davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-05-28


tra-ran my hand along the velvet rail.
OF course ! went lop-sded as
if l was limping. Maybe my fingers
made noise like eat. And you thought
| was old Woodford!"
The shame in Mikes face had kept
pace with McHugh's jocular explanation.
Still doubt fingered.
al thought it was closer to me than
that, Mr.. McHugh."
@You were ready to imagine anything"
McI1ugh scoffed.
Mikes voice thickened:
"You don't think | want to believe the
other? That's why | talked about quit
ting, this afternoon. l didn't want to
have it put up to me. I'm getting old.
l don't want to go away believing any
thing like that"
McHugh spoke with an unaccustomed
gentleness:
"You stick to me, Mike, and when you
do leave it will be with a peaceful mind"
"Thanks, Mr. McHugh You must be
right. I'm sorry | was so easy scared"
aAre we going back?" Quaile asked
with casual air.
McHugh turned away.
ave seen all | want for tonight. Be-
sides, the switchboard's out of business.
Tommy, you go lock the stage door"
Quaile went with the assistant, and
watched him close the iron door. Tommy
hurried away.
When they were outside, the manager
stepped into his automobile, and beckoned
Quaile to follow.
AS the car started, McHugh placed his
&c fhn la1ioo toll 1,rbn1-
stored chairs. He drew at his unlighted
cigar.
"Then you heard the footsteps too,
Quaile?"
Quaile nodded.
"I'm still at loss. I'm uncomfortable
from the feeling of the place. That isn't
unnatural, and, McHugh, there must be
a rational explanation of the sounds we
heard"
"Must be-" McHugh replied, though
! don't see how anybody could have
played tricks on u.s."
Quaile chose to put himself on record.
Understand" he said, al don't think
this revival would amount to much out
side of Woodford's."
His belligerent expression returned to
McHugh's face.
"Think can be beaten by shadows?"
he muttered "Things'n look different
in there by daylight Probably find all
the explanations we want tomorrow.
But, if anything is wrong, don't forget l
made my bread and butter as detective
for twelve years, and people used to say |
was a good one at that. | liked the job,
too. Wouldn't be surprised if l liked it
better than directing bum shows. If we
get any more funny business at Wood
ford's, I'll be able to say for sure"
OUAILE spent the following morning
" looking over his revision Of Bertrand
Woodford's famous play. He was con-
tented with what he had done. While
the piece was melodramatic and old
fashioned, it contained values of charac-
terization and suspense that were still
striking. He had found it necessary to
alter the dialogue of the biggest scenes
very little.
AS he walked down to the theater in
the pleasant fall sunlight, he agreed with
McHugh's prophecy that Woodfords
would look different by day.
1t was four o'clock when he turned in
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-05-28

your oath you saw Tommy shut and lock
that door last night?'
"There's no question: Quaile an
swered. @Why?"
"There is something queer going on
here" McHugh said under his breath.
al got to find out. Suppose it was dan
gerous? | came down with Tommy and
Mike and couple electricians this
morning. AS far as we could tell, nobody
had been in the house since Tommy
locked up-no ordinary way to get in.
The keys are on the inside of all the
other doors. Of course we went to the
switchboard the first thing. Nothing to
be done. Every connection worked.
Lights were o. K. Then how did that
border go out?"
"Unless somebody tempered with the
switchboard at the time" Quaile sug-
gested
@And Tommy and Mike at the stage
door!" McHugh said, "and you and me
where we could see anybody cross the
stage 1t seems absolutely impossible
those connections were touched last night.
We got to believe they were, though.
Well, I'm looking around. got my eyes
IL.
to-day"
"There's your company Quaile said.
at wouldn't do to start them with
scare"
"Wheres the leading MANI" McHugh
asked.
He glanced at his watch. He raised his
voice.
"Mike! See any signs of Mr.. Carlton
out there?'
"No, Mr.. Ntzhugh," Mike called.
"Give him minute" McHugh said.
"Where's your script, Quaile?"
Quaile took the manuscript from his
portfolio, walked down, and tossed it on
the table. McHugh followed. He struck
a pose; he waved his cold cigar.
Ladies and gentlemen he began.
"Mr. Quaie and are offering you a unique
and valuable opportunity, which hope
He thrust the cigar between his teeth.
"Hang all that!" he went on fiercely.
II cant be regular manager, like this
fellow Woodford seems to have been.
Point is, Mr.. Quaile's going to read the
script, and we start rehearsals tomorrow
afternoon. tell you, boys and girls, you
got steady job for the winter unless all
the signs fail, and, of course, if you make
good. That's up to you, not me- Where
the devils Carlton? Go ahead and read
those pretty words, Quaile. Hey, Mike!
Bring standing light"
Quaile arranged the sheets of paper,
while Mike crossed the stage with piece
of iron piping from which an electric
globe and green shade depended. Wire
trailed after it.
"All set!" McHugh cried. "We're OFF,
Quaile began to read The others ar
ranged themselves comfortably. Miss
Hendon yawned.
CARLTON arrived before the close of
the first act.
Quaile glanced up at him, certain that
something unforeseen had delayed the
actor; for Cartons handsome face
showed less color than usual and his eyes
could not conceal an unaccustomed agita-
ton.
"Where you been, Carltonp' McHugh
asked darkly. Beginning with the re-
hearsals I'm going to post fines
Carlton sat down. leaning his elbow on
the table. When he spoke his mouth
seemed dry.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-05-28

said to him, worked himself to death
rather than let any man play his part;
and a lot of people feel that he never will
let any man play it, now that he is
dead"
No matter how lightly he had tried to
carry it off, the thing had troubled the
actor. Quaile wondered if Cartoons tardi-
ness and his present lack of ease couldn't
be traced to misgivings sprung from such
stories. He wondered if Carlton had al
ready heard of what had happened on this
stage yesterday-of the footsteps that
had dragged like Woodford's through
darkness sudden and unaccountable; of
the furtive pattering, reminiscent of a
cat.
McHugh also seemed slightly interested
by the new arrival
AT the end of the second act Quaile
looked from the stage door, to find it
quite dark in the alley. When he resumed
he noticed that a restlessness had invaded
the little company. He saw that all
of them-even McHugh occasionally
glanced about the vast stage and the
auditorium with it's army of shadows, as
if expectant of something as yet too re-
mote for definition. Quaile hurried ahead.
He approached the big scene of the third
act, the one during which Woodford
had been stricken few feet from where
they sat.
The situation at that point was the.
atric, but strong. Marjories not over
scrupulous mother has forced a crisis.
She has let herself be duped by Marshall:
she believes that he is wealthy; that only
an unsubstantial obstacle removes him
from a title. Marjorie's revolt against
such marriage however, must be over
come. Since the girl has refused to re-
ceive Marshall, the Notwithstanding his
boast that he could overcome the girls
reluctance through an interview-gets her
to his rooms by subterfuge.
In the previous act the girl has learned
who Marshall really is-a brilliant Lon
don forger, a trafficker in shady transac-
tions, a criminal whose success has been
founded on an apparent gentility. The
girl goes, but she is suspicious. When
Marshall springs his trap, and the mother
realizes the scandal she has brought upon
her daughter, Marjorie takes the whip in
her own hands. She lashes Marshall with
his past She laughs at the incredulous
man who will not believe that she can
prove her threats. She runs to the win
dow and gives a prearranged signal.
There is disturbance downstairs She
tells the man that the police have entered
the house. Marshall surrenders himself
to reasonless passion. He springs to the
mantel and snatches up heavy CANDLE
stick.
"Marjorie. Look out!' the mother
screams.
Marjorie shrinks against the wall, wide
eyed, her hands raised defensively.
"Be CAREFUL she gasps. "What are
you going to do to me?'
Marshall turns and is about to start
murderously forward, crying out:
"Pay what debts can. Kill you, if the
strength is in mel"
But the police have burst in. The
candlestick falls. He filings up his hands
before he has finished his speech, and
hides his face.
AT this point, as they all knew, Wood
ford, in the middle of his line, had
dropped to the stage-dead.
Although it had happened forty years
before Quaile unused. there were now
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-05-28


the stage entrance, more than one Dor
der burned to-day, so that the stage at
first presented an appearance almost
cheerful. The storehouse had yielded
Jacobean table, red plush sofa, and
number of chairs, relics of former and
lamented productions. Moreover, the
men and women lounging about gave the
place an air of habitation it had lacked
last evening.
Barbara Morgan was sitting on the
sofa. Her youthful beauty gained some
thing from a white-haired woman be-
side her, who was looking about with
pensive air.
Quaile could understand and sympa-
thize To that old woman, if to any one,
Woodford's must have furnished null
titude of memories. This stage on which
she sat had been her school. More than
forty years ago she had played ingenue
roles and occasional leads with Bertrand
Woodford. McHugh had engaged her
ostensibly to play the mother in "Cow-
ards Fare" He really wanted her be-
cause of her knowledge of the details of
Woodford's production. Her proximity
to Barbara, who was to have her old part,
imposed on Quaile real pity. He might
have spared his emotion; for, when he
went over and spoke to the two women,
the white-haired one smiled up at him
without regret.
"I've never met you, Miss Thinker"
he began.
Everybody calls me Dolly" she an
swered. "They began that when | was
Ra hor 70 oh
never let it die. Isn't it ridiculous?"
Behind her mask of wrinkles the spirit
of youth was still abundant
ave been telling Barbara if she does it
as well as did back in the dark ages,
she'll run away with the play. You'r re
just as pretty as | was, my dear"
Barbara, too, failed quite to hide her
understanding of what this revival meant
to the other.
"You're good,' she said-"too good.
I'm glad you're to play my mother"
Dolly shook her head.
"But Pm bad one. It's only your
own virtue that gets you happy cur
tain. You know, | wouldn't be surprised
if they liked the piece Some of the lines
used to bring the gallery down."
hoHo SSIou, SldIClIS, TelTOSpeCUlOu III
her eyes, across the shrouded auditorium.
"The same gallery" she said; "but
where are the young people who used to
sit in it and applaud me?"
She tapped the stage with her foot.
"Same old boards; but where's Ber-
trand Woodford, who used to rule us with
an iron hand?"
Quaile suspected moisture in her eyes,
but she laughed.
"What devil of a temper that man
had! l never thought should miss him."
Quaile crossed to the table and spoke
to the others. There We're Smith and
Thomas, capable but ordinary actors,
and Helen Hendon, dark-haired girl
who already displayed resentment at
Barbara's superiority in the cast.
OF the principals, the leading man
alone was missing. Quaile wondered
what detained Carlton. He walked over
to McHugh and drew him toward the
rear.
"Find out anything?" he asked
McHugh glanced around.
"Not what you'd think Of"
mo signs of cat?"
No."
HMil-a III hi Jo,,+ I, !, ,,x.:A.I
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-05-28
MAGAZINE SECTION for May g. 1916
The Mystery at Woodford's
Continued from page
Continued from page 7

Ntzhugh," he said, "about the switch
board"
"What do you mean?"
But, before Mike could answer, Nc
Hugh shouted from the stage:
Heres the author! Come on in,
author"
Quaile stepped through and glanced
around.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-05-28

acuOr; LOT Carton handsome face
showed less color than usual and his eyes
could not conceal an unaccustomed agita-
ton.
where you been, Carltonp" McHugh
asked darkly. beginning with the re-
hearsals I'm going to post fines
Carlton sat down. leaning his elbow on
the table. When he spoke his mouth
seemed dry.
Sorry. Something unexpected came
up"
He hesitated,
"At first didn't think could come at
ALL"
mo, more said,' McHugh answered.
"Shoot ahead, Quaile.
Quaile raised the manuscript and went
on; but now, not infrequently, his glance
shifted from the typewriter pages to
Cartons face, and his mind went from
the dialogue to speculation as to the
actors extraordinary attitude. Recalling
Cartoons gossip of the other day, he
was by no means certain that Woodford's
wasn't vaguely responsible.
The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1916-11-28
FIRST CONGRESS
OF THE PEOPLE
Mexicans Of All Ranks Gather to Plan
Some Means Of Rebuilding
the Country.

limited Press Leased Wire Service.
QUERATARO, Mexico, Nov. 28.-
Mexico's first congress ''of the
people for the people and by the
people called to interpret the con.
stitution OF 1857 to replace martial
rule by civil law, will meet here Fri
day. General Carranza opened his
headquarters here today and the van.
guard Of the ZAP delegates who will
compose the meeting began arriving.
Preliminary committees have been
meeting since November 20, but the
gathering is not to meet in formal
session until December 1.
I'VE are building the future of our
country for all who live here" said
General Carranza, in a speech to the
members and inhabitants on his ar
rival 1.-The cause of the people has
triumphed Z and it is growing more
popular every day"
The congress is convened speci-
ficalIy to study the constitution of
1857 and bring it up to date. Its
mem bers are called from every state
in Mexico and from every strata of
society-high and low. 1t is empow-
cred to call elections of a president,
members of a senate, judges and
other officials of a government.
The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1916-11-28
SUDDEN DEATH
. OF mrs. sTERR|TT
We'll Known Resident Is Stricken
With Heart Trouble Shortly Be-
fore Noon Today and
suooumbs.
WAS BORN IN MICHIGAN
Body VIII be Taken Back There for
RurlaI-ls Survived by Hus-
band and One
/ Daughter.

Mrs. Nellie Sterritt, fifty-two years
old, died suddenly this morning just
before noon, at her home, 80 South
Tenth street. Heart failure was the
cause of death. Mrs. Sterrtt was
we'll known here, where she had lived
for score or nsore of years. and her
passing will be mourned by wide
circle OF friends and acqua1ntances.
Nellie Mcintyre was born in Har-
risviile, Michigan. January, 1864.
She was married there November 4,
1888 to Charles H. Sterritt. She
came to Keokuk three years prior to
her marriage and returned here,
where she has ever since made her
homo.
She was a member OF the Eastern
Star order.
Mrs. Sterritt is survived by her hus-
band and one daughter. Olive Sterrttt.
She is survived by the following
brothers and sisters, A. D. Mcintyre
and Evelyn Mcintyre Of Duluth; Mrs.
John Burt Of Tower. Mich; John Nc
Intyre of Harrisville, Mich; and Mrs.
Dora Burt of Harrisville.
The body will be taken back to Har-
risville for interment.
The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1916-11-28
Indoor Life Makes Fat
Try Oil Of korein to Keep Weight
Down, or to Reduce super
fluous Fat

People who are confined within
doors and who are deprived Of fresh.
inyigorating air and exercise must
take precautions to guard against
over-stoutness, as fat acquired by in
door life is unhealthy and danger
to the vital organs Of the body. Lack
of exercise in the fresh air is said to
weaken the oxygen carrying power
Of the blood, so that it is unable to
produce strong muscles and vitality
and the formation Of unsightly and
unhealthy fat is the result.
If you are Is or 20 pounds above
normal weight you are daily drawing
on your reserve strength and are con-
stantly lowering your vitality by
carrying this excess burden. Any
persons who are satisfied in their
own mind that they are too stout are
advised to go to good druggist.
Wilkinson & Co., and eget a box of
oil of korein capsules, and take one
after each meal and one just before
retiring at night.
Even few days treatment has been
reported to show a noticeable reduc-
ton in weight, improved digestion
and return Of the old energy; foot
steps become lighter and the skin less
flabby in appearance as superfluous
fat disappears.
Oil of Korein is inexpensive, can
not injure, and helps the digestion.
Any person who wants to reduce Is
or 20 pounds is advised to give this
treatment a trial.
The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1916-11-28
LORD TOLD HIM
TO MURDER HER
Smiths Mother Bares Her Soul to
Save Son From Death on
the GaIioWS.

limited Press Leased Wire Service
CENTERVILLE, Iowa, Nov. %
The Lord told Frank Smith to kill
Mrs. Alice Gerlach. Smith believed,
according to the testimony OF his
mother, a witness in his defense to-
day.
'He told me that II he didn't kill
Mrs. Gerlach, he'd never get rellg-
ion," the aged mother said on the
witness stand.
The mother went back forty years
to the time she was carrying her
unborn child and barred her soul to
save him today from the gallows. The
loss Of a five year old daughter just
before Franks birth caused the moth
er great mental anguish, Mrs. Smith
testified today. The defense was
evidently trying to suggest prenatal
influence toward insanity.
The mother said her misfortune
led her 10 pray for long stretches at
a time. She said she thought the
Lord ordered her to do certain things
such as fasting and to drink only out
Of a bucket.
The death Of her husband and two
sons Of Frank Smith in more recent
years, the mother testified, drove
Frank nearly to insanity.
"He used to pray to go crazy so
as to forget his troubles Mrs. Smith,
the mother, testified today.
Mrs. Smiths cross examination
had barely begun when the noon re-
cess was taken. Smith himself was
expected to be called to the stand at
the conclusion of his mothers testi-
mony.
The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1916-11-28
Electors Get Certificate

United Press Leased Wire Service. ]
SACRAMENTO, Calf, Nov. 2S.-
The thirteen California electors who
will vote for Woodrow Wilson. for
president are sure of their certificates
of election today, but they do not yet
know what their Official" pluralities
are.
at midnight Secretary of State Jor-
dan delivered the official returns to
Governor Johnson's secretary thus
complying z'ith the law.
Official returns from one precinct In
Orange county have not yet been com
piled, however. and this Is delaying
Jordan in announcing final complete
figures. These will show Wilson's
plurality approximately 3,773.
The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1916-11-28
NO TREES TO
HIDE BEHIND
Woman's Testimony Discredited by
Other Witnesses In Ak Muir
der Libel Case.

UNITED Press Leased Wire Service. ]
RED OAK, Iowa, Nov. 2S.-Further
attacks on the moral character and
veracity Of Mrs. Alice Willard, star
witness for J. n Wilkerson, featured
tooay's session OF the 100000 slauier
suit of r. F. Jones against the detec-
tive for duplicating him in the VII
lisca ak mufders.
Mrs. w. A. StllIians. wife of a VII
lisca druggist, testified that Mrs.
Wfllard's general reputation as to her
moral character was bad. A half
dozen men and women testified to
the same effect Monday afternoon
Mrs. Wizards declaration. on the
witness stand that the day before the
ak murders she stood behind trees
on the north side of the Joe Moore
home and heard some one of group
with Jones say, Get Joe first, the
rest will be easy" was discredited
by several witnesses testifying today
there were no trees on the lot north
of Moore's home.
The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1916-11-28

THANKSGIVING.
Once more the liberal year laughs out
Der richer stores than gems OF
gold;
Once more with harvest song and
shout
Is natures bloodless triumph told.
Our common mother rests and sings
Like Ruth, among her garnered
sheaves;
Her lap is full Of goodly things,
Her brow is bright with autumn
leaves.
o favors every year made new!
o gifts with rain and sunshine sent!
The bounty overruns our due;
The fullness shames our discomfort.
We shut our eyes, and flowers bloom
on;
We murmur, but the corn ears fill;
We choose the shadow, but the sun
That casts 1t shines behind Us still.
God gives us with our rugged soil
The power to make it Eden fair.
And richer fruits to crown our toll
Than summer welded islands bear.
Who murn:urs at his lot today:
Who scorns his native fruit and
bloom
Or signs for dainties lar away
Beside the bounteous board of home
Thank heaven, instead that freedom 8
arm
Can change rocky soil to gold;
That brave and generous lives can
warm
A cline with northern ices cold.
And let these affairs wreathed with
flowers
And piled with fruits awake again
1'hanksgivings for the golden hours,
The early and the latter rain.
John Greenleaf Whittier.
The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1916-11-28
CITY NEWS.

For your Thanksgiving turkeys,
ducks, geese and chickens, call Frank
j. Ewers, 295.
"A marriage license was issued
this afternoon to Henry T. Landman.
%, and Hedwfg NJ. Moser, Is, both
of Keokuk.
For this week only, rs lbs. sugar
$1.95; 2 lbs. navy beans Csc; mixed
nuts lbs. 45c; mince meat. 2 lbs.
Csc; lbs. prepared buckwheat, Csc;
bulk oats, &c lib. A full line Of new
dried fruit at Highlands Grocery, 1928
Johnson.
The cases which the state OF Iowa
Is. interested in before the Lee county
grand jury were being finished this
afternoon. e. M. Steer, special coun-
sci for the state. returned to Keokuk
this morning.
For your Thanksgiving turkeys,
ducks, geese and chickens. call Frank
j. Bwers, 295.
The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1916-11-28
Daily stock Letter.

Daily Stock Letter.
UNITED Press Leased Wire Service.]
NEW YORK, Nov. 2S-The New
York Evening Sun financial review
today said:
There was considerable diversity Of
opinion today in banking and securi-
Ties circles with respect to the state
meh of the federal reserve board
cautoning banks to go slowly in tying
up funds in foreign loan issues Trad
ers on the floor of the stock exchange
Were inclined to welcome the warning
In banking quarters it was not antici-
pated that the statement would make
any difference so far as the large
banks were concerned. as it is felt
mat these institutions themselves are
The hest judges Of the extent of such
Purchases.
which are traded in On the stock ex-
| We're depressed from fraction to a
Point or more as might have been ex-
| pected
The bear interests were unremit-
ting in their efforts to push prices
down and until well into the after
noon the market withstood the pres
sure admirably. At the opening the
general Industrial list was distinctly
soft but prices hardened somewhat
N the first hour. Trading died down
toward midday and prices eased off
again in orderly fashion, although at
,,imes there was good deal OF aim
iess backing and filling. In later
trading selling pressure brought about
distinctly weaker trend with recess
SONS among the industrials one to
tnree points or more. The rails gave
way also to some extent but for the
most part losses were fractional.