I
(< ontinurri From Mtartitj)
Flora Bee, grown solemn, twisted
Hie paper In her hands as if to wring
from it a little hope. But that hope
had dried with the ink. Han Pilar
would never take her back now.
Out in the hall, stripped and naked
fur tomorrow’s auction, the gas
burned low in gaunt niches, casting
unclean shadows, harbingers of de
ni v. The loneliness of the house
from which even the servants had
lied oppressed little -Flora l-.ee, sent
her scuttling for the walnut door of
the room that lmd once lieen occu
pied bv Grandmother Peake.
Among the trunks already packed
for departure Margaret was working
; a bridge table. She was making
piper dolls: first she would sketch an
outline on cardboard, daub in little
black dots for eyes, little red ones
for checks, then cut it out and trim
her fancy with wide silk skirts, an
irnpertnlent 'hat and pantalettes of
lace. Snip-snip, the first figure was
done, and Margaret perched 1t on her
knee, herself a pretty picture with
head to one side and a braid down
her back.
"Well. Bunny's given me the bird,”
Fima Bee announced.
"The what?” Margaret had been
thinking of something else.
For reply her sister handed her the
letter.
■ He's dished me tip in fine noble
language,'' went on Fit>ra Bee. "No
mention of alimony,' you H notice
a. fid i wouldn't take It from hi* tribe.
If he hadn't been a crab he'd have
eiveii me nij freedom when I wanted
it-—that week at Tours. Savarac would
have married me (hen. He would
have done anything for me that, week
lin'd have—”
"Flora Heel” Margaret looked up
and her cheeks flushed darker than
her sisters. "You wouldn’t have
married a man like Savarac.
"Wouldn't I? Better women than
t have been glad to do much more
for Savarac. You don't know what
you're talking about, Peg. He could
have made me almost a queen. And
Bunny wouldn't—what an nggra\.it
irig little animal he could make of
himself. And 1 told him 1 didn't
want a cent of his dirty Spanish
money—I'd spit on his old coat of
arms—” , ,
In the pause Flora Fee picked ui»
one of the little cardboard images
and turned it critically in her fingers.
- ----
r I
New York
--Day by Day
\-----J 1
By O. O. M INTS KK.
Kn route from New Orleans, Jan.
IS,—Today we decided to move on.
New Orleans cannot be seen in a
t.-w days, tt ts a city that must be
studied for many weeks to appreciate
the depths of its mellow charm but
v, e managed to skim over the high
spots and sightseeing is not to my
liking.
People Interest nte more. I am one
of those who cannot even gasp at
the Grand canyon. Trees after a
time krow stupid and hills seem
dumb. My Idea of a pleasant holiday
is a crowd of jiSt real folks—a mess
of chitlins, streaming coffee and
cigars.
We left New York with no definite
objective and held rigorously to this
course. An hour before lunch at An
toine's we decided to flip a roln to
see whether It would lie. California
or Texas. Bill was called back to
New York suddenly. And Bassett,
like Barkis, was willin' lo let a coin
decide.
Tails California won and heads
Texas won. Texas won. And several
hours later we were headed for
Houston. Texas was in the grip of the
first blizzard in 30 years. Wires were
down and the trees were bent low
with sleet and Ice.
All along the ranges were dead cat
tle as a sacrtface to the fury'of the
•'norther.'' Somewhere I have seen
a painting of cattle in a storm, hud
dling together with patient resigna
tion for the chill of a tortured death.
It was rather depressing.
Bassett had learned that 3,000 head
of his own cattle had ls-en stricken
and he also was not in the best of
sutrlta. It. is an all-night ride from
New Orleans to Houston and we sat
up until late gazing out the ear win
dow at the vast expanse about- us
in the grip of the devastating storm.
Tt lias always seemed to me Texas
has had the most remarkable bistory
of any state. It has been turbulent
and romantic. It was salvaged from
the cross currents of mighty emo
tions. And It has stood the test.
When you see the sprightly towns
and cities of the Ixme Stjr state
you find It difficult to realize its
amazing progress. Not so long ago as
we count time the first corn crop was
made by a young girl whose only tools
were a hound dog and a Mg stick.
Sky scraper lined streets were ox
wagon trails. Iudwlans roamed the
plains and fresh liear steak was the
only meat. Walk dowtv the main
thoroughfare today of Houston, San
Antonio, Ft. Worth and Dallas and
you find it little different from New
York.
However, the red-cnrpuscled rug-;
Redness of Texas has one Might for
the easterner, lie feels slightly self
conscious wearing spats and carrying
s cane. Somehow they do not fit in
with the Texas atmosphere. The
Texas cowman would probably feel
the same way strolling up Fifth ave
nue with hie brace of six shooters and
spurred boots.
This observation Is not to be cor
structed ns a slap at the sartorial
flair of Texas. The men are just as
well dressed as tile men of New
York. Texas ladies know the Parisian
dressmakers ns wi ll as those of Man
hattan. But spats, canes ami lorgn
ettes have small part In the sartorial
scheme which Is perhaps Just ns well
after all.
From the fraln this morning T
watched the sun rise In the open
country of Texas. There were clouds
like burnished steel and some of mud
dy lead against the panoi-ama of a
elect-washed world. Tt was n scene to
delight the heart of f.'eorge Tnneea
Anil there was a simple homines*j
• bout the villages that tugged at the
heartstrings. People were astir not
to rush off madly to breakfast on the
fly, subwsv* end skyseraplng office
•windings but to more pleasant and
peaceful occupations. They had time
to bow to their neighbor or exchange
a bit of morning pleasantry.
I “Do you actually sell them?” she
asked, a?? if to break the spell.
“Admah Holtz soils them for me, '
replied Margaret, not looking up.
“The Candy Man!" sgid Flora Dee.
“1 heard you call him that.
This made no impression on Flora
Dee, apparently, for she got down
from the trunk where she had been
sitting?' stretched and yawned.
“Peg, have I got to be routed out
tomorrow mawnln’ when the vans
come?”
“Stay abed if you want to,” Mar
garet s voice was a little weary. “The
auction doesn't begin till ten.”
“Will they send my furniture over
to the apartment?"
“No, dear." if Margaret’s eyes had
been petulant an Instant before they
had now turned to pools of sympathy.
“Peg’.’’ Flora Dee’s body stiffened
suddenly and her face grew bard.
“They wouldn’t dare sell my Italian
pieces?”
“They’ll have to, I’m afraid." Mar
garet stitched on. assuming calm.
“Have to? My beautiful bed—
everything? How can they? Those
things belong to me. Mother gave
them to me in her will. It’s bad
enough to be driven put of mv room.
Mv lovely room—its always been
mine. But my bed, my—”
‘Hush!” warned Margaret, for her
sister’s voice was shrilling through
the iiou.se. “I’ve *|>oken to Mr. Pea
body. He says it’s a bankruptcy sale
and everything's got to g<*.
Kven though it was inrly for busi
ness there was a soil of repressed
conimotion in Herslnger's staff. Mar
garet felt it when she entered and
asked f<»r Mr. Holtz. Charley Finch
came up. bowing with an air of in
creased importance.
“Mr. Holtz Is in conference. Miss
Peake,” he answered, awestricken.
“In what?” asked Margaret.
“Conference.” The word rolled over
his tongue. “They’ve been in there
a long time and I reckon they’re
about through. Won't you have a
soda? It’s on the house today."
“Why. Charley!" she laughed.
“What would Mr. Holtz say if In
caught you giving awav Ids stock?”
“Oh, he should worry!" whispered
Charley, deepening in mystery. Ib v
elations might have followed, but Mr.
Holtz's office door opened and thr* •
men walked out. chatting pleasantly.
Margaret was not surprised to sen
Admah in such company. Her curi
ous friendship with him had given
her complete confidence in ids abilit>
and he had a look of power as h<
came down the aisle. Colonel Attei
bury on one side, Arthur de Dong on
tother. They paused by the choco
late counter to shake hands. Then
Admah was left alone, bis look re.
fleet ivc.
“I hope T didn’t keep you waiting,
he exclaimed when he saw her "It
took a lot more talk than 1 thought."
His eyes held an excited, fev look lik*
those of a child who has seen the
gnomes at play.
“You haven’t been long,” she
smiled. “Won't you sit down?’’ no
tioning to a chair ns though the place
were her own. When lie was seated
she began rather stiffly with her busi
ness.
“I suppose you know. Mr. Holtz,
that our—that we’re being sold out
at %uctioji today.”
“I reckon that’s a good way when
you’ve got a lot of second-hand stuff
to get rid of.” he said. Her cheeks
flamed indignantly until shf saw his
eyes. Then she was grateful to know
that he was trying to say something
kind. “I reckon.” lie continued, “that
it's cheaper to buy new furniture than
hire a lot o’ vans.”
“We’re not selling for any such rea
son, Mr. Holtz,” she said, “'/’hank
you, though."
“If I’d known this two weeks ago.
he mused. “1 might have done font*
thing about it. But that chain* n
gone now. I'm bog tied for light
smart of a time.”’
“Thank you.” This was her oppor
tunity, and she wondered how to -eiz
it. “About Flora Dee—” Sh** glanced
quickly up. His expression had n«*i
changed, yet she felt that he had 1**
come unreceptive. But she rushed
on: “I don’t understand thy law ti
seems silly . . . we’re not allowed t"
take anything out but what’s in our
trunks. That’s all right so far •- Flo
concerned. But there are s<*ine I* - ■
tlful Italian bedroom pieces. They
t hev belonged to my moui* > 'in*, y
shouldn't go with the rest h ■ -mili
the sale's supposed to fm iud - onh
father’s things.. I I ran'i find am
way out of saving my slster’cs furni
ture—”
“Oh, they're hers.” His voice was
dry n» dust.
“Yes.” She tried to explain herself,
but made poor work of it. He had
become moveless. “There* a senti
merit about such things—I don’t know
whether you understand
“I understand,” he replied, smiling
emptily.
“You see. Flora I.ee lias lived w *•*
her furniture and loved it ever since
-he was i little girl. She didn't miss
it so niueh while she was in Spain;
she had plenty of that sort <*f thing
over there. But now that she'* back
and finds they're going to take her
hec! away she’* heartbroken.”
Admah cleared his throat, an un
pleasant sound. _ _
•1 (l-i t .thing ill. s nnytlui g
more lieautifol in America. It's gild
yd Venetian with some of the finest
carving I'\e ever seen.'’
"What would you like me to Up?"
dm.-Ih broke in, and for the first
time his glance failed to meet hers.
"I wish you could come to the auc
tion and bid it in." ________
“l*'or myself, you mean? His fae*
was a blank.
"It will be a great bargain. Mr.
Holtz. There are very few people In
town who would appreciate Ita real
value. | know the New York dealers
would ofer a lot. But I don't want
the dealers to have it."
“Why?" _!
I.
“ISoi-anse I could m ver buy it buck.
I want it in fall info the hands of
somebody who’ll hold it for me until 1
could get together the price—"
"You’re putting a lot of trust In
tne. Miss I’eake."
"Yes. 1 am.” Why did the tears
come swimming to her eyes at that
simple’ statement? _1
Hut Admali Holt* sat Inscrutable.
At his hesitation her pride, which had
never groveled before, began to re
assert Itself. t*he had corue tn him In
preference to all the men of her own
kind whom she had known since
i hildhood; she had counted on him
to do the generous thing. a» he had
alwats done liefore. Vet there s.o*
h«<1 gut him to lh<* text and foun t
him Rt udktntt ft ••annj 111 tin reiuilp
In .m Indlftimnf n«xh aim blamed ;
on 111* l*ii-kgnitin<l. He had coin
Of a Xto. k »hb'h did not know hn\i
to Im I'hlvHlmu*.
"I'm xi*ry I've hotliettd you.” - She
mr%< 1*^ s, iiwvp to li***
(To Ilf « ontintirfl I»»morroiv-1 ^
And Then He Took Up Cross-Word Puzzles
at the Breakeast table at his ofpice ms
HE READ ONLY ThG MOiT PoNClEROLlTY PEACH1-'
POKJDER.OU3 OF AJSUJ.S PmPCR Z Th£ V/ERY LIMITS Ol
ih PoHoeP.ous silence Pow-DeftoSi tY.
By Briggs
- AMD AT HOME IM THE
) e^enimo HP spcnt the
last M60RS, IK) RCADihaG
UoQrtS That omlT A
Po/JCepodS Mind CoclD
UWDt£R STAND
_ Amp Them me Took op cross, vajorp Pui.'LES
/s TtiRee lbtter / I ,B vjuord aavjs >' 'HE^\
WORD Minins | * aua 1 HF CAUSE THtf
/KM EXCtftM/STION I
S
' T
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*
ABIE THE AGENT Drawn for The Omaha £5ee by Hershfield
I In 'Ian's ithin Hi' Uis;b|s
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rwho Could 7 "its" thi* itTHtS
Phomisx* -r^f 'Sigmund PAunSnopA
S'TDRfc at THiS WHAT??-SAY,
Hour»u,iu. better you <$t j
u ANS.IVCT $oBER AnD Ltr
OTHER PEOPLE /
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\
THE NEBBS SHAKESPEARE, JR._
Directed for The Omaha Bee by So. Hess
(Copyright 1925)
/HERE'S A LETTER ERNIES WRrONG To NUSS \
'"*"■7klotzmeycr - he calls her"Sugar plum" V
Tf and USTEN TO VH»S ~ WRITING POETRY — '
I "VOU ARC. MV QUEEN AND VM YOUR SLAVE A
P.UT VOU OUST TRY TO MAKE THIS SLAVE BEHAVE \
HE'LL GRAS VOO \N HvS ARMS ANO CARRY VOU A WAV, I
i \ AND KEEP VOU FOR WS LOVE-MATE VOR ATE ANO AYE 7
I V. — AND HE SIGNS HlMSELr n YOUR r**\\
■ _ SLAVE-ERNIE [
/
Barney Google and Spark Plug One Tip Should Have Been Barney’s Limit. Drawn for The Omaha by Billy Defect
“ — V .'I ‘ * —* -- t • • TIT tLiLLsrrrrrrrm’r. ■?»'—»■»—■ -——-.tt—■——r*—- t r ' T ■ i ’,r i"*’* '“1 i T -- ■ f r\ "v» • ^
,— -*—.
BARNEY,YouUE 60T A Sweet /'by Solly
I CHANCE To CLEAN UP some 0OU> / COLLY-. ILL
on the side this week j a lot I 'AO<^* r,qhtouer ^
"These dummies around here would I ~^° EuuB and
BE WILLING To BAY GOOD MONEY FOR -
INSIDE "TIPS ON The RACE NEXT ( OONuER ATiON
SATURDAY » EUERY6CDY KNOWS YcURE A FEW EXTRA
stable Wise -- if You tush out [ bucks will come
INFORMATION ON SPARRY AND \ KANDY RifcHT
\ the other horses You ought V N0V* - ■/.
\ "To charge For it 'v\
-\
RRI?'Y^»iVn IIP FATWFR . R'„,i“*"i,. SEE J,GCS ANI) MAGG,E ls IULL Drawn for The Omaha Bee by McManui
Olxll SVail^lVJ iji 1 /A 1 alHilx U S. Patent Office PAGE OF COLORS IN THE SUNDAY BEE .Copyright *
NAN Mir^r'l WHAT WOULD THE PEOPLE
whv rlSS^T’k_. TH"SK ,F ‘THE'< *aw too rJ
VHNtAtsriS ' ^ EATINC, DUCH COMMON
HAVE ^iOME- "“E) EAT —. DINHEN AS Vn ) i hcf'T''
thinc; to eat wmat too l l—? Ao ^ou like:T
THAT . like ? HAVE THERE (J '
AMO DON'T ) ,H/XT uo
DO “bO MUCH ' 1 '
1 TALKING
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JERRY ON THE JOB
Drawn for The Omaha Bee by Hoban
• (Copyright 1
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