davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Yale expositor., 1915-04-29
Crashing His Teeth in Impotent Rage.

to the bottom OF the shaft--a descent,
like hundred feet
A hideous screeching followed, the
protests of rusty and greaseless ma
chinery. Twisting his neck, Barcus
saw the dim opening of the shaft
slowly closing, as If a curtain were
being drawn down over 1t. Jimmy
was closing the bulkhead door, leav-
ing them definitely prisoners, beyond
human aid, there in that everlasting
black hole.
With a final squeal and thump the
bulkhead settled into place. A con-
fusion of remote sounds thereafter in
Dictated that Jimmy with. perhaps,
the bulkhead fast beyond question
wedging and blocking it with timbers.
These ceased-and the silence was
broken by Alan's voice.
"Barcusl"
The latter grunted soulfully by way
of answer: he could do no more.
I've worked my gag loose" Alan
pursued in hurried whisper. "but my
hands are tied behind my back. Are
yours? Grunt once for yes"
Dutifully Bracus grunted solitary
grunt.
Then roll over on your face and
give me a chance to work them free
that way, given time
"Time!" was the mirthless thought
Of Barcus, Haven't we got all eter-
nity?"
For all that, he wasted no time
whatever in obeying Alan's suggestion
then lay for upward of ten minutes
with his face In the mold of the tunnel
while Alan chewed and spat and
chewed and spat and chewed again at
the ropes round the wrists OF his
friend.
II 1t were In truth no more than ten
minutes 1t seemed upward of an hour
before the bonds grew slack and Bar
Gus with an effort that cost him much
OF the skin on one wrist worried a
hand free, then loosed the other, re-
moved and spat out his gag, and set
hastily about freeing his friend. That
took but a few instants-little more
than was needed TO rid Rose of her
bonds.
That much accomplished, a pause
of profound CONSERVATION followed
The darkness was absolute in the tun-
mel. Jimmy having taken the candle
away with him; and its silence was
rendered uncanny by the sobs and muir
murs OF the lovers, that sounded some
how fearfully remote and inhuman to
Barcus-who had turned Immediately
10 the bulkhead and was, without the
slightsst hope. groping about Its joints
The Yale expositor., 1915-04-29

Broad daylight surprised them In
this state, still stubbornly travelling;
and shortly afterward showed them
one place so perilous that it shocked
them temporarily awake.
This was simply a spot where the
trail came abruptly to an end on one
side of cleft In the hills quite thirty
feet wide and several hundred in
depth, and was continued on the far
Their side, the chasm being spanned by
a bridge OF the simplest character
no more than a footway of boards
bound together with ropes none too
substantial in seeming, with another
rope. breast-high, to serve as hand
rail.
Alan tested the bridge cautiously.
1t bore him. He returned, helped Rose
to cross, and with her once safely
landed on the other side, took his life
in his hands and. aided by a Barcus
unaffectedly afflicted with qualms,
somehow or other (neither of them
knew precisely how persuaded the
burros to cross.
After that, though the way grew
more broad and easy and even showed
symptoms of a decline, they had not
enough strength left to sustain
through another hour.
And what they thought good for
tune, opportunely at this pass, brought
them to a clearing dotted with the
buildings of an abandoned copper
mine. Not a soul was in evidence
there, but the rude structures offered
shelter for beast as well as man.
Barely had they made Rose as COM
Portable as might be upon the rough
plank flooring of one Of the sheds
and tethered the burros out of sight,
When Alan collapsed as if drugged,
while Barcus, who had elected himself
to keep the first watch and purposed
The Yale expositor., 1915-04-29

numbing fingers. 70 work loose the
knots at Roses wrists; but deep in
his heart he knew this to be nothing
but forlornest hope. =.
With infinite pains he had con-
trived to bridge the distance by half.
or possibly not quite so much, when
dark body rut the sunlight of the
open doorway into temporary eclipse.
Another followed 1t. Boots dumped
heavily on the flooring. The laugh
sounded again. apparently in ironic ap-
probation OF Mr.. Barcus efforts. Two
pairs OF hands seized him, one be-
meath the shoulders, the other be-
meath the knees, and he was logged
laboriously out into the sunlight, car
ried considerable distance, and de-
posted unceremoniously within a few
feet of the mouth OF the abandoned
mine just at the moment when he had
satisfied himself that the purpose
OF his captors was simply to throw
him into the black well.
He wasted look of appeal on the
frozen mask of villainy that was Mar
rophat's (who bore the burden OF Bar
Gus head and shoulders) and got
laughed at for all his pains.
Then he was left to himself once
more, but only for a few moments;
the interval ended when the two APP
peared again, this time bringing-Rose
in similar fashion.
Not until she had been put down be-
side him did he discover that Alan
was likewise a captive-trussed to a
tree at some distance.
The remaining arrangements Of
their captors were swiftly and deftly
consummated, though their design re-
NAMED obscure to Mr.. Barcus until
he, after Rose, was dumped like bale
into a huge bucket, and therein by
means OF rope and windlass lowered
The Yale expositor., 1915-04-29

once and for all time. IN the space Of
a second. annihilated by an explosion.
than to die thus lingeringly.
On this consideration. he drew Rose
with him back to the bulkhead.
When they had been some fifteen
minutes beside the bulkhead, the wa
ter mounted the head OF slight rise
perhaps ten feet behind them. and
poured down in ever deeper volume
to back up against the barrier.
It was waist deep, however. before
they retreated to the head of that
rise.
In fifteen minutes more 1t had
reached their chins. And they stood
with head against the roof of the tun.
mel.
Holding Rose close to him, Alan
kissed her lips that were as cold as
death.
Then, fumbling under water, he
found the hand of the man at his side.
The water Tapped his lips like a
In the tunnel that branched of from
the main shaft, beyond the bulkhead,
some thirty minutes before this june
ture, candle had guttered in its stick,
The Yale expositor., 1915-04-29
CHAPTER XIV.
The Bowels Of the Earth.

Awaking befell Mr.. Barcus In a
fashion sufficiently sharp and startling
to render him Indifferent to the benel-
cial effects of some eight hours OF
dreamless slumber.
He discovered himself lying fat on
his face, with somebody's inconsider-
ate, heavy hand purposely grinding the
said face into the aged and splintery
planks OF the shed flooring. At the
same time other hands were busy
binding his own together by the
wrists and flashing the same to the
small OF his back by means of a cord
passed around his middle, while his
natural If somewhat spasmodic efforts
to kick were sadly hampered by the
fact that his ankles had already been
secured by means of half dozen half
bitches and a square knot.
His hands attended to, his head was
released. Promptly he lifted it and
essayed to yell; an effort rendered
abortive by the gag that was thrust
between his teeth the instant his
jaws opened.
Then he heard laugh, a cold.
mlrthless chuckle.
Now the blood of Thomas Barcus
ran cold Cor he thought 1t did; which
amounts to much the same thing
For IL his senses had played fair, the
laugh he had heard was the laugh OF
Mr.. Marrophat, head-devil in the serv-
| ice of Seneca Urine.
! He twisted his head to one side
and glancing along the floor saw moth
/ ing but the wall Twisted the other
way, at the cost of splinter in his
nose, the effort was repaid by the dis
covery OF Rose Urine in a plight like
his own-wrists and ankles bound,
gagged into the bargain-the width of
the shed between them.
But of Alan Law, no sign.
The heart of Mr.. Barcus checked
momentarily; he shut his eyes and
shivered in an uncomfortable seizure
of dread.
Then, tormented beyond endurance
by the fears he suffered for the safety
! of his friend, he began to wriggle and
squirm like a crippled snake, pain.
fully inching his way across the floor
toward Rose-with what design, heav.
en- alone knowsl Dimly his men.
tai vision comprehended the bare pos
! -ihility Of his being able. with his fast
The Yale expositor., 1915-04-29
CHAPTER XIII.
camp-for-the-Niqht.


well, gents!" the driver observed
cheerfully, withdrawing head and
hands from long and intimate COM
munion with the stubborn genius be-
meath the hood. II reckon you-all
mays we'll make up yore minds to
christen this hyeh salubrious spot
Camp-for-the-Night You won't be
goin' no fartheh-not just t present.
Pulling this old wagon through them
desert sands back yondeh has just
naturally broke the heart OF that en-
gine!"
What, precisely, is the trouble?"
Alan Law inquired, rousing from anx-
ious preoccupation.
Plumb bust all to hell" the chauf-
feur explained tersely.
Nothing could be fairer, more ex-
act and comprehensive than that"
Tom Barcus commented.
Law nodded a head too weary to
respond to the others humor. His
worried eyes reviewed the scene Of
the breakdown.
What's to be done?" Mr.. Law won
dered aloud.
Take it calm" the affable chauffeur
advised. "Frettin won't get you-all
nothin' If it was me, I'd call it a
day, make a fire, get them cushions
out of the cyah, and get some rest.
You can't do nothin' till l get back,
anyway, and that won't be much be-
fore sunup."
where are you going?" Barcus de-
manded.
"Walkin', friend; just walkin'-"
What for?"
ITO fetch help-leastways, onless
yo've got some kick comm and nd
ruther stop hyeh permanent"
He turned off and busted himself
with preparations against his journey.
Its simply things like this make
me believe this isn't, after all, moth
ing more nor less than a long-drawn-
out nightmare" Barcus observed pen
sively.
But Mr.. Law was no more attend
ing: he had turned away and was just
then standing by the running-board Of
The Yale expositor., 1915-04-29

the motor car and civilly explaining
to Miss Judith Urine the purpose of
the chauffeur's expedition.
Judith herself poised on the
running board and smiling down at
her victim with warmth patiently
even more than the warmth of friend
ship and at some little distance. Rose,
Mr.. Laws 1ancee and Judith's sister,
eating her heart out with jealousy of
this new-sprung intimacy between her
sister and her lover!
bad business, my friendi" Barcus
mentally apostrophized the unwilling
Alan Law.
He interrupted himself to nod know
ingIy ard with profound conviction:
81 knew IL. Now IL begins againl"
For Rose had abruptly taken hand
IN the affair, gesture of evaporation
prefacing her call: "Alani"
To her Mr.. Law turned instantly.
with such alacrity that none who
watched might doc which of the two
women os=-f first IN his esteem.
Nor was this wasted upon the under
The Yale expositor., 1915-04-29
SYNOPSIS.

The 8 Of Hearts is the death sign" en-
ployed by Seneca Urine In the private
war of vengeance which, through the
agency Of his daughter Judith, woman
of violent passions like his own, he wages
against Alan Law, son of the man (n0w
dead who was innocently responsible Tor
the accident which left Urine a helpless
cripple for life. Alan loves and Is loved
by Rose, Judiths twin and double. but In
all other respects her opposite. JUDITH
vows to compass Alan's death, but Alan
stances and so, unwillngly wins her
love Thereupon Judith is actuated In
turn by the old hatred. the new love. ana
Jealousy Of her sister. Rose; she becomes
alienated from her father through her
failure TO carry out his homicidal plans;
and because of the aid she has extended
Alan in his flight with Rose from the ven
geance OF Urine through the mountains
81 western Arizona
The Yale expositor., 1915-04-29


left carelessly thrust into the wall by
Marrophat's lieutenant, and guttering,
had dropped flaming wick into a lit
tie heap OF bone-dry debris. This last
famed, licked hungrily at the timber
ing that upheld the falls Of the tunnel
The timbering caught fire without de-
lay. In a space OF time incredibly
brief the flames were spreading right
and left, the tunnel was a vault OF
blistering fury.
AS Alan said his last mute farewell
to Rose and Barcus, the fire spread
out in the bottom of the shaft and in
vaded the powder room.
Alan had guessed Alright at Mario
phats design; the keg of blasting pow
der was less than an eighth full; its
explosion could not possibly have eff
fected the cave-in Alan had at first
feared
But what Marrophat had overlooked
was the proximity to the key OF some
several sticks of dynamite, masked by
film of earth that had fallen from
the crumbling walls.
When the blazing fuse dropped
sparks into the blasting powder this
last exploded right willingly and the
dynamite took its cue without the
least delay.
The resultant defamation was ter
rife. The bulkhead was crushed In
like an eggshell barrier. Part of the
walls fell in, but the tunnels and shaft
remained intact. The released hood
streamed out and spread swiftly to the
farthest recesses of the burning tun-
mel. Dense clouds OF steam filled that
place of terror as the fires were extin-
guished.
Swept with the stream as 1t poured
ont of the tunnel, Alan contr1Ved
throughout to retain his hold round
the waist of Rose. Barcus shot past
him unseen in the darkness. II was
not until Alan had contrived to catch
an unburned timber and stay himself
and his almost witless burden beneath
the mouth of the shaft that he discov-
cred Barcus alive, If almost unrecog-
nizable in his mask of mold and SCOT,
battling back toward the shaft against
the kneedeep tide.
Half.blinded and stifled as he was by
the reek OF steam and powder fumes,
Alan struggled with himself until his
wits were passably clear
Immediately before him dangled the
hosting bucket and rope
Surrendering the care of Rose to
Barcus. Alan climbed into the bucket
and stared upward, examining the
walls of the shaft for a way to the
top.
There was none other than the most
dificult: gaps too great to be bridged
by climbing showed in the wooden
ladders.
The one feasible route was via the
rome. And there was nobody at the
ton to work the windlass-and Alan
honed there would be nobody to OPP
pose his essay.
He addressed himself to the task
without murmuring-lifted himself up
on the rope, wound IL round one leg,
and began that heartbreaking climb.
How he accomplished 1t he never
knew. That it must be accomplished
was his Notwithstanding thought.
And somehow, by some almost super
human effort, Il was eventually accom-
phshed.
He arrived at the top of the shaft
far too exhausted to show surprise
when, falling in half-fainting condi-
! ton within two feet of the brine. he
saw Judith Urine running like mad
across the clearing.
; But without her aid he would not
within hours have been able to work
the windlass and lift Rose aud Bar
Gus 20 the surface.
Gro BIZ coNTnTUEDJ
The Yale expositor., 1915-04-29
CHAPTER XIV.
Flood and Fire.

fIOO0 ana TtTes
Screaming to make himself heard
above the roar of the deluge, Barcus
hammered in Alan's ear:
That devil He's found the reser-
voir-opened the luicegates-turned
1t into that shaft! We're done for!"
Alan had no argument with which to
gainsay him. Silently getting on his
feet, silently he CROPPED for Rose in the
darkness, momentarily becoming more
dense as the fall of water shut out
the light, and drew her away with him,
up the slight incline that led back to
the bulkhead.
The water mounted rapidly. With
i'm FIVE minutes il drove them back to
the elbow in the tunnel; within ten II
Tapped their ankles as they fingered
there. doubling which was the greater
peril. to advance or to stand fast and
lei the flooding tide SNUFF out the fires
of life. To return to the neighbor-
hood OF the bulkhead was to court the
death indicated by the fuse and the
keg of blasting powder
OF a sudden the thought crossed
Alan's mind that Marrophat had ar
ranged the latter. solely to keep them
away from the bulkhead. Now that he
thought of it, he felt certain that the
powder room had been deliberately
disclosed to him by Jimmy.
Probably. then. the keg and fuse
we're but stage properties--or pos
Whether or no. was death in one
form preferable to the other?
He was decidedly OF the opinion
that 1t were better 70 be extlnguished
The Yale expositor., 1915-04-29
CHAPTER Xiv.
AS in a Glass, DarkIy.

Thoughtfully Mr.. Barcus returned
his attention to the lovers.
If the evidence of his senses did not
mislead him, he was witnessing their
first difference of opinion. 1t was, not
an argument acute enough to deserve
the name of quarrel; but undoubtedly
the two were at odds upon some ques-
tion-Rose insistent, Alan reluctant.
The last gave way in the end,
shrugged, returned to the car.
I'm going back up the TRAIL" he
announced, and hesitated oddly.
Feeling the need Of some little ex-
ercise, no doubt" Barcus suggested.
Rose thinks it's dangerous to stop
here" Alan began to explain, ignoring
the interruption.
Miss Rose is right-eh, Miss Ju-
dith?" Barcus interpolated.
Judith nodded darkly.
$50 I'm going to see IL I can't buy
burros from the prospector back there.
Rose says he has some-doesn't know
how many"
Three will be enough" Judith inter-
posed Il mean, don't get one for me.
I'm stopping here"
But" Alan started to protest.
She gave him pause with a weary
gesture.
Please! It's no good arguing, Mr..
Law: I've made up my mind; can be
most helpful here, by my fathers
side," she asserted and nodded at
Urine with a significant smile that
maddened him. HE needs me-and
no harm can come to me; I'm pretty
well able to take care Of myself"
This, then, must have been the nub
OF the lovers quarrel Roses insist
ence that Judith be left behind, Alan's
reluctance to consent to this lest he
convict himself Of the charge of rank
ingratitude, remembering the great
service his erstwhile antagonist had
done him.
If only Judith might not find cause
to change her mind!
He set himself sedulously to divert
Judith with the magic of his conversa-
tional powers-an Offering Indifferent
ly received. He was still blithely
gossiping when Judith flung away to
her sisters side.
The ensuing quarrel seemed but the
more portentous in view of the re-
straint imposed upon themselves by
both parties thereto.
He believed, however, that a crisis
impended when the tinkle of mule
bells sounded down the canyon road;
and at this he threw discretion to the
winds and ran toward the two with
hands upheld in mock horror and a
manner of humorous protest.
Ladies, ladiesl" he pleaded. 81
beg of you both, let dogs delight to
bark and bite"
He got no farther: Judith's ears
were as quick as his own; she, too.
had caught the sound OF bells behind
the base OF the hill. And of a sudden,
without another word, she turned and
flung away into the heavy thickets OF
underground that masked all the can.
yon, to either side OF the wagon-tlail
In a twinkling she had lost herself 10
view in their labyrinthine shadows.
The remainder of that business was
transacted rapidly enough. There
we're no preparations to be made;
once Alan had ridden up with his
three burros, nothing remained but tc
mount and make of without delay.
Before morning they were all rid
ing like so many hypnotized subjects
fatigue bearing so heavily on all their
senses that none spoke or cared tc
speak
The Yale expositor., 1915-04-29
Couldn't See Any Face.

An old friend, whose name l won't
mention, told me this one: 81 was
born and brought up on farm, and l
had the habit of going around with my
mouth wide open, especially if there
was anything unusual going on. One
day an uncle whom had not seen for
years paid us visit.
"Hullo, uncle!' said l, looking up
at him with my mouth opened like
barn door.
"He looked at me for a moment
without answering and then said:
"'Close your mouth, sonny, so l
can see who you are,
The Yale expositor., 1915-04-29

doing it in a sitting position, with
his back against the door-jamb, felt
sleep overcoming him like a dense,
dark cloud.
The Yale expositor., 1915-04-29

A flaming necktie is no sign that
there is red blood behind it,
The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1915-07-08
THE VITAL PROBLEM OF
AGRICULTURE
By Peter Radford.

There is no escaping the market
problem and the highest development
of agriculture will not be attained
is as necessary for the producer
as land on which to grow his crop,
Governmental and educational insti.
tutions have spent s1S0,000,000 in the
United States during the past ten
years for improving soil production
and improving seeds and plants, but
very little attention and less money
has been given to the marketing side
of agriculture.
The problem is a monumental one
and one which will never be solved
until it gets within the grasp of a
gigantic organization where master
minds can concentrate the combined
experience and wisdom of the age
upon it. 1t is a problem which the
farmers, merchants, bankers, editors
and statesmen must unite in solving,
The Farmers Union stands for all
there is in farming from the most
scientific methods of seed selection to
the most systematic and profitable
plans Of marketing, but does not be-
lieve in promoting one to the neglect
Of the other. We consider the work
of farm demonstrators valuable and
we asl. that governmental and com.
mercial agencies seeking to help us,
continue to give US their assistance
and advice, but we believe that their
influence should be extended to the
marketing side of our farm problems
also.
We cannot hope to develop manu-
featuring by over-production of the
factory; we cannot build up mercan'
tile enterprises by the merchants load
ing their shelves with surplus goods
and no more can we develop agricul-
ture by Cutting the market with 4
surplus of products.
The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1915-07-08
FREE PORTS
BUILDERS Of
COMMERCE
CONGRESS SHOULD GIVE THEM
PREFERENCE IN APPRO-
PRIATIONS.
BY Peter Radford.

This nation is now entering upon
an era of marine development. The
wreckage of European commerce has
drifted to our shores and the world
war is making unprecedented de-
mands for the products of farm and
factory. In transportation facilities
on land we lead the world but our port
facilities are inadequate, and our flag
is seldom seen in foreign ports. II
our government would only divert the
energy we have displayed in conquer
ing the railroads to mastering the
commerce of the sea, a foreign bot
tom would be unknown on the oceans
highways.
This article will be confined to a
discussion of our ports for the pro-
ducts of the farm must pass over our
wharfs before reaching the water. We
have in this nation 81 ports, of which
Al are on the Atlantic and 10 are on
the Pacific Coast. The Sixty-seeond
Congress appropriated over $4,000.
900 for improving our Rivers and
Harbors and private enterprise levies
a toll of approximately s50,O00,O0O
annually In wharfage and charges for
which no tangible service is rendered.
The latter item should be lifted of
the backs of the farmer of this ma.
ton and this can be done by Congress
directing it's appropriations to ports
that are free where vessels can tie up
to a wharf and discharge her cargo
free of any fee or charge.
A free port is progress. 1t takes
out the unnecessary link in the chain
of transactions in commerce which
has for centuries laid a heavy hand
upon commerce. No movement is so
heavily laden with results or will
more widely and equally distribute
it's benefits as that of a free port
and none can be more easily and eff.
fectively secured