davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-04-12

We were in time. but with no fraction OF
a minute TO spare. We could hear the pad
pad-pad Of the light-fOoted runners close
upon US, following now by the noise we
made; and on our left the air was trembling
TO the thunder Of the mounted men coming
at a breakneck gallon down the road.
Thank God!" Gays Richard. with a quick
eyeshot TO right and left in the lesser gloom
of the open. Il was afeard even the chief
might miss the place in the dark. Down
the bank to the ~river,-quick. man. and
cautiousi II they smell US out now. we're
no better than buzzard meat," And when
We reached the waters edge: "You taught
me how to paddle a pirogue. Jack; I hope
you haven't lost the knack of It yourself"
No said /; and the three Of US slid the
followed log into the stream.
We were afioat in shortest order. holding
the canoe against the, current by clinging
10 the overhanging trees that fringed the
bank; vet with paddles poised for a second
dash for freedom should the need arise. I
should have dipped forthwith to save the
precious minutes. but Jennifer stayed me.
Hist" he whispered. Hold steady and
listen. They cannot see us from above:
mayhap we've thrown them of the SCENT
l thought il most unlikely; but his guess
was right and mine was wrong. Though
any of these savages could lift a trail in
daylight. following ii at top speed like n
trained bloodhound. yet now the darkness
Dai1ed them.
So there was some running to and fro IN
the road above our heads. and then the
troopers galloped down. Followed hastily a
Iaoored confab through the linguister. bro
Ken in the midst by a fury OF hot oaths
from Falconnet; and then the chase swept
on toward the plantations. and we were left
10 make their losing of us sure by what
soeyer means we chose.
We padded slowly up stream in silence,
Keeping well within the blacker shadow Of
the tree fringe. When We came opposite the
glowing ruins of the hunting lodge, Jenni-
Ter backed upon his paddle.
You'll go ashore?" said he.
l said / would, adding: They have
slaughtered poor old Darius. and 1 am
loath TO leave his bones for the buzzards
to pick
He made no comment other than TO swear
In sympathy. When the pirogue grounded
Inc indian was out Ike a cat. to vanish
phantom-wise among the trees. 1 followed
In some clumsier fashion. leaving Jennifer
to keep the canoe; but half way up the hill
he Joined me. and would not turn back for
all my urging. NO: hang me IL I'll let you
out Of eye-grip again" was all he would
say; and so We went together. and were
together at the seeing OF what the glowing |
ember-heap would show US.
Poor Tomas had his sepulture already. /
His cord had burned in two and let him
down 50 close beside the cabin wall that all
the blazing debris from the overhanging ]
caves had made his funeral pile. Darius lay
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-04-12

place Yesterday part OF the filth had been
removed. and Mrs. Hymer promised TO
clean the premises entirely.
BASEMENT FILLED WITH WATER
IN CROWDED NEGRO DISTRICT.
The most serious of all the sanitary
cases reported in the Third Ward can be
seen on North Twelfth. between Wash n
Carr streets. This district is known as
Kings place and in the twenty or thirty
tenement houses in the district there live
over 30 negro families.
All winter five feet of stagnant water has
stood in the cellars Of these
and smallpox and other dangerous diseases
have been contracted by the inhabitants
Now that summer is approaching the pros
pect Is even more serious.
A small street runs between the house.
and in this narrow avenue there are ash
piles. tin ans. refuse and other forms
OF fifth. The residents. thus far. have made
no effort to clean the place and will not
until they are compelled 10 d. 20 by the
authorities.
East Of Kings place. on Twelfth street.
there Is a row OF brick tenement-houses oc-
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-04-12

as / had last seen him.: and him we buried
in the maize clearing at the back. with the
ember glow for funeral lights.
II was A chanceful thing TO do. Since the
Cherokees had left their dead and wounded
and Falconnet the body OF his trooper who
had yielded me the musket, there was small
doubt they would return. Yet we had time
10 dig a shallow grave for my old hench-
man; to dig and fill It up again; and after
ward to make a circuit round the burning
pile 10 reach the river side once more.
When We had launched the canoe and
were afioat and ready for the start, the
Catawba was still missing.
where is the chief. think your" I askei:
but Dicks answer. II. indeed. he gave me
any. was lost in a chorus OF ear-spIltting
yells rending the silence Of the night like
demon cries. Then a single uIcIation. long
Drawn and fair blood chilling. answered
back and Jennifer sw.pt the piroZue stern
20 strand with a quick paddle stroke.
"Ihat last was Uncanoola's war cry.
they've doubled back in time to catch him
at it, he cried. Stand by TO drive her
when I give the word, Here he comes.''
Down the sloping hillside. cooking in the
red glow of the einber heap. more like 4
flying demon than a man. came the Catav-
la. one hand gripping the s~calpinG-knife.
the other flung alOft to haunt his terrible
trophies in sight OF his pursuers. They were
50 close upon him that waiting promised
death for all of us; so Jennifer dipped again
TO send the canoe a broad jump from the
bank.
'Resdy"' he cried. He'll take the water
Ike a fish. and We can pick him UP after
ward. Now!''
heard the clean-cut dive Of the Indian.
and struck the paddle deep to balance Jen-
nifer's stroke. But as I bent TO put my back
into II. some flying missile caught me fair
behind the ear. and but for Jeunifer's quick
wit / would have wampe the crazy staI-
lop. In a fash he jerked me fiat between
his knees and sent the pirogue with a
mighty thrust beyond the zone OF fire light.
At that. though all the sense was beaten
out OF me, | was alive enough to hear the
savage yells OF disappointed a behind
US; these and the splitting crackle Of a dozen /
rifles fired at random in the darkness But
afterward all sounds. saw the rhythmic dip
and drip OF Jennifer's paddle. faded on the
sense OF hearing. till. as It would seem. this
gentle monody Of dipping blade and tInkIing !
drops became a grooming lullaby to blot out
all the years that lay between. ana make
me once again a little child sinking asleep
in my young mothers arms.
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-04-12

What thIngs?' he questioned. promptly
"oh. many things She spoke often OF
you"
What did she say OF me. Jack? Tell me
what she said" he begged. 1T can make
no difference now: she Is less than nothing
to me-nRy. tits even worse than that. since
she would play Delilah II she could. But
oh. Jack. i love her,-I should love her II
stood on the gallows and she stood by 20
spring the drop and turn me orr
Truly. II the lash OF remorse had lacked
its keenest thong. this passionate outburst
of his would have added It None the less.
/ must needs be weaker than water and
fall back another step and put him on.
Another time. Richard 1 am strangely
unnerved and dizZy-headed now. BY and
by. when 1 am stronger. ! will tell you ALL"
Taking a reproach where none was meant,
he sprang up with a self-aimed Madison up
on his lack of care for me. stirred the fire
alive and brewed me a most delicious-smell-
ing cup OF broth. And afterward. when I
had drunk the broth with some small
beckonings Of returning appetite. he spread
his coat to screen me from the fire light
and would have driven me to sleep again.
AT any rate. you shall not talk" he
promised IF you are wakeful I will talk
to you and tell you what little 1 have
cleaned about the fighting"
His news was chiefly a later repetition of
Father Matthews and Captain Abram For
ney's, but there was this to add: the Con-
gress had appointed the Englishman. Hora-
ito Gates. chief OF the army in the South,
and this new leader was on his way to
take command.
De Kalb. with the Maryland and Della
ware lines and Colonel Armand's legion,
was encamped on Deep River, waiting for
the newly-appointed General: and Caswell
and Griffith Rutherford. with the militia,
were already pressing forward to some
handgrtps with my Lord CORVALLIS in the
South.
Nearer at hand. the partisan war-nre
famed afresh wherever n Tory company
met a patriot. and there were wicked
doings. more like savage mnssacres than
fair-fought battles OF the soldier sort.
When he had made an end Of his small
war budget. l set him on to tell me how
he came to be at hand to help me so in the
nick Of time on the nisht OF the cabin
sack.
Twas partly chance" he said. "A red
coat troop had me in durance at Jenni,er
House. and while they affected to held me
at parole. i never gave consent to thar. and
80 was kept a prisoner. They shut me
In the wine-bin with a guard. and
when the fellow was well soaked and silly,
l bound and gagged him and broke Jail. L
took the river for It. meaning to outIie un- !
III the hue and cry was over: and Just at
dusk Uncanoola dropped upon me and told
me OF your need From that to helping
MIN cut you out Of your rafle with the
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-04-12

li25. there IS a negro district known as
The ROokery." This district includes a
number OF dilapidated shacks. and from
two to four families live in each house. The
chimney is defective in one OF these houses.
and when the occupants start a fire smoke
emits from all sides OF the building. the
Notwithstanding being as defective as the
hue.
The houses are placed in two rows. one
row facing the alley. Between the houses
and on either side ashes and Nth are
stacked TO a height OF several feet and the
oder is nauseating.
4 block north OF 'The Rookery." on
Twelfth street, is a settlement OF Russian
Jews These families live in two and three
story tenements. and the sanitary agents
have forced them to get rid OF at least a
part Of the filth which made the property
unfit for habitation.
Rosie Hymer, an old woman. proved a
hard customer. Mrs. Hymer is the owner
OF three horses and in the barn in which
they were kept the oIal was piled to a
depth OF two feet. When Patrolman Ar
thur Grotpeter. accompanied by the young
women of the Civic League. visited the
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-04-12

WRITTEN FoR THE SUNDAY REPUBLIC.
The poorer districts in the Third Ward
are undergoing a spring cleaning by the
Civic Improvement Leagues corps Of DOWN
town inspectors. The league, which is an or
ganization composed Of publlc-spirited men
and women OF st. Louis, has established an
ONCE at No. 127 North Broadway. and
through Miss Claudia Siegel and Miss Celeste
Nidelet. two young women who were sp-
pointed sanitary inspectors by the league,
much good is being accomplished and many
persons in the ward are being interested in
the work Of sanitation and the purposes
OF the civic society.
CROWDED CONDITION OF HOUSES
MAKES GOOD SANITATION DIFFICULT.
A good sanitary system is hard to estab-
lish IN downtown districts because OF the
peculiar conditions that exist. In some ten
ement-houses there are from one TO three
families living In a single room.
In a tenemert-house in Biddle street near
Sixth, seven Italians eat and sleep in ore
room. In this same te~nement-house there
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-04-12

are twenty rooms and sixteen families. and
every family has a plentiful supply OF chill
dren.
In the Ashley block. az Third and ORAL
Ion streets, there are four floors. 500 rooms
and an average Of one family 10 every room.
In Kings place, on North Twelfth between
Wash and Carr streets. there IS a row OF
three-story brick houses in which live 90
negro families. II is said that in some IT.
stances there are four families living in
one room in this district.
The entire district around Twelfth rnd
Carr streets is devoted mostly 10
houses and the population is greater 10 the
square foot than in any other part Of St.
Louis.
The density OF population and bad condi-
tons OF the buildings. together with 4 lack
OF plumbing facilities. has brought on the
present serious condition in regard 70 the
sanitation of these districts.
CANVASS MADE EVERY DAY
OF THE TENEMENT DISTRICT.
The sanitation work OF the Civic League
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-04-12

our cursing baronet has made the manor
house HIS headquarters in fact. lodging
himself and al his troop on Mr.. Stair.
From his lying quiet and keeping the Cher
okees in tow, there will be some deviltry
afoot. I'll warrant"
l knew that Falconnet was waiting for
the powder cargo. but another matter
crowded this aside.
"But-but Margery?' I queried. on sharp
est tenter-hooks TO know how much or lit
tie ne had heard.
/ thought his brow darkened at the ques-
ton. but mayhap It wa only a shadow
cast by the pickering fire. At any rate. he
laughed hartily.
She is well-and well content. I dare
swear. Twas only yesterday saw her
taking the air on the river road. with Fall
comet for an escort You told me once he
had a sure hand with the women and It
made me mad: but. truly, I nave come to
think you drew II mild. Jack"
Now though ! could ply a decent ready
blade. or keep n firing line from lurching
ct n pinch. l had not learned to put a
snafhe on a laundering tongue. as / have
said before.
Damn him as you please. Dick. and he'll
warrant t.. But you must not judge the
lady overharshly. nor always by appear
ances. She may have fiouted you as a boy
ish lover, and yet 1 think -"
i stopped in sheer bewilderment. shot
'hrouSn ana through with keeheSt aEonleS
OF remorseful recollection. For at the mo-
rent / had clean forgot the gulf impass-
able / had set between these two So /
would have lapsed into shamed silence. but
Jennifer would not suffer II.
We'll, h Is y that you thinkT' he
demanded.
II ~think-nay. I may say I know that
she thinks well OF you. Dick / blundered
on. seeing no way to put him on.
He gripped my hand. and in his eyes
there was the light OF the old love re-
awakening.
Don't lift me up to ding me down again.
Jack, How can you know what she thinks
OF me?" he broke In. eagerly.
/ should have told him then all there was
TO tell. He had been thrice my savior. and
his heart was soft and malleab.e on the
side OF friendship. I knew it-knew that
the pregnant moment for full confession
had arrived; and yet 1 could not force
my tongue to shape the words. In
deed. 1 saw more clearly than before
that never any word OF mine could make
him understand that / was not a faith
less traitor in intention. So I paltered with
the truth. like any wretched oward OF
them all.
you forget that I have come to know
her we'll" 1 said. 81 was a month or more
under the same roof with her. and in that
time she told me many things"
Now. this witless speech was no better
than a whip TO dog him or
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-04-12

Is directed by Mrs. Louis Marion Gail and
Miss Siegel and Miss Niedlet work under
her. Miss SieGel and Miss Niedlet make a
canvass Of the tenement districts every
day and report 20 the central body OF the
Civic League OF their findings.
For The last four weeks they have re-
ported on an average twenty-five cases
a day. These reports get TO the fealth
officials finally. but thus far the Officers
have not been successful In compelling 4
strict enforcement OF the health laws.
In the Ashley building. on Third street.
there is more dirt. perhaps. than one can
una in any other building Of the same size
in ST Louis. on the lower back porch OF
this building there is filth 10 a depth OF
six inches. No one attempted TO clean this
porch all last winter.
LOW RENT OF ROOMS
ATTRACTS THE POOR TENANT.
Rooms in the Ashley building rent from
81 to s. n month. and 1t is rarely that one
IS unoccupied. II is the low price OF the
rooms that makes the dcmand 1Or them.
and. as the owners do not obteC. to chill
dren or the number Of persons who are 10
occupy a room. the poor are glad TO be
their tcnants.
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-04-12

The Ashley building IS a little village IN
itself. on the first floor there IL n grocery
store. 4 meat market. a drug store and sew
eral other retail establishments. The ten
ants make most OF their purchases in these
stores. and the price for commodities. like
the rent. is marked down TO the lowest
notch.
Similar conditions exist in the rear OF a
short VOW Of ienement-hOuses~ in Biddle
street near Sixth. Occupants Of the lGyer
rooms OF these houses are unable TO prevent
filth from accommodating on account OF the
detective condition of the water pipes AMI
plumbing. There IS a hallway in the rear.
from which aScends a stairway. This hall
way is deep in filth. and. TO add TO the
situation. water and refuse from leaky pipes
drip down upon the flooring day and night.
AVERAGE OF SEVEN OCCUPANTS
TO EACH OF THE ROOMS.
1t is in this building that seven Italians
eat and sleep in one room. There are six
teen rooms in the tenement. and sixteen
families. some Of them quite large. manage
10 find room TO live in them.
In North Twelfth street. beginning at No.
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-04-12
THIRD AND FOURTH WARDS
IN NEED OF IMPROVEMENT.

I c~herokees was but a hands turn in the
days work"
"A lucky turn for me-" I said; and then
at second thought I would deny the Swing
though not for him 20 hear. But this was
dangerous ground again. and / clawed or
from IL like a desperate mariner tempest
driven on a lee shore. asking him how he
had learned the broadsword play. and where
he got the antique claymore.
He laughed heartily. and more Ike INV
care-free Dick. this time.
Thereby hangs a tale. I told you how I
was out will the Minute Men in Is
at Moore's Creek. where We fought the
Scotchmen. It was our first pitched hattie
and I opine it smeIled somewhat OF seysrs,
y on both sides-no quarter was asked. ana
the TOY MacDonalds fought hends FOR
KING George. small cause as they had to
love the House OF Hanover"
How was that"' 1 asked. being as little
famiiiar with the low country settlements
as any native-born Carolinian could be-
They were eXpatriates for the Pretend
erS SAKE, many of them. Mistress Flora's
husband was one of the prisoners we took.
But as l was saying. they were Tories to
a man. and they fought wickedIy. When IL
was over. the prisoners would have Jared
haruIy but for a woman. In the thick OF
the light, Mistress Mary Slocumb of Dobhs
whose husband was with US, came storming
Gown upon the field. having rode a-gallop
soIne Iorty-odd miles because she dreamed
was hAlAtu Sle DeEKen rOE
the prisoners. and so CasweIl hanged only
tnose VINO were blood g~uilty-these and the
house-burners- A raw-boned piper named
MGilicuddy fell to my lot. and he is now
my maJor-domo at Jennifer House: as hon.
est a fellow as ever skirled a pibroch."
That was like YOU" 1 said; Ito make
a friend and retainer out of your prisoner.
And 50 this Highland piper has been your
fencing master. has her
Twas he taught me what little I know
OF the claymOre play; and this stout old
blade is his. It's as good as a woodman's
ak when you have the knack Of swing
ing it."
Truly" said I. ALSO, you seemed IN
have the knack, and the strength as wei.
in SPITE OF the crippled arm you were carry
ing in a sling the night before when they
hailed you into Colonel Tarleton's court at
Appleby."
"A little ruse OF war" he said. laughing
and making a fist to show me his arm was
strong and sound again. Twas MGJIIf-
cuddy put me UP to II, saying they would
be like to deal the gentler with a wounded
man. But now came you to know
Here was another chance to tell him
what he should be told. but the words
would not say themselves.
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-04-12

I covery in the morning. But this deep sleep
that crept upon me as l lay in the pirogus.
listening TO the tinklinG drip from Jenni-
fers paddle was not Of healthful wea-i-
ness: and when 1 came awake from Il there
was a dim and troubled vista OF vague and
, broken dreams to measure or the longest
night / could ever remember.
The place OF this awakening was a bur
row In the earth. My bed OF bearskins
over fragrant pinetufts was spread upon
the ground. and by the pickering light OF
a HANDFUL Of fire, / could see the earth
walls Of the .burrow. which were worn
smooth as II the place had been the we'll
used den of some wild creature. But over
head there was the mark OF human occu-
pancy. since the earth-arch was sooted and
blackened with the reek OF many fires.
When I stirred there was another sir
beyond the handful OF fine. and Jennlfer
came TO kneel beside me. taking my hand
and chafing IL as a tender-hearted woman
might. and asking II ! knew him.
Know YOU? Why should I not?" I said.
wondering why the words took so many
breaths between.
"Oh. jack" was all / had in answer: hut
when he had found a tongue to h8bbie out
his joy. I learned the why and wherefore.
Once more grim death had reached for me.
lying await in the twirled tomahawk that
set me dreaming OF my mothers lap and
lullaby. For a week / had lain here upon
~ hN u pAueNuliss IDasfu upon the Dflnk
OF the death pit. with only my dear lad
TO hold and draw me back.
"A week. / aueried. when he had named
the interval. And you have been here all
the timer
I've never left you. save TO forage for
the pot" he admitted. Il dared not leave
you. Jack"
But where are We" I would ask
I'm a den on the rivers edge. n mile or
more above your sacked cabin. lis some
dodge-hole followed out by the Catawbas
long ago. and shared since by them and
the bears. judging from the sinking reek
OF II. Uncanooia stecred me hither the
night OF the raid"
Then the chief came on safely" I said.
falling into a dumb and impotent rage that
the saying Of two words should scant me
so of strength to say a third.
Right as a ~triyet-scalps and all"
laughed Jennifer. Hell be the envy of
every warrior In the tribe when he vaunts
at the Catawbas' council fire"
1 let it rest awhile at that. casting about
for words to shape a hungrier question.
Have you no news2' / asked. at length.
Little or none" he answered shortly.
But you have had some word-some
Appleby Hundredg' i SIAM
mered fcebly.
Nothing you'd care 10 hear" he rejoined. =
evasively. l thought. IT'S as you left Il.
save that Tarieton whipped away TO the
South again as suddenly as he came. and
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-04-12

pied BY negroes and white people. The same
conditions prevail in this locality. with the
exception that some Of the houses are so
bare and rickety that they have been de-
serted. Robberies and assaults are not In
frequent occurrences in the alleys back CT
these tenements, ard the police say Il Is
one Of the most dangerous localities In the
city.
THIRD AND FOURTH WARDS
IN NEED OF IMPROVEMENT.
OF all the wards In St Louis. the Third
and Fourth are most in need OF sanitary
improvement. The Civic League. therefore,
has begun its work In THE section OF the
city. and after q system has been esta5-
Hshed another station will be opened in the
Fourth Ward.
Plans Of the Civic Improvement League
are most extensive. II Is is- purpose TO get
the good men and women OF the poor dis
tricts interested in the sanitary work. and
through them promote interest among the
children
Clean yards fiower gardens and tree
planting are some Of the things contem-
plated by the league. and already its ef-
forts have received much encouragement
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-04-12
CHAPTER v

How nnif Threw n Min with
Death.
IT'S a sure mark OF hcalthfui sleep that
L never makes account OF time. No odds
how long the night. tits but a moment
from the lapse OF consciousness to its tie
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-04-12

Go. be continued next sunday)
Copyright. 1903. by the Bowen-Murren Company.