davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1907-01-18

dangerously p i'll with lung trouble at
her home in Monmouth.
y. M. Guthrie has sold to Morris
hughes 80 acres Of land, which will
mostly be planted to hops.
Mrs Mary Miller is at the bedside
=, ner niece, Miss Bessie Splawn, of
Dallas who is dangerously i'll.
Some fine hogs have been butchered
around here. A great improvement
IN all lines Of stock has been notice.
able in the last few years.
Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1907-01-18
BUTLER.

lrVe Hussey was in Sheridan last
week.
u. .. Butler was Sheridan visitor
last week.
Slefarth Upton has moved into the
house below the store.
The Newbill boys killed large
wildcat one day last week.
), B. Trulllnger and W. Scott were
up last week, looking for site for a
sawmill.
Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1907-01-18
RICKREALL.

Rev. N. w. sager will begin revival
meetings here next Tuesday.
A good many from here attended
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-08-25

he was sporting a roundsman's cheVron. It had been second story work. and in the encounter he had come out minus two of his faVorite teeth and all his morality. Iannagan never forgot n blow until he had repaid it. So far he had made few bad debts Therefore it was with per sonal as well as professional interest that he had learned of the gangs moving into his precinct some days back And at last 1t was up to him.
 Lannagan had merely heard semi-oth- cially that they were somewhere in ms precnct-but where was the somewhere2 Already plain clothes men were out with educated noses on the scent But thelr reports were many and varied. However, as Lannagan characteristically said, they earned their pay-they were worth one hundred cents to the dollar. Things had looked almost hopeless, when suddenly, only two short hours ago, chance had stepped into the game and. with one play, given the necessary and much de- sired opening.
 The station house doors swung open, and there entered a short, square man with keen gray eyes and pleasant smile, who strolled over to the desk Lannagan stopped his impromptu promenade.
 "Well?" he queried. "Anything dong
 Think I've got em said the short
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-08-25

treatment. The woman's the only one in the house. The boys haven't been home all day Maybe they got cold feet. Just
 my luck"
 flanagan eyed the detectives melan-
 choly face with quiet amusement. Don't
 snufhe. Billy" he said. "Youve done your work all right. I know everything's as you say because l can prove It."
 "What?" calculated the other, with lowered jaw. Prove it? How?' Lanna- gan scratched the aggressive chin enthu- sastlcally.
 Prove 1t? Read thatw he said draw ing a letter from his pocket and fling ing 1t to his startled lieutenant. That
 was delivered at the desk two hours ago by messenger boy" The short man, with stolid air,
 opeend the envelope and extracted ! single sheet of cheap note paper. Care fully, with thick, stubby forehnger i trimmed in mourning. he followed the hastily scrawled words: eff tomorrow night at o'clock you will be at Fifth avenue and Thirty second street you will be endowed with the necessary information to enable you to repair the loss of two front teeth. This is reliable invitation and the revenge of
 THE WOMAN WHO WAS FLOORED." !" The detective re-read the letter and 1 then scratched his h cad thoughtfully. Then he slowly handed 1t back q sup
 pose 1t means somebody squealed and | a gain maybe 1t doesn't" he commented 1 slowly.
 "It means" said Lannagan gravely,
 that the woman will turn, and if It's
 a long worm 1t will be a long turn.
 The woman. in revenge for that blow. | is going to turn states evidence. And | I'm going to help her" For a moment the detective eyed him
 in consternation. Hell" he exclaimed | nelesantly. Suppose it's nothing but
 a trap"
 "II take the risk" said Lannagan
 shortly. I'm going to get into this
 game on the ground floor or there'll be
 new captain In - precint."
 The detective relapsed into a hard
 silence. his stubby fingers drumming
 nervously on the desk. Lannagans
 eyes were medltative. Then the cap
 tain smiled.
 "I'n tel lyou what" he said slowly Pm going to wear disguise. The
 woman won't know me- but I'll know
 her. I'll tell her the captain was sick,
 so he sent me, his trusted ward man. Then, if this is any trap laid for Capt. 1 James Iannagan, which I don't think 1 it is, why, it will be indefinitely post poned."
 l The detective continued his solo on 1 the desk. There was more than mere 1 official intimacy between him and the
 man opposite They had worked through the same channels as boys to-
 gether each strangely determining on 1 the same, until they drifted into the | force" It was such understanding | that gave him courage to voice his ap- 1 peal. Jim, let me or one of the Cen tral office boys work this. We won't ! run such a risk. I'm afraid this Is l plan,to catch you"
 | But Lannagan only shook his head. He | hadn't his aggressive chin for nothing. 1 NO, Pm going to handle this I've been waiting for 1t. Get back to your watch | ing game Youll hear from me-soon.' 1 And If I don't?' queried the dttec- l tive, significantly.
 Well. you'll know where to look" was | the grim answer.
 The detective terminated his staccato exercise. started to speak. and then
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-08-25
He Wire TapbeYs
'Ostest>'Ge.O.QsEl.k3.S9 SUPERINTENDENT

n oL1CE CAPTAIN JAMAICAN
 arose and yawned wearily, but l with certain satisfaction, as the bells of a nearby Fifth avenue church flung over the city the hour of 8 o'clock.
 Sunday was generally the most active period in the week for the -- Precinct. but today had seen more than it's usual quota of "drunks" and "disorderlies' and twice the reserves had been called out-a razor jubilee over in the "Black and Tan District" and an amateur lynching bee. which, strange to say, had been in- augurated in the vicinity of fashionable Murray Hill. That progressively respect able neighborhood had been treated to the sight of a scholarly-looking gentleman in violent altercaIion with a fashionably dressed lady which terminated abruptly by the gentleman knocking the lady to the sidewalk. He was only saved from wearing a hempen collar, provided by the infuriated mob, by the arrival of the re- serves. But when the "Procrastination Carriage" as Lannagan himself some times sarcastically chrstened it, arrived there was nothing doing. The originators of the disturbance had managed to escape.
 To the layman the foregoing incident would have meant nothing more than that our thin veneer of civilization had been consumed in the heat of a brntes pas sion, and, after deploring the fetfogres- sion of man in general, the incident would have been forgotten. But to Lam nagan, born and raised behind the scenes. it meant infinitely more. The descriptions of the warning parties tallied with two photographs which had long been promi- nent in his mental Rogues Gallery. And subsequent incidents proved that his memory had not played him false. In short the pugilistic exhibition of the morning meant that here was further proof, if further proof was needed, that one of the cleverest gangs of western crooks who had been carried with the flotsam and jetsam on az eastern ebb tide after working successfully in other quar- ters of the city, had crossed the bound ary line, as rumor said they had and were now at last in his precinct.
 The gang had many and varied courses on their swindlng menu. In the smaller towns, when they were forced to retire for necessary secluson it took modest turn. but in the big cities 1t always broke out in the fever of wire-tapping. New York especially, with its many poolrooms, offered big field and bigger profits. And then the risk of prosecution was reduced to a minimum, for since the district at torneys edct mad gone forth against the ''phony race tracks," those who remained open behind the laws back and happened to get "short circuited" by the gang could not very well afford to make their own crime public by blowing around com plaints. It was case of diamond cut diamond.
 Iannagan had had a mlX-up with the boss of the gang some years ago when
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-08-25

strokes of ten as they licked from the clock on the mantelplece.
 "Hm, been there nearly two hours now. Wonder Is anything wrong?" he asked himself uneasily. He stepped into the small kitchen and opened the dumb waiter shaft. No go,' he grumbled, withdrawing his head Couldn't hear cannon go off down there"
 Suddenly he raised his head and list ened. From the small room off the parlor, used by the former tenant as a den, there had come a sound-a faint, metallic click. The detective listened, his head on one side, cigar suspended in midair. Again came the click, this time more imperative. The man rose quietly and tptoed into the half-lighted room. He stood in the middle of the floor watchful eager. Absolute silence. And then. after a moments su- spense, to the straining ears there came from a corner of the room a sound that sent the blood in a rush to their owners heart; a sound that sent Ashland's brain back over the trial of eight long years. back to a little railroad station in the Jersey hills click - click-clack - click. click claek" It was his station signal on the old D, l.. x w. road In flash he remembered Jim Lannagans words of the previous evening: Billy, you re- member when we were operators togeth- er?" Now his captain was in danger and signaling.
 Another moment and Ashland was on hands and knees by the side of a heating pipe that ran from cellar to roof of the house. His first impulse had been to rush down stairs, but a wiser thought re- strained him. Again came the signal, this time fainter. Sound ascends. In order that his answering signal should reach the captain, Ashland knew he would have to exert considerable more effort. He stepped quickly into the kitchen and seized a stove litter. Another moment and his answering call went changing down the pipe breathless silence. And then with painful tardiness the gilded tube licked off a message charged with life and death.
 Birds flown. Phone and have Grand Central watched. Come here. Gas. Hur- ry." It was characteristic flanagan order; duty first, life second.
 Captain 1.annagan, lying on his uncom- promising hospital cot put his hand to his head and rubbed it gently. It was sore and heavy. and he felt that the ban dages did not improve his appearance.
 "Swelled head. Jim?" said the detective sitting stolidly by the bedside.
 "Lannagan smiled grimly. Tt was worth it. You say you got them all?'
 Every one" said Ashland emphatical- ly. Tn the nick of time. Good as play. Pretty close call for you. though"
 Lannagan smiled reminscently.
 By luck they gave me the room T banked on-the one with the steam pipe I was awfully weak when l came around. and God knows how l managed to get one hand free-I don't. Then l rolled in- to the corner. They had taken my gun but I had a jimmy in my pocket We'll you know the rest.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-08-25
A Story Told Under the Green Lamps

man laconieally. On to where they hang out"
 A gleam as of hunger nekered in the captains deep set eyes.
 Good work" he commented "Come in here' and he opened the door of his se- verely furnished private room. Now for the goods. Let's have the full story from start to finish.r
 The detective leaned back in his chair, his hands thrust deep in his pockets
 We'll ejaculated the captain.
 To passing observer the detective might appear as some wealthy broker until he opened his mouth.
 There's three in the game" he began tersely. He paused to emphasize his words. 'Sheenie Annie, the one we ran in two years ago as witness in that panel game murder; Bugs Dooan, the Chi cago gun and the Professor
 The gleam deepened in the captains eyes. "I thought so." he said quietly.
 "They have an apartment over on Thir- ty-second street not two doors from Sixth avenue" continued the detective. Doc Ian and the woman are known in the house as the Browns and the old man is father-in-law. There's no one on to their game. 1 heard they had mix-up today. Yesterday they tapped the wire at Clan cys poolroom and held up the news of that big killing on Emetic. the thirty to one shot. at the Sheepshead track. Well, Doolan skinned around with a wad to play the sure thing, but when he got there Clancy had closed all bets, for the ponies were off. Make out him and the old man weren't mad. You know the woman does the tapping and the Profes- sor said she gouged him-let Clancy have the returns before Doolan had time to get down their money Well, they re- sumed the scrap today in the street and the old man stood off and foored her. l wasn't around when 1t came off but when l got next to their descriptions l was right on top. Hear there was free for all, is that SOP"
 Yes said Lannagan. Had out the reserves. They got away" He eyed the det .ctive curiousy. How did you get put so wiser" he asked slowly.
 The detective permitted the luxury of ing them open.
 i've been their neighbors now for three days" he said quietly. Didn't want to let you know until I'd everything pat. The best l could do was to get in two floors above them. Had to be careful, for mixing it with this gang is like but ting into a keg of dynamite. But they ain't on to me"
 You seem to have come on pretty fair" observed the captain with slow commendation. Get any evidence?'
 Sure! The wires are tapped three houses down and then run over the roofs and down ladder. But say, guess what! Now when l got everything fixed the old man and Doolan hit 1t up on the absent
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-08-25
.o..o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o
BYW. B. NJ. FERGUSON
CS.<,.o.t.o.o.O.o.to.tsoca-o.cse5

knowing the futility of argument, rose from his chair. "All right" he said quietly. "Ill lay chickey. r. be only two floors above. I wish we had some means of communication" he fpished abstract edly
 Lannagan's brows were kitted in hard thought his hand caressing the aggressive chin. The detective turned silently away. As his hand was on the door Lannagan looked up.
 Billy" he said slowly you remember eight years ago-when we were operators on the old D. l.. & WI"
 Sure What of it?" asked the detec- tive. In surprise.
 Nothing" said Lannagan absently.
 II.
 Monday night. about s o'clock. saw a tall square man. with d heavy, black beard, standing on the northwest cor ner of Thirty-second street and Fifth avenue. He was quietly dressed.
 1t was a typical summer night the "clack-clack' of hoofbeats echoing hol- lowly on the asphalt avenue; snatch of song and tinkling piano from the open windows of side streets; a girls s laugh; the elang and whirr of far-off Broad way car; the "chug-chug of auto it streaked swiftly past with white, star in geyes and back draft redolent of gaso- line.
 
 drag at his athletic cigar. threw it away, and pulled out his watch. As he did so u small clean-shaven, well-dressed gen tleman with glasses and white hair passed and turning for a moment, eyed him keenly. The we'll dressed gentleman con tnued his leisurely stroll for half a block, then cut hurriedly across the ave nue. Shortly afterward a tall lady turn ed tho corner of Thirty-frst street and walked slowly up the avenue on the east side. To the heavily bearded man on the opposite corner she appeared Ill at ease She stopped on the corner of Thirty-second street looked carefully about then came slowly over. As she stepped into the violent glare of the arc light swinging above the man who had been watching her, he stepped forward and lifted his hat.
 Good evening" he said politely.
 The woman eyed him keenly, stared, and drew back. Sir"
 That's all right miss " said the man date you made. The captains sick, so he turned the case over 10 me. I'm his ward man. Don't look so scared. It's all right. We won't run you in. But you'll go behind the bars if you don't come up with that information
 How politely accommodating" said the woman with light laugh. But per init me to decline the implied invitation. You see you cannot force your hospitality for there is no charge against me- Oh yes, Pm on reading terms with the law. The knowledge of the law is indispensable
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-08-25

friend with the gun who, by the way, will be obliged to ventilate you If you get fussy, happened to be in the Vicini- ty of your station house-just hap pened. Likewise, he just happened to see our neigh bor, MT. Brown who sub let the apartment two floors above us several days ago, enter and remain in said station house for a considerable time Luckily we have attained to that degree of arIth metical progression, my dear captain, which enables us to find the sum of two plus two. Result. we have the pleasure of your charming company while the fool above sits p,aeidly on his thumb. Of course we had sent out the invitation for this sur prise party before we were quite cer- tain of the identity of MT. Brown But, as you can readily see. he is eliminated from this touching reunion"
 And suppose it was agreed that if l didn't show up within a given time the fool was to make you call with the reserves?' said Lannagan, still tempor- izing.
 Again the Professor deprecatingly spread out his hands.
 My dear captain, you pain me. Give us credit for some knowledge of the workings of the force. The hare can tell how the hound will run, eh? Your com- mendabe egotisms and brotherly love brought you here on your own nook. ou bit and now you're going to swallow the bite as best you can
 It was true and Lannagan knew it but too we'll Now his only hope lay in en- deavoring to carry into effect a plan he had but half formulated while idly watch ing the staccato exercise of the detective yesterday in the station house. In his vigorous self-confdence he had scoffed at such an ending. but now-hfs reverie was interrupted by the soft voice of the Professor"
 AS you are our guest, my dear cap tain. 1t is only polite that we should ac- quaint you with our prospective plans. Now, appreciating our environment you will readily understand that your taking off will necessitate two things-silence and dispatch. Now gas is both a pleas ant and unsuspicious method. Moreover, it gives one time to realize what fool one is By the time our mutual friend above pulls the string we will be on a Grand Central flyer. and you-well, give his Satanic Majesty my compliments. May he prove as charming a host as have endeavored to be-"
 The Professor" looked over and nod ded to the heavily built man in the cor ner, who rose softly. Lannagan inter cepted the look and with a spring had his smiling host by the throat. And then a crashing blow from the butt of heavy revolver delivered from behind stretched him on the floor unconscious Another moment and he was securely bound and gagged and thrown into small room. with door and window bolted and every gas jet on full.
 Detective William Ashland, his head on one side. counted off on his fingers the
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-08-25
Snake-kiIIinq Kitten.
From the Williamsport Gazette.
 George Enrnwnld r11hctiAn4o .

From the Williamsport Gazette.
 George Fornwald, substitute mail car rier, Bloomsburg, owns a cat which. strange to say, will not catch a mouse. but spends its time in the yards hunting for garter snakes.
 The cat so far this season has caught three snakes and brought them to the house, and after laying snake down on the perch it goes back again in the yard to hunt for more. Two of the snakes the cat has caught were captured in one day. while the other was caught a day later. These three are the only ones MT. Forn- wa.d has seen, vet some of the neighbors say they often see the cat with a snake in it's mouth.
 Whether or not the animal would tackle anything larger than a garter snake is hard te tell. yet from the fight 1t puts up when it gets hold of one of these smaller species it is evident that 1t would probably be able to get away with larger one The snake-killing cat is not very large and is still nothing more than a kitten.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-08-25
warm to affect all that hirsute append

warm to affect all that hirsute append age?'
 Not a muscle of Lannagan's face twich- ed. His hand jerked convulsively to- ward his hip pocket, then fell idly at his slde
 "Ah, just as cautious as ever, my friend" said the little gentleman rub ping his hands gently. -Four years have not changed you in the least. How about those teeth I removed? Had them replaced yet, eh? Yes, it would be somewhat un- healthy to connect with that gun you carry. By the way, ] suppose you are acquainted with the gentleman in the rear" Lannagan's eyes fiickered over to a large mirror on his right In it he could see that behind a huge Japanese screen at his back was a heavily built man and revolver Lannagan was a philosopher. He brushed his hand care lessly over his face and threw 1t idly on the table. Then he stretched himself in a chair.
 Well, four years have changed you, Professor" he said quietly. Your morals have become impaired. From a high class con to this,' and he swept his hand round the room.
 The heavily built man, gun in hand, had taken a seat in a far corner of the room where he glowered watchful- ly. The woman was perched on the table. The "Professor'' was seated elbows on the table. chin in hand, con templating Lannagan with quiet. sar- 1 castle eyes. And Is this so bad?" he asked politely. Big money and no eX- pense. What do you expect for wire tappers-sea skim"
 And how long do you expect this to last?" said the captain. sarcastically.
 The Professor" shrugged his should CTS. Who knows, when you are non est"-he spread out his hands delicate ly-"well, an uncompromising enemy gone We begin in new quarters"
 You mean you intend to murder me in cold blood?" said Lannagan slowly.
 The Professor smiled deprecatingly.
 Tut. tut, how melodramatic we arc! Why specify the temperature? You have considerably accepted my invitation. Your disguise was perfect, my compli- ments, but you cannot deceive the eye of love. Be fair Were our positions reversed you know what we might eX- pect-therefore. what you may eX- pect."
 Lannagan stroked his chin reflective ly. Yes, he knew. Now he appreciated his position and he temporized.
 You don't think l would put my head in this trap without having string attached to it?" he asked in bold contempt. His three hosts laughed out right.
 "tie Captain said the Professor" mock ingly.
 surely. I thought our past acquain- tance had given you a higher estimate of our intelligence. Yes, we know you have string attached. but when will the fool at the other end know when to pull. eh? Listen. while l unfold little tale. Last night our esteemed
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-08-25
DRUNKENNESS

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 JAMES sANATORIUM, Memphis, Tenn.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-08-25
We'll, we've got 'em at last" said the

flanagan rubbed the aggressive chin
 And got them good. It means A lot can fix Clancey for running his pool room. And I can square the loss of nv lavorlte teeth. This" as he tapped his Orlentai-appearing head, means just nileen years hospitality up the river for my whilom hosts. Just you waft ti,l see the Professor "