davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-09-09

the light Of street lamp and melt into
the shadow of q doorway on the oppo-
site side of the road. He went into his
bedroom and brought back pair Of
night glasses, and focused them upon
the figure.
He chuckled and went out of the fat
into the street, turning southward. He
did not go far, however. before he
stopped and looked back. and his pa
thence was rewarded by the sight Of a
figure crossing the. road and entering
the building he had just left
retraced his steps. He took off his
boots in the vestibule and went up
stairs quietly. He was halfway up
when he heard the soft thud Of his own
door closing and grinned again. He
rave the intruder time to get inside
before he, too, inserted his key, and,
turning 1t without sound, came into
the darkened hall. There was light
in his room, and he heard the sound Of
a drawer being pulled open. Then he
gripped the handle, and hingihg the
was looking through the desk sprang
UP In alright.
As Boundary had suspected, 1t was
his former butler, the man who had
deserted him the day before without a
word. He was a big. heavy -jowled man
Of powerful build, and the momentary
look Of fright melted to a leer at the
sight Of the colonel's face.
"Weli, Tom" said Boundary pleas
antly, "come back for the pickings2"
Something like that, guv'nor," said
the other. 'You don't blame me?"
''I've been pretty good to you, Tom, ~
said the colonel.
Ugh! I don't know that I've any.
thing to thank you for
Here was q man who q month befor,
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-09-09

DETER left the studio, where he
had been painting steadily for
hours, and stepped out into the gar
den. II was full moon; he blinked
under the high sun and stretched,
still little dazed from his long
plunge in toll; he inhaled full the
perfume of roses.
A short distance from him, on the
edge Of the driveway, was a big
hole--dug, he surmised, to receive
some transplanted bush, lilac or
magnolia. Water, trickling from a
hose that stretched like a black
snake across the lawn, was making
Of this excavation small lake. Peter
stepped to the little gurgling lake,
and sat himself contentedly near its
bank. A small lake sufficed Peter;
he did not need a big one.
1t was lovely here. The water
sang; slowly, it rose; the flowers
perfumed; Peters soul dilated de-
liciously. Far above, in the blue, a
hawk circled.
But this did not last. Within the
cirale Of Peters carefully established
vacuum small hard thing began to
intrpde. The rasp of a rake, there
behind the hedge, at his back. His
face darkened and puckered.
He knew who was raking there
behind the hedge. Not only did he
know; with that implacable vision
given to him with life, he also saw.
It was his wife who was there be-
hind the hedge raking. And though
behind the hedge, which was at his
back, he saw her.
He knew exactly how she looked
there, behind the hedge. She had on
the wrapper with the big flower
pattern; it was tied around her with
. cord at the end of which was a
worn tassel. Underneath the soiled
white hem showed Of the gown she
had worn in the night-for from
her bed she had gone to her garden.
Her bare feet were in old brown
slippers; there would be streaks OF
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-09-09
Guam TO Bed Storu

OSCAR CANARY'S REVENGE: {:
" Once upon a time, dear children,
there was a mouse named Mrs. Chris
topher Mouse, who lived with her hus-
band Christopher in hole under the
stage Of Orchestra Hall. Naturally
they had season ticket to all the
concerts and soon became passionately
fond OF them, AS the months went by
they became more and more appreci-
ative of the finer points and delighted in
the newer and more radical symphonies.
(Johnny, get off the piano.
DUT one day the maternal instinct
- overwhelmed Mrs. Christopher
Mouse and together with Mr.. Chris
topher Mouse they moved from Or
chestra Hall TO small apartment
nearby where nest was contrived and
a small family Of mice was procured
from q nearby Mouse Stork. Unfor-
tunately In the same apartment there
lived a canary bird who sang all day
long. You might wonder why daddy
said unfortunately when we all know the
christopher Mouses loved music. But
the canary bird-his name was Oscar
Canary--sang only the tawdriest pop
ular canary songs and ballads, such as
"I've Got the Cutie Bone Blues and
such things. Naturally the christopher
Mouses, who had lived on symphonies
for months, couldn't stand it, and since
Oscar Canary wouldn't stop, Chris
topher Mouse to revenge himself used tt
steal into Oscars cage at night anc
swipe all his birdseed.
|NE COURSE, dear children, that wal
~ naughty, and Oscar swore he'd b'
revenged, which was also naughty
And, sure enough, Oscars chance came
A man appeared in the apartment on,
day and Oscar overheard him talking
with the mistress. Something abou
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-09-09

A reservoir deep within him began
to surge. 1t was reservoir which
had been filing there in the dark, drop
by drop, for years. Several times 1t
had surged as it was now doing. But
only with tentative pulsing which did
not reach the rim. Now each surge
brought the accumulated reserve higher.
Like some alchcmist's brew boiling on
the fire, 1t rose nearer the margin,
collapsed and rose again. But each OF
its ebullitions was raising it higher;
nearer to the film which curtained his
consciousness from the dark secrets be-
meath: nearer his clear consciousness
nearer his mouth---his tongue, his lips.
And suddenly, with a new effort, it
had done tit had brin.med! Clearly
he heard the words spoken in the silent
sunlight. The little glade resounded to
them. spoken loud.
"Cruel-and stupid ~
= That was it. Cruel and stupid! ~
Three times he heard the words spoken
before complete understanding searched
out his heart. And then, to this full
comprehension, he felt his legs wobble
and abruptly sat down in little mound
of grass.
He remained seated thus, immobile,
his eyes fixed ahead as II upon a ghost.
So this is what 1t had come to after
all those years. To this he had come
after all those years.
To those words, spoken not merely Of
the lips, but cxplosively expelled by
his entirely certain being, every drop,
every cell, every nerve.
These words, final Judgment.
"Cruel--and stupid!'
THE glade was very quiet in the sun,
i and insects hummed. Thoughts also
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-09-09
JACK O. JUDGMENT
By Edgar Wallace

III you want the film, put it in my
pantry, underneath the silver cupboard.
I suppose now that the partnerships
broken up you don't object to me TAX
ing the silver? l might be starting a
little house Of my own"
Certainly, certainly, you cnn take
the silver" said the colonel genially.
Bring me the film"
The man was half way out of the
room when he turned round.
"No tricks, mind you," he said, "no
doing funny business when my back s
turned"
II shall not move from the chair,
Tom. You don't seem to trust me"
The ex valet made two Journeys be
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-09-09

hummed about his head, vague, form.
less, buzzing thoughts, circlng and
circling. But always fixed In the cen.
ter was the kernel fact.
"Crucl and stupid''-that is what he
had called her.
1t seemed to him that a long tine
had passed when suddenly, like a
mirage descended from the sky, an
image came clearly before his eyes.
1t was that picture of her as she
had been years ago. Standing at the
stile on the edge of the golden field,
with her red mouth, her dewy star-like
eyes. her gentle breasts.
He contemplated this long. and then
wasforced to ask himself a question.
As she stood there, that time long
ago, so pretty, SO tender and so warm,
and his arms ached, was she then,
already, what today ihe had called her?
If that were true. then woman were
indeed terrible.
| But If not true-"what then?
| A strange new kind of discomfort took
possession Of him; his mind, as If af-
frghted. SHE'D to one side, tried to
bolt. He forced It back to the rath.
Consider, he said to his mind. "Con .
sider-you must consider that"
Her life, Immediately, passed by hin
in one streak. Her life since their two
lives had been side by side.
He squirmed.
A drab life 1t was, a drab streak OF
life. Poverty-to dullness-monotony
-smallness.
And loneliness. Yes, very probably
loneliness.
He? He had been absorbed. He had
been combing and brushing and sleek.
ing and curling his soul. He had beer
| n coxcomb of the soul
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-09-09

He put his hand In the inside Of his
coat. as though searching for a pocket
book. and 50 quick was he that the man,
leaning over the table, did not see the
weapon that killed him. Three times
the colonel fred. The man slid in an
inert heap to the ground.
Might as well be hung for a sheen
as a lamb, Tom," said the colonel
replacing the weapon, and turning the
body over; he took the scarfpin from his
own tie and fastened 1t in that of the
dead man. Then he took his watch and
chain from his pocket and slipped them
In the waistcoat pocket of the other.
lie had siznet ring on his little finger,
and this he transferred to the finger
of the limp figure.
Then he began opening the boxes OF
old films and twisted their contents
about the floor, pinning them to the
curtains, twining them about the legs
OF the chairs, all the time whistling
lie found candle in the buffers pantry
and planted 1t with a steady hand in
the heap Of celluloid coils. This he
lighted with great care and went out
closing the door softly behind him.
dalf an hour later Albermarle Place
was blocked with fire engines and a
dozen hoses were playing in vain upon
the roaring furnace behind the Quilted
walls OF Colonel Dan Boundary's resi-
Stafford King was an early caller al
Doughty street, and Maisie knew, both
by the unusual hour Of the visit and
by the gravity Of the visitor, that some
thing extraordinary had happened.
well. Maisie," he said, that's IN,
Is dead" ''
"Dead?" she said, open -eyed.
we don't know what happened, BIZ,
the theory is that he shot himself ant
get hree to- the house. The body wa,
found in the ruins. and was able I,
identity some Of the jewelry--you re.
member the police had it when he wa,
arrested, and we kept special note O.
1t for future reference. -
She heaved a long sigh.
Ihat's over at last. It is tho an,
OF nightmare" she said, "a horrible
horrible nightmare. wonder--~.''
What do you wnoder?'
II wonder II this Is also the end q
JACK o Judgment she replied. 10
whether he will continue working I,
bring to justice those people whom tb
law cannot touch" v"
~. Heaven only knows" said Stafford
but III admit that Jack o. Judsman
mas been most useful person so IN
as we are concerned. We should peve
have collected Pinto or Selby, or eve,
the colonel, but for Jack. By the wav
there Is no news of Crewe and tn
|
cTo ~ be continued Monday
Copyright. Mcclure NetVspgpsr Suudioat.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-09-09

wet ground across the part Of the
feet which showed between the
haccid slippers and the soiled gown.
They pressed the earth, these feet,
firmly; set down well apart in a
solid wide base; they pressed it ia
miliarly. They might-he had seen
that-be sunk, in their fiaccid slip
pers, into soft manure, unshrink-
ingly.
Her hair would be tied tight in a
small knot behind. She squatted
often over some seed, some weed.
She was like strong thick coolie Of
the rice paddles.
Peters face puckered still more.
Not with anger, not with disgust,
but with a sort of mournful helpless.
ness. Then, abruptly, another vision
came to him. He saw her as she
had been years ago.
She was waiting for him at stile,
on the far edge of a golden field. She
was slender, fragrant and soft. Her
pretty frock was cut low at the neck;
the beginning Of her virgin breasts
swelled deliciously there. And her
eyes, turned up to him, were little
wet, as Venus is at dawn, and the
red chalice Of her lips was slightly
opened.
DETER squirmed uneasily; the help
i less desolation dcepened still on hi
face.
But a sharp prick at his right cal
made him deliver large slap there
Late from all sides was attacking tn
retreat OF reverie in which so snugl.
he had tried to ensconce himself: From
crushed to the ground. But she wa
not the only one about. An army o
ants was passing close to his feet; g.
close, In fact, that they swirled abou
these extremities as a host, followin
4 valley, doubles some rocky FL Capt
tan. Peter hastily withdrew his feet
Kneeling down, stretching his rathe
lons neck, he proceeded to observe wha
was happening. And observing, 500
had removed himself utterly from tn
mixes dry reminiscent scratching.
Across the drive, from the excavatio
of which Peters fancy had made lake
from that hole 70 the hedge, the ant
str4tched q broad, rusty-red ribbon. A
hrst, Peter thought they were marehin
one way. then he saw that the move
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-09-09

fore he deposited dozen shallow tin
boxes on the desk.
"There they are" he said. Now
tell me what's the game
First Of ALL" said the colonel,
"were you serious when you suggested
that you know something about me that
would be worth lot to the police?
There goes that drum again, Tom. Do
you know what use that drum is to
meY'
IT don't know" replied tho man.
"Of course I meant what I said. And
what's this stuff about the drum?"
"Why, the people in the street car
hear nothing when that's going" said
the colonel softly.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-09-09

than the broom, which he could see out
of the corner of his eve, he knew that
his wife was standing by.
Look, Daisy" he said, inviting her
to share his emotion. Look at the
ants"
There was moments silence up
there. Then: "Ants! should think
there were. Why, they'll get into the
house Let's kill themw
He stretched out his hand and turned
his fingers around the broom handle.
Get down here with me- and look" he
said. "lt's ali extraordinary sight.
It's like Sodom. Babylon, Atlantis all
rolled into one ~
"Yes-and they'll be IN the pantry.
next. It'll be Babylon in the pantry.
Come---let's sweep them off,"
The broom stirred In his hand; he
detained 1t. Don't. They are the
survivors Of a terrible disaster. They
have seen thousands of their mates
swept to horrible death. They are safe,
bearing with them the future life Of
their nation. Why, 1t would be as if
men escaped from city destroyed by
food. standing at last on high ground,
naked, exhausted, but alive. saw now
upon them the mountain falling" 5,
1T won't be mountain" she said.
1T will be a brOom!'
Hold on: watt he pleaded hur..
riedly, trying more intimate appeal,
Let me watch them. Daisy-wait-
I'm getting something out Of 1t! Let
me watch it
But the broom was now out Of his
hand. and in three. four scythe like
strokes, the thing was done. OF the
broad, rusty red ribbon Of carapaced
pululating life stretched across the
drive, there was nothing left but. here
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-09-09

and there. a lone squirming small spot
indented into the ground; and on the
surface of the water in the excavation,
a film made Of dust. dead and mangled
ants, and eggs.
For moment, stupor alone possessed
Peter. He had. during his contempla-
tion. shrunk himself to the size of the
ants or, rather. he had swelled them
to his dimensions: so that the terrific
completeness Of the execution performed
by these three simple sweeps of a simple
broom left him profoundly astonished.
Then, as the daze left him, a violence
took it's place. He faced her. he wanted
to speak. and he knew that what ne
wanted to say was something irrepar-
able. But no words came his throat
was altogether tight, his mind a whirl
ing blank.
DETER turned on his heel and walked
l. away. He walked out Of the garden
and up the path which led to the viii
lage. In the village was a place where
one could drink; the plan at the bacl
of his head was simple enough. r.
would go to that pace and drink
drink till he fell like an OK struck by
the slaughtering hammer. But that
fixed point of intent within him was
small within the turmoil he had be-
come. He felt as II poisoned, abso
lutely poisoned. His head was hot, he
trembled; and a singular part of him
detached and wrath like, lowering
above him looked down with amazemenl
Mt his state.
He had seen something so clearly
he had felt It so poignantly-the minute
cosmic tragedy of these ants. Had sh,
seen nothing at all? Had she felt moth.
ing?
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-09-09
Uncommon Sense
Counterfeit Intentions
BY JOHN BLAKE

THE fashioned preacher used Y
L tell his congregation that hell M
paved with good intentions.
Perhaps few genuinely good insa1
tions do now and then find their wv
to the heated floors which the old nN'|
breather used to depict.
But it takes considerable analysis \
determine whether an intention Is g''
or not.
If they could be candled, like efps|
some that appear even to the owD
to be sound, would turn out 70
counterfeit.
AS a rule if one really means TO
just and fair, no matter at what c0s
he will be.
TT HE merely thinks he means y
l. these things, he will be very ssts
discouraged in carrying out his psl
tions, which Is sufficient pronI
they were bogus. .h
1t is easy for a child asked cus
dinner to say that he isn't going
for a second piece of cake, OF. even
wistfully at the cake plate as II y
| passed. .u.{h
But when the cake is actually
front Of him and appetite Is tusi~
within, he finds out that his ihtoa.T,
were not the real thing, ana u'S''
gets the cake. -.
The boy who Is told not to 80 UsI't
ming thinks, as he solemnly voW.ssA
he will not, that be is perfectiy '''
about it.
|DUT somewhere down deep witn'n
ID is the conviction that II the au l,
hot enough, and the other boyS ~
going, he vii, 80 along, anu '"
explain It afterward. ,oo -
An intention that Is not lOO pe' ~
proof is not a good intention any Il.
than a five dollar bill which IS no'
solutely genuine is U good Dill =, Z
The intention that will be kep",a KEW,
matter how it hurts, is Z good inlen.
and none of these serve for noo
any Of the places OF future ex's''"
WE ARE largely a seif'oe'
w race. What we think we n'y ~
do II not always what we rean'
] to do. 80, ,,rstlvd
To be perfectly honest win o"
is the mot difficult thing IN lhe. ~
Yet it is a quality which cog
for success than almost any
COPYRIGHT 1858
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-09-09

He had cultivated It. enriched It. He
had colored 1t, chiseled It. cherished It.
Like diamond cutter absorbed, with
out cease he had ground It to new iri-
descences.
He had climbed . hill, ceaselessly
climbed hill carrying his soul. And
left hers down there like stone. And
time had worked its will upon the aban.
doned soul. Duller and duller 1t had
become with layer upon layer OF dull
time.
DETER did not 20 up to the village.
L When he rose after while. It was
toward home he made his way, at first
on hesitant feet which little BY little
quickened their gait as a foolish fear
pricked him.
He found her lying across her bed, her
head. face down, framed within the in.
tertwinement Of her arms and her long
loosened hair. She was asleep; by the
gentle slow pulsing Of her, he knew she
was asleep.
Her cheek was flushed and bruised !;
she had been weeping.
Ono look at her, one glance about the
room, and he knew exactly what had
happened; saw It as though It had nap
pened before his eyes.
shs had come in hurriedly; hurriedly
she had bathed and begun to dress. She
had laid out fresh, best things. Some
already clothed her; others we're about.
scattered on chairs. across open draw
ers.
She had gone about doing this IN a
trepidation Of haste, as child aes-
perately hastens who has been threat
ened by its parents with being LETT De-
hind. And hurryins, she had been cry
Ing: sobs had sounded in this lonely
room as she hurried.
Finally, to a larger burst OF woe,
coming probably from some last smai,
straw (perhaps one Of her shoes mao
ro,,sed 70 button, or some hook had been
fof,nd without an eye, or some rippon
had slipped back into its sheath) sne
had thrown herself across the oed to
rive way, altogether uncontrolled. And
weepine thus, had fallen asleep.
Standing there, his eyes upon thi'
mast scene which he saw so well, fete'
remembered that which he ever prom :
,sed himself to remember and whlcn
=. f,r,o+ That she was child
After all, but child.
A, in the days when she had waited
for him at the stile, so now she was
child. The rest--the robust matrons
;. ready. almost rough assurance; its hrn
contempt for all that which was maze
and halo and opalescence and not core
all that was mere front. She was
child.
He should remember that always. Ol
course, he should always remember 1t.
DETER lay down by his wife, ant
L found her hot lips, and awakened
her; she clutched at him convulsively
They murmured together: I'm sorry
Peter; I'm sorry
Then later: "Peter. you do so mad
den me at times, dear. With your air.
mo, don't mean that. But you dt
shut the door upon me, Peter--you d'
shut me out so much!'
Still later: "And Peter, you are o
those that like the flowers but not th'
gardening.
"Polished floors, but not the polish
ing" ,,
Peter, listen: I am Of the earth.
accept. You're always somewhere VI
above"
'I know, dear. Not far above, either
A fool place, in between. know
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-09-09


WHAT was Snow Gregory's real
w name? If he could find that, he
find Jack O. Judgment.
Slowly. as though with sense that
the great discovery was imminent, he
tore open the letter and pulled out the
three foolscap pages which, with COW
ering note, constituted the contents.
There were two lists of names Of gradu-
otes who had passed out in the year
which, II Snow Gregory spoke the truth
in n moment of unusual confidence, was
the year Of his leaving.
The colonels finger traced the lines
one by one, and he finished the first
list without discovering name which
was familiar. He was half way through
the second list when he stopped and his
finger Jumped. For fully three minutes
he sat glaring at the paper open
mouthed. Then:
"Merciful heaven" he whispered. .
He sat there for the greater part OF
an hour, his chin on his hand, his eyes
glued to the name. And nil the time
Sis active mind was running back
| tnfOuRn LUt years, PiNNAhH y"
evidence which enabled him to identity
lack O. Judgment without any shadow
of doubt. ,
He rose and went to his bookcase and
took down volume after volume. They
we're mostly reference books, and for
some time he searched In vain. Then
he found a year book which gave him
the data he wanted and he brought 1t
back to the table and scribbled a few
notes. These he read through and care
fully burned.
lie finished his labors with bright
look In his eye and strutted into his
bedroom ten years younger In appear
ance than he had been that afternoon
He nut out all the lights and sat fol
little while In the shadow l OF r, r,
omen window. At the corner of>th,
block a street band was playing. ant
he was surprised that he had not no
ticed the fact.
Very keenly he scrutinized the stree
for some sisn OF q lurking figure, ant
once he saw q man walk past undsl
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-09-09
WHO'S WHO IN THE STORY

COLONEL DAN BOUNDARY, Tat,
codrss-ordtaed but unounntly clever
Ieoder Of q gang Of crooks. has become
alarmed at receipt Of a k,dUe OF clubs:
Of his exploits. all o. ,ohich are subtly
devised 10 enrich hin, 'otthout rtskfn0 the
ld'c's penalties, He tries TO dtsdrm sus-
planning to
STAFFORD KING. of the London Grim
trdl Intelligence Force. .
PINTO SILVA. sleek man about foton,
forces his attentions on an actress, Vho
rcsugs htm: Shc ts o,,,,, w,,,.
one Of the gang Uho Dtshes to retre.
She g Interested IN sto1ord: 49,. .,o.
oirI, toho acts as "vamp" OF the black
"sWWaEIIRp" SWEEP" ac%RsEwE. once a gentleman.
moan n crook
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-09-09

To be continued Monday
Copvrtoht. Mcclure NetVspgpsr Suudioat.