davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1905-11-17

neighbor. Whit; Bardeline hEdied Of
malarial fever and his body was lying
where oil was flowing the richest. Mr..
Sark was aware of this fact, and later
on he learned that the fragile mother
had passed away after, leaving the
country and that all the children but
two had finally yielded to the germs of
the fatal malaria that they had carried
from the lowlands. These two were
living with relatives in Burleson co,in-
ty, according to the best information
that could be collected by Maj. sark.
schemers' Eyes Opened.
The old lawyer visited the oil, field.
There he; saw things that caused him
to open his eyes wide and made him
, assume youthful airs" He heard men
talking Of millions as his neighbors
talked Of dollars. Here was a well
worth 500, 900. . and there was one
that had just been sold for "half mil
lion.' Before his eyes was 40 acres of land
that he had once seen exchanged for
an Old blind horse and a fiddle that was
now being sold by the foot. 1t took
capitalist to own as much ais one
could cover with saddle blanket. The
successful operators, were working
right up to the line Of the tract that
belonged to the heirs Of Whit Barde-
line. ,..-..-.--... :,
Mai. sark remembered that this land
: had once been sold for two dollars an
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1905-11-17

kind enough to look out 81, that NTH
dow you will see vacant spotn1Ast
beyond that gusher. o., Will give you
all this gold for one acre of that va
cant spot. All you have to do is to
sign your name to this paper and we
will see a notary later on, Choice
stepped back, holding the palms of her
hands toward the intruder. ''You sur
prise and amaze me. I have had no
experience Yin such matters. Wait un-
til my brother comes. have heard
from him. He Is on his way"
r Desperate Plot Laid.
All sorts Of methods and stratagems
were resorted to by the sharks to force
the young girl to make deal, but
they failed. One da. Mai. Sark dropped
spark amongst the factors that were
disturbing the mental equilibrium of
the inexperienced girl which rapidly
grew into a mountain Of regrets. He
said: "Oil flows do not go on forever.
The wells often suddenly cease to
spout. They burn out or blow out.
The field is exhausted. Then the land
is not worth five cents an acre"
j. Choice shivered as If she had an
ague. Running to old Polly she cried
in anguish: 20! why didn't I take all
that gold?" ...z.-.
The shrewd old major saw the effect
Of his spark and he ran to Smart &
Hermolingue with the information.
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1905-11-17
:zzzAzZMZNW1T1z7a71 OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES

motingue felt himself seized by the
collar and hurled against the wall,
Maj. Sark was thrown into the fire.
place, and the notary was knocked
senseless. 20, my brother!" shrieked
Choice. "You have saved me from be-
ing murdered"
"And, bless God, Miss Choice, here
is your sweetheart" said Polly. Here
is Mr.. Bob Warren, come to kill desc
bad men,"
''Tell us quick, Choice" shouted Sam
Bardeline, "what does all this. mean?"
The girl had her arms about her
brothers neck, and while she was tell
ing what had happened the rascals
were escaping into the woods. When
Bob Warren had heard enough to
prove that the scoundrels had intended
to rob his sweetheart he ran out and
shot off one of Mai. Sark's ears.
The rightful heirs found no difficulty
in gaining possession of the valuable
land and then gold began ITO come
their way in showers. and Bob War
rem won a heart of gold.
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1905-11-17
Scheme to Rob Girl and Brother 81
Valuable Texas Oil Land
~ Ii Baffled.~ ~ ~.,1+%>~ ~ =
YOUNG WOMAN WINS HUSBAND AS REWARD
k,dnap.aa Arch Fiendz ana rakene to- De-
serted Cabin-Her Desperate Fight with
Wolves-Rescued in Nick of Time by
i V+@z4@ Brother and Comrade. "

acre, and he recalled that when Barde-
line was forced to leave the country
on account of sickness in his family
and poverty, it was In vain that he
sought a buyer. - 81
This region Of country, almost in
sight of Houston, had been unsettled
for years. Settlers avoided the level
prairies and the thickets of the San
Jacinto as if the land were haunted or
4 pestilence hung over the place. At
one period Bardeline had offered to
trade his possessions for yoke OF
cid steers, cart and mule as means
and effects that offered some hope OF
escaping the poverty stricken region.
Plot to Rob Heirs.
The old major was we'll acquainted
with poverty. He had been forced
to practice law, he said, "for bread -
and having no sense of honor or the
elementary rudiments Of his profess
sion, he had barely escaped the peni-
Tertiary. AS a recluse and q bear
hunter he had proved eminently sue
cessful, but he longed to- be rich.
Now that fortune had knocked at his
door, he determined to leave no stone
unturned until he could walk with
the oil millionaires and be one of them
altogether: While his head was swim
ming with these great IDEAS he was
approached by q well:dressed little
man, who asked few questions, and
al once proceeded to make himself a
pleasing and interesting acquaintance.
Smart, of the firm of Smart & Her.
molingue, had stumbled upon q valu-
able find. In less than two minutes he
had learned that Maj. Sark knew a
great deal about the land and the heirs
Of Whit Bardeline, and he invited him
to visit the Office Of his firm. In
this Office the old bear hunter was
treated with princely cordially. Drinks
flowed freely, and Maj. sark was dis.
<sected and every. fact in his mem
DRY was laid bare to the eager, con-
scienceless capacities Of q trio Of the
smoothest sharks that eser scented
oil. x~- ....4 = .,s a.--
Mai. Sark left the Office of his new
~ discovered friends with 500 in his
pocket and instructions to find the
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1905-11-17

heirs of Whit Bardeline. He slept and
then caught train. Smart took q
train and then slept.
After arriving at Caldwell, in Bur
lison county, Tex, it did not take the
laundering old lawyer long to secure
valuable information.
Two Of the Bardeline heirs were still
alive. Miss Choice-a young woman
nearly 20 years of age-was easy to
find. She lived with one Of her. rela-
tives in the suburbs of the town.. Sam
Bardeline, who was two years younger
than his sister, had gone to- New
Mexico with herd of cattle. -
B. A little inquiry revealed to the agent
Of the operators in the oil lands that
he was searching for popular, hand
some and Intelligent young woman.
Miss Bardeline was the belle Of the
town. She had won the odd name of
"Choice" when she was an infant
through the admiration Of relatives,
who called the pretty little girl the
..choice Of the flock" ! ,<>}i2z. W.T. I
Mai. Sark turned his footsteps in
the direction of the residence of Mrs.
sallie Bales, the old aunt with whom
Miss Bardeline lived. Sure of &C
complishing his purpose, he already
accounted himself a capitalist and an
CT; king. Reaching the front gate, he
was rubbing his hands together and
whispering to himself: Them fellows
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1905-11-17
News Notes.

st. Paul-W. g. Tubby, general
storekeeper OF tho Great Northern, is
appointed chief Of the division of ma
terial and supplies ct Panama.
st. Pa ul-Attorney General Young
rules that the farmers' institute board
had no right to vote the superintendent
extra pay twelve years ago.
-Ada--Former State Senator O. 3.
Senator Myran died at his home In
Los Angeles, Cal Mr.. Myran had not
been in good health for some years,
but his death came as q surprise to his
Minnesota friends a." 100.
st.. Cloud-The Protestant ministers
Of this city have decided the time Is
ripe for st. Cloud to experience = revi-
val in religious thought and action.
Red Wing - Edward Heating OF
Tunnel CITY, Wis.,; who was run over
BY Milwaukee train and had both
legs almost cut off, died from his In
iuries a.. 1t. Joseph's hospital. He was
twenty-seven years Of age and leaves
an aged mother who is Moken'hearted
over the affair. ..~ - ..,.,..-.. .=
springfeld-John Kors ofcineinnati.
Ohio, who has been visiting with:
relatives near here, was seriously hurt
trying to stop runaway team.
st. Paul-Milton Trenham Of tho
dairy and food commits. on challenges
Thomas A. Edison's statement that we
eat too much. ss@ss .s,s
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1905-11-17
Peat For Coal.

Norwood-With the establishment
Of large manufacturing plant here.
where it has aquired 50o-acre peat
bed, the Northwestern Fuel Manufao"
turing company, just organized In
Minneapolis, will introduce. peat in the
local market as q substitute for hard
coal. An output Of 900 tons . day 10
the prospect of the prosposed Norwood
factory, and the manufacturers declar.
ing their article will be the equal OF
the anthracite product and can be solo
ut a much lower rate, expect the new
industry to flourish. In the event OF
success they promise TO enlarge their
scope aud establish other plants in dill
fereut pc at localities of the state Three
Minneapolis young men are the moor
porators of the company.
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1905-11-17

Only the caution and extreme cour-
age of an innocent and inexperienced
young girl foiled. the most dastardly
plot ever concocted by scheming land
sharks and saved herself and brother
oil property in Texas worth q kings
ransom. ~ 4 ...;r,s; ~. a., -.~
The story Of the merciless rascals,
the kidnapping Of the girl, her desperate
fight with wolves in deserted house
and the timely rescue by her brother
and lover has only just recently been
made public and reads stranger than
fiction. sy
The trio of arch swindlers implicated
in the plot tried by every method .neir
scheming minds could conjure to de-
fraud the girl of her land. They de-
termined to use force as last resort,
but their well-laid plans were sadly
spoiled and they were thankful to es-
cape with their lives.
Seek Heirs for Property.
The trio of swindlers In question
were for a short time engaged in max
ing an abstract of titles Of Liberty
county, Texas While working in this
business they made an interesting dis
covery. They found 80 acres of land,
in sight of flowing wells, that were
worth millions, which belonged to the
heirs of one Whit Bardeline. Thor
oughly posted as to- the value Of such
property, the firm Of Smart & Hermo-
lingue at once instituted q search for
the owners Of the valuable land. The
trio saw wonderful possibilities in the
game they had in: hand. There were
many ways to manage the affair in or
der to secure possession of the land.
IT, the heirs could not be found there
would be plain sailing. - -..>,.' ~,....,
I happened that there were other
people Choking for these same heirs,
and It was not long before one of them
at least was surely discovered. An old
lawyer. by the name Of Buckingham
Sark, who lived In one Of the San ia
cinto thickets, had known Whit Barde-
line, and when he saw, armies Of ex-
cited prospectors boring holes into the
earth and oil spouting in streams
toward the skies he began to look
around for the children OF his old
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1905-11-17
More Saloons Close.

Robbinsdale. J. Urban, president
of the village, declares that he will
emulate the example of Mayor David
P. Jones of Minneapolis and close the
four saloons in this village on Sundays.
Mr.. Urban, in company with Council
man johnson, called upon Mayor Jones
and expressed an intention OF follow
Ing his footsteps. 1.-THE manner IN
which the saloons in our town were
conducted Sunday was disgrace" de-
clared Mr.. Urban. 1.-THE saloonkeeP
ers had placarded the town, advertis-
in9 ra1les and other forms OF amuse-
ments for the purpose Of attracting
largo numbers to their places OF bns''
yoaa
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1905-11-17
NEWS OF minnesota,
Iron Ore.

AIVA wv ~.
Duluth.-JYliua Moerkchg ltistttian
of the state labor debas tuient, has COM
pleted comprehensive report'upon
iron ore mining in Minnesota during
1904 After several months OF inspec'
ton and correspondence with tho .op.
orators of tho large mines he had.
gathered together some interesting
data touching the production OF ore
on the range and labor conditions 40
they existed during that year. The
magnitude of the industry in Minneso.
Ia can be easily grasped by . perussl
Of the report. -
The Ave Lake Superior iron ore
ranges, the Mesaba, Vermillion, Goge'
bio, Menominee and Marquette range,
had at the close of the year 1901 ship.
ped total of 3o5. 500, $50 tons OF ore, OF
which the Minnesota mines, located In
the Vermillion Vermiilion and Mesaba
ranges furnished SIS per cent. or In
round numbers 100, 81, o75 tons. Ia
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1905-11-17
Salute the Flag.

Fl. Smelling. form of salute to
the flag will be amended, in accordance
with orders received at the post. The
custom has been for all persons con-
nected with the military service to
stand at attention during the playing
of the ''Star Spangled Banner" by the
band. According to the new order
'all persons in . military reservation
at the sounding of retreat will stand
at attention and salute with the hand
while the band plays the Star Span
r.ed Banner"
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1905-11-17
He WAS A PHILOSOPHER.
But He Couldn't Stand tho Calf in
the Matter Of His Golfng
q .nl,,, Supremacy. yyl "a AZ

II hear that your country home was
hit by lightning and burned" said
Smithers to the philosopher, Jolli-
beigh.
= eyes; it made quite a blaze, and it
was not insured for a penny" said
the philosopher; "but you know the
summer season is almost over, any.
way"
'That's true," said his friend, sym.
pathetically. "still, you seem to have
hard luck in another direction"
20, yes" said the philosopher.
Burglars swooped in on my town
residence recently, took all the fam
lily plate and looted the house."
ut doesn't seem to annoy you any"
"What is the use of worrying? The
robbery made little difference to me,
for l. lost my fortune in Wall street
recently and couldn't continue to live
in the style formerly did," ...
'sWell, well, we'll, you certainly are
an optimist, old man. But tell me. is
the newspaper account true that your
wife is suing for divorce?" -'"
eyes," answered Jollibeigh. smiling
". "You know haven't coin enough
now to boost her social aspirations.
THAT'S just what George Golpher
said on the links this morning. He
was telling me how he beat you three
straight games Of golf with q score"
"Wow!" yelled Jollibeigh getting
purple in the face. "The liar! The
scoundrel! Let me at him and I'll
soon teach him, to injure my golfng
reputation. Wow!"-N. Y. Press. ....
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1905-11-17
Babv Drowned.

Braiuard-A four months-old Indian
baby was drowned in Leach lake. The
child slipped from the back OF the
mother who was in q rowboat, on her
way to the agency. The woman was
intoxicated at the time and did not
miss the child for several moments
This was the only death or accident as
a result of the spending Of the regular
annuity checks which the Indians re-
ceived few days ago.
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1905-11-17
Indicted.

Miuneapolis:-The big fight has be-
gun. Four Of the Eve prominent
Minneapolis insurance men indicted for
alleged grand larceny because Of the
alleged misappropriation of Northwes-
tern National Life Insurance. COM
pany funds, and former state insur.
auce commissioner indicted on the
charge Of bribary, were arranged be-
fore Judge II. D. E okinson. Of the dis
trict court
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1905-11-17

"Impossible!" exclaimed the fright
ened girl. "Why, no one lives here"
The major was busy at once unhitch-
ing his horses. go into the house"
he said, II will take the horses to. wa
ter and be back in few minutes"
The women exchanged glances. Tears
of fright came into the eyes of the
girl. Aunt Polly" she said, I'VE are
trapped" s..
mo-, dey won't, honey. l amt 'fraid
OF dat ole man. I'll break his neck eft
he goes to foolin' wild my chile"
Womea Battle with Wolves.
Night came and darkness came, but
Sark did not return. The wolves be-
San TO howl, and the hungry packs
drew nearer, and nearer, until the
trembling girl could see the glazing
eyes and white teeth of the snarling
beasts. ''They will eat us up," cried
Choice. mo, you jes set still, chile, [
is got de neck yoke here and big
stick. Wolves am awful towards. We
can keep 'em on At that moment a
big lobo sprang toward the carriage.
Polly struck the hungry brute on the
head with the neck yoke and knocked
linn senseless. This was only the be-
ginning of furious battle that GER
tainly- would have ended in the death
Of old Polly and the white girl if they
had not fought with the courage of
beroines. '4.- '"s@ IS
Choice stood up on the seat, and
when q wolf sprang at her she struck
him over the head with the big stick.
TIME and again the vehicle was at
tackled, and while the brave old negress
was battling with the mad animals in
front, the girl was welding her club
with desperation and valor.
The bed of the vehicle was full OF
oats and hay. The negress struck a
match and dropped it into the dry
straw. = Selling flaming bundles she
threw them among the bowling wolves.
Throw fire. Miss Choice" she shout
ed. 1--WE must Jump out and run to
the house, The quick-witted girl
caught the meaning Of old Polly's
words and actions and she sprang from
the flaming carriage, scattering brands
of fire as she ran. Polly followed
close after her. They sprang through
the door of the cabin, with the yelp-
ing pack at their heels: Polly quickly
barred the doors and windows.
Villains Demand Girls Signature.
For hours while the wolves howled
the faithful old negress sat with the
white girls head against her bosom.
Over and over they wondered why they
had been brought to such a place.
At dawn the question was answered.
The cabin door was forced open and
three men entered the room. One Of
them was Maj. sark and another was
Hermolingue. r. lI.,..,s.
After looking at them for a few
moments, while tears streamed from
her eyes, the frightened young girl
said: Are you going to murder
me?@ h. wv g. ~.
- "Not at ALL" said sark. ION the
contrary, we intend to treat you with
the utmost kindness, and only detain
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1905-11-17
Bold Burglars.

Minneapolis Burglars dug through
two seven-iuch brick walls to get into
Arthur Zakman's fur store, % Fifth
street south, late Saturday night
After thus gaining entrance they
carried of furs to the value Of 81. 900.
The loss is but partially covered by in"
surance.
= Tho Job was one of the most finished
ever done in Minneapolis and the po-
lice are inclined to the belief that pro-
fessionals have dropped into the city.
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1905-11-17

will have to pay me we'll for this fne
piece Of strategy" Il. n ,.l,
). Girl Refuses to Be Duped.
Choice came to the front door, and
the major introduced himself. y.
II am Choice Bardeline," said the
young woman. n
Maj. sark discovered that another
man occupied q chair In corner Of the
room he entered, and while he was
rubbing his eyes and trying to find
why the stranger had q familiar ap-
pearance, the young woman said: "Mr.
sark, permit me to introduce YOU TO
Mr.. Smart, from the Humble oil fields"
The major stood staring with his
mouth wide open. Repeated efforts to
express his surprise resulted In fall.
ure-the words stuck in his throat.
When Choice retired from the room
Smart whispered: II can't do .
thing with her. I will leave as soon
as she comes back. Do your level
best. Get = quitclaim deed or q
power Of attorney. There are millions
in this DEAL" % 49,. ~ f.. ~
Sark was left alone with an mex
rerienced young girl, whose signature
to q piece of paper was worth heaps
Of gold. Miss Bardeline was . casual
reader of newspapers. She had heard
something Of the discoveries at Hum
BILE, and she knew that land in that
section of the country had increased
in value, but she had no inkling of the
startling sums that were being paid
for little slices of real estate within
sight of the old cabin where she had
spent the happy days of her child
hood. ,- ~
Heiress Bssieged by Oil Sharks.
The interview did not end in a way
to please the agent of Smart & Her
molingue, but he was promised an
other. Miss Batdeline talked with
her friends, and after listening to Maj.
Sark again she concluded to take her
cid Aunt Polly with her and visit the
oil field. Aunt Polly was an old negro
woman who had nursed Miss Choice
in her infancy. This move did not
please Maj. Sark. He had hoped to
secure a power of attorney to act for
the rich heiress. The young woman
arrived at Humble at. time when
the excitement was at fever heat. New
strikes were being made every day.
Gushers were spouting fortunes into
the air, and men could not be Sc
cured to tank the streams Of wealth
that were running to waste. Capital
lists were eager to buy land close to
the gushers, and when it became
known that one of the Bardeline heirs
was in the field the excitement rose
to q pitch of frenzy. " =
Choice was soon discovered. Eager
land buyers, hopping the sweat from
their brows. thrust $40 gold pieces into
old Polly's hands, begging her to
grant them an interview with her mis-
tress. There was q crowd under the
young woman's window and a yelling
mob of oil sharks was surging through
the hall Of the hotel. One man, holder
than others. succeeded in reaching the
frightened girls room. =. -, y
These sacks contain gold" saidsthe
bold man. There is $1,000 in this
one" he added, as he cut. the string and
poured out a heap Of $40 gold pieces
on the floor, at the feet of the amazed
girl. II have 100 of these sacks here
and a little bit Of writing" said the
intruder. "And now If you will be
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1905-11-17
Rise in Price Of Meat.

Butchers meat is now more ex.
pensive in Germany than in any other
european country except Russia. The
price of boiling chicken, which was
30 to "a cents q year ago, Is now 81
to. go cents. go u sJg.z MI IL 8
The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1905-06-09
Aas COO Words for Ardmnre-

Among The prominent visitors to tho
city t. ~ D Campbell OF Lima. Ohio.
treasurer Of the Downard Asphalt com
pany OF his city Mr Campbell is also
manager of the Republican Gazette.
th" leading paper Ia that section Of the
country lIc Is member Of the ma
tional editorial party. The editors are
IN convention az Guthrie and MIR.
Campbell came down to sec mis- friend.
Joa Goldsmith of the Downard Asphalt
company and a former resident of
Lima. lie drove out TO the mines for
an inspection OF the tompany's prop
crty. Mr Campbell sees marked i'm
proyCmCuts in Ardmoro. IL said last
night that the town was growing, but
h. was not surprised al the eidences
ol thrift and prosperity ON every hand
a. IA considers this place one Of the
best points I'm the Southwest Win
statehood MIR Campbell thinks that
the town and country will 90 forward
very rapidly lie stated this morning
that Lima had paved its most promi.
nont streets lie Is of the opinion that
Ardmorc can do this also. you have
asphalt close at hand and everything
necessary to make fine thoroughfares. 90
~ said The citizens should take
this matter up and if possible start
the work of paving II Will never be
regretted
Mr.. Campbell returned to Guthrie
today and win accompany the editor
tai party to Portland and other points.
He said that Lima lost one of the
most progressive and useful citizans
when Mr.. Goldsmith settled here. No
one was thought NOR of than the
former Lima man and he will make
your town yaHubl. citizen he
said