davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Tonopah daily bonanza. [volume] (Tonopah, Nev.) 1906-1929, 1912-01-23
WORK is RESUMED.

MANCHESTER, Eng, Jan 23.
Work has been resumed everywhere
In the cotton trade with the excep-
tion OF a few spinning mills which
will be run on short time for a
week or So The operatives and
employers are TO observe truce
for a year during which the ques-
tion of employment of non-union
labor is TO remain in allegiance.
Tonopah daily bonanza. [volume] (Tonopah, Nev.) 1906-1929, 1912-01-23
soclALIsr EI.EMENr wINs.

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind, Jan. 23.--
Socialists in the convention of the
United Mine Workers OF America
yesterday won another victory when
they succeeded in amending the con-
stltutioA OF the organization by
striking out the clause forbiddlng
the miners to take any political
stand. An amendment providing
that children. under l6 years old,
shall not be employed in mines
was adopted
Tonopah daily bonanza. [volume] (Tonopah, Nev.) 1906-1929, 1912-01-23
ADMITTED TO PRACTICE IN
SUPREME COURT OF NEVADA

On the 10th day of last October
our townsman, Thomas X. Cham
bers, was given an examination as
to his law knowledge enabling him
to practice his profession before
the supreme court of the state OF
Nevada and on Saturday he received
notification from Clerk Josephs, OF
the supreme body, that he had
been admitted to PROFOUND Black
stone before the state supreme
court of this state. Mr. Chambers
is the youngest attorney in Tonopah
and is making good each day
Tonopah daily bonanza. [volume] (Tonopah, Nev.) 1906-1929, 1912-01-23
COAL Miners
ARE KILLED BY
DUST EXPLOSION

kEMMERER, Wyo., Jan. "a
owing to an accumulation of dust.
an explosion occurred in mine No.
of the Kemmerer Coal company
la'e Saturday night, which caused
tue death of five men and injury
10 lS others. The dead are:
JAMES SMITH.
JAMES HANSEN.
JAMES WARD.
PETER LANDEN.
Nine seriously injured we're taken
70 the hospital at Rock Springs
me explosion occurred 1000 feet
u"uer the surface. The force of the
explosion was confined to limited
space Men in other parts of the
mine all escaped. Deaths and in
'urles were caused by the force o
'"e explosion. None were killed b!
gas One hundred and twenty mel
escaped without blemish.
Tonopah daily bonanza. [volume] (Tonopah, Nev.) 1906-1929, 1912-01-23
IRON GIRDER FALLS ON HIM.

Yesterday morning an iron grid
er, being hoisted to place at the
new Belmont mill. slipped through
the moose that held it and fell up
on Herman Zellig, an employe.
breaking several ribs and injuring
shoulder blade. The unfortunate
man was taken to the Miners
hospital, and today is reported as
doing nicely.
Tonopah daily bonanza. [volume] (Tonopah, Nev.) 1906-1929, 1912-01-23
MINER INJURED AT
EXTENSION MINE

This morning a miner by the
name of Paul Urich was cayed upon
at the Extension mine. The weight
of the rock caused several of his
ribs to be broken and his head is
severely cut and bruised. When
found the injured man was lying
face downward and unconscious
He was conveyed to the Miners
hospital and his injuries attended
to. 1t is thought that he is not
hurt internally and will soon re-
cover
Tonopah daily bonanza. [volume] (Tonopah, Nev.) 1906-1929, 1912-01-23

mrs. II. D. Williamson. who has
yee'l ~ visiting her daughter. Mrs.
'eo a. Griswold. returned to far
, rone In San Diego by this morn
Tonopah daily bonanza. [volume] (Tonopah, Nev.) 1906-1929, 1912-01-23

Billy" Evans and Louis Hemple
left yesterday for Blair. whore they
have accepted employment
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-04-11

A faint light now appeared before
him. 1t guided him to a dilapdatcd
little house which marked the foot O.
the hill where the road branches TO
Mersey and to Graniteville.
Ezra lifted the knocker and let it
fall with a crash that tore through
the silence. Rose opened the door al
most Immediately. Her black hair
hung loose around her shoulders and
the comb she had been using was still
in her hand.
I'D given you up for the night" she
said sullenly. "but that's nothing.
You're getting sick of this place, 1t
seems"
The man did not answer He was
beginning to realize how hard It would
be TO tell her. 1t would have to be
done carefully. Hers was a temper
that matched his own. So no allowed
her to remove his hat and overcoat
while he stood before the fire. his
hands over the blaze.
Rose. do you think"-he gave her
quick. uneasy glance-"do-do you
think it is too late to see Little Boy
tonight"
The woman, who was lifting some
bread and coffee from the cupboard
shelf. swung around. She threw her
hand to her throat and faced him with
smoldering. narrowed eyes. $50 that's
what brought you, is it?" she cried.
Its him you come to see-not me. II
1t wasn't for him don't think you'd
ever come any more at ALL" She
looked at him wildly; the thought
sudden intuition, 1t came to her
"a, With tyr,th
Would you?" she demanded harsh
~ chokingly, and her fingers tore at
the button at her throat as II for more
space in which to breath.
He did not reply.
Would you?" she repeated. advanc-
ing close to him so that he could feel
her hot breath on his face. For
moment her gaze was directly into
his eyes as II her own In their very
power would draw the truth from
him.
He was forced to turn away. He
faltered. mol" he said.
The woman then went old and
broken The splendid vitality which
marked her face and figure dropped
from her like discarded garment.
She skunk away from him, and creep
ing across the floor sank into low
chair and sat regarding him, dull
eyed, passionless.
For long time there was silence
while the wind shrieked around the
house, laying tapping fingers on tho
door and the windows. Finally. the
man. stung by the woman's misery,
began to plead nervOusly:
Rose, don't take 1t that way. You
don't know how It's hurting me-this
deception and hypocrisy. It's bound
to be found out sooner or later and
what then?-I, almost think II l was
: free to marry you | would ! want
| to look people in the eyes without the
K, fear of seeing that they know--he
Q shuddered his tone gained in strength
Men look up to me and respect me
D I've fought my way to the top and
Z I'm going to stay there. My position
is more to me than anything in this
world"
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-04-11

his own from whom to learn, none OF
his own except Little Boy. Suddenly
he remembered that as long as Rose
lived he could not call even Little
Boy his own he forgot the two
women and struck the desk with his
clenched fist.
At their frightened exclamation he
looked up and said brusl1ly: "I'll think
1t over, ladies'"
They glanced az each other. seeking
courage for further persuasion. ri.
nally. Miss Lansing spoke again: "If
you could tell us-we wish to an
nounce tt"
He nodded: every well"
So with embarrassed thanks and
good-days they edged out
After they had gone, the man sat
at his desk. his hands folded, gazing
straight into vacancy. He was think
ing of Little Boy. He remembered
how he had taught him 10 say, Papa
Ezra" almost as soon as he could
talk at all And he felt the touch Of
the small, soft hands travelling over
his rough face as he held him In his
arms, with the hoy smiling at him
with round open mouth and round
open eyes. Presently he bent over and
laid his head on his clasped hands.
His eyes were hot and dry but his
breath came in long, rasping sobs
that were hard to stifc. So he re-
manned for long while
For two weeks Ezra Benton did not
visit the house at the foot O. the hill
The chief reason was because he was
afraid. After the long secrecy OF
years, a whisper at last seemed TO
steal around the village-a whisper
that connected his name with that OF
Rose. Nothing tangible was said; the
names were not mentioned; it was
like a vapOr arising from a marsh at
nightfall. Men whispered to one an.
other Of having seen q dark figure on
the road to Roses house late at night
That was ALL But the whispers
reached Ezra's ears. And he trem.
bled.
For. strong man that he was, his
great pride was his position and the
this position had been the result OF
1t he had sacrificed the pleasures and
dren, friendships. He knew he must
DE CdTelNi. DO He uIu not venture
near Rose. And meanwhile. the de
sire for Little Boy-his little boy
was worrying him as salt worries an
open wound
The whispering increased. Ezra
wondered If his wife had said any
thing--his wife whom he despised but
who held him in her power.
Across the dinner table one night
he regarded her with heavy, sneerine
eyes. Have you said anything of my
absences at night 10 start this talk?'
he asked
She, a thin. fatbrcasted woman
laughed at him. "Do you think
want to parade my shamc?" she sale
coldly.
The day which was TO end with the
commencement exercises arrived. E2rf
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-04-11

figured in the cruel work of the
aines. But this was long before Lit
lie Boy saw the fight of this world,
for which Ezra Benton gave many
thanks--but that was afterwards.
lie, the banker of Pont du Lac, the
collar of his shaggy frieze coat pulled
up around his ears. the brim of his
wide felt hat down over his eyes,
stumbled along the steep and rain
broken road that led to the foot O. the
hill He was brute, this Ezra Ben
ton. He was not so tall. but broad
and of a thick heaviness that in his
youth had earned him the title Of "the
Bull" The determination which had
-aa6e him the richest and most re-
spected man in that North Country
township showed plainly in his square,
hard face.
It was a black night and close on
towards midnight. He stumbled as he
walked and swore as he stumbled. But
his thoughts were not on his ploddins.
Nor did they precede him to his desti-
nation. He thought Of his wife.
"She knows what takes me out o
oights," he said, staring with fixed,
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-04-11

He remembered Roses words: I'VE
all got to pay. You as we'll as Inc.
We all got to share" He WINGED at
the thought. Well, he was paying.
He was suffering with pain that
reached to his very heart and wrung
II as a hand wrings the water from a
sponge.
He wondered how he could avoid
making the speech that night He
read parts Of 1t, and especially: "Suc.
cess lies before all Of you II you work
for it with the labor of your hands,
the sweat Of your brow and the blood
Of your brain. But remember this.
there is only one success that Is worth
having, and that is the success won
through honesty For he who leaves
the path and enters into the thickets
Of hypocrisy and deception and
wrongdo doing is damned" And this
was what he was preaching to these
young people about to start life! He
wondered if he could avoid delivering
It by pleading illness? But then peo-
pie might suspect. No, he must go on
with it. He could not afford to have
any more questions asked
The light faded and darkness fell.
But still he sat there oblivious Of II
all His clerk had looked in, said
goodnight, and remained standing
there, gazing at him until he had re.
peated his gruff Good night" But he
had forgotten that. Then. in the
darkness, he heard some one knock.
ing impatiently at the door-softly
but impatiently. The knocking con-
timed. He walked through the hall
and opened the door. There stood
Jim West, the hotel keeper. and in his
arms was Little Boy.
The light was dim but the child
must have recognized the bankers
voice. Papa Ezra." he cried. greet.
ing him in his clear, childish treble.
Through the darkness. the two men
tried to read the others eyes. But,
long ago, Ezra had advanced Jim
West enough money to buy the hotel
and. only lately. the town, through
some unknown influence. had not
voted prohibition when every sign
pointed that way. So Jim reached out
his hand for Ebens. You can count
on me to shut up, Eben," he said
huskily.
"Where-where did you get him."
II picked him up on the hill.
was driving by. And he was standing
there crying. He had tag, with
Please take me to Ezra Benton 8
Office printed on 1t. So brought
him
did anybody see you?" asked the
other
81 don't think So It was dark and
those who did see the kid could not
tell It was Rose Browns boy"
Ezra Benton had the child in his
arms now and Jim West opened the
door to go ont. NO: wait, JIM"
cried Ezra, but the other had van
ished.
So he carried the boy into his Office
and sat there in the dark with him
on his lap.
What do you want. Little Boy?"
he asked.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-04-11

The woman stirred as II awakenins
from stupor her glance was yelled
and cunning as she asked: And the
kid--what Of him."
I'm going to send him away-he'l
never know. I'll have him educate
and made into gentleman. Every
thing I have will go to him some day
He--he's all the child I've got, God
help met" His voice broke at that
and his strong face worked with emo
ton.
But the woman laughed Him
too. you're going to take?"
"Yes!"
And what Of me-"
Your allowance will go on just the
same and"
But at that she was on her feet
again. flushed and raging. Money.
Money! Money!" she cried: damn
your money! It's all you think Of u.s.
You use us and then you throw us
aside as a dog leaves gnawed bone.
And you go on with your position
and your honor. But let me tell you,
it doesn't work. We all got to pay.
You as well as me. We all got TO
share!"
I'm sharing" ne said grimly
''You-you, and you can throw me
of like this and try to take my boy
Listen to me."-her voice went so
low as to be almost whisper "If
you do as you say. il you take the
boy. I'll go up there"-she pointed to
the village-"in front of the hotel, and
I'll say. Ezra Benton's child is my
child and he took him away from me
because he was afraid it would be
found out I'll go to the church and
I'll climb up beside the minister and
III cry, Ezra Benton's child is my
child and he's robbed me of him be.
cause he's afraid you-you, all Of you
will hear Of his SIM"
The mans face grew as wild as her
own. The veins on his forehead
swelled so that they were like blue
steel wires. He shouted something
inarticulate and gasping, and adj
vanced upon her with working lips
and fingers. But suddenly he saw her
stiffen and her finger pointed. She
whispered: There - there he is
There's Little Boy"
The mans eyes followed the direc.
tion OF her fingers. There stood the
small. terrified figure of the child
looking at them both with wondering
fright. Before the boys gaze. the
man covered his face with his hands
and. hatless, flung himself out the
door.
The next day Ezra Benton sat al
his desk in the bank on Main Street
The long. sleepless night had laid its
haggard marks upon his eyes and lips
but otherwise he appeared the strong
successful man that Pont du LAT
boosted Of. A clerk came to the dool
to announce Miss Short and Miss Ian
sing, teachers from the high school.
Ezra Benton nodded, and the ivy,
women came Tutoring in. Miss Ian
sing spoke in high, nervous tones:
We've come TO ask you, Mr.. Ben
ton, If you won't make a speech t,
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-04-11

raneements TO have him brought up
somewhere else - away from him
where no one could know. Oh. there
was pain in that thought. but it must
be, And yet how could he leave him
here in this house of death? How
could he?
1t seemed to the man that, for thu
first time in his hard, fearless life, hs
needed help. He wanted help. He
prayed for help-and for strength.
Presently, he fell to his knees beside
the boy God" he prayed to the God
whom 10 had never known, what
shall do?"
He continued to gaze at the child.
And suddenly the boy opened his eyes
wide, saw the man. smiled and whis-
nered. Papa Era Then he fell
back into profound sleep again. But
with longdrawn, hungry cry, the
man stopped and lifted the child into
his arms. Holding the small, warm
body close 70 him. he found shawl
shawl OF Rose's-and tenderly
wrapped it around Little Boy, who
was still sleeping.
Then walking stealthily, he went
into the other room and gazed down
for a moment on the face of the dead
woman. "Good-by Rose he said
softly.
Quietly he went out Of the house.
Halfway UP the hill, the boy awoke.
Il want mama." he cried; Il want to
stay with mama!"
Hush. boy whispered the man,
laying his cheek against the child's,
who took comfort and tightened his
hold upon the mans arm.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-04-11

then said hoarsely. ooh. it's that
He clutched the child to him convul-
sively. Then he put on his hat and
coat
He could not 20 out the front way
but there was the alley. Carrying the
child he felt his way down into the
cellar. He tried the door that led
into the back lot. But it was bolted
and he had no key. He put down
Little Boy. wait a minute he
whispered.
Then. with a short run, he thrust
his tremendous shoulders against the
door and it crashed open He lis
tened but there was no sound except
frightened gasp from the child.
So he went out into the alley and
so reached the back lot and then
across the meadow TO the creek. Here
he turned to the right and went along
the muddy bank. climbed over the
fence down by the sawmill and so ar
rived at the road which led to the
house at the foot o the hill.
1t was ominously quiet as Ezra
pushed open the door and they en-
tered. He put the child down and
hurried into the bedroom
Rose lay with her face to the wall
and 1t was not until he spoke that
she turned. Her beautiful, glossy hair
lay waved all over the pillow; the
face it framed seemed whittier and
more lined by contrast with its vivid
black. She flushed when she saw
Ezra and he thought. as she lay there,
so still and thin. with all her coarse
ness, her hardness, gone, that this
was the way she must have looked as
a very young girl.
She reached out one trembling hand
to him. Her voice was faint but per
fectly clear. Little Boy, give-eive
him his supper. In the pantry
Ezra nodded and went into the
other room With clumsy haste. he
poured some milk into glass and
spread some thick slices of bread
with butter Here, Little Boy, is
your supper" he said. in deep voice
The child laughed, drew up his
chair and began to eat heartily. I'm
awful hungry" he said, smiling up al
the big man beside him.
Ezra returned to the bedroom
Roses eyes were waiting for him
She motioned weakly and he came
over and knelt by the bed with hel
hand between his. He never knew
now many minutes and hours were
passed in this way. He grew numt
and cramped with pain. yet he was
afraid to move. And he thought oil
the commencement exercises at which
he was expected to read the speech
that lay on his desk at the bank. He
wondered what people thought of his
absence. He wondered if his wife
was there and if Jim Weston. who
alone knew the truth. was also there
Presently much later in the night
or perhaps early in the morning, Rose
spoke again. Her voice was no longer
clear: the words came with long
pauses between: ''You're--the-one-
Loved" she said. "You-made-
me happy'-a silence. then-"forgive
me, Ezra" Her voice stopped and
for long while. Ezra still knelt be-
side her until at length he looked up
Then he knew she was dead
Finally. he went into the other
room. Little Boy was asleep on the
couch. The man stood looking down
on him. pulling at his heavy mus
tache. What should he do now? Good
God. what should he do now? He
, studied with eager, burning eyes the
face Of the child who lay there sleep
ing. his chubby fists doubled. his face
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-04-11

Ezra Benton's wife was twelve years
older than he. Her small fortune had
given him his start in business and
he acknowledged to himself with the
contempt that came later that it was
her money alone that had prompted
his counting of her. He had paid for
it! He caught his breath in deep.
strangling sob and stretched his arms
wide SO that the powerful muscles
rose and fell. Yes, he had paid!
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-04-11

Rose al the foot o. the hill" the
men folk OF Pont du Lac were wont to
ray to one another at certain stage
Of the conversation in the wine-shop
Of La Rogue, the Kanuck, or over
Jim Vests hospitable bar And the
remark was accompanied with mali
.iouS winks and a back pointing Of
heir studied thumbs, broken and
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-04-11

Benton had prepared his speech with
selfloathing. II spoke of honor, OF
the fear of God and of right living
He imagined himself delivering it
with the eyes OF his wife upon him
always her eyes. Then, he pictured
at its end Rose standing in the door
way with Little Boy in her arms,
pointing at him, not speaking, but
laughing with laughter that would
never cease bit that would follow him
all through his life.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-04-11

"Ma says You must come" said the
child.
The man shook his head. 1t would
mean ruin If he should be seen out in
the village with the child now. He
looked out the window; in the street,
tho lights were already glimmering;
men were returning from work at the
mines; young people were running to
the post-oftice for the six o'clock mail.
which had just arrived.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-04-11

the graduates at the commencement
exercises on the TWENTIETH"
The man did not look at them as
ne sat toying with paper-weight on
his desk, What a mockcry it was to
be asked to give advice to other PEG.
pies children-to advise young men
along the straight path-he. of all
men! The hypocrisy of it shamed
and stung him and yet he must play
the game! But why had they Sc
lected him? He had no childrea Of
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-04-11

blooming. What lovely clay he WASH
This clay that could be fashioned intd
50 many things. What could he make
Of him. Ezra wondered Of this boy
who was his hoy-his and the dead
woman's?
But he must leave him, He could
not take him now. He might as we'll
stand in the market-place and cry his
sin
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-04-11

Ezra Benton turned to the child
again.
NO, Little Boyle spoke IN a
voice tender and soft, that was un-
known to the rest Of the world-"no,
l can't CO."
Mas sick. She says you'd better
come in time," Little Boy insisted
looking at him with eyes ignorant of
the meaning Of his message.
The man was silent for a moment,
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-04-11

anhappy eyes into the shadow-lit dark
less ahead OF him. well, to-night'll
end it with Rose. But the kid-oh,
my God, | must have the kid" The
.ast words were shouted. The ring OF
Them frightened him. He stopped 10
listen, but there was no answering
break of the heavy night silence and
le went on.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-04-11

At the top Of the hill Ezra saw tha1
the sky was flushed with the coming
OF the day. He realized what that
day would bring to him. 1t seemed
to him that an ordeal lay before him
as cruel as walking naked through tho
village with his sin burned in fiery
letters in his flesh. He could hear
the hooting and the laughing. He
could feel the cuts of the stones they,
threw, hooking at his shame
But he hugged the child the closer
and fiinging back his head, facing the
east. he cried aloud: II don't give &
damn for them ALL" 1t was a def
ance. And yet it was more than that.
1t was a greeting from the dawn
within him to Gods dawn