davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1917-09-13
The
One Franc Piece
BY Arnold Fredericks
Copyright-The Frank A. Munsey Company
By Arnold Fredericks

later discovered that che had regaiu-
ed possession OF the missing franc,
he concluded that, after all, his luck
had turned.
You all doubtless know how Cap
tain Bonnet refused to permit his AZ
rest at Havre, and insisted upon plac-
ing me in confinement instead, but
luckily was able to get word to my
assistants in time to have him fol-
lowed to Paris.
"rhe woman stopped in Havre for
several hours. l had her followed as
well, and learned through the sweet
heart of Musset, the facts concerning
his departure for America with Rein
hardt. Vernon had sent his woman
companion to her, to tell her that
Musset was dead and thus prevent
her from insttuting any inquiries
which might have proved embarras-
sing.
1T will probably not interest you
greatly to hear how l subsequently Sc
cured the franc from Vernon in Paris,
and had him placed under arrest.
After all its adventures, during which
two persons, at least, have paid with
their lives, this franc of Mile Mer-
cier's is now in my waistcoat pocket"
He slipped his fingers beneath his
coat and drew out the long-sought
coin. 1t belongs to Mile. Mercier,"
he said. but perhaps you might all
like TO take look at It,"
He handed the coin to Mr.. Ger
maine, who examined it, shook his
head, and passed it to Mr.. Morris. At
length it reached the hands OF Mile.
Mercier.
The girl Eazed helplessly at it.
1T may he as valuable as you say,
monsieur" she cried, looking timidly
III Lctcvre. "but unless you will tell
ne in what way, fear that it will
not he of much use TO me-"
Lefevre drew from his pocket
piece OF paper. You will remember,
madcmoiscllc." he said, that when
we searched Mr.. Nernon's apartment
that terrible night We discovered
half'burned piece of paper, which
proved to he In" letter your father
had sent YOU along with the coin"
Mile. Mercicr nodded. Il remember
it very WE'LL" she replied. What re-
manned of the letter was quite unn.
irlligible"
"prccisely. And it would have re
mainod SO had not Vernon. who has
made Il complete and abject confes-
sion. supplied us with the missing
words. l have here u complete copy
are those which were missing" He
passed the letter to the young woman.
III You will read it now," he said.
YOU will, perhaps understand
Mile. Mercier read the letter, which
was as follows:
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1917-09-13
Your loving father,
ALPHONSE MER-cier

Il am afraid" remarked the girl
helplessly. as she passed the letter 10
The others 10 read. that am as
much in the dark rs before
Lefe.re rose and stepped toward
MI Germaine. desk "WiiI you be so
good as to give me PIN" he said.
The managing director took one
from Il bowl on The desk and handed
il 10 The prefect, who then asked
Nile. Mercier for the franc-piece
lie held the coin in the palm of his
left hand. while the others crowded
ahonl eagerly. Inserting the pin in
,he eye OF the face of Napoleon which
was stamped upon the coin, he press.
I'd ii sharply. At once a tiny lever
like those sometimes found ON.
watches, for the setting them, sprung
ont from one side. ~.
The project took this between his
fingers and gave 4 gentle pull. I'M
mediately n section OF the milled
edge of the coin turned outward, re.
fealing tiny fiat cavity within, of
no greater thickness than The blade
of knife. In this cavity lay what
appeared 10 be bit of soiled tissue
paper.
With trembling fingers Lelevre
drew out the scrap OF paper and un-
Folded ii. II was extremely thin, and
when unfolded formed sheet about
The she OF an ordinary fve-franc
note.
o The prefect glanced at the engrav-
inc which covered lis surface, smiled,
then handed il TO the young french
gin, Here is your fortune, made
moisclle," he said
She looked at it. astonished. What
is it?" she asked uncertainty.
"A bank-note of the French en-
p!re. he replied. for the sum OF one
million francs"
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1917-09-13
MY BELOVED DAUGHTER:

| am sending--you one franc
piece, 1t is my legacy-for your future.
When you get it take-a pin and press
ii into the eye-of Napoleon. A lever
will then be thrown out al one side OF
the coin. Pull-this and you willunde-
stand why l have-sent it. 1t is a
great fortune. l discovered the secret
Of the coin while cleaning 1t, on my
deathbcd. Ii is the--famous franc of
Napoleon. Use your fortune well, my
child, and do-not forget the
poor. l embrace y---ou and send
YOU my love and Thousand
kisses.
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1917-09-13

FREE COURSE in BoOkkeeuing oc
Shorthand. Only expense is your
books. which cost $7.S5. pacihc
School Of Commerce, Desk e. Box
972, Spokane, Wash.
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1917-09-13

Don't have an empty N, ~,rving iat
n YOUR neighborhood newt fall.
The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1917-05-03
VIRTUALLY A COALITION.

Only the supreme stupidity of our
parliamentary rules and procedure
prevent President Wilson from hav.
ing the support he is entitled to in
both branches. In spite of the an.
tiquated system, the Administrations
war measure passed, but Republicans
shouldered' the load and by their &C
ton virtually gave the president the
power of a. coalition arrangement.
1t is no time now to try to annex
any party glory, for the Republicans
who assumed the obligation that
Champ Clark, Kitchin and Stone
should have accepted, did so not as
Republicans but as patriotic Ameri-
cans.
julius Kahn Of California, a German
by birth, managed the administra.
tons bill for selective draft and put
through the job with skill and pre-
cision. Democratic leaders by senior
ity side-stepped and opposed the mea-
sure4 they shirked when the most
important opportunity arose to dis.
play sleadership and misunderstanding
Party, lines wsss ebll161p6tlak Ae
The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1917-05-03

Because the nation is in a state Of
war, it is not necessary to suspend
business and dig ourselves into
trenches of pessimism. The neces-
sity for economy is indisputable, but
carried to extreme limits untold harm
will result.
BUSINESS will go on without seri-
Gus interruption. Patriotism and pub
lie service are demanded of yer
citizen, but hysterical retrenchment is
merely paving the way for disaster.
The nation will gradually adjust itself
to a state of war, but rational econ
omy, not stupid cessation Of indus
trial activity, is the prime necessity.
The nation is still prosperous, and
if our val policies are carefully
handled, there is no reason why the
United States should not attend to
it's business with a cool head.
Live normally, buy normally, donr
waste, but keep all industrial life az
tive, for only in a full continuation
of our industrial activities is this war
to be won.
The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1917-05-03

while her brute of a husband took his
prostitutes to England and lived with
them openly, at the expense of the
State; making one of them Countess
Of Darlington, and another Duchess
of Kendall.
George the Second vas little better.
George the Third became insane, and
the only good that can be said Of him
is; that by his pigheadedness he lost
the United States, where a goverli-
ment of men, and by men, was. for the
first time, established on earth.
George the Fourth was a libcrtine
and debauche, who, while Prince Of
Wales squandered an income of from
two to six hundred thousand dollars
a veal in debaucheries, and seducinc
females. The kings Of the earth!
What wretches many of them have
been and are today.
You will be asking. what becam" Of
Konigsmark?" Well the Countess Of
Platen, an old card lOating around. had
him murdered. and as he was dying
stamped with her foot on his mouth.
Fine thing, nobility.
= " (To be c%oninued.)
JAMES w. FOLEI.
The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1917-05-03
Tool Shortage Menace
+. .>S "s' 81 .~s '~7 To Food Production

81 80 , ~'F rE p .-' . = 8
part Of implement manufacturers with
the department of commerce and az.
riculture this. allotment has been in:
creased Is per cent. This means that
the implement manufacturers are only
able in. the future to make 70 per
cent of the. normal production of ma
| chimes in which sheet steel is a con.
siderable item, such as harvesters and
binders, corn planters, grain eleva'
tors and etc.
100000 Harvesters.
There are manufactured by seven
different concerns and sold to farmers
in this country yearly approximately
1000 harvesters and binders. A
harvester and binder averages to cut
so acres of wheat a year. This de-.
crease in supply would result in de-.
creasing the farmers harvesting abil-
ity 1,250,0O0 acres. Allowing for the
acreage production indicated by the
government in 1915 crop analysis Of
1863 bushelsssPsss1 weishoaldSh have
a osSltss1,fz5M;a6esS MHushRe:e s.S
| !" saaditApas aaeaaksM1fhaasts are
ley atdsrye, "a SAich sfiereAfiG 10000.
900 acres plant6d per year, and a cor
responding loss would be experienced
in these crops. 81 T 4
10000 Corn Planters.
There are $4,000 corn planters a
year sold to farmers in the United
States. A corn planter averages to
plant forty acres a year. 4. Reducing
this output Is per cent melns a re-
duction Of 100000 acres 1lanted,
which according to government re.
port of production for 1915 of 28.2
bushels per acre. would mean a loss
of 22,560,OOO bushels of corn.
steel manufacturers, in limiting
the supplies of materials for nipple.
ment concerns, are proceeding upon
the theory that if the farmer will re.
pair his worn out tools and the deal
ers and manufacturers exhaust their
stocks, implement manufacturers can
supply the absolutely necessary
needs of the farmer if they only op.
crate at so to IS per cent of their
normal production. This conclusion
unless modified will result in a seri-
u food shortage. Five years ago
there was an overproduction of i'm
plements. Since that time nipple
ment factories have been running at
materially reduced speed and stocks
of finished and raw materials have
been cut to a minimum.
1T frequently happens that there
is only a week during which o
planting can be successfully done. In
seasons of this character every
available tool is used. The present
season is of this type because of it's
lateness and the corn acreage this
spring will be reduced because Of
the shortage Of tools"
The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1917-05-03
READERS COLUMN
THIRD ARTICLE

MedOra, N. d.
"> May 3, 1917.
Editor of Tribune: t..
In the present article we will tell
how some kings governed, and a little
of their private character. Its true this
history should be well known to every
high school boy or girl.
We will commence with the bastard
son of the s~hopkeepers daughter. known
in history as civilian the Conqueror";
who, without just cause, made war
upon Saxon England defeated Harold
at the battle Of Hastings, where the
latter was killed, when william became
King by the, right Of conquest, or rob-
berry. which ever you choose to call his
actions. He at nee commenced to
take the land from the owners and
give it to his fellow robbers. His
rule in England was most cruel. To
make Il private hunting ground he re-
moved hundreds Of poor families from
their simple homes, and allowed them
to starve.
His descendants were little better.
Some two hundred years afterwards,
one of whom, Edward made war on
France, which continued for one hun
bred years. For what you will ask?
TO see who would be king Of that
country.
Follow the line down to almost our
own time. and it will he found that
they were all tyrants. Henry the
Eighth was one of the most detestable
of men who ever disgraced the earth.
It's a custom Of Christians to call Nero
IA Brute. In our opinion he was a
saint compared to Henry the Eighth.
Charles the First was another ty-
rant whose head was removed by the
Parliament. "
Cromwell established a common
wealth Il government so strong that
it was respected all over Europe; but
on his death the Nobility brought back
Charles the Second. Remember the
mobiles did this: the common people
had nothing to say. as to whom should
govern them. Neither have they to
day in Germany
During the reign of this king his life
and court was a constant debauch his
prostitutes were openly kept and some
of them granted titles Of nobility; If
such a thing was possible.
On the death of Ann, and this was
only two hundred years ago, the mobiles
wanted another king. The stock be-
ing scarce at home they sent to Han
over and brought George the First, a
drunken brute. who when a prince had
married the beautiful Sophia DOrOthea.
and treated her like all brutes treat
wives.She~hain In ~Mant-of-sgms
|pathy eceivedssitsfHaAss.;o one S;kontgS&ss
snarfs@fnrsEh ~ TX - .cnnf3nI1.si FL
The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1917-05-03
WITH THE EDITORS
Howard Elliott
New York POST

(NeW YORK IOSt)
Mr.. Howard Elliott retires from his
four years. presidency Of the New Ha-
ven. not only with enhanced reputation
as an executive, but also with the dis
tinction of having rehabilitated the
road in both it's finances and its. $ta.al-
ing before the public. If it had been
so fortunate as to have a man SOf his
type managing it in the years just
prior to his assuming the respOllSibil-
ity, it would not have fallen to. the
depths from which he has raised it.
What calls for special praise, Is the
way in which he met unexpected diff
culties. The situation as everybody
knew it vas bad enough to brighten
away any administrator but the bod
est. The frequent terrible wrecks
were only the most conspicuous sign
Of utter decentralization. Yer some
Of the heaviest burdens were created
after Mr.. Elliott, took hold. THUS,
the Massachusetts courts declared IL
legal a plan which guaranteed nearly
seventy millions In cash to pay floating
debts and make needed improvements.
On the last day of 1914, the company
had a balance of less than S200.lDOO
above fixed charges. Two years later
the balance was $5,5OO,OOO. The float
ing debt has been reduced from $780,
100000 to $43, OOO,O Co., -butfstill, in Mr.
Elliott's words, "hangs like a mill
stone about the neck Of the company"
and will continue to do Sc until the
of Massachusetts, ConEec-
ticut, and Rhode Island harmonic the
laws, affecting the road. But the
chief test of Mr.. ElliOtt's success is
the new way in which the road is sIOk-
en- of by the public.
The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1917-05-03
SPECIAL CROPS YOU CAN GROW.
Ely A GARDENER.

a&2 Ely A GARDENER. II
You will find it advantageous to
grow small. Quantities Of certain spe-
,cia. NJ :, Va Il to the attr'aacc &C.
tivenessga f46ly fare. Among
these ia yHRA96dRned okra Or gum
DO, mustard greensyBand parsley.
Soups, gstewst and gravies may pc
improved by a little okra. Gumbo
soup can became a meal, almost, by
itself. Cut into slices and spread al
ternately with rice and tomatoes in
a casserole, with butter, in which cur-
ry powder and salt has been mixed.
Baked three hours, it is an appetizing
dish.
The young pods Of this plant are
the part used. The best pods are
grown on young plants, but if the
pods are. removed before they are al
lowed to ripen, the plants will con-
tinue to produce them until killed by
frost.
The seeds of okra should be. sown
in the open about the middle oE1May
or may be started in berry boxes IN
the house before then.
A row 80 feet long will do for the
average family. The seed should be
planted an inch deep and sown about
two or three inches apart. When
plants are about two inches tall thin
to about a foot and a half apart, let
ting the healthiest plants stand. The
pods may be gathered the day after
The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1917-05-03
E9Et N.3C

One aof the vice presidents Of the
Boy Scouts writes: "7H '+>.'
"The slogan of every Boy Scout in
America now is, Every, Scout to feed
one lsoldier!!' There are 1000, 900 gar.
dens in America being cultivated by
Boy Scouts"
This is a mighty fine thing, but
you don't get the full Significance of
it until5you 60 to figuring Two mill.
ion gardens! And it goes without
the saying that most of this ground
was not heretofore gardens, so that
tho bulk of the crops is positive in.
crease. These gardens will hardly
average less than 5Ox50 feet. If we
figure. on potatoes as the crop and
allow an average Of 200 pounds to
the lot. which is very conservative,
we have 400, 0O0, 900 pounds of pota'
toes as the harvest, or two tons of
potatoes for every man of an army
of 100000 soldiers. Some potatoes.
Yes, sir, and some boys!
The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1917-05-03
BACK TO n SOIL.

War is going to be the best pro-
moter of the Back to the Soil Move
ment." Growth of other industries in
the last decade has obscured the fun.
damental principle that all wealth
springs from the soil. Someone has
we'll said: .
1.-THE soil is the cemetery OF the
ages and the resurrection Of all life
All nations at war are now aroused
to the necessity of better soil cult.
walton as we'll as an increase in acre
age. The city jewellers are blowing
up every available vacant lot in fever.
ish haste, anticipating a food short
age Or, prices beyond those with lin
tied earning capacity.
While increased production is vital,
in all this haste to SOW more soil, the
necessity of better cultivation should
not be minimized. Care in seed selec.
ton and in soil preparation is more
essential now than ever.
The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1917-05-03
Hiqh Cost ofReform

league are entitled to know the
speed" of expenditures under q rule
that was heralded as the dawn OF a
new era. t
Mr.. LANCER, who is as close to the
throne as any of the Townley satel'
ties. comes first in order, because MS
Office has been particularly fortunate
in the way Of appropriations and Pc
cularly lucky in evading the execu'
tive veto. ~.
Under H. J. Linde, the attorney
general who preceded Mr.. LANCER,
the cost Of the department for tWo
years was $25,700. Mr.. hangers ed.
m%inistration for the bie0nial period
will cost the taxpayers $60,670 or an
increase of $34,970.
Mr.. Linde had two assistants, Mr.
LANCER has four. Mr.. Linde had one
combined clerk and st~enographer.
Me- LANCER a chief clerk, an assistant
CHEF clerk and three stenographers.
on the cost of the Office under Linde
rm administration:
The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1917-05-03

There is no burning necessity at
this time of releasing indiscriminately
school children for farm work. The
older boys might we'll be freed from
the compulsion of school attendance
to assist on the farm, but u state
legal department need not grow hys'
terical over the matter and put ex.
cessive burdens upon childhood.
But a real duty rests with the de-
partment of labor to secure North
Dakota's quota of workers. Now is
the time to lay plans for the fall har-
vest. Commissioner Hagan has an
opportunity to serve this state greater
than any time since his department
was established.
The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1917-05-03

The baby should go to bed not later
than 6 O'Clock each night
The baby should sleep alone in a
crib. not in a cradle. A good substi-
tute for a crib is a basket or light box
of sufficient size. 1t is not necessary
to have a costly mattress.
1t is best for babies to sleep without
pillows.
Do not take up the baby just because
1t cries at night. unless it is feeding
time or if the diaper should be chang
ed. Sometimes the baby has just be-
come uncomfortable. Turning it into
a fresh position will send it back into
sound sleep. The mother can.teach
sasby To- stay awake It thessekkssfie
The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1917-05-03

Elihu Root referred so feelingly in
a recent speech was in operation as
potently as though it had legal effect.
The Democratic leaders ran when
they should have led.
Mr.. Stone, Mr.. Clark, Mr.. Kitchin
and Mr.. Dent will 60 down into his
tory as shining examples of a parlia-
mentary system which permits the
elevation of leaders whose sentiments
are not in accord with the policies of
the administration.
Out of this wal may develop a more
representative form Of government in
these United States.
The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1917-05-03

blossoms fall. The pods are best
wehn about an inch long.
Mustard green's may be sown thick
ly and the leaves are soon ready for
picking. Sow again in late summer
for fall greens.
Parsley, too, may be sown thickly,
in lows or scattered broadcast. This
may be grown between rows of late
vegetables and may follow early veg
etables for a late crop. -,
Swiss chard may be sown early in
May, in rows three feet apart, thin
to IA to IS inches. Leaves and stalks
may be boiled l~ikesrspinach or the
stalks may be used alone, when they
are about Ia inches tall. nd q
The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1917-05-03

Chicago, May ,3.-Members Of tho
special committee recently appointed
by the National Implement and Vehi-
Gle association to cooperate with the
federal government to increase this
country's food production, met here
and issued a statement calling atten-
ton to the fact that the success of
the campaign will be seriously jeopar-
died because OF a shortage of farm
implements due to the inability of i'm
plement manufacturers to obtain but
rs per cent of the sheet steel needed
to supply the normal demand of the
farmers this year.
It is pointed out that farm imple-
ment manufacturers have practically
no stock on hand, and that thousands
Of farmers in recent years have allow.
ed their equipment to deteriorate to
such an extent that many implements
cannot be used this year without re,
pairs. Co.. II, - 4
The committee issued u statement
which read in part: q, i Pa"
Reports from all parts Of the coun-
try show that a great shortage in
farm implements prevails right now.
All factories making tractor plOws
are unable to meet the requirements
Of their trade. The corn acreage has
been decreased by the shortage of
listers, the tools necessary to plant
corn in fall wheat fields. A shortage
Of regular corn planters is also I'M
minent. All this is occasioned by in
ability to secure raw material. par.
~ticularly iron and steelsproducts.
I = Purchases Below Normal. =.
1.-The production of implements has
been less than normal since 1913.
During this period farmers have not
purchased to fully provide for their
needs. Tools in the hands of farmers
are more nearly worn out than v e
before. Dealers and manufacturers
stocks are reduced to a low ebb. The
increased food requirements means
increased acreage and more than the
normal supply of implements is neces.
sary If the situation is met. This con.
dition is accentuated by q shortage
of labor on the farms and the neces
sity for increasing the proportion
done with machinery.
Volume Of Business.
"The volume of business of the I'M
plement companies in the number of
implements sold in 1916 was consid-
erably less than in 1918. Implement
manufacturers are making every en-.
deavor to increase their production
tosmeet the farmers needs, but are
actually faced with a decreased pro.
duction because of their inability to
get the material.
steel companies after a conference
with officials at Washington at first
allotted to the implement industry
only 50 per cent of their requirements
of sheet steel for 1918. After seri-
Gus objection and conference on the
The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1917-05-03
MANDAN NEWS

Fort Rice Man Here-J. w. Patter
son of Fort Rice was in Mandan yes.
terday afternoon looking after bust
ness matters. b.
To Organize Red cross-Announce'
ment was made today that a Red
Cross organization will be perfected
at a meeting Tuesday, May Is, at the
Mandan Commercial club rooms.
8 Hazen Doctor Returns-Dr. C. A.
Kerner. of Hazen, who accompanied
George Holdeman. perhaps fatally in
jured in a dynamite explosion neal
Hazen, to the local hospital, returned
home this morning.
Freda Banker HERR. b. Loubek
and family autoed-to-Mauda1 yestAr'
day morAi0s and spentsthe day here.
IlLNA - 49, - I'D ~ a -