davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The L'Anse sentinel., 1921-07-01
CHAPTER XIV
The Dead-LIne

We found the three disappointed
afternoon callers already on hand when
we reached the headquarters. The
boss said "Good evening. gentlemen"
as pleasant as basket Of chips, and
invited the waiting bunch into the
private office, swapping on the lights
as he opened the door.
No introductions were needed. One
Of the pair Hatch had brought with
him was lawyer named Marrow,
whose home town was Sedgwick; a
sharp-nosed. ferret-eyed man who fig
ured as one of the many ''local coun-
sells" for Red Tower. The other, Ded-
mon, was a political place-hunter who
had once been sheriff of Arrowhead
county.
"You've kept us cooling our heels
In your waiting-room for just about
the last time, Mr.. Norcross !" was the
spiteful way in which Hatch opened
fire. "We've come to talk straight
business with you this trip, and 1t will
be more tc your interest than ours
If you'll send your clerk away"
While they had been dragging up
their chairs and sitting down, / had
heard Fred May lock up his typewriter
and go, and had been listening anxi-
ously for some noise that would tell
me Tarbell was on deck. / thought
heard the door OF the outer office
open again just as Hatch spoke and
1t comforted me whole lot.
The boss didn't pay any attention
to Hatchs suggestion about sending
me away; acted as If he hadn't heard
it. Opening his desk he took box of
cigars from drawer and passed 1t.
With this concession to the small hos
pitalltles the boss swung his chair to
face the trio.
my time is yours, gentlemen" he
said; and Hatch jumped in like man
fairly spelling for fight.
"tor six months. Norcross, you've
been moving pretty wide swath out
here In the tall hills. You've been
| posing as little tin god before the
people of this state, Ind al. the while
you've been knitting and slugging and
black -jacking private capita. and pri
vate business wherever and whenever
they have happened to get in youl
way. Now, at the end of the lane, by
Jupiter, we've got you dead to rights
you and your id railroadP
"Cut ont as many of the PERSONAL
ties as you can, and come to thu
point" suggested the boss quietly.
"You think / haven't any point Il
come tor" barked the CRATER, will
rising anger. "Pll show you! Yot
thought you were the only origina
| trust-buster when you started youl
The L'Anse sentinel., 1921-07-01

an affidavit to the fact that railroad
money was offered him. They don't
say whether or not they accepted 1t,
mind you, and that doesn't cut any
figure. They have sworn that the
money was rendered. That lets them
out and lets you In. Yeu don't believe
It? I'll show YOU" and Hatch whipped
a list of names from his pocket and
slapped It upon the boss desk. go
to those men and ask them; II you
want to carry II that far. They'll tell
you"
could see that the boss barely
glanced at the list. The glib story
of the bribery was like the bite Of
slipping rane-hltch-slow to take
hold. So far as we were concerned.
of course. the charge fell fiat; and
upon any other hypothesis 1t was
blankly Incredible. unbelievable. abb
surd
"The afiidavits themselves would be
much more convincing" l heard the
boss say, though even then should
wish to have reasonable proof that
they We're genuine"
Hatch was sitting down again and
his grin showed his teeth unpleas-
antly.
"Do you think for a minute that I'd
bring the papers here and trust them
in your hands?" he raped out insult
The L'Anse sentinel., 1921-07-01

ingly. "Not much! But we've got
them all right, as you'll find out II you
bak and force us to use them"
At this point could see that some-
thing I'm the persistent assurance of
the man was getting under the boss
skin and giving him cold chill. What
| IL II were not the colossal bluff It had
looked like In the beginning? What
IL Like a blaze OF lightning out
of n clear sky d. possible explanation
hit me under the fifth rib, and guess
II hit the boss at about the same in
slant. What II President Dunton and
the New York stock -jobbers, believ-
ing as they did that nothing but legis-
lative favor would give them their
trading capital in the depressed stock,
had cut In and done this thing with
out consulting us?
The boss stirred uneasily In his
chair and picked up the paper-knife-
little unconscious trick of his when
he wanted time to- gather himself.
perhaps you would be willing to
give me the name of this briber, Mr..
Hatchr he said. after little pause.
'.As IL you didn't know I'll" was the,
scoffing retort. "There were two Of
them; one who was hired to do the
talking while the real wire-puller
stood aside and held the coin bag.
Wen skip the hired man." Then he
turned 10 the ex-sheriff: "Wrlte out
the name Of the bag-holder for him,
Dedmon," he commanded, tearing a
leaf from his pocket notebook and
thrusting 1t, with stubby pencil. into
Dedmon's hands.
The man from Arrowhead county
bent over his knee and wrote a name
on the slip of paper, laying the slip
on the drawn-out slide Of the boss desk
when he had finished the slow pencil
Ing. The effect Of the thing was all
that any plotter could have desired.
1 saw the boss face go gray, saw him
stare at the slip and heard him say,
half to himself. Howard Colling-
wood r.
Hatch followed up HIS advantage
promptly. He was afoot and strug-
Cling Into his overcoat when he said !:
you've got what you were after. Nor
cross, and II has got your goat. We've
known all along that you were only
blufing and sparring to gain time.
We've nailed you to the cross. You
let this deal With Marshall and his
people stand as It's made. or we'll
show you up for what you are. That's
the plain English Of IT,
"You mean that you will 60 to the
newspapers with thisr said the boss.
and It was no wonder that his voice
was a bit husky.
"Just that. Wen give you plenty
Of time to think II over. The joint
deal with O. 8. 3 w. goes into effect
tomorrow, and it's up to ron to sit
tight n, the boat and let a. alQnA r
The L'Anse sentinel., 1921-07-01


scheme Of locally owned elevators and
warehouses and coal and lumber
yards and ran us out Of business. But
I'm here to tell you that your fine
haired little deal to rob us began to die
about as soon as II was born"
"How soT' inquired the boss.
TT wasn't a month before your little
local stockholders began to get to-
gether and swap stock and sell It. In
IA very short time the control Of the
whole string OF local plants was in
the hands of hundred men. To-day
it's In the hands Of less than twenty,
with John Marshall at the head OF
them. Citizens Storage q Warehouse
Is now a consolidated property. and
John Marshall. Henckel and control
majority Of its stock. How does
that strike your
TT strikes me That the people most
deeply Interested have been exceeding
y foolish to ssll their birthright Buf
The L'Anse sentinel., 1921-07-01

to the house, afte'ward, II you have
time, and tell me I'm false prophet
sub; ]. hope you may"
The boss promised plenty cheerfully
as to the calling part, as you'd know
he would since he hadn't seen Mrs.
Sheila for don't know how long; and
q few minutes later we were on our
way. walking briskly, to keep the
Fred May engagement with the chief
of the grafters.
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-03-02

Post Commander Dan Brennan
has called a special and important
meeting Of the executive commit
tee of Rock Island post. American
Legion, proceeding the regular
business meeting of the post at
the legion Headquarters this even
ing.
Initiation work at Moline lodge,
Elks. under direction of the Rock
Island lodge officers, scheduled for
tomorrow night has been postponed
until later in the month. Moline
lodge recently conducted the work
here and the Rock Island visit will
be an exchange of courtesies.
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-03-02
|||ERllll RIVER
||I|a And ] coal
DEALER CALLED


william Henry Lamont aged s.
1arp. since his youth local agent
~ upper Mississippi river steam
Mt lines and for Is years in the
s1lfai1 coal business IN this city,
6Ud It S:35 this morning ut his
E6me. 1905 Sixteenth street. Mr..
Einont had been bsdfast for 10
&nys. He was stricken with pneu.
monia, but his condition was not
considered critical until Monday
evening. He lost strength rapidly
and never rallied.
Mr.. Lamont had been In good
health during most Of his life. but
three weeks ago complained Of q
cold which developed into pneumo-
mia.
Living in Rock Island his entire
life, Mr.. Lamont was well known
IN civic. social and fraternal cir
cles. He was always enthusiastic
IN civic undertakings and took ac-
I've part in the progress of the
city. However. his field of work
was in the packet and coal fields.
Mr.. Lamont was the son OF Cap
thin and Mrs. George Lamont, pio-
neers OF Rock Island. Captain La
mont was the agent for all steam
boat lines which piled the upper
riyer, and when still a youth viii
, Ham took up his fathers work and
an his death became prominently
Identified with the packet lines.
Mr.. Lamont was born in Rock Is
land, Feb. rs, 1868, in the family
home in the west end Of the city.
He was educated in the public
schools here and started his busi-
ness career with the steamboat
companies. He had the agencies of
the Carnival City Packet company
for rs years and the old Diamond
10 line until it was sold to the
: Streckfus company in 1910. He had
since been agent for the Streckfus,
White Collar and Northern Steam
companies.
With Brother in Coal Business.
Mr.. Lamont was a partner in the
coal business with his brother,
Ralph, under the firm name Of the
Lamont Coal company. He first
entered the business with his faith
er in 1894 and continued this with
the packet agencies, being located
first on Seventeenth street between
First and Second avenues, and
more recently on First avenue be-
tween Seventeenth and Eighteenth
streets.
He was prominently identified
with the Knights Of Pythias, hav-
ing held Offices Of all ranks in the
organization. He had represented
st. Paul lodge at grand lodge con-
yentions for the last 20 years. He
was also member of the Chamber
Of Commerce and the Rock Island
Business Mems association.
He was united in marriage to
Miss Margie M. Jack OF Chicago in
that city on Dec. 2, 1896, the couple
making their home in Rock Island
since. Surviving are the widow !;
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-03-02

four children. Margaret. William
b., George G. and Donald E.. all at
home: two brothers, Ralph and
Ben d. Of Rock Island. and . sis
ter, Mrs. 8. d. Ruggles of Colfax,
Iowa. His father, Captain Lamont.
died in 1909, and his mother pass
ed away in 1913. Two brothers,
James H. died in 1911 and George
died 25 years ago.
Funeral arrangements have not
been completed. The Knights OF
Pythias will be in charge OF the
services. The family requests NO
flowers.
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-03-02
HuL.L.SDAI!E
(Special Correspondence


Hillsdale. March The school
friends Of Master Donald Hansen
surprised him at his home Tues
day evening to help celebrate his
10th birthday, in the hours from 1
until 6, the little guests being
served to q dainty luncheon.
Reports OF children In perfect at
tendance for the month Of Febru-
AIRY give Alice Lagerblade. Clyde
Conrad, Harold Pears0ll, Harvey.
Chester and Bernice Smith. Flor
ence vogt. Margaret Fowler, DON
eta Waddell, Raymond and Lyle
Dillin, Earl Ward, Wilma Sand,
Harry Hill, Juanita Cook, Howard
Hanna, Howard Dillin. Donald
Hanson. Norma Lagerblade, Robert
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-03-02
GRACE CHURCH'S
QUINTET BEATEN
BY PRESBYTERIAN
Especial Correspondence

Geneseo, ILL.,, March Am in
teresting game of basketball was
played at Wiemer's opera house
Monday night between the Presby-
terrain and the Grace church teams.
The final score of the game was
% to IA in favor Of the Presbyter-
ian team. This is the third game
the Presbyterians and the Grace
team have played. Two were won
by the Presbyterians and one by
the Grace church boys.
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-03-02
STERLING MAY GET
INFANTRY COMPANY
fspecial Correspondence. }

Especial Correspondence
Sterling, ILL.,. March company
H. 9Th infantry, Illinois Reserve
Militia, Is now officially out Of ex-
istence. Colonel s. 0. Trip OF
Springfield issued honorary dis
charges to the members of the
company last evening. He checked
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-03-02
v,D,,sn,z TIE ROCK ISLAND ARGUS MARCH = 1921

is visiting her parents at this place.
suddenly became i'll Sunday with
an attack Of appendicitis. but has
recovered rapidly since Monday.
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-03-02

ana Leonard Hanna. Forrest Cooks,
HiIda ward. Leonard and Burdette
Weimef.
aMrs. J. B. Owen OF Chicago. who
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-03-02

MED BY John F. Butter. A..
for Iowa City with Roger. =. !
year-old son Of Mr.. and. ". !
ence Butter. S'
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-03-02

Mr.. owen arrived Sunday evening.
leaving again on Tuesday evening
for Chicago.
Mrs. Clarence Butzer. accompa-
Owingsville outlook., 1921-07-14
OBJECTS TO TARIFF LAW
Americans Can Have All Facts That
Are Vital. French Say Of
leVies in List.

PariS.-The French Government for
warded to !. Jusserand, French AM
baSSadOr In Washington, for transmits
sion to the State Department there,
protest of the French Chamber of
Commerce against the provision of the
new American tariff law calling for in
spectinn of the books of French eN-
pOrters by American agents for the
purpose Of determining ad valorem lu-
ties 10 be collected by the United
States. French exporters are said 10
he disturbed greatly over this feature
of the tariff measure, and declare that
under no conditions will inspection be
tolerated
II is pointed out that such II privi-
lege as the American law requests is
not accorded even to the French Gov
ernment except in unusual instances.
The French in their protest say they
are willing to give to Treasury DEPART
ment agents full statements upon
which the al valOrem tax can bt based.
At the offices of the American Com
mercial Attache ii WAS explained that
the Treasury Department agents at
Paris had made 800 investigations of
exporters costs of production within
the past year, and that the I'D valOrem
duties collected at New York had been
based upon these reports, which con
sisted largely of voluntary statements
by the exporters. The American
Chamber of Commerce at Paris con
sidered the French protest at a meet
ing conducted in the afternoon, and
the matter was referred to the Spe-
cial Tax Committee.
The opinion was expressed, how
ever, that the law probably would
have to be modified, inasmuch as it
would be virtually impossible to in
duce the French exporters to consent
to inspection Of their books. 1t also
was said that there was a feeling
among American business men in
France that the provision would be
found to be impractical, but that a
compromise might be reached by hav-
ing tie French open their books to
public accountants.
Owingsville outlook., 1921-07-14
GUNBOAT ARRIVES
AT TAMPICO, MEX.
oRDERED To MEXICO TO PRO-
TEcT AMERICANS IN THE
OIL REGION.
obreeon Government Refuses to Com
ment on Situation-Arrival of Ships
Cause of Intense ExeitementATwo
British Ships Ordered to Tsmpleo.

Mexico City-The United States
gunbOat Sacramento, sent to Mexican
waters as a resul. of alarming reports
reaching Washington, has arrived at
TampicO and is anchored in the harbOr
there, according to advices received
from that city.
In View of the regulations of inter-
national law, which provide that for
eign warshIps can enter the port of
any friendly nation and remain for "A
hours, the Mexican Foreign Office has
refused to comment upon the arrival
Of the Sacramento at Tampico.
"1he Mexican Government" said z.
Elias Gales, Secretary of the Interior
and Chief of the Cabinet, docs not see
in the dispatch of vessels to Tampico
a show of naval strength on the part
of the United States, inasmuch as
there is no conflict that might cause
the hostile presence of those ships"
President AlvarO Ohregon refused to
comment on the situation in tie ab-
sence of Official communication from
Washington regarding the sending Of
war vessels into Mexican waters. The
President declared the Government did
not intend to rescind the recent decree
increasing the taxes on oil exported
from the country, saying that every
barrel of oil taken from Mexico repre-
sented an exhaustion of natural re-
sources that could not be replaced.
Tampico advices describe the anchor
ing of the Sacramento Oft the mouth
of the Panuco River there, causing in
tene> excitement N the port, and how,
later I'm the day, the commander of the
wars llp visited Claude l. Dawson, the
American Consul.
The Cleveland was expected to ar
rive soon, while, according to a re-
port in TampicO, two British vessels
m British Honduras waters have been
ordered to, TampicO.
Owingsville outlook., 1921-07-14
PRESIDENT HARDING.
VISITS CAPITOL.
URGES BONUS BILL BE PLACED
ON SHELF UNTIL PURSE OF
NATION is FATTER.
Accepts Full Responsibility For Action
Certain Proponents Of Veterans
Relief Measure Will Oppose Admin.
istration Plan, 'Tis Reported.

Washington. - President Harding
visited the Capitol unheralded and
conferred for more than two hours
with his former colleagues on the
formulation Of a tentative legislative
program. When IL became known that
the President was I'm the Senate wing
Of the Capitol the Republican side of
the aisle became deserted except for
Senator Reed SmOOt, Of Utah, who
remained calm and didn't even flicker
en eyelash. The President was sur
rounded quickly, and retreated with
his erStwhile colleagues into the Sen
ate dining room, where he passed an
hour lunching. Senator James z. Wat
son, Of Indiana, was among those
who partOok of the meal.
This happened during the discussion
OF the McCumber soldier bonus bill
and a call of mo quorum" was sound
ed. Headed by the Republican floor
leader, Senator Henry Cabot Lodge, OF
Massachusetts, the runaways returned,
but went away as soon as their names
were called.
The President retreated into the
Presidents room, situated just Off the
Senate floor, and one by one conferred
with an even dozen of the Senators,
among them Frank b. Willis, of Ohio.
Senator Atlee Pomerene, of Ohio,
Democrat pOked his head into the
room and asked, "How do you do?"
The President and Senator Oscar w.
Underwood, of Alabama, the Demo
cratic floor leader, talked for a long
time, supposedly about the bonus bill,
which Mr.. Underwood opposes. He
is a close personal friend Of Mr.. Hard
ing The result of the conference is
said to have been:
1. Indefinite postponement of action
on the McCumber or soldier bonus
bill by recommitting II to the Senate
Finance Committee, from which 1t
was reported with strong recommen-
datiOnS for its passage.
>. Consideration of only the legis-
lation, such as tariff and tax meas
ureS. for which the special session
purpOsely was called.
8. A process of recesses" in the
Senate during the summer months
while waiting for tariff and tax legis-
latiOn to come over from the House.
Owingsville outlook., 1921-07-14
BRITAIN AROUSED
over IRISH ISSUE
POSSIBILITY OF ARMISTlcE IN
IRELAND AWAKENs GREAT
EXCITEMENT.
South African Premier, General smuts,
Will Not Return to Dublin Unless
Officially Invited to Preside at Con-
ferenee-crowds Block Streets.

London.-Sentiment regarding tie
prospects of peace with Ireland is un-
dergoing spectacular fluctuations here,
where the topic is monopolizing the
attention Of all classes of people. Pop
ular interest in new development is
enormous. Crowds have been gather
ed all day in the Strand and other
main arteries OF traffic buying every
edition of the morning and evening
newspapers. Posters plastered on the
walls elOquently reflect violent revul-
sions of feelings from hour TO hour
The crowd waivers from hope TO de-
spair, from certainty TO doubt.
Owing TO the continuation of the
Foreign Offices pOlicyof official secre-
cythe public is plunged in perpleXity
which only is enhanced by variations
and Inconsistencies In the tone of semi
official statements.
The paramount question still is the
armistce. Information supplied from
au authoritative source was that a for.
NAL written truce would be drafted at
the Dublin conference. Yet it waa
declared that the truce would take the
form of an informal "gentlemen's
agreement" that both sides would alb
stain from organized hOstilities as
long as negotiations are in progress.
General Jan c. SHUTS visited Buck
ingham Palace, it is understood, at the
request of the King, who desired to OBJ
tain frst-hand information about the
status of Sim Fein sentiments. The
South African Premier will not return
to Dublin unless he is officially invited
to preside at the conference at the
Mansion House.
Owingsville outlook., 1921-07-14

LeXington.-Dr. J. B. Miner, of the
research department Of the University
Of Pittsburg, has been appointed head
of the psychology department of the
University of Kentucky, it was an
nCunced here. He fills the vacancy
caused by the resignation of DR.. John
]. Tigert to become United States
commissioner of education.
Owingsville outlook., 1921-07-14
Officer Made S14,5OO.

Ottawa.-Testimony was given be-
fore a commission investigating sol
dier frauds i'm foreign exchange, in
which it was charged the Canadian
Government lost several hundred thou
sand dollars, that a former Ottawa
policemen made $4,000 in this man.
ner and left the country. The Govern
ment agreed, when English money fell
heavily, to pay TO its returning sol
diers the difference between the allow
ances they received abroad in English
money and what these allowances
would mean in Canadian money at the
normal rate of exchange.
Owingsville outlook., 1921-07-14

Springfeld.-Robert Baker, a farm
er Of this county, killed a snake that
measured eleven -si=-ia-AlA---- La
Owingsville outlook., 1921-07-14

washington.-Athough agreeing to
the bulk Of the provisions in the $409,-
100000 naval appropriation bill, as
voted recently by the House in at
tempting TO dispose Of differences be-
tween the two bodies, the Senate re-
fused to yield on 10 amendments. and
sent the measure back to the House
with a request for further confer
ences. The amendments on which the
Senate declined to recede include pro-
visions for two airplane carriers, avi-
alton stations and increased expendi-
lures for battle ships under construc-
tiOn.
Owingsville outlook., 1921-07-14
nIdnt Do the Exnectsd.

at is hard to forecast what a per-
son will do or say under stress" said
a former army officer.
"We were taking a troop train
through a town in Kentucky during
the war, when a sergeant came up to
me and said that the town was the
home Of one of the men, who had been
married just before he joined the army.
and that If we were going to stop for
any length of time. perhaps the man
in question might be permitted 10 see
his wife.
II hustled around and got word to
the wife that her husband was on the
troop train. She came a few minutes
before the train was ready to leave.
The soldier rushed out to meet her
and instead Of throwing his arms
around her he reached into his blouse
pocket and handed her a handful Of
cigarsl Rather peculiar thing to do
after leaving your wife and enlisting
and being under sealed orders that
probably we're taking you to France !
Owingsville outlook., 1921-07-14
SCRAPS

French laws forbid painters using
white lead or products containing It.
Honey is a more healthful sweet
than cane sugar. Bright's disease is
often traced to an excessive use or
sugar. Honey contains iron and Is
predigested-
By building two canals, one As and
the other 80 miles long. and utilizing
a river. the Italian government u
planning to connect Milan with the
Adriatic sea.