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About The Red Cloud chief. (Red Cloud, Webster Co., Neb.) 1873-1923 | View Entire Issue (June 25, 1914)
. j ' v s r rffmr , z'.-jtt "TtiPJH??"': , ' r ' imTs&r v. fc '. ' rv RED.OLOUD, NEBRASKA, CHIEF i P 'tfcj . ' & RE.' HI' $ h u i I ttoeUPSL of DSOaWDSTWOFll " ISABEL GORDON CURTIS AufKor rf "The Womar jrom WoJverrjorvs" ILLUSTRATIONS ZLL3WORm YOUNG- COPYRldHi; 1914 DY F.C. BROWNE fa. CO. 8YNOP8I8. Enoch Wentwortli, newspaper rann, ami Andrew Merry, actor, play n, linnd at poker, tlio sinters absolute control ot tno future of tho loner. Wentwortli wlni and they ili'cldu to Keep tho matter secret. Knoch's slstrr, Dorcns, knowing from lior brothor of Merry's shortcoming, trlcffi to arouse his ambition. Andrew outlines tho plot of a play ha lias liml In mind and "he urges liltti to go to work on It. When the play Is completed Merry roada It to Wentwortli, whoso life ambition U to write a nuccrsful play, Ho demand. Mer ry's piny as n forfeit of ths band won In tno poker game. Preparation! for atngtng the piny are begun, but Morry, who U to play the lending part, In -mlsalng. Dorcaa ) BBked to play the leadline femalo part nnd nmkes a fine Impression at the re hearsals. 8ho quarrels with her brother for taking all the credit for tho ploco. Dorcaa flnda Merry among tho down-nnd-outa In a broad line. Alio Influence him to take hla part In tho play. She pro duces and auggcata certain change! In the play to Wentworth, which tho latter trlea to Induce Merry to make, but the actor refuses. CHAPTER XI Continued. "You're right." Oswald's voice was emphatic "I don't know why I did not boo It Perhaps bocause tho child has llttlo to do except to follow her fathor about." "It's that following tho father about which I menn to make the strongest point In tho first act" "Engage the child Immediately." 'I'll have to do diplomatic work to got her." "How?" "Alice Volk would rather starve than let her child go on the stage, flhe has been hoping we might And a small part for herself which she coald play crippled." "Poor soul." "I hinted that we might give the lit tle Julio a chance. She snatched the child away aa if she thought I meant to kMnap her. When a woman baa seen the seamy side, of life aa she has you understand." Oswald nodded gravely. "We must And a way to get around her." Merry sat writing letter In the manager's office the next afternoon when Oswald entered, accompanied by Dorcas. "I want you to tell Miss Wentworth about the little Volk girl," said the Englishman. "I have enlisted her sympathy. If the mother felt that some woman here would be Interested la the child she might change her mlad." 'Til do anything I cad." said Dorcas heartily. "I am glad you are making a change. It will Improve the first act wonderfully to have the child sweet and real Then," the girl laughed In a half-embarrassed way, "did you ever look at a picture of yourself when you were at the tadpole age and wonder If It could have possibly been youT That has been my frame of mind since I laid eyes on tho little 'Cordelia.' " "I don't blame you," Oswald smiled. '1 can't Imagine why we made such a blunder. Merry puts It Just tho way you do." "Thank you, Mr. Merry." Dorcaa turned to the actor with a grateful mile. "I am ready to go with you any tlmo to see Mrs. Volk." Dorcaa bad a new Insight in Merry's character when she found how his friends held him In estoein. Thero was not a touch, In Mrs. Dlllerwell's greeting, ot hero worship or deference to tho man who had won fame. It was merely a droll blond of loving de votion and motherly tyranny. Merry Jumped to his feet when Mrs. Volk entered, with Julie clinging shyly to hor gown. Dorcas fell instantly a throb ot sympathy and warm friend ship. Merry had told hor something ot tho pitiful story on tho way uptown. "You said onco, Miss Dorcas," he re minded her, "that you were never so happy aa whon you had some one to mother. Altpe Volk needs mothering. I doubt If she haa a friend In tha world except Mother Dlllerwell and myself. Mrs. niUerwoll Is pure gold, but Alice needs a woman like you." ' Half an hour later they waited on the platform of an L station for a downtown train. They had scarcely spoken since leaving the Harlem house. Merry realised how deeply the girl's heart had been stirred. They entered the train and took a seat to gether In silence. She sat gazing at the city below. Then she turned suddenly. "Little Julie Is to begin rehearsals tomorrow morning," she said. "The mother made only one condition: they aro to be known under another name. Bho 1b in terror lest her husband finds them." "That's all right, but do you think tho child can play the small 'Cor dollar asked Merry anxiously. "You can do anything you wlah with that child. She has a soul and sweet ness, and she understands. There Is something In her wo call It magnet ism In older people which will roach across the footlights and grip every man and woman In the audience. The child will help me wonderfully. Now I won't have to create a new 'Cordelia' when I come on the stage. My 'Cor delia' is simply the little girl grown older and wiser, with more love for - her father and a larger knowledge ot Ufa." "Yon understand perfectly." "You and I ought to understand 'Cordelia' It any one could." Dorcas aat In silence while they rushaa over the lighted city with Its Insistent glimpses of sordid life. Merry saw hor chin tromblo once and, hor eyes grow misty; then the spoke sud denly: "She must have lived through awful experiences." "Allco Volk has seen the very depths. Sho suffered rnoro than misery and neglect; thoro was actual brutality. I know hor beforo Volk camo into hor lite. Sho played with the first Now York company I was in. She was the gayest llttlo creaturo then you can im agine a whimsical, laughing, care free, happy child." "day!" Dorcas spoke Incredulously. "Tho gaiety has gone." "It has been wrung out of her." "I novor had a real woman frlond ex copt tho slstors at tho convent" said Dorcaa. "I think Allco Volk and I will be friends. We can help each other." "Each other T I bad not thought ot It In that way. Your friendship will mean a groat deal to her. It Is like reaching out a hand to some one who Is drowning." "Alice Volk Is different, from any ono I ever met When little Julie ran out to speak to you, I followed her. Tho mother laid her hand on my arm, drew me back into tho room, then she closod the door and kissed me. Sho did not say a word. Any other woman would have kissed me while I was say ing 'Oood-by,' before you and , Mrs. BUlerwell. She does unexpected things that cannot help drawing one to her." "Pour soul!" said Merry. .The conductor entered, ahutting the door behind him with a crash. "Twenty-third street!" he called. "Let us get off and have dinner somewhere," suggested the actor. "I want to talk to you tor hours." CHAPTER XII. A Prima Donna of tha Past. Dorcas and Merry paused for a mo ment before a flight ot steps which led up to what had once been a fine private residence. Its exclusl7e days were past; It was beckoning with a garish blase of light to every passer by. Through the open door cam strains from the overture to "William Tell." "What a queer place." said the girl. "You can't realise its queernese un til we are Inside. The crowd that gathers here la aa motley aa any yon find in New York." Dorcas ran lightly up thejteps. The cafo, shabby and weather-beaten out doors, was bizarre Inside. At the far ther end a daub of painted canvas at tempted to create tho Illusion of sunlit 3 P" V People Were Dining Vociferously. fields. Against it roso a theatrical apple tree. A hundred electric lights biased Inside crimson apples on Us widespread branches. Under It at a huddle ot tables, people were dining vociferously. The place shrieked its antagonism to the clvllSaed ceremony ot feeding. Humanity dug Its elbows into ono another while It handled knives and forks, and screamed Its conversation. The rooms reeked with a hundred odors ot highly-seasoned food and tobacco smoke. It waa a be wildering blend ot light and smells and noise. Dorcaa followed Merry through the labyrinth to a small table In a distant cornor, hedged about with palms. "I come hero time and again," con fessed Merry after they were seated. "I love the place; the crowd Is so In teresting". People let themselves loose In a coop like this:, they enjoy life frankly." "I ahould think, they did." Dorcas laughed gaily. Across the room a party ot oollega lads ware hamming a ragtime song In utter Inharmony to the orchestra's music Corks war popping amid tha rattle ot dishes and silver while laugh ter in a hundred tones, and tha lan guages ot all tha old Latin race, war Mended la tha strange babel. "It'll a droll llttlo world," said Merry. Dorcas pulled off her gloves and sat smoothing thorn betweon hor flngors. "I remember," Andrew gazod about him in a reminiscent mood, "ono sea son I was tied up with a mnniner pro duction, and It was horribly lonesome In Now York. Thoro was not a soul In our company I wanted to fraternize with. Enoch was West L used to como hero night nfter night and work myself into a llght-hcarlcd mood. 1 had a part I hated. I did not go on until tho second act, bo sometimes I stayed hero until half-post seven. JTho place waked mo up. I got Into a queer humor whtlo watching peoplo. Doforo It woro off I used to danh to tho thea ter, as ono acts when you are over powered with sleep, and try to get to bed beforo you go wldo awake again. Usually 1 don't havo to hammer my self intp, tho disposition for work. When I am cost for somo role that makes ono fairly snort with Impa tience, it la horribly hnrd to fool like It It I got a human character, I lovo It" "Like 'John Estorbrook?' " "Yes, llko 'John Estorbrook.' Miss Dorcas," Merry wont on eagerly, "I went tramping yesterday alone. I found myself within Bight of another state beforo I pulled up. I was heaven knows how many miles from ntiywhoro. I thrashed things out with tnybolf. I'm going to make 'John Es torbrook' tho biggest thing that has struck Now York In years." Dorcas laughed. She felt foolishly happy. . "I am so glad," she Bald. "It's up to mo to do tho best I can; I owe It to you," there was grim de termination In Merry's voice; "to you and Oswald, he's a prince of a good follow; now Allco Volk and the child como Into It." "And yourBelf." "Yea, myself. If I succeed, it means retrieving more than you imagine." "And you will confess you wrote tho Playr "Not yet" "Whyr "Miss Dorcas," Merry's voice had a tone of entreaty in it, "I want to aak ono thing of you. I ask It because your faith in me is so great and uplifting. Drop tho authorship of tho play. I can not explain, 1 cannot fight the thoughts you have of me. You said once, 'I be lieve in you.' Do you remember?" Dorcaa looked at him with steadfast eyas and nodded. "Go on believing. It's the kindest thing you can do for me, and (or Enoch." ' Their eyes made a compact though no word waa spoken. They lingered over strange dishes that came and went Stood seemed merely a circumstance, an excuse tor being alone and together. They felt curiously Isolated, for the nolso made a retreat tor them as silence does. A sudden lull, fell on the babel ot sound. The orchestra, which had rested for a few minutes, began again not one 'of its long overtures, but a prelude to the florid musio In -an Italian opera. Through the murky atmosphere a woman's voice shrilled out with rare sweetness. Dorcaa rose to her feet for a sec ond, searching for the singer; then she Boatod herself with her back to the tablo. Tho crash of dishes, the rattle of silver, and the popping ot corks con tinued, but tongues wore stilled except for one volco. It was singing thoH tremendous aria from "Ernani." The girl drew a long breath aa the last note dlod away Into silence then she turned eagerly to Merry. "Who Is she?" "I'll tell you In a minute." She turned again to look at the singer, who stood crushed into a nar row balcony which was crowded to discomfort by a piano and four mu sicians. The womtth was absurdly tat and absurdly gowned. Years ago, In the palmy days of a concert tour, she had swept upon the platform in a robe of burnt orange velvet splashed gor geously with silver lace and scintillat ing embroidery. It had seen years of service, then grown tawdry, unfashion able, soiled, and grotesquely queor. It reminded Dorcas of the stately door In Its last stage ot shabblneas. The woman's straw-colored hair was gath ered into a ridiculous pompadour. Across the dining room, through mur ky waves of tobacco smoke- the girl could see careworn wrinkles about the woman's eyes. The vivid scarlet of her cheeks was pitifully false, false as the whiteness ot her vast, bare shoul ders. Again, she began to sing, some thing which camo thrilling from the wonderful throat with perfect colora tura. She threw back her head and tilted her face till Dorcas saw only the profile For one .moment the gross lines disappeared; instead camo a glimpse of. beauty and plcturosqueness, a dignity which belonged to the days of youth and power, the royal days of a singer. The room rang with an encore, then came a shriek of command. "Dance 1" shouted the group'of students in a cor ner. "Oh!" cried Dorcas plteousfy. "oh! how can they do it?" - Tho musicians huddled themselves and their instruments closer together, Indifferently as it it were part of every night's program. The pianist struck a few bars of some tinkling thing in a musical comedy, then the singer be gan to sway her huge body. There was no space for hor feet to move. She Bang to the accompaniment, but the physical effort made her wheeze. The orchestra dashed into a tripping chorus, -and the enthusiasm' of the guests waxed high. Cheers were inter mingled with laughter and screams of derision. "Oh!" cried Dorcaa, "oh! tha shame ot It!" The singer sank la a ehalr exhaust ed, then she rose and pushed her way down from tha balcony. Doras watched hor with a pitiful gazo. Per spiration was washing whtto streaks through the patches ot rougo on her cheeks, "Who Is tho womari?" sho asked. "Twenty-flvo yoars ago her" name was famous from ono ond of Italy to the other. Whon sho went to Genoa to fill an engagement tho wholo town turned out to meet hor, tho shops closed, and It was a. public holiday. Tho peoplo pelted her with flowers and screamed themselves hoarse in a welcome Sho was tho star of the Uelllnl In Naples. Sho Bang In Pari and London. Sho camo here, grow sick and could not fill hor engage ments. A manager wont back on hor, Bho lost what money sho had, friends dosortcd her, she camo down to this." Oh, tho poor Boul!" Dorcas' voice was a whisper. "Hor's was an unusual case," nnld Morry. "Sho Is only flfty-threo now, bo I'vo heard. It makes you reallzo Into what a short bit of our Uvea fame Is crowded If fame comes to us. Tho has-beons In our profession aro an army, a pitiful army. Unless ono has Her Face Grew Eager and Tremulous. a home and some one in it to cherish and love, the lonely days of old age are" Andrew laughed cheerlessly. "Well, I never think ot them." He stretched out his hand to inter cept a boy who wandered between the tables with a tray full of crimson roses. He laid a bunch ot them before Dorcaa. She burled her face in the cool petals. "Shall we go?" asked Merry. As they puBhed their way through the mase of crowded tables they passed a woman who sat dining alone. She woro an orange velvet gown, and a shabby lace scarf covered her naked shoulders. Dorcas paused for a mo ment laid her hand uoorv tha woman's arm, and spoke a few words in Italian The slngor looked up and put a grimy, ring-bedizened hand upon the girl's fingers. Morry stood watching them. The woman looked very old and faded under the white glare ot the elec tricity,, but her face grew eager and tremulous while she poured out her soul In her own language. Dorcas took one rose from the cluster in her arms and laid the rest of the fragrant blos soms beside the singer's plate. "You'll forgive mo for porting with your flowers?" she whispered as she rejoined Merry. "I'm glad you did It Once upon a tlmo stage bouquets were a worn-out sensation for that woman; today I guess she is showered with roses about once In a bluo moon." .Dorcas paused near tho door to nod good-by to tbe singer, who sat gazing after them with her chin burled In the red roses. Suddenly Dorcas turned to Merry. Her face had grown white, and she put her arm within hla. He clasped It with a strong grip, but neither of them spoke. At the samo moment they had caught sight of. Enoch Wentworth. He was soatcd In an alcove at a email tablo hedged about with palms. Zllla Paget sat facing him. Enoch's hands clasped one of hers which lay upon the table. They were engrossed In each other. Dorcas stopped abruptly when they reached the foot of tho steps. "Oh.l" sho whimpered appeallngly, "Andrew, savo Enoch from that woman 1" CHAPTER XIII. A Sealed Bargain. Wentworth sat In a email room at the theater, which he bad appropriated as his own. It led directly off the box office. He was glancing over a hoap of press clippings when the door opened and Merry walked in. "Good morning." There waa a sur prised glance on Enoch's face while he spoke. Andrew nooded a response, then ho drew a package of manuscript from his pocket Wentworth's eyes turned on him curiously while he flattened it out on the table before him. No unneces sary courtesies passed between them. "I rewrote the scene as you sug gested," said Andrew carelessly. "That Was good ot you." In his sur prise Wentworth showed an Impulsive friendliness. He stretched oat bis band tor the .manuscript Thar was no cordiality in Merry's (ace. He glanoed quietly Uuroagh tbe "fou coinit thin enange In tho plaj. a necessity?" ho asked brusquely. "I guess tnnt's what -It might be called." Wentworth's voice was Impa tient, and a frown chased ncross hla lace. "Oswnld'a been asking for it this morning. When a quiet follow like him makes up his mind to havo a thing, he's apt to be confoundedly In. slstent." "Then you want it?" "Certainly." "I snt up until daylight to wilte this. It's an improvement on the other act; I can boo that myself. Oswald will tell you, I think, that It carries out his Ideas exactly. Uoforo I hand it ovor I want to make a dicker with you." Wentworth stared at him blankly. "A dicker?" he repeated. "la It money?" "Money!" Andrew's face grew harsh with scorn. , "What Is It then?" "I was dining last night at Colgas ZlH. I" Wentworth's faco grow suddenly scarlet, then It whitened. "I Baw you thero." Merry's volco waa relentless. "I don't know a blessed thing about the Paget woman, for or against her. I do know this, though: overy man who-has lived among good women knows sho 1b not fit company for your sister for Instance" "Who said she was?" snarled Wont worth. "I had not thought of throw ing her into my sister's society. Dorcas would not have to tolerato even a pass ing acquaintance with her behind tho scones if I had my way." "She is not fit to be seen with a de cent man." "You glvo me the credit then of be ing a decent man?" sneered Enoch. "To a certain limit I do." "Well, what do you want?" Went worth turned' an apprehensive glance upon him. "I want you to promise, bofore I turn over this manuscript that you will havo nothing to 'do with Zllla Paget except in a business way." "Why, aro you Interested in her yourself?" "My God, Enoch 1" Andrew stuffed the roll of paper in his pocket and Jumped to his feet. "Here, sit down. I want this affair straightened out now." Merry did not answer. He walked across the office and stood beside a table where a litter of photographs lay. He picked one up carelessly and glanced at it It waa an exquisite por trait of Dorcas. Her eyea gazed into his with K straightforward look which waa characteristic ot the girl. "Will you tell me," there waa stern demand in Wentworth's voice, "will you explain why you are so concerned about my morals?" "I don't care a damn about your morals," answered Merry contemptu ously. "I waa thinking about your sis ter. I am still fool enough to believe that you have some decency left I will hand over this act, rewritten as you want it when you promise to have nothing to do with Zllla Paget" When Merry stopped speaking he took a aeat opposite Enoch and watted for a reply. A visiting card lay on the table. Wentworth picked it up and tore it into halves. He sat tearing and re tearing it in perfect silence. When it was reduced to fragments, he gathered them Into the hollow of his hand and dropped them in the waste basket; then he looked across at Merry. "That was Miss Paget's card," ho said harshly. "I'm through with her." Merry took the manuscript from his pocket, laid It on the tablo before Enoch, and walked out A few minutes later Enoch opened the door which led Into the box office. A young man sat bealde tho window. "Dlngley," ho said. "I have locked the outside door. Don't let a soul In on mo. I can't see Mr. Oswald even. Tell him I am busy, writing." Wontworth Jocked the door of the office, eat down In his big chair, and picked up the manuscript He read it rapidly, slipped a'blank sheet of paper into a typewriter, and began to copy it with slow deliberation. When It was finished he read each typed page care fully. He tacked them together and rose to bis feet He began to search the office rapidly with bis eyes, then he turned to a wash-bowl In the corner. He crushed Into a loose bunch each of the sheets which held Merry's writ ing and' touched the paper with a match. It leaped into a rod blaze. Ho watched it carofuUy,' poking the sheets over with a paper knlfo until each one fell away-Into a shivering black ash. When every .spark had died ho turned on a faucet, and the light ashes were swept down the waste pipe. Ho rubbed a speck of grime from his Hands and opened tho box offlco door. Oswald sat on a high stool besldo the window. TO BE CONTINUED.) Conclusive Evidence. Irvia Cobb, writer, and father of a daughter whose cleverness is men tioned by Arnold Dennett In his book on "Your United States," lives in Yonkrrs, which Is near New York. Recently, a family moved into the house noxt door, and wlt&In a week little Miss Cobb had drifted in to soe them. Casually, sho proceeded to tell tho lady ot the family much, about herself, her father, what she did, and a deal of .domestic history. "My father says that you must ba nice people, too,", said she, in conclu sion. "That's nice." waa the pleased re sponse. "And what made him think that, since he haa never seen us?" "Oh, he says you have such nlee garbage!" answered tha young caller.. National Sunday Itagasjn. ut Pew Do, Blessed be the man at the top who remembers thoae who steadied the lad der tot him. ii Ii A REAL DUTY of every person to try and maintain the high- H est possible standard of I health. This plan can be helped along won- I derfully by the use of IHOSTETTER'S STOMACH BITTERS" It tones, strengthens, B invigorates the digest- ive organs, the liver and bowels and thus 1 thus health. I promotes good health. MXVVMM Wva - 1915 maanmceni m 1 .RECORD. troDsin.f ' J i western lanaaa 111 .. -..!.- . . Vl,.l faiuui mo rravinces ox AltlArta. flftVA nmftnwl .mw. dcrful vfoMa nf Wkui n.i. Blrlavnnri Flm. Wliul trrmitA Vfmm f?nnlrnrf a Va 1 UbmI - wiffnM nrAW nnri iaMa.i r.. 9A ... -.-- .-..,.. . 11H4U, io4Bbubu per acre; zz bushel was , aoout tne total average. Miitd Farm-1 jhl an (nftnatrv fta erraln mUIhi. Tt. I t vrl1nt Drae nil nt n.itrtfrlAn .1 ' tha nnlv ftviH rmilwt atll... fe lu.i I .," - ...,-.. . ....,. yvy. or dairy purpose, in uiz, and again In 1913, at Chicago, Manitoba carriad off in bnarapiontntp lor ltr Ur. uooa Behoolft. marietta rnntvnlmt .-llmata . ! cellent. For the homeateader. the man v wno wunea to farm extenilvely, or the investor, Canada offers the biggest op- I vonunuy 01 any piace on tne continent. AddIv for rfraerintlva lltmtitm mnA ii.r'f ..: rr. - reaucea railway rate to Superintendent of Immlsratlon. 1 Ottawa, Canada, or to W.V.BENNETT Ba Building - Omaha, Neb. Canadian I Government Agent I RECOGNIZED WORK OF ARTIST Negro Quick to Hand Out What Might Be Called Important Piece of Misinformation. Charles R. Knight, the artist, whose reproductions of dinosaurs and crea tures of long ago are known the world over, prefers, however, to be known aa a painter and' sculptor of modern animals. He baa worked from the-living model aa much as possible, and this has taken him to the soob In many cities. He was telling his ex periences at the zoo in Washington. "One afternoon an important look ing negro came along 'with his best girl," he said. "They Btopped for a minute and looked at tho sketch 1 was making of a deer. " 'Yer know what ho am do!n don't yer?" asked the negro of his com panion. "'Mebbo,' answered tho woman. 'Does yoh?' "'Shoh. Ho's making a landscape ob one or dem habitats. Dere's moh habitats in dls zoo than anywhere olso in der United States.' " Brief Decision. Whon we consider how easily some, mon mako monkeys of themselves, It is not so difficult to bclievo In the theory of evolution. This Language of Ours. "Was the rumor confirmed?" ' "No. A careful Investigation of' tho report proved it to be a confirmed rumor." Grandmother Didn't Know A good cook? Certainly, but she couldn't have cooked the Indian Corn, rolled and toasted it to a crisp brown, wafer thin flakes, as we do in preparing Post Toasties They are delicious with cream or milk, or sprinkled over fresh fruit or berries. From the first cooking of the corn until the sealed, air tight packages of delicately toasted flakes are delivered to you, Post Toasties are never touched by human hand. Grandmother would have liked Poit Toasties old by Grocers. M - ft V A V . a FM 1 1, t.i a-rf t .-. t &a&&tifc f -- IJ J L. J.. AT ,. -. 'j ' v .:..- - .. . j- t 'j :.. . !WM'"ii.f mmmm iir P; tjwMhij) ty.&VtrlHJia'iria' v.lJV.ti A.iiii. Hrv. . M&M&iAi a m at r ii iiiaii si o i - nmiiii ii aaa.aaaka'x - . - - 'itlit WfijKL ffmmmtmmmimmmmmtmmmmiimmmmmim ihVh a& t, v . wh. ,w . ,...- v, V V, .. ;i. Ji. .am& if- riW?JXS