davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1916-09-27
1OARS - BOARS
Duroc Jersey Spring Bears.

The good stretchy kind: the kind
that farmers like--forH sale by E.. L.
Champion, phone 31-z. 39-3t
The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1916-09-27

Conner & Powers,
=. Attorneys.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1916-03-17

no BE CoNTlNuEp)
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1916-03-17

his cigarette end and stood leaning
with crooked elbow and knee against
a veranda pillar. His keen aquiline
features and deep-set eyes were lit up
by the moonlight and seemed scarcely
to belong to his great, loose4jointed
frame. He was loose-jolnted but like
a flail-strong and tough. There's
one thing about the purple Cities" he
added. ''the daylight always beats you
to 'em jest like in the POM" He
turned and went off to bed.
Gerry sat on in the moonlight seized
by strange sadness-the sadness the
spirit feels under the troubled hover
ing of the unattainable and the mi
rage. Life had queer turns. Why
should cowboy start out to look for
purple cities? 1t was grotesque on the
face of it but. beneath the face of 1t.
it was not grotesque.
Margarita stole out to seat herself
beside him. She slipped her hand into
his. She was worried. She was al
ways worried when Gerry's thoughts
were far away. ''The Man." she said,
for thus she had christened her baby
boy from the day of his birth, 1.-THE
Man sleeps. He cried for thee and
thou didst not come. So he slept, for
he is a man."
Gerry's thoughts came back to his
little kingdom. He sighed and then
he smiled smile Of content. at IS
late then. my fiower?" He put his
arm around her. "Let us go to bed,
for tomorrow there is work"
Tomorrow there Ia always work
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1916-03-17

'.rny names Jake Kemp. The rest of
this outfit is six mules packin' orchids
and the greaser packin' the mules"
That's all right" said Gerry, Il
guess we can put you up.'
He led the way and the pack-train
splashed along after him. The mules
were soon relieved of their burdens
and turned into the pasture. Boni-
facio took the native muleteer away
to his quarters and Gerry and the
stranger passed through the house to
the kitchen.
A patriarchal hospitality came nat
uralIy to the inmates Of Fazenda
Flores. It was tradition not only on
that plantation but throughout a vast
hinterland, where life was rude and
death sudden, to be gentle to the
stranger, to feel him and his beast
and to speed him on in the early morn
ing. There was but one rule to the
stranger: He must keep his eyes to
the front. Jake Kemp had evidently
learned the brief code. He ate raven
ously, poured down coffee with the
recklessness Of a man that draws on
limltless power to sleep, and made
his few remarks to Gerry and to Ger
ry alone.
Gerry was feeling strange elation
that he str0ve in vain to account for.
This was an American but beyond that
they had nothing in common. New
York and Texas are connected only by
fiction. Perhaps it was just curiosity.
Curiosity invaded him. What was q
Texas cowboy doing on the road past
Fazenda Flores with mule-train OF
orchids? AS an opener he declared
himself "My names Gerry Lansing
he said. "I've settled down here
"So?' said Kemp, as he drew from
his vest pockets the makings of ciga-
rette. Gerry had seen the yellow pa
pers and the little bags of faxed to-
bacco. They struck convincingIy the
note of the West. Reckon you're I'm
the States" drawled Kemp as he ac-
complished the cigarette.
EYES," said Gerry and added, with
an idea to establishing link, like
you"
Reckon you're FIN Moo Yawk.'' was
Kemp's next deliberate contribution
to the conversation.
With that, talk Jagged. Gerry in
stinctively avoided the question direct
and Kemp vouchsafed nothing more.
Not till Gerry came upon him hitching
up his loads early next morning did
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1916-03-17

cooling pools. He did not wish ever
to speak again-ever to think again.
And then Glen laughed. Her eyes
wrinkled up. There was a CLEAN OF
even teeth The wind blew her furs
about her and lit the color in her
cheeks. "How solemn we are after
three years" she cried. "Three years,
Alan. Aren't you ashamed?"
Alan felt a sense Of sudden insula-
ton as though she had deliberately
cut the current that had flowed so
strongly between them. 81 am going
away" he stammered weakly and
waved at an approaching four-wheeler,
piled high with travelling kit and con-
voyed by his hurried but never flurried
servant.
But Glen stuck to her guns Real
lya's she said with a glance at the
lohded cab and with arching eyebrows.
Then her smile burst again. ''You
can't expect me to be surprised, can
yen? We seem to have a habit of
meeting when you are on the point of
going away. There. You must be In
a hurry. Good-by," and she held out
d gloved hand.
Alan's spirit was ever ready for war
aud this. he suddenly perceived, was
war. He braced himself and smiled
too. Twice hardly amounts to hab-
it, he drawled. He had never drawled
to Glen before but then Glenn had new
er before taken up the social rapier
with him. Besides he went on,
there's difference. Last time you
ran after me"
Clients smile trembled, steadied it.
self and then fought bravely back.
YES" she said, 'yes' And then her
eyes wavered and wandered. She
dropped his hand. "Good-by," she
said, the faintest catch in her voice,
and hurried away to seek J. Y.
Alan stood and watched her. He
felt a sinking within him. For a
mess of pottage," he muttered and
then his servant touched his arm anx-
iously and held out his watch, face up,
you'll never make it, Mr.. Wayne"
Alan turned on him but not angrily
perhaps not. Swithson, and perhaps
yes. You may go back to the fiat. I'll
get along all right" And with that he
hurled himself at the cab. Double
fare if you make the Battery in ten
minutes" he shouted to the driver and
then settled back in the seat to pom
der.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1916-03-17

he speak again and then ne said with
CLINT in his eye that was almost a
smile, Il guess them's the first orchids
that ever travelled to market under a
diamond hitch"
Here was an opening but it came
too late. Gerry did not try to follow
it up. Once more in the saddle Kemp
seemed to acquire a sudden new ease
of body and mind. He hung by one
knee and stirrup and leaned over
toward Gerry. stranger" he said,
"I'm much obliged to We. It's long
way FIN the Alamo to Moo Yawk, but
the hull country's under one fence"
He waved his hand and was gone af-
ter his pack-train, lifting his mule with
his goose-necked spurs into protest
ing canter. Two weeks after his pass
ing, as evening was settling ON Fa-
zenda Flores, the echo of mules
mincing steps on the bridge made Ger
ry look up from his work.
"Howdy.' said Kemp and paused on
that to measure his welcome He was
satisfied and urged his tired mule on
towards the house. Gerry walked be-
side him and learned that the ship
ment of orchids had inst caught the
steamer at the coast. Kemp unsaddled
his mule and tossed the harness and
slicker upon the veranda. As Gerry
was closing the gap into the pasture
Kemp came up and stood beside him
He cast knowing eye over the fat
stock. You done good job for Lie
ber." lie remarked
Gerry nodded little sadly. Yes, /"
he said. 4the contracts filed. Lieber's
sending for the stock day after tomor-
row."
AS they sat on the veranda that
night smoking endless cigarettes,
Kemp turned to his host Dye mind
if l stay over day with you? Truth
is, want to hep drive that stock up
to Lieber's. l want to hep whistle a
bunch steers along once more and
smell the dust an the lealSIn' udders,
an l shouldn't wonder If I let out a
yell or so. corralin' 'em at the other
end"
Gerry nodded understandingly.
''Why did you leave it?' he ventured
and then regretted and murmured,
'Neyer mind"
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1916-03-17

At last the rains came to the valley
and Fazenda Flores. Gerry spent long
hours beside his sluicegate watching
for a rise in the river, but it did not
come. The torrent of rain was local
and he remembered that Lieber had
told him that the fioods-the great
hoods-came from hundreds of miles
up the river and generally under a
brazen sky. Night, black night, had
fallen with the rain and he was just
turning to seek shelter from the I'M
broken downpour when a voice raised
in song reached his ears. He waited.
The voice drew nearer. In nasal
tone, which somehow sounded familiar
though it was unknown to him, it was
chanting long string of doggerel end
ing in an unvarying refrain. Finally
Gerry could make out the long-drdwn
tail-end of the song: comm down the
drawn"
English! American! Cowboy mu-
sic! The impressions came in rapid
succession. Gerry strove to pierce
the darkness. He could hear the near
by splash of careful mules, picking
their way through puddles with finick-
ing little steps. He felt shadow in
the darkness and could just see above
it blur of yellow. Behind it, more
shadows. On an impulse he did not
stop to measure, he shouted in English.
"Hallo. therew
The doggerel was choked off in mid
fight. The yellow blur came to a sud
den stop and the nasal voice rang out
in quick staccato, Speak again.
stranger, and speak quick!"
"It's all right" Gerry laughed back.
Where are you bound for?''
sim headed down the drawn lookin'
for a chalk line where l en- dry my
feet. What do you know?" i
''Can you see the water in the ditch
at your right?''
"Yasser. l can. l en- see you. too"
"Well.r shouted back Gerry, "your
eyes beat mine. Follow the ditch I'M
til you come to bridge. I'll meet you
there"
Gerry found the little cayalcade
waiting for him. six pack-mules, a ma
tive driver and, towering above them,
great lanky figure in yellow oil
skin slieker topped by broad
brlmmed Stetson. Gerry looked over
the outfit as carefully as the darkness
would allow and then said tentatively.
There's house down there in the
valley"
is the'?" drawled the strnnger spit
ting deliberately into the ditch. sWeli."
he volunteered after further pause,
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1916-03-17


said MargarIta II am not afraid OF
work, Geree. The end Of work never
comes. 1t is the things that end that
make me afraid" She, too, had felt
the fIuttering wings of the unattain-
able. UnknowingIy she stood beneath
the shadow of the strangers purple
city's walls.
to help Gerry with the filling Of the
soil but the effort was still-born. Kemp
had almost forgotten how to walk and
his high-heeled boots fell foul of every
hummock. He wandered off to the
house with solemn face. When Gerry
came in TO the midday meal. he found
him with a saddle propped on the
arm of bench giving the delighted
swaddled heir to Fazenda Flores his
first lesson in equitation.
That night they sat again on the
veranda steps but Kemp was not talk
alive. He whitfield a stick until it dis
appeared In a final curly shaving and
then Immediately started on a fresh
one.
known Lieber long?' asked Gerry
at last.
"Goin' on two years. replied Kemp.
''Does he live off his stock?"
Kemp looked up. Haven't you ever
ben up to Liebers?'
"No," said Gerry, ''it's two years
since came here and I've never been
off the place. Lieber's been down here
couple of times"
Kemp grunted but asked no further
question. "Lieber," he said, Certainly
don't live often his stock-he plays
with it. Lieber is the goatskin king.
Ships 'em by the thousand bales. II
you or any other man in these parts
was to sell goatskin away FIN Lie
Der, you'd be boycotted- Lieber- on
this range is God-you're fer him or
you're ag'in him an there amt ben
any one ag'in' him for some spell
now
"Oh." said Gerry.
"As fer KNOWN him." continued
Kemp, everybody on this roundup
knows Lieber but there amt anybody
knows why he is. Lieber holds ques-
tions and smallpox about alike. He
amt thar when they happen"
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1916-03-17
SYNOPSIS.

Alan Wayne is sent away from Red Hill.
his home, by his uncle, J. Y, as q moral
failure. Glen drinks Alan's health on his
birthday. Judge Healey defends Alan in
his business with his employers. Alan and
Alix, Gerry's wife, meet at sea, homeward
hound, and start Irritation: At home,
Gerry, as he thinks, sees Alix and Alan
clipping, drops everything. and goes to
Pernambuco. Alix leaves Alan on the
train and goes home. Gerry leaves Per-
nambuco. and goes to Piranhas; On a
canoe trip he meets a native girl The
Judge fails to trace Gerry. A baby is born
to Alix. The native girl takes. Gerry to
the ruined plantation she is mistress of.
Gerry marries her. At Maple house Coll
lingeford tells how he met Alan-'sTen
Per Cent SWayne''-building a bridge in
Africa. Collingeford meets Alix and her
baby and gives her encouragement about
Gerry. Alan comes back to town but does
not go. home He makes several calls
in the city. Gerry begins to improve Mar
garita's plantation and builds an irrigat-
ing ditch. In Africa Alan reads Clem's
letters and dreams of home. Gerry pas
lures Lieber's cattle during the drought
A baby comes to Margarita- Collingeford
meets Alix in the city and finds her
changed. Alan meets Alix.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1916-03-17

.
But Kemp was not offended. Nav"
he said. Il hain't killed my man not
lately anything like that left
it, he went on reminiscently, because
couldn't hep IT, got TO dreamin'
nights Of purple cities"
Purple what?" exclaimed Gerry.
Kemp took a cigarette from his
mouth and almost smiled. "Never did
hear of The Purple City, reckon?'
Gerry shook his head. Kemp drew
well-worn wallet from the capacious
inner pocket of his vest and took out
a ragged clipping. One could read in
the glaring moonlight and Gerry
glanced through the printed lines.
Then he read them through again.
THE PURPLE CITY.
AS / sat munching manages.
On the purple city's walls.
heard the catfish calling,
To the crawfish in the crawls.
saw the paper sunbeams,
Sprouting from the painted sun;
/ saw the sun was sullen.
For the day had but begun.
Il
Ten thousand miles and more,
Stretched out before the morning,
And the sun sat in the door.
He sweated seas of sunshine,
AS he started up the sky,
And he drowned the purple city,
| In tear-drop from his eye.
No more shall purple pansies
Look up at purple pinks,
Nor purple roses rival
The cheeks of purple mink.
AIasi for purple city
And its purple-peopled halls!
Alas! for me and mangoes,
On the purple city's walls!
Gerry looked upon his guest with
new wonder as he handed back the
clipping. Kemp put it away carefully,
rolled fresh. cigarette, and blew a
thick puff of smoke out into the moon
light Cant say it's poetry and
can't say it amt. All know is it
roped me. I know that writer Teller
never munched no mangoes, cause
mangoes don't MUNICH. know he new
er sat on no wall an heerd catfish call
| in cause catfish don't call But he
seen it all, stranger, Jest the way he
writ it down an ben dreamin' purple
| cities ever sence read his screed."
did you start right out to look for
them?" asked Gerry gravely.
Nav" said Kemp, 81 didn't have
nothin' to go on. But one day drum
mer Teller tibet I was stagin' across
the White mountains give me plant
magazine, and it had an article on
commercial orchids with pictures in
colors. They was mostly kinder
publish an l reckon it was that what
got me started. 1t was the foreman
pointin' out my mount to me an
| didn't lose no time. drapped my rope
on him an I've been ridin' him ever
sence.s"
Found any purple citiesY
"Not rightly. / seen 'em-more' n
once, But guess purple cities is al
ways yon side the mountain. You
can't jest ride up an put your brand
on 'em. They're born mavericks and
they die mavericks. An say, good
luck to 'em." Kemp rose, tossed away
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1916-03-17

LieDer, accompanied Dy TWO nerderS,
came early for his stock. He greeted
Kemp warmly. "Going my way:" he
asked.
81 ben loafin' around here with that
in mind" drawled Kemp. s'I'll take a
hand If you'll allow me mount
you can take your pick" said Lie
Der, '''that is, after Mr. Lansing has
had his"
The three of them walked into the
pasture. Lieber looked at the stock
with kindling eyes. He turned to Ger
ry and held out his hand. Shake he
said. and Gerry did. What do you
say to the first five of the horses out
and the last ten of the cattle for your
share?"
Gerry flushed. "That's more than
fair" he said. "You know the best
of the horses will lead the bunch and
the latest of the cattle will lag be-
hind. You see, they're all strong
now
"That's just it," said Lieber.
Kemp had gone off to round up his
mule. He came up from the river
driving it before him. At every jump
he caught the mule flick with his
rope and the mule kicked and squealed
but came on with long, stiff legged
strides. "Hi'yi!" yelled Kemp and
snatched off his hat to beat his mount
while he kept the rope-end Pickering
over the mule
Gerry and Lieber laughed. Kemp
was like a mummy come to sudden
life. do you know what?" said Ger
ry, 81 think I'll come along with you"
He led the iron-gray out by his fore
lock and old Bonifacio hurried to help
bride and saddle him. Lieber mount
ed his stallion and turned the horses
as they came out. Kemp suddenly
sobered down to business. When Lie
Der had thrown back the last ten of
the cattle, Kemp came out and closed
the gap behind him.
81 think I'li go ahead with the
horses" said Lieber.
'sYou go and take yo' men with you,"
said Kemp. 81 could drive this fat
bunch from here to Kansas with nary
hand to spell me-"
Gerry had expected a surprise of
some sort when at last he arrived at
Lieber's but the things he saw there,
stranger than anything he could have
imagined, left him calm and unmoved
as though some prescience had pre-
pared him. The house was built on the
usual solid lines of plantation head
quarters. Great, rough-hewn beams;
towering rafters, built to carry the
heavy tiles and to bear their burden
for generations; unceiled, vast rooms
with calclmined walls; all these were
not outside Gerry's experience in the
new land. The strangeness came with
the rugs and the linen. the etchings
and the furniture, and last and most
significant the shelves and shelves Of
books and the tables piled with maya
zines in three languages. Everything
bore the stamp of quality, everything
had the distinction of choice.
Gerry did not let his curiosity carry
him beyond a rapid glance around the
great living-room where they found
Lieber, bathed and freshly dressed,
experimenting the making of ice in
the latest ingenious contrivance for
the pampering of the pioneer. "Ice
water in the desert" thought Gerry
and the phrase seemed to him more
than words--it seemed to paint Lie
hey. dfmly hut ms the mind saxv him
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1916-03-17
Just Before the Battle.

Her Husband-Do you know. deaE.
that l found my first gray hair this
morning?
His Wife-Oh. give it to me, John.
and I'll keep it as souvenir to re-
member you by.
Her Observation-Disclosures the matter
with me keeping it to remember yOu
by?
His Wretchl I've a good
mind to go home to my mother
Her Husband-Huhl No such luck
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1916-03-17
CHAPTER xvIII--contInued.

''Why there's no Mr.. Wayne and
Mrs. Wayne only J. VS."
"And you don't know, Alan?" asked
the judge "Well, I'll tell you. Mr..
Wayne and Mrs. Wayne-they Were
Alan's father and his young wife.
Their life was hot fame that sud-
denly smothered itself in the clouds
Of its own smoke. The memory Of the
clouds passed with them but the fame
the fame burns on in the hearts of
all who knew them. 1t will burn on
That's why ]. Y. is ]. Y. and that's
why it will always be. J. Y. and Mrs.
]. Y. to the Hill.''
Alan said good-by in hurried low
voice and started for the door but the
Judge called to him: "Just moment,
Alan, I'm coming with you"
The judge found Alan waiting for
him on the steps as he hurried out
"What are you doing for the rest of
the afternoon he asked.
I'm sailing for South America il
there's a connection"
The judge looked up surprised. II
didn't know you had anything urgent
on They walked on in silence for
some minutes, then the judge said,
hesitatingly, "Alan, you're rushed, Of
course, but if you could-if you can
do one thing and put it down to my
account. Just drop in and see ]. Y.
for minute. Somehow l feel that
you can't see J. Y. the way he really
Is. But if you knew him, Alan, the
way | do, you'd know it's an honor
for any man to shake hands with j. Y.
Wayne. He has rare thing an I'M
tainted hand. There is tale on
change to the effect that firm was
saved from smash because J. Y.
walked up to its head and shook
hands With him on the floor"
II don't know" said Alan, .that J.
Y. wants to shake hands with me-" He
spoke almost questioningly.
~ don't know that he wants to, Ell
Their, my boy, But do know this.
He's a busy man, but there's never
a day that ne's too rushed to think of
you.'
Alan stopped and held out his hand.
II am much obliged to you" he said.
"Tm sorry l didn't think of it myself.
Pm off to his Office now, as soon as
I've telephoned Swithson."
j. Y. received his nephew with out
stretched hand. His rugged face was
lit up with the rare smile that came
to it seldom, for 1t was the far-dung
ripple-the visible expression OF deep
commotion.
II just dropped in, sir" said Alan,
ito say good-by. I'm Off again to
South America. Africa seems to be
taking year off,"
They sat and looked at each other
for moment and then J. Y. arose
and held out his hand again. eff that's
the case" he said. Il won't keep you.
Good-by and good luck
"Good-by, SIR" said Alan.
As he reached the door j. Y spoke
again. "Alan," he said, I'm glad you
dropped in
II am too, SIR said Alan.
He was just leaving the sedate old
Office building, sandwiched In between
modern towers of Babel, when a cab
drew up at the curb. The door opened
and a girl stepped out. She suddenly
stood still. Alan's eyes were drawn to
her and found hers fixed on Him. He
drew quiverlng breath. Clfm stood
before him. She saw his hesitation
and cloud came over the light in her
face. Her moist lips tremblfd Their
hands met.
'AlanF' she said and he answered,
Glenn
And so they stood, his eyes fixed in
hers That were blue and deep. He felt
his Sa''' sinking. sinking iilto those
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1916-03-17
NEWER HAn A CH11n

my little daughter, 10 years old, suffered
nearly n year with chills and fever, most of tina
time under the Doctors care. / was discUuH
aged and . friend advised me to try sAixhK
Babek. Igave 1t to her and she has never had
q chill since It completely cured her." Mrs.
Cyrus Helms, SOC St., N. E., Washington, D. q.
EItxir Habok so CENTS, all druggists or b.
Parcels Post prepaid from Kloczewski . Co.
Washington, D. @.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1916-03-17

A patent has been granted for an
egg substitute made chiefly from thor
oughly cooked yams.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1916-03-17

The Older the man. the longer he
books at a paper before signing it.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1916-03-17

in what manner Will Lieber
and Kemp affect Lsnsing's life
with Margarita in this hidden
corner Of the world?
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1916-03-17

% you know the home long
ing that comes to a fellow
stranded halfway round the
earth from his own dooryard?
Gerry and Jake, two forsaken
Americans, meet in these cir
cumstances in the heart OF
South America and exchange
dream-talk.