davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1911-04-07
DOES 1T PAY?

The Opinion Of Some Hard Headed Business Men
Who Have Tried Both the License System and
Prohibition. Once Rid Of the Saloon, Business
Men Do Not Want 1t Back Again.
The Washington herald., 1911-12-31
CHAPTER II.
Go Ahead!

But I tell you, father. that even if I
wanted to, the thing is impossible. 1t is
impossible for a man or a nation or a
business to stand still in this day and
age. 1t has got to go either forward or
backward. 1t can't mark time"
THAT old sophistry again, Wilbur.
Progress doesn't necessarily entail the
abandonment of safe banking methods"
Safe methods" echoed the young man
with a shrug of the shoulders that i'm
piled as much contempt as 1t was posi-
BILE for him to feel for an utterance of
the father that he idolized.
An argument that had taken up most
some months was on once more. From
the moment that Wilbur had unfolded
his plan for charging the financial
scope and increasing the financial power
of the house of Emerson. the older man
had fought it with uncompromising de-
termination. But he had fought it with
the premonition that he would eventu-
ally lose. He knew that the power of
his sons will and enthusiasm would
eventually bend him: but he was deter
mined to put off that evil day as long
as possible.
John Emerson was one of the last of
a fast disappearing type of financier.
With him banking was religion. With
his SON 1t was gamble. The father
was content to make thousands of dol
lars a year. His son wanted to make
millions. The father loved his bank, and
was proud of his name. He was happy
to be known for his bitter integrity and
unquestioned soIvency. His son wanted
the sweets of fame and power that come
only to a master OF money.
Possibly the old banker might not
have been so much alarmed had he
clearly comprehended his sons plans and
his ambitions. 1t is Just possible, too,
that he would have been even more
frightened. But he was more puzzled
than anything else by Wilbur's feverish
ambition to plunge into banking on a
stupendous scale.
The young man was leaning against
the mantel, gazing thoughtfully into
the fire as he gathered new ammunition
to continue the assault.
They were smoking their after-dinner
The Washington herald., 1911-12-31
XMAS WONDERLAND DUE
TO LANHAM'S INGENUITY
Assistant Superintendent of District Parking Has a
Santa Claus Garden the Result of
Nine Years Work.

The most elaborate Christmas tree gar
dens In the city. representing work foI
more than nine years and presenting a
wonderland of mechanical contrivances
and realistic scenes, may be found al
the residence of I. Clifford Lunham,
Assistant Superintendent OF Parking oil
the District, 1247 G street southeast. Mr.
Lanham arranges the garden each Christ
mas in his front parlor for his two chill
dren.
The G street house is now the scene
Of much hustle and merriment. All OF
the children In the nelghborhood daily
flock to the house to view the wonderful
little garden. They gaze at the multi
tude OF mechanical and electrical devices
m amazement, wondering how every
thing could work so smoothly, and wish
ing that their papas were as ingenious
as Mr.. Lanham.
For nine years Mr.. Lanham has been
working on the garden, and still, in his
opinion, 1t is not complete. Each year
many improvements are made, and the
various devices are collected at Christ
mastide and assembled in the parlor. It
takes Mr.. Lanlam two days to arrange
the garden. 1t is designed as a coun-
try village. covering almost the entire
parlor floor. In the center of the VII
lage towers a gigantic Christmas tree.
The first thing which ones eyes meet
upon glazing at the village is a country
mansion which crowns a hill near the
base of the great tree. It is artistic in
design, complete and realistic. Around
the mansion are terraces. ZigZagging
through the village are railway tracks,
upon which runs small electric car.
Wagons may be seen travelling up lone
Iy, lanes; automobiles are speeding up
the main roads; men and women. all in
proportion, are observed walking up
the trodden paths and crossing through
the green meadows. The grassy
effect has been obtained by Mr.. Lanham
most realistically. The grass is made
of sawdust dipped in green paint Chop
ped cork is used for the paths and
streets.
The Washington herald., 1911-12-31
Some Willy Get-rich-quick Wallingford
Schemes as They Are Detected by the
Postal Authorities.

there was in rod the higher the price.
On the face of it, this seems such an
open swindling scheme that one would
think the men who fostered 1t would
have induced very few people to buy
their wares. The opposite was true,
however. The rods sold by the hundreds,
especially in country places. where the
Army OF the Gullible is especially strong
strong.
These men secured the names OF pros
pective victims from what Is known as
sucker list Each swindling con-
Germ has a sucker list and a "squawk
list" A squawk is a sucker who kicks
when he finds he has been bitten. When
a squawk kicks hard enough and the
promoter of the swindle fears exposure
the latter will frequently return the
money he has received from his victim.
Sucker lists are sold by one swindling
firm to another. They cost from 50 to
500 for a thousand names, You may
think that a sucker stung once would
not bite again. Such is not the case.
There Is always the desire to recoup, al
ways the wish to make good the money
lost on some former venture. So It hap
pens that the swindlers work the same
field time and again. 1t Is agreed among
swindleTs that a sucker who has bitten
once offers better opportunities and a
surer chance of getting returns than a
man or woman who has never fallen
for the bait.
Not Many New Schemes.
There are probably twenty OF thirty
widely known and well-worn schemes
that are used, with variations, by
swindlers. 1t scarcely ever happens that
a swindler works out an entirely new
scheme.
One If the favorite swindles Is the
"installment game" Some time ago a
man who thought he had something new
tried II in Philadelphia. First. he rented
furnished rooms at six different ad-
dresses. Then he ordered goods from all
parts of the country. He had them sent
to the different rooms and at each Of
them used a different name. When
asked to furnish references he gave the
names of one or two Of the six aliases
Then when the installment houses wrote
TO these addresses he answered the let
tiers himself. In a few months he had
his ROBINS full of all kinds of things he
had secured and was planning to make
or with them when he was arrested
The man was caught through his hand
writing. One Arm he had written to
noticed the similarity between the man
who wrote for articles on installment
and the men who furnished the refer
ences. They became suspicious. notified
the post-office authorities. and the latter
soon wove a net OF evidence about the
man.
One man appointed himself manager OF
An association formed to get back the
State Of Delaware for the original owners.
The Washington herald., 1911-12-31

At one end of the village stands an
cid country mill, beside which flows the
water in the race. A little pond is near
by, upon which are swimming ducks and
geese. In the mill may be seen the old
dusty miller, standing by the stones At
another end Of the village is a little
church from which a bridal party is
leaving. Across the meadow on the hill
side is a typical log cabin, with its wood
Pile and garden near by. Inside the
cabin may be seen several dusky figures
playing banjos. Scenery representing
meadows and woodlands forms the back
ground and gives a touch of realism to
the miniature town.
But this is only a description Of the
village asleep. A throw of the electric
switch and a turn of the water stop
cock set the entire village astir. The
garden Is suddenly lighted up In the
little church, from which streams a faint
light through the stained glass windows.
a solemn pipe organ begins to send forth
its Notwithstanding music. In the man.
sion light blazes in every window and
the sound of the music box may be
heard. In the log cabin on the hillside
the banjos begin to play. In the old mill
the great wheel turns and the miller
may be seen operating the machinery.
Outside the waters rush and foam In the
mill race. There is a shrin whistle and
the electric car whizzes past and Is soon
lost behind the bills.
This year there have been many addi-
tons to the garden. The railway has
been greatly improved. Extra cars have
been placed in operation and the tracks
have been extended. A number of
bridges have been erected. The mountain
scenery, a new and imported idea, lie the
most beautiful bit in the whole pretty
scheme. Lofty peaks are seen In the
distnace. with an occasional glimpse Of
a mountain goat perched high up on a
rocky point. while winding In and out
through tunnels and up and down steep
ascents is a small engine and passenger
coaches. Peeping above the mountains
Is seen mellow harvest moon, throwing
It, soft Hight over all
The Washington herald., 1911-12-31

TO BE CONTINUED NEXT SUNDAY.
The Washington herald., 1911-12-31
"ARMY OF THE GULLIBLE" CROWS
ALTHOUGHFRAUDS ARE MUCHLESS

He secured a directory. picked out tina
people OF a certain name and wrote to
them, asking $25 for legal expenses. MANY
contributed the sum asked, and It was
some time before the swindler was
Drought TO justice. Had the man COL
Iected his first batch OF contributions
ana Skipped he would probably have
escaped the law for a time at least
Unfortunately for him, he overestinated
the gullibility of some of his victims
and made several requests for money
even after he had received the first con-
tTlDutlOns- This continued PLEADING
proved his undoing. This scheme has
oeen worked numerous times in differ
ent parts Of the country.
Land Fraud Schemes.
While there are many more men swim
dlers than women, the latter occasion
ally figure in some game or other A
woman in Pennsylvania city worked
a clever scheme about a year ago
through the mails. She pretended to
be a cripple: getting the names Of per-
sons from directories OF cities quite dis
tant from the one where she lived, she
sent letters to them, saying she was n
cripple and that she made her living by
knitting napkins, handkerchiefs, and so
forth. She asked them to send her an
order for WORK Of that kind and asked
as a special favor that they should re-
NIT the money in advance. Many people
sent orders and money and received no
reply. The post-office inspectors inyes-
tigated and found the woman was not a
cripple at ALL She was making a hand
some income from the contributions OF
numerous credulous and tender-hearted
persons.
Land fraud schemes of various kinds
frequently come to the notice of the
post-ofice authorities. A plan of land
swindlcrs is to send out circulars which
contain an easy puzzle. Solve this
puzzle" their advertisements read, "and
obtain a lot free" These men used TO
advertise in newspapers until the latter
learned of the nature of their business,
then the advertising pages OF all reput-
able papers were closed to them.
The puzzle is always very easy. and
almost all Of those who attempt to solve
II Just for fun" get II right. II by
any chance the victim should answer and
get the puzzle wrong, that would make
no difference. The land company would
write. saying the victim was the success
ful contestant He or she would also
be told that the lot to be given adjoined
another excellent lot. which the company
would sell at the ridiculousiy low price
of SIS. II the victim failed to bite and
did not purchase the adjoining lot the
company would again write and tell him
to forward a small amount. probably
s. or IS. to convey the deed. This was
a gross overcharge. Thousands would
send on the stipulated amount. however
The Real Estate swIndIe.
Occasionally the purchaser would want
to see his lot. Then the promoter met
him at the station and pointed out as
his lot a piece OF land far from that
owned by the promoting company. The
promoters OF fraudulent land companies
generally bought number OF acres IN
an out-of-the-way place where land wa
The Washington herald., 1911-12-31

You find them everywhere-the Army
of the Gullible. You, /, or our best
friends are liable at any time to join
the great host. Round about us and in
our midst is a little world peopled by
the men and women who live by the
suares they set for the gullible. Some of
these people are diabolically clever. You
they always get caught sooner or later.
The adventures of ]. Rufus CGet-Rich-
OuiclO Wallingford have been told in
story and drama. Perhaps you have
scoffed at some of the willy schemes con-
cocted by George Randolph Chester's
hero and declared them to be impos-
sible in life. Yet the post-office in
spectors. who are constantly investigat-
ing similar, schemes, will tell you they
are taking place all the time.
The Magic Rods.
]. r. Cortelyou, post-office inspector in
charge of the district embracing Penn
sylvania and New Jersey, told Of some
of these swindIers the other day. For
some time the Post-office Department
with its trained detectives has been
waginR q relentless war against pro-
fessionaI swindlers and has driven num-
beers of them out of business. There re-
main others who still go scot free.
An interesting fact about the people
who prey on the Army of the Gullible
is the eminent respectability' of most
OF them. So, too, the men and women
whom they dupe include ministers, doc
tors, lawyers, merchants, and college
professors. Some of the schemes, as
looked over in retrospect, seem such pal
pable fakes that one wonders how even
the most trusting Of the Army OF the
Gullible were caught.
Several years ago in the little town
of Palmyra, Pa, lived four business
men. They were wealthy. A close in
yestigator would have found that each
of the four had entirely too much money
in proportion to the yearly profits from
his business. but as no one cared to in
yestigate, the four men went on piling
up more money. They were men of
family, respected by their neighbors,
ana prominent in church work. One day
two young men, Post-ofhce Inspectors
Lucas and Nichols, slipped into Palmyra
very unostentaticusly and arrested the
four men for using the mails to defraud-
Then the story came out.
The Washington herald., 1911-12-31
To Locate Treasure.

The men had formed company and
had sent out circulars to credulous peo-
pie all over the country, offering for
sale wonderful steel rods that would
enable them to ind minerals. gold, and
hidden treasures. The rods sold at prices
varying from So TO $40. In the bulb Of
each rod was a wonderful liquid 1T was
really colored waterl, which gave Il the
strange power. The more. Of this liquid
The Washington herald., 1911-12-31

Last year caught fish Weighing
twenty-eight pounds"
What a whopperI'
''Ah. the fsh was a whopper, you
mean? Yes, IT.
No; mean the story"
The Keota news., 1911-12-22
ICO VALLEY

Wilmot Jones is building new wire
fence.
Mrs. Lewis entertained Mrs. Ferry,
Friday.
A. M. Jones has gone to his Indiana
home for the holidays.
T. J.. Ferry and F. Ashdown have been
doing team work for Lee Roby.
Mesdames Lewis and Peter, were
guests of Mrs. Griffin, Wednesday.
Mesdames Ferry. ]. Roby and 81 Roby
were guests Of Mrs. Folck, Wednesday.
On Sunday party composed of Mrs.
ohm Roby. Master Ben Roby and Miss
Verdin, visited the Pawnee Buttes.
An oyster supper was served and guests
entertained. Saturday evening, by Mes
danes Haak and Gamble at the Haak
home. Among those present were Mr..
and Mrs. Lewis, Mrs. G. Peters and
Miss Verdin.
Mrs. Haak and children spent Sunday
1t the Lewis home, and on Tuesnay eve
ming Mrs. Lewis, Mis- Bessie, Mrs. G.
Peters and Louie White were entertained
by Mrs. Haak. A fine supper was en-
joyed and the evening was spent with
games.
The Keota news., 1911-12-22
Mus. Take Their Medicine

Our citizens are probably all familiar
with the Evans La.alle bridge story, and
that some of the county officials mus, de-
fend themselves in court for their careless
manner of conducting business for the tax
payers Of Weld county. 1t is alleged that
about $4,000 was paid for erecting that
bridge, that i, might have been built for
half that sum. and that the bridge, or par,
of it, is now pronounced unsafe in less
than year after building. A motion to
auash the indictments against the Offend
ers has been overrnled, and they will prob
ably be ,ried at the next term Of court.
The Keota news., 1911-12-22
Murderer Captured

On an inside page OF this issue of the
News is q brief accoun, OF how the Mex
ican, Laura Garcia, stabbed Walter kc'-
" At For, Collins, and later shot and
killed Night Marha G. f. Erocsman OF
:ha. city. The Mexican made his escape
bu, was captured Monday evening at La
Sale and is now in Jail at Fott Collins.
The Keota news., 1911-12-22
Train Changes Tine


Train south leaves kcota a. II:.5 a. m.
arriving At Sterling at a:3op m.
Train north, which has been leaving
Sterling q, 900 4. N. will now leave
Sterling At 1890 .. m. and will arrive here
,bou, I 3-4 hours earlier than formerly
which will make it due here at 1925 a. m.
1t will arrive in Cheyenne at ago p. m.
instead Of 4 700 p. m. as formerly.
This change goes into effect on Sunday.
December ~, and As soon as Agent Cur
well receives the official train time for Ke-
ota we will mention it if there is sny
change from present announcement.
The Keota news., 1911-12-22
Our Blizzard

On Wednesday morning. December
20. the blizzard which had been getting
ready for business several days. was on
hand with force that seemed a. if it was
making up for lost time. Snow had begun
falling Tuesday night. and the snow. ac-
companied by bowling wind. kept COM
ing all day Wednesday. and the wind con-
,inued all Of Wednesday night. becoming
less strenuous Thursday morning.
The old-timers tell US that this storm
was not fair sample for severity and dur
alton. They tell US of blizzards that lasted
six days and nights, and the snow so fll-
ing the air that one could not discern OBJ
iects a dozen feet distant. That they
would not venture to 60 to the barn or
windmill without holding on to rope
stretched between the two points for a
guide.
Two years ago next March two boys
from Loveland were chilled to death, not
far from Keota, in storm similar to this
last one.
School children attending school here
whose homes are mile or two distant,
are not allowed to go home in the even-
inss when the weather is stormy. Mrs.
Schoonover kept Miss Frink at her home
here Wednesday night.
A good variety Of reading matter is
found on the inside pages.
The Keota news., 1911-12-22

now returning home. Some of them
have already arrived. Among them are
Charles Bosnia, Guy Burgess. Dan
Franklin, Joseph Frasier, Henry Kou-
mar, John Mason and Lark Bailey of
Keota, and Messrs. Carpenter and Fos-
ter of Sligo.
Mrs. Robert Bussing left last week
for Cheyenne, accompanied by her little
grandson, whom she sent from Chey-
enne TO Lawrence, Kansas, to be with
his father, Earl Bussing. While in
Cheyenne Mrs. Bussing visited her
daughter, Mrs. Gilbert Ostrander.
Bucking ham is to become a money
order postoffice after January l. Miss
Edna Mckee, the postmaster, (postmis-
tress if you prefer,) will come to Keota
to investigate the modus operandi Of the
money order business with Postmaster
c. w. Murphy.
j. Q. Williams will leave for Greeley,
Tuesday, where he will be employed a
few weeks as an assistant in the county
treasurer's Office. The county officials
made a good selection in choosing Mr..
Williams.
Lester Snyder has q brother from
Thurston; Nebraska, who came in with
the blizzard, Wednesday. We hope MIR.
Snyder will not let the storm deter him
from investing in some Colorado land.
Mrs. John H. Ward, of Denver, will
arrive here Saturday, and will be q
guest till after holidays of her son, J.
Q. Williams, and her daughter, Mrs. c.
w. Murphy.
Mr.. and Mrs. C. O. Dodder and chill
dren were in Sterling over Sunday. MIR.
Dodder remained until Wednesday, en-
bracing the opportunity to take degree
in Masonry.
Roy Baltimore came home from Chey-
enne, Wednesday, to spend the holidays
but on Thursday received telegram tO
report at the Office in Cheyenne at once.
Promotion.
Mrs. F. NJ. Hamilton who has had q
pleasant visit here with her daughters,
Mesdames Savage, Wertz and Boards
ley, left for her home in Gravity, Iowa,
Monday.
Ed Wise is home for visit with the
family. He has been working 1T Ra-
venwood, No., bnilding bridges, We
are always glad to see Ed at home.
Herbert Poush is attending to business
for his father at the coal and feed store
during the severe weather. They have
received q car load Of grain.
DR.. N. d. Wells, in making his coun-
try drives Thursday morning, shot four
jack rabbits. This makes 13 for him
during the past two weeks.
Mr.. Bolanger and his men having fin
ished their work on the Pawnee reser-
voir, stopped over night in Keota on
their way to Loveland,
Mabel and Lloyd Andrews and MEM
bers Of the Simms family, had pleas
ant afternoon, Saturday, at the home Of
Mrs. II. s. Frink.
Harve Golden is back from Nebraska,
where he has been working. He ex-
poets to stay by the homestead, and
Harve IL q slayer.
The Keota news., 1911-12-22
BUCKINGHAM

w. c. Ruper lost his best COW last
week.
E. G. Hoyt has been taking pictures in
our neighborhood.
w. G. Mckinley transacted business
in Keo,a. las, Friday.
w. 6. Mckinley and w. o. Hughes
have branded their stock.
DR.. Rowe is again on his claim. He
visited at Hughes Sunday.
Charles Bennett and family were re-
cent visitors at the Rupe home.
Grandpa and Grandma Lamon were
at Sunday-schoool last Sunday.
Elizabeth Bennett had pleasant day
with the Hughes family, Sunday.
Miss Arley Lamon has returned from
Palmer and will remain At home this win
ter.
Mrs. W. c. Rupe and daughter Lii
lian, Mrs. Dora Brantley and little Irvan,
were guests at the Hughes home, Thurs
day.
The Keota news., 1911-12-22
Hugh Irwin has returned from Wind

Hugh Irwin has returned from Wind
sor.
Mrs. Frank Wolf has been ill with Ia
grippe.
w. r. Stewart received a car of -four
Monday.
Bernard Songer had very sick horse
Thursday.
George Besaw has returned from his
trip to Kimball, Neb.
w. ]. Simms transacted business at
Briggsdale, Tuesday.
Mr.. and Mrs. Grant Davis spent Sum-
day at Bernard Songer's.
Deputy Sheriff Grant Davis is in Chey-
enne few days on business.
81 Roby has returned home from Chey-
enne where he was employed.
Mr.. Reynolds of Buckingham was a
business visitor to Keota, Tuesday.
Clarence johnson shipped three coops
of turkeys to Cheyenne, Wednesday.
Lloyd Poush has returned from Wind
sor where he had been for some time.
w. ]. Simms and family were Sunday
visitors at the home of C. E. Andrews.
Tom Gurwell and John Wertx made q
business trip to Buckingham, Thursday.
Mr.. and Mrs. Joseph Frasier are go
ing on visit to friends in eastern states.
Mr.. and Mrs. Hobbs and Mr.. and Mrs.
Moore are expected home from Windsor
soon.
Roy Payne left Friday for Barnes
vile, where he has rented farm for the
coming year.
Mrs. Zelley and Miss Edna Mckee of
Buckingham were guests Of Keota
friends Sunday.
Section Foreman Alvia Robinson, and
family, have gone to Wellfeet, Nebras-
ka, for the holidays.
Macy Morrison came down from Chey-
enne to spend the holidays with his par
ents and friends.
L. A. johnson and daughter, Mrs.
Warner Helphrey, are spending the hol-
idays ia Denver.
Mrs. I. N. Woods left Tuesday for
Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, to spend the holi-
days with her mother.
Mrs. Mingle arrived here Wednesday
from Kansas City, to spend the holidays
with her brother Harve.
Mrs. F. E. Trumbo stayed with Mrs,
SonRer and little Priscilla while Mr..
Songer was gone two days after hay.
L. A. jackson has returned from q
business trip to the capital city, and was
in Buckingham on business Thursday.
Rev. D. Markham arrived home Mon
day from Cheyenne, where he had been
taking treatment from DR.. Henneberry.
Harry Frink, employed AZ a Western
Union telegraph operator in Denver, is
spending the holidays here with his fam
lily.
Lloyd Trumbo has finished digging q
cellar for DR.. N. D. Wells, and the doc
fnv. xs,i1l h,,i1d n rnOm over IL m an adfli.