Oliver October
> * *
By George Barr McCutcheon
WNU Scrvlee Copyright. B«n Syndicate
« 5 • ft \ ;
BORN TO BE HANGED
-
Here's a clever story about ft
man born to be hanged before he
was thirty for a crime he didn't
commit—that's the way a gypSy
jueen told his fortune the night
he was born. And what's more,
the gypsy queen was right; she
was a palm reader who knew her
business and wasn't afraid to ad
mit it. So Oliver's father disap
peared and the neighbors cried,
"Murder!"
And before long they also
yelled, "Oliver." And Anally, Just
tlx days beforS Oliver's thirtieth
birthday came along a lynching
bee strung him up. But, just the
■aine, all this did not prevent
Oliver's getting elected to the
state senate and winning ft
pretty wife and living happily
ever after. By Oeorge Barr Mc-
Cutcheon. Enough said'
CHAPTER I
Oliver, Born in October
silver October Baxter, Jr., was born
IK the town of Rumley on a vtle Octo
ber day lu 1890. Rumley people were
divided In thelt#exeltemen! over this
event and the arrlvnl of a band of
gypsies, camped on the edge of the
■wimp below the Baxter house.
Oliver's parents were prominent In
the commercial, social and spiritual life
of the town. His father was the pro
prietor of the hardware store, a prom
inent member of the Presbyterian
church, and a leader In the local lodge
of Odd Fellows. His mother, Mary
Baxter, a comely, capable young worn
• an. was beloved by all. No liner
' "youngun" than Oliver October had
ever been born, according to Mrs.
Serepta Grimes, and Serepta was an
authority on babies. It was she who
took command of Oliver, his mother
and his father, the house Itself, and all
that therein was.
As the story of Oliver October really
begins at 7 o'clock In the evening of
his birthday, we will open the narra
tive with Mr. Joseph Slkes, Mr. Bax
ter'a old and trusted friend, hovering
in solitary gloom over the baaeburner
In the sitting room of Baxter's house.
He was Interrupted In his gloomy medi
tations by the slamming at (lie kitchen
door. His brow grew (lurk. This was
no time to be slamming doors.
Itiisliing to open the door, he wu
confronted by a pair of total strangers
—a tall mun with ahort bluck whiskers
and a frail little woman with red, wind
smitten cheeks.
"I am Oliver Baxter's sister," an
nounced the woman, "and this la my
husband, Mr. Gooch. We drove all the
way over here from Hopklnsvllle to
take charge of thiugs for my brother."
"Well, I guess If you are hla alster
you'd better come Into the sitting room
and take your thing* off," said Mr.
Mikes, leading the way.
Mrs. Gooch, Having divested herself
ef coat, scarf, bonnet and overrtioes,
straightened her hair before the look
ing glass, while her husband surveyed
the room and Its contents with tha dis
dainful air of one used to much batter
'things.
Gooch typified prosperity of tha
meaner kind. Over in Hopklnsvllle he
was considered the richest and the
stingiest man in town, lie was what.
Is commonly called a "fax shark," de
riving a lucrative and obnoxious In
come through his practice of buying up
raal estate at tax sales 4nd holding it
until it was redeemed by the hard
pressed owner, nr. as It happened in
many instances, acquiring the property
under a provision of the state law
then In operation, whereby after a pre
scribed lapse of time he was enabled
to secure a tax dead in bis own name.
No one, not even his fellow church
members, had ever been known to get
the better of him.
M I shall take charge here," Mrs.
Qooch announced to Mr. Slkes. "Is
this the way upstairs V
Mr. Slkee nodded. "But If I wss
you," be said, "I'd aak Serepty Grimes
before I took charge here."
"I will soon get rid of Mrs. Grimes," .
said she. tossing bar head.
.As she started to leave the room, a
load knocking at the front door roae
above the howl of the wind. Slkea, re
suming hla office aa master of cere
monies. pushed his wsy past Mrs.
Oooch and opened the door to admit
a woman and two men. The first to
enter the sitting room wss a tall man
wearing a thin black overcoat and a
high silk bat. This was Rav. Herbert
Sage, pastor of the Preabyterlan church
of Rumley. The lady waa hla wife.
The other member of the trio, a fat,
red-faced, Jolly looking man of Inde
terminate a^e,, waa BUas Link, the
■adertaker. upholsterer end liveryman
of Bumley.
"Reverend" Sage waa a good-looking
young man of thirty, threedbafe and a
trifle wan. with kindly brown eyea set
deep under a broad. Intelligent brow.
Hla wife waa. surprisingly enough, a
handsome, dashing young woman. She
waa tall, willowy and atartllng. She
ware a sealakln coat—at least it looked
like seal—with sleevea that ballooned
grandly at the shoulders; rather stun
ning coral asrrlafi made np of grado
a ted globea and • slinky satin skirt ef
*IM i flag. Mr Slkes." *e
5,, i
drawled, 88 she scuffled past him Into
the sitting room. "Nice balmy weather
to be born In, isn't It?"
Mr. Slkes, taken unawares, forgot
himself so far as to wink at the par
son. and then, In some confusion, stam
mered: "St-step right In, Mrs. Sage,
and have a chair. Let me make you
acquulnted with Oliver's sister, from
Ilopklnsvllle. Reverend Sage, Mrs.
Gooch. Mr. Link, Mrs. Oooch. And
this Is Oliver's brother-in-law, her hus
band, also of Hopklnsville."
Everybody bowed.
"How la your dear brother, Mrs.
Gooch?" inquired Mr. Sage. '
"I dldu't know there was anything
ths matter with Oliver."
"There Hsn't anything the matter
with him," said Mra. Sage, "that a
good, stiff drink of whisky won't cure."
"Ahem!" coughed her husband. He
had the worried majiner of one who
never knew what Is. coming next.
His wife looked up Into his face and
amlled—a lovely, good humored smile
tliat was slowly transformed Into s
mischievous grimace.
"I'm always making breaks, am I
not, Herby dea£? It's a terrible strain,
Mr. Gooch, being a parson's wife."
"Umph!'' grunted Mr. Goorh.
At this juncture the sitting room
door was opened and the proud father,
followed by Serepta Grimes, entered
the room. Reaming, be surveyed the
assembled gathering.
"He's got the finest head you ever
saw," Re announced. "Got a head like
a statesman."
Reverend Sage had moved over to
one of the windows, while the other
occupants of the room surrounded Bax
ter, and was gaxlng out between the
curtains across the gale-awept porch
Into the blackness beyond. He shiv
ered s little, poor chap, at the thought
J j
| The Light Fell Full Upon a Face
Close to a Window Pane.
of going out again into the bitter, un
believable, night—at the thought of his
cold little home at the end of
the village.
He was thinking, too, of his wife and
the mile walk she would have to take
with him' ihto the very teetb of the
buffeting gale when this visit was over.
She had come to this wretched little
town from a great city, where houses
Jmd flats were warm and snug. Be
thought of the warm Uttle room on the
ttilrdL floor of the boarding house where
he had lived and studied for two foil
yeara. It was In this house that he had
met Josephine Judge. She was the
daughter of the kindly widow who con
ducted the boarding house—s tall, slim
girl who used slang and was gay and
blltheaome. and had ambitions! Ambi
tions? She wanted to become an
sctress. She waa atage-atruok.
He was not a theater-going youth.
.He had been brought up with an ab
horrence for the stage and all its In
iquities. So he devoted himself, heart
snd soul, to the saving of the mis
guided maiden, with astonishing re
sults. They fell In love with each
other and were married.
- He pressed hla face against the celd
psne, striving to rid hla mind of the
doubts snd worries that beset it.
Suddenly he drew back with an ex
clamation. The light fell full upon a
face close to the window pane, a face
ao startling and so vivid that It did not
appear to be real A pair of dark,
gleaming eyes met his tor a few aec
onds; then swiftly tbs face was with
drawn. He leaned forward and peered
intently. Two Indlatlnet figures took
shspe In the unrelieved darkness at the
comer of the porch—two women, he
made out. '
"Joseph." I.e called, "there are two
strange women on the porch. Perhaps
yon—" f
"Go see who It la, Joe," Commanded
. lira. Crimea crisply.
Slkes hastened to obey, and returned
presently In great excitement. '
"Say, Ollle," he tfurst out, "there'i
a couple of women out here from that
gypsy camp. They claim to be fortune*
tellers. One of 'em wants to tell tho
baby's fortune. She says she knoWed
a couple of weeks ago that he was go*
Ing to be born today, that'a what abe
says."
"Well, I'm not going to allow any
gypsy woman to go nigh that Infant,"
cried Mrs; Grimes.
"She says It ain't necessary to even
see the baby. She says the only re
liable and genuine way to tell a baby's
fortune Is* by reading Its father's
hand."
Mr. Baxter arose. , "Bring her In,
Joe. Now, don't kick, Serepty. My
mind's made up. I'm going to know
my son's future."
Mr. Slkes rushed from the room. A
moment later he returned, followed by
two shivering women who stopped Just
Inside .the door.
The host, with a nervous sort of
geniality, beckoned to the stranger!
"Better come down to the Are, Queen."
he said.
The elder woman fixed a curlova
look upon Mr. Baxter.
"I am the queen of the gypsies, Mia
ter, but how came you to know It?"
she asked in a hoarse, pot unmusical
voice. '
"Always best to be on the safe aide,"
Said Baxter. "But look here. Do you
mean to say. Queen, that you can look
at my hand and. tell what's ahead of
my boy upstairs?"
"First, you must cross my palm wth
silver."
The company drew their chairs
closer as Baxter dropped some coins
Into the gypsy's palm. Silence per
vaded the room. Every eya was on tha
dark, Impassive face of the for one
teller as she seised Ollle's hand and
began:
"I aee a wonderful child. lie la
strong and sturdy. I can see thjs son
of yours, mister, as a leader of men.
Qreat honor is in store for him, and
great wealth. I see. men in uniform
following your son—many man, mis
ter, and all of them armed. I aee
him as a successful man, aa~the head
of great undertakings. He haa been
out of college but a few yeara."
"That will please his mother," said
Baxter, sniffling.
- "8b!" put In Mr. Slkes testily.
"I see him," continued the fortune
teller, "as he is nearing thirty. Rich,
respected and admired. He will have
many alFairs of the heart I see two
dark women and—one, two—yes, three
fair women."
"That would seem to show that he's
going to be a purty good-looking sort
of a feller, wouldn't It?" said Baxter,
proudly.
"He will grow up to be the Image of
hla father, mister."
The gypsy leaned back in her
apreadlng her hands in a geatura of
finality.
"I see no more," she said, *
"Is that all?" Mr. Baxter sniffed.
"Well, Queen, I guess you took ua all
in purty neatly."
Outraged royalty turned on him.
"You scoff at me. For that you ahall
have the truth. All t&at I have told
you will come true. But I did not tell
you of the end that I saw for him.
Hark ye! - This son of yours will go to
the gallows. He will swing from tha
end of a rope for a crime of which he
la not guilty." She waa now, speaking
in a high shrill voice; her hearers sat'
open-mouthed. as If under a apell that
could not be phaken off. "It la all as
plain as the noondsy sun. He will
never reach the age of thirty. That
la all. That la the end. I have spoken
the truth. Tou forced me to do ao.
I go.*?
Well, Ollver'a got quite a
career ahead of him. Can he
live up to It?
(TO B» COffTINUaP.)
Bahama Island*
The Bahamas are a group of S.OOO
Islands, mostly reefs, of which only 20
are inhabited. The principal Islands
S: New Providence, population IS,-
; Obaco, population 4.461; Great
Bahama. 1.824; Androa, 7,546, and
Harbor Island. The total area la 4,-
40SV4 square miles, and the highest
point Is over 410 feet above aea level.
The principal city la Naaaau, which Is
situated on New Providence, and la a
fashionable health reaort The mean
temperature In the hot tnontha is 89
decrees Fahrenheit, and In the cold
moot ha 88 degrees Fahrenheit. There
are heavy rains fran May to October
and the rainfall In one year waa 65.32.
Stick to Hom+Mada Broad
Although bakers' products have In
creaaed enormously In the last tea
years, due to the lettlng-np of hocna
cooking and baking and the Increaalni
cuatom of entire 'families eating out
there are still many home makers wh
bake their own bread apparently. ■(
I ant year the United Statea Depart
ment of Agriculture- seat out men
than 2.000,000 copiee of (ha baUetia
COSTUME SLIPS NOW IN FAVOR;
FABRICS FOR TOTS' FROCKS
M'»y Unit tbe costume slip has sup
plumed the petticoat in point
of favor. It behooves the well-dressed
woman to see to It that her wardrobe
fontn Ins a goodly supply. To buy Is
one way of-doing this; to make Is an
other. Some of us prefer the latter
totj ;rrent the glory in being able to
sa.v: "I made It myself." To such the
following hints are respectfully mib
scflbed.
For practical everyday wear slips
i«uy pyngee silk. It tubs perfectly, and
mm WJF E
Skewing' Color Combination*.
is genteel In appearance. Several of
these slips should be made up by the
home seamstress now In readiness for
spring.
A washable white satin or radium
slip is also easily home-made, and at
leust one Is necessary to the well-regu
luted wardrobe.
When It comes to the popular Italian
silk costume slips the subject takes on
an element of color importance. This
is especiajly true for the coming sea
son for the trend to exquisite pastel
color combinations Is as apparent in
fashionable underthlngs as in the outer
costume.
If one cannot afford to purchase
pure silk knit yardage, then ask for
rayon-knit. It is eminently satisfactory
and costs so much less titan genuine
Italian silk.
The new color combinations can- be
carried out as exquisitely in one In
stance as the other. Here are some
suggestions for lovely and up-to-the-!
ii i "ny wL
* -r
~ ■> ■ «r
v
JSJ^K
>r >r >7 -1
i ■ M t miih ip»
Of Flm WUto Nat.
notuent color effects: Gray with violet
or periwinkle alternate bordering* as
HIIOWQ in the picture; ma Ice with mint
green piping outlining two tlera of scal
lops around the skirt portion; sesshell
with wlue border of rate In solid tint
finishing the helpline.
Mom# of tlte more expensive white
Ml rtn or silk, also flesh-colored, gain a
flare through Insets of lace, adding a
Uatid of lace about the top with lace
imnds over the shoulder.
Ij».it, but not least, make a costume
?llp of gold or silver cloth, for It caa
tie fashioned at home so economically,
rhls sort of a slip becomes a treasured
possession, for all sorts of sheerer lace
frocks can l\e worn over It effectively.
Style decrees that little folks'
clothes must be with an
abundance of cunning hpndlwork—so
here is mother's opportunity to keep
busy with needle and gay-colored
yarns during the long, tedious lnter
season period when winter refuses to
take its Ice and snow and depart from
hence.*
There Is any amount of fun to b
had collecting lovely remnants in th«
clearance sales which take place at
this time oi) the year. Fashions ar«
so cunning for youngsters it adds to
the Joy to choose this pattern and
that and then "get busy" following di
rections.
Thlnlr of the pleasure in store for
the hiome seamstress who has in con
templation the making of a little fine
white net frock, fcr net Is one of
the materials favored for little girls'
dainty dresses, which wHI serve now
for wear at winter parties and later
for summertime dress-up affairs. The
falrlylike sleeveless straight-from-the
shoufder frock in the picture Is made
of net, although colored voile could
be nsed Just as pleasingly. This dain
ty model is really quite unusual, first
on account of Its being made in net
and then because of the unique em
bellishment of quaint green geese
which are figuratively sailing on green
water, as interpreted by the embroid
ered design. The geese ara done ID
cross-stitch with foxzy angora wool.
{There are other colors Introduced la
the scene and about the neck, where
Antwerp bine and tangerine floes en
ter Into the scheme.
Another item to keep mother busy
Is smocking. For no one's little glri
Is expected to go through the spring
and summer season without owning
several smocked voiles and
dotted Swisses.
Myriads of little ruffles are finding
their way also on lovely pastel-col
ored dresses.
JULIA BOTTOMRY.
I* lltf. WMI.™ Knnptyw ltnk».)
MOTHER!
Child's Harmless Laxative is
"California Fig Syrup"
Hurry Mother I A teaspoonful oi
"California Fig Syrup" now wOl thor
oughly clean the little bowels and Jn a
ffw hours you have a well,, playful
child again. Even If cross, feverish,
bilious, eonstlpated or full of «old,
children love Its pleasant taste/
Tell your druggist you want only the
genuine "California Fig Syrup" which
has directions for babies and children
of all ages printed on bottle. Mdther,
you must say "California." Refuse
any Imitation.
——————— /
A woman seldom throws at anything
until she Is so mad that she can't see
straight. t
A Lady of Distinction
Is recognized by the delicate, fascinat
ing .Influence of the perfume she uses.
A bath with Cutlcura Soap and hot
water to thoroughly cleanse the pores
follow'ed by a dusting with Cutlcura
Talcum powder usually means a clear,'
sweet, healthy skin. —Advertisement.
Clothes do not make the man, but
one thinks more of a turkey when It
is well dressed, says the office boy.
For speedy and effective action. Dr.
Peery's "Dead Shot" has no equal. A
■lngle doae cleans out Worm* or Tapeworm.
171 Pearl Bt., N. T. Adv.
The less experience a man has the
more easily he falls in love.
Blows Its Own Horn.
For 78 years Hanford's Balaam of Myrrh
has been the friend of rich and poor. Lived
that long on its own merits. 3 sizes.—Adv.
. Nine tailors may succeed In mak
ing a man a pauper.
Attention Frail,
Delicate Women !
Gastonia, N. C—"l was very frail,
thin and delicite and had suffered from
feminine weakness,
for several yearn
I had backaches,
rf bearing pains ana
my nerves were all
1 W gone. I was so
tt /f* a weak and thin I
\ J scarcely move
\ arotmd. I suffered
/w * severe pains and
• /y"/ /• Jl great distress at
C'Jf / M times. No medicine
/ * seemed to give me
any relief. As a
last resort, I took Dr. Pierce's Favorite
Prescription and just three bottles com
pletely restored me to health »and
strength. My nerves grew strong, I
gained in weight and have never suffered
any more with these ailutents."—Mrs.
Frank Myers, 513 S. Broad St. ,
Put up both in fluid and tablet form.
f
Indigestion
DrThacher's
liver and Blood Atprop
Malm a quick, remarkable differ
ent* In your health, your spirits,
your looka. Enables your digestive
organs to do their duty.
Fill- Liberal sample bottle
at your druggist, or writ*
L_ Thacher Medicine Company,
Chattanooga, Tennessee. -Jl
SKIN BLEMISHES
w pimples, blackheads, etc, cleared
away easily and at little cost by
Resinol
Cot It Without Payment
"Tell your fortune, mister?"
"No, my wife tells it free of charge."
B Women Need
aMild Laxative
-Not a "Physic"
w. a. C ALDWKU. »
AT THK AO I or U
Countless girls and women now kaow
how foolish and needless It W to
"purge" and ''physic" themselves to
Avoid sick headaches, dizziness, bilious
ness, sallow skin, colds, or soar, gassy
stomach. „
They have found that Dr. Caldwell's
Syrup Pepsin helps to establish nat
ural bowel "regularity" even for
those heretofore consti
pated. Dr. Caldwetl'i Syrup Pepsin not
only causes a gentle, easy bowel move
ment bnt, best of all, It never gripes,
sickens or upsets the most delicate girt
sr woman. Besides, It Is absolutely
Builds up
weak bodies
Johnson, JJJ qJJ
Prom Mother Nature's gtorav
we have gathered the root. v OUM
/ and herbs which ar« mm ' rkl
under the.,famous TanCr^ 4
to make Tanlac. tor auU,
can** o Dder '
hare stomach trouble t
rheumatism, Just you sp „ fi ' n *
quickly Tanlac can help you ul
to health and strength k
Don't delay taking T«ni«.
other day.' Stop at
now and a bottle ofthis, tiX."
est of all tomes. Take TanW.
table Pills for ooostlfation.
® B Wst Flower
\sll\V awl
S Relieves that feeling
of having eaten unwisely. 30 c « n H
90c bottles. AT ALL DRUGGISTS.
Smiles are Inexpensive, but sincere
looking ones are sometimes hard to
contrive.
w Colds
Will stop tomorrow
-*■ Colds break in 14 Ixwrs foe the millions
who use Hill's. Fever and headaches go.
La Grippe yields In 3 days. This is the quick,
the apteatific way to end these dangers tad
discomforts. Don't trust lesser helps, don't
wait. Get back to normal at once.
Be Sure PHce 30c
cascawSquinine
Get Bad Dot Wtthportrsfl
'GALLSTONES
Chronic Indigestion, Oas on Stomach,
Distress In pit of Stomach, Heartburn.
Sour Stomach, Biliousness. Dizzy Spells,
Sick Headaches, Pain or Heaviness In
Right Side. Constipation, Colic, Vomiting,
Stomach Trouble Inlany Form.
Relieved Wlthiut Operation
la Tear Own Home
Write for FREE BOOKLET
I/O RING PARK CLINIC
1800 Harmon Place, Minneapolis, Minn.
Tuberculosis and Asthma Sufferers write us
for circular, where our treat ment has done
wonders. Will be sent to reliable physicians
under absolute guarantee. Can be used at
home. Remedy which will remove wronir.
will remove same, under exact circumstances.
Write. Rogers Medicine Co.. Knozvllle, Tenn.
LADIES—Save Money on Hosiery. Send (or
plan and catalogue, showing newest colors
for Spring and Summer 1926. W. K. Whita
Stores, CaUao, Virginia.
OIL PAINTED COLORED ENLARGEMENT
Your favorite Kodak picture complete with
handsome frame for only 11.SO. Send Dim It
possible/ ART STUDIO. St. Albans, W. Va.
*AKMB WANTED BY CASH BIiVEKS.
Describe fully, state loweat price. E. L
Thompson. 240 Oray Bldg., Woat Lafayette. 0.
WEAR A SUIT OF
Waterproof Whipcord
lb Oiford or Brown Colors
Coat and" trousers 110-JJ
Single trousers
Send for samples and measuring blank.
EDWARD S. APPEL & CO.
10* Hopkins Place - Baltimore, Md.
mG&mM HAIR BALSAM
Beam Dandruff Stop. Hair Falllnf
tMH Restores Color and
Baauty to Gray and Faded Hair
Soe and fI.GO at Druggists.
■MB Hiseox Chen, Wks ,PatcW«.» XJ
HINDERCORNB Removes Corns. Gal*
lonsea, etc., stops all pain, ensures comfort to im
feet, makes walking easy. 15c by mall or at Drug
gists. Hlsooz Chemical Works. Patcbogue. N. »•
WANTED MAS
Best college jp the Sooth. Jobs awaiting our
Charlotte Bsrt*r*Ceilese, CharfcMe, N. C.
W. N. U., CHARLOTTE, NO. 5-1926.
A Promise
"Mother, can I be a flirt when I (P"°*
upV'
"Yes— if you are a good girl!"
harmless and so pleasant that even s
cross, feverish, bilious, sick cbU
gladly taker It
Biry a Urge accent bottle at w
stftre that sells medicine and Just f
for yourself.
Dr.Caidwell's
SYRUP
. PEPSIN
') ■ ■ X- %