davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1911-11-01

site, where the cross-road continued
to hold way Crouching low In the
saddle. we followed him as silently
as though we we're but spirits OF the
night. Up the road | caught the red
CLEAN of a fire almost spent. and a
black figure crossed US. casting an odd
shadow against the face OF the rock
where it was lighted by the Pickering
red blaze it was all over In a mo-
ment, a mere glimpse. but II formed
one of those sudden pictures which
paint themselves on the brain and
can never after be effaced. | recall
yet the long shade cast by the mans
gun. the grotesque shape of his flap
ping army overcoat. the quick change
in the silhouette as he wheeled TO re-
trace his beat But there was no
noise. not even the sound of his foot
steps. reaching us Even as yazed
lying open at full length upon my
horse. we had crossed the open. and a
perfect tangle of low bushes hid us
as completely as II we had entered the
yawning mouth OF cavern.
A hundred yards or more of sharply
curving road densely lined with shrub
berry on either hand. and then Craig
swung into saddle and again gaze
spur to his horse.
we must ride for 1t now" he said
terseiy. when tibet patrol makes
their round, them feliers will be after
US not"
urged my tired horse to a gaIIop.
pressing upon Craig's heels as closely
as I dared: nor did | glance back. Tor
knew well that a dead picket was
lying somewhere by the cross, roads.
and that his comrades would be heard
from before dawn. We we're Lowing
brayely now: for the road under foot
grew better as we advanced. and gave
back tire dull thud OF soft earth In
stead Of the rafting ciang OF the
rocks we had been so long accustomed
to. Then. suddenly, my horse vas
jerked almost to a standstill. the hand
upon bis bit seemingly as hard as my
own. and wheeled In the saddle
pressing my knees tightly to prevent
being thrown. only to perceive the
woman tugging desperately at the
lines.
What now" asked sharply. and
in sudden anger | forced her to re-
lease her grasp. I'VE must ride, and
ride hard. madam. to be out Of this
Gordon By daylight"
Ride where?"
She faced ne sdfhy. and there was
slight sting in Der voice. felt
.'Where2'' I repeated; then partially
gathering my scattered wits; Why.
to the camp we are seeking. Of
ecarse.-
was conscious that her eyes we're
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1911-11-01
shor, wslqh,.
tTo BE CONTINUED

How to persuade the blonde delica
lessen store clerk TO remove her hand
from the scales when weighing cheese
and bologna. so he would get sixteen
ounces 10 the pound instead ofrtwelve
or thirteen. was the problem con
fronting the man who lunches late at
night IN his own room.
Try a lew affectionate little pecks
at her hand with accompanying com
pliruentaTy remarks and she will let
&C all right" said an experienced
friend
The night after receiving that ad.
vice the man asked for pound OF
smoked pork tenderloin AS usual. the
blonde young woman rested her hand
on the scales to s'sady them. and
hesitatingly. the man laid bis palm on
her stubby fingers When he got
home half on hour later and weighed
the pork tenderIoin on his own scales
he found that he had eleven ounces
instead OF the customary thirteen But
strange to say. be was not angry.
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1911-11-01
TELEPHONE POLES or CACTUS
Arizona Government Is Planning 10
Make Good Use OF the Giant
Sahuara.

Sahuara for telephone and telo
graph poles is the latest idea and one
that is to be tried out Il sounds
plausible and Il 10 believed that II
will be more economical than the old
style OF poles. Its test Is TO come
from Tucson
The Cover nment is TO build a tele.
phor system for the forestry service
OF the Coronado forest reserve The
FIRST OF these lines to be built out OF
Tucson Is to be used into the Gaia.
linns. and II is there that the sahara
experiment Is 10 be tried
Where they can be found In what
approaches alignment. so that tue
line will not have zig-zag too much.
the sahuara up In the canons through
which the line will pass are to be
utilized for the purpose OF attaching
brackets TO which the wires will be
fastened And so the secret is out.
Along the proposed line II is dit.
ficult to set poles. owing to the rocky
nature OF the country traversed Not
only Is this the case. but Il is dit.
hcnlt TO get the poles up there In the
hills to set. while the sahuaras are
F;sh. there in many instances. and
while not al n uniform distance this
IS no. considered important
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1911-11-01
CHAPTER ~.
A Woman With a Temper.

| think we must have been fully an
hour at 1t. riding at no mean pace.
and with utter disregard OF danger.
Although | knew little of where we
we're, and nothing as TO the condition
OF the path we traversed. yet so com
plete was my confidence In Craig that
teIt no hesitancy in blindly following
the pace he set Then black shape
doomed up before US so suddenly that
1t was only by quick effort | pre-
vented collision. Even as | held
my horse poised half In air. per-
ceived It was Craig himself who
blocked the way.
What is it. sergeant"
"A picket, sir at the end OF the
road" he said. quietly. Il kinder reck.
oned they'd hey some sort O. guard
thar, so crept up on the quiet ter be
sure Tho Teller helped me out a bit
by strikin' a match ter see what time
twas. or ! reckon I'd walked over
him In Their dark"
Had we better ride him DOWN." /
asked. thinking only how rapidly the
night hours were speeding and of the
Importance of the duty pressing upon
US.
mot with Their woman. SIR" be an,
swered In a low. reproachfuI voice.
Besides we never could git through
without a shot. an IL by any dern luck
It should turn out to be cavalry out
post-an sorter reckon that's what
it ls-why. our horses are in no shape
fer a hard run. You uns better wait
here. sir. an let me tend ter that soger
man quiet like. an then praps We uns
kin all slip By without stirrin' up
ther patroL"
We'll. said. reluctantly. yield
ing to what felt was doubtless the
wiser course, and mechanically grasp
ing the rein he held out to me. "go
ahead. But be careful. and don't
waste any time. II We hear the sound
Of shot we shall ride forward under
spur +,
"AlI right. SIR. but there1l be no
fuss, fer know just whar Their felier
IS"
Tine seems criminally long when
one Is compelled to wait in helpless
uncertainty. every nerve on strain
Hold yourself ready for sudden
start" ! said. warningly TO my com
panion. If there is any noise Of a
struggle yonder ! shall drive In the
spurs"
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1911-11-01
RED CEDAR FOR BUILDINGS
Some Of This Excellent Material Is es-
timated to Be Nearly Four Thou
sand Years Old.

II will surprise many to know that
they have in their homes materia, es
uimatec to be 1000 wars old II the
shingles or interior nnish is red cedar
or II you have red cedar chest II is
possible that the wood anIedates the
history OF this country by thousands
OF years. says the Cleveland Leader
A Cleveland man Is credited with
bringing the first red cedar into this
section W A Geist. on a western trip
several years ago, was attracted by the
red cedar forests at Port Angeius.
Wash He established a mill t1ere
and began shipping the cedar to the
ern cedar was used IN great quantities
but II Is the claim of Mr. Geist that
the product from the Pacific coast Is
growing in favor and the demand Tor
II is increasing
II is most durable wood and Its
use in home guarantees that moths
and other troublesome insects will not
enter II is used for wainscoting. man.
tells. cur boards. cabinets and especially
tor chests In which to store Iurs and
clothing Mr.. Geist exhibits quantity
of red eedsr cut from tree he estt'
mates TO be at least $500 years OF age
Three large cedars we're found growing
from 3 fallen log which was i've and
one-half feet in diameter The largest
OF the three tree growing from the
fallen tree was ten and one.half feet IN
diameter By counting the rings In
both trees indicates that the fallen
tree. still sound. is nearing its foul
thousandth birthday
MIR Geist is an expert upon red
cedar and goes in for the history Of
the wonderful trees of Washington and
other coast states as a biographeI
would the data upon the life OF some
famous man He surrounds bolt o.
shingle cedar with an interesting story
which goes back to the misty ages and
something like reverence grows Within
the listener for this venerable work ol
nature
unquestionably the red cedar is the
oldest material used In the construc
tion of the home and few materials
will ortwear Il. It being nearly indie
structible except by fire
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1911-11-01

AS | spoke ! swung the sergeant's
horse around to my side. where
could control him more readily.
There was no reply from the wom-
an. but | noticed she endeavored TO
draw together the Tapping cape of
her cloak. as though she telt chilled
by the wind and her figure seemed TO
stiffen In the saddle
1t came at last-not the sharp hash
of a musket cleaving the night In
twain. but merely me tail figure OF
the sergeant. stealing silently out OF
the gloom like a black ghost. and
standing at our very horses heads.
All clear. sir" he reported In a
matter-of-fact tone. But we shall
hev ter move mighty quiet. fer Their
main picket post amt more nor q
hundred yards ter the right o. Their
crossin'"
He did not remount, but, with reins
flung loosely over his arm. led the
way slowly forward. and carefully we
followed him.
What had become of the sentinel l
did not know. respecting Craig's evil
dent desire for Silence; but as we
drew nearer the White Briar road |
sought in vain TO pierce the dense
gloom and note some sign of strug.
gle. some darker shadow where
body might be lying. There was moth
ing visible to tell the story.
The sergeant walked without the
least hesitation across the open space.
directly into the deep shadows oppo-
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1911-11-01
CCD2GV OHCTr CZX2C SEQ

We win halt where We are until you
return"
He swung forward his carbine
where il could be handy for instant
service and trotted ahead into the
darkness. The woman's horse. being
comparatively fresh and restless.
danced a little in an effort to follow.
but restrained MIN with light hand
on the bit. and We sat waiting in ST.
lence.
was eager to be on, to make up
by hard riding the tedious delay OF
this nights work. and constantly lis
tening in dread for some sounds of
struggle down the roadway. But ali
remained silent until could dimly
distinguish the returning hoof-beats
of the sergeant's horse; and so anx-
ious was | to economic time that 1
was already urging our mounts tor
ward when his shadow grew black IN
front. and he wheeled in at my side.
mo picket, sir"
Very we'll. sergeant; when we
come to the turn you are to ride few
rods In advance of us. and will set
good pace. for We must make up
for all this lost time
Very well. sir; here is the turn
TO your right"
could dimly distinguish the open.
ing designated. and as we wheeled
into it he at once clapped spurs to mis-
horse and forged ahead In another
moment he had totally disappeared.
and as | urged our reluctant mounts
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1911-11-01
Tn. Very wors,

Clement j. Driscoll. at dinner In
New York. told number OF amusing
stories about his strenuous life as
commissioner OF weights and meas
ures last year.
"A friend of mine" said Mr. Dris-
coll. noticed one morning that bis
grocer looked very sad. What's the
matter. old man? my friend asked
jokingIy. The weights and measures
man hasn't been dropping in on you.
! HOPPER
"'Yes. he has, snapped the grocer.
"'But you don't really mean to say
exclaimed my friend. that he caught
you giving only fifteen ounces TO the
pouud?'
Worse than thati' groaned the
grocer. I've been giving seventeen
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1911-11-01
Disaster Rspea,ed.

A notable salvage feat was accom-.
plished at Queenstown harbor the 9th
er day when the huge Cunard liner
ivernia, which struck on a submerged
reef at Daunt's Rock. Queenstown.
was refloated The Iveruia Is a l4.o0G
ton ship, 532 feet long. and her sal
wage was no easy matter After sh'
was be1ehed in the harbor many .
her compartments were flooded. an
al high tide there we're six feet Ct
water on her deck forward Tbs
weight OF the great ship carried he
down into the sand until some Of the
torn plating was buriea While thu
divers we're working on the lgernia
they found some timbers Of shit
in the damaged plating The
lvernia must have struck the rocks
al a point where some wooden vas
sci was wrecked years ago.
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1911-11-01
SHIFT
~ Your Food Fails 20 Sustain You,
Change.


One sort Of diet may make 4 person
Respondent, depressed and blue and
change to the kind OF food the body
demands win change the whole thing.
A young woman from Phila. says:
For several years | kept In a run
down, miserable sort of condition. was
depressed and apprehensive OF trouble.
l lost flesh IN a distressing way aad
seemed In perpetual sort Of dreamy
nightmare. No one serious disease
showed, but the 'all-over' sickness was
enough.
FINALLY, between the doctor and IA
Their, | was put on Grape-Nuts and
cream, as 1t was decided | must have
nourlshing food that the body could
make use Of
"The wonderful change that came
over me t-as not, like Jonah's gourd,
the growth of a single night, yet Il
came with rapidity that astonished
me.
During the first week gained in
weight. my spirits improved, and the
world began to look brighter and more
worth while.
"And this has continued steadily. TIL
now, after the use o: Grape-Nuts FOR
only a few weeks. | am perfectly well.
feel splendidly, take lively interest In
everything. and am changed person
In every way" Name given by Postum
Co, Brttle Creek, Mich
Read the little book. The Road to
MELVILLE" in pkgs. There's reason
Evsf read the above lStterF A new
one appears from time 10 time. They
are genuine true aud full of hnmaD
Interest
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1911-11-01

knowledge. She had come to US unde-
sired and IL darkness. her form en-
yeloped in q cavalry cloak. her face
strouded By the night. As 10 wheth.
er she was young or old bad scarce
means Of knowing. saving only that
the tone Of her voice and the graceful
manner Of her riding made me conf.
dent that she had not lost the agility
OF youth But beyond this vague i'm
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1911-11-01

preston CIT was little morel. and a
fleeting CLEAN of the starlight in her
eyes as she faced me in anger. ! was
as totally unaware OF how she really
looked as though we had never met
Her very name was unknown to me.
Who was this Major Brennan? Was
be father. brother or husband? and
was her name Brennan alsog For
some reason this last possibility was
repugnant TO me. Yet | knew not
why.
You ride as though born 10 the sad
die" said pleasantly: and although
! spoke low. we were so close to
gether that my voice carried distinctly
to her ears, I'VE have been suffl-
GENTLY conceited to suppose that to
be an accomplishment peculiar to our
Southern women"
81 have been accustomed TO ride
since childhood" she replied rather
shortly. and | was conscious OF re-
straint in her manner far from pleas
ing Yet ventured upon one more
effort at conversation.
rs Major Brennan an oflcer on
Sheridan's staff?"
Il was not aware"--and I could not
/, mistake the accent of vindictiveness
in her voice-"that prisoners were
obliged to converse against their
will"
Il ask your pardon, am sure" !
returned soherly But my question
was not altogether an idle one |
have CHANGED to meet several of
General Sheridan's STAFF. and thought
possibly Major Brennan might have
been OF their number Seeing that
We must associate for tine ! nat
urally felt 1t would prove pisasanter
for both Of us If We might discover
some mutual tie"
There was no response.
The road we were following here
took n sudden trend downward. and
we could tell from the sharper ring
of the hoofs. and the splitting OF flinty
sparks beneath us, that we we're
among rocks once more Then our
, horses suddenly splashed into water.
and held them Up long enough to
drink felt ,hi;st strongly myself.
and slipping out OF the saddle filled
my canteen
Would you care for a drink" |
asked. Btemming the stream to reach
her side. and holding the vessel with.
In easy grasp Of her hand
actually believe her first impulse
was to refuse haughtIly this preferred
civility from an enemy % her coun
quered her TO accept the Offering An
other hill followed, and then another
and finally we swept swiftly down q
long slope densely bordered by trees
and with irregular piles Of rock up
rearing ugly heads on either hand
caught swift glimpse of a rough
log house on the right. so set back
among trees that | half doubted It's
real existence. when--there was a
| slip. the crunching OF a stone. a long
stumble forward that fairly wrenched
my hand looe from the womans rein
and then. hopelessly struggling TO re
gain his feet. my horse went down
Win CTdsHs uedu uHusf. anu WIS
hurled heavily forward upon my face
Craig. startled at the sudden crash be
hind him. spurred back TO learn the
full extent of my disaster by this
time had regained my feet
I'm all right. | think. sergeant" !
said hastily, but the sorrel has brok.
en- her neck"
lie began to swear at our III luck.
! but stopped him with gesture be
knew better than TO ignore
Enough OF that" commanded.
sternly bad fortune is seldom bet.
tered by hard words First OF all.
help me to drag this dead body out Of
sight"
ITO BE CONTINUED3
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1911-11-01

II was at concert. where the re-
moval OF hats was not obligatory. stili
the woman with conscience wished
TO be accommodating She turned to
the woman sitting beside her and
said
Does my hat bother your"
mot In the least" said the other
woman sweetIy, so the woman with
conscience settled complacentlE back
to listen 10 the music while persons
on the back seats twisted their necks
out OF joint trying to see around her
hat
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1911-11-01
Association Of Idsaa.

you have a great many Hies and
mosquitoes" said the rather super
cilious girl
yep" replied Farmer Corntossel.
Il don't like to mention II. but i've
noticed every year that flies, mos
auitoes and summer boarders all APP
pearI to be on hand at the same
time"
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1911-11-01

This looks like aa exceedingly
good thing. sanibad the Sailor said
when ne had discovered the thins
Nov the thing TO be done is 10 res'
ize on this wealth before the conser
vationists get busy and police tbs
Sob"
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1911-11-01
That Exolulns.

4 have a dog and hen which are
fast friends Isn't that queer?"
u don't think so-nerely natural
affinity"
in what way?"
= believe your hen and your dog
are both settlers"
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1911-11-01
SYNOPSIS.

The story orens in a Confederate tent
at a critical s'Age of the Civil War. Gen
Lee imparts - Capt. Wayne an important
message TO Longstreet Accompanied by
Sergt. Craig. an old army scout. Wayne
starts on b 5 mission The two. after
Wild ride. get within the lines OF the
enemy IT the darkness. Wayne is taken
for a Fede?al officer who came 10 keep al
anDatnfFa9nf
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1911-11-01
CHAPTER v.


To me she vas merely a woman
whom IL had become my duty to pro
tect. and whatever Of chIvalrous feel.
ing | may have held toward her was
based upon nothing deeper than this
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1911-11-01

to more rapid speed all sound Of his
progress was instantly lost In the
pounding of our own hoofs on the
hard road.
The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1911-08-18
News Of the Week From var|-
Gus Parts Of the State
1RAGEDY OCCURS IN HOTEL
Insane Man Fires on Guest, Wounds
Proprietor and Shoots Self While
In Edinburg HosteIry.

Frank Merilo, from Wright, Mimi,
ran amuck in the Merchants hotel at
Edinburg, shot Chris Buck, sixty-fve
years old, founder of Edinburg,
through the neck, narrowly missed F.
s. Pritchett, hotel proprietor, and then
sent three bullets into his own right
side. He died almost instantly.
Though Bucks wound is serious, ply
sicians expect he will cover
Merilo arrived at Edinburg looking
for work. He acted strangely, and
drew a gun on Proprietor Pritchett
when he went to call him.
Merilo did not get up for breakfast
or dinner. About 4 o'clock Pritchett
went to call him, telling him that a
farmer was there looking for men.
Merilo replied that he would be right
down. When the Finlander came down
the stairs Pritchett was talking to a
travelling man and his sister was be.
hind the counter.
Pritchett turned as Merilo came into
the room and found himself facing the
revolver. The travelling man went out
through the door and Pritchett follow
ed. The man shot just as Pritchett
slammed the door shut. Merilo fol
lowed him half way across the street,
then returned to the hotel and went
up the steps with chambermaids and
guests running before him.
Buck occupied one of the rooms in
the hotel and hearing a noise he
stepped out into the hall as Merilo
reached the head of the stairs. With
out a word the man shot, the bullet
passing through the left side of Bucks
neck, just above the collar bone. AS
he saw his victim fall Merilo turned
the revolver on himself and emptied
the three remaining shots in the re
volver into his right side. He died in
a few minutes.
The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1911-08-18

"At a recent business show held In
the east q manufacturer purchased
several tons of heavy wire. stretched
It from floor to roof and promised a
considerable prize to the man who
guessed nearest to its weight. A pro.
fessor of mathematics examined the
wire, learned the exact height of the
building and, of course. found no diff
fculty in giving the correct answer.
"Yet the courts held that this was a
lottery when it was really a question
Of simple arithmetic.
"a merchant in an Ohio town made
the experiment Of a guessing contest
with a quart Mason jar of white navy
beans. The visitor comes along, sees
the jar Of beans. writes his estimate
of the number of individual beans in
the Jar, and the one who makes the
closest guess is winner of the grand
prize.
HE put the jar in his show window.
sent out letters to his patrons announc.
ing the event and prepared to profit
by the advertising. An envious com
petitor reported the matter to postal
officials, and the progressive merchant
was hailed into court and tried for VIC
lation of the lottery statutes.
1T was finally decided that the ad-
vertiser was guiltless ON the grounds
that the beans were contained in a
quart n jar and that all navy
beans were Of exact dimensions. and
hence 1t was not a guessing contest
at all, but merely n matter of mathe
matics."
Whereupon the puzzlesome question
becomes more puzzlesome than ever.
Now, here is the governmental view
Of q lottery: