davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Los Angeles herald., 1906-11-04
By HARRIS BURLAAND

| cealed myself in the labyrinth of London | got
| lon on small merchant vessel and"
mat u do, Jordison broke in "Go on TO
Valparaiso. His heart yearned for every detail
Vi We son me- but he was impatient for the
man central act-the death of Arthur Sterious
One load had already been lifted from his mind.
me boy had not left home to escape from the
consequences of any diseraceful action. 1t was
possible that the death Of Arthur Sterious might
yet be explained. Jordison could not wait for
details
That was two years afterward," said Holme;
my sixth voyage. How much do you know"
yoIuJson told him briefly what the inquiry agent
had disclosed
well, said Holmc, 'T will now tell you the
truth 1t would not save my neck in the dock.
but It is the truth for all that have no reason
10 ten you lie. | am not a criminal lying for
his life"
i shall believe YOU" Jordison said hurriedlv; ;
go on with the story"
Well Holme said "one Sunday morning
Arthur Sterious and | went out for sail in his
boat, the Paiarito"
The robbery first" cried Jordison, "tell me
OF that. knoy nothing of that Holme look
ed up at him iii surprise and LAUGHED bitterly.
Your interruption is excusable' he said slow.
", but | knew nothing of the robbery until
after / was on the boat. Please let me tell INV
story in my own way"
Jordison mumbled an apology. His heart was
too full for words. He could have risen and
casped his in his arms But he only turned
away his face, lest the young man should see the
JOY that fared up in his eyes.
WELL" Holme continued, "as | was saying
one Sunday morning we went out for sail in the
Pajarito. We usually spent our Sundays on the
water, sometimes in the large boat but more
often in the small one Occasionally we did not
return till daybreak on Monday morning. The
boat contained two small but convenient berths;
and supply of water, biscuits and timed meat
was always kept on board We were at the time
Los Angeles herald., 1906-11-04

some twenty miles out of Valparaiso, running be-
fore fair breeze off the land Sterious was at
the tier, and l went down into our little box
of a cabin to get drink of water.
You can imagine my surprise on opening the
locker where we kept our jar to find dozen
bottles of whisky lying up against it. ] opened
the other lockers and found them crammed with
food of every description. | also found four more
large jars of water in the fore cabin.
81 went up on deck and questioned Sterious.
think | asked him in jest if we were bound for
Australia. He kept his eye on the burgee at our
masthead and replied that if / distracted his at
tenton with silly questions he would certainly
gybe the boat
'I said nothing for few minutes, but lay
on the deck and glanced at his face from time
to time, and noticed curious look on it.
offered to take the tiller, but he curtly refused
and still kept the boats head into the west
"After time repeated my question, and he
looked at me thoughtfuly, as though trying to
gauge my interest in the matter. Then he made
a clean breast of the whole affair. He explained
that he had stolen the keys of the safe, one from
me and one from his father and that he had on
board at that minute five thousand pounds in
cash and one hundred and ninety-fve thousand
pounds worth of negotiable securities
Gle went on to say that we were provsioned
for month, and that our destination was Iqui-
qui He laborousy explained as though defend
ing himself, that he had chosen this means of
iarito should never be seen again, and that we
should both be accounted dead men,
Gle concluded by generously offering to 90
halves with me if l would assist him in his
scheme. | will do the man justice on this point,
He could have made away with me, and insured
my silence effectually, but it was not till | had
driven him in corner that he attempted my
life
"He rounded off the effectiveness of his speech
by casually producing revolver and slipping it
back into his pocket again. was ten feet from
him at the time, or | would have tried to take
il from him before we started the discussion on
the matter
81 replied as think most men of my stamp
would have done. | thanked him sarcasticay for
considering me in the matter, | reviled him in
language that only sailor could have conceived.
expostulated with him, and tried to work on
his better feelings a gentleman and the son
of an honorable man. ] pointed out TO him the
ruin he would bring on his fathers firm. / ex,
hausted every means in my power. But he was
hard as steel, and l could not even scratch the
surface Of his mind l concluded by stating en-
phatieally that meant 10 bring the Pajarito
Los Angeles herald., 1906-11-04
Copyri4ht lQos by GWDiIIineham GO

lie knew then that It was the face Of the
Countess of Heatherstone He passed his hands
under the edge Of the mask and suddenly grip
ped the throat
But directly his fingers closed on the neck he
whipped his hands away and staggered back
from the bed, with difficulty suppressinq a CRY
OF horror The flesh was cold as marble and
the chill Of It went through his whole body from
head TO foot.
lie crept through the darkness till he found the
switch by tde door. Then he turned the light
on and looked toward the bed. There Law the
Countess of Heatherstone with her arms lded
across her breast, and a cross Of white covers at
her feet.
William Jordison went over and looked at her
long and earnestly. The white hand of death
had hIdden the ravages Of disease, AZ snow hides
the ugness Of devastated land.
Then suddenly he stepped forward, and re-
placing the velvet mask on her face. crept from
the room like a beaten hound
Los Angeles herald., 1906-11-04

here and there in Innings, scattered singy 80 AZ
TO escape the notice of the most diligent customs
officer, were fifty thousand pounds worth OF
jewels. Then Jordison started the engines, and
few seconds later they glided through the open
door and slipped down the long narrow passage
to the sea.
When the motor-car reached the main road
Jordison turned to the left and went southwark.
Lipp pointed out in picturesque language that
this was not the way to Liverpool.
II am aware Of that, Lpp," Jordison replied
grimly "I have to call at Heatherstone Hall
first"
Lipp pointed out the risk and broke into a
torrent Of oaths at Jordison's foohardness. But
the latter ntimated that his servant could leave
the car then and there if he liked, and Iipp re-
lapsed into sullen silence.
Shortly after eleven o'clock the car glided un-
der the shadows Of the overhanging trees in the
park Jordison alighted and told Lipp to keep
his eyes and ears open II anyone discovered
the car he was to ruI straight bae,- to the cav
ern He, Jordison. would understand what mad
happened, and could make his way to their hid
ng-place on foot
When he had given these final instructions he
climbed over the wall and made his way through
the plantation into the park.
And Jordison's errand that night was death,
He had resolved to kill Marie de la Mothe before
he left England. Then, at last, his lifework
would be accomplished
His unbalanced mind, no longer able to distin-
guish between right and wrong, saw evil in
the thing he was about to do, The cold-blooded
murder of defenseless woman had assumed the
appearance of a splendid act of justice.
He crept slowly through the park, moving on
all fours from tree to tree, and crawling slowly
to the great whita house that gstened in the
moonlight.
In either pocket lay heavy loaded revolver,
and he carried dozen spave cartridges, But
these weapons were only to be used in case of
discovery, when he might be cornered and have
Los Angeles herald., 1906-11-04

God and the hope of your future salvation, and
you will each kiss this symbol of your faith to
seal the words you have spoken"
Holme swore the desired oath and kissed the
little cross Then Lady Agnes did the same re-
peating the words in a faint and faltering voice,
and shuddering as her lips touched the bone
symbol of early Christianity
"Now," continued Jordison, "you must each
swear to me separate oath. You, Arthur
Holme, must swear that you will tell Lady Agnes
Cliffe the true story of your life, and that you
will marry her before a year has passed You,
Lady Agnes Clife, must swear that you will
marry the man you love in spite of all opposition
on the part of your parents There is nothing
dsgraceful in his past history. He is true and
sterling man. I have done him a great wrong,
and I intend to repair it. Do you both agree to
swear these oaths?"
bewilderment. They could hardly believe their
ears.
''Why?" began Holme in stammering voice.
Don't ask any questions" broke in Jordison
savagely and abruptly, "for / shan't answer
them. Will you swear?"
''I will, so help me God" Holme said fervent-
", "if Lady Agnes" and he stopped and
looked nquirngly at the woman he loved
eyes, Arthur" she said family Her white
face flushed with crimson, and there was ten
der light in her eyes.
They both swore the oath, and once more they
kissed the cross.
THE roadway goes round to the back cf the
island" said Jordison. ''Keep close to the land
until you come to a white piece of rock. Then
strike across the sand in a straight line between
the white rock and black post on the shore be-
yond the salt marsh. You will then find road
and have no difficulty in reaching home Be sure
and keep the straight line between the points l
have named On either side of you lies an enc
my that will not be as merciful to you as Will
liam Jordisop."
With these words Jordison took out a knife
and cut their bonds and they were free. With
out another word he unlocked the iron gate, and
swinging it back ON its hinges, stood aside to let
them pass. They went out together without a
word.
Twelve hours later the black car stood in the
centre of the cavern ready for its last journey.
Jordison had decided to run it to within few
miles of Liverpool before daybreak, and to make
his way from that port TO America He had
shaved his beard and mustache. and his gaHht
face looked wol6sh and hdeous in its nakedness.
Lpp had packed such things as they required
for the voyage in two trunks, and placed them
on the car. Concealed about their clothes, sewn
Los Angeles herald., 1906-11-04

that it would have to be fight where l was
bound to lose the day-the fight of an unarmed
man against armed with revolver.
81 thanked him for his consideration and ac-
cepted the chance in the spirit in which it was
offered.
HE loosed my hands and sprang back to the
tler. / unfastened the rest of the ropes myself,
and took cover behind the mast He fired once
and splintered the wood by my face. But before
he could fire again the wind suddenly shifted,
and the boat gybed. He hauled at the main
sheet with one hand, but was too late. The
boom came flying across, and he had only just
time to duck his head. The heavy spar caught
his hand and sent the revolver spinning into the
water. We were once more on equal terms.
81 suggested truce, but he would have none
of it, and wrenching out the iron tier from the
rudder. he came at me. AS luck would have it,
the spare tiller, which was larger than the one
in ordinary use, and reserved for dirty weather,
lay up against the fore combings. Before he
could reach me ! was ready to meet him.
every detail of that fight, which lasted for
over ten minutes, is still vivid in my mind, |
will only tell you, however, that in the end |
the square end of my tiler crashed into his skull
He died without sound or word.
'oTo cut a long story short, / sailed the boat
northward to within five miles of a desoate
shore. took the securities from Sterious' pocket
and the cash from the locker where he had placed
~, anu Threw lHe DOuy ONVNbudld lelb IHe
clothes as Sterious himself had arranged them.
/ had now similar reasons for preserving my Sc
cret wished the world to think that Richard
Behag dead.
"That night ] scuttled the Pajarito in fifty
fathoms of water, and rowed ashore in the ding
hey. subsequently made my way to lquiqui,
and took the first ship to England,
"On my arrival posted all the stolen property
to its lawful owners, only keeping back two thou
sand pounds for my own use. This was almost
the precise amount that i had to my credit in
Valparaiso, as the result of a lucky speculation
in wheat.
"Of my doings in England it is sufficient to
say that | have worked hard, and trebled my
money in four years. ] have since tried to lead
more intellectual and better life, and my
plans for the future"
He stopped suddenly. He remembered that his
plans for the future had been arranged for by
Jordison.
is there anything more you want to know?"
he broke out, fercely and sulleny
Nothing" replied Jordison family
"Do you believe what you have already heard -
Il believe YOU" the man replied. Then hi
Los Angeles herald., 1906-11-04

into Valparaiso that night, and save him from
the consequences of his folly
"We thrashed the matter out for two hours
and he backed up his arguments with his pistol.
! shall not forget those hours as long as | live.
''In the end we compromised lie agreed TO let
me drop out of the business He said he would
put me ashore at small village fifty miles north
Of Valparaiso, a place outside all railways and
telegraph wires and that he would go through the
affair by himself. / swore TO use no force to
turn him rom his purpose, and we resumed our
relations as fellow-yachtsmeu on n boat that re-
duired the attention of both of us,
after lunch ! felt drowsy and fell asleep.
When woke up was lying on the deck with
my face to the sky, and was bound hand and
foot. Sterious was at tie tiller, and ! noticed
with surprise that he had my clothes on. ! saw
my ring on his finger, and gold Mexican coin
which had been given me by one of the men on
the Naletta dangled from my Natch-chain on
my woistcoat.
81 glanced at my own body lie had trans.
ferred all his own things to me. I was dressed
in his clothes, and his rings were on my hngersl
could even feel something strange about my
shirt and undercothng. 1t was evident that he
had druggcd me and changed every single article
of my attire. His motives were unpeasantly
clear.
so long as I was alive this mere change of
habiliments could be Of no value to him, but my
body washed up some weeks hence on the coast,
unrecognizable save for the garments, rings, etc,
would be an adequate proof of the death of
Arthur Sterous. Before spoke Arefully exam
ined his face. A great change had come over
it during the last few hours. All the evil seem
ed to have worked up to the surface.
81 will not detail to you the conversation that
ensued and which lasted for over an hour. Ste
rious made it quite clear to me that he intended
to kill me- He also confessed that he had been
too much of coward to kill me in cold blood
while I was unconscious He suggested that
should have fight for my life, but explained
Los Angeles herald., 1906-11-04

the end Of the tunnel Arthur Holme
and Lady Agnes ClifFe both faced him. Their
wrists were still bound, but their faces glowed
with the light of great joy. They had been
very near to DEATH but life, and all that life
meant to them, was within their grasp Sud.
denly, and for no APPARENT reason, the man who
had held them in his cruel grip had bid them
go free,
II only ask two things of you" repeated Jordi-
son, but you must swear that you will do them
In the first place, you must both swear never
to reveal, either directly or indirectly, this hid
ing-placc of mine, nor give any assistance, either
direct or indirect, to those who desire to capture
me-"
II will that replied Holme sternly
Though God knows what evil shall do the
community"
Lady Agnes murmured some words to the same
effect, and Jordison produced small bone cross
"This cross" he said, "was found in these cav
erns, in the bony fingers of man who perhaps
died for his faith in the time of the Romans. 1t
is, without doubt, most holy and sacred relic.
You will each swear the oaths desire by your
Los Angeles herald., 1906-11-04

buried his face in his hands and his whole
frame trembled with emotion-with Joy at his
sons innocence, with agony at the blood stained
record of his own life. And there, in the quiet
depths of the EARTH he silently vowed once more
to keep. all knowledge of his identity from his
son, and prayed that he might have the strength
to keep his to the end
Los Angeles herald., 1906-11-04
{ NAPIER xxx
VENGEANCE IS MINE"

4 ONLY ask two things of you" said
Jordison, "and then you shbl both &c
4 free"
y He was standing by the iron gate at
the end Of the tunnel Arthur Holme
Los Angeles herald., 1906-11-04
CHAPTER XXI
THE LAsT RIDE.

HEN Jordison, white faced and pant
ing, reached the edge Of the plantation,
he paused and listened. He heard the
sound of a voice, sharp, querulous and
insistent. He could NOT catch The
Los Angeles herald., 1906-11-04
{ HAPTER XXIx-coniinued
THE MYSTERY OF THE PAJARlTO.

is life must be saved at any cost, y said
Jordison, as they tried to revive the
exhausted Home. 81 have made mis-
take-a terrible mistake"
Los Angeles herald., 1906-11-04

To BE ooNoLUDnD NEXT sUNpAY.
The Oskaloosa herald., 1906-08-09
DECIDES AGAINST ICE men
NO PROMISES OF LENiENcY
MADE, SAYS TOLEDO JUDGE.
in Every Particular in Com
mon Pleas Court.

Toledo, o., Aug. 4-Judge Babcock,
in common pleas court, Friday hand.
ed down his decision in the ice cases,
sustaining Judge Kinkade in every
particular and generating him of
having made any promise or sugges.
ton of leniency as claimed by the at.
torneys for the ice trust. The judge
declared the contentious Of the attor.
neys for the trust to be ridiculous and
should never have been brought into
court.
Were it not for the fact that the
ice mems attorneys succeeded in get
ting into circuit court on error the
defendants would at once have to go
to the workhouse. Technically their
cases are yet pending in the upper
court, although Judge Babcock's deci'
sion removes the case entirely from
the circuit court. That court, how.
ever, is adjourned until the middle
of September and sentences are sus'
pended until the court meets and de-
cides it has nothing further to do with
the cases. Should the attorneys for
the ice men appeal from Judge Bah
cock to the circuit court, which they
are likely to do, that court will either
send the cases back for rehearing in
common pleas court or by declaring
there is no error, cut off the last
hope of the ice men to escape impris
onment.
The Oskaloosa herald., 1906-08-09
BY BAD FIRE.
THE TOWN OF 1oNDURANT SUS
TAINs A $4,000 LOSS THIS
MORNING.

Des Moines, Aug. 4.-Fire, which
seemed to be of incendiary origin, de-
stroyed $4,000 worth of property in
the business section of Bondurant,se sew
en- miles northeast of this city, at 2
o'clock this morning.
The flames had goodway before dis
covered and it was only through the
heroic work of the citizens of the lit
tie town that the village was saved
from complete destruction.
The buildings burned were:
Two-story brick building occupied
by Coulter and Marley with genearl
store. Loss $4,000 on stock and $40.
900 on the building. Partially covered
by insurance.
Restaurant owned and operated by
William Burnett. Loss $4,000. Par
TALLY covered by insurance.
Residence and telephone Office OF
Joseph NJ. ingalls,. LOSS $4,000. Par
TALLY covered by insurance.
Implement house owned by Owen
Moray. Loss $4,000. Partially in
sured.
Vacant building owned by the Bon
durant estate.
The Oskaloosa herald., 1906-08-09
LIFTS CAR OFF TRACK COAL TRADE REVIEW.
CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS AZ
POINTED OUT BY LEADING
TRADE JOURNAL.

Chicago, Aug. 1.-THE western pi-
luminous coal market, during the week
past, has developed very perceptible
increase in the number of inquiries
and of sales. The market therefore
may be said to have improved, in the
one matter of demand. But when this
has been said, comment of favorable
character has reached its limit. In
all other respects the unsatisfactory
conditions which have characterized
this market throughout July continue
with practically no signs of abate-
ment.
Regarding the anthracite business
in Chicago during the month which
has just closed, sales agent OF long
experience, remarked: Not in the last
eight years have known so little an
thracite to be sold locally; there has
scarcely been enough business to COW
er the cost of horse feed, to say seth-
ing of paying the men," Local con-
sumers throughout The entire month
have displayed absolutely no interest
in the matter of stocking up for their
next winters needs, seeming to care
nothing for the larger discount now
available,as compared with that which
will prevail later in the season.
The Oskaloosa herald., 1906-08-09

ways, it is believed, a general better
ment for the schools The former
course has>been in use for so long a
period that it was considered about
worn out and behind the times, and
hence the changes were made to
make the course to meet the require.
ments of the day. The teaching OF
stenography and typewriting in the
schools is a step in advance that will
be generally appreciated. This branch
is among the electives. The pupils
are not required to take it to secure
certificate of graduation.
New Books Are Adopted.
A number of new books were adopt.
ed for the course of study. The text
books on English have been changed
for more advanced and better course.
A new text book on botany was also
adopted.
The old system Of vertical writing
that has been in vogue in the scaools
during number of years has been
discarded for the Berry System in the
lower grades and the Palmer System
for the higher grades. 1t is believed
that these systems will prove much
more satisfactory than the former
one did.
The assignment of teachers for tie
places in the schools will be announc-
ed within a few days by superintend'
ent Else.
The Oskaloosa herald., 1906-08-09
APPLIANCE
STATUTE VIOLATED
ATTORNEY GENERAL TO PROSE
CUTE RAILROADS.
WESTERN LINES INVOLVED
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy VIII Be
Sued for Seventeen Penalties,
While iron Mountain Faces
Thirty Accusations.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 4.-Attorney Cen
eral Moody, in accordance with the
policy heretofore determined on, has
directed further prosecutions of a
number of railroads for violations Of
the federal safety appliance acts.
The United States attorneys for the
various districts wherein the VIOLA
lions were committed will be directed
to file and vigorously prosecute suits
for the recovery Of the statutory pen
atty.
The Chicago, Burlington & Quincy
Railway company will be sued for II
penalties, and the St Louis, Iron &
Southern Railway company for 80 pen
alties.
I, Roads to Be Prosecuted.
Belt railway of Chicago, Northern
district of Illinois; Chesapeake G. Ohio
Railway company, eastern district of
Kentucky; Chicago & Northwestern
Railway company, district of Nebras.
ka; Chicago, Burlington G. Quincy
Railway company, district of Nebras-
ka; Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific
Railway company, southern district OF
Iowa; Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Railway
company, northern district of Illinois;
Grand Trunk Western Railway com
pany, northern district of Illinois;
Kansas City Southern Railway COM
pany, western district Of Missouri;
Minneapolis G st. Louis Railroad COM
pany, district of Minnesota; Missouri
Pacific Railway company, western dis
trict of Missouri, and district of Ne
braska; st. Louis & San Francisco
Railroad company, western district Of
Tennessee; st. Louis, Iron Mountain
& Southern Railway company, western
district of Tennessee; st. Louis South
western Railway company, eastern dis
trict of Arkansas; Southern Railway
company, western district OF Tennes-
see; Union Pacific Railroad company,
district of Nebraska; Union Railway
company (of Memphis western dis
trict of Tennessee; Union Stockyards
company, of Omaha, district of Ne
braska.