davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Omaha daily bee., 1910-03-06

most part. The doctor was making q
search Of the berth when the conductor
elbowed his way through, followed by the
inquisltive man, who had evidently sum-
moned him. I had lost sight, for a time,
of the girl in blue.
do 1t himself?' the conductor queried,
after a buslnesslike glance at the body.
mo, he didn't" the doctor asserted.
There's no weapon here, and the window
is closed. He couldn't nave thrown It out,
and he didn't swallow It. What on earth
are you looking for, man?'
Some one was on the floor at our feet,
face down, peering under the berth. Now
he got up without apology, revealing the
man who had summoned the conductor.
He was dusty, alert, cheerful, and he
dragged up with him the dead mans suit
case. Tho sight OF 1t brought back to me
at once my own predicament.
II don't know whether there's any con-
neetion or not, conductor" / said, but ]
am a victim, too, in less degree; I've been
robbed of everything 1 possess, except a
red and yellow bath robe. l happened to
be wearing the bath robe, which was prob
ably the reason the thief overlooked It,"
There was a fresh murmur in the crowd.
Somebody laughed nervously, The con.
ductor was irritated.
II can't bother with that now he
snarled, The railroad company is re-
sponsible for transportation, not for
clothes, tewelry and morals. II people
want TO be stabbed and robbed in the
company's cars, It's their affair. Why
didn't you sleep in your clothes? / do"
Omaha daily bee., 1910-03-06

ing Of which has required extreme nicely
Of construction. In the original temple Of
Militia a step some nine and n half inches
from the ground lowered the head line
and conveyed to the explorers a definite
impression OF the lesser height OF the an
Client Mexicans. For what use this step
was intended could not be discovered and
In this facsimile Of the building II has been
omitted. giving the space required by the
modern American physique.
The entire c~olorinE OF the place Is a
cool gray. the plaster composition retaining
It's original tint and for relief are orna.
mentations Of frets OF terra Gotta placed
in a geometrical design which IN the
original building had undoubtedly some
religious significance. Whether the pc
culiar c~oloring was selected by a print
tive taste or expressed a symbolic mean.
ing Is also undetermined The famous
Roman key seems TO be duplicated in this
fretwork and everywhere one Is haunted
by peculiarities OF resemblance between the
architecture OF the ancient Mexicans anc
that Of the Egyptians, there being an en-.
tire absence OF curves or suggestion Of
clrcular figures.
The ventilating of the place Is done by
air currents conveyed around the top and
sides and the open air effect Of the ancient
temple given by an arrangement OF BAN
boo poles over which are trailing vines
In the entrance hall and the annex to thu
patio two strange windows Of stained glass
Omaha daily bee., 1910-03-06

stroyed, This room he has left In the most
perfect condition and Il too Is preserved
by the government from future desecra-
lions There was also an underground cave
discovered and evidences OF other subter-
ranean rooms.
"The remains Of the Militia temple are
near Orizaba, a region particularly fertile
in ruins, showing a thiekly populated prov
lnce In former times. Militia was rarely
visited by explorers until a few years ago.
but since the completion Of the Mexican
Southern railroad the ruins are visited by
hundreds OF tourists from the United
States every year.
Prof. Savlle says tina the Journey Is a
comparatively easy one and best made
during the dry season from December to
April, the traveller leaving the city Of
Puebla In the early morning, changing
from the cold region to the tropics voy-
aging the major part OF the day through
some OF the grnndest railroad scenery in
the world, the final part Of the tour being
a thirty-mlle carriage ride to Militia, sltu-
ated in a delightfully."- temperate zone.
THE Jesuit father who wrote Of Militia
was Motolinla, who said that Father Mar
tin de Valencia passed through Militia some
time about the year 1887, and gives a brief
account Of a temple containing a hall Of
columns and also asserts as one who
knows whereof he speaks that the edifice
Is more worthy Of being seen than any
other OF New spain The very first mem
ton Of Militia preceding the Jesuit account,
places its conquest in the year two rabbits
which ls Mexican for 1894.
The Spaniards occupied It after the con-
,uest," says Mr.. Higgins. again unearthing
L bit Of plaster, this time with a Spanish
inscription, and the now famous palace
Of the Columns was then used either for
a dwelling or as a public edifice. and a
spanish window built Of bricks stu exists
in the southern part OF the front wall OF
the structure. Several Of the doorways
nave been partly walled UP and remains OF
the brick walls may still be seen, One OF
The most important Of the edifices. which
contained mural paintings Of the utmost
value, has been partly demolished and a
church and curate's house now occupy the
site. A number Of other rooms exist, but
Omaha daily bee., 1910-03-06
CHAPTER Nv.

Afterwards, when 1 tried to recall our
discovery Of the body in lower ten. 1 found
that my most vivid impression was not
that made by the revelation Of the opened
curtain. I had an instantaneous picture OF
a slender. blue-gowned girl who seemed to
sense my words rather than hear them, Of
two small hands that clutched desperately
at the seat beside them. The girl in the
aisle stood, bent toward US, perplexity and
alarm fighting In her face.
with twitching hands the porter at
tempted to draw the curtains together.
Then in a paralysis of shock, he collapsed
on the edge Of my berth and sat there
swaylng. In my excitement / shook him.
For heavens sake, keep your nerve,
man." / said bruskly. You'll nave every
woman in the car in Mysteries. And II you
do, you'll wish you could change places
with the man in there" He rolled his
eyes.
a man near, who had been reading last
nights paper, dropped II quickly and tip
toed toward us. He peered between the
partly open curtains, closed them quietly
and went back, ostentatiously solemn, TO
Ills seat. The very crackle with which he
opened his paper added 10 the bursting
curiosity OF the ear. For the passengers
knew that something was smiss; I was
conscious Of a sudden tension.
When the curtains closed the porter was
more himself; he wiped his lips with a
handkerchief and stood erect,
It's my last trip In this car" he re-
marked heavily. There's something wrong
with that berth. Last trip the woman in
IL took an overdose OF some sleeping stuff.
ana we found her, jes' like that dead
And IL amt more'n three months now since
there was twins born In that very spot.
No, sir, It amt natural"
At that moment a thin mar with promi-
nent eyes and a spare grayish goates
creaked up the aisle and paused beside me,
Porter siclsS'' he inquired. taking In with
a professional eye the porteF's horTol
struck face. my own excitement and the
Omaha daily bee., 1910-03-06

data, This, too. we hope 20 represent, II
necessary, in dimensions which will sug-
gest rather than duplicate the original.
When Prof. SAville first visited the
Militia temple, in the Hall Of Pillars and
the Long Court, as well as in the patio,
alcoves and inner rooms, desolation
reigned supreme. The Mexicans used the
place to camp in whenever an itinerant
horseman desired a shelter and horses
and cattle were both housed there and
allowed to roam at will. Many of the
bits of plaster like this'-and Mr.. Higgins
picks up a piece Of the original work
sawtoothed by some stone instrument OF
crude make-"were kicked and defaced
by the animals and there was danger that
the whole place might in course of time
lose its wonderful value by mere careless
ness and ignorance of Its worth to the
world at large. 1t is due to these rep
reservations Of Prof. Saville to the Mex
lean government that today the horses
and cattle have been elected and an en-
france gate protects the place from van
dals. The mission fathers near by guard
the ancient ruins and the key has to be
obtained from them, the small fee re-
quired being used to protect further the
temple. NThe Indians believed that pieces
of stone taken from the temple would in
time change to gold.
Before the main entrance of the temple
when Prof. Seville first visited it was an
enormous heap of volcanic ash and refuse,
which he had removed. this work taking
100 men about thirty days. The labor was
rewarded by the unearthing of a room
which had in the beginning been situated
in a court. the walls Of which were de-
Omaha daily bee., 1910-03-06

slightly gaping curtains OF lower ten. He
reached fer the darky's pulse and pulled
out an oid-fashioned gold watch.
"Hm! Only fifty! What's the matter
Had a shock2" he asked shrewdly.
Yes" I answered for the porter. We've
both had one. II you are a doctor, / wish
you would look at the man in the berth
across, lower ten. I'm afraid it's too late,
but I'm not experienced in such matters -
Together we opened the curtains, and the
doctor. bending down, gave a comprehGn-
sive glance that took in the rolling head,
the relaxed jaw, the ugly stain on the
sheet. The examination needed only a mo-
ment. Death WAS written in the clear white
Of the %nostrils. the colorless lips, the
smoothing away OF the sinister lines Of the
night before. With its new dignity the
face was not -unhandsome: the gray hair
was still plentiful. the features strong and
well cut.
The doctor Strengthened himself and
turned TO me. Dead for some time" he
said. running a professional finger over
the stains, THESE are dry and hardened,
you see, and rigor mortis is well estab-
nshed. A friend Of yours?"
Il don't know him at an 1 replied.
Never saw him but once before"
Then you don't know II he is travelling
alone7"
No, he was not-that Is, I don't know
anything about him." l corrected myself.
It was my first blunder: the doctor glanced
up at me quickly and then turned his at
tention again to the body. Like a flash
there had come to me the vision OF the
woman with the bronze hair and the
regic face, whom l had surprised in the
vestibule between the cars, somewhere in
the small hours OF the morning. l had
acted on my first impulse-the masculine
one OF shielding a woman.
The doctor had unfastened the coat OF
the striped pajamas and exposed the dead
mans chest. On the loft side was a small
punctured wound Of Insignificant size.
VERY neatly done" the doctor said with
appreciation. Couldn't have done It bet
ter myself. Right through the intercostal
space; no time even to grunt."
Isn't the heart around there some
whereY' ! asked. The medical mar turned
toward me and smiled austerely.
That's where II belongs. just under that
puncture, when II isn't gadding around IN
a mans throat or his boots"
l had a new respect for the doctor, FOR
any one indeed who could crack even a
feeble Joke under such circumstances, OF
who could run an impersonal finger over
that wound and those stains. odd how a
healthy. normal man holds the medical
profession in half contemptuOus regard
Omaha daily bee., 1910-03-06
uutui stone work is dlsnsured by

their beautiful stone work is disrsured by
whitewash
Excavations for the American Museum
Of Natural History we're made In the vicin-
lily OF tho famous temple Within n radius
OF ten miles from east to west and about
three miles from north to south, In the
valley In which the Militia mounds are
located are many mound In which eH-
cavRtions were made, revealing the tounda-
lions OF buildings now entirely destroyed:
buildings partially destroyed. In which the
rooms were cleaned out. and tombs, the
walls OF which were OF stone with the
mosaic pattern seen In the rooms OF the
temple duplicated in the museum restaur-
ant. Two burial places were discovered, but
for their complete exploration more time
was required than was at the disposal OF
the expedition. In the tomhs and burial
places more than thirty skeletons were
taken out. The doorways Of the burial
chambers faced the west. but there was
no regularity In the manner OF interrlng
the dead.
some OF the chambers OF the Militia
temple ruins were unQucstionably designed
for tombs OF the ancient priests, and they
all have the mosaic decorations duplicated
by the department Of preparation for the
Militia restaurant. No structures OF like
character are know in any other part of
Mexico or Central America. They are by
far the most elaborate and important burial
chambers yet found In the new world, both
in size and in beauty OF stone work. I'm
fortunately none has been opened by
archaeologists and we know OF nothing Of
what they formerly contained, Their form
lends an added interest TO these chambers
and anaiogies might easily be drawn to the
crosses Of the old world.
"The large blocks used In the building
Of the Militia temple, Prot. Saville believes,
were transported long distances by means
Of ropes and rollers, the stones were
dressed ct the quarrles and the mosaic
designs carved after they were placed in
the structure, the designs being traced out
before the cutting began. stone chisels
might have been used, and probably this
tool was used by the ancient workmen;.
work which has been duplicated here in a
few weeks probably took years to complete
originally"
Omaha daily bee., 1910-03-06
Copyright, 1910, by Bobbs Merrlil.)
CHAPTER II-Continued.


The disappointment was the greater for
white fury and put on the clothes that had
4 been left me. Then, still raging, 1 sat on
tho edge Of the berth and put on the OBJ
noxious tan shoes, The porter. called 10
his duties. made little excursions back to
me, 70 offer assistance and 10 chuckle al
my discontinue He stood by, outwardly
decorous. but with little irritating grlns OF
amusement around his mouth, when /
finally emerged with the red tie In my
hand.
G'But the owner OF those clothes didn't
become them any more than you do" he
sad. as he piled the ubiquitous whisk
broCm m.
When l get the owner of these clothes -
] retorted grlmly, 'he will need a shroud.
Where's the conductor?'
The conductor was coming, he assured
me; also that there was no bag answering
the description OF mine on the car. !
slammed my way to the dressing room,
washed, chokod my fifteen and a half neck
into a fifteen collar. and was back again
In less than five minutes. The car, as
well as its occupants, was gradually tax
ms on a daylight appearance. l hobbled
In, for one OF the shoes was Abominably
tlght, and found myself facing a young
woman in blue with an unforgetable face.
('Three women already" Mcknight says.
That's going some, even II YOU don't
count the Gilmore nurse.") She stood, halt
turned toward me, one hand idly drooplng.
tho other steadying her az she gazed oui
at the flying landscape. I had an instant
impression hat had met her somewhere,
under different circumstances, more cheer
full ones. l thought, for the girls detection
now was evident. Beside her. sitting down,
a small dark woman. considerably oldrr.
was talking IN a rapid undertone. The
girl nodded indifferently now and then. ]
fanoled. although I was not sure, tina my
appearance brought a startled look into
the young woman face. / sat down and
bends thrust deep into the other man
pockets. stared ruefully at the other man.
shoes.
The stage was set In a moment the cur,
tain was going up on the first act OF IA,
Aay. And for a while we would all say
e p little speeches ana sing our littl,
songs, and I. the villain. would hold center
stage while the gallery Missed.
The porter was standing beside lower
ten. lie had reached in and was knocking
~vallanty, But his efforts met with nc
response. He winkcd at me over his shout
der: then he unfastened the curtains and
bsnt forward. Behind him. l saw hin
stffen. heard his muttered exclamation
Omaha daily bee., 1910-03-06

Of varying breeds, showing the effect Of
migration, ETC., continues the description
Of the work commenced by one Of his aids.
"when Prof. Seville made a survey Of
the Militia ruins he found one court which
contained more than 100000 pieces Of stone
that had been cut and ground, Of course,
without the use of any steel instruments,
which were absolutely unknown at that
time, These pieces were put together so
accurately that they could without break
ing or crumbling sustain the weight put
upon them. They did not use cement in
those lays, that being also q later product
for architectural use, and altogether the
old Militia Temple, the most important of
the Mexican exhibits, having a facade In
one place Of nearly 200 feet, is the wonder
and admiration Of every archaeologist and
every architect who has seen It or its
photographed representation.
1.-THE restaurant, duplicating II in part,
has been built absolutely to scale, using
the measurements taken by Prof. Saville
and the photographs as guides. This has
been made easy by the perfection of the
ancient architecture, where the relation
OF one piece to another was accurately
maintained throughout. The stones that
vent over the top of the door TO the patio
in the original temple we're twelve and
one-half feet long. two and a half feet
thick and four feet wide, while six to
seven feet was the height of most of the
| original doorways, including the steps.
'There was a Hall Of Pillars, which we
have not yet duplicated, but may in time
by continuing the space already allotted
us for the purpose. Several of the pillars
in this hall are fifteen to eighteen feet
high and there was a long covered court
entrance to which was obtained only by a
circuitous route, which must have beer
employed for some religious ceremonial
concerning which there is absolutely nc
Omaha daily bee., 1910-03-06

saw the blush pallor that spread over his
face and neck. As he retreated a step tie
interior Of lower ten lay open to the day.
The man in It was on his back, the early
morning sun striking full on his upturned
face. But the light did not disturb him,
A small stain Of red dyed the front Of his
night clothes and trailed across the sheet;
his half-open eyes were fixed, without see
ing, on the shining wood above.
] grasped the p%orter's shaking shoulders
and stared down to where the train i'm
parted to the body a grisly suggestion OF
motion. Good lord" 1 gasped. ''The
mans been murdered
Omaha daily bee., 1910-03-06
MUSEUMS OLD RESTAURANT
Ancient Mexican Temple Of Meta
Reproduced.
NOVEL PLACE FOR A DINNER
Great Pains Taksn 10 Make the Like
ness Exact-Ruins Now Pro-
tected by the Mexican
Government.

new YORK, March SIN the basement
OF the American Museum OF Natural His
tory, s~eventy-sixth street West, is a very
interesting restaurant recently finished
called the Militia restaurant, which would
be evidence II any we're needed Of the ex-
IRENE care IN detail taken by the officials
OF the establishment
In appearance the restaurant is a very
good representation OF an ancient Mexi-
can temple. Stepping from the elevator
you look about in a square room whose
walls convey the idea Of extreme mas
siveness and are in fact several feet thick,
M llntels and sides Of the entrance wh'oh
leads from this foyer to the patio or din
ing room proper and from the dining room
to a third room are oblong slabs, the plac-
Omaha daily bee., 1910-03-06

I took an angry step forward Then
somebody touched my arm, and / un-
clenched my fist. / could understand the
conductors position, and beside, in the
law. 1 had been guilty myself Of contribu-
tory negligence,
I'm not trying to make you response
ble," l protested, as Emiably as I could.
land I believe the clothes the thief loft
are as good as my own. They are GER
tainly newer. But my valise contained
valuable papers, and It is to your interest
as we'll as mine to find the man who stole
it."
why, Of course" the doctor said
shrewdly. Find the man who skipped out
with this gentleman's clothes, and you've
probably got the murderer"
II went 10 bed In lower nine" I said,
my mind full again Of my lost papers,
and l wax In number seven. I was up
in the night prowllng around, as l was
Unable to sleep, and I must have gone
back to the wrong berth. Anyhow, until
the porter Weakened me this morning l
knew nothing OF my mistake. In the in
terval the thief-murderer, too, perhaps
must have come back, discovered my
error, and taken advantage of it TO further
his escape"
The inquisitive man looked at me from
between narrowed eyelids, ferret-like.
Did any one on the train suspect you of
having valuable papers?'' he inquired. The
! crowd was listening intentiy.
mo one" I answered promptly and posi-
lively,
The doctor was Investigating the muir
dered man's effects. The pockets OF his
trousers contained the usual miscellany OF
keys and small change, while in his hip
pocket was found a small pearl-handled
revolver of the type women usually keep
around. A gold watch with a Masonic
charm had slid down between the mat
tress and the window, while q snowy die.
mond stud was still fastened in the bosom
Of his shirt. Taken as a whole, the per
sonal belongings were those OF a man OF
some means, but without any particular
degree Of breeding. The doctor heaped
them together.
Either robbery was not the motive, 4"
ne reflected, 'or the thief overlooked
these things in his hurry"
The latter hypothesis seemed the more
tenable, when, after a thorough search.
we found no pocketbook and less than a
dollar IN small change.
TIL suit case gave no clue. II contained
one empty leather covered flask and a
pint bottle, also empty, a change Of liner
and some collars with the laundry mark.
S. II. In the leather tag on the handle
was a card with the name Simon Har-
rington, Pittsburg.
The conductor sat down on my unmadC
berth across, and made an entry Of the
name and address. Then, on an old en-.
velope, he wrote a few words and gave II
to the porter, who disappeared.
Il guess that's all l can do" he said
I've had enough trouble this trip to las
for a year. They don't need a conductor
on these trains any more; what they ought
to have is a sheriff and a posse"
The porter from the next car came In
9pd whispered to him. The conductor rosc
%unhappily.
Next cars caught the disease" h.
grumbled. Doctor, a woman back there
has got mumps or bubonic plague, OF
something, WIN you come back?"
The strange porter stood eside.
Lady about the middle OF the car" nc
said, IN black, sir, with queer looking
hair-sort Of copper color, I think. sir"
Omaha daily bee., 1910-03-06
CHAPTER V.

THE WOMAN IN THE NEXT CAR.
With the departure OF the conductor and
the doctor, the group around lover ten
broke up TO reform In smaller knots
Weekly journal-miner., 1910-08-10
SPLENDID SHOWING
 IN THE vENEzIA

Satisfactory progress is attending the installing of the new mill on the VeneEia Gold mines, in Crook Canyon, and the purpose is to start the plant about the middle of Sep tember. The battery has been set and the new concrete mortar blocks are in place, was the report made yesterday by E. L. Tomlinson, sup erintendent of the company, who was in the city.
 In addition to the mill facilities, the new hoisting plant is ready to be started on the Venezia claim, where the old shaft will be sunk 100 feet, when drifting both ways on the vein will be started.
 At other points on the surface the old conditions are being sup planted with modern facilities, the whole enterprise assuming a regen- erative consideration.
 With the surface improvements completed and the mill ready to run, a large force of miners will be placed to work at the several points determined upon for exploita- ton. At the present time two sets of leasers are at work, R. L. Chubb on the Mineral Springs and W. E. Harvey on the Champion. Both are reported as developing attractive ore bodies. Other mine work under head way is the widening of the old Ven ezia tunnel, located on the Crook vein. Other work will also be started in the next few days. The method prevailing by the company is to operate at several points, and in which the leaser will be afforded an opportunity to become identified with a belt that has a splendid rec ord in gold production.
 By the entering of the Venezia people to that section, and the en- eouraging outlook of their many claims, the old pionerr district is assuming a decided revival, and many miners are going to it to se- cure ground that is open. The sec tion is very lively in consequence, and some good results are coming from old locations and from surface workings that are being opened.