davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-11-23

Well, we does our little bit, tn prof.
and me. and then 1t comes time t.
clear the tent.
ION the outside! The out.slde!-."
crates the prof, herdin' out the cattle
They all jostles out--all but Moscow
He crouches down around the far
corner of the tank an stays.
When the tent Is full of emptiness,
up he bobs, leans over the edge of
tn tank, and SIM" says he, Sim,
it's real huge 1T, this mimical con
OF yours. marked up as the greatest
ever. and calculated to pull down more
coin than anybody can have an be
decent. Butt" The waggles his head
at me) But now let me tell you
honest, 1t amt quite artistic enough,
an that's the Twin. For example"
"Gwan!" I growls at him. Clear
out! No man what handles fangless
reptiles has any call"
Dear me, such langwidge!" he pro-
tests. mild as rabbits milk. I'm dis
combobulated, honest I am, to hear
such from lady mermaid. An,
moreover, just think how imprudent
| it would be OF you to holler-now
wouldn't It? Sort OF shake public
confidence, an all that. Ell? Down
Lucy, down, there's a good, nice lady
mermaid"
He reaches out an hits me crack
over the sea-weed on my brow with
his long cane.
Down, Lucy, down." he repeats !;
and his tone for pure Acne insulting
ness was tn top.nitcher OF all time.
Il amt through with you YETI says
he. resumin' his mild manners. Com.
pose yourself; there's another bunch
OF f. Us due in three minutes. See
you tomorrow" says he, land we will
resume the sport. Mermaid hunting
nothin' like 1t; greatest ever!"
Must ha' changed his mind about
waitin' till to.morrow-maybe thought
I'd put tn prof. wise. an have him
excluded, which l sure would have
done-for. anyhow, back he comes in
side OF an hour, an with him a couple
Of huskics with such low brows thai
their hair tangles their eyelashes. The
three OF 'em fronts up to our tank
along OF big an spellbound crowd
an none O. the audience seems more
plumb interested than them three
Moscow's sleeve looks bulgy.
The prof. he seems uneasy and or
his guard. I notices the stream o
water amt comm in, and judges Bee
is bein' held as a reserve for immeji
action in case O. need. My nerves /!
) all to the dippy, so I can't hardly dc
my stunts at all. and the prof ha:
| to more than prod. Every time
! flps or dives, "Gee!' thinks |, this
; here is just prolongin' the agony
I'm sure workin' a shell-game on my
, SELF" thinks l, an the sweat begin
! to ooze. An every time l comes up
, there still stands Moscow MacShan'
J and his l.. BIS, just smilin'-smiin
, That bulgy sleeve feezes me.
/ Make her dive again. professor!
: speaks up one OF the l.. BIS, innocen
! like, tossin' a penny in. See if sh,
can find it on tn bottom. She cal
see best in a dim light, can't she?"
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-11-23

his hands. Il wish I hadn't done it."
he whimpered. Il dunno what got
into me. l must ha' been crazy.
never did anything like that before.
I've lived straight. | have. l amt no
thief But l been out of a job and
I've got a wife and babies and | had
to get money somehow. And there
was a house over in the village that
looked easy But hadn't got more'r
inside before they got after me. They
chased me down the road, but | guess
I'd got away if l hadn't run in sight
OF ,Ais crowd with guns"
Reagan watched him for time
without speaking. See here, kid" he
said at last. They didn't get a good
close look a you, did they-didn't see
you except in the dark"
The stranger shook his head
And they don't know there are two
OF us here" Reagan continued. I'm
thiukin either you or me can so free.
But we both can't that's a cinch.
If We both stay here they'll get us
sure in the morning. But supposin'
one of us makes a break for it? The
others safe, amt he? If | run out,
they'll take me for the Teller that did
both jobs, and the same way If you
so. Then the one of us that stays
here can sneak away whenever he
wants to. Understand"
The young man sprang to his feet
with a cry and his eyes were bright
with hope. But the next moment his
only one OF us" he said, and his voice
,,t To, = no
Wen draw lots for it, kid" and
Reagan selected two blades OF dry
grass and Bit off the feathered ends
You game?" He rolled the straws
between his hands and held them out
so that only the ends showed from
between his fingers. The short one
wins he said. Il can't do any cheat
in then"
The stranger gazed at them with
frightened eyes, then put out shak.
ng hand and laid hold of one gin
eorly. But he hesitated before draw
ing it out, A moment and he released
it and grasped the other.
THAT the one?' asked Reagan.
The young man nodded Reagan
smiled triumphantly. Then he looked
mo mis- companions childish face, and
suddenly something stirred in his
heart, 1t was that soft spot that he
could never understand. "Oh, hell"
he muttered, and there was a quick
movement of his thumb as the young
man drew out the straw.
1t was the short one. The other,
not an inch longer. remained in Rea.
gan IS clutch. But somewhere in the
dead leaves there fell still another bit
Of straw with the mark OF his thumb
nail at its end
"Good-hy pal" said Reagan, I'm
commitin penal offense helpin'
criminal to escape and hate to break
the law. But you'll see the wife and
babies again, | guess"
Then he turned and stole softly
away through the trees
The young man peered through the
gap in the wood, and out across the
moonlit fields he saw a black figure
running with the head bent low.
Again the shots rang out. The figure
stumbled, clutched at the air and fell
forward
(CoPwicht The Frank Il. Munsey COY
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-11-23
THE ME- R. M AID

the 'Subaquaticus Humaniformus, y
says he. reachin over and strokin
my snout. Highly intelligent, too
60 fetch, Lucy" An he heaves
piece o wood for me 10 retrieve
Most unfortunate, they require
am light, like in tn caves an fast-
nesses of their native abodes among
Tn coral reefs" says he, "or you coulo
marx an behold the iridscent colors
an beautiful contoors OF this extry.
orclnary large specimen, captured
|allve after desprit struggle by Colo
mel Lysander Webb, K.C.B, on the
9th of last March, off TIL coast OF
van Diemen's Land, in tn China Sea
and now exhibited at TREMENDOUS ex-
pense-only one ever In captivity!
They don't survive long In fresh
water says he. pointin' at the spout
where Beef Westerhood is putin In
his best ticks, and direct daylight is
fatal to 'em immejit. We will now
pass out, ladies an gents, to permit
another audience in to witness this,
the greatest marvel OF all the ages.
Kindly pass on the outside, ladies'!
Gentlemane! On the outside! The
outside!"
1t used to be, Pass on the in-side!"
but now it's tough work to keep tn
mob shiftin at all Fact is, we're the
broad-gage droam-pill pushers OF the
PIKE inside of a week, the only orig
inal chartermembers OF the Get
There Club. All the others has to
take our dust; Shamdow the Chain.
breaker, Nine. Claire the Medium
Moscow the Snake King, an all-'spe
cially Moscow. | used to know Mos
COW, understand. when his name was
MacShane, an you could put all the
love lost between us in your eye with
out seem none the worse; SO 1t didn't
worry me much about his business
goin to the blinks. Oh, tell you
the mermaid bunch was just swampet
in tidal-wave of rejoicin'. We sure
was goin' some. But it's just this
very pace of ours that cut the fina
crimp in our gears-as you'll see al
in its good an proper time. Dom
rush the hearse.
For, one day along the beginnin' o
our third week since the boss grew {
spiketail coat an the title of pro
fessor, I notices this same Moscow
MacShane in among the bunch o
E. z. Marx. There's q difference be
tween them an him, though, and i
don't look extra salubrious. neither
They're all standin' with open traps
gorgin' the prof,'s science, while he
lurkin' by the far end of the tank
deaf to the spiel, but all there will
the optics. And as he pipes me h,
smiles contented, in way that give
me sudden attack of blighted pros
pecks. That smile makes me feel lik,
bein' dropped from the top story II
one O them sudden elevators: | grow
that dopey the prof. has to jab M
with his pointer to make me paddl
an retrieve. And all TIL time In
performin', Moscow is givin' me sensa
tons like when you sprinkle sugar OF
oysters. My blood's runnin' col,
enough to freeze tn tank
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-11-23

"-Iridescent colors an beautiful
contoors of this extraordinary large
specimen hastens the prof, tryin' to
bring his lecture to a speedy finish.
An captured alive after desprit /
struggle by Colonel Lysander Webb,
K.C.B., on the 9th of last"
Say, prof." butts in the other l.. b.,
chow long can she stay down."
she requires a dim light, like all
the specie" forgos the prof, neck an
neck with that ominous curiosity of
tn Moscow gang Lives in dark
ocean caves an Businesses, which is
their native abode among tn coral
reefs! And now We will pass"
Under water they live?" Inquiries
the first l.. B. again. "ln caves, you
say? Far down among them beautiful
coral reefs?"
"Why--er--yes," answers tn prof,
his voice almost breakin' with sup
pressed torture. TIL crowd begins to
shove an whisper. But you-you
understand, it's salt water-of course
it Is, ont there on tn coasts of Van
Diemen's Land in tn China Sea.
Everybody knows that. Salt water
an that makes a difference"
"No such thing!" retOrts the L. B.,
pullin' out book from his pocket Il
got volyumc here, wrote by Colonel
Webb himself, where he says-lomme
find tn place, page iG6--he says"
Never you miro what Colonel
Webb says!" flares cut the prof.
Amt been handlin' mormaids daily
an hourly fer the past eleven years?
Don't know their habits? We will
now pass on the outside. The cut.
side"
; Hold on! Hold on!" says the l.. b,
polite an easy. Not a soul starts for
= the outside Contrarywsc, they
crowds up closer than ever, til it's
regulation sardinc-pack. Some
t laughs, an | hears confused scraps OF
| talk. IF this here Mermaid Lucy's
, caught alive after a desprit struggle
= last 9th O. March, first an only one
) in captivity. how comes It that"
Don't poster him." speaks up Mos
; COW, soothin',like. That's a matter
of mere detail. What interests this
; here intelligent audience now is just
2 this-how long can a genoone mer
. maid stay under water? Now prof.
it's up to you!'
| That's risht-right." 7 hears III
f crowd repeat. How long? Make hel
f try it. Moneys worth, Hold eel
t under"
S Say, am I sweatin blood, or amt +
} 1--WE will now pass begins thc
) prof. again, all of tromble an rub
| bin his chin with shaly hand but
5 Moscow interrupts once more
. 1--WE don't press the point. It's
= immaterial-an besides, Lucy ain't
S well to-day. She's ailin'-l know il
J, by her looks-ailin' and nervous. But
e somethin' We would like to know is
,, what she feeds on? There, professor
her diet; what is it,"
y "Diet?' answers the prof, his
t spirits risn' like an oil-gusher Diet.
e Fish, mostly-tish and-and-"
i "Eels?" volunteers Moscow. IF so
have here"
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-11-23

URRY! Hurry! Hurry! She's
here. Here Have you seen
her, ladies'? Gentlemane? TIL
mermaid. Only nickel-half dime.
An captured alive IN tn China Sea
by Colonel Webb. That's right, Jack,
give her plenty O. fresh. pure water.
TIL mermaid! TIL mermaid! Five
cents admits to everything. Ker-ak-
ak-ak-kk-k-k -k-kak!
"All tn papers talkin' about her!
Everybody sees her! And only half
dime to all! Just leetle more water,
Jack, fer tn China Sea gasteropodin-
Gus phenomenal"
Off to one side, on kind Of scaffold,
stands Jack. He's red-wattled and
will kick the beam at two hundred
and fifty; and he's pumpin water in
a trough. 1t sloshes down through
hole in tn painted tent.
"Gee!" says |.
Then I does a wriggle through the
bunch Of open-faced jaspers.
Me for her!" says !, plunkin' down.
Few nickels l had. at that; but ]
couldn't miss Chinee mermaid, nixy!
me for tn mermaid"
Pass right on the inside" barks
the proprietor. harvestin my coin
ION the inside the inside! She's
here, here, here!"
/ passes on the inside. It's hotter
than the Hinges, in there under can
vas. Two or three rubber-plants is
blossomin' over a red cloth screen,
observin a Fake-an' the big F goes,
too! Five foot long she is. that mer-
maid. reposin' on a pedestal; she has
squizzled lamps. fsh-teeth glued in,
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-11-23

had played ever since his thieving old
father had died and left him alone
a half-grown boy, to fight his own bat
tie with the world. And he had never
before played it with so much at
stake. Already not a dozen miles
away the man-hunt was on.
At the top of the stairs a faint
light glimmered in through the win
dOws and he could see that one of
the nearest doors stood ajar, He
crept toward it and on the heavy
carpet of the hall his footsteps made
not the slightest sound.
Gee! If only had a gum" he
thought. And then an inspiration
came to him. Slipping his hand into
pocket of his coat he brought out
an old pipe and grabbed 1t by the
bowl, 1t would be a good bluff, any.
way, in case of need.
Softly he pushed the door open. an
inch at a time, then stepped inside.
Surely luck seemed to be on his side,
for the curtains were not drawn and
he could see 20 all parts Of the room
In a bed in corner woman lay
sleeping soundly; he could asar her
heavy breathing. Her face--the face
of woman somewhat past the prime
of life--was turned toward him, ard
if she should chance to open her eyes
she would see him instantly. But
Reagan caly smiled. Many times be-
tore he had been IN such q situation
and had never lost his nerve for an
instant.
He tiD.Tnl tn hn oil L.
over his shoulder at the sleeping
woman with every step, and slowly
drew out one of the drawers. Noise
lcssly he CROPPED about in it's contents.
There was nothing there that he
wanted and he drew out the drawer
underneath. He rummaged through
that with the same result. Then he
ran his hands over the bureau top
for the chance of picking up some
bit of jewelry In that he was more
successful, for his fingers struck
against a little silver tray, in which
he discovered diamond ring and a
heavy GOLD bracelet, These he slipped
into his coat, but without much salts.
faction, 1t was money that he wanted
most. He stepped over to a little
cabinet and began to run his fingers
deity over its shelves. But as he
stood there, suddenly a door not two
steps away from him flew wide open.
Reagan stepped back with a startled
gasp aud the hand with the pipe few
up menacingly. Silently there glided
into the room tall, slender girl clad
only IN nightdress. Half hidden
behind the open door as he was, she
dlu not see him, but stood peering
timidly across the room.
II 1t had been man he would
have trusted to terrorizing him into
remaining silent, for his old pine
would easily have passed for n re.
volYer in the dim light But he knew
the ways OF women in such emer.
gehcies. Indeed, he doubled up his
INST and crouched forward until she
was within striking distance. One
swift blow and she would sink in a
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-11-23

take. He was bareheaded. To avert
suspicion he must have a hat And he
must have money, too, for he was
penniless. If only he could make
good haul before day broke all
would be smooth sailing.
"I'll travel like a swell gazabe then"
he unused. "No freight for mine, with
the chance of getting pulled for
hobo. I'll ride in Pullman. / guess
they won't be looking for me there"
But there was no time to lose from
those precious hours of darkness. AL
ready it must be midnight and he
might have to travel for hours be-
fore finding a house that would suit
his experienced burglars eye.
Another fifteen minutes and he came
to road. He gave a smile of salts
faction as he followed its winding
course with his eye, for it ran to the
west. He struck into it and hurried
on. Mile after mile he walked An
hour passed He was still in q lonely
wooded country and the few houses
he had seen had been too small and
commonplace to suit his purpose. But
at last around a turn in the road, he
came upon just such a place as he had
|
surrounded by well-kept lawns. and
evidently the country home of wealthy
people.
| He gave a low whistle. This sure
| looks like the real thing" he told him.
self, and made his way across the
lawns to the nearest windows and
peered inside. He caught a glimpse
Of a polished floor of a polar.bear
| Il ale -
wall, and drew back satisfied. Then
he proceeded to walk around the
house. looking in al window after
window.
ITS lucky there amt no dog" he
unused. but ! wish had a gun. IT'D
seem like old times if only had my
shooter"
Cautiousl" he tried window. It
was locked, He went little farther
on and tried another with the same
result. But the third yielded. He took
off his shoes and left them or the
grass. then slowly drew himself up
to the sill and crept inside. There
were noiseless sulphur matches in the
pocket OF his coat and he struck one
and made quick survey of his sur
roundings. He was in the dining
room ana on massive mahogany
sideboard the Pickering glow of the
match flashed across rows of silver
ware. He did not want that, He had
always scorned to take silver and now
1t was less tempting than ever.
He passed on into the hall grabbed
a soft felt hat from the rack on the
wall, put it on and pulled it down over
his eyes. Then he tiptoed up the wide
stairs. thrill OF excitement came
over him as he crert forward, the old
thrill that he had felt so many times ;
for he was an old hand at a job of
that kind. But he felt not a touch of
fear. He had covered in terror on
the prison wall but now at his fl.
miliar work he had never been hap
pier or more at his ease. He was at
the game he loved. the game that he
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-11-23

breaks away. sits up an looks at
him. He ditto at me. TIL big, round
mob ditto at both Of us. Then, sud-
denly. falls to who he RELY is.
"Why, Beef Westerhood!" says T.,
rubin my shoulder where the ground
Topped up an pasted it. "Why-
Beef That you? Where's TIL
whiskers you used to float? An why
this unfamiliar corporosity? Is it
you. or who is it?
He scans me faithful minute,
herdin' together his memories; then
his face folds into a grin, and out
comes tn joyous palm at me.
SIM"
Beef"
Twelve years that we amt so much
as batted an eye on each other is
bridged in wink, while tn crowd
stretches red, cordy necks.
I'm sure astounded," murmurs to
him, dustin off my raiments, ito find
you engaged in a faxed breakfast-fo0d
brace game. You, you of all honest
fakirs, perpetratin' a mermaid"
"Fergit it," he whispers, with
DRAWN me inside the tent, away from
that over-inquistve bunch of horny
handlers. "Fergit it! Times has I'M
dcrwent painful changes since you an
ne paraded up Popularity Avnoo to
the rattle of a pill in a walnut-shell.
It's a case with me of gaff what's
offered, now, an no corners barred.
But" he adds wistful, can you i'm
prove this here lay? You always was
snappy with tn thinks. Can you dope
ginger into our modest attempt to put
tn jacks under this rural currency"
Can I? Well, some!"
Fine an dandy! Percolate round
tonight after tn Pike closes. I'll
knock you down to tn boss, an we'll
rag-chew. Just now, it's Beefy to tn
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-11-23

pump. But tonight you'll fall round?"
Il guess yes"
Then we clinches again, an sep
arates.
That's how I gets the job, see?-
the job as mermaid.
1t was simply scream; twenty-five
per, an no toll to daily with-nothin'
TO do but float or paddle or snooZe
in tin tank of water, now benny
fiddy supplied by Beef an his pump.
Get wet? Wet nothin'! | had a padded
rubber suit, green, with punches of sea
weed all over it. BY keepn' my back to
the come-ons, an loafn' round mostly
under water, all but my head, tn
game we played sent all the rest O.
the Pikers skurryin' for the high
wood. Crowds? Never did pipe such
crowds. Looked like tn boss would
make a million. He doubled Beef's
pay tn second week, and come up to
thirty-fve on mine.
It's a good job, in spite of every.
thin, even includin old ladies with
sharp umbrellas, an kids with pea
nuts what | have to snap at A
good job, an good business. A mob,
most all the time-so much of a mob
that tn prof. hires another outside
man an tends exclusively to his new
lecture on deep-sea marvels. It's two
hours on, an half an hours rest,
thirty-fve per, an all expenses.
IF it lasts" thinks I. its me to the
banker class in the directory, that's
sure. III get tn coupon-cutting habit, "
says I. "if nothin' sands my bearings
Oh. joy!"
Then 1 flips my tail, turns my qud,
and muzzles against tn professors
long pointer.
Kindly, affectionate critters they be,
these here marine mermaid marvels
Of tn China Sea, known to science as
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-11-23
AYED" REAGAN crouched on the
wall and looked behind him

kkMIED" REAGAN crouched on the
" wall and looked behind him
at the dark, silent prison.
For moment he peered with feel
in5 Of awe at the great frowning pile
Of granite looming into the night, then
turned his gaze in the direction of
tho watch-tOWcr at a far corner of the
enclosure, straining his ears to listen
for the measured tramp of the guard
Try as he would, he could catch no
glimpse Of him, for the night was
black; yet only a few moments be-
fore from his hiding place behind the
sheds in the yard he had seen the
shadowy form of the sentinel pass
ing slowly by.
He must be almost there" he nut.
tered, and drew himself to the edge
of the wall.
HaG a dozen seconds dragged by.
Suddenly he rose up on his knees with
gasp. Along the wall, not thirty
feet away, was moving shadow.
Reagan's throat st.ffened as if
hand had clutched it to strange him.
Every muscle in his body grew rigid
and through his veins ran the chill of
lear. Another moment and all his
strength seemed to leave him; he
sank Imply forward on his hands with
stiaed groan. Never in all his wild
career had he known what absolute
terror meant till then.
And then he peercd into the dark
ness again. There was nothing there.
The black form might have been the
WORK or his overWIought imagination.
or perhaps movement of the heavy
mist or q shadow cast by something
fer away.
li'0 mouth stretched into a sckly
grin, MY nerves are sure to the
bad tonight" he told himself.
He would wait no longer now. With
~ cath he crcpc to the edge OF the
wall and clambored over unit! no
hung only by his hands, He was not
q particularly heavy mar. though
strongly built, and he felt sure he
cou,c make the drop without serious
I'M Try. He glanced below into the
dark. then let go and shot down. graz
INK thu rough stones and scraptng the
skin from his outstretched hands.
H. laaGeG on his feet in soft earth
with scarcely sound, but the shock
threw him forward on his hands and
lies lie was unhurt Gathering
himself together ne ran swiftly to
the edEe of the river. He knew there
must be q rowboat somewhere near.
He he'd not served two terms in that
prison without keeping his eyes open
lie know his ground. Had he not lain
night after night for weeks and
lonths in his silent cell studying over
every detail of his escape-the ar
raagHment with friend, a lifer, to
answer to his nuInbc- at rOll-call, the
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-11-23

ION your way!" he
growls at me. TN
conifers for you!'
About that time,
Jack has quit his
FIRE S h pure water
stunt and is closing
in on me. There's
n mix. and J a C X
an me finds our
selves tangled on the
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-11-23

Copyright. The Frank 4. Munscy Co..