davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1915-03-28

ter poureds down increasingly
Late the next afternoon young Ell
ton snt at his desk thinking9deep
He had been out OF sorts ali day and
he EneW yeryfweu where the trouble
lay. He looked at the clock thought-
fully and noted that II twas nearly time
for. his call. He wondered swhethersit
was worth while to go.
SUDDENLY he rose. slipped on his
raincoat and went out Of the Office
There was resolution In hiss every
movement. IL ss & ~ n.
Eve beensa fool. f. he told himself:
poor. blind fool. The incest girl IN
Z the world almost min he incest
prettfest-,., e -.
The girl met him at the door ana
invited him into the house. BIT mn
steadily as il she did not quite under
stand. Dung Elton slipped on his
5ra % noted the paper on. thestable..
FwI 18th the weather report wrinkIed ana
IS. little tear-stained. and began brave
We been a fool z. he repeated to
the girl; poor, blind fool N You
viii only forgive me, I' 10 " Z:
She scrfedaa little. very softly on HIS
shoulder, and then, with the prophe-
sled rain patterfng down outside, he!
slipped ring on her hnger5and they
fsll to talking OF the something when
thereSshoulds be a tile cottage withsa
sbitsof green and smaybesa dog
-, When the managing & tor lookup
his paper the nexttmorninEs heNneE=
The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1915-03-28

that he had made some technical ar-
ror. for he gazed blank1y around HIM
became very salloW and CALCULATED
weakly for the second time. sSabbees .sl
: Him too muchee talk all tam. Z. said
Mrs. Bo Peep.
" All. see! exclaimed Judge Short
becoming suddenly very stern. This
then is the defense that Eas framed
this morning by Mrs: Bo Peep and her
desperately courageous. blunderingiy:
faithful friend, Mr.. All Wong.
Its a good defense. but ft,s All tile;
bit late. :" observed Detective Cot yar-;
.castically. smiling.
No; It has arrived Just In time q
said Judge Short ..If An Wong had
not appeared on the scene should
have formed an erroneous opinion
concerning the character Of Mrs 30
Peep. I should have remained H.
norant of her shrewdness discover
now thanks TO her good. friend. that:
she has masculine mind and Is g
woman OF resource find that m
stead of being poor sWomantf In need
of ssympathy. that Mrs. 30 Peep IA 81
genius. Therefore. instead os wairn-
ing. will change my mind and
sentence her to pay a fine OF $100. Witk
the alternative Of fifty days insthi:
.cnrntr-- Ia IN
The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1915-03-28


that ever pored at short range on the
features OF magistrate
She was booked on charge o. re-
ceiying stolen property. The evidence
was chain and slocket Colt was the
arresting officer and testified, in sub
stance. that the chain and heart
: shaped attachment which were offered
in evidence had been stolen from the
person OF a man named West while
West was passenger on a car.
On the day Of the theft West had
complained to the police and had fur
,nished Lieutenant Fitz of the COM
plant department with a good descrip-
ton of the stolen articles Of jewelry.
On the 1ocket were engraved the ini-
tials 81. " w" in monogram form
and within the locket was the photo
graph of Vests little daughter.
Mrs. Bo Peep conducts little store
on Stockton sire t. testified Detective
Colt II had been suspecting her for
some time. I was pretty sure that she
was carrying on a trade with certain
pickpcclets. therefore have been
watching her store pretty closely.
Two days ago found this 1ocket and
chain in her show case. She couldn't
give me clear explanation as to how
she came into possession Of the ar
ticles. began an investigation and
soon arrested the young man who
The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1915-03-28

stole the chain and locket from Mr.
West. He confessed to the theft and
he also confessed to selling the ar
ticles to this woman. Here is Mr..
West now, the owner Of the property.
He viii identify them .'.s .
Vest stepped forward and, after be
ing duly sworn, declared the watch
and locket belonged to- him and had
been stolen from him while he was
riding on a street car.
Well" observed Judge Short. this
certainly is complete case against
this defendant OF receiving stolen
property
There is nothing to it.n said Detec-
tive Colt, looking about him with that
satisfied air detective usually as
sumes when he has put in a. strong
case and has the5d ependant .sewed4 up
in a sack. 2
Have you any witnesses. Mrs. Bo
Peep2 asked Judge Short.
Yes, she has witness spoke up
Bailin Brod. before Mrs. 30 Peep
found time to reply There was a
Chinese here this morning who said
he was friend OF hers
No; me no gottah fien.',, denied
Mrs. BoF Peep. We no sottah wit
Messy Me good woman
Yes, she has q witness insisted
Brod. gallantly She is bashfu1. Judge.
The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1915-03-28
BY E|nos Emo Dry


posite the name OF Mrs 30 Peep.
81 Now. as to punishment, continued
the Judge. gazing with poorly-yei1ed
twinkle In his eye at the picturesque
! Mrs. Bos Peep. II don't think shall
be very severe. think q warning this
time
Ne alice same weet-a-nass.''' trem-
ulouslys declared All Wong ..Yo' sab
bee weet-a-nass2, '
It was leyident that AhWong had
forced himself TO speak thus boldly in
the dreadful presence OF the magfs-
strate by mighty effort OF the will
We'll. let him talk said the Judge.
goodnaturedly. He probably desires
to; state something favorable concern
ing the defendants character. Then
of All Wong the Judge asked: SIS this
ia good lady, All Wong2'
! Yo' shee. him locklee. began All
Wong, speaking like Chinese in a
trance. with his eyes fixed on space
above the head of Assistant District
Attorney Becsey aud with beads of
Precipitation forming on his forehead.
Him lock1ee an, him cheang alice
same nobody stheal um-no body. "a b.
bee Him alice same send by bi 2 stor
shom New ok. sabbee 81.
hush fell over the court room and
suddenly All Wong seemed to realiz
The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1915-03-28
By Anne tie Angert

dress as quickly as she could Iisl
send Annette to help You She han;
Just come IN. Now hurry 81
wonder III I'm really alivesz.S
thought Bess Yes. q am my ;;s :i.ls
hurts.
Then she heard her grandrnother,
talking to Dick IN the haH and Say--
ing: ~ r
Hitch up Dolly and drive 10 f6wn
as fast as you can. Meet your father
and mother at the train and toll them
to bring home enough cake ana tcas
cream for twenty or thirty children
and ten pounds OF candy. and anything
else they can think Of Z am giving
Bess a party
a moment later the front door was
opened aud the same voice said:
Come In; children. Put your rubbers
and other things In the hall Now.
this way, into the library Make your
selves comfortable. Bess will b down
in a very few minutes. Her arm has
paineds her good deal and she has
had to take some time dressing
That party? It was better than any
party the children had ever attended.
For grandmother not only thought OF
every game. but played In them. too
Only once did she leave the room. ard
that was when she said something
must be burning In the kitchen And
while she was absent for these few
minutes she told mother. father and.
Dick to set the table.
Tommy was never more surprised
In his life than when he came home
late with his hockey skates over his
shoulder. "Gae!' he said as hea stood
in the hall What does 1t all mean r.
When the children had gone back
to town, and the lights in the front
part Of the house had been exiting
ufshed. Bess climbed into her grand
mothers lap, put her well arm around
her neck and drew her head DOWN
y You are the dearest. sweetest persnrs
IN all the world, z she said then. after
pause. .'of course, after mother +
The woman stroked the curly head
that nestled. aEainstsher bosom Long
long ago / WaB a little girl. = she said.
and ] remember how It felt
The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1915-03-28
he stared at Mrs. Bo Peep and grinned

he stared at Mrs. Bo Peep and grinned
sheepishly II
Is this your witness?s asked Brod.
No; me no know him." declared
Mrs. Bo Peep. shaking her comely
head vigorously.
What is your name?. asked Judge
Short. S.
Me all same All Wong, :. answered
the Chinese Me alec same dessa
lady fien, sabbee ?''
No, no; him not 10 me, cried Mrs.
30 Peep. indignantly. NE. not know
muchee sdishee man. Go on !; you got
get out. she stamped her foot, angri-
~ -s3 81.
Mrs. 30 Peeps manner seemed to
stun All Wong. who gazed at her with
open-mouthed# amazement
Wha' To- me 2" he exclaimed, faint
Ne not know 10 him. cried Mrs.
30 Peep.
IT doesn't matter. any way re-
remarked Judge Short There lis ev-
identity some mistake here This man
could not say anything to help the
lady. This evidence is too convincing,
shall have to find Mrs. BoS PeepSguil-
ty Do you understand, Mrs. Bo Peep?
You are guilty" =
Judge Short wrote the word In red
nixon the margin of his calendar OPP
The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1915-03-28

And the girls said they would be
there. s9
When school was dismissed Bess
was the irst to put on wraps. and she
hurried down the long hall AS she
Went she heard one girl say to anoth-
err, suppose she's going home TO
Z help get ready" and another called
out, Well he on time. :.
She ran up hill toward home until
her arm commenced to pain so badly
that she had TO walk. There was 4
lump In her throat as she neared the
house. and twas all she could do to
keep back the tears.
Mother ."s she called as she opened
the front door.
There was no answer: but she
found her GRANDMOTHER knitting In the
library. You must break that habit
of calling out when you come into the
hall said grandmother How is your
arm. dear? Hast nained YOU much2.'
No; that Is. yes" stammered Bess.
Where is mother?r
She went to the city this morning.
VIII she be home early 2.
No" said grandmother .She said
she would come out with your faith y
r5SS II q sstfAHueLtG.s come 5lOmeg and
Z Bess couldn't keep tremble out OF
her voice
Don't You know that this Is tie
afternoon for her singing lesson and
that she was excused at recess. But
want my little girl to lie down now
9nd will pour some more Of the 10
ton on that burn. Perhaps you can
take nap until supper time. So 20
up stairs and I'll be there IN a few
minutes" and grandmother pnt her
knitting one side and went INFO the
kitchen.
Scalding tears could not be kept
back any longer. and Bess could hard
1y see the way to the bed IN her room.
Then she threw herself down and
moaDed. When grandmother.s step
was heard on the stairs she hid her
face in the pillow. but she couldn't
choke back the sobs.
What! is my little girl in so much
The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1915-03-28


3, u. - ~ in the dining room
S. an.s:a u, III !neEwarnth that came IN
~ = on1 tne Kitchen range. An old-time
= y 81 place WAS in the sitting room. and
& q q ate " as. In the library. In tho
/. = room downstairs a base-burner
5000 near the center OF the floor Up-
Stars Were several tedrnms.r that
Z burned wood They kfndled in fash
Ano warmed a room within ten min
sst -. =, aa-teIsIh ne rising bell rang
1 he az ick-heater in the dining room
7 paayed z a part in what happened The
nlghl W2s cold. the door TO the kitch-
en- had been shut and father Had
poured hodful of coal into the
sloyess hen had opened the drafts
4 y. There WAS a merry hum as the
s.!F Flished IN below and then up the
4 cnln1ne and the iron near the stove
splpe elbow was turning dull yellow
Bess came into the room and danced
CROSS the floor. Perhaps the rug was
Torn, or maybe one Of Tommv's toys
VAS IA the way. Sometllin. caused
her to stumble. and in trying to save
herself her right arm rested for an
iinst7n At on the red7hot stove.
eT screams brought every member
Of the family into the room. and for
4 r few minutes there WAS much confus-
iofl:s But while others were asking
one another what shou!d be done. and
we're running around. excIafmins.
Poor BessII' Does 1t hurt % I'm
SO sorry and talking like half-dis-
tracted persons generally do. grand
mother was preparing lotion. and
Just as father was buttcHing his over
coat and declaring that he would 90
for doctor, she cut Bess' sleeve of
at the should Ter, poured the soothing
LIQUID on the burned skin wrapped IT
The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1915-03-28

!. but know she has witness. Why.
she told me this morning just before
* court opened that she had witness
who would prove that she was not
guilty Ism that true. Mrs: Bo Peep2s
No; me no gottah witnessey., de-
clared Mrs. Bo Peep, blushing and
shaking her head with great. emphasis.
We no gottah him, sabbee?"
Thy, what are you talking about n
laughed Brod. II bet he's out in the
corridor now Turning to the Judge,
Brod said: This poor woman don't
seem to hayeSa any friends She seemed
to be confident that she could prove
her innocence this morning
THAT would be impossible, now
said the magistrate. The best she
can hope to do is to bring character
witnesses. The evidence adduccd In.
this case in conclusive"
There he is now :. said Brod. as a
pale, cadayerous Chinese peeked in at
the corridor doors That's Mrs. 30
Peeps witness
Call him" said the Judge
He's coming. said Brod! " He don't
need calling. See, he's forcing his
way through the crowd
The pale Chinese. carrying In his
hand straw hat which was blacken-
ed by the winter weather. approached
timidly, and. twirling his straw hat.
The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1915-03-28


The girl did. and though she sug-
gested the possibility OF fair weather
every day, young Elton decided to try
the plan: He grinned cheerfu1ly and
went bacl7to the Office and wrote tile
report: Fair today. with southerly
winds. And although the Times
promised rain. the next day was cloud
less and warm 5
twas very clear for a week, during
which time young Elton was called
upon to guess the weather conditions
several times The rival paper seem
ed to be steadily wrong. and the man
aging editor OF the News took itLpun
himself to write little editorial on
the subject. reprinting the reports OF
the two papers In parallel columns
The reporter slapped young Elton on
the back and told him he should try,
the races. s{8
Then one night sonnet hingswent ar-
s4ry at the girls house II was only a
trivial: thing In itself. but It lowered
the spirits OF both. The paper prom
ised cloudy weather.san and all the next
day ugly, black clouds glowcred.
The little quarrel was.sorer by the
next night, but the conversation was
strained "a few evenings. later fhe
girl happened to mention another,
man, who was not young Elton's idea
of a at companion fora woman He
said SO very frankly. and the girl dis
appeared.
ThesweatheT report read: sRainsto-
!: day.. For twenty-fonr hours the wa
The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1915-03-28

graph editor.
The weather report" said the 1at-
ter. with the air OF excusing the bu-
reau, did not come last night.
All said the managing editor
40. sir.'' We went on the Telegraph cd
itor. Il held the paper till 8 o'clock
waiting for it. but for some reason it
failed to- come. =
..Ah." said the managing editor
again. Then his anger burst forth.
and he raved as became a man who
held reporters and editors nndershis
thumb. 81. I
Il suppose" he concluded. sarcas-
tically. that itsnever occurred to you
Ito fake report: to realize that any
guess on the weather was better than
none; to appreciate the comments the
Times will make on the incident; to
ina CINE the disappointment OF every
one of our readers. Why. you fool, do
you suppose anyone would have
known that your guess YVES not re-
liable report. even II It differed from
that OF sthe Times? Do you. He
stopped suddenly. turned on his heels
and went out the door, with the re-
mark: Don't let 1t happen again. E.
Young Elton stared at the ceiling
for good 1--WE minutes. Then he
went over to his desk with the mail.
land straightway forgot all his trou-
i bles threading dainty. scented note
aSheTsa some very nice things to him,
and asked how he was farinE In his
The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1915-03-28
Surprise Party sasssasa
tenderly with a linen cloth. saturated
the cloth with more OF the lotion. and.

tenderly with a linen cloth. saturated
the cloth with more OF the lotion. and
said
She'll be all right now. lisa pref
" bad burn. but nothing to lose your
wits about. /"
Then father pretended that he had
something to do upstairs Mother sat
down In rocker and took Bess In her
arms and the other children returned
to the library. The little girl had
stopped crying. but once In awhile a
historical sob passed from hen lips.
and even these ceased when mother
rocked back and forth and sang.
Rock OF Ages" which was Bess' favo-
rite symn.
The next morning she came to the
breakfast table with her arm in a
sling e
Cant you go to-. school today
asked ToHrrr.
Eyes. indeed" she answered
Grandma says there is no danger. II
] wrap up warm"
How large is the burn q inquired
Dick.
About. four inches long
Annette wanted to know Ii II still
hurt very much and Bess said, no.
Unlass some one touched her on that
side
what can you do at school with
your light arm In a sling" questioned
Tommy.
II can do everything, except write
and figure sums. can study and re-
cite" she said
Everybody in Bess, class crowded
near her when she entered the school
room. and they all wanted to know
how it happened. By the time the last
bell rang she felt quite proud, because
OF SO much attention and sympathy.
After the morning recess her arm
commenced to throb again, and dur
ing the noon hour she became quite
miserable. She usually enjoyed this
period and played with the girls who
brought. their iuncheons: but now.
after tin pals, baskets and boxes had
been emptied, the others went out to
slide and she was left alone In the
The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1915-03-28

cheerlesS room. She wandered around
and examined the maps on the wall.
then turned the leaves OF the big die
tionary that stood on rack near the
\ teacher's desk. and looked at the pic
lures In the back part. She wished
that she had more OF grandmother's
lotion. and that mother could rock
her again.
It seemed as if she should have
some regard for her suffering surely
girl with a burn like that couldn't
be expected to act like other girls.
Bess didn't know exactly what it was
she wanted; only nothing seemed just
right.
Atsthat moment Sophie Jones came
in. carryfngsa pair OF skates. The
Ice is fine" she said as she drew or
her mittens.s 4.
sob. sophie,- called Ress: won't
you come to my party this evening
Your partys'' exclaimed Sophie
What tire ?"
From five to seven.'
Thank you. 2 said Sophie: ETH he
glad to- and she went to the hall
clcset.to hang up her wraps
The next minute RassIwonld have
given anything in the world II she
hadn't said it,. Why she had done 50
she never knew. IT had come out
without thinking. Now 1t was too
late. for.sthe other girls were coming
in and she could hear SOPHIE telling
them: then she heard voices saving.
wonder II Il. is her birthdav?r' Are
YOU going p ..toh won't It be fun:
their house Is so big and things like
that. Now they were entering the
school room, and when Bees saw their
eager faces she marched up to them
and repeated the invitation TO every
one there.
Are the boys coming. asked some
one.
Certainly. said Bess desperately.
II wish you'd help me ask then. -
Let's all meetsat Peters drug store
at quarter TO FIVE: then we can go
out together. suggested Sophie.
And the girls said they would be
there.
The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1915-03-28

started. and Sophie vas IN front-she
always was. Us
Why couldn't she die? Her. breath
just wouldn't stop Slowly she came
out OF the corner and slowly tfp-toed
down the stairs. No one was on that
floor She crept down the second
fight The library was empty and SO
was the sitting room. Whoever had
come In had gone out again.
Bess peeked into the kitchen. Her
grandmother Was stirring some corn
meal mush that bubbled over a. cheery
! f1re. Then the girl moved softly into
the library and locked down the street.
1t was dusk and She couldn't seesyerv
far But she heard the chatter OF
many voices and some one LAUGHING.
Then they CAME In sight. fully twenty
boys and girls. They hesitafeti at the
corner. then started down the side
street, Bess understood: 1t was mud
dy and they had decided not to come
In by the front door.
She hurried back to the kitchen and
was Just In time to hear her grand
mother say:
hat do you want. children ~,
hy. we came to the party: Bes-
sizes party
NO matter how long she may live
Bess will never forget that picture
her grandmother in the doorway. hold
ing dripping 1ad1e: the children, her
classmates, grouped on and near the
doorstep.
Then came the words she had
dreaded to hear: Run away. chill
dren: don't bother me. Can't. rou see
Tat I'm very busy 2" and the door was
shut
ooh, grandmother, Pieaset..'
The woman turned and saw the pit
ifu1, pleading face, and Instantly a
change came over her stern features
She hurried to the door, threw 1t open,
ind called. Children! chfldren!''
They looked back
mean, go TO the 'front.'" said
grandmother OF course Bes5 Is go-
ing to have party,
Turning around she told the little
gir. to- run upstairs and change her
The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1915-03-28

pain thought she would be better
Lie perfectly sttn, dear and I'll pour
tsiis on Your arm and it will soak
through. There. doesn't that feel be-.
ter? Now ! I'll cover You Y; and grand
mother tucked her, in with 4 blanket:
and Ill saTken: the room so you caa
take a nap. She pulled down the
shades, then went out s. rs
For a quarter 81 an hour Bess lay
perfectly still. but every second of the
time seemed to be 4 day What could
size do2 She had hoped her mother
might come, but no ones opened the
front door. Oh. wish Z coulG die
and go to heaven! - he moaned.
Then she suddenly sat up. for tl:,S
terrible thought came that she might
not go there. because she had beer so
wicked. u
Fl suppose ] rnpst tell. grandnlat,l-
err" She said at last and she crcpt
down stairs wandered through the
rooms. and finally entered the Kitchen.
Couldn't you sleep. dear? Well. go
into the library where 1t is bright
and warm. and I'll be III soon. It's
PItdeet's day out and havesto pre-
I':aIs for supper: !"
Those words pro5cd the final blow.
4beSS Hsd anu never stopped &Gnt1l *Sbo
reached the attic. where she crep+ I'm
to the darkest corner. There WIS
1plhine. to do but sta- there and die.
The cooks day out:
III fifteen mfIutes Y grandmother
came into the library and locked
around. then she went to the foot If
the stairs and listened. Poor cfi1dt'.
she said. She has fallen aslaan at
last" and she went back to the kitch-
en-. e
The clock on the dining room man
tie struck four and then sounded the
half hour. Bess heard the strokes of
the bell and she also heard the sro.it
door slam. 1t was aftl1er Dick or
Tommy. perhaps Annette: her mother
wouldn' t make SO much noise. twas
too late now to ask one Of them to
go to town and tell the children not
TO come. She could picture them
gathering at Peters Now they had
-. 1a ~
The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1915-03-28

L ing attention to the cccentricities Of
Ruzville'ss Weathe citizens OF What
So. W hen the managing editor OF the.
News opened Ills paper at breakfast
one morning and looked for the:
weather report. he found in It's place
SaEmodest8notice. stating that the cir
cillation of thesN News was the largest
sof any. PAPER IN the city: Now. this
feet interestink TO the managing
editor. bat twas not what he wanted
read He was looking for the
pTuphecys Of athe weather bureau,
which was telegraphed each night
from a eighboringFc city.
The managing editor allowed his
IS steak to- grow cold while hessearched
tie paper But nowhere In it, from
the top OF the first column, on the
@frontFpage, to the end of the last one.
on the hnal page. could he ind any
comments on the weather. He folded
the paper dell erately. swearing softly.
to- himself and fifteen minutes later
he confronted Young Elton. the tele-: