davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1896-12-26
BRIaUETrEs FOR FUEL.
Fine Coal and Pitch Pressed Into
Blocks Used Abroad.
;lad

Fine Coal and Pitch Pressed Into
Blocks Used Abroad.
From the Philadelphia Press.
Travellers of a mechanical turn of mind
in Europe have often remarked the exten-
sive use there of a fuel made Of fine coal
and pitch pressed into briquettes about the
size of granite paving block, says an eX-
change. These briquettes are employed eX-
tensively on locomotives in France and
England, and are also used to a less extent
In stationary furnaces and for domestic
purposes. Occasionally travellers will refer
to the briquettes as examples Of European
thriftiness in utilizing materials wasted in
this country, but as matter of fact, q
number of attempts have been made here
to manufacture them, but without any
financial success. Mr.. John r. Wagner,
who has been closely identified with coal
interests for some years, states that the
low cost of Soal in most sections of this
country, the good cooking qualities of most
bttum1nous Goals, the scarcity of pitch and
the high cost of manufacture make the
present outlook for briquetteS on this side
of the Atlantic a poor one.
The greatest success has apparently Leen
obtained in the manufacture of eggettes
small briquettes of an egg shape, which are
very hard and well adapted for trausporta-
ton. plant of this sort at HUNTINGTON
Ark, has capacity Of about 200 tons
from the mines of the Kansas and Texas
Coal Company. Many of the Arkansas
Goals are semi-anthraclte, more or less soft
and friable, and difficult to burn in fine
state. The materials are used in the pro-
portion of 100 pounds of bituminous slack,
~ pounds of hard coal tar pitch and 10
pounds of the coal tar obtained in the man.
Clactufe OF this pitch These substances are
thoroughly mixed together, heated to a.
temperature of 175 degrees Fahrenheit
and submitted to great pressure At MIL
Waukee, where one of these plants was
pullt 1t was employed during dull seasons
In pressing fine iron ore and tue dust mixed
with high-grade combustible into nuggets
suitable for use in cupola furnaces and the
same mas been done at a Chicago plant
which sells the nuggets to the Illinois Steel
Company. hopeful sign for the manu-
facture of artificial fuel is that improved
methods of making coke indicate the possf-
b-llty OF obtaining soon suitable pitch at
low cost thus reducing one of the biz hest
items OF the cost of production at present,
Evening star., 1896-12-26
MrALEMENr OF THE BONNET.
Painful and Exciting Incident Of 9
New York Rain Stora.

A Painf1l and Exciting Incident Of q
New York Rain stora.
From the New York Tribune.
They were talking OF the variety of queer
little incidents which the streets of New
York have to offer for the daily entertain.
ment OF the idle but observing pedestrian.
why, it's regular continuous perform
ance. you only keep your eyes open and
lock about you," concluded the man whose
fund Of "reminiscences had made him
easily the star narrator Of the party.
Indeed, 1 believe you," remarked the lit.
tie woman in the corner, who UP to tha,
point had contented herself with listening
to the stories Of the others. Il believe you
because l was in one act Of 1t myself yes
teroay on I'D street. i assure you that
am not particularly proud of the part
played, but then l did 1t purely from nec-
essity, not choice.
When started out to shop that after
noon the sky was perfectly clear but in
about an hour ii came on to rain very sud.
denly, and l was caught without an UNI
treila. had a new bonnet on, too; ono
OF those tiny things, you know, made most.
ly OF jet and lace, and barely resting on
the top OF my head. 1t didn't even have
strings to hold 1t on. Well, / was hurryine
along as fast as possible, my sole idea be-
lIg TO get that bonnet under the sheltering
roof of the nearest store when, happening :
to glance little distance ahead of me
saw something which fairly paralyzed me
with astonishmeAt. l stood still for a mo.
n ent, unwilling to believe my eyes But
there was no mistake. There was INV cher
1shed bonnet, which 1 had believed to be
perched securely upon the top of nv head
dangling from the rib of a mans umbrella
several yards away. Worst of ALL the own
ed OF tine umbrella, blissfully unconscious
OF MS ridiculous catch was stridfnp ran
ioiy along through the rain, Increasing al
every step the distance between me and
my 1ll-fated property. There was only one
tnlng to be done, and it was clear to me
that II must be done quickly too Picking
up my skirts, l ran after that man AT tor
sreed. l must have been an impressive OBJ
1ect. IN my bedraggled and hatless condi-
tien, but l had no time to think of that
then: When finally reached him. caugh;
at ms sleeve ard managed to gasp out:
bonnet" eo' H. ,
He turned. and judging from the express
sion on his face, / imagined he was quite
as much surprised as l had been minute
or two before. He was a dignified old
gentleman. with kind-looking blue ewes
our bonnet, madam? 1 have-your-
oonnetE he repeated slowly, emphasizing
each word, as If to make sure that he haf
heard me right a."
It's caught on your umbrella ex-
planned, feeling my face get redder every
moment you must have picked it right up
from my head as you passed me. but
never felt it at ALL
BY this time we were both laughing
heartily over The absurdity of the affair
but can tell you it will be lesson to me
Never again will I go out until / have
fastened my hat securely to my head by
every means known to women"
Evening star., 1896-12-26
MINIMUM SPEED N LOCOMOTIVES.
The Story Of . Record Made IN North
Carolina.


Carolina.
From the New York Post
1t is not at all probable that we have as
yet attained the maximum in speed Dos
sible In locomotives. Efforts to 'break the
record are many. But there is q propo-
sition at the other end of that idea A max
imum implies also a minimum No effort
Is made to break the record" for that
There probably is no record, but there is n
minimum. Few who do much travelling
nave failed of the experience of "a mile a
minute" somewhat interesting trip was
c1 e made By a locomotive at a pace of a
mile a week. 1t was a short run. only a
little over three miles, but it took three
weeks to make it.
There are few more remarkable evidences
of engineering skill, in this or any other
country. than the climb of the Western
Carolina railroad over the Blue Ridge
mountains. The first trail through those
mountains. to cross the Swannanoa GAP,
was made by the deer and other forest
animals. The Indians followed the path
Which the animals marked out. The In
dian trail became the wagonway of the
White pioneer, and, with advancing civiliza-
ton and settlement, the state turnpike
Twenty years ago the railroad was pushed
along the same general route. But men
ard horses, wagons and oxen, can go where
a locomotive cannot. To climb the ridge
an easier grade was imperative. From a
siderable time the terminus Of the road,
but now abandoned. to the top of the gap
Is distance of three miles in an air line
By rail 1t Is nine miles. From the Round
Kr OBJ Hotel, two miles beyond the site of
Henry's, to point just above Mud Cut, is
Evening star., 1896-12-26

a short three-quarters of a mile by noun
tain trail. By rail it is five miles The
oinerence in elevation between Henryis
and the top of the gap is l.100 feet, or
The old turnpike road between the
two points follows fairly direct line, with
an average rise Of about one foot in i've.
The ascent at that grade, though possible
for man and beast, is impossible for a loco
motive without gearing.
When the line pushed through the
mountains twenty years ago the construc-
ton work was carried on at both ends;
from Old Fort westward upon the eastern
side, and between the gap and Asheville
Upcn the western side. As the work pro-
gressed an engine upon the western side
became a necessity. and the line upon the
es stern side had only reached Henry's
TO suspend the work meant long delay.
An engine must go out, and the problem
arose how to get ii there over the noun
tain. One of the lightest engines on the
line was sent In far as Henry's. From
there to the rails on the other side OF the
gap IL was three and half miles, and all
the way up hill. 800 feet to the mile. The
track TO the top. was but roughly graded
There were bridges and culverts to build
1t was decided to utilize the turnpike road
BY means of short sections of track the
sections being taken up after the engine
mad passed them, and carried forward to
be replaced for further progress Il was
regarded as possible to effect the ascent
As 1t was manifestly impossible for any
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS engine 10 carry itself I'D
SO sharp a grade ii would have TO be drag
ged up by other means. long line of
oxen was tried but the plan failed through
inability to obtain a uniform pull from the
team. There was plenty of power, but il
could not be made to harmonic. Finally
the large crew Of convicts by whom the
road was being built was set at work
Ropes were run forward upon which some
10 men in striped clothes were set to pull
lrg. Others worked at the wheels with
pinch bars, while others stood ready with
BLOCKS of wood to serve as wedges behind
the wheels to hold every inch of ground
that was gained. Almost inch by inch
with long pull and strong pull. and
pull all together" this forty tons of dead
ef glne was dragged up the mountain at the
rate of a mile a week
Trains have been showed in broken down
ana delayed so that progress was slow but
1t is doubtful If a complete engine was ever
Kept In motion day after lay for three
weeks az slower rate of movement than
one-siXth Of a mile per day
Evening star., 1896-12-26
moments silence. he replied more confident.

moments silence. he replied more confident
ly: II suppose stoled IT, -.
But he was utterly unprepared for the
darkening change in his mothers face. and
stole 1t. you limb. And you SIT there and
brazenly tell me! Who did you steal II
from? Tell me quick, afore I wiring It out
Of your
this new turh of affairs Johnny again fell
back upon the dreadful truth and gasped
Il don't know
You don't know, you devil. Did you
take it from FTazer's? zszs-.s
No"
From the Simmons Brothers."
No"
From the Blazing Star Company?'
From store?''
Then, in created goodness-where did
you get it?''
Johnny raised his brown gooseberry eyes
for single instant to his mothers anG
said: Il found it,
Mrs. Medliker gasped again and stareo
hopelessly at the ceiling. Yet she was con-
scious of a certain relief. After all, it was
possible that he had found it-liar as he
undoubtedly was.
Then, why don't you say where, you aw-
full child?"
Don't want tor
Johnny would have liked to add that he
people who found gold were not obliged to
tell. There was Jim Brody who had struck
lead and kept the locality secret. Nobody
forced him to tell. Nobody called him q
thief; nobody had dragged him about by
the arm until he showed it. Why was it
wrong that little boy should find gold !?
1t wasn't agin the Commandments. Mr..
Staples hod never got up and said: Thou
shalt not find gold." His mother had never
made him pray not to find it! The school
master had never read him awful stories
of boys who found gold and never said any
thing about 1t, and so came to a horrid end
All this crowded his small, boys mind,
and, crowding, choked his small, boys ut
terance.
You jest wait till your father comes
home,' said Mrs. Medliker, 'and he'll see
whether you want to- CT not. And now ge,
yourself off to bed and stay there"
Johnny knew that his father-whos,.
teams had increased to five wagons. ant
whose route extended forty miles furthe.
was not due for week. and that thu
catastrophe was yet remote. His present
punishment he had expected. He went in
to the adjoining bed room, which he oc-
cupied with his sister, and began to un-
dress. He fingered for some time over one
stocking and finally cautiously removed
from 1t small piece of flake gold, which
ne mad Kept concealed all day under his
plg toe, to the great discomfort of that
member. But this was only a small ordi-
nary, self-mertyrdom of boyhood. He
scratched a boyish hieroglyphic on the
metal, and when his mothers back was
turned scraped a small hole in the adobe
wall, inserted the gold in it, and covered it
up with plaster made of the moistened
Evening star., 1896-12-26
THE UNsPEAkABLE TURK.
How an Oriental Title Won the Heor
of naughty Beauty.

AAsAC w Oh tne Heart
of Naughty Beauty.
She smiled coldly upon him and turned
away. He was rich, of aristocratic parent
age and of courtly bearing and her chill re-
fusal cut him to the heart
''The time will come, Gwendoline de Pew
ster, bemoaned John Smith. half aloud.
as with eyes blinded with tears he wan
dered down the marble steps.
A year passed by. The maid still re-
manned unwedded and society wondered
where Smith had gone He had sold ali
his effects and had departed to oriental
lands. Whittier, no one knew.
Then one morning society looked into
tho public prints with bulging ewes for
there. in cold type, 1t was chronfcled:
'"rhe engagement is authoritativeIv on.
nounced of Miss Gwendoline de Peyster
and Moi Thtims Bey. a talented young
Turkish diplomatist, who arrived here q
few weeks ago from Bagdad Miss de pew
ster had met him in this city several wears
ago and their former friendship rfnened
into an engagement. The Bey speaks En-
giish with eommendable huency He nur-
poses to give up q promising career in the
Turkish diplomatic service and to resiiie
permanently In this city. Miss de Pey-
ster has had many suitors. among them
men Of vast wealth and Of prominent posi-
tions." 8 s.es7 So. :. =.
30 II was that John smith fulalled his
own prophecy.
Evening star., 1896-12-26

grave complications that puzzled him
Florry seemed easier and quieter under his
kindly voice and touch, but did not speak
again-and so, slowly sinking, passed away
that night In dreamless sleep. This was
followed by mad panic at Burnt Spring
the next day, and Mrs. Medliker fed with
her two girls to Sacramento, leaving john
ny, ostensibly strong and active, to keep
house until his fathers return. But Mr.
Medikers return was again delayed, and
in the epidemic, which had now taken a
fast hold of the settlement, Johnny's Sc
cret-and indeed the , boy himself-was
quite forgotten. 1t was only on Mr.. Med
iker's arrival that it was known he had
been lying dangerously ius alone in the
abandoned house. In Ysthis strange reti-
cence and firmness Of purpose he had kept
his sufferings to himSelf-Tes he had his
other secret-and they sweEe revealed only
In the wasted, hoilow9 figure that feebly
opened the door to his father.
On which intelligence, Mr.. Staples was,
as usual, promptly om thei spot with his
story of Jchnny's secret tobthe father, and
his usual eager questioning to the fast
sinking boy. And novs Johnny" he said,
leaning over the bed tell t4s all. There is
One from whom no secrets are hid Re-
member, too, that dear Florry. who is
now with the angelst has slready con-
fessed." II IL
Perhaps 1t was because Johnny, even at
that moment, hated the man; perhaps 1T
was because at that moment he loved and
believed in Florry. or. perhaps 1t was eLly
that because at that moment he was nearer
the greater truth than his quest TONER but
he said In a husky voice., "You lie!'
Staples drew back with flushed face,
but lips that writhed In a panied and still
persistent eagerness. "But, Johnny, at
least tell US where --wh-wow-wow.
am obliged to admit that these undigni-
fed accents came from Mr.. Staples own
lips, and were due to the sudden pressure
OF Mr.. Mediiker's arm, around his throat.
The teamster was irascible and prompt
through much mule-driying. and his arm
was, from the same reason. strong and sim
ewy. Mr.. Staples felt himself garroted and
under the stars outside, with the hoerse
voice OF Mr.. Medliker in his ears:
Evening star., 1896-12-26

why or asked his reason for It, which he
| was equally sure he could not formulate
though he also knew not why. But that
spring with water M I he heard % the minister's % s
voice in the kitchen. It had been a day OF
surprises and revelations to Johnny. bat
| the climax seemed to have been reached as
he entered the room. and he now stood
transfixed and open-mouthed as he heard
Mr.. Staples say:
It's all very well. Sister Medliker. to
comfort your heart with vain hopes and de.
lusions A mothers leanin's Is the souls
deceivin's. and yer leanin' on broken reed
II the boy truly found that gold he'd have
| come to ye and said: Behold, mother. ]
have found gold in the highways and by
ways-rejoice and be exceedin' glad" and
nev poured 1t inter yer lap. Yes contin-
| ued Mr.. Staples, aggressively to the boy,
as he saw him stagger back with his pail
| in his hand. yes, sir, that would have been
the course of the Christian child.''
For moment Johnny felt the blood boil
ing In his ears, and a thousand words
seemed crowding in his throat. "Then!'
he gasped and choked. Them he began
again-and stopped with the suffocation of
indignation.
But Mr.. Staples saw in his agitation only
an awakened conscience, and, nudging Mrs.
Medliker, leaned eagerly forward for a re-
ply. Then," he repeated with suave en-
out!''
I ooAo JoHliHy, III d ulSu, SLFlll 1dl-
setto that startled them, then what for did
you pick up that piece O. gold in the road
this arternoon. and say nothin' of it to the
man who follered We? Ye did; seed yer!
And We didn't say nothin' of it to anybody;
and We amt sayin nothin' of 1t now ter
nav! And we've got 1t in yer vest! And
it's mine; and dropped it! Gimme it."
Astonishment, confusion and rage swelled
and empurpled Staples face. 1t was his
turn to gasp for breath. Yet in the same
moment daS at he
But Mrs. Medliker interfered This was an
entirely new feature in the case. Great Is
the power of gold. A single glance at the
minister's confusion had convinced her that
Johnny's accusation was true, and it was
Johnny's money-conStructively hers-that
the minister was concealing. His mere pos
session of that gold had more effect in
Strengthening out her loose logic than any
sense Of his hypocrisy.
You leave the boy be, Brother Staples ~
said Mrs. Medlfker, sharply. Il reckon
WotS his is hisn, spite of whar he got it,
Mr. Staples saw his mistake, and smiled
painfully as he fumbled in his waistcoat
pocket" II believe / did pick up some
thing he said. that may or may not
have been gold, but l have dropped it
again or thrown it away, and really 1t is of
little concern in our moral lesson. For we
have only his word that it was really his!
How do we know it?''
Cos 1t has my marks on it," said Johnny
quickly; it had a criss-cross l scratched on
it. kin tell it good enuf."
Mr.. Staples turned suddenly pale and rose
"Of course he said to Mrs. Medliker, with
painful dignity, eff you set so much value
The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1896-07-09

Simon pushes actde open the door.
Moll, without look at us, without
word, her face CHASTITY pale and drawn
with agony, with faltering steps obeys,
catching at table and chair as she passes
for support.
Dawson made step forward, as if he
would have overtaken her, but with
held him, shaking my head, and himself
seeing twas in vain he dropped into
chair and spreading his arms upon
the table hides his face in them with a
groan of despair.
Moll totters down the dark stairs and
finds her husband standing in the door
way, his figure revealed against the
patch of gray light beyond, for the moon
was risen, though yelled by thick pail
of cloud. He sees, as she comes to his
side, that she has neither cloak nor hood
to protect her from the winter wind,
and in silence he takes off his own cloak
and lays it ON her shoulder At this act
of mercy ray of hope animates Moll's
numbed soul, and she catches at her
husbands hand to press it to her lips,
yet can find never a word to express her
gratitude. But his hand is cold as ice,
and he draws it away from her firmly,
with obvious repugnance. There was no
love in this little act. Twas but the
outcome of that chivalry in gentlemen
which doth exact lenience even to an
enemy.
So he goes ON his way, she following
like whipped dog at his heels, till they
reach the court gates, and, these being
fast locked. ON a little farther to the
wicket gate. And there as Mr.. Goodwin
is about to enter, there confronts him
Peter, that sturdy Puritan hireling of
old Simon's.
"Thee canst not enter here, friend, "
says he in his canting voice as he sets
his foot against the gate.
"Know you who / ann" asks Mr.
Goodwin.
"Yea, friend, and / know who thy
woman is also am hidden by friend
Simon, the true and faithful steward of
Mistress Goodwin in Barbary, to defend
her house and lands against robbers and
evildoers of every kind, and without re-
spect of their degree, and with the
Lords help" adds he, showing stout
cudgel, "that will do, friend.
" IT'S true, fellow, returns Mr.. God,
win. II have no right to enter here. "
And then, turning about, he stands If
resolute, as not knowing whittier he
shall go to find shelter for his wife Fol
very shame he does not take her to the
village inn to be questioned by gaping
servants and landlord, who, ere long
must catch the flying news of her shame
full condition and overthrow. A fain
The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1896-07-09
AGED BUT STRONG.

The most influential people in Eu-
rope are old. Queen Victoria is near
ly seventy-seven; Lord Salisbury is
siXty-fve; Prince Hohenlohc is sew
enty-one; Count Galuchowsky, the
new Austrian Chancellor is siNty-five;
Prince Lobanotf, the Russian chancel-
lor, is siNty-seven; Signor Crispi, the
Italian Premier, is seventy-seven; the
Pope and Mr.. Gladstone are eighty
six, and Prince Bismarck is eighty
one.
The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1896-07-09
CHAPTER XXI.

"Stand aside, Moll," cries Dawson,
stepping to the fore and facing Mr. God
win. "This is my crime, and l will an
swer for it with my blood Here is my
breast" Clearing open his jerkin).
Strike, for l alone have done you
wrong, this child of mine being but an
instrument to my purpose. "
MIR. Goodwin 8 hand fell by his side,
and the knife slipped from his fingers.
Speak" says he thickly, after mo-
ment of horrible silence, broken only by
the sound of the knife striking the floor
IF this is your daughter-if she has
lied to me-what, in Gods name, is the
truth? Who are you, ask?'
John Dawson, a player, answers he,
seeing the time is past for lying.
Mr.. Goodwin makes no response, but
turns his eyes upon Moll, who stands
before him with bowed head and clasped
hands, wrung to her innermost fiber
with shame, remorse and awful dread,
and for terrible space I heard nothing
but the deep, painful breathing of this
poor, overweight man.
"You are my wife, says he at length.
Follow me-" And with that he turns
about and goes from the room Then
The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1896-07-09

door been locked on the inside. 81 do
believe we are locked in and made pris-
oners ~
"Why, sure, this is not Mr.. Godwin's
DOING" cries he.
"'Tis Simon" says l, with convic
ton, seeing him again in my mind,
standing behind Mr.. Goodwin, with
wicked triumph in his face.
"Is there no other door but this one?"
asks Dawson.
"There is one at the back, but | have
never yet opened that for lack of a key. "
And now setting one thing against an
other and recalling how L had before
found the door open, when l felt sure l
had locked it fast, the truth appeared to
me-namely, that Simon had that key
and did get in the back way, going out
by the front ON that former occasion in
haste upon some sudden alarm.
"Is there never a window we can slip
through" asks Jack.
"Only those above stairs. The lower
are all barred. "
"a fig for his bars, Does he think we
have neither hands nor wits to be him
dered by this silly woman's trick?'
"'Tis no silly trick. He's not the man
to do an idle thing. There's mischief in
this.
"What mischief can he do us more
than he has done, for see his hand in
our misfortune: What mischief, / say
Out with it, man, for your looks betray
fear of something worse"
Faith, Jack, / dread he has gone tc
fetch help and will lodge us in iail fol-
this business.
"Jailp' cries he in passion of des
peration. "Why, this will undo Mol
forever. Her husband can never forgive
her putting such shame upon him. Rouse