davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-08-02

fidgeted with bit of string at the edge
of the counter when his story was ended
IF you like" he said, II will show
you the quarter
From his coat pocket he took out a ca
pacious p0cketbook and furnished 1ocket
of some sort. This he opened. On one
side was tintype which had faded until
1t looked more like a cloudy day than
anything else. On the other side, in
closed in bit of isinglass was a bat
tered twenty-five.cent piece,
1T back in his pocket, mine and the
little daughters"
When the Observer went away he drift
ed into a barber shop with manicuring
annex. The presiding genius of this an
mex is Bessie. As manicurist Bessie
is the completest and most exacting that
the Observer knows. You can never fool
Bessie. To your ignorant mind there is
no need Of one of those elaborate courses
in treatment Your, nails are stubby,
true: hut what Of that-they always are.
Bessie sees your hand and then she
seizes it. She looks at you reproachful1y.
"A german like you" she chideS, with
hands like them
Then she starts to trim you.
or course she tackled the Observer
paws without delay.
Bessie" said the Observer hus lily,
through the steaming towel with which
the barber was trying to suffocate him,
what would you do with quarter If
you mad II!
Bessie dimpled IF I had enough of
them she began
No" said the Observer, st mean one
single, solitary. lonely twenty fve-cent
piece"
.'Nuthin'." responded Bessie
Il don't follow you." choked the OBJ
server. Why do BARRIERS always try to
force a steaming towel between your
teeth. like bit?
Bessie was evidently surprised
There amt nuthin' you can do with
II" explained Bessie. 'That is, nuthin'
OUCH said the Observer. Bessie was
determined TO shape his third finger on
the bias.
'Hurtchu?'' asked Bessie, pleasantly.
Then: Your things is SO expensive these
days. Why. you've no idear how cabs
and things cost. If anybody was to ask
me what a quarter was good for I'd say
to put behind the old kitchen clock until
you've got about two or three hundred
more Of 'em. Then You could do some
thin with your money
Bessie philosophical:
"Ain't it funny how a little money
never does nobody no good? Now you
can take quarter day and put 1t in
your pocketbook and it's gone .at night
and you amt got thing to show for it.
Same way with dollar. Little change
was meant to be spent on things that
never show up. I believe in spendin' big
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-08-02

fore go want to ask you question"
'eYessuh," grinned George.
What would you do with quarter. il
you had it?''
Instantly George Strengthened to atten-
ton. He winked darkly, mysteriously.
"Oh, lot O. things" he said
Like what?
suh?" asked George, abruptly.
What are you driving att" the OBJ
server inquired, impatiently.
George lowered his voice. He became
confidential.
"Ah know a alley" he said, where a
lot o. fool niggers Is got a crap game
goin'. Dey amt one of dem dat knows de
difference between two skies and two and
one. If all de crap sense dey had was
put in one dice box and rolled around you
couldn't even hear it rattle. Now, got
couple o. little dice O. my own dat !
kin slip In and ii had a quartah-
A great light burst upon the Observer.
He reviewed the picture. Georges quar-
ter, aided and abetted by Georges load
ed dice would expand to Gargantuan
Of dissatisfaction among the other lodge
members. Then a gentleman of high
yellow complexion and a high red tenn
permanent would arise and say:
Person, you may be all right, but 1
thinks you done cunjoned dem bones. I
wants my money back?
George would say, with the mellow dig
nifty of one who has been affronted, but
is willing to forgive:
You does me wrong.
You has got my weeks pay over thar.
I wants it back" would come the reply.
well. you doan't get it, would be
Georges u1timatum.
Then the highly complexioned player
would reach over and nick George, and
George would nick him back-and libel
lous rumor would once more have it that
George was breaking rocks instead of ele-
vators.
The Observer thought all this over to
himself in flash. George awaited his
answer eagerly.
mo, George" decided the Observer at
last. IA quarter is too rich for your
blood. 1t will bring you too much adj
venture. You lead the quiet life
'Doan't I git my quartah walled
George. He seemed to feel that he al
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-08-02

| if I'm goin' to spend at all. Then I'll
have something like new dress or hat
that tells me what done with my
money.
! After time Bessie completed the work
of devastation and the Observer was able
| to tear himself from the mauling, nerve
shattering attentions of the barber. He
proceeded on his way considering the
situation, which was growing interesting:
The first person he had seen considered
a quarter as sort Of semi-sacred me
mento; the second regarded it as dirt be-
, meath her feet. There must be a lot of
| money in the manicuring business.
X X
| Entering certain downtown office
| building, the Observer took look at the
elevator boy and began to gulp like a
chicken.
For the love of Mike he said. when
did you get out?'
The elevator boy was George Hender-.
Eson Smith, but a George Henderson re-
juvenated and glorified. George is as
black as the N. Y, N. H. and H. is
painted in the reports of the interstate
commerce commission. He is what might
be called an intermittent elevator boy.
He works for while and then he mys-
teriously disap pears, and a libelOuS rumor
gets into circulation that George is being
cared for by the District Of Columbia at
OCCOQudIl lHctildpiS lS toih Up d6oiis
cheerful and carefree as ever.
The Observer ran into him first when
George was running the elevator in the
apartment house where the Observer
lived A certain eympathy has existed
since the memorable morning when
George ran the elevator-the Observer
was in it-up to the fifth floor and then
let it drop like shot for three and a
half flights. George always was a humor-
ist While the Observer was specializing
on what would be the proper way of adj
dressing st. Peter George said cheer
fully:
"If we do hit bottom we sure will be
mussed up"
The Observer had supposed George to
be safely locked up at Occoquan. To find
that he was again running an elevator
was bitter shock. Hence he repeated:
For the love of Miker'
There was injured innocence in Georges
expression.
"Why, amt been in fob a long time"
he protested. "a gem'man done give me
de Job heah about two months ago."
What is the total list of dead and
wounded?" demanded the Observer
harshly.
oh" said George, genially, I'VE amt
had no bad bust up yet, sub. All done
was to run into de roof one day
"All right, George" said the Observer
gently. Il will walk upstairs. But be-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-08-02

did 1t. Where's the harm? He's sure
that's a Walter johnson quarter. And
nine outer ten ginks that he meets wiH
believe what he tells 'em-especiaIly
after he gets that quarter hung on HIS
watch charm. He's happy-rm happy
-everybody's happy"
The Observer had spent his quarter
as he had intended to spend it He
walked away. rejecting on its possi-
bilities. Love and sorrow, adventure
battle, greed. disdain--all these had he
met in one day disguised as a twenty.
dve-cent piece. 'BOBBIE" HILL
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-08-02

| ready had proprietary interest in that
| quarter.
The Observer started up stairs, leaving
| George in the black depths of utter de-
| spondency.
\
When he reached the Office he found
the man he wished to see in an earnest
, argument with his young son.
"A-a-aw, pop" said the boy, as the OBJ
server opened the door.
DO you think" father became de-
clamatory as he considered his wrongs.
do you think that / am going to have
blooming kyoodle around my yard
| whooping like a steam siren all day
and all night? Well if you do you are
wrong-thats all gotta say
"A-a-a-aw, popv So does the lost
calf cry for the COW.
DO you mean to tell me- began
the Observer.
Pop. he only costs a quarter, said
the son.
Il don't care if he costs dollar!"
But he don't, pop, he costs a quarter
and his ears touch the ground"
The touching properties Of the dog
had no effect on fathers heart. So the
Observer dived in again.
would you spoil little child's en-
joyment." he said Indignantly, for the
sake of a quarter? In all my adventures
today l never supposed that I would
find such a condition as this
when did you ante in this pot?"
father wanted to know. Father is one
of those men who descends to the
coarsest vernacular in order to gain
his ends.
''The last dog / got you continued
father, addressing his son accusingiy,
KILLED the cat belonging to Mrs. James,
and had to pay the funeral expenses
to avoid a damage suit for physical
and mental anguish You know that is
a fact"
"AlI right" said the son. threatening
ly, you wait till I tell mamma" And he
marched out OF the office.
That's the way it goes" said father
bitterly He will tell his mother and
l will have to buy that blasted dog.
and 1 will get insomnia know 1
will"
what would you do with a quarter
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-08-02

fed while father was trying to decide
whether the paper weight or the ink
well was the heavier. He left his BUSH
ness uncomp1eted, but he had the calm
joy of knowing that he had asked the
question he intended to ask all day.
After excitement comes relaxation.
The Observer found that quietly pleas
ant retreat where Bill, he OF the sat
urnine face and raucous voice, pre-
sides in a white jacket. He ordered
something for himself, and Bill. who
Immediately thawed out, announced
that he didn't think much of Score
tary Bryan's foreign policy. He added
the information that certain boot
black nearby was hopeful Of joining
! the Servian army against the Austrians
| and was only prevented from depart
ing Immediately by the disconcerting
fear that there might be no army when
he arrived.
Hes been over here quite a while, :"
concluded Bill. He has saved up his
| nickels. dimes and quarters until"
'Ah,'' said the Observer, "quarters."
That's what said, wasn't it?" said
Yes" replied the Observer. and
that's what I came in here to see you
about. I've been chasing around this
| town all day asking people what they
| would do with a quarter II they had
Bill pondered over this for a mo-
ment.
IT know what I'd do" he said at last.
I'D sell 1t to some boob for 80 cents"
What In thunder are you talking
about?''
simply this" said BILL that in
Washington you can put anything over.
Maybe you don't believe it, but city
guy is the easiest mark in the world"
NV Hvt< null
in a thousand years, unless
No" interpreted Bill, 'T wouldn't
pull 1t on anybody that was full
mean anybody that wasn't in on the
game"
He added with enthusiasm:
why. could sell one for so cents
Just then another man came in and
ordered something and began to talk
ting average, which showed that he
was a thirty-third degree fan. Bill well
coined him as an old friend and they
chatted away at a great rate.
| Suddenly Bill turned toward the cash
drawer and fumbled in the back part
for a while Then he brought out a
battered-looking twenty-five-cent piece.
Il see you're gent that's a real
| rooter." said Bill, while the man on
| the other side of the bar swelled Wis
| IDLY. and I got little thing here
| that might interest you"
What il it?'' the fan wanted to
| know.
Bill leaned over and modestly laid
the battered coin down. And as the
fan gazed at 1t in perplexity he whis-
pered vibrantly:
That is the identical quarter that
Walter Johnson had in his pocket the
| first day he came to Washington. He
had it in his pants pocket when he
pitched his first game
| The fans mouth opened until he
| looked like a defunct shad.
| You don't say so!' he gasped.
Bill made a movement as IL he was
about to remove the quarter.
Jaw. say" said the fan. feverishly.
you don't want to sell 1t. do your
Not me- said Bill. with emotion. IT
| think an awful lot of that quarter.
That's worth money"
cav. femme have it. I'll. buy for the
house, and-and you know, Bill, al
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-08-02

ways was a good friend Of yours"
Bill reflected. Yep" he said finally,
you always was. I know that you al
ways was"
He paused while he mastered his emo
tions.
Tell you what" he said finally, TN
let you have 1t for a half. Also drinks
for the house."
YOU'RE on" snapped the fan SO
eagerly that it made Bits head swim.
Soon he departed.
That's fine sort Of stunt" said the
observer, coldly. as he and Bill were left
together again.
Thunder" snorted Bill. You make
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-08-02

LITTLE specula

LITTLE specula-
ton is a dangerous
thing.
Only the other
day the Observer
ran into one Of
t h o s e inveterate
statisticians whose
idea Of existence is
the multiplication
table and terms Of
X. 1t is unsafe to
hang around those
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-08-02

The little old shopkeeper told the story
Just as it has been related-told 1t in q
stilted sort of way as if he was afraid
that he would be misunderstood. He
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-08-02

II you had it?" asked the Observer. and
fed while father was trying to decide
whether the paper weight or the ink
well was the heavier. He left his BUSH
ness uncomp1eted, but he had the calm
JOY of knowing that he had asked the
question he intended to ask all day.
The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1914-08-22
WOULD BE ATTORNEY GENERAL
Herbert G. Barber After r. {.
Browns Job

Brattleboro. Aug. l9.-lIerbert G
Barber announced today his candi-
dacy for the republican nomination
for attorney-general. In his an
nouncement he says III elected ]
shall endeavor To render competent
and efficient service. conducting the
affairs of the Office economically.
with as small expense rs is consistent
with the proper administration OF the
same" Mr. Barbe. is member OF
the republican state committee ana
has been a member of both branches
OF the state Legislature. having been
senator from Windham county in
1912.
Mr.. Barber was born in Wardsboro
August IA, 1870. and was educated in
the public schools. He was States
attorney of Mindham county from
1898 to 1900 and was member of
the House in 1908. His religious
preference is Universalist lie has
lived in Brattlebofo since 1880.
The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1914-08-22
HELPING HOME BUSINESS
A Call For Support of the County
Association
To members of B. C. VIA:

To members of B. C. V. I. A.:
The annual meeting of the County
Improvement Association will be held
in the Bennington Court House on
Wednesday, Aug. Goth, at p. m. for
the election of officers and the tran
saction of any other necessary bust
ness. A portion of the meeting will
be devoted to a discussion of the
work and plans OF the association.
This is the only opportunity during
the year for the people from all parts
OF the County to get together for a
frank consideration OF mutual and vi
tai interests. The County Associa-
ton offers the County its best and
most efficient means for concerted
action for the betterment of roads
schools, farming, health and general
conditions. We are all Interested in
these things. AS individuals we can
do little to advance them; as an as
sociation we can do much. Win you
not then attend this meeting pre-
pared 10 give us the benefit OF your
opinions? II the officers of the assoc
iation are working along lines which
meet with your approval, be present
and tell us so. If not, it is even more
essential that we know what you
think. The meeting will be informal
and we hope spirited lively and help
full.
Every member OF the association
should feel a responsibility in this
matter If you believe in the associ-
alton and want its work to continue,
plan to attend If it is at all possible
for you to do so. If you cannot,
write the Secretary your opinion OF
the years work together with any
suggestions you may have to make, in
time for your letter to be read at the
meeting.
Faithfully yours,
II. N. Morse, Secretary.
The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1914-08-22
MISSING PUTNEY GIRL FOUND
Winlfred Divoll Had Gone to Visit An
Aunt in Massachusetts

Putney, Aug. 20-Winifred Olive
Divoll. the l7.year-old daughter of Mr..
and Mrs. Fred w. Divoll OF this town,
who ran away from her home Tues
day was found Thursday afternoon at
the home of an aunt, Mrs Albert
Moore. in Peacham, Mass, through
the efforts of Sheriff c. f. Mann, and
Deputy Sheriffs c. l. Knapp Of Brat
tleboro and Frank Wellman of Gull
ford.
Deputy Sheriff Knapp went to
Greenfield. Mass, yesterday afternoon
and the other two Offices came to the
Diyoll home where a letter was found
which the girl had started TO write to
an aunt in Peacham and which she
did not finish.
She had written in the letter that
she was coming for visit of sever
al weeks and did not want anyone to
know where she was.
Trace was found OF the girl in
Greenfield from an officer who was
on duty at the railroad station where
she inquired the direction to the
home of a relative
The officers went TO Peacham
where the girl was found. She came
back to Greenfield with them and
there was turned over to her parents
The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1914-08-22
GERMANY is FRIENDLY
Asks United States TO Guard Her
interests

ASKS Onltcu OtdNCb " 0N 49,
interests
Washington. Aug. 2l.-Both Ger
many and Japan have made tentative
arrangements with the United States
to represent their interests in the
territory of the other when the expect
ed hostilties begin. Japan made the
request several days ago. and now
Germany has come forward with =
similar proposal
This fact il particularly gratifying
to Washington, and is regarded as
ample proof that Japan and Germany
know that the United States Govern
ment has only the friendliest senti-
ments for them. II will serve to dem
onstrate also that the japanese Gov
eminent desires to remain on the
most cordial relations with the Unit
ed States. and that the German Gov
eminent is Influenced by reports that
sentiment in this country is against
Germany.
The United States is nov represent
ing all the belligerents in hostile ter
ritory except in Russian representa-
ton in Germany. which has been in
trusted to Spain. and in Belgian rep
resentation in Germany. which as far
as known here has not been entrusted
to any nation.
Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1914-07-25
MACHINE CLEANS OLD BRICK
ly, Making Blocks as ServiceabIe
as New Ones.

Among the recent grants Of patents,
there has been one to a Philadelphia
inventor which will be of great inter
est to builders, contractors and such
persons. 1t Is a machine which at
tends to the matter of cleaning bricks
which have been taken from an old
building, and after passing through
this device the brick issues as clean AS
new and just as serviseable.
This machine is portable, and can be
taken anywhere and operated on the
site Of demolished building. taking
the old bricks and transforming them
into shapes as good as new for many
purposes. 1t weighs about four hum
dred ponds and Is four feet long. II rs
operated by two men, but this combi-
nation of machine and men has a ca
pacity of IL bricks per minute at a
Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1914-07-25
OUTPUT OF ARTIFICIAL SILK
Last Year $4,000 Pounds Were Used
In One German Town for Manu-
facture OF Mems Ties.

The organization here. now in prog
ress, of 100000 company to manu-
facture artificial silk from cotton gives
an added interest to recent figures in
consular reports covering the artificial
silk industry.
There is little doubt that Germany
now heads the list both in production
and consumption of artificial silk. Last
year 590,S00 pounds were used in Kre-
field alone, chiefly in the manufacture
of mems ties, whereas only 1900
pounds were consumed by Swiss manu-
facturers. The total valuation of goods
made from artificial silk in Lyons last
year is estimated at not more than
1850
The German silk trade showed in
creased interest in the product In 1905.
when prices we're reduced from SAILS
$2.37 pound to $1.72-$1.S3. The piece
goods trade uses chiefly the finer quail
tiles. nitrocellulose silk being almost
exclusively employed, while the velvet
manufacturers take the coarser quail
des. principally viscose silks.
During the last three years the price
of nitrocellulose silk has ranged be-
tween $1.27 and $1.56 a pound. and
that of viscose silk between s1.29 and
$1.40.
Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1914-07-25
SAFE STORAGE FOR GASOLINE
Space Made Vacant When Liquid
Is Drawn Off.

The loss by evaporation and consid
cradle of its danger is eliminated by a
new system of storing gasoline which
is used by London concern. Air Is
always excluded from the storage tank
by making use of water, which fills the
space which Is not occupied by gaso-
line. In other words, the tank is al
ways filled completely, no matter how
much the quantity of gasoline varies.
As the gasoline is drawn off its place
is taken by water, and as the two do
not mix the gasoline is not in the least
affected by the close presence of the
water, the latter always seeking the
lower part Of the tank. Under this sys-
tenn no dangerous gas can issue from
the tank, as 1t does when tank of the
ordinary construction Is being filled.
Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1914-07-25
Brick-Cleanlne Machine.

rate of 80 cents per 1000 bricks. The
capacity of one man is about one thou
sand bricks per day by hand.
At one side of the machine there is
pair of coarsely toothed plates, one
being stationary and the other moving
back and forth at regular intervals
One man places the end of an old
brick between these plates and the
mortar or cement is cleaned away for
the distance of about an inch. The
brick thus prepared is thrown into a.
trough, and the second man takes it
and places the cleaned brick into an.
opening, which is supplied with pair
of sturdy knives. The brick is auto
matically seized and held in place.
whereupon a plunger thrusts III
through the opening, and as it passes
along the knives clean off the foreign
matter.
Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1914-07-25
IT MAKES SICK SKINS WELL

tortured and disfigured by itching,
burning, raw or scaly skin humors,
just put a little of that soothing, anti
septic resinol ointment ON the sores
and the suffering stops right there!
Healing begins that very minute, and
in almost every case your skin gets
well so quickly you feel ashamed of
the money you threw away on tedi-
Gus, useless treatments.
Resinol ointment and resinol soap
clear away pimples, blackheads, and
dandruff; great for sunburn and insect
bites. Sold by all Enthusiastically.
Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1914-07-25

30 poorly that my folks thought was
going into consumption. One day l
found piece of paper blowing around
the yard and picked it up and read it.
1t said Saved from the Grave and
told what Lydia E. Pinkham's Vegeta-
BILE Compound has done for women. l
showed it to my husband and he said,
why don't you try it?' So l did, and
after / had taken two bottles l felt
better and said to my husband, 4 don't
need any more and he said you had
better take it little longer anyway
So l took it for three months and got
we'll and strong" Mrs. ALoNzo E.
BAKER, Tecumseh St., Adrian, Mich.
Not Well Enough to Work.
In these words is hidden the tragedy
of many woman, housekeeper or wage
Garner who supports herself and is often
helping 10 support a family, on meagre
wages. Whether in house, office, fac
tory, shop, store or kitchen, woman
should remember that there is one tried
and true remedy for the ills to which all
women are prone, and that is Lydia +:
Pinkham's Vegetable Compound. 1t
promotes that vigor which makes work
easy. The Lydia E. Pinkham Medicine
Co., Lynn, Mass.