davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1917-06-14
f10[)[I(
ROADS
WORK OF COMMUNITY CLUBS
"Betsey Ann Association" of Brighton,
Illinois, Does Much to Boost
Little Village.
By P. G. HOLDEN, Former Dean of
Iowa State College.)

| (By p. G. HOLDEN, FORMER Dean OF
Iowa State College,
Community clubs play an important
part in the development of civilization.
They present the greatest of oppor-
tunities for the cooperation of town
and country to the lasting benefit of
each. They enable the residents of
the town and those of the rural dis
tricts to get together and do things for
the welfare of all that otherwise
would not be done.
This arousing of common interest
in common interests brings the MEM
bers of the community closer together,
socially, industrially and economically
In movements of this character every
small town should feel vitality inter
ested, for 1t can extend it's trade ter
ritory many miles by uniting with the
farmers in community welfare work.
This work may take one form, or it
may take another, but the life of any
community organization depends upon
having something to do that is worth
while.
BY the assistance of farmers, the
town of Brighton, Illinois, village of
only 600 people, has worked wonders
in the way of community road build
ing.
For ten years the people of Brighton
have been joining hands with their
rural neighbors in cooperative work
that not only has bettered the whole
community, but has given the town a
commercial and educational standing
equal to that of many cities ten times
its size.
The community organization, which
has thus united town and country,
bears the unique title of "The Betsey
Ann Association" It has given the
community 81 miles of excellent roads,
$4,000 accredited high school,
$4,000 community building and a
neighborhood spirit which knows no
township line or corporate boundary.
The Betsey Ann association is incor-
porated, but not for profit. It has 1875
members, divided about equally be-
tween town and country, and its men,
bership fee is only % cents. The exec
utive committee consists of nine men,
bers, of which not more than five can
be residents of the town.
The first improvement inaugurated
by the association was the purchase of
a fire bell. This bell was christened
by telephone operator, Miss Nell
Flanagan. She gave it the name of
Betsey Ann, which title has since
passed to the association.
During the second week of August,
each year, the association holds two
day picnic in large tent Concerts,
dramas and other forms of entertain
ment are given by local people from
Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1917-06-14

last he asked K. to mind the door I'M
til he got some coffee.
zone of the staff's been hurt" he
explained. 'If don't get some cof-
fee now, won't get any,"
X. promised to watch the door.
A desperate thing had occurred to
Carlotta. Somehow, she had not
thought of 1t before. How she won
dered how she could have failed to
think of it. She went to the staff and
confronted them. They were men Of
courage, only declining to undertake
what they considered hopeless work.
The one man among them who might
have done the thing with any chance
of success lay stricken. Not one
among them but would have given of
his best-only his best was not good
enough.
ut would be the Edwardes opera
ton, wouldn't it?" demanded Carlotta.
The staff was bewildered. There
were no rules to cover such conduct
Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1917-06-14
CHAPTER xx.-continued.


When Joe suddenly announced his
inclination to go out into the country
after all, LIE Moyne suspected a ruse to
get rid CT him, and insisted on going
along. Joe consented grudgingly.
Cars at Bailey's garage" he said
sullenly. Il don't know when I'll get
back"
That won't matter" KS tone was
cheerful. I'm not sleeping, anyhow"
That passed unnoticed until they
were on the highroad, with the car
running smoothly between yellowing
fields of wheat. Then:
80 you've got it tool" he said.
Were fine pair of fools. We'd both
be better off if 1 sent the car over
bank"
He gave the wheel a reckless twist,
and LIE Moyne called him to time
sternly.
They had supper at the White
Springs hotel-not on the terrace, but
in the little room where Carlotta and
Wilson had taken their first meal to-
gether. Joe submitted with bad grace,
but the meai cheered and steadied
him. & found him more amenable to
reason,s and, gaining his confidence,
learned of his desire to leave the city.
I'm stuck here" he said. "Im the
only one, and mother yells blue muir
der when talk about it. l want to go
to Cuba. My uncle owns farm down
there"
Perhaps l can talk your mother
over. I've been there"
Joe was all interest His dilated pu-
pills became more normal, his restless
hands grew quiet. ks even voice, the
picture he drew of life ON the island,
the stiffness of the little hotel in it's
mfdweek dullness, seemed to quiet the
boys tortured nerves. He was nearer
to peace than he had been for many
days. But he smoked necessarily, light
ing one cigarette from another
AT ten o'clock he left X. and went
for the car. He paused for moment,
Gather sheepishly, by KS chair.
I'm feeling lot better" he said 81
haven't got the band around my head.
You talk to mother"
That was the last X. saw of Joe
Drummond until the next day.
Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1917-06-14
CHAPTER XXI.

Carlotta had set the hour for meet
Ing Wilson at nine, when the late dusk
of summer had fallen; and she met
him then, smiling, family perfumed
white figure, slim and young, with Il
thrill in her voice that was only half
assumed.
IT'S very late" he complained
surely you are not going to be back
at ten"
II have special permission to be out
tate"
Good" And then, recollecting their
new situation: "We have lot to talk
over. 1t will take time"
At the White Springs hotel they
stopped to fill the gasoline tank of the
car. Joe Drummond saw Wilson there,
In the sheet-iron garage alongside of
the road. The Wilson ear was in the
shadow. 1t did not occur to Joe that
the white figure in the car was not
Sidney. He went rather white, and
stepped out of the zone of light. The
influence Of LIE Movne was still on
him. however and he went on quietly
with what he was doing. But his hands
shook as he filled the radiator He
had been an ass lie Moyne was right.
He'd get away-to Cuba if he could
AMI start over again. He would forget
th,. Street and let it forget him.
The men in the garage were talking.
ITO Schwtter's, of course" one of
them gruinbled.
THAT was Wilson, the surgeon in
town. He used to come here. Now
he goes on 10 Schwi1ers. Pretty girl
he had with him"
50 Max Wilson was taking Sidney to
Schwitter's, making her the butt of
garage talki The smiles of the men
were evil. Joes hands grew cold his
head hot. A red mist spread between
him and the line Of electric lights. He
knew Schwitter'S. and he knew Will
SON When K, growing uneasy. came
out into the yard, he was in time to
see Joe run his car into the road and
<urn it vieiously toward Schwitter's.
Carletta's nearness was having its
calculated effect on Max Wilson. His
spirits rose as the engine, marking
perfect time, carried them along the
quiet roads.
Partly 1t was reaction-relief that
she should be so reasonable, so com.
PiaIsanb--And a sort Of holiday spirit
Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1917-06-14

know that Wilson would detect ner
malingering very quickly-and begged
to be taken into the house.
81 feel very ill.," she said, and her
white face bore her out.
Schwitter and Wilson carried her
in and up the stairs to one Of the
rooms. The little man was twittering
with anxiety. He had a horror of
knockout drops and the police. They
laid her on the bed, her hat beside
her; and Wilson, stripping down the
long sleeve of her glove. felt her pulse.
There's doctor in the next town."
said Schwitter. 81 sent for him a
while agony wife's not very WELL"
"Pm a doctor"
as it anything serious?"
Nothing serious"
He closed the door behind the re-
lieved figure of the landlord, and 60
ing back to Carlotta, stood looking
down at her.
"What did you mean by doing that?
You were no more faint than l am"
She closed her eyes.
81 don't remember. Everything went
black. The lanterns"
He crossed the room deliberately
and went out, closing the door behind
him. He saw at once where he stood
in what danger If she insisted that
she was i'll and unable to go back,
there would be fuss. The story
txrTr Al q
gone. Schwitter's, of all places!
At the foot of the stairs, Schwitter
pulled himself together. After all, the
girl was only ill. There was nothing
for the police. He looked at his watch.
The doctor ought to be there by this
time.
Another car. Perhaps it was the
doctor. A young man edged his way
into the hall and confronted him.
1.-TWO people just arrived here. A
man and woman-in white. Where
are they?"
"Upstairs-frst bedroom to the
right.
Joe went up the staircase. At the
top, on the landing, he confronted Will
son. He fired at him without word
saw him fling up his arms and fall
back, striking first the wall then the
floor.
The buzz of conversation on the
porch suddenly ceased. Joe put his
revolver in his pocket and went qui-
city down the stairs The crowd part
ed to let him through.
Carlotta, crouched in her room, IFS
tening, not daring to open the door,
heard the sound of car as it swung
out into the road.
Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1917-06-14
TO CHANGE TIME GRADUALLY
French Scientist Proposes Plan in
Place of That of Setting Clocks
Ahead an Hour in Spring.

Instead of setting clocks an hour for
ward in spring and an hour backward
in fall, Professor Lecorbun suggests
to the French Academy of Scientists a
simple method of making the change
gradually and with the seasons. This
consists of altering slightly the length
of the pedulums of clocks at the win
ter and summer solstices, so that be-
ginning with December q, they would
gain 30 seconds a day, and beginning
with June q, would lose 80 seconds a
day.
The effect of this would be that by
March q they would be 45 minutes
ahead and by June 81 they would be
/ hour and so minutes ahead. After
which the pendulums would be
changed and the clocks would lose at
the same speed.
Under such an arrangement watches
would have to be set forward or back
ward half a minute every night.
Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1917-06-14

on the part of nurse. One of them
replied rather heavily: IF any, it
would be the Edwardes operation"
"Would Doctor Edwardes himself
be able to do anythingY
This was going little far.
POSSIBLY. One chance in a thou
saAd, perhaps. But Edwardes is dead
How did this thing happen, Miss Har-
rison?"
She ignored his question. Her face
was CHASTITY, save for the trace of
rouge; her eyes We're red-rimmed.
doctor Edwardes is sitting on
bench in the hall outsider she an
nounced.
Her voice rang out. X. heard her
and raised his head. His attitude was
weary, resigned. The thing had come,
then! He was to take up the old bur-
den. The girl had told.
Doctor Ed had sent for Sidney. She
thought it was another operation, and
her spirit was just little weary. But
her courage was indomitable. She
forced her shoes on her tired feet, and
bathed her face in cold water to rouse
herself.
The night Waterman was in the hail.
He was fond of Sidney; she always
smiled at him; and, on his morning
rounds at six o'clock to waken the
nurses, her voice was always amiable.
So she found him in the hall, holding
cup of tepid coffee. He was old and
bleary, Enthusiastically dirty, too-but
he had OWNED Sidney's romance.
Coffee! For meY' She was aston
ished.
Get it down."
So she finished it, not without anxi-
ETY. that she might be needed. But
daddy's attentions were for few, and
not to be lightly received.
Can you stand a piece of bad
news?"
Strangely, her first thought was of
K.
"There has been an accident. Doc
tor Wilson"
(Which one?"
doctor Max-has been hurt. 1t
amt much, but l guess you'd like to
know It,"
"Where is he?"
Downstairs, in seventeen"
SO she went down alone to the
room where Doctor Ed sat in chair,
with his untidy bag beside him on the
floor, and his eyes fixed on a straight
figure ON the bed. When he saw Sid
ney, he got up and put his arms around
her. His eyes told her the truth be-
fore he told her anything. She hardly
listened to what he said. The fact
was all that concerned her-for sud-
denly Sidney's small world, which had
always sedately revolyed in one direc-
ton, began to move the other way.
The door opened, and the staff came
in. But where before they had moved
heavily, with dropped heads, now they
came quickly, as men with purpose.
! There was a tall man in white coat
with them. He ordered them about
like children, and they FASTENED to do
his will. The heaviness of inactivity
| lifted. The room buzzed. The nurses
stood by, while the staff did nurses
work.
1t was the Lamb, after all, who
brought the news to Sidney. The new
activity had caught Doctor Ed, and
she was alone now, her face buried
against the back CT chair.
"There1I be something doing now,
Miss Page" he offered.
what are they going to do!''
"Going after the bullet. Do you
know who's going to do it?'
His voice echoed the subdued ex-
citement Of the commencement and
new hope.
To BIN coNrtNUEDs
Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1917-06-14
Now the Modern Circuit Rider.

The old type of circuit rider in a
new guise is coming back. He will
return to do church duty in the Spo
kane country, but will not be known
as "circuit rider" He will be ICON
vention pastor" and in place of the
saddle horse of his old-time model,
win use the passenger coaches or per-
chance, will be chauffeur of his own
automobile.
The plan is being inaugurated by Dr.
A. II. Bailey, superintendent of Bap-
fist missions, says the Spokane Chron-
icle, and the duty of the convention
pastor" will be to assist weak churches
and look after neglected and undevel-
oped fields.
Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1917-06-14
Human Nature.

If the law We're to edict that man
and wife should never be together for
more than six months in the year it
would be broken every day, says w. L.
George in the Atlantic Monthly, and
men and women would stand hunger
and stripes to come together for y
months in -; if love of home were
made crime family life would
arise more touching than anything
Queen Victoria ever dreamed.
Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1917-06-14

eve can walk back and take table
under the trees, away from those in
fernal lanterns"
She reeled little as he helped her
out
Not sick, are your"
I'm dizzy. I'm all right"
She looked white. He felt a stab
Of pity for her. She leaned rather
heavily on him as they walked toward
the house. The faint perfume that
had almost intoxicated him, earlier,
vaguely irritated him now.
At the rear Of the house she shook
off his arm and preceded him around
the building. She chose the end of the
porch as the place in which to drop,
and went down like stone.
There was a moderate excitement.
The visitors at Schwitters were too
much engrossed with themselves to be
much interested. She opened her eyes
almost as soon as she fell-to forestall
any tests; she was shrewd enough to
Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1917-06-14
In Dancer.

Friend Ito professor, whose lecture
'How to Stop the War" has just been
concluded) Congratulate you, old
man-went splendidly. At one time
during the afternoon 1 was rather anx-
ious for you.
rofessor-Thanks. But I don't
know why you should have been so
concerned on my behalf.
Friend-Well, a rumor did go round
the room that the war would be over
before your Decentralization Punch.
Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1917-06-14

Twenty Seven Miles of Road Improve
ment Around Brighton, Illinois,
Work of the Betsey Ann Community
Association.
both town and country. These picnics
are always attended by $500 or 5000
people. All concessions are run by the
association and all the profit goes into
the treasury. About $500 is realized
each year. The money is spent in road
improvement.
One year the association built
mile of rock road, extending eastward
from the town limits. Each year a
contract for dragging, at frequent in
tervals, nine different roads, for dis
lance of three miles from town, is
awarded. Each members of the execu-
tive committee has charge of a three
mile strip. An appropriation Of $500
is annually made for this purpose.
These 81 miles of good roads are
the visible results of the Betsey Ann
association. They make it possible for
Brighton to visit and to entertain her
neighbors. They connect the town with
the farm and make the interests Of
one the interests of the other. They
have made possible the community
building. They have made a reality
high school, for both town and country
children, from which graduates are
admitted to any college.
Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1917-06-14
CHAPTER XXI.

1t was the Lamb who received the
message about Wilson; and because
he was not very keen at the best, and
because the news was so startling, he
refused to credit his ears.
'Who is this at the 'phone?"
lie Moyne's my name. Get DR.. Ed
Wilson at once. Doctor Wilson, the
surgeon, has been shot" came slowly
and distinctly. "Get the staff here and
have a room ready. Get the operating
room ready, too"
The Lamb wakened then. and reused
the house. He was incoherent, rather,
so that Doctor Ed only learned the
truth when he got to the hospital.
"Who has been shot? l thought you
said"
The Lamb turned pale at that, and
braced himself.
I'm sorry-I thought you under
stood. l believe it's not-not serious.
It's Doctor Max, sir"
Doctor Ed, who was heavy and not
very young, sat down on an office chair.
Out of sheer habit he had brought the
bag. He put it down on the floor be-
side him, and moistened his lips.
rs he livingY'
'"Oh, yes, sir. l gathered that Mr..
LIE Moyne did not think it serious"
He lied, and Doctor Ed knew he lied
The Lamb stood by the door, and
Doctor Ed sat and waited. The office
clock said half after three. The bag
with the dog collar in it was on the
floor. He thought of many things, but
mostly of the promise he had made his
mother. Cold beads of sweat stood
| out on his forehead.
Il think I hear them now, sir" said
the Lamb, and stood back respectfully
to let him pass out of the door.
Carlotta stayed in the room during
the consultation. No one seemed to
wonder why she was there, or to pay
any attention to her. The staff was
stricken. They moved back to make
room for Doctor Ed beside the bed.
! and then closed in again.
Carlotta waited. her hand over her
/
Surely they wouldn't let him die like
that! When she saw the phalanx
break up and realized they would not
operate, she ran from the room.
The staff went hopelessly down the
stairs to the smoking room, and
smoked. 1t was all they could do.
The night assistant sent coffee down
to them, and they drank it. Doctor
Ed stayed in his brothers room. and
said to his mother, under his breath,
that he'd tried to do his best by Max.
and that from now on it would be I'D
| to her.
K. had brought the injured man in.
The country doctor, on the way in, had
taken it for granted that X. was a
medical man like himself, and had
placed his hypodermic case at his dis
| posal.
When he missed HMM the smok-
| ing room, that was-he asked for him.
II don't see the chap who came In
with u.s." he said. Clever fellow. Like
to know his name.
! The staff did not know.
| X. sat alone on bench in the hall.
He wondered who would tell Sidney
he hoped they would be very gentle
with her. He did not want to go home
and leave her to what she might have
to face. There was chance she would
ask for him. He wanted to be near,
in that case. The night Waterman
! went by twice and stared at him, At
Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1917-06-14

after the days hard work. Oddly
enough, and not so irrational as may
appear, Sidney formed part of the
evenings happiness-that she loved
him. that, back in the lecture room,
eyes and even mind on the lecturer,
her heart was with him.
So, with Sidney the basis of his hap
piness, he. made the most of his eve
ning's freedom. He sang little in
his clear tenor-even, once when they
had slowed down at a crossing, bent
over audaciously and kissed Carlotta's
train.
How reckless of your
II like to be reckless" he replied.
His boyishness annoyed Cariotta.
She did not want the situation to get
out of hand. Moreover, what was so
real for her was only too plainly a
lark for him. She began to doubt her
power.
The hopelessness of her situation
was dawning on her. Even when the
touch of her beside him and the soil
tude of the country roads got in his
blood, and he bent toward her, she
found no encouragement in his words:
81 am mad about you tonight"
She took her courage in her hands:
''Then why give me up for someone
else?"
."That's-different
"Why is it different? I am q wom-
an. II love you, Max. No one else
will ever care as I do"
"You are in love with the Lamb ~
"That was a trick. 1 am sorry,
Max. don't care for anyone else in
the world. If you let me go I'll want
to die"
Then, as he was silent:
IF you'll marry me, I'll be true to
you all my life. l swear it. There
will be nobody else, ever"
The sense, if not the words, of what
he had sworn to Sidney that Sunday
afternoon under the trees. on this very
road Swift shame overlook him, that
he should be here, that he had allowed
Carlotta to remain in ignorance of how
things really stood between them.
Tin sorry, Carlotta It's impossible
I'm engaged to marry someone else"
"Sidney Page?"-almost a whisper
Eyes"
He was ashamed at the way she
took the news. If she had stormed or
wept, he would have known what to
do. But she sat STILL not speaking
you must have expected it, sooner
or later"
Still she made no reply. He thought
she might faint, and looked at her
anXiously. Her profile, indistinet be-
side him, looked white and drawn. But
Carlotta was not fainting. She was
making desperate plan. If their es-
capade became known, it would end
things between Sidney and him. She
was sure of that. She needed time to
think it out. It must become known
without any apparent move on. her
part If, for instance, she became i'll,
and was away from the hospital all
night, that might answer The thing
would be Investigated. and who knew
The car turned in at Schwitter's
road and drew up before the house
The narrow porch was filed with small
tables above which hung rows of cleo
trio lights inclosed in Japanese paper
lanterns. Nlidweek, which had found
the White Springs hotel almost desert
ed, saw Schwitters' crowded tables set
out under the trees. Seeing the crowd
Wilson drove directly to the yard and
parked his machine.
mo need of running any risk" he
explained to the still figure beside him.
Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1917-06-14
Work on Roads in 1915.

During 1915 the total road and
bridge expenditures in the United
States amounted to about $2S2,000,-
600, of which probably not over $751;
100000 represented the value of the
statute and convict labor.
Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1917-06-14
Wheels Used in Argentina.

Because some roads in Argentina
have deeper dust in summer and
deeper mud in winter than any
others in the world, the wagons used
on them have wheelssfrom six to fif-
teen feet in diameter.
Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1917-06-14
Expert.

81 don't see how you do it."
"Why not?' responded the fortune
teller. "We can figure what goods the
people come after just as well as any
dry goods clerk"
Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1917-06-14
His Nasal Class.

"That inan is wonder for smelling
out family troubles and talking about
them"
"Then his nose must be something
of a storm scenter."
Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1917-06-14
Difficult Feat.

Tell Mr.. Smith 1 want TO see him.
at the telephone"
81 told Mr.. Smith. sir, AMI he wants
to know if you have a psriscope at
your end"