davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-12-03
cHEoUEsT.

Chequest Dec. 1.-Otis Plowman
transacted business at Keosauqua
Monday.
Mr.. and Mrs w. H. Harryman spent
Thanksgiving day in Milton
DR.. Bassett, of Leando, was pro-
fessional caller in Cheqnest Sunday.
A. r. Mccullough and family spent
Sunday at the parental Lewis home
near Pittsburg.
Quite number from here attended
the grand masquerade at Douds
Thanksgiving night
Miss Esther Luse. of White Elm, is
visiting several days this week with
her friend, Miss Della Shaffer in this
place.
John Ploss has his new dwelling
completed.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-12-03
SOLD FOR TY-SIX
COUNTY CLERK II. w. MICHAEL
AND ASSISTANTS BUSY IN
: :. LICENSE DEPARTMENT.
November Was Good Month for Dan.
Cupid, Although He Did Not Begin
Operations In Earnest Until Late
To Whom Issued.

rOTty-Slx marriage licenses were
disposed Of at the office of County
Clerk H. w. Michael during the month
OF November. Favored with practically
spring weather during the first half Of
the month Dan Cupid was too busy
enjoying the fever to get busy, but
upon November 10, 81, % and %, he
made up for his earlier day-off and
consummated the large number OF
twenty-five matches, November %
was the busiest day. nine certificates
having been issued upon that date. On
November 81, five were sold and No
vember 10 and % were satisfied with
four each.
The Licenses.
The following is a complete list OF
licenses issued during the month OF
November, giving to whom issued and
upon what dates:
November 1-Owen F. Snyder and
Miss Bessie Holmes. John G. Salter
and Miss Lille Carter
November 2-George Rickert and
Miss Emma Skinner Bernard Buch-
holz and Miss Edna Orman. Fred Heth-
erington and Miss Anna Davis.
November A. Roy McCatel and
Miss Marie L. Roberts.
November 5-Clifton Johnson and
Miss Elsie Brewster.
November 9-Peter T. Lutz and
Miss Iva Miller. Bert Aldridge and
Miss Victoria Bowen. - @ @
November 10 David e. Claypool,
and Mrs. Rose Mcbride. R. Holloway
Lowe and Miss Sadie Findley
A,,fJ q hoH uirtr
and Miss Rosa v. Handelman.
November H. Burr w. Eaton and
Miss Minnie F. Green. 49, !,
November 15--Wm. o. Widger and
Miss Otelia Emmons. s&%! g;;t'h
November is - A. D. Findlay and
Miss Mary G. Ray.
November II. James i. Wilcox
and Mrs. Louisa A. Painter. Daniel
Lancey and Miss Grace Latcham. H. J.,
Keyhoe and Miss Carrie Schworm.
November 10 - Gashie L. Edwards
and Miss Hannah Halter Samuel e.
Giles and Miss Alice M. Nader. Oscar
A. Engstrom and Miss Emma G. Elk
wall. Joseph l.. Harness and Miss jess
sic b. Pitcher.
November 81 - George A. Ellis and
Miss j. Handy. Dale M. Brooks and
Miss Lena A. Simmons. Frank j.
Schaub and Miss Mary Fabritz. Ed
ward ]. Reynolds and Miss Lulu T..
Marden. F. A. Hickey and Miss Ber-
tina M. Sallee.
November 20 John j Sullivan and
Miss Lucy J. Friend Martin Munley
and Miss Nora Caughlan. Clave H.
Bemis and Miss Daisy M. Grail. Dick
M. Chenot and Miss Froma Talbot.
November % - John T. CLANCY and
Miss Sadie S. E. Simpson Gid R. Har-
ness and Miss Pearl Rupe. Charles 3.
Crist and Miss Florence E. Finarty.
Levi D. Eaton and Miss Henrietta P.
Wagner. W. A. Shoemaker and Miss
Blanche White. Elmer R. Newland
and Miss Eva Grace Knight. ]. T. Shir.
ley and Miss Anna NJ. Henderson. o.
L. Stockberger and Miss Lillian
Sprague. True w. Rogers and Miss
Lusetta N. Culbertson.
November "a Patrick Doogan
and Mrs. Agnes Golfer.
November rs Albert Lang and
Miss Maggie Moses. John M. Brown
and Miss Lora A. Ralston.
November % John H. Swearingen
and Miss Earl M. Gilbert
November 80 George Hardin and
Miss Anna Gillett. William ]. Knott
and Miss Jane Egbart.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-12-03
A NEW NIPPON.
Wapelo County Has Record Break.
Ing Corn husker.

Eddyville, Dec. Especially - Ac.
cording to news from the vicinity of
Kirkville, Sam Sebrise, a young far.
mer living near there, shocked 200
bushels of corn in nine hours yester-
day on a wager. He had en~aged to
shuck that amount in ten hours but
lowered his own time considerably.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-12-03
DEFENDS CUBA.
Senior Quesada, Minister at Washing
ton, Saws Illness is Not Great,

Washington, D. G., Dec. 1.-Senor
Quesada, minister from Cuba in a
public statement, brands as unfair to
Cuba the reports that an outbreak of
yellow fever is imminent on the island.
He says:
Americans are too prone to take for
granted that Cuban cities are I'M
clearly. have found conditions In St
Louis, New York and other American
cities, which were just as bad as those
that existed In some Of the smaller
cities of Cuba, / am advised that there
has been only one case of yellow fever
at or near Santiago"
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-12-03
Total

Girls expect remedies to work mira
cles in days time. Beautifying
changes come slow. Keep on taking
HOLSTERS Rocky Mountain Tea. Twill
make the face fair and blooming. 35
cents, Tea or Tablets. For sale by w.
L. Sargent, The True Druggist.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-12-03
You Take Mo Risk

In using DR.. Kings New Discovery
for Consumption, Coughs and Colds. 1t
cures all lung troubles or no pay. SOC.
81. F. B. Clark, druggist.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-12-03

Braces body and Brain, strengthens,
soothes. cures while you sleep. That's
what HOLSTERS Rocky Mountain Tea
will do. Makes you well, keeps you
we'll. 35 cents, Tea or Tablets. For
sale by w. l.. Sargent, Druggist.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-12-03
Gets 100000 4 Year

Because he has keen, clear brain
in vigorous body. Electric Betters
give both, and satisfy or no pay. Try
them. soc. F. B. Clark. druggist.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-12-03

Bucklen's Arnica salve.
The best in the world for Cuts.
Corns, Boils,, Bruises. Burns, scalds
Sores, Ulcers, Salt Rheum. Cures
Piles or no pay. Csc. F. B. Clark.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-12-03
NERVOUS DEBILITY

Are you nervous and despondcnt; weak
and deblitated: tired mornings: no amhl.
tion-lifc'ess: memory poor: easily ia.
tlgued: excitahle and irritable: eyes sunken.
red and blurred: pimnles on face: dreams:
restless. haggard looking. weak back: de-
posit In urine and drains Mt stool: distrust
iul: want Of confidence: lac of energy end
st. myth?
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-12-03

face. The last portion of the round
was occupied with Carey encircling
the ring, evading Hurley at every
turn.
Round nine-Carey landed left to
Hurley's face. Hurley returned with
long range punches directly following
a clinch. Another left from Carey
landed in Hurley's face. Hurley was
the aggressor. hit failed miserably in
sending blows home.
Round ten-At the beginning Of
the tenth and last round, at the gong,
both men Shook hands in the center of
the ring. Carey landed short left to
jaw while going in to clinch. Hurley
shot an uppercut to Carey's neck.
Carey again began his ducking and
eyaded Hurley. Hurley loosened UP
and landed hard on wind and face of
Carey. The match ended with the
men breaking, away from a clinch.
After the clamor of voices, Referee
Houghton announced the bout draw.
Hurley Accepts Challenge.
promoter James D. Gray, preceding
the main event last evening. read q
message from Jack Sperry, of Brook
Ign, N. Y, in which he challenged the
winner of the Hurley-Carey bout. The
match being a draw, Hurley accepted
the challenge. The match will be
pulled Off in this city December %. in
the Grand opera house Sperry is at
present employed at the arsenal at
Rock Island. He is a reputed boxer in
the middle-weight class.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-12-03
Chocolates Do Stunt.

The semi-windup was six round go
between two colored men, Clifton Lo-
gan and George Bowlin. Round one
started with Bowlin landing right to
Logan's jaw. Logan didn't box back,
however, and clinches and long range
sparring occupied the rest of the
round. Round two was started by
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-06-29
Decline in the Ministry.

In his Day of Prayer address at Prince
ton, President Patton denied that there
is a decline in quality of men entering the
ministry, though he conceded that there
is a falling of in numbers. The argument
that young men are more largely influenced
by mercenary motives and the attractions
of other professions did not impress him.
He thought the decrease in numbers more
probably due to the intellectual unrest in
our colleges. students 60 into them
with a goodly measure of domestic piety
and come out not knowing. where they
stanI."' LET your philosophers go run.
ring about the country, reading papers on
new theories, thinking that they must
win their spurs by SO doing, and your re-
ligious life in their institutions grows
sleepy Or becomes sadly weakened" Pres.
ident Patton declared that we need phil
osophers who are not only able to say
that they believe in God, but who say
it in a way that will make their hearers
believe also in Jesus Christ as their only
Saviour. TIE president concluded: 1--WE
need to pray for the professors in our
colleges. "-Advance.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-06-29
ITO be c%ontinucd.)
Pointed Paragraphs.

Sometimes a mans shady CHARACTER
keeps him i'll hot water.
What Il pity it is that popular theof-
les are not always practical.
Some men would die young II they
were compelled to work for a living
Train up a hired girl in TIE way
she should 60 and it wont De lohs
until she's gone.
Lots of men have so much genus
that they are unable to do anything
but sit in the shade and think aDou
il.
If q mans wife doesn't think him at
leost three times smarter than he really
is. then he married the wrong woman.
A married woman is disappointed
when she starts away for a two weeks
visit unless her husband looks heart
broken.
II costs at least ten times rs much
to live according to the requirements
Of fashion as it does to live according
to the demands Of nature. Chicago
ECwS.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-06-29
Affection That Pays.

A psalmist once said: "It is good for
me hat 1 have been afflicted; that /
might learn Thy statutes" He might
not have sought the ways of God had
he not found his W ways hedged about
him. His experience was that OF a
riches in affection which were otherwise
not to be found. The depth {. human
love md sympath,. would never be known
were it n t for affection. Through sor-
row there ha= often oure,, a wealth
of love and affection, marvellous N its
sweetness and power. 1t was not until
he was afflicted that the psalmist saw the
glory of the nely law. 1t y. in affection
also that the Tory of human lo7: shines
out. richer by far because it is charged
with the holy love of God. Yes, it is :.
dear price to paw. but in the after-g'ow
we shall be able to say that it was worth
paying.--Baptist Union.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-06-29
"SurrenderH"
~ ~ w

"~Surrender!"
"Be hang'd if l do"
l set my teeth and put Molly ar the
low wall. AS she rose like a bird in
air the two pistols rang out together
and a burning pain seem'd to tear open
my left shoulder. In a moment the
mare alighted safe on the other SIDE,
flincing me forward on her neck. But
I scrambled back. and with a Q
that frightened my own ears, dug my
heels into her tanks.
Half a minute more and l was on the
hard road, galloping westward for dear
life So also were 4 score of rebel
troopers. Twenty miles and more lay
before me, and a bare hundred, ards
Was my start.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-06-29
When Sin Comes.

Temptation is not sin, yet much dis
tress arises from not understanding this
fact. The very suggestion of wrong
seems to bring pollution with it.. The
poor, tempted soul feels as if it must
be very bad indeed, and very far off
from God to have such thoughts and
suggestions. It is the enemy's grand
more a sin to hear these whispers Of
evil in our souls than to hear the wicked
talk of bad men as we walk along the
street. The sin comes only by our stop
ping and joining in with them.-H. A.
Smith.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-06-29
End of World in Ninety Years.

The end of the world in ninety ye;
has been predicted by DR.. John Robe
son at the evangelical services in Aust
THE Day Of Judgment is at hand"
said. Roughly speaking, about 1000 we;
elapse between the comings of the Lo
After He created man it was 1000 ye;
until He appeared again and 1000 MI
until the coming of Christ. Reasoning
inductive analogy, the Lord is about {
for the fourth time, and this time
will come as a Judge"
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-06-29
The Power Of a Cody Life.

IN a recent article. the Rev. Or.
SchautHer incidentally said: 1 had a
teacher in our school who used to be a
sailor-a godIy man. He knew little Of
history, and nothing of science; but he
knew Jesus. He so taught his class that
public confession. By and by he came to
me and said: Take my class away. l
am uneducated. I can't lead them any
higher; but l have led them to Christ.
Give me- he said, "a new class that does
not know Christ. and I will try to lead
them to the Shepherd l gave him a new
class, and before he died everyone had
found the Savior. What was the po-
tency in that uneducated man? Was it
not his humble trust in Him who can
sanctify whatever word is spoken"
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-06-29
Our Responsibility,

"others sin 'gainst us and with us and
Whenever that is done ye have 10 do it
ourselves" 1t we're we'll for the weak
ones of earth, yea, and some who count
themselves strong, to ponder on this truth.
Men are prone to blame others for their
misdeeds. This one tempted or the other
led astray. And so the conscience is
soothed, the still, small voice quoted.
The consequence is that the experience,
in all probability, is repeated in kind
when a little wholesome remorse for sin,
a putting of the real blame where it be-
longs, would save much. No one can
sin for US. Whenever that is done we
have to do it ourselves. - Philadelphia
Young People.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-06-29
No Triumphal Entry.

It is the irony Of history that Christ's
entry into Palestine is so often misinter-
preted. To me there is hardly more Bit
ter irony in the life of Jesus than to speak
Of His triumphal entry into Jerusalem.
The multitude came out to meet Him,
threw their garments and palm branches
in front of Him, and the people sang. But
what of the central figure? He saw the
lrast was that with the triumphal march
of a conqueror.-Rev. DR., 4. A. Berle,
Salem Mass
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-06-29
WkgG1..-
NURdW
RrGAkfA<N
lzUnbla

why Worry?
VIII do we worry about the nest?
We only stay for a day,
Or a month or a year, at the Lords DO
hest.
In this habitat of clay.
Why dc we worry about the road.
With it's hill or deep ~ravine?
In a dismal path or a heavy load,
We are helped by hands unseen.
Why do we worry about the years
That our feet have not yet trod?
Who labors with courage and trust. nor
fears,
Has fellowship with God.
The best will come in the great ITO be-"
It is ours to serve and wait;
And the wonderful future we soon shall
see,
For death is but the gate.
Sarah z. Bolton.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-06-29
yalparaiso's Harbor.

The harbor OF Valparaiso, the importa
port of Chile, is only an open roadste
in which l52 ships have been wreck
through storms causing them to drag tn
anchors. The water in the bay Is W
deep in most places, and it has been
clared imp,acticab!e to build a wall acr'
the mouth of the bay. Therefore, a nu
Der of walls or breakwaters will be br
at a cost of $40, $4,000.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-06-29

Egypt is threatened with a plague of
~locusts, and the Government has called
out the army OF forced lahorers to combat
the pest. Owing to the young ~locust's
habit of never turning back or aside when
possible, by digging trenches, sometimes
miles IN length, to entrap the invading
hosts and destroy them. That, of course,
must be done before the locusts take to
the wing. At that stage nothing can stop
their ravagcs, and they sweep everything
before them.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-06-29
rbo-nuC' " Married.

lanes Brazil AID Mrs. ASGio Iurrer'
Of Cashion, Okla, have created q rec
ord by being married three times III
ore day. They first sought the pro
bate Judge at Kinglisher. Okla ana
as there was a contest over the ONCE
they cot both, candidates to marry
them. Not feeling satisfied as to INT
legality Of the ceremony, they returned
TO CaSIliOn and were married again
by q minister.-New York Commercial
AG rcrtiser.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-06-29
His Fathers WGtchword.
,e Rev. John McNeil, the popular

The Rev. john .NcNeIU, the popular
evangelist, says,
4 owe more than I can tell to my faith.
CT. He had a habit of which he never
spoke 20 US, nor we to him. He was a
quarryman, and l often heard him go
downstairs on dark mornings. Standing
on the threshold before passing out he
would say aloud, L go to-day in Gods
name l can never forget the impression
this made upon. me, and thankfully say
today, My fathers God Is } ue,'"
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-06-29
Engines.

The Belgian authorities have decided
add three, instead of one, turbine m;
packets to their Dover-Ostend service. T.
turbine engines and machinery are to
constructed in England and the vessels
Belgium. The vessels are to make t
passage of sixty-two knots in about t,
hours and twenty minutes.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-06-29
Seeds That VIII Grow.

Fea. .othing, blame nothing-so much
as thy vices and thy s:ns.-Thomas a
Kempis.
Grace is of q growing nature; in the
way to Zion they 60 from strength to
strencth.-Tnomas Boston.
What is being religious but always see.
ing Gods infinite love in everything and
loving Him all the time.-J. +. Clarke.
A solid and substantial greatness Of
soul looks down with neglect on the cen.
sures and appiauses of the multitude
Addison.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-06-29

It is sometimes possible t. pit M o
good front without much backing
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-06-29

When a burglar makes 4 clean sweep
hc leaves little TO be desired.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-06-29
Italian PILGRIMS.

Over 10000 pilgrims from all parts OF
Italy have been visiting Rome.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-06-29
st Plague,

Goodness is beauty in its best estate
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-06-29

up the fallen, taking little children into
cur arms, and so assuring them as Christ
assured the world that love reigns en-
throned above this world of pain, sorrow
and hardship. When the church is q man
Hesitation Of Christ among men, as Jesus
was of God, not merely by speaking and
singing and communion, but by living,
working, helping in the world the gospel
of Christ will be truly preached.
Let me specify. One man may stand IN
q pulpit by telling of Gods love, give hope
/ spair over her boy. Another man, ami
mated by Gods love, may furnish a club
room where young men may spend their
! evenings apart from the dangers OF the sa-
loon, and by so doing give hope to the
mother whose boy goes there. Both preach
the gospel of hope, one in words and the
other in deeds. A preacher gives a strong
sermon against the saloon and his hearers
say he is preaching the gospel. A man
! starts a cooking class where women learn
to make food so wholesome that their hus.
bands and sons do not longer have the de-
sire for drink. Are not both preaching the
gospel of the more abundant life? You
see what this means. The church Ia
preaching the good tidings of love through
every agency which gives hope to men, and
makes thci feel their brotherhood among
men and the Fatherhood in God.
You know the way the churches have
shirked responsibility for this kind Of
preaching, the kind that is effective in on
crowded districts. 1t is one of the saddles,
chapters in the history OF Christianity.
Churches among our tenements, with few
splendid exceptions, have sold out and
moved up town. with their weather. mem
bcrs leaving their poorer members as sheep
- lla.1 - A. 60, ,r.1lo,
ness" One will hunt far before finding O
more un-Christian spectacle than the exc
dus of the Christian churches from the ten.
ement districts where the harvest is ready.
The reason usually given is the removal Of
the rich to the suburbs and the failure of
the poor to 3>ntribute literally. So the
poor are blami for the church's infdAlitu.
The Cooperstown courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., N.D.) 1902-1913, 1904-07-28
FORMALLY NOTIFIED.
Candidates Are Told Of
Their Nomination, and Both
Accept Honor.

indianapolis, Ind, July 23.-Dr. ST.
las c. Swallow, of Harrisburg, Pa, and
George w. Carroll. of Texas, prohibi-
ton candidates for president and vice
president of the United States. were
formally notified of their nominations
Friday. A. F. Wolfenbarger, of Lin
coin, Neb., chairman of the recent ma
tional convention, which met here in
the same hall that witnessed the noti-
fication exercises, delivered the notifi-
cation address to DR.. Swallow. and
Homer L. Castle. of Pittsburg, notified
Mr.. Carroll. Responses Of acceptance
were made by both candidates, and Ma
tional Chairman Stewart delivered the
closing speech. The occasion brought
many prominent prohibitionists of the
country here.
The Cooperstown courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., N.D.) 1902-1913, 1904-07-28
IOWA DEMOCRATS.
State Convention dominates a Full
Ticket-Indorses Parker
and Davis.

Iowa City, Ia, July 20.-The Parker
forces were in absolute control of the
Iowa democratic convention, held here
Tuesday. Harmony was the keynote, and
Hearst and anti-Hearst men Wed with
each other in nominating and seconding
the candidates. The ticket is as follows:
For electors-at-large, w. o. Schmidt and
J.B. Romans; secretary of state, Charles
A. Dickson; auditor Of state, Edgar f.
Medary; treasurer of state, Henry REG
Gilman; attorney general, Maurice O'Con-
nor; railway commissioner, ]. B. Mon
atrey; supreme Judge, ]. w. Sullivan.
The platform adopted by the conven-
ton is exceedingly brief. It declares:
''The democrats Of Iowa, in convention
assembled, hereby ratify the declaration
of the principles of the democratic ma
tional convention adopted at the recent
convention at st. Louis, and indorse the
candidacy Of A. B. Parker and Henry g.
Davis, our nominees for president and
vice president, and pledge them our
hearty and loyal support"
The Cooperstown courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., N.D.) 1902-1913, 1904-07-28

Prot. George Herbert Palmer, Of
Harvard, says that the masculine hab-
it Of rigid, logical reasoning is contra
dicted very early and in illustration
he tells the following story: "A little
boy and girl of my acquaintance were
tucked up snug in bed when their
mother heard them talking. I wonder
what we're here for?' asked the little
boy. The girl remembered the lessons
that had been taught her and replied,
sweetly: We are here to help Others
The little boy smiled. Then what are
the others here for?' he asked"