If-—i
! “The Least
Of These”
By LULU JOHNSON
Copyrighted, 1908, by Associated
* Literary Press.
Betty shuddered as the heavy iron
gates clanged behind her and she real
ized that she was actually within the
prison yard. It was her first visit to a
penitentiary, and, though she found It
not half so forbidding as she had an
ticipated, the atmosphere sent a chill
through her whole girlish figure.
Instead of rock piles, with convicts
monotonously breaking the stone, here
were flower bordered walks and
swards of softest green. But for the
high walls and the barred windows she
might well have Imagined herself In a
municipal park or on a million dollar
estate.
When she reached the office her bas
ket of delicacies was consigned with
others brought by loyal friends for the
delectation of other convicts, but the
keeper looked curiously from the tag
on her basket to Betty’s face.
“No. 11,800 hasn’t had a visitor since
he came here five weeks ago," com
mented the man significantly. “Are
you a relative?”
“No,” said the girl simply. "He was
Just good to me when I needed help.”
“He was good to lots of folks,"
grunted the warden, “but somehow
they seem to have forgotten it. He’s
In the hospital.”
JLUt? wiuucu uiuue a. iu a uuoy,
and with fast beating heart Betty fol
lowed the man in the direction of the
great gray building, in one wing of
which was located the hospital.
Moreton, ex-boss of the —th district,
was propped up in bed, and at sight of
Bessie Vynne he smiled radiantly.
Five weeks he had lain there lighting
grimly for the life that he had begun
to think was hardly worth the saving,
for Moreton had indeed been through
the valley of political humiliation.
Bess than two years before It had re
quired two husky men to guard the
door of his headquarters and keep
back the crowd of Importunate callers
who wanted financial help, influential
word or perhaps just the chance to
fawn upon the powerful political
leader.
Moreton had been the boss of his
district, ruling with a rod of iron. He
had controlled the machine through
sheer force of will power.
His enemies both without and with
in the party had fought doggedly to
break his sway, but the boss had
gritted his teeth the harder at each
fresh attack and beaten the malcon
tents into submission.
But there had come an end to his
rule, as to almost all one man control.
The opposing party had secured the
services of a political revivalist. “In
the interest of good government,” they
had explained, but the whole city
knew that it was a ruse to rid the dis
trict of its dominating boss. It meant
turning the district over to another
clique as bad, but less experienced in
municipal villainy.
And the political world had sat back
and watched the warfare with grim
smiles. Perhaps, after all, the boss
would win again. But in this they
were wrong. By a mere quip of fate
the wheel spun the other way.
The boss lost, and after loss of power
came scandals and lawsuits. The lat
ter took most of the fortune he had
filched from the city, much of which
be had spent on the care of those who
needed It more desperately than the
taxi-.vers from whom he had filched it
so remorselessly. In reality the boss
when the blow fell could have counted
his fortune only In thousands when
his enemies ran It up to tens of thou
sands.
wnen ne leri me civu court room al
most penniless he found himself face
to face with criminal charges. Stoic
ally he had accepted his sentence of
five years in the penitentiary. Stoic
ally he had accepted his desertion by
those who had fawned upon him in
prosperity and power. A child of the
streets who had started carrying the
water bucket for the marching club,
he had become a ward heeler, a lieu
tenant and finally the boss without the
aid of family ties or family influence.
Stoically he had accepted the decision
of the hospital staff. He had an incur
able disease. He probably would not
live out his sentence.
Yet at sight of Betty Vynne’s face
his stoicism vanished, and after the
radiant smile of welcome came a. ten
derness almost pathetic.
“What are you doing here, child?” he
asked as he stroked the hand that
clasped his. “Sing Sing’s a good way
for a girl to come who’s only making
her eight a week.”
The girl laughed, but her voice was
shaky.
"Just listen to the man! And I’m get
ting ten—right in this town. I read in
the paper—about—about your being so
lonesome”— The man smiled grimly.
So the papers were commenting on the
fact that he was a deserted as well as
deposed leader of men. “And I saw
the ad. of a lawyer up here who want
ed a stenographer, and I came and
got the place. I like it much better
here than in town. And I can come
to see you once a week.”
Moreton, deposed boss, leaned over
and looked into her face.
“You—come—up—here—to be near
me?”
The girl nodded her head.
“And I’ve got the nicest boarding
place with a widow, and you ought to
see her flower beds”—
Just then a physician In white uni
form came toward them.
“You can stay only five minutes,” he
I said without waiting for the formality
ef an Introduction. “I cannot have my
patients unduly excited. In a few
weeks we shall have him in fine trim.
I hope, but we don't want our treat
men^ upset by too much company.’’
Moreton's Ups set In grim lines. The
young doctor evidently did not know
that this was his first visitor.
“Dr. Lindsay, this Is one of my best
friends, Miss Betty Vynne, and her
coming can’t hurt me. Why. say. I
feel like a two-year-old right now.’’
Nevertheless the young doctor stood
near the door, and when the five min
utes were up be led Betty from the
ward.
“You can come again, as often as the
rules permit, but do not stay too long.”
The next time he made the rounds
Dr. Lindsay found Moreton oddly
quiet, his fever reduced, his pulse nor
mal.
"Doctor,” he said, with a smile, “that
girl’s coming did me more good than
all your dope. It’s good to know that
there's one person that hasn’t forgot
you.”
And then the young doctor saw that
something more than an organic dis
ease was aiming for the old boss’
heart.
“Daughter of an old friend?” he
asked casually.
“Not much—just a kid I picked up In
a tenement; took her from a sodden
old thing who was beating the life and
spirit out of her. I turned her over to
the sisters. They did the rest.”
Lindsay smiled, but he understood.
It was the ex-boss who had paid the
sisters for the girl’s care and put her
through a business school and set her
on her feet, saving a girlhood like his
own boyhood from the slums and the
gutter.
After that Moreton slowly but surely
began to mend. There was no curing
the disease, but there was every chance
to prolong his life for years if he want
ed to put up the fight. And every time
that Betty Vynne came to the hospital
he seemed stronger for the fight
For a time Dr. Lindsay watched the
case with purely professional interest,
but gradually this feeling became dis
tinctly personal. He generally met
Betty in the reception room of the hos
pital. lingered near Moreton's bedside
during her stay and escorted her to the
entrnnee when she departed.
And. oddly enough, he found many
excuses for sitting with Moreton and
learning more about "the kid’s” plucky
fight for education and self support
Before the first year of his sentence
had passed the ex-boss read young
Lindsay’s secret and one night after
Betty had paid her usual call the two
men talked it over.
“Mind you, she ain’t anybody. Nei
ther she nor I know where she sprung
from. So it’s up to you," said Moreton
warningly and yet with loving anxiety
in every word.
Young Lindsay studied the cracks in
the flooring for a few seconds, and then
he turned resolutely to his patient
"She’s true blue. There are not many
like her, no matter what sort of blood
’wirit'behlnd her, and I’m going to take
chances if she’ll have me. And, what
is more. I am going down to see her to
morrow when I’m off duty."
"Is it all right, Betty?” Inquired the
ex-boss as he stroked her hand tender
ly the next time she came. "Is it all
right, little girl?”
The girl smiled into his anxious eyes.
"Oh, Mr. Moreton, do you think I’m
half good enough for him?”
“Mind that, will you?" Inquired the
Invalid, as if addressing an audience;
then he drew the girl close. "Let me
tell you something, Betty. He wouldn’t
let me tell you before for fear you’d
think yon owed him something. He
wanted you to love him for himself.
See? But Dr. Lindsay’s got some of
the ‘boys started, and It looks like a
pardon, Betty; it certainly does.’’
She sank on her knees beside the
bed.
"Oh, that is too good to be true.”
“And that ain’t all, Betty. I had
some shares in a gold mine; thought it
was a dead one, but Lindsay he’s been
looking Into It, aid mebbe—well, just
mebbe I can take you and Lindsay on
a wedding trip over to Germany. Lind
say says the springs over there would
do wonders , for me, and Lindsay needs
a change, and—well, Betty, I’d been
dead by this time if it hadn’t been for
your coming.”
He looked up to meet the shining
eyes of young Dr. Lindsay.
"Say, Lindsay, ain’t there something
in the good book somewheres about the
least of these? I want to And that
verse. I'm going to learn it I cer
tainly am. Ah, there is so much for
me to learn and so little time!”
The Bible's Good Use of Words.
The Bible as a standard for the cor
rect use of words has been urged upon
readers by Professor Lounsbury of
Yale, writing in Harper’s Magazine.
“Make up your mind,” says Professor
Lounsbury, “that the Bible is a guide
to be followed grammatically as much
as it is morally. The language of our
version belongs to the sixteenth cen
tury. It therefore naturally contains
expressions which, though proper at
that time, nre not in accord with the
common usage of our day. Wheu it
was originally translated, which was
generally the relative pronoun refer
ring to persons. Hence we say, ‘Our
Father which art in heaven.’ More
than this, the subtle distinction found
in the employment of shall and will
bad not then become established in the
language But these do not affect the
correctness of its procedure in regard
to expressions atili met with every
where. In such cases accept Its au
thority without question and conform
your practice with it”
He Went.
Mr. Lingerlong—1 had a queer adven
ture this afternoon. Miss de Muir
(with a swift glance at thd clock)—You
mean yesterday afternoon, I presume.
—Exchange.
A WARSHIP TEST.
The Unexpected Beet to General Quar
ters at Midnight.
The ship is lying at anchor In a
distant port. It is night, and nothing
is heard but the trnmp of the sentry
on the forecastle and the ripple of
water at the gangway.
Only the officer of the deck, the quar
termaster and the guard are awake.
The entire crew are below decks and
dreaming In their hammocks.
The cabin door opens and the eaptnln
steps forth softly, fully dressed and
wearing his sword and revolver. He
speaks in a low tone to the officer of
the deck, who sends an orderly for
ward with a message. In a moment
the orderly returns, bringing with him
the drummer, who stands silently at
the mast, drumsticks in hand, watch
ing the commander.
“Eight bells”—midnight—Is struck.
At a silent signal from the command
ing officer the drummer poises Ills
sticks an instant, then sounds tho long
roll, or “alarm,” which is at once fol
lowed by the quick beat to “general
quarters.”
Instantly the scene changes to one of
apparently the utmost confusion. Four
hundred men leap from their ham
mocks. Passing a few turns of tin*,
lashings around them, they throw them
into their "nettings,” then spring to
their stations at the batteries and cast
loose the guns.
A moment more and a bright flash
and roar from the forecastle pivot gun
bursts upon the stillness and gloom of
the night, followed quickly by the
broadside battery.
Each gun is fired once, a blank
charge, but enough to show that the
gun is in good order and ready for
service.
as suaueniy tne panaemouium suu
Bides. Confusion gives place to silence
and order and not a sound is heard,
but the battle lanterns flashing along
the crowded deck reveal the well disci
plined crew standing at their quarters,
every man equipped with cutlass and
pistol, silent and alert. Sponges, ram
mers, supply boxes and battle axes ut
ter the deck; everything is provided
and ready as for action, while the
captain, accompanied by the executive
officer (the first lieutenant), with an
orderly bearing a lantern, makes a
thorough Inspection fore and aft and
below. Including the powder division,
magazines and shell rooms, to see that
nothing Is lacking which would be re
quired In real action.
At the touch of the drum the ship
has been changed from deathlike still
ness to readiness for battle, every offi
cer and man at his Btntlon, armed, si
lent, expectant—and all In less than
three minutes!—Chicago News.
Cause of Giantism.
A learned Italian doctor says that
giantism Is a morbid process, a disease
due to an enlargement of a part of the
brain which Is endowed with growth
regulating functions. When that part
of the brain enlarged, the limbs grew
to an abnormal extent nn:l other phys
ical changes occurred, the excess of
growth being chiefly In the lower Jaw,
the arms and legs. No giant ever at
tains length of days. The average life
Is only a fraction over twenty years.
Ireland has produced at least four
giants—McGrath, born In Tipperary In
1738 (he was seven feet five Inches In
height); Malone, seven feet six inches;
Murphy, seven feet three Inches, and
Charles Byrne, seven feet six Inches.
None of them ever reached great men
tal development
Old Dancss In Old Times.
In Edward Scott’s “Dancing In All
Ages” are some curious details about
the dances of old England.
“Joan Sanderson” was a “Jolly
dance" In Mr. Scott’s definition, for be
fore It was ended each lady had kissed
all the gentlemen twice, and each man
had been equally enterprising. Mary
Stuart danced the “Volta,” though
“not so high and so dlsposedly” as
Elizabeth. In King Charles’ time peo
ple danced “Trenchmore,” the “Cush
ion Dance,” “Omnium Gatherum” and
“Hoite cum Tolte."
“All In a Garden Green,” “Gathering
of Peascods,” “Lumps of Pudding,”
“Under and Over,” “The Bath,” “The
Slaughter House” and “Have at Thy
Coat, Old Woman,” are dances not
quite so old.
Tha Meaning of “Muff.”
The record of the fact that muffs
were once worn by more men than wo
men In Paris suggests the old Ingenious
definition of a muff as “a soft thing
that holds a lady’s hand without squeez
ing it.” “Muff” appears to have come
to us from German, in which language,
curiously, “muff” means not only a
hand comforter, but also a sulky per
son or a growling dog. These seem,
however, to be two different words.
Was our own metaphorical “muff” an
allusion to the effeminacy of mnff
wearers or simply an intimation that
the person was distinctly “soft?”—•
London Chronicle.
True to the Adage.
“My son, my son!” exclaimed the dis
mayed mother as she saw all her boy’s
belongings stacked in a corner of the
closet. “Haven’t I tried over and over
to teach you that you should have a
place for everything?”
“Yep," said the son cheerfully, “and
this Is the place.”—Chicago News.
Fame.
“Who was James Boswell?” asked
the teacher of the class in English lit
erature.
“He was Dr. Samuel Johnson’s press
agent.” answered the young man with
the bnd eye.—Chicago Tribune.
Good tn>nper is like a sunny day—it
sheds its brightness everywhere.
French Proverb.
i .. .
StudebaJker
S For 50 Years
I the Standard of
I Perfection in
Farm Wagons
The quality of the Studebaker Wagon is so well known that it
| needs no introduction to users of farm wagons anywhere. For 50
| years it has stood as the climax of perfection in wagon building,
S and of the tens of thousands of farmers using the Studebaker in
t this and foreign countries there is not a dissatisfied one among
i them. Brennan has a large stock of these wagons and would be
| glad of the priviledge to show them to you, explain their superior
I points and give you prices.
COME AND SEE THEM
NEIL BRENNAN
Attention!
Mr. Farmer, Mr. Business Man—
When you decide to purchase a bill of Lumber there are sev
eral things you must consider.
First. Quality of the lumber you will get.
! Second. The price you pay;
| Third. Can I get the lumber when I wrnt it?
If you want quality, honest prices and present stock, you will
j| come to us to get it. Figure with us and we both save money.
PHONE 32
Another Fresh Car of Primrose Coal
| just received.
1 -- - - - ■ —
O’NEILL O. O. SNYDER nebr. I
WINCHESTER
FACTORY LOADED SMOKELESS
POWDER SHOTGUN SHELLS
Good shells in your gun mean a good bag
in the field or a good score at the trap.
Winchester “Leader” and “Repeater”
Smokeless Powder Shells are good shells.
Always sure-fire, always giving an even
spread of shot and good penetration, their
great superiority is testified to by sports
men who use Winchester Factory Loaded
Shells in preference to any other make.
ALL DEALERS KEEPTHEM
i
To the Voters of Holt County:
Having been chosen at the primaries as the candidate for
Representative on the Democrat and Populist tickets, and be
ing just a plain farmer and ranchman I am not gifted as a
• public speaker and have no political ambitions.
But if elected its your representative it would be my pleas
ure as well as duty to carry out the wishes and uphold the
interests of all of the people of Holt county to the best of my
ability. 18-3 Respectfully, Thomas W. Wilburn.
agafB, ifi '> IT, wp-rriwr |>
ToWi)ship Order pooks, ai)d
Orders oi) GoUijh) Treasurer
MANUFACTURED A FOR SALE Eg
__BY_ •
THE FRONTIER
fsassa&s
Now is the time to subscribe - $1.5C
DR. P. J. FLYNN
Physician and Surgeon
Night Cake will be Promptly Attended
Office: First door to right over Pixley *
Hanley’s drug store. Residence phone 06
A. 9.
Abstract Coittm
Title Abstractor
Office in First National Bank Bid#.
Meat Market
With a full line of meats of all kinds
and solicit a share of the public’s
patronage.
GOOD MEATS AND LIBERAL WEIGHTS
*A. H. POE*
M. T. ELLIOTT
REDBIRD, HOLT CO., NEB.
Auctioneer
Parties wanting sales cried should
see. M. T. Elliott either at Ills place
3 miles west of Dorsey or call him
by telephone by connection with
switchboard at Lynch Postofflce
address Redblrd, Holt Co, Neb.
Sales cried ail over Holt and ad
joining counties. 12-3m-pd
C. C. FOUTS,
of O’Neill, - Nebraska.
—SAY WE DO—
Veterinary Work
and don’t you forget it. A prac
tical man with 20 years in the
business and always up-to-date.
Performs all the principal
Operations of Veterinary
Surgery,
i f
Castration of Ridgellngs, Spaying, ,
Dentistry, etc. Successfully treats
the so-called (but wrongly named)
swamp fever. Will go in any OUT
BREAK and treat it. 4
No Cure No Pay
What more do you WANT. Write
me, call and see me, or phone me.
Thelephone No. 132. _
O’Neill, - Nebraska.
! You cannot un too much care in the selection of a
FIREARM. Our 39 years’ reputation speaks for
arms that are
STANDARD. ACCURATE.'RELIABLE
j Our Line f;
RIFLES, from■* . . $3.00 to $150.00
PISTOLS, from . . 2.50 to 50.00
SHOTGUNS, from . 7.50 to 30.00
Ask your dealer for our ARMS. If he ?annot fur
nish them we will ship direct upon receipt of price.
Our catalog will interest you. Mailed free upon
request. _
J. Stevens Arms & Tool Co.,
P. O. BOX 302.
CHICOPEE FALLS, MASS. •
Don’t Be Doped
There have been placed upon the market
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phototype copies of a book of over fifty
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