davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-08-27
4 GUARDIAN ANGEL

secure and isolated place. and certain to dc
It's work, unless 1t breaks down through
some inherent weakness. What then was
the weak spot through which the broker
might be induced to betray himself
A negative problem this would have
seemed to an Investigator less patient than
showed that Coyne was not accessible
through ordinary temptations.
He neither drank nor gained; he was as
remote from women as monk. At just
such an hour he started to his daily voca-
tions; at just such an hour he returned to
his lonely room. What hope OF indiscre-
ton could there be from an absorbed and
passionless automaton?
But Cronkite despised not the day Of
little things, realizing that the most trifinE
OF them were facts, and that from facts.
whether great or small, must be deduced
. practicable theory. At one time he
saw Coyne, as was natural, refuse aims to
a street beggar; but when the man cursed
him roundly he turned and gave him q
piece OF money. He noted, too, that the
broker, as might be expected, burned one
sparse lamp In his room; but he kept it
burning until the morning light.
Though ordinarily sparing of steps,
Coyne crossed the street, one hot day, to
avoid passing under q ladder. Again he
fingered long on the porch craning his
neck In awkward fashion. in order to see
the moon over his right shoulder.
During a severe thunderstorm 1t was
evident from the shadow on the curtain
that he was pacing his room agitatedly
and this same unease displayed itself when
a dog howled dismally under the window.
Little things these and others like them,
but what did they denote? Why that
Enoch Coyne was uperstitious-subjec to
all the cowardly fears that beset believer
in omens.
One evening the old man skunk out from
his lodgings and threaded his way through
the gloomy streets to more gloomy house.
Presently he came out and threaded his
way back again. passing with a disap-
pointed air the detective who had kept
him In sight.
"She has been pinched,' volunteered
gamin, indicating the house with his thumb
who has?" asked Cronkite.
THE medium who ulster fake there"
The very next evening Enoch Coyne
on returning from business. read with
much concern an announcement on small
tin sign in the entry Two hours later
re crept stealthiy up the stairs and raped
on a door. showing the same mystic ad-
dress, -Fligo. Astrologer."
A ruddy light illumined the room, which
was filled with such cheap appurtenanoes Of
the craft as sidereal globe. a mortar and
pestle, stuffed owl a skull with the cross
bones a crystal filed with sparklinp liquid
Amid the pillows Of divan patriarchal
seer was engrossed over parchment
covered with cabalistio symbols. With
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-08-27

When Mary Lucas made her will she had
n thought that evil complications might
en,ue She left her large estate to her
daughter Kate, who was to receive 1t on
marrying cr reaching the age OF 81 years;
bat in the event Of the girls dying an
unmarried minor, then the property vested
absolutely in her husband Ralph Lucas,
such disposition had seemed advisable
to the family lawyer, Judge Josiah Mar
celhis, and Mrs. Lucas had followed his
suggestions in the main, only adding GER
tain restrictions to safeguard the property
Should Kate marry unworthily.
But tcstamentary wills are often perverse.
They fulfil the letter but not the spirit
Of the testator's intentions almost malig-
nantIy. They serve to illustrate the vanity
Of human wishes in contrast with that
,,renrih of circumstance which men call
destiny
Mrs. Lucas died, then we'll content at
having provided for her daughters future.
and firm in the belief that her husbands
own fortune would more than suffice for
his needs. She had not, however, reckoned
on the inability of one both idle and foolish
to let well enough alone.
For very lack Of something TO do and OF
knowing how to do it, Lucas INDUCED in
speculation so thoroughly that when bank
ruptcy proceedings we're instituted against
him his creditors found little to reward
them for their pains. But in the hunt for
something available one sharp cross
examiner brought to light Lucas's contin-
gent interest in his wife's estate.
This interest was sold ut public auction.
and bought for moderate sum by Enoch
Goyne. a broker in u small way, whose tact
turn LOYALTY was his chief asset in business.
Thus it came about that through Mary
Lucass anxious thought for her daughters
welfare an unknown stranger would benefit
largely by preventing the girls marriage
and encompassing her death How veri-
table then. the old adage. where there's
a will. there's a Way'-a way, of course
through which will can be set at naught
Kate was just 20; 80 she must live for
year. if unmarried. before the property
would he hers. But Kate was bssfully
engaged to her ideal. Lionel Townsend.
tall, dark handsome-as romantic in
appearance and bearing as were the crcum-
stances under which lie had come, seen
and conquered.
If this young man is as unexception-
able as You say" said Judge Marcelus.
why not marry them of at once, out of
hand. and thus make your contingent
rights absolutely harmless because ahso-
utey worthless? That is the quickest
way Of settling your worry, Lucas"
Ralph Lucas looked up with that air OF
wretched perplexity which becomes more
and more the symbol OF a man Of good in
tentions but feeble deeds the older he
grows, He was honestly troubled over
the situation. attributing it to his own
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-08-27
A Speculation in a
Contingent Inheritance

lack OF business Judgment; but vet. he
didn't know, this remedy might be worse
than tho disease.
Il can't say anything against Townsend.
he replied with a helpless smile. .but !
have a feeling, don't you know Perhaps
1t is because have always been 40 fond
OF George Darrell, 80 confident that he
ana Kate would make q match"
III you can't say anything" retorted the
oudge testify. then there's nothing to be
SAID nate knows her own mind; since
there are no objections to her choice, It
| must control. Your neighbor, young
! darrell no doubt Is a nice little fellow
out ne has had his chance. the chance Of a
lifeline, might say. for Kate and he we're
children together 1t is his own fault II
he failed to improve it. The speediest
way to cure an evil Is to Use the means
already at hand. Therefore, repeat,
marry Kate of to Townsend"
After Lucas had left, determined to
adopt this advice, the Judge turned reso-
lutey to his interrupted brief. But In
vain. The sweet face Of Mary Lucas,
as a girl, bride. young mother, kept
rising reproachfully before him.
Granted that he had reason to be pioued
because Ralph had suffered the bankruptcy
proceeding s to be taken, the sale of his
reversionary interest to be made, without
notifying him; still, he himself had drawn
the will. and must be partly responsible
! for any evil growing out Of its provisions.
Having mentally assured himself that it
wasn't any OF his business any way, the
Judge summoned Abe Cronkite from the
outer Office and explained the situation to
him.
What want you to do, Abe" he con-
Guided, is to act the part of guardian angel
for this girl. Invisible, silent, unknown,
you must protect her from all possible
danger until she is safely married."
at will he a case of handsome Is what
handsome does sir" replied the detective
with grim smile, as he set forth on his
mission.
Enoch Coyne's Office was popularity sup
posed to be in his hat; but, for all that, the
old broker had u local habitation. far over
on the East Side where he cooked his own
food, made his own bed and thought out
his own schemes-a alike mean and dirty.
A solitary man, he had acquired through
long habit those neutral hues Of manner,
dress and speech whereby creatures OF the
shade avoid observation.
Thus it came about that Broker Coyne
was known only through his deeds, but
when year after year his name was dug
out from the muck covering some discredit.
able transaction, these deeds gradually
exemplif1ed the man, causing him to be
feared, and justifying the Judges precau-
lions ON learning Of his purchase OF Ralph
Lucas's contingent interest.
Such a man as Coyne, so furtive silent
and cautious. is like q machine, set In q
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-08-27

| suggested the woman, -because--
| Eyes, l know nodded the big sea lion.
resignedly, I'D just about as lief die as
wear them in July and August. Sometimes
l think I'd rather be dead than have to
lie here sweltering and listen to what these
people have got to say about us, anyway.
ears, I wonder il they think our ears are
too little to hear out Of
Two stood by the fence, a man and
woman.
what idiotic looking things they are
| Is saw a performing sea lion in Canada.
They had taught her to do a lot Of things.
She. played the banjo. They called her
Performing Minnie.
As they disappeared the big sea lion raised
fatigued wing and famed himself time
-If I've heard about that performing
Minnie once" he lamented, I've heard
about her thousand times, She must be
REMARKABLE ;ai At; .s seal sI Ra pGs tris
to a sealskin they'll be coming and telling
us she is still drumming away at that ever
lasting banjo Of hers"
His remarks were interrupted by the
shrieks Of two sea lions who were gagged
in what appeared to be a mortal combat
on the summit OF a rock. They fell into the
water, still biting at each others ears, and
the barking was taken up by all the other
sea lions.
They quieted down in the course Of time
and the wet heads in the water and out
fell back in the favorite attitude Of sleep.
Il suppose" recommended the woman
politely, that you long for your native
home. Alaska, row and then. Don't your"
The big sea lion came quickly out Of his
doze
Alaska" he exclaimed. Alaska! Great
rocks going down to a real sea without a
fence around it! sea that's good and
cold even in the heat Of the ummer! No
body to sta nd gaping at US, talking about
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-08-27

out raising his eyes he demanded the old
brokers' business.
Il would know the future" Enooh Coyne
faltered. mot generally-I can take care OF
myself-but regarding length OF life.
want to live: am afraid to die"
The astrooger asked briefly tho i'm
portant dates of Coyne's vital record He
, made certain abstruse calculations.
why he exclaimed surprisedly, you
ought to live for many years yet--a full
score, at least, II you haven't turned events
from their natural course through your
own evil act To be more definite. did you
on the l4th day OF last month. at ~ o'clock
noon, do something to imperil the life Of an
innocent young girl"
"The 14th day OF last month. at ~ clock
noon!" gasped poor Coyne, as we'll he might,
since then It was that the Lucas sale had
taken place. Il don't know-suppose I
did"
"Then tho very moment that young girl
dies, you die also. Unless"
"Unless?" cried the frightened man.
"you said unless?"
~ a principal Is punished, the agent
escapes. OF COURSE II l knew who had
instigated YOU l might be able to exert
such celestial influences"
Then If tell you this PERSONS name
PERSON." Numbered the seer, with that
intuition with which Cronkite so often re-
enforced his observation and logic; "tell me
the name Of the woman for whom you acted,
and will do the rest
Lionel Townsend called on Mrs. Mayenoe
at the exclusive uptown hotel where she
was staying He had not seen her for
years and he would not be seeing her now,
had there not been tone to her note, too
indefinite to be pointed out In word or
phrase, that had sounded threat. And
so, being prudent man, he called, counting
upon the charm of personal presence to
obliterate the rancor OF memory.
The liveried servant who showed Town
send to the lady's apartments was an
elderly, stolid looking man, who had the
faculty OF doing the right thing Mt the right
time in so unobtrusive way as to avert
attention from himself Thus, after he
had announced the visitor, he was
enabled through sedulously gathering up
some odds and ends lying about the room,
to slip unnoticed, by way Of the private
hall, into large closet with convenient
cracks in it's partitions for an acute ear.
Mrs. Mayence. without rising, waved
Townsend to seat by her side. For
moment she studied him through the dull,
dead eyes that alone made her bloom sus-
picious. Then she said pityingly,
And so you are going to marry at last,
my poor Lionel?"
Yes. am" replied the man doggedly.
And without thought of your vows,
your pledges to me? Oh. fie, sir
"we need not go into that, Genevieve;
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-08-27
CrOnkite Finds the Weak
Point of the Shady Broker

upon the spot where they had met and
found each other under such dear vet
terrifying circumstances.
The house was dark and still. for ia
guests were OF the comfortable sort who
retire early and rise late. They wero
asleep, so Townsend treasured himself
especially that equity, rather stolid looking
invalid, whose unexpected occupancy OF
the inner room at the southern end Of the
corridor he had for the moment feared
might discomfort his plans.
They were all asleep except the Kuest
In the outer room opposite: for there Gene
vieve Mayence. having registered under
an assumed name. was waiting. ready to
lend her arms and wits to the success Of
his enterprise.
1t would not be necessary, Townsend
argued, though the evil spirit that now
wholly possessed him thrilled responsibility
as he recognized how nervousy powerful.
how alert and sufficient, how pitilees such
aid would be. Kate was so simple, 30
anectionate, 80 unSuspecting.
He could draw her out on tho roof at the
southern end, to It's very verge, to show
her how she had poised in her sleeps
sudden push, and down 8 he would fall to
the cruel pavement thirty feet below, to
lie there dead, the self.eident victim OF
somnambuhsm. while he slipped back
unobserved to his room.
A slight sound reused Townsend from
reflection; 1t sent him sprin gine to the gill
with every nerve and muscle tense. Yes,
there could be do doubt-along the veranda
roof the patter Of little feet was approach
ing.
Had that actual sleepwalking for
which be had secretly hoped, on which he
had not dared depend. required through
the mystic influence Of association? He
looked out-a feminine figure in white
tripped by. He leaped out. following
noiselessy until near TO- the southern verge,
and then graphing with it ferociously.
To Townsend's amazement, muscles Of
steel resisted him. they forced him back
and down. choking OF his cry Of
"Genevieve!" But that half cry was
sufficient.
Mrs. Mayence sprang from her window
to her lovers aid. Between them they
might have overmastered the feminine
figure in white, 80 strangely, strongly
masculine. had not the invalid from tho
inner room. as stolid looking as ever, but
in no degree equity. come hurrying around
to TIE corner, revolver in each hand.
may be little. said Abe Cronkite, the next
day. when the excitement had dwindled
with the removal Of the prisoners, -but, oh,
my!.
Kate must reward his daring and de-
voted impersonation Of her." Ralph Lucas
asserted. Il shall insist"
"You needn't insist, papa" interrupted
Kate as she entered on Darreli's arm
George and ! have just followed our
guardian angels advice"
Bless you, my children murmursd
Abe Cronkite.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-08-27

, wide awake. Not only was he awakened
| but turning suddenly-that is as suddenly
as his heavy sealskin would permit-he
The woman thought he had drowned him.
| self. but he hadn't. AS she stood gazing
at the place in the water where she thought
he ought to be. he appeared on the other
side. He wabbled up the rock. threw him
self upon it and lay there motionless,
his wings outspread his tail fat and DESC
late.
By and by he lifted up his head. raised
feeble wing and beckoned to her with it.
Unable to swim across on account OF the
fence. she hurried around.
"Wel?' she "a id. for the big sea lion
seemed to have forgotten that he had beck
oned to her.
He had gone fast asleep again.
He opened the eye nearest to her and
focused her with it,
oh it's you again. is it," he asked in a
surprised way which rather hurt her feel
ings seeing he had been the cause of her
hurrying around
What did you think of that?" he asked
presently. whales"
Before the woman could tell him what she
though of it a shop girl came up and stood
at the fence with her best beau.
we got lot Of sealskins better than
any of those, she remarked complo Gently,
with comprehensive wave Of her hand
over pond and rock. but We keep them
little ears they've got! NV goodness"
The big sea lion wrigged TO the waters
edge.
"Here!' called the woman softly. AZ
wouldn't take it 50 hard If were You. They
are going now
He wriggled back accomnodatingly.
That's Just it. he complained. If you
could only take off our sealskins this weather
and put them in camphor it would be much
more comfortable. Then put them back
are fastened to us"
sid be glad they were, if I were you
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-08-27

my hert beating violently. The ENJOYS
were just entering,
First came Mr.. Witte and Baron komura .
chatting most amicably. Baron Rosen
and Mr.. Takahra followed laughing over
some little joke. The most complete COR
diality and harmony seemed to prevail
among the four ENJOYS.
Not 30 with their suites. younger more
fiery men. They entered in two separate
groups, silent and glowering, and went
to opposite corners Of the room. Their
thoughts were evidently with their brothers
In far Manchuria, locked in deadly con-
f1ict.
swell, Baron" began Witte,, taking q
seat at the table in the middle Of the room,
"that was q particularly fine hop at the
hotel last night.
"Ah, my friend" rejoined Baron Komura,
"a pretty sight, but the American dance
ia not for me. am not equal horizontally
to the stride, nor perpendicularly to the
girl. find it most trying, most dfhcult.'
The little Baron sighed.
"You will learn" said Mr. Witte, cheerily.
And then there was a great slapping Of
backs and offering Of cigars.
But in their respective corners the
suites glared at each other belliserent!y.
Il understand" said one Russian TO
another. purposely raising his voice, that
Toxic is inhabited exclusively by people
wearing bathrobes.
And I understand" observed another,
"that the Mikado sits in the palace garden
Tor hours, with a vapid smile. eating rice
cakes and singing pointlessly to the MOON
In their corner the Japs chatted on in
differently. Presently one raised his voice.
Have you heard that Kaiser Wilhelm
considers the movements Of Linievitch
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-08-27

there was fault on both sidss.-
How magnanimous; you quite put old
Father Adam to shame. But now tell
me all about the ONO blessed above all
women. Where you met; how you met
and all the pretty, precious details Of loves
young dream"
There must have been tho restraint Of
intimate association upon him, or other
wise Townsend, goaded by such mookery.
would have stamped out Of the room. As
1t was, after an impatient tug at his mus
tache, he complied, his expression and
tone actually growing tender a. he pro-
ceeded.
Kate is a most lovely GIRL he said,
'for all your sneers. and the manner OF
our meeting did mako . charming little
romance. It was last summer, down at
the shore
Il sat at case In my room, late one night,
smoking in the dark, as sazed at the
shadowy vessels gliding by. Then, along
the roof of the versnda, just outside Of my
window, there came the patter OF the little
feet.
"A white figure tripped by. as swiftly.
as noiselessly as ghost, making all un-
needing for the railless edge. Well 1,
Gene We've, I did some hustling for . mo-
ment. 1t was thought that / was both
self-possessed and pluoky, and above all
gentle in the way caught and bore into
safety the unconscious GIRL
"A sleepwalker; what a suggestionl'
cried Mrs. Mayence, a. II awed by q 6ash
illumining the future.
yes she had been III With fever; II was
said it had never happened before. Well
Of course there was q kindly feeling, which
deepened and ripened under little posing
some trifiing attentions-you know It all
better than can tell. And that Is all,
except that she has tidy fortune from
her deceased mother, which Of course, I
will have also, to speak generously--'
which you won't have" interrupted
Mrs. Mayence, leaning forward for the
first. Haven't you had the common sense
to examine the records and thus learn that
this fortune, If the girl ever gets 1t, 10 20
bound around with restrictions for the bene-
fit Of herself and her brats that it would
be far more Of q curse than q comfort to
that superhuous tag, her husband
How do you know snarled Townsend.
what interest have you--'
what INTEREST," Mrs. Mayence repeated
Saily; "a contingent intetest, which may
become a vested interest. l have been
putting my eggs in one basket, Lionel;
I have been submitting my little all to the
issues OF life and DEATH
you don't mean that you are the mys-
FERROUS purchaser at the bankruptcy sale,
whose identity and purpose have been
soaring old Lucas out OF his few Wits
The trusty Coyne acted for me. have
his written assignment"
But why? My God! why7'
Because, dearie, still have q fondness
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-08-27

But at this point most unseemly inter
ruption occurred
Nettled by half smothered insults pro.
ceeding from the Russian suites corner, a
japanese secretary arose and inquired, in
a honeyed voice, whether it was true that
the Car, before going to bed. painted a
facsimile Of his face on his foot and then
slept with his foot on his pillow, to mislea d
assassins.
With a howl Of rage the Russian suite
sprang toward the Japs' corner. The first
one who arrived ran up against jiu-jitsu
defence which prompted him to leave the
room, head nrst. through tho window, amid
shattered glass and terrific profanity.
Witts and Komura, with considerable
dinio lily, separated the members of their
suites and drove them, sullen and defiant.
to their respective corners.
In the meantime Baron Rosen and Mr..
Takahira had gone outside to hunt I'D
the jiu-jhsued Russian. They found him
with his head buried in mud, which spurted
up around him like jets Of lava from a
volcano. owing to the violent cursing going
on below. Having extrioated him, they
pulled him back to the room.
As they entered the two suites were
apologizing and bowling profusely. with
Mr.. Witte and Baron Komura sternly super
intending the ceremony.
'Apologize!' commanded Baron Rosen.
turning to the jiu-j itsued Russian.
Tho eyes OF the latter flashed through
the mud with which they were caked.
4 understand,' he roared, that Oyama
spent the two weeks Of Mukden down
coal scuttle at Liaoyangi'
When tho ENJOYS bad prisd their suites
apart they took them asidS and for TN
minutes gave them what ! jtaDod = ~ -
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-08-27

themselves. They were thrown back in
the attitude of sleep. Now and again a
mouth would fly open. 1t was from these
mouths that the banks had issued-were
still issuing, in fact. But were they banks
or snorts or sneezes?
| High on the big. gray boulder a little
sea lion had thrown himself with reckless
abandon. The sun had turned him to a
reddish brown. Once in awhile he tapped
weary ripper or, rather. wing, tanning
himself, but not often. When the wing
failed to fan he appeared to be dead
Really. it was terrible day for sealskins.
The big brown, sea lion, the king of the
sea lions. in fact, Topped heavily out Of
the water, fell on the rock and lay there as
helpless as the small sea lion from the heat.
1t was hardly three minutes before he was
barking going on around him.
The woman coughed twice so as not to
waken him too suddenly.
Il should like a few words with you,
il you please" she smiled, as he turned
out Of his little eyes.
He raised his right wing and famed
III you kaa on a five hundred dollar
sealskin this weather" he sighed, you
wouldn't feel much like talking. can tell
you that"
He coughed, sneezed and continued
ENORMOUSLY
where is the ice man? Why doesn't
he put lump OF ice in the pond or turn on
an electric fan or something? What's
the keeper about that that he doesn cool
us Of little. I'd like to know"
A girl in bright pink dress hung herself
to the fence.
What are they7" she asked. whales
At that the big brown sea lion became