davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-08-18
Go and shake him .

go and shake him.
'I daren't,
The two Englishmen eyed each other
from the boats Then Flackman, seized
With a spasm of horror, snatched up the
gaff and stabbed the fish through the
gray-skinned back. A white ichor squirt
ed up and took him on the arm Ken
der saw him drop the gait, clutch at his
elbow and begin to humble wildly 1t
was then that a fear began to take hold
of him also. He could do nothing where
he sat, for there were no oars to the
boat.
"Flackman!'' he said, sharply.
mo fms, no finsi' muttered the other.
Come here!' commanded Render.
Flackman looked up in a. dazed manner
and took a step towards the oars. There,
as his eye caught the white-bellied fish
lying there, he shrank back, crying out:
mo fins, no fins!''
Even while he cried another squirt of
the fluid came from the cut in the crea-
lures back and dribbied over his arm.
He cried out and unsheathed his knife.
Before Render could say anything, he
stuck it into his arm, and stabbed again
and again. RENDER watched the blood
stream helplessly for he could do moth
ing unless Flackman would bring the
boats together. He ionged for an oar,
longed to be able to swim. Again he
shouted sharply:
Bring her up!''
mo, no, RENDER the young man spoke
in strange voice. II mustn't do that
1 mustn't do that"
why not?"
because" Flackman paused, and
looked out of the corner of his eyes sly
ly. You understand, RENDER, don't
your"
81 tell you to come here" said Render,
firmly
"It's-no-it's impossible"
1t seemed to be- for Flackman was like
child in his obstinacy Render changed
his tactics accordingly.
1.-THE fish will have you, then" he
called.
The effect was magical. Flackman
sprang up, looked at the fish, shuddered,
and diving into the sea began to swim TO
the other boat. Render watched. Sure
ly it was the most peaceful scene in the
world, a man swimming silently in
sea still to the horizon, scattering bub-
bles like diamonds before him, and leav-
ing behind him the clear curve of his
| wake-a blue SKY, unbeaten by any storm.
a swimmer and two pleasure boats. And
yet Render was beginning to feel afraiu
He tried to argue the fear away, but it
would not go. 1t crept over him, joint
less, inexplicable, binding as a night
mare. He laughed at himself in sheer
bravado, and the Taught stuck in
his throat and became shrin
giggling that seemed to carry his
reason with it high UP above his reach.
He clutched after it, to recall it, and
could not. For he knew that the man
that was swimming towards him had
a face distorted with terror; that the
boat in which he sat and giggled held
| two men grotesduely dead; that the blue,
calm sea- was vacant of human help
And in the other boat lay that mon
strous fish without fins, staring the life
out Of the Mexican. 1t was with
struggle that he drew himself together.
shiyering, and pulled his friend on
board
= Flackman fell in the bottom of. the boat
exhausted. He muttered continually
and was plainly delirious, for through
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-08-18

oxen before admitting him to the priv
ileges of fellowship.
The animal was then brought to the
door for the purpose, but now the cere-
mony of administering the oath takes
place in one of the old rooms Of the
house. The only part of the OK present
is the indispensable pair Of horns which
are borne in solemn but not solitary state
by the landlord to the swearing-in sane
tum.
There the oath is recited by his as
sistant, who, in his ancient black gown,
wig and bands imparts the necessary
official aspect to the proceedings. Hav7
ing duly kissed the horns the stranger
becomes a freeman of the place and en-
titled to all the rights and privileges
attaching thereto
A very curious custom is in vogue at
an inn in Yorkshire. Between Halifax
and Bradford lies the village of Shibden
at the public house of which every Sun
day In May small cake is presented to
the first arrival.
This cake is made principally of treacle
and dough. and is of the variety univer-
sally popular in Yorkshire as "parkin."
By calling as early as 8 in the morning
Halifax men in former years secured
the cake, but last May it was taken by
an enterprising young fellow from Brad
ford who arrived half an hour before nv
caller from Halifax. The origin of this
quaint custom is lost in it's antiquity
Il VI many years pas peculiar practice
mas been observed at two public houses
at Holmes Chapel, Cheshire There, as
elsewhere, it Is the custom to ring the
old year out and the new year in
But there it is also the custom for the
ringers to afterward adjourn to the two
inns referred to and be entertained by
the landlords. These facts were disclos-
ed few years ago, when the landlord OF
the George and Dragon, one Of the hos
pitable establishments, was charged be-
10 mo rfo4
premises open and selling drink during
prohibited hours on New Years morn
ing.
1t was explained that the only guests
present were the privileged ringers, and
in Difference to a very old custom the
justices felt justified in dismlssing the
summons, and the case was in that way
disposed Of
For many years beer and Bible seem to
have been pretty closely associated at a
Barkshire public house. The Bee Hive
at White Waltham. near Maidenhead,
enjoys the distinction of having thA old
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-08-18
The FINLGSS pGMTH
r.. z. NERNEDE.

usual / almost expected to find he'd
been swallowed by a whale
Jose's energy was not conspicuous. He
began by suggesting that it was not a
good day for bites. Asked why, he said
because the nignt before the moon was
full Flackman began to lose his TEN,
per.
IT'S some trick he said, that the
scamp has got up with Miguel. He wants
to slack
ut is possibility Render admitted,
thoughtfully, but at the same time
II don't believe you want to go, ell
Their"
Never wanted to fish more" Render
said.
ut doesn't look like it,
And if we could catch this finless
beast I should be happy for days"
80! confound it!" said Flackman.
His spirits were mercuriaA, and this
reiteration of an unpleasant topic was
getting on his nerves. Doubtless. the
Whole thing was absurd but it was I'M
pleasant. Flackman himself thought
nothing of it. He kept on assuring him
self of that; but, at the same time, he
was one of those who, not altogether
self-reliant, liked to have their opinion
corroborated by their company. And nere
was Render 'frowning over this sugges-
ton of peril as if he were assured there
were some bottom in 1t, ii one only
knew. He wanted to fish, not to face a
mystery. If he had known what they
were going to encounter he might have
hung back. But he did not know, and
RENDER was remorseless in the pursuit
of science.
Hurry up, Jose,'' said Flackman, pet
tishly.
1t was very sullenly the Mexican pull
ed seward, and Flackman was reduced
to whistling to keep his own spirits up.
The sea ran from creek to creek, lagoon
like reaches, and spaces of the bluest
calm, locked in from the gulf by reefs
only to be passed at certain tides and
points where the rollers had forced an
inlet, as sheep force their way through
hedge, by constant pressing. ley
had made a good many futile casts in
the open, and Flackmans spirits were at
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-08-18

der, gruf1y Its hardly time to fish"
Right" said Flackman. But he
didn't
Mechanically he had struck, and equal
ly mechanically he began to reel up. He
had a semi-conscious idea of saving as
much of his line as possible before he
cut loose, and as he saw far down the
loom of a great white fish the zeal OF
sport carried him away. He reeled
steadily, the rod seemed strained with
dead weight, but there was no rush or
plunging. Quite suddenly the white
mass was on the surface, and as Flack-
man frightened his hold and yelled for
the gaff, it seemed to fly up and into the
boat 1t fell, facing the bows, where
the Mexican was sitting, the hook in its
mouth, the line broken.
Flackman stared. From its size tho
fish could not have weighed less than
100 pounds, yet it had come up without
a struggle, and had been landed ungaff-
ed. Now it lay there, heaving equally
"a white-bellied, shapeless thing, rotund
and fabby, with the detestable lidless
fish eyes!''
IT'S a remarkable fish," said Flack-
man, curiously.
Very said RENDER
did you see how it came up?"
Eyes. What are you going to do with
ft?'
CHUCK it over if possible"
II should
They seemed unanimous in thinking it
would be a good radiance.
Hi, josef give me hand Hullo!
what's wrong?" Flackman saw that
some strange malady had seized the Mex
lean. He seemed to be stiffening as he
crouched in the bows; his arms were
stretched outfxedly, like the arms Of a
SiYnpOSf Render CT rtad
Whats he pointing at?' he shouted.
The fish. Ugh! it's oozing slimeT'
"Slimei''
"A sort of snail slime"
Flackman drew back from the fish, dis
gusted. It's too filthy to touch" he
went on. "It's-by God-Kender-it's got
no fins!'' His voice rose nervously.
What is it? What's it doing, and to
jose
He began to stammer, frightened at
he knew not what The Mexican was
growing most rigid.
Jose" shouted RENDER imperiously.
There was no answer but Flackman.
"He's-he's being poisoned, I think"
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-08-18

zero, before, at RENDERS suggestion, they
made for one of these lagoons for a last
throw. Render had relieved the Mex
lean of the oars, and had his back turn
ed to the bows, SO that, as they shot into
that reach of still water slack and shin
ing, except where it was cris-crossed by
dull patches that looked like stains on
polished walnut, it was the younger man
who saw and sprang to his feet, pointing
to something ahead. Whats that?" he
cried
Out in the middle water, immobile a
boat floated, as though anchored in a
pond. A Single oar, broken at the blade,
was caught in the left rowlock and sus-
pended. AS RENDER stood up, he observ-
ed that there were two men in the stern,
who seemed to be standing in stiff atti-
tudes.
Him. he said, and he sat himself
down again to row for the boat, uncon-
cernedly enough, but with a little extra
speed Flackman remained standing; his
eyes moved uneasily.
Ship your oars" he said, excitedly,
as they came bow to bow with the other
boat.
Render Shipped his oars, and sat stead
ying the boat in the expectation that
Flackman would step across to it, if it
were only for curiosity. But Flackman
had no curiosity, and he had gone very
pale
Hadn't you better-hadnt we better
be getting back?" he sand.
Render carefully refrained from ex-
pressing anything, but he picked up his
rod, which. lay, in the way, and stepped
across past the shrinking Mexican into
the other boat. Flackman was flushing
now with shame at his own poltroonery.
Whats the matter with them?" he
sung out for the swing of Render steN>
ping across had sent the two boats apart.
The little man had rammed his rod
methodically under the bow seat, the
line overheard to prevent a tangle, and
was contemplating the two figures. lie
saw at once they were the Germans of
whom Don Miguel had spoken.
What's the matter?" cried Flackman
again.
He was in an agony of uneasiness, and
in the nerest pretense began making
casts. Again he appealed to Render:
you might say what's the matter
with Them
DEATH said RENDER, curtly.
why do they look like that?''
81 don't know
Render sat on the thwarts and con-
sidered them. Never had he seen such
dead men-inattitude exaggeratedly alive
rigid as waXworks, and hideous in their
mimic intensity One, great bearded
i'ie'Ai; NiIAi SPONteNSACS, 4letu HIS MANU- O1
the dragging-oar and half knelt to it,
as if he had been caught by a binding
cramp in the act of pulling; the other.
of a slighter build, was bent forward
standing, a gaff in his hand menacing,
as it seemed, the empty space in the
middle of the boat-at least it should
have been empty, but there was slime
over it, as if a great snail had crawled
there. The faces of the two We're indie
scribably afraid
Now, how did that slime get there?''
said RENDER to himself.
Almost as If in answer, Flackman gave
a shout
I've hooked somethingi' he said. "By
CAD and heavy oneR' he went on. as
the thick rod bent nearly double under
| the weight. }ss
You'd better cut your line, said Ken
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-08-18

est landlady in the country in the person
Of Mrs NJ. Lee a widow of ST.
The venerable hostess recently com
pleted the fiftieth year of her tenancy of
the premises. and throughout a great
part Of that time it was her regular GUS
tom on Sundays to take her Bible into
the taproOm and read to the assembled
customers.
They are said to have highly appre-
ciated and to have profited by the relig-
ious instruction thus impaired The old
lady seems to have conducted her mod
est establishment on very cOmmenda-
bic lines In the taprOOm q notice on
the wall intimated that no swearing or
foul language was permitted, and THAI
any customer breaking the rule would be
expelled.-LondOn Tit-Blts.
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-08-18
THE METAMoRPHos1s OF HOG.

Duluth News-Tribune.
You can talk all you want to about
your queer names, but I've got one that
caps them ALL" said a well known rail-
road man who just returned from a trip
In the southern part of the state This
mans name Is Thing, and he's a preach
err too. He is called Every Thing. Any
Thing and sometimes any old thing. but
he bears it all with a patient shrug.
The way he got his name is rather
amusing. He lives near Zumbrota, in
Goodhue equity. When he was a youth
and his name was handed TO him it was
'Hog'-yes, spelled the same way, and
also pronounced that way. After he en-
gagged upon his ministerial duties, he did
not care to be called a hog, so he ask
ed that his name be changed. He appeal
ed to the district court, and the Judge
asked him what name he preferred. He
replied. saying anything would do. There
fore, they gave him the name of Thing,
and it is his for keeps He IS the pastor
OF pretty little white church. with green
blinds. and everyone that knows him says
he is good Thing"
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-08-18
pUBL1c-HoUsE CUSTOMS.

Some Curious Ones That Survive in
Great Britain.
Some time ago very curious custom
was revived at the ancient hosiery
known as the Gatehouse, at Highgate.
In the good old days cattle drovers call
ing on their way to Smithfield used to
require any stranger encountered at the
inns to kiss the horns Of one Of their
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-08-18
Very Low Rates to Cleveland and
Retura

VIII be in effect next month via the Lake
Shore & Michigan Southern Ry Return
limit may be extended to Oct. Sth. No
other line offers equal train service. For
full information address w. Il. Hutter,
N. w. P. A, 122 Endlcott Arcade, St
Paul, Mimi; F. NJ. Byron, G. w. A., Chi
New-York tribune., 1901-01-17
RIVER AND HARBOR BILL PASSED

IT GOES THROUGH THE HOUSE PRAcTI-
CALLY AS IT CAME FROM COMMITTEE.
Washington, Jan. 16 (speciaD. The House
passed the River and Harbor bill this afternoon
without an important modification of any of its
features. The bill carries an appropriation of
about $50, 900, ,000-the largest amount of money
ever set aside for the Improvement Of the Ma
TONS harbors and interior waterways. Only
once has bill for a similar purpose ever carried
a larger amount. and that bill, it will be re-
menbered, vetoed by Mr. Cleveland The
overwhelming majority by which the bill was
passed-there being only thirteen negative votes
shows that its benefits have been distributed
with unusual care and equity to States and
sections. There has really never been any seri-
Gus chance OF the bills failure in the House, and
it is generally believed to be quite strong in
the Senate in the House. 1t is possible that
In the upper chamber the measure will encounter
some temporary obstacles in the form of amend
ments, to include certain Western irrigation
schemes in its benefits. but these obstacles will
not be fraught with danger Of defeat to the bill
Mr.. Hepburn, Of Iowa. and AIr. Cushman OF
Washington, persisted in their obstructive tao
tics to the end. but their weakness was shown
when the motion of the latter to recommit the
bill received only three votes
Chairman Burton's management of the bill has
been all that could be asked. In this he has been
ably assisted by Mr.. Ball, OF Texas and other
Democrats whose localities share largely in the
benefits conferred by the bill.
The friends OF the Missouri River imprave
ment, although they were unsuccessful in se-
curing what they desired, persuaded Chairman
burton TO ofter an amendment to permit owners
OF property abuttng on the Missouri TO buiId
oikes ana wing dams for its protection where
such structures do not interfere with the nayf-
sauon OF the stream The section empowering
the President negotiate with Great Rritain
for the maintenance Of suitable levels on the
Great Lakes was broadened so to provide for
a joint commission to conduct the negotiations
New-York tribune., 1901-01-17
MR.. FORAKER FOR THE SUBSIDY BILL.
HE SAYS IT'S PASSAGE rs IMPERATIvELY
DEMANDED By THE CoUN-
TRYS INTERESTS.

washington. Jan. 16 (SpeciaD. Among those
who intend to address the Senate in behalf OF
the Shipping bill is Senator Foraker, of Ohio.
and the friends of the bill expect from him one
of the most effective appeals and arguments
yet delivered in behalf of the measure In con-
versation on the subject to-day Senator For
aker said:
The old conditions of our commerce have
passed away; all things have become new. The
American people are quick TO adjust themselves
TO new conditions in every other line of activity
II is absurd for them TO adhere 20 the Old con-
ditions in commerce, and to persist in such ad-
herence would be suicidal The pending Ship
ping bill is the result Of the combined wisdom
Of the leading commercial experts in the coun-
try as to the best method of adjusting our COM
rnerce 10 the new conditions OF our manufactur-
ing. agricultural and productive Industries gen.
orally We need American ships for our ocean
ucts to foreign markets and owing to these new
conditions il has been found that the only way
TO get American ships is by the grant of subsi
dies This is the opinion and belief arrived
at by the committee OF experts after long and
patient investigation.
The bill ought TO pass most certainly. The in
terests of the country not only crave il, but i'm
perativey demand IL. By means of it We can
regain the supremacy of the seas, which we de-
serve TO hold, and provide for our industrial
masses a safe conduct for their products to the
markets which they must have Aside from this.
the other benefits which would flow from the
bill are too obvious to need mention-the stimu-
lation of our shipbuilding industry, with its
allied industries, with the consequent increase in
the demands for labor and for various kinds of
materials the training of large body of Ameri-
can seanen, the saving of the hundreds of mill
ions OF dollars which now pay TO foreigners
etc. All these conditions combine, in my opinion
to make the pending Shipping bill of the
most important measures before Congress.
New-York tribune., 1901-01-17
ELOPERS LIVING IN CHICAGO
MISS ACKERMAN WRITES TO HER AUNT
AND ASKS HER TO FORWARD HER
PERSONAL EFFECTS

Mrs Katherine c. Fay. Of No. % West Fifteenth,
St. aunt OF Marie Louise Ackerman. who eloped
with George Edmonds Wentworth ten DAYS ago hs
leaving his wife No. S25 Amsterdam-ave. has
received a letter from the young woman saving
that any Unication sent 20 the General Post
Office in Chicago will reach her.
On Monday last Mrs. Fay was in recent OF a Iet
ter from the girl mailed az Station W Manhat-
tan. in which she said that she wished her Der.
Rutherford & Putnam. OF No. 81 Nassau-st ths
law firm with which Wentworth worked Some
days before Mr.. PaoH had called for the ward
robe of the young woman and had been refused
the articles. Now Mr. Putnam says ne has washed
his hands OF the whole affair and does not want
10 mix UP with any o. the lovers business.
Miss Acksrman's letter 70 her aunt and guardian
states that she and George are living in shans
in Chicago" while the deserted wife weeus al
nome. Marie Louise took about 500 with her
ana now writes TO another aunt. Miss Lillian A
Cark ror her check on the bank for her dividend o.
the Morris ana Essex Railroad. She fnJimated that
she Is living in Clark-st. Chicago.
Wentworth wrote 10 Mrs. Fay. but his letter was
burned before IL was opened. Marie Louise Acker-
man Is the daughter Of the late George Ackerman
president o. the Tenth National Bank OF New
York; a niece Of Andrew J. Ackerman, OF the
American Exchange National Bank and the enly
sister OF Charles c Ackerman of the Plaza Bank
She had an elegant home with her aunt who is
V'rlter OF note. and her cousin, Irene Acksrnan.
actress and playwright She had lust been
nominated as a fulIfedged teacher in the Grarer-
cy Park School. WentwOrth's wife was Jane Wells
a prominent member OF several educational socie-
ties. The wardrobe OF Miss Ackerman will be for
warded 10 her through Wentworth's law firm to-
New-York tribune., 1901-01-17
HiYORALTf CAMPAIGN, Tribune Office NeH-Yort.

LEGATION gate, while they dld not "ne" 'ie
Secretary's wife entered -. -. Ill
Now MYERS had given them orders 20 rest az
they could and not TO carry out the et!queCte ~
the service during the siege, as tneE mao 1So
~ ammuntion in their belts. and were Aaoie 10 Se
caIIad on at moment. one Gay curing tH
siage as the wife of the First secretary passed
throTirE the Legation gate from the Brihsn L5esd1
zion and the marines did not stand at atIenuon
sba took them to task calling them "burls ana
traulps and saying that they were not III -oi SUI
Passing into the Legation grounds ana seems lf
Captain Hall asleep in a chair she a"dNeli-u MN
captain Hall, Captain Hall, Your men do ,pot pof
saIute me Your men are Doors IL appears 10
tba First Secretary was with his VIE on Ihe OcC
sion referred to- and that her remarks may nav nav
been made 10 him AT all events tneS We're oEeL-
heard by two Of the marines, VINO nave to+U Aii7-
Captain Hall said; -, -. -o+ -o,i-s
but ttat is a matter 1 cannot control OF N0A'AS
she Then said: They are loafers.
mo" said Captain Hail. no enc mere HaS any
tine loaf" ~, , --a,+ 70 the
wife OF the First Secretary had said added: 80
avoid trouble stand anyway. meaning Il'a'
yyhen Mrs First Secretary passed in or out
have written you thus freely because "+.S
TO let YOU know some OF the INSIDE IIStOaS
sisre and because I believe a brave oHlceI mas
49, cruaIIy slandered. not openly, but secretly
The twenty-five marines who Went 20 l KvAiAi7
from the Newark picked from n1Iy anu a
lave no reason TO doubt that Myers picked hLS IS
TWENTY-FIVE from the Oreson's guard Ihey s nee
T. nermanentiy Captain Hall and his men sieaG- @
led the Russian guards by their presence anu
arple and these should receive uAquAiiiieA
praise-not insults.