Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-07-30
THIRD EPISODE.
The Upper Ten Thousand.
CHAPTER v.
Some Sharp Contrasts.

in the world, John, tenth marquis OF
Castleton, had been singularly TN
successful. He did not know, OF
course, how i'll equipped he was for
4 self-imposed task. A man who had
passed the first thirty years Of his life
in an atmosphere Of poverty and hard
work should have cndeavored to ac-
custom himself to conditions OF
wealth and power before attempting
TO solve social problems which have
puzzled and distressed the thinkers
of many generations.
! Light seemed to have come, how
ever, one evening when the devotion
to duty displayed BY an old and
crippled man saved the young mar
quis and his chauffeur from instant
and certain death.
John heard that Rev. Thomas
Branton had rented a house in the
neighborhood, and as the evangelist's
influence was mainly responsible fot
his attitude toward life in general, he
set out to call on him at the first
opportunity that offered. He was
particularly anxious to have chat
With the preacher because Of an article
which had appeared in the local news
paper that morning. Some pryinE
journalist had unearthcd the riarquis'
record. A sensational writeup on the
first page was headed:
YOUNG AMERICAN. .INHERITS
BRITISH TITLE AND MILLIONS
JOHN BURTON BECOMES s8
TENTH MARQUIS OF CASTLE.
TON.
The newspaper scribe lost no time
IN reaching the heart Of his subject.
Through series Of arrange happen
ings John Burton, now Of ITO Argyll
street. this city, has become" and
so on, through whole column 81
veritable romance founded on fact.
Burton felt that this revelation
might affect his quebt profoundly.
Forl once his somewhat headstrong
and decidedly impulsive temperament
crayed advice and sympathy. Branton
was Just the man for the moment. Al
soon - John learned by telephone
that the minister was at home, he
ordered his car and told the chauffeur
to beat it. across the city, Chauf-
feurs controlling high-power ma.
chimes seldom require encourage.
incnt from their employers when
speed Is desirable. This driver, In
particular, though highly expert and
cool-headed, was inclined to take
risks, trusting to his skill and nerve
in extricating himself therefrom
Thus, though the night was rather
dark and the road new to him, he as.
surned that there was no obstacle be.
yond : sharp bend in the street re-
vealed by the glaring headlights,
He did not know that the c. o. 3
r. railway had a most dangerous
grade crossing near the center Of the
bend. II was completely hidden from
sight and was protected only BY al
old fashioned gate, hand operated BY
an elderly man who lived in cot,
tage alongside the line. 1t was the
custodiar's habit to wind down the
gate when warned OF approaching
trains and then unroll red flag with
which he hobbled to the more acute
section OF the turn.
That, night the old man was NOV,
ing more slowly than usual; never,
theless he detected the hum Of the
approaching automobile and tried L
quicken his pace. He hardly rcalized
perhaps, that tenth part Of secont
meant all the difference between dis.
aster and safety not only for himself
but for the occupants of the oncom
ing vehicle.
Be that as it may, the old fellow,
sense Of duty. II slow in operation
was rigid as rock. When the cal
came in sight 1t was much nearer
than he anticipated, but he waved hi,
flag and stood his ground right vail
antly in the cetner Of the roadway
though the staring eyes Of the auto
mobile must have likened 1t to
vertiablc dragon from whose roarinf
menace there was no escape. Tn,
chauffeur jarnmed on both foot ant
hand brakes and succeeded in stop
ping the car short Of the barrier, BIZ
not before its fearless guardian ha,
been knocked down.
At that instant an express TRAN
tore past, and its noise and dust con
tributed greatly to the discontinue,
Of the two men in the car. However
the incident ended as swiftly as |
had begun. John helped the chauf
feur to assist the fallen man, and wa
greatly relieved to find the old fellow
smiling and stammering ain assuranc,
that he "warn't hurt bad" Nevprfhe
less, one leg had been bruised and In
Skin torn, while his age warranted III
assumption that he could hardly with
stand a violent fall without sufferin,
more damage than he was willing /,
confess.
lnvcitntarily he rubbed the sor
spot. but he still smiled, and actuall
apologized for having got in the way
I'm all right, sir" he vowed. u
little thing like that don't cut any lei
and I'm only sorry to have pulled yo
UP So student. OF course, the com
pAry ought to put = tunne. under tn
track here, and I've wrote to 'cr
several times about II, but, bless yo,
they don't pay no attention. An me
stockholder, tocr'
John saw 1t once thai he would a
well 10 express astonishmcnt at thi
somewhat remarkable statement.
Yes, sir, went on the old maj
Me md Marthy's saved and scrape
all our lives SOS we could buy stoc
II our railroad, Now We got IL
shares al paid for; too. Than