davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Rocky Ford enterprise., 1906-10-19
What Was Thsts

spoke In n language unknown to me.
as did those with whom she talked.
Could I, bc tina, Victor D,n-au had
at last entered the place and made
prisoners of its occupantsT ! shudd"r.
cd and turned to fee from the house.
when voice rose above the others.
4, vas valdcrm.rc. and as he spoke
all remained silent. and though ] did
not understand his words. n feeling of
security stole over me. I knew iha,
In that clear voice there was no fear.
and I stole back to my room to avail,
Developments.
did no, light the lamp which
swung by small chains from tn. faded
ceiling of my room. but sat in the gloom
waiting to bc summoned either by
vaidcrmCrc or the old woman.
At times the sound of voices still
reached my ears. and I could hear the
movement OF footsteps In the hall and
the closing Of doors. Then the noise
ceased. and the stiffness was so in.
tense that could distinctly hear the
monotonous tick of the great clock in
the hall below.
Y
descending a few steps. listened. but
the silence was unbrokcn save by the
clock. A strange fear seized me. and
I ionEpd to rush into that gloomy din.
inE hail and demand of the first per-
son in sight the meaning Of the un.
usual sounds had heard.
had Joined these men. driven to
the step BY a sense of desperation and
revenge. was ready TO risk my life
and my fortune in the cause they ad
vocated. and 1t was only right. I
thought, that I should share their
secrct--that should participate in
their councils.
My mind was in whirl. and was
probably about to commit some folly.
but as I turned to ascend the stair.
way. Naldermcre stood at the topmOst
step. his face radiant and smiling. and
his eyes aElov.
BE patient. my friend. You shall
soon know ALL
"Ah. then you know my thoughts7"
was annoyed by his enjoyment of my
strange sense Of embarrassment.
"Yes." he said. but you shall not
:ong wait. for in a few short hours We
shall start"
start! what do you mean-are We
then to leave this house7"
I'VE shall start an hour after mid.
pisht. In the meantime you may pTe.
pare to take the oath of allegiance to
our Order
"Who is to administer the oath?''
inquired. filled with a siCkcning sesce
- romethi,g like terror.
Rocky Ford enterprise., 1906-10-19
NO 81.
NECTARiNE ES.
A Fruit Which Is Closely Related 0
the Peach.

The feature which distinguish cs the
nectarinc from the peach Is that II
does not have fuzzy coat. We're II
called II smooth peach. such as II
really is. the confusion In rega. d to II
would be avoided.
II was formerly supposed that the
nectar.nc was distinct specius and
was divided like the peach int) free
stone and cling. hut the dist'nction
IL now known to be incorrect. Nee
tarmes have been raised from peach
seeds and peaches from ncctarincs. u
IL even possible To originate either
from the other by bud variation
which IN sufficient to prove that the
difference II the result of either
chance or science.
Nectarincs are cultivated like
peaches. but owing to their smooth
skin they are more liable To damage
from tho curculio than IL ths case
with the peach. In California hey are
grown ON "a commercial scale, hut are
Insignificant when compared with the
peach. the product Of the former be
Ing less than onc,hundrcdth pa t thai
OF the latter.
In general. nectaTincB will grow
where peaches do. They are les,
hardy than the peach and are .hori"i
lived. but this II probably due to the
little attention which the develop
mcnt of the fruit has received. Had
the sam" consideration been given u
that the peach has received there
seems to bc no reason why II should
not bc M hardy.
On the market the n-ctnrin. l. moi
ms popular as III. peach because the
varieties hny. been icaa highly Il"
yclop-i. consequently ar- Inferior
The only feature that recommends II
IL the smooth skin and this In moi
sufficient to overcome III" diKadvan
tagca.
wcT. II not for tho curcuiio the pS
Hliion of III" ncctarin" might be DIT
fcrcnt II II were equal to III" p-acf
Il would have the preference on nc
count Of the smooth skin. Hut No Ions
N the fur Goa, ID protection IL !,
probable tina, the peach will bc pr"
icrrc'i by the grower to the neglect oi
the ncciarin-.
The varieties Of ncctarincs ar. few
compared with the peach. bailey men
,iona less than dozen as of imror
lance. Tho Boston and Pii,maston
Orange arc most commonly recon
m-nd-d.
Hu; there IL one us, for the nectar
Inc mentioned by Prairi. Farmer
which should not b- forgotten. Tn.
amooth'tnnRu-i tree agent finds that
II sometimes serves his purpose ,cry
well as u trap for the unwaTy.
Rocky Ford enterprise., 1906-10-19
Pick on Caterpillar gaqa.

when the trees are bare Is tn. time
to hunt the caterpillar eggs and re-
move them from the branches. II this
can be- done in December. II should ~
done at that time, because the days
arc mild and boy can climb about
the tree tops without being exposed
to the cold winds tha, will interfere
with the work later In the winter.
The eggs will be found in clusters ot
rings about the twigs and smaller
branches. They are easily recognized,
and cutting them out will proven; the
appearance Of the colonies next spring.
Tn, sooner the work is done the NOR"
certain will the orchard owner be that
the clusters Of eggs will not be for.
gotten. Next spring there will bc
great many things to do. and 1t is very
easy not to find time then for work OF
this kind
Rocky Ford enterprise., 1906-10-19
[I{l2 lXTNl0lY

This last step I knew would make
OF me an object OF suspicion. refugee
from the law OF all lands. and II Is no
wonder that hesitated. that l turned
pale.
vaidermere stood still with his eyes
fixed upon mine. and smiled again as
he read my turbulent mind.
DO you hesitate. my friend" he
said. do you fear 10 join u.s." and his
manner became solemn. and his smile
turned to vinegar.
raised my head and returned his
gaze. as I cried:
Il fear nothing. and my dctermina'
tIon Is unchangeable. l am at your
service
Then be ready at midnight for the
ceremony! You will be warned OF the
hour"
by whom"
AT three strokes Of the gong I shall
cali for you. And now. adicu. for the
prcscn,-ramembcr. nj three strokes" ="
| staggered into the lone dark room.
unmindfui Of the fact that had ncith-
or dincd nor suppcd. and throwin. my
self upon the bed. I tried to review the
Etrans. events. as they had come To
m" sine. had entered this mysterious
old house. with Its secret and devil
ish devices. which In my heated brain
! multiplied. Hut ! was yet TO learn
the magnitude OF this S,upcndous un'
dortakihs. for what had seen was
but an index 10 the Developments Of
the night.
A few moments later SiE,a entered.
bearing u tray. and following at her
heels the Eiion, ShocE'h.ad.d lad. with
tray and bo,ti" In hand. Hot coffee.
sliced meat and biscuits. were served
to me in generous quantity. and tina,
rar. old wine. of which Il Il needless
To say drank To th. las; drop.
The cdibi-s. washed down by the
wine. soon brought over me the dc
sired effect. felt stimulated: my
blood grew ho, and my fac. flushed.
As EaE.d into tho mirror my eyes
sparklsd with the nro Of excitement
! VAS prepared for the oath.
Rocky Ford enterprise., 1906-10-19
X1EkS6t,vvE{1 n = L
H bGAP EARk
dRiSTOPfR
11kSRe5s7. NER. % TIT
5zlEIXZ0 <E0E6K1O @XA"
CHAPTER VII.

The night following the events dcs-
cribed In the preceding chapter was
marked by unusuai-or what thought
were unusual-procecdins in the old
stone house.
Just after nishtfali ! was aroused
from n troubled sleep-for had not
closed my eyes the night before-by
unusual sounds below. heard the
shutiilns OF feet. the voices OF men.
! rushed to the stair rail. and lean.
Ing silently forward. l listened. What
was thaty
There seemed to be many voices.
and At intervals could hear the sound
Of glasses. What could this mean. and
from whence came thcs. men. whose
voices sounded strange TO my carr?
Al times I could hear the sspuichrai
voice Of the old woman. ms II mingled
In strange contrast with the more
humnn.iikc sounds of those about her.
tried TO catch her words. but nh.
Rocky Ford enterprise., 1906-10-19
CHAPTER viii.

walked i-isut-iy-aimos; d.fiantiy
up and down the length of my room.
inflated with sense of triumph. for I
had conquered tho weakness which
had taken possession Of me.
When vaidcrmcrc had announced
that the 'imp was at hand for my ini.
;Iaiion into the Order. I was highly
-iat-d over my novitiatC. and vas not
inscnsibic to the Ef-a, honor that had
been accorded me In my enrolment
among such men as vaidcrmcrc and
his associates. whom. by Inference. I
had placed among the greatest achoi.
ara. sricntisis. adscn,ur.rs aad mys.
tics of the earth.
! ionE.d to enter into III. prrsrnc.
of some hiKh priest. and take the oath
Of allegiance. which meant the &c.
nunciatIon Of the world. Lot the gong
ring out and break the silence Of this
iombiike house. would no longer
star, from my sleep at its sound. hut
would be ready to answer its sum.
mons. tp march among those whose
power ! felt sure. would bianch the
face Of the brarcst monarch.
looked at my watch and was sur.
prised to md that II was yet three
hours of twelve. I tsncicd the time
dragged slowly. I threw open tn,
blinds Of INV window. and looked out
into tho Southern night. sprinkipd
with stats. ard radiant with the iiEht
of new moon.
The cU1l might. wind. blown from the
dew laden flowers. the fragrant pines
famed my heated temples. and calm
cd my restless soul. bringing back
memories ot that outer world from
which had flrd. and in the bright sky
above me fancicd ! could picture the
sweet face of my now sainicd mother.
as It bcamsd upon me. in all its
bca,ifc beauty, from the midst N the
sparkling stars.
The vision troubled me. and shuf.
dcringiy | closed the blinds. and shut
Uui the lovelincss Of that fair night
from my sight. and. as turned and
looked about me. every object that met
my gaze. seemed to represent some
evil purpose. The tallbackpd chair.
the dark curtaincd bed. the carpets.
and the table. suggested the furniture
uf a cell. the room OF condemned
soul.
In the midst Of these gloomy rcfcc-
tions there rose a sound. clear. distinct
and vibrant. coming from afar. and fll.
ing the lone halls and stairways with
its rpvcrberations
sprans forward and opened the
door. and as | lid so the form OF Val.
drrmcre stood before me.
An yuu rcady7" he said. as he
sirudc with quick tread into the
room. and. ms answered he fixed his
eyes all alisht upon me. and thought
his face wore more unusual pallor.
Il am prepared to follow yUu." I
said. as seized my hat and cane.
Then come"
Aud without further words I follow.
cd my strange host as he descended
the stairway and proceeded toue.d
Rocky Ford enterprise., 1906-10-19
SHAPING The APPLE TREE.
u Should De Done When It's 10 Young
The Best Methods

believe that the best tim. tn shape
III. top Of an apple tree ID when Il
Ia young. ! also briicy. that there In
no one way OF shaping tree that
~iii apply TO all localities and all VA
ricti-a Of appi. trees. ! once lived
In n part of the country where there
Ii much moisture and much foE. and
where ih-rr II never In the winter
any injury from RnnRrali. Now u
does not pay In auch a case Ia shape
the heads io~. on the other hand. ]
believe that In much Of tho ~-H; the
conditions arr such tina, low heading
Ia advisable. especially II the trees bc
not on a northern slope. When the
northern slope IL quite pronounced
the winter sun. which In io~ In the
south. shines on the trees for such n
short time In the day that there Ii
little danger Of injury from. tho zap
being started. II might he well to
head Low a f-w trees nearest the top
Of the slope. but the shadow from
these ~iii help to protect tn. others
farther down the slope.
There arc some trees that need n
great deal Of heading back to make
them develop io~ heads. these being
trees that arc naturally spreading In
their habit. says the Farmers Re.
view. Other trees, among which
nigh, he named the iIuntsman. need
almost no trimming back to compel
the forming of iow head. for they
have a dropping habit anyway. This
diversity of habit Of growth has as yet
received very little attention from sp'
pie growers
Rome beauty makes a thick. dons"
head. and this t-cc has to have its
top shaped by trimming out some Of
tho branches. The Minklln. however.
has a struggling habit Of growth and
needs to have its limbs trimmed at
tho tips some. II II is to form head
dense enough for its own protection.
Il IL best. according to my belief. to
leave the branches quite dense ON the
side that catches most Of tn" winter
sunlight. as in this way injury from
sunscali IL avoided.
Rocky Ford enterprise., 1906-10-19

rancan passage so inECniously con.
structed. so mastcrfully concealed. as
10 battle the devil himself All De.
nCau-Erpat Dcncau. vas indeed fol.
lowing his master.
Such we're the thoughts that coursci
rapidly through my mind. as ! good
in the total darkness awaiting the or
dprs of valiCrmpre dared not move
a limb. for knew not where my next
step would lead me.
"Rgmain where you are" said Val.
dercmcrc. unit. | secure torch"
then he left me. ! heard his foot.
y.cps strike upon stone as he grnped
his way through the piichy darkness.
Suddenly. saw a fickerinE light.
then the fare Of torch revealed a
chamber of solid stone. Irregular aud
Ipfty. On all sides dark passages led
apay--whither I knew not.
ITO BE Continued.
Rocky Ford enterprise., 1906-10-19
ROCKY FORD COLORADO FRIDAY. OCTOBER 10. 1906

the great dining room. where all noise
had ceased.
AS We neared the entrance Valder-
mere paused at the door TO our right.
which he swung ajar. and stepping
within. he bcckoned me to follow. att
er which he closed and bolted the
door by means OF an iron bar.
This room was entirely barren OF
furniture. evidently not having been
In use for many years. The walls
were uncovered and revealed only
the stone. from the seams OF which
the mortar had fallen In many places.
small lamp. turned low. cast an
uncertain light upon the scene. and l
noted the absence OF windows and
doors. save the one by which we had
entered. The floor was OF stone
closely Joined. though age had turned
them green. and "a damp deadly mois-
tura filled the air with the odor OF
grave. At one end a great black nro-
place sapcd at ms. This chccrlcss
place. windowicas ana prison.likc.
filled me with fear. and walked gin
gerly upon the damp floor. lest I
should lose my balance. In the ca
vornouH chimncy-way. there was am
pie room for two men to stand upright.
The hcaTthStonc consisted OF one solid
piece Of granite. two feet In width.
and not less than seven feet long.
Naldormcr-, unmindful Of the con.
sicraaiion which possessed me. strodo
forward. and standing upon the hearth
hA Has To
Then. reaching upward. he placed hls
hand upon some ln,lSibl. object. con-
eealei by the heavy masonry. where.
upon. ! heard a grating sound. nH II
two massive bodies were grinding to-
gc,hcr. Then the stone upon which
We we're standing began slowly sink.
Ing. ! spranE from vaidcrm"Tc'H sid.
In fear. lest wc should sink Into som.
bottomlcsa pit. for ! ~aS ready TO pie
tuf- some dreadful catastrophe. Val.
dermrTc smiled. but did not move
from til" s,an. which waa sinking
lower and lower.
''iiaVc no fear. cas,icman." h. said.
as he called me hack To tho plae.
had 10 prceipiia;ciy abandoned.
when I had resumed my place. No
continued our d-ar-n;. until Nc had
sunk into the darkness below. Then
I heard n repetition of that strange
xra,ins noise which had set the slab
In motion. So~ all ~as still. tho
stone no longer moved. A cold damp
mir s1.p, my brow. and sent chill
through my frame. succeeded by an
asus which caused my teeth 10 rattle.
and my knees TO knock together. And
yet I am a brave man. I am afraid
Of no foc-only had onne.iscd a
horror Of the darkness. and my mind
Ssa disgui-iri. had not. a. yet.
connected this strange prpcc-dlnE.
this invisible machinery. which eodld
sc; in motion tons of stone. and cause
heavy masonry to move about at the
touch Of th-s- consrifaiors. With vhai
I had heard from tho lips ot Vaii-r.
mere. or what had read or seen sith.
In the walls Of the old stone house.
So great had been my CONSERVATION
at each individual revelation In my
progress. that ! had thus far consid'
cred them separately. rather than as
parts essential to each other. hut at
last the liEht came To my mind. where
my eyes could sec mo- light.
The old stone house was used only
TO conceal the -ntranc" TO some vast
underground chamber. with which IL
was connected by tunnel or subicT-
Rocky Ford enterprise., 1906-10-19
THE FRUIT ORCHARD.

Ship only frst.class fruit. cvaporatc
the rest or feed TO hogs.
a mature apple is one that has com.
pletcd its growth: II is not ripe Till IL
is at its best for eating.
The Wolf River is good apple.
bE, so heavy that II falls from the
limb too readily and often before It is
mature.
The best plums for the northwest.
as recommended by many hurticul-
turists. are. DE Soto. Forest Garden.
Chccncy: Wolf. RollinEstonc. Wy
ant .ud Surprise.
Currants may he started in late
sa.nmer by setting strong shoots of
the same seasons growth in a shady
place. TFunc OF all Of the branches
and leave most Of the leaves.
LcEuminous crops enrich the soil in
phosphoric acid and potash because
they bring mp quantities uf these ele-
ments from the sub.soil. Sow a cover
crop Of cowpeas or crimson clover.
Rocky Ford enterprise., 1906-10-19
Worth All IL Costs.

warm. fresh blackberry pic made
by a skilled cook who knows how 10
GO, the crust Just right. Is very deli.
cious. We think Of the scedlcss apple
while picking the berries. says the
Farm journal. and wonder II We will
ever have thornlcss blackberry bush.
es. and there are more chiggers to the
square inch In a blackberry patch
than In any other spot on the farm.
But We smile over these small annoy.
anCes when the berries are IL the
pie.
Rocky Ford enterprise., 1906-10-19

tho main canes In som. such manner
as illustrated In the accompanying
cut. iiy this plan. says the Prairie
Farmer. numerous roots arc severed
from the main plant. which immedl'
ai.iy send up shoots of their own.
Thcs" may be Tuplan,.d. either In the
Aprins or fall. as desired. though No
believe tina, tho former In generally
preferred.
Rocky Ford enterprise., 1906-10-19
Shed for Drying Onions.

sists Of little more than frame in
which shelves are placed from six Ia
ten inches apart. This shed Is cheap
IS made and keeps the onions VOL
separated ~ that air can reach them
from nearly all sides.
Rocky Ford enterprise., 1906-10-19
HOUSE FOR CURING cNIoNs.
Suitable Structure Recommended by
Agricultural Department.

The plan shown in the Gu, repre-
scnts ~ha, has been recommended by
the department Of agriculture as y
good house for the curing Of onions
and has been used With success by
practical growers. The structure con
Rocky Ford enterprise., 1906-10-19
RED RAsPsERRiEs
How II Can Be Done " the Bush Falls
to Put Out Suckers.

Red Raspberries are usually propa.
gated by suckers being thrown up
from the roots. but In case Of varieties
that do not so propagate It Is some
times necessary TO cut the roots from
Rocky Ford enterprise., 1906-10-19
Coal Ashes for Mrs. Hen.

Coal ashes. siftcd finely. supply Mrs
Hen with her most necessary toilet
article.
Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-01-24
"WoMEN TOO LENIENT."
Chicago Judge Urges Them to Set
Men Higher Standard.

Chicago Judge Urges Them to Set
Men n Higher Standard.
1--WE want the women of this country
to set higher standard Of respectable
ity for men," declared Judge Willard
NJ. NIcEwen in IN address before the
Chicago Womans club the other day,
says a Chicago dispatch. cat present
the women are too lenient toward and
too forgiving of bad conduct"
Judge McEwen was discussing the
possibilities of reducing crime In the
United States, and his suggestion that
the men be held to stricter code of
morals was greeted with applause by
the clubwomen.
"The crimes we have most to fear,"
said the speaker, come from morbid
conditions in men and boys who have
been depraved by drink, vice and
drugs. We must try to check them by
working among the younger genera
ton. Every father should make COM
panion and a confdant Of his boy in
order that the information about the
functions and duties of life which he
acquires shall not come from polluted
sources"
Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-01-24

one from Wyoming" The people wlif'
filled the coaches were not markell!
different at first glance from those she
had been travelling with, but Louis.
more keenly discerning, began to dis
tinguish types at once, and when on
or two big men came in wearing Wild
hats and chin boards he trembled witt
Joy. "There are some cattlemen-Im
sure of it" he whispered hoarsely.
Louis did not return to the Pullman
till after the train had left the city, and
she was just beginning to wonder there
at when he came in with eyes ablaze.
i've struck 'em at last" he fairly
shouted in her ear. They're all up in
the reclining chairs, chin bearders,
spitters and all. I'm just crazy to
sketch two or three Of them. It doesn't
pay to ride in stateroom IL you want
to see types" he added in conclusive
discomfort.
AS that day and the next wore on the
boy began to burn with new phase Of
his fever. He commenced to count the
Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-01-24
ORIGIN Of Merand Old Man.

Rev. Edward Lloyd Jones OF Man
chester, England, Is credited with hav-
ing originated the phrase 1.-The grand
old man. a Supplied to Mr.. Gladstone.
During the Irish agitation 1t became
necessary that detectives should fol-
low Mr.. Gladstone for the purpose of
protection, and as the liberal leader
lived at Hawarden, in Flintshire, that
county, then governed by quarter ses-
sions, was asked to pay the bill. The
magistrates, nearly all tories in those
days, objected. Whereupon Mr. Lloyd
Jones. who was then a minister at
Rhyl promptly called an indignation
meeting. He asked lawyer who was
present to state whether, if the life of
common tramp was in peril, it was
not the duty of the county to protect
him. The lawyer said that undoubted''
ly it was. Then" shouted Mr.. Jones,
of it is the duty of this county to
protect the 'beggar at our doors, are we
going to allow the precious life of that
grand old man at Hawarden to go UNI
protected?" That meeting settled the
quarter sessions objections and the
title stuck.