Nebraska Newspapers

    <%.A\ U K )\ BLOCK
A NOVEL OF NEW YORKT LIFE: '
4LRCX BEACrt t T
'’ILLUSTRATIONS 6r T. PARKER
Author of
“The Iron Trail”
“The Spoilers”
“The Silver Horde” Etc.
Ctpy right, By Harftr Of Brtthn
SYNOPSIS.
—5—1
Peter Knight, defeuted for politloa'. of
fice in his town, decides to venture New
York in order that the family fortunes
might benefit by the expected rise of his
charming daughter, Lorelei. A well
known critic Interviews Lorelei Knight,
now stage beauty with Bergman's Revue,
for a special article. Her coin-hunting
mother outlines Lorelei's ambitions, but
Siosson, the press agent, later adds ids
information. Lorelei attends Millionaire
Hammon s gorgeous entertainment. She
meetB Merkle, a wealthy dyspeptic. Boh
Wharton comes uninvited. Lorelei dis
covers n blackmail plot against Hammon
in which her brother is involved. Merkle
and Lorelei have an auto wreck. The
blackmailers besmirch her good name.
Do you believe that a young
girl. Just out of her teens, is
Justified in leaving home and
casting off her parents if they
intrigue to get her married to
any man, no matter how much
of a rounder he is, if only he has
wealth to support them?
CHAPTER VIII—Continued.
Looking back upon last night's home
ward ride, she was wholly at a loss.
Ia view of Jim’s words and of what
she had gathered at the theater she
had felt sure of Lilas' complete knowl
edge of the blackmail plot, but Mam
mon's unwavering faith in the girl and
Lilas' own story of her relations with
Max Melcher had awakened a doubt.
What concerned her far more than the
moral complexion of the liaison was
her brother's connection with the un
lawful scheme of extortion. Jim, she
saw. had gone wrong with a ven
geance. and the consequences to him
troubled her, for in spite of all that he
might he or do she cherished a sisterly
affection for him. Family ties were
very real and very strong to her—
strong enough to keep her loyal to her
kin even after the demoralizing change
in her whole mode of life. The firm
est. in fact, the only bond that she had
ever known, was that of blood; obedi
ence. faithfulness and affeetiou had
been iiorn in her. and she never
thought to question their sacredness.
Idling down Fifth avenue, she found
herself in front of a fashionable de
partment store. A knot of carious
people were gaping at a unique auto
mobile which stood in the line of ve
hicles along the curb, and she paused
to look. The equipage was snow white
in color; the chauffeur and a stiff
backed footman were in blood red with
white facings on their livery. A tiny
mop of a iapdog, imprisoned within
the closed body of the car, was harking
frenziedly at the thrsng. Across the
doors, in gold letters an Inch high, was
the name “Adoree Demorest.”
As she entered the store Lorelei re
flected with some disgust that no vis
iting rajah, no barbaric potentate—
no one. in fact, except a self-advertised
musical combdy queen—would so fla
grantly defy good taste as to ride in
•uc-h a vehicle.
She was engaged in her final pur
chase when a dazzling creature in red
«nd white descended upon her with ex
clamations of surprise and delight. It
was Mademoiselle Demorest herself,
and her greeting was so effusive that
the stream of shoppers halted in the
aisle. She carried the mate to the ex
citable poodle that defied the curiosity
seekers outside.
“Miss Knight! I’m so glad to sec
you agnin.” she burbled. “How sweet
you look! I hoped we’d meet again;
hnt where have you been? Have you
finished your shopping? Then do come
and help me match some rose du
Harry.’’
Lorelei felt herself flushing uncom
fortably under the stares of the on
lookers, and, glad to escape, she
moved away beside the undisturbed
cause of all the furore.
Miss Demorest seemed genuinely de
lighted at this encounter. She clung
to her companion, chattering vivacious
ly: then, when the rose du Barry had
been matched, she suggested tea.
“We’ll run right over to the Wal
dorf—my car is outside." But Lorelei
declined, explaining lamely that she
did not care for public places.
The daucer’s expression and tone
changed abruptly. “I supposed you
were like all the others.”
“Well. I’m not. When I’m away |
from the theater I try to forget it. !
I—hate the business.”
The -reply, which came with sincere
feeling, widened Lorelei’s eyes with
uncontrollable surprise.
“Here, too." said Adoree Demorest.
quietly. “But I’m not allowed to for- ]
get it. Our first meeting made me 1
think you were—out with banners. !
was hired on that occasion to be
naughty. What do you say to some
real tea at my house? Just you ami
I?”
Lorelei’s heart sank at the thought
of that gaudy machine outside, but
there waB an honest appeal in the
speaker's eyes, and, moreover, the
memory of her obligation rose to pre
vent her from appearing ungrateful.
“I’d be delighted,” she falsified, and.
gurgling with appreciation. Miss Dem
orest hurried her toward the nearest
exit. In the street, however. Adoree
paused, and her next words showed
that she was not wanting in womanly
intuition.
“I shan't inflict yon with a ride in
that circus wagon. It’s all right for
me, but—you’re one of the decent kind.
If you have a reputation it won’t do
to parade it in n sbow case. We’ll take
a taxi.” Lorelei’s relief must have
been obvious, for Adoree sped swiftly
to the corner, then was back again
without the dog. “If there’s anything
more conspicuous than a blonde with
a white poodle," she explained, “it’s
two blondes with two poodles.” Then
•be flung herself into the cab and
4lnmmed the door.
“Ton mast think I’m very rude," her
guest ventured.
“Nothing of the sort. I know Just
how you feel.” Miss Demorest's smile
was a trifle strained. “Only—I’m aw
fully lonesome, and—I’ll take care that
nobody sees us."
“Now I know I’ve been nasty.” Lo
relei felt her embarrassment growing,
for this woman differed entirely from
wliat she had expected. Underneath
the dancer’s extravagant tbeatrlcalism
she appeared natural and unaffected,
Adoree changed the current of the
conversation by saying:
“I hope those bloodhounds get to
fighting.”
“How—funny!” Lorelei was eying
the speaker with undisguised curiosity.
“You’re not a Frenchwoman?”
“Agnes Smith is the name. Decent
by descent, but an actress by adver
tising. What’s your game?”
“Uni-in—My nose is straight: 1 don’t
limp: so I'm an actress by force of fea
ture."
Both girls laughed unaffectedly.
“I like yon.” said the dancer. “Do
you mind if I get out of this cast-iron
corset and into a kimono when we get
home?”
“Have you a spare one?”
“Dozens: but they're not very clean.”
“That's lovely. And let’s make the
tea weak.”
“Oh. I can't drink anything strong!
I’m an awful counterfeit.”
“I’m beginning to think so. I—
wonder if I’m dreaming.”
The girls had much in common: they
chattered continuously through the
short ride, and when they alighted
from the taxicab they disputed over
the right to pay for it. When the
guest was ushered into Adoree’s apart
ment she received another surprise,
for the place was neither elaborate nor
showy. It consisted merely of two
large, comfortable rooms overlooking
a side street lined with monotonous
brownstone boarding houses.
A battered teakettle was set to boil
over an absurd alcohol stove that re
quired expert assistance to maintain
its equilibrium. Adoree flung out of
her finery and donned a Japanese robe,
offering anothc to Lorelei. A plate
of limber crackers was unearthed
from somewhere, also the disreputable
remains of a box of marshmallows;
and those latter Mademoiselle Demo
rest toasted on a hatpin.
“You're the most extraordinary per
son,” her guest at length remarked.
“Aren't you going to show me your
Jewels or—anything like that?”
“You probably have better Jewels of
your own,” carelessly replied Adoree;
then she voiced a very tame and wom
anly oath as a marshmallow dripped
into the flames. “Pickles! I spoiled
that one.”
“But the cabochon rubies are real.”
“Sure. So is the ‘square toe’ who
brings 'em and takes 'em away: so is
the bond that covers 'em. Lordy, but
they are pretty!”
“Then the king didn’t give them to
you?”
“My dear. I never saw a king—out
side of a pinochle deck. If I lost one
of those rubies the Maiden Lane Shy
lock who owns them would tear
enough curled hair out of his beard to
fill a mattress. You never really be
lieved that king stuff, did you?”
“Why. yes.”
“I had no idea it worked so well.”
Again Miss Demorest smiled crookedly.
“No wonder you didn’t want to go to
the Waldorf with me; I wonder you
consented to come here.”
“Your advance work is great—”
“I knew the public swallowed it; but
I supposed the profession knew press
stuff when they saw it. I -sang and
danced for ten years in this couutry
and never got better time than the
schuetzen parks and airdomes. I was
“You Never Really Believed That King
Stuff, Did You?"
i
Agnes Smith then. Somehow I got the
price of a ticket to England, and 1
pulled the airdome stuff that bad
scored in Little Rock and Michigan
City, and* it got by somehow. My
mother was a Canuck, so I knew some
French, and eventually I reached the
continent. There I met the Old Nick.
You may think the devil is what he
looks like on the ham cans; but, in
reality he’s a little, fat, bald man with
a tenor voice, and he eats cloves. His
name is Aubrey Lane. He was In
Paris selling patent garters at the time.
He saw me work at a cabaret and told
me I was good, but not good enough.
I’d known that t§r years, so he didn't
hurt my feelings. He confessed that
—
he was tired of working nnd intended
to have me make a lot of money for
him, but warned me that he had ex
pensive tastes and I’d have to pay wel!
for the privilege. He was right; I did.
But here I am In electric lights on
Broadway while he is exercising a
wheeled chair at Atlantic City.”
“He’s your manager?”
“ne's that very little thing. He of
fered to make me a star if I’d allow him
to hitch his chariot to me—on a share
of the gross. There was one trilling sac
rifice I had to make in the nature of
my personal reputation—so he told me.
He began by tying a can to the ‘Agnes
Smith.’ and handed me ‘Adoree Demo
rest' instead; then he went to work.
He really did work. too. although it
nearly killed him, and he’s never done
anything since. The king fable is a
Joke ou the other side, but New York
swallowed it clear up to the sinker,
and Aubrey gaffed the Palace Garden
management for a three years’ con
tract. Of course, my advertised sal
ary is phony. Just like the rubies and
the wrecked throne and that gilded
bandwagon with the poodles nnd the
stuffed supers on the box. Aubrey
owns them all except the rubies, which
he rents. I'm billed as the most no
torious woman in America, and the
shred of reputation I have left
wouldn't make a necktie for a gnat,
whereas In reality I love marshmal
lows and tea much more than men
But I'm a star, at the head of my own
company, and playing to sidewall:
prices. Do you think it was a good
bargain?”
Lorelei had listened with breathless
interest. Now she hurst out impul
sively:
“You poor dear.”
Miss Smith smiled, but her eyes
were tragic.
“Sometimes I cry when I think
about it. I—cry a good deal.” said
she. “I didn’t realize until too late
what it meant, hut. you see. I was
tired of working, tired of ambition,
and I wanted to come home. Thank
God, I have no people! I save all the
money I can, and when I get enough
I’m going to take Agnes Smith out
of the moth-balls, dust her off tenderly,
find go to raising ducks.”
“Ducks? What do you mean?”
“What I say. That has always been
my ambition.”
"Whv not quit now?”
"What’s the use? I'm half way
through the swamp: the mud Is as deep
behind as it is in front. But I’m
deathly afraid all the time I’ll be
found out—I’d—rather be notorious
than ridiculous. Of course. Aubrey
sees to that.”
“Are you fond of him?”
Adoree turned up her nose. “He's
a little pink rabbit. I don’t like any
man. and I uever have. There's only
one I'd really care to meet: his name
is Campbell Tope.”
“The critic. He is nice.”
“The beast. Did you read what tie
said about me? I’ll never rest until I
have a lock of his hair that I’ve
plucked myself. I'd love to have his
whole scalp—with. say. one ear at
tached—hanging on my bureau where
I could see it every morning when I
wake up. Somehow I don't seem to
mind the press stuff that Aubrey puts
out. but Pope—actually believes what
ho wrote. And other people will be
lieve it, too. I—I—Cosh! I'm going
to cry again.”
Lorelei nodded in perfect sympathy:
she did not laugh. "I haven’t any girl
chum: let’s be friends,” said she.
Adoree had been nibbling at marsh
mallows as she talked; as she wiped
her eyes now she left a smear of pow
dered sugar on her cheek.
“I'd love to—I’m simply bursting to
confide in somebody—but we couldn't
go around together.”
“Why? I don’t care what people
think.”
“You can't afford to be reckless.
We're each playing our own game and
chasing the dollar in our own way.
The men you met would make life un
bearable for you if they knew we were
pals. Aubrey was right: a girl must
either be mighty good or mighty bad
in this business—or make people think
she is. which amounts to the same
thing. You have had easy going be
cause you're known to be straight; but
if you ever get into the papers watch
what will happen. You’ll have to fight.
You wouldn’t like that kind of lighting,
either, and—I’m not sure you could
stand it.”
As Lorelei walked homeward that
afternoon she felt an unaccustomed
warmth in her breast, and realized that
she. too, had been very lonely In the
city. The certainty that she had made
a friend gladdened her heart. She
looked forward with a thrill to the
morrow when she could see Adoree
again.
During her absence Jim hnd returned
and departed: but a note was waiting
for her. It had been brought by a mes
senger, and read:
“Things look bad. I’m afraid we’ll
be implicated, too. Better see your
brother quickly. M.”
CHAPTER IX.
Lorelei was not a little mystified by
Merkle’s cryptic message, for she
could Imagine no possible way in
which she or the writer himself could
be connected discreditably with Jar
vis Hammori’s affair. She gaiued some
light, however, when that eveuing she
read the note to Lilas.
“Why, they’re going to blackmail
Merkle, too.” Lilas exclaimed. "Well,
they’d be foolish to let him off,
Wouldn’t they?”
“So they think he'll pay to keep his
name out of the papers?”
"Exactl And he will—for your
Bake.”
“I won’t let him.”
Lilas was surnrlsed. "Why? He's
rich. He wouldn't miss a few thou
sand.”
‘‘You wouldn't allow Mr. Hammon
to be robbed, would you?”
"Oh, wouldn’t I? If he didn't care
enough for me to protect me from
scandal I’d want to know it.”
“Lilas, you puzzle me," confessed
I.orelel. doubtfully. “You say things
that make me think you don’t care
for him at all: then ’again you seem
“What l«—This?"
to be crazy a I tout him. How do you
feel? How far would you go with
him?”
Lilas laughed airily. “Perhaps I’d
go farther with him than for him. He
asked me to marry him if his wife
gets a divorce; and I agreed. Now that
lie lias come to the point. I'm sorry
things happened just as they did. A
woman must look out for herself—no
man will ever help her. It's worth
some notoriety to liecome Mrs. Jarvis
Hammon.”
Something in the speaker’s words
rang false; but just what that some
thing was, Lorelei could not decide.
“Then you'd like to see the story
made public?" she queried.
“Naturally."
“I dare say if I loved a man I'd
want him at any [trice, but I—hope I'm
not going to be dragged into this mat
ter."
“My dear, you have a family: they
cau make Merkle do the right thing
by you. He could be made to pay. at
least, ami you'll be sorry if you don’t
get something out of him. Just wait
and see what a difference the story
makes with your other men friends.”
During the ensuing performance I.o
relei pondered her friend's disquieting
prophecy: yet she could see no reason
for grave apprehension. Publicity of
the kind threatened would, of course,
be disagreeable: but bow it could seri
ously affect her was not apparent.
Later in the evening Robert Whar
ton appeared, as usual, and so resent
ful was he at the deceptions previously
practiced upon trim that Lorelei with
difficulty escaped a scene. At last be
planted himself in the ballway. where
lie remained throughout the perform
ance—a gloomy, watchful figure. Lo
relei came down boldly, dressed for
the street, and. since she could not pass
the besieger, crossed under the stage,
made her way into the orchestra pit.
and managed to leave the theater by
the front door.
She was waiting when Jim came
home, and followed him into his room,
where they could talk without disturb
ing their father. Lorelei mnde her ac
cusation boldly, prepared for the usual
burst of auger, but Jim listened pa
tiently until she paused.
“I knew you had to spill this, so I
let you rave.” said he. "But it’s too
late: somebody lias been after Ham
mon for a long time, and he’s been
got—yes. and got good. Take a flash
ut the ‘Chorus Girl's Bible.’ ” He
tossed his sister a eopy of a prominent
theatrical paper. “I waited until it
came out.”
Lorelei gasped, for on the front page
glared black-typed headlines of the
Hammon scandal. John Merkle’s name
was there, too. and. linked with it, her
own.
“What is—this?” She rau her eye
swiftly down the column.
“Sure. Melcher commenced suit
(.gainst Hammou this afternoon. Fifty
thousand dollars for alienation of Li
las' affections. Joke, eh? He claims
there was a common-law marriage and
he’ll get the coin.”
“But Mrs. Hammou?"
“The evidence is in her hands al
ready—dates, places, photographs, ev
erything. She’ll win her suit, too.”
“Were you by any chance working
for Mrs. Hammou?”
Divining Ills sister’s prejudice, Jim
lied promptly and convincingly. “Why.
Mrs. Hammon, of course. 1 had a
chance to turn a few dollars, and I
took it.”
“But why did you drag me in?
Couldn’t you keep me out of it? This
is dreadful.” As she ran her eye over
the article she saw that it was quite
in harmony with the general tone and
policy of the paper, which catered to
the Jaded throngs of the Tenderloin.
Truth had been cunningly distorted;
flippancy, sensationalism and, a sala
cious double meuning ran through it
all.
“What’s dreadful about It?” inquired
her brother. “That sort of advertising
does a show-girl good. You’ve got to
make people talk about you, sis, and
this’ll bring a gang of high rollers your
way. You've been so blamed proper j
that nobody's interested in you any
more.”
For r moment Lorelei scrutinized
her brother in silence, taken aback at
his outrageous philosophy. .lira had
changed greatly, she mused; not until
very lately had she observed the full
measure of the change in him. Ha was
no longer the country boy. the play
mate and confidant of her youth, hut a
man. sophisticated, hard, secretive. He
had been thoroughly Manhattnnized,
she perceived, and he was as foreign
to her as a stranger. Slip shook her
head hopelessly.
“You're a strange brother." she said.
“I hardly know what to make of you.
Has the city killed every decent in
stinct in you. Jim?”
“Now. don't begin on the Old Home
stuff.” he replied, testily. “Do you
really intend to marry' a bunch of
coin?"
“That's (he program, isn't it? I’ve
been raised for that and nothing else.”
“Well* inn can't put it over, so i
guess it's up to me.” After a moment
he added. “Would you accept Merkle?"
Lorelei shivered. “Oh—no! Not Mr.
Merkle."
“Humph! You ought to cousider the
rest of us a little bit. Pa could be
cured, ma'd lie happy. I could get c^»
my feet. IIow about Bob Wharton?”
“Let’s not talk about if. please. Mr.
Wharton is getting nasty, and—I'm be
ginning to lie afraid of him.”
I II net von could land lilin—
“Please. 1—don’t want to think
nlmut it. I dare say I'll tiring myself
to marry some rich man some day:
but—Merkle—Wharton—” She shud
dered for a second time. ”[f Mr.
Wharton is serious this scandal will
scare hint off. or else he’ll become—
just like the others. I could cry. He
threatened me tonight; I don't know
how I'll manage to avoid him tomor
row night.”
“Hm-m! lie's coming that strong,
eh?” was Jim’s interested query: but
on hearing his sister's account of the
young millionaire's determined pursuit
he volunteered in his offhand way to
assist her.
“I'll come for you myself, and we'll
whip over to a cafe for supper.”
“You’ll save me from him.” said Lo
relei. with a wan smile, “and I'll know
that 3’ou are in good company for one
evening at least."
“Don’t lose any sleep over my hab
its.” he told her. lightly.
As Jim and his mother breakfasted
together on the following morning he
broached the subject of his recent con
versation with Lorelei.
“She's sore about the story.” he
said. “We had a long talk last night.”
"I knew she would lie. and I'm not
sure it was a good thing."
“We'll drag something out of it if
you do your part. Merkle will pay.
Don't mention money—nothing but
marriage — understand? Outraged
motherhood, ruined daughter, blasted
career—that’s yours. I’ll be the broth
er who's in the position of a father to
her. I can threaten, but you mustn't.
Goldberg will close for us."
“I don’t see why we have to divide
with a lawyer, when it's our affair and
we can handle it ourselves." his mother
complained.
“I tell .von it’s got to go through the
regular channels. This was Meleher’s
Idea, and, since I'm in on the Ham
mon money. Max is entitled to his bit
of this. (See! If she'd only told us
she was going out with Merkle we
might have framed something worth
while—I don’t mind telling you this is
a pretty weak case."
"Wouldn’t he marry her?"
"Not a chance. In the first place,
she wouldn't have him. Hob Wharton
is the white hope."
“She hates him. too. Goodness
knows what we’re going to do with
her.”
“I think she'll stand for Wharton if
we work tier right: it's him or noliody.
Site's getting harder to handle every
day. though, and one of these times
she'll fall for some rummy. If she
ever does lose her head site'll skid for
the ditch, and we ean kiss ourselves
goodby. Site’ll lie as easy to steer ns
a wild Itottr by the taTI. I guess you're
sorry now that you didn't listen to me
and let Max handle her before she got
wise.”
"I wouldn't feel safe witli any of
that crowd. I'd be terribly afraid.”
Mrs. Knight shook Iter head dubiously.
"Say! Site's got you doing it, too.
Why, they don't take a chance. Gold
berg handies the legal end. and his
brother is in the legislature. Hut that’s
not all: Melrher’s partner in his gam
bling house is Inspector Snell. Yon
can't beat that.”
“Just the same. I'm frightened—and
this isn’t honest. I wish she woah
listen to Robert Wharton.”
James winked meaningly. “Leavi
that to me. She's going to Proctor^
with me tonight. Maybe he’ll join us
Rut meanwhile we’ve got Merkle fo
some quick money if we work hin
right. Pin off for Goldy’s office now
I’ll meet you at three.”
When Jim appeared, dressed for th
street, lie gave a bit of parting advice
“Better lay on the hysterics whe
she wakes up. It’ll make it easier fo
me tonight.”
Lorelei found her mother visibly up
set by the story in the morning’
newspaper.
•‘Yon told me you only went to sup
per with that inan,” Mrs. Knight cried
tragically. “Instead of that you tw«
were off in the country together al
night. Here's the whole thing.” Shi
brandished the paper dramatically.
“Well, I told you a tib. But there'i
no harm done."
“Harm, indeed? You're ruined.
never read anything more disgraceful
f daren't show it to Peter—it woulf
kill him. What ever possessed you
after the way we’ve watched over you
after the care we've taken of you'
It’s terrible.”
“Why. mother! You're more insult
ing than that newspaper. The careei
of a show-girl is something of a joke.’
Lorelei undertook to laugh, but the at
tempt failed rather dismally.
“Indeed. What will the other mer
say? You had a character: nobod}
could say a word against yon nntl
now. I)o you think any decent mat!
would marry a girl who did a tiling
like this? Of course, I know you're c
good girl, bur they don’t, and tbey'l
believe absolutely the worst. You’ve
spoiled everything, my dear; I'm com
pletely discouraged.” Mrs. Knight be
gan to weep in a weak, lieart-brokei
manner, expecting I.orelei to melt, as
usual; init. seeing something in het
daughter's expression that warned liet
not to carry her reproaches too far, she
broke out: “You’re so hard, so unrea
sonable. Don’t you see I'm frantic
with worry? You're all we have, anc
—and tlie thought of an injury to yout
prospects nearly kills me. You mis
understand everything I say. I—wist
you were safely married and out ol
danger. I think I could die happy then
It means so much to all of us to have
you settled right away. Peter is fail
ing every day; Jim is going to the dogs
and—I’m sick over it all."
“I wish I were married and out o!
the way. You would al! he fixed. a1
least. I—don’t much care about my
“I Wish I Were Married and Out o*
the Way "
self.” Lorelei sighed in hopeless wear
Iness of spirit, for variations of thi.
sceue had been common of late, anc
they always titled her with the black
est pessimism.
Does it occur to you that Ado
ree, “the most vicious woman on
the stage,’’ will show what a
really fine character she is by
getting Lorelei out of the
clutches of her greedy, cold
blooded mother and away from
the rottenness of the young girl’s
present life?
CTO BE CONTINUED.)_
REVEAL TREND OF CURRENTS
Travel of Bottles Dropped Into the
Ocean Convey Information to the
Navy Departments.
The hydrographic bureau of the
navy department is always interested
in endeavors to ascertain, by means
of bottle messages, information as to
the movements of the oceans. These
bottles contain papers that have been
dropped overboard Irom vessels in
many places, to drift at the mercy of
the winds and waves. Many of them
have been found and picked up either
In the open sea or on shores where
they have been stranded.
Knowing from their records where
the bottles had been thrown over
board, the bureau has been able to
trace, in a general way, the path they
must have followed in order to reach
the places where they were found.
In one report alone there were pub
lished' the adventures of over one hun
dred bottles.
Being partially filled with air and
then securely corked, the bottles float
on the surface of the water and go
wherever the wind and the current of
the sea carry them. Each bottle con
tains a record of the place and the
date of its starting. Some of those
found have floated for many months,
and sometimes years, and have trav
eled thousands of miles.
It has been found that bottles
dropped overboard between the shores
of the United States and England or
France usually travel toward the
northeast, following the course of that
great river In the Atlantic ocean, the
gulf stream. Bottles started off the
coasts of Spain and Africa travel, as
a rule, westward until they arrive
among the West India Islands. Along
the European side of the ocean the
bottle takes a southerly course and
along the American side a northerly
course.
Sailors Do Own Washing.
Did you ever notice how spic ami
span Uncle Sam's Jackies always look
when they are on shore leave 01
aboard ship? And did you ever real
ize that Jack is his own washwoman 1
They have washdays aboard the fight
ing ships as well as the housewives
have theirs. Every man has to b<
on tho joh when the boatswain’s mats
orders “Wash Clothes.” in the ole :
days this was some task. Each mar I
had to wash his soiled clothes in s !
bucket of water and hang them or
the line to dry. But on the newest,
battleships washing and drying ma j
chines have been installed which dc
away with all hand work and muck
labor. The old familiar sight of a
long line of clothes strung up is nc
longer to be seen. Also the boatswain's
mate has forgotten how to pipe “wask
clothes.” When Jack's apparel is
soiled he Just throws it into the wash
ing machine and in a few minutes it
comes out clean and dry.
Device Takes Place of Nets.
One way of catching herring is by
driving nails into a hoard so that they
stick out several Inches. The boards
are then dragged through the shoals
and the fish> catch between the nails
and are pulled by the boardful into thi
boats. In one year more than 1,000,
000 pounds of herring were caught at
Prince Rupert and frozen by the cold
storage plants to be sold for bait
Something like 125,000 pounds of cod
fish are annually token for the same
purpose.—The Christian Herald.
EXCELLENT
Returning Tourists Speak Well
of Their Treatment in
Canada.
The Canadian Government, having
made extensive preparations during
the last few years to impart to the
National Park system a degree of com
fort and pleasure to the visitor, com
bining the best efforts of man with the
very best gifts of creation, hns now
the satisfaction of seeing an apprecia
tion of the efforts they have made.
Tourists returning from a trip over
the Canadian Pacific, the Grand Truuk
Pacific and the Canadian Northern
railways speak enthusiastically of the
beauties that are revealed as these
roads enter and pass through the
mountains. The Government has spent
enormous sums of money laying out
roads, and developing easy means of
access to glacier, hill, valley, lake and
stream. For what purpose? That the
wonders that Canada possesses In its
natural parks may become more easily
accessible and afterward talked about,
that a tourist travel through Canada *•
would result. Tourist travel means
business, and It is business that Can
ada seeks. To make It even more easy
for this travel, the Government hus
.taken pains to make every step of the
tourist’s entry into Canada one that
will give the very least degree of trou
ble. On (Tossing the border, there Is
only the ordinary examination of bag
gage, and the only precaution is that
in the case of foreign aliens, and even
in their case there is no difficulty
when the officials are satisfied that
they are not attempting entry as ene
mies.
Although officials of the Government
have taken every means to bring to
the attention of the tourist and others
that no difficulty could be placed in
the way of their admission, there still
remained doubt in the minds of some.
Only the other day the Government
took action again, and authorized the
statement that no measures taken for
recruiting the forces either have been
or will be applied to any persons who
are not ordinarily resident in the Do
minion. Nor Is it the Intention to ask
for volunteers except from among Brit
ish subjects, resident In Canada. More
over, ths Military Service Act, under
which conscription is applied in Great
Britain, affects only persons "ordinar
ily resident in Great Britain.”
Americans and British subjects resi
dent in the United States who de
sire to visit Canada will find no more
trouble at the border than they have
experienced in the past, and npon ar
riving they will be made as welcome
as ever. War conditions of any kind
will not inconvenience or interfere
with them.
The Immigration authorities sug
gest that, as a precaution against in
convenience, naturalized Americans
whose country of origin was one of
those at war with the British empire,
should provide themselves with their
certificates of naturalization.
Now that it is impossible to visit
Europe, the planning of your vacation
trip through Canada is one to give
consideration to. The Government has
taken an active interest in its Na
tional Parks in the heart of the Rocky
mountains. These can be reached by
any of the lines of railways, and the
officials at these parks have been ad
vised to render every attention to the
visiting tourists, who in addition to see
ing the most wonderful scenery in the
world—nothing grander—nothing bet
ter—have excellent wagon and motor
roads, taking them into the utter re
cesses of what was at one time con
sidered practically inaccessible.
In addition to this the tourist will
not be inactive to the practical pos
sibilities that will be before him as he
passes over the great plains of the
Western Provinces. The immense
wheat fields, bounded by the horizon,
no matter how far you travel. The
wide pasture lands, giving home and
food to thousands of heads of horses
and cattle. The future of a country
that he before only heard of but knew
so little about, will be revealed to him
in the most wonderful panorama, and
imprinted in the lens of his brain in
such a way that he will bring back
with him the story of the richness of
Agricultural Western Canada. And
he will also have had an enjoyable
outing.—Ad vertisement.
Timely Advice.
“I feel that I am going all to
pieces.”
“Then pull yourself together.'’
Stop That Ache!
Don’t worry about a bad back.
Get rid of It. Probably your kid
neys are out of order. Resume sen
sible habits and help the kidneys.
Then, kidney backache will go;
also the dizzy spells, lameness, stliT
ness, tired feelings, nervousness,
rheumatic pains nud Mndder trou
bles. Use Doan’s Kidney Pills.
Thousands recommend them.
An Iowa Case
I
Mrs. H. H. Means.
.10 Third Ave.. W..
Oelwein, I o w ...
says: “A coll set
tled on my kidneys
and when I swept
the tloor, sharp
9 pains'shot up from
at he smell of mv
jr hack and ncarlv
\ drove n e wild. T
Hfe!t tired and lan
22guid and had no
Mambitlon. I had se
•vere Dalns in the
oi my neaa ana also dizzy spetia
when I had to put my hands on a
chair to steady myself. Doan's Kld
ey Pills fixed me up in good shape.”
Gel Does'* at Any Store. 80s a Bex
DOAN'S .
P0S113UMILBURN co, buffalo. N.V- 4
i
If
I
W. N. U, OMAHA. NO. 30~19'6'
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