davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Sauk Centre herald., 1909-10-14
ANGRY ROBINS WOUND MAN
Try to Peck Eyes Out After He Un.
Intentionally Kills Their
Young.

Clinton, N. J.-Robert ]. McCoubra
was so severely injured on the face,
neck and hands by two robins that at
tackled him that it was necessary to
call in doctor.
McCoubra had cut several limbs
from a large shade tree in front of his
house here and did not see that in q
fork made by two branches of one of
the limbs was robins nest with two
young birds in 1t. When the limb fell
to the ground the young birds fell out
of the nest and both were killed.
McCoubra felt sorry and leaned
over to pick up the dead birds. AS
he did SO the old robins attacked him.
He tried to beat them of, but failed
and was compelled to run for the
house. All the way the birds kept up
the attack. and he had to hold his
hands over his eyes to save them
from harm. The man had difficulty In
preventing the birds from following
him indoors, striking at them several
times before he could get the door
closed against them.
Mrs. McCoubra, who had been in
the back yard, heard her husband call.
ing and she ran into the house, where
she found him almost exhausted from
his efforts. His face. neck and hands
were torn and bleeding as the result
of the vicious pecking Of the enraged
hirda -
The Sauk Centre herald., 1909-10-14
The Coop that
Ren1e we'd Little
By CAROLINE LocKHARr
Copyright, by ]. B. Lippincott Coz

copyright, by J. b. Lippincott Coz
Little was the editor, reporter, COM
positor and business manager of the
Waubansee Weekly Star, out west.
Waubansee was a city of 500 inhabi-
tants, whose frame houses struggled
along few yards of one of the Santa
Fe's branch lines. After passing Wau.
bansee, the railroad got discouraged
and stopped out in the middle of the
prairie. Though everybody wondered
how Little lived, he not only got along,
but had surplus enough to take the
milliner to the ice-cream festival
given by the Baptist church. He sang
in the choir and called of at the
dances in Odd-Fellows' hall. There
was nothing stiff about the Stars edi-
torials. It's style of acknowledging a
pair of chickens from Sam Bucking-
ham and it's compliments to Jim Hand
ler on his Berkshire shoats were
graceful and easy, and its demands
that congress should appropriate $500
to improve the navigation of the Wau-
karusha were considered virile.
Little was as happy as the day was
long until he happened to secure a
pass from Waubansee to Washington
land return" which latter was i'm
portant, as it proved At Washington
he was panied to observe a slackening
in the joy with which his congress-
man was wont to greet the Star editor
when elections were being closely
fought. However, Little soon forgot
this ingratitude in the pleasure of a
trip to Boston, where he went to visit
some relatives, who, prior to this, had
known only vaguely of his existence
In Boston it seemed only properly
courteous for the editor of the Wau-
bansee Star to call upon the editors Of
the various Boston dailies, and Little
was not the kind of a man to hurt
The Sauk Centre herald., 1909-10-14
HIS COLLAR A FIRE TRAP
Sergt. Cohen's CeIIuIoid Neckwear
Destroyed in a Staten Island
Blaze.

New York-Fire destroyed 10000
worth of property and Police Sergt.
Cohen's celluloid collar at Rosebank,
S. l., the other afternoon. The prop.
erty consisted of a three-story brick
storehouse on New York avenue and
five frame buildings adjoining.
The cause of the fire is unknown,
but it started in the storehouse at
about one o'clock and burned SO
fiercely that all the fire engines on the
south side of Staten Island were
called out and two fireboats steamed
down the bay and helped.
Sergt. Cohen's celluloid collar was
worth about Is cents and was unin.
sured. Sergt. Cohen ran to the fire
from the Stapleton station, about half
a mile away, and went right to work
helping to fight the fire. A spark lit
on his fine white standing collar
Then there was fash and a sputter,
and lot of black smoke enveloped
the sergeant's head, the while he per.
formed most extraordinary and pic.
turesque Jig and howled things which
no newspaper going into right-minded
family circles could possibly print.
When the collar burned out the ser.
geant went to drug store and
showed the druggist how he had got
it in the neck, SO to speak. Inciden.
tally he hadn't much hair and no mus.
tache to speak of, but he'll be on the
job again in a few days.
The Sauk Centre herald., 1909-10-14

Ser social POSITION, anything that hap
ened to her was .. int rest to the
ity community. l: he stoHlG craftily
stir up those kicking neighboIs and
lave this prominent woman arrested
or keeping nuisance, be had his
scoop. So he plotted and contrived.
aiming the wrath of the man next
.oor, to whom the dogs had given in
somnia, inflaming the anger of tho
nervous old maid on tie other side,
who hated dogs anyway, because she
loved cats. Aided and stirred and
prompted by Little, the Sleepless Man
and the Nervous Old Maid were
rounded up at a magistrates Office.
where, after much demur on the mag.
istrate's part, the warrant was issued.
Little wrote it up instantly, coming
into the Office on the run.
Little's scoop made real sensation.
Even the night editor said it was not
too bad. 1t appeared on the first page,
headed
WARRANT OUT
rOh MRS. DUNCAN.
III mans got it in him. said Lit.
tie, meaning genius, its bound to
come out" He went to bed that night
feeling that his feet were firmly plant
ed on the ladder of fame, and that
climbing was easy
Now there was a proprietor of the
paper who read the paper very care
fully, in Paris. This proprietor had
decided social aspirations, though in
this he had never taken Little into his
confidence. For some time the pro-
prietor had been laying careful siege
to Mrs. Duncan's social influence, and
at last Mrs. Duncan was beginning to
beam; there were prospects, if the
beam was carefully fostered, of Mrs.
Duncan extending gracious hand 20
the proprietor's family to help them
over the wall which divides the mere.
ly nice people" from the Inner
cult"
Mrs. Duncan was lady of tempest.
uous action, and she burned the cable
with a scorching message to Paris.
About two hours later the editor re-
ceived cable message from Paris
which read:
Remove Mrs. Duncan's cause of
complaint"
Onlq six words, but in as many mo-
ments Mrs. Duncan's cause of COM
plant found himself adrift in the cold,
cold world, somewhat dazed His re-
turn pass had not expired, and Lit.
tie returned to Waubansee to buy
back the Star, the livery stable man
parting with it without much urging.
Its first issue, after the old manage
ment resumed the editorial toga, con-
tained scathing article on the cor
ruption of the eastern press by the
money power.
The Sauk Centre herald., 1909-10-14
Prosecuted for Keeping Stamps.

A Marseilles wine merchant pes
tered three prominent men In his dis.
trict, including retired Judge, with
letters offering his vintages and In
closing stamps for reply. None of the
three answered, and all kept the
Stamps. Whereupon the wine mer-
chant lodged a complaint against
them for a swindling abuse Of con.
fidence and appropriation Of sums in
trusted to them. The judicial authori-
ties received the complaint, acted up
on 1t, and opened criminal proceed
ings against all three persons on the
charge of appropriating a two-cent
postage stamp each. 1t seems that
no other legal course was open to the
authorities than to proceed in the mat
ter. The sequel is worse. It is re.
ported that the police, armed with
search warrants, have effected domi-
ciliary visits in the residences of the
three accused persons to discover the
corpus deficit in each case-that Is
to say, the wine merchants letter con-
tanning the stamp for reply. II the
stamp be found unused the three ac-
cused persons will be ordered to dis
gorge the property wrongfully de-
tanned by them. II 1t be not found the
presumption, apparently, will be that
they used the property, and, logically,
q conviction for swindling should fol-
low
The Sauk Centre herald., 1909-10-14
CARNATIONS
BY FRANK H. WEET
Copyright. by J. B. Lippincott Coz

She was kneeling just inside the
fence, stirring and patting the already
prepared soil of a flower bed with a
pearl-handled trowel ordered espe-
cially for this first summer in the
country. And as she stirred and pat
ted. her lips murmured few bars Of
| French labor-song, and her brow
wrinkled and smoothed with the mo-
| tons of the trowel. e..
Presently she arose and surveyed
her work critically, approvmgly
There were many little curves and
scallops and much scroll-work trac-
cry. Certainly it was very nice and
artistic. All it lacked now was the
flowers.
The costly white g.oves, which
reached to her elbows, were discol-
ored with the soil she had been ma
nipulating. and she regarded the
stains with pensive satisfaction
Then, as approaching footsteps sound
ed upon the walk, she took the trowel
and made dark line across what she
considered too large space of
white,--a laborer should not be
ashamed of the marks of his toll. AS
she raised her eyes she looked
straight into pair of admiring ones
on the opposite side of the fence.
The mans gaze was averted instant
ly, and he would have passed on, but
she stepped to the fence with a pretty,
impulsive gesture.
Aren't you Mr.. Ware of the next
cottage beyond?"
Yes"
We'll, I've been admiring your
flowers, rs,'-frankly,-and-yes, l may
as we'll confess it, l was in your
greenhouse yesterday and spoke with
your gardener. He said you had the
The Sauk Centre herald., 1909-10-14

finest carnations in all the country
round last year-prize-winners and
all that"
Yes, / had some very fine ones, I
believe" he answered, smiling back
at her, land they took several prizes
at the fair
How lovely" clasping her hands.
Il dote on carnations. Most of my
china has carnation patterns, and my
latest ball-gown is figured with them.
Now see," raising a hand SO that the
tip Of one of the discolored glove-fin.
gers pressed a dimple in her cheek,
I'm counting so much on them for
mean to have beds and beds and
borders, and borders, and want them
all to be lovely prize-winners. / know
pretty much everything about them,
Of course, for your gardener said they
only bloomed once year, and that
they had all kinds of colors, and that
they needed oceans of water. But
maybe he forgot something, and
don't want the least bit Of a mistake
about anything. Now this bed"-turn-
ing and regarding the little circle of
disturbed soil anxiously-"has cost me
lot of thought and labor. I've been
toiling in it-with my own hands,
mind you-more than half an hour;
and, Of course, can't risk an uncer.
tainty. It's all ready for its uphol-
stering-no, I mean its-its farming.
Will you tell me where I must get
the prize flowers, and would better
plant them or just stick one side in
the ground for-for slips-isn't 1t slips
they're called?" looking up into his
face confidingly and nodding an "of
course it's slips, but I want to hear
you say So"
why. no, I'm very sorry, but
you're mistaken" he answered, admir-.
ing the delicate color which came and
went in her face, and glad to know
that the face belonged to the next
cottage and would remain there all
summer. "You see, it's bulbs. MY
gardener had great boxful come the
other day, and he's so choice of them
he'll scarcely let me 60 near the box
for fear I'll get something mixed.
OF course. they're the prize-winners.
He puts the bulbs in the ground and
covers them all over with dirt. saw
him do few this morning"
"Oh, that's it,"-in a relieved voice,
II didn't know, but it's lovely. II
The Sauk Centre herald., 1909-10-14

any ones feelings by seeming neglect
The way in which these Boston edi.
tors happened to be out on important
business whenever Little sent in his
nicely printed cards was a revelation
to him of how hard Boston editors
had to work at getting advertisements
and printing personals and linking the
in the "city room" Little became in
oculated with the virus of the metro
politan newspaper life. He promptly
wrote to Waubansee, closing a deal
which had been pending for some
time, and which involved the sale of
the Star to the proprietor of the Wau-
karusha livery and feed stable. Then
Little began the struggle which short
ly ended at his being taken on the
reportorial staff of one of the Boston
dailies at salary of no less than $12
week, salary that seemed munifi-
cent to Little until he went to get a
boarding-place.
Somehow his former editorship of
the Star did not impress the night
deck as Little had expected, and he
bitterly complained that the night edi-
tor cut all the pleasing personality"
out Of his copy. 1t was to this dense
stupidity and jealousy of the night
editor that Little ascribed the failure
of the public to recognize his style i'm
mediately. Little listened eagerly to
the stories of scoops" told in the city
room after the paper had gone to
press, and soon decided that the road
to newspaper recognition lay through
scoops, rather than style. After con.
siderable thought, he decided to aban-
don the idea of shooting up to the
mayors Office for scoop material, even
though his presence on the spot might
give him the field over his rivals, and
just waited. Even as everything
comes to him who waits, so the scoop
came to Little.
Little" said the city editor, there's
Home for Orphan Dogs in this city,
supported by cranky old woman who
has lots of blue blood and money.
The people living in the neighborhood
of the Home complain of the bowling
of the dogs. Go out and interview the
neighbors about II"
On the way to the Home Little had
his inspirations. Since the woman
was SO prominent by her riches and
The Sauk Centre herald., 1909-10-14

Jaws of the grateful Dutch again. We
are on our way now to file Tremen-
dous Bombardment' and then spend a
peaceful evening at the mess of Her
Majesty's Own First Remarkable I'm
ft Foot. Come on and join u.s."
A load sunk over Timothy's heart
HE'LL" he said. 81 thought I'd have
q story at last"
Never mind, young 'un," said the
dean of the corps kindly. It'll come.
You'd better make merry with us to-
night at the Remarkables."
The three rode amiably away. Tim
othy turned from the hilltop, cursing,
and started for camp. There he rout-
ed out his servant to get his horse,
and, swinging into the saddle, he trot-
ted towards headquarters to look up
final confirmation of Marklin's report.
AS he was passing down the lines
he saw an officer spurring towards
the front. 1t was young Capt. Sheri-
dan-Bedford, of the commanding gen.
erals staff. Timothy waved his hand.
Sheridan-Bedford pulled up.
"All quiet?" asked Timothy, with
the polite assurance of a man who
had halved his last drink of whisky
on wet night with the man he ad.
dressed.
Never ask an aide anything you
want to find out" replied the other.
with wink. I'm OF to the Red bri-
gade myself. The field telegraph to
our right is out of shape" And he
touched his horses flanks and swung
away again at gallop.
Timothy sat for moment reyoly.
ing the reply in his head; then he
wheeled sharply about. The captain
was vanishing in cloud of dust down
the road. Timothy thundered after
him.
For space the two wound their
way through the busy streets of the
camp. The air was heavy with the
smoke of the kitchens and alive with
the rumble Of wheels and the indie
scribable hum of thousands of un.
connected tongues. Up and down the
road passed columns of unkempt
troops and wagons loaded with sup
plies. Now and then an ambulance
ratified feverishly towards the front,
or came steadily back from the
trenches. bearing white-faced men
roughly bandaged, or shapeless, GOV.
ered bundles splctched with blood
about which the fies clustered greed.
ny. Then the captain turned to the
The Sauk Centre herald., 1909-10-14
The Reporter Who
Made a Story
copyright, by J. 3. Lippincott Coz
By CAPTAIN LLOYD BUCHANAN

Timothy O'Hara, assistant to the
war correspondent of the New York
Morning Post, sat fiat down on the
hilltop and chuckled. For two whole
weeks his famous chief had been toss
ing about on a cot in the field hospi'
tai of the Black Hussars. The world
was agog for any word of the f1oun-
dering army and a scoop would make
one famous down all Newspaper row.
Yet here had the phelgmatic British
ers squatted painting in place since
the day Macrae went down with the
fever. Not thing had happened In
the fortnight beyond sniping on the
outposts-until that morning, when a
tremendous cannonade had been
opened on the enemy's position. The
Beers were replying with cheerful
fury. There was a general idea that
the English were going to commence
their advance. Timothy viewed with
Joy the self-raised vision of the excit-
ed Office when his cable would arrive
and even the city editor would stop
work-and of the fiaring headlines
later, the loaded columns, the Post
boys shrieking and the country's
hearts beating beside their rolls and
coffee over his broken batallions"
and "bloddy heroes staggering into
the captured trenches" He had had
no opportunity to use these pet
phrases since sailing from New York.
Entered on this dream of death and
glory three peaceful men, khaki-clad
and riding on spiritless horses. Tim
othy rose as he saw them. They were
his rivals. On the left was Marklin,
who made his name as a cub at Sc
dan.
"Hullo, Irish" cried this great one
from afar. Got the makings?"
Timothy duly searched his breeches
pockets and procured pouch, which
he waved in answer Marklin swung
his charger towards the hilltop.
Its too bad" he said cheerfully, as
he rolled the cigarette. -'
"What?' asked Timothy.
"Buller's not going to 60 ahead,
after all. His chief of staff just told
us that positively no movement will
be made at present The old ele-
plants found a discarded idea and
wants to bite the edges of 1t before
he sticks his bloody head into the
The Sauk Centre herald., 1909-10-14

they're bulbs, there won't he anv
whiting and everything is sure to come
out all right. But where shall get
them?"
III you will permit me-" eagerly "I
will be only too delighted. MY gar
dener shall bring them over and plant
them for you himself"
mo, no." she protested, mot that.
| must do the work It's to be my
penance for frivolity last winter. Be-
sides, I'm going to like it. It's So
SO sturdy and independent to labor"
"Of course it is," he agreed. We'll,
suppose l don't say anything about it
to the gardener. There are lots of
bulbs In the greenhouse and store
room. l will pick out some of the
nandsomest and bring them over my
May II"
Sne looked at him thoughtfully.
why, yes, don't know but you
may" she answered. You can tell
me how"
And do the digging he supple
mented. 1 will put on gloves. 1t will
be SO droll. And it is so unconyen-
tional. 1 hope you don't mind"
mo, don't think 1 do. We're next
door neighbors, you know. And
think I've heard of you in New York
at-at-"
"The Manhattan" inquiringly.
"Yes, very likely it was the Man
haitian. I'm Miss Richardson of Forty
second street"
Miss Olga Richardson"
YES"
Who visits a Miss Trelawney-
Olive Trelawney?'
Her hands came together in pleased
surprise.
do you know Olive? Why, she is
one of my dearest friends"
Indeed! Isn't it delightful? My
sister knows her, and she has heard
her speak about Miss Olga Richard
son. Really, it seems that we are old
acquaintances, after all. l will get
the carnation bulbs now, and hurry
back. But you must allow me to call
this afternoon and talk over old
times"
Certainly; it will be lovely"
Ten minutes later he was back,
bringing as many large, plump bulbs
as he could carry, and, with delightful
ly profound remarks on the art of gar
dening and the usefulness of labor,
they kneeled on opposite sides of the
trowel-carved bed and planted the
was receiving its covering of soil a
deprecating face appeared at an open
ing in the shrubbery.
'Av ye please, sorr," an anxious
voice called, have yez been afther
seem any b'ys or tramps lurkin'
about?"
Two or three last pats were given
to the little mound which covered the
tuber, then Mr.. Ware turned.
mo, Michael, not this morning." he
answered "Why?'
'Beca'se some rapscallion of
thafe's been sthalin' the pertaties I
put aside for plantin', sorr, bad cess to
the crathur! They was in foine moo
basket" He stopped suddenly, add
ing, Il beg your pardon, SORT" and
disappeared behind the shrubbery
The "foine moo basket" stood beside
the newly planted flower-bed, empty.
The Monte Vista journal. (Monte Vista, Rio Grande County, Colo.) 1888-1921, 1909-11-27
SYNOPSIS.

The story opens with the shlpwrcck of
the steamer on which Miss Gcnevievo
Leslie, an American heress. Lord Win
thrope. an Englishman, and Tom Blake,
brusQue American, were passengers.
The three were tossed upon an uninhab-
drowned. Blake recovered from a drunk
on stupor. Blake. Stunned on the boat.
because OF his rouRhness. became "A hero
as preserv-r Of the helpless pair. Tile
GnglishmHn was suing for tn. hand OF
Miss Leslie. Blake started to swim back
Blake returned safely. Winthropc wasted
his last match on cigarette. for which
he was scored by Blake. Their first meal
was dead FISH. The trio started n ten
mile hike FOR higher land. Thirst at
tackled them; Blake was compelled to
moss. He taunied win,hropc They en-.
tered the jungle. That night was passed
roostinE high in n tree. The next morn
Ing they descended 10 the open again.
All three constructed h'ts to shield them
selves from the sun. They then Toasted
Miss Leslie showed a liking for Blake.
but detcsted his roughness Led by Blake
they established home In som" cliffs.
Blake found IA fresh water spring. Miss
Leslie faced an unpleasant situation.
They planned their campaign. Blake re-
thus insurinx IRE. lie started a jungle
IRE. killing "a large leopard and smo;h-
orinK several cubs In the lcopnrd's cav
ern they built small home. They gained
the ellis by burning the bottom Of
tree until II fell against the heights. The
Miss Lesli.'s white skirt was decided
upon as a signal. Miss Leslie made a
Aress from the leopard skin. Biake's ef-
forts TO kill an;elop.s failed.
The Monte Vista journal. (Monte Vista, Rio Grande County, Colo.) 1888-1921, 1909-11-27

had time TO draw . second breath. she
caught a glimpse OF Blnke's paim.leaf
hat. near the crown OF the ladder tree.
"o'o-h!-he didn't see met" she
murmured. Her frantic strength van.
ishcd. and a dcathly sickness came
upon her. She felt herself going. and
sought to kncel to ease the fall.
She was reused from the swoon by
Blake's resonant shout: Hey, Miss
Jenny! where are you! We've got
your laundry on the pole In me
shape!"
The girls haccid limbs grow tense,
and her body quivered with q shudder
Of dread and ioathinE. Yet she sst her
little white teeth. and forced herself
to rise and go out to face the men.
Both net her look with . blank stare
OF CONSERVATION.
What 10 II. Miss 0enevievs!" cried
WInthrope. You're white a. chalk"
IT'S the fevcr!" Erowied Blake.
She's In the cold stage. Get . pot on.
Well"
mo. no: it's not that! It's only
I've boon frightened"
Frightened"
by IA dreadful beast"
BEAST" repeated Blake. and his
pale Dyes flashed ~ he sprane across
to where his bow and arrows and his
club leaned against tho baobab. 'rii
have no beasts nosing around my
dooryArd! Must BE- that skulking lion
I hoard last night. I'll show him!" He
caught up his weapons and staiksd Oh
down the cleft.
ny Jovs!" exclaimed winthrops;
the man really must b mad. Call
him back. Miss 0snsvisve. II any.
thing should happen 70 him"
"if only there might" easpsd the
girl.
why. what DO you mean,"
She burst into . hystsricai laugh
"Oh! oh! it's such 3oks-such Joke!
Al least he's not Q hysna-oh, no; q
brave beast! Hear him shout! And
be actually thinks it's . lioni But II
isn't-it's himself Oh, dsasi oh,
dear! what shall I 6of"
miss osnsvieve. what DO you
msaa' b cain. pray. b eaiai"
"Caimi-vhsa ! heard what b
saidf Yse: ! Asafl svsey vee1i Il
~ ~ q ~ tfeo-" a.l
~ ~ trsef Hsaveasi lliss-es
I-1be ose&yiDYsi" stsaosssl Wta