davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1916-08-31

bly, ugly in the clear light of the early
morning.
Suddenly lie was halted in his self
imposed sentry duty by the sound Of a
knock on the door, and in response to
his ''come in" Daniels entered.
II looked for you over at the Office"
he said, but they told me you We're
here"
did you want me for anything spe-
cial?" asked IAngdon coldly, and the
theatrical man flushed.
"Yes," he said, II did. had long
talk with my wife last night and she
and l decided that the hoodoO on The
Covington is too black for us, any
way. No good can come out of that
place for me, and she-she said, she
wanted me to come down here and ask
you to put me On the stand again. Do
you understand what mean?"
81 think do said Langdon quietly.
though flame had leaped into his
eyes. "You want to tell what you
didn't say beforeY'
He was too clever to let this man
know how jubilRnt he was.
Eyes, said Daniels. ut may not
be important, vet somehow | know it
is. lists about what heard when
l passed the door Of the gray suite
that night
'"Thank God!' cried LangdOn, and
drew his chair close to that Of Daniels.
When they entered the courtroom to-
gether an hour later every trace of
anxiety and suffering had been wiped
from Langdon's face.
He looked buOyantly young, and
when he passed Mary, he whispered
something to her that brought light
to her eyes too, and though there was
surprise there was no fear on her face
when she herself was called as the
first witness Of the day.
Miss Page" said Langdon in the
vibrantly happy voice of one who sees
success just ahead, ION the night when
you went into the gray suite from the
banquet room were you wearing or
carrying your cloak?"
II slipped it on as 1 came into the
hall. l carried my gloves and my
evening bag"
''Did you see Mr.. Pollock the minute
you entered the room?'
mo"
| what did you do?"
81 slipped off the cloak again because
it was warm and laid it on a chair
with my gloves and bag"
"Where was that chair?"
The question snapped like a whip
lash, and for moment Mary hest
tated.
I'm not quite sure" she said slowly;
then, with more assurances: "Why.
yes. l am! 1t was towards the door
into the other room because it was then
that saw Mr.. Pollock come out"
"And you retreated?"
"Yes." The answer was breathed
rather than spoken. but Langdon push.
ed on, too eager to spare her.
| Ibid he come toward your"
| YES"
"Did he follow you so far that he
came between you and that chair?"
"Why, of course. He-he-came
right up to me.
She shuddered and hid her face In
her hands, as the tide of recollection
swept over her, but LangdOn had only
one more question.
"Then. in order to secure the revolver
from your bag, you would have had to
push past him and secure the bag
from under your cloak, would you not ??
/ "Yes. But I-I-dOn't remember what
happened"
"That is all, thank you, Miss Page
said LangdOn, and turning to the batlin
] be added briskly:
The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1916-08-31

ing the room and echoing far down tile
corridors prOclaiming to the world at
large that Mary Page was free.
Still more cheering throngs greeted
her when she emerged from the prison
little later with Philip and her moth
er besides her. and they followed the
speeding motor for blocks shouting
their acclamatiOns and congratsIla tons.
while Mary nestled contentedly against
Philip.
Forgotten We're the days Of horror
following the death of Pollock and
her arrest for a crime she knew moth
ing Of; forgotten even were the I'M
pleasant moments when Pollock pur-
sued her with manifestations of his
unwelcOme love.
It was the most wonderful moment
Of her life.
The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1916-08-31
CONFESSION

w YITH his hands clasped behind
NJ his back and his brows bent
wv in frown that made him
look oddly old and tired,
Langdon paced slowly up and down.
Over and over in his mind he went
back through the testimony Of the long
trial of Mary Page. He was confident
now, as he had not been confident in
the beginning, that she had not shot
James Pollock in frenzy of delirious
fear.
But who HAD killed him?
That was the problem!
Never in all his experience had he re-
membered so battling case.
At least a half dozen times he had
felt that his fingers were at last upon
The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1916-08-31

"Call Mr.. Daniels"
A sense of something big impending
stirred the spectators and the jury
alike, and the Judge himself, keenly
alive to that new note in Langdon's
voice, turned deliberately in his chair
as Daniels began his testimony.
Everyone in the room leaned for
ward, tense with excitement.
"Mr. Daniels" began Langdon with
no preliminaries, ION the night of the
The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1916-08-31

ethe right thread that would lead out of
sthe maze. but each time his edifice of
hope had crumbled.
The doorman at the Hotel Republic
had repeated only what the chauffeur
had already tOld-that Shale had left
Pollock as soon as he got out Of the
machine; but even so Langdon had
sent Brennan and his cOnfreres to
0cour the town for him.
He ought not to be hard to find; but
once found. could he tell anything?
That was the question.
And 80, YEARLY and endlessly, Lang.
don paced the stone-paved room. dou.
The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1916-08-31

MARY PAGE, an actress, is
accused Of the murder of
James Pollock, and is defended
by her lover Philip Langdon.
Pollock has been pursuing Mary
for many months endeavoring to
win her love and her hand in
marriage, but his attentions have
been very unwelcome to her.
Knowing her stage aspirations,
he has, unknown to her. financed
her starring tour under the man.
agement of Daniels.
On the night Of the murder,
Mary leaves the banquet hall in
the Hotel Republic and enters
the Gray Room alone expecting
to meet Langdon. She has been
lured there by Pollock, who has
been drinking.
A few moments later shot is
heard and Langdon and others,
upon entering the Gray Room
find James Pollock shot through
the heart and Mary Page lying
in faint beside him with Pol
locks revolver not six inches
from the ends Of her fingers.
At Mary's trial she admits she
had the revolver. Pollock had
invaded her dressing room at the
theatre. Langdon had come to
The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1916-08-31

"And you never suspected?" she said
at last, and Philip shook his head.
mot Shale," he said. II was look
ing for someone else"
'Now don't talk any more about it,;
said Mrs. Page quietly. Tomorrow,
Mary, l am going to take you back to:
The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1916-08-31

the country, and keep you until you
your mind forever"
"And then" said Mary wistfully, II
will come back and take up my work"
I.angdon frightened his arm about her
"And then" said he, you will come
back and marry me. A fee Is always
paid lawyer for services rendered.
l ask the biggest one in the world,
Mary-will you pay it,
And what her lOw-voiced reply was
not even her mother knew. 4!
THE END,
The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1916-08-31

lock. Mary faints on the stand
and again goes insane when a
policeman offers her whisky.
Daniels testifies that Pollock
threatened to kill Mary and
Langdon and actually attempted
to kill Langdon.
Two witnesses describe Mary's
fight to the street from the hO-
tel and her abduction by men
from a gambling place near by.
Further evidence seems to in
eliminate Daniels.
Maggie Hale, inmate Of a gam
bling den, testities that she was
at the hotel and heard two men
quarreling in the Gray Room a
short time before the murder.
Her evidence seems to increase
suspicion against Daniels.
Daniels privately informs Lang
don that Ma ry Page did not kill
Pollock and that IL Mary Is In
danger of going to the electric
chair he will tell all he knows OF
the case.
Watson. a waiter, testifies that
Pollock had a quarrel over the
phone the night of the murder,
and POllock's chauffeur reveals
the fact that Shale was with Pol
lock shortly before the shot was
fired.
The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1916-08-31
Proved Il,

whenever l see Griffiths l am re-
minded that the good die yO6,g." said
a business man one day.
But Grifliths Is over seventy" said
bis friend.
Exactly" was the reply. THAT d
just my point Herald.
The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1916-08-31

her rescue. the revolver had been
knocked from POllOck's hand and
Mary had seized and retained it.
She had put 1t in her hand bag
the night Of the murder intend
ing giving it to LangdOn.
Her maid testifies that Mary
threatened Pollock with it pre-
viously, and Mary's leading man
duplicates I.angdon.
How Mary disappeared from
the scene Of the crime is a mys-
terry. Brandon tells of u strange
hand print lie saw on Mary's
shoulder.
Further evidence shows that
horror Of drink produces tempo
rary insanity in Mary
The defense is depressed psy-
Ghosts" Witnesses described
Mary's fight from her intoxicat-
ed father and her fathers sui
eide.
Nurse Walton describes the
kidnapping of Mary by Pollock,
and Amy Barton tells Of Mary's
struggles to become an actress,
Of Pollock's pursuit of her and
of another occasion when the
smell of liquor drove Mary in
sane.
There Is evidence that Daniels,
Mary's manager, threatened Pol
The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1916-12-07
NO ACTION TAKEN
ON RY. FRANCHISE
MATTER OF CASsEM STREET
CAR SYSTEM LEFT WITH CITY
COUNCII.-GUAR AGAINST
JUVENILE THlEVERY.

Whether or not the franchise OF
the Mitchell Street & Interurban
railway will be revoked because the
company did not have the cars in OPP
GRAFTON by December / was still UNI
decided when the city council ad-
journed after it's regular monthly
meeting last night.
o. L. Cassem, president of the
company, and A. N. Hill, superin-
tendent, appeared before the body
and asked an eXtention of time to
May /, but the matter was referred
to the city attorney.
In view of the recent discovery of
a number of instances of petty thiev-
ing by small boys of the city, new
ordinance was introduced and placed
upon its first reading. 1t attempts
to regulate the dealings OF pawn
shops and and second hand stores
by making it unlawful for a junk
dealer to buy anything from a minor
under is years of age unless the
minor is accompanied by his parents
at the time of the sale.
In order to stop the boys end of
the transaction, it is made unlawful
for youth to offer any such article
for sale. Pawn brokers will be fur
Their required to keep a book with
the names OF all transactions COR
rectly entered and have it open for
public inspection. They must make
entries OF all money loaned and the
person to whom the loan was made.
Slight advances in salary We're
granted to several of the city en-
ployees. The patrolmen on the police
force We're granted So more a
month. The city attorney was ord
cred to draft an ordinance making
these changes.
An extension TO the city Jail will
be made by using the room which
was formerly occupied by the Jail.
This will give the police department
two separate rooms and will make it
possible to keep the person arrested
and the complaining witnesses from
talking to each other prior to trial.
The lungmotor. the purchase of
which was recommended by the fire
chief, Carl Fowler. at the FAST
meeting, will be bought by
the city. Mr. Fowler was also CIV
en- authority to get prices on 500
feet OF fire hose.
Assurance that the city hall
would be repainted and the, auditor
ium redecorated in the near future
was given b va motion that the CITY
The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1916-12-07
MRS. SILSBY is
CALLED BEYOND
DEATH BECKONs WIFE OF PIC.
NEER AND PROMINENT RES
IDI1NT OF MITCHELL-
FUNERAL THURS
DAY

Mrs. George A. Silsby. one of the
bestowed and respected of the wo-
men of Mitchell passed away at IL
O'Clock last night after a prolonged
illness. She was 60 years, two months
death.
Emily Derwent Silsby was born
near Rockford, ILL.,, on October 1,
1S47 Her parents were Edmund and
Catherine Derwent. She was one of
six sisters, the fourth from the cid
est, but was the first to break the
circle. The others, Mrs. H. B. Rogers,
of Mitchell, Mrs. Mary Needham, of
Rockford, Mrs. Hannah Payne of
Moline, H., Mrs. Sophia Whittlesey,
of Rockford, and Mrs. Addie Rogers,
of Chicago, all surviving her.
When about 1G years of age she en-
tered the commercial college of
Bryant & Stratton, at Chicago. Upon
responsible position in the large -four
ing mills of her father. which she held
until February 25, 1868, when she
became the bride of George A. Silsby.
Mr. Silsby and their two daughters,
Mrs. Herbert L. Hitchcock, of Nit
chell, and Mrs. H. G. Nichols, of Fox
Ridge, S. D.. survive her.
Mrs. Silsby's condition has been
bad for some time. For the past five
weeks, it has been considered very
serious, and little hope had been
held out for her recovery. The two
daughters and her husband We're at
the bedside when the end came.
During her long residence here,
Mrs. Silsby has endeared herself to a
large circle of friends. She has always
been active in church and club life
and had given much of her time to
the welfare of others. In
her family life, she was known to all
as q devoted wife and d kind faithful
The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1916-12-07
SENATOR GAMBLE
SPEAKS TO ELKS
GIVES ELOQUENT ADDRESS AT
ANNUAL MEMORIAL SERVIC-
ES OF ANTLERED HERD
ON SUNDAY

Especially impressive was the an
nual memorial service of the Mitchell
Elks lodge Sunday afternoon with
"a very good audience N attendance.
The program was of high order.
Following the opening ceremonies
of the lodge, Rev. n. w. Fulweiler pro
nounced the Invocation. This was fol
lowed by selection. "No Shadows
Yonder" by mixed quartette, con-
sisting of Misses Perle Wilson, Ava
Whitlow, Henry Hedeen and Bernie
Brereton, with Mrs. Henry Heleen
at the piano. The number was very
we'll rendered.
Secretary ]. H. Davis then read the
roll Of departed brothers. Loui'; Low
niger sang baritone solo, just pre-
ceding the address of the afternoon,
which was delivered by r. j. Gamble
of Sioux Falls, former United States
senator from South Dakota. w. r.
Upton presided as exalted ruler in
the absence of Geo. A. Silsby, unable
be present because of illness at
home.
In commencing his address, Mr..
Gamble gave a resume Of the Elk
history. He eulogized the purpose and
intent of the founders and praised
the worthy organization which their
efforts had produced.
After mentioning the troublesome
times through which the world Is low
passing, tho speaker declared tina. the
100000 Elks were the balance wheel
of the country, giving stability to the
nation by embracing practically its
highest type of citizenship.
High praises for the liberality of
the mcmters of the order and their
willingness to respond . all appeals
for help was voiced by taa senator
He dac.ared himself impressed hy the
simple yet fine service of the lodge
on suc: occasions as the ono of Sun
day.
Mr.. Gamble. showed through mis-
speech that he had made careful
history of the lodge, and stated that
he found its past and it's present en-
tirely commendable. Hisaddress was
tirely commendable His address was
very scholarly and appropriate quo
cations.
Following the address and another
lselection by the mixed quartette, the
closing ceremonies of the lodge were
held. Miss Whitlow sang a contraito
solo in very pleasing manner, and
Rev. Mr.. Fulweiler pronounced the
benediction.
The proportion of Elks present was
large, but there was large number
of visitors and wives of Elks in the
audience
The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1916-12-07
GRAND OPERA TOMORROW SAN
CARLOW COMPANY IN TWO
PRODUCTIONS.

Hundreds of the subscribers to the
guarantee fund of the San Carlow
Grand Opera Company which comes
to the city tomorrow for two perform
ances, reserved their seats yesterday
the special day set aside for their
convenience. and there was an equal
number on hand at the Metropolitan
box office this morning when the reg
ular public sale of seats opened. The
indications, stated Local Manager
Dix, are that every seat Will be ac-
cupied when the curtain goes up on
Verdi's three-act opera, "RlgolettO'
tomorrow afternoon. This also applies
to the evening production OF "Aida" w
that massive and spectacular work
which is such prime favorite in the
domain of song. A special car of
scenic and costuming effects Will
reach Mitchell this evening. contain
ing the "Rigoletto" equipment, and
will be accompanied by force OF the
company's expert stage hands, who
will begin at once in the transfer OF
the effects from the railroad to the
theatre, in order that the big scenic
pieces will be place promptly on time
for the curtain al q 70 loiliol io"'
The "Aida" properties will come
with the company members, who Will
arrive in Mitchell about noon tomor-
row. Impresario Fortune Gallo, man.
aging director of the organization,
will come to Mitchell with his com
many and personally supervise the
two operas. The matinee will be
directed by Signor Ugo Barducci
noted maestro of New York, and the
evening performance by Signor Car
The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1916-12-07
X Il Il sa,a Il II
Auto Argument


n II Il 4, y Il Il Il Il Il (, III Il Il Il Il y
"1'd like to know the kind OF car to
buy HOW the motor show is Open" re-
marked the friendly man to the strang-
er, as they watched taxi chauffeur
put on tire. 81 was fully decided on
a limerick until sent to some of the
other makers for their catalogs and
since I've read the 200 booklets I'm
in 4uandary. have learned the good
points of all Of them, and have read be-
tween the lines where they try to point
out the vital defects in the other fell
lows machines. l don't think I'll ever
be happy when ] do buy my auto. I'll
imagine have a piece of movable junk
for my money when l could just as
we'll have bought a real car. If l had
stuck to the limerick and taken the
limerick agents word for it when he
said his car was a marvel, would
lave peace of mind anyway"
where ignorance is bliss tits folly
to be wise in the auto game" said the
stranger. "The limerick is nice ma.
chine--for some people-but give me
a Popinjay for mine"
$50 you prefer the Popinjay, huh?"
Queried the friendly man. See, never
heard of the Popinjay till now, but the
fact will worry me! How can l be
happy in limerick if l think Popin-
Jays will be passing me on the road?''
Say" spoke up the chauffeur who
was putting on a tire, "if you want d
real bus get SiNplus. Some class to
that, believe me!'
Il don't agree with you," interrupted
the stranger. "The SiXplus is like the
SparkiX; it won't stand up on endur-
ance runs. Give me car with a long
wheel base every time'
"What part of the car is the wheel
base?" asked the friendly man. "The
limerick agent didn't speak about
that"
Good reason why" said the strang-
Ell. ut hadn't got any.
"And there are lots of other things
IL hasn't got. Take my advice, if you
don't want a Popiniay. get Upper
The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1916-12-07
II. S. PROSPECTS
BRIGHT FOR ~
NINE LETTER MEN WILL RE-
TURN TO MITCHELL HIGH
UNHEALTHY AND HALL
PICK ALL-STATE
STARS.

With record of five games won
and five lost, the Mitchell high school
football team, under the tutelage of
Coach enjamin Wheatley, closed it's
1916 season with a z to win over
it's old-time opponent Yankton. The
season has not been brilliant, as most
of the big games were lost by narrow
scores, but in view of the discourag-
ing conditions which confronted the
new coach when he arrived, the rec
ord is more than satisfactory.
When training was commenced last
fall, there were only three letter men
in school and this was made worse
by an almost total lack of men who
knew anything of the game. The re-
suit was that the coach had serious
difficulty developing men on whom
he could rely and finding out what
position his recruits were fitted to
play.
The record of the season shows vic
The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1916-12-07

hall committee be authorized to
draw specifications and secure bids
for such work.,
The water troughs throughout
the city will be equipped with auto
matte shut-off valves, so that when
the tank is full, the water will be
shut off and the sloppy conditions
which now exist around the trougns
will be prevented. The trough by
the city hall will be also moved to
the hay market.
A petition was presented asking
that light be installed in the alley
back of the j. N. Grow building.
This was referred to the light COM
|mittee. Another petition was pre-
sented asking that the popcorn
wagon near the First National bank
building be ordered moved This was
Preferred to the street and alley COM
mission. Ordinance 369. prohibiting
the burning of rubbish within the
fire zone, was placed on its first
reading.
Special assessments for the curb
on East Fifth avenue, the grading
and graveling of East Fifth, and the
grading on West Fourth were pre-
scented to the council by the city en-
|gineer and the auditor ordered to
publish them and set a date for
hearing. This was set at December
ms.
The street and alley committee
was instructed to lay off one man
and team. The city engineer was
directed to act as inspector on the
new city hospital. A four-inch
watch meter was ordered installed
at Dakota Wesleyan. After adjourn
'ment, the council informally dis
Icussed the matter Of water supply.
The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1916-12-07
LOCAL NOTES

Just opened the Miller School of
chiropractic 4th floor w. Natl. Bank,
Mr.. and Mrs. Gage p. Wright ar
rived home yesterday from their we'd
ding trip to Minneapolis.
F.. j. West, of Parker, was a Mitch
ell visitor yesterday.
Mrs. George Watson, Mrs. George
Letcher, Mrs. G.. H. Summers and
Mrs. G.. w. ellis will be hostesses to
the Baptist Ladies Aid society in the
church parlors at 3 O'Clock Thursday
afternoon.
w. F.. McMullen, II. II. McMullen,
N. S. Jamison, N. 7. Lund, George w.
Clark, and j. b. Matson of Huron,
are in Mitchell today to attend the
L. r. McMullen trial, which com
menced at O'Clock this morning.
The third number of the lecture
course is scheduled to be given tomor-
row evening in the Methodist church
when Hon. Henderson Martin, who
was formerly engaged in work in the
Philippines will give an address.
Mr. and Mrs. G. ID. Monroe, of Kim
ball, We're Mitchell visitors yesterday.
M. Casey, of kennebec, is in Nit
chell today for visit with his broth
err, VIM. Casey.
Mrs. Atlanta kunzman was granted
divorce from her husband, George
kunzman, in circuit court They were
married at Sioux Falls. Dec. 16, 1891.
Mrs. Kunzman charged that during
July, 1915, her husband beat hex and
treated her very cruelty. No defense
was made by Mr.. Kunzman
Floyd Wilder, former Mitchell
high school athlete. was reelected
captain of the Dakota Wesleyan foot
ball team at the annual football ban
quet held in the Methodist church
last evening. There was over 100 sup
porters of the team in attendance.
The speakers We're DR.. II. l. Jones,
DR.. j. S. Hoagland, Lauritz Miller,
Prof j. NJ. Scott, Coach j c. Loman,
and Captain Wilder Prof. G. III. Mil
Ter sang and the college quartet rem
dered number of selections. After
Wilders reelection, he spoke brief
ly upon the prospects for next year.
Short speeches We're given by var
ious members of the team Tie even
ing closed with number of college
songs.
The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1916-12-07


Four. The upkeep is low and It's MI
W boat. I'll take Upper every time if
I can't get a Popinjay. And let me
give you another straight tip! Whatey-
er you do don't buy Whizkar. 1t has
works IN it like dollar watch"
"Cut out that knockin' the Whiz-
kart" ex laimed the chauffeur, angrily.
II drive a Whizkar and"
$50 long boys, but that's my opin-
lon!" said the stranger. walking away.
Il wonder what kind of car that
fellow rides in?" said the friendly man.
Say, Oh scout" replied the chauf-
feur, "the car that guy rides in has
State Street marked on the front OF
ii