davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-12-16

We can use some choice first mort
gage farm loans. Farmers & Trad
ers State, Bank, Leon.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-12-16

Have you attended to that Christ
mas shopping yet? II you have not,
get busy. Do 1t now.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-12-16

Flour, feed and coal.
CANNON Bros. MN.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-12-16

am pT0p6TeU 10 90 Ill Klu00l OF
light hauling and delivering. Guy
Smith, Phone 50.
Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1915-05-06

had picked it up and taken 1t to
pawnshop and sold it,
She stamped her foot.
the plans|
81 don't know where it is," he re-
sponled sullenly. IA Hindu rug ped
dler bought it.
"And Dorr bought it from himy'
Not yet" lie said. risking the state
ment. Now all have to do is to dnd
Mr.. Peddler and get 1t back"
Mrs. Darncll flung herself into Q
chair and laughed Historically.
You mean to tell me Tom Gallon
hid his plans in heathen idol and
that we overlooked them aud that q
rug peddler has them nowY
She leaned forward. clinching bel
soft hands or her knees.
do you know all you have made
me go through. Harry? Kidnapping.
theft. murder yes. murder-and at the
end of it all. when we neither of ua
dare breathe for fear of the police fin
ally getting us. you tell me that q
tramp has got what we want! I'm
done.'
WilkelSon 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 hntred
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 noun which conveys to the
ordinary mortal no definite meaning
without an adjective There Is. indeed
an essence of love, a complete and all
absorbing passion. before which even
the gods bow and against which the
world is powerless. Too often we
must describe 1t as lawless.
Yet it also exists when it evokes the
reverence of the most cynical. vii
kerson's love for Jean Durnell was the
very essence of his being.
1t had made bravo of coward
1t had welded dozen strands Of vi
cionsness. weakness. wickedness and
righteousness into strong charac
ter strong only in its relation to the
woman.
The past few weeks. with their wild
ness, risk. crime and continual plot
ting. had made the Harry Wilkers0r
who was Il we;tkling and sport Of cir
cumstances into a personality who
must be dealt with.
Jean Darnell realized something Of
this when he next spoke.
"All this has been disappointing" ht
said quietly. his eyes burning steadily
OH hers. But the more disappoint
ments ! have to overcome the NOR
worth while it will make you"
"Quite an old time knight" she SAID
scornfully. but with IN effort.
81 am going to get that idol" b.
went on. II know just two things
Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1915-05-06
A pecaIoque of Conduct.


Always be master Of yourself. Never
betray any irritation or disappoint-
ment or any other weakness. Never
slop over, never give yourself away.
never make yourself ridiculous-what
American would not admit that these
are foremost among the rules by which
he would like to regulate his conduct?
1t can be hardly denied that this ha-
bitual self mastery, this habitual con-
troll over ones emotions. is one Of the
chief reasons why SO much of Ameri-
can life is so uninteresting and monot-
onous. 1t reduces the number Of op-
portunities for intellectual friction; it
suppresses the manifestation of strong
individuality: often it impoverishes
the inner life itself. But, on the other
hand, it has given to the American
that sureness Of motive, that healthi-
ness of appetite. that boyish frolic-
someness. that purity of sex instincts.
the quickness and litheness Of man.
ners. which distinguish him from most
Europeans. 1t has given to him all
those qualities which insure success
and make their possessor welcome
member of any kind of society.-At-
lantic.
Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1915-05-06

said, 'eThat 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 secondhand
man. Our best plan is to look into the
pawnshops, think, Ruth" he an
swered.
The first pieces they visited gave up
no information of value. The third
pawnbroker looked at Dorr curiously
when he asked whether a man had
been In to dispose of an idol.
''That thing seems to be wanted pref
ty much" he remarked. But bought
it in good faith and sold it to Hindu
little while after for il rug. Maybe
you would like to buy a lug?"
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 an unknown wandering pcddler Of
rugs. who was presumably an East In
dian.
1--WE can't do any more just now"
John told Ruth.
NO." was the response. "But am
going to keep an eye out for n Hindu
rug seller. don't imagine there arc
very many of them here, so it ought to
be an easy matter to pick him up"
AS they walked back to the hotel
Ruth grew more cheerful. "At any
,o1l
ed It," she remarked.
81 never understood just why that
woman mixed herself up in this" John
Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1915-05-06
The Master Key will be seen in Pictures
Every Saturday Evening at the Palm Theatre

"some sailors curio. Well, 60 on.
Idols don't talk"
An hour afterward Harry Wilkerson
rose to his feet and kicked the scatter
ed contents Of the chest into the SOUP
pers.
The idol rolled away and came to
stop upright against the bulwarks,
when it presented glazed, mysterious
eyes.
mo plans" muttered Wilkerson with
curse.
"Only an idol" 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 on
him, helped him.
When she could control herself she
went forward to get out of sight OF
the mocking heap of rubbish that had
cost so much.
Presently a 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 1t In
his shirt.
"Good in pawnshop," he chuckled.
Thus once more the plans Of the
mother lode of the Master Key" mine
escaped from Wilkerson's filching 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 n
gesture to detain her. He seemed to
call out some inarticulate plea.
She merely smiled again and left.
She paid no attention to one of the
sailors who brushed hy her. clutchine
a concealed object beneath his jacket
This individual, once clear Of the wa
ter front, quickly made his way to
a pawnbroker's shop, and the idol
changed hands for 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 Wilkerson
had to go to bank to cash draft.
AS he slipped away he saw the other
boat and laughed bitterly. Dorr was
welcome to what there was in the old
chest.
"There is just one thing to do" John
told the broken hearted Ruth, land
Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1915-05-06

said thoughtfully. You must have
got some notion, Ruth. You We're with
her some time"
eyes, have an idea," she responded.
"Im not sure of all the details, but
1t seems Mrs. Darnell knew both IA
Their and Harry Wilkerson in the old
days and-and"-
"And what?'
"Well," she went on, blushing divine
~, father didn't like Jean and
wouldn't have anything to do with her
nor allow me to either. She always
hated father after that"
"Wilkerson is certainly >in love with
her." John said presently.
II think he is" Ruth asserted. But
she doesn't care anything about him,
Pm sure. All she is after is money!"
Later in the evening as they discuss
ed the events of the day John brought
up the subject of Willlerson's anxiety
for the papers again and recalled the
fact that old Tom Gallon had always
insisted on Wilkerson's knowledge of
something.
II wonder just what it was," he went
on. IF he knows just where that
rich lode is he's concealed his knowl-
edge pretty well, and the eagerness he
is showing to get hold of the plans is
proof that he isn't sure"
"He is spending lots of money" she
sighed. "How much longer can we
keep this up. John? Surely we are
broke again?"
mot so long as good old Everett
sticks by us, was the response.
"But-maybe father was mistaken,
and we can't pay it all backw
Nonsense" he said reassuringly. 81
can make the mine pay just as it
stands. But promised your father I'd
see that you got all your rights, and he
certainly meant for you to have the
wealth hidden somewhere in the Mas
ter Key mine
"And we've lost the deeds and the
key, and we haven't found the plans, -
she sighed.
III find that Hindu and his pre-
cious idol If have to go to India" he
said promptly. Zone thing-we won't
have Harry Wilkerson spelling our
! schemes. He'll give up now.''
But Wilkerson had not given up. On
his return from the bank he had learn
ed from the launch captain of DORIS
interest in the idol, and he had prompt
ly followed this clew, With the result
that he knew as much about its where
abouts us John and Ruth did, SO far
as its getting into the hands of an
East Indian peddler was concerned
Whether DOrr had recovered the image
from him he did not know.
Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1915-05-06

who had stolen 1t dead in a lane with
a knife between his shoulders. And
his murderer they discovered In Chi
nese seaport gaping horribly at the
sky, with a rope twisted tightly about
his neck.
So the image passed from hand to
hand, always bringing with 1t death.
until some sailor hid It In his chest,
and when he had been washed over
side in storm and his effects were
distributed captain bought the idol
for curio.
1t was in his chest that Thomas Gal
lon had found 1t when seeking a safe
place to hide his precious papers In
time of mutiny and fire.
Now, at last, 1t had fallen into the
hands Of one Of the seekers. and he
took it to his little tenement room and
prayed to it and swore that he would
return 1t to its proper place in the tenn
pie.
There was no response from the Inn
age. but when the Indian fell asleep
on his rug that night in the alien Amer.
Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1915-05-06

He left Immediately without uncov-
ering his plans. He knew that the
anal victory would not he won until
hc could all Jean Darnelrs soft and
avaricious palms with glittering gold,
heaps Of gold. gold that run over, that
spilled In luxuriant streams over her
clutching fingers: gold that rang under
her feet, that mounted like an envel-
oping food about her till her flesh was
bathed In It.
That night he paced the floor of his
room, dreaming Of gold and of blood.
SO the next morning when john Dorf
Jared forth on his quest for the rug
peddler Harry Wilkerson was not far
behind him. watching his every move.
studying him. trying to read what was
IN his MUD. Aud all with the great
question before him:
Had John Dorr the idol?
While these two We're seeking for
the strange hinge Ut un unknown god
there was third who had found In 1t
the goal Of his LIES toll
When God conceals himself from us
has closed his brazen heavens and our
prayers die in the empty air 1t is hu
man to build for ourselves tangible
God, one whom we Gun see and feel
into whose face we can look and be-
fore whose feet we can 10y our offer
ings and our petitions.
In far city In India men had died
- 80 hnI ko
iron under their plows and the heavens
to brass above them.
They had implored. a hundred gods
for help and made offerings at n thou.
sand shrines There had been no re-
spouse. The smoke Of the burning
CHATS by the side of the shrunken riv-
er told the sorry tale of prayer unan-
swered.
And In their last misery men turned
as men will. to one who dreamed. Re
! atty was death. Dreams held out the
promise Of life.
And this dreamer. as do all who fol
low a vision. made his dream into s
god.
People listened to his tale Of deity
WuO was AuCASAul " loNCA uIiN poWCl
full to save. They fed on the dream
er's words and 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 to materiallze his dream i'll
order that the common folk might see
and believe, for he had taught them
that unless they believed there was NO
salvation.
"How can we believe in a god whom
we cannot see?" they cried.
II believe. though do not see nor
feel he told them. But they were
not satisfied and menaced him with
death. r.
So he took metals and fire and made
an image Of his god and made a shrine
for It and set the image in the shrine
where all might see and worship.
And the people prayed to this new
god and laid offerings ut his feet and
Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1915-05-06

lean city he dreamed that his god ap-
peared to him and spoke Of death and
destruction yet to follow. commanding
him to start instantly for the east.
The next day. while Dorr was seek
ing for Hindu selling rugs and Will
kerson was shadowing him the new
possessor of the idol was Fastening to
San Francisco to take steamer for In
dia and the city by the river.
The image was concealed with all
reverence in his bundle Of rugs, and he
moved cautiously, because of the
dream.
Strange destiny that centered old
Tom Gallons plans for his daughters
happiness, DORIS dreams Of love. Jean
Darnells lust for wealth and Harry
Wilkerson's passion for woman with
out heart in the possession of gro
tesque image made by dreamer In
faroff India centuries before when a
city died and river waned within it's
bed,
Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1915-05-06
Two Bit. Of Wood.

Importance cannot be reduced to a
matter of size. The success Of a piece
of work may depend on a tiny detail.
Such is the case in regard to that mar
vel of construction. the violin Rev.
81. r. Haweis in his my Musical Life"
tells Of the care and labor expended on
two little pieces of wood which 60 to
make up the perfect whole. The sound
bar is strip of pine wood running
obliquely under the left foot Of the
bridge. A slight mistake in its posi-
ton. looseness or inequality or rough
ness Of finish will produce that hollow.
teeth on edge growl called wolf" 1t
takes great cunning and life of prac-
tical study to know how long and how
thick the sound bar must be and exact
" where to place 1t in each instrument.
The sound post is little pine prop.
like short bit of cedar pencil. 1t In
the soul Of the violin. and through 1t
pour all vibrations. Days and weeks
are spent in adjusting the tiny sound
post. Its position exhausts the patience
Of the maker and makes the Joy or the
misery Of the player.
Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1915-05-06

Thomas Gallon and His Little Daughter.
his shoulder as he knelt, and the per.
fume of her breathed into his nostrils
He looked up. laughed and then or
dered the box taken aft.
II was dreaming he said slowly.
Then he looked at her directly, and
she saw the flame in his eyes.
why dream when things are com.
ing true?" she parted.
II wonder whether they will all come
true" he said modify and followed
the chest aft.
The curious sailors set the box down
and waited. 1t was evident from theil
attitudes that they expected to see
nothing less than great treasure. 9th.
erwise, why this costly expedition?
But Wilkerson did not start immedi-
ately to open the chest. Its very ap.
pearance seemed to bewilder him, and
his hands shook. 1t was Jean Darnell
who stirred him to activity.
Now you've got it. she said ilnpa.
tiently, hurry and open it! The other
launch is chasing us"
Wilkerson stared around and pickeG
up a marinspile. He began to pry at
the lock- Mrs. Darnell angrily jerked
at his shoulder.
Harry, you fool, here is the key!"
He took the article she handed him
and nodded. Sure enough" he assent
ed. 1--WE have the key! Funny had
forgot that"
With some difficulty he managed to
clear the lock and insert the key. II
turned with difficulty.
A moment later he had pried the lid
back from its setting of rust and slime
and they We're all staring at the sod.
den contents.
There was no sound except the trun-
ding of the swiftly revolving propel-
Ter and the heavy breathing of the
sailors.
Suddenly Wilkerson swung round an
grily and ordered everybody forward.
Then he began his slow search.
Old jackets almost disintegrated by
the action of water, pulpy papers and
Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1915-05-06

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 good humored
grin and in answer to their inquiries
pointed to the open box and the arti-
cles scattered on the deck.
$50 far as l could make out" he
vent on, there wasn't anything i'm the
old chest worth the trouble of going
after. At any rate Mr.. Wilkerson and
the lady seemed disappointed and put
out"
''Didn't they take anything!" de-
manded Ruth, peering curiously ut the
moldy sea chest.
''Not thing, SO far as could dis
cover" was the reply. I'm fact,
heard the two of them kind of quar-
reling, and the lady went off by her.
self"
The three of them stared down ut
the mementos of the long past TRACE
dy, and then the captain suddenly ejac-
ulated. Eyes, there is one thing MISS
ing"
"What is that? demanded John.
can old idol. But I'm sure neither
of them took it."
But what became of it?" John con
tinucd, trying TO conceal his anxiety.
maybe one of the men picked it up
for curio," the skipper said apollo
fvnfin011r 70 ,3,,ir
the old thing was worthless. and you
know sailor will grab at just that
kind Of thing. Better ask some Of the
crew."
A few moments later Dorr had learn
ed that one of the sailors had indeed
taken the image and gone uptown witt
it, apparently to sell 1t.
John thanked the captain. and when
he and Ruth were out Of earshot be
Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1915-05-06

looked into his eyes and called upon
him to save them, as his prophet had
said be 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 the hills, and the riv.
e. rose. and the earth grew green.
When they had been saved and theil
stomachs were full the people went
away and left the prophet alone with
his god and his deserted shrine.
Yet always in time Of trouble and
stress they remembered the god who
had saved. them and returned to his
worship. SO that in season other proph-
ets Of him arose and erected temple
and taught the people to bring offer
ings 1t ali as1es.
Thus the image became the image Of
the tutelary deity Of the city and its
river. with other images to do him
Aomage and obey his commands.
Centuries passed. and the god still
maintained his place. His priesthood
prospered; his;temple was never empty.
Aud 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.
"ae has gone on Journey" said the
terrified priests and concealed the theft.
But the high priest sent several OF his
cho6eo acolytes throughout the world
to eelk Tor and recover the image.
'sHow shall we find him p they asked.
"By q path Of death and destruc-
6oh." was the answer.
- they ~ ont and found the sailor
Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1915-05-06

strained, "well. once more yolr
schemes; have failed.'
Not failed" he said boldly. II ad-
nit we nearly passed up what we were
looking for. lp you remember that
idol that Was in tlls chest?''
jean stopped her nervous pacing Of
the floor and fixed her great. tawny
eyes on Wilkei#on.
Harry" she said huskily. II am
weary of this"
'Wait moment he pleaded
when went back to the launch !
found that Dorr had been quizzing the
men about that image" 4
''And suppose he had got It"
mo. he didn't. One Of the sailors
Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1915-05-06


there are millions in gold hidden In
the Master Key mine. and the plans
are concealed in that image"
when will you have themf' abe
cried. trying to fight against the mans
evil power.
Tomorrow" he returned.
Even If Dorr and Ruth
He nodded gravely. She read the
message In his eyes and shuddered.
Wilkerson laughed. He had won. He
had conquered not only the woman u
that moment. but himself.
He was ready to do murder deliber-
ately. without qualm. There had
been born in him another physical
thirst-the blood lust =.
Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1915-05-06
CHAPTER XXI.

Tho Quest of the Hindu.
~ HAT night Wilkerson sought
out Jean Darnell. She re-
|@SSSI ceived him in manner that
49, told him distinctly that she
was In towering rage. though she
was outwardly calm.
Wilkerson paid no attention appar.
emily to her blazing eyes nor to her re-
Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1915-05-06

WiIkerson Stared at 1t stupidity.
various odds and ends came to his
hand. The pulp he carefully laid aside
as being possibly what he was look
ing for.
I'm afraid the plans are gone," Jean
whispered.
I'VE must find themw he snarled and
went on with his task.
Halfway down he came upon a gro
tcsque figure dripping with woody
ooze. It stifily stared up at him az he
held 1t.
IAN idolw laughed Mrs. Darnell
Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1915-05-06
CHAPTER XXI.
"Onlv an idoI.r

NAYlHEN the chest was hove on
Nv" deck, dripping with ocean
6Sx75 slime, corroded and mysteri-
6ks Gus, Harry Wilkerson stared
Mt 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 flight 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
Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1915-07-06
Cermany's New Objective Shows
in Strong Drive Against WARSAW

aleur the narrow plain running from
the Gz-.sia1 frontier, northeast Of me
marshes. This gateway must be closed
bv Voz Naskeasez. and he is closing II
with his right wing
The res, of Won Mackensen : army Is
moving toward Iyangorod. the only
fortified center of the yistula south Of
Warsaw which is without fortifications'
The Polish capital Is defended by a
field army in two entrenched camps
along the Vis.1la. One is Novogeor'
-i-vsk. 20 miles northwest and the
other s lyangorod. fifty miles to the
south.
Field Marshal Won Hiudenburg tried
20 capture Warsaw from Novo George.
y.s and failed. He also tried 10 sub.
due Lvangorod from every direction
except that which Won Nackensen is
-aaing. The effort Of Field Marshal
Won Maekeusen, Is therefore, the final
hope Of the Germans.
Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1915-07-06

who attempted TO kill J. P Morgan.
was universally disliked by the stu
dents Of oklahoma university where he
was formerly an instructor in German.
according 70 Mrs. A. T. Jenkins, of
Alameda. who lived in Norman Okla.
the home Of the state university, while
Holt was there
Mrs. jenkins said Holt was regarded
O. q good teacher but that he was con.
.tantly in disfay0r because of his er.
ratio temperament and eccentric ways.