davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1904-02-21

expression Of his mouth boding i'll for
the tramp were he careless enough to
be caught.
Into the dark, dirty car, where lay a
few tattered relics, turned out now and
then by an irate conductor or busy
freight hand, but always slipping back,
came Robinson with determined mien,
lantern in one hand, pistol in the other.
Hold up your feet" he said sharply.
The men reused, dazed and protesting
from heavy slumbers, stared bewild-
eredIy as they thrust out feet drawn
out from beneath straw or sacking.
What new game was this? Robinson,
needless of question or criticism. after
a quick flash of the lantern. hurried to
the next car. leaving wake Of dis
gusted chaff.
Through four cars plodded Robinson,
and then in the fifth he received a
shock. From the darkness came voice
Enthusiastically declining to show the re-
quired foot. -Robinson's voice softened
ominously.
II think you had better" he began
gently, otherwise shall have to make
you
"Oh. please" the voice was almost
wall, ''let me alone. 1 haven't done
you any harm. Go away"
Go away!" repeated Robinson, fairly
The San Francisco call., 1904-02-21

dresses and other marks Of identifica-
ton inside, or at least to write their
own addresses in the heading They
are also more committal regarding sig
natures, more often signing their full
name, while women close with Loving
ly yours, Nell; Your sister, Ann etc.
The initial signature is purely feminine.
Our mike clerk is a surprisingly
clever sleuth, putting thousands Of
sidetracked missives on the main line
yearly. He never flags in his perse-
verance or begrudges them final try
THE power to open dead letters Is
delegated to especially deputized clerks
in the dead letter Office at Washing
ton, D. c., and not even the Postmaster
General dares to open even the most
insignificant looking Of them"
Curiosity does not dog the genii
whose Job 1t is to find out where and
how the other fellows brain slipped a
cog. They merely scan the matter for
the meat-an address. or a name, or
anything tangible-and then throw the
letter down and pass unsentimentally
on to the next.
Even at the dead letter morgue
there is a distinction, the subjects be-
ing divided into two stacks" dead"
and "alive" The hopelessly dead letter
might. per example, be headed Grand
View and signed 'Kate," while some
clew as to- the identity Of the writer
or his future plans as to whereabouts
might kindle some spark OF hope in
the breast of the deputy.
The letter pronounced hopelessly dead
goes forthwith into the waste basket
to be incinerated later. Addressed COR
ners on the envelope would insure
/, 500 900 more deliveries per annum.
No less than As. 900 letters and 1000
parcels found their way into the mails
without scratch of pen for their iden-
tification. OF the letters opened in
the dead letter office in the hope of
locating the writer's, a total Of 81, 900
contained money. the aggregate of
which was $4,000. Fifty-two thou
sand of the letters opened contained
checks, drafts, ETC.. amounting to
over $1.000,000. More than $4,000
could not be traced for return, and
The San Francisco call., 1904-02-21

cabin door stood open, thing unprece-
dented, and on the hearth lay the last
embers Of a fire. Recollection came
quickly, and with hurried fingers he
lighted a candle to gaze about the
tidied room. Everything seemed in or
der. But the man was gone, and with
an exclamation Robinson darted to the
cupboard where was kept his dearest
possession. Those new bootsi One
glance sufficed, the boots were gone.
In their place stood a pair of rusty
high lows, and at that sight Robinson S
rage found words. In fluent and pic
turesque English he cursed emphati-
cally and categorically himself, his be-
longings. the tramp and all that be-
longed to him; he even began on the
Bishop, but checked that. The Bishops
theory might be good.
But out here it's burned poor prac-
tice," thought Robinson ruefully.
Where can the skunk have gone? He
must have 'em on
There was practically only one way
out of the town-the railroad-and a
sudden remembrance of the waiting
freight cars flashed across Robinsons
mind. To seize the lantern, light it and
lock the door behind him was but the
work of a minute: in the next he had
started down the hill on a dog -trot, the
The San Francisco call., 1904-02-21

man slouchingly lazily along, his face
frightened.
THAT pesky tramp has been hanging
about for a week, asking work." he
thought. Here, you, he called aloud.
The man started. came forward sus-
piciously, his eye on Robinson's hip
pocket. The latter frowned.
Here, wake up" he growled. You
say you want work. Go up to my cab
in then, fix it up, and then-then wait
till 1 come" his invention giving out.
The man only stared and Robinson's
wrath overhowed.
Don't stand gaping there like a
blasted idiot" he roared. Get along
with you, and double quick, too. See
you have things well cleaned up by
the time I get there or I'll make it hot
for you. Here's the key"
Robinson's methods were convincing
and the man, after one glance to assure
himself Of the speakers sincerity,
turned and departed in haste. With a
relieved sigh Robinson crossed to the
nearest saloon.
It's on me. boys" he remarked
cheerfully. "whatIl you have?"
When finally Robinson mounted the
hill to his cabin, night had fallen and
the memory Of the tramp had entirely
escaped him. To his astonishment the
The San Francisco call., 1904-02-21

and that he had a sort Of military
bearing. 1 asked him about 1t once.
Didn't you ever hear the story" he
said, ''of how General Williamson got
his title?"
l said that had never heard 1t.
Well" continued the Major, "he was
a general ticket agent for the Chicago
and South Pacific Railroad"
With which evasive answer the Ma
Jor turned to his paper and refused to
converse further on the subject.
As I said. there were only three OF
us in the club when the Major came
in. He seemed nervous, and called the
boy to bring him some hot buttered
rum The night was bitterly cold, and
Charming, Wilton and 1 had been wait
ing about, wishing that the storm
would cease. 1t did not-so we waited
longer. Then the Major came.
Hello" he said. and passed Us to
give his order at the desk. Then he
sat down at table and began to write
rapidly. He called the boy again and
asked that he ring for a messenger.
The messenger appeared. The Major
handed him note and some coins and
told him to take a cab.
Must be in hurry" suggested
Claiming.
note doesn't get where 1t belongs with
in an hour it will be all up with Kem-
ble."
He sat down. with US and began stir
ring his rum thoughtfully.
Great stuff. rum" he said. I've
been thinking for a long time that I'm
going to spend my declining years
down on the Cape somewhere. 1 shall
have thatched cottage, some nastur-
tiums growing in a wrecked dory on
the lawn, and 1 shall sit on the beach,
dressed in a sou'wester and oilskins,
scanning the horizon for incoming lug
gers. Each lugger will be laden with
hot buttered rum
The Major slipped his drink medita-
lively.
You fellows want to hear a love
story?" he asked.
Yes, let her CO." said Wilton.
We settled back in our chairs. pre-
pared to listen, for 1t was an unusual
thing for the Major to volunteer a story
of any kind.
Il shan't tell you the end of the
story till the boy gets back" he began
'Is the boy the hero?" inquired
Claiming.
Not exactly, but he bears an i'm
portant message TO the hero" said the
Major.
Then he went on, and none Of US in
terrupted him for soma minutes He
talked slowly, and picked his words
carefully.
"It was this way" he began. There
The San Francisco call., 1904-02-21

OF DOROTHY
By ]. X. Palmer

was a man once who was a lawyer.
and he had a ward who had been left
to his care by her father when he died.
The lawyer was a bachelor and he
took the girl under his care. and man
aged her property. and sent her to
school, and to college and abroad. and
wherever he thought she might grow
to be the woman her father had hoped
she might be. Then when she came
home to live he fell In love-with her.
That's all there is OF the first chap
ter
The Major picked up his glass and
held 1t between the light and his eyes
Great stun, hot buttered rum on a
cold night" he commented.
Then he went on: This man found
that he was forgetting to do his work
He was thinking about her most OF
the time, and he began to lose conf
dence in his ability to win cases. He
lost some that he should have won.
Then he began to reason with himself,
and he suddenly discovered that he
couldn't do anything more, anyhow, till
he had told her he loved her and found
out what she thought about II. Mind
you. he was old enough to be her
father.
so one night he went to her house
wanted to. They sat together before
the library IRE. Then the man began
to talk. I have thought. Dorothy he
said, that II Is about time you were
married Then the young woman
came over and laid her hand on his
shoulder. have thought So too she
said.
The man went on talking. Is there
any one you care for particularly he
asked Yes she said, but we quar-
relied after We had been engaged two
days, and-I know I ought to have
told you about the engagement. but
Uncle Billy, honest, wanted to keep
1t to myself for a little time yet
Then the man tried to tell her how
much he loved her, but somehow he
couldn't. He just asked her who the
man was that she had become engaged
to. She told him. and told him, too.
that the quarrel didn't amount to any
thing. and that she wanted him to come
to luncheon with you. Gregory"-and
the Major turned to me-"and me to-
morrow at 1 o'clock
The Major stopped.
What do you mean?'' I asked.
Wait till the boy comes back" said
the Major.
Presently the boy returned with a
note. The Major opened it and read it.
Then he handed It to me- This was
what II said:
My Dear Major-Will meet you and
Mr.. Gregory with my mother and Miss
Gordon at the Touraine at / to-mOr-
row. Thank you for what you have
done. Very sincerely,
"A. L. KEMBLE.
"Channing," began the Major when
had finished reading. "an6 you. Wilton.
you are both pretty close friends Of our
families. and I am glad i have the hon.
or of announcing to you the engage
ment of Mr. GregOry's niece and my
ward. Miss Dorothy Selden. to Mr.. Al
fred l.. kemble."
The Major and I received the con-
gratulatiOns Of the others. for we all
liked Kemble tremendously. Then the
Major ordered some more hot drinks
when get my thatched cottage down
on the Cape will you chaps come down
and help me scan the horizon?" he
asked. L shall be pretty lonesome IN
less some OF you come to visit me-"
The San Francisco call., 1904-02-21
TURNED X y
~ ~ AROUND
By Elliott Walker
By Elliott Walker

I'm alive!" breathed Enoch. family
BE you?"
II s'pose so. Hadn't orter be"
BeuIah moved first one limb, then
another.
Mr. Haley crawled from beneath
the high. old fashioned bed and pull
ed cautiously at his wife. Gomez
he urged, me an you an the cats
left anyhow. Mebbe we kin git out
Of the ruins
"whar be we?" painted Beulah
pressing her hands to her disordered
gray locks and gaining breath. "Thar's
some plasterin' down, an the picters
air all askew, but / don't see no ruins
The house is stood up"
Les go ter the back door an peek
out arter the crittter." Haley spoke
aimlessly, staring about. II feel all
turned round"
Together they staggered to the
kitchen, both weak from shock, and
gazed out blankly.
Guess I'm crazy" muttered the old
man. Here we be at the front door,
an yit-an' yit-"
"'Tain't either" interrupted Beulah,
feeling the jamb. It's the back door
an here's the Kitchen" She stopped
IN astonished hesitancy.
But that's the road, an the noun
tins, an'-oh, now amt thet too bad
See all them apple trees over in the
pasture tore out by the roots an laid
down in rows, like so many corpuses.
Let's go to the back Of the house an
see about the hencoops. P'raps the
barns etandin', too"
This is the back of the house." in
sisted his wife, rubbing her spectacles
for q better view. "Enoch, you're
turned round"
II should say I was" replied Mr..
Haley, pettishly, "an' so be you. Won't
we never see straight ag'in? It's this
away, Beulah. The things we see
last is fixed in our eyes, an II we're
standin' in our back door we're seein'
things thet amt. Thet's It'll"
Mrs. Haley slowly recovered from this
statement. Let's set on the steps
awhile an be thankful we kin see any
thing" she invited. "Mebbe our sight
VIII get Strengthened out an things will
come to us gradual. Shut yer eyes an
rest EN- Then we kin see things ez
they be, mebbe."
''Thet amt a bad plan" agreed
Enoch. seating himself and Immediate
ly acting upon this advice. I'm goin'
to imagine I'm observin' the barn an
henhouse. an when I opens up prob
trees. though" he added, after a mo-
ment's trial.
Three men. hurrying to the worst
scenes Of disaster, paused in amaze
ment at sight of the old couple, sitting
with clasped hands and closed eyes.
A tall neighbor stepped forward So
licitousIy. Are you blinded. Mr.. Ha-
ley?" he inquired. This is Marvin
Lennox. Can we help you?"
Guess not, Marvin" responded
Enoch. quivering his eyelids for rapid
glimpse and promptly screwing them
up again.
Blinded? Mol Our sights set-an'
we see things back end to. We're
hopin ter git it right ag'in 500. Here
we be on our back steps q lookin' the
wrong way" Beulah groaned.
The man stared, then broke into a
hearty laugh. "Of course you are" he
chuclxled. why. the cyclone has lifted
your house right UP. turned it around.
and set il square on its foundation %
He gave them each a hand. Get upi"
he added. Come out on the sidewalk
and see for yourselves
Mr.. and Mrs. Haley stood on the walk
and winked in bewilderment.
''It hez, fer fact"
The San Francisco call., 1904-02-21

stunned. Go away. And my boots"
Feet up now" interrupted Robinson.
curtly. Here. let me see you." slip
ping the lantern closer. A tall. slender
boy in ragged clothing was revealed.
gazing up with white face and implor-
ing eyes. No one else was in the car,
and for a second Robinson hesitated.
But you may be a pal" he de-
cided. Put 'em up at once Lord.
what a fuss about nothing" as a pair
Of small. travel-stained boots madt
reluctant appearance. You needn't
worry about those; they look more
like a woman's feet" with a short
laugh The sound OF smothered sob
reached his ear and Robinson. start
ing. bent lower. ~ woman; dog
goned if it amt a woman" he ut
tered slowly. Say. what are you do
ing here % with a complete change OF
tone. The sobs deeDened.
Tin trying to get East" she
wept. Ny people are there and
Il"
But how came you here. this
way?" The girl. after quick glance
at the handsome. interested face felt
her courage returning.
Il went out with my father" she
began timidly. Then he married
again and his wife-she wasn't good
TO me. But dad always looked after
me until he got killed in a fight She
got worse after that-she wanted me
II couldn't stand it." with a waver-
ing look. 80 took some OF fathers
oil L. =.
money. so I had to steal rides. and
nobody suspected until you. tonight.
You see, 1 couldn't wear fathers
boots ?" The big eyes filed again
with tears and Robinson felt like
condemned criminal.
"Oh. say. don't cry" he muttered
clumsily. In spite OF its sheath OF
tlrt and CRIME he could detect the
fair prettiness< of the girls face and
growing admiration for her pluck
made him grind his teeth at the idea
Of what she might have to meet 1t
was ridiculous for a girl TO think OF
such a thing Yet he couldn't ask her
to go back Nor could he keep her
unless, with a sudden Frightening OF
his countenance, he set down the Ian
tern and took both her hands In his.
Look here. said he dlfidently. I'm
a poor lot. perhaps; I haven't got
much saved, and mine amt much OF
a home. But such as 1t is, it's yours
II you viii only take it."
The girl, her eyes widening in bewil-
derment, drew back.
You mean2" she asked family.
Il mean-I mean that I want you for
my wife, little woman. OF course. I
amt near good enough" huslIily. But
I'll treat you we'll and-I've been lone
some. for a fact though l didn't know
IT. so il you could only see your way
clear 10 favoring me-tO giving me
chance" his tone sank to entreaty and
the girl, who had listened incredulous-
ly, uttered a little cry and dropped her
forehead to the hands that still held
hers, firm, steady hands that any wo-
man could trust. Robinson's clasp
frightened.
You mean that you will. j" he said ex-
citedly. as a shamed little nod an
swered him. God bless you, little
woman Say" struck by a Jubilant
thought. Il just bet you the Bishop will
come back and marry u.s.
And the Bishop did.
The San Francisco call., 1904-02-21

rocking chair. where she was mapping
away the sultry afternoon, and blinked
irritably.
where's my specs7" she inquired,
F1zing about with q cavernous yawn.
"On yer forred, ez usual Hurry up
now"
s'Tain't goin' to rain, is It? Thet
ruublin' an growlin' is miles off,
Enoch. What a man you do be fer
aIlus scrabblin' round, wantin' things
nhut I'D long afore thar'e any need
ont Housen be hotter'n Tophet- It's
bad enough now"
you come out here an. see. crieo
her husband, excitedly. Stan In the
front door an look over on them
rnountains. What dyer think Of sech
q sky ezz thet?"
cit does look alarmin'," assented
1frs. Haley. shading her eyes with a
TAT hand. But ter me il amt a rainy
slv Still. II may do somethin'. The
afr sound holler, don't II? 'Ceptin' the
thunder. thar amt no sound"
Three miles 10 the west, the round
"A douaes Of the Tsconic range bill
lowed blackly against dull, brassy
background Here and there rolled
eLowly great masses Of cumuli, fringeo
with threatening, oark-hued edges the
vvhIte pfifng bulk shining IN the
rtrsnFe light, which now faded 10 a
S-se-y eo5per shade, while the steady.
r7enscing cannonade i-creased in vol
llrne. shaking the hills and reverber-
afinG through the hushed valley. II
9eemed as though the very leaves were
s:ff sech thing ever happened In
this section, should say a tornaoer
was onto u.s." whispered Enoch anx-
iously.
hing her fat hands. but thet's nothin'l !
Tornaderi Shot, We don't hev EN-
round here. Wall I guess I'll be NOV
sn' IT'S darkenin' up. What eils the
-st Fnocb1 Jest look at her tail. Come
along. Jenny. you aint afeero OF
shower, air YEP
Suddenly. Ike an inky pail blotting
,,,t the face of nature. a dreadful DUSK
feu on the waiting landscape The pair
sfood petrifed for a brief second, see
Ing only three frightful, whirling shapes
bounding toward their little home.
Al cracking. ripping sound pierced
tbefr ears: a thunderOus burst, nyr-
lad Of flashes. then a noWl OF "ei1u'
denoniac import.
..cif insidei" yelled Enoch, grabbing
,,;s ,osrslyzed better half in an agony
- horror. ITS right onto us.
u can't seei" walled Mrs Haley
shutting her eyes.
Feel. thenl" screamed ner nusDe
1,,ndling her before him. THE cellar
Yer can't2 Inter the bedroom, then.
I-1der the bed Quick! Oh, Lordy'
Lordy,"
Beneath this refuge they claspeo each
other close in palpitating prayer. Pen
nv. glaring and splitting, dashed after
them. -, -
we've lived happy, and we'll die ter
~-e+,er. Enoch," moaned Beulah, her lips
e~afnst his grizzled cheek.
Tben came that awful moment when
the sfr-deviI swooped down, clutching
the cottage in its pitiless claws AFTER
that swirl Of chaos, they lay stilL
hearkening weakly TO the fading roar
The San Francisco call., 1904-02-21

LII NL1O4( SdAClCcS1lCES lb u udL-
~ tional trait and statistics show 1t
to be on the increase If we but
/ consider the blundering publio's
voluntary contribution to the dead let
ter office.
Superintendent Cox Of the local post
office has some curious facts to contrib
ute about thisesame carelessness. Our
Office" he says, contains an array Of
unclaimed Christmas packages that
have become detached from their ad-
dress, while Tom, Dick or Harry in the
East or over in China or somewhere
east of Suez'' is waiting for a letter Of
acknowledgment. Many q misunder-
standing OF lifelong consequence has
arisen from fool carelessness Of this
sort. The dead letter office holds the
clew to many an unexplained mystery.
I'VE have a clerk in the postoffice
whom, for want of a better name, we
call the mike clerk His business is
to ferret out, If possible, the correct
address from the hieroglyphics on the
envelope and give the letter few last
tries before IL is sent to the dead let
ter Office.
"In the manner of misdirecting a let
ter there are masculine mistakes and
feminine mistakes. The following in
stance illustrates a mistake of daily
occurrence. A business man will write
the street address of some firm in the
East and then, from force of habit, put
city The letter is stamped No such
number and turned over to the NIKE
clerk This type of error is chronic
with a surprising number of business
men. The mike clerk overhauls postal
guides and bulletins for the missing
city, which he finds through the streets,
or returns the letter for better ad-
dress
1.-THE most fragrant feminine offense
consists OF adding or omitting a num-
Der, as 1006 for 106, and vice versa.
'sMen are just as careless, but not as
hopeless or helpless as are women.
Business has trained them to put ad-
The San Francisco call., 1904-02-21

q u.
s1E1-t-1---Zzz8 Now, don't for
get he said earnestly; I am not
desirous Of seeming to preach'-his
Kindly smile flashing out for a sec
ono-"but II the opportunity comes
give fellow creature a chance. The
way 10 make people trustworthy is
ID trust them" he added Impressive
ly. The listener nodded. Clad as he
was in rough corduroy trousers thrust
into long boots. blue flannel shirt and
handkerchief knotted loosely about
The powerful throat. he looked a man
TO influence others, and the Bishop, no
mean reader Of men. was satisfied.
i wish that could have remained
a bit longer" he thought regretfuIIy
as he settled himself comfortably in
the wide seat -Four days is really
TOO short for a parochial visit"
The man left behind heartily echoed
the Bishops sentiments. 1t had been
Ike a breath out OF another world, this
1eW days intercourse with a lofty and
cultivated personality. Under his own
calm, blue eyes lay an ardent and en-
thusiastic nature, which had as vet
found but little to develop il The
Bishops inspiring talk had awakened
an instant response, that now made
itself felt as an unsatisfied want His
eyes followed the train like those OF
g hungry Cog, then drifted back 10 the
primitive station. the long. straight line
of tracks and the siding where a row
Of freight cars stood waiting for the
morning, with a vague distaste for it
all.
Makes a fellow sorter want some
thing better" he reflected, turning
slowly away. "Give some fellow crea-
ture a chance. hey? Well. there's plen-
~ out here needs it. Dare say dc
myself"
With a grim chuckle he strobe on
down the narrow cabin lined street.
where the afternoon sun was now
fiinging long shadows across its ugli-
ness Men in groups hung about the
doors Of rival saloons. Several hailed
him, but Robinson cnly shook his head
absently. Then, as his eyes fell on a
The San Francisco call., 1904-02-21
A M.DANIES OGDEN
h >

'Copyrght 1904. by 7. c. Mcclure)
The San Francisco call., 1904-02-21

IL aboard" shouted
the conductor warn
ingly. The Bishop,
with a final hand
pressure, turned 10
the car steps.
AN~Orrr za-.r+ -
The San Francisco call., 1904-02-21

- LIPSHOD carelessness is a nat
- tional trait and statistics show 1t
to be on the increase II we but
consider the blundering publio's
The San Francisco call., 1904-02-21
Copyright, 1904. by T. c. Mcclure.)

HERE were only
three Of US sitting
in the club when the
Major came in. I
never knew why he
was called Major.
except, perhaps, his
name was Miner.
Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1904-02-25
College Of Letters and Science,
Normal School,
College Of Law,
College of Pharmacy,
College Of Art.
Military Academy,
School of Oratory,

Students come here from almost
than Is possible at some ON institu-
tons and at one-fourth the expense
necesitated at institutions where high
living and exorbitant prices are in
vogue.
Students may enter at any time n
select their studies.
ENROLMENT LAST YEAR, 2,175.
This is one of the largest and most
thoroughly equipped institutions in the
west and expenses h least. The de-
mNand for our graduates Is greater than
We, can supply. In many departments
POSITIONS are guaranteed. Expenses:
Board Is the principal item of expense
in attending school. This is the only