davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1905-09-19

the room, and an oaken walking stick
which also showed stains of blood upor
the handle. 1t Is known that Mr.. Jonas
O.dacre had received a late visitor In hi:
bedroom upon that night. and the sticl
found has been identified as the property
of this person. who Is young London
solicitor named John Hector McFarlane
Junior partner Of Graham X McFar'
lane Of 4a5 Gresham buildings. T.. c. The
police believe that they have evidence ir
their possession which supplies a very
convincing motive for the crime. and al
together II cannot be doubted that sensa'
tional developments will follow.
I.ater.-It Is rumored as we go to press
that John Hector McFarane has actually
been arrested on the charge of the murder
OF Jonas Oldacre. 1t Is ut least certain
that warrant has been Issued. There
have been further and sinister develop
ments In the investigation at Norwood
Besides the signs OF struggle IN tn'
room of the unfortunate builder 1t Is
now known that the French WINDOW:
of his bedroom (Which is on the ground
floor) were found 10 be open, that there
were marks as II some bulky Object
had been dragged across to the wood pile
and finally II is asserted that charred re-
mains have been found among the char'
coal ashes of the fire. The police theory Is
that most sensational crime has beer
committed, that the victim was c!ubDel
to death In his own bedroom. his papers
riAcd and his dead body dragged across
to the wood stack, which was then ignit"d
so rs to hide all traces of the crime. Inc
conduct of the criminal invcstiGltion mas
been left in the experienced hands OF IN
spector Lestrade of Scotland Yard, VINO Is
following up the clews with his accus
toned energy and saEaCity.
Sherlock Holmes listened, with closed
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1905-09-19

apart. | was very much surprised,
therefore, when yesterday about 8
o'clock In the afternoon he walked into
my office in the city But was still
more astonished when he told me the
object Of his visit. He had in his hand
several sheets Of notebook, covered
with scribbled writlng-here they are
and he laid them on my table.
Here is my WILL said he. 1 want
you, Mr.. McFarlane, to cast 1t into
proper legal shape. will sit here
while you do So
81 set myself to copy 1t, and you can
imagine my astonishmcnt when found
that. with some reservations. he had
left all his property to me. lie was Il
strange little ferretlike man. with
white eyelashes, and when l looked up
at him l found his keen gray eyes
fixed upon me with an amused express
sion. | could hardly believe my own
senses as read the terms Of the VIII.
but he explained that he was a bache-
lor with hardly any living relation,
that he had known my parents in his
youth and that he had always heard
Of me as q very deserving young man
and was assured that his money would
be I'm worthy hands. or course / could
only stammer out my thanks.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1905-09-19
The Adventure oi
the Empty House
No. l of the Series
IcoNTINuED.l

| The man seemed to be beside himself
with excitement. His two eyes shone
like stars. and his features were work
| ing convulSively. He was an elderly
man, with thin, projecting nose. q
high. bald forehead and huge griz-
Fled mustache An opera hat was push
ed to the back of his head, and an
evening dress shirt front cleaned out
through his open Overcoat. His face
was gaunt and swartly. scored with
deep, savage lines. In his hand he car
ried what appeared to be stick, but
as he laid It down upon the floor 1t gave
metallic clang. Then from the pocket
of his overcoat he drew bulky object,
and he busted himself in some task
which ended with loud, sharp click,
as If spring or bolt had fallen into
its place. Still kneeling upon the floor,
he bent forward and threw all his
weight and strength upon some lever,
with the result that there came long,
whirling, grinding noise. ending once
more in powerful click. He straight
cned himself then. and saw that what
he held In his hand was sort of
gun with a curiously misshapen butt.
He opened 1t at the breech put some
thing in and snapped the breechblock.
Then, crouching down. he rested the
end Of the barrel upon the ledge Of the
open window, and saw his long mus
tache droop over the stock and his
eyes CLEAN as it peered along the
sights. l heard little sigh Of satis-
faction as he cuddled the butt into his
l,oulder and saw that amazing target,
Se black man on the yellow ground,
standing clear at the end Of his fore
sight. For an instant he was rigid
and motionless. Then his finger tight
ened on the trigger. There was
strange, loud whiz and long, silvery
tinkle Of broken glass. At that instant
Holmes sprang like tiger on to the
marksman's back and hurled him fiat
upon his face. He was up again In
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1905-09-19

Horses shy from a variety of widely
different causes, and as horses are also
widely different in disposition the reme-
dy for this evil must depend upon the
horse. No ironclad rule can be laid
down, but it can safely be affirmed that
in nine cases out of ten kindness is bet
ter than punishment.
In most cases shying is caused by
nervousness, and in others from defect,
i've eyesight. In some cases the blind
ers affect the vision. If it be caused
by nervousness, kindness is what is re-
quired. The horse is finely organized,
sensitive creature, and until he knows
better is apt to be affected by trities.
The nervous horse is ever on the alert,
he sees everything, notices everything,
and when he sees an object that is un-
familiar to him he is at once afraid.
His fear is usually an honest fear. He
is afraid of being hurt. There is no
animal who trusts his master more
implicitly than the horse. He has every
confidence in him. When frightened the
horse wants the assuring voice of his
driver, or, if he is badly frightened, if
the driver will get out and go to his head
and talk to him, it will be all right.
The horse will be reassured and can be
quietly led past the object that he fears
may hurt him. Kindness at such times
begets trust, but loud, coarse talk, or,
worse vet, the whip, only makes him
more excited and increases his fear.
Many a fine horse has been ruined by
harshness, and no animal in the world
is more amenable to kind treatment
than the horse.
In the case of the phlegmatic horse a
slight touch with the whip may serve to
divert his attention from the object he is
afraid of, and he may forget his fear in
the smart of the lash.
Many horses shy from defective
vision, and it is no more vice for a
horse to start at an object he does not
recognize than it is for person when
suddenly confronted by something he
was not looking for.
The driver should carefully study the
nature of his horse which SHES, and
then apply the remedy which covers the
case and corrects the evil; but in most
cases gentleness and kindness will
accomplish the object much moro quick
ly and easily than rough language, anger
or a resort to the whip. Furthermore,
by using kindness you retain the love
of YOUR horse and his confidence in your
Judgment will remain unshaken.-Cor.
in Tribune Farmer.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1905-09-19
Keeping an Idle Horse.

The cost in common way of keep.
ing o horse one year is $50. Every
person, therefore, who keeps useless
horse one year loses the interest OF
81 900.
There are many farmers who keep an
extra horse which they use during the
busy season of haying and harvesting,
but during the winter is idle and must
be fed on the best of hay and grain OF
he will fall away and be crow bait in the
spring.
The farmer could keep yoke of two
year-old steers through the winter as
cheaply and then could sell them and
make something to pay for keeping
them. Not so with the old horse; when
dead you are compelled to haul him of
for the dogs and crows.-J. L. Hersey in
New England Farmer.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1905-09-19

the remarkable arrest which you nave
effected. Yes, Lestrade, l congratulate
you. With your usual happy mixture
of cunning and audacity, you have got
him"
Got him! Got whom, Mr.. Holmes?"
'The man that the whole force has
been seeking in vain-Colonel SeDas-
tian Moran. who shot the Hon. Ronald
Adair with an expanding bullet from
an air gun through the open window or
the second floor front of 427 Park lane
upon the 30th of last month. That's
the charge, Lestrade. And now, Wat
son. If YOU can endure the draft from
n broken window | think that half an
hour in my study over cigar may al
ford YOU some profitable amusement
Our old chambers had been left un-
changed through the supervision OF
Mycroft Holmes and the Immediate
care of Mrs Hudson. AS l entered l
saw. it Is true, an unwonted tidiness.
! but the old landmarks were all III their
place. There was the chemical corner
and the acid stained, deal topped table
There upon shelf was the row or
formidable scrapbooks and books of
reference which many Of our fellow cit
liens would have been so glad to burn.
The diagrams, the violin case and the
pine rack-even the Persian slipper
which contained the tobaccO-all met
my eyes as / glanced round me. There
were two occupants Of the room-one,
Mrs. Hudson, who beamed upon us
both as we entered; the other the
! strange dummy which had played so
important u part in the evenings ad-
ventures. 1t was wax cOlored model
of my friend SO admirably done that
1t was a perfect fac-simile. 1t stood on
small pedestal table with an old
dressing gown of Holmes so draped
round it that the illusion from the
street was absolutely perfect.
II hope you preserved all precautions,
Mrs. Hudson?" said Holmes.
81 went to 1t on my knees, sir, just
as you told me-"
Excellent. You carried the tnlng
out we'll. Did you observe where the
bullet went"
"Yes, sir. I'm afraid 1t has spoilt your
beautiful bust, for it passed right
through the head and flattened itself
on the wall. l picked 1t up from the
carpet. Here 1t is!'
Holmes held it out to me. "a soft
revolver bullet, as you perceive, Wat
son. There's genius In that, for who
would expect to find such thing fired
from an air gun. All right, Mrs. Hud-
son; 1 am much obliged for your as
sistance. And now, Watson, let me see
you In your old seat once more, for
there are several points which should
like to discuss with you."
He had thrown off the seedy frock
coat, and now he was the Holmes Of
old In the mouse colored dressing gown
which he took from his effigy.
1.-THE old shikari's nerves have not
lost their steadiness nor his eyes their
keenness," said he, with laugh, as he
inspected the shattered forehead Of his
bust.
"Plumb In the middle Of the back Of
the head and smack through the brain.
He was the best shot In India. and l
expect that there are few better in
London. Have you heard the nameT
mo, have not"
"Well, well, such is fame! But, then,
! II remember right, you had not heard
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1905-09-19
Maine Dairy Interests.

Commissioner A. w. Gilman of the
Maine Agricultural department, in his
last annual report says: The dairy
industry still holds its place in the
foremost rank among farming indus
tries. From April l, 1908, to April l.,
1904, there was an increase in the
number of cows as reported by the To-
cal assessors to the state assessors of
more than 5000. There has been an
advance in the quality of our dairy
products and an improvement in the
methods due to large extent to the
untiring efforts of our dairy director.
The work of the instructor during the
past year has been carried on syste-
matically, by counties. He has visited
the creameries and cheese factories,
giving information and assistance in the
work and cooperating with the man
ayers for better products and cheaper
production, thus bringing better prices
to the producer. He has also visited the
patrons and private dairymsn, testing
milk and cream when desired, giving
aid and instruction, and trying in every
way to improve the dairy practices and
assist in producing more uniform prod
uct and one that will bring higher
price in the market. A better relation
is being established between the pro-
ducer and the manufacturer, and there
is growing tendency towards cooper
alton along he lines OF this industry.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1905-09-19

much money he should himself return,
since he could not profit by his part.
ner's foul play. He locked the door lest
the ladies should surprise him and in.
slst upon knowing what he was doing
with these names and coins. Will II
pass?"
II. have no doubt that you have hit
upon the truth"
1T will be verified or disproved at
the trial. Meanwhile, come what may,
Colonel Moran Will trouble US no more.
The famous air gun Of Won Herder will
embellish the Scotland Yard museum,
and once again Mr.. Sherlock Holmes is
free to devote his life to examining
those interesting little problems which
the complex life Of London 30 plent.
fully presents"
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1905-09-19
By A. CONAN DOYLE,

reserve In case there should be severa
tigers or in the unlikely suppositlon 0l
your own aim failing you. These"-ht
pointed around-"are my other guns
The parallel is exact"
Colonel Moran sprang forward Will
q snarl Of rage, but the constables
dragged him back. The fury upon his
face was terrible to look at.
81 confess that you had one small
surprise for me-" said Holmes. IT die
not anticipate that you would yourself
make use of this empty house and this
convenient front window. had imag
; ined you as operating from the street
where my friend Lestrade and his mer
ry men were awaiting you. With that
, exception all has gone as expected"
Colonel Moran turned to the official
detective.
You may or may not have just
, cause for arresting me-" said he, "bht
at least there can be no reason why
should submit to the gibes Of this per.
son. If am in the hands Of the law
let things be done in legal way"
"Well. that's reasonable enough"
said Lestrade. Nothing further you
have to say, Mr.. Holmes, before we
go?"
Holmes had picked up the powerful
air gun from the floor and was eXamin-
ing its mechanism.
IAN admirable and unique weapon,
he said, "noiseless and Of tremendous
power. l knew Won Herder, the blind
German mechanic, who constructed 1t
to the order of the late Professor Mo-
riarty. For years I have been aware
of its existence, though l have never
before had the opportunity Of handling
it. l commend 1t very specially to
your attention, Lestrade, and also the
bullets which fit It."
"You can trust us to look after that,
Mr.. Holiness" said Lestrade Us the
whole party moved toward the door.
Anything further to say"
"Only to ask what charge you in
tend to prefer"
What charge, sir? Why, of course
the attempted murder Of Mr.. Sherlock
Holmes"
Not so, Iestrade. do not propose
to appear in the matter at all. To you
and to YOU only belongs the credit of
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1905-09-19
Feeding Brood Sows.

Corn is poor food for brood sows, as
1t makes but little milk. Wheat mid
dlings are much better. Sugar beets
have proved good milk producers when
fed to COWS, ewes or s0ws. The tops
when fed in moderate quantity with
good alfalfa or fodder ration are as
good as the beets for the production Of
milk.-Maine Farmer.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1905-09-19
The Crops of 1905.

| AuS SAVpo Vi iyVos
The principal crops of our country
for the present year are now substantial
ly assured with the exception of corn
which is still subject to possible dam
age by unreasonable frost. There prob
ably never was year when the all-rOuno
crops of the country, throughout every
quarter, were yielding and promising
a greater bounty than at the present
time. Conditions vary locally over
narrow limits, of course, yet on the
whole an unusual bounty is abroad In
the land.
The Chicago Record-Herald in review
ing the situation in the West in recent
issue of that journal expresses its con.
clusions as follows:
Bumper crops are in prospect
throughout the west. Every farmer
this year is golden farmer. Granaries
and elevators are groaning in anticipa-
ton of the loads they will have to bear.
Railroad officials are preparing moving
facilities from figures that break rec
ords. Wheat, the finest crop in ten
years and in some areas SURPRISING any
previous yield, now past all danger from
rust and other ills caused by the
weather, is in the hands of the harvest
ers or practically ready for them.
Corn, several days ahead of the crop
at this time last year, and its percent
ages of bushels to the acre running
ahead of the 100 mark, is bursting to
maturity in the broad belt in Illinois
aud beyond the Mississippi like potted
plant under a magician's wand. 1t is a
moving picture, it is growing so fast out
in Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska. Danger
from frost is remote, owing to its ad-
vanced stage.
Small grains generally throughout the
so-called Granger States promise excep-
tional yields, while the hay crop is above
the average in most sections. There
never was a time in the memory of the
statisticians when prospects have been
so bright for all manner of crops taken
together"
Conditions here in the East are show
ing like bounty, which placed in
addition to the above covers the prin-
cipal surplus producing sections of the
country. There can be no question
over the great bounty in store and in
prospect throughout the land.
The wheat crop, over which every
family in the land is concerned, is full
one, much larger than last year, and
substantially equal to the record-break-
ing crop of 1902. Winter wheat is al
ready going to market, the threshing
showing heavy yields to the acre. In
the spring wheat regions of the North
west the crop has ripened off in fine
condition with an estimated increase
over last year of fifty million bushels.
With present conditions of the corn
crop continued the Governments esti-
mates will give crop of two and half
billion bushels. 1t is rare that so fine
stand of corn obtains throughout the
entire country. In New England the
crop is slightly late but the high tenn
perature prevailing is forcing it rapidly
to maturity. 1t is now hardly possible
that an early frost can cut off the crop
to any considerable extent. The can
ming of the sweet corn has started up
recently with some of the early fields.
In exchange for this great bounty of
crops large amount of money will go
into the hands of the growers which
insures "good times" for another twelve
Farmer.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1905-09-19
fro BIZ CONTINUED
Cromwell and Christmas.

During the commonwealth in Eng
land, when puritanical feeling held
sway. many determined efforts were
made to put down what were termed
superstitious festivals and among these
that of Christmas day. The holly and
the mistletoe bough were to be cut up
root and branch as plants Of the evil
one. Cakes and ale were held to be i'm
pious offerings to superstition. Thus in
l647 the Cromwell party ordered
throughout the country by the mouth
of the common crier that Christmas
should no longer be observed.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1905-09-19
NUMBER 38.

eyes ald nnger tips togeher, 10 this re'
markable account.
THE case has certainly some points
of interest" said he In his languid
fashion. MAY I ask, in the first place,
Mr.. McFarlane, how 1t Is that you are
still at liberty, since there appears to
be enough evidence to justify your ar
| restT
Il live at Torrington Lodge, Black
heath, with my parents, Mr.. Holmes,
but last night, having to do business
very late with Mr.. Jonas Oldacre, 1
stayed at hotel In Norwood and
came to my business from there.
knew nothing Of this affair until was
In the train, when I read what you
have just heard. I at once saw the hor-
rible danger Of my position, and hur-
rled to put the case into your hands. /
have no doubt that should have been
arrested either at my city office or at
my home. A man followed me from
London Bridge station, and | have no
doubt Great heaven! What is thatr
1t was Il clang OF the bell, followed
instantly by heavy steps upon the stair.
A moment later our old friend Lestrade
appeared in the doorway. Over his
shoulder / caught glimpse Of one or
two uniformed policemen outside.
"Mr. John Hector McFarlaneT said
Lestrade.
Our unfortunate client rose, with
ghastly face.
~ arrest you for the wlllful murder Of
Mr.. Jonas Oldacre Of Lower Norwood"
McFarlane turned to us with ges-
ture Of despair and sank into his chair
once more like one who Is crushed.
"One moment Lestrade," said
Holmes. Half an hour more or less
can make no difference to you, and the
gentleman was about to give us an ac-
count Of this very interesting affair
which might aid us in clearing 1t up."
"I think there will be no difficulty In
clearing it up" said Lestrade grimly.
None the less, with your permis-
sion, | should be much interested to
hear his account
We'll, Mr.. Holmes, it Is difficult for
me to refuse you anything, for you have
been Of use to the force once or twice
in the past, and we owe you good
turn at Scotland Yard" said Lestrade.
AT the same time must remain with
my prisoner, and l am bound TO warn
him that anything he may say will APP
pear in evidence against him"
II wish nothing better said our
client. "All ask is that you should
hear and recognize the absolute truth
I.estrade looked ut lis watch. III
give you half an hour" said he.
II must explain first" said McFarlane,
that knew nothing Of Mr. Jonas
Oldacre. His name was familiar to me.
for many years ago my parents were
acquainted with him. but they drifted