davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1907-10-13
A Dreary Ride.

Along about shutdown the next dag
after a dreary ride across the country
Windy and I, with Murphy, covered
with ist. bringing UP the rear,
reached the Ozone Belt. Near his cabin
Windy rad erected several rude shan
ties for HE occupancy of his guests,
and with a view o. giving the place
the proper artistic finish so as to be
up to the times with Newport, he had
put panes OF glass in the roof Of a
deserted hen castle and dignifed It
with the name. Sun Parlor. AS a
health Joint Windy Smiths resort beat
anything Of its kind extant and the
sight Of It would have made the stolid
features OF cigar store Indian relax
into a broad and happy smile.
The next morning Windy woke me
and in a voice bubbling over with
childish ylee stated that three pa
tents al lived about daylight.
WHO are they?" / asked.
Never heard Of them before" he
replied. but they gave the names Of
Tombstone Jones, Jim MciEale. and
WOodbine Peters"
well, Judging from their euphon-
ious handles I would not take them 10
oe rom Bo~ton or New York. / was
afraid I would have to put on my
drawing room regalia.
They say they hev been mimi
down In Mexico. Feelln' purity puny
lately, and learnin' of my place. they
comes UP here in search Of restored
health"
The Washington times., 1907-10-13
Windy Smith Opens a Health Resort
At Ozone Belt and Has His Hands
Full With Three Lively Patients.

might, he remarked; "Our patients
seem some frGlicsome, this mornin'.'
Yes. Windy, 1 replied. ''the springs
are certainly making them spry." L
thought I'd let the boys tell about the
joke themselves.
The iEvalids came hack presently
and they didn't say a word to Windy
about what happened. I noticed that
Jim McKale kept a jug labeled EN-
balming fluid" on his table. Tie ex-
planned its presence by saying that he
was once an undertaken and he al
ways kept a bottle OF the stun about
in cas-, his professional services might
be wanted. IN speaking OF the matter
to me later. Windy Smith said there
was no accounting for the peculiari-
ties of an invalid.
Everything moved along pretty
smoothly for several days. but the
guests began TO get up in the morn
ing looking like men who had been
wrestling with tanglefoot. Finally one
night We were awakened by a racket
In the patients quarters. and Windy
crawled out of bed and got his Ian
tern. Il fear Hank" be said. ''the
folks air kinder restless. IN Jes' run
over and see what's wrong"
The Washington times., 1907-10-13
THE GAP WHERE Err TIN THR Sa; ARE SLIT

"Dead?' gasped The Weasel: dead.
you say? How"
A thief" she answered. Elliott
caught him taking our Jewels and the
scoundrel snot him Oh. father, some
thing viii snap here" and she clasped
her hands TO her heart
The Weasel was thinking His fur
rowed face showed this He was
lhlnklng OF the bracelet that seemed
Iamlhar-the bracelet just brought in
Dy the man in the back room.
Did you see him2'' he whispered
would You know him AGAIN.
Would know him2'' cried Rena.
'Anywhere-everywhere.
The Weasel went bebino sbou
case and. taking up a Iong-blade6
hIlIe. hid It IN the sleeve of his coat
lie placed his finger on his Inns 10
enJoin caution, then whispered.
after / 80 inside. you slip in quietly
Few minutes later. I beIieve-Trn
sure he is here"
Here cried the girl. ana ar Tho
pare thought OF il. the muscles OF. bar
face relaxed into strange. savage
smile
Here. father?'' she cried. "Glve me
the knife"
The Weasel looked at her intentIv
then slowly save up the rusty blade
The Weasel and his daughter could
converse without words. He knew
what she wanted-what she intended
He went into the back room.
You WEI long" said the thief
gruffIy.
Wen get down to business. now
said The Weasel.
The thief's back was toward The
door he did not see Rena enter with
the stealth of a tigerrss. He did NOT
see her clasp one hand to ner breast
grasp firmly the hilt Of the knife. and
emphatically nod to her father.
The Weasel, with the strength of q
beast, caught his customer from he
hind, pinionins nis arms. The girl
leaped in front Of him.
You are sure?- painted her father.
She smiled. Her eyes glittered.
Placing the knife over his heart she
pressed II In with devilish slowness.
For Elliott" she Kissed. as he fell to
the foor
Come. quicl1rT said The Weasel.
forcing her out He locked the street
door and they disappeared into The
Gap"
The Washington times., 1907-10-13
Sadly Stole Away.

Then he sadly stole away only to
come back presently with a bucket OF
spring water for his guests.
This sort Of thing kept up for sew
eral days, and 1 began TO get sus-
picious that all was not right. Every
once IT. a while / heard a yell, and
then I'd see Tombstone enjoying one
Of his umpty Jump spasms, with the
health joint proprietor trying TO hold
tho invalid down. After the patient
got tame again Windy came into the
house. the perspiratlOn leaking from
his forehead. and INDUCED in soulful
mutterings. These circumgy ratory ef-
forts affected him deeply and he was
wont 10 remark: Il tell We, Hank. the
umpty jumps air sure one OF Satan's
pastimes."
1t seemed strange to me that the pa
tents were well enough when alone.
but as soon as Windy or / appeared
they disturbed the peaceful solicitude
OF the place by their frantic efforts TO
show US how poorly they were. One
morning sauntered over to see the
invalids and Murphy, the dog. was
with me. I had no sooner stuck my
head in the doorway than Tombstone
began to entertain with one of his fav-
orite spells. Murphy. who always had
a peculiar sense Of humor. at once
Joined In the run. taking a firm hold
on the basement OF the patients trous-
ers. Tombstone began 10 mend so rap
idly that in about a second all symp-
toms Of umpty jumps had disappeared
and he was yelling for someone to
save him. Woodbine, Jim, and I tried
TO show Murphy that he was violating
the rules Of good department. but he
misunderstood and imagined we were
merely endeayoring to contribute to
the general joyousness Of the occasion.
He held on tighter than ever and dur
ing the festivities the bed was upset,
Woodbine Peters got tangled up in the
Stats, while Jim McKale went hopping
about the room like a chicken on a hot
stove.
The Washington times., 1907-10-13
BE I HANKFUl-.
By ELLA WHEELER WILCOX.

of sinking. you would dash for a life
preserver among the first. So you
must really be thankful for life; and IL
you are, you should say so each morn
ing. The Great Power that gave you
life loves to know that you appreciate
IT. However material you may be in
your beliefs, you cannot explain the
CAUSE of this marvellous creation.
Nature: Who made Nature?
Who made the gases and forces
which set Nature to. work?
A COLOSSAL INTELLIGENCE.
This intelligence takes many forms.
visible and invisible This intelligenca
-permeates the mighty universe and
there are vast throngs of great friends
about US, who are ever glad and happy
10 hear our words of appreciation for
the gift of life 1t puts them in closer
touch with us. and enables them to aid
MS. II you have home. however
humble, give thanks for that Just I'm
the measure that YOU appreciate il.
and love Il. viii the way be opened for
you to make II the ideal come YOU
carry in your mind. II you have en-
The Washington times., 1907-10-13

she was smart Like her, father. she
was possessed OF a hidden depth of
nature that even she, herself. couId
not measure.
When she met Elliott Fiske, some
thing awakened in her breast Her
peace OF mind was stolen. She brood
&c for week, then went to her father.
He had never refused her anything
and he would help her. She told him
she loved Elliott FIske; she must mar
~ him.
But child" said the Weasel. 'he
IS not OF our race-he IS a Christian"
What matters that2'' cried Rena.
her ewes flashing and her foot tap
ring impotence. Il love him and I
want him. All. father her voice
softened, vibrating with a yearning
that showed the depth Of her emo
tion-"you vii help me. I know
am not pretty like some. but 1 can
care so much more for him. can be
like a slave. l can sit at his feet and
make MIN feel Ike a god by the fice Of
my alteration. l can"
Hush. child" said her father. i
win see him"
The Weasel was a diplomat How
ever he influenced the handsome young
lawyer 70 marry his daughter Is his
own secret. The Weasel was rich and
he would spend his wealth-fGr Rcna
But he was also crafty F4ske never
realized that he was coerced by sug-
gestion and probably thought that he
wooed Kena OF his own accord
The Weasel aid the right thing.
When they were married, he installed
them in a mansion fit for a million
aire. No riches that he could fur
nish was neglected or skiInped TO
make his girl happy. All ne wanted
IN life was money-mouey 10 make
his girl happy He was the same
slave TO Rena that she was to her
husband.
One morning man rushed into the
weasels shop
I've got TO get away quickly" he
said. Il want to clean up on this
job and get the money right away.
Understand"
The weasel led him to the rear room.
The visitor drew a channels bag from
his pocket and emptied its contents
on a ts bic. There were rings. gilt
tering With precious stones: brace
let's. studs-a fortune in gems. The
weasel gave low whistle OF surprise.
Picking UP a bracelet he examined it
closely, then, noticing the workman
ship. he started with surprise.
Where did YOU make this haul?''
he asked.
What's that to you?" reto.>ed the
stranger. "Come-how much?"
Father" cried a voice. The stran-
ger was startled.
ITS al right. said the Weasel.
Only my daughter. Wait here.
And he slipped out Of the room. clos
ing the door after him
"Elhott"-gasped Rena, clasping
him by the shoulders. Dead Don't
You understand? He was shot end
bled-rIght in front of me and
couldn't save him-I couldn't save
him" The girl moaled pitifully
Are you wooden" she cried. with
sudden fury. why don't you speak
Her words were q torrent Of lava
from tCrmented soul
The Washington times., 1907-10-13

ployment, offer thanks and put your
self .joyfUlly into your task.
Perhaps il may not be the work
you desire; perhaps you long Tor
more congenial task. Then the surest
way in the world to obtain that desire
Is by going about what you have to
do with a right good will. and thank
ing the Giver OF all things that you
have SOMETHING TO dc, and at the
same time sending out a demand for
the better work that you feel you are
fitted TO perform
The wilmer and complaIner never
betters his lot.
However mental your task. yon can
elevate Il by your way Of looking at
4. fhe scrub woman, the laundress,
the street cleaner. are they not NJ
PORrANT TO the comfort and hea tn
Of modern civilization? II ycur wJIrk
IS among these. BE THANKFUL FOR
YOUR USEFULN ESS
Permit no one - pity you, or TO l)ok
down on YOU T y will not IL YOU do
not look down on yourself. Instcan of
self-pity. thank God for your good for
tune in having something to do. After
zine You viii have more agreeable
tasks 10 perform.
The Washington times., 1907-10-13

I got up pretty early one morning
and went out to get some fresh air.
Presently I saw the invalids, Wild
eyed. rushing out Of their quarters.
Tombstone came up and in a frenzicd
voice said, They've been here"
"who?" l Intercepted
Them Me1icans."
Did you see them?"
NO; but the diamonds air nissln'."
looked under the bed where we hid
them, but they were not there"
Il heerd a noise in the night" said
Jim McKale. but seem nuthin'
thought I wuz mistaken"
Where's windy?" asked Tombstone.
Not up yet" told him.
well, let US have our guns and wen
vamoose- Perhaps we kin git some
trace OF the thieves"
went back to the cabin and there
sat Murpny on the arsenal chest play
ing with the bag Of diamonds. He had
gone into the invalids' room during the
night and stolen the precious stones
~
Kale spoke about. thought the matter
over and concluded that If our guests
were out Of the way it would be better.
as the Mexieans might get ca their trail
and shoot up the sanitarium- So pro-
ceeded to put a little scheme into ef-
feet I returned the boys guns and Sc
cretly tucked the bag OF diamonds into
Jim McKale's holster. knowing he would
ind them later on and then he wouId
probably be miles away. II the trio OF
lnposters once left the place there WA
NO danger OF their coming back.
"hen 1 brought the guns out our
guests had their horses ready 20 start
They strapped their weapons on IN a
my and away they went pelIper
across the dusty waste in the hope Of
DEding the men they thought had
robbed them.
II was not long until Windy Smith
appeared. In the distance he could
family see the three horseman SALON.
ing away.
Air those the patients?'' he incurred.
Yes" I replied. and they've gone
Tor good"
Why. their board is not due yft.
what's w-ong2"
They thought they heard burglars
IN eheir room last night and decided
to skip
Windy pulled at his pipe for some
time and didn't say a word. as 7
knew he was thinking hard about
something Presently he said: Hank.
I'm afeerd the patients he'd an extry
Jug Of Embalnin' Fluid didn't git
The Washington times., 1907-10-13
Finds the Penalty of Trying to
Do Something For Which
He Has No Talent.

turn over their guns and they made
an awful kick. They embellished their
remarks with the most picturesque
verbiage and a brand OF trivialities
that would have set matches afire. but
Windy replied with the air Of an au-
tosrat: Gents, the piquancy OF your
address is recognized by the speaker,
but it's ag'in the rules fer patients to
carry shOOtin' hardware. A sick man
with a metal arbitrator is liable 70 be-
come plumb delirious and carry on
ridiculous. 1 hain't takin' no chance
OF hevin' the palace shot up. gents,
and you'll hev to deliver
After INDUCING In fecundity Of elo-
quence the invalids saw the futility Of
argument and Windy came away with
their weapons which we stored in a
chest on top Of which my dog. Murphy,
slept Anyone who disturbed them
when the animal was about would be
given a written guarantee that he
would have the time Of his life.
/ noticed something presently that
struck me rather funny. Every time
that Windy OF 1 entered their apart
ments the invalids seemed 10 become
violently Ill Tombstone Jones would
begin to wrestle with one OF his
spasms. while Jim AIcKale and Wood
b.ne Peters simply coughed themselves
black IN the face. This led Windy
Smith to say to me in a confidential
tcne: The patients pear to be ruther
poorly this mornin'. 1 don't think
Tombstone is long for this hemi-
sphere"
The Washington times., 1907-10-13
With jug in Hand.

He was gone about half an hour and
l was going &c Investigate when ne
came back WITTY {. jug in his hand.
His hair was disheveled and his
clothes torn. Windy INDUCED I'm some
soulful language. but / couldn't tell
exactly what he was driving at, al
though 7 knew something was Op-
pressing him. We'll. Windy" I muI
INJURED, I'm plumb locoed II 1 can
catch the drift OF your conversation.
II you'll give ne a chart explaining
what happened, I'll be everlasungly
grateful"
We'll, Hank" he replied. when I
went over there 1 found the patients
fighting like a roomful Of bob cats.
I naturally allowed that the excite
ment might run their temperature up
The Washington times., 1907-10-13
Seems Good Ruse.


With that 1 looks solemniy at my
weepon, and, takin the jug. departed,
leavin' the room wrapped in a mantle
Of gloom.
I thought Jim McKales Use in lab
cling his whisky 'Embalming Fluid
was a pretty good one, but Windy
Smith couldn't see It. The sanitarium
was a serious proposition with him
and he was mad all over.
The following morning I ambled over
to the patients quarters, but hearing
sounds OF laughter as l approached
the open door, I stopped and listened.
we sure hev fooled these people
about bein' sick" Tombstone was say
ing. and to think OF Windy telln'
about curin' the umpty jumps. He Ger
tainly did stall me when he asked
about my ailment. I tried TO repeat e
medical term I once heerd a doctor
use. but 1 got all tangled up and It
came out umpty jumps"
ITO think Jim and me sayin we
vas lungers." said Woodbine. and the
three men just roared with laughter.
This was my cue and when / stepped
into the room the invands were with
Ing In a At OF mirth on the floor.
You may have stampeded the Gre
dulity Of Wirdy Smith. patients" I
said. but you have nothing on the
orator Of the occasion. I knew you
weren't sick as soon as 1 laid eyes on
The Washington times., 1907-10-13

NE OF the little peculiarities OF
life is that most men aspire
to do something they have no
talent for, but when Windy
Smith met me in FL Paso one day and
communicated the racy bit Of intelh-
Eence that he was on the eve Of open
ing a sanitarium back in the Ozone
Belt. I thought he was about ripe for
a lunacy commission. He was a crude
citizen whose habitat had always been
on a ranch and while a savant in the
erudition of the professional Of cow
puncher, what he didn't know about
health resort would al mighty fine
de luxe edition. Windy struck some
kind of a mineral spring on his ranch
and then his reason began TO totter.
Nothing snort Of a sanitarium would
do for him. so when he saw me am
hli-.g along Texas street with my bull
dog Murphy. he proceeded to unbosom
himself.
your hev to come out for a spell
ana give mo a few tips on the busi-
nesr" be said. going down into his
outasds habIIimentB for yard OF plug
tobacco, as II Is all new 10 me- can
butt into a faro game and sort OF
SNOWFALL the layout. and might un-
der pressure hgger conspicuous-like In
a train holddp, but when II comes 10
enactin' the oresiden' elder OF sany-
tar1um I am some coy and purity shy
Of chips"
How much time do you expect to
fritter away at this, senile pastime be-
fore tho vigilantes and the sheriff be-
gin to look up your record in Brad
streets2' 1 asked. assuming the air of
an inqu'Ting pilgrim.
"Oh. I'm on the level" he said,
looking hurt. You see it's a mineral
spring situated at a high altitoOd and
/ calc'late It win revive the droopin'
spirits Of any critter of his feed. 1
hewitt got any customers yet, but I'm
ready fer victims as soon as they az
rive"
The Washington times., 1907-10-13


York city that even the
born East slider always as
sociates with mystery -
dark, frightening mystery
II is called The Gap"
and Whine formally known as Hamil-
ten street. that section of il connect
ell with this story is The Gap"
Nearby IS a conversion Of streets.
crossing In such manner as 70 resem-
BILE the spokes OF a wheel, joined 10
a hub. This particular spot Is called
Five Points. and the time is not far
past when the policeman receiving
orders to report at Five Points. look
ed carefully 20 his revolver and grab
bed a handful OF cartridges from the
ammunition case before leaving the
statiOnhouse.
Threats have been slit for a dollar
at Five Points and the numbering
thieves who accomplished such deeds
nearly always made their escapes.
Black alleys leading into four tene-
ments. like rat holes in a stone pile.
swailowsI them. Search for Them was
useless-it was more than useless, for
danger attached TO an invasion Of the
tenements in The Gap.
In a side street, leading or The
Gap. lived The Weasel No one was
concerned enough 10 learn his right
name. His thin face, scantily fringed
with whisl1ers and his crafty, ever
cautious manner made one think OF
a weasel and was sufficient TO name
Linn.
The Weasel kept a little store-a
secondhand shop filed with miserable
trash. To the initiated 1t would ap-
pear that the old fellow could scarcely
make living in the rookery, but those
who knew him intimately were aware
that the Weasel owned an apartment
house in Harlem and five large fat
buildings in Canal street, the heart OF
the Ghetto
The Weasel was a fence" No mat
ter what kind c. valuables were
brought 10 him by 8 thief. he would
convert them into cash. He was paid
his commission, which was large. The
Weasel was a prosaic person. He could
see his best customer so TO the electric
chair without displaying the least emo
ton. But he was square in his deal
ings-that is, ne drove a hard bargain,
but always stuck 70 his end Of it
Thieves knew this and depended on the
Weasel TO Fence" their spoils.
With two exceptions the old Fellow
was emotiOnless. He loved money and
he loved HIS daughter. Money was part
OF his soul and the cells OF his brain
rang with a metallic clink. But his
daughter-his passion for her was
measureless. He loved her with a
strange. slave-lil1e. mute devotion that
WAS startling. When he saw her,
waich was seldom, his face changed.
The weasel mask dropped and. shin
ing from his eyes, crying out from his
smile and heaving in his respiration
vas love-a wild, boundless. mystify-
ing alteration. He was content to gaze
at her. without uttering a sound.
Her mother died when she was
young and the Weasel sent her TO
boarding school. Her education was
OF the best. She was not pretty, but
The Washington times., 1907-10-13

the TRAN. and hsre we air safe in soli-
TODD. We he'd o Eertend we wuz sick
to git in. but I see you hev found US
out"
Yes. rem 2rfled Jim McKale. ''and
Windy hez tJ2- our embalmin' fluid
/ pre-. nised not 90 enlighten WINDY
and then Tombstone reached under
the bed and pulled out the bag OF dia-
monds that had beer bequeathed TO
him and his PALS They sparkled so
that Murphy. who had followed me.
blinkei his eyes when he looked at
them.
The Washington times., 1907-10-13
Trousers Gave Way.

Finally Tombstone's trousers gave
way. and then corralled Murphy. A
moment later Tombstone. Jim, and
WoOdbine were seen tripping gaily
across the prairie, each wishing from
the bottom Of his soul that his legs
were longer.
About this time Windy Smith, who
had been at the spring and didn't
hear the racket, came in. As he saw
the men paving UP the dust and try
ing to get elsewhere with all their
The Washington times., 1907-10-13

wuz took down with the fever. He
seemed 70 know that he wuz goin' to
depart and one night he called Us TO
his shakedown and SEE: Pals. we air
about TO dissolve partnership. We hev
stuck together a long time, and
hain't forgot II. You'll find IN tibet
setchel of mine a bag containin a
handful OF diamonds 1 got while down
In South Africa. got no relatives
and l am goin' 20 leave 'em to you.
Lhey may help you open another
claim somewhere, and they won't be
no good 70 me, nohow.
The Washington times., 1907-10-13

life's treasures is a really thankful
neart.
Perhaps you say you are thankful
for your blessings. But HOW thank
full are you? And how many times a
day do you send forth a thoughl of
gratitude? Look carefully over your
list OF real blessings. things which you
would not be willing to part with,
and then ask yourself-how many times
a year YOU send up a heartfelt prayer
of tna1'Is for these blessings.
1t is question if you who read
these lines ever give thanks in the
morning that you are alive Perhaps
you will reply that you DO not want
TO live. You are tired of life and do
not think It worta while. Yet were
YOU 10 hear that an epidemic had
broken out :; tie mouse where YOU
dwell. YOU w Ild fee from it; and if
you were on a boat that was In danger
The Washington times., 1907-10-13
INVOCATION.

No golden hair her head entwines.
Her eyes are not Of heavenly blue.
No rose her cheek ir-arnadires,
and yet my heart axes much ado.
All, would she only cone to me.
I'd urge my luck 'gain:t any odds,
Winking TO scorn the va n decree
OF fate and all the plotting gods
I'd wager wealth, repute. and name,
And all the gems the sea within.
Unhinge the stars. and with them game
And stake the world-with her-anC
win.
50 come, thou rairest damsel, then,
Blacklist of Ethiopian maids,
The Ace, the King. the Jack, the Ten
I've got want the Queen Of Spades
j. Adair Strawson, in Harpcrs Weeks
The Washington times., 1907-10-13

you. but never let on, knowing that
it would make no difference as long
as you paid your board
well. don't say anything to Windy.
partner" pleaded Tombstone, "as this
is a serious matter with us. I'll tell
you all about 1t. The three of us and
Caterpillar Hogan, frum Topeka. wuz
down in Mexico prospectin' In the Sill
yer Hornet"
The Washington times., 1907-10-13

about forty degrees and when they
wouldn't listen to common sense adj
vice l grabbed Tombstone. who had
Woodbine and Jim down and threw
him across the room. l reckon I wuz
SO mad that 1 forgot I wuz dealin'
with an invalid rs Tombstone scared
through the partition. I pulled out
gun and SEE to Jim and Woodbme:
Patients. you he'd better hike TO bed