davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1914-12-25
Copyright, iSiA. By Louis Joseph Vance

can't be true! I'm trying so hard to
bslieve-but all the while l know 1t
can't be true!"
He converted a skeptic with the
mute eloquence Of his lips
Head upon his shoulder. the girl
chung passionately to him. Tell me
again that you love mel" she prayed
Promise me you'll never let anything
come between US. Promise me, Alan
promise me you'll be kind to me al
ways. dear."
Can you doubt will be kind?' he
murmured reproachfully.
Il am afraid :" she whispered
How could be anything else. Low
ing you as l dor"
You can't be sure. What II you
were to find you'd been mistaken
She caught her breath and added
hastily-"That you didn't really love
me, mean"
"Oh, thats ridiculous!"
Il can't be sure. Nothing in life Ii
permanent. What is love! Illusion o.
the senses! What is happiness? "A
will-o'-the-wisp What is life?
make-believe!"
"Dearest!" He held her more close
ly still. you are nervous and over
wrought You don't know what you're
saying. You can't mean what you're
saying. But say that it's SO
that life Is all make-believe. Then
make-believe you love me-"
"Oh, but l do, l dol"
And make-believe for a little we've
caught the will-o'the-wisp-only for 9
little-until you wake up and realize
that It's all real and true"
She closed her eyes again: "Yes,
she breathed, you are right. Let's
make-believe it's all true for a little
longer and forget :"
He could by no means account fol
this strange humor; but he did his
best to comfort her, none the less ten
DERBY because of his mystifcation. AND
for a long time she let illusion blinG
her, resting quietly in his arms, max
ing believe
The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1914-12-25

scant. The car swept up to a corner
house of modest and homely aspect
Two minutes more, and Alan was ex-
changing salutations with and making
his bride-to-be known to Digby's good
friend, the Reverend Mr.. Wright.
Embarrassment worked confusion
with the young mans perceptive facul-
ties. AS this moment approached
when two should be made one who had
gone through fire and food, literally
as we'll as figuratively, for each 9TH
er's sake, incredulity drew veil be-
fore his vision. He viewed the world
as in glass, darkly.
He was aware OF a decently fur
nished minister's study; of two wit
nesses in the guise of unassuming
womenfolk of the minister's house
hold; of the Rev. Mr.. Wright himself
as benevolent voice rolling sono-
rously forth from a black-clad pres
ence; of the woman of his heart stand
ing opposite him; of questions asked
and responses made; of ring that
was magically conjured from some
store apparently maintained against
precisely similar emergencies; of a
hand that took the hand that was to be
his wifes and placed it in his; of his
clumsy and witless bungling with the
task of fitting that ring to the finger
OF his sweetheart's hand
And then he was aware of a door
that banged violently In the hallway:
OF the sound of a mans voice making
some indistinguishable demand; that
Roses hand was suddenly whipped
away, before he could fit On the ring:
that the study door was flung open and
that this animal OF Marrophat had
precipitated himself into the room.
He opened his mouth to protest
and Marrophat silenced him with a
cry.
you fool! Drop that ring! Stop
this farce! Don't you know whom
you're marrying? That woman is Ju-
dith Urine. you idiot-not Rose!"
Blankly Alan turned to the girl.
Her flaming face, her sullen eyes,
her very pose, from which the man
ner OF Rose had dropped like a cast
garment, confessed the truth of Mar.
rophats assertion. And as if this were
not enough, Judith confessed 1t doubly
with a sudden outbreak of such rage
as never could have been brewed in
/ Roses gentle nature.
You DEVIL" she cried-and threw
| herself In front of Marrophat with a
spring as 1.-THE as that of leopardess
Take warning now from me: keeI
out of my way forever after this-or
take the consequences! God knows,
she painted, why don't kill you al
you stand!"
He was In her way. between her and
The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1914-12-25

hesitated. slowed down, and limped
dejectedly to the curb.
Alan and the chauffeur piled out in
the same instant, the one standing
guard-with an eye out as we'll for
another cab-while the other assessed
damages.
Nothing for 1t but a new tire, sir"
this last reported sympathetically. 1T
must have been a broken bottle or
something like that-it sure did rip
the usefulness clean out of that shoe"
Go to it," Alan advised him terse-
ly; land If you make a quick job of it,
I'll stand the cost of the new tire"
But If another cab comes along
while you're at it you'll lose us as
quick as wink. Here's my card, in
case we have to desert you in hurry;
you understand this is a matter of life
and death, and I'll have no time to
settle up with you. But you can call
at Mr.. Digbys office and he'll fix
things up to your satisfaction"
The man took the card and after q
glance at the name touched his hat
with more noticeable respect.
"All right, Mr.. Law" he agreed:
anything you say" And forthwith
got to work.
The rapidity with which he COM
pleted the change of tires proved him
an excellent chauffeur, an adept at his
craft; but the delay was one disas-
trous for all that. 1t worked together
with what Alan pardonably described
as the DEVILS own luck to bring the
touring car in sight at the precise mo-
ment when the chauffeur was cranking
up and Alan on the point of re-enter-
ing the cab. And though they were
off again before Alan could close the
door, the attempt was hopeless from
the start.
And yet-whether or not because
Alan's distaste for interference had
been too convincingly demonstrated
the touring car for the time being
contented itself with trailing about
| fifty feet in the rear, while the taxi
fled the tenement purlieus of the Ho-
boken waterfront and found its way
tentious suburban quarter.
Not until they we're well into the
suburbs, with few dwellings near and
no pedestrians to interfere, did Mario
phat's purpose become apparent. Then
however-and 1t happened while Alan
was looking back-the touring car
drew In swiftly and easily and Mario
phat, rising in his seat, leveled a re
volver over the windshield and fired.
The crack of his weapon was prac
tically coincident with metallic thuc
beneath the rear seat Of the taxicab.
Not for some moments did Alan ap
preeiate the viciousness of the scheme
The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1914-12-25

the open door. She gave him no
chance TO move aside, but seized him
SO fercely by the wrists that ne In
stincuvely lifted to protect himself.
and she fairly threw him half dozen
feet from her. He brought up with
a crash against the wall even es the
door slammed behind the girl.
When Alan, the first to recover.
gained the sidewalk, she was already
In the taxicab. Whatever reward she
had promised the man, he whipped his
machine away as II from the fear OF
sudden death.
And darting from the house hard
on the minister's heels, Marrophat
leaped into his own car and, as II he
had not heard her threat or received
substantial proof of her earnestness,
tore OF In pursuit.
The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1914-12-25

tackle dragged the ground with its
ropes.
1t was the work of a minute to con-
vince a thick-headed policeman that
the attempt was feasible and should
be permitted. 1t was the work of less
than another minute to rig loop in
the line and fasten round his body
beneath the arms. Volunteers did not
lack; a couple of husky longshoremen
sprang to the ropes at his first call
They heaved with will. His feet left
the ground, he scared, he caught the
caves of the shed-roof. and shouting tc
cease hauling, drew himself up on this
last, backed little ways down it and
calculating his direction nicely, with
a running jump launched himself out
over the street.
The momentum of his leap carried
him we'll out over the heads of the
throng assembled in the street and
truly toward that window where Rose
was waiting Then its force slack
ened For an awful instant he be-
lieved that he had failed But with the
last expiring ounce of impetus. he was
brought within grasping distance Of
the window sill.
Hauling himself up. he gathered her
into his arms
A great tongue of tawny fame licked
angrily out of the windows a. Id
swung her back to safety.
RIO Bib CoNrtNUEDl
The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1914-12-25

running board. was shouting inarttcu-
lately and fourishrH an imperative
hand; while the distance between
them was momentarily growing less
noticeable.
AS Marrophat's car drew abreast
Alan nodded and said quietly: Don't
be alarmed; l can attend to this gen
tleman single-handed."
And this he proceeded to demon
strate with admirable ease. even
though called upon to do so far soon
er than he had thought to be-thanks
to Marrophat's hair-brained precipk
fancy. For, failing TO influence the
taxi driver by shouted demands or
threats. or to gain the least attention
from Alan, Trine's first lieutenant abb
ruptly and surprisingly took his life
In his hands and In one wild bound
bridged the distance between the two
Tying cars and landed on the taxi's
running board.
Stop!" he screamed madly. stop,
| sayl You don't know what you're
doing! Let me tell you"
He got that far but no farther. In
the same breath Alan had flung wide
the door and was at the fellows throat
There was a struggle of negligible
duration; Marrophat was in no way
his antagonists match; within three
seconds he threw out both hands,
clutched hopelessly at the framework
OF the cab. and fell heavily to the
street.
The taxi sped on without pause. its
driver deaf to the halls Of innocent II
indignant bystanders. Alan pulled
himself together and looked back Just
In time to catch a glimpse of a num-
Der OF loafers lifting Marrophat to his
feet and helping him to the sidewalk
OF an unsavory-looking tenement. be-
fore the cab took q corner on two
wheels ;"
Not seriously injured, fancy" he
told the girl In response to her eager
look. Worse luck!" he added
gloomily.
But 1t seemed that he was to have
greater cause than this to complain of
his luck, before that ride was ended.
Three blocks further on a tire blew
out with report like a cannon-crack.
er, and the taxi lurched perilously.
The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1914-12-25

surprise had gained the ciosed doe
before they recovered and sought -
stay him.
Indifferent to them all. he shook the
knob and shouted: Rose! Ross!"
Her cry came back TO him, = nHf
fed scream: Alan! Help Help!"
Backing away with a mad idea OF
throwing himself bodily against tho
door and breaking it down, he was sud
denly confronted by hideous mask of
humanity-face OF man all misshapen,
bruised and swollen and disfigured
with smears of dried blood and a dirty
bandage round his temples, but nons
the less vaguely recognizable.
The words that streamed from It's
distorted lips drove recognition home.
Gee. fellers, look't who's here! IL
1t amt tn guy what threw me off'n
that girder this mornin'. Stand back
and let me kill TIL"
Without the hesitation OF heart.
beat Alan swung heavily for the thugs
jaw. The blow went solidly homo.
The man fell like a poled OK.
Pandemonium ensued. Rallying to
their comrade, the rufflans attacked
Alan with one mind and one intent
Murder would have been done then
and there had 1t not been for q rotten
banister-rail. which gave way, precipi-
tating the lot to the ground floor of
the hallway.
simultaneously the lamp on the wall
was struck from its bracket and
crashed to the floor, its glass we'll
breaking and loosing flood Of kero-
sene to receive the burning wick The
explosion followed instantly. In q
trice the hallway was lake of burn
Ing oil, and hungry flames were lick
Ing up the rotting wallpaper and eat
Ing into decayed baseboards and stair
treads.
Still fighting like a mailman, con-
testing every foot OF the way, Alan
was borne down the hall and out of
the front door A scream of 'Firel"
greeted him as he reeled out into the
open. 1t was echoed by q dozen
throats.
The doorway vomited men and
women Of the tenement. They choked
1t for time, blocking both egress and
ingress. BY the time they broke out
and left the way clear a solid wall Of
flame stood behind it,
Thrice Alan essayed to pass that
barrier OF fire. and thrice 1t threw him
back. Then, struggling and kicking
to release himself and try again, he
was seized by a brace of able-bodied
policemen and rushed fifty feet from
the house before let go.
| Lack of breath checked him momen-
tarily.
He looked up, dashing from his
smarting eyes tears drawn by the
sitting clouds of smoke, and saw
vaguely at the second story window q
woman leaning out and shrieking for
help.
That it was hopeless to attempt the
staircase he well knew. Drawing
aside, he endeavored to come to his
sober senses. and cast about for some
more feasible way to effect the rescue
of his Rose.
The tenement occupied one corner
of a narrow street. Directly opposite
storage warehouse stood upon the
other corner. Before this last was the
common landing stage for truck de.
liveries, protected by a shed-roof
And, suspended from a timber that
peered out over the caves, a hoisting
The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1914-12-25
SYNOPSIS

The , Of Hearts 10 the death En'' en-
esoycd by Seneca Urine in the private
veaGeancs which. through the agency Of
- anusAter. Judith. a woman Of violent
nAensOns like his own. he wages against Alan
-. son of the man tnow dead) who was
eosntiy responsible for the accident which
nsAAsred Urine a helpless cripple for life.
Anh 10 In love with Rose. Judiths twin and
aAie. though In all else her opposite. Ju-
s"A Vows to compass Alans death. but he
&ves her life under dramatic circumstances
Asn 20 anwittingly and unwillingly. wins
Aef 1--we. Thereafter Judith 10 by turns
animated by the old hatred. the new love.
49, Jealousy of Rose
The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1914-12-25
CHAPTER XVII.
The Ring.

The Ring.
Theirs was the last vehicle to swing
between the gates before these last
were closed.
And this was quite as well; for Alan,
rising for one last backward glance
through the rear window, started in
voluntarily and choked upon an ex-
clamation when he deserted a power
full touring car tearing madly toward
the ferry-house, it's one passenger half
rising from the front seat, beside the
driver and exhibiting countenance
purple with congested chagrin as he
saw his car barred out of the carriage
entrance.
Quickly sensitive to his emotion, the
girl caught nervously at Alan's hand.
What is it, dear?"
'Marrophat," he snapped.
She uttered a hushed cry of dismay.
Don't be alarmed, however" he
fastened to comfort her. He's lost
the race the gates are shut-even the
passenger gates-and there must be
a company spotter somewhere near by,
for the gateman is virtuously refusing
to be bribed by a roll of money as
thick as my wrist"
At that instant the taxicab rolled
aboard the ferry boat; the deck gates
were closed; hoarse whistle rent the
roaring silence of the city; winches
ratified and chains clanked; and the
boat wore ponderously out of its slip.
$50 much for Mr.. Marrophat!" Alan
crowed. sitting down. Fooled againl
He can't stop us now!"
Perhaps
why that perhaps? Why that
tone" he demanded sharply, struck
by the foreboding her accents con-
fessed.
This isn't the only ferry There's
the Pennsylvania and the Lackawanna
and by hard driving he might even
manage to catch the boat that con-
meets with this from the Christopher
street ferry of the Erie!"
Impossible! l don't believe it, |
wont!"
Lets not" she agreed. But, Alan
"Yes?"
Promise me-if he should manage
to catch up with us-you won't let him
talk to you. / mean, don't let him"
mo fear of that!" he asservated
( holly. IF he tries to exchange one
word with mel only wish he would"
| She seemed satisfied with that: but
/ the incident had served appreciably to
! chill their spirits. They accomplished
| the remainder of that voyage in a
| silence that was no less depressed be.
cause they sat hand in hand through.
! out.
Nor was their taxicab three minutes
| out of the ferry house on the JERSEY
shore-though the chauffeur, stimu
later by Alan's extravagant promises
was doing his best to fracture the
speed laws and escape arrest-wher
the girls fears were amply justified
a shout from behind drew Alan's head
out of the window on one side and the
girls or the other and proved to both
that Marrophat had indeed found some
way to make the crossing withou,
great delay.
His touring car was within nifty
yards when they first we're aware o
1t; and Marrophat. standing ON tn,
The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1914-12-25

row; we fooled them handily-thanks
20 your faith and bravery, sweetheart!
and everything is going to be we'll
sith US from now on. Over in Jersey
the minister is waiting now to marry
he boat is waiting that is to cafN s
sfY to England the moment we're q h
Red. Think of that-and that / IA 3
sou Nothing can possibly break e!16
strength of that cenbination!"
-s'wpn she breathsd gently. IT
The log cabin Democrat., 1914-01-21
MT. OLIVE.
January 20.

The past week has been ideal
weather for farm work.
J. L. Morgan and G. w. Weatherly
are visiting at Springfield, their old
home.
Oetti Walker has moved on the old
Goss place, near Cypress Valley.
Mr.. Cook of Mt Carmel passed
through here last week en- route to
Conway.
Jerry Snow and family spent Sun
day with C. C. Morgan and family.
Prof. Hodges, who is teaching at
Beryl, was at Mt. Olive Sunday.
Rev. ]. G. Moore preached very
interesting sermon at Mt. Olice Sun
day.
Rev. Kelley, the pastor, will preach
at Mt. Olive the fourth Sunday in
each month at II o'clock and the sec
ond Sunday at o'clock p. m.
Charlie Terrell of Springfield is Wis
ting friends and relatives here at this
time.
Sunday school is moving along nice
ly, under the direction of A. c. Wiki
erson as superintendent.
Weather warm and cloudy
January 20.
The log cabin Democrat., 1914-01-21
HOLLAND.

We have been having some very
fine weather the past few weeks, but
this week starts with cloudy, misty
weather. Our farmers are making
preparations for their 1914 crop.
The lumber for the new Baptist
church is all on the ground and they
intend to commence on the building
Wednesday.
Mrs. Maud Shannon, who has been
spending the past few weeks with her
father and mother, Mr.. and Mrs. A.
J. Jackson, will return to her home
sometime this week.
Prof. Hoggard made a business trip
to Enola Saturday.
Frauenthal & Sehwarz new build
ing which is being erected on the old
Hardin place is progressing nicely.
Our school is progressing nicely at
present.
Rev. H. H. Melton, pastor of tie
Baptist church at this place, will
preach in the Methodist church the
fourth Sunday. He will continue to
use this church until the new church
is finished.
The log cabin Democrat., 1914-01-21
HAPPY VALLEY.

After several months delay l will
write again. There is a lot of sick
ness in the valley at present. Pneu-
monia seems to be the most prevalent.
Farmers are beginning to pillow for
another crop.
There has been lots of moving in
the valley this fall. People are hunt
ing for easy places to make money.
Since our last writing we have lost a
valuable citizen from our community,
Prof. John H. Gore. He has moved
to Naylor. You folks will be proud
of Mr.. Gore when you learn his real
worth as school man and neighbor.
Ye scribe and little girls attended
singing at Black Fork schoolhouse
Sunday. We had some good singing,
but were disappointed because Prof.
]. d. Patton wasn't able to be there.
We are going to need a cold spell
of weather before long, so we can kill
hogs.
j. W. Caid of Searcy county was in
the valley last week He has some
good young mules for sale.
Dr. Hardy made a professional visit
in the valley Sunday. He is very
busy attending the sick at present.
Jim Cardin and family visited Aunt
Sallie Cardin Sunday.
Uncle Andy Cardin visited relatives
at Enola Saturday
l.. d. Ingram has bought a new
disc harrow and cultivator.
Good luck to the Log Cabin Demo-
crat and its many readers in the year
1914.
January 20.
The log cabin Democrat., 1914-01-21
NUTTER SCHOOLHOUSE.

Saving and hauling lumber is the
order of the day.
The seven-months-old daughter of
Mr.. and Mrs. V. NJ. Holland died of
congestion last Monday and was laid
to rest in the Hartje cemetery Mon
day afternoon.
Misses Marcelle Phillips and Ethel
Nutter and Clarence Funnel visited
visited the Misses Watkins Sunday.
Mrs. Della Long went to town last
week to visit her daughter, and while
there became very ill.
Mr.. Belk and family visited rela-
tives at Preston Sunday.
Mr.. and Mrs. James Dougherty are
the happy parents of son, born jan
uary IA.
Misses Emma and Hester and Louis
Cart visited at the home of w. w.
Watkins Sunday.
Mr.. Keener is preparing to move.
He has not informed US where he will
locate.
Rev. Thompson failed to fill his ap-
pointment here Sunday.
January 20.
The log cabin Democrat., 1914-01-21
CANEY.

Some of the farmers have begun
preparing their land for their 1914
crop. We all hope to have good crop
year and large yield.
Dean Cox and Ed Hargis were the
guests of Steger Crook Sunday.
Mrs. Will Fulmer visited her par
ents Saturday and Sunday.
Mr.. and Mrs. S. Y. Cox were visit
ing in town Saturday.
Anton Dussex carried bale of cot.
ton to town Saturday.
The Caney literary society render
ed an interesting program last Friday
evening, which was enjoyed by al
present.
W. Burkhart of White county Wis
tied C. l. Atwater and family one day
last week.
The Farmers Union held an inter
esting meeting last Saturday night.
Sunday school is progressing nicely
We are having good attendance, and
all seem to manifest good interest.
Our school is getting along very
we'll Prof. Adams is our teacher.
The log cabin Democrat., 1914-01-21
GUY
} January Il

We have been having some fine
springlike weather the past two weeks
and quite a lot of blowing has been
done
R. l.. Lieblong's drug store building
has been completed and he will at
once begin to put in his stock of
drugs.
Hooper & Son and G. w. Sims have
installed saw rig at the gin and
are now ready for saving.
Policy Henry, who holds a position
as clerk in E. ]. McCracken's store,
was with homefolks Sunday.
Elder R. H. Montgomery and wife
of Morrilton were here the latter part
of last week.
Joe Barlow and Walter Sheffield,
students of the Patton normal musical
institute at Greenbrier, were pleasant
visitors here Saturday night and Sun
day.
Eleder Montgomery filled his ap-
poinment here Saturday night and
Sunday
The Garland Literary Society met
last Friday night and the following
program was rendered:
Defamation, Coy Gentry; reading,
Edna Gentry; recitation, Freda Kes-
singer; defamation, John V. Henry;
recitation, Lizzie McCuiston; wills,
Guy Henry; recitation, Miss Wealth
erly; "My First Experience with a
Goat" Ed Presley; paper, Eta Nc
Cuiston; a talk on love, Lonzo A.
Ross; debate, Resolved, That En-
vironment Has More to do in Charac-
ter Formation than Hereditary" af-
firmative, Prof Mcknight; negative,
A. H. Burkett.
The Guy high school has two well
organized basketball teams.
The Garland Literary Society is