davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1919-05-11

ly yours. will refund the money to
you"
"Oh, como now, Mollie. don't be
angry with me. didn't know It was
you when I yelled. Where's joe"
The widow would have left him in
ignorance. but the daughter gave him
the desired Information. "Papa's
dead"
A CLEAN of hope shot into the mans
eyes: Where are you stayins?"
Come. Mary. our pals are full. w
must get to the barn with them," and
little Mary was fastened along before
she could give any answer.
Ten years before Joe and Mollie had
been sweethearts. Then Joe Lane. q
young man from tho city, appeared and
carried Mollie away almost before she
knew her own mind. Later she found
cause for regret for her hasty mar
rage, and little Mary was the only
Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1919-05-11
By Walt Gregg

that she would accept them.
Mollie, too. had for years held the
face of Joe Newell close to her heart,
and almost hoped that when visiting
the old homo town she might find him
at her in such rough manner she
resolved to 60 her way alone. His
name had slipped out unconsciously
and she wished that she had restrained
herself.
Morning found Joe Newell at the Of
hce Of Lawyer Crombis with his pa
pers. The old lawyer hemmed and
hawed over the papers. then said he
would "see about it."
Later In the morning Mollie snatch
ed few moments from her berry
picking and visited Crombie. He again
vowed to "see about it."
Among Joe's papers. Crombie found
an old and faded sheet which read: az,
Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1919-05-11
By Joe Busche

ner here; that their wealth and her
beauty required city setting. She
tie cottage. just as It was, in my care.
! have watched over 1t ever since and
kept It inside and out as It was then.
Some day. she said to me, perhaps
someone Will come who will want the
little house and love 1t as It deserves.
Do not let It go till then. She dropped
In the city,-the woman's voice broke
-"and died when her little girl was
born. have kept the house ALWAYS.
for no one worthy of It has come. And
now. oh. my children" she cried. II
have not waited in vain. It IL yours
BY right, and God be thankful that YOU
have come. For he was John LathroD
and Betty LAthrop vss his hridAs
Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1919-05-11

strange. how very-what was your
mothers name, childf'
ut was the same as mine-Betty.
"And your father's-quick, child,
your father's?"
did not want to 90. but he was blind
John" said Betty proudly, for It
was a well-known name. But they
are both dead" And her lips quivered.
But the woman had gathered her in
to her arms and was weeping passion
ately while Dick leaned forward in
amazement.
Betty Lathrop." she sobbed. Bet
~ Lathrops daughter. oh, 1t 10 too
good--too good to be true"
Then. drying her eyes. she turned to
explain to the bewildered young cou-
Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1919-05-11

The woman looked at her Q tribe
curiously.
wont you come int" she asked.
TIC your horse and sit here on the
corner OF the porch where We can see
the house."
were a bridal couple" Dick said
frankly. as you've probably guessed.
ana we're looking for little home in
the country. from which / can COM
mute. This little house appeals most
strongly to both my wife and myself.
It's quite convenient 10 the railroad.
We could buy this horse and buggy
wnicn We hired in the village, and Bet
ty could drive me to and from the sta
ton. But the house appears occupied.
We thought we'd md out II you knew
Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1919-05-11

him along with me, but he was little
lame from dog hole
WED better hunt him up, I guess,
says Oliver. I'll start all the cowmen
can spare in the mornin'.'
"'And I'll utilize my four stage
bosses in the same way says I.
whether the blasted old stagecoach
runs tomorrow or not. can easy find
three good riders among the miners
here
well. the two parties spent the
next four days in huntin' over that
barren, red-hot country lookin' for the
boy. We didn't find even a sign of
him. was fully convinced that he
had added one more bleachin' skele-
ton to the desert We rode back with
out talkin' any.
When me and my three men rode
into Yellow Creek, we seen Elversett
hurryin' to meet us.
1.-The boys back!' he yells. seemin'
as glad as IL Selford had been his own
son. Bill King brought him in a few
hours ago. Both OF 'em was mighty
near dead-the kid was, anyhow. The
kid owes King his life, now, and I
reckon It'll settle the account betwixt
EN-. whatever It is
I went up to the boys room, al
though ! was so dog tired that could
hardly walk. Robert was lynn fiat o.
his back, starin' toward the roof. with
his sunblistered fingers laced together
across his chest. He didn't seem to
know that / was anywhere near him
until stood over him and was speak
in to him.
do you know who brought you IN,
son" says I.
"'Do you think I amt got no syesr
he clips.
Ibid I mention your blasted eyes r
snaps, for he'd riled me.
DO you think I'll let that stand be-
tween me and getting square for poor
old Thornton's sake?' says he. And
his blue eyes was shootin' IRE at
mine.
Don't you think you'd RELY ought
to consider that Bill King saved your
life?' says.
"'Do you think I ought, Mr.. Gala
hanT He seemed now a mite sorry
that he'd been so shortspoken with me
q minute before.
~ sure do says I. He lot you
enoot at him seventeen times, without
firin' back: and at one shot he could
a fixed you easy! He found you half
dead. and brought you in at the risk of
his own liberty. He could "a let you
go on and die out there in that red
hot hades. and had one enemy less.
And death for lack o. water is some
death, kid, believe met
1T RELY must be bad to die like
that says he, musin'; and I thought
had impressed him with my plea for
future peace. He goes on. still mus
In; III see II I can't arrange it
"Er. how's that?' I says. bendin'
closer to him.
Yes says he. I'll catch him
asleep, knock him senseless. tie him
up good and hard, and let him die with
water before his very eyes. Because
he killed my brother Thornton
"Good-by, kid says I. I'm goin'
now. and I don't hope to see you
again. Bill King won't fool with you
any more. kid
He smiles as he shakes hands with
me. ands mutters, You're a bloomin'
old womanl'
When I went out to water and
Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1919-05-11

Just that darling nook in tho hillside
and what q lovely view It must
have! And such roses! Oh. Dick, I
wonder II it's occupied"
The new husband viewed the pretty
place critically.
gray-haired woman came to the
door. wfping her fioury hands ON her
clean apron. Her face was pleasant.
and her voice and accent refined as
she asked:
What can do for your"
The bride spoke eagerly. blushing q
little.
Were interested in that little house
on the hill. You see. we're-well,
were looking for q houss-to live in,
you know. and
Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1919-05-11
By Annette Angert

feed my four stage horses the next
mornin', found that one of 'em was
gone. Also my saddle. Also two can
teens and lot O. grub from the hotel
was missin'. And when Elversett
knocked at the Popgun Kids door, he
got no response.
This Is what happened to Robert
Selford the Fastener. as related to
me afterward:
HE rode straight for the Catal,nas,
bein' guided by their peaks, which
doomed up CANT and black in the dim
starlight His rashness was all gone
now, and in its place had come the
cunnin' shrewdness Of a red man.
daylight found him hidin' his boss in
a big gully filled with greasewood and
mesquite. Then he crawled out O. the
gully. and began to steal UP a ridge
that afforded fine view of the rollin'
country and one side of the Catalinas.
When he had reached the top o. the
ridge, he hid himself in a nest o.
powders. and begun to watch oil
points O. the compass for lone man
on a boss.
HE lost himself in the night a dozen
times. The clumps o. desert scrub and
the big powders, the ridges and the
hollows. tangled him up bad. 1t wssn't
until midnight that he came in sight
of little pile O. live Goals, the rem
nants OF coOkin' FIRE, which laid in
front of little hangout under an
overhangin' ledge o. rock. He smiled
with his teeth shut, and his right hand
frightened its grip on the popgun. He
knowed that he had found Bill King.
He crept on his hands and knees,
as slow as snail, but without maxim
the least bit o. noise. to where the bad
man laid asleep. Bill was on his side,
with his head on his saddle and his hat
over his face A big gun laid handy
on the ground close by, and another
big gun was in the holster that was
turned up. The boy conf1scated both
O. these weapons, and with one Of 'em
struck Bill on the forehead and laid
him out for a while.
Now. by HENRY no jubilates, his
eyes on an ear with a notch in II. Now.
by Henry!'
"Bill Kings saddle-cinches, of
course, was made out o. short ropes.
With these short ropes the boy bound
the bad mans wrists behind him, and
he also bound his ankles together. He
paid special attention to the knots,
and the result was that no man on
earth could "a got out Of 'em unhelp-
ed. He throwed a little fresh wood on
the live Goals, and soon had a little
blaze. Then he takes up one o. the
demijohns. and dashed q bit o. water
on the outlaws face.
1T worked. Bill King come around
with lot of hoarse gaspin', and set
up with good deal o. difficulty. He
winked the blood out O. his eyes, seen
the boy, and remembered.
Well, you've got me at last, kid,
he says, and laughs low.
az sure have replied Robert Sell
ford mighty naughty. And I'm sure
goin' to fix you. too
And I s'pose you'll burn me at tho
stake. in true Big In1un style. won't
your" says Bill King.
No manner O. death is quite bad
enough for man who could bring
himself SO lowdown as to take the life
OF fellow like my brother, Thornton
Selford!' exclaims the little Eastern
er. And his blue eyes was hard and
piercin'.
Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1919-05-11
Fresh From Moo Yawk

too much. ! see. But I've got TO have
q friend here, and it might as well be
you as anybody else. Promise mo on
your word that you'll keep things to
yourself until it's all over. and I'll tell
you the rest
"My curiosity was well out o. banks
by now. I promised on my word OF
honor.
1.-The reason I want to keep It q
secret is he continues, because I
want to kill Bill King myself. If the
fact that I'm after King gets up q stir,
the law is likely to make a new effort
to get King. I've got more against
him than the law has. See? Well,
here's the rest A cowman, O few
months ago. found a skeleton on q
desert, and close by 1t q small bottle
with letter in 1t. The letter was to
me. The cowman very kindly put It
in an envelope and mailed It Here's
the letter. Read It,
"'If you can drive a minute says
I; and he takes over the lines IN his
pink-and-white haids.
The sheet O. paper was yellow and
so1led. But I could make out in a
clear, bold handwritin' IN pencil this:
Mr.. Robert Selford,
"1441 Praythsr ST., New York.
Dear Brother:
I am writing this in the hope that
some merciful soul will find it and
mail 1t to you. I am miles from any,
where. and within an hour I'll be gone.
A brute of an outlaw robbed me of all
the gold had found in eight months;
and when followed him out into the
desert to try to recover It, he turned
upon me, and we had long fight. He
got me at last. Through the lung. But
he didn't get me before I'd notched
each ear for him with bullets. tell
you this because I want you to know
that I went down like a Selford and
like man. And now, little brother.
heaven bless you. and good-by.
THORNTON SELFORD.'
The cowman buried the skeleton
says the boy. almost sobbin', as I
handed him the faded letter and took
the lines. He goes on: "The cow
mans name was Lutte Ardmore: he
works on the Crossed L Ranch
The Crossed L Is about two hun
dred miles to the west Of here says I.
"'I1l md Ardmore, and thank him,
before 60 back says he. You was
in your fdee that Bill King
had no blood on his hands"
TITS clear says. Get him, son,
II you can But let me offer some good
throw away that little
popgun of yours into some kindly
bunch o. scrub. and get a real. man
sized bum
mo objects Robert selford. You
see, I've been practicing with this for
a month. and I'm used to It. I can hit
a dinnerplate at fifteen yards. every
crack"
"'Poor boy! you can do that says
I, by takin' good aim and holdin' the
popgun in both hands. But Bill King
says 1, can put six bullets into one
bullet hole at fifteen yards. without
amin at ALL
"'Stuff! Stuff!' exclaims young Sell
ford. not q bit convinced He takes
his little pistol from his coat pocket,
and gives it caress such as few
things but the nrstborn of woman ev-
or know. This boy says he, mighty
proud, throws its bullet sideways, and
they'll put hole in man big enough
to hide a dog In
Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1919-05-11

Again Bill King laughed.
You wait says Robert. I'll make
you laugh out o. the other side O.. your
mouth, before I'm done with you
Just howT inquiries Bill.
"The boy tears the vrappin' from
one O. the demijohns, and points to 1t.
You're goin' to be left here to die
in sight that water says he, en-
phatic-like.
"Once more Bill King laughs.
Yes says Robert, because I'm
Thornton Selford's brother And the
flickerin' light o. the little brushwood
FIRE showed his jaw muscles to be
staudin' out plain and jerkin' when
he'd said it.
How much money have you got,
kid?' asks the bad man.
Robert Selford seems surprised at
the question. Before he thinks, he an
swers: About two hundred. l guess.
Why?'
That's enough money says Bill
King, to take two people to New York.
you when you CO.
"'You amt short on nerve. all
right replies the boy.
- "'Of course not smiles King. Well,
how about twill you take me with
your :
Not much!' clips the kid. n
When you hear what I'm goin' to
tell you.' says the man we called King
Bill OF the Catalinas. you WILL
Robert stares his unbelief. King
settles himself back against the wall
Of stone.
"'Kid. I haven't always been q bad
egg. ! used to live back East. como
out here to hunt for gold, and In an
swer to the call Of red blood. I
couldn't ind enough gold to keep me
alive, and went to gamblin' to make
out I went from bad to worse, and
when tried to reform seen that I'd
done went too far. l.
"'Cut that out!' roars the boy. Save
your breath! You can't work on my
sympathies by anything like that. You
killed Thornton Selford. and you've
got to pay for it.
bill Kings eyes wrinkles under
their bloody brows. He smiles a faint
smile. and goes on with his story:
xAen I decided that I'd been an
outlaw-that I'd go the rest o. the
way. The only drawback was that
was afraid my people back East would
find 1t out and be disgraced. So T.
81 said cut that out!' bellows tho
boy. But the bad man only smiled and
continued:
$50 ! rugged up a scheme to make
my folks think had died here III the
West. l sent letter to my brother,
which was supposed to have been
found by a cowman. Stain that had
gone down at the hands of an outlaw
and addin', kid, that had clipped a
notch out of each one O. the bad mans
ears before he got me. Fate sent a
notch out of each one Of my ears by
means Of bullets before two months
had passed! Little one, don't you
know me now? But you never saw me
with beard; and then there's tho
years between
Thornton. by Henry breaks in
the kid. But l won't believe It'll It
can't be! Oh. 1t Just can't bet
But 1t was. And the two went
back to New York together, where the
man we had called King Bill of tho
Catalinas found a new life waitin' for
him."
Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1919-05-11

hardly ever had full load of pas
sengers, and on this particular trip
mad but one. He climbed up on the
seat with me. He was slim little fel.
low pink of cheek and blue Of eye; his
gray clothin' was fine and cut to At
ana ne had one O. them there little
So-O-hell college hats on his head. He
was mighty quiet until we'd got we'll
away from the railroad. and then he
opens up sudden with this:
Have you any bad men in this Sec
tionT ' WV
We've got one,' says I, which was
the truth. His names Bill King; but
we've took to calm him King Bill on
account o. his ways. Big man, he is,
with a King Of England beard and
bearin'; perfect shot; has never killed
anybody. but has lots O. holdups to his
discredit. And I adds, he's GOT n
notch In the upper part o. each ear to
prove that he's been shot at pretty
hard
"a notch in each earl" cries the
boy, sett1n' up as straight as a prairie
dog. BY Henry. the first craok!~
Whats thatT says I.
said, answers the kid. words
meanin' that I'd found him the frst
that his blue eyes is all fire, and that
all O. the pink is gone out o. his
cheeks
Might inquirewhere you're from,
strangerr says.
"N'Yawk,' says he. And when
looks like I don't exactly get him, he
goes on fractions: 'New-w-w Yaurk-
Is that plain enoughT
YES answers. But as for the
plainness of the rest. 1t amt. I don't
somehow connect. Know Bill King%
No; but WILL And with that he
takes a little nickel-plated gun from
the suitcase at his feet, and transfers
1t to handy coat pocket. When I
seen that pistol. was too tickled to
laugh-honest. The boy goes on, with
his voice hard: How does It come
that the officers have never arrested
Bill King7
Its simple says L
whats simple?
They can't catch him.
THE boy turns up his nose. Stun!
Stuff! says he. But I'm glad they
haven't caught him. want him my
self. And jot this down in your little
memoranda-I1l get him.
Look here says I, you take q
blamed FOOLS advice. and forget tt
mean forget your crazy determination
to rope in Bill King. Why. you little
tadpole. you couldn't wake Bill King
II you was to find him asleep!'
THE boy turns on me hot. It SEEM
ed like his madness was about to
choke him. Listen here says he. 4
had big brother who came to this
country few years ago to hunt for
gold. He was good brother. He was
the best brother any man ever had.
This Bill King killed him--robbed him,
and then killed him! 1--we talked
Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1919-05-11

three big cheers for havin' tho sand In
his gizzard to shoot seventeen times al
King Bill Of the Catalinas.
"A few minutes later Robert Selford
as white a. 4 ghost, climbed Gown
from the bar and went OF to bed.
That night after I'd hit the hay IN
my little shackhouse. says to myself:
"Hill King has got conscience yet.
Ihe only murder he's ever committed
y still on his mind. He knowed
Thornton Selford was an Fastener.
When he seen Robert Selford, dressed
IN Eastern clothes, he knowed m
avenger had come. And he was 80
upset about It that he didn't take into
consideration, the fact that the avenR-
er was a tenderfoot, and Just a boy at
that
You'll see how near right was IN
my reasonin' after I get q little far
Their along with the tale.
The next mornin' while was WA
term my stock, Robert comes to me
and says like he means It:
must have one o. your hosses.
Mr.. Callahan
Hoses" says I. foolish-lika
yes says he-'and a couple of
them things you carry water In
Canteens.' I explains. But most
OF all you want real gun
mo. no objects. AS Two already
told you. Two practiced with this lit
tie fellow, and I'm used to 1t; I can hit
dinner-plate at fifteen yards with II,
every crack
The only extra boss Tvs sot.' I
says, rs calico pony that's 90 mean
he's always been knowed by thu namo
O Pizen. II you think you can han
die him. he's at your disposal. Also
the two canteens, and a blamed rood
saddle. But when you start, kid, tell
me good-by; because / like you a
whole devil OF lot, and I don't be-
Heve III ever set eyes on you alive
again
Stuff Stuff says he. Let's have
the boss. saddle. and canteens.
All right says I. IT'S your
funeral. Remember. kid, that Bill
King amt likely to run from you any
more
HE mounted the boss. with water
and grub tied to his saddle, and rode
straight toward tho red-hot Catalinas.
with all Of Yellow Creek standin' in
the main street and watchin' after him
regretful-like.
what made You let the little fool
have them 'coutrements. Webbr some
body asked me.
You SO and ask the kid! suapa
mo, Bill King won't run from him
any more says Elversett, as he wipes
the bar with an imaginary rag for I'm
aginary spilled liquid. 1--WE always
heard az how the Lord sets a special
angel to stand guard over fools. And
I'm certainly in hopes It will turn out
to be so this time
'"That day passed, and another day
come and passed. had made my
trips to the railroad in a deeply trou-
bled state o. mind. Just az was un-
hitchin' on tho evenin' O. the second
day, in rides Old Man Oliver, of the
Oliver & Ogden Ranch. tho Linked-O:
he comes straight to me and dis
mounts.
"'Web,' says he, you know that
there calico we sold to you some time
back. the one the boys called Pizen
He come home few hours ago, with a
saddle on him. bride. and water and
grub tied to the saddle. I'd a. brought
Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1919-05-11

the time of this tale
/ was operatin' a
stagecoach between
the railroad and a
little minin camp
called Y Q lilo W
Greek. which was
ut the lower end o.
the Catalinas yon-
der. and on the
edge o. the desert
Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1919-05-11

trees. The whole, fair, little hill pre-
scented an appearance as charming as
any picture.
The bride clasped her new husbands
arm ecstatically.
Dick! Oh. what dream of a cot
hxsl What q perfect perfect placed