Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, September 17, 1904, PART 1, Page 6, Image 6
TIIE OMAIIA DAItT TlEE: SATURDAY. SEPTEMBER 17. IPO. 3E MARCO'S VIOLIN BV ALEC BRUCE (Copyright, 1W4. by Alice Bruce.) ' Flip! The crimson s'-allnpnil (lups of the performers' entrance parted 8u1'1enly and Oeronlroo stepped out Into th- night. "Black, black as pitch," he muttered, and at the swift change from ring frlnre to Inky darkness his tired eyes blinked as he swept the darker silhouettes,' the sun-blistered menagerie cars standing gaunt and silent on a sidetrack. Tap-tlp-tspplty-tlp! A heavy rain had Just ceased falling; and In the blaze of light under the high, covered archway big, sparkling drops glistened on the fly's edge, tattoed the taut-stretched roof of the mam moth tent and splashed Into the trench below. No other sounds' save tho shuffling to the crescent on his quivering chin. He looked the fool he nightly acted. "Ah, but no, but no, Senor Quereno." he was arguing. "Ma'amselle did not send you. You say so, but ma'amselle doea not trust ycu. I know! And Marco? Nov no, you lie! Bah! that spell In your eyes, senor. Keep that for fools!" "Come, come," urged the Spaniard. "We must hurry, Geronlmo." . ' , "Ah, Senor Quereno, Geronlmo," mut tered Callagan hoarsely. "Tou bring me bad news, pad news. Marco, Marco, and bo young, so young! A violinist, Quereno: a trick performer, Geronlmo; a horseman, a gentle lad. I shall never engage hla like Ma'amselle promised she fulfilled. Yah, yah, and there was money, Marco's money. "Lots of mon-ey, vun t'ousand dollars on his person." "On his person? On his person?"- Calla gan'a speaking eyes had framed the ques tion. "Ah, oul, you see you see; he did not trust, an' we Haf traveled much. M'sleur," she answered with a smile. "Bah! an' Senor Quereno. he Is beeslness, he confera with Marco. He not believe In In banks. They fall sometimes?. No, no, very often,' he say. And so, our mon'ey he haf it here, M'sieur." t Suddenly out from the troupe car to the little railed platform stepped 8enor Quer eno, a burnished megapohne at his lips. "Brothers, sisters, members of the troope. Manager Callagan woufh speak with yom 'To the ring, to the ting,' he says. Come one, come all." "My friends, my friends," said the sad-I jtm? ilfi & v ! -II' M pllj IN TONES FULL OP MEANING HE WHISPERED: "ONCE AGAIN I ASIC YOU, IS YOUR OFFER GOOD?" of feet, the buzz of many voices and the muffled strains of the violins within. Mar lino was juggling with the ten golden balls. Standing a moment beneath the dazzling archway, Geronlmo satisfied the longing of Ms lungs. "Me-ah!" again and again he breathed, for the' fragrance of sprouting sage filled the raln-cooled air and the ieat of the ring had been Intense. "But, the fight In the troupe car, sick Marco's light? I cannot Bee it," he mut tered, stepping Into the shadows and shad Ing his eyes wfth his hands. "And and Callagan said there was a light!" From the bunching scarlet and yellow on his bosom he pulled out his watch and glanced at it; then over at the big. green posters flapping Idly on the canvas walls. "Ah, only five minutes till I hold the drum, and I must not keep Ma'amselle waiting. I have never kept her waiting! But Marco, her brother Marco! Ma'amselle Is so anx ious; she will ask and then I cannot tell. Bah, Geronlmo! you have time time and to spare. Go; ask Marco how he fares. He has drawn down the shade, that Is all." Glumly he glanced down at hla shoes, spangled, Immaculate, white. But Geronimo's mind was made up. Where Ma'amselle Marie Sellnl was con cerned It did not take him long to decide. So thrusting his hands deep Into the wide, frilled pockets of his long, yellow panta loons, he drew them up almost to his knees and tip-toed quickly off in the direction of the troupe car. Almost at the platform ho halted sud denly, muttering anathemas on a miniature mud lake shimmering between him and the car. Bah! to think there had not been a spot on his shoes, and now? Splash! A dark figure sprang down from the plat form Into the surface water. Geronlmo felt the spray on his powdered face. "Uh!" . Up went his hands. The leopard-spotted frills of his pantaloons touched mud. His heart ' gave one great bound and like a drumstick thumped against hla chest. "Geronlmo, Geronlmo!" whispered a familiar voice. "Ah, sl Benor Quereno, y-you? It la you," stammered the clown. "And and Marco; what of Marco?" "Dead, d-dead!" gulped the tight wire walker, suppressing the excitement In his voice. "M-Ma'amselle, she she sent me. I found him dead. Come come with me, Geronlmo. We must report to Callagan at once." For a moment Geronlmo stood as one dased. From the crlmsijn star on hjs flake-white cheek, leaving Its colored wake behind, a big, glittering drop rolled down 1 TIrjt Clm Accommodations . to Fastidious People. Turn laatde Ina Caters tm Swelldom mt Wall mm the Great Democracy. The favored few to whom money la no object, but who want the beat of every thing and wish to eajoy the World- Fair under the most advantageous conditions, find their wants admirably catered to by the management of this famous hostelry, Byacloue rooms with bath, well furnished, an ' axoellent cuisine, prompt service and very possible attention can be enjoyed, while the convenience of being right at home after a tiring afternoon In the grounds, dressing for dinner and then re turning to the festivities of the evening without any tiresome Journey, has been ap preciated by every guest. In spite of the enormous number of vis itors who have availed themselves of the comforts and conveniences of the Inside Inn, the big hotel has successfully enter tained all who have applied for Its hospi tality, without overcrowding or discomfort. The rates vary from $140 to $6.60 per day a the European plan, and from 13 to I? 1 oo the American plan. Reservations can be made up to December 1st, aad a postal eard addressed to the Inside Inn, World's Fair Grounds, at, Louis llil bring later ottof detail - again. Faults, Quereno, faults? Have we not all our faults?" The apple at the manager's throat slipped a cog as he spoke. A few quavering notes trilled In his' even patched tones; but no one had even seen a tear in Callagan 'a eyes. "And and, gentlemen," he continued sud denly, "not a hint to Ma'amselle; not a word, remember! She . is in the ring now and she must not know. It's the high Jump through the drum tonight. There must be no heartache, no strain upon her. And the Interlude comical? Why, Geronlmo, you are billed with her. You are due now. Heavens, man, a brave face, a brave face!" Ting, ting, ting. A bell rang In the ring. The orchestra struck up a horse-prancing air and Geronlmo brushed through the cur tains. "Ladles and shentlemen! Shentelmen and ladies! Ta-rum, ta-rum, ta-rah-rah!" He wan stalking round the ring In his Inim itable way, hla long pantaloons drawn up to his ankles, marching time to the music, matphing the long, pawing steps of the Ma'amselle'a steed. "Ha, ha, ha!" ' - Loud roars of laughter, round after round of applause, greeted the droll exhibition and rippled through the Interlude. "Listen to him, listen to him, Quereno," whispered Callagan, peering earnestly through the curtains; "and Ma'amselle, she Is laughing, too. She cannot help It. God bless you, Geronlmo!" In a few minutes came the equestrienne's final ,dashlng act, the high Jump from horseback through the drum, the act of the evening. "Ta-rum, ta-rum, ta-rah-rah! Whoop-lah, whoop-lah!" Crack! Whoop whoop!" Swish! "Ladles and shentlemen, there Is no de ception!" "She's through tho drum, Quereno, through, through, I tell you! Ah, and I must tell her now," groaned Callagan, Btep- plng swiftly back from the eyehole. 'Quereno, Quereno," he whispered. But Senor Quereno was nowhere to be seen. "Hip, hip, hurrah I Hurrah 1 . Hip, hip, hurrah!" Tho crash of applause was loud, long and deafening, and In tho waiting Interval Cal lagan's big heart grew bigger. Bhirr-r-r-r!- The heavy ringed curtains shot along the pole. On either side, of the exit a row of red-coated grooms lined up and a panting, piebald steed darted through. 'Marie, Marie!" whispered Callagan, stretching out his strong, fatherly arms. And lit a moment the fluttering pink form of the circus' darling was In them. Next morning a gloom had fallen on Tim Callagan's roystering troupe. Alike to acro bat, to clown, to the rough horse groom, a still, stiib.11 volca had spoken. Women, their petty Jealousies all forgotten, bunched together like sorrowing sisters. "Ma'am selle, ma'amselle, ah, poor ma'amselle!" Men, dissolute fellows mostly, conversing lq whispers, sauntered aimlessly round the tent. "Marco, poor Marco, yah, yah, Marco was a man!" All eyes were riveted on the troupe car. Sympathy, sorrow, bereavement transfixed them, and Manager Callagan. It was known, had a message to convey. Senor QuWeno and the manager had been closeted together all morning. Ah, and ma'amselle, neither to hold nor to bind, she was going to leave them. In the little churchyard across the seas, a little churchyard, where the channel waves to all eternity wduld sing the requiem, there would Marco Sellnl sleep. Had It been ma'amselle, the great sun scorched desert would have served. But Marco? No, no, brother Marco must go home. "Ma'amselle, ma'amselle," Callagan had protested, "you must not leave us." But Ma'amselle was obdurate. "Marie, Marie, take me home; you will take me home?" with his tired arms fondly enclre ling her, Marco had pleaded. And though not In words, had Madamselle promised, her kiss, htr tender pressure, the love-light In , her eye had been a promise, and when faced Callagan, mounting slowly to the band stand, and facing the eager group below him, "you you have heard that that brother Marco Sellnl has left us; that Ma'amselle also Is Is about to leave us on a long, long,' sad Journey, friends. A Journey that needs money to accomplish. Money? Yes. Ah. and today I do not care to speak of It. But I must. That Is why I have called you here. Our Marco had money, his savings, Ma'amselle's also, In all $1,000, concealed on his person some where. In a locket, Ma'amselle says, and we believe her. But we have searched everywhere, and It Is nowhere to be found. Ah, Ma'amselle Is heartbroken. 'Marco, Marco. Marco nrust go home,' she Insists when I explain. She does not seem to un derstand. 'Home, home, home,' she cries, 'Marco must go home!" There Is no other answer friends. What shall we do? We all Ipve Ma'amselle. We all loved Marco. Shall we help?" "Aye, aye, we must help! We will a!l I help!" Not a single dissenting voice, not a look- Jarred the unanimity In the ring. .."Fifty dollars!" ' volunteered Marlino. j "Hurrah, hurrah!" ."One hundred!" shouted Geronlmo. "Hurrah, hurrah!" For an Instant a tear diamond sparkled In Callagan's eye. Bah! with a smile he brushed It away. "Gentlemen, gentlemen." he cried, "I am progd very' proud. You you are generous! But but Senor Quereno has suggested, perhaps, a a better way. Ma'amselle is so Independent. Ah, friends, you will understand. Not one penny of your hard-earned savings would she have you sacrifice. No, no! So the senor sug gests, and ma'amselle she concurs, that that we auction, such as they are, our Marco's little effects. There are Jewels, a diamond ting, ma'amselle's horse, some little trinkets, his and hers for remem brances. Some of you will value them, his violin, for Instance." 'Remembrances, ah, yah, ynh, Senor Cal lagan," muttered the Spaniard, advancing closer to the speaker and nodding his curly head. Geronimo's eyes followed his every move ment. The money, that money, where was It? But yesternoon to Geronlmo Marco had confided where he kept it. "Only to you, Jerry, only to you," he had said. "I have told no other." Aye, and Geronlmo hod seen it, next the mother's hair; one bill, one great big bill in the little gold locket slung round the sick man's neck, hidden away beside his heart. Did Quereno know? Ah, Quereno's eyes were every where. In the dressing room, perhaps? Yah, yah. In the dressing room, before Marco turned sick, that was where he had seen It! "My friends," continued Callngnn slowly, "with your permission I will start the auc. tlon. For Morkln Bros., the circus owners, at $150, I offer to purchase the horse. Does anyone bid higher?" ' , "No, no; agreed, agreed!" assented Que reno loftily. "Agreed, agreed!" echoed the, troupe. Then, solemnly, item by item, the auction proceeded until $300 had been raised. And, be It known that Benor Quereno purchased pparlngly. At last came the violin, Sellni's sweet toned violin, a' violin that hud made the breasts of wild men heave. "How much?" cried Callagan. "You have heard its Intermezzo, Gentlemen! Ladles! How much?" "Fifty dollars," In a low voice offered Quereno. "Sixty," muttered Geronlmo. "One hundred," whispered the Spaniard. "One hundred and fifty," capped the clown. . , "Two two hundred!" stammered Que reno, surprised. "Three," quavered Geronlmo. "Jerry, Jerry!" warned Marlino. ' But the clown heard nothing. A wild. In sistent suspicion Jlaetied Into his brain. His blood was tingling through his veins and a shell-like murmur drummed In his ears, the murmur of Intense excitement. "Three hundred, sir, three hundred!" he repeated loudly. "If he tops that, then J know, I risk. I challenge. 1 .jfr-yEW I I iJt 111 I I El if Ml 1 1 a 1 Jrt TVMewl . WE- LEAD0THERS TRY TO FOLLOW We are going to distribute among our customers $100,000.00 in Gifts BUY YOUR CLOTHING HERE ON CREDIT ! Open an account, become a Customer and share in this Grand Free Distribution ! CTwcnty years ago we inaugurated the easy payment system of selling Clothing. We were the Pioneers -we were the first to extend to all the convenience of liberal credit. Imitators came into the field and followed our methods, but during all these years we have been the leaders in the Credit Clothing business we have never relinquished oui leadership we are still the leaders. CQur business has been a most successful one we have accumulated , a surplus of $100,000.00. And now what do you suppose we intend to do ? We are going to take this surplus and give it away to our customers 1 Give it away during the coming year in presents to every customer, no matter how small ! d,In order to give this surplus of $100,000.00 away judiciously and without favor to any one, we have adopted a coupon system which is very simple. For every dollar paid on purchases at our Store we give one coupon. These coupons are redeemable in Silverware, Jewelry and other merchandise which is on exhibition at our Store. CRight here we desire to state that every Premium shown is guaranteed to be just as represented. Every article of Silverware is quadruple plate and is guaranteed for ten years. 'The liberal policy of selling at a smaller margin of profit, which begins this season, will serve still further to '; , keep us far in the lead of competition. Now, do you realize what this free distribution means to you? It means that you can buy Stylish, Reliable Clothing, Hats and Shoes on easy Credit terms ; pay no more for them than at a cash Store, and In addition - receive useful gifts that will be a credit to any home. Fall and Winter Clothing, Hats, Shoes FOP MEN, WOMEN, CHILDREN Prices-Easiest Terms J 1 MmuUslUJg()a 1508 DODGE STREET. "Three hundred dollhrs, gentlemen." Bans;, bang, bang! "Three hundred! Going at three hundred," announced the auc tioneer. "Going, going " Senor Quereno's face went white; his lips trembled; nervously he stroked his long, black mustache. Bah! a fool's purse must soon give out. VFour hundred dollars, four hundred, sir!" - "Enough, enough, Mister Callagan," cried the clown. "I cannot offer more. But If he. wants the violin, pny the "violin, at $400, let him have it!". . ' iv '. - . "Ha l)a!" laughed Quereno. .But the laugh- had . i mirthless-. -ring. ' "The the violin and end1 the bow, na ha! That is all I want." ' ' : "Geronimo!" with arching brows, inter rupted Callagan. "What else could the senor want? Explain." ...... For a moment Geronimo seemed to weigh his answer. One moment only, but during that brief space Senor Quereno passed through fire. His whole passionate nature rose In rebellion, fierce and ill-concealed. Curse of all curses on that clown! "Geronimo!" insisted Callagan. "Ah, sir, M-Mister Callagan, sir," mut tered Geronlmo trembling. "Ma'amselle'a money, you say It Is lost. Tou have looked everywhere, everywhere. Did you look In the violin? Shake It, sir, shake It. Look in the sound holes. One bill, one great, big bill, that's what brother Marco had, and ah, y-yes, Marco Marco might have put It there. Why not, why not, sir!" 'Ha ha! Ah ahahah!" from fifty throats the loud murmur of surprise swelled to one long continued roar. "Gentlemen, gentlemen? Ma'amselle Se llnl, hush-sh!" with uplifted hands warned Callagan. "Hush-sh-sh!" ' A tattered old program fluttered and whirled from the gallery to the ring. Everyone heard It. Suddenly, to his ear the manager raised the Instrument high and shook It. "My friends," he cried, "there is something In It! A bill, a bill, Marco Sellni's bill. Aha, thank God, thank God! Geronlmo, it Is found!" And In his glance, directed squarely at .the Spaniard, a new-born suspicion lurked. .''Ah, Senor Quereno, Senor Que reno." in tones full of meaning he whisp ered, "once again I ask you. Is your offer good? Four hundred dollars for the vlo'.ln only the violin and the bow?" All eyes turned rudely on the tlghtwire walker. The Infection of suspicion had spread to every member of the troupe. "Yah, yah, I I will buy will offer t-that sum," stammered Quereno crimsoning. "But but, Senor Callagan, ah, and do you not think so, too, that this discovery might influence Ma'umselle? Er the the violin, now, she' may desire to to keep? A re membrance, senor, a a remembrance?" . "Hem! Possibly, senor, possibly," said Callagan, descending slowly from the stand. "But I will see. I will explain to Ma'am selle. One moment, please!" In a few minutes he returned. "No, senor, no. Ma'amselle desires to sell. 'How kind you are,' she says, 'to offer so much money.' My friends, three cheers, three cheers for Senor Quereno. Come! Hip, hip" And "Hurrah, hurrah, hurrah!" to a man jerred Tim Callagan's angry troupe. COAL EXCHANGED FOR WATER Striking Illustration of the Value of Water In the Arid Districts. The farmers -whose lands are watered by the Larimer county (Colorado), ditch find themselves in a peculiar dilemma. They have 250,000.000 cubic feet of water- stored In six reservoirs, but all of these reser voirs are situated lower than the ditch, and the water Is, therefore, unavallab'e for use directly on their farms. In years past this awkward situation has been easily met by the well known exchange system, whereby the lower ditches used water from the Water Supply and Storage company's reservoirs, while that company took in exchange the high, water In the river to which the lower ditches were en titled by prior appropriation.! But the water is now so low In the river that these lower ditches ' are not en titled to any water, and therefore. It Is Impossible for the Water Supply and Stor age company to effect an exchange. Such was the situation last week. Of course, there waa no immediate peril, because the company has a'.ways Chambers) lake to fall back on; but Chambers lake Is the last resource and must be husbanded as long as possible to be used for the last Irrigation.' - B. F. Hottel has an early priority ; on forty cubio feet of water per second, which he uses as power to operate Ms mill. After he haa used It, it goes to thte lower ditches for irrigation. The schema now in operation by the Water Supply and Storage company is: Instead of allowing forty cublo feet of water per second to run past the head gate of the Larimer county ditch, to be used by the flour mill, this water Is taken Into the ditch above Bellvuo to be used for Irrigation . Then to compensate Mr. Hottel for als loss of power the Water Supply and Storage people supply him at their own expense with enough coal to run his mill by steam Instead of water. But the lower ditches which are entitled to the water which passes through Hot. tol's mill are thus deprived of their water. And to compensate the lower ditches for this the Water Supply and Storage com pany is obliged to turn into the river from Its low reservoirs an amount of water equal to that taken out. Thus they are obliged to pay for the water In coal and besides that to return Its exact equivalent. For the privilege of exchanging low water for high water the company pays for enough coal to run a flour mill. It Is & striking comment on the value of water. The coal required to operate the mill wil! cost the Water Supply and Storage com pany about tS a day. Fort Collins Express. Denver Hearing: Continues. DENViL'K. 8i-Dt. 16. Interstate Commerce r-CommlH8loner Prouty today continued hla Investigation or the complaints or cattle shippers regarding high rates and poor service on the railroads. Little new de veloped, the witnesses going over the same ground traversed the past two days. The railroad officials try to Justify the advanced rafos by showing that the transportation of cattle involved a peculiar risk nnd made heavy' demands on railroad service and equipment. The Story , of the Presidency '1 - 1 Alfred Henry Lewis and ) A New Story by Rudyard Kipling in the October Metropolitan "A 35-cent Magazine for 15 cents (jrrif, eo Arthur HiwiU No to on Sale at All Netosdealers ' R. fi, RUSSELL, PUBLISHER. : : NEW YORK (84) ""Ml