davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Western Kansas world., 1908-05-09

said, and took his gun and disap-
peared.
..Cracky, this is good" Phineas ex-
claimed as he looked over the table
Milk, by the eternaE"
'sYes, but it's our last guess. They
got the cow L" She stopped abrupt
ly and left the ROOM
Phineas was at heart coward, yet
he strove to hide it under brayado;
and he took his turn in the darkness
with half merry, half contemptuous
badinage that was sufficiently deceiv-
ing.
Alfred ate sparingly, silently, his
mind intent on impending tragedy.
Your hand is hurt, SIR Stella said
as she placed the hot bacon before
him Without more words she cut the
meat and buttered his biscuit. 1t was
done quickly, incidentally. She did
not falter, her face was calm. Yet
when she came with old linen and
homemade lotions to dress the angry
burn her touch upon Alfred's hand
| was icy cold.
The dressing was barely finished
when Phineas' challenge was heard,
and a white mans voice replied.
That's Curly Joe from Maloney's,' -
| Stella said. Sit still and finish your
supper" she added, as Alfred started
| to his feet It's not Indians; you
won't be needed"
Needless of her words he followed
her to the door, where she stood look
/ ing out.
Curly Joe's brought some stock,
she said, glancing over her shoulder
as he came near, some they had 6
/ chance to buy l heard him say. It's
! in the nick of time for u.s."
/ She stepped back to the table .ane
poured another cup of coffee. Have
this fresh cup, sir You're not needed
/ now"
! Alfred seated himself and she wen
to the kitchen, leaving him to ponde
the adverb OF time so significant.
spoken.
Stella did not return, though Al
fred finished his coffee and waited
the minutes dragging with his inae
ton, until the searchers returned
Stella heard them and fastened t
the door, peering into the darkness
A whispered parley kept her waiting
At last Uncle Billy stepped into th
light. Stella gave him a quick lool
!, read the answer to her mute questio
Western Kansas world., 1908-05-09

Stella grzed alternately at her two
advisers, dumbly striving to adjust her
grief-stricken mind to this hard ext
gency.
"Oh. Gideon, I can't let you stay
alone, L.
Uncle Billy laid a tender hand on
her arm. Honey, Can't you buck
up to the game just mite2 Wouldn't
yo' paw tell you top
She nodded and turned aside. Both
men looked at her intently, one with
passionately yearning gaze. In a
moment she faced him. smiling reso-
lutely, though Alfred saw unheeded
tears on her cheek.
IF you and Gid will eat little sup
per I'll get ready right away. I'll be
III be good = The words trembled
off into sob that was touchingly
childlike.
''You go right to Jake Bennett" the
driver said as he finished his coffee a
little later. Hes on the railroad at
the Front, wherever that is. You
| tell him I sent you. Bennett is one of
Superintendent Gregory's foremen. a
Western Kansas world., 1908-05-09

and fed. Alfred saw her white. set
face as she passed.
Duty and love are weapons that af-
Fiction at her worst is compelled to
respect. Alone Stella fought her
quick battle for composure; and when
she brought in supper for the two
men her face was less stricken than
Uncle Billy's. He went to her, took
luctant eyes to her. Honey, you
you must go-in an houh, less time If
possible
She met his look <bravely. her voice
unfaltering, though words came lame
ly. But father-I cannot leave him.
Where-where is he?"
Child we buried him-Gid and me.
We did it-good, and I mapped the
place. so you can fnd-but not any
Injun- And, honey. you must-must
get ready quick"
Stella's head dropped. Alfred saw
her throat throb, her hands tighten
convulsively on Uncle Bil1y's-
But the station, and the company's
property mustn't leave that TILL
She lifted her face; her lips twftched
pitifully-
Gid, you tell her you amt a boy
-yo're man, and brave enough to
stay hyah and keep the station till
they send some one from Maloney's-" /"
Yes, Stella, you must 60 Uncle
Bills the boss III stay, as he says,
till the stations manned again, then
III follow you to-to wherever yo,. go
-always-s
Western Kansas world., 1908-05-09
CHAPTER III.
Alfred Promises Allegiance.


Alfred studied Gov Stanford's face
keenly while the latter re-read Mr.
Huntington's letter
1t said in part: For three years 1
have closely observed this young man
and found him, 1 believe, peculiarly
adapted to business of a delicate ma
ture, for which we shah have growing
need He is older than he looks and
wiser than his age. His character
does not altogether show in his face.
and few would suspect such slender
youth of his capacity for the affairs
you may require of him."
Alfred was gratified at what he saw
in the governors eyes as he looked up
from the letter.
Young man, because of Mr.. Hunt
ington's strong letter we're going to
trust you beyond your years. 1t will
be a varied and difficult task. Do you
think you will be equal to it,"
tAll that can do, sir, is to promise
my best effort and ask you to try me" /"
Can you take hectoring good ma
turedly?" asked Mr.. Crocker- You
can't go far on such a shape as you
have out west here; there's too much
Harvard college and ballroom in it"
The governor spoke at once Il be-
lieye Vincent will safely weather re-
marks concerning his shape; he'll be
in cities most of the time, anyway"
its not nice work we're putting
you to, Vincent" he continued. You'll
have to meet craft with craft, scheme
with scheme. And some of Cad
wallader's schemes = they're the
schemes of the men behind him, yet
they don't sweeten in his hands-are
far from savory. But Wen not ask
you to do anything for us that's less
than honest
That's only safe, sir. You'd hardly
trust me if I accepted other terms"
Here's our cipher. Use it as
sparingly as possible. No man can
make a cipher some other man can't
read
Unless he changes 1t often
enough" Alfred added instantly.
The governor smiled and turned to
the superintendent Il guess he'll do,
Crocker- His face relaxed. and Al
fred caught a glimpse of the genial,
hearty citizen who won men to his
enterprises through his faith-faith in
both enterprises and men,
cTO BE CONTINUED)
Western Kansas world., 1908-05-09

bending under a load that she had
lifted with ease.
III take them, stranger Gideon
had dropped the barley and stepped
quickly to Stella's side.
Alfred turned, startled at that which
his sensitive ear heard in the voice.
He met pair of black, burning eyes
in a Swarthy face not yet divorced from
boyishness, though full manhood spoke
from the straight figure and sinewy
movements. Alfred needed no inter
prefer for that jealous look, needed no
one to tell him of the instant hostility
that lurked in the darkiing eye, and
found quick response in his own heart.
He relinquished the blankets and re-
tired to his chair. his eye the buster
since hands must be idle.
He looked about, upon the bar in the
corner. its glittering glass and one
kerosene lamp the only brightness in
the gloomy room; upon the dark
weapon-hung- walls. and the significant
loop-holes that cleaned small and
black against the starlit night without
Bare floors, rude homemade furniture
1t was life more primitive than AL
fred could possibly have imagined ter
days before
One object removed it from say
agery, Stella's small cane rocking
chair. 1t queened the barbarous room
an omen of coming civilization. From
! the chair to Stella herself Alfred's eye
/ wandered, noting her incongruou'
| dress, rich lavender silk skirt, once
! boasting a train, though now cut half
shoe short, disclosing costly Frencl
| boots, one torl at the side. Her liner
waist was jewel-clasped at the whit,
Western Kansas world., 1908-05-09

neck and belted with a zone OF quartz
crystals clear as diamonds Her comb,
banded with delicate pink coral. held
in place coronet Of glinting golden
brown brai5s. adorning but not dis
guising the shapeliness of her perfect
ly poised head And from all this
misplaced elegance short red calico
apron screamed at the eye with the ar
rogance of a boor in power
Calmly. unconscious of Alfred's scru-
tiny, Stella was coming and going,
preparing the late supper
The team, unhitched but not unhar-
messed, was fed, blanketed and tied to
the coach wheels in front of the door;
and Uncle Billy stepped inside and
addressed Vincent and Cadwaliader
I reckon you two fellehs will have
to take turns gyardiRg that team while
we're gone, il you'd care to get away
from hyah with yo' own hair ON. Fiah
two shots. wait a minute and fab one.
if yo.re molestedI
Gideon came in with an armful of
wood. Alfred saw him answer the
drivers unspoken call, saw both
leave the house without looking at
Stella, though her arprehensive eyes
followed them through the door into
the night.
The simple supper of bacon. bis
cults, potatoes, beans and dried-apple
pie was on the table Stella pushed
up a short bench and beckoned to
Alfred.
He rose and shook his head. mo.
III let Mr. Cadwallader eat first" he
Western Kansas world., 1908-05-09
CHAPTER I.-continued.

Anthony himself taught her; he
was a teacheh once. She was as peart
as chain lightning; and he had oodles
Of books.
Anthony went fiat broke few
yeahs back; lost everything, including
his grip. Some friend put in a word
for him with the old man, and he came
oveh hyah to hold up this station
rs he going to keep her here al
ways?"
mo, that's fretting him. He told
me on the quiet he was fixing to take
her inside and put her to school this
yeah in San Francisco
How old is she?"
shes young enough. Say, young
fellehi" Uncle Billy turned sharply,
and his words were stern. Likely she
amt cut afteh the pattern O. crinoline
yo're used to; but she's fast colohs
all right. And five may see mo-
liEe-liie what's back yondeh-I want
to stake you right now to stand by
Stella Anthony"
You can count on me-
The words were curt, but something
in their utterapce satisfied the driver
Jimmy! The barns gone," Uncle
Billy exclaimed as the stage drew near
a square stone house, Ioop-holed like
a battle ship,-with tiny points of light
shining through.
A heavy bar ratified to the floor in
side, the one door opened cautiously,
and a woman appeared holding a can
die in her upligted hand. She was
tall and straight, her figure youthful
in spite of unusual size; but the
flaring fame, cleaning down over her
breeze-tossed hair, cast aging shad-
ows on her face; and Alfred saw the
candle-stick shake.
1t that you, Uncle Billy?" The
voice was steady, yet Alfred caught
its note of terror.
Yes, honey" Relief and tender
ness blended in the answer.
THE Indians-did you get through
without any troub1e?"
Yes, without trouble, now that ]
see my little gals safe.'' He was
quickly on the ground, his arms
around her.
"Oh, Uncle Billy, father's-oh, ]
don't know where he is, The barns
burned, the stock gone, and Gid and
I've fought 'em all" Her voice broke
and she hid her face on his shoulder
Western Kansas world., 1908-05-09
CHAPTER II.
Hail ard FareWeIl.

Quickly Stella controlled herself
and was going about the station duties
with quiet callnness that surprised
Alfred.
.fWe've"a little barley in her, for
tunately, and some blankets for the
mules; but the hays gone. Yoz-n have
to Hnhitch for a few minutes, won't
you, Uncle Billy? They can't double
without a little rest. can they?"
Yes, but not for long. We've got
to be at Malonsy's in time to send
help back hyah befo' day. The red
devils amt through hyahs there's
whisky left, and brandy, 1 see, and
Not SO much, Uncle Billy. i burned
all the brandy to make bullets
melted all the pewter stuff. too.''
We'll, 1 sweah, 1 didn't reckon yo'
fathehd ever be short on amm1ni-
tion.'
Tits ordered long ago, but the agent
hasn't sent it. Father'n come soon
i hope. It's too bad that you nnst
help with the team. Uncle Billy"
That's no matteh- The only thing
is to feed and get away as sooa as i
scsn. Where'd yo' Eafheh go?"
Ike took some stock up TO the
meadows this morning; he should
have been back before noon, and
She stopped abruptly and tarned
AWAY.
The .iriver paled and looked qgsckls
toward a a'tall young man busy at one
.of the lockers He caught the driver 5
wordless question and nodded sigRif
feantly-
Stella, facing away from them, was
placing dishes on the table. I'll have
supper for yoa soon.'' she said present
" I'VE didn't dare begin to cook
before for fear-for fear
All right, Stella. These qassengehs.
Mr.. Vincent and Mr. Cadwa7ladeh, will
eat; but Gid an tai so and frsok up the
old man first
Stella flashed hsEn q grateful look
before nodaing to the strangers, the
only acknowledgment of the fntroduc-
ition she took time for She ligated a
lantern and set it near the door;
brought a whisky flask from behind
tie bar, and some white cloth, and
placed both beside the lantern.
Alfred sickened at the broken sem
terces, sinister pauses, and still more
sirister preparations; yet intently
watched the hurrying workers.
"Gid, take out the barley and feed
'em double measure. I'll help you
blanket 'em in a minute
Gideon shonldered the barley Just
las Stella pulled pile of heavy blan-
kets from shelf. Alfred started for
uard to help her. and felt himself
Western Kansas world., 1908-05-09

squareh man-his wife's even squareh
he'll deal you a straight game, little
one. There's Sally B., too, she's white,
and can motheh a whole brood like
you and not let one chick get a cold
toe."
And I'll follow as soon as I can slip
this" Gideon added, his glance sweep
ing the shadow-peopled room.
I'm coming myself, honey. I'm
coming to be near you, and to watch
that Sacramento four tackle the big
gest job of building since Babel"
Uncle Billy rose and went out.
Soon all was ready. Stella waited
by her trunk for the coach to swing
round.
''Oh, Gideon, how can 1 leave you?"
she sobbed as he came to her side.
But 1 wouldn't go unless you stayed"
''All aboard, honey!" called the
drivers kind voice from the dark
salt Lake City in ten hours!"
Gideon caught her in an embrace
she long remembered. 1t was not fare
we'll, but appropriation. Goodbye
Moppett," he whispered, "I'n come
| soon.''
Western Kansas world., 1908-05-09
Hcoksl

DO you believe that everybody has
one novel in him?''
I don't know. But judging from
the number of books constantly turned
out, should say that everybody BE-
Heved he had.
Western Kansas world., 1908-05-09
SYNOPSIS.

The story opens during a trip of the
.tOverIand Mall through the Rocky
mountains, while efforts are being made
to build up the country. Uncle Billy"
Dodge, stage driver, Alfred Vincent, a
young man, and Phineas Cadwalla der, in
troduced- They come across the re-
mains of a massacre.
Western Kansas world., 1908-05-09
We Have Any Kind of an
Enffne You Want

Our new catalogue tells about them in detail
especially want to call your attention to our
Hopper Jacket Engine skids or wheels. to
n b. p, which is ready to run when you get it,
Fill it with gasoline. throw on the switch. turn
the wheei-that's all. No piping connect.
nothing to set up. always ready. can be moved
anywhere.
New-York tribune., 1908-09-05

Senator Chauncey N. Depew once said In
speech before the students Of the University Of
PENNSYLVANIA, at does not make any difference
what a man is going TO do in life, IL 1t is moth
sng more than pling up bricks, that man Will
be better satisfied with himself and do his work
better II he is educated
This idea has permeated the business world.
50 that today It is hard to find a banker,
broker or even q candlestick maker who will
answer an argument for higher education with
the trite remark: What good are Latin,
Greek and diferentiaI calculus to man who is
to stack bills and clip coupons all his life"
To man outside of the so-called learned
professions and not engaged in literary pur-
suits, the higher education is, possibly, of only
psychic value. 1t makes him satisfied with
himself without making him selfish. He is
pleased TO live because he knows how to live.
Life to him. with all his idealism, is as real as
to one whose only ideals are those with a
busines5 tinge.
MN who is truly educated can meet any
one on bis OWL ground a man without educa-
ton Eust cOnfine his intimate friendships to
those who are on his own mental plane.
Ii is hard for any of us, perhaps, to reach
back to those years we spent in study and put
mental finger upon the intellectual acquisi-
tons which have been of positive and unQues-
TONED value in active business life, but it is
safe TO say that not many have gone far in
business career and not reached a point
IL they had done this or that in their sopho-
more, junior or senior years they would have
been better able to deal with the problem at
hand.
The brain things we acquired in our school
and college days we use as a matter of course
IL is only those We lack which we feel
New-York tribune., 1908-09-05
HIGHER EDUCATION THE KEY TO LIFE SATISFACTION

When a continuation of school life has been
decided upon the problem of the character Of
school TO be selected arises. The variety Of
schools is almost infinite In the case of girls
| there are the finishing schools, the conserya-
! tories, the universities and wOmens colleges,
and these are subdiyided into the country ;;;ad
city schools. With the boys. the variety is even
wider. There universities, colleges. tech
nical law. medical and business schools all
| Offering nnumerabe courses of study Then,
tOO these are subdiyided into country and city
schools
AS to the character of course of study. little
can be said because selection depends entirely
upon the taste and aptitude of the child But
when it comes to deciding whether to put the
boy or the girl in a school in small town or
in one situated in the large centres of activity,
there are important considerations.
In the first place. does the boy need to be
thrown into the hustle and hurry of city to
bring out some latent power or some charac-
teristic that the quieter atmosphere of Il smaller
town would fail to reach? Or. does he need the
close companonship and the intimate friend
ship and all the other advantages of the
called college spirit. fGstered to the larger eEs
tent by college or school life in the smalls6
communities?
If the former is decided upon then New York
and Brooklyn offer advantages greater prob
ably than any other city i'll the country.
There the museums. the libraries. the the
atreS, the opera houses and numerous other
semi mi-educational institutions, which added TO
its advantage in being the greatest financial ard
commercial centre of the country, make greater
New York the mighty educational city.
Of course with these manifold advantages
come the problems engendered by life in, 4
crowded community, and i'll the last analysis
the decision must be made with the needs of
the student alone in mind. What the parent
might desire in this regard might be detre>
mental to the boy. If he needs those things
which the city alone can offer, then the de-
cision must fall on New York. If he needs
those things which rural districts offer, then
he would not obtain the greatest benefit from
his school life were he placed in the city.
New-York tribune., 1908-09-05

Why, 1 was supporting a family of four when
was twenty-two."
With that man argument would be useless.
His body has its being to-day, but his mind is
of another day-years and years ago, when
the demands of the world We're more easily
satisfied. That father who compares his con
diton twenty thirty years ago with that of
his son today has at some time in his career
suffered a contraction Of interest in life and
with it ability TO grasp new meanings.
But there is another and far different class
of parent who does not readily see the advan-
tage of higher education. This one probably
looks upon life with a too materialistic view
He wants help from his son but is seeking
the best course to pursue. He can not, how
ever, see into tomorrow and realize its de-
mands He says that boy needs actual ex-
perience in life to be able to do his share OF
it's work With this man school means moth
ing but lectures, recitations and foolish songs
and absurd escapades. The broadening Inf1u-
ences are outside of the classrOOms and the
mighty unseen force of culture in association
with men of superior mental attainments.
New-York tribune., 1908-09-05

AS the autumn approaches each year there
comes up the question in thousands of homes
In this land Of schools, what are we to do for
our son or our daughter?' This problem is
usually the last one solved-or partly solved
by the parent for Tie child. When it is solved
and the boy or girl is turned in the direction
Of higher education-or directly into busi-
ness career-destiny is put in hands. Sue
cess or failure then depends upon factors en-
tirey without the family influence. But in
making this decision, perhaps the most impor-
tant in life, the parents usually exercise
mighty influence. 1t is the consciousness of
this influence that causes most parents to pause
for most serious thought before giving advice.
There are some parents who look at the
question from a selfish point of view 1t is
possible for father to say. at is time for the
boy to do something for himself. 1 am getting
old. He is young. He is well able to get into
the harness and help me. -Four years more of
school? That will make him twenty-five.
New-York tribune., 1908-09-05
By President Roosex,eH

When take science art and literature remember that
bit of zoork better than thousand fairly good bits of
sco that the gears roll the the ho has been
make masterpiece 5oh the pen the brush the pencil
ay man, that has rendered to the
try all his her peers scho merely do fairly good
ond rate sCork accomplish.
Our school system lies at the foundation of dca
sym but is the foundation ony The that to
stand prenent representatives of the culture of the
naunty educate themselves.
Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1908-07-24
The Ennlish nhnnn.l

One Of the most famous bits Of water
in the world Is the English channel.
which separates and yet unites the sis.
ter countries OF England and France
and has been the scene Of so much Of
their history, 1t extends on the Eng
fish side froa Lands End to Dover
and on the French side from the island
Of Ushaut to Calais, Its entrance from
the German ocean is the strait OF Do
YER twenty-one miles wide, while at
the other extremity, where 1t joins the
Atlantic, 1t is 100 miles from shore to
shore, The greatest width midway is
100 miles, Owing to the strong current
setting in from the westward, the high
winds which frequently prevail and
the conhguratlon of the shores 1t has
a roughness which has become proven
hlal ana few cross 1t without seasick
ness
Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1908-07-24
Oriental Ruos.

''The greatest period for fine rugs, -
said an authority, twas known as the
time Of SULLIVAN the Magnificent or
SULLIVAN the Great about the reign of
Queen Elizabeth, when the fine arts
aourlshed all over Europe. l think
from this comes the statement that
such and such a rug dates from the
time Of Solomon giving an erroneous
impression as to the antiquity OF the
article, although | suppose the names
are the same"
A famous piece of rug, for which a
fabulous sum was paid by the Paris
museum. has been ascribed to the
time Of King Solomon" II Is a small
quarter Of silk rug picked up ON a
Nile boat by a woman who was at.
tracted 10y its beauty and popularity.
She sold It IN New York for $40. The
dealer later disposed Of It for $50
The last owner thought It worth while
to send part of 1t to Constantinople to
be appraised. aud there II sold for
$500 to person from whom the
Paris museum bought 1t at many timer
this price. II Is easy to tell handmade
oriental rugs, Their patterns show
upon the back In the knots, which Is
not the case In rugs made by machln-
cry, and they are self fringed and have
grayer surface. New York World.