davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington herald., 1912-06-30

dered her You never had the pluck
Your confederate did that, and handled
the booty. What were the initials in
side that ring you showed US at dinner
tonight, Maj. Jones?"
Let me go to my bedroom" he said,
in strange, far-away tone. you can
come with me and stand outside"
Peter Ruff assented. TO save scan
dal." he said. ''yesp
Three flights of stairs they climbed.
When at last they reached the door. the
trembling man made one last appeal.
"Mr. Ruff" he said, have a little
mercy. Give me an hours start-just
chance for my lifep
Peter Ruff pushed him in the door.
Il am not hard man" he said, but
l keep my mercy for men,
He took the key from the inside of
the door, locked it. and with the key in
his pocket descended to the drawing
room. The young lady who had sat on
Maj. Jones right was singing ballad.
Suddenly she paused in the middle of
her song. The four people who were
playing bridge looked up. Mrs. Bog
nor screamed.
What was that?" she asked quickly.
1T sounded" Peter Ruff said, very
much like revolver shot
81 see" Sir Richard remarked. with
"a queer look in his eyes. as he handed
over a roll of notes to Peter Ruff. the
jury brought it in Suicide! What
can't understand is"
Don't try" Peter Ruff interrupted
bruskly. 1t isn't in the bond that you
should understand"
Sir Richard helped himself to a drink.
A great burden had passed from his
shoulders, but he was not feeling at his
best that morning He could scarcely
keep his eyes from Peter Ruff.
Ruff" he said, Il have known YOU
some time, and have known you to be
a square man. have known YOU TO
do good-natured actions. came to
you in desperation-but l scarcely ex-
pected this"
Peter Ruff empued his own tumbler
and took up his hat
Sir Richard" he said, you are like
a good many other people Now that
the thing is done, you shrink from the
thought OF it, You even wonder how
! could have planned to bring about the
death OF this man. Listen. Sir Rich
ard. Pity for the deserving. or for
those who have in them one single
quality, one single grain. Of good, is a
sentiment which deserves respect. PITY
for vermin, who crawl about the world
leaving a poisonous trail upon every
thing they touch, is a false and unnat-
ural sentiment For every hopelessly
corrupt man who is induced to quit this
life there is a more deserving one.
somewhere or other. for whom the
world is a better place"
so that after all, you are a philan-
thropist, Mr Ruff" Sir Richard said,
with a forced smile.
Peter Ruff shook his head.
a philosopher he answered, button
ing up his notes.
Title of next Sundays Adventure
The Perfdy Of Miss PrOwn."
The Washington herald., 1912-06-30

ulars of the murder he already knew
well, as at one time he had felt inclin-
ed to aid the police in their 50 far fruit
less Investigations. He therefore de-
voted his attention TO the last para
graph, toward which he fancied that
the finger of Maj. Jones had been chief
ly directed. II was list OF the stolen
property. which consisted of jewelry,
gold and notes to a very considerable
amount
In the course OF some OF the smaller
cases with which Peter Ruff had been
from time to time connected. he had
more than once come into contact with
the authorities at Scotland Yard, and
he had several acquaintances there
not including Mr. John Dory-to whom,
at times, he had given valuable infor-
nation. For the first time, he now
sought some return for his many cour-
tesles He drove straight from the
cafe to the office Of the Chief of the
Criminal Investigation Department.
The questions he asked there were only
two. but they were promptly and cour-
teously answered. Peter Ruff left the
building and drove back to his rooms
IN somewhat congTatulatOTy frame OF
mind
Peter Puff became an inmate of that
very select clearinghouse carried on
by Mrs. Bognor, at No u Russell
Street, Bloomsbury He arrived with
a steamer trunk. an elaborate travelling
bag, and dressing case; took the best
vacant room in the house, and dressed
for dinner Mrs. Bognor looked upon
him as a valuable addition to her Glen
tele, and introduced him freely to her
other guests. Among these was Mai
Edward Jones. Mai. Jones sat at Mrs
BognoTs right hand, and was evidently
the show guest of the boarding house
Peter Ruff, without the least desire to
attack his position, sat upon her left
and monopolized the conversation. On
the third night it turned. by chance,
upon precious stones. Peter Ruff drew
a little chsmois leather bag from his
pocket.
Il am afraid" he said, that my
tastes are peculiar l have been in the
East and / have seen very many pre-
The Washington herald., 1912-06-30

cious stones in their uncut state. To
my mind there is nothing to be com
pared with opals. These are a few
brought home from India. Perhaps
you would like TO look at them, Mrs.
Bognor"
They were passed around, amid a lit
tie chorus of admiration
The large one with the blue FIRE,
Peter Ruff remarked, is, ! think, re-
markably beautiful have never seen
a stone quite like it.
Mai. Jones, who was beginning 10
feel that his position as show guest was
in danger, thrust his hand into his
waistcoat pocket and produced a lady's
ring. in which was set j single opal
Very pretty stones he remarked
carelessly, but l can't say l am very
fond OF them Here's one that belonged
to my sister, and my grandmother be-
fore her | have it in my pocket be-
cause | was thinking OF having the
stone reset and making a present OF It
to a friend of mine"
Peter Ruff's popularity waned-he
had said nothing about making a pres
ent to any one of even the most insig-
nihcant OF his opals! And the one
which Mai. Jones now handed round
was certainly a magnificent stone Peter
Ruff examined it with the rest, and
under the pretext Of studying the set
ting, gazed steadfsstly at the inside
through his eyegiass. Mai. Jones
frowned, and held out his hand for the
ring.
"A very beautiful stone indeed y
Peter Ruff declared. Really. l do not
think that there is one in my little COL
lection to be compared with it. Have
you many treasures like this, Maj.
Jones?"
oh. a few!" the major answered
carelessly, family heiFlooms, most of
them"
Sooner or later" Peter Ruff said
genially. Il should like to have a little
conversation with you. major. l fancy
that we ought to be able to find plenty
of subjects Of common interest"
Delighted, I'm sure" the latter an
swered, utterly unsuspicious. Shall we
60 into the smoking-room now, or
would you rather play a rubber hrst?"
The Washington herald., 1912-06-30

by discovering this enemy of Sir Rich
ards sitting. toward 5 o'clock in the
afternoon, in a cafe in Regent Street,
engrossed in conversation with a per
son whom Peter Ruff knew to be a
very black sheep indeed man who
had been tried for murder From be-
hind his paper, in a corner OF the cafe.
Peter Ruff watched these two men.
Teddy Jones-or Mai. Edward Jones,
as he was now called-was a person
whose appearance no longer suggested
the poverty against which he had been
struggling most Of his life. He was
well dressed and tolerably well turned
out. His face was i little puffy, and
he had put on flesh during these days
of his ease. His eyes, too, had a some
what furtive expression, although his
general department was one of brag-
gadocio.
The two men conducted their CONVEX
sation in a subdued tone, which made
it quite impossible for Peter Ruff to
overhear a single word of it. 1t was
obvious, however, that they were not
on the best Of terms. Maj. Jones' COM
panion was protesting. and apparently
without success, against some course OF
action or speech of his companion's.
The conversation, on the other hand,
never reached a quarrel, and the two
men left the place together apparently
on ordinary terms of friendliness.
Peter Ruff at once quilted his seat
and crossed the room toward the spot
where they had been sitting. He dived
under the table and picked up news
paper-it was the only clew left to him
as to the nature of their conversation.
More than once, Maj. Jones, who had,
soon after their arrival, sent a waiter
for it, had pointed to a certain para
graph. Peter Ruff had noticed the ex-
act position of that paragraph. He
smoothed out the paper and found it
at once 1t was an account of the mur-
der of a wealthy old woman. living on
the outskirts of a country village not
far from London.
Peter Ruff's face did not change as
he read the description slowly. Yet he
was aware that he had possibly STUN
bled across the very thing for which he
had searched so urgently! The partic-
The Washington herald., 1912-06-30

The national flower has never. as yet.
been decided upon by universal acclama-
ton. But [ is quite safe to believe that
It will he the columbine, for good and
sufficient reasons. In a popular sense.
the name coIumbine is not far removed
from Columbia. the Goddess Of Liberty
and the gem OF the ocean" when stand
Ing for freedom and justice.
Columbine IS derived from the Latin
columbia, meaning a dove. and Is en-
blematic Of peace. Another account says
II Is from aqUila. an eagle, which. by tho
way. Is the crest symbolic OF America.
as represented by the bald eagle.
The red spurs Of the flower are said 70
resemble the red stripes OF old glory
and the red. white. and blue varieties in
dicate the national colors.
The Washington herald., 1912-06-30

In most instances the State foral en-
blems have been adopted by the vote OF
the pupils OF the public schools OF their
respective States. This compilation 5
the result OF many inquiries from the
readers OF Suburban Life:
The Washington herald., 1912-06-30
FLOWERS OF THE STATES.

Title of next Sundays Adventure
''The Perhdy of Miss PrOwn.-
The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1912-11-16
PROLOGUE OF THE STORY.

David Jenison, a young Nirginian.
hunted as a fugitive. seeks refuge I'M
der n circus tent. He is found asleep
hy Grinaldi. the clown, otherwise Joey
Noakes. In the dressing tent Grinaldi
recognizes him as the "boy murderer
for whose capture 500 reward Is Of
fered. Braddock's circus is In money
difficulties, and Braddock. In spite OF
the protests Of bis wife and daughter,
who are impressed by David's declara-
ton OF innocence. roughly demands
that the boy be surrendered to the au-
thorites. Braddock changes his mind
when David produces $1,000, an inheri-
lance from his father. Of which he Of
fers Braddock the amount OF the re
ward II permitted to remain. He be-
comes a clown 10 evade his pursuers
and later IS stuffed into n circus wagon.
At tie next stop Braddock offers him q
steady position and warns him TO de-
post the rest OF the inheritance with
him. But Mrs. Braddock. distressing
her husband. already has taken the
money for safe keeping. Colonel Bob
Grand. a race track gambler, who has
Braddock IN his grasp financially. APP
nears at the circus and. as usual. Is
attentive TO Mrs. Braddock. much to
her disgust. Grinaldi recites to bis
daughter. Ruby, and David the story
Of Braddock's changed character since
under the influence OF Bob Grand. also
telling OF how Mrs. Braddock fell In
love with and married her present
husband. being disinherited by her ia
Their. Braddock orders David not to
talk with his wife and daughter. but
through the compassion OF some OF the
circus troupe he is led into n meeting
with Christine, to whom he relates his
story. He mentions how his disGraced
uncle returned after the war and Of
fered proofs OF his innocence TO Da-
vid's grandfather and how this unele's
business dealings with n negro lawyer
aroused Davld's suspicious.
The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1912-11-16
An Infamous Uncle.

EYE could not continue for a full
minute or more. The girl
was scarcely breathing.
81 just stood there and star
ed, the gun In my hand. Suddenly
some one leaped upon me from behind.
II was my Uncle Frank, and he was
out OF breath, very much excited.
You little devil' he yelled two or
three times. Then he called for help.
Servants came running from all d.
r~ections. ] didn't know what he meant.
Soon I was TO learn"
"He-he thought you killed him?'
whispered Christine.
He said I killed him. / was daZed
Il was crazy. 1t was a long time be-
fore | realized what was happening 10
me. The-the servants and the neigh
bo-s who came in wanted to lynch me.
but Judge Gainsborough. who rode
over In his night clothes from his
plantation. prevailed upon them to
wait-to give me a hearing. My Uncle
Frank would have let them hang me
I began at last to realize how bad 1t
looked for me. They laughed at my
story of the man who ran away. My
Uncle Frank deliberately denied that
Isaac Perry had been there. was
stupeied. IT came over me suddenly
that-that Uncle Frank had done the
shooting. He had killed his W
father.
How wonderfully everything worked
ont against me. The gun, with one bar
rel empty, for I had fired il that very
day In the woods: my presence at the
window: the servants who saw me
looking in: my uncle Franks tale of
how lie came out on the gallery above
and saw me hiding In the dead lilac
bushes and afterward creep up TO the
window TO look in upon the thing
Ind done. He told of my attempt to
run and OF his struggle to hold me.
One OF the servants had seen me 60
down when granddaddy called TO me,
and again he had seen me 80 down
quietly to the library after the paper.
I did go quietly. it is true. so rs not TO
disturb the old gentleman.
They all rushed upstairs 10 search
nv room. Lying IN my table was the
long envelope. Judge Gainsborough
onened 1t. so he says. They came down
stairs. and I shall never forget the look
NJ horror in the judges eyes as he
stood there staring at me. David he
said. this Is a terrible, terrible thing
vor have done ! couldn't speak.
How did you know that your grand
father had made this new will: Chris
tins ths-ths paper was a new viii.
The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1912-11-16

~UDDENLY a new element en-.
- tered into the one sided conflict
A whirlwind figure dashed out
of an alley hard by and came
crashing into the thick OF the fray.
"Dick, Dick.!' shrieked the covering
cripple, the fiercest glee In his shrill
voice.
Always on hand!" sang out the
newcomer, slashing out right and left
"Oid Nick-o.time, my lads! So you'd
lump on a cripple. would you? Here's
a Christmas gift for you, you hay
seedr'
Singing glibly after this fashion, the
tall recruit laid about him with devas-
tating effect Three of the surprised
town boys were sprawling on the
ground; another was trying to scale
the fence ahead of an expected boot
toe: the fifth was being soundly pol
ished off by the exhilarated David. In
less time than it takes to tell Ii five
terrified hoodlums were "streaking it.
in as many directions. their chins
high with a mighty resolve, their legs
working like pinwheels. their eyes pop
ping and their mouths spread in
speechless endeavor. Five seconds lat
er you couldn't have found one of them
with a telescope.
The ~hunchback had leaped forward
and was clasping a leg OF the tall. an
cry rescuer, whining p%etulantly: "Why
didn't you come sooner. Dick? You
never look out for me. One Of them
struck me. See.'
"Struck you. did he? Pd-Td have
killed him If I'd knowed that, Ernie.
But. say, who's your friend? Looked
as If he was doing business all right
when / came up. Hello! They got to
you, did they? Bleeding like a pig,
you are. Say. young Teller, never put
your nose where it can be hit ! hates
the sight of blood. and always did"
David was wiping the blood from his
cheek. The tall young man came over
and inspected the break in the cuticle.
"Just peeled it off a little" he an
nounced. NO harm done. oh, | say,
you're the new clown. amt you?
saw you last night. Put 1t there. kid.
You're a brick. I'll not forget what
vol did for Ernie
The two shook hands. The satirical
grin had left the strangers face. He
was regarding David with keen gray
ewes. narrowed by the odd intentness
OF his gaze. David had the feeling
that his innermost soul was being
searched by the shrewdest eyes he had
ever looked into.
II came up just in time" explained
the virginian. still somewhat put OF
breath. They were teasing him. and
then one Of the brutes struck him.
like fair play. i couldn't help taking
a hand. They might have hurt hin
! severely"
The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1912-11-16
The Rose
In the Ring
By GEORGE BARR M'CUTCHEON
Copyright 1910 by Dodd. Mead q Co.
By GEORGE BARR M'CUTCHEON
Copyright 1910 by Dodd. Mead q Co.

ground. Your uncle Frank advised
me to tell you of 1t tonight said he.
II went upstairs to my work. leaving
him below. Soon afterward | went
down again TO get the paper. feeling
that might as well read 1t before go
ing to bed. lie was reading In the
back parlor. ! got the envelope out Of
the drawer In the front room and went
back upstairs without disturbing him.
A minute afterward | heard the shot.
My W gun was standing in the cor
ner. l grabbed 1t up and crawled
through a window on to the gallery.
running down the back steps. As I
reached the bottom | saw a man climb
Ing over the fence to the right. Not
dreaming that a tragedy had occurred
/ rushed after him. He easily got
away In the darkness. Then | return
ed TO the house. As l came near /
saw Isaac Perry-unmistakably Isaac
Perry at the corner. He turned and
ran the instant he saw me. When he
crossed In front Of the lighted parlor
windows l distinctly saw that he did
The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1912-11-16

showing that the wool was not to be
pulled w Joey's eyes.
Il think | understand said David
gloomiiy. "But what am l to say to
himY'
Don't peep. Leave II to me. I'll
tell I'm that you're talking of putting
most of 1t into the business after you
get safely over into Indiana or Illinois.
Thatll stave I'm or. But he's going
to ave that money one way or anoth-
er. my lad. That's wot's on is mind"
The next morning. just after the
parade. David went of for a walk In
the town. His thoughts were Of the
evening before and the half hour he
had spent with Christine. He was
thinking of her wonderfully sympa-
thetic eyes. Of the live touch Of her
hand on his arm. of the soft music in
her voice. Of the delicious words Of
faith and confidence she had whis-
pered. He could still feel the tight
clasp Of her fingers on his arm. He
could still hear the tremulous note in
her voice.
And how gravely she had smiled at
him In the ring, What a profession
of deep loyalty there was In the glance
she ave him when he passed her In
the dressing tent. The world seemed
to have grown brighter for him all Of
a sudden. For the first time in weeks
he whistled-and II was a bllthe air
that he lifted, for by nature he was a
blithe lad.
His reverie was abruptly disturbed.
Turning a corner he came upon a
group of town boys. They were max
ing faces and hootlng at a strange ag-
ure that crouched against q high board
fence. David recalled this figure al
once: a squat. hunchback lad who was
to be seen at times behind the counter
of the smack stand" More than nee
had the strong, straight virginian
gazed with a certain pity upon the
pale faced cripple.
But now that look was gone. The
hunchback, who could have been nc
more than fifteen. was convulsed by
rage. He was showing his teeth like
vicious dog. The most appalling flow
Of profanity came shrieking through
his white lips. Never had David heard
such unspeakable names as those
which the tormented boy was scream
ing at his tantallzers.
Suddenly he spat upon the biggest
of his scoffers, following the act with
a name so vile that the other leaped
forward and struck him a heavy blow
In the face.
David dashed In and planted a sting
ing right handler on the jaw Of the en-
ragged bully. sending him to the ground
beside the hunchback, who was with
ing there with blood on his lips.
For a second or two the fellows
companions. four in number. stood un'
decided. Then. with one accord, they
rushed at David Jenison.
The virginian met the rush stanch
~. To his own surprise his wild
swings landed with amazing precision
and the most gratifying effect Two
OF his assaiIants reeled away under
the savage impact Of his blows. A
stone struck him on the shoulder; {
young ruffian reached his face with
cutting blow OF the fist. He felt the
hot blood trickling down his cheek, bu'
he stood squarely in front of the
h~unchback, his fists swinging like mad
The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1912-11-16

"Jacky, you rascal, you are a gentle
man. and as such introduce you to
my family. Let's all be friends.
Mrs. Braddock's face went white.
She understood the motive of the man.
He meant TO follow new methods In
the effort to secure possession of Da-
vid's money.
Christine kissed her father and call
ed him u darling.
Don't you tell i'm you've stuck that
money way in a bank" was all that
Joey Grinaldi said when David told
him of Braddocl's sudden change OF
front 1t was a sentient bit Of advice.
The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1912-11-16

Hes my BROTHER said the other.
putting his hand on Ernie's misshapen
shoulder. mo. ] won't forget this"
he went on. You didn't have to in
terfere. hut you did. Piucky thing to
do. They say you come from Viz
gInia- Well. you've proved IL Thank
you for doing this. My names Dick
Cronk. I'm from New York. Ernest,
I haven't heard you say anything that
sounds like much obliged Speak upT"
The hunchback looked sullenly at
the ground, his black eyebrows almost
meeting In a straight line above his
nose.
"He couldn't have licked 'em II ycu
hadn't come. Dick" he protested.
See here. Ernie" said Dick. that's
no way to act. Mr.-er-this young
gentleman defended you until r.
II saw him looking at my-my
hump yesterday. lie laughed at meI'
cried the boy fiercely.
David's hand fell from his bloody
cheek. Laughed at your he cried.
~ never did such a thing. You are
mistaken"
what were you laughing at. them"
demanded the unfortunate boy. made
oversensitive by his dread OF ridicule-
IL don't remember that | laughed
said David. ~perplexed and distressed
Lets be friends"
Dick pushed Ernie forward gently,
but firmly. The h~unchback extended
his hand grudgingly.
"All' right" he said sulkily.
"Come on!' said Dick, suddenly
alert "'The cops will be along here