davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-05-24
WHO BURNED OUR SIGN? WHY?

THAT was all who burned our sign?
Why?" 1t was a question put up for the
city to consider. Mr.. Archer also con-
tidered it. and the more he reflected
ciamped "shows we're contending with
anarchy" he concluded. might just
as well fight 1t out now as any time"
Paul was waiting for him at the fac
what do you think of old jerry"
he demanded eagerly How was that
for a quick comeback"
Exceedingly apt. Jerry is proving
himself good strategist," declared the
PAUL was greatly relieved at this in
dication that the fire had inclined his
father definitely toward their side Of the
man who made up his mind slowly, but
V{o. once committed, was as easily
! moved as foundation rock.
There's a policeman out here to see
XQA., said Paul's secretary.
+ rP0liceman? Show him In Wonder
n rs Jerry's friend, Strongburger?"
Instead II was Officer 54213. who
eutered wearing worried look. glanced
i. ~ Paul and stopped disconnected
5 TT amt you." he announced bluntly.
rIfs another-a young man--the one
I<4t was here at the fire last night"
my brother, jerry" suggested Paul
~Likciy." concede2 the policeman.
: he told me TO come to see him at
well, 1t isn't nine yet"
+Atn't IL? l thought II was noon,"
troaked the policeman, gloomily. The
t&~Epapers are maxim a goat OF me
About this fire, It's getting too hot for
ne. 1 want To see somebody"
oWant to tell what you know sug-
fc<ted Paul. attempting to draw the man
"<of much i don't--that IL, I don't
oe* nethin. and l wanted 70 tel Mr..
X<4I<r %. 4 got wife and four chill.
J. get three-and-a-half q day.
A. {Rke my orders to get ON the
Ard got 90 take my 'orders,' too.
M ~ thu fierce. and II anything
RSt4Hk they can me lie eomethinE
&enS kee~ aefhinx and I
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-05-24

mind his men. urging them to save
themselves. Two huge Blue Racers
forged ahead of the others General
CrOaker leaped desperately to keep
ahead of them. hut they gained stead.
lily. Peggy saw that he could not pos
sibly win.
Down, Down" she shouted to Mr..
Swallow. He dove Just as the two
Snakes sprang for General Croaker.
Mr.. Swallow smashed right into one
or the racers and threw it against the
other. They missed General Croaker,
ana he. with mighty leap, scared
over the edge Of the cliff
The two Blue Racers could not stop.
They sprawled and tumbled over the
cliff into the canvas below. Neither
could the other Blue Racers nor tho
BlaCksnakcs stop They went piling
over the cliff and Peggy saw them
land with a thud in the canvas trap.
But the Snakes at the front of the
charge had Travelled far ahead of the
Rattlers and other Reptiles. These
latter were able to stop before they
reached the cliff. Peggy saw to her
dlSmay that the bigger and more dam
gerous part of the army had saved
itself and was reforming. And at the
minute, far up the glen, came the
challenge of the reserve Frog army:
Cro-ak! Cro-ak on land or water.
Tome on. you Snakes. to death and
slaughter.
The Snake army turned toward this
sound, amin moment the charge
was in full swing in the opposite di-
reCtlOn. Peggy felt that the Frogs,
having no cliff over which to leap to
safety, were doomed unless something
was done quickly to save them. She
saw, too, that the Giant of the Woods
and Billy Belgium, anxious to see how
the trap had worked, had come down
from the tree and were running down
the glen directly in the path Of the
Snake army. They were in grave
danger from the deadly reptiles.
Then came saving idea. Peggy
darted ahead of the Snake army to.
ward the Giant.
The Snakes are escaping" she
shouted. Set fire to the grass"
(Tom OrrOp TW be related the out.
come Of the bdtHe in Rdttler Glen.)
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-05-24
.e-!H, ,STEHLT THY TERROR
so = JOHN EEksuson


This was the Wostwater Bridge Here
IN" road crosses tn" river Of thar name
Just before YOU com" t0 tn" junction |
mentioned Il was n good point for
'h"m to watch. for the river is both
rapid and deep ! soon saw it vas not
forgotten. Approaching cautiously from
h"hf the hedge, at first III" way seemed
clear, for there was no ON" ON the rie,,
of the bridge; but just aS ! prepared to
Jump back on "a tn" road again I
glanced along the arch uf the bridge aud
saw tn" dark ttgur" Of a man who
seemed to he leaning on the paraprr
looking down INTO the water But for
the fact that ! was in the field. and on
hat side of the road | should never
have seen him Till 7 was fairly on the
bridge. and then 1t would have been too
late.
"rawlcd rapidly away. There vas
StiIl the railway bridge. Should | try
that? The river ther" was shallowcr
and broader and the bridge much longer
As | debated with myself a train went
laundering over, and ! could SEQ the
Stoker COallng the furnace, n column Of
light ascending OhliQuelY into the dark
from The open furnace door, | dared
not risk it. This bridge would not be
forgotten, and if, as was almOs2 certain,
II was a t the far end they watched
there would be no retreat possible, for
the bridge was very long. So | took to
the water higher up, and save for :'he
wetting it was not so very bad. as it
was only for perhaps five yards | had
to swim. 1t was thus that came 10
Kilaher junction and sat down on ;ho
embankment, near the south signals, to
wait for my luck
| was very cold in my wet clothes
Tho signal box with its glass sides alght
looked very cheerful, and I could hear
the night siEnalman whistllng 20 him.
self as he moved about at his work
From time to time a bell would ring.
and there would he a Clang of metal as
he worked the levers which adjusted the
points, ana down and up the line ]
would see a signal lgh" change from
red to white or green. But always the
line seemed 10 be clear that night. for
nothing was ever pulled up. ] was fair
ly beginning to know despair when the
third goods train Numbered past and
| was considering If | ough" not to be
going on. lest daylight should find me
still there, when close on its heels !
heard the low rumble of a following
train. away back on the Westwater
bridge, and knew that it was scarcely
possible 1t would find the road clear 50
soon after the other Hope rose higher
when | saw the home signal remain red.
ON came the train but presently, sure
enough, there was n grinding from the
brakes, sparks flew out from the wheels
and with a Clang of the buffers that
went all the length of the train, the big
engine came to a standstill under the
lighted signal box windows. II was not,
las! general goods train, in which
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-05-24

there are usually some uncovered waE-
Ons, but a fas1 fish train.
| could hear an interchange Of banter
between engine and signal hOA, and
when l had run down the train and
mounted the guards van, the official in
change .was leaning out Of the other
door, watching and listening He never
heard me as ! slipped inside and sat
down on the bench. Then a bell rang
in the signal box, a rerfunctOry touch
on the whistle, and we began to move
The guard hung out Of his van TO shout
some pleasantly 20 the signalman. and
then turned, round
My God :" he cried seeing me.
Where does this train go to-"
asked him.
What do you want here" he asked.
anger rising.
1t was "A case for impudence
III You are asking me about the
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-05-24
d COppfIphT, I5I6, bD FUbNc Ledger Go.
CHAPTER XIV-tContinuedD

RRIVING at the buckingham resi-
dence. Jerry sought Ruth's permis-
sion to use their telephone, for he had
quickly seen that this fire made his sign
a newspaper story again. one after an
other he called the morning papers, not
to tell them of the fire which, of course.
they would already know, but to inform
them of what he had seen and of what
his conjectures were. Emerging from
the den in which he had been talking.
Jerry discovered that Mr. and Mrs.
& buckingham had come home and were
z being entertained by Miss Minturn and
Ruth with the story Of the confiagration.
WELL" observed Mr.. Buckingham, II
see your publicity bureau is still work
5Yes. sir" smiled Jerry This was
too good an opportunity to lose. DO
you know, Mr. Buckingham, it proves
Just what I've begun to susDeCt--that
persons like Rand are not really intelli-
gent" only the reformers are that"
observed Mr.. Buckingham ironically.
But father, you're not attacking re-
formers are you inquired Rutb. study
ing her father doubtfully
Not attacking them. 10 There are
plenty of people to do that Reformers
are very good people-sOmetimcs: very
well-meaning people nearly always but
They never accomplish what they set out
TO do and they make it hard for some
persons
what do you mean by some per-
cpiS. ptlolSAth MS tduBllt
Come. come. Ruth" Chided Mrs
Buckinghan1E rising and moving toward
the stair, as if to intimate that there
was to be no extended conversation. as
II you could be interested in more than
the spectacular side of an event like
this. | have no doubt Mr.. Archer can
weather the loss of his sign and that he
has already made plans for a newer and
grander one"
quite right, Mrs. buckingham. and
I'm going now to attend to 1t. 1t will
require work for the rest of the night to
accomplish 1t, but it is my intention to
have that sign back there when morning
breaks--or n part of it"
This remark. though addressed to the
wife, was in effect a sort of polite de-
fiance to Mr.. Buckingham and had refer
ence to that insistenCc of his earlier in
the day that the sign should come down
and stay down. He 50 interpreted it and
gave Jerry one of his StraiEhtest looks,
but for all of that was perfectly urbane.
and indeed rendered his hand quite cor
daily while Mrs Buckingham was
sweeping up the stairs followed by Ruth
who tossed Jerry an imvish kiss from he
hind her mothers back and over her
fathers head
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-05-24

I" hand YOU over to the police forbye "
All inns nm" h" was on his hands and
Knee h"i"r" tn" little stove. getting the
mr." going. and hofor" it | sat and got
urN Whll" the train howlcd along into
f"llAr,h hire. and W" talked when we
R"rwi"k is the first place we're
booked to stop at" he answered grin
ming. ITS a fish train we're on. yc
"What :" he ocried "Dinna eav We
SmeIi my train already. But LOard.
what would y" expect else when we've
! been pulled up three in just twenty
This was his scmisad. humorous
sarcasm. evoked hy SLOW local goods
PEELED Signalmcn to fling the red light
hrfor" his pcrishahlc cargo,
All the same We seemed to find littlo
ahead Of rs after that, and the fast
tram flashed through lonely and DIM"
Int stations roared into tunnels and
ratified over high bridges in "A way that
/ rocked tn" van from side to side con-
tolnuouSIy ana that did promise TO full
would b" in tim" for the sleeping Lon
Ills spirits, ltk" noise, began to- rise
/ AN u" made up on these trains where
| tn" scheduled stops are few. But. alas
"" had no sooner crossed the Tay than
lh"r' can" a s!ackennE. Something
in front again,
Dom" cried the guard. This is just
asked him where we were.
Just outside Thornton Junction" he
answered. "l'll have to put ye off if we
gently. - my duty" he explained,
looking M me QuCEtioningly.
Thornton Junction 1t was good
/ enough. In any case IT was not possible
Tn u l.. ,I,,.
tralr and dd think that | had COW
cred my trail pretty effectually this
time. So treasured the little man
as t. there being no need of muscular
effort on his part to get rid of me
and when We did pull up climbed down.
after we had shaken hands He waved
to mo a kindly farewell as his train
moved on, after | had reached the top
final hut there was another clatter of
buffers, and another dead stop.
Dom :" he cried aloud, almost in
anguish. What ahoot my fish, noo?"
way" comfowed him.
"Ay," he answered gloomily. "for the
penny fish suppers in the East End
This sally made me laugh heartily,
leaning out of his van door, arms folded
"le'rr a queer kind of a fish yersel'
We ken, be remarked, nodding. Comm
out a the waiter and on to my train
believe yon story" the train began
TO move again and he hent out fur
thcr, Look here, Mr.. MacTavish,". he
called in a stage whisper we've been
on the spree l doubt. Gang straight
home, my lad. and keep aft the drink
But If so be Ne Canga resist so great
temptation, keep aft the railway when
Htre On it."
This time his wave was final, and soon
the little red tal-amp on his van was
no ,,11 more than a speck in the distance
When / had covered the distance be-
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-05-24
THE WAR OF THE FROGS

did 50 IN very orderly fashion. Up in
front We're VOWS Of beautiful blue
Snakes, behind them was a company
of BlaCkSnakos, and still farther back
were handsomely marked Snakes that
Peggy recognized HS rHttlCrS Of the
kind sh" had helped to kill when she
saved the Giant Of the Woods.
"Arcnt those blue Snakes pretty"
she said to Mr.. Swallow
"ThoN re Bluc Racers" he answered.
"Thosc Frogs will have to jump
mighty fast to get away from them"
That warned Peggy. She raced back
to the Frog army.
"Cot on your toes" she screamed.
using term sh" had heard AT a base
ball game. The Frogs set themselves
to jump and started another taunting
chant.
Cro-a-k! Cro-a-k, Come on, you
Snakes.
Woll show YOU that
Peggy saw a blue flash dart out
from the Snake lines
"Go, 90, g0!" she screamed
The chant ceased abruptly. The
whole Frog army rose as one Frog in
a gigantic backward leap. In an in.
stant it was in full flight. with the
Snakes rushing in pursuit.
Peggy marveled at the swiftness of
the Blue Racers They streaked over
tn" ground like glints of light. Would
tn" Frogs he able to Outrun them?
As the charge gained speed Peggy
saw how cunning the Snakes had been
in Arranging their army. They had
placed Abe fleet Blue Racers first and
the fast BlaCksnakcS second, with the
slower Rattlers and others bringing
up III" rear. Thus they would strike
l.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-05-24

them. Among them was Douton. the
reporter who had inquired about the
bandage.
"How's the place where the stick Of
wood fell. Mr.. Archer" DoultOn asked by
way of introducing himself again
Much better. thank you" said Jerry
joining in the hearty laugh which went
round the group.
After Jerry had elaborated with saus-
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-05-24


'NH'u h"' F'o"S 20 10 "d' "'H
'"r N""h'S' F''"g IS 'd"en "Pn" :"
MH ,"' ,oIWeI' ""o arc nH''S :" '"'
h""%r W u" VIC "rlR o' "c F'o"' o,
'H' "o"S "RH b'HU hCi"tHm Sh'
Pi0"S To trap the @"Hbc drmNl
.,
DbG'A, looking down from the
L hark OF Mr, Swallow, qutyered with
dread hS she saw the size Of the Snake
forces They filled RHttler Glen from
wal! I" wall. Supposing something
went wrong with her plan to trap
tn"m Snnp"SlnE the snakes caught
IN" Frogs before they could leap to
safety, Peggy shuddered at the
lh"uEht
G"n"rnI 'roak"r led his frogs brave.
~ up tn" glen, IheN Croaked loudly
rs they advanced. hurting taunts at
tn" enemy.
Cro-a-h' Cru-a-k! On land or water,
com" ON, YOU Snakes, to death and
Eianghi"r.
''-' ln-a-N' wen snow you
,rh,t i,,Gr W,II so,d ,.o,, oo,,.,rd,
Iitiug
"r,.,.,i" id Da .-r,. ,,.i,,
mako thc Sr,i,o. i,,st Hind ,,!itI, 700, :,
ind i, ,ii ,,ii m',I,
ar''' =, ''': ne L',,.nE grey more
"nHln" letting off steam. f"rked
'',,EE'''S I'rtoH hhErlIH IN ana out
General 'roaker lined up his army
"'r"SS IN" EI'n' IN" soldiers forming
IN 'I"S" rows i"ESN saw danger in
lllN.
H,''I'' iI "u'. spread out she
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-11-21
WANT, SHIP BOARD REPORT
Senate Adopted Resolution Asking
for All Plans.

Washington. Nov. 21sIThe senate
today adopted a resolution proposed
by Senator Harding of Ohio. calling
fer complete report Of all plans and
T; tivities of the shipping board and
emergency fleet corporation.
THE resolution is inspired by the
statement of the heads of the shipping
board and fleet corporation, that there
are. now places for 100000 workers
IN the ship yards" said Harding. It
think it is uncomfortable that these
organizations contemplate continue
ton of shipbuilding upon a war scale,
especially as that would involve an an
nual additional outlay of $500, 900, 600
for labor alone"
Senator Borah asked whether Hard
ing's resolution will disclose why
wooden ships constructed in some
yards have sunk as soon as launched
Harding intimated he hopes the
resolution will show the reason
Senator Calder, another member of
the commerce committee, which has
investigated the shipping program, de-
clared the resolution will show that
the whole wooden ship program has
been a failure.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-11-21
CAN CARRY SELF
American Business Is ThOrOly
Capable Now.
Baruch Says 1t Will Be Stable
in Peace.

Washington, Nov. 21.-"American
industry and business are perfectly ca
pable of taking care of themselves.
With the nation in splendid financial
condition and with big demand both
at home and abroad, for American
goods, as we'll as American food, fuel
and raw materials, the sooner all re-
strictions are raised the better"
This is Bernard Baruch's view of
reconstruction today.
Beyond maintenance of present
price levels on commodities on which
prices have been, fixed, the-giving of
financial aid to a numbec of industries
and the cancellation Of war contracts
in a manner gradual enough to allow
labor to be absorbed by peace in
dustries,"> Baruch favors no further
government help.
Conferences with leading repre-
sentatives of forty-two of the greatest
American industries are being held,
one by one, and the opinion is unani-
nous, Baruch said. that restrictions
might be lifted.
1--WE have had MANI recommends
lions that the war Industries board be
continued by the government as per-
manent organization insofar as some
of its missions are concerned" said he.
THAT is up to the president and to
congress-
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-11-21
BURDEN TOOC GREAT
Mother of Eleven Children
Found Dead on Door Step.
Every Member of Family Was
Ill With Influenza.

Whole families are suffering from
tie ravages of the influenza in south
western Kansas. according to reports
received today by DIR. S. J. Crumbine,
secretary of the state board of health.
More doctors and nurses have been
sent to Garden City and Elkhart and
hundreds of new cases have been re-
ported. The death rate in the south
western counties has been high.
One of the most pathetic stories OF
the epidemic came. to DR.. Crumbine
today in a letter from DR.. Elvenor
Ernest, of Topeka, sent into the in
fected district by the state board She
found a mother lying dead on the
doorstep of her home. The woman
died from influenza and had been
dead IL hours when found Her
eleven children We're all suffering
from the disease and had been COM
pelle d to walk, over the body of their
dead mother as they passed thru the
doorway. The family lived in one of
the remote sections of the sand hill
country.
Turnout the sand hill district, scores
of deaths have occurred and entire
families have been practically wiped
out. Or. Ernest declared there was
Scarcely a family in Garden City
which had not been visited by the dis
ease. Today a rigid quarantine was
placed over Mexican and Indians
working in the sugar factory. A patrol
has been placed over the homes of
these workmen and daily v its are
made to determine health conditions.
Nine nurses and three doctors have
been sent to Garden City by the state
health department. Two nurses left
Topeka Wednesday night for the Fin
ney county district and a muse and
doctor leave tonight for ,Iclkhart.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-11-21

the Rotary club at the Chamber of
Commerce this noon. Prof. Charles
Zueblin, formerly of the department of
sociology of the University of Chicago,
was the speaker.
Trust Employment Service.
In his talk Professor Zueblin plead
ed that the employers and employees
alike place their trust in the United
States employment service as the one
great remedy and preventive which
can, with the. proper cooperation.
eliminate most of the waste America
has stood for in it's industrial life
Professor Zueblin prophesied that
the era of peace when the boys come
home will be an era of commercial en-
terprise on the seven seas. He as
serted that the industries will absorb
the men now in the army, and will
provide for them and their families in
,plenitude under the certain conditions
named-the elimination of waste.
Know Each Other.
The speaker asked that the Topeka
Rotary club as an organization of EN-
ployers, study the matter thoroly and
try to see if some common ground
cannot be established in Topeka where
employer and employee may get to-
gether, know each other, and in the
knowing gain each others respect and
liberation. Zueblin asserted that if
such a thing can be accomplished in
all parts of the United States the ma
ton will have taken the greatest pos
sible step toward the utilization of the
great war enthusiasm for the building
of commerce and industry in peace.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-11-21
DUTCH WONDER
WHY KAISER is
GIVEN PRIVILEGE

Amsterdam, Nov. 21.-William Ho-
henzollern's boarding of potatoes,
flour and coffee has aroused the resi-
dents of Maarn, who were amazed at
the vast stores of articles being trans
ported to the Amerongen castle from
special trains.
The Dutch do not know just how to
take the former kaiser's offer to in
spect the government aviation school
at Soesterberg. Hohenzollern takes
frequent rides in Count Won Bentinck's
automobile. He appears to have
abandoned his own car which bore
the imperial coat Of arms and>was in
scribed Scott Witt Uns."
The Telegram asks why favors
should be shown the former kaiser. It
charges that he is allowed to-use spe-
cial telegraph and telephone lines
from Amerongen castle to Amsterdam.
Count Won Bentinck appears anxious.
for everybody to understand that he
is entertaining Hohenzollern at the re-
quest of the Dutch government
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-11-21
FOOD NEED GREAT
Head of German.Austrian Re.
public in . Statement.
Says Fuel and Supplies Are
Very Low.

Vienna, Nov. 1S.-Dr. Karl. one OF
the three presidents of the national
council of the GermaRAustrian re-
public. said today that the most urgent
need was for food and fuel.
What we must have in the next two
weeks Is coal and food" he declared.
otherwise the cold weather will in
crease the misery and possibly plunge
our poor people into Bolshevism. Our
sole desire is to live in peace and
amity with all persons according to
the rule laid down by President Will
SON. and we also have appealed to
President Wilson for food"
DR.. Karl added that former EN-
perOr Charles. who is living at the
castle of Eekartsau, is being treated as
private citizen. and Is free to go
where he likes. He is not guarded by
forces of the new government, but by
his own private guards
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-11-21
|. w. w. BROUGHT HERE
Disturbers In Oil District Arc Placed
in Shawnee Co. Jail.

Ten alleged I. w. w. members were
brought to Topeka Monday from the
Reno county Jail by Sam Hill, deputy
United States marshal from> Wichita,
G. A. SaldGn and Ivan Collins, OF
Hutchinson. The men were placed in
the Shawnee county Jail. They were
arrested year ago in the Eldorado oil
fields at the time of the 1. w. w. riots
in that vicinity and were later indicted
at Wichita and bound over to the
grand jury, before whom their cases
will probab bly, be heard next spring.
s-It is said that. 6ne of the men, Leo
stark, spea ks seish hit q, different Lana
guages and has made seven trips thru
South America Phe other men are:
Albert Barr Glenn Godfrey. Sam
Forbes, Morris Hecht, Frank Patton,
Robert Poe, Michael Sapper, John
Walburg and Harry Mccall.