first persons ho wont tn soo after his good fortune were tho Stovons. At first ho almost wan toil to toll them, but his courago failed mm wnen ho sat on tho edge of tho chair, and thoy only thoueht that .Tool was shyer and moro silent oven than Stared In Amazement. usual. Besides, it would havo been hideous to say anything when Maudio was suffering oven moro than usual. Llttlo Jool wont away, and ho was nearly home when tho groat Idea camo to him. Maudlo's foot must bo cured. But how could ho go to hor and aak to pay for tho oporation? How could ho toll thorn, and. If ho did. he know thov would refuse. Tho Stevens woro very proud. So llttlo Joel sot hiB brains to work. "What do you think has hanDened. Jool!" cried both tho girls In a breath, when, a week later, ho visited tha nouso in an ncony of shyness. "A godmother, cf whom I had novor known, has loft ub fivo thousand dol- lars! An old lady In Boston! Sho had quarreled with mother at tho chrlstonlng of Maudio, but sho had watchod over ub llko a cood fairv. and sho know Maudlo's lameness, and and ono condition is that sho has to bo operated on at tho Boston hos pital." Tho girls thoucht llttlo Jool even Iobs onthuslasttc than usual. "You novor know." ho said dismally. "It may bo Just a fraud." 'But wo ve got tho money In tho bank!" exclaimed both girls together. A woek lator Joel went throuch a causoloas agony of fear until ho was called up from tho Boston hospital, a hundred mllos away, and lnformod that tho oporation had been a com- pioto success. And a month lator Maudio waa homo, hor foot In nlastor. but tho pain gono and hopo In hor oyes. And two months aftor that sho was romping with tho dog on tho lawn, as straight and .ctlvo as any of them. Jool cropt back to his prize cows. It was astonishing hew many bo- quests woro left to Fouracros peoplo during tho next two years. It cot nn that tho nowspapors began to notlco iu M'noro was old, half-pnralyzed Mr. Cooper, who had been 'afraid of tho poornouse himsolf, and his aged wife. Thoy woro loft $5,000 too, by a dis tant rolatlvo In Now York, of w1iob oxlstcnco thoy had boon Ignorant. And Mrs. Patrick, tho widow, who had such a task trying to mako both ends meet, and was afraid sho would havo to marry Old Man Qroen. Sho was loft $4,000 by a cousin In Alabama, of whom Bho used to Bpeak vaguely and not affectionately. Sho at onco re jected Old Man Green. And ho, to mollify his disappointment, ns It were, received a logacy from a nephow In Ireland, who had died intestato, worth $2,000, and said ho was glad now that ho could afford to got a housekeeper, instead of having to think of getting married. Then gifts began to flow In to tho Cripples' Home, nnd tho Society for tho Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and tho Job Nimblo Homo for Incura bles. In short, aftor flvo years Jool had oly $50,000 of his capital loft. And Maudio was growing up and go ing to college And Dolly had mar rlod tho finest man In tho world, a lawyer, who often camb over to Jool's to sit and chat of an ovening, and ask disconcerting questions. Joel bo gan to bo afraid that folks would find out tho truth. But presently tho ques tions censed, and tho lawyer becamo still moro kind and friendly. How wonderful It was at thirtv tn havo dono sa much good to others, In stead of having spent one's monnv nn oneself. Jool began to forgot the heartacho that ho folt whenever ho saw Mnudlo back from college, always with tho samo kind word for Jonl. n had really had moro out of llfo than ho aeaerved, oven though ho was still tho butt of tho young folks. But when Maudio camo back for good and went to llvo with Dolly and her husband, and tholr little bov. .Tool knew that nature wa3 stronger than no was. He was shyer than over when he called, and at last ho cave un call. ing altogether. Only tho lawyer, and perhaps Maudio, understood. But what could they do? If Jool had seen himself as othors bocan to sno him now, whon sorrow had dignified him, and self-forgetfulness had stamped It- sou on his insignificant face. . . . But Joel only knew that ho was des perately unhappy, and that he muBt go away. Ho advertised his farm. Then it was that tho lawvor ho. trayed tho secret ho had wormed out of tho little man. For ono morninir a stranc-o dnnntn. tlon approached Joel's houso. Hn camo to tho door and stared in run mn- ment at tho neighbors all Fouracros, that hau com to do honor, no moro to tho village butt, In pleasantry, but to the most DCDUlar man In tnwn. Jool found himself hoisted, struggling, upon tho neighbors' shoulders and car ried to tho council hall. And them. to his amazement, tho mayor himsolf, ana an tno council wero assembled. bomoono was maklnc a snonph. ton Joel caught vaguely tho words, "Our next mayor." Thon, somehow, ho had brokon from the choorlne throne- nnii found himself outsido, alono. ISO. Somebody Maudio wns nt his side, looking Into his faco with tear-dlmmed, radiant oyes. And she was asking him if it was true ho wan going away, If ho would not stay. At that moment Jool eaiirrht nt hla destiny. For ho saw only tho llt tlo trapped bird, not the college wom an, and ho took her by the hand. I will stay if you tell mo tn" hn said. "Stay, then." whisnornd Mmiflia shyly. (Copyright. 1916. by "W. a. Chapman.) RIGHT WAY TO RIDE A HORSE Individual Who, Seemingly, Has Been mere Give Some Valuable In struction on the Subject. Tho horse Is a rl tho species abcsquinaspicllneblloqul batlsquo: which from the orlclnal Greek means an animal with four legs a tan ana a head; this differentiates him from other animals. Before you can rldo a horso you must get on; many peoplo have tried riding first, but instead of ridintr the anlmnl thn animal has ridden them. Most saddles havo a ono-runc ladder attnoimri Whether this is a moans or mnimt. Ing or an easy method of dislocating your leg, thoro Is some dispute. Tho old-fashioned stepladder Is good enough for tho author, but tho laBt tlmo whon wo had reached the top my horso had loft boforo schedule tlmo. Now the noxt point Is, how to start tno animal ; most are soir-starters and stopping Is tho all-Imnortant thlntr An easy and simple method for starting is cy mo use or an icepick; hold It aloft and with a downward stroke tact with tho horso. This causes tho pedes etjuorura tq vibrato, this either sets ycu off on your Journey or off of tho horso. Now, if possible, always go with tho horso, novor arguo. Go ing aueaa or behind tho horso Is no OKe. A method of stonninir whirh rarely falls Is tho followimr: Pink nut- a convenient proclplco, guldo your ani mal, If It Is possible toward the preci pice, and ycu now come to an abrupt stop at tho foot of tho nropini a shovel is an elegant way of arising. vo nave Known people who have novor rtddon again aftor onco stop ping. Princeton Tiger. Na Ambition. "My hair is troubled With nn nnnta form of loss of ambition." "In what way?" "It pays no attention tn tho foot- that thoro is always room at tho top." Helps Locate the Game. "Pa, do hunters havo guides?" "Genorally, my son." "Well. What cnliln i - u luiuuia hunter havo?" "BradstreeL"