11
JIT
RED GATE
HByC
MEREDITH NICHOLSON
Illustrations by
RAY WALTERS
KM WALltKS jj u
c
boat shoes made scarcely any Bound.
He turned once and looked back and,
finding that I was alone, began
amusing himself with feints and
dodges, for no other purpose, I
fancied, than to perplex or wind me.
By this time I had grown pretty
angry, for a foot r;ce in a school gar
den struck me with disgust as a child
ish enterprise, and I bent with new
spirit and drove him away from hi3
giddy circling about the summer
house and beyond the only gate by
which he could regain the wood and
meadow that lay between the garden
and hla boat. Ha turned hla beau
from side to side uneasily, slackening
bis pace to study the bounds of the
garden, and I felt myself gaining.
Ahead of us lay a white picket fence
that set off the vegetable garden and
marked the lawful bounds of the
school. There was no gate and I felt
that here the chase must end, and I
rejoiced to find myself so near the
runner that I heard the quick, soft
patter of his shoes on the walk. In
a moment I was quite sure that I
should have him by the collar, and I
had every Intention of dealing severe
ly with him for the hard chase he had
given me.
But he kept on, the white line of
fence clearly outlined beyond him;
and then when my hand was almost
upon him he rose at the fence, as
though sprung from the earth Itself,
and hung a moment sheer above the
sharp line of the fence pickets, his
w hole figure held almost horizontal, In
the fashion of trained high-Jumpers,
for what seemed an Infinite time, as
though by some witchery of the moon
light. I plunged Into the fence with a
force that knocked the wind out of
me, and as I clung panting to the
pickets the runner dropped with a
crash Into the midst of a glass vege
table frame on the farther side. He
turned his head, grinned at me sheep
ishly through the pickets, and gave
a kick that set the glass to tinkling.
Then he held up his hands in sign of
fiurronriar and T finw that thpv WPTA
cut and bleedjng. We were both badly
blown, and while we regained our
wind we stared at each other. He
was the first to speak.
"Kicked, bit or stung!" he mut
tered, dolefully; "that saddest of all
words, 'stung!' It's as clear as moon
light that I'm badly mussed, not to
say cut."
"May I trouble you not to kick out
any more of that glass? The gardener
will be here In a minute and fish you
out."
"Lawsy, what Is it? An aquarium,
that you fish for me?"
He chuckled softly, but sat per
fectly quiet, finding, It seemed, a cer
tain humor in his situation. The
gardener came running and swore In
broad Scots at the destruction of the
frame. We got over the fence and re
leased our captive, who talked to him
self In doleful undertones as we
hauled him to his feet amid a renewed
clink of glass
"Gently, gentlemen; behold the
night-blooming cereus! Not all the
court-plaster In the universe can glue
me together again." He gazed rue
fully at his slashed arms, and rubbed
his legs. "The next time I seek the
garden at dewy eve I'll wear my tin
suit."
"There won't be any next time for
you. What did you run for?"
"Trying to lower my record it's a
mania with me. And as one good
question deserves another, may 1 ask
why you didn't tell me there was a
glass-works beyond that fence? It
wasn't sportsmanlike to hide a mur
derous hazard like that. But I cleared
those pickets with a yard to spare,
and broke my record."
"You broke about seven yards of
glass," I replied. "It may sober you
to know that you are under arrest.
The watchman here bai a constable'i
license."
"He also has hair that suggests the
common garden or boiled carrot The
tint Is not to my liking; yet It !
not for me to be captious where the
Lord has hardened his heart."
"What Is your name?" I demanded.
"Gillespie. R. Gillespie. The 'R' will
Indicate to you the depth of my hu
.ulllty: 1 make tt a life work to hide
the fact that I was baptized Regl
nald."
"I've been expecting you, Mr. Gilles
pie, and now I want you to come over
to my house and give an account ol
yourself. I will take charge of thli
man, Andy. I promise that he shan't
et foot here again. And, Andy, you
need mention this affair to no one."
"Very good, sir."
He touched his hat respectfully.
"I have business with this person
Say noshing to the ladles at St. Aga
thn's about him."
He saluted and departed; and with
Gillespie walking beside me I started
for the boat landing.
He had wrapped a handkerchief
shout one arm and I kave him rov
I tied It up for him.
"That jump deserved bolter :...,
I volunteered, as he acce; u u r.:y yld
in sileuce.
you kindly tell m wLo ifcu uevil von
"My nnr.ie is Dcnjvua."
"1 don't wholly ci.re lor it." Le ob
served, mourm'u'ly. "Think it 3ir
and see if you can't do better. I'm
not lure that I'm going to grow fond
of you. What'a your business with
me, anyhow?"
"My business, Mr. Gillespie, is to
see that you leave this lake by the
first and fastest train."
"Is it possible?" he drawled, mock
ingly. "More thaa that," I replied in his
own key; "it is decidedly probable."
"Meanwhile, it would be diverting
to know where you're taking me. I
thought the other chap was the con
stable." "I'm taking you to the house of a
friend where I'm visiting. I'm going
lo row you in your boat. It's only a
short distance; and when we get there
I shall have something to say to you."
He made no reply, but got into the
boat w ithout ado. I turned over in my
mind the few Items of information
that I had gained from Miss Tat and
her niece touching the young man
who was now my prisoner, and found
that I knew little enough about hitn.
He was the unwelcome and annoying
suitor of Miss Helen Holbrook, and
I had caught him prowling about St.
Agatha's in a manner that was Inde
fensible.
He sat huddled In the stern, nursing
his swathed arms on his knees and
whistling dolefully. The lake was a
broad pool of silver. Save for the
soft splash of Ij Una's paddle behind
me and the slight wash of water on
the near shore, silence possessed the
world. Gillespie looked about with
some curiosity, but said nothing, and
when I drove the boat to the Glenarm
landing he crawled out and followed
me through the wood without a word.
I flashed on the lights In the library
and after a short inspection of his
wounds we went to my room and
found sponges, plasters and ointments
In the family medicine chest and
cared for his injuries.
"There's no honor in tumbling Into
a greenhouse, but such Is R. Gilles
pie's luck. My shins look like scarlet
fever, and without sound legs a man's
better dead."
"Your legs seem to have got you
Into trouble; don't mourn the loss of
them!" And I twisted a bandage un
der his left knee-cap where the glass
had cut savagely.
"It's my poor wits, If we must fix
the blame. It's an awful thing, sir, to
be born with weak intellectuals. As
man's legs carry him on orders from
his head, there lies the seat of the
difficulty. A weak mind, obedient
legs, and there you go, plump into the
bosom of a blooming asparagus bed,
and the enemy lays violent bands on
you. If you put any more of that
stlng-y pudding on that cut I shall
undoubtedly hit you, Mr. Donovan.
Ah, thank you, thank you so much!"
As I finished with the vaseline he
lay back on the couch and sighed
deeply and I rose and sent Ijlma away
with the basin and towels.
"Will you drink? There are 12 kinds
of whisky"
"My dear Mr. Donovan, the thought
of strong drink saddens me. Such
poor wits as mine are not helped by
alcoholic stimulants. I was drunk
once beautifully, marvelously, nobly
drunk, so that antiquity came up to
date with the thud of a motor car hit
ting an orphan asylum; and I saw
Julius Caesar driving a chariot up
Fifth avenue and Cromwell poised on
one foot on the shorter spire of St.
Patrick's cathedral. Are you aware,
my dear sir, that one of those Bpires
Is shorter than the other?"
"I certainly am not," I replied,
blftntly, wondering what species of
madman I had on my hands.
"It's a fact, confided to me by a
prominent engineer of New York, who
has studied those spires dally since
they were put up. He told me that
when he had surrounded five high
balls the north spire was higher; but
that the sixth tumblerful always
raised the south spire about 11 feet
above It. Now, wouldn't that doddle
you?
"It would, Mr. Gillespie; but may I
ask you to cut out this rot "
"My dear Mr. Donovan, It's indeli
cate of you to speak of cutting any
thingand mo with my legs. But I'm
at your Bervlce. You have tended my
grievous wounds like a gentleman and
now do you wish me to unfold my
past, present and future?"
"I want you to get out of this and
be quick about it. Your biography
doesn't amuse me; I caught you
prowling disgracefully about St. Aga
tha's. Two ladles are domiciled there
who came here to escape your annoy
ing attentions. Those ladles were put
In my charge by an old friend, and I
don't propose to stand any nonsense
from you, Mr. Gillespie. You seem
to be at least half sane "
Reginald Gillespie raised himself on
the couch and grinned Joyously.
"Thank you thank you for that
word! That's JuRt twice as high as
anybody ever rated me before."
"I was trying to be generous,'
laid. "There's a point at which I bo-
gin to be bored, and when that'
reached I'm likely to grow quarrel
some. Are there any moments of the
day or night when you are less a fool
than others?"
wen, nonovan, i ve orten spncu
lated about that, and my conclusion
Is thift my mind Is at Its best when
I'm asleep and enjoying a nightmare
Then. I have sometimes thought, my
Intellectual parts are most Intelligent
ly employed."
"I may well believe you," I declare
nn asperity, -.now i nope i can
pound It Into you In some way that
; cir -esente In this neighborhood Is
"And I'm going to rive ycu safe co.i
iu t tr.rotigh the lines or If neces
iary I'll tny your tiel.t ar-i st:rt you
tor New Yi.:k Au.l an aluoa
of ! . ; : i you, yjail go peaceably
kaow ;Le v. hereabouts of these la
d.es.'" He reflected gravdy for a moment.
"I think." he said, "that oa the
whole that's a fair proposition. But
you seem to have the impression that
I wish to annoy these ladies."
"You don't for a moment imagine
that you are likely to entertain them,
do you? You haven't got the idea
that you are necessary to their happi
ness, have you?"
He raised himself on his elbow with
some difficulty; flinched as he tried to
make himself comfortable and began:
"The trouble with Miss Pat l "
"There is no trouble with Miss Pat."
I snapped.
"The trouble between Miss Pat and
me Is the same old trouble1 of the
buttons," he remarked, dolorously.
"Buttons, you idiot?"
"Quite so. Buttons, Just plain,
every -day buttons; buttons for button
ing purposes."
The fellow was undoubtedly mad. I
looked about for a weapon; but he
went on gravely;
"What does the name Gillespie
mean? Of what is tt the sign and
symbol wherever man hides his
nakedness? Button, button, who'll
buy my buttons? It can't be possible
that you never heard of the Gillespie
buttons? Where have you lived, my
dear sir?"
"Will you please stop talking rot
and explain what you want here?" I
demanded, with growing heat.
"That, my dear sir, is exactly what
I'm doing. I'm a suitor for the hand
of Miss Patricia's niece. Miss Patricia
scorns me; she says I'm a mere child
of the Philistine rich and declines an
alliance without thanks, it you must
know the truth. And it's all on ac
count of the fact, shameful enough, 1
admit, that my father died and left me
a large and prosperous button factory."
"Why don't you give the infernal
thing away sell It out to a trust '
"Ah! ah!" and he raised himself
again and pointed a bandaged hand at
me. "I see that you are a man of
penetration! You have a keen notion
of business! You anticipate me! 1
did sell the infernal thing to a trust,
but there was no shaking It! They
made me president of the combina
tion, and I control more buttons than
any other living man! My dear sir, I
dictate the button prices of the world.
I can tell you to a nicety how many
buttons are swallowed annually by
the babies of the universe. But I
hope, sir, that I use my power wisely
and without oppressing the people."
Gillespie lay on his back, wrapped
in my dressing-gown, his knees raised,
his bandaged aims folded across his
chest. Since bringing him into the
house I had studied him carefully and,
I must confess, with increasing mys
tification. He was splendidly put up,
the best-muscled man I had ever seen
who was not a professional athlete.
His forearms and clean-shaven face
were brown from prolonged tanning
by the sun, but otherwise his skin was
the pink and white of a healthy baby.
His short light hair was combed
smoothly away from a broad fore
head; his blue eyes were perfectly
steady they even Invited and held
scrutiny; when he was not speaking
he closed his lips tightly.
I half believed the fellow to be
amusing himself at my expense; but
he met my eyes calmly. If I had not
caught a lunatic I had certainly cap
tured an odd specimen of humanity
He was the picture of wholesome liv
ing and sound health; but he talked
likea fool. The Idea of a young woman
like Helen Holbrook giving two
thoughts to a silly youngster like this
was preposterous, and my heart hard
ened against him.
You are flippant, Mr. Gillespie, and
my errand with you Is serious. There
are places In this house where I could
lo'.-k you up and you would never see
your button factory again. You Reera
to have had some education "
"The word does me great honor,
Donovan. They chucked me from
Yale In my Junior year. Why, you
may ask? Well, It happened this way:
You know Rooney, the Bellefontalne
Cyclone? Ho struck New Haven
with a vaudeville outfit, giving exhi
bltlons, poking the bag and that sort
of fake. At every town they Invited
the local sports to dig up their bright
est amateur middle weight and put
him against the Cyclone for five
rounds. I brushed my hair the wrong
way for a disguise and went against
him."
"And got smashed for your trouble,
I hope," I Interrupted.
"No. The boys In the gallery
cheered so that they fussed him, and
he thought I was fruit. We shook
hands, and he turned his head to snarl
at the applause, and, seeing an open
ing, I smashed him a hot clip In the
chin, and he tumbled backward and
broke the ring rope. I vaulted the
orchestra and bolted, and when the
boys finally found me I was over near
Waterbury under a barn. Ell wouldn't
stand for It, and back I went to the
button factory; and here I am, sir, by
the grace of Cod, an Ignorant man."
"How did you find your way here,
Gillespie?" I demanded.
"I suppose I ought to explain that."
he replied. I waited while he re
flected for a moment. He seemed to
he quite serious, and his brows wrln
kled as he pondered.
"1 guessed It about half and for the
rest, I followed tin; heaven klsrlng
Rtack of trunks."
lie ginncen at mo quickly, n:
though anxious to see how I received
his woids.
"Hae you seen anything of Henry
Koibrcok in your lra.ejs? Be careful
ujw; 1 want the truth."
-i ,...t .. i. i .
niium.) uat? noi. i nope you
('on't think" Gillespie hesitated.
"It's not a matter for thinking or
iue.-siui: I've tut to know"
"On my honor I have not seen aim.
and I have no Idea where he is."
I had thrown myself into a chair
beside the couch and lighted my pipe.
My captive troubled me. It seemed
odd that he had found the abiding
place of the two women; and if he
had succeeded so quickly, why might
not Henry Holbrook have equal luck?
"You probably know this trouble
some brother well," I ventured.
"Yes; as well as a man of my age
can know an older man. My father's
place at Stamford adjoined the Hol
brook estate. Henry and Arthur Hol
brook married Bisters; both women
died long ago, I believe; but the
brothers had a business row and went
to smash. Arthur embezzled, forged,
and so on, and took to the altltudlnous
timber, and Henry has been busy
ever since trying to pluck his sister.
He's wild on the subject of his wrongs
ruined by his own brother, deprived
of his inheritance by his sister and
abandoned by his only child. There
wasn't much to Arthur Holbrook;
Henry was the genius, but after the
5 1 50
Iky
"I Suppose I Ought to Explain That.
It
I' :T.V. n
5
1- v- .
A i
vzr.
V2Z
5
fl you want to buy an extra pair of trousers cheap, buy
IB them here and NOW. This is our Annual sale. We
lave divided them into 4 prices as above. Some of them
worth 54.50 and S6.00. All new goods, since the Hood last
ummer. 1 heseare cash only at these prices.
C. E. Wescott's Sons
"Where Quality Counts"
bank went to the bad he sought th
consolations of rum. He and Henry
married the Hartrldge twins who were
the reigning Baltimore belles in the
early '80's so runneth the chronicle
But I gossip, my dear, sir; I goBSIp
which Is against my principles. Even
the humble button king of Strawberry
Hill must draw the line."
When Ijlma brought In a plate of
sandwiches he took one gingerly In
his swathed hand, regarded It with
cool Inquiry, and as he munched It, re-
marked upon sandwiches In general
as though they were botanical speci
mens that were usually discussod and
analyzed In a scientific spirit.
"The sandwich," he began, "not un
happily expresses one of the saddest
traits of our American life. I need
hardly refer to our deplorable nation
al habit of hiding our shame under a
blithe and misleading exterior. Chick
en sandwiches In some parts of the
world are rather coarsely marked, for
purposes of Indentiflcatlon, with pin
feathers. You may covet no nobler
fame than that of creator of the Fly
ing Sandwich of Annandale. Yet the
feathered sandwich, though more pic
turesque, points rather too directly
to the strutting lords of the barnyard.
A sandwich that Is decorated like a
fall bonnet, that suggests, we will say,
the milliner's window or the plumed
knights of sounding war "
With a little sigh, a slow relaxation
of muscles, Mr. Gillespie slept. I
locked the doors, put out the lights,
and tumbled Into my own bed as the
chapel clock chimed two.
In the disturbed affairs of the night
the blinds had not been drawn, and
I woke to find the room flooded with
light and my prisoner gone. The doors
wore locked as I had left them. Mr,
Gillespie had departed by the win
dow, dropping from a little balcony
to the terrace beneath. I rang for
IJimu and sent him to the pier; and
before I had finished shaving the boy
was back, and reported Gillespie'
boat still at the pier, but one of the
canoes mlssln;;. It was clear, that In
the sorry plight of his arms Gillespie
had preferred paddling to rowing. Be
neath my watch on the writing table
I found a sheet of note paper oa which
was scrawled:
Dear Old Man: I am having ons of
those nightman! I mentioned In our de
Itjtht ful conversation. I feel that I tin
about to walk In my Bleep. As my flan
nels are a trifle bluggy, pardon loss of
your dressing-gown. Yours. H. a.
I'. 8.-I am willing to pay for tha glass
and medleal attention; but 1 want a re
bate for that third sandwich. It really
tickled too harshly aa It went down.
Very likely this accounts for my somnam
bulism, o
When I had dressed and had tny
coffee I locked my old portfolio and
tossed It Into the bottom of my trunk.
Something told me that for a while,
at least, I Bhould have other occupa
tion that contributing to the literature
of Russian geography.
Goring Damage Suit
(Continued From First Page.)
Witness saw Beggs go Into Gerlng's
drug store, but did not see any liquor
n him after he came out. Beggs was
a stranger to him. Witness thought
this took place on the next to the last
Sunday in June.
Plaintiff rested at 10:20 a. m.
Immediately after the announce
ment of the plaintiff's rest In rebuttal
a short recess was held and then ar
gument of counsel commenced. At
2:30 this afternoon Mr. Matthew
Gering, who had opened the argu
ment for the plaintiff, was still speak
ing. Mr. Gerlng's argument was one
of the best and most effective he has
ever delivered In this city. He took
up the evidence as adduced in the
trial of the case and analyzed It in
detail, showing how the plaintiff In
his opinion had established a com
plete and clear case of conspiracy be
tween the defendants Leyda and
Beggs to Injure and destroy the rep
utation and business of the plaintiff
by securing the bottle of liquor and
then having a prosecution started by
the state. His speech was marked
by an intense and powerful eloquence
at times rising to flights of oratory
Inspired by feeling most Intense. His
tilhute to the virtues of his brother
were touching In the extreme and
w hen he spoke of the humiliation
which the arrest had caused many
eyes filled with tears. His bursts of
Invective and denunciation toward
the defendant wero fierce and marked
by a passion deep and lasting. He
denounced the defendant Leyda for
his participation In the plot In un
measured terms and paid his respects
to the witnesses Glenn and Carter In
unnuiasured Invective. Altogether
hla argument was well worth listen
ing to.
The ense will likely go to the Jury
this evening sometime, and a verdict
If renrhd at all will probably be giv
en before bedtime tonight.
The first rehearsal of the "Passion"
was held last evening, and the first
scene will be given Sunday morning,
February 28.
WINS THE
DEBATE
A Notre Diune Lady's Appeal.
To all knowing sufferers of rheu
matism, whether muscular or of the
Johns, Hiintien, lumbagos, backache,
pains In the kidneys or neuralgia
pains, to write to her for n homo
treatment which has repeatedly cured
all of these tortures. She feels It
her duty to send It to all sufferers
FUKIC. You cure yourself at home
as thousands will testify no change
of climate being necessary. This
simple discovery banishes uric ncld
from the blood and brightens the
eyes, giving elasclty and tone to the
wholo system. If the above Interests
you for proof address Mrs. M. Sum
mers, Ilox It, Notro Dame, Ind.
CHAPTER IV.
I Explore Tippecanoe Creek.
My first care was to find the garden
er of St. Agatha's and renew his
pledge of silence of the night before;
and then I sought the ladles, to make
sure that they had not hern dli
turbed by niy collision with Gillespie.
Miss Pat and Helen were In Sister
Theresa's pretty silting room, through
whoso windows the morning win I
blew fresh and cool.
"This Is a day for the open! You
must certainly venture forth!" 1 be
gan, cheerily. "You see, Father
Steiliard chose well; this Is the most
(Continued next Issue,)
A Notable Hvrnt In Cliurcli Music
St. Luke's Choir will give A. R
Gaul's "Passion" music during the
Lenten season. Prof. Austin has
shown great confidence In the ability
of hla choir, as the "Passion" music
Is a work of considerable difficulty,
and Is seldom undertaken except In
larger titles. The "Passion" Is of
great religious solemnity, and Is dl
vlded Into six scenes, viz: "The Trai
tor at the Table," "The Denial nt the
Palace," "The Unjust condemnn
(Ion," "The Mocking on Calvary."
"The Shadow of Death," and "The
Holy Sepulchre." One scene will In
given each Sunday morning during
the Lenten season, and the work will
be given 111 Its entirety lis It 11 Kaster
service. The citizens of liattsmouth
are fortunate In having an opportunl
to lo hear this classic masterpiece. It
has, probably, never been mulct
taken by a 1ml r as small as St
Luke'H, but that It will be given fit
ting and proper rendition, under
Prof. Austin's direction, Is assured.
Plattsmoulh Team Defeats Represen
tatives of Weeping Water
The Joint debate between the
Weeping Water and Plattsmouth.
league teams occurred last evening.
The contest took place In the audi
torium of the high school buolding
and commenced shortly after 8
o'clock. The subject was "Resolved,
That disputes between Labor and
Capital in the Railroad Business
Should be Settled by Bonrd of Ar
bitration With Compulsory Power."
The local schools were represented
by Mr. John Falter, and Misses Marie
Douglas and Josephine Hall, all of
whom made excellont arguments o'
the propostltlon.
The arguments advanced by
Misses Douglas and Hall were worthy
of special mention. Both of these
young ladles are excellent speakers
and their arguments showed that
they had given the subject careful
consideration and study. To their
work enn be laid the fact that the
local school snatched tho victory
from their competitors.
The negative side of the question
was taken by the Weeping Water
team composed of Mr. John Clark,
Misses Grace Teegarden and Mary
Hungatc, all of whom advanced,
sound reasons for their position and
made eloquent and able arguments.
Tho Judges were Mr. Greyson of
Council Bluffs, la., schools, Miss
Maeken of the Omaha high school
and Mr. Ppecdle of the Benton, Neb.,
schools, all Judges of good Judgment
and ability.
Preceding the debate Mr. K. IL
Wescott favored the large audience
with r.n Instrumental solo and Mr.
W. G. Brooks with a vocal solo, both
In n very pleasing mnnner.
While awaiting the decision of tho
Judges Mr. Ben Windham gave a
humorous reading and Mrs. J. W,
Gamble a vocal solo, both of which
was most heartily applauded.
Despite tho ability shown by the
three Weeping Water debaters, the
Judges believed that Plattsmouth.
made the best showing and was en
titled to the prize and so decided.
A reception was tendered by the
members of the Senior class and the
faculty of the high school to the vis
iting team, the faculty and students
of the Weeping Water high school,
who had accompanied the team to
this city, during the evening. This
was also held In the auditorium. Re
freshments were served during the
progress of the reception, which au
gmented the pleasures of the even
ing. Those attending the debate from
Weeping Water were Misses Hazel
atneson, I'ona Swltzer, Mabel Davis,
Messrs. Teegarden, I. N. Clark, Rich
ard Cromwell, Cameron Cut hey, Earl
Hunter, Harold Dunn.
Iliiy Nebraska Land.
Harry Smith has purchased a tract
of .10 acres of land with valuable Im
provements thereon, within a mile or
two of Plattsmouth, Neb., for which
he paid the handsome sum of $113
per acre, lie expects to remove his
family upon the premises within a
few weeks. Ills many friends here
will regret this contemplated change
of residence. Glenwood Opinion.