davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1917-08-29

Jaw, come now, Ben" voice at
length demonstrated. you're put
tin 1t on a little too thick. Big
Eds a pretty good sort"
big Eds all right" snarled
Ben. TITS Mrs. Ed, with her
blamed airs! Never had a dollar
till she married Ed Trowbridge,
an now can't touch her with a
ten-foot pole, she's that high an
mighty! I worked one summer
for Old John, her pa, when she
was plain Peggy Patton, an set
down t. meals right side o. her.
an by gum I'll set side O. her
at Big Eds table, or I don't stay.
I'm s good s her any day, er
Big Ed, either, an I told him so
an that I'd leave Sat'day less I
did"
"Did you tell him the whole
push'd go, Benz" asked a voice
somewhat timidly.
81 told him. An It want airy
mealy-mouthed talk l guy him, I
kid tell you! l seq, SEE I, If yer
goin' to keep a mess-house for a
lot Of dagoes, then git dagoes,
seq l."
Meanwhile Mr.. and Mrs. Trow-
bridge were facing the question.
They've got me-" explained
Ed. There's plenty of places for
them to go now, and no other help
for me to get. It'll all Lakes
doings, the cuss! He's worked
'em up till they thing there being
treated like the scum of the
EARTH as Hank put 1t. Ben's a
corking good man in the field, but
I wouldn't have taken him IL he
was worth ten men, IL I had sus-
pected any trouble this way" He
was deeply apologize.
ED, dear, I'm not blaming you,
only"
81 know, Peggy. And It's a
shame. But it'll only be this sum-
mer. / won't take permanent or
ders from Ben Lake or any man
living as t. how l shall run my
place."
Her husband smiled.
well, the men won't come be-
tween me and my pretty Peggy
love; SO that needn't worry you"
But they will" she whispered.
you won't mean for 'em to, but
1t won't be the same. oh, dar-
ling, don't you see?
"Oh, Ed darling. isn't there
anything you can do e square 'em
but this?"
"I'm afraid not" he answered
miserably.
She. did not speak for some
time; when she did, there was q
curious spa in her tones for so
fearful a voiS~ and dimple was
playing in the left corner OF her
mouth.
Continued Tomorrow
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1917-08-29

rather an ominous rocking, so
steady 1t was and serene, as tho
no doubts pervaded its propelling
force. Unconsciously, the mans
shoulders squared.
81 won't agree to that PROPOSE
tion Peggy. so no use talking any
more about 1t. And you yourself
don't want to kick Lefty out, for
that's what 1t would really amount
to.
Hands off Lefty" he gave no
tice laughingly, but with a warn
ing note in his voice. Lefty isn't
to be chucked out or thrown in
as good measure to secondhand
man."
Next day she sat on her mothers
porch, eight miles distant-sat
ohildishly on the step, her face
pressed sidewise against her
mothers knee.
"Ma, do you know somebody
who might marry Letty?"
She reached for a piece OF cake
lying on the floor, and tossed II
carelessly from hand to hand, CIV
ing no thought to the act. But a
fragrance passed from the broken
crumb to her nostrils, thence to a
sleeping memory. And a closed
door in her brain was unlocked
and deftly opened, revealing It's
Iprecious secret with no effort on
her part. Her only virtue was to
look in with seeing eyes before the
door closed, and comprehend and
quickly grasp the elusive tails
man. But the possession OF that
virtue is largely essention In SPELL
Ing success.
"Where did this piece of cake
come FROM" she asked.
"That?" Mrs. Patton bent to
look at 1t. "Guess it must "a fallen
out O. this coat of Still Steve's I'm
mendin.' He's always eatin' 'em.
Swedish cakes o. some kind. 1
don't know where he gets 'em.
Might as well ask the gate-post
as him, for all the answer I'd get"
Peggy sat as tho electrified, her
eyes childishly round and open.
This was the kind of cookies she
had found Lefty taking from the
oven one day, when she had come
home Unexpectedly. And Lefty
had whipped them hastily under
her apron and into the pantry.
And they had not been served on
the Trowbridge table then or later,
she had smelled the same peculiar
fragrance in the kitchen since.
Her daughter sprang up excited
", her eyes shining like sun-re-
fleeing mirrors.
Opportunity knocking at the
door! It's been squatting on my
steps for the whole year. and I
haven't had sense enough to see It!
Lefty and Stevel Oh, MAJ Ed'll
set 'em up. They'll marry and be
happy-and we'll be happy!"
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1917-08-29
CHAPTER TX.

1t was a year, a whole IL months
before Peggy wrote in her diary
again, year In which Peggy's
|willful spirit was swallowed up in
an adorably docile one and Eds
lstubbornness was as completely
buried as tho 1t had never been.
Both forgot their individual de-
sires in the presence of the great
Event. From the first whisper
Of his coming, "Baby" was a tran
scendant peacemaker. The house
became secondary, everything was
subordinated to preparations for
him"
Then the waiting came to. an
end. Baby was there, in their
arms!-a little pink crumpled
roseleaf bundle. Then watching
followed, an excited joyous watch
ing for the first smile, watching
for the little hands to clutch a
desired object, watching for tiny
pearls to break thru little gums!
And there had been a constant
flow of visitors. All their friends
from the two townships, Redville
and Greencastle, had come to see
Little Ed" all save bed-ridden
Sam Ichy, and little Ed was car
ried first thing to see him. Then
the christening, a beautiful church
service, had occupied the mother,
and letters had had to be writ
ten, telling all about him to dis
|tant relatives and friends. One let
ter had gone to Aunt Margaret
Patton. who sent the diary, which
letter may or may not have sent
Peggy's thoughts to the flat brown
book where was recorded the mo-
mentous events of her honeymoon.
Anyhow, the brown book was
brought forth and Peggy re-read
what she had written. baby Ed,
two months old, beside her in his
bassinette. Smiling blissfully. she
wrote all about the advent of
Baby. Then--she re-read 1t all
again.
The baby cooed. Quickly, the be-
witching face gazed into that other
|dimpled one.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1917-08-29
Continued From Our Last Issue)
CHAPTER VIII.

CHAPTER VIII.
Contrary 10 his usual custom, 1t
was long past sun-up when Trow-
bridge awoke. Even then his head
was still whirring from his long
drive or else something had hap
pened to the room; instead of the
new blue wall paper, a red brick
wall now confronted him-a circu-
lar wall without doors or windows
and with the light falling from
above. Yet he felt the mattress be-
meath him and was dressed as he
had been the night before. No. his
shoes and collar were off. And
But his brain no longer stumbled
gropingly in the dark; the white
light of knowledge broke like a
thousand-power electric arc upon
him; the circular redness was the
wall of a disused cistern situated
a quarter of mile from the house
in a grove of trees, and near the
site of their old home that had
burned down IS years before.
Eight feet in diameter and 16 feet
deep, sound and dry, it had some
times been used temporarily to
store bags of grain, and a miscel-
lany of things that could be car
ried up easily on ladder or drawn
up by means of pulleys adjusted
for that purpose. 1t had been
put to numerous uses, but never
before had it served the purpose
of a prison. For that he was his
wife's prisoner he knew even be-
fore he read Peggy's missive, pin
ued in plain view on the wall:
Ed. darling, you won't
have to stay but just little
while. l didn't want to do
this but there wasn't any 9TH
er way | could see out of 1t.
You'll find a jug Of water
and lots of things to eat and
buggy robe in case it's cool
there, and magazines to read.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1917-08-29

you, Letty?" he shouted, as Lefty
appeared from the kitchen. Are
you losing your taste? Or is 1t
your eyes?"
His own eyes grew round. and
he drew off and looked at her
stupidity.
"Crimps!" he muttered. by the
Lord Harry"
Lefty and Still Steve-are-en-
gaged!" Peggy cried, in ecstatic
breaths. Last night! She told
me this morning"
Whats Steve marrying on? Has
he come into property?" he asked
ironically.
'He will when he marries Let
ty," bubbled the conspirator. "Pm
awfully glad it's poor Steve; I'm
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1917-08-29
Persuasive Peggy"
By Marvarene Thompson
(COpyrighted.)

Every one but Still Steve and
! Will think you've gone to
Endwater on business, and
Still Steve don't count.
It'll be Tuesday morning
when you read this and I'll be
there in the evening as soon
as it's dark to get you. I want
to get the house really fixed
50 that you can see how 1t
looks, and | just know then
you'll let me keep il that way.
You don't mean to be selfish
with me; it's just that you
don't understand, darling.
| think you forgot that you
promised me that could run
the house, and you the farm.
Bushels and bushels of
kisses.
Your Pretty Peggy Love-"
Trowbridge got to his feet.
stood there bit. sat down, got
up. A big iron prong in the wall
part way up held his attention. He
threw the mattress up till il
caught, held, then tried to raise
himself by means of 1t. But his
100 pounds were too many. The
ticking rended and he dropped to
his feet with a thump. He might
shout, but no one ever passed that
way. And even If he could make
himself heard he had no wish to
be found in this predicament.
He hardly sensed the passing of
time.
Ed" 1t was a shrill whisper.
I'm here with the ladder, darl-
ing She took his hand. We'll
have to hurry before Lefty sees
us. / sent her to the Duggan
house on an Grand
She led the way swiftly to their
bedroom before she stopped. Her
arms went to his neck.
I've invited a hundred people
here tonight to a reception. It's
almost time for them to come"
He understood now why Peggy
had not feared his undoing her
work once she had it completed;
she had counted on his pride sup
porting her because Of the recep-
ton; after that it would be too
late to remedy.
I've laid your clothes out" she
hurried on. Dress now, dear, then
tomorrow"
Her words trailed off under the
strange look in his eyes, not an
ger, not condemnation, but a ques-
tioning-the celebrating, contem-
plative questioning of a man de-
batting vital matter with him
self.
"W-what is it," she faltered.
"I'm just trying to decide which
I can live best without-you or
my self-respect," he answered.
Peggy stood transfixed. She did
not move, just stood stock-still
and gazed ahead, seeing her hus-
band carried out of the house like
a bag OF meal, to the disused els
tern, and there dumped till a wom-
an saw fit to let him out!
"Oh!" she cried, an agonized
"oh!"
Sobbing. she caught him by the
arm.
go down and break the furni-
ture to pieces!" she cried, in her
frenzy of remorse. Burn the
things, all of them! Then come
and beat me till can't stand up!"
Lefty stuck her head in at the
door.
"The teams r. lined up in front
thick as a funeral--be y comm
DOWN."
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1917-08-29
CHAPTER x

Husband and wife looked at
each other with narrowing eyes -
the measuring look of husband
and wife from time imrbemorial,
each trying to gage the vulnera-
bility of the other. Trowbridge
stood by the screen door of the
veranda, his hand resting on the
knob. his face turned sidewise to
view the challenging eyes uprais-
ed saucily to his. Peggy rocked
herself easily meanwhile. II was
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1917-08-29

mighty fond of him. oh, Ed, dear
let 'em have the old Waitley place
Lefty would just love that snuggy
house."
Your father sent Steve over
this morning to help out" he re-
turned. "I'm going out now to
give him just ten minutes to get
off my place. The-skunk!"
He swung himself out of the
door. Peggy, stunned at this turn
of the affair, ran frantically after
him.
Ed" she painted. Ed"
Go back!" he commanded
sternly. "Pll come and talk to you
when I've settled with your tool"
He was gone less than five min
utes. 1t was not a triumphantly
joyous wife who met him on his
return, but a wife white-faced
moist-eyed, lips-a-tremble.
"Oh, Ed, what have you done!
What have you done! Lefty loves
him, loves him just as love you"
And does Steve love her Just
as I love your"
Peggy drew back slowly, blink
ing as before a sudden glare OF
light, her eyes filled with vague
bewildered questioning.
II said she loves him Just as
love you. But it's more as I love
baby. She'll be happy Just in CIV
ing love. There wasn't a word in
her talk about what he could do
for her; 1t was all what she could
do for him. Ed, don't you seer"
II see plaian enough that IL he
wanted her he wouldn't have wait
ed till you baited him with the
promise of a farm-for that's
what you did, of course"
Lefty walked in. silent. as usual,
handed Peggy a folded sheet OF
writing paper, and walked out
again.
Peggy read the message Lefty
had given her. She passed 1t to
him.
Read It," she quavered.
Slowly he deciphered the
scrawl:
Lands ess goot butt love ess
much more better. Lefty me
takes lands eff Ed gifes EFT
freelies. Butt enyhow we mar
ries. We has littl moneys an
we mott Trade work. You mott
to beg Ed for farm orr to
make us presents. Lefty me
hafe eche other an we tank
you ferry much.
Husband and wife looked at each
other tenderly, quizzically.
What are you starting to cry
for now. pet?" he asked.
What are you all choked up
over?" she answered.
CHAPTER XII.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1917-08-29
ORTING-TACOMA

Leave Ta "rsa nS $500. 1880 (.
Leave ave. o StH; 300. 1000 a
m.i 1890, 500, 8 p. m.
Leave Tacoma-9:30 and II:00.
Leave Orting-o:40.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1917-08-29

Lv. Tacoma-8 a. m. and 800 D. m.
Lc Ashford-8 a. m. and 900 p. m.
~ KAPOWsfN-TACO
Lv. Tacoma-S:00 a. m. 200. 4 D. m.
tv. Kapowsin-8:00 a. m. 1. I. D. m
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1917-08-29
MINERAL-TACOMA
AsHF0RD-rACOMA

EIEe, Alder, La GrRnd0
Lv. Tacoma 500 a. m. and $500 p. m.
Lv. Mineral 1880 q. m. and $50 o. m
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1917-08-29

This sport skirt is meant for
what its name implies-real sport
use. II is exceedingly practical.
1t does not sacrifice any of the at
tractive lines of the sport skirts
which are meant chiefly for show,
hut It Is of seryiceable cloth. with
real pockets. and reinforced about
the belt to preserve its fit.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1917-08-29
CHAPTER XII.

Ii was a big old-fashioned
house. hall running entirely thru
the center, square rooms, two each
side, downstairs and up: and there
was long two-story ell that con-
nected with the wood-house and.
thru that. with the barn. A COW
cred porch ran across the full
length of the ell. Here, on a
warm. fragrant evening in June,
sat dozen men. mostly in straight
back chairs tilted to the necessary
angle for feet to rest comfortably
on the porch rail.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1917-08-29
CHAPTER XII.

Steve and Lefty! A love affair!
Romancel She was a-quiver with
1t.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1917-08-29

TACOMA-ABERDE
Lv. Tacoma-8:S0 a. m. 1880 D. m.
Lv. Aberdeen-s:oo a. m, 500 p. m
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
Tacoma Office, Central Bus Sta.
Aberdeen Off,, Washington Hotel
TIME CARD
For Aberdeen
Leave Tacoma, $3.50 a. m.
1880 a. M; Olympia, 10 a. m.
II noon; McCleary, IL a. m,
p. m; Elma, 1880 a. m, 1880
D. m; Montesano, IL noon, 2 p. m
For Tacoma
Leave Aberdeen for Tacoma, Z
- m, 4:45 p. M; Montesano,
o. m, $3.50 p. m; Elma, 1870 D.
m, 8 p. M; McCleary, p. m,
$3.50 p. M; Olympia, 6 p. m,
1880 p. m.
= Subject to Change without Notice
.TONvILLE-kAPOwsIN-
TACOMA AUTO STAGE
nth ST., Op. p. o. and Csntrni Nus
Station.
Lv. Eatonville daily s a ~: D. m.
$3.50 p. m. Sunday. a m- Q and I
Lv9 Taron,a daaiiy 3 a. m. I u. m.
.. m. Sunday 9 q m. Z ana s;1I
saturday Evening spec,ai-Leav W
E4tonvile .. m; leave Tacoma
ouS p. m.
TENINO-RAINIEn
Lv. Tacoma-5:00 .. m.
Lv. Tenino-S:00 a. m.
MOOSE AUTO STAGE
0tand-Croft Hotel, 1910 pnctftc nv.
and Central Bus Station.
Tacoma ana Yelm, Lakeview, Hill.
hurst. Greendale, Roy, McKa emma
NJ. II. Mi1es.
fW. Tacoma-10:90 a. m and n
mi Sunday a. m. and 1900 .. m.
Lv, Helm-i:s0 a. m. and 3, m.
Saturday night 1890 and Sunday
THE BLUE LINE
Sumner, North Fuysllup, FfrwooA.
ArdeDa, Fife, Tacoma.
LEAVE SUMNER
SMessicl<'s Store.l
500 A. NJ. and hourly therea ger.
Last car leaving at 1000 p M.
On esturdeys last car leaves .,
LEAVE TACOMA
Peoples store and Central bus sta
tion, 115-117 So. 10th st.
B:oo A. NJ and hourly thereafter.
last car leaving at HOO P. M.
On Saturdays last car leaves II
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1917-08-29
NORT7EAsT TACOMA
Hwlehoa Creek and Hauua nnu

Lv. Tacoma6:30. 1880. ESQ q m;
Ly. N e. Tac.-7:oo. $500. 1920 a. m. !:
1850. $3.50. $3.50. 6:46 p. m
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1917-08-29
1'ODAY'S
MARKET
PRICES
BY Ahern

q . q o . y q o . q - y y . . .
. WHAT RETAILERS PAY .
o . = o y q q 3 . q q = O . . q
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1917-08-29
CENTRAL
BUS STATION

Lunch nOog> In Connection
Schedule Auto Stage & Freight
Service. Baggage Checked
116 SO. 10TH ST, TEL. MAIN aga
Carbonndo--Wi1ke non--Taeoms
tstea Heated Cnrsl
MCRACKEN, Prop.
Three Trips paily
Leave Tacoma: 11:c0 a. m;
400, 5:15 p. m.
Leave Carbonate: 7:3n, 8:15 q.
m; 200 p. m.
CKLHN-TACOMA
Lv. Tacoma 10 a m; $3.50, 3 p. N.
Ir. Buckley a. m; 1890 S p. m
Saturday and Spnday-Lv. Tacoma
10 q m: $3.50, 11:a0 p. m
Lv. Tacoma--6:4o. 1880 a. m: 2iA6
$50, 11:10 p. m.
Nv. Dupont--S:0o. 300 a. m, 100
$50, SIS p. m.
dpnday special-s:oo. 1000 .. m. /;
and 1900 M.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1917-08-29

what in thunderation's the
matter with Letty?" calculated
There's salt in this
pie stead of sugar! And yester-
day she put curry In the ample
sauce! What's the matter with
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1917-08-29

TACUWA-AbEFt EN-
Lv. Tacoma-S:S0 a. m. 1880 p. m.
Lv. Aberdeen-8:00 q. m, 500 p.
South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-03-31
TWIRLING HIS MUSTACHE.

The abdicaton of the Russian car imprison-
ment in his own palace have awakened much curiosity
as to the real character of Nicholas ROmanOf. Now
Nicholas the energies, with his royal trappings
stripped off. And what there left?
a correspondent of the London Daily Chronicle asks,
Was there man. all, behind the veil of majesty
of emperor of all Ehe Russias?" And his account of
Nicholas behavior before and after his dehronement
seems to suggest that there was-nothing
since the revolution the veil he has said moth
ing show that he had the spirit of a monarch.
He has expressed will of his own has made out
cry and no protest has submitted tamely expressed
opinion has said Yes Very welr I agree, I abdi
cate for myself SON. Thank you. Goodbye, if
he were discussing weather afternoon call"
The correspondent tells how while the revolution
gathered to a head, Nicholas "strayed about like a
bundle luggage" until he taken into custody
by Gen. Alexien at a railroad station.
Crossing the platform amid silence the crowd,
he held his right hand at salute with his left
vously wirled his mustache That gesture was char
actcristic always Nicholas way, instead of de-
Gliding acting wirl his mustache and look
in another direction. His ministers constantly COM
planned that ne would say yes no and that
his nvarable reply important requests to stare
at them with CLASSY. uncomprehendng eyes look
out of the window twiring his mustache"
this the who had held in his hand the
desnies of 600 people the arbitrary master of
their property and their lives twenty-five years.
the most vital period in history, this feeble.
weak-minded shadow a had been ''twirling his
mustache" and staring with CLASSY. wcomprehendns
eyes" while great nation potentially perhaps the
greatest in the world. struggled slowly medieval
darkness and fought its way toward freedom en-
lightenment.
Was there convincing example of the
folly wickedness of the divine right doctrine?
South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-03-31
TAXATION OF WEALTH.

1t evident that the going require
enormous expenditure of money. How the money 10
provided?
be raised by issuing bonds and thereby mort
gagng the future Germany has done 1t be
raised by combining big loans with special taxes as
England and France have done. or it be raised
entirely by heavy burden while the
leaving the nation free Of debt after
ward
It has been reported from Washington that the gov
eminent favors adopting the method. 1t would
defray nearly all the extraordinary expenses by
of income increased all along the line.
The smaller taxable might be yield five
per cent The rate would increase rapidly with the
In the of the largest, it might
amount to confscaton 1t is calmly proposed by some
advocates this plan that the shall take
for purposes the whole Of all personal in
comes over 500 600 a year.
The for 1916 show more than $500 persons
in this class. There about hundred and fifty
Americans with in excess of 100000 1t is
estimated that the proposed surtax large incomes
would yield $4,000 600 900 $4,000 100000 year Cor
poration incomes would suffer a similar pruning. There
talk of conscriptng the earnings of corporations in
excess of moderate return, say eight per cent
The mere tentative suggestion of such plan has
naturally a good deal of excitement among ct
who would be directly affected The proposal is
radical to be sure But the nation as a whole doesn't
seem much shocked by the idea. We're getting used
to radical measures in this topsyturvy time and prop
crty used be-especially big,
centralized blocks of property.
1t is felt pretty generally that it's only fair make
the rich pay the bulk the war expenses since it's
the poor who the bulk of the lighting and is
waged protect the mans property as surely
to protect the poor mans life 1t is felt that at
such a time this. when much is stake in
uonaI and individual life, corporation has a
right pile up wealth. Surely. when half the world is
hungry and many millions homeless. and the very
civilization endangered, 100000
year ought to be enough for any