davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-08-05
BY SEWELL FORD
8g@AgagE gagzgsag2H

some since; but at the time II ooundeA
all right. And It has the proper effect
He comes up on his toes with his hands
in the air. like he was worked oy
springs.
That's right: keep your paws up.
says ]. And. remember. IL you go 70
maxim any funny moves
why. Torchy" exclaims Wee grab
bin my shootin' arm. It's Leon"
"wha-a-a-at.". says ]. starin' at this
wabbly party among the coldslaw.
But it's Prof. Battou. all right. He's
costumed in a nightshirt, an old over
coat and a pair of rubbers. and he GER
tainly does look odd. standin' there In
the moonlight with his elbows up and
his knees knockin' one another.
We'll, well. Leon" says /. sighin' re-
lieved so it's you, is it? And we had
YOU all spotted as a second-story work.
err All right; you don't need to hold the
pose any longer. But maybe yocH ten
us what you're crawlin' around out here
in the garden for at this time OF night
He tried to. but he's had such
scare thrown into him that his con-
versation works are all gummed UP.
After we've led him into the house,
though, and he's had drink OF spring
water, he does a little better.
TT was to protect the cabbages. mon
sieur." says he.
"Eh?" says l. Protect 'em from
what"
There is a wicked worm" says Leon,
which does his evil work In the night.
All. such a sly beast, And so destruc-
tive, Just at the top of the young
root he eats-snip, snip! And In the
morning i find that two. four, some
times six tender plants he has cut OK
I am enrage. .Ha" I say. I viii dfs,
cover you yet at your mischief 30
cannot sleep for thinking. But i mao
found him: yes. two. And l was searcn-
ing for more when monsieur
Yes, I know" says l. He's glamour
worried at the old pistol I'm still holdin
in my hand. My error. Leon. l might
have guessed. And as the clocks JUST
strikin' three. think we'd all better M, ,s
the hay again. Come on, Wee; It's All
: over"
And. in spite Of that half hour or 90
of time out I was up earlier than usual
in the mornin'. I had little JOB 70 90
that I'd planned out before i went 70
sleep again. As soon as I'm dressed 1
slips downstairs. takes that turkish
pistol and chucks IL into the mlouie OF
the pond. I'll never know whether ~
was loaded or not. ! don't wanS 10
know. For II IT had been "eiA
what's the use?
. Comm. back in through the kitchen.
finds Leon busy dishin' up toast ano
eggs He glances at me nervous, ano
! then hangs his head. But ne gets ou'
II trust monsieur is not displeaseo.
, saws he. 1T was not wise for me q
: walk about at night. But those WICKED
} worms. Still. II monsieur desires. y
| shall not occur again. ] ask pardon.
l Now, that's all right, Leon. says
+, soothin'. Don't worry. When II comes
to playin' the boob act, guess we spn,
/ about ffty-ffty. I'd a little rather yos
, didn't, but IL you must hunt the WICK
worm at night, why. go TO II 10y
won't run any more risk of being sno'
, up by me. For I've disarmed
j Copyright. 1917. by seweIl gordS =
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-08-05

already stated. preceded his brothers
by several minutes, and consequently
Arabella became the chief legatee: and
that is how she obtained her millions.
But-and here startling feature
comes in-when the will came to be
administered. the secret underlying the
break between Frank and his Wife was
brought to light by the revelation of
the fact that he had practiced great
deception upon her at the time OF ms
marriage. Instead of being bachelor.
as was currently believed, he was in
reality a Widower. and the father OF a
child. This fact, so long held secret.
had become hers when her own child
was born: and, constituted as she was
she not only never forgave the father,
but conceived such hatred for the
innocent object of their quarrel that
she refused to admit it's claims. or even
to acknowledge it's existence.
But later-after his death. in fact-she
did the generous thing and took the for
saken girl into-her own home. But she
never betrayed the least love Tor her
her whole heart being bound up In her
son. who was. az all agree. a prodigy
Of talent.
But this boy, for all his promise and
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-08-05
TORCHY In THE GAZINKUS CLASS

wait: maybe he'll fall into the pond
How absurd" says Wee. No: we
must do something right away"
"of course" says L I'll shout and
doin'."
Don't" says Wee. There may be 9TH
ers-in the house. And before you let
him know you see him, you ought to be
armed. Get your revolver"
AT that 1 just gawped at Wee. for she
knows we'll enough / don't own any
thing more deadly than a safety razor.
and that all the gun-play l ever IN
dulged in was once or twice at Coney
Island shooting gallery where 1 slaugh-
tered a clay pipe by aiming at a glass
ball
"'Whaddye mean, revolver" I asks.
"S-s-s-sh" says she. There's that
Turkish pistol, you know. that Mr.
Shinn left hanging over the mantel In
the living room"
Think it's loaded" I whispers.
at might be-" says Wee. Anyway. IT'S
better than nothing. Let's get it."
"All right" says /. Soon as ] gel
something on. Just sec"
So jumps into a pair of trousers and
a coat and some bath slippers. while
Wee throws on dressin'-sack. We
feels our way sleuthy downstairs. ano
after rappin' my shins on couple oil
rockers, | gets down the old pistol. It's
a curious. wicked-lookin' antique about
two feet long, with a lot of carving ant
silver inlay on the barrel I'd never ex,
amined the thing to see how IL worked
but it feels sort. of comfortin' just e
grip 1t in my hand. We unlocks th'
back door easy.
''Now, you stay inside, vee." says
while I go scoutin' and
NO, indeed" says Wee. Il am going
too"
But you mustn't" I insists.
Hush says she. II shall"
And she did. So we begins our mrs
burglar hunt as twosome, ano L mus
say there's other sports / enjoy more
pin as easy as we can. and keepin
the shadow most of the time.
Guess he must have skipped" says
But he was here only a momen
ago" says Wee Don't you Know "
saw him-Oh, OH"
1 don't blame her for gaspin'- No
twenty feet ahead of US, crouchin' dow
in the cabbage patch. is the villain. Jus
why he should be tryin' to hide anohl
a lot of cabbage plants not over thre
inches high. / don't stop TO think All
knew was that here was some on
prowlin' around at night on my prem
ises, and all in aflash 1 begins to Sc
red. Swingin' Wee behind me, 1 unilm
bers the old pistol and COCKS IL dldh
care whether this was the open seaso
for burglars or not I wanted TO ge
this one, and get him hard
Must have been a minute or NOR
that / had him covered, tryin' to steao
NV arm so 1 could keep the muzzi
pointed straight at his back. when a
of a sudden he lifts his right hand an
begins scratchin' his ear somehow
that breaks the spell Why should
burglar hump himself on his hands an
: knees in a truck patch and stop I
| scratch his ear?
Hey, you!" I sings out real crisp. j..
Maybe that amt quite the way /.
omen a line of chat with midnigh
maurauder I've been kidded about
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-08-05

honest love and unqualified respect
Perhaps he never did cherish any other
Perhaps the change which every one
saw in the young couple immediately
after the birth of their only child was
due to another cause. but from this
time evidences of a growing estrange-
ment between them became so obvious
that even the indulgent Andrew could
not blind himself to it. He was In the
company of his brother when the ac-
cident occurred which terminated both
their lives. 1t was the old story OF
skidding motor. and Mrs. Postlethwaite.
having been sent for in great haste to
the small inn into which the two in
jured men had been carried. arrived
only In time to witness their last mo-
ments. Frank died first and Andrew
some few minutes later-an important
fact, as was afterward shown when
the latter's will came to be read.
This will was a peculiar one. By its
provisions the bulk Of the kings great
property was left to his brother Frank.
but with this special stipulation that
in case his brother failed to survive
him, the full legacy as bequeathed to
him should be given Internationally to
his widow. Franks demise. a. I have
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-08-05

walton. and she went on with the bust
ness previously occupying us.
l was able to do my part without
any too great display of my own DIS
turbance. But this did not prevent the
ebb and flow within me of an under
current of thought full of question ana
uneasiness. The few, but certainly
unusual. facts which had been given
me in regard to the extraordinary rela-
lions existing between these two close
ly connected women Will explain the
intensity of my interest.
Arabella Merwin. when young. was
gifted with peculiar fascination
which, as we have seen. had not alto
gether vanished with age. Consequently
she had many lovers. among them two
brothers. Frank and Andrew Postle-
thwaite. The latter was the older. the
handsomer and the more prosperous,
but ii was Frank she married.
That real love, ardent If unreason-
able. lay at the bottom of her choice. is
evident enough to those who followed
the career of the young people But IT
was a Jealous love which brooked no
rival. and as Frank Postlethwaite was
of an impulsive and erratic nature.
scenes soon occurred between them
which led to no serious break till after
her son was born. and this. notwith-
standing the fact that Frank had long
given up making living. and that
they were openly dependent on their
wealthy brother, now fast approaching
the millionaire status
This brother. though cherishing his
affection for the spirited Arabella to the
point Of remaining a bachelor for her
sake. betrayed none of the usual signs
of disappointed love: but. on the con-
trary made every effort to advance
her happiness not only by assuring to
herself and husband an adequate In
come. but by doing all he could to
lessen any sense she might entertain of
her mistake in preferring for her life-
mate his self-centered and unstable
brother She should have adored him,
but there is nothing to prove that she
, ever gave Frank Postlethwaite the
least cause to cherish any other senti-
meht toward his brother than that OF
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-08-05

lendin' me one of his expert Dago soil
disturbers. at S1.75 per-and with Wee
bossin' him she got the whole job done
in half a day. After that I begun to en-
joy gardenin' a bit more. I'm gettin'
to be a real shark at 1t. too And am
bilious, You ought to hear me.
How about havin' a couple more
lanes of string beans laid out?" I sug-
gests. And maybe few hundred
mounds of green corn, eh?'
And then I can watch Joe start the
enterprise with pillow and an old white
horse. and 1 can go to the office feelin'
that, no matter how much l seem to be
soldierin', as a matter of fact I'm put
tim in a full days work. When l get
back in 1.-THE afternoon. the first thing I
want to see is how much I've got done.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-08-05

- EXPECT TIL get used to It all in
time This rural stun. I mean. But
IL amt goin' to como easy. When
q you've been brought up to think of
home as some place where you've got a
right to leave your trunk as long as you
pay the rent prompt joint where you
have so many square feet of space on
q certain floor. and maybe eight or ten
inches of brick and plaster between
you and a lot of strangers-and then
all OF sudden you switch to whole
house that's all yours, with gobs of land
all around 1t, and trees and bushes and
things that You can do what you like
with-weIi. it's sort OF staggerin at
first
why, the day Wee and moved into
this Harbor Hills place that I'd made
the swift trade for with MacGregor
Shinn, we just had our baggage dump
ed in the middle of the Twin room,
went scoutin' around from one room to
another for over an hour. kind of nutty
and excited.
"oh, look, Torchyw Wee would ex-
claim about twice a minute when she
discovered something new.
You know, we'd been in the house only
once before. and then wed looked
around just casual. And il you want TO
you think you're lookin'. you want to
make a deal like than once-buy n
joint just as il stands. and then, few
days after, camp down in II and tot up
what you've really got Why. say, you d
most thought we'd been blindfolded
that first time.
Course, this was different Now we
was takip. stock, you might say. OF the
things we was goin' to live with. And,
believe me. I never had any idea Ia
a collection. 4
slice of the U. S. A
aonIy think. Torchy." says Wee. after
we've made the rounds inside. Ten
rooms. just for u.s.,
says l. But there's more outside. ain
there?
Yep. there was. There was an old
stable that had been turned into a gar
age, with a couple of rooms finished off
upstairs Then there was a carriage
shed, with more rooms over that, also a
chickenhouse beyond. And slowed away
in odd corners was all kinds of junk
that might be more or less useful TO
have: A couple of lawn mowers, an OLD
sleigh hoisted up on the. rafters OF the
carriage house, weird old buggy. a
pillow. a grindstone. a collection OF old
chairs and sofas that had seen better
days, a birch-bark cauoe-things like
that.
Then there was our lily pond We
had to walk all round that, poke IN
with pole to see how deep 1t might be.
and wonder II there was any hsh IN II:
On beyond was some trees-apple ana
pear and cherry, accordin' to Wee, and
way at the back a tall cedar hedge
why It s almost an estate, says
Wee. Nearly five acres. you know HOW
does 1t seem, Torchy. to THINK that all
this Is ours?'
How" says l. why. 1 feel like ]
was the Grand Gazinkus of Gazook
But. at that my feelin's want a
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-08-05

what do you call that?"
Wee chuckles. Didn't you see the calf
up at Mr.. Roberts?" she asks WELL
that's the old COW calling to him."
IF she feels as bad as that" says l.,
'I wish she'd wait until mornin' to ex-
press herself. That's the most dolefui
sound l ever heard. Come on: lets go in
while you tinkle out something lively
and cheerin' on the piano"
never thought 1 was one of the timid
kind, either. Course, I'm no Carnegie
hero. or anything like that; but I've
city without developin' case of nerves
Out here, though, it's different. Two or
three evenin's now I've felt almost
jumpy. just over nothing at all, II
seems.
Maybe that's why 1 didn't show up
any better, here the other night, when
Wee rings in this silent alarm on me. !
was certainly pourdin' my ear indus
trfous when gradually 1 gets the idea
that some one is shakin' me by the
shoulders. It's Wee.
'Torchy," she whispers husky. Get
up"
"Eh?" says I, pryin' my eyes open re-
luctant. Get up? Wha-wha' for?"
"Oh, don't be stupid about it," says
she i've been trying to rouse you for
Ave minutes. Please get up and come to
the window"
Nothing doing" says I. snugglin' into
the pillow again. I'm busy =, to-.
But you must" says she. Listen
think some one is prowling around the
house.
Let 'em ramble. then" says l. What
do we care?
But suppose it's "a burglar" she
whispers.
I'll admit that gives me a goose flesh!
feelin' down the spine. It's such dis
turbin' word to have sprung on you II
the middle of the night.
N
Sort" says l.
But I'm sure I saw some one JUS
now, when I got up to fix the shade
insists Wee. Some one who stepped on
into the moonlight right there, oetMeef
the shadows of those two trees Thei
he disappeared out that way. Come ant
look"
Well, I was up by then, and hal
awake SO 1 tries to peer out into TN
back yard. I'm all Tor grantlh gen
eral alibi, though.
maybe you was only dreamin'. Wee.
says 1. Anyway. let's wait until morn
in, and then"
There" she breaks in. excited Jus
beyond the garden trellis. Sec!
, Yep. There's no denyin' that some on
is sneakin' around out there. First OF
, I thought 1t might be female IN
white skirt and raincoat; but Whel
we gets the head shown plain anoN
. some bushes we can make out mus
tache.
ats a man. gasps Wee. clutching m
by the sleeve
''Uh-huh," says T. $50 1t is
/ "Well?" says Wee.
, expect that was my cue to com
. across with the bold and noble acts
But, somehow, didn't yearn to dash GU
. into the moonlight in my pa]amas an
| mix in rough with total stranger. bu
7 didn't mean to give it away if l coul
help it.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-08-05

out after dinner for a spell and made
me sit with her watchin for the moon
to come up. do it, but it Amt anything
Tn strong for. / can't see the per-
centage in starin' out at nothing at all
but black space and guessin' where the
driveway is or what them dark streaks
are Then, there's SO many weird sounds
/ can't account for.
What's all that jinglin' going on?"
asks the other evenin'. Sounds like a
squad of junkmen comm up the pike.
"Sillyw says Wee. Frogs, of course"
"Oh" says l.
Then listens some more. until some
thing else breaks loose. It's sort of q
cross between the dyfn' moan of a gyas-
tacutus and the whine of a subway ex-
press roundin' a sharp curve.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-08-05

But II l keep on tacklin' all the odd
jobs she sizes me on to. I'll be able to
qualify pretty soon as a boss carpenter.
a master plumber. and an expert cleo
trician.
Course, gouge myself now and then
My knuckles look like I'd been mixin'
In a food riot. and I've spoiled two per-
fectly good suits of clothes. But can
point with pride to at least three doors
that I've coaxed into shuttin'. I've solv-
ed the mystery of what happens to win
dow weight when the sash-cord breaks
and I've rugged up two droplights with
out gettin' myself electrocuted or askin
any advice from Mr.. Edison.
Which reminds me that what I can't
seem to get used to about the country
is the poor way it's lighted up at night.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-08-05

You know our place is out couple OF
miles from the village and the railroad
station; and, while we got electric
bulbs enough in the house. outside there
ain't a lamppost in sight. Dark! Say.
after pm. you might as well be Twin
in a subcellar with the sidewalk
gratin' closed. Honest. the only glim
we can see from out front porch is
flicker from the porte cochere at the
ElIinses' up on the hill. and most OF
that is cut of by trees and lilac bushes
Wee don't seem to mind. though. These
mild evenin's recent, she's dragged me
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-08-05

Not that I'm able to duck all kinds OF
labor that way. Believe me. country
place is no loafn' spot. especially when
it's new. or you're new to 1t. Wee tends
to that Say. that girl can think up
more odd forms of givin' me exercise
than a bunch of foot ball coaches
movin' bureaus. hangin' pictures, put
tin up curtain-rods. Akin door-catches,
and little things like that.
Up to a few weeks ago all I knew
about saws and screw-drivers and SO on
vas that they were shiny things dis
played in the hardware store windows.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-08-05

"what?" I gasps Want me to exca-
vate all that? Hal-lup"
Pooh" says Wee. 1T will do you
good"
Maybe she thought so. But I knew 1t
wouldn't. So chases up the hill to the
Ellins place, and broke in on Mr.. Robert
just as he's fnishin breakfast.
Say" says I, you ain't got a baby
grand steam shovel or anything like
that around the place. have you?"
He says he's sorry, but he amt.
When he hears what I'm up against.
though, he comes to the rescue noble by
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-08-05

WOMAN difficult to under
us IN stand A mysterious house
N\ possibly a mysterious
q - crimer'
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-08-05

CONTINUED on Fifth Page-l
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-09-29
SOLON

Mr.. and Mrs. Alva Foss have been
in Athens this week where they form
erly resided. greeting old acquaint-
ances and attending tho fair.
A move in. the right direction is be-
ing made and that is to clear Up one
Of the old graveyards in the town. II
is known as the Pierce Cemetery. Each
Saturday in October has been set
aside for work and all who have rel
atives or friends buried there are in
vited to assist in the work. 1t is I'M
derstood that it is further planned to
have about thirteen stones erected
in the yard.
Mrs. Lottie Roberts attended the
Athens fair and served as q member
Of the awarding committee at the
baby show.
The local Daughters of the Ameri-
can Revolution are to hold a meet
ing at Gray's Tavern, Friday after
noon, October S. Mrs. Viola Gray and
Mrs. Alta MSfntire will be the hostess
ses.
One Of the features Of the coming
fair to be held next Tuesday will be
show by the War Relief Workers.
The Ladies Aid will meet Monday
next with Miss Olive Lander.
The ashes OF Summer Jewett, ma
tive Of Scion, but lately. Of Boston. who
died and was cfemated last winter.
rave been placed in the cemetery at
South Colon.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-09-29
NATIONAL HOME

Officer of the day, Capt. Stephen l.
Watson.
H. c. Crockett. late Co. F. 18th Me
Inf, has been taken up T. A. P, await
ing admission.
Cornelius A. Myers of South Shafts
bury VT, late Co. F. 18th n. Y. Cav.
has been re-admitted to the Home.
Burroughs We're granted Friday to
jeremiah J. Callahan to Guilford and
Thomas F. Nolan to Lowell.
The returns from furloughs Friday
were James Darney from Worcester
John Keefe from Boston, and Charles
w. Colson from Machiasport.
The remains of the late Daniel J.
Lovejoy were sent Friday to Orono for
burial.
The funeral Of the late Joseph Tufts
Jr.. will be held from the Home chap
ell at A. NJ. Saturday. Rev. c. H.
Temple officiating.
Mrs. B. W. Theme has gone to
Portland to visit her daughter, Mrs
Joseph LeGault.
Religious services at the Home
chapel Sunday morning will be held
as follows: Mass and sermon by Rev
FIR. Mclaughlin at 9. A. NJ. and Pro-
testant services by Rev. c. II. Temple
at 1898 A. NJ: Catholic services at the
hosntal at s A. NJ.
Edwin e. Lewis, chief engineer al
the Branch for the past 20 wears will
finish his duties September 80. He will
reside In Gardiner on WASHINGTON
street. where he recently purchased =
fine home.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-09-29
10000 MILES
Of Flooded Territory in
Chill Province
Water Still Rises in Flooded Tisn Tsin
Chinese Farpsrs Cut Dikss and
Yellow River Returns TO Ancient
Course

Pekin, Sept. 25.-The water is stiu ris-
Ing in the flooded city of Tien Tsin, ac-
cordins to advices reaching here The
electrical service and the water supply
have been completely disarranged and the
steamer service has discontinued between
Tien rsin and Shanghai Small boats are
inadequate for the rescue work owing to
the turbulent waters and the great num-
Der OF homeless. 1t Is estimated that $780,
ooo square miles in the province of Chilli
have been flooded with heavy loss Of life.
The railways between Pekin and Marking
and connecting Pekin and Hankow have
been washed out in many places.
1t is reported that farmers living on the
south side of the Yellow river have cut
dykes or. the north side of the stream in
order to save themselves. Their efforts
have caused the food waters TO diverge
. into the ancient channel which was dug
by the way of Tien Tsin and abandoned
centuries ago.
A portion OF the Italian concession in
Tien Tsin arti1cially built 20 feet higher
than the other concessions. is the only
dry part Of the city. The railway from
Pekin to Tien Tsin and Mukden is still
operating.