davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1908-11-22
who Are You?" he s.a.,slea in-el.l

who Are You?' he ad.,sIe6 in.ck4
Voice after voice took zap the words
but the feebleness with which the hymn
was rendered soon con. need me that
no more than dozen persons we're
participating Ia the funeral service.
The hymn came 10 an end at last.
There was a prayer or two. then 2
darker shadow fell sthwart my closed
lids. Metallic catches snapped 20 the
right and lsJs Or my head The casket
in which lay had been covered.
I knew that ihe face OF Richard Dun
ist0n had been hidden 'orever from the
sight Of men
Then suddenly. the numbness OF
death passeC from me. I began to
tremble. and my brea.a came thickly.
Once moee / strove 20 rise. with head
and hands ] beat the casket cover. Il
was immova DE. Choking with fear and
horror. ] tore down the satin lining In
order THAT the blows or my clenebed
hands might be heard without Al last
MY frenzy. combined with nay weak
eued condition. caused ne to lose con-
scl0usness
AGAIN. breatHiBe heavily orenea
my eyes. Fer few moments nay feet
seemed TO be higher than ms 800. nd
I was conscious e. a sWaying motion
Suddenly there was jolt. then the
rlatter OF something above ms
hollow sound resembling that Of . gent
Iy falling board.
Aiy last desosirine cry WAS smothered
by the satin folds above ms face. but
with my bands and feet I resuned my
beating n tie casket cover. Harder
feTcsr. I smote il until : felt ss If the
blows were crushing the bones of my
knuckles
Al length stopped. Something had
fallen above me with a srlien thud. fol-
lowed by "a faint clatter, and I knew il
was a clod of earth-a clOd that sin
tegrated as it struck the cover of the
box that enclosed my tslet.
And now there fell lother another
and another. All hope as dead in my
breast Softer and 80 er and more
quickly fell the clods Dove me. The
clatter ceased first. and then the souno
of the falling earth.
7 felt the preparation rolf lg from
my face To my ears. In my 5eakness
I was whimDering like child and ut~
tering blasphemies II was not death
of the form in which i: came.
a feeling Of nausea and fsintness
came over me, and the perspiration lat
now covered me grew IS cold as ice. A
thousand memories Of my boyhood
crowded into my mind, then all was
blank
The Washington times., 1908-11-22
CHAPTER II lCont.l.

Help For Gods sake, let me-"
With clenehed hands 1 started for
the door.
Help
A binding light flooded my eyes. IL
stumbled-snd fell
Yes. yes I'll
A sudden chill came over me-a
great calJnness and a cessation of III
terest fla my environments. / heard
distinctly everything that followed,
but a spirit Of inemable rest seemed
TO have settled upon me.
My heart seemed 30 have stopped
beating. ORE Of Any legs was cTamDe1
beneath ME. l strove 10 move ii, blu
could not The pain ceased. Let u
Be so.
Ny viii was dead
IN heavens name, No, no! Not
that"
The words came to me as II in a
dream ard found me unresponsive-
"Rernenaber-my fathsF-yoUr---'
heard the sound OF blow, but il
did not disturb my rest. Through my
half closed eyes I saw faint dis
celebration on the ceiling OF the room
What had caused Il?
Surely a leaking roof could not
have
The door leading to the street opened
and closed. I heard snft footballs on
the hoar Of the hall-baCk. back they
went until they paused, apparently. al
the door Of The room in the rear. Then
marveled that my hearing had be
come so suddenly acute
I'm the name of heaven. joe. What
have you dOne?
shes fainted-that's all. replied.
In a husky voice. tie man had heard
before.
Tainted. You brute, you lie! You
have struck her. You have some too
far, and"
she would not sign Inc paper
-
you have murdered her" fairly
Ehrieked the newcomer.
Then 1 heard him speaking in the
hall.
''Im not in th.s-by heaven. mol I
consented &c be a party 10 your
scheme. for We would have worked it
70 the best interests OF her as well as
ourselves. But"
where are you going
FOR the officers of the law. IN
not"
There was a crash that made the
walls and windows shiver. Then
something fell heavily on the hall
noor.
The Washington times., 1908-11-22
Ships Loaded With Toys Arriving

That Christmas is near was brought
poiEtedly 10 mind last week by the ar
rival a. philadelphia OF tWo steam
sfips-the Dartmund, and the Armenia
-from Hsmburg. with l0.o0o tons OF toys
and other holiday things. worth S2Oo,c60.
These cheer makers viii be distributed
among dealers OF cities all over this
country. whence. with the promised re-
turn cf prosperity. il is hoped they will
ger into the homes, 10 make happy
thousands of little folks and grown
ones, too.
Two interesting phases OF tcy-land
are beine brought 10 tie fore this year
as Ire shop windows fj Up with Christ
mas goods and the inside counters are
turned into veritable fairy-land for the
children. One Of these phases is the
rensrkabie development of the meehan-
zeal toy, and The other Is the growing
superiority Of the American-made toys
over the "Made-iu-GeTmany" articles,
Nhieh have long been regarded as the
models for the ioy-makers.
The Washington times., 1908-11-22
As in a Dream.

TnlS physician MAJ pronounced nae
dead. Mould the coroner, vino was
now being summoned. d. likewise? h
great dread Stripped my mimi. was
this death, indeea2 DId tHe human
BRAN retain consci 5usuess wtile the
BODY was being 1l,o,-es. ia tue t5inD!
Il nay aazed con.tiIou any m4nu nad
been unable 10 grasp sae euoralIty ol
the tragedy that uad been ena-l-d.
but nov tuis, tO0 appalled, lae- ~
length. however, TIE revouectioE oI
tae fate that had come upon these
strangers was lost ina the feeling o.
horror that overcame me "a Tile
thought OF nay own desperate plight.
BW surely this cOmpiete pa. ai1-s,s Of
my muscular ana nervous systems
could not last.
1 had been stricken with a second at
tack of vertigo. and had been enI-
porariiy stunned by ths iall. Were
successful in an attempt TO msye only
a finger an eyelash. or To give utter
auce To- q mere murmur of prOtests-
ton when I should be examined again.
au would be we'll But
once more that strange feeling of
TEST began to benumb my mind as IL
already had benumbed my body
Though now heard the ticking OF the
elock-a ticking thar had been ineudi-
BILE when / first entered the roOm-I
had lost al sense of time.
1 remember thar ] had a vague con
seriousness that some one vas eXamin-
ing my pockets. that my clothIng was
partially removed and that a man
who turned me over and over. as if
was a lay figure, had expressed his
surprise that ne was unable 10 find a
wound. have faint recollection
also OF having been lifted from the
foor-of seeing. through hall-opened
eyes. changes in the ceiling. as was
moved from one position TO another.
then something was thrown over ms,
and all the lights seemed 10 go out.
My FIRST really distinct impression.
after this. was az moment when the
sensation Of rest that have described
left me suddenly.
The Washington times., 1908-11-22
Sleeping. Yet wake.

Into my ncstrils was waited the odOr
of 5urnt powder, In my mind there
vas q flicker Of returning interest. l
tried TO move my head-to turn my
eyes 20 the hall door The effort was
vain.
A woman had been felled by a blow
A man had been shot in the hallway
But / asked myself what old il mat
ter? Such incidents as these could
not break my rest
Then / heard muttered oath. a
man bent over me-a man with cold,
blue eyes. refined features. and closely
trimmed gray side-whiskers.
who are your" he muttered
thIekly, and as he spoke he IeEeled at
my head the shining barrel Of re-
voiver.
I han . sudden impulse TO tell hiih
nv naTne-to assure him that an was
well-that lis business was his own
that / needed rest, and that there was
nc need of disturbing me.
But my lips were mOtioniess. and
my tongue would not stir 80 utter the
words that designed TO speak.
Kneeling down he looked search
ingly into my face.
AAeaus ne exclaimed tAttei .ii6lf-
tried 10 tell him no, hut that Il
rnattered little: he need have no fear
Of me. But I could not speak. and
was wearied by the expression OF wild
fear - his ewes y hy could he NOT
understand?
CHANGING quickly TO right and left
Of him, he dropped the revolver and
PLACED his thumbs 10 my eyes. A. he
raised the lids he gazed intenuy al
my face
Dead he sale agaiE.
Then once more sraSping the re-
volver he aimed il at nv breast.
Again the window rattled-again I
inhaled the odor OF burnt powder. but
/ feli no pain.
Before the powder smoke cleared
away the grip Of the revolver lay in
nv outstretched band
There was a violent ringing of the
door bell. and the man who had bent
over me hurried from the room. Then
heard him speaking in the hall
"Who admitted thai man 10 the
house, he demanded.
The voice Of the butler replied in
eoherenrly. and the front door was
opened.
This way, officer, said the man
who had placed the revolver in my
hand
Then / heard them entering the
room
The Washington times., 1908-11-22

Through my half-open eyes J saw
the features OF Tom Bucknef. an Old
Harvard classmste. and t'iem Fisher,
who had o-cgFisd a room next 70 U7Ine
in my boarding house.
There was a look of horror Ia their
eyes a. tasy glanced at my face
Richard DUnistou. eaid Buckner.
Its Duniston, assented Fisher
turning away.
The narrow pistform on which J las
was thrust upward from the foot
there was another series OF rumhie-
beneath me. and vas thrust haek
into the darkness.
7 was in the moTgue!
But the deadly inertia was upon me
again. srd though was conscious Of
the odol. Of dlslufectsnts and the fact
that was in big chsrnel house, SUR
rounded by the bodies Of the dead, ?
was not sensible OF any feeling Of fear
OF repuguance.
II wearled me 10 think. Ny mind
vas blank
Ouce-aow many EoIrs later 81 WAS
5o not !sH.w-I w4a temporarily
aroused tr-m ray lethsigs oS ,ue Joit-
iuz If q Vehicle IN which. apparently,
wds being transported from one
place 10 another.
For = few moments I was prey ie
apprehension. Where were -Hev tax
lag nle2 How long was mis- terrible
DANA thaj was being piIyei ia t.e
i,rlo1oss going 20 LAST
Then ann tied 10 myss o. mat : dId
not care -Iy friends relieved Jhlt g.
was dead Well. what did 10 matter2
was at rest. Beaven and hell were
as distant ylIH rs if I had continued 10
live It mattere3 not how many cen
turtles might pass between now and
resurrection morn.
Al length I was conscious o. d sen
cation Of hunger and thirst. In tie
nunsDness that sfnl 3vercame ne
there wac sensation sltogataer db-
ferent from what had experienced
before-a nIfnbness that oppressed ne
and made ne shiver.
My dngers moved. and. moving.
touched something that pressed close
To my side
choked Tie torments o. Hades
we're upon me : strove 10 rise, bat
something above pressed down my
head and hands then
For a moment ! inhaled the odor II
flowers. and heard the sodnd Of
voice
Now, however. something seemed 20
weigh down nay eyelids. but the voice.
perfUnetorilv solemn. droned on
Lord. let me know mine end aad
the aun'he~ OF my DAYS, that ! may be
certified New long ! have to live
Where had 7 heard those words be
fore? All yes! I knew,
The ritual for the burial Of the dead,
There was sudden tumult in nv
miRd-a qulvering feeling in my heart.
! must speak-shout-rsis the lids ~
them that my body stin held a living
souH
But the droning voice Of tie speaker
went on
For man walketh in vain shadow
and disquieteth himself in vain, ne
The Washington times., 1908-11-22

They only put him under tHis after
noon. Hadn't We better soak aim one
in the head an make sure OF the job2"
There vas q pause and I fe the
rough palm OF hand close over my
face and move up and down. then from
right to left
- reckon hes done all right" said
the other. whose voice came from
point several PAGES distant Wen give
him another look over when we've hlled
up the hole Come, Bill. let's hesve IN
the dirt. It's nearly one, I'm thinkin'
We've got to be trsveiin soon. Doc Will.
be lookin' for as AT three. It's the old
womans rent day, an my half o. that
hundred won't come my way a blink
too soon"
The man who lad been stroking my
face chuclzled as he rose and left me.
Jim Mstherly's poolroom's got the
cali on Il before the old woman gets
her turn. he laughed You've got so
used 10 pIckin Up stiifs. YOU can't help
fl when you've got coin 20 nut on TIE
pclirS."
Come. get busy. grow'ed the other.
IL"
T heard no more. IS the clouds shut
out the last of the stars that lad
seen. I rolled over quietly. then. while
the two ghouls were refUiae the grave
from which they lad taken me. eau
tious!y crawled away on my hands and
knees
over grave after grave erept From
tirae - time 7 paused behind a head
stone or monument 20 assure myself
that 7 was not pursued. 10 the dark
ness that had settled over the cemetery
the ghouls we're COMPLETELY hidden fraTa
my view. Now and then riffs in TIE
scud above revealed the outlines or
the tombstones around me
At length. however. q weird shrek
caused the blood to freeze in my veins
and brought a cry Of terror TO my lips
j crouched down behind laurel
covered grave a second shrek. more
shriU and longer than .he first, SCUM Sen
in my ears. As. trembling in every NIB.
i turned my face in the direction
whence the sound proceeded, great
yellow disk rushed into view. n was
the headlight of q locomotive.
saw that 7 was scarcelE more than
a hundred PAGES from railroad track,
and as. for a few moments, the great.
yellow glow illumined the ground on
which J lay, I glanced behind me ap-
prehensively. and skunk closer into the
shadow Of the monument by which
had been erouching In a few moments
al was dark again
As : followed the train wit my eyes.
saw that its speed was a0ating and
that at last it stopped in front Of
cluster of lights that undoubtedly
marked the location Of a railway sta
ton.
Just as the lights ou the rear plat
form OF the last car OF the train moved
on, 7 ieaped over walled embankment
and Sc foot on the bed Of the rail-
road.
Light light light" ! murmur4d.
aus FASTENED in the direction OF the
station
once more in the light ] would have
The Washington times., 1908-11-22
&c OF Picture Puzzles-

One of the new toy devices which IL
said TO have had 8 great run among thu
country homes of the main line IA
known as the jis-saw or pastime-puzzle
This is a new form OF the old blocl, NM
zle. some famous paintings being re-
duced TO moderate size and cut m in
jis-saw pieces, which Ii requires fba
utmost Ingenuity TO put together again.
So absorbed have some of the Main
Liners become in this pastime that thAv
are said to be giving house parties 70
celebrate the recompletion Of these pic-
lures.
Apart from mechanical toys. the
fancy-dressed dolls and animals on the
toy-countcrs are much the same as in
former years. AS most Of the German
goods in this field are handmade. they
are still favored by many buyers. but
even in this field the ingenuity OF the
American skilled workman and the al
vantage OF superior machinery are Mac
ig the American articles upon sinh
stantial equality with those OF their
German competitors PHILADELPHIA r.
crd
The Washington times., 1908-11-22

heaDefh up riches and cannot tell who
shall gather them"
Ny brain was on fire But. alive or
dead, / had no tongue or lips with
which 10 frame a prayer.
The minister continued TO speak, but
] no longer heard his words. I was try
ing TO revivify my will--to concentrate
All its shattered powers in an attempt
10 manifest a sign OF life.
Once my heart gave great bound
as | felt my fingers twiteh. Surely some
one must have seen the movement ]
tried 10 open my eyes that ! might see
who was near The effort was vain
The sound OF music smOte my ears.
and / heard the opening chords OF my
faVorite hymn:
Abide with me; fast falls the even
tide"
The Washington times., 1908-11-22

saN a little cluster OF sfcss, naomentaFi-
ly revealed by a rift IN q heavy cloud
drift
was about TO rise to a sitting posi-
ton when ] heard a rough voice speak
ing.
so he's a mole, eh?''
a mole, Why. man. he's the worst
you ever see. He's tore the linin' Of his
box to bits and chewed em--must a
turned clean over once and tried 20
drill hole in the bottom wild II teeth
A mole-Wsl. I should say 50. I've took
out many mole before. but never one
Of EN- died as ard as this one did. ="
= y
Again Among the Living.
"Mebbe he amt done crOakin' yet. Z"
suggested the first speaker suspiciously.
The Washington times., 1908-11-22
THIS EXPOSITION DRY

The department OF publicity Of the
Alaska Yukon Pacific ExDosition
which VIII be held at Seattle next
year, has sent out a circular which
states that the exposition will be
dry. No intoxicating beverages
viii be sold on the grounds. and this
action has been taken despite the
fact that the sale OF beer ana LIQUORS
is known TO have been a great source
OF revenue at former expositions. The
management takes pains 70 make IL
known that even the Bay Streak,
which viii take the place OF the Mid
way at the exposition and will con-
tain mile Of amusement resorts and
eateh-penny schemes. VIII be ss dry
as any other part OF the show
The Washington times., 1908-11-22

turn my head-to speak: but the ef-
forts were vain.
There is another injured p"
Two others-a man ia the hall and
ii young woman, my niece, IN my Of
nee, This way, Please"
They went Into The hall. out though
I heard gntm speaking 4 was unable
TO distinguish their words. A few mo-
menIs laler the conN ersation Was con-
unueu ln Tie apartment behind Tie
drawing room. bat TINS also Jailed 10
reach nay ears in an inteihgabie FORM
The doorbeii rang again. Anu - t..s
door was opened neaId man INCUR
gns tor Ur- Demarest.
WE Is "a, 5ames - called the doe
tor from the Isrtner end OF the nall
Mr.. lNauvil sir
All. Archie. tins is terubie-terr5ie,
any DOy-terr1Dle! exclaimed the Coz
tor.
What's up?
The words were spoken with a quiet
drawL
Evelyn has been beaten iato in
sensibihty, George lockwood has
been shot 10 death, ana a stranger
VINO committed these acts mas taken
mis- own life in my drawing room
There was 40 reply. ami the pair
passed on 10 The rear room. Again
heard their voices, ana the toldins
doors were thrown open.
she viii recover. 1anviI asked,
anXiously
II Tear moi. the doctor answered,
gravely. Ineu. afler q pause. lie went
on. This Is me dsVII WnU ga Jne
work. Attracted by Evelyns cries
ana then the sOunu Of a snOJ. ! nur-
RED down stairs. LOcKR OOd MAS fall
ing IN the hail Passing his body, 1
hurried bacK 10 nay oHiCe. Evelyn
lay Oh the floor as yo8 see her EO@.
I4-.s Stranger. upon sSeing me. ran
ITvu the Once into che drawing room
/ pursued MIN, put before Z was aoIe
10 lay hands upon INN he pointed the
revolver al mis- breast. pulled the trig-
ger, snd as the sound OF the shot
shook the room ne fen
Why did you close these doors?
asked R.anNiL
~"
Il saw You open them Just TOW
Il must nave closed them IN nay agi-
Jatiou as l hurried hack 10 Evelyn. /
have no recollection CT having closed
them"
Manyil knelt beside me. Through
my haf-closed eyes 1 saw him plainly
"a tail. spare-IeatuTed ana pale-com-
pleXioned man of about thirty-fiye
years of age His brows We're knit.
and. despite the cOmposure OF his long.
mask-like but handsome face. there
was a wild look in his eyes.
Have you ever seen him bef0re?
the doctor asked. nervoUsly.
NO. James has Just told me that he
called a few minutes before the COM
mission OF the crime. lie sent his card
10 Evelyn. James gave me thaJ
card On. yes, j have il here. Rich
ard Dunlston. But who the devil
Perhaps the papers in ms pockels---.'
stop exclaimed the pOAceman.
"Nobody must touch them uu use cor
Oner comes. Got a phone rounu inc
h0use?'
Yes. yes-to be sure, the doctor
answered quickly Take him 10 a.
James We viii wait fJr you here.
The policeman apparently hesiraled.
Guess I'll have 20 ask you 10 step
out Of these two rooms" ne said after
a pause. Then il anything IS lost OF
misplaced We amt res ons.0le. Wen
have the coroner ana eetecuves here
by-and-by. They always want 10 lind
things just as they were curing 4
scrap"
The four men went out and closea
the door
For the FIRST ,ime since ! had fallen
TO the floor a tUil realization Of my
terrible position began 10 drive from
my mind the inertia with which l had
been afflicted.
-: 80
The Washington times., 1908-11-22
CHAPTER III.
THE NARROW HOUSE.

THE NARROW HOUSE
What has happened?' quietly
asked a deep voice which / inferred
was that OF a policeman
Murder and suicide" the other re-
piled.
You are DR.. Demarest?"
Yes"
who is this on the moore
he is q stranger 10 me. How ne
came here ! have not had an oppor-
tuaity % Inquire The shooting was
done By him, As you see, the revolver
is still in his hand
rs he dsad2"
Yes. ! examined the body just as
you sDtgred. lie died Instantly"
] attempted 10 move .ly hands-te
The Washington times., 1908-11-22

felt like one Who nad been awak-
ened BY some loud sound. There was
a feeling OF creepiness in my flesh, and
a futtering Of my heart
This lasted only a few moments, ana
during this brief period ! tried 10 rise
TO a sitting posture My forehead
struck something that was only a few
inches above it--sOmething that might
have been a piece OF heavy wooden
flooring or a slab Of stone
The Washington times., 1908-11-22
THE SYNOPSIS

Duniston, lawyer Miss HOLSTER
papers, among which WILL She
they Duniston call her
receipt papers, be
wishes and her house While he is wait
ing HOLSTER
gardng signing papers HOLSTER Then
a
The Washington times., 1908-11-22

ieaping rabbits. kangarocs and donkeys
The great variety OF these motion ag-
ores can hardly be appreciated by any
one who does not make a careful study
OF the toy-counters. and they explain
why the American manufacturer is tax
ing the lead in the toy market.
The Washington times., 1908-11-22
The House of the Dead.

sank hack inert. ami as ! did so
there was a rafting at ms feet. then
with faint rgmble the OBJECT in
which / lay was drawa out into the
light and the end on which my feet
rested was abruptly lowered
The Washington times., 1908-11-22
CHAPTER ".
CHAPTER ~

CHAPTER ~
HOW A MOLE OPENED HIS EYES
A score of hammers seemed 10 be
beating d tattoo on my head. was
still gaspinE. but
The air that entered my postrils now
Vas fresh and crisp and cold / spread
out my hands. and my fingers touched
turf and gravel onensd my ewes and
The Washington times., 1908-11-22

TO Be Continued Next Sunday.)
The Washington times., 1908-11-13
WATERFRONT TRUNK
BOOTLEGGER'SS STORE
Oklahoma Marshal Finds
Hidden Liquor in a
Mans Room.

BUD Ledbstter. Of Nuskogse. Okla,
who was either a city marshal or a
deputy marshal all lis life and now at
the head OF The police department in
MuskOgee, has found new wrinkle H.
the JootIegglng BUSINESS. and Bud has
been catching boot egsers, studying
classifying and CataIOEung them for
twenty yeGEs.
The new one is the refrigerator trunk
Bud had suspected liquor was sold in a
building. but c0uld not get the evidence
He finally decided TO search the rooms,
and in one Of them he found two trunks,
just plain ordinary trunks They were
not even locked and when the Hos were
raised there was nothing visible but
fresh linen carefully packed.
4 bOouegger once said that Bud Leo.
better could smell a bottle Of booze
locked up IN freight car running by
him at the rate Of twenty miles an hour
Bud backed of from the trunks and
took long look at them. Then he went
10 one ana after some difficulty removed
the tray packed with linen. and behold
the bottom part of the trunk was
packed with ice and cold bottles The
bottom part Of the trunk had been
lined with metal and made water tight
This enabled the owner 10 keep i large
supply OF cold bottles on hand all the
time
The other trunk proved to be storage
and was packed fun Of bottles TO re-
plensh the refrigerator as fast as the
cold ones Misrepresentation Bee