davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New Britain herald., 1915-07-30

ind let into the side of Clayton Runci- mans room. Mt&
 T hey the key, will open 1t for you,' she mummered. "He will be asleep by now--the sleep that knows no widening, mind. Who wouldn't lift the pillars and priss thim down. hard for such prize underneats Come, come,'
 And again large and me blindly foi- lowed. trimbling with the fear of what we wudn't do; trimbling with the hope that t'roo some lucky break we might snatch out the package and be off over the verandy roof and far away to the fairy land of onlimited swag. 1.
 There niyer was seech fierce spirit fin sech pretty prison. We watched her as she tunned the key as she nov ed the dure, n'iseless; and thin we bot tined in mintal groan as the crack shone bright
 He's up. Smithers. he's up." whis- pered large. If you kin neck him unaware I'll play good sicond the moment prig the prize. We'll pile the furniture on him, and thin off" .
 But even as I darted for'ard disprit. with him at me heels, we hung back amazed, uncertain; for Mrs. Runciman stepped into the room.
 What are you doing with that child?" she demanded; and as we craned and peeked we seen Clayton Runciman sitting as comfortable ss you please in his rocking chair. with the little lad Tommy, in his arms
 "I bribed wan of the servints to leave him with me-" he replied pleas antly. He reminds me of what a It. tie child lost five years ago might be by now"
 And that pictur' on the bureau, with roses twined around 1t. oh. you ffend!"
 That child's mother, my darling. Agatha, loved and lost, oh, my Coal" :
 Betrayed, deserted, you mean7"
 "Never--no never! She was ny adored wife. Listen. woman" And he, began pityus tale of misdirectun. crass-pupposes, delays, despair.
 "Oh, is it true, is it true" mosned Mrs. Runciman. "She was my sister I found her dead. in penury. in Lon- don, five years ago. this child starv- ing by her side. I vowed to have rel venge on you Clayton Runciman. But wait, not a word--you are in dangeri" Like the wullwind swarmed into that room, twisting him half-stunned on the floor. with the brat, the scream ing woman. the rocking chair in a heap on top. and thin, like the howling panada, out we gwarmed with the prize in Jarge's pocket
 Tn that fairy land of onlimited swag we opened the package. It c0ntalned Midland A. C. bonds and that E the trut' And as we sadly med our way back again to the land of hustle and grab, large and me pondered over our rapid slide from luck to pluck easess
 Old Timothy Runciman must have bought these bonds, we concluded, twinty years ago. whin they were gilt idged and at par. as safe and sound invistment for Clayton Runcimap whin he shud retarn from his wonder in-boy's round.
New Britain herald., 1915-07-30
he Big Prize
 By Walt Gregg.

What. Schenck, is it you? Thin the ticklish fly didn't put you to sleep arter all. Brudder Rudolph, greets you from the heart. Ard this IS the charming Teddy have already heera so much about? Charmed to meet you, sister"
 Thin, for the fust he tunned and faced the odder, who, know must pc the viritible Clayton Runc1man. caiieu to life at this most unixpected !unct- ure. Gashly as was the countertlHps' there was somethin amusln ln tne sight, for the pair were as much alike as those musical prodigals, the two Do-mi-os.
 Jest thin little Tommy slipped down from the arbor seat, and running over to Clayton Runciman clung to ms legs, crying to be taken into his arms. Anu again seen that fierce light In Mrs. Runciman's black eyes shining troo the mask of amazed uncertainty. She crossed over and took Jarge's hand.
 q t'ink. Rudolph" she said, that this gentleman will have no trouble in establishing his identity. He is the very image of the pictur' of your broth CT you showed me whin we were lust marret"
 Tanks. Portia," said large, lowing low "I wraps mesilf in me v1rtoo, and abides your impartial jidgmint.
 Whereat Clayton Runciman gev a great laugh. with the good natur' of wan who has had too many troubles to be boddered about trifiles.
 You are apt to be chilly, thin, my nuyyy frind." he retarted. "But I wore no true man did not submit my case to the same fair tribunal, especially as my baggidge seems to hev garn astray with all my papers.
 ''The same here" said large.
 You see how it is, Rudolph Mrs. Runciman went on to her husband. "There won't be anudder train down today, and, as you know, the Sunday trains are notorius for shirking the luggage. These claimants may hev bot told the trut' in this wan respect. We wants no scandal, do we? We'll, understand that Peebles your agint, who was here a few days since. will be down tomorrow. I say, thin, let each of these men be kept in his own room until thin. with food and drink, av coorse."
 Elluty 0l luS ldlIVAt RAOcSOt e%AAA- IT I'll agree" interposed Clayton Runci- man.
 'And Peebles will soon straighten out the right and wrong of this per picking affair" Mrs. Runciman con- cluded.
 wis, yis,' agreed the old gintleman, who was half-crying, "Peebles isn't half-blind and foolish like me: Peebles knows Clayton like a book. You just wait for Peebles, my dear. You re- mimber what he brought back. There will be no reason, whin Clayton's iden- tity is fully established why it shudnt relieve mesilf and by"
 "Hush!" warned Mrs. Runciman. 1t isn't wise to go into that now" All the glitter that seen in two pairs of eyes and felt in me own told me that her advice was prudint.
 Don't you look the seedy character
New Britain herald., 1915-07-30

remember our halting beneath them
 My botanical knowledge is limit ed, I said Perhaps if l were to take some of the fruit to Kew
 want to show you the sunhower by the southern border, said Daph- ne, with an impatient little jerk at my arm.
 put my hand up to one cf the branches
 Leave them on the tree, Dick. :. They-they we a certain decorative value of their own, haven't they. And we don't know that they're good to eat.'
 I looked down at her. She was shaking violently.
 Are you cold?"
 No. Yet I think we will go in. See how wet the dew has made my shoes!"
 Days passed-strange, unhappy days, in which I felt the invisible breach between us widen and widen. 1t was subtle beyond all definition or analysis. My efforts to regain the old frank footing, to achieve the old gay spirit of canaraderie, were pathetic ally seconded by Daphne; but they
 
 CT of us was thrusting us apart.
 We had been at the Wilderness, I remember, three months, when I re- turned from town one evening to find the house in absolute darkness. We had had the electric light installed, and in moment had flooded the hall and dining-room with it's bril- lance.
 I wandered through the house, call- ing. There was no answer. l passed through the French windows of the drawing-roona into the garden. Some thing glimmered. shadowy-white. at the far end of the lawn.
 It was Daphne. carried her into the house, failed to revive her. and ran out again for assistance. At the gate I blundered into Thompson.
 My wife is seriously ill" I told him. "If you could fetch the nearest doctor for me-"
 The good fellow nodded and sped away. Daphne was still unconscious when Dr. O'Keefe appeared. He spoke of the heat of overstrain and
New Britain herald., 1915-07-30

the bed, but only for moment If was empty.
 Without pausing. I passed out into. the garden. Daphne lay under the middle tree. Her face was turned toward the sky In her right hand. in a grasp which even could not loos- en, she held half-eaten fruit.
 l carried her back into the house and awoke the nurse. Our search for pr. O'Keefe was mercifully brief. l. met him on his way to the house
 He looked at Daphne. His lips formed the words "Too ,latel" and my heart echoed them. Already her face had the look of one who has passed beyond the radius of human warmth and love.
 "Give her the strangest restora- tives you have" 1 said while I--"
 l had no clearly defined plans. But a little later l found myself in the corrugated shed, fumbling in the dunk and darkness for the ax which hung there. ran with it to the trees and after a few moments work the trees were down. found myself leaning weakly against the fence. pr. o'Keefe's hand was upon my shoul- der
 "she is asking for you.~ he said and that was all.
 She was pale-evea pailer thars when I had left her. Her eyes were half closed. She tried to lift her arms tc me, but could not.
 l bent and caught her to my breast.
 "Dear!" she murmured. aud lay silent and very still.
 The eyes of the doctor met mine.
 She has been to the very Border land. he said; "but you have brought ' her back again. .. She will iive"--
New Britain herald., 1915-07-30

up, when she called at the office with a blank face
 Dick, Thompson's men have left!''
 sLeft?"
 .1The plumber went yesterday. I saw his wife this morning-they live nearly opposite, you know. She says that he's i'll. She doesn't know what's the matter with him-he won't say. All he will say is that he won't work in the house again for a million pounds"
 And the others?'
 They've left the house because he has. They've no other reason, so far as can make out"
 We met Thompson, a middle-aged man lately starting on his own ac- count, that evening. He went over the house with us. The sun was flooding 1t with amber light, and the garden, through the window of the little octagonal room, which was to be my study, looked as beautifully unreal as stage picture
 ssWho were the previous tenants z?
 stAn elderly lady--an invalid. Some people said that she wasn't quite right in her head. And before her there was a man named Gennifer. He'd long illness-I forget what 1t was, except that it wasn't infectious. ;. Nottingham, the man you'll pay rent to, wasn't the original owner. He bought the place of the relatives Of Prof. Anthony Ravett. It was he who laid out the garden. They found him dying in the Little Coppice, half a mile at the back of 1t.
 Anthony Ravett-I remembered the name dimly. A man of whom many stories were extant--Asiatic explorer, experimenter. author of books which no one would read and propagator of theories which no one would believe. A career of great promise ending in stupid, sordid tragedy, as careers of uroTnise have a knack of doing.
 JAS to why my men left, added Thompson, T can give you no idea. :"
 of you could give us the name of q reliable charwonan instead. in- sinuated Daphne.
 The name of the reliable charwoIn- an which Mr. Thompson supplied proved to be Merkins. She worked well. albeit 2 victim to a permanent
New Britain herald., 1915-07-30
By Annette Angert

per. pulled 1t out. and found it covered with writing, dated dairy fashion. There were three pages.
 April g, 1889" q read)-"Today planted the seedlings which the Sheikh gave me. He swears he had them from a prisoner who took them from the lost Garden of Eden. Those who eat of the fruit are said to go through five stages--a violent rest lessness and dislike for one's sur roundings, an aversion for ones dear est friends, a state of mental exalta- tiotion in which visions of the Garden constantly recur. a condition of coma or delirium, and death.
 July [, 1S90--The three trees are now nearly four feet high. The Sheikh stated that they would bear fruit in the third year.
 "June 21, 1892--Small fruit. of golden-red tint, appearing. The taste is dissimilar to anything l have eaten before, but not unpleasing
 June 29. 1S92-Have decided to dispose of the house at the earliest possible date. A man named Mailing ham has been over it, but he does not desire possession before the end of the year. If 1t were not for the Shiekh's fruit I should leave at once,
 July 5-I am about to taste the fruit for the fourth time. No opium eater has had visions to compare with mine during the last week or so. If there be any risk in continuing to eat the fruit I am prepared to run 1t"
 July 7-I have seen the garden. By tomorrow evening"
 There the writing ended. I knew now what Anthony Ravett had been seeking when they found him dying in the coppice.
 I understood why the workmen and our maids had left, and why, fearing to confess to their petty thefts. they had offered no explanations. And I understood what Daphne had endured and the penalty that would be de- manded.
 1 raced down to the room below Mrs. Thompson was leaning back in her seat. sleeping the sleep of stout and exhausted middle age. Her chair, for the moment, obscured my view of
New Britain herald., 1915-07-30

s]11t WfIderness with us.
 epsSyous would Hike togo over ce before itf gets too dark z xent, witfi him into the midi n house. With4its folding doors Fined matbl amantel pieces, naners and echoing floors. urere many stairs and "a base ut they had compensations-
 >s was for instance, a tiny oc-
 roonr under the caves, with
 fiat rattled with every%step, v almost pbscuring the wiil- which held Daphne entranced. E thoughtssWere. ] think, still he garden.
 y~five pounds a<year," said!the
 tor the owner would sell for
 Mr-Mr. Nottingham will g 20 on the house I'll take 1t xa at E35, with the option of Slna ! said; "only we shall
 decide quickly" B
 f eaid the agent, T may as [e11 voll that were empowered MalIineham to enter into any |able arrangements on his be- Ind that you may consider the settled. I'll send you a draft lease in a couple of days. suppose, I said, "the house Is ghtthat it hasn't reputation Ding haunted or of being the l of a crime ?''
 agent shook his head with enl-'
 shall miss the train &df we hurry, said Daphne. 5sure of work prevented my
 moro than one or two visits 2 tho process, but Daphne d tho place. It was almost on Fe of our entry, when very little |,zed to be done beyond cleaning
New Britain herald., 1915-07-30

deep in the evutable mud of mid-Af- rlca. I'm tired of this sporting life; ana the time has came for me to set tle down and realize the bright ideels of yout'"
 Habit, as the Humans used to say ana a fxed wan, too. When large LOOK the bit in his teet' the unly thing was to hang on and go along.
 The mkt marning, at the bid Of SUI perstitus telegram, large tux his de- parture and the soot case, too, leaving me to abide his retarn the mkt day And in the afternoon I set out In the arbor of the grounds telling my host more strange things than 1yer Kim out of Africa before, and spiculatlng about the little lad, Tommy, with whom Mrs. Runciman was again play ing, yit inward1y in blue funk of suspinse and fear.
 I seen him fust, coming down the road, the very pictur' we had imag- ined: rally hadn't believed that large ct1d he so clever Tall, erict, slight, his hair and nustache silvered be suf- fering, his face and hands blackened from exposure, it didn't need the dinky bowler and English twidds he sported to tell that he was from furren parts. Me heart was in me t'roat as he swung t'roo the gate and up the pat, and didn't like the taste of it, but 1epped to do me part
 Clayton Runciman!" I exclaimed. Be all that's wonderful. And the last time we met was in the shade of the gobang tree"
 Clayton, brother?' faltered old Runciman, staggering to his feet, with blinking eye. Yis, it is you. back from the very jaws of debt. Evelyn darling, greet my dear CIayton.'
 Yis, it is I, Rudolph" said the new conner, and somethin' in the tone of his, vice gev me chills of the spine, "a happy combination of rolling stun and bad penny, back again for SUD- plies I'm more than glad, I'm sure, to meet darling Evelyn, but as for this seedy chap who pertinds to ricognize me, who is he annyway?"
 TIT.
 This is Dr. Schenck, Clayton!" ex- plained MT. Runciman, mildly. "The iiminent African traveller, whom you ought to reminder"
 T orter, indeed" the other coolly AORAASAs r8 0ih0O QuIIGt llm HIS HIS unfortunit comrade. Moves, in the very heart of Howly land, and sint their defects hum by Ashmead. Did the rascal niver report? Thin the spiruts of the age must hev been too strong for him. At all evints, this fel- low here is rank imposter-"
 The same to you!" cried.
 For at that instinst anudder slim, erict fgger, in bowler and twids, sil- vered be suffering, darkened be heat, was strollin' up the pat, who, I now know be the very cocky shadder of him, must be the troolyrooral large, and no mistake.
 "Impostor yoursilf," I cried, exult- ant Your infamous makeup de- ceived me at fust glanct; but here is the genooine article. here is the real Clayton Runciman come into his own. :"
 Who speaks my name?" ast large.
New Britain herald., 1915-07-30

2 sarved of all yobsarvers. as the intrepid explorers who had escaped from BlackesE Africa be the skln oi their teet' land without amy odder itegumintef troehees of the hunt.
 JargeyWas soon somnabulatin' t'roc the mdzes of the dreamy walz; but to meyA settin aloof in the greenery, un- der an umbrellacious pam, rehictin ygon the Zulus hadn't met, there came a saft voice and a finder hand. I looked up from me rivalry, to see a young and beautus woman, standin' over me like Hope p'intin' the way.
 May I ask the cilibrated pr. schenck," she said, "to honor me with a few moments of confidential talk ?''
 "A hull> clockful, mem" med haste to pertist; with Mum as the worrud of the day.
 With that, she did set close her sn1il- ing face unlifted; and yit, t,roo the dazzling mask. I cud detict an un- quiet fire in her great black eyes. N
 Tell me." she began abruptly, "in your periggrinatns of the slot'fl con- tinent did yo iver come across Mr. Mr. Clayton Runciman ?'
 Did We? I exclaimed with enthu- siasm. Did, we iver eat jerked beef and drink sour wheye We'll, I guess yis. Him and us were terminates in tho Sudden that's how we kem acrost him, sudden-but me frind and pattern. Moves, knew him the bist."
 ssI thought likely" she unused with unconscious bitterness Birds of a feather birds of i'll amen. Did you iver hear MT. Runciman say whin he Wud retarn hum?"
 From the time of his sayin' 1t and of me teIlin' it. I answered arter an instinct of mintal caleulatun, The or ter be about due in anudder week.
 ..Hivings!" she murmured t'roo white lips so soon, so soon!"
 But 1t is to be in the natur' of a sur prise" added cautus.
 She gev sigh of relief and the rose colors slipped into her cheeks like the aftergloW reflicted on lake.
 "Oh. understand" she cried. land I will keep fait' with you just as I'm sure you will keep fait' with me. It is exactly what wud have, de- lightful surprise all around. How pleasant 1t wud be if you and MT. Moves, his comrades true. cud be pris- int to wilcome him. 1t must be; it shall. You will accept, won't you, the nOSpIlalIIy Hly HuSDdAQ VIII pc proud to extind?"
 How will know it whin see 1t" ast.
 "oh, to be sure. Why am Mrs. Rudolph Runciman," she explained.
 IT.
 Accordingly, a few days found us week ending at Rudolph Runcinlans handsome villa in the suburbs {, He was deeply interested, so his cortyus note explained. in African slopagraphy and etnology, and communyun with two sech sarvints wud be a ticknical eddicatun for him. No wan ilse Wud be there beside Mrs. Runciman. There fore, he looked for'ard to a feast of season and flow of roll.
 large brushed aside, with laugh, tfo
New Britain herald., 1915-07-30

the sum of $100,< 1stee under the secret trust
 q by his father, Timothy
 Tor the benefit of his broth pn Runciman, or his heirs.
 IS to oEcance1 the same. Am n any event, to any form of pool. In this case I have pat Rudolph Runciman late-
 ID $500,00 of the old Mid
 bonds. These bonds, as AowE, are not and never will fhe paper they are engraved
 did he do it? When a good wrong, he goes the limit. So, rye, I says, too, " I gTumbleG,
 uGn't be in a blacker hole" orge Rim alriddy was a
 Mimory, his finger on his IL, Smithers," at lengt' large
 he had been in doubt of his trimity. "The inference is
 Rudolph RuRciman has sub hese wuthless securities for ged vans his iccintric father led to have left in a sealed or the binif1t of Clayton Rum 1o started out on a wander rotlnd 20 years ago and hasn't kciS since.
 q see the date. Yis, just as
 A little after Rudolph 6 fuk as his sicond wife a lj5ag Widder employed in the Iding That's what the i'm lnspictor meant by a good & wrong"
 |E8 the blind side of him thin @Ide for our approach" I re- <e unly side that lies open, |<rge. Cor I happened to me sassiety news that Mrs. Runciman will stand in the line at the mayors recep- evening. What's the matter meeting her here as dis | guests to whom the free- |e, e,city has been presented? lean 2? l ast with a. gap at his ns that 1t wore impious to de- gifts Of the gods. Since we credentials, so luckily ac- the sale of liftover baggidge lteI Claire, let us deliver thim o his honor the mayor. He do less than to invite us to plum: me as Percival Moves nent African traveller and he Interpreter of the expedi- world wide pillogist. pr. Ed cnenck.
 Is nawthin succeeds like ln- succiss. So 1t kem tb pass, race of those modern Dis- Push, Front and Brass, that led in the gay throngs of the guests that evening the ob+ H y
New Britain herald., 1915-07-30
Testing His Fortitude.

Tommy" asked the visitor, "wnat are you going to be when you grow up to be a man?"
 I'm going to be an arctic expIors err. responded the bright little boy. and now will you give me 6 quarterg W
 Gracious, Tommy What dc yok' want with a quarter"
 T want to get five ice cream sodas and find out. how much. cold csa stand.E
New Britain herald., 1915-07-30

JST under half an
 acre, the house agent explained. 1t had been Daphne whoy catching sight of the name on the To- Let" board in the front garden, had l insisted upon going to his of fees He had come
New Britain herald., 1915-07-30

too?' asked Clayton Rurciman whin the Arrangements had all be made ano we suvvints were about to lead him ana large to their respective rooms.
 Oh, stand newter!" interposed
 This gentleman is our guest" re- piled Mrs. Runciman, hottily, "vouch- ga Tor by his Honor the Mayor, and you orter feel obliged tc him for the nlgn minded part he takes"
 Whin we wore alone she pranced up and down the room like wan of the fewries, tearing her hair and mouth Ing tirrible t'ings.
 Oh, that man, that mani" she kept muttering. ''The sight of him drives me mad!
 Kin lose the chanct for proper re- vinge? Shall rist contint with the triv'al loss hev alriddy prepared for him whin I hev such instrumints at hand?
 And to see the child in his very arms! Agatha, Agatha, trust your sis ter to avinge your wrongs wuthily."
 She poised in front of me and I felt the tops of me shoes way up on me hips. was shrunk so from fear.
 The man that kem last is your frind who passed off for Moves" she raved, "and you are pair of rogues. come down here undoubtedly after the Clayton Runciman trust, and you wud hev get it, too, had it not been for his marvellous retarn at the same time. Will, thin, you shall hev it if you will do me will. Meet me with your com panion in the lower hall tonight at twilve be the clock"
 "It shall be as you say, madam" I replied, appeasin. But we wants the real securities, not the snide bonds you substituted for this."
 She gev a laugh as terrible as her wrat'.
 "Oh, you too kin deduct, kin you? ? Will thin you shall hev the original package; hev niver broken the seals. The wan substituted for it is in MT. Runciman's possessun, brought down by Peebles. Don't fail me, I say. and you shall hev the price of blood"
 ".
 large and me crep' down the stairs at midnight, whisperin as we wint. We wanted the price, but not the blood you may be sure; and in order to get the wan we were ready to pertind to go after the odder.
 She met us at the rail, skeery sight, with her face white and lamin- ous under those great black eyes Be- tune her gasps she told us what we must do, deed without a name, hot from the witches broth of hate
 That's all right" grumbled large, "but in such job we must have cash before delivery"
 "On delivery you mean" Mrs. Run ciman, corrected dryly, "and with that in view I have hid the original pack age under the pillars onsC Clayton Run ciman's bed. Come"
 And large and me followed up the stairs, quaking from the twin eggy of hope and fear.
 She led us to a Tarror corridor off the sicond hall, explaining in the way. CTS of her breath how the dure of the
New Britain herald., 1915-07-30

were having our drawing and I drew this stytic prize from our private lottery, the secrit ricords of the Char akter Surety Com- pany:
 Runciman, Ru- dolph Insured in fhn rr Q1na