davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-03-10

plan, after swallowing the wine
Mr. BOwser produced a cigar.
Now then, for the play. The first
thing is the title. We have got to have
something catchy. 1t is no use of try
ing to lift the drama out of the slough
in which it is wallowing without the
right sort Of a title. It must catch the
eye. It must make the beholder Won
der. 1t must set him to thinking. We
must first get title and then write a
play to fit It. What have you thought
Of during the day."
Il have five here. and you can tell
terry The Hidden Crime The Stolen
Child, Was She Guilty?' and Who
Was the Thief? p E"
Each and every one of them very
good, Mr.. Bowser-very good, replied
the partner. In fact, we shall have
no difficulty in founding play on any
of them. I am satisfied that you have
versatility, and versatility is everything
IN a play. Do you mind If I take an
other drop Of wine? The evening air
makes my throat raw.
There were so many drops this time
that Mr. Bowser began to hitch around
uneasi1y, and Mrs. Bowser and the cat
looked at each other outside the door
and smiled WI en- the caller had swal-
lowed the wine and wiped off his
mouth he said:
I'VE are friends. and should address
ca ch other as such. My first name is
Ronaldo. and you may call me Ron for
short Y our first name, I believe, is
Samuel. and I viii call you Sam. Now,
Sam, we must settle on how many acts
we shall have to the play. We will
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-03-10

..es mere lnls uItcrnoo19r re aeeGs Ee-
-JrlIl4ns more Imam Inc draIIlss. &c Wlli
sslAAe 80 4or - 4oeii y 80 Se-ofe 49,
- 49,. 80 1850 So -----4e..es.
Woman. retraee that vile asser-
tion.'
III wager you a dollar that he
does
Very well. Say no more. Not an
other word between US"
Mrs. BOwser would have said more
much more, but just then the door
bell rang and Mr.. Bowser hurried
was expecting. 1t was the man Mrs.
Bowser had told him about; it was
the man he had seen at the office with
out saying a word to her about him.
He was at once uShered into the liz
brary. and before disappearing Mr..
Bowser said:
Mrs. Bowser. as shall be busy the
greater part of the night, you can re-
tire any time you wish
That is. I can make my exit" she
replied with a smile.
He could have opened fire on her
with a Maxim gun, but Mr.. Maxim had
forgotten to leave any Of his weapons
around the house Mrs. Bowser did
not retire. The library door had sagged
and would not close, and she had only
to put her ear to. the crack, wink at
the cat and Overhear every word Of the
conversation inside.
Have you spoken to your wife re-
garding the matter?" was the first
question asked by the caller.
Not a word " replied Mr. Bowser,
lying as easily as boy sliding down a
cellar door.
II am glad of that. Very few wo-
men have any sympathy with the
drama. A thought or two occurred to
me today, and I called here twice.
Both times I was met by your wife,
and I do not think you need to expect
much encouragement from her"
she will be left out of the matter
altogether"
Good! Have you drop Of wine
handy2"
Mr.. Bcwser had a drop, and about
four hundred of them went to make up
drink.
Il can always think and talk better
when I am smoking" said the Thes-
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-03-10
TWENTY MINUTES LATE.

On the steamship Empress, bound
from Australia to England, there
were nearly three hundred passengers
Of US but the first one of all I got
acquainted with was young man
named George Brisbane. He was about
twenty-eight years old, and after
seven years in Australia he was go
ing home to die. 1t was patent to
any observer that he was victim
of consumption, and that it was a
chance If he lived out the voyage. He
fully realized the situation himself,
but was plucky and determined to
fight to the last
Brisbane had been a gold miner,
and 1t was the life of hard work and
constant exposure that had done for
him. When we became friendly he
related many interesting adventures,
but it was not until the last that he
took me into his confidence. The voy-
age made no Improvement in his case.
and when we were ten days from his
home he was told that he would not
live to reach it.
The news did not rattle him in the
least. When I went TO his state
room at his request, I found him as
smiling as ever He beat about the
bush for a while and then explained
what we wanted. Back there in Aus
tralia two years before. when he lay
very III. his partner had Jumped
him and robbed him of fortune. He
khad sold the mine oyer his head and
/ left the country. Brisbane had been
+ left penniless and in a hospital. and
he could not fight the case in the
| courts. though he had papers that
would settle the case in his favor.
A lawyer in London had written
him a few months before, offering
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-03-10

him a small sum in settlement. On
the strength of this offer, backed by
some other papers, he had showing
that his disloyal partner was a fugi-
tive from the New Zealand law, the
young man was going home TO force
the robber to disgorge. He had an
old mother in England, but no other
near relative. What he asked Of me
was to put his case into the hands of
a lawyer on arriving in London, with
a view 10 getting something out Of it
for the mother. This I agreed in
writing, witnessed by the purser, to
do, and the papers were handed over
to me and the receipt to the captain.
A day and a half later Brisbane was
dead.
Ny idea was that it would be better
to call on the lawyer who had written
the letter as the first move. If his
client was willing to turn over a fair
sum there would be no litigation. As
1t transpired, the man was a shyster
lawyer, who was moving about when
a place got too hot for him, and
had to get a private detective to 10
cate him. This took a week. When
got at the lawyer at last judged
him to be a rascal He was very Of
fensive at the start, but when l
brought up the New Zealand matter
he Gained down and was ready to talk
about a settlement. He claimed that
his client was in Paris, and another
week was wasted. The name of Bris-
bane's defaulting partner was Saun-
ders, and when at last he showed up
by appointment I knew the two tor a
pretty pair of rascals.
Saunders was now following the
races and backing pugilists, and he
began by trying his hardest to blufr
me We had it red-hot for half an
hour, and then he cooled down and
we got to talking business. He soon
became as hum bic as he had been
boisterous, and after an hour or so,
during which he expressed his contri-
ton It was agreed that the three OF
us should have q further talk that
evening a [ the lawyers house It was
the lawyer who suggested the evening
meeting, as he would have a case out
of town next day and wanted to get my
affair in shape as soon as possible.
was to call at 307 Beacon street in the
east end of London. AS the distance
from my hotel was all of five miles,
was invited to take the underground,
which ran within half a block of the
street.
While I didn't like the looks of the
two men. I apprehended nothing fur
Their from them than an attempt to
sharp me It was to be expected that
/ they would beat the figures down as
( low as possible and bluff to the last
| but I felt perfectly safe from anything
1 like personal assault. took the I'M
derground and was caught in an acct
/ dent by which I was detained twenty
minutes. I reached Beacon street tC
find it a street of mean terraces. Il
was dark and rainy night. the street
iu-nghted, and all the people living en-
the first block seemed to be snug with
/ in doors.
I hurried along to the number want
/ ed and got it from counting ahead
( from No 295, It was a two-story brick
! house. but showed no light at any win
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-03-10

ferent tone or this matter will be
dropped right where it is" announced
Mr.. Bowser with awful dignity Il
come home prepared to consult with
you. ] ask you If you think the drama
can be improved and you begin to
sheer about new mich cows and actors
out OF a Job. By the seven bulls, but I
don't know why I ever tell you any
thing. I don't know why come home.
7 don't know why I don't go and get
drunk and tear down fences
He walked about an imaginary stage
and threw up his hands to signify that
he had done his best and that II light
ming struck her during the first spring
thunder storm he wouldn't be to blame
for it.
III you are thinking of writing a
play, ] should Ike to advise with you, -
she said after a while
1t Is too late, madam-too latei"
But why Is it2''
Those sneers Of yours are proofs
that we should not be in sympathy.
You can read novels and run after
bargain sales and I will get along with
out your valuable assistance"
And hope you viii get along with
out the assistance of the fellow who
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-03-10

take the title Of The Stolen Child An
audience always sympathizes with a
child, especially stolen child. She will
be girl who was stolen from her
cradle by her nurse in revenge on the
mother for not paying her higher
wages. Do you follow 20
Certainly"
Then III take another drop of that
wine=iust a wee drop. It's curious
how the raw air affects my throat. UNI
but that's a very fair brand-very fair.
Another cigar, if you will, Sam, and If
you don't care III put a handful OF
them in my pocket to smoke tomor-
row. Had I known that you kept good
vine and cigars in the house I could
have told you at first that you would
make a success as a playwright. How
many acts do you thing we ought to
have?''
Il dunno" replied Mr.. Bowser. who
had begun to smell a rat.
''Weu, we can decide on that later
on when you have finished act num-
Der one. Any more wine in that bot
tle?"
Mr.. Bowser didn't say.
And say, Sam, If you have got a
tenner about you. please pass 1t along.
Ny landlady, you know"
Mr.. Bowser didn't pass it.
'Ronaldo and Sam. Damon and Py-
thias," smiled the Thespian.
Mr.. Bowser arose and took the caller
by the arm, led him down the hall and
handed him his overcoat and hat and
pushed him out into the cold world.
What is it, San-Sammy. my boy?'
was asked. but Mr.. BoWser made nc
reply. He walked back to the sitting
room to find Mrs. Bowser there and
trying to look as serious as she pos
sibly could.
well. has the drama been lifted and
improved ." she asked, after he had
stood and glared at her for a minute
Your Iawyer-my lawyer-di-
vorce!" he Kissed, as he waved a tragic
wave; and he stalked down the hall
and stalked up stairs, and left hel
laughing until the cat tried to climb
up on the back of her chair and pa
her on the back Copyright, 1906
by c. 6. Sutcliffe.)
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-03-10
A Case for the Humane Society.

A Philadelphia real estate broker
purchased an automobile last summer,
and proceeded iudustrious4y to famii-
iarize himself with its mechanical con-
struction.
After a weeks coaching under the
guidance of a chauffeur. the broker de-
termined one evening to take a spin
into the country without his tutor.
He decided to ride slowly. And to in
sure against being helplesly stalled on
a lonely road he fastened the family
horse to the rear Of the auto. so that
It could tow the machine home IN case
of a breakdown
The auto chucked along gently.
when Of a sudden the horse swayed
and was dragged to earth.
Poor horsei" muttered the broker
sorrowfully. as he stepped from the
car; ITS utterly exhausted"
Exhausted" snorted a passing far
mer, as he shifted the oily atmosphere;
you mean asphyxiated. Harper's
Weekly.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-03-10
I HAD BEEN ROBBED OF THE
THIRTY EIGHT.

Again, as journeyed between the
towns Of Brickbat and Stop Here, hav-
ing song in my heart and being ready
to lend a hundred dollars to any critter
on earth who could put up security in
double the amount. I overlook an old
woman plOdding along the highway
My natural chivalry induced me to stop
and offer her a lift. and she thanked
me kindly as she scrambled up beside
me. I was fatherly, but no more. We
talked about Shakespeare ana Nape-
leon. and the onion crop all the way
into town, and I didn't know whether.
she was wife or wilder when we got
there. I stopped the old boss to let
her alight, but she turns on me and
sWeetly says:
Joseph, you may drive straight to
the Methodist minister's, II you really
Insist on it
what dye mean ?" says I.
TITS been a short courtship. but I
guess Wen be happy just the same
WHO'S been accounting %
men you. It was bold in you. 10
seph, to tell me that you loved me az
first sight. and that YOU couldn't live
without me. but my heart responded /
like bold man. Drive on. darling
Not by the sa cred goose of Goose
town." saws I. you get down and go
your way"
ct have promised to be yours. and
I'll stick to you till DEATH" she an
swers back.
A crowd came around, and Of course
It took her part She was a wilder
woman. and everybody said had no
right to arouse her hopes and then 20
back on her. tried to explain mat
ters. but tbs people wouldn't have It.
and as a con sequence had to give the
old woman half p dozen bottles Of nv
A1levis tor and 81 in cash to ret rid oe
her. Even the i1dlgnsnt citizens ha q
feeling OF hostility a1in me and made
me move or-(C Copyright, 1905, by P.
c. Eastment.)
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-03-10
DO YOUR KNITTING WHILE A
TELLER IS SPARKLING YOU"

you IN the face as innocent as d BABY
anu 4Ie 10 OcaC the DAuu- lou Can
uepenu On eyes, lat IL was u wlQoer
L sort o W clay -DluS III
Color WntCh SdllLru from lte cat 10 the
COCK anu BACK 20 me MILuout making
any great 1uss over II.
Look Out Tor JUNCTION in man.
OncuOn is a SOIL anu oi4y Way-a SELL
com pIacency JnaJ WouIu 0rIYe 4 nun
CRY Jog lnad-a purung,. soLt-soIder
way mat mas taken III more women
than any OJner IN human nature. II
remInus you OF gently -noWlng brooks
or SOIL ana shady uells-o1 green
meadows with innocent taFnbklns gam
Donng over the grassy green 1t
smaCks onsOft' nhoonllgIlIs ana the songs
OF whippoor wins. rEeaWl0uer listens
and Is entranceo EeIOre she knows
what 8 gong on the nncuuous man has
nltchea ms chair closer and gOu nod
Of her nand and is ueinng nef of the
agreed to be hfS'n. 4nree months al
ter marriage she's reaQy TO plzen him.
Then there's the too modest man.
He ddgets and nushes and don't know
what 10 do with ms hands and Feet,
ana the wldder has to do all the talk
ing and counting. She makes up her
mind that she can boss such a hus-
band as easy as she could a nve-year-
old boy. but that's where she gets de-
ceived. Within four weeks after mar
rage the roost is his, and if she leaves
a nince pie in the oven TOO long She II
be amazed over the huency of he
speech.
Then there's one more sort Of man.
He's the chap that boldly knocks on
the door and stalks in when it's opened
and says:
Are you the Wilder Warner?''
Il am" says you.
Had three husbands, I under
stand ?"
4 have.
"Well, it's time you took the fourth.
and / m here to fill the bill. I am what
l am, and am worth about $4,000, all
told I've got to drive along to the
blacksmith's shop 10 get my wheel
fixed, and I'll stop for your answer
when [ come back"
And does he stOp?" asked Aunt
Sally, who had been closely following
me.
He does.
And does the wilder consent?"
After thinking and knitting for an
hour or So"
"And-and is it a happy marriage %
THE chances are even up, and you
haven't fooled away any time over
the matter
Aunt Sally turned to a piece of calico
and wet it in her mouth to see if it was
fast color, and then back to me and
said:
Thanks, Uncle sne. I reckon I'll &C
home and wait for that Teller to come
along. copyright, 1906. by c. B
Lewis.)
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-03-10

the trouble is that you don't know
what he has concentrated on. It may
be love and it may be speculation.
"a wilder woman in sizing up a fell
Ter who has come sparkling should take
a good look at his mouth. If it is un-
usually wide his talk will never go
much beyond cabbages; if it's a wo-
mans mouth he'll be a good hand at
saying cutting things if it droops at
the corners he considers himself a sort
of martyr and i'll used by the world
and whenever the bread is heavy or
the potatoes not quite done he's going
to break out.
1--WE seen a man with shifty eyes
who wouldn't have told lie for fifty
dollars, and I've seen one who'd look
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-03-10

He sets Out to Capture and Improve
the DFa---a.

Mr.. Bowser is like a ten-year-old boy
about one particular thing. II ne mas
a game on foot his face and actioIls
give him away at a glance. When ne
came home the other night Mrs. BOW
ser saw at once that he had agreed to
take stock in a pickle factory or ma q
some other scheme on foot. Dul ne
volunteered no Information ana sn
asked no questions until dinner nad
been disposed Of Then he began
walking up and down with somethlng
Of a stage stride, and after he had up
set q chair and stepped on the cats
.'afrs. Bowser. you go to the matinee
quite often
us it. your opinion that the drama
can be made more interesting than
81 is?'
do you mean more thrills in it
"ThriIlH2 Thrills? Who the devil
said anything about frils2 mean can
the drama be so improved as to point
a moral to adorn a tale, or both to-
Eether? Can the drama be made to
Interest and amuse and lift uD the
spectator besides
why. I shouldn't wonder Perhaps
playwright Of that order will come
along some day
He has already come. Mrs. Bow
ser, said Mr.. BOWser as ne TOOK IOur
long strides and then stopped and
folded HIS arms. He has not only
come, but I am the man.
You don't mean you are thinking
OF buying another new milch COW ?"
No reply, but such a villainOus glare
from the villain that Mrs. Bowser felt
her hair curl When she had recov-
cred her breath she said:
III you are going to set out to i'm
prove the drama. hope you won {
have anything to do with the man who
has called here twice this afternoon.
He talked in a hoarse voice and made
many gestures, and 1t struck me that
h was an actor out Of job
Madam. you viii either take a diff
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-03-10

was brought into the case as having
talked with the officer and made in
quiries after Jacobs, but no good de-
scription was given of me, while it had
been ascertafned that Jacobs had fed.
The case was called a great mystery
by the police and no arrests were
made in it. know how it was. how
ever. Some one had called to make an
inquiry about the time I was expected,
and Saunders. who was stationed in the
hall with a bludgeon, had struck him
down, thinking it was me. The man
as the body was not identified. L sim
ply had nothing to say, did no more
hunting after Jacobs and after a few
weeks the case was heard of no more.
The papers were sent to Brisbane's
mother, but I never heard that she
did anything with them.-( Copyright,
1906. by G. ] HIT
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-03-10

and when he had clicked glasses and
shaken hands I went my way. I had
skassly driven a mile when my head
began to swim AMI visions of angels
to appear before my fearful eyes, and
suddenly pitched off the wagon and
knOwed no more
It was two hours before I come to.
and then [ found that I had been
robbed Of the SIS had slowed away
down in my hind pocket One full
dozen bottles of my Alleviator had also
been taken from the wagon and jump
ed on and smashed. There was not q
doubt that the man of guile had given
me Knockout drops and follered on
and despoiled me, but could do moths
ing.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-03-10


dow. There were six steps to go up,
and I was about to ring the bell when
found the door apar. 1 pushed it
wide open and looked into the hail. but
all was dark. l called out, but re-
ceived no answer. I heard some one
coming down the street at a slow pace.
and as the figure of policeman
doomed UP I called out:
"Omcer, can you tell me if this is No
s07?"
I'm new to this beat and I can't tell
you offhand." he replied, but Wen
soon settle the matter
He ascended the steps, showed the
siIe of the dark lantern he carried, and
after a minute we found the number.
When he had done SO he jokingly
asked;
''Are you running away from your
landlord, that you have to hire another
house by night?"
What do you mean?"
'eWhy, it's to lease. Don't you see
the sign in the window p
Sure enough there was a sign. I had
put the number down in my notebook,
but It was an empty house I had been
tcld to call at. I was puzzling over it
when the officer asked:
who did you want to find?'
"a lawyer named Jacobs. He said he
/ lived here
4 don't know Jacobs" he said, but
he was a liar when he told YOU what
he did. If you have any dealings with
Z man by that name look out for your
self Hello. Some one has left the
door open. That's like most of the
careta kers along here. You might in
quire IN that pub on the corner, but /
don't think it viii pay you to waste
your time"
He pulled the door to and we de-
scended the steps together and I went
back to the hotel feeling that I had
been done. I could do nothing until
the next morning. and then 1 had rea-
sons for deciding to do nothing. The
morning papers contained an account
of murder at 307 Beacon street. il
seemed that about an hour after I left
the officer the door blew open agar
/ and when he went to close It he flashed
his lantern in the hall and found g
dead man. The victim had been STRUCK
with 5iudgeon and his skull crushed
and he had died almost Immediately.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1906-11-18

Contest closes December p
and the winners get their bears i'll
time for Christmas. Come ON down
and well tell you all about it and
give you the ballots to write your
guesses oni !
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1906-11-18
State Controller Colgan Seriously
I'll in a Local Sanitarlum
Friends of the Popular
Official are Very
Much Worried

State Controller Edward P. Colgan,
who was recently reelected by large
plurality, may not live to finish his
term of Office He come here from
sacramento in an ambulance in charge
or Dr. Moffalt of this city yesterday
and was at once taken to the Adler
Sanitarium, 1890 Broadway, where he
lies in critical condition.
Colgan is suffering from severe
attack of diabetes and few days ago
was forced to quit his desk at the
capital and take to his bed. Since that
time he has gradually grown worse
and his physicians decided to send him
to this city for special treatment.
The doctors refuse to say how sick
Colgan is, but from a reliable source
it was learned that his ailment is very
acute. 1t is Supposed to have been
partly broughtf on by overwork and
worry during !the recent campaign.
Colgan has always been an active po-
litical worker.
For more than twelve years Colgan
has been State Controller and has
filled the Office so we'll that each sue
ceeding four years the voters of the
State send him back to Sacramento
with large plurality. Colgan's home
is in Sonoma County. He is one of
the most widely known Republican
politicians in California.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1906-11-18

The next nearest gets the next
biggest bear, and SO on. Come and
see the funny bears. New York IS
crazy about them. So IS Chicago.
Frisco is going to be as sure as
you're alive