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About The Red Cloud chief. (Red Cloud, Webster Co., Neb.) 1873-1923 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 20, 1917)
RED CLOUD, NIBRA f&BBBBU , , ,. . - mi. - J ....--. - . - - - - . aBjjasjassaBJSJSWaMsssSJTSSS THE REAL MAN 1 By FRANCIS LYNDE a (Copyright by CfcaiWaSctiDntrs5on) aaaE a CHAPTER XIX Continued. 15 Smith did his various errands quick ly. When ho reached tho fourth-floor flulto ngnln, Jlbbey was out of tho bath; was sitting on tho edgo of the bed wrapped In blankets, with tho steaming pot of coffeo sent up on Smith's hurry order bestdo him on a tray. "It's your turn at tho tub," ho bub bled cheerfully. "I didn't have any glad rags to put on, so I swiped somo of your bedclothes. Go to It, old man, beforo you catch cold." Smith was already pointing for tho bath. "Your trunk will ho up In n few minutes, and I've told them to send It here," ho said. "When you want to quit me, you'll And your rooms Ave doors to tho right In this sumo corridor: suite number four-slxtecn." It was a long half-hour before Smith emerged from his bathroom once more clothed and In his right mind. In tho Interval the reclaimed trunk had been sent up, and Jtbbey was also clothed, no had found one of Smith's pipes and some tobacco and was smoking with tho luxurious enjoyment of ono who had suffered the pangs im posed by two days of total abstinence. "Just hangln' around to say good night," ho began, when Smith showed hlmsolf In tho sitting room. Then ho returned tho borrowed plpo to Its place on the mantel and said his small say to the definite end. "After all that's happened to us two tonight, Monty, I hope you'ro going to forget my crazy yappings and not lose "any sleep about that Lawrencevllle business. I'm sev enteen different kinds of a rotten fail ure ; there's no manner of doubt about that; and onco In a while Just onco In a whllo I've got sense enough to know It You saved my ltfo when It would have been all to the good for you to lot mo go. I guess tho world wouldn't have been much of a loser If I had gone, and you knew that, too. Will you cr would you shako hands with me, Monty)" CHAPTER XX. The Pace-Setter. Smith made an early breakfast on tho morning following tho auto drive fft tho ntinnrinnnfl tnlnn tinnlncr thnrahv v to avoid meeting both Miss Rlchlander f and Jlbbey. The nophra cafe was practically empty when ho went in and took his accustomed placo at one of the alcove tables, but ho had barely given his order when Stnrbuck ap peared and carao to Join htm. "You're looking a whole lot better this morning, John," said tho mine owner quizzically, as he held, up a finger for the waiter. "How's tho grouch?" Smith's answering grin had some thing of-lts former good-nature In it. "Today's tho day, Billy," ho said. "To morrow at midnight wo must havo tho water running in tho ditches or loso our franchise.' It's chasing around In tho back part of my mind that Stanton will make his grandstand play today. rm not harboring any grouches on tho edge of the battle. They aro a handi cap, anyway, and always." "That's good mcdlclno talk," said tho older man, eying him keenly. And then: "You had us all guessing, yester day, and the day before, John. You sure was acting as If you'd gone plumb locoed." "I was locoed," was tho qulot ad mission. "What cured you?" "It's too long a story to tell over tho breakfast table. Wlwt do you hear from Williams?" 1 "All qulot during tho night; but the weather reports aro scaring him up a good bit this morning." "Storms on the range?" Voo Thrt rlvnr cm I nod fnnr fpol last night, and thcro Is flood watsr and drift coming down to beat tho band, i Just the same, Bartloy says he Is going to mako good." Smith nodded. "Bartley Is all right ; the right man In tho right placo. Dave you soen tho colonel slnco he left the offices last evening?" "Yes. I drovo him and Corona out to tho ranch In my new car. He said 'he'd lost his roadster; somebody had sneaked In and borrowed it" "I supposo ho told you' about the latest movo our move In the stock selling game?" "No, ho didn't; but Btllllngs did. You flayed It pretty One, John ; only I hopo to gracious we won't have to redeem those options. It would bu'st our Uttlo 9 laalde crowd wide open to havo to buy In all that stock at par." Smith laughed. " 'Sufficient unto tho day,' BUly. It was tho only way to block Stanton. It's neck or nothing with him now, and he has only ono more string that he can pull." Tho railroad"" right-of-way deal?" "Ye8;ho has been holding tnat In reserve that, and one othor thing." "What was tho other thing?" Star back was absently fishing for a se ond lamp of sugar In tho sugar bowl. "Has It got anything to do with tho bunch of nowa that you won't tell ut about yourself, John?" "It has. Two days ago, Stanton had !.. .. . -..- , 0t wu . pte fairly, but a friend of mine stepped In. Last night, again, ho stood to win out. But a man fell Into tho river, and Stanton lost out onco more." Stnrbuck glanced up soberly. "You'ro talking In riddles now, John. I don't sabo." "It Isn't necessary for you to sabo. Results aro what counts. Barring acci dents, you Tlmanyonl High Line people can reummubly count on having mo with you for tho next few critical days; and, I may add, you never needed mo more pointedly." Starbuck's smile was face-wide. "I hopo I don't feel sorry," ho re marked. "Somo day, 'when you can take an hour or so off, I'm going to get you to show iuo around In your little mu-2ceum of self-conceit, John. Maybu I can learn how to gather me up one." Smith matched" the mine owner's good-natured smile. For Bomo unex plalnablo reason tho world, his particu lar world, seemed to havo lost Its malignance. Ho could even think of Stanton without bitterness; and tho weapon which had been weighing his hip pocket for the past few days had been carefully burled In the bottom of tho lower dressing-case drawer before he came down to breakfast "You may laugh, Billy, but you'll have to admit that I've been outflgur lng tho wholo bunch of you, right from tho stact," he retorted brazenly. "But jet's get down to business. This Is practically Stanton's last day of grace. If he can't get some legal hold upon us beforo midnight tomorrow night or work somo scheme to make us lose our franchise, his Job Is gone." "Show me," said the mlno owner suc cinctly. "It's easy. With tho dam completed and the water running In tho ditches, we become at1 onco a going concern, with assets a long way in advance of our liabilities. Tho day nfter tomor rowIf wo pull through you won't bo able to buy a single share of Tlmanyonl High Lino at any figure. As a natural consequence, public senti ment, which, we may say, Is at pres ent a Uttlo doubtful, will come over to our side In a landslide, and Stan ton's outfit, If it wants to continue tho fight, will havo to fight the entire Tlmanyonl, with the city of Brewster thrown in for good measure. Am X making it plain?" "Bight you are, so far. Qo on." , "Billy, I'll tell you something that I haven't dared to tell anybody, not even Colonel Baldwin. I've been spending tho company's money like water to keep In touch. The minute we fall, and long beforo we could hope to reorganize a second tlmo and apply for a new charter, Stanton's com pany will bo in tho field, with Its char ter already granted. From that to tak ing possession of our dam, either by means of an enabling act of tho leg islature, or by purchaso from the pa per railroad, will be only a step. And "Good Qloryl" He Sighed. wo couldn't do a thing! Wo'd havo no legal rights, and no money to fight wlthl" Starbuck pushed his chair away from tho table and drew a long breath. "Good glory I" ho sighed. "I wish to goodness It was day after tomorrow! Can you carry It any further, John?" "Yes; a stop or two. For a week Stanton has been busy on the paper railroad claim, and that Is what mado me buy a few cases of good rifles and send them out to Williams ; I was afraid Stanton might try force. Ho won't do that It ho can help It; he'll go in with somo legal show, If possible, because our forco at the dam far out numbers any gang he could hire, and ho knows we are armed." "He can't work tho legal game," said Starbuck definitively. "I've known Judgo Warner ever since I was knee high to a hop-toad, and a squarcr man doesn't breatho." "That is all right, but you're forget ting something. Tho paper railroad is or was onco an interstate corpora tion, and so may ask for relief from the federal courts, thus going over Judgo Warnor's head. I'm not saying anything against Lorchlng, tho federal i juujjo us xteu uuue. ivo uioi win, ana I ho is a good jurist and presumably, an judgo at Red Butte. I'vo met him, and iti i t honest man. But ho is well along In years, and has an exaggerated notion of his own Importance. Stanton, or rather his figurehead railroad people, havo asked him to Intervene, and ho has taken tho caso under advisement That Is whero wo stand this morning." Stnrbuck was nodding slowly. "I seo what you mean, now," htTsald. "If Lorchlng Jumps the wrong way for us, you'ro looking to seo a United States marshal walk up to Bartley Wllllums somo tlmo today and tell him to quit Thnt would put tho final kibosh on us, wouldn't It?" Smith was rising In his place. "I'm not dead yet, Billy," bo re joined cheerfully. "I haven't let it get this far without hammering out a few expedients for our side. If I can man age to stay In the fight today and to morrow " A little new under clerk had como in from the hotel ofllco and was trying to give Stnrbuck a note in a square en velope, and Starbuck wus saying: "No, that's Mr. Smith, over there." Smith took tho noto and opened It, and ho scarcely heard the clerk's ex planation that it had been put In his box the evening before, and that tho day clerk had been afraid he would get away without finding it It was from Vcrda IMchlander, and It had neither superscription nor signature. This Is what Smith read: "My little ruse has failed miserably. Mr. K's. messenger found my father In spite of it and he the messenger1 returned this evening. I know, be cause he brought a note from father to me. Como to me as early tomorrow morning as you can, and we'll plan what can bo done." Smith crushed tho noto in his hand and thrust it Into his pocket Star buck was making a cigarette, and was studiously refraining from breaking in. But Smith did not keep him waiting. "That was my knockout Billy," ho said with a quietness that was almost overdone. "My time has suddenly been shortened to hours perhaps to min utes. Get a car as quickly as you can and go to Judge Warner's house. I havo an appointment with him at nine o'clock. Tell him I'll keep it if I can, but that he needn't wait for me If I am not there on the minute." CHAPTER XXI. The Colonel's "Defl." Though It was only eight o'clock. Smith sent his card to Miss Richland er's rooms at once and then had him self lifted to tho mezzanine floor to wait for her. She came in a few min utes, a strikingly beautiful figure of a woman In tho freshness of her morn ing gown, red-lipped, bright-eyed, and serenely conscious of her own re splendent gifts of face and figure. Smith went quickly to meet her and drew her aside Into the music parlor. Already tho need for caution was be ginning to make Itself felt. "I have come," he said briefly. "You got my noto?" she asked. "A few minutes ago Just as I was leaving the breakfust table." "You will leave Brewster at once while tho way Is still open?" Ho shook his head. "I can't do that; In common justice to the men who have trusted me, and who arc now needing mo moro than ever, I must stay through this one day, and possibly another." "Mr. Klnzlo will not be likely to lose any time," sho prefigured thoughtfully. "Ho has probably telegraphed to Law- rencevlllo beforo this." Then, with a glance over her shoulder to make suro that thero were no eavesdroppers: "But not one of these Brewsterltcs can Identify you as John Montague Smith of Lawrencovlllc tho man who Is wanted by Sheriff Macauley. My fa ther, in his letter, after telling mo that ho will bo detained In tho moun tains several days longer, refers to Mr. Klnzlo's request and suggests " Tho fugitive was smiling grimly. "IIo suggests that you might help Mr. Kin zle out." "Not quite that," she rejoined. "Ho merely suggests that I am to be prudent, and to quote him exactly 'not got mixed up In tho affair in any way so that It would mako talk.' " "I see," said Smith. And then J "You havo a disagreeable duty ahead of you, nnd I'd relievo you of tho necessity by running away, If I could. But that Is Impossible, as I have explained." Sho was silent for a moment; then sho said: "When I told you a few days ago that you were going to need my help, Montague, I didn't foreseo unythlng like this. I shall breakfast with the Stantons in a few minutes; and after nine o'clock ... If you could contrlvo to keep out of the way until I can get word to you; just so they won't bo able to bring us faco to face with each other" Smith saw what she meant; saw, also, whereunto his wretched fate was dragging him. It was the newest of all tho reincarnations, the one which had begun with Jlbbey's silent hand clasp the night before, which prompted him to say: "If they, should ask yoi about me, you must tell them tho truth,' Verda." Her suillo was mildly scornfulf "Is that what tho plain-faced little ranch person would do?" she asked. "I don't know ; yes, I guess it is." "Doesn't sho caro any moro for you than that?" Smith did not reply. Ho was stand ing where ho could watch the comings and goings of the elevators. Time wan precious and he was chafing at tho de lay, but Miss Rlchlander was not yet ready to let him go. "Tell mo honestly, Montague," sho said ; "Is It anything more than a case of propinquity with this Baldwin girl? on your part, I mean." "It isn't anything," he returned so berly. "Corona Baldwin will never t.h- (IP". "Tell Me Honestly, Montague." marry any man who has so much to explain as I have." "You didn't know this was her home, when you came out here?" "No." "But you had met her somewhere, before you came?" "Once; yes. It was In Guthrlevllle, over a year ago. X met her there at a house where she was visiting." "I see," she nodded, and then, with out warning: "What was the matter with you last nightabout dinner time?" "Why should you think there was anything the matter with me?" ' "I was out driving with the Stantons. When I came back to the hotel I found Colonel Baldwin and another man a lawyer, I think he was waiting for me. They said you were needing a friend, who could go and talk to you and 'calm you down,' was the phrase the" lawyer used. I was good-natured enough to go with them, but when we reached your offices you had gone, and tho ranch girl was thero alone, wait ing for her father." "That was nonsense I" he comment ed ; "their going after you as if I were a maniac or a drunken man, I mean." This tlmo Miss Rtchlander's smile was distinctly resentful. "I suppose the colonel's daughter answered the purpose better," she said. 'There was an awkward little contretemps, and Miss Baldwin refused, rather rudely, I thought, to tell her father where you had gone." Smith broke away from the unwel come subject abruptly, saying: 'There Is something else you ought to know, Jlbbey is here, at last." "Does he know you are here?" "H does." "Why didn't you tell me before? That will compllcato things dreadfully. Tucker will talk end tell all he knows; no cant neip it." "This Is ono time when he will not talk. Perhaps ho will tell you why when you seo him." Miss Rlchlander glanced at tho face of the small watch pinned on her shoulder. "You must not stay here any longer," she protested. 'The Stantons may comt down any minute, now, and they mustn't find us together. I am still forgiving enough to want to help you, but you must do your part and let mo know what Is going on." William Starbuck's newcar was standing In front of Judge"Warnor's houso In tho southern suburb when Smith descended from tho closed cab which he had taken at the Hophra House sldo entrance. The clock In tho courthouso tower was striking the quarter of nine. Tho elevated mesa upon which tho suburb was built com manded a broad view of tho town and tho outlying ranch lands, and In the distance beyond tho river the Hlilcrest cottonwoods outlined themselves against a background of miniature buttca. Smith's gaze took In the wide, sunlit prospect. Ho had paid and dismissed his cabman, and the thought came to him that in a few hours the wooded buttcs, tho baro plains, the mighty mountains, and the pictured city spreading maplike at his feet would probably exist for him only as a mem ory. While he halted on the terrace, Starbuck came out of the house. "The judge is at breakfast," the owner announced. "You're to so la and wlt What do you want me te do next?" do ba ooNToraazvi Net Like Heme. Tho bright boy In khaki was dilating on the woes of army life. "Yes," ho said to his old mother, "wo don't get much In tho way of fancy foods, or anything like that. Our camp cook's all rlj;ht on stews and soup, but he can't go beyond them. The other day you know, when I went bnck, I took n cucumber with me that I was going to share with ono or two of the boys. I gave It to tho cook and asked lilin to get It renily for in, and whnt d'you think be did with It? Put It In the oven nnd Imkcd It." "Oh, poor boyI"'8nld tho fond moth er. "A pity I couldn't have been thcro to look nfter you. I'd have boiled It lovely for you l" Flfty-Flfty. Bernard was present at n dinner par ty, In which some of the guests brought their children. Ono Uttlo girl wanted to play with Bernard's toy's, but he was sclflHh and wouldn't let her. "Now, Bernard," said mother, "you must be u little gentleman." "Yes," said he, "but sho must bo n lady." Chronic Indigestion. "You can't cat your cake nnd have It? "I have the consciousness of It long er than suits me," growled tho dyspep tic." y. The knocker's chief Joy In life seems to be to sec somebody else fall. 9gc $kk Many Women in this Condition Re gain Health by Taking Lydia E. Pinkham's Vegetable Compound. Convincing Proof of This Fact nTTTTiTrrrnTiTitTTTrn I MHWbVbbVtsbIbt Mrs. Lindsay Now Keeps House For Seven TenniUe,Ga. "I want to tell you how much I have been benefited by Lydia E. Pinkham's Vegetable Compound. About eight years ago I got in such a low state of health I was unable to keep house for three in the family. I had dull, tired, dizzy feelings, cold feet and hands nearly all the time and could scarcely sleep at alL Tho doctor said I had a severe cose of ulceration and without an operation I would always be an invalid, but I told him I wanted to wait awhile. Our druggist advised my husband to get Lydia E. Pinkham's Vegetable Compound and it has entirely cured me. Now I keep houso for seven and work in the garden some, too. I am so thankful I got this medicine I feel as though it saved my life and have recommended it to others and they have been benefited ".Mrs. W. E. Ltndset, R It. 3, Tcnnille, 6a. If you want special advice write to Eydia E. Pinkham Medi cine Co. (confidential) Lynn, Mass. Your letter will bo opened, read and answered by a woman and held in strict confidence. ' Carter's Little Liver Pills You Cannot be .Jfelv A Remedy That Constipated and Happy Smalt Pill Saull Dose Small Pnce B sSITTLE .SBBBBBBBBBS' BlVdlX Mmmrk pills. AofStttaior pARTER'S IRON PILLS many coiorleM face but s will greatly help most pale-faced people yMsssVEsf ''xrtwfmw VtMnk5R r Olat?tr rnrtM ill VfiMroFACfORi Helpl "They toll mo that Perks wbb ar rested today bocauBO he drowned his dog In the river," said Burns. "How could they arrest him for drowning a dog In tho river?" demand ed Hunks. "Why, they claimed that a sunken bark obstructed navigation." After a woman reaches a certain age sho never mentions it Don't bo blind to the virtues of an enemy or tho shortcomings of a friend. When Vour Eyes Need Care Try Murine Eye Remedy. Ho Smarting Just Bye Contort. M cents at A PHYSICAL WRECK U14 Up IftBeJ, Btwly HeUiif ORto Life. Dmr's Effected Minreleis Recovery. 'Without warning I was dragged to tho brink of the grave by malignant kidney trouble," says Robert Wen gatz, 114 Cypress Ave., Bronx, N. Y. ''My kidneys seemed to Btop acting and me pains in my back were terrible. Big, bloaty puffs came under my eyes and attacks of dizziness often blinded me. My limbs swelled twico normal rizo and I could press big dents in to the flesh. "I was confined to H Mr.t ueu ana nnu cuhvuibiouo nr. wcifKZ. several times a day. Despite the best of treatment, I grew worse and was taken to tho hospital. I didn't improve, however, and was brought home again, barely holding onto life. "Townrd the last of 1013. a friend persuaded me to try Doan'a Kidney Pills and I cannot put into words what they did for me. Tho first box helped more than all tho other medi cines and treatments I had taken. I continued and from an emaciated wreck of a man I havo taken on good, solid flesh until I now weigh 223 pounds and am in the best of health. Doan'a alono deserve the credit." Bworn to beforo me, JAMES T. COUQULIN, Com. of Deeds Cat Dew's at Asty Stecw, tOe a Be DOAN'S'JSSV FOSTER-MUURN CO- BUFFALO, N. Y. S 0 ffe Werk Ridgway, Perm. "I suffered from female trouble with, backache and pain in my sido for over seven months so I could not do any of my work. I was treated by three different doctors and was getting discouraged when my sister-in-law told me how Lydia E. Pinkham's Vegetable Compound had helped her. I decided to try it, and it restored my health, so I now do all of my housework which is not light as I have a little boy three years ob.M -Mrs. O. M. Rnnfes, Ridgway, Penn. 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