davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-05-20
BOND TRIAL STILL ON.

U. s. Court HeaFfnG Evfdenee Tn Ope-
 lika Case.
 All of the time of the United States Court, yesterday. Judge Thomas e, Jones, Eresidng. was consumed m hearing the case of the government against stephen M. Pankey and the American Bonding Company. suit on distiller's bond. The case comes from Opelika. It Is expected that the case will be concluded today.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-05-20
nMen I.nu. nnfnn

The Atlantic Coast line Is offering low rates to Savannah now on account of the General Assembly of the Pres byterian church of the United States in that city May goth to 2sth
The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-05-20
Ifsnsssof Interest f0 Montgomery
 and to the Stat :

this week she was the guest of honor at a picnic and many other delightful attentions are being shown her.
 
 Mrs. John Edward Anderson and It, tie daughter. Katharyne. of Montgonl- Bowling in .-Birmingham Age-Hsraid.
 Mrs. Louise Bankhead Perry is visit s Bankheaa m iasI W theatre a ss' party s s~s wss given In her honor at the Orphe cum Saturday night the party including Mrs; Perry. Mr, and Mrs, Bankheadl Sas'ai Srs James snd alsssnder @ luncheon % siii sf Bsnkhead for Nfs. Psrry.--Birmins- ham Age-Heraid.
 Curtis are the guests for a few days of Miss sailie Johnston on Court Street
 Mr; and Mrs; Leon simon and little tile ass'sf snssts of Hr. and Mrs. D. Frank. on Lawrence Street
 Mrs Holmsn m St ozark ss.s. Is Snns shs gassss sss North Jackson street.
 The friends of Mr. W. |. Pierson, proprietor Of the Pierson House at his illness at his home there.
 Mrs. Henry T. Bartlett and little daughter have gone to Mountain Creek for a few days.
 1. Mrs. J i. H. Hudson. of Georgiana. is visiting Mrs. c D. Salter at her home 4i2 North Bainbridge Street. +
 ~.- nx..r ., es....x ~e H,.2~u Ala. announce the engagement of their daughter Roberta, to MT Joseph Shell ton Campbell. to marriage to take place on the thirteth of June
The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-05-20

The Central of Georgia has recently equipped its trains number and 6 with brand new Pullman service through to Savannah.
 L. C. Cardinal, formerly of this city. but now travelling freight agent of tho M. and O, at Birmingham. was in Montgomery yesterday
 P. B. Thompson. assistant general freight agent of the Seaboard Air Line with head quarters in Savaneh. was in Montgomery yesterday
The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-05-20
Chanme Tourints, Car.

The tourists car from WahhlnRt ' to San Francisco, via the Southern to Atlanta, the West Point to Montgomery the l.. and N. to New Orleans. thence by the Southern Pacific. which has been passing through Montgomery three times a week. attached to train number s7 due here at 9:55 P. M. has hesn changed to train number 8. due here at 7:30 P. M. This went into effect yesterday
The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-05-20
Asnesamentn.

Ma0isOn AsSesamenfs. Huntsville. May 19.-(Special. )--The State tax commissioners have written Charles L. Townss that they will come
The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-05-20
LUNCHEON FOR MISS RosEwALD.

BRIDGE WHIST AT COUNTRY CLUB.
 Instead of the usual cotilllon. the members of the Country Club will en- certain at a bridge whist party. Satur- day evening, May 22, at the club.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-05-20

MR. STUART MAY TO GIVE DANCE.
 MT. Stuart May will give a dance to the graduating class. of which he Is a member, on the evening of May 2s.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-05-20

IN HONOR OF MISS COUPON.
 Miss Sadie Colton, who is visiting Miss Josephine Cooper at Cecil is hav- ing a most enjoyable time. One day
The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-05-20

this week she was the guest of honor at picnic and many other delightful
The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-05-20

The following invitation has been sent to friends of the families:
 Mrs. Jeannette Levy requests your presence at the marriage of her niece, Miss Beatrice Levy. and Mir. Nathan Well. at o'clock on Wednesday. June 9. 1909. at IA Grove Street. Montgom- cry, Ala"
The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-05-20

Mrs. John Edward Anderson and It, tie daughter. Katharyne, of Montgonl- cry. are the guests of Mrs. Thomas F. Bowling in Trussville.--Birmingha
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-08-31

changed his slippers for his shoes and
slipped on storm coat.
"My head is thick with reading"
he declared. "I'll take turn or two
around the block and then come back
to bed"
He hurried through the dark hall
and out of the front door. Blake had
selected a boarding house within easy
distance of the office and few blocks
brought him into the business section,
where everything was silent and de-
serted now.
He seemed impelled by some ire
sistible force and not until he came to
the public square did he realize what
his goal had been.
The clock in the postoffice tower
was almost at IL and he glanced up
and Blake wondered at the exactness
of his timing.
81 might as well have a look as
long as l am here he said half aloud
as he turned into the park.
1t was but a short walk to the
statue in front of which was drink
| ing fountain of which the old woman
| had spoken. AS he approached 1T the
great bell in the clock tower COM
menced to strike the midnight hour
and Blake shiyered ever SO lightly.
1t seemed to him that some one was
/ coming toward him. though the walk
lwas deserted and hedge of frs shut
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-08-31
CORA SOUGHT 10 DRAW HoTMER BACK INTO THE CAR.

tions,' she cried. II know that father
is nearly killing himself trying to
bring the bank back into the condi
ton it was in, and you are here en-.
joying yourself
81 have found little enough enjoy
ment," he said sadly. You don't
know what a nightmare the last few
weeks have been to me, Cora. To be
in the same town with you and not be
able to come near you
You did well to keep away" she
said bitterly, then her voice broke
and she looked at him with appealing
eyes and lips that quivered.
why did you do it," she demand
ed. 'If you had needed more money
father would have given it to you"
you mean that you think took
the banks money!" he cried in sud-
den surprise.
What else can thin1?" she coun-
tered. vi can't realize that you are a
thief even now, Ned, yet the money
is gone and you have confessed the
theft by. your disappearance from
town"
You must believe that l did not
take that money!" he said earnestly.
"Won't you believe me, Cora?''
For a moment she looked into the
frank, eager eyes, then she placed her
her hand in his.
Il do believe you, she said softly.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-08-31

The depositors had grown uneasy
ut the increasing definiteness of the
rumors, and had been about to ask for
an examination, when Hotmer had
anticipated their action by abscond-
ing with what little was left.
The banks doors closed and the
gossips proceeded to recite weird sto-
Ties that did more credit to their i'm
Rgination than to their yeracity. Had
Hotmer been guilty of all the indis-
erection charged against him he must
have lived double mans allotted three
rcore and ten, whereas Hotmer was
marely a good-looking chap of 80.
His great offense had been that he
loved Dora Cameron, the daughter of
the president Of the bank, rather than
any of the other eligible young women
In the little town.
Each mother had angled for "the
catch" but now each was loudly pro-
claiming her joy in the fact that she
had broken off the growing infatua-
tion between Hotmer and my Helen
or whatever the girls name might
be.
They were rather sorry that Cora
was out of town, spending month
with a school friend IN the West.
They wanted to see how she, who had
been so proud of Hotmer, would take
She blow.
In truth she was taking it very bad
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-08-31
rough work and closed his desk for

through work and closed his desk for
the evening. He was prompt In clos
ing up, for there was little to be done
and If he left on time he would
run into the pretty stenog-
rapher in Bliss & Freeland's office.
She was most attractive young
woman and Blake had come to look
forward to the glance and smile that
he was certain to receive.
Sometimes he walked as far as the
station with the girl, but he never had
had the courage to ask permission to
call, though he was very much alone
in the city and knew scarcely anyone
outside of the big office building
where he had set up his office.
He missed Miss Seton this evening
and that fact did not contribute to
his comfort of mind. He told himself
that he would spend the evening in
his boarding house reading up on a
matter that he had to Ike 7 on the
morrow.
1t was after II when he thr> the
book from him in disgust and ex-
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-08-31

pose"
He readily found the hollow and
thrust in his hand. For moment he
could find nothing, but reaching deep
er he discovered tiny package which
he drew out and, while the girl came
closer to him, he unwrapped the grimy
tissue paper in which it had been
wrapped
Grace Seton gave little cry as the
last wrapping was taken off and !
band of shiny metal was disclosed.
She promised happiness, began
the girl, wistfully, and Blake inter-
rupted again.
And I'll make good her promise, /"
he said will you take me, Grace?n
Somehow he felt her assent, though
she did not speak and he tucked he,
arm within his.
Now I'm going to see you home
he announced briskly, "and tomorrow
I'll get the ring that precedes this
wedding ring and if that gypsy comes
in she'll be glad that she acted as
| fate
q wonder how she knew?" unused
| the girl.
| She must have seen me looking al
YOU" he declared. IT guess it didn't
take very sharp eyes 20 discover that
loved YOU and the rest was Just bel
Whim. bless her.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-08-31
R E| |||!! IzzEtt NEEDS RUsE

ly. She had grown very fond of
Hotmer. He had not declared his love
and the thought that she had lavished
unclaimed love, however sweet, on a
man unworthy was bitter indeed to
her.
Her father V, ote only brief letter
telling her not to worry, but she took
the defacation very much to heart and
when a week or so after the crash she
spied Hotmer coming toward her with
smile of greeting she turned her
head and would have passed on had
he not grasped her arm.
why don't you speak, Cora?" he
demanded. Didn't your father write
to you not to worry-that the bank
was all right?''
Little thanks to you," she cried.
"Poor daddy! The bank was his great
pride and you have laid it low. /
didn't think that you could do it, Ed
die"
There is an explanation" he be-
gan, but Cora Waived him aside.
II don't want to listen to explana-
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-08-31
Z ND wy 1--WE -

off his view. The last stroke had
sounded and he was about to explore
the hollow when there was rustic in
the hedge and woman stepped for
ward. She uttered little cry and was
about to take fight when, with q cry
of Miss Seton" Blake moved toward
her
Are you looking for the gypsy's
prophesy, too?" he asked lightly.
guessing her errand. 1t was probable
that the gypsy had used the same mes
sage for both. 81 was told to be here.
/ just happened to be passing and
thought that would look tito it,"
81 went to the theater," explained
the girl, land well, there must 20
| something in it, Mr.. Blake. l just
had to come"
Suppose that we look into he
cavity" he suggested.
"The cavity?" repeated the girl. II
was just told to come here
| There is a hollow in the tree, ac-
cording to my instructions" explain
ed Blake. "Some hocus-pocus, sup
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-08-31

fellers go in that wa. Well do better
than that. I'll send my two deputies
on ahead with this here prisoner and
I'll follow just behind with halt
dozen of the most ,5ble-lookin !:
of you fellers. Each one takes two
guns, in case of any foolishness by
them Devils Chasmg citizens
1t was done as the sheriff suggested,
with only one difference. Instead OF
six to accompany him mere were nine,
for Mr.. and Mrs. Owens and Clara
drove with the party, despite the
rough road and the rough destination.
Devils Chasm did not indulge in
"foolishness." When the deputies
brought their prisoner in, they turned
| Joel loose and put the other man in
| his place. Then they escorted Joel to
the 'thotel" and rendered him public
apologies
While they were still shaking
/, hands with him. the sheriff's caval-
cade came gathering IL. Before Joel
knew that women were in it, pair
of arms was around his neck and
Clara, not caring bit for the crowds,
was kissing him and saying: "Joel!"
| The Jury looked awfully sheep
| ish. Old Sam sneaked clear behind
I
word. He was hoping with all his
soul that Joel P. wouldn't tell what
a pack of fools they had just been
making of them-elves, when the cow
boy stepped UP to Joel ?. and re-
marked:
Stranger. we've lost out on ope
| little pleasure, so it seems only fair
that we have something else in its
place. From the way things look l
take it that you and the lady mean to
marry, so move that we have the
wedding now
| Joel P. suddenly found words.
"It suits me, all right" he re-
piled. t'I really think I'd enjoy ii
more than the other
II Clara b1ushed, but did not object.
| The cowboy rode down the valley and
in an hour returned with preacher,
and Devils Chasm had wedding and
a mighty fine event. :. All admitted
: freely it was better than a hanging
; and Joel P. had no doubts on that
score.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-08-31

Amt none. If you're through
abusing and maligning this court
she'll proceed and hang you" Sam
paused a moment, then added, impress
sively:
Prisoner at the bar, it now be-
comes my painful duty to pass SEN
tence on you according to the spirit
of the law and the verdict of the jury
has just returned. While l regret to
have to Inconvenience you in any
way, or do anything to mar your hap
piness, or detract from the pleasures
of the present occasion for you, I feel
that justice should have the first con-
sideration at my hands. Therefore l
now solemnly sentence you to be TAX
en- forth from here in SO hours from
now to some convenient place adapted
for that purpose and there hanged by
the neck until you are dead"
Joel P. Thompson said nothing, and
when they marched him to a shanty
to keep him under armed guard, he
did not look at all alarmed.
The fact is that though Joel had SO
little to say for himself, his E,i7ld was
not bit slow. The moment he per-
ceived that the rough crowd was in
earnest despite the farcica- nature of
his proceedings, he had succeeded in
enlisting the ready sympathy of one
of the cowboys.
So, while the trial" was on, a
man mounted on sturdy little mus
tang. was riding pell-mell toward the
settlement v-here JoeIs mine was tc
call on his friends to ride to Devils
Chasm to swear to his identity, and
if necessary, take him away by force
| Just before the cowboy rode into
| the little mining camp, two Other
parties entered the place from an
other direction. One party was NJ
| other than Mr.. and Mrs. Owens will
their daughter Clara.
(; Five minutes afterward the cowbo,
dashed in and scarcely had he uttered
his news before the whole camp wa
i buzzing and roaring. Every horse il
the place was saddled II minute AM
the array of revolvers, shot-guns AM
rifles looked bad for DEVILS Chasm.
s'They'll hang him just for spite, o
shoot him." said the sheriff lookin
! disappearing at the mob, eff yo'
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-08-31

more ugly rumored had been circu-
lated. No one knew whence they
came. None of the stories could be
definitely tracked back to the original
source.
Persons only vaguely remembered
that someone had said that "a GER
tain party was making altogether too
free with the banks fund.-. Some
times stock gambling was mentioned,
and again 1T was the horse racing, but
always there was the sinister sugges-
ton that the bank funds were being
tampered with.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-08-31


about to go to the boys assistance /
when some whispered threat sent Jim
ME bowling into the hall and Blake
sank back into his chair.
You had better follow the boy" he !
ADVISED. L can call up the office and 7
have porter sent t. throw you out. |
| can't bother with your fortune tell
ing"
Not if it is a good fortune?" she
asked mysteriously. 81 do not come to
ask that my hands be crossed with
silver. That is for the poor fools who
can tell fortunes only with the cards
or by the hand. l am Queen Vashti.
All that is or is to be lis known to me
I am the seventh daughter of a sew
enth daughter. For me the veil of fate
is torn and l may look into the flu
| ture."
If you'll look about ten minutes
1 ahead you'll see yourself being
| thrown out of here warned Blake,
but the old woman only smiled and
came nearer the desk.
You want you know not what"
she began. mot knowing what you
want you know not where to look l,
who see all, am come to tell you. l
do not ask the money now. When 1
have found you what you want then
shall come and you will give gener-
ously; you may now fear that may
demand quarter"
It's not the money" retorted
Blake, stung by the scorn in her tones.
Its the time. I've got to get some
work done in hurry and can't have
you jabbering here for the next half
hour about dark men and blonde wo-
, men and all that sort of rot
tYou want you know not what" re-
: torted the old woman. what you
want you may find this very night.
You know the statue II the park?''
Blake nodded. There was only one
: statue in the park and that fronted
the municipal buildings.
''There is a tree beside the drinking
+, fountain" went on the old woman.
ION the north side of the tree there is
hollow, Just at ~ this evening APP
proach the tree from the south. Thrust
D your hand boldly into the hole and
i your answer will De found. Tomor-
NOW, perhaps, or perhaps in month
i / will come again"
She turned and made for the door
Il Remember, chance comes but once
g she warned This very night at L. :
The door opened and shut ant
S Blake took up the drawing that he
Q had been studying and soon was los
in his work, forgetting even to scolt
T Jimmie when the boy made belatet
: appearance and skunk into his seat.
Q "She threatened to put the coise OF
IS me- he whimpered, but Blake was TOT
e busy to notice that the boy hat
o spoken. He was using all of hi
Il will power to concentrate upon hi
work.
> He had tried to forget what she ma,
e, said in his absorption of his work
/ but somehow the words rang through
- his brain He was conscious tina
l. there was something that he wante
III and he could not tell what it was
w 1t was absurd to suppose that this oil
~ woman could tell him and yet
:" was not easy to put her words Oh
?. of his mind
re The words wer, still ringin
". through his head when he &c
q <
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-08-31

everywhere inaa desperate search for
the discarded lover.
1t was about eight G-cnths after
ward that Joel P. Thompson drifted
into DEVILS Chasm, as silent as ever,
but with desponden,s look that had
not been his characteristic before. He
certainly did not look like rich man
yet he was. Quite by luck he had
struck vein of gold some 25 miles to
the westward. Within five weeks after
striking 1T he had sold his claim.
Quietly he had put the money into
a bank and with a few dollars in his
pocket had started o.. a lonely trip on
foot among the wild hills withsno par
ticular object except to think. There
was only one thing he could think
about, and that was Clara Clara
who had renowned him so coldly.
On the farthest side of DEVILS
Chasm, Joel P. Thompson came across
shanty and entered it to ask for
shelter for the night. The owner did
not appear and Joel turned in and
slept. 1t was a picturesque spot,
whose silence and beauty appealed to
him. He stayed there through an
other day and another night, and still
the owner had not arrived.
joel ulQ not go lHCO the settlement.
which lay some half mile below. The
inhabitants of DEVILS Chasm had
gained the deserved reputation of be-
ing the hardest living, hardest fight
Ing and hardest drinking citizens in
the state.
A small company Of these hard liv-
ing, hard drinking citizens came down
the trail from the moutains toward
noon of the third day and ran upon
the body of the owner lying in dry
| gully. They spread the news, and in
a few hours every man for miles
around was there. Naturally every
| body was excited and wanted to know
| all about it.
1t didn't take long to discover that
the man had been r.urte cred. There
l was one bullet hole through his breast
and another through his head, which
made that much pretty apparent. The
question then was who lad murdered
him?
Devils Chasm talked the matter
over and figured it out from all sides
and in the end could come to but one
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-08-31

to the contempt 1 feel, you'll make it
enough to break all the BIZ nks in the
state.'
9TH make it enough. Is that all you
got to say?"
Whats the use to say anything?"
rejoined Joel P.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-08-31

conclusion. Joel P. Thompson was the
only person, SO far as they could see,
who could have had any object in
killing the man, and accordingly
Devils Chasm unanimously decided
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-08-31

that he must have been the murderer.
The settlement fell upon Joel p.
and pessimistically demanded what
explanation he might see fit to make.
He looked at Them in surprise and
quietly denied havinc any knowledge
of the man or the murderer, either.
81 never saw tie man in my life"
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-08-31
RIARLY was not sur

aIARLI was not sur
prised when the First
National closed, with
the brief announce
ment that Ned Hotmer
had absconded with
the cash. Apparently
Briarly had been pre-
pared for the happen
ing, and II told you
SOS" were plentiful.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-08-31

steers"
That's contempt of court" Sam
cried, land L assess a fine on YOU
Zine all you please" Joel P. an
swered eff you fine me according
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-08-31

he said; ",ed as for killing anybody,
that is the last thing in the world
could ever be induced to do"
"Of course you'd say that" old Sam
Ogg, who was acting as kind OF
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-08-31
EFT out of here!" COM

IT out of here!" COM
manded Blake as
the untidy old wo-
m a n pushed her
way into the office,
despite the efforts
of Jimmy, the office
boy.
He had little use
for the gypsies who
were infesting the