davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-03-11
Montague Glass
Good Business Yarn by the Creator Of Potash and Pemuer

der to purchase two thousand "Choco-
late" he enclosed in an envelope ad-
dressed to- Matthews & Company.
III
1t was no wten minutes past one.
and Jimmie chafed at the delay. No
doubt jake Feinberg would wait for
him, but one hour was trifling period
in which to recoup his mornings loss
o.! At length Mr.. Goodei called him
into his office
Boy" he said. you go to lunch
now. and while you're out take this
letter to Matthews & Company Be
sure to go there first.
Jimmie seized the envelope and was
of like fash.
BE careful" Mr.. Goodel called after
him. Don't lose it,
Luddington rose, and they shook
hands with such cordially as a bot
tie Of wine win engender.
Wish you luck, old man." he said.
You're in for good thing"
Goodel smiled a little vacuously ana
as Luddington closed the door, sighed
heavily. Speculation, he reflected
plays the deuce with mans money
and peace Of mind. His lips uttered
and reuttered the words till a faint
drowsiness came over him, and :,duc-
ed by his unwonted intemperance at
luncheon, his head lurched forward IN
his breast and he sank into profound
sIumber.
, Jimmie fastened down to the foo.
Wall Street. the note tucked in ~.
breast pocket and the thought Of .1oiis
waiting there spurred him on. So flo.
he arrived at about half past one Ear
once Jakie's luck stayed with him viii.
they shook the dice and threw asa,.s
and again, until Jimmy's twenty cents
dwindled to s. mounted to Is. din,;ni.h
ed once more. t last, quarter to the
once more. At last, a quarter to the
fortune entirely deserted him. ana ~
was obliged to declare himself fat
broke. =
He retraced his steps to the off7,.
plunged in dependency. AS he reaeh
ed the corner of Broad Street. an erc;t
ed mob surged around the curb-hrs,
ers' enclosure. Messengers ran hitha.
and thither. and overgrown newshn,,.
with husky bass voices we're vel1ins
their extras.
His hands were thrust deep int, IT.
trousers pockets and his mind dwell ~
the licking to come, SO that when Iva
dington bounded down the steps Of ~,
Industrial Trust Company build,nr
Jimmie not only failed to see him h,,t
was knocked squarely into the rntts.
as WE'LL.
Luddington rushed over to Gooder.
quarters and burst into the private -,
fice like 9 whirlwind. It's occnnan.
snored in oblivion OF the disa ster that
awaited him as Luddington entered sns
shook him by the shoulder
"Goodel, wake up" Luddington vel,
ed. There was no trace of the d.
bonair .'Luddy. old man" in the nar
spring and dishelevel figure that fairI,,
danced with excitement
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-03-11

today. The House is sure to pass the
tariff revision bill, and when 1t does
there will be some astounding develops
ments."
Goodel blew clouds of smoke that ex-
press.d his interest more eloquently
than speech alone.
II see you've been reading the fnan-
cial page" Luddy went en-: but their
prediction isn't half bright enough.
Ills voice sank to a whisper.
II have X. P.'s word for it. Choco-
late will touch one hundred and fifty
by next week"
Goodel shook his head.
TITS no use Luddy." he said. II
haven't the available funds, and II !
had, speculation is not in my line"
Luddington made an impatient ges-
ture.
1.-THE opportunity of lifeti9e.' he
repeated. You know ! never take a
flier for I couldn't buy a hundred
shares without every one on Wall
Street knowing it, but really. my dear
Goodel, it would be criminal to neglect
this splendid occasion"
II tell you what III do" Goodal In
terrupted. Come and take~lunch with
: me. In the meantime I'll think it
over, and il decide on anything. I'll
let you know them IS
Luddington arose and fairly waited
himself out Of the office, for despite
his weight he was remarkably light on
his feet, and dashed around from bank
to bank peddling his commercial pa-
per. with all the agility OF man half
his age.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-03-11

Modern Tragedy

in little New York. and Id have Key
so comfortable that I'd have just SAFE
nothing-like vittoria. Isn't sna .
darling? Isn't she beautiful? lsH
she. just like Titan what-you- call
'em?"
| Evelyn looked indulgent.
Don't attempt IAN art comparison
I Richard. Circumstances have forced
you to know more Of stocks tnan o.
| Italian schools of painting Let me 90
her justice. She is as lovely as Bel
tramo Virgin and as slender as q
sBotticelli angel. and as unconsciopsly
naughty Is Tiepolo saint-and IKE
fheriy
'Ah, / knew. you'd appreciate her!
rive, told her that Of all my friends
you'd appreciate her most. You don't
know how much I've talked of>you!"
"oh, Dick, Dick! Does the wise
bridegroom prate Of other women to
the bride?"
His honest face expressed astonish-
ment. -
srBut you are my dearest friend. my
lifelong friend"
Evelyn smiled.
$50 you found your lady in Venice
she said irrelevantly-"the daughter
Of q grandee."
Yes, and grandly poor, as they are
sometimes In Italy. Their palace is
filled with masterpieces, but it's cold
and cherries and rat-riddep. Vittoria
told me that often they had but one
meal a day"
IF could have such figure on
one meal day, I'd begin abstinence
at once!" Evelyn said musingly.
Nonsense! You're ripping, only
you're an American"
Eyes, and we may be chic, but we
are rarely esthetic. We haven't the
necessary touch of indifference, and
we're too costly. Don't let vittoria be
costly, ever. or she'll lose that rare
Old World look. Keep her the starv-
ed princess. Bread and cheese on the
table, and Palmas and Canalettos on
the wall!
Indeed, must keep her that. he
said earnestly. Il had this house done
in the Italian style partly to make her
feel at home and partly to preserve
her taste. II can help it, she shall
never be turned into q rowdy. week
end American, puffy and red in a
hideous motor. gorging at Delmonico's,
and hung with diamonds in an opera
box We shall seek simple pleasures.
and live quietly here in this beauti-
full place."
And you will read the early italian
poets to her?"
"Ah, don't smile. mean it so
much!"
You always mean 1t so much, Rich
ard. That's the beauty Of your char
acter In this shallow age"
II can't tell you how grateful I am
to you for preparing this place. Eve
lyn.- It's lovely accompaniment to
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-03-11

sparse furniture, and marble noors-a
background for your inamorata. Does
she suggest daggers and poisoned
cups, or is she of the lyric type {
Beatrice ready to lead> you through
paradise? Well, she mas evidentl,
sive- you your precious chance 4
dream, and / bless her for that. Is
canonize anybody who could make m'
dream"
A week later Richards letter came
The features Of his beloved. shining
through the broken, perfervid phrases
were limned with pencil dipped ir
heavenly colors. His inchoate bliss
promised either the happiest future OF
the reverse. No mediocriN of feeling
could spring from such beginnings
The ending of the letter concerned the
house: b..
l know the quality of your genius,
dear Evelyn, better than any one. Elk
ercise it to-. the full for syour old
friend. / want the place, for Vittoria' 8
sake, to be Italy transplanted, with an
added touch of our own peculiar rom
ance. Make it to the queens taste
expresses and marble benches and
dizzy frescoes and religious pictures
in those gilded, twisted tframes-you
know the kind. l am sending over a
shipload Of things, but chuck them
if you can do better. Have an oratory
for Vittoria, and don't forget some
mosaic floors scattered about, and
fountains, and secret passages for the
butler! And have one room for me,
with thick carpets and curtains and
roomy leather chairs, that the boys
may feel at home.
Evelyn went to her task joyfully.
She could always do her best for the
people with whom she was In SYM
pathy, mutual affections clarifying her
purpose AID aiding her plans. The
''new.y arrived" haggling over the
prices of rarities whose esthetic value
was forever hidden from them. famed
her inspiration. Dick and Italy made
an electric union
An Italian garden already formed
part of the Hants estate. The .-ouse,
spacious and solid, lent itself we'll to
her purposes. An army Of artisans
took possession of it, and the work
rapidly. BY spring it was
swept. and stood ready. to be garnish-
ed. Richard and vittbria were ex-
pected in May, and on the day OF
their arrival Evelyn made a last in
spection of her work. All. was as she
had visioned it months before-state-
Iy, bare, with that touch here and
there of something sinister which
Iurks-a troubled enchantment-in
italian beauty. Tall crucifixes huns
IN the bedrooms. Vittoria's oratory
was white and silent place. A copy
Of a Madonna by Lorenzo Lotto filled
It's stiffness like strain Of music.
If you please. Miss Vancourt, Mr.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-03-11

our happiness"
He leaned forward ana placed hts
nand on her arm. AS he did so, Wit
toria appeared in the doorway. Her
dark. concealing eyes. looked steadily
at the pair. moment. A shadow
passed over her face. rendering 1t
opaque and depriving 1t for moment
of Its high, brilliant youth.
Excuse me-" she faltered; Il In
trude."
Dick jumped to his feet.
Carissima," he exclaimed, with a
strong American accent, Il was just
telling Evelyn how beautiful she has
made the house."
"Mees Vancourt is ve-e-ry kind"
Vittoria said. but she did not look in
Evelyn's direction.
Richard was reluctant 20 bring his
happiness to town in the autumn, but
continued to read the Italian poets to
Vittoria among the clipped hedges
and before drafty stone freplaces One
day he discovered her yawning, and
week later he presented himself In
Evelyn's Office. "
You've been such 3 stay and q
prop" he, began confidentially. that
maybe you'll help us out now. I am
worried about Vittoria. She seems
listless. Some days she's even-even
bored" He brought out the word in
a tragic voice. II can tell you this.
Evelyn, because you know what II
would mean to me not to have her in
terested or happy. l think the child
has not become acclimated."
You think the sea-air-but, surely,
Long Island is more salubrious than
Venice?"
1T may be. but I'm afraid sea-air
doesn't agree with her. I'm going to
try the mountains for couple OF
months before we come in for the
winter. The Catskills are great IN
October, and I've found duck OF .
house on the eastern slope. Wouldn't
you. as a great favor. do 1t up quickly
for me in mild Italian style, just
enough to make vittoria-
"Oh, Dick, Dick. what's the use Q.
furnishing house for two months!
But I've bought this. I've had my
eye on it for some time. I've always
wanted mountain-lodge."
well, you don't want frescoes ana
marble floors in, IT," Evelyn said cross
", THAT would be too ridiculous.
He looked apologetic.
~"well do furnish It for me. some
how. Evelyn. No upholsterer could
create an air Of comfort. Give us .
few tables and chairs in any old
.tvle. and I'll be grateful. told Wit
toria you'd take the whole thing over.
Mutter a charm. and behold a dwell
II could be hanged for a witch on
vour testimony" Evelyn commented.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-03-11

II don't want. to do this at all. tell
you frankly. II Vittoria must have
mountain air, ! think you're foolish
not to. 60 to hotel"
None keeps open after the end OF
October. Besides. loathe summer
hotels. Do help me out!"
Evelyn gave a grudging assent. She
visited the lodge-a bleak and beauti-
full place, best fitted for a hermit or an
unsocial poet-and then issued her
orders, more intent on being ex-
peditious than markedly artistic. She
was uncomfortably conscious that
Richard was making a mistake.
He called her up daily to know Of
her progress. When the end was In
sight, he brought her a verbal invita-
ton from Vittcria to go up with them
for over Sunday. Richard would
bring his motor to the ONCE on satur-
day afternoon. Vittoria was to come
up from Long Island with her maid.
and meet them there
Dick arrived promptly, but Vittoria
was late. At fifteen minutes after
the appointed time he was pacing the
Office in q fever of anxiety. He was
just. stepping to the telephone. when
a messenger boy appeared in tho
doorway and handed him note.
, Dick tore it open and read it in two
miserable glances Evelyn. seeing
how pale he grew. signed for the boy
to leave the room. She closed the
door.
What is it,"
"she has sone-she has sailsd!"
Dick Eroaned.
'Sailed?"
AT noon today-for Genoa!'
"But why"
He handed her the note in silence.
from its jumbled English, Italian. and
French arose frantic. jealous cry. II
silly houses, why, let him go to her
furnished by that Americaine Her
heart was broken, and, though she
hated Venice, anything was better
than this. Addio. and she was his.
but no heart could share Of her
carissimo!
Evelyn's amazement held her spell
bound for moment. Then there
came frantic desire to laugh. as the
full sense Of the situation dawned
upon her; but Dicks stricken face re-
strained her mirth over the comedy
Of the tragedy. She must come at
once to the rescue. Her woman's wit
told her that the best thing to do
under the circumstances was to up
braid him solemnly.
Richard, you deserve this. You've
chartered Of me to her in your sense
less man way, and you've kept mo
always before her. AS il any woman
cared a rap for her husbands old
friends! AS II she didn't wish them |
all at the worlds end! And how could
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-03-11

I whats the matter?" gasped the
rudely awakened Goodel.
awful. awful!"Luddy calculated.
"The tariff-revision bill was defeated,
Some misunderstanding among the
leaders: Chocolate dropped to fifty
and the DO toms fallen out of the
whole market"
Goodel turned white and amos.
tainted.
| Lets get a paper. Here you, boy.
he yelled.
There was no answer.
Goodel jumped up and reached the
outer office just as the forlorn Jim
mie entered, all dusty from his tumble
and attempted to reach his desk un-
noticed.
There you boy. where'ye you been?'
he said.
ITO lunch" Jimmie croaked.
ITO lunch!" Goodel shouted Great
Heavens, it's almost three o'clock!"
Jimmie made no reply.
Did you deliver that letter." Good
ell said.
Jimmie jumped as though he had
been shot.
"Oh. gee!'' he muttered. Il forgot
all about it, and reaching down into
MS breast pocket, he pulled out the
crumpled missive addressed to Mat
thews & Company.
"Give 1t to me, give it to met.
Goodel shrieked Historically, and with
OFT waiting to open it. tore envelope
check, and order to a thousand pieces.
He sank into chair -'..terly exhausted
with excitement.
What delayed you all this time?" he
said weakly. trying to maintain
semblance of composure..
Jimmie hung his head.
II met kid / know and we were
shooting craps" he almost, whispered
What" roared Goodel. Gambling
hey? And you lost, too. III bet mil.
lion"
Jimmie nodded dolefully.
Well" said his employer, reaching
down into his pocket, heres ten.
dolla bill for you. Don't eve,
gamble again. It's a terrible thing to
do. It loses your money and destroys
your peac Of mind, by Gad!"
He turned to Luddington with
smile.
And now. Luddington," he sale
cheerfully. Lets go down and steady
our nerves."
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-03-11

October morning when, owing 70 u
rare interval of quiet, she had the ie1s"
ure to. wonder over its news. Her I'M
hgination, always active, translated the
enigma of his message by her own pc
ruliar cipher, her long friendship WIZ
him. She had known him since chllu
hood, when their prolonged playtlme
had revealed to her the salient po1nlS
" his 1ovable character.
Her early devotion to him had mel
lowed through after years into com
radeship--it had never become any
thing else-aImost masculine In IT,
clear and stable securities Rlchare
Stopford, always as unlucky a morta
~ q we'll born and wealthy youns
man could be, ma.ie Evelyn his conn
dant. Her keen sense Of humor ana
lmpersonaI viewpoint had guided
him through many of the difiicultles
that Nsprang from a generous dispo-
sition coupled with no insight. Hom-
Ance eluded him, friends deceived MN,
and the piper always called upon MN
to pay for the music of which he had
had no benefit.
He revealed to Evelyn alone his asi-
tation Of mind through these crises.
She knew better than any one that
the tall, awkward, prodigiously freckl-
ed man, with the nonchalant, boy1sh
manner, had the sensitive heart OF the
poet. Behind his homely exterior was
q keen love of beauty and strong
desire to wrest the ideal from carpins
existence.
In the light of this understanding.
t1e news of the cable seemed at once
appropriate and grotesque. a symbo!
of Richards outward appearance and
inner asp!rat tons She read the words
again, an overfiowing message sent
regardless OF expense by an obviously
Joyous bridegroom:
Married in Venice this morning to
vittoria Crivelli. the most beautiful
girl in Italy. We shall travel for six
months, then home. Have bought the
Hants estate on Long Island. House
OF italian architecture. Fix it up
for us. like a dear-1talian style. that
Vittoria may not be homesick. You
and she must be great friends. Let
ter on the way. Yours ever
Gould anything be more character
istfc?' Evelyn said, apostrophizingt the
Sheraton desk before her. You i'm
possible. boy! Is she beautiful. or do
you only think so under the spell of
Venice? What are you going to make
Of her after the honeymoon? Does
she really care for you, or is she
worldly: Will you have one idea in
You reckless romancer,
ton dear unwise Dick! And I'm to
get the nest ready--Dante in the Ii
brary. ] suppose: frescoed ceilings.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-03-11

one, and between US we've bewildered
q child. It's just like your unfortunate
soul to adore a woman, and have her
think you're signing for another. Now
go straight to that telephone!''
He went as she babe him, In E.
dazed fashion. His face was still
gray and his hand trembled.
Call up the line to Genoa ana en-
gage passage for their next sailing"
she directed.
Heopaused. the receiver in his hand.
But how can ever set through
week" he g.paned.
Wall Street. and Keeping it out Of
the newspapers and cabling all her
relatives you're coming. There'll be
enough to do. Now, make your ar
rangements. Poor OLD, Dick!"
Six weeks later, Evelyn received
letter from Venice, in Dicks familiar
handwriting. It began abruptly:
am entering upon q second honey
moon, and surer one this time. for
Vittoria and ] understand each other
as we never did before. Absence
cleared our eyes. she is so repentant
over her flight, but she says that rum
ning away did her good, for. she saw
tnat she had been foolish and un-
reasonable about many things. She
mad her week of impatient waiting.
TOO. poor child, for when. on her arrival
sne found my cable, she was overjoy-
ed. She did not leave Genoa, but
awaited me there. and her beautiful
face was the first saw when we
decked. She looked like an angel.
She has conf1ded to me at last that
her life in the Long Island house
was kind OF martyrdom, for it re-
minded her at every turn of all sorts
OF discomforts connected with her
childhoo d-things she wanted to for
get. She says she longs for an Amer
lean setting. because it is so much
moro cheerful. She likes Morris
chairs, and sofa-cusnions. and low
ceilings, and bright wallpapers. ana
steam heat, which she says she na.
earned after being cold for r.neteen
years; and oh, beneath my breath
utter It, am afraid she prefers colo:-
ed photographs to the O!d Masters
She wants to have a livelier time. poo-,
child, because she was mewed up 50
as girl.
We're going to take a suite in an
apartment hotel, and she is to furnish
it according to her own ideas. ~
tremble for my esthetic future ou,
she Is the dearest-and all is well!
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-03-11

III the United Chocolate and cocoa
| there was a resumption of the phe-
nomenal activity which developed yes
| terday on the agreement between both
caucuses of the House to increase the
duty on manufactured cocoa fifty per
| cent. ad valoren. 1t is expected that
the tariff revision bill will pass the
1 House by large majority, this after
noon, and, in anticipation of the result
the price, Of the preferred stock rose
thirty points yesterday. Conservative
operators predict that twill touch par
before the close of the market today.
/ Thus. read Mr.. Goodel. He made a
rapid calculation by which he found
that in selling five hundred N. Y. S.
| tours. at ninety nine, and investing the
proceeds in Chocolate" as the abbre-
Waited term has it, he woulr net
rof1t OF something like goodness know
how many thousand dollars before
breakfast the next morning. Then his
better Judgment prevailed and he laid
down the. paper with sigh. a
New York Southern bonds are as
tangible as gold eagles, but Chocolate"
we'll Chocolate" was an
unlisted security dealt in by
curb brokers on Broad street-and. to
Mr.. Goodel, a urb-broker was even as
dissenting minister to a clergyman
of the Church of England.
At this juncture Goodies br0ther-in-
law, one .Rushmore Luddington, enter
ed and greeted him nOisily Ludding-
ton was dealer in commercial paper
the dealer in commercial paper, and
hail -fellow-weI with every bank
president in Wall street His CONVEX
sation was studded With illusions to
dialogues between himself and these
executive officers, wherin he addressed
each one of them by his abbreviated
Christian name and they called him in
return, "Luddy, old boy"
He hi da shrewd temperament be-
meath boyish and jovial exterior that
in an old man might be thought q
trifle unbecoming. Goodel, however.
had high opinion Of his brotherin-
laws judgment, and could always gag
the Importance of tho information
which Luddington could, if he would.
disclose by the degree of hilarity he
developed.
This morning he was particularly
boisterous, and Gqodel scented a valu-
able market tip under the cloak of his
brother in laws mefriment'
''Hio, Luddy?" he cried. ''How's
the market? Sit DOWN make your
self comfortable" /,
Luddy sank into the chair with !,
grunt. His two hundred pounds. con- /!
tanned within trifle more than five /
feet. were further compressed by
frock coat, which fitted without wrin-
kle and made almost an acrobatic fat
GU of the simple act of sitting down.
Look here, Goodel," he said in tones
of - a melting confidential. timber.
~ &'e's the opportunity of a lifetime