davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1916-03-16

he was obdurate in his sullen determi-
nation to have his revenge iII ni- own
way.
Go back to Virginia Miss Esther,
he said. land leave the matter or my
enemies to me. They have SO much
influence a poor gypsy could get no JUS
tice against them in the courts. If
told my story it wouldn't be listened
TO- But | can't be held here forever,
and | will have better revenge in a
better way
And in this frame Of mind. mingled
with his tel 4pl .EItIi@ toward b"s
Esther and the English law. G. .e.t
him. Luke looked strange ta1 grim
with h.s cropped Dc... ana sna,eL
face in his prison garb. He was not
the rugged. picturesque figure Esther
had known since childhood. He seem
cd another being. a craven faced i'm
placable personitication of Il vengeance
that could wait TO strike.
Hardly had the newspaper sensation
Of John Powell's purchase Of the dia-
mond died down than the mad mil
lionaire" as he was called for eccen-
tricities, broke into print again. Now
the newspapers announced that to cele-
The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1916-03-16

Vivian realized ~ subterfuce tba,l
longer avail. She shrieked. "Cnoosa
between u.s."
Arthur thrust her from him and
through the door, the one entrance to
the room, and turned the bronze holt
while Vivian screamed and beat out.
side in rage and baffled desire for tho
diamond.
But ere Arthur had thrust her from
the room Nivian's clawing grasp had
ripped his velvet sleeve and shirt and
his arm was bare ID Tie elbow ~, D..
extended the diamond from The slv to
Esther and wildly cried. he knew NOT
why. for her to take it and to forgive
him.
But Esther's eyes were wide and
wild. Her gaze was upon his naked
arm. SCARED and marked from the
needle thrusts Of his drug addiction,
She had read of such things in the
newspapers. Now she knew
That is the reason" she gasped in
horror and disgust. And with indie.
nant fervor she snatched the diamond
from his grasp and threw it from her
as an evil thing.
Stricken with shame and remorSe
Arthur bowed his head on the table
and sObbed. He had not seen or cared
where the diamond had been fun.
nor had Esther. 1t had hurtled throu.l
the open window and had fallen. only
to be caught in the trembling branch
Of q roscbush far beneath.
Nivians screams had not disturbed
the noisy reyelers in the ballroom.
showering confetti and singing as they
danced and drank. but Durand and
Blair, mindful of the diamond. had
followed. They found Vivian hyStcr-
icaily scrabbling ut the door Of the it
tie room. and B.air burst ii in
Marmaduke Smythc was close le-
hind the intrudcrs.
Where is the diamond? Whore f.
IL" shrieked Vivian. shaking Arthur
hy the shoulder
Marmaduke Smythe gave his arm TO
Esther. and they walked proudly ont
The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1916-03-16
CHAPTER xCVill.
"Choose Between ISL"

"a MYTHE, a humOreSque hgure III
" his helmet and armor and Win
~ The incongruous crook handie
umbrella, led Esther 10 the one
duiet spot in all the Dedlam or roHp
and revelry. This was small up
stairs reception or tea room, PLAIN
~ but richly furnished, and with
a large window that overlooked the
lawns ana flower garden. wide
branched palm in handsome '1rii'
Mere screened d -4
near the center of the room.
was a small ornate table. \ great door
led TO the billiard room and through
the billiard room gave ingreSS ana
egress 10 the quiet spot. \ few couples
strayed in and out, but for the most
Part Esther was alone in this small
tcaroOm after Smythc left her to ap-
prise the master of the house that a
lady wished to see him there.
In the great ballroom the gay set or
Los Angeles We're hilarious with wine
aud music. Blair. handsome and
striking figure in the full uniform of a
Confederate officer. forgot his schemes
and plans and enjoyed himself with all
the abandon OF his reckless nature. Du-
rand. arrayed in Il conventionalized
costume rs the king of diamonds. look
ed like that court card come 10 life.
Il am running true 10 form be
whispered to Vivian The pack call.
ed me the king OF diamonds. and here
am. YOU see. costumed for the part.
You wouldn't have dared to dress
in character abroad" laughed Vivian
The police Of Europe look too con
Stantly for the kin; Of diamonds"
You are right. my dear girl replied
Durand carcIeSSly. But. speaking OF
Europe. even the carnival al Monte
Carlo was lo save. scene than this
Certainly our friend. the whilOm John
Powell, is giving princely fete. But
what is this biz surprise he is to
spring."
Il haven't the least idea, confessed
Vivian. He is very secretive OF late.
Then her brow knit in IL slight frown
as she rene mbered that Arthur had
promised to give her the diamond this
night but when she had sent him
note by her maid he had only returned
her word that the diamond would b.
given her later IN the eii H.. " nee
was hel What was H. surprise?
II thought you would Colie rs tile
Queen Of Hearts" remarked Durand.
interrupting her train OF thought.
When we despoiled Europe you were
known in the pack as the Queen OF
Hearts, as ! was known as the King
OF Diamonds. De Eaux. too. is chary
Of our old pscudonymS He touted for
our victims at the select and exclusive
clubs in the various capitals Of Europe.
50 he was called the Knave Of Clubs.
But he. too. seems to wish TO forget.
There he is. dancing with Il dark ori-
entail dancer. He is in the costume of
French zouave."
Let us foreet the past-and our
sts!' said Vivian bitterly.
Then DuraId eX hanged smile with
a charmer attired as Il Neapolitan flow.
or girl and whirled away in the dance
with her.
Outside Quabba and the gardener
peered through the windows at the gay
scene. in company with chauffeurs and
coachmen
Upstairs Esther waited nervous and
Inpatient half re"reftinc she had
The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1916-03-16

cess. lie told of Sir Arthur's capture
by the savage red men. his torture by
stake and fire, and then the fall Of the
meteor i'll the night that had saved his
fe ana deilied him. for the Indians
nad taken it as a sign of the Great
Spirits diSpeaSure.
Then he told of the finding of the
great diamond in the cooled meteor and
of his ancestor bearing it away and
consigning it to his heirs TO be worn
when q descendant Of his would be
ral.cd to the English earldom. 1T is
called the diamOnd from the sky. the
charm against harm. concluded the
speaker dramatically. For none save
Il true descendant of the adverturcr
who found ii or the woman he loves
can possess il lest it bring disaster and
DEATH
thus Arthur concluded and IA groom
led the horse way. The crowd cheer
ed. the band struck up lifting meas
re and the dance went On.
Removing his plumed hat and Wiz.
.rthur led vi; ian upstairs to the re.
option room that they might be alone.
As they ascended the stairs great up
roar OF laughter rose in the ballroom.
Marmaduke Smythe had been stand.
ing on chair to better see AMI hear
the story Of the diamond from the sky.
In moving to get down TO convey Es.
Tiers message 10 the dismounted speak
er. Smythe had broken an electric light
wall bracket and rs Il result his metal
armor had short circuited live wire.
lie was rescued with a smoking plume.
hardly any the worse for the electrical
The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1916-03-16
II in the fierce light beating on nlIn'

II in the fierce light beating on him
and it b!a ed ANA s.arkled.
Friends. my dear and welcome
guests" he cried in ringing voice. Il
will tell you strange story OF the nrSt
finding Of great gem such as this. "A
gem known as the diamond from the
sky
And there he told. and with Il poetic
diction he must have practlced. the
story of the adyenturer. Sir Arthur
Stanley, sometimes called the Fallen
Star. founder of the Stanley family In
VIRGINIA and finder OF the diamond
from ue sky.
While the revelelS hung spellbound
at the story. he told of how 800 years
AGO the reckless Sir Arthur, younger
son Of the first Earl of Stanley IN Eng
land. had been banished To America TO
the English settlements in Virginia and
had gone far up the Rappahannock riv-
er trails to steal away an Indian prin-
The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1916-03-16

brate his recovery from his recent In.
juries Mr.. John Powell would give a
great fete the first formal house warm
ing Of his grand new mansion. At this
fete. the papers stated. the great dia-
mond that had caused the tragedy and
bankruptcy Of the Santley circus
would figure In u sensational surprise.
1t was Vivian who had suggested the
fete, a costume affair. Arthur, tor
mented as he was with the devilish
suggestion Of insane delusions and ad-
dicted to evil drugs. welcomed any ex
citement, any dissipation, TO make him
forget the attacks Of remorse that ever
and anon obsessed him. Like many
others In the same situation. Arthur
believed his evil companions were his
good friends and true. for ever they fed
his vanities and fattered and fawned
upon him. Vivian lived in an elysium
Of reckless and costly luxury There
were high revels nightly by the mad
millionaire and his friends in the gay
resorts Of Los Angeles. and now there
was to come the crowning effort In
wasteful and luxurious prodigality-
the Powell costume ball.
Arthur abandoned all business af-
fairs to Blair. Now that he had the
diamond from the sky. Vivian was ex-
erting every vile to obtain it. And
Arthur promised he would present it
TO her fittingly at the fete.
But there Is no honor among thieves.
Already Durand was planning to cheat
Blair after Arthur, as John Powell,
was ruined. Durand broached this to
Vivian. who played her cards tactful-
ly and seemingly encouraged him in
his treachery to Blair. Her one desire
was the diamond, and that was to be
hers the night Of the fete. She could
hardly wait for it,
The night came. as all nights will
Esther had decided the best way to
iatercede for Luke would be to intrude
upon Arthur Mt the fete and make him
promise 10 secure Luke's release from
prison.
Smythe accompanied Esther In tax
icab to the fete. He was attired as n
knight In armor, but persisted I'm car
rying his great English umbrella. lie
explained he did not wish to get wet
and become rusted In his armor in
case 1t rained. When informed that
the rainy season in this section Of the
country was yet some months OF
Smythe had replied that rain knew no
seasons. He had seen it rain in Lon
Ion when even the Times had predict
I'd fair weather. So he would run no
risk and would take his umbrella.
Il feel better when ] carry some
thing" he added. When carried
my game trophy. the deer head. l did
not need an umbrella. In fact. 1t did
not rain while l carried it. which was
remarkable. SO now I shall carry the
umbrella, especially as | have shipped
the deer head to London. and do
hope 1t will not be stolen or injured in
transit"
.At the Powell mansion. entering with
the crush Of maskers. Esther and
Smythe found the butler. arrayed as a
gorgeous major domo. receiving the
grests. as tte host was 70 make his
4 ffsfts "a $50 r ftar 70
The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1916-03-16

come. Then she remembered Luke.
njustly IN prison and her resolution
eturned.
In the ballroom below Smythe. her
eccentric yet faithful knight, wandered
about seeking the master Of the man
sion.
Suddenly the music stopped. There
WAS fanfare Of trumpets. and the
rays Of "a calcium light We're turned
from the gallery toward the great pur-
pie velvet curtains ut the end Of the
ballroom. These We're drawn aside By
two slim young girls In the costume of
Tudor pages. and there between the
parted velvet curtains. full In the great
pencil Of light directed at him. sat the
tigire ~ a cavalier on great white
horse with crimson trappings. I'm
movable ~ statue stood rider and
t'et' 3'hen %" hand crashed march.
ts tho ranter
The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1916-03-16
CHAPTER XVII.
"Sold to John Powsll!"

- r RE You all through. gentlemen
~ reiterated the auctioneer. II
~ have been offered $4,000 for
this magnificent diamond. Its
previous history is unknown. but local
experts have pronounced 1t to be worth
ten times the sum you offer. Where
did 1t come from? That cannot tell
you. but by the decree Of the court II
IL adjudged an asset Of the Santley
circus. bankrupt. As such the pur-
chaser's title viii be valid. Am offer
ed any more? Seventy thousand. sew
enty thousand. seventy thousandr'
Homer Graydon. wealthy spend
thrift that he was. grew ashen faced.
Seventy thousand dollars would tax
him to raise. but Vivian Marston gave
him an alluring smile. and ~ his pride
was also at stake. he made IN effort to
smile hack az Vivian and nodded 10
- ~ 49, s4ttN
The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1916-03-16

in silence and left the schemers and
their victim,
Below the gayety In the ballroom
was ut its height. Outside the dawn
crimSoned in the cast-and hand
reached to the rosebush beneath the
window anu bore away tue 0iHmond
from the sky.
TO BE CONTINUED
The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1916-03-16
OipIomacv.

LOOK here. Charlie" said one young
undergrad to another. who had bees
asked TO run his eye over a letter
which his friend had written to his ia. =.
The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1916-03-16

The old man to think I'm putting on
airs. That's bow hs spells it."-Pitts-I
HrrSh rrsss.
The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1916-03-16

sisd cry. for there. looking fun M them
with scornful gaze. was Esther.
The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1916-03-16

t~es te,e ~. ae . t..e great aIamopd
In its curious locket aud chain. He held
The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1916-03-16

! MYTHF,. Il humOresque hgure III
his helmet and armor and with
The incongruOus crook handle
umbrella, led Esther 10 the one
Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1916-09-13

ms feeling. Listen. girls; I'll tell you
an about it," He coughed, cleared his
throat in a way hat betrayed he had
been drinking.
of his covert. and. s%tiffeniny his naus-
cleS FOR a protracted spell of rigidity.
to listen with all acutenees
and intensity. Just one word from this
lawson inadvertently uttered in a mo-
ment OF passion. might be the word
Duane needed for his clue.
lit happened at the town hall" began
Lawson rapidly. Your father and
Judge Owens and I were there in con-
sultatlon with three ranchers from out
OF Then thai damned ranger
stalked in dragging Snecker. thef fellow
who hid here in the house. He had ar
rested Snecker for alleged assault On Il;
observation-disclosures named laramie.
Snecker being obviously innocent, he
was discharged. Their this ranger began
~shoutlng his insults. Law was a farce
in Fairdale. The court was a farce.
There was no aw. Your fathers effice
rs mayor should ise i.npeacheG. He
made arrests only for petty o%ffcases.
lie was afraid of the rxstI@,s, highway
men, muroerers. He was afraid or he
Just let them alone. He used his office
TO cheat rancl.ers and cattle,men in aW-
suits. All this IA ranger yelled for
every one TO hear. n damlab!a o.rtn'a,se.
Your father, Ray. ,rsulted IN his own
court by II rowdy ranger"
"Ah!' cried Ray Loe1gstreth, In Ming
lea distress an danger.
Tho ranger service wants 10 rule
western Texas" weat on Lawson.
Thes rangers are all a low set, many
of them worse than the outlaws they
hunt. Some of them were outlaws and
gun-figaters before they became sang
ers. This is one OF n worst sc the
lot. He's keen. Intelligent, smooth, aald
that makes him more 10 he feared. kor
he is to be feared. He wanted to kill. He
would kill. If you faSkar had made the;
least move he wslld have shot him.
He's a cold Hooded oevil-the born
gun-man. My God. aay instant I ex-
pected to see your father fall aeaa at
my feet!!"
"oh, Floyd. The u~nspeaAasie ruff
fian." cried Ray LoAgstreth, passion
ately.
You see, Ray. this fellow, lile all
rangers, seeks Aotoriety. He made ulat
play with Snecker just for a chance to
rant against your father. He tried b 10
flame all Fairdale against him. What
about the lawsuits was the worst,
Damn hint! He'll make us enemies."
Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1916-09-13
CONTINUED Next Week.p
Our Latest White Book.
FrOm the Chicago TIyenine Past

FROM the chicago evening Post.
When Capt. Franz Won Papen was held
up by the British government at Fal-
mouth, after his withdrawal frsM the
Bernstorff embassy had been requested by,
our government. many OF those patriotic
folks who guard G~ernany's convenience
more highly than American rights insisted
that America was affronted. They said,
that our state department, had asked and;
received a safe conduct for Captain Won
Papen and that tho seizure OF his papers
was an offense against eur dignity.
The white Book" Just published by our
government reveals the fact that Score
tary Lansing in writing to Ambassador
Bernstorff that safe conduct had been
granted Won Papen and Begged added the
words: ut is alss understood that they
Will. of course. perform no unneutrN act
such as carrying dispatches to the Ger
man government The Write Book
incidentally, for the first time prirts the
letter in which Ber1storff was asked to
have his attaches recalled request. by
the way, which he calmly ignored Ter 10
days. This letter says that the two Ger
man attaches were connected not only
with questionable but with tiAegsa"
acts.
Under the circumstances, we II, nst re-
main firm in our conviction that when
England seized the aAtf-American cotre-
spondence which the cheerful Vel Pasen
was smuggling out undar cover of a safe
conduct the majesty or the American gov
eminent was not in the least d,nMed.
Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1916-09-13
f''unbeNef."

"unbelef."
There is no unbelief:
Whoever plants Il seed beneath the sad
And waits to see it push away the dEua.
He trusts ia God.
Whoever says when clouds are in he sky.
BE patient. heart; light hrcalketh by and
by"
Trusts the Mast Eigh.
Whoever sees ',aeatn U.nee+'s 1rld of
snow
The silent harvest of the future Fow.
Gods power MMst know.
Whoever lies dowa On his couch to sheen.
Content to lock each sense in Aasnber
deep.
Knows God win keep.
The heart that locks On when eyelids
close,
And dares to live when life has rses,
Gods comfort knows.
There is no unbelief:
And day by day. uncenscis~sly,
The heart lives by that faith the hps deny.
God knoWeth why;
Edward Robert Bulwer Lgtton.
Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1916-09-13

dishonesty. | say strange, Law here
has been a farce. The motive behind
all this laNity isn't plain to me-yet
limt ! call your hand"
Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1916-09-13

Lord and Lady Shaughnessy Of
Montreal. Canada. have just an
nounced the engagement Of their
daughter Margue. lite to edwin L. San
born Of Havana. Cuba. Lord ShauRh.
messy. who IS i native Of Milwaukee.
Wis. won his title and his for tune
BY developing a great railway -
Ten in Cana a
The daily commonwealth. (Greenwood, Leflore Co., Miss.) 1916-1919, 1916-10-03

the street as any automobiles, but he
must be reasonable in getting along
over without undue negligence of his
own safety or proper regard for the
right of the auto or other vehicle to
reasonably use the street. In fact
common observation shows that the
safest place to cross a street is in or
near the middle of the block where
you have only one street to watch for
autos, motorcycles, bicycles, trucks
and drays and buggies whereas at
the corner crossing you have four
ways to watch; the danger is four to
one in favor of the street crossing.
Safety First" for yourself and ev-
body else, lies in a cautious, watch
full care for yourself and all others,
especially pedestrians, and essentially
so of women and children. So it is.
the safest way to use the public
highways in whatever kind of con-
veyance, is for everybody to dill
remember the rights of every
The daily commonwealth. (Greenwood, Leflore Co., Miss.) 1916-1919, 1916-10-03
JULIAN B. MERRILL DEAD.

bir. Julian 3. Merrill, a son of the
late Mr.. John u. Merrill, and a grand
son Of the late Mr.. J. w. S. Merrill,
both o. whom were SO well known
throughout this section, died Sunday
morning, Oct. LIST, on Mossey Island.
The funeral and the burial took place
at Itta Bena Sunday afternoon at four
o'clock.
Mr.. Merrill was a young mechanic
of great promise, and had many
friends both here and in Itta Bena
who will regret to learn Of his un-
timely death.
The daily commonwealth. (Greenwood, Leflore Co., Miss.) 1916-1919, 1916-10-03
THE EARNEST WORK. Frs.

The Earnest Workers were enter
tanned at home of Mrs. ". 7. Fountain
Monday, with Mrs. Fountain and Mrs.
Lipscomb as hostesses. With deep
regret Mrs. Lipscomb was suddenly
called to Little Rock, and the society
was deprived of the presence OF her
company. This was one of the larg-
est meetings in the history of the
Earnest Workers, about fifty being
present, and each one seemed to have
fresh zeal and new enthusiasm for the
the beginning of the fall and winter
work and bids fair to the best in its
history of this band of noble women.
The daily commonwealth. (Greenwood, Leflore Co., Miss.) 1916-1919, 1916-10-03

slight drop, but there is no reason
to believe that this is more than tenn.
porarlry, for the losses thus far ir
1915 indicate that they will be ia,
greater when the year is completed
If this $250,OO0,OOO loss were all
1t would certainly be enough, but
when this is said only less than half
the story is told. Besides the burn
ing up of property, we spend everv
year in this country more than $3.50.
100000 or the upkeep of fire depart-
ments, and there is additional waste
IN the increased size of insurance pre-
mum made necessary by our own
carelessness.
Figure it out for yourself. Thare
are loo,ooo,Oo0 people in the United
States, roughly speaking. The annual
fire tax is $5OO,OoO,C 600.
That means that every man, wo-
man and child spend SIS a wear mora
to live because of our national care.
'essness. If the average family con.
slsts OF seven, it means that every
bears a burden of $35 a year
because of the fire waste.
The daily commonwealth. (Greenwood, Leflore Co., Miss.) 1916-1919, 1916-10-03
BURNING UP MILLIONS.
Carelessness Costs Every Citizen in
the U. S. IS a Year.

II you were to 60 to the bank and
draw out all your savings in brand
new bills, and then if you were to take
the money and 60 and stand in the
middle of the main street of this CITY
and set fire to the bills, one at a time,
you would find yourself in the hands
OF a policeman before you could saw
Jack Robinson.
There is no question about the own
ershlp of the money. 1t is yours to
DO as you please with. You can spend
IT foollshly, you can give it away or
you can invest it wisely. But if you
ourn 1t up, it is Immediately assumed
That you are crazy, or at least tempor-
AIRY mentally unbalanced, and the
public feels that it has a right to re.
strain you.
Despite this fact, we go serenely
from year to year burning IN our
property without taking the slightest
thought, apparently, of what we are
dong. We erect costly structures and
then sit down and wait for them to
because we neglect the first prin.
ciple of fire prevention.
Gasoline, which is more deadly than
dynamite, we handle as if it was IN
much water. We leave matches
around for children to play with. We
nang lace curtains close to the
gas Jets and then leave the window
open when we go to bed so that the
wind can blow the lace curtain into
the flame.
Statistics for the year 1916 show
better than words the reckless way in
which the American people handle
heir property.
There were in 1915 no less than
individual fires, which in each
caused an estimated proper
y damage Of more than $4,000.
The total fire loss for the United
'tates now averages more than $780,.
. yeay. IN 1915 II showed