davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-12-25
The Shrinking Rope.

Fifteen years ago to-day l spent Christmas
in Panamint, little mining settlement stu
ated on the edge of Death Valley, in the lower
part of California. On the west OF the village
stretched the Panamint range of hills with ITS
treasures OF gold and silver scattered along the
mountain tops.
Being of a turn of mind that found recrea-
ton and amusement in the study OF mineral
ogy, strolled over the foothills Christmas
morning, and finding narrow but well-worn
path leading up the mountain side, followed it
and found myself about neon on the spur OF a
hill that Jutted out into the canyon and fell
sheer off into cliff that seemed to lose itself
in the trees below. To my right on little
eminence was located a miners cabin, behind
which was windlass. Down the side OF the
hill lay the dump. Moved by curiosity to know
of its history, climbed up the rocky approach
and stood in the doorway OF the cabin
''Well what's wanted?' came from within
and a middle-aged man thrust his head out
from behind pile of oresacks. was struck
by his remarkably white hair, but his face
possessed all the vigor and general appearance
OF youth. The eyes, full. piercing and active,
were nervous in their movements After look
ing at me for moment he extended his hand
which took. We exchanged a few words of
greeting, but it was imp ossbe for me to re-
fraiE from staring at his white hair, which fell
over his broad shoulders. l must have forgot
his personal presence altogether, for he sud
denly startled me by shaking my hand again,
which he had held in his own from the time
extended it.
recovered myself, but was greatly confused.
He noted my cons formation and relieved me bv
saying:
'My name is Douglass, better known as Snow
top Harry My hair, it used to be as black as
yours. 1t changed in few hours. Have you
time to lunch with me? Sit down and / will
tell you the story"
] took the seat offered me, while he went to
the cupboard and brought forth a cold sagehen
and some canned jelly. which tasted very
palatable.
''SiX years ago." he began, AZ discovered this
mine and located il, with three OF my friends
From the very surface it PANIED out well, and
we followed the ledge down over 100 feet.
taking the ore out in buckets. One day we
lost the ledge proper and, after figuring on the
formation, concluded tnat it must have been
broken and that by digging we would be able
to connect with the other end As we antici-
pated, we opened up the lost ledge, and, in
order to get ont as much as possible before
winter set in, we worked night and day.
"On the 23d OF September will ever remem-
Der the day-we concluded to put sixteen
hours in getting out the richest rock we had
yet struck. Two of us were to go down the
shaft, while the other remained on top to hoist
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-12-25
illusion Gillette promised to comply with

illusion. Gillette promised to comply with
every request.
eyes, l know you will," were the final
words of his ghostly friend. 81 shall be with
you and some time in the future will find
occasion to show you that 1 am grateful.
Farewell"
A cool breath touched the cheek of Gillette
and when he would have spoken again the
apparition had vanished.
And now, to conclude this part of the story,
it must be said that Reynolds was killed at the
time and in the manner mentioned; that the
property was found as described by the misty
messenger, and in due time Injured to the
benefit of the mother of the unfortunate
miner.
Years passed. Gillette became the super
intendent of noted Comstock mine-the
Savage. There was but little ore in sight at
the time, and he inaugurated a vigorous
scared Tor more. He started prospecting
drifts in many directions, and was constantly
in and about them inspecting, assaying and
stimulating haste. He penetrated ana
abandoned dangerous wines, and CROPPED his
way alone through exhausted slopes, where
the air sitting and the rottng timbers
were giving way to the irresistible pressure
of swelling walls. Like all miners, he had
theories OF his own, some of them little too
radical to be impartial to Others and in their
but quietly pursued his Investigations as op-
portunity permitted, carefully noting the dip
OF the footwall in one level, the character OF
the clay deposit in another, the texture of the
porphyry in third and so following.
One day, in making his way with candle
and pol-pick into an east drift from one of the
levels that hao yielded nothing, he encountered
a zgzeg OF broken timbers about fifty feet from
the entrance. Anxious to see what was be-
You'd, he loosened and partially removed n
heavy upright which seemed to be ready to
fall, and stepped past the obstruction. He was
when the candle in his hand was suddenly ex-
tinguished. He was puzzled at the circum-
stance, as he could feel no circulation OF air
He was in the act of relighting the candle
when it was violently Knocked from the hand
that held it and he was gently but firmly forced
back through the sets of broken timbers he
had passed. The next moment the entire drift
behind him caved in with crash Bewildered
he CROPPED his way to the station, and turning
beheld Luke Reynolds standing in the mouth
of the drift. But he was not clad in the garb
of miner. A gauzy robe of white fell from
his shoulders and the calm radiance of the
moon shone in his face. He disappeared with
the signal for the cage.
Gillette was pale when he reached the sur
face and said nothing of what had happened
to the drift. For the rest OF the day there was
q sensation OF numbness in the hand from
which the extinguished candle had been
struck, and he rubbed it frequently; but it was
not until the next morning that d finger
mark on the back OF it had completely faded
from view.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-12-25

realizing the necessity of some strength
ening force 1 turned to and ate heartily,
II felt my wasted energies returning, but did
not for moment release my hold on the rope
for fear that it would escape me again. When
l thought my strength would permit it began
the ascent to the surface. 1t was diaie"lt
job, but by placing my feet against the tim
bers and knotting the rope at intervals l
finally succeeded in getting my head above
the ground. Once l felt myself growing dizzy,
but mastering all my strength 1 made a final
effort and fell exhausted on the ground. Be-
side me lay Thomas, with his forehead stove in.
dragged myself to this cabin we are now &C.
cupying and dropped on the floor, where went
TO sleep. The next day / got around, cleaned
myself and looked in the glass. / was spell
bound, for my hair had turned white while
lay in the bottom of the shaft and watched the
rope shrink away from me-simply because it
had been wet with the evenings dew that had
condensed on the smooth surface of the wind
lass spindle and run down the rope.
''Do you see that little mound over by the
pine tree? My companions are buried there"
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-12-25

the sermon at certain church SCUM aed like an
extract from dime novel and that the rector had
a whsky-cough. | was the governing spirit OF the
political writer who referred to your pet cand-
date as 'the mangy-whskered demagogue from
the Fourth Precncs' and incidentally called him
The "director general OF the heeerS." DO you recall
the time your society said that guest,
at the wedding were ready TO ship
TO Armours packinghouse as a consign-
ment OF California hogs and that the
brides father ought to be cracking rocks at
San Quentin instead of soft-shelled almonds at a
society wedding? l am the man who handled the
Fourth of July proceedings and made the chief
orator say in your paper that our forefathers all
had paresis and that Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin
Franklin, A braham Lincoln and Henry Clay were
cigarette smokers and steam beer drinkers of the
worst order and that George Washington bought
the Presidency with British gold. Didn't that
knock good big hole in your circulation? Who
put it into the head OF the editorial writer to sug-
gest that America annex herself TO England and
build Victoria o summer home in the Golden Gate
Park? 1 did. Who behind the wild, un-
practical scheme launched by your paper to erect
monument to Benedict Arnold IN front of the
City Hall and turn the State Capitol into home
for feeblelunged prize fighters? ] did Have you
ever thought OF the time haunted your fraternal
editor and got him to say that it was high time
the Federated Trades were abolished and that the
officers be arrested for interfering with the cor
menace to civilization, because there were some
Intelligent men at the head Of it trying to capture
the strings of government and throw down the
rich? am delighted to say that have conducted
your paper for the last few months and that
have driven the entire staff to the verge Of the
insane asylum. Are you aware that you are at
the present time out Of employment and that your
city editor has Just fallen off horsecar with a
shock of brain paralysis? Well, he has,
and if you will go over to the mail-rack
you will find a letter notifying you that
there is no more work hand and that
the entire plant of the paper will be sold at auction
on the first OF next month. Look behind you and
see that policeman who has warrant for the edi-
tor Of the Children's page. He is wanted in Mchi-
gan for kicking his hafsister in the face when he
was visiting there last month. The girl has since
died and he will probably be hanged for murder Tell
your city editor for me- provided he ever RECEIVERS
consciousness, that l am satisfied with my spiri
tual management during the past few months
Yours fraternally, The MoRGUE REPORTER
turned and saw the officer he referred to, but
dismissed him with the information that 1
could not tell him where the Children's editor
was and that did not care. Suddenly the let
ter held in my hands disappeared into space
and have never seen trace of it since.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-12-25

at seeing him injured. / feared TO convey my
knowledge to any one, and would doubtless
refrain from it to-day We're it not for the fact
of the incidents being SO far back in my his
tory.
We gave Hopkins every comfort, and after
he had been fixed up to be sent back to the
other end of the line 1 went straight to my
car and tore the receiver from lis fastenings
vowing that 1 would no longer have such a
damnable prophet at my elbow. / fixed an
other instrument where the first had been,
and from that time on | received no more
messages while working on the new line.
When we got it through to the adjoining
town packed my valise and started for san
Francisco, and. moved by some invisible
power, placed the old receiver in the depths
OF M bag. as considered il curiosity.
To this day am thankful that l took it with
me as l consider it my savior. Its third mes
sage and the one that made me swear never
TO let it get out of my possession came to me
IN Stockton, although the instrument was con-
nected with no live wires. [ had packed it in
| its customary corner of my grip and was just
bidding the clerk goocby. As | walked out OF
the door toward the train I heard something
ticking in my grip. l listened perfectly dunn
founded and heard repeated several times:
'Do not go to-day"
" as this another warming that disaster
awaited me, and perhaps others? Certainly.
l would yet have time TO stop the train if l
made haste. No, OH second thought / would
not do that. People would call me crank. l
would return to the hotel and wait for results.
Following my thoughts l slowly walked back
ana informed the clerk that / had concluded
to stay little longer. On the following morn
ing eagerly sought the daily papers, and as I
expected that train was ditched and the man
who occupied the berth directly over the one I
ba6 nDU oi is haa brOly a ic ~
pie for life.
When my time comes that instrument will
! tell me the day and the hour.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-12-25

he crawled out of bed, but the gasjet cut up
few capers at that jIncture and he slid back
like frightened child. The poor fellow was
in cold sweat. After several attempts to face
the music he managed to gasp out:
"Alice, do you love me?"
blew once on the tube for yes, and as the
name disappeared and reappeared again, he
picked up courage and ventured to ask if she
would always love him. Again blew orce on
the tube and his joy was apparent. Urged on
by his first success he stood up boldly and
said, with all the dignity he could command:
''Alice, viii you be my wife ?"
That was my chance, and l blew twice. He
threw up his hands and stepped back toward
the bed. exclaiming: "Sam. che is &c. Cor n
This is terrible. Look, Sam, look See the gas
jet and her name. 1t comes and goes. It's
gone. There it is again. Horrors, Saml My
God, what have L done to deserve this terri
ble--?"
While he was in the midst of this distress I
turned the dumbbells loose, and with rumble
and roar they smashed him in the calves OF
his legs and sent him sprawling all over the
floor. He bounded up again, and. with his
eyes starting out made for the door, which he
burst open just as / blew the squawker. In
three good long steps he had traversed the
hall and was downstairs on the front porch in
his nightgown bowling like a crazy man.
Arthur McEwen happened along at this juno
ture. and the skeptic fell upon his neck de-
lirious with joy at finding q human being
whom he knew.
Arthur" he gasped, "sam is up there in a
haunted room, and he lives there and enjoys
it and pays his rent, and the imps of hell have
full charge"
McEwen gently put the frightened man
aside and replied:
81 know he lives there, but I'll be III
think he pays his rent
The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1895-09-14

dark buff; vcranda floor and ceiling,
oiled. In exterior painting there
should be one printing and two finish
ing coats. To get the best results the
second finishing coat should not be :p-
piled until at least eight months have
elapsed after putting on the first.
AccomIno dltionS The PRINCIPAL
rooms and their sizes, closets, etc. arc
shown by the floor plans given hero
with. In addition there is a cellar
under the whole house, and l finished
room in the attic, with space for more
rooms in the attic. AS the second floor
plan provides for more closet room
than IS usually required. it is suggested
that the three closets grouped in the
center be omitted. The floor space
thus acquired may DC combined with
the drcssing-room, thus providing
another bedroom, which would be s
feet 8 inches by Ii feet in size.
special Features The doninatinr
teaturcS-thc windows the CorinerH
the veranda and verantla posts-of this
exterior may be said to be colonial
the second story and gables,
now become quite popular, was copied
from a colonial ST 7Ie
The polygonal bays of the dining
room and the bedroom above make the
Two rooms referred to unusually at
sractivc- But there is no lack of mir
and light fcr any OF tho rooms,
Stsst~-For localities ,Yhars prices for
sad labor use .st<,ut the ssn,e
- sl,s New fer't sr..r-. e:i,app,
The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1895-09-14
AoMe.MApE eARoMerEa.
Simple Contrsv1nce BY which Anybody
Can Weigh Air.

| Simple ContEsSOnce BY which Anyb0a ~
Can weigh Air.
YAe,o Ia one atmospheric pheno,n-
enon about which there is a wide rnis.
conception. When the smoke lies to
the surface OF tho earth instead 81
moving upward as it generally docs,
many people think 1t is because the or
Is heavy. The same people will tell
you, perhaps, that damp air is heavie..
! than dry air, for 1t is ON days that th..
mir is damp that tho smoke lies close
to the earth. On the contrary, damp air
| Is lighter than dry air. and it is because
the air is damp that the smoke does not
ascend. 1t is purely q question of grav-
| ity, of weight. If the lower stratum
of air is heavier than the smoke tho
latter will go up; if it be lighter than
the smoke the smoke will not go up So
readily. The barometer is the instru.
ments used by tho scientists to deter.
mine the weight. of the air. AS usually
made it consists of cup of mercury.
with which is connected graduated
glass tube. from the upper part O!
this tube the air has been exhausted,
thus forming vacuum, and the height
OF the mercury in the tube denotes the
weight of the atmosphere.
The explanation of this is quite sim.
pie Tho pressure of the atmosphere
upon the mercury in the cup forces the
mercury up into the tube, where il
meets no resistance because the empty
part of the tube is vacuum H-.nce
the column of mercury will rise or 1'all
in the tube as the pressure is greater Up
less.
Everybody is familiar enough with
weather reports to know that we have
thigh barometer on clear. dry DAYS
and '.low barometer" on damp davs:
that the first indicates good weather
and the last stormy weather. But
high barometer means that the col
umn of mercury is we'll up in the tube,
and 'low barometer that it is down.
We know, therefore. that as dry air
bears down more heavily upon the MGR
curry in the cup than damp air, it must |
be heavier than damp air. A very SIM
pie and serviceable barometer may be
made at home, without cost. The only |
things needed are a >vide-mouthcd glass |
jar-a pickle bottle will do-a clean |
Venetian oil flask, and half a pint of |
plain water. Pour the water into tho
jar, letting it come to within one third /
Of the top, and insert the oil flask up
side down in the jar, SO that the neck
IF the flask will just enter the water
That is all.
If the atmospheric conditions are ia.
Forable to clear. fine weather, the water
Will rise in the fla SIX; if on the contrary.
! storm is in prospect. the water will
all. The air affects the water Just as
t does the mercury in the tube-Phil.
Ldelp hia Times.
The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1895-09-14

Heights of Stories Cellar, feet;
first story, feet inches; second story,
feet; attic story, feet.
Materials for Exterior Nvalls-Eoun-
tlations. stone or brick: first story, clap
boards; second story, shingles; gables,
dormers and roofs. shingles.
Interior finisll-IIard white plaster;
white pine trim; cherry staircase; plas-
ter cornices and ce11tcrs in hall, parlor
and dining room.
Exterior Colors-Body of first story,
buff; shingles around vcranda shin
giles ON second story and shingles on
gablcs. medium light buff; roof shin
giles. pale rcd; all trimmings, such as
window and door castings. belt courses.
brackets, veranda posts and rails and
latt1ce' light green; chimncys, red;
sashes, dark rcd; doors, natural color
of wood with hard oil finish; blinds.
The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1895-09-14
CHEESE MACHINERY,

/ Instructions For Thosc Who Want to NJ * q
Cheese ON "A Small Scale.
Strain the milk into vat and add
half a pint of rcnnct to 100 gallons OF
milk, which should bring the curd in
one hour, when the tempera turc is at
about eighty degrees. Stir the rcnnet
and milk thoroughly. Many of the
unknown trou bles of the amateur
cheese maker arise from the use of ILL
conditioned rennet; If doubt as to its
purity exist it should be filtered
through flannel or cotton fiber. Az
the condition of rcnnet, quality OF
milk and temperature vary at nearly
every cheese making, the prepared
rcnnet tablets sold by dairy supply
houses arc undoubtedly more certain
in results.
To the beginner thermometer &C.
curatc1y graduated is essential to sue
cess. The curd is cut into one inch
squares Immediately after it has
formed, to hasten the separa ton of
whey and curd- The cutting is repeat
ed two or three times a half hour in
tervals, and then dipped carefully into
a basket in which a strainer has been
placed. Arrange the basket on a lad
der over the whey receiver and cut the
curd occasionally to hasten draining.
When compact and fairly free from
whey, tie the strainer ends by opposite
corners and hang in a cool place until
the morning run is made. Proceed with
the mornings milk precisely in the
anne way until ready to hang. This
curd requires d little more draining
that it may be firm and decidedly free
from whey.
Cut the night and morning cyrds in
slices, place in bowl and chop into
pieces a-half inch in diameter. Pour
over the curds a gallon of hot whey or
wa ter and stir until a squcaking sound
is made. Drain off the scalding water,
add salt to taste and thoroughly mix
in the curd, place a dry strainer in the
hoop, carefully Introduce the curd,
fold the STEAMER neatly over the top
put the follower on and consign to the |
press Only enough weight should be |
used to nicely consolidate the cheese, |
and press out the remaining portions !
Of whey. |
If placed in the press in the morn
ing, at night tnrn the cheese, substi-
tute a fresh strainer, the next day re-
move from the press, butter the sides,
Top and lotion, and place on an odor-
ess board in cool, airy place to cure.
Four weeks for curing is necessary,
Ind during this time the cheese should
De turned daily and buttered if in
.lined to adhere to the board. As
cheese is liobl. to expand, a band of
trong cloth should be drawn and
ewed tightly around it to obviatc
acking.-American AgriculturiSt.
The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1895-09-14

puttinR them IN . basket end sett.ak
them down every few feet, 90 that the
sow may know them by sight as we'll
rs by hearing.
The swirl II defined as IN awkward
growth of hair on . hogs back 1t 10
claimed by wise observers that hogs
having this will, at certain times Of
the year have coat of hair that 10
coarse and rough but this coarseness
is only skin deep.
When the SOW is sucking litter Of
pigs. be careful about changing her
feed. While it is essential that she he
given good variety. any change
should be made gradual. Otherwise
there Is always q risk of giving the
pigs the scours.
In a majority Of cases. the farmers
who breed and raise q few pigs everv
year, and Mt the same time grow the
hogs to fatten them, manage to realize
. profit, while those who take spas
modic turns at breeding and growing
are rarely successful Generally. If
the brood sow does not come in heat,
you may know that she is not in good
condition. After her litter is yveancd
she should be well fed, SO as to be in a
gaining condition when bred 1t is
never a good plan to breed a SOW that
is running down: better wait q little
longer and feed a little better
The first hundred pounds put on a
pig costs less than the second and the
second less than the third, and every
additional hundred costs more than the,
preceding. There is no advantage in
feeding especially for heavy weight.
ally give the best results.-Farm and
Ranch.
The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1895-09-14
PERSPECTvE vIkw.

tsons, the stress of contest between
men who honestly hold conflicting
views-an this has done much to pro-
mote the public welfare.
We are a great nation now-we shall
be greater when the ma joritv sit bv
their hearthstones. The sortlid toll of
life has it's diverse side in the happy
homestead.
During prosperous times, and cspc-
csally at the commencement of prosper
Gus times, before the prices for nlateri-
alS and labor become inflated, the
building of houses of moderate cost
will certainly prove to be profitable
ventures. When an American makes
money he is pretty sure to provide an
attractive and comfo1'ta bic home for
his family. The design illustrating
this article is submitted for his co.1sid-
Grafton.
Size of Structure-Front, including
so feet; depth, As feet inches