davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-10-24

Mustapha., If you break them, by the
beard Of the prophet, I'll--''
from an adjoining room: Don't for
get the third night from now. You
dine with me. remember. Good-by
and good luck
hours before the gray dawn stole over
the plains we We're well on our way
towards the Balkans, skirting the
south of the Martha valley. The shrill
cry Of the muezzins from the minarets
Of Bazarjik, calling all good Moslems
to early prayer, pierced the frosty air
! when we came to our first halt, and
I tumbled out of my rugs to inspect
our modest cortege. tE5 -...
! A zaptieth, or Turkish mounted po-
liceman, acted as our guide and pro-
tector. He was a picturesque >indivi-
dual, wearing a Zouave jacket and
wide trousers Of blue cloth, embroid-
of red silk encircled his waist.
Strapped around this was a leathern
| belt crowded with deadly weapons,
! making him a veritable stalking ar
mory. A pair Of richly mounted flint
! lock pistols were stuck in the upper
pocket of the belt; below was a yata-
CHAN with hilt of ivory studded with
red coral bosses. A Winchester re-
peating carbine hung across his Shout
! ders, fez with a narrow turban
! bound tightly round his head also
| enclosed his ears, to keep them from
black eyes and clean-cut nose a rak-
ish appearance. Abdullah-for that
vas his name-Was mounted on a
can tho high-spirited horse of vicious
.spect, arising from the mutilation
# one of his ears, the stump Of
neck.
An Italian photographer had vol
unteered to go with us on this jour-
ney. He and I, with his apparatus,
were ensconced in the wagon, or car
riage, used generally for the purpose
harems from one house to another. 1t
was gimcrack sort of an affair, built
Of thin wooden panels, gilt and look
ing glass, on the floor Of which we
had to squat la Turque. This We
hicle was drawn by two Wiry little
menian servant on a gaily-ca parisoned
mule, looking almost as truculent as
the guard, for he carried a yataghan
and revolver. His quadruped was
normal in aspect, for his asinine ears
unlike our guards horse, were not
wherein we were to stop for breakfast
gradually stood out, with the early
morning sun upon it, from the foot
hills of the, mountains; and as the
shadows Of our caravan began to
grow smaller our advance guard dis
appeared in the windings of the main
street of the hamlet.
In a few minutes our wagon halted
in the courtyard of the principal inn
where we let it remain till we returned
from the snowy uplands. For noun
tain travel we took to horses an6
slowly toiled up the passes till the set
ting sun flushed the snow with Grim.
son.
On arriving on the plateau of the
Balkan we found that Batac, was al
most lost to sight in the last fall OF
snow; only a few of it's blackenec
ruins broke the purity of the drifts
The fugitives that had returned tt
their ruined town sheltered themselves
from the bitterness Of the weather ir
the cellars, or built shanties with the
debris of their demolished houses. Ir
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-10-24

1.-THE gloom Of the departing day these
unhappy people would steal to the
half-gutted church, the remaining
walls still greasy with the blood Of
their friends and relatives, in the
CHASTITY flicker of a few tallow can
dies stuck on the flags these poor crea-
lures would pray, and bewail the loss
Of their dear ones, This evening their
sorrowing voices, blending with the
signing OF the wind, came moaning to
us over the plateau.
Our destination was the wooden
building called the hospital, erected
in the market place by that philan-
thropic lady the late Viscountess
Strangford. Here we found life, COM
fort and shelter for the night. Owing
to the recent fall of snow, which lay
many feet deep, twas difficult mat
ter for me to find the types Of ,Slav
skulls my surgeon friend had COM
missioned me with. So Z told my
dragoman to start the villagers on the
|quest. ~
Early next morning, when seated at
breakfast, my servant appeared and
mysteriously whispered: TITS all
right, sir; think have got what you
require" I Immediately jumped up
and hurried outside, where I discov-
cred several old ladies gathered to-
gether in front Of the hospital, hold
ing out their capacious aprons, each
containing two or three heads. H. At
first I was much shocked, even horri-
fed, at the grimness of the wholesale
fultllment OF my requisition. But
reflected that business was business,
so commenced negotiating with these
ancient female ghouls by sadly pick
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-10-24

Saptieth guard was leading; behind
him came the Italian and my servant,
I slowly following. had started
cigarette, and, deep in thought, was
enjoying the fragrance of the Turkish
tobacco, when my reverie was rudely
broken by my horse pricking up his
ears and hurrying down the pass. The
brute had been tagging, and with the
best intention was trying to make up
for lost time. his, however, is oc-
casionally disastrous to a rider on a
pack saddle. The girdles were loose
Presently the gear began to sway to
and fro, and I with it, for I was
swathed in furs. The weather was
into the stirrup irons with straw. I
tried to keep my equilibrium but the
saddle slipped under the horses belly
and 7 found myself upside down trail
ing thru the snow. My horse, realiZ-
ing at last that something was wrong,
luckily for me came: to a standstill,
trembling with fear. My companions,
arrested by nay shouts, returned and
extricated me from my novel position.
This was nothing much Of an acct
dent, but I became a little nervous
when I discovered the cause of los
ing my balance was the sack of
trophies tied to the pommel Of my
saddle. was stricken with a sudden
chill and for the first time flashed
thru me the thought that those hui
with. A shudder crept up my back.
shook myself and whistled, not for
want Of thought, but from thinking.
tried to take an interest in the
frozen scenery around, but no, a de-
preston fell on me like a pail, which
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-10-24
CHAPTER XIV.
An EnCnuntRf. at tho R,i1loo

Some part of the interview with the
commandment which had resulted in
their release the jester told his COM
panion as they sped down the sloping
plain in the early silvery light which
transformed the dew-drops and grassy
moisture into wells of mist Behind
them the chateau was slowly fading
from view; the town had already dis
appeared Around them the singing
of the birds, the cooling of the cushat
doves and the buzzing of the bees.
mingled in dreamy cadence. On each
side stretched the plain which, washed
by recent heavy rains, was now SPAN
gled with new-grown flowers; here,
far apart in sequestered beauty; there,
clustering companionably in a mass
of color.
Upon the strength of the letter
from the emperor, the vicomte took
the responsibility Of allowing us to
depart" explained the fool. 'In it his
majesty referred to his message to the
king, to the part played by him who
took the place of the duke, and what
he was pleased to term my services
to Francis and himself
So much the PLEASANT related, but he
did not add that the COMMUNICATIVE
Tr1boulet's words in mind, had at first
demurred about permitting the jest
rress to go. ''Vrai Dieu!" that person
had exclaimed. eff what the dwarf
said be true? To cross the king!-
and yet" he had added cynically, lit
sounds most unlike. Did Aladdin flee
from the genii of the lamp? Such a
magician is Francis. Chateaux, gar
dens-'t1s clearly an invention Of Tri-
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-10-24
CHAPTER XXIu.-COntinued.
An Early Case.

An Early Case.
LEAR the hall" he COM
RI manded sharply to the
0O M surprised soldiers. IF
"a I mistake not" he went
W on, addressing the dukes
jester, your horses are
at the door,"
"You are going to let them go?"
burst forth Triboulet.
II trust you and this fair LADY,
turning to the wondering girl, who
now stood expectantly at the side Of
the foreign fool-"will not harbor this
incident against our hospitality" went
on the vicomte, without needing the
dwarf.
1.-The king will hang your exclaimed
Triboulet, his face black with disap-
pointment and rage, as he witnessed
the PLEASANT and the jestress leave the
tavern together. Let them go and
you must answer to the king. One
the other I charge with being a sor-
ceress."
A terrible arraignment in those
days, yet the vicomte was apparently
deaf. Hat in hand, he waved them
ad1eu; the steeds sprang forward, past
the soldiers and down the street.
After them!" cried the dwarf to
the troopers. 'Dolts! Joltheads!"
Whereupon one of the men, angered
at this batting, reaching out with his
iron boot, caught the dwarf such a
sharp blow he staggered and fell,
striking his head so violently he lay
motionless on the walk. At the same
time, far above, a body Of troopers
might have been seen issuing from
the gates Of the chateau and leisurely
vending their way downward.
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-10-24
THE MYSTIC NUMBER.

na HE Turks, on their best be-
havior now, have been
endeavoring to suppress
rebellion in Macedonia
e. with as much forbear-
ance. and humanity as any
Christian power, with the
exception, perhaps, of Great Britain,
which Is generally smiled at by all
sister powers for the absurdly toler-
ant manner with which she treats her
rebellious and traitorous subjects.
However, a quarter Of q century ago
the Turkish government put down Sc
dition with high and bloody hand,
and the Bulgarian atrocities Of 1876
thrilled all Europe with horror. I
had been with the Servian army dur
ing the summer and autumn, of 1876,
in the capacity Of war artist, while
they were fighting the Turks, and,
hostilities having ceased, I was re-
quested by my paper to look up the
Bulgarian atrocities out Of which Mr..
Gladstone was then making political
capital -" --
Things were really in a bad way
with the Christian population in Bull
garia and Roumelia. This latter dis
trlct was under web of biting frost
when l arrived at Tartar Bazarjik by
the morning train from Adrianople
with view of investigating some
brutal doings Of the Turkish irregu-
lars In the immediate neighborhood.
l made my way to some recently
erected wooden shanties on the out
skirts Of the quaint old Turkish town,
and sought hospitality of a philan-
throp1c Englishman who was distrib-
ut1ng funds collected in England to
the suffering Bulgarians ruined by
Turkish oppression.
And you grow this champagne 2"
said l, nodding to mine host at our
evening meal. i.
Yes replied he, filling my tumbler
the while with the sparkling beverage.
You seem to like it. shall be
most happy If you will permit your
servant to pack three bottles in your
kit when you start Tomorrow Their
contents will cheer and warm you on
your cold journey up the Balkans"
expressed my reluctance to reduce
his store by such quantity, but mine
host's persuasive manner was over
poWerlng, and easily succumbed. If
was rare to find wine Of such good
quality In Roumelia. My friend had
suffered many years from nervous
prostrat1on following a painful surgi-
cal operation, for the cure Of which
1ncessant movement, change Of scene,
and champagne as tonic were recon-
mended by his medical advisers. He
had come out to the Martha valley for
the necessary change, and the ami
able intention of doing some good
to suffering humanity, and had
brought with him a stock Of excellent
wine from his own vineyard in the vi
cin1ty of Epernay, where he had re-
sided for the last few years for the
benefit Of his health.
You need not be afraid to take it,
continued my friend. II have plenty.
You will not be robbing me. Good as
1t Is, the wine does not cost me more
than SO cents a bottle, even when de-
l1Vered In this ramshackle old slum OF
Tartar Bazarjik."
Very WE'LL" I replied "I will
drink your good health tomorrow in
Batac. By the bye, about this mod
ern Golgotha-this dismal town OF
blood and murder. Are the stories
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-10-24
inner The Rose
By FREDERIC S. LSHAM,
Author Of "Ihe Strollers'
Author Of "1he Strollers.
Copyright. 1908. by Bowen-Merril Company.

boulet's!' And the fallacy of this
conclusion the dukes PLEASANT had not
sought to demonstrate.
Without question, the young girl
listened, but when he had finished her
features hardened. Intuitively she
OWNED a gap in the narratives; herself
From the dwarf's slur to Caillette's
gentle look of surprise constituted a
natural span for reflection. And the
dukes fool, seeing her face turn cold,
attributed it, perhaps, to another rea-
son. Her story required to him; she
was no longer a nameless jestress; an
unreasonable distance separated a
mere PLEASANT from the survivor of
one of the noblest, If most unfortunate,
families of France. She had
not answered the night before
when he had addressed her as
| motionless as a statue had she gazed
after him, and, remembering the man
! ner of their parting, he now looked at
her curiously. f..
"All's well that ends WE'LL" he said,
but l must crave Indulgence, Lady
Jacqueline, for having brought you
into such peril"
She flushed. do you persist in
that foolishness?" she returned
quickly. 80.
called?''
Did I not tell you-the constable's
daughter is dead?" ~. =
ITO the world! But to the fool
may he not serve her?'
His face was expectant; his voice,
light yet earnest. Her answer was
half sad, half bright, as tho her trag-
edy, like those acted dramas, had its
less somber lines.EAnd in the stage YER
sions Of those dark, mournful pieces
were not the softer, bits introduced
with cap and bell? The FOOLS stick
and the solemn march Of Irresistible
and lowering destiny went hand In
hand. Everywhere the tinkle of the
tiny bells. -"
"Poor service!" she retorted. "A
discredited mistress!"
| zone I am minded for" he replied
a sudden flash in his eyes.
She looked away; her lips curved.
For how long?" she said, halt
fore he could reply. .
What words had her action checked
on his lips? A moment was he dis
concerted, then riding after her, he
smiled, thinking how once he had
carelessly passed her by; how he had
looked upon her but as a wilful child
A child, forsooth! His pulses
throbbed fast. Life had grown strange.
ly sweet, as tho from her look, wher
she had stood on the stairs, he ha6
drawn new zest. To serve her seemed
a happiness that drowned all Other
ills; selfish bond of subordination
Her misfortunes dignifed her; he1
worn gown was dearer in his eyes thar
courtly splendor; the disorder of he1
hair more becoming than nets Of go1c
and colts of jewels. He forgot thei1
danger; the broad plain lay like 6
pleasure garden before them; faire1
in natural beauty than Francis con
ventional parks.
And she, too, had ceased to remem
Der the dwarf's words, for the 10.
Of youth is strong, and the sunshine
and air were rarely intoxicating. Their,
was a stirring rhythm in the move
ment Of the steeds; noiselessly thei
hoofs beat upon the soft earth ant
/ tender MOSES. The rains which else
where had flooded the low
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-10-24
CHAPTER XIV.
In the Tent of the Emperor.

On an eminence commanding the
surrounding country an unwonted
spectacle that same day presented
itself to the astonished gaze Of the
workers in a neighboring vineyard.
Cleaning with crimson and gold, a
number of tents had appeared as by
magic on the mount, the temporary
encampment of a rich and numerous
cavalcade. But it was not the SPLEEN
did aspect Of this unexpected bivouac
itself SO much as the colors and de-
signs of the flags and banners floating
above which aroused the wonderment
of the tillers Of the soil. Here cleaned
no salamander, with its legend, I'm fire
am nourished; in fire I de-" but the
less magniloquent and more dreaded
coat Of arms of the emperor, the royal
rival and one-time jailer of the proud
French monarch.
The sunlight, reflected from the
golden tassels and ornamentation. Of
the tents, threw a flaming menace over
dued tones talked Of the sudden COM
ing Of the dreaded foeman. Mere de
Dieu! What did it portend! Ventre
Saint Girls! were they going to storm
the fortresses Of the king? Was an
army following the formidable retinue
of mobiles, soldiers and servants?
Above, on the mount, as the sun
ed in one Of the largest of the tents a
man Of resolute and stern mien who
gazed re1ectively toward the fertile
plain outstretching in the distance.
His grizzled hair told Of the after-prime
Of life; he was simply, even plainly,
dressed, altho his garments were Of
fine material and from his neck hung
a heavy chain Of gold. His doublet
lacked the prolonged and grotesque
peak, and was less puffed, slashed and
banded than the coat worn by those
gallants of the day who looked to Italy
for the latest extravaganza Of fash
ion. His hat, lying carelessly on the
table at his elbow, was devoid Of
aigrette, jewels or plume; a head-coy-
ering for the campaign rather than
the court. Within reach Of his hand
stood a heavy golden goblet Of massive
German workmanship, the solid char
acter of which contrasted with the
drinking vessels after Cellini's patterns
affected by Francis. This he raise
to his lips, drank deeply, replaced the
goblet on the table, and said as much
to himself as to those around him:
"A fair land, this Of our brother!
Small wonder he likes to play the
host, even Of his enemies. we may
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-10-24

dered about turnout the night, cutting
our way thru the drift to keep our
selves from falling into that lasting
slumber which would have surely
overtaken us if once our senses had
been benumbed.
In the early hours the dogs of
Bulgarian village signaled our ap-
proach and the inhabitants guided us
to their huts by placing out haring
torches. Almost dead with cold, hun
ger and fatigue, we eagerly awaited
ourselves Of the black bread and hot
plum brandy placed before us by the
hospitable Bulgars, and were soon
sound asleep in a comfortable shanty
by the side of a maize cone fire. Later
in the day the storm ceased. We were
put on our right track, and eventu-
ally found our way to Tartar Bazaar
jik, where discovered that my phil
anthropic friends turkey had been
spoiled in overlooking, waiting dim
ner for me, but his guests, tho Mus
sulmans, had gone home satisfied and
merry under the influence of their
hosts Frankish sherbet water.
The skulls were packed in a strong
case and sent on their way to London
via Constantinople, addressed to my
surgeon friend at Kings College hos
pital, labeled, Bulgarian Atrocities.''
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-10-24

each head you have taken from it's ma
tive place an accident will befall you
to-day. You may chalk up No. 1 now
look out for No. O." If ever had felt
inclined to cut that sack and it's con-
tents adrift this absurd idea got my
trophy, come what might.
pushed on in front, with the in
tention Of not giving my horse any
further chance of tagging. Our guard
was still leading. The sky was
5leaden and lowering. The silence
as If every sound lay dead under the
win ding sheet Of snow. Presently a
dull beating came thru the air, and
UP from the valley sailed past us
huge eagle. turned to gaze at
the majestic bird. When I looked
ahead again our guide had disap-
peared. Where on earth had he got
front Of me; I was still moving on.
Before I could speak, or even
think, my horse stepped into space. I
madly pulled at the bride, the animal
simply paved the air, and + went roll
ing over and over, being gradually
was darkness. I found myself sink
ing In some soft depth. An icy
GOODNESS came over me, and I discov-
cred I was in a snow hole, which
I had made in falling thru drift. I
had simply ridden over a precipice,
thru 30 feet Of space into a snow
pack, which saved me from breaking
my bones on the rocks beneath. There
was a great snorting and kicking a
few yards from me, and my horse rose
painting from his downy bed. -. My
companions had drawn themselves up
on the edge of the declivity and were
merry with laughter at my expense.
20 fhA 1Jx r
had stolen march on them by making
short, though precipitous, cut to the
road below While I was intent on
watching the eagle our Zaptieh had
taken narrow pass thru the woods
to the left, following the route which
zlgzagged to the base of the mountain.
AS l dug the snow out of my eyes
and ears, could not help think ing
that this little incident must be intend
ed for accident No. 2; and, when re-
adjusted the sack in front of my sad
die, more and more determined was I
to stick to my trophies.
On arriving at the base of the Bal
kans we took to our harem wagon
| again. It was late in the afternoon,
and darkness was fast settling over
the plain. The wind freshened into a
hurricane, and the snow whirled in
spiral eddies round us. My driver
wished to turn back, for the whole
white mamie covering the Martha
valley began shifting. I insisted on an
advance. Was not to dine in Bazaar
J1k that night? I would not keep my
friend and his Turkish guests wait
ing.
| After a short palaver, in which our
zaptieh joined, enforcing the argu-
ment by ominous1y touching the hilt
! OF his pistols, our coachman sulkily
dashed his horses into a gallop. Short
~ the cart began to sway with the
furious pace we were making. With
out any warning the right wheels sud.
denly sank. The vehicle turned quick
~ over. A loud crash and I found
myself sitting up in the cart in a
frame OF splinters. I instinctively fell
about for the sack. It was intact. Az
the Italian and I shook ourselves free
Of the debris of that harem wagon
felt that a great load had also beer
lifted from my heart. Here was &C.
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-10-24

true? Or are they tinted with what
MY sentence was cut short by mine
host Of the previous evening shouting
some writer's are accredited with
local color?"
my dear fellow" said my host, with
serious expression on his face at my
rather hippant manner, you will find
the account of Turkish brutality and
Bulgarian suffering true enough.
More than one-third of the population
Of Batac have : been ruthlessly
butchered. Men, women, young girls
and little children have been slain.
Their bones still strew the streets
and alleys of the town, and the
blood Of many yet bespatters the walls
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-10-24

cident No. g.. I was safe and sound.
r. Our mounted policeman now joined
with the driver in his anxiety to re-
turn to the Balkan hamlet, but when
we placed what was left Of our gear on
the floor Of the wagon-for the splin-
tered glass and panels had been whirled
away in the snow furries-we dis
covered all trace of our track was
totally obliterated. To make any adj
vance for the moment in the teeth Of
the hurricane was absolutely impossi-
BILE. I now came to the conclusion
that my friend and his Kirmakan
would grow hungry if they waited din
ner for me that evening. We wan
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-10-24

ing and choosing. At last I decided
on three fine speciments. These lady
philosophers cheerfully parted with
the heads of their decapitated neigh
bors for two piasters each, the equiv
alent in our coin to fivepence. The
two English nurses of the hospital
made me sack, in which the grim
relics were packed.s -
Toward midday we commenced our
return journey to Bazarjik. In an hour
we were leaving the plateau, and be-
ginning to descend the mountain. Our
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-10-24

, tried hard to throw off. A super
stitious dread of further evil came
over me-.
"Well," I unused, looking at the
sack, you are for scientific purposes
will, perhaps, grace the walls of
some surgical museum, or hang in the
corner of some artists studio. You
| will be better off far than lying rotting
in the snow"
No; I could not comfort myself. An
| inner voice seemed to whisper: BE
| hold the mystic number three; for