davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1915-12-01
SYNOPSIS.

on the day of the eruption OF Mount
Pelee Capt John Hardin OF the steamer
Princess rcscucs nye-y year-old Annctt,
Illngton from an open boat but IN forced
TO leave behind her father and his com
paniOns. Illngton is assaulted by Her
nnndez and POnto In IA vain attempt to
get papers which Illngton has managed
to send aboard the Princess with hls
daughter. papers proving his ute to hno
telling the whereabouts OF the lost islano
OF Cinnnbnr. llington's injury causes his
mind to become IA blank. Thirteen year,
clapse. Hernandez. now an opium SNUG
glcr. with POnto, lnoZ. IA female accom-
pllcc, and the mindless brute that once
was Ilington, come to Seaport where the
widow Of Captain Hardin ls living with
her son Neal and Annette lllngton, ant
plot to steal the papers left to Annette
by her father. Ncal tries for admission
To the Naval academy. but through the
trcnchery Of Joey Welchcr is defeated by
Joey and disgraced. Neal cnlists In the
navy lncZ sets "a trap for Joey and IN,
Conspiraturs get him In their power. II,
agrees to steal the papers for them but
accidentally sets IRE To the Hardin home
and the bruic-mnn rcscucA Annette witt
the papers from the ilamca. Annette dis
covers that heat applied TO the map re
veals the location OF the lost island Sub
scqucntly In u struggle for It's possession
the map II torn In three parts, Herman
deg, Annette und Neal each securing
portion.
The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1915-12-01
NEAL Of the NAVY
/o/5 ./3/ LIILLA/1 HH/zZTON OSBORNE

his note. hoping that you and your
charges can add one more evening to
your round OF gayety in Newport so
ciety, beg TO inclose an invitation
which may give you few hours OF
pleasure. Wish ! could go myself.
Anything on n oattleship suits me-"
Inclosed in the missve was heavy
white card engraved in script:
The officers Of the U. s. S. Alabama
request the honor Of your presence
with friends at the dance on ship
board Tuesday evening, June.
The words with friends were In
terlned in ink Annette read the in
vitation and then handed 1t to lnez.
Good" exclaimed Inez These are
worth whie-these shlpboard dances"
Five minutes later she called up a
private number on the wire in her
boudoir waiting impatiently until sho
heard a voice she knew. Then she
talked rapidly. almost in whisper.
IT'S worth taking IA chance, Is 1t
not?' she querled.
"Ah," returned the voice at the 9th
er end OF the wire, I'VE do nothing
without chances. We shall take a
chance. Farewell"
II must be understood that an able
seaman like Neal Hardin. while his
good behavior. his natural aptitude
and his general liability gave him
many privileges-yet he was still the
victim OF caste-naval caste. AS a
civilian he might travel with ladies
OF dignity, such as his mother. and
young women OF style and beauty,
such as Annette llington and her
friend Irene Courtier; but as chief
petty officer remarked to Neal-"A
ball on board the Alabama is not for
able seamen, not 80 you could notice
II. my boy. STILL" he added. clapping
Neal upon the shoulder. 'I'll try and
get you place on the back stairs
where you can look on and see the
swells"
Figuratively speaking, he got him
place on the back stairs without
much difficulty, and after Neal had
spent day in assisting his fellow
able seamen in polishing up every
thing aboard the Alabama that could
be polished. and in swabbing every
thing aboard her that could be
swabbcd and in setting to rights
everything that could be set to rights
Neal. clad in an immaculate white
duck suit, found himself stationed
stiff as ramrod, and for the first
time scared to death, by the side of a
large punch bowl under the canvas
covering of the dancing deck.
The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1915-12-01
FIFTH INSTAllMENT
A MESSAGE FROM THE PAST
CHAPTER XXI.
Grape Juice.

or course the unexpected navalse
hotel created some sensation-as well
as did the rescue OF two beautiful
young women. Miss Irene Courtier
and her friend Miss llington. But
Newport is place OF many happen
ings-sonsational and otherwise-and
after all the Crooked Crag had been
raIded many times before.
In it's balmy days II had been clev
erly constructed and maintained rs
secluded gambling place for New
York millionuires, n place full OF cub
by holes and uncanny getaways. Foi
the thirteenth time in i;s history II
was closed up and It's proprietor
jatcd.
But the three weird characters who
had been the cause of all the VIC
lenco still remained In hidIng-llor
nandcz. the Portuguese ndventurcr
Ponto his Mexican side partner, and
their strange and unusual companion
the brute.
Annette. for her part. gave full de
scriptions of these three to the au
thorities and accompanied secrotserv
fee men on many fruitless trips.
AT any rate" she said to her
friend. Irene Courticr. Il know now
where | stand. ! was warned to look
out for n man with n saber cut across
his face" Her face grew wistful
Il thought-feared." she went on, at
first, that that man might be my fa
thor: but my father would never treat
girl as this scar.face treated me-
Annette touched her neck. A tiny
little gold chain fell into the bosom
of her waist.
"He has laid bare his teeth, this
scarface," said Annette. "llo knows
something of my fathor-l'm sure OF
that-and I'm sure of something else
He is seeking my lost Isle of CHINA
The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1915-12-01

Half way they stopped, for her escort,
NJ. Romanof, had reappeared. He
smiled as Joe came up with Annette
and waved his hand.
I've been looking at the moon,' he
said.
Annette, already bored-chiefly by
the close proximity Of Joe Welcher-
glanced off toward Neal.
Let's go and get some grape juice" "
she said.
Joe drew her out to the railing
through the same aperture from
which Romanofr had watched the cir.
cling motor boat.
III get the grape Juice" said Joe
aloud. Wait here until return"
Annette started after him, but the
aperture was closed now by the broad
back OF Romanoff. who talked viva.
ciously with Irene Courtier. Annette
was not averse to looking at the
moon. and she looked. But-all she
saw was the moon itself. She did not
see and could not know that a motor
launch, silent as the night, had
fetched up alongside OF the anchor
chain. She did not know and could
not see black shadow that stole
along the railing behind the canvas
curtains that hid the dancing deck.
Suddenly she gave a choking cry.
The black shadow like some black
panther had sprung upon her from
the night and cfutched her in its
grasp. She cried out once more, or
tried TO. She found she could not
A strong wiry hand closed across her
mouth and wiry form forced her
back across the rail.
With a superhuman twist OF her
1.-the young body-and she was strong,
was Annette Ilington--for one in.
stant she wrenched herself away and
gave vent TO a piercing scream. Neal
Hardin at the punch bowl heard it
Forgetting all discipllne-and all
grape juice-he bounded across the
dancing deck and with one sweep OF
his arm brushed the nonplussed
Romanof and his charming escort to
one side. His eyes were blinded by
the deck lights and as he rushed
through the curtains he could only
The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1915-12-01
THE DAILY ARDMOREITE

see that some terrific struggle was a.
hand.
In another instant II was all over
Two figures clutching at each Other
frantically darted suddenly over the
rail. There was a splash below.
Man overheard" yelled Neal.
He sprang to the rail and dove into
the moonlit water-taking good care
not to foul the other two.
Two minutes later It was all over
Annette was on deck half fainting in
Meals arm-but with a smile upon
her face.
Don't worry" she said to the
crowd about her. Il haven't swal
lowed drop OF water. assure you
I'm a regular little water rat-Neal
knows that, don't you Neal?"
Half an hour later in the Courtier
villa IN Newport. Annette nestled in
a huge arm chair in a kimono before
a blazing fire. she laughed trium
phantly. She seized a dripping little
chamois bag and took from It very
damp old piece Of paper parchment.
This is what he was after-you
cant tell me- she said. She spread
1t out and exhibited it to Inez Castro
why, 1t is a blank piece of pa
per-" said Inez Castro.
Look at it closely" said Annette
"Oh, yes.' said Irene, 1T has one
word upon it-longitude."
1T has more than that upon it,
said Annette Watch and see"
She spread it out upon the hearth
to dry. 1T is a piece of the map
Of my map, Irene" she went on, the
map of the lost Isle of Cinnabar
Scarface got a portion of it-don't
you remember, at Crooked Crag-but
a harmless portion. got a part and
so did Neal. Wait. Look. The piece
is dry-see what the heat has done.
lnez Castro bent over her. Where
did the writing come FROM" she de-
manded.
"The heat brought the writing out"
said Annette. "See. Look now at
the longitude. What does it say?"
Inez looked eagerly. "One hundred
and twenty-three degrees" she ex-
claimed slowly, "and forty minutes
west"
THAT isn't ALL" went on Annette.
There's message-a message from
the past upon our pieces, Meals and
mne-a message that I've got by
heart"
What" queried Inez, yawning, "is
the message from the past?"
Annette nodded proudly. This is
the message she returned. Granted
The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1915-12-01

ne coronado is a likely ship and y
you are bound to go, God speed
He looked the Coronado up and
found her quite a likely ship. lie
saw her captain and found him salts
factory.
The next day Annette and her
friends. including Welcher. booked
for the cheap trip on the Coronado.
You're my only passengers SO far
said Captain Handy. 'and don't care
II ! don't have any more
Capt. Peter Handy sauntered down
the wharf. A big. staggering individ'
Sal was looking the Coronado over.
BILL" said Capt. Peter Handy. I'll
tell you how 1t is. picked you out
as a cheap bargain and took a chance
on you, not knowing you before. This
is a cheap trip down, Bill; III leave 1t
to you to pick your crew. Pick them
cheap, Bill; coming back can make
1t up to you. Get the best for. the
money, Bill. and get 'em cheap"
81 got 'em already" returned Bill,
"and | got 'em cheap. Leave that to
me-"
On the evening OF the fourteenth,
the four booked passengers boarded
the Coronado and were assigned to
staterooms.
Bill left the captain snoring in his
bunk and stole across the dect and
down the gangplank to the wharf be-
yond. Once upon the river front he
turned east and strobe on rapidly for
a quarter of mile. He darted into
a narrow alleyway, reached dimly
lighted window in an old board house
on the shore and raped sharply on
the window pane. A door was opened
stealthily and he sha.nbled in.
Huddled at tables aII flung care
lessly in corners were the forms Of
sailors, supine, drunk, drugged. Bill
took an electric flash light from his
pocket and examined carefully each
of these slumbering objects Of hui
manity.
I'll take him." said Bill, "and him
there with the broken face; and him
and that chap over there
Ten minutes later he nodded in a
self-satisfed way and jerked his
thumb over his shoulder toward an
other door
Is he inside?" he Queried.
oh" said the proprietor. "the three
Of 'em is there"
There were three men in that small
room, strangely assorted trio. One
was a huge individual, bigger and
stronger than Bill himself; another
was an uncanny, fat, little Mexican
with dangerous eyes; the third was
Portuguese with saber cut cross his
face.
Bill grinned "Huh," he said,
we're all here, mates. outside |
picked up enough men to fill up the
Coronado's crew and here | run
against three of her passengers"
Hernandez smiled and showed his
teeth. Three unlocked passengers"
he said.
The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1915-12-01
CHAPTER XXI.
Incognlto.


In dingy little hotel room in Prov.
idence. Rhode Island. there sat man
at dressing table gazing into mir.
ror and doing unusually queer things
with his face. Hernandez was past
master at certain art-disguise.
Ten minutes later stranger stood
erect within that room-a full-bearded
stranger. clad in an evening coat OF
foreign cut, with well padded paunch
and shoulders, oyeing himself still
critically in the looking glass. He
raised his high hat and bowed pomp
ously to Ponto.
"In reality friend Potion" he re
marked 81 am NJ Romanoff-a Rus
sian nobleman."
MY friends and | are invited to
the dance on board the Alabama" he
said MY friends and | shall go.
Call in that beast. Now for the final
test"
Pouto disappeared and moment
later the brute crept into the room,
He glanced fearfully toward the chair
where Hernandez had been sitting
then he glanced about the room. A
puzzled expression overspread his
countenanCe and then with deep gut.
tural cry he sprang for the appari.
tons throat
Hernandez twitched himself to one
side Just In time and then tapped the
brute smartly on the arm.
Il am satisfied" he said, in tones
that the brute Immediately recog'
nized. Even he did not know me-
he, with all the instincts OF a savage
but faithful dog Let us be on
An hour later he was standing ex,
pectantly in front OF the huge punch
bowl on the dancing deck OF the Ala
bama. Clustered around this punch
bowl were group OF officers and
pretty wonderland among them Inez
Castro and her friend Annette Hing
ton.
Romanofr stared boldly at them
both, then he turned TO Neal Hardin
a glass OF punch. IL you please,
he said in foreign accents.
Neal Hardin did not answer. He
was otherwise engaged. Annette
llington was standing at the table
with n young ensign at her side.
They were both drinking from the
punch bowl. The ensign drank with
his right hand: so did Annette, but
Annettes left hand was firmly
clutched in the hand OF Neal Hardin
OF the punch bowl. II was the only
chance the evening could afford them.
"A glass of punch" reiterated the
unknown Russian nobleman.
Neal jumped rs though shot. Has
lily he ladleG out glass and pre-
scented it to the Russian. The Rus.
sian took one sip OF it and sat down
dis glass.
The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1915-12-01
CHAPTER XIII.
UNLOCKED Passengers.

SHpoONcu FdSSeHSSTe.
Il think it's risky" said Neal Har.
din. Let me see that ad again"
Annette handed him the Providence.
Rhode Island. morning paper. Under
the head OF ship notices appeared this
item:
Fruit Steamer Coronado sails 18th
this month. Bound for Bahamas,
Colon, Panama, Lower California ports
and San Francisco. Open for limited
booking Of passengers. Pier 1910
Providence, r. !.
PETER HANDY, Master.
Neal read the advertisement over
and shook his head again.
Risky. | tell you" he repeated.
Annettes eyes flashed. But what
am | to do" she protested. You
don't-you can't understand Her
lips Quivered for a moment. Il have
got to find my father, Neal. and for
his sake. il not for my own. have
got TO ind my fortune. I've got TO
so some time. Why not now? The
message was plain enough-the Fa-
theirs of the Santa Maria mission in
Lower California; must see them.
This is the easy way"
Neal folded up the paper a. thrust
it in his pocket AT an. sr.
said, I'll look this
The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1915-12-01

"B-rrr," he exclaimed. as be
walked away in disgust.
There was a genteel litter from the
picturesque little group around the
punch bowl Inez touched Romanof
upon the arm.
1T is perfect" she whispered, nc
one could ever tell"
The pseudo Romanoff glanced al
her significantly. paced across the
dancing deck and passed out upon the
moonlit deck beyond. Inez. flirting
with an officer, excused herself. beck
oned to Joe Welcher. who came
swiftly at her beck and call, and with
her hand upon his arm she followed
In the wake OF Romanoff. AS they
reached the bow Romanoff turned sud
denly and confronted them He seized
Welcher by the arm.
Friend Welcher." he said, his grip
Tightening, ION the canvas curtains aft
on the port side. you will find one
black cross mark upon the curtain and
one black cross mark upon the deck
They are my marks. You will dance
with Annette lllngton-"
Welcher hurried off and Romanofl
with the beautiful Miss Irene Cour
tier upon his arm, strobe slowly to-
ward the lights,
With her escort she stood glancing
out between the curtains at the moon
light upon the sea. Her escort, how
ever, was not watching the moonlight
his eyes were fixed upon a motor
boat that sported itself like some
huge shark in the waters just beyond
He drew forth a white handkerchief
He stepped into the aperture between
the canvas curtains. grasped the rail
with one hand and shook the handker.
chief.
lnez noted that a small black cross
had been placed upon the canvas cur.
tain. She looked at her feet. There
was another cross upon the deck.
Then she turned and faced the crowd
watching with keen eyes.
Joe Welcher from far across the
deck caught the CLINT OF those same
eyes-he had been watching for them.
He bent over Annette.
Look at the freak" he said. that s
tied up to Inez-I mean Irene Courier.
l always call her Inez somehow. Let 8
go and see the freak"
"The freak" said Annette. has dis
appeared"
She was not the only person on the
deck who noticed that. Some half
dozen naval officers in spick and span
uniforms noted 1t also and started
double quick toward Inez Castro.
The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1915-12-01

bar-he wants II for his own. Well. l.,
too, can bare my teeth. Let him come
on"
You are so strong" murmured
Irene Courtier. so strong"
A Japanese servant stole into the
room-the living room at Miss Cour
tiers summer villa at Newport. She
had rented this villa for the season
ana had paid one months rent-no
more. She had pad the Japanese but
one months wages-no more. The
Japanese presented note upon
salver. lnez Castro glanced at IL and
waved her hand. Mrs. Hardin was
Just entering from the veranda.
1t is for you. Grandam.' said lneE.
and from some old sweetheart, eh!'
eh?' ,--,.
Mrs Hardin opened the missiVe-
her eyes Frightened.
"Its from our congressman u Se"
mort she exclaimed.
MY dear Mrs. Hardin he wrote III
The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1915-12-01
Ardmore, Wednesday, December 1, 1915

was happening and turned to Mrs
Hardin
You and Irene." she said, go into
the wireless room. Let US all go
even Joe."
Just as she said it a mutineer
rushed past her. stopped. leered into
her face and grasped her by the hand
With a sudden wrench he closed the
door of the wireless, shutting the
three people inside-Welcher and the
two other women-and then with a
glare into Annette's eyes. he drew her
toward him and crushed her strug-
Cling form against his breast.
Below there were other passengers
who watched the fight-Hernande
and his two companions. The brute
watched stupidly-Ponto and Her
The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1915-12-01

to Ilington, Spanish-American explor
er, for distinguished services, by Jo-
seph Bonaparte, king of Spain, in the
year eighteen hundred and nine, the
original grant, being in the possession
of the fathers" She stopped.
What was the rest OF that?" she
mused. Il can't remember"
Think" persisted Inez, with curl
Gus insistence.
Annette laughed. 1T has escaped
me. | will have to ask Neal about
that the next time | see him"
Part of the message is on his por.
tion, too?" said Inez. And what
about the latitude?"
Annette shook her head. That ]
can't remember either" she returned,
stupid that | am. Yes, the latitude
is on his piece too"
The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1915-12-01
CHAPTER XIV.
The TrickIe of White Powder.


Hernandez motioned toward the
door, Ponto, the Mexican, closed it
noiselessly and swiftly and shot the
bolt. You understand the terms,
Hernandez said. This stuff has just
come in to us tonight. We have it load
ed in our launch outside"
You understand then" said Her
nandez, that when this cargo of CO.
caine is sold. your share will be
many hundred dollars-a thousand
over a thousand
Two mornings later, a sailor lying
in his bunk against a bulkhead in the
face a gift from Bill. On this par
ticular morning, however, the unusual
thing that attracted his attention was
a quantity of fine white powder that
sifted through the knot hole.
Holy smoke" he exclaimed joyful.
ly within himself, this amt no fat
thing, amt it? This here's cocaine.
By noon the whole forecastle knew
about the rat hole and what is more
had sampled it-or rather the strange
white powder that came trickling
through.
Next day something happened.
Bill, the mate, gave Snooks an order
that Snooks declined to fill. Bill was
accustomed to being disobeyed, and
for every i'll he had a remedy. He
seized a capstan bar and aimed 1t at
Snooks' head; but there was a glitter
In Snooks' eye that Bill did not un-
derstand. Snooks leaped for him and
wrestled with him like a wildcat. He
forced Bill. painting. up against the
rail, believing meanwhile like a mad
bull. Bill felt for Delaying pin,
found it, clutched it, raised 1t high in
the air and brought 1t crashing down
upon Snooks' shoulder. II broke a
collarbone, but it might have been a
feather for all Snooks cared.
Mates" cried Snooks, you amt
going to see me licked. Come one
and all"
They came. Some sprang down from
the shrouds; some appeared from
companionways; some came hurrying
along the decks. They were men bat
tered and broken-but all had one un.
canny haracteristic-their eyes gilt
tered. glittered fearfully and fear
lessly.
Bill sprang away from the clutch
ing grasp of Shocks and drew his
gun.
Captain Peter Handy" he roared.
"Mutiny."
And mutiny there was-a mutiny
based not so much upon the i'll treat
ment OF Dill the mate as upon the ef-
feet of the trickling white powder.
The captain responded to the call;
so did one or two others of the un-
drugged crew.
The four booked passengers heard
the riot-it could have been heard
half mile away. They rushed on
Lock and watched. Annette. who had
ID quickness of mind. saw what
The Prescott daily news., 1915-11-01
Had the Courage to Ask for Love

The American Magazine has been offering prizes for the best letters en- titled "The Most Difficult Thing Ever Did" The prize winning letters are published in the November issue. Fol lowing is an extract from one of these letters from a girl who wanted love and had the courage to ask for it: "He was a young man, only twenty five, from the South. He is not very strong and he was very lonely, so he used to read quite a bit We're more intimate in our little town than in a big city, guess. Since the catalogu- | ing room is used for directors meet ings there are big deep chairs along | the walls. They let him come there to read, because he is so frail. So we met We came to talk, about books, and him. You can't imagine how diff ferent it seemed to me at home after l l met him.
 But one day he came and said, I'm returning South, Miss E. We'll have no more pleasant chats
 "All at once 1 felt l just couldn't have it. You will think it queer, 1 know l knew he was ten years younger than |. But I couldn't let him leave. l stammered but l man aged to say something about his being lonely there, for knew he had only one sister in Canada.
 Then 1 said, Why don't you stay here-and marry me?'
 q don't know how l said it. I'd been thinking about his going away. and how terrible it would be. The words just seemed to tear themselves out though I'm pretty quiet usually. He didn't mention being so much younger, or anything. He said pres ently, You know I'm a sick man. I'll never get we'll
 But l didn't care. That part was easy. We were married
 My husband has consumption. do our housekeeping, at night. I still work in the cataloguing department. l do get tired, it wears one out a lit tie to stretch every penny to the ut most buying power. I'm thinner and homeier than ever, I guess. But no one can realize how happy I am, and how easy it is to work for him.