davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Los Angeles herald., 1907-09-22
The Peddler's Shadow

the court room became very still to hear
what the jurynien would say to this unex-
pected question.
"In my opinion" said the foreman, "it
was about two hours after noon-perhaps a
| little less"
And, as the question went around the jury,
each said it was about two o'clock-some
thinking it after, some before.
But we can tell with certainty, gentle
men," said the peddler's lawyer. ''If neces-
sary. we can go to the place tomorrow, with
the permission of the court, let my client
stand where he stood when the picture was
reaches the spot shown in the picture.
But that is, perhaps, unnecessary. 1t now
lacks ten minutes Of two. The sun is now
shining through this window, and even If
the sun, you could compare the angle this
bright patch of sunshine on the floor makes
with the wall to that made by the peddler's
shadow with the road.
Now, gentlemen, 1t is PLAIN enough that
my client could not have been at that place
and three miles away at the same time, and
that, after having been sent away, instead OF
lettering around an hour or more to kill
colt, he went straight to Greensburg In
other words, the peddler's shadow has proved
an alibi for him."
There was a sensation in the court ROOM
Old Smart's black eyes sparkled. eagerly, but
Mrs Sidney looked angry and frightened.
Ernest and Ed, who sat within the railing,
miring the keenness of the lawyer, but not
caring much who won the suit, as they had
little liking for Mrs. Sidney, and certainly
none for Old Smart.
"But, lookee here" said. the burly Tom
rising, 3T heard him say"
eff you have any thing to say, take the
stand" the judge interrupted
Tom stepped up on the little platform and
blprted out in his laundering, thoughtless
way:
'I heard him say he would have revenge.
and believe he shot the colt"
eve don't care what you believe" said
the peddler's lawyer. 1--WE only want to
know what you know. think you said you
were behind a straw stack, when you heard
Mr. Smart make the remark you mentioned
eyes. sir"
"Did you state what you were doing be
hind the straw stack"
NO, sir, didn't" sullenly
"Will youV please state now?"
d" .stammered Tom, becoming very
red in the face.
"Well. out with it" said the lawyer. "What
Los Angeles herald., 1907-09-22
THE SHAME OF JIMMIE TRESCOTT

an appalling recollection came to BIN. He was
returning with the bread and butter and the
salmon untouched in the pail! he could I'M
agine the cook nine feet tall, waving her hst.
"An' so that's what l took trouble for, is " .
Sos YOU could bring it back? Sos you could
bring it back?" He skulked towards the
house like maurauding bushranger. When
he neared the kitchen door he made a desper-
ate rush past it. aiming to gain the stables
and there secrete his guilt. He was nearing
them, when thunderous voice hailed him
from the rear:
Jimmie Trescott, where you goin' with that
pail?"
1t was the cook He made no reply, but
plunged into the shelter of the stables. He
whirled the lid from the pail and dashed its
contents beneath heap Of blankets. then
he stood painting, his eyes on the door The
cook did not pursue, but she was bawing:,
Jimmie Trescott, what you doin' with that
pail?"
he came forth, swinging it. "Nothin'," be.
said, in virtuous protest.
'T know better" she said, sharply, as she re
lieved him of his curse. :,
In the morning Jimmie was playing near the
stable, and Peter Washington asked:
"Jim! Oh, Jim!"
"What?"
"Come yah" -,
Jimmie went reluctantly to the door of the
'Wut's dish yere fish an brade doin' unner
at don't know. / didn't have nothin' to do.
with it." answered Jimmie, Indignantly.
"Don' tell mel cried Peter Washington az
he flung it all away-"don,, tell me! When L
dom go an think desc yer hoses er yer pop 81
put 'em. l know. An if catch emmy more
dish yer fish an brade in dish yer stable, III
tell yer pop
Los Angeles herald., 1907-09-22

an horse an a shot gun, an lots an l0ts
of books bout elephants an tigers, an lots,
As before, she was impressed; he could see it.
can, I'm goin' to have lots an lots of chill
dren-'bout three hundred. l guess-an' there
won't none Of 'em be girls They'll all be
boys-like me-"
"Oh my!" she said.
His garment of shame was gone from him.
The pail was dead and well buried. 1t seem
ed to him that months elapsed as he dweit
in happiness near the beautiful lady and
trumpeted his vanity.
At last there was shout Come on! We re
going home" The picnickers trooped out OF
the grove The children wished to resume
their jeering, for Jimmie still gripped his pail,
but they were restrained by the circumstances.
He was walking at the side the beautiful
ladv.
During this journey he abandoned many, OF
his habits. For instance, he never Travelled
without skipping gracefully from crack to
crack between the stones, or without pretend
ing that he was a train of cars, or without
some mumming device of childhood But
now he behaved with dignity. He made no
more noise than a little mouse. He escorted
the beautiful lady to the, gate of the Earl
home, where he awkwardly, solemnly, and
wistfully shook hands in goed-by.. He watched
her 20 up the walk; the door 'clanged.
On his way home he dreamed. One of
these dreams was fascinating. Supposing the
beautiful lady was his teacher in school! Oh,
my! wouldn't he be a good boy, sitting like a
statuette all day long, and knowing every les
son to perfection, and-everything. And then
supposing that boy should sass her. Jimmie
painted himself wayaying that boy on the
homeward road, and the fate of the boy was
a thing to make strong men cover their eyes
with their hands. And she would like him
more and more-more and more. And he--he
would be little god.
But as he was entering his fathers grounds
Los Angeles herald., 1907-09-22

His face was glorified; he had forgotten al
about the pail he was absorbed in this com
munion with beautiful lady who was SO In
terested in what he had to say.
She indicated one of the plates, and said,
indifferently: Perhaps you would like soma
like olives? And there's deviled egg. l
made that also."
"Did you really? said Jimmie, politely. His
face gloomed for moment because the pail
was recalled to his mind but he timidly pos
sessed himself of sandwich.
"Hope. you are not going, to scorn my deylied
it." He did not; he scorned little that was
ON the plate.
Their gentle intimacy was ineffable to the
boy. He thought he had friend, beautiful
lady, who liked him more than she did any
body at the picnic. to say the least. This was
proved by the. fact that she had flung aside
the luxuries of the spread cloth to sit with
him, the exile. Thus early did he fall victim
to woman's wiles.
'NWhere do you live?1 he asked, suddenly.
ooh. a long way from here! In New York. "
His next question was put very bluntly.
care you married.
"Oh mol" she answered, gravely.
Jimmie was silent for a time, during which
he glanced shyly and furtively up at her face
1t was evident that he was somewhat embar-
rassed n Finally he said, when I grow up
"oh;: that is some time yetl' said the
beautiful lady.
"But when do, II should like to marry
you;1 :.
"but don't talk Of it now, because it's such a
slider yourself bound" She smiled at him.
He began to brag. when l grow up to be
a man, I'm goin' to have lots an lots Of
money, an I'm goin' to have grea' big house,
Los Angeles herald., 1907-09-22
coNrINuEp ON PAGE FIVE

ing, he perceived the young lady looking down m
at him. In her hand she held plates May
/ sit near you?" she asked, coolly.
Jimmie could hardly believe his ears, After
disposing herself and the plates upon the the pine
needles, she made brief explanation They, re
rather s' crowded, you see, over there; ! don't
like to be crowded at picnic, so l In1ougne
I'd come here | hope you don't mind. ms,
Jimmie made haste to find his tongue. Uh,
I don't mind! like to have you here. Inc
ingenious emphasis made it appear tnat Ine
fact of his liking to have her there was IN Sne me
nature of law-dispelling phenomenon Du'
she did not smile.
GLOW large is that lake." she asked.
Jimmie, falling into the snare, at once be.
gan to talk in the manner OF proprietor OF
thc lake "Oh, it's almost twenty miles long,
an in one place it's almost four miles wlae;
an it's deep too-awful deep-an' it's got real
steamboats, on it, an'-oh-lots of other boats,
an'-an'-an'- go
"Do Won 90 out on its sometimesw
ooh. lots Of times! My fathers got boat.
he said, eying her to note the effect OF his
She was correctly pleased and struck. with
wonder sOh, has hep she cried, as II she
never before had heard of man owning
Jimmie continued: eyes, an it's grea' big
boat. too, with sails, real sails; an sometimes
he takes me out in her, too; an once he took
me fishin', an we had sandwiches, plenty OF
'em. an my father he drank beer right out
Of the bottle-right out of the bottlelY
The. young. lady was properly overwneimsd nee
impression he had created, and he enthusiastic
aily resumed his narrative: can after, he let
me throw the bottles in the water, and
throwed 'em way, way, way. out. An they
sank, an'-never coined up" he concluded,
dramatically.
Los Angeles herald., 1907-09-22

was found to be of thirty-two calibre, just
the same as the bullet that was found in
the colts body, for Mrs. Sidney's lawyer had
investigated this part of the case. d,
During the morning all the witnesses had
been examined; but early in the afternoon
the defendants lawyer, whose face, wore a
more. hopeful expression than it had before,
asked to have Mrs. Sidney on the stand
again.
Anxious to speak her mind, the sharp little
woman took her place to be questioned.
"a want to ask you again" said the ped
dler's lawyer. .s'f you are sure the colt was
shot on that afternoon" ,t.
al am certain of it." said Mrs. Sidney 'for,
as | said this morning, | heard the shot.
"Now, Mrs Sidney, can you tell the jury
what time it was when you heard, the shot!'
1T wasn't more than four or five minutes
it 1 said to Sally, the girl, There's Tom,
shooting at the old hen hawk for there, had
been a hawk after our chickens week or
more and Tom had said he was going to
shoot it; 1t wasn't but little after tn thai tnat
the clock in the front room struck two.
Exactly" said the lawyer. shaking his
was on that afternoon that these boys, Ernest
Bray and Ed Holiday. came along and SAID
they had taken Mr. Smarts picture, and had
gotten their camera broken for their palms,
eyes, sir. We had just found out that
the colt was dead, and were all standing by
him when they came along and stopped :,
Precisely, SAID the lawyer lhat VIII
Now" continued the lawyer, ri have the
picture, taken on the afternoon Of July y
was shown in court by the plaintiffs attor
ney, and / wish the jury to examine it
again, and more closely"
The lawyer handed the picture to the fore
man of the jury, who examined it carefully,
handing it afterward to the next man, who
passed it down the row.
all had seen it, "you all recognize both the
man and the scene. The latter is on the road
between Ravenswood and Greensburg. four
miles out. This road runs diectly east from
The turn one mile north of the place.. You
Ill noticed that in the picture the shadow
of my client is plainly visible on the ground.
Now, as most Of you are probably able to
ell time pretty well from the direction of
,he shadows the sun casts, tell me what
,ime in your opinion, that picture was taken.
You first, Mr. Foreman"
Mrs. Sidney's lawyer here made some feeble
objection, which was quickly overruled, and
Los Angeles herald., 1907-09-22
A STORMY NIGHT

he said, family, with the. ghost of his old
smile-"I knew you would"
/ got him into mothers bed, rolled him in
warm blankets and did all that l knew how
to do.
After a while 1 went out to see what had
become of Billy: ] found him shivering be-
side a strawstack. / put him into the barn
and then went back to Rollo.
In the gray morning, Jimmie Blair came
over. / sent him home for his mother, for
Rollo was feverish and Ill.
Mrs Blair held up her hands when she
saw us, and when I told her about the night
before she said ! must go right to bed !
would not leave Rollo, SO he shared his bed
" W We lay there feeling very contented and
happy. We did not talk for we were both
very weak. Once Rollo said, "Liel!" I an
swered. "What is it, Rollo"
He did not speak. but only nestled his
hand into mine.
Lying thus. we both fell into restful
sleep and the danger was over.
Los Angeles herald., 1907-09-22
CONTINUED FROM PAGE -FOUR

Almost Immediately it began to turn dark
at one end.
"See" he said to Ed. at was the one
that was opened"
;, The black spot spread half an inch from
the end of the plate and stopped, for only
light
Then the picture began to appear-irst the
sky, followed by the high lights. and the
darker portions of the scene, until the pic
ture was complete in detail, and when Ernest
finally took the negative from the fixing bath
he had as good a negative as he had ever tax
en- save for the dark place at one end.
there was an interesting trial, damage suit.
on the docket Arrayed against each other
were two persons who were considered the
meanest in the whole county. They were
Mrs; Sidney and Old Smart, the peddier, who
lived in the village of Greensburg, some miles
east of Ravepswood.
Mrs. Sidney claimed that Smart, angered
because he had been ordered away from her
premises, had sent bullet through the heart
OF her fine bay colt, valued. because he. was
a well bred trotter, at five hundred dollars.
The shot, she claimed, was fired on the after
noon of July 8, some time after Smart had
been sent away. Her son Tom had heard
the man declare he would have revenge for
the insult.
Her witnesses were her son, her servant
girl, who was present when Smart was at the
house, and the two boys. Ernest Bray and Ed
Holiday.
These boys had taken picture of the man
on his way to Greensburg that afternoon.
showing that he had been past the Sidney
place,,if, of course, he had travelled all the
way by the road.
Mrs. Sidney's lawyer also hoped to show
that no one else had been about the place
that afternoon, and that therefore Old Smart
was the only one who could have shot the
colt.
The case did not look very bright for the
peddler. He said that on that afternoon he
had gone down through the orchard, around
the fish pond, across the hollow where the
to Greensburg but that he had not shot the
colt.
However, he had no witnesses.
1t was also known that he carried heavy |
revolver, for on one occasion he had shot |
dog that had attempted to bite him in one of |
The streets of Ravenswood.
This revolver was produced in court, and
Los Angeles herald., 1907-09-22
A Young Composer

Rachel, aged twelve, wrote compositiou
on wild flowers, in which she praised th<
arbutus, the liverwort, the spring beauty, th<
blood root, and all of the other blossoms d
dell and dale. But she wrote on both side
of her sheet of paper, and when she asked
her father, who was an editor, to publish hel
article, he called her attention to that fact.
''You've written on both sides of sour pa
per-" said he.
''Wel," was the reply, "and don't you print
on both sides of yours?'
Los Angeles herald., 1907-09-22

were you doing?"
, :. II was was looking for the hawk that had beer
~Ah! .sAh! a And d did you have your gun'"
..v What s- kind of a gun was it,"
..Breech loading?'
Eyes, sir"
"What calibre, please?"
TIT was thirty two" Tom answered
still very red and confused.
Now tell me-" said the lawyer, risint
slowly. to his full height, .'did you fire tnt
thing else?' y,
Tom looked at his mother in. despair, tn,
perspiration running down his face IN grea'
drops.
His lawyer tried to save. him from ms EN-
barrassment by throwing in an oblectlon u
his opponents question; but the court over
ruled The objection. ~,
answer my question, then," continued the
peddler's lawyer. "Did you Ire the gun that
afternoon? And remsmber that you are uFs
NO sir, didn't fire, it., exactly; b-but-ff
And Tom stopped short.
at went off by-by accident"
Some one in the room Uttered.
"And shot the colt, didn't it?" said thd
lawyer. very sternly.
The great. laundering Tom nodded his heaq
and looked down at the floor, overwheimetl
with shame, fearing that ne mlgnt pe er'ST
for swearing falsely-dreading the storm ne
knew would come when his mother would pe
with him alone. &
He had been afraid to tell her the truth
when she had first jumped at the conci9siao;ll a;g
that the peddler had shot the colt, and hiS
fear had brought him to disgrace. ;.
1t is unnecessary to tell of the formal disf
missal of the case and the censure and warm
ing Tom received from the judge. II lS
enough to know that Old Smart did not, havSe' s,e
to part with five hundred of his prized doll
lars, and that Nom learned a lesson he never
forgot.
After the trial Ed stopped at Ernest's home
to talk about the result with the family.
"And he didn't even oner to pay you for
the damage to your camera?" Mrs. Bray ask
ed when they had told her all about It It,
'No, mother he didn't" said Ernest 'He
lust barely grinned and bobbed his head at
us. He is the meanest man ever heard
Of. And remember what | say.his lawyer
will have to sue him for his fee. 4
Ernest was true prophet, for it happenedI
just as he said.
Los Angeles herald., 1907-09-22
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE

of a house. Why. il was our own! There
was the light had placed for Rollo shining
at the window. ~
reused myself and tried to get off the
horse. felt chilled to the bone, and it was
hard for me to move, but l managed to get
down some way and bora my precious bur
den into the house.
/ laid Rollo on the lounge and called his
name. / turned to the light that dear, cold
face, tore away the wet clothing and rubbed
those lfeless hands,
While was working, sobbing, praying he
gave little gasp. and there was faint fut-
tering in the eyelids.
''Rollo! Rollol" / cried Don't you hear
Reo Re ob speah to me na Roe 70 Wiz ssf yOu yos
never look at me again?"
While called to him-sa / knew not
what-slowly he opened his eyes.
II knew you would come for me, Liel,"
Los Angeles herald., 1907-09-22
Father Didn't Like It

Wife Ito husband) )-Our boy Tommy is go
ing to be great writer.
Husband nd-You don't say 80?
Wife-Just listen to what he has written
on his slate.
Husband-Let us hear it.
Wife:
"To be or not to be; that's the question:
Whether" ;.
Husband (interrupting)- Hold up! don't
want to hear any more of that drivel. If
that's the best Tommy can write he had bet
ter quit right now.
Los Angeles herald., 1907-09-22
An Expectant Party

Talk about selfishness! Read this para
graph concerning graceless little Gus Greedy:
Boy-Ain't it time to eat the good things .
Mother Certainly not. You must wait till
Boy-I guess they won't come, cause /
didn't invite them. thought I'd rather have
it entirely exclusive.
Los Angeles herald., 1907-09-22
Make II Worth While

Bobbie was at a neighbor's. and in re-
sponse to piece Of bread and butter, politely
ssfhats right, Bobbie," said the ,lady II
like to hear little boys say Thank you.'7
sfYes, ma told me / must say that if you
gave me anything. to eat, even if it wasn't {
want To near me say it again, you've either
got to put jam on it or give me some cake
The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1906-1907, 1907-05-06
BoND DECISION.

From tho decision Of the supreme
court Ia the Lewiston case Il Is held
that city may create improvement
districts, issue bonds payable by aud
make the same lien on tho property
Of the districts, This was case In
which Occur d'Alene Is interested,
II covers our sewer bonding case and
settles the authority Of the city TO is
sue aud tho legality OF these bonds.
The city will now be la position 10
proceed with It's sowreage system and
make other Improvements under tho
district system, such ~ cement walks
and street grading.
The declslon is = fortunate one for
the city az Il enables IA to 40 ahead
With improvements which would be
otherwise impossible.
The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1906-1907, 1907-05-06

10 Is definitely announced that
Roosevelt wishes Secretary Taft TO
succeed him ~ president. This is a
sort Of political heiFshlp which smack
too much Of European methods to DO
swallowed by American people with
out = protest. II Taft l. to succeed
the president, II should be on his
merits, not because Roosevelt wishes
90 name bis successor. The presi-
dents rights In this matter are those
% every other citlxen and no more.
The people Of this country want no
blood or political helFship SUGGESTIONS
90 the presidency.
The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1906-1907, 1907-05-06
TIME TO DIG WORMS.
An Old Timer Recalls the Early Spring
Flshlna Of hls noyheod.

Fishing OF His eoyhood.
Some fishing tackle In a shady seat.
A can OF angiowoFmn hunk OF meat.
The Fiahera Rubaiyat.
what Is there about this sort OF
weather that sends a mans thoughts
backward to his boyhoodT' inquired a
busy business man of a Kansas City
Star reporter. as with 4 sweep Of his
hand be brushed aside a pile OF papers
on bis desk and leaned back In his
chair.
when l was boy lived In . small
town near Kansas City. and my keen.
est enjoyment OF the year was the first
fishing trip to the creek in the spring.
I usually went along with my dad. We
drove six miles In a buggy to the Sni.
where there were holes aud rifles. A
can of angleworms, a hunk OF liver
and several lines and hooks with red
bobbers or fiat jug eorks comprised
our outfit.
"Our poles were cut from the thick.
cts along the banks Of the creek. We
always fitted no two lines apiece. one
for catfish out in the middle OF the hole
and the other for fat. yellow perch near
the edge OF the creek.
"A thrill runs through me yet when
recall the first bite on those spring
trips. Two or three hobs OF the cork
and II would move swiftly away. grad
nally sinking out Of sight. Then we
knew a catfish had the bait. A perch
takes the cork under more suddenly.
along the rlfilea. too, was a great
place for perch, The water flowed over
the rocks little way. then into a deep
pool. then more rocks and another
pool These pools were teeming with
perch aud long suckers IN the spring.
Say" ho broke OF suddenly, 'I'm
going out there tomorrow"
The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1906-1907, 1907-05-06

One IL apt to discreiit ghosts. One
b apt 70 poohpooh the subject Of
spoOks when the sun Is high and there
b plenty OF company around. but this
Brownsville aaalF seems to confirm
belief that there are ghosts ghosts
that can shoot-a sort OF bloOdthiraty.
rot raialng ghosts.
Carson City daily appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1907-1930, 1907-12-13
NEED FOR FEDERAL TROOPS IN GOLDFIELO.

in the district
any needfor Coldfeld'
Mcknnon. the Federation Min
ers and Pr O GOllfeld Miners Union
blow the train 40"
mite ound passed
pckeei and the not al
wed % evenv is
An ate made 0
Fower The
dynamite the fuse
lice vha planned.
their
property: be used in de
the Their telephone that
and Of soldiers.
OF and for both sides.
X. Nc knnOn. the Western Federation
men, district. thoroughly
out
Carson City daily appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1907-1930, 1907-12-13
RATHER THAN A SIN IT is INSANITY.

all Of
r. stirling suicides all walks of life
- person be blessings
subborny.
5 OF be sefin
ed with rational but usually the suicide
is mad
springs morbid selfpity danger
realized
experiencing, of alteration
blinded by lfr1y realize that the
mental signal pain IS the signal OF
0
pain fe. q thing
for the preservation OF HE
the OF selftestructon can be q
felt fought
ii. trouble behind i, 10
the | 5
indication the emotions have been
Immediate diversion is
walk may
-. o se
ids Of he DISAPPOINTMENT
realize that
dies deluied.
madness That would be
licum that
unhappness 10
gathers strength against
unhalpiness itself