davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1913-08-21
CHAPTER XXI.
A Change.

It's all up. I'm beaten on my own
ground" Thus confessed Sweetwater,
in great detection, to himself. But
I'm going to take advantage of the
permission he's just given me and con
tinue the listening act. Just because
he told me to and just because he
thinks won't. I'm sure it's no worse
than to spend hours of restless toss
ing in bed, trying to sleep"
But our young detective did neither.
AS ne was putting his supper dishes
away, a messenger boy knocked at his
door and handed him note. 1t was
from Gryce and ran thus:
steal off. if you can, and as soon
IS you can, and meet me in Twenty
ninth street A discovery has been
made which alters the whole situa-
ton"
Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1913-08-21
alarm.


alarm. But she answered him dis.
tinctly:
"On the twenty-fifth Of last month,
just an hour after he was made mana.
ger. He fell in a faint at the works. -
The day-the very day of Miss Chal-
loner's death!
Had he heard-did you tell him
then or afterwards what happened in
New York on that very date?"
mo, no, we have not told him. 1t
would have killed hi1n-and may yet
Edith, Edith come again
through the hush, hush so deep that
Sweetwater received the impression
that the house was empty save for pa
tent and nurse.
This discovery had It's effect upon
him. Why should he subject this
young and loving girl to further pain ?
He had already learned more than he
had expected to. The rest would come
with time. But at the first intimation
he gave of leaving, she lost her abb
stracted air and turned with absolute
eagerness towards him.
"One moment" said She "You are
stranger and l do not know your
name or your purpose here. But /
cannot let you go without begging you
Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1913-08-21
CHAPTER XIII.
Doris.


"a young girl named Doris Scott?"
The station-master looked some
what sharply at the man he was adj
dressing, and decided to give the di-
rection asked.
There is but one young girl in
town of that name" he declared, 'and
she lives in that little house you see
just beyond the works. But let me
tell you. stranger" he went on with
some precipitation
But here he was called off, and
Sweetwater lost the conclusion of his
warning, if warning 1t was meant to
be. This did not trouble the detect
i've. He stood moment, taking in
the prospect; decided that the works
and the works alone made the town,
and started for the house which had
been pointed out to him. His way lay
through the chief business street. and
greatly preoccupied by his errand, he
gave but passing glance to the rows
on rows of workmen's dwellings,
stretching away to the left IN seem
ingly endless perspective. Yet in that
glance he certainly took in the fact
that the sidewalks were blocked with
people and wondered if it were holt
day. II so, 1t must be an enforced
one, for the faces showed little Joy.
Possibly strike was on. The anx-
iety he everywhere saw pictured on
young faces and old, argued some
trouble; but II the trouble was that,
Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1913-08-21

- A hitch or the shoulder conveyed
Sweetwater's disgust. His uniform
good nature was strangely disturbed.
He says that, does he? Come, now!
prejudice aside, what's your honest
opinion of the man you've had under
your eye and ear for three solid
weeks? Speak up. my boy"
Il can't. ] hate the fellow. l hate
anyone who makes me look ridiculous
He-well, well, If you'll have it, sir
| will say this much. II 1t weren't
for that blasted coincidence of the
two deaths equally mysterious, equal.
ly under his eye, I'd. stake my life on
his honesty. But that coincidence
stumps me and-and a sort of feeling
| have here"
1t is to be hoped that the slap he
gave his breast, at this point, carried
off some of his superfiuous emotion
you can't account for feeling, Mr.
Gryce. The man has no heart. He's
as hard as rocks"
You've found no evidence against
him."
Mo-"
Then listen to this. The test with
the letters failed, because what he
said about them was true. They were
not meant for him. Miss Challoner
had another lover"
Only another? / thought there
were half-dozen, at least"
Another whom she favored. The
IN hN,. !
the ones she wrote herself, but those
which were written to her over the
signature o. B. were not all from the
same hand. Experts have been busy
with them for a week, and their re.
ports are unanimous. The o. B. who
edged to by Orlando Brotherson, was
not the o. B. who penned all of those
love letters. The similarity In the writ
ing misled us at first, but once the
doubt was raised by Mr. Challoner's
discovery of an allusion in one of
them which pointed to another writer
than Mr.. Brotherson. and experts had
no difficulty in reaching the decision
have mentioned"
Two 0. BIS! Isn't that incredible,
Mr. Gryce?"
Yes, 1t is Incredible; but the in
credible is not the impossible. The
man you've been shadowing denies
that these expressive effusions of Miss
Challoner were meant for him Let
us see, then, if we can find the man
they were meant for"
"The second o. BIZ"
yes"
Sweetwater's face instantly lit up.
DO you mean that latter my
egregious failure-am not to be kept
on the ounces seat? That you will
give me this new job?"
Eyes. We don't know of a better
man."
The uperintendent--how does he
feel about it?"
HE was the first one to mention
you"
And the Inspector"
us glad to see us on a new tack"
A pause, during which the eager
Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1913-08-21

not to mention to anyone in this town
that Mr. Brotherson has any interest
in the lady whose name we must not
speak. Do not repeat that delirious
cry you have heard or betray in any
way our intense and fearful interest
in this young lady's strange death.
You have shown me letter. Do not
speak of that letter, I entreat you.
Help US to retain our secret little
longer. Only the doctor and myself
know what awaits Mr. Brotherson If
a doctor reveals nothing. Promise tlAt
you will not either, at least till ~
crisis is passed. 1t will help my ia
Their and it will help me; and we need
all the help we can get"
Sweetwater allowed himself one
minute Of thought, then he earnestly
replied:
Il will keep your secret for today.
and longer, if possible"
Thank you" she cried; thank you.
I thought | saw kindness in your
face" And she again prepared to close
the door,
But Sweetwater had one more ques-
ton to ask. Pardon me-" said he,
he stepped down on the walk, you
say that this is critical day with
your patient Is that why every one
whom have seen SO far wears such
lookof anxiety?'
Yes, yes" she cried, giving him
one other glimpse of her lovely, agi-
tated face. There's but one feeling
in town today, but one hope, and. as
believe, but one prayer. That the
man whom every one loves and every
one trusts may live to run these
works"
Edith! Edith" rose in ceasel9Ss
reiteration from within.
But it rang but family now in the
ears of our detective. The door had
fallen to. and Sweetwater's share In
the anxieties of that household was
over
Slowly he moved away. He was in
a confused yet elated condition OF
mind. Here was food for thousand
new thoughts and conjectures. An Or.
lando Brotherson and an Oswald
Observation-Disclosures possibly, stran-
gers possibly; but whether relatives
or strangers, both given to signing
their letters with their initials sim
ply; and both the acknowledged adj
mirers of the deceased Miss Challo1&
er. But she had loved only one, and
that one, Oswald. 1t was not difficult
to recognize the object OF this high.
hearted woman's affections in this
man whose struggle with the master
destroyer had awakened the solicitude
of whole town
Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1913-08-21
CHAPTER xx.-continued.

Letters" Fury thickened the
speakers voice, and lent a savage
CLEAN to his eye. "Forgeries! Make
believes! Miss Challoner never wrote
the drivel you dare to designate as let
ters. It was concocted at police head
quarters. They made me tell my story
and then they found Some one who
could WELD the poetic pen. I'm
obliged to them for the confidence
they show in my credulity. / credit
Miss Challonar with such words as
have been given me to read here to-
day? / knew the lady, and l know my
self. Nothing that passed between US,
not an event In which we were both
concerned, has been forgotten by me.
and no feature of our intercourse fits
the language you have ascribed to
her. On the contrary, there is a la
mentable contradiction between facts
as they were ana the fancies you have
made her indulge In. And this, as you
must acknowledge, not only proves
their falsity, but exonerates Miss Chal-
loner from all possible charge of SEN
timentality."
Yet she certainly wrote those let
ters. We had them from Mr.. Challon-
er. The woman who brought them was
really her maid. We have not de-
ceived you in this"
Il do not believe you"
1t was not Extensively said; but the
conviction it expressed was absolute
aweetwater recognized the tone, as
one Of truth, end inwardly laid down
his arms. He could never like the
man; there vas too much iron in his
fiber; but he had to acknowledge that
as foe he was invulnerable and
therefore admirable to one who had
the good sense to appreciate him.
Il do not went to believe you"
Thus did Brotherson supplement his
former sentence. For If were to at
tribute those letters to her, should
have to acknowledge that they we're
written to another man than myself
And this would be anything but
agreeable to me. Now l am going to
my room and to my work. You may
spend the rest Of the evening or the
whole night, if sou will, listening at
that hole. AS heretofore, the labor
will be all yours, and the indifference
mine"
With a satirical play of feature
which could hardly be called smile,
he nodded and left the room.
Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1913-08-21
on LIES Road,

All our WEAKNESS of suffering "a
without avail to leave even a lit.ls
memory among those for whom the
work is done. All that is wrought in
despair, all that is loveless and me
chanical, falls to the ground. We live
for even so much as a brief life onlz
in that which carries the breath q
our being, the love of our heart. at n
not in ceaseless routine and grinding
that we live, nor in what is small and
anxious Machines will continue the
tale OF that forever. No cog will ever
be missed in that endless chain. But
we shall not wholly die in the song
we carry in our heart, the love with
which we love the being of another,
the smile we give another wayfarer at
dusty monday Golfers Weekly.
Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1913-08-21
CHAPTER XIV.
Suspense.


Ten minutes after Sweetwater's ar.
rival in the village streets, he was at
home with the people he found there.
His conversation with Doris in the
doorway of her home had been OBJ
served by the curious and far-sighted,
and the questions asked and answered
had made him friends at once. OF
course. he could tell them nothing,
but that did not matter, he had seen
and talked with Doris and their idol.
lied young manager was no worse
and might possibly soon be better.
OF his own affairs-of his business
with Doris and the manager, they
asked nothing. All ordinary interests
were lost in the stress of their grnat
suspense
1t was the same in the bar-room Of
the one hotel. without resorting to-
more than question or two, he read
lily learned all that was generally
known of Oswald BrothersonA 4 Eery
one was talking about him, ana each
had some story to tell illustrative OF
his kindness, his courage and his
quick mind. The Works had never
produced man of such varied capa
bilities and all round sympathies. To
have him for manager meant the
greatest good which could befall this
little community.
GRO BE CONTINUED.)
Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1913-08-21

| tience rose above every other consid-
Grafton. Without attempting to finish
her sentence, or yielding in the least
to her curiosity or interest in this
| mans errand, she cried out with
smothered intensity, GO! go. l can
not stay another moment from his
bedside"
But thunderbolt could not have
moved Sweetwater after the hearing
of that name. MIR. Brotherson!" he
echoed. "Brotherson! Not Orlando?"
mo, no; his name is Oswald. He's
the manager of these works. He's
sick with typhoid We are caring for
him. II you belonged here you would
know that much There! that's his
voice you hear. Go, if you have any
mercy" And she began to push to
the door.
But Sweetwater was imperyious to
all hint. With eager eyes straining
into the shadowy depths just visible
over her shoulder, he listened eagerly
for the disjointed words now plainly
to be heard in some nearby but I'M
seen chamber.
1.-THE second 0. b." he inwardly
declared. And he's Brotherson
also, and-sick! Miss Scott he
whisperingly entreated as her hand
fell In manifest despair from the door.
don't send me away yet. I've a
question of the greatest Importance to
put you, and one minute more cannot
make any difference to him. Listen
those cries are the cries of delirium !;
he cannot miss you; he's not even con-
scious."
He's calling out in his sleep. He's
calling her, just as he has called for
the last two weeks. But he will wake
conscious-or he will not wake at all"
The anguish trembling in that lat
ter phrase would have attracted
Sweetwaters earnest, If not pitiful,
attention at any other time, but now
he had ears only for the cry which at
that moment came ringing shrilly
from within
Edith! Edith"
The living shouting for the dead! A
heart still warm sending forth its
longing to the pierced and pulseless
one, hidden in far-off tomb To
Sweetwater, who had seen Miss Chal-
loner buried, this summons of dis
tracted love came with weird force.
Then the present regained it's sway.
He heard her name again, and this
time 1t sounded less like a call and
more like the welcoming cry of meet
ing spirits. Was death to end this
separation? Had he found the true
o. B., only to behold another and final
seal fall upon this closely folded mys-
terry? In his fear of this possibility,
he caught at Doris hand as she was
about to bound away, and eagerly
asked:
When was Mr. Brotherson taken
i'll? Tell me, entreat you; the exact
day and, If you can, the exact hour
More depends upon this than you can
readily realize"
She wrenched her hand from his,
painting with Impotence and vague
Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1913-08-21

She holds the clue; or rather she is
the clue to this second o. b."
Another woman!"
mo, child-well, won't say child
exactly; she must be sixteen"
Doris Scott"
She lives in Derby Derby Is q
small place. You will have no trouble
in finding this child. 1t was to her
Miss Challoner's last letter was ad
dressed. The one"
81 begin to see.'
mo, you don't, Sweetwater. The af
fair is as blind as your hat; nobody
sees. We're just feeling along a
| thread. O. BIS letters-the real o. B..
| mean, are the manifest effusions pos
sible. He's no more of milksop than
this Brotherson; and unlike your in
domitable friend he seems to have
some facts; they would have been
serviceable. But the letters reveal
nothing except that he knew Doris
He writes in one of them Doris is
learning to embroider. It's like fairy
weaving a cobweb! Doris isn't very
common name. She must be the same
little girl to whom Miss Challoner
wrote from time to time"
Was this letter signed o. B.?"
yes; they all are. The only diff
ference between his letters and Broth
erson's is this: Brotherson's retain
tba date and aadraoS. tho oaoaud n
BIS do not"
How not? Torn off, do you mean?"
yes, or rather, neatly cut away;
and as none of the envelopes were
kept, the only means by which we can
locate the writer is through this girl
Doris"
"If remember rightly Miss Chal-
loner's letter to this child was free
from all mystery"
Quite so. 1t is as open as the day.
That is why 1t has been mentioned as
showing the freedom of Miss Challon-
er's mind five minutes before that ia
tai thrust"
Sweetwater took up the sheet Mr.
Gryce pushed towards him and re-read
these lines:
Dear Little Doris:
'It is snowy night, but 1t is all
bright inside and l feel no chill in
mind or body. | hope it is so in the
little cottage of Derby; that my little
friend is as happy with harsh winds
blowing from the mountains as she
was on the summer day she came to
see me at this hotel. like to think
of her as cheerful and beaming, re-
joicing in tasks which make her so
womanly and sweet. She is often,
often in my mind.
"Affectionately your friend.
EDITH A. CHALLONER."
"That to child of sixteen!"
"Just So"
Doris spells something besides
Doris"
yet there is a Doris. Remember
that o. B. says in one of his letters,
Doris is learning to embroider'
"Yes, l remember that"
$50 you must first find Doris
Very good, SIR
directed to Derby, Pa, you will 90 to
Derby"
Yes, sir
Anything more?"
1--WE been reading this letter again, !"
Its worth it,
"The last sentence expresses a
hope"
THAT has been noted"
Sweetwater's eyes slowly rose till
they rested on Mr.. Gryce's face: "Ill
cling to the thread you've given me.
I'll work myself through the laby-
rinth before us till reach him."
Mr.. Gryce smiled; but there was
more age, wisdom and sympathy for
youthful enthusiasm in that smile than
there was confidence or hope.
Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1913-08-21
CHATTER xxi.
o. Il. AGAIN.

What's happened? Something very
important? l ought to hope SO after
this confounded failure?"
Failure? Didn't he read the let
ters?"
Yes, he read them. Had to, but he
denies everything. Said she would
never have written such letters to
aim; even goes SO far as to declare
that If she did write them-(he must
be strangely ignorant OF her hand.
wTitiEg) they were meant for some
other man then himself All rot, but
Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1913-08-21
The Open Car Window

The rule as to windows IN passer
ger cars in Germany has baan that
they must not be opened on both sides
OF the car without the consent Of all
occupying the compartment, but on
city and suburban trains in Beslla
neither window in the front compart
ment of each car may be opened with,
out such unanimous consant
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1913-01-01
For Soccer Title.

United Press Leased Wire Service. I
CHICAGO, Jan. THE Pullman
soccer team OF Chicago. and the West
Hudsons of Harrison. y. j., play here
this afternoon for what is virtually
the soccer championship of the coun-
try.
The Pullmans are holders OF the
Peel challenge cup of the middle
west and the West Hudsons hold the
American cup, SO they claim the
championship OF their respective sec
lions.
Conditions for the game are favor
able, the weather being mild and the
field hard. The men OF both teams
are in good condition. McNolan. the
West Hudson right, has recovered
from his sprained ankle.
After today's game the Pulimans
viii go cas-. for return game with
the West Hudsons and a series or
games with other strong soccer teams
in that section.
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1913-01-01

ball for them by his infantile actions,
and had too many men OF the Jeffries
type back of him.
If Keokuk goes out 1t will mean
that burlington and Ottumwa alone re-
main OF the original makeup OF the
Iowa State League. We don't propose
to wall about the misfortune OF some.
one who does not care for his own
welfare, but hope that Keokuk VIII
rally at once to the cause Of baseball
or else throw up the sponge and give
another city chance to get good
start in the league. We have held all
the time that Keokuk would make the
last fight and win out as in the past,
but things look worse now than at any
time.
One thing is certain: If keoknk al
lows baseball to pass from them, the
big power dam there will not be the
only thing OF that denomination that
they will talk about next summer.
Without baseball the dog days. Will
set tn earlier and last longer. Think
twice more, Keokuk, before making
a decision, but do not take too long
to think.
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1913-01-01
ADJUSTMENTS.
nThe Mllltary Glrl.s


The matinee this afternoon at the
Grand gave splendid satisfaction.
Warren and Dunlay, the stars In THE
Military Girl'' were good end the
support strong. The seat sale for this
evening is large but you can get a
good seat by applying at the box
office. The Chicago Tribune says of
the play:
Z THE Military Girl is an arrange
ment OF songs, evolutions. comedy and
personalities strung upon slender
thread of plot. It's music is built
along the regular lines; 1t is mounted
with a delight In brilliant colors; 1t
is prodigal of irrelevant material. 1t
is not play with music; it is must.
cal comedy
Mr.. Dunlay was his usual rollicking
self with his clean unexacting COM
edy. Miss Warren's charms captivat-
ed her audience"
You can spend a very pleasant New
Years evening by going to the Grand
tonight
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1913-01-01
Whether or Not the Regatta Win be
Transferred or Postponed VIII
30 Topic Of
Debate.
ANNUAL MEETING SOON
Story About Delay in Completion Of
Dam ia Again Spread by Musca-
tine News Writer With
out Cause.

Muscatine Journal: That the keo-
lSuk regatta proposition will go be-
fore the general convention of the
Mississippi Valley Power Boat Assoc
citation to be held in st. Louis, Janu.
airy Q is now a settled fact. 1t will
be question for the delegates Of the
thirty-two cities In the association to
decide whether the regatta for 1913
will be postponed or transferred from
the Gate City due to the delay in the
completion of the great power dam
in course of construction there.
In addition to this important ques-
ton there will be number of radi-
cal changes in the racing rules sub
mitted to the delegates by the racing
rules committee, consisting of Jos.
KelsS of Bellevue: c.. p, Hanley,
Muscatine; w. P. Cleveland. Galena;
". E. Hughey, Bellevue and r. A.
Mapes, Clinton. which met in Belle
vue Friday. The nature of these
changes is not for publication untn
the meeting to be held in the st.
Louis Coliseum on January 9Th.
The convention is to be attended
by delegates from all OF the cities in
the association, five delegates repre-
senting each club. Muscatine is to
be represented by four delegates
chosen at the last meeting OF the NJ.
/. c., they being G. P. Hanley, Oscar
Grosshein, Jos. Havercamp and F. x.
Schafer, A fifth delegate is to be Sc
lected by these four.
a meeting of the rules committee.
which met together Friday at Belle
vue, Ia, will be held 1t the Coliseum
or Wednesday, Jan. s. During the
entire time of the motor boat show
and convention the American hotter
in St. Louis will be the headquarters.
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1913-01-01
Al the HIppodrome.

The big bill at the Hippodrome
continues to please the big holiday
crowds and Manager Angel has made
good his promises to give Keokuk
the best vaudeville they have ever
seen. Housely and Nicolas, direct
from Melody Lane have won the
heartiest approval OF the audiences
with their selections on various in
struments and their clever line Of
comedy and would be warmly vel
coined here again. bonita and Com
pany, as the Dresden Doll, assisted by
Jack Crippen at the piano, is a dainty
singer of original songs and is a
marked favorite Mr.. and Mrs. Ben
nette, are splendid in their comedy
playlet, entitled THE Master and
plenty of opportunity for serious act
ing is given the members Of the COM
Eany. Latest motion pictures com
plete the bill. Tomorrow matinee the
program will be a complete change,
introducing several Of vaudeville's
most noted novelties. Adv.