davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Benson signal., 1917-05-19

He Debated With Himself Whether IL
Would Not Be Better tc End II
Than to Live.
ners Of far countries, in strange CONT.
nents. These possibilities did not at.
tract him. He wantef to get away
from, out of touch with, the life he had
led, He wished to go to some place
where he could be practically alone
where he could have time to recover
his poise, to think things out, to plan
his future, to try to devise means for
rehabilitation, if it were possible. He
could do that just as well, perhaps bet
ter, in America than in any place else.
And there was another reason that
held him to his native land. He would
still tread the same soil, breathe the
same air, with the woman. He did not
desire to put seas between them.
He swore to himself that the free
dom he had offered her, that he had in'
deed forced upon her unwilling and re-
jecting it, should be no empty thing so
far as he was concerned. He would
leave her absolutely untrammeled. He
would not write to her or cOmmuni.
cate with her in any way. He would
not even seek her to hear about her
and of course as she would not know
whittier he had gone or where he was
she could not communicate with him.
The silence that had fallen between
them should not be broken even for.
ever unless and until An yes, he
could not see any way to complete that
unless and until at first, but perhaps
after a while he might.
He knew exactly where he would go.
Dick Winters, another claSSmate and
devoted friend at Cambridge, had gone
out West shortly after graduation. He
had a big cattle ranch miles from
railroad in young southwestern state
Winters, like the other member of thu
youthful triumvirate, Rodney, was
bachelor. He could be absolutely de-
pended upon. He had often begged
Meade to visit him. The engineer
would do it now. He knew Winters
would respect his moods, that he would
let him severely alone, that he could
get on a horse and ride into the hills
and do what he pleased, think out hii
thoughts undisturbed.
To Winters therefore, he had gone
He had an idea that his future would
be outside of engineering. Indeed hi
had put all thought of his chosen pro-
fession out of his mind and heart, at
least so he fancied. Yet, spending an
idle forenoon in Chicago waiting foE
the departure Of the western train, he
found himself irresistibly drawn to the
great steel-framed structures, the sky.
scrapers rising gaunt and rigid above
the other buildings Of the city.
The Benson signal., 1917-05-19

in line of promotion has been given the
level. One of the men went East last
night. You can have the job, which
is" .as.s4 s
II don't care anything about the de-
tails" said the man quickly and gladly.
''It's the work I want ...
"Well, you'll get what the rest do"
said Vandeventer. "Now, as you just
ly remarked, have found that it is
not polite out here to inquire too close
ly into mans antecedents and have
learned to respect local customs, but
we must have some name by which to
identify you, make out your pay check,
and
do you pay in checks?
'No, but you have to sign a check"
"Well, call me Smith,
Vandeventer threw back his head
and laughed. The other man turned
little red. The chief engineer observed
the CLINT in his new friends eye.
I'm not exactly laughing at you," he
explained, ssbut at the singular lack of
inventiveness of the American. We
have at least thirty Smiths out of two
hundred men on our pay roll, and it is
a bit confusing. Would youemind Sc
lecting some other name?'
eff it's all the same to you,' an
nounced the newcomer amusedlyzthe
chiefs laughter was infectious Sim
agreeable to Jones, or Brown, orr"
''We have numbers of all Of those,
too."
Really" said the man hesitatingly
81 haven't given the subject any
thought"
"What about some of your family
names?"
"That gives me an idea," said the
newcomer, who decided to use his
mothers name, "you- can call me Rob-
erts.''
"And suppose John for the prefix"
"John will do as we'll as any, am
sure"
eve have about fifty Johns. Every
Smith appears to have been born
John"
"How did you arrange it?" asked the
other with daring freedom, for rod
man does not enter conversation on
terms Of equality with the chief en-
gineer.
81 got little pocket dictionary down
at the town with list of names and
went through that list with the Smiths,
dealing them out in order. Well, that
will do for your name," he. said, maxi
ing a memorandum in the little book
he pulled out of his flannel shirt pocket.
He turned to man who had come up
to the level. "Smith," he said-'by the
way this is Mr.. Claude Smith, Mr.. Rob-
erts-here's your new rodman. You
know your job, Roberts. Get to work. !"
And that is how Bertram Meade, a
few months after the failure of the
great bridge, once again entered the
ranks of engineers, beginning, as was
necessary and inevitable, very low
down in the scale.
The Benson signal., 1917-05-19

and the letter had not been discovered
anyway. He did not even regret the
bold falsehood he had uttered or the
practical subornation of perjury Of
which he had 'been guilty in drawing
out and accepting and emphasizing
Shurtliff's testimony.
There had been no Inquest over his
fathers DEATH. The autopsy had
showed clearly heart failure. He had
not been compelled to go on the witness
stand and under oath as to that. AL
though, if that had been demanded, he
must needs have gone through with it.
Indeed so prompt and public had been
his avowals of responsibility that he
had not been seriously questioned
thereon. He had left nothing uncer'
tain. There was nothing concealed.
: He had inherited a competence from
his father. 1t. was indeed much more
than. he or anyone had expected. He
had realized enough ready money from
the sale of certain securities for his
present needs. The remainder he
placed in Shurtliff's care and few
days after the funeral, having settled
everything possible, he took train for
the West.
The whole world was before him,
and he was measurably familiar with
many portions of it. He could have
buried himself in out-of-the-way cor.
The Benson signal., 1917-05-19
(TO BE CONTINUEDl
Sweet, Younu Thinq.

I'm a local theater, one evening re-
Gently, a powerful spotlight revealed
house fly crawling over the powoereN
surface Of a pretty girls back. "Oh,
lOokie," whispered little girl, in tones
that could be heard all about her,
'lookie at the flv" "E1sh, DEAR" the
child's mother cautioned. There was 8
moments silence, then the little girl
again whispered hoarsely: "I spec thA
fly thinks he Is ON a marshmallow. ."--e
Exchange !
The Benson signal., 1917-05-19
"l Want to Stay Here a Little While
by Myself"

of the estate your present salary so
long as you live. If anything happens
to me you will have the will probated
and be governed accordingly"
"Mr. Meade" said the old man, and
he somehow found himself transferring
the affection which he had thought had
been buried beneath the sod on that
long mound before him, to the younger
man. He had loved and served a
Meade all his life and he began to see
that he could not stop now, nor could
he lavish what he had to give merely
on remembrance, 'NIr. Meade" he
said. "where are you going and what
do you intend to dor"
81 don't know where shall 60, or
what I shall undertake eventually"
said the man. 'I'm going to leave
everything behind now and try to get
little rest at first"
"And you will keep me advised of
your whereabOutsT"
s'Perhaps-I don't know. One last
injunction: you are not to tell anyone
the truth"
"God forbid" said Shurtliff, "we
have lied to preserve the honor and
fame of him we loved who lies here"
'Don't -ender our perjuries of nom
effect
'T will not sir. haven't found that
paper. / gIess it was destroyed"
81 presume so. And now, gOOd-by."
Z,
81 want to stay here a little while by
myself"
Shurtliff turned and walked away.
When he reached the road, down which
be must go, he stopped and faced about
again. Mead. was standing where he
aad been. TAe old man took off his
hat in revere 1t farewell.
Meade was not left alone. Beyond
the hillside " here his father had been
buried rose a clump of trees. Bushes
grew at their feet. A woman-should
man be burie without womans tears
had stood concealed there waiting.
Helen IllingN orth had wept over the
dreariness, the mOurnfulneSs of it all.
She had hoped that Meade might stay
after the other went and now that he
was alone she came to him. She laid
her hand upon his arm. He turned and
looked at hel
81 knew tn. t you would be here" he
said.
did you e meW
81 felt your presence"
Listen" said the woman. "YOu are
wrecking your life for your fathers
fame. A man has a right perhaps to
do with his { wn life what he will, but
when he loves woman and when he
has told her SO and she has given him
her heart, d d 1t ever occur to you
that when he wrecks his life he wrecks
hers, and ha, he right to wreck her
Me for anyo e else?"
The Benson signal., 1917-05-19

est distance between two cardinal
points, and one of the great transcon-
tinental railways bought it and began
improving it to replace it's original
rather unsatisfactory line.
The long wooden trestle which
crossed the broad, sandy depression in
front Of the town, the bed of the an
cient river, through which the Picket
Wire and further down it's affluent, the
Kicking Horse, flowed humbly and
modestly, was being replaced by a
great viaduct of steel. Far up the
The Benson signal., 1917-05-19
CHAPTER IX-continued.

"Shurtliff," said the young engineer,
after the mound had been heaped up
and covered with sods and strewn with
flowers and the workmen had gone, 81
have left everything I possess in your
charge. You have a power of attor-
ney to receive and pay out all moneys !;
to deposit, invest, and carry on my fa-
ther estate. The Office is to be.closed
and the house is to be sold. My will,
In which leave everything to Miss II
1ingworth. is in your hands. You are
empowered to draw from the revenue
The Benson signal., 1917-05-19

A man of Meade's ability will
soon find a place for himself in
any environment, and so it Is
with the young engineer. His
new start in life is described
in the next instaIIment.
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-12-06
Children CRY
FOR FLETcHER'S
Q. ASTO RIA
SPECIAL NOTICES
NOTICE

NOTICE
AT a meeting Of The Public Service
Commission of West Virginia, held
on the 30th day of November. A. D
1917, Case No. 6G3, Hope Natural Gas
Company Application to Change Rates
1t was ordered as follows:
whereas, application has this day
been filed by the Hope Natural Gas
Company for authority to change its
rates for natural gas, it is ordered
that leave be granted to any person
interested to file objection thereto
before the Commission at any time
on or before the 18th day of January.
1915: and this matter be set down
Tor hearing at meeting of the Com.
mission to be held at its offices In
the Capitol Building in the City OF
charleston on the said 18th day OF
January. 1918, at ten O'Clock a. M.
at which time any person may appear
ana mako such objection thereto as
may be deemed proper.
1T Is further ordered that the an.
plicant publish a copy OF this order
once each week for four successive
weeks IN two newspapers of opposite
polit1cs, II such there be, and of gen
eral circulation in the county or cour.
tles affected by the proposed change in
rates; and a copy of this order aud
said proposed rates be posted for pub.
tic inspection at the office of the
mayor in each of the towns affected
by the proposed change in rates for
four successive weeks prior to Jan.
uary 10, 1918; and said applicant shall
also mail to or serve on each uf its
consumers affected by the proposed
change in rates at least two weeks
prior to date of hearing written
notice in the form prescribed by the
Commission. showing that 1t has ap.
piled to The Public Service Commits.
sion for authority to change its rates,
the time and place OF such hearing,
and the rates proposed to be charged
by 1t, making due return to this Com.
mission Of the publication of notice.
the posting of rates and service of
notice on its said consumers prior to
said January Is, 1918"
HOPE NATURAL GAS co.
BY JOHN G. PEW,
Vice. President.
Dec. 6-13.20-27.
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-12-06
WEST VIRGINIA
WOMEN TESTIFY.

Parkersburg, West Va. NJ was suf.
fering from weakness and nervousness.
had the trouble common to my age.
! used DR.. Pierce's Fayorite Prescrip.
ton for this trouble and was surprised
that it helped me so much. I was glad
I took 1t, have been so much better
Cos Green ST., Parkersburg, w. Va.
Parkersburg, West Var read the
symptoms Of female trouble In DR..
Pierce's little book. It described my
case aud I made up my mind to try
the Healing Suppositories.' They
were recommended to me by lady
whom they had helped. I had inflam.
nation aud congestion and was an.
noyed and suffered from 1t until I
found these eSuppositories.' I use
them every third day and the effects
are very satisfactory. ] have used two
boxes and am now using the third.
You may use my Endorsement In any
way that will help other wonen.n-
MISS ALICE LEWIS, 2oeH Market St.,
pafkersburg, w. Va.
d.. Pierce's Favnrite Prescription e
o true friend to women In times Of
trial and ct times Of pain when the
organs arc not performing their func.
lions. For headache, backache, hot
flashes, catarrhal condition, bearing
down sensation, mental depression,
dizziness, fainting spells, lassitude and
exhaustion, women should never fail
to take this tried and true womau's
medicine.
Prepared from natures roots and
herbs, it contains no alcohol or mar.
cotic, nor any harmful ingredient.
In either tablet or liquid form. Write
DR.. Pierce, Inyalids' Hotel, Buffalo, N. Y,
to-day. Getsbook on wotueu's diseases,
Doctor Pierce,s Pleasant Pellets regu-
late and invigorate stomach, liver and
bowels. Sugnr-coated and easy to take
as candy. Put up In sealed Walls "a
perfect vest-pocket remedy.
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-12-06

Lawrence Hoffnnan left yesterday ~
nfit0 Tor : visit III Trenton, MI
4 MrSs Clarence HaWifnberry, Of near
cciurabuss Ohio. \ here for. . visit with
relatives.
Mrs. Elizabeth Wheat and daughter.
Mrs. A. N. Burt, were visitors With
friends In Fairmont yesterday.
G. q. Bonweil and II. 2. Blackshefe
returned yesterday from visit in the
East.
Everett Beatty was visitor with
Fairmont friends yesterday.
Miss Eva Matheny has gone to
elarksburg for visit with relatives.
Mr.. and Mrs. Earl +. Patterson are
guests OF friends In Wheeling.
NJ. v. MILAN returned yesterday
from a business visit In Baltimore. Md.
Mrs. Ferd 8. Basnett has returned
10 her home in Wheeling after visit
with Mrs. Dora Weaver in Locust
street.
H. r. Furbee was in Fairmont Tues.
day on business.
Mrs. Mary Underwood, who has
been the guest Of her brother. J.. s..
Haggerty and family IN Washington
street, returned to her home in Little
ton yesterday. Mrs. Haggerty accom-.
panying her home for the day.
F. C. Fuqua. OF Wheeling. Division
Operator, was here on business yester.
day.
Alex Haube and family have return.
ed from Tarentum, Pa, where they
spent the summer. Mr.. Haube will re.
sumo his old position at the Marion
Window Glass factory.
Oliver Cook, OF Cameron, was a bust.
ness visitor in the city yesterday.
Mrs. Edward Murphy has returned
to her home in Houghtown after visit
with relatives in Pittsburgh, Pa.
Mrs. Viola Brock, OF Hundred, has
returned home after short visit with
friends here.
Mrs. Ollie Lancaster and daughter
Miss Edith. and Walter Prichard left
yesterday for weeks visit In De.
troit, Mich.
Mrs. Edward q. Walters left last
evening for visit with her parents
Mr. and Mrs. C. II. Groves in Martins
Ferry, Ohio.
B. F. Wells, of Glover Gap, was a
business visitor here Tuesday.
Mrs. =. L. Cole, of Morgantown, is
the guest of friends here.
e. F. Daubenspeck, OF Parkersburg,
superintendent of the Chalmers Oil
company, was here on business yester.
day.
Mr.. and Mrs Louis Meyers and fam.
lily and Mr.. and Mrs. Moses Meyers
and daughter Miss Louise, returned
Yesterday from Quinton. N. j., where
they had spent the summer.
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-12-06
Oil and Gas.

Few competitions are reported from
the West Virginia fields. On the waters
of Indian creek, Elk district, Kanawha
county, the Ohio Fuel OIL company has
completed and shot IN the Weir sand
No. 80 on the W. G. Morris lease No.
3. 1t is showing for 10.harrel pump
er. On the same stream and in the
same district the Empire Petroleum
company has the rig completed and
started drilling at test on the W. P.
Morris farm, located 5000 feet south
OF tho test on the w. W. Hughes farm.
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-12-06
New York

NETWORK, Dec. s.-second only in
to the Presidents stirring
address to Congress Tuesday, and even
more potent as market stimulant,
was the report submitted to that body
yesterday by the Interstate Commerce
commission bearing vitality upon the
future Of the railroads Of this country.
1t Is yet too early to forecast even
to an approximate degree the effect
OF the commerce commissions recon-
mendaticns, but the course of the
stock market following the publica-
ton Of the report left no doubt OF
It's immediate significances.
Rails we're little more than irregu.
lar during the first half Of the session,
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-12-06
Pcraonals.

49, Personals.
Ernst @. Tabler left yesterday for a
business visit in Charleston.
RoyH. Stewart was visitor in Fair.
mont yesterday.
Mrs. Lee R. Kness and daughter,
Miss Katherine, have returned from a
visit with relatives in Kittanuing, Pa.
Miss Mabel Morgan has returned to
school at Buckhannon after visit
with her parents in Locust street.
4. Q. Murphy has returned from q
visit at his home IN GAINESVILLE. Ohio.
4 Or. p. F. Conway. OF Pennington.
was q business visitor here Tuesday.
y Mrs @. H. Long and Mrs. C. w.
sFriShard have returned from a visit in
Wheeling.
Mr.. and Mrs. Arthur Clayton and
daughter have returned from visit
with relatives In Fairmont.
Ola Robbins, of Akron, Ohio, is here
Dfor visit with relatives.
Arthur g. Clayton, S. NJ. Elliott and
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-12-06
HAMMOND

Mr.. and Mrs. Arthur Allender and
p. T. Henderson, Sunday.
Mr.. and Mrs. Marcellus Tough
were Sunday visitors at r. Fl. Neels.
Mr.. and Mrs. Brooks Fetty and
three children spent several days last
week at Jerome Summers. on Bun.
'ners Ridge.
Miss Lena Neel and brothers Claude
and Victor, spent Sunday with their
grandmother. Mrs. Peniuah Hender-
son.
Mr.. and Mrs. cordcr Henderson
were calling at G.. w. Lakes Sunday
afternoon.
Mr.. and Mrs. T. J. Neel we're call
ing on John X. Linn Sunday.
Mr.. and Mrs. Albert Neel and fam
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-12-06
SPECIAL NOTICES
sTocKHoLDERs' MEETING.

STOCKHOLDERS MEETING.
The annual meeting Of the stock.
holders of the First National Bank
OF Fairmont, Fairmont, w. Va, will
be held in the Chamber OF Commerce
Rooms, corner Adams and Jefferson
Street, City Of Fairmont, County Of
Marion, State of West Virginia, on
the second Tuesday in January, 1918
being the Stl day of said month at 2
P. NJ. Of said day for the election Of
Directors to serve for the ensuing year
and for the transaction of such other
business as may legally come before
said meeting.
THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK
FA1RMONT
By H. W. showaltex Vice Pres.
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-12-06
FARMS FoR SAFE

IDEAL FARM for saie-Fouf hundred
and eight acres, good house two
tenant houses. barn, peach orchard Of
1000 trees. two hundred acres OF rood
timber, sufficient supply Of water 10.
Gated on country road leading IA
Aurora, and two miles south of III. q
h. Junction, Union district. Church
and school building within otieduafl
ter mile Any further Information IA.
sired. Address II. Mcvicker, Rowles.
burg, w. Va. 11-20-2stsf26.
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-12-06
llFour Minute Men.r

The -Four Minute Men" Of Manning.
d viii begin their next campaign on
eurgday evening In the local theatres.
ey will attempt to place before the
eatre going public some very import.
1T facts which the government de.
Esireg5tp be emphasized. These facts,
which Justify our nation in its conten.
zion With the German government will
bc5 the subjects for four minute discus.
tions until the holiday season. The
speakers for the campaign are: B. E.
Mitchell, G. O. Coifman, L. G.
Schwenck, David A. Ward, r. E. Mock.
q and g. L. Broadwater, local chair.
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-12-06
.iialIana Airented-aa Pinto.

Two Italians were arrested by Chief
az Police Wilcox yesterday as they
alighted from the. ten o'clock interur-
han car. They had, between them,
thirfy.three pints Of whiskey. They
were ct once taken TO Fairmont and
placed IN jail to await q hearing.
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-12-06
FINANCE, OIL AND GAS

with new low record for st. Paul pre-.
ferred at 6S. Early reports from Wash.
iEgton were rather conflicting, but the
first intimation of the proposed sus.
pension of the Sherman law resulted In
81 rebound in which prices were carried
. to almost points above lowest lev.
els.
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-12-06
BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES
FOR sALE-At auction on snsca,nn a

FOR sALE-At auction ON pecemhar'
14th. 1917. at 10 a. M, at the Office
Newburg. Preston county, west Viz
gtnia: The Scotch Fill Coal Mine, now;
IN operation. The property consista os!
about 1000 acres of Kittanning yain.'
same amount Of Freeport and some
Pittsburgh-quantity not estimated.
The plant and equipment Is modern
and the mine is developed underground
for 600 tons daily. Kittanninr vein
$3.50 feet deep in shaft and Upper Free
port 160 feet. Shaft bottom approach.
es and pump room all concrete arch.
Electric lights, steel head FRANC ana
conveyor picking table and loading
boom, electrically operated. For infor.
nation, apply to virginia.Maryland
Coal CORPORATION. Marine BAN Bui;d.
ing, Baltimore, Md. q, I
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-12-06
Grain and Produce

CHICAGO. Dec. Corn advanced
IN price yesterday owing more or less
70 persistent smallness OF receipts de.
spite announcements of a better sup.
ply of railway cars. The market closed
firm. ss to 1c net higher, with January
s1.21%, and May s1.191a to s1.19ss.,
Oats gained rs to 1Ac and provisions
Enk, 4.
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-12-06
/. Entertained BOOK cIub.

Mrs. Winston T. Smith was hostess
70 the members Of the Book Club Tues.
DAY afternoon at her home in Clarks-
burg street.
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-12-06
Out on Clutches.

John Kennedy. who mashed his an
Lkie about ten days ago by dropping
heavy wrench on the member Is out
sgain with the aid OF pair Of crr1tch.
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-12-06

WANTED-10 laborers. Apply Mar.
ion Products Company.
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-12-06
;vVonan,s cIub Razanr.

Won1an's Club Bazaar.
The Woman's Club will hold q ba.
zaar at the Furbee Furniture store Fri.
Cay and Saturday Of this week, selling
Useful and fancy articles and good
things to eat.
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-12-06

FOR SALE OR RENT-Modern six
room house. G. G. Powell, phone
1888. 12.4-tf.S172.
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-12-06

WaNTED-Young married man who
has had at least one years exper-
fence as grocery clerk. Fine opportu.
nifty for right man in growing bus.
mess. Make application by letter and
Give at least two references. No one
need apply who uses cigarettes. Cash
Grocery Co., Locust avenue. Fairmont
W. Va. 12.3-tf SI6S
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-12-06
HOUSES FOR SALE

FUlt SALE--6.room house with bath
Big lot Apply 325 Jefferson ssrset.
l.20.tf Nh 223f
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-12-06
Pittsburgh

4,IfTSBURGH, Dec. 6.-Trading in
Pittsburgh yesterday was somewhat
more brisk, but the price levels did not
change to any great extent. United
States Steel was again weak. dropping
4 V points. There were 5.317 issues