davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-12-01

wen man is lost in blizzard" said
Trudeau. "ze widow mus wait an wait.
an mebbe nsvaire know II he is, widow
or not"
1T would be better" said the other
refiectiyely, ito have the proof ample
-ampIew
Trudeau, pondering oyer this. watch
ed his charge putting names In q
book opposite amounts in figures: but
he did not know that here was the lost
fortune Of an old aunt, there the saw
ings Of a college chum. Van Dorm look
ed them over calmly as II II had been
a bills-payable sheet to be paid in the
morning. Then the strange pleasure
hunter began writing letter to a sweet
heart to whom he seemed TO be able
to say only that he loved her better
than life, that she must try 20 love his
memory, and TO train up the baby to re-
spect his name, that the right thing is
not always easy to discern, that some
times one has only a choice of evils, that
when a man has made a mess of II
which he can straighten out by stepping
on the stage, he might as well do it-and
that he had had his share Of happiness
since she had been with him. anyhow,
and was far ahead Of the camel Tru-
deau could not know what a foolish, silly.
tragic letter II was. this product of in
sane commercialism. He thought life and
the woods enough, and wondered at the
shaking Of the mans shoulders, and was
amazed to see the tears dropping
through his fingers as he bowed his head
upon his hands-a man with a flfty-dol-
lar sleeping-oagt
Over at the Loree headquarters there
were roaring fires, fresh venison. skill
full chef, jolly companions, and the per-
lection OF camp life. The storm cleared.
That strong old hunter. Loree, declar-
ing that his business was TO stalk deer,
marched OF in the solitary quest which
is the only thing that brings the haunch
to the spit in the Minnesota cutover
forest. He was briskly bearded. keen Of
eye and vigorous. handled his gun can
nily, and craftily negotiated the fallen
and tangled timbers, his glance sweeping
every open vista for game There was
no time to think Of anything but the
making Of his way. and Of the chase.
Troubles and triumphs retired to the
outer verge OF consciousness. Primeval
problems claimed his thoughts, and the
primeval man rose to meet them It
was In this ancient and effective wise
that he had sharpened his weapons. set
his snares. and hunted down Foster
Van Dorn-and left him IN the money-jun-
gle, apparently unhurt, but really smit-
ten 10 the ucdIl anu Slde6tAlhb " MS
fall. II was the LOree way. AS an old
hunter, he knew just where his shaft had
struck, and how long the quarry could
endure the hemorrhage- Had he not said
that the fellow should be made to rue
the Loree displeasure?
Like a flash these haIf-thoughts became
no thoughts, as a dark clotch caught his
eye. far of on the snow, beyond a little
thicket.
What is that?' he said to himself. 1t
It little hard to say. but the matter is
worth looking into. Just the color Of a
deer. Just where a deer would rest. We
must work up the wind little closer,
for some men are so foolish as to wear
those duns and browns, Out that!-that
is deer's coat. II won't do to jump
him and trust a shot as he goes-those
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-12-01

or asphaltum, or whatever the stuff
the Solar Company had. cornered may
be, and began trust busting. The colo
mel swore the new deposit really be-
ionged' to his company, because Van
Dorm found 1t while in his employ, and
called him all sorts Of, a scoundrel But
the young mans gone on, all the same,
floating his companys and flying high"
II heard that Loree was sure to ruin
him." interposed the cashier. -
Ruin nothingp said Williamson. 1T
was a case of the whale and the sword
fish. Van Dorn's got him nckedzwhy,
don't you see that check"
That does look like success" replied
the manager. II hope his strenuous life
hasn't hurt his health-watson is fussy
about hearts and lungs"
That's the least of my troubles" re-
piled Williamson. Van Dorn's an ath-
lete. and a hrst-class risk. There's
nothing the matter with Van Dorni'
And yet. Trusdeau the guide. far up in
the Minnesota woods, looked at the young
man and wondered IL there wasn't some
thing the matter with Van Dorm. They
deserted lumber camp armed and
equipped to hunt deer. Most young men
inVan Dorn's situation We're keen-eyed.
eager for the trail and the chase-at least
until tanned by WEAKNESS. But Van Dorm
was like a somnambulist. Once TFudeaII
had left him behind on the road. and on
retracIng his steps to find him. had dis
covered him standing by the path. gaz-
ing at nothing, his lips slowly moving
as IL repeating something under his
breath-and he had started as IL in fright
at Trudeau's hail. He had been careful
TO give Trudeau his card. and admonish-
ed him to keep IL: but he seemed care
less of all opportunities of following up
the acquaintance. Most of these city
hunters were anxious to talk; but what
troubled Trudeau. was the manner in
which Van Dorm sat by the fire, wrote in
a book from time to time, and gaZed into
the flames. Now that they had reach
ed the old camp. Trudeau hoped that
actual hunting would bring to his mans
eyes the fire of interest in the thing
he had come so far TO enjoy.
"Tn fix up camp" said he. IF you
like, you hunt. Big partie Chicageau
men owe by lake-keep othe' way
How far to their camp?'' asked the
fire-gazer.
bout two mile" answered Trudeau.
Chicago men?" queried Van Dorm.
How many"
'Mebbe ten" answered Trudeau;
''mebbe six. She have car on track down
Jacques Lacroix guide heem, Col. Loire
Big man.
col. Loree! From Chicago?' cried Van
Dorm.
"ouI. yes!" replied Trudeau. You
know heem?"
No" said Van Dorm.
The man who did not know Loree went
to his knapsack and took out jacket
made of deerskin tanned with the hair
L
held it up and looked at 1t fiXedly. Tru-
deau started as 1t met his gaze. and
he came up to Van Dorm and pointed at
the garment
You wear zat?" asked he.
Yes" said the other. It's a good
warm jacket"
A man wat wear deerskin zhaquette,"
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-12-01

.
said Trudeau. sin zese wood" in shoot
ing seasons. sartaine go home In wooden
owe coat--sure's hell"
.'oh, I guess there's no danger!" said
Van Dorm, his lips parting with mirth-
less smile.
: NOM" queried Trudeau. You ben in
zese woods beforeT'
aoh. yes!'' replied Van Dorm, Lots Of
tines
zen you are choking wiz me. zese
huntaire sink brown cloth coat, gray
coat, black coat. anysing Eat moves-she
sink zem every time deer. Las win
taire lots men killed for deer. Pete st.
Cyr's boy kill deer, hang heem in tree.
and mex morning take heem on back an
tote. A city huntaire see deer hide wiz
hair on moving, an" BIN! sor-nose bull
Let go throo deer, throo Pete st. Cyr's
boys head! Eat. zhaquette damn-fool
thing"'
TT goes either side out" said the hunt
er. IT can turn 1t. you know"
At turn heem! turn heem!" said
Trudeau. suiting the action TO the word.
RED is bettaire. by gosh-in zese
wood"
Trudeau watched his companion as he
made his laborfous way through the
CuIONtT Ctldpb uillll NtoaPRS0ANNh -
he did not see him pause when out OF
sight Of camp, and turn toward the lake.
81 would rather It were any one else,
said Van Dorm, as IL to something that
walked by his side; but what difference
does It make? Why not let him finish his
work.
The sheer dlficulty Of the country
brought hack TO Van Dorm something
like the forester's alertness The lust
for lumber had ravaged the spiry forest
and left, inextricably tangled, the wrecks
of the noble treeo-forest maidens whose
beauty had been, their destruction; only
the crooked and ugly having escaped. Sc
deep and complex was the wreckage that
It seemed like the spllikins of a giants
game OF jack-straws-gnarled logs, limbs
like chevaux-de-frise, saplings and under
brush growing up through choas And
spread over and slfted through all was
the snow, as light as down.
Van Dorm must have told the truth as
to his former visits; for he went on like
one used 10 this terrible maze. Nowhere
could he take three steps straight for
ward; It was ways,climbing up. or leap
ing down, or going around, or crawling
under. Here thick leaves upheld the
snow, and in the dry pine straw on the
ground he could hear the forest mice
rustic and scurry. There a field was
smoothed over by the snow, as a trap is
hidden by sand. covering debris just high
enough to imperil the limbs of the pedes-
TRAN. Yonder was a tamarack swamp
too thick to be pierced: and everywhere
it was over and under and up and down.
and desperately hard, for miles and
miles, with no place for repose.
He gazed away over the strange abom-
nation of desolation, blindly rejecting
on mans way OF coming, doing his worst,
and passing on with stated appetite, leav-
ing ruin-as he had done here. He won
dered why that tall tract OF virgin pine
over at the right had been allowed to
escape, standing against the sky like a
black wall, spiked with all rampikes. He
stared fixedly at the snow, the blue
shadows, the black pines, somnambu-
listic again
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-12-01

mrs win hide him at the first leap. A
long shot at q standing target-there.
He moved There's not second 70
lose!
A long shot, truly; but that graceful
rife thinks nothing OF half mile There
are many intervening bushes and sap
lings; but the steel-jacketed bullet would
Kill on the farther side OF the thickest
pine, and even a soft-nosed one will cut
Clearly to this mark. The coloneTs prac-
ticed left hand immovably supported the
barrel; the colonei'ss keen eye through
the carefully adjusted sights saw plain
ly the blotch Of deerskin down the little
glade; and the coloners steady forehnger
confidently pressed the lightly-set trigger.
SpatI The colonel left the rihemah's de-
licious certitude that his bullet had found
its mark. threw In another shell, and
stood tensely ready to try the bisecting
of the smttten deer's first agonized bound
but the blur Of fur Just stirred little,
and slipped down out Of sight.
Painting in the killers frenzy. Loree
struggled over the DEBRIS to reach his
game. How oddly the deer had fallen!
Heart. or brain. likely; as it went down
like log. Here was the thicket. and on
the other side-yes, a patch Of REDEEMED
snow, and the body of-no, not deer,
but a man, dead, Il seemed, clad in a
deerskin jacket, rife by his side. and In
his hand a notebook full of figures. its
pages all stained and crumpled!
There was a shout In the far distance.
but Loree heard It not. He knew his
solitude. and never looked for aid. The
white strangeness OF the face OF the man
he had shot overcame the sense OF some
thing familiar in IL; and the colonel, after
moments scrutiny, addressed himself
franticaIly to the stanching Of the blood.
deep groan seemed to warrant hope:
and STOPPING beneath the body. Loree
took IL up and began bearing 1t toward
the camp. He had an overwhelming
consciousness OF the terrible task before
him: but the realization OF the human
life dashed out. some home blasted, some
infnity OF woe, and the bare chance of
rescue rolled sickenlngly over him, and
he set his teeth and attacked the task
like an incarnate will.
Loge and boughs and dead-wood held
him back; countless obstacles exhausted
him. He felt like crying out in agony
as he realized that his age was telling
against him. He felt strangely tender at
this meeting with death in its simple and
most merciful form. He clenched his
teeth hard. felt his heart swell as II to
burst his lungs labor in agonized heav-
ings-and when Trudeau the guide over
took him, he found him a frenzied man.
covered with dark streaks ana splashes
OF blood. unconquerably hurting upon his
impossible task his last reserves OF
strength. with all that iron resolution
with which he had beaten down resist
ance in his long battle with a relentless
world.
For Gods sake" he painted hoarsely,
help me get him to camp! We've got
a doctor there"'
'How's the coIonel?' said the doctor,
when he had done all he could for the
coloners victim.
Knocked all TO pieces" answered a
young man. Wants to know il we've
found out who the man is
Col. Loree was interrogating Trudeau:
surprised that he did not know the name
Of the wounded man.
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-12-01

This story has been blamed for its lack
of a moral. People seem to expect one
so to put to the rack the facts In the
case that they will shrek out some we'll
tried message. Some have behaved as
II they thought the moral here but faulty.
Col. Loree, OF the Solar Selling Company,
however, thinks the affair rich In the
hic-fabuladocet element. So does Will
hanson, soliciting agent for the Md
Continent Life; and so-emphatically So
does the Mid-Continent itself. Trudeau,
the breed" guide. has had 30 few years
in which to turn IL over in his slov-mov-
ing mind as he has lain rolled In his
blankets while the snow sifted through
the moaning pines, that he has not made
up his mind. As for Foster Van Dorm
and Gwendolyn, their opinions-but the
story itself Is not long.
Williamson says that when he left Van
Dorn's ONCE with his application. he
was as near walking on air as insur-
ance men ever are. People had been so
slow In writing their autographs on the
dotted line-snd here was a six-hgure sp-
plication, with a check. These, accom-
panied by the wide-eyed Williamson, ex-
ploded into the mid-December calm Of
the agency headquarters like the news
of a Tonopah strike In the poker-play-
ing ennu OF Poverty nat
whats that williamson" ejaculat-
ed the cashier. Five hundred-you don't
mean thousand?"
, why, confound you," sneered Will
hanson. Took at that application"
Let me sect painted the manager,
bursting in. Foster G. Van Dorm
half a million! Holy cat. Williamson; but
this will put you and the agency in the
lead. for Is he good for 1t, William
SOM"
why, don't you see that check?' in
quired the lofty solicitor. II tell you,
fellows, there's always a way to land any
man. Why, for a year, rve-by George!
I'm forgetting TO send DR.. Watson over
to make the examination. Van Dorn's
going on a hunting trip. and we've got
to hustle, and yet him nailed before he
goesI'
The manager stood by Williamson dur
ing the telephoning. who is Mr.. Van
Dorm he asked, as the agent hung up
the receiver.
president Of the Kosmos Chemical
law and enemy of Col. Loree, of the Solar
Selling Company. you know" said the
cashier.
.'tOh-h-h-h.' replied the manager. as
il recalling something. II remember the
romance in the newspapers; but 1
thought the young fellow was poor.
Fixed it up with the colonel. 1 suppose
the usual thing"
Not on your nfe"' replied William
son. ''Loree would kill him If he dared
old aristocrat. you know; but Van
Dorn's too smart for him. You remem-
Der he was an engineer for Loree's COM
pany. and met the daughter on some in
spection trip. Love at first sight-moon-
light on the mountains-runaway and
wedding on the sly-father's curse-turn-
ed out to starve. and all that"
Il remember" answered the manager;
but it doesn't seem to lead logically up
to this application"
We'll" went on Williamson, Van
Dorm turns up with a company formed
TO work deposit OF the sal-ammeniac,
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-12-01
THE STALKING OF PAUGUK 3 a azs:=s:5 QUICK

Non" answered Trudeau, "she tell
me his name. and give me carte. but I
lose heem an forgets mrs day. Remen-
Der wood remember trail, remember
face YER weil-but name: she forget.
She write lettaire an cry, an all time
put fig' in book. Zis Is heem; mebbe
she tell name!'
The smutched names were strange to
the colonel; but on another page were
some inexplicable references to Kosmos
Chemical affairs; and on the cover were
dim initials that looked Ike colonel"
'1 know something Is wrong" went
on Trudeau; for / tell her II ben tres
dangereuse to wear deerslkin zhaquette
in Zese wood IN shooting seasone-
turn zhaquette red out She 20 to-
ward your camp. I watch. / see her
turn heem hair out. I tell you, mes
sieurs. zat man want to go home in
wooden ove'-coat. She have hungaire to
die"
pocket" said the young man. Look at
IT. colonel"
The colonel looked, saw his daueh-
ter's name. remembered the familiar look
IN the white. agonizsd, pitiful face; and
saw the whole situation as by some bale
full hash-light.
Good Cod Good Godr' he cried. It's
Van Dornl Get things ready to carry
him IN his bed to the csr-quick, John
son! And get the wire as soon as you
can. Have TabbaIs bring Gwennie-Mrs.
Van Dorn-to Duluth. Wire the hospital
there, You know what's neededIook
after things right, johnson, for I think
Il think-Pm going mad, old man.
Mrs. Van Dom ran into her fathers
arms In the hospital anteroom. Through
mazes of frenzied anxiety she felt an
epoch open in her life with that en-
brace from the father who had put her
out OF his life forever, as they thought
Dear. dear paper"' she whispered, 'let
me go to Foster. quick
Not just now. Gwennie, little girl,
he said, patting her shoulder: Hes
asleep. Did you bring me-the baby?''
mo, no! I thought-but FOSTER cried
Gwendolyn. will he-wil he"
He'll live, by heaven cried the col
onel. Il fired one fool for limiting that
he wouldn't; and now they're all sure
he'll pull through. Why, he's got to live.
Gwennie!''
The colonel reached for his handker-
chief. much hampered by Gwendolyn's
arms.
And when he's WELL" said he, Il want
your help-in a business way I'm too
old to fight a man like Foster. He's got
me down, Gwennie-beaten me to earth.
II he won't come IN with me, It's all
up with the Solar. He's a fine fellow,
Gwen-I-like him. you know-but he
doesn't know how hard he hits You'll
help your old dad. won't you. Gwennie?"
To this point had the appeal of con-
crete piteous need brought Col Loree,
the ferocious, whose heart had never
once softened while he did so much more
cruel things than the mere shooting or
Van Dorm. II broke Gwendolyn's heart
afresh.
'Oh, don't, papa" she cried. Il can't
sta-stand 1t! He shan use MS strength
against you! I'll be on your side. He's
generous, papa-he wanted ~ name baby
Loree-and. oh. I must go to him, papa.
can't watt
CCopyriEht By Bob6sMerTiu Company
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-12-01

prose man, the same hampton is re-
vealed. Everything about his new book
is characteristic. Its title, Tame AMI
mails l Have Known" its Oblique sub
title, at once apology and a wOrd-thrust.
with Apology to Such Wild Animals
as May Feel AEgrieved by Comparison"
its appealing dedication, This Natural
History Is Thoughtfully and Tenderly
Dedicated to Such Nature Takers as
Still Survive" How much 1t all sounds
like Hampton"
He knows a lot about human nature
and animal nature. and particularly the
tame" His Geological garden is
unique. Like Artemus Ward, he is ell
Gsgingly frank about his exhibits, scOrn-
ing deceit, and gravely calling attention
to defects that crude Snowman would
lie about. He and A. w. never He-nOt,
at least about their exhibits. They know
their business too we'll
But the lasting charm about these
Tame Animals" is that we all have
known them, too. We see them daily,
and laugh or swear at them as the
humor strikes us.
CORPORAL CAMERON. OF THE NORTHWEST
MOUNTED POLICE: BY Ralph COnnpr. George
II. Doran Co. New York. Price, SIS.
Ralph Connor's latest novel is a story
Of the Northwest Mounted Police, but
it is a great deal more than a story of
this wonderful body of men and their
achievement. 1t is the life story of a
young man from his college days in
Edinburgh, surrounded by culture and
refinement. through the time when
youthful temptations mastered him tenn
porarily; then through the period of re-
construction in his life to the point
where ambition spurs him TO the seek
ing of a new career in the New World.
From this point on, the story becomes
one OF struggle and effort to gain a foot
hold in Canada.
Young Cameron Travels the road that
all young fortune-seekers travel He
meets in Montreal and Western Ontario
AL the trials that beset the young
Britisher. The humor of his experiences
intermingle with tragedies. At last there
is the call of the West" and the blood
OF the young Scot Is set a-tingle In
the country of the Macleod trail he
meets men and tasks that challenge
the best of his traditions and skill. And
he has the stuff in him that makes the
hero.
Ralph Conner is writing Of life with
which he is intimately familiar, for he
has endowed emigrant, Indian cowboy.
trader and patrolman with their unmis-
taxable characteristics. His present hero
character is a nation-bullder, one Of the
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-12-01

our city will be as hoary with age as
the authors native City of BrOtherly
land sisterly0 Love Washington no
doubt will vastly Outshine Philadelphia
in her selection Of artistic masterpieces
that will pass muster before the critical
eye of the then living Miss Hendersons.
But the author is fair. She admits
that there is now here "a reversion to
the intentions of the forefathers," which
is resulting Tin a sort of renaissance in
the Capital City, long left to the I'M
directed hand Of destiny" $50 1t was.
after all, neither Congress nor the
naughty polIticians) The author be-
slows praise upon the work of our art
commission, which has accomplished so
much to restore the intended dignity and
simplicity Of plan and arrangement"
That the erection OF a new and ade-
auate home for the National Museum
and the CorcOran Gallery of Art has
stimulated both institutions to a greater
activity-not to omit the success. OF the
biennial exhibitions in the latter-is true
also that the museums collection of ar
tistic aboriginal American pottery is the
finest and largest of its kind in the
world.
But the Chefs d oeuvre' of the paint-
er's and sculptor's art, contained in the
Capitol and other public buildings, are
too well known to the readers of this
paper who have seen and admired our
art treasures so often and, no doubt, SO
thoroughly that TO give here a detailed
description of them or dwell upon the
authors criticisms, would be like carry
ing owls into Athens. None the less to
to art lovers and connoisseurs the book
will greatly appeal owing to its many
details.
THE ORDEAL: BY Charles Esbsrt Craddock.
Philadelphia-The J. B. Lippincott Co.
The story is a romance of the noun
tains of Tennessee, and evinces that love
Of freedom, that independence of spirit.
that sentiment, in short, which does not
touch sentimentality that We have been
led to expect from the writings of Miss
Murfree, the author. The opening para
graph gives the atmosphere Of the book.
Nowhere could the idea of peace be
more serenely, more majestically ex-
pressed. The lofty purple mountains lin
tied the horizon, and in their multitude
and imposing symmetry bespoke the vast
intention OF beneficent creation. The val
ley. glooming low, harbored ali the
shadows. The air was still, the sky was
pellucid as crystal, and where a craR
projected boldly from the forest the
growths OF balsam fir extending almost
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-12-01

William ]. Lampton-he's colonel in
private life-is Kentucky colonel.
Everybody reads hampton, on the prin-
c.ple that an honest laugh at the other
fellows foibles is gooa for what ais
you, be it Indigestion, Crouch, or de-
preston in the stock market. His humor
is unfailing, his good nature always in
commission. In his latest phase as