davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1904-02-26
CHAPTER XIII.
The Envelope With Three Seals.

The Envelope With Three Seals.
1t was twelve O'c-ock on Friday
night. The clock in the. hail below
rad struck the hour. Another half
hour licked slowly by, ard at the end
of that time a uoor in the upper part
of the house was opened softly and
by ~imperceptible degrees.
The within was in darkness
and the figure of the man who eau
tiouslv emerged was barely visible in
the general gloom.
He crept lightly on his stockinged
feet past the doors of the rooms on
the upper floor, and began to descend
the staircase.
It was much in his favor. the stairs
being so well and so m~assiYely n
structed. that there was no startling
and treacherous creak to betray the
feet which trod them secretly in the
dead Of night. And so he made his
way slowly and safely to the floor on
which the room was situated into
which he was minded to penetrate.
After careful and noiseless search,
ne succeeded in laying his hand upon
n candle and a box of matches. which,
earlier in the evening. he had secreted
in a convenient, blt out-of-the-Way
corner.
The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1904-02-26
Neither Patriotic Nor Polite.

BY still holding up" the Panama
treaty, Senator German and his asso-
ciates may be embarrassing the adj
injuring their own party.
Incident to the presidential election
in Colombia popular feeling in the
little republic is excited. Reports
from Bogota are that a large force
of troops is to be sent to the isthmus.
If this be done the United States
will be at war with Colombia.
Responsibility will be charged upon
the Democratic senators who, refusing
to recognize an accomplished fact and
in order to put the administration in
a hole" delay the treaty and encour-
age the Colombians in their miscon-
ception of this country's attitude.
Secretary Hays note of Nov. II dis
tiuctly stated that under this govern
ment's Interpretation of its obliga-
tions no hostile troops would be per-
mitted to land in any part of Panama.
Since hat time the new republic has
been recognized by all the great Euro
pean powers and the United States
has negotiated with it a treaty guar
anteeing the integrity of its territory
the treaty now before the senate.
Thus. as Mr.. Hay asserts, Panama
has acquired a inchoate right to
Il protection, and invasion by Colon
bia would be fcrci5ly repealed by the
United States. In view of the strong
popular desire for the canal, of the
demands expressed by southern leg
islatures and of the demonstration in
caucuses that Democratic senators
cannot be mustered to defeat the
treaty, Mr.. German and his associates
are neither patriotic nor polite in pro-
tracing their vain and factious hold
up."
The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1904-02-26
Iona Lines of Xmas.

Though Japan be the latest country
to enter the circle of world powers.
her emperor surpasses all sovereigns
in the length of his pedigree. accord
ing to the London Chronicle. He is
the n hundred and twenty-second
member in direct: unbroken descent
of his family who has sat on the
throne of Japan. The founder of his
house was. in Japanese legend. a god
dess of the sun, and contemporary
with NebuchadneZzar. 666 years be-
fore the Christian era. On the other
hand. the Romanoffs have been royal
only since 1901, when they succeeded
to the sovereignty Of the then ey-
tinct house of Rurik. AS for other
European rulers, King Edward can go
back to Cerdic, 395 A. D., the Haps-
burgs to 952 A. D.. and the Hohen-
Zollerns to the eighth century, but as
kings only to 17G1.
The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1904-02-26
Doctors anew a Good Thinq.

Congressman John Sharp Williams
tells Of a man in Mississippi who is a
hypOchOndriac OF the first order. This
individuals failing is a source of new
er-ending amusement to his fellow
townSmen. 1t was of this man that
some one humorously remarked. in an
swer to a question as to how the sick
man was getting on. that he COM
planned that he was feeling somewhat
better"
Mr.. Williams says that the hypo-
%chondriac was one day telling a friend
of his efforts to regain his old-time
health. He ran over the list OF doc
tors whom he had consulted. Where
upon the friend remarked:
We'll. old man. | must say hat you
appear to have lots of faith in doc
tors
Certainly I have" replied the sick
man. Don't you think the doctors
would be foolish to let a good Gus
toner like me dIe?" - Colorado
Springs Gazette.
The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1904-02-26

as soon as you can; Or'-with a
slightly more leniert tone, as he re-
Elected that, after all. as the fellow
himself had said, there might be rea-
sons, not necessarily bad, for the con-
cealment-"you can remain until to-
morrow, if you like"
Victory, Another night, which was
all he required.
He could scarcely prevent himself
from showing some signs OF eXulta-
ton. All! perhaps by this time to-
morrow the situation might be chang
ed. He might be the judge, and an
other
Stay one moment Mr.. Ferrers
continued.
This time he addressed the woman
Perkins. who had reached the door.
AS | have also a strong objection
to persons who pry into other peoples
concerns and interfere with their pri-
vate property. you may as well take
a months notice at the same time.
That will do; you can go
The bitter was it. She had not a
word to say + herself. She had
succeeded in WI King her spite upon
him who had de .,ised her attractions
and repulsed her overtures. but she
had done 1t al the expense of i good
s~ituation. Moreover, the man whose
disgrace she had laboTed to secure
laughed in her face as he passed her.
The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1904-02-26
Mr.. BRYAN and Mr.. Carneqie.

Mr.. Bryan, as becomes a poisoning
%plUtOcrat. begins to emulate Mr.. Car
negie. He is to erect and give to Sa-
lem. H., the city of his birth, a library
building, to cost S25, 900. Then he is
to provide and install a library at a
cost of $4,000. 1t may be doubted
if that is not too much money to
spend upon the books in a s25. 900
building. Whether the sum be dispro-
portionate or not, it testifes to the
donors breadth of view and enlight-
ered generosity. The race between
Mr.. Carnegie and Mr.. Bryan will be
watched with thrilling excitement by
all the admirers of philanthropy.
Mr.. Carnegie may have more money,
but Mr.. Bryan has more youth. a pro-
ftable pen and voice and great tesla
mentary expectations. Mr.. Carnegie
is trying to give away his money
while he is living. Mr.. Bryan cole cts
the money from the dead to give away.
The conditions are less unequal than
they seem.-NeW York Sun.
The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1904-02-26

He struck a match, and, lighting
the candle, advanced towards the door
Of the apartment into the lock of
which he inserted his duplicate key.
He entered and closed the door be-
hind him, without, however, com
pletely shutting it.
He put his candle down on the writ
ing table while he considered what
was to be done next. The waste
paper basket first attracted his atten-
ton as being at once the nearest and
the easiest object on which to eXer-
else his powers of Investigation.
1t was about a quarter full of torn
fragments, which he promptly
emptied out before him. 4 rapid and
cursOry examination was sufficient to
prove that these were of no import
ance. So he swept them back into
their original receptacle.
The next thing TO be lone must be
to tackle the writing table. How was
this to be accomplished? Shocking
to relate, he produced from his pocket
nothing less than-a bunch Of skele-
ton keys!
To his great disappointment one
after another of the drawers upon the
right hand proved to be empty. He
turned his attention to those on his
left.
He put his hand to II and pulled
out the tightly wedged contents. He
spread it open; yes. it vas a news
paper-some months old. What could
be the reason for preserving it? A
sudden thought-he looked at the date
and then-Yes, there it was On the in
side sheet. Terrible Railway Acct
dent! The 400 train from Dover
wrecked and partially consumed"
There was a fall account of that
CHASTITY affair, with minute details
OF all the horrors-a recollection of
which returned to him, most wildly
as he scanned the column. He re-
placed the first. and took down an
other and another.
Further detalls-number of bodies
The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1904-02-26

misunderstanding scenes-the in
quest-the neutrality-suspicious. dis
covery with regard to a first class pas
senger-foul play suspected! Verdict
of Wilful Murder." And so on and
so on he retraced his way through the
whole of that dark tragedy-wasting
what he felt to be precious time, but
unable to ear his attention away
from these records of the past.
At last he rammed the paper back
into its pigeon hole and turned his
attention again to the drawer be-
meath. When 1t at last yielded to
his efforts, he was rewarded by the
sight of a fatty folded packet of
parchment, tied with tape-thc iden-
teal last will and testament which he
had heard spoken of so often by the
cook. But this, though OF interest in
was in search. and he began to feel
a qualm of fear lest. after all, his
quest should prove useless.
His eye. roaming restlessly about,
was caught by the CLEAN of brass in a
dark corner The candle. which was
sufficient to light him at his task. still
left the greater part OF the room in
semi-darkness. and there was some
thing over there, in that corner, which
he had not taken into account.
1t was an old fashioned piece of fur
niture-the only shabby and evidently
second hand article in the room. 1t
was an upright article and was divid-
ed into 4, o portions, the lower con
tanning drawers and the upper being
shut in with doors, which were fitted
with a brass lock and fastening.
1t was old and much scratched. and
had apparently seen considerable use;
but must have been a good article
originally. He took the candle in his
hand and, crossing the room. inspect
ed ii closely. There is a look about
it"-holding the candle up higher
AS though it might have a history
attached to it. 1t looks'-with a sud-
den ~impulse-''as though it might be
trusted to keep a secret He put the
candle upon the mantelpiece close by
and again resumed his b~urglarious
operations. L shall soon be able to
pass muster as an experienced house
breaker, at this rate he remarked to
himself. with grim irony. as the lock
turned traitor, and the door, swinging
open. revealed a number of drawers
within, each garnished with a lock
and brass handle. Which should he
attack first? Much time had already
been wasted, and at that moment, as
though in answer, the clock on the
mantelpiece chimed three, while the
clock in the hall without repeated the
hour after It.
The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1904-02-26
CHAPTER XxII.-continucd.

Before he could reply the house
maid put in another word.
Begging your pardon for speaking.
after being told to hold my tongue,
out it's something beginning with a
'B-as ! saw it myself in a prayer
book came across accidental"
so that is how you came by your
information, said her master. Some
thing beginning with a b, is it? Sup
pose you let me see the book"
Which intended to have showed
1t 10 o at the first" she said, FUN
bling in her pocket and producing the
well worn little volume, which she
was about to hand to her master,
when
\ sudden dart-a long arm stretch
ed out, and a powerful hand wreSted
it from her.
This is my property" exclaimed
its owner, sternly. The name writ
ten within may be mine or another's.
but so long as 1 choose to keep it a
secret-secret it shall remain"
This is most extraordinary con
Duct" exclaimed Mr.. Ferrers, most
extraordinary Under the circum-
stances, only one course is open to
me. 1t is impossible for me to harbor
under my roof one who has obtained
admittance under a false name. and
absolutely refuses any explanation. |
must, therefore assuming his Sc
verest expression, while the young
man seemed to hold his breath as he
waited for the sentence to be pro-
nounced upon him-"I must, there
fore, discharge you at once, and with
a months wages in lieu of the ordi-
nary notice.
1t was all up.
"When-when am | to lcave?" in
quired Ted, with eyes fixed upon the
fioor and heart beating f%uriously.
This question seemed to take the
person to whom it was addressed
Gnawares.
"When!" he answered; "why-oh,
The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1904-02-26
German Out of The Race.

The election CT IsidOr Rayner to the
United States senate from Maryland
probably will put an immediate end to
the talk OF the nomination of Senator
German for the presidency. Mr.. Ray
ner is a strong ~anti-machine man and
won his fight against the determined
opposition of the political OrganiZa-
ton of which Senator German is the
head.
At Senator GOrman'5 request, for
mer Governor Smith called an extra
ordinary session of the legislature
two years ago for the enactment of u
negro disfranchisement law. 1t was
understood at the time that, in return
for this action, Governor Smith was to
be sent to the senate.
When the time for the baIlOting
came, however, Senator German dis
regarded his alleged promise and
threw his strength to Bernard Carter,
the leading railroad corporation law
yer of Maryland. Some of the former
governors friends stood by him, but
neither Mr.. Smith nor Mr.. Carter
could muster at any stage of the pro-
ceedings as many votes as Mr.. Ray
ner. the ~out-and-Out independent, who
will be Senator Germans colleague.
The long and bitter fight and his
final defeat have greatly weakened
Mr.. Germans influence in his own
state, and the number of Democratic
presidential possibilities is reduced
by one.
The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1904-02-26
Why Ii Wasn't LeuaI.

L the New York Law School at a
recent lecture on the making of wills
the case of a woman in one of Rider
Haggard's books was cited. This
woman had a mans will inscribed in
ink on her back. And the will was
held regular and legal because it had
been made in writing.
After giving this practical illustra-
ton. the professor called on John
Smith, saying:
rs a will so inscribed regular and
legal in your opinion?"
No" answered Smith.
Why not?" asked the professor.
Because it's a skin game" replied
Smith.
The professor felt angry enough to
order Smith out of the room, but the
class laughed so much that he de-
cided to overlook the students flip
pancy.
The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1904-02-26
A Felicitous Phrase.

When Secretary Hay was asked for
a statement in regard to the rumored
settlement of the war crisis in the
east, he made an answer which con-
tanned this felicitous phrase: The
state department never plays politics.
but in the foreign relations of the
government aims to represent the
whole people.
This is as it should be. 1t is a
pity that the same cannot be said of
the United States senate, which has
so much t. do with the foreign rela-
tions of the country by virtue of its
participation in the treaty making
power.
There are some senators who, in
theory and practice, differ radically
The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1904-02-26
No Law a Panacea.

The whole discussion of remedies
for trusts is apt to create the unbound
ed belief that for all industrial ills
there is an absolute cure. 1t con
ceals the fact that great financial sue
cess. even by a trust. can be won not
only by hidden and abhorent means,
bat by transcendent ability and un1ag-
ging industry. 1t is apt. moreover. to
engender the delusiOn that law can
"transmute leaden instincts into gold
CT conduct and that eventually So
ciety will evolve a way by which the
individual may avoid pCcketing una
voidable losses, and will devise a
substitute for the ~old-fashioned viz
tue of looking out for number one
New York Post.
The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1904-02-26

Il viii try the third trSt. he SAID,
and inserted n of his skeleton keys
into the lock. This drawer-the
third in order from the top-on being
opened showed itself, strangely
enough. to contain three articles, all
of a widely different character.
These were a large and bulky en-
yelope. a revolver and a small bottle
of colorless fiuiG. The young man
could not repress an exclamation of
surprise and triumph as his eye fell
upon these.
The secret he had been in search Of
so long lay ready to his hand-the
proofs of the crime were there wait
ing for him to grasp them. He knew
it, ard yet hesitated. The shock of
the discovery seemed to paraly2e his
hand, so that for IN instant he was
unable to stretch forth and take pos
session of what he believed would
make him master of a mans fate.
At last he put out his hand, which
trembled as he did SO, and took up the
revolver. 1t was a siX-chamber revOl-
Wei, LII Il SldDCG oHO"Cu liob OiLC
ony of the chambers had been dis
charged.
A fierce, hungry look came over his
face as he roticed this, and, laying the
weapon down, he searched for some
thing which he always carried about
him-the conical shaped bullet which
had been discovered in the stutfing OF
the fourth carriage from the engine.
He dropped it into the empty cham
Der, which it fitted exactly.
Proof number one!" he said, with
grim joy, as he felt the dreadful thirst
for blood return upon him with all its
former strength. He laid the revolver
down and took up the small s%tOppered
bottle. What was this, and what bear
ing had its contents upon the matter?
He removed the stopper and inhaled
the contents carefully. A strong and
unmistakable. OdOr of bitter almonds
greeted him. Prussic acid, beyond
doubt! What did this point to? There
seemed to be only one answer pos
Sible-Suicidei A means of escape
provided in case of the worst happen
ing. He replaced the stopper and
placed the bottle by the side of the
revolver, while he took up the third
and last article. This was the envel-
ope before mentioned. 1t was large
ard thick and sealed in no less than
three places. On it, in place Of an
address. were written the strange
words: ITO be burned, unopened,
after my death"
To be burned, unopened, after his
death!-what did that mean? Why,
if it were to be burned, unopened. had
he put himself TO the pains of writing
it? For that the envelope contained
the completed copy OF the true nara
tive and confession Of the strange
tragedy he had not the least doubt.
But why had he described it as the
strange tragedy? Cowardly and de-
testable it might we'll be-but why
strange?
AT any rate. so far from its being
burned, unopened" he said, aloud. Il
will now myself"
He held the letter in one hand and,
with the other he was about to break
the seals. when a voice cried:
Stop
ITO be cOntinued.)
The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1904-02-26
EUROPE Is JEALOUS.
STIRRED UP BY ''AMERICAN COM
PETITION"
Talk of Commercial Unions A airs+
the United States l5 Almost Univer-
saI-President MckinIey's Words OF
Advice Recalled.

The government report OF the com
MERGE of the United States for the ifs
cal year ending June 80, 1903, plainly
indicated that the calendar year 1908
would be a recOrd-breaker with re
spect to exports and imports. The to-
tai for the year is $2,479, OOO, 900. The
export figures are $1,4S4.66S,1 1877; i'm
ports, 1896, 473, 101; excess of exports
over imports, $3.50, 095, 900. In thirty
years, from 1873 TO 1903, export in
creased 167 per cent, while imports
increased 81 per cent. The figures
tell their own story, fully justify the
foreign tributes to our commercial
progress, and explain the movements
on foot in Europe to organize trade
alliances to meet American competi-
ton"
A Middle European Commercial AL
lance, particularly directed against
the United States, has been a pet
project with Count GoluchOwski, the
Austro-Hungarian Minister for For
eign Affairs. That somewhat irascibie
ofici proclaimed six years ago that
Europe should counterfeit American
commercial energy. European nations.
he urged, must stand together against
''transOceanic' countries. An Italian
admiral and former foreign minister
o up the refrain, and even the Sc
date London Spectator observed that
America was c%herishing illusions as
to It's security from huge coalitions
Of this kind. The London journal said
that Europe had become FESTIVE for
the reason that we are beyond foreign
commercial competition, are disposed
to monopOliZe trade. take swift re-
priSals" when European countries for
tify their industries with tariffs, are a
rock in Europe's way in China, while
holding fast to the Philippines. Fear.
hatred and dread were rapidly becom-
Ing, according to the Spectator, the
dominant continental emotions toward
America.
The difficulties confronting this eco
nomic alliance have been insuperable
hitherto, but a step has now been
taken in hat direction by the Organi-
cation of the Middle European Eco
nOmic Society. One Of its founders
says that the greatest task before the
organization will be the creation of
Count Goluchowski's commercial
union. 1t is hoped to bring the Triple
Alliance. France, Switzerland. the
Netherlands and Scandinavia within
the operations of the society.
The French Customs Commission
has recently reported that it is neces-
sary to obtain a reduction of the
American tariff by a reciprocity con-
ventiOn in the interest of French in
dustries, and it is probable that
other European countries will en-
deavOr to ecure similar treaties with
the United States-all of which gives
emphasis to President McKinIey's dec
larat;on:
Commercial wars are improbable.
A policy of good will and friendly
trade relations will prevent reprisals.
Reciprocity treaties are in harmony
with the spirit of the times; measures
of retaliation are not"
The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1904-02-26
The Wheat Crop. 1913.

Below we give, by states and terri
tories, the yields of winter and spring
wheat, for the year 1903, as compiled
by the United States Department Of
Agriculture.
The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1904-02-26

Go to the country where mar lives
close to natures heart; study him IS
he there meets the problems Of life,
and you will find literature which is
realistic in the best and truest sense.
Men Of the country are to our national
life what the steel frame is to our
mighty stone or brick structures when
the crisis comes that shakes the ma
ton to its foundation. 1t is the loyal
hearts and clear brains Of the country
folks which save it from destruction.
-Qan McLaren) Rev. John Watson.
The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1904-02-26

Farmyard manure is a universal fer
tilizer, suiting all crops, climates and
soils. In the case of le%guminous crops
where great difficulty has been ex-
perienced in arranging satisfactory
artificial mixtures, farmyard manure
has always given excellent results.
Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1904-05-27
"SHE GAVE ME THE CHARM "

bullets in her hand would quiet her,
and she would sit for hours with it,
whispering softly: God is good. He
is very good in a gentle. uncomplain-
ing tone which would bring tears to
our eyes. | cared for her in her last
illness and she gave me the charm as
the choicest legacy she had to be-
stow. | think she was quite sane for
the few minutes before her death. The
vacant, troubled look was all gone
from her eyes, and they were perfect
ly radiant with JOY at the last as she
reached upward with her thin, wasted
hands, crying: My boys, my boys IN
thrilling tones of joy
The sun was dropping westward as
the ladies rose to go. Mrs. Kenneth
had replaced the charm upon her chain
and Mrs. Warner wiped away the tears
of sympathy which had gathered in
her eyes, and as they left the grounds
she looked back. The monument
stood bathed in the glowing sunshine,
a shining finger pointing upward GU.
of the grave of the dark and terrible
past