The Magnificent Adventure
By EMERSON HOUGH.
CHAPTER X.
Meriwether and Theodosia,
Soft is the sun In the summer sea
son at Washington, softer at times
than any old Dan Chauer ever knew;
but again so ardent that any one who
would ride abroad would best do so
In the early morning. This Is true
today, and it was true when the
capital city lay in the heart of a
sweeping forest at the edge of a yet
unconquered morass.
The young man who now rode into
this forest, rode steadily, as if with
some definite purpose. If it was not
the horse of a monarch the young
man bestrode, none the less It was
the horse of one who Insisted that
his stables should be as good as those
of any king—none less. If you please,
than Mr, Thomas Jefferson, then
president of the United States of
America. This particular animal was
none other than Arcturus, Mr. Jef
ferson's favorite saddler. It was the
duty as well as the delight of Mr.
Jefferson's private secretary to give
Arcturus and his stable-mate, Wildair,
* their exercise on alternate days.
Abstracted ns the young man was
he must have been alert, for now,
suddenly, he broke his moody reverie
at some sound which he heard on
ahead. It was the sound of a voice
i hat the young cavalier had heard—
the voice of a woman—apparently a
woman in some distress. In less than
half a moment the rider was around
the turn of the leafy trail. She was
there, the woman who had cried out,
herself mounted, and now upon the
point of trying conclusions with her
fractious mount.
The keen eye of the young man
looked with hers, and found the rea
son for the sudden scene. A serpent,
some feet in length—one of the mot
tled, harmles species sometimes local
ly called the hlow-snake—obviously
had come out Into morning sun to
warm himself, and his yellow body
lying loose and uncoiled, had been In
visible to horse and rider until they
were almost upon it. Then, natural
ly, the serpent had moved his head,
and both horse nnd rider had, seen
him, to the dismay of both. Th4s the
young man saw and understood in a
second, even ns he spurred forward
alongside the plunging animal. His
firm hand on the bridle brought both
horses back to their haunches. An
instant later both had control of their
mounts again, nnd had set them
down to their paces In workmanlike
fashion. But at first they did not
speak. A quick, startled look came
into the face of the young woman,
A deeper shade glowed upon the
cheek of the cavalier.
"I am to thank Captain Lewis once
more," began the young woman.
"It is good fortune that you rode
abroad so early this morning. You
always come at need!”
"Can you then rail it good for
tune”" His own voice was low, sup
pressed.
"Why hot, then?"
"You did not need me. A moment,
and you would have been in command
again—there was no real need of me.
Ah. you never need me!"
"Yet you come. You were here,
had the need been worse. And there
was the serpent.”
"Madam, there was the serpent!
And why not? Is this not Kden? Tell
me. why Is It that In the glimpses
the sages give 11s of paradise they no
more than lift the curtain—and let
it fall again?”
"Captain Meriwether Lewis is sin
gularly gloomy this morning!"
"Not more than I have been al
ways. How brief was my little hour!
Yet for that time I knew paradise—
as I do now. We should part here,
madam, notv, forever. Yon serpent
spelled danger for both of us.”
“For both of us?”
"No, forgive me. None the less, I
could not help my tHoughts—cannot
help them now. I ride here every
morning. I have ridden here since
I first saw you turn here one morn
ing. I guessed this might be your
haunt at dawn. I have ridden here
aften—and feared each time that I
might meet you. You see, madam. I
speak tho absolute truth with you.”
"You have never spoken aught else
to any human soul. That I know.”
"And yet you try to evade, the
' truth? Why deceive your heart
' about It, since I have not deceived
my own? I have faced it out in my
own heart, and I have, 1 trust, come
off the victor. At some cost!"
Her face was troubled. She looked
aside as she replied in a voice low,
but firm: "Any woman would be glad
to hear such words from Captain
Lewis, and I am glad. Hut—the
| honest wife never lived who could
listen to them often."
"I know that,” said he simply.
"No!" Her voice was very low
now; her eyes soft and cast down as
they fell upon a ring under her glove.
"We must not meet, Captain Meri
wether Lewis. At least, we must
not meet alone in the woods. It mlfcht
cause talk and never was a woman
who did not have enemies, no matter
how clean her life has been.”
Clean aa the snow, yours! I have
never asked you to be aught else,
and never will. I sought you once,
when I rode from my home in Vir
ginia to New York—when I first had
my captain’s pay, before Mr. Jeffer
son asked me to join his family. Be
j fore that time I had too little to of
| fer you; but then, with my hopes and
; my ambitions, I ventured. I made
j that journey to offer you my hand.
I whs. two weeks late—-you were al
ready wedded to Mr. Alston. Then
I learned that happiness never could
be mine. Yes, we must part!”
Her little hand went to him in a
simple gesture of farewell. Meri
wether Lewis leaned and kissed it
reverently as he rode. ‘‘Good-by
Theodosia.” said he. "I am going in
to the west. It has always called
me. Ah, if only 1 had remained in
the Indian country yonder, where I
belonged, and never made my ride to
New York—to learn that I had come
too late! But the west is still there.
My plans are all arranged. Mr. Jef
ferson and I have agreed that it is
almost time to start."
“I shall believe in your future, and
shall watch it always," she said. "You
will be a great man, and there will
be a great place for you. Only—re
member me as long as you can,
Merhvether Lewis,"
"I ask you not to wound me more
than need be."
"Forgive me, then,” she said. “I
would not wound you. I asked you
only to remember me, as I shall you,
of course. And I remember that
bright day when you came to me—
yonder in New' York. You offered
me all that any man can ever offer
any woman. I am proud of that! I
told my husband, yes. He never men
tions your name save in seriousness
nnd respect. I am ambitious for
you. All the Burrs are full of am
bition, and I am a Burr, as you
know."
The young Virginian, after leaving
her, had well-nigh made hiR way out
over the two miles or so of sheltered
roadway, when he heard hoof-beats
on ahead, and slackened his own
speed. He saw two horsemen ap
proaching. One was no other than
Aaron Burr, vice president of the
United States. This gentleman now
reined up his horse as he caught
right of the young man approach
ing. His older companion aiso halt
ed. Burr raised his hat. "Ah, Cap
tain Lewis!" he said. "I fancy you ]
recognize Mr. Merry. I have per
suaded his excellency the minister
from Great*Britain to ride with us on
one of our Washington mornings."
They all smiled in proper fashion.
Lewis bowed, and lifting his hat,
passed on.
"There is the ablest man I have
seen in Washington," blurted out
Merry suddenly. "He has manners,
and he rides like an Englishman.”
“Say not so!” said Burr, laughing.
"Better—he rides like a Virginian!"
"Very well: it is the same thing.
The Virginians are but ourselves—
this country Is all English yet. And
I swear—Mr. Burr may we speak
freely?—I cannot see, and I never
shall see, what is the sense In all this
tnlk of a new democracy of the
people.”
"You know well enough how far I
agree with you,” said Burr somberly.
“'Tls an experiment, oilr republic. I
am willing to say that boldly to you,
at least. How long it may last—but
my thoughts you know too well for
i need of repetition. Let us only go
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| softly. My plans advance as well as
| 1 could ask.”
Mr. Jefferson's secretary entered
; the presidential mansion: then—for
i such was the simple fashion' of the
menage, where Meriwether Lewis was
one of the president's family—he
| stepped to the door beyond and
I knock lightly, entering ns he did so.
| Early as It was, he knew he would j
find at his desk the gentleman who
now turned to him.
"Good morning, Mr. Jefferson,"
said Meriwether Lewis.
"Good morning, my son,” said the
other man, gently. He glanced at
his desk cluttered with a mass of
maps, papers, letters In packets or
spread open.
"I do not see how I could be pres
ident without you, Merne," employ
ing the familiar term that Meri
wether Lewis had not elsewhere heard
used, except by his mother. "Look
what we must do today!”
The young secretary turned his
own grave eye upon the cluttered
desk; but it was not dread of the re
doubtable tasks awaiting him that
gave his face all the gravity It bare.
"Mr. Jefferson.” he began. "Your
burden Is grievous hard, anil yet”—•
"Yes, tny son?”
But Meriwether Lewis could not
speak further. He stood now, his
Jaws set hard, looking out of the
window. The older man came and
gently laid his hand upon his shouul
der.
"Come, come, my son,” said he.
"Tell me—ah, yes, it Is a woman! I
know It all. Put her out of your
heart, my boy. Would you shame
yourself—and her—and me?”
"No! Never would I do that, Mr.
Jefferson, believe me. But now I
must beg of you—please, sir, let me
go soon—let It be at once!”
"As you say, your case is hope
less?"
"Yes, sir.”
“Ah, well, we have both been plan
ning for our western expedition these
10 years, my son. There it lies, un
known, tremendous—no man knows
what—that new country. I cannot
well spare you now—but yes, you
must go!”
“Send me now, Mr. Jefferson!” re
pented Meriwether Lewis.
The old man laid a kindly hand up
on bis shoulder. “I must yield you
to your destiny,” said he. “But I
still am wondering what our friends
are doing yonder in France: Living
ston, Monroe, and the others—what
are they doing with Napoleon Bona
parte? The news from France—but
stay," he added. "Wait! I had for
gotten. Come, we shall see about it!”
With the sudden enthusiasm of a
boy he caught his young aid by the
arm. They passed down the hall, out
by the rear entrance and across the
White House grounds to the brick
stables which then stood in the rear.
Mr. Jefferson hurriedly began to
climb the steep ladder which led to
the floor above. They stood at
length in the upper apartment of the
stable buildings. It was not a mow
or feed-loft, but rather a bird-loft,
devoted to the use of many pigeons.
All about the eaves were arranged
many boxes—nesting places, ap
parently, although none of the birds
entered the long room.
Mr. Jefferson hurried forward to
! n little flap, which stood up, like
the tilt of a fisherman on the ice,
at the side of a box to which he
pointed. “Done!” said he.
He reached up, pressed down a lit
I tie catch and opened the back. He
put in a hand gingerly, and, tender
ly imprisoning the bird which he
found therin. drew it forth, his long
fingers eagerly lifting its wings, ex
amining its legs.
“I told them," said he, “to loose a
half-dozen birds at once. See! See!”
He unrolled from one leg of the
prisoner a little cylinder of paper cov
ered with tinfoil and tied it firmly
in its place. It announced a transac
tion in empires. Mr. Jefferson read,
and spread the paper that his aid
might read: "General Bonaparte sign
ed May 2—Fifteen millions—Rejoice!”
In no wider phrasing than that
came the news of the great Louisi
ana purchase, by virtue of which this
republic gained that vast and incal
culably valuable realm which reaches
from the Mississippi to the Pacific
ocean.
“Mr. Jefferson.'' said Meriwether
Iyewis, “this is your monument:’’
"And yours," was the reply, as the
president begin to descend the lad
der. “The ship which brought this
news docked at New York yesterday.
The post stages carrying it hither
cannot nrrive before tomorrow. This
is news—the greatest of news that we
could have. Yesterday—this morn
ing—we were a young and weak re
public. Tomorrow we shall be one
of the powers of the world. Tomor
row you will go westward, to that
new country which now is ours!''
(Continued In The Morning Bee.)
Woman Secretly Married
Willing to Wait for Spouse
If annullment of marriage proceed
ings instituted by the groom'a par
ents are successful, it will only mean
that Travis Nesbit, 17-year-old pianist,
secretly wedded December 27 to Miss
Lucinda Allen, 28, must wait four
years for his bride, Mrs. Nesbit said
yesterday.
John S. Nesbit, 2920 Eontenelle
boulevard, last week filed suit to an
nul the marriage.
Young Nesbit plays at the Boule
vard theater, Boulevard and Leaven
worth streets. Hts bride is pianist at
the Columbia theater, Tenth and
Hickory streets.
Discuss Plans to Increase
Market Week Attendance
Plans for enlarging the scope of the
annual Omaha market week were dis
cussed yesterday at a meeting of
business ment at the M. E. Smith &
Co. plant. Ward Burgess, presi
dent of the company, presided. An ef
fort will be made to reach more mer
chants in Omaha's growing trade ter
ritory by advertising, so as to Increase
the attendance during the week, start
ing March 5. Harry M. Hundley of
Byrne A Hammer company was
made chairman of the committee to
work out details.
Victor February Records
Have Many Male S0I09
Vocal solos for February are pre
ponderantly male, while string num
bers, both In solo and organization In
terpretation, are also noteworthy fea
tures of the February program of
Victor records, according to an an
nouncement of the company. A
"Father and Son” melody, sung Rein
aid 'Werrenrath, baritone, is one of the
light airs. Among the new music aro
reproductions of the I.a Scala orches
tra and Reethoven’s Fifth Symphony.
U. S. Grand Jury Convenes.
The federal gTand jury convened
yesterday. United States Attor
ney Kinsler said several important
cases will be submitted to the jurors,
who will be In session for several
days.
Uncle Sam Says
Poultry Hints.
"Hints to Poultry Raisers" Is the
booklet designed primarily for per- 1
sons who are Just starting to produce
poultry in numbers. It briefly covers
selection of the breed, natural and
artificial Incubation and brooding,
poultry houses and fixtures, common
diseases and their treatment, and
gives methods of preserving eggs for
home use. Get a copy of this book
let. It will save many serious losses.
Readers of The Omaha Bee may ob
tain a copy of this booklet free as
long as the free edition lasts by writ
ing to the Division of Publications,
Department of Agriculture, Washing
ton, D. C., asking for "F. B. 528."
Salesman Sent to Jail
for Reckless Driving
William J. Shields, a salesman, 8061
South Sixteenth street, was sentenced
to 10 days in Jail by Municipal Judge
Dineen yesterday on a charge of reck-j
less driving after he is alleged to
have struck Howard Nelson, 14, at
: Twenty-fourth street between Parker
and Decntur streets January 28.
Fred Fnrquahr. 16, also was struck
by Shields' car but not injured.
Witnesses testified that Shields was
driving about 35 miles an hour. Ho
denied the charge and declared he was
not exceeding 15 miles an hour. Ho
denies he fled.
| Lou Tellfgan Is Hooked
for Orpheum Next Month
Lou Tellegan, Geraldine Farrar's
husband, Is booked for the Orpheum
here the week of February 25, accord
ing to a telegram received by “Billy”
Byrne, house manager.
He will appear in a condensed ver
sion of “Blind Youth," the play In
which he starred for four years,
Mr. Tellegan last appeared at the
Orpheum fis leading man for Sarah
Bernhardt in April, 1913.
Boy Scout Is Given Dog
He Rescued From Street
Gift of the shepherd dog, which he
found lying in the street and carried
to the animal shelter of the Humane
society at Twenty-first and Izard
streets, has been made to Harry Kohl
berg, a Boy Scout, by the Humane so
ciety, it was announced yesterday.
Kohlberg also has been awarded a
medal by the Humane society.
Complaint on City Jail
Sendee B ins Cagrant
60 Days free Board j
Harry Deadwood of Dod&e City,
Kan., dropped Into the police station
Wednesday night and asked for a
place to sleep. Sergeant Bert Thorpe
invited him to a chair, but the visi
tor became impatient.
"What kind of a place is this?” he
demanded. "I want a ljttle service.
Can't a man get a towel and a place
to wash?”
•'Tut, tut,” the sergeant replied,
‘‘wait till a few more bedless ones
drift in, and we'll tnke care of you
all at once.”
Mr. Deadwood pronounced it to he
the darndest jail he was ever in and
grew bo insistent and unmannerly in
his behavior that Officers Fee and
Voborll were forced to lay hands on
him and rushed him into the cage on
a vagrancy charge.
In police cotirrt yesterday Judge
Dlneen apologized handsomely for the
seeming neglect on the part of the au
thorities and said that he would see
that Deadwood got a good place to
stay. Ho sentenced him to 60 days in
the county jail and mentioned that
towels, bathtubs, soap, mirrors,
brushes and combs were all provided.
Mr. Deadwood thanked the Judge be
fore leaving for his new residence.
Dorsey Bark from Probe.
Special Assistant Vnited States At
torney Dors®y returned yesterday
from West Virginia, where he investi
gated the Colonial Timber and Coal
corporation, which is Involved in trial
of officers of the Guaranty Security
company starting February 12 in fed
eral court.
Cranberries
are plentiful and
low in price!
t /
Friday and Saturday
The Last of Our Great
DOLLAR SALE
Never in all our history have we
enjoyed so great a clearance sale
business; our stocks are sold
right down to “zero.” Our Dollar
Sale was a wonderful treat to
hundreds of families. Today we
find a nice assortment of mighty
fine shoes, values up to $15.00,
in sizes from 3s to 5s, still on
the bargain tables.
II You Are Small
Come and share in this real
BARGAIN EVENT. Friday and
Saturday will close this great
sale. It will be profit days for
little women and school girls.
The “Secret” Is Next
W. S. Stryker
DOUGLAS SHOE STORE, Inc.
117 North 16th St. Opposite Po.toffice
I USE BEE WANT ADS—THEY BRING RESULTS
(olds Broken. Quickjy
_
Fr disagreeable weather always have
Hill’shandy. Stops Colds in 24 hours
—la grippe in 3 days. Standard remedy
for two generations. No bad after
effects. Safe and dependable. Demand
red box bearing Mr. Hill's portrait and
signature.
At Alt Druggists—30 Cents
w. h mtt cowfAHT (a-xqa) ernKwr, micw.
BEE WANT ADS BRING RESULTS
February Furniture Sale
After taking Inventory we find that we have on hand hundreds of high-grade pieces
and suites that must be disposed of at once to make room for our spring stocks, now
en route. Prices have been slashed to the c ore. Before buying be sure to see our fur
niture and get our Prices. WE CAN SAVE YOU MONEY.
Special Values in Suites and Complete Home Outfits
Beautiful Living Room Suites
1 Clearance Sale : Phonograpns
$109.50
Beautiful Living Room Suite, Overstuffed suite in tapes
try or velour, spring construction. This suite regularly
selis for $2US, during our February « aq CA
Clearance, cnly .
High Grade Phonographs,
beautiful in design and fin
ish and wonderful in tone
—reduced in price for quick
clearance. For example we
have a wonderful value in
an Upright Phonograph, in
cluding 25 records, on
terms of $1.00 a week, spe
cial during 'this sale at only
*29=
Dining Room Sets
Beautiful 8-piece period suites, made of walnut. Regular
price $198.50. During February Clearance Sale, only—
Only *99=
FLOOR LAMPS
IWal n ut Bed Room Su ite
Beautiful 3-piece Walnut Bed Room Suite, Pe
riod Design. Regular price $147.50.
Only *78=
1/2 Price
Our entire stock of Floor
Lamps reduced for qnlck 1
clearance. We have a very
complete stock of lamps In
styles and sizes.
Authorized Agents for the
j” -•~a““ * " -* '•#»*»
We carry a complete stock of Bruns
wick Phonographs and Brunswick
records.
The EUREKA
Vacuum Cleaner
We are authorized agents.
Electric Washer
’36M
A reel
loiiln*
valot In
an O. K.
Electric
Wuher
Standard
far many
yan.
'Complete Outfits
Look at These Prices
5 Rooms Complete_$265
4 Rooms Complete... $195
3 Rooms Complete_$130
Exchange Department
Turn in your old furniture on new
pieces. We allow high prices for
your old pieces, and sell you new
pieces at low prices. Call er
phone Jackson 1317.
We Make
Terns to
Sait You.
State Furniture Co.
Corner 14th and Dodge
We charge
no interest
on charge
account*.
NEW YORK OMAHA SALT LAKE CITY
We |QV Mall
" BJb UIMflJ ££
Out-of-Town —g —M—— Filled
Cmumen 1417 DougJaj St.
Quality.A Credit Store for the People.Style
Friday and Saturday
A FINAL DARING
DISPOSAL OF 125
OVERCOATS
For the Last Two Days of
This Mighty
DOLLAR
: H >WN
, SALE
Your choice of the lot
‘28.75
Smart Plaid Backs, Ulsters, Great Coats, Dressy
Coats—here in all sizes, belted and semi-belted.
Buy now lor next winter.
Pay $1.00 Down—the balance can be
cared for in easy Weekly Payments
It’s good business to buy one of these Overcoats now—as every
indication points to decidedly higher prices for next winter.