davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-09-15
A Hard Part.

MY hardest part on our unfor-
tunate summer tour" said the sailor,
twas in sea drammer, The Tar and
the Cingalese.' l played third mate.
"The wreck scene was certainly
strenuous. Me and the crew swum
the whole act thru. The sea was blue
cloth what the supers shook in the
wings. Every time our palms hit the
water you could hear it all over the
house.
THAT fierce swimmin' in the wild
seas was terrible hard work. Now and
then your backbone would come down
on the ocean and get all the skin
rasped off. A wave would slide down
your front and rip every button Off
your suit. The ship keeled over on a
man one night. and before he could lift
her off himself his ankle bone was
busted.
"a man in the wings made thunder
and lightning with one hand and ate
cheese sandwich with the other The
brave ship rocked to and fro and IT
seemed that every minute would be
her last. The dust from off the waves
was stranglin'. If you glided too fast
over the seas surface you got spilnt-
ers in you. Still we swan on.
Sometimes, tho, worn out, wed
swim behind the ship, stand up on
the waves, stretch ourselves and rest.
Then back we'd swim bravely again.
"When that terrible act was at last
over we'd go downstairs, remove the
dust and splinters that we had con-
tracted from our long swim, pack the
ship in a trunk, fold up the ocean, and
go back to the boardin' house for sup
ner'
Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-09-15

afforded toilsome path for runners
Email already realized that he had
Numbered in not forcing the wall. lie
was running uphill, with group OF
sheds, another wall and still sleeper
and rougher field beyond. His bulk
told against him, and behind him he
heard the quick thump of Oscars feet
on the turf. The starlight grew dim
mer through tracts of white scud: the
surface of the pasture was rougher to
the feet than it appeared to the eye. A
hound i'll the Claiborne stable yard
bayed suddenly, and the sound echoed
from the surrounding houses and drift
ed of toward the sheepfold. Then Il
noble music rose from the kennels.
Captain Claiborne. waiting for his
sister on the veranda, looked toward
the stables. listening.
Zmai approached the sheep sheds
rapidly, with still hundred yards to
traverse beyond them before he should
reach the pasture wall. His rage at
thus being driven by small man for
whom he had great contempt did not
help his wind or stimulate the fight of
his heavy legs. and he saw now that
he would lessen the narrowing margin
between himself and his pursuer If he
swerved to the right to clear the sheds.
He suddenly slackened his pace and
with vicious tug settled his wool hat
more firmly upon his small skull. He
went now at dogtrot, and Oscar
was closing upon him rapidly; then,
quite near the sheds, Zmai wheeled
about and charged his pursuer head
long. AT the moment lie turned Oscars
revolver bit keenly into the night Cap
tain Claiborne, looking toward the
slope, saw the flash before the hounds
at the stables answered the report.
At the shot Zmai cried aloud In his
curiously small voice and clapped his
hands to his head.
"Stop: l want the letter" shouted
Oscar in German The man turned
Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-09-15

if they had to buy or build houses
built on the regular orthodox lines
laid out by conservative architects and
built in the old-fashioned way. have
nothing to say against large two-story
solid houses as heavy as anyone
wants them. They are all right in
their places, but what suits one does
not suit another either in plan, ap-
pearance or cost, and the bungalow
has added a chapter to house building
which meets the view of a large and
increasing number of persons.
This house plan gives an opportuni-
ty for young people to start in with
home of their own without great out
lay in cash AS designed the house Is
built without a cellar, but cellar may
be added at any time. While the chile
dren are small it is not absolutely
necessary to finish the bedrooms on
the second floor The house is COM
plete down stairs. l have known men
with families of five or six children to
build house like this, occupy 1t for q
year or two, then add . cellar, sleep
ing rooms in the attic, porch at the
back or side and many other attractive
features as they felt they could afford
the expense. And very often the
money saved in rent has paid for
these Improvements.
! particularly, like to see thrift Of
this kind and I am optimistic enough
to believe that similar sentiments are
increasing as the country becomes
more thickly populated. see evil
dences of economy that never no.
ticed before except in isolated cases.
Economy is one Of the greatest vir-
tues. Economy and ignorance seldom
go together. 1t requires person OF
more than average intelligence to
practice economy sensibly. Economy
is not stinginess, there is wide dis
tinction.
A house after this plan can be built
for $1,000 or $1,000 according to the
location, cost of materials and thel
price of skilled labor The price is
one of the strongest arguments in
favor of building such house.
Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-09-15

ut is mischief that brings him from
the hills-yes?" Oscar reflected, glanc-
ing up and down the highway. Faint
~, very softly through the night, he
heard the orchestra at the hotel play
ing for the dance. The little soldier
unbuttoned his coat, drew the revolv-
er from his belt and thrust it into his
coat pocket. Zmai was drawing near
er, advancing rapidly now that he had
gained his bearings. At the wall Os-
car rose suddenly and greeted him in
mockingly courteous tones:
"Good evening, my friend; it's fine
evening for walk"
Zmai drew back and growled.
'sLet me pass" he said in his diff
cult German.
eft is long wall; there should be
no difficulty in passing. This country
is much freer than Servia-yes?" and
Oscars tone was pleasantly converse
tional.
Zmai put his hand on the wall and
prepared to vault.
"a moment only. comrade. You seem
to be in a hurry; it must be business
that brings you from the mountains
eyes?"
81 have no time for you" snarled the
Servian. "Begone" And he shook
himself impatiently and again put his
hand on the wall
Zone should not be in too much
hoc In Nd
Zmai back with his finger tips.
The man yielded and ran few steps
out Of the clump of trees and sought
TO escape there. 1t was clear to Oscar
that Zrnai was not anxious to pene-
trate closer to the Claiborne house,
whose garden extended quite near,
He met Zmai promptly and again
thrust him back.
''It is message-yes?" asked Oscar.
cit is my affair." burted the big fel-
low. Il mean no harm to you"
ut was you that tried the knife on
my body. 1t is much quieter than
shooting. You have the knife-yes?"
The little soldier whipped out his re-
volyer.
"In which pocket is the business car
ried? A letter undoubtedly. They do
not trust swine to carry words. Ah!'
Oscar dropped below the wall as
Zmai struck at him. When he looked
up a moment later the Servian was
running back over the meadow toward
the sheepfold. Oscar, angry at the
ease with which the Seryian had evad-
ed him, leaped the wall and set of
after the big fellow. He was quite sure
that the man bore written message
and equally sure that it must be of i'm
portance to his employer. He clutched
his revolver tight, brought up his ell
bows for greater ease in running and
sped after Zmai, now blur on the
6tarlighted sheep pasture.
The slope was gradual and pretty
feature of the landscape by day, but it
Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-09-15

and broad, but in order to get more
sleeping accommodation the ridge was
raised just enough at first to get one
room, but builders have repeatedly
pushed it up higher until we see a
good many houses built very much
after this plan with about three bed
rooms in the roof.
1t costs but little more to build a
seven or eight room house in this way
than to build a five-room house with
the rooms all on one level. The raft
ers of course are longer and it takes
more shingles, but the work on the
roof is not much different and as far
as the inside is concerned you simply
Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-09-15

Meanwhile OS-
car. thinking Zmai badly hurt. did not
fire again, but flung himself upon the
fellows broad shoulders, and down
they crashed against the door of the
nearest pen. Zmai swerved and shook
himself Free while he iercely cursed
his foe. Oscars hands slipped Oh the
fellows hot blood that ran from long
crease in the side of his head.
AS they fell the pen door snapped
free, and out into the starry pasture
thronged the frightened sheep.
"The letter-give me the letter." com
manded Oscar. his face close to the
Servian's He did not know how badly
the man was injured. but he was anx
ious to complete his business and be
off. Still the sheep came budding
through the broken door. across the
PROSTATE men and scampered aWay
into the open. Captain Claiborne, run.
ming toward the fold with his lantern
and not looking for obstacles, stumbled
over their bewildered advance guard
and plunged headlong into the gray
1eeces. Meanwhile into the pockets OF
his PROSTATE foe went Oscars hands
with no result. Then he remembered
the mans gesture IN pulling the hat
close upon his ears, and off came the
hat and with it blood stained envel-
ope. The last sheep in the pen trooped
out and galloped toward it's comrades
Oscar, making off with the letter,
plunged into the rear guard of the
sheep, fell, stumbled to his feet and
confronted Captain Claiborne as that
gentleman in soiled evening dress fun
bled for his lantern and swore at the
sheep in language unbecoming an Off
Ger and gentleman.
cit is sheep-yes?" and Oscar started
to bolt.
"Halt."
The authority of the tone rang ia
miliarly in Oscars ears. He had after
considerable tribuation learned to stop
short when an officer spoke to him,
and the gentleman Of the sheepfold
stood straight in the starlight and
spoke like an officer.
"What are you doing here, and who
fred that shot?"
Oscar sauted and summoned his best
English.
at was an accident. sir"
"Why are you running and why did
you fire? Understand you are tres
passer here, and l am going to turn
vou over to t,e cOnStable'
There was sheep stealer-yes!
He is yonder by the pens, and we had
some little fighting, but he is not dead
-no?"
At that moment Claiborne's eyes
caught sight of burly figure rising
and thrashing about by the broken
pen door.
''That is the sheep stealer," said o.
car. 1--WE shall catch him-yes?"
Zmai peered toward them uncertain
ly for moment, then turned abruptly
and ran toward the road. Oscar START
ed to cut off his retreat, but Claiborne
caught the sergeant by the shoulder
and flung him back.
Cone of you at time! They can
turn the hounds on the other rascal.
Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-09-15
RulIfiuhters Well Paid.

The sum of SALT an hour and no In
reference by trades unions, seems .
fairish wage, even for those in the
first rank of the bullfghting profess
sion. Whether the remuneration is
adequate in view Of the risks incurred
may be open to discussion; certain it
is, an expert in the Madrid Epoca tells
us. that bullfghting is such an emf
nently healthful occupation that its
followers, IL they retire unhurt, in
yariably reach green old age.
Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-09-15

arms, land as you were very much oc-
cupied l made free with the rear We
randa and changed places with him"
Claiborne walked slowly toward him,
the anger glowing in his face.
':You are worse than thought
eavesdropper, housebreaker!"
Yes: l am both those things. Cap
tain Claiborne. But 1 am also in a
great hurry. What do you want with
meg"
"You are rogue, an impostor"-
1--WE will grant that" said Armitage.
"Whcre is your warrant for my ar
rest?'
"That will be Forthcoming fast
enough. l want you to understand
that have personal grievance
against YOU"
at must wait until day after tomor-
to you here or wherever you say on the
day after tomorrow"
Armitage spoke with deliberate
sharp decision that was not the tone
of rogue or fugitive. AS he spoke
he advanced until he faced Claiborne
in the center of the room. Shirley still
stood by the window, holding the soiled
paper in her hand. She had witnessed
the change OF the men at the end Of
the room. 1t had touched her humor.
1t had been joke on her brother, but
she felt that the night had brought a
crisis. She could not continue to shield
a man of whom she knew nothing save
that he was the object Of a curious
enmity. The coup de theatre by which
Armitage had taken the place of his
servant had amused her for moment.
but she was vexed and angry now that
he had dared come again to the house.
'sYou are under arrest, Mr.. Armitage.
I must detain you here" said Claiborne.
''In American free Virginia-with-
out legal process?" asked Armitage,
laughing.
"You are a housebreaker, that is
enough. Shirley, please go"
"You were not detached from the
army to find a housebreaker. But l
will make your work easy for you
day after tomorrow 1 will present my
self to you wherever you say. But
now-that cable message which my
man found in your sheep pasture is of
Importance. l must trouble you to
read it to me-"
'sNop' shouted Claiborne.
Armitage drew step nearer.
"You must take my word for it that
matters Of Importance, of farreaching
consequence, hang upon that message.
I must know what it is"
'sYou certainly have magnificent
cheek! 1 am going to take that paper
to Baron Won Marhof at once"
"Do so-but I must know first! Bar
on Won Marhof and l are on the same
side in this business. but he doesn't
understand it, and it is clear you don't.
Give me the message"
He spoke commandingly, his voice
thrilling with earnestness, and jerked
out his last words with angry impa-
thence. At the same moment he and
Claiborne stepped toward each other,
with their hands clinched at their
sides.
81 don't like your tone, Mr.. Armi-
tager
Il don't like to use that tone, Captain
Claiborne"
Shirley walked quickly to the table
and put down the message. Then. 60
ing to the door, she paused as though
Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-09-15
what's that you have there2 Give 1t

What's that you have there2 Give 1t
to me-quick"
Its piece Of wool
But Claiborne snatched the paper
from Oscars hand and commanded
the man to march ahead of him to the
house. So over the meadow and
through the pergola they went, across
the veranda and into the library. The
power of army discipline was upon
oscar. If Claiborne had not been an
officer he would have run for it in the
garden. AS It was, he was taxing his
wits to find some way out Of his pre-
dicament He had not the slightest
idea as to what the paper might be.
He had risked his life to secure it, and
Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-09-15
ghyss- setaa, rsls11to,u,5 iaua srpte,ber IS 1903

by an afterthought and repeated quite
slowly the words:
"Winkelried-Vi later than
Friday--Chauvenet"
"Shirley" roared Claiborne.
John Armitage bowed to the already
vacant doorway, then bounded into the
hall out upon the veranda and ran
through the garden to the side gate,
where Oscar waited.
Half an hour later Captain Claiborne,
after an interview with Baron Won
Marhof, turned his horse toward the
hills.
Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-09-15

house. 1t would take up less Nfsm,
too, and save some money, and save
the architect headache. The fact ID
we pay too much attention to fashion
or custom. One person is afraid to d.
anything different and each one fol
lows along after his neighbor withouCy
knowing why.
| have watched the DEVELOPMENT Of
the bungalow idea in house building
Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-09-15

slowly. as though
dazed, and. with
a Vi a n d S till
clutching his
head, half stun
bled and half
ran toward the
sheds. with Os-
car at his heels.
Claiborne call
ed to the negro
TIA blem en- to
quiet the dogs.
snatched a lam
tern a n d ran
a w a y through
the pergola to
the end of the
6 q + den an d
thence into the
pasture beyond.
Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-09-15

crossing fro m
the side far
thest from the
c | a ! b o + II e
house. He stop
ped sew era |
times MS though
uncertain Of his
W hereab bouts.
and then he
clambered over
a stone wall
that formed one
S id e of the
sheepfold. pass
ed it and strobe
on toward Os-
car and the
road
Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-09-15

''1'he letter-gire me the lettcri" COM
1nanded Oscar.
now the crumpled. blood stained paper
had been taken away from him by a
person whom it could not interest in
any way whatever.
He blinlled under Claiborne's sharp
scrutiny as they faced each other in
the library
you are the man who brought a
horse back to our stable an hour ago"
Eyes, sir"
''You have been soldier"
'In the cavalry, sir. have my dis
charge at home"
where do you live?"
IL work as teamster in the coal mines
yes? They are by Lamar, SIR"
Claiborne studied Oscars erect figure
carefully.
LET me see your hands," he COM
manded, and Oscar extended his
palms.
"You are lying; you do not work in
the coal mines. Your clothes are not
those of Il miner, and discharged sol
der doesn't go to digging coal. Stand
where you are and it will be the
worse for you if you try to bolt"
Claiborne turned to the table with
the envelope 1t was not sealed, and
he took out the plain sheet Of note
paper on which was written:
CABLEGRAM.
Winkelried. Vienna
Not later than Friday.
CHAUVENET.
Claiborne read and reread these eight
words; then he spoke bluntly to Oscar.
where did you get this?"
.'Erom the hat of the sheep stealer
up yonder."
"Who is he and where did he get it?"
81 don't know, sir. He was of Ser
via, and they are an ugly race-yes?"
What were you going to do with the
paper?"
Oscar grinned.
"If / could read it-yes?-I might
know, but If Austria is in the paper,
then it is mischief, and maybe it would
be murder. Who knows?"
Claiborne looked frowningly from the
paper to Oscars tranquil eyes.
Dick" called Shirley from the hall,
and she appeared in the doorway.
drawing ON her gloves. but paused at
seeing Oscar.
Shirley, l caught this man in the
sheepfold. Did you ever see him be-
fore%'
81 think not, Dick"
s'It was he that brought your horse
home"
ITO be sure it is! l hadn't recog
nized him Thank you very much"
And she smiled at Oscar.
Dick frowned fiercely and referred
again to the paper.
"Where is NJ. Chauvenet-have you
any idea?"
eff he isn't at the hotel or in Wash
ington, I'm sure l don't know. Ii we
are going to the dance
.'Plague the dance! l heard shot
In the sheep pasture bit ago and ran
out to find this se'low in row with
another man, who got away"
II heard the shot and the dogs from
my window You seem to have been
in fuss, too, from the looks of your
clothes.' And Shirley sat down and
smoothed her gloves with provoking
GOODNESS.
Dick sent Oscar to the far end of the
library with a gesture and held up the
message for Shirley to read
Don't touch it' he exclaimed, and
when she nodded her head in sign that
she had read it he said, speaking ear
nestly and rapidly:
81 suppose l have no right to hold
this message; must send the man to
the hotel telegraph Office with it. But
where is Chauvenet? What is his bust
ness in the valley? And what is the
link between Vienna and these hills?"
Don't you know what you are doing
here?" she asked, and he flushed.
81 know what, but not why! he
blurted irritably. But that's enough
.You know that Baron Won Marhof
wants to find Mr.. John Armitage, but
4 ava v~Yl1 vyY
Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-09-15
The Uncrowned Kina.

Many a man who goes around boast
ing that he is his own master doesn't
know that we have primary elections,
and if he were told that there We're
such things he would wonder what
people did anthem.
Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-09-15
Our Leisure Class.

But complained the foreigner.
you have no leisure class in this
country
I'VE haven't, Ell? Say, you haven't
met the husbands of any of our lead
ing chorus girls. have you?
Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-09-15
Chapter XXI
THE ooMEpY OF A sHEEproLp.

THE COMEDY OF "A SHEEPFOLD.
OSCARS eye. roaming the
Aa,1s{N landscape as he left Shir
SN9NW ley Claiborne and start
WEAJ1W ed for the bungalow,
SD swept the upland Clai-
borne acres and rested
upon moving shadow. He drew rein
under clump of wild cherry trees at
the roadside and waited. Several hun
dred yards away lay the Claiborne
sheepfold, with broad pasture rising
beyond A shadow is not thing to
b ignored by man trained in the
niceties of scouting. Oscar, satisfying
himself that substance lay behind the
shadow, dismounted and tied his horse.
Then he bent low over the stone wall
and watched.
sit is the big fellow-yes? He is a
stealer Of sheep, as might have
known"
Zmai was only dim figure against
the dark meadow. which he was slowly
Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-09-15

you don't know
why"
81 have my or
ders and I'm go
ing to find him
if it takes ten
years."
Shirley nod
ded and clasped
her fingers to-
gether. Her ell
BOWS resting OIL
the high arms Of
her chair caused
her CT o a k to
flow sweepingly
away from her
shoulders. At
the end of the
IL.
Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-09-15

with a great deal OF satisfaction bel
cause think can see in 1t the means
of providing thousands of homes at
prices within the reach Of those who
would never own homes Of their own
Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-09-15

room, with his back to the portieres.
stood Oscar, immovable. Claiborne re-
examined the message and extended it
again to Shirley.
Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-04-14
Anecdotes About People

| reminded him in Its lals,,y of an
occurrence in the Alps.
"lIe was touring the Berneso Obcr-
, land. AT tho Bear Hotel, in Grinde-
land, mountaineer sat in tho hali,
glass of beer before him. and his
feet. III their hobnaicd mountain
boots. extended toward the fire. .lnc
mountainecr had lust mado an uscenr
of the Eiger and he talked like this
about 1t:
Well. well. We'll, climb indced!
Four hours of incessant stop cutting
with the axe ond an ico-slopo as
smooth as glass and as steep as u
WELL Look at this bunch OF edel-
weiss. l'spicd 1t on the edge OF n
dreadful precipice. My guide refused
TO let me pluck IT. said it was mad
ness; Tor his part. he you'll not ris {
his life so foolishly Hut ut last.
what with oloquencc and an oner OF
200 francs. | persuaded him 10 come
along. The advance was awful; one
misstep meant death; but secured
the flower. when suddenly the guides
loot slipper. lie fell. and began TO
roll toward the edgo. But thrust
my axe firmly into the ice and. brac
ing myself, siezed the rope that bound
us together. and-the man was saved,
And ut the same time, In tic no
tel kitchen, the guido was giving an.
other version of the accident, in
words like these
"'Well. well. what customer, AM
other like that chap and give up
the business. From the start he was
faint and dizzy; In fact. whenever
any real climbing began We had to
carry him like n sack OF meal. And
mean! Refused us n single penny cx-
ira for all our extra trouble. Last of
all. he begged for the spring of edel-
weiss wore in my hat, and was fool
enoupgh TO let him have it,"