davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Omaha daily bee., 1907-03-24

For footwear we had moccasius, besides
which Uncle Ned wore his favorite moose
shanks while aroused his envy with a
pair OF knee moccasins with double soles
These 1 found excellent for canoe work,
as one has frequently to step out into shall
low water Not that they keep your feet
dry for any length of time; no footwear
yet invented will do that nor any costume
short of Captain Boynton's swimming suit
Wet feet are part Of the game. During
the last year. spent nearly all in the will
derness. don't believe that I have had
dry feet more than n fourth OF the time.
One doesn't mind It as long as soft and
thick wool socks are worn. Cold seldom
perseeutes a man in the woods II he keeps
moving. and there is the camp fire at the
end. Uncle Ned and wore three pairs Of
socks, or rather two pairs and a pair Of
long stockings that came up to our knees
and were tied there with thongs.
Sweaters and old coats completed our out
side dress, while next the skin we wore
wool. I boosted a yachting oilskin coat
which saved me many a. drenching and
was not heavy.
For weapons we carried a shotgun and
a rife, the latter because we hoped to do
little still hunting for moose II occasion
Omaha daily bee., 1907-03-24

I remember one trip up the Gull Lake
branch as a chapter VI accidents 1t was
quite warm day when we started out
with not a breath Of air stirring A light
mist lay over the placid waters and tho
sun promised soon to break through.
We therefore left our extra tArpauln.
used for a shelter tent in case OF getting
caught IN storm. at home. and prepared
for a. easy time. But hardly had we
landed =, ;he end Of the first carry whom
an urheralded but violent storm OF sleet
and hail blew up that coated everything
witt ice.
/ lad the canoe and l shall never forget
TINT carry as long as | live. Part Of It was
over an untlmbered hill. which was as
slippery as creased glass, and tho wind
did it's very best to put both me ard tho
canoe fiat on the ground. How ycarned,
I'm my smooth moccasins. for good pair
OF hobnailed shoes.
Arriving at the other side OF the carry
we were both coated with freezing glass,
and had to stamp on our mitteus to render
them flexible. In that condition we reset
a dozen steel traps and deadfalls but only
after sore trials. for our fingers were stlff
and almost senseless.
Neither of us let out a word OF complaint,
but al last. as No. 21a sprung on me for
the uItD lInet 1 Tlppeu out IN tNpltNlNt VI
such lurid character that the very leo
might have been melted with it. This was
too much for the old man, who let out a
gufIaw that nearly drowned the shrieking
wind.
Great fun trappin'. eh?" he said. well,
never mind. the worst is yet to come for
sure, cause this wind is gon' TO be quite
able bodied along in the afternoon and we
aiu't goln' to get home tonight, that's
su:e!'
l replied that It didn't matter much as
didn't expect TO live so long that any
how, and then asked about plans for the
night. The upshot of It was that after
looking after few more traps in the vi
clnity, but without trying to cross the next
lake on account OF the high sea, we started
down a side stream for small pond where
Uncle Ned knew OF a diapidated lumber
mems cabin.
The water was high and the gale directly
in our faces as we started 20 run the short
but dangerous rapid, and luck wasn't with
us at all. In trying to force the bow of
sharp rock my paddle got between two
boulders and 1 was forced to let It go in
order not to be left with the bare handle
in my hands This caused a careen Of the
canoe, we struck another rock and were
literally thrown up onto a fiat reef on our
side 80 that part OF the duffel including a
dozen traps, was cast into the stream.
Angry clean through, 1 jumped into the
shallow part OF the river and had the luck
to retrieve the blankets which, however.
were soaked The traps we found a week
later. I will spare the reader a description
Of our sojourn in that lealky shack with wet
blankets and clothes. 1t is not all Of trap
ping to trapl
Omaha daily bee., 1907-03-24

not he pulled or. The pole was thrust
lightly into the ground out Of sight and
the trap set directly in the other path,
well concealed. At the other end Of the
path the other trap and pole were placed
These paths, which are habitually used by
offers on their Journeys from point to
point. are always loosely called slides, but
the real slide is path running down a
declivty and is actually used by the offers
to slide down. probably in play. as they
have been observed to repeat the slide time
after time with no other apparent purpose.
No bait is used with otter traps.
Next was observed on the bank a large
hollow log and we'll inside Of this a mink
trap was set as Uncle Ned said a mink
never missed passing through 1t If he came
that way At each end of the log a foot
inside a small piece OF bait was left
Omaha daily bee., 1907-03-24
Enr n Mink.

On our way down the lakes a couple Of
dozen traps of different kinds were set.
The first were for mink and was placed at
the foot Of a large spruce within a yard
Of the shore of a narrow run between two
lakes.
Using the tree for a back. a pen eight
inches wide was made by thrusting pointed
sticks about a foot long into the ground
and covering the top with sheets OF spruce
bark and sticks. At the Inner end of this
pen the bait, usually a piece of muskrat
flesh, a trout or sucker or birds head,
well seasoned with DOPE is placed i'm
paled upon a sharp stick.
A steel trap is then laid at the entrance
Of the pen, so that the mink must step on
the pan in going inside for the bait. The
trap and chain are carefully but very
lightly covered with chaff, dry moss, little
sticks, pine needles. etc. and the chain
ring fastened to a bush or the pin driven
into a tree.
During this operation the trapper moves
about as little as possible, wears gloves, in
order not to leave human scent on the
trap, and covers his footprints with moss
and chan. A few drops of dope are then
sprinkled about the scene and the deadly
steel left to do its cruel work.
Omaha daily bee., 1907-03-24
Traps aud Bait.

The old fashioned backwoods trappel.
with which species we mostly have to do
IN the Maritime Provinces is generally not
very well OF in regard to steel traps. In
the first place they are rather expensive
and much heavier than the dead falls,
which are made on the spot with Ratchet
and knife. Nevertheless 1t is recognized
that the steel trap does its work more
surely than the dead fall.
In the provinces there is one bait that Is
favorite over all other. the flesh Of the
muskrat. and for this reason we had done
preliminary trapping and our haversacks
were well filled with the strong smelling
meat. as we had taken tho trouble to rup-
ture the scent bags. You could have smelled
us a mile at the very least
But that was not all | was determined
to take every chance offered by science
and was therefore provided with Walls OF
several varieties OF scent each guaranteed
irresistible TO all furry folk II unspeak-
able fetidness had anything to do with IL
have no doubt they were. though trappers
differ widely in their views as to the eff
fcacy Of scents, many eschewing them en-
tirely.
My experience goes to indicate that they
are not necessary II the bait Is Of the right
kind. but are good to smear over poor bait
In any case scent can do no harm. and
may help when rubbed on the traper's
moccaslns. thus making a trail from trap
to trap.
Omaha daily bee., 1907-03-24

Almost worse is the nail and hole trap
described and recommended with junction
IN many books Of some renovn. This trap
consists Of a hole bored in the trunk Of n
tree. a log or block of wood and three or
four sharpcred nails which are hammered
downward and diaEonally into the wood
so that the points will protrude for half an
inch A piece OF bait is placed in the bot
tom OF the hole.
When the mink endeavors 20 get the bait
he pushes his head past the nail with case,
but upon trying to withdraw 1t the cruel
points hold him fast and he dies miserably
with the nails alternately piercing his neck
and with his nose In the bait he coveted.
How anybody with the slightest pretensiCns
20 workmanship can condone such
method is a mystery.
l rejoice to say that when l ventured to
suggest this to good old Uncle Ned. he
looked at me a moment and then gave me
a hearty slap on the back.
BY rorry, youngster, you're just as right
as you can be. / used to feel exactly that
way and I'll be darncd II l don't yet! a
fellow gets into the habit OF dom these
cruel things and I'm obliged to you FOR
stirring up my callous conscience We
won't set any more steel traps unless we
Omaha daily bee., 1907-03-24
THE PRODUCT OF THE AILSCLIFFE GANG
A Double Theft from Brokers Safe and the De-
auctions of CrOnkhte TherefrOm.

When Mr. Allis, with his guest, alighted
at the little suburban station that night,
a tall and elegant young woman, whose
handsome face was feverishly lighted,
sprang forward with hands extended.
"Oh. papa" she began.
This is my friend, Mr.. Rufus Blount,
Emily, the chief engineer of the Ruthven
system, Of whom you have heard me
speak," said Mr.. Allis, somewhat reprov-
ingly. He is going to be so good as
to put up with US for a few days"
"oh, papa, did you bring it; have you
got it?" Mrs. Grout ran on, unheeding,
save for the shortest of mods.
"Of course, l did: you're the same i'm
patient, impulsive child, Emily. that you
were twenty"
Tut, tut. you mustn't mention ages,
or you will make yourself an old, old man,
papa, instead of the dearest of dears. And
he is a dear, isn't he, Mr.. Blount?-always
doing the most wonderful of things as il
they were the merest tribes"
IAN things are trihes to limitless wealth,
you must remember, Mrs. Circuit" re-
marked the heavy Mr.. Blount
Whereupon the lady looked upon him with
more favor as II, perhaps something OF
the complete relief her face and manner be-
trayed was due TO his words.
A complete relief indeed With the cast
ing aside Of the mask Of anxiety there APP
peared the sparkle of a sweet and simple
nature, loving pleasure, yet loving It as
innocently, as intuitively, as the birds love
the air loving It as her habitat, her heri-
tage, her kingdom,
And yet the shadows are never remote
from the sunshine With the deadly desire
OF the dull to be entertaining, Mr. Blount
began to prose along about a curious Enoch
Arden case which had lately come to light
in his neighborhood-the return OF a hus-
band long believed to be dead and the dis
tress arising from the premature marriage
OF his reputed widow.
Suddenly he stopped short and made some
irrelevant reference 10 the weather, for the
lady by his side was haggard and pale
while her father opposite was looking out
OF the carriage window as II selecting a
soft spot on which to jump.
THAT was a fool yarn OF yours, Cronkite
! must say" snapped Mr.. Allis when he
and his guest were alone In the library
Didn't the Judge tell you that my late un'
lamented, COMPOUNDED son-in-law, Jack
Grout. was lost at sea?'
There must have been a mental reserva
ton behind the detectives embarrassed
plea OF ignorance, for this had been one
OF the pertinent facts with which Judg'
Omaha daily bee., 1907-03-24

the time. Who would dream that a thief
could be so deft and noiseless as TO sneak
in and out without attracting her notice?
when I discovered the loss 1 thought
she would die. She is subject to heart
failure. you know.
"And so. to quiet her, I promised to bring
home tonight a like amount, so that Brazil
would never even know OF the occurrence.
Luckily his ship has been delayed by
storms"
you should have sounded an instant
alarm"
didn't dare. Judge" again groaned Al
lis. Talk about the devil and the deep
sea-why. that would be an Elysium for
me
MY financing OF the Ruthven Branch
railroad is just on the edge; one evil rumor
would send it into the pit Let such a
loss be known, and goodby to the whole
output.
The world thinks l am a multimillionaire
and yet I can no more raise that sum to-
day than l can fly to the moon. If don't
and Brazil finds Emily in mysteries, he Will
suspect something wrong sure.
And worse than all, the thief. whoever
he is, is getting on scot free, meanwhile,
with his vitality important money. Don't
you see, judge, it is its absence and not its
amount that is agitating me. I am per
fectly sound, II l can only have a chance
20 turn myself"
THAT Is the point" said a somewhat
stolid looking. middleaged man, who had
been sitting in the recess. by replacing
the money you remove sorrow from your
home and risk from your office
More than this; it may well be that
the way to catch the thief Is TO subject
him again to the same temptation. Not
withsanding your faith in your servants,
MI Ailis, this theft has all the marks Of
an inside Job.
If so. the thief may have heard your
promise to your daughter. Greed IS never
satisfied; immunity is the mother Of rash
ness. He will try again"
Then you advise my client to fly to the
moon. do you Cronkite?"
mot at all. Judge" answered the detec-
tive. That stun I recovered from the
Ailscliffe gang is stu available. Wen
bundle up $4,000 OF Il for Mr.. Allis.
That will satisfy Mrs. GrouL and
close rumOTs mouth. It will be two days
or more, according TO my reckoning, be-
fore the Printania limps into port. II
Mr.. Allis viii accept me as his guest for
that period / think l can set back the
money for him"
Omaha daily bee., 1907-03-24

evidences Of my senses I must have en-
dured now to find relief in such GER
tainty!
1T was a week ago, while walking in
the garden. thinking, dreaming of Reg
inald, coming nearer and nearer with every
brave pulsation OF the great ship through
the ocean. 1 caught a glimpse the merest
glimpse OF a man, hiding among the trees.
In an instant he was gone, and yet that
instant was longer. more horrible, than
the years of torture 1 endured with him,
You must see Reginald when he arrives.
papa, and tell him all. 1 am glad at least
that his fortune hasn't also been taken
from him"
She turned to go, apathetlc; then, as fol-
lowing a smart rap, a sOdierly looking
man entered the room and stood at salute
she hssitatingly took seat at one side.
"Ah, Magdon, is that your" said Cronkts,
II thought It was about your apt time %
appear on the scene Mr. Allis, this is
Capt. Magdon-won his bars as a volunteer
in the civil war. Since its close he has
been employed in the treasury secret SER
vice"
with counterfeiters as a speciality. sir"
said the captain.
We'll, 1 fancy some OF those well exc
cuted thousands of the Ailscliffe gang have
come TO the surface again" continued
Cronldte.
yes" replied Magdon, "since got that
tip from you yesterday have been watch
ing sharp.
This morning one Of the downtown
banks telephoned that they had just broken
one Of them for a likely looking chap, so
likely looking that they didn't suspect until
no was gone However, I had no trouble
in trailing him.
you never saw such front when / ac-
cused him OF passing the queer. You'd
say he was fully as surprised the bank
teller had been.
by the way Allis, there was a young
woman with this man Grout-thats his
name, so his papers showed, Jack Circuit
there was a young woman who said she
was a connection Of yours. There is no
charge against her. but she was in such
pitlabe shape I left her IN the matrons
charge.
Il viii see that she is cared for. now and
always" said the broker, much affected.
"And Grout, what OF him?"
Hes dead; didn't I say? Made a break
TO escape and had to shoot-I never have
20 twice"
There was a low, horrihed moan and
Emily Grout tottered toward the door.
She would have fallen as she passed out
like one spent from a burdens weight had
not a young man, somewhat travel worn.
caught her In his arms She looked In
quiringly, doubungly at him and the bur-
den fell from her. Reginald, my Reg
inaldg" she murmured.
Omaha daily bee., 1907-03-24
|nter Joys and Sorrows Of Trapper the Great North Woods

TNNAPOL1S. N. s.. March H.-The
i al Old trapper romantic figure, the
JOY OF my youth. has never left
$ my minds eye-the tall, spare
aaa but sinewy frame dressed in
tringed buckskin and leaning lightly on has
trusty and unerring Brown Bess. the clear
blue eye flashing over the aquillne nose,
the silver locks flowing profusely from
under the coOnskin cap. The picture is
completed by the faithful hound, which
Invariably looks up into his masters face
with an expression of devotion and AL
most human Intelligence
At last l could bear it no longer.
Go to-" l said 70 myself Il will also
be the old trapper!" and stralghtway 1
consulted, Uncle Ned Buckshaw
The old fellow was sitting in front OF
his big cabin fireplace. upon which blazed
a pile of four-foot maple logs, and greeted
me with nod and a hearty "Howdy?"
with jerk Of the thumb toward a home
made rocking chair at his side. at once
plunged into the middle OF things and
explained what was on my mind and heart
The old man slowly took his corncob
from his lips and turned a glintlng eye
upon me.
SHOW! Coin to stay down and see the
snow fly, Ell? Ever done any trappin'2"
! explained that 1 had shared the savage
cottontail and trapped an occasional
Mephitis mephitica over on the black lots.
long ago In old Massachusetts.
HIM" replied the ancient Pretty cold
work Real work. too. II you want to get
any fur Well, yes, the moose season will
be on for a month yet. Might pick one up
on an odd day You weren't thinkin' O.
goin' OF alone. You s'ppose? Wouldn't do
that II I were you Me? Well. l dunno!
You see every trapper has his country
that sort o. belongs TO him. and when you
have to divide up on the catch"
There won't be much dividing, Uncle
Ned. I'll contribute four dozen brand
new traps and leave you all the fur except
one set OF mink and anything in the moose
line we may get"
The upshot OF # was that, as his regular
partner had decided to cook for a gang OF
lumbermen In another country, Uncle Ned
concluded to take me in his place, no doubt
reckoning on the cheap acquisition Of those
traps when we had finished our labors.
As we were to be gone a couple Of months
and TO work over a rather wide territory,
there was a good deal OF duffie and pro-
visions, which we loaded in two canoes.
one canvas covered and the other a birch
bark The fiotilla set sail one morning
in early November as the leaves were
rustling TO earth. for, as the Indians say,
when leaves fall fur good"
At the foot OF the chain of Liverpool
lakes, where the big river makes out,
stands the comfortable log cabin belonging
20 Del Thomas, and of this we took pos
session as home camp From here our
trap lines were to stretch eastward to Frog
and Bear lakes and north up the Gull lake
branch. forming about a right angle with
the cabin.
Omaha daily bee., 1907-03-24

Marcelus had coached him for the part of
Mr.. Blount.
Cronkite wished, however, that the judge
had been more comprehensive in his in
formation when presently dinner was
served. There he met Mr. Allis niece
Pauline Frame, on a personality 80 slight
and a disposition so retiring that 1t was
no wonder the Judge had sighted her.
Nevertheless 1t was through little things
that the detective formed his deductions,
and now a number OF them warned him
that he had TO deal with complex charac-
ter.
Miss Frame had undoubtedly adapted
herself thoroughly to a dependent position.
She exercised supervision over the meal,
as quiet as It was effective.
The very servants had way OF looking
over their shoulders, as II in fear OF her
espionage and no wonder. In the midst
OF a conversation she would fade from
the table, glide here and there and be
back again taking part in It before one
was conscious that it's thread had been in
teTrupted
She had dependents adaptability, too.
Whatever her uncle thought she thought.
Her cousins hopes and fears, anticipa-
lions and breads. were her own. She was
able to anticipate them, and thus direct
when she seemed to lead
over all her words and actions there
was the gloss of amiability, unvarying in
sheen and substance. Yet sometimes in the
duh shallowness OF her gaze and in the
precise platitudes of her lips there came
CLEAN. a tinge, like the whisk Of an
imp. indicating possible bitterness within.
Has she a dependents vices rs well as
virtues? Cronkite asked himself, uneasily
conscious that his study Of her lacked
the assurance which had marked his study
OF Mrs. Grout, and that therefore his de-
auctions regarding the latter must yield
Somewhat TO his doubts OF the former.
This consciousness, vague during its
growth. became a conviction when the un-
expected happened. The talk had ioated
sluggishly from young Brails artistic taste
to paintings in general then to portraits.
then TO photographs, thence to daguerreo-
types, and the rather crude devices IN
likenesses which had prevailed in earlier
days: yet when Cronkite recalled II all,
in bitter reflection afterward, he could dis
Germ the pulsation OF a word now and
again breathed rather than uttered by the
demure Pauline. Was 1t she who had
shifted incredulously when Mr.. Alls de-
clared that no modern miniatures eQualled
those made when he was young mani
wait a moment, Blount," the broker
cried. pushing back his chair as II &c
answer 70 a challenge, and / will show
these young folks a model Of beauty-yes
and OF department"
He has gone for the porcelain OF poor
dear mamma" explained Mrs. Grou
softly 1T hasn't been out Of the SAT-
since I was a child"
IF l might also be excused for mo
ment." said Cronkite, rising fully as hastily
There was something"
He was gone. even as he spoke and ye
too Jats. on hurryinE TO the library. Their
Omaha daily bee., 1907-03-24

No time at first for bitter reflection.
II required all of Cronkte's authority, as
guest and friend in the guise of MI
Blount, 10 prevent an alarm spreading with
all its consequent imperilling of Mr.. Allis'
fortunes.
Luckily Miss Frame expressed the ut
most reliance in his judgment Of what the
stricken man would have done Luckily
the physician, as discreet as he was skilled
declared that but few hours rest would
suffice for Mr.. Allis' recovery from a blow
benumbing but not dangerous.
Luckily too. this physician had at once
sequestrated Mrs. Grout Frustrated and
hystercal I'm her cousin charge ad-
fnnistering sedatives which he said would
have their fun effect by midnight. And
so the servants, faithful in their fright
promised TO keep the matter secret, and
quiet, If not tranquility, brooded over the
house.
In the guest chamber Cronkite reflected
the better for his chagrin. 1t had seemed
20 him on hearing Mr.. Allis' story to the
Judge that Mrs. Grout must be the thief.
When the judge had afterward told him
how Jack Grout had incontinently fed
on a vessel never reported and officially
declared lost he had reasoned that this
dreaded husband might have returned to
life and forced his wife TO steal for him
as the price Of his remaining dead to the
world And the effect Of his Enoch Arden
tale had done much to strengthen his faith
in this working plan.
Did he believe in it now? Only in sundry
details, not in the deduction from them,
for that Mrs. CIRCUITS character, as he read
It, contravened.
She was not the sort Of woman to rob
the father she loved for the husband she
loathed. She was not the sort Of woman
to dream even OF marrying again, no mat
ter how complete the immunity, while that
husband was alive. No, no, he had been
led astray by the commonest Of errors in
detecting, that Of suiting facts 10 the the
DRY instead Of the theory TO the facts.
But yet his Enoch Arden shaft had struck
the mark. Mrs. Grout had WINGED; there
had been more 70 her agitation than the
disagreeable association OF ideas,
She had been griefstricken by the first
loss. she was despairstricken by this sec
ond. What did such symptoms Of an I'M
derlying agony indicate?
This much, perhaps. She might have
had reason from a sound or a glimpse "a
suspect vaguely rather than TO fear really
that Jack Grout had returned. Her grief
at the first theft natural enough consid'
ering her affection for Brazil, would ther
have been intensified by the possibility thai
Grlut had committed II.
In the Joy Of having the money replaced
by her father and the whole incident treated
as trihing, one OF her buoyant disposition
would be apt to put aside the suPpositiol