davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1915-09-02
CHAPTER II.
En- VOYAGE.

| en- voyage.
| The great liner Anne of Austria lay
In her slip at the dock, her gian
| pulses just throbbing now and then
| everywhere men and women were
hurry1ng to and fro in the customary
orderly confusion of the last few mo
ments before the departure of an
ocean steamer.
Calmly Kitty Gray passed on her
way to the boats Office and asked for
her mail and her keys.
AS she turned, she almost stumbled
against man who had just hurried
apoard-a dark man, thickset, foreign
IN appearance. She had the strange
conviction that she had seen him be-
fore.
Then she turned to settle herself
down in her quarters. So far as she
knew, she had not an acquaintance
on the boat.
Now, oddly enough, she recalled the
face OF the stranger, the dark visaged
foreigner whom she had met at the
shlp,s office. Surely it must have been
the same man who had handed her
her package when she dropped it in
the little antique shop! Why should
he be on board this boat? Why should
he recognize her, remember her-for
he had! Trust woman to know that
he had-he did. Yes, he had known
her. Again a cold feeling of appre-
hension clutched at Kitty Gray's stout
little heart.
She rose and tried to fling off her
depression by means of visit to the
dining saloon. But for some reason
she felt she would be more comfort
able-or safe-in her own room.
Here she lay down upon the single
berth, which was directly beneath the
portfolio.
She wokc--she knew not when nor
why-woke with her eyes staring,
passing in her instant from sleep to
waking.
A face was looking in upon her! A
man had been looking at her, or try
ing to look at her, as she lay asleep.
Kitty Gray's instinct spoke to her
some message-she could not tell
what. Swiftly she caught the channels
bag from her bosom, and, emptying its
main treasures into her hand, placed
them in that other treasure house of
woman-her stocking. Again feeling
the drowsiness invoked by the fresh
salt air, at length she lay down once
more upon the little couch and re-
signed herself more comfortably to
slumber.
But again she woke-this time It
was with . scream Of terror. She
had felt the touch Of q hand. Some
thing had tugged at her neck.
She raised her hand. The cham
OILS bag was gone-it was the jerk
Of the broken silk cord that had
The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1915-09-02
81 WplCHT A PATTFP5ON

I'm down to the last words now. II
is curious-a proper name. 1t is only
the Latin name of the kingdom OF
Gretzhoffen! That's little bankrupt
kingdom over in southern Europe, near
the Mediterranean. l know about it
did story about it once, the time
the kingdom was trying to float loan
In this country. l had to read up a
whole lot"
II bet you could did it. Miss Cray
said Mainz, admiringly. ''Vell, goot-
by. Come again und tell me vot you
find out, like goot girl"
Sure" said Kitty, and turned to
leave, her coin clutched tightly in her
hand. So intent was she on her pur-
chase that she did not notice she had
dropped the package containing the
shell-ribbed fan. Vaguely missing
something as she emerged into the
open air, she turned back, and almost
ran into man who had passed her
as she came out. He was foreign
looking individual, dark Of hair and
eyes and skin, strongly built, figure
such as one would note. He bowed
now courteously enough as he handed
her the package she had let fall. Kitty
thanked him and hurried on her way.
This stranger entered the shop and
spoke in some foreign tongue to the
old dealer, who shook his head.
NO" said he, answering in English
Il ohoost sold ito dot young lady
who vent out.
"Who is she? know her very we'll
She is on der papers. Better look out
or she put you in der paper sure. Miss
Kitty Gray vos an oldt trent of mine.
She read like book vot vos on the
coin. Wy didn't you ephone-maybe
she sell it back to you'll don't know.
She wouldn't sold it back to ME, !
know dot. Vot! you are going?"
The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1915-09-02

awakened her! And there was the
hand that had done it, q strong, dark
hand. full-veined, hairy. 1t still
clutched the bag-it still was visible
at the portfolio. A ribbon end had en-.
tangled itself for just an instant in the
portfolio fastening-an instant long
enough for Kitty to see what had been
the hand that had committed this rob
berry.
But who was the robber himself?
Quick as thought Kitty sprang to the
door, ran down the deck, out the next
deck door. The band was giving Its
hrst saloon concert, and the decks
were sparsely tenanted, 1t seemed. Far
on towards the bow q man was pass
ing-what man she could not say. He
seemed neither to hurry nor to linger.
She could not make out who 1t was,
dared not hang upon him her own sus-
picion.
She turned to the captain now and
made report Of what had happened
not once hut twice; but even as she
went she smiled grimly to herself. The
The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1915-09-02

chamois bag was worthless-it had
held only kerchief, bit of powder
puff, perhaps a little silver-nothing
more. Her real treasures-she knew
where they were now.
The captain was outraged at what
he learned when at length she gained
admittance to his cabin. With marine
precision, he acted at once. From
that time on all through the voyage, a
boat detective stood at each end of the
passageway which led to Kitty's state
room.
no trace of any other robbery could
be found, nor any clue by which the
intruder could be identified.
The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1915-09-02
glance about the first little room, and

glance about the first little room. and
then paused.
The rug in the hall was turned over
at one corner-was 1t by accident?
me pictures all hung on the walls,
yet several were askew, and-the lit
tie wall-safe back of one of the pic
tures-which had held some small OBJ
]eets of little value, an old daguerreo-
type or two, some silver spoons. a
few gold pieces which she had cher
lshed-had been broken open. Its
contents now lay upon the floor.
amazed, Kitty stopped and picked
them up, one by one Nothing was
missing-even the gold coins were
there Nothing had been harmed. But
who had done this, and why?'
The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1915-09-02
CHAPTER v.
The Encounter.

Meanwhile, during the interview Kit
ty Gray had with the American consul,
| a scene of other import was enacting
In the interior of white marble
fronted palace, perhaps a mile or SC
distant from the humble quarters OF
the American consulate, a tall, dark.
lmperious man was pacing up and
down restlessly, his eyes now and
again turned upon the door of the
great apartment, as though he expect
ed someone to enter. At length the
door did open. A. soft-footed servant
appeared.
Monsieur Roleau, excellency," he
announced.
What, Roleau!" exclaimed the tall
man impetuously, as the visitor en-
tered. What has kept you? The ship
locked hours ago. And have you got
It? Come, come, mani"
The individual addressed as R0leau
bowed deeply. "Excellency," he said,
Il came as soon as could be sure
would not be watched"
He was q man Of dark complexion,
Of strong and sturdy build, Of broad
shoulders and deep chest-a man half
a giant, one would have said-but his
eyes dropped as they met the stern
gaze Of him he addressed, as though
he might have been his master.
you found it-you succeeded, then
tell mel"
"ExceAency-sire-yes."
The newcomer extended q hand
which trembled slightly. II swear 1t
was in this bag"-he was offering q
little chamois bag tied with ribbon
at the top-a bag which apparently
had been once suspended by the
broken silk cord attached to it.
You say it was in this bag-then
why not now"
The tall man caught the little re-
ceptacle from the others hands
ripped it wide-shook out the con
tents. There fell into his hand upon
the table near which he stood, only
few trinkets of q woman's toilet-a
little dainty handkerchief-a coin, yes,
a coin.
The tall man held this up in his
hand. his face distorted with rage.
What! a half-dollar OF their cursed
money! Curse you!" He half shrieked,
and as he did so flung the piece full
in the others face, with such violence
that the skin broke under its i'm
pact.
THE COIN" went on the enraged
speaker-"what do you mean? Do you
mock me, Frederick, your real mon
arch? You shall die for this. You
have failed--you have not found it
you have lost it,"
His own eyes half starting from his
head in his anger, he strobe forward
and caught the throat of Roleau in
his two mighty hands, shaking him
as he would have shaken a child.
Col" he said, and flung him toward
the door.
1t was a. Kitty Gray. after leaving the
American consulate. was speeding to-
ward her hotel in her hired vehicle
that she caught sight Of . man stag
gering from the side entrance Of a
great mansion house Of white marble
front. He seemed to have escaped
from some calamity-from an attempt |
ed robbery or murder. Without paus- |
ing to ponder upon propriety, she halt |
ed her vehicle and sprang out, hasten |
ing over to the sufferer, who stood !
at the edge of the curb.
What is wrong?" said she. you |
are In trouble-you are hurt! Shall |
take you home-to some hospital |
to the hotel? Come in. you are well |
come"
The man looked at her mutely, hes
itating.
Come, / will carry you where you
like" She had him by the arm now.
and unsightly as he seemed, hurried
The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1915-09-02

strange quest. To the bold eyes of
the tall stranger she must have seemed
fair enough to look upon, for suddenly,
As he passed, he stared at her direct
". bowed, raised his hat-yes, even
smiled. Z
who was that mani" demanded
Kitty Gray fercely of her companion.
He doesn't know me. And yet how
Ike he looked to pictures / have
seen. There was Q man-an interna-
tional SPY, they said in our country
some strange foreigner-at the time
Of the Gretzhoffen loan fasco. Yes,
the two faces are strangely alike. Who
10 he?"
OF the other ! know nothing" re-
Joined her companion; but this-he
u the Count Frederick
Count Frederick-the pretender!"
Hush, mademoiselle, for Gods sake
hush! We do not dare-you must not
dare"
Follow" said Kitty Gray sharply.
Nov tell me more"
(TO BE CONTINUED.)
The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1915-09-02

was their oyster, and they opened II
and scraped the she'll
Now, in case the Count Frederick
the big plunger, or his man Grahame
or the little King Michael the Sec
ond, should ever get hold of the re-
naming clue to the whereabouts OF
old King Michael's treasury-pouf!
you know what would happen then
There would, Miss Kitty, to quote a
certain American ballad, be hot
time in the old town in that case"
Its story!" said Kitty Gray, draw.
ing long breath. But a troubled light
came to her eyes at the same time
How will fellow dig it out?" she
asked whimsically.
The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1915-09-02
CHAPTER II.
The Big Assignment.

SuS 0lS VSoSStIVCuSs
Kitty Gray did not 60 to her usual
place for luncheon that day. Instead
she hurried into nearby delicatessen
shop and bought a sandwich, which
she put in her handbag. After this
she hurried on back to the Office. Ar
rived there, without ceremony she
went again to the desk OF the city edi-
tor, and silently laid down before him
her empty purse, her antique fan, her
sandwich and her broken coin.
Cutler looked up with professional
calm.
Eyes, Miss Gray? Why all this or
derby array of fresh and Interesting
objects?"
''That IL my story" said she.
what makes you think SO? Are
you seeing things, Miss Gray?"
Look here"
Kitty picked up the coin and showed
1t to him.
"see, it is broken quite across-more
than a third Of 1t gone. The inscrip-
ton Is Latin. 1t IL not so much what
is on the CONT is what IL of of It.
Perhaps 1t commentaries something"
"Commemorates what, Miss Gray?"
"Precisely-what? That's the story"
by Jove!" Cutler was studying at
the inscription. "'Sub' means under
what does 1t say?-under the bam-
boo tree?'"
mo, under the sidewalk or the
'aagstone,' or floor"
Underneath the flagstone' or
pavement or '1oor-'in the angle or
'corner'-whatever that may be-
chamber Of torture'-'room of tor
whatever 1t is-there will be
found treasures'-'of the king'-'of
-"
"-'Of Gretzhoffen!' concluded Kit.
ty Gray. you have not forgotten all
your Latin, have you, Mr.. Cutler?
There Is story for you-if we can
only dig. it out. There'd be an assign
ment, wouldn't there? I'd rather do
that than society in the summer
time."
Billy Cutler, time-tried news man,
grown thin and grim and gray in the
ouSAAooo' 0oe AoA Juot OAc AAoAACAe Al
thought. wait minute, please"
said he at length, and rose to leave
the room.
Kitty did wait anxiously enough. for
what reason she could not tell She
sat at her own desk, the mysterious
broken coin tight clutched in her
hand. It seemed an hour before she
saw the slender form of the city edi.
tor returning from the door which led
to the ONCE Of the manager and pub
Usher of the Evening Star. He looked
at her thoughtfully as he approached.
He held out check.
Three thousand dollars!" Kitty
Gray's eyes grew larger.
Expense money. Three months
vacation. Full powers as missionary
plenipotentiary. Of the Evening Star
to Gretzhoffen, ambassadress to any
old place you happen to think of,
Miss Gray. never knew the old man
to 60 on his head before, but he has
this time"
Tugging at her heart the swift feel
Ing that she was leaving her usual
modest and safe line of life to ad-
venture upon something perhaps fate
ful-perhaps indeed fatal-Kitty Gray,
sober-faced, turned from the door of
the Evening Star and walked slowly
toward the corner where customarily
she took her car for home.
She entered her apartment, cast one
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-11-21

Mobile has been slow in waking up to the suffrage issue. but there are a
 great many believers there, men and women. who have had the courage to face the ridicule and indifference. in- cident to the establishment of any thing new, especially in an ultra con servative community Mrs. Martin Hol- brook, the president of the local as- sociation. is untiring and devoted in her efforts to stir the inactive into an active force. At meeting lately held at the Battle House the following
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-11-21

Field Marshal Earl Kitchener, British secretary of state for war, paid his ex- pected visit to Athens Saturday. With the British minister to Greece he was received by King Constantine. Ear Kitchener's visit follows closely that of Denys Cochin, the- French cabinet mem- Der who went to Greece on special mis- sion, and had an 0ddience with the King of the Hellenes.
 What representations were made to the Greek monarch have not developed, but it was declared recently by Jean Guil- lemin, French minister to Greece, accord ing to word which has reached Paris, that the present negotiations with Greece were not being conducted with a
 view to securing her participation in the war. The diplomat indicated that what was now expected of Greece was the maintenance of her benevolent neutrality and that she accord facilities as agreed the continuation of the operation of the allies in the Balkans without interference by Greece presumably being meant by the quoted phrase.
 Iue otrVldH dIiiiicoy WHlCA HdVO pCCAi for the better part of two months grad ually falling back before the Teutonic
 advance from the north, are in close
 proximity to the Montenegrin border.
 Operating in the region west of the
 Kapaonik Planina, the forces of Field
 Marshal Won Mackensen are pressing on Novipazar. which roughly is only 2S
 miles from the frontier Berlin an
 nounces the taking of Raska, dozen
 miles to the northeast of Novipazar and of Deren. approximately the same dis
 ance directly to the east
 Twenty-five miles to the northwest of
 Novipazar the Austrian advance has
 reached Sienica, narrowing appreciably
 the gap through which the Servian re- treat must be conducted.
 In the south the situation appears even
 more threatening to the Servians, the
 fall of Monastir being consistently re-
 ported, although no official announce
 ment of it's capture has been made. The Austrian defenders of Gorizia ap-
 parently are being given little rest by General Cadorna's forces, the pounding of the Italian guns on the city and its defenses being severe and virtually con tinuous, according to reports from Rome and Vienna.
 German army headquarters mention nc operations of importance in Russia, Com parative inactivity seems to prevail there On the front in France and Belgium mining and hand grenade operations and artillery exchanges are the only hap penings mentioned in the official state-
 ments. Berlin tells of another bombard-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-11-21
|@27,OOO FIRE LOSS
 DURING LAST MONTH
Chief Middleton's Report for October Filed With
 Commission

The October fire loss in Birmingham, ccording to a report made yesterday by fire Chief Middleton, to the city com |hission. was in round numbers $27,00O of |fhich about s22.0oO was covered by insur- |tnce.
 K The report follows; | The department responded to 15S alarms ind fires, ran ss91 blocks, laid out 42,0Oo bet of hose, used s69 gallons of chemicals nd raised 232S feet of ladders. |l The Bristol recording water pressure |luicates an average daily pressure of s4 bounds, and an average daily variation eight pounds per square inch. + Alarms, how received: Box 5, still z, Telephone 146; total 15s. | Kind of buildings: Brick 8, frame l25, sther than buildings 10, false and un- secessary 15; total 15S. How extinguished: Before arrival 1s |aemicals 27 hahd 5s, water r, false and Unnecessary 15; total 15s. |iCause of alarms; Ashes in wooden re- |Esptacle 1, boiling tar ?, carelessness 10. 'harcoal furnace 2, communicated l5,
  Effective grate 1, electric iron 1, electric Fire l, false 2 gasoline 3, gas explosion ineendiary Il, oil stove explosion l, pkindled l. short circuit l. soot in chim- (seys ?, soot in flues 3, spark on single |Dofs 64, spark from motor i spontaneous [pmbustion l, trash burning l, unknown IA, unnecessary 13; total 15S. |sValue of buildings at risk SSS2, 22ss99 .26, due of contents at risk $15,1s7,S91; total ,alie at risk S4S4 4107.17 |sInsurance involved on buildings S20s- |i9.96, insurance involved on contents S67, |tS; total insurance involved $276. .424.96. |1nsurance loss on buildings ST, ,662. .S2, |Asurance loss on contents $505e03: total [ssurance loss S22, 2,71S.S5. 1Uninsured loss on buildings $37S697, un- |Ssured loss on contents $51S.33; total un- 6sured loss $4305.30. |tTotal loss insured and uninsured |t7,O24 15
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-11-21

German army headquarters mention no operations of importance in Russia. Com parative inactivity seems to prevail there
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-11-21
Arranging a Getaway

From the Philadelphia Telegraph. At a smoker sometime ago reference was made to the matter of favorite topics of conversation.
 One afternoon Brown and Green were communing with each other in the lobby of hotel when man with his coun- tenance shining like great gladness head. ed their way.
 Here comes Madison" remarked Browr to his friend. He has just been pre- scented with new baby, and he will talk us to death in telling of It's glories."
 That's all right responded Green slancng in the opposite direction. 'l guess we will be able to fix the thing.
 Come again, old man." said Brown wonderingly. q don't get you.'
 There's a neighbor of mine over there w ho has just bought a new automobile, ' explained Green. We will introduce them and then take side.'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-11-21
Natural Conseouence

From the Chicago Herald < Where are you off to in such a 'prry?" | ITO fetch the doctor for my hus- 3and." il What's up with him?' 6 He tells me has has got hepatitis
 dyspepsia, rheumatism, enteritis, gas fitis, appendicitis, nephritis and cere- aro- spinal meningitis" q Where did he get all that?" "Why, man induced him to buy a iedical dictionary. and he's just begun hading itr'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-11-21
THE WAR AT A GLANCE

ment of the Belgian coast by the allied warshps.
 Dispatches from Madrid tell of the narrow escape of the Italian liner Verona from a submarine while in the Mediter- ranean, presumably on her way back to New York. Pursued by the underwater craft she reported by wireless, she finally managed to shake off the submarine in a fog
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-11-21
SUFFRAGE ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO
 REVIEWED BY A SUFFRAGIST

May more effectively Work with our men for thee
 To make thee great. No sex distinction clause Is found in the laws
 The just one wrote. May he give statesmen light That they may see alright And help us in the fight
 To win the vote. Tasteless Epson Salt with the bitter nauseous, disagreeable taste removed At all druggists.--Adv.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-11-21
Fly pArTIE RuFFNER JACOBS

original anthem was sung by the en- tire audience: Oour country tis of thee That we ask liberty,
 Thy daughters true. We have thy taxes pay, And we thy laws obey, So let us have a say
 In governing, too, For thy advancement we Have labored valiantly,
 Our native state. Unbind our hands that we
Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1915-12-03
RULES AGAINST DOCTORS
Acknowledgement Says They Can't
Charge Towns for Attend
ing Sick Dependents.

Madison.-The attorney general ad
vised Dist-Atty. G. J. TIE Selle Of Anti
go that a doctor who attends a Deepen.
dent sick person can not lawfully
charge the town, village or city ir
which the sick person resides for such
service without consent of the munich
pality. Attorney TIE Selle wrote tn
attorney general that two doctors at
tended sick woman in the town O.
Evergreen, Langlade county, and per
formed an operation which saved her
life. The condition of the woman was
so serious that the doctors did nc
have time to consult the town authori
ties. The town later refused to pay
the bill of the doctors and they havc
threatened to bring suit to collect it
The attorney general said that unde:
the circumstances they have no law
full claim against the town or tn,
county.
Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1915-12-03
TO HOLD MANY INSTITUTES
Women's Cooking Schools viii Also
Be Conducted in Connection
With Meetings.

Madison.-Farmers Institutes will
be held in northwestern Wisconsin for
the two weeks before the holidays. The
conductors will be: w. c. Bradley,
Hudson; David Irmie and John Imrie,
Roberts; H. D. GrisWold, West Salem;
E. J. Jacobs, Elk Mound
Institutes will be held as follows:
Dec. rs, Cornucopia, Danbury, Poplar,
OsceOla and Spring Brook; Dec. 80,
Saxon, Grantsburg, Mason, Frederick
and Hayward; Dec. 14-15, Shell Lake,
Dobie, Sand Creek, Radisson and Bald
win; Dec. 1917, Weyerhauser, Chetek,
Cornell, Winter and AlbertviIe
Women's institutes and cooking
schools will be held in connection with
the institutes at Poplar, Osceola, Fred
erick, Hayward, Dobie, Chetek, Sand
Creek and Cornell. The Women's in
stitutes viii be conducted by Miss
Nellie Maxwell, Neenah, and Miss
Laura B. Breese, Waukesha.
Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1915-12-03
FOR MARKETING COMMISSION
DR.. Mccarthy Urges Creation of Body
Empowered to Define and Enforce
Standards of Farm Products.

Chicago, Nov. 30.-Dr. Charles Nc.
Carthy, Madison, Wis, in an address
before the National Conference on
Marketing and Farm Credits, advocat-
ed the creation by law of marketing
commission empowered to create, de.
fine and enforce reasonable standards
IF farm products. Mr.. Mccarthy ia
vored a plan which would permit pro
1ucers meeting certain requirements
and carrying out certain standards to
Use a label or brand issued by the
tate, thus indicating to the consumer
hat the state had inspected the prod
tets and found them to be within the
'equirements of the rules of the mar
citing commission. But legislation
lone, he held, would not bring the
lesired results. Law had to be sup
lemented by organization for its own
enforcement.