davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1914-01-15
ANkAAAANzAM NzAMNANkA&kANNA
HOW He MACE GOOD
BY MILDRED CAROLINE GOOD
RIDGE

RIDGE.
81 do not think much of your
,hoice Blanche"
do you mean Of home or of hus-
)and, Marcia"
Both. Walter is certainly as much
love with you as when he married
7ou, but l would resent a husband
bringing me to this unendurably des-
)late spot-no society, no comfort, no
uture, nothing but wallowing natives
and a hot, blistering sun"
yet we hope for future, sister
iear," said Blanche in her CHEEKY, OPP
timistic way. when / see Walter
every day improve in health and spir-
it's think of his five years servitude
in stuffy department Office at Wash
ington and his free open air life here.
You know that Walter is smart and in-
dustrious. He has started at the bot
tom rung of the diplomatic ladder, but
he intends to reach the top
Very humble, indeed, was the pres
ent position of young Walter Burton.
He had been an under clerk in the en-
ploy Of the government. A congress-
man took liking to him and had Sc
cured for him his present position as
consul at Beiron, an obscure city in
India. Just married, he and his wife
had been there now for about half
year Mrs Marcia Burnham, the wild
owed sister of Blanche, was visiting
them.
Il pity you. Blanche" she now said,
glancing sOurly at the fiat, uninterest-
ing expanse of low habitations and
treeless plains before her. Il have GER
tainly outdistanced you, older though
/ am. Next month, as you know, | am
to marry Count Toliferi. They say he
is very rich"
Yes, but money is not everything in
the world" remarked Blanche, who
did not think much of the count from
what she had heard of him.
For mercy's sake heTe!" interrupt
ed Marcia, sharply, staring down the
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1914-01-15
CHAPTER TX.
Moving the PaWns.


At breakfast next morning, Rosalie
opened her game-opened it like a
master of human chessmen. with a
trifing move or two of the pawns.
Don't any Of you people be as
tonished," she said, 'if your clothes
look strange and orderly when you get
home tonight. This is my day for
cleaning closets. announce now that
if / find anything isn't hung where 1t
ought to be, I'm going to set it right"
When they were gone, Resale LIE
Grange, refusing assistance from Mrs.
Moore, put on dust-cap and long apron
and made good her word. But she did
more than clean. From Miss Hard
ing's apartment on the ground floor to
Miss Estrilla's on the top, she exam
ined minutely every garment and
every pair of shoes. When she had
finished, when she stood In her own
room dressing for the street, she
looked very serious. Before she put
away her l1ouse-dress, she took from
ita pocket the red shoe button. She
inspected it again, and locked it away
ID the deepest compartment Of her
jewel case.
Rosalie walked briskly to book
store in the heart OF the foreign dis
trict, held short consultation with the
clerk, journeyed another block, and
stood at length before sign Iettered
in many tongues. She .hesitated and
began talking to herself.
You can't teach an old dog new
tricks" she remarked.
But sometimes you can brush up
the old tricks he used to KNOW she
added. It'll take time--well. any
way, I'm here:" and she entered.
When she emerged, it lacked but
half an hour for lunch time. AT the
table, she made subtle inquiry about
the plans of her bcarders for the day.
Mr.. North, already busy with his
agency, had not come home to Eunch
at all. Betsy-Barbara had an engage
ment to help him select furniture. Con
stance must spend the afternoon with
her lawyers. Professor NolI intended
to read a paper at the Health Food
conference. Miss Harding and Miss
Jones never came home between
breakfast and dinner time.
"Now's my chance-whiie the house
is empty an my nerves good she
said to herself as the boardersy depart
ed.
Forthwith, Rosalie moved a major
piece. She mounted the stairs toward
Miss Estrilla's room. She was behav-
ing strangely. Her eyes looked far
away. Her manner seemed remote to
the things Of this world. AS she
knocked and entered, she passed her
, hand over her eyes, gave a little con
vulsive jerk, dropped her hand TO her
side, and shook herself.
Miss Estrilla lay back among the
cushions in haff-fight. She seemed to
catch the strange new manner of Ro
sale.
| What's the ratter?' SHE asked
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1914-01-15

Rosalie did not answer at once. She
gave little stagger, sank down in
chair, and began to murmur inarticu-
late syllables in low and rather
husky voice.
What has happened" asked Miss
Estrilla again; and she spoke in real
alarm.
Resale sat upright as with great
effort. Once or twice her hands
clasped and unclasped.
Give me that glass of water" she
said In a half-whisper. She drank;
she wet her fingers and dabbed her
temples.
Are you ill? Shall | send for some
one?" repeated Miss Estrilla.
I'm better now," replied Rosalie in
firm but rather sleepy voice. IT'S
cruel to brighten you. But listen. I'm
trilla settled back as though relieved.
somehow--"an' I've just got to ask for
your help. Now please don't be
scared. It's really nothin' -only-well,
I've got to tell about it, / guess" All
the WEAKNESS of the world was in that
last phrase. IL git took this way some
times. There's nothin' dreadful about
it when folks understand. Don't call
anybody, please don't Jest stay where
you are. In minute, I'll be goin' out
of myself-unconsciOu you know. I'll
talk, probably. may thrash around a
little. BY an by, I'll stop talkin' an
be perfectly quiet" Here Rosalie
shuddered three OF four times again,
impersonated an effort of the will, and
went on: Don't do anything to me
while I'm talkin'. But after I'm done
an lay quiet, wait five minutes. Then
if ] don't come to, sprinkle water in
my face, shake me---anything an
dont--tell--anybody-" These last
words died away in a grooming under
tone. Rosalie sank deeper into her
chair. Her eyes fixed on the distance.
Gradually, her lids fell. So she rested
for some time, immobile. Miss Estril-
la, sitting up on her couch, watched
Rosalie intently. Now and then, Rosa
lie noted, her breathing came in irreg-
ular little catches. From the cover
of her long eyelashes. best instrument
of her trade, Rosalie stole a glance
which took in this constrained atti-
tude. She let her lids droop to a full
close.
"Ugh--oh-ugh!" went Rosalie's
voice finally; and at the deep tone. so
unlike Rosalie'e accustomed silvern
accents, Miss Estrilla started.
Doctor Carver"--it was a deep male
voice which proceeded from Rosalie's
entranced lips; this male voice of her
had been the envy of her old contem-
poraries-"a--ah! Doctor Carver.
come to speak of young man. ] see
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1914-01-15

en- in such fashion as to strike the fire
escape. She knew from Mrs. Moore
that this room had been used for stor-
age during all Of the last year. If q
previous tenant dropped it, the lac
Guer would be gone or furnished by
now. The other windows on the fourth
floor were cut off from view of the fire
escape by an irregularity of the wall.
From those windows, one could scarce
ly have thrown the button and hit that
spot on the fire escape-"let alone
droppin' It, thought Rosalie.
Rosalie wrapped the button in her
handkerchief and continued her search.
Nothing heavier than straws and
scraps of paper.
well, you never can tell" she said
to herself as she Strengthened up Ola
the landing before Captain Hanska' s
window; Tets see-who in my house
ever wears
She stopped all motion here; and
since there was no need for conceal
ment. her face showed the shock
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1914-01-15

road. There is that philanthropical
husband of yours with new pension.
er in tow, / fancy"
''If so, Walter cannot help it," re-
turned Blanche with a sweet smile.
"He is always trying to do something
to ameliorate the conditions of these
poor natives"
Tile has picked up a rare sample
this time" retorted Marcia disgust
eddy.
There was certainly wide contrast
between the spruce, handsome consuli
and the limping, tattered native, whose
arm he held in aiding him to walk. The
native looked as If he had been rolled
mile in the dust-laden road His
clothing was nearly torn off from him.
Face and body bore mass Of cuts
and bruises. He was gasping for
breath and seemed to be in a state OF
almost complete exhaustion.
Walter led him TO the hut of the SER
want at the rear of the house. and gave
him into his charge. Then he ap~
preached the ladies'.
Walter, how can YOU interest yonn-
self in these ignorant, worthless pee:
ple?' chided Marcia. Your clothing is
covered with dust from contact with
that fellow"
"a poor fellow, indeed" replied WAL
ter, pityingly.. You will not wonder
ut his condition when tell you that
I found him lying by the wayside.
creeping on hands and knees, bound
for Calcutta
1.-TWO hundred miles awaIt'' ex-
claimed Marcia "Yon do not mean
THAT he' had already covered one
hundred, miles. without rising upright
for the past six weeks? Yes" declared
Walter.
why did he do ii!" inquired the
widow, with Indifferent curiosity
LAS q penalty. He was starving
and stole measure of meal. The law
put him at year of hard labor. The
| priest of his sect fined him twenty
taels. or the horrible Oraeal be was
undergoing"
"And you paid his fine, infer?"
SpCKb mdiCit, NOlILCL1lpCCshNSll.
| Il could not resist doing it, replied
Walter.
The widow left them a few days la
| ter to meet her aflanced husband at
Naples. The native, Ayrtth, whom Wal
| ter had taken under his protecting
wing, became domesticated as a CRATE.
! full, loyal servant, He was without
| kith or kin, but was man OF unusual
education for his class. His devotion
to the consul and his wife became dog.
! like in its intensity.
| Walter was a good deal surprised to
find how useful Ayrih became to him
as the weeks passed on. Most Of the
| consular functions consisted in pass
ing upon export duties ana the stand
ing of business houses IN the district
| It was remarkable how we'll Ayrih was
| posted on these details, One day he
came to Walter, evidently full of some
subject that interested him greatly
for half suppressed excitement was
visible in his manner.
| "Sahib,' he said, Il learn"
Learn what, Ayrih?" inquired Wal
| ter in his kindly way.
| "The guilds-those who export the
| wicker, the bamboo, the beads, the
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1914-01-15
tied track, and his activity didn't get
him anywhere"
No ideas Necessary.

Once upon time there was young
man who had urgent literary aspira-
tions, but nothing to say. In his ex
tremity he went to the Sage and asked
him what to do about it.
Write, my son, write.'' advised the
Sage.
The young man followed this advice.
He wrote diligently, and 10: his
writing became very popular and
his name was famous throughout the
land.
How do you explain it," asked q
critic of the Sage one day.
1T is very simple" replied the Sage.
"As the young man had no ideas.
there was nothing to distract him
from a strict attention to literary
style, which he developed to a point of
pefeotion.
But what is literary style worth
without ideas?" QGeried the critic.
Everything to the populace: moth.
ing to the philosopher" declared
the Sage. Moral: Vox populi vox pop
ui
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1914-01-15
Air and Atmosphere of Home.

In. her Tower Room Talk in Womr
ans Home Companion Anne Bryan
Mccall writes in part:
What sort of homes do we pro-
vide for our own and other peoples
children? How worth while and val
liable are they? 1 do not mean to in
guire into the kind of furniture we
have nor the color schemes nor any
thing OF the sort. I would speak
rather. of some higher loneliness. For
the air and atmosphere and that
Adore spiritual loneliness which make a
place truly home are not to be had
from old china and furniture, but
rather from old strengths and ancient
virtues, not forms fashioned from the
best and most expensive woods. beau
tiful mahogany, dark oak and rose
wood, In gracious lines, but costly
love, beautiful reasonahleneas and sac
rifice.'
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1914-01-15
Tie BED Button
By Will Irwin
AUTHOR OF THE CITY THAT WAS, ETC.
ILLUSTRATED By Harry II .GriSSin&e
COPYRIG1T 1914 BOBBS- MERRILL CO

much choice. Professor VangO adopt
ed me--my mother was in his circle.
Old fake! But he had mediumship,
too; an he thought, an l thought, he
brought somethin' out of me. Anyhow,
I saw things. So / became a medium.
like you became a cop--because 1t hap
pened that way. Sometimes" added
Resale, drawing all sting from her
words by fash of her dimples, Il
think you're awful stupid, Martin Nc
Gee, an sometimes ] think you're a
wonder. Its generally according to
whether or no you agree with me. AS
you mostly do. l generally call you a
wonder. An you've got get-there be-
sides. Slow. but you do get there
This bit of conversation fulfilled Ro'
salie's purpose. 1t turned the sub
ject from herself to Inspector McGee's
self; and she knew from a life of ex-
perience that no man lives who can re-
sist that lure.
"How do you feel about me today?"
he asked with heavy male coquetry.
81 haven't made up my mind today"
she said, 'but it's veerin' toward the
stupid" She crossed the room and
fumbled with the catch OF the south
window. He rose heavily to help her.
mo. thank you'll" she said. mo,
thank you. / want to look over this
fro escape. I'm that old can't go up
notes.-the. It's enough to have the
stenographers rubberin' from these
windows, without YOU"
However, she managed with sur
passing lightness the step from the
window to the iron stairway, with as
tonishing grace the ascent. She
threaded it to its top, viewing 1t all In
q general way. Then she stopped, ma
king a picture Of herself as she bal
anced on the landing, and pulled out a
wire hairpin. This universal imple-
ment of the sex she twisted to suit
her purpose, and began slow descent.
picking at the interstices of the iron.
So she worked downward nearly one
flight before she came to a cake Of
dirt in a corner of the iron steps. She
brushed 1t away and discovered little
irregularity in the metal. She picked
at this with her twisted hairpin. 1t
proved to be loop of steel, somewhat
spotted, but still bright. She hooked
the pin into the loop, and pulled. Some
thing gave way. Out of very small
hollow in the iron step, which seemed
like bubble left in the process of
casting, came little hard ball. She
rubbed it with her hands, and polished
it with her handkerchief.
IT was a red shoe button.
Rosalie fingered it, and glanced up
ward, musing. Above, the iron stair
way ran straight to the windows of the
lumber room. And that was the only
window from which it could have fall
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1914-01-15

which she felt. Her eyes widened;
her jaw dropped.
"Um-hum!' she buzzed with the tone
of one who gathers the straws of sus-
picion into sheaf OF fact.
"Um-hum!'
And just then the voice OF Inspector
McGee doomed from within.
Pretty near through ?" he asked.
Much as / want" replied Rosalie.
voice and face falling at once into In
difference. lis there a place to wash
in this house? Water amt turned on
yet? All right"
When, ten minutes later, she re-
turned from the lavatory, marvelously
freshened in appearance, the inspector
awaited her in the lower hall.
II may be wanting to come again"
she said. will you let the cops know"
We'll, how do | stack today?" asked
Martin MCGEE, Smart or stupid?"
Kind Of between" iabbed Rosalie,
"but edgin' toward stupid still" She
smiled again over her shoulder; dim
pie played and then another; a lock
of hair fell from its fastening over her
cheek
And suddenly something happened;
something which Martin MCGEE, blush
ing over 1t later in silence and secrecy.
could not himself account for. With
the motion OF dancing bear, so awk-
ward was it and yet so quick, he had
caught her in his arms and kissed her
heavily on the face.
Rosalie did not seem to struggle;
yet somehow, without haste, without
disarranging herself I'm one little item,
she was free Of him. The surge in
Martin McGee receded as rapidly as
it had risen. He stood blank. his color
thickening
Martin MCGEE" said Resale lie
Grange, you jest cut that OUT
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1914-01-15
SLAVERY or COLONIAL DAYS
More Than Half Million Whites
Were Held in Bondage During
That Period.

{, Could we draw the curtain which
Hoaceals the life OF prehistoric people,
we should see that the servant prop
hem is as old as the human race. In
deed, il # were possible for extremes
80 meet, cave-dwellers and denizens OF
twentieth century sky-scrapers would
doubtless converse alphabetically on
this never-ending problem. Its exist
!snce is due TO the universal desire OF
1nsn to use the strength Of others for
his own profit and pleasure-an IN
.changeable trait Of human nature.
During the colonial period or our
history. service was performed in the
sznaSn by two classes--tAe negro slave
and the rindentured white servant
writes Prof Marcus w. Jernegan In
Harper's Magazine. The white serv-
ant a semi-sIave, was more important
In the seventh century than even the
negro slave, In respect to both num-
berc and econo.aic Significance. Fer
saas the most pressing Of the early
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1914-01-15

tinsels. They laughed at your country
the great land J love because YOU
are of there. They boast to pay but
little duties, because they say ma
terial raw and goods fancy when it
is really fabrics
In his poor way Ayrih had given the
young consul valuable hint. Walter
knew that the district guild Of mer-
chants included shrewd, trickish men.
That night he went over his tariff files.
He made an important discovery
Strung rice, beads, bamboo plating,
native tinsel weavings, when applied
to rugs, draperies and curtains,
should have been listed as fabrics"
This meant an increase in the import
duty Of over forty per cent. ad va
loren.
Walter duly reported his discovery
and opiniOns to the authorities at
Washington. Just two months later
he came into the house with a fiutter'
ing strip Of paper in his hand.
Look. Blanche" he said buoyantly.
Our ship has come in"
your discoveries will lead to
change of classification" the official
letter read, that will increase import
duties over 100000 year. You are
transferred as consul general to Sing
apore at four thousand dollars per an
mum"
1t was under widely changed resi-
Dental conditions that Mrs. Burnham
dropped in upon them unexpectedly
few weeks later. The BurtOns Occu-
pied q beautiful bungalow. set In the
midst of lovely garden.
How superb" pronounced the ca
PRECIOUS Marcia. II would be content
to live in this earthly Paradise for
ever"
You will be surely welcomed as a
permanent guest" declared Walter,
chivalrously. "But how about the
count?"
"A count OF no account reported
Marcia with wry face. Luckily
found it out in time. And your ser
vants-how different to those at that
half civilized settlement. The man
who carried in my traps was quite
dignified
You do not recognize him." IN
quired Blanche with a quiZZical smile.
why, no." replied her sister with a
puzzled air.
He is Ayrih."
you mean the man whom yo,r res
cued from that horrible pepance at
the old post?'
"The same. Through him, my dear
Marcia" declared the young consul,
"all our good fortune seems to have
started with bound. A little seed OF
kindness"
''And 10! the beautiful full-blown
fower:" cried the happy Blanche, her
outspread arms expressing The luxury,
the joy, the comfort, the rare love
with which heaven had blessed her.
Copyright, 1913 by w. q. Chapman)
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1914-01-15
WASTING TIME OVER DETAILS
Writer Points Out Mistake MADE by
Many Men Who occupy Executive
Positions.

Many a man in high executive po'
sition impairs his efficiency by trying
to do work that low priced suDordl-
nate could accomplish just as Well
'Some managers are proud OF calling
themselves masters of details when
really the details have nearly mas
tered them" says a writer in System.
81 remember the treasurer OF bank
note company, who was forever un-
dertaking to show his clerks how much
better he could do their work than
they could. One day the president or
the concern took him by the shoulders,
backed him into his private ONCE.
rolled an armchair to the window, and
said solemnly: Your business here In
office hours is to sit in that chair and
think. That is what you are paid for
so do it,
HE had the right experience Of de-
tail, but instead of using 1t to propel
his train of thought he kept 1t running
J back and forth over its own little liza
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1914-01-15

needs of the colonists was for eev-
tain and adequate supply of labor. 1t
was the white servants who supplied
this demand and made possible a rar-
id economic development, particularly
of the middle and southern colonies.
In 1853 there were 1900 of these
semi-slaves in Virginia, composing
about one-sixth of the population.
while nearly two-thirds of the imm!-
grants to Pennsylvania during the
eighteenth century were white sery-
ants. Every other colony made great
er or less use of them, and it is likely
that more than half a million persons
were OF this class during the colonial
period.
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1914-01-15

him near this place. see struggle
about him. I see glass OF liquor on
one side Of him and woman's hand
on the other. He is drawing toward
the woman's hands. see her more
clearly now She has golden hair. /
see him working far into the night.
His hand Is writing-ugh---" This was
kind of shuddering gro@n- Il am 60
ing!" Another silence. Then light
lute-like voice-the accustomed tone
of Laughing-Eyes, Rosalfe's famous
child control. and the most artistic
thing she did.
FLOWERS. for a pretty tady:" came
the voice of Eaughing-Eyes. Pretty
lady is sick. Pretty lady is crying. It's
bright here. And the spirits talk to
me. One, two, three spirits talk to
Laughing-Eyes. One of them wants
the pretty fady-ol, he's gone! He is
weak. I am weak--good-by-p
Rosalie's lips closed, and she settled
down as though into deeper sleep. She
waited through a space which seemed