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About The Loup City northwestern. (Loup City, Neb.) 189?-1917 | View Entire Issue (April 23, 1908)
IRON WAT A TALE OT THE BUILDERS OF THE WEST CXjpjz. hzu?^&TjzMj'£rAer#ZzzziJOV SYNOPSIS. The* story •‘OverIan I mountains, to btiiM up Dodge, st it: young man. noens during a trip of the ju’iil" . i »ugh the Rooky vV|. .•? are being male Tn ie Billy" ; * .itiv : \ If red Vincent, a \i:id I»i:i• • as t'adwallader. in • .n.ii* across the re mains of a niasr. u r* CHAPTER !.—Ccr.tinued. “Anthony him- If taught her: he was a tcaeheh once. She* was as peart as chain lightning; anil he had oodles of books. “Anthony went Hat broke a few , yeahs hack: lost everything, including ! his grip. Some friend put in a word for him with the old man. and he came oveh hyah to hold up this station." “Is he going to keep her here al ways?" “No, that’s fretting hint. He told me on the quiet he was fixing to take her inside and put her to school this yeah in San Francisco." “How old is she? " “She's young enough. Say, young fellehl” Uncle Billy turned sharply, and his wrords were stern. "Likely she ain’t cut afteh the pattern o’ crinoline yo're used to; but she's fast colohs all right. And if—we may see mo' like—like what's hack yondeh—I want to stake you right now to stand by Stella Anthony " “You can count on me.’’ The words were curt, but something in their utterance satisfied the driver. “Jiminy! The barn's gone!" Uncle Billy exclaimed as the stage drew near a square stone house, loop-holed like a battle ship, with tiny points of light shining through. A heavy bar rattled to the floor in side. the one door opened cautiously, and a woman appeared holding a can dle in her upligted hand. She was j tall and straight, her figure youthful in spite of unusual size; but the [ flaring flame, gleaming down over her ! breeze-tossed hair, cast aging shad ows on her face; and Alfred saw the 1 candle stick shake., "It that you, Uncle Billy?” The voice was steady, yet Alfred caught its note of terror. "Yes, honey.” Relief and tender ness blended in the answer. "The Indians—did you get through without any trouble?” “Yes. without 'rouble, now that I see my little gal's safe.” He was quickly on the ground, his arms around her. “Oh. Uncle Billy, father's—oh. I . don't know where he is! The barn's ' burned, the stock gone, and Gid and I’ve fought 'em a!!—” Her voice broke, and she hid her face on his shoulder, i CHAPTER I!. Hail and Farewell. Quickly Stella controlled herself and was going about the station duties with a quiet calmness that surprised Alfred. "We've a little barley in her. for tunate!;.-, and some blankets for the nmlo3; but the hay s gone. You'll have to unbitch for a few minutes, won’t you. Uncle Billy? They can't double without a little rest, can they?” “Yes, but not for long. We’ve got to be at Maloneys in time to send help back hyah befo’ day. The red devils ain't through hyah; there’s whisky left, and brandy, I see, and—’’ ’ Not so much. Uncle Billy. 1 burned all the brandy to make tAllets— melted all the pewter stuff, too.” ’ Well, I sweah! I didn’t reckon yo’ fatheh d. ever be short on ammuni tion.” 's ordered long ago, but the agent has’n t sent it. Father’ll come soon— I hope. It's too bad that you must ! help with the team. Uncle Billy.” “That’s no niatteh. The only thing1 is to feed and get away as soon as I can. Where'd yo’ fatheh go?” ire took some stock up to the meadows this morning; he should have been back before noon, and—” She stopped abruptly and turned away. The driver paled and looked quickly toward a tall young man busy at one of the lockers. He caught the driver’s j wordless question and nodded signif- | icantly. Stella, facing away from them, was I placing dishes on the table, “i’ll have ’ supper fur you ion,” she said present ly "We didn't dare begin to cook before for fear—for fear_” Ail right, Stella These passengehs. i Mr. Vincent and Mr. Cadwalladeh, will eat; but Hid an' I'll go and look up the j old man first.” St?!la Hashed him a grateful look 1 before nodding to the strangers, the , only acknowledgment of the introduc tion she took time for. She lighted a! lantern and :-:et it near the door; I brought a whisky flask from behind the bar, and some white cloth, and placed both beside the lantern. Alfred sickened at the broken sen tences, sinister pauses, and still more sinister preparations; yet Intently watched the hurrying workers. Old. take out the barley and feed ’em double measure. I'll help you blanket ’em in a minute.” Gideon shouldered the barley* just as Stella pulled a pile of heavy blan kets from a shelf. Alfred started for ward to help her. and felt himself bending under a load that she had lifted with ease. “I'll take them, stranger.” Czideon had dropped the barley and stepped quickly to Stella's side. Alfred turned, startled at that which his sensitive ear heard in the voice. He met a pair of black, burning eyes in a swarthy face not yet divorced from boyishness, though full manhood spoke from the straight figure and sinewy movements. Alfred needed no inter preter for that jealous look, needed no one to tell him of the instant hostility that lurked in the darkling eye and found quick response in his own heart. He relinquished the blankets and re tired to his chair, his eye the busier since hands must be idle. He looked about, upon the bar in the corner, its glittering glass and one kerosene lamp the only brightness in the gloomy room; upon the dark, weapon-hung walls, and the significant loop-holes that gleamed small and black against the starlit night without. Hare floors, rude home-made furniture —it was life more primitive than Al fred could possibly have imagined ten days before. One object removed it from sav agery, Stella's small cane rocking chair. It queened the barbarous room, an omen of coming civilization. From the chair to Stella herself Alfred's eye wandered, noting her incongruous dress, a rich lavender silk skirt, once boasting a train, though now cut half shoe short, disclosing costly French boots, one tori, at the side. Her linen waist was jewel-clasped at the white neck and belted with a zone of quartz crystals clear as diamonds. Her comb, banded with delicate pink coral, held in place a coronet of glinting golden brown braids, adorning but not dis guising the shapeliness of her perfect Stella Felt His Solicitous Though Unspoken Interest. lv poised head. And from ali this misplaced elegance a short red calico apron screamed at the eye with the ar rogance of a boor in power. Calmly unconscious of Alfred's scru tiny, Stella was coming and going, preparing the late supper. The team, unhitched but not unhar nessed, was fed, blanketed and tied to the coach wheels in front of the door; and Uncle Billy stepped inside and addressed Vincent and Cadwallader. "I reckon you two felleh3 will have to take turns gyarding that team while we're gone, if you'd care to get away from hyah with yo’ own hair on. Fiah two shots, wait a minute and fiah one, if yo're molested." Gideon came in with an armful of wood. Alfred saw him answer the driver's unspoken call, saw both leave the house without looking at Stella, though her apprehensive eyes followed them through the door into the night. The simple supper of bacon, bis cuits, potatoes, beans and dried-apple pie was on the table. Stella pushed up a short bench and beckoned to Alfred. He rose and shook his head. "No, I'll let Mr. Cadwallader eat first," he said, and took his guu and disap peared. “Cracky, this is good!" Phineas ex claimed as he looked over the table. "Milk, by the eternal!” “Yes, but it’s our last. I guess. They got the cow. I—” She stopped abrupt ly and left the room. Phineas was at heart a coward, yet he strove to hide it under bravado; and he took his turn in the darkness with a half merry, half contemptuous badinage that was sufficiently deceiv ing. Alfred ate sparingly, silently, his mind intent on impending tragedy. "Your hand is hurt, sir,” Stella said as she placed the hot lacon before him. Without more words she cut the meat and buttered his biscuit. It was done quickly, incidentally. She did not falter, her face was calm. Yet when she came with old linen and home-made lotions to dress the angry burn her touch upon Alfred's hand was icy cold. The dressing was barely finished when Phineas' challenge was heard, and a white man’s voice replied. "That’s Curly Joe from Maloney's,” Stella said. “Sit still and finish your Supper," she added, as Alfred started to his feet. "It’s not Indians; you won’t be needed." Heedless of her words he followed her to the door, where she stood look ing out. "Curly Joe's brought some stock.” she said, glancing over her shoulder as he caine near, "some they had a chance to buy I heard him say. it’s in the nick of time for us." She stepped back to the table and poured another cup o', coffee. "Have this fresh cup, sir. You're not needed —now.” Alfred seated himself and she went to the kitchen, leaving him to ponder the adverb of time so significantly spoken. Stella did not return, though Al fred finished his coffee and waited, the minutes dragging with his inac tion, until the searchers returned. Stella beard them and hastened to the door, peering into the darkness. A whispered parley kept her waiting. At last Uncle Hilly stepped into the light. Stella gave him a quick look, read the answer to her mute question and fled. Alfred saw her white, set face as she passed. Duty and love are weapons that af fliction at her yvorst is compelled to respect. Alone Stella fought her quick battle for composure; and when she brought in supper for the two men her face was less stricken than Uncle Hilly's. He went to her, took1 her hands in his own, lifted his re luctant eyes to her. "Honey, you— you must go—in an hotth, less time if possible—" She met his look bravely, her voice unfaltering, though words came lame ly. “But father—I cannot leave him. Where—where is he?” “Child, we buried him—Gid and me. We did it—good, and 1 mapped the place, so you can find—but not any Injun. And. honey, you must—must get ready quick.” Stella's head drooped. Alfred saw her throat throb, her hands tighten convulsively on Uncle Billy's. “But the station, and the company's property—1 mustn't leave that till—” She lifted her face; her lips twitched pitifully. “Gid, you tell her you ain’t a boy —yo’re a man, and bravQ enough to stay hyah and keep the station till they send some one from Maloney's.'’ ‘‘Yes, Stella, you must go. Uncle Bill’s the boss. I’ll stay, as he says, till the station's manned again; then I'll follow you to—to wherever you go —always." Stella gazed alternately at her two advisers, dumbly striving to adjust her grief-stricken mind to this hard exi gency. “Oh, Gideon, I can't let you stay alone! I—” Uncle Billy laid a tender hand on her arm. "Honey! Can't you buck up to the game just a mite? Wouldn't yo’ paw tell you to?" She nodded and turned aside. Both n.eu looked at her intently, one with a passionately yearning gaze. In a moment she faced him, smiling reso. lutely, though Alfred saw unheeded tears on her cheek. “If you and Gld will eat a little sup per I’ll get ready right away. I’ll be —I’ll be good." The words trembled ofT Into a sob that was touchingly childlike. “You go right to Jakfr Bennett.” the driver said as he finished his coffee a little later. “He’s on the railroad at the ‘Front,’ whereveh that is. You tell him I sent you. Bennett is one of Superintendent Gregory's foremen, a “You’d Hardly Trust Me If I Accepted Other Terms.” squareh man—his wife's even squareh —he'll deal you a straight game, little one. There's Sally B., too, she's white, and can motheh a whole brood like you and not let one chick get a cold toe.” “And I'll follow as soon as I can slip this," Clideon added, his glance sweep ing the shadow-peopled room. “I’m coming myself, honey. I'm coming to be near you. and to watch that Sacramento four tackle the big gest job of building since Babel." Uncle Billy rose and went out. Soon all was ready. Stella waited by her trunk for the coach to swing round. “Oh, Gideon, how can I leave you?” she sobbed as he came to her side. "But I wouldn't go unless you stayed.” “All aboard, honey!” called the driver's kind voice from the dark. "Salt Lake City in ten hours!” Gideoi!* caught her in an embrace she long remembered. It was not fare well, but appropriation. "Good-bye, Moppett,” he whispered, "111 come soon.” CHAPTER III. Alfred Promises Allegiance. Alfred studied Gov. Stanford’s face keenly while the latter re-read Mr. Huntington's letter. It said in part: "For three years I have closely observed this young man and found him. I believe, peouliarly adapted to business of a delicate na ture, for which we shall have growing need. He is older than he looks and wiser than his age. His character does not altogether show in his face, and few would suspect such a slender youth of his capacity for the affairs you may require of him.” Alfred was gratified at what he saw in the governor's eyes as he looked up from the letter. “Young man. because of Mr. Hunt ington's strong letter we're going to trust you beyond your years. It will be a varied and difficult task. Do you think you will be equal to it?” “All that I can do. sir, is to promise my best effort and ask you to try me." “Can you take hectoring good na turedly?” asked Mr. Crocker. “You can't go far on such a shape as you have out west here; there's too much Harvard college and ballroom in it." The governor spoke at once. “I be lieve Vincent will safely weather re marks concerning his shape; he’ll be in cities most of the time, any%ay. ’ "It's not nice w-ork we're putting you to, Vincent,” he continued. "You'll have to meet craft with craft, scheme with scheme. And some of Cad w allader's schemes — they’re the schemes of the men behind him, yet they don’t sweeten in his hands—are far from savory. But we'll not ask you to do anything for us that’s less than honest.” “That's only safe, sir. You'd hardly trust me if 1 accepted other terms." “Here's our cipher. Use it as sparingly as possible. No man can make a cipher some other man can t read.” “Unless lie changes it often enough," Alfred added instantly. The governor smiled and turned to the superintendent. “1 guess he'll do, Crocker.” His face relaxed, and Al fred caught a glimpse of the genial, hearty citizen who won men to his enterprises through his faith—faith in both enterprises and men. (TO BE CONTINUED.) JUST MERE PIECE OF STRING The Important Part It Plays in Japanese Life. Writing from Japan, an American says: “You must come here to ap preciate some of the quaint customs and usages which contact with other peoples has not yet driven out. To read about them gives you only a poor idea. For instance, did you ever know what an important thing a piece of string is here? The children, workmen idlers, servants, all carry pieces of string for use in case of emergency. “With us the emergency would arise only when a parcel had to be done up, but the Jap uses his piece of string as a first aid to the injured, to repair a rent in his clothing, to fix a broken J down Jinrikisha, to mend tools, to take measurements and, in fact, tki. '“e is his universal tool chest. “The queerest use to which it (8 according to my way of thinking, t when a police officer arrests a man, ties a bit of string about the arrested man's wrist and then leads him by the loose end of the thin hempen fetter to the lockup. You ask: 'Why doesn't the Jap crook broak the string and iind a gateway?’ He could, but he would not. That’s where his respect for the law conies in, and the bit of string holds the man as securely as though he were manacled by our own humane chilled steel, nickel-plated and snap-locked method.” - / Vibrations of the Sea. “Marine seiches,” or "vibrations of the sea,” are pulsations usually having periods of 15 to 20 minutes, though varying in different localities, and they occur on coasts in addition to the waves of short duration due to wind and those caused by the regular ebb and flow of the tide. They have brought out various theories. A recent study has been made by Prof. Gio vanni Plntanta at Catania. Sicily, and he concludes that the principal cause is air waves or variations of ntmos pherlc pressure. The Result of Modern Education. I am not afraid of a race of fools; I am afraid of a race of rickety human encyclopuedlcttes, who are a nuisance to everyone and a health drawback.— 0. H. R. Dabbs. M. D., In Fry’s Maga sine. THE TRANSPLANTING OF | FULL-GROWN TREES It Can Be Successfully Done If Great Care Is Taken in the Operation. Central Tunnel Made. I The question often arises as to what is the limit in size and age at which a tree may be transplanted. The an swer is that these items depend en tirely on local conditions. Should a tree only have to be moved to a short distance a very large specimen could be satisfactorily transplanted. Kx cept for special reasons, however, it is not advisable to attempt an unrea sonably large tree. As a guide, any deciduous tree may be attempted up to 40 feet in height, with a trunk diam eter of 12 or 15 inches. Coniferous trees such as pines and cedars are not so easily transplanted; as a rule, their roots do not ramify so well and there is a difficulty in keeping the ball of soil frcrn breaking. The character of the soil is a great factor in the transplanting of trees. Should it be a moderately strong loam, or even of a clayey nature, it will be the best possible kind for transplanting front. In such soil plen ty of fibrous roots are formed, and they held the soil together well. In very sandy soil, even if fibrous roots are produced, there is always the Jaa one being 12 inches wide and 4 inches thick, and long enough to protrude from 6 to S inches on each side of the ball. The first illustration shows the work advanced to that stage when the tun nel is ready for the planks. As soon as these planks are placed in position and packed up firmly to the ball, the soil is dug out all round the latter to the depth of the lowest roots, sever ing strong roots and being careful to preserve fibrous ones from in jury. During this work care is taken by accurate measurements to ensure an equal distribution of weight. The second picture shows the work ad vanced to this stage; the ends of the central planks are seen. A stout can vas is then placed round the ball of soil of roots and bound tightly with ropes, pieces of wood 3 or 4 inches wide and one-half inch thick being placed between the rope and canvas to keep the ropes from cutting into the soil. The next item is to excavate sufficient soil, above the planks al ready placed in position, along each side of the ball to admit cak boards Sde Trenches Made. ger of the light Fund trickling away from the roots during transit. Heavy clay, again, although it hinds to gether well, cannot be said to be the best material for the purpose, as the necessary ground work is much more difficult. When a tree growing in very sandy soil must be transplanted; it is advisable to dig a trench round the stem, leaving a ball of soil rather less in diameter than it is proposed to move eventually, and after filling the trench with good soil leave it for 12 months; this will encourage a 9 inches wide and lit inches thick, then the two remaining sides are ex cavated in the same manner to admit similar boards, the ends of which rest on those of the other side boards. The ends of these boards protrude 9 inches on each side of the ball. Pieces of soft rope are then tied round the trunk of the tree, taken under the corners of the side boards and made fast round the tree again. All four corner ropes are then laced together, which results in a general strength ening of the whole ball. The third Ready for Lifting. greater amount of root fibers. The same thing may he done with trees that form large roots; by cutting a trench and neatly severing all large roots, then filling up with new soil and leaving for 12 months, small fibrous roots are encouraged, and the tree may be transplanted with greater hopes of success. For trees that are to be transplant ed in the method shown tn the Illus trations. the bail ol soil surrounding the roots may he from 5 to T'j feet square, li o O'*, lint being a good workable slste. The depth depends ee tirely on the roots; usually front t-M'j to 3 feet will be found th>- necessary depth. After the >■ ' f hall ha been decided on, it is nttoi.ed not alt solutely Rtpiare; then la the cm;or of two opposite widen holes are ma t-' 2*, to 3 feet aide to » depth Of !' Inetie,. below tin' lower roots The n --,t item - is to tunnel under the ball b*!cn the roots, the tunnel being mate large, (uuiitl to admit two tint* nl.rtun, < a h ; photograph shows the work at this stage: note the method of tightening the ball together with ropes and can vas. Should Strain the Milk.—A great deal of the milk delivered at our creameries is nol -trained upon the farm. The blitter-tuaker who strains the milk before it goes into the re ceiving vat must either recognize the truth of this statement, or otherwise conclude that some of the patrons use mostjiilln netting for strainer cloths. Can Rely on Dairying.—Wheat may fail and (tux tuny tall, hut the farmer who Is making dairying a feature ef his work lias something to telj on The need cow is the farmer's beet friend, hut there are many who appar ently do not realise it Know Your Mrrd. ,\;nn\ a man waste# ton# of rood each tear through tfittoranoo of the laws of teedtun The tit;.: thing la to lea rt yv'Ut h THE PAINTING SEASON, Good results in painting at the least cost depend largely upon the material chosen. Paint is a simple compound and the ingredients can be easily test ed. The solid part or pigment should be White Lead. The liquid part should be Linseed Oil. Those best in formed on painting always buy these ingredients separately and have their painter mix them fresh for each job. Before the mixing the test is made. Place a pea-sized bit of White Lead on a piece of charcoal or piece of wood. Blow the flame against it and see what it will do. If it is pure Wrhite Lead, little drops of bright, pure metallic lead will appear, and with pa tience the White Lead can be com pletely reduced to one globule of metal lic lead. This is because pure White Lead is made from metallic lead. You may test dozens of other so called White Leads and not be able to reduce one of them to lead. If th-^v will not change wholly to lead but leave a residue, it is clear that some adulterant is present. If you should have your painting done with such materials, no matt- r how cheap they might seem, it would be costly in the end. National Lead Company, Wood bridge Building, New York City, are sending on request a blowpipe free to any one about to have painting done, so that the White Lead may be test ed. With it wrill be sent a handsomely printed booklet having as its frontis piece the “Dutch Boy Painter,” re produced from the original painting. This little painter has become noted as the guaranty of pure White Lead. WANTED THE WORLD’S OPINION. Prisoner Had to Have That, Though He Went Without Luxuries. A certain prisoner landed in jail al most penniless. He was a man who had figured in a number of the town's shady transactions and his name was pretty well known. A few days after his incarceration he wrote to a friend asking for a monthly allowance of ten dollars to be continued during his term of imprisonment. The friend, re membering past favors, remitted the amount each month during a period that covered two trials and the long time intervening. One day it occurred to him to inquire into the manner of expending tha allowance. He sup posed it was used to bity occasional extra meals, a few cigars and newspa pers, but just as a matter of curiosity he asked for paritcuiars. He found, to his astonishment, that the prisoner had never ordered an extra meal and bad not smoked a cigar all the time he had been in jail. ‘ Then what in thunder,” demand ed the man, ‘‘have you been doing with that ten dollars a month?” “I subscribed to two press clipping bureaus,” replied the prisoner coolly. ’ You don't suppose, do you. that I am going to pass through this, the most critical time of my life, without find ing out what everybody has got to say about me?” CURE AT CITY MISSION. Awful Case of Scabies—Body a Mass of Sores from Scratching—Her Tortures Yield to Cuticura. “A young woman came to our city mission in a most awful condition physi cally. Our doctor examined her and told us that she had scabies (the itch), incipient paresis, rheumatism, etc., brought on from exposure. Her poor body was a mass of sores from scratch ing and she was not able to retain solid food. We worked hard over her for seven weeks but we could see little improve ment. One day I bought a cake of Cuticura Soap and a bottle of Cuti cura Resolvent, and we bathed our patient well and gave her a full dose of the Resolvent. She slept better that night and the next day 1 got a box of Cuticura Ointment. In five week3 this young woman was able to look for a position, and she is now strong and well. Laura Jane Bates, 85 Fifth Ave., New York, N. Y., Mar. 11, 1907.” Discipline Above All. Near Settat, in Morocco, during a fierce engagement, a soldier of the French foreign legion was struck by a Moorish bullet and fell flat on his face. “He is dead,” said his corporal, lean ing over him. Lifting a battered face, the legionary groaned: ‘‘No, corporal; not dead, but badly hurt.” “Where is vour packet of lint?” demanded the corporal. “I have forgotten it,” said the soldier, trying to wipe away the blood. “Two days’ arrest.” shouted the corporal, and lifting the wounded man onto his back he staggered to the nearest doctor amid a hail of bul lets. The Farmer’s Retort. “What do you call veour red auto mobile, mister?” drawled the old farm er at the drawbridge. “The ‘Fool Killer.’ ” bantered the man in goggles. “I call it that because It kills all the fools who happen to cross in front of it. The old farmer cleaned his pipe with a straw and then replied, evenly: “That so, mister? Wall, is there any chance of it blowing up and kill ing the fool Inside?” Important to Motners. Examine carefully every bottle of CASTOR1A a safe and sure remedy for Infants and children, and see that it Bears the Signature In Use For Over 30 Years. The Kind You Have Always Rouftht. I.et him who would move the world first move himself.—Socrates. A