davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1912-10-17

blocks and GO You can be- you'll
never get contract here, II THAT'S all
you know about the game"
Clutter and Dawson. having found
out what they were sent for--that the
councilmen Of SpriDgvale we're reach
ing openly for graft with greedy
hands--and having implanted the
germ Of wood block paving IN the
minds or the two leaders. quietly pack.
ed their grips, paid their bills at the
Imperial. and fitted out of the case.
Then came into the game. Now
there really was an American Wood
Block company. and the president Of
II was an old man named Steger He
was interested in running down graft
ers. and for the purposes Of this Job
he loaned me his name and identity.
A few days after Clutter and Daw-
son had retired from Springvale All
derman Stein got letter from the
president Of the block company, 1t
read:
''My Dear Alderman:
II am afraid that my two statesmen
who saw you in regard to furnishing
wooden blocks for paving IN your city
knew little about how such things are
managed. Now you and /, my dear
Alderman, are men Of experience and
we know how such things are done.
hope to have the pleasure Of seeing
you at noon at the Imperial hotel in
your city. It is long since ] have tax
en- part in any selling campaign, but
in matter like this, Alderman, feel
It is better and safer that |, and |
alone, cover the ground.
Il suggest that you destroy this let
ter. have always found it advisable
to save as few papers as possible. !
am, very truly yours,
"HERMAN v. STEGER,
president American Wood Block Co"
When Stein got that letter he saw
at once that it was from man Of his
own heart The tone Of it showed
The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1912-10-17

cred, and l guess $4,000 would just
about be right for what you want"
Five thousand is what I had
thought would be right, l agreed.
"But how is the money to be got to
the right menu"
I'm the money wagon" said Stein.
'T handle all such deals for the boys. .
Then without any solicitation on my
part he began to assure me of his re
liability by relating in detail how he
had carried money from briber to
bribe-takers in half a dozen cases. He
had wonderful memory, He gave
dates, places. figures and names with
an exaemess that was marvellous. he
told how so-and-so had given him
such and such a sum in such and such
a place. how he had split it up in GER
tain amounts and given so much to
that alderman and so much to that
one. and how such and such an ordi-
nance had been showed through the
council as a consideration. He had
been SO accustomed to dealing in graft
that he looked upon it as pure busi-
ness transaction. He even referred to
entries in note book to substantiate
some Of his statements.
When he was through ! said, you
say you want to see the money in
your hands before the ordinance gees
through. Now, I don't mind having
my money up, but l want to see tie
goods delivered before 1 let 90 of it..
Now. you go out and get your men
one by one. Come back and give me
your word that you've got them, and
how much they cost you. and you can
The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1912-10-17

the writer to be right" according to
STEMS peculiar point of view The
cautious advice to destroy the letter
was a winner 1t showed that ste
ger" had been through the mill and
was too wise a bird to overlook any
bets. Stein sat down and wrote a
brief note to Steger, advising him that
he looked forward to the latter's APP
pearance at the Imperial hotel with
much pleasure.
I came into Springvale at night and
registered at the Imperial as Herman
v. Steger. stayed close to my room
the next morning. It seemed, indeed,
that Stein was awaiting my arrival
with much pleasure. for at noon a
telephone message from him informed
me that. having seen my name on the
register, he waited impatiently to vel
come me to Springvale.
"Come up, Mr.. STEM" I said, Il
have been expecting you"
Stein and Corcoran came up to-
gether. I had taken the best suite of
rooms in the hotel. had attired my
self in manner as expensive as was
consistent with fairly good taste. /
wanted to give the impression of plen-
ty of ready money.
Stein and Corcoran greeted me cor
daily, though quietly.
Don't be afraid to speak up, gen
tlemen," 1 said, laughing. Il have re-
served both rooms adjoining my suite
as a preeaution."
We all laughed together at this
sally. ordered up champagne and
cigars.
The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1912-10-17

"Well, gentlemen" | said, 4 am
here to sen springvale some cedar
blocks. And won't be so foolish as
to talk about how much money can
save The city"
We had another laugh over this.
We understood one another right
away.
"The whole town ought to have
wooden block paving" said corcoran.
Il know it. IT'S got to have it,"
Again we laughed. We were get
ting along famously.
show me good hand in this mat
ter. gentlemen" said I, "and III show
you a better one"
wen show you something tonight, "
said Stein. TITS council meeting
night. Just watch tomorrow morn
ing's papers for The proceedings and
you'H see how we do things in Spring
vale"
Next morning / saw that Stein had
introduced and the council had pass
ed an ordinance calling for the paving
of two blocks Of an important street
with wood blocks.
WELL" said he, when he called
upon me soon after breakfast, how
do You like that for action? That's
just a saa1ple we showed you. Now
all you got to do is to pay the price
and we come across with the whole
delivery Of Goods"
How large is that delivery" /
asked.
why, wen pave the whole damn
city with blocks and specify your
brand, said he, 'if you'll do the right
thing"
what do you call the right thing?"
/ asked
"Well." he said, some Of these
aldermen are cheap skates and some
are what you call wise guys. Some
can be reached for a ten-case note
and some want as high as five hum
dred. There's is Of EN- to be deliv-
The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1912-10-17

"Ain't you in it as deep as I am? ?"
he demanded. "What license you got
to talk that way?'
"Oh, I'm just detective sent down
here to get the goods on you, Stein, !"
| said. Look here"
/ went to one of the walls Of the
rooms, and raising my fist shot it
through the wallpaper where the wall
had been cut out to make listening
from the next room easy. went to
another room and did the same.
Il reserved those adjoining rooms,
Stein" said l, Ito give these men a
chance to listen to you and me"
with that threw open a door and
in came the group of philosophical
men who had set out to clean up
springvale.
Il have often longed for the oppor-
tunity to sentence you and your
clique to the penitentiary, STEM said
the Judge. Now it seems that / am
going to have that opportunity"
And he did. Before we had got
through with that crowd fifteen Of
them were in states prison, two Of
them we1e in jail. one committed sui
eide, two fed the country, and one
died of heart failure when he heard
his sentence. It was terrible toll Of
punishment, but it was justified.
g.ein tunnel safes evidence an.
helped us bare bribe cases for fFt
years back. He had been in all o.
them himself, but he was punished To-
only one. He got two years. He an
I got to be fairly good friends before
The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1912-10-17

have the $4,000, don't care how
much you make out Of 1t: don't care
II II only cosas you thousand 70 get
your men. / want to hear you tell
me that you've got EN- before the
money becomes yours"
@AIl right" said he, Il can get my
men in one day"
He did, too. That night he was
back with list Of his men. So much
fer this man, so much for that-he
had them all there and the amounts
required to buy their votes for the
shameful measure he was putting
through. This measure called for
nothing more or less than paving
about half Of the streets Of Spring
vale, except the boulevards, with
wooden blocks. And my company was
to have the contract Of furnishing
them. It was raw, rotten robbery;
but Springvale was used to just that
sort Of thing.
/ paid oyer the $4,000 in cash and
Stein made good on his promise. Next
council meeting the ordinance went
through with a rush. Stein called on
me the morning after.
We'll, are you satisfied with the
way things are done here?" he said.
Perfectly, Stein, perfectly" re
piled heartily. Things could not have
been done any better % suit me. But
Stein, / wonder If the Y have been done
to suit you?"
sWhy?" he said. lhsn, as if in
stantly seeming a rat, why? What
in hell do you mean
Suppose, said I, chat should tel
you that every word that you and
have spoken in this room has been
overheard by committee Of promi
ncnt citizens in this town and several
stenographers. What would you
say?"
He looked me up and down and his
usually red face began to go white.
The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1912-10-17

NJ tr,al fall due, and It was partly my
intercesslon, and explaining the great
service he had done us in unrayellng
~ 81. whoIe mess that kept him from
finding harder rate, -
springvale is fairly clean now
politically The politicians are too
scared to be crooked-for the time be
ing.
The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1912-10-17
She Got the Money.

What did the lady sue for?'
"she sued for $4,000"
did she VIM"
"She sure did"
Huh! I suppose her lawyer got
most of it?"
Her lawyer didn't get a cent. as
far as I'm able to find out
go on! IL lie was able to recover
hat big verdict he was smart enough
to get his"
WAS he? Well, he wasn't. She mar
lied him!"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-08-17
SHOWER OF JEWELRY.
Sensation Furnished London Street
Crowd by Excited Woman.

From the London Evening STANDARD.
An extraordinary scene was witness ed
in Great Portland street. west yesterday
morning. 4 married woman who lives
with her daughter i'm Portland court lock
ed herself In her room and proceeded to
throw hundreds Of articles of jewelry and
other objects of value from the window
10 the street.
Some hundreds of people quickly gath
ererd and for about an hour exciting
scenes were witnessed. There was a CON
tinuous shower of jeweiry. silver trays.
hair brushes. and in fact, everything that
the woman could lay her hands on People
gazed up at the window, startled and
some We're struck by the articles which
fell from the second floor window
Fruitless efforts We're made 10 restrain
the lady. and when the police attempted
TO force the door open she declared that
she would throw herself into the street III
they did SO. Her threats We're regarded
seriously and the police accordingly got
large canvas sheet in readiness I'm the
event of her jumping out Of the window.
Most of the property laying scattered
about the street was promptly collected
by people in the crowd and large num-
Der of articles We're returned. but some
have still TO lie traced. The value OF the
articles so strangely distributed was said
to be hundreds of pounds.
Ultimately the police secured a ladder
and entered the fat from the rear. Men
tai excitement is said to he the cause OF
the extraordinary action.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-08-17
HINT FROM PEPYS.
Tells How DR.. Williams Dog Solved
Great Cat Problem.

rom the Boston Herald.
How careless We all read famous
books, How seldom we apply what We
read to the solution Of problems in the
routine of life, There is Pepys' diary
Many of us will talk knowingly about
Mrs. knipp. the actress. or neatly imi-
tate certain mannerisms Of the diarist.
or discuss the pronunciation OF his name.
or look down on those who know the
confessions only through Braybrooke's
edition. or conjecture what Mr.. Wheat
leigh omitted and why he did not have
the courage TO include it: but few read
the diary TO their own or civic advan-
tage
For Instance. there is much talk at
present about stony-hearted dweilers in
the Back Bay. who. leaving town for a
journey or for a sojourn in their humble
matched cottages. forget the household
garbage or starve. We read OF rewards
offered for the detection of the heart
less: Of plans for putting the cats out OF
their misery.
Now. September II. 1851, our Mr. Pepys
made this entry: ITO DIR. Williams who
did carry me into his garden. where he
hath abundance of grapes. and he did
show me dog that he hath do kill all
the cats that come thIther 10 kill his
pigeons and do afterward bury them
and do il with so much care that they
shall be quite covered: that IL the tip OF
the tail hangs out he will take up the
cat again. and dig the hole deeper Which
is Very strange, and ne tells me that lie
do believe that he hath killed about lop
cats.
agents or shotguns bags for drowning.
or chloroform2 Are there no descendants
of DIR. Williams dog I'm Boston, OR are
there no skilled trainers?
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-08-17
THos. ]. OWEN & soN. AUCTIoNEERs.

TRUSTEES SALE OF VALUABLE BRICK
DWELLING NO. IL RHODE ISLAND AVE-
NUE. NORTHEAST.
BY virtue of a certain deed OF trust duly
corded in Liber No 3443 folio Al ct sea OF the
land records OF the District OF Columbia. and at
the request of the party secured thereby, the
undersigned trustees viii sell. Mt public auc-
ton. in front of the premises, on FRIDAY. THE
TWENTY-THIRD DAY OF AUGUST. A. ID.
1912. at FIVE O'CLOCK PM. the following de-
scribed land and premises. situate In the Dis
trict Of Columbia, and designated and being
lot 40. in block 10 tnow known square 3J0sl.
in David Moore and others subdivision OF land
known Moore and Barbour's Second
Addition to the City of Washington per
plat recorded in Liber County No. Is. folio 20.
Of the surveyors Office records Of the District
Of Columbia, subject to a prior deed OF trust for
$1,000.
Terms of sale: One-half Of the purchase money
said trust to be paid in cash. balance in
two equal fnstallments. payable in one and two
years. with interest at per centum per annum
payable sem-snnually. from day of SALE secured
by deed Of trust upon the property sold, all
cash. at the option OF the purchaser. A deposit
OF 500 will be required at time OF sale. All
conveyancing. recording. etc. at cost 1T pur-
chaser. Terms Of sale 10 he complied with with
In Il days from day OF sale. otherwise the
trustees reserve the RICH: to resell the property
at the risk and cost OF defaulting purchaser,
after five days advertisement Of such resale In
some newspaper published in Washington ID. c.
JOHN A. HAMILTON,
JAMES T. BARBOUR.
au14-d&ds. exSu Trustees
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-08-17
Stocks of Little Worth.
from the Literary Digest.

rom tue Literary Digest
a dealer in what are known as cat
and dog" securities recently issued a
list he had prepared for investors in
properties of this extremely doubtful
class. Selections from IL are printed in
the Financial World. which describes
the list as Including a great many OF
the prominent offerings made within
the last few years by promoters. each
one Of whom promised that few
hundred dollars invested in them would
lay the foundation OF a great for
tune BY making comparison of the
prices for which these stocks originally
were sold TO confidng investors with
the prices at which they are now
offered by the dealer referred TO. one
may see how large were the sums lost.
The Financial World declares that
"eyen at the lowest prices most or
these securities are now selling much
above their intrinsic worth. which in
many cases is nil The list is pub
lished las n warning to investors here.
after" Only a few of these stocks
are quoted at more than a dollar ~
share: the highest is Sl4. the next
highest S. others at 81. x2.s5, sos and
$40 Prices then descend to points
below a dollar a share, quotations rum
ming all the way down to 1 cent.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-08-17
ADAM A. wEscHLER. Aucr1oNEER.

CHANCERY SALE OF VALUABLE IMPROVED
REAL ESTATE. NO SIS MARYLAND AVE
NUE. NORTHEAST.
By virtue OF a decree Of the Supreme Court
Of the District OF Columbia. passed in Equity
Cause No. 30SO1. the undersigned trustee will
sell. at public auction in front Of. the premises
on THURSDAY. THE TWESTY-SECOND DAY
OF AUGUST. AID. 1912. HALF-;AST
FOUR O'CLOCK PM. the following described
land and premises. situate in the city of Wash
ington. in the District OF Columbia. and desig-
mated and heng sublot numbered sixteen 10.
in square numbered eight hundred and forty
three 'S43i. and all Of sublots numbered nineteen
n9l. twenty t20,. twenty-one f2N. twenty-five
t22p and twenty-thr t23l. In square south OF
square numbered nine hundred and fifteen (g15,.
together with the improvements thereon.
Terms of sale: One OF the purchase money
to be paid In cash and the balance In two equal
installnents. payable in and two years
with interest NJ per centum per annum. pay
able mi-annually. from day Of SALE secured
by deed OF trust upon the property Sold all
cash. at the option OF the purchaser. A deposit
OF $500 will be required Of the purchaser at the
time OF sale. All conveyancin=. recording and
notarial fees at the cost OF the purchaser. Terms
OF sale to lie complied with within fifteen days
from day OF sale. otherwise the trustee re-
serves the right to resell the property at the
risk and cost of the 1efaulting purchaser. after
FIVE days advertisement Of such resale In some
newspaper published in the city OF Washington,
d. c. WALTER BRUCE HOWE. Trustee,
au10-dGdhs. eXSu III 14t, st. n.y.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-08-17

TRUSTEES SALE OF VALUABLE IMPROVED
PROPERTY, NO. 1928 COLUMBIA ROAD
NORTHWEST.
BY virtue OF second deed of trust dated
February Is. 1911. and recorded in Liber 3413
at folio l.. et seq. of the land records for
the District OF Columbia, and at the request Of
the party secured thereby, the undersigned
trustees will sell at public auction in front Of
the premises, on TUESDAY. AUGUST TWEEN
Tf-SEtEN. 1872 AT HALF-PAST FOUR
O'CLOCK PM, the land and premises stuate
In the County of Washington District of Colum
ba. and known and distinguished as all of lot
3S In Lester A. Barr and Franklin T. Sanner's
subdivision Of part OF block 30. Columbia
Heights, as per plat recorded In Liber County
No. H. folio J. OF the records Of the Office Of
the surveyor Of the District OF Columbia. sub
ject, however. 10 the first trust thereon.
corded in Liber s4O3. folio 81 seq. of said
land records and subject also TO the covenant
that when building Is erected upon said lot
IL shall not be within thirty feet Of the street
mechanical purposes. shall spirituous liquors
be sold therein. Said covenant as 10 the build
ing line is to run with the land
Terms of sale: Cash. A deposi; of $500 will
be required on day OF sale and balance OF pur-
chase price to be paid within fifteen days there
after All conveyancing and recording at pur-
chasers cost Terms IN b. complied with within
fifteen days from day Of sale: otherwise trustees
reserve the right to resell at risk and cost or
defaulting purchaser.
LEONARD J. MATHER.
Southern Building,
CHAS. T. HENDLER.
Fendall Building.
aulJ-dts. exSu Trustees.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-08-17
DON'T BE A TIGHTWAD.
Spend a Little Money Now and Then
and Have q Good Time.

rom Inc BOSTON Herald.
A plaintiff I'm a New York court asked
that Isadore Turk should not be sp-
pointed administrator of his grandfathcr's
estate because he was improyident. The
plaintiffs attorney argued from evidence
given that Isadore. western ranchmsn.
arriving in New York had taken two
taxicab rides. spent a night at an ex-
pensive hotel and eaten a big dime
there. The surrogate pooh-poohed this
evidence. and asked the attorney IL he
had ever acted i'm like manner. The al
torney virtuously said no. never. where
upon Surrogate Cohalan remarked: do
ii, because IL Will do you good. When
man has been out west as a cowhov
he has right To celebrate on returning
to New York. That is only youthful foo-
hardness"
This advice might well be given To
men and women. who. after a life OF
thrift and self-denial find themselves in
comfortable circumstances and yet do
not know how To enjoy their money.
They reckoned near Close.
'.tightwads'' Yet they arc not nece.-
sarily stingy by nature. They walk un-
der a burning sun, and will not take
street car. The distance is so short. il
will not pay" Though the rain fall in
torrents they shudder at thought Of
cab. At the theater an additional sum
of 20 cents is wild extravaganza. I'M
ported beer is only for the reckless. \
woman will waste her strength in hunt
ing for a cheap dressmaker or mlliner.
who. when found. botches the job and
ruins the materials.
4 man will be penny wise and pound
foolish. There is the abiding dread OF
poverty. There il the unwillngness to be
comfortable today and tomorrow. lest
ten years from now the income will be
smaller. There is the old spirit of pinch
ing, unit. death comes and the savings
are left to Indifferent relations. who spend
gayly without thought of the future and
live joyous life to the end. Mayor
Gaynor advises the reading OF Epsctetus.
The surrogate might well have urged the
attorney to read diligently the odes. set
Flaccus.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-08-17
THos. J. OWEN son, AUcrIoNEERs.

TRUSTEES SALE OF VALUABLE BRICK
DWELLING; NO. 641 MD. AVE. NE.
BY virtue Of a certain deed OF trust duly re.
corded in Liber No $3.50, folio 2e9 ct seq. OF
the land records of The District Of Columbia. and
at the request Of the party secured thereby the
Undersigned trustees Will sell at public auction
in front of the premises. on TUESDAY. THE
TWENTIETH DAY OF AUGUST. AID. 1912. AT
FIVE O'CLOCK PM. the following described
land and premises. situate In the city OF Wash
ington. District of Columbia. and designated as
and being sublot 40 in square SS4. together with
the improvements.
Terms of sale: One-third OF the purchase
money tower and above prior deed of trust
So. 500, to be paid in cash. balance In two equal
installments payable in one and two years. with
interest at. 8 per centnm per annun; payable
semi annually. from day Of sale. secured by deed
of trust upon the property sold. all cash, al
the option OF the purchaser. deposit Of 500
will be required at time OF sale All conveyance
ing, recording. etc, at cost OF purchaser. Terms
OF sale TO be complied with within - days from
day of sale. otherwise the trustees reserve the
right to resell the property at tie risk and cost
OF dcfaulting purchaser. after five days adver-
1isement of such resale in some newspaper pub-
lshed in Washington. ID. 9.
LOUIS L. PEAK
l.. w. GIBSON,
HARRY s. WEIGH. Trustees
Atty. for Party Secured. is 18th st. NV.
aus dads. eSu