Married Life of Helen
_and Warren
Helen Contends With a Covetous Col
lector for a Rare Junk-Shop
Treasure.
Not an antique shop. Only a dingy
second-hand store with a few near
antiques In the dusty window.
Three old blue plates—nicked—
some modern andirons, an ebony-gilt
stand, an over-ornate lamp and a
hideous mld-Vlctorian walnut sofa.
Helen was turning away when she
glimpsed an old ruby-glass decanter
almost hidden by a pile of books.
The door buzzer set up a clamor
ous signal as she entered the shop.
Waiting for some one to appear,
she tried to get another glimpse of
(he decanter, but a battered cabinet
blocked her view.
The dim room was crowded with
second hand household furniture, of
flee and store fixtures. A decrepit
chandelier was propped against uji
obsolete phonograph and a dress
maker's dummy lay grotesquely on
a flat-top desk.
The slam of a door below shook
the floor. Approaching steps and a
grimy old man came up from the
basement.
"I'd like to see that old decanter
in the window.”
"Watcha want?" His hand behind
his ear proclaimed his deafness.
"That red bottle In the window,”
she shouted.
Moving the filing cabinet, he
rearhed In and drew out tht de
canter.
Repressing her eagerness, Helen
examined It. Kxactly like one of a
pair she had seen sold at the Ander
son Galleries for $70.
"How much Is it?” Then louder,
"How much?”
"Four dollars.”
Only four dollars! Helen caught
her breath.
"Is—is It perfect? It’s not
cracked?”
‘I said four dollars. Won’t take
ft cent leas.”
"No—no. I Just asked If it were
cracked," at the top of her voice.
"Cracked? That ain’t cracked,”
clinking the stopper against It.
’’Coulda sold it last week when I sold
the other, but It was stuck away In a
drawer."
"Oh, you had a pair?” tensely, mov
ing closer to him.
’’The lady who bought the other
was mighty upset ’ca{ise I couldn’t
find this one."
"Very well, I think I’ll take It.”
trying to restrain her exultation. "Do
you often get really old things like
this?”
".Sometimes. Never can tell what
I am going to get.”
“Here’s my card. If you should
get any more good old glares or china
or old needlework, you can call me
up.”
A moment later Helen waa leaving
the shop clutching a newspaper
1 undle..
T*—ti- four dollars for that rare an
tlque decanter! This proved It was
worth while to explore the junk
shops.
If only she could have had them
both! A pair waa always more val
uable.
An hour later she was Jubilantly
trying the effect of her purchase on
the sideboard, the library mantel and
the front room Sheraton table.
_ It was effective anywhere, but she
finally left It on the sideboard.
If only she had the other—one on
each side of that old silver bowl.
k. • “Hook at my lovely old bottle,
"Nora." as the girl came in to set the
table. ,
"My. ain’t that nice," taking the
table pad front the sidet>oard drawer.
"That’s the old ruby glass. It’s
very rare with those clear ovals. I
just happened to see- it in a Junk
shop window. Needs washing,” hold
ing it. up to the light. "No. I’ll do
it.” afraid to trust It to Nora’s care
less hands.
She was In the pantry, shaking
warm suds In the bottle when the
Dell rang.
"Oh, I hope no one's calling this
late! It's almost six."
"Dady to see you, ma'am.” Nora
returned with a card.
’’Mrs. IV. R. Durkin!” puzzled
lle.Ien “I don’t know any Mrs. Dur
kin. Has she a package?” suspicious
ly. "Anything to sell?”
“She's got a package—but she
don’t look like she's spilin’ anything."
“Well, show her into the library.
I'll leaves this here to soak. Be care
ful, don't knock It over."
When Helen entered the library, a
stout woman, expensively gowned,
sat by the window, coldly unrespon
sive to Pussy Purr-Mews sniffling
overtures.
"Mrs. Curtis?" She rose impressive
ly. "I’ve come to see you about that
old decanter you bought this after
noon."
“Oh!" amazed Helen. "Why, how
did you know-"
"It's one of a pair. 1 bought one
last week, and the old man promise!
to find the other. This afternoon
when I drove by he had just sold
It to you. He said you didn’t care
much about it—he was sure you’d
let me have It.”
"I don't know why he should say
that,” suspecting lie had not said
it. "I was regretting I didn't get
them both. I’d like very much 10
have the pair.”
"Well, I collect antique decanters."
arrogantly. "I’ve one of the largest
collections In this country. I presume
you’ve heard of It?"
"I can’t say that I have,” mur
mured Helen, nettled by her supe
rior air.
"No? Possibly you’re not Inter
ested In aritlques?"
“I'm very much Interested In an
tiques," indignantly, with an elo
quent glance about at her cherished
old Kngllsh furniture.
"That decanter was promised to
me. Ignoring Helen’s treasures.
"Any one with any feeling for an
tiques would know this pair should
not be separated."
"Tea, that’s what I think,” Helen
repressed her rising resentment. "And
I’ll be very glad to buy yours to keep
them together."
"I wouldn't consider that," haughti
ly. "I have every right to them both."
Then, producing from her tissue pa
per package the duplicate of Helen’s
decanter, "I should like to compare
them. I presume you have no ob
jection to that?”
C ertainly not, but I do not wish
to sell It,” as she left the room.
Not waiting to empty ojit the suds,
Helen wiped btt the decanter and
brought it in.
While Mrs. Durkin was covetously
•urning It over In her white gloved
hands the front door Manged and
Warren’s brisk step came through
the hall.
“Ha promised to keep this for me
—he'd no right to sell it! But since
he did, I suppose I’ll have to pay
more to get it. What will you take?”
"I don't care to sell it,” with an
indignant flush. “I told you that,”
conscious of Warren standing in the
doorway.
"I suppose that means I must pay
a good deal more. I'll give you $20.
Five times what you paid—very good
I should say for a quick turn.”
Ignoring this insolent offer, Helen
turned to greet Warren.
"Is this Mr. Curtis?” broke In Mrs.
Durkin, assertively. "I shall explain
the matter to him. I’m sure he will
see that I'm entitled to this decan
ter.”
With mounting indignation, Helen
he,.''d Mrs. Durkin's prejudiced, high
ly colured account, to which Warren
listened with an ill-concealed grin.
"Under the lrcumstances, I’m will
ing to give a reasonable advance.”
she finished. "Rut I don't care to be
forced into paying an exorbitant
price."
“Mrs. Curtis Is not In the habit of
selling her purchases." brusqued
Warren. "If she lets you have this,
it will be as a favor at exactly what
she paid.”
“But, dear, I want fo keep it! If
Mrs. Durkin thinks the pair should
not 1«» separated I'll he very glad to
buy hers."
A vehement protest from Mrs. Dur
kin.
"Then th»re'g Just one way to set
tle this,” Warren thrust his hand
into his pocket. "Toss for it. The
winner to take the pair—pay cost
and no more.”
"Toss for it?” Mrs. Durkin's super
cilious manner conveyed that she had
never resorted to anything so pie
beian.
"That's certainly fair,” admitted
Helen. "Then one of us will have
the pair.”
Taking a coin from his pocket, War
ren shook it between his hands and
clamped It down on the table.
T
' An Open Letter to
Mrs. F. H. Davis
Dear Mrs. Davis:
When you and Mr. Davis first began having
your clothes cared for by The Pantorium you had
i much larger family than you have today.
After Tom and the girls were married it addod
• jst that many more families to The Pantorium’s
list- and that is one reasbn for our steady growth
of the last twenty-six years.
At the time that we started in business twenty
i.x years ago we had practically every banker in
town as members of our rantorium Hub, but there
is left of the old guard only Mr. Davis and Mr.
Barlow, who, of course, are still with ds.
T call to mind these names: Herman Kountze
Frank Murphy, H. W. fates, A. U. Wyman, J. H.
Millard, V. B. Caldwell, Frank Hamilton, J. H.
Evans, J. F. Coad, B. B. Wood, Count John A.
(Teighton, H. C. Bostwick, J. C. French, L. M. Lord,
(j. E. Hnverstick, Ezra Millard, Geo. F. Gilmore
■ind G. M. Nattingur. All of these men were cus
tomers of The l’antorium from the time we started
in business until their deaths.
If we had not done good cleaning and dyeing
Mid always played the game on the square, we
could not have held (he business of you and Mr
Davis as well as all the other Omaha hankers
and their families, all these years.
I want to thank both you and Mr. Davis, and
your children, too, for all the business you have
sent to us, and the confidence you have shown
in my firm for so many years, and I assure you
we shall always do everything in our power to
merit your future patronage.
Sincerely yours,
L President for i!6 years. J]
A
"You call It," briskly, to Mrs. Dur
kin.
She hesitated. Then with a disap
proving shrug, called "Heads."
They all leaned forward as Warren
raised his hands.
It was an old 50-cent piece, the en
graving much worn. A breathless
second before Helen made out the
spread wings of the eagle
Tails!
"You’ve lost, Mrs. Durkin." Draw
ing out a roll of bills, Warren peeled
oft a $5 note. "Your decanter goes to
Mrs. Curtis for what you paid."
"I’ll not 'have it decided that way,”
snatching up her decanter. "They
do all kinds of tricks with coins! How
do I know if It was fair or not?”
A moment’s ominous silence.
As the enraged blood rushed to
Warren’s face Helen nudged him
warningly.
"I'll give $25 for your decanter,"
shrilled Mrs. Durkin, plainly perturb
ed by Warren's menacing glare. “That
Is more than you'd get from any one
else, but I—I—”
The library door was already open,
but Warren, reaching it with long,
wrathful strides, flung it wider.
“That'll be about all from you!" he
thundered. "If you were a man I’d
pitch you out! Now, beat It!"
A gasp from Mrs. Durkin. Then
her hasty, spluttering exit.
As the hall door banged, Helen's
sense of humor surmounting her re
sentment, she dropped on the window
seat convulsed.
"Oh, oh! Her face! Did you see
her face? It was too funny for
words."
"Funny?" he snorted. "That old
she flivver, trying to say I’d fixed
that coin! All I could do to keep
from smashing her old bottle across
her ugly mug.' .
"She's a collector. They say col
lectors will do anything to get a
piece they want. But her expression
w'hen you told her to 'beat It!’ " still
convulsed.
"Heluva rumpus to make over on
empty bottle. Now. If It was full—
by George, there la something In It,"
sniffing as he toook out the heavy
stopper. "What kind of hootch is
this?”
"Soapsuds. 1 was washing it when
she came. But, dear, it proves that
I do knowr antiques. Just think! Only
$4. You're always making fun of
me poking around Junk ehopa, but you
see I can pick up some wonderful
things.”
‘‘Well, next time pick something
not quite so wonderful for your four
berries—something there’s not such •
rush on. Don’t stack me up against
any more antique (lends. The nerve
of that old cluck lugging her rotten
disposition in here! If the 'love of
the antique’ makes ’em like that
you’d better stick to the new stuff.”
(Copyright, till.)
Next Week—"A Disconcerting DIs
covery.”
Some famous birthdays that came
in September were Jane Addams,
Phoebe Cary, Queen Elizabeth. Eugene
Kield, Henry George, Charles W. Gor
don, Felicia D. Hemans, John Ireland,
Samuel Johnson, Marquis do Lafayette
and John Marshall.
Library Chats |
A great deal of Interest has been
shown In books on astronomy, due no
doubt to the recent eclipse of the sun.
Some of the favorite titles among
library patrons are '‘Astronomy," by
Flammarion; "Wonders of the Heav
ens," by Flammarion; "Outlines of
Astronomy," by Herschel "Popular
Astronomy." by Newcon b: "Old and
New Astronomy,’’ by Proctor; "Pleas
ures of the Telescope," by Servlsa;
"Manual of Astronomy,” by Toung;
•‘New Heavens," by Hale; "Sidelights
on Astronomy," by Newcomb.
Alfred Ollivant has India in his
bones, writes Asa Don Dickinson, li
brarian of the University of Pennsyl
vania. after reading Mr. Ollivant’s new
book, "Old For-Ever." Mr. Dickinson
spent some time in India Introducing
American library methods at the Uni
versity of I-ahore.
" ‘Old For-Ever’ Is the real thing.”
ne thinks. "Besides being a rattling
good story, it is the work of a man
who, like Kipling, has India in his
bones. He understands the people of
India, as far as a white man can
hope to do. 1 was much impressed
by his emphasis upon the childishness
even of their strong men. This trait
is never recognized by the American
tourists who spend one cold winter
rushing around the country and then
come homes to prate of India's
wrongs."
Gulseppe Prezzolln, Italian author
and editor, lectured last summer at
Columbia on "American Ideals and the
Italian People."
A collection of books on the bee
was dedicated to the memory of Dr. C.
C. Miller of Marengo, III., at the Wis
consin College of Agriculture, at Made
son, Wis. Beekeepers from every state
in the union, from Canada and from a
number of foreign countries were
present to Join in the ceremonies.
Ernest A. Savage, author of "The
Story of Libraries and Book Collect
ing." Is librarian of Wallasey public
library, England. The books hav*
chapters on such subjects ns "Ths
Renaissance and Book Collecting,"
‘'Libraries of Ancient Times," "Prin
cipal Libraries of the United States;"
also an appendix listing famous book
collectors and librarians.
From Woodrow Wilson’s speeche*
and documents Hamilton Foley ha*
collected the material bearing directly
on the league of nations which will
bs published snortly under the tltl*
"The League of Nations." The vol
ume will contain a facsimile of Mr.
Wilson's letter approving the publica
tion. 1
On the second anniversay of the
publishing of "If Winter Comes” these
dramatic points in its development are
of interest; When it was Issued on
August 12, 1921, there were only 7,100
copies on the advance orders. In two
months it has become the beEt seller
and held the place for eight months
thereafter, a very remarkable pick
up for a book by an author who had
not been on a title page for seven
years.'
For Monday's Outstanding Attraction in This Great
OPENING WEEK OF SALES
We Have Scheduled This Amazing
SALE OF COATS
I
Incomparable in Point of Value-Giving--Assortments—and Beauty of Style
Gorgeous Fur Trimmed Coats and Wraps
Made to Retail in Many Instances at Double This Startling
Low Price of—
MATERIALS:
Marvella Tarquena
Veldyne Gerona
V elver ette Oriona
Ormandale
I
TRIMMINGS
Natural Squirrel
Kolinsky Squirrel
Mink Dyed Squirrel
Golden Beaver
Platinum Wolf
Caracul Viatka Squirrel
Feminine Omaha has never experienced such occasions of value-giving as is afforded by our
Opening Week of Sales. Monday will see hun dreds of anxious shoppers compete for first
choice of these wonderful Coats and Wraps. The savings are truly extraordinary, the beauty
and style of the garments are simply exquisite. _ ,
• America’s Greatest Fine Coat Manufacturers Have
I Generously Co-operated to Make This the
I Most Important Coat Sale Omaha Has Ever Known
^ And you will instantly agree that to buy such Coats and Wraps at
\ *59.50 is affording a buying opportunity that is rarely equalled.
The hundreds of Coats assembled for this event
have real distinction. You tvill quickly under
stand that they are the handiwork of fine
designers and the most expert makers. Distinc
tive sleeves, smartly flared bottoms, truly modish
silhouettes, a novel fur decoration or an ex
k quisite fur collar—THESE are the hallmarks of
^ blue-blooded Winter Coats.
A Entire Fourth Floor
Will Be Devoted to This
Sale Monday
#
Style* and *i*e» for women and ml»*es.
Every new and favored color fa generously
represented. Again we advise you that
early attendance at a Herzberg Sale has
its advantages.
y
'STYLE WITHOUT EXTRAVAGANCE"
CR63
DOUGLAS ST.