davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-12-22
The Daily Short Story


ing to keep up with their guide
who led them through a maze o
streets and dimly lighted alleys
onto a jolly street car and through
more streets, dim and chill.
"All imagination" grumbIed Ich
spasmodically. Air. Air. Air!
Hope tits to the poor farm She.
takin' US, er ter jail. Serves yel
right"
'Shet up!" said Hepizibah scorn.
fully.
Their destination proved to be q
pretentious frame dwelling in the
suburbs, whose parIor was indeed
provided with a bed lounge, the
stuffed chair and glass bookcases
but principally with the four win
/ dows. Hep dropped into a chair.
The woman opened the bed and
vanished. There was a grin on
her face.
Don't yer light the gas, There's
light 'nough from the street" Hep
! announced. AN yer amt goin' ter
drag me roun' ter look at no hens
termorrer- Go ter bed, eff yer so
beat out; I'll tend ter the winders. -
Ich went, and slept directly the
sleep of the suffering just. He was
aroused by a terrific clutching in
the region of his arms.
Get up an open 'em, Ich; I can't
find the fasteners. I'm faintin'.
Get up
Plenty of air comm in round
the casin's," murmured Ich cleepily.
Helps ready fists came into use.
"Shet up an open them winders, :"
she snapped.
Ich arose and began fumbling
around in the half darkness, faith
fully trying to find pull or catch or
snap that held down the precious
windows. Hep sank into the bed,
and in two minutes was sleeping
heavily. Ich followed suit, only to
be aroused by the familiar clutch
and groans. "Ye didn't open 'em.
1ch. L went. roun' an felt of 'em
all. I'm think I'm dyin,' Ich. I'm
goin'-sure-'
= lch manfully crept out again into
the chill, staggering with sIeep.
crossed the room, stumbling over
three chairs and a book case in
transit The street lights had gone
out. The room was dark as shoe
buttons. "PI fix EN-" muttered
len Pepper. "Ev'ry last winderi"
mere followed the awful sound of
crashing, splintering glass. At least
one stuffed chair was doing its
manifest duty! Four times the dire
sound slit the night, and Hep, with |
something between pride and dis
may In this manly performances of |
her tho r3aaE cno,,eo :lI
fully.
Il can feel 1.-THE good fresh air
from all four winders,' she breath
ed. we've saved my life. Ich. we've
saved" Helps response to the
crashes and the consequent floods
Of ozone was complete. She sIent
ike nice gray cat till morning.
1t was a morning of revelations
Hep's pound for pound cake wore
4 blue ribbon, and her crazy COM
,orter wore a red ribbon, and the
DOM committee chairman wore
ife size grin that expanded with
every word which Ich Pepper spokei
o him. Moreover. the chairman
accepted the greenbacks which Ich
Uttered, though he made the cryptic
'emarks: Worth it, the bother, the
augh I've had. 1 start for F1ori-
Ia tomorrow. Family been there a
week. S why my house was shut ,
Up. L knew you folks were all !
light. Looked you up. So I let
-ou in. Sure. the windows were {
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-12-22

Santa Claus, the name derived
from Saint Nicholas through the
familiar use of children in Teu-
tonic countries. crossed to Amer
lea. The direct route followed by
him is somewhat open to question
On the way he traded his gray
horse TO ra reindeer and made
changes in his appearance"
Q. How long Will an average
person survive without food anu
water? N c. S.
A. Unless subjected to extremes
Of temperature, the average healthy
individual Will survive a week OF
ten days of complete abstinence
from food and water.
Q. Is there any appreCiable dix
ference in the amount Of energy
expended in pumping up an auto
tire by hand, if the weight Of the
machine is resting on the ground
or if the wheel is lacked up? Il.
E. H.
A. The American motor schools
say that if the wheel is off the
ground the energy expended will
be considerably less than when the
tire is resting on the ground.
Q. Why is it that The Mystery
of Edwin brood" apparently ends
in the middle of a chapter A c. B.
A Charles Dickens was WORK
ing on The Mystery Of Edwin
brood" on the evening before Dis
stroke, June 8, 1870. THIS
accounts for its being unfinished
@. How much wool does it take
to make a pair of blankets? A 4
A. 1t takes about six pounds Of
clean wool or nine pounds OF IN
washed wood as it comes from me
sheep to make the average double
blanket.
Q. How long has antitoxiH for
use in cases Of diphtheTia been
5. F.
A. Emil Buhring announced NJ
discovery of diphtheria aHItoxIn IN
$50. In 1901 he received the NO
)el prize in medicine for his as
'overy of diphtheria serum.
@. What division in the Unlte-
states army advanced the farJAes'
Turing the war? L. G. b.
A The war department says thar
he 18th division advanced me
distance of any American
.ivision against the enemy. ~
.ivision made an advance Of IN
-ilometers or A miles.
Nicholas. G. n. McRughes say
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-12-22


i Stamp enthusiasts all over til
country are responding wit
promptness to Postmaster Genera
Hays announcement that the post
office department has established
stamp agency and has certain
stamps for sale.
Nearly 100 letters day are being
received from collectors who wisl
to buy stamps, but a surprising
number indicate that the govern
ment's new venture is not alto
gether understood.
Some think that the government
is selling obsolete and rare stamps
They ask casually for such val
I liable old issues as those of the
lS60's- AS a matter of fact, this
governments agency is selling al
present only the following: Scent
Victory stamps, all denominations
of the Pilgrim Tercentenary is
sues, airplane stamps, a small
quantity of special delivery stamps
with pink back, and the ordinary
current issues.
The only place from which the
Its stock to sell to collectors is
from the postothces of the country.
In the past, anyone who wrote 10
the postottlce department to buy
stamps for collection was re-
ferred to his postomce, ana told
that If his local postmaster DID not
have the particular kind desired,
perhaps some other postmaster
would. Following this suggestion
often meant a. wild goose chase
for the collector. Perhaps some
little country postofice might still
nave a few of the desired stamps.
But the chances of striking these
caches were about even with those
or digging up buried treasure.
Now, the postoffice department is
getting stamps, such as the Pill
grim Tercentenary issues, from the
and will sell them 6i-
rect to stamp collectors. Postmas-
tiers have been requested to report
any discontinued issues of postage
stamps which remain in stock. Bu-
up to the present time only those
kinds which we have mentioned as
now being sold have been reported.
Another point of misunderstand-
ing is that the postofice depart
ment is setting up a commercial
stamp agency. One man wrote to
know if he could represent the de-
partment in Philadelphia to buy
and sell stamps for it there.
Does Not Buy Stamps.
The fact is the department is !
not buying stamps at all, and it
IS selling them only at their face
value. 1t is written into the postal E
regulations that no employee in the
postal service may buy or sell
stamps at more than their original
sale price.
Other people have thought that
he government phiIatelic agency
would be disposing of freak issues,
'uch as the airplane sheet that was
with the design upside
Town, or the famous issue of 2
.ent stamps with several f1ves on ,
he sheet. /
- These are great rarities and
ring prices which only a stamp I
collector can understand. The %
:ent airplanes have a border of
ed and the airplane in the center
t blue. By a mistake which will
always remain a mystery, I
n one single sheet of stamps the !
irplane design was put in upside
own.
The bureau of engraving was it.
elf turned upside down in vain t
ttempts to find out how this ca
astrophe occurred. PhiIatelists, |
owever, rejoiced. One congress- {
ian who has three of these stamps !
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-12-22

fastened down, but your wife didn't
specify the opening variety to me. >
The chairman's remarks ceased
being cryptic when the news spread
over the fair grounds that the glass
which Ichabod Pepper, half asleep
and wholly desperate, had demol-
ished to let in the ozone that had
saved Hep's life, was not in one of
the four windows, but in the glass
doors of the book cases which lined
the walls of the parlor bedroom.
Reckon we'll hev a reasonable
lot o. air in our room the res o. our
lives" Ich chuckled.
"Shet up!" advised Hepzibah,
grily
: Don't hev ter shet upi" declared
Ichabod. Talk when 1 like an
what l like Shet up yerself Now
come an look at the Plymouth
is
Hep came and looked. Ich had
come to his own
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-12-22
Thr Unnthstnttp
-EPITAPH'-7r--;
| HERE LIES MANS ANCIENT xNEsY.
| DILL CARE
WHO DlsINTEEs THE UNLovED CUss
|. HEwAREi

| AS we sit in our palatial Office chair beside
lour mahogany desk holding our beloved Elsie
| Smith in our lap-well. not in our lap, OF
| course but on the typewriter stand over it
the Gentleman at the Adjacent Desk is trying
&c write a story for the annual edition coz
| rerning Rock Island having been outdistanced
by Moline in the birth rate OF the s. C human
race
We can hear him muttering many phrases
10 himself such as industrial depression"
high cost of living, etc. He appears to find
difficulty in getting away to a flying start (as
last years birth rate story said OF Moline,.
Being a good reporter he desires to write
good lead, but fears that his best ideas may
not pass the city desk censorship.
Various pert suggestions from us have been
received with considerable dubiosity. Well
- we're glad I've don't have to write the
story. To statistics, vital or otherwise,
a bore.
RORY just phoned US to say that he sis
all burned up" because we labeled his excel
lent vers libre of yester eve, Junk. He
thinks it is pretty tough, after he spent an
entire evening at the task, for US to tack such
a caption on it Is he kidding US, d'you
suppose?
CANT you write a little verse in behalf
of my carrier boys? They're going to start
selling their calendars pretty soon" the circu-
lation manager pleaded yesterday. Well, we
can reprint the one we wrote year ago. It's
as good now as then. Time cannot wither or
custom stale" its sincere plea.
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-12-22
AIR.
By Myrta Alice Little.
1921, by Wheeler Syn


Copyright, 1921, by Wheeler Syn
dictate, Inc.)
The exasperated chairman of tn,
state fair room committee moppeC
his tortured brow and faced thu
main cause of the torture. There
were two OF them, Hepzibah Pepper
chunky, bespectacled and determ.
ined, and her husband Ichabod-
lank. scared, long suffering victim
of Hep's notions, chiefly her no
| tons about air.
Il can't find you folks any room
in this city with four windows in
| it >All taken I've told you a hun
| dred times" The chairman's voice
rose till it reached the end of the
line of weary waiters-for-rooms
Move on, Mrs. Pepper. Give the
rest of the folks a chance"
Hepzibah glared Her voice
doomed. 81 tell We, we've come ter
this state fair, and I've entered my
pound for pound cake and my
crazy silx comfortable, and we've
got four winders in our room ter
home. was brought up with four
winders. I'll die without 'em. Ich
he promised If I'd come with him
he'd" y
A feeble tap from Ich's nervous
fingers only added zest to Hep's til
rade. 81 tell ye, Mr.. Chairman, I'll
plant m'self right here b. this desk
o. yourn, this time, till ye tell us
where We. en- go ter find tibet room
with four winders in it,"
Hep" ventured Ich pitifully.
Jest this once, take somethin' else.
Folks is faughin' at US all down the
line"
Let 'em laugh" conceded Hep,
generously. 81 en- shet ye up ter
home, Ich Pepper, and 1 en- shet
we up here"
Here's an address," began the
chairman desperately, and showed a
printed paper toward the bobbing
purple bonnet.
-Four winders?" snapped Hep
zibah Pepper.
Go and look it over" suggested
the chairman.
-Four winders!" declared Hep
Pepper. !
"Set the p'lice on EN-" sang a
voice down the line; cant wait all
night"
TRY some other committeeman.
won't you, Mrs. Pepper beamed
the chairman.
Tried 'em ALL" said Hep Pepper. |
They sent me here. Stop kickin' |
me, Ich Pepper. Feel uncomfortable, /
DO We, with all these folks laughinI? |
Well, yer don't feel noth'n' like the |
way I'd feel without air. I'd be !
lead. That's what I'd be-"
"AlI imagination stammered !
[chabod with a bravery born of i
"AIlus has been imag- /
nation, freezin' me out, freezin'
out. I've told ye-"
Here, madam; here's your
A change had come over
he irate chairman. In his hand
lie held a key. Mrs. Pepper, I'm
sending a woman over to show you
Tour room It's a parlor-no stairs
o climb; folks away; good bed
OUNCE, all made up; bookcases,
tuffed chairs and carpets, but they
Won't bother YOU"
-Four windows?" interrupted i
Iepizibah Pepper.
"On my word of honor, four win
ows, Mrs. Pepper" grinned the
hartman. Now, go,"
Hep went. footsore, but trium-
hant, dragging her trembling
'ouse behind her and brayely try
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-12-22
Frederick Haskin's Letter
tspea. corvespoadns AsEusl


them ~ ta
! The plate OF twos on whirh
nVes occur was also due IA -
mysterious mistake. Parbsr-s 1-s
engraVer absent-mindedIv - g
a die marked five cents thint.s
J. 1t was the master die for M
F., cent sheet. No one knows -. :,
no one knows Just how NAM - =
the sheets were printed. Rnt v
are told that one OF them NJ.
! bring $3.50. - tniga'
It is because such accidspt.
rare-almost unheard of-that ~
misprinted stamps are so hI,s5s
valued by collectors. The ro..
office department says emphat,s.n-
that it has none OF these rariti.,
for sale. - aus
One collector suggested that a.
department might render a ssrr -
II It would get some of the shars
hal overprinted stamps. The cos
ference on limitation of armans an,
plans to abolish the postnFs.os
which the United States and so 49,
other countries have in China Nv.
stamps of our Office at Sha1gh.;
will probably rise in value in ~
collectors estimation through a.
move, since no more will be priTt
ed when the postoffice is closed
The Chinese Stamps,
These Shanghai stamps are e,.
binary United States stamns ~.
cept that over each one is printss
Shanghai, China, and the prieo
in local currency which in eac5
case is double the face value. Tim,
the 2-cent stamp is overprinted !
cents. Anyone wishing to bBv
with American CURRENCY N
the Shanghai, China, postofics i
given the ordinary American stamp
That the postoffice department
will send for any of these Sha1e.
hal stamps for its postage stamp
agency to sell is extremely doubt.
ful. There is a regulation that
they may not be sold by the de-
partment except for the local mon
ey current in Shanghai. known as
Mexican.
The postofGce department has
been directing collectors who de-
sired to buy these stamps to send
domestic money order to the
United States postal agent. Sbang-
hal. He converts the order into
local currency, and makes the DUR
chase. To sell these stamps in the
United States would need a special
order> of some sort, and none is
contemplated at present.
Considering all the things il is
lot established to do, people who
lave never collected stamps mig0t
lot see how the government STAMP
agency is doing the collectors a
special service by selling them or
inary current stamps and a very
ew recent issues.
The important point is that not
II 2-cent stamps look alike to the
xpert. The stamp with perfora-
ions running into the pink design
nay be all right to put on letter.
ut it isn't a collectors ideal Of
lamp beauty.
- p" e--- - q > SNhAA4 " lAAeAe AtAc q AEA=
largin of white around it when il
torn off the sheet. He parhcu-
lrly likes to see the perforations
1rm a maltese cross where they
ltersect between four stamps.
lamps with this even margin ne
alls well-centered.
Collectors who go up to the post
flee stamp window and ask for
lamps are often given badly-ceu-
cred specimens. Generally the
Jerk has no time to hunt for per
3ct copies. This is one Of the
lings that the stamp agency is 60
lg to do. In selling to coffee
Jrs the ordinary current issues, It
i'm ) to sell weh-centered and we'll
specimens.
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-12-22

~ A South American beauty who killed her
husband, New York society men, and was
acquitted of murder charge after she pro-
tested she had recollection of firing the
fatal shot, is engaged to marry again. Num-
Der two is entitled to a medal for heroism
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-12-22

Emma Goldman and her deported associates
probably by have come to the conclusion
that the one who said something to the effect
that the way OF the transgressor is hard,
know whereof he spake.
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-12-22
THURSDAY, DECEMBER y, 1921

Hotel managers have joined with the liquor
enforcement officers to make New Years eve
in Chicago nipless. Well the booze hounds
will have Jack Frost left.
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-12-22
Argus Information Bureau


Frederic aaskin Director Washng
to
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-12-22

MISS MARY MacSWINEY denounces LLOYD
George as IAN INSCRIPTIONS scoundrel".
Spoken like a true daughter of Erin
Merely to call the premier a scoundrel might
niislead some into believing he was a scrupu-
lous scoundrel.
is scoundreD we believe he is a scrupulous
one. His work is never coarse.
MUCH was written yesterday about the
CkesterfeldiaR bandit who held up and robbed
passengers on B. & o. train Why does a
space? Is poiteness a virtue belonging only
&c those who do not a-bandting go? Answer
ing from our own experience, no. We've been
robted many time by a polite bandit behind
a counter And we do not recall that we en-
joyed the process any more than if we had
been "cussed out" and blackjacked.
This COmpOsitor Has Been Reading Lewis
Carroll
from The New York Tribune.]
Mrs Munich said she had tried
to pusuade her mother to return to her
home wook ago, but Mrs. Hane had
insisted on remaining another week
WE have discovered cat LAST what Little
Mabel tried to tell US tother day The Chi
it seems, quoted Sheriff Peters as
saying he offered the job of Cook county taller
to several first class" men before he offered
it to Jailer Lawrence That, thought Mabel
was a horse Mr.. Lawrence. Still we're
inclined to think Sheriff Peters meant exactlv
what he said.
WHEN we browse around through the COL |
yum hles we invariably become lost in ad- !
mlration OF something we wrote months or |
years ago and had forgot Here is one which
you may want to admire with us-MAY. we
said:
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-12-22
THE CARRIER BOY SPEAKS.

l s'pose sometimes you've cussed me out
Because / was SO late;
! spose there isn't any doubt
OF that but gee, / hate
A-bein' late as much as you
l know it is shame.
Sometimes it is my fault, that's true;
Sometimes 1 AMT to blame.
When 1 am awful late the boss
sHe bawlS me out for fair,
And then you folks are mighty cross
y At last when / get there.
But gee, you ought to have heart!
I'm just a kid, you know;
And, goshi TRY to do my part
Though sometimes 1 AM slow.
But, folks, the boss heart has spot
That amt exactly ice;
The Christmas calendars we got
From him are pretty niceI
Now, honest, folks, I'll always try
To be on time if-gee!-
You'll only be a sport and buy
calendar from me!
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-12-22


not so.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.
Unrelated Subjects.
am a little hard of hearing and
my mother was quite deaf. Is deaf
ness inherited? I don't seem II
hear any worse than I used to a
few years ago.
Answer-Deafness is rarely in
herited.
On the Hip.
Can you tell me how 1 can lose
five pounds off from each hip?
Sometimes / have to stop work be-
cause my eyes become blurred and
l see dancing lights. Should l con-
suit an oculist?-(J. M
Answer am unable to advise
you without any data Why not
consult a physician?
Here's An Antique Query.
Please tell me whether night air
Is injurious to a tubercular person
Doctors seem to disagree-(A. E.
Co.
Answer-It is scarcely possible
That physician should attribute
any i'll effect TO might air" at the
present time.
Bare Knees.
What is your opinion of children
wool socks with bare
knees in the winter time?-R. ".
P.)
Answer-It is all right if the
like it.
Books,
Please tell me where I can pro-
cure Pamphlets or books about sex
for boy of IA and a !
girl of 16.-(Mrs. A. K. W.)
Answer-Write your state health
or the Public Health !
Washington, D. c., and ask
or sex hygiene pamphlets, Set G., |
or boys, and Set e for girls. Send !
IS cents to the American Medical /
535 North Dearborn p,
treet, Chicago, ILL.,, for Johns Val
alton" for boys 10 to Is, or the
anne amount for "Chums" for boys /
6 to IS, or 10 cents for THE
'oy's Venereal Peril" for boys IA or
lder. Dodd, Mead & Co, New
7ork, N. Y, publish at 81 'The
'hree Gifts of Life" by Nellie III.
NTH, for girls of II to 16 years.
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-12-22
HEALTH TALKS
By William Brady. NJ. D.
Noted Physician and Author.

the way of undergarments, provid-
ed they feel comfortable. There is
no relation between any kind OF
sickness and the underwear one
has left of as a regular thing or
on a particular occasion. Do not
permit the gossip about that to
worry you, children. 1t is a ques
ton of your own personal comfort,
and If you feel comfortable with or
without any particular article Of
apparel, why go to it.
This probably will clash with
some school "physiologies," but
there are things taught in some
school physiology classes that are
not so.
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-12-22
OUR PREFERENCE.

OUR PREFERENCE.
Let poets sing of lovely spring
And rave about the summer;
/ do not care for August air
1t puts me the hummer
But l rejoice to raise my voice
In praise of January;
And loud and long l sing nv song
In tuneful rime and merry
The autumn time is NOT sublime
According to my fancy
Though others spill and spout and thrill
OF autumnS necromancv
But, worse than all-worse than the fall
The seasons l remember
Inc one that frets me most and gets
MY nanny is December
You wonder why thus decrv
These seasons all together?
wen, this here plaint I'll tell you amt
At all against the weather
How welcome is old Janus phiz
From st. Paul to the Isthnus
with me men cheer: "Oh, boy! a vaa-
Before another Christmas,p
AND there is revealed to you the rs.,
Wlckedness that is in our heart We DOM ILL.,
CHRISTMAS and were always glad when II is
past PROBABLY what annexes our Came
nlrcus is our inability (for obyious rsasop.
TO spend as much money as we shouId ill., -
spend. IKE 10
Coiyums Christmas Roll of Honor.
CContribs' Donations to Argus Santa c,.r,
Fund)
Inn .:-..-.'........ .........s1 LOO
Coc,,s W. '-'''''''..'''-.A ....... LOO
PREVIOUSLY acknowledged ...... 1000
lo'al 10 date $1,000
GOSH the unlucky Is! Contribs- dare
stop at ID? We darent It's up 10 somaboS's
= klck IN with that fourteenth dollarE
'TENSHUNf
me time has come" the Walrus said
To contributory slackers.
ITO hand The Argus Santa r-,-u
another bunch of smackers!"
R. e. MIG
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-12-22

GOSH, the unlucky 10, Contribs
seop at 10! We darent It's up to somehow
70 KICK IN with that fourteenth della
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-12-22
Colyum's Christmas Roll Of Honor

Contribs' Donations to Argus Santa r,s,
Fund)
The evening herald., 1921-01-06

nr T. u. Murray. p~tcopathic Np'-
,iuli-i NviNuu- bi-'a-'-. ~ ,iHn'
uiIa yoy N. Central. I'huur GIi-N.