davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1907-1917, 1909-04-22

not Of the fearful sort and SO she went
about the task Of trying to make her
dingy room look homelike. She had
photographs of four girl friends in
her cheap trunk, and she rearranged
them on the walls an unbelievable num-
Der of times. There was one picture
already hanging above the head of the
bed-an ideal Photographic study Of
Priscilla at spinning wheel, with an
elaborate gilt frame that Enthusiastically
would have suggested to some Of us
either trading stamps Or five-andten
cent stores. To Elaine it was pretty.
And besides she had a picture of her
own, framed in passe-partout style-a
delineation of a young woman and a
young man sitting close together on a
moonlit beach, gazing off across pen
and-ink ocean. 1t would have been
hard for Elaine to explain why she
bought this picture Of a peddler
a year before. She merely realized
that there was subtle suggestion
of almost unbelievable happiness in
the picture. That was all. No
such young man had ever sat with her
gazing out across the sea. In fact no
young mantle picture was beauti-
full mystery. She hung it over the
gas jet.
She went on re arranging things
the fancy quilt her mother had made
and the pictures and the two books
on the table, and she went down to
the gathering restaurant in the base
ment next door for her three meals,
so that it was not until Sunday, as
dusk was falling and the lights on the
street below poked out foggily through
the mist-laden air, that the first touch
Of the urban drunkenness came upon
her. She realized, with a little audi
BILE gasp, that she was without re-
sponsibility.
No one was anywhere about to ques-
ton her. She was free! She could
go forth, as she had not yet done, to
sway through the thoroughfares with
the flow of the rest of the hordes of
unknown, unrecognized and terribly
free pedestrians. She might make
faces at people who went by on the
back platforms of cars and they would
never see her again. She might stay
out until any time and no one would
ever whisper about her She had now
become her own government, and in
her power to direct herself she had
endless and simple faith. Now she
could see, hear, smell and touch what
she chose, and every nerve in her body
sang of freedom. Who could say nay?
Tomorrow she would find employ
ment. The landlady, who apparently
was a person eternally cooking cauli-
flower in the dark kitchen downstairs,
had said there was only one thing an
unframed girl could do--work IN a
department store.
"Will we keep the room you've got
or take the little one onto the top
foorg" she asked, being familiar with
the situation.
Elaine laughed wholesomely and
The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1907-1917, 1909-04-22

time TO go OUT again TO look loI d
place.
She tried Deering & Co.-that tre-
mendous emporium! They had adver-
tised in the paper in the want column,
and the size Of type they used, in con-
trast to the other advertisements, sug
gested their dire need Of employees.
Elaine had to look in telephone book
to see where the store was, because,
although she had been there once, it
had now become lost in the mighty
nightmare of store memories.
This was wonderful day of clear
cold sunlight Her eyes shone with
vitality as she walked along the street;
her cheeks were red with the wind,
her step was as full Of innocent
strength as the step Of Diana.
Mrs. Colvin-Everhard, going on with
her story, said that Elaine had to see
an assistant employment agent at so
large an establishment. Apparently the
employment agent merely was under
duty to employ employment agents
and to draw up charts with curves and
diagrams to show the wages paid by
departments and the relation of these
figures to the sales and the compare
tive efficiency of men and women per
unit Of cost per hour and other things
Of the sort which business men call
"system.
It was the assistant employment
agent, therefore, who looked at Elaine
with frank admiration. His eye de-
tected no powder or other beautifers;
his nose caught no Whit of perfumery.
He was an intensely selfish young man
who improved his mind and body every
evening at Young Mans Christian
Something and had absurdly sloping
shoulders, ffteen-inch biceps, COM
pletely muscle-bound, watery blue
eyes and a pale yellow round Of hair
outside of pink bald spot. He was
selfish, model young man, but he was
discriminating. He liked Elaine be-
cause her beauty was honest. He Of
fered her "position.
He had spoken to other applicants
of Jobs" but the Understanding
word seemed more fitting when con-
nected with an actual opening.
Now he raped with his pencil on
his teeth and said, II think I will put
you on work at the notion COUNTER
Excuse me-" said Elaine with her
pretty mouth, "what will l get =
Week?''
He put his long, bony forefnger
upon printed sheet which lay before
him on his desk and with it founl a
figure. He tapped on this figure as
if to emphasize the fact that some
immutable determination had fixed it
there forever.
Five" said he.
Elaine's blue eyes sought his. 1T
am new here" she said. cit doesn't
seem as if | could get along-I mean,
hve-on that You know better than
do about what the girls without
homes have to have here. Can I live
on fve?'
Eoto ,o1ox,oJ =
The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1907-1917, 1909-04-22
By Richard WaShbaYn Child.


starchy lace curtains OF the parlor
room.
It goes on being commonplace
story in way. For Elaine could not
find work on Monday. One said that
only skilled saleswomen were en-
ployed; another promised place
when the holiday season was on. An
employment agent of store on Sixth
avenue asked her if she lived at home.
"No?" He was little pudgy man
with grotesquely fat fingers. "Have
an income Of your own?" Elaine al
most laughed. The little beady eyes
shone an honest, kindly light suddenly
as he said "Why not go back-away
from New York altogether She
remembered, several years later, how
he had dismissed her, and then she un-
derstood him better.
Tuesday it was the same. In the
afternoon she was tempted beyond re-
sistance by the photograph in front of
a moving picture show. She went in
and the time flew by. A week later
she had brave record of the places
she had visited. It was written on the
bottom Of her box of stationery,
though she might as we'll have used a
sheet Of paper itself inasmuch as she
had no one to whom she could write.
By this time the freedom of herself
had become a strangely fearful thing
"a thing Of unknown terrors. She
was even innocent of any knowledge
Of the fear itself. She only knew that
up and down, up and down went the
emotions and the pictures before the
mind-the joy of responsibility and
then the horror of it and Of loneliness,
the picture Of a gorgeous drama and
pageant, the picture Of a hopeless
swirl Of nameless humanity. The
money had shrunk to forty-two dollars
and some change. 1t was easy to see
the end Of it.
A very, very wise person would
have gone back to Pinetop village.
Elaine was eighteen and not among
the very wise persons. She was not
even sociologist. She found that
she could get several places in stores
which would pay her four or five dol
lars week, but she had assumed that
this amount, no doubt enough in Pine
top, would not keep her alone in New
York. Her room cost two dollars and
seventy-fve cents and her meals a
little more than that. Perhaps other
girls could manage better. Think of
the number Of them whom she had
seen behind the rows and rows Of
counters! She looked at her money
again and found there was twenty
four dollars and fve-cent piece. She
needed new pair Of shoes.
New York was lonely in spite of all
its liberty. Some how there was
suspicion that liberty meant slavery.
She rearranged the photographs Of the
four homely girl friends. The red
striped wall paper had become tire
some now; it had been exciting at first.
Elaine thought of the Predetermined
old grand aunt back home and laughed
The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1907-1917, 1909-04-22

man was lawyer and professional
cynic and yet he believed the story
and it awoke something new in him
that put fire in MS eyes for moment
and made him clench the hand that
held the cigarette. Miss Gaylord, the
second woman, saw that he was NOM
entarily stirred for some other than
a selfish reason and she afterward
said that it furnished her the real
reason for marring him. But of course
Elaine Quinn will never know it. She
will never even know that the lawyer
believes the story about her is all true.
She, on one hand, and Mrs. Everhard
and Miss Gaylord, who married the law
yer, on the other, were totally different
kinds Of women. This Elaine, so Mrs.
Everhard said, began by being a rather
awkward country girl. She would have
furnished an extraordinary contrast to
these smart women with their penciled
eyebrows.
When she was eighteen and her mo-
Their had taken all that remained OF
the money to be buried, Elaine found
herself, as the neighbors said, call out
of folks" She had to seek great op-
portunities she had to go to New York,
where there was plenty of employment
for women.
Elaine went May we suppose that
two or three second cousins and
Predetermined old grand aunt came
down to the station to say good-by to
her? They saw that her cheap trunk,
bought at the Emporium, was put on
the train, they noted the flush of youth
in her cheeks. Indeed she was so
healthy and strong and pretty She
kissed them ALL They were relieved
that she was going to shift for her
self. "Good-by, Ellie. Goodbye" None
of them would have believed that her
career would be what it turned out tc.
be. "Be a good girl said the feeble
minded old aunt, shifting. And so the
putting train left the junction station
and started onward toward the city.
Some would think Elaine Quinn S
story was very conventional story
indeed. Others think it very astonish-
ing and shocking. 1t all depends on
the listener. Except for the fact that
she was so perfect specimen Of young
Girl and wore about her, like invisible
mantles, so much simple truth and
modesty, she was a good deal the reg
ular country girls who come down to
the city from the story books. And
her entry into New York was like the
others.
It was the same uninteresting story
of finding a furnished room and then
counting the fifty-seven saved dollars
to be sure they had not vanished by
some of the dangerous magic Of the
city, about which the uninitiated "up
state" have such vague ideas. Elaine
did not know how little money this
really was.
She knew no one in New York except
a girl named Paula Van Reuter-
who had been waitress at the Pine
Knoll summer hotel-and she had lost
The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1907-1917, 1909-04-22

HE story of Elaine Quinn
was told in the tea room
Of the Red Hotel on the
Avenue late one winter
afternoon. The architect
thought it unpleasant and
a f forwards commented
upon the listless way in
which Mrs. Colvin-Ever-
New-York tribune., 1909-06-06

WHEAT
It means a good long
"driVe" in the Game of
Life. 1t means a clear
brain in a we'll nOur1shed,
perfectly poised body, with
plenty of reserve strength
to draw upon In every
test of endurance or skill.
Shredded Wheat is the ideal
Summer food because it sup
plies the greatest amount of
muscle-building materialWith
the least tax upon the digest
i've organs-the favorite food
of athletes and all lovers of
outdoor sports. 1t is on the
training table of nearly every
college and university in the
United States and Canada.
at cleaned steam-cooked, shredded and baked IN two
NEST, most hygienic food factory in the world
nourishing Summer Shredded Wheat Biscuit with
crspness and then with Strawberries
Biscuit equally wholesome and with other
All the meat of the golden wheat"
Made in Biscuit Form
New-York tribune., 1909-06-06

Shredded Wheat the whole wheat cleaned steamooked
million dollar bakerythe cIeane finest hygienc food fa
Nothing delicious, wholesome and nourishng Summer
Strawberries Heat the Biscuit crispness
serving with and sugar. The Biscuit equally wholes
berries and fresh fruits A the of the golden
The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1909-04-29

spite OF their efforts TO have Il put on
a week But WE want more: We want
TO induce Keatcham to vote his own
stock for US. and to call on his dogs
himself
"And you can't force him TO do it,
we shall force him. easily enough. "
returned Mercer. but we don't trust
him. We want his private code book
" be sure he is playing fair. In fact,
we have to have Il. because nothing
gets any attention that isn't. so 10
speak. properly introduced"
And he will not give II TO YOU"
says he has lost IT,"
Perhaps he has. unused the soldier.
But now. all this is not my concern.
except that | have no right. as sol
der. even passively to aid in breaking
the laws. II Is my duty to rescue and
free Mr. Keatcham."
Before he could speak further Mer.
Ger lifted hand in Apologize inter.
ruption. Would Col Winter excuse
him. but he must ask Mr. Tracy to go
back to the patio and have an eye on
the detective. Endicott only ex.
changed a single glance before he
obeyed MERGERS eyes followed him.
1T was not 20 be helped" he said,
half 20 himself. hut have been sorry
more than once that had 10 take
him into this"
Winter looked at him. more puz.
zled than he wanted TO admit to him.
self; indeed. he was rather glad TO
have the next word come from Mercer.
Il have few things | want 10 say
TO you; they go easier when we are
alone-but won't you sit down." When
the colonel had seated himself he went
on: I'D like 10 explain things a bit.
'f'd like TO have you" answered the
soldier. Il think you have the clew to
Arches whereabouts and don't recog.
nize n yourself; so put me wise. as
the slang goes"
Then. without preface. in brief. ner.
vous sentences. spoken hardly with a
CULVER OF a muscle or wavering
cadence OF the voice, yet nevertheless
instinct with a deadly earnestness.
A'iN'l btbdn 10 Ndlh nc Aolu VI MS
struggling youth on the drained plan
tation. mortgaged so that after the In.
terest was paid there was barely
enough TO set the meagerost living
for mother and sister and little broth
er: OF his accidental discovery OF iron
ore on the place: OF his working as q
common laborer I'm the steel mills. OF
his being rooster" "strand-boy. %
'rougher." heater" roller" during
three years while he was waiting for
his chance; OF his heart-drainlng toll (;
OF his solitary studies.
Il never was the kind OF fellow to
make friends" he said. in his soft.
monotonous voice. so expect l was
the fonder Of my own kin. I'd a mighty
good mother sir and sister; and there
was Phil-my little brother. We we're
right happy all together on the old
place that's been In our family for 100
years, and II was all we asked to stay
there; but II had every dollar Of
mortgage Il could stand, and the ooll
all worn out. needing all kinds Of
things: and wish you could have
seen the mskeshifts We had for ma
chimes was blacksmitll aud carpen-
ter sad painter-just 10. and not an
The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1909-04-29
ALUsSZ;RA7ZONet oc6C1
81. DZ[W

They we're mighty good IA ~
was Endy found out about ,,p ~ u'
from my description of him N|
out about Keatcham Tor mv,or ' U.
you are quite rlght-for a mr. M. Aad
! wanted 10 Kin them both sa
me ! Just naturally had to kri S'
bnt there was my mother ne. In
nobody TO take care Of her br, o'
me, and a trial Tor murder /, ~, ~.
expensive. OF course apvh,s'
get on who has got mopey -, ~
spend Il; but It takes such Al "a
heap OF money. And We "
ruined together. for what Inn.
LETT was all In the COMPANY Ana s.J
promptly stopped paving dlyl6ss..
couldn't risk Il. had 10 vat ~.
to go TO work to support nv m',s''
TO pay Sis and her back So,y
seef We came here. | ro,,CJ
well-paid one. too. through Eos,,, !,
Their. reporting on the condItios =, I'll
mills-a kind Of examiner Ass I'll
job was for Keatcham."
Why did you take ~ 81
though. You did g 10 hmul,,,,s h.
with your appearance. 90 nn u
would not be warned vhe, ~
chance came"
How did you know that
"A man ! knew In the Phulp-l,,,
a Filipino-was wronred by a ~
man. who took his wife and ,hpv ]
aside when he tired Of her. he !.
killed herself Her husband u,,.ssl
his chance for a year. found f. ~
thanks 20 that very fact that \
victim wasn't on guard against lin
and sent his knife home Hed M +,
that fellows servant I picked IA
dead man mp. That Filipino looked n
you looked minute ago"
What became Of the Fllp.ao~ ii
dulrcd bis listener
The colonel had no, told lhs rs-l
quite without intentlon. ne a-fy
subconsciously. that u Mercer ve-s
good sort under an. be would hir
movement OF sympathy Tor a n~l
cruelty wronged man than be Il ID,
he would drive ahead 10 bis psposs
whatever that might be- Hl lee.
eyes looked a little more gentle a }.
answered: "He poisoned himself n,
best way out. reckon. should Ar,
70 have had him shot after knev o.
story. But there vas really no Opt1a
But I'm interruptlng you. You a
your work well and won BslichAzi
confidcncef-
The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1909-04-29
CHAPTER X.
The ev.'drrine Embers.

n MERGERS avowal surprised the
colonel. there was no trace OF such
emotion in his face or his manner. Il
rather thought 1t might be" he said.
And our young friend who is pro
noting fireless stoves with the solemn
energy he learned doing Dicky
stunts?'
"Mr. Endicott Tracy" Mercer had
the manner OF a ceremonious introduce
ton. Tracy favored the customary
murmur OF pleasure with his radiant
smile.
Pleased. am sure" said the colo
mel in turn, bowling. Your father,
suppose. is the president of the Mid
land: and Mr. Keatcham will. | sup
pose. not be able TO prevent his re-
election tomorrow. Is that the game ?"
Mr.. Tracy's son admitted that II
might be.
"Ah, very clever" said the colonel.
very. ANY side-show. for examples"
Il did not go into this for money"
MERGERS level gaze did not relax. aud
he kept his dreary eyes unhinchingly
on Winters. A peculiar look in the
eyes recalled some tragic and alien
memory, just what. Rupert could not
capture; II fitted hazily through his
thoughts ere the next words drove Il
Off Nevertheless, II is true that II
we win out shall have enough TO pay
back 10 all the people who trusted me
the money they lost when they were
frightened into selling their stock In
the Tidewater, and your aunt and Mr.
Tracy stand 10 make money"
How do you expect TO make ito
The NJ. a. s. stock is away down
because Of rumors Keatcham is likely
to control IT, When II is settled Il Is
not to be looted by him, the stock will
rise--we are sure OF the ten points:
We may make 20"
"And my aunt has Financed your
scheme. has sho?--paid all your ex.
penses?"
The Harvard man laughed out. Our
expenses? Oh. yes. she has grub
staked as. all right; but she has done
= good deal mOre-she has furnished
more than half million to US for our
gamble"
The colonel considered; then: But
why did you keep him here so long be
forehand?" said he.
IT was not long beforehand" said
Mercer "rhe meeting was adjourned
for a day--we don't know why--we
fancy thst his partners suspect some.
thing. u IL called for tomorrow. In
The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1909-04-29

When the earth comes between !,
sun and the moon II always ol' -,
round shadow. A place chosen ,...,
an experiment to prove the rou i r.sI
of the earth was near Bedlole, \,
land. where there Is a s'rals ss IA,
mile stretch OF water. AZ pom ,. ~ ID
and In the middle Of TINS ~. =, N,
water posts were erected eatu " .,,s,
same definite height above ' Len, van
level. Upon looking win a 80, ao.,, /,
along the tops OF these three . y. ono
was clearly seen that the 'e emu, I'd
oyertopped the other by aO, Il
feet. thus marking the eu r,a'r
the earth's surface ," This elP'', ev,ry
has been repeated, and VIZ so,, ID
latest appliance brought 70 o. siais
effect absolute accuracy In' nav,
nent as 20 how a ship al 81 tbeu
the tops of her masts nrs' -. 49, ,bO,.
gradually parts below that. O ,nJ .atls
the water. is a familiar one ''
fies most minds.
The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1909-04-29
VISITOR WAS SHERLOCK HoLuI,
Marvellous Powers Of Deduction rhs,|
Astonishes Storekeepsr

Though q had happened a Ions uns
before. the honest siorekcepeT ~
spoke OF the occurrence With ave
IT was this way" he said I I'd
standing behind the counter 10 n
store. thinking OF nothing In paTticli
lar. when a hawk.eyci genteni1
walked In. followed By a quiet. plA''
suming chap
The hawk-cyed gentleman. ara
looking all about. turned 70 me
do you-er--p erhaps-sel oil
feeT' he asked.
"'Yes. sir
"'And sugar.
"'Yos. sir.
"'Nice raislns. too ! take r.
Yes. sir: We have a ycry sgpen'1
line OF raislns.
"He paused a while. Then ia''i''
20 me again:
"Cheeseg
Yes. sir-good cheese.
AT that he beckoued 10 The qls1
unassuming chap and whispered
his ear:
What do you make OF III
mot a thing
"'WatSon-lt's--a grocery s'o'e
"'NO"
"Tm sure Of Il. Watson.
Marvellous! =.
"And signing to his companl'a
follow. the hawk'eyed gentleman w
away. with catlike tread. looking var
~ about him on an sides. IA
Not until after he had gone 49, ".
realize who my distinguished ''''
was"
The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1909-04-29
e% OCT4E 7Z4NT
1 a s TIE NAN se@eSAolR9
SYNOPSIS.

The story opens at Harvard where Col
Rupert Winter, u. 8 A.. visiting, saw the
suicide Of young Mercer. lie met Cary
Mercer. brother Of the dead student.
Col Winter overheard Cary Mercer ap-
parently planning to kidnap Archie. the
colonels ward, and 70 gain possession OF
Aunt Rebecca winters millions. MISS
conspirator. Winter Unexpectedly met a
relative. Mrs. Milliccnt Melville, who
told him that his Aunt Rebecca, Archie
were 10 leave for the west with the
colonel and Mrs Melville. a great Imam
cial magnate was aboard the train on
ca, Miss Smith and Archie lie set his
orderly. Sergt Haley, TO watch over cary
Mercer. Col Winter learned that the
financial magnate Is Edwin $ keatcham
On approaching Cary Mercer, the colonel
was snubbed. Winter. aided by Archie,
cleverly frustrated a hold-up on the
train. He took a great liking TO Miss
Smith, despite her alleged connection
with the kidnapping plot. which he had
not yet revealed TO his relatives. The
party arrived In San Francisco. IL was
thought that there were big persons be-
hind the hold-up gang Archie m{st err.
conducted for Archie. Blood in a near
BY room at the hotel caused fears for the
boys life. No Roadway was made in the
search for Archie. The lads voice was
heard over the telephone. however, and
minute later a womans voice-that OF
Miss Smith. Col. Winter and a detective
set out for the empty mansion owned by
Arnold. n Harvard graduate. They were
met with a terrible defamation. indicat-
ing an explosion within. The party
rushed into the house. few minutes
later Mercer appeared. He assured Win
ter that Archie had been returned TO Mrs.
Rebecca Winter. The colonel saw
vision fitting from the supposedly haunt
ed house II was Miss Janet Smith Col.
Winter to himself admitted that he loved
Miss Smith, Mercer told Winter that
Archie had overheard plans for coup
which Mercer and his friends wanted 70
carry out. For that reason Archie had
been kidnapped.
The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1909-04-29

with a wry face. quite on the cards
that he may bolt in spite Of me and
do some foolish stunt OF his own that
viii make most awful muddle."
Not nearly so composed as he
looked, therefore. he turned TO Mercer
However. his ammunition was ready.
and to MERGERS inquiry. was he SAT-
isfed? he replied. calmly: well. not
entirely. II Archie isn't in the house.
who is IL whose throat you wish to
cut? Who is hidden hereg"
II could not have been az unex.
pected question or Mercer hardly had
answered so readily; You know who
Il is" said he. 1t 3 Mr.. Keatcham"