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The Wisdom of Nicodemus Railroad Brought to Terms by a Smart Dog. By L ti BICKFORD CopvrlKlu by L. M Bickford The Sunrise Limited swept past the lower pasture of Mrs. O’Henrn’s Ne braska farm every afternoon at 3 o’clock, and Mrs. O'Hearn’a dog. Nlco dermis, sallied down to the fence and barked at it He was an unlovely an Imal of no breeding whatever, h canine outcast deserted by an emigrant, and his hostility to all railway movements was pronounced and even excessive, although ids best effort and longest run were reserved for the flying ves tlbulcd train that came so tieetingly out of the east and shot by him with contemptuous roar and shriek. A year after Mrs. O’Hearn’s bus band had been snatched from the held of toil she lost the companionship and nourishing daily gift of her only cow. That {lie double calamity distressed her was not phenomenal, but the de parture of Michael O'Hearn was with in the number of things reconcilable since the movements of Providence are to lie accepted without question and sire, indeed, but instances of the ex piated Mrs. O'll earn, a faithfully •and notoriously religious person, re •signed herself to the simple hope that Michael was to be met in another •country. The taking off of the cow loft no such solace, since its spiritual future did not concern her. From the day ttie engine of the Sun rise Limited swept the animal In all literalness from the face of the earth <it had been rather foolishly investigat ing tlie nutritions qualities of cinders* Airs O'Hearn faced a world that up fieured to lie singularly unsympathetic. Where it had condoled with her in her first bereavement it merely smiled over tier second. Obviously, in the eyes of •the community, the least lilting place Tor a vow to browse was in the line ot n lightning express The station agent at Exeter intimated as much when Mrs O'Jlearn called upon Him and de picted, with admirable detail, the eir i iouinstances ot her misfortune. He | *xrwioJd. lie declared, lay tile matter lie ! dope (the proper officials A vetsdi later she came again, and ! •tier visit left memories of life, color .and action She demanded to know | whether the equivalent luid been sent. The equivalent, she had somewhat ex -Mtl.v figured, was $::!) 1.'., (his tteinizn linn including -5-ft > for cow and Ifi cents j ■fur Ole purchase of milk thrice weekly | from a iieighlror. Her following visit disclosed fully as close calculation, for The equivalent had mounted to $311.30. JO/h it was plain to the agent that her arithmetic carried with it rules of in terest and equity that would never be »cw|ited by the company even if it -deigned to recognize her claim tor the •w 'itself Ou this occasion and on many occasions thereafter lie. mentally convinced that his prevarication would hot outlive ins tenure of office, asserted that only the president of the road had .authority in the matter of destroyed < L ws and. having made it clear to her ! ttlurt her claim had been duly forward- I • ed. besought her to follow methods less spectacular and to exercise some (Patience. Having so frankly thrown himself on tier mercy, he made a personal truce with the Indy, hat each week a new -hill was presented with Its nccumula itinn of figures, together with verbal 'expressions of disregard for the presi dent of the company and his lax meth ods or business. Ait first the efforts of Nicodemus nmused the freight crews, who threw lumps of coal at him. Tills was to the advantage of Mrs. O’Hearn, since coal was a luxury, and the daily perform ance resulted in a small “measure of the precious fuel to udd to her store of wood. She began to wish, indeed, that the attention or the passenger en sghieors might be equally attracted aud that their resentment might take the jcinte form. After a time, however, and from long familiarity the sport -ceased to Interest the passing train men. and but for an occasional missile the dog harked without purpose, al though he never relaxed his endeavors. T&e tiight or time brought no spirit of -charity to overcast the bitterness of Sirs O'Hearn. And it was quite by -way of coincidence that on the day -*she had prepared her weekly state ment—which now had sl-S0 added to <Xbe principal—something entirely un wnal hi railway equipment should en tire. although tardily, the attention of .Nicodemus. This was au abbreviated ■edition of the despised "tiier,” for the -engine drew but two cars, the last a wxwdcr of luxurious construction and jtmisrted a bright yellow. The train hart stopped, and around on«‘ of tin* sot** of wheels stood three men variously engaged in drawing voJtim from an aperture, poking it •Miiout with a stick or dousing water Us*r»n the steaming mess. A veuerable ja*utieuian who hart descended from the gorgeous car to watch the opera tion finally strolled over to the fence and attracted by some wild blossoms, -fomewhnt awkwardly scaled the bar rier and ambled pleasantly about the green holds, lost In contemplation of the simplicity of nature's wonders Nieodemus came into action by a spring in the air. a shrill bark and a ■series of contortions that brought his haunches almost to his chin. Wheu he felt the ground after the ttrst flight he had made two yards, and his hair ■savept the wiud as he rushed on Here, in his dog's comprehension, was some thing tangible. something not only to bark at. but to Lite. The venerable gentleman dropped the flowers he had gathered and turned unsteadily to the fence, but made such poor progress that Nicodemus. with terribly gleam ing teeth and a bounce like a kangaroo, ran into his legs. There was then a fall of dog and man. with a singularly active display of man, considering age and lack of recent athletic training and as the venerable gentleman caiuo upright he did the only thing tlujt seemed to ids bewildered mind ot ra tional purpose. The fence was still a great way off. and the speed of the dog laid impelled that animal on a few feet, but he was even now reversing himself. Nearer than the fence branch ed a tree. Two comforting knobs, within easy reach, projected from the trunk. And before lie unite knew bow he did it the venerable gentleman, with amazing agility, was seating himself on a lower branch of the tree, w-hile the dog was making earnest and suv age efforts to reach bis dangling legs. Tile incident naturally served to in terest the men at the car wheels. They came to the fence in a body, calling out to tlie dog to desist, and one. braver than his fellows, mounted tlie rails In an effort to distract Nicodemus from his prey. He put one foot down on the opposite side as if he would come into the pasture, it was with drawn almost on the instant, for the dog, now animated by a desire to eu gage all comers, sprang at the would he intruder, and his white teeth dosed on a boot heel. The man of courage, giving way to profanity, tell back into the arms of his companions The three stood in doubt and conference, but made no new more, while Nicodemus returned to guard the tree with now and then sudden sportive excursions in their direction. Into this excitement, after some minutes, came Mrs. O llearn, her arms bared to the elbows and a rolling pin In one hand She waddled down. ied and breathless, her Hour smeared apron telling of baking day. her bear iug that of ponderous surprise She came to a halt just beneath the branch on which tin* venerable gentleman was perched, and tlie dog wagged her a welcome and mode another dash for tiie fence describing, as lie returned a circle. The man in the tree viewed her ad-.ent with positive pleasure He at once connected Mrs O'liearn with the ownership of tlie flog, and lie was also Impressed that his position was absurd, so. although bis tones were I pleasant, chagrin was somewhere ap parent. He smiled genially, conscious that ne Jiad |iut tlie case concisely at least. 90 VK AlhE THE I'UtSIDEN-T LV THE KAIL.KOAU' 1 while Mrs. O’Hearu. with au authors- i la five, "be shut, now." forced Nieode iiiiis to lie down, ait Ilona h his uody | still quivered from the exertions of them ••base and the consequent can!lie do i in u m "Ye're l*ein' wan of rlic-o rlow.-r - pickers that preserves them in -.eiirap nooks, mebbe.” ventured the only. ux a spirit of conciliation, as she gi-a.-po.s Nicodemus h.v one ear and >k mm , roughly, "or p’raps wan of tii*->e pro lessors that can till ye the varieties; UV the posies by the sclimell uv tMitn "I am not a botanist." said the vote j era I tie gentleman, preparing to die- ! scetid. but eyeing the flog warily, "at- 1 though you must confess that either a botanist or a railway president would 1 appear equally out of place in a post- ; lion such as l have found myself—a position.'* lie added, to show that he had a sense of humor, "that l never thought possible out of the pages of a comic weekly.” Tlie manner of Mrs. O'Hearn chang ed. as changes the fare of nature un der the sudden burst of the tel»|**st. She released tlie dog which sprang again at the tree trunk, and her ut terance was one long inspiration. "Oh. ho-o-o-o-o." she emitted, with a slight questioning inflection, and her blue eyes showed the glitter of steel "Oh. lio-o-o-o-o-o-o!" Arms akimbo, she looked up at him. •‘So ye aire the prisident uv the railroad ?" The v(»nernble gentleman, reconsider ing his determination to come dowu. clutched the tree branch firmly and called out a warning to the engineer, who had again sought to climb the fence and again found himself beset by Nieodemus. "That.” be answered, "is my office Now"- He wondered why the woman was so interested in this fact, but tiis af THE COFFEE COUNTY PROGRESS, DOUGLAS._jG-TO lArmation, calculated to impress, was cr.t short by an exultant cry from itic I rquat figure beneath him. "Thin ye aire the same wan that's been Impin' me out uv the price uv a cow this t'ree mouths,” proceeded Mrs O'Hearn. "Ye"— She cast about for an expression that would at once convey her contempt and anger. "Y'e miirtbarer!" she concluded. The trio at the fence, now enjoying tlie exclusive attention of Nicodemus. since it was obvious that the woman commanded the situation at the tree, resorted to missile throwing. The venerable gentleman looked perplexed ly about him. "Upon my soul, my good woman.” he ventured, "you surprise me. 1 know nothing of your row, You have surely mistaken me for some one else. I do not recall that I have ever before been in this locality." “Ye'll remimber it. thin, from this J’yous dbay, for it's not from the place ye’ll be sthlrrin' till I've me equivy iiut an' me reshtititiou for the evil ye’ve done me. 'it's tlie prisidint ot the roud,’ says the station agent, ‘that is considerin' your claim. Mrs. O’Henrn. an' It'll be all roiglit in toime. but he’s a very busy man.* 'Ye're not so busy but ye can put your band to yer pocket au’ projnee tile S3P for the cow ye’ve murthored in cold blood along uv your ig’narant injine dhriveis an' she doin' no barmm to tbim or anny wan. Au’ it's the extra money I want for the milk I've bought since me bereavement.' ” The situation seemed clearer. “You do uot. then, accuse me of driving off your cow?" asked tlie ven erable gentleman. "Dbrivin her off?" repeated Mrs. O'liearn, striving to compass her I scorn bv raising her voice to its high* ! est pitch. "It’s makin’ mincemeat uv ; her an’ wid no sthuppin’ for an apolo gy that I claim ye to be the ridliaud ed assassin ye aire.” ”1 do not run tlie engine." asserted the venerable gentleman uselessly, "if you have losl a cow. Mrs. O’Hearn, through any carelessness of the eiii ployees of tile road you may be sure your claim will receive due considera tion You can hardly expect to ad vance it, however, uy keeping me here. And you have been misinformed. Tlie president of tlie road does uot adjust | these matters that come out of ltie — the misfortunes of cows. Your claim | has probably been delayed.” Mrs. O'Hearn glared. \\;hi!e Nicode j mus. rushing past her in gleeful pur suit of a rock thrown by tlie engineer, came wiggling back, licked tlie rolling pin and returned to the fence. “Consideration!" exclaimed tlie lady. | I “It's today that me eqnlvylint comes to forty dollars and eighty cint.s, an' it’s in the three ve’ll sthay an' ye're hired murtlierers lookin' on from the feuce be.vant like gorillas in a cage before I sthir from the sphot or call off me dog, an' nick to him for kuow tn' a thafe whin lie sees wan.” The venerable gentleman started to j parley, looked bewildered, sighed and fumbled ill the breast pocket of His \ coat He Anally withdrew a some- ! what worn pocketbook bulging with j papers. From these be extracted two greenbacks Then he searched as ! well as lie «-onld in personal safety j tlie pockets of bis trousers. He tin>al ly gave up in dismay. "I am sorry to say that I haven’t the ainoiwit ypn ask. If you will ac cept $-_’u i assure you tlie remainder will be fortiM-oinmg.'' Mrs. O Heu.ru raised tlie rolling pin. "It's the eq.mvylint or not one cine,”’ she dec-la l ed. "itut. as i have toid you. I do not possess the amount i rarely carry with me any ready money.” he added, with u shack* of exasperation, as if Mrs. O'Hearu could have been pre viously acquainted with his habit in that regard. "You can git it.’” asserted tlie amazon j j inflexibly. The venerable genrlemaD sighed again and called out to the etlgiUee! ; "1 say. Hawlviice. do you tiappen to j have any money':'' "A few dollars, sir ” "I nave a .Itrle Change." supplement ed the fireman, while the conductor reached into h pocket. "If (be three ol voo could make up a purse the tiling is absolutely at»- , surd, but we caiu«ot remain here argu ing with tins woimiM. i shall ask you j to loan me S'JU " “Au so eints." interrupted Mrs. O’ H earn. “Exactly," acknowledged the vener able gentleman, although not agree ably. "and SO cents." Tbere was a search of overalls and. blouses, and In the moment of sus pense the president considered that it would not i>e at all unlikely that the ridiculous situation would he further complicated by the discovery that the combined wealth of the crowd did not make up tne meager sum required. He was consequently relieved when the balance was forthcoming to the final ten <*ent piece, a contribution from ihe porter. This, by direction, was thrown over the fence, to be guarded by Nieodemus. The two hills fluttered from the hand of the president, and Mrs O'Hearn, picking them u t >. turned them over carefully. Then she moved over to the second collection, and, sat istied with the accuracy of her count, and she was not quick at coin values, i called rf:- dog. grasped it by one ear and ambled back toward the house with no concluding word. But she evi denced her faith by locking Nieodemus in the barn, whereupon the venerable gentleman descended. When the dog was released and shot off down the (mature to renew the sport the special had gone. He sniffed at the tree and. presumably living over the late adven ture in his imagination, barked in a paroxysm of joy. Atlanta and Savannah, Georgia Swifts Fertilizers, ail animal matters Ammoniates from Blood Bone and Tankage. Manufactured bv Swifts Fertilizer works, Atlanta and Savannah, Ga. Swifts Fertilizers do not Leach away ( but become a part of the soil, therefore any unused plant food is available to the follow ing crop. Swifts fertilizers are finally ground and cured before shipping time insuring double mixed goods in good mechanical condition. For Sale Bj r “It Pays to Use Swifts Fertilizers” I Q I .ntt Douglas, Georgia ® IL- tL-® *BSSMaHSE® «aB*EMSIBB»D SISEMMOHBHSE ®BaaEJr*i“SXD IV •• DEALER IN r^..Z3" Mules, Horses, Wagons, Buggies Harness, Sash, Doors, Lime, Ce ment, Plaster, Brick, and all kinds of Builders’ Hardware. 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