davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1918-02-14
What Had Happened to
Lillian?

The great gate stood ajar, as they
had left it. Esther wondered that
they had ever passed through in
safety, for the aperture was mar.
row. It was Lilian's dexterity that
had steered them clear-Lilian!
Esther drew a deep sigh. Would
she ever know what had happened
to Lillian?
The door of the lodge was open,
but there was no sign Of life within.
Where was the. old man, the coward
who had deserted them in their
distress? She turned to her COM
panion.
ale shut the door upon u.s." she
said, "when we were pursued. Can
you not punish him for that if 1 am
powerless?"
81 will not forget it." said the
man simply, "and now, Miss Vas
sell"-changing the subject quickly
with your permission l will lead
you by a short cut through the
wood. After that you will see the
the way for yourself. The station is
not far of. and it is barely an hours
run to New York.
The Washington times., 1918-02-14

sister nj Dor tn t and ten girl the
ave o live up is p from amu Investment ia uncle
She discontinue edowmgo Of accompany
only the o
F accept rive Eyh m O New York o ndv o a
is to o 10 see
that thHnam
a
also fn and af fngnosu heard in h next nHee
az % signed an 70 Dom bycuan ganf
some
Stree togo nGaadh egrsh
Tgm mOorG fol nhed mt nd fantastic
h lie
The Washington times., 1918-02-14
81 Must Not Faint" 3" She
Muttered.

"I must not faint, I must not"
muttered Esther to herself, but she
was conscious of the sound of rush.
ing water, and everything seemed
to be getting vague and misty. She
summed up all the will she pos
sessed, and rose to her feet deter
mined to resist the sick faintness,
and not give way. AS she moved
slowly forward, her trembling limbs
barely supporting her, the girls
eyes were caught by gaudy, far
ing poster, giving views of Colo
RADIO. .
Colorado! All, how often she had
longed to send Dora there, for Es-
ther had a firm belief that her sis
ter might yet be restored to health
if the invalid could only be sent
abroad and nursed' and looked after
properly.
81 must go home and tell Dora.
We will be of as soon as we can get
some clothes made" Esther NUT
tered the words half aloud; she
could hardly control her excitement.
She hurried out Of the station,
and was just about to hail a car
when she suddenly remembered
that she could we'll afford a hanson.
Why crawl slowly along in a car
under such circumstances?
Esther smiled to herself as she
jumped into hanson and gave the
man her address. How surprised
Mrs. Doyle would be when the cab
dashed up, and Jane Emily! Why
the girl would flattdn her nose
against the window wondering what
on earth had happened.
The driver took his horse along
at brisk trOt, and Esther leaning
back against the well stuffed cush-
ions experienced something of the
delicious languor of fatigue.
All at once Esther's attention was
attracted by window. She noticed
some beautiful fruit in the window,
The Washington times., 1918-02-14
Flushed Over the Price.

She flushed a little over the price
for Esther had hardly realized what
it meant to purchase out-of-season
delicacies, but the assistant who
served her promised that the fruit
should be carefully packed and de-
ivered within the hour, so Esther
consoled herself for her extrava-
gance by rejecting how the arrival
of the fruit would delight and sur
prise Dora.
They were a long time opening
the door at the house, and Esther
knocked and rang, rang and
knocked, but without avail. She be-
gan to get uneasy at last. A vague
premonition of trouble swept across
her soul, faint, iii-defined fear.
She pealed the bell with some vio-
lence, but her fingers trembled pitt
fully az she caught up the knock
er. She could advance no reason
for her uneasiness and sudden
dread Of disaster, yet by the time
the door swung slowly back she had
turned very pale and her forehead
and hands were damp with perspi-
ration. One glance at Mrs. Doyle's
face confirmed her anxiety; the
landlady looked excited and shaken,
her rubicund complexion had turned
sickly gray, her fiabby hands
quivered, and her loose, good-na-
tured mouth trembled at the cor
ners. She gazed at Esther with
some dismay, rolling her arms up in
her apron.
what has happened" asked Es-
ther. The girl spoke quite calmly,
yet she was acutely conscious that
she faced terrible tragedy. Her
soul had leapt ahead of her brain
and had already returned to pre-
pare and warn. "How is my sis
ter?" she went on. Tell me the
truth"
at wasn't no ones fault" whim-
pered Mrs. Doyle, rubbing her eyes
with the rough apron, except the
poor dear's own. She oughtn't to
have stirred from her bed, and
that's the blessed truth. Oh, it's
terrible thing to have to break the
news to you, Miss Vassell. Mercy
on US, my dear, don't look at me
like that-God knows l am shaken
enough already" The woman
paused to glance at Esther with
like terror; she was ap-
palled by the fierce despair creeping
over the young face, the anguish
burning in the gray eyes.
Rio Woman Was at Her
The Washington times., 1918-02-14
Part (Continued)

It was standing over her now
The gasping breath was close to
her ear. She felt the huge form
stopping as if to examine her. Her
face was turned upward, and the
faint light illuminated it. Some
thing touched her cheek. She
screamed again.
Why did those tearing fingers not
seize her, she who lay there help
less victim? Instead, it seemed as
II the encumbering shadow with
drew. Then there came to her the
sound of words, hoarse and hardly
articulate, but low and melancholy
'rYou never harmed me-you-
Was it that she heard? There fol
lowed a long, sobbing sigh-but
that might have been the wind. She
remembered no more.
The Washington times., 1918-02-14
The Waiting Men.

The two men awaited her in the
corridor, calm and impassive as be-
fore. The solicitor looked with ap-
proval upon the change she had
made in her appearance.
"You have done Your best in a
difficult position, Miss Vassell," he
said, "and l don't doubt the effect
of your fright will soon pass away,
trust you will believe me when /
say that 1 am sorry, truly sorry,
that it should have happened"
"And 1 heartily sympathize," put
in the clergyman.
"But remember, it was all a
nightmare. The whole of your ex-
periences in this house have been a
nightmare" continued the Solicitor.
Forget them. Draw your money,
live your own life and forget. To
forget is the secret of life. You are
quite safe as long as you keep Your
own counsel. Whatever you may
hear, say nothing to a living soul
whatever you may hear, you under
stand? If you should be indiscreet
there is real danger in store for
you. That, 1 think, is all 1 have to
say. to you"
T-wiu be SILENT" faltered
Esther.
"Good. I believe you. And now
you are at liberty to go-and to go
in perfect security"
Esther trembled. To face that
avenue alone-even in daylight-oh,
she could not do it. Besides, she
had no idea how she could return
to New York. The clergyman
noticed the embarrassment.
with your permission, Miss Vas
SELL" he said, 81 will conduct you
out Of the park and put you safely
on your way. 1t is a short walk,
and / trust it will not fatigue you
overmuch. You must return to New
York by train"
THANK you, thank you!" cried
the girl joyfully. Can we go at
once?"
The clergyman bowed. He, too,
looked weak and i'll, so Esther
thought, but in the morning light
there was more life-more human
ity-in his face. She wondered why
his hair was so white.
The Washington times., 1918-02-14
Big Woman Was at Her
Mercy.

"Tell me the TRUTH" repeated Es-
ther; then, moved out Of herself, she
caught Mrs. Doyle by her plump
shoulder and held her in her fierce
grip. "The truth woman" she cried
flercely, "even if have to shake it
out of you." Her fingers frightened
on her fiabby flesh; the big woman
was at her mercy.
Let me Co." exclaimed Mrs.
Doyle, painting. "Your sister is dead
NOT that you have any call to be-
have like q wild thing because of
that-every one nas to bury those
The Washington times., 1918-02-14

Renton was saying. "There were
marks on the fellows throat-but
they were strange marks-and on
his coat, too. Blood-stained fingers,
but ! never saw such a curiously-
shaped hand as must have done it.
However, / couldn't wait. We shall
hear what the police have to say"
He went on talking volubly.
Esther heard little more. Lean
ing back as she was, her cloak had
fallen open and a peculiar mark
upon it had caught her eyes. Blood
stained fingers! They were there
upon her own clothes-the thing
had touched her! She gasped in
horror, then quickly wrapped the
cloak about her for fear that these
men might see. But they were too
much interested in their own talk
to give her any attention.
"Was it murder?" 1t must have
been"-
"The police will never unravel the
mystery
"An undetected crime"-
And so on. The words fell
vaguely upon Esther's ears. She
had sunk back in a state Of semi
consciousness. And so the train
steamed into New York.
Esther's first thought was to ar
range her wrap in such fashion that
the mark of the hateful hand was
hidden. The sight of those dark
bloodstains had aroused a sense Of
nausea, and she began to feel faint
again, but she struggled against the
sensation with all her will and
strength; still exhausted, nature
proved too strong, and she had to
sink down on a bench seat near by
or she would have fallen to the
ground.
The Washington times., 1918-02-14
"oh, God, My God, Too
Late!"

ooh, God, my Cod" Esther rose
to her full height as she said the
words, and she threw her arms out
over her head. "Too late! Every
thing has come too late" she nut.
tered hoarseiy. "My daring starved
The Washington times., 1918-02-14

also wreath of bloom, and the idea
struck her how nice it would be to
order some of these hothouse lux
uries to be sent round to Dora.
They would. help to convince the
poor invalid Of the glad reality Of
Esther's income, and she would ap-
preciate at once the new turn of
fortunes wheel.
Esther stopped the cab and hur-
ried into the shop. The assistants
seemed surprised to see so early a
customer, but they took her order
readily.
The Washington times., 1918-02-14

that they care for. Look at me, a
widow these twenty years-we've all
had our sorrows, miss" She spoke
the last words more gently, for Es-
ther had relaxed her clasp of her
arm and now stood leaning against
the hall table, looking like a white
statue of despair"
"How did it happen?" The girl
spoke quite calmly, and no tears
came to dim the burning brilliance Of
her eyes. Mrs. Doyle looked on such
iron self-control with suspicion; it
limited at a terrific breakdown later
on, she thought. However, she had
no time now to surmise about the
future; it fell to her to inform Es-
ther Vassell in what manner Dora
had met her death. She spoke with
halting tongue-teliing the story
very slowly, shifting audibly, and
wiping her red eyes.
Esther, with senses unuaturally
quickened, soon grasped the facts.
Dora must have awakened in the
middle Of the night and have wanted
a drink Of water. Too restless to
wait for morning and the entrance
Of Jane Emily, she had got out of
bed and struggled to reach the dress
ing table herself. Here she must
have slipped on the oiicioth and
fallen heavily to the ground, strik-
ing her head against the sharp edge
of Esther's trunk. She had been
found stiff and cold a few hours
later, a trickle of blood having
stained the forehead-sole sign of
the blow that had killed her.
Rushes to Dead Sisters Side.
"Take re upstairs-nO, I'd rather
go alone" Esther moved forward
almost mechanically; she had only
one desire left, to see the dead sister,
the sister she adored and worshiped.
1t did not occur to her yet that she
had sacrificed herself vainly; all she
could think about was Dora, Dora,
who had fed to the far country Tn
bounded by night or by day-Dora,
who had closed her eyes on life.
"My beautiful-my darling" The
words broke sowy from Esther's
dry lips as she gazed down on the
dead girl. Death had been kind to
Dora and had ennobled her features,
taken away her querulous express
sion, visited her with his sublime
peace.
Esther sank down on her knees by
the side of the bed. She was too
dazed and bewildered to pray, yet
the attitude of prayer soothed her,
and after a while she found herself
grooming Dora's name, just as she
used to do when her sister suffered
from severe attacks Of pain.
She was aroused by timid knock
at the bedroom door and the entrance
of Jane Emily. The girl advanced
with some hesitation, her arms
loaded with flowers, her hair untidy
as ever, her feet in broken, Tapping
slippers, her stockings down at heel.
go, Co." cried Esther, impatient
ly. There was something that Of
fCnded her in the presence of the un-
tidy, slipshod girl in this anteroom
of death. Jane Emily put down her
flowers and fled. "They come from
the shop" she muttered as she
reached the door. "These flowers and
a lot fruit-but poor Miss Dora, she
,,-a,,bt ,ooJ A. f,-,,;ED
The Washington times., 1918-02-14

A low building to her right was
evidently the station. The clergy
man paused and pointed
"That is Adderly Wood station"
he said, "and there is a good train
service, especially in the morning" "
There was, in truth, a collection
of residences about the station. It
seemed very homely, very ordinary
"a sharp transit from a world Of
mystery to that Of convention.
'Here 1 will leave you," said the
clergyman, "but-he hesitated-
pardon my asking you-have you
any money!"
"Yes," said Esther. She had re-
tanned one Of the bills which had
been given her the day before, and
she had a little loose silver. THANK
you, yes"
The man turned away. Good-by," )"
he said, then he added quickly,
miss Vassell, you are a brave wO-
man. Any other would be in a state
of collapse and unable to help her
self. You have my sincere admira-
tion. But one word Of warning be-
fore We part. 1t is-Keep silent,
however much you may be tempted
to speak. Make no attempt at in
vestigatiori-even though you have
clues to go upon. Believe me, it
would be most unwise. speak for
your sake, and because should be
sorry if any i'll befell you. And
now good-by once more" He ey-
tended a thin hand, whicn she
took. The next moment he had
plunged back into the wood.
Three Men Watched Her.
Esther bought a chair car seat
ticket, waiting her turn at the
pigeon-hole Internationally. She at
tracted no apparent attention. The
train when it appeared was already
rather full, and she entered a car in
which three men were seated. They
looked at her with idle curiosity.
As they were about to start, a
fourth man entered the carriage
hurriedly. He tumbled into a seat
and then mopped his forehead ex-
citedly with a large handkerchief.
"Only just did it, by Jove!" he
muttered. Then recognizing an ac-
quaintance, Hello, Smithers!" he
cried.
Morning, Renton. What's wrong?
You look upset, and l never knew
you late for your train before"
81 guess am upset." said the
first man, throwing himself back
and breathing heavily. Just seen
horrid sight-take away my appe-
tite for a week, it will"
General interest was manifested.
Esther listened eagerly. The man
Benton seemed to appreciate his po-
sition.
81 was walking on the high road.
You know the deserted old house in
Adderly Woods?" The others
nodded. ! had my dog with me
sagacious beast-he went shifting
about in the ditch, and hang me if
he didn't unearth a dead body-a
man. 1t gave me quite a turn,
can tell you. l was in a hurry, so
all ! could do was to tell the police.
l nearly lost my train in conse-
quence, though"
Renton was pressed for details,
but he could tell little more. "a
foxy, sharp-faced old man," he said,
'well dressed, only recently dead,
too, / fancy" Esther thought at
once of the witness to her wedding.
Could it be he? The description
tailed. She had feared to hear
of Lillian. The men paid |
no heed to her, and she leant back |
wearily in her seat.
Blood stained Fingerprints.
"ous strange thing l noticed"
The Washington times., 1918-02-14

"But Lilian-may not see herr"
"She has gone. She left while
you were asleep, unwilling to dis
turb you. Your nightmare must
have come on afterward. Tell your
self this-for your own sake
Esther bowed her head. In her
/, own mind she feared that Lillian had
been killed; the screams she had
heard were those Of an agonized
woman.
"And now-if 1 may make a sug-
gestion"- continued the solicitor
Il should advise you to return to
your room"-it seemed to amuse
him to speak as if he really meant
her to accept his story, for a wan
smile played upon his thin lips. 81
will show you the way-and wash
your face and hands and tidy your
self up a bit. No doubt you are
anxious to get away"
"0h, yes" Esther's heart leaped
at the thought Of escape.
"Come, then" He led her down
the corridor, she dragging herself
with faltering steps. The clergy
man remained where he had been
standing, but she felt that his eyes
followed her. The solicitor threw
open the door of a room, which
Esther saw was partially furnished.
How delicious it was to battle her
face in cool water, to allow a
stream Of it to flow over her wrists,
to comb out and dress-as best she
could-her tangled hair! But she
hurried over her toilet, anxious to
be gone.
The Washington times., 1918-02-14
Those Horrible Screams.

"But Lilian," asked the girl, wild
", "she has not been killed? Oh, it
was terrible to hear her scream. !
shall never forget it-never. Is
she saved?" Esther clasped her
scratched and aching hands to-
gether.
"She is not killed." said the So
licitor, with assumed carelessness.
''What can have put such an idea
into your head? Don't you think,
Miss Vassen"-he accented the
hame and gazed at her meaningly
with his little twinkling eyes
Sdon't you think that you had bet
ter put all this down to a bad at
tack Of nightmare? 1t was late
after our interview, and your
friend, Lillian, suggested that you
should spend the night here. A
strange untenanted house-no won
der that you suffered from evil
dreams. My friend here and l
luckily returned and found you.
Don't you think you had better ac-
cept this version Of the story"
at isn't true" said Esther, "and
! know what l have endured. But
] understand your meaning. / am
to try and cheat even myself into
false impressions. o God, 1 wish I
could"
at is best" said the man.
The Washington times., 1918-02-14
Who Was the Murderer
Who?

The darkest hour-the hour be.
fore dawn-was past, and the sky.
light of broken and dirt-stained
glass giowed with the dull gray
lustre of morning. Esther moved
her aching limbs and groaned. She
had lain in a faint-a faint which
had merged into sleep, the sleep OF
exhausted nature-while the feeble
shafts Of light which were begin
ming to filter into the hall as she
fell broadened and frightened,
while shadows fed from dark cor
ners, while her own white face,
turned plaintively upward, was
thrown into full relief against the
,coils Of loosened black hair which
had fallen about her shoulders.
Dora! Dorai" she cried, and then
she awoke to full consciousness and
sat up, staring wildly about her.
"Hush!" said a soothing voice
from close beside her. "You must
not excite yourself, my dear young
lady; indeed, you must not. You
are quite safe"
A white face met her own; lank,
unkempt white hair hanging over a
smooth brow, meaning eyes, sunk
deep IN their sockets-where had
she seen that face before? The
recollection Of her midnight mar
riage came to her and she recog-
nized the priest who had performed
the ceremony. What was he doing
here?
''The thing" she gasped, at fol-
lowed-the horrible thing-it came
upon me-and Lillian-oh, Lillian
she cried so terribly-where is
she?"
Compose yourself" said the
clergyman once more, stretching
out his hand to hers. 'Let me help
you to your feet. Thank God, you
are unhurt.
Esther allowed him to do as he
suggested. She noticed then that
he was not alone. The old man who
had dealt with the documents-the
solicitor-was with him, and he,
too, was gazing at her with anxious
eyes
Thank God, you are unhurt," he
said, repeating the others words,
and there was a note of wonder in
his words.
at came upon me-" she repeated,
'rbut It left me alone-I don't know
why. Oh, please, please, tell me
that it will not come back"
at will not come back" the So
Ecitor assured her gravely. "The
danger is past-for you"
The Washington times., 1918-02-14
Wedding Rings and Coffins

"a happy marriage" Esther Vas
sell burst into a peal of wild, half
hysterical laughter; then she turned
to the old lawyer. 81 don t want this
money" she cried passionately.
"What use is it to me now? Besides,
hadn't my uncle a son? S he dead.
too? Am 1 to hear talk Of nothing
but wedding rings and coffins -;
She spoke with feverish passion,
pressing her hands to her pulsing
head.
you are quite right, Miss Vas
sell" answered John Graves, socth-
ingly. "M-. Hooking had a son, and
he is alive now, but Guy Hooking was
disinherited on his fathers death bed
-disinherited in your favor"
Three months had passed since
The Washington times., 1918-02-14

BIood-stalned Flngerprlnts.
"ous strange thing l noticed"
The American issue. [volume] (Westerville, Ohio) 1912-19??, 1918-02-15
PLEA OF DANIELS IS NOT Needed

spite Josephus Daniels of the Navy
Berwick, President
the district
three years.
applicant letter from Daniels read
ava Daniels
would
Prohibition
The American issue. [volume] (Westerville, Ohio) 1912-19??, 1918-02-15

Congressman and your Senator's urging favorable action
such a
Do more urge their active cooperation in bringing
such measure to the consideration Of Congress.
DO 1T NOW.
Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-01-01
SIXTEEN MILLION
NAMES ARE ADDED
He'd cross Mrnbsrships Now include
i one Fifth o. country's Population,
chairman Dawson Announces n
New Years Message TO Workers.

Washington, Jan. 1.-Sixteen million
new names were added to the member
ship rolls OF the American Red Cross as
the result OF the Christmas member
ship drive, Henry P. Dawson. chairman
of the national war council, announced
today In New Years greetings for
warded to workers whose efforts made
the drive q big success.
THE wonderful achievement OF en-
rolling one-fifth of the entire popula-
ton OF the United states az mbembers
of the American Red Cross" says the
message, lis less triumph than It Is
a call to greater service. The American
Red Cross Is carrying message OF love
and sympathy to American soldiers and
sailors and to tile civilian population q
our allies In all parts OF the world. Il
Is seeking to shorten the war and to
lay a foundation to q more enduring
peace when the war Is over.
Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-01-01
CHAMBERLAIN WILL
CONFESS MURDER
Former Iowa Man Decides to Admit
Killing Brother and Throw himself
on Marcy Of court-May Plead
s.-A.e.Lt> u-..t-sA> SD t

Richmond, Va. Jan. 1.--Dr. Asa W.
Chamberlain, formerly OF Iowa. about
to go on trial tomorrow for the muir
der OF his brother, Judge Albert r.
Chamberlain. in Goochland county last
october, will plead guilty and throw
himself on tho mercy Of tho court. u
was stated today by his attorney.
James Page. The Chamberlains came
here from lows some years ago and
Ii Ia said quarrelled over the settlement
OF their affairs when they parted COM
pany.
Albert Chamberlain's body was found
buried about his brothers farm, parts
Of It having been cut up and deposited
under fence posts. 1t was said today
that DR. .chambcrlain's defence would
be that q quarrel caused the tragedy
but II was not made plain whether ne
would plead justiiiable homicide.