""a-HW
.7&
-V
IS
Her Birthday
Present.
By JANE LUDLUM LEE.
Copyrighted, 1907, by Homer Sprague.
*mmmmmmmmmm.mmmmm ..,,.____
Robertson, the jail breaker, handcufi
king and magician, was In town. Bill
posters were everywhere announcing
his arrival at Peck's Vaudeville thea
ter, telling of the wonderful feats ht
would perform. Standing before on
of these posters was a pale faced, tirec
girl on her way home from the office
It was incredible to think that a maL
could do the things advertisedtc
see a man break out of jail, to un
lock the dreaded handcuffs before youi
very eyes' Oh, no it was too wonder
ful to believe! She had often watcheo
a crowd of urchins following a man
who had been arrested and once had
seen him taken to the lockup, but thai
a man could get out of his own free
willthis &eemed incredible.
She ga-\e a final look at the picture
of the man on the poster, tucked hei
novel tightly under her arm and mov
ed slowly toward home. It was hei
"l WANT TO GO HOME. PLEASE TAKE ME.'
birthday, and her mother had given
her a dollar to buy herself a present
She still had the dollar, and the thought
occurred to her that she could take a
girl friend to the vaudeville tonight
and see this wonderful man. Then she
recalled that her mother objected tc
girls going to the theater alone. Aftei
eating her dinner she decided that she
was too tired. She would stay at
home
The ringing of the doorbell after din
ner aroused her from her lethargy
She went to the door and opened it.
"Hello, Janet!"
"Why, Billy, won't you come in, 01
shall we sit on the stoop? It's pretty
warm inside
"I came around to see if you would
go with me to Peck's Vaudeville to
night The handcuff king is there, you
know, and today is 3 our birthday
"Oh, Billy, will you really take me'.
I've been longing to go ever since 1
read about him You sit here on the
stoop, and I'll be ready in a jiffy."
Billy sat down to wait, and Janet
was soon in the midst of her toilet
She donned her best brown frock and
flower trimmed hat because she no
ticed that Billy had put on his best
gray suit and had his cane with him
They found the theater packed and
were fortunate in securing two bal
cony seats The noisy songs and tire
some dialogues which came before the
handcuff king's appearance on the bill
seemed interminable No 7 finally ap
pearedhis number He came out
not the strong, big man she had pic
tured, but a lithe, muscular foreigner
and thev chained him hand and foot
locked and lelocked the leg irons and
handcuffs on and left him there t get
out as best he could.
Janet hung over the balcony rail, and
Billy's ejes feasted on the bright and
happ^ face beside him. The little fel
low on the stage began his act Slow
ly twisting, turning and writhing
seemingly great pain, for several
moments he made no headway.
"Billy, he is being hurt! Why don't
some one help him Janet implored.
"Of course it hurts him, but no one
can help him He must get out alone.'
"Yes, but that's cruel. Just see the
A ems in his arms! Oh, Billy, I can't
stand it to see a poor man suffer so'
Look, Billy' His face is getting red
der and redder every minute!" she
cried as she hid her face in her hands
There was a deathlike silence in the
house. You could hear a pin drop in
the awful stillness in which the man
held the audience. Janet peeked out
between her fingers, but dared not
really look Billy leaned a little closer
and gave her arm a reassuring pat. It
encouraged her to speak. Leaning
close to him, she whispered:
"Billy, I'm ashamed to tell you, but
I want to go home. Please take me.
I'm so frightened
"Why, of course, little girl, but 1
thought you wanted to see him get
loose."
"II didn't know it would hurt him,"
Bhe whispered.
Out In the street, with a tight hold on
his arm, her fear left her, and when
Billy suggested Green's for a plate o
Ice cream she readily agreed. Away
from the atmosphere of the theater
and the picture of that writhing, suf
fering man she was once more herself.
Suddenly Janet stopped eating, hei
eyes stared straight ahead, and In
stinctively Billy turned to see who
had attracted her attention. It was
the handcuff king, not a king after all
just a mortal man thirsting for a dish
of ice cream.
"Oh, Billy, I'm so glad he got out I
never could have slept with the picture
of that poor man in chains."
"Of course he got out, you silly child.
He always does. Janet, you women
are a funny lot. You never know what
you want. I came home this afternoon
and passed you as you were standing
there gazing at the billboard. I thought
you wanted to see this man do these
wonderful things, and that is why I
took you. Guess you don't like my
present to youdo you?"
"Isn't it so, Billy? All my life I have
been planning to do things, and when
the time comes to do them my ambi
tion is gone I long for something dif
ferentperhaps something I ought not
to have. Then when I get it I don't
want it. It's just as if I reached out
and touched a passing bubble, and, at
my touch, it burst. Yet there is al
ways that longing in my heart for an
unknown something, and it lurks there
still."
"Janet, little girl, my present to you
was not much of a success. I wanted
to make you happy, and I only succeed
ed in frightening you. Suppose we
turn the tables and you give me a
present?"
"Why, I never heard of a girl giving
a present to some one else on her own
birthday What under the sun do you
mean?"
"I mean this, dear. I want a present
that only you can give me. It's a big,
precious present. You say you don't
know what you long for, but I know
What I am reaching for, and that some
thing is you, Janet. Will you give
yourself to me, a present to keep al
ways and to love forever?"
"Billy, that waitress heard every
word ou said. It's not fair to propose
to a girl in an ice cream parlor. I
wouldn't dare say 'No' if I wanted to."
"Do you want to say 'No,' Janet?"
almost whispered Billy.
"Well, to be perfectly honest, I don't
think I do. Billy, maybe, after all, it's
you I'm longing for, maybe it's you
I've been reaching out for all the time.
I guess it must be, Billy, dear, because
I hurve been happier in these past few
minutes than I've ever been in all my
life before. If you'll take me, Billy,
I'm yours."
Deer Shooting Extraordinary.
"The most extraordinary deer shoot
ing I recall," said a hunter, "was up
in Aroostook county, Me., one winter
I was new to the business then. The
guide posted me behind a cold rock, a
very cold rock, near a runway, with in
structions to shoot the deer that came
my way He was to take his post
downstream a bit, and if I heard sev
eral quick shots I was to leave my lair
and come to his.
"An hour had passed, the coldest
hour I ever spent, with nothing to
break the monotony of white snow and
black trees. Then I heard a shot. I
waited, and then heard another shot
and another. Finally there were so
many reports that I started for the
guide's station. Just as I reached him
he fired three times in quick succession
through a lane in the trees.
"'Got anything?' I inquired excited
ly. 'Blast him, no!' he answered. 'I've
fired thirteen times at the same old
buck, an' every time I fire he dodges
and comes up again like a duck in a
shooting gallery-'
"We went down to see what was the
explanation of this curious maneuver
of the deer, andwell, you won't be
lieve me anyway, but when we reach
ed the spot there were thirteen deer
piled up as neatly as a market man
could have done it, every one shot in
the right fore shoulder.
"That lane in the trees opened on a
runway, and the deer happened to be
using it that's all.
"What! You don't believe it? Well,
neither do I!"New York Times.
A Cautious Musician.
There was a careful old mana clerk
he waswho played the flute The old
man entered a music shop one day,
opened a large book of music and laid
it on a shelf before him in an out of
the way corner.
Then he took his flute out of his coat
tail pocket, screwed it together and be
gan to play softly the first tune in the
book.
When he finished the first tune he
turned the page and played the second.
Then he played the third.
At the end of half an hour he was
still playing on. The shopman then
approached and said civilly:
"Do you think the book will suit you,
sir?"
"I don't know," said the old man. "I
have only played half the tunes."
And he resumed his subdued tooting.
Pearson's Weekly.
Backed Both Ways.
The race was over, the flag hoisted
and the crowd of fortunates who had
backed the winner had gathered around
the bookmakers to receive their win
nings.
One vacant looking individual, who
was evidently "seeing life" for the first
time, claimed 1.
"What did you back?" asked the fat
faced man with the big waist, who
was standing on a stool.
"Silver Cloud," replied the vacant
one.
"Why, man alive," yelled the man
with the satchel, "that horse turned
back and finished at the starting post!"
"I know that," said the other, "but
didn't I back the horse both ways?"
There was a dull thud on the green
Bward, and an anxious crowd gather
ed. The man with the big waist had
fllnted.London Mall.
THJB I*ftOrCETOir tJKTOKf
I OPINIONS OF EDITORS
Wants to Hear from Jim.
Isn't it about time we were hearing
from James A. Martin of St. Paul?
Royalton Banner.
Will Kan Jost the Same,
You can dam the river all you want
to, it will run just the same, and so
will a newspaper.Vesta Censor.
5
If You Do and If You Don't.
If you don't like Jadam's jokes for
a representative in congress you're a
sorehead. If you do like them you're
a postmaster.Hibbing Tribune.
S*
Ijong in Quantity, Short in Quality.
In past years the legislatures of
Minnesota have enacted enough laws
to run forty states, if enforced. Qual
ity, not quantity, should be the pro
gram for the future.Battle Lake
Review.
5
Thinks Name All Right.
Some one has suggested that the
name of Rum river be changed to
something else with a little nicer
sound. There is nothing the matter
with the Rum, as sonje very good and
sober citizens have lived on the banks
of the Rum for many years.Todd
County Argus.
j. 4. .$.
The Greatest Blot.
The greatest blot cast upon the state
of Minnesota by the strike in the iron
ranges was caused by the exaggerated
stories of red flags and violence, as
sent out by certain newspaper corre
spondents in their efforts to "toady"
to the steel trust.Minneapolis Tele
gram.
John Should Go Gunning for B'ar.
If Governor Johnson would only go
hunting and kill a bear he would win
out for the first place on the demo
cratic ticket. The people of the
United States delight in honoring
bear hunter. This is a hunch for
Frank Day to start the governor for a
southern jungle.Rush City Post.
$- 4*
he Governor Ought to Stand Pat.
John A. Johnson has certainly
demoralized the republican party of
this state so far as the head of the
ticket is concerned. If he would de
clare that he would not be a candi
date for governor again there would
at once be a dozen republican candi
dates in the field.Mankato Journal.
5*
he Cheap Magazine.
The magazines of the United States,
with few exceptions, have become mere
commercial enterprises, so much so
that their reading pages are as yellow
as some dailies. The ten cent magazine
came into the field and everybody en
gaged in readingslush, superficial
ity, syndicate nonsense and ignorance
were given full swing. The people are
being served with cheap drivel in
startling quantities. Commercial
West.
4
Not Very Consistent.
With the legal machinery of the
state running night and day trying to
head off Roosevelt's pet scheme of
federal control of railroads and the
press of the state pretty generally ap
proving the course of the attorney
general, it seems somewhat strange
that some of these selfsame papers
should be urging a third term for
Roosevelt in order that his policies
may be carried out.Madison Inde
pendent Press.
Probably That's Where They Visited.
Speaking of typographical errors, I
am reminded of the time when Rev.
J. B. Starkey owned the Penny Press.
He and George Canfield, managing
editor, paid a visit to the state legis
lature one day and of course the paper
had a story about it. N. P. Olson,
now proprietor of the Anoka Free
Press, headed the article, "Visited St.
Paul Solons." It was a case of "rush
hook," and the proof reader over
looked the error which made the head
read, Visited St. Paul Saloons."
Chap in Minneapolis Union.
Boomed by the Interests.
All the lengthy articles in the twin
cities so-called republican papers that
have been booming Gov. Johnson for
president have been paid for by east
ern politicians that are opposed to
Bryan. This is not positive knowl
edge, but the circumstances are such
as to make it very clear that it is the
condition. In the meantime John
"sits tight" and poses as a reformer
and the friend of Bryan, while the
representatives of centralized wealth
boom him in the leading dailies in the
country.Slayton Gazette.
5
Nary a Raise.
The Fairmont Sentinel calls them
"the democratic state board of equal
ization" in speaking about their work.
I don't know whether there was a re
publican board off in some corner or
not. Probably there was as the
"democratic" board is the one which
done things, if Frank Day tells the
story aright. I always supposed the
whole thing was just a board of equal
ization, named to make a just and
L4ALA *V ~J&t ,J& 3. $Mfo 4t&t "tt %&as &&^ O^clifMlItelsJ
^HJ&BSBA^T
jk w*-^*a
OCTOBER 31, 1907.
OperHous Block
equitable assessment for the state, but
as it is a political board it will be
worth while looking into its work.
It is said the jobbers of the twin cities
supply the sinews of war for Gov.
Johnson's campaign. Was their as
sessment raised, Frank?Joe Cobb in
Le Sueur News.
5*
A Brave Lo of Barkises
Talking with a man who takes a
very active part in state politics he
informed me that if it was positively
known that Gov. Johnson was not a
candidate for another term there
would be at least half a dozen active
candidates right now on the republi
can ticket. As it is he says there is
not one out in the open and ready to
make the'fight. He says the governor
is more feared in Minnesota politics
than any man who ever played the
game. None of the big guns are able
to turn the tide of his popularity.
Joe Cobb in Le Sueur News.
4* fr
Bryan the Strongest Democrat.
We do not believe that the democrats
stand any show of winning in he next
national campaign no matter what
candidate they bring out. But it also
appears plain to us that William J.
Bryan is their strongest man. He will
come nearer bringing success to the
ticket than any other democrat in the
country. He is a great deal more
conservative now than he ever was
and as far as he is individually con
cerned the so-called "interests" have
no more to fear from him than from
Roosevelt, if as much.Minneota
Mascot.
Oat of Sight.
"Out of sight, out of mind, "is an
old saying which applies with special
force to a sore, burn or wound that's
been treated with Bucklen's Arnica
Salve. It's out of sight, out of mind
and out of existence. Piles too and
chilblains disappear under its healing
influence. Guaranteed by C. A. Jack,
druggist. 25c.
Darkness Preferred.
W*J
The usual semiannual bankrupt sale
was about to take place in a certain
clothing "emporium," and a huge
wooden billboard, covered with ad
vertisements announcing the fact was
erected just outside the windows.
"But," objected the new clerk,
"won't those boards shut out all the
light?"
"Sh returned the proprietor.
"What do you suppose I put 'em up
for?''Lippincott 's.
The Equity Cash
Shoe Store
Did you ever hear a mana man you could believe
say that he bought a pair of shoes here that did not give &
him satisfaction
If you did, did you ever hear him say that we refused
to make it satisfactory, whether the fault was his or ours?
Did you ever hear a man say that he bought a pair of
shoes here and found out later that he could have bought as
good shoes elsewhere for less money?
NEVER!
We would be pleased to show you, Sir, the best shoes
money can buy anywhere. We also have a fine line of
Ladies', Men's and Children's Underwear,
Stockings and Sweaters.
A Kinds of Repairing Promptly Executed.
FRANTPETERSOIF
THEREcare
&/>e
(,1 U-IU-I ^1'Jllil J|l
Princeton
AJM.wM\ Princeton
Ads in The Union Bring Results
SPOT CASH FOR CREAM
& AT &
The Princeton Creamery
BRIDGEMAN RUSSELL, Props.
Butter fat tests fairly and squarely made. It
will pay you to bring your cream to
the Princeton Creamery.
C. L. BARNES, flanager.
Job Printing and Job Printing
two kinds of Job Printingthat which is neat and
artisti and that which possesses neither of these qualities. The
Princeton Union makes it a point to turn out none but the former
kind, and the Union finds this easy because it has the type, machinery
and skilled labor with which to accomplish it.
Nothing Looks Worse Than
BotcHed Job Printing.
It is a drawback to the business of a merchant or anyone else who uses
it. Botched Jol| Printing suggests loose methods. Then why not use
the kind printed by the Union? It costs you no more and gives the
public a good impression of your business. The Princeton Union is
prepared to execute every description of
Commercial and Fancy Printing
at short notice and nominal prices. If you are in need of letterheads
noteheads, billheads, statements, cards, posters, programs, wedding
invitations or any other work in the printing line, an order for the
same placed with the Union will insure its being produced in an at-
tractive and up-to-date style.
Bring in Your Orders Before the Fall Rush Commences.
PRINCETON UNION
Princeton, Minnesota.
i