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About The Maupin times. (Maupin, Or.) 1914-1930 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 29, 1916)
SYNOPSIS. I 3- Georgy WarstatC, daughter of Sir George, of the British admiralty, hints at a liaison between her governess, Ethel Wllloughby. and Henry Streetman. Ethel denies it. Henry Streettnan calls on Ethel and while waiting for her talks to Brews ter, Sir George s butler, who is a German spy, about his failure to get at admiralty papers In Blr George's possession. He phones to German secret service head quarters. Streettnan, the German spy, and Roeder (alias Brewster, the butler) are discussing the possibility 0f war. When Ethel appears he tries to force her to get from Sir George knowledge of the sailing orders to the British fleet. Though she believes htm a French Instead of a Ger man spy, she refuses until he threatens her. 6he begs Mm to announce their se cret marriage, as Georgy is suspicious, but he puts her off. At tea Georgy and her lover, Guy Falconer, tease Sir George, and Streetman makes an awkward at tempt to talk politics. You can imagine, perhaps, the sort of furore that would be kicked up by the entrance of a breezy, slangy, talkative, well informed American newspaper reporter Into a typical hlgh-class English tea party, and of hit effect upon a situation exceed ingly tense when he plunges Into a discussion of possible war ft which the party has been trying to avoid. Read about Charlie Brown of New York in this In- atflllmpnt. Streetman, the German spy, Sir George Wagstaff, British naval offi cial, Ethel Wllloughby, secret wife of Streetman, and others are having tea at the Wagstaff home. The party is discussing a play. CHAPTER IV Continued. ' "Ton really ought to see the play. Sir George," the irrepressible Guy re marked. He was always ready to back up Georgy In any deviltry she might embark upon. "Yes! It deals with our next war," that young lady added. "As if a playwright knew anything of that!" her father scoffed. "It's horribly insulting to us Brit ons," Mrs. Falconer remarked. "Drives In a lot of home truths and gives us English a fearful ragging!" Guy added cheerfully. Sir George looked at him somewhat suspiciously. "Who wrote It? Bernard Shaw?" he inquired. And there was much re proof in his tone. To him, Shaw was like a red rag to a bull. "I don't know who wrote it," Geqrgy said carelessly. "I never can remember the beasts' names." "It seemed to me to present a very striking picture of what may very likely happen," Henry Streetman in terposed. Mrs. Falconer turned to him In as tonishment She did not think that anyone in his senses could have taken that silly play seriously. "You don't mean you really believe there Is going to be war right over there on the continent?" she exclaimed. "I do, ratlier! And I fancy Sir George agrees with me don't you. Sir George?" the wily Streetman ven tured. He was determined that If he did not succeed in forcing Sir George's hand be would at least give him a run for his money. Sir George looked bored. "Really, sir, I should prefer not to discuss that matter," he said once more. Georgy laughed gayly. "When father puts on his mantle of dignity like that, it means serious business," she observed. And there was a deal of truth In her statement, frivolous as she seemed. But Georgy was no fool. She had not lived with her father close upon eighteen years for nothing. She knew unerringly how to Interpret bis every manner. "But why should there be war, even If an Austrian duke did get killed by some Serbian or other?" Mrs. Fal coner asked. "Of course I've only aeon the headlines," she hastened to add, to disclaim any such plebeian pastime as the reading of newspapers. "Behind that assassination there Is much of International politics and di plomacy," Blr George explained. "In fact It's rather a long story." Then, father, don't tell it!" his sar castic daughter bantered. Her plea. however, was entirely superfluous. Sir George had not the slightest intention of committing such an indiscretion. Bat Guy Falconer was ready enough to air his opinions. "Oh, It's not Just Austria and Ser bia I" he said confidently. "The trouble Is that Germany Is patting Austria on the back, and whispering, 'Don't give In, old lady! And Russia Is saying, Serbia, old girl, you're dead right We'll back you.' And there yon aref "Georgy you're not having any tea:" Ethel observed. "Oh! I don't want any. If I did, I'd ask for It" Miss Wagstaff said. "Tea, mother?" Guy Inquired of his doting parent Their discussion of tho subject uppermost In the minds of all had driven even the Important mat ter of tea completely out of his mind. "None for me, thanks!" Mrs. Fal coner replied. "I've quite outgrown It ever since I came back from the B fates," The others looked aghast at her astounding confession. To thor oughgoing Britishers such a remark borders close upon lese niajeste. And then Brewster announced an other caller. "Mr. Charles Brown!" he pronounced in his best manner it somewhat su perfluous statement, perhaps, because all of Brewster's manners were of the best CHAPTER V. Mr. Brown of New York. In another moment a slight wiry man, well along In the thirties, came breezily into the room. The first glance told that he was an American. His nervous alertness, his assurance, the slightly slouchy but nevertheless ag gressive manner in which he held him self, differentiated him unmistakably from the other men In Ethel's sitting room. Guy rose to greet him. He had in vlted the American to Join the party, for Guy was almost like one of Sir George's family. "Hello, Charlie!" he exclaimed with undoubted enthusiasm. And straightway he Introduced the newcomer to Ethel Wllloughby, to whom, as hostess, Guy infallibly turned first. "You remember my mother?" Guy asked him then. "You bet I do!" Mr. Brown said heartily as he shook hands with that smiling lady. "Didn't we have a bully time in Chinatown?" "Rather!" Mrs. Falconer replied and they both laughed over their reml niscence. To Henry Streetman the American bowed pleasantly enough. And towanl Sir George he displayed the utmost af fability. 'Glad to know you. Sir George!" he said as he gripped his hand, "I want to warn you, though. In case the others haven't, that I'm a newspaper man journalist I think you say over here." "Yon do frighten me," Sir George replied with a twinkle in his eye. "I've rather a terror of your profession, es peclally when they come from the States." Charley Brown grinned at him. "Don't worry, Sir George!" Guy In terposed. "Charlie doesn't mean all he says." "Father's only spoofing you," Georgy assured the reporter. "Spoofing? Spoofing?" Mr. Brown repeated In a somewhat bewildered fashion. He had met many words, during his short stay In London, tha be had never before encountered In the English innguage. But his quick mind was not long at fault. "Oh, sure! Kidding that's It . . But, Sir George, I don't blame you. w e do butt in a good deal Into things that don't actually concern ns or tho public, but I happen to belong to a newspaper where It isn't a crime for one of its staff to act like a gen- tlemnn; so don't think I'm making mental notes or that you havo to put "Father's Only Spoofing You.1 the brakes on. If yon skid, It's just a private tea party, and that ends It" "Yon greatly relieve me," Sir George Wagstaff said, smiling. "But I'll try not to skid as you put It" "Then that's all right!" the Ameri can declared. "And, speaking of tea, won't you have some?" Ethel ssked blm. "You bet I will!" he responded In bis Yankee vernacular. And he stepped quickly to the table behind which she sat "It's a great habit tea," he dl .ateJ, as he took the cup from ber. "I'm going to Introduce It at the Knickerbocker bar when I get back. It's got cocktails skinned a mile," he said fervently. "Old man, what are you doing ever here?" Guy Inquired, "Oh I Just snooping around 1 The paper thought they needed a change In their London news, and I knew I needed one, so I came over." "It must be very interesting work," Ethel Wllloughby observed. She was more than Interested In Guy's quaint friend. His sort was new to her. And though his breeziness might not have been considered quite good form in an Englishman, it was a quality which the British find both refreshing and entertaining In an American. It Is Interesting," Charlie Brown told her. "But you sound as If you were going to Interview me; and for the love of Mike don't!" "Who Is Mike?" Sir George Inquired Innocently, in his endeavor to grasp the Intricacies of Mr. Brown's conver sation. Oh, he's an Irishman we Americans swear by," the newspaper man replied. "Fancy that! How odd!" Mrs. Fal coner exclaimed. She did not know that Mr. Brown was spoofing now. Since you're a newspaper man you must know everything," said Georgy Wagstaff. She quite fancied the stranger; and she wanted to know him better. "Well, at least I try to convince my editor of that" he replied. Then tell us about the war! We're very ignorant We only read the head lines," she said. "Father won't talk. It'd be a breach of something or other." "Do tell us your opinion. Mr. Brown!' Ethel urged. "We're all so very In terested." I suppose I can talk where Sir George can't and I do love to talk,' Brown admitted. No one knew his pet falling any better than himself. "Silent Charlie that's what they call him!" Guy Informed the others de lightedly. "You don't mind, Sir George?" The American turned Inquiringly to Sir George Wagstaff. Naturally not!" the older man as sented good-naturedly. "As you said, this Is only a private tea party.' 'Then please do!" Georgy insisted. "If you don't Guy will!" She dearly loved to rag her devoted admirer. Away!" Brown declaimed in mock satisfaction at being able to scatter his opinions broadcast "Well, I'll tell you. While most of you Londoners have been wondering whether the Irish are going to start a civil war, or whether Gunboat Smith did foul Car- pentler, I've been digging up some in side dope, and, believe me, there's go ing to be a merry old bust-up. Rus sia, I know, Is mobilizing; and so Is Germany." "But can Russia, with her internal conditions, afford to fight?" Streetman asked him. "I don't know whether she can af ford to or not" Charlie Brown said. "But I believe she is going to." "I take it you are not particularly Informed on Russia," Streetman re torted, somewhat acidly. "Oh, yes I am!" the undaunted Yan kee replied. "I know it's awfully cold there, and that they drink vodka, and have revolutions, and send their pris oners to Siberia, and apart from that I'm pretty darned sure Russia's going to fight" Words habitually flowed from Charlie Brown's mouth without the slightest effort. It Is so with bores. But Mr. Brown wag far from being a bore. What saved him was the fact that he always said something well worth listening to. Guy Falconer did not allow the con versation to interrupt his ministry to the Inner man. He stepped up to Eth el's table and took a sandwich off a plate. But before he regaled himself with it he paused long enough to sny: "You know, I think Charlie's right." "Go on, Mr. Brown!" Georgy said, Impatient nt the Interruption. "Don't you think Germany can de feat both France and Russia?" Street 111 nn demanded. "Maybe maybe!" Charlie Brown said. "But with England on their side" Streetman did not wait for him to finish. "England, with n civil war In Ulster on her hands, wouldn't dare " he be gan heatedly. And then Mr. Brown Interrupted him. He bad not the slightest lnton tlon of being browbeaten by anybody. And there was a vague antagonism In Streetmau's manner toward him that roused him mightily. "Civil war!" he exclaimed. "Why, If England has a scrap with Germany, that Ulster trouble will stop In ten minutes; and every Irishman that goes to the frout will lick three Germans maybe four. . . . I've seen the Irish mix things up In New York." Streetman subsided, for the moment beneath that avalanche of words. "And you think Germany is quite prepared to face those odds?" Ethel Wllloughby asked the American. "Not Intentionally," he replied. "The Germans have got everything down so pat in theory that nothing can stop them; but God help m If their theo ries don't work." There was no mis taking where Brown's sympathies lay. For, though he bad not by words ex pressed bis real feelings In the mat ter at Issue, there was a fervent ring In his voice that sufficiently betrayed bis sentiments. Meanwhile Henry Streetman re garded blm with extreme disfavor. Perhaps for the moment, among alt those enemies, be momentarily forgot that Ills Interests required that be should by no means appear to hold any opinions that one might not expect In the most insular of the English. "It seems a pity," he said, "but Ger many is the only nation In the world that Is ready absolutely ready. She Is the only nation that can risk war with any chance of victory." Ills companions looked at him In as tonishment And Sir George Wagstaff even was stirred out of the attitude ! of apathy that be was wont to usume. You talk strangely, sir, for an Eng lishman," be told Streetman. But his manifest reproof seemed lost upon that gentleman. My nationality does not blind me to the facts," the spy said hastily. I admire the Germans In lots of ways," Charlie Brown continued, in what was really only a futile effort to appear neutral. "At all the arts and sciences they're wonders. And ifs a cinch they've got a great military ma chine." The most marvelous In the world!" Streetman agreed with him heartily. Charlie Brown set his empty teacup on the table. "You're dead right there!" he as sented. "Why, back In New York I know a waiter at Luechow's bully German place! who was telling me one day bow Germany had everything doped out If war came he'd chase back to his home town go to his ar mory, and in his locker, number 256, he'd find his uniform, his shoes, bis gun properly oiled, some of that dried pea soup, fresh water In his canteen! They've been putting fresh water In those canteens every day for two years past In fact everything a sol dier needs would be there waiting for him. Then he'd march down to the station and in a couple of hours ho and "Yeu Talk Strangely, Sir, for an Eng lishman." hundreds of thousands like him would be off to the frout. . . . Now, you've got to hand It to a country that's got It all planned out like that." "By George, you have!" said Guy Falconer. He had listened, like the others, with increasing wonder as the American told his story. "If England were only prepared, too, along similar lines" Ethel Wll loughby said. She did not finish her remark. There was no need of that for the vain wish that lay behind her words was only too evident to them all. "But she Isn't prepared not the least bit is Bhe, Sir George?" Char lie Brown turned to the member of the British admiralty as a man who could easily back up his statement In an'au thorltatlve fashion. Sir George Wagstaff vouchsafed an enigmatic smile. He was, to be sure, vitally interested lu everything the newspaper man had said. But he had no intention of allowing himself to be startled Into making any Ingenuous admission. "If you don't mind, sir, I should pre fer merely to listen," he said quietly, "I get you," Brown replied, with a quick nod of understanding. "Force of bablt makes me ask questions. guess I thought I was Interviewing yon." And, taking out bin cigarette case, he asked Ethel's permission to smoke. Always an enthusiast, he had thrown every ounce of his nervous en ergy into the discussion. Wnr was a subject that, in those days,- wag ever present In his mind. "Preparation such as Germany's Is often the surest guaranty of peace," Streetman remarked, reluctant to quit the topic that most Interested blm, He hoped, too, lu the course of the tea party, to gather Information of some sort that might prove of value to him He had been quick to perceive that the American was uncommonly well In formed upon conditions throughout Europe. "Ordinarily such preparation makes for peace," Brown admitted. "But not with Germany 1 She's been Itching for a chance to demonstrate ber theories but the trouble Is, she guesses wrong, Diplomatically, ever since old George W. Bismarck died, she's never been right And Just now she's guessing she -can lick France, Russia and Eng land with tho rest of the world thrown In." "And perhaps she's right" Henry Streetman could not refrain from add ing. CHAPTER VI. Ons of England's Sons. Charlie Brown lighted his cigarette In silence, while he digested Street- man's amazing statement Brown, as you see, Is unusu ally shrewd and quick of ap prehension. Does It occur to you that hs suspects Streetman and takes this method of draw ing him out? (TO Ul CONTINUED.) ROMANCE SEEN FROM SADDLE Galloping Hoofs Constitute an Eternal Challenge to the Spirit of Youth. Romance likes to come on horse back; the Jingling spurs and bridle Irons chant a happy pean In his ears, and from the saddle, as from the throne, he looks out over the workaday world, says a writer In Scribner's Magazine. Romance always has been linked with riding; In the playroom mounted on a gallant rocking chair youth rides into a land of golden deeds; later he swings in long gallops on the faithful hobbyhorse into spicy and fugitive ad- enture. To the page on a prancing palfrey and to- the cavalryman In khaki the lure of romance is the same ; the rhythm of galloping hoofs thuds always in the imagination, the lady's favor on the lance and the quivering scarlet guidon flutter alike a mysteri ous and eternal challenge to the spirit of youth. "To horse and away," and all the world's before one. Stevenson always wanted to write a story about a man galloping up to an Inn at night, and the very suggestion brings a tingle to the imagination: By on the highway low and loud. By at the gallop goes he. He heard htin In the sleepless mid nights of his childhood; and, Indeed, the sound of thudding hoofs always makes the heart beat faster. The so ciable clattering of a single footer on asphalt, the crackling of twigs and leaves on the quiet autumn trails, the muffled rhythm of a canter on the turf, its resonance on a bridge all these make music In the ears and bring the ery smell of adventure. To hlra who rides there is always "something lost behind the ranges" and his heart earns for it King Coal and Peat Southern gas and power producers are watching experiments being con ducted in Sweden to determine the value of the use of peat powder as fuel for locomotives. A committee which conducted several practical tests reports that the value of peat powder as fuel is one-third greater than the fuel value of coal. The cost of peat powder Is estimated at $-1.02 a ton compared with the price of coal $6.03 per ton. The committee has asked In appropriation from the Swedish government of $350,000 to be used to erect a peat powder factory, ncqulre peat bogs, and convert the locomotives of one railway line Into peat powder burners. There Is an Immense quan tity of peat in the bogs of the South, especially In Virginia and Florida. Some firms have been mining the peat and using It under boilers as fuel with satisfactory results and at a cost fur below that of other fuel. It Is also pointed out that the raw peat, cheap ly prepared, might be used in gas pro ducers. The process to be used In extracting the gas would be very sim ilar to the process used in the extrac tion gas from coal. It Is thought feasible to place gas works In the peat districts and pipe the gas pro duced, without loss, for about 25 or 30 miles to gas engines where the power could be converted Into electricity for traction purposes. Wall Street Jour nal. Rewarding Italian Soldiers. A salary scheme Is being worked out In Italy, which promises to have good results. Salaries will be paid by employers to their employees, who nre on active service the continuation of which will be regulated according to the number of yenrs of previous serv ice. The first clause provides for tho reinstatement in their former posi tions of all employees having served for at least one year with the firm for which they were working at the entrance of Italy Into the war. The clauses relutlng to salaries during the wur are as follows: All worklngnien with the colors who havo been with a firm for at least five years ure en titled to a third of their usual sal aries during the continuation of the war. This applies to married men with families. In nil other cases the employers shall puy the men ut the rate of a quarter of their former sal aries. Men with ten years' service to their credit will receive, if married, with families, one-half of their sal aries, and If not married n third. The decree only applies to firms employing nt least three workmen. Oxygenerator Is Popular. We did not have the locomotive, the aeroplane, ' the submarine, dread naught electric lights, telegraph or telephone, wireless or automobile. These are all recent Inventions. Twen ty years ago when the automobile came out we did not have electric lights, top wind shield, demountable rims, electric starters, multiple cylin der, perfected springs and a hundred and one other Inventions which make It what it Is today. It was nothing more than four wheels and a single cylinder engine, and a box for a body. Compare, If you will, the highly per fected automobile of today. Those of the better class udopt necessities, hut only after the public demands It, The public has shown that Its wants the oxygenerator on Its cars, and It Is only by public demand that It will be fur nished by the manufacturers. Unfair. "Sometimes I think Henrietta Is a little unreasonable," said Mr. Meekton, "Henrietta wears ber skirts as short as she likes and I never any a word." "But you silently disapprove?" "No. All I object to Is her calling me down this morning because my new summer trousers are too lofty round the ankles." FANS FORGET GREAT PLAYS WHEN STAR MAKES MISCUES Detroit Baseball Writer Roasts Crowd Which Rides Donie Bush When Midget Has Bad Day. Some members of the overheated throng that attended a recent Sunday's ball game in Detroit a very few for tunately, were guilty of a contempti ble lack of sportsmanship In "riding" Donie Bush and "Red" McKee because these players did not have particularly successful plays In the field, says a De troit baseball writer. It should be a source of shame to Detroit fandom to have among its number persons who would abuse Bush for a couple of bad plays under the conditions that prevailed at the park. Between the heat and the baked con dition of the Infield, the little short stop was thoroughly up against it and It was due to bad luck and not lock Donie Bush. of trying thnt he didu't get every ball hit in his direction. He was almost overcome by the heat In the second In ning nnd was advised to quit the game, but stuck It out until the seventh. No mntter how badly Donie might piny on any afternoon, he would not merit the sort of stuff yelled at him by some of the patrons. He is one of the veterans of the club nnd with Cobb and Crawford, has kept this city ou the baseball map. No player tries harder than Donie and few men In the big leagues can point to more continu ous presence in the lineup than can the midget. He hus missed only a handful of games since coming here. When the fans feel Inclined to criti cize because he "boots" a couple they would do well to remember the dozens of brilliant plays that have saved games or won them. For every bad error he can point to a score of almost superhuman stops or catches. Even In this game he made three hits nnd scored two of Detroit's runs, so he was more than offsetting his de fensive slips by his contributions to the attack. Considering the fact that he was playing only on his nerve, he didn't do so badly. Another player who was abused un justly by the unreasonable element of the crowd was McKee. "Red" hud to work harder than anybody else In the game except the pitchers nnd the rival backstop, nnd he was wrapped up In a protector, mask ond shin guards, which are not exactly cooling garments. Poultry Scratching By C. S. Anderson of the Colorado Agricultural College. If you take pride in marketing good eggs ut a good price, consider the fol lowing : Do not keep mongrel stock. They nre not high producers, uud their eggs ure not uniform ns to size and color. Keep laying hens separated from sit ting hens. Gather eggs twice dully In wurm weather. The sale of Infertile Incubator eggs never will help you to establish a high er market price for your product. Separate the male birds from the flock except during the breeding sea son. Fertile eggs are poor keepers. Market eggs In a standard egg cuse. Never huul to town over rough rouds or in an open basket or pun exposed to the hot sun. You will have a larger number of "firsts" If you market at least twice a week. In keeping eggs, provide a dry, cool, well ventilated place. Fertile eggs must be kept below OS degrees to check germination. Eggs are affected easily by bad odors. Do not keep In a musty grnln bin, or lu the vegetable cellar, or where they can absorb the odors of kerosene and gasoline. Reshaping Panama Hats. To reshape a minima hut, first of all Immerse the brim of the hut In hike warm water until it Is thoroughly wet Then you can mold It with the fingers to the desired shape by gently pulling nnd stretching. After this press the brim with a hot iron over a wet cloth. In the front of the hat, If yuu want a curved brim, press only a little at a time, nnd from the crown outward lu a sldewlse movement, curv ing the Hrlm as you go. In the back, for the straight brim, press perfectly (hit placing the brim flat to the edge of the board with the crown below. Afterward lay the hat with the crown up and put heavy weights on the back; brim until It Is thoroughly dry.