davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Mount Vernon signal. (Mt. Vernon, Ky.) 18??-current, 1917-03-09

arm, she noticed, was carried in vol
luminous white cotton sling.
Didn't tell you to keep away from
this Dump" he wrathfully reminded
her.
well, l didn't come because l want
ed to-" was the others retort.
whats wrong?"
'Everything's wrong! Old Golden
had a bunch of flatties in his house,
and that Laughing Mask boob
squealed on me to the bunch. So l
had to beat it"
Legar swung about on her.
"And you beat it straight here, In
open daylight, leaving a paper-chase
trail at your heels!" There was rage
in his voice.
81 tell you left no trail. I've got
my own scalp to take care Of. And II
I've taken a chance to beat it UP here
and put you wise, 1t seems to me
there's more than this grouch-talk
comm to mel"
Then, for the love Of heaven, wom-
an. don't boiler 80 the whole house
will hear you! Speak quietly"
A one-sided smile played about the
hardened face Of that worldly wise
young woman.
81 guess you're kind O. losin' your
nerve" she contemptuously an
nounced.
Listen to me, my girl. I've been at
this game longer than you have, and
I've learned there are times when
even walls have ears"
The woman laughed.
"Then you'd better get earmuffs on
that window sill, for I've got hunch
| It's"
Her voice died away at the same
moment that the smile vanished from
her face.
Don't turn around" she said In q
sudden startled whisper as she looked
down at her feet For there's a mans
face starin' in at that window now.
Legar remained motionless.
What face?' he quietly asked.
Its the man in the Laughing
Mask" was the whispered response.
Legar continued to stare at her, still
motionless.
THAT means he came up by the fire
escape" meditated the fugitive. "And
Mount Vernon signal. (Mt. Vernon, Ky.) 18??-current, 1917-03-09

For what she stared at seemed more
like a charnel-house cadaver than
human face
And Legar drew back at the sight
of those loathsome features. He
backed slowly away, staring at that
face, until he came to the electric but
ton set in the wall. He reached out
to switch on the electrolier, for the
struggle on the fire-escape landing had
left a curtain hanging half over the
window, and this made the light I'M
certain. But even as Legar lifted his
finger to the switch a sudden knock
sounded on the door of the room.
Both Red Egan and the woman
turned mutely to Legar. And as they
looked, the knock was repeated, loud
er than before.
Lock him in that closet" was the
Iron Claws whispered command.
"And throttle him at the first sound"
Legar, who had already crossed to
the door that opened into the hall.
waited there until the closet door had
been locked and shut.
He found a chambermaid standing
there.
"Is there anything the matter, sir?"
she asked in genuine alarm.
1.-THE matter? What should be the
natter" inquired the sleepy-eyed oc
cupant of the room.
81 thought ] heard q scream, sir,
explained the chambermaid, already
relieved.
mot in this room, my dear" calmly
announced Legar.
I'm sorry II was mistaken" e1
planned the maid.
It was Red Egan who stepped Il
Legar's side as the key was once morf
silently turned in the lock.
Here's signet ring took on you
man in there. Would that give yot
any tip as to who he Is
Legar stood studying the ring, turn
ing 1t over and over in his hand.
NO" he finally announced. Blu
it'll let me send tip to our old frien>
Golden. Al send him that ring {,
show him we've got the Laughinl
Mask here. With IL win 60 not
giving him his last chance to han,
over that chart!"
"And who'll carry that note7' asket
Mount Vernon signal. (Mt. Vernon, Ky.) 18??-current, 1917-03-09

closet fingered only long enough to
point out to them the fleeing figures al
ready at the foot of the fire escape
Then he himself darted down through
the hotel hallway, took the stairs on
the run, circled out through the TO-
tunda, and springing through shrub
berry and flower beds, leaped into a
limousine drawn up at the side Of the
road.
Follow that touring car those men
have just piled into" he called out to
his driver. Follow it until we get into
the city. Then swing past it and get
to Golden's house before 1t does, what
ever happens"
But that touring car showed itself to
be a much speedier vehicle than its IN
Mount Vernon signal. (Mt. Vernon, Ky.) 18??-current, 1917-03-09

to the driver Of q mysterious limou-
sine, " hich seemed to be casually en-
gagged in following his own move
ments.
Follow that taxicab," he com
manded his driver as he leaped into
the still-moving car.
The man in the limousine sat tense
and silent, watching the fight for
mile after mile. Then, realizing that
1t was taking them beyond the bounds
of the city itself, he drew shut the
side-blinds of his car, reached under
the seat and took from its hiding
place japanned tin box, remarkably
similar to an actors makeup box.
Balancing this on his knees, he first
removed his mask of yellow cloth,
adjusted a small folding mirror to
the box lid, and busted himself with
the assortment of pigments and cosmet-
les Of the makeup putty therein con-
tanned. The clear-lined face which
first gazed into the folding mirror
slowly but Enthusiastically became con-
verted into something repellant to the
eye.
The next moment the limousine
came to a stop at the roadside.
That taxicab has Just turned in at
the Bellaire inn," the well-trained driv.
er called back to his master.
$50 l notice. And that's the place,
I'll wager, where Legar himself is
trying to keep under cover"
There's the woman herself, run.
ming up the steps, announced the
driver.
so also observe. And under the
circumstances, 1 think it would be
best for you to slip after her, as quiet.
ly and quickly as you cam
Eyes, sir!"
Then come back to the car and re-
port to me the number of the room
she asks for Find out the number
whatever happens. For in that room
imagine, we're going to encounter
our old friend of the Iron Claw"
The Flash for Help.
Jules Legar was in anything but an
amiable frame of mind, and when
Williamsburg Sadie was quietly ush
cred into room 307 of the Bellaire inn
he greeted her with a malignant
scowl which she promptly and openly
resented.
You don't seem exactly crazy to
see me-" she announced as she
watched Legar lock the door through
which she had Just entered. His right
Mount Vernon signal. (Mt. Vernon, Ky.) 18??-current, 1917-03-09

IL. AT the same tlme nope TOSo III inc
captive's heart, for he could hear the
mufled sound of knock on the outer
door. And still again the prisoner in
the closet could hear Legar's oath Of
evaporation. This was followed by
the sudden impact of the heavy wing
chair against the panels of the closet
door. That blow, repeated again and
yet again, was heavy enough to break
through the wood. But that dignitary
known as gh-Collar Davis, being a
gentleman not given to inactivity in
moments Of emergency, and being suf-
ficiently persuaded Of untoward pro-
ceedings behind the door which re-
fused to open to his knock, promptly
seized a fire ak from its vermilion-
painted rack in, the hall, and sent 1t
crashing through the panels Of the
door which bore the numerals 307.
Legar, seeing the door giving way
before this determined onslaught, drew
his revolver and emptied 1t into the
half demolished closet door even as he
backed away across the room to the
open window. There he followed his
already vanishing accomplices out on
the fire escape, swarming down the
narrow ladder after them as the outer
door Of the room gave way and a
group Of excited hotel attendants
headed by High-Collar Davis, came
| tumbling into the room.
The man Who emerged from the
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-09-30

WRITTEN NO PLAYSi
When Mr.. Block came to New York it was
with the intention of affiliating himself with
the stage, rather than with newspaper work.
He had and still has producing aspirations"
If YOU ask him what is his attitude toward
the theatre, especially as such an attitude
must necessarily be reflected in his work as
reviewer, Mr. Block will reply in something
after this fashion:
why have an attitude at all unless it is
to believe that the human imagination can
be more deeply stirred and more widely
stirred by the stage than by any of the other
arts, except music. | suppose ought to have
definite approach toward the theatre but
to have a definite approach toward anything
is is limit ones self And the limitations that
grave persons have imposed on the stage
all the don'ts of technique-have done more
to make the stage unintercsting than all the
bad plays done on Broadway in the last ten
years. As a matter of fact no one from
Euripides to Belssco has been able to set a
definite barrier for the stage that imagination
was not able successfully to hurdle"
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-09-30
Some of Last Weeks New Plays

came down to the footlights some years
ago"
"The Sum- welcomed it also, in much
the same fashion, while to "The Evening
Post" the performance was excellent, at
tractive and nutritious dramatic diet for
the family"
However, though many of the papers
were frankly enthusiastic, it must be ad-
mitted that some of the critics found it
rather less pleasurable. For example,
"The World" carried comment in this
strain
an view Of the premeditated vulgarty OF
a large number OF the plays now on view
along Broadway, it is unpleasant to dispar-
age Mother Carey's Chickens on the score
OF its utter insipidity. But, one and all, the
characters were TOO Internally good to be
true. If Miss Virgins characters had
escaped from the angelic host they could
have done no more-nor Lessor have been
less human and interesting"
Said The Tribune:
"The play has certain righteousness
about it and refreshing delicacy in its man
rer Of spreading the syrup. But while there
is nothing very much wrong about it, there
isn't very much that is right"
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-09-30
Cuirassiers of France

(Ow,pg to changed Wor conditions tho
crack caraly corps Of the European no
tions hare been in lGrgc measure dis.
mounted and sent TO the trenches 70 act
as infoDtIy)
WE CUIRASSIERS of France
w On, the bugles would bray as vs
cantered by,
With our brides low and our sabres high.
With our black pumes Haunting to the SKY
From the tips of our helmets, with our
plates aglance.
And our hope was an open plain and
free,
With the squadron laundering knee to
knee;
OF the swish Of our keen, straight swordx
dreamed we,
We Curassiers Of France
We CuirasSiers of France!
A burrow worms through our chosen plain.
Unmailed, we hold it, nor count il vain
That the squadron drop if the ditch ~.
main
As the boundary line OF our French adj
vance.
But beyond our dreams ourselves We see.
Tho our harness rust for mockery,
OF the steel they took from our backs are
we,
We, the Cuirasse of France
Thomas TeffrieS Rats IN Crr-ibnI71a
Ndg0zine
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-09-30
Chemin-des-Dames

n silks and satins the ladies went
Where the breeZes sighed and the pop
lars bent,
Taking the air of a Sunday Morn
Midst the red Of peoples and gold Of corn
Flowery ladies in gold brocades,
With negro pages and serving-malds,
In scarlet coach or in gilt sedan,
With brooch and buckle and founce and
. fan,
Patch and powder and trailing scent,
Under the trees the ladies went
Lovely ladies that CLEANED ana glowed,
As they took the air on the Ladies' Road
Boom Of thunder and lightning fash
The torn earth rocks to the barrage crashi
The bullets whine and the bullets sing
From the mad machine-guns chattering;
Black smoke rolling across the mud,
Trenches plastered with flesh and blood
The blue ranks lock with the ranks OF gray
Stab and stagger and sob and sway;
The living cringe from the shrapnel bursts
The dying moan Of their burning thirsts,
Moan and die in the gulping slough a
Where are the butterfly ladies now! H.
-Patlandsr, IN Punch (LsndekAV
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-09-30
At the Movies

A T THE Broadway Theatre last Sun
n day was reeled for the first time
"The Fall of the Romanoffs." The basis of
its story is the same as that found in the
"Rasputin" film, which has been showing
at the Park.
The Broadway production is under the
direction of Herbert Brcnon, and the see
mario is adapted by Austin Strong and
George Edwardes-Hall from the memoirs
CT Sergus Trufanoff (Iliodor), known as
the Mad Monk" and once the confdant of
Rasputin.
Historically accurate as to its main
points, and vouched for by Iliodor as to
many others, it is gripping throughout in
dramatic force and incident" says "The
Globe"
"The World" notes:
This photo play story Of Rasputin's rise
from a vodka-drunk peasant TO an ascendancy
over the Car and the court and his sud-
den fall in the revolution makes very good
film entertainment. 1t is somewhat overdrawn,
bat the story is we'll told, and the action keeps
Pctorally, it has seldom been surpassed by
feature films"
"The American" is impressed with the
fact that it "abounds in thrills, in spec
tacular scenes, in gripping situations. It
represents lavish expenditure in reproduc-
ing the splendor of the Russian court; adj
herence to fact in presenting the main ac-
count Of the story; technical fnesse in put
ting all this upon the screen"
The Tribune says: at records history,
and it is bound to make it as WELL" add
ing: "The Brenon picture was a mighty
undertaking, which the great director has
carried through to a successful compile
ton"
Says "The Sum: Much credit is due the
producer for getting the most out of the
real occurrences and presenting them in
striking fashion," while "The Mail" says
that everything possible had been done $50
visualize the court intrigues that culmi-
mated in the Russian revolution"
thhc me C1llu again, just IOT To-
night'-have you ever breathed that fer
vent prayer? And waited in vain for it's
fulhlment? But that was because you
lacked faith, or forgot the power of magic.
II was before you saw Aladdin and the
Wonderful Lamp the new film of the
Fox Riddles, which opened last night in
the Globe Theatre"
Thus THE American" And to this
praise may be added that of 1.-The Tele-
gram which wrote that, while it is an
old, old story, sit burns brighter than
ever now"
THE World" expressed the opinion that
Aladdin the second film in "kidde"
series which Jack and the Beanstalk"
began, repeats the success Of the first
picture" "The Herald" called il spirited
film, with many ingenious effects" And
The Tribune was most enthusiastic over
the delightful children who romp So intel
ligently through it.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-09-30
THERE was once a fisherman VIII

"HERE was once a fisherman who
lived with his wife in a miserable
little howell close to the sea. He went
to fish every day and caught but little, but
one day he hauled up'a founder who said
he was an enchanted prince, so the fisher
man put him back in the water.
"But didn't you ask him for anything?"
cried his wife when he got home. go back
Immediately and tell him want a pretty
cottage instead of this little howell"
So the fisherman went back and made
known his wife's request.
go home, then" replied the Founder.
"She has her wish"
So the fisherman went home and sure
enough, there was pretty cottage and
the wife sitting by the door, And every
thing went we'll for about week, but then
the wife said, Husband, this cottage is
too cramped and the garden is too small.
must have a castle"
The man demurred a good deal, but
finally went down to the shore where he
found the sea no longer green, but dark
violet and gray.
"Now, what do you want?" said the
Founder.
ALAS said the man, half scared, my
wife wants a castle"
go home," said the Founder. "She
is standing in the door of it"
Now we won't want. anything more"
said the husband, when he returned.
Eyes, we will" replied the wife. ALREADY
] find the time hangs heavy on my hands
! must be Emperor. Go back to the
Founder, Husband"
He had to 90, but he was quite fright
ened. "This won't end WELL" he thought
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-09-30
Emile lola

George Sand. II is true that he selects vsyv
largely from material things and thst h
selects very profusely. But the selectiss
remains, and where there is deliberate selss.
ton there is art"
lola is known chiefly for his lies Rous
con- Macquart" series. "The Natural and
Social History Of a Family Under the
Second Empire" as he himself called it;
for "L'Assommoir," the novel which really
assured his success, and later novel, Ia
Debacle," a tale Of war.
In his "Notes on Noyelists," Henry
James wrote thus Of the "Rougon-Mae.
quart" series:
at expresses fully and directly the whole
man, and, big as he may be, it can still Be
big enough for him without becoming false
TO its type. We see this truth made strong,
from beginning TO end, in Zola's work; We
see the temperament, We see the whole man,
with his size and all his marks, stored and
packed away in the huge hold OF Les Rou.
gen Macquart' as a cargo is packed away On
a ship.
"Entertained and carried out almo,. from
the tnreSnOlO OF mdUNOOlp the nlSn project,
the work of a lifetime, announces before.
hand its inevitable weakness, and get speaks
in the same voice for its admirable, It's al.
most unimsginable, strength. The strength
was in the young mans very person in hi,
character, his will, his passion, his fighting
temper, his aggressive lips, his squared
shoulders when he sat up and oyerween.
ing confidence; his weakness was in tina, in
suffered on the surface remarkably LITTLE,
and from which he was never to suspect
Judge, that he had suffered at all -
MR.. JAMES tells of Sunday after
AVA noon gathering in Paris, on which
lie found the question Of intention very
curiously lighted" A group Of several
men of letters were gathered together one
Sunday afternoon, discussing current
work, their plans and ambitions. We'll,
on my side" he quotes lola as saying,
"am engaged on a book, study of the
n,oeurs Of the people, for which | am max.
ing collection Of all the bad words
tine eros motS, of the language, those with
which the vocabulary of the people, those
with which their familiar talk, bristles.'
81 was struck with the tone in which
he made the announcement" writes Mr..
James, without bravado and without
apology, as an interesting idea that had
come to him and that he was working,
really to arrive at character and particular
truth, with all his conscience; just as I
was struck with the unqualified interest
that his plan excited. It was on plan
that he was working-formidably almost
grmIy, as his fatigued face showed; and
the whole consideration of this interesting
element partook of the general serious
ness
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-09-30

as he stumbled along. Emperor is toe
shameless"
The sea was quite black, heaving W
from below in great waves, but the
Founder came and granted the wife's de-
mand, and when the man got back she
was sitting on throne two miles high
In one hand she held the sceptre and in
the other the ball of empire.
"Husband' she said when she saw him
What are you standing there for? Tell
the Founder | mean to be Pope"
There is only one Pope in Christen-
DOM" said the man, affrighted. That's
more than the Founder can do"
But she insisted, and he went back and
the Founder granted the wish, and it
seemed as if the wife were going at last
to be content, but early the next morning
she woke up, rolled over on her elbow and
looked out of the window.
"Ha" she cried, "can l not cause the
sun and moon to rise? Husband, go tell
the Founder I must be Lord of the Uni
verse"
Her husband was shocked, but she ragged
so wildly that at last he pulled on his
trousers and tore away like mailman
down to the sea. The sky was pitchy
black; it Numbered and lightened, and the
sea ran in black waves mountains high,
crested with white foam.
"Now what does she WANT" asked the
Founder.
"Alas," said the Fisherman, "she wants
to be Lord of the UNIVERSE
"She must go back to her howell now"
replied the Founder, "in fact she is al
ready there; return and you will find her"
And so there they are to this day.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-09-30
The Dream City

(This city has increased its population
By 100000 lighting men in the three
years Of the wdr.)
HERE still the withered lilies lie
l. Upon each breast;
And over all peaceful sky
In azure dressed;
No storm Of night that hurries by
May leave the whisper of sigh,
No echo of the battle cry
May break their rest.
The big guns roar above them still,
By day and night;
The red flames flash by dune and hill
In endless blight;
But as the gray dusk shadows fill
Their Quiet Town, at twilights chill,
They sleep, as all worn children will,
On through the fight.
Here still the many come to weep,
To kneel and pray;
To cry to God an anguish deep
For lfe's lost day;
Yet, who would wake them from their
sleep,
Would call them back where life's storms
sweep,
Dream jewellers, where the grasses creep
Across the way?
-Grantland Rice, in The New York
Tribune
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-09-30
Lord of the Universe
A condensation of a tale by
Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm

Under the caption German Tales for Germans Samuel
Strauss his brilliant little Ceeky The VWdger prints the
foLo,cing fdiry story IN q note he says:
aCoud be presumptuous to prescribe Fire
Foot Shelf for the Kaiser General Hdenbg Count
u Rernloc ann the learned gentlemen of Gerany But
Ce hare feeling their reading has recent been
too same IN sort Nietzsche Berhdrd Treitschke-a little
rdrey pleasant and need outside
endny either For example, there IS much meat and no
little moral of homely tales compiled century since
bu t,Oo Gerry eminent German Gelehre Jacob and Wilhelm
Grimm"
And Mr. Strauss all good PdnGermdnS that the
old gourne contains Others of similar mettle."
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-09-30

TUST another of those Hatton
90 plays" says John Corbin in The
~ Times; and yet Ralph Block, in
The Tribune, who employs a very similar
rbrase. "the usual Hatton fare is of the
opinion that Leo Garlic, who plays the
principal role, saved the day-kept the
piece from going glimmering. with HIM,
writes Mr.. Block, sit becomes an unusual
" attractive comedy"
lombard is gentleman dressmaker'
end Alan Dale, in "The American" OBJ
serves:
.If there be any fashionable New York
6ressmaker' as perfectly unfreckled, unspeck-
led and unshekelcd az the hero of lombard
d.,att the Morosco Theatre, sincerely hope
/ that all the dear society danes and all the
cute little show girls and the efiorescent
buds will patronize him. He deserves it,
While some Of the critics were i'm
pressed with the ease with which the au-
thors skated over thin ice, "The Sun came
cut with the unqualified statement that
there never was play seen in New York
with less refinement" and added:
Indeed its dialogue reached in the second
act e. depth OF fragrant vulgarity which not
even any previous effort of these writers had
/ led the public to expect from them.
/ The fun is all coarse, and no intimation that
/ airy other kind exists is exhibited in the lines
of the writers Indeed, the spirit OF
! hurlesque expressed in the terms of the drama
seems to be the new dramatic school which
/ the Hattons are aiming to found"
Enter a matinee idol in the person of
/ Leo Carillo!" announces "The Evening
Sum-" which adds that at Is not Mr.. CARL
/ les fault that matinee idolatry is now eX-
tinct."
j. Rankin Towse. in "The Post" cred.
its the play with "a saving sense of robust
humor, a genuine satiric turn, human
touch, and, too, something real in the
poetry-misdirecte though poets in other
media may judge it."
The cast Is generally liked.