Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About The Plattsmouth journal. (Plattsmouth, Nebraska) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (April 1, 1909)
ROSALIND JIT RED GATE 3ByC MEREDITH NICHOLSON llluttratlona by RAY WALTERS "On the west Bide; "Then we're ia for a scrap. That beggar goes down there for water; and he'll see that there's another man on the Island. I had a gun when I came," he added mournfully. He stamped his feet and threshed himself with his arms to restore circu lation, then we went Into the larger room, where he dug his own revolver from the trunk and pointed to the shot gun in the corner. "You'd better get that. This fellow has only a knife In bis clothes. He'll be back on the run when he sees your canoe." And we heard on the Instant a man running toward the hut. I opened the breech of the shotgun to Bee whether It was loaded. "Well, how do you want to handle the situation?" I asked He had his eye on the window and threw up his revolver and let go. "Your pistol makes a howling noise, Gillespie. Please don't do that again The smoke Is disagreeable." "You are quite right; and shooting through glass Is always unfortrtiate! there's bound to be a certain ileflec- tion before the bullet strikes. You see If were not a fool I should be a philosopher." "It isn't nice here; we'd better bolt." "I'm as hungry as a sea-serpent," he aid, watching the window. "And I am quite desperate when I miss my tea." I stood before the open door and he watched the window. Wo were both talking to cover our serious delibera- tions. Our plight was not so much a matter for Jesting as we wished to make It appear to each other. I had experienced one struggle with the Italian at the houseboat on the Tlppe canoe and was not anxious to get within reach of his knife again. I did not know how he had captured Gilles , pie, or what mischief that amiable per son had been engaged In, but inquiries touching this matter must wait. "Are you ready? We don't want to Ehoot unless we have to. Now, when I say go. jump for the.opcn." He limped a little from the cramp ing of his legs, but crossed over to me cheerfully enough. His white troiis- ers were much the worse for contact with the cabin floor, and his shirt hung from his shoulders In ribbons, "My stomach bld3 me haste; I'm go ing to eat a beefsteak two miles thick If I ever get back to New York. Are you waiting?" We were about to spring through the outer door wjien the door at the rear flew open with a bang and the sailor landed on me with one leap went down with a thump and a crack 'of my head on the floor that sickened me. The gun was under my legs, and I remember that my dazed wits tried to devise means for getting hold of it As my senses gradually came round I was aware of a great conflict about me and over me. Gillespie was engaged In a hand-to-hand struggle with the sailor and tbo cabin shook with their strife. The table went down with craah, and Gillespie geeiaed to be having the best of It; then the Italian was afoot again, and the clenched ' swaying figures crashed against the trunk at the farther end of the room. And there they fought In silence, save for tbe scraping of their feet on the puncheon floor. I felt a slight nausea . from the smash my head had got, but I began crawling across the floor to ward the struggling men. It was grow ing dark, and they were knit together against the cabin wall like a single monstrous, swaying figure. My stomach was giving a better ac count of Itself, and I got to my knees and then to my feet I was within a yard of the wavering shadow and could distinguish Gillespie by his white trousers as he wrenched tree and flung the Italian away from htm; and In that Instant of freedom I heard the dull Impact of Gillespie's fist In the brute's face. As the sailor went down I threw myself full length upon htm; but for the moment at least he was out of business, and before I had sat isfied myself that I had firmly grasped htm, Gillespie, blowing . hard, was kneeling beside roe, with a rope In hts hands, T think he panted. "I should like champignon Baure with that steak, Donovan. And I should like my pota toes lyonnalse the pungent onion ts a spurring tonic. That will do, thanks, for the arms. Get off his legs and I'll see what I can do for them. You oughtn't to, have cut thst rope, my boy. You might have known that we were going to need It. My father taught me In my youth never to cut a string. 1 want the pirate's knife for a souvenir, I kicked It out of his hand when you went bumpety bumpety. How's your head?" "I still havo It. I-t's get you out side and have a look at you. You think he didn't land with the Ulfo?' "Not a bit of It He nearly squeezed the life out of me two or three tlmos. thourh. What's thnt" "He gave me a Jab with his sticker when he made that flying leap and I guess I'm scratched." Gillespie opened my shirt and dis closed a scratch across my ribs down ward from the left collar bone. The first Jab had struck the bone, but the subsequent slash had left a nasty red line. Gillespie swore softly In the strange ! phrases that he affected while be tended my Injury. My head acted and the nausea came back occasionally. I sat down in the grass while Gillespie found the sailor's pail and went to fetch water. He found some towels In the hut and between his droll chaff ing and his deft ministrations I soon felt fit again. "Well, what shall we do with the dago?" he asked, rubbing his arms and legs briskly. We ought to give him to the village constable." That's the law of It. but not the common sense. The lords of Justice would demand to know all the why and wherefores, and the Italian consul at Chicago would come down and make a fuss, and the man behind the dago would lay low and no good would come. When will Holbrook be back? that's the question." "Well, the market has been very feverish and my guess Is that he won't last many days. He had a weakness for Industrials, as I remember, and they've been very groggy. What he wants Is his million from Miss Pat, and he has own chivalrous notions of collecting It." We decided finally to leave the man free, hut to take away his boat. Gilles pie was disposed to make light of the whole affair, now that we had got off with or lives. We searched the hut for weapons and ammunition, and having collected several knives and a belt and revolver from the trunk, we poured water on the Italian, carried him Into the open aud loosened the ropes with which Gillespie had tied him. The man glared at us fiercely and muttered Incoherently for a few min utes, but after Gillespie had dashed another pall of water on him he stood up and was tame enough. "Tell him," said Gillespie, "that we shall not kill him to-day. Tell him that this being Tuesday we shall spare his life that we never kill any one on Tuesday, but that we shall come back to-morrow and snake shark meat of him. Assure him that we are terrible villains and man-huuters " "When will your employer return?' I asked the sailor. He shook his head and declared that he did not know. "How long did he hire you for?" "For all summer." He pointed to the sloop, and I got It out of him that he had been hired In New York to come to the lake and sail it. "In the creek up yonder," I said, pointing toward the Tippecanoe, "you tried to kill me. There was another man with. you. Who. was he?" "That was my boss," he replied, re luctantly, though his English was clear enough. "What is your employer's same?" I demanded. "Ho'brook. I sail his boat, the Stlllet to, over there," he replied. "Dut It was not he who was with you on the houseboat In the creek. Mr. Holbrook was not there. Do not He to me. Who was the other man that wanted you to kill Holbrook?" ' He appeared mystified, and Gilles pie, to whom I had told nothing of my encounter at the boat-maker's, looked from one to the other of us with a puzzled expression on his face. "All he knows is that he's hired to sail a boat and, Incidentally, stick peo ple with his knife," said Gillespie In disgust. "We car. do nothing till Hoi brock comes bacl?: let's bo going." We finally gathered up the Italian's oars, and, carrying the cantund nrmi, went to the east shore, where wo nut off In Gillespie's rowboat, trailing the Italian's boat astern. The sailor fol lowed us to the shore and watched our departure In silence. We swung round to the. western shore and got my ca noe, and there again the Italian sullen ly watched us. "He's not so badly marooned," said Gillespie. "He can walk out over here." "No, he'll waft for Holbrook. He's stumped now and doesn't understand us. He has exhausted nis orders ana Is sick and tired of his Job. A salt water sailor loses his snap when he gets as far Inland as this. He'll de mand his money when Holbrook turns up and clear out of this." We passed close to the Stiletto to get a better look at her. She was the trimmest sailing craft in those waters, and the largest, being, I should say, 37 feet on the water-line, sloop-rigged, with a cuddy large enough to house the skipper. As we drew alongside I stood up the better to examine her, and the Italian, still watching us in tently from the Island, cried out warn Ingly. "He should fly the signal, Owner not on board,' " remarked Gillespie as we pushed off and continued on our way. The sun was low In the western wood as we passed out Into the larger lake. Gillespie took soundings with his oar In the connecting channel, and did not touch bottom. "You wouldn't suppose the Stiletto could get through here; It's as shal low as a saucepan; but there's plenty and to spare," ho said, as be resumed rowing. "Llut It takes a cool head" I began then paused abruptly; for there, sev eral hundred yards away, a little back from the western shore, against n strip of wood through which the sun burnt redly, I saw a man and i woman slow ly walking hark and to'th. Gillespie laboring steadily at the oars, bopuh not to see then, and I ndo no sIrii. Aly hcari raced for moment as I watched them,pace bark and forth, for there was .something familiar in both figures. I knew that I had seen them before and talked with them; I would have sworn that the man was Henry Holbrook and the $irl Helen; and I was aware- that when they turned, once, twice, at the ends of the path. the girl made some delay; and when they went on she was toward the lake, as though shielding the man from our observation. The last sight I had of them the girl stood with her back to us, pointing Into the west. Then she put up her hand to her bare head as though catching a loosened strand of hair; and the wind blew back her skirts like those of the Winged Victory. A second later the trees stood there alertly, with the gol den targe of the sun shining like a giant's shield beyond; but they had gone, and my heart was numb with foreboding, or loneliness, and heavy with the weight of things I did not understand. Gillespie tugged hard with the bur den of the tow at his back. I will not deny that I was uncomfortable as I thought of his own affair with Helen Holbrook. He had. by any fair Judg ment, a prior claim. Her equivocal attitude toward him and her inex plicable conduct toward her aunt were I knew, appearing less and less heln ous to me as the days passed; and I was miserably conscious that my own duty to Miss Patricia lay less heavily upon me. I was glad when we reached Glen arm pier, where we found IJIma hang ing out the lamps. He gave me a tele- HAS HF..UTIHL DISPLAY OK SPUING MlLI.lXHItY. wm "Who Was the Other Man That Wanted You to Kill Holbrook?" gram. It was from my New York ac qualntance and read: Holbrook left here two' days ago; desti nation unknown. "Come, Gillespie; you are to dine with me," I said, when he had read the telegram; and so we went up to the house together. 1 Millinery Store of Miss Myern 1 las Mahiti-t'Ut Assortment of Ladies Hats. The last three days of last week were opening days for the several millinery stores of the city. Among those placing ou display the spring line of millinery was that of Miss Myers . This lady has a magnificent display of spring millinery In her store, the stock being of her per sonal selection and one which every lady In the city will do well to look over before making a purchase. Miss Myers Is herself a practiced and fin ished milliner and she this year made a very careful selection of the lead ing styles for her stock. The hats which she purchased are of the latest designs, being the creations of the most noted masters of the milliner's art and she has none in stock but what are artistic and handsome. It has been a long time since this city has had bo fine selection to choose, from as this spring brings forth, and It can bo said with truth that Miss Myers' selections are above all others for handsomeness of de sign and elegance of finish. , For those who care for the very latest creations no better stock over was placed before the people than Miss Myers carries. In addition to the large variety and the striking pat terns which she has, she has selected them with a view to meeting every ant of her patrons in regard to price. Of course, It has been her aim to secure the very finest which money could buy and as she is In the market to sell the goods, she Intends o give the people the benefit of low prices on fine goods and close them out. It Is quite certain that the stock of Miss Myers attracted large crowds on all three of her opening days last week and that all who attended wero loud In praise of her splendid Judg ment In selecting the line which would meet the taste of the women of the city. This In itself Is enough to Indicate that her stock will not last long and should serve as a warn ng to those who desire to buy ll-.at they must hurry, otherwise they will find the very choice hats gone before they have any chance to buy them. ; n, millkk Kirrrnxs TO I'LATTSMOl'TH. CHAPTER XV. I Undertake a Commission, j uuiespie availed nimseir of my wardrobe to replace his rags, and ap peared In the library clothed and In his usual state of mind on the stroke of Beven. 'You should have had the - doctor out, Donovan. Being stuck Isn't so funny, and you will undoubtedly die of blood-poisoning. Every one docs now adays." "I shall disappoint you. IJIma and I between us have stuck me together like a cracked plate. And It Is not well to publish our troubles to the world. If I called the village doctor he would kill his horse circulating the mysterious tidings. Are you satis fled?." "Quite so. You're a man after my own heart. Donovan." We had reached the dining room and stood by our chairs. 1 should like," he said, taking up his cocktail glass, "to propose a truce between us " "In the matter of a certain lady?" "Even so! On the honor of a fool,' he said, and touched bis glass to hit Hps. "And may the best man win," he added, putting down the glass un emptied. He was one of those comfortable people with whom It Is possible to sit In silence; but after Intervals which we found nothing to say he would, with exaggerated gravity, make ome utterly Inane remark. To-night his mind was more agile than ever, his thoughts leaping nimbly from crag to crag, like a mountain goat' He had traveled widely and knew the ways of many cities; and of American political characters, whose names were but vaguely known to me, he discoursed with delightful Intimacy; then his mind danced away to a tour he had once made with a company of acrobats 'whose baggage he had released from the grasping hands of a rural sheriff. "What" he asked, presently, "is as sad as being deceived In a person you have admired and trusted? I knew a fellow who was professor of something In a blooming collego, and who was so poor that he had to coach delinquent preps in summer time Instead of get ting a vacation. I had every confi dence in that fellow. I thought he was all right, and so I took him up Into Maine with me Just the two of us and hired an Indian to run our camp, and everything pointed to plus. Well, I always get stung when I try to bo good." , Ho placed his knife and fork care fully ncross his plate and sighed deeply. "What was the matter? Did he bore you with philosophy? "No such luck. That man was weak- minded on the sublcct of domestical- i:. rji mm m ilk f . mm : " T ( M iT.vt-.r.'.T--!' 1 W: M fussing. M-'i .t-f- mm m it ' CoDvriaht 1909 The Howe of iCuppc&hciiBcr , Chicago TAKE A LESSON FROM SISTER- the other fel lows, if you haven't any. She gets ready early for Easter. She don't wait until the last minute of the last day. True, you don't need to do dons much advantaf e vou have in , ' being a man. You can drop in here any day and tret a fault- lessly tailored Spring suit in len minutes ready to put on. More than that, our big assortment and single patterns, en ables you to make a se lection to fit your indi viduality like a glove. Now is the time to pick it out. Suits like the picture $20 TO S30 other good onc3 $10 TO S20 C. E. Wescott's Sons, "Where Quality Counts.' After Living Several Years In Mis souri Comes Hack to Old Home, Henry Barnum Miller, the former Plattsmouthlan and well known throughout this section as one of the beBt fellows in the world, enme In this morning and will be found in the future at J. E. McDaniel's dlspens ing liquid cheer to the public. Bar ney's many friends In the city will be glad to welcome his advent once more lno tho community. He has been en gaged In farming down In Missouri for several years and had made a suc cess of It but the temptation to re turn to this city and once more em bark In business was too great and he accepted a very flattering offer which Mr. McDaniel made him. He ecently had a thrilling experience near the town of Jamesport where he was situated and really thanks his stars he's alive now to tell it. A band of Bafe blowers had been operating in that section and the sheriff was out In pursuit of them. He called at "Barney's" house and, finding he haa a gun, Impressed htm into service and they started out in pur suit of the men, Mr. Miller doing the driving. Turning a corner of the road they came upon tho bandits who at once opened fire. The first bullet spun dangerously close to Mr, Miller, the singing of the bullet be ing quite distinct. A red hot fight followed but the sheriff and his deputies Boon had the men going. they being armed with automatic rifles while the robbers had the or dinary guns. One robber was killed and another wounded while the third made his escape. "Barney" was well satisfied to escape with his hide and he wants no more bandit hunts In his. In company with Claus Speck, he will preside over Mr. McDaniel's bar In the future and In securing him it can safely said that Mr. McDaniel has mado no mistake. BUYS GARAGE IN CALIFORNIA Walter Thomas and Son, Cecil, Locate on Pacific Coast Cecil Thomas, one of the brightest and most popular young nun of this vicinity departed this noon on the fast mall for Long Beach, Cat, where he goes to take charge of a large au tomobile garage recently purchased by his father Walter Thomas and Mr. II. J. Helps, formerly of this city. Mr. Helps who will bo remembered as the former efficient master mechanic of the Burlington in this, city, and Mr. Thomas only a very short time since concluded the purchase of this garage with tbe ultimate Intention of de veloping it later Into a, factory for the manufacture of automobiles and motor cycles with both of which ma chines Mr. Cecil Thomas Is familiar. The latter young man, has a, great deal of natural mechanical ability and In the management of the garage and the repair department, he will make, a great success., The people of Long Beach ..are tq.be congrat ulated upon securing h,ls services. He has been acting as carrier on R. P. D. No. 2 and during tho time he has filled this position he has made himself a popular favorlto with tho patrons of, the line. He has In variably made hs route regardless lcutli of Dr. Mathews. Dr. H. L. Mathews died at his home In this city at 4 o'clock Tues day morning, at the age of 86 years, ho hnd lived In tho county for 42 years, and had been a practicing physician up to a few years ago, when ho was obliged to give up his practice on account of hts failing eyes. He leaves three daughters and one son. Tho above notice from the State Journal conveys to the many friends of Miss Pattlo Mathews the sad In telllgpnco of the death of her father. While Dr. Mathews was not widely known in this city, ho hnd a num ber of warm friends who are greatly grieved and shocked at the untimely ending of IiIh Illness. In the hour of their affliction, tho sorrowing family can know thnt the sympathy of all goes out to them. of tho weather and when he was un able to use his motor cycle, he found a horso or team for the work. His brother Clare, takes his place as the substitute carrier and doubtless will give the route the same careful atten tion. A large number of his young friends gathered at his home sever al nights ago and tendered him a fare well party which was a clear demon stration of his being appreciated In the neighborhood where both he and his father were born and where his grandfather ex-Senator S..L. Thomas has lived for fifty-three years. The best wishes of all hts friends go with him in his new venture. Mr. Thomas has been a member of the choir of St. Luke's church for a number of years and one of his chief regrets was hts being compelled to leave this choir and tho splendid training which Prof. Austin had given him. He is loud In his praise of the benefits which Prof Austin had given him during the time he had been un der his direction and he also appre ciates the many pleasant hours he had spent In company with the members of the choir. K. J. Colemnn Die. Eugene J. Coleman, a well known farmer living four miles north of Glcnwood. died very unexpectedly Monday night at 8:45 He was In his usual health on Sunday, and he and hts wife were at the Ceorgo I'itzen berger home, spending the day there. On Monday morning about 9 o'clock ho was suddenly taken with a dizzy spell while about his work. Dr. Plimpton was summoned shortly af terwards, but thought It nothing moro serious than a bad billions at tack. Tho doctor left sonic medicine with directions for Its use. About 12 o'chxk ho sank Into a stupor or sleep from which It, was Impossible to arouse him. Mr. Coleman wns 64 years of age and had milled in tho vicinity of Clciiwi.od ami Hillsdale for the pnst 15 years. He Is survived by a wife and three sons. The funeral will be held at the West Oak Friends church, at 10 o'clock Wednesday morning and bur ial will be made In tho Hillsdale ccm cemetery. Mills County (la;) Tri bune The E. J. Coleman referred to above was the father of It. E. Cole man of this city mention of whose trip to Clenwood was mado In yes terday's paper. MITM K TO ( ItKDITOItS In County Court. In llin mutter of the estate of John It. MitlMlhKer. ileceared. Notice U hrrtiy Klven t tint the cred itor of mid pRtatn will moot the fxeeiitors of onlil mtnta. before met, County JiKlKft of Cnm County, Nehran. ka. at thfl County Court room In Piatt mouth, In rnilil County, on thn 29th lav of Mun-li. li!), ami on the :nth day of September. 1U0. at 10 o'clock a. m., emh iliiv for the purpoKo of prenent Imk their Ha Inn for examination, ad- jummii'iii ami allowance. Six month are allowed for the cred itor of en Itl tlcrcHxei) til iteent their rliiltn ar I one year for the exerutora to itlle m M eMuto, front the t'ilh day of March, l0!l. W linen my hntnl and sen) of aald Coutitv Court, nt I'liittemnuth. Nebraa Un, thin ixt diiv of March, (Seal.) ' Allert J. Heeon. i'ounty Judge. IV O. invyer. f Attorney for r'tate.