davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Idaho Springs siftings., 1904-07-30

Senator w. A. Clark detests nothir :
more than to be Interrupted when
busy One day he was In his Office
engaged in a business conversation
when a petite woman carrying a black
bag entered. With a compelling smile
and an insinuating manner she ap-
proached the surly millionaire. Ut
terly insensiblo to his repellent mood
and Indifferent to his abrupt manner
she drew from the depths Of the bag
q handsomely bound volume. the
merits and beauties of which she be-
gan to eloquentiy descant upon.
Failing to embarrass her with arc
tic rigidity and impatient at her per
sistence under rebufRs all but vulgar
he turned suddenly upon the chatter
ing woman and asked:
Madame. do you know what my
time IL WORTH"
She confessed II was = conundrum.
Well" he said, petulantly, its
worth $40 An hour"
He turned away with the air Of one
Who had settled the matter definitely
beyond any further controversy. But
he didn't know the woman.
Idaho Springs siftings., 1904-07-30

his eyes were keen and brilliant and
his hair. when I knew him. was, save
for one snowy lock. Of . glossy raven
black. His dress was quaint and lit
tie different from that OF other men
and his whole appearance, even his
department. was studied from the ar
tistic standpoint"
Idaho Springs siftings., 1904-07-30
WhIssIsr AIways sn ArtIss.

Mortimer Menpes. long . close asso-
ciate of Whistler, thus describes that
famous artist. I'm appearance Whis-
tier was slight, small-boned and ex-
tremely dainty. He seemed always to
have . sparkling air about him. His
complexion was very bright and fresh:
Idaho Springs siftings., 1904-07-30
ST. PAUL, MINK.
&l Wabashs ST.

7hooaands Of suffer pelvic catarrhal
aervoasnsss and don't know beSia -
taking Dr. catarrhal
Acfon snd su will BE- restored health Boy
bottle to-day, ~ II will Immediately alleviate your case
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-08
DFBATERS CHOSEN.
Georgetown University Society Selects
Team to Contest With Columbian.

The debating society of the Georgetown
University school of law last Saturday
evening selected its team for its coming de-
bate with Columbian University. The can
didates submitted their names to the inter-
collegiate debating committee and spoke in
alphabetical order. The five candidates who
took part in the preliminary debate were
Messrs. Rorke of Massachusetts, Ericsson
of Minnesota, Quinn of the District of Co
lumbia, Bowling OF Pennsylvania and Nc
Clellan of Indiana. All the speeches showed
considerable preparation and a thorough
mastery of the question President Fegan
of the Georgetown Debating Society pre-
sided. The judges were Prof. d. w. Baker
of the Georgetown faculty. E. Scott Doug
lass and f. H. Thomas, all prominent
nembers of the Washington bar. The team
selected. by unanimous vote, consists of
Alexander /. Rorke, Leonard Ericsson and
Henry !. Quinn, with Patrick V. Bowling
as alternate-at-large.
The question for debate between George
town and Columbian involves the expedi-
ency of granting a subsidy for shpbuilding
and improving the merchant marine. The
same question was used in the preliminary
debate.
Georgetown will debate Boston University
at very early date the Northern Secu-
rites case. This team will be selected later.
The committee in charge of intercollegiate
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-08

of harness. At the same time two gentle
men mounted on powerful hunters trotted
from the center of the crescent and in
through the compound gates. They were
both dressed in English riding costume.
save for the hat-top-b boots whipcord
brooches and belted coats; a wel-set-up
pair. young, brown and comedy, with rakish
turbans aslant on their heads and they
hailed Mckenzie vigorously and somewhat
profanely they cantered up the drive
Instantly a dozen syces were around them
grinnng and salaaming, and as they led
the horses off the elder of the twain called
loudly after them to see that Mahound S
nostrils were washed out with vinegar and
water before the horse ate. He then fol-
lowed his younger brother up on the veran-
da, where several men were already press
ing the fNspitalty of the place upon him.
We'll Mac, what's the news man? Any
body here?" inquired the elder man be-
tween sips from a long whisky glass.
''Oh. yes. your highness, a few; but there's
always room for more. IL we got any
friends to bring II.
Tell you what: ! have got some people
up at Bettiah-or shall have tomorrow
to amuSe them. The shikarries told me you
We're looking up pig. so ] determined to see
IL We couldn't pull off an impromptu match
like we had last year. How about it; can
you get some boys together"
Surely yes, that's all right But why
not get the elephants out and show EN-
some tigers?"
We'll, we might hit that off later; but
we've got some ladies along whom Birkana
here Is anxious to please. (S-sh-sh." he
whispered under his breath. It's little
Egyptian lady. who's got the boy on the
snafie) What dy think-can we make ii
goT
I'VE certainly oan SUPPOSE we make 1t
Bettiah against Motihari. How many men
can you bringT'
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-08

We'll, there's Rirk. and the resident, and
two chaps you've not met-boundary COM
mission men, staying with us They've got
their ladies along), and then there's Ma
hommed and myself. and fatter me you'll
md us hard crowd to beat, eh?"
Who's the last man-Mahommed? The
man from up in the hills there?"
Yes; Yah Mahommed-big government
gun You've surely met him. No? Well,
he's an old gentleman. but he's no end of a
good chap You'll like him immensely,
and, being a Mussulman. he's Death on
pig. How's that? Ha-ha-ha!''
Mckenzie grinned audibly and the joke
went around the veranda. Then the
Scotchman began sitting his men. We'll.
there's Bewloe, and Donovan, and myself,
and I've got to put Nick and Meredith in
the thing, naturally, you see." he ex-
planned. "Nicks all right If he amt off
practice, but Allan's a dark horse. Don't
know If he ever saw pig-devil of a wing
shot, though! We got among the quail
yesterday and the beggar killed dead with
| every barrel as fast as the Shikarrie could
! shove gun in his hands; but. of course,
pigs pig"
! 'Oh, well, so much the better for US.
Well lick you easy and then wind up with
a dance here afterward. Got plenty of
women
"All right Wen bring five Memsahibs
! and the Egyptian. Give you a tip, though;
she's an adopted daughter or niece or some
thing of Mahommed, and the old chap s
mighty punctilious; so keep your chaps
| to the Memsahibs much possible.
| The other will probably be far away the
| best of the bunch, but-well, We seen the
| old gentleman looking at Master Blrk once or
twice with a very sour face and 1 wouldn't
| have any unpleasantness either here or
| at my place while they are my guests,
| for the world. But tell you what. Mac,
| the lady Is in a class all to herself-as is
| the old man, for that matteri They came
up from Bombay with US, and If Brk
| hadn't made a fool of himself I'm not sc
sure but what I would have. Eth! What's
that? Tifin? Cad! l thought / was hun
gry."
Later. In the cool of the afternoon these
! two modern Hindu gentlemen rode away
again-rode hard. with their grim-looking
escort jangling about and behind them
| and Nicholas. who had been intensely In
| terested in the guests, stood out on the
veranda watching the sparkle and flash
as the setting sun touched on spear and
! shield on bit and spur and all the countless
| trappings of the troop.
WELL Nick" inquired Mckenzie from the
| doorway. how'd y like his highness, Cock
| a-loop?"
| Hes all to the good, old mana. mum.
Der one. as we say at home-and his broth.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-08

large financial as well as political interest
in the enterprise. The road will be about
eighteen hundred miles long; the estima ted
cost is s90,00a,0o0, which will be paid by the
issue Of bonds to the public the stock re-
naming in the control of the Germans.
The construction work will be done by
German contractors and the materials will
be furnished by German factories. Tho
British government was politely offered
share in the enterprise, but declined on the
ground that it did not go into partnership
with other nations.
This railway. will not only bring India sew
eral days nearer London. but will furnish
all-rail route from the British channel to
Calcutta and will shorten by at least two
weeks the journey from Teheran. the Per
sian capital. to ConstantinopL. 1t will pass
through ancient Mesopotamia one of the
oldest and richest countries in the world
which is capable of producing any amount
of breadstuffs. cotton and sugar, but has
been lying idle because its planters could
not compete with those of other countries
who have the advantage of modern trans
portation facilities. There is a good deal OF
speculation as to the effect of the opening
of that territory upon the wheat and cotton
industries of Egypt and India-a subject in
which also are naturally Interested.
What is known as the Anatolian railway
constructed by Germans from Constantine
pie and Smyrna into the interior, and which
will be adopted as a part of the new road,
has already resulted in a considerable in
crease in the production of grain and other
neceSsarieS of life. Last year it hauled
more than 10000 tons of wheat 10000
tons of barley and 10000 tons of wool from
the interior of Asia Minor to the seaboard
and carried back in exchange for these
products about 5000 600 worth of German
manufactured merchandise. The Germans
have secured control of a concession for a
railway from Haffa in Palestine on the
Mediterranean to Damascus. and that is
also intended to be part of the new sys-
tenn.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-08

volume of manufactured goods which pass
ed through for Bagdad and other markets
in the interior. Ninety per cent of the i'm
ports are furnished by Great Britain and
India the share of all other countries being
inconSderable by comparison. British snip
ments to Bagdad alone reached nearly
100000 and were composed of the va' y
articles which the manufacturers must lind
markets for-cotton textiles hosiery, other
clothing and underwear. drugs and chemi-
calls, leather goods. hardware and other ar
ticles of iron and steel. The port of Husflre
alone imported more than IS, g0o.UrD and the
Bahrain islands more than i4000.000. The
latter are the center of the pearl fisheries,
the most important in the world Last year
they exported nearly s3,600000 worth of
pearls, most of them going to India
To control this trade it Is necessary Tor
the British government to look sharp and
act wisely, because not only Russia. but
Germany also, is crowding on John Bull
heels.
Railway to the Persian Gulf
To shorten the route to India was the
purpose of the voyage of Columbus, and II
has been the ambition of many other bold
men since. The Germans are now employ
ing themselves in that direction by con-
structing a railway which is to connect the
Mediterranean and the Black with the
Persian gulf, and not only shorten the
distance for freight and passengers by sew
eral days journey, but will develop a prom
Using commerce with the countries through
which it passes. And what is still more
important than all in the mind of the
kaiser and the projectors of the road, and
those who are working for him, it will be
of as great strategic Importance as the line
which the Russians have constructed across
Siberia.
The concession for the construction of
this railway was granted by the Sultan of
Turkey to the Imperial Ottoman Bagdad
Railway Company with capital of 5000
$50. The president of the corporation is one
of the managers of the Deutscher Bank in
Berlin; the stockholders are nearly all Ger
mans as the managers will be. and the
kaiser's government is believed to have
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-08
CHAPTER XXUT.

Three mornings later, Meredith, Nicholas
and Mckenzie were out on the veranda of
the Iatter's bungalow, discussing the pros
poets of pig when Meredith noticed little
dusty cloud away toward the west from
where he sat.
What is 1t. Mace he asked, pointing it
out to his host. See the yellow flashes in
it?"
Mckenzie stood with shaded eyes, looking
steadfastly. then exclaimed: 1--WE good
sight. Doc! Tis some o tn Bettiah foil,
coming iu-some one who fancies himself
a whole lot, by the look of It. Reach me
those glasses, Billy-there. just behind the
door. Now let's sect Then: Well. man
III be dbl surely will-if it amt Cock-a :
loop himself; coming TO ask after the
health of you doctor chaps
who's Cock Hoop? Not
Yes. his hghness of Bettiah Runjit
Bohe, a most august personage-that is,
certain. In fact, I'm afraid I've seen him
indulging in the sinful delights of the flesh
in manner unbecoming his high estate.
He has what you doctor chaps call a con-
tinual ether thirst It's very sad in one
so young! Here, Allan, take a look; you
can see the lances flashing now
BY and by as the prospective guests drew
near, the three men walked over to the
club to meet them, and had barely gained
the compound when Il dusty cayalcade
came careering up with rattle and da Ssh
which was most impressive. They formed
solid crescent of well-horsed, fine-lookine
Indian lancers, dipping their orange pen
mons IN rpDling salute as they refined
In with slipping Of hoofs and a Jangle
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-08

not to have relations with any other gov
eminent. On the northern coast the shah
is supposed to be ruler, and mas representa-
tives at all the larger ports what may
seem to be trif1ing and humorous incident
recently occurred at Bushire, the most inn
portant of these ports, but 1t was loaded
with tremendous possibilities, and If Lord
Curzon had fallen into pit that the Per-
slams had digged for him. undoubtedly I'M
der Russian advice, the influence and pres
tige of the British would have suffered
terrible blow. The significance of the cpl
sode can be fully appreciated only by those
who are familiar with oriental ideas of
ceremony and precedence, which require
the INFERIOR 10 make the nrst advances
toward the superior IN poth ponlcal and
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-08

er. too. Cad! What a handsome boy!
Say, Mac. they wouldn't bite twice at those
two If they got EN- at, say Newport Or
No, l guess Newport would about finish
emf
well, which end of 'em do you prefer
the turban or the breeches2"
What the devil All l see. Well,
their clothes suited them so well you forgot
to think about 'em; besides. we wear pug
garees and cummerbunds and pajamas and
the devil knows what when we want to be
comfortable, why shouldn't they wear
breaches and Norfolk jackets? But CAD.
those chaps would swing even a bleestee' S
| mussac with the grand air! It's blood, Mr..
Mckenzie; blood sir whatever we mush-
rooms may think! Take baboo, for in
stance. He's decent enough In his place
educate him and every white man he meets
wants to kick him! He deserves it, too
generally, for he's pompous. strutting
monstrosity. Now, these chaps What
| are they, oxford men? Cad. they looked
| 1t. down to the ground; the only thing that
| puzzled me was that escort business. I'D
picturesque and all that, but-modern-
no." ~
! That's just where the blood runs thick
Billy. Cock-a loops all You say-a gentle
man; but he's got the pride of a hundred
grandsires under his English-cut coat and
| he wouldn't swap his little court at Bettiah
| for Windsor; and, If 1t came to push-of
course, he'll never allow this-he'd back
those big lancers of his against the pick
| of the British army, loyal as he is and al
ways has been; and by Jove, sir, that's
| why always like to take off my hat to
Cock-a-loop!" 81 ,,3It
The following morning. when Abdulla
| brought Meredith's chota-h azri to his bed
| side, he laid near the teapot a folded native
| newspaper, khabar-i-khagaz, and Allan
| caught sight of the heading intended for
him immedia tely: .Ga4.
DEATH OF JUGGI BIN .CHUNDRA."
He read that the house of this wealthy
and energetic Hindu merchant had been
broken into, pillaged, and the worthy man
himself murdered-strangled to DEATH APP
| parently, as his throat was terribly bruised
when the body was found. There were
other signs of violence about his person and
| the apartment where the tragedy occurred
but no clue to the actual perpetrators of
the vile deed. The evidence of the servants,
who had been gagged and bound by silent.
masked figures whom they had been I'M
| able to identify. seemed to point to a care
| fully planned attack on the bunnia, though
| in many quarters ii was considered equally
certain that the murder was but an incident
OF the sudden rising Of the Leather Workers
against the Pariahs. These two parties had
been engaged in a bloody fight round and
about the house of Juggi BIN, who was
well-known leader of the Left Hand faction.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-08

petite and swallowed his companions one
by one. Quite impossible-but you saw him
do it.
Hold! There's a sudden quarrel In the lit
tie camp. See! Two men are fghtng-a
slim boyish Goorkha and a heavyweight
Bengali; there's a feint thrust, and then
with terrific whistling sweep of the Goor-
kha's kookerie, the Bengali,s head rolls to
your very feet, the face all bloody and
twitching; while the huge body staggers a
moment, then goes down suddenly in a
shapeless heap.
The ladies Shrek and you feel your own
mouth grow dry, while nausea rises in
you as you see the warm blood soaking the
thirsty turf: and this, though your reason
repudateS the horror
Another catches the head quickly, mutters
munthra -thunthras, breathes on it, and
sticks it back on the Bengalis shoulders.
More munthras, and lo the mans hands go
creeping up to his head, weakly and with
a cropping movement at first, till, feeling 1t,
he gains confidence, pulls it this way and
that-it is as fast as ever it was or will be.
So the weird show goes on with the dar-
boukhas and viols crying softly, and strange
creations. half man and half beaSt-Shad-
owy impossible things-coming and going
among the performers; with boys, nude
brown children, climbing through void
places in the air-or they are flung up by
some brawny wrestler, and never come
down again.
And you sit and listen and stare, and
when the things done you call harshly for
brandy-panee, and then scott and argue
and explain what better men have kept 81
lent about
Nicholas had seen these things many
times. Ten years before he would have dis
cussed them with avidity, wrestled with
them, insisted on trap doors and invisible
wires belligerently in defense of his out
ragged senses, but today he held his peace.
Such things doubtless were neither of God
nor devil but ten years experience had
shown him the possibility of other and more
scientific alternatives than trap doors and
false-bottomed fowerpots.
During the performance the imperson-
ators also had been doing much good work.
Now it was their patron, the Maharajah
himself, who advanced bowling to the Sa-
lib-Iogue, and again, the old Hindu judge
from over at the court house, Hurree Oda
rabbi ia, would deliver an eloquent perora-
ton. his gold glasses on the tip of his fat
nose, and his arms extended with the POM
pous gestures he was SO fond of using-a
perfect picture of the man in form and
feature. voice and pose, that called out
storm of applause in which the old gentle
man himself joined heartily.
And this figure had but gone when an
other crept into the lighted square, bloat-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-08

ed, evil-looking Hindu, with cruel little
eyes. He looked around, and his very lips
seemed gray with some pressing terror.
Then. as a tense hush fell on the audience
this thing cried out whimperingly:
My lord, II Who art thou? What
have | done? Lo! 1 am a poor man and
full of years.
Then the arms went up shakingly; there
was choking gasp, and the figure toppled
over head first. And 1t fell, a hoarse
cry went up from the servants quarters
and everybody began to question what the
thing meant and what the cry. The play
ers seemed themselves quite upset over this
appearance, for the impersonator denied all
knowledge of the personality he had as
sumed insisting that 1t must have been n
spirit which had controlled him But Mere
dith watched the man closely, and Nicholas
watched Meredith, who had started vio-
lently when the impersonation had begun.
Later fortunes were served out These
We're received and read with much laughter
and chaff but with here and there puz-
Zled silence.
the strange Hindu who approached Mere
dith with some slips of paper, begging him
humbly to draw a fortune He did so,
scrutnizing the fellows face without
suit; then, opening the paper, he read In
Urdu:
Ram, Ram, Roa-Sahib; the moon sails
high
There was a laugh as the others made
out the glSt or his paper, but Meredith
dropped ii somewhat clumsily and both
he and the juggler stopped for 1t together.
whisper passed; then Meredith drew up
sharply and looked the man in the face
with evident suspicion.
But the fellow exclaimed aloud "Arre,
Sahib, thou dcst not like thy muntha; see,
I will even show thee a charm which will
make it clear to thine understanding
He fumbled in his dhotee and drew
forth a little oval jade case which
he passed to Meredith, bidding
him open it, and seeming In no wise dis
concerted by the fact that several of the
ladies and couple of men had grouped
around to see what was going Mere
dith opened it slowly, and sat stiff in his
chair staring into the face of-Loda.
He seemed to wake up suddenly as girls
voice exclaimed: why. what is 1t. Mr..
Meredith? Oh. pshaw! What silly joke!
Just a bit of looking glass; and was sure
something would jump out and frighten
you!"
But. Nicholas. who was watching closely,
decided that something had jumped out
and frightened his friend, though what It
was he could not say.
(To be continued tomorrow.)