davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-11-29

would you mind p'intin' that gun so II
amt aimed straight at my chest?
thought came to him. In the same
buttery voice he added:
IF you must pint it at somebody
chest pint it at hisn. nodding toward
the young man who was doing the IN
Structing.
The young woman lowered the gun
and assured the proprietor regrelfuliS
that she was SO careless.
That's all right. lady, said the pro
pretor. as he wiped a slight dew from
his forehead. II know somebody IL get
me some day, sure as shootin.
The young woman fired agall-and
missed Then she decided to give up
the practice for the afternoon. and as
she departed the erstwhile gloomy face
of the proprietor became wreathed in
smiles.
For while the Observer studied the
targets There were little metal ducks
rows and rows of them There were
round painted targets swinging to and
fro like the pendulum of a clock. In the
center of the array We're images faint
ly resembling birds. which We're fasten-
ed to d revolving belt and whisked
rapidly by. a sudden snarling sound
caused the Observer to turn his head.
The proprietor had wound up an an
clent photograph, and Il weird. wild
tune. like some barbaric call to battle,
broke the stiffness of the little place.
Turning to the proprietor. the OBJ
server opened 1.-The conversation by in
quiring whether the profit ensuing from
the management of Il shooting gallery
was great
Purity fair replied the proprietor
And, believe me. l deserve every cent"
Undoubtedly. agreed the Observer
IF j was to tell you said the pro-
prietor, some of the things that have
happened to me-
Go ahead" urged the Observer
We'll. sir" began the proprietor, lit
was like this: One cold winter night,
when there was a lot of snow on the
ground. little Teller came into my
place. He had a kind of foolish smile
and gentle watery eyes. and 1 noticed
that the left one kept dropping, as
though he was winking.
Il had big crowd on hand-most
two dozen people.
"'Ciimme a gum says the little Teller
handin' me a quarter
Il handed him one. Ten minutes later
l let out a yell that you could hear a
block away. The little Teller had
walked slowly over to the door, open
ed it and gone out into the night. What
with the noise and everything l hadn't
noticed him.
II grabbed my hat and beat it hot
1901 Qo"n the street. Two DiochS away
from my place / came across the little
| Teller. BY this time | had his number.
His attic was empty.
"Attic?' said the Observer.
i Sure, resumed the proprietor, impa-
| tiently. He was nutty bugs-nobody
/ home. Crazy man bettin a three
card flush against d pat hand. When 1
saw him he was talking to a police
man. l rushed up to him and grabbed
f, holt of the gun.
He turned on me with a pleased
smile.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-11-29
A Graphic Pen Picture of Battle Incident-The
General Sends Message Surprise From
the Pursuers-A Wait for Orders Under
Shelter-An Aeropane Signal to the Artil
lery.

a horse lay stretched out on the road,
the limbs stiffened and stark in deaths
groteSqueneSs.
Word of the enemys proximity nav
ing been passed to the contact detach-
gingerly and examined the country
more closely for the warning. The
rifles, which had been carried on the
shoulder carelessly, were now held
athwart the body in a somewhat tense
grip. as though the nerves and muscles
were already combined to swing the
steel-plated butts to the shoulder on
the instant.
From out ahead there came a dull
scattering of shots. followed by more
dense firing, and in a moment col
the fields followed by an open line of
the enemy's horsemen pressing home
a repulsing charge.
On the instant, the point halted
and lay down. The support, stirred to a
dog trot by the dull firing, came up
painting and formed a thin, deployed
line where the point" had taken posi-
ton. The retreating cavalry Numbered
down the road. purposely left clear for
unobstructed view. the little vanguard
line opened an unexpected fire with
deadly effect, at close range.
Horses reared and screamed at the
scorch of the bullet. Men, still swing
ing flashing sabers. toppled from then
steeds and huddled in the roadway
while riderless horses threw the col
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-11-29

until his arms and head resembled a
pretzel. Harold pulled the trigger, and
--niilacle of miracles--brousht down
fairly swelled with pride. His vest
was momentarily endangered.
I'll tell you. my boy" said he. tina I
YOU surely do take after your father.
In my younger days
Followed ten instructive minutes of
younger days. What a race Of weak
lings we are when compared to our
fathers. They We're all steellined ter
rors Fear? They knew it not. Sick
Never Il day in their lives. sports
Everything maginable. Also they
never got whipped in a fight. one Won
ders at times what became of the men
" no We're whipped by our fathers. 1hey
all must have died
The pompous man was no exception
He recalled the time he killed his first
bear locality and species of the de-
ceased animal deleted).
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-11-29

line. weakened as ii was, and 1alnt
appreciarion of the grim necessity OF
The ,t1ack took hold, inspired and
thrust the companies, now lntermlngled,
onward-ever onward.
Checked for a moment under the
muzzles of the enemy's guns, the hrlns
line onened fire from the magazines.
fire as fast as hands could work the
Gathering breech- bolts. fire which
naused for the men to afiiX glittering
h.vonets 10 the scorching muZZleS of
the rifles.
AT TIL. critical moment there seemed
: to be no command given. There was no
command, for the general was dead.
stricken as he watched the progress OF
his venture But the arrival OF the mo-
ment made itself known to the various
elements of the line at the same time.
The euemy's fire was such that some
thing had to be done Ihey could not
remain there, it was as easy TO go 1or-
ward as backward, and with q WaVer-
ing cheer which rang thlniy above the
crash of battle. the line sprang forward
in the la ST desperate effort, the decisive
charge.
Onward it rolled, with the blast or
the enemy thinning the ranks There
WAS no pause, there was no time Tor
, firing even, and the two hundred
vards which separated the lines was
covered in about thirty seconds of
awful havoc, but the space was closed
and the bayonets met
| The first reserve OF the enemy sprang
to the defense; the following line of
it!.. attack closed in. struggling TO-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-11-29

while. \ stout, well dressed man, the
proud possessor of i plentiful crop of
side hiskers, marched into the gallery
leading his son by the hand
"A full set of cartridges. he said,
pompously. He handed the gun to his
son.
Nov Harold he began in the pat
ronizing tones so bitterly hated by the
young. you must first learn to hold
the gun correctly.
you didn't think ] was goin' to point
the muzZle toward myself, did you
asked Harold in. slightly surprised
| tones.
Don't you talk back to me-, adnon-
{, ished the pompous man. Hold the
stock tight against your shoulder
; That's right. Nov press your check
| close to the stock Extend the left
hand a little farther-not 200 far There
| now you're fixed
! There no question about Harold
| being fixed. Father had him curled up
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-11-29

tack, as it separated itself from the
forces which must be in rear, became
more marked as the movement de-
veloped.
Within 200 yards of the ridge there
was no more thought of cover. The
lines had merged in the attack. until
there We're no more than three sue
cessive ones Of the doZeo which had
commenced the assault, three lines
which appeared pitifully attenuated
and Insufficient for their evident pur-
f! pose.
The officers drove the men on. IN
der the storm of rifle and shrapnel the
attackers staggered, as men do when
| encountering an unexpected blast of
wind in turning gusty corner. The
heads OF the men seemed to bow be-
meath the sheet of metal which swept
toward them. Strewn with the fallen.
the way appeared a vegitable shambles.
but something of the spirit of the COM
Imander's determination possessed the
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-11-29

cracking away upon the pilots and
their observers.
:: ::
With the arrival of the reserve, more
deployed lines took their place in rear
of the one which held the bank. and
the first line emerged from cover and
cautiously pushed ahead. With the
showing of the advance, the enemy s
fire redoubled. Men dropped or stag
gcred. yet wounded and dead We're left
to their own devices, Tor there was no
tine fo,. suCGo-. an. resh ricc u ook
:hei~ vacant places in the i"ing line.
No. and then the iInr paused ieht
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-11-29

umn into confusion and broke the
alignment. With hasty emptying of
more hastily drawn automatic pistols
the remnants of the enemys cavalry
squadron turned tail and fled precipi-
lately.
Within few moments the support
arrived on the run, deployed and took
position in extension of the line and
the like arose and advanced as Skin
mishers, rifles trailed at the side. There
was no turning out for obstacles. A
way was threshed through the hedges,
wire fences were clipped by the steel
laws of the wire cutters, and even L t.
little stream failed to stop tie move
inent for. a moment as the infantrymen
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-11-29

the officer how he'd seen me totin' 1t.
and took it away from me to keep me
from hurtin' myself. When l got to the
station I was in such shape that
could have bitten the brass rail in two
Bugs and myself stays in little
cell side by side while the cops investi-
gates. It's q wonder | don't kill him
after the soothin' way he keeps talkln
to me.
After a while the cops find out where
he's escaped from, and the cellkeeper
comes in sulky and tells me that l can
GO And after that the desk sergeant
gives me a long talk about the danger
of lettin' people walk out of my place
with guns. AS if l wanted 'em to-!
For a moment the proprietor Was
silent as he studied. retrospectlvcly.
his wounded dignity. He added: And
1 run up against things like that every
now and then. Lucky for Ele, am I
never had no trouble.
Conversation was interrupted for a
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-11-29

wherever one of these latter project1ies
sprayed out broad gaps appeared Where
the line melted before the blast.
There were no Haunting coiors, for the
spectacular days of dash and glitter in
war hav. given way to the effort or
every ota of ccncealment. There was
no exposed and stirring rallying Of men.
exhorting them to death or glory. but the
keen-eyed officers and non-commiSsione1
officers behind the lines, in their proper
positions. talked quietly 10 the men, al
though there. was not a chance of being
heard, ana bent over to inspect the sights
TO see that they were set approximately
I, tire core Ttn%e C"de'$ woe given
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-11-29
The Creeping, Crawling Advance of the
Guards-A Battle Without Clamor-A
Generals Daring Decsion-Driving the
Men OnWard-The Fight in the Trenches.
Rushing in Fresh Troops.
Rushing in Fresh Troops.

took fresh courage and cheer. for.
short half mile rearward. there APP
peared the first line of their main bo1v
infantry dog-trottihg across the death
strewn field, and the line held on to tho
crest until, by tooth and nail. IN oyer-
Wheining force. the infantry arrived
How the survivors of the charge did it.
no one knows. but they did it, and the
first blood OF the battle was theirs
Then they bivouacked on the field in
rear Of their outposts.
" rpy:i=i;. 1"1 l.. ~ II" Wlc-.cr Syndicate Inc }
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-11-29

came into action with j shout and
thrust the attack back: the third and
last line OF the assault swung into L
RUIZ and closed III, and the defenders
were thrust back to their trenches
where's the tide of battle cbbed and
flowed until two lines of exhausted
men fronted each other across the low
dirt barrier. struggled and cursed and
prayed.
And as fresh troops came from in
rear of the enemy's position. the OIL
GERS of the attack who still survived
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-11-29
DID NERO PLAY BAG PIPES
WHILE OLD ROME BURNED?

THt. war pipes are ringing in the
British and British indian forces
in the great war. and the notes
OF these instruments. load, wild and
martial, are caught now and then IN
the news that comes over the sea.
The baGpipe is one OF the very old
instruments for the production Of
musical sounds. though there have been
those men who have denied that they
produce musical sounds. The pipes of
Pan may have been am early form of
the bagpipes. and it has been said that
burning he played not OH a violin or a
harp, but on the bagpipes. 1t is true
that a figure of bagpipes appears on the
coin of Nero, and excellent authority
on ancient Rome has set forth that this
cruel and unworthy emperor was q
more or less skillful performer on tho
pipes. Suetonius is one of the old
authors who lay upon Nero's shout
ders, or at his feet. the blame of being
an Indifferent artist upon the pipes.
Antiquarians are positive that bag
mines in slightly varying forms were
pIayed by the musical people among
the ancient Chinese, Assyrians. Greeks
and Romans long centuries hetore the
opening of the Christian era FROM
the Himaiayas and China to Spain, and
from scandinavia to Greece, the instru-
ment is to he found by antiquarian re-
search under all sorts of names,
:. !:
st. Jerome has told of the playing of
pipes in a synagogue, ana the theory
has been put forth-and it was pat
forth long, long ago-that Moses was Il
piper Of no mean skill. 1t would seem
that these old musical instruments are
those referred to in the BOOK or Dan
tel There is an old carving OF Apollo
which represents this well proportion
ed gentleman. not only as performing
upuf hi: .;.:loas .l.iG enchanting lEre
but with bagpipes slung over his
shoulder.
1t is a belief out of accord with the
facts that bagpipes were born IN
Scotland To avoid the possibility OF
giving oi1ense to scotsmen. it nlght De
we'll and gracious 20 ADMIT that no
baepipes better played by better
pipers than in Scotia, but the earn:
English and the earlier Irish knew
the beauty and the Inspiration OF the
1t is believed that Pythasoras might
, hav. COMPOUNDED the sound OF distant
{! pipes for the music of the spheres. and
the friends of pipes feel that When the
Argonauts thought they heard the
| magic voices of the beauteous maidens
the sirens were in reality playing Il
| trio OH the pipes.
| The bagpipe is widespread instru-
| ment and its tones are heard around
| the world No country can claim a
! MONOPOLY of the instrument, for the
| Breton 'bignon." the German 'sach-
| pfeife" and the French "cornemeure
! are all bagpipes under another name.
One of the curious stories concerning
| Charles Keene, the famous English
actor. relates in a way to bagpipes. 1t
| is told that he was evicted from two
studios, one in Chelsea and the other on
| Baker street. owing to his persistent
! endeayors to master this instrument,
/ and that, in order to acquire the neces-
! sary proficiency of lingering. keene
made a dumb chanter from the leg of a
! ar. and ~aed I" s-:ercise his myers
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-11-29

He charged toward me- said the
father. impressively.
"Uh-huh.' Sulped the son. whose
mouth was wide open.
Il waited for him., continued the
father.
''Uh-huh.
Il waited until he was within ten
yards of me. Then l fired. deliberately
head. He fell to the ground with
tbud and roared frightfully.
course he did" agreed Harold
You'd roar. too. if you had been shot
through the head. There Woui"h NC
nuthin else to do
The Observers interest IN thus sreat
man increased wonderfully. He waited
breathlessly until the man Shou'a niIS
aside his poise and whiskerS anu TAKE
a couple of shots at the target "A man
of patience is rarely disappointed IN a
little while the pompous man. iored w
the smell of smoke. took OH ms co.t'
with deliberate care and prepared 70
fire But he had an off day IeillhS tne
bear story probably had eNha us'eu mn.
or maybe he was shooting at targets
of his own devising which were LOO
small for the human eye TO perceive,
He hit the floor twice, but that
shouldn't count because there was 50
much floor Anybody could have Hit
! The floor. After IL while he quit shoot
! ing and commenced talking-thls time
| to the proprietor:
These guns are no good, he de-
! clared, fiercely
. prietor, calmly, as one who IS USED TO
! these scenes. ...,
| Thereupon the pompous man began
to illustrate with gestures Just Wha'
! allied the gun. 1t seems that the IRA :
| iectorv was ma shed out Hal and the
( parabola didn't parabol worth q cent
| And, besides. it shotts high ana te
! the left he concluded
The Observer could not refrain from
an admirine Ejaculation. Plainly TINS
. gun was loafing on the wrong street
! II she had 4 well defined out-shoot
! why shouldn't she go into base bah, es
pecially since salaries are to be boost
| ed next year. a gun with a good out
| curve would stand a fifty-fifty chance
! with Walter Johnson.
After father had kicked sufficient.
to ease his suffering soul, he departed
with his little son. He announced tina
he would return again with his owl
rifle. The proprietor Srunted afte
father had taken his whislicrs ana hi
son hence.
Next time he cones back here, sa.'
/ the proprietor, he will have a high
power magazine rifle that can shoe
clear through the wall of my place an
the next three houses adjoining. An
he'll roar like "a steer because | won
: let him use it. Amt this Z rottc
world"
Soon afterward = little man with
; Fundamentally large red nose hunche
J, into the office, accompanied by thi
-,anG baldish individual whose expires
! sion indicated that he had either love
Y deeply and in vain or else suffered fror
cornS.
T. Il find that this exercise is good 70
= he selected a gun. Then he prepa re
TO shoot. First. he dived into his sid
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-11-29

law down. Immediately the rifles com
nenced to spit and spat. while of11cers
cautiously raised upon knee to scan
the apparently vacant hills through
their glasses. Groups of men ran up
to the line, carrying with them machine
guns already affixed TO low TRIPODS,
while other men carried IN each manu-
boxes of feed belts bristling with cart
ridges to pour into the lnsatlate ina"s
of the automatics. Shrapnel broke be
fore these groups. AS though speclai
fire was directed upon them, as indeed
it was The gun carriers stumbled and
fell, but other men !eaped from the IN
fantry lines, slung their rifles across
their backs, seized the guns atd hul
,ied them forward. AS the line was
reached, without apprecia ole pause, the
machine guns opened up with an ear
splitting rattle, and. following the Ia
| tiications Of the cloud OF dust raised by
the falling spray OF bullets, dlfectea
their fire upon every posslple point VI
concealment ahead.
The fire from the front was SO severe
that the progress of the advancing Inc
! was materially lessened. Instead Of a
section of the line advancing. 1e"
men at Il time crept and crawled for
ward from each company and opened
! fire while the rest of their fellows
made the line in the same way. Ihei
| the crawling advance was repeated
| leaving in it's train a toll of fallen IN
| ever increasing numbers as the eheHi! 5
| position was approac hed.
| The following lines closed up in the
same way, until the firing line, one
| after another. absorbed the leading
! ones and became itself thickened, tell
ing of this with an increased volume of
! fire.
I ::
| The noise was deafeninS. The mus
! kerry roared in a continuous failing,
punctuated by the incessant burst of
shrapnel Some defective iii material
or range. struck the ground and, ex-
| ploding, threw up a black SeySer or
| earth, steel and tames-and sometimes
| flesh Others, more correctly timed or
! aimed, burst a few yards above the sur
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-11-29

let us take a little rifle
In our firm right hand.
'nd prepare our fears 10 s;lhe
y we aim. grand.
let us pull the little trigger
Till hear roar.
And the manager. with Nlsor, =,
saws You've missed once more
Songs of the Shooting Galleries.
ATE afternoon found the ooser'-
err Laying along in the down
town district. in and AROUND
IL that section of the city "here
men and women play, where
there are movies and theaters and con-
factionerv stores A great city. Ike
mum pudding. is nothing but an incho-
ate mixture. suddenly he heard voices
George" declared 4 woman's voice.
svou are holding my hand too tight
immediately the sound of a shot FOL
,ored The observer FASTENED ahead.
Surely il is a little unjust TO snoo'
YOUR lady friend when she opJec's 10
having her hand held 1t savors OF the
radical
Ten steps brought the Observer to
scene which convinced him that there
wouId he no immediate need OIL the
coroner He advanced upon the open
door OF a shooting gallery, where a re-
markahly pretty girl about twenty
wears old was learning the Danlei
Boone act from a wlry young 1elio"
who seemed to mind not at all the ar
duous task before him. This may have
b..u because, each time the girl shot,
the young man had to stand near her
and enveIop her with his arms. The
observer does not know.
You missed again.'' stated the young
man. as the proprietor elected the car
fridge.
The girl murmured something under
her breath.
Il said. oh. fudge" replied the girl.
defiantIy. will you tell me- she m
uuired. petulantly. why it should be
that each time | aim ! miss
Nomentarily laying aside the gun he
was reloading. the proprietor. who was
an unfeeling, calloused individual with
!: back that curled like u rainbow and
long mustaches. entered the converse
tional arena.
Why" asked the girl. turning to-
ward him.
because" explained the proprietor.
you keep shooting at my ceiling. It's
lucky | got tin on my ceiling or some
body upstairs might git hurt"
The girl blushed brilliantly and ac-
cepted the gun after the proprietor had
loaded il with careful and elaborate
care. The proprietor turned dead,
fishy white.
81 didn't mean no harm when l told
you, miss" he faltered.
"Oh. I'm sure / appreciate your crit
icism. smiled the young woman, gra-
ciously.
The proprietor breathed Il windy sigh
OF relief.
Then he said. in a cooling voice,