davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Cottonwood report. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1893-1901, 1893-12-22

| The guard was bound and the passengers
relieved of all their light valuables In scarce
~ more time than it takes to tell it. Then
Bart apoloSiaed handsomely to the lady for
quitting her to so much inconvenience. She
smiling rejoined
Don't worry yourself, Bart. 1t was no
Inconvenience at ALL"
| "You know me7" said Bart inuuiringly.
| 1--WE heard you described so often that I
feel pretty we'll acquainted with YOU. =" re-
piled the schoolteacher
| The h1ghwayman appeared to feel fiat
tered. II admire your spunk," he said.
Most women faint when they SEQ me-"
Il never saw q man yet that I'd faint for. :"
replied the woman, to the horror of her fel-
| low passengers, who were afraid she would
anger Bart and drive him to some desperate
| end. A second or two later they were strick-
en- dumb with amazemcnt when she said.
Bart, I'll bet You that l can beat you one
ceal at stud poker. If / don't, you nav
KISS me. If l do, you must let this coach
ana It's passengers so on with their proper
ty without further trouble. Will You do it9n
Inc propositio tssss''~.' PA 2, Tor an in
80 lat he recovered himself, and laugh.
ing heartily said: ''Waal, miss, you beat
any woman l ever came across before. I
never kiss woman unless she's willin. but
II you want to take them chances I'll play
you, but l reckon you're givin me the best
of the bargain"
Inc woman intimated that she was really
anxious to play for those stakes, and prem
aratlons were made for the game. It was
agreed that the driver should deal the cards
and Bart insisted that the half dozen pas
sengers should stand up in a row 30 PAGES
away, so that he might detect any attempt
az treachery. The teacher seated herself on
mallpouch that Bart dragged ont for
That purpose, and with his rife resting
across his lap he settled himself on one
Knee short distance from her.
The cards were dealt in the regulation
style for stud poker, and Bart's eyes glowed
with exultation when the last card was
thrown to him, face up as the rule is
You'll lose the kiss" he said, s'for here's
another five" He turned up the first card
which was also a five, and showed another
Three fives!' he shouted in delight.
"You did we'll, SIR" said the tas,hor
but I've got another seven spot here and
l believe that three of these are better thar
your fives." She turned up the "roll,' card
and sure enough it was seven snot Sbe
had got two sevens among the '.openn or
face up cards
Bart was set back for an instant. but
wnen he realized that he had been fairly
beaten he smiled, and helping the teacher
TO her feet said: Gentlemen, I've lost a
mighty big stake. Come up here, one at
= time, and get what belongs to you out of
that hat" 'D' VI
The passengers joyfully obeyetl the order
Bart retained their firearms. In a few ma.
ments the passengers were in the coach and
Were going up the trail with a dash,
When the story of the schoolteacher,s
puck was told at Nevada City, the citizens
presented herewith II handsome gold watch
dnd the express company gave her cbpck
for II 900. The brave woman still lives in
prosperous Nevada town, where She he.
came the wife of II prominent LAWYER
Cottonwood report. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1893-1901, 1893-12-22

Robert Buchanan in The Idler
speaks thus bitterly of literature:
4 entirely agree with Mr.. Grant
Allen IN his avowal that literature is
the poorest and the least satisfactory
of all professions. will go even
further and affirm that it is one of the
least ennobling. With fairly ex-
fensive knowledge of the writers of
my own period, ! can honestly say
! have not met one individual who
has not deteriorated morally by the
pursuit Of literary fame" But Mr..
Collins in The New Review says that
great bonanzas are now awaiting the
successful writer in America. There
viii OF course be more failures. he
says, but also proportionate sue
cesses.
Cottonwood report. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1893-1901, 1893-12-22
Pretended Deaf Men,

In the countries of Europe in which The
military CONSUMPTION exists many tricks
are resorted to by conscripts in the effort to
escape service. Often men have been known
to mutilste themselves, as by cutting of a
foreflnger. in order to render them unfit for
the service. Pretended inability TO see y
exposed by the surgeons without great diff
ficulty. but pretended deafness sometimes
battles the examiners.
A counter trick on the part of the officers
was for some time effective against this
fraud. The recruiting officer, after can.
script had pretended to be deaf, remarked
In an ordinary tone of voice, "You are un-
tit for the service; you are free" In many
cases the recruit showed by evident signs
of satisfaction that he had heard the 70
mark.
Hewas then recalled, told that be had
been detected in his fraud and sent to the
barracks.
After time, however, the conscripts DO
came too wary to be caught in this trap
They had heard of the trick and were on
the look out for this remark, and when u
was uttered they made no sign Of intelli-
gence. Lately the French officers have IN
vented new trap" the success of when
Ia a curious illustration of tho ingraineai
courtesy, or at least tho assumption o.
courtesy, on the part Of Frenchmen OF OIL
classes.
After the ''You are free" has failed to ex-
cite any sign OF. understanding In the TO
cruit's face, the command to go =
shouted at him. He starts out of the room'
the door Of which is held open by mechar
ical means. AS he passes through It the
officer says:
You might at least shut the doorl''
This little unjust impeachment OF INC
mans politeDess is said in o cases OUT q
10 OF pretended deafness to result in quick
turning of the mans head. He is then
called back and told that he has been founa
ht Tor the service. York World.
Cottonwood report. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1893-1901, 1893-12-22
Treed nv Hopnd..

Colonel Dent Armstrong, wealthy
ranchman, and Lew Mitchell, grocer OF
Ellsworth, Kas., had sharp dispute re.
Gently. The colonel dismissed the matter
from his mind as soon as 1t was over, but
Mitchell brooded upon it and finally re-
solved to seek summary vengeance. Arm
ing himself, he went by roundabout route
to Armstrong; ranch, about seven miles
from Ellsworth, and called for the colonel
to come to the door, intending to shoot him
on sight
But the colonel's little daughter, stealing
around the side OF the building to peep at
the visitor, ran back and informed her
father that man with o : - I, Il zig
for hisrr
So put upon his guard, Colonel Arm
strong covered his enemy from one of the
windows, and Mitchell was forced to dis.
mount and lay down his gun and revolvers.
When this was done and his horse led
away, he was informed that if be cared for
his life he would have to run for it. The
hounds on the ranch were then turned
loose and set upon him, and with only half
a minutes start Mitchell fed for his life
toward the timber quarter of mile dis
tant.
The dogs overlook him just as he reached
ohO hioo bhNC, a. DuG he
kicked them off and swung himself out of
the way Of their swapping jaws. Colonel
Armstrong then rode to the spot and in
formed Mitchell that he meant to keep him
prisoner there at his pleasure. and calling
off half the dogs set the others on guard
over him.
Mitchell made several attempts to de-
Ecend during the night, but the hounds
rallied each time with such fury that he
was glad to climb back. In the morning
the watching dogs were relieved, the rest
of the pack being put on duty in their
stead. For two nights and days Mitchell
hung in that sycamore, not daring to sleep
lest he fall amid his alert foes and tor
tured by hunger and thirst. He was re-
duced to sucking the dew from the leaves
and to eating them. On the third day the |
dogs were called off, and he was set at lib |
ertv
Cottonwood report. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1893-1901, 1893-12-22
THE COLD STORAGE wAnlu,,,

|
en- its way down the wooden sIAI..
the iron chimney and the nf1{
until the men on the balconv g!
A shout from the assem- led thon,..s
| them Of their danger. The, ~
watching the flames above tbe,
covered those below only when & !
lato.
Chief Murphy himself had i'd N.
their perilous climb to the balcs7
when the fire broke out below hs <,
them to save themselves. Thar r,s,,
go down as they had come IN IL y
terror of the tower was roa,3n.
The heavy ladders could not IS AZ.
the roof in time to save them. They AZ
to the south side of the balcony All H..
ed down the line of hose. Five rnen M
down the smoking tube, aud then i x
way.
The calmness OF despair settled n i,
men still in the balcony. To remain n.
they were meant cremation; L, hmm IL.
to be dashed TO pieces. Over under .,s
about them surged the hellish an NJ.
man lost his head. None shrank H. ~
None cried out. When every yest;s.
hope was gone, one by one they d,ss.'
through the sea of flames that suynss51
them to the roof below. Sixtean T..
jumped from the burning balcony aps !.
the last one sprang out the Tower e.
pletely enveloped in flames, tottsaed ri
fell with a crash.
But the horror did not end here TN.
minutes after the fall Of the tower the 81
tire roof was ablaze. One hundred ~,
were on it. The only way of escape n.
down single ladder ct the north epa +
the building. The deeds Of heroism. a I'll
sacrifice and courage performed IN ia ~
minutes that it took to clear the roof Mn
never all be told. The ablebodied men
rushed to save their helpless fellows Wa
lay about with cruelty broken bodies IN
result of the leap from the tower Ever
one who was not buried in the burning
debris was lowered to the ground BIZ rope,
or in strong arms. Then the blistgel
heroes sought the north laddes. About
them surged the fire. Flames curled around
their legs, stabbed ut their faces and Held
off their mustaches and eyebrows BuI
here, as in the tower, there was no outer
no struggle for precedence, no cowarsiice
They took their turns, and ono man VII,
wore white helmet stepped back and me
toned for fireman to go before him. The
the man with the white helmet stoopu
down and scizing the hose that dnngle
from the edge of the roof went whizziny
down its length and landed as lightly as
cat on his feet. He was Fire Marshal Mul
ply, and from that moment be was
marked man in the eyes of the thousand
who crowded about the burning building
Next the crowd saw the man with whit
helmet climbing ladder on tho east sid
of the building. Then fireman sprangu
the ladder. Another and another followel
until four were going hand over hand aitt
the man with the white helmet.
The white helmet disappeared over Ii
edge of the roof along with two black one
When they reappeared, their wearers we
struggling beneath limp burden. Itw
the body Of Captain Fitzpatrick in Il
arm. of Fire Marshal Murphy, CAPITA
Kennedy and Fireman Hans Rehfeld
They stood trio OF heroes outlined again
a background of fire.
Cottonwood report. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1893-1901, 1893-12-22

There is a story that was told when
Secretary Sherman ran the treasury
department. A young woman worked
IN one Of the branches Of Mr.. Sher-
mans establishment. She had a
brother ip the war department. Sec
kT6tary sherman had an idea that re-
form w5s - the family.
and he sent fo-
My dear young woman, > he said,
~ am informed that two Of your
family are at work in the depart
ments here.
Yes, she answered.
And that is against oar rules"
Yes.
(which of you can best be given
up, young lady2"
"Mr. Secretary" she finally an
swered with a smile such as pretty
department girl can sometimes cali
to her assistance, you are at the
head Of the treasury department and
General Sherman is at the head of
the army. Which of you can best
be given mp, Mr.. Secretary"
Cottonwood report. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1893-1901, 1893-12-22

tAf fsz' kclothing can never
tppfe1neiy elegant. There must be
home allowance made for the variation OF
the individual. II you read in the wake O,
the professional critic, the best you can do
Is to find one who differs from you the
least 10 taste and mental constitution
The mind which would thrive on n die,
prescribed by Mr.. Andrew Lang would
starve on one selected by Mr.. HoweIls
and, possibly. vice versa.
There is one comfort-that is, the more
one reads OF contemporary literature the
less he has to read. Very few Of our clever
people have more than an idea or two :
year, and when the seasoned reader hicks
up fresh book or article by a familiar
author 1t will not take him long to get mt
the gist OF the matter and see which Is the
annual new idea and which are the aid
ones warmed over. This implies no re-
proach to the writer--he is very fortunate
to have whole idea a year-would that all
OF us hadl 1t only shows that the great
mass OF current literature need not brighten
us too much. It is like the tail Of a comet
immense in extent, but II necessary we
can dash through it at a tremendous rate
OF speed.
Bacon's classification of books into those
which are to be tested, those which are TO
DO swallowed and those which are to i,e
chewed and digested, Is still truer than
when -ha made il except that In the light
of modern medical science we would leave
out that middle class of things to be swal-
lowed and not digested. The hints of dys-
pepsia are too narrowing, and, moreover.
the figure is better without it if it is to be
applied to the needs of us moderns.
With books, as with wines and cheeses
and many other things, we do we'll to taste
the new for its promise and swallow the
old for its stimulant and nutritive value.
II an old book is worth reading Mt all it
is worth reading WELL But it takes lots of
courage to read an old book in these days,
when it is in such bad taste to talk about
1t after it is read
Perhaps the happiest reader is the one
who reads new books as business and de
ponds for his pleasure upon those which
have been new for years with the freshness
Of eternal youth.
1t implies very marked talent for skim
ming II one would have any time left for
that sort Of literature which is SO pre-
eminently its own reward, but this rom
nant of leisure Is not impossible even In
these days, when the yearly catalogues of
the publishers are formidable volumes.
The entire lack Of the faculty for reading
light literature lightly is a punishment
which the gods might have invented for
some obdurate morta! Of literary taste, for
what could be worse than to be doomed
forever to the perpetual reading Of plati-
tudesf-kate Fields Washington.
Cottonwood report. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1893-1901, 1893-12-22
Three Fnture nl.hop. stolo Grane.

In the course of an interview Cardinal
Manning, short time before his death, no
ferred to his boyhood days as follows:
well, If you want me to talk nonsense I
will say that It is y long way back to re-
member for am eighty three. but spent
my childhood at Totteridge. A boy at
Coombe bank, Christopher wadsworth,
late bishop Of Lincoln, and Charles Wads-
worth, bishop Of st. Andrews, were my
playfellows. frankly admit was very
miscellaneous
THE two Wadsworths and conceived
the wicked intention OF robbing the winery.
The door was always kept locked, and
there was nothing for it but to enter
through the roof. There was a dinner
party that day, but there were no grapes.
This is probably the only case on record
where three future bishops were guilty of
larceny. We're we punishedi No. we were
discreet We gave ourselves up and were
forgiven. "--Strand Magazine.
Cottonwood report. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1893-1901, 1893-12-22
London bridges and Their Cost.

From evidence taken before the commit
tee on the metropolitan bridges Il seems
that Southwark bridge, with its ap'
proaches. cost e666,0O Before the open
ing OF the new London bridge In 1881 chs
n income of this bridge was as much az -
wv annually Waterloo bridge cost, via
its approaches, R937 .3gl lis. I'd, Old BAY
tersea bridge lasted over 100 years its
original cost seems not to be known.
oid Putney bridge, built in lT2o. coss
about eso, 900, the capital consisting Of y
snares OF el,C00 each. Hummersm1n
pridge, built in 1924. cost KS5.cfD. Kew
bridge Is u private one, and its cost II no.
stated 1t was bought By a person sons
years ago for R20, 200, subject TO an annuiv
OF ESQ on life Of 20
richmond bridge was built in l574 at
cost of 10000. kingston bridge was built
about 90 years ago and cost Els, oo0-Lon'
don Tit-Bits
Cottonwood report. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1893-1901, 1893-12-22
coNprMNED 10 ROW ronEvrn.


strate the fallacy of the prejudice New
England shipowner laid the keel of a new
ship on Friday, launched her on Friday
and put master on board by the name Of
Friday. She left port on a Friday and
possibly may have been lost on friday,
for nothing has been heard of the vessel
from that day to this.
Such Is the mysterious influence of the
sea,
The vast, salt. dread. eternal deep,
that even well educated men whose lives
are largely passed on shipboard are strange
ly affected by it. Lord Nelson either be-
lieved in or for some reason fostered some
superstitions. He nailed horseshoe to the
1nizzen mast of his flagship and guarded it
jealousy. 1t is well known that Napoleon
Bcnaparte was very supcrstitious. Once
when he was anSiously awaiting news from
Egypt he heard that Nile boat had run
ashore and that the crew had been put to
death This boat bore the name of L'Italia
Napoleon was much concerned when he
heard this last piece of news. He looked
upon it as an omen that his hopes of an
nexing Italy to France were to be shattered
Nothing could induce him to believe the
contrary. "My prescntiments never de
ceive me" lie said; .all is ruined. / am
satisfied that my conquest is LOST The
presentiment certainly proved true.
Patient and laborious search, with minute
observations for over so years, proves con-
clusively tAat changes of the moon have
nothing whatever to do with changes of
the weather, yet nearly all seamen and
many landsmen believe they have. When
ever planet or large star is seen near the
moon. or to quote Jack literally. "a big
Cottonwood report. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1893-1901, 1893-12-22

The late Colonel Burnaby tells US that
when Turcoman belle is to be settled in
life the whole tribe turns out, and the
young lady being allowed the choice OF
horses, gallops away from her suitors. She
avoids those she dislikes and seeks to throw
herself in the way of the object of her affec-
tions. The moment she is caught she be-
comes the wife Of her captor, who, dis
.r-nsirg -''tll further ceremony, takes her
to his tent.
The bride race is also an established GUS
tom among the Kalmucks, and the girls
are such excellent horsewomen that, we
are told, it would be impossible to catch
one against her will.-London Standard.
Cottonwood report. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1893-1901, 1893-12-22
Sugar LIN Tea.

Real tea lovers take their tea unsugared
and uncreamed. Few indeed nowadays
are such yandals as to take the latter
trimming" though many still incline to
the swectening part. As somewhat ro-
mantle young man puts it, Part of the
poetry Of tea drinking is the fascinating
moment when the pretty woman, clad in
her dainty tea gown, pauses, cup in one
hand and tongs daintily poised over it with
the other, and looking up into your face
with most engaging expression muir
murs softly, One or two lumpsi' New
York Times.
Cottonwood report. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1893-1901, 1893-12-22

to his seat and said 70 'tis iniE.'e.i us
who had become much interested. togo
with half dozen others:
"well, they say there has got to %
first time with everybody, but thougnti
had travelled far enough to cut my rs
teeth"
Got stuck, chr" queried the other as he
reached for the bill. well, you are not SO
much to blame. That bill is pretty well
gotten up" :.
Eyes, fairly we'll, but feel of IL. Does it
feel like genuine greenback to your
NO, it doesn't, though should never
have stopped to feel of it. ! can see now
that it is rougher and coarser."
"They might have passed that of on me
in the night" said second man, who took
up the bill, but never by daylight. 1
should have spotted it ut once"
pretty well executed, isn't iti" querled
the owner
81 don't think SO. The inks used were
not first class and the printing Is bad. |
could tell it was queer, even II held out at
arms length"
"Counterfeit, eh?" said the third man.
as he took the bill in his hands. "Waal,
now, | call that pooty we'll done-pooty
well done. I'd "a taken that bill anywhar'
fur good one"
"If somebody didn't take 'em fer good"
said man with pair of steel bowed spec
tacles on, as he joined the group, the
counterfeiters couldn't make n living.
There are plenty of yahoos still alive"
"Are you calm ME a yahoo?" demanded
the third man.
'T'm only speaking in general way. I'd
have spotted that bill among thousand
Just one look at the back is enough for me-
Where'd you get it''
Cant tell, i" solcmnly replied the owner.
"YOu ought to he more careful"
"Yes, | know"
"What are you going to do with it,"
81 think I'll try and pass it off on some
one. Let's see If the ticket man will drop
to it."
He advanced to the window, bought
ticket for town fifty miles down the road,
and the ticket man pulled in the bill and
made change like chain lightning. Twenty
people were watching and each drew long
breath and opened his eyes. The owner OF
the bill coolly pocketed the change and
ticket and calmly sat down and opened
newspaper and began to read. 1t was some
time before the crowd tumbled to the fact
that it had been guyed. Then, one by one,
they sneaked around or went out for fresh
air. All but one. 1t was the man who re-
sented being called yahoo. He went over
to the joker with grin on his face, slapped
him on the back in n hearty way and said:
at was a burned good joke, and it's jest |
SIGH adventures as this that make travo.in |
around ALFRED pleasant to mel Come out |
and hev some emonade!'-Detroit Free |
Press
Cottonwood report. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1893-1901, 1893-12-22

The Once Famous Mountain Outlaw Of
California and Nevada Is Quiet Old
Man Now--nis chivairy and Poetry-He
Served His Term.
Black Bart rides the mountain roads no
more. He served his term at San Quentin
and swore to live thereafter an honest life.
So far as known be has kept his oath, but
as he is getting old and prosecution for his
early offenscs is barred he no longer denies
many of the robberies imputed to him.
He had little education. but possessed a
queer within for versifying and often left
little verses in mail sacks he had robbed.
Ono runs thus:
I'm sorry spent my time
Ripping up this mail.
didn't find money enough
To buy o meal for quail.
A distich of better fortune reads as fol-
lows:
Such hauls as this are very rare;
They soon would mako mo millionaire.
He had dash OF chivalry, too, and one
story in illustration of it is told in the St.
Louis Globe Democrat as follows:
The coach for Nevada was about 25 miles
northeast of Sacramento, and the guard by
the driver was doing in the heat of tho
sun. Inside the coach were seven passen-
gers, among whom was young woman
bound for Nevada to teach school. She was
good looking and plucky. She had been Z
teacher four years in the mining districts of
the west. and she was thoroughly &C
quainted with the customs of the rough
element in the midst of which she lived.
The other passengers were business men
and Spectators.
The coach was passing huge rocky mole
when the moose of lasso fell over the
guard and he was jerked to the ground. At
the same instant q voice from the rocks Or
dered the driver to stop the horses and hold
up his hands. The driver obeyed without
n protest. The passengers stuck their
heads through the coach doors just in timo
to receive an invitation from tho voice
among the rocks to step down and line up
with their hands over their heads. The Or
der was promptly obeyed. When they were
in line, Black Bart, holding a revolver in
che hand and the lasso in the other, stepped
out from among the powders and came
Gown to where the coach stood.