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About The Maupin times. (Maupin, Or.) 1914-1930 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 19, 1915)
It Wasn't a Large Affair, But Brought Matters to a Head. By LAWRENCE ALFRED CLAY. (Copyright, 1914, by the McClure, Newspa per Syndicate.) The village of Freedom had no rait road connection, but had you entered it on foot or by vehicle the first resi dent you encountered would have been Deacon Salathiel Green, putting a leather hinge on his front gate or seated with folded arms on the steps of the post olllce. I Had you asked the deacon for a list of excuses as to -why the village existed he vould have answered: ' "Well, we have Miss Bird Davis, who is handsomer than an acre of red, white and blue hollyhocks, and smarter'n chain-lightning. : "Also a three-legged calf, owned by Keziah Perkins. : "Also, the loyalty of the people. We have seven hundred inhabitants, but claim twice that number. I "Also, a church spire that has been struck five different times by light ning. "Also, Grandma Hazleton, who re members that she dandled George Washington on her knee when he was a kid six months old. ! "Also, half a dozen young fellers who are in love with the chain-light ning gal." ThiB was the tale told to young Roy Campbell as he arrived in the village to spend a vacation of a month In the late fall. He was slightly interested in the three-legged calf, and he rea soned that in time he should behold Miss Davis, but he was not startled. As he bent his steps toward the Inn, Deacon Green looked after him and shook his head. "He may be a nice young man, and he may be a poBt office robber Instead. Time will tell." i The village of Freedom had gath- ered the vegetables from its gardens, and had plenty of time in which to size up the stranger. It came to the conclusion that he was not dangerous, but why didn't he come out as frankly as the wire-fence man, the windmill man and others had done and relate his history from childhood' up? It counted for nothing that he attended church the first Sunday of his arrival and made a generous contribution as the plate was thrust under his nose. Indeed, as Mr. Sparrow said, and as others agreed with him: "If he hadn't been in jail somewhere for something or other would he be seen inside a church and trying to deceive us?" I "No! No!" ! "He gave up half a dollar to the plate, while the rest of us gave pennies and nickels, but wouldn't Captain Kidd have done the same?" i The young men realized at once what had brought the stranger to the gates of the village. He had heard of the winsome Miss Davis, and had come to admire, fall in love and wed her and bear her away. He was from the city, and she had been heard to say that she should never live In a village after marriage. Therefore, they glared at him and avoided him and talked to his detriment and wished him to Halifax. I A woman can overlook it in a man . for being a bit wicked, if it is not her husband. A girl can and does over look it if the man is young and good looking and a mystery is thrown around him. It was logical that when the young men dropped their differ ences and combined against the stran ger they excited curiosity more than distrust among the female hearts not too old. ! Miss Bird Davis encountered Mr. Roy Campbell at church and on the street and said to herself: "He may be a criminal and a fugitive from justice, but I'd like an introduction to him just the same." ' i They told her that he was probably a horse thief. That he was a scout for post office robbers. That the consta ble had an eye on him. That the sher iff was seeking to get his finger-prints. That while he looked as innocent as a yearling babe, he would try every art jto get a girl to elope with him, and after a month leave her dead broke on the street of some cold and cruel city i Miss Bird listened. She also laughed. She likewise suggested that an intro duction to such an interesting charac ter was in order. j What brought matters to a head was a spelling school. Freedom was proud of her school. It wasn't a great big schoolhouse, with a large and lib eral staff of teachers. On the con trary, no unnecessary building ma terial had been used, and two teachers did all the whaling and teaching. Neither French nor German w itaught there, but when it came down to old-fashioned orthography the rest of Warren county had to go way back and sit down. Whenever in a news paper or magazine one of the pupils discovered the word "program" with the final "me" added, an In dignant protest was at once forwarded to the guilty party. Beginning with the fall term, these spelling schools were held once month all winter. One was due a few days after Mr. Campbell appeared In Freedom. It was talked of as being better than a moving picture show or la circus. People who wouldn't go to a funeral had the front seats at these contests. No one invited or suggested, but .when the evening came Mr. Camp Ibell was there. Moreover, he was chosen by one of the sides, and It was thus that he found himself a con testant, Instead of a spectator. It was Miss Bird who had the choice of the opposing line, and she had her love sick swains beside her. All were good spellers, but she was always the last of the two lines to go down. Her mother had said of her: "Nobody can Bay whom Bird will fall in love with and marry, but you can make up your mind it'll have to be somebody who can spell her down." By and by the hard words came, and the lines began to thin and shorten up. Until he caught Miss Bird looking at him defiantly,- Mr. Campbell had wished he had kept out of It. There was a direct challenge In her eyes and pose that awoke a feeling of antagon ism and he determined that the vic tory should be his. In time they were the last two up. Of course the hopes and sympathies of the people were with the girl. Even In her alertness she caught whispered words behind her which Bhe was to recall later on. For a long ten min utes It was nip and tuck, as Deacon Green expressed It, and the young man had won the victory. There were no signs of dejection on her part, but the victor held out his hand with a smile and said: "You did nobly. Let me say to you that I am one of a firm publishing a dictionary, and no word goes into it until I have spelled It." "I am glad that I had such a worthy antagonist," she pleasantly replied. The next morning there was great excitement in Freedom. Mr. Camp bell was missing. He had not re turned to the inn after the spelling school. He had not left town In any vehicle. He had not taken any of his effects with him. Would he take the highway thus on foot? He had been seen leaving the schoolhouse, but after that all traces were lost. The constable got busy, and with him a score of people. It could not be that any accident had happened, and telephone messages to the nearest vil lages failed to ascertain that the miss ing man had arrived there or been seen upon the highways. All day the hunt and the talk went on and it was far into evening that Miss Bird remembered the whispered words behind her: "If he spells hef down it must come tonight. Is every thing ready?" Roy Campbell had mysteriously dis appeared. Her would-be lovers must have had a hand in it, for they were all sitting together. There was. no lake or river into which they might plunge him. If they had menaced him! into leaving the village, he would not leave without calling at the hotel. What then? It must be a case of kid naping, though that seemed too bold an offense for the young men to com mit If it was a case of kidnaping, where was the victim being held? Mr. Davis was a quiet, even-tem pered man. Not once a year did he get angry at anything, and he had never been known to strike a man a blow. It was to be expected, there fore, that he would be bewildered when the daughter came to his bed side at midnight and awoke him. "Father, you are to get up and come with me! "Where? What?" I think I know where Mr. Camp bell Is." "Good Lord!" Ten minutes later, when he had Joined her downstairs, Bhe said: "I believe the young men have kidnaped Mr. Campbell and are holding him in the old cider mill. We are going to see." "I will get the constable," he re plied. "We do not want him with us. We are going to manage without him. If we find Mr. Campbell In there alone he will be bound, and we can release him. If the young men are there you are to sail in and knock their heads off!" "But I'm no fighter," he protested. "But you've got to be or I'll deny you as a father! The young men had made prisoner of Roy Campbell and borne him oft to the old cider mill, thinking to drive him away from the village by threats. When he defied them when he was missed and a search began, they knew not what to do except to bind and guard him until Bome plan was formu lated. They were all there, seeking to bribe and renewing their threats. "Hit every one of them, and hit hard!" the girl whispered in her fath er's ear as they listened at the dilapi dated old door. Mr. Davis spat on his hands, kicked the door down and "sailed in." And none escaped him. The town of Free dom has never learned the full particu lars of that adventure, and never will. It has to be content with the marriage that took place a year later. All He Wanted. Carefully Abelard Wilks scanned the fair countryside for a suitable spot. After much thought, he stuck his easel up, got out his paints and started. Oblivious to his surroundings, he was suddenly startled to see a red-faced, perspiring motorist at his side. "Don't put another stroke to it," urged the newcomer. "I'll give you $5 for It as it stands." Something in Abelard Wilks siapped. "It It is very kind of you," he stammered, "but it's not quite finished." "Don't matter one jot" said he of the motor garb, as he got his money out. "I only want the canvas to mend a burst tire." On the Face of It "My dachschund here Is a pedigreed beast" "How can yon say that when any body can see for himself the dog If a low down puor The Lady GERTRUDE STEVENSON Illustrations from Photographs of the Stage Production (Jo Wight, UK. (PsMlaaUon Hlglita CHAPTER XI Continued. "I cams out here today to remon strate with you for living In this house," Slade blurted out, after a pause, "but I've sort of changed my mind," and he reached for the pickle jar. "These pickles fairly make my mouth water. They're very good," he went on, appreciatively. "Well, what's changed you 7" Mary refused to be diverted by the subject of dinner at noon or the all-Important matter of pickles. You know I'm kind of glad to see the place again, and you know, I like this stew," and he proceeded to busy himself with the matter of eat ing anything to gain time under Mary's merciless, persistent question ing. "Have a biscuit," suggested Mary, 'and tell me why you came out here." Slade looked longingly toward the window, as If he expected to find an Inspiration for a suitable answer there. Why, the old rosebush out there yet, holding the fort!" he exclaimed. I must have a look at it," and leav ing his dinner, he went over to the window. Mary hurriedly refilled his plate with stew the moment his back was turned. I declare!" He was still enthusing over the rosebush. "Quite a bush!" He was beginning to feel more at ease. He had the satisfied feeling that comes to every man when his stomach Is full. He felt very benign toward Mary, even toward Katherine and Hayes. I'll tell you what I am going to do, Mary," he began. "You like this house always did. Well, you can stay here. I won't oppose It. There's nothing In the world you want I wouldn't give you nothing. Now, what can I do for you? What can I " Mary shook her head and laughed quietly. Why, Mary!" Slade was distressed at having his patronizing advances treated in such a manner. "Oh, Dan, Dan!" Mary laughed, mockingly, unable longer to conceal her feelings. Slade realized in an In stant that Mary knew everything. "Well, I'll tell you one thing!" he blurted out. "I never cared a button for that girl If that's what you mean! I swear I didn t! "Who said you did, Dan?" Mary's manner was provoklngly calm. I never did! I'm not that kind of a man, and you know It, he pro tested. Who's accusing you? I never men tioned her name. But, Dan, she's very young and very pretty, and I don't blame you as long as you were going to try another wife. You might as well have had one who was young and pretty." Slade pooh-poohed vigorously. "I hope the next one you get will be Just as pretty, for your sake." There isn't going to be a next one, protested Slade, arter tne man ner of all men. 'Oh, yes there is; you've got the Idea now. The mere fact that you missed this time will keep you at It." I've got enough." Slade saw that frankness was the only way out of It. "I'm not going to make a devilish fool of myself again." Don't let your coffee get cold," re minded Mary, tantalizlngly. "Now, Dan, you wanted me to go away, and I will. I've made up my mind." But I don't want you to go away," Slade remonstrated. "We can arrange everything right here and now. This determination of yours is pretty sud den, Isn't it?" "Not as sudden as your change of mind when you OrBt came into this room today." Well, where are you going?" 'Oh, I don't know," Mary replied, Indifferently. "What does become of divorced women?" Now, Mary, don't talk like that; It ain't natural from you." This time Slade was doing the pleading. "You can't go off alone like this." "Oh, can't I? I could a week ago, or an hour ago. Why can't I now? I can't wait to'pack my things." Slade gazed at his wife In amaze ment. If the patient rug on which he had thoughtlessly trampled so long had suddenly been transformed Into a snarling animal, Slade could not have been any more surprised. "Why, Mary, see here," he began, then stopped. "Oh, h 1, what's the use? You meet me half way In the way I want to live, and you'd better come home. We'll open the house In town again, and we'll make the best of things. There! We'll make the best of things." "How can we?" argued Mary. "If I was old-fashioned and behind the times and held you back a week ago, why wouldn't I now? Try as hard as I might you said I couldn't help you, I'm Just th same today as I was a week ago. I haven't changed a bit I'm Just the plain little dud I always was. What's true Monday Is true Tuesday. We can't get back to where we wera once." "You meet me half way and III to my part." Dan bad never known her Governor's A Novelization of Alice Bradley's Play lleMrved) tr Dtvld Balaam. to be obstinate like this before. Usu ally his slightest wish bad been her keenest desire. "Dan, you wanted that divorce?" The question was ominous, but Slade had to admit the point. "Well, you're going to get It!" "But I don't want it now." "You're going to have It, Dan Slade," and Mary's mouth set like a Bteel trap. "You're going to have It if I have to get it myself I" "What do you want with a divorce when I'm willing to give In?" stormed Slade, losing his patience. "How long have you been willing to give in, Dan? What did you come out here for?" She pauBed, but he did not answer, "You came to foroe me out of this house. Don't tell me you didn't, because I know. And I know why you didn't do It You came in here and suddenly you got a look at that girl and me! And it staggered you! For once, something swept you off your feet! You knew then that I'd found it all out You knew I knew everything. And now you've been thrown over by that girl. She's thrown you over! Between the two of us you're caught And that's the real reason that you're not stand ing here shaking your finger In my face and telling me to go out, to get out to go." Mary stopped for breath, and walked up and down the room before she proceeded with her bitter denun ciation. "And the worst of it is that after the girl's gone you actually ask me to take yer back to take yer back just as they all do. It's another man 'come home to mother.' Well, here's one woman that's not going to 'take her husband back!' No, sir! If you pushed me aside for ambition, I might think it over, but you've pushed me aside for that girl's twenty Beven years of prettiness," and she pointed an accusing finger at the door through which Katherine Strickland had gone hand-ln-hand with her sweetheart "That's what you've done for twenty-seven years of youth, for twenty- seven years of figure and eyes and freshness and all the rest of it You put me aside for a younger woman the very utterance almost lost Mary her courage, but she kept on. "You put me aside for a younger woman Now, no matter what you do, you can't get me back!" Now, Mary," Slade begged, begin ning to feel that he was losing every thing worth while. "I take off my ring," Mary con tinued, Ignoring his interruption. Now it's ended," Bhe finished as she laid the ring on the table. Slade strode up to her in the man ner which had kept her subdued all the 30 years of their married life, "You put that ring on again," he com manded. "It's yours! You put that ring on." "No, sir! It's off for good." For the first time Mary's attitude was one of stubborn temper. She was enjoy ing complete mastery for the first time in her life. "Wild horses couldn't have got It off yesterday I thought it was part of my nature! But now, now I'm going to ask you to go. 1 ve got work to do. l m closing the house. I'm closing It for good forever." Mary had said all she had to say Now that her mind was made up, It was characteristic of her to turn to action. She started hurriedly and noisily to clear up the table, scraping the plates and piling them up ready to carry Into the kitchen. For uod s Bake, Mary, don t! pro tested Slade, too bewildered to know what to do or say. 'Go along," urged Mary, as she put the sugar bowl in Its place on the sideboard. "Mary, if you persist In this, I'll go back and I'll smash that house In town I'll smash it to pieces," he threatened. "I'll sell It. I'll give It away break It up! That's what made all this trouble! You know that! Try ing to live up to that d d house. You told me not to build It, and this Is what I get for It" "Go back and smash It You've smashed other thingB that hurt me worse." "Mary, you're not going to turn me out of this house where we've lived so long together?" "You've turned yourself out Go, now." Mary's wrath gathered force as she repeated her command. "Ah come now, Mary " "You go," warned Mary, "before T say something I'll regret." Bhe was scarcely hearing what Slade was say ing now her ears were full of the things he had said to her In her own home, and that night In Senator Strickland's library. "Mary!" The one word was full of protest and a plea for forgiveness. "Go before I say It!" It was all Mary could do to speak quietly. "Mary!" again the word spoke vol umes. "No use," she replied, as she picked up a pile of diBhes. "You pushed me aside for a younger woman, and now you go," and with both hands full of dishes she kicked the kitchen door open with an angry foot, and pro ceeded to busy herself at the sink. "Mary! See here!" he called. Then was no reply. He walked absently to the sugai 'jowl selected a lump of sugar and started to eat It, brushing one hand with the other, and then, still absent minded, Ignored the napkin within easy reach and wiped bis fingers down the front of his coat It was the old Daa Slade, a reversion to type. Then he quietly picked up his bai and gloves and coat. Mary heard him going, and came back into the room. "Dan," she said as she stretched out her band to him. "I can't hate you I just can't. We're going to iay good-by like two old friends." Hs took her hand eagerly and held It After a moment she pulled It awaj and resumed picking up the dlnnet things. Slade looked at her longlnglj for a moment, then quietly opened the door and was gone. CHAPTER XII. New York was knee deep in a bliz zard that had been raging all day. Sleet and snow swept and eddied in blustering gales at every street cor ner. TaxlcabB and motors plowed their way along, their occupants bun dled up to their eyes in wraps and furs. The few pedestrians breasting the bitter east wind felt the cold to their very marrow. With their shoul ders bunched and their heads bent forward, they hurried along under ths lee of the buildings, envying the for- tunates who could afford the shelter of a cab. One woman struggled bravely to keep her umbrella up until she came to the bright lights of a cheap res taurant, where, out of breath and covered with snow, she closed the unwieldy and Inadequate protection and went In. In her long fur coat and her trim hat covered by a soft gray veil, she seemed out of place as she made her way to an empty table. All around her were Bhabby figures, chorus girls having some toast and cocoa after the show, a pair of red- faced chauffeurs, and all the other typical patrons of the grlddle-cake restaurant, Laying aside her wraps and putting her umbrella against the table, mind ful of the numerous signs which be trayed the fact that the management was not responsible for lost articles, she ordered a cup of coffee and some crackers and milk. Talk about your western bliz zards!" exclaimed one of the chauf feurs. "If this Is a sample of your eastern weather I'll stick to my Job with Governor Slade and you can keep your job with Governor Sulzer," 'Why didn't you go Into the hall and listen to your boss talk?" asked his companion. Say, did you ever hear the same speech over and over? It's a great speech, but hearing It ever since we left home " the pause was signifi cant. "Do you go everywhere with your boss?" "You bet," answered the other, "but this Is the first time we've been East." . "Say, they call your old man the 'dl vorced' governor, don't they?" queried Sulzer's man. "Yep." Blade's chauffeur lapsed monosyllabic. "Great note a man runnln' for of fice and being divorced at the same time," came the comment. "But he got elected just the same. Governor Sulzer said he was all right when he put our car at his disposal." "But you noticed my old man want ed me on the box, too?" chuckled the other. "When I'm not drivln' I'm along Jest the same." "What do you do?" "Oh, answer questions mostly. He a grert responsibility a governor is I have to keep my eye on him." "Why?. Did they ever try to as sassinate him?" "Nope! Nearest they came to It was takln' him through Central park on your New York city pavements, But they did present him with a baby catamount In Carson City. I had to receive it." "What did Mrs. Slade do?" Sulzer's man was patently more Interested In the divorce than any other matter connected with Governor Slade. "Was Bhe a high-stepper?" "Naw," came the dUgusted reply, "Well, what'd he do then that they got divorced. "Say, are you looking for trouble? Where I come from they don't criti cize my old man. He runs things out there. I've had enough of this 'di vorced governor' business. I don't know whose fault it Is. She wanted It and he didn't, and she got It! When a woman knows what she wants,' and he banged his fist down on the table, "she's going to get It! Now shut up and have another cup of coffee." (TO BE CONTINUED.) Censor Bans Costly Film, G. A. Redford, the British censor of films, who was formerly censor of plays, has banned the cinema version of Laurence Cowen's drama, "The World, the Flesh and the Devil." The film cost $50,000 to produce and bun dreds of contracts have been made for Its exhibition In London and the prov inces, while foreign rights have been secured for the film to be shown on the continent. In America, India, and even as far away as Slam and Japan, Redford allowed the production of the play, but held that a scene depicting a young girl's betrayal was objection able In the film, No Wonder. ' "My wife Is crazy about becoming moving-picture actress." "Why?" "Because some el the loUrt now talk." Judge. INSULTS NOBLE GAME FRENCHMAN ACTUALLY DARES TO RIDICULE GOLF. Devotees of "Billiards on the Green Turf" Must1 Think of Something In the Nature of a Fitting Punishment. "We Bee on. the green countryside during the warm days of summer per spiring creatures, flushed and un kempt, armed with long-handled clubs, striking the ground with frenzy, as if they wished to discover rare stones or precious metals. It Is golfers at work." Thus writes a contributor to the Paris Journal In giving what he calls a "Guide du Golf." He explains some of the peculiarities of the game. First, with regard to the ground. "Any ground will do, to long as it is not level. Having found your ground, you then take great care to fill up all the natural holes In It Having done so, you make a number of artificial holes, which are all of a fixed shape and depth the more these holes resemble natural holes the better they are. 'Golf is the direct descendant of a w unfashionable sport known as stonebreaklng, which consists of break ing the stones on roads with the aid of a long hammer. The essential dif ference Is that the golfers do not wear wire spectacles like their ancestors, the stonebreakers. "The stones have been replaced by a small India rubber ball, which lasts much longer, being unbreakable. "The problem Is to make this ball go into the holes' on the golf course with out touching it with the hands. That would be much too easy. To push It toward the holes you use a wooden stick with an Iron butt, very Incon veniently shaped bo as to make the problem as complicated as possible. This stick is called a club, and Its num ber is legion, since It is the correct thing to change the club between each stroke, just as you change forks be tween each course. The collection of clubs, contained In an umbrella case, is carried behind the line of fire by a youngster known as a caddy. The player having chosen with great care from among his clubs one which is likely to make a successful stroke, flourishes it with both hands, strikes and misses the ball. There are two wayB of missing the ball one by using too much force and the other by not using enough. The stroke with too much force behind It is the easier; it t consists in striking the earth a few feet behind the ball without touching it When this Btroke is well done it sends Into the air a shower of earth and turf after the style of a fireworks display, with very elegant effect The hit which misses Is more delicate to achieve. In this case it is necessary that your club, after a vigorous flour ish, should make straight for the ball, pass it without touching it, and return by the Impetus given it to Btrlke the player on the back of the head. This Is how I found golf played, and I have studied It a number of years. Rinderpest In the Philippines. Rinderpest, which has decimated the carabao in the Philippines for many years in spite of energetic quarantine measures, will probably be stamped out entirely before long, if the new plan under consideration of immuniz ing the cattle against the disease should prove successful. An official test recently made on 8,000 animals proves that permanent immunity can be attained by a simple process, at a cost of not more than 60 cents a head, and with a loss of less than one per cent of the animals treated. It ia estimated that all the cattle In the in fected provinces could be immunized in two or three years at a total cost of not more than $100,000, which 1b about half what the government now spends each year for quarantine, while $75,000 would IiiBure owners against loss by the immunizing process. A further expense of $50,000 a year would provide for the Inoculation of all young stock and Imported oattle. Sclentlflo American. Farming In Pike County. Commenting on the railways' de mand for higher rates, President Rea of the Pennsylvania told the following: story to a Washington Star reporter: 'You can't raise much on these stony hills, I reckon?" Bald an angler to a Pike county farmer. 'Oh, yes, stranger, we generally get fine crops," the farmer replied. "But you don't raise much grain?" "Sure we do. We raise a sight of barley. I don't know what we Plke county farmers would do If It wasn't for our barley crops." "What do you get for the stuff?" "Oh, we don't sell a grain of It" "Feed it to your stock?" "You don't catch us wasting barley like that." "Well, what do you do with it, then?" "Why, we save every grain of it for Beed." Kills Three Bears With Three Shots. Frederick K. Burnham, with bis wife, probably the most famous California woman game hunter in the world, ar rived at Wrangell, Alaska, recently ind took the next boat for San Fran :lsco. In a telegram to friends in San Francisco Mrs. Burnham told of a sue sessful hunting trip In the far North. Three grizzlies, killed with successive; ihots, and a moose with 60-inch prongs are among the trophies that !ell before Mrs. Buruham's rifle, '