davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-12-15
THE MAIN CHANCE
A THOROLY WESTERN STORY
IT: OF REAL PEOPLE
BIZ MEREDITH NICHOLSON
Copyright, 1908, by Bobbs-Merrill Co.

too damned far. We're going to be
long time getting over the panic and
we've got to give a. strong pull and, all
pull together if we get in the process
sion" His voice rose as he proceed
ed. Look at little Sioux City! busted
wide open and knocked over the ropes,
but here they come Waiting up again,
as full of sass as a fox terrier with a
flea on his tail. Talk about grit, the
time man wants to show that arti-
cle's when he's busted. Any fool can
be cheerful on a bull market
Then he would settle himself back
with an air of complacency, as if he
had done all that he could do to arrest
decay in the town; if his fellow citi-
zens failed to rouse themselves it was
not his fault. Margrave held no office
in the knights of Midas, but this was
because he had learned by political
experience that it was much simpler
to Turk in the background and ma
nipulate the men he placed in power.
1t was on this high principle that he
built up the order of the knights of
Midas and directed its course from the
office Of the general manager Of the
Transcontinental. There was moth
ing incOngruous to him in the annual
ball, which was the only public social
manifestation Of the organiZa ton. It
was he who directed that twenty MEM
bers be chosen from the membership
list each year, to conduct the purely
social functions Of the ball, and that
these be taken in alphabetical order.
Thus the Adamses and Bakers and the
Cummingses, who belonged to differ
ent consultations, found themselves in
the same orbit. If they were unac-
quainted or were enemies Of long
standing, this did not trouble Mar
grave when the fact was brought to
his notice. It was time, he said, that
the people Of Clarkson got together.
"We5may as we'll get some work out
Of Jim wheaton, he. remarked to the
grand chief of the Knightsof Midas.
He's pretty solemn, but Jim was
solemn when he was kid and worked
for me. Porter and Thompson have
always been too slow for this earth
and if we pull Wheaton In, it may
wake up the old chaps so they'll do
something besides sit on the fence and
watch the rest of us hustle
"See here" said Norton, the grand
chief, whats the matter with showing
him in for the king Of the carnival !?
We've got to make a strong push this
year to give tone to the show socially;
that's the only way we can keep up
the town interest. Having these jays
come in from the country won't do
any good unless we can hold these
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-12-15
g. MINIMUM TEMPERATURES. .*[s .s... %s..&
ken at M, seventy-ffth meridian time Minimum

point. The full sleeves are gathered
to form puffs above the wrists and
are held: by the wide cliffs. The clos
ing is made in double breasted style.
The quantity of material required for the
medium size is 2as yards Al inches wide or 2ls
yards so inches wGe. 81. =
The pattern 1900 is cut in sizes for girls 12, IA
and Is years OF. age. -. - =
CAUTION-Be careful to give cor
rect Number and Size Of Patterns
wanted. When the pattern is bust
measure you need only, mark 80, "a,
Sc or whatever it may be. When in
waist measure, %, "a. &c, or what
ever 1T may be. When misses or
child's pattern, write only the figure
representing the age It is not neces-
sary to write inches or years"
Pattern for this garment will be
sent postpaid on receipt of 10 cents.
Be sure and mention number of pat
tern. Address o. 80
PAPER PATTERN DEPARTMENT,
JOURNAL, MINNEAPOLIS
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-12-15

= :. - - 90 70. W b r
bring his ancestral home down to the.
street level?''.s : - :: -. = -. -
'sOh, he says he'd rather burn the.
money. tt seems that he fought, the.
assessment as long as he could and
has refused. to- abide by it. He en-.
joys fighting it in the courts. 1t
gives:zhim something to do. ~ :
That, Ike : Wary. $$$.is He can gtbe;
more steadfast in error than any
body -.
Raridan was exchanging. chaff with
Miss Marshall across the table land.
Wheaton was stranded for the mo-
ment.. r ~
...sYou, must tell us about. that China
man at your bachelors, house. Mr.
Wheaton. Mr.. Raridan has told me
many funny stories about him. but I
think he makes up most of them
I'D hardly dare. repudiate any of
Mr.. Raridan's stories; but I'll say
that we couldn't get on without the
Chinaman. He's a very faithful fell
low 80,
But Mr.. Raridan says he isn't!''
! exclaimed Evelyn. He says that YOU
bachelors suffer terribly from his
mistakes, and that he can't keep any
rice. for use at weddings because the
oriental takes it out Of his pockets
and makes. buildings of it,
That must be one Of Mr.. Rari-
dams jokes said Wheaton. eve
have @had no rice pudding since : I
! went to: live at the Bachelors -
Wheaton was suspicious of Raridan's
Jokes: He was not always sure that
he. caught the point of them He
saw that Saxton, who sat. opposite
him, got on very we'll with Miss Porter
|. and he was surprised at this; he had
thought Saxton very slow. and yet
he seemed to- be as much at his ease
as Raridan, who was Wheaton,s ideal
master of social accomplishment. He
was somewhat dismayed by the array
Of silver beside his plate. and he
found himself covertly taking his cue
from Saxton, who seemed to make
his choice without difficulty. 1t
daWned on him presently that the
FORKS and spoons were arranged in
| order; that it. was not necessary to
exercise any judgment of selection,
and he felt elated to see how easily
| 1t was managed. In his relief he
engaged Miss Marshall in a talk about
Richmond. He knew the names of
banks and bankers there, from HAY
ing looked them up in the bank di-
| rectortes in the course of business.
He liked the southern girls viyacity,
tho he thought Evelyn much hand
somer and more dignified. She asked
him whether he played golf, which
| had just been introduced into Clark
son, and he was forced to admit
that he did not: and he ventured
to add that he had heard it called
an old mans game. When she replied
that she shouldn't imagine then that
| it would interest him particularly, he
felt foolish and could not think of
| anything to say In reply. Raridan
again claimed Miss Marshall's atten-
ton, and Wheaton was drawn into talk
with Evelyn and Saxton.
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-12-15


!. :, . Mr.. -Saxton HAS never. seen one of
our 'carniVals, > she said, ~t'and neither
have I. You" know I've missed them
by being away. SO much" 49,
- They .eNpect*to have a great enter
tainment: this year said Wheaton.
He, was sorry for the secrecy with
which the names. of the principal. par
Elephants Werezgllarded; he would have
liked to say something to Miss Porter
about it, but he did not dare, with
.Saxton listening. Moreover, he was
not sure that she had consented to
take. part . -...s..s...-.:
!. II suppose it's a good deal like anna
teur theatficals, only on a larger
scale suggested Saxton.
That's not taking the carnival in
the right spirit said Evelyn. "The
word amateur is Earring, think. We
must try to imagine that King Midas
really and truly. comes floating down
the Missouri river on a barge, support
ed by his men of magic, and that they
are met by a delegation of the wise
men of Clarkson, all properly clad,
and escorted to the local parthenon,
or whatever it. is called. where the
keys of the city are given to him.
LIN sure its all very plausible"
But I don't see,'' said Saxton,
why, all the western towns that go
in for these carnivals have to go back
to mythology and medieval customs.
Why don't they use something in
digenous,-the Indians for instance ?"
They're too recent" Evelyn
answered. THE people around here
a good many; of. them, at least-were
here before the saVages had all gone.
And those, whose fathers and mothers
We're scalped might take it as unpleas-
antly suggestive of a lot of white men.
dressed up as Indians, paraded Them
selves thru the streets. !.
What was that about Indians? ?" de-
manded. Mr.. Porter who had been
busy exchanging "reminiscences with
Mrs. Whipple. why, there hasn't
been an Indian on the place for
twenty years.
ooh, yes, there has. father said
Evelyn. 1T was only five years ago
that there were two in this room.
Don't you remember, when Wary mad
his. hobby for educating Indian
youth? He brought those boys up
here for Christmas dinner
Il remember; and they. Ldlfdn Lib. Like
turkey" added Mr.. Porter. They
were hungry for their native bear
meat" ,sEEes.y - ,''.ses -
ITS too bad" said j Raridan, sor-s
rowfully, that d man never can live
down his good deeds.
Raridan liked to pretend that Clark
son society had a deep philosophy
fallen into his favorite role as a social
sage for, the benefit of the strangers,
and. Mrs. Whipple. was correcting or
denying what he said. He had as
sured the table that the supreme social
test was whether people could walk
on their own hardwood floors and rugs
without taking the long slide into
eternity. Philistines could buy hard
wood floors, but only the elect could
walk on them.
To be continued to-morroN.
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-12-15

chance to uppercut him. Gage the
distance and the speed of the blow in
such a way as to catch him on what
ever part of his face or body you aim
for, before the rest of his body comes
SO close to you as to block the blow.
Again. when a man leads for you
with right or left, guard with which
ever hand is opposite the arm with
which he leads; and. instead Of coun-
tering with a straight lead, uppercut
him with the other hand. Be careful,
however, that his free hand Is not in
"a position to block your blow and to
counter on your face.
Or, when a man rushes you and
you sidestep, you can uppercut him
before he RECEIVERS his balance. These
are but few of many cases where
the uppercut. can be employed. Your
own Judgment will be your best guide
as to it's use. -. $50,
Other blows and parties. will be
considered in next Fridays ISSUE;
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-12-15

ceived callers in the general managers
outer office. He knew! that Mr..
Porter was more respectable and stood
higher in the community, but there
was something that took hold of even
Wheaton's dull imagination in the
holder achievements of Timothy Mar
grave, who rolled over the country in
a private. car, debating, when need
arose, to the legislatures of a chain of
states, and. looming large in the press
discussions of those combinations and
contests. of transportation companies
which marked the last years of the
nineteenth century. Wheaton had ac-
quired a. bankers habitual distrust Of
men, who offer favors; but as this
came on the personal invitation of one
who had no dealings with his bank he
could scene harm in accepting.
Margrave winked t:him few days
later when they met at the club.
''The boys are all glad you're going
to lead the show, jim" said the gen
eral manager; and Wheaton expert
,enced a feeling of having fallen into
the larger currents of Clarkson life.
.Margrave was the man, who, more
than any other. made things happen
in Clarkson.
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-12-15

e1ninently respectable people who
think they're Clarkson society,"
You're dead right on that point:
said Margrave; that's a big card with
the jays-they thing they come to
town and get right:in.the push and are
Of high life. tell you what
We'll do, we'll GET, Porter , to:
let his daughter appear as queen
Of the. carnival. and if that amt
a big enough jolly we. can make
ivng ne afiona, acn
for its money. If Porter don't. double
his subscription on the strength. Of
that" ,s%-r
He looked at Norton and they both
laughed.
A few days later Margrave called
little proud of having discovered
Wheaton. Since his quondam mes
senger had become:a bank cashier he
had begun to take notice Of him.
It guess were going to need you
to take a star part in the carnival this
year. he said leading him into the
empty directors room and looking
were alone. You see, we've been
casting about to find a good repre-
sentative from among the. younger
business men to take the part of king
in the carnival. .Ihe board OF control
are unanimous that you're the man.
But I've just gone into the knights
there are plenty of older membe
That's the point! we want new men
and you're just the fellow we're
AFTER
He had been holding his hat in his
hand and wiping his brow with his
handkerchief, and he now backed to-
ward the door, saying. without leaving
Wheaton time for further bubble:
Keep it. mum. You understand
about that; we always want to jar the
public. Well put you on to the
curves all right
"I'm sure I'm very much surprised"
said Wheaton, but
"Oh. it's all fixed" said Margrave,
moving off. You're the only one and
we never let anybody decline. It
would knock all the compliment out of
it, If we let two or three fellows refuse
before we caught one that would ac-
cept."
Wheaton went back to his desk, sur
prised and fattered. Margrave's good
will was worth having. Wheaton had
never outgrown the impression he
formed of Margrave when, as boy,
he had indexed letter books and re-
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-12-15

to give a lawn party before the blight
of fall came upon his flowers and
Shrubbery; but she persuaded him to
wait until after the carnival. He still
felt a little guilty about having asked
Evelyn to appear in this public way,
but she showed no resentment; she
was honestly glad to do anything that
would please him. The ball was near
at hand and she proposed that they
give a small dinner in the interval.
I'll ask Wary and Mr.. Saxton.'
People were already coupling Saxton's
mamie with Raridans
ooh. yes, that's all right
II don't want very many; I'd like to
ask the Whipples," she went on, with
the anxious, far-away look that comes
into the eyes of a woman who is
weighing dinner guests or matching
fabrics.
Cant you ask Wheaton," ventured
Mr.. Porter cautiously from behind his
paper. Men grow humble. in such
matters from the long: series Of rejec-
tons to which they are subjected by
the women Of their households.
f. IF you say So Evelyn assented
Gle isn't exciting, but*Belle Marshall
can get on with anybody. I'm out of
practice and won't try. too many. Mrs.
Whipple will help over, the hard
places"
bered ten,, but lit seemed to Wheaton
a large ssemblage. He had never
taken a lady In to dinner before, but
he had studied a book of etiquette,
and the chapter on Dining OUT had
given him a hint Of what was expected.
It had not, however, supplied him
with fund Of talk. but he was. glad
to find, when he reached the table,
that the company was so small that
talk could be general. and he was
thankful for the shelter made for him
by the light banter which followed the
settling of chairs. Saxton went; in
with Evelyn, who wished to make
amends for his clumsy reception on
the occasion Of his first appearance
in the house.
TIN glad you could come to- our
board once without being snubbed by
the maid she said to John, when they
were seated.
81 came under convoy of Mr.. Rari-
dan this time. I find that he is pref
ty hard to lose"
ooh, he's splendid guide! He
declares that there are just as inter-
esting things to see here in Clark
son as there are in Rome or Venice.
He told Miss Warren this afternoon
that it would take him a month to
show her half the sights
He certainly makes things inter
esting. His local history is delight
full.
Yes; father tells him that he
knows nearly everything, but that the
pity. is it isn't all true. You see,
Wary and I have known each other
always. The Raridans lived near US,
just over the way
He has shown me the place; it's
on the clay sugar loaf across the
street.
Isn't it shameful of him not to
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-12-15
MISSES MILITARY COAT 1900.
TO Be Made with Standing or Rolling
'-.t- Collar

To Be Made with Standing or Rolling
= Collar.
Military coats appear to. have taken
the world Of fashion by storm and
are exceedingly chic. This one is pc
culiarly we'll adapted to girlish fig
ures and includes the deep cape that
is Il marked characteristic with wide
sleeves gathered into faring cuffs. AS
illustrated, the material is military
blue cheviot stitched with corticelli
silk, piped with velvet and trimmed
with the brass buttons of the army.
Varying shades Of blue are, however,
equally correct, and all colors are
seen, while. snooth-faced cloths as
we'll as roughsare used. The original
is made with "a; velvet. standing collar,
but one:of the material can be substi-
tuted $or the Follower: collar can be
used if preferred = - ":;,.>,..
The coat consists of the fronts, back
side backs: and under-arm cores. Both
fronts and back are laid Gin outward
turning tucks which. are stitched fiat
for theirs: entire length: those of the
back tapping over: onto the side backs
and concealing the seams. The cape
is cut In two portions and is shaped
to fit smoothly over the Shoulders with
extensions that lap over below that
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-12-15
CHICKENS INTOXICATED BYBRIGHTLIGHI

The firm lights its show windows
with electric lights, and for six days
and nights the fowls have had not.sa
wink of sleep, with the result that
they have become emaciated.
2 Crowds were attracted ana amused
by the antics of the chickens. They
wabbled around like drunken men,
fell down, laid on their. backs and
turned somersaults.
The firm did not suspect the cause.
but thought they had obtained a
species of acrobatic fowl Somebody
informed the Humane society, and the
exhibition has been stopped.
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-12-15
Copyright. 1908, by Joseph B. Bowles.

The blow and parties I am going
to teach you now cannot be classified
under anyp articular heading, yet they
are none the less very important to
good boxing.
Each and every one of them has
proved its right to a place in the fore
most ranks of glove tactics. Yet none
of them are to-day taught in most
boxing schools.
The first Of the list is the straight
counter" Stand on guard and I will
explain it to you.
Let your sparring partner lead
straight left for your face. Guard his
blow with your right, knocking his
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-12-15

left glove upward. At the same time
lead straight left-hander for his
face.
"a Keep the knees rigid and the heels
on the ground in the straight counter.
BY knocking upward your partners
left glove you leave his face defended
only by his right. If he is quick
enough he can guard your left-hand
counter for his face by throwing his
right arm upward and outward. If
he does SO the position is this: Your
right is INSIDE his left guard and
his right is inside your left guard.
Therefore, whichever of you is the
quicker: may send in a jolt or hook
to. the jaw with the hand that is in
side the opponents guard, according
to the principles Of mitigating, which
l have already explained.
In such a case the advantage usu-
ally rests with the man who attempt
ed the straight counter, more espe-
cially if he has had the foresight to
plan to use the short-arm blow with
the right in case the left counter
Lead should be blocked.
When a man tries to straight con-
ter your left lead, first block his left
with your right and then either try
the aforesaid bit of mitigating with
your right or else step back out Of
reach. g..
The uppercut, which I have men
toned on several occasions, is a pc
culiarly hard blow to give effectively
and a far harder blow to receive with
equanimity. | have purposely post
poned explaining the uppercut until
the present time. First because begin
ners should not try it, and second be-
cause / wanted you to learn before
hand the various situations in which
an uppercut should be used. So"
The uppercut it, as it's name implies,
cut upward. II is a vertical swing.
In other words, instead of describing
part of a circle from left to right or
from right to left, it takes a semicir-
cular course directly upward, start
ing at about the waist line of the
man who delivers it and travelling to
the jaw. throat or face of it's recipient.
The uppercut should always be de-
livered with a curved arm. The angle
of the curve depends wholly on the
distance between yourself and the
man for whom you are leading. Some
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-12-15
SYNOPSIS OF PRECEDING CHAPTERS.

John Saxton arrives in Clarkson, western
town, the agent for eastern capitalists, to
look after their property acquired by them
thru bad loans. Porter. president Of the Clark
son National bank, turns over the business to
him. Wheaton Is the cashier of the bank,
having come up from poverty and an unprom-
Using origin to position of wealth and influence.
Evelyn, the daughter of Porter, is n graduate
of an eastern college, and soon after her arrival
at home, after completing her college course,
Is asked to run for the school board, but de-
rlines. Her father induces her to be queen Of
the Knights of Midas carnival. Wheaton is
chosen for king. Wary Raridan, young
attorney, friend of Porter's and childhood
friend of his daughter, fellow of literary taste
aud culture but little ambition, forms close
friendship with SaXton. Sa1tOn, in the course
of business. visits deserted ranch belonging to
his principals, which he finds in charge of a
man named Snyder, installed by Wheaton, a
rufnanly fellow. whom he CURLY dismisses, and
who threatens to appeal to Wheaton for restora-
ton. Evelyn Porter invites eastern girl friends
to visit her during the carnival. Nfargrave Is
n railroad manager for whom Wheaton worked
in the earlier days of his business career.
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-12-15
IF YOU DO NOT KNOW
YOU OUGHT TO KNOW

THAT
The largest bronze statue in the
world is that Of Peter the Great at ST.
Petersburg, that weighs about LOO
tons. -
The first complete manuscript of the
Old Testament was finished in 43O
BIC. 1t was translated into Saxton in
637 "A. D. and into English in 1884
Asbestos is gotten largely from
Canada. and they. the French
Canadians, appropria tely call it
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-12-15

you can avoid doing So. Keep the face
at an oblique angle to him; the chin
drawn in. and protected as far as pos
sible by the left shoulder. This may
not be easy to remember just at first,
but it is less unpleasant than a series
Of blows landing flush on your I'M
guarded jaw. 49,.
When a man tries to clinch with
you, his arms being off guard and
spread out, you have an excellent
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-12-15
WEATHER PREDICTIONS
FOR THE NORTHWEST

Minneapolis probably light
night Ii +
temperature to-day degrees
degrees 4
tenn
o
South Wednesday, rising npera-
i So II
wine
by
/. IA
Is :. T.
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-12-15

!, Carl F. Anderson and Aurora Z. svenson.
DEATHS.
= Eiyeland. sIngeborg. St. Mary's hospital
philiipsou, Mareu f.. 2S16 James avenue n,
pelacek, Vincent city hospital. -.
OPonnell, Catherine, 800 Twenty ave-
Ciough, Edith. 1910 l4yndale avenue s.
'Cear!es, Ettai Hiawatha and Fortieth street.
Oleson. Eva w. 17Oc Ninth avenue S. ~,
Fnrney. James. city hospital.
Morgan, Thomas. 1908 Kenwood parkway.
Erickson, Anna. 1922 Fifth avenue n
Feeney. Patrick, 319 Second street NE.
0Brien, Elijah, $40 Minnehaha avenue
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-12-15
CRADLE, ALTAR -.
~ y AND GRAVE
a,.t.-. IT i,I 4
] TIA ,,
BIRTHS.

Ravitzky. Mr.. and Mrs. f.. SIC Lyndale ave
nue. n. girl. ~--~ss - 49, - !
Elliott, Mr. and Mrs Charles. 1884 Portland
avenue. boy. :
Staufer, Mr.. and Mrs. i. c., 2G223 Polk street
NE. girl.
street; seq girl =
] Peters MI and Mrs. john A.: 751 Eighth ave-
$, twin boys.
Marglnd.. Mr.. and Mrs: Arthur, '251g Polk
street NE. boy.
LAP Lamp par Mr. and Mrs William so7 Second
Reed Mr.. and Mrs: Q. J.,s522 Logan avenue
\. boy.
boy. -. = .&..gf.s.I. ui' rs rs
!, Eohantgen., Mr.. and Mrs. George, 515 Third
street n, boy. $50
Hagen, Mr. and Mrs. siyert 2So9 Ninth ave
nue., boy. we .'s-& ~ rs'.'--