Nebraska Newspapers

    THE NEBRASKA INDEPENDENT.
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March 18, 1807
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SENATE PROCEEDINGS
WORK ACCOMPLISHED BY
THE UPPER BRANCH.
A Condensed and Concise Kon-Partisan
Report of the I.abors of the Nebraska
Senate for the Pant Week Action Taken
ob the Various Measures.
Wednesday, March 10.
In the senate a dispute arose as to
the time set for the consideration of
the Lincoln charter bill. From the
record it appeared that the time was 2
p. m. This was disputed and a motion
prevailed to correct the record to 10
a.m.
After hearing several petitions on
.' various subjects the senate went into
committee of the whole on the charter.
with Senator Howell in the chair.
Senator Talbot moved to so amend
section 6 that while seven councilman
were elected at large they should re
side in distinct wards, one from each
ward. Mr. Talbot said that under the
ward representation it would be impos
sible for the bad element to control the
city. Agreed to.
When section 7 was reached Senator
Talbot moved to change the bill so as
to allow the city attorney and water
commissioner to remain elective. Not
agreed to. He then wanted the water
commissioner's duties placed in the
hands of the city engineer. Not agreed
to. The noon hour interrupted and
the committee arose with leave to sit
again at 2 p. in.
On motion of Senator Ransom. 100
additional copies of 8. F 15, the Omaha
charter, were ordered printed for the
use of members of the house.
Recess.
. At the afternoon session consider
ation of the Lincoln charter bill was
resumed in committee of the whole and
- occupied the attention of th senate
the balance of the afternoon.
- - tjosator.-Talbot , made the ..principal
fight against it, while Senator s Mc
(Jann and Oondring were the principal
fighters for the measure.
The committee did not finish consid
eration before adjourning, and it will
be taken up tomorrow.
A motion by Senator Schaal to ap
point a committee to investigate D. E.
Thompson's charge that lobbyists
claimed they could have the Lincoln
charter bill killed for money, was
tabled, the lieutenant-governor cast fog
the deciding vote.
Thursday March 1 i.
There was little business done in the
"Jjenate today outside the Lincoln
, garter. The exposition bill was ad
vanced and made the special order to
follow the state vault bill which will
be considered tomorrow forenoon. If
the vault bill is disposed of the expo
sition appropriation bill will probably
be passed in the senate. An attempt
will be made to increase the appropria
tion, which now stands at 8100,000.
The sifting committee recommended
the passage of Veal's bill abolishing
deficiency judgments and a bill pro
viding for public scales for weighing
stock.
The senate put in the entire day on
the Lincoln charter, making the Bec
loud day devoted to that measure. The
bill was finally adopted and recom
mended for passage. Only two impor
tant amendirients were made to the
original bill. An amendment provid
ing for the submission of a prohibitory
amendment at every municipal elec
tion on petition ot 300 electors. Wheth
er it was advisable to vote on the
license question at the municipal elec
tion or the general election was freely
discussed. The municipal election was
fixed as the time.
Senator Talbot of Lancaster made a
. manly fight against the tire and police
' commission and for submission of the
charter to a vote of the people, but
failed to move the majority. After the
battle was over Senator Talbot was
congratulated by friends and senators
f rom the opposition for his straightfor
ward manner of lighting.
One important amendment offered by
Senator Talbot was adopted. It in
creases the proposed number of coun
len from five to seven, all to be
" ted at large, one from each ward.
f Friday, March 1.
Bills on third reading was the first
order this morning. The following
were read and passed;
Joint resolution 25, fixing a Friday
in the middle of the month of May as
bird day, when children in public
schools are to be taught the import
ance of preserving bird life; S. F. 40,
providing for the organization of mu
tual hail insurance companies by own-
t ers ana cultivators ot land,
I The senate went into committee of
I the whole for consideration of Senator
c Dundas' treasury vault bill.
8, A motion to make the bill a special
order for Monday was amended by a
j j.ry't.tS to recommend the bill to pass.
TV".tor Mnrnhv rl(lnrt fha Kill
Tur1 .wd
,V a.vr vv up vnu uiuiicj OMU HlLir
-1 iivui vutuionwu vuuu urcuiu"
other panic. The state had lost
- individuals had lost. Whpn n
iany citizens of a state stood
1 nTODn,e margin of bankruptcy the
ust also lose.
ints whiiu. n- a il.
i-arXertot money and allowing members
58 City.iDorl ot public lands and build-
a CO"!88 to tne vault and holding
urer responsible.
Till" tit' Mutz favored the bill. It
Tllf life the state treasury was di
",l " from the banking business of
cate. The people deserved some
ction. No precedent was neces
TB$EE Nebraska should lead in reforms.
'jairMrfgued at considerable length and
I if he a?re&t earnestness.
I lator Lea rjractii'ull v endornod t.hn
r "-on nf Kpnntnr Mnta.
He thought
Lanic in this state
had only com
r. Edked. It was time the banks ceased
Dusme8S on state money.
' f At the close of his argument the
ujmmittee arose. The bill was made a
J -acial order for 2 p. ni. Monday, and
e senate took a recess.
The trans-Mississippi exposition bill
' : considered by the senate immedi
!ily after the noon recess in commit
scf the whole. As the bill passed
s houste it appropriates 9100,000 in
exposition. '
Muiphy moved to increase
it to 8150,000. Senator Cana-
to amend the amendment
g the amount to (50,000. De-
tdulged in at some length,
S ; 1 1 of the
.1 Cans tor
9 amour
1 A1 movep
I f reducil
I ) was Sr.
r, . :natoriunaaay s amendment was
' V belnti supported only by himself
and Messrs. Dundas and t)sbora. The
amendment to increase was lot also.
The house amendment requiring t"J00,
000 of the Omaha subscription to be
collected before the state's appropria
tion should be available was reduced
to $100,000. and an amendment was
adopted limiting the expense and sal
ary of directors to 850 a month.
The committee then arose and re
ported the bill for passage.
Saturday, March 13.
A part of the forenoon was consumed
in a discussion on indefinitely post
poning 11. K. 70, the bill raising the
age oi consent to eignicen years, a
vote was taken and the bill was killed
This action leaves the present age of
consent law nncnanged.
The exposition bill was read a third
time and passed by a vote of 24 to 4
In committee of the whole the sen
ate discussed S. F. 108, relating to le
nciency judgments. ithout action
the eommitte arose and the senate took
a recess.
Hefore adjournment for the noon re
cess Senator Hansom called attention
to the fact that amendments to the
trans-Mississippi exposition bill had not
been returned from the printer, and
therefore its passage was irregular.
On motion of Senator Ransom the sec
retary was instructed to recall the bill
from the house for correction. This
was done and then on motion of Sena'
tor Ransom the vote whereby the bill
was passed was reconsidered. All this
precaution was taken in order to have
printed amendments to the bill on sen
atprs' desks.
Immediately atter the noon recess
the senate went into committee of the
whole with Senator (Iraham in the
chair and took up II. R. Q9, an act to
provide for public scales and the. ap
pointmcnt of a weighmaster. After
discussion ,it was recommended for
passage.
Senator Ransom called for the ex
position bill and it was again read the
third time. The printed amendments
had been received and the bill was
passed, by a vote of 22 to 1. Owinp to
the absence of several senators a call
pf the house would have been neces
sary to secure enough votes to pass the
bill had not henator Oundas, who op
posed the bill, voted for it. He ex
plained that he voted for it to save
time, as a call of the house would be
necessary to bring in friends of the
DUl.
Senator Ritchie remained firm and
was the only senator who voted against
the bill. Those absent and not voting
were Senator Veal, Farrell, Orothan.
Haller, Mutz, Osboru, Spencer and
Watson. Senator Canaday, who op
posed the bill, announced that he had
paired with Senator Fritz, who favored
it.
The senate adjourned till 2 p. in.
Monday.
Monday, March IS.
The senate convened today at 2 p.
m. and put in a good half day on the
state vault bill. The measure wa
taken up in committee of the whole
immediately after a flood of petitions
relating to the continuance of the
soldiers' home at Milford were read.
The bill was read in full. It provides
that the state board of public lands and
buildings shall construct a fire proof
and burglar proof vault at the capitol,
equipped with electrical devices which
will light np the dome of the capitol
and turn in an alarm at the police
station whenever the vault is touched
by any metallic substance. It shall be
so constructed as to be self-setting at
p p. m. It shall be the duty of the
state board to inspect the moiey and
count the same every month or oftener
and to appoint three watchmen, one of
whom shall be continually on guard.
All money held by the state treasurer
or other state officer and all securities
in which moneys are invested, shall be
deposited in such vault, and in no other
place, and it shall be a felony for any
state officer to deposit money in any
other place or to loan public moneys
in their hands to any person. Failure
of the state treasurer to comply with
this provision is punishable by a sen
tence of three to twenty-five years in
the penitentiary. Failure of any state
officer to deposit every evening the
funds coming into his hands during
the day, is declared a felony, punish
able by imprisonment of from three to
ten years in the penitentiary, but noth
ing in the act shall prohibit the invest
ment of public moneys in United States
securities, state securities or warrants
and bonds of counties or school dis
tricts, as the law may direct.
One or two amendments were offered
after which a motion was made to re
port for indefinite postponement and
oue to recommend for passage. Debate
on the measure was indulged in, many
of the senators disapproving of the
plan and giving their reasons therefor.
Several contended that the bill was
defective and impracticable. Senator
Murphy of Gage said its effect would
be harmful to the best interests of the
state; that the calling in of money now
in state depositories would create a
panic or prolong a panic. Senator
Mutz said it was necessary that the
state treasury be divorced from the
banks.
The bill was recommended for pas
sage, and the senate adopted the re
port of the committee.
Late in the evening the Lincoln
charter bill was ordered to a third
reading, and the clerk began. At 6
o'clock the senate took a recess till 8,
when it again met and at 9:15 the bill
was passed with the emergency clause
by a strict party vote. The vote in
detail being:
YEAS-23.
Real
Canaday '
Dearinji
Dundas
Feltz
Fritz
Gondring Lee
Oruhttm MoGanl
Gruthan Miller
Heapy Muffiy
Jeffcoat Mutz
Johnson Ransom
NAYS 4
Haller Steele
Murphy Spencer
Ritchie
Kenan
Sykes
Watson
Woller
Conoway
Talbot
ABSENT AND NOT VOTINQ-S
Caldwell Farrell Osborn
EXCUSED-1
Howoll
Senator Mutz of Keya Taha, chair
man of the committee on enrolled and
engrossed bills, reported the Omaha
charter correctly enrolled. It was
signed by the lieutenant-governor, the
speaker having signed it a few mo
ments before. Senator Mutz and a
party of friends of the bill carried it at
once to Governor Holcomb's residence
for the purpose of having him approve
it and make it a law.
Tuesday, March 16.
In the senate this morning, after a
flood of petitions had been disposed of.
the medical committee recommended
the passage of 8. F. 351. relating to the
disposition of unclaimed dead bodies.
Senator Oondring snrcee.'led in hav
ing his bill. S. F. 330. an anti-trust bill
made the sjiecial order for Thursday at
J p. m.
On recommendation of the judiciary
committee S. F. 210 was advanced to
third rjading. It provides that the
territory embraced in the corporate
limits of towns of 1.500 inhabitants
shall constitute oue school district, but
the district mav include territory not
within the city lhn its.
The senate then resolved itself into
committee of the whole for the consid
eration of S. F. 108, to abolish defl
clericy judgments.
Its introdueer.Senator Veal offered a
new section which would have the ten
dency to hold the surety for the defi
ciency. Senator Veal said he consid-
ered this a concession, as it left ample
protection for the mortgagee. In re
pfy to a question from Senator Gond-
ring he said he desired to make the
bill apply to existing contracts.
Senator Ransom interpreted the
amendment to mean that the man who
got the money and promised to pay is
to be released after the property is
sold, but that the man who befriended
his neighbor and signed a note on
which the mortgage is based is to be
sued and the deficiency judgment
wrung from him. If passed it would
brand those voting for it as repudiators.
Senator Farrell said he was opposed
to deficiency judgments, but was not
in favor of impairing existing contracts.
Senator Mutz argued that if the
amendment was repudiation then the
present law was repudiation. He did
not understand that the amendment
made any change in the present law,
as it now stands the mortgagee can
recover from the surety and the sure
ty can sue and recover from the mort
gagor. ,
Senator Murphy declared that the
amendment did not make a change in
the present law, as it released the
mortgagor from liability under a defl-
ciency. He said the amendment was
the only redeeming feature of the bilL
It was right to hold the surety for a
deficiency judgment, but wrong to re
lease the man who obtained the. money,
the man who received the considera
tion. Ii his legal liability is wiped out
his moral liability remained.
Senator Lee said he favored the huM
that its passage would put all senators
right before their constituents.
Senator Jeffeoat opposed the amend
ment but favored the bill. He said
the people did not want to repudiate
debts, but that they Mere forced to do
so by the Shylocks who had contracted
the volume of money and for that rea
son they should stand the loss of the
consequent depreciation.
When a vote was being taken hena
tor Veal admitted that his amendment
was offered at the suggestion of Sena
tor Murphy of Gage; that he did not
care particularly about its adoption
since they had failed to convert the
senator from Gage.
1 he amendment was defeated by a
vote of 15 to 9.
Senator Murphy then moved to
amend so as to prevent the act from
being applicable to existing contracts.
Here again argument was had, the
position of the senators being reversed.
Those who favored the amendment
made their argument along the line
that existing contracts should not be
mpaired, but should be held sacred,
and quoted Senator Allen on the sub
ect. Some expressed themselves as
favorable to abolishing deficiency
judgments, and would vote for tl)e bill
if that part affecting existing con
tracts were stricken out. Vut as it
was the bill was for repudiation.
those opposed to the amendment ar
gued that the measure contained no
element of repudiation, that a mort
gage under the present law placed a
value on property mortgaged and that
the loaner of money ought to be bound
by the contract, it gave to the money
loaner exactly what the contract called
for, possession' of the property mort
gaged; that under the present lawmen
were slaves, in as much as they were
pursued to the grave by deficiency
judgment, and their children after
them. Senator Veal branded the pres
ent law as a relic of barbarism that
ought to be wiped out. He closed bj
quoting the Mosiac law relating to us
ury and repeated phrases from Abra
ham Lincoln's speeches.
Senator Murphy closed the argument,
He said that existing contracts ought
not to be impaired, and called on the
members to remember the divine in
junction, "Pay what thou owest."
The amendment was defeated by a
vote of 13 to 11 and the bill recommen
ded for passage by 16 to U.
At the close of the day McGann of
Voone called for bills on third reading.
His bill, senate file 210, providing that
school districts in tow'nsof 1,500 inhab
itants shall be co-extensive with the
city limits, was read the third time and
passed with the emergency clause.
On motion of Ransom of Douglas the
chair was authorized to appoint a com
mittee to confer with a like committee
from the house on the exposition bill
Adjourned.
TROUBLE POR OMAHA.
The
Police Commission Fight Reopened
New General Election Provided.
y
Omaha, Neb., March 17. Two min
utes before midnight, last night, a bill
which had been passed under party
pressure was filed with the secretary
of state, giving Omaha a new charter.
It turned out the board of fire and po
lice commissioners, concerning the ap
pointment of which there was such a
turmoil two years ago, and gave Gov.
ernor Ilolcomb the right to name the
new board.
This right was promptly exercised
this morning, when Governor Holcomb
named as the four appointive members
of the board George P. Vemis. W. C.
Vullard, Lee Ilardman and Elmer E.
f Thomas. These, with Mavor Vroatch
as ex-officlo chairman, constitute the
new board. The old loard which was
organized under the A. P. A. law of
two years ago, has decided to resist,
and the old fight will probably be re
newed.
Missouri Appropriations.
Jkffebsost Crrr, Mo., March 15.
The House this morning passed the
general appropriation bill, which was
the subject of an all-day quarrel
Thursday. It will probably pass the
Senate without amendment It gives
the militia 920,000 and makes the usual
appropriations for state departments
except that the governor's office and
the fish commission are scaled down.
Jilt. WICKS.
CHAPTER L
THE COMING.
"Sylvia, dear, the arrival of Mr.
Wicks bids fair to amnse me more than
I anticipated. As sood Jacfc comes in
I
am going to mystify him and make
him
gness wso Mr. Wicks is and all
twuui mm.
It will be delightful to see
him puzzled, and I don't think he is
likely to find out, unless, of course, a
certain little chatterbox tells him."
The speaker, Miss Matilda Cherry
ton, a ronnd faced, smiling old lady,
who seemed to find life very smooth
and pleasant, looked across the lunch
eon table at her charge, a pretty girl of
17, whose father, her only relation, was
absent in India.
To make mysteries out of everyday
occurrences was a little weakness of
Miss Cherryton's, and the present op
portunity seemed to her too good to be
lost. .
"Do you think Mr. Wicks will have
changed much?" asked Sylvia. "But
of coarse he won't. It's only a month
since I last saw him. It seemed so much
longer." - j
"Do you find it so very dull, Sylvia, I
in this rambling old place?" asked Miss
Cherryton anxiously.
"No, no. How thoughtless of me to
have made you think that! Why, it's
delightful here, and I ara perfectly
happy." , .
And Sylvia laugheda joyous little
laugh.
"What time does Mr. Wicks come,
Miss Cherryton?" she presently asked.
"At 5 o'clock, just in time for tea.
But here comes Jack, and I give you
full leave, Sylvia, to puzzle him about
Mr. Wicks to your heart's content "
Jack strolled in to luncheon full of
apologies and goJf records, and after he
had expatiated for a considerable time
on the virtues of his club and the con
dition of the ground Miss Cherrvton
oroached the subject of Mr. Wicks.
Sylvia has a friend coming here.
she began. "He is also a friend of
mine, and I think you will like him. "
"Who is he?" asked Jack, not feeling
particularly pleased to hear of this
friend.
He is a Mr. Wicks," teplied Miss
Cherryton.
Apd," added Sylvia, "he is extreme'
ly amusing,"
Jack became thoughtful at this mo
ment and looked out of the window
and presently asked:
What is he like, aunt, and what
does he do to bo so amusing? I don't re
member the name at all. "
You mustn't be too inquisitive,
Jack, but this much I will toll you, he
is young and handsome."
Oh, indeed; young and handsome
and extremely amusing. What an envia
ble young man," and Jack's lip curled
slightly.
Miss Cherryton and I were going to
meet him at the station," said Sylvia,
blushing a little Jack noticed the
blush "but, after all, we are going to
stay at homo. You. know, Mr. Wicks is
rather an important personage, and Miss
Cherryton thought she would rather bo
here to receive him. "
"Does he hunt, play golf or shoot?"
asked Jack, hoping that these accom
plishments did not belong to Mr. Wicks.
"None of them," replied Sylvia,
with a gay little shake of her head
"Ho has lived in town most of his life,
but he is quite clever enough to iiav?
learned them all," and Sylvia blushed
again.
Jack began quite to dislike this un
known Mr. Wicks. It was an unreason
ing, indescribable antipathy, but it ex
isted nevertheless, and during the rest
of luncheon he was very silent and
monosyllabic.
But Miss Cherryton and Sylvia kept
up a lively conversation between them
selves.
"Jack, I've addressed you twice.
Where are your thoughts, my boy?" ,
"I do believe he was thinking of Mr.
Wicks," suggested Sylvia.
"Exactly," said Jack, waking from
ins reverie with a start
"I asked you if it would be safe to
let James fetch my jewels from the
bank," continued Miss Cherryton.
"Perfectly," replied Jack, and then,
asking to be excused, left the table.
Miss Cherryton was disappointed.
She would have liked Jack to have ask
ed a host of questions about Mr. Wicks.
"Jack, JaQk," she called after him,
"you have not asked where Mr. Wicks
lives."
Jack turned around, tugged at hu
mustache and said, "No, aunt," then
said something beneath his breath, and,
striding out of the house, he sought ref
uge at the golf links.
He drew out from his golf bag the
heaviest driver he possessed and drove
the ball as it had never been driven be
fore. He vented all his ill feeling upon
that ball, and between the hits burst
out into short sentences; f
"Wicks. Whataname! Why didn't
Aunt Matilda tell me more? Pooh, can't
play golf; handsome, don't believe it,"
and again the ball shot across the fields.
"Now I'll go home," he exclaimed
almost savagely, "and see this fellow
Wicks."
He was just passing the stables when
there was a sound of carriage wheels
and a clatter of hoofs, and then the
dogcart dashed around the comer into
the stable yard at a hard gallop, and
the horse, finding itself at home, stop
ped as suddenly as it had arrived, caus
ing sparks to fly from the cobblestones,
the dogs from their kennels and the
grooms from the stables. There was a
general uproar.
But the dogcart was quite empty.
It is the unexpected that always takes
plaoe, and Jack was so completely sur
prised at seeing no figures in the car
riage that he stared again at the empty
seats, but he saw only the two blue
cushions bobbing up and down as the
terrified horse, with a couple of grooms
at her head, plunged from side to side.
Then Jack grasped the situation.
"By Jove, both thrown out, or mare
bolted at the station. " Running across
the yard, la jumped into the dogcart,
seized the reins and drove rapidly along
the road to the station. While he spun
along he kept wondering to himself
what had happened, what he should
find on the road, how he should find
the stranger, Mr. Wicks ; would he be
Bafe at the station, would he be injured
by the roadside or or would he be dead?
As this last horrible conjecture flashed
across Jack's mind he recalled his wish j
of only an hour ago that Mr. Wicks
miarht never come to the houso. At the
thought be drew up the horse with a
sudden jerk, then shook the reins, and
with a stern face drove faster than be
fore. It was a lonely road, and for some
distance Jack drove without seeing a
soul. Then at a sharp turn of the road
he suddenly came upon James, the
coachman, sitting on a heap of stones.
At first Jack felt inclined to langh.
The effect of the man, in his long light
brown livery coat, seated on the top of
a heap of stones and mopping his head .
with a red handkerchief, bordered on
the ludicrous, but almost at the same 1
time he saw that it was indeed no
laughing matter, for blood was flowing
from a deep gaeb in the man's forehead.
- "The box has gone, sir. You've been
robbed," said James faintly.
"What box?" asked Jack, jumping
down from the dogcart "But never
mind the box now; we'll tie this hand
kerchief around your head and get you
home. " i
"It's the box from the bank, sir,"
continued James. j
Jack gave a long whistle of astonish-'
ment. All his aunt's jewels gone at one
swoop, but he said nothing and tied a
second ' handkerchief around James' j
head. For the moment ho had quite for- j
gotten Mr. Wicks. I
"Now see if you can't get into the
dogcart Tako hold of my arm. That's
it" Then he asked, "But what hap
pened to Mr. Wicks?"
No answer.
"You know the gentleman yon had
to meet?"
Still no answer, for James had faint
ed. Jack was up on the box soot like a
shot He loosened the man's collar.
There was do time to think of Mr.
Wicks or thieves. He whipped up the
mare, and the dust rose in clouds be
hind them.
Passing through the air so rapidly
brought James gradually back to con
sciousness, but so feeble was his condi-
tion that Jack refrained from asking ;
S hi I ? H drove straight into the
S ?J3 ""fort Jane..
SL f a.mT?u for th
doctor, and then, turning to the coach-.
man, asKea again the question, "What
happened to Mr. Wicks?'
James thought for a moment Then
he said:
"He was in the dogcart when the
mare bolted, and the- tramp didn't get
hold of him."
Then Jack ran to the house, hoping
that Mr. Wicks had arrived.
At the front door Miss Cherryton and
Sylvia met him.
"Where is Mr. Wicks?" they both
cried in the same breath.
"That's what I want to know, "re
plied Jack. "Mr. Wicks has disappear
ed. There has been a chapter of acci
dents, consisting of robbery, injury and
mystery. All your jewels have been
stolen, aunt; that's the robbery. James
has been badly hurt by the thieves, and
Mr. Wicks has disappeared. "
Miss Cherryton was ruffled out of her
complacency into saying:
"This is most unfortunate. James
ought not to have gone. There never
was a time when he didn't bungle, but
I do trust nothing serious has happened
to Mr. Wicks."
"I hope not, indeed," said Sylvia.
"What a dreadful afternoon this has
been. Can't we do something? Mr.
Ttt I ... ... I
"v ua uuii, ouu ji mmuio au
wrong to be standing here doing noth-
ing." She spoke impetuously and gazed
along the avenue of trees that led to
the house. j
Jack noticed all Sylvia's movements,
and her great anxiety for Mr. Wicks'
safety aroused all the bitter feelings he
had experienced when told of Mr. Wicks'
coming, and there was just a shade of
coldness in his voice when he said :
"I am going to walk into town to
make inquiries, and I hope to goodness
that we shall find Mr. Wicks safe and
sound somewhere. "
All this time Sylvia had been lean
ing against the doorpost with her hands
behind her back, but at this moment
she suddenly ran forward, with a little
cry of joy.
"Oh, Mr. Wicks, my weet little Mr.
Wioks, you are safe after all."
Very slowly and with extreme digni
ty a small fox tefrier walked beneath
the tall trees toward the house. With
head erect he looked from side to side,
but no sooner did he hear Sylvia's voice,
that well known voioe, than his whole
attitude changed in the twinkling of an
eye. His ears sank down flat ; his little
tump of a tail wagged frantically. He
gave one sharp, delighted bark, and
then flew toward Sylvia and positively
wriggled with glee.
"Well, Mr. Wicks, here you are at
last," cried Sylvia, taking the puppy
up in her arms and caressing him.
"You've grown a little, I think," she
remarked thoughtfully, "and you are
just as beautiful as ever; but, dear Mr.
Wicks, how did you get here all alone
Without the carriage?"
And Mr. Wicks tried hard to explain
in his own peculiar way all about his
strange journey.
go
Jack gave a deep sigh of relief,
this was Mr. Wicks.
"Now, Mr. Cherryton, you muBt ac
knowledge that all we said was true.
Isn't he handsome? And he proves him
self clever to have found his way hero,"
and Sylvia looked up at Jack with
large, wide open blue eyes.
"Yon and my aunt will both be glad
to hear that I have been completely
taken in," said- Jack, laughing. He
was so delighted to find that Mr. Winks
was not a man that he felt pleased with
everybody and everything. "And," ha
continued, "I think Mr. Wicks ig -pn-fectly
beautiful."
"There, do you hear that, Mr. Wicks?"
aid Sylvia.
Mr. Wicks evidently saw that Jack
was speaking of him, and he wriaki
up , j8 little nose, no doubt to acknowl
' edge the compliment
edge thecorupi
"Don't you admit his lovely dark
eyes?" asked Sylvia.
"Very much indeed, " was the renlv
but Jack was thinking that he infinite,
ly preferred blue.
"Have, you ever beaten him, Miss
Druce:" There was a slight twinkle in
Jack's eye.
"Beaten bim? Of course not I have
brought him up by kindness. When he's
naughty, I talk to him seriously and
caress him."
"Lucky dog," thought Jack, and he
did not again refer to the beatings.
Then he hurried away toward the
town to report the robbery of his aunt's
jewels to the police.
The following day Mr. Wicks was
missing.
He had risen early before breakfast
and had been enjoying all by himself
the delights of amateur poaching. Ho
never remembered having such fun be
fore. He had chased cats in town, but
never rabbits, and now ai he returned
home panting and with his tongue hang,
irfg out he suddenly saw just in front
of bim little brown things running
among the grass. These were Jack's
young pheasants.
Mr. Wicks stood still, with ears erect.
Then there, and there, and there, and
in a moment six little corpses lay in
the grass, and it was at this juncture
that Mr. Wicks was discovered.
Jack looked sorrowfully at his dead
pheasants that he bud so carefully nur
tured and fed upon eggs and other lux
uries, then wrathf ully at their destroyer.
"Come herel" cried Jack, who was
really angry. "Come here, sir 1"
Mr. Wicks rolled over on his back
and looked up pathetically with his
great brown eyes. This attitude of peni
tence had always touched Sylvia's
heart, but to his horror it had no soften
ing effect upon Jack, for he was seized
by the scruff of the neck and flogged
flogged until, he howled at this unto
ward treatment Sylvia, also in search
for Mr. Wicks, heard his cries and ar
rived on the scene just in time to see
the chastisement
"Mr. Cherryton, Mr. Cherry top!
How dare you?" she cried in a choking
voice. "Oh, my sweet Mr. Wicks, what
have you. beti doing?" Then, turning
t0 Jaok. Ho terald you beat him?
How could you be so cruel? You should
have askKl my leave first" And with
the most ch
arming little pout imagina-
ble she nicked nn Mr. Wick. tnclrpr!
him under her arm and walked sedate-'
ly back to the houso.
Jack followed humbly. f
"I'm most awfully sorry, Miss
Druce," he began.
"Poor Mr. Wicks!" said Sylvia, hard
ly noticing the apology. "I could hear
his cries a mile off." v
"A mile, Miss Druce?"
"Yes, quite a mile," maintained
Sylvia, not caring how much she exag
gerated on Mr. Wicks behalf.
"Won't you allow me to carry bim?"
asked Jack. "Ho's not very light"
"No, thank you," Sylvia answered,
with a very decided tilt of her chin.
Then Jack turned away and went
back to his pheasants.
"The coming of Mr. Wicks," he said
sadly in a voice that was full of de
spondency, "has been a huge mistake.
Sylvia hates me for beating him, and I
well, I am the most wretched of mor
tals." , "
(Concludd next week.)
Don't Tobacco bplt and Smoke Your Life
Away.
If VOU WflnT in nnif tnhoimn iiuinn
- iuuullu un IU
rusn sna lorever, lie made well, strong,
magnetic, full of new life and vigor, take
No-To-IJac, the wonderworker, that
'"akeMweak men strong. Many gain
P"U"ds in tn doys. Over 400,000
i ured. Vuy No-To-Vac of your druggist
under guarantee to cure, 50c or $1.
Vooklet and sample mailed free. Address
Sterling Remedy Co., Chicago or New Y.
Pardon for Thomas Wlnbourne.
t Jeffkrsos Cur, Mo., March 17. The
governor this morning granted a par
don to Thomas Win bourne, who was
sentenced to the penitentiary in April,
1894, to five years on the charge of
robbery in Jackson county. The gov
ernor was requested to issue the par
don by the judge who presided at the
trial and a number of good citizens of
Lee's Summit.
A New Law Partnership of Note.
Topeka, Kan., March 17. Ex-Chief
Justice David Martin, Attorney Gen
eral L. C. Voyle and E. C. Little, Gov
ernor Leedy's private secretary, have
formed a law partnership under a style
of Martin, Little & Voyle.
25CTS.
WILL DO
$9.60
WORTH OF
WORK.
Bend for our Electric Snider Ing Plate. It will mend
all klnrtn of Tinware uned In the home, or about
the (arm. It in alwsyn ready for one and does the
work. We want airent in every town to sell our
line of 2'yc. article. The Hie-4. Oulok eellers.
Immense protits. Mend IO Crnte for a Mam pie
Plate, and price to agent on our other kihhIr.
II . V. LKC II A CO., 1s6 lwarborn St, Chicago, 111
A Map of the United States
The new wall map issued by the Bur-
lington Itoute Is three feet four inches
wide by four feet long; is printed in six
cumin, ib iiiuuuwu on roiiers, snows
every state, county, important town
and railroad in the Union, and forms a
very desirable and useful adjunct to any
household or business establishment.
Purchased in lots of 5,000 the maps
cost the Burlington Itoute nearly 20
cents a piece, but on receipt of 15 cents'
in stamps or coin the undersigned will
be pleased to send you one.
Write immediately as the supply is
limited.
J. Francis, G. P. A. Burlington Route,
Omaha, Neb. 47
nipans Tabules: for tour stomach.
4
t
A.