davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1901-10-25
CHAPTER V.

A FOUNDATION OF FACTS.
When the two men were comfortably
settled in the reporters study, Sturgis
produced pipes, tobacco and writing
materials.
There, now" said he, as he prepared
to write, II begin with what shall
call the Cab Mystery. The data in this
case are already plentiful and curious.
I shall read as I write, and you can
interrupt for suggestions and criti-
cisms, as the points occur to you. In
the first place, the dead man is about
fifty years old, and was employed in
some commercial house or financial in
stitution, probably bookkeeper, at
fairly good salary"
"Hold on there, sturgis," laughed
Thurston. II thought you were going
Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1901-10-25

to build up solid foundation of facts
before you allowed your imagination
to run riot!"
'Well?" inquired the reporter, in ap-
parent surprise.
''Well, the only fact you have men
toned Is the approximate age Of the
dead man. The rest is pure assump-
ton. How can you know anything
certain about his occupation and the
amount Of his salary?''
'True; I forgot you had not followed
tho steps in the process of induction.
Here they are: the dead mans sleeves,
on tho under side below the elbsw,
were worn shiny. This shows that
his occupation II ct . desl Of some
kind"
'or behind . COUNTER suggested
Tpurston quizzlcally. ..
mo. Your hypothesis Il untenable.
A clerk behind . counter occasionally.
II = true. leans upon hin forearmsf But
ineessant contact With the counter
leaves across the front Of his trousers
IN uumistakable line ef wear, 1t q
tevsl vasying aoeegdia9 - ~ HEIGHT
~ the hdfvidual. This nne was not
present in the eeee Of the man in the
cab. On the other hand, his waistcoat
Il ffaysd At the level Of the fourth but.
tom from the top. Therefore I main,
tain that hs was In the habit Of work
tn4 q . desk. Now the trousers, IL
though not new, are not ba1rv It the
knees, though free from the seams
which would suggest the elect Of press
ing Or Of . trouser stretchsr.> Conclu'
sion, the desk Il high one; for che
nan stood It his work. Mast men wha
vork standing It high deaas are book
keeeez. q one kind Of another. Thses.
Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1901-10-25
A0A0A0A0
THE STURGlS WAGER i;
A DETECTIVE STORY.
BY EDGAR MORETTE.
Copyright, 1899. by Frederick A. Stokes Co. y
Observation-Disclosures
[Continued.]
SYNOPSIS.

CHAPTER 1-Scene of story Is in New
York city. Time. early evening, last day
Of year. Cable. train collides with cab.
throwing to ground cabman and passen-
ger also seated outside. Latter disappears;
Then, inside the cab. body Of man shot
dead Is discovered. Sturgts, reporter. ex-
omines cab and surroundings.
CHAPTER If-Later that evening. at
stag dinner party. Sturgis. ia impromptu
discussion. maintains reliability Of cir
cumstantial evidence. DR.. Murdoch. f..
nous chemist. wagers In reply 5000 to 500
unsolvable riddle. Sturgis takes bet
CHAPTER III-Case selected IL Of two
mysterious shots fired that afternoon IN
or near Knickerbocker bank. Man had
been seen running from bank with valise.
and arrested. Man said he stole yalise
from bank steps and was shot at. Vallse
contained nothing Of interest. =:
Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1901-10-25

| y
mentioned in the newspapers; they
take fright at once. Depositors are
most unreasonable beings. Mr.. Stur-
gis; they are liable to become panic
stricken on the most Insignificant prov
ocation; and then they run amuck
like. mad sheep. The Knickerbocker
bank does not fear any run that
might ever be made upon it. It's
credit stands on too secure fo,l,:;:: :.
ton for that. But nevertheless run
on a bank is expensive, Mr.. Sta. gis,
very expensive"
1.-THE banks affairs being in so sat-
isfactory a condition." observed the
reporter, 1T seems to me that what
ever harm publicity is likely to do
has already been done. The imagina-
tons of your depositers are now at
work sapping the foundation of the
Knickerbocker bank. II the truth
cannot injure its credit, it can only
strengthen it: and to withhold the
truth under the circumstances is to
invite suspicion"
Dunlap did not appear to like the
turn the conversation was taking.
He walked along In silence for few
minutes, irresolute. At length he
seemed to make mp his mind.
"Perhaps you are right after ~all,
Mr.. sturgis. At any rate we have
nothing to conceal from the public.
If you will be at the bank tomorrow
morning at rine o'clock, shall be
pleased to meet you there"
Sturgis nodded his acquiescence.
"Well, gentlemen. here is my
street." continued the banker. Good
evening, good evening"
And he was off.
whittier are you bound now,
Thurston?" asked the reporter, as the
friends resumed their walk.
"Home and to bed like a sensible
fellow" replied the physician.
~Don't you do anything of the sort.
Come along with me to my rooms. ]
must arrange the data so far col
lected in the two interesting cases
that have taken up to-day; and in the
cab mystery, at least, you can prob
ably be OF assistance to me, If you
will
Every we'll, old man; lead on. I am
curious to know what theories you
have adopted in these two cases.
''Theories!" replied Sturgis; II never
adopt theories. I simply ascertain
facts and arrange them in their proper
sequence, as far as possible. When
this arrangement is successfully &C.
complished, the history of the crime is
practically completed. Detection OF
crime is an exact science. Here, as in
all other sciences, the imagination
has an important part to play, but that
part consists in coordinating and in
terpreting facts. The solid foundation
Of facts must Invariably come first. !"
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1901-08-18

seventeen: and though he Judged this
lady 10 be fully thirty-f1ve, he found ner
better to look at than any girl under
twenty he could have named oh-hand.
She was SO sad-eyed too, so pale, SO
wen. "A good long stay down in our
part of the world would do her no END
O, good" he unused. Next to Eva
NEXT to Eva. of course-I think she is
the understanding woman have ever
seen. She hasn't got any papers; /
wonder If it would be out of place TO
offer her some?"
He had just decided that perhaps II
might be. when she threw an accidental
glance at the journals beside him, anu
tbe next moment, with a shy bow, ne
had handed them to her.
With a smile OF acknowledgment sne
took them, but very soon her glance
wandered away again and rested on the
ever-changing landscape
"The-the country looks very Jolly
inst now" said BERTHE, feeling that the
long silence was becoming unbearapie'
seeing that he might not smoke and was
beginning to be unsettled by the haunt
ing look in the bright eyes opposite
him.
VERY we'll, indeed" she answered,
and her glance returned idly to the pa
pers he had given her and, cutting lhe
leaves of one which contained an IN
surance coupon. she caught sight OF MS
name and address duly scrubbed in
Hubert Trevor, Overdean.
rs 1t far from the station to over
dean?" she asked, with just the faint
est foreign accent
"Oh. no." he answered, delighted at
being allowed to indulge in small talk.
You will have to change at the juno
ton. I'm going there myself. nope
you will allow me to help you. l ask
because | see that you are particular
about your kodak. May I?'
"You are very good she answered,
by which BERTHE definitely understood
not only that he might help her, but
that she was bound TO Overdean.
81 think you'll We our village. 1t is
really a grand place for health and all
that sort of thing" he went on. There
is a foreign gentleman staying at Bev-
erly House who is quite enchanted with
| the place"
Indeed" There was just faint
! ring OF interest in her voice now. "A
I foreigner, did you say?"
Yes. Frenchman," volunteered Ber-
tie. His name is Durand. Perhaps
you know him."
"Durand is very common name, y
she answered What is this Durand
| like?"
well, he stoops, and his hair all
stands up off his head. and he has lost
front tooth, and has big, black
mustache.'
Il fear | am not assisted" she muir
INJURED, with a brief, swift smile that
lighted her eountenance like sunshine
and made the young fellow think that
when this woman used to smile habit
ually she must have been well nigh
irresistible.
"Oh, well, he has funny, long, thin
hands, and when he thinks, he puts his
| foreflnger and thumb together and holds
the tips to his lips; then when he gets
| hold of an idea he holds his forefnger
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1901-08-18

up like this and BERTHE clumsily nan.
tomimed the actions he described.
Many Frenchmen have the hsh,. T.,
she answered again. "The description
is vague to me-"
Perhaps you never met him? He /,
always washing his hands, mean h.
seems to be always dong so. It's m,
a matter Of any importance, only 10 #.
said to be rather noted scientific fel.
low, and l thought he might be a com.
patriot"
81 am not q Frenchwoman," she ssls
and lay back upon the cushhions of the
seat. Noticing that her face was drawn
as If with sudden pain, he demanded:
Are you feeling ill?"
Moistening her dry lips she answered
that she was not. He left her alone for
a time, but at last, impelled by a de-
sire to hear her soft. musical voles
again--a desire which he himself could
hardly understandable demanded:
did you see the opening Of tn,
Tower Bridge to-day"
Unfortunately, no." she answered.
at was a grand sight" BERTHE went
on. Il daresay they do things better
more, artistically on the Continent
Still, as far as my experience goes. "A
was a very memorable scene"
1t was noticeable that Bertie wa.
more ait ease with some strangers than
when in the family circle, where he was
always dimly conscious that he nigh,
put his foot in it." and not be quit.
proper enough. He was proud of the
Tower Bridge as great national
achievement, and proud of his nation,
too, as every young Engllshman should
be.
81 thought you might have been there
you know, to get a few snapshots
There were lots Of kodaks about"
She laid her small hand on the cam.
era beside her and answered: Il do
not understand the working of the ma
chine as yet, but l shall master it In
| time and then-why then | hope 10
| take some pictures"
well, l wish you had been in the
crowd to-day" he persisted. Il am sure
| you would have agreed with me that
it was the sort of thing to remember
all ones life
mo doubt" she assented with just
! faint smile Pickering on her lips. NO
doubt / should have thought SO if-t
l had been there"
The smile arrested him. Was she
mocking-in the sarcastic way common
to foreigners-his insular enthusiast a.
| He couldn't for the life Of him decide;
| he only knew that this last smile was
not as dazzling, as fascinating, as the
! one which had gone before? How did
the woman learn to smile like that?
There was an awful scare about An
archists," he said, Shut it came to moth
ing For my part, l don't believe thera
are any such people in England.
"Have you, then, no discontinued per-
| sons here?" she asked.
''Oh, lots" he answered, afraid he had
unwittingly offended by Wanting the
! superiority of his native land. Il only
! mean that we are more slow going. less
impulsive, don't you know, than other
races. That king of thing, l suppose,
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1901-08-18

! won't I'm going now. BERTHE needn't
see me home, and you mustn't-so you
can talk it over" and trembling and
| blushing and crying, all at once, but
! with mistaken belief in her brothers
ability to carry out his resolve and
speak to Osborne as man to man, poor
Di darted into the adjacent shrubbery.
I'm afraid l know what that means, ..
said Osborne, so | need not ask you to
explain, Trevor. I'm the last man in
the world. hope, to make disunion in
a family, though nothing will alter my
feeling for yourself and your good little
sister. This is not the first time have
been coldly received in various quarters
lately. However, | won't give my
friends the trouble OF telling me why.
What was it you had to say on your
own account2n
Poor BERTHE, Deserted by his staunch
ally, he stood yoieeless for the moment
but though a bit OF fool. he was
certainly no coward, and the thing had
to he faced.
wanted to speak to you as-as man
to man. he began, that phrase being
ready prepared and formulated.
LAS man to man, of course. Well?"
at will possibly surprise you to know
that for months--in fact, ever since |
met Aiss layne again Hang it all!
mean is there any objection to my-my
presenting myself-in that sort of light
to a lady who-who-"
do you mean. Trevor, that you are
seeking permission to pay your address,
es to my cousin?'
"Yos, that's my meaning That is err
the point of the affair
My sister is her guardian, not Ire
vor."
Il wanted" objected BERTHE. TO speak
as-as man to man; and couldn't very
well speak to Miss Osborne that way,
don't you know2"
Besides Miss Rayne is of an age to
make her election for herself
Then that means tina; you see no rea-
son why | shouldn't pay my addresses
and all that sort of thing?"
If you insist on trying your fortune,
you may do so of course, but"
"Oh, it's all right. SO long as you
don't advise me not to. II there is no
obstacle except. of course. my not being
worthy of her
She is three years your senior. Ire
vor."
well, l hope I'm man enough not to
mind that, if she doesn't.
Osborne looked down at the youth. of
twenty beside him with queer ming
ling of pity and envy; pity for the lads
short-sightedness. envy for his freedom
and his hopefulness, the royal preroga-
tive of untried youth.
"She has had many offers, and has re-
fused them ALL
"We,l, l may have better luck than a
better man, Mr. Osborne. Anyway, l
don't mind so much once she knows.
What | wanted to ask-as man to man
was whether there was any prior en-
gagement?"
There is not"
"Or--or any prior attachment" II
81 have not heard of any" This
more slowly and in lower voice.
And you, personally have no objec-
ton to my trying my luck?"
Personally, no. I'm afraid you will
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1901-08-18
(CoPyriRht.)
CHAPTER Xxx.

CHAPTER Xxx.
''Bertie. can't stand it. She is a
meddlesome old cat and she ought to
be-
Shot"
II mean she ought to be ashamed of
herself"
There's no shame in her, Di. She's
forgotten how to feel like that"
The speakers were Mrs. Treyor's re-
bellious offspring, who we're crossing
the common land which lay between
Beverly house estate and the Overdean
manor. Diana's eyes we're very red,
for the hen convention" had been very
stormy and there had been much ruff
fling of feathers; in fact. as BERTHE put
it, "Di had made the fluff fly IN seek
ing an explanation of the taboo placed
on Mr.. Osborne's house and family cir
Gle.
u don't believe word OF it's true,
Berthe. do you?'
Poor BERTHE Trevor gave a groan that
seemed to come from the very depth
Of his sporting waistcoat, Il don't
know" he said, hopelessly. i don't
believe in the scandal and all that rot
But, oh, Di, if she really does care for
Osborne like that, you know, l--l-l
shall cut my throat"
Berthe
yes, shall"--this with the de.ib-
Grafton Of man pledged to one course.
81 shall certainly do it. Di. Miss Rayne
has been my-my-what do you call
tiny guiding star for-for--monrhs
and IL the devotion OF months-ois-is
to go for nothing | shall certainly
mean there will have to be an end
to it."
70, BERTHE, dear, how dreadful" and
Di stopped, unable to keep pace, in her
establishment, with her brothers
gloomy strides.
"Of course it's dreadful" admitted
BERTHE, the lovelorn. THE serpent's
tooth, no, l mean the monsters fangs
-preying on ones-preying here, don't
you know. Well, it Is not agreeable,
Di, of course. But tell you eandidly
that my course Is fixed. | am going to
Osborne as man to man and | am going
to say to him
Yes, old fellow, what are you going
to say to him." 1t was Francis 0s-
borne himself who had overtaken the
pair and slapped BERTHE on the shoulder
in his own frank, hearty way. Good
at home?"
Ut Qsborne, l. Oh, dear and
Di, ever and always a good little crea-
ture. stopped short and drew back the
hand she had offered, fearful of wound
ing her conscience by direct act of
disobedience.
Frank Osborne's face clouded little.
I'm afraid I've interrupted you at an
unfortunate moment" he said. Il
must apologize. / was coming over to
ask you from Eva to come up and see
how the picture progresses; but perhaps
some other day."
"Oh, There isn't to be any other day
for u.s. poor Di blurted out. Mamma
has forbidden it, Mr.. Osborne. and so
We can't help ourselves. At least,
OF being a boy; but do give Eva my
fond love, and tell her my heart is bro
ken-and-and | hope you won't bear
malice, that is, | mean | know you
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1901-08-18
4 Bolt From the Blue.
BY DORA LANGLOIS,

Author of THAT Red headed Woman The Kiss of Judas
Secretay's Daughter" Vcoras Dream" &C.
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1901-08-18

e OF d tcaloM thn foup then scissors
w liner thread d
NJ o too attach trng markell ne copy
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1901-08-18
WORK AND PLAY FOR NIMBLE FINGERS

WUNh dNU fLh FUN NIMbIE FINVEKS.
THE BROWNIE JUMPER.
Once there was little Brownie,
And he wandered OFF alone
Till he got so very frightened,
That his heart was like stone.
So he shook and shook and shook,
Shook to pieces by brook.
Pick him up and bring him to
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1901-08-18

'Bertie. | can't stand it. She is a
meddlesome old cat and she ought to
be-
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-11-07

we've married iast nisht u SO NoF,h
NashinGlca avenue
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-11-07
TIED
SENIOR PREPs COLORs WERE
INSCLTED
And the InsuItOr= Tied the Seniors
Up.

What proved to be the most exciting
class scrap Of the season occurred yester-
day morning ar the Friends University
campus. Il came about in this manner:
When the sec0ud year props arose Tues
day morning they espIed the third year
flag floating from a pole freshly painted
with their colors. cerese ana black. They
Immediately proceeded TO pull it down,
% the dismay of its defenders. The
third years thought their antagonists
would be up 10 some mischief that night.
so they guarded their painted flagstaff.
the only remains of their hard labor of
the previous night, until a very late hour,
then thinking all was safe. retired TO
their warm beds to dream Of the victor
ious. They hoped yet to win over the
second years. But the wiley second years
proved 10 be early risers. Promptly at
o'clock they met at q corner Of the
university campus, and with paint and
brushes and dummy. which certainly has
a striking resemblance ID that member
OF senior preps who showed such a VII
Hngness 20 scrap.
The beautiful pole OF cerese and black
was soon total wreck. Tne dummy.
dressed IN the third years coIors and
placarded with such signs as Il want my
mamma. Smallpox" etc. was suspend
ed from the telephone wire midway be-
tween two poles. Their work completed.
the junior props. prodting by the ex-
perience Of the seniors that morning,
awaited in q body TO guard their flag
With the hrst light Of dawn a suspic-
ious senior cautiously peeped around the
corner of the Hess athletic Park and
views the mischief Then and there.
once and forever. he determined 10 an
initiate The whole gang. but quickly de-
ciies otherwise and starts or 20 procure
help from his sIumbering colleagues. But
the wary second years were on the alert
and as fast as an enemy put in his ap-
pearlnce he was Immediately seized and
tied. hands and feet. In less thin fifteen
minutes not less than seven senior prers
were securely tied and laid promiscuously
about their irsulted colors. with thar
pesky old dummy making goo-goo eyes
at them au the while.
Then ail ~ "a sudden there was rush
and whiri and that brave and daring
senior prep who had been frst 10 dis
cover the work If the lower cIassueu
was seen chasing himself for home. 20
the westward, fearing The same fate
OF his brothers
At sunrise the Junior rreps. considering
their victory wen. cut the hands Of the
reQertant seniors. who sneaked of home.
carrying their dummy with them. while
the juniors returned, as heroes. to their
break tasr
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-11-07
DE WEY'S DISCOVERY
IS REALLY COAL
H. H. Dewey Confirms Ye8ter-
days Report.
INDICATIONS OF OIL
Also Found by the Well Drill
WILL KEEP WORKING
To See if Coal or Oil Is in
Paying Quantities.
A $50 Found by the Well Drill
prc
WILL KEEP WORKING

H H. Dewey went out to his farm yes
terday morning to see about the discov-
cry Of coal that was reported on his place
the day before. DE Is digging a vel or
his property and the men had gone down
over seventy feet when they found the
coal Mr.. Dewey stated 10 q reporter for
the Eagle yesterday that the drill had
been going through sandstone which sud
denly changed to gypsum and the drm
had gone but q lew feet when the vein Of
coal was struck. The hole is two inches
il diameter.
The men found that they were dig
going through coal byIowering two-quart
can down into the hole ard under the
tuce letting the water and stone fan into
il for awhile. When the can is brought
10 the surface Il is allowed 70 settle for
q time and then the water is poured OF
and the sediment in the bottom Will show
the kind of material the drill is working
in Tuesday the men let the bucket down
Us usual ard found when they drew il
up that II smeIIed OF coal oil on the
water. The men experimental with this
for some time and finally concluded that
it was OIL When they emptied the
bucket they found that IL was coal. This
surprised them and they did not know
how long they were working in it. When
the drill was put 70 work again they
found there Vas az least an S-inch vein
Of coal there. but as they had been IN
the vein It IS probable that there IS a
foot II not more. OF bitumlnus coal. The
men did not know whether the oil was
only from the coal or whether they had
also touched 4 small vein Of oil That
SO far found IS not fl paying quantities.
The men are still working at the well
and by this afternoon II VIII probably
be 100 feet deep and Mr.. Dewey was OF
the opinion that another vein OF coal
would be touched before that time. The
vein is over seventy feet under the ground
ana unless there is another vein il is not
worth working.
Mr.. Dewey is digging a wen for water
and VIII keep on digging until be dnds
il or something better.
There are a great many people IN this /
city who firmly believe that there is coal /
and gas IA paying quantities east or this
city and are watching the digging or this +
VOL with great deal Of interest it j. (
possible 10 md it here. but il came as q I
surprise TO ind it at such depth.