davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The weekly tribune and the Cape County herald. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1914-1918, 1915-02-12

Centuries passed. and the god stin
maintained his place. His priesthood
pTospered; bis temple was never empty.
And one day drunken sailor wan
dered into the temple TO stare at the
heather wonders. and when he slipped
away the niche of the god was vacant.
He has gone on Il journey" said the
terrified priests and concealed the theft.
But the high priest sent several of his
chosen acolyteS throughout the world
to seek for and recover the image.
How shall we find him." they asked.
by a path Of death and destruc-
tiGn,' was the answer.
So they set out and found the sailor
who had stolen it dead in lane with
& knife between his shoulders. And
his murderer they discovered in 4 Chi
n2se seaport gaping horribly ut the
sky, with rope twisted tightly about
his neck.
So the image passed from hand to
hand, always bringing with it death,
until some sailor hid it in his chest.
and when he had been washed over
side in 4 storm and his effects were
distributed captain bought the idol
for Il curiO.
1t was in his chest that Thomas Gal
Ion had found it when seeking a safe
place to hide his precious papers in
time OF mutiHy and fire.
Now. at last, it had fallen into the
hands of one of the seekers. and he
tool. it 10 his little tenement room AMI
prayed to it and sw0rc that he would
return it to its proper place in the tenn
pie
There was 10 response from the i'm
age. but when the Indian fell asleep
on his rug that night i'll the alien Amer
The weekly tribune and the Cape County herald. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1914-1918, 1915-02-12

had picked it up and taken it to {
pawnshop and sold it,
She stamped her foot
"N'hcre is il: What has it to do with
the plans:"
Il don't know where il is" he re
spondcd auilenly. ~ Hindu rug ped
dler bought it,
And Dorr bought it from him.
net yet" he said, risking the state
mcnt. Now all have to do is 10 find
Mr.. PCddlcr and get it back"
Mrs. Darnell flung herself into Il
chair and laughed Historically.
You mean to tell me Tom Gallon
hid his plans i'll Il heather idol ANA
that we overlooked them and that 4
rug peddIcr has them now"
She leaned forward, clinching her
soft hands on her knees.
DO you know all you have made
me go through. Harry? kidnapip-.
theft, murder-ycs, murder-and ut the
end Of it all, when we neither of US
dare breathe for fear of the police fin
dil9 SNtIlDS US YOU IcIl lLC tASL .
tramp has got what we want. I'm
DONE
WilkcrsOn had expected and feared
this. He saw his wild efforts going
for nothing. Without her assistance
and her money he was helpless.
And profOunder even than his hatred
of DOrr and his desire for the hidden
wealth was his agony ut the thought
Of his failure to win this woman whom
he loved.
Love is 4 noun which conveys to the
ordinary mortal 10 definite meaning
without an adjective. There is, indeed,
an essence of love, Il complete and al
absorbing passion. before which even
the gods bow and against which the
world is powcrlcss. Too often We
mist describe it as lawlcss.
Yet it also exists when it cvOkeS the
reverence of the most cynical. Vii
kersOn'S love for Jean Darnell was the
very essence of his being.
1t had made. a bravo Of Il coward
1t had welded dozen strands of Vi
ciouSnesS, weakness. wickedness and
treacherOusneSS into Il strong charac-
ter-StrOng only in its relation to tie
N-nrnc-,
The weekly tribune and the Cape County herald. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1914-1918, 1915-02-12

lean CITY he drcImCdlthat his -od ap-
pear,d 10 him ana spok" Of death and
destruction yet 10 follow. commanding
him to start instantly for the east.
The next day, while BUrr was seek
ing for Il Hindu ScIIm" rugs and VIII
kcrs0n was Shadowing him the new
po>sesSor Of the idol was haStcuin@ u
San Francisco TO take steamer for IN
did and the city 10y the river.
The image was cOnceaIrJ with al!
reverence i'll his bundle Of rugs, and he
moved cautiously. because Of the
dream.
Strange destiny that conferred old
Tom Gallons plans for his daughters
happiness. DORIS dreams of love. Jean
Ddrnelrs lust for wealth and Harry
Wilkers0n's passion for woman with
out Il heart III the possession of gro
te&quc image made by a dreamer in
faroI India centuries before when Il
city died and river waned within its
bed.
The weekly tribune and the Cape County herald. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1914-1918, 1915-02-12

ulated. Yes. there is one thing miss
ing"
What is that?' demanded John.
':An old idol. But I'm sure neither
of them tool. If"
but what became Of it," John CON
tinued. trying to conceal his anxiety.
Maybe one Of the men picked it up
for curio," the skipper said apollo
getically. Everybody seemed to think
the old thing was worthless, and you
know a sailor will grab at just that
kind Of thing. Better ask some of the
crew.
4 few moments later Dorr had learn
ed that one of the sailors had indeed
taken the image and gone uptown with
IT, apparently to sell it.
John thanked the captain, and when
he and Ruth were out of earshot he
said, 'That Idol is what We are after,
Ruth"
But where can we find it," she
mourned.
I'VE must trace the sailor. Ten to
one he'll try to sell it tO.a secondhand
man. Our best plan is to look into the
pawnshops, 1 think. Ruth" he an
SWcred.
The first places they visited gave up
no information of value. The third
pawnbrOker looked at Dorr cUriouSly
when he asked whether 4 man had
been in TO dispose of an idol.
That thing seems to be wanted pref
t. much" he remarked. But l bought
it in good faith and sold it to Hindu
Il little while after for rug. Maybe
YOU would like TO buy a rug
They made it plain that rugs did not
interest them and departed with the
poor satisfaction of knowing that the
object of their search was in the hands
Of IN unknown wandering poddler OF
rugs. who was presumably an East In
dian.
we can't do any more just now"
John told Ruth.
No WAS the response. but | am
@Oin% to keep an eye out for q Hindu
rug seller l don't imagine there are
very many of them here. so it ought 70
be an easy matter to pick him up
AS they walked back TO the hotel
Ruth grew more cheerful. "At any
rate. Wilkerson and Mrs. Darnell miss.
ed IT," she remarked
Il never understood just why that
woman mixed herself up in this" John
The weekly tribune and the Cape County herald. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1914-1918, 1915-02-12
THE MASTER KEY
By John Fleming Wilson

.lg Tor.
I'm afraid the plans are gone" Jean
whisnered-
we must ma them.' he snarled and
went on with his task.
Halfway down he came upon gro
tesque figure dripping with woody
ooze. 1t stiGly stared up at him as he
held it.
An idol" laughed Mrs. Darnell.
Some sailors curio. Well, go on
Idols don't talk"
An hour afterward Harry Wilkerson
rose to his feet and kicked the scatter
cd contents Of the chest into the soup
| pers.
The idol rolled away and came to
Il stop upright against the bulwarkS,
when it presented glazed, mysterious
eyes.
NO plansr muttered WiIkerson with
4 curse.
Only an idolr' laughed Jean in wild
derisiOn.
Then her handsome face famed with
wrath. She turned her back con
temptuously on Wilkerson and stared
across the water at the launch which
was pursuing them.
In the bitterness of her heart was no
mingling of pity for her tool; only self
contempt that she had depended en-
him. helped him.
When she could control herself size
went forward to get out of sight of
the hooking heap of rubbish that had
cost so much.
Presently Il sailor made excuse TO
come aft and peered at the pile Of
junk. The idol caught his eye, and he
stealthily caught it up and hid it in
his shirt
Good in a pawnShop,' he chuckled.
Thus once more the plans Of the
mother lode of the Master Key" mine
escaped from WiIkerson's fiIching fin
gers.
When the launch put into San Pedro
Mrs. Darnell did not wait for Wilker-
son.
I'm going to Los Angeles" she said.
You'll find me at the hOtel-if you
think it worth YOUR while"
He looked up from his business Of
settling with the divers and made Il
gesture TO detain her. He seemed 10
call out some inarticulate plea.
She merely smiled again and left.
She paid no attention to one Of the
sailors who brushed by her. clutchin=
a concealed object beneath his jacket.
This individual, once clear of the WI;
ter front, quickly made his way to
a pawnbrokers shop. and the idol
changed hands for Il small sum after
much haggling-
Before Wilkerson had settled with
the diver John DORIS launch also
made its landing, and the two enemies
would have met except that W'ilkersOn
had to go to bank to cash i draft.
AS he slipped away he saw the ether
boat and laughed bitterly. Dorr was
welcome to what there was i'll the old
chest.
There is just one thing TO do" John
told the broken hearted Ruth, and
The weekly tribune and the Cape County herald. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1914-1918, 1915-02-12

his shoulder as he knclt, and the per
fume of her breathed into his nostriIs.
He looked up. laughed and then or
dered the box taken aft.
Il was dreaming" he said slowly.
Then he looked ut her directly, and
she saw the flame in his eyes.
why dream when things are COIN
ing tTue?" she parted.
Il wonder whether they will ali come
true" he said modify and followed
the chest aft.
The curious sailors set the box down
and waited 1t was evident from their
attitudes that they expected to see
nothing less than great treasure. 9th
erwise. why this costly expedition?
But Wilkerson did not start immedi-
ateIy to open the chest. Its very ap-
pearance seemed to bewiIder him. and
his hands shook. 1t was Jean Darrell
who stirred him 10 activity.
Now you've got it. she said impa-
tientIy, hurry and open it! The other
launch is chasing u.s.
W IihcFSon stared dEOuHu anu IlthcIi
uD marlilspike. He began TO pry at
the lock Mrs. Darnell angrily jerkcd
at his shoulder
Harry. you fool. here is the key
He took the article she handed him
and nodded. Sure enough he assent
ed. I'VE have the key! Funny | had
forgot that
With some difficulty he managed TO
clear the lock and insert the key. 1t
turned with difficulty.
A moment later he had pried the lid
back from its setting of rust and slime
and they were all staring at the SOD
den contents.
There WAS no sound except the trun-
ding Of the swiftly revolving prope!-
Ter and the heavy breathing of the
sailors.
Suddenly WilkcrSon swung round an
grily and ordered everybody forward.
Then he began his slow search
Old jackets almost diSintcgrated by
the action OF water. puIpy papers and
The weekly tribune and the Cape County herald. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1914-1918, 1915-02-12

looked into his eyes and called upon
him to save them, as his prophet had
said he was able.
Thus, with the folk believing on the
god of his vision, the prophet prayed
also to the spirit Of the deity, and the
rains came from tie hills, and the riy-
or rose, and the earth grew green.
When they had been saved and their
stCmachs were full the people went
away and left the prophet alone with
his god ana his deserted shrine.
Yet always in time of trouble and
stress they remembered the god who
had saved them and returned to his
worship, 50 that in season other prOph-
cts OF him arose and erected a temple
and taught the people to bring offer
ings ut all times.
Thus the image became the image of
the tutelary deity of the city and its
river. with other images to do him
homage and obey his commands.
The weekly tribune and the Cape County herald. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1914-1918, 1915-02-12
TO be COntinued.)
BANKRUPT CASES HEARD

The bankrupt estate Of Mann Bros,
Of New Madrid, was adiudicaacd yes
tcTday morning by Referee Oscar /.
knehans, and an order Was issued re
curing them to file schedules Of their
liabilities and assets within ten days.
In the case of ". D. Miller, 4 voiun-
tary bankrupt Of Senath, personal ap-
plication was made yesterday TO tho
Referee by Marry Miller, brother q
the bankrupt, for allowance Of salary
Of SO per month from Oct. /, 1919,
to January -, 1915, which amount Ec
claims to be due him for services.
Referee Knehans yesterday received
! message by telephone from an at
torney at Salem, advising that Julien
Miller, trustee of the bankrupt estate
Of Il. O. Schockley at Sinkin, had sold
the stock of goods for $3.50. The ap-
praised value Of the stock was $3.50.
Mr.. Miller is expected home today.
The weekly tribune and the Cape County herald. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1914-1918, 1915-02-12
POPE REEVES OLD CUSTOMS

Rome, Feb. G-Pope Benedict ". is
rcviving many customs which fell in
abeyance during his predecessors
reign. The full number Of Guards
Mobiles and Of Gentlemen Of the Cape
and Sword now attend His Holiness at
audiences. The Pope also takes his
meals alone and not with his secre-
tary, IS did Pope Plus Y.
4 little while ago His Holiness mar
ried Count Ruffo Ruffo in the Vatican
and gave 4 luncheon party for the 200
briday guests; the Pope sat on rails
ed dais, apart from the others during
the meal.
The weekly tribune and the Cape County herald. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1914-1918, 1915-02-12

that is TO find out what WilkerSOn did
with what he got from your fathers
chest"
The captain of the other boat re-
ceived them with Il good humorcd
grin and in answer to their inquiries
pointed to the open box and the arti-
cleS scattered on the deck.
so far as l could make out" he
Went on. there wasn't anything in the
old chest worth the trouble of going
after. At any rate Mr.. WiIkersOn and
the lady seemed disappointed and pat
out"
Didn't they take anything!" de-
manded Ruth, peering curiousiy at the
moldy sea chest.
Not u thing. 50 far as L could dis
cover" was the reply. In fact, l
heard the two of them kind of quar-
reling, and the lady went off by her
SELF
The three of them stared down at
the mementoS of the long past TRACE
dy, and then tie captain suddenly cjdc-
The weekly tribune and the Cape County herald. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1914-1918, 1915-02-12

-lNh-NtANOy Az1ANN AN - AVAcs
there are millions in gold hidden in
the Master Key mine. End the plans
are concealed in that image
when will you have themE' she
cried. trying to fight against the mans
evil power.
Tomorrow he returned
Even if Dorr and Ruth
He nodded gr&vely. She read the
message in his eyes and shuddered.
WiIkerson laughed. He had won. lie
had conquered not only the woman in
that moment. but himself.
He was ready to do murder deliber-
ately. without Il qualm. There had
been born in him another physical
thirst-the blood Inst.
He left immediately without uncov-
sring his plans. He knew that the
final victory would not lie won until
he could fill Jean DGrneli'S soft and
avaricious palms with glitteying gold,
heaps OF gold. gold that ran over, that
spilled in IuXuriant streams over her
clGtChing fingers: gold thdJ rang under
her feet, tnat mounted ike an enTel-
oping food about her I'LL her flesh was
Dathcd in it.
That night he paced tbe floor of his
room, dreaming Of god and OF blood.
So the next morning VIXEN John Dorr
Jared forth oG IFS quest for the rug
reJGIcr E4"ry N-i.kCI=on was not far
behind him. watching his every move,
studying him, trying to read what w"5
i'll his mind. And al with the great
question before him:
Had John DCrr the idol?
While these two We're seeking for
the strange ima-l of an unEnoWH god
there was third vino had found il it
the goal Of his lies toll.
When Coz cuncculs himself FROM us
IN time OF stress; and agony. when he
has closed his bra2cu heavens and OUI
prayers die in the empty air it IS iU
main to build for ourselves Il tangible
God, one whom We can see and feel,
into whose face We can look and be
fore whose feet we can lay our offer
ings and our petitions.
In far city in India men had Died
OF famine. The earth had turned to
iron under their plows and the heavens
to brass above them.
They had implGrcd 4 hundred gods
for help and made offerings ut Il thou
sand shrincS. There had been no re
Spouse. The smoke of the burning
CHATS by the side OF the shrunken riv.
or told the sorry tale of prayer unan-
sWercd.
And in their last misery men turned,
as men will. to one who dreamed. Re
aliry was death. Dreams held out the
promise of life.
And this dreamer, as do all who fol
low Il vision, made his dream into Il
god.
People listened to his tale Of a deity
who was mcrciful to listen and power
ful 10 save. They fed on the dream
er's words ard called him prophet.
Yet still the earth refused food, and
the river Shrank within its bed. Then
they went to the prophet and called on
him to save them and to call his goo
to their aid
Like many prophets, he found him
self forced 10 rlalnEialiZe his dream IL
order that the common folk might see
aud believe. for he had taught them
that unless they believed there was nc
salvation.
The weekly tribune and the Cape County herald. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1914-1918, 1915-02-12
BANK SUES on J0sEpH's BOND

A suit was flied in the Federal court
in st Louis yesterday by the First
National Bank of this city % recover
$4,000 from the National SurctE
Company, which was on tho bond Of
I. S Joseph, q former cashier Of the
bank. Joseph died shortly after it was
discovered that the bank held approx
imately $4,000 in worthless paper.
The weekly tribune and the Cape County herald. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1914-1918, 1915-02-12

interest in the idol and-he had prompt
~ followed this clew, with the result
that he knew as much about its where
abOutS as John and Ruth did, SO far
as its getting into the hands of an
East Indian peddler was concerned.
Whether Dcrr had recovered the image
from him he did not know.
The weekly tribune and the Cape County herald. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1914-1918, 1915-02-12
PASTORS SON Is SHORT

Alpha, H., Feb. G-Haven Brink,
cashier Of the Alpha State Bank, was
arrested this afternoon and taken to
Cambridge, charged with misusing
bank funds to the amount and extent
of $4,000. He is a clergyman's son.
The weekly tribune and the Cape County herald. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1914-1918, 1915-02-12
CHAPTER XXI.
The Quest of The Hindu.

ET1HAT night WilkersOn sought
out Jean Darnell. She re-
Es-5sSs ceived him in a manner that
es:ssss9zSl told him distinctly that she
was in towering rage, though she
was Outwardly calm.
WilkerSon paid no attention appar-
emily 10 her blazing eyes nor to her re-
strained, "Well. once more you
schemes have failed"
Not failed" he said boldly. 81 adj
NIT we nearly passed up what We were
looking for. Do you remember that
Idol that was in the chest?"
Jean stopped her nervous pacing of
the floor and fixed her great, tawny
eyes Gu WilkersOn.
Harry" she said huskily, q am
weary Of this"
"Wait 4 moment" he pleaded
when l went back to the launch
found that Dorr had been quizzing the
men about that image"
and suppose he had got it.
NO, he didn't. One of the sailors
The weekly tribune and the Cape County herald. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1914-1918, 1915-02-12
WIaiha 80

The past few weeks, with their We
ness, risk, crime and continual plot
ting. had made the Harry Wilkeison
who was weakling and sport of CIR
cumstances into "A personality VINO
must be dealt with.
Jean Darnell realized something of
this when he next spoke.
"-An this has been disappointing" he
said quietly, his eyes burning steadily
on hers. But the more diSappoint-
ments l have TO overcome the more
worth while it will make you
Quite an old time knight" she said
scornfully. but with an effort.
i am going 10 get that IDOL" he
went Oh. Il know Just two things
The weekly tribune and the Cape County herald. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1914-1918, 1915-02-12
CHAPTER XXI.
"only an idol"

VGTfHEN the chest was hove on
~" deck, dripping with ocean
~ slime, corroded and mysteri-
80 Gus, Harry Wilkerson stared
at it stupidity. His mind went back
down the years to that night when
Thomas Gallon-scheming for his lit
tie daughter-had drawn a plan by
candlelight, to the quarrel, to his own
desperate fight and escape.
And now he was about to see for the
first time the fatal paper-tO know the
secret of the wealth of the Master
Key" He forgot his surroundings.
1t was Jean Darnell who recalled
him TO the present. She leaned over
Mexico Missouri message., 1915-05-06
FROM IOWA.
Mrs. HOfriehter Beaten in Poultry
distinguishing The
Lambs"

Davis Co., Iowa, May 1.-Editor
Message: l notice in your paper
that Mrs. F. Hofriehter has sold
$50 dozen eggs this year. / wish to
say my wife had her training under
Mrs. Hofriehter, as her name form
erly was Miss Anna Hofriehter, but
she can beat her mother in the chick
en- business, as she has sold 73O doz-
en- eggs this year, besides all she has
used and set, and sold very few un-
der II cents per dozen. It's no use
for elderly folks to try to keep up
with the younger generation now a
days.
Mrs. Hofreihter and her daughter
both handle the same stock of chick
ems.
While wife is engaged successfully
in raising poultry and pet Lambs,
am in the sheep business, which is a
great business in this section.
This is very fine weather for lamb
ing. have saved almost one-third
more lambs this year than 1 have in
other years. If eve loses her lamb
and claims it, you can get her to
take any lamb by skinnig the dead
lamb and slipping the hide on an
other for few days.
We are having it very dry here
now. Not enough moisture in the
ground to sprout corn.
If this escapes the waste basket
may come again, if see anyone else
trying to beat my wife in the poultry
business, as have only told a little
of it yet. CHAS. LAMB.
Mexico Missouri message., 1915-05-06
RURAL SCHOOL NOTES.
BY w. Clyde johnson.

Friday was closing day for sever
al schools. Among these were Fish
er, Miss Ruth Cook, teacher; Daniel,
Miss Mary Griffin. teacher; Wash
ington, Miss Edna James, teacher;
Liberty, Mrs. Eva c. Nleman, teach
er. Each school had program. am
sure all were good and wish l could
have been present at all of them.
Friday morning 1 stopped and let
the pupils practice on me. There were
but eight and they had good half
hour program. ALI the patrons we're
present in the afternoon to hear
them. 1t was their first attempt for
the year but was quite credit to ALL
At Liberty they had their usual
basket dinner and. large crowd. Near
ly everyone quit planting corn, and
some from other districts were pres
ent. Fully as many men as women
were on hands. There was an excel
lent display of note books, maps.
drawings, essays, school work of all
kinds, and some fancy work that
would win the blue ribbon at the
County Fair. The display was one
OF the best ever seen by the writer.
The program was of good length. The
pupils spoke out clearly and dis
tinctly. Tie entertainment was a
success in spite of the fact that farm
work kept the big boys from help
ing out much. Mrs. Nieman is a kind
patient, loving mother-teacher to all.
Her training, discipline and drill are
thorough, and several of her pupils
have gained distinction. Prof.
French strother, think, paid her
high tribute when he said that not
one of her pupils had misbehaved
during the three hours we were in
the close room. 1t is a pity we must
lose such teacher as Mrs. Niemann.
We need more, not less, of her kind.