davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Springfield herald., 1912-03-22
SYNOPSIS.

Abner Halliday. a miserly millionaire.
is found gagged. bound and insensible in
his room. his safe rified and $4,000 miss
ing. The thread of the story is taken up
by his nephew Tom. Living in the same
house are other relatives: reckless Bruce
Halliday and pretty Glare Winton. Bruce.
who Is a bond broker. has been trying to
raise $4,000 to put through deal and
save himself from financial ruin. He has
applied to his miserly uncle and to others
for the loan but has been refused. Tom
sends for William LeDuc an old-time
friend connected with a detective agency.
In relating the story Tom reverts to his
acquaintance with Mrs. Dace. wealthy
widow. whose business agent is Richard
Mackay. boodler and political boss.
Tom is jealous of Mackay and is deeply
in love with Mrs. Dace. Bruce Halliday
warns him to shun her as an adventures.
Tom sees Mrs. Dace and Mackay togeth-
er. He afterwards meets the woman at
horse race. and. happening to mention
that Bruce had tip the winner. she
gives him 500 to place on the race. The
tip goes wrong and she loses her money.
Later Tom invests in stocks. He makes
come money, and returns the lost $500 to
Mrs. Dace. 1t is at this juncture that the
theft of the $4,000 from old Abner Halli--
day occurs. lie Due meets Glare and
Bruce. He learns that the key which
Glare had to the house is missing. Mac
kay's dealings with Mrs. Dace make Tom
Mso sotdV. v7ovdws. .o.u id cmfw nm
The Springfield herald., 1912-03-22

! writing is also a fair counterfeit. Any
way it is good enough to fool almost
any one, and | do not blame you in
the least for having been deceived.
Don't feel worried about it, for it is
not your fault at all. Nevertheless.
there is something wrong about it and
| don't understand it l thrust the
card into my pocket and returned to
my rooms a great deal more perpleXed
than I had been when l left them.
Hastily | attempted to run over in
my mind the people who could by any
possibility have had access to my
private stationery, but was obliged
to dismiss that thought when | real
lied that my cards were scattered
quaintances and that my card case
containing a number of them was still
missing The field of possibilities in
this direction was too large for me
to form even a remote conjecture, and
| was drawn to the conclusion that it
in all probability was the work of
some clever sneak thief who had
found my card case and then written
the note upon it. But even that was
an explanation which explained
nothing. Granting that petty rascal
had picked up the cards containing
my name and address, how was he
able to so closely counterfeit my
handwriting; and more mysterious
than all else, how did he know that l
The Springfield herald., 1912-03-22

say the thief had key to the front
door. How do you account for an
outsider possessing that?"
wondered If she had forgotten
the incident OF my keys having been
for some days in the possession of
the maid and the possibility of du-
plicates easily made from the original
I hesitated for a moment as / idly
turned the pages of book that she
might have time to recall this circum
stance, but she merely sat placidly
surveying me and / thought 1t would
be better taste not to mention it. Her
confidence in Janet seemed to be
complete, and OF course In matters Of
this kind II the maid was guilty her
mistress would be the last one in
whom she would confide. therefore
decided to abandon the subject for
the time.
II do not attempt to account for 1t"
returned slowly. But as must be
apparent to you, my cousin Bruce is
under suspicion in some quarters, and
believing from the bottom OF my heart
that he is innocent, I am trying to
evolve q theory which will let him
out despite his own obstinacy and
seeming determination to keep him
self in. was merely trying to dis
cover all possible leaks through which
the information might have escaped.
l have told Mr.. LeDuc everything and
you need not be surprised II he calls
upon you. But he is gentleman and
you need have no hestancy about
talking to him freely"
She appeared trife annoyed at
this prospect. but after a moments
reflection, wherein her brow was
clouded, she drew long breath.
Poor Bruce" she said sympathetical-
ly. ut would be shame II he should
somehow get dragged into this. In
the few times met him ! learned to ad
mire him very much. 1t is impossible
that he is guilty. simply know he is
not. l sincerely hope that he may
clear himself without publicity"
Amen" I responded heartily.
The Springfield herald., 1912-03-22

find it. Growing more and more I'M
patient as | searched among my
things | at last removed all that the
closet contained, article by article.
and laid them on the bed. The suit
that was looking for was certainly
missing.
sat down and thought. | remem-
bered distinctly the last time had
worn it, and had an equally clear
recollection of replacing it in its ac.
customed place at the end of the day.
l was positive that i had not touched
1t since that time and it's absence now.
as far as | was able to reason, could
only be explained on the theory OF
theft. ! went downstairs to Mrs. Teb-
bets to question her about IT., and
happening to recall that she had ex-
pressed her admiration of 1t upon
seeing it upon me for the first time,
l now described 1t to her as the SUIT
which I had worn on Derby day. She
answered me very promptly:
why, yes. That is the one you
sent me word about yesterday. l let
the man have it as you told me to In
the note"
/ looked at her in mystilcation,
knowing that l had sent her no note
and being at loss to grasp her
meaning. what note-what MANI l
demanded. She stood rubbing her
damp hands with towel and seem
The Springfield herald., 1912-03-22
CHAPTER XII.

I went back to the house. Glare
her voice mingled with Bruce's on
the lawn below. Uncle Abner had
arisen and was carefully examining
his papers as he rearranged them in
their customary order. He had been
hurt but little, and now that his blood
was circulating freely again and the
stiffness was disappearing from his
limbs he was not suffering bodily to
amount to anything. But his humor
was beastly. The look with which he
greeted me as l entered was almost
carnivorous.
This is what comes of housing fly
by-nights who spend their money stay
ing in hotels when they should be at
home in the beds which they have al
ready paid for he snarled. "lf you
had been here 1t would not have hap
pened ! don't believe there was more
than one thief, and he could not have
held you if you had any fight in you
He probably would not have tried
it. At any rate, had ! resisted l
would have stood an excellent chance
of being killed. Men who enter the
houses of others to commit crime at
night know that they hold their own
lives in the hollow of their hands and
are prepared to meet resistance with
bloodshed," returned somewhat icily.
But the GOODNESS of my tones only
made his wrath flame the hotter.
"It don't make any difference. 1t
was your business to be here when
you knew there was so much money
in the house instead Of running away
like a coward and leaving me to pro-
tect 1t all alone. And I suppose you
expect you will inherit some of it
after l am gone. but I'll show you"
he yelled. The direct intimation that
he would ignore me upon his death
bed, and that he considered my life of
less consequence than a fraction of
his wealth, turned me from him with
out word.
| went to my own room, where l
stood at the window looking upon
the grounds below. Bruce and Glare
were wandering aimlessly about and
even at that distance | could see the
worry that lay upon her face. AS for
Bruce. he seemed to have recovered
a good deal of his old-time assurance.
But presently he turned away with a
The Springfield herald., 1912-03-22
CHAPTER XII.

A few days later there happened a
little incident SO inexplicable and irri-
tating in its character that 1t caused
me considerable annoyance and
thought. 1t was one of those peculiar
occurrences that one does not care
anything about in itself. yet which
exasperates him because of his In
ability to explain 1t. 1t so happened
that desired to wear certain SUIT
Of clothes which l had purchased a
short while before, and with that pur-
pose before me went into the closet
where kept my spare apparel hang
ing in order to get 1t out. l could not
The Springfield herald., 1912-03-22
ingly a little impatient at my stupidi-

ingly little impatient at my stupidi-
ity.
THE note on your card which you
sent me only yesterday saying that
/ was to give 1t to the tailor" she re-
torted. l could only repeat somewhat
more emphatically that l had done no
such thing.
She threw down her towel with a
sniff and began rumaging about
among the odds and ends of shelf.
Presently she picked up a small piece
Of cardboard, which she handed me
with an expression Of triumph. Very
well. Just read 1t for yourself then.
II that is not your card and writing
cannot trust my eyes. and II can
not trust my eyes the Lord knows
what / can trust. And that is all I
have got to say about that" l seized
the piece of paper and glanced at 1t.
1t WAS certainly either one of my
cards or perfect imitation, and hav'
ing satisfied myself on that point
turned 1T over and saw written on the
back few lines, which while certain
ly bearing a strong resemblance to
my chirography when ! scribble In
| hurry. were as certainly not mine
They read: Mrs. Tebbets: Please to
deliver to the bearer. who is In the
employ of my tailor, the suit OF
clothes l wore on Derby day that he
may press the same. Thomas Halli
day"
For a moment | was too surprised
to do more than turn 1t over in mute
incredulity. Then | turned upon her
sharply.
What kind of looking mar
brought this?"
He was short and fat. l guess
he was about as old as you are.
thought at the time that he looked
funny in the eyes, but / did not lei
him in the house and did not pay
much attention to him. l am always
careful about admitting strangers, yo,
know. It is all right. isn't it?'
mo. there isn't anything right abou
It, 1t is plain, unmitigated. unadul
terated forgery. Did he say anything
more to you?" Her chin dropped.
We'll. of all things! To think o
the impudence of people nowadays
No. sir, he said scarcely a word ant
never did like the looks of him. He
just took the clothes and went away
as fast as he could. and l nevel
thought Of 1t again. But that is Ger
tainly your card, isn't IL, Mr.. Tom
1t looks Just like those l used to SCI
on your dresser" 1t was plain tina
she was beginning to be distressed
and ! hastened to reassure her.
THE card is either mine or yer.
clever imitation, | am not quite cer
tain of which as yet. But In al
probability is 1t one of mine. Th
The Springfield herald., 1912-03-22

clothes saturated with blood Mrs
Runge screamed and rushed to the
cradle of the older child. The father
joined her and the distracted mother
lifted the bloody hand of the second
child from the covers.
Drs. Frank p. McGunn and A. G..
Brell were called and the battle to
save the babies lives was begun. II
was found impossible to save EN-
mett's life. He died in few hours.
The doctors declare the teeth
wounds to be those Of rat. Relatives
were expressing doubt as to whether
the rodent could have climbed into the
cradles when Mrs. Runge suddenly
rose from IL chair beside her sick
child and screamed to her husband:
''Henry-behind you. the rat"
In corner of the room close to q
hole In the rotted floor large slate
colored rat crouched, his small eyes
glittering. Mrs. Runge had tainted;
one of the watchers threw a missile
at the animal and it vanished
The Springfield herald., 1912-03-22

curt nod while she stood for mo-
ment watching him with pathetic
little clasping of her hands; then
turned and came hurriedly into the
house. l intercepted her at the head
of the stairs and signalled for her to
come into my apartments. She did
SO. seating herself in chair that
drew for her. We'll" l said inquir-
ingly. She shook her head.
Sympathetically / continued: at
is really too bad and l don't under
stand 1t either. Nobody in the world
has more confidence in Bruce's hon.
esty than have. and II he would only
speak l would believe him against a
host of circumstances. But there are
certain things which he as a man
should come forward and explain. He
did not produce the key and denied
ever having had 1t. while I know 1t
was in his possession yesterday. The
only thing we could get out of him
was his permission for us to go to an
uncomfortable place. Have you any
idea of how he became possessed of
the key to the house which / saw him
have yesterday"
II have not-assuming that you are
right. We have been talking that same
matter over and he says he had no
key in his side coat pocket and never
carries one there. I know that never
gave him mine, and its disappearance
at this time can be nothing more than
strange coincidence. He also denies
that he ever at any time had posses
sion of my key, and am satisfied that
he did not for the reason that if he
had l should have missed it. | don't
care snap what anybody thinks or
says: | know Bruce is as puzzled over
your charge that he had 1t as you
seem to be over his denial" Her
mouth set defiantly and | knew she
would defend him to the last ditch
should 1 attack him. which, of course,
had not the remotest idea of doing.
ing, hoping to reason him out of his
stubbornness through argument ad.
vanced to her.
Il know that his denial proves
nothing any more than does the fact
of his going broke on change, or his
making that silly remark that he was
going to get $4,000 some way. Meth
er would his refusal to tell us where
he spent the night prejudice me. al
though it might seem somewhat sin.
gular, and under the circumstances
be sufficient to arouse suspicion in
those who do not know him. But the
combination of all these things places
him in position before LeDuc which
regret to see him occupy. You and l
have often discussed his outspoken-
ness, and you have said that he did
not know that there was a back door
to anything. 1t is his present COM
plete reversal of form and his evident
desire to cover up something that
ought to be revealed that puzzles me.
Why don't he come out as he has al
ways done before and tell us where
he was at the time this happened? If
for any reason he does not care to
tell you, he at least might conflde In
me, knowing as he does that any
secret would be safe in my keeping.
Then I could investigate his state
ment merely as matter of form, and
having found 1t true l could satisfy
LeDuc or anybody else without going
into particulars. II on the other
hand there is any reason why he don't
care to take you or me into his con-
fidence, he could at least talk to Le-
The Springfield herald., 1912-03-22
wooes Thirty Years, Then weds.

Noblesville, Following court.
ship of thirty years during which the
bridegroom called on the bride twice
week. with the exception of one
month, when he had typhoid fever,
James b. Sturdevant at last. popped
the question to Miss Anna Earl and
they were married in this city the 9th.
er day. The bridegroom is forty-three
and the bride thirty-six. They have
been lovers since they were in school
together. Sturdevant is farmer and
a heavy stockholder in several tele
phone companies In the county.
The Springfield herald., 1912-03-22
RAT BITES BABIES
WHILE THEY SLEEP
Snaps Arteries in Their Wrists
as They SIumber in Their
Basement Home.
ONE INFANT DIES
Animal Then Turks Near Scene
Young Mother Of Children Faints
When She Sees differing
Eyes of the Rodent
Watching Her.

Chicaxo.-Sorrow pervaded the base
ment residence of the Runge family
at 2O42 Dayton street the other day.
In the small barely furnished living
room the body of Il three-months-old
baby girl. tiny. waxen, lifeless fig
ure. lay.
Baby Emmett was dead. killed by n
large rat that entered his crib and
severed one OF the infants arteries
with one snap of its sharp teeth.
In another room the nineteen-year-
old mother, Mrs. Johanna Runge.
nursed an older baby, who moaned fit
fully and held up small bandaged
hand Charles, fourteen months old.
her first born. WAS the second victim
Of the rat. which attacked the two
Infants as they slept
Charles Is healthy normal child
who was never sick before. Three
phyicians In attendance were power
less to aid him beyond cauterizing an
ugly wound in the hand. and blood
poisoning at any moment may wrest
tho baby from Its mothers arms.
Early in the morning as the young
family slept the rat crawled into the.
three basement rooms in which tho
Runges reside. The father Henry
Runge, who is twenty-four years old.
got up once shortly after midnight to
look at his babies. They were sleep
Ing peacefully, Emmett in his crib at.
the foot OF the parents bed and
Charles in a larger cradle in an ad-
Joining room. The father returned to
bed and neither parent awoke again
that night
At six O'Clock Mrs. Runge arose to
prepare breakfast for her husband.
Emmett was lying in his crib. the
The Springfield herald., 1912-03-22

played the rests excellently. This is,
however, real praise Of a sort. for 1t
is not every young student of music
who is careful about playing the rests
well. Indeed great many players
seem to forget that the rests are just
as much OF the piece as is the punctu-
alton in a sentence. Nowadays peo-
pie do not put In so much punctuation
as they used to do. but the pauses in
the voice are there Just the same and
are readily understood by good read
ers, and always regarded. The rests
The Springfield herald., 1912-03-22

wiches with jam for filters ready for
him. He loses no time in getting away
with the goods. In his eagerness and
haste some Of the jam sticks to his
lips and about his mouth. He is the
picture of conteDted boy when he
gets through.
Then his mother applies a damp
napkin and removes the overflow Jam
from his face. After this she kisses
the youngster and he is of to school
Maybe l am an old fogy and bit
sentimental. but that boy jam eater
and his mothers attention to him
The Springfield herald., 1912-03-22
10Y in SEEING BOY EAT JAM

don't mean one Of the fashion plates
that don't feel like taking him in my
arms. This boy speak Of comes from
school every day about the time get
to the cafe for my lunch. His mother
is cashier OF the place. A lot Of
sweets are on the counter behind
which she sits to take in the cash.
When her boy comes In he goes be-
hind the counter and climbs to high
stool His mother has a lot of sand
The Springfield herald., 1912-03-22
POSTGRADUATE Course.

Pretty Daughter-Now that I have
graduated, mamma. don't you think
ought to take postgraduate courser
Practical Mother-Certainly. my
dear, | have arranged complete
course for you in roastology. bake
ology. darnology. sewology. patch
ology, washology. ironology and gem
eral domesticology. Run along now
and get on your working harness.
The Springfield herald., 1912-03-22
In the River.

Little Fish-Ma, look how pa Is
squirming in the water! What's the
matter with him?
Mother Fish-There. the stupid!
told him to look out for those humans!
My child, your poor pas got the
hookworm!
The Springfield herald., 1912-03-22
Doctor Afraid of suroeon,

New York.-Dr. Samuel Short, one
of the most famous physicians in New
York. died rather than permit fel.
low surgeon to amputate his leg in
which blood poisoning had been dis
covered after he had stepped on
rusty nall
The Springfield herald., 1912-03-22

have made a regular customer for the
little cafe. Just how 1t happens that
the boy gets the same amount Of lam
on his face every day and In the same
place haven't figured out. and don't
care II / never do. We don't see
enough of this sort OF thing in this
busy life of the great city"
The Springfield herald., 1912-03-22
Rishops Are Sued.

Elkhart lnd.-George II. Lambert
has filed suit for 10000 against three
bishops of the Mennonite church for
libel as the result of trial which re-
suited in his being expelled from the
church
The Springfield herald., 1912-03-22
Peculiar Attraction That Lures Gus
toner to Particular Restaurant
Day After Day.

"A boy who eats jam all over his
face from eating is the cause OF my
taking lunch at the same place every
day." said a big man who carries a
sunburst in his countenGhce-
II have never forgotten when l was
q boy, and never see real boy-l
The Springfield herald., 1912-03-22
Suffrauettes Raise Eunda.

Washington.-Fund for woman
suffrage speakers to boost the initia-
tive, referendum and recall were
raised by a playlet written by Mrs
A S. Burleson, wife OF Representa-
tive Burleson of Texas.
The Springfield herald., 1912-03-22

ing that are needed to give express
sion to the sentences. IL the player
sights the rests or extends them too
long the whole effect OF the musical
sentence Is spoiled
The Springfield herald., 1912-03-22

Hospital Inmate for sixty-one Years.
Philadelphia.-Sara Keen. who lost
her memory following an attack of
smallpox. died at the Philadelphia
hospital where she had been an in.
mate for sixty-one years, Her rela.
tiveS are unknown.
The Springfield herald., 1912-03-22
Punctuation In Plano Playing.

A Joke is going the rounds OF the
press about the girl whose music
teacher wished to compliment her but
OF whom he could only say that she
Amarillo daily news. [volume] (Amarillo, Tex.) 19??-current, 1912-07-11
HERE At HOME
Amarillo Citizens Gladly Testify And
Confidently Recommend noan's
Kidney Pills.

II is testimony like the following
that has placed Doan's Kidney pills
so far above competitors When
people right here at home raise their
voice in praise there is no room left
for doubt. Read the public statement
Of an Amarillo citizen:
Robert Boatman. T. Second and
Pierce SITS. Amarillo. Texas. says
"Doan's Kidney Pills are a good kid
ney remedy and ! can strongly recon-
mend them. | was very lame across
the back when began taking Doan's
Kidney pills and they 500 limbered
me up got my supply of this reme-
dy from l. o Thompson a Co s.
Drug Store and since using b. am
ever SO much better am nor haN
ing those sharp twinges through my
body and my kidneys are in much
better condition
For sale by an dealers Price .o
cents Foster Nilhurn Co Buffalo
New York sole a1euts for the United
states.
Remember the name poar
aud take NO other
Amarillo daily news. [volume] (Amarillo, Tex.) 19??-current, 1912-07-11
HARTLEY COUNTY
DEvELOPM ENT
Crops and Livestock Prom
Use Enormous
Returns

By Daiy News staff Correspondents
Hartley Tez, July 100 Ia the
Loug-iloru cattle days Hartley vas
a name 20 coulure by peake lend
steers flat thanked COWS. aud spindle
shanked calves being wildly whooped
W On the ranges Dy wilder cowboys
held down by pound spurs in $50
saddle oIuChed on $50 rayuse
NoW after lapse of progressive
years Hartley s yot name 20 con.
iHre Dr. buf rhe rouIuriug done 1y
tho pointing fo accumulated fh0I-
sands of h.eh-bred. hIgh-fel and blsb
market priced cattle and 200 region
dotted farms OF prolific harvest
\ Hartley Farm.
Doc company with So b. Beaumont
one %. 90" oIHtimors aud active 100.
builders %. me Hartley region the
NaHs CORRESPONDENT visited f. lpu-
acre farm near Hartley rb. farm
ihs year Includes Boo cultivation over
10u acre. %. milo maize. go acres OF
baekrop cane. go acres of millet.
40 acre. of E, and D. acres OF al
GIta
TO-, mal. predicts grain yield OF
800 bushels 20 the acre or its equi
Wut Zoo head tonnage the cane all
ready has q stalk height OF from 30
90 o. inches. white rho milIer and ryo
are excellent
The mIlef is nov being cur for
hay some of D.. however. being held
for tbreshiug for seeding purposes
This land Hl' br at once replanted
with The same grain thus giving fNo
mllet crops fhis season
Tho ryo Us FIRST crop of This grain
Amarillo daily news. [volume] (Amarillo, Tex.) 19??-current, 1912-07-11
The Chnicc OF a Husband.

Is too important matter FOR a Rou
an 20 be hand ipped by weakness
bad blood or foul breath Aeoi.
these kill-hopes by taking DR. king
Life Pills New strength. fine com
pleN.on. pure breath. cheerful spiriu
things that win men follow theii
vse Easy safe. sure. &C az Amaril.,
Drug Storp
Amarillo daily news. [volume] (Amarillo, Tex.) 19??-current, 1912-07-11

peculiar and delicious karakule NUT
ton
The karBkule sheep thriyes as we'll
on the plans OF Hartley county. Tex,
as It does on It's native Russian
stppes