the cou;.t.
11
MY NEPHEW, WILLIE TANNER.
Uort Tnnnor stood on tho bill among
tho group of men who had gathernd
about tbo one store of the fishing settle
mont. It was early spring on the Maine
coast, and tho ice was still Id the Reach,
Tbo group wore watching tho movements
of a coot-hunter on an island a mile from
tbo mainland. There was a look of un
easiness on Bert's faco aa he watched tho
figure crawling among tho rocks, and ho
occasionally co.6t furtive glances at tho
faces of the others, as though expecting
them to hear something that he could
not, for Bert was quite deaf.
Bert was said to be only "half-bright"
by the natives. He was a silent fellow
who never in any way showed resent
ment at the rude practical jokes played
upon him or the broad jests made at his
expense. He refused to fish or to lob
ster, but spent his time prowling over
the islands after coot, wild duck, and
other sea-birds that came in. On tbe
rare occasions when he spoke it was
either of his shot-gun or "my nephew,
Willi Tanner," as he proudly called him .
"What seems to be ailin' on you,
Bert?" someone Bhouted in Bert's ear,
noting his restlessness. Bert only look
ed foolish and shook biB bead. A tharp
explanation broke from one of the men.
Bert heard it, and a look of fear camo
into bis vacant blue eyes as he stared
into their faces. A cracking sound of
several seconds' duration was heard.
This was followed by shorter, sharper
sounds. The broad expanse of glitter
ing ice between the island and the main
land began to move slowly, ripping and
tearing itself loose from the Bhore with a
noise like a succession of pistol-shots.
Tbe hunter on the island had grasped
the situation as quickly as tbe group on
the hill. The watchers saw him, gun in
hand, bound over tbe rocks to the shore.
They saw him hesitate, and then jump
from the shore upon a cake of ice that
was drifting slowly by. The men
watched breathlessly. There was a silly
grin of terror on Bert's face. The hunter
jumped from cake to cake, drifting a lit
tle, then gatheriug himself for another
leap when the opportuLity came.
"Bf be slips off one o them chunks
he's done for," said one of the group.
Slowly the hunter was making bis
perilous way to the main sheet of ice; a
leap or two more and he would reach it,
The maBB was moving swifter, for the
wind had freshened from the west, driv
ing it out to sea.' The hunter had been
drifting upon one cake for a minute or
bo, watching his chance to get on tbe
main ice. They saw the gap widen in
stead of close. . The hunter threw bis
gun ahead of him, where it fell upon tbe
main ice; then they saw him remove his
coat and throw it after the guo.- They
watched him gather himself together
for a mighty leap, and their hearts stood
still. He ros3 in the air and apparently
landed upon tbe ice in safety. A ring
ing shout went up from tbe lusty lungs
of the fishermen. It was followed by a
shrill cry of despair from over the ice.
A chunk of the main ice had broken a
way and tbe hunter had fallen through
the Assure, disappearing in the black
water beneath.
Bert gave a frenzied cry like that of
an animal in pain. "It's my nephew,
Willie Tanner!" he shrieked.
They ran down the steep hill to the
shore, but Bert outstripped them all.
His thick-Boled, clumsy boots, run over
at both heels and hard from Bait water,
seemed to have wings. At( the watet's
edge tbe others stopped and looked hesi
tatingly in each other's faces. Bert did
not stop. Muttering between his teeth,
"My nephew, Willie Tanner," bis eyes
grown dark with a desperate purpose,
be leaped upon the nearest cake, and
with one high bound after another
reached the broad sheet of Mid ice.
The boy struggling in the water had
managed to get his Sogers over the edge
f tho main ice. Numb with cold and
half unconscious, be clung to tho ico
with the desporation of a drowning
man. The ico wbb pounding and grind
ing about him, threatening oach moment
to crush him and carry him uodor tho
great mass. When Bert had gained bis
footing upon the Bolld ico he ran swiftly
to the dark object clinging to tbo edgo.
Ho pulled him out of the water and tried
to stand him on his feet, but be sank
down in a limp hup. Willio Tannor
was only a half-grown boy, but he was
not a light load at any time; now bo was
a dead weight. Bert seemed to havo
suprrbuman strength given him, for ho
picked Willie up as if bo had boon a
child and ran with him to tbootbor odgo
Tho weather beaten faces of the mon on
the shore blanched as they saw Bert
steady himself for tbe first jump on tbe
moving ice cakes. He fell with bis
burden as he landed, for his old boots
and tbe weight he wa9 carrying made it
almost impossible for him to keep his
footing. The cako tipped and sank
deeper into the water. Tbe process was
repeated, and then, as tbe space between
the cakes grew wider, Bert jumped with
reckless desperation, At last there was
only water between tbe man crouching
with his burden on tho ice and the
shore. Tbe men looking on were help
less, for there waB not a boat within two
miles, They knew Bert could not swim,
and the whole mass was moving so rapidly
out to sea that they had to walk quickly
to keep abreast of the two on the ice.
Bert looked around helplessly; then he
began to pull off his boots. He drew
the unconscious boy to the edge nearest
the shore and let himself down into the
water on the opposite side, clinging to
the edge with hiB fingers. After a few
gasps from the first shock, he began to
tread water. Slowly, incb by inch, the
strange raft with it passenger neared
the shore. Once Bert wbb able to touch
bottom, hands were eagerly stretched
nut to help him, but he did not let go
until tbe cake grated upon tbo beach.
He dropped weakly to his knees at the
water's edge. Some started to lift bira
but he shook them off.
" Tend to my nephew, Willie Tanner,'
be gasped. More than one pair of eyes
filled with'tears as after a moment's rest
the fool i6h hero, wearing his usual fool
ish grin, staggered up the bill towards
home, as though to escape the ridicule
he felt must surely follow his action.
Caroline Lockhart in December Lippin
cotta. TIME IS MONEY.
Wbnuyou are traveling, due con.
Bideration unould -be given to the
amount of time spent in making your
journey.
The Union Pacific is the best line and
makes the fastest time by many hourb
to Salt Lake City, Portland and OH
fornis points.
For time tables, folders, illustrated
books, pamphlets descriptive of the ter
ritory traversed, call at City Office, 1044
O st. E. B. Slosson
Qen. Agent
".!
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' Easily and Hon-
E estly Won by
tbe
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'43 43 s 5 4h M $ 4k 4k 4k 4k 4k 4k 4k 4k JM
t - i iJ ft i t - V l(g
Rotable
Victory . .
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WEBER MAN ?D.
Tho Mnurico Grau Opera Co.. of New York, havo recently
miido arrui goiuents wheroby tho Wkiikk Grand Pianoh will bo
used exclusively by thorn at tbo Metropolitan opora honso in
New York City, and in all their concerts throughout tbe Unktod
StateB. This marked recognition of tho merits of tbo Wkiikk
Piano easily places itabuvo all other pianos in tho most cultured
musical circles.
Tbe general agency for thlB renowned instrument is bold by
Matthews tlano Oo
1120 0 atreet,
Linooln, Nebr,
-4 Mt - -4 4 - -
JWWWWWWWwWWWWWWW
0MMMMMMMMMMIM UMIMMMMMI
Five Dollars for Three
Dollars.
THE COURIER $I.OO
1ie Conservative lSO
Oxford. Bitle, ox Webster's Una
toriclfEecl IitioM.i?y 2.SO
Total $S.OO
Oliatotoixifg Price, $3.00.
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I ?. M- Seite.
I (mem i .hsk. r FEfteRira:
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1 107 O Street, Telephone 626.
tt.,
$25.00 923.00
The Union Pacific has made tbe Great
ly Reduced Rate of $25.00 to Portland
and other Puget Sound points, also to
Helena and Montana points, Salt Lake
City and Utah points.
For tickets and full information call
E. B. Slosson,
Wanted Several persona for district
office managers in this state to represent
me in their own aud surrounding coun
ties. Willing to pay yearly $600, pay
able weekly. Desirable employment
with unusual opportunities. References
exchanged. Enclose self -addressed
stamped envelope. S. A. Park, 320
Caxton Building, Chicago.
There ii a little coolness between
Jack and Anna, isn't there?
Yes, his cousin Hortense from Boston.
RIPE ORANGES,
GREEN ORANGES,
ORANGE BLOSSOMS.
All on the same trees now at Los Angeles. A more
pleasant change you could not make than to take a
California trip now. Before arranging your trip see
our new wide vestibuled tourist cars ana call at our
office for descriptive matter.
City Ticket Office
Cor. 10 and O sts
Telephone 235
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Burlington Depot.
7th bet. P. & Q.
t Telephone 25.
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