davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1905-08-13

Copyright. 1905. by Joseph B. Bowles.)
7 DON'T blame you much, Dorothy, for
your great dislike of mathematics.
I have never particularly enjoyed
studying them for my own part, and
1 have always looked with respectful
wonder and almost awe on other people
who have professed TO find them de-
lightful.
Yet my dear, the girl next you in the
class may approach this subject In a
quite different mood from yours. She
may fully enjoy the abstract and con-
crete principles of the science of num-
bers; may fairly revel in difficult propo
sitons, and may regard the hour for al
zebra, trigonometry or whatever else X
may be as the most eNhilarating hour of
the day. Not infncquently two sisters
may be entirely in contrast when the
question concerns this abstruse and on
the whole, formidable study; one may
love il as much as the other loathes 1t.
You need not expect TO receive much
help from the people at home when you
are puzzlinG over diagrams, examples
anG problems in mathematics. Most of
US after our school days, remember
enough of what we learned there TO en-
able us to foot up household accounts,
and to SIC that we do not overrun our
weekly or monthly income. But we do
not retain much more.
If we are thougntless persons. we are
apt TO regret that we were compelled to
spend a lot of time over things we did
not like when there were so many other
things that would have given US great
deal Of pleasure.
But. Dorothy, stop moment before
you condemn your teachers for insisting
on making mathematics the test of your
scholarship In the first place. II is good
for most of US TO do what We don't very
much want TO do. We are better for be
ing compelled TO exercise some self de
NAL You and I are bound to meet OBJ
stacles of one sort or another all along
the road of life. If we are towards. we
shall shiver and shake and turn away
and look for some little bypath by whicli
We may avoid the issue IT, on the con
trary, We are brave, We shall go boldly
up TO the thing in our path, and see
whether it cannot be put aside. In order
to get along creditab4y in this world
every one of us must have A good supply
of moral courage and real force of char
acter. These tasks of the schoolroom
are chiefly valuable because in them there
is hidden the element which turns the
raw recruit into a soldier the element
called drill. You get an enormous
amount OF drill for your mind when you
study mathematics. You may not find
il agreeable. but that does not matter.
The fruit will be reaped later on.
You need not laugh at me, Dorothy.
when I tell you that a girl who has been
thoroughly trained and disciplined by
struggles with mathematics, that for her
mean conquest. will bear herself much
more finely than one who has spent her
time dawdling over lessons that never
The San Francisco call., 1905-08-13

is it?'
And Raff1es stopped. his candle held on
high. a folding chair under the other arm.
mo, | am not your friend" replied
Lord Ernest easily but kindly remain
standing exactly where you are, and
don't lower that candle an inch, unless
you want your brains blown into the
street.
Raffies said never a word but for mo-
ment did as he was bid; and the un-
shaken flame of the candle was testimony
alike to the stiffness of the night and to
the finest set of nerves in Europe. Then,
to my horror, he coolly stopped, placing
candle and chair on the leads, and his
hands in his pockets, as though 1t were
but popgun that covered him.
"Why didn't you shoot?' he asked in
solentIy, as he rose. frightened of the
noise? ! should be, too, with an old-pat-
tern machine like that. All very well for
service in the field-but on the housetops
at dead of night!
81 shall shoot, however, replied Lord
Ernest, as quietly in his turn, and with
less insolence, "and chance the noise. un-
less you instantly restore my property.
/ am glad you don't dispute the last
word he continued after slight pause.
There is no keener honor than that
which subsists, or ought to subsist,
among thieves; and I need hardly say
that 1 soon spotted you one of the fra
ternity. Not in the beginning, mind you!
For the moment l did think you were one
of these smart detectives jumped to life
from some sixpenny magazine; but to
preserve the illusion you ought to provide
yourself with a worthier lieutenant. 1t
was he who gave your show away,
chuckled the wretch, dropping for a mo-
ment the affected style of speech witch
seemed intended to enhance our humilia-
ton; smart detectives don't go about
with little innocents to assist them. You
needn't be anxious about him. by the
way; 1t wasn't necessary to pitch him
into the street; he is to be seen though
not heard, if you look in the right direc-
ton. Nor must you put all the blame
upon your friend; it was not he, but you,
who made SO sure that had got out by
the window. You see, l was In my bath
room all the time-with the door open.
1.-The bathroom, eh?' Raff1es echoed
with professional interest. And you fol-
lowed us on foot across the park?'
.Of course"
.'And then into a cab?.'
And afterward on foot once more.
The simplest skeleton would let you
in down below
I saw the lower half of Lord Ernest's
face grinning in the light of the candle
set between them on the ground.
You follow every move" said he;
there can be no doubt you are one OF
the fraternity; and / shouldn't wonder II
we had formed our style upon the same
model. Ever know A. ]. Raffles?''
The abrupt question took my breath
away. but Raff1es himself did not lose an
instant over his answer.
intimately said he.
The San Francisco call., 1905-08-13
THIEF--RAFFLES STORY

THAT accounts for you, then" laughed
Lord Ernest, "as 1t does for me, though
/ never had the honor of the masters
acquaintance. Nor is 1t for me to say
which is the worthier disciple. Perhaps,
however, now that your friend Is hand
cuffed in midair and you yourself are at
my mercy you will concede me some little
temporary advantage?
And his face split in another grin from
the cropped mustache downward, and L
saw no longer by candle light, but by
fash of lightning, which tore the sky In
two before Raffies could reply.
You have the bulge at present, ao-
mitted Raffies, "but you have still to lay
your hands upon your. or our, ill-gotten
goods. To shoot me is not necessarily 10
do so; to bring either one of us to v1o-
lent end is only to court yet more Vlo-
lent and infinitely more disgracefuI one
for yourself Family considerations alone
should rule that risk out OF your game.
Now an hour or two ago. when the exact
opposite"
The remainder of Rafties' speech was
drowned from my ears by the belated
crash of thunder which the lightning nad
foretold So loud, however. was the
crash when it came that the storm was
evidently approaching us at hlSh Veloc-
ity; yet as the last echo rumbled away
!. heard Raffles talking as though he had
never stopped.
..You offered US a share" he was say
ing; "unloss you mean to murder US both
in cold blood 1t will be worth your while
to repeat the offer. We shouid be dam
rerous enemies: you had far better make
the best of us as friends.
Lead the way down TO your flat. SAID
Lord Ernest. with a flourish of his serv-
ice revolver land perhaps we may talk
about 1t. 1t is for me to make the terms
I imagine. and in the first place | am not
going to get wet to the skin up here.
The rain was beginning in great drops,
even as he spoke, and by a. second flash
of ligf1tning saw Raffles pointing to me-
but what about my friend?' said he
And then came the second peal
..Oh. he's all right the great brute re-
Piled .'do him good. You don't catch me
letting myself In for two TO one!
You will find it, equally difficult, re-
Joined Raff1es. Ito induce me TO leave my
friend to the mercy of night Ike TINS
He has not recovered from the blow you
struck him in your own rooms. / am not
such fool as to blame you for that, but
YOU are worse sportsman than l take
YOU for if you think of leaving him where
he is. IF he stays, however. so do l.
And lust as 1t ceased, Raffies voice
seemed distinctly nearer to me; but in the
darkness and the rain, which was now as
heavy as hail. could see nothing clearly.
The rain had already extinguished the
candle. I heard an oath from Belville, a
laugh from Raffies, and for second that
was ALL Raff1es was coming TO me, and
the other could not even see to fire; that
was all knew in the pitchy interval Of
invisible rain before the next crash and
the next flash.
The San Francisco call., 1905-08-13

(Copyright, 1905, by Joseph B. Bowles)
nee in a while we fall, do we
not girls s5ls' TT There s.r. is something sss DnE
~ hearts, some perfectly right and
desirable thing. but We cannot
get it. We have tried faithfully to the
best of our ability. But we are dis
appointed. We feel very much as we
would IL we saw somebody else climb
ing. without the least trouble. TO the
top of a mountain. while we kept sliding
back to the bottom.
Everybody cannot be equally success
ful,s and friend or a classmate often
seems TO gain without much effort
whatever she wants. while we lose. II
is SO in many departments of life out
side of the schoolroom. 1t is not only
that another girl wins the gold medal
for proficiency. while we have not even
a mention on the honor list; that an
other always has reports enriched with
a double A. while we have only B or
c, but there are other failures that try
our hearts quite as much
Another girl makes a friendship
where we have only slight acquaint-
ance or goes off on a splendid trip to
Europe. while we stay at home with
out change of scenes The fact is, If we
choose to disturb ourselves about them,
the small disappointments of life are
endless. The great ones, too, occur now
and then 1t is a test of character to
meet discoura gements bravely, and to
refuse to be downcast and blue, when
we fail in an attempt through no fault
of our own.
AS I write l am thinking of a girl
friend who has had an experience which
Will show her mettle and disclose in its
later effect the sort of girl she is.
Elizabeth Is quick aud clever girl,
who learns without taking much trou-
Bile. and who has a reputation in her
family circle for extraordinary genius
She has always been expected to carry
OFF all the prizes in sight. Her father
amuses his friends by the unconscious
vanity which prompts him to boast OF
Elizabeths S sprightliness, and he is con-
tinually repeating her witty speeches
AID telling any listener whom he can
buttonhole the story of her latest tri-
umphs Her mother has less TO say, and
is more tactful, but in her quiet, unob-
tr,lsive fashion she is just as proud of
her daughter and just AS convinced of
her superior talents as her good hus-
band is Both these people, without
meaning it. have puffed UP Elizabeth
from her cradle, with the result that
she has come to depend entirely too
much on her quickness and has omitted
lie hard study which at certain points
is indispensable. You may imagine the
family CONSERVATION and chagrin when
ElizabeIn failed to pass her senior ex-
amina tions and was told that she would
have to take her last year over If she
is finally to be graduated.
The San Francisco call., 1905-08-13

Copyright. 1905, by Joseph B. Bowles)
= N family of eleven children, sons
and daughters unusually gifted,
charming and successful, there was
a one who, in early manhood, went
astray. He was spoken of by the
ncighbors as 'the one black sheep in
very white flock" From time TO time
his youthful escapades got him into trou-
BILE. and after awhile his recklesspess
brought disgrace upon the family name.
He left home, and for years was not
heard Of by the outside world. though
occasionally a letter or message came
to the mother, whose love for him never
wavcred, and whose faith in him was un-
clouded, Notwithstanding the great
strain that had been put upon 1t, she
sometimes said to the few with whom
she conversed on the subject of her alb
sent boy: 'It is too much to expect in
so large Il family as mine that all shall
be equally we'll conducted. know that
Felix will come out right in the end, for
of all my children he has the most low
ing heart"
The father said little, but he. too.
yearned for the return of the prodigal.
AGdnWHll6, III d OlSldHl ldlu, lhS bioSF>
sheep came to himself, was rehabilitated
in his own esteem. honestly earned
money enough to pay his debts and at
last returned to bring sunshine to the
hearth that his folly had darkened. He
was no longer the black sheep.
Two or three things may be noted
when we mention one who belongs to the
list of the black sheep. The first is that
outsiders are much more strenuous anu
severe in their condemnation of him than
are his own family. The neighbors have
long memories for the mistakes and sins
of youth They are apt to lay up against
a boy the fact that as youngster ne
was wild and thoughtless, and any doubt
full deed he may have committed is not
easily forgotten by them.
God help and pity the boy who goes
wrong, If he has nobody of his kith and
kin to care for and love him and condone
his offenses. Blood is thicker than water
Parents brothers and sisters are very
thankful at the first evidence of genuine
repentance on the part of an tll-doer fol
whom they care; they are very ready tt
find some paIiation for weakness, ant
they will make no end of sacrifices FOL
the child who gives most trouble In th'
home II would almost seem as IL here
were a certain unfairness toward th'
steady-going chap who does HIS plai,
duty day after day and year after year
receives little praise. and has ehissyir'
tues completely taken for granted, while
the other is caressed and coddled ane
praised at the slightest evidence that h'
is turning over a NV leaf
Human nature will have to be more
nearly perfect than it is before this STATE
of things can be accepted without a sin
gle murmur. Yet when all is said. th'
proper attitude for a family to take Is
The San Francisco call., 1905-08-13

my normal power of resistance that
night That villainous uDpercut. My
head still sang and throbbed, as l seated
myself on one of the aforesaid parapets
and buried it in my hot hands. Nor was
the night one to dispel a headache; there
was distinct thunder in the air. Thus l
sat in a heap and brooded over my mis-
adventure, a pretty figure of a subordi-
nate villain. until the step came for which
| waited: and 1T never struck me that 1t
came from the wrong direction.
"You have been quick said |, simply
Yes" hissed a voice l recognized; |;
land you've got to be quicker still! Here
out with your wrists: no. one at time;
and If you utter a syllable you're dead
man"
1t was Lord Ernest Belville: his close
cropped, iron-gray mustache cleaned
through the darkness, drawn up over MS
set teeth In his hand gi.ttered pair
of handouts, and before l knew 1t one
had snapped its jaws about my right
wrist.
Now come this way" said Lord Err
nest, showing me revolver also, and
wait for your friend. And, recollect, a
single syllable of warning will be your
DEATH
With that the ruffian led me to the
very bridge 1 had just crossed at Raf-
nes' heels and handcuffed me to the iron
rail midway across the chasm. 1t no
longer felt warm to my touch, but Icy
as the blood in all my veins.
So this high-born hypocI:ie had beaten
us at our game and IS, and Raff1es had
met his match at last That was the most
intolerable thought that Rafilcs. should
be down in the fiat on my account, and
that could not warn him of his impend-
iS fate for how was it possible without
making such an outcry as should bring
the mansions about our ears? And there
| shiVered on that w.etched plank,
chained like Andromeda to the rock, with
black infinity above ;iuc> below; and
before my eyes, now grown familiar with
the peculiar darkness, stood Lord Ernest
Belville. waiting for Raff1es to emerge
with full hands and unsus.,ecting heart.
Taken so horribly unawarcs, even Raf-
fles must fall an easy prey to desperate
in resource and courage scarcely second
to himself, but one whom he had fatally
underrated from the beginning. Not that
l paused to think how the thing had
happened: my one concern was for what
was to happen next.
And what did happen was worse than
my worst toreboding, or first light came
fiickering into the sort of companion
hatch at the head of the stairs. and finally
Thffies-in his shirt sleeves, He was not
only carrying a candle to put the flnish-
ing touch to him as target; ne had dis
pensed with coat and waistcoat down
stairs, and was at once ful-handed and
unarmed.
Where are you, old chap?" he cried
softly, himself blinded by the light he
carried: and he advanced couple OF
steps toward Belville. ~ .snt you'
The San Francisco call., 1905-08-13

lift. The force of habit is too strong in
YOU. Bunny 1 shall shut the window
and leave everything exactly as we found
1t. Lord Ernest will probably tumble be-
fore he is badly missed; but then he may
come back to put salt on us; but | should
like to know what he can do even II he
succeeds! Come, Bunny, pull yourself to-
gether, and you'll be q different man
when you're in the open air
And for a while L felt one, such was
my belief at getting out of those Internal
mansions with unfettered wrists; this we
managed easily enough, but once more
Raffes' performance of a small part was
no less perfect than his more ambitious
work upstairs, and something of the sue
cessful artists elation possessed him as
we walked arm In arm across st. James
Park It was long since | had known
him so pleased with himself, and only too
long since he had had such reason
IL don't think l ever had a brighter
idea in my life," he said; never thought
of it till he was in the next room never
dreamt of ii coming off SO ideally even
then, and didn't much care, because we
had him all ways up. I'm only sorry you
let him knock you cut. / was waiting
outside the door all the time, and 1t
made me sick 10 hear 1t. But once broke
my own head. Bunny, If you remember.
and not in half such an excellent cause!
turn, the pockets that contained small
fortune apiece, and he smiled in my face
as we crossed the lighted avenues of the
Mall Next moment he was haiiing a
hansom-for | suppose / was still very
pale-and not q word would he let me
speak until we had alighted as near as
was prudent to the fiat.
what brute I've been, Bunnyi' he
Whispered then: "but you take half the
swag. old boy. and right well you've
earned it, No. We'll go In by the wrong
door and over the roof; it's too late for
old Theobold to be still at the play and
too early for him to be safely in his
cups"
So we climbed the many stairs with
catlike stealth and like cats crept out
upon the grimy leads. But tonight they
were no blackcr than their canopy OF
sky: not a chimney-stack stood out
against the starless night: one had to
feel his way in order to avoid tripping
over the low paraDets of the L-shaped
wells that ran from roof TO basement to
light the inner rooms. One of these wells
was spanned by a fllmsy bridge with
iron handrails that felt warm TO the
touch as Raffies led the way across; a
hotter and a closer night / have never
known.
..The fiat will be like an oven I grum-
bled. at the head of our own staircase
''Then we won't go down." said Raffies,
promptly: ''we'll slack 1t uD here for a
bit instead No. Bunny. you stay where
you are! I'll fetch you drink and a
deck chair. and you shan't come down
till you feel more fit"
And ! let him have his WY. | will not
say as usual, for I had even less than
The San Francisco call., 1905-08-13

case upon it and tossed things into it
with a detected air; suddenly, as he was
fitting them in, without raising his head
(Which / was watching). his right hand
closed over the barrel with which 1 COW
cred him.
You'd better not shoot he said, a
knee upon his side of the bed; "If you
do it may be as bad for you as it will be
for me-'
1 tried to wrest the revolver from him.
II will If you force me-" hissed.
You'd better not" he repeated. smil-
ing: and now ! saw that If l did 1 should
only shoot into the bed or my own legs.
His hand was on the top Of mine, bending
it down, and the revolver with 1t. The
strength of IL was as the strength of
ten of mine; and now both his knees were
on the bed: and suddenly 1 saw his other
hand, double into a fist, coming up slowly
over the suit case.
Help 1 called feebly.
Help. forsooth! 1 begin TO believe you
are from the Yard" he said-and his
uppercut came with the yard" 1t
caught me under the chin and lifted me
of my legs. have a dim recollection of
the crash that I made In falling.
III
Raffies was standing over me when I
recovered consciousness. I lay stretched
upon the bed across which that black
guard BeIville had struck his knavish
blow The suit case was on the floor,
but its dastardly owner had disappeared.
rs he gomez" was my first faint ques-
ton
Thank God you're not, anyway" re-
piled RaGlcs, with what struck me then
as mere nippancy. I managed to raise
myself upon one elbow.
IT meant Lord Ernest Belville," said 1
with dignity. Are you quite sure that
he's cleared out?"
Rahies waved a hand toward the win
dow which stood wide open to the sum-
mer stars.
.Of course" said he, land by the route
intended him to take; he's gone by the
iron ladder, as l hoped he would. What
~, Garth should we have done with him?
Nv moor. dear Bunny, 1 thought you'd
fake a bribe, But it's really more con-
yincin- as it is, and just as well for Lord
ernest 10 be convinced for the time
being"
ARE YOU sure he is?" l questioned, as
I found =. rather shaky pair of legs
"Of course" cried Raffies again in the
tone 10 make me blush for the least mis-
giving ON the point Not that it matters
one Bit he added, airily, for we have
him either way; and when he does tuIn-
Bile to it. as he may any minute he won't
dare to open his mouth.
'eTbeu the sooner we clear out the bet
ter" said I, but 1 looked askance at the
open window, for my head was spinning
still
when YOU feel up to it" returned
RafRes. 1--WE shall stroll out ana snail
do myself the honor of ringing lor the