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TVVO SECTION"S. SECTION" TVVO.
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( Custer County Republican
, Vol.26. . . Broken Bow , Neb. , February 7 , 1807. No. 35.
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I 1.1. KATE LMORE" LEADINGLADY _ I
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Jack came home from school to his fath-
! ir's funeral , and he never went back again.
He and his mother had-to make a fight for
life. The mother's friends did a little for
I her , and she managed to get a little house
of furniture together and to let lodgings to
lty clerks ' 1111 so to malee both ends bread
\ . a'nd cheese. Jack , thanks to the same pea-
plo--people who had known the Smedleys
in their "better days"-was lucky enough
to obtain a situation In the office of a stock-
\ broker. He was really only' a superior errand -
rand boy at IIrst , but ho was paid ten
shillings a week , and that was a wonderful
help to the widow In her struggles with the
I landlord and the rate collector , not to men-
tlon the baker and the butcher.
Jack was a handsome boy and an amiable
boy. lie had been a favorite at school , and
he was soon a favorite with his employers.
He was quick , bright and Industrious , and always -
ways a gentleman. After he had been In
the office two years he was a clerk and had
j75 ; a year , and when he was twenty-one
! I\e \ was n superior clerk and had .1:150. :
It was just when he came of nge that
! his mother died , and then Jack having
wound up her little estate , went Into lodgIngs -
Ings and started , in the elegant phrase 'of
! the period , "entirely on his own hook. "
Fortunately for young Smedley , before his
Independence , his loneliness , his handsome
I fnce and his charming manners had led him
Into the dnngerous by-paths of London life ,
he fell over head and ears In love with a
, pretty young lady who lodged with her
\ mamma In the house , Rose Lencroft wns a
l dy. lIer papa had been a lieutenant In
the navy. He had died of malarial fever
. In some , lIreadful foreign seaport , and left
I his wife and little daughter about .1:150 : a
year. Mrs. Leaeroft liked the handsome
r ) 'oung stockbroker they called Jack very
much Indeed. lie was a gentleman , and
bls family were "known , " nnd Mrs. Lea-
croft thought a great deal of family. People -
ple who come down In the world generally
do. It Is a grent consolation to them In
their poverty to know that no shabblr1es8 ,
110 short commons , no Indignity on the part
of landlords or tradespeople can rob them
of their birthright. They may be pd'or , but
they are "well born. " Their c10thcs may
be the worse for wear , they may ride In
o.lllnibuses , and they may not always have
hutcher's meat for dinner , but stili they are
, ladles and gentlemen by birth.
When Mrs. I.eacroft found that Jack
' .l Smedley was a "real" gentleman , she smiled
. upon him and was gracious , and she discovered -
covered that her "people" had In some
years gone by known some of his "people , "
nnd she was able to tell him whom his
great aunts married anll what relation he
was by marriage to everal people who
occa lonally figured In the list of pre enta-
" tlons to Her Majesty and among the guests
11.t the ball ! ! and receptions of the sea on.
Anti when Jack and Rose discovered that
they were In love with each other , Mrs.
Leacroft was glad. Mr. Smp.lley was a risIng -
Ing young man. He was sure to attain a
j good position In the city , and though a business -
ness man he was "the scion of a county
family. "
, It was not a very long courtship. Six
I months after the ) ' were engaged Jack and
, Hose were married , and they took a Uny.
little house In the Camden-road and had
one little mald-of-all-work and were "ery
economical , for they had determined to save
all they could and never , never to get Into
debt or to launch out beyond their mean ,
It was a bappy little hO:11e , and It grew
happier as Jl1ck'll position Improved and they
had a big grown-up servant , and the little
drawing-room began to fill with elegant
nlek-nacks , and Rose had prettier and more
expen lve Ilre ses , anti they could give modest -
est little dinner parties and take their holiday -
day comfortably at the seaside , not In lodgIngs -
Ings , . but at the best hotel.
'rhen they moved to a bIgger house and
bad stalls at the theaters and at the opera ,
and a blred brougham took .them and
brought them home , and they soon began
to taste the pleasure of being "well-to-do , "
Everything prospered with Jack after his
marriage. The firm had been pleased with
him before. They were delighted with him
now. He was married , and that removed
the last drawback to their complete confidence -
dence In him. A handsome young fellow
of one-and-twenty Is not so de lrable as a
confidential clerk as a , young married man
of the same age.
So perfect was the firm's faith In Jack
that , when the head clerk started In busl-
nOss for himself , Jaelt took his place , and
fl'om that moment was ab elute , lie Baw
the principal clients , managed the hlggest
jobs , IIlgned checks In the firm's name , and
t ok over the entire command of the ship :
and the partners , who were growing old and
had made their "pile , " gradually left the
business more and more to him , until at last
they did as he told them , Instend of telling
him what be was to do tor them. And
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A Cl1apter From tl1e Life of
a Fanlous Actress
By G. R. SIMS
CONTINUED FROM SEC.TION ONE.
,
nnally , things going on Eto well , they took
longer holidays than usual and didn't mind
about being away both together. "Mr.
Smedley" was now practically the firm , and
clients asked for no one else. If one of the
partners was In and saw a client , the client
just said , "lIow d'yo do ? " and then said
he would walt and see Mr. Smedley.
When things were In this delightful position -
tion Mr. Smedley was very different from
the Jack Smedley of old" days. lie was as
handsome and amlablo as over , but not so
economical ; 110 had a beautiful house In
town , and his wife had her horses and diamonds -
mends , and they gave grand parties 'and had
launched out in a life which was a costly
and extravagant one.
EverJ'body knew that Jack didn't do It on
his salary. You don't live up to .1:5,000 : n
year on .1:1,000. : nut there was no mystery
about It. Jack , with his Intimate knowledge -
edge of the markets , had made coup after
coup on his own account , so It was said.
Why , It was a common gossip that during
one panic he had made over .1:30,000 : In
American ralls , and out of the electric light
boom while It had lasted he had cleared
another .1:20,000. :
One day-It was a week before the dinner -
ner party referred to at the opening of
this narrative-the partners came up to
town smiling and bland , and when they
arrived at the office they Im'lted Mr. Smed-
ley to favor them with a few moments' conversation -
versation In their private room.
They told him that In consideration of his
talents and his long , faithful service , they
hud detormlned to take him Into partner-
ship.Of
Of tourse Jack thanked them elTuslvely
-dream of his life-never repay their kindness -
ness , etc.
" 'Jlhen they went Into details and cxplalned
that as thcre was to be a partnership , everything -
thing must of courBe be done In a proper
way , and so an accountant would come
and go through the books and put everything -
thing straight , so that they might malee a
perfectly fair and business-like start as between -
tween themselves and their new and junior
partner.
"Quite right , " said Jack : and It was
arranged that the accountant should come
In on the following Monday to get the accounts -
counts straight , aUlI then the deeds should
be drawn up and the partnership should be
settled.
The night of the dinner party was the
night before the accountant was to commence -
mence his labors. On the following mornIng -
Ing Mr. Smedley packed his portmanteau
and Idssed his wife , telling her lie hud to go
out of town to see a client of the firm's
who wa ! ! ' 111 and wanted to sell out hl
"hares In various undertakings and Invest
In Consols.
lie didn't go to the office and the partners
were afraid he was III and sent up to his
house. Mrs. Smedley , astonished , wrote 1\
note to say he had gone out of town for
the firm.
Then the partners were astonished , too ,
and couldn't malte It out : and didn't until
the accountant Btruck them "peeehiess with
horror and amazement by Informing them
that there was a sum of nearly .1:50,000 :
which was not properly accounted for , antl
which he wanted to know , about before he
could balance.
This led to a closer Investigation , and
then there was no doubt as to the motive
of the confidential clerk's disappearance.
He had embezzled Ilurlng the last I1vo yenrs
about .1:50,000 : , and the offer of a partner-
Bhlp had necessitated n thorough balancing
of the books , and that balancing he Imll not
thought It advisable to honor with his pres-
ence.
. . .
Jack Smedley's disappearance was a
nine dnys' wonder on the stock exchange ,
and then It wns forgotten. The partners
whose conlldence Jack had so shamefully
abused felt bound on public grounds to tnke
some steps In the mnlter , anll they determined -
mined to prosecute him , anll the police Issued -
sued advertiBements nnll a reward was offered -
fered for his apprellOnslon. nut not the
BlIghtest trace wns ever founll of the fu-
gitive.
Poor Rose at first utterly refused to belIeve -
lIevo thnt her husband had gone off so
unceremoniously. Day after day she ox-
pectell that he would fI\1I1 some means of
communlenllng with her and lelllnK her
know wbere 110 WIIS , Sl1e gave up e\'crythlng
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to her husband's creditors without murmur ,
and went back to Ih'e with her mother , hOII-
Ing agalnlU hope that she would hear some'
thing of Jack : that he would let her know
where he wns nnd give her the means of
joining him , Dut the weeks grew Into
months and stili there came no sign , and
presently n year had gone by allll Bhe was
stili In utter Ignorance of her husband's
whereabouts.
She felt that he had treated her very
cruelly : the shame was bad enough , the
terrible suspense was worse. She didn't
even know If he was allvo or dead. At
last she made up her mind that he must be
dead. lIe might have committed sulelde-
drownell himself , perhaps-and this was the
renson that since the day of his flight the
silence had remalnell unbroken.
She wondered often what could have Induced -
duced him to turn dishonest. She had never
nsked for luxury , though Hho had accepted
It when It came. And .Taclt himself had
always appeared quite contented and hailPY
In the days when they practiced eCl'nomy.
Year succeeded year , and HtllI no news
eame , nnd then Rose alandoned her laHt
hope a\1l1 madup \ her mind that on this
side IIf the grave she would see her husband
no more. Then she determined to accept an
olTer which she hud from an old frleml of
her familY , a wealthy widow named Mon-
crleff , and nccept the position of a companion -
panion to her. Hose's mother had died the
yeal' previous , and she hml no ono to con-
sitler but he'self.
Mrs , Moncrloff wus about to take a long
continental tour , and the change of Hcene
and the excitement would be the very best
thing possible for 1111's. Smedley , whose
henlth had suffered under the long harass
nnd suspense she had endured.
On the evening that was to be her last
In the IQdglngs she had occupied since her
mother's death. she was busy packing her
boxes , when the landlady cnme UII tu tu'y
thnt a gentleman wished to Hee her.
It was so. unusual for I\ny one to call
upon lItrs. Smedley that for a moment n
wild Idea fiashed across her mind that It
was Jack. Dut the hope was Rhlln the
moment It wns born , for the landlady added ,
"He says that his name's Yarborougb ,
' " ,
ma'am.
"Tom Yarborough , " said Rose to herself ,
"whatever can he want ? 1 suppose he's
heard that I'm going abroad and has come
to Bay goml-bye. "
She came down stairs to the parlor to
see her visitor , and found Tom In a state
of great excitement.
" 1-1 hope you won't mind my calling on
you so late , " he explained , "but I'vo only
just found out where you lived. I've soma
news for you. "
"I know what It Is , " gasped Rose , "you'vo
"een Jack. "
"Yes , I believe I have. "
The next minute Tom had dashed out Into
the hall and was yelling for the landlady.
Hose Smedley hUll fallen down In a dead
faint.
" 'hen the landludy nnd Tom between
them hnd brought her round and Hose was
calmer , Tom told his story.
He had been dining with some friends
on the previous ovenlng at a little town
Borne thirty miles from London , and nfter
dinner the ) ' had made up a IJarty to go
to the locnl theater.
The piece was not up to much and the
company was only a small traveling one , but
the voice of the man who plnyed one of
the parts Instnntly arrested Tom's atten-
tion. lie IIstonell and listened , IInd the
more he IIstenCll the more the Iden huuntell
him that he was IIst nlng to Jnck Smed-
ley.
ley.He borrowed n pair of opera glasses I\nd
I < crutlnlzell the actor carefnlly , hut the
"malee-up" effectually conc aled the man's
real features. And yet there was a lool (
nbout the eyes and upper pnrt of the face
that confirmed Tom's Impression that he
was In the presence of his long lost friend.
The actor's name was given In the program -
gram as "Mr. J. 'Vllson , " As soon ! I the
performance was over Tom made an excusu
to his friends and went round to the stngo
door. lIe saw the stnge doorkeeper and
asked If he could Bpeak toIr. ! . Wilson.
"I'll see , sir. 'Vhat name ? "
"Say Mr. Yarborouh. ! "
The man took the messae and promptly
returncil to "ay that "Mr. 'Vllson was engaged -
gaged with the manager and could not Gee
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anybody then. " Tom was not to be put oft
BO entllly as that , so he said he woulllVnll
outside.
As he wns turning _ from the door a
young Indy clime up from the stage , dressed
for the street.
"Oh , lItrs. Wilson , " . saltl the doorle per ,
"thel'o III the gentleman as wnnts to lIeo
your husband. "
Tom turnClI nnd looked at the young lady.
She wns very pretty and about four and .
twenty.
"I beg your pardon , " Bald Tom , hesitating
allli wondorlng how he shoulll get out whnt
was on his .mlnd without mnltlng 11 mesll
of It. "I only wl\ntell to milt Mr. Wilson n
question. "
"Perhaps I cnn answer It , " replied thq ,
young lady , looldng . nt 'l'om wllh a searchIng -
Ing glance.
"I-er-I'm afrnld not. I'd Hooner walt
for him , I shan't delaln him n mlnutl' , "
"I'll go a111 Bee If he cnn leave the man-
nger for n moment , " saltl the young lally ,
and she went down the stairs to the staHu
ngaln. . .
Tom waited nnd wnlted , The nctors allli
nctresses passed out , a\1l1 Ilresently the lire-
man came upstairs.
"Seen Mr.'lIson ? " snhl the stage door-
keeper. "This ! ; entleman's waiting for .
him. "
"Everybody's gone , " repllell the fireman ,
"Thero ain't nnybodY In the houBe now. "
"How long hns Mr. Wilson been gene
then ? "
"I don't know the company by nnme , but
there ain't nobodY left In the house , I cnu
tell you tbat , " wns the reply. ,
"Ah , " snltl tbe stnge Iloorleeper , "then
It'll no ulle you waiting , Mr. " 'lIson nnd his
wife must have gone through the front. "
Then TOIII at once jumpCll to the conclu-
II10n that the young lady hall told Wilson
that he ( Tom ) was stili waiting , nllll they
hnll both "lIppell out the front wny to nvohl
meeting him , And this convinced him thnt
his lIurmlse was correct , allli that the nclnr
willi , Jack Smedley's vdlee wnR .Jack Smed-
ley himself !
Tom Yarborough blurtell out his story , for
he was full of It. It was not until he Baw
the effect of bls narratlvo upon poor Hose
that It occurred to him tbat he hall done
an unwise thing.
"I Iion't believe ItIr. ! . Ynrborough , " shu
exclnlmed , her eyoll filling with tears. " [
don't bellove It. ! \Iy husballll wns cruel to
leave me as ho did. He hns been cruel
to leave mo In doubt nnd suspense all these
years , hut surely he woulll not venture bae ! (
ngnln and run the rlslt of detection-and
-and"-
She conld not bring herself to lIay , what
was In her mind , which wall that wlckell
ns Jack Smedley had been to her , he
woulll not be HO wicked as to como back
to England call1nz nl1ntlwr woman hlR
wife.
wife.nut her curiosity was excited , The Idea
that her husband was nllvo and nenr I..on-
don revived all the old feelings of doubt
anll arxlety which she had afler n lapse
of years conl1uerl'd.
"Tom , " IIhe Bald presently , "I must 1100
thlll matter out. I shall go Ilown to thin
plnce. 'VIII you come with me ? " -
"CertainlY , " Bald Tom , feeling that ho
was "In for It , " "but-or-hadn't I beller
go first l\I1d mnke suro. You see , 1 may
have been mlstnlccn after nIl. "
"No , I'll o myself. I can't rest now
till I know the truth , "
! \Irs. Moncrelff slnrtell for the continent . .
nlone , HOBe explaining that Important
buslnells of a private nature would detain
her In town for a few days.
The next evening , accompanied by Tom
Yarborough , lItrs. Smedley went to the theater -
ater , It wns n different play-the bill
had he en changed , and there was no Mr.
Wilson In the cast.
Tom went round to the Btage Iloor and
Intorvlewed the "tnge doorkeeper again.
Did he know If Mr. Wllllon was In the
town stili. and could he give him hlH ad-
Ilress ? Tom wns referred to the acting
Inllnagor , who "aid that W.lIHon hall not
been to rehearsal that morning , allll on
Bending to his lodgings It waH found thnt
he and his wife hall tnken their luggage
anll left the town , It wlis n very oxtrnor-
IIlnary thing to 110 , as a week's salnry wnl !
lIuo to them , and the manaer couldn't understand -
derstand It.
Tom Yarborough unllerRtoOll It nnd Ro e
understood It. Jack Smedley hall ventured . . .
back Ijgllln , bellevlnl ; that his crlmo was
forgotten and thnt In the strolling actor
no one would recognize him , Directly he
had been tolll that a Mr. Yarborough
wished to "CO him he Imew thnt he was
discovered alul he had fled , taking with
him the woman wbo called herself bls I
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