davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-25
Dry Goods.

NEW YORK Dec 24.--In the dry goods market
to-day the approach of the Christmas holla
days caused almost stagnation in business, tneIe
being scarcely any store traders in town, Whlie
mail orders continue very light in nearly all al,
Visions of the market In the cotton goods field
there is still more trading in the goods when
have been reduced to fill stocks, which were ue-
pleted previous to the reductions of last Week.
and while orders for bleached goods are sent TOT
ward they are accompanied in some cases py Or
ders for large amounts of brown goods and coarse
colored cottons; but in the main the tracing III
these latter lines is confined to manufacturers
needs and is held within their limits.
Metals.
NEW YORK. Dec. 24-The metal market closes
in a tame and featureess fashion, with the ex-
cepton OF lead on which holders seem to be II, m
different. According to the New York metal, TX,
change official report pig iron warrants closed
quiet and unchanged at $500 bid, $50 ASKED
lake conner unchanged at 10.S5c bid, 1O.95c asked
Tin quiet 1s6Oc bid 1S zoe asked Spelter aniet
at & S5c bid &c asked. Lead hrmer at Sue pa
.75c asked The firm that fixes the settling prices
for miners and shelters calls the lead market
strong at 3.50c.
ST. LOUIS. Dec 24-Lead strong at s.55c
Spelter quiet at S.72i2@3.75c.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-25

Hogs-Receipts. 1900 shipments, 1000. The sup
ply was fair. The market was active at a shade
lower prices. Packers and shippers bought, and
the closing fairly active at opening prices
Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1897-09-09
ALL BIRDS NOT GEESE.
Decoys Do Not Always Work Success
fully.

Decoys Do Not Always Work Success.
fully.
Despite the success with which de-
coys are sometimes used by Skillful
hunters, birds, in the wild state at least,
are not easily deceived, says an ex-
change. Their sense of hearing is pe.
culiarly acute, and their instinct en-
ables them instantly to detect the
slightest variation in the song of one
of their own kind-as is laughably
illustrated in the following true story:
A bird catcher, wishing to increase
his stock of bullfnches, took out hs
lined twigs-. e., twigs covered with
strongly adhesive preparation, by
alighting on which the poor birds were
caught like flies on sticky fy-paper-
and arranged them In what he consid
cred promising place. For decoy
he took along q tame bullfnch in q
cage. Now it happened that this bird
was, for a bullfinch, highly educated
overeducated, in fact. At first the de
coy uttered few natural notes, and
lis cry attracted several of it's kindred,
who posted themselves at little dis
tance, watching the bird in the age
with much curiosity. Presently they
began to approach, hopping, inch by
inch, toward the fatal twigs. But just
at this critical momenA the trained bull.
finch, carried away by the excitement
of so interesting an occasion, began to
pipe the old country dance known as
Nancy Dawson" and away few all
the intended victims as fast as their
wings could carry them.
Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1897-09-09

before them, as horrible an object al
one could see in a nightmare. 'Godamr'
| cried the officer, and ''Godam!" cried
each OF the four troopers, which is the
same as with us when we cry Mon
Dieul" Out rasped the five swords and
| the four men closed up. One who wore
a sergeant's chevron laughed and
clapped me on the shoulder. Fight
for your skin, froggy," said he.
All! it was so fine to have horse be-
tween my thighs and weapon in my
grip. waved it above my head and
shouted in my exultation. The chief
had come forward, with that odious
smiling face of his.
Your excellency will observe that
this Frenchman is our prisoner" he
said.
"You are rascally robber," said tho
Englishman, shaking his sword at him.
at is a disgrace TO us to have such
allies BY the Lord, il the general were
of my mind we would swing you up to
the nearest tree"
But my prisoner" said the brigand,
in his suavc voice.
"He shall come with us to Lord We'll
lington's camp
Just a word in your ear before you
take him"
He approached the young officer, and
then turning as quick as u flash, no
fred his pistol in my face. The ballet
scored It's way through my hair and
burst hole on each side of my busby.
Seeing that hc had missed me, he raised
the pistol and was about to hurl it at
me, when the English sergeant with
single backhanded cut, nearly severed
his head from his body. His blood had
not reached the ground, nor the last
Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1897-09-09

Nsrvvus TeEperaments BecsneU4
strained.

otf1IAeos
The pathetic recital Of the experience
OF the engineer whose reason was shatp
tered by his train running over and KILL
ing two men, leads thoughtful persons
to the contemplation of the exceeding
frailty of humanity and the awful
consequences to the sensitive mind Of
such an accident as that which was
the real cause OF the collision of two
trains.
OF highly nervous temperament the
engineer, while he felt himself guiltlesa
of murder. WAS yet so overcome with
the knowledge that he had taken two
lives that he was wholly unbalanced.
and probably in the most mechanical
way, with his hand on the lever, sent
his train along the tracks, completely
.oblivious of the danger that threatened
him. The piteous appeal to his fellows.
asking them if he really was to blame.
is one of the most pitiful incidents In
the affair. Experts say that an en-
gineer can only pass through q given
amount of strain, and that once having
passed this point he is scarcely ao-
countable for what he may do, says the
New York Ledger.
There is great difference IN people.
however, as to the effect which such
calamities have upon them. People of
stolid and unimpressible temperaments
may pass through such experiences
and be but slightly overcome by them,
but 1t is dangerous thing for the
sensitive, highly organized mind to be
placed in such an awful position.
Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1897-09-09

would mourn for me, and of my dear
old mother. and Of the deplorablc loss
that | should be both TO my regiment
and TO the emperor. and l am not
ashamed to confC YOU that | shed
tears as l thought O the general con
sternation which my premature end
would give rise 10.
But all the time | was taking the
very keenc5t notice of everything
which might possibly help me. am
not a man who would lie like sick
horse waiting for the farriar sergeant
and the poleaX. First | would give n
little tug at my ankle cords. and then
another at those that were around my
wrists. and all the time | was trying to
loosen them l was pcering round 70
see if could find something which was
in nv favor There was one thing
which was very evident. A hussar is
but half formed without horse, and
there was nay other half quietly graz
ing within thirty yards of me. Then l
observed yet another thing. The path
by which we had come over the noun
tains was 50 steep that horse could
only be led across it slowly and with
difficulty, but in the other direction
the ground appeared to be more open,
and to lead straight down into gently
sloping valley. Had but my feet in
yonder stirrups and my saber in my
hand, single bold dash might take
me out of the power of these vermin Of
the rocks.
/ was still thinking it over and strain
ing with my wrists and my ankles
when their chief came out from his
grotto and after some talk with his
lieutenant, who lay groaning near the
fire, they both nodded their heads and
looked across at me He then aid
some few words to the band, who
clapped their hands and laughed up
roariously. Things looked ominous. and
/ was delighted to feel that my hands
were so far free that l could easily slip
them through the cords if l wished.
But with my ankles l feared that l
could do nothing, for when l strained
1t brought such pain into my lance
wound that l had to gnaw my mustache
to keep from crying out. l could only
lie still, half free and half bound, and
see what turn things were likely to
take
For little l could not see what they
were after. One of the rascals climbed
up to the top Of a well-grown fir
Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1897-09-09
A GIRLS SHREWD PLAN.
How She Finds Out q Mans True
Nature,

How She Finds Out u Mans True
Nature.
A captivating girl who carried lor-
gnette was talking recently to party
of her friends and her words must have
borne weight, for the other girls were
listening. When girls are not all talk
ing at once it's pretty good indica-
tion that the one who is thus permit
ted to monopolize the conversation is
saying something worth while. when
feel that man is becoming interest
ed in me to the exclusion of other girls." {"
said she of the lorgnette, II at once put
him to test which is calculated to
bring his true nature TO the surface.
OF course, you all know what posers
men are, and how they are on dress pa
rade when the girls are about. Well,
my test is this: make an engagement
with him to go off somewhere at eight
in the morning. Nine men out of ten
VIII be late. At that hour of the morn
ing man is usually disagreeable and
hateful He will be unshaven. His
bacco smoke, and possibly OF last
nights ibations. His conversations
powers, usually SO scintillating at
night, you will find to be shorn Of their
attractions. II you want to look be-
hind the screen of mans conventional
ity, put him to this test. If he comes
through it under favorable conditions,
he will make u good husband. But
I've never seen one that could stand the
test to my satisfaction, and I've tried il
often I"
Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1897-09-09

shoes, and the jiuGli,.g of bride chains,
with the clanls Of sabcrs araius: Stirrup
irons. Is it likely that T. who had lived
with the light cavalry since the first
hair shaded my lip. would mistake the
sound Of troopers on the march? Help,
comrades, hclp!" | shrieked, and though
they struck me across the mouth and
tried to drag me up to the tree, kept
on yelling: Help re, my brave boys.
Help me, my children! Thcy are muir
deriug your colonel" For the moment
my wounds and my troubles had brought
on dclirium, and looked for nothing
less than my five hundred hussars,
kettle-drums and all, to appear at the
opening of the glade.
But that which really appeared was
very different to anything which | had
conceived Into the clear space there
came galloping fine young man upon
n most beautiful roam horse. He was
fresh faced and pleasant locking, with
the most debonnaire bearing in the
world and the most gallant way of
carrying himself, way which re-
minded me somewhat Of my own. He
wore a singular coat which had once
been red all over. but which was now
stained to the color of withered oak
leaf wherever the weather could reach
Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1897-09-09

It. His shoulder straps, however, were
of golden lace, and he had bright
metal helmet upon his head with a
coquettish white plume upon one side
of its crest. He trotted his horse up the
glade, while behind him there rode four
cavaliers in the same drcss-all clean
shaven, with round comely faces, look
ing to me more like monks than
dragons. At a short gruff order they
halted with a rattle of arms, while their
leader cantered forward, the fire beat
ing upon his eager face and the beauti-
full head of his charger. | knew of
course by the strange coats that they
were English. 1t was the first sight
that l had ever had of them, but from
their stout-bearing and their masterful
way could see at glance that what l
had always been told was true, and that
they were excellent people to fight
against.
"Well, well, well!' cried the young
,fficer, in sufficiently bad French:
"What devils game are you up to here?
Who was that who was yelling for
help, and what are you trying to do to
him?"
1t was at that moment that learned
to bless those months which Obriant,
the descendant of the Irish kings, had
spent in teaching me the tongue of the
English. My ankles had just been
freed, SO that l had only to slip my
hands out of the cords, and with a
single rush | had flown across, picked
up my saber where it lay by the fire,
and hurled myself onto the saddle of
poor Vidals horse Yes, for all my
wounded ankle, / never put foot to
stirrup, but was in the seat in n single
bound. / tore the halter from the
tree, and before those villains could SO
much as snap a pistol at me | was be-
side the English officer
81 surrender to you, SIR" l cried
though dare say my English was not
much better than his French. IF you
will look at that tree to the left you
will see what these villains do to the
honorable gentlemen who fall into
their hands"
The fire had fared up at the mo-
meat, and there was poor Vidal exposed
Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1897-09-09

broken ground, and l thought, al
though could see nothing, that gen.
eral engagement had broken out. The
Bart laughed at my idea, however, and
explained that the sound came from
the English camp, where every man
emptied his piece each morning so as
to make sure of having dry printing.
'In another mile we shall be up with
the outposts," said he.
glanced around at this and l per-
ceived that we had trotted along at so
good pace during the time that we
were keeping up our pleasant chat that
the dragoon with the lame horse was
altogether out of sight. l looked on
every side. but In the whole of that
vast rocky valley there was no one save
only the Bart and I-both of us armed,
you understand, and both of us well
mounted l began to ask myself
whether after all it was quite neces-
sarv that | should ride that mile which
would bring me to the British out
posts.
Now | wish to be very clear with you
on this point, my friends, for | would
dishonorably or ungratefully to the
man who had helped me away from the
brigands. You must remember that of
all duties the strongest is that which
commanding officer owes to his men.
You must also bear in mind that war is
a game which is played under fixed
rules, and when these rules are broken
one must at once claim the forfeit. If,
for example. | had given parole, then
| should have been an infamous wretch
had | dreamed of escaping. But no
parolc had been asked of me. Out of
overconfidcnce and the chance of the
lame horse dropping behind, the Bart
had permitted rhc to get upon equal
terms with him Had IL been | who
had taken him should have used him
as courteously as he had me, but at the
same time | should have respected his
enterprise so far as to have deprived
him of his sword, and seen that had
at least one guard besides myself. l
reined up my horse and explained this
TO him, asking him at the same whether
he saw any breach Of honor in my leav-
ing him.
lie thought about it, and several
times repeated that which the English
say when they mean Mon Dieu." You
would give me the slip, would you?"
said he.
"If you can give no reason against it."
1.-THE only reason that | can think
Of" said tire Bart, lis that | should in
stantly cut your head off If you should
attempt it."
1.-TWO can play at that game, my dear
Bart" said l.
Then we'll see who can play 1t
best" he cried, pulling out his sword.
/ had drawn mine also, but was
quite determined not to hurt this ad-
mirable young man who had been my
bcnefactor.
"Considerl" said "you saw that
Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1897-09-09
am your prisoner. I might with eqsaI

reason say that you are mine. We are
alone here, and though | have no doubt
that you are an excellent swordsman,
you would hardly hope to hold your
own against the best blade in the six
light cavalry brigades."
His answer was cut at my head. l
parried and shore off half of his white
plume. lie thrust at my breast. 1
turned his point and cut away the other
half of his cochade.
Curse your monkey tricksm he cried,
as l wheeled my horse away from him.
why should you strike at me-" said
|. you see that I will not strike
back"
That's all very we'll" said he. "But
you've got to come along with me to the
camp"
Il shall never see the camp" said 1.
I'm lay you nine to four you do" he
cried, as he made at me, sword in hand.
But those words of his put something
new into my head. Could we not de-
eide the matter in some better way than
by fighting? The Bart was placing me
in such position that should have to
hurt him, or he would certainly hurt
me. l avoided his rush, though his
sword point was within an inch of my
neck.
II have a proposal" cried. 1--WE
shall throw dice as to which is the pris-
oner of the other"
He smiled at this. 1t appealed to his
love of sport.
"Where are your ce?" he cried.
Il have none"
Nor 1, but / have cards"
Cards let it be-" said L.
And the game?"
Il leave it to you"
"Ecarte, then-the best of three"
l could not help smiling as l agreed.
for Do not suppose that there were
three men in France who were my mas
much as we dismounted. He smiled
also as he listened.
II was counted the best player at
Watier's," said he. with even luck
you deserve to get off if you beat me-"
So we tethered our two horses and
sat down, one on either side of the
great fiat rock. The Bart took pack
of cards out of his tunic and had only
to see him shuttle them to convince me
that had no novice to deal with. We
cut and the deal fell to him.
My faith, it was stake worth playing
for. He wished to add hundred gold
pieces a game, but what was money
when the fate of Col. Etienne Gerard
hung upon the cards? felt as though
all those who had reason to be inter
ested in the game, my mother, my
hussars, the Sixth corps d'armee, Ney,
Messena, even the emperor himself,
were forming a ring around us in that
desolate valley. Heavens, what blow
to one and all of them should the cards
go against me. But / was confident,
for my ecarte play was as famous as
my swordsmanship, and, save old
Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1897-09-09

bounds and as many slashcs We were all
safely o2t Of the Glade. and galloping
down the winding track which led to
valley.
1t was not until we had left the ra-
vine far behind us and were right out
In the open fields that we vcntured to
halt and to see what injuries we had
sustained. For me, weary and wound
ed as | was, my heart was beating
proudly and my chest was nearly burst
ing my tunic to think that l, Etienne
Gerard, had left this gang of murderers
so much by which to remember me.
/ My faith, they would think twice be-
fore they ventured again to lay hands
upon one of the Third hussars. So car
ried away was that | made small
grafton to these brave Englishmen and
told them who it was that they had
helped to rescue. would have spoken
of glory also and of the sympathies of
brave men. but the officer cut me short.
That's all right" said he, ANY in
juries, sergeant?"
Trooper Jones horse hit with a
pistol bullet on the fetlocls."
Trooper Jones to go with US. Ser
geant Halliday with troopers Harvey
and Smith to keep to the right until
they touch the videttes of the German
hussars."
So these three iingled away together,
while the officer and /, followed at
some distance by the trooper whose
charger had been wounded, rode
straight down in the direction OF the
English camp. Very soon we had
opened our hearts, for we each liked
the look of the other from the begin
ming. He was of the nobility, this brave
lad, and he had been sent out scouting
by Lord Wellington to see if there were
any signs of our advancing through the.
mountains. 1t is one advantage of a
wandering life like mine, that you learn
to pick up those bits of knowledge
which distinguish the man of the world.
l have, for example, hardly ever met
Frenchman who could repeat an Eng
lish title correctly. If l had not trav-
eled l should not be able to say with
confidence that this young mans real
name was Milor Hon. Sir Russell
Bart, this last being an honorable dis
tinction, so that it was as the Bart that
! usually addressed him, just as In
Spanish one might say ''the Dom"
AS we rode beneath the moonlight in
the lovely Spanish night we spoke our
minds to each other, as if we were
brothers. We were both of an age, you
see, both of the light cavalry also (the
Sixteenth light dragons was his
regiment) and both with the same
hopes and ambitions. Never have l
learned to know a man so quickly as
did the Bart. He gave me the name of
girl whom he had loved at garden
called Vauxhall and for my part
spoke to him of little Caralic of the
opera. He took lock of hair from his
bosom, and garter. Then we near
ly quarreled over hussar and drngoon,
for he was absurdly proud of his
regiment, and you should have seen him
curl his lip and clap his hand to his
hilt when / said that / hoped it might
never be it's misfortune to come in the
way of the Third.
Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1897-09-09
SALOON STRAWS ARE COSTLY
Particular Care Required fn Pfckins
and Shipment.

Particular Care Required I'm Pfckin1
and Shipment.
''The straws through which we i'm
bIbe mint juleps and other supposedly
cooling decoctions In summer cost the
saloon men about as much as do their
free lunches" said red-faced man who
sat at table in the St. Nicholas cafe
slowly slipping julep through . couple
of straws, says the st. Louis Republic.
II just found this out the other day and
J have felt sorry for the saloon men
ever since, because every fellow who
uses a straw feels that 1t is his duty
to destroy it with his drink. The SAP
loou men get their supply of straws
from the big glass houses, and the most
of these establishments keep a regular
force of hands employed all through
the summer season cutting and prepar-
ing the straws for use. Usually some
body has TO be sent to the country to
select the straw from the farmer, and
then it has to be handled with great
care in getting it to the city. This, OF
course, is an item Of expense which
must be made out of thesaloon men,"
Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1897-09-09
CHAPTER ",

1t is astonishing-and l have heard
many make the same remark-how
acute ones senses become at such q
crisis as this. l am convinced that al
no moment is one living so wildly, SO
acutely, as at the instant when q vio-
lent and foreseen death overtakes one.
l could smell the resinous fagots, l
could see every twig upon the ground,
/ could hear every rustic of the
branches, as have never smelled, or
seen, or heard, save at such times Of
danger And so it was that, long be-
fore anyone else, before even the time
when the chief had addressed me, had
heard low, monotonous sound, far
away, indeed, and yet coming nearer
at every instant. AT first it was but q
murmur, a rumble, but by the time he
had finished speaking, while the assas-
sins were untying my ankles in order to
lead me to the scene Of my murder, I
heard, as plainly as ever heard any
thing in py life, the clBkipg. Of hoxae-
Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1897-09-09
CHAPTER v.


Finally he began to speak Of what
the English call sport, and he told
such stories of the money which he had
lost over which of two cocks could kill
the other, or which of two men could
strike the other the most In a fight for
a prize, that l was filed with astonish-
ment. He was ready to bet upon any
thing in the most wonderful manner,
and when l CHANGED to see a shooting
star he was anxious to bet that he
would see more than me, twenty-five
francs a star, and it was only when l
explained that my purse was in the
hands of the brigands that he would
give over the idea.
Well, we chatted away in this very
amiable fashion until the day began to
break, when suddenly we heard great
volley of musl,etry from somewhere in
the front of us. 1t was very rocky and
Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1897-09-09
Looking After Trade.

II see," remarked Mrs. Shooter, that
they are going to put all those danger
Gus trolleys under ground; why is
that, George"
George (gruffly)-I suppose because
they want to get some of their old pat
rons back.-Brooklyn Life.
Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1897-09-09
lie Was a Good Lawyer.

Good lawyer?" repeated the man
who had been acquitted in answer TO a
question. well, should say SO. Ever
since | heard him plead my case I've
had such a good opinion Of myself that
| keep looking round to see if the wings
are sprouting And before that
thought | WAS guilty "-Chicago Post.