davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Elk Mountain pilot., 1900-02-20

mon additional assistance. A shrili
call on his whistle-from the hall
door-translated the decision into ac-
ton, and with the arrival of another.
constable upon the scene / was called
upon for a fresh explanation. The
second official head threw no more
light upon the case than the first, but
offered uggestion-''Let's knock
up the neighbors, p'r'aps they know
summat about it,"
To the right and back, and then to
| the left, went that constable. Rata
tat, tat-a-tati went the knockers. Up
went the windows, out came heads.
"Who's there?" 'What dye want?.
"What dye say-who's my neighbor?
What neighbor-whst dye mean?"
And then doors opened, and other
doors caught the infection. and they
opened; in short. there was a pretty
"to do" and half-dressed crowd
soon shivered around the steps of No.
113. L was quite harried with their
questions. / had no sooner arrived
at the end of one series than I was
plunged into another. had no sooner
satiated one individuals desire for
knowledge than was called upon to
| feed some one else. Whether my
brain and my temper would have stood
the strain for very long 1 can't say,
but 1 may add that this is a difficult
question to PROFOUND, even to myself.
Happily 1 was extricated from the un-
pleasant situation by being led off to
the nearest police station to be de-
taine there pending further inquiries,
as the result of those just made showed
the existence of local caste feeling
which took no note of the existence of
the occupants of No. 113, and it ap-
peared we'll to the "Force" under
these circumstances to hold me fast
for the present.
At the station, told the inspector
on duty all about myself quite like a
little boy. But he did not appear sat
i8fed, and muttered some word to
himself that sounded to me like ''sus-
picious," and which resulted in my
seclusion. 1t was but temporary, as
the result of the further inquiries
proved satisfactory-to me, that is to
say This was what they proved:
That my landlady, nay landlord and
their daughter had left the house No.
113, and had left it i'll the night. That
they had left it in the night because
they were in debt for their furniture
(which was hired) and for their rent,
and because, presumably and by the
evidence of certain tradesmen, they
possessed no money to settle those
vulgar claims.
To them my half-a crown, paid in
advance, had been hslf-a-crown, at
least so (again) it was presumed, for
their whereabouts was never traced.
The Elk Mountain pilot., 1900-02-20
THIS HORSE is A JUMPER.
Cleared a Chasm OF Twenty-one Feet te
Escape n Grizzly.

Cleared a Chasm OF Twenty-one Feet to
Escape Grizzly.
Not many horses trained in steeple-
chasing and ridden by skilled Jockeys
could make a clean jump of twenty
one feet.
When George King, the cowboy,
started out to ''round up" herd of
cattle that was pasturing in the val
leys of the Santa Ana River he invited
an Indian, Juan Machado, to accom-
pany him and help him in the cattle
driving Machado was on the point
of agreeing, when Kirg said jokingly:
1--WE will take our guns along and We
might get fat bear"
Immediately the Indian appeared to
be in state of abject terror and re-
fused to take the trip, assuring King
that the grizzly bear always overheard
such threats and that hunters who
announced their object were sure to
be eaten up. Laughing at the In
dams superstition, King started on
without HIM.
A day or two afterward he was fol-
lowing a lonely trail alone. The trail
led through dense thicket and was
near the border of a dangerous gulch.
Suddenly the pathway made sharp
curve and disclosed to the cowboys
sight monster grizzly gnawing at
the quivering flesh of newly killed
yearling. Now, of all circumstances
calculated to excite a grizzly the in
terruption of his meal is the surest.
Therefore when the mounted cowboy
rode almost upon him he rushed for
ward with terrifying growl.
The little horse needed no spurs,
but darted onward through the brush
with incredible swiftness, the angry
bear following close behind. In a
moment the horse and rider were on
the edge of the gulch, and there was
no room for turning. King and the
horse both knew that. There was but
one thing to do. King raised the
bride reins, the little horse gathered
her legs beneath her, sailed straight
through the air-and landed safel0
on the edge of the opposite bank.
The chasm was twenty-one feet
across. And the Indian said: "I told
you so. I told you the bear would
hear you. st. Louis Post-Dispatch.
The Elk Mountain pilot., 1900-02-20
Irish Carpetmnisers-

Just year ago some manufacturers
of artistic textiles touring in Donegal
resolved on establishing place for
the making of hand-tufted carpets OF
the description generally known as
"Turkish" or Persian. The peculi-
arity of this fabric is that from its ma
ture it must be hand production.
The tufts are tied by the fingers in
knots in longitudinal wraps, which
are stretched between two long paral-
lei beams. The carpets are made to
the size and shape of any room. Tho
design is placed in front, and the girls,
from three to a dozen, according to
the size of the carpet, select the colors
indicated row by row, which are tied,
then bound down by "shoots" of
woolen weft drawn across the entire
width, and beaten firm by small iron
toothed hammers, There is interest
ing variety and pleasure in the work,
and it is such that individul skill and
workmanship come largely into play.
Altogether it is just such an industry
as is suited to the rural districts OF
Ireland. No steam power is re-
quired, and there is therefore nc
handicap on the commercial side by
the absence of coal.
The first years experiment with the
Irish girls has proved that they are
admirably adapted for the work. The
girls show nimbleness of fingers and
sharpness of eye for color and form
that have quite astonished their teach.
ers, and they take to the work with @
spirit and cheerfulness quite refresh
ing. Sc convinced are the promoters
of it's ultimate success that they have
planned out broad scheme that will
spread the work all over the west Of
Ireland, and give employment to many
hundreds of girls and boys.-London
Furniture Record.
The Elk Mountain pilot., 1900-02-20
signaling with tho Heilograph.

The heliograph which has been used
so much by Generals White and Butler
at Ladysmith, is the trump card of
visual signaling, for it possesses the
four cardinal military virtues-porta-
bility, rapidity, range anc secrecy. 1t
is an instrument for directing the re-
hected rays of the sun on and off a
distant station by means of a movable
mirror, but may be described less ac-
curately, though more graphically, as
tripod. By the aid of sighting vane
the mirror is placed in such a position
that the sun is reflected upon the dis
tant station. When this is done sig.
nails can be made by depressing n key
fitted to the back of the mirror, SO
that the light can be flashed on to the
required point in the dot and dash
method.
The ''helio" is extremely portable,
weighing with its stand no more than
a soldiers rifle. 1t possesses q Curl
GUS virtue of secrecy, because to peo-.
pie standing even at very short dis
tance from the point onto which its
rays are directed its signals are quite
invisible. But this fact will show how
needful it is to have the sun reflected
full on the distant station; and to
insure this the hello has to "follow the
sun" as he travels through the sky.
Two screws, one giving vertical
movement and the other horizontal
movement to the mirror, about its
centre, effect this, and the screws can
be manipulated by the signaler while
in the act of sending without any in
terruption to the message.
The Elk Mountain pilot., 1900-02-20
The Holders of the V. c.

Holders of the Victoria Cross in the
British army, who have been slowly
dwindling band for some years, prom
Use to receive new companions as a
result of the Boer war. Seven years
ago they numbered 1876, and just be-
fore the outbreak OF hostilities in tho
Transvaal there were only 155. The
Indian mutlny still accounts for the
largest number of names on that roll
of honor, no fewer than forty-two re-
calling that year of heroic struggle.
The Crimean war, which started the
roll, now ranks second with South
Africa, each claiming twenty-five
names. Afghanistan contributes
eleven names, and Egypt and Soudan
together make up the same number.
For the rest of the names one must
follow the union-jack to all parts of
the globe.
The Elk Mountain pilot., 1900-02-20
THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE.

A farmer was trying to plough
With jackass hitched up to cough,
When they kicked up terrible rough.
Said the farmer: ITS hard, ailough
could do near Us well with a sough;
1 will rest meath the shade OF this boush
"Such driving for me is too rough;
I've had of 1t nearly enough
m give this old jackass cough
And quilt, for I'm quite in a hough,
And ploughing is almost tough.
"with farming I'm glad to be through =
My wife, she is tired OF 1t, tough;
We're wet with rain and the dough,
And ploughing has made me quite blough,
"I'll sell out and pocket the dough,
To the city I'll glad enough cough.
I'll through down the shovel and hough;
In Wall street my money I'll blough.
my wife has contracted n cough,
IT'S time for US both to be oughl"
New York Sun.
The Elk Mountain pilot., 1900-02-20
Cordovan Leather Boots.

At the court of Elizabeth the wide
topped Spanish hfboot-handsome, and,
to our eyes, Observation-Disclosures popu-
lar among the rival courtiers, each en-
deavoring to outvie the sother in the
queens eyes. The most handsome
and admired of all were made of white
Cordova leather, edged with costly.
lace, and having gold spurs. Some.
times buff and red and much more
rarely the now prevalent black leather
was the material. Shoes for men
seem to have gone out of fashion dur
ing the Stuart era, so far as the upper
classes went. Your plain citizen
always adhered to more or less sub
stantial shoe when at home, and sell
dom drew on boots save when on %
Journeys terrible expedition, how
ever short the distance, up to the
middle Of the last century. Thus in
Charles lis day Cowley, writing to
DIR. Thomas Sprat from so near place
to London as Chertsey, says that he
might very conveniently come thither
''the way of Hampton town-lying
there one night. THE Gentleman's
Magazine.
The Elk Mountain pilot., 1900-02-20
Right Kind of Sportsman.

1t was Jonathan Swift who said that
whoever could make two ears of corn
or two blades of grass to grow upon n
spot of ground where only one grew
before would deserve better of man
kind and do more essential service to
his country than the whole race OF
politicians put together. Let me say
of the sportsman, if it has not been
said before, that he who by his spring
shooting has an opportunity to kill
two birds, if he would wait until fall
will have chance to kill seven. AT
the Pleasant Valley hatchery the Mon
golian pheasant is breeding with graf
flying success. This ring-necked fell
low is one of the finest of game birds,
Ind every chance and encouragement
to multiply should be given him. -
Victor Smith, in New York Press.
The Elk Mountain pilot., 1900-02-20
Breeding Cattle in Peru.

Stock raising in Peru is confined to
the breeding of cattle to supply the
local demand for beef, and the hides
required for native leather work. The
surplus hides exported in 1898
amounted to 2127 tons, of which the
United States purchased 500 tons.
Sheep are bred for mutton and wool,
but not in large numbers; goats for
the skins and meat; llamas and alpa-
cas- as beasts of burden and for their
wool. The total wool shipments in
1898 aggregated 348S tons; consid-
cradle quantity is used however in the
woolen factories of Arequipa and
Lima, and also by the Indians in the
manufacture of native cloth and pom
chos. Alpaca wool is valuable, but
the animals are sheered once only in
two years, and the returns, therefore,
are notlarge enough to tempt any great
extension in this branch of pastoral
industry.
The Elk Mountain pilot., 1900-02-20
Corn as King of Industry.

One of the reasons why the French
of Canada could never hope to main;
tain themselves In the contest for
supremacy with the English and the
residents of the thirteen colonies was
that corn could be grown north OF the
lakes and the st. Lawrence in limited
quantities only. This valuable Ameri-
can product. which the Indians with
their stone implements could plant
between the stumps of their rude
clearings or on the prairies, could be
utilized to an important extent by
those Indians only who resided in
what is now the United States. The
more northern tribes could grow it
only in trifling quantities, and their
French allies were thus deprived of a
valuable aid IN the maintenance of
their power. Corn was one OF the
factors which gave the victory to the
English and the Americans in the war
which expelled the French from
North America in 1755-63. II thus
reserved the better part of the con-
tinent to the younger and more pro-
gressive branch of the Anglo-Saxon
race, who appropriated it dozen
years after the French were driven
out.-St. Louis Globe-Democrat.
The Elk Mountain pilot., 1900-02-20
WHEN HERRING SWARM.
How They Are Captured with Torch and
Net in Massachusetts Bay.

Net in Massachusetts Bay.
Never in the history of Massachu-
setts Bay fisheries has there been rec
orded more successful herring sea-
son than the present one. THOUSANDS
of barrels have been trapped. many
have been taken in the gill nets, but
great havoc with the shining backed
fishes. The taking of fresh herring
in the harbor and near the shore this
season in such large numbers brought
thousands of dollars to the trapmen,
and because of their cheapness and
quick delivery hundreds of vessels
have been baitod up, sent to the fish
ing grounds and brought in on quick
trips.
The use OF the torch for enticing
fish to the surface of the water dates
away back; the Boston, Swampscott
and South Shore fishermen have
dipped sperling near Plymouth by the
aid of the torch for fifty years, as we'll
as the Eastport sardine fishers. The
novelty about this seasons business
is the dipping of full grown herring at
night by the use of the torch. There
nave Deta lew SphWu uefIluS thheu III
this way, for the fish that once made
the waters of Boston Bay appear like
sea of milk by their deposit of
spawn and melt have not shown on this,
coast foriyears. The herring which
struck this coast in such countless
numbers this season is an entirely new
species.
Among the novel boats engaged in
fishing is the petroleum boat Quartette,
and when Captain William Dexter ex-
tended an invitation to a reporter to
make trip it was accepted, and the
craft was churned toward Cohasset at
the rate of seven knots an hour. Out
side Boston light heavy swell was
met, but the boat kept on until the
shore of Cohasset was reached, then
the anchor was dropped and the main
sail set to keep her from rolling.
The preparation for torching was
simple, as when the dory was hauled
up alongside, pole with CRATE at
tached was lashed across the bow and
the CRATE filed with cotton, over which
was poured petroleum. There were
four men in the dory-two on the oars,
one to dip and boat steerer. As soon
as they got into shoal water the torch
was lighted, and while the men on the
oars made the dory spin through the
water the man in the bow stood ready
to dip when the fish came to the sur
face in response to the light. ,
Soon there rose to the surface her
ring in countless numbers, and every
time the dip net went down bushel
of the shiny backs WAS brought into
the boat. Thirty dips were made, re-
sulting in n take of ten barrels. Then
the dory went alongside the launch
and shoveled them on deck. Ten trips
were made, and Captain Dexter said
he had 100 barrels, which was all he
could comfortably carry.
The anchor was hauled up and the
boat headed for Boston. 1t was as
novel and pleasant a way of taking
fish as the writer ever saw, and when
under way the crew sat down to a
midnight meal after two hours hard
work. The boat arrived at 7 wharf at
$50 a. M, and when the market
opened at o'clock part of the catch
was sold for bait and the balance to
the dealers.-Boston Globe.
The Elk Mountain pilot., 1900-02-20
THE FARMERS LOT.


on you'll
andt
to
ndyotes,
some por o
nhehas astwo,
dud o
twhn
The Elk Mountain pilot., 1900-02-20

fate. For the one that 1 am about to
describe 1 paid half crown. The
sensations that that half crown
brought to me were in excess of what
I had anticipated, and strained every
nerve in my body. Yet L am not a
fool, and no one is in his own estima-
ton.
Twas November day-the time 0
o'clock in the evening. I was in a
London street, and had just viewed
which was hung up card with
Apartments to Let printed upon it.
With the knowledge that 1 wanted n
bed for the night, and with the card
before me, what could be moro natural
and within the ordinary lot of man
than to ascend the fight of steps that
lay before me. knock, ring, enter and
secure a bed for half crown, paid in
advance? To my mind there was
such plethora of vulgar incident in
this that remember the transaction
but dimly. That was received by a
landlady (she was middle-aged, L
think), and escorted by her to a com
Portable bedroom on the second floor !;
that was left there with pen and ink !;
that I called for some writing paper
and was waited upon bya girl, who
said that she would ask her father for
some; that when she had brought it
to me wrote several letters, and after
ward went to bed-all this is fixed
vaguely in my memory by its simili-
tude to many another night that 1
have passed under hired roof. Then
there comes a blank, which grows into
memory again with the lugubrious
sound of prolonged howl-a dogs.
1t was dark, so dark that the cur
tanned window of my room offered but
the faintest suggestion of the fog
swathed light without. Again and
again the oppressive silence and
heavy gloom around me were intensi-
fed to my semi-consciousness by the
howl without dying down to a whim-
per, to extinction. A nervous feeling
took possession of me, and fed upon
the darkness. sat up in bed, and
drew long breath to free myself of
its incubus. What was there foul
with the night that it came so heavily
to my lungs? For the moment L was
puzzled; but only for the momeut.
And then, half-suffocated, I ejacula-
ted, ''It is gas, there is an escape OF
gas"
With wave of my arm, I threw
the bedclothes to one side, and with
an eager leg placed foot to the floor.
Then L stood up and hesitated.
Should I ring, should 1 call? "No, -
i muttered to myself, as / reflected
that it was more than probable that
the servant would strike match In
coming to my room. A step and a
grope would tell me. L felt eau
tiously. Noi the tap was as it should
be.
Then thought lapsed into instinct,
and action supervened. I crept
quietly to the door and turning the
key IN its lock with the caution of a
thief, and drawing the door into the
blackness of my room, faced the black
ness that vaster lay outside it.
Gently, gently, with a hand touch
ing cold wall, I crept outward and
to my left. My fingers were caught
by a projection; they passed it by.
and sank into a hollow-'twas door.
1 turned the handle, and whispered
gently but distinctly through the half
opened door. ''It's /, Mr.. Snipe, the
lodger. Don't strike a match
The Elk Mountain pilot., 1900-02-20
PlTH AND POINT.

"How do you tell good novel from
poor one, Bob?" "Well, very often
i go by the person who recommends
it"
"How did you and George get
friend. "Swimmingly," was the re-
ply.-Tid-B Bits.
'Is your dog ull-blooded?"
i"Guess he is. He's been sampling
tn blood of most ot tn neighbors. -
Cleveland Plain Dealer.
Maude-"Did Jack kiss you when
you accepted him?" Clara-"Cer
tainly. Wouldn't consider any but
sealed proposals. Chicago News.
She loved John Smith beyond doubt,
But when, alasl she thought
or the wedding-cards she gave her hand
To Mr.. Wellesley Wellington Watt.
detroit Journal.
GAS we get older we think less of
ourselves" "That's because we've
had time to get thoroughly acquainted
with ourselves. s."-Indianapolis Jour
nal
Mrs. "And you can't
find any work? That seems terrible
What is your trade?" Saymold Storey
(attacking the pie)-'Im strawberry
picker, ma'am."
Little Horace-''Papa, what are si-
lent watches of the night?" Papa
''rhe ones people forget to wind when
they go to bed, 1 guess. ."-Chicago
Times Herald
"Is she really a society girl?"
"Well, she makes and receives great
many calls" Really" Yes;
she's telephone operator. ."-Phila-
delphia Record.
He-'Ts your husband laying any
thing up for rainy day, my good
woman?" She--'No, sir; but he's
saving up money to buy snow
shovel. ."-Yonkers Statesman.
Fate In the smallest thing is just;
Admit this rigid truth we must;
Who comes to luncheon late will sigh
To find he gets the thinnest pie.
indianapolis Journal.
"When mans young he's anxious
to show his knowledge" said tho
Manayunk Philosopher; "and when
he gets older he's just as anxious to
conceal his ignorance ."-Philadelphia
Record.
"Isn't it odd that whenever Mr..
Dinsmore makes a present it always
consists of gloves?" said Miss Gold
thorpe. "He wants his presents to
be always on hand" replied Miss
Wilberforce. Judge.
"I understand" said the neighbor,
that your husband is dramatic
critic" "No," replied the little wom-
nm bitterly; che is even worse than
that. He is household critic. -
Chicago Evening Post.
agistrate-"What are these pris-
oners charged with?" Policeman
81 arrested them for fighting, your
honor. They are couple of golf
players. and" Magistrate-''Send
for the court interpreter"
"This," the bold young man whis-
pered, touching her blushing cheek,
sis the pink of perfection" "And
this" his fair cousin retorted, bring
ing her hand against his cheek with a
ringing slap, ''is the sounding brass"
Mother-"I wonder what we can do
with Johnny? He has such way of
exaggerating everything. He is al
ways making mountain out of n MOLE
hill" Father-"I think, my dear,
we had better make him an auction
eer. ."-Tit-Bits