davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1916-02-10
the door! Oh, break it open. Cunt

the door! Oh, break 1t open! Cunt
you men do something's
There isn't a man nearer than Lit
tie Rock who can open that door," said
MI Adams in a shaky voice. Ny
God, Spencer, what shall we do? That
child-she can't stand it long in there.
There isn't enough air, and, besides,
she'll go into commissions from fright"
Agatha's mother, frantic now, beat
the door Of the vault with her hands.
Somebody wildly suggested dynamite.
Annabel turned to Jimmy, 2er large
eyes full of anguish, but not yet de-
spairing. To a woman nothing seems
quite impossible to the powers Of the
man she wG~ships.
Cant you do something, Ralph?
Try, won't you?"
He looked at her with queer soft
smile on his lips and in his keen eyes.
"Annabel," he said. fgive me that
rose you are wearing, will your
Hardly believing that she heard him
Alright, she unpinned the bud from the
bosom of her dress and placed it in
his hand. Jimmy stuffed it into his
vest pocket, threw off his coat and
pulled up his shirt sleeves. With that
act Ralph D. Spencer passed away.
and Jimmy Valentine took his place.
Get away from the door. all of
you" he commanded shortly.
He set his suit case on the table and
opened it out fiat. From that time on
he seemed to be unconscious Of the
presence of any one else. He laid out
the shining, queer implements swiftly
and orderly, whistling softly to him
self, as he always did when at work.
In a deep silence and immovable the
others watched him as if under spell.
In a minute Jimmy's pet drill was
biting smoothly into the steel door.
In ten Misunderstanding his own
burglarious record-he threw back the
bolts and opened the door
Agatha, almost collapsed, but safe.
was gathered into her mothers arms.
Jimmy Valentine put on his coat and
walked outside the ratings toward the
front door. AS he went he InOugnC ne
heard far away voice that he once
knew call "Ralph" But he never hes
itated.
At the door a big man stood some
what in his way.
Hello, Benz said Jimmy. still with
his strange smile. "Got around at
last, have you? Well, let's go. don't
know that it makes much difference
now"
And then Ben Price acted rather
strangely.
"Guess you're mistaken, Mr.. Spen-
cer," he said. Don't believe I recog
nize you. Your buggy's waiting for
you, amt it?'
And Ben Price turned and strolled
down the street.
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1916-02-10
Tragic Joking.

Oswald's friends were always on the
lookout for some ruse. He once mott
fed them that on New Years day he
should get the best of them all in some
joke, and New Years morning each re-
ceived this notice: Remember" They
were on their guard.
AS they were leaving house where
they had breakfasted Oswald slipped
on the steps and fell on his back on
the sidewalk His friends rushed to
his assistance, but paused before they
reached him.
*'This is his ruse," some one said.
Clearly the man who was so proud
of his talent for mimicry was bent on
deceiving them all into thinking him
dying man, for he lay there moan
ing pitifully, his face drawn and twist
ed as if with terrible pain.
His friends stood around and made
jokes and puns and hummed lines Of
comic songs, assuring him all the
while that they were not deceived by
his acting. At last he gave a hoarse,
mOurnful cry, looked at them sadly
and then ceased to mourn or writhe.
In a never to be forgotten moment OF
horror and sorrow his friends realized
thai Oswald was dead.-"Souvenirs
DUN Vieux Librarie."
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1916-02-10

One day Jimmy sat down in his room
and wrote this letter, which he mailed
to the safe address of one of his old
friends in st. Louis:
Dear Old Pail want you to be at Sulli-
vans place. in Little Rock, next Wednes-
day night at 9 o'clock. I want you to
wind up some little matters for me. And,
also, want to make you a present OF my
kit of tools. / know you'll be glad to get
them-you couldn't duplicate the lot for
a thousand dollars. Say, Billy, I've quit
the old business-a year ago. I've got a
nice store. I'm making an honest living,
and I'm going to marry the finest girl on
earth two weeks from now. It's the only
life, Billy-the straight one I wouldn't
touch a dollar Of another mans money
now for a million. After l get married
I'm going to sell out and go west, where
there won't be so much danger Of having
old scores brought up against me. L tell
you, Billy, she's an angel. She believes IN
me, and 1 wouldn't do another crooked
thing for the whole world. Be sure to be
at Sullys, for [ must see you I'll bring
along the tools with me. Your old friend
JIMMY.
On Monday night after Jimmy wrote
this letter, Ben Price logged unobtru-
sively into Gilmore in a livery buggy.
He lounged about town in his quiet
way until he found OUT what he want
ed to know. From the drug store across
the street from Spencers shoe store
he got a good look at Ralph D. Spen-
cer
Going to marry the bankers daugh-
Ter, are you. Jimmy?" said Ben to him
self softly. .Well, don't know
The next morning Jimmy took break
fast at the Adamses. He was going to
Little Rock that day to order his we'd
ding suit and buy something nice for
Annabel. That would be the first time
more. 1t had been more than year
now since those last professional
"jobs," and he thought he could safely
venture out
After breakfast quite a family party
went downtown tOgether-Mr. Adams,
Annabel, Jimmy and Annabel's married
sister with her two little girls, aged
five and nine. They came by the no.
tel where Jimmy still boarded, and he
ran up to his room and brought along
his suit case. Then they went on to
the bank. There stood Jimmy's horse
and buggy and Dolph Gibson who was
going to drive him over to the railroad
station
All went inside the high, carved oak
ratings into the banking room. Jimmy
included, for Mr. Adams future son-in-
law was welcome anywhere. The
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1916-02-10
PAPER Undertaking.

Undertaking made of finely crisped
or grained paper is manufactured in
Japan. After the paper has been cut
to a pattern the different parts are
sewn together anG hemmed. and the
places where the buttonholes are to be
formed are strengthened with calico
or linen. The paper is very. strong and
at the same time very flexible. After
a garment has been worn few hours
it will interfere with the perspiration
of the body no more than do garments
made of cotton fabric. The paper Is
not sized. nor is it impermeable. After
becoming wet the paper is difficult to
tear. When an endeavor is made to
tear it by hand it presents almost as
much resistance as the thin skin for
making gloves.
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1916-02-10
PUPILS LEARN POULTRY CARE
dren Also Keep Books and Take
Care of Live Baby.

School children in King county are
putting all sorts OF new kinks into
the old-fashioned curriculum, to their
own enjoyment and profit and with
the connivance and approval of the
King County Parent-Teacher associa-
ton, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer
states.
These new aspects of education
were dealt with at the semiannual
meeting of the association.
The pupils of the Ham district
school, so Miss Varna M. Knapp, their
principal, told the audience, are learn
ing farm, automobile, poultry and
dairy accounting.
Our pure-bred white Leghorns are
worth 81 apiece" she said, "and we
charge every one of them interest at
ten per cent, because we can get ten
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1916-02-10

per cent on the money in our district.
There is no depreciation on a chicken
that / know of, SO we don't charge
them with that; but we charge every
one with the food it eats and the value
of the eggs it sits on, and credit it
We hope to raise turkeys, celery,
squads, etc., and sell them to you city
folks by parcel post This is a cut
at the poor middleman.
"The members of the Ham School
club have drawn the plans and made
specifications for the equipment Of the
schools play shed, and will install
manual training and domestic science
equipment, doing the work of installa-
ton themselves. They did all the
hibition at which they raised $25 to-
ward the expense of these things. I
sincerely hope the value of these
school clubs, both to the children and
the rural schools, will be appreciated,
so that there may be many of them.
The whole secret lies in letting the
children do the work themselves"
Child study by the practical method
of taking care of real, live baby IS
part of the course of the Foster high
school, according to Miss E. M. Gull.
slime, teacher of domestic science. 1t
was a natural development from the
needs of the community and the ten
dency of modern education, she said.
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1916-02-10
O. Henry
Stories
VA Retrieved Refor-
nation.

copyright by Doubleday, Page & Col
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1916-02-10
WHO WAS ROBINSON CRUSOE2
Not Much Known Of Alexander Sci.
kirk, Born in Largo, Scotland
Was Extraordinary Man.

One is sometimes tempted to parody
Kipling's famous words, and ask,
What do they know of Crusoe, who
only Crusoe know" For it Is a sad
fact that, apart from a hazy notion
that the original of this world famous
character was drawn from one Alex
ander Selkirk, little or nothing is
known of a most extraordinary man,
London Answers states.
Selkirk was born in the little Fife
shire village of Largo, in 1876, and
from almost his earliest days the un-
conventional adventurous spirit Of the
boy brought forth the wrath of his
neighbors
When he was about eighteen he de-
cided that he would go to sea and, hay
ing refused utterly to follow his IA
theirs trade of shoemaking, he quit
his native village Two years later
we find him Cat his own request) be-
ing marooned on lonely island after
violent quarrel with the captain Of
the ship on which he was making his
second voyage.
For four years and four months he
remained there, but finally turned up
again at Largo, while his parents were
at church. So to church went Alexan-
der, and seated himself directly be-
hind his father and mother. The good
lady, on turning round and recogniz-
ing her son, caused the service to be
interrupted by her cries of astonish-
ment.
While at home, Selkirk fell in love
with and married Sophie bruce. But
he did not settle down. After a very
short while they both disappeared
from Largo.
Nothing more was heard Of them un-
til one day, years later, young wom-
an arrived in Largo, saying she was
Alexander Selkirk's second wife, and
had come to claim his belongings.
She proved that Sophie bruce had
died some years previously and that
now Alexander himself had also
passed away on board his majesty's
ship Weymouth, on which he was a
lieutenant
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1916-02-10

clerks were pleased to be greeted by
the good looking, agreeable young man
who was going to marry Miss Annabel.
Jimmy set his suit case down. An
mabel, whose heart was bubbling with
happiness and lively youth, put on jim
my's hat and picked up the suit case.
''Wouldn't | make a nice drummerw
said Annabel. My, Ralph, how heavy
it is? Feels like it was full Of gold
bricks
Lot OF nickel plated shoe horns in
there" said Jimmy coolly, that I'm
going to return. Thought I'd save ex-
press charges by taking them up. Pm
getting awfully economical"
The Gilmore bank had just put in a
new safe and vault. MI Adams was
very proud Of it and insisted on an in
spection by every one. The vault was
a small one, but it had new patented
door. 1t fastened with three solid steel
bolts thrown simultaneously with a sin
gle handle and had a time lock. Mr..
Adams beamingly explained it's work
ings to Mr.. Spencer, who showed 3
courteous but not too intelligent inter
est. The two children, May and Agatha,
were delighted by the shining metal
and funny clock and knobs.
While they were thus engaged Ben
Price sauntered in and leaned on his
elbow, looking casually inside between
the ratings. He told the teller that he
didn't want anything; he was just wait
ing FIR Il man he knew.
Suddenly there was a scream or two
from the women. and a commoti01.
Unperceived by the elders, May. the
nine-year-old girl, in 4 spirit of play,
had shut Agatha in the vault. She had
then shot the bolts and turned the
knob of the combination as she had
seen Mr.. Adams do.
The old banker sprang to the handle
and tugged ut it for moment. "The
door can't be opened" he groaned.
THE clock hasn't been wound nor the
combination set"
Agathas mother screamed again hys-
terically.
Hush said Mr.. Adams, raising his
trembling hand. "All be quiet for
moment Agatha" he called as loudly
as he could Listen to me" During
the following silence they could just
hear the faint sound of the child wildly
shrieking in the dark vault in a panic
Of terror.
my precious darling" walled the
mother. "She will die of fright, Open
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1916-02-10

don, which had been signed that morn
ing by the governor. Jimmy took
it in tired kind of way. He had
served nearly ten months Of four
year sentence. He had expected to
stay only about three months at the
longest. When a man with as many
friends on the outside as Jimmy Val
entine had is received in the stir it is
hardly worth while to cut his hair.
'Now. Valentine said the warden,
you'll 20 out in the morning. Brace
up and make IL man Of yourself. You're
not bad fellow ut heart, Stop crack
ing safes and live straight"
Me- said Jimmy in surprise.
why. never cracked a safe in my
life"
"Oh. no" laughed the warden. ''Of
course not. Let's see, now. How was
it you happened to get sent up on that
Springfield job? Was it because you
wouldn't prove an aib for fear of
compromising somebody in extremely
a case OF il mean old jury that had it
in for you: It's always one or the
other with you innocent victims.'
Me-" said Jimmy. still blankly vir-
tuous. why. warden, | never was in
Springfield in my life"
''Take him back, CrOnin." smiled the
warden. and fix him up with outgo-
ing clothes Unlock him ut Z i'm the
morning and let him come to the bull
pen Better think over my advice. Val
entine.'
At a quarter past 7 on the next
morning Jimmy stood in the warden's
outer office. He had on suit of the
villainously fitting. readymade clothes
and pair of the stiff. squeaky shoes
that the state furnishes to its dis
charged compulsory guests.
The clerk handed him Il railroad
ticket and the five dollar bill with
which the law expected him to reha-
bilitate himself into good citizenship
and prosperity. The warden gave him
a cigar and shook hands. Valentine
97G2, was chrOnicled on the books
"PardOned by governor" and Mr..
James Valentine walked out into the
sunshine
Disregarding the song OF the birds.
the waving green trees and the smell
of the flowers, Jimmy headed straight
for restaurant. There he tasted the
first sweet joys Of liberty in the shape
of n brOiled chicken and Il bottle Of
white wine. followed by a cigar Il
grade better than the one the warden
had given him From there he proceed
ed leiSurely to the depot. He tossed Il
quarter into the hat of blind man
sitting by the door and boarded his
train. Three hours set him down in Il
little town near the state line. He
went to the cafe of one Mike DOlan
and shook hands with Mike. who was
alone behind the bar.
Sorry we couldn't make it sooner
Jimmy, me boy" said Mike. But we
had that protest from Springfield TO
buck against. and the governor nearly
baked Feeling all right"
Fine said Jimmy. Got my key"
He got his key and went upstairs, un-
locking the door of IL room at the rear
Everything was Just as he had left it.
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1916-02-10

There on the floor was still Ben Prices
collar button that had been torn from
that eminent detectives Shirtband when
they had overpowered Jimmy to arrest
him.
Pulling out from the wall folding
bed, Jimmy slid back a panel in the
wall and dragged out dust covered
suit case. He opened this and gazed
fondly ut the finest set of burglars
tools in the east 1t was a complete
set. made Of specially tempered steel.
the latest designs in drills, punches,
braces and bits. jimmies, clamps and
augerS. with two or three novelties. in
vented by Jimmy himself. in which he
took pride Over 5000 they had cost
him to have made at -, place where
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1916-02-10

and you will find a basket of meat and
onions. Bring it here"
The little girl did as the kettle told
her, and when she had brought them
the kettle said: Put them in the ket-
tie and then put some leaves and dry
sticks under me, clap your hands
three times over and say:
Fire, fire, brightly burn,
Cook my dinner to turn
So the little girl obeyed and soon
had nice hot soup. Look behind
the rock" said the kettle, land you
will find bowl and spoon. After this
when you are hungry come here an
clap your hands three times and say:
Kettle, kettle, come to me,
So shall not hungry be-"
One day the wicked old uncle no.
ticed that the little girl was growing
fat, and as he had given her very lit
tie to eat, he wondered where she got
her food, and he watched her. He
heard her call the kettle and build
the fire and then find the food. The
next day he locked her in the house
and went to the place himself. First
he called:
Kettle, kettle, come to me,
So shall not hungry be-
Then he found the meat and vege-
tables and then he built the fire,
clapping his hands and saying:
Fire, fire, brightly burn,
Cook my dinner to turn"
But when he stirred the soup it flew
up and burned him, and then the ket-
tie turned over and spilled the soup
and put out the fire.
The burns panied him and he was
very angry and took stick and ran
to the house. He unlocked the door.
Come out here he said to the little
girl. "You made the kettle burn me;
now I will whip you
But as he lifted the stick fairy ap-
peared and touched him with her
hand, and he became an old tree with
one branch, which looked like stick
lifted in hand. Now" said the fairy,
'you can live happily"
The kettle came running along and
went into the house. "You will always
have plenty to eat" said the fairy,
"for you have the magic kettle and
you know the magic secret of building
a fire"
The little girl lived alone and gave
food to all who stopped at her door,
but the tree always made her feel sad
and she wished it was not there.
One morning the tree was gone and
in it's place was a big chestnut tree
and under it sat an old man with
staff in his hand
"Will you please give me a cup of
water?" he asked. The little girl gave
him the water and also nice break
fast. stay here and rest" she said
when he started to go.
mo-" said the old man, II must
walk on; have long journey before
me. l must walk until find the river
of kindness; missed it in my youth
and now I must walk back and battle
in it before can rest"
The little girl watched him as he
walked away and wondered if the
fairy had changed the old tree into the
old man who was looking for the river
of kindness. =
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1916-02-10
A Few Riddles.

y TCW TlIUUICof
Why Is a fairy tale like a bell?
Answer-Because it is told.
I know two things that have sharp
teeth,
And yet they never chew
And ones and ones
Fill in the blanks, now do.
Why is a patch like garden seed1
Answer--Because both are sowed.
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1916-02-10

GUARD came tc
the prison shoe
shop, where jim
my V a | e II t inc
was assiduously
stitching uppers,
and escorted him
to the front Of
fee. There the
warden handed
Jimmy his par
Bisbee daily review., 1916-03-09
BERG0ON IS HELD ID
 SUPERIOR COURT ON
 CONSPIRACY CHARGE
Interesting Developments Had in Hearing of Man Charged with Conspiracy to Hold Up Tombstone Stage Line.

Charles Bergoon, arrested near the erect of the divide Monday morning ty Warren District officers charged with conspiracy 70 rob. was held to answer to the superior court by Jus tice of the Peace c. w. Totman yes terday afternoon. Bail was fixed at $1 900, which up to last night late, the defendant had not furnished In con- sequence he was remanded to the GUS tody of the sheriff's officers.
 The hearing yesterday afternoon de veloped interesting features which had not been generally known. In the first place il was found that B. F. Thayer, or Smith. was in reality working with the local officers in the matter and kept them informed as to the progress of the plot
 On the witness stand Thayer said he was approached by Bergoon about the proposition to rob the stage on Mon- day morning Shortly thereafter. ac- cordina to his own statement and sub- llE ON IT hc dp- preached Mayor Adams about the mat ter and asked that official what he should do about it. The Mayor turned the matter over to Hill c. Ruff who in turn called the county officers into con sultation.
 Last Friday night the officers con- suited with Thayer about the whole matter At that time. however, il was not certain the ''job" would be pulled off. The officers did not know until late Saturday night or Sunday that the robbery was scheduled. Sunday night. accordingly. the officers made their plans to nip il in the bud
 The testimony of the various officers merely corroborated the statements of Thayer in the matter.
 Upon Bergoon's arraignment Tues day. he was admitted to bail in the sum of $500. Yesterday morning he was resrrested on the charge of car rying concealed weapons and yester- day afternoon Judge Totman raised the amount to S1.000.
 craddock Held To Answer.
 The hearing in the case of the State vs Lee Craddock. charged with high way robbery. was held before Judge George R. Smith yesterday. The court "fter hearing the evidence, held the mpn to answer to the superior court in bail of s5.000.
 Craddock was the would-be stick. up" man who attempted to relieve '"hn lsnma of his money and valua- bles last Monday morning in Upper Lowell and who was brought to Lowell in front of his own gun by the man whom he was about to rob.
Bisbee daily review., 1916-03-09
OF
 GERMANYS STAND
Continued From Page one)

Continued From Page One) providing Great Britain and her allies regard the same laws. The memo randum, expressed the hope that the people of the United States, remem- bering the long existing friendly re- lations between the two nations, would appreciate the German position. It was submitted 10 the president to be considered with other documents, de- termining what will be the next step in negotiations.
 There is every indication that the administration will be in no hurry to announce it's stand as to the new policy, or to pass finally on Germany's latest proposal for settlement of the Lusitania case. Both the White House and the State Department de ny emphatically a rumor that the ad- jeans off ships. It will be for citi- Zens themselves to decide whether a ship is armed defensively or offen- sively, and the nature of instructions NAANiA SAAiP NoPAeAAAo ctN HI NAiN presence of a submarine. An Offen- sively armed ship which enteres the American waters will be regarded as a war vessel and no allowed to re- main more than twenty-four hours. In foreign waters no concern will be felt by this government as to how a ship is armed.
 With the new campaign in effect eight days up to- tonight, the State Department has received no reports of any act by German-Austrian sub marine commanders under the chang ed orders.
 Officials believe no acts will be com mitted if they can be avoided, which will involve death or injury to Amer ican citizens. Regarding Great Brit ain, it is indicated that the next move might be an inquiry as to the authen- ticity of German confidential copies of alleged instructions to british sea captains. Meanwhile. should an Amer ican citizen be involved in an attack on an armed merchant ship, upon the facts of the case would depend the action taken.