davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington herald., 1921-12-04
ething of Poet With "a Practical Bent"

"I'M SOMETHING of a poet myself"
Hadley murmuAd, his eyes following
Oh. stream of moonlight through the open
window and skyward to its source. Yes,
] am something Of a poet-but with a prac-
deal bent"
So saying be turned and followed the
luminous stream in its path through the
darkness of the room. At the table, polished
top aglov in the light, he selected a cigar
cite, stepped then to the buffet and poured
cut q sip Of brandy.
Still without light, he drew a chair to
she edge of the streaming rnoonbeams, and
seating himself smiled into the night, enjoy
ing his moon -fancies. His smoke rings
shimmered in the glowing vapor, dissolved
iazily and, like winding ribbons of silver,
reeled sinuously into the darkness. The
silence was absolute; quieted were even
those meaningless, far-away sounds that
become audible only by contrast with the
stiffness of night
mot 30 much as the huttsr of a Leaf"
he thought. II can almost hear the hov-
ing of this stream of moonlight. Silence
seems TO have drugged tie
he IOENdru anu HstSneu rom
some indeterminable part Of the house came
4 low tapping, as of breeze swayed bough
on window pane. The sound continued
snly. q moment, however, and Hadley's
interest sank to a listless curiosity and
thence to fogetfulness. The moonbeams
erept down from the buffet, crept past the
table, past Hadley, through the open win
dow and up, slowly higher and higher, till
the upper easement hid the last of them.
little longer the glow Of the cigarette
palpitated in the darkness, then flashed,
eomet-like, through the window; and Had
ley. with ia satisfied eIhalauon of the last
nuY of smoke rose and stood a moment, re-
6llinz his lungs from the sweet night air.
what q night" he thought. Z"
In nearby chamber door creaked, and
,uickIy, noiselessly he darted into the folds
Of . heavy portiere. Peering cautiously from
his hiding place he smiled and exclaimed
Glently, "By Jove! A burglar!"
For a thin shaft Of Light crossing the
doorway leading into the hall darted left,
right, up, down, like a furtive glance, then
vanished. The pat, pat of q catlike tread
drew nearer and paused, and Hadley, with
excited amusement, could almost feel the
finger of light exploring his hiding place.
A moment later he saw 1t on the wall near
him, and then 1t darted through the dooe-
The Washington herald., 1921-12-04
Bv Jack Browning

himself, Hadley's eyes were drawn to the
string of flashing gems, before which the
lantern light became pale and lusterless.
Again the scowling spectator sprang to his
feet, and again the revolver motioned him
back
N.Y. Hadlcy exclaimed. You are
painstsking burglar TO prowl through a
desk with fortune like this in your
pocket He dropped the fortune into his
own pocket. and again prospected the coat.
"A pendant Tinsel beside the necklace,
but beauty" The pendant followed the
fortune.
"A watch. Pretty-Yes, set with dia-
monds, but a trife." The trile Joined
necklace and pendant.
Another pendant. Pearls-very pretty
I have a weakness for pearls. And rings,
rings, rings! Dear met. What an avar,-
cious scoundrel you must be! If you
should get into Tifany's safe, suppose
you would steal the janitor's coat on the
way OUT
Finding nothing more of interest in the
coat, Hadles moved the bulls-eye to the
desk, compelling the burglar to shift his
seat into the glaze. Carelessly he moved
one of the photographs into the light, but at
the first glance his indifference became
eagerness and, with a low exclamation Of
admiration, he caught up the card.
What face! TIE rarest jewel of ALL
The snarls and muttered oaths Of the bur-
glar suddenly ceased, and Hadley glanced
up suspiciously in time to motion warningly
with the revolver.
Don't disturb me'' Again he scanned
the face in the photograph, intently following
with an artists eye every delicate line Of
each beautiful feature.
Beautiful! What wouldn't / give to
uADLEY was interrupted by q sudden
IL light that flooded the room with blind
ing brilliancy. Instinctively he glanced at
the burglar. That rough nodded creature
no longer snarled; be was breathless, and
the tense muscles Of his powerful body
showed through his clothing.
Bob brother dear! Is that your
Hadley clutched the photograph and smiled
expectantly ''Her voice A proper voice
for such loveliness! 1 must see her face!"
The thought ended in a glow of admiration.
In the hall doorway stood the girl, as
little like the photograph, Hadley thought,
as the round moon Is Ike an electric light
The Washington herald., 1921-12-04

way into the library, followed by the cat
like tread.
"arfly the watcher stepped from the cur
tain, the thick carpet yielding silently to
the pressure of his feet. To the library door
he advanced, and, scarcely breathing, peered
In the room, ready to draw back his head II
the fitting light should turn in his direction.
Curiously he followed the shaft of light,
which, like long, slender and incredibly
nimble proboecis, guided by a dimly and
grotesquely outlined monster, was exploring
every nook and Granny Of the large room.
Books. books, books, row upon row, fell
under the light as the walls were examined.
And, as the circle of exploration narrowed,
the inquistive proboscis drew covers of dark
ness from chairs, leather and invitingly
huge; from a table, long, polished and mas.
sve, holding scattered books and magazines:
from a fireplace, covered but allurinsly
reminiscent Of dancing flames of winter eve
nings, surmounted by a mantel whereon a
small marble Venus appeared for a feetins
instant daxzlingly white. then vanished.
No lover OF art, our burglar 20 thourht
whimsical Hadley, whose eyes sought in.
stinctively to pierce the darkness for a
second glimpse of the snow white goddess.
Then he turned his attention again to the
diminutive searchhsht.
ON A desk which filed corner with its
" oaken bulk the light had settled; from
top to bottom. from side to side, finger
ing drawer after drawer, 1t moved. Ap-
parently interested, the monster behind the
light advanced to the table and placed his
keen eyed assistant on the tep, and then
followed the low ring of metal on metal.
Hope he doesn't mar that desk"
thought Hadley. ITS altogether too fine
q piece of furniture TO be battered. But
I can't stop the play in the middle Of the
first act. By Jove!' he added. Hes
orthodox cap, mask-sven to the weeks
growth Of black whiskersl"
For the burglar, bending over the desk,
had come full into the light, and surely a
better specimen Of burglar never cracked q
safe for the edi6cadon Of a breathless gal
lery.
Three unlocked drawers spared Hsdley
the pain of seeing the desk marred, but the
fourth and last failed to yield Key after
key from the softly tinkling bunch was
tried, and then the burglar, with q whis-
pered oath, drew forth q small jimmy, and
pulled q curtain from Z nearby window ever
The resisting drawer.
The Washington herald., 1921-12-04
Inconsiderate Parson

DURING sermon recently delivered By
Ia Philadelphia clergyman there were
frequent references to ''sanctimonious
psalm singing, professed Christians who
have no real religion in their makeup"
A lad Of ten who had heard this sermon
remarked to his father when they had re
turned home:
Dad, I shouldn't have thought DR..
Smith would have spoken that way about
Christians this morning. There might have
been some of them In church,"
The Washington herald., 1921-12-04

1T you don't mind" he incoherently
began in the "a me startled voice, ''in there's
where bunk. Back Of those curtains. It's
rather mussy-'
Again the knock
''oh. don't mind anything" walled the
girl. Only hurry"
With one stride Jim slipped her behind
the portieres, speedily drew them together
and with another stepped to the door,
opened it and confronted his father.
MR.. FERRIS banged the door behind him,
A'4 took two steps into the room and looked
carefully about before be paid any at
tention to the too demonstrative greeting of
his son and heir. Then be shook hands as
stifhy as possible. He had evidently been
moving faster than was his wont and he
puffed loudly as he sank into a chair di-
rectly facing the still swaying curtains.
Il got your wire at my hotel" he said.
"When" asked James in a painful effort
to gain time.
The Washington herald., 1921-12-04
Opening the Chestnut Bur

prayer that the old preacher rounded of one
of his sentences rather abruptly.
Now, Lord he then continued, with
out trace of irritation, we pray that Thou
wilt in the mightiness of Thy power take
that young man in the fourth seat and make
his heart as free from sin as hi, head is
from sense"
The Washington herald., 1921-12-04
A Willing Husband

A N ATLANTA man tells OF tiarky who
"A called at his house one afternoon seek.
ing work.
''An right" the darky was told, there's
q ton of coal on the walk that must be
brought up"
But" the darky protested, "dat's no
work fo' a lady! Ny wife does vashiu, -
The Washington herald., 1921-12-04

age, and as, during the last
our years Of his minority, you supplied
Nm WIN enough monsy to light his Gig
arseess with Elssvfrs, can't see-upon my
SOUL Nj. Ferris, can't see-how yov can
hams q college which is In Boston the
boy chooses to buy diamond necklaces for
q chorus girl who Is IN New York"
The stout, chop -whiskered parent from
test.
Il put Jim In your charge" he said.
And you gave him enough money to b
hdspsodsnt of svsry ons," concluded the
eaan- '>Oh, I don't mean" be explained,
~shas De boy neglected bis work. II he
notScs that be was leading q rsotous LIE,
he would, IN the natural course of events,
hsvs been returned to you long before this.
only wish that be had been. But 50 far
as any Of us could see, his conduct was
Shove rsproach, and that is Just what make,
- present position 500 surprising"
We'll, but he is not stopping at buying
diamonds. He had the impudence, 20 hi,
roommate writes me, to propose to marry
the woman"
'Rsally7 II am sorry to hear it, but the
f.et doesn't alter my opinion. Personally,
Mr.. Ferris, I am willing to do all that I
can for you, but as the lad graduated last
spring, and as, a week ago, he voluntarily
severed his connection with the graduate
school, l must insist the university is no
longer in any wise responsible"
don't care who's responsible" de-
elared Mr.. Ferris, 80 long as / can keep
my son from marrying music hall
singer" With which remark he bounced
out Of the office and boarded a car for his
down town hotel.
MEANWHILE, in a typical study no.
AA thousand yards from where he had been
talking, distressingly somber coupl-a
tall, broad -shouldered blond lad and a slip
OF dark eyed girl-were clasping hands
across a hst-topped desk and looking long
into each others somewhat frightened face.
II really believe you're sorry" said tn.
boy in a thoroughly masculine endeavor 70
eon>eal his own weakness by accusing his
comrade.
But his comrade was not to be so cor.
nered
You know I'm not, Jim," she reproach-
fully replied. "Only-"
"Only what7''
He pressed her hand encouragingly, and
With that pressure her face cleared.
Only nothing" she laughed up at him
he bent far across the desk to kiss her,
brushing neglected volume on petrography
that fen with a regretful thud to the floor.
But 1t is risky thing" she added
Was not is" Jim stoutly corrected
II can make It all right now in fifteen min
utes, and there is only one thing in the
whole day that 1 am going to regret"
What is that?" she asked with puck
cred brow.
That ii has all probably to be spoiled by
having to sit out in the Stadium and watch
Yale win"
But you forget that I'm Yale GIRL"
Impossible" he declared Your gown
b not blue and''-he spranE around the
table and caught her In his arms-.'your
cheeks are crimson"
The Washington herald., 1921-12-04
An Interpolation

tQTHE old time revivalist," says a Maine
l man, "often possessed gift of gentle
satire which stood him in good stead. At a
camp meeting in my State years ago a young
nan made himself 20 obnoxious during a
The Washington herald., 1921-12-04
By Reginald Wright Kaufman

'Ya," he admitted, barring -
ding"
"weT come to that later oD-eAat o.
thing. But have been good SORT haVsh'
II"
Jim cart q furttve, fearful glance at tss
curtain, and then nodded.
I've given you nearly everything yos
vanted-nearly?'
"Ye."
'T'ye alvayr tried to do my best for 49,
what considered my best, even II II q
fered from your opinion Of what vas soooF
yes"
"And I mostly saw 10 II that
didn't differ too often The dean even says
/ rave you too much money. But, at any
rate, / hardly ever crossed you, and even
when 1 thought you'd better Join the nrn
last spring, r.vs in and jet ycu COM q
her, for that post -ersAuats couIHr
''Ya."
.Then donr 700 thinf rw Some rixhf y
All you not 70 marty thte-efns vomanr
Again the undecided look At ths eurua-
.SYou asked ne not 10 marry encs BE-
fore"
"Oh. I'm coming to that. See here, yVur
well TO do in your own right, but it's sun
that. with your bringing up, woudnt h@
fy. years You're my sole heir-you rnoS
that that rneans-but, by thunder, II -
msrry this woman III cut you on N1th00
another cent Will. 90 help me
-Hr .,5e, man brought down q huge hse
i upon the de,f bot Jim gathered eourass
from the curtains.
.Whst would you think Of a man, be
,lovly and distinctly asked, who rsve up
woman be had told be loved for threst
like that? Candidly, nov, what "oOia
you think Of him7"
A. Mr. Ferris, senior, would probably
have put it. his bluff was called
"oh. hang It, Jim!' be ssid tn woes
49,, +rembled, you've got me by the necf'
- rou know It L. il tatrf Look here
.,y. yesr ago 1 foohshly objected "
~, nropossl Of q long engagement to bes
pu-+on You talked back, and i lost my
- with YOU for the frst time IN my
w.. said you should never marry her.
Th., wa. sorry, for i med the riri'
thoush I thought you both too yount- bo'
v., too stubborn to back down OF shos
sorry-end this 10 what get Tor III
u.n I say I'm sorry now. Iim- yos
..o,, Won loved that girl IL that all over
- .oon7 II not, in Heavens name, msrrJ
So, now with my blessing. Only drop thh
.,o-u. rirl and marry Bet Burton for AL OF
me tomorrow!
But Jim's mouth straiehtened.
or, too late he said grimly, looking
.-,tn and with added nervousnrss, toward
the curtain.
TOO l.tef" shouted the father do you
moan TO say-wbst are you looking at thoss
curtains fori What have you got m that
room? Jim. there's somebody there. Dont
II. N me, There's a woman thereF
Roth men had sprung to their feet when
.b. portieres parted and jim stepped
forward to take the hand Of the flushed
and trembling little girl with the big, dsrs
eyes.
Father" he said. you'll have to for
rive that chorus girl game. There never
was a chorus-gii."
But the older man, though vaguely snn-
,ne was too thunderstruck clearly to UNDER
stand. "And this" be managed, however,
to say, 'is little Bet Burtonr -
This" corrected his son, is MrA
James Ferris"
The Washington herald., 1921-12-04

T." CHEERFULLY admit that n
- 10 annoying" said the dean
Of the department, so an
noying that my admission Is
the only cheerful thing about
It. But your son is now Of
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1921-12-19
Monday, December 10, 1921
Orr BIGGEST BUYER PARALYZED

calls attention "
brought out by
California farmer a The secretary states
that but that other industries nave not
The farmer fall tine prices OF what ne pro-
Other articles to f0 IN pro-
he
o" prices per SAFE
probably before have our FARMER
amour o need
OF oUS"e Oh VIVA"
them 'or tho same
harness or wagons or "! ~
money that worries III" '
he live and on farming
would stl make inc
the pre"aT value before VIZ
~ ~ after frsSht and deducted Now " cent cor"
deducted leaves the FARMER ~ 10 N
30 cent "N"A' lot " "
while I is only wheat
constitute the largest CLASS "
marion As lot utterly wrecked no." ca" W"
~ m ,,es OF down while the prices o' ~
other produce remained up 49, =,
TO remedy '''' "
h situation Shall or other prices 90 o
been fact that an increase "
beenfo followed b. a general raise MOST '
and the tolatOn is that other prices Will 0
omathh farmers
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1921-12-19
FINE ARGUMENT FOR
RECLAMATION

Secretary Of the Interior Fall, In his
first annual report makes splendid
case Tor further development or the
great natural resources OF our country.
The basis Of his argument Is that tho
cost OF every development project Will
hs repaid and that tho added wealth
yielded will tighten the tax burdens ot
all taxpayers. He calls attention 10 mo
fact that expenditures for military our
noses are 20 DO curtailed and that MS
department is thoroughly organized with
sufficient force and Is ready TO carry on
any work which an enlightened policy
might ass!Sn 70 il in reclamation or
other Development Of our national re-
sources. Ne points out that Il mas nj
ready been proved that one years crop
Aon one acre OF reclaimed irrigated
ground will be OF 4 value largely IN
excess Of the total amount expended in
rendering such acre productive
The secretary does not say In 30 many
words, hut he strongly tnt'mRtes that
some .. the millions saved on armament
might We. be devoted 70 reclamation
projects He. is right az course. His
be selr-eyidrnt. Whenever tins nation
has millions TO spend. there can be no
better Investment than "a reclaim a"mo
OF the i0O0Q00on acres OF land SIN
held in the public domain.
But Jus, now thu object IS not 20 save
millions on armament 10 be spent for
better purpose. but TO let those millions
remain In the pockets OF the people. Re-
lies from excessive tax burdens IS I'm
peratlv". and tho transfer Of money
saved at one point 70 another 10 not now
permissible"
Regardless OF armament limitation.
W. should have some reclamation work
in progrcss at all times. This should
be as much part OF our public policy
az our school system or our postonice
department. Tho millions that we OK
pect TO save on battieships should not
go into reclamation now. but our apTro-
prlat.ons tor this purpose should always
be adequate.
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1921-12-19
ANT|-L.YNCH|NG
BILL WILL PASS

Washington. u"r. lS-Coner"ss 70
.unl"s work tomorrow with action
.hrduird on ouiv one important piece
.ul Irris.alium before house and senate
.vuit for holiday vacation Thursday
,.IEht. The one measure -! c"ns"lucnc"
h. the Dyer anti-lyuChinC hill Wh'.h -
80 10 taken up in the house. and which
Representative MOndel!. majority lead
..r says probably Viii take up tho f"Hr
days Intervening before the adJourn'
'a"It.
The senate. with no administration
'.I's ready FOR discussion. Will turn to
IS Calendar upon which are number
- measures that have been waiting
Il'~ IA senate business for "OnSldera
'.uu Among these - the Kenyon bill!
.,ncndlug the Federal Reserve act 10
provide that u representative Of IN"
agricultural interests be named 10 the
r,SrrNr board.
The senate iiUanC" committee tOmOr-
row wi, continue is hearings on tn"
,nrtff schedules. and on Tuesday. tho
special committee investigating the
charges 10y Senator Watson OF Georg! "a.
Of Illegal rNecutionR IN the American
Evpedttionary forces. plans to resume
its s!ttinES. TIL" plan Is 10 hold hear
'rRS Tuesday and Wedrc sdiy. and post
r"nc further consideration until after
congress rcconvenes in January.
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1921-12-19
which is the highest priced meal on the

which is the highest priced meal on the
card.
These "rompany' selections 1t ID
pointed ont. will not be substituted fof
t"h choice Of passenger. but wlll'serVs
as an additional convenience.
Early last summer the baltimore a
Ohio, in an effort TO cooperate with the
patrons. rc-"stablshed It's pre-war table
d'hote dinrar service on several or us
through passenger trains and this re-
yiv"l custom Immediately regained us
former popularity. in addition. only re-
Gently, the management inaugurated
special oyster menu. printed on an at
tractiyc card shaped like an oyster anu
tinted properly, on dining cars operating
between New York and Cumberland.
Md. which included Chesapeake Bav
oysters cooked in every conceivable
form This has proven very popular be-
cause Baltimore. on tho Chesapeake. -
the home OF the oyster.
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1921-12-19
RIPPING RHYMES
II WALT MASON
MELANCHOLY.

The winter days are colder than any
days should be. IN one week krow
Older than should grow in three: oil.
sorrow seems my potion. I'm 'uil 81
sad emotion while rubbing J!UpS"n
lotion upon my starhoard knee. 50"
the young ones playing and who"HinE
with 4 Will. they're skating and they're
rleiEhtng upon the icy hill: ah, would
that | could follow and IN tn" snow
drifts wa,.0w, but ! ST mere and Swa,-
low Doc G!nger's Duplex PHI. Play on,
oh youthful rr.Sb,r<. your youth VIII
no, nndur"' Soon y"u'0 lie wearing
whiskers. and grief VIII doE Your sr""r.
like you l once was paying. "d"Nn ia"
h!lside Sle!ghinR; and NOW y"I $50" ne
spraying my limbs with Spawn ''ure
OrC-c | was young and S;alwar'. n"
hlCmish did own. except 4 rather small
wart ,ern!rs. my COilRrbour, but Youth
rul years &" flying. and now YOU SOD
me SiRhinE. consuming pills and 'ryinB
10 can the do,ard's gr"an. Ny sorrow
SaemR Axture. in vain | 'cy 10 smile.
while taking J"hnsnn's Mixture Of Tar
and Castor lie. I'm "id and tired and
gloomy nv eyes are weak and rhcumy.
and pharmacists come - ma and bear
away ny Pic But when n" Goods
are parted. and Suushirr's streaming
through. ! wont b" broken hearted,
won't b. sad and blue, it's when tho
heavens clear UP You see the old boys
cheer up: and now for Jenkins Syrup
OF Cocklehurs and Glue.
copyright by George Matthew Ada ms
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1921-12-19

pie must give greater attention. They
are:
Il. The payment Of the German repa-
rations.
III. The United States army on the
Rhna.
III. Tho condition OF Austria and
Central Europe
nv. What may tho United States do
70 aid In Improvement Of the general
SituationH'
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1921-12-19

amaSsed enough money TO keep HIM ioT
tho rest Of his life. ON returning from
Sweden he was held UP because * his
lost leg. Considering the fact that he
had plenty of opportunity 10 become an
American citizen. and admits that ne
made a small fortune here. probably
most people will not be very sympa'
thetic with Altrcd's failure to get back
within the charmed portals
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1921-12-19
WOULD DEFEND STATE

West Virginia Rotary club delegates
will meet December 70 at I2rkcrShurE
for the purpose OF planning Il national
advertising campaign 20 offset erroneous
Impressions about West Virginia In
other states ms tho result OC industrial!
disputes The meeting - called upon
tho initiative nf IT," Grafton Rotary club
This - a Ono move. hut hofor" mn
advertising campaign Is launched there
should be thorough investigation "i
the industrial conditions In tho Ming"
coal fields and al attempt made To as
certain Just why - Is necessary 10 de-
rend tho conditions that are acknowl-
edged t. 30 disgrace" We cannot de-
fend auyrh!cg that IS n rejection upon
out civilization. and upon TINT ground
We cannot dcr"ud tho conditions thu.
exist today IN tho county OF NjHC". l.
does not matter so far as Il concerns
the adjusting Of IN" matter =" lnE>l
about who ~ TO b,amn for IL" present
state or nrrnIrs IN the Eouthe"1 part q!
tho state. but Il docs rlniter whether
We rem"Gy existing evils before adNer-
Using that va have loan house. ,
Wa cannot accept the wrong acts ~
individuals as being uhNr" rcpr"ach
simply because they themn"iNs- assert
that they arc iustitiah.". N"th'rg -
JuStinahI" when it Is wrong. In the
opinion or the News. there - a WRONG
attitude being displayed by both par
t."S 20 the dispute. and that >hore can
he no satisfactory adjustment unit! h"tn
urr brought 10 understand that they can
~S~-"is" th"ir rights only when those
rights ATE ma!ura:u"d IN a legal way. nv
all means let us conduct Il rteid Invnsr'-
CATION az ;h- M'nxn AMIR and try I"
ascertain tho root ~ tho >rnuhln hut