davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1905-10-29

dozen like them. Handle 'em your.
self" He put them in through the win
dow. Maud was so near that she could
take the bills by putting out her hand
She saw there was a large amount o,
money there-more than she had ever
seen before.
|, Come. my beauty" he said, this is
only spending-money for a. bridal tour
There are millions behind it. Get ur
ana put on your dress. I Will wait be-
low here. We can take the midnight
train east. be married at Clarified. and
sail for Paris the next day. That's the
world for you to shine in. Come. Waste
no time. No tellin' what may happen to-
morrow"
She was strongly tempted. She had no
longer any doubt of his wealth. He was
not precisely n hero in appearance, but
she had never insisted upon that-her
romance having been always of a practi-
cal kind. She was about to assent-and
10 seal her doom-when she suddenly re-
membered that all her best clothes were
IN her mothers closet. which was larger
than hers. and that she could not get
them without passing through the room
where her parents were asleep. That
ended the discussion. 1t was out of the
question that she should marry this
magnificent stranger il her everyday
dress and cotton stockings. II was
equally impossible that she should give
that reason 20 any man. So she said,
with dignity:
Mr.. Ofltt. il is not proper for me TO
continue this conversation any longer.
You ought to see it amt. l shall be
happy to see you tomorrow"
Offitt descended the ladder, grinding
out curses between his set teeth. A hate,
as keen as his passion, for the foolish
girl fired him. Think he Missed. "a
man that killed, half an hour ago. the
biggest swell in Buffiand, TO be treated
that way by carpenters wench. Wait
a while, Miss; it'll come my innings :"
He lifted up the ladder. carried il care
fully around the house and leaned 1t
against the wall under the window of
the room occupied by Sleeny.
de hurried back TO his lodging in Per-
ry place where he found Sam SIeeny
very graciously greeted by his drowsy
visitor.
why didn't you stay out all night ?''
Sam growled- Where have you been,
anyhow"
I've been at the variety show. and it
was the boss fraud of the season"
You stayed SO long you must have
liked it
Il was waiting to see just how bad a
show could be and not spoil
What did you want to see me about
to-night?"
The fact is, / expected to meet
man around at the Varieties who was
TO go in with us into big thing But
he wasn't there. I'll nail him to-mor-
row, and then we can talk. It's big
The Washington times., 1905-10-29

, precious and acceptable to all men ex-
cept idiots. But. If it means much 10
the good and virtuOus how Infinitely
more IL means TO the thoroughly de-
praved-the instant qualification OF every
savage and hungry devil Of a passion
which their vile natures harbor. Though
the first and principal thing Oftitt
thought of was the possession of Maud
Matchin. his excited fancy did not stop
there A long gallery of vicious pic
lures stretched out before his flaming
eyes, as he reckoned up the harvest OF
his hand. The mere thought that each
Dill represented dinner, where he
might eat and drink what he liked. was
enough 10 inebriate a starved rogue
whose excesses had always been limited
by his poverty
When he had counted and sorted his
cash, he took enough for his immediate
needs and put 1t in his wallet The rest
he made up into convenient packages.
which he tied compactly with tvine and
disposed in his various pockets. III
chance it,. he thought. after some de-
liberation. IF they get me. they can
get the money. too But they sha'n't
get IL without me-
lie threw himself on his bed. and slept
soundly till morning
The Washington times., 1905-10-29
CHAPTER XVIII.
Ofitt Plans a Long Journey.

The bright sun and the morning
noises of the city walked Ohitt from his
sleep. AS he dressed himself the
weight Of the packages in his pockets
gave him a pleasant sensation to begin
the day with. He felt as if he were
entering upon a new state of existence
"a life with plenty of money. He
composed in his mind an elaborate
breakfast as he walked downstairs and
took his way to Il restaurant, which he
entered with the assured step of a
man OF capital He gave his order to
the waiter with more decision than us
ual. and told him in closing mot to
be all day about 1t, either
hile waiting for his breakfast, he
opened the morning Bale Fire" to see
II there was any account of "The AL
gonQuin Avenue Tragedy" This was
the phrase which he had arranged in
his mind as the probable headline of
the article. He had so convinced him
self of the efficacy OF his own pre-
cautions. that he anticipated the same
pleasure in reading the comments upon
his exploit that an author whose incog-
nito is assured enjoys in reading the
Criticisms OF his anonymous work He
was at first disappointed in seeing no
allusion to the affair in the usual local
columns; but at last discovered in a
corner of the paper this doubIe-leaded
postscript:
We stop the press to state that an
appalling crime was last night com
mitted in Algonquin avenue The man.
sion of Arthur Farnham. ESQ.,, was en-
The Washington times., 1905-10-29

! I'm a-givin' you truth and friend
ship. and fewest words is best Come
| light out. and write where you stop. II
see you through
See here" roared Sam, "are you
crazy or am !? Speak out, What's
up?"
''Oh! I've got to speak it out, raw
and plain, have I? Very well. Art
Farnham was attacked and nearly muir
dered last night. and If you didn't do
it. who did? Now come, for the Lord S
sake, get of before the police get here.
never thought you had the sand-but
l see you've got too much. Don't lose
time talking any more I'm glad you've
killed him. You done just right-but l
don't want to see you hung for it,
His excitement and feigned earnest
ness had brought the tears to his eyes
Sam saw him and was convinced
Andy" he said solemnly. II know
you're my friend. and mean right. III
swear before God 1t wasn't me, and
know nothing about it. and / won't run
away"
but how Will we prove it?'' said Of
nit. wringing his hands in distress.
Where was you last night from 10 to
I1?"
You know where 1 was-in your
room. I went there just after and fell
asleep waiting for you
Yes. of course. but who knows It?
Sam. believe you are innocent since you
say SO. But see the circumstances. You
have talked about goin' for him. You
haye had fight with him, and got put
IL jail for it. and" he was about to
mention the hammer. but was afraid
Il wish you would take my advice and
go off for a week or so TIL the truth
comes out. I'll lend you all the money
you want I'm flush this week.
NO, Andy said Sleeny. nobody
could be kinder than you. But 1 won't
run away. They can't put man where
he wasn't
Very WELL replied Offtt. II admire
your pluck. and III swear a blue streak
for you when the time comes. And per-
haps 1 had better get away now so they
won't know I've been with you"
He went without a moments delay to
the chief of police and told him that
he had disagreeable duty to perform:
that he knew the murderer of Captain
Farnham. that the criminal was an in
innate friend of his. a young man
hitherto OF good character named
Sleeny.
"Ah-ha!" said the chief THAT was
the fellow that Captain Farnham
knocked down and arrested in the riot"
The same" said OMIT. He has
since that been furious against the
captain 1 have reasoned with him
over and over about 1t. Yesterday he
came to see me; showed me a hammer
he had just bought at Ware & Harden's;
said he was going to break Arthur
Farnham's skull with it / didn't be-
heve ne would. he said 1t so often be-
fore. While We were talking. 1 took the
The Washington times., 1905-10-29

hammer and cut his initial on 1t, a let
ter 8 The chief nodded with broad
smile He then left me. and when /
came back TO my room a little before
midnight. 1 found him there He looked
excited, and wanted me to go and get
drink with him. ! declined. and he
went Off This morning when 1 heard
about the murder l said: He's the man
that did the deed"
You have not seen him since last
nightY;
mo; suppose, of course, he has run
away"
Where did he live?"
Dean street. at Matchin's the car
penter'
The chief turned to his telegraphic
operator and rapidly gave orders for the
arrest Of Sleeny by the police OF the
nearest station lie also sent for the
clerks who were on duty the day before
nj Ware & Harden's.
Afr- --. l did not get your name. -
he said to OMIT. who gave him his name
and address You have acted the part
of a gCod citizen
The most painful act Of my life =.
Ofitt murmurcd.
"Of course. But duty before every-
thing. I Will have 10 ask YOU TO wait n
little while in the adjoining room tin
we sec whether this man can be found -
Ohitt was shown into a small room.
barely furnished. with two doors; the
ore through which he had Just come.
and one opening apparently iato the
main corridor of the building O.Rtt. as
soon as he was alone walked Stealthily
10 the latter door and tried TO open it,.
IL was locked. and there WAS no key
He glanced ut the window; there WAS an
iron grating inside the sash. which was
padlccked cold sweat bathed him
from head TO foot. He sank into Il chair.
trembling like leaf. He felt for his
handkerchief to wipe his wet forehead.
The Washington times., 1905-10-29

open eyes. II should not dream Of such
! Il thing" she said IF he had died
I should have been his widow: but. as
he is TO live. he must come to me IL he
wants me. 1 was very silly about him.
but I must take the consequences.
can't now take advantage of the poor
fellow. by SAVING his lie and establish
ing claim on it. So / will promise any
thing you want. 1 am so happy that 1
Will promise easily. But I am also very
sleepy"
The beautiful eyelids were indeed
heavy and droopine. The nights eX
citement had left her wearied and ut
terly content. She fell alseep even as
her mother had kissed her forehead.
The feeling of Ofitt as he left Algon-
quin avenue and struck into a side
street was one of pure exultation. He
had accomplished the boldest act of his
life. He had shown address. skill, and
courage. He had done a thing which
I had appalled, him in the contemplation.
merely on account Of its physical diff
/ dculties and dangers. He had done Il
successfully. He had q large amount
or money 81 his pocket-enough to carry
| his bride 20 the ends of the eartn. When
It was gone-well. at worst he could
leave her. and shift for himself again.
F{e had not a particle of regret or re-
morse. and. in fact. these sentiments
are far rarer than moralists would have
US believe. a ruffan who commits
crime usually glories in It. It eXalts him
in his own eyes, all the more that he is
compelled TO keep silent about it. AS
OMIT walked rapidly in the direction of
IL, - IL
exultation was his sudden perception of
the fact that he had better not tell
Maud what he had done In all his
plans he had promised himself the
pleasure of telling her that she was
avenged upon her enemy by the hands
of her lover: he had thought he might
extort his first kiss by that heroic
| avowal; but now. as he walked stealth
lily down the silent street, he saw that
nobody in the universe could be made
his confidant
"Tn never own it, in earth or hell."
he said to himself.
When he reached Matchin's cottage.
all was dark and still. He tried to
attract Maud's attention by throwing
soft clods Of earth against her window,
but her sleep was too sound. He was
afraid TO throw pebbles for fear OF
breaking the panes and waking the fam
ily. He went into the little yard adjoin-
ing the shop. and found a ladder He
! brought il out. and placed II against
the wall. He perceived now Cor the first
time that his hands were sticky He
gazed at them a moment. "Oh, yes"
he said to himself, when he fell l held
out my hands to keep his head from
touching my clothes Careless trick.
Ought to have washed them. FIRST
thing" Then, struck a sudden idea,
he went TO the well-curb. and slightly
The Washington times., 1905-10-29

money. Sammy. and no discount What
would you think of $1,000 a month";
I'd n heap rather see it than hear
you chin about it. Give me my hammer.
and I'll go home"
why. l took il round to your shop
this evening. and I tossed 1t In through
the window. l meant to throw It upon
the table. but it went over. / think from
the sound. and dropped on the floor. You
VIII find ii among the slIavings, / reck-
on"
We'll. I'm off," said Sam. by way of
goodnight
AN right Guess I'll see you to-
morrow"
OMIT waited till he could hear the
heavy tread Of Slceny completing the
first flight of stairs and going around to
the head Of the second. He then shut
and locked his door. and hung his hat
over the keyhole. He turned up his
lamp and sat down by the table to
count his nights gains. The first pack
age he took from his pocket had a shin
ing stain upon The outside bill lie sep
arated the stained bill carefully from
the rest. ard held it a moment in his
hand as if in doubt He walked to his
washstand. but at the moment of touch
ing his pitcher nc stopped short He
took out his handkerchief. but shook his
head and put II back. Finally. he light
cd match. applied II 10 the corner OF
the bill. and watched Il take fire and
consume, until his fingers were scorched
by the blaze. Pity" he whispered
good money like that
He seated himself again and began
with fierce. sustained delight to ar
range and sort the bank bills laying tne
larger denominations by themselves,
smoothing them down with a quick and
tender touch. kindling eye. and a beat
ing heart. In his whole lie, past and
future, there was not such another mo-
ment of enjoyment. Money is, OF course,
The Washington times., 1905-10-29

tered by burglars between 10 and II
o'clock. and that gentleman assaulted
and probably murdered
Full particulars in a later edition.
Later. Captain Farnham is still
living. and some hopes are entertained
of his recovery. The police have found
the weapon with which the almost ia
tai blow was struck-a carpenters
hammer marked with letter S 1t is
thought this clue will lead to the de-
lection Of the guilty parties"
Ofitt was not entirely pleased with
the tone OF this notice. He had ex-
pected some reference to the address
and daring of the burglar But he
smiled 10 himself, Why should / care
for Sans reputation" and he ate his
breakfast with a good appetite Be
fore he had finished however, he great
ly modified his plan. which was TO have
the threads Of evidence lead naturally
OF themselves, to the conviction Of
Sleeny. He determined TO frighten Sam.
il possible. out of the city. knowing
that his flight woud be conclusive cvi-
dence OF guilt lie swallowed his cof-
fee hurriedly and walked down to Dean
street, where by good fortune he found
Sam alone in the shop. He was kicking
ABOUT Il pie OF ShaVlnSS on the floor.
He turned as OMIT entered and said:
oh, there you are. i can't find that
hammer anywhere"
OGtts face assumed a grieved ex-
preston. Come come. Sam. don't
stand me off that way. I'm your
friend. If you've got one in the world
You mustn't lose minute more. You've
got time now to catch the $40. Come,
jump in hack and be off"
His earnestness and rapidity con-
fused Sleeny. and drove all thoughts
OF the hammer from his mind
He stared at OMIT; blanltly. and said.
Why what are you givin ME now?''
The Washington times., 1905-10-29

moistened his fingers. He then rubbed
them on the door-knob. and the edge Of
the door of the cottage. and pressed
them several times in different places
On the ladder Not a bad scheme" he
said. chuclSling He then went again
20 the we'll and washed his hands thor
oughly. afterward taking a handful of
earth and rubbing them till they were
as dirty as usual.
After making all these preparations
for future contingencies, he mounted the
ladder and tried to raise the window
ft was already open n few inches to
admit the air. but fastened there, and
he could not stir IT. lie began to call
and whistle In as low and penetrating a
tone as he could manage, and at last
awoke Maud, whose bed was only few
feet away. She started up with a low
cry of alarm, but saw in a moment who
II was
well, what on earth are you doing
here? Go awav this minute or III call
my father"
Let me In and ] viii tell you
IN do nothing Of the sort. Begone
this instant"
Maud. don't be foolish. " he pleaded. in
real alarm. as he saw that she was
angry ana lnSulted. I have done as
you told me. have wealth for us both.
and l have"-he had almost betrayed
himself. but he concluded have come
to take you away forever"
Come tomorrow. at a decent hour.
and I will talk to you"
Now. Maud. my beauty. don't be-
heve l am humbugCinE. ! brought
lot of money for you to look at knew
you wanted TO be sure. See here"' He
drew from his pocket a package Of
bank bills-he saw a glittering stair
on them. He put them in the other
pocket OF his coat and took cut another
package. And here's another; I've got
The Washington times., 1905-10-29

Copyright. 1888 and 1889. by Harper s. Bros.
New York;
The Washington times., 1905-10-29

Go Be Continued Next sundsy,)
Bisbee daily review., 1905-03-19

ST. PETERSBURG MAR. 1s.-5EFoRE sAsoNEFF, THE AssAs SIN OF MINISTER OF THE INTERIOR PLEHVE WAS BROUGHT TO TRIAL HE COMPOSED LENGTHY STATEMENT WHICH HE INTENDED TO PRESENT TO THE JUDGES AS JUSTIFICATION OF HIS ACT. HIS LAWYER AT INFORMED THE Asso GATED PRESS THAT THE DOCUMENT ALONE PROVED sAsoN EFF WAS NOT ONLY MAN OF SUPERIOR INTELLECT, BUT DEEP THINKER. OWING TO THE LIMITED TIME ALLOWED AT THE TRIAL SAsoNEFF UNABLE DOCUMENT TO THE JUDGES BEING CONTENT HIMSELF WITH A BRIEF ORAL STATEMENT THE DOCUMENT WHICH, HOW EVER, NOW FALLEN INTO ASSOCIATED PRESS AND ASIDE FROM ITS REMARKABLE CHARACTER PROVES Es PEcAllY INTERESTING AT THIS TIME AS IT SETS FORTH THE VIEWS AND AIMS OF THE FIGHTING ORGANIZATION OF TIE so CAL REVOLUTIONARY PARTY WHICH JUST BROUGHT AeouI TIE DEATH OF THE GRAND DUKE sEReius ! SHOWS CLEARLY THAT ACTS OF TERROR COMMITTED FIGHTING ORGANIZATION ARE IN TIE EXECUTION OF SENTENCES PASSED UPON OFFICIALS AND OTHERS HELD RESPONSIBLE FIGHT ING WITH CRUEL REPRESSION PEACEFUL PROPAGANDA OF THE LARGER PARTY. THE ACTS FOR WHICH VoN PLEHVE WAS CONDEMNED MOST INTERESTING PORTION THETIC PERSONAL SIS OF MENTAL WHICH GRADUALLY GREW INTERESTED IN POLITICAL ACTIONS BECOMING CATE SOCIALISM HE WAS CHOSEN TO KILL PLEHVE.
Bisbee daily review., 1905-03-19

allowed to the chinovniks. the acts of whom force us to it. Only force is answered by force. Only in those cases when the Ministers and chin oviks refuse us the right to speak verbally do we speak another Ian guage." Only when all other means are exhausted we answer by death. Only after insufferable tortures, aw- full humiliation of citizens and revo- lutionists do we go to extreme meas ures.
 Tn order to show the real char acter of our terroristic tactics re- member the Party of the Peoples Will" which our party considers it's foster mother. The theories of that party and we their children" are the same, but the conditions under which the members of the Peoples WHIP lived and acted are different from the conditions of the present day. Then the Government terror ized, now we. Then the people only just freed from serfdom were Hitter ate Habit of living and thinking in- dependently was stamped out of them during centuries. Tn one word, the nation had hardly got away from slavery and was in its infancy. The members of the Peoples Will" were persuaded by experience that to fulfill the difficult mission of az itating socialistic ideas among such an unconscious people, and having before them the ghost of the white terror, was an unproductive action. Losing hope that the people would fight independently for their own in terests or come to the help of their champions, the members of the Free Will by means of the red terror de- cided to conquer or die. But they were forsaken alone on the field of battle and had to fight Tke Titans.
 We social revolutionists, children of the Twentieth Century do not feel ourselves alone; on the contrary, we feel behind us the peoples strength. Since the mOnarchic regime was mor- tally wounded 40 years ago the na- ton has grown intellectually. It al ready has wants, and is able to think and govern it's own destinies. The members of the party of Free WHIP dreamed of presenting the nation with free institutions as a present obtained from the Government in single combat. We have no such broad aims. We are mach more modest The system is already fall ing under the pressure of national needs which it now ceases to satisfy, and under the pressure of national discontent with it. The nation has problems and demands. If we fol- lowed the example of the members of the Free Will" and if we have
Bisbee daily review., 1905-03-19

present conducting a peaceful prop aganda, but one from which the au tocratic regime of the Empire receiv- ed a death wound 40 years ago. Its term came to an end together with the fall of serfdom. which was about equal to the patriarchial system. The people, together with the delivery from serfdom, received the right to have independent thought and govern it's own destinies. The reforms of the first years of Alexander the Seconds reign showed that he un- derstood the needs of the times and advanced to meet them. Zemstvo Courts were built up by him on the basis of national autonomy. but hay ing taken that step on the road to the logical development of the re- suit of the fall of serfdom. the, Gov ernment plainly feared the conse- quences, stopped and suddedly turn ed back. From that tint the Rus sian people have been awaiting con- tinuation. The continuation must and will come. The question is who will introduce it and lead it. the peo- pie themselves or will it come from above?
 We Social Reyolutionis:s up to the present have been struggling with the existing regime in a peace full manner Our task is to make plain to the people that the present system is unsatisfactory. Our task is to organize the opinion of the ma jority in the State, that is to say that minority which at present con sists of the leading force in the coun- try in a moral sense and by it's en- ergy, which is comparatively free and which has broad views. The Government stands in the way of the intelligent. It will not count any more with the party of Social Revo- lutionists which the Government ac- cuses of continued encroachment on it's existence. The party is not to blame in this. It is right if behind the party are the majority of the peo- pie. The duty of the Government is to meet the wishes of the people.
 ''The method of fighting of the par ty is by the means of word. proof and conviction. and this is the only means of agitation which the party has and upon which the party is con ducted.
 "The sad necessity of terrori5tic acts falls on the party wholly taken up with a peaceful fight. Terror istic acts are a necessity which sud denly fall on the party as something irrelevant and foreign to it's original aims. The program of the party de- clares such acts detrimental, and we would never have resort to arms but for the unlimited freedom of action