davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-07-02
Went Into a s. "Transom..

Ny Anal adventure vas with q nan,
q stout, dark. smooth shaver. TASTY
faced. who proclaime1 himself "ths
greatest living professor of clairvuy-
ance," and protested tearfuily that he
was not to be confounded with card
readers, fortune tellers. painists, as
trolosers, and similar humbugs I call
ed on this gifted man and he too went
into transom for me, only 1t was q
So transom instead OF q 5e-cent one.
and correspondingiy moro impressive.
He promised me all that the g palmist
lady had promised. He went = bit
further and assured me that xas to
start on a journey Immediately or SOON
er- q went up to Baltimore thu Eight:
frequently do.) He advised me to 20
ON the stage for there would surely
make my fortune. I didn't feel thor.
oughly satisfied with him His Hee was
- and all l got Tor It was q couple Of
extra husbands and dramatic talent
When mildly objected to his terms he
answered Indignantly that some people
were never satisfied: they wanted three
husbands and several trips to Europe
Tor a quarter.
However. by promising mo three of
them he cleared up the conflicting state
ments OF previous prophets that I was
to marry a very dark Ynan, a slsRht
Completed Teller" a club gent''Stthai
particularly appeals to ma. only I'm not
sure whether 1t means e policeman or a
man about town)-not co mSntdoo fho
| red-headed fate that tho palmlst picked
| out for me- MARIANA
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-07-02

curve which leads to the station We
had hardly time to take our place be-
hind pile Of luggage when 1t passed
with rattle and roar. beating a
blast Of hot air into our faces.
There he goes said Holmes, as we
watched the carriage swing and rock
over the points. There are limits, you
see. to our friends intelligence. If
would have been a coup de maitre had
he deduced what I would deduce and
acted accordingly
'.And what would he have done had
he overtaken uS?"
There cannot be the least doubt that
he would have made murderous at
tack upon me- 1t is, however. a game
at which two may play. The question
now is whether we should take a prenia-
ture lunch here, or run our chance of
starving before we reach the buffet at
Newhaven.''
We made our way to Brussels that
night and spent two days there, moving
on upon the third day as far as Stras-
burg. On the Monday morning Holmes
had telegraphed to the London police,
and in the evening we found reply
waiting for us at our hotel. Holmes
tore it open. and then with a bitter
curse. hurled 1T into the crate.
y. y
AZ mint have known itH' he groaned
He has escap sd!'
''Moriaty?"
They have socured the whole gang
with the exception of him. He has given
them the SIN. OF course. when l hat
left the country there was no one tc
cope with him. But 1 did think that
had put the game in their hands.
think that you has bAtIer return t
England. WATSON
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-07-02

my fate to listen to. And I've lived
through quite few women's club
papers. too. The facts that I gieanea
from her were that my fate is a 'Hgh:
Completed one;" and that "a medium
young nan" is good deal worried
about money matters. but 1t will all
come out right. Though, so fa= as
know, / have not the honor OF his &C
quaintance, 1 am glad to know it, and
I publish this in hopes that he VIII see
1t and take comfort Also. am not to
trust the MIN darker than myself He
promises well, but he will not perform.
The slight GOODNESS between myself and
the fair lady is going to pass of; but
1 Will have quite a little "spat' with
the dark lady about money.
Another. a stout powdery woman with
hair that was dark at the roots and
gilded at the ends, and peculiar looking
eyes that suggested opium, was the
most amusing OF the lot She told me
with the sincerest sympathy and the
most undisguised conmiseration, broke
it to me as gently as she could, and was
evidently prepared to support me IL
| case succumbed to the blow, that she
didn't see any husband for me any
| where. Her sympathy was touching
and to square herself she proceeded to
shower on me all the blessings she
could think of.
Several others were visited without
adding greatly to the sum Of happiness
| IL prospect for me- They couldn't
| Everything had been promised me- They
| differed greatly as to the number oil
| husbands was to have; but were mos
| of them quite liberal in the matter. Or
| the whole I think I have In store fol
me a larger and choIcer assortment
than most girls.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-07-02

I didn't; so I departed well satisfied
that l had got my moneys worth-a
brilliant marriage, several inheritance5,
all of the talents and most of the viz
tues! Surely they were cheap at 81.
Next / interviewed a shabby little
woman in a hot little hole, pretty well
down northeast. She was considerable
enough to tell ladies' fortunes for Is
cents, while she charged the gents"
so cents She knew probably that Il
girls future is generally not worth more
than half as much as a mans. She had
quite clientele. Her ante-room really
suggested the waiting room of a fashion
able physician Women, to Judge by
their clothes, of all walks OF life were
ready to pay quarter to know their
fate One after another they fled into
the dark little room where by the light
Of dim burning lamp. with the aid OF
cards and by the lines of the hand, She
read the future
One of these waiting to question the
oracle was g pretty blonde girl OF the
Swedish type. She held a tiny baby IN
her arms. whoss fretful wall she was
trying TO hush. AS she passed into the
darkness beyond 1 noticed the absencs
of the wedding ling. It took no one to
guess what wers the questions her SOU
sought an answer to.
That woman Is a marvel. She reads
both the palms and the cards-three
packs of the latter she uses, one of ordi-
nary playing cards and two queer pack:
known only to fortune tellers. She deals
them with twisted rheumatic hands, and
talks a string of the most absolutely
Impoverished. unintelrgent words, in 6
monotonous even tone. pausing now and
then for breath. that 1t has ever beer
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-07-02

prevent It's being one which was placed
ready for us, and l drove Immediately
after breakfast to the Lowther Arcade,
through which / hurried at the top of
my speed. A brougham was waiting
with q massive driver wrapped in
dark cloak. who. the instant that had
stepped in. whipped up the horse and
ratified of to Victoria Station On my
alighting there he turned the carriage.
and dashed away again without SO much
as q look in my direction.
" Y
So far all had gone admirably. My
luggage was waxing for me, and / had
no difficulty in finding the carriage
which Holmes had indicated, the less
as it was the only one in the train
which was marked Engaged" Ny only
source of anxiety now was the non-ap-
pearance Of Holmes. The station clock
marked only seven minutes from the
time when we were due to start. In
vain I searched among the groups of
travellers and leave-takers for the 1.-the
figure of my friend. There was no sign
Of him. 1 spent g. few minutes in as
sisting 4 venerable Italian priest. who
was endeayoring to make a porter I'M
derstand. in his broken English, that
his luggage was to be booked through 20
Paris. Then. having taken another look
round, 1 returned to my carriage, where
/ found that the porter, in spite of the
ticket. had given me my decrepit Italian
friend as travelling companion. II
was useless for me to explain. to him
that his presence was an intrusion, for
my Italian was even more limited than
his English, so 1 shrugged my shoulders
resisnedly, and continued to look out
apxiously for my friend. A chill of fear
had come over me. as / thought that
mis- absence might mean that some blow
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-07-02
THE WITCHES CHARM

"a cavern In the middle caidron
boiling. Thunder. Enter the shrse
wftches.)
First Witch. Thrice the brinded cat
| hath mew'd.
| Second Witch. Thrice and once thu
! hedge-pig wind
| Third Witch HAPPY cries: tbs
! time. It's time"
| First Witch Round about the cal
/ dron go:
In the poison'd entrals throw
Toad that under cold stone
Days and nights has thirty-ono
SweIter'd venom sleeping got.
Boil thou first + the charmed pot.
AL Double, double toll and troubles
Fire burn and caldron bubble.
Second Witch F1llet OF Jenny
snake.
In the caIdron boil ana bake:
Eye CT newt and toe Of frog,
Wool OF bat and tongue OF dog.
Adder's fork. and bltnd-worm's sting.
Lizards leg, and howiets wing
For charm OF powerful trouble:
Like q heil-broth boil and bubble.
AL Double, double, toll and trouble:
Fire burn and ca1dron bubble.
Third Witch Scale of dragon; tooth
| Of wolf:
Witches mummy; max I'D gulf
OF the ravfn'd saff-ses -aszks
Root OF hemiock digEd r tho dark.
lGaI OF goat, and slrs OF yew
EiIverd IN the moons eclipse:
Nose of Turk and Tartar's ifrs:
Make the Cruel thick ane slab:
Add thereto a tigers chauthon.
For the ingredients OF our csldFon.
All. Double. double, toll and trouble:
Fire burn and caldron bubble
| Second Witch Cool It with ba-
boon's blood,
Then the charm Is firm and good
Macbeth. Act Nv. scene L
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-07-02

And there was a woman with q magic
mirror who saw all sorts OF people
buzziHg around my head. until I fels
as If they were a swarm Of mosquitoes.
and longed madly to slap them She
combined dressmakfng with reading
magic mirrors and spiritualistic seances.
and I wanted to ask her which line
paid the best However, she promised
me a trip abroad within six months. AID
e legacy from the other side the mill
pond
Of the bunch on Ninth street I Only
visited one. She was blonde lady with
\ languid manner. and pale gold hair
that interested me. For the life OF rae
I couldn't decide whether IL was genu-
Inc 1S-karat. or gold filed. rolled gold.
Or only cheap gold plating. Anyhow, it
was well done. She told me that my
fingers showed that I was easily In
fuenced- Later on, to square herself,
she discovered fund of obat.nacy In
the top of my thumb ana nnally that
viii and intellect were nicely balanced.
Doesn't that sound well? She said my
life line indicated longevity (hard 'sg /"
PLEASED And she discovered q slight
tendency to tu6erculo-kiss. I had never
heard 1t called that before. The lady
called herself a Hindu seer; but she said
she was born In Kentucky
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-07-02

me by my full name is, I am afraid,
entirely my fault. The name I wrote
on that card is q corlSer. 1t was an in
spiration. It is full all right--fuIl of all
the consonants in the alphabet I no.
ticed it one day in the marriage license
list It belongs to a Pole I fancy 1
was really quite curious to see if she
could pronounce it 1 can't.
That was no good of fortuneteller
anyhow. She didn't promise me even
such a trifle as a handsome husband.
The only thing she told me that I didn't
know is that I'm an undeveloped rnusi-
cal prodigy And she threatened me
with less. Well, better luck next tine,
l decided to have a try at another
medium who had been recommended to
me as telling wonderful things while
in what my small brother calls "a tran
SOM" She proved to be a much more
accommodating person than the nttle
lady had just left. She only charged
! me so cents, and got her connections
with the spirit world inside of five min
utes. She assured me that some one
named Elsie on the spirit side had I'M
dertaken to give me any information I
might require. Yes, i was quite right
The daisies had been deceiving me. ]
| was to marry in mot less than six
| months and not more than twelve" edo
| you wonder / felt like a prisoner re-
ceiving an iEdeterminate sentenceD a
| man who could give me "a brown stone
front of ny own Think of I'll And
he was reasonably good looking, thor
oughly domesticated and genie enough
to feed out of my hand. Altogether he
sounded almost too good to be true.
1 20 ~.
take such an interest In stranger. ]
don't know her last name, and I'VE
never known anyone of that front name
| Still I appreciate It,
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-07-02
CONTINUED from First page.)


dressed to Victoria tonight. In the
morning you will send Cor a hanson.
desiring your anan to take neither the
nrst nor the second which may present
itself. Into this hanson you will jump.
and you Will drive TO the Strand end
OF the Lowther Arcade. handling the
address to the cabman upon a slip of
paper, with request that he will not
throw Ii away. Have your fare ready
and the instant that your cab stops.
cash through the arcade, timing your
Self to reach the other side at a quar-
ter past nine. You will find a small
brougham waiting close to the curb.
driven by fellow with a heavy black
cloak tipped at the collar with red.
Into this you will step, and YOU will
reach Victoria in time for the Conf
mental express"
Where shall meet your"
" "
AT the station. The second first
class carriage from the front will be
reserved for U.S."
The carriage is our rendezvous,
them" -.
yes"
It was in vain I asked Holmes to
remain for the evening. 1t was evident
TO me that he thought he might bring
trouble to the roof he was under, and
that that was the motive which irnpeu-
ed him to go. With a few hurried
words as to our plans for the morrow
he rose and came out with me into
the garden. clamberipg over the wall
which leads Into Mortimer street, and
Immediately whistl1ng for a hanson,
in which 1 heard him drive away.
In the morning / obeyed Holmes In
functions to the letter. A hanson was
procured with such precautions as would
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-07-02

Baker street?''
They set fire to. our rooms last night.
No great harm was done"
Good heavens. Holmesl this is in
tolerable."
They must have lost lay track com
pletely after their bIudgeon man was ar
rested. Otherwise. they could not have
imagined that 1 had returned to my
rooms. They have evidently taken the
precaution OF watching you, however,
and that is what has brought Moriarty
to Victoria You could not have made
any slip in coming7'
II did exactly what you ad1i--d."
Ibid you find your brougham?"
yes, 1t was waiting"
did You recognize your coachman %
mo"
1T was my brother Mycroft. 1t is an
advantage 10 get about in such a case
without taking a mercenary into your
confidence. But We must plan what we
are to do about Moriarty now"
LAS this is an express. ard as the
boat runs in connection with 1t,
should think we have shaken him of
very effectively"
My dear Watson, you evidently die
not realize my meaning when / said
that this man may be taken as being
| quite on the same intellectual plane as
myself You do not imagine that If
| were the pursuer L should allow myself
tc be baffied by SO slight an obstacle
Why, then, should you think so meanly
of him.
What will he do?"
'What / should do
What would you do tbep3'
4 Engage y special"
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-07-02


Because you WIN dndme q e-S.rcus
companion now. THIS mans occuDaxtun
is gone. He Is lost Il he ret,Ens 20
LONDON. Ii l read his character right
he will devote his whole energies to re-
venging himself upon me. He said as
much In our short interview, and 7
fancy that he meant 1t. should cr-
tainly recommend you TO return to your
practice"
1t was hardly an appeal to be success
rui with one who was an old campaigner
as Wei as an old friend. We sat In
the strasburg saile-a-manger arguing
Ihe question for half an hour. but tbs
same night weNhad resumed our Journey
and We're well on our way to Geneva.
~ y
For a charming week We wandered
UP the Valley OF the Rhore, and thsn.
branching OF at Leuk. we made our
way over the Gemmi Pass, stfn deep In
snow. and SO. by way OF Interiaken. TO
Meiringen- 1t was a lively tim. tho
dainty green OF the spring below, the
virgin white Of the winter above; but
1t was clear to me that never for enc
instant did Holmes forget the shadow
which lay across him. In the hornely
Alpine villages or IN the lonely mountain
passes, 1 could still tell by his quick
glancing eyes and his sharp scrutiny OF
every face that passed US, that he was
Well convinced that. walk where we
would, we could not walk ourselves
| clear OF the danger which was doggins
| our footsteps.
once, l remember, as we passed over
! the Gemmi, and walked along the border
OF the melancholy Daubensee, a large
Continued on Page Three. This Section,
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-07-02

few minutes. Some one passed down
the hall; the front door closed; the same
man disappeared down the steps. Then
it was intimated that madam was ready
for me-
s She proved to be a faded little blonde,
spare as to her person. shabby as to her
dress / felt sorry for herb She looked
consumptive. ard the world did not seem
to have appreciated her talents. l don, (
believe that business has been very good
lately. Before committing myself / de-
sired to know what her charges were.
If wanted a full reading OF the future.
they were IS; if a partial reading, 81
would suffice. A dollars worth of future
of any one brand is good enough for me.
Silently / noted that she had not yet
called me by my full name, and the
handful that found one morning In
the letter box distinctly stated that she
would Madam disappeared into an adj
joining room. and reappeared with an
oblong bit OF card board Would !
write my name on 1t. and two questions
that 1 desired answered. and place II
face down on the table? She did not
wish TO see what was written there
on II my questions involved anyone
else. l was TO write that name also My
first question related. of course. to the
man 1 might marry My second was
Why am I heregr The card was in
closed IN an envelope, the envelope
scaled Madam conspicuously did not
look AT IT
Then I was requested to remove my
hat. the envelope was placed On my
head. and madam passed her hands
over it several times. Then began 8
ShUd6e-ing and groaning that was
truly awful I began TO feel creepy an6
Uncomfortable Al the same time
wished madam had been in front OF
ne instead OF behind me. She sounded
50 much ike Willard. in the Rogue.
Comedy ''-remember it? It's some year.
since he played ir-that 1 couldn't helI
wondering u she looked that way, too
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-07-02

day.
Nay. more. 1 have been impressed
with a sublime conviction, a sort OF
prophetic instinct. that somewhere in
this great. cold worid-of course, It's
only the widest sort of poetic license
that can call the world cold in WASH
ington In mid-June Comforting thing 1t
must be to have poets in1aeanationl
However. as ] was saying, somewhere
In this great, cold world there awaits
me a twin soul--a very desirable twin,
who has all that lack-everything
mind you, from xhekels to sense--whose
wealth is only exceeded by his extreme
personal pulehritu de, neither OF which
can be named n the same breath With
his engaging qualities Of head and heart.
AS time rolls on. however. and this
twin doesn't materia1ize, there are fleet
ing moments of shaken conviction, when
al. the world is dark and dreary. In the
doubt as to my Romeo's existence
Sometimes the insarie reiteration or the
daisies gets on my nerves Ny convlc-
ton requires outside confirmation. Tue
only people qualified TO give II are the
seers and seeresses. the proreets snd
prophetesses, astroiogers and mediums
of both sexes, the seventh soDs and
female mortals born with & caul.
who generously place their SezslSrsaaas
powers at the service OF The public fc'
divers considerations warning from :
cents to So Just - lsezss assurance
doubly sure, I 0ec2CsS 70 cacS>14s = Nv
of them.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-07-02

had fallen during the night. Already
the doors had all been shut and the
whistle blown, when
My dear Watson said voice, you
have not even condescended to say good
morning"
l turned In uncomfortable astonish-
ment. The aged ecclesiastfc had turned
his face towards me. For an instant the
wrinkles were smoothed away, the nose
drew away from the chin, the lower lip
ceased to protrude. and the mouth to
humble, the duh eyes regained their
fire, the dropping figure expanded. The
next the whole frame collapsed again,
and Holmes had gone as quickly as ne
had come.
Good heavensr' / cried; ''how you
startled mel
Every precaution is still necessary"
he whispered. II have reason to think
that they are hot upon our trail. All,
there is Moriarty himself"
" y
The train had already begun to move
as Holmes spoke. CHANGING back, I saw
tall man pushing his way furiously
through the crowd, and waving his hand
as If he desired to have the train stop
ped. 1t was too late, however. for we
were rapidly gathering momentum. and
an instant later had shot clear of the
station.
With all our precautions you see that
we have cut IT rather fine" said Holmes
| laughing. He arose.: and, throwing of
the black cassock and hat which had
formed his disguise, he packed them
away in a handbag.
Have you seen the morning paper
WatsonG
No"
You haven't seen about Baker street
them"
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-07-02
Lost Anything Lately ?n

Then II a few minutes she began in
sepulohrai tone. II see less here. Sc
rous loss And IN voice of hope
and human interest, Lost anything
Istaly2" 1 hadn't and I vas donkey
enough 70 say So 7 did not realize that
through the Gsscuring paper marry"
the last word Of M first question.
locked Ike money Then" she as
sUred ne. you viii, before long
Comforting. wasn't IT? and puzzling
tco2 ! had always regarded myself as
one Of those 20 whom the wise man re-
ferred when he said, Blessed are they
that have nothing; they aren't likely to
lose ir'' Still, inquired the probable
nature OF my prospective loss "a
large sum Of money or valuable jewel
v'' And now I know that II Is some
body's bounden duty to give me one or
the other OF these two things TO enable
me TO fulfill my destiny and lose it. But
unfortunately I don't know whose
'I see considerable musical talent
THAT hetokened q positive genius for
.-seefu' things Ard none Of my friends
have ever suspected me OF IT'D IF 1t
is cultivated, you VIII be a very great
musician Have you ever studied?" "A
little. you think II worth while to keep
IT up7'' Hphaticaliy Il u.s." Then II
dawned On me that this was an answer
TO my second question and that here
was supposed to mean IN Washington
and I was IN Washington studying
music
Put" / nneanIy asked, how about
my questions: you haven't answered
them?T
'They aren't quite clear: can't you
make them more delnIte2" ] did not
see how I could Then, with dignity
ct don't care to answer any such cues
tfons.''
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-07-02
Cards, Magic Nnrurs an Pains


I did I foU15 shsE. an 9vs- SoNT.s
some out near CABIN -Ee1z B---se-
choice co.fscr5s- esrs Sc1chsGS-- and
whole colony cx@- On SE-eA street. -
closely bunchss.s-s7rars1-EE 81 Azss1S
access TO Z ec@01 -sS- rzzsSzse--sezr
even an u1szszssc50EiS E-s7rSz1 l-Ss r1y
self could net hssA7 -sz1z7s1s-l-S L --ssF
were not 11s zz1 Ens sane zfs-sflze-S
Zuleima. sha gals were 1oe A--,e- as
Wet, the secoCs1-s.E1-- s----Ts 81. Z -
were moot a1szz-7-zs- E1,1 $50 -
prophecies and N. Ges--Ssss
the card rsa-e1
suspicious fruE IL A. -
with heart -E-A q So : - -
spirit artu7esl % u
boldly INTO tne I--4l g
tons which FAD oess- 80 -
read tns 40-"eIS =
sought eor-cocrsllslz- q 10
mirrors, the Ez12-s q ~
spirit messages
Not only vas : g ~ - -
as to my gloElodS = -
yinced-a niSL1e- 3- :.
some oouoc-lhz-
there are any -, - -
has ever oeen osess - -.
mine 10 90 Wlln q LS-z ---o5- !.
souls have never nealc "
there are any
woman eve H. L., = - -
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-07-02
Returned the Fee.

To my surprise my fee was handed
back, and the lady showed me out with
the air Of an outraged empress.
Poor little woman. I'm sorry for her.
she needs that d1IIay heap more than
I do. But it isn't my fault that my
writing Is not OF the most readable My
parents gent me TO a fashionable school
That she made no attempt to address