davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-11-25

Her mother slumpcd down in a
chair with a gasp, while Simpson
stared at his daughter with his
mouth hanging open in establishment.
why, that will cost him more
than his salary in remit" he exclain-
ed.
and Clara Kcnyon's been talking
nbout getting four servants! Four OF
'ein!" cried Miss Simpson. And
she's been getting the most gor-
gcous clothes! Her father has sure
~ got rich somehow"
well, I'm dnged If know how
ne's done i'll" declared simpson,
ocrewing up his face In bewilder-
mcnt.
"Hc can't have inherited any moro
money" muscd his wife, because we
know all about the few relatives ne
ever had. and they've all been dead
Cor years. None of them had much
to leave, anyway. He's been specu,..
ating that's what he's been doing.
"Speculating be hanged" Simpson
had but small respect for his wiie'S
views outside the domain of house,
hold affairs, and he elnred at her
commiseratingly. ~ know that ne
had his five thousand invested m
mortgages only six months ago. IL
null it out and turn 1T over so fast
that he's rich enough to live like
millionaire he's done what no other
man could do
"Ie must have got it Somewhere.
Tho1. where" demanded Mrs. Slmp-
,On. ,
a don't know returned simpson
!,lrlessly. Then after moment,
auddon change of expression came
1t; 20 or1 11p added. Il don
irov-,nless--" He turned toward
his wife with q curious look III mis-
eyes and said no more.
DAYS aud weeks passed without
throwing any light on the riddle or
PANEL Itenyon's sudden rise 10 cpu-
lence. On the contrary 1t grew more
ard more rerplexing.
He ard his daughter, q delicate
looking girl of twenty-three or four.
moved from their simple home into
the big Rclden house, where they
began living on n scale that was in
deed luxurious compared with their
former condition. The little, bent,
gray man. for whom life had been
none too easy, who had always look
ed shabby and careworn, was already
being regarded as one of the chief
citizens OF the community. People
began to speak of him as a million
aire. And he certainly looked tho
part as he and his daughter, both
wrapped in expensive furs, rolled
through ttc streets of the town in
their big motor car.
But amons all his acquaintances
was the constant question:: Where
does the money come from" The
Simpsons were as much in the dark
as ever on that point. SO was every
body else.
AS for Kenyon himself. although
he had always been a frank out
spoken man about his affairs. he new
er dropped so much as a word that
might give a clue to the mystery.
Indeed. he was a changed man in
that respect; he had suddenly be-
come close-mouthed and taciturn.
Money seemed to have chilled his
nature. At least. it seemed to have
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-11-25

you car take my word for it,"
said Henry Simpson to his wife,
there's some kind OF trouble brew
Ing for Kenyon. ] don't un6orstoN6
what, and neither does anybody else,
but RS as plain as day that things
are not right. There are a lot Of
ugly rulnors beginning to fly around,
but I've always had faith in Dan
Kenyon and / hesitate to take any
stock of them. Still, you know 1t
don't look we'll for smallsalaried
bank employee to be blossoming out
like a plutocrat. 1t naturally makes
folks suspicious. If Kenyon hadn't
always been known as the soul OF
honesty there'd be even more talk
than there is.
1t was only few days later that
Augustus Berger. president of the
Elm City Bank, was ushered into
simpsons parlor.
you've known Dan Kenyon for a
good many years, simpson, began
Berger. "Ive come to ask you
what's your idea about this change
in his circumstances. It's come TO
the ears of myself and some of the
banks stockholders that he's going
q pretty swift pace for man on
his salary. What does it mean?
"How should know?" said Simp-
son. He must have got hold OF
lot of money somehow. but he's new
er told me where it came from"
give been taking some observations
the last few days. said Berger SOL
emily, land I've discovered that
Kenyon has been living at a rate Of
at least five times what his salary
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-11-25
By E. L.7Bacon


amounts to. II would take a for.
tune OF something like two hundred
thousand dollars to bring him in
enough of an income for that. and it's
plain that nobody's been leaving him
any such sum. Now, where's all the
money coming from? He must have
piles OF 1t. for he's not the man who
would spend all his income. All his
life he has lived we'll within his
means, putting aside o few dollars
every month for rainy day. You
might say he's been specializing, but
I have good evidence that he didn't
have but q few thousand dollars in
the world few months ago. and 1t
would take q Napoleon of finance to
make big fortune in the stock mar
kct in that space of time on such
small beginnings. What's more, he
can't be specializing very heavily,
when he never goes anywhere but to
the bank. I've had him watched"
well" said Simpson, "lts your
affair. not mine. All I can say is that
and everybody that knows him
have always had faith In his homes
~"
"I'm not saying anything against
his honesty snapped Berger. I'm
lust wondering; that's all. I don't
believe he's been robbing the bank,
for we've been having the books gone
over, and they're straight. He couldn't
fool the examiners. His accounts
aren't short dollar"
III I were you I'd ask him." sug-
gested Simpson. That's the SIM
plest way"
That's Just what I've DONE" said
Berger. And he told me it was his
own affair, and that as long as his
accounts at the bank were straight
I ought to be satisfied. Said I
wouldn't believe him even II he did
tell me. Now, I've always liked Ken
yon. He's good cashier and I'd
hate to lose him, but all this gos-
sip isn't good for the bank. What's
more even If have faith In him my
self. some Of the stockholders are in
mighty suspicious frame Of mind
in spite of what the books show"
Berger continued for weeks to pry
Into his cashiers private affairs. al
though he gained very little enlight-
eminent from the effort. But one
thing his detectives found out was
that Kenyon's daughter had become
alarmingly Ill.
That didn't seem to have any bear
ing upon the mystery of her fathers
opulence, but it might account, per-
haps, for the rapid change that had
come over him-for his haggard fea-
lures, his heavy eyes, and his con-
slant expression Of anxiety and
dread.
"Her case Is hopeless" he told some
inquiring friends. The disease has
been developing steadily for a Ions
time. She may linger on for weeks
perhaps months-but the specialist:
FOL mo It's jncurahlo."
It was almost a year from the tim'
that Kenyon had startled his neigh
bors by moving into his new home
that his daughter died. And 1t wal
only few hours before she passed
away that he received notice that tn
bank would require his services NJ
longer. The protests OF the stock
holders had grown too strong 10
Berger to withstand.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-11-25

[XT1lEN Daniel Kenyon, cashier
wv of the Elm City Bank, bought
an automobile his ncishbors,
he simpsons, who had lived next
ioor to him for twenty-five years,
turing which time they had been
indcr the impression that they knew
Ill the ins and outs of his private
Affairs, were surprised and bswildcr-
"a by the sudden burs. OF extrava-
vancc.
How tie deuce can ne DO :t?' ex-
slammed Henry Simpson. as h" gaZed
,ut OF the window at the car that
mas chug- chugging III front of Ken
von's house. Hes no. content with
1 runabout; It's a bis touring car
Ald on twenty-five hundred year
,alnry! I. heats mel"
"sie's been working for the bank
.lose TO thirty years." suggested Mrs.
Simpson. Don't you suppose ne
,avcd something In all that tine?
Anyway, there's the five thousand his
,nclc left him. That ought to DO en-
,ugh for an auto
you ought to know Dan Kenyon
Ccll enough by This time TO realize
no's not the Kind 20 spend half he's
worth for O. toY-machine,' declared
her husband I'll bet that car cost
his ycar's salary at least. And as
Cor saving, you know how much
chance he's had to do that. His
salary wasn't but two thousand till
few years ago. and his wife had
beer an invalid for fifteen. years
when she died. with doctors bills
running up high. Not much chance
for big savings there"
We'll he's surely the last man
I'd have suspected Of such an en-
lravngance." said Mrs. simpson.
Hes never been the kind TO think
Of luxures. Why, he's always
watched every penny. He must have
made lot Of money somehow
small chance of n man in this Cos
sipy town getting hold OF a lot OF
money without everybody Knowing
all about 1t. Anyway. KcnJon'3
never been close-mouthed about his
affairs He's never been ashamed to
lot his friends know about himself.
Why, 1t was only six months ago
that I heard him say the five thou
sand he got from his uncie's estate
was pretty near all he had in the
world. And he's got the reputation
Of being as truthful man rs eve"
lived. So, what In blazes is he do
Ing with q touring-car?'
AS he turned from the window.
scratching his head In perpleXity' his
daughter came hurrying into the
room. She had just returned from
a call on some friends across the
street.
What do you suppose Mr.. Kenyon
has been doing?" she exclaimed.
Been buying an auto" said her
mother. with touch of peevishness.
"Didn't you suppose we knew that
by this time? If he can afford an
auto we ought to be going around
In a gold chariot But ! guess your
father would have fainting spell If
either Of us happened to hint at
horse and buggy"
Hes been getting more than an
auto" announced Miss Simpson.
1.-THE Beldens are going abroad. and
he's rented their house, furniture and
all, and the garage in the rear for his
ma chine. Where on earth has he
been getting all the money!"
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-11-25

through the dun-colored walls that
had closed about them. Captain
Beale glanced into the pinnacle.
headed the schooner a point farther
to the southland, and grinned.
Presently by the bits he could see
the lookout straining his ears be-
tween the blasts of the horn, evidently
listening intently. Full, we'll the cap
tain knew to what he was listening;
for already through the mist he could
hear the distanct moan Of the whis-
tling-buoy, which marks the outer
edge of Shovel Rip Ledge.
The sound grew steadily palmer.
Captain Beale's grin widened. At last
the lookout hailed:
"Whistlin'- buoy dead ahead, sir!"
The skipper made a great pretense
OF listening. 81 don't hear it," he de-
clared, and held his course. The
lookout seemed trifle uneasy. In a
moment he was hailing once more:
There 1t goes again, sir. Whistlin'-
buoy dead ahead"
Captain Beale affected fine scorn.
II don't hear no whistlin'buoy," he
maintained, "but I can hear some old
freighter groanin' off there
The lookout's next hail, which fol-
lowed almost Immediately, was wild
yell, while he tore aft at his best
speed.
Breakers. sir, right under her
bowl" he howled. And then the
schooner struck
There was shock. jolt, grind
ing sound. The little craft shivered
from stem to stern. Up the galley
companionway came tumbling the
cook.
Lord help u.s." he yelled as the
familiar groan OF the whistling.buoy
smote his ears from close quarters.
We've hit Shovel Rip Ledge!"
There was another bump--a series
Of bumps; the schooner stopped.
surged ahead, then stopped again.
Then the grinding beneath her keel
began once more; slowly she forged
ahead. They could plainly hear the
surge under her bows.
Judas Priest!" shouted the amazed
skipper. What do you make Of that?
Dummed if We hain't hit Shovel Rip
Ledge, and gone clean over it! Start
the pumps. Quick!"
In trice the pumps were shrieking
their protests.
How much waters she takin'?" the
skipper demanded.
mot a drop. SIR" the men at the
pumps answered.
Captain Beale wiped his forehead.
For a time he stood staring stupidity
at the pinnacle before he put the
schooner back on her course.
Then the cook came running aft
with a black, furry body in his arms.
Say, will you believe 1t now" he
shouted. Amt there something in it.
Would you ever got off'n that ledge.
much more gone over it, If it hadn't
been for the cat? Amt it special
providence you fetched her? III tell
ye one thing. | ain't goin' TO sea again
on this schooner. nor no other, with
out black cat aboard"
The skipper burst into a great roar
OF laughter. which left the cook star
Ing at him in open-mouthed wonder.
you win." said Captain Bealc.
when he had somewhat recovered his
breath. I'm most beginnin to think
myself there's somethin' in it. Thai
cat stays aboard"
(Cotyright. TH Er-H4 4. Waass~ r. \
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-11-25

He descended to the cabin, opened
the stateroom-door and drew out the
sack. With much vocal effort, the
unwilling tenant had well-nigh ex-
hausted itself, but as the bag was
lifted it summoned sufficient spirit to
send up last wall that would have
killed the last spark of pity in the
captains heart, had such spark ex-
listed.
AS it was, he stolidly carried the
convenient piece of scrap-iron to
serve as sinkingweight.
He was intent on his task Of Sc
curely flashing piece Of spare chain
to the neck of the bag when Joe Blair,
with a basket Of dirty dishes on his
arm, came up from the cabin. He
spied the captain seated on the bits
forward and made his way thither.
What you goin' to do with that,
cap'n?" he demanded.
Captain Bealc went on with his
work without SO much as looking up.
I'm goin to heave this bag over"
said he.
80? What yer got in the bag?"
The contents of the bag answered
for itself. There came from its depth
wall of misery that would have
melted the heart of an idol. Joe
Blair started perceptibly. He set
down the basket Of dishes and looked
accusingly at his superior
"It's cat" he said.
Captain BeaIe bristled. Hard lines
appeared about the corners Of his
mouth.
well, what Of that?" said he.
What you goin' to do with that
cat?" the cook questioned In tone
that BODIED trouble.
do with it," the captain snapped
What do you s'pose. Dyer think
was goin' to use 1t for figger-head
I'm goin' to do jest what | told yer
/ was-heave It overheard"
Joe Blairs brow darkened. He
pushed back his soiled cap and
scratched his head in doubtful fashion
1t was plain he wanted to speak his
mind. and yet felt some hesitancy In
doing so. He shifted from foot to
foot. and looked helplessly at the
basket of dishes Mt his feet.
Say" he ventured at length, SAY
I amt exactly what you'd call su
perstitious man, which amt sayin'
neither, that amt got my peculiari
ties. But | was on vessel once
the old Starlight. bound for Mara
caibo, it was-and they had ca,
aboard that took sick. and they hove
1t overheard; and after that"
Yes, yes. know" the captain In
teErupted irritably. you've told me
all about that once or twice before
There ain, nothin' like that goin' to
happen this time. This amt the
ships cat. It's one ] fetched aboard
a purpose to drowned
1T don't make no difference" the
cook maintained dogGedly. ITS baG
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-11-25

He took one cautious step forward,
and then another. Engrossed in the
feas. before it, the cat paid not the
least attention to the stealthy ap-
proach. 1t was only when the captain
was close beside it, that it condo.
scended to turn it's attention from the
cream, and then it was too late; for
the captain, with an agility surprising
in man of his years, suddenly leaped
forward and caught the black body by
the nape OF the neck.
Vainly did the cat give vent to its
outraged feelings; vainly did it strug'
Clio to effectively use its teeth and
claws. In a trice the captain had
thrust it into the gunny-sack, the neck
of which he tied with piece Of stout
Irvine.
Painting, but triumphant, he laid the
wriggling bundle, from which came
the sounds of lost soul in the deep
est woe, upon the ground. He turned
to cast a hurried and guilty glance at
the windows of the house next door,
half expecting to find there numerous
protesting witnesses to his perfdy;
but the windows of the house next
door remained discreetly curtained.
Thanking his lucky stars for this de-
liovcrance Of his enemy into his
hands, Captain Beale picked up the
sack, bore it into the house, and went
upstairs to array himself somewhat
more fully.
1t was only too obvious that man.
bearing q bundle OF such livelincss as
the sack babe fair TO be, could never
hope to go through the village streetr
in broad daylight without attracting
unpleasant attention to himself
Therefore, as soon as the captain had
completed hurried toilet. he cnmt
into the kitchen, took up tho sack
and while yet the town was wrapped
in slumber. made his way to tho
waterfront. where his schooner. lit
Ito craft OF some hundred tons. lay a
tho dock, her cargo OF potatoes aboard
all ready to sail with the morning tide
j But evcn in the half-light of eerl!
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-11-25
FOOD FOR SKEPTICS
By JOHN BARTON OXFORD

morning the captain was not without
certain breathless anxiety as he hur-
ried along the silent, deserted streets,
the gunny-sack over his shoulder and
the cat within it sending out soulful
protests every step of the way.
Indeed it was only when he gained
the dock, scrambled aboard the Lu-
cinda, and tossed his burden uncer-
enormously into the spare stateroom
courage to draw a long breath.
There, drat ye!" he apostrophized
the sack, "squall your in'ards out now
for all ] care or for all the good it
will do We! I'll learn ye to come
sneakin round that maple by my bed
room every night l try to stay ashore,
keepin me awake with your internal
yowlin. Go on; keep it up now; don't
mind me! Have your fun while you
can. callate you've pretty nigh
yowled your last yowl, and spit your
last spit. l sum, I'd heave you over
board now, If it want for the tide
takin' you ashore and them Rider
folks next door gettin' suspicious that
drowned ye. I'll jest keep we trussed
up in the bag till We git outside, and
then over you go like the wuthless
carcass you are. | guess likely next
time ! stay ashore here in my own
house III git little more peace, SO
fur as you are concerned. anyway"
He slammed the door Of the spare
stateroom, crossed the cabin, and
threw himself into his own berth to
snatch what sleep he might before
it was time to start for Rockville with
the cargo.
He was awakened somewhat later
by the sound Of heavy footsteps on
tho deck over his head. He arose
and went up the companionway to
find his two foremost hands, and Joe
Blair. his cook, but just come aboard.
"All right. boys he greeted them
cordially. Glad you got here bright
and early. May as we'll git under way
right off. Tides settin' jest right for
us now. Git breakfast goin, Joe.
Look alive there. for'ard. Cast off
them lines"
In a few moments the Lucinda was
drifting with the tide away from the
dock, and presently, with all sail set
she went careening across tho bay
toward the open sea.
1t was after he had eaten one OF
Joe Blair's excellent breakfasts that
Captain Deale's mind returned to the
spare stateroom and the sack therein
He arose from the table, and, thrust
ing his head out of the mpanionway
mentally noted tho schooner's posi-
ton. Far away the shore was but 9
hazy blue line; while just over the
port bow doomed the gray shaft Of
the lighthouse on Flat Island. The
captain chuckled.
'This Is as good as any place." hi
told himself. "The tidell never wash
1t ashore from here"
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-11-25

luck to heavo q cat over, no matter
aboard. Say, what color is it?"
Black" said the captain with in
cautious truth.
Joe Blair fairly gasped. Black" he
cried. Say, you don't mean you'd
heave a black cat overheard, do ye?"
II amt SO terrible partial as to
colors,' was the captains sardonic
response.
Don't you go to heavin no black
cats off'n this schooner" the cook
said in a shaking voice.
Beale stiffened. "Se here, you
blasted grease-skimmer," he beloved,
I'm capn Of this craft. You want to
remember that. shall most proba.
bly, do about as I'm mind to, and that
blasted cat is goin' over-see?"
IF she does" the cook threatened.
I'm git out OF this schooner-see'f
don't. I'll git out of her as soon as
we git to Rockville-if We ever do"
he ended gloomily.
The threat struck Captain Bealc in
vulnerable spot. The one boast Of
his otherwise modest nature was Of
the superiority OF his cook. All too
we'll he remembered the galley regime
before Joe Blair had shipped with
him. All too we'll he pictured the
soggy biscuits and the greasy hash
Of Joe's predecessor What mattered
the cats presence fer few days,
anyway? He could manage to take
the pest ashore when they arrived at
Rockville and lose 1t somewhere. The
main thing was to get rid of It.
Where or how were secondary con.
siderations. Therefore Captain Beale
unbent
We'll. If you're so terribly touchy
about it. take the critter into the
galley, then" he commanded, "and
keep her there out of my sight until
we git to Rockville"
II tell ye | amt what you'd call a
superstitious man." the cook reiter-
ated, "but you'd got into some kind
OF a scrape II you'd drownded her."
He picked up the sack and slouched
off toward the galley. Captain Beale,
with grunt of disgust, as much for
his own weakness as for the cooks.
stalked aft to the wheel.
1t was ideal weather that followed
them that trip. The wind held fair
and brisk; the fogs, usually prevalent
in those waters in the early spring.
were conspicuous only by their alb
sence. In the galley Joe Blair made
friends with the cat and fed 1t upon
the best the lockers afforded.
"Havin' a good run Of 1t this trip,
amt we, cap'n?" he observed to Beale
the third day out. with grin that
angered the captain.
Couldn't be better as ! see," the
skipper replied.
Know what makes it?" tho cook
questioned. with a meaning jerk OF his
head, ITS the cat"
! Nor was it only the propitious