davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1900-04-05

So. Nou Sec Mr.. Mitchell, ! fear YOU
wasted your evening that is, il you
wont aboard that boat with any idea
Of probing this mystery
(which. Of course. ! did not" inter.
ruptcd Mr.. Mitchell
We'll, anyway | have to report that
] did not waste my day. What would
. You say. Mr.. Mitchell were / 10 tell
you that ! have found that plaid suit
and that it is at present in my posses
siont'
81 should say that you are very
clever man unlcssY-
Unless WHAT"
II Mess some one found the things
and brought them to you. That was a
possibility prophcsicd 10y Preacher
Jim"
"Oh, indeed, But he probably meant
the regular police. do not have i'm
portant CLOVIS and evidence thrust
upon me in that manner 80: dis
covered these things by the system
which you dcprccate-by spying"
This is becoming interesting. Give
mo the Details
~ am 80 understand. then. that you
will work with me on TN" casoF You
asked for - hours in which to CON
slider the MATTER, but you have not
given me Your decision. You have
spent the last half hour chatting me-"
ooh, | meant no offense! Surely
you have taken none. There's my
hand. Yes, | will study out this
problem with you. but stipulatc for
perfect liberty to proceed as please"
"Ncry good. Then ! will relate what
has happened since we parted. You
speak snceringly of spies and make
plea for the use of brains alone. But
it is only in fiction that detective
listens to the story Of n crime and
finds the solution without visiting the
locality in which it was committed
or seeing the suspected parties. In
practical experience the analytical
work goes hand in hand with what
you call the spy system. If suspicious
circumstances point to certain man.
we watch bis movements, and often we
very soon discover that he is innocent or
guilty. especially when we can spy upon
llill D'IOIt ut hllONS llltl nv - Su~-
pected. With that knowledge of
course. the criminal uses more caution.
TO my mind it was almost u certainty
that young Mora killed his father. I
argued that he was unaware of the
fact that he had been observed by the
Waterman until he heard IT, on the fol-
lowing day. He had changed his cloth
ing because Of the blood spatterod up
on him. and to offset the watchman'S
testimony he denied his first visit to
the house"
IL follow you. Proceed"
"Thnk q moment. If man can
make Il change of clothing away from
his own home in the middle of the
night reappearing in garments which
are not now and which he is known to
have worn before. the logical deduction
is that he must have another residence
in which he is sufficiently at home to
keep part of his wardrobe there"
yes: you are right Go on
''IIaving removed his blood stained
garments and having replaced them
with fresh suit he would hurry home
to be the one to discover and report
the crime. but when he then learns
that he had been seen in suit con
spicuouS because of its pattern lie
would naturally become anxious about
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1900-04-05

You mean that me mrrdcrcr Of Mr..
Mora MAY he on mis- boui."
paused moment, presently confirm.
ing: "Thcre is another point which
toll.A against young Mora ,hc theft of
the will. 1t makes him ninc millions
richer and would be valucless to any
other man"
"Would it." asked Preacher Jim.
Something in his intonation attracted
Mr., Mitchell and he quickly asked:
"Can You Imagine any use another
man might make Of itY
Il can"
"Will YOU tell me?"
"Mr ,~tchel, if refuse vou might
be insane e,!or9h 20 think tLat know
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1900-04-05

moro than care to disclose. that am
eudcaVOriug to shield some one. aud
you pjght even get it into your head
that that person is myself. Therefore
! viii reply TO your question, although
| think II should not have been asked.
II compcls me TO show YOU how much
more useful property is TO the criminal
than to .hr rest OF the world"
"Oh, pardon me. II was understood
that should not insist upon going any
further than you chose. You need not
answer if you prefer not
"No. | can understand that it would
interest you TO hear my opinion. aud |
will give it, This viii leaves half of
the fortune to charity by its sup
preston the son inhcrits all Now. let
us imagine that an cntcrprisng crook.
with long head, conccives the plan of
stealing the will and Of killing Mr..
Mora. so that the will should acquire
immediate value. Can't YOU 500 now
how that document might be useful to
the thicft'
81 would prefer not to guess. but to
have YOU tell me
Every good Young Mora inhcrits.
Then the crook turns up some fine
night with copy of the will which he
might claim to have found in an ash
barrel. He might ask what Mr.. Mora
would give for the continued suppress
sion Of the viii how much per year,
let us say. Would it not lc fair. in OK
change for the nine millions. for the
heir to pay over To the crook ut least
the annual interest? At even per cent
that would be $4,000. Don't You think
that a document which would yield
that sum per year would he worth the
stcalingt"
by heavens. you arc right. But it
would require man of brains and
courage TO concoct and carry out sucI
a scheme"
There are several such men on this
boat"
You mean that the murderer of Mr..
Mora may be on this hoatf"
"Ilr may he, of course. Stranger
things have happened one of which il
your own presence here as well as that
of the man who promised to help you
If You should need aid"
"Ah, You heard thatT
81 did"
"Thcn perhaps you recognized the
MAN."
II did,
"Nho was hcF"
81 think YOU muSt excuse my nor an
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1900-04-05


the weapon UP stairs, any man might
have found and used it, But the old
man was very mcthodical. aud I am
assured that if he had done as YOU sug-
gcSt he woGld again have locked the
cabinet door, which. ON the contrary,
was found open i'm the morning. as
though the weapon had been abstract
ed hurriedly by some ono laborlng I'M
der excitement. Does not this conflict
with your idca2"
why. not at all. You are probably
repeating to me one of the arguments
Of your friend Mr.. Barnes. which only
shows how detectives always work io
Substantive a theory. instead of nj.
lowing an investigation to lead where
1t VIII Of course it is all gucsswork
about the movements of the man who
was killed, but my solution of the mys-
terry is that he expected trouble that
night. and in that ease. anticipating
the approach Of an enemy. he woulI
have been sufficiently disturbed to
have forgotten TO lock thr door of the
cabinet again"
''ull l'HullH HNT'' WIN IO1I "
could see any reason for thinking
mat i" was expecting CiSagrrcable
visitor. What evidence have you Of
that"
"Oh, very good, think. lin one OF
the newspaper accounts | read that
the Waterman in his statement said
that he saw young Mora enter the
house. because he had been warned
ny his master to he doubly watchful.
In fact. he had asked permission to
take the night for himself. sending Il
substitute in his place, but his request
was refused and then II was that he
was cautioned TO be doubly on his
guard.
Tint is worry significant and quite
now TO mo. | wonder that Mr. Rarncs
omitted 1t from his report of the
facts.
"Oh. YOU can't expect detective to
think of everything, Won know"
Here Preacher Jim laughed heartily,
while Mr.. Mitchell eyed him Thought
fully. wondering at lis apparent nm
concern and his seemingly genuine
: : : 4: &: :::: +: ::: :: 4:
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1900-04-05
[7-ErA

l lure. WhrU j ,ght commit acts MT
strictly in accord with the laws Of our
country"
"Nou mean that you might have
done me an injury. realized that
and acted in the manner which seemed
best calculated to prevent any trou.
Bile"
Again. | say you are wise man.
You arc more than that YOU are II
bravo one, for only courage could have
carried You safely through. Now that
my anger has passed am harmless. 7
assure YOU"
"IcrhapS. thrn you would he willing
to cnlightcn IN" rs to how you CHANGED
TO know my name"
Mr.. Mitchell. quick to read character,
thought that he had detected y large
share of vanity in this man. and he
hoped to molify him further by af-
fordmg him an opportunity to boast n
little. In this ne was entirely success.
full, for the reply came with touch
of eagcrnCSs
AM" said preachcr Jim. "You
should have thought twice before try
Ing TO steal a march on me. 10 YOU
suppose that roold have ovaded tbe
law officers and the laws MS success
fully ~ ! have if the two eyes in my
head We're both half blind. as in the
ease of go per cent of mon? No. sir
have hundreds OF ovrs l,.o,,,.,
watch. kucp- That Won v.oro COMING,
here tonight long before YOU came. and
had | chosen to pyovo,t II vop ,,,ll
never have boarded mia hca4 Brt r
consiIerod tho r,ot,or- md .I.,;.,-,
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conld on.,,,,. IT, '',"' ne
wished e. lno..,, b.'' H,''',''I' "ut ne
know -. .r.',,..,', iI, '"'N ma"
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1900-04-05

was evident TO Mr.. Mitchell that his
! companion was still somewhat III
! doubt as to the wisdom of trusting
him, and of this he was assured hy
the nest question, which was asked
his guard, or ut least have no chance
for preparing an untruthful reply.
' "Why was that detective spving IN.
on youY asked Preacher jim. Mr.
! Mitchell realized that II would be nee.
Cssary to answer UNDERSTANDINGS. but
he was accustomed to determine up.
on line Of conduct quickly. and now
he decided upon bold and possibly
hazardous course.
81 have no objection TO telling YOU
what think of that" said he. though
of course, may be wrong. Mr.
| Barnes is working upon Il mysterious
case and has asked me to assist him.
He values my assistance in an iuvcSti-
! CATION but at the came time he dis
+ likes to admit that | could accomplish
what would battle him. | imagine that
/ in this instance he has sent u man
after me that | may not make dSrov-
cries which would he unknown to him.
Thus he world hope to keep pace with
me in any advance that might make. -
'lf he is as clever detective as his
reputation declares him to be. hc
should be above such methods Were
! n detective ! would use my brains
and not rely upon this petty system of
spies"
This was even better than Mr..
Mitchell had hoped for, and he hasten
ed now to lead the conversation into
the channel which he had chosen to
enter.
~ concur with you heartily. and T
think your opinion upon a crime would
be most interesting. | wonder if [
would be going too far were | TO ask
you to discuss the one in question:
You may do 50 if YOU wish. II will
depend upon what crime it is and how
much may really know alout it
whether ! would care to talk it over
with You. You must not forget that |
am crook aud that am acquainted
with the greatest criminals in this
country Any one Of my friends might
be Ill" guilty man in this instance. In
deed might be the criminal myself"
Even III cas-" OF murdcrE' asked
NF' mitchell quickly, eymE his COM
pahioh closely.
NhN uut|' was the calm reply. 1T
Is natural for YOU to suppose that the
degree of the crime matters. but with
the born criminal. such rs am. there
are no degrees no limits. except those
created by the cXi-cncicS Of circum-
stances. For example might decide
To steal Il puc,cl handkerchief. and Il
chaiii OF events might cnSuc which
would l'"d to the necessity of killing Il
man. hH' would no, nay. could NOT
make III" pause. IT would be lust as
hh''fal ana Just rs unavoidable, with
lay heritage ana chn"rtrr as that one
coA-'Hl'AlIN pIthiSlral should take a
SH-hi roId would lead TO a cough
ana thrir" To consumption and po>Si-
DIV !" "'a'h. You see, even the final
event. death. Is til" same in each"
MI Mitchell had asked lis question
hoplh" 10 sec This man show some sign
"I emotion which would indicate
whether OF not one of his secret and
unsupported crimes might be the Kill
ing oi FELLOW being. for already lie
hai grown $50 Interested IN this Grim
maj lhal lh" discovery of one Of his
ulllaNlNI dcl> would seem of moro con
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1900-04-05

think YOU capable Of taking caro- of
Yourself from what my man told me [
concluded that YOU meant to accom-
panY slippery sam on last nights cX-
cursion. Not having the same conf
dGncc in that person which you seemed
to have. / thought that as your friend
1t was my duty TO be on hand in case
of trouble. But | was not spying upon
you
80 You even went SO far as TO dis.
guiSc yourself as "A waiter and serve
beer TO a lot of crooks, just to bc near
me? | am truly indebted 10 YOU. But
do not admire this Incorporating. 1t
is too theatrical. 1t savors too much
of the dime novel detective. And |
suppose. of course, you had TO bribe
one of the regular walters, who al
lowed you 10 take his place. chf"
"NOt exactly" said Mr.. BARNES
hcsitatingly. somewhat abashcd by the
criticism upon his methods; "but. Mr..
Mitchell, we cannot always choose.
have known of the uses to which this
boat has been put all summer, and /
realized that il would be wise and
might become OF extreme importance
to me TO have it in my power to he
on board Mt any time. | therefore ar
ranged matters with the head waiter
and have played waiter on that boat so
often that now my presence attracts
no susScion"
"That is just the concpit common TO
ali of your profession. Your DISCUSSES
are never penetrated. You are like the
ostrich with his head in the sand in
visible-in your own mind. Now, the
fact is your identity was very well
known on the boat last night"
"Indccd. How do you know that
"Thc lecturer Of the evening was
talking TO me about YOU. lie considers
you rather clever, hut expressed his
surprise that You should Stoop to such
Anticipated methods as the employment
Of spies. He says that if he were in
your place he would use his brains in
stead
Then he would accomplish little, for
he has no brains" Mr. Barnes spoke
angrily, for he had begun 10 lose pa
thence. He thought that Mr. Mitchell
went too far i'm his adverse criticisms.
and in this perhaps he was right. But
the truth was Mir. Mitchell WAS cx-
CCSSiVely annoyed. not so much because
a spy had followed him. but because
for the first tim" in his experience he
had not himself discovered the fact
lie had therefore given vent to his feel
ings 10y rcsorting to satire.
Mr.. Mitchell had decided that Preach
or Jim was possessed of quite supc-
rior quality 81 brains. and consequent
~ he was attracted by Mr.. Barnes
words, well knowing that they We're
not idly spoken
What do You mean by that said
he.
The man is monomaniac. Mr..
Barnes replied.
ION what subicrt|
"Oh ON III" subject Of last night $
lecture, ! know his history very we'll
having observed him for many wears.
one of his dcluSiOnS is that he is him
self n great criminal. If YOU could get
him To talk with YOU, he would I'M
doubt"dly lead you to suppose that he
has committed many crimes and that
through his marvellous skill hc has not
only escaped arrest, but has even
avoided SUSPICION"
Cut i not this true
TRUE as to his keeping OUT Of the
Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1900-03-20
That Porto Ricn RiII.

That ubiquitous Porto Islcan tariff
bill passed the. House of Representa-
tives by a majority of eleven votes.
The bill is a breach of good faith to-
ward the Porto Ricans. it is unconsti-
tutional. unjust and direct and abject
surrender to the demands of the trusts.
In spite of the fact that President
Mckinley advised free trade for Porto
Rico in his message to Congress he is,
reported TO have used his personal in
fiuence to secure the passage of this
robber tariff bill. In spite of the fact
that the administration representative
at Porto Rico recommended free trade
as the one thing needed TO save the
people of that island from bankruptcy
and want, the administration forces at
Washington have put the bill through
the house.
But there are several other facts
which the Republicans viii have TO
reckon with before they are done with
this traitorous and malodorous bust
ness. There is Supreme Court WHICH
will be asked to pass unon the law
There is n Constitution of the UnitG4
States which has been violated. And
quite the most important fact of all.
there is Il public sentiment which will
repudiate the men who have lent them
selves to the performance Of this iniqui-
tous deed
Many influential Republican newspa-
p ~
demonstrations and impolitlc. The
Republican party is divided on the
issue, and in the approaching campaign
Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1900-03-20

out and Dick heard it whispered on ell
sides that he and the singing teacher had
had set to" and that Wayne had got
the worst of the encounter.
Il don't eountenance sich, din's," said
Deicon Snyder, shaking his head in stern
disapproval. Il never got into fights in
my young days, an | hain't no patience
with them that does"
"P'rhaps nobody tried to cut you cut
when you was sparkin'," suggested
young man. 'Mebbe you'd a fit eff they
had"
Nobody nterfered 'twixt me an Sary
Ann" said the deacon; $50 | can't say
what | would ha' done under SIGH cir
cumstanees. Fer my part, | think Dick $
to blame. Eff the sngin teacher cut him
out with Nance, he'd orter grin an bear
| it an not try TO git even by thumpin
him. Let her go, an good radiance.
sh'd say Eff Sary Ann had been foolish
enough to give me the slip, I'd ha let
her went. an told the Teller that got her
TO make the most ont. He'd "a had the
wust ont, l reckon" And the deacon
chuckled as he wouldn't have dared do
| if Sary Ann had been there to hear him,
| When the session was over, Dick went
up to Rhoda, who was standing by the
! door,
May walk home with your he ask
ed.
! NO, SIR she replied CURLY, and turn
ed her back on him.
Poor, foolish girl!' Dick thought and
walked away through the starlight alone.
TO be continued,
Copyright
Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1900-03-20

your cried Rhoda. angrily. II am not
such a bad creature as one would take
me to be from what you are saying"
Il beg your pardon if | have said any
thing that leads you to infer that | think
there is anything bad in your conduct"
responded Dick. What | meant by
what | said about his influence over you
was simply this: He does rot care
farthing for you. If he tells you that he
does, be lies. He is amusing himself at
your expense. and Mamie Boone's. for he
really cares no more for her than he does
for you. But you believe what he tells
you, and | suppose that she does. and
before either of You knows it. your hearts
will become entangIed in the web of de-
ceit he weaves to snare them in; and in
proportion to the confidence you put in
him and the influence he gains over you
will be the pain which will surely come
when you find out that he has fooled you.
Be careful. Rhoda. | am talking to you
as | would if you. were my sister-as L
would talk to you if Wayne had never
laid a straw in my way.
Perhaps you are" responded Rhoda,
''but it looks very much to me as if you
were doing it out of spite"
"Wcll. if you think that, there's no use
in saying anything more about it." said
Dick. Time will prove that am right.
/ can afford to wait till that time comes"
He watched Rhoda closely when they
had reached the school house and she
was in Waync's presence. And he was
satisfied from what he saw, viewed in
the hight OF what she had admitted in
the conversation which had taken place
during their walk to the school house,
that she was fascinated by Wayne. His
influence over her was already sufficient
to make her blind to the real condition
of affairs. Whatever he might tell her
she would believe implicitly. To others
it wac quite evident that he was more
interested in his Irritation with Mamie;
but to Rhoda, who believed what ne had
told her, Mamie was the aggressive par
ty, and he suffered her 10 monopoii2e a
share of his attentions simply because he
couldn't help himself. He knew well
enough the extent of his influence over
poor Rhoda.
Many were the remarks made about
the appearance of Wayne's face. Many
conlectures were rife regarding the cause
of its Disagreement. Before the evening
session was over the truth had leaked
Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1900-03-20

While this Republican Congress, is
treating the people of Porto Rico, who
are mainly of n civilized. If ignorant,
race, as strangers. it is adopting into
the family the Hawaiians, only few
thousands of whom are white, and
nine-tenths of them are a conglomera-
ton the like Of which can scarcely be
found within the same area in any
other quarter of the globe
Hawaii. withits native leprous Kama
kas, its barbarous Chinese and Japa-
nese coolies and its various mixed
breeds, all utterly unfit for American
citizenship, is going to be erected into
a territory of the Union, with a Legis-
lature of it's own and with all the po-
litical paraphernalia that leads TO ulti-
mate Statehood with Senators and Rep
resentatives in Congress.
Hawaii is at present governed by an
oligarchy having great influence with
the Republican party Leaders. It's mem
beers are clever. INSCRIPTIONS and rich.
and they viii undoubtedly succeed in
maintaining themselves in Office. They
can be depended on to assist in filling
the party campaign chest when 1t is
necessary. whereas the Porto Ricans
are on the verge of starvation and are
without a ruling class, hence It's diff
ference ia treatment.-New York News.
Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1900-03-20
why He Was Afraid 20 Bid.

At an auction sale of miscellaneous
goods nj a country store the auctioneer
put up buggy robe of fairly good
quality. An old farmer inspected it
closely. seemed to think there was a
bargain in it and yet he hesitated to
bid
Think it cheap" asked the auction
eer, crying Decent bid.
: ''Yes. kinder" was the reply.
.'Then why don't you bid and set its''
avail. I've bought heaps o things in
dry goods and 50 on" slowly rejoined
the old man. land | never YET took
home anything that the old woman
thought was worth the price II | got
that ere robe for even - cents she'd
grab it up. pull at one end, chaw on a
corner ana call out. Cheated again
more'n half cotton. That's III reason
I dasn't bid. Ohio State Journal