NORTH PLATTE SEMI-WEEKLY TRIBUNE.
By KATHLEEN NORRIS
MARTIN LLOYD.
ByiiopHln Doctor HtrliUlnnd, re
tlrml, lr mine with bin faintly at
Mill Valley, Just out of Ean Krnii
oIhco. Anne, the doctor's niece, Ih
twenty-four, Allx, the iloctor'H
(tnuKhtrr, l twenty-ono. Cherry
the other daURlitcr, Is clKhtecn.
TliHr rloufdt friend Is Peter Joyce,
an odd, lovable nort of recluse. Ho
In feirctly In love with beautiful
Cherry. Martin Uoyd, a vlsltlnn
mining engineer, ayn court to
Cherry and wins her promlne to
marry him.
(CHAPTER
I Continued,)
-2
"Peter Is a donr fellow," tlie doctor
imiwd. "Hut Cherry why, she's bare
ly eighteen! He I tlon't suppose he
renlly ever kissed her " The old mini
Vsltnted, begnn again: ".TiiHt funoy."
he assured her. ".lust nn old futher'H
fear thnt she Is growing up too fnst!"
ileniuse wo nil, nnd you especially,
spoil her," Anno reminded him, smil
ing. "Peter," sh added thoughtfully,
"has kissed us nil, now mid then l"
She stooped for ft dutiful good-night
kiss, and was gone.
Downstairs, the doctor sat on, think
ing, and his face wnsgrnve. Ho was
thinking of llttlo Cherry's good-night
klrs. half an hour ago. She had rested
ngalnst his arm, find he had held her
then, hut what had been tho thoughts
ht'hlnd the blue .eyes ho near his own?
He realized with n great rush of fear
that some man had kissed Cherry to.
night, had held her against a tobacco
sWiiled coat, and that the girl was a
woman, nnd an awakened woman at
that. Cherry kissed a man ! Her fa
ther's heart wince! away from tile
thought.
Young Uoyd nnd Peter had walked
Ilium with her. Hut If Anne wiih right
In her maidenly Kii'iplelons of Lloyd's
Intentions, then It must have been Pe
ter who Mirprlsed. little Cherry with a
sudden embrace.
And ns ho came to his conclusions
a cerliiln relief erept Into the old
mail's heart. Pct'.T woh an odd fel
low : Jio was ten y sars too old for the
ehllil. lint Peter vns a lover of books
and gardens nnd wooiIh and music, aft
er all, nnd Peter's father and this old
man musing by the lire had been "Lee"
utiii "Paul to each otner since hoy
liniiil. Peter mlghl give Cherry a kiss
us Innocently as a brothtv; In any
etine, Peter would wait for her, would
be all consideration and tenderness
when he did win her,
Cherry, he rellected fearfully, was
as iiietty as her mother had been at
eighteen, with tho name rounded chin
aim apricot cho-eks, and the same
shadowed Innocent blue eyes with a
llllu of corn-colored hair blown across
I hem. She had the strange, the hide-
Unable quality that without words, al
most without glances, draws youth
toward youth, draws admiration and
passion, draws life and all Its pain.
Her father for tho llrst time, tonight
formulated In his heart tho thought
that she might In happily married
Married nonsense I Why, what did
she know of lift, of submission and
courage and sarrlllco? It would be
.veins, many years, before the snowy
frills, and tho pule gold head, and the
tii-iii, brown little hand would be ready
for that!
Not Hitiny hours after ho went slow
ly up to hod morning began to creep
Into the little valley, Allx, at hor
early hath, henril quail calling, and
looked out to mo the last of the fog
vanishing at night o'clock, and to get
a wet rush of fragrance from the Per
shin Illne, blooming this year for the
llrst time. At half-past eight she came
out Into the garden, to llnil her father
Homewhnt ruefully studyliiR the turn
bled ruins oC tho yellow bankslli rose.
The garden nwB still wet, but warm
ing fast; she picked a plume of dark
nnd perfumel heliotrope, and began to
fasten It in his' coat lapel while she
kissed him.
"We'll nofer get that back ; on the
roof, my clar hoy," Allr said mater
niilly.
Her father pursed his lips, shook
his head rtrnibtfully. Tho rose, a short
week ago, had been spreading fnullke
hrnnchoi '.veil toward the ridge-pole, n
story am! n half above their heads
Hut the fjrent wind of yesterevo that
had ent'Cd the spring anil brought In
tho summer had dragged It from Its
place nn'l Hung It, a Jumble of emerald
leaves and sweet clusters of creamy
blossonir. across the path and the
steps of the porch. Allx tentatively
tugged at a loose spray, and stood
biting ler thumb.
Her attention was distracted by the
setter puppy who camo clumsily gnm
holing toward her. "Hello, old numpy
doodlr!" sjie said with rich uffee
Hon, kissing the ilog'n silky head, and
hurylnf both hands In his feathered
collar. "Hollo, old Huckl"
"Alerundra, for heaven's sake stop
handllr.g that brute I" said Peter
.loyce iTlFgustedly, coming up the path
'! iliuv wiy you've tiot had your break
'fast, e'ther. Ho wash your hands 1
'Morning, Doctor!"
Kdtlior anil daughter turned to smile
I miii him, a tall, lean man, with n
.o'li g ftxso. mid a llnsly groomed head
juid aHH-totii'hcrf of premature, silver
it l'!u t-'-plca.
He was a bachelor, Just entering
his thirties, a fastidious, critical, ex
acting man by reputation, but showing
his best side to the Htrlcklauds. They
had a vague Idea that he was rich, ac
cording to their modest standard,, but
he apparently had no extravagant
tastes, and lived as quietly, or more
quietly, than they did. Ho liked soli
tude, books, music, dogs, mid his fire
side. Tho old doctor's one social en
joyment was In visiting Peter, end
the younger man went to no other
ph.-o so steadily ns he came to tin
old house under the redwoods.
"'.Morning, Peter!" said Doctor
Strickland now, smiling at Mm.
"Have you had yours?"
"My house," said Mr. Joyce, foetid-
lously, "Is a well-managed place. Say,"
he added, pursing his lips to whistle,
as he looked at tho rose ree, "did
Tuesday's wind do that?"
"Tuesdny's wind and Dad," Allx
answered. "Will t go back, Peter?"
"f I don't know I" he mused,
walking slowly nbout the wreck. "If
wo had a lever down here, and some
fellow on the roof with u rope, may
be." .
"Mr. Lloyd Is coming over!" Allx
announced. Peter nodded absently,
but the mention of Martin Lloyd re
minded him that they had all dined
at his house on the very evening when
the mysterious galo had commenced,
and with Interest he asked:
Cherry catch cold coming homo
Tuesday night?"
"No; she squeezed in between Dad
and me, nnd was as warm as toast !"
Allx answered casually. "How'd you
like Mr. Lloyd?" she added,
"Nice fellow!" Peter answered.
"He's awfully nice," Allx agreed.
"Who Is he?" Peter asked curiously.
"Whero are his people and all that?"
"His people live In Portland," the
girl answered. "He's a mining en
glneer, nnd he's waiting now to be
called to 121 Nido; he's to he at a mini!
there. lies lots of fun when you
know him, really!"
Talking of the new Prince Charm
lug, of course." Anne said, Joining
them, and linking nn arm In her uu
cle's and In AIIx'h arm. "Don't bring
that puppy In, Allx, please! Ureal;
fast, Unch Lee. Como and have an
other cup of coffee, Peter I"
"Prince Charming, eh?" Peter
echoed thoughtfully, as they all
turned toward a delicious drift of the
odor of bacon and coffee, and crossed
tho porch to the dining room. "I was
going down for the mall, but now I'll
have to stay and see this roso matter
through! Thanks, Anne, but I'll
wntch you. Where's Cherry?" he
added. L'lanclnc about.
Cherry answered the question her
self by trailing In In a Japanese wrap
per, and beginning to drink her coffee
with bnre, slender arms resting on the
table. Nobody protested, the adored
youngest was usually given her way.
I heard you all laughing, under
tho window and It wokt me up!"
Cherry said dreamily.
"It seems to me," Anne, who had
been eyeing her unenslly, said lightly,
"that some one I know Is getting pret-
ty old to como dowiiHtntrs In that rig
when strangers are hero!"
"It seems to mo this Is Just as de
cent ns lots of things bathing suits,
for Instance!" Cherry returned In-
"Hello, Old Dumpy-doodles!" Said
Allx, Burying Both Hands In His
Feathered Collar.
stnntly, gathering the robe about her,
and giving Anne a resentful glance
over her blue cup.
"I have a rope somowhere " tho
doctor ruminated. "Whero did I put
that long rope what did I have It
(or, In tho llrst place "
"You had It to guy the apple tree,"
Allx reminded him. "The tree that
died after ull "
"Ah, esl" said her father, his at
tentlve faco brightening, "Ah, .yus!
Now whore Is that rope?" Hut even
us Allx observed that she had seen It
uoniewheie, and advanced a tentutlvo
aiioss us to the cellar, his eyes foil
pun Cherry, and went from Cherry's
Copyright by Kathleen Morris
absorbed face for she was dreaming
over her breakfast to Peter, and he
wondered If Peter had kissed her.
Come on, let's get at It!" Allx ex
claimed with relish. "Come oil,
Swectums," she added, to the dog.
She caught his forepaws, and he
whipped his beautiful tall between
his legs, and looked about with agon
ized eyes while she dragged hliu
through a clumsy dance. "He's the
dnrllngest pup we ever had I" Allx
stated to Cherry, who was departing
for the upper regions nnd a complete
costume.
"Hrlng your cigarette out here, Pe-,
ter," the old doctor said, crossing the
gnrden to look In the abandoned
greenhouse for his rope. "It's not
here," he stnted. Then he begun
ngaln, "You brought Cherry home lust
night?" he asked.
"As n mntter of fact, I didn't," Vo
ter answered, In his quick, precise
tones. "I came with Lloyd and Cherry
us far as the bridge, then I cut up the
hill. Whyf he added sharply.
"What's up?"
"Nothing's up," Doctor Strickland
said slowly. "Hut I think Lloyd ad
mires or Is beginning to admire
her," he said.
"Who Cherry !" Peter exclaimed,
with distaste and Incredulity in his
tone.
"You don't think so?" the doctor,
looking at him wistfully, asked eag
erly.
"Why, certainly not!" Peter Bald,
his face very red. "She's much
younger tlmn Anne and Allx "
It doesn't nlwiiys go by that," the
doctor suggested.
"No, I know It doesn't," Peter an
swered In his quick, annoyed fashion.
"I should be sorry," Cherry's father
admitted.
"Sorry!" Peter echoed Impntlently.
"Hut It's quite out of the question, of
course! It's quite out of the ques
tion. She she wouldn't consider him
for an Instant," he suddenly decided
In great satisfaction. "You mustn't
forget that she has something to do
with It! Very fastidious, Cherry.
She's not like other girls!"
"Thats true that's true!" Doctor
Strickland agreed, In great relief.
They turned back toward the garden,
In time to meet Allx and several dog
streaming across the clearing. Over
the girl's shoulder was colled the
great rope; she leaped various logs
and small hushes as she came, and
the dogs barked madly and leaped
with her. Hrcathless, she stumbled
and fell Into her father's arms, and
both men had the same thoughts, one
that made' them smile upon her tom
boyishness Indulgently: "If this Is
twenty-one eighteen Is three long
years younger and less responsible!"
CHAPTER II.
9
Immediately they gathered by the
fallen roso vine, all talking r.nd dis
puting nt once. A light rope was tied ;
an experimental tug broke It like a
string, tumbling, Allx violently- In a
sitting position, nnd precipitating her
father Into n loamy bed. Anne, who
was hargalning with a Chinese fruit
vendor frankly Interested In their tin
dertaklng, had called that she would
help them In n second, when behind
Allx, who was still sitting on the
ground, another voice offered help.
A young man had come into the
doctors gnrden; work was stopped
for a few minutes while they wel
comed Martin Lloyd.
Ho was tall and fair, broad, but
with not an ounce of extra weight,
with brown eyes always laughing, and
a ready friendliness always In evi
dence. Anne's heart gave a throb of
approval as sho studied him; Allx
Hushed furiously, scowled a certain
boyish approval ; Cherry had not come
down.
'Can you help us?" The doctor
echoed his question doubtfully. "I
don't know that It can he done I" he
admitted.
"Whnt'ti that you're eating nr. apri
cot?" Martin said to Anne, In his
Inughing way. "I was going to stiy
that If It was a peach, you are a can
nlbair'
"Oh, help!" Allx ejaculated, with. a
look of elaborate scorn.
"No, but where were you list
night?" Martin added In a lower tone
when he and Anne could speak unuo
tlced. The happy color Howled her
face
"I have to take care of my family
sometimes!" sho reminded him de
murely. "Wasn't Cherry a good substl
tutor
"Cherry's adorable I" he agreed.
"Isn't sho sweet?" Anne asked en
thusiastically. "She's only a little girl,
really, but she's a little girl who Is
going to hnve n lot of attention some
dny!" she added, In her most matron
ly manner,
Mnrtln did not answer, but turning
briskly toward the doctor, ho devoted
himself to the business In hand.
They were all deep In the llrst
united tug. each person placed care
fully by the doctor, and guys for the
rope driven at Intervals decided by
Martin, when there was an luterrup
linn for Cherry's arrival on the scene,
With eliaririterlstlc coquetry she did
nut approach, as the others had, by
means of the front porch uud tho gar-
den path, but crept from the study
window Into a veritable tunnel of
green bloom, and came crawling down
It, ns sweet and fragrant, as lovely
and as fresh, as the roses themselves.
Her bright head was hidden by a bluf,
sunbonnet, assumed, she explained
later, because the thorns tangled her
hair; but as, laughing and smothered
with roses, she crept Into view, tho
sunbonnet slipped back, and the love
ly, Hushed little face, with tendrils or"
gold straying across the white fore
head, ami mischief gloaming In tho
blue, blue eyes was framed only In
loosened pale gold hair.
Years afterward Allx remembered
her so, as Martin Lloyd helped her t
spring free of the branches, and she.
stood laughing at their surprise and
still clinging to his hand. "The day
we raised the rose tree" had a place
of Its own In Allx's memory, as a time
of carefree fun and content, n time of
perfume and sunshine perhaps the
last time of Its kind that any one of
them was to know.
Cherry looked at Martin daringly as
she Joined the laborers; her whole be
ing was thrilling to the' excitement of
his glance; she was hardly conscious
of what sho was doing or snylng. Mnr
tin came close to her, lii the general
confusion.
"How's my little sweethenrt this
morning?"
Cherry looked up, her throat con
tracted, she looked down again, un
able to speak. She had been waiting
for his first word; now thnt It had
como it seemed so far richer and
sweeter thnn her wildest dream.
"How can I see you a minute?" Mar
tin murmured, snapping his big knife
shut.
"I have to walk down for the mall
" stammered Cherry, conscious only
of Martin and herself.
Hot h Peter and her father were
watching her with an uneasiness nnd
Laughing and Smothered With Roses,
She Crept Into View.
suspicion that had sprung Into being
full-blown. Hoth men were nsklng
themselves whnt they knew of this
strange youiiK ninn Who was suddenly
a part of their Intimate little world.
Peter, In his secret heart, had n
vague, dissatlstled feeling thnt Lloyd
was u mnn who held women, ns n
class, rather In disrespect, nnd hnd
probably had his experiences with
them, but there wns no way of ex
pressing, much less governing his
conduct toward Martin by so purely
speculative a prejudice. Somewhnt
appalled, In the sunny garden, strug
gling with the bnnksln, Peter decided
that this was not much to know of a
person who might have the nudaclty
to fall "In love with nn exquisite nnd
Innocent Cherry. After nil, she would
not bo a little girl forever; some man
would wnnt to tnke that llttlo corn-
colored head and thnt delicious little
pink-clad person nway with him some
dny, to be his wlte
And suddenly Peter was torn by a
stab of pure pain, and he stood puz
zled and sick, In the garden bed, won-
derlng what was hnppenlng to him.
"Listen want a drink?" Allx asked.
coming out with a tin dipper thnt
spilled a glittering sheet of water
down the thirsty nasturtiums, "nest
u few minutes, Peter. Dnd wanted a
pole, and Mr. Lloyd hns gone up Into
the woods to cut one."
"And where's Cherry?" Peter asked,
drinking deep.
She went along Just up In the
woods here!" Allx answered. "They'll
be back before you could get there.
They've been gone five minutes!"
Five minutes were enough to tnke
Cherry nnd, her lover out of sight of
tho house, enough to have him put his
arm about her. and to hnve her raise
her lips conllilently. nnd yet shyly,
again to his. They kissed ench other
deeply, again and again.
Their talk was Incoherent. Cherty
was still playing, coquetting nnd smil
ing, her words few, and Martin, hnv
Ing her so near, could only repeat the
endearing phrases that attempted to
express to her his love and fervor.
"You darling! Do you know how I
love you? You thirling you little ex
quisite beauty! Do you love me do
vou love me?" Martin murmured, nnu
Cherry answered breathlessly:
"You know I do but you know I
do I"
-l -
"Congratulate these crea
turesthey are going; to be
rnnrrledl"
(VO BB CONTINUED.)
MS
MILK DELIVERED TO CITIES
Figures Announced by Department of
Agriculture on Total Cost to
Ultimate Consumer.
(Prepared by tho United States Depart
ment or Agriculture.;
The total cost of milk delivered to
the consumer's door In Columbus, O.,
during the llrst six months of 1020,
ranged from 11.3 cents up to 15.3 cents
per quart, If the costs of one company
which does business In "certliled"
milk ore omitted, according to the fig
ures recently announced by the United
States Department of Agriculture. The
cost of tho raw milk delivered at the
dairy ranged from 8.7 cents to 10 cents
per qunrt. The total cost of op
erating the dairy plant, Including tho
pasteurizing and bottling of the milk,
ranged from 1 cent to 1.4 cents per
quart, and the cost of delivering the
milk from tho dairy to the consumer
ranged from 1.01 cents to 3.9 cents per
quart.
The Item of administrative expense
varies widely, being as low as two-
tenths of u cent per quart for one
email company and as high as 1 cent
per qunrt for n large concern.
Two of the seven companies covered
were small concerns which produced
their own milk supply. The cost of
producing tho milk for tlieso com
panies In 1020 was 8.0 cents per quurt,
which is very similar to the price paid
for milk by the larger concerns.
One of the Items of cost which has
attracted most attention among stu
dents of the milk business is the so
called "bottle loss." The depart
ment's study Indicates thnt for the
rompanles covered In Columbus this
Item ranges from one-tenth to two
tenths of a cent per quart.
Grent dllllculty was experienced In
getting any satisfactory Information
concerning the shrinkage which takes
place In the handling nnd delivery of
milk, but nccordlng to tho best data
available this Item amounts to be
tween 2.3 per cent and 5.5 per cent of
the total volume of milk.
Columbus Is a city of 237,031 popula
tion, which Is reported to consume
nbout 27,000,000 quarts of milk per an
num. This milk is supplied by over
2,000 producers, from 15 different coun
ties, nnd Is transported to Columbus
from a territory hnvlng a radius of
35 miles. Conditions nnnear to be
Keeping Account of Feed Given to
Cows Is Necessary to Determine
Cost 'of Producing Milk.
fairly representative of many Middle
Western cities.
The Investigation covered seven
companies, which sold about 10,500,000
quarts of milk nnd cream In 1020, or
approximately 65 per cent of the total
quantity consumed. The companies
ranged in size from a very smnll one
wagon concern up to the largest, which
operated 40 milk routes.
From the point of view of the farm
er and the consumer, the Important
question Is, What does It cost to han
dle the milk from the farm to the
consumer? The cost of raw milk wns
between 63 per cent and 75 per cent
of tire total cost of the milk as It
reaches the consumer.
During the period under study the
retail price of Grade A milk In Co
lumbus, ns quoted by the denlers In
vestigated, ranged from 15 cents to
14.5 cents per quart, though during
1020 the two smnll dealers sold their
milk, 'which comes from tuberculin
tested cows, for 15 cents per quart.
At the same time the wholesale price
of milk ranged from VI cents to 12
cents.
The nverage number of customers
per route In 1!)'J0 rnnged from 101) to
207, and the number of quarts per
wagon rnnged from 178 to '178, the
nverngo being 202. It Is noteworthy
that the most profitable company was
the one having the largest nverage
wagonlond.
TEACH YOUNG BULL TO LEAD
Calf Can Be Halter Broken With
Little Effort If Taken In Hand at
Right Time.
A bull thnt'ls to be kept for service
should be tnught to lead while he is a
smnll calf. Ho can be halter broken
at this time with n few minutes' effort,
lie should not only bo taught to lead
without a tight rope, but also should
be taught to stand. If given this les
son while young, In after life, when he
Is led out for visitors to look over or
to be phntogrnphed, he makes n much
better appearance.
ONE NEIGHBOR
TELLS ANOTHE
Points the Way to Comfort
and Health. Other Women
Please Read
Moundsville, W. Va. "I had taken
doctor's medlcino for nearly two years
! because my periods
were irregular, camo
every two weeks,
land l wouiu suiicr
with bearing-down
rutins. A ladv told
mo of LydinE. Pink
ham's vcgotablo
Compound and how
much good it had
done her daughter,
so I took it and now
I nm recrurar overy
I month and have no
pain at all. I recommend your medi
cine to everyone and you may publish
my testimonial, hoping that tho Vege
table Compound docs some other girl
tho good it has dono me. " Mrs.GEOUOB
Teqakden, 916 Third Street, Mounds
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How many young girls suffer aa Mrs.
Tegarden did and do not know whero to
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day in and day out no matter how hard
tho pain they have to bear. Every girl
who suffers in this way should try Lydia
E. Pinkham's Vegetable Compound and
if Bho does not get prompt relief write
to the Lydia E. Pinkham Medicine Co.,
Lynn, Massachusetts, about her health.
Such letters aro hold in strict confi
dence. After three weeks, no mnn Is satis
fied with his straw hat.
SWAMP-ROOT FOR
KIDNEY AILMENTS
There is only one incdiaine that really
stands out pre-eminent as a medicine for
curable ailments of the kidneys, liver and
bladder.
"Dr. Kilmer's Swamp-Root stands the
highest for the reason that it has proven
to be just the remedy needed in thousands
upon thousands of distressing cases.
Swamp-Root makes friends quickly be
cause its mild and immediate effect is soon
realized in most cases. It is a gentle,
healing vegetable compound.
Start treatment at once. Sold at all
drug store in bottles of two sizes, medi
um and large.
However, if you wish first to test this
great preparation send ten cents to Dr.
Kilmer & Co., Binghamton, N. Y., for a
sample bottle. When writing be sure and
mention this paper. Advertisement.
When an employee Is llred he very
nnturally feels put out.
RATS
and
MICE
ByUtlnoth
Genuine
STEARNS'
ELECTRIC PASTE
HEADY FOIl USE IIETTEH T11AKTKAP8
Directions In 16 language in every box.
ltats, Mice, Cockroaches, Ants and Water-blips
destroy food and property and are carriers of disease
Steams' Hlectrlc Paste forces these pests to run
from the bulldlne fir water nnd fresh air
850 and 11.50. "Monor back If It falls.
U 8. Government buys It.
DIED
in New York City alone from kid
ney trouble last year. Don't allow
yourself to become a victim by
neglecting pains and aches. Guard
against this trouble by taking
The world's standard remedy for kidney,
liver, bladder and uric acid troubles.
Holland's National Remedy since 1696.
All druggists, three sizes.
Look for the nam Gold Medal on every box
and accept no fmitatioa
Although the home-grown radish
may be small It Is great with possibili
ties as an emblem of democracy nnd
equality.
Thnt Central American war didn't
last long enough for the correspond
ents to engage rooms overlooking the
hostilities.
"The beginning of the end In Rus
sia" has been renovnted and redecor
ated and Is now opening up for the
steenth engagement.
Down In Ecuador the natives save
skins to purchase wives, while up hero
they first get the wife and then save
to purchase the skins.
Corresponding cuts In wages and
commodity prices would bo compara
tively easy to take If only the land
lords would be reasonable.
William llohcnzollern's prlvntoly cir
culated book charges that England
caused the war. There Is some dispute
nbout this, hut none about which na
tion lost the war.
Cuticura Talcum
is Fragrant and
Very Healthful
Seip 25e, Ointment 25 vA 50c, T-dcum 25c.
!HsiEIjrHHi
EASY TO KILL