davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1919-12-20
By JoeIla Johnson

other. Tired. Tom7 bad journeyT'
Yes, I'm tired, but II was not a bad
Journey He looked away from her,
rubbing his hand over his face In the
way she knew so we'll
What then2" She was convinced
now that something was wrong.
But instead OF answering her direct
he exclaimed; Hold on! Where are
we going?"
She remembered now the directions
she had given Maxwell. In her excite
ment at seeing Tom she had forgotten
them. ats all right, dear. Just
something | want to show you before
we go home
The car turned into rough little
lane, and at the end of the lane paus-
ed before a little house. The sun shone
up its new windows and its new paint,
and it seemed bathed With gold
BY Georgel What's this?" Tom
cried
She was tugging at his hanu Come
in, dear. Come jni'
He followed her into the house. Not
until he saw the interior did the real
East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1919-12-20

He's the finest rider in Chase county
and the kindest to a horse"
There was a swirl of dust and a
CLEAN of yellow in the distance.
Blanche looked at it from under her
hand. Dams here" she remarked.
The yellow. horse slid yard in the
sand as O'Shay brought him to a stop.
Geraldine saw a dark. slender man in
khaki whose eyes and teeth dashed as
he swept off4his sombrero. She thought
he was the most interesting person she
had ever seen.
Her interest in him grew as the
morning progressed. His ways with
the horses astonished her. He was at
once SO hrm, so kind, so determined.
And his riding was unexceiled. The
pinto pony bucked sidestepped, craw-
hshed. stood up and lay down, but
stayed in the saddle. At last he rode
the conquered animal close to her.
Going to be fine under saddle" he
East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1919-12-20

matter-and the youngest girl, a tear
ing beauty, was supposed to be en-
engaged to Phillips. The chances are
that she was just willing to be, for
don't think the man has II in him TO
do a dishonorable thing-he's just at
tentive and rather overdoes the gal
liant cheyalier act, that's all, and the
girls get wrong idea. Then the hrst
thing anybody knew he had biked off
on that trip TO Japan and the Philip
pines. you~remember. The family had
a ft."
But just wait till 7 tell you about
the" began Randolph, When little
Chuck Wellington. sitting quietly in
a big arm chair. sizes too big for
him, leaned forward and laid his Gig
arctic on a tray. Look here, fellows.
you're all good friends Of Jacks. !
know it. but an outsider would never
guess It from ihe way you are gos-
East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1919-12-20
The End of the Lane

land. He might not be home in
months and he did not write often. As
a matter of fact, he had very little To
say TO her that she did not, already
know.
She had begun being lonely about
the. time Tom began TO get rich. He
was so very busy with money after
that that they only met occasionally.
And little Tom had died He was her
only child, She had tried TO read and
take up club work and music, but
none Of these occupations had succeed
ed in -arousing deep interest in her
She was essentially a housekeeping,
home-making woman. and with money
"a great deal of money-one Is ex-
pected to be something else, Wealth
had taken Hester Arrick's chosen work
out of her hands and left her idle and
helpless.
She thought as she sat there that
she would be perfectly happy TO be
back again in the little house where
she and Tom had begun TO live their
lives together. To cook, TO mend, 10
dust-she had not forgotten these
East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1919-12-20

the beloved captain in the great be
yond.
Grant. too, had the same personali-
~ as his father. II made him hero
among some men and beloved by all
men, That was how he had risen 10
the ranks of police chief Of Frisco in
such surprisingly short time. He
was a born leader.
Within a few moments after his or
der the men had fallen into line. ready
for the raid. at his word. The gong
sounded in the station house, the men
jumped into the police wagons and
within a few minutes they were lum-
bering down the cobbled streets to-
ward the Alley.
"Ready. men," Grant shouted, then
blew his whistle as the men rushed 10
their places. barring doors and win
dows and cellar holes and traps out
side and inside this most notorious
den in Frisco
The chief blew his whistle again.
The Cinnamon We're dragged out.
some half stupid under the influence
East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1919-12-20

effect striks him. Why. Hessfe. this
looks sxaahy like the old house did
1T is Just the same, as near as |
could remember H. lost the picture
we had"
That onsf" He drew 1t from an tn
ner pocket
"Oh, Toni You had IL all the time"
Tears came TO her eyes. do you like
1t. Tom7 built II with my own mon
ey. had to have IL. l."
He put his arm around her and
drew her close. She felt his heart
beating hard and fast "Hessie.- he
said. this gives me courage to tell you
what I've been dreadipg to do for sir
months. Invent to Alberta to work out
plan--and the plan failed. Hessie.
wife. could you be content 10 make
something more than a playhouse out
of this--to make home out OF IT.
For. oh. my dear. I'm afraid that It is
all the home that's left to US now
He bowed his head on her Bhoulder.
and she put her arms around him
And the little house protected them
both,
East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1919-12-20
BY Elsie Endicott

In moment q thin, yellow faced
Chinaman. with eyes sunken deep into
his wizened face and his hands brown
and lean. ambled out from nowhere.
we killee quick, bad man, spyon
our King. We klllee quick!" And no
began TO make preparations for keep
ing his promise,
Two Chinamen wrestled him into
submission. and the king was sum
moned To strip him OF his clothing. ac-
cording 10 the ritual of the dead
They had taken of his shoes and his
coat; then the old king ambled out to
watch the rest OF tine ceremony,
Grant fought and struggled TO re-
lease himself, In the struggle hik
watch fell to the stone door with
crash. His chain lay at his feet, and
attached TO IL, dangling in the flth OF
his cell, lay his mothers last gift. a
tiny broken medal.
The king bent close TO the broken
watch then an agonising screech OF
horror rent the air. He grasped Grant
by the two wrists and lifted him To bis
East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1919-12-20
By Abner Anthony

It, I was certain he loved you. and yet
I must have been mistaken, OF course,
else he would never have let you go
that way"
The fall wore into winter Geraldine
worked harder than she had ever done
before. She wished not to have an
idle moment in which TO think or
grieve. One night as he walked home
with her after a concert, at which she
had played particularly we'll Fred
eric Casey asked her 10 marry him.
She had been. expecting it, and six
months before she had thought she
could care enough TO be his wife. But
now 1t seemed so impossible that she
shuddered. She told her mother that
she had refused him and Mrs. Corbin
was full OF rage,
You fool With all his money! You
need never lift your hand again. Think
what he'd do for Clyde--and me-"
1t seemed that she could never foH
East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1919-12-20

impossible custom of their ancient
country II was perfectly natural.
Grant figured, but it did not make for
betterment. II must be abolished
Grant moved himself from the
ground and peered into the small,
round window like wild cat risins
on its hind feet To take a preparatory
calculation of its enemy. He opened
his note book, looked stealthily
around, then jotted down a few notes
and quickly made his way out the dim,
lantern-lighted erevice OF hlth which
marked itself as the notorious alley.
Hello Chief" he heard good-ua-
tured voice say few moments later
when he entered headquarters. ANY
newsg"
Lots Grant Mathew answered So
herly, Got TO get 'em right away IL
we're going TO get em AT all, The
time is Just ripe. I've been down
there and seen with my own eyes.
There's opium going through that joint
like fre through dry prairie and
the night Get ready. menl"
East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1919-12-20

tos." cried Max Richards. "I'd nave
sworn he was Interested in that cousin
OF mine-don't you remember, Eleise
Duncan, from Portland, who visited
US last years He took her to places
and sent her enough flowers and can
dy to endow a hospital She was era
zy about him, too-you could see that
with your eyes shut. One day they
we're going to motor 10 the Burning
ham Club for the tennis finals when a
telegram came from Phillips wire
less. rather. He wss out in the mid
die OF the Atlantic; just took notion
and went. He was back in three
weeks, but Eloise had gone home
broken hearted"
That's nothing, put in Spencer.
Mother and sis we're UP at Lake Spin
abogee. in the White Mountains, two
years ago. and there was a family
there you know them. but it doesn't
East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1919-12-20

She ordered the car 10 meet the 4:l0
train. Then she decided that she could
not wait for the car TO bring him to
the house; she would go to meet him.
A moment later she decided something
else. Instead OF bringing him straight
10 the big house she would take him
TO the little house. Maxwell. the
chauffeur backed the limousine up TO
the station platform. and left her, alone
in II, while he went to help Tom with
his bags,
At last she saw Tom coming, big and
hearty as ever, seemingly, yet older In
way she could not understand. He
was tired. That was II. of course. He
could not be sick. Why. he had never
been sick a day in his life,
she leaned forward from her seat
and fairly pulled him into the limou
sine y"Oh, Toni
We'll. Hessie! I'm glad to get back
TO you"
Not so glad as l am to have you.
You couldn't be.
She cuddled against the arm he laid
about her, and they looked at each
East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1919-12-20

siping. Now I'm going to tell you all
something"
There was an immediate hush. Well
ington went on,
81 know Jack as well as | know my
self. And I've been with him on a
great many OF his sudden and unex-
planned little journeys. I've promised
secrecy, but there's reason now why
can tell you little. Jack isn't heart
less, and NEITHER is he asbestos. He's
been misunderstood. that's all. and If
girls fall In love with him because he's
nice be was always a good spender;
we all know that--why. that isn't his
fault. The truth OF the matter is there
is a girl and Jacks going TO marry her
when he nnds her. He's been in love
with her for Ave yearsi"
"wbatl~ they cried In chorus.
wellingtons knuckles strained over
his knees. And I think hope--he's
East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1919-12-20

of tae deadly opium drug. some &c &
tlculating wildly and uttering weird
kinds, OF cultural noises in protest
The wagons drove on Grant was
missing. Somewhere during the ex-
excitement of the raid the chinamen
had made on with him, The police.
busy with their wards. did not miss his
presence until they were back at Ahe
station house,
Meanwhile Grant Mathew was lin
gering between life and death. He re-
memhered the blow. after that he
could remember no more, He opened
his eyes now, rubbed them as II TO blot
out the frightful sights that greeted
him and turned on his side.
His wrists were bound IN iron
chains and there was heavy spiked
collar about his throat. claiming him
10 stone wall He was in cell. He
looked up, and there above him, point
ing down as though aiming his very
temples, were a multitude Of sharp
pointed knives. He shuddered. He
was facing death.
East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1919-12-20

Grant Mathew had been in the EN-
ploye of the government ever since
the second year of his arrival in the
states. He was an American by pa
rentage. though fate endowed his
birthplace TO be on the rolling ocean
within the Australian shore, Old
Capt, Mathew was famous coast
character. Every one knew him. For
thirty-odd years his ship piled between
Frisco and Australia and each trip
made him more and more famous He
had been given that superb trait of
making friends easily. He knew ey-
cry one. every one knew him, aud ev-
cry one loved him. He was hailed al
ways as the good old Cap Mat"
They had been shipwrecked once.
That was the once when Cap. Mat had
seen his last Pacific trip. That was
the one that had left Grant almost an
orphan. His good mother had been
saved by Fang Tsu, his fathers cher
ished cook on the steamship Congoka.
But the shock had left it's scar on her
frail constitution and soon she Joined
East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1919-12-20

foot. waving aaldo tho servants.
"Leotle Grant. lestlo Grant. Capt.
Matthew'S leetls boy the old China
man yas bowling now apologetically.
Mo showeo you medal--other part
OF YOU'RE" and he reached into his lons
silk pocket and withdrew broken
medal which matched exactly the half
which Grant had held In his keeping
all these years
Nee Fang rsu. mo Fare lsu. NEE
sayeo your mamma on sinkln' ship
She giveo mo this medal"
Grant Mathew was released at once.
lLe was In daze az ho walked out OF
the den only 10 greet his stan Of po-
licemen coming back 10 search for
him.
But duty was religion to GVant and
he succeeded in wiping ont the opium
den. He took Fang back home with
him few days later, aud now on ey-
cry walk past the chiefs room you can
get the savory odor OF chop suey.
stirred, mixed and served by Hon
Fang Tsu. the police chiefs cook,
East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1919-12-20

remarked, smoothing the sweating
neck. You can ride him yourself in
a week, Miss Corbin,"
"You must teach her, Dan" Blanche
said,
And so it came about that Dan
o'Shay taught Geraldine to ride. He
was patient teacher. but at last she
rewarded him by being able 10 take a
ten-mile gallop in excellent style.
One day he took her over to see his
ranch. A Mexican woman kept the
house. "Manuela has been with me
six years" he said. That's her hus-
band over there by the ochelee fence.
They're faithful and as honest as you
could expect Mexieans to be.
The ranch was not so big as the
Barker's, but it was good of it's kind.
Dan showed Geraldine everything and
told her all his plans.
That night Blanche, sitting on the
edge of the bed after Geraldine had
East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1919-12-20
By Phil Moore

get there. A tramp ship is the hard
est thing in the world to npo.
And then Jacks aunt-Mrs- Hay
don-thought it was time to help him.
! happened to know she talked~his ia
ther over and did some investigating
on her own responsibility. It's cost
her a lot, She's Just got back from
Hartford today and =
Wellington stopped.
That's where Jack went TONIGHT,
isn't it?' asked Morley.
"Yes. She brought Mary Gray hou,s
with her but Jack didn't know Il
when he left here" Wellington reach
ed for his dead cigarette when the
phone rang. He took It up instead
He's with her now.' he said In a few
minutes hanging up the receiver "And,
fellows, II you could hear him you
wouldn't say he was asbestos. Loves
got him scorched brown"
East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1919-12-20

she alighted at the corrugated iron
station and found Blanche waiting for
her in q yellow blackboard, drawn by
a pair of pinto ponies. Blanche had
grown stout and brown, but she look
ed so happy that Geraldine envied her
wistfully.
The great ranch, with its miles of
barbed wire, its windmills and squat
adobe buildings astonished the north
ern girl. But she settled into its ways
with amazing adaptability. Within
three days she began to love ham
mocks. heat. corn pone, sand and
horses.
One morning Blanche took her out
to the corral. a high board enclosure.
where a tangle-of ponies stood blink-
ing drowsily in the sun. Dan O'Shay
is coming to break couple Of them"
she said. Il thought you'd like to look
on, hate the regular broncho bust
ing. but Dan doesn't do it that way
East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1919-12-20

retired, asked. did you come to an
understanding, you, and panf'
Geraldine hid her face In the boil
low of her arm. No And we never
shall. He doesn't like me that much,
I've found out"
You can't tell about Dan." Blanche
said. He doesn't wear his heart on
his sleeve. happen to know that he
does like you that much. He will, I'm
sure, before you CO.
But he did not speak. And that
bright day when she parted with him
at the station and had the last look at
him, standing sombrero in hand be-
side yellow Cass, she felt that he had
let her go out of his life forever, 1t
was because he had not cared. oh,
the pity of 1t. that she should care so
much.
Blanche wrote about him--little
little things that did not mean much,
Once she said: II can't understand
East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1919-12-20

give her daughter
Then came>a stormy January day.
Geraldine had played the night before
and had given lessons for six hours
She was very tired as her last pupil
left the studio, and, dropping down
upon the piano bench she crumpled
forward upon the keys with a pas
sionate feeling that she must cry or
die.
Suddenly hand fell on her shoul-
der and she heard a voice-"Jerry," It
said. speaking the pet name Blanche
had given her. She started upright
and looked into Dan O'Shay's face.
She looked at him. slim, dark, but
unquestionably conventional in his
blue tailored suit. less picturesque.
perhaps. but q man TO win regard
anywhere. Her smile came swiftly
You needn't have waited, she said
you corralled my heart"
she did not finish the sentence.
East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1919-12-20

rGood-by, fellows. sorry 10 leave.
but | promised Aunt Laura To drop in
tonight. She's just got home.P He
was gone.
The men smoked under the low am
Der lights and no one spoke for min
ute. The old crowd had hung togeth-
er too many years 10 feel the neeessi-
~ Of speech, particularly Just now
when every one knows exactly what
was in every one else's mind.
TThe longer l know him the more
he puzzles me-" finally said the host.
This brought valley Of remarks
He could have anybody for the ask
ingi"
Most attractive fellow I ever
knew"
NO hesrt!"
That's mistake--its asbestos.
that's all. Fire proof"
That's right. Charley. ii is ssbes-
East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1919-12-20

HAR of, like the melancholy hoo'
OF the screeeh owl, could b
heard a weird strain of music
The sound ioated on the air like some
haunted spirit searching an abode
Then deeper, deeper. the short stac-
cato notes would blend themselves
with the high sereeching of barbaric
melody. II was weird, fantastic. The
Cinnamon of Frisco were having an
other celebration.
Grant Mathew listened more close
ly. In few moments there was a
savage chant, like that Of myriad
of wild birds each blowing its peculiar
sounds into the twilight of a jungle
forest voices-thst was II. The
Cinnamon were singing.
Stealthily Grant crept up the side al
ley of the narrow row where the vari-
colored huts lay huddled together in
such close proximity II was little Won
der they held such contempt for each
other. Here the Cinnamon knew NOT
even the meaning Of that word. they
were a solid body. holding TO the one
East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1919-12-20

II wac the last-the last dinner al
the club before Morley's mar
riage There had been high
old time. a lot of food-a lot of wine
Cbut not too much and some sing
ing. But thiBgs quieted down early
and about a half dozen bad taken their
leave.
Then Jack Phillips shook MoFley's
hand long and warmly, laid brother
" hand ON his shoulder and wished
him all the happiness in tho world.
You're a lucky old deg. Morley" he
said half sadly as he turned away. Il
don't see Why il should be you though.
You old pirate. Here's the rest Of US
foundering over our heads and no land
in sight
you 10 talk that way" cried Morley-
You can't pull that any more, old
man. I'm afraid We know you."
Phillips lsughed 8 bit bitterly.
East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1919-12-20

things; they we're second nature to
her. she longed to handle a broom
or skillet. She was still so strong
though so purpoSeless.
II only she could have been able TO
and that little photograph! 1T would
have been something The house had
burned down soon after they left ii,
but she carried every detail of it in
her mind. Why, IL she were a car
penter she could put ii together stick
for stick Or she could help a car
penter to do iti
"I'd like to see If ! could reproduce
that little house" she thought at
wouldn't cost much--$2.000 or $4,000
I've twice that sum at my command,
I'm sure Mr.. Pageley could help me-"
A moment later she was speaking to
the architect over the phone
The little house grew apace, Mr..
Pageley seemed to know by some rare
intuition just what she wanted Sha
grew younger each day, for she was
living back in her young wifehood.
She had never been SO happy in all
East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1919-12-20

her life since.
When at last the house was finished
she felt that she could not stop there.
She went 10 the city and passed a
week in the hottest weather, of which
she was quite. unconscious. hunting
through the shops. She bought little
white iron bedsteads, mating, scrim,
cretonRe. plain mission furniture,
things that her own house was too
grand for.
When II was in order she came away
and closed the door with feeling of
satisfaction. 1t just suited her. II
haps it was the. first thing, besides
Tom, that had ever suited her in all
her life. She planned to go there ev-
cry day for a Mtle while. Perhaps
sometimes she and Tom could have
the tea there alone together. If he
liked 1t as well as she did, they would
be able to get great deal of comfort
out of 1t.
1t was one rich, cool autumn morn
ing that she received Toms telegram.
He was coming home that afternoon.
East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1919-12-20
n RS. ARRICK stepping out of
her limousine was quite an
- other creature from the

Mrs. Arrick who now in her own room
feverishly tumbled drawers and
boxes in an eager hunt for something
she wanted very much. Il know I
kept it. she said 10 herself. II know
1 must have kept it. I'd never part
with that"
Still that little four-inch quare of
faded photograph of the house where
she had lived when she was first mar
ried and before Tom got so wonderful
ly rich was-no TO be found.
She gave up searching, feeling lit
tie tired, In deep chair at the win
dow that looked out on the vast lawn
that sncircled the great house she
fell into quiet thought She was very
lonely. Her neighbors were no richer,
but much more fashionable than her
self, who did not care more for her
than she cared for them. And she
could not call up a servant just to talk
to. AS for Tom. her husband, he was
in Saskatchewan buying up wheat
East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1919-12-20
suMMER Of teaching, accom-.

a SUMMER of teaching. accom-
"a panying and playing the great
- ~ Methodist church organ had
vearied Geraldine 10 the point of col
lapse. she was in bed that autumn
day. crying over the engagements she
had been Obliged to cancel. when
Blanche Barker's letter came. The
letter contained an invitation for her
to visit Blanche and enclosed within
1t was a round trip ticket from New
York to sEift City, Texas, by rail.
Geraldine went. II was wonder
tul experience. that journey south.
Day after day she sat at the car
window. gazing at the ehangeful seen
cry. Before she reached Swift City
little color had come into her cheeks,
and she began TO feel that laid dat in
a real bed she could sleep like baby.
Swift City was no city at all. nor as
yet even the promise of one, but it
meant destination TO Geraldine when