The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1918-05-16
"NUMBER ONE"
Nv ALICIA cHALLONER.
(Copyright, 1917. Western Newspaper Union.

pleaded with dewy eyes and soulful
face. They stood at the gate of the
home of Winifred Sumter. There had
been IA tennis party and somehow Al
bion Ward had fingered and Winifred
had encouraged him.
All through the afternoon she had
| devoted herself to his company. She
had done so %purposely. To this man
she felt that she and her family owed
more than they could repay. Albion
Ward never dreamed hat they were
lwnre of facts in the career of Ned
umter, brother and son, which he
supposed to be a buried secret between
Ned and himself.
Those two had been college chums.
| Ned Sumter had got into a scrape that
meant not only expulsion at the most
critical juncture of his college career,
but public disgrace. Albion Ward had
| stepped into the breach. He had
money and he spent it lavishly to clear
Ned. He took the blame Ned should
have suffered.
"You will stay q~uiescent," declared
Albion in his impressive but determined
way, cor I'll wreck the future OF hall
he class, by duplicating all who were
mixed up in the miserable horse play
BUSINESS of blowing up the founders
monument on the campus. What are
raduating honors TO me? I'm a bro
zen. worthless fellow, "a wreck from
rink and will be worse as time goes
II. It's born in me and | can't resist
{. Take the lesson this ugly escapad
has taught you, Ned. and keep to the
Dad called Straight after this"
What Winifred Sumter limited at
vas no fiction. Young, brilliant, the
avorite and heir of an indulgent uncle,
curse rested over him as ii had over
lis father before him. He was no sot,
vi no restrictions could prevent him
rom getting liquor when ms of his
Thinking spells was IN him. .
1t had come about that Ned had in
listed upon his going home with him
lie vacation. Those were two weeks
o be remembered. For the first time
n his life Albion Ward felt the sway of
i spirit so pure, so gentle, so friendly.
Iay, more, loving, that he seemed
ransplanted into a new sphere. Then
ne night in a neighboring town a great
torn came up. The village tavern Of
cred its hospitality and its temptation.
shutting himself up in a room all by
himself and well supplied with the
cry liquid, he, Albion Ward, for a
hole week was lost TO friends.
I'm not fit to ever look At your sis
err, much less impose my wretched So
iety upon her" declared Albion sui
emily, to Winifred's brother.
"At least say gocdby to her." APP
)ealed Ned. "She knows of your fall
from grace as others do, but she is
full of sorrow, more than that. pity
Cor you. Old friend, can't you brace
I'D for her sake?" SO Albion consented
to bid adieu to Winifred, and IL was
as his brief call was ended that she
placed a trembling hand on his arm
with the words:
"You won't feel offended, or-or
scold me, will you, Mr.. WardT" and he
had bowed his head and clenched his
hands hard to endure the shame he
experienced.
Miss Sumter" he said huskily. 81
am unworthy of your interest. If
ever do anything worth while 1t viii
be through the memory of this holy
hour. You must not think Of me. Il
will try to overcome-goodby."
He was gone. and the next day Wini
fred sank like a stricken dove When
her brother entered her presence with
the exciting intelligence:
Ward is No. /. He was the first
to sign the honor roll of volunteers
and don't cry or worry, mother, Wlni
fred, for he showed me my duty and
joined. too"
And a few months later, In a lonely
spot at the front in far away France
No. 1sand No. 2 crouehed in Il cave
like in%dentation of a high hill as a deaf
ening crash was followed by a shower
Of shattered rock and earth around
them.
They had been chosen to undertake
q secret important mission.
Just approaching a part of the rug
ged ledge along which they had crept
foot by foot, suddenly from the plain
below where a great field piece was
operated by the enemy. a shell came
hurting towards them. 1t landed SC
close that the rock splinters penetrated
their uniform In a dozen places. NeC
was partially stunned, Albion dragged
him into the cave-like shelter. There
came a second shell. 1t landed direct
ly at the entrance to their retreat
Don't waste time" directed Albion In
~feverish haste. ''They have the range
You can make the fifty yards In safety
between the shells. Run for your life
when l give the word"
Bewlldered, as he was dragged from
cover, protesting. as his comrade gave
him a vigorous push n way and him
self darted the other. Ned groanet
as a kissing shell struck the face OF