davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-01-20

"Our host" he said. sis entitled to a
great deal of credit for his highly origi-
nal manner of presenting us with these
beautiful"
Smith, the caterer, is entitled to the
credit for that idea," interrupted Potter.
Well" continued Hazard, trihe EN-
barrassed, well give Smith the credit for
that idea; but we must thank our host for
the beautiful opals. I merely want to say
that personally am not bit superstitieus.
You boys can all vouch for that, cant
your"
Sure" ch4rused the members, wondering
what was coming.
Well" resumed Hazard. his manner sim
gularly disjointed. what l was about to say
was that my wife is-ah--very timid, She
has certain pronounced aversions One of
them is a dislike for opals. If she thought
for moment that had an opal she would
be most unhappy. Now, while / do not
take any stock in superstitious rubbish
have no desire to make my wife unhappy
IL
IT see," said the host, trihe Ironically
you refuse your opal?"
Not exactly that
Before the confused member could finish
his sentence there was a call for Potter
His wife. who was in another part of the
house wished to speak to him. He apollo
gized for leaving his friends and hurried
away. He returned in few minutes, look
ing very much perplexed.
Boys, I'm in a pickle. My wife has heard
of the opals and says she will not sleep a
wink tonight IL l keep one of them in the
house. I"
He could say no more.
One after another Of the members. with
an eagerness bordering on the ludicrous,
arose and volunteered to relinquish his
opal. One of the members suggested that
the treasurer keep them for the benefit of
the club; but the mere suggestion of the
thing almost threw Winchel into a par
oXysm.
All this time the diners were in ignorance
OF the fact that the caterer was guilty Of
the attempted theft of the stones. It was
William Bott who mentioned Augustine
Smith and spoke of his long years OF faith
full service to the club. The name was an
inspiration Almost simultaneously Matthew
and Scarlet, two of the most active MEM
bers Of the organization. were on their
feet proposing that the opals be given to
the caterer as "a testimonial of the esteem
and regard felt for that gentleman"
"Of course" said Matthew, persuasively,
but with a mischievous twinkle of the
eye, II merely suggest this as a method
OF relieving Mr.. Potter and several others
from an unpleasant predicament. And.
needless TO say, the idea hinges entirely
upon the unqualified approval of our host
and the donor Of the opals."
"You have my unqualified APPROVAL"
shouted Potter. Now. what do the mem
bers say?"
The members said AYE" with a hearth
ness that made the glasses on the table
vibrate.
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-01-20

delight II seemed like searcasm that he
should be given the stones he had tried
10 piifer. but he accepted them gladly
enough and ten minutes afterward had
left the house and was on his way home.
At o'clock in the morning Potter
pounded on the table and declared the din
ner closed. The members drank final
toast and Joined in singing Aud Lang
Syne." The voices were still raised high
when the telephone bell rang. There was
silence as Potter walked over to a corner
of the room and picked up the receiver.
Yes this is Potter. What is it,"
pause for moment, and the hosts
face clouded.
THE Samaritan hospital1 What do you
want with me? To tell me? To tell me
what?"
There was mumbng sound over the
wire. Potter clutched the received so
tightly that the veins in his hands stood
out like tiny bits OF string,
You are sure he is out Of danger?'
The reply must have been assuring, for
he said:
"Ali right; I'll be up the first thing In the
morning"
AS he hung up the receiver the members
crowded about the host for information.
Somehow they felt that the telephone call
concerned them. Potter was terse and TO
the point
Augustine Smith was waylaid and sand
bagged at the lower end OF Blocker street
on his way home. His watch, pocketbook
and the thirteen opals were stolen from
him. Smith is in the hospital, but will re-
cover. The police haven't any clew to the
robbers"
The members gasped for breath and then
ft,la fad
their generosity in giving away their
luck" as Bot phrased It. While they
were talking the telephone bell rang again.
Potter listened with a grim smile on his
face.
The highway robbers have been ar,
rested" he said, 'and Identified by Smith
There were two OF EN-, and II means ten
years apiece In the penitetniary,"
What about the opals?" asked Bott.
THE men were caught crossing the
Brooklyn bridge" replied Potter. They
had the stones in bag, and In the strug-
gle that took place the thing slipped out
Of their possession. fell through the tres
tie work and the opals are now at the
bottom OF the river"
Clancy and Forward accompanied the
chief inspector of customs to his lodgings
that morning.
mo opals in mIne." blithely remarked
Clancy
Stun and nonsensev' retorted Barnes
But" respectfully ventured Forward
think of the customs examiner down with
appendicitis; the confidential clerk with the
broken leg; the servant girl breaking the
family heirloom, and the caterer sand
baggedr'
The old mans clear, ringing laugh
echoed against the stiffness Of the night
air.
I'm wager that fifty persons were oper-
ated on for appendicitis In this town yes
terday; I'm sure that many had their
limbs broken. AS for careless servant girls
that's too frivolous to discuss. Finally,
for seven consecutive nights citizens have
been held up and sandbagged at the very
spot where the caterer was robbed this
morning. 1t may be the means of compel
ing the authorities to police that place.
IL 1t does, It's clear gain to society.
Don't worry" smiled the old man as he
bade them good morning, but go home
and read my essay on The Theory OF
Condolences "
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-01-20
No Dinner Ever So Good

When mother used to cock on holidays
For Bob and Jane and little Joe and me,
IL must have done her dear heart good 10
Upon US as we clamored hungrily.
on, was II some peculiar knack she knew
know not; but know that this is true
No dinner ever tasted quite so good.
With magic such as she alone possessed
The bread and sage were mixed in proper
parts,
So that hath. the splendid fowl was always
To make our palates glad and please our
How happily she labored to provide
The feasts she gave US she only could,
while we the grateful appetites supplied
NO meal has ever tasted quite so good.
l see her still. as beheld her then
Come smiling from the kitchen, ard / see
The great brown drunsticks pointing up
In fancy l can hear the shouts of giee.
l smell the sayoTy ocor Of II yet,
Nor might blot out the picture III / would:
As long as | may eat I'll not forget
No meal has ever tasted quite SO good.
The mince and pumpkin pies she used to
Possessed a flavor that was rich and rare;
The doughnuts and the luscious layer-cake
- Have never yet been equaled anywhere!
carved,
The ways have spread and heightened as
How Iestlessly we sat and watched, half
starved
No meal Las ever tasted quite so good
The happy days when aunts and uncles
shared
Our bounty with US may return no more
Kings ne'er may feast as richly as we Jared
And princes never Jared as we'll beforei
The doughnuts, the cranberry sauce, the
pies,
And best of all. the JOY OF motherhood
That, as she served us, glistened in her
eyesl
No meal has ever tasted quite so good.
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-01-20

friends should meet and receive the con
gratulatons of the members. Would tn,
chief and his right and left bowers have
glass of wine? The two bowers accepted
with grace and politeness The old man
being abstemious, declined the wine bu
took in lieu thereof a smoking hot sup o
coffee.
After the confusion had subsidized Barnes
asked Potter to come to the library for
moment. The caterer was there ahead o.
them, with a face as white as chalk. The
old man opened the conversation.
There's no use In prolonging the agony
or trying to make mystery of this thing
he said, looking at the caterer while HI
spoke. Mr.. Potter, you are entitled to the
whole story 1t is short. This man, Au
CUISINE Smith. In moment OF deplorable
weakness. stole your opals."
Augustine Smith, our caterer, stole the
opals2" repeated the astonished host.
The culprit hung his head in shame and
did not say word.
Barnes briefly told the story Of his in.
vestigation. He recalled the misadventures
that had befallen Harmer. the customs ex.
aminer; George West. the confidential clerk
and Mary Martin, the servant girl
81 felt morally certain" he continued
II,
when I found half dozen little bits OF
tissue paper, such as jewellers and lapi
daries use to wrap around gems, on tn,
back stairway leading from the library
down into the kitchen and thence into the
dining room. l was convinced. He hat
gone up the back way to the library L
look for something in decorating the table
and saw the box on the desk Some devil
fish curiosity impelled him to open the
case and when he saw these brilliant
stones he succumbed to the temptation
he became a thief Mrs. Potter thought
he did not go to the second story at all
That is because she was in the reception
hall in the front OF the house He assures
me this is the first time he has ever stolen
and I believe him. When the question OF
returning the opals was discussed he sug.
gested the idea OF placing them in the
shells intended for ice cream. agreed
and took the liberty to assure him that
there would be no prosecution. Now you
have the whole story. II his penitence
does not recommend him 10 your mercy.
am satisfied that his ingenuity will appeal
to your love OF the original"
1T does" replied Potter. you can finish
serving the dinner" he added, turning to
the caterer, "and that will end all business
relations between u.s."
As the host returned to the dining room
he found the members examining the opals
with considerable curiosity. But their en-
thusiasm had subsidized. some one had been
telling the story OF the mlshaps of the
customs examiner, the confidential clerk
and the servant girl. OF course they all
laughed, but the ring OF sincerity was lack
ing IN the mirth. There was silence for
some moments. 1t was broken by Haz-
Yard.