davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1912-01-25

whined the voice from the sheets
Then as LeDuc. with an Indifferent
shrug Of his shoulders, arose as if TO
depart, the lean hand OF Cncie Abner
shot from beneath the coverlet and
hooked itself TO the tails of his coat
Very well, If you must take ad-
vantage Of sick man, I suppose will
have to submit. I'll be lucky if l don't
die in the poorhouse after all, the way
everybody imposes upon ne That
LeDuc was half inclined then and
there to throw up the proposition in
disgust I could tell by the curl Of his
lip, but after a second OF reflection
he turned to me with a little smile
which told me that he had made his
allowance for the nature of the man
with whom he was dealing.
Very we'll Sign this agreement
then" he commanded shortly, as he
handed the quibbler a paper and a
fountain pen. Carefully Uncle Abner
ran his colorless eyes over the printed
form, inserted the necessary words
and figures and affixed his signature
LeDuc thrust it into his pocket, and
first having his new client repeat
what lie had previously told the po-
lice, turned his attention to the room
without comment upon the statement
The safe he examined with infinite
attention to detail. The hole that
had been drilled in the combination
occupied his attention for at least ten
minutes in itself. He measured it,
peered into it as a terrier peers into
a rat hole, examined it by the aid of
a magnifying glass and actually
smelled of it. The shattered pieces Of
lock he examined slowly. bordering
over them for many minutes as he
slowly turned them around and
around in his hands. AS for the room
itself, the floor and the walls, he went
over them inch by inch, and having
at last finished that task asked me
to show him the closet in which I had
found the old man. In the hallway
saw him suddenly stoop and pick up
some small object which he thrust
huTriedly into his pocket without
showing it to me. Inside and out we
went over the house for a full hour,
and then at his suggestion returned to
my room where we seated ourselves.
I asked him if he had discovered any
thing.
Yes. The explosion occurred at
p minutes pastthree," he replied, as
he blew a long cloud of smoke. l de-
panded that he tell mo how he knew
that
Simply because the clock on the
mantle stopped at that hour I gave
it little shake when I noticed that
it had stopped and it started up again
as merrily as you please, so I guess
the conclusion is what put it out of
business temporarily" he smiled. Sim
pie and obvious as this fact had been
I had not noticed it in my survey of
the room, and not particularly f1atter-
ed at my own lack of discernment. l
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1912-01-25
IN AGONY WITH ITCHING

About four years ago 1 broke out
with sores on my arms like boils AT.
ter two months they were all over my
body, some coming, and some going
away In about six months the boils
quit, but my arms, neck and body
broke out with an itching, burning
rash. 1t would burn and itch, and
come out in pimples like grains of
wheat. I was in e terrible condition;
l could not sleep or rest. Parts of my
flesh were raw, aud l could scarcely
bear my clothes on. I could not lie
in bed in any position and rest In
about year the sores extended down
to my feet. Then I suffered agony
with the burning, itching sores.
could hardly walk and for a long time
l could not put on socks.
"All this time I was trying every
thing I could hear of, and had the skill
of three doctors. They said it was
eczema. I got no benefit from all
this. l was nearly worn out, and had
given up in despair of ever being cured
when 1 was advised by a friend to try
Cuticura Remedies. l purchased Cuti-
cura Soap, Ointment, and Resolvent,
and used exactly as directed I used
the Cuticura Remedies constantly for
four months, and nothing else, and was
perfectly cured. 1t is now a year, and
| have not had the least bit since. |
am ready to praise the Cuticura Rem
edies at any time. (Signed) E. L.
Cate, Exile, KY, Nov. 10, 1910.
Although Cuticura Soap and Oint-
ment are sold by druggists and dealers
everywhere, sample of each, with 80
page book, will be mailed free on
application to "Cuticura," Dept. L,
BOSTON
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1912-01-25

erage crook-catcner, and while I don
wish 10 sound egousdcal. | don't be
Heve that the rule holds good in ny
case. Furthermore, can mix with
ladies' and gentlemen among. any sur-
roundings, as well as with profession
al criminals, without betraying nv
self to either class, which is in itself
a considerable advantage, for the
criminal can spot the average city
policeman, although he be in plain
clothes, as readily as you could should
he put on a dress suit and enter your
drawing room. In addition to that. I
am not bound by rules and regulations
or the instructions of superiors who
may or may not be competent TO di-
rect me, and neither an always look
ing forward to the hour when 1t is
time for me to go of duty and take
my rest. Your city sleuth is paid a few
dollars a day for certain hours Of
work, expects no reward as a general
thing, and therefore more or less me-
chemically performs his work and
then goes to his home the same as
L
him for it, but it illustrates the weak
ness Of the system In addition to
that, he probably has a dozen other
somewhat similar affairs in his mind.
and his work is more of general
than a special character. If he is
running along the trail of one criminal
and strikes that of another which
seems little warmer, he is likely to
be diverted, since all evil doors are
fish in his net On the other hand. when
| take up case l do it with the ex-
pectation Of receiving substantial re-
muneration in case / succeed, and I
am not to be diverted by other mat
tiers which only indirectly concern
me; and neither am at all particular
as to the hour when I shall quit my
days work. These and other facts
which l will not take the time to men
ton, added to my natural fitness
for the work, have made me success
full many times when the regular po-
lice force failed. You have lost $40
600, and I make this proposition to
you: It will be a case of no cure
and no pay, as the doctors put it, and
therefore an advantageous arrange
ment for you. If the regular police
get your money back I will charge you
nothing for what I may have done
in the meantime. Neither will I pre-
sent you any bill for the capture of
the guilty party or parties unless l
get some or all of your money back as
well. But on all funds that l regain
for you I will charge you 25 per
cent. commission I don't see how
anything could be any fairer than
that"
Uncle Abner, who had remained
quiet during LeDuc's utterances now
sat up and began to whimper. Ten
per cent. is plenty enough for any one
to charge. I have been robbed
enough already. Suppose you should
go out and get the money back in "A
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1912-01-25

ing 50 destructive 20 a mans financial
interests as for him TO desert them
for . honeymoon Wedding trips and
business are unmixable. II you would
rot have the one disiIlusioned and the
otker destroyed, keep them far apart
Love can wait its hour, but when for
tune knocks upon the door We must
be there to throw it wide. Perhaps in
a year from now" She paused and
ayeTted her cheeks.
Perhaps in year from now
what?" I cried eagerly Her voice
became very low.
Nothing in particular. I was only
about to say that if in year from
now you have not changed your mind
and your business affairs are so
grounded that you can leave them in
safety for a period, it might then be
proper for you to ask the fortunate
lady"
But a year seems a lifetime to one
who loves her as I do And she might
become tired Of waiting" I expostu-
lated
Then would not imagine that she
had your best interests at heart, or
that she would be a particularly destr-
able person to choose as a life COM
panion. This is, of course, supposing
that she understood the reason for the
delay. This is my sisterIy advice to
you, having no idea, of course, who
the charmer may be whom you have
in mind" The wisdom Of her advice
seemed unanswerable and l remained
mute before it. My hand falling upon
hers and clasping it Iongingly was my
only reply.
1t was the day following this that
/ met Bruce in his despair over his
lost fortune and it was the next night
! that Uncle ADner was robbed. think
everything Of Importance has now
been told up to the time I drew Lee
Due through the door after the de-
parture of the police
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1912-01-25

twenty years, while one l. said to
have reached the age of thirty-seven
years. We may compare this with
the records for other species of birds
given by Weismann in the appendix
to his essay on The Duration Of
Life" Thus canaries in captivity at
tain an age of from twelve to if
teen years, while ravens have lived
for almost one hundred. Parrots are
known to have exceeded the one hun
dred, and a golden eagle which died
at Vienna in 1719 had been captured
one hundred and four years previous
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1912-01-25

portance, for, as Prof. A. Weismann
has remarked, referring to the dura-
ton of life in birds: There is less
exact knowledge upon this subject
than we might expect, considering
the existing number of ornithologists
and pathological societies. with
their numerous publications The
examples given by the writer of the
above notes are q white trumueter
cock twenty-five YEAR,. a blue crop
per hen Twenty-Five years. another
cropper thirty years. Of turtle doves
there are numerous records of over
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1912-01-25

Set Fair" whatever the weather had
happened to be. And the wsztAeE had
happened to be particularly wet
At last IT'S owner grew weary Of
its externa. beauty. and exasperated
over its internal stupidity One day.
when the rain was pouring extra
hard, he tore the weather indicator
from the wall. and took it out into the
road.
Now, then" he cried, shaking It
angrily. cant you see it's raining?"
For moment the needle hesitated
Then, as the raindrops began to dim
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1912-01-25
COULD NOT SEE THE FUTURE

commissioner of patents for the year
1S4S is Of interest as showing how
widely a man, even a commissioner
Of patents, can miss his guess:
The whole number of patents is
sued by the United States up to Janu-
airy, 1874. was 1888. The patents
granted for the past year (1S43) were
5S1 in number, exceeding those of
the previous year by "a.
The advancement of the arts, from
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1912-01-25
a Close Shave.

THE rich Miss Screecher asked the
minister Of her church what he
thought Of her singing"
Gee, What hole to put min
lister IN, He couldn't lie and he, Of
course. could not afford to offend her
What did he tell herr"
Told her he had never heard any.
thing ike ft"-Houston Post
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1912-01-25
CHAPTER WIl.-(cOntInued.)

I had won handsomely, my spirits
we're e1ervescent and my old feeling
Of assurance predominant | assumed
the attitude of critical man of af-
fairs whose confidence in his own
Judgment has been verified by his sue
Cesses in many a iOusting bout with
the great knights of the financial
arena leisureIy rambled afield
amongst the larger topics of the pub
lie press as [ sat in the easy chair
which she had bought for my especial
comfort. referred haziIy to my pres
emit investments and diagnosed the
condition of the business world: the
Russian wheat crop; the boil weevn
in Mississippi cotton; the machina-
tons of the trusts She did not seem to
be particular impressed and made few
comments At times [ even imagined
a smile came Pickering about her lips,
but I proceeded with careless assur-
ance until the time came when [ re-
marked that must be departing She
did not press me to stay, in fact,
seemed to be thinking about some
thing else: and it was then that 1
played the card that had been lead
ing up to throughout the evening
opened my pocket-book casually.
"By the way, Matte" l remarked half
patronizingly. Il put a little down
for YOU the other day on some stock
that thought was q good thing. 1t
went up. as I had expected. and
closed you out LILLE profit. Here is
your share I tossed a clearing
house certificate for $500 before her.
She glanced at it with a quick side
long flash of her eyes and her hand
came stealing over mine why, Tom,
I don't know what to say-it was so
generous-so thoughtful of you. You
don't know how much I appreciate it
not the money. you know. but the
consideration that prompted it. Yet
really, I do not feel like accepting il
when I took none Of the risk. You had
better keep it for reinvestment"
laughed lightly as I backed away, tell
ing her that it amounted to nothing
and shat she should keep it for pin
money.
She picked 1t up. folded II CareIeSSly
and tossed it into a drawer of her
secretary. Very well, if you so wish
It, But / shall not spend it, I shall
keep it for luck. You once told me
that 7 was an enchantress. We shall
see. I am going to use all my black
arts towards the conjuring of your
fortune With this magic check as a
basis I shall work wogdars." The
smile she gave me as she closed the
drawer was certainly that Of 2n en-
chantress. She went on almost wish
out pausing.
You must have a few mouthfuls
with me-nothing but coffee and sand
witches. YOU know. I was just about
to order them when you spoke of so
ing" I demurred perfunctorily, reit
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1912-01-25
BORACIC ACID IN COMMERCE
Scientists Finally Have Devised a
Way TO Produce Commodity
Comparatively Cheaply.

Formerly all the boracic, or bOric,
acid Of commerce was obtained from
borax by heating it with calcined fer
rous sulphate in closed vessels. where
by sodoforic acid was formed. and
boracic acid was carried on with the
~atery vapors. which escaped.
This as 3 long and tedious pro
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1912-01-25
Probably Good Public Official, But
Henry w. Ellsworth Surely Was
a Mighty Poor Prophet.

In one week recently the United
States patent office issued rs pat
ents The total number issued up to
date was 994,104-in sight of the mil
lion mark
In view Of these figures the follow
ing excerpt from the report of the
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1912-01-25

SYNOPSIS.

Abuer Halliday a misery millionaire,
Is found gagged, bound and insensible in
his room his safe rifed and $40, 900 miss
ins The thread Of the story is taken up
ty his nephew Tom Living in the same
house are other relatives; reckless Bruce
Halliday and pretty Clare WintOn. Bruce,
who is a bond broker. has been trying to
raise $4,000 to put through a deal and
save himself from finacial 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 reYerts to his
acquaintance with a Mrs. DaCe a wealthy
widow whose business agent is Richard
Mackay. a 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
q horse race, and happening to mention
that Bruce had a tip on 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
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1912-01-25

the volcanic yapors pass through the
waters of the lagoons the boracic acid
is arrested by the water. which be-
comes impregnated with it. In Cali
fornia it occurs as the mineral sasso-
lite, and as a saline incrustation on
the crater of mountain in the Lipari
group. north of Sicily.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1912-01-25

cess, and not much progress was made
until it was discovered that boracic
acid could be obtained from the boil
cany- Long after the discovery Of
boracic acid in these springs, the bril-
liant idea struck the physicist as well
as the chemist to employ the heat
OF the natural steam jets This
method had the effect of converting
an Improbable branch of industry
into one of the most successful.
The 1agoons are situated near the
top of one OF the highest hills. As
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1912-01-25
Almost Spoiled II

Time has been very kind to you"
he said when they met, after the lapse
of years.
~ is very good of you to say So"
she replied, making no effort to con-
ceal her pleasure.
Not at all, not at all. One is al
wayG justified in straining a point If
necessary to spread hap-I mean
couldn't truthfulIv say anything else"
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1912-01-25
Had to Put in Human Interest.

An old negro preacher. says the At
Iantia Constitution, gave as his text:
DE tree is known by its fruit, an it's
des impossible to shake de possum
down"
After the benediction an old brother
said to him:
81 never knowed befo dat SIGH a text
wuz in de Bible"
Well" admitted the preacher, at
amt set down dat way I tbrowed in
de possum to hit de intelligence of my
congregation"
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1912-01-25
An Illustration.

Courage is often the result Of igno-
rance"
How do you make that out?"
why do you suppose the mice the
other night would have got your hair
arrangements on the floor and torn
them to pieces if the mice had known
they were rats?"
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1912-01-25
Other Fish to Fry.

Mrs. Tuthill has a reputation of pro
longing her calls One Sunday, after
an hours visit at friends house Oh
her way from church, she said, play
fully. to the eldest child:
Il am going now, Willie, and l want
you to go part of the way with me
and be my own little boy"
q cannot" answered serious Will
liam. I'VE are going to have lunch
as soon as you leave. ''-MetropolitaD
Magazine.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1912-01-25

1t was q beautiful barometer. It
glistened from its splendid wooden
case with a spick-and-spanness that
boasted of its neWness. Its rich
framework clearly advertised the
large price that had been paid for It
Its owner was justly proud
But it possessed one drGwback-it
wouldn't work Ever since It had
been purchased it had remained at
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1912-01-25

Why, you absent-minded man!
Why are you starting out with an un'
brella on such a sunshiny day."
Il am bound for the art gallery"
But you cannot exhibit an umbreA
la"
"Of course not. But z notice on the
catalogue says that one must leave his
cane or umbrella outside before ne
can enter"-Puck.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1912-01-25
Lenoth of Life IN pineons

4 writer in the Field" gives some
interesting notes on the duration o.
life in certain breeds of domestic
pigeons. Such notes are of some i'm
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1912-01-25
According to RuIes.

the glass, it made up it's mind and
moved slowly round e Very Dry"
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1912-01-25

Mrs. Wtnslow's Soothing Syrup for Children
teething, softens the guns, reduces indamna-
tions ellays pain. cures wind collie, 25c bottle.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1912-01-25

ly. Swans are said to have lived
three hundred years, but tbs must
be taken as doubtful
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1912-01-25

The trouble with a good bit Of re-
form is that it is badly in need Of re-
forming
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1912-01-25
" LILO " CAS H
Commissioner of Patents

In 1914 there were no telegraphs,
telephones, automobiles, electric
lights, or motors, monographs or air
ships. Antiseptic surgery was stiu in
the dim future, and doctors were
swathing typhoid fever patients in
blankets and immuring them in IN
ventilated rooms. while people still
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1912-01-25

Even the high flyer has to come
down to earth sooner or later.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1912-01-25
The Brighter Side.

walked ten miles to see a railroad
traini
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1912-01-25

TO CURE COLD IN ONE DAY
Take LAXATIVE BROHO Quinine Tablets
Druggls refund money II IL fails 10 cure. T. W.
GROVES signature is on each box. 25c
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1912-01-25

Well, I'd like to buy a pair OF
boxing gloves"
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1912-01-25

year to year, taxes our credulity and
seems to presage the early arrival Of
that period when human improvement
must end
HENRY " FIJI CH-NpTLJ
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1912-01-25
Wanted mMlIIv SunnIfes.

Il see that you deal in mill sup
plies"
Yes"
The Stanford interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1911-1912, 1912-03-22
ALBA

Farm work is progressing very
slowly in this vicinity.
George Sturgeon il cleaning a
large plot of new ground. thinking
he is going to raise a lot of corn
this summer.
Corn and feed stuff is getting
very scarce and high.
Mrs. C. +. Wheeldon who has been
very sick is better at present.
Andy Black has returned home
from visiting his father. who is very
sick.
W. Ii. Anderson is also on the
sick list.
Everett Gooch and Miss Vince
Muncy married the IA inst. Every
body was surprised.
Dave Chamberlain says he can
not tell any difference in this being
leap year.
The Stanford interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1911-1912, 1912-03-22
BLUE LICK

The good people here are in hopes
that the new church will be finished
by the second Sunday in May, Sc
they can have church and Sunday
school. Some of the good Chris
tians are getting hungry for Broth
er j. b. Jones, Brother McClary and
Brother Singleton. of Stanford to
call and give a glorious good talk.
Mrs. A. J. Daueherty is on the
sick list.
Mrs. j. II. Stringer is on the sick
list. but is better at this writing.
Mrs. Yves Naylor is quite i'll.
W. G. Daugherty has been very
i'll. and has been prevented from
hauling milk to the creamery. but
is better now.
l.. q. Daugherty visited his broth
err and sister at Meals Creek.
W. II. Starns and daughter are
at the sick bed of his daughter, Mrs.
Nes MAYOR.
The farmers are getting along
slowly burning tobacco beds.