davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1901-08-11

mate survey of our surroundings. The
beds seemed comfortable enough. and
there were soap and towels. Apparently
we were not to be executed yet. Sitting
on the couch. we talked the situation
| over. Then We talked to the Cinnamon,
In English and Ibbotson In Chinese.
But they gave no Indication of under
standing. After some hours We lay
| down. though without divesting ourselves
| of anything but our top coats. 1t must
| have been well past midnight, and. de-
| spite our uncertain situation, we both
| succumbed to an intermittent and trou-
bled sleep, during the COURSE of which
| visions born of the disquieting occurren-
| ces of the day-of pits, rObberies, kidnap-
| ping. and murders-fltted in weird and
rapid phantasmagoria through our tur-
| bulent dreams.
| II.
On the outskirts of Pekin at the present
| day are the abandoned shafts and tunnels
| of many old coal mines, which. sunk to
the limit of the primitive appliances in use
| among the Chinese. have been deserted
for more distant workings nearer the sur
| face. Not in all the world are there richer
coal deposits than those in Northern Chi
ma, but the antipat-.y of the Celestial
mind I'm employment of modern machinery
has caused these to be but poorly worked.
and mine after mine has been abandoned
as soon as certain inconvenient depth
has been attained
Thick as the borrowings of moIes in an
oat field these old coal fields dot the coun-
try to the north of PeSin, while past them
in continuous stream loiters an endless
procession of camels loaded with sacks of
coal mined from the newer-sunken pits
hundreds Of miles away.
1t was in one of these deserted workings
that Ibbotsen and myself now found our
selves lodged. Who our captors WERE
what was the secret of our captivity, and
what the fate that awaited us, we were
as ignorant of at the end of six long tedi-
GUS days as we had been when we were
first made prisoners Innumerable fancies
occurred to us as possible explanations,
only to be in turn dismissed as visionary
Ibbotsons suspicion that the mandarin
Yang XII was playing us false occurred to
me. and once the thought flashed over me
that We were the victims of some plot of
our imagined rivals. But this was only
one in a thousand Ieeting fancies that
came to us during the long hours of our
imprisonment.
We were sitting and smoking, with
resignation which time brings in the
most desperate of situations, on the fore
noon of the last day of our first completed
week of captivity, when Ibbotson
Strengthened himself on his seat and
slapped his knee with an emphasis to
which we had both grown strangers.
BY the gods, old man." he cried, why
didn't we think of it before. Why. we can
make away with these Cinnamon as easily
as rolling off a log-or rolling into a pit.
See the point? Wen roll them into the
pitt
Poor 1bbotson. 1 thought. He was evil
IDENTIFY going. The seven days strain had
been too much for him. Roll four armed
The Washington times., 1901-08-11

Cinnamon into the pit. and We with moth.
ing but our bare hands to do 1T, [ smiled
pityingly and talked OF the probable KIND
of weather outside.
But. look here, I'm not joking" cried
| 1bbotson. excitedly, returning to his idea
Il mean 1t. 1t can be DONE and We'll do
| it. Wen get the guards out to the mouth
Of the shaft: thatll be easy. 1 think
then well seize them quickly when they
are not expecting 1T, and hurl them over
| into the pit full of water"
| 1t began to seem more feasible as Ihbot-
| son explained it, and the balance of the
| day We gave over to working out the de-
! tails. In our occasional strolis to the
| mouth of our cavern prison. in which we
| were in nowise interrupted by our guards.
| we scrutinized with particular cioseness
| every detail of the ground. We decided
/ that the late afternoon, at the hour when
| the Cinnamon would be engaged in the
preparation of the evening meal and when
the coast outside was most likely to be
clear. should see the putting to the test
of our enterprise. In the meantime we
were careful to not arouse the suspicious
of our custodians.
1t was a few minutes past 2-our
watches had not been taken from us
ed programme. Ibbotson arose from the
bed where we had both been seated smok-
ing. stretched himself In a seemingly lazy
way. and sauntereu in fashion calculat-
ed to appear altogether aimless out to-
ward the shaft. AS usual the guards paid
but scant attention to him. All four were
seated together around a small box which
served them as a table. muttertng an I'M
Ineligible conversation IN a low tone.
With little notice on either side Ibbot-
son strolled past them, and continued his
course to the mouth of the pit There he
sat down for a minute or two and smoked
in a listless sort of manner. beating a
slow tattoo with his feet, as though
smoking and marking time were the only
things in the world he was thinking
about.
All at once he sprang to his feet Lean
ing forward, he peered eagerly out across
the pit and downward into the black
sheet of water which filed it. Suddenly
an exclamation of surprise escaped him.
Turning around. he called to me and beck
oned rapidly with his hand then immetii-
ately returned his gaze to the object
which had so startled his attention
At Ibbotson's call 1 sprang to my feet
and ran forward. Our guards. as I passed
rose also. curious to know the cause of
the connection. In front of us stood Ib-
botson, riveted as by enchantment to the
spot. holding out his arm and pointing ex-
citedly in front of him.
The four Cinnamon and myself reached
the ledge almost together. So evident had
been Ibbotson's establishment at what he
seemed to see in the darksome waters cf
the pit, that our guards. phlegmatlc and
imperturbable it was their nature to
be, had run forward with haste but lit
tie short of my own. even leaving. all but
one of them. their ans where they had
laid them beside the fire.
The Washington times., 1901-08-11
A Snake Loaded with Dynamite.
(From the Bridgeport Farmer.)

Snakes seem 10 be plenty IN the neighborhood
Of Goshen, ii the stories that are waited from,
over that region are correct. Dynamite is n
sweetisii sort OF stuff. and snakes love sweet
stuff. A big black snake, about seven feet long.
in a mans garden near the forest and crawlcd
under the hog pen just as the man picked up
rock and threw it at the reptile. The rock hit
the snake. however. which having probably swsl-
lowed one of the sticks of dynamite. exploded
and blew himself into smithereens demolishins
also the entire corner OF the hoe pen which now
gives silent testimony OF the truth OF the story.
The hog WIS SCARCE, half to death, hut was not
otherwise hurt. as he in the front OF the
pen. The man who owned the hog and the
stick OF dynamite also badly scared. but
was not hurt The mans name Is lsney An
troskv a Pole or Priissisn. who vouches for the
story hut says in eStenuation of the act of
blowing up snake by striking him with a
stonc that he didn't know dot snake vas
loaded" The Polandsr states that he bcugh;
few sticks OF dynamite 10 blow up some stunpi
that were in his garden.
The Washington times., 1901-08-11


Aunt Annes before the war mistress must
have been a woman OF iron constitution, TO judge
by the way she regards with contempt my own
physical limitations
Tuesday she held me sternk to the duty OF
overhauling the pantry and its appurtenances.
Wednesday, stiff and sore, | sought again and
again the solsce of the sofa. only to be aroused
by callers whom | could not refuse to see. In
the afternoon lay down once more. and. in no
very amiabe temper. told Aunt Anne that no
matter who called, | was not to be disturbed.
little later. through the open window, /
heard her say to our clergyman; NO sir; Miss
Csrryline amt ieein' like seein' nobody this
evenin'. She exarted herself SO much this morn
in restin' that il made her SICK
The Washington times., 1901-08-11

(From the Cleveland Plain Deaer)
dyes, stranger. over yonder is tn very spot
where Buckskin Pete passed in his last checks.
great man. stranger. There wasn't nothing
around these diggins thet Pete couldn't have for
the asking"
lie must have had remarkable pull
"Thct's it. You've hit il. lie had tn quick
est pull Of any Teller tibet came tn
ridge. Derned Ct he didn't seem to pull an
shoot at the very time. Poor oil Pete"
The Washington times., 1901-08-11
Limits.

(From Town and Country
Maud-Your fance called on me last night
Mlbel-Indccd
Maud~ies: guess what he said to me.
Mabel haven't the least notion.
Maud-He said: Il wish | dared to kiss
you"
Mabel (cnnfdcntially But he didn't do it.
Maud-lIow DO you know2
Mabel (5weetly)-There are limits even to hero
ism.
The Washington times., 1901-08-11
HAVE You Read Them /.


Hobb-Whats the matter with Windpipe? He
used to be always boring people with advice
ana now he says so little and seems to be
thoughtful.
Nobb-Yes. His wife conceived the happy
idea of getting him into the habit of writing
letters TO the newspapers, and he's too busy
10 do anything else.
The Washington times., 1901-08-11

fFrOm Inc InicARO IflDUne-D
you can't come In without the password" said
the doorkeeper of Cory Gulch Lodge No g. An
Client Order of High Jerkers. in session on the
floor above the saloon.
Rats contemptuously exclaimed Co;nanche
Pete thrtisting the muzze OF his revolver through
the small opening in the door.
That's right trembiinely answered the vigil
ant guardian Of the outer door, throwing ii wide
open.
The Washington times., 1901-08-11
How He Lost Her.

(From the Baltimore Amercan.)
silly young fellow in Gloucester
Made love to lady named Foucester;
No soda he'd buy.
So the maid said ''oh. muyi'
And shook him, and that's how he loucest her.
The Washington times., 1901-08-11
just the Thing.

(From the Chicago News)
81 thought to spend week in camp with
party of congenial spirits" said the fat man
in the linen suit. he entered the bookstore
and want good book to take along-some-
thing appropriate. you know.
Yes, sir replied the knowing clerk, I've
have Just what you want in revised edition
OF How to Mix Drinks'"
The Washington times., 1901-08-11

From the Chicago Tribune)
Look at the stuff that goes to waste in the
grocery business" said the lounger in the store
and think OF the small margin on most of the
goods. Where does the profit come imp
The proht. said the impatient man with the
basket on his arm, comes from having only one
clerk to wait thirty-six customers"
The Washington times., 1901-08-11
The Degenerate Lamp.

(From the Boston Journll)
81 suppose you have heard about the parlor
lamp. remarked the umbrella stand you
know how IT used TO smoke Well Miss Flo has
turned it down for that since Mr.. Husgard be-
gan calling
From bad to worse" replied the hat rack
after awhile it will be going out nights"
The Washington times., 1901-08-11
Hard-Hearted.
(From the New YORK Times

QFrom the New York TDues.)
''Do you that prosperous-looking fellow
therel"
''Yes." r
Well. for twenty years that chap has taken
his living out Of the very mouths of other peo-
pie"
Flows that?''
Hes a DENTIST
The Washington times., 1901-08-11

From the Chicago News.

FrOm the Chicago NeWs.)
''what are the first teeth calledr' asked the
teacher Of the Juvenile class
mil ktecth," answered the class in chorus.
Correct. Now who tell me what the
last teeth are calledr'
After a prolonged silence little fellow raised
his hand as il struck by a sudden inspiration.
well, Albert" snd the teacher. noticing the
uplifted hand you may answer"
False teeth" proudly responded the youthful
The Washington times., 1901-08-11

(From the Baltimore American.)
well, this is pretty tough" lamcnted Mr.
Laertes Ollamme, the eminent actor Just as
| have succeeded in curing myself of the cigarette
habit ana cast in the role vi the heavy villain
for the whole season.
The Washington times., 1901-08-11
Going Away.

From the Chicago Record-Harald)
Gracious goodness, Harriet-seven trunks"
Don't get excited. Harry. | haven't packed
thing except that little list of Home Comforts
for the Summer Vacation which you clipped out
OF the newspaper"
The Washington times., 1901-08-11
His Query.


ffrom Town ana tourtryD
Mr.. Kcnnard-l had very strange dream last
nigt Lucie. / thought another
ming off with you.
Mrs. Lucie Kcnnard-Wel and what did you
say 70 hmf
Mr.. Kennard-i asked him what he vas run
ming for.
The Washington times., 1901-08-11

(From the Philadelphia Press.)
"Hellor" exclaimed the egg that was still in
tact, ''you appear to be all broke up"
Nevertheless replied the in the bowl
OF esgnosg I'm in good spirits"
$50 | observe. | suppose you'll be drunk in
a little while
The Washington times., 1901-08-11

(From the Ohio State Journal.)
New Preacher-Is your father at home Willie?
Willie-Yessir. paw an Mr. Chips are up
stairs playin with tn kitty.
The Washington times., 1901-08-11
Clever Boy,

(From the Boston Globe.)
Master-When was Rome built3
Boy-In the night sir
Master-Ilow do you make that outs
in day! 'Dii
The Washington times., 1901-08-11
The Latest,


From the Baltimore Ameriean.)
First College PROFESSIONALISM are vou co;n, 20
DO next to get your name in the papersY
Second College Professor-I was thinking Of
declaring that the dictionary is too wordy 10 be
considered good literature
The Washington times., 1901-08-11

(From the Boston Register.)
The boys name is Maurice'' the fond mother
explained to the listening visitor, but we call
suppose that is because you have a Hchen
for him. said the visitor
The Washington times., 1901-08-11
He Might Escape.

(From Puck.)
O wad some power the CITIES gle rs
To see some folks before they see Us,
The Washington times., 1901-08-11

From the Philadelphia Record)
How much you getting for that?' he
asked of the who moving the lawn.
Nothing" replied the man
Then you're fool"
81 know it; but | own this place and cant
get away from it Eve been a fool long while -
The Washington times., 1901-08-11

Grom the Cleveland Plain Dealer)
mo, we couldn't have our usual ride on SUM-
day. and we were so disappointed
What was the troublel''
Why, our horse got loose in the night and ate
up his best bonnet"
The Washington times., 1901-08-11

Frvm the Philadelphia Press.)
ooh MAJ" cried the little mosquito, brother
just too for anything
What's the matterP' enquired the mamma
mosquito
why he's found hole in the mosquito net
ting over that baby and he won't tell where
The Washington times., 1901-08-11
A Happy Family.


Vioh the Vhlo state Journil)
Mir. Frontpew-I glad YOU belong to our
church choir. my dear; it is such an orderly or
ganization; never see you whispering to one
another during services.
Mrs. Frontpew-No; none of US are on speaking
terms.
The Washington times., 1901-08-11
Not Vim His Route.

A ticket collector railway got leave 10
20 and get married. and given pass over
the line On the way back. he showed to the
new collector his marriage certificate by mistake
for his pass The latter studied it carefully. and
then said "Eh, mon, you've got ticket for
lang wearsome journey, but not on the Gale
DOMAIN Railway
The Washington times., 1901-08-11
Awful!


(From Brooklyn LHe)
Finnigan-oi see thot little affair IN so,,tl,
Ahriky is costin' ,Ingland about wan million dol
lars day. 1'-
Flannigan-But iisht think phwat it would cost
her iv til war wont all overl
The Washington times., 1901-08-11

Patient-Doetor, would you mind stopping at
IA, ,he chemists and paying for this prescription?
I'm short OF change.
Doctor Churriedly writing another prescription
-ENcuse me. ! made mistake You don't need
any nerve medicine.
The Washington times., 1901-08-11
Getting Even.

(F'rom the Cleveland Plain Dealer.)
Gle said he'd rather go to Jail than nav his
divorced wife aimony.''
did she let him go!''
Yes: she said she'd rather see him save hil
money behind the bars than spend it over them"
The Washington times., 1901-08-11
just the Man.


Editor (Of yellow journal)-If you Eng
lshman | am afraid that you may not be fitted
for peculiar journalism.
Applicant-But I've been in South Africa for
the last six months, writing up British yicto-
ries Tor the London papers.
The Washington times., 1901-08-11

From jhe Philadelphia Press)
Dentist Ito patient from Wlyback)-Did you
ever take gas before?
Patient--Looky here, snarty Tibet jokes gone
fur enough. You bin talkin' to tibet fresh hotel
clerk amt yo2
The Washington times., 1901-08-11
From Harvard.

(From Lippincott's Magazinc.)
son Of the Crimson is responsible for the
following lines:
said Aristotle unto Plato,
Have another sweet patoto?
Said Plato unto Aristotle
Thank you, | prefer the bottle9
The Washington times., 1901-08-11

From the Philadelphia North Americau)
That's right James," said the teacher, during
the natural history lesson, land how do you
know is an lnmalY'
Because often hear nom call pop a beast"
The Washington times., 1901-08-11
Better Sport.


First Barefoot Boy-Come, let's break some Of
the glass windows in this house! The people
have gone away for the summer
Second Barefoot Boy-Naw, let's break 'em in
the house across the street. There's somebody
living there.
The Washington times., 1901-08-11
A Personal Interest.


Tired Tommy-Are ye interested in these ERE
chainleSs bicycles, Sami r-.
Slow Sam-No. the chainless dog is the only
thing that worries me.
The Washington times., 1901-08-11
A strong Resemblance.

tfIGfH Juusr.)
Teacher-Can any OF you tell me what Amer
leans the people of our new Filipino possessions
most resemble?
Johhny-Kentuckans.
Teacher-ln what respect?
Johnny Both have dry and wet seasons.
The Washington times., 1901-08-11
Love Finds the Way.

prom Life.)
Laura-Her father cast her of without a penny
when she married without his consent.
Clairc-HOw did they manage?
ooh, they published two volumes Of their love
letters"
The Washington times., 1901-08-11

(From The Boston UIobe)
"How is your boy getting along at school?''
"Splendidly-splendidly l tell you, my
friend. this boy OF mine will make his way in
the world don't you fear. During the time he 5
been going to school they have had thirty-two
examinations and he's managed to dodge every
one of 'eml"
The Washington times., 1901-08-11

trom the Boston Transcript)
Hc-You appear to be alarIningly ignorant in
horticulture. I'm afraid you hardly know one
flower from another
Shc-Guess you're about right. Not even
graham frcm white
The Washington times., 1901-08-11

(From the Ohio State Journal)
Diggs-There go a newly married couple.
Daggs-How do you know?
Diggs-I him give her s. bill to buy
some chocolates with
The Washington times., 1901-08-11
For Services Rendered.

ttr0m Puck.)
Warwick-Now. what basis do the Powers
ascertain the indemnity China is to pay each OF
them?
Wickwire-Well. as near as can make out,
they charge about $500 for every Chinaman they
killed.
The Washington times., 1901-08-11
Naturally.


''What is a fortY'' asked the teacher.
"a place TO put in the answer.
''What is a fortress, thenT
The answer was prompt: "a place to put
women in -
The Washington times., 1901-08-11
On the Proceeds,


From the Brooklyn Eagle)
Westerveit-l see you got good price for YOUR
Van Dyke-SIy nose. e'''
The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1901-1901, 1901-07-20

Reports come from Buffalo that
while the Pan-American exposition is
much praised for beauty and artistic
arrangement the directors are doing
some tall hustling to make receipts
come within hailing distance of ex-
penses. Sunday admission to the
grounds has been reduced to twenty
five cents in the endeavor to attract
local workingmen and their families.
The railroads have not treated the
show managers any too well in the
matter of rates, so far, but are prom
Using better things for the autumn
months, when large attendance of
agricultural visitors is looked for, and
which the directors are looking for
with hopeful eyes. Expeditions such
as the Pan-American rarely are sue
cessful financially, and it is doubtful
if this will show credit balance.
The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1901-1901, 1901-07-20

HERE'S A FELLOW
That Has Hills Confidence. Knows
All About the Magnate's Plans
~ HE H~nM&u


A Libby correspondent of the Hell
ena Record writes that newspaper as
follows. concerning contemplated rail-
way work in this county:
Flathead county promises to be-
come very important piece of the
Great Northern the coming year or so,
in so far as the system of better.
ments is concerned. Probably the
most extensive and expensive piece
of new work which the Great Nor.
thern has mapped out in its desire to
better the old grade lies between Lib
by and Kalispell.
At the present time there are three
parties in the field looking for grades
in the; northern part of the county,
within the territory bounded on the
east by Columbia Falls and the Koo-
tenai river on the west. and it is re-
ported that one of these parties has
found a most admirable grade from
Columbia Falls to the Kootenai river,
striking the latter at the mouth of
Graves creek, a small tributary which
puts into the Kootenai about twenty
miles south of the International line.
The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1901-1901, 1901-07-20

ou- regard to the troubles or the mar
ital restrictions placed on Johnny
Bull. The noble earl, it seems, was
duly married in England, but grew
ii, ed of the matrimonial yoke, as
some people will, and desparing of re-
lief in the old country, came tc the
United States, where divorce is al
most, if not quite, as easy as mar
rage. Here he was released from his
home bond in short order and con-
soled himself with another spouse in
shorter order. This would have been
all right had he remained away FRI m
Albion's shore, but he couldn't do
that, I'VE know" While the English
law was unwilling to recognize the
American divorce, it took due and ju-
dicial cognizance of the American
marriage, and as there was no allow
ance in the English law for plural
marriage, the earl saw nothin:, for it
but to plead guilty and get light SEN
tence. If this aspect of the inter-
national attitude toward divorce we've
applied as between the various states
of the union, there would be urgent
necessity for more Jail room to con-
fine the bigamists.
The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1901-1901, 1901-07-20
Apropos of the proposed change Of

Apropos of the proposed change of
power at the old pumping station
from steam to electricity, some of the
citizens of Kalispell are wondering if
those ne welectr pumps could not
be placed at point where they would
be able to supply a better quality of
water to the consumers than mas been
done for the past few weeks. There
is no surety that the same causes
claimed to be responsible for the i'm
purity of the watr, will not occur at
any time in this valley of bountiful
rains followed by warm sunshine.
Stagnant pools or no stagnant pools,
the citizens of Kalispell think the
pumping station should be located at
a point where pure water is always
available, in summer or winter, rain
or shine.
The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1901-1901, 1901-07-20

Ladies have you seen the nice line
of silk parasols in black and colors
at the New York store.
The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1901-1901, 1901-07-20
The British government has gentl

The British government has gently
bv- firmly placed Olive Schreiner.
whose STORY Of an African Farm
made her famous, end who is a bitter
Boer partisan, behind a wire fence in
a town under martial law. Now if The
same firm hand will round up three
quarters of the "novelists' of the
present day and follow the same
course with them the discriminating
reading public will be truly grateful
and the undiscriminating will enjoy
a much-needed rest.
The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1901-1901, 1901-07-20

The experience of Earl Russell,
who has just been sentenced to a
term of three months Imprisonment
for bigamy, may have a deterrent eff
feet on other Englishmen but it is
likely that the divorce mills in this
country will continue to grind with
The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1901-1901, 1901-07-20

We just bought 2 car loads of Gar
land and Peninsular stoves and rang
es at low price and have some good
bargains to offer. Call and see u.s.
Mcintosh Hardware Go.