davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington herald., 1915-12-05
THE GRAND PROMOTER
His Creditors Extend Their Sympathies.

the Major as he drank the last of hi.
coli coffee.
The landlady was ready to show him
into the parlor. No friendship for him
set and her mind wRs made up. As he
entered the parlor he found the four
boarders there who had left the table.
They looked very stern and solemn. II
up their minds. 1t was the landlady,
standing with arms akimbo who spoke
first. She says:
Major Crofoot. you owe me SO for
room room and and, board; ssISnn,s Are you prepared to
Major Crofoot," said the actor, in
tones that would have reached the back
of any theater, you owe me SIS. Are you
prepared to settle your account"
dertaker, in tones that would have
brought tears to the eyes of the mourn
ers, Il gave you so to buy some stock
for me on Wall Street. You have never
returned my money. Are you prepared
to settle the account"
Major Crofoot," declaimed the actress.
in precise tones, II listened to your tale
Of woe and lent you $40. I have never
pared to settle your account.
There was one left-the old maid who
stenoged for a tailor. She had been sit
ting down on a stuffed chair. She now
rose up and said:
II am the victim of an unhung villain.
This craven of a man who stands before
US, convicted by his looks, pawned a
diamond ring for me and kept $l2 of the
money he received from the pawnbroker.
Could human infamy go further? Major
Crofoot, are you prepared to settle your
account"
There was a minute of awful silence
and the sound Of a cough from a chauf-
feur, passing on the street sounded like
the report Of a German howitzer. The
Major cleared his throat six or seven
times before he began in a low. sad
voice:
Ladies and gehtlemen: I freely ac-
The Washington herald., 1915-12-05
VISITED BY THE CATAC0MBS.

Copyright 1915. by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate
did 1 understand you to say yol
were in Europe this winter" he asked
of the man who was talking to a drum
mer across the aisle.
Yes. SIR"
Were you in Rome?"
81 was there for a month. sir.
"Ah, I am glad to have met you.
wanted to ask about Rome. You visit
ed the catacombs, of course?"
Didn't have to. They visited me-.
"How do you mean?"
why, I never stirred out Of the hotel
that they weren't striking me for aims.
Never saw such an Internal set In all
my born days
Don't you mean the lazaroni?"
"Of course. The catacombs and the
lazaroni are the same thing, only 'cata-
comb Is the Italian of It and the other
Is the English II you haven't been over
I'd advise you to golf you can raise
the dudads. You don't know how much
q trip abroad will broaden and liberal
ize your mind"
An the other sank back and hid him
self In q corner. and he did not get over
looking pale for the next thirty miles.
The Washington herald., 1915-12-05

7 thing screamed when I screamed II
shrieked when I shrieked. Then 1,
began to run backwards in circle
| around me. i saw that three of the
| legs were so constructed that il could
! run bac kwards as well "a II could run
forwards with the other three. 1,
| several minutes and then uttered a
whoop and began to run forwards. II
| was horrible. Mr.. BowSer to hear its
| teeth clicking together and to see
fire"
But get along to the end" said Mr..
| Bowser. who half believed the story
in spite of himself.
replied Mrs. Bowser. The thing came
closer and closer and was preparing
to spring upon me. when l tainted
away: What else could a poor girl
do? when ! recovered consciousness.
the terror had departed and | was
unharmed. He had simply united my
Claus gift to hIs own little girl That's
all. Mr.. Bowscr. | notice that you are
getting uneasy"
II think l will go over to the drug
store and get a few troches for my
throat, II feels rather stuffed up"
When Mr.. Bowser got out to the
gate he leaned on it and laughed until
the tears came 10 his eyes. He had
caught Mrs. Bowser at last and he
HuSS eh 'hS uiuS6is' dpout IL ne
laughed all the way over to the store
and when he entered he had such a
broad grin on his face that the man
of drugs exclaimed:
why. Bowser. what has happened"
And when Mr.. Bowser told him all
they laughed and chuckled and pound
ed on the counter in unison and the
druggist said:
"Bowser, you are great, You are
simply immense, BY George, BY
George. but you have done nobly"'
And about the same time. Mrs Bow
eyes, caused by laughter and saying
to herself:
Poor Mr.. Bowser. If wife didn't
let the husband get the advantage
once in awhile, il would get to be mo-
The Washington herald., 1915-12-05

eyes. and his chin trembled and he choked
up as he explained:
John ID. was kidnapped last night and
Is being held for ransom. / cannot gel
your money today as l promised"
But you needn't hang yourself because
OF that" magnanimousy replied the
actor; and the others took the cue from
him and spoke words equally comforting
Even the young undertaken who dotted
on funerals, said the Major must live on
whether he paid his debts or not.
The result of all this was n collection
taken up on the spot and the sum of 81
In cash was raised and placed in the
Majors hand. The landlady scaled her
bill down to $50 and said he might be
a year paying it. and all was joy and
happiness as the procession descended
the stairs. and when the sound OF the
last footstep had died away. the Major
removed the rope from the hook. winked
at the old stove and desk and chuckIed:
1T isn't good-by. my friends, yetNnot
yet-not yet: shall start out ON a new
career and / shan't need this rope arain
for year or SO. Major Crofoot. YOU are
slick one and love you for IT,
The Washington herald., 1915-12-05

Friends and nayburs," began old Joe
Grimm, as he took seat on a cracker
know that up to five vars ago I lived
over in Joe Davis county. i had a squat
over thar by the big Blue Gum swamp
Thar, Thar was was forty acres acres Of land In In the
was all I could do to raise nun con
and 'tatters for me and the ole woman.
If it hadn't been that the Blue Gum was
full of varmints that I could trap in
the winter and sell their furs, l reckon
We should have starved out.
Il reckon you all know about that
big swamp. It's the biggest In the State
and that's goin' some. 1t was checked
full of bob-cats coons. foxes, possums,
skunks and now or then a panther or
bar. It give out mo- smells and
kin count. 1 had to live thar. how
ever. kase I was drafted poor and had
no other place to go.
other. most of the varRints left the
swamp and it was mighty poor trap
ping. I got just enough fur to keep
spring and summer came along. We
was powerful hard up and like to go
hungry in another month. We was
shoes and other things and we
couldn't figure how We was goin' to
git it. Thar was stores at Mud Flats.
Walnut Bend. eight miles away, but
il / was TO go into any one Of them.
il showed a sign of No Trust /
aa t5ey wasn't ssm efdd oid mum h to DO ns any @
good.
One night arter the ole woman had
given me three or four hints about
Providence was to blame fur it all.
Along about midnight she nodged me
awake and said:
You are full of EN- / says.
but this is an ideh as bright as
a new tin pan
Its fur you to go in the swamp
tomorrer and sat dead-fall to eaten
a bob-cat'
bob-cat fur? His pelt wouldn't be
worth ten cents at this season of the
1T amt fur the fur. Joe. but if
you kin ketch a big bob.cat mebbe
you kin sell him at Mud Flats or the
Bend TO some one fur a pet. He or
Good Lawd woman, who ever
9saFG Rea Gf %as'1 Well Rst PsinR S' Of ts%H
IF they Won't buy over thar. Joe
says she. you kin shift him to New
York where they have varmints in
ketch the cat I'll bet you'll come out
S. ahead
1T was worth thinkin' about" said
hight Ind p%y next Pe try DAY weSs oaf and
set a dead fall and while l was doin' |
1t, bouncin. big bob-cat ran up a |
tree clus beside me and gin screach |
that riz my h'ar up.
That night in the middle of
the night we was awoke by the durn
dest screamin' and screachin' that q
man ever heard of. It come from a
bob-cat who had meddled with that
dead fall. She kept it up for two hours
and then quieted off and didn't begin
aEin' till mawnin' come and I went
out to the trap. 1t was the big bob
The Washington herald., 1915-12-05

States Is no place for the Jucherie. We
never roast our missionaries and the
animal will dine on nothing else"
Mr.. Bowser rose up and went to a
was So tickled in his life before. but
he must keep il to himself. After q
minute he came back and sat down
II heard some men talking about
the S. o. S. the other day, but I
couldn't make out what IL was or is.
Is il bird or animal, Mrs. Bowser?''
swered, 1T is is some such bird ans as
the condor of Peru. but curiously
enough it has one long wing and one
in a circle and to get anywhere it
must descend To the ground and make
use of its legs to get over the ground.
Its legs are weak and tottering. and
as II walks il utters cries of S. O.. S.
Although the strange bird is a native
of Java, ! think l have heard its cries
several times right here. They are
make you think of poor orphan
child wandering in the dark and ex-
pecting to be dev0ured by a panther
S With Amy you %0mfn' Mr Bowser en! is the matter
II feel too FULL was the hesitat-
Ing reply. "Mebbe its case of in
It was a case of wanting to laugh
and holding back on 1t like a man
holding to the reins of a runaway
team. hut Mr.. Bowser stopped the
team by great effort and humbly
asked:
There is the nom ami. Mrs. Bow
ser. ] don't remember that / ever
saw one"
But / have. 1t was when I was
little girl. however. There has not
been one seen in this country in a
great many years, and l believe the
thing is extinct. L was out in the
woods gathering wild flowers and
suddenly l heard a gruff voice speak
ing to me. I thought it was a man
and looked up with a start of alarm.
a nom ami. After / got home and
told my father about It, he said it
was. and my Sunday school teacher
said 1t was and the preacher said II
The Washington herald., 1915-12-05

that he was amused by something he
had witnessed on the street car that
afternoon and that he would tell
about 1t later on. Meanwhile. what
was a Jucherie?
have read" was the answer The
Jucherie is any native of the Cannibal
Islands. It is a large bird-like ami
gatSr. wings like a bird and eyes and
beak like an owl. II has a tail ring
ed around like a coon's. When the
cannibals catch a missionary and
roast him, the Jucherie can smell the
banquet a mile of. He hastens to the
feast and unless the savages fee and
leave him to eat at his leisure, he
kills five or six of them. The United
The Washington herald., 1915-12-05
down with a moose at the free end of it. |
chair stood under the rope

down with q moose at the free end of it.
A chair stood under the rope.
At precisely II O'Clock. Major Crofoot
mounted the chair and put his neck in
the moose with his face turned toward
the door. One minute later he heard a
procession mounting the stairs The said
procession stopped at his door and one
OF them knocked. He or she knocked
again and again. Then a skeleton key
was insterted and the door unlocked and
his landlady and -fellowlboarders entered.
The sight that greeted their eyes para
lyzed them for a moment Then the
actor, whose stage experience had taught
him to always be cool In times OF direst
peril. leaped forward and caught the
Major by the legs and cried out:
do," WV
And the landlady cried out, and the old
maid cried out, and the actress cried
out, and the young undertaken cried cut
and all rushed forward to loosen the
The Washington herald., 1915-12-05

a narrow escape for the thing did not
attack me-"
But how did it Iook?" asked Mr..
Bowser.
ut had the general appearance of
monkey. But II had six legs. two
tails and four eyes. Its two front
legs were like human arms and were
armed with six claws on each foot.
Its eyes shone like Goals of fire and
Its teeth were as long as a finger.
1t was dreadful looking animal. Mr..
Bowser. and no wonder that little girl.
only ten years old. was almost frozen
I called upon my father and my
mother and my brother Ben to save
me. should, have called upon you
but l had not met you then. The
The Washington herald., 1915-12-05

/ had seen the day befo', fur suah
oh. but he was mad, He jest went 10
bite and claw everything for ten
in for hot fight to git him into a
cage. The cage had got to be made
fust and il was the hardest days
work I ever did to git that cat ready
to take to town. If the ole woman
hadn't helped me. I should have had
to hire a man.
"Arter the cage was done, we had
to use all the ropes and chains about
the place to wrap aroun' that feroci-
Gus critter so that he couldn't bite
The day book. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1911-1917, 1915-08-14
HEBREWS WANT NATION
The 14.OOO.OOO Hebrews in

The 100000 Hebrews in the
world want a nation. They intend
to have a country and with this ideal
in view a mass meeting will be held
at the West Side Auditorium to-
morrow night to discuss plans sUg-
gested at a closed meeting of prom
inent Jews which took place last
night at the Auditorium.
Pinchus Ruttenburg, Russian
Socialist, is heading the movement
which he hopes will consolidate the
Hebrews of all nations into a sweep
The day book. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1911-1917, 1915-08-14
"PUNTT" WAS BURIED IN HONORS
FREDDIE Is WORSE

New York, Aug. 14.-'Punti," a pet
English bulldog, was buried here by
his owner, Mrs. l. G. Secar, at a cost
of $3.50. Mrs. Secar purchased a cas-
ket, had it taken to the cemetery in
an automobile hearse, and followed it
herself in a taxicab, dressed in
mourning.
New York, Aug. 14.-Nine-year-old
Freddie Smith was uneasy today.
Freddie has tuberculosis and few
friends; none of affluence. Ever since
doctors told Freddie he had but few
more weeks to live he has diligently
saved the quarters occasionally
dropped by visitors to the charity
ward. He hopes to get enough to buy
his coffin. He has described in detail
to his nurse just the kind he wants
a nice white one.
Freddie was worse today. But that
didn't worry him; only that it might
come before he has enough quarters.
The day book. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1911-1917, 1915-08-14

to wake up than to go through life
dreaming"
Are you awake, Dick?"
cat the present moment, yes" said
Dick with a laugh, but in ten min
utes 1 shall be asleep. Come on,
Margie." And he caught me up with
a kiss.
1 chung to him and let all my sus-
picions, all my worries, go by the
board for whatever might come; in
that moment Dick and 1 were one.
ITO Be Continued Monday.)
The day book. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1911-1917, 1915-08-14

ing but conservative plan which win
give his nation an identity.
The executive work of this govern
ment will be located at Palestine. It
will demand the right to have an
army and recognition by other ma
tiOns.
Already syndicates of wealthy He
brews have bought up immense
tracts Of land in Palestine and irTiga-
ton is making the hills of Galilee
bloom again.
Palestine is now covered by fer
tile farms and is one of the diaries
Of modern Europe.
LAUNCH MAN OF LONG LAKE
GETS A "BEATING UP"
A vigilantes committee of Long
Lake summer resorts beat up
Emanuel Romer Thursday night fol-
lowing the story told by two little
girls who had accepted his offer Of a
launch ride. ROmer owns a summer
cottage on the lake and conducts an
insurance business at 80 N. LaSaIle,
He returned to the city last night
with a black eye, a mashed nose and
slight limp, denying the story which
preceded him.
A few weeks ago the Sportsmen's
club established a summer camp to
give outings to boys and girls. Romer
came around and offered to give
launch rides to the children. Thurs
day evening two little girls who had
been out with him came back cry
ing. They said he had showed them
naughty pictures and kissed them.
Romer was told to remain away from
the camp.
That evening he was met by a
party Of men while stepping from his
Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-04-11
REV. J. J. WICKER TO ADDRESS
EQUAL SUFFRAGE LEAGUE
L.. II. whippl VIII Conduct Glasses In
Press work and Public Speaking
at League Headquarters.

Rev j. j. Wicker. pastor OF Leigh
street Baptist Church. will speak on
Equal Suffrage" at the headquarters
of the Equal Suffrage League OF Rich
mond. Commercial Building. Second
Street, between Broad and Grace, on
Thursday afternoon al 1870 o'clock. He
will be introduced By Mrs. Benjamin
Crump.
Another announcement OF interest liz
that L. r Whipple will begin a class
In press work and public speaking
on April 70. 1t is hoped that large
number Will enroll. The class will he
held at league headquarters on Mon
days, Wednesdays and Fridays, be-
ginning at 4:30 O'Clock. Mr.. Whippie
is 3. \. OF the University OF Mis-
souri,. an NJ A. OF the University OF
Virginia and member OF the Phi
Beta Kappa. He il an experienced
teacher, having taught in the Cniver-
sity Of Missouri and the riversity or
Virginia, and being newspaper man.
a contributor to Everybody. Leslies.
tho Mirror. etc. his suggestions as TO
press work will prove invaluable. As
a speaker he Is well known In kicn-
mond audiences.
Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-04-11
AMATEUR MlNSTRELS
Performance for Building Fund Of 81.
Patrick's Academy.

The Arlington Minstrels will give
an entertainment in the auditorium OF
81. Patrick's Female Academy, corner
Of Twenty sixth and Grace Streets, on
Friday night for the benefit of the
building fund OF that institution.
Thomas T. Bickcrs formerly with
the Capital City Minstrels. will occupy
the interlocutor's chair. Conway Burke
and John Ineersoll take the principal
ends. In the olio will be seen Fred
Gillian, in his monoloSuc. This,
That and the Other" The Arlington
Quartet. composed of Messrs. Murray.
tenor; OGrady, basso; Dahn. baritone,
and O'Donncl. lead. will render "A Sc
lection OF the latest songs. Solos will
he rendered hS Messrs. Taylor Goodc
and Robert Short.
The finale will he a sketch known
as The Book Agent" and will he pre-
scented by Mr.. Burke. taking the part
OF The book agent; Mr.. Ingcrsoll.
pcddtcr of clans. and Mr.. O'Cirady.
who Will be known as Mrs O'SuIli-
van.
Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-04-11
Homer T. Cummings Here.

Lieutenant Governor j. Taylor Ely
son Yesterday morning entertained mt
the Jefferson Hotel, Homer T. Cum
mings, of Stamford. Conn. vice chair
man of the National Democratic com
mittee. Mr. Cummings has been on n
pleasure tour in the Southern country.
lie is an old personal and political
friend OF the Lieutenant Governor, and
decided to stop over in Richmond for
half day TO meet Mr. Ellyson. They
cbatted pleasantly for several hours,
discussing national politics and politi-
cal conditions.
Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-04-11
LACK OF WATER CAUSES
DISASTROUS BLAZE
Candy Company's
Plant Quilted, Despite Efforts
Of Firemen.
BUSINESS WILL BE RESUMED
Chief Joyncs Says He Has Frequently
Called Attention to Lack OF Pres
sure in This Nicinity--Loss From
500, 900 to $4,000.

Loss on the Westmoreland Candy
companN's plant. near Seventeenth and
Darlington Streets. which was almost
destroyed by fire early yesterday morn =
ing. is estimated by X r. Hardesty.
vice president and general manager. to
range between S65.O0O and $4,000. How
IN" fire originated is still an enigma,
Tor there was no fire in the building
when the last man left at $50 o'clock.
and Mr.. liardesty SAYS that there was
no sign OF Il blaze when he passed by
At li:25 o'clock But at $40 o'clock
Policeman Folkes saw flames bursting
from the third floor and when Mr..
Hardesty arrived. Il few minutes later.
the whole upper portion OF the build :
Ing WAS ablaze.
IT was believed Yesterday that the
loss Is fully covered 10y insurance
IA mage was to building. ma chinery and
the stock or the building the two
upper floors were destroyed. and fell in
and the roof cavcd in. as did the upper
portion OF one OF the walls. All the
machinery was destroyed. and the stock
was so badly damaged by water that
IL can be Of no further use.
BUSINESS WILL BE
RESUMED AT 0NCF,
However. business will be resume d
at once in moor of the Old Home
stead Pickling Company, on Nineteenth
street, which has been rented for the
purpose. Here the company will get
It's special brands AS soon as pos
Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-04-11
TWO MEN INJURED WHEN
AUTOMOBILE TURNS OVER
Richard &. Wells and Warner Clar,
Rushed to Memorial
Hospital.
FARMERS AT UNION LEVEL
One Suffers From Fractured Skull
and Other From Severe COncus-
sion OF characterization Is Re-
gardcd as Serious.

RIchard 6. Wells and Warner Clark,
prominent farmers of Union Level were
brought into Richmond and carried into
Memorial Hospital in an Unconscious
condition early this morning as the re-
suit OF an automobile accident mile
ana Il half west Of Bakersville. Both
men are in a serious condition. it was
stated. and grave doubts are enter
taincd as to their recovery.
Immediately after the accident the
men Were picked up by Dr Il. j. Mont
gomcry and rushed to Bakersville in
another automobile, where first aid was
rendered by Drs. 3. j. Montgomery, &.
Y. Montgomery and ~. NJ. Sncad. But
their injuries We're SO serious that IL
was decided TO bring them 10 the Memo
rial Hospital. There was no train to
Ice had at that hour, and private ma
CHIMES were summoned. Each was con-
"erted into temporary ambulance, and
IA victim was placed in each machine
Then began the race for Richmond.
over rough roads and smooth the auto
mobiles were driven with all possible
speed, arriving here shortly after mid
night. Both men were unconscious as
they We're lifted from the converted am.
balances and carried into the hospital.
REAR WHEEL. GIVES WAY
AND CAR TURNS TT RIFLE
Mr.. Wells was suffering from frac-
iure AZ the base OF the skull, and Mr..
Clark, whose injuries were not regard
ci as so serious, was suffering from
fractured jaw. conclusion OF the brain
and an injury TO the shoulder They
were placed in charge of Or. w l..
peple.
The accident occurred on the Miami
Quebec Highway, q short distance from
Bake:svi!le. Mr. Wells. his brother,
Gordon Wells. and Mn Clark, were driv-
ing down steep incline when ono OF
tho rear wheels of tho automobile gave
way. causing ii 10 turn completely over.
AS the car turned turtle r. c. Wells and
MIR. Clark We're caught beneath. Then
tho car righted itself. Gordon Wells es-
capped unhurt. and Immediately sum
moucd DR.. r. ] Montgomery.