davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1922-10-19
HAPTER X.

The voice was strange To Gramont,
yet he had a vague recollection Of
having at some time heard ii before.
1t was n iaunty and %impudent voice,
very self-assured-yet it bore Il
startled ana uneasy note, as though
the speaker had just come unaware
upon the man whom he addressed.
"Howdy, sheriff! :" II said. Didn't
see you in there-what you dom SO
far away from Houma, eh?"
"Why, I've been looking over the
place around here" responded an
other voice, which was dry and grim.
81 know you, Ben Chacherre. and |
think I'll take you along with me. Just
come from New Orleans. did your"
"Me? Take me?" The voice of
Chacherre shrilled up suddenly in
alarm. Look here, sheriff, it wasn't
me done 1t! 1t was Gramont-"
There came silence. Not a sound
broke the stiffness Of the late after
noon.
Gramont, listening, lay bewildered
and breathless. Ben Chacherre come
here? Gramont knew nothing of n
tie between joachim Fell and Cha
cherre he could only lie in the grass
and wonder at the mans presence.
What place" was II that the sheriff
of Houma had been looking over? And
what was ii that he, Gramont, was
supposed to have done?
Confused and wondering, Gramont
waited. And, as he waited. he caught
a soft sound from the marshy
ground beside nina faint "plop" as
though some object had fallen close
by on the wet grass. At the moment
he paid no heed to this sound, for
again the uncanny silence had fallen.
Listening, Gramont fancied that he
caught slow, stealthy footsteps amid
the underground. but derided the
fancy as sheer Imagination. His brain
vas busy with this new problem
Houma, he knew, was the seat Of the
parish or county. This Ben Chacherre
appeared to have suddenly and unex
pectedly encountered the sheriff, tC
his obvious alarm, and the sheriff hat
for some reason decided to arresI
him; so much was clear.
Chacherre had nothing to do will
the "place"-did that mean the ada
cen property, or the Ledanois farm
In his puzzled bewilderment over thi!
imbroglio Gramont for the momen
quite forgot the trickle of oil at hi
feet.
But now the deep silence became
unnatural and sinister. What ha,
happened? Surely, Ben Chacherr'
had not been arrested and taken away
in such silence! Why had the voices
so abruptly ceased? Vaguely uneasy
startled by the prolongation of thai
intense stiffness. Gramont rose to hi'
feet and peered among the trees.
The two speakers seemed to have
departed; he could descry nobody IN
The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1922-10-19

as ne turned in, unfolded a startling
scene. Three men, the same three
whom he had seen from the bushes,
were standing in front of the low
shed; two of them held rifles, the
third, one Of the "~invCntOrs' in over
ais. was winding a bandage about a
bleeding hand. The two rifles were
loosely lcveled at Hammond, who
stood in the center of the group with
his arms in the air.
Whatever had happened, Hammond
had evidently not been easily cap
tured. Ills cOuntenanCe was some
what battered, and the one captor who
wore a collar was bleeding %copiously
from a cut cheek. The three turned
as Gramont's car drove up, and Ham
mond gave an ejaculation of relief.
Here he Is now"
shut up" snapped one of his
armed captors in an ugly tone. Hurry
up, Chacherre-get a rope and tie this
gink!"
Gramont leaped from the car and
StrOue forward.
whats been going on here?" he
demanded, sharply. "Hammond-"
81 found a dead man over in them
bushes" shot out Hammond, land
these guys jumped me before seer
'em. They claim | done it"
"A dead mani" repeated Gramont,
and looked at the three. what do
you mean?"
"Give him the spiel, Chpcherre,"
growled one Of them. Ben Chacherre
stepped forward, his bold eyes fas-
tened on those of Gramont with a look
Of defiance. /.
"The sheriff was here some time
ago, looking for a stolen boat" he
said, land went off toward the Leda-
nCis place. We were following, in or
der to help him search, when we came
upon this man standing in the bushes,
over the body Of the sheriff. A knife
was in his hand, and the sheriff had
been stabbed to death. He drew a pis-
t0l and shot one of us"
Gramont was staggered for a mo-
hitlil' III ht tN'lullllth. Iidlll-
mond, how much of this is true?"
What I'm telin' you, cap'n." an
swered Hammond, d~oggedly. Il found
a man layin' there and was looking at
him when these guys jumped me l
shot that fellow in the arm, all right,
then they grabbed my gun and got me
down. That's ALL"
The sheriff-murdered!
Into the mind of Gramont leaped
that brief conversation which he had
overheard between Ben Chacherre and
the sheriff the strange, unnatural ST.
lence which had concluded that
broken-off conversation. He stared
from Hammond to the others, speech
less for the moment, yet with hot
words rising impetuously in him.
Now he noticed that Chacherre and
his W companions We're watching
him very intently, and were slightly
circling out. He sensed an %acquaint-
ance among all these men. He saw
that the wounded man had finished his
b~andaging, and was now holding his
unwounded hand in his pocket, bulk
lily, m~enacingly.
Danger flashed upon Gramont-
flashed upon him wildly and with
startling ~clearness. He realized that
anything was possible in THIS isolated
%spot-this spot where murder had so
lately been contaminated He checked
on his very lips what he had been
about TO blurt forth; at this instant,
Hammond voiced the thought in his
mind.
Its n frame-up!" said the chauf-
feur. angrilv.
The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1922-10-19

sighr. A step 70 one side gave era
mont n view of the land adjoining the
LedanOiS place. This was cleared Of
all brush. and under some immense
oaks To the far left he had a glimpse
of "A large summer cottage, boarded
up and apparently deserted. Nearer
at hand, however, he saw other build
ings, and these drew his attention. He
heard the %throbbing pound Of a motor
at work, and as there was no power
line along here, the place evidently
had It's own electrical plant. lie
scrutiniZed the scene before him ap-
praisingly.
There were two large buildings
here. One seemed 10 be a large barn,
closed, the other was a long, low
shed which was too large to be a
garage. The door Of this was open,
and before the opening Gramont saw
three men standing in talk he recog-
niZed nom Of them. Two Of the talk
crs were chad in greasy ovcraIls, and
the third figure showed the flash OF a
Collar. The sheriff, Ben ChaCherrr.
and some other man, thought Graz
mont. He would not have known Cha
cherre had h" encountered him face
to face. 70 him, the man was a name
only.
The mention Of his own name by
Chachcrrc imprI'cd him to 20 forward
and demand some explanation. Then
It occurred to him that perhaps he
had made a mistake; it would have
been very easy, tor he was not certain
that Chachcrre mad referred to him
There could he other Gramonts, or
other men those name would have
much the same sound in a Creole
mouth.
I'D better attend to my own bust
ness" thought Gramont, and turned
away. He noticed that the motor had
ceased it's work. "Wonder what rich
chap can be down here at his summer
cottage this time of year? May be
only a caretak"r, though. I'd better
give all my attention to this oil, and
let other things alone"
lie rctraccd his steps to the bayou
bank and turned back toward the
house. As he did so, Hammond ap
pcared COZ inE toward him, knife in
hand.
I'm going to cut me a pole and land
n couple O fish for supper" an.
nounced the chauffeur, grinning. "Got
things cleaned up fine, cap'n! You
won't know fine old shack
The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1922-10-19

over two hundred New Dwellings Built
during the past three years. Besides many
Business Blocks and other Substantial I'm
prOVements.
Beautiful trees line the streets and the
city presents a fine appearance, matted as
ii is in the midst OF a fine growth OF shade
and ornamental trees. Her citizens are will
ing and ready TO encourage and assist every
helpful industry.
The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1922-10-19

aren't very good for night work. I'm
going TO get some leases around here
perhaps | can do it right away. and
well start back in the morning. Go
ahead and get your fish"
Regaining the house, he saw that
Hammond had indeed cleaned up in
great style, and had the main room
looking clean as q pin, with a fire pop
ping on the hearth. He did o pause
here. but went to the car, got in, and
started il. He drove back to the road
and followed this toward town for a
few rods, turning in ut a large and
very deCent-looking farmhouse that
he had observed while passing 1t on
The way out.
He found the owner, an intelligent
appearing Creole, driving in some
cows for milking, and was "A little
startled to realize that the afternoon
was so late. When he addressed the
farmer in French, he received a cor
dial reply, and discovered that this
man owned the land across the road
from the LednnOis place-that his
farm, in fact, covered several hundred
acres.
'Who owns the land next to the
Ledanois place." inquired Gramont.
IL sold that off my land Il couple Of
years ago" replied the other. A man
from New Orleans wanted it for n
summer place-a business man there,
Isidore Gumberts."
Gumberts-"Memphis Ivy Gum
berts! The name flashed to Ora
mont's mind. and brought the recollec-
ton of a conversation with Hammond.
Why, Gumberts was the famous crook
of whom Hammond had spoken.
81 saw the sheriff a while ago. head
ing up the road" observed the Creole.
Did you meet him?'
Gramont shook his head. mo, but
| saw several men at the Gumberts
place. Perhaps he was there"
Not there, | guess" and the farm
er laughed. 'Those fellows have rent
ed the place from Gumberts. l hear;
they're inventors, and quiet enough
men. You're a stranger here?"
Gramont introduced himself as a
friend of Miss Ledanois, and stated
frankly that he was looking for oil
and hoped to drill on her land.
I'D like n lease option from you,'
he went III. 81 don't want to buy your
land at all what | want Is a right TO
drill for oil on II, in case any shows
up on Miss Ledanois' land. It's all a
gamble, you know. I'll give you a
hundred dollars for the lease, and the
usual eighth interest in any oil that's
found. I've no lease blanks with me,
but If you'll give me the option, a
signed memorandum will be entirely
sufficient"
The farmer regarded oil as a joke
and said so. The hundred dollars,
however, and the prospective eighth
interest. were sufficient to induce him
to part with the option without any
delay. He was only too glad to get
the thing done with at once, and to
pocket Gramont's money.
The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1922-10-19

WHAT WE NEED
A Gas Plant
Canning Factory
More Business Enterprises
Another good Meat Market
More Manufacturing Enterprises
More Young People Who Want an Educa-
ton.
The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1922-04-01
D cHENEY's WILL
FILED FOR PROBATE

Reno Journal: The will OF Judge
A. E. Cheney has been filed for pro-
bate in the district court. The larger
beneiciaries under the will are his
widow, Mrs. Jennie w. Cheney, and
Everett w. Cheney. his only child.
The estimated value OF the estate Is
s250.000.
His former home goes to his wife.
while Everett Cheney will receive the
office furniture, the library and a
number Of personal effects. The sis
ter, Ada r. Cheney Of Kingston,
Ohio, will receive 5000 yearly. while
the balance OF the estate goes to a
large number of relatives. The trust
fund will be divided at the death of
his sister, Ada r. Cheney, between
Mrs. Jennie w. Cheney and her son,
Everett.
The University will receive a fund
of $4,000, interest on which will re-
vert annually to the best English
scholar of the freshman year.
The executors are r. M. Price and
Everett w. Cheney.
The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1922-04-01
ELKO RANCHER SUICIDES

Elko Independent: Apparently des-
pondent over financial matters, Mer-
rit NJ. Rockwell, we'll known Lamoille
rancher. shot himself Sunday morn
ing, shortly after 8 o'clock, at the
home of Mr.. and Mrs. 10 Hayward
where the deceased had been staying
for the past three days. The fatal
shot was fired from a $3.50 Win
chester rifle. Mrs. Hayward, sister
of the deceased. found the body upon
returning to the house after a short
absence. Mr.. Rockwell was appar'
entity in the best of spirits when Mr.
Hayward departed at s O'Clock fol
work.
Before Mr.. Hayward departed from
the house, Rockwell asked for writ
ing materials. A farewell note, writ
ten on the writing paper which hi
had asked for, indicated that he had
contemplated suicide because the
Federal Farm Loan Board had re
Gently turned down his application
for a loan.
The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1922-04-01
PHILIPPE ASSAILANT
FOUND NOT GUILTY

At Lovelock last week the case
charging William Meeks with the
murder OF Emsley PHILIPPE, age 81.
both of Rochester was heard. 1t APP
pears that PHILIPPE was acting as con-
stable during the illness Of the con-
stable; that he and three otbsr Ten
we're invited to the Meeks cabin to
have a drink. Arriving there drinks
we're poured out and Phillip asked
Meeks, who had been drinking heavi-
ly, what he would do should an OFF,
Ger appear while the drinking vas go
ing on. Testimony confiicted as to
what Meeks answered, but 1t was
something like Here's what I'D do"
and with that he drew a revolver,
which discharged. killing PHILIPPE.
The technical charge was anslaught-
err, but the jury apparently believed
the shooting to have been accidental
and found Meeks not guilty. He was
consequently discharged from GUS
tody.
The PHILIPPE family formerly re-
sided in Eureka.
The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1922-04-01
FORMER NEvADAN
DIES AT SALT LAKE

Carson Appeal: c. s. varian, a
former resident of Carson City, men,
Der OF a State Legislature and uncle
OF Mrs. e. A. Quicker of this city, died
at Salt Lake City Sunday. according
to a telegram received by Mr.. Ducket.
No details of the death or word OF
funeral arrangements was contained
in the telegram.
varian was a prominent attorney
of Salt Lake City. He practiced his
profession at Winnemucca at one
time and after his residence there
went to Utah. where he served as
United States district attorney.
In addition to his residence here
and at Winnemucca he also lived at
KNOXVILLE at n time and is well
known by many old Nevadans.
The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1922-04-01
LANDER COUNTY SCHOOL
TO BE READY THIS FALL

Carson, Nevada, March CIV. j.
Hunting, State Superintendent OF
Public Instruction. has been advised
that the new Lander County high
school building at Battle Mountin,
bonds for which were authorized at
the last legislative session, is now in
curse Of construction. and that the
work will be completed in time to
permit use of the building by Sep
TENDER /. The County Commission
ers will act as the County Board of
Education in charge Of the school
until the general election mex No
vember.
The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1922-04-01
DISTRICTS
TO HOLD ELECTIONS

This is the year for the election of
school trustees in Nevada and all
school districts are I hold elections.
The Nevada Educational Bulltein
says:
THE public schools are among u
greatest institutions, and the ONCE Of
school trustees a very important one.
The management of all local school
matters rests entirely in the hands OF
the trustees. and the most competent,
patriotic, and progressive citizens in
the district should be selected for
places on the school boards in order
to insure efficient management of the
schools.
Even though there should be
only two or three families in a school
district, the trustees should be elect
ed. The exercise of the franchise is
one of our greatest privileges, and by
voting the people of a community
show commendable interest in their
local affairs.
Saturday. April 1. is the date of
the election, and nc district should
fail TO hold this election. Printed
notices of the election to be posted
by the school trustees will be sent out
by the several deputy superintend-
ents.
Again let 1t be urged that all school
districts hold this election.
1.-The first of the two sets of ele-
mentary examinations to determine
promotion from the eighth grade to
high school will be given from April
Is to 81 inclusive. The second and
final examination will be given from
May 20 to 26 inclusive.
las explained elsewhere in this
bulletin in an article concerning pre-
liminary and final examinations, all
pupils who are planning to complete
the eighth grade this year or to COM
plete seventh-grade geography r to
take this April examination. Only
those who fail in certain of these ex-
aminations need take the second ex-
aminations in May. Teachers should
study out carefully the proposed plan
and explain the details to their child
rem. Most of the pupils should salts
fly the State examination require
ments by the required stand
ard in the April examination, there
after merely conducting their daily
work in a satisfactory manner. Those
who may fail in the first examination
should center their energies particu-
larly on these weak subjects In prep
aration for the May examinations"
The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1922-04-01

Under and by virtue of an execu-
ton issued out of the above-entitled
Court In an action wherein A. A.
Wait Is plaintiff, and Eureka Ne
vada Mining Company, a corporation,
Is defendant, upon a judgment rem
dered on the End day OF February,
1922, in favor of the said plaintiff
and against the said defendant, for
the principal sum OF $1,93S.14. to-
gether with costs in the sun Of $458.-
20, also an attorneys fee of $500,
lawful money Of the United States of
America, together with interest at
the rate of To per annum from the
date hereof until paid, and accruing
costs in the sum of -, l have
this day levied upon all of the right,
title, claim and interest of the said
defendant in and to the following do
scribed real and personal property.
to-wit:
Those certain lode mining claims
situate In Eureka Mining District,
County OF Eureka, State of Nevada,
known as and called: LUCID TUT
FA. LUCID TUFFA EXTENSION.
MAGDALENA, PACK SADDLE. and
PACK SADDLE FRACTION NO. /,
the above being unpatented lode min
ing claims, together with all the ap-
purtenances thereunto belonging, and
with all the improvements thereon.
Also the following described per-
sonal property: One iron car; 81
drums of fuel oil of approximately
100 gallons per drum; IL empty fuel
oil drums; 6 pieces of half-inch iron,
16 feet long; / half-drum ~lubricating
oil; Q ore cars; 400 feet OF fuse; /
windlass bucket; 100 pounds of hand
steel; drill auger; s picks; S
shovels; / double hand hammer; s
single hand hammers; . monkey
| wrenches; I roll OF six foot packing;
2 iron bedsteads; 2 bed springs; 2
mattresses; l No. 5 cook stove. and 1
gasoline lamp.
NOTICE is HEREBY GIVEN that
I will. on Monday. February 27th,
1922, at the hour Of one O'Clock Of
said day. at the front door of the
| Court House of the said District
| Court, in Eureka, County of Eureka.
| State of Nevada, sell at public auction
for current lawful money of the Unit
| ed States of America, all OF the right.
title, claim and interest of the said
| defendant In and to the above de-
scribed property, or SO much thereof
as may be necessary to satisfy said
judgment, with interest and costs and
accruing costs, to the highest bidder
for cash.
Dated this End day of February.
1922.
MARTIN MAHONEY,
Sheriff Of Eureka County. Nevada.
First publication February 4. 1922.
Last publication February rs. 1922.
The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1922-04-01
MOTHER REPORTS
BOYS WITH STILL

Reno Gazette: Three high school
boys and a crude still formed the
combination that provoked the moth
err of one of them to seek police coun-
sci in dealing with the situation and
as a result Chief Kirkley will have
the trio on the carpet in his office to-
night.
When the chief arrived at the po-
lice station this morning, he found
the mother awaiting him. She said
the three boys, two of whom are her
sons, and all of them students at the
Reno high school, we're operating a
still in the basement of her home and
her ~entreaties to them to desist had
been OF no avail.
After telling her story, she depart
ed. An hour or so later attaches of
the police department called at the
Stewart street address, took charge
of the still, a keg Of corr meal mash
and a small quantity of liquor. The
boys were ordered to report at the
police station for a conference with
Chief Kirkley and Brewster Adams,
probation officer.
The still had been improvised from
a copper container with a capacity Of
about one gallon. A small kerosene
stove was used to supply the heat.
The home made still manufactured
by the boys and seized by the police
was exhibited at the Rotary Club
luncheon at noon to-day as an ex-
ample of what boys do when their
time is not fully occupied and with
this as a subject Brewster Adams
spoke briefly on the necessity for the
Rotary Club. Boy Scouts. Y. M. C. A.,
and other organizations putting forth
extra effort at this time to carry on
boys work that will direct the ener-
gies of the boys in the right channels.
The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1922-04-01
TEX RICHARD
FOUND NOT GUILTY

New York, March 2S.-George l..
(Tex) Richard. international sports
promoter, tonight was found not
guilty Of criminal assault on Sarah
Schoenfeld, 15-year-old school girl,
by a jury in the supreme court. The
verdict was handed down after the
jury had d~eliberated an hour and a
half.
When the verdict was announced,
Richard, his face flushed. went over
to his counsel. Max d. Steiner, and
embraced him.
This is the happiest day of my
life," explained Richard.
There was some applause when the
verdict was announced. Many spec
tators shook Richards hands and
court attendants had difficulty in pre-
serving order. Richard was carried
almost bodily from the courtroom up
one fight of stairs to the sheriff's Of
fee where he posed for photograph
ers.
Turning to newspapermen, Richard
said:
Thank you all. God bless you.
You have all been very nice to me.
I've been happier in my life.
Boys. | have shot craps for $4,000
a roll and l was never in n greater
suspense than when the jury returned
to the courtroom. Did you see the
! poker faces they had on?"
Asked by a cub reporter what he
meant by poker face" Richard said:
why. you couldn't read them. You
couldn't tell what they had in mind"
Richard then begged to be excused
from further comment, stating that
he was toe overcome to talk more To-
night and asked one of his friends
for a cigar. which he began smoking
Immediately. When he left the sher-
riffs Office. police reserves and court
attendants were summoned to keep
the crowd in check. He was given
three cheers by the crowd as he
stepped into his car to be taken home.
Later Richard explained that he
played his $35. 900 game with a man
named Carstairs in Philadelphia.
The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1922-04-01
SAYS INTERESTS
ARE FIGHTING FORD

Jacksonville. Fla. March 22.-Pre-
diction that Henry Ford's proposal to
lease the Government projects al
Muscle Shoals, Ala. would not be ac-
copied because OF too much poll
tics" was made by his friend. Thorn
as A. Edison, in a statement here last
night. while en- route to his Winter
home at Fort Myers. where Mr.. Ford
will join him tomorrow.
wall street is fighting Ford and
Ford is fighting It back" Mr.. Edison
said. 'The fertilizer interests and
Wall street are as one and politics
will keep Ford from acquiring the
property"