davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Waxahachie daily light. [volume] (Waxahachie, Tex.) 1894-current, 1915-03-30

by Flirty, recovered the teieerapnoaG
Together we carried it to the laborG
tory.
There he set up little instrument
that looked like a wedge sitting up on
end, in the face Of Which was a dial
Through it he began to run the wire
from the spools, and, taking an ear
piece, put another on my head over
my ears.
He turned a switch and we listened
eagerly.
First came several calls from peo-
pie with bills, and she put them OFF
most adroitly.
Then we heard a call that caused
Kennedy to look at me quickly, stop
the machine and start at that point
over again.
That's what I wanted, he said, as
we listened III:
Give me 4494 Greenwich"
Hello"
Hello, chief This is Flirty, Have
you done anything yet in the little
matter we talked about?"
"Say--be careful of names-over
the wire
"You knoW-What | mean
-Yes, the trick will be pulled OF at
three O'clock
Good! Good-by, and thank you"
"Good-by"
Craig paused and considered min
uteJ then moved to the Telephone.
There's on1y one thing TO do ana
that's to foAow out my original
scheme he said energetiealIy In
formation, please
where. is Greenwich s44a4?" he
asked a moment later. $50
+ The minutes PASSED. Thank you,
Sir" he cried. writing down OH a pad
an address on the West side, near
i the river front Then turning to me.
he exclaimed, Walter, we've got him
at last,'
Craig rose and put on his hat and
coat thrusting a pair of opera glasses
] into his pocket, In case we should
I want to observe the place at a dis
lance. ! followed him excitedly. The
trail was hot
Kennedy and | came at last to the
place on the West side where the
crooked streets curved off.
Instead of keeping on until he came
to the place We sought, he turned off
and quickly slipped behind the shelter
Of a fence. There was a broken board
in the fence and he bent down, gaZ-
ing through with the opera glasses.
Across the lot was the new hang
out, a somewhat diIapidatad, old-fash-
toned brick house Of several genera
tons back. Through the glass we
could see an eyil-countehaneed crook
sinking along He mounted the steps
and rang the bell, turning as he
waited
From small aperture in the door
way looked out another face. equally
evil. Under cover. the crook made
the sign of the Clutching Hand twice
and was admitted
That's the place, all right whis
pered Kennedy with satisfaction lis
hurried to a telephone booth, where
he called several numbers. Then we
returned to the laboratory.
From the table he picked up a
The Waxahachie daily light. [volume] (Waxahachie, Tex.) 1894-current, 1915-03-30

last. Where have you been? I've
oeen Off On little Job myself, and
got back"
Slim apologized profusely.
Yes, sir, he replied hastily. well,
l went over to the Dodge house. and
l saw them finally. l followed them
INTO a jewelry shop. That lawyer
bought wrist watch So bought one
Just like it. | thought perhaps we
could
Give it to me-" groWled Clutching
Hand, Selling it the moment Slim dis
played it. And don't butt in--see ~
From the capacious desk the mas
ter criminal pulled set Of small
drills, vises, and other jewelers. tools
and placed them on the table.
All right" he relented. Now, dc
you see what | have just thought Of
no? This is just the chance. Look at
me"
Carefully he piled his hands to the
job, regardless of time.
There he exclaimed at last. hold
ing the watch where they could all
see it. See"
He pulled out the stem to set the
hands and slowly twisted it between
his thumb and finger He turned the
hands until they We're almost at the
point of three O'clock
Then he held the watch out where
all could see
AS the minute hand touched three,
from the back of the case, as If from
the chasing itself a little needle, per
haps a quarter of an inch, jumped out.
1t seemed to come from what looked
like merely a small insect in the deco
ration.
You see what will happen at the
hour of three" he asked. s....
No one said a word, as he held up
vial which he had drawn from his
pocket. On 1t they could read the la
bel, "Ricinus.'
One of the most powerful noisons
III the world" he exclaimed. Enough
70 kill regiment"
They fairly gasped and looked at it
NTH horror, exchanging glances.
Opening the vial carefully, he
dipped in a thin piece Of glass and
placed tiny drop in a receptacle
back of the needle and on the needle
itself. ..., r
I've set my invention to go off at
three O'clock he concluded. "Te
morrow forenoon, it will have to, be
delivered early--and | don't believe
We snail be troubled any longer by
Miss Elaine Dodge he added, ven
bmously.
Calmly he wrapped up the appar
emily innocent engine of destruction
and handed 1t to Slim
See that she gets it in time he
said merely.
4 will, sir" answered Slim, taking
It gingerly
Flirty Florrie had returned that aft
ernoon, late from some expedition
On which she had been sent,
Ranking in her heart yet was the
death Of her lover, Dan the DUDE.
Thus, when she arrived home, she
went to the telephone to report anc
aallod number. 4t94 Greenwich
Hello. chief" she repeated. This
IS Flirty Have you done anything
The Waxahachie daily light. [volume] (Waxahachie, Tex.) 1894-current, 1915-03-30

There are more inventions than
there are rich men, if you are figur-
ing OF making IA fortune out OF pat
emf right
The Waxahachie daily light. [volume] (Waxahachie, Tex.) 1894-current, 1915-03-30
Guaranty State Bank

Hours: 9 a m. TO p. m
We pay interest on Certificates of
Deposit
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-08-10
Attracting Northern Homeseekcrs

Many people in my part of the coun- try have an idea that cotton is the only cash crop produced in the south, but those of us who travel and who glance over the government reports know that oiversifcation has taken a great hold on this section" said R. F. Caruthers of Detroit
 Alabama is rich in agricultural as well as mineral resources and I am told that it. is raising something of everything this year; that its wheat crop was a little more than double that of last year, and that it's corn crop is about 25 per cent greater this year than last. But it seems that the greatest advance in the farm industry of Alabama is found in the rais- ing of live stock The other day I heard man thoroughly informed about farm activities say that Alabama would, in a few years, be one of the geratest cat tie states in the union.
 Every year homeseelers who cannot afford to pay the high prices tbat north ern farm lands command, are moving to the south where lands are yet cheap. Alabama doubtless gets many of these settlers In fact heard it stated that one railroad alone-the Illinois Central had brought to Alabama from the north hundreds of settlers within the last five years.'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-08-10
THE MUDDIEsT OF RIVERS

U. s. Geological Survey Bulletin.
 The Missouri is the muddiest river in the Mississippi valley; it carries more silt than any other large river in the United States, except possibly the Rio Grande and the Colorado. For every square mile of country drained it-car- ries down stream 3S1 tons of dissolved and suspended matter each year. In other words, the river gathers annually from the country that 1t drains more than 12300o tons of silt and soluble mat ter some of which 1t distributes over tive agricultural lands. but most of which finds it's way at last to the Gulf of Mexico.
 It is by means of data of t6is kind that geologists compute the rate at which the lands are being eroded away. It has been shown that the Missouri river is lowerin gthe surface of the land drained by it at the rate of one foot in 6036 years. The surface of the United States as a whole is now being worn down at the rate of one foot in 912C years It has been estimated that if this erosive action of the streams of the Uni- ted States could have been concentrated on the Isthmus of Panama 1t would have dug in 73 days the canal which has just been completed. after 10. years work with the most powerful appliances yet devised by man.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-08-10
Lard Selling Cheap

within the past few months there has been a big slump in lard prices, D remarked R. Schembs, manager for a local packing concern.
 Tt would seem as though there was too much lard in the United States at this time; and I understand that it has been accommodating for a year or so. Mondays wholesale quotation on pure lard was SA cents. This Is almost ? cents lower than was the price at this time last year. In some way the pro- duction has become much larger than the consumption, and meat men have now come to realize that the time has arrived when it would not pay to hold on to their stocks any longer. The wholesale price on pure lard is now almost as low as that on compounds.
 "The meat business in the Birming ham district shows signs of improve ment and I feel sure that our trade will be greatly bettered within the next 3n days" !
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-08-10
Solicitor Highly Commended

"The action of Solicitor Hugo L.. Black and his corps of assistants in Keeping the county jail clear of per sons charged with trivial offenses can not be too highly commended" said Roger l.. Snyder.
 "It is enough to corrall those charged with the more serious off, lenses in a place so closely confined as the county jail during these swell tering months with the courts at re- cess, but it is positively inhuman to so confine those whose offenses are trifling for several months while awaiting trial when at the most a small fine would be imposed.
 q venture to say that nearly every one of the persons released on their own recognizance will report for tri@ when the criminal court convenes in September and the ends of justice will be fully met. I desire to say that Sheriff Batson has the same views as The solicitor and is glad to release on proper authority the minor offend CT This plan will tend to make the first offender a better citizen while to keep him in jail two or three months for a minor offense with nothing to do only tends to make him brood on the injustice of his fate and has a tendency to harden him and lead him to further crime"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-08-10

From the Consular Report.
 An American industry with s1,- 100000 market has sprung up within few months, following upon the sud- den termination at the outbreak of
 war, of imports into the United States
 of medicinal oil from Russia American
 refiners, upon learning that it was no longer possible to obtain liquid petrol cum from the customary source set about to supply the established trade, and before the close of 1914 a score of refiners were experimenting In the new field, at least 10 sources of do- nnestic white oil for medicinal use hav- ing been developed while the product was retailed under 50 or more differ ent trade names.
 The geological survey, in discussing this subject. says that the working up of the trade for the Russian product of this type was largely a matter of | chance rather than of necessity, for
 oils of essentially the same character can be produced from American pc troleum, and in fact have been pro- duced on a small scale for several years The fact that foreign oil has heretofore met no serious competition here, 1t says, has been due in part tc the ample and satisfactory supply from external sources, but to a great
 cr extent to the absorption of Amer ican refiners In efforts to increase the
 output of more easily refined products, such as gasoline and naphtha, for which there is an ever-increasing mar lSef
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-08-10
HOW DID YOU DIE.

By Edmund Vance Cooke. Did you tackle that trouble that came
 your way
 With a resoute heart and cheerful? Or hide your face from the light of day With craven soul and fearful? Oh. trouble is a ton. or trouble is an
 ounce.
 Or trouble is what you make It. And it isn't the fact that you're hurt that
 counts.
 But only-how did you take it? / You are beaten to earth? well, we'll
 what's that? Come up with smiling face It's nothing against you to fall down flat But to lie there-that's disgrace. The harder you're thrown. why. the high
 CT you bounce; Be proud of your blaclSened eye! It isn't the fact that you're licked that
 counts:
 It's how did you fignt-and why? And though you've been done to the
 death. what then? If you battled the best you could, IT you played your part in the world of
 men,
 Why, the Critic will call it good Death comes with a crawl or comes with
 g. bounce; And whether he's sfJw or spry. It isn't the fact that you're dead that
 counts.
 But oply-how did you die,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-08-10
A CHANGE FOR COLLEGE MEN


 According to statement recently appearing in the Springfield Repub- lican, during single day in July a contingent of New England college students. to the number of 37, start cd for Beloit, Kan, under signed con tracts to assist in harvesting and threshing the Kansas wheat crop and at a wage rate of sS per day. The students were from Harvard, Tufts, Boston college, Wesleyan and the Mas sachusetts Institute of Technology. An other party of students for farm work was being arranged when the first con- signment left.
 The often referred to call of the col lege men to assist the hard pressed farm industries seems after all not to be a myth. Doubtless there was a draft from other collegiate centers than those of New England. The se- rious minded college boy probably makes a good farm hand And is not this harvest time call to the college men and their willing respofse sug- gestive of solution of the back to- the-land problem? The president of one of the leading American universities President Butler of Columbia, We think it was--recently remarked that the wage-earning capacity of the av- craze college graduate, until he picks up an outside education, is about S6 per week.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-08-10
The Birmingham Bills

Three legislative bills in the inter- est of Birmingham have passed the senate and are now on the house calendar-the tax amendment bill the budget bill and the omnibus bill Each one of them should be called up and passed without further delay.
 Each of these bills is important, but the most important is that author izing the voters of Birmingham to in- crease the city's tax rate not exceed ing 50 cents on the hundred dollars. Birmingham is suffering now from an insufficiency of revenue. The com mission has been forced to drastic re- trenchment and every property owner and every business man is more or less affected by this state of affairs.
 Birmingham is known far and wide as a rich, rapidly growing and pro gressive city, but in order to main tain it's reputation it's income must be increased It may be that the tax equalization system will result in such an increase that a tax "raise" will be unnecessary. Let us all hope so, but the financiers who have figured 1t out that way will probably be dis appointed. At any rate the tax amendment measure should be adopted Iso that the people here can have the right to deal with the situation as necessities may require.
 The only opposition to the tax amendment bill was withdrawn when the representatives of the city gov ernment agreed to a compromise as to the earliest time when a tax raise" election could be held-October 1, 1916. All the city asks is the right for the people to vote on this tax rate question; the right to say at the polls whether the present rate of $1 should remain as it is or whether it should be increased 25 cents or, at most, 50 cents.
 The budget bill requires the city commission to make up and publish an estimate of expenditures for the year and to keep strictly within that estimate. The omnibus bill merely corrects number of errors in the city charter-none of them very serious, but nevertheless serious enough to de- man attention.
 There are several other measures directly affecting Birmingham, but they have not yet reached the house calendar, and no immediate concern is felt about them. But the three re- ferred to, especially the tax amend ment bill, are so urgent that no chances should be taken.
 Let some member of the Jefferson county delegation make it his busi- ness to get these bills through as quickly as possible.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-08-10
Truck Farm Talk

Vegetables and fruits are now be- coming somewhat scarce in this sec tion of the state," remarked M. F. Mad dox, Jefferson county trucker
 "As usual at this season of the year the greater portion of the garden veg etables are about burnt up by the ex- cessive heat The peach crop in this locality also seems about exhausted, but large shipments of Elbertas con tinue to arrive from the northern part of the state.
 within the past week there has been a noticeable increase in the price of home raised produce and still further advances may be expected In the near future.
 There has been much diversification in Alabama this year and the farm CTS have been greatly benefited. I had several acres planted in wheat myself and this produced a good yield. This state in a short while will probably become a great producer of grain.'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-08-10
Time for Silence

For nine years Harry Thaw has been exploited by American newspa- pers. During his successive fights for freedom, following the tremendous sensation caused by the killing of White, the famous architect, and the sordid revelations of Evelyn Nesbit Thaw, full publicity was given to every move the prisoner made, as well as those of his lawyers and the mem- bers of his family who were aiding him.
 The hope was expressed that when Thaw got his release he would drop out of notice. But such was not the case. Wherever he goes his appear ance is heralded by the newspapers, morbid crowds gather about to see him and silly women struggle to get sou venir. On his recent visit to Chicago he had no sooner signed his name on a hotel register before the pen was snatched from his hand by a woman who will doubtless cherish it to her dying day.
 Not only do the irresponsible street crowds contrive to keep Thaw's noto- riety alive, but interviews with him on all sorts of subjects are published, and he is seldom averse to talking. Why his opinions should be sought after is mystery to normal minds, but if he were a man of profound learning and the greatest fame, he would not be more freely quoted.
 Whatever sympathy there may be for Thaw, he is in no sense of the word a hero and the newspapers of the country would benefit the public and Thaw as well by letting him rest in obscurity. In more favorable times, prolonged trip abroad would help matters, but circumstances have forced him to do his travelling in this country.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-08-10
Art and Mechanics

Science is robbing even art of it's romantic associations. Think of a sculptor plying his trade with the aid of pneumatic chisel, instead of the time honored mallet!
 Yet this very thing is being done. Lorado Taft, the American sculptor, is using pneumatic chisel, operated by compressed air, to 'block out' his statues from the marble slab.
 This method of "sculping," accord ing to Taft, is much more satisfactory than the old fashioned mallet and chisel way, because it leaves the sculp- tor with both hands free to guide the instrument.
 Of course, the finishing off of the statue must be done by hand, but the preliminary work is rendered much easier and more quick of accomplish ment by means of the application of modern mechanical art.
 The shades of Phidias and Praxitiles can easily be imagined as holding ar indignation meeting over the profan- ing of their beloved art by the appli- cation of vulgar machine.
 But summing it all up, isn't art just as pleasing, no matter what be the means of it's accomplishment? Ant after this evidence of the blending of art and mechanics, who shall cast re. flection on the practical trend of the artistic temperament?
 To those who have been gifted witl a mind that grasps the principles ot mechanics, there is in a beautiful ma chine many of the elements of art To the ear attuned to catch it, the hum of perfectly geared, smoothly running machine, has the rhythm o1 music, and let that machine get out of order-a slight friction or jar and the note of discord is quickly per ceived by the ear trained to detect it
 Science. art. labor, music. all have
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-08-10
No Longer Apprehensive

According to a special report on Statistics and standards" of the Uni- ted States Chamber of Commerce all feeling of apprehension of something going to happen to this country be- cause of the European war" has dis appeared. Even with the possibility of the United States being drawn into the world conflict there is pro- nounced belief that business will con- tinue to improve. The "war scare' that affected financial circles few weeks ago no longer enters into busi- ness calculations. Confidence on every side is the rule.
 Crop conditions are, on the whole as favorable as recent forecasts indi. cated, the stock market continues strong and upward, the demand fol pig iron at the higher price level in creases, steel mills are operating al practically full capacity and general trade is more active now than it has been at any time this year.
 The wave of prosperity which has been extending to every part of the country will be more and more in evi- dence with the approach of autumn and the promised high records in the industrial and commercial world arc almost sure to materialize.
 The last half of 1915 will be remem. bered as great boom period. Anc every indication leads to the belief that the boom will be as substantial as it will be all pervading.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-08-10
CRUCIBLE STEEL

From the Wall Street Journal.
 Shipments on the Remington Arms and Ammunition company rifle barrel contract are now being made by the Crucible Steel company from it's old plant in Harrison.
 Details of the company's plans for the new ordinance works In Harrison call for one of the most highly special ized establishments in the United States.
 The management Is confident it will be able to turn out ordinance, especial ly heavy guns for navy purposes, as economically as any other manufacturer in the world by reason of the specially prepared machinery and arrangements made for handling work of that sort. Each of the 10 buildings which are now in course of construction will be connected and each building Is designed for a special purpose.
 The gun factory will be the largest one o4 it's kind in this country. being 600 fe&t long by 90 wide.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-08-10
Busy Times Ahead

When I was in New York a week age I found the jobbing district full of activ- ity and the people I met were buoyant, said H. J. Porter
 Communities that were depressed a few months ago are now enjoying pros- perity, but in talking with merchants from various sections I learned that in the east and the west hard times, follow ing the war, were as much felt as in the south. l am now of the opinion that Bir- mingham suffered less last fall than most of the eastern manufacturing centers. Yes, that Is what I gathered in compar- ing notes with men from many states while I was in New York.
 Business in Birmingham district is now humming and I look for an exceptionally brisk trade in this city during the re- mainder of the year"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-08-10
ADRIFT WITH THE TIMES
CAN'T PLEASE EVERYBODY.

CAN'T PLEASE EVERYBODY.
 We are now approaching our state penitentiary. where the honor system is in force. Those men in dark blue suits who are playing golf are convicts
 Prison life isn't hard for them. dare say.'
 ''oh. no. I also hear cheering and pre- sume baseball game is going on some where in the vicinity. Every evening there is moving picture show to enter tain the prisoners"
 q don't suppose any complaints are ever heard?'
 Not many. However, an honor man walked away only last week.
 "surprising." N
 He left a note to the warden, saying he had to go to a place where he could mediate over his sins. as the constant round of gaiety in prison was getting on his nerves
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-08-10

their sympathetic relation and when brought into the right relation, may be said to be Fin tune"
 Is not a sculptor broader, better artist from the fact that he does not despise mechanical help?
 Is not the mechanic better man for seeing in the machine he operates beauty and artistic qualities?