davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1907-11-21

site door mat
81 don't see why you won't be
friends" the painter sTd as he stood
irresolute, with his picture in his hand
81 have my work. and nothing must
interfere with my career"
But we have lived opposite each
other for six months."'
"It would be the same IL we had liv.
ed opposite each other for six years, "
was the way she closed the discussion
More stars were. out when she again
sat with jerks by the window and the
moon flooded the world with light, but
over the roofs she caught the glow of d
different illumination, a red, murky
glow, that fiared up presently ints
flames and columns OF rolling smoke.
"It's a fire, Jenks," she told the dog
jerks whined.
"It's down the street." was her fur
ther Information, and then in sudden
panic, tits in the next house, Jenk.
sie."
With the dog close behind her she
ran to the door. The hall was full OF
smoke. Through 1t she saw the man
across the way.
I'VE can't get down." he said quick
ly. 1.-THE stairs are on fire. but there's
a fire escape from my window"
He caught her in his arms, and be
fore she could protest they were de-
scending the ladder
From the window above Jenks
whined.
"Oh, we can't leave Jenks," she
cried. Let me go. Let me CO." He
held her firmly and called up to the
dog, wait a minute, old boy, I'll be
back"
When she was safe and looked uI
through the smoke to where the pa
tient little animal was waiting She
said: "Oh, If you should be killed. II
is better that jerks should-go"-
But he was already on the ladder.
She covered her eyes with her hands
shout went up and some one said
Hes got the dog"
There was another long interval, and
then she felt something warm and wet
on her checks, and there was jerks
licking her face, and she threw hel
arms about his neck and cried.
And presently she held out her hand
to the man who had saved him and
said in a weak little voice:
"He shall sit on your door mat all
the time If you Will let him."
"There isn't any door mat" he told
her. ITS burned up. But I'll buy an.
other
She smiled at that. and her eyes as
they met his held in them all the
promise of friendship and more than
friendship that was to come.
Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1907-11-21

won't you go to my friend?" she
said as they offered her assistance
"She is really very much frightened
Please row her over here, and then we
can go home"
Julia climbed up the gangway in her
dripping raiment and sank into n chair
that the pilot offered her. The girl
was a wreck in more ways than one.
"I'll be all right In a minute" she
said to the pilot-'just as soon as I
can get my breath. You see, my friend
lost her bag overheard. and I-well, l
just fell reaching for 1t. Awfully stu
pid of me, wasn't itY'
"Was there money in the bag or
jewels?" asked the pilot with some
concern.
"Neither-just stockings" meekly re-
piled Julia as she held up to his view
an armful of sopping hosiery
"Stockingsv' yelled the surprised pi-
lot. What will women do next? Ha,
ha" Turning around, he called, II
say, Conroy, come along here and see
what we rescued while help the rest
of the party aboard"
Julia did not laugh, but sat up very
straight when the name of Conroy was
mentioned. How silly, she thought!
Conroy is a simple enough name, and
she leaned back again In the easy
steamer chair. But not for very long.
A tall, pale and sickly looking face
appeared at the door, peering around
in search of the rescued party. His
glance finally fell upon Julia and met
hers, and the college girl who had won
medals for her bravery and muscle
was just woman enough to faint as
she gasped his name.
In moment or two he was at her
side, implortng her to look at him,
while Mrs. Mills and the pilot seemed
suddenly struck blind and walked
around the deck.
"Julia, my Julia! Darling, look at
me once more that I may know 1t is
you! Water, you lazy dumbheadr' he
called to passing sailor Cant you
see the lady has faintedT"
The water seemed to revive her, and
she leaned back into his arms as she
had done in the chair before.
Fred, it Is Julia. or, rather, what is
left of her. Let me rest In your arms
a minute, dear, Just to make sure it's
you. Fred, dear, why are you 80
paleT'
Just bit of yellow fever, dear, bur
it put me in bed for few weeks and
gave me time enough to yearn for you
and to know that could never be hap.
by without you, so l shipped with this
old tea vessel, and here am. VIII
you give yourself to me now, dear?"
II cannot give you what is already
yours, Fred only hope for your sake
that III make better wife than die
a rowing teacher"
Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1907-11-21
THE POOR CAT.
One Occasion When the Animal Did
Not Come Back.


When the cat died the whole family
went into mourning, figuratively if not
literally. No common back door cat
this, but one that must be buried with
all honor. The question was how and
where.
Some one proposed cremation, but
this was rejected on the ground that
1t sounded too much like lynching. 1t
was finally proposed that the father,
who had to cross a ferry every day to
his place of business, should drop it
overheard, and as burial at san rath-
or appealed to the sentimental attitude
of the family this idea was received
favorably
The following morning the remains
of the cat We're made into package
and securely tied. 1t was a lovely day,
and the ferryboat was crowded with
passengers, and what had seemed so
simple at home assumed unexpected
difficulties in the face of curious
crowd, ready to imagine anything and
to put the worst construction on an ap-
parently mysterious action.
the best time would be the evening,
and he could slip the cat overheard
without attracting notice in the dusk
Through the day 1t occupied a corner
of his office and he was glad when the
time came for the return trip.
He waited until the boat was well
out in the stream and then. glancing
a lat 10 hn
package. Suddenly it struck him what
would seem strange in broad daylight
would seem doubly so at night.
With smothered groan he replaced
it on the seat beside him. There was
no help for 1.-THE would have to carry
1t home again.
AS he took his seat in the train that
was to convey him the rest of the way
he placed the cat on the shelf above
his head and for the first time that
day forgot all about 1t. Hurrylng to
get off the car when he reached his
destination, he was halted by some one
behind him. who thrust into his hand
the Ill fated package
When he reached his house he threw
1t down on chair in the hall and went
in to supper In the middle of 1t the
maid came in and asked how $ i,
should cook the meat he had brought
with himT'
"Meat" he exclaimed. THAT isn't
meat ! It's
But at this moment the maid pro-
duced the package and showed him a
choice piece of meat. History does not
say what the man said who got the
cat.-New York Sun.
Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1907-11-21

ham bones. Perhaps without ham
bones jerks might love me. Psyche
logically it's interesting, but l don't
want to put 1t to the test. / value
Jenks' affection too highly to seek the
cause"
I'm too busy" she reminded him,
Ito talk in the abstract And I'd rath-
er you didn't call jerks"
VERY WELL" he said formally and
went back to his room and shut the
door.
Miss Deakins stood irresolutely on
her door mat, with jerks by her side,
and looked at the closed door. There
was red in her cheeks and there was
tremble in her voice as she said to
the dog: Come on. jerks. I'm sorry
you can't be trusted, but you can't"
And as they entered the shabby little
room, lighted into whiteness and glare
nv great skvlight she went on. "I
don't believe l can trust anyDouy, NOT
even a dog, Jenksie."
She painted all the afternoon, and as
the twilight came on she sat and
looked out over the roofs, and jerks
sat beside her with his cold nose in
her hand, and when big star shone
over the top Of the highest building
she said, "I'm like the Miller of Dee,
4 care for nobody, no, not l, and no
body cares for me-"
Just then there came a knock at the
door. When she opened it no one was
there, but ON jerks mat was bunch
of lilacs, such as one buys at the cor
ner stands.
AS she filled all her bowls and vases
Miss Deakin sang little song, and be-
fore she finished there came another
knock at the door.
What were you singing?" asked the
man from across the way.
You know-the Spring Song" she
told him icily.
81 have just painted little picture
Of spring." he said ingratiatingly.
May show 1t to your
1t was water color-just n stretch
Of young fields, with sweep Of or.
fhard beyond, but It made her catch
her breath.
II can almost sniff the fragrance"
was her impetuous comment TT is
beautiful
THAT is the way the world is look
ing outside the city," he said, with en-
thusiasm. There are violets and pus-
sy willows. and the birds are calling =
let me take you out there tomorrow
1t will do you good. You are so pale"-
She froze at that. Certainly not"
she refused and spoke with sternness
to jerks.
"Jenks," she said, ~ told you not to
'~oss the hall.
cot nm waarily from the oppo-
Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1907-11-21
Tastes In Tobacco.
There's no accounting for taste
Take tobacco, for instance.

There's no accounting for tastes.
Take tobacco, for instance.
The man who smokes a pipe wants
to commit murder If he gets on the
back platform of a car and finds q
callow youth smoking ready made
cigarette He shifts disdainfully every
time the offensive odor gets into his
nostrils, and the youths features bear
look of disgust If he gets Whit OF
what he considers an evil smelling
pipe.
The cigar smoker may smoke both
pipe and cigarettes, but usually he alb
hors both.
The man who smokes Havanas win
throw away a domestic after a couple
Of puffs, provided the friend who gave
1t to him is out OF sight.
The cigar smoker will scorn a stogie
The confirmed smoker of stogies
doesn't give a rap about a good" CT
gar. The smoker of good" cigars will
say 1t is because his taste has degen.
Grated from smoking an inferior grade
of tobacco.
And then again there is the man
who will smoke any old thing that will
burn.-Milwaukee Free Press.
Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1907-11-21
HeIp the Editor.

An Oklahoma editor puts forth this
plea: my friend, help the editor in
his wide eyed search for news. When
your friends come to you. if you are
not ashamed of it. tell him; when your
wife gives a tea party. If you will
have recovered from the effects of
the gossip, drop in with the news;
when baby arrives fill your pockets
with cigars and call; If you go to a
party, steal some of the good things
and leave 'em with the item in our
sanctum. If your wife licks you, come
in and let us see your scars and tender
sympathy through the paper. If your
mother-in-law has died. don't be bash
full about it; give In all the common
place news. In short, whatever
makes you feel proud, sad, lonesome
or glad submit 1t to our twenty-four
carat wisdom and see our matted lock
part and stand up on end with graft
tnde, which will pour from every pore
with moisture from q dew besprinkled
earth."-Topeka State-Journal.
Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1907-11-21
CUT THEM ALL OUT.
The Enemies One Is Likely to Meet
In His Vocabulary.

"In the dictionary of fools we find 4
sant very often, plenty of ifs and
lots Of words like luck and destiny
and phrases like IF only had time or
a chance like other people""
Did you ever think that many of the
words and phrases which you constant
iy use are your real enemies, that they
leave their hideous pictures and black
shadows in your mind?
How many times have you been kept
from doing a good deed by such
phrases as "Oh, can't do that" 'I am
afraid that that will not turn out well" !"
"Oh, know l can't do that" Some
body else can do that great deal bet
ter" II am afraid to try" II haven't
the courage" Il fear shall take cold
or catch some disease If I do this or
thatT
| believe that those two words, "I
can't" have ruined more prospects and
have kept more ability doing the work
of mediocrity than any other two words
In our language.
II am afraid of this or that" is ter
rible hinderer, terrible blighter Of
ambition. cooler of enthusiasm.
All achievement and all efficiency de-
pend upon initiative, and that Is easily
killed by the fear words, the words
which express doubt and uncertainty.
by thy words thou shalt be justi-
fed, and by thy words thou shalt be
condemned. Success.
Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1907-11-21
Miss DedkinS'
Dog.
BY Philip kean.
Copyrighted. 1907, by Homer spraeue.

..Jenks," said Miss Deakins, ''don''
go across the hall again"
jerks Topped down on the door mat
and sighed, canine fashion.
''You understand said Miss Dea
Rins. jerks wagged a disconsolate tai
and closed his eyes. e
every WELL" and Miss Deakins weni
in and shut the door, withdrawing
from jerks the vision of her trim fig
ure, enveloped in a blue linen apron
down the front of which travelled
splotches of paint.
jerks, outside on the mat, heard q
faint whistle and lifted one ear Then
he whined softly.
A door opened across the hall.
''Cut 1t and run, Jenksie," said 9
masculine voice.
jerks yawned eagerly, but did moi
move.
other door mat
jerks stood up and wagged his tall
There was "get thee behind me. Sa
fam" protest In his attitude, coupled
with yielding.
And just then Miss Deakins opened
her door.
Were you calling my dog?" she de
manded.
"Yes You don't mind, do your" The
man came toward her as he said 1t
He wore shabby velveteen coat, and
the paint stains matched those on Miss
Deakins' apron.
81 do mind" Miss Deakins assured
him. "Jenks has been taught to lie on
his mat until II o'clock. Then he has
his lunch with me-"
''Such beautiful regularity" murmur
ed the man in the velveteen coat.
Miss Deakins flushed.
II don't see why he wants always to
so to your room"
"Of course you don't see," he agreed
"but-but jerks is rather fond of me-
"You give him ham bones" she ac.
cused him.
II do. There are some people and
some dogs to whom you have to give
things in order to make them love you
Perhaps jerks is not that kind of dog
Perhaps he may have a soul above
Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1907-11-21
VALUE OF WALKING.
Benefits to Be Derived From This
Form of Exercise.

Form of Exercise.
There is hardly an instance of long
lived man who has not been for the
best part of his life brisk walker
and for some reason or other has had
to take exercise pretty well every day.
Riding is all very well and so are
other exercises, but there is nothing
like good walk. because it stimulates
the blood and the muscles and necessi-
tates being in the open air.
If those who complain of being stout
would only think of this and never
omit daily constitutional they would
be amply rewarded. 1t will keep them
young and their figures presentable.
1t is simply a remedy that no one
heeds to. Sitting about in the open
afr is all very well and is far better
than sitting in the house. but it does
not keep you in good health.
1t is quite another thing to over
fatigue oneself There is nothing bet
ter than to get into healthy perspira-
tion by walking. 1t is just like drink
ing glass of cold water in the morn
ing. 1t is so simple no one believes
In it,
This may not suit everybody, but
those it does suit IL will keep in health.
-Pittsburg Press.
Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1907-11-21
a Timely Present.

certain colored gentleman recently
saluted a large colored lady of the
Amazonian type in the following Ian
guage:
"Yuhs lookin' mighty fascinatin'
this evenin', Sal"
Sal hauled off and knocked him
down. Then, looking him out of an
inclination to get up, she said. Now,
yuh jest lay thar till / goes an finds
out what dat word 'fascinatin''
meansr'
Next day the aforesaid eolored gen.
tieman presented the said Sal with
copy of Webster's Dictionary. say
ing, ''I might want ter salute yuh
ag'in, so jes please look up the mea u
in of some of these heah compliment
tation terms
Sal promptly refused to accept the
present upon the ground that one
would have to know the word in or
der to look it up.-New York Times,
Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1907-11-21
A RowinS
Lesson.
BY Jane LudIun1 Lee.
Copyright, 1907, by J. Morgan.

''Come along, Dora, and I'll take you
Dor a row on the sound. You have
1arned stockings until have the
fidgets."
"I thought you did not know how 30
row, Julia. At least that is what you
told Colonel Winston the other day
when he asked you to row him overxo
that coal barge of his"
81 wasn't going to row that big Eat
colonel across Puget sound Just to ex-
ercise my muscles, and little wiIfte
fb now and then won't hurt anybody.
Come along"
Dora finally gathered up her stock
ing bag and, with a suggestion Of
take your life in your hand" expres-
sion, started down the hill with Julia.
Several of the hotel employees were
about the float and helped the girls to
find a boat that was fairly clean. One
Of them stepped up, saying: Are you
going to row yourself, Miss Abbot l.?
Puget sound is a bit tricky at times,
and the harbor is pretty full of boats
Just now. Better take man along"
II don't want man along. That's
just why l am going for a row-to get
rid of the men. The piazza is full Of
them, and anyway Mrs. Mills and
are both good swimmers. Push her of,
John"
Julia seemed to pull a pretty good
stroke for a girl who had said in pres
ence of witnesses that she could not
row, and soon Dora's frightened ex-
preston had faded into one of content
as a soft breeze blew across her fore
head.
"I thought you couldn't row, Julia"
"Of course l can row. Who ever
heard of a college girl that couldn't?
You see, I went to Cornell, and we
girls had rowing club to compete
with the boys. Fred-you know Fred.
Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1907-11-21

don't you? Well, he used 10 coach mo
such good stroke
do you mean Fred Conroy that
went to Japan last year,"
Course | do! Whom did you think
l meantY
81 thought you never mentioned his
name any more. l know l referred to
him a month or so ago, and you polite
ly asked me never to refer to him in
your presence again-that he was "a
dead one think you said"
well, he is dead-that Is, as far as
am concerned-and, oh, Dora, some
times feel that maybe he really is dead,
and it's all my fault"
With this last remark Julia gave a
couple of terrific pulls on the oars as If
to emphasize the meaning of 1t, and
crash they went into a little sailboat
that lay at anchor.
"Even If he Is dead there is no use
of our joining him in this watery
grave, Julia. Please look where you
are going or I'll get out"
Did you think of walking ashore or
driving, Dora?''
well, didn't want to come, Julia
Abbot and YOU know It. and I'll lust
rnanK you TO row me ashore and leave
me to my darning"
"Oh, Dora, I'm sorry you're cross,
and I'm sorry | said anything! Only
the thought of Fred way out there in
Japan nearly drives me crazy. I'll give
you a lesson in rowing If you'll come
over here and take one oar"
After much persuasion and argu-
ment Dora began to collect her belong
ings and tuck up her skirts prepara-
tory to moving over on the seat with
Julia. The harbor was full of boats,
and they had quite an audience, but
Julia had made up her mind that Dora
should take lesson, and she bullied
her into making the change. The boat
lurched about as Dora came over, and,
with scream. she pointed to large
bundle that fell overheard.
my stockings, my stockingsr' she
screamed, pointing frantically at the
bag that was still floating.
Julia, ito bring your darning with you
in a rowboat Wait a minute. can
reach It."
She leaned over the edge Of the boat.
which was small, round bottomed
E@sir, lost her balance and darted
over the side into the water. Screams
arose from all sides of 'Woman over
board!" while Dora set uS frantic
moan, wringing her hands. but not
daring to move otherwise in her help
less situation.
In a second Julia was swimming to-
ward the bag, and laughingly she
grabbed 1t. By this time several sail
ors were overheard to her rescue, but
she refused all offers of assistance.
She swan to the nearest large vessel.
which was tea barge from Japan
that had anchored there to leave its
freight.
Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1907-11-21
AN IMPLOSION.
10 is the Opposite of an Explosion and
Less Familiar.

is the Opposite of an Explosion and
Less Familiar.
Every one knows what an explosion
Is, but its opposite, an implosion, is
less familiar. At great depths in the
sea the conditions are favorable for
Its production. At $500 fathoms the
pressure is, roughly speaking, two and
half tons to the square inch-that is
to say, several times greater than the
pressure exerted by the steam upon
the piston of powerful engine.
An interesting experiment to illus
trate the enormous force of this deep
sea pressure was made on the Alba
tross, government vessel engaged I'm
deep sea exploration.
A thick glass tube several inches In
length full of air was Theoretically
sealed at both ends. This was wrap
ped In flannel and placed in one of the
wide copper cylinders used to protect
deep sea Thermometers when they are
sent down with the sounding appa-
ratus. The copper cylinder had holes
bored in it, so that the water had free
access inside, round the glass. The
case was then sent down to a depth
of 1000 fathoms and drawn up again.
1t was found that the cylinder was
bulged and bent inward, just as If it
had been crumbled inward by being
violently squeezed. The glass tube
itself, within It's flannel wrapper, was
reduced to a fine powder, almost like
snow. The glass tube, 1t would seem,
as it slowly descended, held out long
against the pressure, but at last sud-
denly gave way and was crushed by
the violence of the action to a fine
powder.
This process, exactly the reverse of
an explosion, is termed an implosion.
Chicago Record Herald.
Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1907-11-21
Explicit Instructions.

Two New York girls recently were
ordered by their mother to join her in
mining camp about a days journey
from the City of Mexico. The girls
were to travel to Vera Cruz by steamer
and then by rail to the capital, where
their father was to meet them. AS
they never had been in that country
before they wrote to their mother ask
ing what sort of clothes they should
bring with them. By return mail they
received breathless sort of an epistle
telling them to be sure and start from
New York by certain date, but as to
the clothes question, the only reply
was. BE sure and have your riding
habits of the sort of brown that will
harmonic with the atmosphere here"
New York Press.
Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1907-11-21
MASTERY OF THE KlLE.
The Method by Which the Flow Of
Water is Controlled.

water is Controlled.
Every morning from a little room of
a great white house on the eastern
shore of the Nile at Assouan is clicked
by telegraph to Cairo the question.
How much waterW The answer
comes so many thousand gallons more
or so many thousand gallons less. A
button is pressed, the water which
flows under the iron bridge at Cairo is
increased or diminished some ten days
later in accordance with the telegraph
ic answer, and the intervening valley
between Assouan and Cairo has a lit
tie more or a little less water on its
surface. The man at the button may
bring joy or sorrow to thousands of
little farms-it is all according to the
message he receives.
From the great white house there
extends across the river a granite wall
or dam $50 feet high. Halfway up
this wall and stretching its entire
length line of shutters opens or
closes by a pressure of the button.
In the winter months a huge lake ex
pands to the southwark which has ev-
cry appearance of being Il flood, for
in certain places the tops of palm trees
are discernible above its surface. and
the SUBMITS of inundated ruins appar-
emily mark the sites of sunken cities.
AS the days go by and Cairo demands
more aud more water the palm trees
and the ruins seem to rise from their
watery beds until in June and early
July the river flows freely with all its
historic indoence-New York Times.