davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-10-06
CHAPTER ".
''TUM TUM" SURPRISED.


After that evening-so often during the
summer that it ceased to be matter of
surprise and became, indeed, thing that
he looked for and expected-old Ben Huber
found on his table fresh bouquets, though
he never saw the little wild girl" as he
called her, about his cabin. After the first
evening he found the flowers in a pretty
little vase, on observing which he cried
out Astonishing Then fell back pace
or two to admire the wonder.
Though old Ben never saw the child
about his place, SO watchful and cunning
was she, he sometimes met her on the
trail that led up along the river to the two
or three stores, and other places of bust
ness that the camp contained, and he
never failed to say, with the best smile he
could command:
"Ah, my little wild one, how are you to-
day?"
On one such occasion the child said:
"They all call me Turn Tum,' what do
they call your"
"Well,' said the old man, "they call
Newell, suppose you call me Uncle
Benz"
"Uncle Ben" said the child. ooh, I
shall remember thati" and thenceforward
the man known to others as ben Surly',
and 'Surly Ben, was to her ''Uncle Ben. -
When, however, the old man asked about
the flowers, the child archly said:
"Whv, it must have been some good
fairy, Uncle Ben"
81 believe so, indeed ~ said Uncle Ben.
When Christmas came that year % large
and beautiful doll, in bridal array, with
very many pretty and useful things, all
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-10-06

than a passing thought to Old Man Huber,
or bel" as they generally pronounced
ms name, when they gave him any other
tnan that OF Ben Surly," and he seemed
as much as possible to shun the society Of
his kind.
After musingly and amazedly staring at
the NlId-IoOking little creature before him
for some moments, as if wondering whether
she We're human or some kind of sprite
mat had Its dwelling in the big rock, the
ola man turned to depart. He had hardly
cone So however, before the child called
after him in half-abused, half coaxing
tone. Don't be afraid of met
HaItlng, facing about and smiling IN a
more kindly way than any one on the bar
had ever before seen him smile, Ben SurIy
sad: Afraid OF you, Child No, not
AFRAID, but. astonished. But are YOU not
alrald to be out alone so far up the big
mountain2"
mo, y SAID the child. 81 90 everywhere
and am never afraid"
But you don't often come heref" said
the ola man, eying the little one sharply.
''Oh, yes, do" cried the child. ~ come
to this very spot, and the birds come into
the tree and sing TO me, and the little solir-
rels play and chirp for me on the rock"
What IS your name, little one?" asked
the old man, beginning to regard the child
with some degree of interest.
Ny mother calls me "romboy.' but all
the other folks call me 'Tum Tum., +"
wei, 'Tum Tum, where do you live pr
. Up the river at the next bend, in the
little house by the spring"
.'Ah, yes. Then ! know your father
John Dale" And Ben Sucly muttered
half to himself, AN honest man-an hon
est man. believe. Well, child, here is
something for you" And the old man
threw at the little girls. feet a big bright
silver dollar, then walked away.
ooh, OH | didn't say thank you sirpp
cried the child, regrctfully, after she had
picked up and examined the coin.
Then she ran round the corner of the
great rock, and tossing back her hair
looked wistfully after old Ben Surly. AS
the tall, bent, old miner passed slowly
down over the plateau toward the river the
little yellow-haired girl ran lodging from
rock to rock above atthe edge OF the de-
scent, keeping him in view. STOPPING low
and moving rs nimbly as a mountain
squirrel. she watched old Ben till she had
seen him enter his cabin. Then she seated
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-10-06

packed in a handsome box addressed,
ssFor Little Tum Tum." in some strange
manner found its way to the cottage of
John Dale.
Both the father and the mother wondered
where the box came from, as some of the
articles it contained were very costly; but
the child cried out at once:
''Oh, 1 know It's from my good Uncle
BENZ
''Her good Uncle Benz exclaimed the
mother. "Who is this Uncle Ben? I do
declare, John, the child knows all kinds of
people. She is getting to be too old to run
wild as she does! Whom do you call Uncle
Ben, you great tomboy n
"Why, he's the old man that lives away
down the river and works in tunnel back
of his little house. All the men call him
'Surly Ben'-I've heard them do it," said
the child, ''but he's not one bit. cross!"
"What strange notions the child gets
into her head p said Mrs. Dale to her hus-
band. "Old Ben Uber would be the last
man on the bar to make. her or any one
else such present. | guess he has enough
to do to keep himself in bacon and beansr
"Poor enough, L believe" said John
Dale. "but not bad old fellow, except that
he leads sort of hermit life and seems to
be good deal soured against the whole
human race. However, he may have met
with some great disappointment in his
younger days"
NAV have been crossed in love-" said Mrs.
| Dale, "but I don't believe the man was
| ever in love with any one but himselfw
Very well, mother, cook him up to suit
Yourself" said John Dale, and taking up
his hat he struck out for his diggings.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-10-06
A CONTRACTOR CONFESSES
The Work Done by Him on
the Streets Was Properly
Condemned.
YET AsHwoRTH ACCEPTED 1T.
trary to the FactS-Elder's
Answer.

What Superintendent of Streets Ash
worth said yesterday to THE CALL reporter
about the A. P. A. being responsible Tor
his troubles seems to have proved a
counter irritant in several directions. 1t is
said that many of his nearest friends were
quite disguised with him for bringing that
topic into the discussion. AS for George
w. Elder and George T. Gaden, at whom
it is supposed to have been directed, they
simply smile and ask if the Grand Jury
and Street Committee of the Board of
Supervisors are likely to be influenced
against public official on those grounds.
Said Mr.. Elder yesterday: eff the
A. P. A. is for good streets l favor them,
to be sure, but that is the only question at
issue. / am appointed to do certain work
and 1 am doing it as best | know how.
My business is to inspect the streets as the
agent of the chairman of the Street Com
mittee. L am required to inspect and re-
port upon all work under way.
"When / find that work not being done
according to specifications | report it so,
of course. If that-the simple perform
ance of my duty the thing that / am paid
for doing-brings me in conflict with the
Superintendent of Streets / cannot help it.
TO my mind he should be the last man to
oppose me in the effort to secure good
work on the streets. l certainly have no
feeling in the matter as against Mr.. Ash
worth or any one in his Office. Nor will /
enter into personalities, however much he
may be disposed to do so. l shall confine
myself to my business.
I'm that line will say that drove A.
B. Clute, the contractor, who is doing this
now famous Twelfth-street job, out to-day
to look at another piece of his work which
we condemned some days ago, and ne ad-
mitted that we did right in condemning it.
And yet Mr.. Ashworth accepted it. 1t
was a piece of artificial stone sidewalk.
The specifications for this class of work re-
quires that tar paper be inserted between
the joints at every three feet. The inser-
ton of this paper requires of course more
careful workmanship than without. 1t
had been entirely omitted, and the joints
were loose, and clearly showed improper
construction.
''Some of the joints were already begin
ming to crack. When these defects were
pointed out by me to Mr.. Clute this morn
ing he frankly acknowledged that the work
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-10-06

ence Though nearly half a mile from the
row OF houses along the river the child felt
as much at home as if she had been in the
little sitting-room of her fathers cottage.
AS she was thus seated tall, stoop-
shouldered old man with a long, bushy
gray beard suddenly appeared before her.
He was a man she remembered to have
seen few times at distance, but to
whom she had never spoken. Not in the
least surprised or alarmed, she raised her
eyes from her work and calmly said:
Hello, sir!'
The old man, who had been standing
with hand upon his brow, muttering to
himself, seemed not to hare observed the
child before she thus greeted him, so
closely WAS she tucked in against the rock
beside the trunk of the big cedar. At the
sound Of her voice he started violently,
dropped his hand and stared at her with
starting eyes. his face expressive of min
gled surprise and displcasure.
The tall, big-bearded old man was one
who was mining at Bartons Bar when lit
tie ''Tum Tum" was born, but this was the
first time she had ever spoken to him or
been so near TO him, and until that mo-
ment he was probably ignorant of the ex-
istence of such child.
Old Ben Huber-"Ben Suriy,' as he was
called by the miners of the camp-had
been working on the bar almost from the
time of its discovery. He was a man with
out "chick or child" lived alone and was
very uncommunicative and unsociable. He
had tunnel that was run under the fat
back of where his cabin stood, and in
this he always worked alone. While
some said that old Ben Surly might have
"good thing" in his drift claim, the
general opinion was that he was poor, as
he seldom sold any "dust," wore only the
toughest and cheapest of clothes, and his
cabin door-llke most OF those on the bar
in the early. days-half the time stood
ajar, and often might have been seen wide
open. Nobody in the camp gave more
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-10-06
CHAPTER I.

THE LITTLE GIRLS HAUNTs AND PRANKs.
Little "Tum Tum" was the pet and
prodigy of Bartons Bar. Almost daily
after she was old enough to walk about the
camp something was heard of her FRANKS
Barefoot, bare headed and with her yellow
hair streaming on the breeze she went and
came as she pleased. In her flying golden
hair she darted hither and thither, living
ray of sunshine. 1t was currently reported
and firmly believed in the little California
mining camp which was the child's home
that the first words she ever uttered were,
"Tum tum."
Her favorite place of resort. as soon as
she was old enough to be out of the house,
was a rustic bench that stood under an oak
beside the trail that led down the Stanis-
laus River in front of her fathers cottage.
Seated there, with her rag doll in her arms,
she smiled and cried out Hello !" TO every
person that passed. The miners halted,
laughed and said, "Hellol little one!'
Il am not little one, I'm Tum Tu-n, the
wild one," the child would demurely ex-
plain.
Soon the laughing little yellow-haired
girl was known 20 the miners all up and
down the river as little "Tum Tum."
there were several other children in the
family of John Dale, the father of little
"Tum Tum," and these, with her many
household duties, demanded such large
share of the mothers attention that little
Ellen, the wild child, was permitted to
run about pretty much at will. She early
displayed such independence of character
and such ability 10 take care of herself
that her disposition TO ramble about the
camp and the neighboring hills gave very
little uneasiness at her home.
When about eight years of age her
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-10-06
MIS-. Tonchard,s Dinner

The State development committee is doing
all in its power to assist Mrs. Margaret Touch.
ard in making her california dinner" at the
California Hotel on the 10th inst. success.
The secretary of the committee has sent cir
ular letter to all of the newspapers in the
State, setting forth that the object is to adver-
tise California products that are used on the
table. The request is made that those in the
interior who desire to assist in this direction
send to the lady donations of terrapin, poul-
try, fruit and butter and eggs. A donation OF
bear meat would be highly appreciated, but it
must be young bear in order that the diners
teeth shall not be damaged
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-10-06

should have been seated just in that spot
by the old cedar. She says she often goes
there. l wonder if she has ever watched
- No; it was merely strange chance
said the old man as he checked himself
and pcered about his cabin. Its warm.
sunny spot"
When ready to place his supper on the
table old Ben tenderly took up the flowers
and placed them in the only window the
cabin boasted, muttering as he did so:
'Tum Tum,' heart-yes, heart of gold p
Several times while seated at his supper
the old man glanced at the flowers in the
said:
''The little one has the same eyes and
the same golden hair"
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-10-06
CHAPTER II.
A STANCE MEETING.

One day in early spring little "Tum
Tum" was up on her fayorite rocky
plateau and IN a secluded spot was seated
on the sunny side of huge cathedral like
block Of granite that had tumbled down
the steep slope of the noun tain that
lowered high above. Her back rested
against large spreading cedar tree, the
trunk of which, cid and gnarled, grew as
close against the rock Us though it were a
part of it. Her wealth of golden hair
strayed down her neck and shoulders in
many an accidental wisp and curl, while
rings of it danced about her forehead and
eyes. She had collected a lapful of flow
ears, which she was engaged in weaving
into wreath, meanwhile humming n song
IN low tone. Birds were singing in the
branches of the old cedar over her head
and squirrels were playing about the top
OF the rock, eli quite needless OF her pres
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-10-06

spons1ble and so do the people. The SUI
pervisors have made strong enough speclfi-
intendent as their executive officer in the
department to see that the specifications
are carried out. If he does not do it the cost
will fall upon him and upon those contrac-
tors who try to smuggle through this
crooked work.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-10-06
Gregory,s Case pismlssed.

Judge Morrow ordered a nolle prosequi en-
tered yesterday in the case of John Gregory,
indicted by the United States Grand Jury for
counterfeiting. Gregory is now serving term
in the Oregon penitentiary for grand larceny.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-10-06
Then. partly rising on his couch and

Then, partly rising on his couch and
turning to the father, the old man said:
"As for that other matter, John Dale,
it was in fair fightl The murderer did not
deserve it; but, on my deathbed, say he
was given an equal chance, and it was a
fair fght-though there were no witnesses
to it but the old trees Of the forest in
which L found him. But let no more now
be said of that"
Although I never saw you in that
country, and was not then member of
the Tracy family, believe you, Ben Her
bert" said John Dale, land at proper
time l shall explain all to those now
present, and also to others who should
know about it. l do not blame you. Ben
HERBERT should have done the same"
John Dale, it was done in the heat of
my wrath and thirst for vengeance l
have keenly suffered for taking the law
into my own hands-suffer still-but was
right. l did not fly through fear of the
law. sudden half-mad feeling of abhor-
renee of all my kind came upon me. / had
taken my revenge, and was satisfied as far
as possible in that respect. I could not
endure, however, the thought of the
great trouble being brought up
and the whole story of it being
gone over in the long drag OF the usual
legal proceedings. What then was the
world to me-its ways and its laws? All
desired was to be alone with my great
sorrow. The mines and the mountain
wilds of California offered me a safe retreat,
and | came to them. For heavens sake
let no more now be said! Ellen, my child,
run out and see how high the sun is-no,
stay! Never mind the sun, my dear"
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-10-06
CHAPTER VIII.

LITTLE NELL LEADS THE WAY TO HER LEGACY.
That evening Ben Herbert was carried
on stretcher to the cottage of John
Dale, where two days later he breathed his
last. His last hours were made comfort
able, and he died clasping the hand of the
child he had loved so we'll, and whom dur
ing the last day of his life he constantly
called Nellie" AT his request his grave
was made IN a beautiful spot in little lap
of land on a bench overlooking the river
There he was laid, alone in death as in
life
After the funeral, Mrs. Dale spoke to the
child about the gold. Could she remember
where it was? at is not yet three days"
said the sobbing little one che told me to
go there three days after-after he was
buried
At the end of three days she said she
was ready to show the way to the gold, but
not word would she say in regard to It's
whereabouts.
~ am to go to it, and my father is to go
with me- is all she would say.
AS the little girl led the way her father
and the two friends that were with him,
carrying picks, shoyeis and sacks, were
surprised to see her suddenly leave the
river trail and strike up to the high pla-
teau above, They had expected to see her
keep down the trail toward the old mans
cabin.
Straight across the plateau she went,
keeping some yards in advance of her
father and his companions. So far she led
them from the direction in which they
wished to go that the faces of the two as
sistants began to look very blank; but the
countenance of John Dale remained Sc
rene.
Presently the child disappeared behind
an immense block of granite.
When her father and friends reached the
rock they found the child seated on the
ground, tucked in against the granite mass,
beside the trunk of an old cedar.
well, is this the place?'' asked the
father.
Arising, the girl said: "Dig just where
1 was sitting"
The men set to work at the spot indi-
Gated. At depth of about two feet they
came upon large, neatly squared slab of
slate.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-10-06

herself under bush and began arranging
anew the flowers she carried in her apron,
glancing from time to time at the old
mans cabin until she had seen him leave
it and enter his tunnel.
Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1893-1895, 1895-01-25
WALKING IN THE RAIN.
A Form OF Open Air Exercise That Has
Certain Attractions OF Its Own.

Form of Open Air Exercise That Has
Certain Attractions OF Its Own.
"What am / going to do?" repeated
the returned exile "Why, I'm going to
take walk IN the rain. It's u trick ]
learned in 'Hongland, dear boy, and
it's one OF the most charming forms Of
exercise on top of this green earth. You
see my col:ume-well, it's the dead
copy Of that in which Cornish squire
of my acquaintance used to walk in
rainy weather over the downs that make
up most of his eltate. Ny laced shoes,
you perceive. come well up the ankle,
havo heavy cork soles and have just been
treated to good rubbing in Of cold
cream. l have stout woolen stockings
and knickerbockers ON, so as to avoid
tho happing and contact Of the wet
trousers, and this cape maclIintosh comes
down pretty near TO my heels. My un.
derclothing is thick, but not heavy, and
my clothes are Of rough tweed that
wouldn't be damaged if you let 'em lie
in stream for week. Instead Of a
collar, wear light silk scarf around
my neck, over which | turn my coat
collar and button II up so. This hat is
a waterproof fore and after.
"Umbrellal Why. Of course not That
would destroy the very spirit, the very
Joy, Of the experience, which is TO feel
the rain beating in your face, the wet
wind whistling about your ears and
tho weather banging you about general
ly, You may not like IL at first but you
soon will, aud then you'll find there's a
sort Of wild JOY about tho thing that you
can resist.
"Catch coldi Why, of course not In
fact, course Of walking In the rain Ia
ono OF tho best preyentiyes against tax
ing cold. so long AS you're moving
hriskly theresno danger Of taking cold,
no matter how wes 10 may be. It's the
standing or sitting In wet things that's
30 dangerous, and so you must just walk
from the time you leave the house until
you get back, aud then, when you do
get back, strip Oh everything and give
yourself good rub. Aud II As you put
on your dry things you do not feel 4
nuw man with q new zest for the strug.
glo of life .hen | don't know . banana
lrom an express wagon. New York
sun.
Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1893-1895, 1895-01-25
GOLD MINE FOUND
A Bonanza Every Day
of the Year.
COULD NOT FIND A GOLD NINE
But struck IL @ich Weekly
Find Of %iivsr.
COULD NOT FIND A GOLD NINE

A man who cam It find a
gold mine and bring its rich
yield into his daily stock of
wealth, is very glad to strike a
silver mine.
The man who strikes The
ONE CENT DAILY has got gold
mine of news for $3 a year.
But if he is not so situated as
to get a golden harvest Of news
by daily mail, or to get mail
two or three times a week, he
can strike a silver mine and be
made happy.
Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1893-1895, 1895-01-25
ass - roo sAoN.
.,ss soycrinr '-;,a s'is HAD Hsds Mistake.
she As,ologixed.

d. ssycrfnr tat s'is Had Hsds = Mistake
shs Ai,oloeiSed.
I'm front Of T5rity church = stylishly
dressed young woman stepped from the
sidewalk directly in front OF a team OF
havv horses attached 20 a well loaded
trucy. SIZE was crdeavoring to catch the
eve Of a cable car gripman and did not
see tho rapidly moving truck bearing
down upon her. Passersby expected to
ses her ground to earth, but one Of two
fashioniby appearing young fellows
With sliehiiy dudish proclivities rushed
70 tho curb, aud lifting the woman by
the arms quickly swung her around and
landed her ont Of danger on the side
walk.
Sic, all unconscious Of her dangerous
rredicament. turned ON the Young man
sharply with an indignant How dare
you, sirP' and looked as if she were
cor seinplating an assault ON him with
hen parasoi
The yJuug follow. looked surprised,
fnd then, taking off his hat, bowed and,
With an "Egcuse me, madam, passed
on with his friend.
She turued toward the street again
and for the first time observed the
truck, wlich now stood in her path
Tic driver Of this calmly remarked:
THAT dude saved your life, lady. Why
don't you scratch his eyes outy'
The woman. for the first time realiz-
ing her narrow escape, hurried after the
rlpidly disappearing youths. who had
Learly reached Rector street by that
time. Touching her rescuer's arm, she
ruiclly apologized for her rudeness and
thaniod Lin for his timely act.
"Don t mention it. please. The pleas
ire is entirely mine, / assure you, 7"
,-as the response. Two hats were doffed,
and the blusling woman was left ON the
sidewalk with humiliating sense OF
her previous rudeness.
"Beasily queer things these girls are,
Harvey, said Cne TO tho other as they
disappeared in tho arcade leading to the
4 station. New York Advertiser.
Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1893-1895, 1895-01-25

A young lady who was Ia q hurry -
take a tiAin and wanted 90 buy a smsll
shopping bag walked into Wholesale
establishment ~ mistake
VIII yos show nae = bad, pleaaer'
'ha hegan bai ihe olerk interrupted hes
politely
We sail noihing AZ retail. ~ he said
= could oply lei yoa have hass by shs
quantity "
'nsag mel hot ons hasf'
'he madam l'm saTy sogsy
"Ana ~ "a such harry Wsllp'
hhe lafns4 toward she dos, and be-
f}e Ma eanaht hy . saispls has on ths
rlanftT
A. chs eaelaln,od. that's s4soily
lh' ~ NAiiil NYqldp't yoa ssll ms
ihe ihplilh ~ . d0fenrl
hAs s'i hs' hss fosshs caapan