oi ll II *jj
A Catspaw [
; < D
It was generally understood in
Bungtown that Squire Coram's daugh
ter, Betty, was tabooed. Not only
"hands off" was her father's order to
the young men who coveted her, but
tongues off, and even eyes off. She
was not to be touched, or talked to,
or even looked at, aud woe to the
daring youth who ventured to trans
gress the squire's command.
No wonder the young men of
town coveted Betty Coram. Not only
was she very pretty, but she was re
puted to be amiable and intelligent,
and was an heiress.
Among those who went wild after
Betty Coram was Excelsior Podd, the
only son of Phlletus Podd, editor of
the Bungtown Banner. Excelsior had
been so called because the elder Podd
felt a prophetic Impulse that his son
would rise higher in the world than
any one else.
"Why not?" said Philetus 1 odd. If
the boy should inherit his father s in*
tellectual powers, and those powers
should be developed under the sagaci
ous instructions of that father, there
would be no limit to his capacity for
rising in the world. It was well, there
fore, that he was named Excelsior.
As yet, however. Excelsior Podd hftd
shown no remarkable appreciation of
the exalted destiny that awaited bitn.
He had Just advanced beyond the posi
tion of "devil" in his father s printing
office, and had been promoted to the
dignity of a "case."
He was chiefly noted for being an
overgrown, gawky youth of nineteen,
who had "no more sense than the law
allows," and was often the butt of the
village wits.
But Excelsior had no knowledge of
his deficiencies, his opinion of him
self being reflected from that of his
father, who looked upon his offspring
with admiring eyes. As his bump of
self-esteem was well-developed, he did
not consider that he was at all pro
sumptuous in aspiring to the hand of
sweet Betty Coram, or in believing
that he might succeed where so many
had failed.
His disadvantages, of course, woro
the same as those which the other
young men labored under, but ha
showed considerable ingenuity in over
coming the principal obstacle. He in
vented all sorts of pretexts for gaining
admission to Squire Coram's house
and for obtaining interviews with tho
lovely Betty. In these efforts he wa»
often successful, the more so, perhaps,
because the squire did not believe
that his daughter could be in the least
endangered by the presence of Excelr
■lor Podd.
Excelsior thought otherwise. Ho
believed himself to be a lady-killer,
and was sure that Betty Coram had
fallen before his invincible onset. Tho
truth Is that Betty was kept so seclud
ed that the visits of even Excelsior
Podd were a relief to her. and sho
did not try to conceal her pleasure at
the sight of a young man.
This particular young man was sura
that he had made a conquest, and his
assurance was rendered doubly sura
when George Deering, the son of tho
postmaster, brought him a note, dl*
rected in a delicate feminine hand.
"You are in luck, Excel," said Deer
ing. "Here is a note for you from
Betty Coram."
"Creation, George! how did you get
hold of It?"
"Easy enough. She came to the of*
flee this morning witli the squire, and
managed to slip this into iny hand. I
supposed It was for myself, and was
right mad when 1 saw that it was for
you. I don't know how it is, old fel
low, that you have got so far ahead
of all the rest of us, and 1 can't help
envying your good fortune."
Excelsior eagerly grasped the noto
and went off to read It by himself. It
was In these words:
"My Dear Friend, Excelsior Podd:
I have noticed your looks, and believe
that you love me. If you do, now is
the time to prove It. I can no longer
endure my father's tyranny, and am
anxious to leave home. If you aro
trilling to take me out of here, I will
trust you to do so. Come to-night, at
II o'clock. The dog is chained, and
there is no one to fear but father, and
I am sure that you are smart enough
to keep out of his way. Do not fail ma,
and 1 am— Yours ever. BETTY."
Excelsior was in ecstasies, he hard
ly knew whether he stood upon his
head or his feet. Here was the beau
ty of the village, the heiress of Bung
town, actually proposing an elope
ment, and with him! Of course ha
would seize the opportunity. There
could be no question of that. Ha
would jump at the chance.
During the rest of the day he was
In such a state of excitement and dis
traction that he was unable to attend
to his duties at tha printing office. At
night he arrayed himself in bis best.
Stole out of the house, and dtrected his
steps toward Squire Coram'* mansion.
Although Betty had not given him
any directions, he knew wt*at to do.
He knew where her room WAS, and
where he must get over the fence, la
order to take the neareßt route to har
window, and that was the point he de
sired to reach.
Then he began his progress toward
the house, moving slowly and cauti
ously, peering through the darkness
In every direction at every step, to
guard against discovery, or to make
his escape In time.
When he was half way across the
lawn, he was startled by the deep
voiced barking of Squire Coram's bull
dog. Excelsior felt a sudden slnkirg
at the heart, as bark after bark issued
from the throat of that formidable ani
mal; but he recovered his course*
whan he remembered Betty's assur
ance that old Towser was chalnad.
The only fear was that the dog
would alarm the bouse, and that fear
was soon realized. The voice of
Squire Coram was heard, speaking to
the dog, and it was apparent that ho
was about to Issue from the house
with the Intention of searching tho
grounds.
Excelsior was eqiial to this emer
gency. He ran to the garden fence,
Jumped over It, and hid in the currant
bushes. But he was oppressed by a
terrible fear.
"Suppose the squire turns the dog
loose!"
But the squire did nothing of tha
kind. He looked about the lawn a lit
tle, muttering that old Towser had
been barking at some cat or strajr
dog, addressed some words of reproof
to the animal, and returned to the
house.
"Faint heart never won fair lady,"
thought Excelsior, as he prepared to
jump over the garden fence and re
new his attempt.
The night was very dark, and ha
did not try to find the precise spot at
which he had previously climbed *he
fence. The result was, that when he
leaped over he found himself standing
In something soft and sticky, that
Blushed up about his legs very unpleas
antly.
He felt It, and discovered, to his in
finite disgust, that he was standing in
a pot of soft soap, which had been
made during the day and left out to
cool.
This was very mortifying, and it
left his clothes in an unpleasant pre
dicament, although he rubbed off as
much of the greasy mixture as ha
could.
"Never mind," he thought; "If she
loves me, as I am sure she does, sha
won't care about the soap."
Again he worked Ills way toward
the house. To his great delight, the
dog was now quiet, his master's re
proof having had the effect of re
straining him from barking.
There was a light burning in Betty's
window, and toward it. as the guiding
star of his hope, Excelsior directed
his steps. But, just as he came be
neath the window, It was extin
guished.
While he wondered at this, a side
door opened, and Betty herself ap
peared before him. She was attired la
a traveling dress, and carried a shawl
and a reticule. She was evidently pre
pared to elope, and the young man's
happiness was complete.
"My brave Excelsior!" she ex
claimed. "My noble Podd! How shall
I ever thank you for this? But what is
the matter with your shoes? They
sound so queer."
"The fact is," stammered the young
man, "that I got Into a pot of soft
soap out here."
"Have you endured that for met
What a splendid fellow you are! lam
ready. Let us hurry. But let me Srst
speak to the dog. I was s» afraid
that father would find you, or that ha
would turn Towser'* loose."
Betty stepped lightly to the bull
dog's kennel, petted him on the head,
and spoke kindly to him, and then re
turned to the young man.
"Can you get me over the tall
fence?" she asked.
"Yes; I put a step-ladder there."
"Let us make haste, then."
They reached the fence speedily,
and without difficulty. Excelsior want
over first; then Betty climbed tha
step-ladder, and Jumped off, and ha
received her In his arms. Blessed
privilege! Glorious possession! Tha
beauty and the heiress of Bungtown
was now all his own, his own forever!
He even forgot the soap In his shoes.
He was beginning what he intended
to be a very pretty speech, expressive
of his love and devotion, when Betty
Interrupted him.
"There is no time to speak of that
now," she said. "I am safe, and will
be far from here when father awakes;
but there is no time to lose!"
"Where shall we goto, Betty?"
"I will show you. It's all arranged.
Come with me."
She led hltn through the grove te
the road, where a horse and buggy
were standing. At the horse's head
was a man, whom Excelsior presently
recognized, to his great surprise, aa
George Deering.
Why, George, what on earth are yoa
doing here?" he asked.
"I knew what was going on." re
plied Deering, "and brought a buggy
to help the young lady off. I always
stand by my friends, especially when
they stand by me. Have the kindnesa
to assist Miss Betty Into that vehicle,
my dear Podd; and soon everything
will be lovely."
Excelsior did as he was requaatad
to do, and was about to follow the
young lady into the buggy, when Deer
ing halted him.
"Walt a moment, my dear fellow,"
said the latter. "We must consult tha
safety of Miss Betty. No one but my
self can manage this horse, and I must
gat In first."
Excelsior stood aside while the othr
er got In and seated himself by the
side of Betty. Deering then whipped
up the herse, went ahead a short dis
tance, stopped, and looked back.
"Farewell, my dear Excelsior," he
said. "You are the beet Podd that
ever grew on a beanstalk. Whenever
any of iny friends want their cheat
nuts pulled out of tha fire, I will be
sure to recommend you."
In a few moments the buggy was
out of sight.
"I ewow to gracious!" exclaimed
Excelsior; "I've a great mind to ge
and tell the squire." t
But he didnt Ha went home,
cleaned the soap off his clothes, and
held his tongue.—EDWARD WIL»
LETT.
Mercantile Appraisment.
The venders of domestic and foreign merchan
dise etc. in Sullivan county Pa. will take notice
tliat they are appraised and valued bv the un
del-signed Appraiser of Mercantile aiid other
business for the year 1912, as follows, to wit:
Berniee Store Co Cherry Twp..Retail Mere'].
801l Peter do do
Baldwin, J. H do do
Conner, J. ,1 do do
Daley, John do
Donovan Mike do do
Edgel Saudor do do
Finati Frauds do do
Eioaiherg Simon do do
Gross, John * do
Gatta, Lewis do do
Giait'ley, W. C A Lewis.... do do
llynian, Bros do do
flyman. BB do do
iieiauian. Joseph do do
Hope.C. P do do
llood Mrs. Paal do <fo
Hartzig, Hurry B do do
Leverton, L. E do do
Lowry, Lawrence do do
Meyer, Frank do do
McUee, Patrick do do
l'auich Samuel do do
Potter Wm do do
Ramsey Koliert do do
Ramsey, James do do
Schoad. 11. J do do
Sick, Francis J.. do do
Summon* Geo 1 do do
Sick, C. S do do •
Sick, Joseph do do
Touhcy John tV do do
White, John F do do
Yonkin, Joseph A Sou do
Eating House
Kennedy Wm. E do do
Colley
Hurk Wm do do
Collins P. J do do
DiefTenbaeh Wm, F do dd
Dyer, A. L do
Fulmer & Heverlev do do
Hrubeuak Joseph do do
llalubuk. Steve do do
llurtouitz, Ike do do
Johnson. \Y. L, do to
Johnson c. A do do
Kellogg, 11. M do do
Leytert. Fred do do
Lo|ie/. Drug Co do do
Lope/. Store Co. Ltd do do
Murry. P. P do do
McGee .J P do do
Mui'lln, irvin do do
Peuler, 1). \\ do do
l'ottei E I do do
House. A do do
Kohc L do do
slovinski. John do do
Simon, Al«- uo do
Simon Abe do do
sulicll. Mike do do
Wcinsteiu Jacol do do
Yariah Simon do do
Armstrong, A. T Davidson do
HuckAgt. John do do
Houdmun, smith do do
Hasley, Hair;. do do
Crist. Nora do do
llousckuecht, B do do
Lorah .Miss Ida do do
Meyers jamea do do
Moran.J. W do do
Miller, J. to do
Magargel, Frank do do
Meyers, Geo. \V do do
Phillips BUei v do do
Snore Mrs Forbes do do
Starr, Chas do do
Taylor Bros do do
Wihtou, Jacob do do
Watson, John do do
Bahr, C. A Dushore do
Connor Margaret do do
Cunningham, James do do
Connor, p do do
Croll, Chas do do
Critmnins, J. H do do
Carroll. l>. K do do
Carroll.'l' W do do
Cole, Samuel do do
DiefTenbaeh. W li do do
Deegan, Geo. T ... do do
I'arrell, F, II do do
Finan, P. J do do
Kulmer Heverley do do
Grace. I*. K do do
lluiner. John do do
liileman, John Jr do
Hatton Hatoldll do do
Hotfinan F do do ,
Holla, Clias. W do do
lloftaj. 8 A Co do do
Hammond O. M do do
Harrington, J. S do do
iloleoinb V do do
Kraus, Wm, 11 do do
Kline. Bernard do
KJcbinka C. K do do
Keefe Inn do do
Lunch, Frank do do
Mosier, Willis do do
MeGee. Robert do . do
Noitli. I'. W do . do
Messeisniitli G. U do do
Obert. II F- do do
Pealer, Chas. E do do
Keeser, J. 1) do do
Ritteubury, Mrs. Bernicc do do
Sylvara, E. G do do
saxer. B. F do do
stasford Gco.W *.... do do
Tubach A. L do do
Williams, C.M do do
Wagner, Winifred M do do
Voukin, J. H do do
Grange Boy a do do
Driesbuugh Miss do do
Kherer, Daniel.A Soli Eagles Mere do
Bloom A Foshagc do
L do do
larmuter William do do
S|egfried Estella do do
Shogry Regina do do
Taylor, W. 1 do do
llartung August Elk laud Twp do
Bedford I' G do do
Hugo, G-eorge do do
flail, William do do
Jennings, fc do do
Jennings. C. B do do
Kav, Albert do do
Mulnix, A, T do do
Snyder, J. do
Norton Powell Forks Twp
neater A WoUck do do
Fawcett B. W Forksville do
Calkins, Will do do
KaudaH W J do do
hogers and Sous do do
Campbell, A. E Fox Twp do
Ayers Charles J do do
Cascimtn, c do do
Bedford, Mrs. Jos do do
Fanning, W. II do do
Hill, E. W do do
Kilmer A. B do do
Kilmer OA do do
Haub Mru. C. E do do
Williams,O.J do do
Hillsgrove
Galougli, S. T do do
Hull, Vernon do do
Hoffman, C. M do do
Tompkins 'l'hos S do do
Fiester, G, M LaporteTwp do
Nordmotit Supply C 0... do do
Snider, W. B do do
McFurluue, Jas do do
Buschhauscn A. 11 Luporte Boro do
Bald Julius to do
Crosslcy F M do do
Carpenter Joseph do do
F H Farrell do do
Kraus. Henry do do
Ilassen. John Jr do do
Uieb, William do do
Smyth, John L do do
Hocks, Wolf do do
Stackliouse, J. H....Shrewsbury do
Atlantic Refining Co. Dushore, wholesale Merc'l.
George W. Snyder Forksville
Kiess, k. li. Eagles Mere. two nqoi tables,
" do one billiard table
do 4 ten pin alleys
• • do two shuffle lioards
Cenuskey Frank Mildred 2 pool tables
Hymen. B. B. do 2 Pool Tables
do do 2 bowling alleys
White, John F. do 2 pool tables
Car|>cnter, C. D. Dushore Boro 2 pool tables
Lovfert Fred Loi*z. 2 pool tables
Raiil Julius P. Laporte Boro 2 Pool Tables
And that an ap|>eal will be held in the office of
the County Treasureriu Laiorte. Pa., on the Ist
day of April, 1912, at 100 elocfc a. m. when and
where you may attend if you think proper.
JAMES C. CAVSN, Mercantile Appraiser.
The VI. S. will hold their Bake
Side at the home of Mrs. T. J.
Keeler Saturday afternoon, March
l(i, 1912. 2:30 o'clock.
joaf Tiibarro Spit auu Sk.Lkfl Tom Mil! •*•)>
quit tobacco easily and forever, be may
Belle, full of life, nerve aud vigor, take No-To
flue, the wanner-v. oilier, that makes weak me*
ij? in druvplsts. 5He. or t*. C-iroguarac
t.u.l r.iuiii.; 'tee. A-uire*
" outfit C--
REPORT OF THE CONDITION OF
First National Bank of Laporle.
Ht La porte, in the Slate of Pennsylvania
at the close of business Feb. JO, lUI2.
RKSOI'KCES.
Loans and discount!! 15,777 11
Overdrafts, secured and unsecuri II 17
S. Hondo to secure circulation 2>,c0000 i
Premiums on IT.l T . S. Bonds 292 O'J
Bonds, securities, etc SI7O 00
Banking house,•furniture and fixtures... B,4is It!
Due from National Banks (not reserve
agents)
Due from approved reserve agents t.lTl ».l
checks and other cash Items 191 :!:!
Notes of other National Banks l.xsr. oo
Fractional paper currency, nickels and
cents 10:! II
LAWFUL MONKV RESERVE IS BASK, VIZ:
specie $l,t;:!B i:>
Legal-tender notes 1 ,«!):> 00 fi,331 l"i
Redemption fund with li. s. Treasurer
(5 per cent of circulation) 1,250 00
Total 59H,8:1l 27
LIABILITIES.
Capital stock paid in $25,000 00
•Surplus Fund 2,500 00
I ndivided profits, less expenses and
taxes paid 27X08
National hank notes outstanding 24,300 00
Due to other National Banks 252 iIS
Individual de|>osits subject to check 25,215:11
Demand certificates of deposit 1ti,27« "1
Certitleil checks
cashier's checks outstanding it 21
Total $9:1,831 27
State of Pennsylvania, County of Sullivan, ss : (
I, Kdward Ladley, Cashier of the above-named
bank, do solemnly affirm that the above state
ment is true to the liest of my knowledge and
lielief. KDWAKI) LADLKV, Cashier.
Subscribed ami affirmed tojbefore me this 20th
day of February 1912.
At.BERT F. HKRSS, Prothonotary.
CORRECT ATTEST :
A. 11. BUSCIIIIAUSEN .
K. J. MI'LLKN,
F. W. MEYLERT
1)1 rectors.
The price of the
News Item is 75 cents
per year. Subscribe
NOW.
Leap Year Poetry.
A number of girls have suggest
ed that we published something
about leap year so we have com
posed the following something :
Tell us not in idle jingle ••mar
riage is an empty dream for the
girl is dead that's single, and
things are .iot what they seem.
Life is real, life is earnest, single
blessedness a fib ; "Man thou art,
toman returneth," has been
spoken of the rib. Not enjoy
ment and not sorrow is our des
tined end or way, but to act that
each tomorrow finds us nearer
marriage day. Life is long and
youth is fleeting, and our hearts,
though light and gay, still like
pleasaut drums are beating wed
ding marches all the day. In the
world's broad fields of battle, in
the bivouac of life, be not like
dumb driven cattle—be a herione
—a wife ! Trust 110 future, how
ever pleasant ; let the dead past
bury its dead ; act—act in the
living present present, heart with
in and hope ahead. Lives of mar
ried folks remind us we can live
our lives as well, and, departing
leave behind us such examples as
shall "tell"—such examples that
another, wasting time in idle sport,
a forlorn, unmarried brother, see
ing, shall, take heart and court.
Let us then l>e up and doing, with
a heart on triumph set ; still con
triving, still pursuing, and each
one a husband get.
John Gumble of this place is a
candidate for delegate to the He
publican State Convention. Mr.
Gumble says that if elected he
will support Theodore Roosevelt
for president.
my Waverly—the best
By petroleum products w
n made—all made from 1
n high grade Pennsylvania
I Gasoline*, illuminating oils,
I lubricating oil* and parra-
I fine wax for all purposes.
I 100 Page Booklet Free tells
B Waverly Oil Works Co. i
Independent Refiners ffl
ft PITTSBURG. PA. JU
Executors Notice.
In lie: Estate of A. C. Little,
Deceased. Let ters Test men tary 011
the Instate of A. ('. Little, Late of
Eagles Mere liorough, Deceased,
having this day been granted to the
undesigned, by the Register of Wills
of Sullivan Coonty, notice is here
by given to all persons indebted to
said estate to make payment, until
all persons having claims to present
them, duly authenticated, for set
tlement. to,
FRANKS. LITTLE, Executor,
Eajjles Mere, I'enn'a., February
29, 1912.
Roll Call.
Hern ice and Mildred Absent
Sonestown Present
Muncy Valley Absent
Rieketts Absent
Nordmont Absent
Forksville Absent
Hillsgrove Absent!
Eagles Mere Absent
Remember we furnish stamped
envelopes anil paper to correspon
dents.
[lection Notice.
In accordance with the Act of
the Assembly of April (ith 1911,
The County Commissioners of
Sullivan County hereby publish :
That at the primary election
( known as Spring Primary) to be
held by the electors of Sullivan
County on the second Saturday of
April the following Delegates and
Alternate Delegates are to be
elected, viz. :
Two Delegates and two Alter
nate Delegates to represent the
Hi Congressional District, of which
Sullivan County is part to the
Democratic National Conventioi
to be held in Baltimore, Maryland
June 'J.'). 11)12,
One Delegate to represent Sulli
van County in the Keystone State
Convention of 1912.
One Delegate to represent Sulli
van County in the DemocraticJState
Convenion of 1912.
Two Delegates and two Alternate
Delegates to represent the lt» Con
gressional District of which Sull
ivan County is part to the Repub
lican National Convention to be
held in Chicago 111., in June next.
One Delegate to represent Sulli
van County in the Republican
State Convention to be held at
Ilarrisburg, l'a., in May next.
Five Delegates ami Alternate
Delegates elected to the National
Prohibition Convention in Atlantic
City, N. J., July 10 lltli, and 12,
1912.
Notice is also given that there
are to be voted for in Sullivan
County, at the General Election to
be held on Tuesday, November sth
1912, Candidates for the following
offices:
One Representative in Congress.
One Representative in the (Jeneral
Assembly.
IIIVIN lIOTTEXSTEIN,
JOSEPH SICK,
GEORGE BHOSCHART,
County Commissioners.
Judson Brown, Clerk.
%%1 , gp?
H Dependable M
agfe _ , K
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AJI answered at
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HILLSGROVE, [PA.
"The Liver Pills act
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Easily."
Such a statement, coming from
the cashier of a bank, shows what
confidence responsible people have
in these pills. Mr. A. L. Wilson
after trying them wrote:
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good results. The Liver Pills
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have taken a pill. Frequently
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A. L. Wilson, Spuita, 111.
Mr. Wilson was for a number
of years cashier of the First
National Bank of Sparta.
Dr. Miles'
Nerve and Liver Pills
arc different from others. Many
kinds of liver pills are "impossible"
after one trial on account of their
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If the first bottle falls to benefit, yo-ir
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MILES MEDICAL CO., Elkhart, Ind.
GO YEARS'
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