The Ordway new era., 1915-02-12

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went to the Philippines. and got stuck
there and had to sell books to get
home. He had a little money. enough
for grub-stake." he said. and all his
folks were dead. Then a college friend
OF his wrote rural play called Sweet
Peas'-"Great title. don't you Think
he asked--and he put up all the money.
1t would have been a hit, he said, but
] the kid in the play-the one that
unites its parents in the last act just
before he dies OF tuberculosis-the kid
took the mumps and looked as II. in
stead OF fading away. he was going
to blow up. Everybody was SO afraid
of him that they let him die alone for
three nights in the middle OF the
stage. Then the leading woman took
the mumps. and the sheriff took ev-
erything else.
Well. Of course. the thing failed.
and he lost every dollar he'd put into
1t. which was. all he had. including
what he had in his pockets.
They seized my trunks" he ex-
planned. "and sold my 'fur-lined over
cont for eight dollars. which took one
Of the girls back home. It's hard for
the women. A fellow can always get
some sort OF job-1 was coming up
here to see II they needed an extra
clerk or q waiter. or chauffeur. or any
thing that meant a roof and something
to eat-but suppose they don't need
a jack-of.all.trades." ~
mo-" answered. "but I'll tell you
what l think they're going to need.
And that's an owner!"
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I'm not making excuses. ! did 1t for
the best. II Mr.. Thoburn had not been
there. sitting by to see the old sana-
torium die SO 1t could sprout wings
and fly as summer hotel, I'd never
have thought OF 1t. But l was in de-
spair
| / got up and opened the door. but
| the snow came In in cloud. and the
path was half foot deep again.
But the angel of providence ap-
peared in the shape of Mike, the bath
man. coming down through the snow
In tearing rage. The instant saw
Mike knew 1t was settled.
''Am or am not to give Mr..
Moody a needle shower" he shouted.
almost beside himself. And ! saw he
had his overcoat over his bath coz
tune, which is Turkish towel.
| "A needle shower followed by salt
rub" said ]. Hes been having them
for eleven years. What's the matter?'
That fool Of a young DOCTOR
shouted Mike. "he told him before he
left that II he'd been taking them for
eleven years and wasn't any better 1t
was time to stop. Amt business bad
enough-only four people in the house
takin' baths regular-without his but
tin iu!''
where's Mr.. Moody?"
IN the bath. I've locked up his
clothes"
"You give him needle shower and
salt rub." l ordered. .and II he
makes fuss just send for me. And
Mike" said. as he started out. "ask
Mr. Van Alstyne to come out here i'm
mediately.'
run, and when he saw Mr.. Pierce by
the fre-that was his name. Alar
Pierce-he stopped and stared. Their
he said:
"You Internal young scamp" And
with that Mr.. Pierce jumped up. sur
prised and pretty mad. and Mr.. Var
Alstyne saw his mistake.
I'm sure ! beg your pardon!" he
said. THE fact Is, was expecting
somebody else. and in the firelight-'
"You surprised me. that's ALL" sait
Mr.. Pierce. Under the circumstances
i'm glad I'm not the other chap"
You may be-" assured Mr.. San
grimly. You're not unlike him. BY
the way. A little taller and heavier
but" H ~ s
Now it's all very we'll for Mr.. San
to say ! originated the idea and al
that, but as truly as am writing this
as watched his face saw the same
thought come into 1t. He looked Mr.
Pierce up and down. and then HI
stared into the fire and puckered hil
mouth to whistle. but he didn't. AND
finally he glanced at me. but l wa,
looking at the fire, too.
Mr.. Sam got up and began to wall
the floor his hands In his pockets
He tried to get my eye. but still
looked in the fire.
| "All traffics held up. Minnie" ht
said THE eight o'clock train II
stalled beyond the junction. In drift
/ I've wired the conductor. and Carter
. isn't on it,"
.'well?" said /.
IF we could only ge. past to-day,
| Mr.. Sam went on; "if Thoburn woult
! only choke to death, Off there wa,
! somebody around who looked like
Dick. dare say. by tomorrow" He
looked at Mr.. Pierce, who smiled ant
, looked at him. @
"And resemble Dick!" said Nr
Pierce. We'll. II he's a moral ant
upright young man"
"He isn't!" Mr.. Sam broke in saw
agely. And then and there he Sa
down and told Mr.. Pierce the trouble
| L L eul.-- ~c.x