davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Nevada County picayune. (Prescott, Ark.) 190?-current, 1909-06-17
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SYNOPSIS.

- opens at Harvard where Col.
me SUI i;ster r. s. A, visiting, saw the
bpert W voung Mercer. He met Cary
icide % hrofher of the dead student,
frcefv ears later, in Chicago; In lsoo'
winter overheard 1aay nrnhia fhe
renty aprard and to gain possession OF
oneI, tacra Winters millions. A MISS
tnt hep ss mentioned apparently as
pin moS A great financial magnate
nsptl aard the train on which Col WIN
az his Aunt Rebecca. MISS smith
4 Archie Col. Winter iearheI .l,at ,,re
ane er aided by Archie, cleVeriy rus
nlsr, hoid-up on the train. He took
etea ,9,,ing 10 Miss Smith, despite her
feal MN n,td91aning plot Archie mysteri-
egeud iSanneared in Frisco Blood In
sls room at the hotel caused Tears Tor
farpy ,' lit lie The lads voice was heard
e boy taIenbone, however, and min
II, - t Woman's voice-that OF MISS
L Il. ia'e col Winter and a detective set
! W. tor fhp empty mansion owned by
Y ~ Harvard graduate They were
.0,r Nth an explosion within; Mercer
- He assured Winter that Archle
N returned. The colonel saw VISION
u .a,ng from the supposedly haunted
F .I # was Miss Janet Smith. Col;
PEn.or IN himself admitted that he loved
ln Smith Mercer told Winter that
~ FL had overheard plans for coup
IA been kidnapped One of MERGERS
VA. d ON returning the boy to his aunt
n baen arrested for speeding and when
returned from the police station 10 ms
H. Tho lad was gone Mercer confessed
was forcibly OBTAINING keatchan.
Lrcer told his life story. relating how
satcham and his scoundrel secretary.
[pins had ruined him, the blow killing
wife Mercer was holding him prison,
IN order that he could not get control
a railroad which was the pet project of
4 father of his college friend, Endicott
Facy. Aunt Rebeeca saw ARCHIE In
N with TWO men Then he vanished.
II followed In an auto into the Chinese
strlet and bv the use of mysterious
Einese Jade ornament she secured
omise from an influential Chinaman
at the boy would be returned. Archie
tnrned and told his story. Atkins. for
er secretary to keatcham, being MS
Fond kidnaper Col. Winter and Tracy
turned 10 thc haunted house They
md Keatcham apparently stabbed to
ath Keatcham was not dead. how
er. Cary Mercer appeared on the scene,
inter believing his actions suspicious
Il observing blood on his cuffs and
,users. Mrs Millieent Melville, in let
Is TO her husband. revealed that she al
we'd information to leak" to Atkins
spicions directed themselves at Atkins
the Keatcham assault. Unknowingly
rs Melville had made herself tool for
kips dark scheme in stocks. The par
having removed to the Arnold bone.
ed in constant fear of bombs and In
nal machines from Atkins gang.
.ateham. eonyaleseing. told Winter his
E story and its tragedy.
The Nevada County picayune. (Prescott, Ark.) 190?-current, 1909-06-17

you don't think Mercer is at all
he tapped the side Of the head.
No more than you are
Cor you?"
ooh, WE'LL" the colonel TESTED, 1--WE
all have a prejudice In favor of our
own sanity. What l meant was that
Mercer is bit of fanatic; his hard
luck has-well, prejudiced him"
Keatcham's cold, firm lips straight
ened into his peculiar smile, which
was rather of perception than of
humor
One might say of him-Aunt Rebec-
ca Winter did say of him-that he
saw the homogeneous, which makes up
for humor, but he never enjoyed it;
possibly it was only another factor in
his contempt of mankind.
Colonel" said Keatcham, do you
think Wall street is den of thieves? ?"
Il do" said the colonel promptly.
Il should like to take a machine gun
or two and clean you all out"
Keatcham Gid not smile; he blinked
his eyes and nodded. Il presume a
good many people share your opinion
of us"
Millions" replied the colonel.
Again Keatcham nodded. Il thought
so" said he. "Of course you are all
off; Wall street is as necessary to the
commonwealth as the pores to your
skin: they don't make the poison in
the system any more than the pores
do; they only let it escape. And sup
pose you think that big financiers who
control the trusts and the railways
and"
Us" the colonel struck in, "well?"
You think we are thieves and liars
and murderers and despots?"
"All of that" said the colonel placid
ly; "also FOOLS
You certainly don't mince your
words"
You don't want me to. What use
would my opinion be in one-thou-
sandth attenuation? You're no homeo-
path; and whatever else you may be,
you're no coward"
Mercer? You think | did it because
| was afraid he would kill me? l sup
pose he would have killed me If |
hadn't, eh?"
He can speak for himself about
that; he seems-well an earnest sort
Of man. But | don't think you gave in
because you were afraid, If that is
what you mean. You are no more
afraid than he was, You wanted to
live, probably; you had big things on
hand. The Midland was only trump
in the game: you could win the odd
trick with something else; you let the
Midland go
Pretty close, ''-Keatcham really
smiled-"but there is a good deal
more of it. / was shut up with the
results of my-my work. He did 1t
very cleverly. | had nothing to dis
tract me. There were the big type
written pages about the foolish peo-
lile who had lost their money, in some
cases really through my course, most
ly because they got scared and let go
and were wiped cut when, II they had
had confidence in me and held on,
they would be very much better of,
now. But they didn't, and they were
ruined and they starved and took
their boys out OF college and mort
gagged their COMPOUNDED homes that
The Nevada County picayune. (Prescott, Ark.) 190?-current, 1909-06-17
CHAPTER xVi.-continued.

Conscious and free from fever. he
as barely able to articulate, but
hen delrious fancies possessed him
could talk rapidly, in good voice.
cry soon il was clear that he was
Inner for the colOnels presence.
ence the latter got into the habit
sitting in the room. He would re-
best imaginary ruined and desperate
pings TO leave Keatcham in peace;
would gravely rise and close the
Dor on their departure. He never was
prprised nor at a loss; and his dra-
(atic nerve never failed. Later, as
be visions faded, a moody reserve
Trapped the sick man. He lay motion
fss, evidently absorbed by thought.
one way he was what doctors call a
Fry good patient He obeyed all di-
fctions; he was not restless. But
either was he ever cheerful. Every
Ply he asked Cor his pulse record and
temperature and his respiration.
Tier a consultation with the doc
pr, Miss Smith gave them TO him.
IT is against the rules" grumbled
pc doctor, but | suppose each pa
ent has 10 make his own rules" On
be same theory he permitted the colo
|els visits.
Therefore, with no surprise. Winter
fcelyed and obeyed the summons.
eatcham greeted him with his usual
Pin courtesy.
Inc doctor says | can have the
apers-will YOU pick out-the-one-
|ay after | vas stabbed.
MISS Smith indicated a pile on a
'tle table, placed ready at hand. Il
|ept them for him." she said.
head ahout-the Midland" com.
Pahded the faint, indomitable voice.
want the election and the newspa-
~ sentiments?' asked the colonel;
\ gave 1t all, conscious the while of
|ahet Smiths compassionate. per
|exed, sorrowful eyes.
Don't skip" Keatcham managed to
after a pause.
me colonel gave him keen glance.
want 1t straight, without a chaser"
neatcham closed his eyes and
|odded
ine colonel read about the virtually
uahlmous election of Tracy; the as
uiSnhent OF the outsiders among the
opposed anti-Tracy element; the com
[oseu and impenetrable front of the
In closest to Keatcham; the reticence
,u amlability of Tracy himself, in
nose mien there could be detected no
-. either of hostility or of added
o.uiailly toward the men who had
~ expected ito drag his bleeding
sue IN the DUST" finally of the re-
poiSe OF the stock-market in a phe-
|onehal rise of Midland.
neatcham listened with his unde.
IpHeIapie mask of attention; there
not so much as the flicker of an
e'iu or the witch of a muscle. All
rr eau was; Now, read If there is
sNing about the endowment of the
IN ielloWships in some medical
NV, Tor experimental research"
VINO gives the endowment?"
,naohymous. In memory of Maria
k.h heatcham and Helen Bradford
nv enain. Find anything?"
hon. eoionel fond a great deal
sn,o ~ The paper was full of this
4ceAs gift, amounting to many
The Nevada County picayune. (Prescott, Ark.) 190?-current, 1909-06-17

yeast or 'salt-emptins you make
salt-rising bread?'
Il can-shall | make you some to-
morrow
I'D like it. My mother used to make
more money than my father; some
times when we children were low in
clothes and dad owed bigger lot of
money than usual, we had laundry
at our house as we'll as bakery.
Yet, in spite of all the work, my
mother found time to teach all OF us;
and she knew how to teach, too; for
she was principal of school when
nv father married her. She was
New Highlander; so was he; but they
went west. We're forty miners. | saw
the place where our little cloth-and-
board shack used to stand. After the
big fire, yox know. 1t burned us all
up: we had saved a good deal and
nv mother had a nice bakery. She
worked too hard; it killed her. Work
and struggle and losing the children.
They died?" said Miss Janet.
"Diphtheria. They didn't know any
thing about the disease then. We all
had it; and my little sister and both
my brothers died; but I'm tough. l
lived. My mother fell into what they
called decline. | was making lit
tie money them was 10; but
couldn't keep her from working. Per-
hans il made no difference; but 1t ola
make a difference her not having the
the right kind of food. Nobody knew
ANYTHING about consumption then. l
used to go out in the morning and be
afraid I'd find her dead when | got
back. One night | did" He stopped
abruptly, crimsoning up to his eyes
II don't know why I'm telling you all
this"
Il call that tough"-as the colonel
blurted out the words, he was con-
scious of sense of repetition. When
had he said those very same words
before. to whom? OF all people in the
world, to Cary Mercer. Mighty
tough" murmured he softly.
Yes" said Keatcham, ut was" He
did not say anything more. Neither
did the colonel Keatcham obediently
ate his milk and biscuit; and very
shortly the colonel took his leave.
The next morning after an uneVent-
full hour of sorting. reading and an
swering letters for Miss Smith to copy
on the travelling typewriter, keatcham
gave his new secretary sharp sensa-
ton: he ordered in his quiet but per
emptorv fashion: Now put that trash
awav* sit down; tell me all you know
of Cary-real name is Cary Mercer,
isn't ito"
The colonel said it was; he asked
him if he wanted everything.
Everything. Straight. Without
chaser" snapped Keatcham.
The colonel gave it to him. He be-
pan with his own acquaintance; he
tcad about Phil Mercer; he did not slur
a detail; neither did he underGore
one. Keatcham got the uncolored
facts. He heard them impassively.
making only one comment; ~ great
deal of damage would be saved in this
world if youngsters could be shut up
until they had sense enough not to
fool with firearms" When Winter
came to MERGERS own exposition OF
his motives and his design If success
fuI In his raid on the kings cs the
market. Keatcham grunted; at the end
he breathed noiseless jet OF a sigh.
The Nevada County picayune. (Prescott, Ark.) 190?-current, 1909-06-17
The Preachers Advice.

my friends" said an itinerant
preacher. ''the Scriptural rule for CIV
ing was one-tenth of what man pos
sessed. II you feel you can't afford so
much, Just give a sixth or fourth, ac-
cording to your means. We will dis
pense with the next hymn and take up
the collection. ''-Lippincotts
The Nevada County picayune. (Prescott, Ark.) 190?-current, 1909-06-17
Done @, Pronunciation.

Los Angeles has given to the world
the officially correct pronunciation of
its name. The first section is pro-
nounced 'Loce," as In "Was ist los?"
The rest of 1t is pronounced like the
pink stuff the manicure lady puts on
your nails.-Cleveland Leader.
The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1909-12-11
XMAS BEFORE THE MAST
How Crew Celebrated MerrIIy on
the Coast Of California in the
Early Days.

A good many of you may have read
Richard H. Dana's interesting story of
sea life, Two Years Before the Mast"
Dana's vessel was collecting hides on
the coast of California, when that
coast was in semi-civilized condi-
ton. He thus describes Christmas
among the crew:
"As there were no hides to take
in, and nothing especial to do, the cap
tain gave us holiday, the first we
had had except Sundays since leav-
ng Boston; and we had plum
uff for dinner
The crew of the Russian brig. lying
Alongside US, following the old style,
had celebrated their Christmas IL
days before, when they had a grand
blowout; and las our men said)
had drunk in the forecastle a keg of
gin. ate up bag Of. tallow and made
soup of the skim"
Certain 1t is that Christmas Is the
one universal festival the round world
over; and every resident of Chris
tian land carries Christmas in his
heart wherever he may go.
The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1909-12-11

Young man, beware of the first
oath and the first vulgar utterance
and first cigarette, the first glass Of
wine, the first glass of beer, the first
mingling withevil companions. You
may think you are strong enough to
indulge in these and break away
from them at YOUR will, but you never
made greater mistake in all your
life: Each one is like an octopus.
They will gradually wind their arms
around you and death is the only
thing strong enough to tear you
from their deadly embrace.-Dodson
Times. J
The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1909-12-11
Christmas Cheer.

"Old man." wrote the Billville citi-
zen, 'it was my intendin' to give you
fine present fer Christmas. but /
come short this year by the sheriff
levyin' on my cotton an the govern
ment on my corn; so l kin only send
you gallon jug of the last named,
which amt much as my ambitions il
fer you: but I'll say this, old boy:
There's enough in that jug to make
you have the jolliest time O. yer life
fer day or two; eff you can't buy a
circus ticket, there's whole circus In
six drains, an a eternal movin' pictur'
show in 20; so make the most of it,"
Atlanta Constitution.
The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1909-12-11

the Anglo-Saxon notion of the German
Christmas is drawn from those child
hood hours spent over Hans Andersen
and Grimm, and the sight Of Christ
mas tree brings to mind the wood-cut-
ter tramping home through the snow
laden forest, trailing behind him the
ar tree for his family Christmas eel
ebration, while, in the towns, the
black quadrangle of the venerable
market place is picked out in lights
blazing on the trees In the windows
Of the gabled houses.
Fifty years ago, before the young
German giant had awakened from the
sleep of centuries, this idea of the
peaceful German Christmas was cor
rect. the Berlin correspondent of the
New York Evening Post says. But IL
one of the burghers of old Berlin, re-
turning from making his Christmas
purchases on Christmas eve, were to
be transplanted into the roaring hub
of empire which his haupstadt has
become In the year of grace, 1909, the
good man would probably expire on
the spot.
Fifty years ago, when Berlin was a
dirty, unpretentious. provincial town,
with ill-lighted, ill-paved streets, with
population renowned even In those
days for its surly manners and un-
couthness. and with the iron hand Of
militarism unchecked over 1t all, the
Christmas festival was the tranquil
celebration of which one has read. In
the Lustgarten, before the castle, a
Christmas fair was annually estab-
lished, which the king and royal fam
lily used to visit to buy jumping jacks
and gingerbread for the palace Christ
mas trees, like any other German
family. The Lustgarten fair has
passed away, the king of Prussia has
become German emperor, Berlin has
developed into fair and beautiful
city, and all that remains of the
Christmas of once upon q time 10 the
spirit-indeed. precious inheritance,
that still holds the branches of the
myriads of Christmas trees which
rich and poor alike set up in thei,
houses on the eye Of the feast.
=
The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1909-12-11

If a man could make money as east
ly as he can make love, We would all
be millionaires in a short time.
The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1909-12-11
Thoughtful.

Ella-rm going to hang up my
stockings on Christmas.
Stella-What for?
by special request of papa and
mamma. You know they believe in
Santa Claus. Life.
The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1909-12-11

1t is estimated that two of the Ca
madam provinces will produce this
year forty million bushels OF wheat.
The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1909-12-11

He who stays awake worrying over
his neighbours creed, is usually asleep
in the hour of that neighbours need.
The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1909-12-11

A woman seems TO think that her
husband is to. blame for everything
or if be is not he ought to be.
The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1909-12-11
BERL|N'S CHR|sTMAs
THE DAY NOT LIKE 1T WAS FIFTY
YEARS AGO.
The Old Customs Of the Burghers
Have Been Forgotten by the New
or Generation In the Modern
Hub Of Empire.

MEXICAN and English
newspapers at Christ
mas time often have
picturesque accounts
of the German Christ
mas, which conjure up
a clear frosty atmo-
sphere and re-echo the
song of the skates on
the frozen lakes. For
Gainesville daily sun. (Gainesville, Fla.) 190?-1938, 1909-04-17
Deafness Cannot Be Cured

By local applications. as they can.
not reach the diseased portion Of the
ear. There Is only one way 20 cure
deafness. and that Is by constitutional
remedies. Deafness Is caused by an
infamed condition OF the mucous lin.
ing OF the Eustachian Tube. When
this tube Is inhamed you have a
rumbling sound or imperfect hearing.
and when Il Is entirely closed. deaf.
ness Is the result. and unless the In
fiammatiOn can be taken out and this
tube restored 20 its normal condition.
hearing will be destroyed forever:
nine cases out OF ten are caused by
catarrh. which Is nothing but an in
famed condition OF the mucous
surfaces.
We will give One Hundred Dollars
for any case Of deafness (caused by
catarrh) that cannot be cured by
Halls Catarrh Cure. Send for cir
culars. free.
F.J. CHENEY 4 CO, Toledo. o.
Sold b. druggists, 75c.
Take Halls Family Pills for consti-
patton.
Gainesville daily sun. (Gainesville, Fla.) 190?-1938, 1909-04-17
Two Million Bottles

Of Perry Davis Painkiller sold every
year. Think Of Il! And every bOtllc
is lessening suffering and helping
some human being TO health and HAP
piness, This wonderful household
remedy stops the pain Of sprains
burns or bruises. IL relieves rheuma
tism or neuralgia. II cures colds.
cramps, collie. diarrhOea. There ought
10 be a bottle on your shelves just
now. ready for the first sign OF trouble.
The new size bottle Is IS cents and
there is also the j0-cent size. BE sure
your druggist gives you Perry Davis.
II you have lost OF found anything
10 not fail to keep your eye on the
classified advertising column.
Gainesville daily sun. (Gainesville, Fla.) 190?-1938, 1909-04-17
the SCHOOL BOOK sILL.
CTallahassee News. Aprii iel

- aHNHNH ~ ~ W.
As Senator McCreary Of Alachus
county has for years been a champion
Of State uniformity OF school text
books. having for the past three ses
sions Of the Legislature introduced
what many people believed TO be the
best bills submitted along this line
The Morning News editor was anxious
90 learn from him something concern
ing his new bill relating 20 school text
books. known as Senate Bill No. 3.
What does your new bill relating
70 school textbooks provide for. Sena
tori" asked the editor.
Why Il provides for just what the
title says" replied Mr.. McCreary; TO
secure 20 the people Of Florida school
books at lower prices; as cheap as
they are sold for in any other State
Of the Union: for the exchange of
books where children move from one
county TO another where the same
textbooks are not in use. etc. Il re-
Quires publishers 20 file with the
State Superintendent a certified state
ment OF the lowest net prices az which
textbooks are sold in the various
counties OF Florida or any part OF the
United States. and requires them to
furnish said books in Florida as cheap
as they are sold in any other State
Both the standard and special edi-
tons are TO be supplied under my bill.
thus Obviating the necessity Of paying
high prices for books where the cheap
er editions will answer all require
ments. My main objection to the
methods heretofore pursued by the
publishers Of school text books has
been that they charged the people Of
Florida exorbitant prices as compared
with prices charged I'm other States.
and that when a child removed from
one county to another in most cases
a complete set Of new books had to
be purchased. Both these discrimina-
tons on the part Of publishers will
be remedied II my bill becomes a Law.
and / honestly believe Il is the sOlu-
ton Of the school book problem. with
out creating any new offices"
Gainesville daily sun. (Gainesville, Fla.) 190?-1938, 1909-04-17
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

The Pensacola Journal says the
Governor h absolutely right I'm dc
clarlng that all proposed constitution
al amendments submitted for popular
action should be carefully and fully
explained In all their bearings" and
adds that zone would think. however.
/ that the discussion OF their merits
and demerits by the press ought "a
be sufficient % serve the purpose"
The vote on amendments submitted
90 electors OF Florida has been very
light as a rule, and Il Is doubtful n
anything like a fair expression will
ever be drawn out along this line
II some change Is not made
Regarding the submission OF pro
posed amendments 10 the constitution.
The Times-Union says:
"A little friendly advise l. not
amiss. whether Il Is accepted or not
We offer this unsolicited suggestion
% the Legislature: Stop Offering
trivial amendments TO the cOnstitu-
ton. II a very important change is
found desirable submit IL 70 the peo-
pie: but don't try TO get them 20
change tweedledum TO tweedledee to-
morrow and then ask them TO change
tweedledee back TO tweedledum the
next day.
"At every session OF the Legisla-
ture a large number Of amendments
20 the constitution are proposed.
Three or four or perhaps five or six
run the gauntlet of the Legislature.
and are submitted to the people. who
regularly vote them down. The regu-
larity with which the people kill pro
posed amendments ought TO suggest
the folly OF Offering them unless some
very important change is proposed.
Generally the changes are from the
opinion Of Mr.. Brown I'm the constitu-
tiOnal convention 70 the opinion OF
Mr.. Smith in the Legislature. and the
people say hang Il all: it's a matter
OF no importance, let the law stand
as IL Is II members will stop OFFER
ing trivial amendments 10 the con-
stitutiOn the people may begin TO pay
attention TO those that they do offer.
TO the people we make this sug.
gestion: Don't take Il for granted |
that an amendment offered for your
approval Is worthless. OF course
there Is a lot OF chan. but there may |
be a little wheat Consider the pro |
posed changes and vote intelligently. |
Pick the valuable from the worthless
and engraft il into the fundamental |
laws Of the State while you throw
the worthless away"
Gainesville daily sun. (Gainesville, Fla.) 190?-1938, 1909-04-17

The Orlando Reporterstar has ar.
rived az the following conclusion:
The Easter game was between eggs
and hats with the odds on hats. Eggs
are always the same shape but hats
are not Sometimes they turn up and
sometimes they turn down. and In
either case they turn the heads OF
the Wearers and turn the pocketbOok
Wrong-side out Easter hats have
Easter eggs and In fact the old-time
Easter b0nnets beat a mile"