davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1907-09-25

just as the red headed engineer said
1t would. After you have called a
Mexican cattle thief coyote, snake,
q skunk, gopher and a coward he
wants to close in and argue the mat
ter from nearer standpoint Don
ArterO uttered yell and led the
charge. Only three or four rifles
blazed at his gang. There was just
room for the line to sweep across the
ground planted with lear traps, and
within minute after the yell The traps
were doing business. Sap. snap, went
their heavy jaws, and 4!ls and boots
Of pain and terror followed.
General Grant couldn't have done
better in his palmiest days. Out. of
the thirty-fve scoundrels all but three
were caught and held fast, and when
Don Chuaya went out to inspect them
he found no fight left in even the
leader. The captives could not have
suffered more had they received two
bullets apiece. The engineer had bust
ness elsewhere for two or three days
after the fight. When he returned for
his grant Of land he found Don Chuaya
in possession Of the Artero ranch and
its host of cattle, and there was no
one to dispute. He inquired for the
prisoners and was told that they had
gone on journey. When he had
rested a day or two the don handed
him certain papers and checks and,
smiling, said:
Farewell, my friend. This is a
great country, but one Yankee and a
hundred bear traps have taught me
more about political economy than l
might otherwise have learned in life
time" Nj. QUAD.
All He Did.
"You are charged said the court,
reading the formal complaint, with
having willfully, feloniously and with
malice aforethought appropriated to
your own use and behoof certain ar
ticle-to w.t. vehicle-said vehicle
having been wrongfully and felonious-
~ distracted by you from the premises
Of one John Doe, contrary to the stat
ute in such cases made and provided,
and against the peace and dignity Of
the people OF the state of Illinois,
What say you? Are YOU guilty or not
guilty?"
'Im not guilty, jedge,' protested tho
prisoner.
"All l done was to steal a buggy
Chicago Tribune.
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1907-09-25
A Couple efDons.

copyright, 1907, by M. M. Cunningham
Don Artero of old Mexico was no
don at all. He was q cattle stealer.
Don Chuaya, his neighbor, was real
don and a cattle owner. Don Artero
settled near Don Chuaya He wasn't
a desirable neighbor, and the govern
ment was asked to remove him. The
government fingered. Five hundred of
Don Chuaya's steers got mixed up
with the other dOn's herds, and the
government was asked to send troops.
The government was very sorry, and
so forth, but it had none to spare.
Don Chuaya at once proceeded to
hustle He called in and armed his
retainers to the number of fifty and
made descent on the other don with
the avowed object Of capturing 1000
of his biggest and fattest steers. The
other don heard of the contemplated
raid, and there We're an ambush and a
fight, and the forces of Chuaya were
put to flight. Twelve Of them We're
killed and the others licked out Of
their boots. When a true don has
bucked up against the game and got
the worst Of it he feels as badly cut
up as hundred Uncle Rubes rolled
into one. He sWells with indignation
He CRASHES his teeth in fury. He gets
out at the front door and yells "Caram-
ba!' at the top Of his voice. He can't
let things go that way. He is bound
to get back at the other Teller if it
takes his last red in cash and his last
drop Of blue blood.
Don Chuaya raised hundred men
this time. He figured that hundred
ought to lick twenty-five, but it so
happened that Don Artero was mean
enough to recruit his own force to
seventy-fve, and each one of them was
worth three poems as fighters. When
the forces came together the fight did
not last ten minutes. Don Chuaya's
men. were defeated.
The next raid was made by Don
Artcro, and he gobbled up thousand
head of cattle. From thence on for
the next two years he bothered the life
out Of the other and brought his proud
head low with shame and humiliation
He even made threats of storming the
Chuaya hacienda and putting all to
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1907-09-25
THE FLIRTING LOBBY.
Feminine Visitors to the English House
IS Hononoone

Of Commons.
Women visitors to the English house
Of commons are relegated to the semi
seclusion of gallery provided with a
heavy iron grating. When gentle
hum of conversation and light laughter
floats down from the ladies' gallery
members look up and see through the
interstices Of the heavy grating deli
cate tintS of soft fabrics, the bloom Of
a fair check or the CLEAN Of bare
white arm.
Amusement and curiosity, Of course,
bring the ladies to the house of COM
mons, but these cannot be the only
motives. The fair visitors would hard
ly trouble to array themselves in such
ravishing evening toilets merely to
sit in the gallery, that ill lighted den
where dresses are not seen to ad-
vantage.
No doubt it was with view to the
prevention Of flirting that the rule was
laid down that if member desires to
converse with lady in the gallery he
may do so for five minutes only. Mem
bers, especially the young and impress
sionable, make frequent visits to the
cage OF course it is for the purpose
Of pointing out the celebrities on the
benches below.
But if in doing so he should exceed
five minutes the gallery attendant is
empowered to call his attention, cour
teOuSlV but firmly to the fact that he
has outstayed his limit. 1t is to be
feared that this official, in evening
dress, with chain and badge, often
interrupts, by his "Time's up, SIR
whisperings Of soft nothings in the la
dies gallery, or the flirting lobby" as
it has been Observation-Disclosures La
dies Realm.
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1907-09-25
Pretty Pert,

A baldheeded man writes: 'The
most impertinent child ever met was
boy Of ten years of age. On leaving
his widowed mothers house l at
tempted to pat him on the head in a
fatherly manner: At this he pushed
my hand away and said, Grow some
hair Of your own, old man, If you want
to pat it,"
Juvenile Diplomacy.
"Pa," inquired Freddie, what is d.
plomacyY'
diplomacy, my boy" responded the
old man proudly, lis doing exactly the
right thing at exactly the right mo-
ment"
'Then 1 used diplomacy last night"
"What did you DO. my boy?"
"Why, heard mamma say that she
was going to give me some castor oil.
Now, you know, l generally sleep on
the outside Of the bed, but last night,
when heard mamma coming upstairs,
I pushed Johnny into my place, and
Johnny had the dose Of OIL"
Got Rid Of His Company.
A visitor at a health springs was dis
Inclined to sociability. After he had
been there few days young woman
stopping at the same hotel took pity
on his seeming loneliness and tried
to engage him in conversation. After
q few conventional remarks she asked
what had brought him to the springs.
Fits" he replied confidingly-"fits.
And I'm so glad to make acquaint-
ances, for the doctor doesn't want me
to be alone, not even for two minutes"
The young woman disappeared, and
the unsociable man was bothered no
more.-Kansas City Star.
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1907-09-25
jerks got up YEARLY from the oppo-

jerks got up YEARLY from the oppo-
site door mat.
II don't see why you won't be
friends" the painter said as he stood,
lrresolute, with his picture in his hand.
II have my work, and nothing must
interfere with my career"
"But we have lived opposite each
other for six MONTHS
ut would be the same if 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 a
| different illumination, red, murky
glow, that Jared up presently into
flames and columns of rolling smoke.
tits fire, jerks" she told the dog
jerks Whined.
| ''1t's down the street." was her fur
ther information, and then in sudden
panic, "1ts in the next house, Jenk-
sie"
With the dog close behind her she
ran to the door. The hall was full OF
smoke. Through it she saw the man
across the way.
1--WE can't get down." he said quick
ly. ''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 jerks
whined.
"Oh, we can't leave Jenks," she
cried. LET me 60. 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 up
through the smoke to where the pa
tient little animal was waiting she
said: ooh, if you should be killed. It
Is better th~t jerks should-go"-
But he was already on the ladder
She covered her eyes with her hands,
and then she knew nothing until a
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 cheeks, and there was jerks
licking her face, and she threw her
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
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1907-09-25

the sword, and at last the old man
with the white hair and proud title
found himself under blackmail. He
had to pay so much month to he let
alone.
These things were breaking Don
Chuaya's heart when red headed
civil enginecl belonging to the survey
corps of the Mexican Central road
came along one day and heard the
story. He felt sorry for the don. He
had been driven off the lands OF the
other with contumely. and he sighed
for revenge. A civil engineer need
not have seen war to be able to see
strategic situation This engineer
saw one at the hacienda. He saw just
where Don Artero would attack and
just where he would meet with disas-
ter. There weren't dozen poems on
the ranch who would fight, and some
thing besides fighting must be resorted
to. The first thing was to find out
what the don would do in case he cap
tured Don Artero and his band.
When told that all would be killed he
sat down and had a talk with the d
man. -Four days later hundred | g
bear traps arrived from Mexico City.
The bear trap market was frmer than
for years before. The poems dug up
a certain space Of ground and planted
the traps, and then Don Chuaya sent
word to Don Artero that he was q
robber, a thief, blowhard and cow
ard. There was to be no more black
mail. The big robber was insulted
sneered at and defed. He was told
that If he came within mile of the
hacienda he would be chawed to rags.
You can wager that such a message
made the others hair curl He read
the missive and then swore by the
beard of his father that he would tear
out the adobe walls of the others cas-
tie and eat his fried heart for lunch
con. He meant what he said, and the
horn was sounded and the dogs of
war unleashed. His band now num-
bered thirty-five men, and on the very
next morning they appeared in front
of the hacienda, and immediate and
unconditional surrender was demand
ed. Don Chuaya appeared and hurled
vile epithets at the robbers and dared
them to come on. The thing worked
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1907-09-25
Just Like a Girl.

He is very young boy. His is the
age when a lofty contempt for the op-
posite sex manifests itself, the con-
tempt which usually finds merciless
retribution in later years.
His task Of watching the baby was
not as distressing as it might have
been. He had utilized the bascinet as
a cradle and had found place where
the floor sloped little.
Behind the vehicle he extended him
self and with head on hand proceeded
to read story paper. An occasional
pull at a string fastened to the rear
axle impaired the motion necessary to
keep the slumberer from waking, but
the baby soon had it's nap out and be-
gan to cry. The boy paid no attention
to the noise, and after awhile his Sis
ter came to Investigate.
II suppose you are going to lie there
and wait for the baby to learn to talk,
SO it can tell you what it's crying
about"
NO." he answered. Being able to
talk wouldn't make much difference"
"Why not?"
because it's girl Girls never know
what they're crying about. 1t just
comes natural to them to do it,
Pearson's Weekly.
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1907-09-25

sary to our paSsing-Dut she showed
no disposition to do SO, though at our
meetings her gratitude found more at
tractive expression. Indeed, was be-
ginning to take a positive pleasure in
my sacrifices when they were inter-
rupted.
The girl was approaching me for the
seventh or eighth time when a young
man skated up to her and said in Il
surprised tone:
"Why, Miss Kitty, what are you do
ing hanging on to the rail-you, one of
the best skaters in the rink?"
The girl laughed, flung me look full
of merriment and, loosing her hold,
sailed out on to the floor like a bird.
Never has an: inability to do any
thing troubled me so much as not to
have been able to make a similar dis
play of my own craftsmanship. The
girl darted hither and thither grace
fully, while l was still clinging to the
rail- Then the young man who had
spoken to her caught her hand, and
together they skinned the surface like
pair VI SNdllONS Que SCcIucu "
take a malicious pleasure in fitting by
me- at times some Of her ribbons flut-
tering in my face, just to show me
how independent she was of that rail
to which l was chained. Once, when
she passed me, collecting all my nerve,
I let go and took a few independent
strokes. My feet flew into the air, and
with the thud that followed was min
gled a smothered laugh from my tor
mentor as she whisked away.
"The next evening I was at the skat-
ing rink, and the next and the next.
It was not until the fourth evening
that l saw again the girl who had
fooled me. When l did she was skat
ing with the young fellow who had be-
trayed her skill on the rollers to me.
AS she passed me she did not notice
me any more than if were worm
of the dust, but looked up into the
face Of her attendant with an ex-
preston of admiration and devotion.
1 passed her, purposely a number Of
times during the evening-for l could
now skate indifferently-hop to Sc
cure some slight recognition, but she
paid no attention to me till she passed
me just before leaving the rink, and
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1907-09-25

then all got was an amused smile.
II think by this little incident I have
conveyed to you one meaning at least
of the word 'flirt.' When the girl first
saw me and I had just chung to the
rail, she took to it herself on purpose
to force me to let 60. Then she kept
up her pretense for the purpose Of
bothering me. But her real object
was to attract my attention, to put
herself in my way, to charm me as a
snake would charm a bird-in other
words, to flirt. Do you see?'
eyes, l see. But when man
plays that same game with a woman
what do you call him-a flirtY'
"Certainly not. There is no word in
our language to express what you
mean. 1t is the woman only who
dirts."
"And you took no part in this little
episode you have described?"
"None whatever"
"Why did you not turn around at
meeting the girl and skate the other
way"
by Jove, never thought of that"
i! "How do you know the girl purpose
| ~ sought to attract you?'
| because l married her, and she con-
fessed that she had done So
Had you no trouble in getting herr"
II had. I was obliged to firt with
another girl before bringing her to
terms"
II thought you said there was no
word to express a mans acts under
such circumstances
"H'm! What wine do you drinkY'
"You Americans are a strange peo-
pie" SULLIVAN KING.
The SchIafschen.
In Germany they have an institu-
ton called the schlafschen. This is a
little nap in the afternoon between
the ponderous early dinner and the
coffee, which is served at O'Clock.
Nothing is allowed to Interfere with
this Teutonic rite. "In German
country house," says an observer. Il
have seen with these eyes dashing
cavalry officers in tight tunics and
rafting swords disappear about 2:30
o'clock, to emerge in an hours time
looking a trit1e sleepy, but armed in
every sense for the conquest Of the
fair. Students and professors. matrons
and business men, thinkers and tailors,
all take their forty winks in the aft
ernoon and get up strenuous and eff
cient. "-Philadelphia Record.
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1907-09-25
1t Is to Flirt.
[Original.1

[Original]
MY Russian friend Otterhoff asked
me to explain the English word fiirt.
To do so told him this story:
"When l was young man one win.
ter caught the roller skate craze. l
went to rink, put on a pair of skates,
started out OH the floor and-sat down.
l got up and, shutting to the rail in
closing the rink, grasped it and started
to go around, clinging to it. l hadn't
gone far before l met a young girl
who had one hand on that same rail-
l would rather have met herd of cat
tie on precipice. Either must leave
the rail to her, taking my chance of
going on the back of my head, or for
ever surrender my self respect. l kept
my self respect and surrendered the
rail.
II was repaid by nod Of thanks
from the girl, accompanied by a very
sweet smile. AS soon as she had pass
ed l graspedsthe rail and drew sigh
of relief. Presently l saw the same
girl coming again. She skated better
than l, who was on the rollers for the
first time, and l thought-indeed, l
hOped-she would this time return my
sacrifice by giving way to me. She
did not. AS she approached l saw a
faint trace of amusement on her face,
especially in her eyes; then when with
in few feet of me she cast them
down as if much panied to accept
from me what was due to her sex.
Again my gallantry prevailed, and
moved to what was to me imminent
danger and again won mute thanks,
conveyed by the eyes and lips. l con-
sidered them ample recompense even
for so great sacrifice.
"Well every few minutes the girl
would come round, meet me, and
would get out Of her way. l was
gradually getting a tritle used to my
skates, but did not drop any Of my
woebegone expression at being obliged
to trust myself to them.
BY and by began to think that the
girl had become familiar enough with
her skates to trust herself on the rink
at least for the few moments neces-
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1907-09-25
An Ancient Death leoend.

An eastern legend says that as Solo,
mon one day was consulting with his
grand vizier, the angel of death ap-
peared and cast searching look at
Solomons companion The startled
v1zier Immediately begged the great
king to lend him a certain magic rug
on which whoever sat could be trans
ported In an instant to the re1notest
part of the earth. The king granted
the request. The vizier stepped upon
the rug and babe it transport him to
the center Of the desert of Arabia. It
bore him away instantly. The angel Of
death stopped moment in his flight
to say to Solomon: II looked at that
man so closely because l was surpris-
ed to find him here, as 1 had been
commanded to summon his soul and
was told that 1 should find him in the
center of the great desert" Then the
angel passed on and a moment later
met the vizier In the appointed place.
"But." asked the proprietor Of the
Bongtong apartments, lido you think
this man Is the best one you can get
for janitor?'' "The best ever!' replied
the manager. Gle has been an ice
man. a goldman and street car con-
ductor. He's as sassy and impudent
40 he can be. Philadelphia Press.
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1907-09-25
A Smuggling
Episode.
By Florence NeWhOuSe Fox.
Copyrighted. E.'1. by G.. II. Sutcliffe.

AS Dorothy stepped from the train
she cast !, fur;i>c look behind her and
made dash for Il carriage.
She Was almost certain the tall man
with Nanlyke beard had followed
her all tn, way from EaSton and still
had lis e;e upon her. She crOuched
back in a corner of the vehicle with
heart tlrobl'in. madly and nerves at a
high tension.
''Drive fast to the Glen hotel" she
ordered the cabman.
The driver whipped up his horses
and in ten minutes drew up before the
picturesque hotel in the woods of Glen
Echo.
AS Dorothy sprang to the ground a
girl of twenty came around the corner
of the veran,la.
dot Graham" she cried to the new
conner. Can believe my eyes? am
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1907-09-25

"A T1hC 1soCAIh GnOA Mx WIN
DOW"
ham bones. Perhaps without ham
bones jerks might love me. Psyche
logically it's interesting, but don't
want to put it to the test. I value
jerks affection too highly to seek the
cause"
I'm too busy" she reminded him,
Ito talk in the abstract. And I'd rath-
or you didn't call Jenks.'
every 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
by a great skylight, she went on, 81
don't believe can trust anybody, not
even 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 a big star shone
over the top of the highest building
she said, Im like the Miller Of Dee,
I 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 a 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.
"Ycu know--the Spring Song" she
told him Jelly.
II have just painted a little picture
Of spring." he said ingratiatingly.
MAY l show it to youY'
1t was a water color-just a stretch
Of young fields, with a sweep Of or
chard beyond, but it made her catch
her breath.
II can almost sniff the fragrance"
was her impetuous comment. ut 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.
It 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, Il told you not to
cross the hall. ....