davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-10-13

chase Of such little odds and ends as
could not we'll be got through carriers
or chance messengers. We used to en-
joy these excursions immensely. 1 had
beautiful brown mare, Fred's gift,
which I drove in a light hooded gig
and had trained to go at half speed
and full speed, to stop stock-still, or
even to back at certain words Of COM
CINE. had never touched her with a
whip in my life. I had been accus-
toned to horses from childhood and,
before I left England, had ridden regu-
larry to hounds. Our usual plan was
this Fred would ride his thorough
bred, Ben" while I drove.
This gave more room in the gig for
small parcels and enabled my husband
to strike across country at certain
points to visit outlying parts of his
farm; then he would join me again
further on.
Fred, do you think we could take
Fluffy this time %
He looked doubtful
We'll, dear, it's a longish drive, you
know, and"
but the little rascal can coil himself
up on the cushions and sleep to his
hearts content"
'.All right, you know best. And won't
the young villain enjoy iti''
So it was settled.
Now I must tell you that, by way Of
arousing me from the home sickness
which lay strong upon me at the outset
of our farming life Fred had taught
me how to use a revolver.N Constant
practice had made me an expert shot
and [ could hit the pip on an ace-card
nine times out of twelve at a dozen
PAGES.
That night rummaging about for
something or other, my eye fell on my
revolver. Acting on some impulse
which 1 could not explain, I carefully
loaded all six chambers and then put 1t
into a small handbag which I was tax
ing with me, and which I pushed under
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-10-13

They certainly did make the grand
est ladies, in their sweeping trains and
furs and bonnetS and waving plumes!
The reflections in the pier glass were
most deceptive. Almost anybody would
have said that these two were grown
society ladies'.
Jean wore a black velvet suit with
broad cuffs and collar of heavy lace, a
large white hat, and carried white
fox muf and boat to match
Isobel was Respondent in pink cloth,
a huge black velvet hat and a feather
boa of extraordinary length and fluff
finess.
"And now what shall we act" in
quired Jean, when they had sufficiently
admired themselves and each other.
Were most too fixed up to do any
thing useful, aren't we?" giggled Iso-
bel Can you imagine yourself doing
steps with spryness and grace? And
yet the women on the stage do with
as many petticoats as we have"
'fWe'u have to do a society play. F."
laughed Jean, land sit in an easy chair
and drink tea and gossip"
jean cried Isobel so suddenly that
Jean jumped. L know whaG will be
just SPORT"
WHAT" questioned Jean eagerly.
We'll go awfully soft down the
stairs and out Of the door. and then
ring. and when Nora comes Wen ask
for Mrs. Strickland and pretend we've
come to call
Perfectly lovely gurgIed Jean.
but 'spose. Nora should just say she
wasn't in and shut the door in our
faces"
well ask for Miss Isobel when she
says Mrs. Strickland is out"
She'll know our voices and the
clothes
Never uiind. She'll be fooled for a
few minutes, and Nora's Irish and she
just loves a joke. She and the cOok'll
laugh for two days over it
They got safely down the stairs. Tso-
bel almost let the front door slam. but
saved it. 1t took them several min
utes to get over .giggling. Then Iso-
bel boldly rang the bell.
"Is Mrs Strickland in - asked Jean
when Nora opened the door. Her voice
was most ladylike and fetching.
mo. ma'am." said Nora. TITS out
of town she is"
"Too bad replied Jean, and Isobel
shook her head sympathetically. There
was a moments pause during which
Isohel came near to bursting inWardly.
Then Jean went on:
ooh, perhaps Miss Isobe1 can see US
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-10-13

Of teeth In the cavernous mouth and
the flicker Of a red tongue, and I felt
was looking into the jaws of death.
For g moment stood as one entranced
under the blaze OF the savage eyes, and
then I fired into the mouth and almost
simultaneously head and jaws disap-
peared from sight. ] sprung upon the
seat and peered over. There, on the
road. lay a dark. huddled, motfonless
mass.
The next thing I was conscious of
was being helped out of the gig by my
husband and carried to bed, where I
lay in a kind of stupor for many days.
They found the baboon the next day
stone dead. Ny bullet had penetrated
his brain.
The shepherds widow was avenged.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-10-13

q moment. It's very important"
Yes ma am, said Nora, I'll ask
her if you'll please to step in and be
seated
The hall light was low and they
stepped into the parlor. Nora stood
in the doorway.
And the names, please" she said.
Miss Foster" began Jean. Then $50
bel interrupted her with a mighty
smoker and the game was up
Yet Nora could scarcely believe it.
Though sure I might have known
the misses fine Clothes she said. do
wait till run for Katie to come see
the fine ladies. Sure it will cheer her
heart"
And it was all Katie could do to be-
lieve that they were not grown up and
calling and she and Nora had a long
laugh over Nora's being so taken in.
Charmed with their success Isobel
and Jean arrayed themselves in sweep
ing tea gowns and went up to LsobeIs
room. There they pretended to be la
dies in their boudoir. They read aloud
and ate chocolates, which Mr.. Strick-
land had left for them
At 10 o'clock they went to bed, gig
gled and told stories until Il, aud
knew nothing more till $50 the next
morning, when Nora tapped at the
door, entered and said:
Ladies, if it's Miss Isobel you're
wanting. she says as how she'll see
xou down stairs any time you'll be
coming to breakfast. She was not at
home when you called last evening"
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-10-13

knew. The gallant creature sprang
forward, and, To my great joy, gained
rapidly upon the awful thing behind.
But the mare, game as she was, had
Travelled close upon forty miles since
daybreak, and the pace soon began to
tell upon her, though she struggled
brayely on covered with lather and
with heaving tanks. And I could see
that the pursuer was making good
what he had lost.
Strange TO say then, and not till
then, did remember that the revolver
WAS in my bag. In a second I had
removed all the knick-knacks had
bought in town. and there 1t was ready
to my hand. While I was in the act of
emptying the bag q plan formed itself
in my mind. Thinking that I could not
be sure of my aim while the gig was
in motion, I babe Brownie" stop. It
was by this time getting dark, and as
crouched down with one knee on the
seat I felt rather than saw that the
baboon was somewhere near, prOwl-
ing stealthiIy round. Brownie must
have scented him. for she trembled so
that the harness tinkled audibly.
It seemed to be an eternity of sus-
pensei
Would the brute attack me from the
right or from the left?
Or would he spring on Brownies
back and SO dart on me2
Every nerve in my body seemed to
minister to the sense of hearing Once
tnOuBnt uedEd q dfy LW1S snap un-
der a noiseless tread some five or six
yards away to the right, and I had the
spot covered with my revolver in an in
slant. but IN a moment I had wheeled
round towards a shutting sound on the
left
All of a sudden the shafts tilted up
and I saw the great, hairy paws grasp
ing with a weirdly human-like clutch,
the rim of the hook just above my
sleeping boy, and the next instant they
had raise the enormous shaggy head to
a level with my face. saw the CLEAN
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-10-13
THE blind SNAKE.
An Adventure in the BinterIand Of
Mexico.

(By Captain A. B. Hawser.)
Throw him into the rear CELL COM
manded the officer OF the ragged, viii
famous patrol that had caught me. 1t
was Ia the province Of Oaxacas well
back among the mountains and before
Mexico was as peaceful and quiet as
a. is row.
The men who had roped me off my
horse and taken me prisoner were os-
tensibly military; but in reality they
were bandits. They pretended that my
passports were irregular. What they
were really after was to take away my
equipment and what money had and
then to keep me in q cell till I should
be glad enough to let them keep all my
property in return for liberty.
The cell was a miserable little den
1n a tumbIe-doWn adobe house. Had
been free to move about could have
broken out In a. very short time. But
INV captors had reckoned on that.
They had tied my arms and also my
legs, so that I was forced to remain
IN a sitting position. Every time I
arose 1t was only to fail down again
after taking a few lettering steps. So
! soon thought better Of It and finally
lay down to sleep
What awakened me do not know.
It may have been a noise or it may
have heen instinct. At any rate,
a.Woke with the strong impression that
] was not alone in the cell. was lying
on my side and the sunlight was shin
ing on the floor just beyond my face.
MY eyes naturally wandered there first
and my heart jumped hard at what
they saw. Not five feet away from
my head lay a huge fat rattlesnake,
bloated and nauseatfng-
5erked my head back instinctively
and at the motion the snake moved
too. It's evil wrinkled body Writhed
and sWelled and its horrible head arose
and turned in my direction. Then I
saw that the thing was blind.
1T had shed its skin recently and the
think white membrane that forms over
The eyes OF these serpents at such
times had not yet come away.
My frst impulse was. OF course, to
struggle to my feet and get as far away
as could. But the moment I scram-
bled TO an upright posture I fell head
long again, partly because my legs
were tied both above and below the
knees and partly because the tight
bonds had stopped the circulation Of
The blood 50 much that both legs were
quite numb.
And when Z fell Z fell in such a way
that nearly landed on top of the ser
Dentl
So I did not try to rise again. ]
got to my knees and thus, on elbows
and knees, scrambled away from
the blind snake as swiftly as I could.
Z could not go far for the cell was
not more then ten feet long and less
than seven feet deep. In hustling
away In my clumsy position kicked
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-10-13

the RATHER with my heavy riding boot
and this Infatuated the beast With
head erect, tongue going in and out
bustly, and rattles whirring, it glided
after me.
If it had not been blind, I would not
De writing this story. The cell would
have been far too small for me to
eNade the snake had 1t been able to
see, even If had been free to move
AS II was, barely managed to escape
being struck time and time again. for
blind though the rattler was. its other
senses were keen enough and it could
move like lightning, whereas 1 with
my numbed, fettered limbs. could only
crawl clumsily
1 am not ashamed to say that I
shouted Justify for help. At last the
Iace OF one of the bandit-patrol peered
through the small window.
To my horror, instead of moving to
give me aid he looked down on me
calmly and then said with a grin:
Senior is doing very well. But the
senior viii get tired soon and-then=''
with these words he rolled a cigarette
and disappeared.
Truly I was getting tired-terribly
tired And knew that before long I
would be unable to scramble out of the
way quickly enough and in that mo-
ment the tireless seprent would strike
1 happened to be in a corner at last
and the snake was gliding diagonalIy
across the cell toward me. I Law quite
sun Tor moment to get as much
strength as possible before beginning
the awful race again. Just then some
thing rustled in the rubbish in a cor
ner and out popped a rat.
Quick as I could. I rolled over the
place where it had entered, in the hope
that the frightened thing might race
around the cell looking for exit and
thus furnish victim to the angry
snake
So it happened When the rat found
It's hole blocked it darted around in
sudden panic. In so doing, it touched
the RATHER and quick as a wink the
snake struck at it. The rat, fright
ened into true rat rage, sprang at the
blind snake and fastened its sharp
teeth into the snakes head, sinking
one of the teeth into an eye The
snake swipped around the cell like a
living cyclone, but the rat held tight
and in a few minutes the two lay quite
still, both dying.
AS for me, I fell fat on the floor
when the danger was over and went
into stupOr from which I did not
awake till a light shone into my face
and kind hands united me.
A force of real government regulars
had come in, under the command of q
man whom I had met in Mexico City,
and he had recognized my horse in
the possession of one of my captors,
with the result that he soon found me.
But It took a week of rest to help
mo recover from those few hours in
the Oaxaca cell.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-10-13
RINGS on Her ringer Nails

A famous Phi1adelphia beauty Kate
F'urniss, hardly more than a debutante
though she is now Mrs Thompson, has
been the sensation of fashionable wa
tering places all this summer, display
ing her rings=Which are countless-in
a most original and barbaris manner.
She wears her Jewels only on the up
per joints of her fingers, weighing the
slender digits up to the nails with dia-
nonds and rubies, and sapphires and
emeraIds, leaving the bottom story en-
tirely vacant. The effect is certainly
bizarre and not altogether fortunate
But what's the use of being alive IL one
can't be unique7 In playing bridge.
to which. Of course, the lovely Mrs
Thompson is a devotee, her eccentric
ring arrangen ents produce their full
effect. Nor does she seem the least
Inconvenience in her digitaI manipu-
lations by the clumsy handicap she has
elected to impose upon herself
Louisville Courier Journal.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-10-13

was used for the braiding, the buttons
being of gilt and enamel. These cloth
blouses Will be much worn with tailor
coats and skirts of the same material,
and it is predicted that the washable
white blouse will be superseded in
many cases by those of colored silk,
crepe and light-weight cloth.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-10-13

A waist of pale apricot broadcloth is
shown in the sketch, the trimming con-
sisting of braiding, lace and velvet rib
bon and buttons. The cloth was slashed
on each side of the front to show the
lace under-blouse the opening being
laced across with velvet ribbon of a
shade darker. Narrow silk soutache
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-10-13

Mrs. Homebody engaging cook)-very
ten.
Cook-Oid sooner come at eight. num-
Thin If OF don't loike tn place Oh can
lave in tonne for the matfnay.-Puck.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-10-13

me plats shows one OF the new mil
ainery models for dress wear. the shape
Being rather q largo one, with a bowl
crown. Pale blue felt formed the hat,
which was tilted up on the left side, the
bandeau being filled in with a draped
Knot OF pale blue velvet. Brown tuIle
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-10-13

was used under the brim~ across the
back, the trimming consisting OF shad-
ed hydrangea blooms, in pale blue,
pink and mauve, with foliage. A pale
blue algrette sprang from the centre
OF the front, giving the required
The Pickens sentinel-journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1903-1906, 1906-01-03
Notice Of EsCheat.
Land OF Calvin M. Smith doooos

Landa OF Calvin NJ. Smith, deceased
An inquest Of eschested lands Of Col.
vim nj. Smith, late Of Piokens county.
dece"s"d, having been made at tbes
spring term OF 1905, Of the Conrt Of
Common Pleas for said county, and cer. W.
tined to mo by tho presiding Judge, and
sa'd inquest having been returned to me-
ny me escheator, notice ia hereby giyrn
70 the heirs at law of the said Calvin Al,
smith, or others claiming under him, to
appear and make claim to aaid oscheotcd
lands. ie''e''
Said Calvin Nj. Smith dsed Ootobo,
lG' 1901, and was the person last seized
OF said lands, which are described aa
All that piece, parcel or tract of land
lying aud being situate in tho county Of
Pickena state of South Carolina il Eos.
tattoo township on east side of Big Ems.
tatoe creek, comprising three hundred
and twenty-five (325) acres more or less
joining lands Of Hester Stewart on1
lands formerly owned by David p.rk.r
and others and known as the Alpha Bur-
ton home place.
Oct4m6 Al. BOGGS
CLERK of Conrt for Pickens county.
The Pickens sentinel-journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1903-1906, 1906-01-03
Torfnra OF n PRasnhar.

The story Of the torture of Rev. o. D.
Moore, pastor OF Che Baptist church. Of
lIarpsrsville, N. z, will interest you.
lie says: 'I suffered agonies. because
ofa persistent cough, resulting from the
Grip I had to sleep sitting up in bod.
tried many remedies. without relief,
tntilT took DIR. Kings New Discovery
.iprg consumption coughs and colds,
xhiohs entirely cured my, cough, and
saved ma from consumption" A grand
oure for diseased conditions. OF Throat
snd Lungs. At Pickens !sDrng %. !;
price 300 and $1.09. guaranteed. Trial
bottle free.
The Pickens sentinel-journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1903-1906, 1906-01-03

likely that tho apiar."S '~ !ease IN
the dog population is ottributoble TO
the activity Of the school people in
seeing that the dogs got on tax books.
The conuty with th biggost dog
population is Oraugeturg wiIh4. 464.
Strange to say the smallest dog
population is that OF Charleston,
although embracing the largest cit,
in the State, it has only 454 canines.
The returns show that Charleston
has as many pianos as it has dogs,
although caller at the comptroller
generals Office recently said that lie
had counted over DO homes or one
street in Charleston from which he
hoard the piano strains of "Blue
Bells" alone. A Charleston man SAYS
that this man has seriously strained
his veracity. State.
The Pickens sentinel-journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1903-1906, 1906-01-03
Zacherv-AShmore.

On the 27th ult., q marriage occur.
red at Central in which good many
OF our readers felt an interest, that OF
Miss Sellie Zaohery, OF Rosman, N.
O., and j, r. Ashmore, of Pickens.
Mr.. Ashmora is to be congratulated
on winning so charming bride and
helpmato. "RuSe," as he is familiar.
ly called by all who know him, il a
steady, thorough-going young man,
OF present engaged in the employ Of
"Uncle sam," and he and bride will
reside in Piokens. For the present
they are et home to their friends OF
tho residence Of w. f. Asbmore.
In speaking Of this marriage the
Sylvan Valley IN. o. News Of the
25th nlt., says: "A wedding which
will interest many Of our readers was
announced to occur at Central, s. c.,
on the 27th inst. Miss Sallie Zache.
ry OF the Rosman section was the
bride, and J. r. Ashmore Of Piokens,
s. c., was tho groom. Tho bride is
we'll known TO nearly all our readers,
ind only good wishes for her future
will follow her. The
room, we are informed, belongs to
ne Of tho most respected and well.to
o families of Pickens county. At
resent he is carrying a r.. r. D. !,
quite out from Pickens. The News
ishea them every happiness in ljfe."
The Pickens sentinel-journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1903-1906, 1906-01-03
Notice to Pensioners

will be in tho court house ev ry
day IN January 1906. for the purpose
OF making out applications for old
soldlers and widows that are not
now getting pensions aud wish to ap
ply for pension.
All now drawing will continue to
receive their pensions without fur
ther application.
Jan 3, 1906 J.B. Newborv
Pension missioner.
The Pickens sentinel-journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1903-1906, 1906-01-03
THE MARINE ENGINEER,
stprtling Example Showing tho Dan
gerp OF His Calling.

StnrtlfnG Example Showing the Dam
Sers OF His Calling. ...
OF all causes Of boiler deterioration.
says II. p. Watson In the Engineering
Magazine. by far the most numerous
orc those arising from the presence Of
scnlc und It's twin sistor, incrustation:
but broken braces can give an cngl-
ncer II very bad quarter Of III hour. A
stcannr plying OIL the grcut hikes
many years ago carried very high
steam for those days-fifty pounds per
square inch OIL very large and light
shell. The engineer OH witch was down
III tho fire room looking around when a
loud bang camo from one of tho boil
crs. InstHntly llvlning the cause, he
| looked qucstioningly Mt the head watch
tender, who replied, "Bo jnbers. hope
that mint next door nc!ghbor to the
one that let 80 Oh the other watch"
| That startled the engineer, for he had
not been told Of the ether broken brace.
I1e ut once stopped the blowers, open
ed tho doors, shut the stop valve bo-
tween boilers md put OH the feed
pumps rs rapidly as they could 60 SO
rs to reduce pressure. The deck de-
partment WIS nOtifed that 1t would be
necessary to stop, and they hauled to
one side Of the channel and waited for
the coming up Of another boat in the
same line passed Il few miles back.
The passengers (there were 1000 Oh
hoarO and mails were transferred, and
the bout returned with tho injured
boiler out Of business.
Upon examination the next day 1t
was found that three braces hnd given
way at or near ono another, two let
ting 80 simultaneously apparently, and
that the precautions taken against a
, disaster (Which would have been terri
bio If it had occurrcd) were none too
soon. This was merely an episode with
In the everyday duty Of m engineer
and carries Its own warming.
The Pickens sentinel-journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1903-1906, 1906-01-03
FAILED.

All efforts have failed to find better
.emedy for coughss. colds and lung
troubles than Foloy's Honey and Tar.
It stops the cough, heals tho lungs and
prevrets serious results from q cold.
J. N. Patterson, Nashua, Iowa, writes
Last winter I had bad Gold on my
lungs and tried at least half dozen
advertised cough medicines and had
treatment from two physicians without
getting any benefit. A friend recon.
mended Foley's Honey Tar and two
thirds Of a bottle cured me, I oonside
1t the greatest cough and lvpg medicine
in the world"
Pickens Drug Go. II. r. Smith, Easley.
The Pickens sentinel-journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1903-1906, 1906-01-03
The Local Newspaper.

1t Is to the interest Of every
town to support agood newspaper.
says the Atlanta Constitution, not
shrough local pride alone, but for
practical business reasons. A
aewspaper is constantly doing ten
times 30 much for it's own town 90
it could hope to get pay tor-more
than it could charge for if it would.
The more prosperous newspa,
per is the more it 10 liable to dc.
Show us q good weekly paper fullof
live local ads, with a general cir.
culation throughout tho country,
and we will show you an uptto-
date prosperous progressive COM
munity.
Show us community that per-
sistently proceeds on thu idea that
the editor Of the home paper can
live on the 'pi' that accumulates
In the office, whose official bodies
think it a waste of public money
to throw him bit Of public print
ing occasionally at living prices,
whose citiSens have come to re-
gard 1t as one of their inalieDable
rights to work him for long wind
cd obituary notices and in memori-
ans with three inches of hymn
book poetry ut the end, to say
nothing about an occasional notice
OF lost COW or some cottonseed
sale, and we will show a communl.
ty that is living from hand to
mouth, and is always living on the
rugged edge Of adversely. People
ought to stop to think about these
things. It is all important matter.
It is thelr own good that is involv.
cd, the welfare and progress of
their community, therefore of
themselves.
"A local paper ls absolutely nec-
essary to any community. No
merchant, no grand jury, no town |
council that spends every year
all 1t can afford with the home pa.
per, whether the expenditure Is
absolutely necessary or not, makes
q wiser, more profitable invest.
ment. They are not "giving" the
home paper something. On the
contrary, it is earning every cent
it gets, and moro, providing it is a
paper worth picking up in the
road.
And if it isn't that sort of a pa.
per it 10 usually the fault of the
town in which it is published..-
Press and Printer.