davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-01-18
Craze for Elephant Skin.

L LEPHANT skin is very beautiful.
II Moreover, 1t is durable. But it is
hard to get.
The price of a live elephant is not
small, and, besides that, elephants Go not
grow within a stones throw of our front
doors. So the leather manufacturer that
contracted to furnish many elephant
skin bags at given time would probably
find himself under a big burden. He must
wait until some tame, pet elephant, SO
to speak, dies.
Elephants are unusual enough. SO that
many of them. after they die. are stuffed
and put in museums. Hence a named ele-
plant, one that has been popular during
life will seldom fall into the hands OF
leather dealers. 1t is for the poor ana
wandering denizens of the circus and
travelling animal shows to end UP on the
counters of the fashionable leather goods
shops.
Such is the fate of half a dozen ele-
plants that were overtaken in the awful
floods in Indiana last spring. They were
purchased by one of the famous dealers
in silver and leather goods and converted
into many wonderful bags and other
trinkets Among these. are small eie-
plants covered with real elephant hide.
with ivory tusks, standing on little ivory
slabs.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-01-18

AiI tomorrow, There will be seven days
Think, then, deeply and wisely your
khitmatgar REQ is I, prisoner. 1t VIII bc
weeks ere SolIr presence IS known here
You are helpless as a bird in the net
Struggle if YOU Will; you viii only bruise
your wings. The British Raj? The Brit
ish Raj does not want great border
war, and can bring down ten thousand
wild hill men outlaws between whom and
the British Raj there is a blood teud;
ten thousand from land where there is
never peace, only truce. In seven days.
Salaam, heaven bora
She returned his ironical gaze calmly
over the shoulder of trooper.
Wait she said Il wish you to I'M
derstand the enormity of your crime
Crime" with elevated eyebrows.
Yes. You have abducted me"
No. You came of your own free will. "
The white men of my race will not
pause to argue over any such subtlety.
Marry you? l do not like your color.
dull red settled under Umba las skin.
Il merely wish TO warn you she Went
on. that my blood will be upon your
head. And woe to you if it is. There are
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-01-18
Convicted ON Circumstamtial Evidence


never touched the paper. l never wrote
line of it, My lord. | am Innocent"
eut the EnInoved, ponderous voice Of
the Justice continued:
~ man who can be guilty of Sucn an
offense as thai OF which you have peen
convicted will not hesitate TO deny Il as
you Row do. | must not be deferred by
your repeated denials from doing NJ.
duty in passing on you the sentence OF
the law. which is transportation for life :"
:: ):
Scarcely had this sentence been deliv-
cred when boy of seventeen or eighteen.
the prisoners son, Edward, came. for
ward and began to speak eagerly and IN
coherently: II wrote those papers on the
21st of December. 1 wrote them standns
at the bureau. 1t is always kept open.
ny brothers We're present when | wrote
those letters My father had gone to
DraNcote to sell some wood. ] had some
cousins in gaol-1 heard people say II
would get them off if threatening letters
We're written, and | did it without "A
thought of the consequences"
The boy rewrote the letters from mem
Dry. misspelling the same words. then
copied one. and the handwriting proved
exactly similar. He finally convinced the
court that his confession was genuine.
and his father was acquitted. while the
son was tried and sentenced to seven
years transportation.
Ii is difficult TO see how modern jury
would have decided differently. although
the defendant now has the benefit Of
counsel which. was then denied. fhe
counsel for the defense today would EN-
phasize the fact that the bureau was &C
cessible to the whole family, but 1t is
probable that a conviction would result
in similar case. This is one of the
most striking errors resulting from cir
u,nstantial evidence of which We have
record
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-01-18

tor the privilege of squeezing the man
ander him. Mutiny was afoot rebel
lion, but it had not vet found a head
The natives wanted a change something
to gossip about during the hot, lazy aft
ernoons, over their hookahs and coffee.
To them reform meant a change only.
burdens. The talk of freeing saves was
but talk; slaves were lucrative invest
ments; a man would be a fool to free
like this new queens and hair like spun
wool, dressed in long black cloak and
broad hrlnHed hat, had started the
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-01-18

white meu who will not await the com
ing of the British Raj"
All. yes, some brave. hardy American;
Bruce Sahib, for instance. Alas he is in
the Straits Settlements. Seven days.
Il am not afraid to die"
But there are many kinds of death,
and with this sinister reflection he
stepped aside.
The multitude, seeing Kathlyn coming
down from the dais, still surrounded by
her Gordon of troopers. began reluctantly
to disperse. Bread and the circusr'-the
mobs will cry it down the ages; they will
always pause to witness bioodshed, from
safe distance. you may be sure. There
was deal of rioting in the bazaars that
night, and many measure of bhang and
toddy kept the fires burning Oriental
politics lie like the winds of the equinox;
it blows from all directions.
The natives were taxed upon every con
ceivable subject not dissimilar to the old
days in Urdu, where man paid so much
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-01-18

from scroll the law. explaining that no
woman might rule unmarried. Because
the young queen was not conversahl
with the laws of the state she would be
given seven days. Thus the durhaf
ended.
With a diplomacy which would have
graced a better man Umbala directed
the troopers to escort kathlyn to her
chamber in the zenara. He had in mind
seven days. Many things could be ac-
complished in that space of time
For the present" he said. smiling at
kathlyn, ''the God of your fathers has
proven strongest. But tomorrow:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-01-18

the table a very small scroll. The Mem
sahib is my masters daughter. She must
be spirited away to safety
.'Ah-' Lal Singh rubbed his fat hands
so the time nears when we shall wiring
the vulture's neck? All, it IS good. I'M
bala, the toad. who swells and swels
as the days go by. SILVA has guarded
him well. The king picks him out of
::
the gutter for pretty bit of impudence,
sends him afar to Umballa, where he
learns to speak English, where he
learns to wear shoes that button and
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-01-18

heir leader they came romping up the
teps to the dais and surrounded kath-
IN. A roar came from the populace: an
!ephant trumpeted; the pariah dogs
arked.
Umballa stepped back, his hand on his
sWeled sword. He was quite unpre-
AIRED for any such fragrant mutiny-mu-
my from his angle of vision, though in
sw the troopers had only responded TO
he desire of their queen. He turned
uestioningly to the council and the
riests. He himself could move no
arther. His confreres appreciated the
anger in which their power stood. They
announced that it was decreed to give
he queen respite of seven days in
Ehich to yield. II would at least hold
he bold troopers on the leash till they
ould be brought to see the affair in its
rue light by the way of largess in ru-
ees. Umballa consented because he was
8 ~ bottom Of the sack. A priest read
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-01-18

upon one thing; no actual harm should
befall kathlyn. He would have marks
4 woman! She was queen. and he knew
that he would go through all the hells Of
Hind to call her his. Long this he
and swept her up on his racing elephant
had he dared. Sa'adi's houIf.
A thousand times he heard i; through
the night:
Il am ready.
GRO BE CONTINUED NEXT SCNDAY.)
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-01-18

without tire. merely drudges or play
things Here WAS one worth conquerinS.
a white flame To he controlled !" bend
her without breaking her. that must h''
his method of procedure. The SKIN uHdt,F
her chin was as white as the heart OF d
ni"u. str,u. ana the longing to sweep
hcI. i;..o III, arms was almost Irresistible.
high priest spoke t" NathlNn-
what does he say? sire asked
''That YOU must marry me.
Tell him | refuse.
t'InbalIa shrugged and repeated htr
words Here the Council of Three inter
posed warning kathlyn that she must
submit tn ihes law as it read. There was
no appeal from it.
Then l shall appeal to the British
Raj.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-01-18

arranged for me?'' Her voice was firm.
but the veins in her throat beat SO hardly
that they stified her.
Said the spokesman of the council: ~ e
have found a precedent We find that
one hundred and ninety years ago a like
case confused the council of that day.
They finally agreed that she must sub
nit to two ordeals with wild beasts of
the jungle IL she survived she was to
be permitted to rule without hindrance.
1t would be a matter for the gods to de-
eide
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-01-18

agitation of liberatns the slaves. More
than that. he carried no idol of his God
never batlied in the CHATS. or took How
ers to the temples, and seemed always
silently cornmunins with the simple iron
cross suspended from his neck. But he
died during the last visitation of the
plague.
They had wearied of their tolerant king,
who had died mysteriously: they were
now wearied OF the council and Umballa;
in other words they knew not what
they wanted, being people.
Who was this fair skinned woman who
stood so straight before Umballa's eye?
Whence had she come? To be ruled by
woman who appeared to be tongue tied!
Well, there We're worse things than a
woman who could not talk. Thus they
gabbled in the bazaars, round braisers
and dung fires. And some talked of the
murder. The proud Ramabai had been
hailed to prison; his bankers gold had
not saved him. On. this street rat Umbal-
la generally got what he wanted Rama
bai's wife was one of the beauties of
Hind.
Through the narrow evil-smelling
streets of the bazaars a man hurried that
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-01-18

How asked u'mballa, urbanely-
Swiftly she stepped to the front. of the
platform and extended her arms. 1t was
an appeal. She pointed to Umballa and
shook her head. Her arms went out
again. 4 low murmur rippled over the
PRESSING crowd; it grew in volume, and
4 frcwn of doubt fitted over Umballa's
prov The soldiers were swaying rest
lossly kathlyn saw this sign and was
lUieh to seize upon its possibilities. She
-snewed her gesture toward them It
seemed that she must burst forth in their
naGdening tongue: Il appeal to the chiv-
slry of Allaha, Soldiers. you now
wear my uniform, Liberate me- But her
oasue was mute; yet her eyes. her face,
Ter arms spoke eloquently enough to the
turbulent soldiers. Besides, they vel
oHed the opportunity to show the pop
llace how strong they were and how lit
ie they feared Umballa. AT nod from
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-01-18
LOCKER CASE.

TN this day when miiIion-do fac
tories send out tons of goods to a
world market. it is difficult to recol-
lect the conditions which existed when
the weaver. the carpenter and the shoe
maker manufactured their wares in thelt
own homes with simple implements own
ed by themselves. 1t is, also, difficult TO
appreciate the motives which inspired the
intense opposition that greeted the IN
PRODUCTION Of labor-saving machinery.
Yet, until as late as lI6O the mahulac-
lures of England We're produced IN the
homes of her workmen. and the ne"
methods and modern machines We're 50
dreaded and SO violently resisted ina !
their introduction and The startling
changes which resulted have been named
the industrial revolution. This reVoln-
ton, the painful breaking and resettinS
of the bones of society, began in the lat
ter part OF the eighteenth century II
was attended by rioting. destruction ana
actual warfare carried on by the des-
perate men who believed that the changes
meant not progress. but ruin
About 1925 agriculture began to he al
fected, and all rural England was asl-
tated by mobs of small farmers and farm
laborers, seeking to avert the reductioh
Of wages or complete displacement, which
seemed Inevitable if the changes were
not averted.
In Wiltshire. ten or twelve miles from
Draycote, there lived a small FARMER
Isaac LOCKER, with his family LOCKER
was nearing old age, and now. as re-
suit of the new methods, he found NM
self no longer in moderate circumstances,
but face to face with poverty he was
unable to oppose the new methoos Ell
fectively. without the resources necessary
TO ADOPT them, and. therefore. ne re-
NAMED feeble, bitter, hopeless old man.
In the autumn of 1880 three OF the
weather. farmers in the vicin1ty-Ro"-
land, Vaisey and Woodman BY name-ln-
stalled supplies of new machinery Wan
an angry look and muttered threat ioi-
lowed the wagons that bore the hated i'm
Elements, and for several weeks the men
ton of the names of the o1endlhs iahu-
owners called forth burst OF touu I'M
precautions and a shaking OF hsts. men
came an ominous quiet.
One night a silent throng OF dark ne-
ures gathered near Woodman's estate.
They were armed with scythes, rakes and
axes and they began to move Slowly a1o
steadily toward the manor house Inc 81
lence was broken by a mutterinS Whlch
changed to a roar as the mauoeneo iieh
rushed, shouting. into the barns and OUT
houses breaking. burning and destroying.
The hated machinery was in fragments
when the mob surged out of the place to
overrun the country side and pay havoc
working visits to other estates.
Old Isaac LOCKER watched the night out
at his window, drinking in fierce JOY
from the sight of the sky Redeemed with
CONGREGATIONS. At dawn he went out TO
the roadside to hear the details of the
nights work from the rioters who passed.
hurrying to their homes before daylight
should lead to their detection He chuc-
killed. at the story Of the devastation they
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-01-18

CHARGE OF MURDER.
stiff linen bands round the neck. He
has gone on, gone on, The higher up.
the harder the fail"
The CELLAR?
There are pistols and guns and ammu-
milton and strange little wires by which
/ make magic fires"
Batteries
''One never knows what may be need
ed. You have the key?
Yes"
Hare Sahibs daughter. And Hare
Sahib?" with twnkling eyes
In some dungeon. mayhap. There all
avenues seemed closed up
"Umballa needs money" said Lal
Singh thoughtfUl!y But he will not
find it, in afterthought
Tomorrow"
lat dawn
These two men were spiders in that
great web of secret service that the Brit
ish Raj weaves up and down and across
Hind to Persia and Afghanistan, to the
borders of the Bear.
Even as Lal Singh picked up his
mouthpiece again and Ahmed sailed
forth into the bazaars UmbaIla had
brought TO him in the armory that COM
pany of soldiers who had shown such
open mutiny, not against the state but
against him.
GraveIy he questioned the captain.
Pay our wages. then, heaven born,
said the captain. with yelled insolence.
Pay u.s. for we have seen not so much
as bstei money since the last big rains
Money" unused Umballa, marking
down this gallant captain for death when
the time came.
All money; bright rupees, or. better
still, yellow British gold. Pay u.s.
Let us be frank with each other, sad
rmballa smiling to cover the fire in his
eyes.
That is what we desire" replied the
captain. with a knowing look at his 81
lent troopers
Il must buy YOU.
The captain salaamed
But. after / have bought YOU" HonI-
cally.
on a
spill where and when you will
From under the teak table Umballa
drew forth two heavy bags of silver coin.
These he emptied upon the table dra-
matically; white, shining metal, spark
ling as the candle flames wavered. I'm
baIla arranged the coin in stacks, one of
them triple in size.
Yours, captain, said Umballa, indi-
eating the large stack.
y
the captain pocketed. it, and one by
one his troopers passed and helped them
selves and fell back along the wall in
military alignment. bright eyed and
watchful.
Thanks, heaven born
The captain and his troopers filed out.
Umballa fingered the empty bags, his
brow wrinkled. Cut off cobra's head
and it could only wriggle till sunset. I'm
balla gave the vanishing captain two
weeks Then he should vanish indeed
The next morning while the council and
Umballa were in session relative as to
what should be done with Kathlyn in the
event of her refusal to bend, two SOL
diers entered, bringing with them beau
tiful native young woman. one Pundtta,
wife of Ramabai, found in murder
Umballa wiped his l-stained/ lips
and salaamed mockingy. Not so long
ago he had been attentive to this young
woman-after her marriage. She had sent
him about his business with burning
ears and q hot cheek, made SO by the
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-01-18

that he was 4 demon. No: she was
ready to die And but little
while ago sac had been working happily
in the outdoor studio; the pet leopard
spra wled at her feet; from the bungalow
she heard the nightingale voice of Win
father was doing on the Veranda. Out
of that into this 1t was incredible. From
time to time she brushed her forehead.
bewldered.
In this mood. bordering on the hys-
terical (Which is sometimes but step to
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-01-18

night, giancins behind frequently TO see
if by any mischance some one followed.
He stopped at the house of Lal Singh.
the shoemaker, whom he found browsing
over his water pipe.
is it well?' said the newcomer, in
toning.
1T is WELL answered Lal Singh. drop
ping the mouthpiece of his pipe. He had
spoken mechanically. When he saw who
his visitor was his eyes frightened.
'Ahmed?'
HUSH" with a gesture toward the
ceiling.
She is out errymaking, like the rest
of her kind. The old saying, if a man
waits the woman comes to him. 1 am
alone There is news?''
There is a journey. Across Hind to
Smla.''
THE hour has arrived?
AT least the excuse. Give these to
one in authority with the British Raj
whose bread we eat Ahmed slid across
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-01-18

contact OF ner strong young ndnQ- re
venge. great or small. was always sweet
to Umballa.
To the slave girl who attended Pundita
he said: 60 summon the queen. 1t is
for her to decide what shall be done with
this woman
Through the veil Pundita's black eyes
sparkled with hatred
When Kathlyn came in it was at once
explained to her that the woman's hus-
band had been taken for murder; by law
his wife became the queens property, to
dispose OF as she willed. The veil was
pucked from Pundita's face. She was
ordered to salaam In submission to her
queen. Pundita salaamed. but stoutly re-
fused to kneel. They proceeded to force
her roughly. when kathryn interviewed
Tell her she is free said kathryn.
"Free?" came from the amazed Pun
You speak English cried kathlyn
excitedly.
YES, majesty
:.
kathryn could have embraced her for
the very joy OF the knowledge. wom-
an who could talk English, who could
understand, who perhaps could help Yes
yes. yes; the God of her fathers was
good.
I,.,II. ,l>I 4 tl,tx-
what he had reason to expect. Seven
days of authority; it would amuse him to
watch her.
Tell me your story" urged kathlyn,
kindly. BE not afraid of these men. 1
shall make you my lady In waiting
long l am queen" with search
ing glance at Emballa's face She
learned nothing from the half SIN lie
there.
Punditas narrative was rather long.
but not uunteresting. She had learned
English from the old white priest who
had died during the last plague. She was
Of high caste; and far back in the days
of the Great Mogul in Delhi her fore
bears had ruled here: but strife and re-
bellon had driven them forth. In order
that her immediate forebears might re-
turn to their native state and dwell in
peace they had waived all possible rights
of accession They had found her hus-
band standing over a dead man in the
bazaars. He was innocent.
Umballa snoothed his chin. Pundita
had not told her queen how he. UInbal!a
had made the accusation, after having
been refused money by Ramabai. He Sc
cretly admired the diplomacy Of the
young woman. She did not at this mo-
ment care to push his enmity too far. AS
a matter Of fact he no longer cared
about her; at least, not since his arrival
at the Hare wild animal farm in Cali
fornia.
Where is this man Ramabaf con-
ined?" demanded Kathlyn-
In the murderers pit in the elephant
arena
Send and bring him here. am certain
that he is innocent
So thew brought in Pamabai in chains
Reb;nd him came N.u+ch DIR, .t r,,o-,
Umballa gazed puzzledly. What part had
she in this AFFAIR." He soon found out.
Who are your. he asked.
~ am Ja,1, Cher; .nd T live o,sr tbs
shoemaker. Lal Singh, in the Kashmir
cate bazas, dance"
And wbv are Won here
~ saw tho murder Ra,n,ns; ,s ,nr,-
e
-
~ VA '"'" ~ H.
nv 'o''
az Sol' 'eoot'ie
lily Dou' ~" s'i"'i o''' feiiia'n
-'t '-'e p"A"e
s'N' oi'
""'i"' oA"'e' t'o u'o io' ii'i'o' ou' nc
'''eo'eo " i''''" DAi' 1>ii""i ns
nun ~ VIC .toi'' ee'' pup
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-01-18

CHAPTER III.
The Two Ordeals-

vi BAHIA was not
a coward: he was
only ruthless and
predatory after the
manner OF lI's
kind. \ thrill of
admiration tinSled
his spine. The
women of his race
were c h Il t I g | :.
lazy ANA inert,