davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-02

L do not begrudge you the money" said
he, but Mrs. Ransom's signature had
changed few hours previous to her max
ing out this check Did she remember
thiS?'
'She signed her married name promising
to notify the bank at once"
And you cashed the check?'
mo, sir: 1 am not in such immediate
need of money as that. l have it STILL but
shall endeavor to cash it tomorrow Some
question may come to her sanity
and L do not choose to lose the only money
she has ever been in position to give me-"
Mr. HaZen, you harp on the irrespon-
any tokens of this in the interview you had
together?'
mo; she seemed sane enough then: a
little shocked and troubled, but quite sane"
You knew that she had stolen away
from me-that she had resorted to a most
unworthy subterfuge in order to hold this
conversation with your
No; 1 had asked her to come and on
that very afternoon if possible, but never
knew what means she took for doing so;
1 didn't ask and she didn't say.
But she talked of her marriage? She
must have said something about an event
which is usually considered the greatest in
woman's life
Yes, she spoke of it."
And of me?''
Yes, she spoke of YOU
And in what terms? 1 cannot refrain
from asking you, Mr.. Hazen, am in such
ignorance as to her real attitude toward
me; her conduct is mysterious; the
reasons she gives for 1t so puerile."
''She said nothing against you or her,
marriage. She mentioned both, but not
in a manner that would add to your or my
knowledge of her intentions My sister dis
appointed me, SIR She was much less open
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-02

the steady answer "She did come here
and we had a talk; it was necessary;
wanted money
The last phrase was uttered with such
grim determination that the exclamation
which had risen to Mr.. Ransom's lips died
in conflict of feeling which forbade any
rejoinder that savored of sarcasm. HaZen.
however. must have noted his first look, for
he added with an air of naughty apology:
Il repeat that We were once very fond
of each other
Ransom felt his perpleXities growing with
every moment he talked with this man.
He remembered the money which both he
and Gerridge had seen in her bag-an
amount too large for her to have retained
very much on her person-and following
the instinct of the moment, he remarked:
Mrs. Ransom Is not the woman to hesi-
tate when person she loves makes an
appeal for money She handed you imme-
diately a large sum, L have doubt"
'She wrote me out a check the
simple but cold answer.
Mr.. Ransom felt the failure of his at
tempt and stole glance at Gerridge.
The doubtful smile he received was not
very encouraging. The same thought had
evidently struck both. The money in the
bag was a blind-she had carried her check
book with her and could draw on her
account for whatever she wished. But I'M
der what name? Her maiden one or his?
Ransom determined TO find out.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-02

I seek the truth from you rather than
from the columns Of a newspaper. And
Won owe me this truth. You have broken
up my life .. 49,,
make. Mr. Ransom lib,
POSSIBLY But it's one which strikes
hard on your conscience for all that. This
Is evident enough even to stranger IKE
myself. 1 am convinced that II you nao
not come into her life she would have been
at my side today. Now, who are YOU! she
told me you were a relative
"She told you the truth; l am. Her
nearest relative The story in the paper
has a certain amount OF truth in it. Her
brother. not her sister, has come back
from the grave l am that brother. She
was once devoted to me.
You are
yes. Oh, there'll be no difficulty in my
proving this relationship. l have evidence
upon evidence Of the fact right in this
room with me; evidence much more con-
yincing and far less dsputable than this
sflrprising twin can bring forward If her
identity is questioned. Georgian had a
twin sister, but she was buried years ago.
I was never buried. l simply did not re-
turn from well-knoWn and dangerous vOy-
age. The struggle had for life-you can
not want the details now-has left its in
delble impress in the scar which has
turned me from a personable man into
what some people might call monstrosity.
And 1T is this scar which has kept me so
long from home and country. 1t has taken
me four years to make up my mind to face
again my family and friends. And now
that have, find that 1t would have been
better for us all il I had stayed away.
Georgian saw me and her mind wayered.
In no other way can l account for her
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-02

Ransom, hesltating to accuse the other G.
falsehood, yet evidently doubling him from
the bottom of his heart. why deceive us
both? She was never a disingenuous
woman"
In childhood she had her incomprehen-
slble moments" observed Hazen with an
ambiguous lift of his shoulders; then as
Ransom made an impatient move, added
with steady composure: Il have candidly
answered all your questions whether agree
able or otherwise, and the fact that | am
as much shocked as yourself by these mad
and totally incredible statements of hers
about a newly recovered sister should
prove to you that she is not following any
lead of mine in this dissemination of a bare
faced falsehood.'
There was truth in this which both Mr..
Ransom and Gerridge felt obliged to own
\ ct they were not satisfied. even after MIR.
HaZen, almost against Mr. Ransom's will
had established his claims to the relation
ship he professed, by various well-attested
documents he had at hand. Instinct could
not be juggled with, nor could Ransom
help feeling that the mystery in which he
found himself entangled had Seen deepened
rather than dispelled by the condolences of
this new brother-in-law.
The maze is at its thickest" he re-
marked as he left a few minutes later with
the perplexed Gerridge. How shall | set
tie this new question? BY what means and
through whose aid can l gain an interview
with my wife,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-02

no one heard anything. They talked very
low, but they meant business"
Where is this man now?"
cat the same place. He has engaged q
room there"
''The man with the twisted jaw?''
Yes
Under what Manner
Hugh Porter
"Ah, it was Hazen only five hours ago."
muttered Ransom. Porter, did you say?
I'll have a talk with this Porter at once"
II think not tonight" put in the detec-
tive. with the mingled authority and defer
ence natural to one of his kind 'Tomor-
row, perhaps, but tonight 1t would only pro-
woke scandal"
This was certainly true, but Mr.. Ransom
was not an easy man to dominate.
Il must see him before I Sleep" he in
sisted. "A single word mag solve this mys-
terry. He has the word. I'd be fool to let
the night go by-Ah, what's thatY
The telephone bell had rung again. A
message from the Office this time. A note
had just been handed in for Mr. Ransom;
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-02
CHAPTER w.
Mr.. Ransom Waits.

Gerridge rose early, primed, as he said to
himself, for business. But to his great dis
appointment he found Mr.. Ransom in a
frame of mind which precluded action In
deed, that gentleman looked greatly chang
ed. He not only gave evidence of sleep
less night. but showed none of the spirit Of
the previous evening, and hestated quite
painfully when Gerridge asked him If he
did not intend to go ahead with the inter-
view they had promised themselves.
That's as it may be- was the hesitating
reply. Il hardly think that l shall visit
the man you mean this morning. He in
terests me and l hope that none of his
movements will escape you. But I'm not
ready to talk to him. l prefer to wait a
little: to give my wife a chance. I should
feel better, and have less to forget
Just as you say" returned the detec-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-02

differently. she says. and asks me to trust
her and wait. Not very encouraging to
sleep on: but it's something. She has not
entirely forsaken me-"
Gerrdge with shrug turned sharply to-
ward the door. Il take it that you
wouldn't object to knowing all the messen-
ger can tell you?'
NO, no. Question him. Find out whether
she gave this to him with her own hand. -
Gerridge obeyed this injunction but was
told in reply that the note had been given
him to deliver by clerk in the hotel lobby.
He could tell nothing about the lady.
This was unsatisfactory enough; but the
man who had Influenced her to this step
had been placed under surveillance. To-
morrow they would question him; the mys-
terry was not without promise of solution
So Gerridge felt: but not Mr. Ransom; for
at the end of the lines whose purport he
had just communicated to the detective
We're these few, significant words:
Make no move to find me. If you love
me well enough to wait in silence for de-
velopments, happiness may yet be ours"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-02

tive stiff1y. Hes under our thumb al pres
ent / can't tell when he may wrggle out"
mot while your eyes on him. And your
eye won't leave him as long as you have
confidence in the reward I've promised
you"
Perhaps not; but you take the life out
of me. Last night you were too hot; this
morning you are too cold. But it's not for
me to complain. You know where to find
me when you want me-" And without more
ado the detective went out
Mr.. Ransom remained alone and in no en-
viable frame of mind. He was distrustful
of himself, distrustful of the man who had
made all this trouble, and distrustful of
her. though he would not acknowledge it.
Every baser instinct in him drove him to
the meeting he declined. To see the man
to force from him the truth. seemed the
only rational thing to do. But the final
words of his wife's letter stood in his way
She had advised patience. If patience would
clear the situation and bring him the result
he so ardently desired, then he would be pa
tient-that Is, for day; he did not promise
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-02

than I wished All that could make out
of her manner and conversation was the
overpowering shock she felt at seeing me
again and seeing me so changed. She didn't
even tell me when and where might
meet again. When she left. she was as
much lost to me she was to you. and |
am no less interested in finding her than
YOU are yourself. l had no idea she did
not mean to return to you when she went
away from this hotel
Mr.. Ransom sprang upright in an agita-
ton the other may have shared, but OF
which he gave no token.
DO You mean to say he asked that
you cannot tell me where the woman you
call your sister is now"
NO more than you can give me the same
necessary information in regard to your
wife. | am waiting like yourself to hear
from her-and waiting with as little hope"
Had he seen Ransom's hand close con-
vulstvely over the pocket in which her few
strange words to him were lying. that a
slight tnge of sarcasm gave edge to the
last four words?
But this is not like my wife, protested
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-02
THE CHIEF LEGATEE.
BY ANNA KATHARINE GREEN
eGamRh AnrNnru
BY ANNA KATHARINE GREEN.

died. with relative after another. till
lastly she settled down with the Fultons.
know of no secret in her life, no entangle-
ment, not even of any prior engagements.
Yet that man with the twisted jaw was
not unknown TO her, and If he is a relative.
as she said. YOU should have no difficulty
in locating him..
81 have man on his track" Gerridge re-
piled And one on the girls too; I mean,
of course, Bella BurtOns. They will re-
port here un to II O'Clock tonight. 1t is
now half-cast eleven. We should hear
from one or the other soon"
And my wife,
"a description of the clothing she wore
has gone out. We may hear from It, But
l doubt If we do tonight unless she has re-
Joined her maid or the man with scar.
Somehow 1 think she will join the girl. But
it's hard to tell yet
Mr.. Ransom could hardly control his i'm
patience And | must sit helpless here"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-02

wild behavior since that hour. That is all
/ have to say, sir. / think I am almost
as much an object of pity yourself"
And for a moment he appeared to be so.
not only to Gerridge, but to Mr.. Ransom
himself. Then something in the man-his
unnatural GOODNESS the purpose which
made itself felt through all his self-re-
ssraint-reawakened Mr.. Ransems distrust
and led him to say:
Your complaint is natural. II you are
Mrs Ransom's brother, there should be
sympathy between us and not anita gonism.
But l feel only antagonsm. Why is thiS?'
A shrug, followed by an odd smile.
You should be able to account for that
on very reasonable grounds" said he. Il
do not expect much mercy from strangers.
1t is hard to make your good intentions
felt through such distorted medium as
my expression has now become"
Mrs. Ransom has been here" Ransom
suddenly launched forth. within two
hours of your encounter under Mr.. Fulton S
roof, she was talking with you in this
hotel 1 have proof positive of that. SIR
Il have no wish to deny the fact" was
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-02

should they send it up?
Gerridge was at the phone.
''Instantlv" he shouted down, land be
sure you hold the messenger. 1t may be
from your lady" he remarked to Mr.. RAN
SON. Stranger things than that have
happened" =.
Mr.. Ransom reeled to the door, opened 1t
and stood waiting. The two detectives ex-
changed glances. What might not that note
contain
he came back into the room, his hand was
shaking and his face looked drawn and
pale But he showed no further disposition
to go out. Instead, he sank into cha'r'
tectives. >,
Question the boy who brought TINS,
said he 1T is from Mrs. Ransom; writ
ten, as you see, at the st. Denis she plos
me farewell for time, but does not favor
me with any explanations. She cannot do
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-02
CHAPTER III.
He Knows the Word"

THE next moment the doubt natu-
raj to the occasion asserted it
self
''How do you know all this? You
state the impossible. Explain
yourself"
Gcrridge was only too willing to do so.
Il have Just come from Mr.. Fulton 8
house" said he. Inquiries there ELECTED
Me facts which have so startled YOU
Heither Mr.. Fulton nor his wife meant to
deceive you They knew nothing, suspected
nothing of what took place and you have
no cause to blame them. 1t was all plot
between the two women"
But how-why-'
you see had fact to go upon. You had
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-02

Continued on Seventh Page.)
The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1906-03-03

and aren't skeletons hidecu; mon
sters, especially to a self-aspecting
American girl, who has tr.ei to be
everything wife should be md more?
And isn't anything which c,eeps into
the home and destroys 1t, breaking
the heart Of the wife and making
three robust, promising teys worse
than fatherless . hideous I,nnster?
Foolish Anna.
When Miss Anna. OF maby millions,
listened to the wooins OF u,s count we
called her silly girl. When she
placed her heart and her purse in the
keeping OF the dashing. gay French
man we shook our heats sadly and
faid: How unfortunate When.
from time to time we have read Of the
reckless squandering of millions of the
countess fortune. of the spectacular
and gorgeous splurges Ia the social
life Of RHs. or the entertainment of
kings. We have exclaimed: What
proGigacy.- And when at last came
The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1906-03-03

four ideal figure. won't 10 adosu TIE
halls OF bis marble palace.
Then he was suddenly seized vita .
fear that he had been too self-centered
and selfish In his expenditures and he
proceeded to present paintings to the
chamber OF deputies for which he still
owes various dealers an aggregate OF
half a million dollars. And then with
another half million he erected =
charity bazaar building, to take the
place OF the one burned few years
before, and his generous nature did
not let him forget to give this In tho
name Of the countess, and the coun-
tess, captivated by her husbands
thoughtfulness, forthwith provided o
fund for It's perpetual maintenance.
A Country Place and a Yacht.
Such arduous attention to the pub
lie needs proved very fatiguing to
the count. and 1t Is not surprising that
about this time he felt the need Of
another country place to which he
might retire for rest. and so 100000
was paid for the Chateau d'Hiver,
near Pau. But the charms of the place
did not seem to do for him what he
had hoped and he became convinced
that yachting was the one. thing he
required. and so 5000. 900 went for the
fine yacht Walhalla, at least that is
what he agreed to pay for the float.
ing palace, but after he had given q
succession Of yachting parties on a
The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1906-03-03

the melodramatlc as when the counts
extravagances brought him face to face
with bankruptcy, and he was forced
to lay aside the dignity OF French
title, and humbiy sue for relief at the
feet Of plain American-his hard,
matter-of-fact, business brother-in.
law. George helped him out then for
the sake of the sister whom he had
married. and he probably will be will
ing and eager to help him out in his
present trouble-that is, help him out
OF touch of any more of the Gould
millions, and there is suspicion that
he would like to use his boot In the
helping.
The Scattering Of Gold.
But II Count Boni has not been
faithful husband. he certainly has
been q IQ1aI Frenchman. for he has
z,aIously poured golden stream
upon his native soil. It Is said that
Paris has rarely been agitated
so ever anything as she Is agitated
The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1906-03-03

now over the counts final fatal fail
ing out with his wealthy American
wife. and this perhaps because the
golden stream Is to be stayed; and
with no more easy American dollars
In sight. what are the needy trades
men and the sycophants of society go
ing to do? No more building. no more
buying of picturesque country places,
no more purchasing OF art treasures
and rare jewels, no more lavish en-
tertaining. no more. anything which
has made Count Boni the most popu-
lar fellow in all Paris. and given his
wife a large place In the selfish heart
of Paris society.
The Spendthrift's Career.
The story OF the counts genius for
getting rid of the money he married
into reads more like a chapter out
of fairy story than one from real
life. During the first four years 1t
poured through his fingers In one I'M
ceasing stream until $3.000.O00 had
disappeared, and $4,000, 900 more were
spent in advance, but the countess
didn't care. She accepted 1t as part
of the burdens Of royalty, and just
went deeper and deeper into the fam
lily stocking. until their finances got
into such a. tangle, and their creditors
cried 30 loud and strenuously for
their money. that they were forced to
seek change of climate and Incl
dentally change of financial meth
The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1906-03-03
AWFUL PSORIASIS IS YEARS.
Terrible ecaly Humor in Patches All
Over the Body-Slxin Cracked and \
Bleeding-Cured by Cuticura.

81 was afflicted with psoriasis for thirty
body. used three cakes of Cuticura
Soap, six boxes Of Ointment, and two
bottles of Resolyent.s In thirty days was
completely cured, and think permanent
ly, as it was about FIVE years ago. ihe
psoriasis first made its appearances in red
spots, generally forming a circle, leaving in
the center spot about tho size of q Gil.
yer dollar of sound flesh. In q short
time the affected circle would form
heavy dry scale of white silvery appear
ance and would gradually drop of. To
remove the entire scales by bathing or
using oil to soften them the flesh would
be perfectly raw, and z light discharge Of
bloody substance would ooze out. That
scaly crust would form again in twenty
four hours. 1t was worse on my. arms
and limbs, although it was in spots all
over my body, also on my scalp. If !
let the scales remain too long without
removing by bath or otherwise, the skin
would crack and bleed. suffered intense
itching, worse at nights after getting
warm in bed, or blood warm by exercise,
when it would be almost nnbearable. w. N;
Chichester, Hutchinson, Kan, April20, 1905"
The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1906-03-03
ELEVEN STARTLING YEARS OF
WEDDEDs LIFE OF, COUNTESS
BONIr DE CASTELLANE.
AMERICAN GIRLS LIFE PROVES! A FAILURE
Her Husband Has Had Merry Time Spend
ing Her MilHons-Story of the Palace He
Has Built and the Other Luxuries
He Has Enjoyed.

the startling news that the countess
eyes were open and her American
spunk was up and that she had APP
piled for divorce, we just couldn't
help saying: Bully for Anna" for,
however much the people on this side
the Atlantic may look with contempt
and disgust upon the fortune-hunting
scions Of nobility. and however much
we may be ready to condemn any
American girl who is willing to barter
gold for title, there Is always Turk
ing sympathy for her. even when the
disallusionmentN comes and she finds
that the title and the thing tied to II
are not what she had thought them
to be. ~
Dreams of Royal Glory.
But nothing can make the dear girls
see the end from the beginning and
lead them to believe other than that
each will prove an exception to the
rule, Each Is sure that each success
sive chapter will prove more brilliant
and interesting than. the one before.
Why, 1t is limited by those who know,
that Countess de Castellane has had
dreams of some day being the chief
lady at the court Of the king of
France. when the aspirations of the
duke of Orleans for the throne should
be realized. And this is the explana-
tion of the assiduous attentions which
the count and countess have showere1
upon the head of the pretender. It is
even intimated that the inspiration
for the gorgeous palace which the
count erected on the Avenue du Bots
de Boulongne-and in the building of
which he nearly wrecked his wife's
fortune. and called down upon his
head the restraining hands OF the
American courts with Brother George
Gould as the watchdog of the Gould
treasury-came with the dream of such
royal glory. and the ambition to have
marble palace which should be a
fit abode for the chief noble at the
court Of the re.tored monarchy.
The career Of the II Cast Haas
has been as entertain a ar o3era
bouffe, with an occa j al shifting to