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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 16, 1904)
4-t '.. J-,, t Cbe alls fWbraeftan H SKetcb of tbe Unbtan Country. An Incident Connected With Life at A Western Army Post IH T Comanche Jim drove Into the quar teis about noon one hot, sultry tiny when the wind was blowing a gale across tho open prairie, sweeping clouds of diiBt in Its train. He stopped his covered wagon In front of tho store nntl. Jumping out, quickly tied his horses. The group of soldiers lounging about the platform of the store hailed him with hearty delight. "Hello, Comftnch'! How comin'?" "Where y' been, Comanche? Ain't i.ecn you fer a century!" "How's Comanche Jim?" The newcomer did not answer for a moment, but grasping his hat firmly because of the wind, he sprang nimbly onto the platform. Then, "Where's the colonel?" he asked, hastily nodding to tho various ones. "Over In the adjutant's office. What's up?" "Nothln'," he said briefly. "Don't bother me now." Ho wan striding away when one of tho men straightened from his reclining position and called after him. "I say, Comaiuch'. hear the news?" Tho other stopped. "Nope. But never mind, It'll keep." He turned away again. "" 'I (!-)n't know. You might as well have It now as later. Why, say, listen here. Miss Jessie " as the name Co chancho Jim whirled about. "MIes Jessie's engaged to the kid and they're to be married) next week." The tall, lithe figure of the cowboy, half Indian, half white man, stralght oncd stiflly. while a dark red flared be neath his brown skin. Then he came back a step. "What did you say?" he asked quiet ly. The other shifted his position un easily. "Why, it's all over the camp and the colonel confirmed It just this morning. Nice fellow enough the kid, though he is a little fly, and1 Miss Jes sie's well, we all know there's nobody can compare with her. You need'nt glare at a fellow so." Comanche Jim stoodi silent for a moment, then without a wordi he strode off townrdi the colonel's quarters. "Colonel," he addressed' the kindly, gray-haired man before him, "la this square about Kid Atherton and and MIbs Jessie?" The officer arose and put out his hand. "Why, Jim, my man, you here this morning? Supposed you were miles away, off In' Wyoming Territory. Heh? My girl's engagement? Why yes yes, It's true. Quite a nice young fellow. Known him ever Since he first came to the Flftyfirst. Guest they're as-happy as two larks; at least Jetfsic lookfi it. Only hope Atherton settles down a little more In the future when they're married. Guess he will all, right. Going, Jim? Come back in half jin hour, then; I've a little matter we might " When Comanche Jim reached his wagon the store was cleared for guard mount had been sounded and all the men were off to their duty. He hastily untied tho team and, Jumping into the wagon, drove back of the quarters, over a hill, and down Into a hollow where a half-destroyed dug-out nestled amid the tall ranks of prairie grass. Climbing out, he went around to the back of the wagon, pulled aside the curtains of the hood and looked with in. "Never budged an inch," he muttered while a dark frown clouded his swarthy laco. Then he reached In, grasped a heavy body and lifted It out. It was Kid Atherton. The features wore thoso of a young man, handROme, well formed, but now red and bloated, while from between tho paited lips the breath came labored and heuvy. The civilian coat was worn and ragged, but the dirty, dust-etained trousers were those of a soldier In the United States army. Comancho Jim lifted his burden with ease, carried it Into tho dug-out and deposited it upon tho ground. Then he sat down In I he doorway and si lently rogarded the form before him. After several moments, with a sudden movement, tho figure turned over and Kid Atherton opened his eyes. They gazed about vacantly until tlioy en countered) tbe dfcrk ones of Comanche Jim regarding him from tb doorway. Thou ho raided himself on his elbow. "Oh. isli you," lie spoke a little thickly at first. "Whast you doln'?" When you brought mo? Shay, why don' shu spoak?" Thrro was no answer. "Well. yosh. you heh?" Comanche Jim simply looked nt him. "Blamed funny " ho looked for a moment, into the dark face opposite him, then suddenly his eyes grew puz zled, he rained his hand to his fore head, looked ngaln toward the Indian, then quickly lifted himself to a sitting position. "My God." ho murmured, "My God " "Kid Atherton, 1 won't ask no ques tions of you and I don't want no ex planations, neither. Hut I found you out there," with a jork of his thumb toward the prairie, "over near the foot hills with that coat on and dead drunk. What you wore doln' thcio, or how you got there I don't ask you, tho' I can guess. All I got to say Is that I ain't got much use for thorn kind of fellows tho kind you look like you belong to. Deserter ain't in my line." Tho man before him shuddered and covered his eyes with his hand, but Comanche Jim continued, stolidly. "When I brought you back I was goln' to hand' you as fast as I could over to the colonel an' let him an' the United States settle you as they settle your kind" He got no further for Atherton sprang to his feet. "Hut, my God, man, I was drunk! I didn't know what 1 was doing. - I was wild, crazy! Oh, Comanche, you won't, toll them1 'don't, for heaven's sake, tell thorn! Think of the dis grace the horror and and there Is Jessie!" H stopped, mutely staring before him. Comanche had arisen also, his lips tightened, one hand grasping .the belt of his leather coat. "Yes." he Mild, slowly. "There Is Miss Jessie." A moment's pause and Comanche Jim continued abruptly. "Atherton, I won't tell the folks over to the fort. I won't tell nobody. You're safe enough with me. But, Kid Ather ton. I ain't doln' this for you. It's for her for her, mind you, tho sweetest, bravest " ho heaved a sigh. "Well, we'll drop that. I wouldn't care If you went to the dogs tomorrow. I wouldn't lift a finger to keep you back, but when I think of Miss Jessie over there, and (c colonel, why, I'd do anything for them. And what you've got to do Is to brace up and be a man like you were once before you got to drinkln' your whlsKey and stuff. Kid Atherton," ho stepped nearer, "If you marry that girl and if 1 ever catch you in that low, hound's position again; if you ever touch another drop, I'll tell what I seen last night and today as sure as there's a God In heaven! Now, get out." When the last ol Kid Atherton dis appeared over the top of the hill Co manche Jim stood motionless and silent, gazing toward on little cottage down at the onii of the rovT. uen he turned hiswaiting team and. mount in gto the scar of the wagon, turned his horses' heads in the direction of the prairie and drove away, over to the yoming Territory. M. C. Mr. Brown and His Wife. (With Apologies to Dickens.) Mr. Brown was a man. He was not an ape, nor a champanze, nor an an gel, nor a tacetious prof., nor a tenor' Blnger. nor a wearer of red necktle. No. Mr. Brown was none of these things. He was a man. He wore his hat on his head, not In his hand, but on his head like the man he wns. He had two eyes, two ears, a nose, a mouth and a wife. In short he was just an ordinary man. He entertained much affliction for his wife because she was very dear to him, and this affection was mutual,, be cause his wife reciprocated it. They did nol, quarrel nor have differences, and they wsre very happy because their life was very pleasant. Now it happened one day that a dif ference, arose between Mr. Brown and his wife. No one could deny that It was a difference In fact no one at- tempt to deny it, because no one know of It except Mr. Brown and1 his wife, and they did not deny it because they Our feo returnod if wo fail. Any ono sending sketch and description of any invention will promptly rcccivo our opinion free concerning tho pator ability of same. "How o obtain a patent" son, upon requost. IV.tf s Bccured through us advertised for salo at our expense. Patents takon out through us recoivo special notice, without c!-... .,, The Patent Record, an illustrated and widelv circulated jom nal, consult by Manufacturers and Investors. Stend for samplo copy FREE. Address, VICTOR J. EVANS A GO.a (Patent Attorneys,) Evmnm BuSSdSn, WASHINGTON, IS, C were convinced that it was true. It was a difference over a grammatical construction, not over the woather, nor tho cooking, nor the gold standutd, nor the price of coal, mind you. but over a grammatical construction. Mr. Brown was In the wrong. It may as well be stated at tho outset that Mr. Brown was In the wrong, for, since Mrs. Brown was In the right. It Is only logical to conclude- that Mr. Brown was in the wrong. He declared and Insisted and argued that tho word "than" was, is and will be followed by the accusative caae, not the nomina tive, nor tho dative, nor the genltlvo, mind you, but by the accusative. "You don't know any more about It than me," he asseverated, aB he brought his hand down upon the table with a bang, thus showing his emotion. Mrs. Brown answered this statement quietly, not loudly nor fiercely, but calmly, thus exhibiting much repose and strength of character. "You aro not wiser than I," sho said placidly, speaking In a calm voice. They discussed tho question for some time, and after sovoral hours had elapsed, a though struck Mrs. Brown. Why this thought did not strike Mr. Brown is a matter that must bo left to the conjecturo of the reader. Suf fice II to say that the thought struck Mrs. Brown. "Let us look it up in a Grammar." sho suggested gently, and they did so, thus proving Mr. Brown In the wrong and Mrs. Brown In tho right. LET A S. 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