davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1915-01-28
i.he became. dlete.Ir1Al6ed 10 frustras.e

abe became. determined to frustrate
this base bEanitt'
When Hassam Al looked again in
order to direct the ray Of the inventor
ZudOra was gone: she had evidently
seen something. He felt an urgent
need Of getting away at once.
Oddly enough, she passed min in the
upper hall as he was making for the
elevator. So intent was she upon her
own quest that she gave the man but
passing glance.
Inventors are careless generally In
all things save that upon which their
thoughts are set. II never occurred to
the inventor of the destructive ray to
lock the door after the flight OF the
man who professed to be his friend.
but who In reality was the worst en-
emy he had. So ZudOra had no diff
Guilty In entering the room. She did so
as noiselessly as cat,
What she saw confused her at first.
There were the noble bay and the ships
going down to the sea. But what sig
| uihSu al lhSNS TelOItS, WTeS, Keys anu
squares of black rubber? No man with
all these strange things about him
! would contemplate the robbing of an
other mans secret. She heard the man
mutter few words Her heart MISS
ed beat! Quietly as she had enter
ed she stole forth. What should she
do? How should she act in face of
this tremendous discovery? She must
see Storm and ask his advice.
The inventive photographer had not
been inactive all this time. He sensed
danger when he saw that weird pho
tograph on the floor, He determined his
actions at once. If he could not have
the secret of that magical ray for the
fatherland no one should have it.
Storm was greatly excited when Zu-
dora disclosed her discoveries. Togetb-
er they went to the local secret service
office.
They found the poor inventor. who
in his soul wanted only the welfare
of humanity. They found him a bro
ken reed. Some one had destroyed the
very heart of the machine 1t had taken
Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1915-01-28

the plates. 1t was quite evident that
the strikers had taken advantage Of
the confusion. After this nothing more
was heard Of the heat ray. And by
and by the public forgot, as II always
does. and turned once more to the
ever increasing war bulletins.
Uncle. what do you think Of this
new ray talkY' asked Zudora one even
ing. after reading some editorial com.
ment upon the half forgotten subject,
which had not. however. been forgot
ten in the least by her. Gould there
be such thingy'
my dear child. in these days nothing
is impossible. They hy in the air; they
swim under water: they speak from
ship to ship without any visible means.
A ray to penetrate steel under water Is
not only possible, but probable. I'll
wager that hundred men across the
world are trying to accomplish this"
And evidently one man has accom-
plished it.
Evidently" agreed Hassam All.
"But why should he blow up ships in
our own harbor! Why should he deal
death without just causey
"Ah, these men of true science. What
Is the death of manor two compared
to the achievement! / dare say thar
this man could not resist the Impulse
to try his Internal ray upon the living.
All scientists are egotists. Why don't
you dig into it: There's international
fame for any one who solves this"
What. PIT my forces against the
whole of the secret serviceY'
Yes. but you have faculties that not
every human being has. And then
you've something that not even have
"And what is that?'
Luck"
Then you think | am lucky instead
Of skillful?"
Both. my child. in an extraordinary
degree. No one knows that better than
l." with smile which she did not see
nor would have understood If she had
Hassam Ali rose His fingers were
itching to fOndle his gold.
Zudora remained in the mystic room
and reread a letter she had received
from Storm that day. The poor boy
had lost his only photograph Of hei
and desired new one. Well. he
should have 1t and just as soon as she
could have II taken. She sat down be
fore the crystal globe. So her uncle
thought she was not only skilful. bu
lucky? Was he regretting his bargain
She stared into the globe, and pres
emily a strange fantasy appeared in III
clear depths. She saw herself stand
ing upon the crest of hill. in silhou
ette against the setting sun. garbed II
flowing white. Presently she was join
ed by another Zudora. dressed in black
Then the two shapes came slowly dow
the hill In separate paths. and at tn
end of each path stood somber Has
sam ALI The white Zudora. when sh
reached Hassam Ali, threw her arm
around his neck and kissed him. Th
black Zudora repelled the seer. he
face expressing doubt and suspicion
The forms faded and disappeared. ~
dora rose. troubled in mind. She doub
I'd her uncle. There was no use 1
Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1915-01-28
CHAPTER VII.
The Phantom OF the Future.

A GREAT crowd was assembled
~ before the bulletin boards In
Times square II was d re-
inarkably serious looking crowd
too. There were much dubious shaking
Ut heads and Struggling VI shoulders
IL was not II baseball crowd, not an az
gregatiOn OF sports awaiting the re-
suits AT the faroff race tracks.
what do you know about thatT
'''Give me boat that floats ON top
OF the water!''
Take II from me, some one got fresh
with the torpedo tube. We're not at
wal with any one
but what's this ray business? I
never heard OF anything like that be
fore"
Sandwiched in between bulletin
announcing German check In Poland
and another telling OF the French be-
ing repulsed at Dixmude were few
lines which stirred all America for "A
fortnight The news was three days
old. because the government mad not
Seen tit to disclose the catastrophe To
the public until II mad located the
cause. submarine nad been blown
M In the bay. There had been no
sign Of either mine OF torpedo. us one
Ot the surviving officers took oath
They had been skiniming along with
only half speed when suddenly one OF
the engineers complained OF sutfoca
tiOn, complained that he had touched
the port side with his hand and burned
II badly. The comman'ung officer sig
nailed to the engine room 10 stop The
order mad hardly reached the engine
room when the explosion occurred. All
but FIVE of the crew were killed Ii
wns mighty serious business to the
United States government II might
have been purely accidental: II might
have been done with sinister purpose
The navy department was. In the par
lance of the day, up In the mir
Subsequent investigation showed thar
the port side. near the torpedo tuhe
unfortunately loaded for target prar
tice had been melted. absolutely melt
ted. after the manner Of melted metiil
exposed to some terrific heat And ali
this with the plates protected by the
water--nn agency that mad been cn
pable Of sending heat ray through
water. This news not only aroused
the Omitted States. but set warning En-
rope by the ears Secret agents froul
Germany and Russia came to New
York. with millions to their credit.
But neither they nor the home secret
service could find out anything. You
cannot track the going or coming or
the wind. You cannot follow an ocean
ripple.
In an interview the secretary OF war
declared that the government had not
been approached by any inventor of
heat ray. All II could do was to
wait and see II the magician had
struck accidentally aud experimentaiiy
or with deadly intent
For three days the newspapers ran
Icare heads. but nothing further de
Teloped. The foreign agents wasted
Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1915-01-28
He ObeYed.
[To DE coNTINUED.l


Murat Halstead, the great journalist
Of wartmes. went to General William
L. Sherman's headquarters once for the
--latest news from the front" Hal
stead was armed with many fine intro
ductory letters. bur decided to rely
mainly on one given him by Thomas
Ewing. Sherman's brotherln.law He
found the genera! and presented Ew-
lngs letter. The general opened it
somewhat impatiently, read u few
lines, folded 1t and said:
"Ah. you come from Ewing. and you
desire to have all the latest news the
next probable move of our army. eh?
Well. there's train leaving this town
for Cincinnati at O'Clock. Here. take
this ticket and step over there and get
your dinner and then get on that
train"
"well. but. General Sherman be
gan the newspaper man. But Sherman
waved him of
"Go over and get good dinner W..
have plenty and always strive to treat
our friends we'll Bnt be sure you
don't miss that 2 O'Clock train~ Ana
Halstead obeyed.
Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1915-01-28
SYNOPSIS.

Zudora is left an orphan at an early
age. Her father is killed in a gold mine.
Zudora and the fortune from the mine,
which grows to be worth S20.000000. are
left In the guardianship OF Frank Keene,
Zudora mothers brother. Zudora, CIV
Ing promise of great beauty, reaches the
age Of eighteen. The uncle. who mas set
himself up as a Hindu mystic and is
known as Hassam Ali. decides that Zu-
dora must die before she can have a
chance TO come into possession OF her
money. so that II may be left to him. the
next OF kin. Hassam All sees an obstacle
20 his scheme In the person OF John
Storm, a young lawyer. for whom Zu-
dora has taken a fancy. and he COM
mands the girl TO put the man out of her
mInd. Zudora insists that II she cannot
marry Storm she will marry no one.
We'll. WELL says Hassam Ali. ''if you
take such a stand III compromise. Solve
my next twenty cases and you can marry
him; fail In single case and you must
renounce him"
Zudora. using the knowledge gained
from years OF association with her uncle
unravels battling mystery and wins her
first case-a case In which John Storm is
saved from being convicted OF a murder
tnstlgated by H.ssam Ali himself.
Zudora and Hassam Ali visit Nabok
Shan's house. where sleep overcomes ev-
cry one whenever Nabok attempts to mar
ry princess. Storm. seeking Zudora. is
made a prisoner Zudora fols Nabok
Shan. restores the princess TO her original
lover and saves Storm from death
maker OF diamonds tells Hassam Ali
his secret Storm informs Zudora that
his life Is being attempted frequently
Storm suspects Hassam ALI. Storm is
arrested for stealing the diamond makers
gems, but Zudora discovers the rea.
thieves-a pair Of mice.
The negro help employed on Storms
fathers farm are fleeing because a great
skeleton hand appears at night upon a
hill near by Storm Is Dafi1ed in mis- in
vestigation. but Zudora learns that her
uncle has employed Jimmy Bolton, a half
witted man. thus TO annoy Storms par
ents Zudora finds Bolton operating
big magic lantern and Is attacked by
Bolton. Storm opportunely appears snd
saves her from Bolton.
Hassam All asks Zudora TO find a gem
Lost py two mysterious old men ZudOra
gets photograph or the gem and II burns
In ner hand. An old house Is mined by
Hassam All ana the old men, Storm ana
Zudora are .lured there and narrowly es-
cape destruction when the house blows up
John McWinter. endeavoring TO trap ana
Kill George Smith, is killed himself. ana
Smith is charged with murder Hassam
All conspires to have John Storm meet
the same fate as McWinter. and he and
Storm are overcome by powerful fumes
Zudora saves them. proves that McWin-
ter's own dog trapped and killed him and
saves Smith from band OF iynchers
Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1915-01-28

denying the fact. She doubted and
feared him. She had given her word.
and her very loyalty to that word
sealed her lips. She must go on until
the end. Twenty exploits. and her life
In her hand ench time! So be It, And
she sensed that John had his suspi-
cions also. Indeed. he had once been
outspoken enough
She left the mystic room and passed
on into the living room, where Has
sam Ali. having satisfied the craving
to play with his gold. sat smoking his
pipe and dreaming She did not dis
turb him for time.
The remarkable control this man had
over his features was one Of his great.
est assets. His expression at this mo.
ment was Of absolute contentment.
and yet in his minds eye he saw the
mine. this girls father struggling for
breath and life. He saw the will
which made her one OF the greatest
heiresses in America. He saw his own
sinister ends accomplished And all
the while Zudora believed that some
happy recollections had served to give
that face tts benign appearance.
"Uncie!-
He lowered his pipe as II he had not
been conscious OF her presence.
"What Ia itT'
40 you know Of any unusual pho
tographer? ! mean n genius of his
kind. something out OF the way"
Hum. Let me see. There used to
be chap In Third street who had
some new tricks. ! believe thar these
were too expensive for the general
public. Besides. he was one OF those
crnnks who slave for an idea and TO
whom money is nothing. I've got the
Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1915-01-28

dame somewhere. When come across
Il I'll let you know"
He gave the name TO her the next
morning and Immediately left the
house. He hnd an idea. de was al
ways having ideas. About half after
0 he arrived downtown. stopped be-
fore a building. went into the corridor
and searched the wall directory. He
found Fal Green. the eccentric pho
tographer. on the twelfth floor. He
was about to seek the elevator when
another name caught his attention.
Her he murmured "And had
forgotten all about the man! Well. the
Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1915-01-28

the Liquid.
two fortunes and twenty years Of Ia
bor to conceive. They could do what
they wished with him.
That night, unknown to ZudOra,
Hassam All had visitor. visitor
who was cold and murderous In MS
wrath.
You have despolled me OF my la
bOrs~
"lndecd?" said Hnssam Ali.
You have robbed the fatherland OF
an invention that would have made US
the greatest power In the world.
"And perhaps that In the very rea-
son why despoiled yon," said Has
sam Ali coldly. "YOu come to me and
threaten when by lifting hand
could send you to prison for so many
years that II would lie the sum OF your
iifev'
Il know that But this l say to you:
Some day yoall slip. and then beware
of me.'
Ahmed" called Hassam All. "show
this gentleman to the door,"
And Fal Green. 80 called. passed
forth into the night. A week later his
body was found In the East river.
BY whose hand!
lTo DE CONTINUED
Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1915-01-28

their gold and the home agents their
lime.
Then came the blowing up of one Of
The j. B. Starr cOlliers or. rather. the
sinking. The plates showed the same
terrible agency which had destroyed
the submarine. But this time there
seemed to be slight clew. The Starr
Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1915-01-28
The Witnh,. wnrs..

"You defy me. do your" Missed ~.
witch. The victim trembled
Twill be worse for you. Wut
cause fortune to rain perfect shower
OF gold upon you, and then"
"Then what?" gasped the victim.
"And then the income tax collector =
With a shrek Of agony. the victim
turned and aed.-st. Louis Post DIs
patch.
Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1915-01-28

would try an experiment herself. She
picked mp one Of the beakers to learn
II the sensitizing liquid contained ether,
when the bottle slipped from her hand
and crashed to the floor Almost In
stantly she saw Il strange face form
upon the liquid. She looked up quick
ly. In time to see two heads suddenly
withdraw and heard rattle OF wood
MS the aperture's covering fell into
place
What could that mean2 she stepped
back TO the wall. She waited brenth
essly, but nothing happened Her flrst
thought was that some one was trying
to steal the photographers secret, and
The Washington herald., 1915-12-26
a. Might he Said.

Vt about nine o'clock the other morn
ing a long. lean. detected looking man
was observed standing with his back 10
the street door leading up to dentist 5
office. He tried to appear calm ana COM
posed. but a score of pedestrians knew
they passed on.
By and by a young man, bearing an
emblem OF mourning on his arm, came
along and stopped and said:
old man, are you trying to rub the
varnish of that door?"
mo. SIR" was the reply
Then stand aside q little until I fix
this thing to the knob.
Why, it is a Grape bow" exclaimed
For sure. You struck it the first time. 4"
But who is dead?''
1T happens to be the dentist. who was
roing to yank tooth out for you this
morning You were to call, weren't
your
Yes
We'll. let me inform you. to your great
relief and happiness, that the man who
was to do the yanking had an acute at
tack of gastritis about midnight and be-
fore daylight he had passed away, and
,-on will have TO make arrangements
with some other dentist" I am sorry,
deeply sorry for you, for any other dem
list you find will probably pull your Jaw
No. they won't!' almost shouted the
other, as a smile spread over his face.
and / believe i could bite frozen tur-
Arip this very minute. So he's dead. Is
MY friend.- said the youth as he
stenned back and looked at him. "I am
an assistant to the undertaken and 1t Is
The Washington herald., 1915-12-26
MATILDA BRIXS, WIDOW
She Claimed 10 Be the Champion of the United States

of mutton. Sheep belts are worth 81
apiece and find ready market. Go
to stealing sheep. Daddy. We will
have all the mutton chops we will
want to eat and the pelt can he turn
ed into the long green with the great
est ease"
Dad thought of the subject for
awhile and then brought his fist down
on the table and exclaimed:
Daughter, you are a darned sight
wiser than old solomon and | shall
act on your advice this very night"
And he did. He Went out to steal
a sheep but overcome by his avarici-
once. and such row was raised that
he was arrested. When they tried him
he was sent to jail for six months. He
had been in the coop for about twenty
days when the old man Rush called
at the house. / saw him coming and
knew that he wanted to see about
that mortgage on that oxen and
wagon.
Your Daddy is in jail" he remarked
as he came in.
'It,s q good place for a nice man."
YES. your Daddy is an honest man
but they caught him at it this time.
What about that mortgage?"
I'VE can't pay it
"But you'll have to or I'll foreclose
thought struck ma that IL you were will
ing to marry me l would release the
mortgage and thus give your daddy a
chance when he came out of Jail. Are
you willing to take me for husband?"
I'D be about as willing to hang
is playing in hard luck and he has
to sacrifice myself to aid him"
The old man grinned and chuekled
The Washington herald., 1915-12-26

paint. 1t is a great thing. You can
pile up shavings against a building
painted with it, and it won't even be
scorChed. | expect TO make ten thou
sand dollars within the next year"
Il expect you won't make darn
I further expect old Rush will own
the oxen and wagon in about three
months"
Il shall make at least two hundred
dollars a week from the very begin
ming, and you can prepare yourself
to become a great lady. In my trav-
els about the country l shall find
Poor old dad, He was always toy
ing with great expectations and one
could not convince him of q. failure.
He went out with his ireprdof paint
and after he had got twenty miles
away he gave his first exhibition. He
ment on his building. He painted the
front and piled a heap of shavings
against and touched of a match. The
whole town was out to see the fun
and they saw the grocery burned to
the ground. They were getting rope
to hang Daddy to limb when he
threw off hat and coat and pulled Off
his shoes and after a. run of five miles
he escaped with his life. He didn't
bring home the barrel of freproof
paint that he carried away with him
He left IL behind as a sad memory.
Never mind. Daddy" I said. as he
came home with his hair still stand
ing uR-there are other things you
can turn to-"
"To suicide for instance" he said in
q grave-like voice.
"Pshaw, Daddy, have got a good
thing already for you. Take your
daughters advice and see il you wont
come off top-dog. Both of us are fond
The Washington herald., 1915-12-26

six months why you didn't CO." replied
Mrs. BOwser.
Why didn't. why I didn't I
have not gone because | realized that
thought had come to me that you
would be willing for me TO go. |
should have been off months ago. Do
you mean to:tell me now that you are
willing"
why, I should be proud to know
that my husband WAS leading his men
against the enemy in storm OF shot
and she'll"
Mr Buwser waited in astonishmcnt
for 4 fun minute before he said:
And l thought it would he right
the other way. Mrs. BowSer- l thought
if | even mentioned war and it's glory
you would faint away and fail on
the floor. thought after you cam.
to, you would cry and beg and plead
for me to remain at home and protect
YOU"
Protect ric from what" was rather
Independently asked.
From the thousand dangers which
lurk about us day and night although
we are not in the theater of war.
Il have never lost any sleep over il"
Mr.. Bowser was nonplussed. Mrs
he should go to war. He had expect
ed different results when the con
versation began. He had no desire to
go to war Even il called upon to de-
ltlu HiS cN u nave
been any too quick about il. He
wanted TO stand well in Mrs. Bowser's
estimation. however, and he must re-
sort to "a bluff. He therefore gathered
himself together and resorted by ask
ing:
Mrs. Bowser. l want you to answer
with truth and sincerity. Are you
willing for me to go to Europe and
take part in the great conflict, which
is raging there? Now don't try to
dodge a question.
81 shall not try to dodge it. Mr..
Bowser. II you want to be Il hero
and have your name inscribed on the
pages of history. it is my duty to kiss
you goodbye and pray for your safe
return. If you return with one arm
or leg missing. | shall love you just
rs much as now and shall honor and
be proud of you"
Mr.. Bowser got up and walked the
floor again and Mrs. Bowser could
hear him whispering to himself as
he walked. When he came back to his
cnair again. he said in very serious
tones:
Il ah of shall go this very night
to catch a steamer which sails early
in the morning"
The Washington herald., 1915-12-26

face. as he did her. and there was mu-
tual recognition.
.'I'll be hangedt~ ne blurted out.
IF you don't go to Jail first she re-
piled.
There was no scene to scandalize the
good Deacon and his wife. The kidnap p
er and his victim clasped hands and were
quickly made man and wife. 1t was
when the husband bent over and kissed
his bride that he whispered in her ear:
Il am mighty glad of it, for l know
you are a good housekeeper and one OF
the best looking girls in town.
And I am so glad it is you" she re-
piled Giles, you are a noble looking
man and / shall learn to love you dear
" within a week.
What were they whispering about, 40
you suppose?" asked the Deacon of his
wife after the happy couple had departed.
"Oh. perhaps he was telling her that
he fairly hated the taste of fried salt
pork laughed the good woman.
Giles Stebbins was never arrested ior
kidnapping, and he never sat alone IN
front of a greenwood fire again. cat
and his wife were with him.