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About Vernonia eagle. (Vernonia, Or.) 1922-1974 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 22, 1922)
When in Portland I STOP ----- At the — Empress Hotel Sixth and Stark Sts. Center of Business District Moderate Prices Building Contractors Plans and Estimates Furnishe Agents For Eagle Lumber Co. YELLOW FIR LUMBER WE BUILD ’EM McGown & Anderson Vernonia, Oregon. Haute Biilt of all kinds kept instock or manufactured on short notcie. We carry a stock of Dry Finish Lumber from which to make your selection. All kinds of mouldings: roofing paper: lath, windows, doors. No order too small or too large. Let uafigure witn you. Then Into the vision of on- paralyzed ami duiufouuded watcher ame iba little wagon, pulled by the old >>o|- wed woman. Bob’s wife, In lie: le«t, mid there,, propped upon pillows, lay Hamilton Swift, Junior, his soul ■shining rapture out of Ills great eyes, a bright spot of color ou each of Ins thin cheeks. He lifted himself on one e o\v, and for an instant something see.tic I to l-a wrong with the brace which was aider bis chin. Beasley sprung to him nnd adjusted It tenderly. Then he bowed elaborate ly toward the mantel-piece. “Mrs. Hunchberg," lie aid. “ iili . v I have the honor?" And oilered Ills arm. “And I must have Mister Hunch- berg.” chirped Hamilton. “He must walk with me.” “lie tells me.” said Beasley, “he’ll he mighty glad to. And there’s plate of bones for Slmpledoria.” “You lend the way,” cried the child “you and Mrs. Hunchberg.” “Are we all in line?” Hensley ginneed back over his shoulder. “Hoo ray! Now. let us on. IIo! Music there!” “Ilr-r-ra-vo!” applauded Mister Swift. And Bensley, his head thrown back and his chest out. proudly led the way, (tapping nobly and in time to the ex- West Oregon Lumber Co., Cletskanih, Ore. ■ QLe Holiday Spirit Caught and Held Before Your Eyes ötyrifitaiafi ÏJartij 4 "You Lead the Way," Cried the Child; “You and Mrs. Hunchberg.” = BY B ooth T arkington SVTVUFS7Ò PART 1.—Newcomer in a small town, a young newspaper man, who tells the story, is amazed by the unaccountable actions of a man who, from .the window of a fine house, apparently has converse with Invisible personages, particularly mentioning one "Simpledoria.” The youth goes to his bearding house, the home of Mrs. Apperthwalte, next door to the scene ot the strange proceedings, bewildered. PART II.—Next morning he dlscovere his etrange neighbor is the Hon. David Beasley, prominent politician, and uni versally reapeejed. Telling ot his last night's experience, he is markedly inter rupted by a fellow boarder, a Mr. George Dowden. Later, with Miss Apperthwalte. he is an unseen witness of a purely Imaginary jumping contest between Beas ley and a "BUI Hammersley." Miss Apperthwalte appears deeply concerned, there apparently being no possible ex planation of the strange proceedings. PART III.—The reporter learns that Beasley and Miss Apperthwalte had at one time been engaged, and that the young lady had broken the engagement because of Beasley's "lack of imagina tion." PART IV.—The “mystery" of "Simple- doria” and "BUI Hammersley" is ex plained by Mr. Dowden. Beasley Is car ing for a small boy, Hamilton Swift, Junior, a helpless invalid bodily though more than ordinarily bright mentally, tne eon of dear friends who are dead, and “Slmpledoria" and "Bill Hammersley” "Slmpledoria' are creature» creatures of Beasley’_ s ___ and ______ the small ............................... boy'. imagination, ~ Beasley humoring the little »ufferer by the "play acting.” PART V.—The reporter becomes ac- qualnt>-d with David Beasley and Is _ ln- vtted to hla home, where he meets Hamil ton Swift. Junior, and his circle of “In visible* " which Beasley and George Dow den have made very real to the child. PART VI — Beasley is a strong candi date for 1.1* tarty’s gubernatorial nomi nation, his chief enemy being one Simeon Peck, a small-souled, mean-thinking In dividual The reporter Is sent hy his city editor to see Peck, who declares he has "something on" Beasley. Peck and a number of his cronies, with two reporters, set out for Beasley’» house, which Peck declares la the renter of Christmas fes tivities to v. i.ich Beasley has not deigned to Invite hie party’s workers, to whom, however, be l«x>ks for support in his po litical aspirations. Assured of bls coming triumph. Peck invites Georce Dowden, as Bearley’s closest personal and political friend, to join the party, taunting him with the fact of his not being onsldered good enough socially to be entertained by Beaa'ey. Watching from the outside, they see Beasley and his colored servitor Bob. though apparently alone In a brightly Illuminated room, with a ma--tficently decorated Christmas tree. se< i gly en tertaining a large number of gu -sis. Miss Apperthwalte has joined Peek’s party, and, considerably mystified^ they await developments They tear David Beasley (Dowden declares, for the first tlm- in his life) make a speech, his only auditor ap parently being Old Bob, though he talks as if addressing a large gathering. Fol lowing the speech, Beasley, hy himself, dances a "quadrille," with aruazing fidel ity to detail, and a full complen- nt of Invisible partners. Pe< k Is jubilant. In sisting that Beasley Is crazy nnd that ho will have the news "all over town” to morrow. Miss Apperthwalte Is bewildered. The dance conclti led. the watchers for the first time become aware of the pres ence of Hamilton Fwift. Junior, and all realise that David Beasley—In Miss Ap- perthwaite’s opinion a man of no ¡¡»agi nation—las devised the whole scheme to «lye pleasure to bls little crippled ward IS» reporters promise Peck the story will be "all over town" tomorrow, and that individual realists how greatly the human Interest of the story will strengthen Beaa- ley’s position. He retires crestfallen. Ml»» Apperthwalte. Dowden and the young reporter join Beasley’s "party,” the young lady humbly begging the ad mission ol “just one fool, it's Christmas tiawi” _______________ > hllarating measures. Hamilton Swif*, Junior, towed by the beaming old mam my. followed In his wagon, his thin little arm uplifted and his lingers curled as if they held a trusted hand. When they '"reached the door, old Bob rose, turned In after them, and, still Addling, played the procession and himself down the hall. And so they marched away, and we were left staring into the empty room. . . . “My soul I” said the Journal re porter. gasping. “And he did all that— just to please a little sick kid!” “I can’t figure it out.” murmured , Sim Peek, piteously. “I can,” snitl the Journal reporter. “Tills story will be all over town to morrow.” He glanced at me, and I nodded. “It’ll be all over, town,” he continued, "though not in any of the papers—and I don't believe it’s going to hurt Dave Beasley'» chances any.” Mr. Peck and his companions turned toward the street and went silently. The young man from the Journal overtook them. "Thank you for send ing for me,” be said, cordially. “You’ve given me a treat. I’m for Beasley!” Dowden nut his hand on my shoulder. IIo had not observed the third figure still remaining. “Well, sir,” he remarked, shaking the snow from his coat, “they were right about one thing: It certainly was mighty low down of Dave not to invite me—and you, too—to his Christmas party. Let him go to thunder with Ids old invitations. Fm going in. any way! Com«» on. I'm plum froze.” There was a side door Just beyond the bay window, and Dowden went to It and rang. loud and long. It Beasley himself who opened It. “What In the name—” he began, as the ruddy light fell upon Dowden’» face and upon tne, standing a little way behind. “What are you two—snow banks? What on earth are you fellow» doing out here?” “We’ve come to your Christmas par ty, yott old horse-thief!" Thus Mr. Dowden. “Hoo-ray!" said Beasley. Dowden turned to me. “Aren't you coming?" “What are you waiting for, old fsk low?” said Beasley. I wafted a moment longer, nnd then It happened. She came out of the shadow and went to the foot of the step*, lier cloak falling from her shoulders as she passed me. I picked It up. She lifted her arms pleadingly, though her head was bent with what seemed to me n beautiful «ort of shame, She Mood there with the snow driving against her and did not speak. Beasley drew hla hand slowly across his eyes—to see if they were really there. I think. "Itavld,” she said, at last. “Tou've got so many lovely people In your house tonight, isn't there room for for Just one fool? It's et, rlNtmaa time!” (THE END). J •¡run »fiotflder, “Stf long so tfie rauier makes a good deal; but whea he '1 L SI i RN n TT y FÄT u TÜNION ilumps.”—hla voice was «till Boft, but the steely glint returned to his eyes— ‘then me an’ my friende step in. SabeY Bein’ the Unit kid In camp, we’ve con- Uitooted ourselves hie guardian—Just Ike every man in the plnee will do Boon’s they hear of his bein' here.” lie turned back to his companions. The watery-eyed man, after one long, wistful,farewell glancetoward the bur, resumed hla fruit less search of the goods. There was nothing now to divide his at tention ; he knew the meu with whom he had to deal, and real ized that hence forth the bar was to be as far re moved from him as though a wall of granite inter vened. But, to his credit be Lt said, even with the realization came n new firmness to hla eyes. “What’s that on the top shelf?" he asked suddenly. “That? Oh, that Is—I dunno,” hesi tated the storekeeper, as he took down the object In question and examined It critically. “It got in with some goods a year ago, an* has been up there ever since.” "Why, you chump!” cried the cran berry owner derisively, "not to know a Jumpin' jack when you see one! I've bought lots of 'em to home for the children. See!” and he pulled a string which sent the uerubat tumbling over the top of his red pole. “Just thing for a kid.” "Just the thing,” repeated watery-eyed man, drawing a «lull hug of gold dust from his pocket : “It’ll make the boy laugh.” As he was going out, the owner of the cranberries stepped to hid side. "Here, take this along with you,” he said, relinquishing the can to which he hud been clinging so fondly. “It’ll help to make out a Christmas for th boy.” •And thin, too.” "And this,” added the owner of the sardines nnd the owner of the baked be-n«; and then Sheriff Dobson pushed before them and slipped something I. .„hi and heavy into the hand which held the Jumping-jack. “It’s a nest-egg for the kid," he said gravely. “Now yon better go hums an’ fill up his stockin’; an’ to-morrer you can tell him Merry Christmas from us ALF u dozen unshaven, red- shirted miners were gath ered about the dingy coun ter of Bilger's, the one store' In cutup. It was Christmas eve, nnd they wanted some thing extra for their dinner on the morrow—Just to keep them In mind of the day, they . But there wus little nov- elty In the forlorn remnant of cans u | m n t* • shelves, or In the half-empty bm eis and boxes under the counter am massed in the corners of the room. Ono man found a stray box of snr dims, and took possession of it with the remark that, while it was not “Cl -istmasy," he could have the sut- i-f; . ¡Inn of knowing he was eating tlie only sardines in camp; ano 1.er drew out a cun of Boston baked beans rum behind a squadron of tomatoes; while n third, of more investigating and determined turn of mind, hunted among the boxes and barrels until he actually discovered a can of Cape Cod cranberries. This brought the entire group of Christmas hunters into a compact, avx.ug circle; and while they were nxioe ly debating the pro and con — . ly the con—of u division of the door opened quietly and a - o« i i ouldered, watery-eyed man en ter» J. “Have you got any toys?" he asked, hesitatingly. T’ae storekeeper stared, and unani mously as though by preconcerted ar rangement, the group around the canned representatives from Chpe Cod turned md stared elso. “Any—whut?" the storeken»er asked blankly. “To; s,” the man repeated looking ut the ea rciiug faces with abashed em- barra .rnent—“things to play with, I mean, like children have at Christ mas. You see. see,* with a curious ■ mingling of apology and pride in his voice, “my little ten-year-old boy came in on the stage Just now—clean from his grandma’s, back to Missouri. I’ve been sendin’ for him these two years, jf>ut couldn't seem to get to it till I gSMck a vein last month." ♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦ He lurched heavily against the coun ter. His watery eyes began to fill, partly through his condition and partly from some long dormant tenderness which was beginning to reawaken. “The boy’s consider'ble childish,” he went on, rousing himself a little at LAUNDRY AGENCY the consciousness of being listened to by men who usually pass<*d him with out recognition, ‘‘an’ likes things to Gall in for Good Work. play with. So, bein’ it’s Christmas, an’ he Jest cornin’, why, I thought niebbe I’d better hunt some toys.” Oregon “Of course,” tried Dobson, the Vernonia sheriff, heartily; and "Of course,” “Of course.” came promptly from others of the group. And then they looked about the store inquiringly, eagerlj. in search of some thing that would please a ten-year-old boy who was tty childish. But there was little they At the saw; only huge miners’ boots, py ramids of picks and shovels and blankets, barrels of flour and beans A Comfortable Place and pork; and on the shelves, tobac co and canned F. E. Malmeten, Prop: goods, and a small assortment of earthen and tin ware ; and then, at the far end of the store, a bar for the accommo dation of those Just South of the Bank Bldg. who were thirsty, There were no dry nnd fancy goods and notions upon the shelve«, no show Confectionery for Ladies cases upon the counter, no display In Pool Room in Connection the one dingy window. Such things would begin to make the'r api>earance Candles, Soft Drinks, Ice Cream only with the coming of the first wom Coffee, Sandwiches, Pie, etc. an, and that was not yet. NEW FIXTURES “Rather a slim show for playthings, Dobson," said the owner of the cran berries, after a fruitless search with A. E. FENNER his eyes from one end of the store to the other. Don’t s’pose a puck o’ playin’ cards would do?” as his gaze paused hopefuly on an extensive as- sortment of that popular article, “They has pictures on ’em.” “Wouldn’t do at all,’ answered Dob- son decidedly, "They ain’t moral; an’ the first kid who patronizes us has got to be brought up moraL Say, you,” to the watery-eyed man, who was edging towards the bar at the far end of the store—“none o’ that 1” "None o’ what?” asked the man quer ulously. "I nln’t steppfn’ on your toes.* HOILE DUNLAP “No, but you are on the kid’s. See here.” His voice had an Incisive ring Vernonia, which had made many stronger men tremble. “You ain’t walkin’ the same line you was twenty-four hours ago. Then you was a poor, no-’count drunk- ird, who’d a right to dig his grave xlthout opposition from nobody; now you’re markin’ out a trail for that kid I. O. O. f.—Vernonia Ixxige No. 246, to Toiler. See? Me an’ my friends meets every Tuesday night at 8:00 here ain’t no call to Interfere between o’clock, in Grange Hall. —Dr. B. L. father an’ son,” dropping hia voice to Sears, Nobh Grand; J. W. Roue, Sec tn <*asy, familiar tone, and placing a band encouragingly udou the tremu- ret try. Season Greetings ergerson bros Aero«» fro id l lie Bunk 4 lohn Bryan’s Barber Shop You Are Next! Meet Your Friends Verro nia Hotel “Vernonia Poni Hall” Contracting and General Building Carpenter Work DOLLE magazine SUBSCRIPTION BUREAU 195 16th St., Portltncl, Oregon: Every Publication under the .sun for the leisure momenta of folks who know enough to have them. This Season I . Recommend The American Magazine The Saturday Evening Post Cosmopolitan Vanity Fair Col ier’s Weekly Youths Companion Baseball Motion Picture Magazine Country Gentleman Life (That Jester) Pictorial Review Ladles Home Journal Womans Home Companion Good Housckeepdig ETUDE VOGUE Modern Prlcilie McCalls Magazine Peoples Home Journei Delineetor DOCTORS KAUFFMAN and • 1.50 1.50 1.50 2.50 2 AX) 5.00 2.00 IX» IJ5 2.00 TAYLOR Physicians and Surgeons Phone 922. DR. H. KAUFFMAN Rewidence 1’hone 02K'< Poetoffice Box L FortSt GfOV«. Ort. ’ ML C. L TAYLOR Assidane« I'huns IKS