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THE NEBRASKA ADVERTISER
W. W. 8ANOKK8, Fnbllthar.
NEMAHA. NEBRASKA.
ALL THE GOOD WE CAN.
If tho sunshlno never crept
Into hovels dark and sad,
If Its Glories never Hhono
Save where everything was glad,
If It scattered not Its beams
Over hearts by Borrow chilled,
"Would tho sunshlno do His will?
Would Ita mission bo fulfilled?
If tho roses nover bloomed
Savo for gladsome eyes alone,
If their beauty and their graco
For tho weary never shone,
If they never brought asmllo
To tho waysldo passer-by,
"Would tho roses do their task
Whllo tho houra of summer fly?
If tho birdies sang their Bongs
Far from every listening ear,
If they poured t'hopi not abroad
All the earth to glad and cheer,
"Would tho birdies' work bo dono
Ero tho autumn breezes call?
Ere tho gold and crimson leaves
O'er tho grave of summer fall?
If the sunshlno of our smiles
Wo have scattered not afar,
If our roses kindly deeds
Bloom not whero tho lowly are,
If our words of hope and Joy
Never fall to bless and cheer,
Have wo dono our Maker's will?
Have we wrought our mission hero?
George Coopor, In Golden Days.
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3
$
A CLEW BY WIRE
Or, An Interrupted Current.
i
BY HOWARD M. YOST.
Copyrlcht, 1896, by J. D. Llpplncott Co.
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CHAPTER IV. Continued.
The president was writing when I
entered, but he laid aside his pen when
he saw me.
"Take a scat, Conway," he said.
I did as requested. My heart was
heavy before, but it was heavier when
I' noticed the troubled look on his face.
"Mr. Perry, have you read tho pa
pers?" I asked.
The president nodded assent.
"How is it that such a general im
pression has gone abroad that I had
something to do with tho affair? Who
has started such a rumor?"
"I do not know, Conway, inless the
police have given public expression to
their opinion."
"The police. And what is their opin
ion? Was it not Bhown beyond any
doubt that I was miles away from tho
vault at the time that tho robbery must
must have been committed ? I say noth
ing about my own assertions. But how
can anyone doubt the word of a man
of Mr. Morley's standing?"
"Well, Conway, no one does doubt
that you told tho truth in that. But "
Mr. Perry seemed loath to proceed.
"But what, sir?" I demanded, aftor
a pause.
"The detectives' theory is that you
liad accomplices, who, from directions
given by you, were able to carry out a
, prearranged plan."
I answered with a scornful laugh.
"Accomplices! Who are they?" I
asked.
"Well, I suppose they are looking for
them," Mr. Perry said, with a half
smile. "I hope they'll enjoy the search," I
said, sarcastically. "Oh, Mr. Perry, why
is this thing brought upon me? Why
am I so universally suspected, when
nothing can be shown against me? If
there is enough cause to attribute the
robbery to me, why am I not arrested?"
"We had hoped to keep the affair a se
cret, for a time at least. Therefore
some few of the trustees thought it
best not to make it public, as having
you arrested would have done. We were
all pledged to secrecy, but somehow tho
affair got abroad. I suppose you did
not mention it?"
"No, indeed. I have not spoken to a
soul on the subject," I replied. "Mr.
Perry," I cried, impulsively, "you do not
believe I nm guilty, do you?"
"I do not wish to believe so," he re
plied, guardedly.
"Oh, think, sir, what this terrible af
fair means to me! It is a fearful bur
den for a young fellow to bear who is
wholly innocent."
"It is, indeed. But, you see, it is this
way. The bank is a public institution,
and I, as its head, dare not lot my per
sonal feelings interfere with my duty
to the public. Personally, it docs not
seem possible that you could have any
connection with tho loss of the people's
money "
"Oh, thank you, Mr. Perry! I knew
you could not think "
lie cut me short. "Officially, I must
Itold you in doubt, so much so at least
that I cannot give you back your po
sition." "And did you suppose I expected to
remain?" I asked, iiujignantly. "I could
not. I want to hold no position where
.absolute and perfect confidence is not
felt in me. You can consider this as my
resignation, sir," I added.
"I am glad you look upon it in that
light. It is niunly, sir," said Mr. Perry.
"And, Nelson, not even tho restoration
of tho missing funds would give me as
great pleasure as tho establishment of
.your innocence."
"Never fear, sir, my innocence will
soonbe proved. It connqtbc otherwise,
for I am innocent," I said, confidently.
"I have a small estate which camo to
mo from my grandfather," I continued.
"Every cent shall be expended, if nec
essary, for the purposo of proving my
innocence."
"You can do as you sec fit about that,"
tho president said, after a long pause,
during which ho seemed to bo ponder
ing over my words. "But if you wish
for my advice, I would say, do nothing
whatever on your own hook. Nelson,"
he continued, coming close up to me and
speaking low, "secret measures have ol
ready been begun to solvo tho mystery,
and they will bo thorough and far
reaching. This is wholly independent
of any investigations the police au
thorities may undertake. You sec, my
boy, that I do trust and believe in you,
after all. What I have told you is in
strict confidence! Live as quietly and
patiently as possiblo under tho cloud.
Take a trip to Europe, and enjoy your
self." "No, I'll stay and face the music. I
am not afraid of any investigations
which may be made into my life."
"Well, good-by now. I must not allow
you to take up any more of my time. I
beg of you to follow my advice, and un
dertake no Bcnrch on your own hook.
In spite of discouragement, heartache,
or long delay, do nothing yourself."
He shook my hand henrtily, and I left
him.
As I was going out the door leoding
into the lobby, I ran against a man just
coming in. He was an old fellow, small
and thin, and had piercing steel-blue
eyes. He rebounded a trifle from the
collision, then gazed at mo sharply.
"I beg your pardon," I said. "I hope
I did not hurt you?"
"No. Not much, at any rate. I want
to see the president. Arc you the presi
dent?" he asked.
There seemed to me to be something
insolent about his question, us though
he knew I was not the president and he
had asked but to mock me.
"You will And tho president in his of
fice," I replied, curtly. "As for me, I
am a bank robber."
There was the suspicion of a twinkle
came in his eyes as he said: "Indeed!
Well, you don't look it."
Tho old fellow then entered the of
fice, nnd I went outBide to the street.
A fo,w days went b', and, although
nothing was found to sustain the theory
of the detectives, that fact did not lessen
the general suspicion which rested upon
me.
Indeed, it was a case of surprise to me
that I was not arrested. It would have
been an easy matter, for I had no
thought of hiding. The most public
streets during the daytime, and a con
cert or the theater at night, were fre
quented by me. I held my head erect,
as I had a right to do; but it was with a
heavy heart and a chastened spirit that
I realized that people shunned me.
Houses where I had been on most friend
ly terms wero closed against me.
I was tempted many times to seek
consolation nnd encouragement in tho
presence of Florence Morlcy, but it did
not seem right nor kind to burden her
bright life with my troubles, even
should she consent to see me, of which
I was doubtful tinder the changed cir
cumstances. Perhaps it was this fear
which kept me away, 'as much as any
other idea.
About a week after the robbery a let
ter came to my boai'dlng-place:
"Mr. Nelson Conway Dear Sir: If con
venient, kindly favor mo with an oppor
tunity for conversation this evening at
eight. I remain in town over night, and you
will And mo at my city residence.
"SYLVESTER MORLEY."
Wondering what he could wish to say
to me, I repaired to his house at tho
time mentioned.
Mr. Morley received me In the library,
and arose from his chair as I entered.
"Good evening, Mr. Conway," he
gravely said, bowing his head. "Please
be seated."
After I had chosen a chair on the op
posite side of the room, and he had re
sumed his scat, ho began, somewhat re
luctantly, but in his stately, courteous
way:
"Our conversation may prove unsat
isfactory to you. If so, I beg your par
don in advance. Of course you are
aware that the public in general con
nects your namo with that daring and
mysterious affair at the bank."
"I know very well, sir, that It is so,"
I replied, sadly.
"Now, I do not mind saying that I do
not necessarily condemn a man because
he Is suspected," Mr. Morley continued.
"In a case like yours tho gcnerul pub
lic's opinion docs not influence my opin
ion. At the same time, the general
public is not to bo blamed so much,
after nil. The people form their opin
ions from the newspapers, nnd I am
sorry to note that the papers do not
beem friendly toward you."
"That is true, Bir," I answered. "And
I cannot Imagine why they should take
thnt stand, when nothing, absolutely
nothing, can be found to criminate me."
"I can furnish no idea why it is so;
1 simply state a fact. As I intimated, it
is not my custom to condemn a man
before lie has been found guilt'. But,
whatever my private opinion may be, in
this case you must understand that the
suspicion which has fallen upon you
will necessarily preclude a continua
tion of the friendly relations which have
existed between you and and my
household."
s0h, sir, you cannot believe In your
heart that I had anything to do with
tho bank's loss!" I exclulmcd, bitterly,
for, kindly n8,waa his manner, .the
words he spoke seemed to Btrikcn knell
to my fondest hopes.
"I have already Bald all I caro to sny
on that score," Mr. Morley replied,
rather coldly.
"And and your daughter, Bir," I
went on, with trembling voice; "sho
docs not film re the general suspicion!"
A smile flitted across his face for a
moment. Then he became grave again,
nnd regarded me earnestly. He did not
reply for some time; ho seemed to bo
considering his answer.
"My daughter Is rather indignant;
bIio thinks that you ore unjustly
treated," ho finally said.
I could not restrain myself on hear
ing this. I sprang from my Beat and
approached him.
"Mr. Morley, you do not know what
it means to mo to hear this. You cannot
imngine how your daughter's opinion
fills me with hope. May I ask you, sir,
to express to her my deepest gratitude
for her faith In my innoconcc? As God
henrs me, her faith Is not misplaced."
There was no controlling my voice; it
trembled in Bplte of my efforts to be
calm. Dear, true-hearted girl!
"I will convey to her your messnge,"
Bold Mr. Morlcy. "She has informed mo
of the sentiment you entertain for her.
But, Mr. Conway, I bcllevo you are a
young man of bcuso and honor. You
must therefore realize the position you
would place her in by insisting on the
continuation of a friendship which, out
of kindness and gentleness of disposi
tion, she would probably not refuse you.
It would bo unjust tobcr, embarrassing
to you, and wholly contrary to my
wishes."
"I fully appreciate the meaning of
your words, Mr. Morlcy. Believe me, I
regard your daughter too highly to
Intrude upon her notice, under existing
circumstances. It is no Bcntimcnt I
entertain for her; It is love, sir, deeper,
truer, fonder than mere sentiment.
This love has become tho ruling motive
of my life, and will ulwuys remain bo.
But I promise you I will hold no com
munication with your daughter until
It Is shown before the world thnt I am
innocent. I confess, to follow this
course will be tho greatest sacrifice of
my life. I have no parents, no near re
lations to whom I can go for love and
sympathy. It means something, there
fore, for mo to promise you this."
Mr. Morlcy nroso from his chair.
There was a kindly gleam In his eyes,
and an expiesslon on his face of sad
ness, was it? At any rate, there wns
undoubtedly a touch of sorrow in his
voice when he spoke ngnin. It seemed
somewhat strange to me at tho time.
He had obtained tho promise ho wished,
but it did not seem to give him the pleas
ure I naturally expected It would.
He extended his hand. "Mr. Conway,
you are a man of honor," ho said. "I
I" fll
1
M
" Speak out, Z say, or I'll Are I "
deem it a favor to shake hands with
you. I sincerely hope your innocence
may be established. But," ho hesi
tated here, "do not bo over-sanguine.
Robberies havo occurred before which
have ever remained mysteries. I must
confess, although I am one of thn
trustees and am therefore an Interested
party, I am not so sure the perpetrators
of this last robbery will ever bo dis
covered. Thero seems to be not the
slightest clew to work on. I do not
say this to cause you pain, but simply
to warn you against entertaining hopes
which may never be realized."
CHAPTER V.
On the first evening of my occupancy
of the old homestead I recalled Mr.
Morley's words and thought with sor
row how much superior his judgment
hnd been to mine.
A year had gone by, a year of heart
ache, disappointment nnd unfulfilled
longing, and the cloud had not been
lifted from my life. And, oh, I wns so
homesick for just a glimpse of my dear
love's face.
A few days after my interview with
Mr. Morley I had received n note from
Florence:
"Dear Mr. Conway: Father has Informed
mo of your resolve not to call on mo or at
tempt to keep up tho friendship which mado
mo so happy, until you aro freed from all
suspicion. I appreciate tho manliness
which prompts you to such a resolvo, and
I wish to assuro you from tho bottom of my
heart that I respect and trust you. I know
you aro Innocent, and shall always bcllevo
So" Keep pp a brave spirit. Tho mystery
will bo oxplalncd and you exonerated. Re
member, I bellovo In you wholly, and shall
always remain, Your truo friend,
"FLORENCE MORLEY."
I tooc the worn note from the locket
which I wore around my neck and
pressed It to my lips, ns 1 had done
many times since its receipt, and I won
dered if her heart was still true to the
sentiment expressed In it.
,
The harvest moon was resplendent
nnd the white beams came into the win
dow where I sot In my night robe, flood
ing my while drapery with light. Thero
were no hounds of human life; tho
world seemed left wholly to the crick
ets and kntydlds. With a Blgh from
the depths, of my lonely heart I re
placed tho note In its receptacle and
arose.
Turning from the window, I sow
right opposlto me, on tho other sldo
of tho room, a tall white figure. What
was it? There It stood, whllo I gazed
spellbound, motionless, mysterious. In
a lightning flash of thought Sarah's
forebodings came to me.
Then I grasped my pistol, which was
lying on the tablo beside mo.
"Now, then, If this Is a practical joke,
Intended simply to frighten mc, let
It stop," I said. It was with fiomo dif
ficulty, I confess, thnt my voice was
kept steady.
"Whoever you arc, speak and ex
plain, or I'll sco If you havo substance
enough to stop a bullet!"
I paused for a reply, but none came.
"Speak out, I say, or, as sure as thero
Is a God In Henven, I'll fire!" I called
again, and again received no reply.
The white thing remained there, In
spite of my thrents. After another
pause, during which the cold chills
chased up and down 1113 spine, I raised
my arm, took deliberate aim and fired.
A rattle of breaking glnss followed
the report of tho pistol, nnd n dark
spot appeared In tho center of the
white figure. The flash of tho pistol
had been reflected bnck, and In an In
stant I realized tha truth.
With a scornful laugh and a con
demnatory exclamation at my foollsh-
ncss, I placed the pistol on tho tablo
and got Into bed.
Then a slight Bcuflllug noise, seem
ing to come from beucath, reached my
enr, and I said, aloud, and with a laugh:
"I've stirred up the rats, at any rnte.
Hello, what's that?" I exclaimed, ns u
deep, muffled sound, accompanied by a
slight jar, Immediately followed. It
was as though a heavy door In some
distant part of tho house had slammed.
For quite a tlmo I Bat up In bed and
listened, but no moro musual sounds
followed.
Mrs. Snyder's words concerning mys
terious h'appcnlngs In my house nnd
Sarah's unreasonable fears for my safe
ty, followed by the two events just men
tioned, did have an effect upon mc, al
though tho first event was duo wholly
to nn ordinary cause, and tho Kccond,
the npparcnt sound of a slamming door,
might be, and probably was, just what
It Bcemed. A gentle night breeze had
arisen, and some of tho windows in tho
upper part of the house might havo
been left open, thereby producing
a draught nnd cnuslng nn Intervening
door to swing shut. True, tho sound
Bcemed to come from benonth me. But
then that was probably imagination.
In the silence of night a sudden nolso
Is rather difficult to locate, now often
the most common events, under un
familiar circumstances, become inex
plicable mysteries!
I am not of a superstitious make-up,
nnd therefore Sarah's vaguo fears did
not produce in mo n feeling of fright;
but there was a watchfulness about my
senses as though there were "funny
things," to use Sarah's term, nbout tho
house, which would become apparent
in due time.
Nestling my head down on the pil
low, redolent with the grateful health
giving aroma of spruce, I closed my
eyes.
Sleep did not como as quickly as I had
boasted to my old nurse It would, nnd
It was some time before my conscious
ness began to wnnder Into the domain
of vnguo fancies and Indistinct ideas
which characterize the period between
waking and Bleeping.
Then, almost before my eyes could
open, I suddenly sat up In bed nnd
listened with hearing sharpened by the
sense of expectancy which had como
over me.
Out through the silenco of my room
there camo Btcallng tho sound of a voice
but such a voice! Not possessed by
any human being, surely! Pitched on
a high, quavering tone, nnd yet bo soft
and small; so faint, ns though borne
from a great distance; so plain, as
though right at my bedside; bearing no
semblance to human tones, but never
theless undoubtedly a voice; for after
a time I could distinguish n word now
and then.
If there wero In the world weird, mis
shapen Httlo folks like fairies and
gnomes, and wo could hear their con
versation, I imagine their voices would
sound like this one to which now I was
listening.
There was no wonder Mrs. Snyder
had been Impressed by It, if tills were
tho voice she had heard.
Strange Indeed, nnd unnatural, as
though not of this world, It seemed to
mc. A creeping sensation came over
mc, not exactly like that produced by
fear; there was moro of nwe, of boI
emnity, nbout it.
Ito nn CONTINUED.
A I'lnln Direction,
Canon Knox-Llttlo told a good story
once at a church congress. He snld ho
remembered a lych-gate In front of a
benutlful church, which had been re
stored and made very nice. There wan
painted over the door: "Tills In the
Gate of Heaven," nnd underneath was
the large notice: "Go round the other
way." Household Words.
THE AMERICAN BOOK COM
PANY VINDICATED.
Tho suit for libel brought by the
American Book company against tho
Kingdom Publishing coanpuny In the
United States court at Minneapo
lis, Minn., for the publication of a
pamphlet entitled "A Foe to Amer
lean Schools," by George A. Gates,
president of Iowa college, Grln
ncll, la., in which the American
Book company was charged with
bribery and corruption in scouring tho
use of its school book publications by
teachers and school officers throughout
tho country resulted in a verdict of
libel against the Kingdom Publishing
company, and tho jury awarded tho
American Book company substantial
damages.
The teachers and school officers
throughout tho whole country arc in
terested In this vindication of tho
American Book company, because tho
pamphlet intimated that many of them
accepted bribes from the agents of this
company, and as its publications aro
used in a very large majority of tho
public schools, It Is surely gratifying
to the army of educators using them
to be thus relieved from the suspicion
of corruption of which they are directly
accused by thq author of the pamphlet.
A striking feature of the evldenco
presented at the trial was the apparent
connection of rival publishers with tho
charges made by President Gates in tho
pamphlet. These rivnls or their ngenta
evidently fabricated some of the stories
out of wholo cloth. During the trial
It was disclosed In the testimony of
II. W. Gleason, business manager for
the defendant, that 1,000 coplca of tho
first edition of tho said pamphlet wero
furnished to the office of Ginn & Co.,
Chicago, 111., by order of President
Gates, the author. This and other llko
facts Imparted to the case a strong In
dication of conspiracy to Injure the
charncter and business of the American
Book company for tho benefit of a com
petitor. It Is understood that the American
Book company has already Instituted,
or proposes to Institute, similar legal
proceedings against other parties In
strumental In the preparation and cir
culation of this pamphlet.
FROM HER VIEW.
A Lady I'mmciiKcr Chat Very, In
tcrcatctlly About Street-
Cur Etiquette.
A man standing on the back platform ol
nn east-bound Euclid car wns much ninuacd
by n conversation ho couldn't help over
licnring between two well-dressed women.
It wna nix o'clock and, of course, the car was
crowded. There were several ladies on the
platform and the two who talked were close
to the involuntary listener.
"Dreadful, isn't it, out hero?" said one
lady.
"Yes," snid the other, but what can you
do? I'm dreadfully ashamed to go home at
this, timo of the afternoon. We hnvo no
business on these cars. I dcclaro it's too
bad. Just sec nil those men standing up
an the car and all the women sitting down.
They should bo ashamed of themselves tho
women, I mean. I'm glad that some of tho
men don't get up. Tney serve tho women
just right. Men nre so foolish nbout such
things I mean giving up their seats. Of
course nine gentlemen out of every ten will
offer their seats, but I never want to accept
one. We havo no right to expect such
favors. And yet what can you dor It makes
a womnn look so foolish, hemming nnd haw
ing nnd trying to refuse a sent. I tried it
once or twice, nnd then sat down after all.
The troublo is tho men don't believe we aro
in earnest when we refuso a scat nnd I
guess most of the time they arc right. There,
look In the car now and bcc the poor, pale
faced man giving the stout womnn his seat.
It's too hnd. Thnt mnn has been bending
over a desk nil day, and I suppose the woman
hnn been out to some afternoon euchre party.
These things aro unjustly arranged. Per
Imps times will even them up. Oh. this la
your street? Good night." -Cleveland
Plnin Dealer.
GROWTH OF A GREAT MAN.
Step hy Step Ho Won Ilia "VVoy from
Oliaourlty to a. l'roud untl
Alllucnt Poaltlou.
The man who hnd come to Washington
nfter nn office was talking over old tunes
with Col. Stilwell.
"Do you remember Mr. Gowans?" asked
the visitor.
"Puflcekly well," replied the colonel;
"pufTeckly'
"I believe he settled in your city, did he
not?"
"Ycb, mill."
"Ho didn't seem to havo n great deal of
ambition when I knew him."
"There's where you show yourself a poro
judge of human nature, suh. I nevvnh snw
a man get nlong fastuh in our community,
tuh."
"Perhaps I did him nn injustice."
"You undoubtedly did, suh. Why, befo'
he had been there three weeks lie hnd got
to be a major; in less than six months ho
wns known ns 'colonel,' nnd when I left a
great ninny people were nlludin' to him as
'general.'
"Still, that doesn't prove that ho has ac
complished anything practical."
"Don't mistake, suh; don't imagine that
he has wasted his opportunities. A man
cannot achieve nil things at once, suh. His
rise was gradual, but sure. I didn't toll
you whnt happened to him aftuh I left the
city. Step by step he made his way, suh,
from major to colonel nnd from colonel to
general, nnd still onward nnd upward, until
now, suh, he hns got to be n real postmns
tcr, with compensation amounting to at
least $G00 per annum, suh." Washington
Stnr.
A Splendid Substitute.
Amy Whnt nn awkward name, a tete-a-tete.
' What U a good English substitute for
it?
Mamie A spoon holder. N. Y. Journal.
When a man becomes thoroughly content
ed ho has outlived his usefulness. Chicago
News, '