davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1915-01-14

1t was only idle people who gossiped;
busy persons always minded their own
business. At any rate. the place was
such short jaunt out of town that
they could return each evening.
AS John knew little or nothing about
chemistry, 1t was beyond his power to
reason out the problem of the burning
photograph. The two were on the way
to the old house when the second
phenomenon occurred
"Zudora. your hat!'
whats the matter with it?"
"lt's on tireP'
Storm tore the hat from her head
and threw it on the ground. stamping
on it.
"Pll be tinker dammedI" he explOd.
ed. How did that happen? wasn't
smoking, and even then a spark could
not have set ire to hat like that
My dear girl, my advice is little old
New York ON the next train. pho.
tograph starts burning in your hand.
your hat flames up ON your head
There's some devilment going on that
| neither like nor understand. Who
are these old men?"
Zudora shook her head dazedly. She
had paid $50 for that hat. she thought
with grim humor.
LET us go back home" he urged.
mo. John | intend to find out what
all these strange things mean. You
can go back If you wish"
"Hang 1t, I'm thinking of your
Il know that. John. But | do not
want any failures to my credit due to
lack of spirit I'm going to see what
this means. ! have an idea that
shall never find any diamond"
I'm glad you think that" he replied.
my dear girl, some one is aiming at
yOn, perhaps some friend of that chem.
list Craig or whatever his name was
To tell you the truth. 1t Is for that sort
Of reason that | did not want you to
go into this detective business There's
always some one hiding around the
corner with reprisal. But you are de-
termined to go to the end Of this?"
Absolutely determined"
81 might kidnap you"
"1f you had kidnapped me months ago.
John, ! should have been happy wo.
man." she said sadly. But now it's
too late. I've got to go on. just got to.
am sorry that | cannot explain any
more to you. You've got to trust me
wholly"
81 do, girl. only ! worry for your
safety. In game like this woman
is given no more chance than man.
and she is handicapped because she is IA
woman. She can't fight like a man
when she's in corner. The very
clothes on her interfere with her free
dom Of action. All right but there's
one thing that's got to be settled here
and now"
"And what is that?" still eying the
hat
''rhat shall always be in on your
cases, somewhere In the background,
where can hear you call when you
need me-"
~ Shall be glad OF that. John"
IF you'd only marry me and settle
the whole businessv'
II will some day. Supposing that
we now make that call we started out
to make"
The two old collectors admitted IN.
dora and Storm. and they began imme.
Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1915-01-14

mystic. He saw that individual at the
head Of the stairs and rushed up.
When he arrived ut the landing Has
sam Ali had disappeared as effectually
as If he had vanished through the wall.
which. In fact. though John was not
aware Of II, was exactly what Hassam
Ali had done. John went downstairs
again. swearing under mis- breath. He
was terribly angry, and when he 6nal-
ly departed he left his sweetheart In
tears.
There was good vein OF stubborn
ness In Storms makeup On the way
home he determined to have reckon
ing with those hoary old scamps who
were working In Hassam Airs inter-
est At least they could satisfy his
physical needs. that Of humping their
heads together They were the manip-
uators of some devil machine which
had cansed these mysterious fires, al
ways In the vicinity Of Zudora.
In the morning ZudOra telephoned
to learn that John had gone out OF
town. Instinctively she knew just
where he had gone, poor. foolish lover.
and so she set ont after him. distract
ed. 1t was quite reasonable that the
twins would be expecting John and
would be prepared for his reception.
She therefore made the village about
an hour later than John and hired the
only taXicab she could find
John found a very queerly made APP
paratus back Of the house ON knoll.
He had read about something OF the
sort, u perpetual ray gathered from
light and capable OF sending forth a
terrific heat, something like a crystal
focused under clear sunlight lie
could sense mild warmth rs he near
ed it-a mild warmth because the re-
electors had been momentarily defect
ed. not focused. He knew nothing
ready for his advent tie drew his re-
vOlver and began peppering the in
fernal machine. He could at least
put Ii out or business temporarily.
Vaguely he heard the rumble OF mo-
tor and turned TO see Xudora step out
Of n taxicab He waved his hand. and
she came running up the hill. On the
way up she saw something that re-
sembled burning fuse on the ground.
Then the horror OF the trap dawned
upon her. They were TO be lured into
the house and blown mp.
Gasping, she stammered forth her
discovery, She caught him by the
hand and dragged MIN down the nil
at run. None too soon The eartn
Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1915-01-14
Copyright, 1914, by Harold McGrath.

parture. Hassam Ali bade them wait a
moment He summoned AIMED and
ordered him to bring Zudora down.
The expressions of the two old men
changed surprisingly. When Zudora
entered she beheld two old men. be-
nevolent patriarchs. who bowed pro-
foundly and smiled upon her benignly.
"A case for you. Zudora."
She smiled expectantly.
"These two gentlemen are curio col.
lectors. They have lost a remarkable
brilliant, one of the most ancient
known. Find it and your fifth prob
lem may be relegated to the past"
WAS 1t stolen?"
They can't quite figure out. 1t is
gone. Yesterday it reposed in little
Florentine casket The casket remains.
but the gem is gone"
Il can make an effort" said the girl.
Where do you two gentlemen live?
They named small suburban town.
They lived in house on the North
Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1915-01-14

ra inquired II the brothers had seen
any strangers recently. No. Did the
village people know anything about
their collection? The old men laughed
and shook their tousled heads.
They know nothing, They think
that we are a couple of foolish old
mjsers. No; in no way can we account
for the disappearance"
''Can you describe the diamondT"
I'VE have something better than a
description. Here is photograph of
the stone"
The producing of this photograph
quieted any doubts Zudora might have
had. Collectors were generally slip
shod and careless in all respects ex,
cept in the matter Of their hobby a
true collector always wants photo
graph OF each of his treasures. partly
Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1915-01-14

road. which was continuation OF the
village main street When the two old
men had departed-and ZudOra was
struck by their extraordinary likeness
TO one anOther-Hassam Ali rubbed his
hands.
"a curious case. my dear. These two
old chaps live very moderately. Ev-
cry penny they can scrape together
goes to purchase some curiosity. This
gem has the true wanderlust of dia-
mOnds. II has been stolen several
times, and always they have managed
to recover it. But this time they are at
sea. 1t was really an heirloom, the MI.
cleus of their collection. In some way
they have heard of your success and
believe clever woman will succeed
where a man would fail Besides. they
can't offer much In the way of reward
| don't think the smallness OF the re-
ward will stand in your way. You
have triflng income of your own."
lightly.
And heaven only knows how I'll
ever be able to get rid OF tenth part
of this income. Some day I'm going in
for real charity"
Charity makes the recipient only
the poorer" he commented.
81 don't mean that kind" she replied.
She was thinking of establishing some
day community. But until her tongue
was free and until she could contide
utterly in her lover she must perforce
hold this ambition on the leash.
When she returned to her boudoir
she found note from Storm via the
pigeon John stated happily that he
was free for week or ten days and
wanted to know II she would not go
out and make visit with him to the
old folks. She hated to disappoint
him. but she was compelled to write
back that she was going to be very
busy and that 1t would be impossible
to join him. much as she would have
liked to- The next morning n pigeon
delivered a note to Hassam Ali. ZudO-
ra already having gone upon her new
quest. Hassam Ali destroyed the mes
sage SO Storm was given leave to
infer that Zudora had ignored his note
Zudora went out TO the village. The
house occupied by these two old curio
collectors was ramshackle affair
II looked to Iudora as though some
violent hurricane had taken 1t up miles
away and set 1t down upon the hill
haphazardly and indifferently. The
sight of II did not create any distrust
in her mind Most collectors were mad
persons. who cared little or nothing
for the roof over their heads or the
clothes on their backs so long as they
possessed the wherewlthal to pursue
their idiosyncrasies She learned that
the two old fellows were twins. One
of them met her at the station. and the
other greeted her M the door OF the
house quick glnnce at the interior
of the house convinced her that what
curiOs they md were securely locked
away The first thing she did was to
ask the complete history of the missing
stone. II had come from India orig
innlly. n part OF some loot long years
before the mutiny Its real value lay
in its eternal fire There were times
when this gleam was discernible even
in dark room They wanted II back
very badly and wonId he willing TO pay
as much as $500 for Its return. ZudO
Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1915-01-14
That's Why.

"What man In history do you like
mostY" was asked of several hundred
Philadelphia school children. These
were some OF the answers;
Columbus, n It hadn't been for him
there wouldn't be anybody else here.
"Monroe. for doctrine the people and
not charging for H.
"De Soto, for walden In the Mlssissip-
pi to his elbows and linden his grave"
paul Jones, because he said. 'Fll
heat them British or bust, and then
done It."
Andrew Jackson. for licken the
British with an old hickory. Phila-
ielphia Ledger.
Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1915-01-14

diately to ply her with questions. many
OF which seemed odd to Storm. No;
Zudora admitted that as yet she had
not picked up any clew Had she
been to the pawnshops2 No. Had she
shown the photograph to any one yet?
She had not shown II to a living soul
And out OF the corner OF her eye she
noted the look Of surprise which was
exchanged between the two. This
glance. swift as 1t was. gave her
clew. but one which had no signii-
canoe. so far as the missing diamond
was concerned. She at once determin-
ed to say nothing about the burning
Of the photograph or the hat
"You have lost your hatY" said one.
THE wind carried It off just as we
were crossing the bridge. We tried to
fish for 1t, but the current was too
strong"
There was no glance between the
brothers after this statement They
knew that she was NOT telling the
truth.
Let us get away from here" whis.
pered Storm when he had the oppor.
tunity TO do 50 unobserved.
"WhyT
81 don't quite like the looks OF your
clients"
Very well. Neither do l." She turn.
ed to her hosts. Tomorrow or the
next dny at the lntest." she said. 81
expect TO bring you some news regard.
ing the diamond A gem like that
cannot totally disappear"
Won't you have some tear
mo; thanks. Good day until tomor.
row."
Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1915-01-14

cigarette. AS he knew argument
would be Of no avail, be gave the old
man five dollar bill
The two young people continued
their journey on foot very thought.
fully.
"a hundred years ago." mused John,
II should have said that the devil was
In 1t"
Maybe the devil is in it." replied
ZudOra enigmatically.
Maybe he is" thinking OF her uncle.
There's a shack up yonder." she
said suddenly. Suppose we hide there
for awhile and watch the house.
want TO see II any one comes or goes"
"A good idea"
They reached the hut and entered II
and looked through the window at the
house of the two strange brothers. A
quarter OF an hour passed without re-
ward. There was no sign OF life at
that house. BY and by John shifted.
Girl, I'm hanged II don't smell
smoker
so do I!'
Let us hike while hiking's good"
They were less than dozen feet be-
yond the doorway when the shingles
on the roof began to curl into bright
angry flames.
"a close shave, girl. And now I'm
going back to interview those two
devils with the looks OF two St Pc
ters."
Ii was stormy interview. but II re-
suited In the embarrassment of both
They were set upon so swiftly and
skillfully that they hnd no time to
struggle. After the two were securely
bound Hassam Ali stole away from an.
other exit 1t had been narrow
squeeze for him.
Zudora and Storm were left alone
In the house. There were evidently
no servants. And now that they had
time to inspect the room closely they
drew the same conclusion-that the
house had been furnished for this spe
cial occasion. Storm set himself work
ing as best he could at the stout ropes
which bound the girl Once she was
free she could easily liberate him. II
seemed weary hours to them before
the cords fell from Zudora's hands
She then hunted about for knife and
found one with an edge like razor.
"Are you satis6ed?" John asked.
ironically.
"As to whatY'
THAT my death and perhaps yours
is wanted"
Miner
"Surely. And I'm going to tell you
what's been In my mind for weeks. I'll
stake my oath that that precious uncle
Of yours is back Of all this"
"My uncle! John. that is utterly i'm
possible. am his flesh and blood"
81 tell you he has committed crime
Of some sort and wants us out of the
way before we discover it,
"And what crime could he possibly
have committed that he should want
US both out OF the wayT
I'D give u year Or my life to ind
out" bitterly. Come, there's no use
lettering around here. The sooner we
get back to town the better And
when We get to town We'll 20 right IN
to Uncle Hassam Ais study and ask
few questions"
John. that would he utter madness"
"Well, something definite may result
from It. II you will not 60 with me
III talk to him alone"
"And come to blows. as you did the
other time. ind give him good legal
excuse to harm you"
"l've made up my mind" doggedly.
Then ! don't suppose II wonld do
any good to argue with you"
Indeed. 3torm did waste his time on
Uncle Hassam, as he now called the
Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1915-01-14

should not urge you to try your hand
at something that fills you with terror
You are shaking now as you talk"
"But it's not fear, uncle; it's the utter
lncredibility Of the thingw
ION my word I've no solution to of.
fer, except that the heat OF your hand
might have acted upon some chemical
IN the cardboard"
That's absurd But rm going to
stick to IT. But for the little blister on
my palm | could easily believe that
had been dreaming"
She retired 10 her boudoir. and Has.
sam All went forth into the night.
The following day Zudora sought
Storm Would he go with herr He
certainly wonld despite appearances
The word rather amused her She
was serenely Indifferent as to what
her neighbors snid or thought OF her
The general run OF them eyed her sus
piciously, perhaps just because she
possessed beauty and attractiveness.
Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1915-01-14
Storm and zudora left the house.

oSVtm uuu AuuOIu iclL Tue nOuS6s
what do you propose to dor" John
asked rather impatiently.
Find out what agency burned that
photograph and one OF my best hats"
ruefully.
"Hcse comes farmer with hay
wagon. Let's ride into the village"
Zudora agreed, with laugh. John
had singular idea, but he did not
contide II TO ZudOra. So they stopped
the farmer. and he entered into the
joke readily enough. City folk were
always wanting to take Joy ride on
the hayrack. No sooner did he start
on again than flames burst forth from
the hay, and 1t was a dangerous game,
the effort to put 1t out The farmer
accused Storm of having dropped his
Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1915-01-14
CHAPTER v.
The Case of the Perpetual Glare.

Ihe Case OF the Perpetual Glare.
7 HASSAM ALI played with his
- gold. digging his hands into
the cold, slithering metals and
letting them stay submerged
for moment or two. No coin ever
went into this chest dull. He had a
simple little preparation with which he
washed each coin until 1t shone like a
fresh minted one. Bankers did not
particularly love Hassam Ali. He-was
always bringing gold certificates ana
having them exchanged for the coin
Whenever he had bills to pay immedi.
ately from his pocket dreadful
thought invariably the paper money
was redeemable only in silver. Hay.
ing satisfied his craving TO play with
his hoard, he closed and locked the
chest, secreted II and went into the
mystic room.
Tonight he saw in his crystal globe
only those things that he desired to
see. Suddenly he struck his hands to-
gether gleefully That was 1t, ne mur.
INJURED. that was it. Why hadn't he
thought of 1t before? Absolutely sure
and with less evidence than could be
found in the path of the ightest wind
Simple as sunshine. he summoned
AIMED.
81 wish to write and send a note
Arrange the desk. | will be in In a
moment"
Yes. sahib."
When Hassam Ali finished his note
he destroyed the blotter and the sheets
OF paper which had underlaiD that
upon which ne had written. This note
he gave to the servant He felt no
worry about this note. The man who
received 1t would Immediately destroy
It. To keep 1t and use 1t in the aim
of blackmail would only tighten the
rope about his neck AS has doubt
less been surmised by this time, Has
sam Ali was u master criminal. They
say that every man who commits u
crime leaves something behind. Has.
sam Ali had winnOwed down his risks
until they were almost negligible. Ev
cry man who worked for him did so
under the unwritten contract OF life
or death. Nearly every tool Hassam
Ali had stood under the shadow OF
death. That was principally why
nothing ever led the trail TO his house.
There was among the various cliques
over which he held sway no ordinary
crook The porch climber, the yegg.
hn haA mi nf
no standing among these men. They
were all more or less men OF scientific
attainments In whom the criminal In
stincts had been born, not created by
environment
At 3 o'clock AIMED came into the
mystic room and announced that TWO
gentlemen wished to see him. AIMED
was hidden TO bring them In forth
with. They were old men. hawk fea'
tured. with high foreheads and bril-
liant eyes despite their apparent an
iiquity They greeted Hnssam All re
spectfully. but there was nothing serv.
lie In their attitude. They needed Has
sam Ali. who IN turn needed them
Thus they were equals.
"You have II still?' inquired Hassam
Ali.
"Yes; we have never dared to patent
IT. We are holding 1t until some great
war breaks forth"
Listen.
For half an hour conversation was
carried on in a monotone. At the end
Hassam Ali sighed. drew out his wal
let and gave each man a roll of bank
notes, careful 10 observe that there
were no gold certificates AS the Wis
ttors stood up, about to make their de
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-06-20
ICE TO DISPLAY SKILL IN w DAY ATHLETIC CARNIVAL
MEMBERS OF THE HONOR ROLL.

Since January T., 1909, twenty-three members of the New
York CITY Police Force have been killed In the discharge Of
their duty. Their names follow;
February 10. reoo-Sergeant John b. ooidhamner, Detective Bursau.
shot and killed while making an arrest. n..... 10.
and killed in Palermo, Italy, while endesvoring to iocre criminals.
April 8, 1o1o-Patrolman Harry T. Pierson, I54th Precinct, death re-
suiting from injuries received in making an arrest -.
October az, IeIo-Patrolman James F: Mhhgin, I44th Precinct fell
July l., IerI-Panolman Michael Lynch, aad Precinct, shot while In
vesteating a disturbance at sH7 West 9Th streei .-
March 10, IoI2-Patrolman Edward j. MCKEE, 1899 Precinct thrown
Tune r.. ioIa-Patrolman Thomas E. OConnell, aeth Precinct, died
from effects Of making a rescue from drowning.
November II, 1eIa-Patrolman Peter Fitxsinnrnons, 33d Precinct
run over by an automobile.
May 3, 1ofs-PatroSnan William B. Heaney, Ish Precinct, who wa
with Teare, shot while making ar arrest
August l., 1eI3-Patrolman Bernard ORourke. I46th Precinct. killed
August a, ieIs-Patroiman Patrick cotter. 18th Precinct shot while
October 3, Iors-Sergeant Joseph M. McNierney. aeh Precinct.
stabbed while making a arrest.
Nav s. oI,-Patrolman Eugene Burns, 36th Precinct, u over by an
December TO- Ior,-patrolman Daniel Gibbons, ,7th Precinct injured
in attempting to stop runaway; died from effects.
April q, IeI4-Actng Detective Sergeant Joseph Guarnieri, 3eh Pre-
cinct, shot while making an arrest
making al arrest
MAY :. I91Is4-patroiman Michael J. Kiley, shot in making an arrest.
July rs, io14-PatroimanJ John Nee, 276th Precinct, knocked down by
October :, IeI4-Sergeant John E. Hodgins Ith Precinct. crushed
between a automobile and a car on ,vay to fire.
December IS, IeI4-Patrolman Edmond Leblanc, Traffic Squad B.,
knocked down by car.
May g.. 1eI5-Patrolman Ihomas r Rooney ath Precinct killed by
taxicab.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-06-20
INCREASING THE EFFICIENCY
OF CITY EMPLOYEES.
ny LEONHARD FELIx FOLD.
YOUNG woman employed as a

n NJ woman empIOyed as a
n s~tenographer in one OF the de-
partments OF the city govern
ment requested n of the supervising
officials OF her department TO select
for her some courses of instruction IN
the evening by means OF which she
might increase her working ability.
Noting that his inquirer combined the
charm Of the nineteenth century girl
with the all around efficiency OF the
twentieth century business oma the
official to whom this s~tenographer adj
dressed her inquiry did not dismiss
the matter lightly by paying her a
compliment but tod her frankly that
she needed in the evening opportunl-
ties for healthful relaxation rather
than facilities for additional study. Her
own business aCumen enabled her 10
appreciate the weight of the argu-
ments which no presented In support
of this proposition.
When q survey OF the existing
recreational facilities disclosed the fact
that there We're non suited 10 the
needs of this young m the Of
hctal decided to create facilities. With
the cooperation OF tho secretary OF
! the public recreation commission he
secured the Use of one Of the City's
gymnasiums situated near the Munic-
ipal Building for one hour a week for
the use of the young women employed
in the building. The hour from $40
to- $50 IN Monday evenings was
selected because the building was not
otherwise occupied al This hour and
this hour was the most convenient for
the young women.
Through the assistance Of the head
OF the department of physical educa-
ton OF Columbia University the ser
vices of "A student teacher were OBJ
tanned. This teacher taught the young
women folk dancing for the first half
hour and social dancing for the re-
mainder of the hour each week.
The young women were not ex-
pected to supply themselves with any
special costume and no charge Of any
kind was made, with the exception
that the women were expected TO de-
fray their share of the pianist's
charge. This charge was very small
since there were about fifty women
IN the class who contributed to the
pianlst's weekly salary of one dollar.
AS soon as the class had peer fully
established the young men EMPLOYED
In the building requested permission
to Join II, 1t was not deemed advis-
able 10 admit them because their adj
mission would have necessitated the
substitution by the young women of
the formalities OF the ballroom for the
freedom OF the playground. Yet the