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About The Maupin times. (Maupin, Or.) 1914-1930 | View Entire Issue (May 14, 1915)
m Ik h of a Coin By Verda Matteson Joyce (Copyright, 1916. by W. G. Chapman.) "Hello" challenglngly. "Hello yourself" suspiciously. Thus two young men of Irvlngton, meeting, almost collided at a hedge and tree-environed corner of the country village. - "New tennis racket?" projected the first speaker, Albion Merkle, after a critical stare at the paper-enveloped parcel the other carried and clearly outlined as to shape. "Oh, yes," was carelessly nodded, with a free swing of the article In question. "Yours a golf club?" "That's it," acquiesced Merkle, cas ually. "See here, aren't we working at cross purposes?" "What do you mean?" questioned Ned Dallas. "Nellie MIbs Warren. Oh, come now, Dallas!, you're thinking of a igame at tennis with that charming young lady." "I am going to her home this after noon, yes." "So am I," coolly asserted Merkle. "You see, It comes to a problem of precedent. I'm the oldest. I've known her longest, and her venerable father pleasantly told me that my company was acceptable." "Why!" flared out Dallas, "he said exactly that same thing to me." "Yes, he is a liberal minded old fossil and wants to give his lovely daughter a chance. Here's three of us, and the best man wins." "Three?" questioned Dallas. "I'm including Roy Elston." "You needn't. His cake Is dough." "How do you know?" "Old Warren told me so. That Is, ie entertains a suspicion that Elston Is a fighter. Those scars on his face He Produced One. make the old fellow Buspect he was a prize fighter once. You know Mr. Warren Is almost Quakerish in his dislike for fighting." "H'm!" muttered Merkle. "Then it's between you and I. See here, we both want to see the charming Nellie this afternoon. I'll tose you to see who goes." "Done!" acquiesced Dallas. The shrewd eyes of his companion twinkled cunningly as he thrust his band Into his pocket. He fumbled (two coins there. "One guess," he Bald. "Heads or iallB?" "Heads." "Throw." Merkle smiled to himself as he Angered those ready coins under cover. He produced one. Dallas tossed. "Lost," announced Merkle cheerily M It came down "tails." ' As the precious twain who had risked their chances If it ever came to the ears of Nellie Warren that her company had been bargained tor as If she were a prize package went their way, Just behind the hedge there arose In view a smiling, bright-faced young fellow, It was Roy Elston, to whom the would-be lovers bad alluded. His face was, Indeed, scarred on one side. He was athletie. There was too much manhood In the clear open counte nance, however, to suggest the bruiser, "So, Mr. Warren has taken an antipathy to me?" mused Roy. "I must disabuse the impression," and going home he wrote to a certain General Revere, as follows: "Dear Old Friend: "Mr. Robort Warren, whose daugh ter I know, and who seems to be an old acquaintance of yours, has formed a prejudice against me. Won't you write him assuring him as to my In tentions as a peaceable, respectable Individual?" Then Roy took a photograph from bis pocket, smiled upon It, pressed It to bis Hps and murmured softly: "Dear, sweet Nellie!' For Roy In bis quiet earnest way bad weeks since outstripped Albion and Ned in the estimation of Miss Warren. In fact, there was a clear understanding between them. Mr. Warren treated Roy with rather scant courtesy, but Roy hoped to soon re move this unfounded prejudice. That evening Roy called at the War ren home. Its dignified proprietor bestowed a rather cool nod upon him, as he passed him walking in the gar den with his daughter. Then, the lovers once alone, Nellie indignantly told her favored suitor some things he had not heard of. It seems that there was no danger of Roy fearing his rivals, at least for some time to come. Both were laid up at home, badly battered and dis figured. "The Idea of tossing a penny to see which should call upon me first!" fluttered Nellie. "The idea of it!" "Why, where did you hear of that?" voiced the discreet and astonished Roy. "It Is all over town," and Nellie gave the facts of the case. It seemed that Merkle after leaving Dallas had boasted of his two trick coins, loaded to come up beads or tails, as he chose. Of this the duped Dallas had heard. He sought out his rival. Re BUlt: a fist fight bitter and to a finish, and neither would be presentable for some time to come. Some girl friends had come to spend a week with Nellie and a grand pro gram for outing and pleasure had been formulated. In their beds the wounded rivals groaned and writhed as they heard of the great doings of the happy group, where modest unpre tentious Roy Elston was the prized chevalier of the occasion. Mr. Warren did not welcome his daughter's suitor with any warmth at any time. In fact, his chlllness was constantly on the Increase. He had acted several times as though inclined to call Roy to an in terview, probably to ask him to dis continue his attentions to his daughter, This rather depressed Roy, and one afternoon aB he and Nellie sat resting on a bench after a game at tennis, he rather covertly watched Mr. War ren, who was pacing up and down a near path in a manifest state of un easiness or excitement. "It's coming," murmured Roy ap prehensively, as Mr. Warren after a thoughtful pause advanced directly towards the spot where he and' Nellie sat. "Ahem!" observed her father. "Young man, I hope to be considered a fair-dealing and truthful individual." "I have never heard that disputed," averred Roy promptly, wondering what his unusual and mystifying dec laration might preface. "Just so Just so," floundered Mr. Warren. "Well, as you know I am a man of peace. I don't see how I got the impression, perhaps the influence of an idle remark, but somehow I fancied you were of a belligerent dis position." "Why, papa!" piped in the indig nant Nellie "he is a a perfect dove!" "At all events I was unjustly preju diced," went on Mr. Warren, "and I wish to make amends. I have Just received a letter from an old friend of mine who knows you very well." "Perhaps you mean General Re-, vere?" intimated Roy deftly. "Exactly, and and I wish to apolo gize for my mistaken opinion of you," broke out Mr. Warren, impetuously. Roy gladly and eagerly clasped the extended hand of the man who held his fate In his power. "And, by the way," pronounced Mr. Warren, "I I think Nellie will be in terested in- reading the general's letter." With glowing eyes Nellie perused the epistle that had come In answer to the request of her lover. It ex plained those tell tale scars. It re cited a deed heroic In the collapse of a small theater building, where Roy had risked his life, but had saved some twenty imperiled women and children. Mr. Warren watched her face for a moment, remembered that he was once young himself, and discreetly retired. Nellie sprang to her feet, her whole being breathing out soulfulness. She threw her arm around Roy's neck, "Oh! you brave, modest hero!" she cried adoringly. Capitalize Your Leisure. No wiser advice was ever given than the foregoing title. The sage continues it by saying that such an investment pays excellent dividends and often means the financial and moral success of a life. Leisure can not be utilized to better advantage than by reading helpful. Inspiring, stimulating and wholesomely amusing articles, verses and fiction. With this In view, we endeavor to offer you a page of Just the above description we endeavor to assist you In capital izing your leisure to the best advan tage. We are always glad to receive your approval and disapproval ot our page; It aids us In giving you what you want. Napoleon at Waterloo. The rumors that Napoleon was drugged or intoxicated at Waterloo are absolutely without foundation. He was a temperate man in all ways, man ot Judgment and lightning-like deductions. He was In no sense man dominated by passion. It is, however, true that at Waterloo he was showing the effects of age, ill health, and too strenuous labor. He had been in the saddle for IS hours, and was somewhat sluggish, but he still gave his commands. Yet It Is true that he did not command his army with the clear and brilliant Judg ment of his more youthful period. r- CATBIRD, BROWN THRASHER AND WREN Brown Thrasher Above, Bright Reddish Brown; Below, White; Breast and Flanks Spotted With Brown. (Prepared by the United Slates Depart ment of Agriculture.) According to a "hew bulletin Issued by the department of agriculture, en titled "Some Common Birds Useful to the Farmer" (farmers' bulletin No. 630), the wren, brown thrasher and catbird are three very useful neigh bors to the grower of crops or fruits. The diminutive house wren fre quents barns and gardens, and particu larly old orchards in which the trees are partially decayed. He makes his nest in a hollow where perhaps a woodpecker had a domicile the year before, but he is a pugnacious char acter, and If he happens to fancy one of the boxes put up for bluebirds he does not hesitate to take it. He is usually not slow to avail himself of boxes, gourds, tin cans, or empty Jars placed for his accommodation. In food habits the house wren is en tirely beneficial. He may be said to Uve upon animal food alone, for an House Wren Above, Reddish Brown Below, Soiled White Wings and Tall Barred. examination of 88 stomachs showed that 98 per cent of the contents was made up of insects or their allies, and only 2 per cent was vegetable food, Including bits of grass and similar matter, evidently taken by accident with the Insects. Half of this food consisted of grasshoppers and beetles; the remainder of caterpillars, bugs and spiders. As the wren is a prolific breeder, frequently rearing in a season from 12 to 16 young, a family of these birds must cause considerable reduc tion in the number of Insects in a garden. Wrens are industrious for agers, searching every tree, shrub and vine for caterpillars, and examining every post and rail of the fence and every cranny in the wall for Insects or spiders. The house wren is only one of a numerous group of small birds of simi lar habits. There are within the limits Catbird Slate Color, Pale of the United States "34 species and subspecies of wrens, occupying more or less completely the whole country from the Atlantic to the Pacific. With the exception of the marsh wrens, they all appear to prefer some cozy nook for nesting site, and, as it happens, the farm buildings afford Just the place desired. This has led several ot the wrens to seek out the habitation ot man, and he is benefited, by their de struction of noxious insects. No spe cies of wren has been accused of harm, and their presence should be encour aged about every farm, ranch, village or suburban residence. The brown thrasher breeds through out the United States east ot the great plains, and winters in the South Atlantlo and Gulf states. It occaslon- ally visits the garden or orchard, but nests in swamps or in groves standing upon low ground. The thrasher's fa vorite time for singing Is in early morning, when, perched on the top of a tall bush, or low tree, it gives an exhibition of vocal powers which would do credit to a mocking bird. Indeed, in the South, where the latter bird is abundant, the thrasher is known as the Bandy mocker. The food of the brown thrasher consists of both fruit and insects. An examination of 636 stomachs showed 36 per cent of vegetable and 64 of animal food, practically all insects, and mostly taken in spring before fruit was ripe. Half the Insects were beetles and the remainder chiefly grasshoppers, caterpillars, bugs and spiders. A few predacious beetles were eaten, but on the whole the work of the species as an insect destroyer may be considered beneficial. Eight per cent of its food is mads up of fruits like raspberries or currants which are or may be cultivated, but the raspberries at least are as likely to belong to wild as to cultivated va rieties. Grain, made up mostly of scattered kernels of oats and corn, is merely a trifle, amounting to only per cent. Though some of the corn may be taken from newly planted fields, it is amply paid for by the de struction of May beetles which are eaten at the same time. The rest of the food consists of wild fruit or seeds. Taken all in all, the brown thrasher Is a useful bird, and prob ably does as good work in its se eluded retreats as it would about the garden, for the swamps and grooves are no doubt the breeding, grounds of many Insects that migrate thence to attack the crops of the farmer. The catbird, like the thrasher, is a lover ot swamps and delights to make Its home in a tangle of wild grape vines, greenbrlers, and shrubs, where it Is safe from attack and can find its favorite food in abundance. It is found throughout the United States west to the Rocky mountains, and ex tends also from Washington, Idaho and Utah northward into the prov inces ot Canada. It winters in the southern states, Cuba, Mexico and Central America. Reports from the Mississippi valley Indicate that the catbird Is sometimes a serious annoyance to fruit growers, The reason for such reports may pos sibly be found in the fact that on the prairies fruit-bearing shrubs, which afford so large a part of this bird's food, are conspicuously absent. With the settlement of this region comes an extensive planting of orchards, vine yards and small-fruit gardens, which furnish shelter and nesting sites for the catbird as well as for other spe- mm., Below; Under Rump Chestnut. cles. There is in consequence a large increase In the numbers of the birds, but no corresponding gain in the sup ply of native fruits upon which they were accustomed to feed. Under these circumstances what is more natural than for the birds to turn to cultivated fruits for their foodT The remedy Is obvious: Cultivated fruits can be protected by the simple expedi ent of planting the wild species which are preferred by the birds. Some ex periments with catbirds In captivity show that the Russian mulberry Is preferred to any cultivated fruit Feed for Balancing Ration. Every locality in the country can produce a kind of feed capable ot balancing no the corn ration. E HAD AN EXCELLENT ALIBI Pop ular Town Constable Had Novel Scheme to Avoid Arrest for Vio lating the Speed Law. TTa cnt hlmKplf an automobile of a standard make last summer and had good deal of enjoyment out of it. It should be explained that he is a man of some nrominence in his com munity, for he is the town constable d widely and popularly known for miles around, says the Brockton (Mass.) Enterprise. When in his new auto he was the victim of many re- mioota tnr ft "lift." and as he is of the accommodating sort most of the people of the town have had a ride in that car. Tint hin new noHRRBsion broueht an outbreak in him during the summer season of that well-known disease, 'onoofl mania." After he had learned to handle that auto it became his de Heht to eo careening over the roads at from forty to fifty miles an hour, and to whirl down the main street in a Rwlrl nf dust, startline every horse in sight and sending modest plodding teams into the gutter to make way for him. One day a friend, after wit nessing his dash down Main street and SDectacular stop at his omcel shook his head and remarked: "What'd ve dew. constable, if they Bhould try tew arrest ye for speedin .' "T)nw?" nnlrl tho cnnstahle. "What'i I dew, cap'n? Why, I'd Jus' pull my coat back, show em my badge ana tell 'em I'm tryin' to catch a man wanted nn a warrant, and the con stable puffed his cigar contentedly. Pessimistic. "Don't worry. That boy of yours will be heard from some day." T don't doubt that," said the fa ther gloomily. "What I'm afraid of is that I will be the only person to hear from him and his greeting will be followed by some stereotyped re quest for money." TO BE SURE. First Suburbanite My new home is finiBhed at last. Second Suburbanite So you're sat isfied, now, eh? First Suburbanite No? but my wife and the builder are. The Long Talk. "After I got through with my re marks," said the orator, "the people applauded loudly." T Joined in that applause," replied Miss Cayenne. "You were interested?" "Yes, and gratified. I was afraid for awhile that you had grown ab sent-minded and thought you were fili bustering." Mercenary Publicity. "Don't you know that you have the wickedest city on earth?" "No!" exclaimed the old resident. "How did you get that information?' "I read it in the papers." "That's Just press-agent stuff in tended to make out-of-town people think that this is the place to spend money and whoop things up." Avoid Loan Sharks. "You never catch me going about giving people good advice," said the loan shark," with a superior air. "That's a fact," answered his client. "Your business owes Its existence to the fact that people won't take good advice when It's offered." The Hard Part. "Lazonby says he feels the need of something to pick him up in the morn ing." "I know what it is." "A stimulant?" "No; a derrick to lift him out ol bed." Cheerful Idlers. 'Where do all the people come from who stand around and watch a new building going up?" 'They come from nowhere In par ticular and are apparently bound for the same place." All His Creditors, In Fact "Hello, Dee, where are you bound "I'm going over to the Jail. There' a man I want to see there." "Only one? There's a dozen who can't get there any too quickly foi me." Willing to Divide. "It's an old maxim that people don't always vote the way they cheer." "That's quite true," said the politi cian. "But let me get their votes and I care not who gets their cheers." No Limit Mrs. Newlywed I want a cook, but she must be capable. Head of Employment Agency Madam, I have several on my books capable ot anything. Judge. PINNED FLY TRAP Contrivance That Is Both Simple and Effective. Will Catch the Summer Pests In Quantities Materials for Its Con struction Cost Little and It la Easily Made. Now is the time to begin the fight against files, in homes and stables and stores. There are other ways of fighting the disease-bringing pests be- The Parts of the Fly Trap. sides swatting them and setting out By paper, sticky or poisonous. One of the most effective ways is to trap them in large quantities. Many fly traps have been invented, but here is one to which your Uncle Sam gives his official approval, for the depart ment of agriculture issued a special bulletin describing it and telling how to make it. Any boy can make one, It, is so simple. The trap was either discovered or invented by one of the department's agents in South Carolina, where he in troduced it with great success. It can be made of any size, but the most gen erally useful is about 16 inches long, 12 inches high and 8 inches wide. The materials will cost from 10 to 20 cents. The trap is in three detachable parts, lettered A, B and C in the pic ture. These are held together by hooks (D) at either end. On the bot tom section (C) are two pieces of tin, fastened with tacks. These are to hold the bait. The top of a black ing can or a milk or paint tin serves well for this purpose. The middle Bectlon (B) is a frame covered with wire netting. It is like a gable root. In it are six holes (F) to let the flies through into the upper section (A). This Is an oblong cage, also of wire netting, and is let down over the sec tions. The flies, attracted by the bait, en- The Fly Trap Complete. ter around the bottom (C), and, hav ing fed, fly upward, seeking an exit. They go through the holes into the outer cage, from which there Is no escape. When enough flies have been caught the trap is Immersed in water. The handle (H) will be found conven ient for carrying the trap. Fight Unemployment Evil. In France every city of more than 10,000 population is required to estab lish a free municipal employment bu reau. The bureau Is composed of an equal number of employers and wage earners, known as a "parity commis sion." It is appointed by the mayor. The eystem has worked to great ad vantage in mitigating the evils of un employment. In 1912 there were 81,t 657 demands for work, divided among 25 bureaus, and 31,315 offers ot em ployment were made to meet these de mands. Of these, 21,520 were accept ed. By co-operation of the various bu reaus the floating labor is kept under supervision and mobilized where greatest need and opportunity exist Cannonading Deadly to Fish. Heavy cannonading by warships In the North sea is having a peculiar ef fect on fish. Numerous reports from Holland say that great shoals of the finny tribe come up Into the rivers and canals ot that country, leaping out of the water as they sometimes do on a summer's day. Swarms ot fish are to be seen In places where they had never been found before. No other reason than that cannonading is dis turbing the fish has been advanced. Resemblances Are Misleading. A suit over an estate in England was recently decided by the resem blance ot a four-year-old boy to his fa ther. The Lancet casts grave doubt on such resemblances, saying that un til all tho permanent teeth have grown they are misleading.