davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-12-05
Neufchateau. Oct. 30.

Neufchateau, Oct. S0
 7 ZIP in the salient between St. Mihiel II and Pont Mousson yesterday I
 saw the real. actual fighting of the American and the Boche armies.
 It was from an observation post on a high hill and known as HaIton chatel.
 We were following in behind the ad- vance of the American army, and had passed through the almost destroyed village of Seicheprey where our boys had wiped up the German lines and had taken fifteen thousand Boche prisoners. At this village I had passed on the road rather wealthy St. Louis lawyer friend of mine-a Southern railway attorney who used to lead the dances called ger mans (we must change the name now), at White Sulphur Springs. He was perched on a. motor truck hauling rock to repair the shell-torn roads. He was in command of road repair truck battalion and he was doing his work with that same care he would have ex- ercised in preparing a brief, or in sec ing that his best girl had a partner for every dance. The rain and the cold mattered not to him. There he was, dirty and wet hurrying along trucks of crushed stone to make the roads fit for supply trucks to go forward, and ambulances of wounded to reach the field and base hospitals. Upon his work depended the life of the men on the firing line, and he was doing 1t with all the vim and en- ergy in him.
 We had sandwiches with us, on this long trip from Neufchateau to the front line, but in passing a negro regiment in field quarters-dog tents up--we spied the white officers sitting on boxes and CdtlIS Oll DOACS AOl tdDlSS dUOQt d iCl0 kitchen, and we stopped for coffee. Of course we got the full lunch, and it was good indeed. A quarter moon- shaped tin of coffee-almost quart-good and strong. fine roast beef, we'll cooked beans, pure white bakers bread, sugar, and the best of jam. I had had sawdust bread and no sugar in my weak coffee in both London and Paris, and but a suggestion of jam when allowed any. It was the real stuff and I went for 1t like boy at an unguarded sugar bowl.
 This negro regiment was being taken forward for road work. It was made up from southern towns and farms and had proven bit shy for other purposes. only found one talkative jet black fel- low who said he was from Birmingham The other negroes said he had much of the Great Is Birmingham" spirit about him, but was we'll content to do road
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-12-05
F E E Rostand Typified Soul of France

M MONO the distinguished victims 1A of influenza, which has taken a heavy toll of lives all over the world, was Edmond Rostand.
 The great French playwright and poet was to France during the war what D'Annunzio was, and still is, to Italy. Rejected for military service, he devoted his talents to inspiring his countrymen with new zeal and ardor jn defense of their liberties. He yArote with intense feeling and con- 1hbuted no little to the heroism of the French, tried in the darkest hours of the war. Incidentally Rostand, who had the friendliest feeling for Ameri- ca, paid his tribute to this country for helping to save civilization and democracy from the Hun.
 Rostand is perhaps best known to Americans as the author of "Cyrano de Bergerac," regarded by many as his masterpiece, an extraordinary play in which Richard Mansfield appeared on the American stage. His "Chantecler," ;" . unique satire, was played by Maude Adams. His "L'Aiglon" was played with her customary distinction by Sarah Bernhardt.
 While much of the beauty of Ros- tand's poetry was lost in translation, he was one of the great poets of modern times, a truly exalted spirit. Before dying he had the satisfaction of seeing his beloved France freed of the invader.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-12-05
Effort Being Made to
 Continue the Sings

A COMMUNITY sing association A of one thousand members pay ing an annual fee of five dollars will enable the committee to continue the Sunday concerts.
 A year ago the sings were made possible by liberal contributions from a few public-spirited citizens. But a plan to distribute the burden is ob- viously fairer. The appeal for mem bers should meet with ready response. Many citizens have been enrolled in the association, but in order to place the sings on a permanent basis and improve the quality of the music something like the membership limit must be reached.
 The sings are distinctly community affairs. They are not only diverting, but in a marked degree educational. And surely there are thousand peo- pie who feel sufficient interest in so scribe the small amount of five dollars uplifting a cause as the sing to sub to keep it alive.
 Birmingham's concerts of year ago were talked about and written about far and wide. They advertised
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-12-05
LUKE M,LUKE SAYS

| When they are first married he l swears by his wife. But about a year later he swears at her. If 12-foot giant walked up to you and grabbed you by the arms and said: 'Woggy blig! Bliggy glug! Plug gy zung! BHggy woggy pluggy, wuff!" you would be scared TO death, wouldn't you? And yet when man starts to pick up a baby he says: "Oodooms, snookums. wuzzim toofin. izzim, toot- inns toldims. oochy, coochyrN and he wonders why the poor baby starts to bawl.
 And it often happens that the man who couldn't kill anything on a hunt ing trip has better tuck when he goes on an auto trip.
 The reason why Genesis is better known than Revelations is because people are always starting things they won't finish.
 It takes a man about 80 years to realize that 1t takes longer to correct a mistake than it does to make 1t.
 The reason why a man brags so much about his well-trained children is be- cause his wife attended to their train ing while he was downtown.
 A widower may not mourn his wife's demise for while. but 1t is a cinch that he will become a sinecure mourner after he marries the second time.
 And if a girl can't make fellow be- have when she is engaged to him. the betting Is that she won't be able to make him roll over and play dead after she marries him.
 Some men are so fond of their homes that if they ever stayed home one night their wives would have nervous breakdown worrying-over what awful crime their husbands were trying to atone for.
 You know that it is pretty hard for the other fellow to fool you. don't you: But you never stop to realize that it is just as hard for you to fool the other fellow.
 Ignorance is bliss, they say, Many man would want a divorce if he only knew that his wife's wedding outfit was originally begun for some other man.
 And what has become of the old- fashioned mother. who. when her son said: I'll be back in a minute" re- piled: "Yes. l know your minutes?'
 No Clarice, even if the brides name was. Eugenia and the grooms name was Eugene. we wouldn't call 1t Sa Eusenic marriage.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-12-05

BEGINNING THE DAY-Lord, thank Thee for this land, wherein men may find themselves; where any poor man may become rich and any peasant may win a throne.s Lord. I pray Thee for this land, that 1t may be freer yet; that no soul in it may be caged, and that no child may be hindered of his chance. Amen-H. M. F.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-12-05

Remittances can be made at current rate of exchange. The Age-Herald VIII not be responsible for money sent through the mails, Address
 THE AGE-HERALD,
 Birmingham, Ala.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-12-05
Member of the Associated Press

The Age-Herald IS the only mornIHs and Sunday newspaper in Birmingham carrying the Associated Press ois- patches.
 The Associated Press Is exclusively entitled to the use for publication oL all news dispatches credited to IL or not otherwise credited in this papSr and also the local news pupnsneo herein.
 All rights of republication of special dispatches herein are also reserved
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-12-05

Washington, bureau. POT Bibbs build ing.
 European bureau, Henrietta street. Covent Garden, London.
 Eastern business office, W l building. New York city; western busi- ness office, Tribune building, Chicago The s. c. Beckwith Special Agency agents for foreign advertising.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-12-05
ANCIENT GRIEVANCE

 .The German soldier who cursed Co., lumbus for discovering America has a counterpart in a soldier from Ala bama."
 How is thatT'
 q overheard one of our boys giving Julius Caesar Hail Columbia for not finishing up the Germans when he had the chance"
 MENTAL RELAXATION T happen to know an old farmer who reads Shakespeare diligently" Docs he apply Shakespeare to farm life?"
 'Not directly, but he says he gets a lot of comfort out of reading the bards wise observations after he's been try. ing to pound some common sense into the head of his hired man."
 PRUDENT COURSE Speak softly to the traffic police man."
 'I always do" replied the testy mos torist
 Highly commendable.'' If he ever heard some of the re- marks address to him under my breath I would be under arrest in about five seconds"
 NEVER CAN TELL These vaudeville performers style themselves Slam and Bang" T dare say they are knockabout com edians"
 Possibly that. but they may be jazz musicians.'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-12-05

No communication will be puoilsnee without it's authors name He)ecesu manuscript will not be returned unless stamps are enclosed for that purpose
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-12-05
ADRIFT WITH THE TIMES
Ae.)1I7u.e..a

THE FAIR PLAINTIFFS VIEW A wealthy land is this,
 A fact none wiu deny; Ten thousand for 8 kiss
 Is not considered high.
The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1918-04-13

A CLEAN of hope showed in the eye
OF the engineer. "You didn't bring
her? Diane said you threatened"
Maybe I did say I would. Anyhow
l thought better Of 1t. But Tn glad
someone had the sense to tell Miss
O'Neill the truth"
"Who do you think brought herT'
"Fm not thinking on that subject
out loud"
"But If you could show Mac"
"That's up to you. I'll not lift a
finger. I didn't start this war and I'm
not making any peace overtures."
You're as obstinate as the devil"
smiled Peter, but in his heart he ad-
mired the dourness of his friend.
The engineer went to Macdonald and
gave deleted version of his talk with
Elliot. The Scotsman listened, a bit
ter, incredulous smile ON his face.
SAYS he didn't bring hsr does. -ha2
Tell him from me that he lies. Your
wife let out to me by accident that he
threatened to bring her. Meteetsc and
he came up on the boat together. He
was with her at your house when she
told her story. He's trying to save his
hide. No chance"
"Elliot isn't liar. When he says I've
didn't bring the woman, that satisfies
me. I know he didn't do it,. insisted
Paget stiffiy.
Different here. Who else had any
interest In bringing her except him?
Nobody. Use your brains, Peter. He
takes the first boat down the river. He
comes back on the next one. She
comes back, too, They couldn't figure
I'd he at your house when they
showed up there to tell the story.
That's where Mr.. Elliot slipped up."
Peter was Of different stuff from
Seifridge. He had something to say.
So he said It.
"Times have changed, Mac. You
can't shoot down this fellow without
making all kinds Of trouble. First
thing, we'd lose our claims. The ad-
ministration would drop you like a hot
potato If you did a thing like that.
Sheba would never speak to you again.
Your friends would know In their
hearts 1t was murder. You can't do It."
Macdonald's jaw clamped. "Then
let him get out. That's my last word
to him."
The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1918-04-13

JAAA WAtAOAb IA C0hAASts &AQ was IUAA-
Gus, but as lie paced up and down the
narrow beat beside the bed his anger
gave way to anxiety. Surely the Pag-
cts could not believe he had done such
a thing. And Sheba--would she ac-
cept as true this weight Of circum-
stantial evidence that was piling up
against him?
1t could all be explained so easily.
And yet--the facts fitted like links Of
chain to condemn him. He went
over them one by one. The babbling
tongue of Selfridge that had made
common gossip of the impending trag-
edy in which he and Macdonald were
the principals-his purchase of the
automatic public meeting with
two known enemies Of the Scotsman,
during which he had been seen to give
them money--his target practice with
the new the unhappy chance
that had taken him out to Sesen-Afile
Greek Camp the very day Of the rob-
bery-his casual questions Of the min
ers-even the finding Of the body by
him. All Of these dove-tailed with
the hypothesis that his partners in
crime were to escape and bear the
blame, while he was to bring the body
back to town and assume innocence.
Paget was admitted to his cell later
tn the morning by Gopher Jones. He
shook hands with the prisoner. Jones
retired.
slough luck. Gordon" the engineer
said.
"What does Sheba think7"
eve haven't told her you have been
arrested. ] heard 1t only little while
ago"
"And Diane7"
Eyes, she knows"
"Well?" demanded Gordon brusque-
ly.
Peter looked at him in questioning
surprise. "Well, what7" He caught
the meaning Of his friend. 'Try not
to be an ass. Gordon. OF course she
knows the charge is ridiculous"
The chip dropped from the young
mans shoulder. "Good old Diane. !
might have known" he said with
new cheerfulness.
II think you might have" agreed
Peter dryly. "By the way, have you
had any breakfast?"
mo. I'm hungry, come to think Of
It."
"Tll have something sent in from
the hotel"
FLOWS MacdonaldT'
Hes alive--and while there's life
there is hope"
"Any news of the murderers?"
asked Gordon.
posses are combing the hills for
them. They stole a packhorse from
a truck gardener up the valley. 1t
seems they bought an outfit for a
month yesterday-said they were go
ing prospecting"
They talked for few minutes long
er, mainly on the question of a lawyer
and the chances of getting out on bond.
Peter left the prisoner In very much
better Spirits sef lid 4sad him.
The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1918-04-13
ELLIOT FINDS HIMSELF IN A SERIOUS PREDcAMENT AS
RESULT OF A REMARKABLE CHAIN
OF CIRCUMSTANCES.
upright, William Macleod Raine

synopssAs representative government
his to Alaska investigate
interested fellow
ONei also going n Colby Macdonald active
grabbing syndicate investigation
become friendly Kdsak finds
that old friends of his Mr. and Mrs Pag the people
has visit. Mrs. Paget is Shbas
Macdonald the object his
naturally anagonsc also become rivals
Macdonald foreeeng failure his financial Elliot
Selfdge his righhand arrange
that Elliot will be deceived to the true situation
Kamaah and wandering from the believes
faces death Sedge his arrival at Kamatah agents
duct Gideon Holt Odme MINER who knows
donalds activities Elliot wands into the
The overpowering the hdnap
h Elliot learns the truth about the coal
back Kusiak Elliott meets Meteetse
who Elliot learns is Macdonads Soon after his
Macdonald Sheba have become engaged
Mallory dashng widow who is determined Macdonald
Meteese her child visit her story
Macdonald who bame Elliot visit
Macdonald word to Elliot that he will kill not
The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1918-04-13

Said.
fever Of the patient was subsiding. he
slept good deal, and In the intervals
between had been once or twice quite
rational.
The thoughts Of the cousins drew
their steps toward the Jail. Sheba
looked at Diane.
"Nvill they let us pass. do you
think?"
Perhaps. We can try"
Gopher Jones was not proof against
the brisk confidence with which Mrs.
Paget demanded admittance.
The prisoner was sitting on the bed.
His heart jumped with gladness when
he looked up.
Diane shook hands cheerfully. SHOW
is the crimlnalT"
"Better for hearing your kind voice.
he answered.
His eyes strayed to the ebon-haired
girl in the background. They met a
troubled smile, grave and sweet.
lawfully good Of yon to come to
see me-" he told Sheba gratefung.
"How is Macdonald2'
Better. we hope. He knew Diane
this afternoon"
I'VE haven't talked to Mr.. Macdon-
aid yet about the attack on hin." III.
The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1918-04-13
CHAPTER XIV.
Ambushed,


Colby Macdonald, In miners hoota
and corduroy working suit, stood be-
side his horse with one arm thrown
carelessly across its rump. He was
about to start for Seven Mile Creek
camp with $2,700 In the saddlebags TO
pay the men there.
Diane was talking with him. ashes
young and fine and spirited. or course
1t was great shock to her. She had
been idealizing you. But think she
Is beginning to understand things bet.
ter. At my rate, she does not bate
you any more. Give the girl time"
You think she will--be reasonab,eYn
II don't know. But I'm sure of one
thing. She'll not be reasonable, as Won
call 1t, unless you are reasonable"
"You mean-ElliotT'
Eyes. She likes him very much. Do
you know that when the Indian woman
came he urged Sheba not to listen to
her story?"
Sounds likely--after he had spent
his good money bringing her here"
sneered the mine owner.
"He didn't. Gordon is a splendid fell
low. He wouldn't lie," answered Di-
ane holly. "And one thing Is sure-if
you lay finger on him for this, 1t will
be fatal with Sbeba. She will be
through with you"
Macdonald had thought Of this be-
fore. 1t had been coming to him from
several different angles that he could
not afford to crafty his desire to wipe
this meddlesome young official from
his path. He made q slow, sulky
promise.
"Ali right III let him alone. Peter
can tell him."
Swinging TO the saddle. he spgrren
The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1918-04-13

ures rushed at him. He threw uB IN
arm to ward Off the club aimed This
head, but succeeded only in {lding
the force of the blow. AS he Ired
back stunned. bullet gIance onss;,
This forehead and ridged a 37d row
through the thick hair. "A SCI ond
stroke of the club Jared him toE the
heels.
Though his mind was not clear his
body answered automatically the In
stinct that told him to close with his
assailants. He lurched forward land
gripped one, wrestling with him for
the revolver. Vaguely he knew by the
sharp, jagged shoots Of pain that the
second man was beating his head with
club. The warm blood dripped
through his hair and blinded his eyes.
Dazed and shaken, he yet managed to
get the revolver from the man who had
1t. But 1t was his last effort. he was
too far gone to use 1t. A blow on the
forehead brought him unconscious to
the ground bleeding from a dozen
wounds.
On his way back to Seven Mile Creek
camp Gordon Elliot rode down To the
ford. In the dusk he was almost upon
them before the robbers heard him.
For a moment the two men stood gaz-
ing at him and he at the tragedy be-
fore him. One of the men moved
toward his horse.
"Stop there!" ordered Gordon sharp
ly, and reached for his revolver,
The man--it was the miner North
rup-jumped for Elliot and the field
agent fired. Another moment and he
was being dragged from the saddle.
What happened next was never clear
to him. He knew that both of the
bandits closed In on him and that he
was fighting desperately against odds.
The revolver had been knocked from
his hand and he fought with bare fists
just as they did.
They quartered over the ground, for
Gordon would not let either Of them
get behind him. They were larger
than he, heavy. muscle.Dound giants
Of great strength, but he was far more
active on his feet. He jabbed and
sidestepped and retreated. More than
once their heavy blows crashed on
his face. His eyes dared not wander
from them for an instant, but he was
working toward a definite plan. AS he
moved his feet were searching for the
automatic he had dropped.
One Of his feet, dragging over the
ground, came into contact with the
steel. With a swift side kick Gordon
flung the weapon a dozen feet to the
left. Presently, watching his chance,
he made dive for 1t.
Trelawncy. followed by Northrup,
turned and ran. One of them caught
Macdonald's horse by the bride. He
swung to the saddle and the other man
clambered on behind. There was a
clatter Of hoofs and they were gone.
Elliot stopped over the battered body
that lay huddled at the edge Of the
water. So badly had the face been
beaten and hammered that 1t was not
until he had washed the blood from
the wounds that Gordon recognized
Macdonald.
Opening the coat Of the insensible
man. Gordon put his hand against the
heart. He could not be sure whether
he felt 1t beating or whether the throb-
bling came from the pulses in his finger
tips. AS well as he could he bound up
the wounds Witb band5eTchiefs and
The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1918-04-13

his horse and cantered away. His
mind was full of the problem that had
come into his life. He rode abstract
edly, SO that he was at the lower ford
of the creek almost before he knew it.
A bilberry thicket struggled down to
the opposite bank of the stream on
both sides Of the road.
The horse splashed through the ford
and took the little rise beyond with a
rush. Just before reaching the brow
OF the hill, the animal stumbled and
fell. As its rider went headlong, he
caught glimpse of cord drawn taut
across the path. pt- WA
Macdonald. shaken by the fall, began
slowly to rise. From the shadows OF
the bilberry bushes two STOPPING fig-
The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1918-04-13
CHAPTER xill.-Continued.

His companion flashed look of
warning at him and explained that
they were going down the river to look
for work outside of the district.
Suddenly Trelawney broke loose
and began to curse Macdonald with a
bitterness that surprised the govern
ment agent. What struck him most,
though, was the obvious anxiety Of
Northrup to quiet his partner and to
gloss over what he had said.
Elliot bought an automatic revolver
next morning and box of cartridges.
He was not looking for trouble, but he
intended to be prepared for 1t when
trouble came looking for him. In the
afternoon he walked out of town and
practiced shooting at tin cans for
half an hour. On his way back he
met Peter
The engineer came straight to the
subject in his mind.
"Selfridge came to see me last night.
He told me about the trouble between
you and Macdonald, Gordon. You must
leave town till he cools down. Mac
donald is bad man with gat."
"Is he? There'll be no trouble Of
my making. But If he starts any I'll
be there. Macdonald doesn't own the
earth, you know. I've been sent up
here by Uncle Sam on business, and
you can bet your last dollar I'll stay
on the Job till I'm through"
"Of course you've got to finish your
Job. But 1t doesn't all have to be done
right here. Just for week or two"
'Ten your friend something else
while you're on the subject. If I drop
him, I go scot free because he is inter-
fering with me on duty. I'll put Self
ridge on the stand to prove it. But
The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1918-04-13

II he should kill me, his last chance for
getting the Macdonald claims patented
would be gone. The public would raise
such howl that the administration
would have to throw your friend and
the GutteBchllds overheard to save
itself. know that-and Macdonald
knows It. So he stands to lose either
way"
Paget knew ibis was true. But he
could not drop the subject without
one more appeal.
He's not sore at you about the
claims. You know that. IFS because
you brought the squaw up the river to
see Sheba."
II didn't bring her-hadn't thing
to do with that. ! don't know who
brought Der, though could give O. good
Kuess."
The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1918-04-13
CHAPTER XIV.
Meod Save You kIndIx.v

Gou gave lou NtHuIys
A nurse from the hospital had re-
lieved Diane and Sheba at daybreak.
They slept until the middle of the aft
ernoon, then under orders from the
doctor walked out to take the air. The
The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1918-04-13

Elliot breaks out Of jail long
enough to Illustrate a plot engi-
neered by WaIly seIfridae.
Then he gets In Jail again. The
story of this exciting episode Is
told In the next lnstaIlment.