davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1904-03-20

He had probably locked the desk
against the curiosity Of the servants
and had forgotten it In the hurry and
excitement OF the wedding. She must
believe in him. The mere fact thai
they were married did not give her a
coroner's right to hold a post-mortens
over his dead past
There was the sound OF footstep
on the stairs, and she relocked the
drawer quickly.
III be down in moment, Norah-
she called You may serve dinner"
The voice that answered was familiar
and masculine. She nearly let the can
die fall in her surprised recognition
OF It.
IT'S only I, Sue What on earth arc
you doing in there?"
She stood mute and motionless az
he bent his head and entered the low
door. 1t was Bob and he was smiling
and happy, his clear eyes seeking Tor
the glad welcome he expected
Il only ran down for tonight" ne
added. II couldn't let you face the
first new year alone. sweetheart
His arms reached for her but she
shook her head and handed him the
key
I haven't used it," she said, broken
ly. But. oh, Bob, came so near IL
You don't have TO tell me what's IA
the old thing. I'll believe in you JUST
the same. and don't want 10 know
Know what?" he demanded Don't
cry, Sue" He drew her TO him tender
". What's up, anyway"
"That desk" she soboed- It's
locked"
rs it?" He stared at the desk in
bewilderment- well. the key was on
nv mantel, dear. You found II all
right. didn't your Couldn't you un-
lock it?''
II could, but-but I don't wish to
know your private affairs" She tried
to draw herself away, but he took her
hands and held them from her tear
wet face so that he could see her eyes
Sue, darling" he said. You bless
ed little Mrs. Bluebeard. that desk is
a wedding present to you from
Grandmother Hadleigh. It's been in
the family since the year one, I guess,
and there isn't a single thing In those
drawers. 1t came the last minute ths
day we were married, and was 50
heavy and unwieldy I told father to
send it along with my things and have
it put away somewhere until we came
home. And I laid the key in the grif-
I'm for safe keeping. What did you
think was in it2''
But Suzanne si1enced further ques-
tioning in her own effectual way. The
IxevstOne of her happiness was firm
and imnovable. But as they went
downstairs to dinner she registered
one New Years vow in her heart In
the future she would let love laugh at
locksmiths.
The San Francisco call., 1904-03-20
f able for the
F oOlisM

had been practicing on her smile for
a year and she was sure that she could
bring down the toughest manager con
the Rialto.
Being naturally a kind-hearted girl
Florence Maude didn't want to keep
the poor manager waiting for her. She
didn't know that a theatrical man
ayers principal occupation is
waiting for good actresses to
come along; most of them are
still waiting. The first office
that she foated into was presided over
by a small boy with a Zangwill cast of
features and a desire to oblige that
would have made street car conduc-
tor look like the original Lord Chester
field. This accommodating young gem
tleman assured Florence Maude that
the manager had been called suddenly
to Albany to fight a bill in the Legisla-
ture making q working knowledge of
the English language indispensable for
singers in comic opera. He also in
formed her that budding actresses were
so thick in New York that winter that
business traffic had been ordered off
Broadway from Twenty-sixth street to
the Hotel Metropole.
Florence Maude's ambition was
pulling back on the leading strap as
she dragged it out into the street
again. The automobile and the mid
night suppers didn't seem so immi-
nent as they had the night before, but
she still had hope. The rest of that
day and of several days might have
been represented by ditto marks as
far as Florence Maude was concerned.
T,,ere seemed to be an overproduction
of expert actresses and an underpro-
duction of acceptable places.
1t promised to be long, cold win
ter for Florence Maude when chance
and the necessity of finding a place to
lay her weary head that didn't cost
quite so much per lay threw her into
the company of young lady who car
ried a bunch OF paper roses in the
rear row of the chorus in The Girl
From Nowhere in Particular" This
ardent worshioer of the dramatic
muse told her Chat another girl was
wanted in the same row to hold up
one end of banner and wave her
left foot above her head when the
Prince comes on in the last act with
the disguised manicurist, who con-
descended to accept his hand in mar
riage. It was an opening and that
was what Florence Maude was look
ing for. She was sure that if the
manager would once give her
chance to tell him about the last will
and testament Of the soldier who lay
The San Francisco call., 1904-03-20
- A GASOLINE CUPID -
By Crittenden Marriott

Again the girl looked at him curl
ously. YES" she answered slowly,
I'm on my way to college"
"Oh-er-you believe in the higher
education of women, then"
The girls eyes were dancing with fun
now. under certain circumstances"
she said. rs that the CapitoI?"
'Yes'm, that's the Capitol. Under
certain circumstances. What circum-
stances, for instance?"
"oh. stepmother at home. for in
stance. How many Senators are there?''
Three hundred and eight-six, I be-
lieve. A stepmother might be a terror
to some girls, Of course. but most OF
them can get away from one home to
another without going to college"
How? BY the way. is that the IL
brary?"
'Yes. Why. Of course, most girls
have-have-can marry" The man
was speaking eagerly now. but he still
kept his face turned away and threw
the words over his shoulder.
Married! Whewl That's a very
radical remedy. 1t might be worse
than the other trouble. How many
books are there in the ibrary?'
Two or three million. I believe.
oh, no. You wouldn't find 1t so, I'm
sure. Think of growing into a spec
tacled old maid! All college girls do.
you know. Then think OF that young
fellow just longing to make a home
for you"
What building is that7"
THAT? Oh, the Patent ofice or
the Pension Office or something!
Think Of
But suppose the girl has sent him
away?"
Then let her whistle him back and
see whether he won't come"
The girl glanced at the broad back
Of the man before her, while her
shoulders quivered with silent mirth.
Then she puckered up her lips and
deliberately emitted a clear. soft
whistle
The effect was magical. Instantly
the chauffeur swung around in his
seat and faced her. 'Bessie." he ex-
claimed. do you mean it?"
The girl smiled at him, though her
eyes were dewy. "Of course 1 do,
Frank" she said II never thought
you would go away as you did just
for a word. No, Nol Keep your
seat. You can say all that's really
necessary from where you are"
And you knew me all the timer"
"Of course! The minute I really
looked at you. But you'll make me
miss my train
Train? No train for youl I'll not
take any chances now. Your interest
in the city may have lapsed, but here's
the City Hall. Shall 1 go in and get
a marriage license. Or-will you go in
with me2"
He had sprung from the seat and
stood holding out his hands. the light
of love pleading in his eyes. Won't
you go in with me. Bessie?'' he asked
again.
For an instant the girl hesitated:
then she took the prcffered hand.
Yes. Frank" she said softly. Il will
go with you-now and always"
Bless that old gasoline rattletrap
that broke down with you," he cried
''It must have been one OF Cupid's up
to-date chariots in disguise"
The San Francisco call., 1904-03-20

ner for bride, she thought. as she
went upstairs. her first New Years
eve. Perhaps by the time the mid
night bells rang out she might be
making a few strange resolutions for
the coming year.
1t was dark on the garrett stairs.
She stopped at the door OF Bob's dress
ing-room and took candIestick from
the mantel. 1t was wedding gift-a
Japanese bronze griffin, with outspread
wings and spiral, sinuous tail.
AS she held it to the gas Jet to
light the candle something fell on the
rug at her feet and she picked it UP.
1t was a small, old-fashioned ordinary
brass key. She looked at it hesitat-
ingly. 1t had never been on Bob's
ring, she knew. The space between
the wings of the bronze griffin was
clever idea for concealment-
She set her lips closely and went
up the garret stairs with the candle
stick in one hand and the key in the
other. Half way there was a turn at
a email landing, and it was at the
angle made by this that she had found
the little low door leading to the
catch ALL" She opened it now and
entered, half closing the door after
her.
The desk was pushed to one side
with some trunks and boxes. 1t was
a quaint, antique affair Of mahogany,
severely colonial in style. The main
body was crescent shaped. supported
on hand-carved legs. There were four
drawers, two on each side, and a
small, low cabinet of pigeon-hoIes on
top.
Suzanne stood motionless before 1t
for several minutes. trying to make
UP her mind to insert the key. When
she did so. in the lock Of the nearest
top drawer, her hand trembled slight
ly, and she held her breath. The key
turned easily and the drawer was
ready for inspection, but she did not
open it. Thoughts whirled like the
futtering snowf1akes through her
mind, and she stood again trresolute-
She had told Bess that she believed
absolutely in Bob. Higher than her
love for him had been her unfalter-
ing belief and confidence in him. 1t
was the very keystone of her marriage
faith, and yet. at the first blow OF
suspicion, it gave way.
Bess was q child, with the impulsive
judgment Of a child. She had been
wrong to even tell her of the desk.
wrong to discuss Bob or his motives
with her at all. or to listen for an
instant to any doubt of him, even in
Jest. She must have faith and walt.
The San Francisco call., 1904-03-20

sought father, dear father, to come
home with her now. half the men in
the audience would look around has
thy as though they thought they
heard some one calling them.
AS was only natural under the cir
cumstances Florence Maude soon be-
gan to have visions of herself pushing
the bouquets out of her way and glid-
ing swiftly between solid rows of the
most approved style OF Johnnies to
the stage door where her automobile
lay in waiting.
She had heard great tales of the sala-
ries that leading ladies received for do
ing perfectly simple things, as much as
a hundred dollars a week for walking
about on a stage and talking in nat
ural tone of voice, without a
single thrill in it, for two or
three hours every night. When
they were not doing this they
were giving delightful little suppers.
At last Florence Maude reached the
point where she could no longer re-
strain her vaulting ambition. She
must act or she must perish. She was
dead sure that the world was standing
On lAQlOC LUZ IlcI u COIIle out ana SHOW
just how it should be done. Accord
ingly she packed her child's. size Sara
toga and took the nine-forty accommo-
dation from Hopkinsville to Jones Cen
ter, where she was to connect with the
Accidental Limited. Her cry was. "On
to Gotham" That's pretty good kind
of cry, but people who have tried it
have found Gotham a mighty hard
kind of place to get on to.
After Florence Maude had estab-
lished herself In a boarding house.
where she wouldn't be set back more
than twenty-five per, at the outside,
she started out on the still hunt for
the deadly manager in his lair.
She had written to two or three that
she was coming, but they hadn't even
answered her letters. Probably they
were too busy looking for play for
her. Her idea of the way that she
would break into the theatrical world
was modelled largely on a story that
she had read about q young woman
from Manayunk, who got her picture
into the shop windows the first month
out, married a member of the Stock
Exchange inside of a year, was di-
vorced in six months and was now
drawing a hundred and fifty per-
(haps). All that this young lady had
done was to walk into the Office and
smile at the manager. Florence Maude
The San Francisco call., 1904-03-20
@THELASTFARTHINGep -
By John B. Oxford

And yet you have stayed on here
for two weeks" she said accusingly.
= have stayed IS long as the money
I had with me-aH the money I had
in the world. for that matter-lasted," ="
he said.
Wasn't that rather imprudent?''
she asked.
rs it imprudent for a man who is
going to a perdition of a wilderness to
drain his cup of happiness to the last
dregs before he leaves" said he.
Perhaps not" she admitted.
He threw his cigar into the water
and watched it float lazily away on
the tide.
L wanted you TO know all these
things before 1 went" said he, and
1 wanted to tell you some other things.
That is why I brought you out here
where it is quiet First, will you
kindly slip off that ring and give it
to me?"
do you think am that sort?" she
asked hotly. do you think 1 prom
ised to marry you to desert you at
time like this?"
II know" he argued, that is very
noble Of you. But remember what
this means-years and years of wait
ing, probably. A man can lose in a
day what it takes lifetime to replace
what can sometimes never be re-
placed. 1 can't subject you TO such
conditions. You are young and the
doors of the world are open to you
1t may be hard now, but you'll forget
me presently. 1t is better that you
should"
Tod" There was a world OF re-
proach in her voice.
Better give it back to me-" he ad-
vised.
She covered her face with her hands
and began to sob. He watched her
with all a mans helplessness at such
a moment
II thought you cared more than
that" she said chokingly.
"Cared?" he said wildly, cared?
Good Godl Have you any idea how
much I care? Let me tell you, then.
have cared so much have stayed
here until 1 am well nigh penniless.
Come what might, / was bound to be
with you until the last cent was gone.
I have stayed until there is nothing
left-until IL becomes necessary for me
TO go over 70 the town IO-nOrToW TO
pawn my evening clothes and watch to
get my passage money down there. l
have cared like the desperate gambler
who plays the game to his last farth-
ing. That's the way I care" he ended
hoarsely.
The man and girl faced each other
in silence; he with tense, drawn face;
she with a wonderful light in her eyes.
She drew the ring from her finger and
laid it in his big. brown hand.
You are WISE" he said heartily.
She looked at him searchingly.
Il give 1t back on one condition." she
said.
And that?"
You must pawn it."
Pawn it?" he gasped. mot this.
can't"
You must" she said.
''WilI you tell me why / must?" he
said, watching It fash in the dim light.
Toto pay my passage down there
with you. Tod she said with burning
cheeks.
The San Francisco call., 1904-03-20

the evening concert
m the piazza Of the San Marco. came
family out 10 them
Don't you feel the least qualms at
me thought OF leaving tomorrow" the
gin asked lightly.
ssThe deepest" the man responded
Eravely. But then, the end comes TO
al things, you kn0w-and it comes
rather quickly TO ones funds at these
E1nter resorts"
The girl laughed.
~For a man that has thrown his
xoeney about broadcast, as you have,
n seems 70 me you're growing very
saving all az once" she said
Il sha'n't throw much more money
broadcast" ha said grinly.
Good for you. TodI" she cried ap-
knowingly. IT'S really time you took
LIE seriously"
81 sha'n't waste any more money" ne
said slowly, '-tor the simple reason ]
cant. and shall take life seriously be-
cause I'm forced 10 IT."
Tod" she said quickly, catching
some grim. hidden meaning In his
words. what is Il? What has hap
pened2"
"Oh. nothing much" he said quietly,
except that after tonight you win be
relieved Of my society. Tomorrow I
face the world with a clean slate.
shall have taste OF earning my daily
bread"
You don't mean she began in
amazement.
That's just what I DO mean," he
said. Those Western failures have
wiped me clean of the map. 1 haven't
a cent in the world, and consequently
I cant AFFORD TO stay any longer at
an expensive place like this
The girl clasped her little hands to-
gether and knit her brows. She seemed
trying to grasp the full import Of his
words.
ITS awful" she exclaimed.
Isn't it?' he said dryly.
"And you're going home tomorrow"
she asked.
Home" He laughed reckessly.
MY dear child. why on earth should
I 20 hotre2 There's absolutely moth
ing there for me. Even worse; there
are a hundred and one men who have
been waiting for the chance to jump
on me when I'm down. Home? Well,
] should rather say not. Bentley has
offered me a job on his rubber reserve
in South America. I'm going there to-
morrow
The girl looked at his face turned to
hers IN the moonlight It was z strong,
determined face-the face of a man
who asks odds Of no one. She felt a
sudden tightening Of her throat.
when did you know this?" she ask
ed him
The day after came here" he said.
perhaps you recall it. We went to
Spider Pond that afternoon. and you
rallied me for being stupid"
The San Francisco call., 1904-03-20


4 suppose IL is" she said. GROSSLY.
''Tm sure I can't tell whether it's real
antique or not It looks old and dusty
and is all covered with heavy cary
ings, II you meant that sort of thing
Why Bess," she turned to the ques-
tioner with sudden energy, Il wouldn't
have thought a thing about it if he
had shown il 10 me, or even mentioned
It He told me about everything else
IN the house. and I'd never have known
& thing about this If I hadn't told
Nora TO clean out that catch all as
she calls II, at the turn OF the garret
stairs. There is q large, windowless
space over the dining-room wing, and
it was IN there
And locked" concluded Bess, posi-
lively.
Every drawer. I asked Nora how
long Il had been there, and she said
4 had come with Bob's trunks from
home. while We were on our honey
moon. I'm not a bit curious she
paused.
"Of course not - assented Bess warm
Iy; "or suspicious"
only interested"
Bess nodded her head wisely over the
interested sigh.
. "It is kind Of mysterious, Bob's not
telling you a word about II, and hid
ing it In there out OF sight. and then
the fact Of il being locked shows that
some one didn't want it opened"
AS she gave her conclusive point OF
logic Bess rose. She was pretty and
petite. with a decisive tilt to her chin,
The San Francisco call., 1904-03-20

and the confidence of Is in her blue
eyes
"Of course, you'll do as you please,
Sue You always cid. But II l had
only been married a month and had
found a licked desk in my house that
knew nothing of. I know what I'd do.
Young Mrs. Sheldon left the piano
with an impatient movement. She was
tall and slender beside her sister, and
the indefnable charm of a bride was
visible in her dainty negligee toilette
OF white crepOn.
u believe absolutely in Bob" she de-
clared
Bess raised her eyebrows and smiled
mischieVousIy.
''Of course you do 1t may be only
some old love letters or souvenirs that
he doesn't care to part with. Do you
remember Adelaide Gifford?"
That was two years ago"
I5ess laughed
''Good-by. sis. Believe in Bob ali you
want to. He's a dear, and if ii were 1,
I'd hunt locksmith all the same.
Mrs Sheldon stood at the window
and watched the small, girlish figure
as it vanished down the street among
the iuttering snowflakes. X was dusk.
The room was unlighted as yet and
sudden sense of loneliness stole over
her in the semi gloom, the first she
h6d experienced since the joyous we'd
ding of a month ago. If the affinity of
moods and colors were true, she was in
harmony with the soft velvet gray Of
the twilight tone that was stealing over
the world.
New Years eve and Bob away. The
tears blinded her eyes. OF course it
was business. merely a flying trip to
New York for the firm, made an the
more imperative by his neglect of busi-
ness during the honeymoon, but she felt
a vague rebellion in her heart against
even the separation of a few days.
And there was the locked desk.
Bess words and arguments ran
swiftly through her mind. Come to
think, Bob had told her not to tire her
self by rummaging while he was away
Rumma ging! That meant hunting in
the garret and running The risk of dis
covering the desk.
And Bess had spoken of Adelaide
Clifford. There had been talk Of a
summer engagement she remembered.
Adelaide was older than Bob Some
way she had always blamed her for
The romance and had looked upon
Bob as an impressionable youngster.
But II he had cherished her letters
and keepsakes then he must have
loved her. Adelaide was engaged to
old Mr.. Thurston now-Copper Thurs
ton. the boys called him. Perhaps,
after all. Bob had been jealous OF the
copper-made millions and had married
her in a fit of pique.
She turned from the window with
sudden determination. 1t lacked half
an hour Of dinner time. A lonely din
The San Francisco call., 1904-03-20

s il antique -
Suzanne traiied her
fingers idly over the
piano keys in a little
imprOmptu prelude
of troublOus chords
before she answered
the query.
The San Francisco call., 1904-03-20

LORENCE MAUDE
was the holder of the
heavyweight decla-
nation championship
in nHopkinsville. When
she let down her
back hair and be-
The San Francisco call., 1904-03-20

EUF! Teuf! Teuf!
Teufl Hrrr! Wough!"
The autom o b Ill e
ceased it's monoton-
Gus chant, coughed
once or twice and
subsided into a state
Of silence, and, alas!
The San Francisco call., 1904-03-20

HEY sat on the end
Of the pier, watching
the waves fash opal
escent tints in the
moonlight The notes
Of the Marine band,
struggling through
the evening concert
The San Francisco call., 1904-11-02
COLLEGE BOYS ESCHEW
"HAY FOOT, STRAW FOOT"
OBJECT TO ARMY TACTICS
Seniors Resent Order to Execute the
Lock Step in Classroom.

TO form before entering a classroom.
Then the men are directed to chairs as
signed to them One paragraph In
Captain Nance's order reads as fol-
lows:
Each section marcher will preserve
order in his section, reporting to the
instructor the names of cadets VINO DO
not comply with his instructions.
The Indignation Of the seniors -
given expression in their college organ
the Daily Californian. which says:
I'VE realize the difficulties Of calling
the roll in such a large section as Milf
tary "a, but we do not see why 1t could
not be accomplished. as expeditiously
by simple alphabetical assignment OF
seats, as it is in numerous other courses
in the university equally large. We DO
not believe the forming of lines outside
North Hall and the marching to the
classroom necessary to accomplish this
purpose, nor do we believe that 1t viii
add to the efficiency of the instruction
or the harmony in Captain Nance
classes"
The San Francisco call., 1904-11-02
UNIVERSITY EVENTS

BERKELEY. Nov. Colonel H de Waite,
former professor OF military science and TAG
tics. is sick in the army hospital at the
Preside in San Francisco. He is suffering
from malarial fever
Robert Butler, '05. assistant In the physics
department, was married last Saturday to Miss
Eva Green OF the class Of '0s Announcement
Of the marriage not made until &c day.
Miss Green formerly lived at Winters. Both
will continue their work in college and reside
in Berkeley.
Halloween party I'm honor Of Professor and
Mrs. O'Neill was given BY the Chemistry
Fiends at the chemistry building last n1ghts
The building was grotesquely decorated Two
hundred guests were present. The chemistry
quartet rendered selections.
Final arrangements for the banquet OF the
senior women on December were made at a
meeting IF the banquet committee held this
morning IL North Hall. The banquet il 10 be
held in Hearst Hall. The committee's chair
man is Miss Nellie Dodge.
The open meeting OF the Cercle Francaise an
nounced for next. Thursday evening has been
postponed until Monday evening at stiles Hall.
Mr.. .Lamare OF the French department Is TO
talk on picturesque and Historical Sites and
Monuments Of France" The musical portion
of the programme Will consist OF selections
from famous French operas.
Students interested in athletics are to organ
ize gymnasium club on lines similar TO those
OF tne gymnasium eiuo Al STANFORD Protesso1
Magee has promised to assist In procuring suit
able apparatus and to place the gymnasium at
the. club disposal for its regular meeting
place. Regular gymnastic meetings with other
clubs will be arranged, and annual or semi
annual meetings with the gymnasium club OF
Stanford v Lydia. H. Ross and A Griffin
are receiving the names Of those who wish to
The Y. NJ C. A. has. planned a series OF
long distance ira mps. under the leadership OF
men who are well acquainted with the country
the tramp viii leave Stiles Hall every Saturday
al = 3 CLOCK. ~ :