davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1898-02-13
A DOG THAT HAS
 A SENSE OF HUMOR

The pet of the Potrero Police Station is little wire-haired terrier dog named Keys. Where he came from nobody knows. Like Topsy, he just come. ," Keys first appearance at the station was five years ago, and more ragged, half-starved, miserable beast could not have been foundin seven counties. Lieu tenant G. w. Bennett, then sergeant, took pity on the poor little fellow and fed him well, hoping that he would go away with the next man who spoke kindly to him. Not so. Keys stayed at the heels of his benefactor and would not be driven away. The first performance of the little tramp was trick that gave him the name that has always chung to him. Bennett was out one nigh, and, when jumping over a mud puddle, lost a bunch of keys and his whistle, but he did not miss them until he reached the station. Then he was mad, for he knew where the keys had been dropped.
 In no good humor. he started for the
The San Francisco call., 1898-02-13

place where he had jumped the puddle, but as he arose from his chair he mo- ticed that the canine tramp held some thing bright in his mouth. It was the bunch of keys, and the stray was then given his name, Keys. This act of in- telligence made him the favorite Of the men, and it was but a short time that he was found to be very fond Of play ing ball. For hours Keys would run and fetch the ball for anyone who would play with him. Keys loved to play ball so much that the boys of the Potrero would ask to have him for a mascot when they had game to play with some other club, and more than once Keys was taken to Central Park when the Union Iron Works team had a game with the Pacific Rolling Mills or the Butchertown teams, and Keys was always on the winning side.
 But Keys last performance with the ball turned out to be rather expensive to his friend Bennett, as well as the druggist who keeps the store on the corner of Kentucky and Twentieth streets Lieutenant Bennett went to the store and bought the little dog fine rubber ball, which he took to the station The druggist thought to have a joke on the police officer, and one day he saw the dog lying on the side walk and told him to go fetch the ball. Keys, ready for play, rushed into the station and in moment was out With the ball. which he gave to the drug gist. After a short play the druggist took the ball into the store and hid It. A little later Lieutenant Bennett had to buy a new ball, and the druggist sold him the same article he had taken from Keys. This fun was kept up for seY- eral days, every time selling the same ball to the officer. After the officer had bought that one ball eight times he found out the trick that the druggist had played on him and he resolved to get even. One day he took Keys into the store, when only the clerk was in, and showed the little dog where the balls were kept and made him jump up and get one.
 Then the tables were turned. Twice a day, when the druggist was out, MT. Bennett would send Keys after ball, and the dog always came back with a new one. He would bring back big ones and little ones, cheap balls and high-priced ones, until the shelf over the officers locker was filled with enough to stock toy shop. The drug gist raved and swore that the children of the neighborhood were stealing from him To save some innocent child from heinz unjustly accused MT. Bennett at last told the druggist of the way he had turned the joke and how the dog had helped him in the fun. AS MT. Ben nett had had all the fun he wished for in this direction he gave back to the druggist all the balls that Keys had stolen, except the eight that had been paid for But poor Keys has to suffer for all the fun he made for the others.
The San Francisco call., 1898-02-13
THE WEDDING OF
 THE WILD FLOWERS,

I was walking along a California hill- side and stopped to admire a young eucalyptus tree that was pranked out in all it's beauty. I heard voice that came from the eucalyptus. It said plainly, There is going to be a we'd ding"
 That seemed a queer thing for a tree to be talking about, but the birds talk so much about love in their nests that the trees have a chance to learn much.
 In a sunny hollow there were some buttercups in blossom, among the grass, and they were all afiutter with the news, which they were talking over.
 Just then the wind, which had never done anything the like before, so far as I knew, said several times Amen, amen, amen"
 "Ha, hal" laughed the California quail "the wind is going to be the par son to marry the California poppy and the blue chicory, and he is practicing."
 So it was. Hidden behind the shel- tering screen of manzanita trees was able to see all. The bride was the California poppy and her bridal dress was as radiant as the most glorious sunset. The bridegroom was a tall, graceful chicory blossom.
 The wind was the first to kiss the bride after the wedding. Then the stately chicory bent over, at the sug- gestion of the wind, and touched his lips to the brides glowing face. This was some years ago. Since then the chicory and the poppy families have lived closely together, and many, have been the weddings.
The San Francisco call., 1898-02-13

but we shall surprise the natives, and, if I am not mistaken, we shall make favorable impression upon them, TOT our descent will be sensational.
 All day the party worked under the direction of MT. Ostend, and the result was the production of four enormous sheets of cloth-like substance, of great strength. The next morning the party were early astir. Out of the grass they wove baskets, and to these attached ropes, which they also made. When they rested for dinner, which consisted of mountain trout and wild strawber ries, they had in prospect great sail through the air. Three boys were to ride in each of the last two parachutes to go. The other two were to be occu- pied by MT. Ostend and Kemona and Mr. Lane and Koti.
 A light wind was setting from the mountain top toward the valley, and on this the four parachutes were fioated It must be confessed that the boys and also Koti were little alarmed as they found themselves adrift in the air so far above the val ley. For giant trees in the valley were to their eyes not taller than small bushes and thousands of savages, who were watching the strange objects that were coming through the air toward them, looked to be not larger than in sects when the air carriages first left the level of the lofty table mountain. The wind, blowing without variation, carried all the parachuteS In the same direction and to about uniform distance from the summit. Below the summit the air was very still, and the four parachutes settled In cluster, like a flock of four strange and huge birds Such they appeared at first to the ignorant savageS to be. But as they drew nearer a great shout ran around among the savage throng: See the flying houses coming from the sky!"
 At a word from MT. Ostend the ten men began to fire their revolvers in the air and kept up a steady fusillade, so that to the savages 1t was as if from the flying houses fountains Of fire were shooting toward the sky ana that the sky was laundering.
 From thousands of grass -thatched huts the savages were poured out, as from a huge ant hill-thousands and thousands of black savages. They climbed to the tops of semi-clrcle of hills that rose above their village, and there awaited with curiosity and fear for the flying houses to touch the earth.
 Silent they were as statues until they saw in the flying houses white men. Then they walled, for their great witch doctor had said that never, until white men should come from
The San Francisco call., 1898-02-13
GOLDILOCKS AND JACK,

c. M. D., 2311 Jackson street, San Fran cisco, writes: My little brother and I are very much interested in the new stories that are going to be in The Call My brother prefers Jack the Giant Killer to anything else, and I prefer to hear what happened to Goldilocks after she ran away from the three bears. I am very anxious to hear how the bears got loose after Goldilocks nailed them to the bed post and if she had any more ad- ventures; and If she married a prince, and how many children she had. Did she always have the same curly, golden hair, like that she had when she was little girl? And was the prince nice? And did he live in a golden palace, with diamonds and rubies and all kinds of beautiful gold and silver? Did he own a lot of land? And was Goldilocks good, kind queen? I hope to know all this in It. tie time, for l am very fond of Goldt- locks.
The San Francisco call., 1898-02-13

even as much as a tadpole, for they don't know how to swim. I saw one of them fall into the pond, and it couldn't get out, and bigger animal that walked on it's hind legs had to come and pull it out to keep 1t from drowning"
 See what funny rough skins they wear; not much like our party dresses of emerald green, with the white waists, that we wear common-every day.
 By this time the little boy and girl had reached the edge of the pond and the little girl said:
 What funny, awkward looking frogs. Such great big mouths and staring eyes. Their legs are so short that they cannot run about and play-just only hop-and they are muddy all the time. I'm glad we are not frogs"
 That is so," answered little Toddle- kins. The boy and girl walked away, laughing, and the frogs laughed. too.
The San Francisco call., 1898-02-13

[(V YES" said grandpa, there Is III N one valentine that I would
 Y like, and that would be a mes
 sage bringing news of my
 A brother Ned. Poor boy" he unused. T have not seen him since We parted at Marysville, nearly forty years ago.
 where did he go?" asked Thornton Graham, a bright boy of Is. Have you never heard from him since, grand pa?"
 "I have never heard from him and suppose that he is dead long ago" and grandpa sighed heavily.
 When is your birthday, grandpa" Tt falls on Saint Valentines day" Thornton Graham said nothing more, but went out Of the room. Then he carefully studied the list of vessels to arrive. When he had done this he went to the Merchants Exchange on Cali fornia street and asked many ques- tions. The answers seemed to satisfy him, and he left the exchange, whist ling merrily and so preoccupied that he did not notice his father who passed him, smiling.
 Have you been buying ship, Thornton?" he asked.
 Thornton looked up suddenly and was confused. Please, papa, don't ask any questions"
 But from that time on for some days Thornton was ill at ease. He was the first to get the morning and evening papers. He spent all his leisure ask ing questions of men interested in shipping and in scanning the bulletin board at the Merchants Exchange that told of the latest arrivals by sea. One day when he was in school a messenger inquired for him. He went to his teacher and asked to be excused at once.
 "On what account?'' the teacher asked.
 He whispered earnestly to the teach CT, who excused him. The other pupils in the school noticed that the teacher was pleased all the remainder of the day.
 Meanwhile Thornton walked rapidly to the water front and the messenger, who continued with him, spoke to a boatman, who at once invited Thornton to get into his boat A few minutes later Thornton was by the side of a newly arrived ship, that had come In from Sydney, N. s. w. Hardly was he over the side of vessel when he saw an old gentleman talking with the master He walked rapidly to them and said: "I am Thornton Graham"
 And l." said the old gentleman in response am"
 Hush" said Thornton.
 Grandpa's birthday arrived, and the family gathered to celebrate 1t. There were young and old all of whom came to the sturdy and kind old California pioneer.
 But where is Thornton?" asked grandpa.
 "He is here" answered Thornton who had just entered, and I have taken the liberty to bring gentleman who resides in Australia, and who says that he knew you in the early days in California"
 When the boy stopped speaking, he
The San Francisco call., 1898-02-13
GRANDPA'S VALENTINE.

brought forward the old gentleman whom we have seen on the deck of the ship from Australia.
 Bless the Lord" calculated grandpa while his face was pale and red by turns, and his eyes were filled with tears, it is Edward, who has come back to me after nearly forty years''
 Tt is indeed Ned,'' responded the stranger, and I must say that your eyesight remains good, for I am changed in appearance.'
 What happy and merry party that was at dinner. Grandpa and Uncle Ned had to sit side by side and they fre- quently stopped to throw their arms around each other and to laugh and cry, and all the others were compelled to laugh or cry with them.
 Then Thornton told his story. He had seen an Australian paper containing an advertisement signed by Uncle Ned, asking for information concerning grandpa. He had entered into corre- spondence and had assured Uncle Ned that grandpa was alive. Then Uncle Ned made haste to visit San Francisco. Thornton demanded as his reward for bringing the two brothers together that Uncle Ned should not make himself known till grandpa s birthday. Grandpa had to hug Thornton repeatedly and so did Uncle Ned.
 'Tll answer you, now, papa" said Thornton, about buying a ship"
 No need of an answer, Thornton. My blessing upon you"
 Uncle Ned explained. He had come from Marysville to San Francisco In the early days and had been kidnapped to serve on a ship bound for Australia Before he had time to return he heard that grandpa was dead, and for many years he thought him to be dead. But one day he advertised and from it came the reunion of the two brothers.
 Thornton" said grandpa after din- ner, you have brought me the best valentine on earth. You could not have done better if you had been Saint Val entine"
The San Francisco call., 1898-02-13

asked MT. Ostend.
 The Kings village is in that valley"
 'Is there trail down from here?"
 "No, we must travel four days march to reach the only place where the na- tive can enter.'
 "Koti," asked MT. Ostend, "do you think that we are going to climb over these mountains many miles, when the kings village IS just below us?"
 What else can we do?" asked Bin nie.
 Do you see these great leaves? They are tougher than the stoutest cloth, and yet you see that they are very thin.
 "Well?"
 You spoke yesterday of the sticky gum of what you called glue trees"
 What has all that to do with us?"
 We are going down into the valley from here tomorrow, and in para chutes. Of course they will be larger than any parachute you have ever seen,
The San Francisco call., 1898-02-13

the sky, should their great white king be taken from them. And now the white men had come, surrounded with the thunders and the lightning of the skies, and they saw their hour of doom, for the witch doctor had also said that with the departure of the king would come about the ruin of the land and the people.
 But, among the throng was the white King, and he saw and knew that the letter that he had sent forth in a san dal wood box had reached brave men and that before his eyes were those who had risked a horrible death in a strange and savage land to save him from captivity, and to restore him to his own people, He was so moved with gladness that he could hardly refrain from showing it.
 A shout from the savage multitudes was raised as the parachutes touched the hilltops.
 Forth came the Great Witch Doctor
The San Francisco call., 1898-02-13

Synopsis of preceding chapters.-The army or savages commanded by Binnie marched to the Mdrwise River and there waited for the command of Gkocr- -Ghee-Tee to attack them. Binnie led 900 savages to battle They were orlVsn pack by the superior numbers of the skull hunters, but returned to the attack, der Bipnie's leadership, the following day. At an opportune moment, Kemona, who has seen the war canoes coming at !. distance on the river, hastens forward, tells Mir Ostend (for he In command of the war canoes, hdVlng taken boats at the place where he couIo no longer sail the California; Of the need Of his presence on the battlefield. Soon been taken from the California Is heard and the hosts of Ghoor- -Ghee-Tee melt away be- me mes s hye boy friends, all California boys. and also his father and friendly savages @ @nom MT. Ostend has persuaded to row the canoes up the river for him. Ghoor- -Ghee-Tee has run away with the savages of his tribes ana hls power is broken. much that the white men will have no troble in marching across his country to go to the land of the Alarkise where the white captive. King, to fesGus Gmtnss wn1m r,1I the white men came to New )ects. who are also his captors)
 WILL not take your time to read
 about how the white men crossed
 the land of the skull hunters, nor to
 relate the small skirmishes that =, took place with the Afarkise. Throughout that hard journey, filled with privations, the six California boys showed that they were worthy to have been selected to undertake the most daring of adventures They grew harder and braver constantly, and more competent to look out for them selves
 Binnie's army melted away in the land of Ghoor- -Ghee-Tee, for the sav- ages were nearly all thieves, and the chance they had to steal the cattle and other wealth of the skul-hunters was more than they could resist. They de- serted and left Binnie with only Koti, Of all their number, to remind him of his life among and his command over them. So there were only ten persons in the party who were now to try to carry away a King from his people. These were MT. Ostend, Binnies father, Binnie and the five other brave California boys, faithful Kemona and Koti, the savage chief who had been second in command of Binnie's savage army They were in land filled with thousands of savages, any one of whom would have taken their lives for much smaller cause than the secret one for which they had journeyed
 Koti was the guide of the party. He was ordered to take them to the chief village Of the King by the shortest way. He led them, after many days, to the top of a lofty table mountain. rounded on all sides by steep noun tains.
 How much further have we to go?"
The San Francisco call., 1898-02-13
FUN BY THE POOL.

A Berkeley frog sat on a rock and talked to his wife, who was hiding among the bullrushes. Two little chil- dren, a boy and a girl, walked hand in hand toward the frog pond.
 Do see those funny creatures-walk- ing on their hind legs" said MT. Frog.
 Funny? I should say so" answered Mrs. Frog, land hear what queer noises they make with their mouths. Now, l don't believe that they could sing a frog serenade or love song to save them"
 No, indeed and they don't know
The San Francisco call., 1898-02-13
ROYAL AND THE RAIN.
By Reinhold Richter

 The clouds were dark and heavy, The rain came pattering down, And Royal by the window
 Gazed out with pout and frown. But. as he gazed out. quickly His face grew bright with joy, "Mamma says smiles are sunbeams"- Mused thoughtful little Roy. Perhaps if I laugh softly
 The big drops will not stay For sunshine always frightens The naughty rain away. I smiled to hear my baby,
 My baby man so wise. But oh, in that brief moment A wonder filled my eyes. For, To! a quivering sunbeam Stole through the window pane. "Oh, ohl'' cried Royal gayly.. "I've laughed away the rain.
The San Francisco call., 1898-02-13

(V TES," said grandpa, there Is III \/ one valentine that I would
 like, and that would be mes
 sage bringing news of my
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-10
A SCHOOLBOY TRAGEDY
ROY GEHRIG SHOOTS HIS BEDFEL-
Low AND COMMITS SUICIDE.
The Youngsters Had Been Unable to
See Two Normal Lassies with
Whom They Were Smitten.

LANCASTER, Pa, March 9.-Roy
Gehrig, of Milton, Pa, shot and perhaps
fatally wounded Will b. Davis, of St.
Clair, Pa, at Millersville to-day and then
killed himself. The boys were pupils cf
Pierce's Business College at Philadelphia
and went to Millersville on Saturday to
call on two girl students at the Normal
School there. They returned to the village
last night about 10 o'clock and securing a
room at Hoak's Hotel, retired Immediately.
Early this morning the inmates Of the place
were startled by a fusillade of pistol shots
and a moment later Davis came running
down stairs with blood gushing from sew
eral wounds in his face. Another shot was
heard. followed by the sound of body
falling to the floor. Davis ran into the bar
room, exclaiming: My churn shot me-"
Davis was in bed when Gehrig, who was
walking about the room, drew a pistol and
fired three times in quick succession at
Davis. One bullet struck him in the left
temple, another entered his upper lip and
came out under the ear and the other
struck him in the right wrist
Those who rushed to the roem where
the tragedy occurred. found Gehrig lying
on the floor with a bullet hole in his left
temple. He died without regaining con-
sciousness. A note written by Gehrig and
found near his body gives his explanation
of the tragedy as follows:
I'VE are dead in love with Alice Cum
mings and Annie Holmes and not being
able to see them and they keeping away
from us, we resolved to take our lives. My
name is Roy Gehrig, of Milton, Pa, and
the little fellow is William Davis, of st.
Clair Please notify our parents at once.
We would like to be cremated, so notify
our parents at once"
Davis says he knows nothing Of the note
and denies there was any compact to COM
NIT suicide. From what can be learned it
seerns that Gehrig, who was introduced to
the ladies by Davis, was desperately in
love with Miss Cummings and that he and
Davis had dispute over her. Gehrig then,
it is supposed, decided to kill Davis and
then take his own life and wrote the letter
to make the affair appear like double
suicide. They were each about nineteen
years old
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-10
WHAT THE MONEY is FOR,
Agents at Home and Abroad NegOtiat-
ing for War Vessels

WASHINGTON, March 9-The feature of
the days events was the prolnptitude with
which the Senate passed the House bill car
rying the appropriation of $50, 00O 900 for the
national defense, and the haste with which
1T was put through the formal proceedings.
engrossed and signed by the President.
While the matter has been considered. if
can be stated that the fund has not vet
been allotted among the various branches
of the government service. Each of these
had prepared roughly and tentatively an
estimate of the funds it could dispose of to
advantage, but on looking over the ground
the President concluded that 1t would be
well, perhaps, to avoid making the allot
ment Until the necessity became apparent.
The reason back of this is that the sum
that can be profltably spent for war ships
cannot even be guessed at with any approx
imation to accuracy just now. AS the ships
are to be first choice in the steps for de-
fense, until their cost is ascertained it is
not possible to divide the remainder of the
appropriation among the other branches of
the military and naval services.
The secretary of the navy is making every
effort to secure from our naval attaches
and diplomatic officers abroad all inforna-
ton obtainable respecting the number of
sHipS DulelHS' lher price ana other data.
This does not necessarily interfere with the
execution of the plans confided to Captain
Brownson, who sailed for Southampton to-
day, but rather promises to assist him ma
terially in making speed with his inquiries.
Up to this moment not only has the United
States government bought no war ships.
but 1t has not even secured an option on
one, There are many applications coming to
the department from persons and firms who
desire TO sell ships to the government. but
in most OF these cases one or two fatal OBJ
staeles are encountered to the consumma-
ton Of the sale. Either the craft offered is
not suitable for naval needs, or the date of