Nebraska Newspapers

    THE NORTH PLATTE SEMI-WEEKLY TRIBUNE
3BigTown
CoPMriqhV bu William. MacLeod
wr imt -vvt 11 m i
UI.UlfcH -vl toniliiued. (
"N"-nonsense, my dear. I'm done jiip i
completely. Delighted to seo you nnd ,
all that, but Won't you go homo?" I
Ills appealing eyes passed to Whit-1
ford. "Cnn't you tuko her away?"
"No, I won't go home and be cant
take mo nway." Her resolution was
bard as steel. It seemed to crowd In
exornbly upon the shivering wretch In
tho frogged gown. "What is It you're
so afraid to tell mo, Clarendon?"
' IIo quailed at her thrust. "What
what do you mean?"
Sho knew now, beyond any question
or doubt, thnt he had been present
when "Slim" Jim Collins had been
killed. He hnd seen u man's life
snuffed out, was still trembling for
fear bo might be called In as n party
to tho crime.
"You'd better tell mo before It's too
late. How did you nnd Clay Lindsay
come to go to that den?"
He 8hlvered at Sight of Her.
"We went out to to see tho town.
"But why to that place? Aro you
In the habit of going there?"
He shuddered. "Never was there
before. I had a card. Some one gave
It to mo. So we went In for a few
minutes to see what It was like. The
police raided the place." Ho dropped
his sentences reluctantly, us though
they were being forced from him Id
pain.
"Well?"
"Everybody tried to escape. Tho
lights went out. I found a buck door
and got away. Then I enmo home."
"What about Clay?"
Bromfleld told tho truth. "I didn't
bco him after the lights went out, ex
cept for n moment. Ho was running
at the man with the gun."
"You saw the gun?"
He nodded, moistened his dry lips
with tho tip of his tongue.
"And the the shooting? Did you
see that?"
Twice the words he tried to sty
faded on his lips. At last ho managed
.a "No."
"Why not?"
"I found n door nnd escaped.','
"You must bavo beard shooting,"
"I heard shots as I ran down tho
stairs. This morning I read that
that u man was " Ho swallowed
down a lump and left tho sentence un
finished. "Then you know that Clay Is ac
cused of killing this man, und that tho
police aro looking for you becauso
you were with him."
"Yes." Ills answer was a dry whis
per. '
"Did you see this man Collins In the
room?"
"No. I shouldn't know htm If I
saw him."
"But you heard shots. You're sure
of that I" cried Beatrice.
"Y-yes."
The girl turned triumphantly to her
father. "lie saw tho gun and he
heard t shots. That proves solf-do-fenso
at tho worst. They wero shoot
ing at Clay when he struck with the
chair If ho did. Clarendon's testi
mony will show that."
' "My testimony I" screamed Brom
field. "My Q d, do you think I'm
going to to go into court? They
would claim I I was "
Sho watted, but ho did net finish.
"Clay's life may depend upon It, and
of course you'll tell tho truth," sho
said quietly.
"Maybo I didn't hear shots," he
hedged. "Maybe It was furniture
falling. There was a lot of noise of
people stamping and fighting."
"Ypu heard shota."
The eyes of the glrAwere deadly
I weapons. They glltterea like una cab
barded steel. In them was a cou-
111
nund IHA
by
SllittnMacleodRaine
ffiustrattotis by Si
Rain
tnrncd fire that awed him.
IIo U-rcw out hl9 ,mn(1 , 0 wcnk(
Impotent gesture of despair. "My ,
G d, how did I ever come to get Into ,
such u mix-up? It will ruin me."
"How did you come to go?" she t
asked.
"He wonted to see New York. I j
suppose I had some notion of taking'
him slumming."
Hentrlcc went up to him and looked
strulght into his eyes. "Then testify
to that In court. It won't hurt you
any. Oo down to tho police and say
you have read in tho paper that they
want you. Tell tho whole truth. And
Clary don't weaken. Stick to your
story about the shots." Her voice
shook u little. "Clay's life Is at
Btake. Itcmember that."
"Do you think It would bo safe to
go to the police?" ho asked doubtfully.
Whltford spoko up. "That's tho
only square nnd safe thing to do,
Bromflcld. They'll find out who you
are, of course. If you go straight to
them you draw the sting from their
chargo that you were an accomplice
of Clay. Don't loso your nerve. You'll
go through with flying colors. When a
mun has done nothing wrong he
needn't bo nfrald."
"I daro say you're right," agreed
Bromflcld miserably.
Tho trouble was that Whltford was
arguing from falso premises. Ho was
assuming that Clarendon was nn Inno
cent man, whereas the clubman knew
Just how guilty he was. Back of the
killing lay u conspiracy which might
come to light during the investigation.
He dared not fnco the police. Ills con
science was not clean enough.
"Of course Dad's right. It's the only
1 way to save your reputation," Bea
trice cried. "I'm not going to leave
you till you promise to go stAilght
down thcro to headquarters. If you
don't you'll be smirched for life and
you'd bu doing something absolutely
dishonorable."
He came to time with a heart of
heavy dread. "All right, Bee, I'll go,"
he promised. "It's nn awful mess, but
I've got to go through with, It, I sup
pose." "Of course you hnve," she said with
complete conviction. "You're not a
quitter, nnd you can't hldo here like a
criminal."
"We'll have to bo moving, Bee,"
iter father reminded her. "You know
wo have an uppolntment to meet the
district attorney."
Beatrice nodded. With a queer feel
lug of repulsion she patted her (lance's
cheek with her soft band nnd whis
pered a word of comfort to him.
"Buck up, old boy. It won't be half
us bad us you think. Nobody Is going
to blame you,"
They were shown out by the volet.
"You don't want to be hurd on Brom
flcld, honey," Whltford told his dough
ter after they bud re-entered their car.
"He's a parlor man. That's the way
he'vH been brought up. Novcr did a
hurd day's work In his life. Everything
made easy for him. If he'd ever rid
den out a blizzard like Clny or stuck
It out In n mine for n weok without
food after ,n cnvo-ln, ho wouldn't balk
on the Job before him. But he's soft.
And bo's afraid of -his reputation.
That's nuturul, I suppose,"
Eentrlco knew ho was talking to save
her feelings, "You don't need to make
excuses for him, Dad," she nnswered
gently, with a wry smile. "I've got to
give up. I don't think I can go through
with It."
"You mean marry him?"
"Yes." Sho added, with a flaro of
pusslouatu scorn of horsclf: "I de
serve wliat I've got. I know all the
tlrao I didn't love him. It was sheer
selfishness In me to accept him. I
wanted what he had to give me."
Her father drew a deep breath of re
lief. "I'm glad you seo that, Bee. I
dou't think he's good enough for you.
But I don't know anybody that Is, come
to that."
"That's Just your partiality. I'm a
mean little bounder or I, never should
havo led him on," tho girl answered In
frank disgust.
Both of them felt smirched. Tho be
havior of Bromfleld had been a reflec
tion on them. They had picked htm
,for a thoroughbred, and ho had failed
them at the first test.
"Woll, I haven't been proud of you
In that affair," conceded Colin. "It
didn't seem like my girl to " He
broke off In characteristic fasblob to
berato her environment. "It's this
crazy town. The spirit of It gets Into
a person and ho accepts Its standards.
Let's get away from hero for a while,
sweetheart."
"After Clay Is out of trouble, Dad,
I'll go with you back to Denver or to
Europe or anywhero you say."
"That's a deal," 1k told her prompt
ly. "Wo'll stay till after tho annual
eloctlon of the company and then go
off on a honeymoon together, Bee."
CHAPTER XVII
Into the Handt of Hit Enemy.
Durnntl wnltcd alone for word to bo
flnshcd hltn Hint the debt he owed
Clny Llndsny hnd been settled In full.
A telephone Ipy on the desk close at
hand nnd beside It wns a watch. The
second-hand ticked Its way Jerkily
round and round the circle. Except
for that the stillness weighed on him
He Paced Up and Down the Room,
Chewing Nervously the End of an
Unlit Cigar.
unbearably. Ho paced up and down
the room chewing nervously the end of
an unlit cigar. For tho good tidings
which ho was anxious to hear was
news of the death of the strong young
enemy who hod beaten him at every
turn.
Why didn't Collins get to the tele
phone? Was It possible that there had
been a sllp-up, that Lindsay had again
broken tho trap set for him? Had
"SUm's" nerve failed him? Or had
Bromflcld been unable to bring the vie-1
tlm to the slaughter?
His mind went over the detuils again.
The thing had been well planned even 1
to the unguarded door through which!
Collins was to escape. In the darkness I
"Slim" could do tho Job, make his get- j
away along with Dave, and bo safe,
from any chance of Identification.
Bromfleld, to save his own hide, would !
keep still. U he didn't, Durand was.
prepared to shift the murder upon his'
shoulders.
The minute-hand of the watch passed
down from tho quarter to the half and
from the half to the . three-quarters.
Still the telephone bell did not rliig.
The gang lender 'began to sweat blood.
Had some one bungled after all the
care with which he had laid his planst
A door slammed below. Hurried
footsteps sounded on tho stair treads.!
Into the room burst a man.
"SUm's been croaked," he blurted, i
"What I" Durand's eyes dilated.
"At Maddock's."
"Who did It?"
"De guy he wns to gun."
"Lindsay?"
"Dat's de fellow."
"Did the bulls get Lindsay?"
"Pinched him right on de spot"
"Gun 'Slim,' did ho?"
"Nope. Knocked him cold wltf a
chnlr. Cracked bis skull."
"Is ho dend?"
"He'll never be dender. Dnve grabbed
this sucker Llndsny nnd yelled that he
dona It. The bulls pinched him like 1
said right there."
"Did It happen In tho dork?"
"Sure as you're n foot high. My Job
was dousln' the glims, and I dono It
right."
"What about 'Slim?' Wns ho shoot
Ing when ho got It?"
Tho other man shook his head. "Thla
Lindsay man claims ho was. I talked
wit a bull afterword. Doy didn't find
no gun on 'Slim.' The bull says there
was no gun-plny."
"What became of 'SUm's' gun?"
"Search mo."
Durand slammed a big fist exultant
ly down on the desk. "Better than the
way I planned it. If tho gun's gone,
I'll frame Lindsay for tho chair. It's
Salt creek for his."
He lost no time In getting Into touch
with Gorilla Dave, who was under ar
rest at tho station house. From him
ho learned the story of tho killing of
Collins. One whispered detail of It
filled him with malicious glee.
"Tho boob I Ho'll go to the death
chair sure If I can frame him. We're
lucky Bromfleld ran back Into tho lit
tle room. Up In front a dozen guys
might hnve seen tho whole piny even In
the dnrk."
Durnnd spent tho night strengthen
ing tho web he had spun to destroy his
enemy. Ho passed to and fro among
thoso who had been arrested In the
raid and he urranged the testimony of
soma of them to suit his case. More
than one of tho men caught In the drag
net of tho police was willing to see the
affray from the proper angle In ex
change for protection from prosecu
tion. After breakfast Durand went to tho
Tombs, whero Clay had been trans
ferred at daybreak.
"You needn't bring tho fellow here,"
he told the warden. "I'll go right to
his cago and seo him. I wantta hare
a talk with 1dm."
Between two guards Clay climbed
tho iron steps to an upper tier of cages
at tho Tombs, ne was put Into a cell
'which held two beds, ono above the
other, as In tho cabin of an ocean liner.
By tho sldo of tho bunks was a narrow
space Just long enough for a man to
take two steps in tho same direction,
An unshaven head was lifted-In The
lower bunk to see rhy the sleep of its
owner was being disturbed.
"I've brought you a cell mate, Shiny,"
explained one of the guards. "You
want to be civil to him. He's Just
croaked a friend of yours."
"For do love o' Gawd. Who did he
crook?"
"'Slim' Jim Collins. Cracked him
one on tho bean and flint wns a-plerity.
Hope you'll enjoy ouch other's society,
gents." The guard closed tho door and
depnrted.
"Is that right? Did youso do up
Slim,' or wns ho klddln me?"
"I don't reckon we'll discuss that
subject," said Cloy blandly, but with n
note of finality In his voice.
"No offens,o, bosh. It's an honor to
have so distinguished a gent for a cell
pnl. For thnt mnttcr I ain't no chenp
rot myself. Dcy pinched me for shovln'
de queer. I'd ought to get fifteen
years," he said proudly.
This drew a grin from Llndsny,
though not exactly n merry one. "If
you're nnxlous for n long term you enn
hnve some of mine," he told the coun
terfeiter. "Maybe you'll go up Salt creek,"
said Shiny hopefully.
Afrnld tho nlluslon might not bo un
derstood, he thoughtfully explained
that this was tho underworld term for
the electric chair.
Clny mado no further comment. He
found the theme n gruesome one.
"Anyhow, I'm glad dey didn't put no
holster nor damper-getter wit' me. I'm
partlckler who I meet. De whole pro
fesh Is gettln' run down at de heel.
I'm dead sick of rats who cnn't do
notliln' but lift pokes," concluded the
occupant of tho lower berth with dis
gust. Though Clay's nerves were of the
best he did very little sleeping that
night. He was In a grave situation.
Even if he had n fair field his plight
would be serious enough. But he
guessed that during the long hours of
darkness Durnnd wns busy weaving a
net of false evidence from which he
could scarcely disentangle himself.
Unless Bromfleld came forward at
once as a witness for him, his case
would be hopeless and Clay suspected
that the clubman would prove only a
broken reed as a support. The fellow
was selfish to the core. He had not,
In the telling western phrase, tho guts
to go through. He would tnke the line
of least resistance.
Beatrice was In his thoughts a great
deal. What would she think of him
when the news came that he was a
murderer, caught by the police in a
den of -vice where he had no business
to be? Some deep instinct of his soul
told him that she would brush through
the evidence to the essential truth. She
had failed him once. She would never
do it again. He felt sure of that
Thefgray morning broke, and brought
with It tho steaming smell of prison
cooking, the sounds of the caged un
derworld, the sense of life all around
him dwarfed and warped to twisted
moral purposes. A warden came with
breakfast a lukewarm, muddy liquid
he called coffee and a stew in which
potatoes and bits of fat beef bobbed
like life buoys and Clay ate heartily
while his cellmate favored him, be
tween gulps, with -a monologue on
ethics, politics, and the state of society,
as these related especially to Shiny the
Shover. Lindsay was given to under
stand that the whole world was "on do
spud," but tho big crooks had fixed the
laws so that they could wear diamonds
Instead of stripes.
Presently a guard climbed tho Iron
stalrwny with a visitor nnd led tho wny
along the deck outside the tier of cells
where Clay hnd been put
"Ho's in seventy-four, Mr. Durnnd,"
the mnn said ns he approached. "I'll
have to beat It. Conio back to the of
fice when you're reudy."
The ex-pugllist had 'come to gloat
over him. Clay knew It at once. His
pupils nurrowed.
He wns lying on the bed, his supple
body stretched nt graceful ease. Not
by the lift of an eyelid did he recog
nize the preseuce of bis enemy.
Durand stood in front of the cell,
hands In pockets, the Inevitable unlit
black cigar in his mouth. On his face
was u sneer of malevolent derision.
Shiny the Shover bustled forward,
all complaisance. "Pleased to meet
youse, Mr. Durand."
The gang politician's Insolent eyes
went up and down him. "I didn't come
to seo you."
" 'S allrlght. Glad to see youse, any
how," the counterfeit passer went on
obsequiously. "Some dayi when you've
got time I'd like to talk wit' youso
about gettln' some fall money."
"Nothln doln', Shiny. Tm not buckln'
you," said Jerry coldly. "You'vo got to
go up tho river."
"Youse promised "
"Aw, what tho h lVeatln' you?".
Shiny's low voice carried a plaintive
whine. "M you'd speak to de Judge "
"Forget It." Durand brushed the
plea away with a motion of tho hand.
"It's your cell pal I'vo como to take a
look at tho ono who's goln' to the
chair."
With one lithe movement Clay swung
down to the floor. He sauntered for
ward to the grating, his level gaze on
tho ward boss.
"Shiny, this fellow's rotten," ho said
evenly and Impersonally. "He's not
only a crook, but he's a crooked crook.
Ho'd throw down his own brother If it
paid him."
Durand's cruel lips laughed. "Your
pal's n little worried this mornln',
Shiny. Ho ain't slept much. You see
the bulls got him right. It's tho death
chair for him and no lifeboat In sight"
Clay leaned against the bars negli
gently. Ho spoke with a touch of lazy
scorn. "Seo thoso .scars on his face,
Shiny tho ono on the cheek bono and
111? other abovo the y, Ask him where
T
he got 'em and how?"
Jerry cursed. Ho broke lto a storm
of threats, anger sweeplugover him
In furious gusts. He hadWmo to
moko sport of his victim anoLindsny
somehow took tho upper handat once.
He hnd this fellow where hevanted
him at last. Yet the man's so voice
stilt carried the note of ensy
ir tue Arizonnn was airaia, ne gtye no
least sign of it.
"You'll sing another tune befoni'm
through with you," tho prlze-natcr
prophesied savagely.
The westerner turned nwoy tad
Bwung buck to his upper berth. Ye
knew, what ho hnd before suspectol,
that Durand was going to "frame" hli
TO BE CONTINUED
William E. Shuman, Attorney
NOTICE OF HEARING
In tho County Court of Lincoln
County, Nebraska.
In the Mattor of tho Estate of Fred
erick Wernoko, Doceascd.
To tho Heirs and All Persons In
terested In said Estate.
You aro horoby notified that on
August 23, 1922, Frieda Schorz as ex
ecutrix of said estate, niea in said
Court her final nccount nnd appli
cation for tho assignment of tho title
to tho real CBtnto belonging to Bald
estate, Consisting of tho Southwest
Quarter (SW) of Section Ten (10)
in Township Thirteen (13) North of
Range Thlrty-ono (31) Wost (W) 6
p. m. Lincoln County, Nebraska, and
for tho distribution of tho personal
property belonging to ald ostato, and
that said final account and application
will be heard before this Court in tho
County Courtroom in tho Courthouse
in the city of North Platte, County of
Llncoln.State of Nebrnskn on the 18th
day of September, 1922 nt 10 o'clock
a. m. and you aro horoby notified to
appear at said time and placo and
show cause, if any there bo why .said
final account should not bo allowed,
tho tltlo to said real estate assigned
and tho personal property' of said
ostato distributed as provided by law
and by tho torms of tho Last Will
and Testament of tho said Frederick
Wornecko, deceased.
T. S. BLANKENBURG,
(SEAL) Acting County Judge
William E. Shumun, Attorney
NOTICE OF HEARING
In the County Court of Lincoln Coun
ty, Nebraska.
In tho matter of tho Estate of Rose
M. Knox, Deceased.
To tho Heirs and all persons Interest
ed In said Estate:
Notfco Is hereby given that a pet
ition for the appointment of Vivien M.
Bonhain as administratrix of tho es
tate of Rose M. Knox, deceased, has
been filed in this Court and that tho
said potition will bo heard before
tho County Court of Lincoln County,
Nebraska in tho Courthouse in tho
CHty of North Platte in said County
on Soptombor 11 at 10 o'clock a. m.
at which tlmo any person interested,
may appoar and show cause, If any
there be, why tho prayer of said pet
ition should not be granted.
Dated at North Platte, Nebraska,
August 16, 1922.
WM. H. O. WOODHURST,
(SEAL) County Judgo
EXTENSION ROAD NO. 107.
To whom it may concern:
Tho spocial commissioners appoint
ed to locate a public road as follows:
Commencing at a point on the section
lino between sections 9 and 16, whero
Public Road oN. 11 Intersects said
section lino, running thence west on
the section lino between sections
9 and 16 and 8 and 17 to tho Inter
section with Road No. 77 all in town
ship 14 rango 30, said road to bo 66
feet wide, has reported in favor of
tho establishment of tho same, all
objections thereto, or claims for dam
ages by reason of tho establishment
of the abovo described road must be
filed in tho office of the County Clerk
of Lincoln county Nebraska, on or
before 12 o'clock noon of tho 9th
day at October, 1922 or said Road will
bo rllowed without referenco thoroto.
Witness my hand and official seal
this 27th day of July, 1922.
A. S. ALLEN
(SEAL) County Clerk
Goo. N. Glbbs, Attorney.
NOTICE OF PETITION
Estato of Brldgot Jones, doceascd,
In tho County Court of Lincoln Coun
ty, Nebraska.
Tho Stato of Nebraska: to all per
sons interstod In eald estato tako
notico that Owon ,Jones did on tho
19th day of August, 1922 fllo a pet
ition in said action, sotting forth that
Nicholas McCabe, executor of said
estato did on tho 8th day of August,
1922 dio. and said petition prays for
tho nppolntont of Owen Jones, and
that letters of administration with
will annoxod bo granted to him,
which has been Bot for hearing horoln
on tho 22nd day of September, 1922
at 10 o'clock a, m.
Dated this 25th day of August, 1922.
T. S. BLANKENBURG
Acting County Judgo.
Whenin North Platte
CONE AND SEE US
Hotel Palace
Palace Cafe
1 n i rn
raiaceoazaar
Everything first class and prices
reasonable. Opposite) Union Pacific
illation.
i DR. E. C. LYNCH
v Eyc-VEnr Noso and Throat
Gbaos fitted accurately
(Her Dixon's Storo
NORTH PLATTE
J. S. TWINEH, M. D.
(Homeopath)
Medldno and Surgery
Hospital Facilities
NORTH PLATTE, NEBR.
Office Phone 183 Resldonco 283
W. T. FRITCIIARD
Gradualo Veterinarian
Ex-Govornmont Veterinarian and ex
assistant deputy State Veterinarian.
Hospital 315 South Vino Street
Phones. Hospital 633 Residence 633
DR. REDFLELD '
Physician, Obstetrician, Surgeon
X-Bay
Calls promptly answered Night or Day
Phones. Office 642 Resldonco 676
JOHN S. SIMMS, M. D.
Special Attention Given to
Surgery
McDonald Bank Building
Offico Phono 83 Residence 38
DR. J. R. McKIRAIIAN
Practice Limited to Disoaso of
Women and Surgery
Over Roxall Drug Store
Phones: Offico 127 Resldonco 656
Office 340
House 723J
DR. TV. I. SHAFFER
Osteopath Physician
Over the Oasis
North Platte
WM. WALDORF
Tinner
Makes or Repairs anything made of
Tin or Sheet Metal.
610 Locust Under General Hospital
ED KIERIG
Anctloneer
For dates and terms call at
First National Bank
North Platte, Nob.
DR. HAROLD FENNER
Osteopath
Over Hirschfold'n
Office Phono 333 Res. Phone 1020
mt M. B. STATES
' Chiropractor
Rooms 5. 6, 7 Building & Loan Bldg.
ft
Offico Phono 70 Res. Phono 1242
Office Phone 241 Res. Phone 217
L. C. DROST
Osteopathic Physician
North Platto, Nebraska.
Knights of Columbus Building.
OTIS It, FLATT, M. D.
Physician and Surgeon
X.Ray
Dlagnoss and Troainent
Ovor Union Stato Bank
Office Phono 296W House Phono 290R
GEO. B. DENT
Physician and Surgeon
Special Attention Given to Surgery
and Obstetrics
Offico: Building & Loan Building
Phones: Offico 130 Residence 115
DR. L. A. SNAVELY
Dentist
X.Ray Diagnosis Oxygon and
Gas Anesthesia for Extractions.
Ovor Union Stato Bank
Phono 296.
DERRYBERRY & FORBES
Licensed Embalmers
Undertakers and Faneral Directors
Day Phone 41 Night Phono Black 538