Woodward County Democrat and Palace Weekly Pioneer. (Woodward, Okla.), Vol. 4, No. 49, Ed. 1 Thursday, March 25, 1909 Page: 2 of 8
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N.
Woodward Domoorat
W. A. Pyne, Pub.
WOODWARD,
OK LA.
MR.
PRATT
A Tale of the Cape
Cod Fisher Folk
By
Joseph G. Lincoln
A.uth*r of
“Caa'n EH," " Vartmrj of
the Tid*," Etc.
Illustrations by T. D. Melvlll
kJ Copyright, tw;, k. b. Wow *
SYNOPSIS.
Mr. Solomon Pratt began romioal nar-
ration of story, introducing well-to-do
Nathan Scudder of his town, and Edward
Van Brunt and Martin Hartley, two rich
New Yorkers Booking rest. Because of
latter pair's lavish expenditure of money,
I’ratt's first Impression was connected
with lunatics. Van Brunt, it was learned,
was the successful suitor for the hand
of Miss Agnes Page, who gave Hartley
np. Adventure at Fourth of July cele-
bration nt Kastwich. Hartley rescued a
boy. known as "Reddy," from under a
horse’s feet and the urchin proved to be
one of Miss i‘age’s charges, whom she
had taken to tlie country for an outing.
Out sailing later. Van Brunt. Pratt and
Hopper w. re wrecked In a squall. Pratt
landed safely and a search for the other
two revealed an Island upon which they
were found. Van Brunt rented it from
Scudder Hnd called It Ozone Island. In
charge of a company of New York poor
children Miss Talford and Miss Page vis-
Ueii Ozone island. In another storm Van
Brunt nnd Hartley narrowly escaped be-
ing wrecked, having aboard chickens,
pigs. etc., with which they were to start
a farm. Eureka Sparrow, a country girl,
was engaged as a cook and Van Brunt
nnd Hartley paid a visit to her father,
who for years had been claiming con-
sumption as an excuse for not working.
Ppon another Island visit by Miss Page,
Eureka diagnosed Hartley's case as one
of love for Agnes. At a lawn fete. Van
Brunt shocked the church community by
raffling a quilt for the church's benefit.
Hartley Invented a plan to make Wash-
ington Sparrow work.
CHAPTER XIV.—Continued.
We walked on together the rest of
the way, laughing and talking. No-
body took the business serious at all.
They all thought Washy would go to
work when he found 'twas either that
or get out and bustle for a place to
put his head In.
We marched Into the Sparrow yard
like a Fourth of July parade. Hartley
knocked at the kitchen door. Editha
Op ,-ned It.
“Is your father in?" asked the Twin.
“Yes, sir," says Editha. "He’s in. I
s’pose you'd like to see him, wouldn't
you? Pa, here's Mr. Hartley."
There was a groan from the dining
room. Then some coughs, like a string
of small earthquakes. Finally a dread-
ful weak voice orders us to step right
In. The rest of the crowd went on
ahead. I stopped far a jiffy to speak
to Editha.
“Where’s the rest of the children?"
I asks.
"I sent 'em over to the grocery
store on an errand.” she says. "I
thought you’d be along pretty soon.
They took the baby with ’em."
“Hoick’s your dad been since be
heard the news?” says I.
“Oh, he was going on terrible last
night. Had nerve spells and fired the
chairs around and carried on so we
was all scared. Hut he went out about guardlsm.”
nine o’clock with a letter he’d wrote,
ami this morning he seems better.
Sav, Mr. Pratt,” she whispers, eager,
“is it true that me and L)ewev are go-
ing to live with the minister's folks?”
"Maybe so," says I. "Why?"
“Oh! I hope so," she says. "Then
I could go to school, and pa wouldn't
be ’round to Jaw us, and Keky’d have
a little rest. She does need it so."
Think of a 12-year-old young one
talking like that. Hut the children
was all grown-ups In that family.
I went ,into the dining room. The
delegation was gathered on one side
of the table, and Washy was crumpled
up in his rocker on the other. He
looked some seated.
“Well, Mr. Sparrow," Hartley was
beginning when I come In. “have vou
made up your mind about the position
whl^h tills gentleman has been kiud
enuqgU to offyx you?" lie fluted uy
Hrofwa, as he said it.
“HUyT” asks the. invalid, f«wbl*.
Mamin laid tt all over again; tw*
haA ftji stop Hi the middle'wlo^ t<y gtve
th^andWale fv>r the Jf'h'a chkne'e fb
co ■“
candidate for the Job a chhntVfb
DtiWi iHtn lnwth U few krtfc,
AlWi'll th j(t )\*ashy paid w^a ,
Awd uiniKlihiK.seulto'i v'rii fciuco 4i
1 mrtumt ot i>vti ••• UVlM .wo
to; anid«* /herW iu4ch.l»MH»,.|'lJ ,'Pi<eUy«t'»i|)lvered.
illiuol .iijiiur!
‘'Have you made up your mind?”
Interrupts Martin. “Answer quick.
The time of these gentlemen la nlu
able.”
“Don’t, Mr. Hartley. Please don't
How can you cruellze a poor feller thia
way? Don’t you know that any kind
of stir and rumpus Is the worst thing
for me? Any doctor’ll tell you
that—"
“Bosh!" ’Twas Dr. Penrose that
said It, and he stepped forward.
“Bosh!” says he again.
“What’s that? Why, If it ain’t my
old friend the doctor! I never noticed
you was there. I’m awful glad to see
you, Doc. Seems Just like old times
You’ll excuse my not getting up, won't
you? I’ve wasted away so since you
was here that—’’
“Bosh!” says the doctor again
"You’re fatter than ever. There’s
nothing in the world the matter with
you but pure downright dog laslness.
Don’t cough on my account I don’t
care to hear it."
Washy looked at him as reproachful
and goody-goody as a saint
“I forgive you for them words, doc-
tor,” says he. “ I realize I ain’t been
able to pay my bill to you, and so I
can make allowances.”
“Allowances! Why, you confounded
impudent loafer! I’ve a good mind
to—”
He was purple In the face. Peter
Brown caught his arm.
“Ain’t this a little off the subject?"
he says. “Look here, Sparrow. We
need a good husky man about your
size at the hotel. We’U pay him ten
dollars a week. I’ve offered you the
job. Are you going to take it?"
“There ain’t nothing in the world 1
should like better, Mr. Brown. I like
to work, and—’’
. “All right, then. Get your hat and
come along."
“Come along! Why, how you talk!
If I was to stir out of this house
’twould—"
’Twas Scudder’s turn. “You’ll have
to stir mighty quick," says he. “I
won’t have no do-nothing tramps In a
house of mine. Either take this chance
or out you go next Saturday, bag and
baggage.”
"Why, Mr. Scudder! Why, Nate!
How can you talk so! Just for a little
matter of rent. You don’t need it.
Ain’t you been telling mo that you
had a couple of soft rich folks over to
Horsefoot Bar that was paying you a
good living and more, too, all by them-
selves. Don't you remember you
said—”
"Shut up!” ’Twas Scudder who got
purple now. It looked to me like the
Invalid was having all the fun. He
seemed to be expeettpg something and
playing for time. I guess Hartley
thought so, too, for he says:
“That’s enough of this. It’s plain
that he doesn't intend to accept Mr.
Scudder, you have given him formal
notice. Come on."
Then Washy broke down. He
sniffed and half cried and wanted to
know things. The work would kill
him in a day or so, of course, but he
didn't mind that. When he thought
of his poor fatherless children—
"The children will be provided for,"
says Martin. "I told you that. Mr.
Morton will care for Editha and the
baby.”
“Mr. Morton? Morton? Seems to
me I’ve heard that namfe afore. Ain't
lie the gambler? The one that come
near being run out of town for stealing
a bedquiit from the poorhouse, or
something like that? 1r he the man
to trust with innocent little children?"
There it was again. The minister
was red as a beet and stammering
about “impertinence" and “black-
I thought he'd lick that
consumptive right then and there. It
took another five minutes to calm him
down. And so far we hadn't gained an
inch.
And just then a horse and buggy
come rattling into the yard. The
horse was all over lather, like he’d
been drove hard, and the buggy was
white with dust. Everybody looked
out of the window. Sparrow looked
and his face brightened up. I cal'late
'twas exactly what he had been hoping
and waiting for. Martin Hartley looked
and his eyes and mouth opened. So
did mine.
‘Twas Lord James that was driving
tho buggy, and there was a young
woman with him. The young woman
was Agnes Page.
Agnes jumped from the step and run
to the kitchen door. In spite of the
dust, and her clothes being rumplPd
and her hat shook over to one side she
was as pretty as q.plqtive. The next
minute she .was la the ruwu. staring
solemn at all u» meh.mAjidqher eyes
seemed tt> look rlrihb thranfth a feller.
•'Why"' Agties^-Mlns" Paget’* iJqx*
. . I
snoiJjuim
graveyard quick-step, Washy Spar-
row’s cough was it
"No, ma’am,” says he. "I guess not,
but I don’t know. The shock of it, sod
—and all, has pretty nigh finished me
up. I'm afraid. I don't cal'late I’ll pull
through, but I may. Let’s hope for the
best, anyhow. But, ma’am, If you't
heard the things that’s been said
to me!”
She whirled around on us and her
eyes flashed chain lightning.
“Ain't you ashamed?" she says.
“Great strong men, every one of you,
and all banded together to torture a
poor helpless Invalid.”
A feller’s conscience Is the biggest
fool part of his Insides. Now I knew
that what we’d been doing was exactly
the right thing to do, but I felt as
mean and small as if I’d been caught
stealing eggs. I kind of shriveled up
as you might say, and tried to scrouge
back into the corner. Maybe I’d have
got there, only the rest of the crowd
was trying to do the same thing.
All but Hartley. He was a lot set
back, but he spoke up prompt.
"Miss Page," said he, "I’m sure you
don't understand. We—’’
She was back at him afore he'd be-
gun.
“I think that Is exactly what I do—
understand," she says. "At any rate, 1
mean to understand thoroughly. Mr.
Sparrow, what have they said to you?”
Washy cleared his throat. When he
answered ’twas In a sort of beg-pardon
voice. You could see how he hated to
speak 111 of anybody. He wouldn't hurt
nobody’s feelings for the world. Bless
him! he was a cute shyster, If ever
there was one.
“It's like I wrote you, ma’am,” says
he. "They’ve offered me a place to go
to work, and I’ve been awful tempted
to take It. I want to take It. My land
how I want to! But I don’t feel able
to dig cellars. I wouldn’t last at it
more’n a few days and then wbat
would become of my fatherless chil-
dren with nobody to look after ’em?
1
ws
x
“I’ve Heard Enough,” She Says, Cold
aa Ice.
t'lahfiAd H*rtl*y.! '“Wfi'ftlrt
“YoSeardv^hi !'sat A°.'****" ,
*ou y1;pi****'
mldd,* J ■ oil .11 .1. ’”Y.« VsU* .tamM W’dfeM'tt AW
I8 ..Meek ,. TM?lsvarM >looked’'ai"faa*; Add/41
And because I think of these things
and can't bring myself to—to—passing
away from ’em so soon. I'm going to
be put out of my house and home. My
little home, that I’ve thought so much
of—"
He had to stop and wipe his eyes.
Agnes’ eyes were wet, too, and her
feet patted the floor. "Hut why?"
says she. “Why?"
“I don't know—that is. for sure,
ma'am. You see I ain't been able to
earn nothing for some time. Eureka,
poor girl, she’s had to look out for us
all. And I b’lieve the doctor there,
his bill ain’t been all paid; and we
owe Mr. Scudder some rent; and I
s’pose likely Eureka would be able to
give more of her time to the Island
work, and maybe for less pay. If—"
“I see," says Miss Page, scornful. "1
see. And so, for a few dollars you are
to be turned out of your home. You. a
poor sick man! Oh! I can hardly be-
lieve there are such people In the
world. And yet, I have had some ex-
perience.”
She flashed a look at Martin as she
said it. He turned white under his
sunburn.
"Miss Page," he said, "you do not
understand. I must Insist that you
hear our reasons for this proceeding."
“it is not necessary,” she Hays, cold
as ice. “I have heard enough."
The minister plucked up spunk to
speak. Hut she snapped him up Hhort
as pie crust. Then 1 tried It—and got
my medicine.
- '!¥r- Sparrow," says Bhe, "let them
•do jtheir worst. The children shall
PoriHMtpj my school. As for you, 1
^hean itoe-»?i Then she turns to me.
fin ‘**>r** Mr. Van BroM know of this?"
gheasks. Course I couldn't say nothing
Atlt.J HtarOg^nT, ,,j M
'' "Th;»nkiiSBMx!hsB*J|" ,*«*..:**/!
Altd I aln.'bsU*' tWBt/Uifli «eefi'*th*'4loMrth ormH'irr eritmo,
.......I»g-a*»ll*!eit4r.blure tff If***;
wwHt^*i*»4rt4; tj iv
hfpmwdi:
kin
fust' Ihwu <w4wy*liunMI wuJM I* .-but Van
hlmMft'J '"t,*",i' I' •oiflo bit...iiri-.(J . i)
\ft 'Uto-
wMfe
And Agnea, too! Am I too late for ths
refreshments?"
He smiled, but nobody else did.
“Edward,” says the Page girl, “will
you do a great favor for me?"
"Yours to command, of course," he
answers, puxzled.
“Will you find a boarding place for
Mr. Sparrow?"
"Who? Eureka's father? Why,
certainly. What’s the trouble? Is It
time for the Sparrows to nest again?
He can come over to the Island with
us. There’s plenty of room. Hey,
Martin?”
“Never mind your friend, please,”
says Miss Page. "If he comes will
you protect him and treat him kindly?
Thank you. Then that Is settled. Gen-
tlemen, I believe there Is no necessity
for your further Inconveniencing your-
selves. Your several bills will be
paid.”
I looked at the doctor and he looked
at Poundberry. The minister and
Brown and Scudder looked at each
other. Maybe it seems queer that we
didn’t speak up and make her hear
our side—the right side. It does
seem strange now, I’m free to say, but,
as for me, I couldn't have faced her
then no more than the boy with the
jam ’round his mouth could face
bis ma.
Hartley was the only plucky one.
He says, swallowing once, aB If he
was gulping down his pride, “Miss I
Page,” says he, "you are treating me
most unfair. To judge without a hear-
ing Is not—”
She held up her hand. There was a
kid glove on It, and even then I
noticed how well that glove fitted.
“Mr. Pratt,” she says to me, “I want
to ask you one question. Who Is re-
sponsible for this? Whose idea
was It?” ’
I hemmed and hawed. The other
fellers might not have meant to do It,
but somehow their eyes all swung
round to Hartley.
"1 Bee,” she says. “1 thought as
much. There Is a proverb, I believe,
concerning what is bred In the bone.
Thank heaven, to me there are some
things In this world which outweigh
my personal convenience and—money.
You needn't answer, Mr. Pratt. He
pays your salary, I believe.”
My, but she said it bitter and scorn-
ful. Hartley was white afore, but now
he was like chalk. He bowed to her,
stuck his chin into the air and
marched out of that house as proud
and chilly as a walking icicle. The
rest of us, all but Van and Agnes,
trailed along astern, like a parcel of
kicked dogs.
Washy sung out to us as we went:
“Good day. gentlemen,” he says; “I
hope you'll come and see me some-
times while I’m over to Horsefoot. I
forgive you free and clear. I haven't
no doubt you meant for the best."
The doctor and the rest was brave
enough when we was out of Agnes
Page’s sight and hearing. They was
talking big about what they’d do to
Sparrow when they had a chance. But
1 noticed none of ’em said much to
Hartley. He marched ahead, stiff and
white and glum. Peter Brown’s last
word to me was this:
Pratt,” sayB he, "if you see a hole
in the sand anywheres ’tween here
and the beach, mark my name around
It, will you? The way I feel now I’d
like to crawl into It and pull it after
me. One about the size of a ten-cent
piece would do, and even then I guess
there’d be room and to spare for the
rest of this gang."
When 1 got down to the skiff Van
comes running to catch up. He caught
me by the arm and hauled me to one
side.
“Skipper,” says he, "what the devil’s
the matter?"
1 told him in as few words as I
could. He roared. "That’s all right,"
he says. “I’ll fix that."
He went over to bis chum and
slapped him on the back.
“Brace up. old man.” he says; “It’s
a mistake, and a mighty good Joke on
you, isn’t it? Of course I’ll square you
with Agnes."
Hartley turned on him so quick that
he jumped.
"If you pleaRe," says Martin, cutting
and clear as a razor, “you will perhaps
be good enough to mind your own
business. If you mention one word
concerning me to that lady you and 1
part company. Is that thoroughly
plain?"
‘Twas the first time I’d ever heard
them two have a hard word. The trip
to Ozone island wag as joyful as a*
funeral.
tTO BE CONTINUED.)
Self-Made Man.
All men who achieve anything tnus\
be self-made. No accident of birth
or wealth can make any of the sons
of men a man. All of us are born
children. Powerless we must remain
to death unless we take the tools at
hand and not only learn to use them,
but use them, and go on using them
until we have wrought out some work
.worth while in the eyes of men.
o—----
BlWp where In Ireland are the holy
H- ,hey pray by them
W'rfliWft -tone, that wtll
PHYSICIAN
ADVISED
Taking Lydia E. Pinkham’s
Vegetable Compound
Columbus, Ohio. — “I have taken
Lydia £. Pinkham’s Vegetable Com-
~ . pound during
v change of life. Mr
doctor told me ft
was Rood, and since
taking it I feel so
much better that I
can do all my work
again. I think
Lydia E. Pinkham’s
vegetable Com-
pound a tine remedy
tor all woman’s
troubles, and I
__Inever forget to tell
my friends what it has done for me.”
—Mrs. E. IIanson, 304 East Long! St,
Columbus, Ohio.
Another Woman Helped.
Graniteville, Vt —“I was passing
through the Change of life and suffered
from nervousness and other annoying
symptoms. Lydia E. Pinkham’s Vege-
table Compound restored myhealthand
strength, and proved worth mountains
of gold to me. For the sake of other
Buffering women I am willing vou
should publish my letter.” — Mrs.
Charles Barclay, R.F.D., Granite-
ville, Vt
Women who are passing through this
critical period or who are suffering
from any of those distressing ills pe-
culiar to their sex should not lose sight
of the fact that for thirty years Lydia
E. Pinkham’s Vegetable' Comi>ound,
which is made from roots and herbs,
has been the standard remedy for
female ills. In almost every commu-
nity you will find women who have
been restored to health by Lydia E.
Pinkham’s Vegetable Compound.
TROUBLES OP JUNGLE DENTIST.
Dentist—I wonder does he really
want that tooth pulled, or Is he schem-
ing for a breakfast?
BABY HORRIBLY BURNED
By Boiling Grease—Skin All Came Off
Ons Bide of Face and Head-
Thought Her Disfigured for Lift.
Used Cutleura: No 8car Loft
"My baby was sitting beside the
fender and we were preparing the
breakfast when the frying-pan full of
boiling grease was upset and It went all
over one side of her face and head.
Some one wiped the scald with a
towel, pulling the entire skin off. We
took her to a doctor. He tended her
a week and gave me some stuff to put
on. But It all festered and I thought
the baby was disfigured for life. I
used about three boxes of Cutleura
Ointment and It was wonderful how
It healed. In about five weeks it was
better and there wasn’t a mark to tell
where the scald had been. Her skin
is Just like velvet. Mrs. Hare, 1,
Henry 8L, South Shields, Durham,
England, March 22, 1908.”
CotUr Drag * Cham. Corp., Sol* Prop*., Boston.
Truthful Bessls.
There had been a lovers* quarrel
and It was his first visit In two weeks.
"I guess you know there was a dif-
ference between your sister and my-
self?” he ventured, trying to pump the
little sister.
"Yes, Indeed,” responded the latter
without hesitation.
"Well—er—do you think Clara will
make up when she comes down?"
Litle Bessie leaned over nearer and
whispered:
"She ought to, Mr. Bllklna. Bhe Is
upstairs making up now.”
A Qusstlon ef Valus.
"Politeness costs nothing,” said ths
proverblsllsL
"Which may explain,” answered
Miss Cayenne, “why some people of
oatentatloue wealth have so little of
It"
Stop Coughing!
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It Marian mw. Yo* cm nUi
ll wfeUp with POO’S CURE,
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Woodward County Democrat and Palace Weekly Pioneer. (Woodward, Okla.), Vol. 4, No. 49, Ed. 1 Thursday, March 25, 1909, newspaper, March 25, 1909; Woodward, Oklahoma. (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc952041/m1/2/: accessed March 29, 2024), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.