davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1915-02-26

Well" added Craig, you see, MI
chael has become infuriated by the
treatment he received from the Clutch
ing Hand. believe he cuffed him in
the face yesterday. Anyway, he says
he has determined to get even and be-
tray him."
did not like the looks Of the
thing, and said So Craig" objected
vehemently, don't go to meet him.
1t is a trap"
Kennedy had evidently considered
my objection already.
1T may be trap" he replied slow
ly, "but Elaine is dying and we've got
to see this thing through"
AS he spoke, he took an automatic
from a drawer of cabinet and thrust
it into his pocket. Then he went to
another drawer and took out several
sections of thin tubing, which seemed
to be made to fasten together as a
fishing pole is fastened, but were now
separate as If ready for travelling.
Then he went out. followed, still
arguing,
IF you go, / CO." capitulated.
That's all there is to it."
Following the directions that MI
chael had given over the telephone,
Craig led me into one of the toughest
parts of the lower West side.
Here's the place." he announced,
stopping across the street from a
dingy Raines law hotel.
Pretty tough" objected. Are you
sure?"
Quite" replied Kennedy, consulting
his notebook again.
Reluctantly | followed and we en-
tered the place.
81 want ROOM asked Craig as
we we're accosted by the proprietor,
comfortably clad in loud checked
suit and striped shirt sleeves. Il had
one here once before-forty-ni |
think"
Fifty" began to correct.
Kennedy trod hard on my toes.
Yes, forty-nine." he repeated.
The proprietor called stout negro
porter, waiter and bell-hop all COM
bined in one, who led us upstairs.
"Forty-nine, sab" he pointed out,
as Kennedy dropped dime into his
ready palm.
The negro left us, and as Craig
started to enter, objected. But,
Craig, it was fifty-nine, not forty-nine
This is the wrong ROOM"
Il know it," he replied. 81 had ii
written in the book. But want forty.
nine-now. Just follow me, Walter.
Nervously followed him into the
room.
Don't you understand" he went
on Room forty-nine is probably just
The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1915-02-26
what have you Dssa

MIN excIaim. What have you oeen
up against"
He fairly leaped at me and felt
him examining my shoulder where !
had been leaning on the wall. Some-
thing on the paper had come of and
left a mark on my shoulder. Craig
looked puzzled from me at the wall.
"Arsenic.T he cried.
He whipped out a pocket lens and
looked at the paper. This heavy,
fuzzy paper is fairly loaded with it.
powdered" he reported.
Kennedy paced the room. Sudden
ly, pausing by the register, an idea
seemed to strike him.
Walter" he whispered, come down
cellar with me-"
"Ohl Be careful" cried Elaine, anx-
ious for him.
II will" he called back.
AS he flashed his pocket bulps-eye
about, his gaze fell on the electric
meter. He paused before it. In
The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1915-02-26

ing off a little of Rusty's blood in a
tube, very carefully,
Here, Walter" he said. pointing to
the little incision he had made, will
you take care of him?"
Quickly Craig made one test after
another.
AS he did so I shifted. There was
an unmistakable odor of garlic in the
air which made me think of what l
had already noticed in Elaine's room.
"Arseniuretted hydrogen" he an
swered, still engaged in verifying his
tests. This is the Marsh test for
arsenic"
"Arsenic!" l repeated, in horror.
had scarcely recovered from the
surprise of Kennedy's startling reve-
lation when the telephone rang again,
Kennedy seized the receiver, thinking
evidently that the message might be
from or about Elaine,
But from the look on his face and
from his manner, could gather that,
although it was not from Elaine her
self, it was about something that in
terested him greatly.
"Good!" heard him say finally. u
shall keep the appointment-abso'
lutely."
What was it2" asked, eagerly.
1T was Elaine's footman, Michael,
he replied. thoughtfully. AS ! sus
pected, he says that he is confeder
ate of the Clutching Hand, and If VIC
will protect him he will tell us the
trouble with Elaine"
/ considered a moment "How''
that?v | Quefied
The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1915-02-26

SYNOPSIS.

The New York police are mystifed by a
series OF murders and other crimes. The
principal clue to the criminal is the warn
ing letter which is sent the victims,
signed with 'clutching hand" The lat
est victim of the mysterious assassin is
Taylor Dodge, the insurance president.
His daughter. Elaine, employs Craig Ken
needy, the famous scientific detective, to
Try to unravel the mystery. What Ken
needy accomplishes is told by his friend
James, newspaper man. By an ingen-
fous ruse Clutching Hand smuggies into
Elaine's home flask of liquid air which
she supposes to be package of valuable
papers 1t blows open the safe in which
1t is placed, but Kennedy arrives in time
TO prevent the robbery. The detective
narrowly misses death in his apartment
where Clutching Hand has placed shot
gun so that it is fired by the electrical
connection formed when Kennedy places
his hands on a framed photograph of
Elaine.
The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1915-02-26

the same as fifty-nine, except perhaps
the pictures and furniture, only it is
on the floor below
He gazed about keenly. Then he
took a few steps to the window and
threw it open. AS he stood there he
took the parts of the rods he had been
carrying and fitted them together I'M
til he had pole some eight or ten
feet long. At one end was curious
arrangement that seemed to contain
lenses and mirror. At the other
end was an eye-piece, as nearly as
could make out.
ssWhat is that?" I asked as he COM
pleted his work.
THAT? That is an instrument
something on the order of miniature
periscope," Craig replied, still at
work.
watched him, fascinated at his re-
sourcefuIness. He stealthily thrust
the mirror end of the periscope out
of the window and up toward the cor
responding window upstairs. Then he
gazed eagerly through the eye-piece.
"Walter--look!" he exclaimed to
me.
l did. There, sure enough, was MI
chael, pacing up and down the room.
AS I looked at him nervously walk
| ing to and fro, l could not help adj
hitting that things looked safe enough
and all right to me. Kennedy folded
the periscope, up and we left our
room, mounting the remaining fight
of stairs.
In fifty-nlne we could hear the
! measured steps of the footman. CraiG
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1915-09-21

Wheeling, w. Va.-The Woman's
Foreign Missionary society of the
Methodist Episcopal church of the
Wheeling district, held its annual con-
vention at Calvary church, Mounds
vile, Thursday, September 10th.
Wheeling, w. Va.-John Rudaher. a
foreign miner. employed at the Flor
ence mine Of the Y. & o. Coal com
pany was killed under a large fall of
stone. The deceased was aged 40
years and leaves a widow and several
children.
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1915-09-21
w. VA SCHOOL BULLETIN
Percentage Of llIiteracy in West vir-
ginia is High According to Report.

Wheeling, W. Va.-The department
of free schools of West Virginia has in
preparation a bulletin which will be
issued from the press soon and which
will be distributed to district superin-
tendents for their information and in
struction, but which contains some
valuable data and statistics relative
to illiteracy in the state, cost of in
struction and other facts Cathered by
the department
By the report it is shown that the
school problem in West Virginia is
essentially a rural school problem.
Figures compiled showed that the
total population of the state according
to the last census was 1,221,119. OF
this number S60.479 persons lived in
the country, or 70.5 per cent of all the
school children in the state depended
upon the rural school for their educa-
ton. Ten and eighteenths per cent OF
all the children of the state attend the
town and village schools while 1871
per cent attend the city schools. Thus
it will be seen that all but 80 per cent
of the population is rural and rural
education is the thing which the state
department is considering.
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1915-09-21
Discrimination Threatened.

Coal operators of southern West
virginia appraised of a proposed
increase of rates in coal ship
ments to points west of the Mis-
sissippi declare that such will be ruin.
GUS to the industry in this state and
a concert of action to oppose it is en-
uorsed by the operating interests. 1t
Is said that conference of represent
atives of several of the trunk lines
operating in West Virginia has been
caiied in New York and that the pro-
posal is to increase the rate fifteen
cents on the ton, which would mean
an increase of sixty per cent in the
dlHerential between West Virginia
and Ohio coal fields.
operators representing the largest
companies in the state decline to
make statement on the subject until
they have investigated further, but
all are ready in declaring that such
an increase as proposed would make
IL impossible for them to compete
with other fields in supplying the
trade west of the Mississippi. The
operators of the West Virginia mines
VIII urge upon the citizens generally
tnat 1t is to their advantage to pro-
test against the approval of the pro-
posed tariff by the Interstate Com
merce Commission.
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1915-09-21
GREAT RANGE IN
Per CAPITA COST
DIFFERENCE IN COST OF EpU-
eating PUPILS IN VARIOUS
SECTIONS OF THE STATE.
STATEMENT BEEN COMPILED
Many Persons Mistaken in Thinking
That They Are Paying Very High
Taxes When Levy Is Low.

Western Newspaper Union News Service.
Charleston, w. Va.-Few persons
realize the great difference in per cap
ita cost of the pupils in the several
counties of the state of West Virginia.
Some idea of this great variation is
cleaned from statement compiled
by l.. j. Hanifan, state supervisor of
rural state schools OF this state in
State Superintendent of Schools NJ. P.
Shawkey's cabinet. Expenditure per
child of school age, that is between
the age of 6 and 81, in each county OF
the state, is given as Sl494 for the
state.
A great many people in some sec
tions of the state think they are pay
ing very high taxes, when as a matter
of fact their rates of levy are com
paratively very low" says Mr. Hanifan
in his report. Among the states West
Virginia stands thirty-third in amount
spent for each child of school age in
the state"
Harrison county leads with an aver
age per child of school age of $33.4S
while Clay brings up the rear With but
S703, and Calhoun and Putnam just
above Clay. Of the counties with the
larger cities Ohio's average per child
is $18.0S; Kanawha 1888; Cabell
$12S3: Wood $1766.
The average for each county in their
order is as follows:
Harrison, s334S; Marion, $29.29;
Brooke. s26.63; Lewis, $21; Monon-
gala, $1S.S6; Doddridge, $3.50; Ohio
S1S0S; Wetzel, S1772; Wood, $1766;
Hancock. $17.56; Morgan. $16.71; Bar
bour, $3.50; Marshall. 1852; Poca
hontas, $500; Tyler, $15S2; Tucker
$15.01; Mingo, s14.S0; Mcdowell
$1473; Peasants, $146s; Mercer
$1430; Jefferson, S1415; Richie
SLAP Gilmer, 1885; Kanawha
1888: Fayette, 1927; Mineral
$3.50; Taylor, 1890; CabeIl, $12.S3;
Berkeley, $3.50; Preston, S1273; Ra.
leigh. 1920; Randolph. $1220; Grant
$11.45; Boone, $1140; Wyoming
SLIPS; Summers, $11.24; Greenbrier
$11.19; Nicholas, s1116; Roane
s1110; Logan, s10.S2; Webster. $10.20;
Braxton, $1014; Hampshire, $1,000;
Upshur, s10.0s; Hardy, SO; Jackson
$40; Pendleton, $40; Monroe, $3.50;
Wayne, 1886; Mason, 1894; Writ, 50;
Lincoln, $S.47; Putnam, 1852; Cal
houn, 1924; Clay, sos Average for
the state, $1494
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1915-09-21
INSPECTORS ON THE JOB
Have Neither Received Instructions
Nor Equipment.

Wheeling, w. Va.-Despite the
hurry of the state to have inspectors
of weights and measures appointed in
the various counties by July first, the
state has neglected to send instruc-
tons for the new officials to begin
work. This has been true in Ohio as
well as the other counties, and not
only have the instructions failed to
arrive, but likewise the testing appa-
ratus. Weights and Measure Inspec-
tor Brooks, of Ohio county, is report
ing daily to the county, but has been
unable to start work. Making inspec-
lions in Ohio county will be big task
as the work will cover the entire dis
trict outside of Wheeling.
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1915-09-21
Getting Ready for Match.

Adjutant General John c. Bond and
his assistants are working on the
plans for completing the state rifle
competition elimination, which will
be conducted on the Kanawha range
in Venable Hollow. The first part of
this elimination was held at Parkers-
burg Immediately following the ma
uonal guard encampment in August,
but owing to bad weather conditions
1t was not completed at that time
The contestants for position on the
West Virginia team which will go to
the national rifle competition at
Jacksonville, Fla, in October, were
eliminated at Parkersburg down
to list of thirty. 1t has been found
by General Bond, upon examination
of the list, however, that five of these
men viii have to be eliminated be-
cause they have not had the required
service in the national guard as spe
cited by the war department
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1915-09-21

Western Newspaper Union News Service
Clarksburg, W. Va-With assign
ment of ministers for the years as fol-
lows the annual session OF the West
Virginia Conference of the Methodist
Episcopal Church, South, ended.
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1915-09-21
WILL ERECT A MODERN BARN

Huntington, w. Va.-Another i'm.
proyement to the state properties in
Huntington was announced, it being
made known that the state board OF
control is planning the erection OF a
modern barn at the West Virginia Col
ored Orphans home on the Pea Ridge
road. Architect II. Russ Wayne, OF
Charleston, was here comforting with
President Woodley, of Marshall col.
lege, in regard to the heating and
plumbing layout at Science hall, the
new building at the normal school.
~-~-~--~-~-~-~-~-~---~-~~-~
dies are found to be useful not only
to the physically tired. but to those
who suffer mental exhaustion.
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1915-09-21
START WORK ON RAILROAD.

Huntington, W. Va-Word of a new
railroad extension bisecting Wyoming
county, and piercing the heart of what
is said to be the states richest coal
mining territory, was received in
Huntington from an authentic source.
A force of sixty men is now engaged
in laying rails from Mullen, in Wyo-
ming county, to Mann, in Logan coun-
ty, for 6O-mile extension of the Vir-
ginia railroad. This will bring the
Virginian railroad to the main Guyan-
dotte river for the first time, and it is
added, that the ultimate plan is to ex-
tend the line along that river to Hunt
ington, giving the territory it ira
verses lake market as well as the
tidewater market, on which alone the
Virginian has hitherto depended
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1915-09-21
Appeal to State.

Mayor Edmund Sehon publicly an
nounced that the city commissioners
had decided to appeal to the West
Virginia Public Service Commission
to force the Chesapeake e Ohio rail
road to build a subway crossing at
Tenth street. By such a decision,
said Mayor Sehon, the city rejects
the railroad company's recent ulti-
matum" that it will not help build the
subway before May /, 1917, as set
forth in its note to the city during the
present year. While the city regrets
to be compelled to use force, the city's
chief executive declared that the
crossing was essential to the welfare
of the citizens, and that the city
feared that by waiting until 1917 the
railroad company possibly, with new
officials, would seek further delay on
the plea that its present officials were
unauthorized to deal in the matter.
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1915-09-21
Will Protect Employees.

A petition has been prepared to be
presented to the supreme court by
which the United States Coal Co., one
of the largest coal mining concerns
in West Virginia, will ask for writ
of mandamus against Lee OFT, state
compensation commissioner to COM
pei him TO issue a certificate of per-
mission to the company to carry its
own industrial insurance and with
draw from the compensation fund.- A
statute passed by the last legislature
gives the coal companies the right to
withdraw from the fund and furnish
their own insurance provided they
pay the commission all liabilities due
at time of withdrawal The act is
said to be obscure with reference to
the payment of losses sustained
which will be eventually erased
through the due course of insurance.
The United States Coal Co. claims to
have already paid into the fund over
$4,000 more than its own losses have
amounted TO.
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1915-09-21

Wheeling, w Vat T. Hutchison
aged IS, veteran Wheeling business
man, died at his home here.
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1915-09-21
IS DIDN'T MIND HIM
<l.man Merely Was a Harm
|k,,inist with a Seemingly
Peculiar 0elusIon.

H. visitor was paying calls
H. IN a row of cottages. and
liked by the conduct OF a shah
Ia old gentleman, who
sron door to door in a great
N threatened the occupants
/ manner Of dire penalties.
] me, what a peculiar old
he exclaimed to one OF the
Why do you permit him
/ YOU in that fashion,"
BE- don't mind in the least.
answered the tenant, with
i in her eyes. We're quite
bis little ways by now. Hes
harmless lunatic for ten or
sears."
kont say SOL Poor old fell
Fhat particular form does his
take?"
kism, ma am. He comes for
. every Monday, and actually
Hmseli to fancy that he'll get
kdOn TitBits.
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1915-09-21

tor OF any conflict, while, as a rule.
he was recognized paciticator. IN
truth. it is said that his nature wsE
gentle. kindly and dignified. and his
Difference for and defense of the gen
tier sex, coupled with charity for the
needy. his love for children. stampe&
him as one of natures noblemen
Bowie county, in the extreme north
eastern part Of Texas, perpetuates hin
name, as does fiourishing town IN
another part of the state. Bowie re-
ceived a fair education and was also a
linguist, speaking French and Spanisk
fuently. besides several IndlaE
tongues.
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1915-09-21
NATURAL GAS men
AT CHARLESTON
TENTATIVE AGREEMENT Is
REACHED WITH STATE PUB
Lie SERVICE COMMISSION.
UNIFORM RATES SUGGESTED
Between Eighty and Ninety Per Cent
OF the Gas Producers in w. Va.
Were Represented.
Especial Charleston Correspondence,

Especial Charleston Correspondence
rleston.-FoIlowing a meeting
of the Natural Gas Association of
West Virginia, here, representing be-
tween eighty and ninety per cent of
the gas producers in West Virginia, a
conference was held with the public
service commission relative to pro-
posed changes in the rules of the COM
mission and after arriving at tenta-
tive agreement relative to some of the
more important paragraphs affecting
the reporting of production and sale
of gas both in and out of the state,
whether produced in this state or
brought into the state and sold or
shipped out of the state and sold, a
committee will be named later by the
Natural Gas Association to assist En-
gineer ]. K. Anderson, of the commits
sion, in framing some of the rules to
be submitted later TO the commission
for approval.
IL was shown to the commission
that only about three of the larger
companies would have difficulty in
furnishing the information desired,
and but one, the Manufacturers Light
and Heat Co, whose mains are inter
locking, would be unable to give all
of the data originally required by the
commission. The commission indi-
Gated it was willing to make a spe-
cial rule to meet exceptional cases
with the Manufacturers Light e Heat
Co. showed that it produced gas in
West Virginia, Ohio and Pennsylva-
mia and that its gas was turned into
one system so that it was impossible
at this time to ascertain whether the
gas was being consumed in Pennsyl-
vania or Ohio or even West Virginia.
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1915-09-21
REoReANlzE "oRDER OF MULES

Huntington, w. Va-The pictur-
esque but powerful Protective Order
of Mules, famous Eastern Kentucky
association, organized in 1896 to
fight horse thieves, may be reorgan-
lied Immediately as the result of a
wave of crime that is sweeping over
Eastern Kentucky. The authorities, it
is said, are not able to cope with the
situation, so the business men have
decided to step in.
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1915-09-21
Good Roads Meeting.

A meeting of the Trans-Allegheny
Good Roads Association was held at
White sulphur Springs, to consider
road conditions in West Virginia. In
the call all members of the associa-
ton were urged to see that represen-
tative delegations from all counties
within the field of the organization at
tend the meeting. The delegates were
especially requested to bring to- the
meeting full information as to what
has been done in the last year to bet
ter road conditions in their respective
localities.
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1915-09-21
HAVE CHANGED MEETING DATES.
Change Made on Account of Conflict
With Good Roads Converts

Huntington, W. Va.-The dates of
the 18th annual meeting of the West
Virginia State Board of Trade at Fair
mont have been changed owing to the
Good Roads meeting at Bluefield, Oc-
day and Wednesday. October 10 and
90 This meeting is always of great
interest to Huntington people and the
city will, as usual, send a representa-
tive delegation to attend it.
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1915-09-21
NEW HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA,

Wheeling, w Wa new and in
teresting history of West Virginia has
recently appeared; having been writ
ten by Mr.. Sylvester Myers, of New
Martinsville. The work is in many
respects unique and shows the pains
taking care which the author has ex-
ercised in gathering the facts and
data which comprise the work. 1t is
a complete work, comprehensive in
the main, survey of matter neatly
compressed, making the two volumes
specially attractive.
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1915-09-21
JUDGE DAYTON GETS REVERSAL

Wheeling, W. Va.-Revising Judge
Dayton of the Northern West Virginia
district, for the second time, the fed
eral appeal circuit court at Richmond,
Va, held that that jurist erred in di-
recting a verdict for the Pennsylvania
Steel company against the Washing
ton and Berkeley Bridge company, the
court being of the opinion that there
was certain evidence which should
have gone to the jury. At previous
trial of the case Judge Dayton sus-
tanned demurrer of the bridge COM
pany and was reversed.
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1915-09-21
SECURING DATA ON RATES
Will Carry Fight to interstate Com.
merce Commission.

Fairmont, W. Wa spirited meet
ing of the Central West Virginia coal
Operators association was held here
for the purpose OF organizing the coal
industry against the proposed in
crease of Is cents a ton in freight
rates on western shipments. A COM
mittee was appointed to prepare data
that will be used as the basis of pro-
test to be made to the interstate COM
merce commission if the rates are
made effective