davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-02-24
SYNOPSIS.

CHAPTER 1.-The sensational news OF
the disappearance of four eff New York's
wealthiest millionaires appears in the
New York Record and startles that city.
CHAPTER II,-Robert Van Horne is
owner of the Record and William Chal-
mers is his managing editor Mr.. Hestor,
o young millionaire friend of Van Horne,
has hobby for journalism and offers
his services gratis. Hestor has made
worldwide reputation as "A reporter, and
is constantly planning some great coup
that will immortaliZe his name.
CHAPTER III-Hestor arranges a
meeting with p. j. Morton, financier and
railroad magnate, and states his plans
for the formation of a newspaper trust.
CHAPTER IV.-R. J. Kent, the famous
board of trade operator, stampedes the
stock market. forcing many small firms
CHAPTER v.-one morning Andrus
Carmody, Palmer ]. Morton, r. j. Kent
and Simon Pence, millionaires. cannot
be found and the stock exchange is panic
stricken as a result.
CHAPTER Vino clew to wherea-
bouts of men car. be discovered but next
day letters are received from them say
ing they are all safe. L. Sylvester Vim
&ppeared.
CHAPTER vII,-Miss Helen Carmody,
daughter of Andrus Carmody, calls on
Chalmers and arranges for payment of
a large reward through the Record for
rescue of the milltonaires and arrest of
the abductors.
CHAPTER vI1I.-chalmers bends ev-
cry effort to work of rescue, greatly for
Helen's sake. Seymour, a reporter at Chi
cago, telegraphs that Vincent is the alb
ductor. Chalmers endeavors to learn of
tHeStor'S whereabouts; latter had report
Europe in his yacht. the shark
CHAPTER IA,---Strong circumstantial
evidence is unearthed pointing to Hestor
Carmody become quite friendly while
working together on the case.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-02-24
uoRsErLEsH AS Foop.

We are asked the reason for the pref
udice against horse meat as an articlel
of food, when the horse is one of thel
very cleanest of our domestic animals
both in diet and habit. We really Go
not know The old Mosaic ban which
by implication barred the horse cam
hardly be the reason, when civilized
humanity so readily and eagerly ac-
cepts the hog as an article of food, and
that, too, with the hog explicitly for.
hidden. We incline to the opinion that
the real cause is an honorable senti-
ment and not prejudice, the horse in
all history having been mans COM
panion and burden bearer, and thus
man is reluctant to devote his faithful
friend to such sordid and ignoble pur-
poses. Germany is working out this
problem for the world at large-starv-'
ing herself to it, and may have to await
a passage at arms with some beef eat
ing nation to finally settle it. A world
Of inhumanity and cruelty practiced in
connection with the horse would be
done away with if this almost univer-
sal prejudice against horsefesh as food
could be removed.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-02-24
TEN BUSHELS MORE PER ACRE.


We think that 1t will be generally ad.
mitted that it is possible to increase
the yield of the corn crop at least ten
bushels per acre. This will be done
largely in the line of securing a better
quality of seed corn, corn Of a batter
type. The better preparation of thel
ground before planting will also help,
as well as the more thorough cultiya-
ton of the crop Touching on the im-]
portance of the seed used and the type
of corn raised, we mention that thirty
samples of corn, supposed to be the
best that thirty corn raisers could en-
ter for premiums, offered at farmers!
institute and carefully scored varied in,
proportion of corn to cob from 6S to SSi
per cent. OF the thirty samples exhibit
ed twenty-seven were what might be
properly called scrub corn, showing no
distinct type or breeding, the best corn
exhibited being pure bred corn. We
believe that seven bushels per acre
may be added to the product of any
cornfield by the use of pure bred seed.
just as So per hundredweight is added
to the value of pure bred steer. This
reform may be easily brought about by
any man who will give the thought to
this subject which it deserves. The 9TH
er three bushels per acre we believe
can be secured in the matter alone Of
more thorough preparation Of the
ground before planting.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-02-24
THE KIDNAPPED
MILLION ARE S
BY FREDERICK U. ADAMS.

A TALE OF WALL STREET AND THE TROPICS

know, he may be cruising in the
boundless waters of the Pacific. On
the 10th we will make public all
the facts in our possession, in case
we do not in the meantime find a
definite clew l do not feel justified
in doing so, except as a last resort.
Hestor may not be guilty. His ac
tons, so far as we know, can all be
explained. Our evidence against him
is purely circumstantial. We will give
Hestor time to reach some port in
Europe. We have wired instructions
to every foreign harbor, and will at
once hear from him if he be inno-
cent. This is an awful charge to
make against an honest man, and
we must give Hestor the benefit of
every doubt
You are right, Mr.. Chalmers"
said Miss Helen. 81 will have the
yacht prepared for long cruise. 1t
does not seem possible that Mr.. Hes
tor could do such a thing. He is
so kind and generous. 1t would be
awful to falsely accuse him."
1t need not be supposed that these
daily interviews between the journal
list and the charming heiress were
entirely devoted to the solving of the
mystery which was the cause of their
acquaintance. Mr.. Chalmers esteemed
it his duty to direct her thoughts
to more pleasant topics, and he led
the conversation into literature and
to the discussion of current events.
Chalmers was an entertaining talller,
with an aptitude to perceive the
grotesque side of things, and he pos
sessed the rare art of the good story
teller. A few odd facts were suf-
ficient to form the theme of mirth-
full tale, and Chalmers was by nature
and training an adept in the art of
narrative. He had an appreciative
listener in Miss Carmody, and uncon-
scioualy she found herself waiting
for the hour when the self-possessctl
and animated Chalmers would ar
rive, and with news or fancy tighten
the monotony of the hours.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-02-24
MARKET DAYS FOR FARMERS.

The question of the utility of a fixed
market day at some central point for
farmers to aid them in the sale of the
products of their farms is being dis
cussed at many of the farm institutes
this winter. While in a thickly settled
country, as in all the agricultural dis
trictp of Europe, where a home market
is found for all produce, these market
days are Indispensable, the conditions
in this cowvtry are quite different, the
bulk of the produce raised being ex-
ported. OF course with some minor ar
ticles such as the home market takes
it would be good thing to bring buy
err and seller together on market day.
This may, however, in a measure be Sc
cured by the liberal use of the farm
telephone and the more general use of
the local newspaper as an advertising
medium. A good large bulletin board
placed in front of a mans residence
will be an aid in the same direction.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-02-24
POOR COWS.

1t is stated upon the authority Of the
dairy commissioner of Iowa that the
annual butter product Of the average
COW of that state is only 135 pounds, or.
just about enough to pay her board.
Inasmuch as many good dairymen are
doubling this yield, it follows that
somebody somewhere is keeping lot
of cows that are eating their heads off.
We are firmly of the belief that this!
poor yield of butter is more the fault
of the ration fed than of the COW, thou-
sands of men keeping cows being
densely ignorant as to the kinds Of
food COW needs in order to produce
milk, thinking they have done their
whole duty by her when they have
given her all the corn eed hay she will
eat, not knowing That this ration is
about as productive of milk as the
hard heads on the roadside.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-02-24
DAILY PAPER AND FARMER.

Three factors are at work through
many Of the agricultural districts Of
the country to break through the shell
of conservatism which has so long ell
veloped the farmers as class-one, the
telephone; another, the rural mail de-
livery, and the third and not least, the
advent of the daily paper in his home.
Heretofore he has been at least week
removed from the stirring events Of the
day and so failed to take that interest
in the worlds work the man does who
is in daily touch with it. The change
wrought by these agencies is becoming
very manifest and is wholly in the line.
of making the farmer a broader and
more intelligent man.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-02-24

were found on the glass-coyered sur
face of the desk. On dates from
April % TO May 1. inclusive, Hcstor
had drawn checks payable to him
self aggregating $4,64S,000.
"IIow could he have amassed that
amount of cash?" asked Stevens, as
he footed up the aggregate.
Here is a memorandum which ex-
plains that" said Chalmers. lie
pointed to the inside cover of one OF
the check books on which was tabu
lated sales of bonds and stocks
amounting to $4,627000
1.-THE Iiestor estate was largely in
securities said Chalmers. Il re-
member lIcstor told nc at one time
that he owned bct.*ecn $l5,GoO,o0o
and Si6.ooo,ooO worth of git-edged
stuff
"What did he do with the cash?
asked Stevens, with an air which in
dicntcd that he could answer his
own question
street G Rogers might answer if
they would" said Chalmers. "A man
OF TIcstor's standing could margin
100000 shares of stock with that
amount of money. He was too wise
to draw checks payable to anyone
but himself. He must have logged
that money down there in bills. 1t
would not make much of a package
in $1,000 bills. Tlcstor must be $780,
100000 ahead in this deal. His in
sanity takes a canny form. | would
like to be crazy awhile like that my
self"
"But how does he propose to get
ont of it?''
Give it up" said Chalmers. at
is too deep for me. Hestor is not
the kind to think of details like that
lie goes ahead and let's consequences
take care of themselves, He did not
even take the precantion to destroy
these check books. We can trace
him like a rabbit in a new fall OF
snow
Stevens now turned his attention
to such cities as Baltimore. Washing
ton and IA number of western cities
in the faint hope that Soma
clew might be found. Instruction:
were cabled to London, Paris
and other European cities, and ;
search made in these art centcrs
but nothing was learned.
Chalmers was a daily visitor at tn
Carmody residence. He inspired Mis-
Helen with hope, and would not lis
ten to her fears of failure. Sh
was anxious to fit out the Carmod.
Yacht, the "Helcn Carmody," and be
gin at once a search for her fathe
and his companions.
"That is a good idea," said MI
Chalmers. go ahead and put TIL
Yacht in commission, and supply he
with provisions for month
cruise, but do not start until IN
men have had chance to complet
their search. 1T is now the lit
OF the month. Give me until Tue
day, the 10th, and If we hay
no news by that time we will sen
the Helen AS you know, there al
score of boats securing the ocea
now. 1t is a good-sized globe, til
old world of ours, and there are mi
Lions of places, any one of which He
tor may have selected. For all "
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-02-24
CHAPTER X.
SEYMOUR TIE sLEurH.

No word had been received from
Mr.. Bernard Seymour since his de-
parture from St. Louis, at which
time he requested that $500 be
forwarded to him at New Or
leans. 1t was a popularity of the
BERNARD Seymour kilograms that
they always contained stipulations
for fresh funds. Mr.. Stevens had a
hearty respect for the Seymour
lck. He overlooked any Slight irreg
u!aritics in methods, and accordingly
telegraphcd the money, and also full
Instructions concerning the search
for the architect and contractor in
charge of the supposititious Hestoc
country house.
No answer came from Mr.. Seymour
When the staff of reporters arrived
in New Orleans, they learned that
Mr.. Seymour had registered at the
St. Charles Hotel He had cashed
the money order, but had not occu-
pied his room, nor had he been seen
al the hotel since the time of the
financial transaction. The new arriv
ais made vain search for the miss
ing sleuth. and then went briskly to
work without him.
When Bernard Seymour arrived in
New Orleans, he was, as he expressed
il, much the worse for wear"
! When he learned that he had caused
the arrest of famous Chicago cler-
gyman. instead of L. Sylvester Vim
cent, he lost no time III quitting st.
Louis. He abandoned his baggage at
! the Planters Hotel, and took the
/ first train south.
! Seymour arrived in New Orleans
the following evening. He decided
that the West End'-the breathing
place of the Southern metropolis
! would be the most .congenial place to
/ begin operations. The West End
| is a cluster of hotels, fringing the
/ bathing beaches on the south shore
/ of Lake .Pontchartrain, and serves as
! a more aristrocratic Coney Island to
| New Orleans. Mr.. Seymour found it
! brilliant with rows of electric lights.
/! A score of orchestras and bands were
blending their harmonies with the
murmur of the pleasure-seelsing
throng.
/ Hello. Seymour"
a heavy set man. with his face
marked by cavernous grin, pushed
his way through a crowd and slapped
Mr.. Bernard Seymour on the
shoulder.
well. you little ferret. what are
Won doing in New OrleanS?"
"Sir!''
That's what I said-sir! Will yor
have drink. sir?''
Yes. sir. Now | understand you
said Mr. Seymour. well, you ole
Indian. l did not know you were
down here. What are you doing.
Who are you doing?"
Nothing and nobody" said Mr.
Dick Bender. Mr.. Bender was news
paper man, whose natural ability wa!
obscured by habits more congenia
than regular. An excellent writer
he seldom held position more THAI
three months. He was the journals
tic prototype of the tramp printer.
1 up against it, eh?" asked Sey
!, mour.
!. q surely am up against it goo
a and hard
4 Dick Bender tossed off big drinl
= and grinned as if his hard luck wer
something to be contemplated wit
: joy.
You don't drink enough, Dick,
said Seymour. You are social re
cluse. Your abstinence, has becom
a matter of common gossip. 70
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-02-24
CHAPTER IX-Continued.

That afternoon. the Sth of May,
Chalmers opened Hestor's desk, and
with Stevens, made minute exam
ination of it's contents. Much to
their surprise, three check books
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-02-24
NARROWER HIGHWAYS.

The tremendous waste associated
with the four rod highway is attract
ing more and more attention, especially
through all the prairie regions of the
west. When it is considered that every,
farm is in this way robbed Of from one,
to three acres of its best land and that
not being cultivated or pastured, it be-,
comes the home of an endless amount
of noxious vegetation, it is really a
very serious natter. Had the public.
highways in the first place been made
three instead of four rods in width
there never would have been any effort
made to widen them, three rods being
ample width through all the prairie
country J
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-02-24

Here are few roses which you will
find very satisfactory: For climbers,
the red, white and yellow Ramblers;
ever blooming roses, Bride, Wooton,
Soupert, Perle de Jardin, Catherine
Mermet, La France, Victoria, Liberty
and Golden Gate, and among the June
roses try Fisher, Holmes, Paul Ney-
ron, General Jacqueminot Those in
the first and last classes mentioned are
hardy through most of the north when
properly protected in winter. Those in
the second class will not survive the
winter il left out of doors. Get your
plants Of an established house, and if
you WANT good results the first year
get two-year-oid plants. Roses want a
rich clay soil and plenty Of sunshine.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-02-24

Now if you want to set out rose
bush next spring which will surely full
fill your anticipations set out Grim
son Rambler, which will give you more
flowers for your trouble than any other
flower we know of.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-02-24

We want to call attention to the ex-
ceptionally fine flavor of the Candy
strawberry. In this particular it is the
king of all the berries of our acquaint-
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-02-24

The Masonic and Odd Fellow lodges
of Charlton will build a temple which
will contain rooms for the use of both
orders.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-02-24

Many of our common wild flowers
are very pretty and attractive, but we
find that any attempt to domesticate
them meets with more or less failure.
Like other wild things. they seem to
resent the effort of civilization.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-02-24

The cleo men are working up trade
for the uncolored product by furnish
ing materials and directions for color
ing to the purchaser. Thirty-two cent
western extra obscures any refined sen
timents on this matter.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-02-24

The top working of fruit trees, like
marriage, depends upon the harmony
of the union. We have trees where a
divorce in the near future is inevitable.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-02-24

England rebels and protests against
American enterprise and aggressive
ness. She thinks we work too hard and
too long. Were it not that these traits
are taking her markets away from her
perhaps she would not care.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-02-24

Every season, as with the opera,
brings out some new carnation as a
candidate for public favor. In two
years both the flower and the singer
are forgotten.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-02-24

The dry season Of 1901 and the wet
one of 1902 taught great many les
SONS both to farmers and fruit growers,
almost more than they can take in and
remember After learning how best to
conserve moisture they were immedi-
ately confronted with the problem Of
how to get rid of it, and if the season
of 1908 is an average one a, good many
of them will hardly know What to do.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-02-24

"No hog cholera" has about as much
to do with existing prosperity all
through the corn belt as any other one
thing.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-02-24

We wish to commend the adjustable
disk harrow for orchard use. With it
cultivation is possible as with no other
tool, and it further secures an entirely
level surface at all times. In a country
where the rainfall is hardly ever sufIl-
Gent to secure the best development of
the apple tree this question of perfect
ly level cultivation is very important
one in conserving the moisture avail
able.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-02-24

: If you think freight rates too high in
this country, just mind that it costs as
much to ship car of grain over Eng
fish railroads a distance of forty miles
into London as it does to ship the same
amount of grain from Chicago to Lon
don.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-02-24

These figures give an average Of 28.2O
inches, for the ten year period and show
up the wet season of 1902 in good
shape. This rainfall record probably
fairly reflects the precipitation for all
the north Mississippi valley region for
the period given.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-02-24

The creamery interests of the coun-
try contributed about $4,000 to secure
the passage Of the oleomargarine law,
While the National Live Stock associa
ton contributed $1,000 to defeat it. The
cows had the most money behind them
and beat the steers.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-02-24

The savings banks of the country
have generally restored the rate of III
terest paid on deposits to 4 per cent,
their deposit accounts having been de-
pleted for Investment in Canada lands
which will not pay per cent to the
investors for a good many years to
come.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-02-24

The horse most wanted today and for
which the best prices are paid is the
1900 to 1,7O0 draft animal, horse
which can be as easily raised on the
average farm as beef critter. There
is no probability that there will be too
many of this class Of horses raised for
years to come.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-02-24

There is no doubt whatever that in
an early day before the forests We're
all removed the timbered sections Of
the country were much better adapted
to the growth and development of fruit
than they are today. During the tifties
in the state of Wisconsin it was an
easy matter to raise the finest kind OF
Pippins, Baldwins, Spies, Greetings
and other choice varieties of apples
which today 1t is folly there to plant
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-02-24

The gopher knoll is a common fea-
ture on all prairie farms, or rather was
during tile early days Of settlement.
This knoll, mound rod or more in
diameter, elevated above the general
level of the ground from eighteen inch
es to two feet and made up of the earth
eAcayated from the burrows beneath
it, always produced much heavier
growth of corn or grain than the soil
Immediately adjoining it. We are asked
the why and wherefore of this. 1t
proves two things to us-one the value
of perfect subsoiling and drainage, the
other that prairie subsoils when
brought to the surface and exposed to
the action of the elements contain as
much plant food and are just as capa-
BILE of producing good crops as surface
soils.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-02-24

1t takes about twenty years for any
new variety of apple to make its place
sure in public favor. Only within the
past three or four years has the
Wealthy apple come to be recognized
as standard apple through the coun-
try.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-02-24

Cottonseed meal after the oil has
been taken out is the richest in protein
of any of the prepared stock foods. Lin
seed oil meal comes next. Neither one
of these products, Notwithstanding they
carry so large an amount of milk pro-
ducing elements. is desirable dairy
ration, as they injuriously affect the
qualify Of the milk and butter product.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-02-24

The sheep herders of the west are
protesting that it will be very serious
thing to shut them out from the gov
eminent forest reserves. But it will not
be one-half so serious as to let them
remain on these reserves and destroy
all the young timber.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-02-24

On late winter day we watched
chickadee on a lively hunt up and
down an apple tree after something to
eat. There was not bug or an insect
in sight. but we found he was after the
little clusters of insect eggs, waiting
only the warmth of spring to develop
into some form of our insect pests. If
we had more chickadees, we would
have better apples.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-02-24

The apple tree blight, which was SO
common last year, is of bacterial orr
gin, for which it is useless to spray.
The only available remedy seems to be
the cutting off of the blighted limbs
below the point of infection and burn
ing them up. Wet seasons superinduce
blight more than dry ones, and espe-
cially should certain varieties of apple
trees, such as the Transcendent crab
and the Tetofsky, both good apples, be
kept out of the orchard, as the disease
is certainly spread by infection.