davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-07-30

enforce silence on her part. They're a surprise. Don't whisper a word about them."
 "All right, Master Neddie," said Cook, laughing at the air of secrecy Ned had assumed. And I'll put 'em by the ice. too, so they'll be fine and cold" And the obliging cook did as she had promised.
 At half-past eight, sharp, Mrs. Nim- mons and Bertha went out onto the lawn to receive their arriving guests. As Ned had placed his table of curios over in one corner of the grounds, be- hind a clump of rose bushes and shaded by several full-leafed trees, neither his mother nor sister saw the table till after all the guests had ar rived. Then, as Bertha was leading some of her friends to a booth where lemonade was served, her eye caught a group of boys and girls congregated about table of which she until that very moment had been unaware. She ran to the spot and saw what there was to see. Ned was standing beside the table explaining to the group of guests thesbeauty or the rarity of each article. This" he was saying. holding up Chinese doll, was the plaything of a Prince of China. I got it of a He gave me its history so far as he could in his pigeon English-and then sold it to me for ten cents. It's very rare."
 Then, to cap the situation, Ned stopped down and brought from be- meath the table a kitchen tray filled with long slices of ripe red melon. Bertha stood staring at him question: ingly, trying to get through he. head just what her brother was about. At last realizing that he was doing a bit of entertaining on his own ac- count and of very peculiar charac- ter, she excused herself from her friends and ran to her mother.
 Mamma, for goodness-sake. come quickly and see what monkey Ned- die is making of himself. He's got all that trash down from his room, and bushelor more of watermelon sliced and setting out on that big, rusty kitchen dish-tray. It's awful almost disgraceful."
 Mrs. Nimmons hurried with Bertha to the spot held by Ned. But it took her only a few seconds to see that Ned was not only doing his utmost to entertain the guests. but was really succeeding. And the way in which the boys-and some of the girls, too
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-07-30

able, for springs abounded, being the feeders of the numerous pretty creeks one found everywhere that the swamps did not submerge them. He had just drunk at a spring a mile away, and had filled his water bottle from it. Thus equipped, Harold thought it wise to remain at the deserted cabin over night, as the nearest town was four miles distant, and over rough road. He did not know of a plantation any where in that vicinity.
 He entered the cabin and placed his rife against the wall. Then he made light Che always carried a supply of matches) of some pine knots he found piled beside the rude fireplace. Hard ly had the blaze lighted the place when Harold heard-or thought he heard-the sound of footsteps outside the cabin. He did not relish the stealthy approach of some wild beast, nor of worse than a wild beast-an escaped negro convict. And that the swamps swarmed with the latter, he had been assured by Nthe plantation folk.
 wy, the escaped niggers just hide
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-07-30
oBertha Nimmons' Lawn Party

so many kinds of things set out-and all for ten cents. l could spend dol lar in a ten-cent store and then not have half as many things as I want. "
 "Too bad, Parsons" consoled Ned. a grin on his freckled summer-face. "But these things couldn't be bought for a dollar apiece-let alone your ten cents."
 Then Ned arranged his articles as if for sale, putting the showiest ones at the front edges of the table. Now" he said, surveying the whole. there's an interesting corner, I say. Bet half the boys and girls will spend most of their time here. Guess I'd better have some special refreshment here for the crowd that gathers"
 Then Ned was puzzled as to just what to have. His mother and sister had prepared all sorts of dainty viands to be served on the lawn that evening. They had sandwiches of many kinds, ices, cakes, fruits, lemonade and nec- tar. Also they had dainty little silk
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-07-30

grasped in position ready to fire, he stretched himself again on the floor. He kept his eyes on the crack of the door. After what seemed an interm- inable time he began growing drowsy. At first, he kept the feeling under con- trol. Then, the natural sleepiness that conquers youth prevailed. He fell into a light doze. But all the time he was conscious of danger, and kept his hand on his rifle, his finger on the trigger.
 He never knew how 1t was that he happened to awake Just at the criti- cal moment. But he opened his eyes suddenly and very wide. There, bend ing above him, and seen dimly by means of a smouldering pine knot which had rekindled after he had dropped off to sleep, was the form of a negro man. He was reaching for Harold's rifle at the very moment that Harold awoke so startled.
 Seeing Harold's eyes open, the negro sprung backwards few feet, then he made lunge forward to get the gun. But Harold, wider awake than he had
 
 raised the rifle to his shoulder, crying out at the same moment: Hands up or I'll fire"
 The negro threw up his hands with a rough growl. Then he began to step backwards towards the half open door. Harold understood his in tention and commanded in sharp tones: Don't move another inch or I'll fire.'
 Then he got up. gun still cooked, and went to the door himself. Then ad- dressing the great black fellow, who stood muttering curses, he said: q shall go outside the cabin. There's no other opening save the door. I shall remain just few paces from the door. and if you attempt to come out-well. you know what to expect"
 Then Harold went backwards to the door, stepped outside and drew the door shut behind him. He then stepped backwards to a place directly in front of the door and took his seat on a blackened stump which had done service before as a seat.
 And there Harold sat till the dawn came creeping over the world. and the sun shot its rays above the gray messed trees. Only once had the ne- gro prisoner in the cabin dared to ap- proach the door, and seeing his war den. gun in hand. he returned to his place beside the fireplace. After sun- up, Harold stepped to the door and spoke through it. Now, my man. tell me the truth. Are you an outlaw ? Have you escaped from prison?"
 For moment silence within. Then the negro, probably thinking 1t would frighten his youthful keeper, said boastingly: Sure, I'm from de pen. I broke out three weeks ago. Tin run min out'n dis country I done stold d hoss and some chickens. I done went to de pen foh five years. I broke out ditch three years"
 Well, I reckon youll get back where you deserve to be, my fellow. I'm going to have you walk into town and I'll follow close behind you. If you've just two years more to serve, why don't you go back and take your
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-07-30

were others hiding about. This might be their fort, this little old log cabin in the clearing.
 Harold turned back into the cabin and picked up his rifle. He felt that this weapon was his only safeguard. He examined the load to see if 1t were ready for use--in the event of his having to use it for self-protection. Then, gun beside him, he sat down near the glowing pine-knot blaze in the fireplace and ate his evening re- past. The meal consisted of cold pork and corn pone. And some water from the water bottle refreshed him after he had partaken of the food.
 Darkness settled down, and Harold's strained ears heard not another sound of footsteps. Occasionally the cry of catamount would break the stiffness. But no sound of human being came to confirm his fears that d man perhaps an outlaw-was lurking about his cabin.
 Towards ten o'clock Harold's light began to give out. He did not wish to go in search of more pine knots for he feared an encounter with the
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-07-30

" AROLD WRIGHT was a very
 happy boy when he obtained
 his fathers permission to make tramp trip through one of the far Southern states in quest of in- teresting photographs. Harold was an amateur photographer and had many albums filled with proofs of shis ar | tistic photography. And not only did he enjoy this commendable pas time, but he found 1t lucrative as well, selling many of his "art-photographs to the editors of weekly periodicals. and occasionally taking a prize in some amateur photographers contest It had long been Harold's desire to wander into some unknown region, and there get pictures of Nature in her wildness. He had contemplated visit to the desert lands of southern California and Arizona, but decided the scenery there would not be so full of variety and interest as in the swamp lands of the South.
 Harold started on his tramp trip by going on the train to the border of the state whose uninhabited lands he wished to explore. There he set out on foot. He had good rife, ca pacious knapsack, watch, compass, and his fine kodak And more than all, he had his courage. He meant to keep within a half-day's walk of some town or plantation, and began making inquiries along the road, jotting down such data in his pocket memorandum book as might be of use to him.
 The way he chose lay through a thickly wooded region. swamps filled with cypress trees and gaunt oaks draped in gray moss. At times liar old had difficulty in finding footing, but he did not turn back until he found his way entirely cut off by a deep quagmire or bottomless-like swamp. He took many pictures, find ing the scenery past description. While everywhere was waste and waste, still 1t was picturesque. promising waste. Some day these marshes and swamps would be dry, fertile land. for such was Mother Natures way of building
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-07-30
Scared by the Cooking.

HA BERTHA NIMMONS was prepar- ing to give a party on the pretty green lawn which surrounded ~ her home. Several of her young friends were assisting her. and her mother and young brother Ned were of the helpers. Of course, Mrs. Nim- mons did the managing of every thing, even to the hanging of lanterns In the right places. She had given 50 many lawn and porch parties that she knew just how to go about it in every little detail.
 But the work had not progressed very far before Bertha discovered that her little brother Ned's assistance eould well be dispensed with. He was Ptumbling over things, upsetting and breaking things. and making himself bit of bother everywhere.
 "Oh Neddie, please go out and play pail with the Grady kids" cried Ber- ha. we don't need you here."
 But I want to stay and help" in- isted Ned. Its tosbe my party, too. sn't 1t, Mamma ?"
 Mrs. Nimmons smiled an affirmative. Of course you are to enjoy the party, lear" she said. "But-you must be areful not to interfere with our work. (ou just now broke a wire had ot of trouble fixing between two trees or our lanterns"
 "Oh, didn't mean to do it," apolo- ized Ned "But-say. Mamma. if o away now and stop bothering about he work, may I help to serve the ices nd cake tonight?"
 "Yes, run along," smiled indulgent IT'S. Nimmons. And don't come back ere till either Bertha or l call you Well, that won't be till it's time for he guests" laughed Bertha. "Ned's he greatest bother when we're get ng ready for party l ever saw. oodness knows what he'd do if he eren't watched closely. Say Mamma, ow do you like the flags draped here yer the music stand?"
 very pretty indeed" declared Mrs. immons. pausing in her work to in- Pect Bertha's fiag-draped music and.
 Then the work progressed till late
 the afternoon, and at four o'clock. was in readiness for the party which puld begin at half-past eight. Mrs. mmons and Bertha went off to their pms to rest bit before dressing for
 ner and the lawn party. The girls Q had been assisting with the prep
 Ions went to their respective he's to do likewise.
 Ned, who had run off to play ball
 h the Grady kids" returned just hi5 mother and sister had gone into
 house. He decided to look about
 grounds and see if the decorations
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-07-30

about among the swamps for months" {" one planter had told Harold. They seem to steal enough at the farms and towns of nights to feed 'em during their hiding. Bloodhounds can't get 'em, for they lose themselves in the swamps."
 Harold went to the door of the cabin and peered without. As he did so he was sure that he saw a tall dark form dodge behind clump of bushes. The cabin stood in 8 clearing, and there were remnants of an old garden and a patch of corn in the rear.
 Harold felt a little shiver creep up his backbone. He did not like the idea of being there in that lonely spot with an escaped convict-perhaps a understanding about, peeping in on him as he slept. And maybe there
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-07-30
K OurPuZZle Corner x x
LETTER ENIGMA.

My first is In duke, but not in earl: My second Is in hair, but not in curl:
 My third Is in comb, but not in brush:
 My fourth is in stop. but not in hush:
 My fifth is the same as my second, you'll see:
 My sixth is in oak, but not in tree: My seventh is in ink, but not In write:
 My eighth is in day, but not in night:
 My ninth Is in river, but not fin flow:
 My tenth is in yeast, but not in dough: My whole deals with words One should choose with great care: They are found in book Which is sold everywhere.
 PRIMAL ACROSTIC
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-07-30

dark form he had seen hiding behind the bushes. He decided to break up an old homemade table and bench that were in the cabin and use bits of them to keep the fire ablaze. He dreaded being left entirely in the dark. He had closed the cabin door, ai.d had found a wooden latch which he slid into place. But it was a rickety latch, and let the door stand slightly open a crack wide enough for a man to thrust his hand through. In vain did Harold try to prop the door securely shut by using one of the table legs. One of the rusty hinges gave way as he worked with it. and the door re- mained in a very unsafe position. It would keep animals out-such anil mals as lived about in the swamp lands. But it would not keep out a
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-07-30

shop fashion. Looks as nice as the ten-cent store," observed the man servant, Parsons by name.
 Say. Parsons. you've got an eye for pretty things, haven't your" Ned asked the question in a voice of sar- casm. He didn't relish his display of curios being llkened to a ten-cent store.
 But Parsons did not understand his young masters irony and replied in a satisfied voice: "Yes, Master Ned. always know when things look nice. I'd ruther look through a ten-cent store than to go through the finest shop on the Avenue. There's always
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-07-30

covered boxes of bonbons to be given as favors to the girls.
 "Ah. I have it!" Ned slapped his knee with joy. "I'll have watermelons. And I'll cut 'em myself, into long slices. like the darkies do. And I'll hand slice to each guest before Mamma and Bertha get their refresh ments out. Otherwise. they'd all be so full they'd not enjoy my treat"
 Then Ned capered off down the street towards the market. There he bought four large melons and had them de- livered at once. When Cook toolcsthem in at the kitchen door her eyes opened. But Ned was there to explain and to
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-07-30

The wise old man is not looking for lost money. He keeps his money secreted about his person. Can you find it?
 DIAGONAL.
 This diagonal contains six words of six letters each. If the words are rightly guessed and written one below another their diagonal letters. begin ming with the upper left-hand letter and ending with the lower right hand letter, will spell something that grows in meadows for cattle to eat. The cross words are: l. herd of domestic animals. 2. A blossom. 8. Blizzards and cyclones. 4. Appara- tuses arranged for holding fire and distributing heat. 5. The name that was commonly given to ships used for slave traffic. 6. A very near of kin.
 ANSWERS TO Ll ZIGZAG PUZZLE: Septe mber. Cross-loords, 1. Smile 2. Leaty. 8. Ropes. {. Spots. 5. Stone. 6. Frame. z. Robin. 8. Bedrs. g. River.
 CHARADE: CurtaiI q. Cur. 3. TaiD.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-07-30

And live the children near?
 For children are your best-est friends:
 They love you, fond and true:
 And though folks say you don't exist.
 The children know you do.
 And in the night, when lights are out.
 If little ones feel fear,
 They quickly think of Fairies good. And feel that they are near. And if Fairy comes to stop With children through the night. They go to sleep so happily. Fen though there be no light. So, Fairies dear, Up in the sky, Why don't you fly down here? Why don't you come to dear old Earth And live the children near?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-07-30
ADDITIONS.

1. Add the letter s to a domestic animal and get atbottomed square ended boat.
 2. Add the letter S to place where domestic fowls are kept and get a shovel-like implement used for dip ping things.
 8. Add the letter s to thin, black fabric and get to rub the surface of anything with a rough or sharp in strument.
 4. Add the letter to the highest point of a mountain and get to articu- late words.
 MONEY PUZZLE.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-07-30

TIN the woods a picnic party
 Boys and girls so gay . With their baskets heavily laden, Out to spend the day. In the pasture hornless calf-y, Browsing on the green, By the little picnic children Suddenly is seen. Screams from both the boys and
 girlies, As they run in fright: "There's @ wild bull coming for us! ('Twas a funny sightD And as the children ran off quickly Calf-y stood and blinked: Then as truth did dawn upon him, He shook his tail and winked. And In real calf-y language Did he soliloquize: Among those little city kidlets Not one of them was wise Enough to know how fast I'd go If but they'd run towards me, And shake their fists and cry. 'GeI
 outi'
 Why, I b'lieve I'd climb a tree"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-07-30
Rarity ef Crime in Japan.

H HE Japanese police have a much
 H easier time than their confreres
 - in Europe. Crime in the land of the chrysanthemum is almost limited to theft and tragedies, or serious cases of bodily harm resulting from street brawls.. It is next to impossible, the chief of police of Tokio says. for a murder to be committed without some one hearing of it at the moment. This
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-07-30

is due to the fact that the houses are composed of paper and bamboo, so that any noise in a house occasioned by robbers or. assassins would not fail to attract the attention of neighbors. The police forces of nearly all the larger Japanese cities are quite small when compared to those of the cities in this country.
New-York tribune., 1911-11-09
TELLS OF VESTS GROWTH
Farming Possibilities Described
by Hill Line Official.

A. NJ. Cleland general passenger agent
for the Northern Pacific Railway Com
pany. which has already carried away
more than its share Of prizes al the Land
Show at Madison Square Garden, bemoans
the fact that the people of the East know
so little about the West
''It is really unfortunate" he said yes
terday. at the Waldorf that Americans
don't more fully understand what is in the
Yellowstone for instance. There are baths.
hot springs falls there that can't be found
anywhere else in the world.
Again, take what the East knows about
Montana. The average person here would
tell you he had always thought Of It as a
barren plain, broken by by nothing in par
ucular. As matter Of fact, it is one Of
the garden spots Of the country. Mon
tana took the silver cup 1T the Land Show
for its wheat, barley. oats and alfalfa"
a new hotel Of so rooms-the Grand Cam
yon Hotcl-was opened in July, Mr.. Cleland
said near the northern BOUNDARY Of Vel
lowstone Park, and another. to be known
as the Mammoth Hot Springs, would take
about two years.
70 keep pace with the growth which such
buildings typihed, Mr.. Cleland continued.
the Northern Pacific had opened up a line
running from the Columbia River, east Of
Portland, 80 miles into the centre OF ore
gon about a year ago. and was now con-
structing new branches I'm North Dakota
and Montana. These lines, he said, opened
up wonderfully rich countries. especially
adapted to the raising OF grain and fruit
New-York tribune., 1911-11-09
Fall River Youth Arrested Here
Relates Thieving Exploits.

Young I'm years. but old in crime. Thomas
p. Coyne. alias John Harrington. was taken
10 Fall River. Mass. yesterday by Inspec-
tors Shea and Began Of that city, who
identified him as the person who robbed the
home of Nathan Durfee, I'm Fall River, in
April. 1910. COyne was arrested here on
Saturday afternoon by Inspector Hughes,
of the West 3Oth street station, after he
had made several attempts TO pawn a
valuable gold watch.
While the prisoner was waiting for the
Fall River officers TO take him away he
told his life story. The mania for thieving
attacked Coyne when he was twelve years
old for then It was that he was first ar
rested for stealing two rabbits and sent to
a reform school. Seven months after his
release, in 1906. he was convicted of enter
ing a Massachusetts iewelry store and
carrying away $4,000 i'm goods.
Coyne told Of how once he decided TO
quit the game" and "do the right thing"
An ex-convict kept bounding him. however
and finally induced him to take up an en-
tirely new line of thievery. The youth by
dint of his fine appearance and elegant
dress would attend dances, weddings and
receptions in the guise Of guest and al
most invariably would succeed i'm making
rich haulS
He worked the guest game" in many
towns Of Massachusetts. Connecticut and
Rhode Island. but finally the police got so
hot on his trail he came to this city to get
ont of their WaV
New-York tribune., 1911-11-09

would care to say from our side. We
have always believed i'm the business and
equity of the plan as submitted. We
felt sure that our position was absolute
ly tenabe and we felt perfectly safe in
leaving our case within the jurisdiction
Of the court where it properly belonged.
The Supreme Court laid down rules
under which the dsintegration should
take place. and we have conformed with
them. OF course, we cannot feel less
than gratifed that the Circuit Court
here, with whom the matter rested, has
passed favorably upon our plan"
Independent tobacco interests did not
receive the decision with favor. and it
was said last night that they would
make an effort to bring the matter be
fore the Supreme Court. Felix H. Levy.
who with Louis -. Brandeis. of Boston.
represents a number Of organizations Of
Independent tobacco men. said:
"The disposition which the Circuit
Court has made in this matter is un-
satisfactory. and | shall advise the in
terests which I represent To take such
steps as may be necessary to procure 4
review by the United States Supreme
Court"
New-York tribune., 1911-11-09

Bright colors usually bloom
in the spring. goa-,
But this season is an excep-
ton.
More striking coIors and pat.
terms in Fall suits than ever.
Such Autumn landscape cf-
fects as rich deep browns, with
"a tinge of red; dark brown
diagonal patterns sprinkIed
with golden threads; I Scotch
mixture effects of green,t fea
and brown. &s4
And lots Of blues, some with
a suggestion Of red or gold.
Of course we've hosts Of
quieter patterns-,lnusuallya at.
tractive gray mixtures, for ey.
ample.
Fall and Winter suits-slS
to S4S. l'oettl
Overcoats, too, q bloom
brightly.
Besides being most comfort
able-warm but not heavy.
ROGERS PEET & COMPANY
Three Broadway Stores
Warren St. 18th St. 34thSt