davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1912-03-16

strain her eyes through the dense
fog.
Suddenly the indistinct blur OF q
far-off. but unmlstakable sound
broke the silence; moment more,
and a musical hum echoed from the
high clay road to .he left. The prin-
cess stood alert, her handkerchief
poised in mid air to signal the ad-
vanciIg car, in second the machine
slid to a painting standstill, and the
chauffeur jumpe out.
'sDear me, Henry, | thought you
never-O!" The girls hand dropped
swiftly to her side; she started back
as the light from the machine flashed
squarely into the mans face. "Youl"
she cried with breathless heart
beat.
"Barbara!" The stranger looked at
her for the first time and there was
radiant recognition in his eyes. Then
recollection, coming upon its heels,
he Gained himself and said: $50 II is
you" His voice fell strangely, on the
last word, and he drew in his breath
deeply.
Eyes, Jack; 1t is L."
The princess spoke lightly enough
/ AHOuBng AoNNi VI hhR NbA NJ bAS
blood was rushin- into Der cheeks.
/ "A decidedly unexpected meeting"
| the other remarked in tone that in
stantly betrayed the effort to be casu-
al, when we thought We never
would lay eyes on each other again."
he could not help adding.
The princess was regarding him In
bewildered way, her eyes teeming
with unspoken questions. ~ certain
ly never expected to see you here, -
she answered after an indescrlbable
pause. 20, Jack. Jack, Jackl" she
broke out wrechedly, "why did you
do It? Why did you come-afteI
ALI" She turned from him with a de-
spairing gesture and sotbed In her
hands.
He looked at her uncomprehend-
ingly FOR a moment, holding himself
In by powerful effort. When he had
controlled himself sufficiently, he
said 81 did not dream that should
ever see you again, princess"
After a little, the girl turned to.
ward him slowly. her red lips com
pressed.
"of course" she replied, with &
little wounded catch In her voice. ~
~ am very silly, Jack. Please dom
pay any attention to what hav'
said"
The other bowed IN silence ant
The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1912-03-16

entirely too impressive to be sincere.
"And to think that all this time
you was trailing this bandit and new
er letting on. | bet you know all
about him by now. I'm shore glad to
have a really clever man to help me-
I'm pretty good at catchin' boss
thieves and such, but guess amt
much good at train robbers and them
other detectives the road sent down
here was such careless cusses"
The crowd shr,eked with laughter
at the last remark. The carelcssness
of the detectives he'd consisted of
getting themselves shor The humor
of the remark wa. obvious, and Col
tonville secretly admired the daring
OF the man who for years had eluded
even their clever sheriff.
"Got some clews?' asked the sher-
III when the laughter hCd died down,
and he had reproved the frivolous
persons with portentous frown.
"Going to take them sihgle-handed?"
'It is because ] need help that |
thought that l would explain to you
The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1912-03-16
N$X&R6sAcc ACCIDENTAL LUCK 43X%Sp%ESSM

circumstances over which | have
not the slightest control are RESPONSE
BILE for my presence mere" he said,
more calmly. For several minutes,
silence held them both.
Jack" she began, a triile uneasi-
ly, there is something ! must ask
you-somethinG | want you to do.
something you must do. Promise
me-" The glance she lifted to him
was full of anxiety. almost alarm.
The face OF the man famed a dull
red but he disciplined his voice as
he said: 81 will do anything in the
world for you-you know that"
"Then leave the duke OF Reverly,"
she besought him at once"
"And may / ask you one question,
Princess, in return?"
She nodded.
"Why do you wish mo to do this?"
The girl was silent for the half of
minute. Her face crimsoned slow
ly, then paled Because" she an
swered. choking down a sob, "in
three months time 1t ls decreed that
l become--his wife"
The chauffeur regarded her me-
chanically for a few seconds. DO you
love him, Barbara" he asked alb
ruptly, "this-gentleman?"
The princess" laughed in a graf
ing little fashion that did not in the
least belong to her.
i've Just bit of a right to the
question, haven't /, princess, at the
-last?"
Love him." she cried, "why-
why I've never even looked upon
hint"
And yet he is willing to accept
you under those condiIions?"
20, it's all arranged for us. Our
forefathers were kind enough to put
themselves to that trouble. over here
we mortals are spared the necessity
OF attending to our own--love af-
fairs"
The man was grave for a moment.
| Presently he said: 81 happen 10
know the duke very well indeed, as a
man, and l do not believe he would
let you marry him without the one
| great essential Right now, he Is
on his way to Lorrlmer house to-"
81 know" she cut In sharply "bui
II is OF no use / shall never marry
him IL that is how he feels, for
shall lack the 'one essential for all
! time"
"The duke IS different from lots OF
men OF his class, Barbara As late as
six months ago. he never dreamed
The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1912-03-16

that fate would oonspire to place a
coronet on his head5 and. therefore,
he has been little spoiled by pride of
position"
IL don't understand His is an
old family, with a famous pedi-
gree"
There Is quite an interesting bit
of romance connected with the new
dukes Inheritance OF the title. IL
came TO light only recently that Rob
ert, fourth duke of ReYerly, had Sc
cretly married a beautiful American
girl, concealing his identity even
from her during the short time she
lived-1S months. He returned To
New York from o visit home. to find
his wife buried and the child van
ished. 1t took exactly 80 years to
find the missing heir"
The princess sighed deeply. "Noth-
ing can matter now" she interposed
drearily. "Ah, IL was a hapless day
that inspired my adventurous visit "a
Americal If only had been tho sim
pie little girl you first thought me
nstead-instead-
Instead of a princess" he supple.
mented, wistfully.
mot exactly a princess" she
smiled, although you would have II
so. But" She paused, at a sudden
loss for words
The chauffeur waited for second
then pulled out his watch and
studied its face intently. at is late
Princess. We had better start?"
The girl hesitated little, then
without a word she moved toward the
big scarlet car that belonged to the
duke OF Reverly.
Somehow her foot caught I'm tan
! gled bit OF grass and she tripped The
chauffeur caught her in his arms.
For a moment he held her close. so
close that he could feel the quick
| throbbing of her heart against his
own, the tremulous rush OF her warm
breath against his cheek
The touch OF her, helpless I'm his
embrace, thrilled-intoxlca him,
swept away the last vestige OF self
control, and he covered her eyes, her
hair, her lips with kisses. "In spite
of all, you do care, you do" he cried
fiercely as she struggled an instant,
/ then yielded herself to his caresses.
81 care so much" she whispered,
"that | shall never, never marry the
duke OF Reyerly."
The chauffeur released her reluc-
tantly, aud for moment held her
from him with is eyes buried in
The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1912-03-16
.JIMMEEJAY

crowd the sheriff departed. to be fol-
lowed from the dance hall by the
score or SO of men who formed the
usual posse. hard riders. hard fight
ers who would follow the game sher-
iff through the gates Of the hereaft-
er, did he but lead the way
They got SO "a day from the state
while serving as special deputies, and
no sheriff west Of the Mississippi
had about him men better worth the
money The idea Of these fighting
men led by the eomplacent Jimmie
Jay brought Joy to the hearts of the
observers.
Only Betty offered objection as she
met him on his way to the hotel
where he stopped.
care you really going to look for
! Bartlett?" she asked apprehensively.
as she encountered him. apparently
by chance, though the lateness of the
| hour procluded that possibility.
81 am going to round him up." de-
clared Jimmieiay with \ careless as
sumption of indierence.
The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1912-03-16

reined abruptly, then wheeled and
dashed down the path to escape the
two score men who seemed to rise
out Of the rocks.
But there we're other men behind
them and, caught between two fires
with no shelter from which to make a
fight they could only huddle together
and offer such feeble show OF resist
ance as was possible. In FIVE minutes
they were surrounded aud manacled,
and Jimmie regarded Horton COM
placently.
tits too bad that you fellows
brought only enough cartridges TO
frighten me with" he o. served pleas
antly THE anticipated panic has
turned out very differently from what
you planned.
you were so certain that I was
self-satisfied fool that you never
suspected the game ] put up. I don't
suppose that the advice will be of any
use to YOU for some years, but next
time, look out for the big fools. You
never can tell what will happen.
81 dropped onto this scheme OF
yours three months ago. but I wanted
TO make absolutely certain. ] had an
idea that there must be some secret
pass through which some of you could
/ slip TO the other side Cf the divide
and put up your games while you
were supposed to be hunting for the
alleged Bartlett. I was certain when
| saw that the posse dwindled to IL
men and there were always six in
! Bartlett's gang. II is no great won
der that the sheriff never caught
Bartlett when he was Bartlett HIM
/ self"
And you stayed to fall in love
with Bud Bartlett's sister," suggest
| ed Horton with evil satisfaction.
Her unwillingness to marry me
was one OF the things that led me
to suspect you" explained Jimmie.
81 could see that she liked me, yet
feared to marry me. don't think
that she more than suspects you but
she has a strong suspicion, and when
she tried TO dissuade me from making<
this trip / was pretty certain- -v1.
1T may interest you 10 know that
! know she Is not your sister at all.
I sent back east and found that she
Is the daughter Of Joel Darnton. Your
mother was her nurse and when your
sister died II turned ner brain and
she ran away with her little charge
to take the place of her own daugh-
ter. Darnton is the president of the
L. & Q. and IL was to locate her that
first came to Coltonvillc. Your ap-
prehension is only a sort OF side IS
sue.
"And you think that a railroad de-
tective can marry the daughter OF
the president OF the road?" demand
cd Horton. you think he'll stand
for that?"
"My father happens 10 be the sec
, ond vice president" explained jim
, mieiay pleasantly. "The full name
2 is James J. Condor"
Horton regarded envlously the pis-
tolls in Jmmy's belt.
{ IL wish I'd have been shot rather
r than to have lived 10 see a darned
fool make a monkey OF me-" he said
/ sincerely.
, Jimmiejay smiled. at takes a
fairly clever man to play the fool, -
! he remarked pleasantly "The other
part Is easier. ! don't take much
credit for the capture. IL was only
necessary to bring In Ten from the
other side OF the divide by the Sc
cret pass, and then lead you into the
trap. The part / pride myself on is
the winning Of Betty
The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1912-03-16
THE SCORE MEN SEEMED TO RISE UP OUT OF THE ROCKS

who ! am" explained Jimmiejay diff
fldently, IL have an idea that If you
will form your posse and come with
me me that ! lean can roupd them up and
Sure I'll come" assented Horton
promptly. This here duccyment
commands all peace officers to aid
assist the said James Jay. You call
on me any old time. Mr. Jay"
81 thought that we might start
day after tomorrow" suggested jim
miejay. al have an idea that | know
about where they will be then"
Some OF the crowd guffawed at the
idea OF his knowing anything, but
the sheriff frowned them down, VOW
ing that any levlty directed at the
majesty OF the law was an insult to
himself as well as to his associate,
Hon. Mr.. Jay.
The laughter quickly stopped, and
with a word here and there in the
The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1912-03-16

But you can't catch him." cried
the girl, with pitiful note of eager
ness in her voice Tell me that you
won't try. Jimmie. Promise me that
you will give up this idea. 1t is fool
ish, Jimmie. Please tell Abel that
you have decided not tc try. l am
sure that it will only end In injury
to you"
You are certaiI?" he repeated.
How can you be certain?"
81 can't tell you, but know that II
Is so" she persisted please prom
Use. Jimmie"
The mans heart beat wildly at her
use Of his name. or all the people
she alone had adhered TO the formal
Mr. Jay Instead of the combination
OF his two names applied partly in
derision, partly because they had
all come to like him.
81 wish that l could" he said
quietly, but l hav a feeling that un-
The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1912-03-16

There was the sound of steps on
the broad sidewalk and the girl
seemed to melt into the darkness.
Jimmieiay continued on his way to
the hotel, and about his lips there
played a pleased smile.
so far, so good" he said decid-
edly. ~ am beginning to believe
that luck Is all on my side"
All Coltonville turned out to watch
the departure Of Jimmiejay at the
head OF the sheriff posse. With
mocking humility, the sheriff de-
clined to take the lead, but rode be-
hind with his men, leaving Jimmie
jay to ride alone at the head Of the
little column.
Jimmieiay seemed Lot TO realize
the contempt in which he was held,
and as he gave the word TO advance
he waved HIS hand o the crowd and
called back a laughing promise 10
give them a sight of the famous ban
The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1912-03-16

dit before long.
An ironical cheer was the response,
but Jimmie was still Tmiling as he
led the little cavalcade into the foot
hills and Horton rode up to ask his
plans
"I am going to explore the gulches
for signs OF travel" explained the de-
tective. ~ am convinced that some
where between here and Big Bear
pass there is somo retreat of the rob-
bers. We shall investigate the signs,
and I am sure that we shall find
some trace of them. There is said to
be less than half dozeh in the band
and we should make short work OF
! them"
"Just as you say" was the cheer
! full response. "I guess that we can
take care of them II we meet them" ="
Jimmie smiled at the doubling en-
| phasis on the Of
"We'll come up to them" he as
sured confidently. Just you walt and
| see."
Horton dropped back to his men
and reported Jimmie's plan; at which
they smiled broadly. and cheerfully
/ followed him up gulches innumer-
able, only to turn about and ride out
when It was seen from the rank vege-
tation that no one had passed there.
Night fell, and they made camp,
and they rose again TO a second day
Of fruitless search. II was well along
in the second day that Jimmie
turned into a narrow pass between
high walls OF rock and Horton rode
forward to dissuade him from his pur-
pose.
81 was up here the other day look
ing for some OF my horses" he re-
ported. "You ought 10 know that
there is no travel here. Your mine
is lust beyono. We wanL to press
ahead. l think that the retreat is
nearer Big Bear pass"
Lets have a look anyway" sug'
gested Jimmie evenly. II want to be
able to report that l looked into ev
cry possible nook"
But at this rate we shall be ou
two weeks" objected Horton. "ThiI
is the second day ana we have don,
little better than 40 miles. That Il
only a third of the distance to Biz
Bear pass.
"Then It will make six-day trip,
retorted Jimmie pleasantly, as ht
spurred his horse.
The others followed into the ra
vine, but It was plainly TO be seeI
that their temper had changed ant
in place OF their light jests at jim
mics greenness they murmured open
Is.
Horton rode close 10 Jimmys sid,
over the rocky bed OF the llttl,
stream that forced its way over tn,
rocky channel and covered the great
er part OF the narrow passage.
I'm going to turn back" he de
, clared savagely. There is only
e mile or 30 of this gulch and I kno'
that IL ends in blank wall. Som
= OF the horses will be lamed on tn
e stones and we have no remounts."
"We shall need no remounts," In
4 sisted Jimmie. placidly. "and / don
G think that we shall be wasting on
! time, I'm fact" he added as he tight
81 oned the reins. "this is the spo
% where | have planned 10 capture tn
T. gang"
3 AS he spoke he spurred on hi
horse, and before the others coul,
p get I'm rapid motion. he had dashe,
, around a turn I'm the rlcky passag
3 and the others werS galloping afte
him shooting wildly in their effort
, to cut him down.
- AS they turned the bend, the,
The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1912-03-16

less ! make gopl rs0ktJ noon, shall
have TO move on"
But you can't alake good" re-
peated the gir1 positively. 81 know
that you'll only Rot hurt."
And would YOU care IT. I should
be lurt2" he aslsC6 eagerly.
Her eyes made Hn5wec in the cold
moonlight, and Jimm!eiuy raised her
hand to his lipG.
"Then ! promise nos t. get hurt,
sweetheart" he cried gayly, "but to
come back unhurt, ana demand your
hand i'm marriage"
The girl shrank back as though he
had struck her.
"That can never be-" she said sad
ly. Jimmie, put those thoughts out
OF your head. ] can never marry you,
dear. Please go away and forget me
and-and marry someone else"
"I'll marry you" declared Jimmie,
showing a determination new to him,
land I'll go after Bartlett and bring
him back with me. Never you fear,
sweetheart"
The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1912-03-16

hers. ut will mean the giving up OF
coronet, princess. Remember the
risk you are running when you
choose me; my obscurity and check
cred life"
A row of soft, p.nk flngertips
stopped the words on his lips.
"a coronet fora crown" she
breathed Jack What IS there for
a woman to risk k-when she becomes
tho wife of-her ling?"
The chauffeur bent and touched
her forehead reverently with his lips.
Afterwards he drew from his pocket
a card and scribbled a few hasty lines
across the back of it. This he fast
ened to the forward cushion of the
wrecked auto, and assisted the prin-
cess into the dukes car.
Several hours later when the ex-
asperated Lord Henry returned from
his fruitless quest. he CHANGED upon
the following:
Dear Boy picked your sister up
safe and sound. We are on our way
to Lorrimer house. VIII send the
car back at once. In haste.
"REVERLY."
The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1912-03-16

out one hand in a blind fashion, as
IL TO steady herself against some
thing.
The chauffeur gave no sign Of hav-
ing noticed her excitement, and she
collected herself Immediately and
looked him earnestly In the eyes. 81
want you to tell me the truth, jack
she pleaded. "Did you follow me to
England for the purpose OF finding
"Follow youl Hardly. Not after
that last night when you made me
know when made myself know
that just an ordinary man must new
er dare lift his eyes to--to a nrln-
cess" lie spoke pass'onately, With
keen touch Of bitterness.
The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1912-03-16

little startled exclamation. "But
but l couldn't leave like this He
wouldn't know-understand ] think
perhaps I'd better wait. Besides,
suppose something should have hap
pened to-"
"No danger OF that, and no danger
of his returning before morning. II
safe enough in this part of the coun-
try, but he'll find 1t hard work get
ting help. The only thing to do Is to
go on and send back here to meet
him. We can leave a message with
the automobile"
"IIow do you know 50 much about
the country here? she asked pointed
The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1912-03-16

ly. "a year ago you bad not been
out Of America for 30 years"
1T doesn't take the tenth part of
that time to become familiar with the
world in which one llves-the par
ticular world" he answered quietly.
"In which one lives!" The "prin-
cess spoke sharply, her hand going
involuntamly to her side to still a
sudden heartbeat. "I-I don't un-
derstand," she went on wonderingly.
why are you here?"
"At present." he said quietly, "as
chauffeur to ths duke of Beverly"
The princess turned white. "The
duke Of Reverly!" she gasped, putting
The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1912-03-16

presently he said; at is growing
late, princess, l am afraid you have
met with something CT a mishap.
Your companion"
my brother was with me; our
escape was providential-you can
Judge by the appearance of the car
over there. He left me two hours
ago to go in search of assistance, and
very much fear that he has lost his
way"
"Then you'd better let me take you
on, as his return is very indefinite.
We are fully 20 miles from civiliza-
tion, and"
The princess interrupted him with
The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1912-03-16

B DOCK duOul tnC new
western bad man, so
absorbing did he find the subject;
and TO do him Justice. Jmmiejay had
picked the most promising locality In
all the West for his studies.
Coltonville was the renter OF bad
ness for all the southwest, and It was
believed that somewhere in the rocky
fastnesses OF the mountains the Bud
Bartlett gang made its home during
the periods between the raids that
had made the gang talked about even
In the east.
Bud Bartlett was no ordinary train
robber or cattle rustler. When he
took cattle he took entire herds, and
when he robbed trains ne robbed only
the richest
His abjoct apology to an express
messenger who opened the express
safe to show that 1t contained less
specie than the safe Itself was worth
was published the length and breadth
OF the land, and thereafter Bartlett
was national hero OF his own sort.
Abel Horton, sheriff Of Espinoza
county. had made frequent but fruit
less efforts to locate the desperate,
and almost the FIRST exhibition Of To-
cal color that unrolled itself before
Jimmieiay's start eyes was Horton
and his posse riding forth to seek
Bartlett
Then, while Horton secured one
side OF the range, Bartlett, on the
other. robbed the treasure train from
the Blizzard miro and got away with
a cool 100000.
With almost clairvoyant accuracy,
Bartlett kept on the side of the range
opposite from the sheriff end, ride as
hard se he could, Horton never could
- even catch sight OF his quarry.
When go skilled an official as Hor-
ton failed to get within shooting dis
tancc. the idea OF sending Jimmie
Jay to hunt the rpbbcr was excruciat-
ingly funny. and ColtOnvilie foTgave
limmiejay his ever-present curiosity
for very JOY In his doings. =
or course Jimmieiay did net an
rounce his erTand. Ho let It be in
ferred that he was out west for his
health. and likely looking gold
mine. He was more apt to find the
former than the latter. for he pur-
chased Jumbo Watkins mine for
$4,000 to keep up the deception
and that obese person. was delighted
Watkins had won the mine from a
Spanlard in a card game, and after
he hired man T. 0rk II for a while
he had offered N his choice. of the
mine or three rl-snths' pay that was
coming TO him and the miner wisely
took che money--which was handler
and more valuable than a hole so
Gfoet deep and that lad yielded about
10 cents a foot in the digging
Coltonville admired Jimmiejay's
gameness In buying the mine to keep
cup his blufi. but Il lost it's slight
remnant Of respect for Jimmiejay's
good sense
That he was a detective was ap-
parent to ALL More than that. many
OF the men who iiauated the Eagle
bar had seen the FURNISHED badge
that was only too familiar around