davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1915-11-12
"NNhy, hain't l done told you that?"

he answered. Didn't l tell you I was
goin' to take you up to my hous to
meet some friends? Hits sorterN likely
they may take a shine to you an invite
you to go with them. They're a pow'ful
social set O. cusses."
"Where will they take meg"
Cant say. They may take you
somewhat. an then ag'in they may
take you somewhat else"
Ross walked on a little while in ST.
lence. The more he thought Of his sit ]
uation the more serious 1t appeared.
He knew that behind old Bones bland
manners and suave conversation there
was something grim and threatening.
Presently he said:
"Your friends, you say, are SOL
diers:"
"Yep, they're soldiers" Silas replied.
care they regulars o. are they bush
whackers?'
"Waal," old Bone answered slowly,
they hain't Jest exactly regulars, Mr..
Ross-not jest plumb as regular as they
mought be, you know"
Ross drew a long, deep sigh.
"Then may God have mercy on me"
he said.
Bone looked up i%nquiringly.
"What makes you say that?" he
asked.
because, If your friends are BUSH
w%hackers," Ross replied, II can expect
no mercy from them. They'll kill me-"
You reckon SOL"
"Of oo,roo Won l-pou, t1,ov Will
The old mar waited a moment; then
he said slowly and thoughtfully:
ooh, l dunno. Reckon shorely they
wouldn't go that fer. Be sorter bad,
though, If they did, wouldn't it?'
"Sorter bad" Ross exclaimed. my,
God, man, can you talk so lightly as
that of anything SO s%erious?"
"Lightly!." old Silas repeated. why,
l ain't talkin' lightly o %nottin', am I?
Didn't l jest say it nd be sorter bad:'
Ross shook his head and sighed hope
lessly.
II understand" he said. You know
those men will kill me, and you don't
care if they do. In fact, you want me
killed."
Old Silas looked hurt.
Land O. Goshen, man, what would
1 want you killed fer?"
"Thats more than I know" Ross
answered. But your friends are
b~ushwhackers, and you know they'll
never show any mercy to one they be-
lieve to be a Kansas jayhawker."
A dry, hard smile came to old Bones
+ face.
"1n that respect" he said, the bush
2 whackers air a good deal like the jay.
hawkers. Did you eve know a jay
hawk to show any mercy to a bush
whack?'
II never saw a bushwhacker In the
hands Of the jayhawkers."
You never?"
81 never did"
I'D like to believe you, young Teller
k an mebbe l ort, but l dunno. My hon
est opinion, though, is that you have
,, seen bushwhacks in the hands Of jay
hawks and that. more than that, vol
have seen 'em killed. I'll even go fur
Their thar that. My notion is you have
not only seen 'em killed, but have ha(
:, a hand in the KILN. Come, now, b.
honest With me. Amt that sos"
e at is not so. l never killed a mar
nor helped to kill one in my life"
:, Old Bone looked up and shook hi:
q head doubtfully.
y "And you a SOLDIER" he said. "Waal
I'll be hanged! A soldier an neve>
;, killed nobody nor never see nobod!
The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1915-11-12
Silly Billy Slye.

TF old Silas Bone could only have
looked forward to the future and
%foreseen to what his act was
- destined to lead he would certain
ly have thought twice before he took
Silly Billy Slye by the collar, marched
him down to the creek and threw him
in, leaving him to scramble out as best
he could.
But old Silas, through shrewd enough
in some things, was not a close student
of human nature. and it had never
once occurred to him how deep in the
The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1915-11-12
PROLOGUE,

A group Of Kansas jayhawks in Fed
eral uniform ON a raiding expedition
from Kansas are fired upon and chased
by Quantrell's bushwhackers in Mis-
souri,. Frank Ross escapes them only
to fall into the hands of Silas Bone, an
aged native.
The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1915-11-12
A Savinq Quality,

HE is too much Of an egotist to-
make a faux pas"
"What's his being an egotist got to
do with it,"
He couldn't so far forget himself,
Baltimore American.
The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1915-11-12

Wicks-How did you manage to get
your wife to give up her vacation?
Wiseman-I gave her u potted fern
for a birthday present, and she won't
go away and trust it in the care of any
one else.-Boston Globe.
The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1915-11-12
Finding an Opening.

Finding an Opening.
II had a friend who went to South
America to find an opening in real es-
tate"
Did he find one?" -.
PLENTY Of them-volcanoes and earth-
uuakeA"-Baltimore American.
The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1915-11-12

Old Silas Bone.
"HE old man chuckled softly and
eyed Ross with keen interest.
After Il little, becoming seri-
u he said:
Young Teller, you don't belong in
these parts, do YOU"
81 do not" Ross answered.
''Whar mought you hail from, then,
If l may asks"
II am from Kansas"
It was an unfortunate admission.
The old mans face d%arkened, and Il
wicked expression came to his eyes.
In tones hard and cold he said:
zone O them doggone Kansas red
legs, l reckon?
II presume So" Ross answered dis
interestedly. Then he added, ." guess
III be going"
He took a step or two, but the old
maj raised his gun suggestively and
said:
Don't be snatched. young man.
Ross understood and stopped.
"Why do you want to detain me"'
he asked.
"Oh, l jest want to talk with you a
Bit" the other replied. Don't often
git a chance to talk with strangers
down yere, you know"
"But l prefer to go on. l am in a
hurry"
"Hit wouldn't be sociable, though. to
snatch yo'sc'f off that away. You
hain't told me nothin' bout yo'se'f
yit. What you dom foolin' round
down yere in these parts?"
"Nothing."
Tibet so? Then what you pokin
round down yere in these woods fer"
Nothing"
Huh! You sho'ly didn't come al
the way down yerc jest to fall in {
mudhole, did you"
Ross made no reply. An idea ha(
occurred to him, and he was thinkin!
1t out.
"Look lack if you was jist bount
to fall in Il mudhole yo' mought a
found one neighdcr to home" the ole
man went on. "'Pears lack thar ort t,
be mudholes in Kansas a body coult
fall in"
Ignoring this remark, Ross said:
"a man was hurt back here. and
want to get a doctor for him. Ism
there one living down this way" Tn
The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1915-11-12
peen Silence,

Deep Silence.
"Still got your automobile?"
Yep"
How is it I never hear you praising
it any more?'
"Our cook has bought another make"
Louisville Courier-Journal.
The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1915-11-12
A Paradox.

A Paradox,
Little Willie-Say, pa, what is a par
adox?
Pa-Well, my son, a coal stove Is one
kind Of paradox. 1t won't burn until
it is put up; then 1t won't burn until it.
is shaken down.-Chicago News.
The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1915-11-12
Tactful,

Gladys-Do you believe in charms1
Harold (g%allantly) - Certainly, when
witches like you use them.-Exchange.
The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1915-11-12

She Told Him.
Stern Parent-What was going on in
this room yesterday evening, Clara,
when Mr.. Spooner called? Clara (com-
placently)-This ring. papa. (And even
the stern parent had to admit that the
ring was a beauty0-London Fun.
The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1915-11-12

'That woman does her own work."
"Just fancy"
Eyes, that's it. Just fancy work."
The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1915-11-12

Precautions.
"1ll run in with you and get a bite"
wait a minute till l lock the dog
up."-Baltimore American.
The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1915-11-12
His Inference.

His Inference.
Waiter-There's an unmarried lady
wishes to speak to you on the tele-
phone, sir. Hotel Visitor-How do you
know she's unmarried. Waiter-She
said rot to bother If you were engag-
ed. sir.-Chicago Herald.
The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1915-11-12
by II

Struck by Il.
Perkins-Did you see Morgan's new
machine?
Jerkins-Not in time.-Smart Set.
The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1915-11-12

!: A Little Fun For :
: Those Who Like Il. :
Their Amiatjon.

"See those two men across the
street? They carry out the theory
that birds of a feather flock together"
"In what way?"
zone is a jailbird and the other a
stool observation-disclosures American.
The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1915-11-12
His Status.

''That's an uncanny baby"
HE does seem inclined to be
creepy."-Baltimore American.
The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1915-11-12
OhIidino,

The Prisoner Judge. everybody's
tryin' ter keep me down. The Judge
All right; Ill send you up.'-Exchange.
The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1915-11-12

True Love.
"Are you fond OF Kipling, Mrs. Nc
Bride?" '"The idea! am fond of no one
except my own Charlie" -Exchange.
The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1915-11-12
Twas Ever Thus

Twas Ever Thus.
Crawford-Were they all drowned In
that accident? Crabshaw-All but the
fellow who rocked the boat.-Judge.
The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1915-11-12
Accounted For

Accounted For.
'That man is choking with rage"
II know why. He had to swallow
his Wrath."-Exchange.
The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1915-11-12

The Way With Bills.
Husband-You must try to keep our
bills down. Wife-I do. but they're
always running up.
The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1915-11-12

Compromise.
"Misht doesn't make right
mo, but it most always makes good"
The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1915-11-12

Disappointment at a Reception.
Departing Visitor (disappointedly)-
Hang it. I've got my own hat, after all!
NJ. A. p.
The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1915-11-12

Overwillinq.
do you think she will ever marry
anybody"
"Anybody."-Judge.
The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1915-11-12
Old Siias Bone.

Old Siias Bone.
~HE old man chuckled softly and
eyed Ross with keen interest.
After Il little, becoming seri-
The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1915-11-12
!dome Ties.

I "
Wicks-How did you manage to get
your wife to give up her vacation?
Wiseman-I gave her u ported fern
for a birthday present, and she won't
go away and trust it in the care of any
one else.-Boston Globe.
Deep Silence.
"Still got your automobile?"
Yep"
How is it I never hear you praising
1t any more"
"Our cook has bought another make"
Louisville Courier-Journal. :
His Inference.
Waiter-There's an unmarried lady
wishes to speak to you on the tele-
phone, sir. Hotel Visitor-How do you
know she's unmarried. Waiter-She
said rot to bother If you were engag-
ed, sir.-Chicago Herald.
A Saving Quality. !,
HE is too much Of an egotist to-
make a faux pas" !,
t.VJy1,okSe l{c 1,oln~ nm 4rntfct nrt tn
do with it,"
HE couldn't so far forget himself"
Baltimore American.
Tactful.
Gladys-Do you believe in charms1
Harold %(gallantly) - Certainly, when
witches like you use them.-Exchange.
oblising.
The Prisoner - Judge, everybody's
tryin' ter keep me down. The Judge
All right; Ill send you up.'-Exchange.
True Love. ;
Are you fond Of Kipling, Mrs. Nc
Bride?:" 1.-THE idea! lam fond of no one
except my own Charlie. "-Exchange.
Twas Ever Thus.
Crawford-Were they all drowned In
that accident? Crabshaw-All but the
fellow who rocked the boat.-Judge.
Her Work.
"That woman does her own work."
"Just fancy"
Eyes, that's it. Just fancy work."
Struck by II.
Perkins-Did you see Morgan's new
machine?
Jerkins-Not in time.-Smart Set.
His Status.
"That's an uncanny baby"
He does seem inclined to be
creepy.'-Baltimore American.
Precautions.
"Ill run in with you and get a bite.
oval a minute till l lock the dog
up."-Baltimore American.
Accounted For.
THAT man is choking with rage"
II know why. He had to swallow
his wrath."-Exchange.
OverwilIinq.
n VOL, think she will ever marry
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-08-26
Copyright, 1915, by The

>HE present day shrapnel Is an
n evolution Of an invention by
Lieutenant Henry Shrapnel,
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-08-26
5NrE07e/oE
NHT1OGl5 CSIInZFHS3

of machinery for some OF the most
remarkable tools and delicate instru-
ments are used in its manufacture.
Everything must be accurate or the
shell will be Of no value whatever, Tor
the slightest deviation from the pat
tern is source of danger to the men
who do the firing.
AT first glance shrapnel shell Is
harmless looking affair, but when
fred from big gun it becomes a
demon Of destruction. 1t can be made
10 explode at any time during ts
| flight with wonderful precision and
deadly effect
Description.
Its make is best described by a
noted war weapon expert VINO says
the shrapnel projectile consists OF
hollow cylindrical body with an ogiVal
or conoidal head: in the interior near
the base there is an explosive charge
and Immediately above the charge
there is an iron disk, and between ms
disk and the head the body or the
proJecule is filled with bullets. Inc
ruse Is fixed in the point of the pro-
Jectile and communicates with the
powder or bursting charge through a
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-08-26

on the night of the robbery. She
added that he was sound asleep when
she arose in the morning and that she
allowed him to sleep undisturbcd until
she had prepared his breakfast. As
he sat down to partake of this meal
one or two of her women neighbors
had stopped by to ask her to go on a
shopping tour with them and these
women, both respectable, swore en-
phatically that Crispi was at the
breakfast table wher they entered the
fiat.
His Alib Was Perfect.
These were posers l knew, but there
still remained my mistaken faith in
the finger print system. so | decided
TO go to trial on that evidence alone
Even at the first stage of my fight
encountered opposition for when
had Crispi arraigned in police court
1t was only after a bitter battle that
I succeeded in having him held for
the Grand Jury. I knew tho same old
fight would be continued in the Crane
Jury room and the hardest hit OF
all when We ~cached court, if indeed
7 could get tho case that far.
The case came TO trial and Crisp
was surrounded by an array Of wit.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-08-26

had given the best years OF his life to
the perfection of the missile and used
up his private fortune in so doing, yet
his only reward had been pension
Of six thousand dollars. Shrapnel for
some reason played very little part in
the Crimean War and in that conflict
was used by the French who fred only
a few shells.
During our Sivil War 1t was en-
ployed by both the Union and Con-
federate armies, but II was not until
1856 that the development of the shell
amounted to anything like Its present
deadly effectiveness
About this time Prussia took up It's
manufacture, and when the Franco
Prussian War came on it was their
greatest weapon. During the Japan
ese- r ussian War 1t was used by both
sides and thousands Of mon became
It's victims. Again in the Balkan
Wars It played its part. and military
men declare that the successes of the
Serbians and Greeks were due to
French shells of this type.
The development Of shrapnel shell
represents vast amount Of expert
menting and study and Aas. perhaps
reached perfection by becoming the
most deadly and terrifying machines
used in the civilized CD warfare OF
today. Its makeup Is intensely inter.
esting especially to those who are FOND
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-08-26

nesses capable of swearing him at any
one place at n given hour no matter
where 1t might have been. He had
an alih that seemingly was flawless.
His wife told straight and well con-
nected story. This was in a measure
corroborated by her women friends
who had seen Crispi at the breakfast
table, while his companions who at
tended the theatre with him on the
night of the robbery told in detail of
his every move, adding the time to the
minute Crispi had babe them good
night to go to his home. The theatre
attendants backed this up in a de-
gree. and in consequence Crispi and
his lawyer wore wide grins every time
they glanced in my direction. The
testimony of the wife was the most
direct given. She swore her husband
had entered their flat just as the clock
was toling midnight. He said he was
tired and retired Immediately. He
was sleeping soundly when she turned
in half an hour later and he was still
asleep when she arose to get his break
fast.
When I went on the stand l was
armed with hundreds Of exhibits tc
prove the infallbility Of tho finger
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-08-26

print. I had diagrams of all sorts on
hand to show that the finger prints
of no two persons on earth are alike
This I think I proved, for the jury
and court attendants were deeply i'm
pressed, to judge from the profound
attention they bestowed upon my testi-
mony. To cap the climax | turned to
the Judge and asked permission to be
put to a test which I believed would
clinch my case. / offered to leave
the room and in my absence have
some one take the prints of any mem
Der of the court attendants the Judge
directed would return and finger
print all the attendants and after
developing my print compare 1t with
the one taken in my absence and pick
out the person originally finger print
ed. The court readily agreed TO the
proposition and the test went on.
When I returned I finger printed
about twelve persons. Then when
these were developed and printed
sence. At a glance I identified it and
matched it with one I had taken
thereby identifying the person printed
in my absence.
Test Amazes Jurors.
The success Of the test created a
profound sensation. The Jurors sat
up and asked dozens of questions
which proved that they had intelli-
gently followed every move l had
made. They soon recognized the DIFF
ference between whorl and ridge
and were asking technical question:
linnumerable which did moro to con.
vince me that was going to win my
case than anything that had tran
spired since court convened. ! hat
been on the stand continuously fol
three days and when court adjourned
that Wednesday evening Crispi ant
his lawyers had lost their air OF
bravado. and instead Of the sncerint
glances bestowed upon me their look!
clearly proved how deeply concerned
they were.
When court convened the mex
morning l was again called to tn,
stand. There were one or two little
points that l wanted to make clear
lalthough was very we'll satisfied witt
things as they were.
But before the District Attorney har
an opportunity to start the proceed
ings, MT. Moore, chief of counsel 70
Crisp. arose and said:
MAY 1t please Your Honor, Will
the consent of the District Attorney
the defendant would like to withdray
his plea of not guilty and enter
plea of guilty 10 the third count o
the Mathematician charging unlaw
full entry"
THE court accepts the plea" tn
Judge replied. even before those il
the court room could grasp the sig
nifcance of the move
Crispi Admits All.
A ripple of surprise swept over tn
court room and even the jurors turne
: in their seats to gaze into each other
faces. The admission Of guilt fror
: the prisoner who had been so brazen
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-08-26

vent any buls.ng of the shell when II
| is subjected to the tre~- -ious pres
sure at the time of firing The test
OF It's strength Is made by one OF the
most costly machines used IN ammuhi-
ton manufacture.
Testing She'll
It Is known as scleroscope-an
ingenious little instrument with
small hammer tipped with diamond.
When the shell Is ready for the test
the hammer drops upon the steel and
rebounds to a height which depends
on the hardness of the metal. Then
by graduated scale on the instru-
ment the approximate strength of the
shell is indicated. The scleroscope has
established the existence of def
mite relation between hardness and
strength in metals. The brass case
which contains the powder charge for
propelling the shell from the quick
firing gun is also tested by the sclero-
scope All the brass used in these
cases contains about sXty-hve per
cent OF copper, which explains the
importance Of this metal at present.
The finishing OF the interior and ex-
terror Of the shrapnel shell is done by
series of drilling, boring, forming
and threading in which the greatest
accuracy Is required. The exterior is
finished smooth.
After the shells are finally assembled
and loaded with bullets and powder
the time fuse Is screwed into place at
the forward end and covered with n
soft metal case to protect the diff
ferent parts. This outer case is, Of
course. removed before the projectile
Is fred.
| Each shell has a time fuse that is
made with the accuracy of watch.
This is composed of a slow burning
composition pressed into annular
grooves and Is regulated by two rings
In two grooves of the shell-one a
stationary ring and the other a grad
uated movable ring, BY turning the
graduated ring the length of the fuse
may be set to explode the shell at
any time within the period Of third
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-08-26

refreshing to say the least. He was
cocksure he had surrounded himself
with an unassailable alib and the
worst part Of it was that l knew it
too. It would require a mighty level
headed jury to digest this finger print
evidence, especially where there was
nothing else to back il up with, but
nevert heless l realized we had to make
beginning sometime so no time was
better than the present. My reputa-
ton was at stake and the reputation
of the new identification system, as
well, so | was confronted with a
mighty weighty problem.
My first duty was to ascertain just
how strong an alibi Crispi had built
up and then to see if the chara cter of
his witnesses was such that it would
carry weight with a jury. Crispi said
he had been at n certain theatre on
the night of the robbery He men,
toned the names Of those who were
with him and each and every one
bore out this contention. Further
more. l learned that several of the
party were known to the theatre at
PENDANTS and they, too. were equally
positive that Crispi had been one OF
the party. Crispi's wife swore that
| her husband had retired WI y, she did