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About The Plattsmouth journal. (Plattsmouth, Nebraska) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 19, 1910)
'The SILVER. HORDE i By REX BEACH. Author ot "The Spoiler" "The Barrier" and : CopyntfhL I90 by Hrp Brother CHAPTER VI. A ST) so all jour privations and hardships weut for nothing." said Mildred Way la ad when Boyd had recounted the his- tory of his pilgrimage Into the uorth. "Yes," he replied: "as a miner I am a very wretched failure." She shrugged her shoulders In dis approval. "Dou't use that term!" she cried. "There Is uo word so hateful to uie .as 'failure' I suppose because father has never failed lu anything. Let us say that your success has been de layed." "Very well. That suits me better also, but you see I've forgotten how to choose nice words." They were seated In the library, where for two hours they had reruuiu ed undisturbed, Emerson talking rap idly, almost Incoherently. "And you did all that for me," she inused. "I wonder If any other man I know would take those risks just for me." "Of course. Why, the risk, I mean the physical peril and hardship and discomfort, don't amount to that." He snapped his fingers. "It was only the unending desolation that hurt; It was the separation from you that punished ine the thought that some luckier fel low might" "Xonseuse!" Mildred was really In dignant "I told you to fix your own time, and I promised to wait Even If I had not cared for you I would have kept my word. That Is a Wayland principle. As It Is, It was compara tively easy." "Then you do love me, my lady?" lie leaned eagerly toward her. "Do you need to ask?" she whisper ed from the shelter of his arms. "It is the same old fascination of our girl and boy days. Do you remember how completely I lost my head about you?" She laughed softly. "I used to think you wore a football suit better than anybody In the world! Sometimes I suspect that it is merely that same girlish hero worship and can't last. Dut it has lasted so far. Three years is a long time for a girl like me to wait isn't it?" "I know, I know!" be returned Jeal ously. "But legions of men are courting you. Oh, I know. Haven't I devoured so ciety columns by the yard? The pa pers were six months old, to be sure, when I got them, but every mention of you was just like a knife stab to me. I used to torture my lonely soul with pictures of you. You were never out of mind for an hour. My days were given to you, and 1 used to pray that my dreams might hold nothing but you. You have been my fetish from the first day I met you, and my worship has grown blinder every hour. Mildred. Oh. my lady, how beautiful you are!" And Indeed she was, for her face, or dinarily so imperious, was now softly alight: her eyes, which other men found cold, were kindled with a rare warmth of understanding; ber smile was almost wistfully sweet lie recalled how excited he had been in that faraway time when he had first learned her Identity, for the name f Wayland was spoken soundingly In the middle west In the early stages of their acquaintance he had looked upon ber aloofness as an affectation, but a close Intimacy had compelled a recognition of It as something wholly natural. He found her as truly pa trician as Wayne Wayland. her father, could wish. The old man's domain was greater than that of many princes, and bis power more absolute. Ills only daughter he spoiled as thoroughly as he ruled bis part of the financial world, and willful Mildred, once she had taken an interest In the young college man so evidently ready to be numbered anions her lovers, did not pause half way. but made her preference patent to all and opened to him a realm of dazzling possibilities. And when he hnd graduated how proud of her he had been! How little he had realized the gulf that separated them, and how quick had been his awakening! It was Wayne Wayland who had shown htm bis folly. He had talked to the young engineer kindly'. If firmly. Irlng t(M) shrewd an old diplomat to fan the flame of n headstrong love with vigorous opposition. "Mildred Is n rich girl." the old financier had told Boyd, "u very rich girl, one of the richest girls In this part of the world, while you, my boy what have you to offer?" "Nothing! Cut you were not always what you are now," Emerson bad re plied. "Every man hns to make a start When you married you were as poor as I am." "Granted! ltf I married a poor girl from my owu station In life. For tunately she had the latent power to develop with me as I grew, so that we kept even and I never outdistanced her. But Mildred Is spoiled to begin with. I spoiled her purposely to pre vent Just this sort of thing. She Is bred to luxury, her friends are rich. ind she doesn't know any otmr kiud or life." And so It was that Boyd Emerson n;iu gi.ue to Arista, lb lae It'.oii:"' to win a furtuu.' and thus to wlu the girl tie lovwl. He fixed his own time for reluming, and so It was that Mil dred Wayland had awaited him. If today, after three years of depri vation, title seemed to hliu more beau tiful than ever-the Interval having served merely to enhance her charm and strengthen the yearning of his heart she seemed lu the same view till further removed from his sphere. His story finished. Boyd weut on to tell ber vaguely of his future pluus. and at last he asked her, with some thing less than an accepted lover's confidence: "Will you wait another year?" She laughed lightly. "You dear boy. I am not up for auction. This Is not the 'third and last call.' 1 am not sure I could Induce anybody to take uie even If 1 desired." "I read the rumor of your engage ment in a San Francisco paper." She mentioned a number of names, counting them off on her finger tips. "Then, of course, there are the old standbys. Mr. Macklln. Tommy Tup ner. the Lnwton boys" "And Alton Clyde!" "To be sure; little Alton, like the brook, runs on forever. He still wor ships you, Boyd, by the way." "Is there any one in particular?" Boyd demanded. Miss Wayland's hesitation was so brief as almost to escape his notice. "Nobody who counts. Of course father has his predilections and Insists upon engineering my affairs in the same way he would float a railroad enter prise, but you can imagine how roninn tic the result Is." "Who Is the favored party?" the young man asked darkly. "HeaJly it Isn't worth discussing. Do you remember when I offered to give It all up and go with you. Boyd?" "1 have never forgotten for an in stant" "You refused to allow It" "Certainly! I had seen too much of your Ufe, and my pride figured a bit also. But I am going to have you." He drew ber to him tenderly. "You are going to be my wife." He repeated the words softly, reverently. "My wife!" She gazed up at him with a puzzled little frown. "What bothers me is that you understand me and my life so well. while I scarcely understand you or yours at all. That seems to tell me that 1 am unsalted to you in some way. Why, when you told me that story of your hardships and all that I listened as If it were a play or a book, but really it didn't mean any thing to me or stir me as It should. I can't understand my own failure to understand. Do you see what I am trying to convey?" "Perfectly," he answered, releasing her with a little unadmitted sense of disappointment at his heart "1 sup pose it is only natural." "1 do hope you succeed this time," she continued. "1 am growing deadly tired of things. Not tired of waiting for you. but I am getting to be old: I am. Indeed. Why, at times 1 uctuul ly have an Inclination to do fancy work the unfailing symptom. Do you realize that I am twenty-five years old!" The portieres parted, and Wayno Wayland stood lu the opening. lie advanced to shake the young man's hand, his demeanor gracious and WATHB WAYLAND STOOD IN THB OPENING. hearty. "Welcome home. You have been having quite a vacation, haven't you? Let's see. Its two years, isn't It?" "Three years!" Emerson replied. "Impossible! Dear, dear, how time flies when one Is busy!" "Boyd hus been telling me of his adventures." said Mildred. "He is going to dine with us." "Have you come home to stay?" ask ed the father. "No, sir. I shall return In a few weeks." Mr. Wayland's cordiality seemed to Incxease. in tome, eubtjjj uianuer. Boyd felt himself growing numb. "What do you mean by 'packing in dustries?' " asked Mildred. "Canneries salmon fisheries! We own CO per cent of the plants of tho entire const Including Alaska. That's why I've been so keen about that north country. Boyd. You never guessed It, oh?" "No. sir," Boyd stammered. "Well, we control the supply, and we will regulate the market. Wo will allow only what competition we de sire. It was a beautiful transaction." Was he dreaming? Boyd wondered. His mouth was uryrul TT3iuauaged To inquire: "What rtlicut the independent can neries':" Marsh laughed. "There is no senti ment lu business! There are alniut 40 per cent too many plants to suit us. I believe I am capable of attending to them." "Mr. Marsh Is the general manager," Wayland explained. "With the mar ket In our owu hands and sutlleieut capital to operate at a loss for u year or two years. If necessary, 1 don't think the independent plants will cost us much." Now for the first time Emerson re alized the Impropriety of ills owu pres ent position He was here In the Way- land home under false pretences: they hud bared to hlni secrets not rightly bis with which he might arm himself. When this. too. became known to the financier he would regard hiiu not only as a presumptuous enemy, but as a traitor. Boyd knew the old tyrant loo well to doubt his course of action: thenceforth there would be war to the hilt. The announcement of dinner Inter rupted hi dismayed reflections, and he walked out In company with Mr Way land, who linked arms wilh him as if to afford Willis Marsh every advan tage, fleeting though It ni!glit prove "He Is a wonderful fellow." the old gentleman observed sotto voce, indicat ing Marsh-"one of the keenest busl ties men I ever met " "Yes?" "Indeed he Is. He Is a money maker, too: his nss(clates swear by hlni. If I were you. my boy, I would study him; he Is a good man to Imitate." At the dinner table tho talk at first war general and of a character appro priate for the hour, but Miss Wayland. oddly enough, displayed such an un usual thirst for Information regarding thi North American Packers' associa tion that her father was moved to re mark upon It. "What In the world has come over you. Mildred?" he si id. "You never cared to hear about my doings be fore." "Please don't discourage mo." she urged. "1 am really In earnest 1 should like to kow all about this new trust of .yours. Perhaps my little uni verse Is growing a bit tiresome to me." "So far hus been all hard work." Wayne Wayland at length aunouueed. "but In the future I propose to derive some pleasure from this affair. I am tired out For a long time I have been planning a trip somewhere, and now I think I shall make a tour of Inspec tion In the spring and visit the various holdings of the North American Pack ers' association. In that way I can combine recreation and busiuess." "How fnr will you go?" questioned Boyd. "Clear up to Mr. Marsh's station." "Kalvlk?" "Yes; that is the plan." Marsh chim ed in "You see. I am selfish in urging It Miss Wayland. I expect you to Join the party." "1 am sure you would like It. Mil dred." the magnate added. Boyd could scarcely believe his ears. Would they come to Kalvlk? Would they all assemble there In that unmap ped nook? And, supposing they should, bad be the courage to continue his mad enterprise? It was all so unreal! He was torn between the desire to have Mildred agree and fear of the In fluence Marsh might gain during such a trip. But Mh's Wayland evidently hrul an eye to her own comfort, for he replied: "No. Indeed! The one thing I abhor above land travel Is a sea voyage; I am u wretched sailor." "But this trip on a yacht would be worth while." urged her father. "Why. It will be a regular voyage of discov ery. I am as excited over It as a coun try boy on circus day." Marsh seconded him with all his powers of persuasion, but the girl, greatly to Emerson's surprise, merely reaffirmed her determination. "Are there any women lu Alaska?" questioned the girl. "In the mining camps, yes; but we fishermen live lonely lives." "But the coy, shrinking Indian maid ens? I have read about them." "They are terrible affairs," Marsh declared. "Not always!" Boyd gave voice to his general annoyance. "I have seon some very attractive squaws, partic ularly breeds." "Whore?" demanded the other. "Well, at Kalvlk, for Instance your home. You must know Chakawana, the girl they call 'the snowbird?' " "No." "Come, come! She knows you well." "Ah, a mystery! He Is concealing something!" cried Miss Wayland. chaI'Ti::: vn TjMEKSON ni: ., ,,, i,,.;.,,! I P.i.V Vi huge figure nil Inn h.o, iu;u the I . distant dour ' "Cull hlni m. iid Hyde quk-kty "I want In nteei inni. lie look Just i.iy soil " And accordingly, Emerson tiiotloiicd t i t!ie fisherman. Seeing there was no help for It Big George composed himself and ventured timidly across the po.-tal "Gimme a Icmniridc, quick; I'm all hot up." he ordered. "I can't get no footholt on these fancy floors, they're so dang sl'.ck " "Mr. Clyde offers to pfit (HU)OO Into tho deal If he can go to Kalvlk with us and help run the cannery." explain ed Emerson. George looked over the clubman care fully from bis curly crown to his slen der, high heeled shoes, then smiled broadly. "It's up to Mr. Emerson. I'm willing If ho Is." Whereupon, vastly encour aged, Clyde proceeded to expatiate ujmii Ijjs owji surpassing, auallllca- tlonv While he was speaking a partv f three men approached ahd seated themselves at an adjoining table As they pull-M out their chairs Itlg (Seorg chanced to clam-r In their direction then put down his lemotiade glass care fully. 'What's the- matter?" Boyd demand ed la a low tone, for the big fellow's face had suddenly gone livid, while his eyes bad widened like those of an enraged an!'.!. "That's him!" George growled. That's the dirty hound!" "Sit still!" conitnauded Emerson. 'Don't make a fool of yourself." be cautioned. "That's him!" repeated George, his eyes glaring redly. "That's Willis Marsh." "Where?" Emerson whirled curious ly, but there was no need for George to point out his enemy, for one of the strangers stood as If frozen, with his hand upon the back of his chair, an expression of the utmost astoulshnient upon his face. A smile was dying from his lips. Boyd beheld a plump, thickset man of thirty-eight In eveulng dress. There ttfi "DON'T OFFEB 1IETOCB BAND; IT'S DIItTI." was nothing distinctive about hliu ex cept, perhaps, his hair, which was of a decided reddish hue. He was light of complexion; his mouth was small and of a rather womanish appearance, due to the full red lips. He was well groomed, well fed; In all ways he was a typical city bred man. Raising his brows In recognition, he nodded pleas antly to Bait then, as If on second thought excused himself to his com pnnlons and stepped toward the other group. "How do you do. George? What in the name of goodness are you doing here? I hardly recognized you." Marsh's voice wus round and musical, his accent eastern. W Ith an assump tion of heartiness, he extended a white gloved band, which the big. uncouth man who faced him refused to take The other three had risen. George seemed to be groping for a retort Finally be blurted out hoarsely "Don't offer me your hand. It's dirty! It's got blood on It! "Nonsense!" Marsh smiled. "Let's be friends again. George. Bygones are bygones." "You dirty rat!" breathed the fisher man. "Very well. If you wish to be ob stinate" Willis Marsh shrugged his shoulders carelessly, although In his voice there was a metallic note "I have nothing to say. Mr. Bait and I had a business misunderstanding,' he said smoothly to Emerson, "which I hoped was forgotten. It didn't amount to much" At this Bait uttered a choking snarl and stepped forward, only to meet Boyd, who Intercepted him. "Behave yourself!" be ordered. "Don't make a scene." And before the big fellow could prevent It he had linked arms with blm and swung him around. The movement was executed so naturally that none of the patrons of the cafe noticed It except perhaps as a preparation for departure. Marsh bowed civilly and returned to his scat Alton Clyde clamored for enlighten ment as to the reason for this erup tion. "That la the fellow we will have to fight" Boyd explained. "He Is the head of the cannery combination at Kalvlk and a bitter enemy of George's." Clyde spoke earnestly. "Well, that absolutely settles it as far as I am concerned. This Is bound to end in a row." "You mean you don't want to Join us?" "Don't want tol Why, I've Just got to. that's alt The (10,000 is yours." A month bad elapsed when Emer son at last expressed to George the discouragement that had lain silently In both men's minds. "You've played your string out eh?" "Absolutely. I've done everything except burglary, but I can't raise that $100,000. Times are hard, aud I've bled my friends of every dollar they can spare." "It's an awful big piece of money," Bait admitted, with a sigh. "I never fully realized before how very large," Boyd said. "Aud yet without that amount the Seattle bank won't back us for the remainder." "Oh, it's no uso to tackle the busi ness on a small scnle." Big George pondered. "We'd ought to be on the coast now. We're shy CJ.'.OOO. eh?" "Yes." But the clouds were blown away n few days after when Alton Clyde threw down twenty-five $1,000 bills be fore Bovd got from a mysterious source which he refused to name. Emerson later met the leading suitor fisldi' fro'li himself) for Mildred Way IS IK land's band, a personal."1 whose exist ence he felt as a continued menace. He was visiting Mildred at ber home. Hearing voices ouislde the library. the young man asked horriedlr: "Glv ae some time alone with you, my lady. I must leave early." There was time for no more, for Wayne Wayland entered, followed by auother gentleman at the first sight of whom Emerson started, while his mind raced off into a dizzy whirl of Incredu lity. It could not be! It was too gro tesquetoo ridiculous! What prank of malicious fate wus this? He turned his eyes to the door agaiu to see If by any chance there were a third visitor. but there wus not. and he was forced to respond to Mr. Wayland's greeting The other man had meanwhile stepped directly to Mildred, as If be had eyes for no oue else, and was bowing over her hand when her father spoke. 'Mr. Emerson, let me present you to Mr. Marsh. I believe you have tiever happened to meet here." Marsh turned as if reluctant to release the girl's band, and not until his own was out stretched did he recognize the other. The two mumbled the customary sal utations. "You two will get along famously," said Mr. Wayland. "Mr. Marsh is ac quainted with your country, Boyd." "Ah!" Marsh exclaimed qulcklv. "Are you an Alaskan, Mr. Emerson?" "Indeed, he Is so wedded to the coun try that he Is going back tomorrow," Mildred offered. Marsh's first look of challenge now changed to one of the liveliest interest. and Boyd Imagined the fellow endeav oring to link him, through the affair at tho restaurant, wilh the presence of Big George In Chicago. "Yes," Boyd answered cautiously, "I am a typical Alaskan uisappomtea. but not discouraged." "What business?" "Mining!" "Oh!" Indifferently. , "Boyd has something far better thnn mining now," began Mildred. "He was telling mo about it as" "You interrupted us," interjected Emerson, panic stricken. "I didn't have time to explain the nature of my en terprise." The girl was about to put In a dis claimer when he flashed a look at ber which she could not help but heed. "I am very stupid about such things," she offered easily. "I would not have uuderstood it I m sure." To her father she continued, leaving what she felt to be dangerous ground, "I didn't look for you so early." "We finished sooner than I expect ed." Mr. Wayland answered, "so I drove Willis to his hotel and waited for him to dress. I was afraid be might disappoint us if I let him out of my sight My dear, I have effected a won derful deal today," went on ber father, "With the help of Mr. Marsh I closed the last details of a consolidation which has occupied me for many months." "Another trust. I suppose." "Certain people might call it that' chuckled the old man. "Willis was the inspiring genius and did most of the work; the credit Is his." 1 "May 1 inquire the nature of this merger?" Emerson ventured. "Certainly," replied Wayne Wayland. "There la no longer any secret about It 1 have combined the pncklng in dustrles of tho Pacific coast under the name of the North American Packers' association." Continued in next issue cor.CEfiVA ion .n nlbhask- Eck-r.t'sti Oil! ih. , ttculd Have Forest Pre Alcr.g Mittcuri River, .i. iJ. 'lo s'1 I'1' st:lta of Nu-.ia.ii. a into the awii. oi t.ie con- Bervut.u. i..o.n.tiit and to nive us u lorest Li iv e ot our own, an ussuclu- t'on of BC. ntifi'.: men has been organ Ued and u government expert has made an exam. nation of the land east of Sarpy county, between Bellevue and South Omaha. F. W. Morrell, assistant govern ment forester In the Denver oillce, has been in Bellevue during the past week going over the tract of wooded land thnt lies between the village of 3llevue and South Omaha The tract contains about 1,500 acres of steep hills and bluffs, covered with shrubbery and trees, and small parts of it are under cultivation. The plan for a state forest reserve is being fathered by an organization called the Nebraska State Conserva tlon commission and a committee of scientists, Including Professor O. E Condra and Professor P. O. Phillips of thn University of Nebraska and Professor A. A. Tyler of Bellevue col lege, contemplates the purchase of this land by the state. It would prob ably cost between $100,000 and $15D, 000. The commission believes that the land would do the state more good If allowed to grow up In timber than It ever would as farm land, and ae cording to the government forester, enough cord wood could btf sold from the waste every year to pay for the maintenance of the necessary care takers. Engineer Hurd Reports Progress. Lincoln, Sept. 16 K. C. Hurd, en glneer in charge of the physical vain atlon department of the statu railway commission, has filed a report cover lng the work his department has done from June 1 to Aug. 31. During tlint period station mnps and right of way maps have been prepared covering 1,- 321 miles. There has been Inspected a grand total of 6,11)8 miles, during which the department hns traveled 12,2.'0 miles. Of the $10,000 approprl ated for the use of tho department for the blennlum there has bten spent a total of $22,126. STORMS WR ITES SHARP LETTER Former Head c! State College In Final Word as to Board. DECLARES HE WAS IGNORED. He Assails System of Educational Coiv trol in Iowa and Says Plan of Elim inating College President Is Bad foi Institutions Belittled His Execi tive Functions. Ees Moines, Sept. 16. President A B. Storms ot the stale college, who resigned some time ago, has departed for Indianapolis, where ho will re-ea ter the ministry. Before going b wrote u sharp letter, a copy ot which he mailed to each of the members ol Governor Carroll's new board of ed cation, which letter will arouse con siderable discussion as to the ne policies which have been adopted. Declaring that he did not have chance to come to a full and frank un derstanding with the state board ot education, that he had no chance tc meet the board and discuss college in terests, President Storms says ths board system has eliminated the col lege president from tho educational system of the state. "They have Isolated the president of the college from the board and be llttled his executive function," la th substance of Dr. Storms' plaint. lie expresses surprise that the board should take upon Itself the right to elect and dismiss college Instructors without the knowledge of the presi dent, charges that It has not conferred with the chief executive when th policies of the school were under dl cusslon, even when these pollclel reached back to a time before the cre ation of the board, and that ve when matters affecting the credit ol the president as an executive wert b fore them, he was not summoned. OLIVE BRANCH FOR ELOPERS Youthful Runaways Forgiven by Pa rents at Council Bluffs. Council Bluffs, la., Sept. 16. An elopement ot two Council Bluffs young people, who fled to Kansas City, has Just ended In a victory for U wedded pair. Laurence Shlel and Miss Tina Moore were In love with each other. They are young, to young, thought the parents of both, and when It was discovered that the young people were meeting often and that they planned marriage, every of fort wus made to keep them apart, with the usual result. Miss Moor 1: nineteen years old and Shlel Is twon ty-one. They managed to get out ol town unnoticed and were married In Kansas City. Mr. Moore, the father of the girl, when he learned ot the marriage of the couple, took a train for St. Joseph, bearing an olive branch. There he met the newly wedj and prevailed upon them to return home and celebrate the wedding lu proper style. DIVORCE SUIT DISMISSED Mrs. Glfford of Marshalltown Adjust! Differences With Husband. Marshalltown, la., Sept. 16. -Wn: I promised to be the most sensational divorce ever tried In this county w.i dismissed without prejudice In tr i district court, and the proposed actio of Mrs. Phoebe Clfford against bu husband, Frank H. Glfford, saloon h... will not come to trial. Mrs. Glffo: I has returned to the city from Grlnne i, where she has been with her mothe , Mrs. M. G. Capron, and the difference existing between husband and w have been adjusted. In connectb i with the dismissal of the divorce ca: ; Gilford's case against Mrs. Capro , alleging the alienation of his wife i affections, and aBking damages in t'... mm of $50,000, was dismissed in tLi Poweshiek county court. Mary Turner, Iowa Pioneer, Daad. Des Moines, Sept. 16. Mrs. Mary A. Turner, Iowa pioneer and well knov. i philanthropist, widow of the late I)r M. P. Turner, died at her home at 8 I Forest avenue, after an Illness of ti'" weeks. Had she lived until next Tl day, she would have been elghty t .vt years of age years of which norm were spent by her In organizing an I upbuilding church and charitable r--ganlzatlons, which now occupy a prtan Inent place In the city. Newton Company Mustered Out. Des Moines, Sept. 16. AdJutrt General Igan "made good" In 1 '.3 threat to muster out all companies -"t the Iowa national guard in town where the citizens or business r. t fall to supply suitable armories. Nek ton Is the first town to be hit, the a -Jutnnt general ordering company 1. Fifty-fourth regiment, now statlor : t there, to be mustered out for the f ' reason that "i armory has rnl b : provided. David Erans Passes Away. Pes Moines, Sept. 16. David Evr -. aged fifty eight years, founder of t " Evans cafe on Walnut street, died heart failure at the Methodist 1 pltal. Mr. Evans came to Des Mo! from London, England, twenty-Be-years ago. He began work In the partment store of L. Trepanler c pany, on f'Kl wv.sessed of a fort of about JH'l.OOO.
