davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1911-12-20
900D
Fuzzy Entered the MiIIionaire's Gate
and zigzagged Toward the Softly
Glowing Evidence of the Mansion.

less and the deficiencies of the day
might not be supplied by the morrow.
"a cool hundred" said Fuzzy
thoughtfully and mushily.
friends. Til go up and claim the re-
ward. The show business is not what
it used to be-"
Night was falling more surely. The
three tagged at his sides to the foot
of the rise on which stood the Mil
lionaire's house. There Fuzzy turned
upon them acrimoniously.
"You are pack of putty-faced
beagle-hounds," he roared. 60 away
They went away-a little way.
In Pigeon McCarthy's pocket was
section Of two-inch gas-pipe eight
inches long. In one end of it and in
the middle Of it was a lead plug. One
half of it was packed tight with solder.
Black Riley carried slung-shot, being
conventional thug. "One-ear" Mike
relied upon a pair of brass knucks-
an heirloom in the family.
why fetch and carry" said Black
Riley, when some one will do it for
"? Let him bring 1t out to us. Hey
what"
1--WE can chuck him in the river,
said pigeon" Mccarthy, with a
stone tied to his feet"
"Youse guys make me tired" said
"One-ear'' Mike sadly. "Ain't prog
ress ever appealed to none of yez?
Sprinkle a little gasoline on i'm, and
drop i'm on the DriYe-well?"
Fuzzy entered the Millionaire's
gate and zigzagged toward the softly
glowing entrance of the mansion. The
three COLLINS came up to the gate and
Iingered-one on each side Of it, one
beyond the roadway They fingered
their cold metal and leather, conf
dent.
Fuzzy rang the door-bell, smiling
foolishly and dreamily. An atavistic
instinct prompted him to reach for the
button of his right glove. But he
wore no gloves; so his left hand drop
ped, embarrassed.
The particular mental whose duty
it was to open doors to silks and laces
SHE'D at first sight of Fuzzy. But a
second glance took in his passport,
his card of admission, his surety OF
welcome-the lost rag-doll Of the
daughter of the house dangling under
his arm.
Fuzzy was admitted into a great
hall. dim with the glow from unseen
lights. The hireling went away and
returned with a maid and the Child.
The doll was restored to the mourn
ing one. she cIasped her lost darling
to her breast; and then, with the In
ordinate selfshness and candor OF
/ childhood, stamped her foot and
whined hatred and fear of the odious
being who had rescued her from the
depths of sorrow and despair. Fuzzy
wriggled himself into an ingratiatory
attitude and essayed the idiotic smile
and blattering small talk that Is sup
posed 70 charm the budding intellect
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1911-12-20

and "One-ear" Mike held hasty con-
verse outside Grogans. They were
narrow-chested, pallid striplings, not
fighters in the open, but more danger
Gus in their ways of warfare than the
most terrible of Turks. Fuzzy, in a
pitched battle, could have eaten the
three of them. In a go-as-you-please
encounter he was already doomed.
They overlook him just as he and
Betsy were entering Costigan's Ca
sino. They DETECTED him, and showed
the newspaper under his nose. Fuzzy
could read-and more.
Boys" said he, you are certainly
damn true friends. Give me week
to think it over"
The soul of real artist is quenched
with difficulty.
The boys carefully pointed out to
him that advertisements were soul
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1911-12-20

--l HERE are no more Christ
k<eA mas stories to write. Ffc
K1N ton is exhausted; and
SN#ZX newspaper items, the next
~ best, are manufactured by
clever young journalists
who have married early and have an
engagingly pessimistic view of life.
Therefore, for seasonable diversion,
we are reduced to two very question.
able sources-facts and philosophy.
We will begin with-whichever you
choose to call it.
Children are pestilential little ami
mails with which we have to cope I'M
der bewildering variety of condi-
tons. Especially when childish sor-
rows overwhelm them are we put to
our wits end. We exhaust our paltry
store of consolation: and then beat
them, sobbing, to sleep. Then we
grovel in the dust of million years,
and ask God why. Thus we call out
of the rat-trap AS for the children,
no one understands them except old
maids, hunehbacks, and shepherd
dogs.
Now come the facts in the case of
the Rag-Doll, the Tatterdemalion, and
the TWenty-fifth of December.
On the tenth of that month the
Child of the Millionaire lost her rag
doll. There were many servants in
the Millionaire's palace on the Hud-
son, and these ransacked the house
and grounds, but without finding the
lost treasure. The Child was a girl
OF five, and. one of those perverse lit
tie beasts that often wound the sensi-
bilities of wealthy parents by fixing
their affections upon some vulgar, in
expensive toy instead of upon dia-
mond-studded automobiles and pony
Dhaetons.
The Child grieved sorely and truly,
a thing inexplicable to the Million
ARE, to whom the rag-doll market was
about as interesting as Bay State Gas;
and to the Lady, the ChiIds mother,
who was all for form-that is, nearly
all. as you shall SEQ.
The Child cried inconsolably, and
grew hollow-eyed, knock-kneed, spin
ding, and coTykilverty in many other
respects. The Millionaire smiled and
tapped his Golfers confidently. The
pick of the output of the French and
German toymakers was rushed by spe-
ssial delivery to the mansion, but Ra-
chel refused to be comforted. She
was weeping for her rag child, and
was for a high protective tariff
against all foreign foolishness. Then
doctors with the finest bedside man
ners and stop-watches were called in.
One by one they chartered futilely
about peptomanganate of iron and
sea voyages and hypophosphites until
their stop-watches showed that Bill
Rendered was under the wire for show
or place Then, as men, they advised
that the rag-doll be found as soon as
possible and restored to it's mourning
parent. The Child shifted at thera-
peutics, chewed thumb. and waited
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1911-12-20

eigner pointed out was an advertise
ment headed Zone Hundred Dollars
Reward" To earn it, one must re.
turn the rag-doll lost, strayed, or
stolen from the Millionaire's man
sion. 1t seemed that grief still raw
aged unchecked, in the bosom of the
too faithful Child, Flip, the terrier,
capered and shook his absurd whis,
kers before her, powerless to distract.
She walled for her Betsy in the faces
of walking, talking, ma-ma-ing, and
eye-closing French Mabelles and Vic
lettes. The advertisement was a last
resort
Black Riley came from behind the
stove and approached Fuzzy in his
one-sided parabolic way.
The Christmas hummer, flushed
with success, had tucked Betsy under
his arm, and was about to depart to
the filling of impromptu dates else
where.
"Say, 3d." said Black Riley to him,
where did you cop out dat doll?"
This doli?" asked Fuzzy, touching
Betsy with his forefinger to be sure
that she was the one referred to.
Why this doll was presented to me
by the Emperor of Beloochistan. l
have seven hundred others in my
country home in Newport. This
doll
Cheese the funny business said
Riley you swiped it or picked it up
at de house on de hill where-but
never mind dat. You want to take
fifty cents for de rags. and take it
quick Me brothers kid at home
might be wantin' to play wild it. Hey
-what?"
He produced the coin.
Fuzzy laughed gurgling, insolent,
alcoholic laugh in his face. Go to the
Office of Sarah Bernhardt's manager
and propose to him that she be re-
leased from nights performance to
entertain the Tackytown Lyceum and
Literary Coterie You win hear the
duplicate of Fuzzy's laugh.
Black Riley gagged Fuzzy quickly
with his BURBERRY eye as wrestler
does His hand was itching to play
the Roman and wrest the rag Sabine
from the extemporaneous meFry-an-
drew who was entertaining an angel
unaware But he refrained. Fuzzy
was fat and solid and big. Three
inches of well-nourished corporeity,
defended from the winter winds by
dingy linen, interviewed between his
vest and trousers. Countless small,
circular wrinkles running around his
coat-sleeves and knees guaranteed
the quality of his bone and muscle.
His small, blue eyes, bathed in the
moisture of altruism and wooziness,
looked upon you kindly yet without
abashment. He was whiskerly, whis-
kyly, f1eshily formidable. So, Black
Riley temporized.
"Wot'll you take for 1t, den?" he
asked.
Money" said Fuzzy, with husky
firmness, cannot buy her"
He was intoxicated with the artists
first sweet cup of attainment. To set
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1911-12-20

of the young. The Child bawled, and
was dragged away, hugging her Betsy
close
There came the Secretary, pale,
poised, polished, gliding in pumps,
and worshipping pomp and ceremony.
He counted out into Fuzzy's hand ten
ten-dollar bills; then dropped his eye
upon the door, transferred it to James,
it's custodian, indicated the obnoxious
Garner of the reward with the other,
and allowed his pumps to watt him
away to secretarial regions.
When the money touched Fuzzy's
dingy palm his first instinct was to
take to his heels; but second
thought restrained him from that
blunder of etiquette 1t was his; it
had been given him. It-and, oh,
what an elysium it opened to the gaze
Of HE minds eye! He had tumbled to
the foot of the ladder; he was hun
cry, homeless, friendless, ragged, cold,
drifting; and he held in his hand the
key to a paradise of the mud-honey
that he craved The fairy doll had
waved a wand with her rag-stuffed
hand; and now wherever he might go
the enchanted palaces with shining
foot-rests and magic red fluids I'M
cleaning glassware would be open to
him.
He followed James to the door.
He paused there as the funky drew
open the great mahogany portal for
him to pass into the vestibule.
Beyond the wrought-iron gates in
the dark highway Black Riley and his
two pals casually strolled, lingering
under their coats the inevitably fatal
weapons that were to make the re-
ward of the rag-doll theirs.
Fuzzy stopped at the Millionaire's
door and betl ought himself. Like lit
tie sprigs of mistletoe on dead tree,
certain living green thoughts and
memories began to decorate his CON
fused mind. He was quite drunk,
mind you, and the present was begin
ming to fade Those wreaths and fes-
toons of holly with their scarlet bel
ries making the great hall gay
where had he seen such things be-
fore? Somewhere he had known pol
ished floors and odors Of fresh flowers
in winter, and-and some one was
singing a song in the house that he
thought he had heard before. Some
one singing and playing harp. OF
course it was Christmas-Fuzzy
thought he must have been pretty
drunk to have overlooked that.
And then he went out OF the pres
ent, and there came back to him out
of some impossible, vanished and ir-
revocable past little, pure-white,
transient, forgotten ghost-the spirit
of noblesse oblige. Upon a gentleman
certain things devolve.
James opened the outer door. A
stream of light went down the grav-
eled walk to the iron gate. Black
Riley, Mccarthy and One-ear Mike
saw, and carelessly drew their sinister
Gordon closer about the gate.
With more imperious gesture than
James master had ever used or could
ever use, Fuzzy compelled the mental
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1911-12-20

other street was a pleasaunce trim
med to a leaf, and the garage and
stables. The Scotch pup had ravished
the rag-doll from the nursery, drag
gcd it to a corner of the lawn, dug a
hole, and buried it after the manner
of careless undertakers. There you
have the mystery solved, and no
checks to write for the hypodermical
wizard or h-pun notes to toss to the
sergeant Then let's get down to the
heart of the thing, tiresome readers
the Christmas heart of the thing.
Fuzzy was drunk. Not riotously or
helplessly or loquaciously, as you or
l might get, but decently, appropriate
ly, and inoffensively, as becomes a
gentleman down on his luck.
Fuzzy was a soldier of misfortune.
The road, the haystack, the park
bench, the kitchen door, the bitter
round of eleemosynary bedswith-
shower bath-attachment, the petty
pickings and ignobly garnered larg,
esse of great citites-these formed
inc ClAdplS1o VI lis 0AoNOAys
Fuzzy walked toward the river
down the street that bounded one
side CT the Millionaire's house and
grounds, He saw leg Of Betsy, the
lost rag-doll, protruding, like the clue
to a Liliputian murder mystery, from
its untimely grave in a corner Of the
fence. He dragged forth the maltreat
ed infant, tucked it under his arm, and
went on his way grooming a song OF
his brethren that no doll that has
been brought up to the sheltered life
should hear. Well for Betsy that she
had no ears And well that she had
no eyes save unseeing circles OF
black; for the faces of Fuzzy and the
Scotch terrier were those of brothers
and the heart of no rag-doll could
withstand twice to become the prey
of such fearsome monsters.
Though you may not know 1t, Gro
gan's saloon stands near the river and
near the foot of the street down
which Fuzzy travelled. In Grogan's
Christmas cheer was already rampant
Fuzzy entered with his doll He fan
cied that as hummer at the feast OF
Saturn he might earn a few drops
from the wassail cup.
He set Betsy on the bar and ad
dressed her loudly and humorously
seasoning his speech with exaggerat
ed compliments and endearments, a:
one entertaining his lady friend. The
loafers and bibbers around caught the
farce of it, and roared. The barten
der gave Fuzzy a drink. Oh, many
of us carry rag-dolls.
zone for the lady?% suggested Fuz
w impudently, and tucked another
contribution to Art beneath his waist
coat
He began to see possibilities il
Betsy. His f1rst-night had been a sue
cess. Visions of vaudeville circuit
about town dawned upon him.
In a group near the stove sat Pig
con" Mccarthy, Black Riley, anC
"One-ear" Mike, we'll and unfavorabll
known in the tough shoestring district
that blackened the left bank of the
river. They passed newspaper back
and forth among themselves. This
item that each solid and blunt for
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1911-12-20
The Child Grleved soreIy and Truly.

for her Betsy. And all this time ca
kilograms were coming from Santa
Claus saying that he would soon be
here and enjoining us to show true
Christian spirit and let up on the
.poolrooms and tontine policies and
platoon systems long enough to give
him s welcome. Everywhere the spir-
1t of Christmas was diffusing itself
The banks were refusing loans, the
pawnbrokers had doubled their gang
of helpers> people bumped your shins
On the streets with red sleds, Thomas
and Jeremiah bubbled before you on
the bars while you waited on one foot,
holly-wreaths of hospitality were hung
in windows of the stores, they who
had EN- were getting out their furs.
You hardly knew which was the best
bet in balls-three, high, moth, or
snow. 1t was no time at which to lose
the rag-doIl of your heart
IF Doctor Watson's investigating
friend had been called in to solve this
mysterious disappearance he might
have observed on the Millionaire s
wall a copy of ''The Vampire" That
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1911-12-20

to close the door. Upon a gentleman
certain things deVolve. Especially at
the Christmas season.
1T is cust-cuStomary," he said to
James, the fiustered, when gentle
man calls on Christmas eve to pass
the compliments of the season with
the lady of the house. You und'stand
shall not move. shtep till pass COM
plments season with lady the house.
Und'stand?'
There was an argument. James
lost. Fuzzy raised his voice and sent
1t through the house unpleasantly. !
did not say he was a gentleman. He
was simply tramp being visited by a
ghost.
A sterling silver bell rang. James
went back to anawer II, leaving Fuzzy
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-08-03
CATCH DISEASE
FROM b0AROER
HARRIS CHILDREN CONTRACT
SMALLPOX AND ARE REMOVED
TO HOSPITAL

Minnie Harris and Jesse Harris, aged
and years. respectively. children OF
MIR. and Mrs. Daniel Harris. 1920 Vance
Street, were removed TO the smallpox
hospital last night suffering from we'll
developed forms OF the disease, Their
parents were also removed to the hos
pital as matter OF precantion after
being vaccinated.
II Is believed the children contracted
the disease from John Hottrell. la
boring man, who came to Richmond
about a month ago from Emporia and
boarded for two weeks in the Harris
home. DtUin~ that time he broke out
with an eruption that is now believed
&c have been smallpox. though he was
not treated for this disease. Soon after
getting well. he left the residence His
present whereabouts ara unknown.
Medical Inspector Hudson OF the city
health department quickly realized that
the Harris children had smallpox when
he called to see them and he lost no
time in getting them to the hospital.
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-08-03
GREAT RALLY FOR
SENATOR MARTIN
GREAT DEMONSTRATION pLANN-
Ed FOR NEXT MONDAY IN
CHARLOTTESVILLE.

One Of the greatest political demon
strat.on that ever happened in Abe
marie county win take place next Mon :
day night In Charlottesville, the home
town of Senator Thomas :. Martin
Friends OF the distinguished Senator
are arranging for the affair which they
say will eclipse anything OF the kind
ever before undertaken in that part OF
the State.
The supporters OF the minority leader
in the United States Senate. are deter
mined 10 show their appreciation OF
him. and while he Is detained In Wash
3ngton on official business, his friends
will demonstrate IN no uncertain man.
ner that they are thinking about him
and are ready to do anything they
can to show their appreciation OF his
services and declare their approval of
his actions
From reports that reached the capt.
tai yesterday, the greatest interest is
being manifested by the people OF
Charlottesville and In the surrounding
county and the rally will outclass any
Thing ever before undertaken of a like
character. LOCAL leaders are delighted
Mt the outlook and say 1t Is a true
indication Of the great personal pop
uiarity OF the senior Senator.
The full proRkram of exercises has
not as yet been arranged but their will
be a number OF prominent speakers In
addition to the local talent.
Much interest Is being taken in the
matter by friends OF Senator Martin
in Richmond. and il is very likely that
q number of his friends from this city
VIII be present at the demonstration
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-08-03

the donor OF this pretty, though sim
pie. gift was a question which the
girl declined to answer In the CO.
quettish manner she assumes when
she wishes 1t known she is declining
a request
AS the taxicab neared the jail the
spirits OF the girl dimmed, and by the
time the big square rcd building loom
ed In sight the smiles had disappeared
from her attractive face. There were
but few hangers-on to witness her
return. but the girl looked at no one.
walking with head erect to the side
entrance OF the jail, running lightly up
the iron steps and disappearing in the
gloom of the office. A few seconds
later she was escorted to her cell by
Deputy Sheriff Sydnor, and then ate
supper. which had been placed in
readiness for her. She was cordial
in thanking her escorts for their cour-
tesy. but seemed somewhat downcast
that the ride had not been of more
extensive duration.
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-08-03
BLUES COMPANY B
HAVE A SMOKER
PLEASANT ENTERTAINMENT rs
GIVEN AT THE HERMITAGE

The smoker given by Company 3
Richmond Light Infantry Blues. at the
Hermitage Club last night was one
OF the most pleasant ever undertaken
by that organization. The affair was
in the shape of lawn party and an
elegant supper was served.
The members were out in full force.
All OF the officers of the Blues Bat =
talon were present as was Major PR &c
commander of the regiment Adjutant-
General Sale and Governor Mann.
Interesting addresses were made by
Major Bowles on the recent encamp-
ment. and DR. Fulmer Bright on the
sanitary conditions of the camp. a
Cantain Learv was the progra IN
for an address. but was not present,
on account of sickness.
A number of friends Of the MEM
bers were present As invited guests
Lieutenant Fl. c. Boscher, Corporal
II. e. Featherstone. Privates John
Carey and Harry Cullen were the com
mittee who had the affair In charge,
and all present declared the smoker
~ be one of the most pleasant ever
given by the company.
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-08-03
P..O. RECEIPTS
CLIMB STEADILY
CASHIERS REPORT FOR FISCAL
YEAR SHOWS INCREASE ALL
ALONG THE LINE.
PROGRESS is INDICATED
CUSTOMS RECEIPTS MAKE EVEN
BETTER SHOWING, BEING OVER
ONE HUNDRED PER CENT
GREATER,

The comparative statement of bus
mess transacted at the Richmond
post-office during the fiscal years of
l910-1911 as prepared by Cashier
Walter ID. Milton and made public
yesterday, show that the commercial
progress of the city, as reflected by
the post office receipts, which are re-
garded as safe and accurate bust
ness barometer. has been substantial
and satisfactory.
The gross receipts for the fiscal
Year ending June 80, 1911 were $685.
303.2S, as against s6ss.915.62 for the
Year ending June 30. 1910, the in
crease being So per cent.
The net revenue for the last fiscal
year was $46S.o73.56, while the fig
ures for 1910 were S42379o.93 Here
the percentage of increase was 1913.
The statement also FURNISHES a
comparison of the expenses of the
post-oftice for the ten years. these be-
ing $221. 229.72 for 1911. as against
$213,l24.69 for 1910. The per cent
OF expense TO gross receipts in 1911
IL shown to he 81, whereas In 1870
II was SS.4, indicating increasing eff
ficiency in the conduct Of the affairs
OF the office.
Money Order section
The money order section likewise
puPNcu ~upStdHtldt increases tHe VOL
ume of business In 1911 being si.-
9is.1oi, as against s1s4l. o6s.39 in
1910.
In the fiscal year, 1910. the domes-
tic orders paid numbered 51s,94T. In
19l they numbered 1891 or an in
crease of II liz per cent The
amount of the domestic money orders
paid In 1910 was $i.533.905.55. while
those paid in 1911 footed up sl,71o.-
1s5.
A considerable business was also
done In international money orders.
OF these $50 We're pafd in 1919 and
401 In 1911.
There We're issued In 1911 So $50
domestic orders. amounting TO s5i3,-
900. the fees on which were $3,1o2.
In the preceding year the domestic
orders numbered 53.s2s amounting
To ia6.o64. and the fees being S.
42I.S4 The increase OF domestic or
ders issued WAS per cent. The per-
tentage OF increase In International
money orders issued in 1871 as against
1919 was IL Ia
In fact, in not a single department
of the large business transacted AT
the post-offiee did the report for the
fiscal year fail TO show noteworthy
increase
July Receipts
The month OF July showed a de-
cldcd gain ia post-offioe receipts over
the same month last year. In July
this year the sum of s52,s13si was
Received from all sources. whereas In
July last year the receipts were, s4s.-
sists. The increase amounted to
$S,s7A.0T. or 7.au per cent
Customs Receipts Climb.
The receipts In the office of Coliec-
tor of Customs r. II. Arnold were
over lNU cent In the
month just passed than they were in
July last year Last July they were
s2o,9Is.ss, In the month Just closed
they were s4s.a3e,Ts. The principal
Increase was in Turkish tobacco To-
hacco. dry goods and iaees. wines and
liquors are the principal Imports
coming into the port Of Richmond.