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 , * .
