The Red Cloud chief. (Red Cloud, Webster Co., Neb.) 1873-1923, January 25, 1923, Image 6
m WpA""- RED OLOUD, NEBRASKA, CHIEF Cars ww &z&?z:Gez$k ! n i I f oeasieys 1 Christmas Party By ft BOOTH TARKtNGTON K te?j&7Zi& VI Continued. Part of tlio room wus clcnr to our view, (hough nl)Oiit half of tt was shut off from us by the very king of nil Christmas trees, glittering with dozens mid dozens of candles, sumptuous In silver, sparkling In gold, mid laden with Ilenven nlono known how many mid wlint delectable enticements. Op posite the Tree, his hack against the Willi, hat old Hoh, clad In a dress of state, part of which consisted of n swallow-tnll coat (with nn overgrown chrysanthemum In the buttonhole), a red necktie, and a plnk-niid-Hllver lib erty enp of tissue-paper. Ho was scrap ing n fiddle "like old times come again," and the tune he played was, "Oh, my I.lzn, po' gall" My feet shuffled to It In the snow. No one except old Hot) was to he seen In the room, tint we wntched him and listened breathlessly. When lie finished "Llzn," he laid tho fiddle across his knee, wiped his face with a new mid brilliant blue silk handker chief, and said : "Now come tie big speech." The Honorable David Iicusloy, car rying a small mahogany table, stepped out from beyond tho Christmas tree, advanced to the center of the room; set the table down; disappeared for n moment and returned with a white water-pitcher mid n glass. He placed theso upon the table, bowed gracefully several times, then spoke: "Ladles and gentlemen " There. he paused. "Well," said Mr. Simeon I'cck, slow ly, "don't this bent hell I" "Look out I" Tho Journal reporter twitched his sleeve. "Ladles present." "Where?" said I. lie leaned nearer me and spoke In a low tone. "Just behind us. She followed us over from your boarding house. She's been standing around near us all along. I supposed she was Dowdcn's daughter, probably." "Ho hasn't any daughter," I snld, find stepped back to the hooded figure I had been too absorbed In our Quest to notice. It was Miss Appcrthwnlte. She had thrown a loose cloak over tier head nnd shoulders ; hut enveloped In It as she was, nnd crested nnd epauletted with white, I knew her nt once. There was no mistaking her, even In a blizzard. She caught my hand with a strong, quick pressure, nnd, bending her head to mine, said In n soft whisper, close to my enr: "1 heard everything that man said In our hallway. You left the library door open when you called Mr. Dow den out." "80," l returned, nmiiciousiy, "you you couldn't help following I" She released my hand gently, to my surprise. "Hush," she whispered. "He's say ing something." "Ladles mid gentlemen," said Heasley again and stopped again. Dowden's voice sounded hysterically In my right ear. (Miss Appcrthwnlto had whispered In my left.) "Tho only speech he's ever made In bis life mid he's stuck I" Hut lleusley wasn't: lie was only deliberating. "Ladles nnd gentlemen," he began "Mr. mid Mrs. Hunchberg, Colonel lliinchberg and Aunt Coolcy Hunch berg, Miss Molnnnn, Miss Queen, nnd Miss Marhie Huuchherg, Mr. Noble, Mr. Tom, and Mr. Orandcc Hunchberg, Mr. Corley Lluhrldgc, and Master Hammorsley: You see before you to night, In my person, merely tho rep resentative of your real host, Mister Swift. Mister Swift has expressCtTtt wish that there should be a speech, and has deputed me to make It. He requests that the subject ho has as signed me should be trented In as dig nified a manner as Is possible con sidering the orator. LudlcB and gentlemen" ho took a sip of wntcr "I will now address you m:ou tho fol lowing subject : 'Why Wo Call Christ mas Time .lie Host Ttniu.' "Chrlstnns time Is the best time be en use It 1b the kindest time. Nobody ever felt very happy without feeling very kind, nnd nobody ever felt very kind without feeling Rt least a little happy. Uj. of course, either way about, the happiest time Is the kind est time Uiat'8 this time. The most beautiful thing our eyes can sec are the stnrs; and for that reason, nnd In remembrance of One star, we set candles on the Tree to be stnrn In tho house. So we vaato Christmas time a time of ntnrs Indoors; and they Kliliii! warmly Against the cold out doors that Is like the cold of other seasons not so kind. We set our hun dred cnndlcn oft the Tree and keep them bright throughout the Christ mas time, for while they shine upon tis we have light to se'o this life, not as a battle, but as the march of a mighty Fellowship! Ladles and gentle men, I thank you 1" . He bowed to right and left, as to an audience politely npplaudlng, and, lifting the table and Its br " " drew; while old Tloh ngnln set hts fiddle to his cliln and started to scrape the piellmlnnry measure of n quadrille. Heasley was hack In nn Instant, shouting us he ciiine: "Take your pnrdnersl Ualnncc alll" . And then nnd there, nnd nil by him self, he danced n quadrille, perform ing at one and the same time fot four lively couples. Never In my life have I seen such gyrations and capers as were cut by that long-legged, loose Jointed, miraculously flying figure. He was In the wildest motion without cessation, neer the fraction of an In stant still; calling the figures nt the top of his voice and dancing them simultaneously; his expression anxious but polite (as Is the habit of other dancers) ; his hands extended ns If to swing his partner or corner, or "op posite lady;" mid his feet lifting high nnd Happing down In mi old-fashioned sft'p. "First four, forward nnd bnckl" he shouted. "Forward nnd salute I Hal aiioo to corners I Swing pnrdnersl (Jr-r-rand Ulght-and-Left I" I think the combination of nhnndon and decorum with which ho per formed that "Grand Hlght-nnd-Left" wns the funniest thing I havo over seen. Hut I didn't laugh nt It. Neither did Miss Apperthwalte, ot my side. "Now do you believe me?" Peek wns arguing, fiercely, with Mr. Schul meycr. "Is he crazy, or ain't he?" "Ho Is," Grist ngreed, honrsely. "He Is a stark, starln', ravin', ronrln' luna tic I And tho nigger's huinorin' him I" They were nil stnring, open-mouthed nnd nghnst, into tho lighted room. "Do you seo where It puts us?" Simeon Peck's ntsplng voice rose high. "I guess I do I" said Grist. "We come out to buy n barn, nnd got a house and lot fer the same money. It's the greatest night's work you ever done, Sim Peck I" "I guess It Is!" "Shake on It, Sim." They shook hnnds, exalted with tri umph. "Thls'll do thff work," giggled Peck. "It's about two-thousnnd per cent bet ter than the story we started to git. Why, Dave Hcnsley'll be In a padded cell In n month I It'll bo all over town tomorrow, and he'll havo as much chance fer governor as that nigger in there!" In his ccstnsy he smote 'Dow den deliriously In the ribs. "What do you think of your candidate now?" "Walt," said Dowden. "Who came In the cubs that Grist saw?" This staggered Mr. Peck. Ho rubbed his mitten over his woolen cap ns If scratching hlo bend. "Why," he said, slowly "who In Halifax did come In them cabs?" "The Hunchbergs? Where H "Listen," snld Dowden. "First couple, fnco outl" shouted Heasley, facing out with nn Invisible lady on hts nklmbood arm, while old nob sawed madly nt "A New Coon lu Town." "Second couple, fall In I" Heasley wheeled about and enacted the second couple. "Third couple 1" He fell In behind himself again. "Fourth couple, If you please! Hnl nnce ALL I I beg your pardon, Miss Oppoa.to the Tree, His Back Ajjalnst the Wall, Sat Old Bob. Molmuia, I'm afraid I stepped on your train. Sashay Alll" After the "sashay" the noblest nnd most dashing bit of gymnastics dis played In the whole quadrille ho bowed profoundly to his Invisible part ner and enme to a pause, wiping his streaming face. Old Hob dexterously swung a "A New Coon" Into the stately measures of a triumphal march. "And now," Heasley announced, In stentorian tones, "If the ladles will ho so kind ns to take tho gentlemen's arms, we will proceed to the dining room and partake of a slight colla tion." Thereupon came a slender piping of Joy from that part of the room which had been screened from us by screened from us by tho Tree, "Oh, Cousin David Heasley, that was the heautlfullest quadrille over danced In the wprldl And now, please, won't you tnko Mrs. Hunchberg out to sup-ir' I "You Lead the Way," Cried the Child) "You and Mrs. Hunchbero" stepping nobly and In time to the ex hilarating measures. Hamilton Swift, I Junior, towed by the beaming old mam my, followed In his wagon, his thla ' little arm -uplifted and his fingers i curled as if they held a trusted hand. When they reached the door, old Hob rose, turned In after tliem, and, i still fiddling, played the procession and I himself down the hall. i And so they marched away, and wo were left staring Into the empty room. ... . "My soul I" snld tho Journal re ' porter, gasping. "And he did all that ( Just to please a little sick kid I" "I can't figure It out," murmured ! film Iplr nltnnnalv I "I can," said the Journal reporter. "This story will bo all over town to morrow." He glanced at me, and I' nodded. "It'll be all over town," he ' continued, "though not In any of the papers and I don't believe It's going i to hurt Dave Heasley's chances any." Mr. Peck and his companions turned toward the street mid went silently. Tho young man from the Journal overtook them. "Thnnk you for send ing for me," he said, cordially. "You've given me n trent. I'm for Heasley 1" Dowden put his hand on my shoulder. He hnd not observed the third figure still remaining. "Well, sir," he remarked, shaking the snow from his coat, "they wero right about one thing: it certainly was mighty low down of Dave not to Invito me nnd you, too to his Christmas party. Let him go to thunder with his old. inventions, I'm going In, any way! Come on. I'm plum froze." There wns a side door Just beyond tho bay window, nnd Dowden went te It and rang, loud and long. It was nensley himself who opened It. "What In the name " ho begnn, as the ruddy light fell upon Dowden's face and upon me, standing a little wuy behind. "What are you two snow banks? What on earth are you fellows doing out here?" Then Into the vision of enr pnraljKAd and dtimfounded watchers came the llttlo wagon, pulled by tho old col ored woman, Hob's wife, In her beM, nnd there, propped upon pillows, lay Hnmllton Swift, Junior, his soul shining rapture out of his great tyes, a bright spot of color on each of Ills thin checks. He lifted himself on one elbow, and for nn Instant something seemed to bo wrong with the brace which was under his chin. Heasley sprang to him nnd ndjustcd It tenderly. Then ho bowed elaborate ly toward the mnntel-plcce. "Mrs. Hunchberg," he snld, "may 1 have the honor?" And offered Ills arm, "And I must hnve Mister Hunch berg," chirped Hamilton. "Ho must wnlk with me." "Ho tells me," said Heasley, "he'll be mighty glad to. And there's a plate of bones fof Slmpledorla." "You lead the way," cried the child J "you and Mrs. Hunchberg." "Are wo all In line?" Heasley glanced back over his shoulder. "Hoo ray I Now, let us on. Ho ! Music there l" "Hr-r-rn-vo I" applauded Mister Swift. And Henslcy, his head thrown back and his chest out, proudly led the way, i "W'o've come to your Christmas par-, ty, you old (horse-thlef l" Thus Mr Dowden. "Hoo-ruy 1" said Heasley. Dowden turned to me. "Aren't you coming?" "What are you waiting for, old fel low?" Mild Heasley. I waited a moment longer, nnd then tt happened. She came out of the shadow and went to tho foot of the steps, ler cloak falling from her shoulders ns she passed me. I picked It up. She lifted her arms pleadingly, though her head was bent with tt seemed to mo n beautiful sort of shame. She stood there with the snow driving against her and did not speak. Heasley drew his hnnd slowly across his eyes to see If they wero really there, I think. "David," she said, nt last. "You've got so mnny lovely people In your house tonight, Isn't there room for for Just one fool? It's Christmas tlmel" x (THE 13ND). AMEBKM LESGNN ICopy for This Department Supplied J the American Legion New Service.) IS SECRETARY OF AUXILIARY Mies Be33 B. Wetherholt of Ohio Re. ceives Important Position In National Organisation. Miss Hess B. Wetherholt of Gnl IpolN r) bus recently been appoint ed . national see rotary of the American Legion Auxiliary by Dr. Knte Waller-Har-re tt, national president, of tho org a n I z a 1 1 o n which Is com posed of mothers, wives, slster.s and daughters of Le tt 1 u members mid men who died in the serv ice. Miss Wetherholt Mibs Usss Wetherholt. drew national nt- tendon when the membership of the Ohio Auxiliary as trebled during the first ten moiit; -i she acted as secre tary of that (h'lnrtmeiit. During the iiitue period t number of local units was tluubinl. Miss Wetherholt was secretary of the Ohio department with headqunrt'Ts at Columbus from the time the department was formed until she assumed the national office. The Ohio Auxiliary was also notable lu Its efficient work for the relief of pick and disabled soldiers In the hos pitals of that state during Miss Weth erholt's term of olllce. She has also beon president of the auxiliary unit nt Galllpolls. Miss Wetherholt was educated In the public schools of Gul'lpolis and Sn a private school at Cincinnati, "ollowing her graduation from the latter institution she engaged in legal work. During the war she served In the statistics section of the ordnnnce department In Cincinnati. Her spare time was spent In organizing chapters of the American lied Cross. Three brothers of Miss Wetherholt were World war fighters. ENTITLED TO THE POSITIONS' Commander of Portland (Ore.) Legion Po6t Asserts Ex-Service Men Should Have Preference. The ex-service mnn who lias equal or bettor qualifications for j city gov ernment position is entitled to pref erence In appoint ment or election, according to James J. Cross ley, of Portlnnd, Ore., commander of Portland post, No. 1, of the Amer ican Legion. Currying li 1 s theory Into action, VS." ' -X Mr. Crossley wus LuTw-Jxc", Instrumental In Jas. J. Crossley. the organization of a committee In his post charged with the duty cf seeing that all veterans of the World war re ceived a square deal In obtaining mu nicipal positions. Working In close co-operation with the mayor und city commissioners, men und women recom mended by the Legion have been named ns municipal Judge, superintend ent of the women's bureau of the po lice department and chief clerk of the park bureau. In many eases ex-service men have led the list of applicants for positions In the civil service examinations, ac cording to Mr. Crossley. In the ex amination for chief clerk of the park bureau, Albert Hufner, nn ex-servlco mun, finished first. FOR THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE President of Returned Sailors' and Sol dlerV League of Australia Urges Co-operation. On the eve of American Education week, during which the American Le gion urged that Importance of ability to read mid write the English Inngungo should be emphasized, Alvln Owsley, Legion national commander, received n telegram from G. J. 0. Dyett, pres ident of the Returned Sailors' and Sol tilers' lengue of Australia, stating that the "continued close co-operation of English-speaking peoples Is the only safeguard to the peace und happiness of humanity." Mr. Dyett, who brought tho greet ings of his organization to the recent Legion nntlonnl convention In Now Or leans, recently sailed for his homo. Replying to a message from Com mander Owsley to Australian ex-service men, .Mr. Dyett stated: "I profoundly appreciate tho sen. tlments conveyed in your message to Australian soldiers which nbsolutol coincide with thoso uttered In my ad dress at the Legion national conven tion. I desire to rclternto our admira tion of Amerlcun soldiers nnd the sin cere friendship of tho people of Amor icn, and trust for continued closo co operation of English-speaking peoples as tho only safeguard to tho peace and happiness of humanity." . f ftim i i ni W K r FITTS IS BACK IN HOSPITAL Past Commander of California Depart ment Incapacitated as Result of Recent Campaign. In a Los Angeles hospital lies Huroi It, Fltts, past commander of the Oal Ifornla depart ment of the Amor lean Legion, wltl the knee that wat shattered l; shrapnel In tin A r g o n n o oncf more In splints n a result of hi strenuous nctlvtt. i the catnpalgr w li 1 c it ohtnlno farm nnd horn loans for need veterans. In efforts to ob Buron R. Fitts. tain support for tho ex-service men'f measures before the recent election Mr. Fltts mnde one 'of tho greates' Bpeaklng tours ever undertaken in nn; stnte. He made 1G5 speeches In 151 towns in all parts of California. Th physical and mental sttaln under mined the health of the Legion lender In addition, In trying to keep nil of his speaking engagements he oftc used nn airplane. One of the plane.' In which he was riding crashed near Curphiterla, pinning Mr. Fltts tindci tho wrecknge and Injuring his shat tered leg. Recovering consclou'-iies. In the hospital, he began writing tele grams to bo sent over California, urj; Ing the people to vote for tho tw Issues he hnd fought for. The measures the Legion her fought for were accepted by tho peo pie of California by a 2 to 1 majority Fltts' sacrifices will mean that Oil' fornln veterans may obtain farms o. homes of their own at a low rate oi Interest nnd on easy, long-time pay incuts. Also thousands of acres oi California lands provided for by th last legislature will be settled by vet erans with this nld. Taxation Is not Increased. The provisions nrc In no way n bonus, but every cent Is to he repaid by the veterans with Interest. Mr. Fltts Is a deputy district at torney of Los Angeles county. He ob tained national note for his efforts In behalf of disabled ex-servlco men ns vice commander, commander and nntlonnl execut'"e committeeman o' the California department. EX-SERVICE MEN VALUABLE Director of Welfare Division of Larg Concern Says Boys Have Lost Restlessness. Men who foucht In the ,orld wnt hnve lost their restlessness nnd are becoming the most valuable employees of big business estab lishments, accord ing to Ilenry A. Renlnger of Al lentown, Pa., di rector of the safe ty and welfnre division of a large cement company. Mr. Renlnger stated that the Henry A. Renln policy of his com- ger. pany wns to give every man who vent to wnr ins old Job or n better one when ho returned and that ex-service men are given preference In employ ment which has developed since the war. "There nre n number of American Legion members on our safety nnd welfare committee," said Mr. Renln ger. "Their service Is of the highest order and they hnve become the hard est workers on our staff." Before Mr. Renlnger and his Legion assistants tackled the Job of reducing accidents among the G.000 employees of his compnny, 71i working dnys out of 100,000 were lost because of acci dents. This year Mr. Renlnger bo Heves that the number of dnys lost will be only 25. Mr. Renlnger Is a member of the Legion post at Allentown nnd has taken a prominent pnrt In the Legion's activities In Pennsylvania. NAMED TO DEAL WITH CRIME H. Flndlay French, Representing Le- gion, Elected secretary Baltimore Criminal Justico Commission. A survey of the courts, prisons, pnr don nnd purole system, Boclnl condi tions and all other elements of tho community life bearing upon the pre vention nnd punishment of crime Is part of the work of II. Flndlay French, recently elected secretary of tho Balti more criminal Justice commission. Tho commission has been formed by the Baltimore American Legion, Chamber of Commerce, Board of Trade, Cloarlng House association, Women's Civic lengue and similar or ganizations. Mr. French, whoIs Amer ican Legion national executive commit teeman from Maryland, represents tho Legion on the commission. Mr. French has stated that the com mission has received tho heartiest co operation from tho similar commission in Chicago, which has been In exist ence for two years, nnd from tho Cleve land commission, which Is n year old. Tho Baltimore commission, ho snld, will bo guided largely by the experi ence of these commissions. The aim of tho commission Is to make recommendations for Improve ment of the means of apprehending and punishing criminals nnd prevent ing the conditions that breed crime, During the. World war Mr. French served with the Eightieth division. ''' Aspirin Say "Bayer" and Insistl Unless you see the nnmo "Bayer" on pockago or on tuhlets you ore not get ting tho genuine Bayer product pre scribed by physicians over twenty-two years and proved sufc by millions for Colds Ilendacho Toothacho Lumbago Earacho Rheumatism Neurnlgln Pain, Pain Accept "Bayer Tablet of Aspirin" only. Each unbroken package contains proper directions. Untidy boxes of twelve tablets cost few cents. Drug gists nlso sell bott'es of 24 nnd 100. Asperln Is the trade mark of Bayer Manufacture of Monoacetlcachlestcr of Salloy llcacbl. Ad verl Isement. Laugh at other people's Jokes. It Is the most .tactful compliment nud good-hearted. Red Cross Ball Bluo Is the finest product of Its kind In tho world. Ev ery woman who tins used It knows this statement to bo true. Advertise ment. The spider Is seldom In danger when his life Is hanging by n thread. WOMAN SUFFERED THREE MONTHS Pains in Back and Nervousness. Made Well by Lydia L Pinkham't Vegetable Compound Montevideo. Minn. "I mifTerwl for three months with pain in my back and siaes, ana was awluf ncrvou8sothatIwai unfit to do my work. Attcr i began taking Lydia E. Pinkham't. vegetable Com pound I grew Btronpr. and now I weigh 150 pounds. I keep nous and am oblo to lift and do any kind of work-. I have got wonderful rosufta from tho Vccetable Compound andrecommend it very highly to my friends. I givo you permission to Eubbsh my testimonial. Mra. Olb :ergstrom, 210 8th St. So., Monte video, Minnesota. Another Nervous Woman Finos Relief Port Huron, Mich. "1 suffered for two years with pains in my side, and if I worked very much I was nervous and just as tired in the morning as when I went to bed. I was Bleepy all the day and didn't feel like doing anything, and wn8 bo nervous I would bite my linger nails. Ono of my friends told mo about Lydia E. Pinkham's Vcgotablo Com pound, and it helped me so much that 1 Eoon felt line." MrB. Charles Becler, 1910 Elk Street, Port Huron. Mich. , Women . Made Young Bright eyes, a clear skin and a body full of youth and health may be yours if you will keep your system in order by taking LATHROP'S AWMMM HAARLEM OIL 3352m Tht world's standard remedy for kidney, liver, bladder and uric add troubles, the enemies of life and looks. In use since 1696. All druggists, three sizes. Look for the name Gold Medal on ovary box aad accept no imitation Cuticura Soap SHAVES Without Mug CaUcureSotplithefiToriUfu'aafetrrtxor having'. K3 I V&fefcfe dls Hippilftl TUKKISH i arXf-ltftliOM VIRGINIA Hsaiiiiii surley i Ins, lla Z AMf!ICANT0BACCOCQiKAT-BBBB ? I t J i