davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-08-12
AN ATMOSPHERE THAT
REALLY lNT0x!cATES.

There is atmosphere that really IN
toxicates. and not because it is full OF
ozone and oxygen, but because 1t Is
laden with alcohol.
London authorities who have been
making an investigation have found
that the air of distilleries. wine vaults
and drinking saloons contains appre-s
cfable amounts of alcoholic vapor that
is prejudicial to health.
1t is set down as an established fact
that a walk through the cellars at the
London docks, where large quantities
of spirits are stored, has at first a PEI
culiarly stimulating effect, followed By
depression and headache and nausea
In the same way the stranger on his
first visit to the great sherry bodegas
in the south of Spain experiences a de-
cided sense Of exhilaration, with quick
ening of the pulse, followed by a mar
cotic effect, feeling Of languor and
headache. In the great brandy stores
at Cognac, again, to some people the
air is sickening. It might be naturally
expected that the more volatile con-
stituents of wines and spirits would be
the first to evaporate into the air, and
possibly the volatile others would thuS
prevail. 81
The effect Of inhaling the air Of the
sherry vaults is more marked than
when other spirituous liquids are kept
in the store 1t is, of course, well known
that sherry is highly ethereal wine.
There would, therefore. appear to be
some ground for concluding that when
air is impregnated with the volatile va
pors of spirits or wines it has a marked
effect upon health.
Whether this effect would be pro-
nounced or not upon those inhaling
the air day by day does not appear to
have been aseertained with certainty.
1t is probable, however, that at any rate
some slight deterioration of health
would take place. 1t is pretty common
ly asserted that publicans and those
employed in drinking places experience
i'll effects from the constant inhalation
of an alcohol contaminated air, but
their environment, of course, provides
a combination of unhealthy factors.
According to an examination made OF
the air of distillery, it would appear
that no less than an ounce ofsproof
spirit or half an ounce of absolute all
cohol may be present in five cubic feet
q H.,
Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-08-12

without had reduced my whole fabric
pulp. and the necessity for haste had
been like an enormous spoon stirring
the aforesaid pulp more and more fran
tically. Harland was in hurry for the
prospectus: l was in hurry for his
money in order that might pass 1T to
various people who were in the worst
hurry of all. So when / took the copy
to Harland's Office l talked aloud to
myself in the street car and pounded
my legs with my clinched fists when
ever there was stop that seemed too
long.
Harland read the prospectus aloud to
Adams in my presence, and l might
more patiently have endured hearing
the recording angel read my record TO
st. Peter while / waited outside the
pearly gate. If Harland did not like
the prospectus or IL he wished it to be
changed or If he suggested postponing
payment until some other day. that
would be the end of me. and though
heaven knows that a mans earthly fin
sh is no great matter for mental dis
turbance he may suffer unlimited ag-
ony over certain things which will not
terminate simultaneously with himself
Harland liked the prospectus. He
said that 1t was ripping good story.
and Adams heartily agreed with him.
They We're especially pleased with GER
tain flights of fancy evolved by me in
moments of torture more acute than
the average. For instance, l had de-
scribed a belt made of twenty dollar
gold pieces around the slender waist of
a beautiful girl, and then l had stated
that the amount of the yellow metal
actually known to exist in the Golden
Galleon mine would make a belt of that
kind large enough to encircle the moon.
"How does that figure out?" asked
Adams doubtfully
"a little more than s700o0Oo0 oO." l
replied Think it's too much? 2"
"Nobody will bother to calculate it,"
said Harland Let it stand. The wo-
men will like it,
/ shuddered 1t had not occurred to
me before that women might be led to
risk their money on the Golden Gall
leon. My imagination had pictured
men with little, restless eyes and slop-
ing foreheads drawn toward this lure of
gold as rats are drawn toward trap
more than half aware of the peril, yet
unable to resist the promptings of
their own greediness and the fragrance
of the bait. The typical male investor
is barely worthy of sympathy. but to
women the passion for gold may be for
given because they spend it with such
delight upon the things which they be-
fieye to be beautiful.
l was recalled from such thoughts by
the voice of Harland saying: Pass me
that check book. Adams, like good fell
low. No, not that one. The third from
the bottom Of the pile. That account is
Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-08-12

Won Claim, who was always suffering
from some imaginary ailment and new
er did any work. A gloomy old doctor
named Dt.hlen resided in the house and
| had the Two parlors for his Office and
consulting room. He seemed to be
and his bll for useless services to Mr..
Won Claim no doubt covered his living
expenses.
Mrs. Won Claim worried about money,
but never regarded he, as grasping or
misery. Her thrift. which she possess
ed as basic racial quality, had be-
come an overdeveloped virtue, and the
natural dread of poverty in old age
| haunted her with the persistency of an
| insane deiusion, and she deserved the
greater credit because. her natural
goodness Of heart survived in spite OF
these unfnvorable conditions.
II have some money for you. Mrs
Won Glahn.' said l, proudly displaying
the fruits Of my honest toll for Harland,
.'Oh, me, oh, my" said she, with an
affectionale glance at the money
"Where did you find so lnuch?"
II dug it out of gold mine" replied
"a gold mine!" she echoed, with a
sigh Il wish / had one. You own a
part of it. eh?"
NO" said /. 1--WE been writing lit
tie book fer the owners. They are SELL
Ing some Of the stock in order to de-
velop the property"
With that instinct which makes a wo-
man shop when she does not wish to
buy, Mrs. Won Claim asked me about
the price Of this stock. l explained to
share and that the present price was
% cents. Then, because my mind was
loaded with the subject, 1 told some
wild tales about the advance in the
value of shares of other mines located
close beside the Golden Galleon and
working irl ore which the best experts
pronounced to be indistinguishable
from that of the wonderfully rich de-
posits of the G.. G.
1.-The ore bodies of the Golden CAL
leon" said l in the voice of "a man
talking in his sleep, SHOW workable
quantities of free gold as soon as a
spade turns up the dirt at the roots of
the grass, and the values steadily in
crease What the deuce am l talking
about?"
at is very interesting" said Mrs. Won
Claim. And at that moment the din
ner bell rang.
In due time my prospectus was print
ed, and a very pretty little book it made.
with a Spanish galleon on the cover.
The vessel was in red gold on a dark
green sea lighted by a pale gold moon.
Harland WIS so pleased with 1t that he
gave me another job and paid me lib
orally throwing in small block OF the
stock for good measure. / laughed at
the gift of The stock. but Harland said,
You Just wait!" in tone that star
tied me.
About fortnight later / was waiting
for HarlanG in his Office when a mem
Der of his staff approached me and ask
ed If | had any Golden Galleon stock.
answered in the affirmative. The man
put his forefinger into my waistcoat
pocket.
Spout your watch" said he, ''and
buy some more"
I was about to request an explanation
when Harla nd entered hurriedly. as he
always did. and the whirlwind accom-
panying his progress carried me along
into his private room.
Look at this" said he and laid be-
fore me a brief report from Adams,
who was then at the mine. 1t was ac-
|cnmnaniad Inv figures of alssavs.
Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-08-12

"Ten thousand shares" said I at a
venture.
He hesitated moment and then. ut
goes" said he.
Ten thousand shares at 25 cents call
of that sum. I had not spoken for
myself alone, however. | had been
thinking of good old Mrs. Won Claim
and her pitiful worries. Here was
chance to free her mind from care and
give her peace for the remainder OF her
days 1t was a perfect certainty that
an investment in Golden Galleon shares
at % cents would result in quadrupling
ones money, for the stock would GER
tainly go to par Immediately upon the
announcement of the new discoveries
at the mines. Why should not this
honest and kindly woman reap some
share of profit from my present oppor-
tunity?
My only fear was that / could not
persuade her to make the investment.
She had the money tucked away In
savings banks, as l was aware. but
would she dare to withdraw 1t?
She was sitting in her accustomed
place on the stoop when | reached the
house, and my heart sank when | per-
ceived that she was reading from lit
tie volume bound in dark green with a
picture of a golden ship upon the cover.
The obvious falsity and exaggeration
OF that prospectus must be clear to any
sane mind, as it seemed to me.
us it true" said Mrs, Won Claim
ireamily as / apprenticeship 1t true
what Non say here about those twenty
Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-08-12

did then. The wind was devtlin' her
hair. an her cheeks looked like ripe
peaches. Seemed like she'd sorter tuck
likin to me, fer once or twice she
forgot an put her hand on my arm.
Then she said, Mr.. Truitt. l believe
kin trust you with secret. an want
to tell you some'n.
81 told er | was a graveyard itself
when 1t come to keepin' secrets fer
women folks, but she sorter hung hre.
Her face got serious, an she wouldn
look me in the eye like she had been
a-doin'. told 'er not to be afeard
me. an she started in ag'in. but
stopped. No. says she, 1 believe
won't tell you after all. Men are the
very dickens to tell tales Then l re-
minded 'er that l was old Confeder-
ate soldier an that women an tner
private matters was sacred to men that
had fit for the south an its honor. an
that sorter fetched 'er. Well, says
she. you do look like man woman
could trust, an eff you'll give me your
word that this won't go no furder III
tell you
"I'l do It. says l.
"'Will you swear itT says she.
"'Not only that says 1, but III cross
my heart
"sWell. says she. that's all wom-
an could AK. an I'm sorry l have to
be so particular, but I'd rather die
than have single soul know what
I'm goin' to tell You. l want to tell
you to show how much l appreciate
what YOU did on that Atlanta trip.
Then she swallowed once or twice. an,
lookn' me in the eye an p'intin' across
the ward. she said: Mr.. Truitt. l was
| settin' in that summer house tother
night an heard Governor Telfare in
&,lt George Buckley, an I'm glad
sld-glad you done what you done.
- Governor Telfare was visitin' my
| house an ms fathers health is so bad
| couldn't do more. but tried my best
that night to show preference to NJ.
! .suckley. but he misunderstood me an
| went off mad"
"She said that?" George exclaimed.
his face aglow. his eyes flashing. And
did she say anything else?"
.'Yes she did, George, an l got aw.
fully sorry fer err She told ne her pa
had set his heart on her marryin' Tel
! fare. an that she was afeard, since her
father had heart disease. to run con-
| trary to his wishes. She said she was
afeard the Disappointment nd actually
kill I'm. l didn't know what to say.
l tried to think o. some'n' comfortin',
but couldn't, an SO jest come OF an
| left 'er thar at the gate. The Lord
does sight O. things that is beyond
our ken, but why he makes women
| like that I'm suffer is more'n | kin ac-
count fer I reckon he knows his BUSH
ness, but it conflicts with my notions
| like rips Eff was at the head o, this
whirlin' universe I'd not let men like
| Telfare lord it over better folks; but
the Almighty made the skunk, an the
Teller may be so perfect, in his way.
that he's actually pleasin' to an ON
Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-08-12

big chair in the settin' room. an his
wife an daughter are nussln' him like
baby. But he wanted TO see me, an
| they made me come in. His gal is
! beauty. George-but you know that-an
never seed body seem AS much wor-
ried over q sick pusson as she was over
her daddy. She loves every hair o his
old, white head. Whenever he'd have
spell o. coughin' she'd actually turn
pale an run fer his medicine. Wen.
when | got through with him started
| off, but she follered me out on the
| lawn. She wanted to AK me, she said,
eff rally thought her pa looked bad.
| She said she was afeard the doctor was
! keepin' back some'n ur was behind the
| times an hadn't diagnosed the case
right. l eased 'er all l could. laughin'
! at her fears tell she sorter got In a
good humor, an then in q roundabout
way. fore she knowed what was on
| foot, 1 led up to my trip to Atlanta,
/ an
Heavens, Truitt. you didn't tell her
that?" George cried.
Eyes; had to, George said the old
man, his eyes averted Some say she's
/ thinkin' O. marryin' that man beca Sc
| her sick daddy wants her 10, an I'd
| never be satisfied eff I let woman
marry a thing like that. believin' he
was honorable an brave like her daddy
an like somebody else l know. No. |
would thank anybody to tell daugh-
ter O. mine sech thing, an ! felt like
| it was my duty"
! George bit his lip and stifled an ex-
clamation of irritation. but he met the
old mans look presently with steady
| stare.
what did she say, Truitt?" he asked
finally.
Say? I hardly know" said Truitt.
"Her face got the purtiest color ever
seed, an while was talkin' she kept
sayin', Go ON, go on, Mr.. Truitt, go on!
an right in the middle O. some things
she'd jest laugh out an kiver 'er mouth
j., with that white hand O. hern. but she
kept sayin', Go on, go on an looked
| like she Jest couldn't wait fer me to
| git through An when l finally got
to whar lifted I'm by one o his side
| straps out O. his chair she jest hollered:
NO. you didn't rally. Mr.. Truitt Did
you do that to the governor O. Georgia?
I told 'er certainly did, an she
laughed like she'd bust. She followed
me clean to the front gate. You may
think she's purity woman but I'll bet
she never looked as purity to you as she
Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-08-12

nipotent eye The truth is, Telfare
may be stuck up thar to farn us con
tentment know I'd ruther be corn
field niger an split rails in the brllln
sun an TO be the sort Of governor
that man is an know it-like he knows
1t now
without another word Truitt turned
and left the office. George sat mo-
ment as if dazed by a sudden realiza
ton that had come to him from the
old soldiers recital. He was recalling
Lydla's appearance and manner as she
came into the parlor that evening Sith
the flower in her hand.
"God bless her. he said reverently.
"She was right. then. trying to show
her contempt for Telfare's conduct,
and l was brute enough to misjudge
her"
Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-08-12
CHAPTER XIV.

~1HE next day Truitt slouched In
to the warehouse, finding Hill
yer and George at their desks
working over some bills OF
lading Of a big shipment of cotton they
were making to eastern mills.
'Whar on earth have you been?
Hillyer asked eagerly. Il sent out
home fer you an none O. yore folks
knowed thing about you. The truth
is l got worried. told George | was
afeard you'd gone to-
'Thats whar I went" said Truitt,
bis glance on Georges expectant face,
IAN the Lord went with me. | hd.
inflated that skunk. an, as fer as I'm
concerned. I'm willin' TO drap the mat.
ter Eff was the man most inter.
ested I'd be satisfied
..What did you do, Truitt?' George
was cying him eagerly. his eyes barn
Ing sullenly.
Truitt made detailed explanation,
leaving out nothing. He spoke of it as
IL 1t had been an ordinary business
arrangement that was finally settled
satisfactorily. But" he ended, Il
never felt as mean. somehow, In my
life. I'm sorry he wouldn't hit back.
I'll be burned eff he didn't jest wiggle
an say ouch" when twisted his year.
George, my boy, you ort not to give his
words another thought. What he said
to you was Jest what a sneakin' cow
ard would say. He's got less sand in
his gizzard n any man ever run
across. hope you are satisfied.
Eyes, I'm satisfied. said George SIM
ply, and he extended his hand, and
I'm glad there was no bloodshed. Mr..
Hillyer told me what he did yester-
day in a passion. Well all have to
md some way out of our troubles other
than bloodshed."
GOD knows agree with you on
that said Hiliyer feelingly, and he
turned and walked out of the office.
.But that hain't all l DONE" said
Truitt, leaning against Georges desk
and looking down sheepishly.
.sNot all?" exclaimed Buckley.
''No, got my foot into some'n' else.
Test after l landed in town come
down here, but you wasn't about.
Then. as l had nothin' to do an re-
membered that l had promised Major
Cranston to come in an give i'm an
estimate on moyin' several hundred
acres o. tan bark on some o his noun
tain land, I went down thar. He's .
sick man. They got Inn propped up IN
Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-08-12
Tho Marks of a statesma an.

Elmer Dover, the new secretary OF
the republican national committee. is
very young man for the position,
carrying with ii as it does, an i'm
mense amount of newspaper notoriety,
says tile Washington correspondent Of
the New York Evening Post. AS Do
Yer ami a friend were coming east af-
ter the republican national convention
they engaged colored porter of the
trivial matter. Soon after Dover went
into the dining car. leaving his friend
sitting alone. The porter went to the
latter, and, in Questioning tone,
said:
Whom am dat man who was sittin'
with you, sah?"
Why, that's Elmer Dover, secretary
Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-08-12

dollar gold pieces reaching round the
/ moon p
/ / groaned.
/ Don't you care what I've written In
| that book said |. ATTEND, If you
| please, to what 1 shall tell you now
| Mrs. Won Claim attended. and the re-
| suit was that | bought 5000 shares OF
/ Golden Galleon stock for her before
| noon next day. Within a week from
! that date she could have sold the stock
at par and within a month there were
! bona fide sales as high as 50 per share.
/ Unprejudiced persons familiar with
such matters told me that the stock
would go to $40 before the LIST of Sep
hfenber. l had made my landlady's for
/ tune.
1 Alas. we rarely know what is good
for us or for others in this perplexing
| world Instead of accomplishing the
end which l had sought the result was
precisely contrary. So far from confer
ring the blessing of peace upon my
landlady, l had driven her almost to
| distraction. She could not sit still in a
chair. She could not eat her dinner,
| but would sit with half shut eyes max
| ing calculations upon the tablecloth
| with the handle of a coffee spoon. She
neglected her work and her personal
comfort that she might sit on the stoop,
even on rainy days, fretting for my re-
| turn that | might tell her news of the
Golden Galleon.
| l wasted hours in vain argument
begging her to discharge the whole
matter from her mind. l promised to
! watch the Golden Galleon with the eye
I! of an eagle and to report all news to
| her instantly.
| At last, to my inexpressble relief. her
demeanor changed. She became calm
Whether some chance word OF mine
had accomplished this result or the
lapse of days had brought an adjust
ment Of her own powers of mental re-
sistance l could not determine, nor did
give much thought to 1T.
| My mind grew so easy about her that
/ ceased to visit Harland's Office daily.
and my reports to Mrs. Won Claim were
often imaginary. But one day
thought best to get little authentic
information.
"Where have you been?" demanded
Harland when l entered his private
room.
prise.
"why in blazes haven't you looked
in?" said he I'D have put you on.
But it's too late now"
"Too late?'
"Yep," said he. We've unloaded.
You see, there was a crowd trying to
get control of the Golden Galleon. and
they've been bidding up the stock.
They thought they We're buying from
small holders, but really they've been
getting mine and the holdings of other
insiders through dummies that we fixed
up for them. Now were out of it, and
they're stuck"
stuck"
Eyes. The veins pinched out. All
gone"
"And the stock?"
"Wall paper" said Harland.
Mrs. Won Claim was sitting placidly
on the stoop when l came home.
well" said she cheerily, how about
the gold mine stock?"
l chung to the stone railing. as pale as
a ghost.
"I'n make it good to YOU"
"Oh, neffer mind me-, said She
sell him. DIR. Dahlen said l kill myself
NIT worry, so / sell QUITO him on his
advice. Don't you tell him tolt YOU"
1.-The rascal / exclaimed. He
thought he was cheating you
rs it so?" she said. folding her hands
serenely. well, make pretty good.
| I sell him for So a share
y
Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-08-12

breezy style and an air of sincerity
that were hard to resist Against all
reason, judgment and experience l be-
gan to believe in this mine, but the i'm
preston faded as soon as | turned my
back upon Adams. That evening In my
humble boarding house ! had much
trouble in persuading myself to take UP
the task of writing the prospectus. l
have enough conscience to make me
uncomfortable, but not nearly enough
to make me virtuous There could be
no doubt as to what | would do in the
presence of the temptation of Har-
lands real money" but for the best
part of that evening l fancied myself
too honest for the work. However. l
wasn't.
The prospectus was finished on the
third day. and by that time / was far
beyond the pale of moral obligations.
The whirl of imagination and literary
effort inside my head and the grinding
pressure Of pecuniary troubles from
Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-08-12
A Physician Healed.

DR.. Geo. Ewing. q practieing physi-
clan OF Smiths Grove. KY, for over
thirty years, writes his personal exper-
fence with Foley's Kidney Cure: For
years had been greatly bothered with
kidney and bladder trouble, and en-
larged PROSTATE gland. / used every
thing known to the profession without
relief, until commenced to use Foley's
Kidney Cure. After taking three bot
ties I was entirely relieved and cured
I prescribe it now daily in my prac-
tice and heartily recommend its use to
all physicians for such troubles. / have
prescribed it in hundreds Of cases with
perfect success" B. A. Morgan.
Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-08-12
(To Be Continued.)
End Of Bitter Eiaht.

1.-TWO physicians had a long and
stubborn fight with an abcess on my
right lung" writes j. +. Hughes. OF
DUPONT. Ga, and gave me up. Ev-
erybody thought my time had come
AS q last resort tried DR.. Kings New
Discovery for Consumption. The bene-
fit / received was striking, and | was
on my feet in few days. Now I've
entirely regained my health 1t con-
quers all coughs, colds and throat
and lung troubles. Guaranteed by Me-
Donald & Mahood Co. drug store
Price soc and 81. Trial bottles free.