davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1909-01-27

Rat" he remarked, without lifting
his eyes: preferably out. The
draught is annoying"
Mr.. Radcliffe Ricketts,, process
server, Familiarity known as RAT"
stepped inside the room. His habit
ual attitude was something be-
tween a cringe and crouch--one
could never be quite certain which,
and his walk was a combination of
stink and tiptoe. Had Mr.. Ricketts,
parents not provided him with his
nickname in baptism, his face
would certainly have procured II
for him. His nose was long and
thin, his forehead and chin re.
coded, his eyes were narrow and
closely set together, and above his
protruding front teeth Zone OF
which was missing) dangled a few
light colored mustach hairs which
he continually curled into his
mouth with the tip OF grayish
tongue. Not only was the man
small of stature, but his sallow,
perspiring cheeks and prominent
cheek bones suggested consump.
ton and his narrow chest and wet,
stringy hair-worn just long
enough to touch his coat collar
confiried the suggestion. Mr..
Ricketts, was a damp personality
damp and clammy. Unpleasant as
was Rats general appearance, 1t
was not repulsive except when he
smiled. Then his face assumed an
expression of loathsome cunning
which made him resemble an ami.
NAL disguised as Il man.
Ricketts, sided toward the re.
volving bookcase. laid his hat upon
the top, and. leaning against 1t,
swung back and forth until Maddox
looked up. >t
You used 10 give mo lots OF
good Jobs an<l always paid nae
The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1909-01-27
ously. II came to you first Of all,
did l nOt-Jarvis?"
CHAPTER II.

CHAPTER II.
The striking of a distant clock
caused Maddox to glance up from
the confused mass of books and
papers spread out before him
Eleven o'clock! That was a late
hour for night work even after q
day in court.
The sound of a step on the stairs
below arrested his attention and
set him wondering who could be in
truding at such an hour Of the
night. Probably the roundsman had
found the front door open and was
investigating the cause.
He showed back his chair and
mechanically counted the footsteps
The building was an old one and
the stairs creaked loudly at every
touch-fourteen-that was the
third flight. Maddox knew exactly
the number of treads in each stair.
case. How he had come to know
this, or why, he could not have
said. It was part of what he called
his "misfit information'-one of
the odds and ends which he uncon.
sciously stored away in his mind to
carry a critical moment--or to
serve some other useful land un-
dreamed of purpose.
Ten-eleven-twel thirteen.
The visitor Eaused on the fourth
landing for a moment, and then
continued his upward march until
he could be heard putting and
blowing in the hall outside the gen.
eral offices. Maddox shouted an
answer to the knock on the door OF
the outer office, and In few sec.
onds the visitor tapped on the
green baize door of the private
room.
"Come in"
The swing door partly opened,
showing a thin, almost dwarf like
man standing furtively on the
threshold, nervously twisting a felt
hat in his hands, and breathing
heavily.
Maddox glanced at the visitor in
quiringly for a moment and then
resumed his reading of the brief.
81 wish you'd come in or go out.
The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1909-01-27
LABOR SCORES AT OLYMPIA

OLYMPIA, Jan. 27-In the house
labor scored its first victory yes
terday. A bill was reported favor
able from committee making legal
working hours of. women eight in
stead of 10. Several amendments
were made which, if carried, would
have put the bill back, but after
final vote the report was accepted.
1t will pass this afternoon.
The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1909-01-27
NOVELTY

In its opening night with a stock
company last night the Novelty
theater played in hard luck. The
theater was cold and uncomfort-
able, the music bad and the acting
was either the work of amateurs
or players who had been off the
stage SO long that they had for
gotten just how it was done. Only
one or two of the actors could be
called even fair, and their names
are not known because no pro-
grams were in evidence.
The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1909-01-27
PANTAGES

"A Man of the People," the
sketch dealing with the question of
capital and labor, continues to be
the leading attraction in this
weeks program. The solution of
this question propounded by the
hero is that when capital accords
labor the recognition due all dis
cord between the two forces will
be at an end.
The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1909-01-27
ONLY TWO AGAINST PEOPLE

SALEM, Ore, Jan. 27-Senators
Beach of Multnomah and Smith of
Marion are the only state senators
WHY went on record today as op-
posed to the election of United
States senators by the people. The
question was presented as a
memorial to congress. 1t was in
troduced by Malone and adopted
by the house. OF all the senators
present Smith and Beach cast the
only negative votes.
The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1909-01-27
MAKE MOCKERY
Of PRAYER
Especial to The Press.)

OLYMPIA, Jan. 27.-It there was
ever an Official mockery of things
sacred, it is the practice of opening
the legislative proceedings every
morning with prayer. To one who
regards prayer as a plea from the
heart and soul to the supreme
being, the spectacle afforded by the
legislature at its matutinal devo-
tions is CHASTITY almost to the point
of sheer sacrilege.
Every morning some minister Of
the gospel from an Olympia church,
with fervor and devotion of a man
of God, asks for the sovereign
benediction on the standing throng
before him and a blessing upon
their every act.
And the legislature, with bowed
heads of course, read their news
papers, hunt for bills and perhaps
surreptitiously relieve their sail
vary glands Of an over accumula-
ton of nicotine.
There may be some who join in
the word and spirit Of the prayer;
there may be some who look upon
their days work as a sacred duty,
on which the approval Of the Most
High is necessary, but IL there be
any such they are few and their
seats are far between.
The contrast between the minis
ter standing beside the speaker,
eyes closed, hands clasped, with
every feature displaying intense
and concentrated devotion and the
bored countenances in STOPPING
semi-circles before him is enough
to destroy any belief in the efficacy
of prayer.
1t is a matter of comment among
the members themselves. They are
of all creeds and no creeds, but
most of them have enough of an
inherited reverence to appreciate
the sham through which they 60
every morning. They frankly COM
plain If the preacher keeps them
standing minute or two beyond
what they consider to be suff1-
cient time for this mock devotion,
and those ministers who are known
to pray longer than others always
find fewer members before them,
while the cloak and committee
rooms are full. Some members are
willing to axe believe for three
minutes, but they draw the line at
five minutes of prayer.
II the minister would some day
pray with his eyes open, the tenor
of his applications would probably
be of a more personal nature.
The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1909-01-27
THEATER
SPOKANE

John Cort's comic poera, "The
Alaskan opening tomorrow even
ing for four nights, is the most
original musical composition seen
on the stage in recent years, as it's
story is all Of Alaska and its locale
the gold fields there. my Totem
Pole" the great basso song and
chorus, is one of the most remark
able numbers in the opera. It tells
of the ancestral beliefs of the In
dams of southeastern Alaska.
The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1909-01-27
MADDOX GLANCED AT THE VISITOR

i you know II Is not, Ainslee."
1t was the third time he had so
addressed her, but Mrs. Lorimer's
expression showed she had not no
ticed 1t before.
You have been very kind, Mr..
Myrick," she began slowly, but
She hesitated, and her eyes again
met his for an instant.
you don't want me to call you
Ainslee. Very well; l won't.
thought perhaps-perhaps you
would rather hear 1t than--than
the other name"
Mrs. Lorimer glanced gratefully
at the speaker.
81 would much rather hear It,
she admitted. You are very
thoughtful, Jarvis. You cannot act
because you know Dick Lorimer
and have been his guest. That is
your reason, isn't IT."
THAT is one reason" he began,
tentatively. Then he paused and
glanced at his companion, but
something in Mrs. Lorlmer's ex.
preston warned him to omit
further explanation.
Yes. that is the reason" he said
Mrs. Lorimer rose from her
chair.
II understands understand per.
fectly. You have been more than
kind. will see Mr.. Maddox In the
morning. Please give me his ad.
dress again"
't-He wrote II on an envelope and
handed 1t to her as they left the
court room.
You won't hesitate to let me
know If ] can be Of any further
service"
ar Mr.. Maddox will not take my
case?" she asked, smilnsly. No,
Of course not sho added, aeri'
The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1909-01-27

Cat"
1t is said, not unkindly, that
Nine. Nazimova's tremendous ar
tistic power is caught from the
feline species.
She purrs or roars like the lion
ess. Her tall, sinuous body, her
tightly caught hair, her flashing
eyes, her hands that may be soft
pads now and venemous claws a
moment later-all these suggest
the cat.
Nazimova denies it. She de-
clares that she has not intention
ally drawn her art from the feline
beast. She doesn't even like cats.
But all the critics insist that her
purrings, her physical contortions,
her soft caress and her tigerish
stage passions are true to the life
and the ways of the cat. Wherever
The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1909-01-27
CHAPTER II (Continued.)

OAiAA EN- II \OOutluuCu.J
Myrick lowered his voice and
looked up quickly as he spoke, but
Mrs. Lorimer was gazing straight
before her and took no notice Of
his interruption.
"As long as l am married to that
man." she continued, rapidly, II
have to use his name--I am con-
stantly reminded of his presence;
all my independence is fettered; I
am conscious that the law gives
him certain claims upon me
Oh, ] cant explain 1t, II you don't
understand; but the very thought
of being bound to him in any way
chokes me. want to be free. Can't
you understand? just want-to-
be-free!"
Mrs. Lorimer spoke in a low tone,
but her voice trembled with excite
ment and her cheeks flushed. Van,
happening to glance up from his
work, wondered who Myricks
udHuoOIuC was, anu
watching her, thought he had never
seen Ainslee Lorimer look more
lovely.
81 understand" he answered,
alphabetically.
The words seemed to calm Mrs.
Ltrimer, for the flush faded from
her cheeks and when she spoke
again after a little pause her voice
was steady and dispassionate.
II want to be free, Mr.. Myrick;
but I must be sure l have good
case. could not endure failure.
Do you fear the outcome? Is that
the reason why you will not repre-
sent me?"
Her eyes met his as she put the
question. They were wonderful
gray eyes, fearless, searching and
appealing-difficult eyes to lie to.
Myrick spoke directly to them as
he answered
The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1909-01-27

well, Mr.. Maddox" he said. II have
come here to do you favor. !
want you to say good word for
me now Pm going into new bust
ness for myself. Here's my card,
sir"
He fumbled in his waistcoat
pocket for a moment and produced
small slip of paper, which seemed
to distract his attention, for he I'M
folded and studied it carefully
without continuing his hunt for the
card.
do you kno wCounsellor My
rick, Mr.. Maddox" he asked. sud
denly, his eyes still upon the paper
Counselor Jarvis Myrick, l
mean?"
Maddox nodded carelessly, and
Rat thrust the paper before him.
Maddox glanced at the paper. 1t
was part of an envelope bearing
the penciled memorandum: David
Maddox, Marshall building, New
York"
II don't know whose writing it
is" he answered indifferently. land
| don't care Where did you get it,"
Il saw Mr.. Myrick give it to a
lady In the rotunda tonight. She
dropped it on the stairs going out.
Women are terribl ycareless. But
this one was mighty handsome, and
when the ladies are good looking,
who could ask more?"
Maddox glanced at the speaker
and the nhastily looked away. Rat
Ricketts, was smiling.
IF you want to know anything
about this lady, MIR. Maddox"
IL don't"
"Or about this paper, I'll do 1t for
you, Mr.. Maddox, without charge
without one cent of expense to you,
sir. Imsin a little different line of
business now, and ! want you as a
client. and | hope you'll say good
word for me and keep this card on
Ale"
isn't this his writing?" he
asked, with a ludicrous imitation of
the cross examination manner.
He dived into another pocket and
produced flimsy pasteboard,
which he laid upon the desk, a
moist stain showing where his fin
gers had touched 1t.
The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1909-01-27

north, and by April 10 will start on
its journey over the snow and ice
to Dawson.
The practicability of a journey
has already been demonstrated, for
last spring Mr.. Search. accom-
panied by Mrs. Search and a party
of friends. drove his machine from
Dawson to Forty-mile and return.
distance OF 10S miles. to prove
that ii was possible TO travel over
the ice of the Yukon river.
This was when the auto race
around the world vas on, and there
was much discussion as to whether
such trip could be made.
The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1909-01-27
AUDITORIUM

Special scenic effects are shown
in "A Romance of Coon Hollow"
including a plantation, a river pic
ture and a cotton gin, into which
the villain is thrown and crushed
to death at the end of the play.
It's rather CORY but rather good.
The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1909-01-27

Special Correspondence to The Press
TACOMA, ain. 27.-From the
shadow of the Arctic circle to the
tropics and return.
This is the remarkable auto
mobile trip now being made by
Stanley Scearch, a Dawson, Alaska.
merchant, and his family.
Mr.. and Mrs. Scearch arrived
here d few davs ago from British
Columbia In their machine.
From San Francisco they will
cross California, then go direct to
Mexico, After the last Mexican
highway has been travelled the
auto will once again be turned
The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1909-01-27
WASHINGTON

The Four Borsinis, with their
thrilling exhibition on rolling
globes and excellent gymnastic
performances furnish one of the
leading attractions at the Wash
ington this week. Errac, with his
sweet toned violin, holds the audi
ences in breathless attention and
responds to a series of encOres.
The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1909-01-27
oRPHEuM

Hans, the musical horse, gets a
big hand this week by picking out
the chords of a tune on the bells
Borani and Nevaro wouldn't make
q hit at tabernacle.
The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1909-01-27
SWALLOWS 100
PINS AND LIVES

Special Correspondence to the Press
NEW YORK, Jan. Pitts pretty
hard to have to 60 to school when
you don't want to.
Florence Smith, an attractive
The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1909-01-27

George Bernard Shaw says he
has written and can write better
plays than Shakespeare's.
The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1909-01-27
RADCLIFFE RICKETTS,,
Private Detective,
Temple Court Building,
New York,
Difficult Papers Served and
All Sorts of Evidence
Procured at Lowest Rates.

Maddox glanced up from the
card. his eyes twinkling with mirth.
This is very happily worded,
Rat" he observed with perfest
seriousness. "All sorts of evirence
procured-eh? I'm! should think
this ought to bring youp lenty OF
business and just the kind you
want. Good night"
(To be continued)
----------------
Reputation multiplies the value
of printer's ink
The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1909-02-18
Origin and Aim of Gaelic League.

An organization that after Is years
trial has proved itself great factor in
national unity is the Gaelic league,
which its founder. Douglas Hyde, has
described as ian educational body
tinged with industrialism." II arose
when not 10000 people spoke Irish.
bidding Ireland not to be Catholic.
Protestant, unionist or nationalist, but
Just Irish. The obvious objection to
1t was that II was sentimental and Inn
practical In asking the Irish boy to
learn the difficult Gaelic when he
could learn French or German, which
he might use in business. Such an ar
gument left out of account the char
acter and temperament of the Celt.
Nine times out of ten 1t is through
sentiment that he can be put OFF or on
the road TO the practical. To-day there
are 100000 students of Irish; 1t is
even being put in the schools. There
are almost a thousand branches OF the
Gaelic league throughout the country
supported chiefly by the farthings Of
the poor.-Collie-'s Weekly.
The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1909-02-18
GarDiture Of Brass
Buttons, Large and
SnalIs Nuch in
Favor

II was natural that with the return
of the consulate and dlrectoire styles
In dress the brass button would play
an important part.
1t is already here. II is not only
worn on coats and skirts, but 1t even
fastens up the simple blouses for wear
under coats.
Large ones are used on rough cloths
and small ones on gowns OF messaline,
also on blouses OF tricote, messaline,
chiffon cloth and silk flannel.
The American brass button, with its
symbols of army and navy, is not used.
The fashionable one is round and
smooth. 1t looks like a bullet, and is
highly polished.
indoor gowns, with quantities of gold
and silver lace, old gold embroidery,
and metal soutache. II is a warlike
dime in dress
Not only are brass buttons revived,
but all manner OF other wonderful
ones. These are the ornaments that
played such an important part in the
empire period.
Some of the new ones are of tortoise
shell, the real shell, inlaid with small
rhinestones at the edge. These are
put on splendid gowns for theater and
restaurant wear.
Other buttons suggest Damascus.
They are oxidized silver and beaten
brass. There are others of Jade set in
rims Of platinum and large turquois
matrices bedded in brilliants.
The latter buttons Of semi-precious
stones are more commonplace and OBJ
vious than those of tortoise shell and
Damascene brass.
Even the large satin buttons used
to fasten every manner Of fabric are
heavily embroidered in plain floss and
with gold and silver. Designs for
these are sold in the shops. and there
is a great deal of this kind OF work
being done at home.
These buttons are by no means mex
pensive. They make the price Of the
gown amount up to a good figure, al
though 1t must be said that the ulti-
mate cost of clothes has lessened in
the last two weeks.
Whether the shopkeepers and dress.
makers found out that women would
not pay exorbitant prices or whether
the entire cost of things is on a more
sensible scale than 'last year it is
hard to tell. But this is true-that the
best gowns have undergone a trans.
formation in price during the last few
weeks.
The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1909-02-18

It is a noticeable feature OF the
girdles that they all fasten at the
side.
The American beauty waistcoat
adds a smart touch to black coat
suit
1t is fancy just now to line fur
coats with brocade in the shade Of the
skin.
Single buttons at prices current in
jewelry departments are not at all un.
usual.
Dog collars come in links of solid
jet or in links studded with cut jet
beads.
One fad is the employment of black
chiffon with colored cloth and silk
gowns.
Long, full wraps for evening and
afternoon are made of old-fashioned
brocade.
The Russian tiara is crescent shaped
with tiny outstanding points. 1t is
worn upright like a crown.
The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1909-02-18

be partitioned off and kept cool for a
fruit cellar. The front end Is proper
for this purpose because the front part
Of the house usually is cooler than
the back. Then you have more or
less dust from the furnace and 1t
makes more noise sometimes than
you want under the living room. Plan.
ming these little details is very inter-
esting as we'll as very important. The
little housekeeping questions that
mean so much to woman have very
little effect on a furnace man. A
great many furnaces are placed In the
most Objectionable positions just be-
cause the owner neglected to think hp
on the subject before the heating plant
was installed.
II makes no difference to a furnace
man where the heater is placed except
that some pipes carry hot air better
than others and they should be long
er and others should be shorter in pro-
portion for this reason, but such cal
culations apply more particularly to
larger houses. In little house like
this, where the pipes are all short, the
furnace may be placed on one side OF
the chimney just as well as to put 1t
on the other side. The only question
to decide is where the owner wants 1t
and the owner should not only know
but he should know why.
The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1909-02-18

Mr.. william a. Radford viii answer
questions and give advice FREE OF
COST on all subjects pertaining to the
subject OF building for the readers Of this
paper. on account OF his wide expe-
rience as Editor, Author and Manufac-
turcr. he is, without doubt. the highest
authority on all these subjects Address
all inquiries to William A. Radford, No.
19i Fifth Ave, Chicago. ILL.,, and only
enclose two-cent stamp for reply.
One OF the most comfortable little
cottage houses ever built is shown
in this design. When you come to
corral all the necessary modern i'm
provements and fit them into a little
house only 20 feet in width and 30
feet In length you have quite job on
your hands, but that Is exactly what
has been done I'm designing this little
fiveroom cottage. Bungalow, some
people would call 1t. because the word
bungalow is very fashionable Just now,
but a bungalow properly speaking is
one-story house with n fat, or at
least low roof.
IL often happens that a family is
very anxious to own a home and they
Hiu HOuStS anu lOlS are 30 expensive
that after looking around for several
months they are Obliged to give 1t up.
at any rate. for the present 1t is to
meet just such cases that recon-
mend such small low-cost houses.
Americans as rule have rather
large ideas in regard to dwellings. AS
n usual thing we want large rooms
and plenty of them. but / find that
public opinion is passing through a
change and II has been brought about
largely through the influence of city
flats. many of which contain little con-
veninces that are not common In
houses.
Taxes In larger cities are double
what they were ten or twenty years
ago. Skilled mechanics get four or
five dollars day where formerly they
got two or three dollars, and the same
scale of expense follows through all
the different departments of building.
The result is architects have learned