davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1915-05-09
The Holocaust
By Walt Gregg.

cling luxury, with their passages and
underground tunnels from street TO
street. were hidden the. bright-eyed
women Of different lands, who knew
the .fnner secrets OF San Franciscos
remorseless and merciless Chinatown.
At the end Of maze of passages
and narrow stairways Wo Lee was
finally conducted into low-ceiled.
hazy. sickish-odored room. Numerous
hunks and divans lined its walls,
while in the center a shriveled. mum
my-faced Chinaman sat bumped over
brazen lamp. With nod to this
attendant, Wo Lee sank upon couch
and waited until he could be fur
nished with pipe and sufficient
opium TO give him the repose and
surcease that his soul craved. His
plans were all arranged, and he IN
tended to spend the interval before
their consummation In the indulgence
of. to him, the most sublime Of all
pleasures.
night again when Wo Lee finally
arose frois, his couch, paid his reck-
oning, and left the opium house
Leaden-eyed and half sick from his
debauch. he went home and picked
up the bundle which he had left there
the previous evening: then. after ono
long look around the little shop. he
made his way TO An 1y 3 QWSlIlu6.
Here when he had assured himself
that the windows were secure and
closely suffered, he struck match
and lighted smoky lamp. The house,
as before, was deserted: but wo Lee
seemed to be thoroughly at home. He
knew, even before he read the COM
munication which he found hidden
beenath a loose board In the floor.
that his friend was by then well on
HIS way to Los Angeles. where he had
relatives who would aid him to con-
ceal himself until he could get out OF
the country. He would lose no time
once he knew that TAPPING had de-
creed his death.
With inscrutable. masklfke face.
wo Lee set about his preparations for
deceivfng the Tong into the belief
that All Ty had been murdered ac-
cording to orders. Without haste. but
with the steady method and determt-
nation of one who has a. definite pur-
pose IN view. he placed quantity OF
paper and cotton waste against the
wooden walls and himsy hanEings OF
the room, piled over them such arti-
cIes of furniture as he could easily
move. Then he took a large bottle
from his bundle and sprikled its con-
tents over everything until the place
reeked with the odor of naphtha-
After final look around the room. In
which his keen little eyes saw every
detail OF his arrangements. Wo Lee
locked and barred the front door and
The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1915-05-09

while for an instant his imperturoable
face was convulsed wit. an awful
fury. You know our law. This dog.
this worm, this unclean fratr1cide
must die! You have been chosen
Obey. or, He paused and shruS-
ged hfs shoulders significantly.
At the beginning Of this outburst
Wo Lee shrank back in terror. glanc-
ing about him steafthiiy. ike corn
cred rat He was badly frightened
and for several minutes he sat ss,i.
trembled. he laid down his paper ano
faced the other. moistening MS
pSrched lips as he did so.
"Tt IS enough; VIII obey. he saio
submissively. 81 have ever been
faithful servant of the Tong
$50 be i. then. You have two DAYS.
There must be no error. On the night
of the third day the Tong must nave
proof that it's enemy has been
moved. You know the penalty OF as
obedience. See that you are not mace
TO suffer TT
wo Lee shuddered and dropped his
head upon his hands IN utter help-
lessness.
". '-F Will obey"
silently. but with a smile OF devil
fsh, malignant triumph on his wooden
countenarce. the big Tong leader
arose and stalked majesticaliy out OF
the room.
Left alone. wo Lee sank dejectedly
against the table and stared before
him with unseeing eyes. He knew
what was expected OF him. and he
knew that he must carry out his ord
ers. All Ty< had offended the Tai
Ping, and he was doomed. From the
very first wo Lee had realized this;
but he had hoped that some other
than himself might be chosen to re-
move him. All Ty was his best, al
most his only close friend; and yet.
by some devlish trick OF Fate. he had
been picked by his Tong leaders to
kill their enemy. Within two days he
must by some means-the method
was left to his own choice-dispose
of his friend in such manner that
all Chinatown would know OF his
death. It does not pay for one to
conspire against his Tong
For many hours Wo Lee sat IN
silent loneliness. pulling his brains
for way out OF his difficulty; but
he could think Of none All Ty was
doomed. No power on earth could
save him. wo Lee was ready and
willing to make any personal sacrt-
fee for his friend-he would gladly
change places with him and die In
his stead: but he knew that this
could make no difference. II he failed
to carry out the directions OF the
The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1915-05-09

but It was a secret that be kept to
himself He wished to make great
display at the wedding of wonderful
giftSso his bride. and especially did ne
wish to dazzle the guests eyes at the
wedding supper that was to folio"
afterward IN Boruch Hall
After several months of planning
and schemtng Mr. Levi obtained an
interview with Mr.. Noses Goldberg
this was shortly before the time fixed
for the marriage. The interview was
satisfactory. and Mr.. Levi exchanged
an invitation to the wedding and the
supper that followed with Mr. Cold
berg for a small package which he
carefully pinned inside his waistcoat
Mr.. Levi was very cheerful as he
made his way to the brides own
house shortly before the wedding. and
In a pleasant speech presented 20 her
a diamond necklace containing %
stones, some OF considerable value.
The wedding moved OF smoothly;
there were no Tilted rivals to scowI
AT the bridegroom and no lorn maids
10 hate the bride
Then came the great supper, when
began at s O'Clock in the evening In
Boruch Hail. Everything that was
good TO eat was served, and there
were toasts and speeches and songs. a
professional quartet from q vaucev14le
rheater came around and contributed
to the endowment of the guests ana
at the head of the table sat the bride.
Leah Goldberg. now Mrs. Lew. radlanL
resplendeut. with the bridegroom
gift. the diamond necklace. sparkling
on her neck, and admired by every
one It was even referred TO IN seS-
eral of the speeches
Noses Goldberg had placed his as
sistant. Emanuel Freund, opposite
him at the feast with rigid instruc-
tons to call on his. master Tor 4
speech in the event that no one else
did. Along about o'clock Mr.. Rhein-
heimer. also pawnbroker and
warm rival of Mr.. Goldberg, made ms
third speech. Mrs Goldberg nudSed
her husband.
Get up and say something she
said. Don't you see Rheinhelmer
making another speech? Should you
sit here and let him carry on honors
like that2 Get up. say and make
little talS."
Il wouldn't do it." replied Goldberg.
frowning at his clerk. who had forgot
ten his instructions But when ne saw
the frown the orders OF the CHIEF came
back to him So he pounded on the
table with much feigned enthusiasm
and shouted. Goldberg. Speech!
Goldberg"
Moses Goldberg waved his hand II
got nothing To say" he declared
came here to eat and drink and have
a good time, not to bore you with three
or four speechs." taking a look at
Rheinheimer But Mr.. Freund. sttll
The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1915-05-09
By Walt Gregg.

and unercfless in sin and shame. No
alien can ever fathom the workings
of the Oriental mind
Silent and inconspfcuous In dress.
wo Lee made his way past dozens OF
these artfully hidden dens until ne
finally paused before an unpretentious
dwelling at the corner Of side street
After one quick. furtive glance to
right and left he opened a small door
and slipped within Inside. as he
expected. It was dark and still; An
Tv was never home at this hour. But
like one accustomed 10 his surronnd-
ings Wo Lee shunled mo = OASN
took from his sleeve. In place
where he knew his friend would be
sure to md It before morning Then,
as noiselessly as he had come, the
little Chinaman stole outdoors again
On the way back to his own house
he stooped at q drug shop. where ne
made several purchases: afterward,
Nth, 1r;fb . b,,Ilev nackaae under one arm.
he nroceeded On his way.
Thfs nioht wo Lee played. the lead
,,g role In Wild. riotous debapch.
Msiane HE wav from place TO place
IN the underworld. he gambled and
- r-;th . nrodfrality seldom seen
~ rh+naman Woney flowed from
~ ITO water. and the members OF
+t,a Tas-p,ne Who saw him winked
t-aa-tneiy AZ each other. They read.
=. tta1sb+ they read the signs cor
re.+;y He was fortifying himself
The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1915-05-09
25256 53535555

guests were requested very firmly by
the detective to remain In their seats
and not go out under any circum-
stances.
when the three were alone in the little
room, wherein is your interest in this
necklace. for I see you have conceal
"I1l give you $500 right In this hall
IL s-ou put that necklace in my hands
before you leave here" said MI Cold
berg.
Mr.. Einstein, "but I will admit that
am mystified. and shall do nothing TN
til I am fully informed about the
I'm going to tell him everything"
said Goldberg as he looked at the
doleful Levi. "A detective never tells
anything. anyway He's like doctor
got to keep those things that you
confade in him to himself. Isn't that
so2'
Mr.. Einstein said 1t was. and after
feeble waving OF the hands Mr. Levi
assented and told Mr.. Goldberg to tell
the story Of the necklace.
ct was this way" said Mr.. Cold
berg. 81 heard about the wedding. and
1 got to wondering what Levi could
give his bride. knew from his deal
and also knew that he would wish to
give her something costly in order
as you might say-to make q sort of
splurge before all the folk at the we'd
ding and banquet So it did not sur
prise me one day last week when he
came In and asked me If 1 had a pres
ent suitable for him to give his bride.
I showed him the diamond necklace.
which is really worth about $500,
but which / think can sell for $1,000
II I add seven more stones to It l
said to him that knew he did not
have any money. He tried to make a
bluff on me by saying that he did have
money. that he would take the !ewelry
"a approval ! said, It is no use Is
ador Levi. know you got no money
yourself, so how you going to take
the necklace. even should you ap-
prove@ He said he particularly want
ed the bride to wear 1t at the we'd
ding and the supper in order that the
people might think he had given her
q fne present, and 1t would not ap-
pear that he had married for money
But that don't help me any, said
what do get out Of it? Levi told
me that he was going TO borrow lot
of money from his wife right after
the wedding. He said he would pay
me for the necklace what asked, ana
IL he did not anyway he would give
me 5000 for the loan OF it
ct told him I was afraid 1t would
be stolen or lost In some way, and he
said could have an mutation TO the
wedding and keep an eye on 1t curing
The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1915-05-09

ped suddenly and an expression OF
increduhty, not unmixed with fright
appeared on his face. The dead BODY
which only q few minutes before had
lain still and rigid on the couch. was
gonei
For an interval OF perhaps ave
minutes Wo Lee stared at the empty
couch In Mortified fascination. while
little beads OF sweat slowly formed on
his yellow face and neck. Then:
his first spasm Of superstitious horS
ror was replaced by a full realization
OF what had actually occurred. ne
Strengthened up and looked behind
him. As he suspected. the door was
partly open. He had forgotten 70
lock Il. and the old Chtnanan nad
followed him Now. safe in the depths
of his evi1-smelling. ghostiy den. ene
keeper of the dead was proe@oty
chuckling over the success OF ms
coup. After selling the body for =
good price. he had stolen 1t PACK
again.
As these thoughts flashed through
wo Lees head a grin OF devilish hate
and rage showed for an instant on MS
lbs. and his hand sought the handle
Of his knife. The idea OF following
the thief and settling accounts WIN
him for good and all had crossed hrs
mind. but the next second he DIS
missed It with a hopeless shake OF his
head. The old man would be on his
guard for the rest of that night. &C
least, and time was very precious.
A eroan OF despair burst from W0
Lees Hps as he considered this. ie
was too late to buy another BODY
furthermore. he hadn't money enough
He was doomed. Caught in the Jaws
of his own trap! All Ty was safe:
but the Tong was yet to be satisfied
There was only one way. left. and
Like most Cinnamon. Wo Les was q
fatalist and. his mind once made mp
he did not hesitate. STOPPING. he de-
nberately struck match and applied
It to the naptha-soaked hangtngg
Then. as the room burst into sheet
of fame. he raised himself to his full
height and his right hand, holding =
long. glistening knife, rose and tel
rapidly. The next instant he pitched
forward onto the blazing couch.
That night a raging IRE threatened
for a time to engulf q large portion
OF San Franciscos Chinatown. all
though It was eventually subdued
after a hard fight on the part of near
" a hundred flremen, who managed
to confine the blaze to the block IN
which All Ty's dwelling was located
Next morning a careful search OF the:
ruins revealed a number of charred
bones and a twisted bit Of steel. which
caused the police to form the theory
that All Ty was the victim OF suicide
The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1915-05-09

stealthily crept out Of the back Of the
Crossing a wide court. he stopped
IN the darkness of a deep arcnw1y
and knocked softly on a small door.
For q. moment he waited. then, as the
door swung open, he lodged inside
and confronted an old. wrtnkled
Chfnaman. who stood blinking at him
In the dim light OF "a tallow Dip For
several minutes the two talked softly
IN Chinese; then the old man turned
and slippered OF down the passage
way.
In Iow-studded. musty room;
dark and damp as a cellar. the old
man paused and bent over shrouded
object which lay on a long platform.
with faint shudder and a half-fear-
full glance at several other covered
figures. lying dim and mottonIess at
the other end Of the bench. Wo Lee
lifted the sheet and Ea1ed at the body
It had covered After brief glance.
which sized up the dead man from
head 10 foot, he turned to the keeper
OF the morgue and nodded.
without word the old man set
down his candle and wound the sheet
tightly around the corpse. Then the
two men lifted IL and retraced their
steps to the little door by which Wo
Lee had entered the building In the
shadow of the archway they put down
their burden. and Wo Lee handed his
companion something which clinked
musically. With a bow and a muir
INJURED word or two in Chinese the an
cient stepped inside again and closed
the door.
When a careful scrutiny OF the
neighborhood had convinced him that
no spying eye observed his move
ments. Wo Lee hoisted his grisly
burden on to his shoulder and stag
gered back to All Tvs.
Carrying the body to the front room.
he placed 1t on couch and fastened
a metal-bowled opium pipe IN the icy
fingers OF one hand: then he stood
back and surveyed his work APPROX
ingly. The dead man lay In All Tvs
house-he was Of about All Ty's age
and stature, and If Wo Lee grunted
in deep satisfaction, and hastened to
complete the final details OF his
scheme.
He left the lower floor and went up
stairs, where for some time he worked
busiIy In the darkness, opening a
number Of doors and windows AT
last. when faint breeze began to
rustic the faded curtains and hang
inzs of the interior, he crept noise
lessly below again. Back IN the room
where he had left the body. he
stopped over a pile Of oil-drenched
cotton-waste. and was In the act OF
striking match when his Jaw drop
The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1915-05-09


Nizened face. brown and wrinkled as
the skin OF an overdone baked apple.
puckered about the eyes until It
seemed at the point Of bursting. while
the eyes themselves glistened and
scintillated like those OF a snake.
Their owner was amazed. not to say
alarmed. at some item of news in the
paper. and he proclaimed the fact by
series Of sharp intakirgs Of his
Elances which. from time to time. he
cast around the room as though he
reared interruption. All was quiet.
however, and gradually, IS he CON
etnued his reading. he became more
and more absorbed. until he finally
FORGOT this precaution- Thus It was
that-he failed TO heed the soft opening
OF the door behind him.
Well. you have discovered It. I
see. said deep. calm voice. in
Chinese.
we Lees diminutfve figure stirened.
and his breath. hastily expelled with
a lons-drawn e-histling sound. seemed
to leave his body for good. For a
long minute. as though suddenly
turned to stone. he never moved. but
sat hunched over the paper. staring
straight before him in a kind OF daze.
Then, by a strong effort of will. he
forced himself to speak.
You have come. oh. Master" he
walled IN raspins sing-song. without
shifting his position 50 much as a
hairs breadth. He seemed afraid to
turn and confront the intruder.
st have come" The visftor-he
was very large and very heavily built
for a Chinaman-stepped into the
room and sat down There was a cum
ming gleam IN his narrow eyes as he
turned them on the cringing form of
the other. but his face was as express
sioniess as a mask. 81 have come to
see that there shall be no mistake, .
he continued, in his deep tones. You
know the penalty?'
81 do. oh, Master; but would that
another had been chosen This man
IS as a brother to me-"
The Tong has ordered. and the
Tong must be obeyed," intoned the big
nan, generously.
True: but there"
Enough. This is no time for ex-
cuses" the other interrupted hercely.
The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1915-05-09

strange intruder in astoniSsn~-
What did he mean. Who Was he?
Finally small waiter. one OF the
servants. who stood near, said: You
got dem floor :.
The wild-lookinS man continued:
"Brueder Lebeni Who is IL that has
got all dem gutter Gelt in der Welt?
stay still for reply!"
No one said anything and the man
added: You won't tell me. Aver
you all know tits dem Gonoffs. der
Rocker fellers. And who. Brueder Lee
ben. uphol5s them In keeping all this
money? 1t is der President. dem Ro-
senfeld."
At this instant the bridegroom
struck the orator blow In the stom-
ach, knocking him out OF the chair.
and two of the guests: Moshe Salt
peter and Ignatz Fluegelman, OF the
Chocems Club. hurled him out OF the
door and with great zeal kicked him
down the stairs and into the street.
where he SAT- on the sidewalk and re-
fused to move for half an hour. mar
Yelling why they kicked him out OF an
Anarchists meeting to which they had
especially invited him to make q
speech
chists on the third floor OF Boruch
Hall was wondering what had become
of Shoiem LeV1nSKl, Inc pOpoA0A
speaker, who had promised to appear
and deliver an address
IEuatz Einstein, the great deteccEe,
walked into the banquet hall ana APP
proached Moses Goldberg. whom ne
recognized Goldberg greeted him
with much pleasure
What has happened?" asked MI.
Einstein-
The bride has been robbed of dta-
mond necklace that was around her
neck. She had it on when the feast
opened. and while was making q
speech that they insisted that I DO l
observed that it had disappeared Oy.
like 10 have you get 1t back"
Excuse me. Mr.. Goldberg. but who
gave her this necklace" asked 1g-
"Isador Levi. the Chosan. did. Of
course" replied the pawnbroker. VINO
else should it be-"
ssThen where is your interest ??
Mr. Goldberg looked somewhat con-
fused His eyes sought those OF the
bridegroom. and. obsecging menac-
ing look. said that he could not ex-
plain It fully. except to say that be was
a friend OF Mr.. Levi, and relative
of the new Mrs. Levi
Suppose We go into private room
and talk il over" suggested the de-
receive. You and Mr. Levi. guess
/ can get 10 the bottom Of it
Moses Goldberg. Isador Levi and Ig-
nafx Etnstein went into the small room
in the rear of the banquet hall and
closed and locked the door. The
The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1915-05-09

the ceremony and at the banquet l
agreed to this and let him have II
Now I fear lose 1t all If the neck
lace is gone"
Ignatz Einstein fixed his searching
eyes on Mr.. Levi and said:
What do you know akbout this?"
The necklace was on her neck In
the early part OF the might" said Levi
at looked at it a-couple of dozen times
and had not noticed that it was gone
until Mr.. Goldberg called attention
DO you know where It is?" asked
Mr. Einstein.
turbed manner.
"Isador Levi" replied MT. Einstein.
sternIy. give me that necklace. 1t is
in the inside. pocket in your dress
waist coat.
Levi almost dropped to the floor as
the great detective reached In the
pocket he had mentioned and pulled
out the necklace before the astonished
and delighted eyes of Moses Goldberg.
"I knew" said Mn Efnstein. before
Mr.. Goldberg had got half through his
story that you, Levi. mad taken me ne
necklace; the only question would be
where you had put it. got from his
statement the fact that it had not been
taken out of the room by you, there
fore it was somewhere on yoH. Had
YOU reached to your shoe you would
have been noticed; you might have
placed 1t IN your trousers pocket. out
observed that the trousers. Ike many
that go with dress suits. had no peck
cts. 1t was In either your coat OF
Waistcoat You reached several times
into your inside coat pocket while we
were In this room and took out hand
kerchIef; plainly fl. was not there. as
had i. been you would not remove
the handkerchief. fearing that you
would draw out the jewelry. The
necklace. then, was in the inside
pocket of your waiStcoat; noticed
when you pulled your coat out. as you
reached for the handkerchief that
there was small lump in the waist
coat pocket
Il also believe that you have al
ready asked your wife for money and
that she. refuses to give you cent
Am I right?"
yes" said Levi In low voice "she
says let her wait month and see
first what kind Of a husband am i
swear. Mr.. Goldberg and Mr. Einstein.
that I did not intend to rob Mr.. Cold
berg Of the necklace only wanted
to get It and give it beck to him be-
fore he went away. fS:as afraid he
would speak about 1t and shame me
before the people. When Rhefnheimer
made 4 speech proposing the health OF
the bride and Bridegroom every one
stood up, and so did Leah and L We
embraced each other. as Is the Gus
tom. Just as the people had their heads
The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1915-05-09

MS-G23 is merrvNwed-
s;n~. +ben II NAV he the feas: that
,aiie.,s .be +yina- Of tf,e nuntiai knot
.o SrsI1Nto-do narents NAV be hold
s snt .+a p., ,,,;tzvat, ~ a farorite SON
-. - 800 lns t5au
- TO- 20 S,,i,55i-s ia +bree stories high.
ne $500 .zoo- is large cafe and
on sne = ~, tfa secopd foor there
leseaa asd;n.s and snnners and dances
- ~ .ha +b;Td fIoor Anarchists:
meeangs are c n VOL known
! MISS t1ss.H ~ - been f,- ,.ea,-.
IN socIels. 60 aI,bo,,eb che had =
stranseis snouS hsd sol NOR Tears
3ottune, sn +a .d,,it AND st;rI was
than sne Ss1 -, az, r.i+bo,,t
miss: r ~ 80 Scbo+cben beasn ~
the sugseselon ~ .a,,e, 1tbv r.aroan
pay aIen ,sn - 10, 81 ,ccented husband
eno soon y ,es-+T, x..se piven II,
An ensasu - tsa5or received
Boruch "a. ,s gu
many sI,a 10 ,.as-.-5ea ,s good
The ma.ch vas = IS ,s,,oysn that he
one TOT M, as - ~, and drew but
had no nohes - ,,ts rrork 40 clerk
Q mocest sa.a :. w. weiIsknown clo-
The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1915-05-09
Almost Generous.

Two Irishmen were discussing The
death OF a friend.
Said Pat:
sure. Casey was a good fellow"
He was that. replied Mike.
good fellow. Casey"
And cheerful man was Casey.
said Pat
"a cheerful man was Casey, taN.
cheerfullest I ever knew. echos@
Mike
casey was a generous man. tea.
Generous. you say Wen. don't
know SO much about that Did Casey
ever buy you anything2"
well, nearly" replied Nike
scratching his head ''one day no
came into F1aherty's bar room. where
me and my friends were drinking
and he said to us: well. men. what
are We going to have-ratn or snow