NORTH PLATTE SEMI-"WEEKTjY TRIBUNE.
PETER AND THE 8I8TER8.
Hynopals Doctor Strickland, re
tired, Is living In Mill Vnlley, near
San Kranclneo. Ills family connliitH
of bin daughters, Allx, 21, and
Cherry, IS, find Anno, his nleco, 24.
Tliolr cloBeet friend In Peter Joyce,
a lovable sort of recluse. Martin
Lloyd, a vlnltlnc mining engineer,
wins Cherry, marrlos her and car
rle her oft to Kl NUlo, a mine
town. Peter realized that ha loves
Cherry. Justin Uttle woos Anne.
Cherry comes homo for Anne's
wedding.
CHAPTER VI Continued.
"Well, wo won't go Into that I" her
fnthor Interrupted her, hastily, for
Allx hud aired these views before nnd
be was not In sympathy with them.
"And I guess you're rights the child
Is u woman now, with a woman'H re
sponsibilities," he ndded. "And her
place Is with her husband. They'll
have to xolvo life together, to loam to
gether. I'll Hpoak to Cherry I"
Allx, watching . him walk away,
thought that she hail never seen Dad
look old before She saw the shadow
on his kind face all the rest of that
lay.
It was only the next morning when
he 'opened the question with Cherry.
It was a brilliant morning, with
spring already In the air. Cherry, on
the porch steps, was rending a letter
from Martin. Her father sat down be
side her. She had on one of her old
gowns and, bathed In soft sunlight,
looked eighteen again. The air was
sweet and pungent and dump and
fresh, the sky hl.h and blue, and
across the granite face of Tnmalpjils
a last scarf of mist was flouting.
"Well, what has Martin to say?"
asked the doctor.
"Oh, he doesn't like It much I" Cher
, ry said, making a little face. "He de
scribes tin; village as perfectly hope
less. He's moved Into the little hous
! K street, und gotten two stoves
up."
"And when does ho want his girl?"
her father pursued.
"He doesn't say," Cherry answered,
Innocently. "I think ho Is really hap
pier to have me here, where he knows
1 am well off!" sho said. "I know 1
am," she ended after a moment's
thought.
Her lather was conscious of a pang;
he had not even formed the thought
In his own mind that Cherry was tin
happy. The child, ho told himself, had
a good husband, a home and health,
and undeveloped resources within
hurself, it was puzzling and painful
to him to realize that there was need
ed something more and that that
, something was lacking. Ho felt a sud
,don anger at Martin; why wasn't Mar
' tin managing this all'alr?
"Mart doesn't mention any time!"
he mused.
"Thanks to your Cherry said,
dimpling mischievously. "He wrote
quite llrmly, Just before Christmas,"
she added, "but I told him that Dad
had been such an angel and liked so
much to have me here " And Cher
ry's smile "was full of childish triumph
"My dear," her father said, spurred
to sudden courage by a realization
that this matter might enslly become
serious, "you mustn't abuse his gen
oroslty. Suppose you wrlto that
you'll Join him this Is March sup
pose you say the first of April?"
Cherry Hushed and looked down.
Her Hps trembled. There was a mo
ment of unhappy silence.
"Very well, Dad," she said In a low
voice. A second luter she had Jumped
to her feet and vanished In the house.
Her father roamed tho woods In
wretched misgivings, coming In at
lunch time to find her In her place,
smiling, but traces of tears about her
lovely eyes.
Nothing more was said for a day or
two, and then Cherry read aloud to
' the family an affectlonato letter In
which Martin said that everything
would be ready for her whenever Hho
came now.
CHAPTER VII.
The last duy of March and of Cher
ry's visit broke clear and blue, and
Willi it spring seemed to have come
on a rush of perfume and green beau
ty. Days hud been soft and warm
before; this day was hot, and Hushed
with color and splendor.
Allx and Cherry washed oaeh otli
er's hair In the old fashion, ami came
trailing down witli towels and combs
to the garden. Tho doctor Joined them
in tho midst of their tossing nnd
spreading, and sat smoking peacefully
op the porch steps.
"Oh, heavens, how 1 love this sort
of went hurl" Allx exclaimed, Hinging
her brown mane backward, her tall
figure slender In a faded kimono,
"Dad lind Peter," she went on, sud
denly sitting erect, "will get all this
nice, elitnn hair full of cigar smoku
tonight, w what's the use, anyway?"
. "iH'onlght's the iiltht wo go to I'e-
tor's?" Cherry stated rather than
asked. "Do you remember," she
glnnced at her futher, who was rend
ing his paper, "do you remember
when Dad always used to scold us
for being rude to Peter?"
"Well, I'd rather go to Peter's for
dinner than anywhere else 1 ever go 1"
Allx remarked, dreamily. "Seriously,
1 mean It!" sho repeated as Cherry
looked ut her In amused surprise. "In
the first place, I love Ills bungalow
tiny us It Is, It has the whole of a lit
tle canyon to Itself, and the prettiest
view In the valley. I think. And then
I love the mesty sitting room, with
all the books and music, and I love
the way I'eter entertains. I wish,"
she added, simply, "that 1 liked I'eter
hulf as well as I do bis house I"
"Peter's a dear!" Cherry contended.
"Oh, I know he is!" Allx said,
quickly. "Peter's always been a dear.
of course. Hut I mean In a special
sense " finished Allx with an en
tirely unembarrassed grin.
CJierry, through a glittering cloud
of hair, looked at her steadily. Sud
denly she gave an odd laugh.
"Do you know I never thought of
Peter like that?" sho said.
Allx nodded with a cautious look at
her father, who was out of hearing.
"No, nor I ! We've always taken
him rather for granted," she admit
ted. "Only Pve been rather wishing,
Intoiy, that Peter wasn't such an un
flattering, nlg-brotherlsh, ovory-dny-neighbor
sort of person."
Cherry regarded her steadily, with
an awakening look In her eyes.
"Why lately?" she asked.
"Because," said Allx, briskly and
unromautlcally, "I think Peter would
like me to well, to stop taking him
for granted ! I Imagine he's awfully
lonely. And then I Imagine It would
please Dad "
"Dad has always been ridiculously
fond of him," Cherry said, thought
fully. Peter possibly In love with
Allx! She had never even suspected
It. Well, there wns something rather
pleasant In the thought, after all, If
VI I x didn't mind Ills ugliness and
thinness. Cherry thought about It all
day. Sho had no thought of money a
year or two ago; but she was more
experienced now. And Peter was rich.
Ordinarily she would have suld that
she was not going to change for
Peter's dinner; hut this afternoon,
without mentioning tho fact, she
quietly got Into one of her prettiest
dresses; a dress that had been made
In the long-ago excitement of trous
scan Hays. Peter as a rather auto
cratic atid critical neighbor was one
thing; as a possible brother-in-law he
was 'another.
She cumo downstnlrs to find her
father waiting, and they walked away
through tho woods together. Allx
had already gone up to Peter's house
to play tennis. They walked slowly
through the lovely aisles of tho trees,
crossing a road or two, climbing
steadily upward under great redwoods
Cherry's skirt brushed tho gold dust
from masses and masses of buttercups,
The tennis wns over, but just over;
i'eter and Allx were sitting, still pant
ing, on the rail of tho wide, open
porch, and shouted as the others
came up. .
"You missed doubles!" called Allx,
Tho grandest we over did! Doubles
with tho Thompsons and three sets
straight to us six-two, six-two, and
six-two again! They've gone. Ob,
henvens, I never had such tennis. Oh
Peter, when you stood there at the net
and Just curved your hand like a cup"
Allx gave an enthusiastic Imitation
"and over she went, and game and
set !"
Cherry, sinking white and frilly Into
a chair, smiled Indulgently. The walk
had given her a wild-rose color, and
even Allx was struck with her extraor
dlnary beauty. Allx had wheeled
about on tho rail to face tho porch,
and Peter had gotten to his feet nnd
was hospitably pushing basket chairs
about. Now lie gave Allx a critical
look.
"You're disgracefully dlrtyl" he
said, fraternally.
"I know It," sho answered, calmly.
"Have I timo to tub?"
"All tho time In the world !" he an
swered.
Allx depnrted.
. "It's very plensnnt to me to have
Allx so much nt homo here," Cherry
said, when Allx wns gone, nnd the
doctor wandering hnpplly ubout the
garden, "I don't know what we'd
do If any one ever usurped our places
hero I"
She hnd said It deliberately; the
fascination of her recent discovery
was too strong to resist. Tno man
llushed suddenly. For a full minute
he did not speak, nnd Cherry wns sur
prised to find herself a little thrilled
nail even frightened by his silence,
"What put that Into your head?
lie asked, presently, smoking with his
eyes 1lxed upon the valley far below
"Perhaps It's hocaiiHo there are so
many changes, Peler; my marriage,
Anne's everything different! It Just
came to me thnt it Is nice to liavo this
always the snmc."
"Perhaps Allx will come up here
and help keep It so some day," the
man snld, deliberately. Cherry's look
of elabornto surprise and pleasure
died before his serious glance. She
was silent for n moment.
Why doti't you nsk her?" she said
In a low, thoughtful tone, trembling,
eager to preserve his mood without a
false note.
"I have," lie answered simply.
Cherry's heart Jumped with a sudden
unexpected emotion. Whnt was it?
Not pleasure, not all surprise surely
there could lie no Jealousy mixed with
her feeling for Peter's plans? Hut
she wns dazed with the rush of feel
ing; hurt In some fashion she could
not stop to dissect now.
"And she said no?" she stummorcd
In confusion.
"She said no. Or, nt least, I Inti
mated that I was n lonely old nffec
tlonnte man with this and thnt to of
fer, and she Intimated that that wasn't
enough. I ought to have snld I ought
to explnln that I had told her, only
a few days previously, that I had al
ways loved somebody else!"
"Oh-h-h !" Cherry was enlightened.
She visualized an affair In the Inst
years of tho old century for Peter.
"Oh, nnd nnd she didn't love you?"
Cherry asked.
"Tho lndy? She wan unfortunately
married before I had a chance to ask
her." said Peter.
"Oh-h-h 1" Cherry said again, Im
pressed, "and you'll never get over
It?" sho asked, timidly. "Peter, I
never knew thnt !" she ndded ns he
wns silent. "Does does Dad know?"
"Nobody knows but Allx, and she
only knows the bare fucts," he as
sured her.
Oil I" Cherry could think of nothing
to add to the sympathetic little mono
syllable. "r-'lnlshod with tho shower!"
shrieked Allx from the warm darkness
Inside the doorway. "Hurry up,
Peter, something smells utterly
grnnd I"
That's the chicken thing 1" Peter
shouted back, springing up to disap
pear In the direction of the bnth
room. Cherry sat on, silent, wrapped
still In the new spell of the pleasant
voice, the strangely appealing und yet
masterful personnllty.
The dinner strnggled ns nil Peter's
dinners did ; Allx mixed a salad dress
ing; Peter himself flashed In and out
of the tiny, hot kitchen a hundred
times. Kow, In Immaculate linen,
came hncK nnd forth in leisurely
tablcsettlng. Suddenly everything
was ready; the crisp, smoklng-hot
French loaf, the big, brown Jar of bub
bling and odorous chicken, the lettuce
curled In Its bowl, the long-necked
bottles In their strnw cases, and
cheeses nnd crnckers und olives nnd
figs nnd tiny fish In oil and mnrrons
In fluted paper that were a part of
all Peter's dinners.
After dinner they wntched the moon
rise, until Alix drifted In to the piano
Cherry, Tied Trimly Into a Hat That
Was All Big Daisies, Was Silent for
a While.
and Peter followed her, and the oth
ers came In, too, to sit beside the lire,
As usual it wns midnight before any
one thought of ending one of Peter's
evenings.
And all through tho pleasant, quiet
hours, and when he bundled them up
in his own big loose emits to drive
them homo, Cherry was thinking of
li 1 in In this new light; Peter loving u
womun, und denied. Tho knowledge
seemed to fling a strange glamor
about him; sho saw new charm in
lilin, or perhaps, as she told herself,
she saw for the first time how charm
lug lie really was. His speech seemed
actually the pleasanter for the statu
mer at which they had all laughed
years ago; the slight limp lent Its
own touch of individuality, und the
man's blunt criticisms of books and
music, politics and people, were soft
ened by his humor, his genuine hu
mlllty. and his eager hospitality.
Next day sue took occasion to men
tlun Peter und his ufTalrs to Allx
Allx turned llery red, hut laughed
hardily.
"If bo considers that an offer, he
can consider it a refusal, I guess,
she said, boyishly embarrassed. "1
like him I'm crazy about hint. Hut
I don't want any party In ringlets nnd
crinolines to come floating from the
dead past over my child's Innocent
cradle "
"Allx, you'ra awful!" Cherry
laughed. "You couldn't talk that way
if you loved him !"
Allx laughed. "I suppose I ought
to be n mass of blushes. The truth
is, I like kids, and I don't like hus
bands "
"You don't know anything about
husbands 1" Cherry laughed.
"I know lots of men I'd like to go
off with for a few months," Allx pur
sued. "Hut then I'd like to come homo
ngain 1 I don't see wiiy thnt isn't per
fectly reasonable "
Well, It's not!" Cherry declnml
lmost crossly. "That Isn't mur-
rluge. You belong where your hus
band Is, nnd you you nro ulwuys glnd
to bo with him"
"Hut suppose you get tired of him,
like a Job or a boardlng-houso, or any
of your other friends?" Allx persisted
Idly.
"Well, you aren't supposed to!"
Cherry said, feebly. Alix let her have
the last word; It was only due to her
superior experience, she thought
crossly. But half an hour Inter, lying
wakeful, und thinking that she would
miss denr old Cherry tomorrow, she
fancied she heard something like a
sol) from Cherry's bed, und her whole
henrt softened with sympathy for her
sister.
They came downstnlrs together the
next day In mldafternoon, both hutted
and wrupped for the trip, for Peter
was to take Cherry us far as Sausullto
In the car, nnd Mnrtln by u fortunate
chance was to meet them there at the
ferryboat for Sun Francisco. Mill
Vnlley wns not more thnn nn hour's
ride from the ferry. Allx wns to drive
down and return with Peier. Cherry
said good-by to her father on the
porch; she seemed more of u puzzled
child thnn ever.
"Pve hud a wonderful visit. Dad "
she began bravely. Suddenly tho tears
came. She burled her face ngulnst
her fnther's shabby old office coat and
his urrns went about her. Allx
Inughed uwkwardly, and Peter shut
his teeth. Anne, who hud very ptop-
erly come over to suy good-by to her
cousin, got In the back seat of the
car and Allx took the seat beside
her.
Cherry saw In Peter's expression
something thnt she did not forget for
ninny, tunny months never quite for
got. Ills eyes were fixed upon her
with something so yenniing, So loving,
so troubled In their gaze that u thrill
went through Cherry from head to
foot. He Instantly averted his look,
turned to tho car, fumbled with the
gears; they were off.
Cherry, tied trimly Into a hut that
wus all big daisies, was silent for n
while. Hut when Allx and Anne com
menced an Interested conversation In
the back seat, she suddenly said re
gretfully :
"Oli, I hate to go nway tills time!
I mind It more even than the first
time!"
I'eter, edging smoothly about a wide
blue puddle, nodded sympathetically,
but did not answer.
"I envy Allx" Cherry said In Idle
mischief. Sho knew that the subject
was not a safe one, but wus Irresist
ibly Impelled to pursue It.
"Alix?" said Peter, ufter a silence
long enough to make her feel asnumcd
of herself.
"Yes. Her young man Uvea In Mill
Valley, right near homo!" elucidated
Cherry.
"Am I Allx's young man?" he asked,
amused.
"Well, aren't you?"
"I doiUt know. I've never been any
one's young mun," said Peter.
"Whoever the woman who treated
you meanly Is I linte her!" Cherry
began again. "Unless," she ndded,
"unless she wns very young, and you
never told her!"
He did not answer, and they spun
along In utter silence. Hut when they
were Hearing Sausallto, Cherry sold
almost timidly:
"1 think perhaps it would make
her happy and proud, to know that
you admired her, Peter. I don't know
who she is, of course, but almost any
woman would feel thnt. I shall often
think of thnt talk wo had a week ago.
and think of you, too. N-n-next time
you fall In love I hope you will be
luckier !"
Silence. Hut he gave iter his quick
friendly smile. Cherry dared not
speak again.
"Last stop all out!" Allx ex
claimed. "You get tickets, Peter.
Hurray, there's Martin!"
Unexpectedly Martin's big llgure
came toward them from the ferry
gate. Some ore from the mine had to
be assayed In San Francisco, and he
had volunteered to moke the trip so
that be might meet his wife nnd bring
her hack with him to Hod Creek.
Time hanging on his hands In tho
city, he bad crossed the bay for tho
pleasure of the return trip with Cher
ry. He mot them beamingly. There
wns u little confusion of greeting nnd
good-bys. Allx and Peter ' watched
tho others at the railing until the
ferryboat turned. Martin smiled over
Anne's head; Cherry, both little
white-gloved hands on tho rail, blue
eyes und a glint of bright hair show
ing under the daisies on her hat, her
small llgure enveloped In a big loose
coat, looked as If she would like to
cry again.
"You'd go back to your fa
ther, 1 suppose," Martin said,
yawning.
(TO UK CONTINUED.)
Irish Peat Deposits.
Hrltlsli scientists liavo estimated
that lrolaiiciV.'ontnins more thnn -1,000,-000,000
tonjyof pout, sufficient to sup
ply thosjlsl'jnd's requirements for fuel
utid poworjuiore than -W) years.
FRY EGGS WRONG;
SHOOTS UP SHIP
Mess Boy, Put In Brig, Escapes
Irons and Swims Mile
to Shore.
NEGRO IS BAD ACTOR
Question of Whether Eggs 8hould Bo
Fried on One or Both Sides causes
Lively Doings on tho Steam
ship Carolyn.
Cartoct, N. J. The profound ques
tion of whether fried eggs should bo
cooked on one or both sides started B.
Leonard, a Jamaica negro mess boy of
the steamship Cnrolyn, which docked
here recently, on a series of ndven-
turcs which Included shooting up the
ship, escaping from his irons In the
brig, Jumping overboard, swimming
ashore nnd making good his escape.
His nrlventures are probubly not
ended, for the police are. looking for
him. The lnst seen of B. Leonnrd was
when he drove away on an automobile
truck from Prince's Bay, Statcn Island,
where he came ashore.
Trouble With Cook.
"The trouble really started soon af
ter the Cnrolyn left Boca Grande,
Florida, on her way north," explained
Third Officer William G. Kelly, who
was In charge of the steamship at tho
dock In Carteret. "Leonard was tho
oiler's mess boy, and ho didn't get
niong well with the cook, V. Donmaro.
Thursday morning he went into the
gaily and ordered eggs 'turned over
fried on one side.
"Leonnrd got mnd and there wns nn
nrgurnent, which caused the cook to
lndle out some hot water and throw It
at him. Then Leonard rushed down to
oilers quarters nnd came bnck with nn
automntic pistol. The cook ran, with
Leonard nt his heels, shooting. His
first shot missed, the second went
through the left hand of M. Charlton,
the steward of the ship. The third went
through my cabin.
"Capt. Alonzo Nash heard the shoot
ing nnd hurried down with Chief Offi
cer J. E. Evans. Leonard saw them
and became quiet immediately. He
handed over the automatic nnd then
he was put in irons and sent below.
Jumps Overboard.
"Yesterday morning, when one of the
men went to his breakfast, lie found
Leonnrd was missing. Some one had
His First Shot Missed.
cut the irons nnd he hnd slipped them
off, leaving them on the floor of tho
brig. Then ho Jumped overboard in
the dnrk.
After n swim of more thnn a mile
Leonard came ashore at Prince's Bay,
and later went to a garage owned by
John Hong, where he asked If he could
rent an automobile to take him to New
York. When told there were no cars
for rent, he displayed a roll of $29 to
show ho was able to pny. Thnt failed
to get him a car and so he waited until
nn oil truck driven by u chauffeur for
A. Halllwell, an oil denier at 341 West
Thirty-first street, Pnterson, N. J.,
came along. Leonard persuaded the
driver tcglve him a lift, and when last
seen was neaueu ior me lerry at xoi-
tenvllle.
Can't Kiss Wife in Swimming Pool.
North Bergen, N. J. If a man must
kiss his wife, ho should not kiss her In a
public swimming pool. Matthew
Marquurd, thirty years old, became af
fectlonato with his wife Margaret,
twenty years old, In a pool here, and
appeared In court ou a disorderly con
duct charge.
Not Handsome, but Hears Well.
Copenhagen. When King Christian
visited a little town .In northern
Sehleswlg, a Gerninn woman remarked
to a companion as they were passing
tho king: "You can't call him good-
looking, anyhow." Tho king turned
and answered In German, "but his
hearing Is excellent,"
Policeman at Target Practice Hits Boy.
Whiting, I nil. A bullet, fired by n
nollcomaii at target practice, lodged lu
tho negk of Andrew Seroncik, sixteen
years old, who wns Just diving olr a
nler for a swim. Other swimmers
cnrrlcd Serenclk ashore and rushed
him to a hospital.
LIFE'S
LITTLE
JESTS
REJOICE QUIETLY.
"A mnn should strive to bear with
tho faults of ills neighbors," suld Mr,
Clipping.
"PerhnDS so." snld Mr. Gniispur,
"but when those fnults tnke the form
of evcr-plnylng phonographs, ono On
cer exercises on the plnno, inmuy
fights, dogs, children nnd chickens,
I don't sunnose it is any grout sin
to henve n sigh of relief when such
neighbors move away?"
"Nolust so your sigh Isn't loud
enough to be heard around the block."
Something Similar,
"r nnro heard a famous hunter tell
a thrilling story of being chased by a
hlppopotumiiB."
"I know Just how he felt," suld the
literary Hon."
"Have you ever sought adventures
In tho Jungles?"
"No. but Pve been chased around a
drawing room for nn entire evening by
a socially ambitious fnt woman."
CARELESS
He Darling, I have lost all my
money.
She How careless of you. Tho
next thing you know you'll be losing
me.
Favored.
Tho bald man's hoart with Joy may glow.
ueaven does not on mm irown;
Before he leaves the scene below
Ho gets his shining crown.
Spicily Educational.
J. M. reports overhearing this as he
came out of a moving-picture plnce:
He I liked thnt lust piece. It's
highly educational.
She Educational? Why, It's about
a horrid vamp.
He Just so. You see I mny meet
u horrid vamp some day and then Til
know how to protect myself.
Tax on Politeness.
"How did you enjoy your dinner?"
"Not at all. Fifteen friends stopped
to chat with us as they passed, and I
had to stand up throughout the entire
meal.
Those Girls.
Miss Ityval "I didn't see you at the
Barclay ball, dear.
Miss Bright Thnt wns probably be
cause I was surrounded by men all
the time.
Feelers.
He (cautiously) Would you say
"yes" If I naked you to mnrry me?
bhe (still more cautious) Would
you ask me to marry you If I said I
would say "yes" if you nsked me to
marry you?
Describing Him.
"What sort of an appearing mnn Is
he?"
"Little, dried-up feller," replied the
gaunt Mlssourlan, "thnt looks like ho
nlways et at the second table."
BROKE
Mrs. Justwed You are very eco
nomical, Jack, whero did you learn
economy?
Mr. Justwed Playing poker with
your father.
His Poor Tale.
A teddy bear sat on the Ice,
As cold as cold can bo;
But soon ho wag up and walked away
"My tale is told," said he.
Hardly.
No. Maud, when Longfellow snld.
"Give us tho man who sings at his
work," ho did uot mean the undertak
er.
Not Metaphorically Inclined.
"I understand your hut is in tho
ring."
"I don't know exactly what tho
phrnse menns," replied Senntor Sor
ghum. "If I nm reudy for nctunl com
bat I don't care what becomes of my
hat I get into the ring myself."
Rainy Day Talk.
"I have seen better dnys," tho tramn
at the door began.
"So have I." replied tho hoiiRnk- norv.
er, glnnclng nt the darkening sky be
fore she sininmeu tho door.