CAPE MAY COUNTY TIMES SEA ISLE CITY. N. J.

ThpfnwPunftar

Dr J Robert J.CSteid i Au!h jr of J OOtvr Poo.-. 1

" —— JST I

CopyricM by Bsrper A Brotbnw

Uh^ttruUomt fey Z IRWIN MYERS |

CHAPTER IX.—Continued.

—13—

Beck In Cnnnard's office, while the •ercement wiie In-inc drawn. Irene was iKisaessed of a consuming desire to consult with Dare Eldeu. She was uneusy about this traoaactiun In which her mother proposed mi precipitately to lurest the greater part «if their littie fortune. “I think I would hesitate, mother." she criitL “If you buy this house we wftl have only a few thousand dollars left. Your health may de-

mand other ex]>cnditares—"

••My lieoltb wns never better." Mrs. Hardy interrupted. “And I'm not going to nlss a chance like this, health or no health. Yon have heard Mr. Coaward tell how many people have grown wealthy buying prujierty and selling it again. And I will sell it

again—when I get my price." "It Is as your mother says." Con

ward Interjected. “There are very rapid Increases In value. I would not

“There Must Be an End Somewhere, 1 Irene Murmured, Rathrr Weakly, be surprised If vou should be offeml un advance of t< n thousand dollars on this ph.ee before fall.” "Thtre must be an end somewhere,” Irene murmured, rather weakly. But her tnotho.- was writing a check. “I shall give you five thousand dollars now." she sold, “and the balance when • ou give me the deed, or whatever Is. That Is the proper way, isn’t ItT” “Well. If* done.” said Irene with an unoa>y lungh which hrr excitement pitched a little higher than she had

Intended.

In sin adjoining room Tbive Elden heard that laugh, and It stirred some remembrance in him Instantly be connected It with Irene Hardy. The truth was Irene Hardy had been In the background of his mind during every waking hour since Bert Morrison liatl dropped her bombshell upon him. And now that voice— Dave had no plan. He Imply walked Into Conward's office. His eye took In the little group and the m'nd l-ehlnd .aught something of its por tent. Irene's beauty What a quickening of the pulses was bis ns he sawin this splendid woman the girl who had stirred end returned bis youthful passion! Bit Dave hud poise. He walked straight to Irene. “I heard your voice.” he said. In quiet tones that gave no hint of the ••motion beneath. "I am very glad to eoe you ngttir." He took the hand whim ebe extended. In a Arm. warm grasp. there was nothing In ! Irene protested to herself, that more than Arm and warm, bat It set her finger tips a-tlngllng. “My mother. Mr. Elden,” she managed to say, and she hoped be.- voice was as well controlled as his had been. Mrs. Hardy looked on the clean-built young man with the chirk eyes and the brown, smooth face, but the name suggested nothing. “Yot? remember." Irene went cn. “I told you of Mr. Eiden. It was at his ranch we stayed when father was hurt." ► “But I thought he was a cow puncher!" exclaimed Mr*. HatOy. •Times change quickly In the West, madam." said Dave. “Most of our business men—at least, those bred In the country—have thrown a lasso their day. Y'ou should hear them brag of their steer-roping yet In the Rancbmen'a club." Irene's eyea danced. Dave had already turned the tables; where her mother bad Implied contempt he had set up a note of pride. “Cb. I suppose " sold her mother. u-r lack of a better answer. "Everything la so absnrd in th- West. But you were r-od to my daughter, and to poor, dear Andrew. If only he had been spared. Women are so unused to those business responsibilities, Mr. Oonwntd. It I-* fortunate then- are a few reliable firm- upon which we can lean in our inexpe; ience." "Mother has boug.it a house." Irene explained to Dave. "We thought this was a safe place to come"— A look on EWen's face cawed her to pause. 'Why. » het is wrongT" she said. Dfcve looked at Oonward. at Mrs. Hardy, and at Irene. He was Ins trot

thorn. It .

that t

ward 1

dung

Elden had been scurrying for cover, as qnletly and secretly as possible, to avoid alarming the public, hut scurrying for cover, nevertheless. And Du 1 Imd acquiesced In that policy. H position was extremely difficult. “I don't think I would be In a hurry to hr/." be salu. slowly turning his «•>•» on his partner. “You would perhaps be wiser to rent a home for u while. I.—uts are becoming easier." “But I have bought." said Mrs. Hardy, and there was triumph rather than regret in her voice. "1 have paid m, deposit." “It Is the policy of this firm." Elden eontlnued. “not 10 force or take advantage of hurried decisions. The fart that you have already made a do;*.*! d.not altir thot policy. I think I iuay speak for my partner and the firm when I say that your deposit will ’*■ held to y.iur credit for thirty days, during which time It will constitute •I'Uon <>n the property which you have elected. If. at the end of that time. J y ou are still of your present mind, the ! transaction can go through as now planned; and if you have changed your mind ywer deposit will be re-

turned."

Con word shlftetJ-uuder" Dave’s’dlrect eye. He preferred to look at Mrs. Hardy. “What Mr Elden has told you a boat the policy of the firm is qulti true." he managed to say. “But, us It happen*, this transaction is not with Conward & Elden. but with rue personally, i find It necessary to dlspose of the prnjierty which I have Just sold to you at snch an exceptional price"—he wns looking nt Sirs. Hardy —“nn i naturally I cannot run a chance of having my plans overturned by any possible change of mind on your part.” “I am entirely satisfied." said Mrs. Hardy. “The fact that Mr. Elden wants to get the property back makes me more satisfied." she added, with the peculiarly Irritating laugh of a woman who thinks she Is extraordinarily shrewd and Is only very silly. The agreement Is signed?" said Dnve. He walked to 1' . de*k and picked up the documents, and the check that lay upon them. His eye ran down (he familiar contract. "This agreement Is In the name of Conward A Elden.” he said. This check Is payable to Conward & Elden.' Ooawnrd's livid face had become white, and It was with difficulty lie controlled his anger. They are all printed thot war." be explained nm going to hive then indorsed to me.” • “You are not.” said Dnve. ‘Ten are charging thla woman twenty-five thousand dollars for a house that won’t bring ten thousand. The £nn of Conward & Elden wU 1 have no'.bing to do with that transaction. «t won't even 1 doree It over." A fire was burning in the grate. Dave walked to It and very slowly and deliberately thrust the agreement into

the flame.

'Well, If that doesn't beat all!" Mrs. Hardy ejaculated. “Art- all cow punchers so discourteous?" T mean no disc.'urtesy.” said Dave. ■If my behavior has seemed abrupt. I insure you I have only sought to serve Doctor Hardy's widow—and his daughit Is a peculiar service," Mrs. Haranswered. curtly. i can only apologise for my partner’s behavior." said Conuurd. “It need aot, however, affect tlie transaction In ’he slightest degree. A new agreement will be drawn at once—an agreement in which the firm of Conward A Elden will not be concerned." “That will be more satisfactory."' said Mrs. Hardy. She Intended the re-, mark for Dave's ears, hut be had | moved to a corner of the room ami was conversing In low tones with Irene. "I am sorry I had to make your mother's acquaintance under circumstanges which. I fear, she will no. e< try to understand," he hud slid

Irene.

'•Oh, Dave—Mr. Elden. 1 mean—that 1*—you don't know how proud—you don't know how much of a man you made me feel you are.” She was flushed and excited. "Perhaps shouldn’t talk like this. Perhaps—* “It all depend' on one thing," Dava interrupted. "What !a that?" "It all depends on whether we are MU* Hardy and Mr. Elden or whet her we are still Beenie and Dave.” Her bright eyes had fallen to the floor and he coaid see the tremor of her fingers as they rested on the back of a chair. She did not answer bin: colly. But In n moment she spoke. •Mother will buy the bous? from Me. Conward." sbe said. “She Is like that. And when we are settled yon win come a.'d see me. won't you—

Dave?”

Wb -n the Hardy* had gone Conward Turned to Elden. “We had better try and And out where we stand." he said, rylng to speak dispassionately, but there was n tremor In his voice. i agree,” returned Elden. who had desire to crude the Issue. ' Do you

isider tt fair t

for y.

by quarreling. Dave," he said. “Let us get at the fact*. When we hare agreed as to fact*, then we may agre* as to procedure." “Shoot.' said Daie. He stood with bis shoulder toward Conward, watch lag the dusk settling about the foothill

city.

"I think." said Con want “wo ran agree that the boom is over. We hare •lone well, on paper. The thing now is to convert our paper Into cash." Dnve turned about. “You know I don't claim to be any great moralist, Conward." be said, “and I have no pity for a gambler who deliberately sits In end gets vtung. Consequently I am oubled with any self-pity, not any pity for you. and if you ran get rid of our holdings to other gamblers I have nothing to soy. But If It U to he loaded onto women who are Investing the little savings of their live* a like Bert Morrison nad Mra Haruy—then I am going to have c good deni to say.” Dave wren; on with rising heat: "If business has to be done that way. then I say to h with business!" “I asked you not to quarrel," Conard returned, with remarkable composure. “I suggested that we got at the lucts. Now, granting that the boom Is over, where do we stand? We rated as millionaires, but we haven't a thousand dollars la the bank nt this moment. This"—he lifted Mr*. Hardy's check—“would have * on u* next payday, hut you say the firm must have nothing to do with It. And which Is the more Immoral—since you have spoken of morality—to accept labor from clerks whom you can't pay or to sell property to women who say they wont It and are satisfied with the price? We have literally tWisands of unsetried contracts. Wc must keep our staff together. We have debts to pay. and we owe U to our creditors to make collections so that we can pay those debts, and we can't make collections without a sriiff. Why. on the prdperty we an- now bolding the taxes alone will amount to twenty thousand dollars a year. And I put It up to you. If we are golne to s'aml on sentiment, who's going to pay the taxes?" “I know ; I know," said Dnve. whose anger over the treatment of the Hardys was already subsiding. “We are in the grip of the system. Still—In war th-y don't usually kill women and uoncomhatants. That Is the point I'm Tying to make. I've no sentiment about others who are in the game as we are. If you limit your operations to them—" “The trouble Is, you can't. They're wise. Most of them have already moved on. A few flm:s. like ourselves, will stay and try to fight It out; try. at least, to close up with a clean sheet. If we must close up. But we can't wind up u huslnes without scdllng the stock on hand, nni to whom ore we to sell If not to people who want It? That what you seem to object to." ' You place me In rather an unfair light.” Dave protested. “What 1 object to la taking the '!fe saving* of people—people of moderate circma

iiaisd lino :Ciras Tulki

■’ THE farmers of this country want to profit by the experience of recent years,

when they wo

times caught without homegrown wed. resulting In P->or crops, they will at once turn their attention to the selec- , tion of plenty of good seed for their hulniul for foniler to nvc . ou— —- — well ns to sell to their believing they should be best for seed. *■ yc * r ’ s ronl cr °P are more often than not abnormal ear*, trtnl or partial failure, it ,j ne to j Bl e maturing or to some defect possible to harvest any which nature has endeavored to cor-

ovn

neigh (Kirs, should be a might not 1

The average for tne year* 101S-17 Is as follows: Acreage. 107,496,000; yield. 2.749.849,000 bushels; value. $2.287,000.000.

good seed at all from it. In that event. rm UurinK lhe of — hy this year's r-red. If properly chosen and ,i, e UK ,. of abnnrmn , method*. As a well cared .or during the wlnU general thing, the offspring oC such an

ear Is weak.

months, will not only lie good seed for 1920 hut better seed In 1921 than Im-

ported seed will be.

In 1915. In the northern com belt, of the corn failed to mature.

stances, mainly—in exchange for prop erty which we knew to be worth next to nothing.” “Y'et you .alt that we must dean up. don't you?” "Yes, I supiwae so.” "And there's no other way. Dave," *ald Conward. rising and placing hi* arm on hi* partner's shoulder, 'i sympathize with your point of lew. but. my boy. if* pure senth&sat. an.’ sentltnant has no place la buslnos." Dave dropped the subject. T. ere appeared to he nothing to gain from pursuing It further. They were In the grip of a system—a system which had found them poor, had suddenly made them wealthy, and i-ow. wit!, equal suddenness, threatened to make them poor again. It was like war—kill os

be killed.

(TO BK CONTINUED.!

A medium sized ear. say ten and a half or eleven Inches long, with a clr••urnfereno.- of approximately seven Inches. Is about right. Straight rows

hid little good home-grown seed for indicate careful selection and breeding the 1910 planting. This should have , | n the seed which produced the ear. taught us : lesson. We should have i nn ,i f or th | s n . ugnn nr ,. drsimbi,-. .On saved a two years' supply for sired In ib P other hand. some varieties of coni 1910. but we didn't, in 1917 the corn ire known by the!- characteristically again failed to mature and we were crooked rows and should not be disagaln caught without seed. The reru't j criminated ngalunt. An average ear of was that the fanrers of the United ,he site stated will weigh about 14 States lost millions of dollar* because ounces when Its moisture enrent I* of the redu ed yield In 1918. The jr, per cent, and It will shrink In length 1919 corn m p promise* to be one of , from one two Inches during the the largest on record, and few farm- process of drying, of course It will ers will hove any excuse for not saving j nUo Rhri nk In dreomforenee. which is an abundance of *eeo. j something that Is not generally ob-

To save plenty of g.md seed Is al- served by formers,

ways good business. If our surplus Is Before the selected corn is finally not needed for seed it will not Ire stored It mtirt ire dried out. so that Its wasted. It always will have a market {moisture content will fall a* low ns 15 value, or It may Ire fed to stock. If It j per cent, if possible. Under such ronshou'.d |m- needed for seed. It will be j dltlons even a very hard freeze w'll worth many time* If* market value ns have little or no effect on the vitality grain. We .-an Import potatoes, oats 0 f the seed. If the drying out process or wheat, but we cannot import seed can be carried on In a room where corn and expect to get as good result* I there Is stove bear, or In another room n* we would get from com grown in near enough to get the heat from a the Immediate neighborhood. j stove, so murh *he better. The Importance of testing seed corn j One of the best and simplest methbefoie planting l« now generally recog- ods of storing seed corn i« to tie it up nlzed and practiced by farmers every- with binder twine, en. h string conwhere, hut all the testing In the world mining from 12 to 15 e.:r-. Th.— will avail nothing unless good seed Is strings may Ire suspended from wires •elected after harvest and then prop- strung In the ham or other places erly torod and cared for until test- ' where the turn Is to be kept, and it 1* Ing time comes. Important that the Indlridua. ears Paradoxical a* It may seem, the should not touch each other. Torn best looking ears will not always prove that is to Ire used for seed should never

to be the best for seed. As a mat- I Ire piled up.

ter of fact, one national authority on ' The best place to store corn is some the subject states that he has fre- place where- it Is dry. and where there qucntly planted seed from blue-ribbon i k r , H im for the circulation of air pan*—ears Judged according to the j I ret ween the ear* ->r rows. If a room •core card and seemingly physically or Mile In the farmhouse can be perfect—and failed to get ns good re- utilized for this purt-ose. it .mk.-* nn •nit* from them n* he did from ear* ideal storing place. But If nny outwhlch would never rin a prize on nr- 1 building must be used, rare should be count of 'heir shape Tire trouble Is taken that the sjstt where the corn is that these fine looking ears do no. give to be hung Is as free from itunpne*r nt

their yielding power ut.ill all tlmei

after they have ireen :-st«*l. Con-re qucntly. If a farmer *ele» t» ear solely on their appearnn *> h» get nothing bnt poor roproducr It would then be too late to sav

ears for planting. txio. th Moreover, the big ears. whU-b It Is - the

i-oro crop of 1918 ou im.4C7.tl00 •mounted to 2..Vri.Oir..ix»i bu«h- j orth 3X416.240.000. The llnnl re- * -f the department of agriculture acreage of 1919 ns 102.075 - leld 2.917.450.000 bushel* and

nlue S5.IC4.234.000.

Cattle Ei>i “Rubber Cakes.”

Experiment* nt Singapore have •own that a feeding cake for cattle

•elect inexpert- j nod other stock can be produced Turn victim*?'' | the reridue of Para rubber iwssl after

.-ward made u deprecating ge»- the extraction of an oil rn-qparin^ fa-

in nothing to ha gained \ rorably with linsevd o'L

Bees’ Antiseptic. Bees ruck up ;h.* nectar, which does not pass into their stomach bnt Into an expansion of the oesophagus. There j It undergo-.* a partial chemical Iran* j formation, under the intluenco of n substance called Invertnsv. which net* a* a '-rment. When the bee dlogorgc* !

vented antiseptic* before !*nstrtir or Ulster!" It Is this drop of poison that .rerorves the honey for year*. Singing Vx. Stammering. Rt.immorir.g bn* it* curiosities, ■vrit.-* a correspoud-nt. and gire» on

i the

Record Crop Value. Value of Important farm crops of the United States for 1919 ns given by the final report of the department of agriculture Is $14,092,740,000, compared with fl2.OO0.528.OOO. the revised figures of 1918, an increase of $1,492.214.000, based on prices to producers December 1. This Is the greatest v tue ever g: en the nation's grain crops. The live gru!ns—wheat, corn. oat*, rye and barley—aggregated 5850,844.000 bushel*, an Increase of 41.541.000 bushel* over last y*“ir, Acreage plant'ed to tire princlitnl crops wa* 339.12;.173, compared with 250.407,162 last year, an Increase of 2.600,000 acre*, j Value of the five leading grains was $7,177,109,000. compared with $.1,761,300.000. an Increase of $415,803,000. The corn crop looms up In valuation above all others, and 1* next to the most valuable ever known, being worth $3,934,234,000. or $115,000,000 more- than Inst year and 7.000.000 bushels over previous estimate*, with a crop of 2,017.450.JOO bushels, the fourth largest ou record, and 134.000.000 bushels over last year’s. Wheat yield ..as the second largest known. 940.iri7.OOO bushels, a gain of 23.000. 000 bushels over former returns and of 33.SS7.lkiU bushels compared with last year, an! valued at $1,543.452.000. compared with $921,433,000 last A fall down occurred In oats, with 1.21H.3IO.is“> bushels, or 28.000.000 bushels noire than pre- '-.ualy reported, bnt a loss of 2T' 11 \«i.l*>0 l uslit-lv from lust j-enr an-i the shortest In recent years. Brrlcy wns also a dl ap|iolmment witl. 165,719.000 bushels, a loss of 90.000.000 busheis f.. r the year, liny is a reoi. crop of 108.066.000 t >ns. or 17.500.tkX> tuns In excess of 191 y There 1* all the feed the country requires ami provide* a good surplus for ex-

irert.

White potatoes turned out rilgblfj. above early estimates with 35T.901.OUf) bushels, or 43.000,000 bushels short of A yield of 1.527.090 000 pounds of beet sugar was n .*ed. compared with 1.530.120.000 pounds last year. Almost as Coed. Tli • farmer'* wife eijs aie It 1* profit hie t > keep a pig to pet rid of the scraps ar- uud the house." "I pre-*uuu- *<•. 1 And. however, that my husband will eat almost anything." would sometime* take advantage of It. Ami a delighted class would have the novelty of hearing n lesscu *ung dellgtitfully In a boyish soprano. Mke the celebrated judgment In E flat cf the lord chancellor In "lolantbe," hi* effort* ottea deser-ed a douU.'* en-

Where Education Falls.

charge* a little lave: