davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1903-09-13
BIOGRAPHIES WANTED
By Cyrus Derickson.
By Cyrus Derickson.

visor himself, and It was news to him,
and news he did not like, that Reuben
was planning to mix in. He ala some
rapid thinking. Mr.. Graves had not
climbed into his buggy when he was
called back and a bargain concluded. The
rest Of the afternoon and all the evening
was spent IN listening to Silas Bebee's
history, covering . period OF some hfty-
six years. Mr.. Graves made copious
notes and nodded his head from time to
time, and all went we'll with the story.
Bedtime had come, and Silas had given
in sufficient matter for his ton pages,
when his wife. who had all along been
doing a heap of thinking. rose up and in
CURED:
''Silas. am TO be left out OF this
thing II I didn't amount to shucksf
II haven't helped you to be the biggest
toad in the puddle, who has?'
They never say anything in books
about big women, do theyT he asked OF
Mr.. Graves.
We'll, very seldom" was the reply
81 believe they have mentioned Cleo
patra and one or two others. but those
were exceptional cases. Still, as your
wife says"
The result was that Mrs. silas Bebee
was given three pages and a portrait
in the book, all for the sum Of So cash
in advance. and the clock had struck
midnight before she got through telling
how often she had had rheumatism. hys-
terics and bronchitis. and how many
yards OF rag carpet and barrels Of oft
soap she had made during her married
life There was son in the family
named Joe. He had nothing to say that
evening but he got up next morning to
claim his rights. AS the son Of Bebee.
and the biggest Bebee OF them all. he
wanted to be known or men, and II was
finally decided that he should have two
pages and a portrait for FIVE dollars. IL
was dog cheap, and Mr.. Graves would
lose money on 1t, but he had started out
TO see the Bebee family throueh ara
must do it even II he went broke. IT
took him three days to get through with
the family during which be had free
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1903-09-13
By T. Blair Eaton.

fancy she doesn't dream her plans have
merely succeeded IN setting Us conspirtng
to defeat her schemes. I'm almost sorry
for her.
She's SO terribly In earnest about it."
said the girl. Every time she makes
those idiotic excuses and leaves US I
think I'll speak my mind plainly to her.
Then / go upstairs simply boiling and
she meets me with such a bless-you-rny-
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. sort Of air
that 1 haven't the heart to say a word.
Now" she said rising. II shall leave you,
Tor you want to be alone and finish your
smoke"
Really. Miss Martin" he began.
Now, don't spoil it all by saying
things which are generally expected at
such time" she said. 81 like you best
when you're perfectly frank"
wish you wouldn't CO." he persisted
I want a promise from you before I
leave" she said Don't go down IN your
catboat tomorrow to the picnic on Pop
lar Island with the feet, will you?''
"Why2" he asked.
ITS high time we were taking the field
against Aunt Elizabeth. She counted on
our sailing down with you. told her you
weren't going"
And you're going back day after to-
morrow" he said almost reproachfully.
you must back my word" she said.
answered.
Thanks. Goodnight" she called and
was gone.
Fosdeck STROBE down the walk toward
the water He was thinking Of the girl
as she stood there on the veranda- the
moonlight on her copper-colored hair and
her dark eyes looking frankly into his
own. Half way down to tho water he
stopped suddenly and dug his toe Vicious
ly into the gravel.
"Oh, hang Aunt Elizabeth" he growled.
Fosdeck watched the fleet depart for
the island next morning, with them Miss
Martin and her aunt. He spent a miser-
able day wandering about the woods be-
hind the hotel. Late IN the afternoon he
took the catboat and sailed down past
the Island, where he saw the feet an
chored, and caught a glimpse Of the
merry picnic party on the shore. Then
he sailed southwark. and not until he
saw the fleet start for home did he turn
about to come back.
AS he neared Poplar Island he saw
some one fiuttering a handkerchief from
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1903-09-13

strove to Guido each other. the waltz
came to an end, while the perspiring nu-
sicians mopped their faces and cursed in
cultural German these Wednesday night
hops.
William Fosdeck stepped through the
low window to the veranda with a sigh
Of relief and q sense Of duty done.
AS he turned the corner to claim his
favorite nook some one called: "Oh. good
evening, Mr.. Fosdeck."
He turned and beheld Gertrude Martin
and her aunt in the shadow OF the Ivy
vine. 1t was Aunt Elizabeth who had
hailed him.
'Ah not dancing, see," Eaid Fosdeck
throwing away the newly lighted cigar
ette-with what inward thoughts may be
imagined-and taking the vacant chair by
Miss Martin.
NO" said the girl; tits so delightful
here"
"A trihe chilly, though, Gertrude, dear
her aunt said. IF you'll both excuse me
for a moment. think I'll get wrap"
"shan't 1 get 1t for you, Mrs. Curtis, u
said Fosdeck.
"Oh thank you. no." Aunt Elizabeth
returned. II really don't know where
mine is. and 1 anticipate quite a hunt
before I finally run 1t to EARTH"
AS Aunt Elizabeth disappeared around
the corner the girl signed reslgnedly.
"Oh, dear" she said, ITS too absurd.
She invariably stampedes within three
minutes after you appear, and her mo-
tive Is so horribly obvious"
Fosdeck laughed Her methods are
a trife OPEN" he observed.
al wanted you to hate me-" she said.
Last winter" he said slowly, when
your Aunt Elizabeth was preaching you
to me all the time 1 decided II 1 ever
met you to dislike you very much"
I'm glad, after all, It hasn't made US
enemies" she said.
$50 am l." he asserted with fervor
that made her glance up at him quickly.
"Poor Aunt Elizabeth he went on, 81
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1903-09-13

though in his swelling visions Of the fu-
ture she was no more than a dumb, sub
missive shade. II she would never be a
brilliant figure, still less would she be
one or whom husband must needs be
ashamed. Indeed, he was altogether a lit
Tie more than content with the ordering
or things unti,, six months before his
wedding DAY, he came under Miles spell.
He saw her first upon a spring morning
fun OF hot, shining and languid ruff1ing
airs. Dew still sparkled on the grass and
overhead in the green gold of new leaf
age robins fiuted delicately the Joy of life
and love. To his enchanted eyes Mile
emoooleo the shining, the bird song. the
so1tness or the south wind, the warmth
OF the sun. What they said is immateriaI
Tor two hours they walked together over
the ragged lawn turf, or stood In rapt
contemplation Of newly opened roses And
then, In a safe seclusion OF greenest
snade, he drew her within his arms and
kissed her, not lightly, but as one who
taxes what is supremely his own.
Then followed a heavenly fortnight
Eustace masterfully pushed out Of his
mind ali thought that might mar this new
pnss. He rarely spoke his love- and after
that nrst kiss was sparing of demonstra-
tion-there was no need OF 1t when each
understood so perfectly what was the 9TH
ers heart. Yet at the end of every days
comradery Eustace had sense Of some
thing impending, ever drawing nearer He
refused to let himself. look further than
the next days end, but somehow, some
where, he knew he would be called to pay
a bitter scot
His chiefest care was for Mile. No
narm must touch her, however II Jared
with him. She was so young so inno-
Gently gay so innocently foolish, he was
oouoiy bound to protect her even against
himself. 1t was heaven to see her bloom
and sparkle at his approach; she left her
SER SO artlessly undefended, now and
again there came jump in his throat
a man who could speak, who could even
think' lightly OF her would deserve death
twice over.
30 the idyl drifted through hours.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1903-09-13

orablc art of cribbing passes not away.
Alfred's alleged benefactor had often told
him that he sent him to college to learn
how to work: and he did work-every one
in sight, up to and including the afore-
said alleged benefactor.
If any wanderer from his native wilds
had met him at this stage of his career
he could not have told him from Ward
McAllister, Harry Lehr or any other
bright and shining example to his KIND.
The four years came to an END at last,
as everything does except trouble ana
Alfred was turned loose on an innocent
and unsuspecting world wrapped IN ms
diploma and an air of grand and unsuoou-
able magnificence. He was educated-on,
no doubt about ii. He knew exactly what
kind of tie to wear In the morning anu
the exact variety of trousers tnat shouLu
gladden. the world In the afternoon. ne
could wear a Prince Albert as one TO the
manner born, and he was an expert VIII
ness on the subject of hats. Also, he had
a large acquaintance among the chorus
girls of half the theaters IN town. ana ne
could order a dinner Tor -FOUR at the
Walledorff- Castoria without ever iettinS
the waiter suspect that IN ms carry youth
he had prushed his hair with a curry
comb and performed his morning aolu-
tions in a tin pail Running an automo-
bile was as easy to him as running IN oept
is to the average man, ana ne coulo pich
the winner at least once out OF twenty
seven times in the Gravesend Embezzlers
Handicap.
The dark secret of his birth remained
forever buried IN the recesses OF nus own
bosom and no one could have TOLD from
the way he spent money that ne nao oeen
born west of Hackensack. His educauon
was complete and he was fully as useless
as though his name had been hyphenated
from his birth Alfred's meteoric career
is merely another example OF the grand
truth that knowledge is not only power
hut an excellent preparation for the re-
moval of disfguring birthmarks
Copyright, 1908. by Albert Britt
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1903-09-13

grass. he was a child of nature and he
gioried in ii. His hair was cut a la Jo-
ham Most and his trousers had never
even seen his shoes, TO say nothing of
having met them. His hat was Of the
standard soap-dish variety and his manly
throat was innocent Of the clinging en-
brace Of a necktie.
Alfred had been shaken out Of his ma
tive tree by philanthropist from the eff
fete East with taste for collecting flint
arrowheads and other relics of the stone
age; Alfred appearing 10 have all the ear
marks of a rough diamond. he had bid
him IN along with the lot and taken him
East 10 have a little extract OF culture in
3ected into him. After his hair had been
carefully manicured and a fifteen-dollar
suit of clothes had been hung on him he
was turned over TO a dignihed gentleman
with a black tie and a string of degrees
that looked Ike a hemorrhage of the al
phabet. who was expected TO chloroform
him and rub down some OF the rough
places q his Intellect.
This was Alfred's first round with
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1903-09-13

the pier. He ran ashore 70 nnd Aunt
Elizabeth and Miss Martin on the pier
head
This Is rare good fortune" Aunt
Elizabeth said tngenuously, they came
aboard. Presently she found an excuse
to go below.
"Oh. what made you sail down past
here" said the girl. when they were
alone. Aunt Elizabeth recognized the
boat by a queer pennant you fly. OF
course, then she cOntrived to have US
left behind when the feet sailed back.
and slgnaled you when you came along. q"
Poor soul, I wanted to give her one
more chance he returned.
Let's go outside going back" she sug-
gested. 'It'n be rough out there IN this
wind"
your aunt" he began doubtfuny.
It's what she deserves" she said
Erfmly.
They went outside the chain OF islands
into the strong breeze and rough water.
Salt spray few over the bow in bucket
fuls as they sped along. Miss Martin sat
on the edge OF the cockpit, her hair in
fine disarray in the wind and her eyes
shining
Isn't this glorious7' she said. '.Fm
almost grateful to Aunt Elizabeth for
once"
One little hand grasped the rail near
the wheel. Fosdeck watched Il hungrfly
and suddenly decided the wheel needed
but one OF his own brown hands. The
other closed over the little hand on the
rail. She looked up IN surprise, but made
no attempt to withdraw It.
''If Aunt Elizabeth hadn't preached you
TO me on all conceivable occasions ia
propose" he said, his voice husky with
emotion.
''If Aunt Elizabeth hadn't thrown me
at your head ia accept you" abe 70
turned.
Let's call Aunt Elizabeth MI" he
cried.
Let's" she replied very softly.
His free arm drew her gently from the
rail and close beside him, and at that mo-
ment some one came up through the
companionway. Aunt Elizabeth stood be-
fore them clutching the little brass rail.
very white and shaky; but even IN that
moment OF physical anguish she beamed
upon them triumphantly as one who has
fought good hght.
"Ah. 1 knew IT from the very nrst,"
she said weakly.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1903-09-13

tnre. Beside Il was q briefer statements
ssTat Il be understood OF all men, II I die.
I shall have died IN mans quarrel.
rounded on no personal grudge. but re-
senting unjust aspersions upon my native
State" She almost smiled over 1.-THE
native State counted to Joe for so very
little in the ordinary course OF life.
Twenty minutes later. Just as the sun
peeped over trimming trees, she came out
in a little clearing upon a wooded hilltop
and saw two men. standing weapon in
hand face to face, ten yards apart Three
other men, a little way of, had scared
White faces. but neither combatant had
lost wholesome color. Mile sprang be-
tween them, white as a dawn wrath, but
with eyes like glowing Goals She lung
I'D her arms and said very clearly: Fire,
gentlemenl II anybody deserves death
DOR
'sMuliei Go backP' Joe Cantrell thun-
dered. Eustace dropped his pistol and
leaped to the girls side. IN her ear he
whispered brokenly: DarhnS' Iet MN
kill me; 1t IS the best way out OF ~ al.
NiIlfe shrank from him little Ihere
"a no naed for bloodshed," she said; then
raising her voice so the seconds couId
hear, IT call all here to witness that
have not been deceived. 1 knew Al TIC
very first OF John Eustace OeCrOtus-A-
We have done no wrong TO anybody -
we love each other because we cannot
help It. Oh, II Is hard that my own
brother brings me 10 such open shameI
Come homer Cantre1 said, roughly,
fiinging away his pistol and clutching her
arm Eustace caught tho other hand
saving: stay with me. Milliel The whole
world may go II have you"
"Good-by," Mile said. drawing away
her hand ct shall love you always. john
but your wife need not be Jealous"
BY the strange orderings OF fate that
was A true word. John Eustace went
straight to Alice and told her al the
truth. She gave him back his freedom,
and would have given him half her money
only he would not have It But he could
not persuade Mile to marry him until
Toe. the masterful. had wooed and won
Alice Ellison and her fortune.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1903-09-13

course. and then he headed for the house
OF Reuben II was understood that he
must call there to ask Reuben bis exact
age. but he must not go beyond that
Reuben was In the corn Geld with his
hoe, and he leaned against the fsnos and
heard what the publisher had 20 say and
then replied:
by gum, but I always knowsd silaa
Bebee was a sneak and now It's proved.
He wants folks TO think he's thu Big BE-
bee, does he3 Wants the world to believe
that all the other Bebees stand around
and look at him with their mouths omen ,
Wall. IN bust ND his little circus for
him"
The rest was easy. OF course. Than.
was 5alathiel, his wife and two sona s,,6
two daughters, and all had to 20 mo
that book regardless OF space or cost NJ
Graves was not an impetuous man. and
ne TOOK MS time writing out his notes and
managed TO get five days free board and
lodgings. Then he departed to ssvTo~i-ss
Moses, Abraham. Joab. Peter. Paul -
several other Bebees, securing Victims, a.,
each and every family, and IN one tn
stance taking In everything from the
grandmother down to the infant IN the
cradle. He put IN q fun month a. ~
work. and he had the best beds srd 49,,
best meals. After his coming the Bebees
no longer neighbored, and thew nasse5
each other with their heads held high and
their noses turned up. In one or two cases
the young men came to blows. ana la.vv-
suits were started over old matfe-,
Things were edging along toward a Eriev
Gus state OF affairs when Mr.. Graves and
his notes and his money departed. and
three days later a detective arrived in
search OF him nd exposed him as a
gwtndler. The Bebees didn't want To and
eoulon believe It at first but the evil
dence submitted was too strong Tor them
to stand against, and after a due amount
OF weeping and wailing and swearing a
meeting OF all the families was held and
It was unanimously
Resolved, That while the Bebees date
back to the year 800, this year OF 1900 saw
the whole durn caboodle making fools ~
themselves without reason or excuse ana
we won't do It again.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1903-09-13
farmers hoell

farmers hoelng their corn, when some
thing like cloudburst happened.
A stranger arrived at the house
of Silas Bebee, and sat down to a boiled
dinner with him, and afterward held q
long and interesting conversation. Mr..
Graves, as the stranger gave his name,
was one OF the partners in a big publish
ing house which made speciality of pub
fishing the biographies Of the old and
eminent families of America. The name
of Bebee, as he had discovered by long
and patient research, dated back to the
year 800, and had been borne by princes.
dukes, counts, barons, poets and soldiers.
What Mr.. Graves wanted was to bring
the Bebee biography down to Silas, and
let the world know that the family was
still on tap and as eminent as In days
of yore. The biography and the portrait
would be free, but in order to cover the
cost of the glue and the stitching Silas
would have to come down with SIS in
cash.
at don't think I'll trade" was the re-
ply when the caller had stated his case.
Mr.. Graves seemed to have prepared
himself for just such an answer, and he
turned away with:
VERY we'll, Mr.. Bebee. As you are the
most prominent of the family I naturally
came to you first. but as you don't care
for the honors 1 shall go to Reuben.
think he will jump at the opportunity
being as he wants to be elected County
Supervisor next year. Good-day, Mr.. Be
bee"
There wasn't feeling Of brotherly love
between Silas and Reuben. Both wanted
to run things" and naturally that
brought about q clash. Eilas had some
thoughts Of running for County Super
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1903-09-13
/ZLLK 0PRAME
81 THEN T1EH
WHITE As {
A l4hW NRAI TT

pretty girl into an elfand queen. Mile
was. you see a Spanish blonde, with vel
vet-dark eyes and hair Of the palest gold.
Small wonder-in the blue gown-she
swept John Eustace of his feet and made
him forget some things he ought TO have
remembered.
His betrothed. Alice Ellison, for exam
pie. Alice was as good as her plentiful
gold. but stubby, dull colOred. and. on the
surface, dun witted. She was above all
things. dUtiful Duty was, indeed, the
early root OF her love for John. If she
had not happened 10 be born the Ellison
fortune would have gone to Johns father,
Ellison EUstace. Her father had married
I'm a fit OF pique when he was on the edge
of 20. He lived TO see his daughter 9
years old and 10 impress upon her that
she must marry her second cousin and so
keep the money IN the Ellison blood.
John, five years older than Alice, had
accepted his fate phiiOsOphically. Until
chance flung Mile across his path he
had never repined. An only child and
motherless. he had grown UP his father
intimate comrade. Thus women, especial
~ young women, had never worn for him
the roseate glamour of unschooled youth.
Still. his father had by no means tried
70 put an old head upon young shoulders,
nor to breed in his son contempt for wOm-
enkind. X was only that love and wom-
en- were pushed to the background. reck-
Oned mere episodes beside the rush and
scurry Of truly manly pursuits. Mar
rage was honorable in oil men-marriage
with Alice would be thrice honorable,
safe and profitable. Thus. when she
came to IS, John had a certain satisfac-
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1903-09-13

HEN Alfred was
captured in the
Missouri jungles and
brought into the
settlements he was
about the best imi-
tation Of a rough
diamond that ever
came out of the tall
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1903-09-13

HE orchestra leader
waved his baton. en-
ergetically. az II
3 u m m o ming his
dropping charges to
squirt In the last
quarter. Then. with
a final roar, in which
drums and cymbals
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1903-09-13

EBEE Settlement
was so called be-
cause so many
farmers OF that
name. and all re-
lated. had settled
there. 1t was at
peace with q ! l
mankind, and the
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1903-09-13

ton in putting the ring upon her finger
and even chafed a little over the fact
that, by her fathers express desire, she
was to stay single until she was one and
twenty.
truly felt for her a tender fondness that
had begun when, a sturdy little lad, he
had guided her tottering baby steps. He
meant always to guide, guard and cher
ish her as became a gentleman, even
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1903-09-13
FOSDECK'S NEMESIS

Copyright. 1903. by T. C. MocSurs.)
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1903-09-13

Z Mile had not worn
her blue gown the
story might have been
different. Whether II
was the color or the
fun Of It, or the way
Il chung to and nodded
her slim suppleness, no
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1903-09-13

body could say. but the fact was patent.
somehow I: transformed her from very
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1903-09-13

Copyright. 1903, by T. c. McCIure.)
Morning appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1877-1906, 1903-12-09
GOVERNORS PossuM RANCH
Already Some Of the Product is in
Evidence.

Recently 1t was announced that the
Governor had imported q number Il
possums from Texas and was going
to start a possum ranch. Some of his
friends we're disposed to be incred-
ulous and cast some dfscredit on the
story.
Yesterday all doubts were set ut
rest as George. the colored foreman
of the possum section of the Govern
or's ranch, came to Carson direct
from the ranch with the first New
ada possum that has been killed.
1t weighed dressed about six pounds.
The little animal had been split down
the breast bone and flattened out like
a pan cake It's kidneys were rolling
with fat and the meat resembled that
of a sucking pig. A number Of people
were at the Gubernatorial Office yes
terday viewing the remains of the
possum and several who had lived in
the south pronounced it the genuine
article which the colored population
hunt for by the light of the moon,
after the first frost nips the punkin.
"Taters, dope and possum" is the
main thing for the table at the time
The Governor, to show that he Is
not bound by PARTISAN lines, sent the
dressed animal to H. M. Yerington
who is confined to his house with sick
ness.
Quite number of people who have
tasted possum meat followed George
along the street as if they desired s.n
interview. 1t is rumored that Jud &c
Bonnifield edged up to the bearer OF
the meat and asked him if twenty dol
lars would be an object, but George
declined to do business as he was
commissioned to deliver it elsewhere
The possum is frozen solid and it i.
rumored that Mr.. Yerington will
serve the gift Of the Governors OIL
Sunday next and is already figuring
on the invitations.