MYSTIC
THIRTEEN
By GENEVIEVE ULMAR
(CopjrrlRht, 1020, Western Newspaper Union)
Alton Uenrdslee liml arisen to nn
uncomfortnblo nnd Innuspleious morn
ing. In tho first place bo luul been !
routed out of bed nt 7 o'clock and j
called to tho telephone, where his !
broker Informed him that Consolidated j
Central had closed the day before on a
Bteep decline and thnt they would call i
for margins by noon If the market
opened "groggy."
"With my marriage with Laura
Pearson announced for onJ fifteen
days from now, tho prospect "looks de
cidedly blue," ruminated Iteurdsleo
drearily. "Why did I ever get Into
tills Juggling stock gameV"
Ills eyes blinked and he tried to
baffle an annoying superstitious influ
ence as his glance swept a calendar
hanging on the wall.
"Friday nnd the thirteenth," he
muttered defiantly. "As 1 don't be
lieve In signs or omens the mischief I"
Stepping on a truant collar button
Beardslee Joggled, his elbow came up
against tho mirrored front of his shav
ing cabinet and In dismay he drew
back from a shower of glass
"I won't get rattled," he Insisted
doughtily, but he left the house half
an hour later In a wretched state of
nervousness. Ills objective point was
the ofllce of a friend who might be In
clined to assist him.
A black cat was crossing the road.
"I'll beat the warning stuff," de
clared Beardslee. "Come on, kitty.
Good for you squarely In front of mo.
Now then, Fate, do your worst I"
Three squares further on the mock
heroic mood of our mentally disturbed
hero came to a climax. A derisive ex
pression crossed his face. He walked
equarely under n ladder set against a
building front, a painter nloft.
"Ill, there!"
Too late Beardslee caught the warn
ing. Tho painter aloft had dropped
his brush. Full of paint it lnnded on
Beurdslee's shoulder, made a straight
downward dip and slid down one side
of him clear to his feet, leaving a
smooth, even strip of white the en
tire length of his body. Beardslee
disdained the fulsome apologies of the
knight of the paint pot and turned
Into n little shop bearing the sign,
"Cleaning, Repairing & Dyeing Done
Here."
"I'm In a hu-ry," he announced to
nn old man In charge. "How soon cail
you put this suit In presentable
shape?"
"Half an hour," came the reply,
after some mental calculation.
"Go to It I and Beardslee practical
ly disrobed so far as his outer gar
ments were concerned and wrapped
himself in a blanket apportioned him,
and snuggled down In a chair gloomily.
He half dozed, with closed eyes, quick
ly opened, however, as there was a
flash and then the sound of an explo
sion. The Interior of the place was
filled with smoke and flames and Its
proprietor, whose operations had
somehow Ignited the cleaning mate
rial ho had been using, was making
loTthB CTffcfit BoTSTOsieS Sprang up,
rushed thither himself nnd In his half
dressed condition darted Into the hall
way of an adjoining olllce building.
The street became crowded as the
fire alarm was sounded. Benrdslee
gave up his clothes as lost. He turned
Into an olllce where a young man sat
poring over sonio writing. He stared
askance at the Indian-like habit of the
Intruder.
"What's tho address here?" asked
BeHitlslee of tho clerk.
"Klston building."
"What room number?"
"Thirteen."
"It's the limit!" muttered Beards
lee, but he completed the message.
Then he sat down to wait. In the
course of an hour tho envoy from his
landlady arrived. Beardslee resumed
his way to his originally conceived
destination, the olllce of the friend
who might be Inclined to help him out
financially.
"Left for New York on the Limited
nn hour ago," was the depressing In
formation he received.
Beardslee shrugged his shouhhys
resignedly. The fntes( were certainly
r.jta'.nst him. lie proceeded on" his
way, determining wlint he would do;
order his broker to close up his deals,
stand the loss, cnll upon Laura, sug
gest a postponement of the wedding
until he got on his feet again, and
leave speculation alone for the future.
As he nenred the ofllce of his broker the
Intter ran up against him on the street.
"Oh, I sny ; Just the man I" he spoke
exuberantly. "I'm bound for the ex
change, but I'll go back with you nnd
settle up."
"Settle up?" replied Benrdslee, rue
fully. "If there's n deficit you'll have
to give me n day or two to mnke
good."
"Deficit? Why, man, we thought it
best to close out the deal In the face
of an alluring profit, nnd (here's thir
teen thousnud dollars to your credit!
What you wnnt to do? Shall we re
Invest It for you?"
"Why, nn. not right away." stumbled
the dazed Beardslee. "Then Central
Consolidated went up?"
"First tiling the market opened
thirteen points In nn hour."
"Mirror, Mark cnt, ladder," he solil
oquized, "all vapor. Hut the money
never to be risked again, that's solid,
real, tangible thirteen thousand dojlari.
Dear little Laura' It's yu and com
mon sense after this!"
GOT FACTS SLIGHTLY MIXED
Representative Osborne Evidently Had
Not Taken Keen Notice of Posl
tion of Sherman Statue.
One of tho best speeches In the
house In years came from Representa
tive Osborne of California tho day of
the Porshing pnrade, says the Los An
geles Times. Having been ono of tho
soldiers who marched up Pennsylva
nia avenue at the close of the Civil
war for a final review by General
Hherninn, ho was able to draw a beau
tiful and striking contrast with the
return of the veterans of 1010.
At one point In the address the rep
resentative spoke feelingly of how
Sherman, at the head of tho column,
nt Fifteenth street and Pennsylvania
avenue had turned on his horse and
looked back at the advancing veter
ans. "Thus," said Mr. Osborne, "the fig
ure of Sherman, cast In bronze, sits to
day at tho head of Pennsylvania nve
nue, as he sut that day more than fif
ty years ago."
The reference to the Sherman statue
aroused great Interest and many were
the pilgrimages made to the statue
within the next few days to see how
Sherman looked gazing down the ave
nue. But horror of horrors t It de
veloped that Shermnn was looking not
toward the advancing column, but to
ward tho White House, which stands
In an opposite direction'.
Now Osborne Is looking for the tnun
who placed It thus.
Billions of Pins and Needles.
Fourteen billion ordinary toilet
pins are produced by American fac
tories annually. American mothers
also find It necessary to purchase
720,000,000 safety pins every year.
The yearly crop of metal hairpins
Ir n billion and a quarter.
Needles of all kinds aggregate 23.V
000,000 every 12 months. The value
of this pin and needle crop Is $13,
000,000 nt the factory. Forty-nine
factories are engaged In the manu
facture of the articles, the total capi
talization being 50,-124,000.
In 1S50 there were only four pin
factories In the United States, hav
ing a combined capital of S104.000
and a combined annual product of
V07,rnO pins. It will thus be seen thnt
the growth of this Industry is some
thing tremendous.
Lava Under Ranger Field?
Geologists believe that continued oil
operations In the Banger field, should
they nttaln a depth of one mile under
the surface, will prove the existence
of a live lava bed, a Banger (Tex.)
correspondent of the New York Eve
ning Sun writes. In the region of
Caddo oil drillers hnve discovered that
bits of the drills show evidences of In
tense heat within .'1,200 feet f the
surface, and tho heat at that depth Is
sulllclent to discharge shots of nitro
glycerin without the use of a fulmi
nating cap.
A peculiarity of the Banger field In
Stejiens county is the number of cre
vasses encountered In drilling through
the blnck lime. These crevusses are
filled more or less with oil-yielding
sand nnd when this sand Is "shot"
the flow of petroleum rushes to tho
surface. Whether tills rush Is aided
by the subterranean heat Is problem
atical, but It Is believed that the heat
has a great deal to do with the rush
of the oil.
Had the Wrong Page.
A young miss of seven, who has
memorized from numerous readings to
her portions of her Chutterbox, pre
tends to be able to read. One evening
she was seated upon the lap of n
guest affecting to read ono of her fa
vorite passages relating to dolls. She
was proceeding with great entbuslusm
for several moments when the guest
Interrupted her by saying: "But my
dear child, I don't see anything about
dolls on that page."
. "I know it." she said promptly and
sheepishly. "I was reading on tho
wrong page." Then, turning several
pages, "It's over here."
He saysFm a good skate"
Chesterfield
A REAL pal that's Chesterfield. Look
at its record. Three million smokers
less than five years on the market! Two
words explain it "They Satisfy."
Our expert buyers in the Orient select for
Chesterfields only the finest grade of the
four choicest varieties of Turkish tobacco.
To these are added the best of mild but
full-bodied Domestic leaf.
But, in the end, it's the blend that makes
Chesterfields "satisfy." And the blend our
private formula cannot be coviied.
Extra wrapper of moisture-proof
paper seals in the flavor.
ZSSBSSSSSSSESBOX
u.lS..j
it to Eleven Acres a
At Less Fuel Cost Per Acre
Day
That's the satisfactory result that
users of the dependable Waterloo
Boy Tractor get in plowing.
It's a "three-plow" tractor under
usual field conditions a dependable
source of power that keeps three fur
rows turning steadily round after
round until the plowing is done.
It's a tractor you can use to full
satisfaction in pulling your other
tractor implements and in operating
belt machines.
Up to its rated capacity of 12 H.P. at
the draw bar and 25 H.P. at the belt, it
will do any of the farm power work that
horses or heavy duty stationary or port
able engines can do plenty of reserve
power for emergencies.
All of its work is accomplished with
economy that every user appreciates.
It burns kerosene perfectly. No motor
trouble, delay and expense from imperfect
combustion. Saves many dollars in fuel
cost. Every drop of kerosene is converted
into a pure gas by it3 patented kerosene
manifold no mixing of kerosene and
lubricating oil no carbonizing of cylin
ders or fouling of spark plugs.
The powerful two-cylinder motor with
big bore and long stroke, perfectly bal
anced on a solid foundation, runs at a
moderate speed xoitii only slight vibration.
Gives full power without racking mechan
ism. Through detachable protecting plates
the working parts of the motor, the trans
mission and differential are easy to get at
to adjust or repair from a standing position.
The Waterloo Boy Tractor Gives Dependable, Economical,
Satisfactory Service. Come in. We Want to Show You Why
LEYPOLDT-PENNINGTON
LOCAL AGENTS,
NORTH PLATTE, NEB.
INI
CO.,
CLING TO OLD OBSERVANCE
People of Normandy Today, as for
Centuries, Delight In Their Little
Epiphany Cakes.
Norman cities and towns that have
for centuries perpetuated their quaint
observance of the Epiphany bake and
eat their little cakes with Joyful
hearts. The custom Is ancient and
charming, nn affair of children and
colored lanterns parading the streets
of ancient towns nnd singing an an
cient song In piping voices ; and where
they go, well-disposed citizens open
their doors nnd distribute cakes. Ex
cept In a few places the custom hns
gradually gone out, but here anil there
It continues, nnd carries with It tho
odd and Interesting history of the
Epiphany cakes. French bilkers and
pastry cooks began muklng them nt
leust as long ago us 1700. and In those
days the family that bought a cake ate
of It and gave part of It to the chil
dren when they enme singing the song
thnt has now become ancient. In 17111,
says the record, there was great dis
pute between the bakers and the pas
try cooks as to which had the right to
bake the Eplphnny cakes; the grave
question was taken to the parliament
bf Paris, which, after proper delibera
tion, decided In fnvor of the pastry
'cooks. In 1710, one does not know
why, the privilege was taken away
from the pastry cooks and given tho
fakers. Then in the time of the Ilrst
republic the festival was abolished ; u
decree of the seventeenth Nivose,
year II, by which the revolutionary
determination for change designated
Jnnuary 0, 1704, declared that the cus
tom commemorated the memory of the
"last tyrant," Louis XVI. In 1801 tho
festival and the cakes were legally
restored, and so the custom comes
down, hero and there, Into tho twen
tieth century.
Peace Hath Its Sorrows,
A woman's society, whose principal
activity during the war was providing
entertainment for the soldiers, was
about to give a danco. Ono of the
women who hud acted as chaperon
meeting n demure miss who had ear
nestly and strenuously thrown herself
Into the pnrty nnd danco game, asked:
"Coming to the dance, Luelln?"
"I think not," nsvered Luclla, with
a sigh.
"Why, what's the reason?" asked tho
surprised chnperon.
"I would have no ono to danco with,"
said Luella.
"All our boys are bnck," replied the
chnperon. "Thoro nro as many men as
over."
Woll," wild Luelln, "wo could ul
ways tfepond on tho soldiers, but
who's going to iwiko tho othor men
nttend?"
VARIATIONS SHOWN IN FACE
Surprising Irregularities of the Hu
man Countenance Are Revealed
by the Camera.
In many instances It will bo found
that a person's features nro not at all
regular, says London Answers.
When photographed with only one
side of the face showing, for Instance,
U Is sometimes surprising how unlike
the person the portrait appears to be.
Tho cheek on ono sldo will, In n num
ber of cases prove to be more rounded
than the opposite ono, while the differ
ence In tho ears Is often remark
able. If an upright lino were drawn
through the center of tho face, marked
variations would bo seen. The fore
head on one side would sometimes look
higher thnn tho other.
The eyebrows as well differ In
length, and on one side perhaps their
curvo would be greater than on tho
opposite side. The right eyo in a
number of cases will be not only n
llttlo larger, but also the color will
vary In shade. Tho top lids, too, will
differ materiallythe bottom lids be
ing moro notlcenblo In their unlikeli
ness. Then tho mouth hns Its Irregulari
ties. The movements of the under Hp
on the one sldo are In direct contrast
to tho other, and this Is noticed when n
person Is speaking.
Tho noso likewise Is not alike both
sides, and n careful study will dis
cover a difference In the nostrils. Some
times ono Is Inrger thun the other, and
by putting a ruler across tho face Just
under tho noso, and scrutinizing tho
top of tho face, these variations will
bo seen.
New Floor Machine.
Interchangeable brushes and pads
supplied with a light-weight scrubbing
machine for household use, mnke It
possible to convert the devlco Into a
hardwood-floor polisher within a few
seconds. As described nnd pictured
In Popular Mechanics Magazine, the
attachments are rotated by a motor,
which Is mounted on two rubber-tired
wheels.
. :
LIGHTS OF IMMENSE POWER
Rays From Points on United States
Coast Are Visible Seventy Mile -y
Out at Sea. ..-t'' ,
The highest bencon light maintained
by the United States for warning
nnvlgators Is at Cape Mendocino, Cnl.,
422 feet above sea lovcl. It has a
range of 28 miles.
Tho brightest light nnd one of tho
most brilliant In tho world Is at
Navcslnk, N. J., on tho hlghlnnds nt
tho entrance of New York bny. It
Is 25,000,000 candle power nnd Its
glare has been seen from 70 miles out
In tho ocean.
Tho largest lighthouse "lens" Is at
Mnkapuu point, on tho Island of Oalni
(Hawaiian group). Its beam at night
brings first news to voyagers from
tho United States that they aro Hear
ing tho mld-Paclflc nrchlpelago. It
1b called n "hyperradlent," tho Inside
dlnmeter of tho lens being nbout nlno
feet nnd that of tho glass lantern In
closing It 10 feet.
The lens of tho Navcslnk light In
closes n powerful electric urc. But,
generally speaking, kerosene Is tho
preferred lllumluant for many light
houses. A lens frequently Is built up of
gluss prisms arranged In panels, tho
object bejng to concentrute tho light
Into a beam of-,maxImum brilliancy
and range. Some lighthouse lenses
ly so arranged ns to revolve, a con
trlvunco of tho sort, weighing perhaps
0,000 pounds, being floated upon mer
cury and thereby turned so easily that
a small bit of clockwork actuated by
a 100-p.ound weight will ppcrnto It
The Kind.
"I see where music has been
recommended as medical treatment to
tho doctors."
"Hut supposo ono wero called ta
euro a brainstorm?"
"He might try a Jazz band."
Persia a Barren Land.
A large part of Persia Is absolute
desert. Much of the remalder Is so
scantily supplied with water that It Is
almost empty of humnn life. If Per
Bla Is Imagined ns chiefly u rich land
of rose gardens, palms and nightin
gales tho mental picture Is fanciful In
tho extreme. No such vision Is Justi
fied, oven by tho poets of Persia. Tho
Rubalyat has a good deal to say about
roses, but It does not forget "tho des
ert's dusty face" nor hide "tho strip
of herbage strown" which so narrowly
"divide tho desert and the sown,"
Very Acceptable Jnst Now.
"Pa, what Is elastic currency?"
"Tho kind that would como In verj
handy Just now to stretch over thi
holiday season."
Fine Results From Simple Dyes.
A demonstration held in London by
tho Knox Guild of Design ami Crafts .
showed tho bountiful results produced
by ordlnnry methods of dyolng. Some
woolen stuffs woven by members of
tho guild with primitive nppuratusj,
wero dyed with privet, bruckon, gorso"
and other well-known plants and ever?
with soot from the chlmnoy, tho lakt
producing a bcnutlful old gold tint