davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-05-10


Your poor husband suffered very lit
"Oh, he's dead. My darling husband
is dead!" exclaimed Mrs. Petersen.
The grief Of the housemaid told ALL
Egstrom, the family friend, quietly ef-
faced himself for the time being. The
physician conducted the Borrowing wife
into the library He received her faint
ing form in his arms-for one glance at
the white face in the coffin assured her
that fainting was now in order. Then he
carried her to her room and delivered
her over TO the ministrations Of the sin
ccrely Borrowing housemaid.
Mrs. Petersen was too much overcome
to appear at dinner The physician found
it convenient to remain for the night 1t
gave him secret pleasure to dine with
Egstrom and listen to that gentleman'S
mournful nowedgment of the late
Petersen's innumerable graces of mind
and heart
Mrs. Petersen did not leave her room
that night. Egstrom retired early to the
chamber allotted to him.
The butler busted himself in the kit
chen behind closed doors preparing
nourshing broth that could be safely
taken by dead man without bringing
any tint OF life to his cheeks.
The physician watched beside the cof-
fin. Toward midnight he was awakened
by "A loud yawn. For a moment con-
fused by drowsiness, he was startled at
the sight OF Petersen sitting up in his
coffin and drumming impatiently on its
lid with his fingers.
did she Gomez" asked Petersen, who.
in the interests of the conspiracy, had
lain all this time unconscious under the
influence OF drug.
She came said the physician. when
she gazed on your dead face she tainted
as ] was there ready to catch her. We
took her to her room. and she hasn't left
1t since. Egstrom was with her, of
course"
Did the fellow stay?" asked the
corpse" eagerly.
"He did. We dined together and he
recalled all your excellent qualities
Good" said the corpse. Now kindly
tell Olesen to bring me that bowl OF broth.
I'm famished-and it's my only dead
mans chance to eat
Sitting up in his coffin. with the folded
lid for table, Petersen consumed his
broth with evident relish.
How about a bit of steak" he inquired.
The physician promptly vetoed solid
food and advanced with his hypodermic
needle.
Not yet" pleaded the corpse. I'm fact,
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-05-10

won't need any more Of your dope.
There won't be any more attention paid to
me-not till play my little joker"
IF you fall asleep naturally you may
snore," warned the physician.
Naturally won't fall asleep" said the
corpse. From now on this is a wide
awake job"
Nothing can happen for a six or eight It
hours yet" observed the doctor. You'd
better get some sleep while you can"
But Petersen was restless in his narrow
quarters and to get out to stretch his legs
and to get back in again would disarrange
the collins upholstery. So he suggested
a game Of cribbage.
"I'll play you for the amount OF your
BILL" he said with grim smile.
(Which bill? Doctor or undertaken"
Both, in their natural order" Petersen
came back at the facetious physician.
SO the doctor brought cards and crib
bage board, placed them on the folded cot
fin lid. and the game began The corpse
"pegged" rapidly away from his opponent,
winning three straight games.
THAT settles the doctors BILL he said
Reach into that box on the desk and give
me cigar"
They lighted cigars and proceeded with
the other half of the contest-best two out
Of three. AS the coming dawn revealed
itself through the window the doctor
threw down his cards, beaten.
And that disposes of the undertaker's
isfaction.
Right here Olesen, the butler, entered
noiselessly and whispered:
"Mr. Egstrom is up, ready for break
fast. Mrs. Petersen has ordered her
breakfast in her room, SIR
The corpse bobbed down into its coffin,
white hands folded across his breast The
doctor threw himself into an easy chair,
putting furiously on q fresh cigar to &C.
count for the unfunereal atmosphere Of
the room.
But these precautions proved unneces-
sary. The Petersen country house being
Isolated there were no callers. Mrs. Pet
ersen and Egstrom went out for drive
immediately after breakfast. Mrs. Peter
sen was sure that the doctor would make
to be of any use" She and her kind
escort probably would not return until
evening.
The corpse spent long day between
unsatisiying cat maps and bowls of most
inadequate broth. Egstrom and Mrs.
Petersen returned barely in time for din
ner. after which they retired to their re-
spective rooms. The physician agreed
with the corpse that it might excite sus-
picions If he remained any longer. So he
departed Immediately after dinner.
Good Lord!" sighed the corpse. An
other night Of It,"
But he stuck to his resolution not 10
risk anything by getting out of his cof-
fin. During this long second night the
butler was his victim at cribbage. At
from lack OF sleep as the corpse looked
once more serenely stretched out In his
coffin awaiting developments.
Those developments came early-imme-
diately after breakfast. which Mrs Peter
sen and Egstrom took together in the
small breakfast room adjoining the library.
Petersen could hear their cheerful CONVEX
sation.
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-05-10

clogging the latter. These troubles
have either been eliminated or re-
duced to minimum In the Benet-
Mercier gun. A sandstOrm has been
known TO put machine rifle out
Of commission Temporarily.
1t is ingeniously cooled by the cir
culation of air around the barrel.
machine gun is of necessity
very complex piece of mechanism.
For portability, it must be made light
in weight. yet II has to operate under
the most trying imaginable conditions,
enduring enormously high pressure
from the powder charges.
Even now Il competitive test is 60
ing on at the Government arsenal
at Springfield, to see If any gun
can prove itself better than the Benet-
MERCER In this competition are en-
tered two machine rifles from Eng
land. one from Denmark and two
from the United States. Our own
War Department would rather have
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-05-10

After breakfast the. unsuspecting couple
entered the library, carefully closing the
door after them They barely glanced at
the coffin, never once looking inside,
where Petersen lay with a most undeath-
like flush Of evaporation on his counte-
nance.
Mrs. Petersen went directly to the tele-
phone. Petersen heard her calling up one
of his most intimate business associates.
In tones that were so cheerful as TO be
almost gay she announced the joyous fact
Of her husbands death.
1.-The will leaves everything 10 ME, you
know" telephoned Mrs. Petersen. 81 shall
be rich-and you know What that means,
naughty boy!"
Petersen could hardly restrain himself
1t was lucky he did, for now he heard the
voice OF Egstrom tenderly rebuking Mrs.
Petersen for holding out false hopes to the
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-05-10

a foreign gun II 1t is superior 70
an American gun. We want the best
possible weapon. The Benet- Mercier
is made by a French company, though
Rcnet, one OF the inventors, is an
American. Our government has sc.
cured the right TO manufacture it at
Springfield; and the Colt Company.
at Hartford, Is equipped for turning
it out.
Strange, thought it may seem, the
regular army Of the United States
possesses no machine gun companies.
simply for the reason that they have
not been authorized by Congress as
yet. With every regiment of infantry
or cavalry in the service, however.
is so-called machine gun platoon.'
consisting of twenty men detailed
from different companies. Each pla.
toon comprises two sections" Each
section has one mule, CARRYING one
machine gun and 1000 rounds of am
munition; also two additional mules.
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-05-10

fool at the other end of the wire"
La, la! Let me have my little joke
with the old reprobate." said Mrs Peter
sen. you know, Duckie. that / love no
one but you, and never have"
You darlingi"
These two words were uttered in the
voice of Egstrom
Petersen sat up in his coffin. Mrs
Petersen and Egstrom, not two yards
away, were clasped in each others arms
At that instant the butler entered. The
exposure was complete. witness included
Caught" Numbered the corpse with
bony finger pointed at the deceitful
couple.
Mrs. Petersen, beholding the fearsome
spectacle of her departed husband sitting
up In his coffin and SO justly denouncing
her, tainted in dead earnest.
Egstrom was so scared that he let her
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-05-10

fall to the floor. Then he ran from the
room and dashed. hatless, from the house.
Petersen crawled out of the coffin.
Aided by the butler, he carried Mrs. Peter
sen to her room and sent for physician
for truly she needed one.
When Petersen had RECALLED himself with
bath and large steak with plenty OF
fried potatoes, he went back to the city
and started divorce proceedings
The trial, which promptly freed Peter
sen. created a sensation. Egstrom nearly
collapsed on the witness stand He is
said to be travelling abroad for his health.
The divorced Mrs. Petersen Is living in
strict retirement.
1t Is reported that the shock Of that
Grand Guignol' scene showing her de-
parted husband sitting up in his coffin to
accuse her has transformed her from a
beauty into a nerve-racked old woman
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-05-10

ridge case. feeds in a new cartridge.
and fires it. Thus the process re-
pcating itself with almost inconceiv-
able rap1dity, the bullets are dis
charged in continuous stream like
water from hose.
Nothing to compare with the Benet-
MERCER has been known up to the
present time. Yet the War Depart
ment does not consider it beyond
Improvement. As matter OF fact,
the perfect machine gun has not
yet been developed. All such weapons
give trouble now and then with
jams" due to stoppages Of the me-
Cha nism. Such jams my be caused
by heat caused by the enormous ac-
tivity of the mechanism, by dirt &C
cumnlatcd from the firing, by break
age OF parts, due to rapidity fire, or.
In other instances, to irregularities
in the cartridges. Once in while
1t happens that the primer drops
out of cartridge into the mechanism,
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-05-10

solute deadlin ess Of the machine
gun was its liability to jam occa-
sionally. That has been almost en-
tirely overcome in the Benet-Mer-
cier gun.
This gun weighs only twenty-nine
sounds and needs no tripod like
the older machine guns In an
emergency 1t might be rested on the
shoulder OF one man and fired by
another. But under ordinary cir
cumstances the soldier who fires 1t
lies on his stomach on the ground,
holding the breech, while the muz-
Zle is upheld at the requisite eleva.
ton by a pair of steel prongs.
Only two men are needed to
operate this marvellous weapon. One
aims it and pulls the trigger, while
the other replaces the spent clips OF
cartridges with fresh ones as fast
as they are used up. Two addi-
tional men are required. however,
for bringing supplies of The car.
tridge-clips. each one of which con.
tains rifle cartridges with conical
bullets.
Theoretically. the gun is capa BILE of
firing 600 bullets minute-that Is
to say. at the rate Of ten a second.
In actual practice, however, 1t can
discharge only 100 per minute, be-
cause some time is lost in replacing
tho spent clips with fresh ones But
400 per minute means $4,000 man.
killing projectileS per hour-at which
rate the entire population of greater
New York might. theoretically speak
ing, be wiped out by single Benet-
Mcrcier in battle over eight days Of
twentyfOur hours each.
The Benet-Mcrcier is an auto
matte gun. 1t is gas-operated. The
gas from each powder charge, fol-
lowing tho bullet as it goes through
the barrel. passes through a hole
IN the bottom of tho ba rrel into the
chamber beneath the latter. It's ex-
pansion in the chamber presses back
piston with IL coiled spring, the
recoil of which elects the empty cart
by the Star CNu,nan,, r-o.. Dr;t,;. T
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-05-10

ming order as bright, ingenious
American soldier would do.
A machine gun is a device that
fires rifle bullets continuously and
automatically. All the soldier has
to do is to pull string or press a
lever and then the bullets fly out.
The man In control can play the
stream Of bullets over a field Just as
you scatter the jets Of a watering
can over the garden. 1t is impos-
sible for any man to remain alive
in an open space over which a ma.
chine gun is playing its death rain.
The only imperfection In the alb.
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-05-10
Our New Gun That Can Shoot 400 Mexcans Never Get Hot

T HE machine gun is the most
deadly weapon ever invented.
The United States Army pos
sesses the most deadly Of all ma
chine guns. 1t Is called the Benet-
MERCER gun.
The Benet-M MERCER gun is capable
OF killing 400 men a minute. 1t
would kill 400. Mexicans a minute
II they got in the way. The Mexi-
cans also have some machine guns
but they are of very inferior type
TO the American, and those half
civilized people are not capable Of
keeping the mechanism in good run
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-05-10
A Grand Guignol "Thriller'
in Real Life, This Unusual
and Uncomfortable Stratagen,
BY Which a Rich .Swedish
Merchant Secured Diuorce
from the Wife Who
Loued Another

thrown back on it's hinges, SO
that Borrowing relatives might
view the features OF the dead
merchant.
These preparations were conf
plete some time before the ar
rival of Mrs. Petersen. She ar
rived from the railway station
i'll an acknowledgements by
the faithful Egstrom. The ply
stefan met them at the door.
"Nly poor, dear husbandi"
said the wife. DO tell me that
be is better"
A housemaid, visible In the
hall, threw her apron over her
face and burst into tears.
Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1914-04-10
50, 900 MEN THROWN OUT OF
WORK.

Columbus, Ohio, March 30 Nearly
tomorrow, throwing more than 5000
men out of work for an indefinite
period. This announcement was made
here tonight at the close of a meeting of
coal operators of the Hooking Valley,
Jackson county. Pomeroy, Crooksville
and GAINESVILLE coal fields in southern
Ohio. The decision of the southern
Ohio operators to close their mines is
the same action as that taken by the
eastern sOhio operators at Cleveland
Saturday.
The reason for the action, according
to E. A. Cole of Columbus, Ohio, an
operator, is that the operators "cannot
run the coal mines without knowing
what the coal will cost" Failure of
the operators and miners to agree on a
new scale brought about this condition,
he added
Wheeling, w. Va, March 80. All of
the 10000 union coal miners of the
EASTERN Ohio coal field, in Belmont and
Jefferson counties will walk out to-
morrow night pending the negotiation
of new scale for the district to take
the place of the scale which expires
April l, according to announcement of
officials of the United Mine Workers of
America here tonight.
1t is reported that the unorganized
miners of the West Virginia Pan Handle,
which is under the jurisdiction of the
Ohio sub-district, probably will go out
with the Ohio miners. 1t is not believed
the West Verginia field other than the
Pan Handle, will be affected.
Peoria, ILL.,, March 20. THE Illinois
mine workers will remain at work until
a new wage scale is fixed, or until the
Illinois miners take referendum vote
on the policy as outlined by the policy
committee. This was decided at meet
ing of the Illinois mine workers here
today. The present agreement expires
April |.
Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1914-04-10

dreds of carloads have been shipped in
the last year to many points in the
United States and as far West as the
State of Washington. Every cow has
to be tested before it leaves the State
and out of the great number shipped in
the last year only between 1870 and 140
have showed signs of tuberculosis.
The commissioner was inclined to
think that Vermont's future was in a
measure dependent upon the efficiency
of its dairy animals, and he thought
this feature should be doomed to the
utmost. More cattle are shipped from
Vermont for dairy purposes than from
any other New England State in pro-
portion to the number of farms, and
the reputation of the stock outside is of
the highest.
Vermont has also about one-third of
all the COW testing associations in the
United States, and the quality of the
cows in the State cannot be surpassed.
Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1914-04-10

506, 600 acres and with a comparatively
good winter it is believed the percentage
of acreage abandoned has been some
what less than 90 per cent. the aver
age abandoned during the past ten
years, so that an unusually big acreage
will be harvested if conditions continue
favorable through the season.
In statement to-day concerning the
crop, the department said:
"The condition of winter wheat on
April l, viz: 95.6 per cent. of normal,
is 11.5 per cent higher than the average
of the past 10 years. The yield per
acre in the same 10 years averaged Is
bushels; an increase of IL. 5 per cent. to
this average would be 1877 bushels.
''The acreage planted last fall was
estimated at Sc, 500, 900 acres; 1877
bushels applied to this average gives
600, $500 600. But there is always some
of the planted area abandoned before
harvest; the average of such abandon
ment in the past ten years has been
about 6per cent. of the area planted.
If this average of abandonment be
deducted from the estimated planted
area, and 1877 be applied to the remain
ing amount, production of about 3d.
900, 600 would be indicated.
1.-THE wheat plant wintered unusually
well and it is not to be expected that the
10 year average of abandonment has oc-
Cured this year. On the other hand a
crop that is in very high condition on
April l, as is the case this year, is more
susceptible to depreciation later in the
season than a crop having alower con-
dition on April l.
"The final estimate of production of
winter wheat in 1913 was 523, SCI, 900
bushels (the largest ever recorded) and
in 1912 it was 399, 919, 900 bushels"
Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1914-04-10
LYNN GIRLS TO PAY $1.25 FOR
GRADUATION GOWNS.

The average cost of the graduation
gowns that will be worn by the girls of
the Lynn Classical high school next
June is SIPS.
The girls of the class have held a
meeting and voted to strike a double
blow, at the high cost of living and at
the wearing of elaborate and costly
gowns that have, in the past, brought
tears to the eyes of girls who could af-
ford nothing better than homemade
frocks of inexpensive materials.
The graduating class includes the
daughters of some of Lynn's richest
residents, but the vote for ''simple'
gowns was unanimous, and the class is
going about the execution of its plans
in businesslike manner. A committee
will call for bids from the local mer-
chants on 800 yards of batiste, and the
goods will be bought of the lowest
bidder. 1t is expected that 10 cents
will be about the rock bottom price ard
the 800 yards will lie transformed into
60 gowns. Many of the girls will be
their own dressmakers, and they figure
that ST. 5 will cover the cost of the
creations, including trimmings.
Six yards is allowed for each dress,
so that the goods will cost, probably,
about S1.14. To keep the total expend-
iture within the Sl.25 estimated appro-
priation, l. cents will be left for trim
mings," so the latter will probably be
'simple" enough.
Having gone that far, the girls went
a step further and put ban on ribbon
for the hair at graduation. The exact
why's and wherefores Of this prohibition
have not been made clear, but it i,
understood to be i'm line with the "loV
cost idea Of the gowns.
In both these departures the Lynn
girls have assumed the leadership OF
the State in graduation day economy anC
will rank as the interscholastic cham
pions if their plans go through.
Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1914-04-10
BRANDON.

Mrs. Arthur Perry visited her mother
in Burlington last week.
The Misses Hazel and Helen Hack are
home from Barre for the Easter vaca.
ton.
moved his family to the Powers farm,
north of the village.
The regular meeting of Marble chap
ter, Order of Eastern Star, was held in
their rooms in the Smith block Tuesday
evening.
William c. Fletcher died suddenly Sat
urday afternoon of heart trouble. Mr.
Fletcher had not been in good health for
some time, but it was not thought that
his condition was at all serious. Mr..
Fletcher lived in Brandon all his life.
He was deputy sheriff of Rutland county
for number of years. and was constable
and tax collector for Brandon for many
years. Mr.. Fletcher was member of
St. Paul's lodge, of Mt. Calvary Com.
mandery of Middlebury and Cairo
Temple, Order of the Mystic Shrine of
Rutland. He is survived by his wife
and one son, Williams of Brandon. The
funeral was held at 2 o'clock Tuesday
afternoon at the house, the Masonic
burial service being used and the Knight
Templars acted as escort
Seymour r. Bell of Utica, n. Y, and
Mrs. Cora Curtis of Grand Rapids, Mich
were married Thursday evening at the
home Of w. Ellis by Rev. Il. Ii. Wash
burn, pastor of the Methodist church.
The couple were attended by Seymour
Ellis of Brandon and Mrs. Mildred H..
Ellis of Utica. About 30 relatives and
friends were present. Mr.. and Mrs. Bell
will reside in Utica.
Mrs William Maxfield has returned
from Fair Haven where she has been
visiting. She was accompanied home
by her sister.
Miss Helen Osborne entertained a
number of her little friends Saturday
afternoon in honor of her birthday.
r. j. Evans is moving to the Carpenter
house on Seminary hill.
Burt Boyd has moved his family to
Roxbury.
Charles Carrigan of New Jersey is Wis
iting his parents, Mr.. and Mrs. Charles
CarIigan.
Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1914-04-10
Extreme Suffering Relieved

Lr, c. Il. Chamberlain, New Durham.
N. H., writes; Il am a farmer by oc.
cupation and have worked very hard.
In 1908. | was taken with inflammation
of the bladder. l suffered for few
weeks and grew worse. The best doc
tors gave no permanent relief. was so
discouraged that l thought would never
get well. About this time | met man
who had been greatly benefited by DR..
David Kennedy's Favorite Remedy. |
dropped my doctors medicine and began
taking it. have taken over three bot.
ties. obtained relief soon after be-
gan Its use. 1t has also greatly helped
my rheumatism with which / was
troubled for years." Write DIR. David
Kennedy Co., Rondout, N. Y, for free
sample. Large bottles, all druggists.
Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1914-04-10
FIRE LOSSES FOR 1913.

One thousand, six hundred and forty
two fires in Vermont during the year
1913 entailed property damage of ST.
1923, SIC. 95, according to the report of
the State insurance department which
has just been issued.
With a total loss from fires of 1922,
1872, Chittenden easily leads the counties
with Rutland county second with a
total property damage of $202, 299. 80.
Little Grand Isle county had six fires
which caused losses totallng Sc, 529. 49,
There were POP fires. in Chittenden
county during the year and 10 in Rut-
land county.
Washington county suffered property
damage of only $95, 3O6. Is from 100
fires. "a remarkably low record which
will be more than trebled this year
the loss from the Union Block fire alone
being close to 5000, 600.
The city of Barre led the county with
Go fires but the total loss was only
$13, 767. 81 while here in Montpelier 80
fires wiped out property valued at $33, >
1912.
The fire loss for 1918 by counties