davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Parma herald. (Parma, Idaho) 1903-1917, 1917-04-12
CHAPTER VIII.
A Gun of Coffee.

He was willing, after a long and
bootless search, to confess to himself
that he would rather see Nan Morgan
for one minute than all women else in
the world for a lifetime. The other
incidents of the evening would have
given any ordinary man enough food
for rehection-indeed they did force
De Spain to realize that his life would
hang by a slender thread while he
remained at Sleepy Cat and continued
TO brave the rulers of the sinks.
But this danger, which after all was
n portion of his responsibility in free
ing his stages from the depredations
of the Calabasas gang. failed to make
on him the moving impression of one
moment of Nan Morgans eyes. There
was in the whole world nothing ne
wanted to do so much as in some way
to please her-yet it seemed his Ill
luck to get continually deeper into
her bad graces. Every day thar he rode
across the open country. his eyes
turned to the far range and 10 Music
mountain. The rounded distant, i'm.
mutable peak-majestic as the sun
cold as the stars, shrouding in its un-
known businesses the mysteries of the
ages and the secrets of time-meant
TO him now this mountain girl whom
IFS solitude sheltered and to whom his
thoughts continually came back.
within two weeks ne became des-
perate. He rode the gap trail from
Sleepy Cat again and again for miles
and miles in the effort to encounter
her He came TO know every ridge
and hollow on it, every patch and
Stone between the lava beds and the
Rat river. And in spite of the coun-
sells of his associates, who warned him
20 beware Of traps, he spent, under
one pretext or another much of the
time either on the stages to and from
Calabasas or in the saddle toward Nor
Igan's gap looking for Nan.
: Killing tire in this way after a
fruitless ride his persistence was one
The Parma herald. (Parma, Idaho) 1903-1917, 1917-04-12
CHAPTER vIl-continued.


Logan pushed back his chair. AS ne
turned his legs from under the table
to rise, a hand rested on his shoulder
He looked up and saw the brown
face and feeble smile of Scott. Logan
with his nearest foot kicked Sandusky
The big fellow looked up and around
Either by chance or in following the
sound of the last voice, his glance fell
on De Spain. He scrutinized for a
suspicious instant the burning eyes and
the red mark low on the cheek. While
he did so-comprehension dawning on
him-his enormous hands, fOrsaking
the pile of chips with which both had
been for a moment busy, fattened out
palms down, on the faro table. Logan
tried to rise. SCOTS hand rested heaV-
lily on him. "What's the row." de-
manded Sandusky in the queer tone
of a deaf man. Logan pointed at De
Spain. 'That Medicine Bend duck
wants a fight"
with a man, Logan; not with q
cub" retorted De Spain, matching in
suit with insult.
Maybe 1 can do something for you
interrupted Sandusky. His eyes ran
like a flash around the table. He saw
how Lefever had pre-empted the best
place in the room. He looked up and
back at the man standing now at his
shoulder. and almost between Logan
and himself. 1t was the Indian, Scott.
Sandusky felt, as his faculties cleared
and arranged themselves every in
slant that there was no hurry what
ever about lifting his hand; but he
could not be faced down without a
show of resistance, and he concluded
that for this occasion his tongue was
the best weapon. eff 1 can, he added
stifIly, I'm at your service"
De Spain made no answer beyond
keeping his eyes on Sandusky's eyes.
Tension, overhearing the last words,
awoke to the situation and rose from
his case. He made his way through
the crowd around the disputants and
brusquely directed the dealer to close
the game. While Sandusky was cash
ing in, Tension took Logan aside. What
Tension said was not audible, but it
sufficed to quiet the little fellow. The
only thing further to be settled was as
to who should leave the room last
since neither party was willing to go
first. Tension, after formal con-
ference with Lefever and Logan, Of
fered to take Sandusky and Logan by
a private stairway to the billiard room,
while Lefever took De Spain and Scott
out by way of the main entrance. This
was arranged, and when the railroad
men reached the street rain had ceased
falling.
Scott warned De Spain to keep with
in doors, and De Spain promised to do
so. But when they left him he start
ed out at once to see whether he could
not, by some happy chance, encounter
Nan.
The Parma herald. (Parma, Idaho) 1903-1917, 1917-04-12
HAVE SEIZED FLEET
Federal Officials Take Over In
termed German Ships.
ACT UNDER M'ADoo'S ORDERS
Vessels Now in American Ports Are
Declared to Have Tonnage of
About COZ, Ooo-FIower of
Teuton Empires Marine.

New York, April 6.--Federal officials
seized German merchant vessels that
took refuge in Atlantic ports at the
beginning of the war; almost imme-
diateIy after congress passed the resO-
luton declaring state Of war be
tween the United States and Germany.
The collector of the port ut Boston
was the first to act.
Port officers acted on orders issued
by the secretary of the treasury. It is
understood that this move does not
involve confscation and that the yes
sells are held for the present as a
measure Of safety.
German vessels now in American
ports number 81, with a gross tonnage
of about 100000 This includes %
ships in refuge at the Philippine
islands, II at Honolulu and one at
Pagopago, a port Of the Pacific islands.
The ships lying at their slips at the
Hamburg American and North German
Lloyd docks at New York and HO-
boken include some of the flower Of
the German merchant marine. The
Vaterland, one of the largest vessels
in the world. is by far the most valu-
able. Next in size is the George Wash.
ington. 25,5TO tons. Others of more
than 5000 tons are the President
Grant, President Lincoln and Kaiser
Wilhelm II. Four Austrian steamships
also are tied up here.
The ships taken, with their value
and tonnage, is officially announced as
follows:
The Parma herald. (Parma, Idaho) 1903-1917, 1917-04-12

day most unexpectedly rewarded. He
had ridden through a hot sun from
| Sleepy Cat to Calabasas, where he had
an appointment to meet Scott and Lee
fever at five o'clock. When De Spain
! reached the Calabasas barn, McAlpin,
the barn boss, was standing in the
/ doorway. you'd never be comm
from Sleepy Cat in the saddle % ex-
claimed McAlpin incredulously. De
Spain nodded affirmatively as he dis
mounted. Hot ride, sir; a hot day."
commented McAlpin as he called a
man to take the horse, unstrapped De
| SPANS coat from the saddle, and fol
| lowed the manager into the office.
The heat was oppressive, and De
Spain unbuckled his cartridge belt,
slipped his revolver from the holster,
mechanically stuck it inside his trou-
sers waistband, hung the heavy belt
/ up under his coat, and, sitting down,
called for the stage report and asked
| whether the new blacksmith had So
bered up. When McAlpin had given
/ him all minor information called for,
De Spain walked with him out into the
barn to inspect the horses. Passing
( the very last of the box-stalls, the
manager saw in it a pony. He stopped
This wiry, sleek-looking roam, con-
tentedly munching at the moment some
company hay, was Nan Morgan's.
whats that horse doing here?" de-
mandcd De Spain coldly.
Before answering, the barn boss
eyed De Spain very carefully to see
how the wind was setting, for the
pOny's presence confessed an infrac-
ton of a very particular rule. you
see" he began, cooking at his strict
boss from below his visorless cap a
questioning Scotch eye, 81 like to keep
on good terms with that Morgan gang.
Some of them can be very ugly. That
little pony is Nan MOrgan's."
whats her horse doing here?"
asked De Spain.
McAlpin made even the most fncon-
sequential approaches to a statement
with a keen and questioning glance.
THE girl went up to the Cat on the
early stage, sir. She's coming back
this afternoon"
what is she riding away over here
to Calabasas for to take the stage, in
stead of riding straight into Sleepy
Cat?"
Once more McAlpin eyed him care
fully. "The girls been sick"
"Sick?"
"She amt really fit to ride a step"
confded the Scotch boss with growing
confidence. But she's been going up
two or three times now to get some
medicine from Doc Torpy-that's the
way of it. There's a nice girl, sir
in bunch O. ruffians, I know-thOugh
old Duke she lives with, he amt a
haIf-bad man except for too many
cards. 1 used to work for him-but
1 call her a nice girl. Do you happen
to know herr"
De Spain had long been on guard.
1--WE spoken with her in a business
way once or twice. I can't really say
I know her. Anything sick, Jim?"
asked De Spain. walking on down the
The Parma herald. (Parma, Idaho) 1903-1917, 1917-04-12

| you kindly, sir, Pm sure. 1t comes
high to live out here, Mr.. de Spain"
"What did you say" asked De Spain
indifferently, had been the matter with
Nan Morgan?" Her name seemed a
whole mouthful to speak, so fearful
was he of betraying interest.
"Why, 1 really didn't say, sir. And
1 don't know. But from what she says,
and the way she coughs, Pm thinking
1t was a touch of this p-new-monia
that's going around so much lately,
sir"
His listener had already made all
arrangements to meet the occasion now
presenting itself. Circumstances
seemed at last to favor him, and he
looked at his watch. The down stage
bringing Nan back would be due in
| less than an hour.
'Jim," he said thoughtfully, you
are doing the right thing in showing
some goodwill toward the Morgans."
snow, I'm glad you think that, sir"
''You know / Internationally rubbed
their backs the wrong way in dragging
| Sassoon out"
They're jealous of their power, 1
know-very jealous"
"This seems the chance to show that
have no real animosity myself toward
the outfit"
Since De Spain was not looking at
him, McAlpin cooked two keen and
| curious eyes on the sphinxIike birth
mark of the very amiable speakers
face. However, the astute boss, if he
wondered, made no comment. "When
The Parma herald. (Parma, Idaho) 1903-1917, 1917-04-12
United States a Formidable Foe.

Washington, April 6.-Into the bal
ance against Germany the United
States throws a navy in strength and
efficiency among the foremost afIoat;
an army comparatively small bur high
ly efficient, backed by ctzenry OF
upward of 2O,GO0GOO capable Of mill
tary duty; Industrial resources incom-
para5ly the greatest in the world, and
the moral force of more than 100000
600 Americans awakened to their coun-
try's peril and united behind their
president with a patriotic fervor re-
incarnatIng the spirit Of 'I6.
The Parma herald. (Parma, Idaho) 1903-1917, 1917-04-12
The EdeIweiss.

The tourist in the Alps wears a
bunch of edelweiss as evidence of
prowess in scaling high peaks, for it
is q matter of common belief that this
is a plant found only in lofty and not
easily accessible places, also that it is
peculiar to the Alps. In his book of
Alpine rambles E. S. Salisbury revises
these impressions. In the Alps the
plant is really one of the heights, and
seeking it in the wild state below
about $500 feet is useless. Under
cultivation, however, it grows In much
lower regions, even far from the noun
tains, magnificent specimens having
been seen in a garden in Ireland. The
wild edelweiss is also not confined to
Switzerland, but is a widely distrib-
uted mountain plant found on almost
alI mountain ranges of the northern
hemisphere. and is abundant even in
the comparatively low attitudes of the
Siberian steppes. The flower is priced
not for rarity but for its intrinsic
beauty. and because it is so eminently
characteristic of alpine regions. The
white. starlike flower-heads are con-
spfcuously uncommon in the fact that
the woolly rays are only the incloslng
braets of the flower cluster, and not
trap-shaped petals such as are met
with in the daisies and chrysanthe-
NUNS.
The Parma herald. (Parma, Idaho) 1903-1917, 1917-04-12

!
the stage comes in" continued De
Spain quietly, "have the two grays-
Lady and Ben-hitched to my own
light wagon. I'll drive her over to the
gap myself"
1.-The very thing" exclaimed Meal
pin, staring and struggling with his
breath.
I'm some way I've happened, both
! times 1 talked with her, to get in
wrong -understandT" McAlpin, with
clearing wits, nodded more than once.
mo fault of mine; it just happened
so. And she may not at first take
kindly to the idea of going with me-"
81 see."
But she ought to do it. She will
be tired-it's a long, dusty ride for a
well woman, let alone one that has
been ILL.,"
so it is, so it is"
De Spain looked now shameleSsly at
his ready-witted aid. See that her
pony is lame when she gets here
can't be ridden. But you'll take good
care of him and send him home in
few days-get it?"
McAlpin half closed his eyes. Hell
be so lame it would stagger a cowboy
to back him ten feet-and never be
hurt a mite, neither. Trust mep
"If she insists on riding something.
or even walking home" continued De
Spain obviously, for he felt instinc-
lively that he should have the task of
his life to induce Nan to accept any
kind of a peace-offering, "IlI ride or
walk with her anyway. Can you sleep
me here tonight, on the hayT"
"Sleep you on a hair mattress, sir.
You've got room right here upstairs /;
didn't you know that?"
With arrangements so begun, De
Spain walked out of doors and looked
redecdvely up the Sleepy Cat road.
One further refinement in his appeal
for Mans favor suggested itself. She
would be hungry, possibly faint in the
heat and dust, when she arrived. He
returned to McAlpin: where can l
get a good cup of coffee when the
stage comes in?"
"Go right down to the inn, sir. It's
a new chap running tia half-witted
man from Texas. My wife is cooking
there off and on. She'll fix you up a
sandwich and a cup of good coffee"
1t was four o'clock, and the sun beat
fiercely on the desert. De Spain walked
down to the inn unmindful of the heat.
In summer rig, with his soft-shirt col
lar turned under, his fOrearms bare,
and his thoughts engaged, he made his
way rapidly on, looking neither to the
right nor the LETT.
as ne approached the weather-beaten
nile it looked no more inviting in sun
shine than it had looked in shadow
and. true to its traditions, not a living
being was anywhere to be seen. The
door of the office stood ajar. De Spain.
pushing It all the way open, walked in.
No one greeted him as he crossed the
threshold, and the unsightly room was
still bare of furnishings except for the
bar. with its two broken mirrors.
De Spain pounded on the bar. His
effort to attract attention met with no
response. He walked to the left end
of the bar, lifted the handrail that
lnclosed the space behind 1t. and
The Parma herald. (Parma, Idaho) 1903-1917, 1917-04-12
WeIcomes Amerfca,s Entrance in Wa

Ottawa, Ont-Entrance of the Unit
ed States into the war against Ger
many was characterized by Sir Ed
ward Morris, premier of Newfound-
land, as the most momentous act that
has occurred since Germany pro-
claimed war;" according to a dispatch
from London. received by the agency
here of the Reuter- Telegram company.
Not only is it important as regards
the war, but in its future effect in the
participation of the United States in
the permanent peace Of the world he
declared
The Parma herald. (Parma, Idaho) 1903-1917, 1917-04-12
WITH NAN MoRGAN--HE FALLS INTO A TRAP LAID
BY THE GANG AND FACES IMMEDIATE DEATH

region around Sleepy the
Rocky mining country robbers
gunner the Morgan
Morgan valley 20 miles
Caabaas, the horses
Thief railroad
Jefe superintendent break
dpredaons appoints Henry
with John LeFeve Bob Scott In
Deaf Sandusky fooishly
ten with pretty Morgan
lures nstalmnt De Spain his aids
ing pick with Logan and Sandusy in gambling house
The Parma herald. (Parma, Idaho) 1903-1917, 1917-04-12
Diplomatic Parson.

THE congregation paid up every
cent of my back salary this morning,
announced the village parson.
"How in the world did they happen
to do that? queried his wife.
~ announced from the pulpit" ex-
planned the good man, that unless
got it I'd not be able to take the three
months vacation they had planned for
The Parma herald. (Parma, Idaho) 1903-1917, 1917-04-12

barn and looking at the horses. It was
only the second time since he had
given him the job that De Spain had
called the barn boss "Jim,' and Nc
Alpin answered with the rising assur-
ance of one who realizes he is "in"
right. mot so much as a sore hoOf in
either alley, Mr.. De Spain. l try to
take care of them, SIR"
"lYhat are we paying you, Jlm?"
"Twenty-seyen week, sir; pretty
heavy work at that"
''WeIl try to make 1t thirty-two after
this week"
McAIpin touched his cap. THANK
The Parma herald. (Parma, Idaho) 1903-1917, 1917-04-12

A larger gain with hogs must be pro-
duced on pasture. The high prices for
grain have made care in feeding all the
more necessary.
The Parma herald. (Parma, Idaho) 1903-1917, 1917-04-12
Save Fine Eve Lambs.

Don't kill the fine eve lambs. Some
one will want them to REINFORCE his
flock.
The Parma herald. (Parma, Idaho) 1903-1917, 1917-04-12
Timothy Best for Sheep.

Don't feed timothy hay to sheep.
Mixed hay, or clover, or alfalfa, should
be given 70 the flock.
The Parma herald. (Parma, Idaho) 1903-1917, 1917-04-12

Do you believe that De Spain
could save his life by surrender
ing to the gangsters and offer
ing to get out of the neighbor-
hood if they spared him? Would
you do it in these circumstances?
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1917-12-20

markable contrast to the lean pay
envelopes of the men with whom
our soldiers will join in France as
we'll as to the slim compensation of
the enemy armies.
with his quarters. clothing and
rations furnished him, as they are
furnished in all the armies of the
world the American second-class
private, receiving his foreign SER
vice pay of $33 month, will be a
plutocrat compared with the
French soldier who draws the bare
pittance of $1.50 every thirty days,
scarcely enough to keep the Amer
ican fighting man in cigarettes.
Incidentally Americans are being
supplied the luxury of smokes by
the folks back home.
But the French soldiers wage
is. in its turn. princely compared
with the thirty cents a month
which the Russian government
allows it's privates, and the seventy
three cents which Austria-H Hungary
pays it's troops-one and two and
a half respectively.
Great Britain is the most gen.
erous of the European govern
ments in its pay of privates, who
receive $3.50 month at home and
an additional allowance while fight
ing in France, Mesopotamia and
other foreign fields. Italy ranks
second in generousity with a
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1917-12-20

that of full colonel in the French
army, $62 more than that of a
German lieutenant-colonel, $3.50
more than a colonel of Austrian
troops and only 500 less than that
of a major-general of the Italian
army, while to a full general of
the Russian army the Americans
81, ZOO would seem a fortune, as
the Muscovite of the highest rank
gets only $1,262.
The pay of an American cap
tain compares favorably with that
of a British colonel, a French brig
adier-general, a German brigadier-
general, an Austrian brigadier-
general, Japanese lieutenant
general, and an Italian lieutenant
general.
"A brigadier-general of the
American army, drawing a mini.
mum salary of $4,000, received
nearly $3.50 than marshal of
France, $4,000 than a full general
and field marshal in the German
army, $2.250 more than a full
general of Japan and nearly five
times as much as Russian gener-
al of the highest rank. Italy's
highest army officer at the begin
ming of this war was a lieutenant
general whose annual compensa-
tion was $3.50 less year than
that of an American major"
United Press.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1917-12-20
What American Soldiers Draw

IF, as has been reported re-
Gently, the German Kaiser has Of
fered a prize of $75 to tne first
man of his forces in France who
captures an American soldier the
bonus will prove a tempting one to
the Teutons, for this sum repre-
sents more than three years pay
for a private in the German army, .
says a war bulletin issued recently
by the National Geographic society
from its Washington headquarters,
on the pay of soldiers in the armies.
:'The American soldier boy
abroad will draw a princely wage
compared with Tommy Atkins. the
French poilu, the Italian Alpini,
the German boche and all the other
fighting men of European nations" "
continues the bulletin.
'Disregarding the extras and
the special allowances of various
kinds, provided for in all the arm
les of the world, but taking the
lowest wage of the humblest pri-
vate as the standard, the comfort
able rate of pay allowed Uncle
Sans fighting men affords re-
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1917-12-20
monthly minimum allowance

monthly minimum allowance OF
$5.S3. Spain compensates her sol.
diers with $4.42 monthly wage
and Germany has built up her
military engine of frightfulness
with wage scale beginning at
PSI .65 month-less than six cents
a day to do the ruthless bidding of
ruthless rulers. Japan's soldiers
at home with 50 year fare little
worse than the Austrians. Turkey
is an indulgent employer by COM
parison, granting $11 a year-92
cents month.
A frst-class American private,
drawing $36.60 a month in France,
gets $41 year more than Rus.
sian colonel and $64 a year more
than a German lieutenant for the
first three years; $3l a year more
than first lieutenant of the Aus
trian army. and $l9 a year mure
than ajunior lieutenant in the SER
vice of Italy.
The pay of an American Sec
ond lieutenant (disregarding all
allowances is 500 a year greater
than that of lieutenant-colonel iu
the British army, $73 more than
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1917-12-20

The Woman at the Back Door
1t must be a terrible thing to
have to 60 through life without
your limb. You must remember,
however. that it will be restored to
you in the next world
The hobo-'I know it will,
mum, but that don't encourage me
none. You see, me foot was cut
off when l was a baby, and it
won't come within a foot of the
ground when it's restored -