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^BroiSer
Sinner
Harry king Creme
~Oi:N HARDING w not
a mild man. neither was
be inclined to be super
stitious .Vs a rule he
bad small belief in
signs, presentiments or
- -* hunches, but just now
ail this was different. For he had
ees certain signs that one of his
•howls had been stolen, had a pre
sentiment that a certain unworthy
ksowr. as Shiftless Joe" had done the
foal deed and possessed a hunch that
he was about to horsewhip Joe until
he oui»<"ueaied any pig critter that
was e»er lifted over a fence on a
moonless night So. being a man of
deeds as well as thoughts, he took
down bis trusty bull whip and started
am amp ward towards the abode of his
victim to be
Now Shiftiest Joe was not reckoned
among the 4w of John Harding's com
munity, and when one is told that
there were hut 440 people in that dis
trict he will understand that the state
ment has a well-defined meaning. He
lived aiose at the edge of the big
swamp fisning in summer when it
was not too hot trapping in winter
when it was not too cold: sleeping and
loafing the year around, he was avoid
'd by the entire hard working, hard
praying settlement.
it » as a long tramp from the home
at Harding to the miserable cabin of
the trapper, and b» the time the for
mer had arrived there his righteous
wrath against the slothful sinful be
ns whom he sought was grim and un
elenttag "My house ia the house of
>rayer hot ye have made it a den ot
thieves.' he quoted sternly. Then he
"wised his fist and smote upon the
• retched door sm h a blow as Moses
>f old might have struck when he split
the rock and bade the waters gush
'orth. From within a squeak? rat
ike voice hade him enter, and through
the narrow doorway he crowded
He glanced around the cluttered
piace From one corner a thin, weasel
tike figure arose and stood cringing
before the mighty one. fear thickly
spreading hit face as he noted the
formidable whip tightly clutched in
the equally formidable hand. "Good
morning Mr. Harding. Happy New
Year" he said, fawniugly.
It ia a had morning for you. and it
Is going to be an unhappy beginning
at the New year." he retorted. "Steal
my shaat will you"' The smaller m^n
threw ap his hands with a protesting
gesture as quick denial leaped to his
*lp* But H arcing silenced him with
a roar.
"Don't add lying to your thievery,
you sheep-killing cur. One false word
from tour lips and your punishment
-ha'l be doubled. You thought you'
" “te cunning, but in several places I
found the mark of that club foot of
•■ours while you were making off with
my gojd pork. Now what have you to
say?"
Nothing, except that 1 did not steal
— Asa bear strikes, so did the heavy
arm of the invader shoot out. the hand
gr- ; ins the thin shoulder like a trap.,
■ I warned you if you lied your pun-!
shmetit should be doubled. Has not
the good Ixml commanded Thou slialt
not steal?' Thank your stars that you
! did not live in those days, for you
would have been stoned to death.
Rather, bless your luck that you have
fallen into the har..';- of a compassion
ate man.” With a hiss the lash fell
and a shuddering scream burst from
the lips of the cringing one But from
then on no sound escaped them until. ,
at last released from the iron grip. Joe
fell limply upon the frozen ground
Stern), gazing down upon his victim
for a moment. Harding turned away
It was the just punishment of a
rogue b a just man. " he muttered to
his conscience.
From a shapeless, w rithing heap the
fallen one arose, his small eyes glint
,ng with the deadly glare of a prodded
serpent. Whip me, you black devil—
■ oa usurer—you forecloser of widow’s
mortgages—you dodger of taxes—you
—>ou—” The voice rose to an inar
ticulate scream of rage. “By the Eter
nal. I'll kill you for that—yes. murder
ou in cold blood.” Then the first
“I'll Kill You for That, Yes."
wild outburst of passion passed and
into the red eves a look of cunning
crept, the cunning that outwitted
wary wild beasts and took them in his
snares.
He passed rapidly through the brush
until he came to a hollow log. from
which he drew an ancient gun which
he had stolen and hidden there years
before. None knew- that he possessed
it. and be chuckled at his own cun
ning as he plotted his details. He
knew that Harding's family was away
and that John would attend church
that night and return home alone after
services. Nothing would be easier j
than to raise a window of his foe's
house during his absence, and upon his
return Kill him at his own threshold
and. leaving the weapon behind him.
flee. Joe was known to never carry' a
weai>on. and the leaving of this fire
arm behind, together with the forcible
entry of the place, would throw the
crime upon mysterious tramps or bur
glars. As darkness fell he prowled
forth, assured himself that Harding
had gone, then, prying open the win
dow. entered and sat waiting by the
low- burning lamp until the sound of
distant wheels reached his ears. He
had not loaded his weapon yet. having
reasoned that should he be caught be
fore the act with an unloaded gun he
would be deemed guilty of a far less
offense than should it be loaded. But
now the time had come.
From his i>oeket he drew some pow
der and injured it into the yawning
muzzle, laying the bullet upon the ta
ble. Next, he must have some papet
waddins for both powder and ball, anc
a hook lay close at hand. \Vithoui
looking at its cover he tore forth e
handful of leaves and. selecting one
laid the others aside as he raised tht
first piece preparatory to crumpling it
up and ramming it home upon tht
powder. As he did so the words upor
the leaf caught his eye. and slowly ht
read:
■ Thou shalt not kill."
His hand 'rembled and his fact
grew gray. Then in the night withom
he heard the beat of hoofs before the
barn, coupled with the loud command
to ‘‘whoa.’' and with a gasp he clutched
another sheet. Before his eyes swam
the words:
"Likewise I say unto you. there is
joy in the presence of the angels ot
God over one sinner that repenteth.”
Slowly the gun slipped from his
hand, his form relaxed and he sank
into a chair, his head falling upon the
table.
Five minutes later John Harding
fresh from unharnessing his team
throwing open the door, started back
in fear ap<k amazement. Then softly
he approached the man who was now
shuddering as he had beneath the
whip, laid the gun aside and gazed at
the mutilated Bible. I'pon the floot
he saw the d-opped pages, gathered
them up. read them. Then slowly un
dS-stood
For the second time that d; y Hard
ing’s hand fell upon the shoulder ol
the other, but this time it was with a
parent s gentleness.
"Brother sinr-er,” he whispered husk
ily.
The New Year Presents.
The French “etrennes," both in
name and in date, preserve historical
continuity with a clearness that our
Christmas box has lost. According to
the ancient Roman legend the custom
went back to the rape of the Sa^.nes.
or, rather, to the reconciliation of the
two peoples afterward, when Romulus
cut green branches from a grove of
the goddess Strenua and presented
them to Tatius. Thereafter Ron-ans
gave each other branches for luck Jan
uary 1. together with figs, dates,
henev and a small coin—such luck
gifts being termed "strenae.” Even
emperors were powerless to put down
a custom that in time became burden
some and the church similarly failed
and was driven to Christianizing the
practice.
Polite.
Representative Bull Murray of Mas
sachu setts. who gives up his seat in
the house to become postmaster of
Boston, and who was once the young
est member of the lower body, got up
the other day to give bis seat in a
street car to a lady. Reminded of a
story by his act. be said:
"True politeness cannot be too high
ly praised, but it has always appeared
to me to hare ha limits, which were
exceeded in the rase of a Boston wom
an whom I know I have beard it said
hJ® ,4 E ■■ ** .
of her that if she should meet the
devil face to face on the street, she
would walk right up, shake hands and
remark:
“ ‘Why. how do you do, Mr. Satan.
What lovely red horns you have and
what a pretty ourl to your tail.’ ”
improved Electric Heater.
An alectric heater for bathtubs that
is said to heat a gallon of water a
minute has its heating elements radi
ating from a central hub, like the
spokes of a wheel.
Birds in Panama Canal Zone.
The bird resources of the canal zone
evidently are of much importance
Possibly if they are properly conserved
they will become one of the valuable
assets of the United States. Having
permitted so much reckless biro
slaughter in this country that insect
pestj, are increasing at an alarming
rate it would be well to take care ot
the birds that have been added to out
national possessions by reason of the
acquisition of a section of Panama.—
Louisville Courier-Journal
!
i .L *'
METHOD OF US1N9 LINENS
HotAS-'wive* Have Different Ideas. But
Both cf "rheee Are decid
edly Good.
What is your plan for your
linens? Thtr are two ways. One is
to select a certain proportion at the
articles and give them constant use.
leaving the others untouched until the
first lot wears out. thus rendering it
sure that you will always have some
perfect articles on hand. When the
first supply begins to ah.iv signs of
hard usage new ones can be miron into
j service.
The other plan is to use your Hn«m«
i evenly, keeping them all in service,
and employing them in rotation. In
order to do this with the least trouble
you may either put the fresh linen
which comes from the wash at the bot
tom of the pile or you may each week
take the articles you need from the
It. .vermost layer, placing the clean
pieces on .he top. This insures even >
wear for the whole stock. If you take I
your towels, for instance, from the ;
bottom of the heap, you are sure to get
those which were not last used, and
each towel has its share of service.—
Christian Science Monitor.
THREE EXTRA GOOD SALADS
Considered by Chefs of the Respective
Countries to Be Among the
Bast Possible.
Mexican Salad.—Cut one alligator
pear in half, remove the pit and pare
it. * Fill it with heavy mayonnaise, to
which plenty of chopped walnuts have
been added t. make it thick. Lay on
white lettuce leaves and garnish with
segments of grape fruit and heap some
mayonnaise in the center
German Salad.—Boil ard dice pota
toes for salad in the usual way, add
two tablespoonfuls of minced onion
and a tablespoonful of chopped pars
ley. Make a boiled salad dressing and,
when cool, add the juice of an onion
and a small cucumber seeded and
chopped fine. Boll hard and cut in
slice six eggs Mix the salad, line the l
bowl with lettuce leaves, put in salad
and garnish the edge with the eggs
that have been dipped in some of the
dressing. Put an olive ring on each.
French Salad.—Stuff stalks of en
dive with rocuefort cheese, let mari- i
nate in FYench dressing 20 minutes. !
slip a red pepper ring around each
stalk and lay cn green lettuce leaves.
Add a little of the FYench dressing be
fore serving.
USES OF SALT
| Salt is a splendid cleanser. FYeely ;
used in the kitchen, it keeps sinks and
vessels clear from grease and smell.
The best place in the pantry for an
egg is in the salt jar.
Salt cleanses and brightens carpets.
Sprinkle salt on an ostrich feather
j before recurling it before the fire with
i a knife
When a fruit or wine stain is made
j on the white tablecloth, cover it imme- '
' diately with salt.
Wash wickerwork In salt and water.
Stand the stalks of flowers in warm
and salted water to revive the bios
soms.
Put salt on the stove when grease
has been spilled and raises a disagree
able smell: on the sink if vegetable
water has been poured down.
Baked Apple and Rice Pudding.
Two cupfuls of rice, a pint of milk,
lemon, a small piece of cinnamon, but
ter. brown sugar and three or four ap
ples will be needed Boil the rice in
the milk with the cinnamon and when
it 1b quite soft stir in a small piece of
butter and enough sugar to sweeten
and remove the cinnamon. Have ready
some stewed apples, sweetened and
flavored with the lemon rind, butter a
pie dish, scatter some sugar over It,
and then fill with alternate layers of
rice and apple, beginning and ending
with the rice. Put a few pieces of but
ter on top and bake the pudding in a
airly quick oven until it is highly
browned. Serve hot or cold. If cold
turn out the pudding and put one-half
pint of thick custard around it.
Rice With Tomatoes.
One coffeecupful of rice, tablespoon
ful bacon grease, one large onion, four
large tomatoes, four green peppers,
half a teaspoonful black pepper, salt
to taste; soak the rice until it swells
Put the bacon grease In a frying
pan. Chop the tomatoes, unions, pep
pers and put all with the rice in a
pan Fry until nearly brown. Add
one pint of water and cook for about
thirty minutes
To Ccck a Meringue.
Remember that what makes a
meringue fall Is a sudden dra't of
ccld air. Brown a meringue slowly
and do not let it cook until it begins
lo blacken at the tips and points
Then pull It to the edge of the oven
and leave it there, in the open door,
for a minut/ or two Then remove it
to a warm spot in the kitchen and let
it cool slowly and thoroughly. It can
then he chilled in the refrigerator.
Baked Bean Soup.
Put In saucepan three cupfuls cold
baked beans, three pints of water, two
slices of onion, and two etalks of cel
ery; bring this to the boiling point
and simmer 30 minute#. Rub through
a sieve, add one and a half cupfuls of
stewed and strained toniatoes, a ta
blespoonful of Worcester or other
sauce, season to taste with salt and
pepper, and bind up with two table
spoonfuls flour cooked together.
German Hamburg Steak.
Take one pound of hamburg steak,
half a loaf of stale bread which has
been soaked in hot water and the wa
ter pressed out, two cold boiled pota
toes which have been run through the
meat chopper, one small minced onion,
salt and pepper and two eggs. Mix
all together, shake into small round
cakes and fry in hot fat—Mother's
Magazine.
To Prevent Milk Scorching.
Before heating milk in saucepan
always rinse the pan with water. It
prevents the milk from scorching
afterwards.
KAISER WILHELM DIRECTING MOVEMENT OF TROOPS
Kaiser Wilhelm, with hands behind his back, is here photographed while directing the movement of a body of
troops at the front. General von Fa'kenhayn, the minister of war. stands at the emperor's left.
! SANTA CLAUS SHIP AT PLYMOUTH, ENGLAND
The American Santa Claus ship Jason, loaded with millions of gifts for the war orphans of Europe us she
appeared when she dropped anchor at Plymouth, England. In the immediate foreground are some of the ’iai-jens
guns which Great Britain is mounting on her battleships.
HOW THE DUTCH GUARD THEIR NEUTRALITY ' ' ‘
in ~ ipii'ii"" "linmiiin — ——.•—1—>-■■■■■■ — —i— ..
Dutch-troopers examining passports a-t the frontier of Holland.
OFF ON A REAL TRIP OF ADVENTURE
For the Biot time in a quarter of a century an American sailing vessel
has cleared for a trading trip to the coast of Africa. It is the schooner \delie
T. Carieton, shown in the illustration, which left New York a few days ago
with a miscellaneous cargo, which is to be exchanged for ivory", coffee, etc
She has three captains aboard. Above. left to right, are J. J. Moran who is
going to Liberia; Capt. D. S. Kent, Capt- F. E. Lowry, Mrs. Lowry, official I
photographer, and Capt. N. W. Brown. j
DR. HENRY VAN DYKE
Dr. Henry Van Dyke. American min
ister to the Netherlands, photagraphed
as he was about to call at the White
House for the purpose of conferring
with President Wilson as to war con
ditions and possible peace proposals.
He has just sailed again for Holland.
WAR DOGS THAT SAVE LIVES OF SOLDIERS 1
Paris.—Lovers of dogs will be grati
fied to know that so imposing an or
ganization as the Institute of Zoologi
cal Psychology reports that the dogs
that accompany French ambulances
are behaving well under fire. The di
rector of this institute testifies:
“All reports are most encouraging.
Some of tbe details of their instruc
tions may be open to question. It is
probably bad that they should ‘be
Uught to bring in the caps and hand
kerchiefs of wounded soldiers, but our
dogs of war are performing note
worthy service, and it is a pity that
we have not many more of them."
The leader of one section of the am
bulance dogs says: “The best dog
given to me at first pulled so hard on
the leash that he tired me out; he
would not always return on the first
call, a trick that would be unfortunate
under fire; he was terrified even by
distant artillery, and it appeared as
if he would be useless in action. But
in a week that dog was valuable be
yond words. I have today returned
with him from recovering wounded
soldiers almost in the enemy's
trenches, with incessant din all around
him. Tonight, just before the ambu
lances were to return, I took him out
for one last inspection. In a half-hour
he, found three soldiers who otherwise
might have died of exposure. More
over, he never touched one of them,
but ran back and forth till I came up
to him.’* i
