davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1908-07-19

manned by four smart sailors, who sa-
luted- Without a word / stepped IN,
followed Dy my companion. and a mo-
ment lates the dip Of the oars sounded,
and we sped swiftly across the bay 10
a huge. magnificent. white-painted
yacht. the only light shaving being
the one at the masthead. which
cleaned white like miniature search
light The port holes were closed. and
there was no sign Of life on board ex-
cept a shadOwy figure, who. leaning
over the bulwarks. peered at Us as We
approached and then disappeared.
With a word OF welcome he sprang
upon the steps. and a couple OF strong
but unseen hands assisted US 20 gain
the deck. The vessel was silent No
sound broke the quiet. save the inces-
SAINT running OF the dynamo.
Gomez he said. Follow me, and
take care you don't stumble over any
thing"
In obedience I CROPPED along after
him. descending a few moments later
into a large. beautifully fitted saloon.
brightly lit by electricity. thickly car
peted and re5plendent in mirrors. The
hangings however. were CT black silk
and silver, which gave the place such
a strangely funereal appearance that
I shuddered. Two covers we're already
laid. with 4 snow white cloth, cut
glass and shining silver, while the
necks OF a couple Of bottles Of cham
payne peeped from the ice pail
First, wen see how much we've
relieved the MaisOn de Blanc OF this
time" he said, inviting me 10 a seat;
and then taking handful after handful
Of thousand-franc notes from the
pockets OF his shabby clothes. he piled
them together on the long table. after
ward counting them. an operation in
which I assisted.
Seven hundred and ffty-two thou
sand francs" he observed, when he
had concluded. Just 5000 mora than
last Christmas"
Really. my dear siri' I cried. You
ought 70 consider yourself fortunate"
WHY" he snapped. almost savage
ly. The money does me no good.
Seei' And taking some pins from a
drawer he made them IN packets CT 30
or 40 securing each with a pin Then
when he had inished he took them
in his hand. opened = door at the fur
Their end OF the saloon. and we passed
down a narrow passage lit by an oil
The Washington times., 1908-07-19

except that one mysterious. shadowy
figure 1 had detected just as We ap-
preached.
You spend a good deal Of your time
yachting, I suppose2" / said when a
few minutes later We had returned 10
the saloon with its funereaI hangings
and had seated ourselves at the we'll
appointed table.
Yes" he answered. I've sailed a
good many seas in the Garbino. 1 run
either into Villefranche or here into
Monaco each December, cruise from
the Constant 10 Glib through the
spring and run up as far as North
Cape IN June. But you must be hun
cry" and he touched the electric but
ton suspended over the table. where
upon there appeared the ugliest and
most gigantic negro that I have ever
set eyes upon He was attired IN
correct garb Of a steward. with gold
braided uniform and brass buttons.
but his face was rather that OF a de-
mon than Of a human being. He
glanced at me inquiringly. and showed
his white teeth when his MISTER spoke
to him in some tongue with which I
was unacquainted. 1 instinctively dis
liked him
He brought in some anchovies fried
like whitehall and done TO a turn,
and when we had eaten them he re-
placed the plates with some first
quality Marenes, those large green
oysters so dear TO the French palate
and opened the wine
Grant chatted affably as we FED, and
when I referred TO the gruesome dec
OratiOns OF his saloon he merely laugh
ed. saying:
It's a whim Of mine When I
bought this vessel 4 turned her inside
out. She was built for the Sultan OF
Morocco, but struck a good bargain.
paying cash down at the moment Of
the purchase. The Dennys, OF Dunn
barton. built her. and her register
hanging over there'n show you that
she's made Of the very best stun"
He produced some excellent cigars.
and as we smoked began to question
him about his extraordinary good luck
at the tables.
ITS really nothing he laughed.
Mere chance. I'm always fortunate"
And his ashen gray face seemed to be-
come more relaxed and human as he
drank, seated on a black velvet divan.
his legsfstretched out in lazy. indo-
The Washington times., 1908-07-19
Conspiracy of Silence.

So with that awaited events, anx-
ious and puzzled. There seemed to be
a conspiracy Of silence on board, for
I could discover nothing.
About noon on the following day, as
1 was eating my lunch, the propeller
suddenly commenced 10 revoIve, and
rushing up 1 found we were slowly
creeping out OF the creek. II was
misty, the sea a gray-blue. and as
STOOD on deck watching and we got
clear OF the coast, I suddenly saw
gOOd-sized merchant steamer at a 1T
tie distance from Us.
IFS the MacclesHeld. Furness liner
from Liverpool for ConstantInoTIe. I
heard Bird explain 10 a ruffianly-loOk-
Ing companion, and almost before the
words had left his mouth there was a
bright flash, a report which caused the
vessel to tremble. and one OF our bow
Nordenfelts sent a shot fun at the
vessel we We're Overhauling
Already the crew were at their posts
with a precision that would have done
credit to any vessel in the service.
There was a pause for moment, then
the liner rar up heT red ensign, while
The Washington times., 1908-07-19

bidding looking face gave him dis
unctiy evil look. what's the meaning
Of this? Where's Mr.. Grant7"
don't know. sonny" the man an
swered IN norJh-country English
"PlayiE' at Monte. perhaps
What! Isn't he IN bOardg- I In
quired, surprised.
j amt seen i'm
f'Where are we bOund2-
For the devil. II we amt careful"
replied the man, with "a grin.
Just then the captain placed down
his glasses. drew back tne e-ectric
signal 20 the engine room. AID al a
word the ships course was altered
and her speed Increased Until We
were steaming fun ahead with en-
gines thrObbing under every ounce OF
steam sparks flying from the FUN
mel, the wind wni5sing through tie
riSling. and the ing waves rOlTng
DIS with a loud swish is now anc
then they rose upon The deck
what do you LeanZ' / asked tne
nor;h-countfym-
Only that yJu'H see a III u fun
before you've done That's all
You've been asleep mis- Ihres DAYS
a-preparin Tor H.
Three days. sasped- Then
where are weZT
At sea, the man answered. vague
IS. and tkeu went on with hI- work
81 helping ID fix a reyOis.1S sun-car-
rage, while sscrn-i.sl To fh- 5rlds
and Al FL ID obtain some eNpi@-1;lor
OF the captain; but M was a Nrap0II-
tan. and answered my questions yrlJa
such an lEgeniOusly bad UronuncIa-
ton OF Italian that I failed 90 under
stand him. Through the vessel froIl
end 10 end / went. exploring ev, y
part, but failed 90 obtain Information
from 4lybody The rev c.r.. ecl-
taInly the most MISUNDERSTANDING set
OF men / had ever encountered. and
comprised dark-sk.nEcd Greeks. Las
cars, Turks. in fact TIE very scum
Of aediterran.'in ports Below 20
ward we've about -h.-lv u2iy-rIce1
scoundrels idLng; some playing dom
inoes. others smoking. all keeping up
a polygl0t chatter. but. strangely
enough, as ] entered heard one nan
exclain, in cockney English:
Ere comes the boss. Amt he
saip?'"
I glanced around. but could not dis
cover who had thus betrayed his Eng
iish birth
The Washington times., 1908-07-19

we al the same time showed the
Frencn tricolor. Again the gun boom
ed forth. and again and again. But
the steamer did not slacken speed OF
seek 20 parley She kept on her way
as II contemptuous OF cur attack IN
a quarter Of an hour. however. we had
drawn Up az close range, and our
str0ug-lunged skipper. in an entirely
new uniform, using a long string Of
foreign Oaths. shouted 20 his crew 70
open FIRE.
Next instant the vessel shook from
stem 20 stern as time after time our
guns spat forth their fire and deadly
nan upon the inOnensive steamer,
while our Maxim on the port bow rat
ued out its wIthering rain Of bullets.
sweeping the deck Of the liner and
tearing the canvas awnings % rib
bOns- 5UddenIy one Of our weII-direct-
cd shells carried away part Of the
fOre-funnei Of the Inner. and a moment
later another, entering amidships. ex-
plOded, and must have wrecked part
Of the machinery, Tor the steamer AZ
once slowed Gown and stopped.
What 40 you mean by JulsZ' criss
The angry captain OI the uuer. gesIle-
ulauus from nIs Drluge. wnen ws
drew up WlLniu speaking oIstauce.
CONSIDER youse3t a prze. "a sieur.''
answeIeu our OiarE-DearGed captain
in rench-
but y0ar French and ne are
EAg1sn. iOu as hear more Of lhls, my
AHe Irien1, can TEA you. OF blank
ca foreigners can ure on the British
lag Tor nothing
"How many DAYS have you been
OUT
six from LiF~rpOoi.' came the an
swer from the LlLsr.
Then yOu IL perhaps De sur,,r.suus
~ Auar ti4aJ uar Mas uecI4red ~
rance against Engsand Lhree DAYS
ago. ans Fered or captain, zrIrnIy.
therefore you d just maui your max
down. ana II send = prize crew
ssDuard-
The Washington times., 1908-07-19

blOtted out in a bIackness and void
which seemed the void Of death
How long I remained unconscious
Of things about me know not. but
when I awakened from the clammy
stupor I found myself in a narrow
berth. with the sea Kissing past the
portfolio OF the cabin. the long waves
now and then rising and shutting out
the light for an instant. It was day.
and the warm sun streamed in full
upon me-
1 rose unsteadily, shook myself,
and staggered upstairs 20 the deck.
The vessel was Of larger proportions
than 1 had believed. trim and we'll
kept, the brasses shining in the sun
light, the deck freshly washed and the
ropes cooled evenly ready for use A
fresh breeze was blowing; from the
yellow funnel came a huge column OF
black curling smoke, which lay out
behind in a long. straight lire as we
headed at full speed, leaving a track
OF white foam on the eblue, sun-Iit
waters 1 glanced round in abject sur
prise. for no land was in sight. We
were far out at sea
A stern. harsh voice sounded and
looking up I saw standing on the
bridge a burly, black bearded man. In
a captains uniform with gold braid
on his sleeves, peering through his
glasses at the distant horizon. AT the
same instant three OF the crew passed
me, dark-faeed, rufriarly looking fell
lows dressed in shabby, cotton suits.
which had once beea, blue. Each
carried knife IN his bet. and as they
passed they eyed me with some curl
osity- One word I overheard, and by
IT l knew they were Neapolitans.
Z For vessel OF that size the crew. I
FOUND was an unusually large one.
and at first I could not understand
what work was IN progress; but very
soCn the startling truth was evident.
FROM below number OF duick-frin0
guns were being brought I'D and swift
~ fixed IN position. while the fore and
ar servieeabIe-lookfng NordenfeIts
were already mounted. their long black
muzzle5 pointing out threatenI,plv
am not altogether a landsnan and
a single glazce told me that the Gar
oino was something more than a pless-
ure yacht, for on peering over the side
1 saw she was steel-built and arnora5
We'll" exclaimed IN EngIisb
hailing one Of the men whose 80
The Washington times., 1908-07-19

My gray-faced friend sauntered
along, paused at the last center table
In the roulette room, and watched the
ball fall upon the number q, which is
red, and then glancing at the revolv-
ing wheel, and noticing that the next
square to that wherein the ball was
lying was the number Is, black, he
carelessly took from his pocket six
thousand frame notes, and bending
over. with his lean clAw-like hand
placed them on the black.
The wheel was again revolved. the
croupier launched the ball. which a
few minutes later fell with a click.
Black gained. and my friend won the
maximum Of 5000 francs. or 240
pounds.
With the habitue's confidence he al
lowed his original stake to remain.
and once more the invitation 10 play
arose above all other sounds. Again
the wheel revOlved. and again he won
He turned 10 me and smiled at my
smazement. lie had won u. 900 francs
q at two turns OF the wheel. Quite calm
~, however. he placed a hundred
franc note and one for 30 francs upon
number sixteen, together with 5000
francs on the red.
Next moment a dozen other notes.
some gold plaques" and a few five
franc pieces were snowered upon his
stakes, for the crowd OF excited play
ers witnessing his luck were eager to
follow his fortune.
Again the wheel was spun, and the
same wearied voice a moment later
cried that the number is had won and
also the red. therefore the sum OF
1900 francs was handed 20 my gray
faced companion amid quite a chorus
OF "Oh's!"
For fully two hours he continued
playing with unvarying success. until
with hoarBe laugh. he turned from
the table. and together we walked OUT.
crossing 10 the gay Cafe de Paris
where we sat at one Of the little
tables outside TO drink a brandy and
soda and listen 10 the band. The
pockets OF his shabby coat were
stuffed with the notes he had won.
some OF them sticking out OF his
handkerchief pocket, where he had
caTelessly thrust them.
Well" he asked. with a cynical
smile, as he raised hts glass. have
~NAA'-l-~CO gOU u my power OF WIN
ningT
"Of course" l responded. But nav
you not lose It all again like 50 may
others dO:"
"Ah!' ne smiled. Il see you are not
yet convinced. Well tonight Won
shall have further proof"
We ate our Christmas dinner at the
Hermitage and when we again enter
ed the rooms they were filed by a
brilliant crowd, the display of dia-
monds being greater than usual. so
early In the season, and the toiIettes
as daring as ever l have seen them.
My mysterious friend was, howsver.
stin badly dressed, in an nI-fttinz
claw-hamner coat, greasy at the
sleeves. his frayed shIrt-frnnt
crumpled, his narrow, black cravat
carelessly tied, and as he stood be-
side me again watching the play at
the table where he had played earlier
In the day he presented more the ap-
pearance Of waiter in a London coz
iee-house than OF e gentleman.
The Washington times., 1908-07-19
Couldn't Garry Winnings.

With a sudden grunt he twisted
some notes together. tossed them m
on the black, and won. The croupier
counted them and paid out the maxi
mum Al that moment one Of the
players who lost, rose and offered
MIN a chair. which he took, and then.
settled down 10 play, stalking each
time the maximum. Around that table
the crowd grew larger as soon as IL
was announced that high play was in
progress and at each spin of the
wheel my strange friend placed his
notes unhesitatlngly. stalking the maxi
mum always. and scarcely ever fall
ing to gain the respectable maximum
Of 5000 francs.
Time after time he played. until
more than an hour had passed and his
winnings grew so great that his pock-
cts could hold no more. The ball fell
and he still won, whereupOn the crou-
pier turned TO the chef de partie.
after swiftly counting the money be-
fore him, and in an instant the eager
crowd OWNED the truth.
Archibald Grant had broken the
be liz.
In the excitement and confusion
money was quickly forthcoming to
Hquidate the debt. but the pallid-faced
favorite OF fortune merely screwed
the notes up without counting them.
and thrust them into his vest pocket
as carelessly as though they had been
cigarette papers.
Amazing I cried. excitedly, with
an exchange of giances with the chef
de partie. What Iuck!'
He smiled mysteriously as we moved
away from The table. and asked with
a touch of sarcasm:
Are you now satisfied, my young
friend?"
dumfounded. The sight of such enOr-
nous coups as he had made that night
was indeed dazzling.
Then come and have supper" he
said. We've had enough OF this con-
founded gambling hell that they 80
modestly call the sea-bathing society"
So strangely fascinating was this re-
markable old mans companionship
that I felt constrained TO accept his
invitation, and we went down the
steps together into the brightly lit
place. where many people we're stroll
ing about. and the band was still play
ing before the gay cafe. We did not
enter his hotel as 1 expected. but kept
on down the steep hill 70 La Conda-
mine. until I wondered where we were
TO eat our meal. The moon was hid
den by a bank OF cloud. and as we de-
scended the hin the great, steep for
tress rock OF Monaco, looming Up In
The Washington times., 1908-07-19
Boss OF a Pirate Ship.

ILe -ap,alu % tu- li-4y4 seemed
dumEOunt4Uu py Lhls starting Al
nOuECemenL, and no further resistance
Was OueIeu. although Ne could see
" NAT panic We mad created among the
passengers Our DOaIs were IOwered.
aAu dIter d long anu eXcILea DarIe,
the men ne SEM 10 me steamer - UeG
0ack WIKI nine large irUn-Bound Dul-
non cases locked AMI sealed
bravo crI~u our captain, excited
-, when ne saw Lnem- -Ine1 there
was no mIsLaze. Inc boats were a.
once swung up. ana next moment the
elscLrIc sigma rang out JIns-Jilg LlaS.
ana We moved or leaving the as
aDleo steamer lying helpless as a IOE-
4 ssOod 81 wnIIe The men broke open
the cases on deck. and was amazed
70 see mat they were hllsd fuu OF
E-nglIsn s0Ferelgus.
This Is piracy" I remarked, ex-
ciJeUIy, 70 The captain. h.
~ ell. mister. you needn't call II ~
tnaI name, seem tuat you're boss o
tLis DiOOmIn' tuD, observed the black
bearded skI7Per, VINO, until Jhen. nad
auecued utter ignorance o. either
rrencn or English
--I-yJss OF tnls ship. What DO yOa
mean 4 EasPed-
The yuy nor sold 81 20 you n
Monte CarLO, didn't Re? z ted -
you were = DIT mad-Ilke, and now lrs
quite plain From the time you woke
Up after JhaI bust O. champagne.
you've gone about ike q CninSnaR
vets az AIS pigIsIl cut on.
Il don Understand you. SAID
You are captain OF this vessel. and
ought u know VINO your owner Is
Why. you are. Of course You gave
81. % guild for the bOat-the receipts
III my cabin The old IN told me 10
give Il 70 you when you woke Up
in obedience 70 ny demand ne
Brought il and handed II 10 me Il
was written on & sheet OF note paper
head. - Y. GarOinO." and stated THAI
I had bought the vessel for &50.0ol.
and was signed Archibald Grant"
who is this man Grant7'' demand
ed. amazed at finding myself owner
OF i-lis piraticaI craft
..'E was our boss, and a darned
good boss. too" the captain replied
We've ad a lot OF fun around Cape
JUDY, but the game amt quite safe
lust al present, because OF the Italian
gunbOats- The old boy must ave
made over = million out OF the sruR
We took cor my share alone In
couple Of years was 9o,000 golden
gulcs. and al the men al 4 thousand
q year each
But / haven't given your owner six
pence IOr the boat" I declared
There must be some extraordinary
mistake"
NO mistake on his part. you bet,
the skipper replied ( showed ~
the newspaper in which it was said
that the dacclesdeld was carrying bull
lion consigned 70 the Turkish govern
menL- ana explained that although you
were a BIT touched you had conceived
an idea OF getting hold OF il by dying
the French nag. giving EN- a bit Of
bounce, and stating that war had been
declared"
But I vas ignorant Of the whole
thingI"
The Washington times., 1908-07-19
They We're Cape JUDY Pirates

We'll. we've got the money. any
how" the man said. placing his cap
at the approved nautical angle
What shall we do with it2"
I don't care" 7 answered sink
the lot II you like I'll land az the
nearest port. and wash my hands Of
the whole thing. It's very ugly mat
te-, this
VERY wen, make US a New Years
present OF it." he laughed. Wen
know vat 10 do with the brass, you
bet, mister" end he winked moving
". 1T amt the first BIT o bullion
that's ben aboard this ere craft
You've card in the papers OF the CapS
i.lbv pirates. and now you can con
zratuIate yourself that you've made
tSasr acquaintance. They're supposed
toSbe NI0ors: but you'u be able 10 re-
late some adventures when you get
hack TO Monte Tell the folks that
sam Swale. the skipper. drinks their
'eaIth IN a drop OF rum 'Ot. And you
might edd tco. that he looks reg,1-
lar knock 'eTl-down in the French
l.avaI uniform"
7 laughed st the mans imperturba-
able good humOr as he struck an at
titude 70 show of his new suit. Ho
was a merry going rover OF the SEA.
and could not complain OF the treat
ment had received on board
Then you'n put me ashore I In
Cuired.
midnight tomorrow" he answered
The Washington times., 1908-07-19

lamp until we came to a door. which
he opened after unlocking IL with
tiny key which hung upon his watch
chain. The interior was little more
than large cupboard. but in an in
slant / recognized that the walls were
OF steel, and that fl was n huge safe
wherein there were stored oil sorts Of
deeds and documents. valuable securi-
les and jewelry.
Last Christmas / won 1900 from
the Internal tripot," he observed. In
a strange. crOaking voice. and opening
a box he took out some great packets
Of French bank-notes. adding: And
here they aret''
Then you never touch your win
nings?" I exclaimed, amazed. for
had recognized that in the tiny cabin
was an enormous store Of wealth.
The Washington times., 1908-07-19

the darkness across the bay. was
aglow with its rows of street lamps.
while in the little harbor the mast
head lights OF one or two yachts looked
like hre-fiies IN the distance. The
deep-toned note OF the clock on the
Palace OF Monaco struck ID, and at
last, having passed the baths, my
friend stopped at the steps leading 20
the water. and said:
Here we arei'
I glanced down I'm surprise, and then
saw I'm the gloom a boat waiting,
The Washington times., 1908-07-19
On a Vessel OF War.

Wandering on ! net a man IN o.
hcer's uniform and Inquired Of him
where the owner was. but he MY
shrugged his shoulders and replied IN
French that - supposed he was SIN
n Monte CARLO j glanced az ;he
ships boats. and saw thai ,Ae name
upon them had been freshly painted
out and the word Cagnes substituted
IN the three days OF nv unconscious
ness the yacnt had been transformed
into a vessel Of war. armed 20 he
teeth with every appliance OF mod
ern warfare, and We Wee apparent
y bent on some mysterious offensive
expedition Why the afabIe Archi-
bald Grant had gone ashore leaving
me on board was an enigma. and my
surprise was considerably increased
when half an hour later. on passing
through the saloon with the runereal
hangings. came TO the door OF the
strong room and found Il ajar
Upon the floor were the tin boxes
which had contained the Monte Carlo
winnings open and empty Everything
had been removed!
Through the long. anxious day I
paced the deck. taking my meals alone
in the saloon. waited upon by the gi-
gantic negro who. however. knew TO
word Of any language / was acqualn--
ed with. The north-couutryman %
whom I had spoken. and whose name I
learned was Bird. chatted with me
during the afternoon. but from him I
could learn nothing Of our intention
OF destination. I glanced at the Stern
ing almost due west. and thereby cal
culated that ere long We ought 70
sight Gibraltar. Now ana then the
captain swept the horizon anxious.y
with his glass. and although rot a
speck could now be seen, our engines
were still working at the highest pres
sure the boilers could withstand The
vessel had been built for speed. and
we few through the waters in the
golden track OF the dying day.
Ny position was a very strange one.
and 1 passed a restless night tossing
in my narrow berth. until al last. ex-
bausted. I TELL into a sound sleep.
from which L was awakened by thc
engines suddenly ceasing their thud.
i opened my eyes. We had stopped.
and were only rising and falling With
the waves Dawn was Just breaking.
and from where I was lying 1 saw
through the port hole high rocks rs
ing from the water bare and sun
blanched- Swiftly I dressed and ran
up on deck. eager TO land. but on look
ing round saw that we were lying I'D
a small creek. and that the aspect OF
the land was tropical. with palms,
aIOes, and Towering plants. Il was
the coast OF North Africa The shore
was but a short distance or. yet no
one attempted TO lower a boat
For two whole days we lay at an
Choir IN that natural harbor, with A
lookout vigiIantly kept, and 20 all my
resquests to land, the captain merely
shook his head, while In answer to
my inquiries OF Bird he laughed. say
ing
This IS Morocco. II you went
ashore here among the Riffs your life
wouldn't be worth twopence. We
shall sail tomorrow or the next day
A. -