Lincoln County leader., August 28, 1908, Image 3

TRONG AMD TEADY
By HORATIO
CHAPTEB XVII. (Continued.)
He began to rcnlnoe the book in its
crown papa covering.
"I don't know but I might give you
twenty-five cents more. Come, now, I'll
give you two dollars and a quarter."
"I can't take it," said Walter, shortly
"Three dollars and a half is the price,
nd I will iot take a cent less."
"You won't get it out of me, then,"
retorted the lady, slamming the door in
displeasure.
Walter bad already made up his mind
to this effect, and had started on his way
to the gate. '
"I wonder If I shall meet many people
(Ike her?" he thought, and he felt some
what despondent.
Walter began to think that selling
books xrould prove a harder and more dis
agreeable business than be had antici
pated, lie had been brought face to face
with meanness and selfishness, and they
inspired him with disgust and indigna
tion. Not that he expected everybody
to buy his books, even if they could af
ford it. Still, it was not necessary ;o in
sult him by offering half price.
lie walked slowly up the street, won
dering if he should meet any more such
customers. Uu the opposite bide of the
street he noticed a small shoemaker's
shop.
"I suppose it is of no use to eo in
there," thought Walter. "If they won't
buy at a big house, there isn't much
chance here."
Still he thought he would go in. lie
had plenty of time on his hands, and
might as well let slip no chance, however
small. He pushed open the door, and
found himself in a shop about twenty-hve
feet square, littered up with leather siiav
ings and finished and unfinished shoes. A
to of fourteen was pegging, and his
father, a man of middle age, was finish
ing a shoe.
"Good-morning," said Walter.
"Good-morning," said the shoemaker,
turning round. "Do you want a pair of
shoes this morning?"
"No," said Walter, "I didn't come to
buy, but to sell."
"Well, what have you got to sell?"
"A subscription book, finely illustrat
ed." "Let me look at it."
He wiped his hands on his apron, and.
taking the book, began to turn over the
leaves.
"It seems like a good book," he said.
"Does it sell well?"
"Yes, it sells largely. I have only just
commenced, but other agents are doing
well on it."
"That's the way to talk. How much
do you expect to get for this book?"
"The price is three dollars and a half."
"It's rather high."
"But there are a good many pictures.
Those are what cost money."
"Yes, I suppose they do. Well, I've a
great mind to take one." ,-
"I don't think you'll regret it A good
book will give you pleasure for a long
time."
"That's so. Well, here's the money."
Walter was all the more pleased at ef
fecting this sale, because it was unex
pected. He had expected to sell a book
at .the great house he had just called at,
but thought that the price of the book
might deter the shoemaker, whose income
probably was not large.
During the next hour Walter failed to
sell another copy. At length he manngtd
to sell a second. As these were all he
bad brought with him, and he was feel
ing somewhat tired, he went back to the
tavern, and did not come out again till
after dinner.
CHAPTER XVIII.
Walter found a good dinner ready lor
oim at 12 o'clock, which he enjoyed the
more because he felt that he had earned
it in advance. He waited till abouc 2
o'clock, and again set out, this time in
a different direction. Iff some places he
was received politely ; in others he was
treated as a humbug. But Walter was by
this time getting accustomed to his posi
tion, and found that he must meet dis
agreeable people with as good humor as
he could command. One farmer was will
ing to take the book if he would accept
pay in apples, of which he offered him
two barrels ; but this offer he did not fur
a , moment entertain, judging that h
would find it difficult to carry about the
apples, and probably difficult to dispose
of them. However, he managed to sell
two copies, though he had to call at twen
ty places to do it. x Nevertheless, he fell
well repaid by the degree of success he
net with.
"Five books sold to-day !" thought Wal
ter, complacently, as he started on ui
walk home. "That gives nje six dollar
and a quarter profit. I wish I could
keep that up."
But our young merchant found that he
was not likely to keep up such snlcs. The
next day he sold but two c jpies, and tins
day succeeding three. SI 111, for throe
days and a half the aggregate sale was
eleven copies, ma'iing a c' ear profit of
thirtecrf dollars at 1 seventy five cents. At
the end of the week he baJ sold twenty
copies; but to make up this number he
bad been obliged to visit one or two neigh
boring villages.
He now prepared to move on. The
ziext place at which he proposed to atop
for a few days we will call Bolton, lie
had already written to Cleveland for a
fresh supply of books to be forwardrd
to him there. He had but two books left,
and bis baggaf belnf contained In a
UGER. JR.
small valise, he decided to walk the dis
tance, partly out of economy, but princi
pally because it would enable him to see
the country at his leisure. During the
first five mfles he succeeded in selling
both books, which relieved him of the
burden of carrying them, leaving him only
his valise.'
Walter was strong and stout, and en
joyed his walk. There was a freshness
and novelty about his present mode of
life, which he liked. He did not imagine
he should like to be a book agent all his
life, but for a time be found it quite
agreeable.
He stopped under the shade of a large
elm and ate the lunch which he had
bi ought with hira from the inn. The
sandwiches and apples were good, and,
with the addition of some water from a
stream near by, made a very acceptable
lunch. When he resumed his walk after
resting a couple of hours, the weather had
changed. In the morning it was bright
sunshine. Now the clouds had gathered,
and a storm seemed imminent. To make
matters worse, Walter had managed to
stray from the road. He found himself
walking in a narrow lane, lined on either
side by thick woods. Soon the rain came
pattering down, at first In smnll drop
but quickly poured down in a drenching
shower. Walter took refuge in the woodsy
congratulating himself that be had sold
the books, which otherwise would jave
run the risk of being spoiled.'
"I wish there were some house nearby
in which I could rest," thought Walter.
The prospect of being benighted in the
woods in such weather was far fiom
pleasant.
Looking around anxiously, he espied a
small footpath, which he followed, hoping,
but hardly expecting, that it might lead
to some place of refuge. To his agree
able surprise he emerged after a few min
utes into a small clearing, perhaps half
an acre in extent, In the middle of which
was a rough cabin. It was a strange
place for a bouse, but, rude as it was,
Walter hailed its appearance with ioy.
At all events it promised protection from
the weather, and the people who occu
pied it would doubtless be willing to give
him, for pay, of course, supper and lodg
ing. Probably the accommodations would
not be first class, but our hero was pre
pared to take what he could get, and be
thankful for it. Accordingly he advanced
fearlessly and pounded on the door with
his fist, as there was neither bell nor
knocker.
The door not being opened immediately,
he pounded again. This time a not par
ticularly musical voice was heard from
within :
"Is that you, Jack?"
"No," answered Walter, "it isn't Jack."
His voice was probably recognized as
that of a boy, and any apprehension that
might have been felt by the person with
in was dissipated. Walter heard a bolt
withdrawn, and the door opening, reveal
ed a tall, gaunt, bony woman, who eved
him in a manner which could not be con
sidered very friendly or cordial.
"Who are you?" she demanded abrupt
ly, keeping the door partly closed.
"I am a book agent," said Walter.
"Do you expect to sell any books here"
asked the woman, with grim humor.
"No," said Walter, "but I have been
caught in the storm, and lost my way.
Can I stop here over night if the storm
should hold on?"
"This isn't a tavern," said the woman,
ungraciously.
"No, I suppose not," said Walter; "but
it will be a favor to me if you will tak
me in, and I will pay you whatever you
think right. I suppose there is no tavern
nearby."
He half hoped there might be, for he
had already made up his mind thot this
would not be a very agreeable place to
stop at.
"There's one five miles off," said the
woman.
"That's too far to go in such weather.
If you'll let me stay here, I will pay you
whatever you ask in advance."
"Humph!" said the woman, doubtful
ly, "I don't know how Jack will like It."
As Walter could know nothing of the
sentiments of the Jack referred to, ha re
mained silent, and waited for the woman
to make up her mind, believing that she
would decide in his favor. He proved to
be right.
"Well," she said, half unwillingly, "I
don't know but I'll take you in, though
it isn't my custom to accommodate tuv
elers." "I will try not to give you much trou
ble," said Walter, relieved to find that
he was sure of food and shelter.
"Humph !" respocded the woman.'
She led he way into the building,
which appeared to contain two rooms on
the first floor, and probably the bame
number of chambers above. There wis
no entry, but the door opened at once
Into the kitchen.
"Come up to the fire If you're wet,"
said the woman.
The invitation was hospitable, but the
manner was not. However, Walter was
glad to accept tb invitation, without
thinking too much U the manner in which
it was expressed, for his clothes were
pretty well saturated by the rain. There
was no stove, but an old brick fireplace,
on which two stout logs were burning.
There was one convenience, at least, about
living in the woods fuel was abundant,
and required nothing but the labor of cut
ting it.
"I think I'll take off my shoes," said
Walts.
"Ton . If you want to, Mid -m (tk
o-tstess.
Ke exteMid bis wet fc-tt toward the
flre, and Iflt a sense of comfort stMilini
var him. He could hear the iniu fall
ing fiercely iainst the side- of the c.iuin
and felt glad that he was nut compelled
to f.tand the brunt of the storm.
tie lookeC around hi in psiardedly, not I
wiuhing to let his hostess stc thM he was
doing so, for she looked lite one who
might easily be offended. The rcoin seem
ed remarkably bare of furniture. There
was an unpointed table, and there were
alro three chairs, one of which had lost
its back. These were plain woodrn chairs,
and though they appeared once to have
been painted, few vestiges of the original
paint now remained. On a shelf wer i
few articles of tin, but no article of
crockery were visible, except two cracked
cups. Walter had before this visited the i
dwellings of the poor, but he had never '
seen a home so poorly provided with
what are generally regarded as the neces
saries of life.
"I wonder what Lem would say.if he
should see me now," thought Walter, bis
thoughts going back to the Essex Classi
cal Institute, and the friend whose studies
li a filiatml '1 ctaamml fax n. ...... -Um.
days of careless happiness, when as yet
the burdens of life wer unfelt and scarce-'
ly even dreamed of. Did Walter sigh
for their return? I think not, except on -one
account. His father was then alive, '
and he would have, given years of his own I
life to recall that loved parent from the
grave. But I do not think he would have
cared, for the present at least, to giv
up bis business career, humble though it
was, and go back to bis studies. He en
joyed the novelty of his position. He
enjoyed even his present adventure, in
spite of the discomforts that attended it, i
and there was something exciting in look
ing about him, and realizing that he was
a guest in a rough cabin in the midst of
the woods, a thousand miles away from
home.
Guarded as be had been in looking
around him, it did not escnpe without
observation.
"Well, young man, thie is a poor place,
isn't it?" asked the woman, suddenly.
"I don't know," said Walter, wishing
to be polite.
"That's what you're thinking, I'll war
rant," said the woman, "Well, yoif:e
not obliged to stay, if you don't want
to."
"But I do want to, and I am very
much obliged to you for consenting to
take me," said Walter, hastily.
"You said you would pay in advance,"
said the woman.
"So I will," said Walter, taking out
his pockethook, "if you will tell me how
much I am to pay.
"You may give me a dollar," said the
woman.
Walter drew out a roll of bills, and,
finding a one-dollar note, handed it o
the woman.
She took it, glancing covetously at tho
remaining money which he replaced in his
poekelbook. Walter noticed the glance,
and, though he was not Inclined to be sus
picious, it gave him a vague feelin of
anxiety.
(To be continued.)
A Fabnloualy Rich Nation.
The United States is a fabulously
rich nation. The money in circulation
amounts to $3,250,000,000 and that in
the Federal treasury to $345,24(1,500.
The value of domestic merchandise ex
ported Is $1,853,718,000, and that of all
manufactures $14,802,147,000. The farm
wealth of the country produced In 1907
is In round figures $7,412,000,000; the
added niiuerul wealth for the year Is
$3,000,000,000. It has been pointed out
with truth during the October "panic"
that the national prosperity is not
based on Wall street and Its workings,
but more deeply, on the country's vast
agricultural production. If this is the
case and It surely is an Inventory of
the various crops reveals figures to
comfort and cheer. That he who reada
may learn, the values of the various
farming industries are presented here
with: Wheat, $500,000,000; cotton,
$075,000,000; corn, $1,350,000,000; hay,
$000,000,000; poultry and eggs $(iOO,
000,000; dairy products, $173,765,000
live stock, $4,875,000,000. The Bum rep
resenting our commerce with foreign
nations in 1907 has more than trebled
in the pas t three decades, and
that year was the third running In
which both exports and imports have
totaled more than a billion of dollars.
This statement of our national assets,
this Inventory of the fundamental pros
perity of our country and Its constitu
ent States relieves all carping care, all
need for financial worrlment. It Is
something more than encouraging It Ir
Inspiring.
The Retort Courteona.
An official of the Department of the
Interior tells of an Incident at one of
the government schools for the In
dians. A patronizing young woman of Cin
cinnati was being shown through the
Institution, when nhe came upon a fine
looking Indian girl of perhaps 10 years
of age. The Indlim girl was hemming
napkins, which the girl from Cincin
nati watched for ome moments In si
lence. Then she Jald to the Indian
"Are you civilized-'"
The Sioux raise i her head slowly
from her work and glanced coldly at
her Interrogator. "No," she replied, as
her eyes again sank to her napkins;
"are you?"
The man who tells tiresome stories
usually has a big strong voice, lots
of determination, and get to the end
In spite of Interruption.
"I did not see you in church last
Sunday." "I do not doubt it. I took
up the collection." Bohemian.
Caller (to child) Is this papa's little
boy or mamma's little boy? Child
Duiino; the Judge hasn't decided yet
Life. Ilyker Bronson tells me he is taking
mud baths now. Pyker Why, I thought
he was out of politics. Chicago Daily
News.
She It's funny you should be so tall.
Your brother, the artist. Is short. Isn't
he? He (absently) Yes, usually.
Town and Country.
"Has the patient a generous reserve
force, nurse?" "No, doctor; lie, lins
nothing, but a mean 'temperature."
Baltimore American.
Grace So you have at last made up
your mind to marry Jack? Loin Yes,
I'm tired of having him hang around
:he house every evening. Chicago Daily
News.
"Don't you ever get homesick, cap
tain?" asked the passenger on the ocean
liner. "No; I'm never home long
enough," replied the captain. Ex
change. Bronson My next-door neighbor is
always looking ahead for trouble.
Woodson For exiiniiilo. Bronson -Well,
this morning I saw him sharp
ening his lawn mower.
Miss DeMuIr I wish I could think
jf some new and unusual birthday pres
ent to surprise mamma with this year.
Mr. Spoonmore How do you think
she'd like a son-in-law?
Cloverton (who has hired a tnxa
meter cab to propose in) Say "yes,"
darling? Miss Calumet Give me time
to think. Cleverton Heavens! But
not in here! Consider the expense!
Life.
The Lady (to hastily-retreating bur
glar) Pardon me, but won't you please
wait till my husband sees you? I told
him there was some one In the house,
nnd he said "Itubblsh !" Harper's Ba
.ar. Dick You look worried, old fellow.
Wick I have cause for worry. Dick
What's the trouble? Wick My wife
says if I don't accompany her to the
seashore this summer she'll stay at
home.
Boy (who has been naughty and sent
out Into the garden to find a switch
to punish him with) Oh, mummy, I
; couldn't find a switch anywhere, but
here's a stone you can throw at me.
''unch.
Physician Well, what do you com
plain of? Policeman Sleeplessness,
doctor. Physician At what time do
you go to bed? Policeman Oh, I don't
j mean at night. I mean in daytime,
while I'm on my beat.
I She (on her bridal tour) Oh, Dan,
I'm so unhappy. Dan Why, what Is
the matter, darling? She If I nm as
much to you as you say, you can't be
sorry your first wife died, and that
makes you too brutal for me to love.
, Life.
Doctor The room seems cold, Mrs.
Hooligan. Have you kept the thermom
eter at seventy, ns I told you? Mrs.
Hooligan Shure, an' 01 hov, docthor.
.There's th' devilish thing In a toomblcr
av warrum wather at this bllssid mln
nut. Judge.
I Mamma Good gracious, Georglei
' What Is the matter with Freddlo
Jones? Is the child having a fit?
Goorgle No, mammn. Y'ou know Fred
die stutters, and we bet lie couldn't say
"altltudlnously" before Bobble ran
twice around the block. Puck.
' Townc Do you believe In dreams
Browne I used to, but I don't any
more. Towne Not as superstitious as
you were, eh? Browne Oh, it wasn't
a question of superstition. I was In
' love with one once, and she Jilted me.
! Ti Catholic Standard nnd Times.
I Cyrus Iteuben got bunkoed. Silas
How so? Cyrus Why, he read the ad
vertisement of a firm that stated If he
would send a dollar they'd send him
some light reading. Silas And did
they send it? Cyrus Yes, they sent
him two books entitled "The Age of the
Arc Lamp" nnd "How to Make Can
dles." "John," she whispered, "there's a
burglar In the parlor. He has Just
knocked against the piano and hit sev
eral keys at once. "I'll go down," said
he. "Oh. don't do anything rash !"
"Bash! Why, I'm going to help him.
You don't suppose he can remove tho
piano from the house without assist
nice?" The Throne.
"I tell you," said one man to an
other as they emerged from the corri
dor of a concert hall, "I envy that fel
low who was singing." "Envy him!"
echoed the other. "Well, If I were go
ing to envy a singer I'd select some
body with a better voice. Ills was
about the poorest I ever heard." "It's
not his voice I envy, man," was the
reply; "It's bis tremendous courage."-
Philadelphia Iuqulrer.
SOMETHING FOB EVERYBODY
Seveu of the sous and daughters of
the Mersthnm, England, centenarian,
Mrs. Mayuard, married seven brothers
and sisters named King.
The Somali soldier keeps himself lu
perfect fighting condition on a, diet of
nuts. He eats only twenty a day, but
they are of a very nourishing kind.
Itoumauln Is the most Illiterate coun
tr In Europe. The last census shows
that lu a population of about 0,000,000
nearly 4,000,000 neither write nor read.
There are 21.78 miles of railroad line
In the United States for every 10,000
Inhabitants, as against 0.2 miles la
Germany, 5.5 in the United Kingdom
and 7.4 in France.
According to Mitchell's Newspaper
Press Directory, there are now pub
lished In the United Kingdom nlone no
fewer than 2,353 newspapers, of which
London contributes 404, Including
thirty-one dallies.
Guanajuato holds the world's record
as a silver producer, having yielded
$1,000,000,000 .Mexican In the Inst three
and a half centuries. The actual re
sults from the mills in operation in
Guanajuato at the moment show that
they are producing silver at three times
the average rate as shown by the old
records. Wall Street Journal.
The Berlin Medical Society recently
discussed the sanatorium question. Dr.
Frankel insisted that the "llei'iauiUcu"
do a great deal of good. Other speak
ers declared them superfluous, pointing
out that In France and England, where
there are no sanatorlunis like those in
Germany, there has been nevertheless
a stendy decline In the mortality from
tuberculosis.
Senator Ilarte, who Introduced at
Albany a bill against the sale nnd man
ufacture of clgarets, has many orig
inal views. These he has tho talent
to express In terse and striking terms.
Discussing medicine. In which he places
none too great faith, Senntor Ilarte
said at a recent Albany banquet:
"Medicine Is the art of amusing the
Patient while nature cures the disease."
T. P. O'Connor was presented with
his portrait In oils at Leeds, Saturday
night, by the Irish League of Great
Britain, In commemoration of bis un
broken presidency of the league for
twenty-five years. John E. Redmond
made the presentation and paid a trib
ute to Mr. O'Connor as a safe, consist
ent and courageous guide for the Irish
people in Great Britain. John Dllllon
"Oso spoke.
A girl of twenty-two, Miss Gertrude
Wren, Is the first of her sex to win the
Perelra medal for excellence In chem
istry, one of the most highly prized
nwnrds of the Pharmaceutical Society
of London. At the age of eighteen she
began the study of her specialty at a
girls' high school In Camden Town.
Botany Is another study In which Miss
Wren has taken n great Interest, nnd
some time ago she won a silver medal
'or superiority In that field.
A traveler waited at a certain Eng
lish privliielal town In vain for the
much overdue train on the branch line.
Again ho approached the solitary
sleepy-looking porter and Inquired for
the twentieth time, "Isn't that train
coming soon?" At that moment a dog
same trotting up the line and a glad
smile Illuminated the official's face,
"Ay, yes, sir," replied the porter, "It'll
be getting near now, Here comes tho
'tiglne-driver's dog." Liverpool Post.
Edward Bice relates that when Ilerr
van Buelow was lu Boston Napier
Lowthion, musical director ut the Bos
ton theatre, introduced him, saying:
"Ilerr van Bulow, this Is Mr. ltlce, a
Boston man, who knows nothing about
music whatever, but who has written
two operas." "So?" suld Von Buelow,
Interrogatively. "Ve haf also In Europo
a shentlemau vat knows nottlng about
niooslc, und buf written already plenty
operas Meestor Verdi."
General Lord Grenfell, who was re
cently promoted to the rnnk of field
marshal, received high praise at' the
hands of Miss Eunace Mandersun,
speaking to a peace society In England,
"lie has been a soldier for about forty
five years," she said, "and his men
have killed human beings in many parts
of the world. But let us remember to
his credit that he published an order as
general commanding the forces in Ire
land agulnst clgaret smoking by the
troops."
Some kinds of lizards break In twe
' U'lmti fciwliliitt' r ctt ii i.t l.i.l 1. tl... 1 u
,11,, DlllllHlll 111 lliv UUilU
In Australia the traveler often comes
ucross a number of these little silvery
reptiles busking ou n log or piece of ofd
bark. As soon as they perceive the in-
, vuder there Is a great comtuotlon ; they
dart hither and thither so quickly that
the eye can Beareely follow their move
ments. The effects of the shock are
evident from the quantity of wriggling
tails lying about which have been cast
off In the tourry; while the mutilated
owoners may be seen scurrying away to
safety still wagging the stumps tout
remain.