davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-02-01
IN THE DARK

his chair as he did so. They both
remained motionless in the darkness.
He turned about abruptly and muir
INJURED something TO himself, passed
very close by them, evidently buried
in thoughts, and slowly walked to
the other end of the terrace.
81 wonder If he noticed anything"
said Claude In voice that trembled
audibly as he wiped the beads OF
cold perspiration from his forehead.
mo, don't think So" replied Mar
celle, who was so excited that she
could barely speak.
BE quiet then-act as If nothing
at all had happened. He must not
get any chance to suspect US. If he
has seen nothing
Hersaut came back His step was
firm and he seemed to be struggling
to control his anger at something.
Come along for walk, will your"
he said to Claude, paying no atten-
ton to his wife.
Eyes, do" said Marcelle. at is
such delightful evening""
with pleasure" said Claude, but
the tone Of his voice belied his words.
Marcelle wanted to say something
more, but found nothing to say. She
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-02-01
BY Frederic BOutet

and which had ended in murders.
The lonely path approached a steep
abyss which lay hidden in darkness.
They wero silent once more. Claude
picked together the last remnants of
his courage and asked:
''Are we going much farther?"
only few steps Are you in a
hurry to get home? You have
rendezvous, suppose. you Don Juan
1t is not every husband who would
trust you alone with his wife as
do. But we are old friends, and then
Marcelle"-
He stopped suddenly. Claude fell
back step, but Hersaut caught hold
of him with his powerful fist.
Now be careful! Do you see that
black hole at our feet and the sea
more than hundred and fifty metres
below. There would not be much
left Of you if you slipped and fell
down there. What is the matter
with you?"
Narcotics fears grew every second
while the two men we're away. What
would happen between them? And
what would happen TO her when her
husband returned? She tried to
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-02-01

times. And now that thieving woman
Maya, the lying wife OF the rotten
soldier lambo wants TO steal my
chicken. She wants TO steal a chicken
belonging TO the best soldier In the
service Of the government. That is
dreadful, commando"
We got no time 10 reflect upon this
dreadful crime, for a big red and
blue bundle came rushing like shell
past Baruti into the hall The bundle
had no idea of military discipline. 1t
stopped twelve inches from the COM
mander's knee, and we saw that it
was woman. Somewhere in the
red and blue cotton gown baby was
stuck, having been rudely torn out Of
bed to add TO It's mothers appear
ance Of respectable
The woman bent over the com
mander, who was lying in his reclln-
ing chair, and screamed:
II am Maya! You know me we'll
enough, commando. You know / am
the best wife in all Mabundu. But
who is the greatest liar in all coun-
tries? Baruti. Baruti! Baruti! The
chicken belongs to me. Everybody
says So"
She held her index finger in front
of the chickens bill, while Baruti.
shocked at the woman's audacity,
seemed TO have grown three inches
shorter. The chicken winked It's eye
gently, but Baruti, whose honor had
been attacked through the womans
insulting. lying gesture, bea, The air
furiously with his arm. Nlaya's fin
ger disappeared with lightning rapid
ity. and stiff with indignation, she
turned to the commander with 4
scream as If she had been actually
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-02-01

my chicken
The commander turned the chicken
upside down.
What Is the color of your chicken,
Baruti?" he asked.
Dark on the back and lighter un-
derneath," cried Barut triumphantly.
And yours, Maya?"
Lighter underneath and darker on
top"
You are each sure it Is your
chicken" asked the commander
you may break my neck II am
lying" said Baruti.
"And you may hang me II don't
speak the TRUTH said Maya.
Where is its mother?" asked the
commander.
Baruti cried: at my house"
81 have 1t at home" yelled Maya
Get It,"
Both sped away with the speed Of
the wind, shouting insults at each
other as they ran.
A moment later Baruti returned al
mots crushing something in his big
black hands. 1t was hen.
Here Is its mother" ne said.
new commotion, and Maya
rushed In carrying her hen by the
legs. She had dropped her baby
somewhere in the sand.
This Is the mother, commando"
They can't both be It's mother"
said the commander
NO." exclaimed Baruti and Maya
with mutual contempt.
The commander made Baruti sit
down on the right, Maya on the left
Of his chair. Each held the hen in
front of them.
Then the commander put the
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-02-01

SOOQ.
81 am not bit tired" said Claude.
IL am very strong, much stronger
than you think. 1t is only my nerves.
/ am very nervous at times, but my
muscles are good, and when | get
excited my strength is wonderful.
quite wonderful"
Hersaut burst out laughing.
You certainly don't look it,
Claude, but so much the better for
you. Your strength may come in
handy some time. I have no nerves
at all. as you know, but my muscles
are like steel. l have really never
realized until lately how strong am.
could knock down bull with a
blow Of my fist. If l were to lose
my fortune should be able to make
another as wrestler; the champions
would not trouble me a bit"
He laughed once more and raised
his muscular arms with their dread
full fists. His teeth cleaned behind
his black beard, and his eyes seemed
To shoot fire. Claude felt himself
puny and defenseless in comparison
with this giant, and a strange fear
drove him almost insane. He thought
Of incidents that he had read about
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-02-01

looked after them as they walked
away.
The two men walked slowly along
the rocky shore. Hersaut, who had
not uttered another word, lighted his
pipe. To show a calmness that he
did not feel Claude lighted cigar
cite, but did NOT ind it to his taste
and threw it away.
Miserable tobacco you get here"
he murmured.
Hersaut made no reply, and his ST.
lence appeared so ominous to Claude
that he felt he could not stand II an
other minute.
why don't you say something's"
he asked nervously.
Il have nothing particular to say"
replied Hersaut. His voice sounded
gruff. I'VE are too old friends to
have to keep up conversation, when
We don't feel like it," Claude thought
to discover yelled sarcasm In his
friends tone.
Let us walk up to the top of this
rock" said Hersaut II must have
some exercise, and you can't be tired.
know you are very particular about
your health, but walk in this de-
llghtful evening can only do you
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-02-01
EVIDENCE

man remained oblivious to his sur
roundings. Despairing, l began to
brood. Was all my labor in vain?
Was I going to accomplish nothing
after all? Had / worked so hard.
only to have my prize slip from me
when victory seemed SO near? And
then thought of poor Dick in prison.
! suddenly realized that there were
but two dayn left. That reused me
] got up and collected my scattered
faculties
/ would not give up. No, No!
would work until 1 died before I'd
give up. What, give up, when
Chauncey's nephew was in trouble?
Give up while Chauncey's murder
went unavenged? After all that
Chauncey had done for me? No. A
thousand times No
set to work again, buoyed up by
memory Of my dead friend This
time. though, set 10 work method
cally. The thing to do was to keep
the man awake until he was over the
influence of the drug. But how!
That was the question. l harassed
my mind for a suggestion. Suddenly
by a curious twist OF memory the
stories told OF Red Jones" by the
manor servants flashed into my mind
| turned TO the man with new hone
in my heart. would frighten or
abuse him and thus arouse him.
Get up you horse thief" shouted.
What did you do with that black
mare?" l waited for a moment.
There was no reply. crossed the
room, and, shaking him roughly,
roared: Come along now, I've
caught you redshanded. Didn't you
steal that watch?" pointing to his
own huge, cheap timepiece.
He stirred and muttered indlstinct-
ly, "Lemme lone-wanna shleep."
began afresh, Say, you big hulking
good-for-nothing, what did you do
with Squire Horizons silver?"
Il nevcr-stole--no"- he thick
~ muttered, and, turninga lis face to
the wall, closed his eyes. I was dis
heartened, but I wouldn't give up.
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-02-01

front ,up the river.
twas no dispatch carrier. however,
but one of our own native soldiers
in afternoon dress, consisting of
striped cotton loincloth.
The man was evidently very ex-
cited. His eyes were wild with fury,
and We felt that somebody must have
insulted him drcadfully, and his eX.
element had driven out every spark
of fear of the commander who had
simply ceased to exist. for the being
that he was in search OF was infinite
ly much higher. 1t was not a man,
not even a man as supernaturally
wise as the commander. He invoked
the common lord Of himself and the
commander, in whose eyes every one
is alike.
A reflex OF his former life return
ing made him strike his heels to-
gether two steps from the COM
mander. lie threw his right hand 10
his forehead and stared, as IL ridden
by nightmare, at his earthly mas
ter. drew deep breath and stretched
ont his left arm. Our seven pairs of
eyes mechanically followed the move
ment. Inside his clenched black fist
we saw a small yellowish-brown OBJ
ject which chrped. 1t was a chicken.
Eth bien." said the commander.
The soldier made another step OF
centimetre's length forward, and
once more struck his heels together
quite unconsciously. like a we'll
trained soldier acting automatically
under fire.
Il am Baruti," he yelled, "the best
soldier in the regiment. You know
yourself. commando. that you have
only ordered me thrashed three
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-02-01

Imagine his fury. She had never
seen him angry, but she felt that he
would be dreadful il It ever hap
pened. Twice she had got up from
her chair to run away, but had sat
down again. She wanted TO know.
Suddenly she heard heavy steps
and trembled. 1t was Hersaut re-
turning. He was alone. He stopped
In front Of her. She did not raise
her eyes, but dug her fingers deep
down into the upholstered arms of
the chair
We'll" she said at last, "dtd You
have nice walk?"
He did not answer, but came Il
step closer. She gasped for breath.
and felt the beating OF her heart
throughout her whole body as she
awaited the blow that was to crush
her.
"Have you noticed how strange
Claude has been lately ?" he suddenly
asked.
He spoke in his natural. friendly
voice. Marcelle raised her eyes and
saw that his face was perfectly calm.
Strange? NJ. Barncge?" she STAN
mered. mo, | have not noticed any
thing strange about him."
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-02-01

IDB careful" murmured Mar
oelle, "he may suddenly re-
- turn"
Claude Barnege moved his chair
closer.
mo. he won't. You know he Is
playing bridge just now and nothing
short OF an earthquake could induce
him TO leave the card table"
They were sitting in the cool,
pleasant evening on the terrace over
looking the Mediterranean. Marcelle
looked at Claude with loving ex-
preston in her soulful eyes, and per-
mitted him to take her hand.
Remember, Marcelle darling, that
for two days I have not seen you
alone a single moment certainly
did not come here for the sake of
your husband, though We are old
friends"
Marcelle smiled. and he took her
In his arms and kissed her passion
ately. Suddenly they heard steps
close by. The young wife gave
low cry, turned around and saw her
husband. Claude got up, upsettng
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-02-01

once been under the influence of
Henry Warren. but was reformed by
Chauncey and given position as
gardener.
Here, then, was another mystery
Perhaps the solution OF the first lay
In this one. felt reasonably sure
that were that man found he could
furnish the information | desired
employed detectives. and also
searched myself.
But we searched IN vain. One day,
two-three days-an entire week
went by; the trial was but four days
away. Dicks fate seemed certain.
Another day Of fruitless search went
BY was in despair Only forty
eight hours now remained before the
trial.
1t had been my custom while at
the estate to walk of An evening
through the park that surrounded it.
There ! strolled Monday evening Be-
Ing more Respondent than usual. [
walked on and on, by and by turning
into the country road. The air was
cool. the moon was shining brightly.
The road stretched smoothly away as
far as the eye could see through open
country, save where one lonely de-
serted shack half mile distant va
ried the monotony.
It was getting late. and was
thinking that l had strayed far
enough. But I could not turn back.
Some hidden impulse, some unex-
plaina BILE force pulled me ahead, and
| continued my walk
AS l neared the cottage was
seized with a strange impulse TO en-
ter it, Opening the door looked in;
it was pitch dark. stepped in, and
tripping over large inanimate body
fell to the floor. DaZed and bewil-
dered sat up and let my hands wan
der over the floor. They touched
something soft. 1t was human
face. Shuddering, involuntarily
drew my hands away and starting
hastily up rushed blindly out OF the
house. The refreshing air revived
ME and cooled my brow, so that
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-02-01

revolver and fred. Chauncey War.
rem fell without murmur. Fling
Ing his weapon into the bushes. the
murderer followed after 1t, and came
face to face with the frightened
gardener. Before the gardener
could utter word Henry had struck
him blow in the abdomen, render
ing him unconscious. When tho
gardener recovered consciousness no
found himself locked in the cottage.
where | had accidently come upon
him. Here he was kept In captivity
for week.
Monday at dark Henry Warren had
come, drunk as usual. He was very
abusive. and evidently fearing that
he could not bind the gardener to
secrecy, had attempted to kill him
by poisoning. 1t appears I had Just
come in time. Had I been an hour
later | would have found a dead man.
heard the story with an increas-
ihS letilHS OIL Tellel, My eUOrC5
were at last rewarded, and Richard
was saved
Little now remains TO be told.
kept the gardener hidden until the
day Of the trial. Henry, unsuspect-
ing. appeared at the trial, certain OF
Richards conviction. When |,
through a lawyer, accused him of
the murder of Chauncey Warren he
denied 1t most vehemently, but con-
fronted by Jones, whom he thought
dead, he completely broke down, and
confessed freely. From his broken
and often interrupted story. gath
cred that he had gotten into debt.
and learning Of the change in the
VIII, had determined to revenge him
self and at the same time hurt
Richard. He stole Richards revol.
yer, and purnosely showed it to me
after the murder, saying that he
had found 1t In the bushes near the
fatal spot.
How he succeeded In his attempt
ar revenge the reader now knows.
He paid the penalty for his deed, and
served a richly merited life term in
prison.
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-02-01

He fingered for two hours after my
arrival, regaining consciousness I'M
mediately before his death. / bent
over him. His lips seemed to be
moving. He whispered family:
Henry = foolish foolish" and
breathed his last
Being an old friend OF the bachelor
assumed full control Of the pros
trated household. Meanwhile Henry
Warren, another nephew of MIR.
Chauncey Warren. had arrived, hav.
ing come, he said, when l heard
the bad news"
Instinctively distrusted this man,
aud my distrust turned to positive
dislike when l learned that he was
coarse, dissolute man, who had
gambled away his entire fortune.
However, he was a nephew Of the
murdered man. and SO I was power
less to stop his interference.
From the first he maintained that
Richard. whom he disliked, should be
placed In jail. / strenuously object
ed. for. in spite OF appearances, be.
lieved Dick to be innocent However,
Henry in an alleged search OF the
scene OF the accident found revol-
Yer with the initials RI w" in
scribed on it. and with one chamber
empty. Dick identified the weapon
as his. but WAS unable TO explain its
presence In the bushes This. al.
though only circumstantial evidence,
seemed clear proof OF his guilt. and
so with a sinking heart ! was forced
to agree when Henry demanded that
Richard be handed over to the au.
thorities. II seemed as though Dicks
doom was sealed. However. had
always liked and trusted Dick. and
when he swore he was innocent be-
lieyed him.
Meanwhile kept waiting and
watching. | had Richards assurance
that he was innocent But, l rea-
soned. somebody must be guilty. And
10 discover that person was my task
Three days later, after the funeral,
| learned that Red Jones'" the gar
dener, was missing. This man had
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-02-01

people do He never said word
about the difficulties, not because of
any lack OF sincerity, because Of too
much modesty or desire to keep
them secret from us, but simply be
cause he had not found them numer-
Gus enough TO make lasting impress
sion on him. AS teacher of African
warfare TO us young men he was not
great success, for he lacked the
ability to estimate ohT people low
enough, and 10 see the maze OF diff
culties, which did not exist to him,
but which we must nevertheless
meet.
He was one of those kindly souls.
There are very few specimens OF this
kind in the world, but for that very
reason they are indispensable. II he
had not been in Mabundu at this
time the Arabs along the upper river
would doubtlessly have put on an
expression which, at any rate, had
nothing to do with submission. but
the steel of his blue eyes acted on
them like mitrailleuse firing five
hundred shots minute. The bold
est deputation OF Arab chiefs felt
considerably smaller the moment he
set his inner mechanism in motion.
He was just telling OF one of the
old campaigns connected with such
prehistoric events as the murder OF
Emin Pasha and Tippo Tips escape
to Zanzibar, one of the ineXplicable
campaigns of the commanders in
which everything went like clock
work, when suddenly we heard the
patter of approaching bare feet. We
all turned our heads in the direction
of the sound, for we we're expecting
dispatch carriers with news from the
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-02-01

chicken down on the floor. 1t stood
still for n moment quite confused.
Then it chirped and low clucking
was heard from Maya's hen.
The chicken ran toward Maya's
hen, which received 1t with evident
JOY
We burst out laughing. Baruti, the
governments best soldier, nearly
dropped his lower jaw and looked
uncommonly sheepish Maya's eyes
beamed.
The commander took the chicken
and placed 1t under the wings OF
Baruti's hen. 1t imm ediately ran
away to It's mother.
The commander sat down In his
chair and said: Whose chicken is
it, Baruti?"
Baruti picked up his lower jaw and
said: "Maya's."
Then shut up and get out of
here"
Baruti and Maya walked away to-
gether. When they had turned the
corner Baruti at last found express
slons for his feeling.
"Mayele mongo," he said. 1t means:
What wise man he is.
"Oehum." said Maya
The busler blew his horn for after.
noon drill. The friendly smile disap-
peared from the commanders blue
eyes. which once more looked like
cold steel. We got up. Ten minutes
later he stood in front of his Ave
hundred men scanning them for any
irreguarity, and those who had un.
easy consciences trembled, for the
commander had his own punishments
which they all dreaded. He was one
OF those kind souls.
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-02-01

felt that there was too much at
stake.
II began again. You thief, you
rascal, get up! I've come to arrest
YOU" He attempted to get up, nut
tering, I'm no thief-kill the man
calls me a rascal and again fell
back on the floor.
At last mad provoked a reply.
renewed my efforts and shook him
again. But the drowsiness had him
again in its grip; grip as strong
and as fearful as that as one dead.
Slowly | again began to lose hope.
At last in desperation cried:
RED Jones, you're wanted for the
murder of Chauncey Warren" Never
have | seen a man move so quickly.
The effect was truly startling. Jones
started up, and his face became
CHASTITY pale. Me-" he gasped, and
then said weakly: 81 didn't do it
he did 1t; he forced me to hide"
Exhausted. he for the third time fell
back.
gave the unfortunate man some
whiskey, and throwing open the door
dragged him outside The fresh air
revived him to such a degree that
he was able, after ten minutes rest.
to converse coherently. and after
had assured him of my protection,
Jones gave me the true account of
what had happened.
He was trimming the bushes, he
said, when he saw Chauncey and
Richard coming along conversing
pleasantly. AS they PASSED the gar
dener, Richard turned back for
something which he had forgotten,
while Chauncey continued the walk.
AS soon as Richard turned back
Henry Warren appeared. He was,
as the gardener afterwards ascer-
tanned. drunk, and accordingly in a
very ugly mood. He had lost heavi-
ly at cards that day, and besides had
just learned that his uncle's Will
had been changed in favor OF Rich
ard. There were loud words between
him and Chauncey Warren. The
next moment Henry whipped out a
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-02-01

But do YOU know that a little
while ago when / showed him the
path along the edge OF the cliffs and
We had reached the 'Witch's Kettle
he suddenly tore his arm out OF mine
and ran away screaming. | could
not catch him again. That is very
funny way to behave, think"
His eyes expressed his astonish-
ment at his friends behavior. Mar.
celle remained silent.
Perhaps it was because I was not
very amiable when I came home,
but | had beastly bad luck at bridge
tonight. Did not hold decent hand
once. Did | show my annoyance
very plainly? At any rate, it would
not have done any good to explain
1t to Claude, for he does not know
the first thing about cards"
1T is really too funny Ilersaut
repeated. 81 cannot imagine why
that fool of a Claude ran away
Because he is coward" cried
Marcelle. furious. and ran into her
own rooms.
Hersaut. who had no idea what
made her angry, sat down to smoke
his pipe. and made no more attempts
to solve the mystery. ).
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-02-01

TT was a warm Summer twilight.
and to escape the close air OF the
house / went out on the porch,
seated myself in an easy chair and
opened my evening paper. ] had
been sitting there for about ten min.
utes when a messenger boy swung
hastily up the steps and handed me
a telegram.
II was from Dick" nephew OF
Chauncey Warren, and read: Come
quick; uncle mortally wounded"
Nothing further was needed. Chaun-
cey Warren had been my college
chum and protector, and q close
friend ever since, so throwing few
necessities into grip, set forth.
arriving at Warren Manor early next
morning.
found everything upset. My
friends nephew, Dick. Frustrated
with grief. could not give me a CO.
herent account OF the accident, and
80 ! accosted the butler, who briefly
related the story.
II appears that about o'clock the
night before. Richard had gone out
for. walk on the grounds with his
uncle. a half hour later shot had
been heard. and the servants, run
ming to the spot. came upon Dick
wandering aimlessly about with
blood stains on his hands. He spoke
wildly and incoherently when ques-
toned, but kept pointing toward the
bushes and gasping. "Uncle-is-
shot" The servants ran 10 where
Dick Indicated and found their mas
ter lying on the ground with bull
let hole in his chest. They carried
the wounded man to the house, put
him to bed, and sent for the doctor.
who was there now.
] listened with growing fear to the
buffers narrative. and later went up
TO see for myself how serious the in.
jury was. One look at my friends
ghostly appearance verified my worst
fears. ! knew he had not long to
live.