davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1914-11-11

cuisitive reporter out Of the way; tney
had laid every trap they could think
OF 10 catch the mysterious visitor at
the Hargreave home; they had thrown
out a hundred lures to bring Har-
greave out of his lair, and failed; and
they had lost dozen valuable men
and several thousand dollars. This
must end somewhere, and quickly.
The one ray of hope for the conspi-
rators lay in the fact that Florence
had never seen her father and knew
not in the least what ne looked like.
They determined to try again in this
direction.
"Give it all up" said the countess
to Braine. Il tell you, whatever is
back OF all this is stronger than We
are. He knows the organization, and
for all We know he may be q ghost
II never go back" smiled Braine.
There's something more than the mil
lion. There's the sport Of the thing.
We've been bested in a dozen bouts,
and nearly always by fuhe. They
have the breaks, as they say out at the
Polo grounds
But the time and expense when
We might be getting results elsewhere!
I tell you, Leo, I'm afraid. It's like
always hearing some one behind you
and never finding anybody when you
turn. I have told you my doubts. l
have also asked you to trap that but
Ter, but you've always laughed"
You are seeing ghosts, Olga A
new man from holy Russia" shTug-
ging, "is coming tonight. Evidently
the head over there thinks our contH-
buttons CT late have not been up to
the mark, and they are going to stir
US up. I am willing to wager my soul,
however, that that box is simply E.
hoax to befuddle US. Either that or It
holds the key. But the rest Of them
insist that the box must be recovered.
When ! leave this room tonight am
going over to Rirerdale and stalk all
The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1914-11-11

Don. yuh believe it?" demanded
Dunkers. truculently.
But 600 feet Of water, in a coral
bottom, and no way Of telling just
where it fell overheard. That's tough
proposition"
20, 1t is, is it? I'm a sailor. I can
lay my hand right over til spot. Do
yuh think I'd be fool enough t hunt
for it without 4 perfect ranger" Dunk
ers tapped his coat pocket suggestive
y.
And Vroon knew that the one thing
he wanted was there, a plan or draw
Ing Of the range. So there was another
man shanghaied that night. ald mis-
destination was Cape Town, % days
voyage by the calendar.
Vroon carried his information to the
organization that same night. They
would start the expedition at once,
and till this was accomplished, Har-
greave's daughter was to be immune
from attacks Besides, it would give
Hargreave wherever lie was) and the
others the idea that the Black Hun
dred had concluded to give up the
chase
Above, with his car to a small hole,
skillfully bored through the ceiling
without permitting the plaster to fall,
knelt man with a bardaged arm. He
could never see any faces; no one
ever took of mask In this sinister
chamber. But there were voices, and
he was going to forget some OF them.
After the meeting came to an end,
he waited an hour utter, and then stole
down into the street by the aid Of the
fire escape. Later he entered tele-
phone booth and called Up Jones.
Then, one lcathern ard steel box,
dotted with bits Of ivory and mother
of-pearl, became two; ana the second
one was soaked in mud and salt water
for two weeks till you could not have
told it from the original. And that IS
Why Jones was able, some weeks later,
to hide once more the original box.
AS aor the substitute, T1st as Braine
was about to use a mallet and chisel
upon it, the lights went out. There
was a wild scramble, chair or two
was overturned.
The door, the door" shouted
Braine, furious.
It slammed the moment the words
LETT his lips. And as suddenly as they
had gone out the lights sprang up.
The box was gone. There we're evil
dently traitors among the Black Hun
dred.
The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1914-11-11

By myself. IN goius to &c: glimpse
CT that mysterious stranger He car
RES scar Of mine somewhere, for
hi: him that night
The door opened and the executive
chamber became silent.
Count Paroff," doomed the voice
Of Vroon. He will present bis Gre
dentials"
This formality was executed as pre-
scribed BY the rules; and Count Par
of was given his chair. He spoke for
while, rather pompously.
The head organization IS not sat-
isfod with its offspring in this Har-
greave affair" ne said In conclusion:
You are SLOW"
Then you have come with some
suggestions for the bettcrment of our
business?' asked Braine ironically.
Sir, this is not the hour for flip
pancy," said the agent coldly.
Braine made sign with his hand,
sign not observed by every one.
Instantly ParoR bent lowly. He rec
ognized that the speaker was the ae-
tual, not the nominal, head Of the
American branch.
What are your suggestions?" in
quired the nominal head from his
chair, anxious to avoid clash be-
tween the newcomer and tho trucu-
lent master Of them all.
II have been informed that Har-
greave's daughter has never seen her
father, not even a photograph Of hin" 7"
said ParoT, more amtably.
1--WE are absolutely certain that
this IS the case," said the nominal
head, who was known as the presi-
dent But we tried one play in that
direction, and it failed miserably."
Il have the story" replied Parofs.
1T was clumsily done. The ruse was
an old one"
Rraine was frank enough to admit
the truth Of this statement, however
much ne disliked the admission. He
nodded.
Il have authority to take a hand In
this affair. We cannot waste all sum-
mer. Those government plans Of the
Notifications Of the Panama are wait
ing. There's your millions. But the
fact remains that it is the law of the
Black Hundred never to step down
till absolutely defeated. The hidden
million is but half; we must find and
break this renegade Hargreave."
III he lives" said Braine.
Who can say one way or the
other" brusquely asked Paroff. "The
fact that all your plans and schemes
have come to naught should prove to
you that you are not fighting a ghost.
There IS but ole way to bring out the
truth"
And that Is to make a captive Of
his daughter" supplemented Braine.
And We have worked toward that end
ceaselessly. We are quite ready to
listen to your suggestions, count"
And so am l." thought the man
with hts ear to the little hole in the
The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1914-11-11

any one watched him they would think
he was only looking down the cut
water. The thought OF money and
the pleasures it will buy makes cum
ning the stupidest Of dots; and Steve
was ordinarily dolt. But tonight his
brain vas keen enough for all pur-
POSES. It was a hazardous JOB to get
the box of the fuke without letting
1t slip back into the sea. Steve, how
ever, accomplished the feat, climbed
back On the rail and sat down, wait
ing. 4 quarter Of an hour passed. No
one had seen him. With his coat Sc
curely wrapped about his precious
find he made for the iorecastle. His
mates. save those who were doing
their watch, we're all in their bunEs.
Al oil lamp dimly Illuminated the for
ward partition. Steye's bunk was al
most in darkness. Very deity he rolled
back the bedding and secretsd the
bcx under his pillows, and then
stretched himself out with the pre-
tense OF snoozing till the bell called
him to duty.
He was rich; and the moment
man has money he has troubles;
there is always some one who wants
to take it away from you. His bunk
was on the port side. and there was
plenty OF hiding space between the
iron plates and the wooden partition.
He inteuted TO loosen three or four
p!anks. ana then When the time came.
slip the box behind them. Some time
6urtGg the morning the forecast!o
would be empty, and then would be
his time.
But lie suffered the agonics OF dam
nation during the four hours watch.
SuDpCs!ag some foo. should so rum
masing about his bunk and discover
the box? Suppose But he dared
not suppose. There WAS nothing 10 do
but wait. If he created any curiosity
CT the part Of his mates he was lost.
lie would have to divide with them
all. ffoia the captain down &c lie cooks
boz. i vas :. heart--emdiDg thought.
From :ja:ns thc :ciust G:j2n and frank
lp"!: :.Ga.:3 b ::cc4::i1 the most cum
niu3. Ercm bei2. nan without
The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1914-11-11

ToG&< 81" was All onion snip; which
preclu6cs any idea CT advensu7e. She
was about four thousand tons, and her
engines were slecnHard and not
amidship. She carried two n2asts and
{ talf dozen hoist booms, and the only
visible sign OF anything new On her.
was her bowsp-it. This was new doubt
les because she had poked her nose
too far into her last slip.
He crew was orderly and tractable.
Thera were shore drunks. to be sure,
because they were sailors; but they
were at work; They moved about
briskly, for they were on the point OF
calling Tor the Bahamas-perhaps for
more onions. Presently the windlass
creaked and shrillej. and the blobby
links, much in need Of tar paint, red
as fish gil!s, clattered down into the
bow. Sometimes they painted the
chain as it came over; but paint was
costly, and this was done only when
the anchor threatened to stay on the
bottom.
There was a sailor among this crew,
and he went by the name Of Steve
Blossom; and he was cne OF his kind. a
grimy dime novel protru6ed rakishly
from his hip pocket. and his right
cheek was swollen as with the tooth
ache, due, probably, to a generous
"chaw" Of Seaman's Delight. He was
real tobacco ehewer, for he rarely
spat. He was as peaceful as back
water bay in summer; non-argumenta-
tive and passive, he stood his watch
IN fair weather and foul.
No one gave the anchor any more
attention after it came to rest. The
great city over the way was fairy-like
in its haziness and sot1ened lines. It
was the poetry OF angles, OF shafts
and spars Of stone; and Steve Bios
som, having a moment to himself,
leaned against the rail and stared re-
gretfully. He had been generously
drunk the night before, and it was
pleasant recollection Chance led his
glance to trail down the cutwater. His
neck stretched from his collar like
turtles from its shell.
We'll, I'll be hornswoggled!' he
nurmured. shifting his cud from star
board to port.
Caught on the fuke CT the anchor
was the strangest locking box he had
ever laie eyes on. There were leather
and steel bands and diamonG-shaped
The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1914-11-11

ceiling above. and some day, my
energetic friend, I'm going to pay you
back for that bullet"
Count Paroff cleared his voice and
laid his plans before his audience.
ITO act frankly and in the open,
to 50 boldly to the Hargreave home
and proclaim myself Hargreave. 1
can disguise myself in manner that
will at least temporarily fool the but
ler."
Who has been with his master for
fourteen years, knows every move,
habit, gesture, Infection interposed
Braine. But proceed, count, proceed.
You Will remember the old adage;
too many cooks"
"Ah," flashed back the count, but
new cook?"
Olga touched Braine's arm warn
ingly.
You mean, then, that there has
been talk In St. Petersburg Of dispos-
ing Of some one?'
"a good deal Of talk, sir" hc2:zz.:i.iiy,
forgetting that he had bent humbly
enough but a few moments gone.
Very we'll; 90 on
Thought the man ct the peephole
above: There's another adage. When
thieves fall out. then honest men get
their dues. Yes. yes; proceed, pro-
ceed!"
Paroff wcut on. 4 shall, then, go
frankly to the Hargreave house and
claim =: cvD. Meantime l leave to
you the business CT Turing the butler
away. :ialf an hour is al l need to
bring that child here, to break the
wall that stands between US and what
we seek"
rs that so?' nurmured BralnsS
Olga want you to play a trick on
this handsome delegate-at-large. I'm
rot very enthusiastic over his talk. l
want him humiliated. All you have
to -, he says, Is to walk into the
i.Ia:,-r,:cavc house and walk out again,
The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1914-11-11

nile q the G:!sco 1'2"@" ";N2''>r.~:"
Quite rrconscious!y h> spoke III; w2rd
aleu-
~Eirb? Well, i ye doa; Ike onions,
find : hooker fat PICKS v;oiets in
!,o- ho;d." was the cheerful advice
oc the man al Steve's elbow.
who's talkin' t you?" grunted
Steve "Wha' did say?''
Onions, ye lubbc-' Don't we know
whu, onions is? Amt We smelt 'em
so org that ye could stick yer nose
in til sta-bca7d light an never smell
no !:orosena? C1;ons! Pass III
caw::.y.''
Steve helped himself first. The man
who spoke banked over him, and they
were not or the best OF terms. There
was 10 real reason for this frank
antagorism: simply, they did not splice
any more cffectua!ly than cotton rope
and hemp splice Sailors are moody
and superstitious; at least they gener-
ally are on hookers OF the Captain
Manners" breed Steve was suDersti-
t:ous and jim DurkcTs was moody and
had no thumb on his left hand Steve
hated the sight OF that red nubb!n.
lie was quite certain that it had been
g whole thumb once. on the way to
gcuge out somebody's eye. and had
Inadvertently connected with some
body'S teeth.
Spanish Coubloons and pearls and
diamonds and rubies. 1t was mighty
hard not to say these words out loud,
too: blare them into the sullen faces
grouped around the table. He was eff
watch till midnight; and he was Won
6ering if be could get the box without
attracting the attention Of the lookout,
who had devilish keen eye for every
thing that stirred On deck Or on water.
Well, ne would have to risk it; but he
would wait till full darkness had fallen
over the sea and the lookout would be
compelled to keep his eyes of the
deck. The boys wanted him to play
cards.
No. fer me. Busted. How long q
y thing $40 II last in New York, any
how?" And he stalked out Of the fore
castle and went down into the waist
to enjoy his evening pipe, all the
while keeping weather eye forward,
at the ratty old pilot house.
1t was ten o'clock. land time, when
he rammed his Guilty into a pocket
and resolutely walked forward. If
The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1914-11-11

ivory and mother OF pearl, and 1t hung
iauntily oa the point Of the rusty fuke.
ANYBODY would be hornswoggled to
glimpse such 6roll jest Of fate. On
the fuke Of the old mudhook, by q
lair, you might say. In all the wild
sea yarns he had ever read or heard
there was nothing to match this.
Treasure!
And Steve was destined never to be
passive again. His first impulse was
to call his companions: his second IN
pulse was TO say nothing at al, and
wait for an opportunity to get the box
to his bunk without being detected.
Treasure! Diamonds and rubies and
pearls and old Spanish sold; all hang
ing 70 the fuke Of the anchor
"Eornswoggled!" in kind CT awe
some whisper this time. An we
aheadin' for tn Bahamas" For under
his feet he could hear the rhythm OF
engines. "What'n DO? IF leave It,
some one else'u see it." He scratched
his chin perplexedly; and the cud went
back to starboard. L got it!
He took OF his coat and carefully
dropped it down ever the mysterious
box. It was growing darker and dark
er all the time, and shortly neither
coat nor anchor would be visible Nth
out close scrutiny. Treasure: greed,
cupi6ity, crime. Steve saw only the
treasure and not its camp followers
What did they call them?-Gcu3ioc2s
and pieces-of-eight?
He ate his supper with his mess
mates, and he ate heartily Is usual.
1t would have taken something more
vital than mere treasure 20 disturb
Steve Blossoms appetite. lie vas
one Of those enviabie individuals whose
imagination and gastric juices Work
at he same time. And while ne axe
he planned. II the first place, he
would buy thai home at Bedford; then
he would take over the ellison house
aa2 live Ike Z lord Il he wanted :
drink. ali be would have % 90 wGu!c
T., 70 ;G:1 he sp:@ot or tip boH!e;
ana moro than that. ~ / Narc 2 b.,
t..GeS Il 10 =. OG!@@s, II s~o"-
ie would rot Ia - onion wiki: :,
The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1914-11-11
CHAPTER Kill.
An Aoent From Russia.

An Agent from Russia.
The Black Hundred, not as indiVidu-
ais but as an organization, began to
worry. Powerful, and often reckless
and daring because 1t was powerful,
it began to look about for some basic
cause for all these failures against
Aargreave's daughter and Hargreave's
ghost. They had tried to put the in
The Washington times., 1914-09-20

the woman who is seeking individuality
in dress.
For The drcssy silk frock that is
necessary adjunct to every wardrobe,
the figured and plain pussy willow taf
fctas. as lustrous as charmeuse, are
equally charming in drapcd or tunic
designs. Grapes. too. maintain their
vogue. especially in the effects found
in mandarin and ESyptienne grapes.
both plain ana figured. Manv Of tho
Pagisans nave revived silk cashmeres
in heavy weight for dressv afternoon
The Washington times., 1914-09-20
But Not Alone.

There is in Brooklyn a young, recently
married couple who have been having
the usual half pathetic and wholly
amusing experiences incident to some
what limited means and total inexperi-
ence. Last Saturday, there was hitch
in the delivery of the marketing. and
Sunday found them with. practically
empty larder. When dinner time came
the young wife burst into tears.
"Oh. this is horrible,' she wept. Not
a thing In this house for a dog to eats
I am going home to mama
IF you don't mind. dear" the hus-
The Washington times., 1914-09-20

5. The typical basque design, but
toning straight down the front and
outlining the figure, is here shown
with side cores ''eased" with b;r
Of fullness and cuy in one with the
long lose-ftting sleeves. The skirt
in one with the silk basque, is of
serge and made with sash-like
tonic Of self that dips long in the
back and is held up in dranerv. The
buttons ard the organdie collar arc
the only trimming.
The Washington times., 1914-09-20
Misery Likes Company.

who are those two sad-looking wom-
en- over there?'
They're a couple Of neighborhood
women who always get together to
mourn
Torn by some common sorrow?
Yes: ones husband never comes
home, and the other ones husband
hangs around home all the time
Louisville Courier-Journal.
The Washington times., 1914-09-20
Quite Natural.

4 trained ostrich recently disconcerted
its exhibitor at q music hall by continu-
ally endeavoring TO break away from all
restraint and to climb over the foot
lights into the orchestra
The widely-advertised act came to a.
sudden end. and the professor emerged
from behind the curtain and apologized
for the actions Of mis- pet in about these
words:
"Lydies and gentlemen. hi am very
sorry to disappoint you this hevening.
We are compelled to cease our Ken
gagement until the management hen
cages a new orchestra leader.
THE one at present Unemployed as no
The Washington times., 1914-09-20

4. Of bright PINK taffcta, with
pink and black rose for contrast,
comes this dance dress IL the hest
style of the house Of Premet. The
skirt draperv is puffed around the
hips and fails in long Russian trrric.
The bodice is surplice and made
basque in effect by the wide sash
tieG in the back. Short sleeves are
fiounced with tulle.
The Washington times., 1914-09-20

3. One-piece evening gowr from
Lallot Soeurs, silver brocade in the
over part and silver lace in the
nude effect" corsage, outlines in
liver trimming. The low. waist line
irving Gownvarl = tho froat The
vayinS codet fitness in tha front
the skirt and h" general crt,inc
4 The dress are distinctly Callot, yet
ne inspiration is drawn from
sources.
The Washington times., 1914-09-20

2. Martial and Armand show the
Russian influence in this dress Of
plain and mexixe silks. The bodice,
In straight loose Oriental lines, trim
med with black and gold embroidery,
-arries a contradiction in the long
close sleeve. The skirt is cut with
e flaring tunic that falls in cascade
feet at each side.
The Washington times., 1914-09-20

l. From Premet comes this after
noon frock of printed butterfly voile
and wide satin ribbon in founces
that give a suggestion of the days
OF crinoline. Quite a Ia basque is
ike deep ribbon girdle. embroidered
WITH beads and held with snap fast
trers under fancy buttons. The long
s.eeves and the high back collar
with V front are in the newest mode.
The Washington times., 1914-09-20
The Polite jap.

I'm your country you compress the
women's feet, do you Dot?'
mo, madam" responded the Japan
ese. THAT is. or rather was. a Chi
nese custom. In Japan we allow our
ladies' feet to grow to their full size"
And then. after a bow, he added In
the politest of tones:
Not that they could sver hope to.
rival yours. madam. m."-Philadelphfa
Record.
The Washington times., 1914-09-20

dresses In length the narrow skirt is
Just to the ankles. widely Tapped in the
back To give room while it maintains
the look of skimpiness.
As timely suggestion to the home
dressmaker. in making up these sheer
stuffs. il is vital to eliminate all pos
sibilities of tearing. hence the use of
The Washington times., 1914-09-20
NCAN EFFECTS.
AND LONG TUN|CS
Jays of 80 and 80 Are Reap
pearing, Including the Tight
Basque.

m we HAVE gone bsck TO the
wv sssss s..ts;s5 s:sss5s .ss 5sF ,ss:
partly forgotten 70: the tine
10 Oriental influence that has charmed
10 for so long. Tho days o. 30 erd of
rs are reappearing: the tight basque.
u redingote. and the polonaise are
CLING a quaint trend to the styles of
% s fall.
Semi-itting, not tight basque. is the
r. Eht term, Wy decidedly suggesting
II curve Of the figure in 'front.' and
loser in the back. Tho most effec-
II OF these are buttOred straight
down the front or are more effectively
hrld with snap fasteners under shir-
rings and trimmings and run to point
g Dout six inches below the waist line.
Sst-in sleeves-tiCht old-fashioned
g aeves that run clear TO the wrist
a-e a necessary adjunct to this odd
( shion. This same semi-fitted idea is
e so produced by the wide girdle that
The Washington times., 1914-09-20

garments and for trimmings than the
Mcxiran and Aztec designs 20 b" found
in -r1,<s a.d sIlk and Voc. ra'"rl"iS
81 - .-,y '-.-il.a '.'. -"s a.. H-'
m n4,m, ri,.. ,"i"l.rgs that a'."H to
The Washington times., 1914-09-20

costumes that are worn with velvet
coats This points also to the Paris
favor for fall vclvets.
Fall Colorings.
Beside these wonderful figured COM
binations, the general color tendency is
toward bright shades for afternoon and
still brighter for evening. One of the
season imported froCks was shown in
rose 0inl; taffcta. illustrating the vogue
for high color taffetas for evening wear.
Soli1 Co'nrs in = variety Of dark shades
are the thing for street wear with green
perhaps. in the fashionable lead
The Washington times., 1914-09-20

and absence OF curve at the hips. Two
Important style changes arc the re-
TGlt. The so-caIled debutant slouch
= passed into oblivion: higher corsets
sre a fashionable necessity to maintain
'le raised bust line and the closer
sa!st The high-Cut shoulder. the high
--mhole. and the high-sot sleeve are
orominent in dresses as in coats and
suits. and have the general tendency
% increase the long, round effect and
ne low waist line. the fashionable
r-siSt line AZ nresen-
The Washington times., 1914-09-20

l. brought well up over the Dust and
iE drawn tight enough at the waist line
4 give a curved effect in front. then
re sash runs down the back to tie
n the hip line in the fashion that
Psnet introduced when the mode first
began. The sash, in fact. is one of
the charming elements of these new
stvies. and is managed in all sorts o.
ways to follow this demand Of the fiS
ure line The sur7lice idea is also used
u give this new effect The cross
C~er pieces are drawn snugly to the
fsxure and extending around the waist
% the back are finished in various
wsys.
No More SLOUGH
Semi-ftting fashions mean 4 change
IN the figure line-an emphasis on the
outline of the bust. hint Of waist
mat Oriental styles omit. a fat back
The Washington times., 1914-09-20

kOhinoor SNAP fasteners, which has
become so general.
Not The least of the gauzy effects
in the early development Of fTocks that
look toward Palm Beach season and for
informal dinner and party frocks is the
use of delicate maChine-embrsidered
fabrics. charmingly combined with silks
ard laces