davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1915-05-27
CREDIT THIS TO %"DRUMMERs'
Knights Of the Road Put Up shrewd
Scheme to Aid Widow In
Dire Situation.

THAT the drummer is the right sort
of chap was demonstrated to me to-
day" said a Pittsburger. Coming In
on the train was a widow woman with
three kids. From the amount OF her
drapery she had on ] guess her nus
band had Just died and left her a gum
tree. You could tell she had seen
good, easy times, but maybe there was
some neglect about insurance. What
with the kids and other reasons you
could see she was about this
travelling. Anyhow, we hadn't gone
far before the conductor found out n a
she was on the wrong train. Then she
broke down. but she was as proud as
a wellbred woman could be. II didn't
take the drummers-there were six OF
t~hem~-Iong to find out that she was 30
badly hxed that she had spent her last
dollar on tickets and was like to DC
stranded with the Kids in a p'2ce
where she didn't want to lard. The
drummers wanted to helm her, but they
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1915-05-27
chiId,s Allowance.

Should boys and girls have their
own allowance, in proportion to the
means OF the parents. as SOC as they
are old enough to know the value of
money? This is what many a parent
has said in substance:
Certainly. An allowance is the
best safeguard against the habit OF ex.
travagance. II the child is taught to
spend the money j~udiciously and to
keep a strict account of all expend!-
lures, IT is absurd to think that a boy
is not capable of buying his own neck
ties or a girl her handkerchiefs. What
II they do make mistakes? They can
be taught to profit by them and they
must learn to rely upon themselves
sooner or later. Children like to be
trusted and wfll seldom betray conf
dence."
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1915-05-27
Enur DAVIS in a Well.

In Georgia a colored mar employed
by a doctor to do general chores has
a habit of going off hunting for a few
days without giving any notice OF his
intention, so the other day when ne
did not show up, no inquiries were
made. But this time he was hunting
for help. While passing through a
field at night he fell into an old I'M
covered well, forty feet deep. He
could not climb out, SO he passed the
night yelling for help. The next day
he yelled some more, but no help
came. Fortunately the we'll was dry,
SO he got sleep, but his situation was
sufficiently desperate. 1t was on the
afternoon of the fourth day that some
laborers heard a faint Hello" and
tracing the sound rescued the mar
from his queer prison. He looked
weak, but was not bodily injured, and
a hearty meal set him all right again.
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1915-05-27

the midnight train for Leghorn. But
my own theory is that they were
searching for some paper or other that
you possess"
What can my papers concern
them?" exclaimed the jovial, round
faced consul. Il don't keep bank notes
in that safe, you know. We fellows in
the service don't roll in gold as our
public at home appears to think"
mo. But you may have something
in there which might be of value to
them. You're often the keeper of val
liable documents belonging to Eng
lishmen abroad. you know"
Certainly. But there's nothing in
there Just now. No, my dear Gordon,
depend upon it that the yacht running
ashore was all a blind. They did it so
as to be able to get the run of the con-
sulate, secure the ciphers, and sail
merrily away with them"
But the man and the woman who
left the yacht an hour before she
sailed, and who slipped away into the
country somewhere! l wonder who
they were? Horribly distinctly told
me that he and Chatter were alone, and
yet there was evidently a lady and a
gentleman on board. l guessed there
was a oma there, from the way the
boudoir and ladies' saloon were ar
ranged, and certainly no mans hand
decorated a. dinner table as that was
decorated"
yes. That's decidedly funny" re
marked the consul thoughtfully. They
showed a lot of ingenuity"
Ingenuity! should think so! The
whole affair was most c%leverl!
planned"
you said something about an ar
mory."
{ Yes, there were Maxims stowec
away in one of the cabins, The,
aroused my suspicious"
They would not have arouse'
mine" replied my friend. yachts cal
ry arms for protection in many cases
/ especially if they are going to cruis
along uncivilized coasts where the,
must land for water or provisions"
y told him of the torn photograph
: which caused him some deep reiet
ton.
y. Il wonder why the picture had bee
torn up. Had there been a row o
board-a quarrel or something's"
s 1T had been destroyed surrept
tiously, l think"
PITY you didn't pocket the fraI
ments. We could perhaps have di
covered from the photographer tn
identity of the original"
",Ah!" l sighed regretfully. Il neve
thought of that. l recollect the nan
of the firm, however"
e 81 shall have to report to Londc
/. the whole occurrence, as British su
jects are under suspicion" Hutchesc
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1915-05-27
CHAPTER II.
Why the Safe Was Opened.

Why the Safe Was opened.
That day was an active one in the
questara, or police office, of Leghorn.
Detectives called, examined the safe,
and sagely declared it to be burglar
proof, had not the thieves possessed
the key.
Probably while l sat at dinner on
board the Lola my keys had been
stolen and passed on to the SCARED
Scotsman, who had promptly gone
ashore and ransacked the place while
l had remained with his master smok-
ing and unsuspicious, but as far as
francesca and | could ascertain moth
ing whatever had been taken. The de-
tective on duty at the railway station
distinctly recollected a thin, middle
aged man, accompanied by a lady in
deep black, passing the barrier and
entering the train which left at three
O'Clock for Cole Salvetti to join the
Rome express. They were foreigners,
therefore he did not take the same
notice of them as though they had
been Italians.
The description of the Lola, it's own
1er, his guest, and the captain were cir.
cnlated by the police to all the Medi
~terranean ports, with a request that
the yacht should be detained. Yet il
the vessel were really n of mystery
as it seemed to be, its owner would
n doubt go across to some quie
anchorage on the Algerian coast gu
of the track of the vessels, and calml!
proceed to repaint, rename and dis
guise his craft SO that it would not b,
recognized in Marseilles, Naples, Smyi
ma, or any of the ports where privat
yachts habitually call.
For purposes of their own the polio
kept the affair out Of the papers, an
when Frank Hutchinson stepped on
of the sleeping car from Paris on t
the platform at Pisa a few nights af
erwards, / related to him the e,
traordinary story.
"The seoundrels wanted these, that
evident he responded, holding up ii
small, strong leather handbag
was carrying, and which contained h
jealously-guarded ciphers. by Jove'
ne laughed, how disappointed thu
must have been!"
1T may be So" / said, as we enter'
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1915-05-27
rhounht for the Future.


The universities of Oxford and Cam
bridge have contributed about one-
half of the men who have given Eng
land leadership in government science
and letters. Now two-thirds of their
students have enlisted in the war;
Trinity college has been converted
into a military hospital. Could we
not select from those who would not
otherwise have the opportunity men
of ability equal to the students who
have attended the English UNIVERSE
ties and prepare them for work
equally important? And could we not
give opportunity to foreign men and
women of ability to continue here
work from which they will be de-
barred by the conditions following the
war?-Popular Science Monthly.
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1915-05-27
ALWAYS WAR PORT
Austrian Naval Station Of Great
Historic Interest.
In 17s 3. c. Rome Destroyed the Place.
Then a Pirate enthusiastically
Defended, It Is Now a Point
of Power.

Pola, the chief naval station and ar
senal of the dual monarchy and one OF
the best protected ports in the world,
may soon become known wherever war
correspondence is read as the most
vital strategic point on a new, wide
sweeping battle front.
For Pola is the Helgoland of the
Austrians toward their Italian neigh
bors; and, in case of a rupture be-
tween these peoples, it would be Aus
trials most powerful advanced base.
Pola lies at the southern apex of the
1strian peninsula, about fifty-three
miles south of Trieste. Its almost
complete land-locked harbor is n
of the finest of Europe, and upon its
roomy surface a great fleet could ride
safely at anchor. The harbor has an
ares of three and one-third square
miles, while beyond the channel en-
trance is a forewater dominated bya
the guns of the Brionian islands.
History begins for this little-known
city with it's first capture by the Ro-
mans in B. C. 17S. Pola has been a
war port since its appearance in the
ancient chronicles.
1t was once the strongest and wild
est of these Istrian pirate retreats,
where the rebellious spirits of the Ro-
man w~orld-empire gathered, and
whence they made their raids upon
the rich m that flowed from
every eastern Mediterranean port to
Rome. The Romans destroyed the
place.
Under Emperor Septimius Sevedus,
A. D. 1921, it again became an i'm
portant war harbor, and its city grew
to $4,000 inhabitants. The trade riv-
ais, Venice and Genoa, fought each
other for it's possession, as it was a
key to the freedom of the Adriatic.
Destroyed by the Genoese in 1879
it continued under the sovereignty o.
Venice until 1897, when it fell to Aus
tria upon the Acknowledgement of the
Venetial state.
PoIa now numbers about fifty thou
sand persons, 40 per cent of whom are
Italians and the rest largely Serbo
Croats. Besides its prominence as
naval station, Pola does a considerable
commerce which has been increasing
steadily through recent years. Its eX
ports consist of fish, timber and tn
quartz sand which is used in the man
ufacture of Venetial glass.
The city lies at the head of the Ba,
of Pola, sheltered and screened b,
rugged heights. 1t is defended by
very extensive and modern system Q
Notifications, defenses prepared upo'
a scale fitted to the Importance Of it
harbor.
: The mountains around it conces
powerful batteries that overlook tn
: town and harbor, while the chain
: defensive works is continued to tn
: entrance waters and to the nearb
islands. The passage to the bay
guarded by two strong forts.
! At Pola are situated the princip;
dockyards, drydocks and repair shor
Of the Austrian navy, together wit
technical and scientific institution
connected with the admiralty. Its a
: senals contain vast naval stores ecu
to the Quitting Of a large fleet.
9 Austria and Italy go to war Pola ms
become the most interesting poi
4 throughout the basin Of the Medite
ranean.
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1915-05-27
CHAPTER t-continued.

Unfortunately the telegraphic re-
plies from England are only to hand
this morning" he went on, because
Just before two o'clock this morning
the harbor police, whom l specially
ordered to watch the vessel, saw a
boat come to the wharf containing a
man and oma The pair were put
ashore, and walked away into the
town, the woman seeming to walk
with considerable difficulty. The boat
returned, and an hour after, to the
complete surprise of the two de-
tectiyes, steam vas suddenly got up
and the yacht turned and went
straight out to sea-"
Leaving the man and the woman?"
Leaving them, of course, They are
probably still in the town. The police
are now searching for traces of them"
But could not you have detained
the vessel?" l suggested.
"Of course, had l but known, / could
have forbidden her departure. But as
her owner had presented himself at
the consulate, and was recognized as a
respectable person, l felt that could
not interfere without some tangible in
formation-and that, alas! has come
too late. The vessel is a swift one
and has already seven hours start o.
us. I've asked the admiral to senc
out a couple of torpedo-boats after her
but, unfortunately, this is impossible
as the flotilla is sailing in an hour tt
attend the naval review at Spezia.'
l told him how the consul's safe hat
been opened during the night, and HI
sat listening with wide-open eyes.
you dined with them last night,
he said at last. They may have sur
reptitiously stolen your keys"
"They may" was my answer. PROT
ably they did. But with what me
tive?"
The captain Of the port elevated hi
shoulders, exhibited his palms, and de
clared: THE whole affair from be
ginning to end is a complete and pre-
found mystery"
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1915-05-27

astride with his hands behind his
back, his sword trailing on the white
deck. you say that the yacht was
called the Lola-painted gray with a
black funnel"
mo, dead white, with a yellow fun
mel"
"Ah! OF course" he remarked, as
though to himself. "They would re-
paint and alter her appearance. But
the dining saloon. Was there a long
carved oak buffet with a big, heavy
cornice with three gilt dolphins in the
center-and were there not dolphins
in gilt on the backs of the chairs
an armorial device?"
eyes," l cried. "You are right. l
remember them! You've surely been
on board her!"
"The captain, who gave his name to
you as Macintosh, is an understood
American of a rather low-down type?"
81 took him for a Scotsman"
Because he put IN a Scotch ac-
cent, he lduBuOu. ~ q maj VIII
can speak a dozen languages brokenly,
and pass for an Italian, a German, a
Frenchman, as he wishes"
, "And the-the man who gave his
name as Philip Hornby?"
! Durnford's mouth closed with 9
/. snap. He drew a long breath, his eyes
grew fierce, and he bit his lip.
"Ah! l see he is not exactly YOU
FRIEND ~ said meaningly.
"You are right, Gordon-he is no
e my friend" was his slow, meaning re
Spouse.
t "Then why not be outspoken ant
o tell me all you know concerning him
Frank Hutchinson is anxious to clea:
d up the mystery"
S "Well, to tell you the truth, I'm mys
tilted myself. l cant yet discern thei
motive"
a "But at any rate you know the men,
e | argued. "You a at least tell u
4. who they really are"
He shook his head, still disinclinet
for some hidden reason, to reveal tn
i" truth to me.
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1915-05-27
CHAPTER III.
The House "over the Water"

| had idled away a pleasant month
up in Boston, and from there had gone
north to the Lakes, and it was one hot
evening in mid-August that found
myself again in London, crossing st.
James square from the Sports club.
| had just turned into Pail Mall when
a voice at my elbow suddenly ex-
claimed in Italian:
"Ah, signore!-why, actually, my pa
drone!"
And looking around l saw a thin
faced man of about thirty, dressed in
neat but rather shabby black, whom |
instantly recognized as a mar who
had been my servant in Leghorn for
two years, after which he had left to
better himself.
why, Olinto!" l exclaimed, sur-
prised, as halted. "You--in Lon
don-eh? Well, and how are you get
ting on"
Most excellently, signore," he an
swered in broken English, smiling.
"But it is so pleasant for me to see
my generous padrone again. What
fortune it is that / should pass here
at this very moment!"
Where are you working?" in
quired.
cat the Restaurant Milona, in Ok
ford street-only a small place, but we
gain discreetly, SO ] must not com
plain. l live over in Lambeth, and am
on my way home"
When we halted before the Ma
tional gallery prior to parting made
some inquiries regarding Armida, the
black-eyed, good-looking housemaiC
whom he had married.
"Ah, ~signore!" he responded in {
voice choked with emotion, dropping
!, into Italian. ut is the one great sor
/. row of my life. l work hard from
/ early morning until late at night, blu
what is the use when l see my poo
8 wife gradually fading away before m,
very eyes? The doctor says that sh'
a cannot possibly live through the mex
) winter. All! how delighted the poo
girl would be if she could see the pa
r drone again!"
l felt sorry for him. Armida ha
t been a good servant, and had serve
me we'll for nearly three years. Oh
Rosina, my housekeeper, had ofte
d regretted that she had been compelle
(? to leave to attend to her aged mothe
The latter, he told me, had died, an
afterwards he had married her. II
j. asked so wistfully that his wife migf
If see me once more that, having nothin
very particular to do that evening, ar
J" feeling a deep sympathy for the roC
IS fellow in his trouble, | resolved
accompany him to his house and sc
whether | could not, in some sligl
lie manner, render him a little help.
,(To BE CoNTINUED)
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1915-05-27
Chinese "Chops."

American manufacturers who are
seeking to establish their goods in
China are warned in a recent federal
report not to minimize the Importance
of the Chop" or trademark, in China.
The Chinese attach great Importance
to the chop.
A striking example Of the unwilling
ness to accept a new chop is shown by
the experience of a Shanghai impor-
ter. He had developed some sale for
canned salmon among the Chinese and
had sold a certain brand of American
salmon.
This brand had a label showing a
salmon with the tail turned up. A
change was made in the label and the
salmon was depicted with its tail
turned down. When a new shipment
arrived with the chop showing a sal
mon with down-turned tail the import
er found he could not sell the con-
signment to the natives.
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1915-05-27

he said in a hard tone, striding across
the deck and back again. and saw
in his eyes a strange look, half OF
anger, half of deep regret.
Was he telling the truth. | Won
dered? Some tragic romance or other
concerning a woman had, ! knew, over
Swallowed his life in the years before
we had become acquainted. But the
real facts he had never revealed TO
me. Outwardly he was as merry as
the other fellows who differed that
huge floating fortress; on board he
was a typical smart marine, and on
shore he danced and played tennis
and fiirted just as vigorously as did
the others. But a heavy heart beat
beneath his uniform.
When he returned to where / stood
I saw that his face had changed; 1t
had become drawn and haggard. He
more the appearance of a man who
had been struck a blow that had stag
gered him, crushing out all life and
hope.
Whats the matter, Jack?" I asked.
"Comel Tell me-what ails your
Nothing, my dear old chap" he an
swered hoarsely. Really nothing
only d touch of the blues just for a
moment" he added, trying hard tc
smile. It'll pass"
"What I've just told you about that
yacht has upset you. You can't deny
it."
He started. His mouth was, | saw
hard set. He knew something con
corning that mysterious craft, bu
would not tell me.
"Why are you silent?" l asked slow
ly, my eyes fixed upon my friend tn
officer. 81 have told you what know
and I want to discover the motive o
the visit of those men, and the reasol
they opened H~utcheson's safe"
81 admit that l have certain grav
suspicious" he said at last, standin.
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1915-05-27

you saw NJ woman on board?" he
asked suddenly, looking straight into
my eyes.
mo. Hornby told me that he and
Chatter were alone"
And yet an hour after you left a
man and a ,woman came ashore aid
disappeared All! If we only had e.
description Of that woman it would re-
veal much to us"
"She was young and dark-haised, so
the detective says. She had a curious
fixed look in her eyes, which attracted
him, but she wore a thick motor veil.
so that he could not clearly discern
her features"
"And her companion?"
"Middle-aged, pr~ematurely gray.
with a small, dark mustache."
Jack Durford sighed and stroked
his chin.
"Ah! Just as I thought" he ex-
claimed. "And they were actually
here, in this port, a week ago! What
a bitter irony of fate!"
Il don't understand you," l said.
"You are so mysterious, and yet you
will tell me nothing!"
"The police, fools that they are,
have allowed them to escape, and they
will never be caught 10Y All! you
don't know them as l do! They are
the cleverest pair in all Europe. And
they have the audacity to call their
craft the Lola-the Lola, of all names
Gordon, let me be frank and open
with you, my dear old fellow. | would
tell you everything-everything-if
dared. But l cannot-you under
stand!" And his final words seemed
to choke him.
I l stood before him, open-mouthed il
establishment.
"You really mean-well, that yo'
, are in fear of them-eh?" whis
pered.
He nodded slowly in the affirmative
adding: ITO tell you the truth woul'
be to bring upon myself a swift, re
lentless vengeance that would ov,el
whelm and crush me. All! my dea
fellow, you do not know-you canno
dream-what brought those desperat
men into this port. l a guess-l ca
| guess only too well-but | a onl
A tell you that if you ever do discove
A the terrible truth-which l fear is III
likely-you will solve one of tn
strangest and most remarkable my
teries of modern times"
What does the mystery concern!
/ asked, in breathless eagerness.
1T concerns a woman"
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1915-05-27

said. Wen see whether Scotland
Yard knows anything about Horribly
or Chatter. Most probably they do.
I'll write a full report in the morning
il you will give me minute descriptions
Of the men, as well as of the captain,
Macintosh"
Next morning the town Of Leghorn
awoke to find itself gay with bunting,
the Italian and English flags flying
side by side everywhere, and the con.
sular standard Tapping over the con
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1915-05-27
GOT HOLD OF WRONG HOSE
coIored Man Intended to Make Paste,
But Instead He Landed In the
Police Court

Covered with white from head to
foot, the prisoner looked like a snow
man.
with what is this man ~chargedy',
asked the court
Il saw a white cloud replied on
Ger e66. land thought he wal trying
to blow up a building"
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1915-05-27

what have you to say for your
self"
For answer the prisoner pulled out
a little white cloud and coughed UP
enough -four to make a batch Of bis
cults.
Cant you speak?"
A negative shake of the mans head
sem -four into the atmosphere like
hair from a woolly dog.
Are you a baker?"
This time the man managed to mum
BILE a half-smothered mo-"
"Then what on earth are your"
After several false starts the prison.
er finally blurted:
"Bill poster"
"Did you fall into a flour bin?"
Rubbing his face until a dusky skin
began to show through its white coat
ing, the prisoner explained:
"No, san. Wen ! run out OBJ paste
dis mawnin'. / filled a bucket viii
nouah an went across de street, where
| saw a big hose BY de side OBJ a build
ing. I put de nozzle OBJ de hose into
de bucket, but at FIRST de handle
wouldn't turn gabe n big twist
an'-an' den Il happened"
what h~appened2"
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1915-05-27

didn't know how to go about 1t; she
was SO darned reserved that no one
had the nerve to offer to pull her out.
But finally they got in the smoke room
and figured out the thing on a time
table. They all Clipped in and then
called in the conductor. He was the
right sort of a fellow. The way he
done It was fine. He walked back to
the lady with a thoughtful air and
said he had t~elegraphed to New York
and had had the tickets changed. To
see that woman's face would have
done you good"
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1915-05-27
aarnaIn.

"She intended to refuse him, but she
is such a lover Of bargains that she
could not"
How was thatf"
HE looked so cheap when sht
turned him down that she snapper
him up"