davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-10-18

pantomime and sent a second waited
kiss after the first.
To his surprise and dismay the
girl turned indignant. An angry flush
came to her cheek and he could al
most fancy AN angry flash in the
eyes, the exact color of which had fur
nished him food for endless specula-
ton. The girl f1ounced away from the
window and he saw her no more that
afternoon.
All that evening as Boswell worked
the keyboard of linotype machine
he wondered why the girl should have
been angered when he had returned
her message of love. 1t seemed I'M
reasonable that she should object to
his having followed her example.
He hurried through his breakfast
the next morning and took up his sta
tion at the window. 1t was nearly an
hour before the girl appeared and her
very evident effort to make it seem
that she was waving to the passengers
of a passing train puzzled him. They
lived on opposite sides of the raised
tracks of the railroad viaduct.
He was still puzzling over the mat
ter when there came a ring at the
doorbell and presently his mother
ushered into the parlor a well-buflt
young fellow whose sQuare-cut jaw
was hard and determined and in
whose eyes there cleaned an angry
light.
He waited until Mrs. Boswell had
retired, then he advanced toward the
window.
al want to know what you mean
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-10-18

bachelor all my life," he added. with a
trace of irritation. Il think we have
all been very patient with your whlms,
Stella. Kiss me ike a good sister and
wish me joy"
Il hope you will be very happy"
said Stella duly. but she did not offer
TO kiss him and she slowly left the
room
Bert watched her go with the sense
of helpless irritation a man feels when
he has unwittingly hurt woman and
knows that really he is not to blame.
He made no effort to stop her, and
Stella slipped off to her own room to
fight out her battle alone
But. here fresh shock awaited her,
for as she curled up in the window
seat she glanced across the street and
was Mortified TO see two heavy trucks
piled high with ropes and tackle stop
before the house across the way. Gilt
lettering proclaimed them the property
of the Metropolitan house wrecking
company, but Stella did not need the
signs TO tell her their purpose.
Stella hurried down the stairs and
burst into the library.
Bert" she cried, there are the
house wreckers in front of the old Balm
place. We must send Robert over to
tell them that they are making mis-
take"
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-10-18

but it was some three weeks before
Covington succeeded in locating the
cave in which was kept the press
When success had crowned this effort
he communicated with the secret
| service officials in Chicago, and by
the end Of the week he found himself
upon terms of intimacy with one OF
| the stars of the bureau who had
come down to take charge of the raid
The following afternoon a party OF
four was to visit Dudley, and when
| they passed into the cave they did
| not know that about the entrance
| were concealed a dozen secret service
men and Covington.
The posse pressed in after the Wis
itors and caught the crew busily en-
gagged at their work. There was no
fight for it was useless to break for
liberty with Is revolvers guarding
the enhance. In high glee the officers
marched Dudley and his company
back to the farmhouse.
1t was here that information could
be gained as to the location of the
main plant further west. Covington
had seen the big safe carefully con-
cealed in the cellar and it took lit
tie persuasion to induce Dudley to
open it.
he seemed IN SlDguidrly GOOD
humor for a man facing a long-term
sentence for counterfeiting and he
chuckled audibly as the men pored
over the books found IL the safe.
Nothing, apparently. gave a clue
to the location of the main plant and
the chief was savagely promising
Dudley a rigorous third degree when
the men who had been left in the
cave to guard the press came into the
room.
whats the matter?'' demanded
the chief. "I left you to guard the
plant
There is no plant" was the dis
gusted reply. 1--WE started in to look
over the machine and we find that
it's a fake
Ct saw them making money my
self. I can go on the stand and tes-
tffy to that" said Covington eagerly.
You can swear to it?" The sec
ond in command shook with laugh
ter. i'It's this way, c ef," he went
on. This isn't a plant to make
! queer with. It's a sucker factory.
! The come-ons see silver blanks put
into the press and half dollars drop
ping out, and they are told that
there's a 40 per cent profit in max
ing money in real silver and they
buy stock. I don't believe these
chaps could stamp decent dollar
! to save their lives. They couldn't
even make 10-cent piece
But they do" insisted Covington
eagerly. ''I have SO coins that saw
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-10-18

I had chance to leave the office carly
, and / came out, that's all"
1T isn't ALL" insisted Stella "What
is it, Bert?'
Bert tried to laugh, but the effort
was not entirely successful Stella
followed him into the library with
her hand pressed against her heart TO
still its rapid beating.
Once in the comfortable room Bert
sank into his favorite chair and drew
his sister down upon his knee
Il hate to give you pain, dear" he
began softly. at is only the knowi-
edge that /. am wounding you which
puts me Ill at ease. The fact IS that
Beth promised me last night that she
would marry me in June. Frank IS
coming out this evening to dinner and
I wanted to slip home and tell you so
that you could get over it before he
came"
Stella sprang to her feet
You are going to be married. she
cried. @You are going to leave me and
the dear old home and make a homo
somewhere else?
"It had to come some time" he ar
gued, defensively "You see. Beth's
aunt will have to go back west shortly
and that will leave the poor child with
out any protection"
rYou can't expect me to remaiu z
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-10-18

for his health. but this time he was
convinced that he was on the right
track, for in his pocket reposed the
circular letter of the Crosby Invest
ing Company"
1t was an interesting document,
this letter, wherein was set forth
that there was considerable profit
In making silver coins out, of real
silver. For the purpose of distribu-
ton, the company was willing to sell
portion of its stock to discreet out
siders who would be furnished
monthly with a certain proportion
of the output of the concern as a
dividend
A system of assessments provided
for the upbuilding of the capital, and
the effort concluded with an offer to
show doubters the actual process of
making the coins.
Covington had arranged to imper-
senate the recipient of the circular
and already he had made an appoint
ment with the representative of the
concern to meet him in a western
town and assure himself of the value
Of the process.
1t was this which had led Coving-
ton to refuse to accede to Belongs
request that, he drop detective work
and go into business.
In the morning Covington's spirits
rose, for he was of optimistic tenn
permanent and the bright day sent
his spirits soaring.
He made transfer to a train TAX
Ing him to his destination, and late
In the afternoon of the second day
he stepped from the Pullman at an
obscure station and was met by a
man who carried in his hand a New
York paper, tho prearranged signal.
I'm glad you have come.'' ex-
claimed Dudley, as he led the way to
a smart rig. Eve like to have pros
pective customers come to investi-
gate. We find that they are more
ready to invest Irhen they see for
themselves what splenIi thing this
isl
"a regular trust" suggested Gov
ington.
That's what it is, Mr.. Gimson,"
assented Dudley, with a laugh you
have given me a good idea for a new
circular. We are trust. No man
with some composition metal and a
few molds can hope to come into COM
petition with US. A lot Of them have
realized that already, and have pooled
their money In this concern. I'll
warrant that you'll take 100 shares,
Mr.. Gimson-"
1t was long drive back into the
country, but the greater the mystery
the better Covington liked it. He
noted that they frequently turned,
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-10-18

made myself"
Made nothing" was the indis-
nant reply. You must be a rela-
ton to E. 2. Mark. Those presses
don't even have dies in them. They
| are blank. You put your silver in
and it drops into the bed of the
press while a real lalf dollar falls
out.
They've got a barrel of newly
mfnted coins there and another bar
.. rel of Silver discs. They feed the
discs into the machine and take the
real money out, and then you buy
lot of stock, and when the dividends
don't come you're in hole for you're
party to the crime and you can't
sue. They make money here, all
right, but they make 1t out of the
gulls-not out of silver"
Beats the green goods game all
hollow" exclaimed the chief under
standingly. There you have to
switch packages Here you just get
check and you lave a month to
cash it in before the first dividends
are due. It's a great scheme and
you are safe from u.s.
Modern business methods" muir
INJURED Dudley proudly. cts more
profitable than coming you'd be with
few legal chances. The press only
cost $500 and there's less than
$4,000 required for stock
We're going to confiscate those
blanks" said the chief turning to
Dudley. 1.-The rest of the case is one
for the police, not the secret service.
Any of you gentlemen want to make
complaint? Have any Of you paid
him money yet?"
There was a general shaking or
heads, and the chief turned to Cow
fngton-
You've cost us a lot of money
and wasted time,'' he said savagely.
81 listened to your story because you
said you were from the Dedham
agency. I'll write Dedham and have
you fred
You needn't take the trouble"
said Covington shamefacedly. ct
have decided to go into business for
myself. I'll resign by wire. 1 guess
I'm not cut out for a detective after
ALL"
He followed the Tould-be counter
feiter from the house and headed for
the town on foot. AS he had prom
Used, he wired the Oedham agency,
but he sent second wire TO Lucy.
It read:
Gam leaving for home tomorrow.
Detective business too uncertain.
Will explain" But that last was
something Covington. never did. His
great coup had turned to comedy and
the recollection OF 1t was a bitter
| memory.
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-10-18

by flirting with my sister, you con-
founded little '.masher,', was his as
tonishing conversational opening.
ct didn't know that I had been
flirting with your sister. 1 don't even
know who your. sister is" was Bos-
wells defiant reply.
The unlimited guest shook his
head.
THAT sort of thing doesn't go with
me-" he declared angrily. "You have
been flirting 18th my sister and you
do know who she Is. The chances are
that you have been flirting with J
many that you don't know just which
one my sister is. She's the girl across
the street"
''The one who waves her hand at
the Window" asked Boswell with in
terest. The other man nodded.
'I thought you'd know" he sneered
triumphantly. 'I tell you you've got
to stop it. You threw a kiss at her
yesterday"
What of to" asked Boswell "I
guess I've as much right to throw
kisses to her as she has to throw
them to me. She began it long ago.
Yesterday was the first time I re-
turned the compliment"
With a strangled oath the other
man-threw himself upon Boswell and
gripped him by the throat Silently
the men fought for a moment, then
slowly the asailant's grasp loosened
and his hands unclasped from about
Boswell's throat.
Look here" he said, regarding his
victim
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-10-18
l. e

spend the day with Nell and Nell
kisses her hand to her sister when
she sees her in the car. You, like a
fool, thought she was kissing her
hand to you"
'I quite agree with you" said Bos-
well sadly. "I am a fool and every
kind of a fool you want to call ne.
didn't notice that she only waved
was sort of interested and l wanted
to think that she was trying TO be
neighborly.
Would -ou mind taking me over
and letting me apologize? Brady
can tell you all about me-" he add cd.
pointing to a society button in the
others coat and following it with a
sign. at don't get down to lodge
much, because / work nights now,
but most of the old chaps know me,
Hank Boswell"
MY name is Tom Haight," voluh-
teered the caller. eve heard of you,
Boswell. Come on over and let Nell
in on the laugh. She's crazy mad, but
I guess she'll see the humor of the
thing"
I'm glad you think she'll see me-"
cried Boswell in relief as he slipped
on his coat. Il don't want anything
to interfere with plan I have in
mind for what I thought might be
just a Irritation"
Which plan, as he explained some
months later to his mother and Tom
Haight, consisted of taking a larger
fiat for the two Mrs. Boswells, him
self and Haight.
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-10-18

more than ever interested In HIS
neighbor across the street, and he
had begun to forget the kiss She was
a plump little woman and yet scarce
ly woman, for there was a certain
girlishness in her face and manner
that gave Boswell the pleasant assur-
ance that she was Miss and not
Mrs" no matter what her name
might be. And Boswell was deter
mined that the name should be dis
covered at no late day, for rapidly he
was becoming very much in love with
the woman across the way.
| Then there came day when she
blew another kiss, and again Boswell
frowned and decided that after all he
did not care for the girl. He did not
want a woman for a wife who. would
throw kisses to a total stranger,
though he did not cons er himself a
stranger in the full sense of the
word.
There were times when Boswell
even told himself that in spite of the
long distance kisses, he wanted to
make her his wife. She kept her home
so scrupulously neat. Through the
open windows he could see the we'll
kept parlor and in spite of her fire.
quent appearance at the window, she
was content with her household cares.
And he wanted home body for a
wife.
So Boswell looked and loved and
fiuctuated until at last he came to
the determination that he would press
his suit. The next time the girl blew
him kiss he -eturned the salute in
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-10-18
I'm GLAD YOU HAVE COME"

Mr.. Crimson, that they are exactly
the proper weight and thickness and
that they cannot be told from your
coins except for their newness.
with the large manufacturing in
terests in which you are concerned,
am positive that you could use
$1,000 worth month. Twenty
thousand dollars worth of stock will
insure that. You see we mine our
own silver and with the slight yearly
assessment the stock pays SO per
cent clear"
He gave Covington a handful of
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-10-18

cot course you will understand
that we do not show you our main
plant" explained Dudley. "That is
located still further west and only
the officers and the directors of the
company know the exact place.
1--WE simply aim to show you that
we really mint coins instead of mold
ing them. That is how we get the
sharpness of outline which is exactly
that of the government coinage II
is the rounded edges which betray
most spurious coins. Ours are the
real thinc.p
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-10-18

There is no mistake" said Bert
getty. There was a decision in the
court of appeals last month. Frank
and l did not tell you because we did
not want you to worry about it until
you had to. They are going to put up
d row Of fat houses"
For moment Stella was stunned
by the announcement, then she went
over to her brothers chair.
Lets ask Beth out to dinner to-
night she said as she kissed him.
well plan for double wedding,
dear"
Bert reached up and drew her down
to the comfort and protection of his
strong arms.
I'm glad you're going to give in
and marry, Frank. even if he does in
sist upon running awav from the house
wreckers," he whispered. @But it's the
first time ] ever saw the house wreck
ers act as Cupids"
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-10-18

structious to the COOK FOR the iaSt
two years Stella never went TO the
rear of the house If It were possible
to avoid doing so.
From childhood days she had spent
long, happy hours IN the spacious yard
of the Tolbert home and since the en-
eroachment of the city had walled
them in on one side am at the rear,
she had been heartbroken-
Then fine old mansions had been
RACED T. make room for long rows of
brick houses intolerable IN the nonot-
ony of their architecture. Each had
its tiny lawn in front, its six-foot
grass plot at one side and another plot
IN the rear. but the back yards BIOS
somed only with the Monday wash,
and the great trees lad been cut down
because the front lawns were far too
small TO accommodate the sturdy oaks
and the tall elms,
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-10-18

ever. and it's about time for a turn
ing. A man cannot be unfortunate
all his lifetime"
Some men can" asserted John
Belding. al know a chap who was
unlucky from the day he was borr
until the final day when he was
mixed up in the explosion of pow
der mill. I'll bet that he headed for
heaven and managed to take the
wrong turning and get into the other
place.
BE sensible, Dick, and give this
idea up. Settle down to business
then you and Lucy may be married
tomorrow. I'll never give my con-
sent while you remain detective,
and Lucy will not marry without my
permission"
Covington shook his head again.
Much as he loved Lucy Belding, he
was determined to make his reputa-
ton as a detective before long, and
a man OF brilliant success, Sherlock
Holmes in real life would then be
welcomed as a son-in-law even by
John Bedding.
He had now passed his majority
and John Bedding no longer had au-
thority over his actions, but the elder
man had made it plainly understood
that until Dick was willing to settle
down to a real business he could not
have Lucy.
Dick had fatuously replied that he
would make them glad to have him
In the family, and now, after a half
dozen failures. he, was still OF the
same belief.
When he left the Belding home
that evening. Lucy was in tears and
her father was swearing softly to
himself, but Dick Covington swung
up the street with a smile playing
about his lips He had not told them
that he was on the verge of his great
coup.
He had already proven a sensation
al disappearance case a mere suicide
when a conscience-stricken assassin
had confessed to the murder and had
told where he had hidden the body.
He had also made an arrest Of an
ascending bank cashier only to have
the supposed fugitive prove himself
to be a retired clergyman travelling
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-10-18

the heavy mail that resulted from
the widespread distribution of the
circulars, and nearly every day he
met wouid-be investors.
BY degrees Covington was able to
trace the route taken by Dudley and
his guests. The farm house he had
located within few days, for Dudley
stood high in the town, where il was
believed that he was arranging to
locate saw mill to utilize the heavy
forest growth, and his guests were
supposed to be capitalists.
It was easy to locate the house,
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-10-18

the coins and after a short stay
watching the men at work he led the
way back to the house. In the morn
ing he drove the detective to the sta
tfon and saw him on board the train.
But he was not there when the
evening train came in and man in
coarse clothing descended from a day
coach and hunted up a boarding
place near the station Behind the
coarse clothing was Covington-
Dudley came to town every day for
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-10-18

He led the way into the cave wh:ch
was lighted by a smoky gasoline
flare. Instead of the long, thin bars
of metal, a crew of men were en-
gagged in the task OF feeding circular
blanks into the press and removing
the perfect half dollars.
Dudley caught up handful OF the
shining coins and passed them to
Covington.
Compare them with those In your
pockets" he urged. "You will find.
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-10-18

and once they seemed to cross their
own tracks. 1t was all a part o; the
necessary precaution. He would
worm himself into Dudiey's cont
dence and find the exact location.
But even after their long drive
their exertions were not concluded,
for after wash up. and supper they
had a long walk through the woods
before they came to the mouth of
the cave in which was located the
plant.
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-10-18

on the man. shes married to chap
who is a conductor in the suburban
service. He makes four trips day
out and back, and when the train
passes our house Nell alv avs waves
to him. Sometimes ne brings Grace to
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-10-18

his remark. but the other man only
grinned.
EFT may have been all a mistake.
I don't suppose that can blame you
if you thought you were answering
a signal not intended for you. You
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-10-18

Ever since the girl had moved In
the week before Boswell ha0 spent
much of his spare time at the window
watching for her appearance. A doz-
en- times a day she would stand In the
window and smile and wave her hand,
and Boswell, who worked only at
night, had come to count on her APP
pearances and to watch for them.
This was the first time that she
had kissed her hand to him, and Bos-
well was not altogether pleased. He
was not inclined to be flirtatious even
while he was GLAD that the girl was
disposed to be friendly. He had GER
tain ideas OF propriety-
In q city It's hard for a girl to make
friends unless she works in a store,
and even then her field of friends is
limited. The girl and he were neigh
bors. She had seen him at the win
dow day after day, and q friendly nod
was nothing more than neSghborly.
But a kiss was something very differ
emit. Decidedly Boswell was sorry that
things had gone so far.
AS the days passed Boswell grew
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-10-18
THE FILTRATION

Look here" retorted Boswell rub
bling his redeemed throat. "You try
that again and I'll brain you and hand
you over to the police
He caught up heavy paperweight
that lay upon the table to emphasize
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-10-18

see, I've got two sisters"
I'm glad you didn't think I was
flirting with both of them," muttered
Boswell, cor you'd have killed me
offhand."
my other sister is married." went
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-10-18

brothers suggestion that she sell the
old mansion and purchase home fur
Their out In the country, beyond the
limits of the oity's probable expan-
sion
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-10-18

{ z L 1 a hurried
through the errand
which had taken her
to the kitchen, and
as she regained
the hall leading to
the front of the
house, her face lost
the panied look it
had worn while she
had been giving in
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-10-18
NOT THE SAME.

Its pity" rems rked the Thoughts
full thinker. that man isn't like pie
crust"
Because why7" asked the dense
person.
Then" explained the t. {, @the
shorter he il the riches be ypuA b.
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-10-18

JST as Boswell looked
out of the window
the girl across the
way lightly blew a
kiss from the tips of
her fingers, smiled
and nodded IN the
most friendly fash
ion. Boswell, quite
overcome. could only
smile and nod in re-
Spouse.
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-10-18

TX CO v I N G T o n
shook his head as he
set down his glass.
"I'll admit that luck
has been against me
thus far" he said
evenly. ''I have en-
countered an ex-
traordinary run of
luck, but I am con-
WINGED that the I'll
TrrA l<<.