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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (March 21, 1896)
1 12 THE OMAHA DATLY KEK : SATURDAY , MAKO1I 21 , 1800. The Grateful Reporter. BY OCTAVE THANET. , "Sure , ll's sorry I am for the croicliuro , " said Mrs. Patrick Fltzmaurlce to her only Bon , Tommy. This was In the year when Tommy was In training as a candidate for mnyor ; Indeed , tlio primaries \vcre to be he-Id that week , As the little Irishwoman tipoko , she glanced tip wistfully at Tommy's handsome face and brushed an Impercepti ble trace of dust from his coat sleeve , Tommy began to guess what was coming. "And what does ho want you to do , ma ? " BIId he , slipping his arm about her \\alst nnd looking fondly down at the face that was pretty to him , still , though to most people It was but a wrinkled little Irish face with violet eyca and a long upper lip , "she'd after you for something , that I know. " ' "Why , she has no slrvco at all , Tommy ; and she puts mo out of my temper with the way she goes on , till I clean forget flic Is mo third cousin on mo step-mother's tide ; and I want to tell her tu be quiet ; but then , I think of how old she Is and With no children ; never a chick nor a child did Tim and she have to bless them , Tom my ; and many's the time ohe looks at you , and I can ECO the sigh ln > her cyea that sho's too proud to let drop from her lips ; and then , I think , 'Well , It she docs make a time over an oulil box , It's hers , and maybe the forlorn creachuro vallys It , may be , not having any humans to love she haste to take It out on her things. ' "That box she lost In the custom house In Chicago , I euposc , " says Tommy , pa tiently , "sho Isn't nagging you to have me go to Chicago , Is she ? " "Well , that very same she Is , Tommy. And I totild her , says I , no's busy w.'d Im portant business of the election , says I , nnd ho ain't got the tltnol Hut the creachuro don't seem to have good since , for all she says , 'It was owing to" him I took It to Chicago Instld of to Nsw York to the cils- toms there ! nnd uow It's lostl' Meself , I wonder she didn't lose Ivory box she had , com'n * a w-ake before she was Ixpectld , anil wo not meeting her , for she can't so much as KO down town alone. " Tommy was swallowing his annoyance , lie loveJ his mother , whatever lie might think of her stepmother's third cousin , and lie know how his mother must have been harried to bring her to the point of asking a Journey of him , this particular week. It wnn'u nnlsancs , nnd It might well be a r'sk to leave just now , but' ho would chance It , nnd having resolved to chance It , ho would not spoil a kind act by an III grace In the doing. Therefore , ho laughed as ho smoothed his mother's thin but sdlhy hair , and told her that ho could manage to get oft to Chicago cage , and that she might assure Mrs. Sulli van that he would look up every unclaimed article of luggage In the Chicago customs. He might have felt repaid Had he. sesn his mother that evening , wiping her eyes whllo she repeated the scone to his father , who puffed hard on h's ' pip ? . "And you won't deny , Pat , ho Is the blst ton In the country ! " "I ain't thlnlcln' of wns , " said the ex- saloon keeper grimly. "I'm thlnkln * of mothers that lets their sons throw away their chances to gratify the fool whims of a doddering ould woman. Tom Is no busi ness to bo out of town this wake , and well ho knows It. " "And for why not , I'at. " "For why ? Because he has to go tomor- " ow , no later , to the meeting and Paulson will bo at the meeting and the other men ; j and 'specially for Paulsen they want Tommy to bo there Ye know how Tommy talks nnd tlfq persuasiveness of him" the father could noi-hlde a lurking smile "well , they're hoping whin Paulsen hears him , lio'll listen to reason and go In for him. And Harry Losslng he's going to see Paulsen and per suade him Vow sound Tommy Is about kaplng the saloons down and ylt raising enough rlvlnue for the expenses and how he'll pave tha city , but he'll look molglity scharp after the contracts and there won't be no boodlln' games countenanced noways. Av coorso , Tommy can't bo telling what a folne mayor , ho'll make for himself , but Harry will say It , and more , and then at the meeting he'll ask Tommy any qulstlons that Paulsen will want answered or that he hears Paulsen will want ; and Tommy will have his Innings , thin. Do you see ? But now wld your blethering ould cousin and her box ye'll git him off . nnd maybe he'll not bo back ; there was a washout only ylsterday on the road and lolko enough there'll bo another , and > Tomtny'll be losing the mayor's office to git"Oh "Oh , Pat , Is It that bad ? " cried the mother , . clasping her hands , "suro I'll drive to the depot and beg him to stay ! " She meant her words and her hand was on the door knob , but her husband stopped her. "Ye will not , Ellen. " said ho with an Ironic chuckle , "for It's oft already ho Is. Ye will sot down and hope yu ain't douo much harm slndln' him off ! " "And who would harm himsure ? " "Well , 'there Is Alderman Wade , who Is , after PAUlscn from morning till night , peek ing at him with 'Tommy Is an Irlrhman , Tommy Is shly. Tommy hates the Dutch' you'll sec that's the way ho gets at him , making him think Tommy wouldn't cross the street to bavo a German's life ! And Paulrni has got a tromenjls lot of pull wtd ' the Dutch and that's ! the fact ; he ain't , so far's I kin find out , ho ain't opened the mouth of him ylt whether It's for or whether It's agin Tommy , But Tommy best be round when ho does , that's all. " "But why would Alderman Wade be wanting to hurt Tommy ? I mind well whin you had the place down town , how ho always b * * * y i TOMMY KKAD TIID CIHATEFtJL OFFCIUNO OF TltlJ ItCl'OUTUK. had h | * ill-Inks free , and he always asking afthor your foiio ! young son at the univer sity. " Old Patrick humped Ills shoulders and muttered , "Things was different , thin ; I'm thlnkln' , weself , that ho wanta to bo greased and Tommy won't grease him ! " MM , Fltznmurlcc , as Innocent a soul as over wan sent Into a wicked world , had Jived too long with Patrick not to under stand. She sighed , "Is he lolko that , thin ? I didn't think It. And Is Mr , Paulecn the tame ? " "I guess not" with a short laugh "you couldn't buy Paulson any moro than you could coax a inulo with , a greenback. Ob , Jio'a honest , but he's obstinate , and It's like a mule , that , way , too ; you nlver know which end of htm la going to klokl Harry Losslng wps tilling mo he mistrusted ho'd bo fight ing us. " "Well , you'll flud Tommy'll matofc him , " paid the mother confidently , to wnlcu the tath'er only grunted being , however , like many husbands , secretly cheered by hit " wife's unreasoning hope. Hut she , poor woman , staid nwako oil night , wondering whether Indeed phe hai Jeopardized her son's prospscts by sending him away , and struggling darkly In he mind after pomo way to reach the Incor ruptlblo nnd obUlnato Paulsen , Tommy , meanwhile , had gone easily ti Chicago , and the next mcrnlng , havlni found the box , was loitering with a con science at rest , among a hundred odd peopli who were at the sale of "unclaimed am seized merchandise , " In the govcrnmen warchotiDo. Next to Tommy Ptood a yel low haired young man with his hat on tin back of his heal and a pad bulging hli breast pocket. Tommy and ho were th ( only persons present not bidding. "Llvo In Chicago ? " said the young man Tommy , flattered by the Inference , shooli his head and nameJ his town. "Prcttj town. " said the young man. "I Used to llv < there ; I used to bo on the Evening Scimi tar , now , " ho flung his coat open , dis closing his reporter's bajgo. Tommy reaJ the name of the great city paper with n tlngo of respect. The reporter asked ques tions about familiar names , ending with Tommy's own personality. "Fltzmaurlco ? Fitrmaurlce ? You aren't " "I'm Patrick Fltzmaurlco's son , " said Ton-my , composedly ; "his place was down on Third street. " The reporter eyed Tommy askance. He could not place this well dressed , well man- neied young man , with his handsome Irish Norman face ( that clean cut delicate face which Is no moro like the caricatures ol the Irish Celtic face than the newspaper Celt Is llko the man himself ) ; ho knew Pat Fltzmaurlco's place , but here wab n ( lower from a saloon window ; he did not quite know how to take Tommy's calmness. "I must have been out at the university when you were-there , " said Tommy , still ui'consclous , "for I don't remember you. " "They had * u son at school. Mrs. Fltz maurlce used to tell mo about him. I hope your mother Is well , Mrs. Fltzmaurlco ; she was nn angel of mercy to inc. One aw fully cold night , when I was out on an as signment about a > fire , I got wet through and my clothes 'fro/o on me. I went In and she made ine hot coffee , herself. She said I was-iQo'.yotinf ; for whisky , loaned me some ofjjy'p'ir clothes , by the way , to get home Ihjj-ftllffat. knowing I wasn't reelIng - Ing off a llB'-OT'llor. ' " "Well , the clothes came b'ack , " said Tommy. "I heard about It ; mother's al ways up to such tricks. " "Mothers * are a- big ! thing ; they keep a fellow euro there's some good left In the world ; and yours was ono of the mothcr- llest mothers going. " Tommy blushed with pleasure , but could think of nothing better than to hand the reporter a clgan And It was Just at this softened moment that his eyes fell on an old woman that had Just entered. She was poorly clad In a worn , limp black skirt , made short enough to show her coarser shoes , nnd a bask of that unchanging model affected by elderly German , women of the humbler kind. The hair under the old fash'oned bonnet was gray , almost white. She walked In with a. quick step , like one In baste , her dim eyes wandering anxiously over the array of boxes on the platform. Then , she whispered to the young girl "at her side , who seemed to be n servant , nndns a comely , fresh col ored , honest looking lass , In the cheap1 trav esty of the fashion that so scon replaces the trusty old blue stuffs. In this country. The girl glanced about her , and , after a second's hesitation , whispered to Tommy , "Is dose tings on der platform all vet dey la sale ? " "So far , " says Tommy , "yes ma'am. " He spoke the last words to the old woman and he smiled reassuringly. She seemed so feeble , BO agitated and pa lost among the crowd of Idle men nnd Junk dealers that ho was minded to comfort her. She gave him a grateful glance. Her hands were clasped , ono ovsr the other. They were hands disfigured and roughened by toll , w.th the prominent veins and distorted knuckles and withered cleanliness of years over the washboard. Tommy remembered how In hs ! youth he had resolved that one day his mother should have white , salt hands , like the mother of his school friend , Hairy Losslng , and how he had spent some of his first earnings In a weird assortment of cosmetics , which his mother faithfully used. used.H'o H'o mother's hands were white now and there were rings on them , but Tommy re membered how they used to look. Lot after lot was disappearing and being bundled down to the now owners. The old woman , who had slowly regained composure , all at once rose suddenly from her seat and Inttantly sank back again , clutching the purse In her hand. Her face had gone a dull gray , the streaks' of red were ebbing slowly from her cheek. Tommy heard her thin elderly pipe , "One dollar. " "One del lar ! " called the girl In n louder key. "I'm bid ? 1 , " began- the auctioneer , " one do I hear $2 ? Thank you , sir. Two dollars , two dollars. " "And 5 cents , " called ' the girl , while the woman's eyes fctralne'd , after every twist of the auctioneer's head , every swing of his hand. "Dollar five , dollar five , yes , sir , thank you , sir. Three doljars " Here a man shouldered his way through the crowd , a Etout , florid man In a checked suit , baggy as to the kneees of the trousers and Illuminated as to shirt front by a vivid but sollfd red scarf. This man' glnnced keenly at the box nnd fiom the box to the woman and throw a "five dollars1' carelessly at the official. "West side ile ter1 , " commented the news paper mart 'in'nrPuiidertone ' to Tommy. "He thinks there's''s'dniejhlng In It. " The old woman' raised the bid as before by n nickel ; as before" the man jumped the Intervening' cents , , to a dollar. The old woman , her agitation momentarily Increas ing , repeated the same maneuver , with the same result on the part of her opponent. The uneven bidding continued until the bids were $27 , bid by the dealer. The old woman turned desperately to the girl ahd the latter In a second called loudly' raise of 10 cents. "Twenty-eight ! " shouted tlie man. The woman sank back Into her chair ; she trembled so .violently that for a second Tommy thought that she might faint and ho hurried to put a flask tq her lips , while the newspaper man > an for water. She motioned the flask away. Her eyes went plteously to Hie girl. "Come , mother , " oald she ; "come dear mother. " Sha'n't I help you out ? " told Tommy the words rolled back In the roof of Ills mouth at the girl's expression. "We don't have got no moro money , " said she stolidly ; "tho mpther has been saving for this year , and I also ; and It was $27 , but we haf also the car fare ; wo bid all , It ) was not enough no don't look ' " ' , , don't look ! b'oe cried In her own tongue. But the old woman rose , nnd watched the t-uccewful bidder lift down the boxan , irrepressible moan burstlne hrough her lips. "Say , why do you want the box , " asked Tommy ; "can't I " "U was by mine vater. " said the girl , "dey vas HE tlrty-dree years by vun anudder und dey vas nefer qvarcl , but yen dey coom over ho vas dla on der road , and dey put him In der sea , she didn't have nolngs , no grave : nnd dey vas charfeo bo mooch vat you calf It duly dat ve don't can take der box und so ohe und I ve save , but It vas no use. Kooin , She declined the tin cup which the reporter was holding rather helplessly at them ; and would have supported her mother out of the room. The old woman looked dizzy ; she < riou wait a minute , " said Tommy , don't you etlr from her , and I'll see < If I can't buv that back-thereujs nothing of value-ino money ? no watch } ! ' Ho'hardly , alted-4helr denial to rush oft w'ltit the unheeded and amused reporter at his heulF. TbecJntter thoughtfully poured the water j a .thflj-floor before he put the tin cup on a window sill. The Junk dealer had his box on the floor , meditating over It. a ecrew driver In his and , as It preparing to open by the hinges. It wap a clumsy box ot wood with Iron hinges. A friend , near by , wagged a sympathizing and curious head on the other side. "Invoiced at $12. " said the friend , "that uln't no $12 bdx , Derry ! " Tommy , whoto hurry had been displaced by tbu idlest sauntering air , craned his neck forward : "That's right , " raid he , "thero ain't $12 worth ofi truck In th t bo.'jj the government's got a Rfost liend , running this kind of lottery bunlncps. Things of value nro bound to l > o claimed. " The Junk dealer playfully cocked ono eye. "You trying to buy that box , my Christian friend ? " "Big flndo In those boxes , sometimes , " said the Junk dealer's crony. "Big disappointments , too , " said Tommy. "I bet that you'll bo swearing mad when you open that box. " "How much do you bet ? " sneered the Junk dealer , trying hlg screw driver on the heads of the screws. "Well , I bet $3 to a nickel you can'i roll the whole cDntents of that box for $12 ; how's that ? " Two or three men drew nearer , and In stantly n dozen more were drawn by the sight of them , ns Is the way of a crowd. "Is It a kind of game ? " said one man. "I'm not likely to make much by It , " said Tommy , " $5 to a nickel ! " "Let's see your money , " said the re porter , glancing out of the tall of his cyo at the dealer , whom ho know slightly. The dealer laughed , ho wasn't afraid of games , hp said , and ho proffered his nickel to the reporter. Tommy gravely placed n bank note beside It. "Well , " said the dealer , "I don't object to giving you all a peep , but who'o to de cide as to the value ? " "You can pick two men and I'll ' pick one , " said Tommy , carelessly. As ho anticipated , the dealer chess his friend and the reporter. Tommy hit at random a grave and rubicund man who had the attitude and the wide- footed standing posture of a steamer deck. The dealer found llttlo difficulty In wrench ing one-half of the hinges free. Ho lifted the lid and forced It back on the lock. "Lot the referees toke out the things , " said Tommy. There was revealed at first glance noth ing better than a neatly folded layer or coarse and worn woolen clothing , the cause of the heavy duty. These displaced by the seaman , there came a cheap German bible , a pair of heavy , patched shoes and a small box ornamented with shells , most of which were , broken. At the sight of the box the dealer's color turned aid ho held out his hand. "I'll take that , " said ho , "tho value of the box Is In there ! " "No , you won't take It ; play fair , " said of nn executioner demanding of his victim which side of the block ho preferred. " 1 mlspod the train , " said Tommy meekly. "Ye missed the tralnl" McQInnls' heavy voice rose a note In caustic sarcasm. "Well , Tom , I didn't think ye was the kind of man to mips trains or I'd never have gone Infer for you. Did ye have a pleasant time 1 hope that much , for you're likely to miss your nomination , tool" "Drop that , McQInnls ! " said Losslng , "you know perfectly well Fltzmaurlco Isn't that kind. What was the matter ? Paulsen makes a great offence of your not coming , says you are not to be depended on , and this shows It , and a lot of rot " "Aw , rnulsen lo only talking for a blind , ho won't vote for" an Irishman , nohow ; and that's where the ihalr Is thin. I heard tie raid ho never knowcd a Irishman would do a good turn to a Gertunn and ho had It from Wade , who'd knosved you from a boy , that you was too slick to behonest. . Maybe ; If you could have cot't t him , yesterday , you might have doncisomething for him , Mr. Lowing and me-we-couldn't move him1' ! "Well , .I'm son r , " said Tommy , ruefully , but Die didn't explain why ho missed his train , not oven when Alderman Mcdlnnla capped Losolng's I"I think If you promise the chief of pollcs to a German we may do something , " with , ' ' .U think ll's awful to help fools ! " "No , " thought 'Tommy ' , "I mean to bo a gentleman , nnd a gentleman does not brag of being barely decent ; and If Paulson were to hear of It , ho'd think I was n fool for sure to love my train that way. " And these mixed motives prompted him to say"I missed th.it train idolng a kindness to some body , If you must know ; and that's all there Is about It. " Alderman McGlnnls drew a long , sad sigh from the depths beneath his glossy shirt front. "Only tell mo It ain't a woman , Tommy , that's all I ask ! " ho moaned. "It wan a very nice , respectable old wo man , " said Tommy , firmly. "And no young woman for a daughter era a niece or somewhere hitched In the out fit ? Good Lord , Tom , you nln't blushing ! Tom , this Is awful ! What made mo bet on you ? Ono big thing was you didn't eeem to know the difference between a pretty girl nnd a" homely ono ; but It you nro going to THE WOMAN SANB BACK INTO HER CIIAIIl. Tommy ; "but I guess you are' right about the value of the box beingJxbere. Please ' opsn it. captain. " , , The sailor ho- really was a lrst mate , bul ho took the title without , wincing Ilftct the unlocked cover of thq box' and took out a photograph of a man. The Jman , In his 111 fitting , tidy holiday suit , with a smlla on his honest face , and both largo , toll- marked hands spread on his knees , was ono could easily gueto , the owner of the clothes In the box. f "That's all. " said the sailor. The reporter and the other representatives of the Junk dealer quickly verified his words That was all. An oath slid between the dealer's teeth , he seized on the clothes and examined every pocket , every seam ; some one made a Jocose comment , and the crowd laughed. It laughed again as he snatched at the carte. In the same movement Tom my's strong white fingers grasped his puffy , red ones. "You drop that , " said ho. "No , I won't take your money ; I knew what was In that trunk , and that poor old soul , who bad been saving for a year ' , knew , too. Gentlemen" ho turned to the 'crowd , a siz able number by this time , and agog with curiosity , "let tno explain. " So Tommy , with all the fiery Irish clo- quonco In hlo power , explained. And then , whllo the crowd sattled closer , ho fluns his offer at the bewildered dealer. "Yep , sir , " to the reporter , "pass the hat ; let that. $5 stay In ; look here , what will you sell for ? that $5 bill ? " "No , I won't , " said the dealer. "I can get moro from the old woman. " Tommy darted a glance at the reporter , and that nlmble-wltted young man promptly took his cue. "She's gone , " sald.ho , looking In another direction from the place whore they had left the two Germans. "I can't see her. " "Then , I don't care to do anything , " re turned Tommy , giving himself an Irritable shako. "Hand mo my bill. " "I'll make It $10 , " said the dealer quickly ; "como now ; you can find her ! I'm sorry for the old party , too , " "Right,1 said Tommy , making as If to go , "Nine , " said the dealer In a dying voice. "Make It nine ; we'll all chip In , " called the most distant man In the crowd , Tlie hat went round with Tommy's bank note and $1 from the reporter. It returned laden with $8.90 ; and Tommy grimly threw In n cigar which he said he bought In Chicago lor 15 cents. It was not five minutes befpre- the eallor man headed nn Interested procession , bearing the box back to the old woman. "And really , " fald Tommy to the reporter , about two hours later , "she took It well. A kindof , dignity , " "I guesa we ( han't be any Hie worse off for her prayers , " said the- reporter , thought fully , "but say ! you've missed your train , and you hsd on Important appointment , didn't you say ? That was taking grandma home , yourself In a carriage. " & "She wasn't flt to walk. " paid Tommy ; "If If she's been my mother , I'd have wanted her taken home. " "That's right , " said the reporter. He did not say anything else , though ho looked at Tommy with a kind of lightning of his sharp o.iille ; and just then , Tommy hailed a cab ( o save the next train It he could , and so they parted. Tommy was not lucky enough even to catch his second train , wlierefors he was obliged to paej the night In III ? city and return home In the very early morning hours , In a decidedly Irritable frame of mind. He did net repent of lily humanity , but I must confeia that he did wish that his mother had not put him in the way of being humane. Harry Losslng and another roolfast. political friend , were watting at the depot , nor did their aspect ot reproachful gloom tend to cara hlo mood , "How are thine ? ? " he adventured , after 4hey had silently taksn Ills bag and walked him. Into the street. "jf ypu mean the election , " said Harry , "everything U going wrong. Paulsen Is on his hlt'i horse , " "Why didn't you vbo < v up at the meeting1' WcQInulc , the other friend. In the tone let the women come the mother over you and miss trains why , Great Scott , boy , what will you do'when we send yo to the legislature and they git at you for the clerkships and themofllccs , and " Ai aln Losslng , ) looking thoroughly an noyed , but loyal even In this stress , Inter fered to rescue Tortimy nnd to again pro pose the offering ot the head of the police on a charger tothe. . ' powerful Paulsen. Tommy went "hulne ; red with chagrin. But ho Is glad to this day that he swal lowed hla feelings and bore his father's re- proachej In silence. The old man was broken-hearted at the prospect of losing the ofllce , and the moro that Wade made a handle of Tommy's not coming on time and tales not fitted for Tommy's mother's ears were bandied about among the enemy. Paulsen had been seen. Paulsen had been offered the disposal of office. And Paulsen had declined to commit himself. "I'm lookIng - Ing round for der best man , " said Paulsen. Which was discouraging. Tommy had not reproached his mother. In fact , ho hod been more than ordinarily kind and gentle to her , for the poor soul \vas In such deep tribulation that to be cruel to her would have required a heart of stone. Patrlckt the sorely wronged and disappointed Patrick , himself did not go beyond an elo quent dumbness at meals , And Tommy , In pity , nto so much to show that he appreciated the special dainties prepared for his consolation that he was like to add the discomforts ot dyspepsia to his mental griefs. Tlo morning ot the primaries , absorbed as both men wero. they nevertheless per ceived that Mrs. Fitzmaurlco was agitated beyond all control. Bho sweetenoJ Tommy's coffee twice , which did not matter , for Tommy gulped It down , unheeding ; but she omitted to sweeten Patrick's cup at all , which was quite another thing. Yet as ho raised his eyebrows preparatory to the Just rebuke , the look on her face made him sud denly give her the kindest smile In days. "I declare , you'ro worriting yerself sick , Ellen ! " saU ho ; "come what may It ain't a killing matter for Tommy ; If they down us this time , we'll down them next , " "Of course , mother , " said Tommy , nnd he went over and kissed her. Ho did not pay any special attention to her broken mur mur of meaning' ' It for the best , and she never meant to hurt him ; ho said , "That's all right , mother , you'ro the best .mother In the world ! " nnd kissed her again , and so left I T comforted. "Weil , I'm glad yo ain't taking It out on the wlmmln " said Patrick " ' , ; "I ain't nxed yo anny questions about what I heard from McGlnnls , hut If it'fl- " "It's nothing I'd be ashamed to tell you or mother , " Tommy burst out , ' "and I will tell you now If you like " "Yo needn't I believe " ' ; you , Ea'd Patrick ; "and I eay ag'In , this day ain't no killing matter. But what's Paulien got there ? " Paulsen was haranguing a crowd. ' 'A young man ! Well , what's the matter of n young man ? I found oudt all about Thomas Fltzmaurlce. I said a wait till I find oudt ; now. read that baper nnd you sect what kind cf n man ho vasl" Tommy could miu paper fluttering from hand to hand. A trutty henchman was In stantly dispatched for the paper which Pat- I'ck awaited In a ttouy calm. At Intervals ho patted Tommyi on the back , "Don't yoi mind .what they say , " he re peated over and ovor. "I ain't going to bo worried ; don't you .be ! And we'll pay 'em up ! " The messenger erelurned , grinning. Ho landed the paperoto Patrick , and over his ather'u shoulders , .ffommy read , In bold hcadlV.es , the grateful offering of the re- ) rter that his mbtiier iliad warmed : "Tho Ion. Thomas Flttmaurlco of Iowa , liar a leart , But He JtiiNo Pool , Either. How ho Dealer OuUjidiUie Aged Widow and the Ion. Thomao Buncoed the1 Dealer and Ue- 'torcd ' a Cherished'-.Treasure. ' A Pathetic lappenlng In Iteal Life. " And there , bo- loath , was the story-of ) Tommy's humanity. t was fluttering .alU around the field , Tommy grew -1073 red and lo-kol wildly about him , It wasiat this Instant that he beheld Harry and McQInnls beaming. "It'n nil rlRhtl Pfluhtn'a all right ! " MJ Harry. "Hut that confounded paper" ( thim Is th mercies of the prcre flighted ! ) do you- Harry , you don't suppose I" "My dear boy , calm yourself , the pap wai sent to your mother ; and she sent It t mo nnd to Paulson , of ccttrso ; e > ho wn tickled with It , I suppose , or she though It would do good. U did. It hit Paulse Jupt right. I fancy , old man , you'll ow your election to your mother. " Tommy was standing , \cry thoughtfu "Moro than you think , maybe , " said he. OCTAVB THANHT. A FA It MI IH'.S HAIMIOAD. The I'rnphct of 11 Now Km of Unit ronil llnllilliiK. In the village of Drayton , on the Nort Dakota sldo of the lied .river of the nortl lives n remarkable character known through out that region as Farmer Hliies. He Is re gardcd by his neighbors , says the Chlcog Times-Herald , as the prophet ot n new era I railroad building and operating , when road will be built to primary markets by the pro ducsrs In the country tiey traverse , capital Ized for llulr actual cost , and operated wit : the closest possible economy. Farmer lllne has been preaching his faith at country schoc house meetings throughout the Lower Ito Ulvcr valley for two or three ycaro past , am last summer he began putting his thcorlo Into practice. By Ills talks and by the dls trlhutlon of circulars he succeeded In enlist Ing so large a body of adherents that li commenced to build a railroad without mone ; and without .credit and actually finished fort ; miles of grade before the frost came. Farmer Hints studied the- map careful ! ; end found that the grain from any centra point In the Lower Hed Ulvcr valley sa ; Oration Is hauled -112 miles over the Grca Northern line to reach the primary marke at Duluth , whereas , a direct line from Graf ton to Duluth would bo only 281 miles long saving 131 miles. The Great Northern hai four lines In that part of the valley , run nlng north and south and converging In ; main line , which goes away off to the soutl as far as St. Cloud , Minn. , before It strike : out direct for the head of Lake Superior The Northern Pacific has only one line li that part of the valley. This parallelo tlu Great Northern roads and gives a gralt route to Duluth about eltlity miles shortei from competing points than the Great North ern's average haul. Farmer nines' rallroat runs across the valley east and west , and Is to go through the wood region of northern Minnesota to a connection with tha Dulutli and Winnipeg road , already running for n distance of about 125 miles weot of Dulutli , nines calls hla road the Farmers' rail road , and. thuo far all the work on It has been done by North Dakota and Minnesota farmers. His financiering methods art unique.Ho has now ab tit 200 men at work In the northern Minnesota woods cutting trees and clearing the right ot way. Kach man gets his necessary provisions , $18 n month In the stock of the company , and $2 a month In money barely enough cash tc buy bio tobacco and pay for an occasl'nal glass of beer. The men are enthusiastic converts to the Hlnes' theory of railway construction. Hlnes IB a sturdy , nervous , Indo'atlgablc sort of n man , only 34 years old. The mer chants of Duluth recently made up a car load of provlsl us and shipped them out to his camps south of lied lake. A few thou sand dollars In money has also been sub scribed to aid bis enterprise. Hlnes told the Dulutlipeople lately that he will have 100 miles of road graded and furnished with ties ready for the rails by the end of next sum mer. \ - it Judicial DrolNlonx. In Virginia a certain contract under which lambs were shipped provided that the com pany should not bo liable for Injury to the stock until they were "loaded Into the car and the car door fastened by the conductor. " The supreme court rules that this did not exempt the carrier from injury caused by its negligence In allowing the lambs to drink salt water before they got on the cars. In Texas It IE held that the fact that plaintiff's .contract with defendant called for tlilrty-four-foot cars , and that defendant rep resented 'the cars supplied to be that size , will not justify plaintiff In leading the num ber of cattle usually carried In thlrty-four- foot cars after he discovered It could not properly be done. In Ne Y York a carrier contracting with the agent of the owner of goods for their transportation Is not affected by a limitation of the agent's authority to agree on the terms of transposition. In the federal court It Is ruled that the same degree of care Is required of carriers In handling and transporting explosives and combustible oils as Is exercised by mer chants pnd. Insurers In dealing with such articles. In Missouri it Is held that bills of lading constitute , the only evidence of the final contract between the parties. In the federal court it Is decided that a railroad on whore tracks a collision has oc curred between a train and a number of tank cars containing petroleum , some rf which have been broken , and the oil tot en fire by the collision , nnd which neglects for two hours to remove the other cars of oil , In consequence of which some of them are set on fire by the burning oil nnd ex plode , Is liable to one who Is Injured by such explosion. In Iowa It Is laid down that since the common law , as such. Is n < j part of the na tional Jurisprudence , and since the exclubho right to regulate commerce Is vested In con gress , overcharges for freight on an Intei- Htato shipments , Involving unjust discrimina tion made prior to the Interstate commerca act , cannot be recovered. In Texas a railroad Is liable for the over flow of land caused by Its negligent construc tion of an embankment to protect a bridge without sufficient waterways ) therein to al low the overflow ot a river to pass on * In Its proper and usual course. llt-lllK-IllK' COHt Of A rather surprising feature of railway management was brought out during a rece-nt diEcuralon before the New York Railroad club as to whether It Is good policy for a railway company to manufacture to any con siderable extent articles for repairs that can be purchased In the open market. Mr. H. II. Vrocland , president of the Metropolitan Trac tion company of N6w York City , said he found It a fairly common experience that electric railway companies had begun the manufacture of various parts In order to force down prices. Five years ago one com pany paid $3,50 each for troll&y wheels ; now It makes them Itself for 75 cents , and the manufacturcro' price hao gone down to C5 cents. The motor equipment for a car cost $2SOO four years ago , but he recently placed an order at $675 , and competition and spe cialization have gone so far that the com pany does not flnd It profitable to manu facture repair parts , Mr. Coleman of the Lehlgh Valley railroad said that his com pany found It preferable to buy material In the market as a rule , but there were a few specialties which were still manufactured , It made about 45 per cent ot Its car bolts From eld bolts and rods , and tavt'd a large percentage of the cost of now material In this way. It buys its brass castings , bearIngs - Ings and engine castings , but Is making gray ron castings cheaper than any manufacturer las yvt offered to furnish them , Mr , Mitchell > { the Urlo road was of the- opinion that alhvuy companies were giving up inanufao- urlng became their shop tools wore , becom- ng antiquated. While an old engine frame letting machine will slot one pair of frames , .ho Baldwin Locomotive works bavo a ma- ihlna tint will t'lot ' four pairs. A Daniels > laner In a railroad car shop pianos ono sldo if a timber at the rate cf 4 feet n minute , iut mcdern plaiiers owned by the cir-build- n y companies will plane four sides at ulxty eet a minute. Itallroads cannot cffcrd to iut In new tools every ten years to kcp up vltli the tlincu , as can the regular manu- acturers. Mr , Park of the Wejtlnghouso Vlr-Brake company said the special machln- ry enabled msnufacturers to turn i/ut most ; cods much more cheaply than HID railroad lompanlex , and piled as an Instance of this ho fact ( hat the standard broke gear li told oday fcr about one-third of the cost of pro- iuctlon In railway obops , as estimated by uaster car builders. Train Pluffircil irllli n Mateli. Martin Troy Is an old railroad man , and vas down at the East Brtotol bridge- watching he men at work , relates tlis Hartford 'ourant. When the 4:43 train from Bristol : amo aloug the bridge was noticeably weak , 'he train stopped before entirely crossing the irldge , and 111 ? panengert got out and wtlked cross. At that time Uie bridge sank about wo feet , ( he weight of too train so Jarring It AT THE CREICHTON THEATER .TONIGHT * ' , YOU CAN HAVE 1 AN EVENING WITH 1 CAPTAIN JACK. The Famous Scout Captain Jack Crawford Omaha an Evenings Entertainment.\ \ OMAHA , March 9 , 189B. Captain Jack Craw-ford : This city has > een the homo of Henry M. Stanley and Generals Ord , Crook and others of fame in rentier history have lived with ur , but of all the brave and true men who have helped o carve an empire from the wilderness. It has been said , and it Is probably true , that no one ever lived In Omaha who fco uni versally won the hearts of our people as yourself. You are our Ideal scout. Wo remember the protection your rangers vero to the Black Hllto and how grandly you cd the scouts In the terrible Custcr caiu- alcn. Wo recall your long career , filled with plcudld achievements , and especially the efeats and annihilation or capture of hos- Ilo bands In Colorado , New Mexico and Arizona. But "psaco hath her victories , " and with he pen you have achieved greater conqussts dan you have gained on southern battle elds or In frontier fights. Your poetry Is western. It Is your own. No one will ever steal your lines or charge ou with stcalliiB thelr's. The mines , the ranches , the forts , the lalns , the mountains and the men and vomen of the west are painted by a master's land In your dialect pieces of poetry and rose. As a correspondent forTho Bee , you made [ ties hundreds of miles from the nearest allway and brought to the Black Hills the nen who honeycombed the mountains and re now securing millions In gold as a return. You risked your life to get news to your aper and made the moL-t hazardous rde ! > n record , ono that will llvo In story while 10 Sioux campaign has a place In history. At your entertainments , w-e have listened , opt , laughe'd , 'scfcpj a , ar $ wondered how- no man could captury thousands and do It o simply and yetsoperfectly. , Your rapidity of action , your voice , your magnetism , your stories , songs and uproar ious fun , combined 'with the dress , manners , style and physique of a chief of scouts , con stitutes that which pleases all , and thu fact that your life , your songs and your stories are full of true nobility and teach great lessons , causes every ono of us to honor your name. r- Wo ask that you. will , do us tlio favor to select a night when vo may , In our chief place of entertainment ( the Crelghton the ater ) , enjoy an evening with you. We note that London , New York , Brooklyn , Philadelphia , San Francisco and our state cap ital ( Lincoln ) have been repeatedly favored , much to their delight and greatly to your profit , but wo want you to know that you nro "not without honor" In your old homo , and that there Is a western welcome awaiting you hero. Very sincerely your friends , 13. UOSEWATBR , THOMAS L. KIMBALL , CHAHLKS P. MANDEUSON , A. HOSPE. JIl. , ORCHESTRA CHAIRS that oil the. wooden piling under It was car ried away , Troy then went down under the bridge. When he saw that the piling had been carried away and the bridge had mink he hurried up the bank to flag the 4:20 : train from Hartford , which would arrive at this point about 5 p. m. H had grown quite dark by this time and Troy had no lantern. But an the train came along he took matchi * from his pocket and lit them for a danger signal , and stopped the train Just as the engine was about to go on the bridge. His telf-possetolon nnd presence of mind undoubtedly saved the pasiunger train and the lives ot those on board. When the gang of workmen came along they tried to Induce Troy to go to work with them on the bridge , but he refused lo do eo , claiming that the bridge was Illct-ly to go at uny minute' . Troy was on the cast end of the bridge watching the work M < K was proceeding In spite of the w.irnlii'gjojl * felt lrie IIm trem- ) le of the bridge und ! thoutcd : "Boys , Icok out , shu's going1 ! Bbt his warning came too late. Before they could leave the bridge the collapse came. rhni * Molnllli ! Tien. Metallic railway ties to the number of about 800 , which were laid on the New York Central road at Garrisons In 1889 , have given such satisfaction and required so little : are to be maintained In good condition : bat others ot much the tame type arc now being used on a part of the tracks of this road In New York City , At this place about iOO trains a day ore moved over four tracks , j ; tirc-o-fourllis of them during the daylight I lours , pd It ii corTespopaiagly dlfllMilt to ] JAME3 I. WOODWARD , EUCLID MAHTIN , W. W. MAIISH , C. II. FREDERICK , H. M. STONE. M. D. . GEORGE B. TZSCHUCIC , LAFAYETTE ANDERSON , . ' T. S. CLARKSON. JAMES CREIOHTON , 0. B. RUSTIN , FRANK W. ODER , JOHN L. WEBSTER , N. P. FEIL , i JOHN H. PIERCEand and others. ON THE TRAIL. March 11 , 1896. Messrs. E. Roeewater. Thomas L. Klrntmlt , Charles F. Manderron , A. Hospe , Jr. , James I. Woodward , Euclid Martin ; W. W. Marsh , C. H. Frederick , R. Ml1 Stone , M. D. , George B , Tzscuuck , Lafayette Anderson , T. S. Clarkson , James Crelghton. C. B. Rustln , Frank W. Ober , John Li Webster , N. P. Fell , John II. Pierce , ana others : Replying to your favor of March 9 , let ma say , flret , I thank you. It Is Indeed gratify ing that after twenty years since I wag a , citizen of Omaha , In my conduct and cnarj acter as a soldier , scout , rancher , miner , and ) frontiersman , and more recently as a publlo entertainer , I have been enabled to retain the friendship and favor of such friends. "Ten thousand , thousand thanks and mor I send with heart nnd BOU ! aglow , For kindly words from Memory's store | That makes my peepers overflow. Ten thousand thanks , my friends , to yo * Because In this I recognize The fact that boy or man , If true. Will some day win a worthy prize. * What bolter prize than honest friend. Secured nnd held for twenty years , Mid toll and strife , where shadows blend . With faith and hope , with smiles and tennf And so you bid me come. Queen Omaha , 'nil others far above. ' If I was deaf and dumb . I'd hear and answer , Yes , my love. " ' Faithfully yours In clouds or sunshine , J. W. CRAWFORD. ) ( Captain Jack ) , "P. S. I have Instructed my agent at Chicago to arrange a date with my old friend , Colonel Pierce , who will notify you In due time. J. W. C. " CREIGHTON THUATER , I OMAHA. March 13 , 1898. ' Colonel J. 'H. Pierce , Dear Sir : In com * mon with every citizen of Omaha the mana gers of this theater tire anxious to glva Captain J , W , Crawford a grand receptions by a crowded houso. . Wo know his ability to cntcrta'u and It If second to none. We know his history as a soldier and it scout , and It if grand , We admire his genius as a poet and corre * sprndent. . Our theater Is yours for Saturday nlehu March 21. W. J. BURGESS , For PAXTON & BURGKBS , , / Lessees and .Managers. , 500 , BALCONY , 250. keep the roadbeds In good condition and make the necessary repairs. The ties are Htampcd from quarter-Inch soft eteel plates , and incabiiro 7 feet 10 Inches In length by , about 10 Inches In width. Kach ono la au Inverted trough , so curved that all parttf except those on which the ra Is rest ar.fr covered and held by the Imllawt. The weight ! of each of the ties Is about 100 pounds , and ! Its cost Is $2.50. They would have beeu laid foverul years ago were It not for the fact that a system of block signaling Is used oft this line , In which an electric current passe * through the tails , requiring them to be In sulated from the ties. AH th's tystom ol signaling Is also employed nn some new vla- duc-U where the lalls uro to ua attached to metal floors , It became absolutely necessary ) lo devlto some means of Insulation , Accord * Ingly , ono ot the company's engineers , F. W. Wilton , worked out a method , which con- ilH In placing pieces of Insulating flben between the rail and all nietall c surfaces on which It rests or by which It Is held , The fiber Is from an eighth to a quarter of nn. Inch thick , and Is expected to prevent th leakage of the current from the rail to tha ( las or floor sufficiently to allow the signals to opcrato properly. An evident objection , to the plan Is the fact that the Insulation will be broken whenever much water collictn around the fastenings , but the Importance of this defect , If It be one , can bi determined by experience alone , It's Juit as easy to try One Mlnuto Cough ) Cure as anything else. It's easier to euro a severe cough or cold with It , Let your next purchase for a cough bo One Minute Cougb Cure. Better uicdlcluu ; better result : Lat ter try It , * .