davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Los Angeles herald., 1907-09-01
THE sPHONY" BURGLAR

he had been bound with cord torn
continued to menace him with the
shotgun while the daughter ran Up
stairs to wake up Fred.
Fred came down with a couple OF
guns, the mother descended with q
bottle of witch hazel clutched by
the neck, and the two women SER
wants were ready to take position on
the right of the left flank, as or
dered by the general.
Apologies and explanations were
renewed, and liter time they pre-
vailed. Miss Edith was clad she
had not shot anybody with an un-
loaded revolver. The general was
sorry that he had had all his trouble
for nothing, and Fred said he would
be at dinner when the 5000 were
laid out.
The next time Raffles appeared at
the manor house 1t was under his
own name and he was on his best
behavior. Some few remarks were
made to call for bushes on his part.
and the general still insisted that
he had not been treated according
to the rules of warfare, but things
passed off so we'll that Howard Burt
was asked to call again.
After that he did not appear to
need any special invitation, and 1t
may be that by the time the play
Is finished the hero and heroine will
decide that the hand of Providence
threw them together to prevent
Edith's becoming ar old maid.
Los Angeles herald., 1907-09-01
THE WRECK

They're regular ghouls," ex-
planned the train conductor. when
the passenger train smashed they
robbed the dead and in some cases
removed the only means of identtfi-
cation. We ought to be allowed to
shoot such trash"
For the first time the porter'S re-
mark about some of them being
robbed carried significance to Cor
ning's mind. He watched with in
terest the gathering crowd. From
nearby house someone was bring
ing coffee and sandwiches, which
were sold to the passengers at exor-
hitant prices.
Los Angeles herald., 1907-09-01

Had Prunella, in some miraculous
fashion peculiar to fiances, dragged
forth some affair out of the past ?
Had some one of my numerous rivals
confided to her that distant uncle
OF mine had died of consumption
After having cudgeled my ingenu-
ity exhaustively produced the fol-
lowing:
my Dear Girl: Yours to hand
and contents noted. l am shocked
and startled beyond expression. Our
relations have been too deep, too ten
der, too genuine, to be thus lightly
severed. It is my blessed privilege
to request an explanation, and fail
ing In that, to demand one.
IF you will be good enough to IN
dicate the hour / shall take pleas
ure in calling at your home. Don't
refuse, for depend upon 1t, I shall
find way Of seeing you face to face
and hearing the worst. AS ever,
dick"
This dispatched, I gave my atten-
ton to the long-neglected pile of
briefs stacked up on my desk. AS l
sat. working late into the twilight,
the telephone bell at my elbow tink-
led imperatively. I took up the re-
ceiver.
''Hello!" said l What do you
want?"
There was an infinitesimal pause;
then a feminine VI e asked:
MAY speak to NJ. Allison
please?"
I This is he," returned in my
most courteous tone.
"Ohr
"Well." observed. "have you re-
covered?"
"Recovered?" she repeated, in
profound establishment. Il don't
understand you"
.That letter." reminded. Wasn't
1t the result of an hallucination Of
some sort2"
"Certainly not!" She flung back
the words with such force that the
telephone wires tangled.
/ was quaking inwardly, but de-
termined to bluff 1t out.
.Oh, come now. Prunella-don't t
be foolish. Why don't you speak
out? If there's anything"
There is" she cut in sharply,
s'and here is the truth: / was COM
Los Angeles herald., 1907-09-01

about, he had visited seven different
bedrooms in a country. house and
robbed each one, and had then sat
down in the dining room for lunch
and smoke before departing.
Half a dozen of the club mem
bers agreed that he must have nerves
of steel, but the seventh was the ex-
ception. 1t was Howard Burt, a
young broker, who had sat quietly
listening for the last half-hour.
eyes, it's all nonsense" he re-
peated, as the others turned to him
in surprise. There is no nerve
in robbing a sleeping house, or in
porch-climbing, when you know that
there is not one chance in fifty of
meeting anyone upstairs"
Los Angeles herald., 1907-09-01

II mean the big wreck" urged the
boy. "The one what was in all the
papers.
$50 you're one of those who robbed
the dead" said Corning angrily.
The boy shock his head. II found
1t after they cleared things up. Cross
my breath"
What is it you have?" asked Cor
ming idly.
The boy thrust his hand deep in
his pocket and exhibited a ring. Cor
ming gasped. 1t was the same he
mad sent Nancy. Perhaps she was
wearing 1t. Perhaps He turned
sick and faint.
Take dollar for it," coaxed the
boy.
"I'll give you ten If you can get
me to town." said Corning, as he
took the ring.
1t was not far to Nancy's. In
town he could get an automobile IL
the trains were not running. He
must know at once. If she were
dead!
His mind knew no peace until
late in the evening the automobile
drew up at Nancy's home and Nancy
herself answered the summons.
THANK God!" was his greeting,
as he staggered into the hall.
1t was some time before he could
speak connectedly and tell the story
of his fears.
"And you thought I had been
killed." she said, as she slipped her
hand into his. "It must have been
in the mail bag. I did not write, for
you said you might have to go
abroad, and I concluded that you had
gone-without a line
"Is it too late?" he asked anx-
iously.
''Too late for Christmas pres
ent," she decreed; then. as his face
fell, "but you are forgetting that
this is st. Valentines day. 1t will
make splendid valentine"
Los Angeles herald., 1907-09-01

was loaded seemed about to go of
and send bullet into his brain, and
the intruder rose and walked over
to the closet indicated and opened
the door and entered. The girl fol-
lowed at his heels and turned the
key, and then sat down, all Of a
tremble and began to cry.
She had not made up her mind
what further to do, when the father
came down stairs with a shotgun in
his hand. He had heard some noise
that aroused him. In the front hall
he stumbled over silver trophy that
Fred had won In his athletic days.
What the devil is happening
here?" he demanded in official lam
guage, as he looked from the tear
full daughter to the trophy and back.
20, daddy, have cap-captured
Raffles. He is in that closet"
Then I'll have him out and blow
the top Of his head off. What in
blazes are you doing capturing rob-
bers without saying anything to
your superior officer about it?
Things have come to pretty pass
in the service. Now, then, stand
back while have the scoundrel out.
Say, you in there-if you make the
least resistance I'll blew you into
dogs meat"
The door was flung wide open and
Raffles walked out. He had re-
moved his mask and was trying to
smile, but 1t was sickly effort.
He began to apologize and explain
but the general cut him short until
Los Angeles herald., 1907-09-01
THE RED BILL


~ ETTY took her cult case from
the porter and mounted the
H. station steps to the street.
Evidently no one had come to
meet her, so she started up the
street. The suit case was not heavy;
not as heavy as 1t had been in town.
1t seemed, and 1t was not such a
long walk to the house.
Still 1t was rather hard that no
one should have met her when she
had given up her theatrical career
to come home and keep house for
the boys.
Probably Ned Haskam would
think, she had come home on account
of him, but she would show him.
Her lips closed firmly together and
she gripped the handle Of the suit
case more tightly.
She wondered at the sensation her
appearance excited. Men stared at
her with Interest and even turned
to address her. Perhaps they knew
that she had been an actress. That
made her none the less woman en-
titled to respect. The notice she
attracted caused her to turn down
side street.
Just as she rounded the corner she
almost ran into Ned. He gasped at
the sight of her; then his eyes, fell
Upon the suit case, the look of glad
ness faded from his face, and, with
Los Angeles herald., 1907-09-01

young lady remembered that there
was a revolver in a drawer OF the
desk at which she was writing. She
had used it when posing in the place
Of her heroine.
"You are up late" observed Raf-
fies, after he was comfortably seated.
"Who are you and why are you
here?" she asked in reply.
"Just Raff1es, iy uou plaese. The
first question will answer the sec
ond."
He had pleasant voice. He had
an aristocratic foot and hand. While
he lounged carelessly, his attitude
was that of gentleman. AS her
first chill of fear passed away, the
girl noticed these things.
They counted in his favor, but
only to an extent. The newspapers
and the police had said that Rafflcs
was a gentleman. If you aust be
robbed it is better to be robbed by
a gentleman than by tramp, but
It is still better not to be robbed at
all
Los Angeles herald., 1907-09-01
ALL FOR HIM

w CONSUMED many perplexing
hours over circumspect, yet
sufficiently emphatic reply to
Prunella's recent surprising
communication. Here is what she
wrote:
Dear Dick: Our engagement is
at an end. Something awful has
happened-something that makes it
impossible for me ever to marry you.
do not, pray you, attempt to
see me; could not endure it--not
now.
"Under separate yer I am mail
ing to you our ring, together with
the brooch, watch and bracelet you
sent me on my last three birthdays.
Please do likewise in regard to diff
ferent trifies have given you.
do not care for them intrinsically,
but under the circumstances it is
best that this should be done.
IT am starting for Colorado
Thursday, where l shall make my
home with the Cahills as governess
and companion to their children.
do not try to intercept me. This
is final, and though it breaks my
heart there is no other way but to
sign myself. Farewell forever,
"PRUNELLA."
The letter had left me bewildered,
dumfounded, dazed. 1t was long
time before could rake my facul-
ties together, even to think.
Los Angeles herald., 1907-09-01

Miss Edith figured that the in
truder must have been in the house
for some time, and that he had made
up his bundle of plunder and was
ready to leave when h had discov-
cred her light. A sudden resolve to
capture Raffles came to her.
That was exactly what the heroine
of her play would have done. When
the heroine followed the James
brothers she had only a little club
in her hand. Here was a firearm
ready at hand, and although 1t was
not loaded, how was Raffles to
know?
"A play, is it?" queried the
masked man, as he bent forward to
look.
Eyes"
Los Angeles herald., 1907-09-01

"a useless waste of time. have
been told that there are 500 plays
written for every one accepted. What
is the plot? Perhaps I can give you
pointer or two"
''It Is this" said Miss Edith, as
she pulled the drawer open and
seized the revolver and pointed it
straight at him. There is closet
over there. If you do not enter 1t
I will shoot you dead!"
Don't trouble yourself. In the
first place, am not armed, and If
were there would be no shooting on
my side. In the second, wish to
identify myself and explain my
presence here. If you will kindly
call your brother Fred, whom 1 pre-
sumo is in the house and whom /
have known personally for the last
five years"
II shall do nothing of the kind.
sir. Into that closet or 1 firel"
II am not the rascal Raffles. We
were discussing him few nights ago
at the club, and"
The revolver that did not know it
Los Angeles herald., 1907-09-01

1t on tomorrow when she comes"
With a feeling of thankfulness
Betty turned over the Offending suit
case. I'm glad that's out of the
way before the boys saw it," she
said briskly. ''I'll get mine to-
morrow"
Then you have given up the
stage?" Ned said, "for good and
all?"
For good and ALL" she repeated.
i was doing very nicely, too, with
good stock company"
You cannot tell what shock II
was when saw that bag" he said
reminiscently. II had NOT heard
tnat you Were ;oming home, and
when you turned the corner with
that label in plain view / thought
That my last hope had gone"
1T has" she snapped. "If Won
are that narrow about my hayina ;
been on the stage, you needn't hone
anything. It doesn't mater whet her
was in burlesque or not.''
Forgive me-" he cried. 81 did
not mean to hurt you, dear"
(, III you thought for moment tbat
/ could wear those horr., clothes.,,
she sobbed, II don't want to ever sac
you again" - see
Il don't think it would have mat
tered" he explained. "pm q nris
Betty. I didn't realize it INIT, s;
spoke. didn't mean 1t, dear. Won =
you forgive me?"
II came here to keep house sor
the boys" said Betty decidedly 81 81
didn't come home to marry vo,, y
"You can keep house for Ali =,
u.s." he suggested. Wont YOU mar
me one of the boys?''
Perhaps" she said slowly. "It
does seem so good to be home that
don't want to be hateful the first
day.
'.Or any other day." he suggested
well, especially this. And / did
count on seeing you and then YOU
were SO mean
"And so were you," he smiled. "to
come masqueradinE into town like
that"
perhaps was.s she admitted.
'Let's--let's--''
kiss and make up" he com
pleted. only don't let's have any
more masquerades.
mot in those costumes" shud-
dered Betty. remembering the bills.
Los Angeles herald., 1907-09-01

q formal bow, he passed on.
This was the final straw. Betty
turned and called after him.
He swung back in response to her
call, the same look of gravity and
disapproval still upon his face.
.Can you tell me where the boys
are?" she asked. "There was no one
at the station to meet me and--it
was all just horrid. All the men
stared at me as though I was a
freak"
mot to be wondered at under the
circumstances. AS you seem to- be
in difficulties. may be of assist
ance? That suit case seems heavy. +"
He possessed himself of 1t in the
old masterful way, despite her pro-
tests, and fell into step beside her.
"You haven't told me about the
boys yet" she remarked. "Is any.
one ill?"
81 don't think they expected you, :"
he said. II saw Jack and Will this
morning. They were going over to
Ransome on the train. Gus must be
home"
II guess they told Gus to meet
me-" she smiled. "Gus would forget
his wife, let alone his sister. Do you
find me much changed?"
II thought that you looked very
well,' he said, trying to hold his
voice steady. He had already as
sured himself that she was more
attractive than ever, and he was try
ing to keep that fact out of his
mind.
But why do they stare at me as
though / were circus parade?" she
demanded. "I had to come down the
back way to get rid of tbs silly
fiirts.'
Possibly it was the suit case"
he suggested.
but suit cases are not so uncom-
mon,' she persisted What is un-
usual about miLe?"
.'The label" he explained, as he
swung the case around that she
might see the ends.
A strip OF white pap printed in
red bore the legend:
"Rialto Reindears"
"Theater."
THAT company lays here tomor-
row might. Probably they are at
Brid4eton tonight. Were they on
the train with your"
"TEhere was girl who had part OF
Los Angeles herald., 1907-09-01
ANCE CORNING sat back in
his chair and watched the
country slip past. The grim

v country slip past. The grin
skeletons of the trees, sharp
iy outlined against the glistenine
snow, and the infrequent, unpaintet
farmhouses were no more desoiatt
than his own thoughts.
He was going away, past Nancys
home, but toward the golden west
He had waited, hoping against hope
for her answer, and she had not even
made acknowledgment. He could
ealmost see the letter, so vividly had
It impressed itself on his mind.
.'I am sending you the mascot
ring y he wrote. "If you will wear
jt--on your engagement finger-you
will make me the happiest man In
the world. If you will have none OF
a throw it in the little lake on
whose surface I first enjoyed your
companionship. Make it a sacrifice
to dead hopes, for unless you will
wear It. do not want to see II
again"
That had been the week before
christmas. 1t was February now
and no word had come. The town
had become intolerable, and now he
sat hack in the section Of the sleep
or and gave himself over to his mel
ancholy thoughts.
The abrupt stoppage of the train
brought his thoughts t quick ter
YoInation; le was thrown against
the forward seat of his section. The
few passengers in the car looked at
each other with blanched faces, but
as nothing followed, conscience re-
turned and they made for the doors.
Corning followed the rest and
s,yune himself down to the ground.
At the head of the train the locomo-
five panted, it's cowcatcher almost
to,ching the caboose of the freight
train ahead. Beyond was mass OF
wreckage, freight cars piled one
upon another or upon the ground
with their sides gaping.
"Track spread" explained the car
conductor as he hurried past. There
was nos, absmash here couple of months
O. Maybe they did not repair the
track properly, or perhaps there's a
sost M snot in the roadbed. We got off
Anybody hurt?" Corning called,
hut the conductor was gone and the
norter answered for him. "Ain't none
hurt this time, reckon, but the 9TH
a. wreck-that was. a passenger"
~ dc at remember" said Corning.
.Jest before Christmas" explained
the norter. "There was lots of peo-
nIa n the coaches. Come head on
with a freight. and some of 'em was
robhed. They sho' is tough lot
Twin erlong here'bouts.
The prospect was not very en-
couraging. The rails had spread
after the engine had passed and
some half dozen cars had held the
track. Then had come the smash
and some Of the rear cars had piled
up on those that had left the track.
1t would take half day to clear
the track and the wrecking crews
had not yet arrived, but an audience
Of the country people had gathered
and for these the trainmen had es-
tablished a deadline. keeping them
back with threats and blows.
Los Angeles herald., 1907-09-01

come to tell her that one of the
horses In the stable had the collie,
,or that he was the gardener with
the announcement that COW had
broken into the grounds and eaten
up her favorite rose bush.
1t was we'll for Miss Edith that
she had been writing play in which
her heroine swan rivers, jumped
over cliffs and pursued the James
brothers to their lair. She repre-
sented the heroine. 1t would not do
for her to faint away in the presence
of one robber, who did not even dis
play a pistol.
The two looked at each other for
half a minute, and then Raffles quiet
ly sat down in chair few feet
away. At the same moment the
Los Angeles herald., 1907-09-01

Corning went over for cup Of
coffee and stood for moment lis
tening to the complaints of those
who resented charge of % cents
for a cup of coffee.
Presently small boy engaged his
attention. Want to buy souvenir
of the wreck?" he asked.
~ don't think I need anything to
keep this in mind" laughed Corn
ing.
Los Angeles herald., 1907-09-01

Tommy's Idea.
Nov Tommy" said the teacher
what kind Of fountain was Ponce
de Leon lookin. for?"
Tommy thought for a long time
II guess 1t was a soda water foun.
TAIN" he said finally.
Los Angeles herald., 1907-09-01
Cogger's "Chue.,I

Cogger's "ChugS''
Gunner-Well, see Cogger's au-
tomobile has broken down again.
Guyer--Broken down! WHY 7
hear 1t going "chug! chugi"
Gunner-That isn't the auton,o-
bile. That is Cogger puffing sor
breath while he pushes behind
Los Angeles herald., 1907-09-01
Reversible.

Gunner Elections are quite sys-
tematic over in France.
Guyer-Any more SO than here in
America?
Gunner-Oh, yes. Over there every
vote counts and every count votes.
Los Angeles herald., 1907-09-01

lkDooHl PooHl It's all non
sensei" They had been
talking at the club about a
new "Raffles" who was do
ing some daring things in the way
of entering houses in the city and
suburbs. His exploits numbered
over thirty, and the police had not
even caught sight of him yet.
Some of his victims had seen
dark figure and fred at it, but there
had been no bloody trails to follow
to success.
He had robbed householders at
dinner time and he had robbed 9TH
ers as. they slept the sleep of the
Just. In the instance most talked
Los Angeles herald., 1907-09-01

On Balmy Breeze.
Et comes up fun de soufian' on a
balmy blossom breeze,
En- ct seems to be a-callin'. Take
yo' ease, man, take yo' ease";
So All slip off to de meddehs wheh
de willows softly swish,
Kase All amt no good fob noffin but
to loaf aroun' an fish.
Los Angeles herald., 1907-09-01
what He Deserved.

'Suppose ! should sing Rocked
in the Cradle Of the Deep?' ventured
the brassy young man with the fog
horn voice.
''In that case" replied the gem
tfeman with the protruding chin,
"you wouldn't be rocked"
II wouldn't, eh?"
mo, you'd be stoned"
Los Angeles herald., 1907-09-01
From .Jokeland

he has been collecting antique jew
els for some time.
Los Angeles herald., 1907-09-01
what They Saw.

First Chorus Girl--That handsome
millionaire said was a jewel. He
also said he would like to have me
for his own little wife.
Second Chorus Girl-Yes. l hear
Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1907-01-10

The latter read a paper on producer
and Prices" which was well received.
Ten counties were represented and the
delegates were enthusiastic. Strong
resolutions were adopted and also a
committee to present them to the legis-
lature. State Organizers appointed
were j.. T. Love and w. w. Rowland,
Of Madison, and M. M. Fox, of Water
town. The next meeting will be held
in Waterfowl
The state educational department
has made up a list of the new county
superintendent elect and out of the
ffty-three in the state nineteen are
ladies. The COW counties west of the
river showed their ~gallantry by select
ing ladies for the place, the only excep-
lions being Gregory and Lyman, which
are taken up with new voters.
A warrant has been issued at the
instance of Joe Kirby for the arrest of
w. T. LaFollette, editor of the Mitchell
Gazette, charging criminal libel.
Editor LaFollette in "A recent issue of
his newspaper commented upon the
arrest of Editor Ross, of the Sioux
Critic, who had been arrested for
libel of Kirby.
Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1907-01-10

returned to the Jail for the purpose of
placing them in their cells for the night.
An examination of the interior Of the
Jail revealed that the WE prisoners had
taken the side rail from an iron cot and
with this had pried out two iron bars
from the Jail window, through which
they crawled TO freedom. 1t il feared
that the fugitiyes have succeeded in
making their way TO the Rosebud
Indian reservation or 10 Northern Neb.
raska, where il would be difficult TO
find them.
The latest Of the new towns in that
part Of Lyman county to secure a post
o flee is Stony Butte, situated north of
Vivian. G. p. Dolby has been appointed
to the position OF postmaster. A stage
line will be established between Vivian
and Stony Butte for the purpose of
carrying the mails and passengers. The
new postofice will prove a great con-
venience to the homesteaders in the
region surrounding Stony Butte, who
have heretofore had poor mail facilities.
1t is reported that a postoffice also is TO
be established at what is known as the
Milton Store, southwest of Vivian,
with A. T.. Milton as postmaster.
Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1907-01-10

The supreme court has decided in the
case of II. Ii. Gray against the county
commissioners of Beadle county, that
q county commiss Toner is elected 10
transact business for the whole comfy
AMI a change of residence from one dis
trict to anoth Their within the anne county
does not effect his title "a the position
or in any way disqualify him from
acting in the capacity of which he was
elected. Gray was elected to serve as
county commissioner from one OF the
country districts. Afterwards he
removed Il the city of Huron, and on
the ground that he no longer resided
within the district from which he was
elected, the board of commissioners
declared the Office vacan and appointed
a successor. Judge Whiting upheld
the action of the commissioners and the
supreme court over-rules his decision.
The annual meeting of the American
Society of Equity, which has been in
at Madison two days, closed last
Thursday. Twenty-Five delegates were
present the first day and forty the
second. State President A.G. Schmidt,
of Madison, and Secretary j. A. Ross,
of Sioux Falls, were both reelected.
Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1907-01-10

"'@.e n.y. ~ 49,
- 's{f ~ s,tsaEtasSitst