davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-06-15
t so neat and unmistakable

had left behind it so neat and unmistakable
a clue.
Wonderful! but what did it all mean?
Why should a man rest his fnger-tips on
this out-of-the-w shelf? Had he done SO
in an effort to balance himself for look
up the chimney? No; for then the marks
made by his fingers would have extended to
the edge of the shelf. whereas these We're
in the middle of it. Their shape. too was
round, not oblong; hence, the pressure had
come from above and-ah! 1 had 1T, these
impressions in the dust of the shelf were
Just such as would be made by person
steadying himself for a close look at the
old picture. And this accounted also for
the overturned chair, and for the handker-
chief used as a buster. Some ones interest
in this picture had been greater than mine:
some one who was either very ar-sighted
or whose temperament was such that only
the closest inspection would satisfy an
aroused curiosity.
This gave me an idea, or rather impressed
upon me the necessity of preserving the
outline of these tell-tale marks while they
were still plain to the eye. Taking out my
penknl1e' l lightly ran the point of my
sharpest blade around each separate i'm
preston till l had fixed them for all time
In the well worn varnish of the mahogany
This done, my thoughts required to the
question already raised. What was there
In this old picture to arouse such curiosity
IN one bent on evil If not fresh from a
hideous crime? have said before that the
picture as picture was worthless. a mere
ieNSo ShSNSH III Oifly IOr numbering
some old garnet. Then wherein lay its
charm-a charm which 1 myself had felt
though not to this extent? 1t was useless
to conjecture. A fresh difficulty had been
added to my task by this puzzlng discoy-
cry. but difficulties only increased my inter-
est 1T was with an odd feeling of eIation
that, In a further examination of this room
L came upon two additional facts equally
odd and irreconcilable
One was the presence of a penknifc with
the ME blade open, on small table under
the window marked by the loosencd shut
ter. Scattered about ii were some filings
which shone as the light from my lantern
fell upon them. but which were SO fine as 20
call for magnifying-glas to make them
out. The other was In connection with a
closet not far from the great bed IT was
an empty closet SO far as the hooks went
ana the two great drawers which / found
standing half open at its back; but in the
middle of the floor lay an overturned can
delabrun similar to the one below but
with lts prfsms scattered and its one candle
crushed and battered out of all shape on
the blackened boards. II upset while aliGlt,
Wild enGeayor to put out the flames had
been a frenzed Now, by whom had
this frenzy been shown, and when? Within
the hour? could detect no smell OF smoke.
At some former time, then? say on the day
OF the bridal?
CHANGING from tho broken candle at nv
feet to the one giving its last sputter I'm the
tumbler on the dressing table, owned MY.
self psrplexed.
Surely. no ordinary explains ton nttsH
these extraordinary aud seemingly contra.
d.ctory Circumstances.
Go be continued tomorroul
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-06-15

nuded in such breathless hurry that the
food had been tossed from the dishes ana
now lay in moldering heaps on the floor.
The wedding cake. which some one had
dropped. possibly in the effort to save 1t,
had been stepped on; and broken glass,
crumpled napery and withered flowers
dered stepping over the unwholesome floors
al once disgusting and dangerous. The
pantrfes opening out of this room were III
no better case. Shrinking from the sights
and smells l found there, i passed out into
the kitchen and so On byia close and mar
row passage to the negro quarters clus-
tered in the rear. -.
Here made discovery One of the win
dows in this long -disused portion of the
house was not only unlocked but partly
open. But as 1 came upon no marks show
ing that this outlet had been used by the
escaping murderer. I made my way back
to the front of the house and thus to the
stairs communicating with the upper floor.
1t was on the rug lying at the foot of
these stairs that came upon the first of
dozen or more burned matches which lay
in distinct trail up the staircase and
along the floors of the upper halls. AS
these matches were all burned as short as
fingers could hold them, it was evident
that they had been used to light the steps
of some one seeking refuge above. possibly
in the very room where, we had seen the
light which had first, drawn US to this
house. How then? Should I proceed or
await the coming of fhe,I "boys" before
pushing In upon possible, murderer!
decided to proceed. Fascinated. think, by
the nicely of the trafII WHICH lay before
me-
But when. after a careful following in
the steps of him who had so lately pre-
ceded me. l came upoii aItightly closed
door at the end of a side passage, l own
that l stopped morhentnbefore lifting
hand to 1t. So much may. lie behind
tightly closed door! Bit MY hesitation. if
hesitation 1t was, lasted bit moment.
My natural Impotence and the promptngs
OF my vanity overcame the dictates of my
judgment, and, reckless OF consequences,
perhaps disdainful of them q soon had the
knob in my grasp. / gave d slight push to
the door and, on seeing a crack OF light
leap into life along the lamb, pushed the
door wider and wider till the whole room
stood revealed.
The instantaneous banging of shutter
III one or Its windows proved the room to
BIO the very one which we had seen lighted
from below. Otherwise all was still; nor
was L able to detect, in my first hurried
glance. any other token of human presence
than candle suffering in its own grease
at the bottom of a tumbler placed on one
corner of an old-fashioned dressing table.
This, the one touch of incongruity in
room otherwise rich if not stately in its
appointments, was loud in it's suggestion
of some hidden presence given to expe-
dents and reckless of consequences;, but
of this presence nothing was to be seen.
Not satisfied with this short suryey-a
survey which had given me the impression
of spacious. old-fasihoned chamber, fully
furnished, but breathing of the by-gone
rather than of the present-and resolved
to- know the. worst, or rather, to. dare
the worst and be done with IT. ! STROBE
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-06-15
uI=Continued.

Having thus noted all that was possible
concerning her without infringing on the
rights OF the coroner. | next proceeded to
cast about for clues to the identity of the
person whom 1 considered responsible for
the extinguished candle. But here great
disappointment awaited me. l could find
nothing expressive of n second persons
presence save Il pile of cigar ashes scat
tered near the legs of q common kitchen
chair which stood face to face with the
book shelves in that part OF the room
where the candelabrum rested on small
table. But these ashes looked old. nor
could l detect any evidence of tobacco
smoke in the general mustnes pervading
the place. Was the man who died here
fortnight since accountable for these ashes?
II so. his unfinished cigar must be within
sight. Should l search for il? No. for this
would take me TO the hearth. and that was
too deadly a place TO be heedlessly APP
preached.
PesIdes. I was not yet finished with the
spo, where / then stood. II could gather
nothing satisfactory from the ashes, per-
hsps . could from the chair or The shelves
before which II had been placed Some one
with Sn interest in books had sat there;
como one WHO expected TO spend sufficient
time over these old tones TO feel the need
OF chair Had this interest been n gen.
erai ono or had il centered in particular
volume? ] ran my eye over the shelves
within reach possibly with an idea of set
Ting this question and. though my knowl-
edge OF books Is limited. / could see that
these we're what one might call rarites.
Some of them contained specimens of black
!etter. all moldy and smotherod in dust;
In others saw dates of publication which
placed them among volumes dear to a col
secior's heart But none of them so far as
I could Soc. gave any evidence of having
peen lately handled; and anxious to waste
no time on puerila Details. hastily Quilted
&t;entIoa elsewhere, when I noticed On an
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-06-15

straight into the center of the room and
cast about me quickly a comprehensive
glance which spared nothing, not even the
shadows lurking in the corners. But no
low-lying figure started up from those
ners. nor did any crouching head rise into
sight from beyond the leaves of the big
screen behind which was careful to look
Greatly treasured, and indeed quite con-
WINGED that wherever the criminal lurked
at that moment he was not in the same
room with me. I turned my attention to
my surroundings, which had many points
of interest. Foremost among these was the
big four-poster which occupied a large
space at my right l had never seen its
like In use before, and I was greatly at
tracted by its size and the air of mystery
impaired to 1t by. it's closely drawn cur
tains of faded brocade. In fact, this bed,
whether from its appearance or some oc-
cult influence inherent in 1t, had a fascina-
ton for me- 1 hesitated to approach 1t,
yet could not forbear surveying it long and
earnestly. Could it be possible that those
curtains concealed some one in hiding be-
hind them? Strange to say I did not feel
quite ready to lay hand on them and see.
A dressing table laden with woman's fix
ing and various articles Of the toilet all
of an unexpected value and richness oc-
cupied the space between the two windows;
and on the floor, Immediately in front of
high mahogany mantel, there lay amid
number of empty boxes an overturned
chair. This chair and the conjectures its
position awakened led me to look I'D at
the mantel with winch 1t seemed to be in
some way connected, and thus I became
aware of a wan old drawing hanging on the
wall above 1t. Why this picture, which
was totally embarrassing sketch of
sfmpering girl face. should have held my
eye after the first glance, cannot say even
now. 1t had no beauty even of the senti-
mental kind and very little, If any, mean
ing. Its lines, weak at the best, were
nearly obliterated and In some places quite
faded out. Yet I not only paused to look
at 1t, but in looking at 1t forgot myself and
well-nigh my errand. Yet there was no
apparent reason for the spell 1t exerted
over me, nor could I account in any way
for the really superstitious dread which
head move slowly round with shrinking
backward looks as the swaying shutter
creaked some of the f1tful noises which
grow out of silence in answer to our inner
expectancy, drew my attention or appalled,
my sense.
To all appearance there was less here
than below to affect a mans courage. No
inanimate body with the mark of the
slayer upon 1t lent horror to these walls;
yet sensations which I had easily over
come in the library below chung with
strange insistence to me here, making it an
effort for me to move. and giving to the
the mirror CHANGED to pass a power to
shock my nerves which has never been re-
peated in my experience.
/. 1t may seem both unnecessary and out
of character for man of my calling to ac-
knowledge these chance sensations, but
only by doing so can account for the min
utes which elapsed before summoned suf-
ficient self-possession to draw aside the
closed curtains of tha bed and TAXA tha
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-06-15
w. B. MOSES & SONS, IF ST., Cor.


habitant of a deaf country will be punished
as severely he now would be for striking
your ear with his fist
sure sign of advancing civilization is
the waning Of liberation for unnecessary
noise. New York is vigorously protesting
against the wanton shrieking of locomotive
and factory whistles. and there have been
arrests Of men for hauling truckloads of
rafting iron through the streets, while
the civilized residents of that metropolis
are also endeavoring to eliminate the organ
grinder Chicago, also, is making an at
tempt to abolish unnecessary noses-an at
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-06-15

mands and upholds laws and regulations
for the protection of the eye and nostril.
But as yet the average ear is in the unim-
proved or savage state. Happily the num-
Der is steadily growing Of those who recog-
nize that an assault upon the ear Is just
as UNREASONABLE as an offense to the sight
or sense of smell.
When we become completely civilized as
much respect will be paid to the rights of
the ear as to the rights of the body, and
the savage boor who clangs an unnecessary
gong, blows an unnecessary whistle or
otherwise acts as If he were deaf in
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-06-15

tempt which will be watched closely by all

tempt which will be watched closely by all
who are interested in municipal problems,
and especially by those unfortunates who,
condemned by unkind fate to house them
selves in Cities yet value some degree of
peace and quiet and the comfort of their
ears.
The city of Washington might do well to
follow Chicago's initiative without waiting
to see whether or not Chicago succeeds;
and you could not render the public bet
ter service than by keeping up an agitation
upon this subject until civilized conditions
prevail here. R. GRANT BARNWELL.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-06-15
Days Cool, Nights Cooler.

Located in the heart of the Adirondacks,
on Lake Pleasant. Hamilton county, N. Y,
where the days are cool and the nights
cooler. are Morley's two large hotels and
cottages-an ideal summer resort
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-06-15

a Columbia street car and buggy be-
longing to Mark Powell figured In a col
lision at New York avenue and 18th street
yesterday afternoon One wheel of the
buggy was demolished but the car sus-
tanned no damage.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-06-15

Katie Smoot, a thirteen-year-od child
was struck by Capital Traction car at
Sth and E streets southeast Saturday night
and knocked down. She was not badly in
jured. Her home is at 800 Pennsylvania
avenue.
Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1903-07-31
Little Rock Wants Doueherty.

1t leaked out yesterday that Dough-
erty. who is pitching such phenomenal
ball for Monroe, La. will wear a Lit
tie Rock uniform next season. 4 little
less than a month ago DOugherty
pitched an eighteen-inning game for
Monroe, and Mike Finn got after him.
Result was that by paying over small
sum he secured the services of the
player for next season, Yesterday
those in on the secret We're very hap
pv, indeed, over his work in the game
at Monroe Wednesday, in which he
pitched two games against NatcheZ
one twelve innings and the other nine
aud allowed but three hits.-Arkansas
Gazette
DOugherty was seen this morning
and says he has not yet signed con
tract with Finn He is registered at
the Trulock With the rest of the Mon
rec team.
Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1903-07-31
Will Farm Out Wilhelm.

Pittsburg will farm cut Pitcher Wit
helm, who was drafted from Birming-
ham in the Southern league at the be-
ginning of the season. Wilhelm has
pitched some good games for the
Champions and RANKS Well up among
the slab artists in the National league.
but has lost his nerve of late. Man
ager Dreyfus thinks that by farming
him out to some minor league team he
will regain his nerve and make good
in the big league next year. Birming
Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1903-07-31
BASEBALL NEWS.
. . . + + + + + + + + - +

r,o Pine Bluff and Monroe teams
arrived in the city last night and Will
n1ave double header at Bell park
.h;s afternoon Blackburn and Brown
will probably occupy the firing line
sor the home team and it is expected
that Tom Dougherty. the young pitcher
who made such a brilliant showing
AGAINST Natchez and Baton Rouge,
ill MITCH one of the games for the
Swamp Angels
Notwithstanding the fact that the
locals have lost more games than
they have wen on the trip around the
circnif. they are not discouraged and
will nut up fast article of ball in the
games this afternoon. Not one OF
them has given up hope of finally land
;no the remnant in Pine Bluff and
they will go in with the same deter
n7ination to win and get away from
the last place in the percentage column
10 place them on the top of the heap.
The team has been handicapped by
the sickness Of Cavender, who has
heen out Of the game for week. He
is all right today and will take care
Of everything that goes in the left gar
den in his usual way.
CLAYTON and Casey have gotten
things into running order at the third
sack and work together to perfection.
The rest of the points will be covered
by the regular men.
BY winning the double header from
Natcfez Wednesday Monroe closed up
a part of the big gap that has kept
them in last place for SO long. and
they now bid fair to make things live
ly for any team they go against. The
locals, however. expect to take all
three games from them while here
Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1903-07-31
DaWkins Release Denied.

Anent the story of the release of
Third Baseman Lee Dawkins, there
bare many conflicting rumors afloat
II is stated that Dawkins was given
his release at Vicksburg in manner
similar to that in which Joe Hennegar
was released just before the team left
On its last trip. 1t has been stated sew
eral times that Dawkins was slated
for release as soon as a better man
could be found to fill the position at
third base, and overtures have been
made with Manager Finn of the Lit
| tie Rock Southern league team fO'
the services of Mathison when Dele
hanty has returned to the Travellers.
When seen this morning about the
supposed release Of Dawkins Manager
Blackburn said: Il can state positive.
ly that Lee Dawkins has not been re-
leased and that such a thing has nev-
er been contemplated. Dawkins is
too valuable a man. Dawkns arrived
in the city with the team last night
and says that if he has been released
ne has not heard of it Both men de-
plore the statement of the release
This case is similar to that of the
dennegar case, with the exception that
dennegar absolutely refused to 20 with
ne team on their last trip, preferring
ather to stay in Pine Bluff for few
avs and then sign contract with Lit
e ROCK in the Southern league. Daw
lns came home with the team last
light, but will not play at third base
account of sickness. 1t is given
Ut that he will play at third as soon
ne has recovered and is able to
lay, but many of the fans believe
VIII not wear the Pine Bluff uniform
gam this season. "Why,' they ask
are these efforts made to get Mathi-
oh or some other third baseman if
aWKlns is to remain with the team"
layton will be the captain in the
Hmes this afternoon.
manager Blackburn has been criti-
-eo most severely at times when sim
acting under the instructions from
pc board of directors of the baseball
soclatlon, as in the case of Henne-
r' Hennegar's release was ordered
'he local board of directors several
Us before the trouble which culmi-
Hteo IN his release came about and
was not due to personal troubles
ith Manager Blackburn. Dawkins is
ehe city and will remain here, ac-
Piolhg to all the statements from
use who are managing the team.
Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1903-07-31
Demand for Douaherty.

We don't blame EN- for wanting
Dousherty. Little Rock wants him
and wrote yesterday before the re-
suit Of the double header was known
asking the local management to name
the price. The figures were up in the
skies then, but have advanced since
Monroe Star.
Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1903-07-31
Moore Not Eafred

TIE Star erred yesterday in saying
that Moore had been barred from the
Cotton States League after The &1st.
He and Noblett had not paid the fines
imposed on them at Natchez. which
they considered UNJUST, and they were
notified by President Wheailey tIat Gn-
less the fines We're paid by the 3lst
they would be barred.-Monroe Star.
Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1903-07-31
Newt Fisher on Salaries.

Newt Fisher. in recent interview
gave out the following as the month
lH salaries of the teams of the South
ern league: Memphis. $500: New Or
leans. $1,000; Shreveport, $3.50 Br-
fningham, 81 500: Little Rock, $500:
atlanta. $2,40o; Montgomery, $4,000;
Nashville, ST ZOO
Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1903-07-31
Monroe Releases leidv.

i-eloy' our splendid --cnter fielder,
= oeen released on his own request.
+ received a f1attering offer from the
Puehern league. to umpire, and the To-
management Didn't think it fair to
Piu hlm In the face of it. He also re-
|e's TO leave Monroe, but could not
justice TO himself, considering the
Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1903-07-31

holds first rank among the slab artists
of the Cotton States league with the
average OF 500. He has pitched in
twenty-six games this season and ha
won fifteen and lost four. The three
others We're tied.
Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1903-07-31

difference in salary decline to accept
the offer 1t will pay him 5000 per
month and expenses. Leidy is probab-
ly the fastest player in the Cotton
states league, and considering his age
star in any company.
Monroe Star.
Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1903-07-31
Prominent Younq Pitcher.

Weldon Henley, the young Albanian
who sprung into prominence in the
Southern league last season, and was
signed by the Philadelphia Nationals,
continues to rank first among the
young pitchers.
Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1903-07-31
New PLAYER for Monroe

Henry Vitter, pitcher, outfielder and
catcher, said to be a fast player. has
been signed to join the locals at Vicks-
burg Sunday.-MOnrOe Star.
Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1903-07-31

FOR SALE OR EXCHANGE-For fat.
dry COW, one fine, large, gentle, de-
horned graded Durham COW with
young calf good mixer. A. w. Ed
wards, new phone. 258
Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1903-07-31
National League.

Cincinnati Is, Chicago 0.
Pittsburg 10, st, Louis 4.
BrooklynNew York. called in the
fifth on account of thunderstorm.
No other national league games
were scheduled.
Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1903-07-31
Southern League.
Shreveport IA, Montgomery l.
Nashville 5, New Orleans 2.
American League.

Washington Is, Philadelphia 1875.
Chicago 10, Cleveland 0.
ST Louis ], Detroit @.
New York y. Boston /
Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1903-07-31

FOR SALE-At 1904 South Main
street. One Gray's Royal Silver
Plating outfit; one 5xS camera; one
Organ; two barrels vinegar and
household goods S. F. Vase. 256
Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1903-07-31

WOOD FOR SALE-Either in stove
wood or cord wood lengths. Leave
orders at Pine Bluff Mercantile com.
pany j. S. Currie.
Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1903-07-31

FOR RENT-Five-room house, corner
Ninth and Mulberry Apply to Hen
ry Marx, Main and Second 26O
Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1903-07-31

FOR RENT-Two furnished or unfur
nished rooms. Light housekeeping
if desired. Apply to 215 East Eighth
avenue. 25S
Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1903-07-31

dollars pays for scholarship, either
bookkeeping or shorthand, in James
Practical Business college, and puts
young man or woman in line for
rapid promotion. Act promptly.
Catalogue free. 25Y
Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1903-07-31
BANK OF PINE BLUFF
IS THE TIME!

II contemplating having your rome
re-decorated, the time to do it is
wqcn "oa &C taking your summer
vacation. Our decorators are all first.
class Workn1en, and orders qiven us
will be guaranteed. New designs al.
ways in stock.
Holbrook argus., 1903-04-04
prOud of the Cure.

William R. Travers, the New York city broker, on one occasion desired to go to an address ill suburban Brooklyn, but, being unacquainted with the local hy, accosted a stranger and asked di- eections. It so happened that the stran- ger stuttered and stammered quite as badly as Travers, who after the man had made two or three intellectual at- tempts to answer grew angry under the impression he was being mocked and hotly inquired:
 How d-d-dare you t-t-try to mmmock me-"
 "Ex-ex-excuse mime" exclaimed the stranger. q have an im-im-impedi- ment in m-my s-s-s-speech."
 "Oh. l s-s-s-eew stammered TraverS, the look of anger giving way to a look of sympathetic concern. "W-w-why d-d-don't you g-g-go s-s-see D-d-doctor S-s-smith? He c-c-cured m-me."-Phil- adelphia Times