davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-08-15

beasts bad the material in them for good
ten-mile burst yet, and this would be more
than enough to lead them into safety
Down the long slope the two bands swept
full mile between them, and then up
another, when an astonishing sight met
them as they topped the rise.
Away to the left in the following valley
sn oke was rising from a burning house
The yard before it was filled with Spanish
SolGlery. Two women stood bound in their
midst There seemed to be an alteration
A soldier began to reeve rope over a con-
venient tree Dough.
All this flashed before the mems eyes in
a moment There was no hesitation nor
were any orders given. Those of Slater $
troop were accustomed to follow when
Slater led. and they galloped at his heels
as he spurred furiousiy down the hill slope.
The Spaniards by the house were suddenly
to! shots. and beheld rush of men sweep
ing down upon them. brandishing weapons
and volleying forth curses and bullets al
oEce. moment-and they were struck
crushed. ridden down. The sheer weight of
Skaters headlong charge scattered and
hurled them in every direction. At the
same time the deadly machete and more
deadly slx-shooter were at work.
Throw the women across your saddles -
roared Slater. They were jerked up in an
instant by two brawny troopers. 1t was no
time for ceremony.
Now hard ahead.' And before the Span
| iards had recovered from the shock their
assailants were dashing past the outbuild-
inSs OF the hacienda and had disap pca red
behind the sheds. At the same time the
guerrillas swarmed in, and the soldiers
also mounted and followed the chase
Meanwhile Slater men had met an unex-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-08-15

then the one which made such a stir in the
papers on account OF the price IL brought
and / have just obtained another copy
thanks TO The Star. How So Why. there
was a Scent stamp issued al Baltimore al
the same time as this one. which * worth
two to three hundred dollars. A number
of copies of THIS have been found. and I
felt sure there must he some OF them hid
den away in Garrets here. SO I hay" ad-
vcrtised for them extensively through The
Star this winter. l did not find 5-cent
one. but this lo-ceaI was recently found 10y
a lady in town and brought to me. IL is
not rally the rarest stamp in the world
for there is "A Mauritius of which hut one
copy is known, but this stamp stands next.
and has brought a higher price. even.
The stamp is what H. called provis-
ional, because not issued 10y the govern
nent. The Post Office Department did not
begin issuing stamps until 1877. and before
this, whenever person wanted 10 mail a
letter. he had 10 take il TO the post office
and pay the fee on il. \ few Of the post
masters issued these provisional stamps.
every letter. just our 2-ccnt stamp saves
il now.
"Al OF these provisional stamps are very
scarce. for the reason that they wer. used
but year or two. and even then did not
come Into general use. because people
feared the coming government stamp would
supersede these. and they would be left on
their hands. Authority was granted the
postmaster at Washington to issue a stamp
also, but. as no copy has ever been found,
1t is doubtful whether il was done or not
1t may still come To light, however as this
io-cent Baltimore has"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-08-15

in the negative, but added that there was a
man with a wooden leg at the inn. He at
once began to question me about this man,
not yet having seen him himself and told
him all / knew and all ] had heard OF
course, he told me nothing in return, though
1 heard him chucking 10 himself. and his
face betrayed the fact that he was pleased
about something. acted his guide to
the Jail. and when In the presence of the
sheriff. he said:
Il want you to go with me TO overhaul
the man with the wooden leg at the tav-
ern."
But he can't have done It," protested the
officer. THE tracks you found showed
that the murderer had two feet"
Jus. so, and he was lame I'm the left
leg"
but this man Gordan has lost his left
leg at the knee"
Il want to see if he has"
The sheriff. detective and constable. with
two or three citizens, proceeded 10 the inn
and to Gordans room. He sat smoking
and reading, and had his supper brought
up to him that night, claiming 10 he suffer-
irS with neuralgia. He was cool and quiet.
and offered cigars all around. but those
who Were watching him saw him grow pale
as the sheriff began by begging his pardon
and hoped no offense would be taken, but
would he let them look at his wooden leg.
Gordan faltered and blurred, and was
reaching for a pistol under his pillow when
| the detective seized him. He fought like a
demon and il took the five six men TO
4
curely bound they unstrapped his wooden
leg. and 10! his left foot was there as right
as any mans, His leg was n supple one
and he had bent the lower portion back and
strapped II thus. and then put his knee In
| the crotch of the wooden leg. or all those
who had taken a look at his leg not one had
| suspected the cheat.
Yes. he was the man who had robbed the
merchant and the postmaster. and he was
also the murderer of Squire Higgins. The
plumber and the dagger were found In his
| trunk. which he had ready packed. as he
was intending to leave town next day. He
| simply laid his wooden leg aside when he
went out at night The wearing OF II gave
| as he crossed the garden after the murder
the left foot pressed the ground more lightly
| than the right. on the evidence worked up
! by the detective in a couple of hours time
Gordan was tried. convicted and hung. and
every dollar Of the stolen money went bacs
| to the rghtful owners.
Everybody said n was an easy case. after
| II mad been worked out, and you viii say
| you could have done IL yourself Perhaps
! 50. but ] am satisfied that III the detective
had not come along as he did the Blissfeld
| terry 10 this day. The tracks were the clew.
hut what local official would have ever
| caught to the trick of the wooden lcg2
| If Gorlan had been suspected at ali they
would have looked for holes in the ground
made by the stick. instead of for the tracks
of a weil-made pair of boots.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-08-15
SLATER'S RAID
BY FRANK L. POLLOCK.

Copyright, 1885, by the Pacheller SyndicateJ
1t was cosmopolitan group that sat
around the camp fires of Slater's Horse.
The troop numbered twenty men all told,
drawn from ever one of the Anglo-Saxon
cans. ECglshmen. Canadians, Australians
and South Africans. and they had come
from the ends of the earth to take part
III such row as promised to follow wnen
Cuba Libra set up her flag against that of
Spain. Their leader was a Virginian,
there was not a Cuban or a Spauiard in
the company. and the name of Slater's
Troop was a name of terror 10 the govern
ment forces from Pinar del Rio to Sagua
la Grarde.
To see them thus encamped. no one
would have supposed that they were en-
gagged in one of the most daring raids
that had been adventured since the war
opened in rs. The rfficers-there were
but two-sat damocratcally on the ground
among Their men; there was a tinkl:ng of
fanjos and mingled sound of confused
talking and jovial. free-handsd pro-
family. The shadows of the men doomed
big on the background of tropical vegeta-
ton. where the red freight flashed fit
fully from time to time, and showed now
the form of a tethered horse and now the
figure of a sentry leaning against a
smcoth-coated palm.
1t was no small affair that these men
were engaged in-nothing less, in fact,
than raid on the ''trocha" itself. 1t is
not the policy of the Cuban leaders to
risk pitched battle. So to arouse the en-
thusiasm and al the same time to keep the
enemy on the alert. such expeditions are
undertaken from time to time.
They had encamped some fifty miles
from the Spanish lines, and the attack was
fixed for the next night. A dash across
the country. a stealthy advance on the
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-08-15

drew rein, fifteen miles from the trocha
and sat silent, a clustered black spot on the
moon-lit road. they heard a low thunder
come rolling up from the west-the thunder
of pounding hoofs.
by Jcve" said the Englishman, who
was related to the eminent author.
Not three miles away" assented the
Canadian. who had Just come from the
Egyptian Soudan.
Forward, Them said Slater, and away
they went, up and down the rolling hills
whittier the ill-made road led them. The
country was too rough to allow of taking
to the fields, where the Spaniards might be
thrown off the trial. but it would be smooth
er In the course OF few leagues All
night they rode hard and sometimes the
following thunder was loud and often faint.
but never wholly died away. The guerrilas
were well mounted and Slater's horses were
not fresh. The pearly dawn came up be-
fore them, ard then the sun was trailing
long shadows behind as they galloped. It
was o'clock, and forty miles back to the
trocha.
And now at last they seemed to have
distanced their pursuers. for no rumble
came out of the west. They fed their horses
q few armfuls of the green tops of sugar
care. refreshing and stimulating, gave them
g little water from roadside brook and
rubbed them down as time would permit.
That was not much, for before they had
upon them.
Forty miles further and we will be in
our own lines remarked Slater.
For three hours more the wiry little Gu
ban horses bore their riders swiftly. though
the sun grew high and angry. They had
struck off the highway, had ridden through
field of cane. and were now galloping
down a wide stretch of sloplng prairie. dot
ted with cocoa palms. They scarcely ex-
pected that the enemy would fail to notice
where the chase had left the road. so they
were not disappointed when the long crash
Of breaking stalks announced that the
guerrilas were riding down the field they
had just passed through. The pursuit was
ga ming fast. In another minute there was
a roar Of shouts and cheers from behind.
and. turning, they saw the hillside crested
with long line Of galloping gray-coated
men.
The peril WAS imminent vet the stanch
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-08-15

pected obstacle A high and strong wire
fence stood firmly across their way: 1t was
apparently designed to be horseproof.
There was no gate. and the ends were not
in sight.
Well. cut 1t. then" shouted the leader.
with rattle Of oaths, when its impregna-
bfity became apparent. and id quick,
too! He drew his machete and slashed a.
furiously at these wires as he had done at
those of the trocha.
In minute or less an opening was made
and the riders were through. When tho
Spaniards arrived at the same point their
greater numbers and the narrowness of
the gap caused q tremendous crush which
gave the insurgents much-needed start.
1t was soon lost. however The fresh
horses Of the Spanish reinforcement randi
ly overhauled the little troop And. to add
to their difficulties. a deep ravIne suddenly
appeared ahead. To scramble In and out
OF 1t with sufficient rapidity would be i'm
possible for the tired horses two of which
carried double loads. To have cast the wo-
men aside might have facilitated their
escape. but no one seemed to dream OF
such an act. nor was there a word of re-
greet Tor the delay which had caused them
TO be overtaken. Slater drew in his horse
and the others gathered round.
ways closed said the leader. senten-
LOUSY. Got to fight here or surrender"
OR cut our way through" suggested the
man from Hervard.
The women" remarked Slater, and the
other accepted the fact.
- 'hCS "SlS OilS HOuHtou! muttered
a trooper.
The Spanish riders were now drawing in
AID vOlley of carbines ran before. Thev
had aimed high. with the result that three
men of the troop toppled from their sad
dies. This left that number of mounts
free.
Can you ride. sencra?' said Slater. Both
replied in the affirmative
Then mount here IL you D!ease We
must try to cut our way out. Are
you afraid?"
1t Is the privilege Of a Cuban woman
to fear nothing. Except capture by these!'
The man from Harvard was struck by her
courage. but he could not stop to admire
1t. The women were helped astride the
dead troopers saddies-it was no time for
false modesty-and the rest formed mn
around them. One of the women held ont
her hand toward Slaters holsters. but he
pointed out the fact that there were pis-
tolls already In the holsters before them
They took these out and handled them
with familiarity.
The Spaniards had paused a few hundred
yards away and were scrutiniztnR the
n en- they had pursued. I do not know why
they did not rush down and oyerwhelm
them by sheer weight. Possibly so much
GOODNESS made them suspect a ruse or am
buscade. At any rate they stood still a
moment till they saw the band form In
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-08-15

such meals as are given to the children of
many laboring man than they would be
allowed to use articles that were known 10
be poisonous. Many a mechanics little
ones live on meat. warm bread, all the but
ter they want, and that OF an inferior quail
ity; coffee as much as they choose and
cheap bakers cake, which is itself enough
to ruin the digestion Of an ostrich.
The children of one family make their
breakfast of oatmeal or some other cereal
and milk. with bread at least twenty-four
hours old. little, very little, butter. some
times none at ALL The breakfast is varied
by ccrn bread. we'll done; little zweiback
ard sometimes stale bread dipped in egg
ana cracker crumbs and Drowned with but-
ter. A fresh egg is often the only article
outside OF farinaceous foods that they
allowed. For dinner, which is at the mid
ole of the day, they have some well-cooked
meat. ore or two vegeta bles, cup Of milk
II they like II or weak cocoa, with plenty
oi bread and butter and simple dessert.
supper. which Is very light meal. fire.
quently consists Of graham crackers or
brown bread and milk and sometimes
nasty pudding and milk. or the pudding
eaten with little molasses maple strip.
"A few days ago In a call at tine house OF
workingman there Were i've children
seated at a table. on which was a large
dish or meat swimming in gravy in which
potatoes had been cooked These potatoes
were saturated with fat and almost impos-
sIble OF digestion by any person of ordinary
.oi!Stilution 1here We're hot rolls, SOggy
looking and smoking from the oven: pars-
nips tried In lard and reeking with the
grease. stale cucumbers, shriveled and
"rlnKled. We're soaking in cheap vinegar,
ara were literally dosed with salt and pep
per. pile Of cheap cakes sufficient to
HI Good-SiZed four-quart measure, stood
on one corner of the table, and two pies
with crust containing so much lard that
they looked absolutely greasy. There was
coHee. dark AID rank-looking ard worse
smelling, and this the children We're in
dulg1rg In quite mich as they pleased
IEey ate like little wolves with an I'M
natural and ferocious appetite. Two OF
tEem had pasty. unhealthy looking com
plexions: one IVES evidently suffering with
some skin disease: the elder of the group
rad an ugly looking eruption on his face
ana ears. and the entire lot were living ex-
ainpies ~ the results of a mistaken system
Vi !etdlng 1t was no surprise 20 the visitor
10 near, a few days later. that two of them
were very i'll. or hopelessly SO. with cholera
morbuS.
That the death rate among such peoplc
Goes not increase with frightful rapidity is
the one thing that thoughtful persons and
pIiiahthroplsts never cease to wonder at
Inc parents of these children would I'M
ocpbtedly have said that they gave tn.
niue ores The best they could afford, but
th!s was Just exactly the cause of all the
uouh!e They gave them too much and too
expensive food. A proper diet would have
cost third of the money. and would have
saved health and doctors bills to saw noIh-
ing Of their lives
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-08-15

From Music.
Every midsummer day q unique concert
is given in Copenhagen. Denmark. such as
the whole world cannot show the like Of
There are kept in the Copenhagen Museum
a number Of ancient Scandinavian horns.
more than three thousand years old. called
Lauren" OF this collection fourteen are
in good condition. They have an elegant
shape. and the fiat metal plates at the
mouthpiece show good technical perfection
and a developed taste for art. They are of
different pieces fitted together. They were
found buried in mocrland. and their good
preservation is believed to be due to the
turfy water. They are of very thin metal,
and generally seven feet long. They were
always found in pairs. the one in tune with
the other. A few years ago it was found
out by DR.. Hammerich that they could still
be blown or played upon. Their tones re-
semble those of the tenor horn, and they
have soft but powerful sound. Some are
tuned in c and E sharp, others in D. or
g. and these tones fern an accord. but no
scala" The midsummer concert is held
as follows: On a balcony in the court of the
princely palace in which is kept the North
ern Museum two members of the royal
"Capeia" blow tunes on two of these pri-
meval horns. An enormous crowd fills the
court. the streets, the marble bridge and
the neighborng square. as far as 1t Is pos
sible to hear the sounds.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-08-15

From the Cleveland Fuin u, aler.
Your money, and quick. too" said the
tall burglar.
For goodness sake, don't make 80 much
noise" Missed the unhappy householder as
he sat up in bed.
why not?"
you'll wake the baby"
The short burglar laughed bruialy. He
had heard the old gag when he was q child
al his mothers knee.
"Wot IL do wake the baby" said the
tall burglar.
IF the baby cries. groancd the unhappy
victim. ''it will sour the temper OF nv
wife's pet dog, and then there'n be hades
to pay"
With glance of deep commiseration the
burglars softly stole away.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-08-15
Foolish Women.

From the Chicago Post.
Il can't help thinking how foolish women
are" said the philosopher, with a sad shake
of his head.
whats the trouble now?" inquired his
thoughtless friend.
Il was thinking Of the old days when
they used to walk soberly. calmly and Sc
dately along the street" explained the phil
csopher. You must RENE mber those days
Certainly. What of them?'
The danger of a sudden and violent fall
was reduced to a minimum then, and there
was no necessity of guarding against 1t OF
arranging t. break its force"
Very true" admitted the thoughtless
friend.
and Low there Is constant danger, and
serious falls are Of common occurrence
persisted the philosopher.
Also true" admitted the thoughtless
friend.
And they wore bustles then, and they
don't now" asserted the philosopher.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-08-15
A RARE STAMP.
Ii Was Recently Secured by a WASH
fngtoR Phiinteiist.

Some time ago a paragraph went the
rounds of the newspapers reporting the
finding Of the rarest stamp in the world. q"
which bit of paper was sold to a New York
business man for $3.50 The stamp was
found among the letters of Louisville
lawyer, and at that time there was but one
other copy Of the stamp known. and that
a damaged one. Recently another copy
was discovered in this city by Mr.. a. {.
Townsend
Yes" said Mr.. Townsend, when asked
about his find by Star reporter 1T never
rains but 1t pours.' This stamp was issued
10y the postmaster at Baltimore in 1876,
but was never known 10 exist until this
year. Then damaged copy was found;
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-08-15
The Dencon's Motor.

From the Wilkes Barre Record
IT been reaGin' most every day In the
papers about them hossless kerridges."
said Deacon Appleton of Hunlock at the
circus yesterday. but I've got one that
suits me to T and works like a charm.
bgosh!'
"How is it built?"
LEST like any other wagon"
How do you make 1t go? Electricity?'
Nope"
"Gasoline?'
Nope
"Kerosene?'
Nope"
'Steam:'
Nope"
well. what furnishes the motive power?''
Come agin!'
what makes 1t go?"
'Oh: why. oxen. by cracky! Haw, there,
Bill!
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-08-15
Not for Sunday School Books,

From the Chicago Post
She Is little. but she has her own way
of looking at things, and her views are oc-
cas!onally startling.
Mamma she sad. thoughtfully, when
she heard her mother tell the maid that she
was not at home" lis it all right to saw
you're out when you're in?'
''Oh. yes: it's the custom you know" ex-
planned the mother
The little one pondered that for awhile,
and then Inquired iE her solemn way:
suppose the Lord should say that when
We get to heaven?''
OF course this story ought to end with
the statement that the mother at once sa w
the error of her ways. and ever after in
sisted that the truth should be told, even to
callers: but the truth is the mother laughed
and thought 1t was a good joke and told
some of her friends about 1t, and the maid
still says mot at home when the mistress
doesn't wish to receive. That's why the
story never will get into the Sunday school
books unless Il Is revised.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-08-15
Wanted an Injunction.

From the Oakland Echoes
A man recently caught three different
men kissing his wife. whereupon he went
to a lawyer.
you have very good grounds for d.
vorce," the lawyer said.
II don't want a divorce" the citizen re-
Piled. Il want to get an injunction to
make them stop It."
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-08-15
A PLEA FOR PLAIN FOOD.

Hints That May Save DOctOrs' Bills
and Lives.
From the New York Ledger.
1t is not generally understood fact, but
fact nevertheless. that some of the
wcalthiest end most luxurious appearing
people live on the plainest food. There are
children in the families Of nillionaires who
would no more be permitted to partake of
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-08-15
An Interesting Subject.

From the New IOrk Press
First Summer Girl-"Are you going to
that old Christian Endeavor meeting this
EVENING"
Second Summer Girl-"Yes, indeed,
Haven't you heard the subject to be dis
cussed?'
First Summer Girl-"No; what is it,"
Second Summer Girl-"How to Hold Our
Young Men,"
The courier. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1894-1903, 1896-05-02

IL appears from this that +. Ponderous
Roggen is quite AS we'll known in New
York AS he is in Nebraska There was
something peculiar about the elections
in Cuba, and the Voice might well have
imagined that Roggen was in the vicin-
ity. But the truth is Mr.. Roggen was
in Nebraska all the time. We know
good thing when we see it. here in Ne
braska. and we have learned to hold
fast to that which is good. We saw
Roggen a good many years ago, and we
have kept him with us ever since. He
is much too good to send to Cuba. He
is all right in Omaha.
Silas Adipose H )loomb is a gooa man,
and he is doubtless we'll qualified for
duties Of some sort. BIT his forte is not
the guternatorial role. Silas Adipose
has had trouble all around him ever
since he settled his ponderous frame in
the executive chair. 1t has been dem
onstrated to the satisfaction OF every
body, possibly excepting Silas Adipose
himself, that he is a very dismal failure.
No governor OF Nebraska was so un-
fortunate in his appointments. Under
no governor has there been such an &C.
cumulatiOn of state institution scandals.
The public is tired Of rea1aing Of the
disgraceful proceedings at the various
institutions, the superintendent Of
which were appointed by Governor Hol.
comb. Most OF these appointees have
not only shown themselves singrlarly
lacking in ability, but have added i'm