davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-24
s O'Clock in London

Ii was now o'clock and in those days no one could walk the streets of London after g without danger of his life. Even at this early hour of robberies and mnr- ders were of no uncommon occurrence
 The shops which lined the bridge on either side were closed and in dark places lurked the providers of the night awaiting their victims.
 Now and then behind him Will could hear the clash of swords or the cry of some poor wretch who was being robbed and probably murdered-by the night hawks.
 But he kept straight on. entering upon the wet and unpaved streets of the city, smet the stench arising from the offll emrtied into the kennels from the differ ent houses and left to purify in the close and heavy air.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-24
One Man Not Afraid

As it was, will looked intently at the unknown messenger, who looked as hl- tently at him.
 There was something beseeching in the strangers look. Apparently it was ;or Will Marks that he had come.
 The messenger was evidently a serving man of some sort and somehow-Wiu could not divine how-his employers had sent him to will for help in some emer- gency
 Well" said Marks. If nobody else puts in better claim to go. for the credit of the town am your man. In five minutes l snail be in the saddle-uness I am de- priving some other worthy man of the honor of the adventure-whieh l would not do for all the world"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-24

with Will and-and-why, of course, the rosy maid was sitting there too, by WIT 8 side-while the rowing rascal read out the latest witch news-freauenty inventing, I regret to say-to the astonished pumpkins who gathered around.
 And while he was reading these wild and narrowing articles the sly Will some how-how l do not know in the least and neither did he as matter of fact, neither she-WilIs disengaged arm seemed to steel around the waist of the blooming damsel while she bent her fair head over the paper which Will was reading.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-24
By the Light of Torches

Tt was we'll that Will lost no time il following the body into the church, fol the door was closed quickly.
 There was no light in the church saw that which came from two torches born. hv men in black cloaks who stood upoi the brink or an open vault.
 Each supported a woman upon his arm and maintained a profound silence. By this dim and solemn light the coffin was lowered into the tomb.
 Then one of the men wearing the cloak of mourning turned to Will. and, extend ing his hand, gave him a purse filled with gold.
 Will saw at once that those eyes which now looked at him were those which had shone upon him from beneath the black mask in the house at Putney. Will hesitated to take the gold.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-24
The Rewards of Virtue

This occasioned John Podgers much sorrow until one day, casting his eyes upon his housekeeper. who was old and afflicted with rheumatism, he procured her to be burned an undoubted witch. For this service to the state he was immediately knighted and became Sir John Rodgers.
 As for will, he married the buxom girl he loved, and lived happy ever after. He several times visited the church of St Dunstan. but never gained clew to the mystery of his adventure
 As he kept his secret from everyone excepting his wife, of course-he was obliged to spend his gold sparingly.
 Years and years after his marriage he and his wife were accustomed to talk. upon a stormy night. of Wilfs experi- ences with the masked men and the dead body of the two forlorn women. And it was a great comfort to them that the bones of the men who had hung upon the gibbet of kingston-whomever they might belong to--were now reposing in their ancestral tomb.
 Will had been given so much money that the impression is that he. like his uncle, came by a title for the nights adventure and bought baronetcy which was selling for reasonable sum.
 Next weeks one page classic will be st Romans We'll" by Sir Walter Scott.
 Copyright. 1912. by Irving King.)
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-24
No Place for q Married Man

There was burst of enthusiasm when the tall farrier-who notoriously beat his wife once week-deliyered a lecture upon the necessity of all married citizens stay ing at home and defending their wives and children.
 This burst of enthusiasm being over, the whole company looked as by common consent at Will Marks. who sat there smiling in unconcern. As they looked at Will they began to murmur, and at length the man cried out: Why not ask Will Marks?"
 Besides" growled one little red faced man, Ines a single man.
 Will gave another hug to the buxom lass at his side and, if everybody had not been looking at him, he would certainly have stolen another kiss.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-24
Two Stories to Tell

And the crowd was not bit disap- pointed at the tale which Will told. He described the witches dance to the most minute motion of their legs, and performed it in character on the table.
 With the assistance of a broomstick, he related how the body had been car- red off in copper cauldron.
 As for himself he had been so be- witched that he had only recently awakl ened to find himself lying under a. hedge. at least 10 miles off from King ston, whence he had straightway returned as they all beheld.
 Then Will made straight line for the house, where lived the rosy damsel, who was the choice of his heart and to her he told another story. That Is, he told it after she had cried over him and kissed him for several ninutesi When Will had told her the true story of his adventures, she was at first awe struck-and then. when he told her of the story he had told the towns peo- ple-the little mink actually laughed.
 And when she laughed she looked so sweet that Will showed her the bag of gold and-she named the day.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-24

Nevertheless" continued John, "there is a gentleman present who, having been all his life engaged in the manufacture of horseshoes, is most eminently qualified for the job
 Here he looked hard al the tall farrler, who turned pale and faltered out some thing about his wife and children.
 In short, one after another of the com pany was offered the perilous post and each and every one had some good and valid excuse for not accepting it.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-24
Calling for Volunteers

John, after a few minutes of delibera- tion said that while his powers as witch finder were well known and while he would be only too glad to oblige the good people of Kingston, yet he had a sad propensity to fall asleep.
 If he should attempt to watch beneath the gallows all night he would most as- suredly go of into slumber which would allow the witches to wsrk their will.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-24
BY CHARLES DICKENS
clustering by once. shrunk away f

clustering by once. shrunk away froi the cart and bade him proceed.
 At last Will made his way down Flee St.. and reached the Church of St. Dun stan. It was, an ancient and Gothi building.
 Directly as he stopped his cart fou men appeared from the shadow of i buttresses and, taking the coffin fro the cart, carried it into the churc while another man. notioning to Will follow into the sanctuary, mounted tn drivers seat and drove rapidly away Will never saw cart nor man again.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-24
Booming the Farrier's Trade

What his grace of Canterbury thought ,f the gift is not recorded in history.
 But the king returned to his loyal suo- ects who had sent him the priceless gift m answer in which he laid much stress 1pon certain protecting charms, especial- y horse shoes.
 This royal letter came, of course. to rohn Podgers, who delivered it to the au- .horities of his native village, and imme- liateIy the inhabitants began mailing up aorseshoes over their doors and apprcn- icing their children to farriers so that he trade of farrier became quite gen eel one.
 In the midst of this hustle John Podgers lte and slept as usual and Will Marks vent on making love.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-24

gbbet had been preached in full council had offered his services.
 Why had he been listening there? Who was he? Nobody knew. But with witches abroad nobody liked to ride after darlS, and so this strangers services were eager ly accepted.
 The sage functionaries were a little dis appointed to find that he brought back to them not the venerable John, but a gay young blade, who really did not look as if he believed in witches at all.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-24
Explicit Instructions

But they put the best face upon the mat ter and gave Will full instructions as 70 how he was to conceal himself beneath the gibbet and watch and listen for the witches
 And how at the proper moment he was to draw his sword, rush forth and cut and slash at them so vigorously that the suspected parties might be found bleeding in their beds the next day and thoroughly eohfounded
 Also they gave Will what was more to the purpose with him-a good supper.
 It was nearly midnight when all these things were done and the town fathers sailed forth to show Will the spot where he was to keep vigil.
 The night was dark and threatening. There was a rumble of distant thunder and low signing of the wind among the trees which was very dismai.
 The potentates of the town kept so close to Will that they trod upon his heels or toes or stumbled against his ankles at every step he took.
 At last they made a halt and pointed out black object through the murl< and gloom. It was the gallows. Then hastily they bade him good night and went upon the run back to the town.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-24

The masked man named such sum that Will saw himself rich for life. The cav alier explained that covered cart had been prepared for the purpose; the time of departure arranged; that the body was to be taken to St. Dunstan's church and that in reply to all questions Will should say that he was taking for interment the body of one who had just died of the plague.
 Men were more ready in those days to undertake adventure than they are now, yet Will hesitated. There was that rosy girl back there in the village, you will re- member who was so anxiously awaiting his return.
 Another gentleman masked like the first, came into the room and with him was the wretched wife of the victim of the gallows, whose tears flowed afresh.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-24

"Is it ye who have been weeping and wailing here beneath this gallows tree?" Will inquired,
 Tt is.'' replied the woman, and point ing to the younger woman, she continued, she mourns a husband and a brother
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-24
Circumstantial Details

The story which Will told in the town hall was so convincing that even the heaven born Hopkins. the greatest witch finder of the day, came down from London to hear further about A
 It was the best accredited witch story ever known and as such was published in a bookshop on London bridge. In small ouarto. with a picture of the boiling cauldron, in which the body of the dead malefactor had been carried away.
 On one point Will was particularly careful When they asked him to de- scribe the witches he had seen he de- scribe three impossible old women whose likenesses never were nor never will be.
 Thus he saved the lives of several suspected parties in Windsor and King ston. all of them old women. who were dragged before him for Identification
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-24
Over London Bridge

Then it suddenly struck Will that the good people of Kingston would certainly think that he had been carried off by .he witches If he remained away so long.
 He laughed aloud at the thought, but repressing his mirth and moved by com passion, good nature-and shall it be said by a thought of the promised reward which would make his union with the buxom village maid possible-the young man consented to all the arrangements which the men in the masks made.
 The following night, when it was quite dark, the hollow echoes of old London bridge responded to the rumbling of a cart which contained a ghastly load, the ob- ject of Will Marks care.
 Sufficiently disguised to attract no atten- tion, Will walked beside the cart horse $ head as unconcerned as a. man could be who was sensible that he had arrived at a perilous part of his undertaking.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-24
At St. Dunstan's Church

Many were the Interruptions which Will Marks encountered from these stra gglegs and providers. but when they were told that inside the cart was the body of one who had recently died of the plaques they slunk away.
 Even the City Watch. which came
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-24
Under the Gihhet

Will was left alone. He walked up to the gibbet and saw-certainly with satis- faetion--that nobody was hanging from it; only the rusty chains clanking as the night wind moved them.
 The town officials had assured him that the body of the dead gentleman who had incurred the Kings displeasure was still hanging there.
 After a careful survey of the premises Win placed himself with his back to the long shaft of the gibbet. He looseend lis sword and wrapped his cloak closer around him.
 The wind howed across the heath in wild gusts and the creaking chains dan ged above his head. The thunder storm rolled up and passed over with great flashes of lightning and portentous rolls of thunder.
 He did not believe in the superstitions of his time--but they had a great effect upon him nevertheless.
 He began to get nervous and longed for witch, 30 wtches--or a human being to appear before him to give him action. The suspense was becoming intolerable
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-24
Mysterious Service

The mystery of this service.'' replied the undaunted Will. 'bespeaks It's danger. What is the reward?'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-24
Latest News of the Witches

In front of the house of John Podsers vas a little porch where he used to -ii
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-24

Next weeks one page classic will be "St Romans Well.'' by Sir Walter Scott
 Copyright, 1912. by Irving King.)
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-09-24
MINE INSPECTED
At CARBON HILL
Henrico Property Reported On
by State Mine Official
Since Disaster.

State Mine Inspector Richard B.
Roane has made a report on his OFF,
cial inspection of the Carbon Hill Mine.
in Henrico County. operated by the Old
Dominion Development Company. This
mine was known as Clayton in former
years. and under other management.
Major Roane's report is as follows:
i. AS to ventilation and its diStribu-
ton to working face-Good. and dis
tributed through one split over and
through all of compartments.
2. AS to drainage-Good.
3. AS to coal dust-Practically none.
f. As to roof and timhering-Solid
timbering. heavy and good.
5. AS to explosive gas and black
damp-Gas in main working in small
quantities in shape Of fire damp.
s. AS to break throughs and stop
pfngs-Every forty feet on headings;
sixty feet in rooms.
Z. AS to doors and brattice-Of rock,
cement. brattice. wood and cloth.
g. AS to oil used-Lard.
9. AS to machinery and appliances
Good
10 As to electric wires-None.
IL. AS to dangerous practices-NoQe
to our knowledge.
IL. AS to ingress and egress-siope
and opening sufficient Exit now beinf
repaired. -.
10. AS to general safety-Fairly
good with ordinary care. which every
one should take.
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-09-24
W|FENOObSTACLE
WHEN STUDY CALLS
Married Men and Youths OF Fit
teen Enroll in Mechanics
Institute. I'd
ATTENDANCE WILL REACH 400
Metal-Workers Furnish Most
Students, While Factory En-
ployes Are Delinquent.
ATTENDANCE WILL REACH 400

That the call to self-betterment
knows no distinctions Of age or class
is evidenced by the enrolment at the
| Virginia Mechanics Institute. which
has been in progress since September
1S. Married men OF middle age have
| signed up for courses with youngsters
| Of fifteen. A large number Of the
pupils are between twenty-five and
! thirty years old. and the oldest en-
rolled student Is forty-two.
Figures compiled by Superintendent
Frank w. Duke last night indicate
that when the school opens for regu-
lar work next Monday 400 will have
registered for one or more Of the
mately 500 had filed applications for
instruction. accompanied by the norni-
nal entrance fees required by the In
stitution.
All students will meet tomorrow
night in the rooms assigned to- them
Tor the purpose of organizing classes.
Instructors will be in attendance for
Friday s nights from 1880 to $40 O'clock
The board and faculty will hold its
annual meeting at $50 o'clock Friday
night. and regular work will begin
Monday.
Draws From All Classes.
An examination Of the occupations
CT the applicants shows that practi-
cally every class Of labor Is represent
ed. Most of the students are drawn
ironworkers and apprentices in other
metal working Industries form the
bulk of the applicants. An unusually
large number has this year enrolled
include statesmen. clerks and office
employees taking special courses in
English. mathematis and allied
branches
the Enrolment is that very few have
entered from the factory ranks. Com
pared with the workers in the less
mechanical pursuits. the youths en-
ployed in feeding automatic machines
lacking in initiative and ambition. This
at least is the conclusion drawn by
Mr.. Duke from the insignificant en-
rollment from this class
Several New Courses.
several new courses. William c.
Blakey. who has been added to the
teaching force. will offer course IN
practical English which WILL Viii la wsisg
has hitherto been taught. J. H. STRIP
ling. engineer OF distribution with the
Virginia Railway and Power Company,
will have charge of a trade class m
electricity. This Is a new department.
designed to meet the needs OF prac-
teal electricians seeking further train
ing.
The classes in practical electricity,
frst-year bookkeeping and automobile
mechanism have already been filled.
and no more entries will be possible
until the next term. The other courses
have still a varying number OF Va
cancies.
Among the new men in the faculty
are: w c. Carrick. chief accountant
Of the Richmond. Fredericksburg and
Potomac Railroad, who succeeds z. NJ
ond- year bookkeeping: H. L. David
son. who takes the place Of DR.. A. A.
Hauser. resigned. as instructor In In
dustrial chemistry: and Joseph H.
Saunders, elected teacher of mathe-
mates to succeed G. Darlington Nose
ley, who has retired from the faculty.
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-09-24
HORSE IS STOLEN.
BUT COMES BACK
Police Chase Thief in Automo-
bile, but He Makes His
Escape.
Especial to The Times. Dispatoh.l

Especial to The Times Dispatchl
Alexandria, Va, September IA
thief last night stole q horse from the
stable OF r. e. Grover at the shipyard.
and after making an Intellectual effort
to dispose OF 1t at Q livery stable dis.
carded the horse In Fairfax County.
near the Episcopal Theological Semin-
airy. three miles west OF Alexandria
The animal subsequently returned to
the owners stable. The thief eluded the
police by about three minutes. He was
chased in an autimobile by Chief Goods
and Sergt. Ferguson. The entire sur
rounding country was searched without
results. Sergt. Scott to-day went to
Fairfax County In search 0; the horse
thief, but failed to locate him. The
police have good description Of tho
man. He offered to sell the horse for
500.
A blackhand letter. dated September
II. and postmarked Philadelphia. was
received this morning by Andrew Cor
nelius. Annandale. Fairfax County. In
which the writer told Mr.. Cornelius
was stolen exactly one month ago to-
day from his farm in Annandale. The
letter was written. 1t was evident. by
a foreigner. and at the bottom were
two crudely drawn black hands. Tho
address given at the bottom Of the
missive was williston, Chester County.
Pa. Mr.. Cornelius notified the local
police Of the receipt OF the letter.
He has so much faith in the letter
that he departed this afternoon for
and expressed hope that
he will be able to recover the stolen
animal The writer Of the letter Mr..
Cornelius thinks he knows.
The Episcopal Theological Seminary
Of Virginia will reopen Wednesday
with twenty new students.
Lewis Jones, colored. was arrested
to-day by the authorities Of Alexandria
County on suspicion of having stoned
late trains out OF Washington Satur-
day night last He will be given a
hearing in the county tomorrow
morning
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-09-24
COINS THE
NEWEST OF
new WORDS
Dictionary Designer Is Author OF
Spizzerinktum-You Need 1t
In Your Business.

When you were little you used to "pla,
at being things
Should YOU now Backward, turn back
ward, o time in its flight" Of all the wild
fancies YOU could conjure up, the occupa.
ton of a designer Of dictionaries and its
opportunities to influence the language
Of your fellow countrymen would probably
not be among them. Only think, how.
ever. what a fancifui time you could have
and the temptation you might yield to
in the matter Of coming new words;
Now this is the story OF a maker oil
books, who had for nearly twenty-five
years been proof to the lure OF becoming
an amateur photographer, only to yield
at the very last minute when urged BY
his friends to permit to be placed IN his
new dictionary one Of the words he had
coined for use in winning success IN the
business world.
That is the story Of the birth Of "Spiz-
zerinktum," word which experts claim
will live long and lusty life.
Wherever Frank r. Wright. publisher
Of Bibles. dictionaries and other high
class educational works-who has placed
his works in the homes Of the majority
OF the -four millions known, that
brain child Of his with the outlandish
name IS known also.
When Mr.. Wright sends man on any
mission he abbreviates the sense OF that
masterpiece. Il message TO Garcia, into
! one word OF four syilables. and the word
that is buzz;ng in the ear Of the one whom
he has charged with duty to perform
Is "spizzcrinktum-put some spizzerink-
tum in IL.
| When Kip!ing's soldier man told
'Gunga Din" to put some juldce in It.
he may have meant much the same thing
tia, Mr.. Wright meant when he hrst
said ''spizzcrinktum" in the presence of
Harry Thurston Peck, Phi. d.. Lit. D..
IL. d.. the authority on language, who
edited the New Websterian 1912 Die
tionary, Illustrated, which Mr.. Wright
has just published.
The force OF the word 50 impressed Dr..
Peck that he insisted upoa incorporates
!, in the dictionary. Mr.. Wright reluc-
family consented, and there Il is to-day:
'Spizzerinktum-vim,g 90, intense energy,
the overnasscring viii to succeed"
New a. Il Is. and striking a. Il Is, 4 Is
no, the only new OF striking feature 81
the New Websserian 1912 Dic;ioaafy.
Illustrated. which viii greet you after
opening the covers ~ the new lump
leather lexicon.
Thi. Dictionary Is NOT published By
the original publisher Of Wcbstr's DC.
tionary or by their SUCCESSORS.
SIX coupons and small expense bonus
viii gct this book, which The Times-Dis.
lpsseh . Gixing 70 90 resdesA
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-09-24
DEATHS

REID.-Died. Sunday. September -
WILLIAM S. REID. in the sixty
seventh year Of his age.
Funeral from Grace Eptscopal
Church TO-DAY at p. d. Inter
ment private.
SMITH.-Died. on September 1s. 1912.
at the residence OF Lewis W. Parker:
Esq. in Greenville. s c.. BETTY
HARRISON. daughter Of the late
Philip HARRISON. Esq. and Pellet o.
the late A. Austin Smith, Esq, both
formerly Of Richmond, Va
Interment at Greenville, 8. G.
Suddenly. HANNAH ".
STEIN. beloved wife Of Leon stein.
at her home. 1917 West Grace street
Funeral notice later.
GOODwIN.-Entered into life eternal
this (Tuesday) morning. at 1913;
o.clock- at her home. Thirtieth and
Spring Hill Streets. Woodland
Heights, MRS. PHILIP y. W. GOOD
WIN.
FUNERAL notice later.