davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-02-10

Chalmers studied these items long
and earnestly.
Looks as if Hestor had started a
hotel or boarding house." reflected
the managing editor. "a 12-room
boarding house. That is not the kind
OF furniture he would put up in a
New York house. He has his own
bachelor apartment. I have been in
1T scores of times. Tt is full of fur
nlture, and mighty fine furniture"
lie read and reread the furniture
Dill. Then he leaned back in his
chair and invoked the resources of
memory trained to it's work and
responsive as the muscles of an ath-
iete or the fingers of virtuoso.
IT IS about year." he reflected,
since Hestor invited Bob Van Horne,
Blake and myself to dinner at the
Waldorf, and after dinner we went TO
ms apartment. He was loquaciously
mysterious about some house he was
building. Bob Van Horne had been
talking about a summer joint he was
gong TO erect out on Long Island.
Hestor said he was building one
which would make Bob's look like 30
cents. lie raved about the scenery
and all that. Seems to me as if he
SAID something about palm trees.
Bob asked him where it was, and he
smut up like "A clam"
Chalmers reflected. HE said palm
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-02-10
L. SYLVESTER VINCENT.
Inventor. Mechanical Expert and
Promoter.
CHICAGO.

Here is another one," said Miss
Carmody. They looked at all the
cards and found four with the name
OF L. Sylvester Vincent. She sent
for Smith.
DO you remember the gentleman
who presented these cards?" she
asked.
Smith looked at the cards a mo-
ment and said: 81 remember i'm very
well, Miss Ellen. The first time e
came e walked right in and Jung
up is lat before l could stop i'm.
II said e lad an Impeachment with
Mr.. Carmody. ] told i'm MIR. Car
mody was not at 'ome. e said e
would wait. told i'm that Mr.. Car
mody saw no one on business at
his residence. Il said 'e knew that,
but e 'ad to sail for Lunnon the
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-02-10
WHY DID HE GO?

TO do with it. / have sent a man to
chicago for his record"
Stevens went away and left Cba1-
mers to his reflections. The man
aging editor leaned back in his chair
ana gazed for a long time at the
celilhg. Then he lit cigar and blew
rings OF smoke at the wall above.
as II 10 lombard it into surrender
VI the secret. He placed his feet
vi Inc desk and allowed his mind to
wander at will over the dark fields
OF the mystery. There was no thor
| oushfare. Chalmers leaned back I'M
VI tle ONCE chair threatened to fall.
ne then stood up, kicked it savagely.
ana paced up and down the room.
us queer; mighty queer" Me-
chanlcally he picked up Mr.. Van
i1orne,s cablegram and again read it.
Put Hestor to work on the
case" he mused 81 will do ,;aht
wen putting Hestor to work on the
case. L wish l knew where l could
find him.
nestor came in here on Satur-
DAY" muttered Chalmers as he hurled
pile of unotfending exchanges in the
direction of the waste basket. ..He
saiu ne was compelled to make a
hurried trip to Europe, and expected
10 sail on Monday or Tuesday in his
yacht The shark Queer chap, that
hestor. OF course it's only a coin
c,uence; but l cannot help thinking
about it,"
Chalmers paced up and down fine
room with his head thrown hack and
ms eyes half closed in thought. He
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-02-10

ment he reappeared, opened the col
necting door and ushered the visito
into Mr.. Van Horne's private office.
AS she entered the Van Horne OF
fee Miss Carmody paused in eviden
surprise, but with no sign of confu
sion, as Mr.. William Chalmers bowe,
and advanced to meet her.
am pleased to receive YOU, an,
nope that | may be of some seryic,
to you, Miss Carmody," said Mr.. Chal
mers as he motioned his visitor to ;
seat on a divan. MY name rs Chal
mers; | am Mr.. Van Horne's manag
ing editor"
Il had expected to meet Mr.. Var
Horne" said Miss Carmody. Their,
was disappointment in the tone o;
her voice.
MI. Van Horne is in Europe" sale
MI. Chalmers as he took his place a,
ms desk, and brushed aside the OBJ
brus1ye butt of half-smoked cigar
lie went on some important bust
ness ana no announcement was made
OF his departure. Mr.. Van Horne
!e1t for Europe two weeks ago. He
As now somewhere in Russia"
That is very unfortunate" said
Mlss Carnody. The tears elistened
an her eyes, and she held them back
only by a too-evident exercise of
will power.
Miss Carmody," said Chalmers in
ms rapid but cordial manner, 'if
your desire to see Mr.. Van Horne
ARISES from any mission in which
The Record is concerned, I am fully
authorized to take his place. In his
absence there is practically no limit
to my authority"
The eyes of the young lady bright
ened. She looked at the handsome
face Of the young managing editor
with mingled expression of hope
and doubt.
L am afraid you cannot do that
which I had intended to ask Miss
Earmody said.
. Il can do anything except suspend
the publication of the paper" replied
Ghalmers with prompt fervor. ST
should be tempted to even do that. if
imagined it could possibly relieve
the distress which you are suffer-
ing"
The pale face of the young lady
flushed at this declaration, which
was uttered with a sincerity which
left no doubt as to the honesty of
Mr.. Van Horne's representative.
That is the last request in the
world | should malle,' she replied,
after moments pause, in which the
color left her cheeks. ''Mr. Chal- |
mers," she continued, in voice
tremulous in its decision, 81 am 60
ing to submit something to you as
u you were Mr.. Van Horne. [ have
known Mr.. Van Horne for many |
years. He has been visitor at my |
.afher's house, and when father dis
| thought of asking him
% aid me. My mother is dead, and
he whole responsibility falls on me
IS his only child. The house is fire.
uented by vulgar detectives, and
hey have driven me nearly frantic.
Inc would think. from the questions
hey ask, and the things they do,
hat was suspected of being
arty to my fathers disappearance.
md our well-meaning friends are
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-02-10

smile. "Now that we are partners
in this enterprise, I am going to be
so bold as to ask you to be permit
ted-as Mr.. Van TTorne's personal
representatives. call at your resi-
dence as occasion may demand, ana
make more consecutive report of
what has been done than ] could over
the telephone"
at is unnecessary for me to give
You permission said Miss Carmody.
You may consider it standing in
vitation, with as much of the nature
of a command as l have right to
give"
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-02-10
CHAPTER VIII.

CHALMERS HAS A SUSPICION.
Before the New York Record went
to press on the day when Miss Helen
Carmody called on Mr.. William Chal.
mers, that gentleman received g
cablegram from Mr.. Robert Var
Horne, the editor of the paper. II
read as follows:
st. Petersburg, Russia, May 4.
1 William Chalmers: Offer in NV name
reward of 100000, and no questions asked
for return of mllionaires. Put Hestor
| TO work on case. Spare no expense
ROBERT VAN HORNE.
"That settles it," said Mr.. Chal-
mers, as he read and reread the vel
low slip. Lets see; 100000, and the
$250,000 which Miss Carmody offers,
is $75O,00O. That's an odd-loollinc
number. 1t ought to be a Million
He went to the telephone, and for
an hour was busy. He talked with
representatives of the families of
Rockwell, Kent, Haven, Pence and
Morton, and each agreed to pledge
$4,000 to the Records reward fund.
Chalmers was supremely happy. He
sent for the foreman of the compos-
ing room and designed new cap
ton, the first line of which read:
1.-THE RECORD OFFERS ONE MIL
LION DOLLARS REWARD! He
then called Miss Carmody by tele-
phone. and Informed her what had
been done. That young lady was de-
lighted, but assured Mr. Chalmers that
she would take it upon herself to see
that the missing men paid every dol
lar of the reward. This was a mere
detail to Chalmers, and when he had
finished his talk with Miss Carmodv,
the foreman returned with the new
headline. Chalmers pinned it to the
wall and stood off and admired it
with the rapt expression of an art
devotee lost in contemplation of a
newly-discovered Raphael.
Print it in red" he said to the
foreman. Run it clear across the
page. Below we will string a solid
row of six half-tone portraits of the
missing millionaircs.
Chalmers was busy man during
the two days following the interview
with Miss Carmody. He detailed ten
OF his men to exclusive work on the
mystery and at considerable expense
secured IS others from rival New
York papers. Chicago was drawn
on for five reporters, and he induced
ten from other cities to ioin his
newspaper detective force. This gave
him staff of 40 men.
John L. Stevens, of Chicago. was
the most famous police and detective
reporter of the country, and. after an /
Interview with Mr.. Chalmers. was an |
pointed chicf-of-staff under The di-
rect supervision of the managing
editor.
Il have no theory about this mys-
terry, Jack" said Chalmers, after thew
had discussed the case in all ifs do
tails. 81 have certain vague susp,-
cions, but they are not founded on
facts, and they may be dismissed
from consideration"
by the way, has that man L. Svl-
Vester Vincent been heard of?,
"Who is hep" asked Chalmers.
"You had paragraph about him
Yesterday" said Stevens. "He is
missing from the Broadway Central
1otel. Has not been seen since Mon.
lay night. He may have something
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-02-10
THE KIDNAPPED
MILLTON ARE $
A TALE OF WALL STREET AND THE TROPICS
BY FREDERICK U. ADAMS.


almost as bad. They smother me
with their sympathy. I am not look
ing for sympathy. I wish to find my
dear father, and l have not the
slightest confidence in the detectives,
or in the methods which they have
adopted"
She paused for moment as if to
consider how she should frame the
request she had to make Mr.. Char
mers was deeply attentive.
Il am great believer in the pos
slb1llties of such newspaper as the
New York Record" she said 81 think
that one good newspaper man is
worth dozen detectives. I do not
believe the detectives will ever To-
cate the men who have abducted nv
father-for it certainly is case of
abduction. | wish to place sum of
money in the keeping of the New
York Record, part of it to be Of
Tered by it as a public reward for
the return of the men who have been
kidnapped, and the other portion to
be used under your personal direc-
ton for the same purpose"
Mr.. Chalmers smiled; and reach
ing into his desk produced the proof
OF the copy of headline which was
yet wet with the printers ink.
In a small way l had anticipated
your PLAN" he said as he handed
her the proof. 1t read as follows:
ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOL
LARS REWARD!!
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-02-10
CHAPTER VII.
MISS HELEN cARMoDy

Kindly send my card to MIR. Van
Horne" The office boy bowed to a
lady heavily yelled, accepted a card
on which was printed, "Helen Car
mody," and disappeared for mo-
ment into an inner room. In a mo.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-02-10
TRAINS LEAVING JEFFERSON
STREET UNION DEPOT.
A. j. Packard, Agent.

CHICAGO, MILWAUKEE e ST.PAIIil
Ch:rago, Dubuque &C pafI
Milwaukee 1855. dl215 a. m. be:35 q
Chicago. Cedar Rap am.
Kansas City & r. m.
Southwest ;. -. .b2:3O a. m. d12.o5 :
Kansas City and % ain.
No. 90. east pound leaves. AK a. %.
No. 81, east bound. leaves. .15:3S n N m
No. 81 west bound, leaves. ..... 84R = ~ "a.
No. 61 west bound, leaves. III :a4 ~ = L. ~.
These are frelghts leaving ottu1mWms;
Monday. cers
Freight trains arrive at and depar. from
Ottumwa Junction. Atoin
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-02-10
WABASH.

s,n,,. ~. :. Arrive. Depart
Louis Louis ~. 81. ae:1S m. ae:2o p. m.
Louis 80; :....a7;oo p. M as:25 ~
Freight trains carrying. passengers IN m.
Local freight $685.. .bS:00 n m. IA
Fast freight ......a12:10 D. m. a2:31 a. n n
Daily. Il Fxcnnt Sunday. u
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-02-10
MISCELLANEOUS.
IOWA CENTRAL RAIN

IOWA CENTRAL RAILWAY
Hedrick, iowa. Effective July lst in9, az
Going North. -oo'
No. 3-St. Paul Express !daIly). .1o:so n -
No. S-M S City Maj! lex SUM 30 30 p m n
No. way Sese oEina s sa.,t sun. 500 ;. n
No. 6-Peorla Mail (Ex SUM. Ppm
No. Way Freight lex SUM p. ~.
No ampeoria Express tdaly{. sio a.
United States, Canada and Menico IN me
rates folder; ets ss call on or ndress 0' Dos
GEO GEO i p. BAT Z. III. Il. II. KENNY.
Marshalltown. Iowa. Hedr,cth gent
B., c. r. 6 N. R'Y.
Leaving and arriving time Of .,.,
Time table at Burlington. tfainar
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-02-10
The Courier for News.
1t prints the latest.
Railroad Time Tables
lnoiNS LEAVING UNION DEpor
w. s. Parker. Ticket Agent.
BURLINGTON ROUTE, C. g. g. o.

Going East. DeDart
No. l2amchieago, Peoria, st. Louis
1S'.,,.'ys ,.,......... -. 7:15 a. m.
a9 hhouIqme E quincy .......... 2;1o a m
lob-r,teoria, Dubuque & Quincy il 80 n m.
Ga-Chicago Limited 80. 1:25 y N
Ghicago,s st. Louis & Quincy 700 D. m.
2a-chirago.P Peoria 4 Rockford. II As +. "a.
Going West.
ea-omaha, Council Bluns and
,,, NrTHnaska ~. ........... 1855 a. N.
all ra asa, NAL ali.:............ 2:49 a. IN.
8a-Omaha. KANSAS City, Den. -
YER. Hot Springs. lteatiwoo,..
% EN-. Portland u Call.
>, 1oTnia ...i;.... .......... sos a. "A.
,aa-I i,ni.e iia'i ............. 1852 4. m.
l1b-Chicago to Ottumwa. . 100 n r ~
1a-Denver & Omaha E.1I.3,n -
9b-Peoria TO Creston . 10 n ~
a. daily: b. except Sunday. Nos. 4 ,ni
Is do not carry passengers.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-02-10

Certified Check for 100000 deposited by
The Record in First National Bank.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-02-10

FORT MADISON BRANCH OF THE
BURLINGTON.
Arrive. DEPART
Fl Madison acsomo. 1900 p. M 7:l5 n M
Trains run daily except Sunday. -.
CHICAGO, ROCK ISLAND & PACIFIC
Going East. Denart
No; 2OG-Des Moines to Keokuk, .l0.1C. ~
2oi-Des Moines to Eldon. .lO:3G n -
202-pes Moines to Keokuk 3:22 K M M
2s4-Freisht ottumwa to E,don $40 3. m
Going West,
203-Eldop to Des Moines. 7or
201-Keokmk to Des Moines. 129A y ~, M
233-Ert. lIldon TO Des Moines s:15 J. IN III
~ 231-Ert daily Eldon to :Ionroe sos q. m
Unless otherwise specified. all trains a ~
daily EXCEPT Sunday ata
Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1903-07-18
Ran in the Family.

That boy VIII he the death of re
some day" declared the head of the
family. I'm SIRE dent know whe~o
he gets all his impaicnce ari self-a5.
urlnce-srre not from re. lie re
turned home frcm school the otter day
10 spend the holidays. rs | supposed.
AID. entering nj: Office. tErew a:s hat
On the floor. seiec:ei ~ easy chair,
pu: lis feet on ny desk. Ii: cigar
exc. iahaiel = fe@: pIg.. aca then.
turning l2a=',iGlr 10 70. :,c i.awiei:
~ say. dad, - ven ren,omba. tho
time whc2 vow wee e&pe.!e.i from
schcoi?"
Il did. There was no Use DENYING
Il. for one day. in a burst Of co@f.
aence. had cold him some of my es.
capades as boy. and lived 10 regret
that had been so iadiscreet.
We'll. said he. history has re-
peated itself
what do YOU mean. YOU young
rascal? reared.
Oh said he. easily. I've been ex-
PEELED. too Astonishing. isn't it. dad
how such things will run in a fam
ily?"-New YORK News
Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1903-07-18

the artist which would ret look well
in print. Edna put her hand oyer his
mouth il her cid p!ayful way. and
snotherai question came ih:cGaa her
fingers:
When does the exhibition begin?
II has I gun already. and tomorrow
we viii 20 ana see the picture tog@th-
er. And then | Will introlCce you TO
the artist"
He made much ado about going. bit
nn2.ly accompanied her. and foana a
crowd admiring the picture. which mad
been decorated. ard this was genuine
surprise TO Edna 1t had taken the
prize for pOrtraiture This was joyful
news to his wife. bu; Herbert was not
yet comfo.ted y hated oSIeal Was
still before him.
Your artist he said huslli!y.
Bring him hsre. Let me see him.
Edna disar peareG for moment end
there was a connection as the picture
was taken from the committee and its
face tur.e,, to the wall. On the back
CT the canvas this inscription appear
ed:
Portrait CT Lady PAINTED - H,r-
self"
Mrs. NJ. L. R2y.e. in Chicago Rec
C:.i-HeTa.d.
Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1903-07-18
COMMERCIAL REVIEW.
General Trade Conditions.
Bradstrcet' 5 says:

BradStrcet says:
Weather conditions continue almost
perfect, the Winter wheat crop harvest
has been about completed with con.
siderably larger yield than last year; re,
tail trade in Summer goods has i'm.
proved and recorders from jobbers are
larger in volume Confidence i'll q
large Fall trade grows Is corn and cot
ton make up for their early backward
start. clearingS are i'll excess OF year
ago n most centerS. railroad earnings
continue 20 show gains over all proceed
ing ycars-the increase for June is fully
IL per ccnt-and prices display excep.
tional Stcadincss for Midsummer Pc
Rod. The prospect grows that what
ever deficiencies from last year occur
in crop yields will be made UP for by
increased quotations or better quality
of products Wool has been again adj
vanccd and while manufacturers are not
inclined 10 stock up the higher price Tor
the raw material practically insures
high cost for Spring woolens.
Retail trade has been stimulated by
real Summer weather and jobbers East
and West note much improved bust
ness i'll scasonablc goods.
Business failures Tor the week end
ing with July Q number I54 against ro2
last week. los in the like week OF 1902.
I90 i'll 1901. 22i i'll 1900 and ia in 1890
In Canada failures for the week NUM-
Der 20. as against ! last week and 20
~ tins week a year ago.
Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1903-07-18
REPORTER TOLD ThE Truth
Had Absolute Proof That Jefferson
Had Retired.


Had Retired.
Joseph Jefferson, the veteran actor
is very sensitive on the subject OF
his retirement from the stage He
has been before the footlights since
q small child, and he has never
shown any desire to leave it. The
interviewer who puts the question OF
fareweils 10 him gets rather sharp
but pleasant reply, but reporter in
the south yecently got the best of him.
The actor came down stairs at the
hotel one morning ard was much dis
t.rbed to find long but mysterious
ly worded article in which the word
retired wac closely connected with
his name. lie krc" the managing
editor and made a half-hearted com
plant. The reporter was called in
and asked where he got the story
The city editor told me to see Mr.
jefferson said tle young man, and
ask him il he vas going to retire"
Wei. did yol sec him." said the
editor
No. ST." said the reporter. az sent
~ my card 10 his room AID Il w@s
sent hec.i with this written on il:
"'1ir. Jefferson las retired"
Aad t.e2 the actor who sleeps
twenty years il every performance
took the repcr;c. ont and bought hin
q five.Go.!2r hat-,;Aw York Times.
Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1903-07-18
THINGS WORTH KNOWING.

Canada now has 10000 miles OF rail
way.
Uncle Sans annual income is S5ss
8S7.I4S.
Russia has fity-scvcn warslips Al
Port Arthur.
The colonies 81 the world have one
third OF its population.
Florida's orange and pineapple CT i
is estimated at s.. goo 900.
Nearly onc-hali oi the mortaii.' j"
the United States is from diseases q
the lungs. and IS per cent. oil it pre-
vcntable
In the first hall OF 1905 five railways
went into the hands OF receivers. but
they aggregate but seyenty-nine mile;
OF track
The postal receipts for the fiscal yea
ended with June were SI,6o8.o67. ar
increase over the previous year OF SI-5,
632.
There are 227 lcad-penci' factories il
Germany. which employ 1913 persons,
and export each year 1914 tons OF pen
ellis. worth S2.oco,o co.
Mr.. Carncgie's gifts to countries
other than the United States are re
corded to the amount oil $5.&I.35o,
making Mr.. Carncgic's total gilt t.
libraries Si1 .hh o-n
Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1903-07-18
HIS EaD-coLoRED WHISPERS
Il Was Good joke, but Trey Picked
Out the Wrono Man,

"a little joke happened at the turn
back there last year." said the stage
driver as the highway made { halt
circle to the vest.
What scrt of . iolc!" asked the
man CT the sea-. beside him.
Wall. arcag the passengers to
start iron Hill Top one mawnia' was
a administered man who was great
IN TIE blow. He said he'd almost
-iTc 500 to have the stage stopped
and that he wasn't afraid of no forty
road agents rolled into one.
This gave the boys an idea, and It
was put up tia: joe Harper should
be at that turn and purtend to hold
US up and see red wEiskers so down
irto his butos."
And did it come OFF,
1T did. When we reached the turn
I slowed up leetle and Joe jumped
out and yelled fur hands up pulled
Up the bosses and he hollered fur the
passengers to git down. Lord. how
Joe hollered. You could have heard
aim two mis- away. Everybody got
iown ard the passengers in the joke
purterded to be half-skeert TO death"
But how about red-whiskers?"
Fur about mint or two he pear.
sd to be ready to collapse, but then
he pulled himself together and it was
bad fur poor Joe Harper. He had
gun in both hands and he opened fire
and shot to kill.
Il don't Know how many bullets he
shot into Joe, but it wasn't less'n six.
snd then he put in half an hour to
see If any more robbers was on
hand
Then the joke was not a success"
Not skassly, sah-not skassly. Joe
Harper is lyin' in his grave back
thar, while the administered man
was so mad about the put up job
that he driv all the passengers out Of
the stage ard made them walk
f.teca miles"
I'm great hand fur q joke, sab
but | ANT jokin' no more-rot with
administered men. They may be
great hands to brag. but they ais
is loaded FUR bar"
Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1903-07-18

sGnds which they are constantly publish
ing, thus proving their genu:neress.
"For about two years I suffered fro:,, n very
obstinate case OF dyspepsia writes X. i. Secord.
ESQ, Of = Eastern Ave. Toronto. Ontario. IT
tired great number OF remedies witioi; sue
cess. I finally lost faith in them all. wa 50
fa- gone that coulG not for long time bear
any solid food il my stomach; icl; melancholy
ard depressed. Could not sleep nor follow my
ccSur2;ics. Some four months ago q friend
recommended your Golden Medical Discovery
After weeks treatment had derived so rIuch
benefit that continued the medicine have
aiken three bottles and am convinced it has
in my case accomplished permanent cure
can conscientiously recommend it to the thou
sands OF dyspeptics throughout the land"
The Common Sense Medical Adviser.
Io.oS large pages i'll paper covers. is sent free
9n receipt OF 81 c-cent stamps TO pay cx-
rense OF mailing only. Address Dr.. r. V.
Pierce, Buffalo, y. !.