davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-11-15

1t was a single action pistol and 1t
clicked ominously.
Begin" said Dawson shortly.
With trembling fingers Weldon drew
pen and paper from the blotter in the
center of the table. hesitated a mo-
ment, and then stopped.
My God" he said thickly-and now
the drawing room was forgotten and
his talk was of the mountains-"my
| God, I'd sooner have it said /
played dirt for a woman"
Miss Madison rejected me last
night" returned the other quietly.
"Then what"
Dawson ripped out an oath that was
full of agony.
Cant you understand" he cried
"She's not for the likes of me, and I'm
damned if she's going to throw her
self away on the likes of you. Be
GIN" The pistol came nearer.
Trembling with hate and rage, yet
awed into obedience, Weldon began to
write. But before a dozen words had
been put to paper, Dawson's debating
voice trailed off into a silence and the
outcast looked up. The pistol had
dropped down, and now hung Imply
at the Coloradian's side, while his eyes
were bent on something across the
room 1t could mean but one thing,
and suddenly sick it heart, Weldon
turned. In the doorway, surprise, out
ragged dignity and contempt all show
ing on her face, stood Hilda Madison.
The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-11-15

A few days after this exciting eX-
perience, the hunter fell in suddenly
with three black bears. He shot one,
female, left her for Dead and chased
the others. After hot pursuit, a sec
ond bear was shot and apparently
killed. Bear No. Three was then pur-
sued, but got away.
Mr. Hornaday returned to the spot
where he had left Bear No Two, but
to his surprise found no bear there. Il
ter, that he wasn't dead enough to
skin, so he picked himself up and went
about his business"
After trying in vain to find him, Mr..
Hornaday and his native beaters went
back to the place where they had kill
ed the first of the three bears. BY a
remarkable coincidence, that bear was
gone also. She hadn't been dead eth
er, and had gone off, dragging her
wounded hind-quarter after her.
Mr. Hornaday and one of his beaters
followed her bloody trial. and came
suddenly within twenty feet OF her be-
fore they knew it.
"She saw us first" Mr.. Hornaday
said. "She wheeled around and came
charging at US, dragging her hind
quarters after her. Her jaws were
wide set and her eyes glistened fercely,
while her angry growls told us that
she was desperate and meant mis-
chief My bearer shouted a warning
and then vanished, but 1 stood still
until she got within ten feet of me,
and then fired at the center of yell
| low crescent on her breast. That shot
The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-11-15
Va. hORNA0ATS BIGGEST CATCH
WITH a HOOK AND LINE

butter. At this establishment Mr..
Hornaday received a thorough practi-
cal training as collection naturalist
and taXidermist preparatory to being
sent ION the road" for the great ami
NAL dealers send out travellers all over
the world to find all kinds of zoolog-
1cal specimens, from elephants to bats,
just as manufacturing firms send out
their "drummerS" to hunt up trade.
Mr.. Hornaday was sent to Florida to
collect geological specimens He won
his spurs there, while still a beardless
youth, by discovering and sending up
North the first specimen of the Flor
ida crocodile which ever came out of
the country. That crocodile is now
one of the treasured possessions of the
National Museum at Washington.
Mr.. HornadaV, with a companion,
tracked the crocodile to a creek run
ming out of the Everglades. They hid
in the early morning near the beasts
home, and, after waiting for hours,
managed to get shot at it. Mr..
Hornaday sent bullet through his eye,
which, contrary to the general belief
of hunters, did not kill it, but simply
made it crazy. 1t had it's strength
left, but could not see and did not
know what to do. Wallowing in the
blood-tinged water of the creek,
! champlng its jaws and threshing it's
tail in frantic impotency, the crocodile
was a CHASTITY sight; but it chung to
life so tenaciously that seven bullets
had to be fired into its thick hide be-
fore it finally gave up the ghost.
Having begun to make his reputa-
ton by this Florida trip, Mr.. Honaday
was sent off to Cuba, where he hob
nobbed with both the Spaniards and
the Cubans during the instruction of
1875, and then to South America. In
1876 he was sent to the East Indies on
his greatest trip, to spend two years
roaming at will through the jungles of
India, Ceylon, the Malay Peninsula,
and Borneo.
1t was on this trip that Mr.. Horna-
day made for himself a reputation
among big-game hunters. Few men
have shot so many ferocious beasts
as he did during those two years.
Elephants, Indian bison, tigers, Loop
ards, crocodiles, orang-outangs, CHM
panzees, gibbons and bears fell to his
gun by the score, to say nothing of
hundreds of antelopes, oXis deer, ga
zelles, monkeys and such like small
fry. His bag of orang-outangs alone
numbered forty-three.
During these two years he had adj
ventures enough to provide material
Cor half a dozen boys books had he
cared to write them. Many a time he
narrowly escaped death from the wild
beasts which he hunted. He lived on
The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-11-15
WILLIAM T: HORNADAY

the tips curled forward, and the
strides of her massive legs were enor-
nous.
Luckily she came on in dead ST.
lence, or l should have been fright
ened out of my wits. AS it was, | felt
as If was going to be run over by II
locomotive. I knew it was useless
folly to run, for in a few strides she
would have been upon me.
when l saw her coming I stood up
quickly and faced her, threw my gun
up to my shoulder, and fired both bar
rels at the base of her coiled-up trunk,
in the direction of lie brain. She
was within fifteen PAGES of me when I
fired, but the laundering report, the
smoke, and two zinc balls crashing
into her skull close to her brain
stopped her charge. She sheered off
suddenly and rushed into the forest,
trumpeting shrilly once or twice. d.
rectly, there was a grand crash and a
rush in the thicket as the herd broke
away and started off, and that was the
last we saw or cared to see of it.
Then l had time to reflect on what
might have been had my caps failed
to explode or my powder been damp.
"Once, when walking on railway
! track in a snowstorm. / was very
nearly run over by a locomotive COM
ing down a grade in mufiied silence,
and my sensations then were precisely
| the same as when that old female ele-
plant came charging down that grassy
slope. The approach Of the powerful
machine and the living monster
| seemed exactly alike"
The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-11-15

Dawson was the first to speak.
II am sorry" he began. but she ST.
fenced him with an icy stare and
turned to Weldon.
Mr.. Hills" she demanded, what
does this meant"
The outcast could only stare and
stammer a miserable, trembling
wreck. AS she vainly sought out his
eyes, the other calm. level voice cut
in.
Mr. Weldon" he corrected. Then.
leaning forward, he picked up the pa
per on which the ink was not yet dry,
and held it toward her. This is the
explanation"
Her gaze swept from the virile man
before her to the creature at her ell
bow. And as she looked, the conven-
lions that had blurred her judgment of
men seemed to break. Mechanically she
went to take the paper, which was still
held toward her Then, all in the
space of a second a husky, stihed
oath broke out in the room, and a cold,
twitching hand grasped her wrist
"That-that is mine," said Weldon.
1T is directed to Miss Madison" said
Dawson gravely.
"Release my wrist M.-Mr.-"
The doubt in her voice stung him as
no words had ever done. In moment
all the traditions of an outlaw life
came back to him, and in that same
moment he had clutched the paper
and had torn 1t into ,shreds.
Slowly the room sank into silence.
Dawson was breathing heavily.
You have insulted me-" said the girl
at last.
No" Weldon burst out, "'tis you
who have insulted me. deny your
right to read and believe lies 1 wrote
while in fear of my life. You would"
She stopped him.
THAT paper was directed to me-"
she said LAS for force" She turned
to Dawson, somewhat as queen might
turn to her subjects. and then of a
sudden stood still, Gained and subdued
by the gravity and the patience OF his
face.
Its a pretty onery cuss as would
put a lie to paper for any man." he
said.
She believed him, and with just the
suspicion of disdain in her movements,
once more turned to Weldon.
Il can guess what was on that pa
per-" she said, butts 1t true?'
A word of denial trembled on his
lips, but would not come. Then pride
came to his rescue, to submerge any
real feeling he may have felt. Draw
ing a cigar from his pocket. he lit II,
and then, buttoning his coat with de-
liberate care he walked to the door.
ut is true" he said slowly: good
by"
Very quietly Dawson lowered the
trigger Of his pistol and placed the
weapon in his pocket, and all the while
her warm, blue eyes followed his every
movement. Presently, from the hall
came the stamping OF feet, and then
the street door opened and closed.
HE Is gomez" she whispered.
Eyes," he answered.
The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-11-15

do you intend to do now?''
1.-THE same as l intended doing right
along. There is a charge of murder
hanging over you, Weldon, and l know
a sheriff who would like to see you.
How you ever skinned out of Colo
RADIO don't know, and I'm plumb gone
on how you ever got in with this clique,
though some OF the boys called you
Gentleman Jack. But one thing l
90 know, Weldon, and I've got that
dead to rights-you've got to drop this
game"
"And if / don't?"
"Then Miss Madison"
Weldon laughed. "She won't believe
you. She didn't, you know"
but she will this time" said Daw-
son, with the same gravity. Because
you see, Weldon, I'm going to force
you to write a confession"
There was quiet determination in
the tone, and as Weldon, schooled in
dealings with desperate men, listened
the smile died out of his face. Again
he became the desperado, reckless,
| devil-may-care, fighting against the
natural law of things. Dawson saw
the change, and the muscles round his
mouth hardened
"How are you going to do it?'
asked Weldon.
"This way" His hand went back
came forward, and the other stared.
Begin"
mo" burst out Weldon, 'rll
: hn
The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-11-15

"will-will you call someone? I
feel faint"
He caught her as she tottered to-
ward him, and taking her wholly IN
his arms, he bore her off to sofa in
a corner of the room. AS he laid her
down, her white fact and colorless lips
frightened him, and for a moment he
was of a mind to call for help But
there would then be questions asked
that neither he or she would care to
answer, and after a moments consid-
Grafton, he drew a chair to the side
of the sofa and began to fan her face.
1t was a pretty face that was turned
up to him, but one in which the chin
was woefully weak, for she was a
creature of impulses. For all that as
he sat and watched her. she seemed to
him perfect, and a sudden fiery passion
that was more than love rose up from
the depths Of his heart and choked his
throat
He arose to his feet. He must leave
her but first he must tell her all, and
going to the table, he began to write.
Once she stirred, but he did not hear
ner. and when he came to his feet again
she was lying as he had left her.
Had he been a man of guile, he
would have known she was surveying
him through a wavering slit of open
eyelid. For a long while he stood
over her, tall and silent; then, laying a
trembling hand on her forehead, he
stopped suddenly kissed her, and went
unsteadly out of the room.
She waited until she heard him
climbing the stairs; then she swung
out on the floor, and, walking to the
table, seized the paper. Already the
corners of the room were dark with
the dusk of night, and taking 1t to the
window, she held it up to the light
and read:
Miss Madson--When your brother
asked me to come East and visit him,
/ thought a mine superintendent OF
the old school was just as good as the
next man; now / know different l
don't want you 10 think / played dirt
with Weldon or was jealous; l only
wanted to save you, for l knew he
wasn't straight. And now that I've
done IT, I'm going home. love you,
and / always will, and some day,
when I'm something more than l am
now, I'm coming back here again, and
IL you're not married then, I'm going
to tell 1t to you all over again.
Robert Dawson"
The paper fell to the floor Out
in the darkening garden a cricket sang
to a silvery edge of moon, but she
did not hear 1t. Her mind was Crap
ping with a problem that was not new
to hel but which was being solved,
perhaps, for the last time. For many
minutes she stood there, and little by
little. as she pondered, a smile of
happiness stole over her face Stoop-
ing, she picked the paper from the
floor. For a moment she stared at
it curoiously; then, pressing it to her
lips. she thrust it into her bosom and
went out into the hall.
Like a spectre she stopped at the
stairs and stood there. waiting. She
The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-11-15

finished her"
When on the sea coast of Selangore,
East Indies, Mr.. Horhaday did a new
stunt as a fisherman, which gained
for him some local reputation. With
hook and line he caught a crocodile
twelve feet long and weighing AIS
pounds. Needless to say it was not an
ordinary hook and line. The hook was
piece of tough green wood, ten inches
I, long and sharpened at both ends, so
affixed to the line that it would be
swallowed point foremost, but at the
slightest tug would fix itself crosswise
in the crocodiles interior. The line
was made Of tough green bark, which
could defy even a crocodile's sharp
teeth, and the bait was the body of a
sting ray.
Naturally, there was trouble when
the crocodile found himself hooked. He
rushed to and fro in the narrow, mud
dy creek in which he had been caught,
plunged violently, threshing the water
into huge waves, and nearly upset the
small canoe from which Mr.. Hornaday
was fishing The creek was alive with
| other crocodiles. and the fisherman
would have had but small chance of
| life had he been overturned into II.
| Luckily, he was not Presently the
| crocodile gave up the fight and suffer-
! ed himself to be dragged towards shore
| by n NUMBER Oh Wiling natives. lie
| tried in vain to escape by diving, un-
! til at last a well-aimed bullet cut his
| spinal marrow and ended his suffer-
ings. Few fishermen have ever made
a bigger catch.
But it is not as a hunter of big game
/ that Mr. Hornaday is chiefly known. AS
a trainer of wild animals, and a writ
err on animal subjects, he is a recog-
| nized expert.
mo, we don't have much serious
trouble with the animals" he replied
the other day to an inquiry put to him
at the Bronx Zoo of New York. They
rarely or never, escape. There has only
been one bad accident from an escaped
animal at this institution.
| do you see these two fingers?" in
dicating the third finger and little fin
ger Of his left hand. They are as USE
less to me as if they were amputated.
| An escaped bear bit through them.
That Is one of the unpleasant little
things liable to happen to a man in
my line of work.
Mr.. Hornaday thinks nothing of go
ing into a tigers cage to inquire about
the poor beasts toothache, or into a
den of a lioness to see If she Is treating
her cubs properly. He is a man of iron
nerve and indomintable will. There is
not an animal among the thousands
! under his charge which does not on
J occasion, recognize his mastery.
The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-11-15

& There goes the man who knows
4 ere about wild animals than any
BODY else in America, and probably
|nore than anybody else in the world"
The speaker pointed to a power
Eully-set, clear-eyed, bearded man who
tome wolves from one den to another
/ the New York Geological Park.
Yes" continued the speaker, THAT
S William T. Hornaday, the greatest
|yild animal man in this country. He
knows the mind and the temper of
tigers and wolves better than you or
know the mind and temper of our
children. He has spent his life study
big viii beasts in their native jungles,
Ehooting them to get their skeletons
lor museums, collecting them alive,
raining them, and writing about them.
He has built up more ZOOS and zoologi-
bad museums, 1 suppose, than any
bther living American"
William T. Hornaday is an example
bf the success which comes from life
long devotion to a steady purpose. In
Eoyhood he determined to know more
bout wild animals than other people,
bow he stands at the top of his pre-
tsssion. He is the director of the
Pew York Geological Park, and he is
known to biologists all over the
|Torld.
He was born forty-nine years ago
Ia what were then the backwoods of
Indiana. II belong to that rare and
species known as the ma
Five American" he says, land l was
Farm bred and farm reared. My
Father and brothers were keen sports
@nen good shots, and ardent lovers of
Nature, and 1 inherited the same
tastes. 1 can't remember the time
when I didn't love to be among wild
animals. Fortunately, my boyhood
pas spent in places where animal life
sEas abundant-in the forests of Gen.
4 raj Indiana and the prairies of Iowa.
4 hose forests and prairies have since
3een eaten up by the march of civili-
BATON, and one has to go farther
sfed to find wild life nowadays"
Mr.. Hornaday was educated in Iowa
&olleges, and there read Audubon and
earned that it was possible to make a
3 livelihood out of those practical nat
llral history studies which he loved On
seaving college, he went to an estab-
+ shment which supplies museums and
i geological gardens with their speci-
mems, and will even turn out an entire
museum of geological garden to order
p calmly as a grocer sells a pound OF
The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-11-15

terms of intimacy with the head
hunters of Borneo, and formed such
high opinion of their manners and
morals that he now holds them up as
the superiors of civilized man.
When he is asked which of his
many exciting adventures during those
two years he regards as being his
closest shave" Mr.. Hornaday usually
tells how he was charged by a huge
old female elephant in an Indian for
est belonging to the Rajah of Klun-
yud.
While tramping through the Jungle
he came upon q herd of elephants
which included this female and her
smooth, shiny calf, about three feet
high. 81 never saw a more demure
and cute looking animal than that abb
surd little elephant" said Hornaday
land 4 fairly ached to steal up and
grab hold of his trunk and have a tus-
sle> with him."
But he had to keep quiet because the
Rajah, who owned the forest, had only
The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-11-15
THE GENTLEMAN
FROM COLORADO
BY WILLIAM HEYLIGER.
Copyright. 1903, by William Heyliger.

Robert Dawson took a last despair
Ing look in the mirror, tugged franti-
cally at his collar and tie, and then
went down stairs. His steps were
|sow, his manner distracted. Once,
las burst of suppressed laughter rip
pied out in the hall above, his hands
S'Mtched nervously, and his lips part
4 Cd in a sudden, fiery damn" Through
me deserted drawing-room he sham
ped unconsciously deliberate, and
men on to the library beyond. He was
ulnking seriously, and for moment,
he opened the door, he was uncon-
SSous of the aroma of tobacco and of
The presence of another person. But
as slight polite cough brought him
I, himself, he looked up, started, smil-
e. and then went back and softly
Closed the door,
Mr.. Hills" he said, 1T have been
ngmnung you up for a long time"
l1e eyes of the two men met. Hill
fs leaned forward in his chair and
ie ,%d the ash from his cigar.
Did Miss Madison send you, Mr..
DaEson|' he asked.
No. came the quiet answer; I'm
WI WI my own hook. You're from the
From Colorado"
80 [ heard" Very slowly Dawson
@dSed around the library table, and
T'SWing up a chair sat down. so
heard. So am l."
Hills started.
What part ?" he asked.
southern; Las Animas county"
Mills hand trembled ever so little;
tn ae ash dropped from his cigar and
~ III On his trousers, but he let 1t stay
ron rushed. In the stiffness of the
c IIOn they heard door open and then
SS VS., and as the mufIled sound Of a
sbie.aL voice came to them, they
INV eu suddenly in their seats.
tbo mere are outlaws in my part of
,1n Gyoountry?" Dawson said grimly.
oIsaDd you know any of them?" His
paota r had gone out, but as he began
onsiIs the room he puffed nerv-
ny at the unlit but. ~ re-
Iinoef reading of one called Black
90 - Did you know him."
NOV, "A httle," answered Dawson. Hes
nam ~ u The East, sporting under new
lip suns whirled around, white to the
N9F a long. heavy minute they gazed
The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-11-15

permitted him to shoot male ele'
plants. Lying hidden in the dense
underground, he watched the herd
for over half an hour. Presently the
baby elephant wandered off, and Mr..
Hornaday tried to creep noiselessly
through the jungle after it. But he
was heard and before he could realize
his peril. the branches which screened
the herd parted suddenly, and the huge
old female elephant was upon him.
1t was a terrible moment. and Mr..
Hornaday always wakes eloquent in
describing it.
"She had sufficient distance to get
under full Roadway" he says, "and al
though my breath stopped and my
heart stood still with sheer fright,
yet realized she was the grandest liv-
ing object l ever saw-and the most
terrible. Her head was held high and
her trunk curled up under her mouth
to be uncoiled when within reach OF
me, 1 suppose. Her ears seemed to
stand out straight from her head with
The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-11-15

heard him long before he was near
her, but her tongue seemed suddenly
glued solid in her mouth, and he was
at the door before she found voice to
cry;
"Robert!'
Isis it you, Miss Madson?" he
asked at length.
Yes, she said, coming toward him
in the darkness. She was going to be
calm and very, very shy, but her hands
suddenly met his, and in a moment she
was lost In a sea Of passion. You
are going away to be something bet
ter she cried, land / want to go
with you and be something better,
too. Won't you take me, Robert?"
" Last night" he began tremously.
but she cut him short.
Last night is past. l want to go
with you now"
But why?" he stammered, drawing
her toward him as though he feared
to lose her, "why?"
Because" she said eveenly-be-
cause l love YOU"
The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-11-15

full into each others faces; then Hills
came back to the table and sat down.
In the garden behind the library birds
were cheerily chattering; across the
carpeted floor a thin shaft of after
noon sunlight danced and played
"Well?" said Hills at last.
'rWell?" Dawson shrugged his mas
sive shoulders. ut all depends upon
YOU, Mr.. Black Jack Weldon"
Have you told her - Miss Mad
SOM"
Eyes"
and"
"And," said Dawson steadily. she
wouldn't believe me, SAID was Jeal-
GUS"
In a flash veldon's face cleared. and
as he leaned back in his chair he
showed his white teeth in a sunny
smile. "Of course, you were not jeal-
Gus, Dawson, of course not; but what
Bisbee daily review., 1903-04-07

life Every should and have family around her. may talk of the responsibilities and worries of womans life left alone penniless, with family But EVEN THIS EA- FERENCE IS FOR HER GOOD
 The tendency of the American girl Of today remain single is ONE OF THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES TO BE DEPLORED. Marriage the last thing of which she thinks The love pf nde pendence strong that postpone the choice until erown difficult please exacng and fond of lib erv necessarily that forced remain sim gle l. is that she
Bisbee daily review., 1903-04-07
No Other Nation Has a Model Like WashinqtOn

is the great good fortune of the people of America, especially of the youth of America, tbat have for our national hero character whom they can take as
 model of behavior in every condition, every action, every occupation in life cannot think of