davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1915-03-24
CHAPTER KIN.
camp-for.the-Niaht.


Well gents!" the driver observed
cheerfully. Withdrawing head and
hands from long and intimate com
munion with the stubborn genius be-
meath the hood Il reckon you-all
mays well make up yore minds to
christen this hyeh salubrious spot
Camp-for-the-Night You won't be
goin' no fartheh-not Just t present
Pulling this old wagon through them
desert sands back yondeh has just
naturally broke the heart of that en-.
gine!"
What, precisely, is the trouble?"
Alan Law inquired. rousing from anx-
ious preoccupation.
Plumb bust all to hell" the chauf-
feur explained tersely
Nothing could be fairer, more ex-
act and comprehensive than that"
Tom Barcus commented
Law nodded a head too weary to
respond to the others humor. His
worried eyes reviewed the scene of
the breakdown.
What's to be done?" Mr. Law won
dered aloud.
Take it calm" the affabie chauffeur
advised. "Frettin' won't get you-all
nothin' II it was me, I'd call 1t
day, make fire, get them cushions
out of the cyah, and get some rest
You can't do nothin' till l get back,
anyway, and that won't be much be-
fore sunup"
Where are you going?" Barcus de-
manded.
'Walkin', friend; just waikiki"
What for?"
TO fetch help-leastways, onless
yo've got some kick comm and nd
ruther stop hyeh permanent"
But where to? How fairs the near
est town."
If it's town yore wantin', why,
Mosquitoes bout as nigh as any-some-
thin like twenty miles of yondeh
You take the up-trail, where 1t forks,
t'other end of this canyon. But me,
I amt calculatin' to tramp's fairs that.
I'm amin to hoof IL no naoren a mat
ter of nine mile along this-hyeh wagon
trail, to Watson's ranch, t'other side
these hills. can get bosses there,
and a buggy for the old gent, too
If he's in too much a hurry to sit in
the cyah while we tow it through
with mules"
He turned of and busted himself
with preparations against his journey.
It's simply things like this make
me believe this isn't, after all, moth
ing more nor less than long-drawn-
out nightmare" Barcus observed pen
sively.
But Mr.. Law was no more attend
ing: he had turned away and was just
then standing by the running board of
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1915-03-24
CHAPTER XVI.
Flood and Fire.


Screaming TO make himself heard
above the roar OF the deluge, Barcus
hammered In Alan's ear:
THAT devil! He's found the reser-
Joir- opened the sluicegates-turn
{, into that shafts We're done fort"
Alan had no argument with which to
gah,say him Silently getting on bis
feet. silently he CROPPED for Rose in the
dark ess, momentarily becoming more
dense as the fall of water shut out
the light. and drew her away with him.
I'D the slight incline that led back to
the buIkhead.
Tho hour that followed lived ever
in his memory as an hour in he'll. No
ray OF hope lightened its impenetrable
bIackness. He could say nothing to
comfort the girl; bravely though she
strove to keep up her heart, time and
again she shook in his arms like mad
thing, when panic dread caught her
By the neck as a terrier catches a rat.
To die there, in the darkness, like so
many noxious animals trapped in a
we'll!
The water mounted rapidly. WITH
in FIVE minutes 1t drove them back to
.ae elbow in the tunnel; within ter II
Tapped their ankles as they fingered
there, doubling which was the greater
l,eril. to advance or to stand fast and
lat the flooding tide snuff out the fires
OF life To return to the neighnor-
hoe d Of the bulkhead was to courtpthe
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1915-03-24

side of cleft in the hills quite thirty
feet wide and several hundred in
depth, and was continued on the far
Their side, the chasm being spanned by
a bridge of the simplest character
no more than footway of boards
bound together with ropes none too
substantial in seeming, with another
rope, breasthigh. to serve as hand
rail.
Even the simple contemplation Of
this frail and shaky affair demanded
all their courage But the trail was
here too narrow to camp; while the
sole alternative was to turn about and
retraee their steps over a ride of six
mortal hours.
Alan tested the bridge cautiously.
It bore him He returned. helped Rose
to cross, and with her once safely
landed on the other side. took his life
in his hands and, aided by Barcue
unaffectedly afflicted with qualms,
somehow or other (neither OF them
knew precisely. how persuaded the
burros to cross.
After that, though the way grew
more broad and easy and even showed
symptoms of a decline, they had not
enough strength left to sustain
through another hour.
And what they thought good for
tune, opportunely at this pass, brought
them to clearing dotted with the
buildings Of an abandoned copper
mine. Not a soul was in evidence
there, but the rude structures offered
shelter for beast as well as man.
Barely had they made Rose as COM
Portable as might be upon the rough
plank flooring of one of the sheds
and tethered the burros out of sight,
when Alan collapsed as II drugged,
while Bareus. who had elected himself
to keep the frs watch and purposed
doing it in sitting position with
his back against the doorjamb, felt
sleep overcoming him like dense.
dark cloud
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1915-03-24

death Indicated by the use and the
key of blasting powder
or sudden the thought crossed
Alan's rind that Marrophat had ar
ranged the latter solely to keep them
away from the bulkhead. Now that he
thought Of 1t. he felt certain that the
powder room had been deliberately
disclosed TO him by Jimmy.
Probably. then, the key and fuse
were but stage properties-or pos
sibly
Whether or no. was death in one
form preferable to the other?
He was decidedly of the opinion
that it we're better to be extinguished
once and for all time. in the space Of
a second. annihilated by an explosion.
than TO die thus lingeringly.
On this consideration. he drew Rose
with him back to the bulkhead.
When they had been some fifteen
minutes beside the bulkhead. the wa
ter mounted the head of a slight rise
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1915-03-24

the motor car and civilly explaining
to Miss Judith Urine the purpose OF
the chauffeur's expedition.
Discovery of this circumstance
worked a deep wrinkle between the
brows as well as into the humor Of
Mr. Barcus
Here, he promised himself, was
situation to titillate the Comic Muse
itself. He pointed out in turn the sew
eral component parts: the motor car
derelict in the hollow of those awful
and silent hills-for all the world like
mouse petriied wish fir ght at finding
itself in the midst of a herd of ele-
plants; in the car, that aged monoma-
mac, Mr.. Seneca Urine, author of all
their woes and misadventures, gnash-
ing his teeth in impotent rage to find
himself In close iuxtaposition to and
helpless to injure the man for whose
life he lusted with an insatiate pas
zion; the latter standing outside the
car, in polite conversation with Mr..
Trine's mutinous Judith-talking to
her in tbs srisndliest fashion imag
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1915-03-24

fact that his ankles had already been
secured by means Of half dozen half
bitches and a square knot.
His hands attended to. his head was
released. Promptly he lifted it and
essayed to yell; an effort rendered
abortive by the gag that was thrust
between his teeth the instant his
jaws opened.
Then he heard a laugh, a cold,
mirthless ehuckle.
Now the blood OF Thomas Ba-cus
ran cold Tor he thought It did; whi,,h
amounts 10 much the same thin q
For if his senses had played fair, the
laugh he had heard was the laugh uf
Mr. Marrophat. head-devil in the seIv-
ice of Seneca Urine.
He twisted his head to one side
and glancing along the floor, saw moth
ing but the wall Twisted the other
way. at the cost of a splinter in his
nose, the effort was repaid by the dis
sovery Of Rose Urine in plight like
his own-wrists and ankles bound.
gagged into the bargain-the width of
the shed between them.
But OF Alan Law. NO sign.
The heart of Mr. Barcus checked
momentarily; he shut his eyes and
shivered in an uncomfortable seizure
OF dread.
Then. tormenteS beyond endurance
by the fears he suffered for the safety
of his friend he began to wriggle and
squirm like a crippled snake. pain
fully inehiug his way across the floor
toward Rose-with what design, heav-
en- alone knows, Dimly lis mem
tai vision comprehended the bare pos
sibility OF his being able. with his fast
numbing fingers, to work loose the
knots at Roses wrists; but deep in
his heart he knew this to re nothing
but forlornest hope.
With infinite pains he had con-
trived to bridge the distance by half,
or possibly not quite so much, when
a dark body put the sunlight of the
open doorway into temporary eclipse.
Another followed ii. Boots dumped
heavily on the flooring. The laugh
sounded again, apparently in ironic ap-
probation OF Mr.. Barcus efforts. Two
pairs of hands seized him. one be
meath the shoulde s. the other be-
meath the knees. and he was logged
laboriously out into the sunlight. car
ried a considerable distance. and de.
posted unceremoniously within few
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1915-03-24
CHAPTER Xiv.
AS In a Glass, DarkIy.

Thoughtfully Mr.. Barcus returned
his attention to the lovers.
II the evidence of his senses did not
mislead him, he was Witnessing their
first difference of opinion. 1t was not
an argument acute enough to deserve
the name of quarrel; but undoubtedly
the two were at odds upon some ques-
tion-Rose insistent, Alan reluctant.
The last gave way in the end,
shrugged, returned to the car.
I'm going back up the srail," he
announced. and hesitated oddly.
Feeling the need of some little ex-
ercise, no doubt" Barcus suggested.
Rose thinks it's dangerous to stop
here" Alan began to explain, ignoring
the interruption.
Miss Rose is right-eh. Miss Ju-
dith?" Barcus interpolated.
Judith nodded darkly.
so I'm going to see IL l can't buy
burros from the prospector back there.
Rose says he has some-doesn't know
how many"
Three will be enough" Judith inter-
posed. Il mean, don't get one for me.
I'm stopping here
But" Alan started to protest.
She gave him pause with a weary
gesture.
Please! It's no good arguing. Mr..
Law: I've made up my mind; can be
most helpful here, by my fathers
side,' she asserted, and nodded at
Urine with a significant smile that
maddened him. He needs me-and
no harm can come to me; I'm pretty
well able TO take care Of myself"
At this the innocent bystander
breathed an unheard but fervent little
prayer of thanksgiving. whose spirit
he doubted not was shared by Alan.
For it stuck in the memory Of Bar.
Gus that their friend. the prospector
Whose shack had sheltered Rose and
Barcus after their transit of the desert
and prior to the man-made avalanche.
which had afforded this temporary i'm.
munity from pursuit. had mentioned
in the hearing of Rose the fact that
his string of burTos was limited to
three.
This. then, must have been the nub
of the lovers quarrel: Roses insist
enoe that Judith be left behind. AIan's
reluctance to consent to tnis lest he
convict himself Of the charge OF rank
ingratitude, remembering the great
service his erstwhiIe antagonist had
done him
II only JUDITH might not find cause
to change her mind
He set himself seduio1sly TO divert
Judith with the magic Of his converse.
tionsl powers-an offering Indifferent.
~ received. he was still blitheIy
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1915-03-24
oopyright. 1914, ~ Louis Joseph Vance

Unable. precisely as If she had not
fallen little short of comprising his
death, not once. but half a dozen
times; Judith herself poised on the
running board and smiling down at
her victim with a warmth patiently
even more than the warmth of friend
ship; and at some little distance. Rose.
Mr.. Laws fancee and Judith's sister.
eating her heart out with jealousy of
this new-sprung intimacy between her
sister and her loverl
bad business. my friend" Barcus
mentally apostrophized the unwilling
Alan Law. Bad business-and only
the beginning of it, or I'm no prophet.
If you had the wit with which Provi.
dence has endowed the domestic goose,
you'd realize that you might as well
encourage the attentions of a coy
young cyclone as the affections Of
that handsome. outstanding and able
bodied young woman who's splitting her
heart out of her eyes into yours this
blessed minute as ever was Not to
mention the trouble you're brewing for
yourself with the young woman to
whom your affections are answering
ly devoted"
He interrupted himself to nod know
ingly and with profound conviction:
Il knew it. Now it begins again!"
For Rose had abruptly taken hand
In the affair, gesture of evaporation
prefacing her call: "Alani"
To her Mr.. Law turned instantly,
with such alacrity that none who
watched might doubt which of the two
women came first in his esteem.
Nor was this wasted upon the under
standing of Judith. Eyeing her mar
rowly though furtively, Mr.. Barcus
saw her handsome face darken omin-
ously.
And her father was as quick to
recognize these portents of trouble
and to seek to advantage himself OF
them.
His head craned out horribly on his
long, wasted neck as he pitched a
sibilant whisper for her ears, and his
face in the moonlight seemed to glow
with the reflection of that inferno
which smoldered in his evil
bosom.
But one was silenced the other
quenched, I'll in a twinkling. His
daughter turned on him IN fash Of
imperial rage.
Barcus caught snatches of the won.
ans TRADE
BE silent!" he heard her say "Be
silent, do you hear? Don't ever speak
to me again unless you want me to re
place that gag. l say, don't speak tc
me! i am finished with yoU
once and for all time; never agair
shall you pervert my nature to YOU
damnable purposes-neyer again shall
word or wish of yours drive me t.
lift my hand against man who has
never done you the least harm. though
your persecution of him would have
acquitted him of a charge Of man
slaughter in any court--on grounds OIL
self-defense! Understand mel
she ragged. I'm through. Henceforth
go my way, and you yours =
Her voice broke. She clerched hel
hands into two tight fists with the
effort at sef-eontrol. and lifted a
WRITTEN face to the moonlight.
God help us both" she cried.
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1915-03-24

gossiping when Judith flung away to
her sisters side.
The ensuing quarrel seemed but the
more portentous in view of the re-
straint imposed upon themselves by
both parties thereto; never once did
either forget the presence of their IA
Their and Barcus; though they ceased
not TO fling the bitterest of recrimina-
tons into each others teeth, they were
at pains not to betray the ali-too- pat
ent subject of their dispute, so thought
fully modulating their accents that
never a word was audible to Barcus.
He believed. however, that a crisis
impended when the tinkle of mule
bells sounded down the canyon road;
and at this he threw discretion to the
winds and ran toward the two with
hands upheld in mock horror and a
manner of humorous protest.
Ladies, ladiesl" he pleaded. 81
beg of you both. let dogs delight to
bark and bite"
He got no farther; Judith's ears
were as quick as his own; she, too.
had caught the sound of bells behind
the base of the hill And of a sudden.
without another word. she turned and
flung away into the heavy thickess of
underground that masked all the can
yon, to either side of the wagon-trail
In twinkling she had lost herself to
view in their labyrinthine shadows.
The remainder of that business was
transacted rapidly enough. There
were no preparations to be made;
once Alan had ridden " with his
three burros. nothing remained but to
mount and make of without delay.
Before morning they were all rid
ing like so many hypnotized nubjects.
fatigue bearing SO heavily on all their
senses that none spoke or cared to
speak. Barcus so often caught him
self nodding in the saddle that he had
little doubt he slept through long
stretches of that perilous way. And
when his senses were clear enough
he could see Rose. next ahead. bowed
low over the neck of her burro. and
Alan, who led, Keeling from side to
side like a drunkard
Broad daylight surprised them in
this state, still stub6ornly travelling;
and shortly afterward showed them
one place so perilous that it shocked
them temporarily awake
This was simply a spot where the
trail came abruptly to an end on one
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1915-03-24
SYNOPSIS.

The 3 OF Hearts is the '.death-sign'' en-
ployed By Seneca Urine in the private
agency % his daughter Judith, a woman
OF violent passions like his own. he wages
against Alan Law. son of the man tnow
dead who was innocentIy responsible for
the accident which left Urine a helpless
cripple for life Alan loves and is loved
by Rose, JudiIh's twin and double. but in
al other respects her opposite. judith
vows 10 compass Aian's death. but Alan
saves her life under dramatic circum-
stances, and so, unwillingly. wins her
love. Thereupon Judith Is actuated in
turn by the old hatred the new love. and
alienated from her father through her
FAILURE to carry out his fhomicidal plans.
and because of the aid she has extended
Alan in his flight with Rose from the VEN
geance of Urine through the mountains
of western Arizona.
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1915-03-24
CHAPTER XIV.
The Bowels Of the Earth.

Awaking befeil Mr.. Barcus in a
fashion sufficiently sharp and startling
to render him Indifferent to the benefi-
cial effects Of some eight hours OF
dreamless slumber.
He discovered himself lying fat on
his face, with somebody's inconsiosr.
ate, heavy. hand purposely grinding the
said face into the aged and splintery
planks Of the shed flooring. At the
same time other hands were busy
binding bis own together ~. the
wrists and lashlng the same to the
small OF his back by means of cord
passed around his middle, while his
natural ii somewhat spasmodic efforts
to kick were sadly haInpered by the
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1915-03-24
Too Much slnoIno.

BILL see a clock built by q Call
fornia electrician plays different
tune on a series of pipes for every
hour.
Jill-That may be all right for a
man to sing at his work. but when
It comes to r clock draw the line.
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1915-03-24
A Good Heart.

George. where are your school
books?'
when notices appeared that books
were wanted for the wounded gave
mine to them" -Humoristicke Listy
tPrague).
Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1915-03-13

Doctor Hayward had arrived and
had just finished taking the patients
pulse and temperature as our cab
pulled up.
Elaine was quite i'll indeed.
oh, I'm so glad to see YOU" she
brea;hed with an air of relief as Ken
nedy advanced
Why what is the matter" asked
Craig arNiously.
Doctor Hayward shook his mead du-
biously, but Kennedy did not notice
him, for. as he approached Elaine, she
drew from the covers where she had
concealed il a letter and handed 1t TO
him.
Craig took il and read:
You are sick this morning. To
morrow you will be worse. Tnc next
day you will ale unless you discharge
Craig Kennedy"
At the signature of the ClutChing
Hand he frownci. then. noticing Doc
tor Hayward, turned to him and re-
peated his question. what IS the mat
teri"
Doctor Hayward continued shaking
his head. Il cannot diagnose her
symptoms" he shrugged
There seemed To be a faint OdOr, al
most as # Of garlic. in the room. It
was unmistakablc and Craig looked
about him curlou:ly. but said nothing
AS he shifted, he moved I'M atiently
and his foot touched Rusty, under the
bed Rusty whincG and moved back
lazily. Craig bent over and looked
at him.
whats the matter with Rusty" he
asked. is he sick. too"
Why, yes" answered Elaine, fol-
lowing Craig with her deep eyes
Craig reached down and gently
pulled the collie out into the room
Rusty crouched down close to the
floor. His nose was hot and dry and
feverish. He was plainly i'll.
How long has Rusty been In the
room" asked Craig.
"All night" answered Elaine. Il
wouldn't think of being without him
now"
May I take Rusty along with me?"
Craig asked finally.
Elaine hcsitatcd. Surely" she said
at length. only be gentle with him"
"Of course" he said simply. II
thought that | might be able to dis
cover the trouble from studying him"
We stayed only a few minutes
longer. for Kennedy seemed to realize
the necessity OF doing something i'm
mediately. and even Doctor Hayward
was lighting in the dark
Back in the laboratory. Kennedy set
to work Immediately. brushing every.
thing else aside. He began by draw
Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1915-03-13

We'll, added Craig. you 500. -!
chacl las become irfuriat'' by the
treatment he received from the Clutch
ing Hand. | believe he cu0.d him in
the face yesterday Anyway. ne says
he has determined to get even and be
tray him
did not like the looks of the
thing. and said SO. "Crail." objected
Nchcmcut!y, don't 20 To- mrot him.
II 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 az autun tic
from a drawer of cabino, and thrust
1t inc his pocket Then he went TO
another drawer and took out several
sections Of thin tubing. which see med
10 be made to tdstcn together az a
fishing pole is fastened. but were now
separate, rs if ready for travelling
Then he went out / followed. stiil
arguing
If you go. go" capitulated.
That's all there is 10 it
Following the directors that MI
chael had given over the telephone.
Cralg led me into one of the toughest
parls Of the lower West side.
Here's the place h announced.
~ a.
diugy Raines law hotel.
Pretty tough" objected. Are you
surc?"
quite" replied Kennedy, consulting
his notebook again.
Reluctantly followed and We en-
tered the place.
- want = room" rsked Craig as
". we're aCcpsted b! the proprietor.
comfortably clad in a loud ,heckcd
suit and striped shirt sleeves. Il had
one here once before forty nine |
think"
Fifty" began to correct.
Kennedy trod hard on my toes.
Yes, forty-nine," he repeated
The proprietor called a stout negro
porter, waiter and bell-hOp all COM
binci in one. who led US upstairs.
"Fortynine, sah." he pointed out.
as Kennedy dropped a dime into his
ready palm.
The negro left us. and as Craig
started to enter. ! objected But.
Craig. 1t was fifty-nine, not forty nine
This is the wrong room"
Il know It," he replied. Il had It
written in the book. But want forty
nine-now. Just follow me. Walter.
Neryously | followed him into the
room.
Don't you understand" he went
on. Room forty-nine Is probably Just
Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1915-03-13

Pulled the Collie Into the Room.
the same as fifty-nine. except perhaps
the pictures and furniture, only 1t Is
on the floor below"
He gazed about keenly. Then he
took few steps to the window and
threw II 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 a pole some eight or ten
feet long. At one end was a curious
arrangement that seemed to contain
lenses and a mirror. At the other
end was an eye-piece, as nearly as
could make out
What is that" asked az 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-
sourcefulness. He stealthily thrust
of the window and up toward the cor
responding window upstairs Then he
gazed eagerly through the eye-piece.
Waterloo" he exclaimed to
me.
did. There, sure enough, was Nj
chael, pacing up and down the Dom.
As | looked at him nervously walk
ing to and fro. ] could not nelp ad-
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 flfty-nine we could hear tho
measured steps of the footman. Craig