davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1904-08-26
fhs e.adI. In ID. tvmblss

front of the house and thus to the
stairs communicating with the upper
door.
1t was on the rug lying at the foot of
these stairs that came upon the first
OF q dozen or more burned matches
which lay in a distinct trail up the
staircase and along the floors of the
upper halls. As these matches were
all burned as short as fingers could
hold them. 1t was evident that they
had been used to light the steps Of
some one seeking refuge above, posi-
bly, In the very room where we had
seen the light which had drst drawn
us to this house. How then9 Should I
proceed. Or await the coming of the
boys" before pushing in upon a pos
sibla murderer I decided to proceed.
fascinated. think. by the nicely of
the trail which lay before me.
But when after careful following
In the steps Of him who had SO lately
preceded me came upon a tightly
closed door at the end Of side pas
sage, I gave slight push to the door
and. on seeing crack Of light leap into
life along the jamb. pushed the door
wider and wider till the WI room
stood revealed.
The instantaneous banging Of az t.
ter In one Of its windows proved
room to be the very one which we haNI
seen lighted from below. Otherwise
all was still, nor was able to detect
In Apof taH ola al
token of human presence than a can
die suffering In its own grease at the
bottom of tumbler placed on one cor
ner Of an old fashioned dressing table.
This. the one touch Of incongruity in
q room otherwise rich II not stately in
Its appointments, was loud in its sug-
geston Of some hidden presence given
to expedients and reckless of conse-
Quences, but Of this presence nothing
was to be seen.
Not satisfied with this short survey, l
turned my attention to my surround
ings, which had many points of inter-
est. Foremost among these was the
big four poster which occupied a large
space at my right. had never seen its
like In use before. and was greatly
attracted by its size and the air of
mystery impaired to It by its closely
drawn curtains Of faded brocade.
A dressing table laden with woman's
axings and various articles Of the tot
let, all OF an unexpected value and
richness. occupied the space between
the two windows. and on the floor. i'm
mediately in front Of high mahogany
mantel, there lay, amid number of
empty boxes, an overturned chair.
This chair and the conjectures its po-
sitton awakened led me to look up at
the mantel, with which 1t seemed to
20 N aSma way Connected And thus !
Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1904-08-26

my task BY this puZZiing discovery,
but difficulties only increased my in
terest. 1t was with an odd feeling of
citation that, in further examination
of this room, / came upon two addi-
tional facts equally odd and irrecon-
cilable.
One was the presence Of penknife,
with the file blade open, on small ta-
BILE under the window marked by the
loosened shutter. Scattered about it
were some filings which shone as the
light from my lantern fell upon them,
but which were so fine as to call for q
magnifying glass to make them out.
The other was in connection with a
closet not far from the great bed. 1t
wan an empty closet, so far as the
hooks went and the two great draw
ers which l found standing half open
at Its back, but in the middle of the
floor lay an overturned candeabrum
similar to the one below, but with its
prisms scattered and its one candle
crushed and battered out of all shape
on the blackened boards. If upset
while alight, the foot which had stamp
ed upon it i'll u wild endeayor to put
out the flames had been frenZied one.
Now, by whom had this frenzy been
shown and when? Within the hour?
could detect no smell of smoke. At
some former time, then-say on the
day of the bridal?
CHANGING from the broken candle at
my feet to the one giving it's last sput-
ter in the tumbler on the dressing ta-
BILE, owned myself perplexed
Surely no ordinary explanation fitted
these extraordinary and seemingly
contradictory circumstances.
Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1904-08-26

became aware OF wan old drawing
hanging on the wall above it. Why
this picture, which was totally unin-
terestlng sketch Of simpering girl
face, should have held my eye after
the first glance 1 cannot say even now.
1t had no beauty, even Of the sentiment
tai kind. and very little If any mean
ing. Its lines, weak at the best, were
nearly obliterated and in some places
quite faded out, yet not only paused
to look at 1t, but in looking at it forgot
myself and well nigh my errand. Yet
there was no apparent reason for the
spell It exerted over me.
1t may seem both unnecessary and
out of character for man Of my call
ing to acknowledge these chance SEN
sations, but only by doing SO can &C.
count for the minutes which elapsed
before summoned sufficient self pos.
session to draw aside the closed cur
tains Of the bed and take the quick
look inside which my present doubtful
position demanded. But, once I had
broken the spell and taken the look
just mentioned, found my manhood
return and with 1t my old ardor for
clews. The bed held no gaping, chat
tering criminal. yet was it not quite
empty. Something lay there, and this
something, while commonplace in it.
self, was enough out of keeping with
the place and hour to rouse my inter-
est and awaken my conjectures. It
was lady's wrap, so rich in quality
and of such q festive appearance that
1t was astonishing to find 1t lying in a
neglected state In this crumbling old
house. Though know little Of the
cost Of women's garments, do know
Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1904-08-26
CONCERTS BY MAssED BANDS
Prize. Assresatins $4,000 to Be Dis
trlbuted at the Worlds Fair.

Prizes Aseresatins $4,000 to Be Dis
trlbuted at the Worlds Fair.
Never were musical events in Ameri-
ca planned upon such an elaborate scale
as those Of the Worlds Fair. A series
Of concerts will be given by competing
bands in contest for prizes offered by
the Worlds Fair. These contests will
take place in Festival Hall, Sept. -
to II.
Nine cash prizes, aggregating 100000,
are offered for the successful bands.
The prizes are divided SO as to give to
the organization scoring the highest
number Of points $3.50; $4,000 will be
given to the band scoring the second
highest number of points and $1,000 to
the one getting the third highest num-
Der.
The above division is made for bands
In Glass A, which consist of twenty
members. In the B class $4,000 will
be given in prizes-frst, $4,000; second,
$780,; third, $4,000.
Glass @, which includes bands of thir-
ty-five members, will enjoy the division
of $12,75O. For the organization scor-
ing the highest number Of points a
prize Of $4,000 has been named. The
second prize is $4,000 and the third ST.
TOO.
Bands employed by the Exposition
are not permitted to contest. All play
ers must be bona f1de members, and
each musician must have been enrolled
at least three months prior to the date
Of the contest. Each band must send
to the bureau the name of its members
and nominal entrance fee.
Festival Hall concerts by massed
bands will be given at 7:3O each day
during the contest, in which all contest
ing bands will take part under the
rection Of distinguished conductor.
All bands entering must agree to play
one concert In addition to the compel
ing concert and massed concerts.
A separate programme has been pre-
pared by the Bureau Of Music for each
class, and each band will play through
the full programme Of its class. The
numbers in all three programmes are
by eminent composers and are chosen
with the view Of bringing out the quail
tiles Of the bands performing them. The
list of composers includes Wagner, Gou-
nod, Offenbach, Verdi, Saint-Saens, b.
zet Strauss and Leoncavallo.
Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1904-08-26

MOT for an instant did doubt
nv the correctness Of this identifl-
cation. All the pictures 1 had
seen of this well known society
belle had been marked by an individ-
pality Of expression which fixed her
face In the memory and which l now
1aw repeated in the lifeless features
before me.
Having sent the too willing Hubbard
70 notify headquarters, was on the
point Of making memorandum Of
such details as seemed important,
when my lantern suddenly went out,
leaving me in total darkness.
This was far from pleasant, but the
eject it produced upon my mind was
not without its result; for no sooner
did find myself alone and in the un-
relieved darkness of this grayelike
room than became convinced that no
woman, however frenzied, would make
her plunge into an unknown existence
from the midst of darkness only too
suggestive Of the tomb to which she
was Fastening. It was not In nature,
hot In woman's nature, at all events
Either she had committed the final act
before such daylight as could filter
through the shutters Of this closed up
room had quite disappeared "a by
pothesis instantly destroyed by the
warmth which still fingered In certain
portions of her body-or else the light
which had been burning when she
pulled the fatal trigger had since been
carried elsewhere or extinguished.
Recalling the uncertain CLEANS which
We had seen flashing from one Of the
upper windows, was inclined to give
some credence to the former theory,
but was disposed to be fair to both. So
hfter relighting my lamp turned on
pne Of the gas cocks of the massive
chandelier over my head and applied
match. The result was just what
anticipated; no gas in the pipes 4
meter had not been put In for the we'd
ding. This the papers had repeatedly
stated in dwelling upon the garish ef-
feet Of the daylight on the elaborate
costumes worn by the ladies. Candles
bad not even been proyided-ah, can.
dies! What, then, was it that saw
Hlittering on small table at the other
end of the room7 Surely candlestick,
pr, rather, IN old fashioned Candida.
byum with half burned candle in one
pf Its sockets. Hastily crossing to It.,
felt Of the candle wick. It was quite
stir and hard. But not considering
this satisfactory proof that it had
pot been lately burning-the tip Of the
wick soon dries after the flame is
blown out-I took out my penknife and
attacked the wick at what might be
ralled its root; whereupon found that
Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1904-08-26
WEATHER AT. WORLDS FAIR.
Cool Nights and Delightful Indian
Summer to Be Expected at st. Louis.

Cool Nights and Delightful Indian
Summer to Be Expected at st. Louis.
Usually the warmest month of the
year, July proved to be one of the most
pleasant Of the Worlds Fair season.
the average temperature being 81 de-
grees, record lower than that made
by either Boston, New York, Philadel-
phia, Cincinnati or Chicago. The
weather bureau records show that the
temperatures IN st. Louis during July
were just between the extremes re-
corded at New Orleans and st. Paul,
cities located at great variance.
August in st. Louis is month Of
cool nights, and September and Octo-
Der are the most delightful months of
the year. 1t is that period known as
Indian summer, when the foliage and
birds linger to challenge the coming
winter. Nowhere on the American con-
tinent Is there a spot more delightful
than the Worlds Fair city, garden
Of blooming flowers and spraying foun-
tains.
st. Louis, like all cities, experienced
several hot days during July, but her
highest temperature recorded was 90
degrees against 81 degrees registered
by the thermometer at Chicago. On
the same day the mercury rose to 90
degrees in Philadelphia, and scores Of
heat prostrations were reported from
New York and Boston.
The relative humidity shows St.
Louis to be about normal. Assuming
absolutely no moisture in the atmos-
phere to be zero and absolute wetness to
be 100, the relative humidities for July,
taken from the records of more than
twenty years. Boston shows 70.6, New
York 1872. Philadelphia CSC, Cincin-
natl GAG, Chicago $50 and st. Louis
cas-. The same degree Of heat in two
places, with different degrees of hui
nudity, would cause 1t to seem the
hotter at the point Of greater density.
st. Louis may therefore rightly claim
to be summer resort this summer,
positively one of the most comfortable
and delightful places on the map.
Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1904-09-02
EAST MONKTON.

The many friends of Mrs. Rosetta Cox
are pleased TO see her nome again from
a few weeks visit. She is the oldest
inhabitant of the town, being 90 years Of
age.
Mrs. Mary Freeman of North Ferris
burg, who has been visiting her daugh-
ter, Mrs. O. L. Nimblett, and other
friends, in town, has gone home. She is
90 years of age, the mother of 10 child
rem, of whom five are living, and has
five generations, the Oldest SO and the
youngest great-great- grandchild is two.
She brought up grandchild from baby
to manhood. She sews, threads her
needle without her glasses and in her
Dist year she pieced up four bed quilts
with $500 pieces in each, and pieced a
silk crazy patchwork quilt, putting in all
the fancy stitches, pieced two log cabins
and is now making crazy chair cover.
She is a very kind mother, good neigh
Dor and is loved by all who know her,
Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1904-09-02
FARMERS MONTH
AT WORLDS FAIR
Biggest Department of the Great Exposi.
ton Ready For the Inspection of the
Army of Men Who Made Its
Creation Possible.

Now that crops have been or are be-
ing laid by, the farmer prepares for his
trip to the Worlds Fair a treat that
has long been promised him and for
which he has patiently waited. so ex.
position has offered so many induce
ments for the farmers presence as this
one at st. Louis, nor has any previous
exposition given the prominence and
space to the subject of agriculture.
August and September are ostensibly
the farmers months at the Exposition.
for it is at this season that the agricul-
ture exhibits are the freshest and best.
Products of the new crops are pouring
into the booths from every state in the
Union, and additions are constantly
being made to the gorgeous display
Headquarters for visiting farmers
may be found in every state section Of
the great Agriculture Palace. but for
their special convenience there has just
been completed Grange House. stu
ated in the south end Of the building
1t is equipped with a reception room.
ladies' retiring rooms ana check rooms
where parcels may be left free Of
charge. Here Will be kept list of
moderate priced rooms to aid visiting
farmers and their families in procuring
accommodations.
The largest building on the grounds
is the Palace Of Agriculture, covering
twenty acres, while the Palace of IGor-
ticulture near by covers about q third
rs much space. These two immense
structures are filed with exhibits of
the farm, garden and orchard of the
most extensive and elaborate character,
every state in the Union and most Of
the principal countries Of the world
being represented.
Agriculture is given more prominence
than any other department at the EX-
position, the paramount Importance of
this great industry having been fully
appreciated from the very beginning
of the WORLDS Fair movement.
About seventy acres Of ground are
covered by the agriculture and horti-
culture department at the Fair. large
outdoor spaces being devoted to this
industry. Outside there are growing
crops, trees and flowers. an instructive
six acre farm maintained by the Unit
ed States Government Plant Industry,
and gardens in all parts of the grounds.
There are more exhibits in the Agri-
culture building than in any other Sec
ton Of the Exposition This building
is considered by many people the most
interesting part of the Worlds Fair.
The exhibits in the palaces of Agri-
culture and Horticulture constitute a
display vast enough and Instructive
Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1904-09-02
SHORE HAM.

Charles belong is ill.
Nh and Mrs. Shel. Cook have a son,
born last week.
Mrs. Leonard and Miss Anne are visit
lng in Ticonderoga.
Mr.. and Mrs. d. c.. Pierce of Rutland
are at L. II. Tottingham's
Miss Edith Fletcher is visiting at w.
q. Larrabee's and h. G. Woodburys.
Mrs A. Z. Nottingham and Miss Wini-
fred Farr were guests of Mrs. w. n.
Platt at Grand View Mountain Tues
day.
Rev T. A. Carlson officiated at the
funeral of B. S. Abbey in Orwell Satur-
day.
Mrs. S. j. Thurston of Pittsford was
the guest of Mrs. w. W. Moore last
week.
Mr.. and Mrs. Henry Northrup of De-
troit, Mich, were at S. j. Northrups'
last week.
Mr.. and Mrs. w. J. Anderson left for
their home in Mount Hermon, Mass,
Wednesday.
Mr., and Mrs. II. II. Burge were called
to Orwell Saturday 10y the accident and
death of her father, b. S. Abbey.
Mr. and Mrs Daniel Ransdall of Mar
ion, Wis. are guests of their cousin, DR..
L. i. Townsend. Both Mr.. and Mrs
Bansdall were born in this town.
Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1904-09-02
SOUTH WHITING.

Mrs. S. w Hubbard of Middlebury
has recently visited friends in town.
Mrs Warren Needham and son Frank
were with friends at Goshen over Sun
day.
Mrs E. Bryant recently visited her
brother Fred Daniels, of Orwell, and
family.
Miss X. j. Rich's voice is welcomed
once more through the telephone, by her
friends.
Mrs. Louis johnson, from Massachu-
sets, is visiting her brother, +. H..
Daniels.
Elmer Bryant of South birmingham,
Mass, is with his family at F. H..
Daniels.
Mr.. and Mrs Charles Rowe of Bran
don visited at Ii. w. Denton's the first of
the week.
Mr.. and Mrs. Edward Branch of Sud
bury are moving into the house with F.
S. Needham.
Peter Aines had the misfortune to
lose one of his valuable work horses
Monday morning.
Miss Nellie Daniels, who has been the
past two months at Lake George re-
turned home Saturday.
Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1904-09-02
SALISBURY.

Frank Atwood, who has been i'll, is out
again.
Everybody. even the live stock, went
to the County Fair.
Miss Ethel Sawyer is at home with her
parents for a vacation.
w. f. Stoddard has opened grocery
store in part of his mill.
y daughter was born Friday to Mr..
and Mrs. James Peterson.
Harry Brown of Rutland is the guest
Of Mr.. and Mrs. T. II. Hamilton.
Mr. and Mrs. Tennison Doud of Rut-
land are the guests of his sister, Mrs. John
Dyer.
The little six-weeks-old daughter of
ilr. md Mrs. Frank Fuller died Monday
afternoon.
J Y. Holden has put a new gasoline
e lgine into the launch owned by NJ.
Doud, which works finely.
Sumner Pierce Of Huron, S. D., and
MR.. NcQuivey Of Middlebury were the
guests Of his cousin, Mrs. A. A. Smead
recently.
Miss Stern Of Rutland, guest of Rev
Mr.. ianmersley. sang AN offertory solo
sunday at the congregational church
which was much appreciated by the
congregation.
Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1904-09-02
WHITING.

Misses Hazel and Helen Hack of Bran
don are visiting in town.
Mrs. Caroline Waite visited at X. w.
Merritt's in Shoreham recently.
Rev. E. S. Walker Of Springfield, ILL., /,
spent several days in town last week.
Misses Helen and Maud Martin of Rut-
land are visiting the Misses Ketcham.
Miss Matte Robinson of Ticonderoga,
N. Y, is the guest of Nellie Ketcham.
E. d. Collins had another shock Thurs
day morning. He is in a serious condi-
ton.
Mrs. P. b. johnson of Hubbardton,
Mass, it visiting her brother, F. H.
Daniels.
Emma, Harold and Helen Hubbard
spent several days with friends in Bran
don recently.
Rev. E. S. Walker and Harold and
Christine Webster spent Friday at the
ruins of TT. Ticonderoga.
Mrs Kate Ketcham and Miss Clara
Ketcham visited their cousin, Ziba Hub
bard, in Orwell recently.
Elmer Bryant of South birmingham,
Mass. has joined his wife and daughter
at her fathers, +. II. Daniels.
Mrs George Waite of Shoreham and
Mrs Harry Church and daughter of
Boston visited at +. Wooster's recently.
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Dickinson of
North Amherst, Mass, are visiting Rev.
and Mrs. f. b. Phelps and II. c. Kelsey
and family.
Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1904-09-02
WEYBRIDGE.

Mrs. Sally Boies is at her old home.
Chas. Child is home from the city to
take in the fair.
Col. and Mrs. Griswold and son of
Bennington are at j. S. Shaws.
Mrs. Frank Fox, son and daughter of
Hartford. Ct, are at W. G. Sturtevant's
for a few weeks
Mrs. LarrOw was present at church on
Sunday, having been detained at home
most Of the season by sickness.
Mr.. and Mrs. Loveland of Rutland
spent Sunday at Miss Lucy Harrington's,
returning to that place on the Sunday
train
At the Methodist Episcopal church
last Sunday Rev. Mr.. Slocum, the pastor,
gave a very strong and impressive talk
from Luke XIV, II. In the congregation
were Mr. and Mrs. Hiram Tyler, and Mr.
and Mrs. Gala Tyler of Burlington, Miss
Kathaleen Adams of Pittsford, Walter
Wyman and Miss Ella BrevoOrt of Crown
Point, N. y, Miss Annie Gordon of
Montpelier, Col. and Mrs Griswold and
son Of Bennington, Misses Chalkers of
New Haven, Loyal and Lora Fox of
Hartford, Conn, Mrs. IL. S. Allen and
son q Burnt Hills, Mr.. and Mrs. w. H..
Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1904-09-02

Pearl Lewis of Chicago, son of George
Lewis, formerly of this place, is visiting
his aunt, Mrs S. F. Matteson.
Mr. Landon of East Middlebury, ac-
companied by his son, was in town Fri
day for the first time since 1888 or
1885.
Will Smith had what he thought to
be boil on his hand but which has
developed into an obstinate sore from
which blood poisoning is feared, with
hints of an amputation unless soon con-
trolled
John Stoddard, while at work over a
saw at W. S. Huntley's tub shop, by
some means brought a hand violently in
contact with it and drove several teeth
deep into the member, making bad
wounds. Fortunately the saw was at
rest.
Mrs. NJ. d. Leighton, Miss Flora
leighton of Brandon, Prof. John NJ.
Durham. Miss Mae Crinnion, Clarence
S. Tucker of New York, Sig. Simon of
Weehawliin, n. j., and Miss Roxie Chase
of Bristol were guests at Col. B. F.
fuckers last week
The board of civil authority met Sat
urday to revise the check list, adding
thereto nineteen names, of which seven
are to take the oath. This gives 14S
names on the list. n. S. Boynton, II.
l.. Wood, j. w. Gee and Daniel Dragon
We're chosen as ballot clerks and John
Hodges and r. j. Beeman assistant
clerks. We understand that II. L..
Wood refused to serve.
Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1904-09-02
COUNTY NEWS.
BRIDPoRT.

Ralph Smith has returned to his home
in Orwell.
A rousing Republican rally was held
here on the evening of the 29th.
Daniel Kellogg of Iowa visited Datus
Rice the early part of the week.
Friend and Eli MacMurtry of Corn
wall were visitors at the church last
Sunday.
Mr.. and Mrs. F. A. Nisun are enter
tanning friends from Troy. They also
have as guests Mr.. and Mrs. Ray and
their mother, Mrs. Stone of Holyoke,
Mass.
On Wednesday, Aug. 31st, C. J. Bar
bour, Il. F. d. carrier No. 3. completed
his second year of service. During that
time he has travelled nearly II, 900 miles
and has not lost trip
There is to be picnic at Shoreham,
September 10th, to which the members
of every Grange in the county are in
vited and each Grange in the county is
expected to send a delegate to the meet
ing which will be held in the church at
the close of the picnic, for the purpose of
finding out what can be done about
forming a Pomona Grange in the county.
d. E. Myrick is the delegate from Bird
port Grange
There was small attendance at
Grange. August 90 but an entertaining
programme was carried out as follows:
Music: paper, "Sautation, c. \. Pratt;
reading, Mrs. w. A. Towner; debate,
"Resolved: That the manners and GUS
toms of our grandfathers were more
conducive to health wealth and happi-
ness than those Of the present genera
Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1904-09-02
RIPToN.

Tim Billings is shingling his house.
Mercury down TO 36 Tuesday morning.
Mr.. and Mrs, Albert Cram, who were
i'll, have recovered.
Mrs. A. G. Chandler saw a lynx near
ner house a few days ago.
S. G. Gibbs was in Crown Point, n. Y,
two days last week on business.
Frank LaF'rancis and wife of Lincoln
visited relatives in town the Both.
L. n. Hamblin and bride of Worces-
ter, Mass. visited relatives here re-
Gently.
II. C. Powers has SO far recovered that
he was at church last Sunday, the first
time for several months.