davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The New York herald., 1922-04-09

the foundation of her own million dollar
year income.
IL she does become the Duchesse, of
which her intimates say there is no doubt
ar all, Miss White will acquire a most
distinguished and interesting company of
relatives. The Marquise de Mores. mother
OF the Due de vallombrosa, was a beauti-
full American girl, daughter of the New
York financier, the late Baron de Hoff-
mann. AS Miss 'Medorah de Hoffman,
she was one of the most popular Of the
debutantes of her time. Her father was
immensely wealthy and held one OF the
highest social positions In New York.
She was loved by the leaders among the
most exclusive families and was consid-
cred one Of the most attractive and ac-
complished young women In society.
She married the Marquis de Nores, heir
to the old Due de vallombrosa, in 1882.
The Marquis, father of the present Due,
was one of the most popular men In
France. He was murdered while on an
expedition in the Sahara desert AL
though the titles of the Vallombrosas are
Italian, having come to them through Sar-
dinian inheritances, the family always has
considered itself French It has been
foremost among the Bourbon loyalists.
but has never engaged in any Of the in
trigues which have been frowned upon by
The New York herald., 1922-04-09

and even to the press in general, that she
would never have another hero for hus-
band She declared that laurels were
quite the thing at Christmas time, but did
not set well on the head of a man with
whom one had to breakfast every day in
the year.
Despite this cynicism, born Of an un-
pleasant experience as she said it was,
Miss White will be taking to her daily
breakfast table another hero If she accepts
the Duke. For during the latter days of
the war all France rang with the brave
At desperate time in the progress of an
important engagement at the front near
The New York herald., 1922-04-09

nitaries even by stranger, as he
was the tallest, most handsome
and most gallant of them all. In
his hand he carried a large clus-
ter of roses and after others had
shaken hands with the fair visitor
and he had given her the welcome
of France the young Due stepped
forward and, bending low, said:
Through the others, Mademoi-
selle, France itself has welcomed
you. Through me the hearts OF
all who know the thrill Of life ex-
press happiness in your coming"
Miss White has become one of
the most familiar figures at many
of the more fashionable Paris
cafes. And wherever she is seen
nowadays her companion always
The New York herald., 1922-04-09

Who is the Duke who is to make the
star a duchesse" The an
swer, say the prophets men
toned above, is none other
than the dis ii n u s he'd,
wealthy and variously noted
Louis, Due de Vallombrosa."
He was the young man who,
at the midnight scene in the
restaurant, rose from the
table at which the blond Miss Z
White was his guest, bowed
gallantly and ran away to
find, somewhere in Paris, even
at that midnight hour, copy
of the latest jazz tune from
the United States, which his
companion had said she
would like to have that the
orchestra might play it.
This, of course, was a very
small incident upon which 70
build the prospects of ducal
coronet for even Miss White;
but prophets in Paris are
wise and more often than not
know correctly whereof they
predict.
1t is interesting to specu-
late upon the position Miss
White will hold should she
become, as is expected now,
the new Duchesse de vallom-
brosa. Although he has been
married before, and the rather
startling incidents of his di- a
vorce still burn the ears Of xesa
the very best circles in Paris,
the young DUO Louis has $z'sa&ss
maintained a proud position
in the most exclusive ranks
of the Bourbon loyalists. To
his record there are at least three duels
of these, 1t is said, concerned very be
full young woman of the theater. Ant
caused the name of the wife of a Br
diplomatic attache to be mentione
the clubs. The exact cause Of the
duel never has been disclosed, alth
there seems to be little doubt that
was responsible. 1t was little more
a year ago that Due Louis obtain'
divorce from the exquisitely beau
seventeen-year-old daughter of
Bourg de Bozas.
Mile. de Bozas was one of the rio
young women in France. She met
Due about four years ago on the Riv
II is said of the Due that every tim
has fallen In love 1t has been at
sight. II was characteristic OF him, Il
fore, that when he met the charming
Theresa he should first ask her to 6
with him In the moonlight on the be
second, that he should ask her IL
were party to any seriously consid
engagement: third, having received
startled and blushing negative, as
she would not Immediately become
gagged to and soon marry him.
The Young Dukes Romance
With His Former "
II was too bad that such a p
romance, brought to its climax witt
the dash and verve that even this pr,
world admires In the noble descend
of the old time feudal barons, should
found its path strewn with rocks. s
how the Due and his new Duchesse
not quite get along. In fact, enc ol
three duels mentioned above occu
just year after the marriage. On
other hand, when the Due applied fo
divorce he made most amazing z
of accusations against his wife w
of course, she at once denied. How
the divorce was granted less than
ago, and he again became familiar n
In the cafes and in the haunts OF be
which had known him so familiarly a
years before.
Almost Immediately afterward ther
rived In Paris the young woman wi
perhaps the worlds most famous r,
sentative OF blond feminine attractive
The New York herald., 1922-04-09

To right - The
Due de Vallombrosa
and his bride,
just after their
romantic. wedding.
They were recently
startlingly divorced.
Above-Some of
the American
friends of the
Vallombrosa family
at a costume ball
given by the
present Dukes
father just before
his death; left to
right, Mr.. Pierre
Jay, Mrs. Arthur
Iselin, Count
de Perigny, the
Marquis de Vallom-
Marquis de Vallombl
Dukes father; Mrs.
Robinson and Mrs.
The New York herald., 1922-04-09
Shadow of the "Jazz"
Athwart DucaI Romance

And it is to be wondered too IL Miss
White, who is declared by her present
friends to be the most skilled American
exponent of the popular dance which is
best performed by a liberal use OF the
shoulders during rest periods in the music
will continue the practice of this peculiar
gift during her gay moments In view OF
the memory Of the Dues recent divorce
affair One of his serious charges against
the Duchesse Theresa was that she had
amused herself with his friends by engag-
ing in this shoulder dance, at which, he
declared, she had mysteriously become
quite expert. The Due did not like to
think OF his wife as being devoted to such
unusual demonstrations. VIII he be OF diff
ferent mind II Miss White refuses to pul
aside her fondness for "superjazz2" Ger
tainly one must consider that the Due nur-
ried away at midnight from the restaurant
to find a piece Of such music when Miss
White expressed a wish for It, and that
when he returned he Joined her on the
dance floor in her interpretations OF it,
1t certainly will be amusing to some If
America gives Europe film duchesse who
will continue to be jazz" enthusiast as
we'll as a star attraction in the most thrill
ing OF the movies.
The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1922-12-03
AnAbsordbjj5gS 5gS>oyozoraMJssvandAJIunhre
(cor unued from Preceding Psse)

(cor hnued from Preceding Psse)
there was only the hint OF dark
and hideous things in which he
was supposed to have his part. 1t
had been a day or mutterings, OF
whisperings, of skulking things
that had fed the sunlight. Tho
brain and mind was In riot from It.
Il was evening now; II had been
the strangest day through which
any man had ever lived.
He had held court that morning
and through the day, hete in tho
Rats LARA sort of grim, unholy
court to which grim, unholy court
iers had flocked to pay him hom-
age. And these courtiers had been
admitted to the presence one By
one, their names announced by
White Jack, who had acted--quita
innocently, quite free from any
thought of connivance--as the mas
ter of ceremonies. Billy Kane's
lips twisted In mirthless smile.
il had been very simple, that part
OF It; much more simple than no
had dared to hope IL would be.
Bundy Morgan, alias the Rat, was
supposed to know all those who
composed the elite OF the under
world intimately and well-but
Billy Kane, upon whom fate had
thrust for the moment the person
ality and entity of Bundy Morgan,
alias the Rat, knew none of them!
And yet It had been simple--so
simple that, against the peril, the
certain death that would follow
fast on the heels OF even mis-
placed word or an unguarded look,
1t had been even grotesquely alb
surd in its simplicity. Through
The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1922-12-03

with each other 10 obtain undi.
vided attention ana recognition
each for itself, and the battle went
on necessarily. Who was the wo-
man who had crept in here In the
darkness through that secret door
last night? What did It mean, that
message she had written and left
on the table? $50 you are back.
are your Well, 30 am II Remem.
bert" There was something ma
lignant something ominous in that
word remember" Remember
what? Why? What sinister thing
was II that lay between her and
the Rat-that he. Billy Kane, must
now accept and stand sponsor for
since he was now the Rat!
The Ratl The Ratl The Rat!
His brain was off again at another
tangent In heavens name, who
was the Rat? Where was the Rat
az this moment? When would the
Rat return? Guarded questions all
through the day helped him little.
The Rats absence had been ac-
cepted, that was all--none seemed
to know, or have any interest IN
the cause OF It. One ray OF reas-
surance only had filtered through
the murk. The Rats return in his,
Billy Kane's, person, had seemingly
been premature, the Rat had seem
The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1922-12-03

fngly not been expected; and he
could argue from that, and with
fair logic. that he might, for a little
while at least. be left undisturbed
IN his possession Of the Rats per
sCnality, and the Rats belongings
as far as the Rat was concerned.
The Rat Those innuendoes, those
whispers, those shadows, that
strange woman's stranger message
were back again, seething and boil
ing In his brain. Naked uglinessl
What mess OF iniquity might not
he, Billy Kane, accepted without
question as the Rat now, with the
Rats face and features, with the
Rats satanic partnerships, be
forced to wallow in to save his life,
and, more than life, To-
The paper rustled in White
Jacks hand.
Some haul" White Jack rolled
the words on his tongue like some
sweet morsel. "S'help me! Five
hundred thousand dollars worth Of
rubies! Dat guy Kane is some
slick gazabo! Say d'youse get it,
Bundy? Five hundred thousand
an a bunch Of de green stuff, too"
He licked his lips. Some haul!"
The paper had exaggerated. David
The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1922-12-03

Elisworth's rubies at the outside
would not exceed three hundred
thousand dollars in value. Bnly
Kane found himself curiously and
querulously irritated at the iuac.
cnracy. He opened his eyes. nod
ded unconcernedly at White Jack
and closed his eyes again. His
mind was suddenly alert and CON
centrated. In a few minutes now
some OF those who composed that
inner council OF crime would he
here. He had arranged that this
morning-with Red Nallon Rcd
Nallon was tho biggest Rangstor In
Now York. White Jack had
dropped that Information in an en-
thusiastic eulogy Of Red Nallon.
And Nallon had bent over the bed
that morning and whispered of
meeting tonight at the usual time
and place. But he, Billy Kane,
was not ready for that yet. He
knew too little, 1t was too great
risk and he knew too much--to
escape alive. II chance word or
act betrayed him. But there had
come a thought, swift, in q binding
fash, a staggering thing, a gam
bler's stake, and he had whispered
back what was apparently the OBJ
The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1922-12-03

reflected glory-he would be the
envy of the proletariat OF the Bad
Lands-he was assoCiatlng now,
was even on terms OF certain In
timacy. with one Of those In high
places in that inglorious common
wealth OF crime to which, both by
birth and inclination, he owned
allegiance. 1t opened a new pros
pCct to White Jack, one that was
full OF dazzling possibilities-and Il
had made of the man an invalu-
able ally. White Jack had been
at once valet, nurse, surgeon and
attendant all through the day. He
had returned at daylight that mora
irg, dressed the wound, and there
after had not left the place except
to go out and buy certain necesst
ties, such as food-and a pocket
flashlight, which Billy Kane, mind
full Of his previous nights expert
ence In the underground passage 20
the shed and lane. had ranked
among those necessities as the first
OH the list.
Billy Kane shifted his position
restlessly on the bed again. His
mind was in a turmoil Of feverish
activity. It seemed as though a
thousand divergent thoughts fought
The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1922-12-03

vlous reply-that he was too badly
hurt to 60. And then, zone or two
OF you slip in here on your way
over" he had said quickly. Get
me? I've got something." And
Red VallOn had agreed-and vita
Red Vallon would como Karlin.
Karlin! The name had somehow
seemed familiar; but though White
Jsck had subsequently furnished a
partial clew by referring TO Karlin
as one Of the high-brow lawyers Of
the city, he could not definitely
place the man.
Billy Kane turned on his side,
with his face away from White
Jack. Red Vallon and Karlin
would be here In few moments
and he must make no mistake now.
What he meant TO do was an i'm.
pudent thing -lmpudent with
Titanic impudence. He meant TO
rit the underworld in a fight on this
side of Justice against the police.
He meant to use the craft, the cum
ming and the stealth OF the Bad
Lands 10 establish his innocence.
He, too, had read the papers-the
morning and the evening papers
and the headlines had shrieked out
at him the infamy OF which he was
The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1922-12-03

the dens and dives OF the Bad
Lands. spread by White Jack when
he had gone away the night before,
the whisper had passed that the
Rat had returned; and so, through
out the day, stealthy footsteps had
descended from the street to the
basement door here. and in re-
sponse to the knock White Jack
had opened the door cautious
inch. peering out: and then he,
Billy Kane, from the bed. his voice
queruious for the occasion, had de-
manded who 1t was, and White
Jack had answered-and the un'
suspected introduction thus per
formed, he had bidden White Jack
admit the visitor.
There had been many like that
very many. And he had learned
many things. His hands clenched
suddenly at his sides. The role he
played promised we'll! lnnuendoes,
words toying with the fringe Of
things, had made It only too glar-
ingly clear that the Rat was en-
Seshed In devilishness that ran
ne gamos Of every crime In the
decalogue. And for the moment
he was the Rat! There was some
hell's syndicate, whose scope and
The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1922-12-03

so," he blurted out. and went
from the room, closing the door
behind him.
The mans footballs mounting the
cellarlike stairs to the street died
away, and for moment there was
no sound except for "a faint, irreg.
ular tapping from the floor above.
What's thatT demanded Kar-
lin sharply.
Billy Kane blew a ring OF smoke
ceilingward and lazlly watched It
dissolve into air. White JACK,
through judlcious prodding. had
served him well that day.
"Old Tgnace--keeps the cobhler's
shop aboye-half blind and has to
work overtime wifes nearly sev-
enty, and deaf" Billy Kane was
explaining almost wearily. What
do you think ! hang onto this hole
for?"
"sure!" grunted Red vallon
corroboratinBly. "But Karlin's
never been here before" He
pushed a chair with the toe of his
boot across the floor toward Kar
lin, and appropriated one beside
the table for himself "Well, spill
II. Bundy!" he invited. I'VE got 10
hurry IT'S too bad you're laid up
an can't ST in on the showdown
but MerXler's plum's got ripe, an
we got TO pick II tonight Sayvy?'
Billy Kane duplicated the first
smoke ring. MerXlgr! lie had
identified Karlin now! Karlin and
MerXler! That was where he had
heard Karlin's namc-iC cOnnec-
tion with MeTxler-and II must
necessarily then be the same Mcrx
lei Was young NorXler whom he
mad heard OF and had even met
through David Ellsworth, more
then than simply the notorious
sperdthrift that no was credited
with being? Karlin. 81 was OBJ
vious, was leading a double life.
Was MerNler another Of the inner
circle, another from the higher
ranks Of sOciety-aud the greater
criminal therefor!
"Piker gtuffi' commented Billy
Kane Complaccptly.
Karlin leaned forward with a
Jerk I'm his chair
"Piker stuff" he calculated. and
the little black eyes contracted
and fixed on Billy Kane iu a puz.
zlcd glitter "PiEer Btuitl" no
echoed challengingly.
Billy Kane nodded indiffereu'ly.
He was skating on thin ice, on
perllously thin ice. Whatever the
"Merxier plum" might be, u was
obviously far from the definition
he had given IL. and having app
parently displayed an intimacy
that he was evidently supposed to
possess. II was decidedly best left
alonel
(To Be contnued)
The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1922-12-03

seemed TO measure up 10 every
thing tho papers had said about
him, had thrown IN that way
temporary mantle Of protection
over him, but let that mantle slip
ever so slightly and he would bet
ter q thousand times hand himself
over to the law and have done
with 1.-THE end would be more
mercifull
But fate. too, had given him a
weapon with which 20 fight; and,
two-edRed though IL was, with a
chance always that II might turn
upon himself, he meant to use it
now-and that weapon was the
underworld He did not know yet
he was not sure yet how high he
stood in that unsayory command,
but he had discounted rather than
overrated his power, and he be-
lleyed he had power enough for his
purpose-those whispers and those
shadows had seemed 10 assure him
Of that The Rat seemed 70 be
the driving strategical force In this
crime syndicate that appeared 20
permeate the Bad hands with its
influence, and move and sway the
underworld at It's own imperious
pleasure and for the moment he
was tire Ratl
There was JacksOn-and Jackson
was dead His mind had flown of
at another apparently irrelevant
tangent But # was not irrelevant,
The papers had said that Jackson,
the toOtman, had died that morn
ing after lingering IN a semi con.
scious state through the night.
Jackson was the single clue IN his
possession. Jackson, he knew,
was one OF the murderers. but
Jackson was the only man he
knew who was concerned In that
devils work last highland Jack
son was dead. And now he. Billy
Kane. was wanted" on q double
charge of murder-for the murder
OF Jackson, who had probably
himself struck old David Ellis
worth down, as well as for the
murder OF the old millionaire Yet
Jackson, even II dead. must still
The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1922-12-03

accused. His name was a hy.word
now from ono end OF the country
10 the other. A viper and a de-
graded wretch, a thing inhumau
and apart, the papers had called
him.
lie had read them all to the last
word. Murderer OF his benefacturl
A thief-aC assassin thief, who had
fed for his life with those blood,
red rubios! A bead OF sweat came
ont on his forehead, and he raised
hts hand and brushed Il away Yes,
he had ned-to nght--to take tho
only chance he had Of bringing 30
Justice tho hellhounds who had
struck down his old friend, the only
chance he had OF clearing his own
name.
Well he would nght' 1t was be.
ginning now, that fight But no
was between two fires that threat
ened him at any instant with do.
struction. Tho police, not only In
New York, but from the Atlantic tu
the Pacific, would search
ceaselessly for him, and IL ,..,...-.
he were caught It was
death. Fate, that had
made him the double Of
The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1922-12-03
CHAPTER VIII.
a Leash 10 Slipped.


LILY KANE lighted a cigar
* ette. Red Vallon he already
- knew Karlin he was sup
posed to know.
lie raised himself on his elbow.
Hello, Karlinl" he greeted az
the two men stepped into the room.
REDS told you | was laid up
eh? Glad TO see youl Shake!"
His eyes. half closed fixed on
tho other in scrutiny, as the man
advanced toward the bed. Karlin
was Immediately dressed - I'm
sharp contrast 20 the untldy and
careless attire Of the stcCky, bru-
talfaced gangster who followed
close at his heels. The man was
tall, slimly built, and, save that
the black eyes were too close to-
gethcr and too small, had pleas
ant and attractive face. II Was a
mask perhaps! The smile was too
engaging, and It was rather curl
ouB how small the ears were, and
how tightly they hugsed the skull.
He toyed with a little black Van
dyke beard. as he shook hands,
Same 20 y0u, Bundyi The
voice was soft, silky, persuasive.
'Elad you're back, toOl' He
made an almost imperceptble
movement with his head toward
White Jack, who still remained
near the door
Red Vallon was more blunt.
what about him, BundyT' he
growled, and jerked a thumb in
White Jacks direction. I'VE got
10 mosey along as soon as We can.
Savyy?'
"FJse!" said Billy Kane. white,
The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1922-12-03

have left some clue behind him. n
only that clue could be found Who
was Jackson? The man had al
ready bcen In service az David
Ellsworth's before he. Billy Kane
had gone there as the old philan
thropi5ts secretary, and ho had
naturally. had neither motive nor
interest then IN any Of the foot
mans personal concerns. But tho
The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1922-12-03

YOU take a holiday tor tho night
Como back In tho morning heat
e."
The cigarette hanging ON White
Jacka lip dropped In sudden de.
lection, but 90 ho swallowed hard
to choke back what was evidently
n very grlovous disappointment ho
made no demur
"An light, Bundy, IL youse says
The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1922-12-03

facts were vital now. VINO was
Jackson7 Where had the man
come from7 Who we're
Footsteps were descending from
the street. There was a low Knock
twice repeated on the door. White
Jack was on his feet, and looking
inquiringly toward the bed.
Watch Yourself" said Billy
Kane gruffiy. 'Tm not entertain
Ing tonight, except
"Sure-[ kuOw!" said White
Jack. He crossed the room and,
opening the door crack. peered
out "Red and Karlin," he In
formed Billy Kane IN whisper.
The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1922-12-03

power he could only ditnly plumb,
though he was satisfied that It's
branches were rooted In every nook
and corner OF the underworld. And
OF this syndicate he was now, by
proxy, a member, and he was not
only a member, but he was one OF
those magnates OF crime who COM
posed its inner council, its unha,-
lowed directorate.
He twisted a little on the bed
more In mental than physical un-
rest. His wounded shoulder was
still far from healed, OF course, but
It gave him very little discomfort,
ard In no way interfered with his
freedom OF action-but II had been
the safer way, this accentuatlng
eml-helplessness. It had brought
those he must know here to him,
its had brought about those unsus.
pected lntroductions without which,
had he frst left this lair OF the
Rats and attempted, trusting to
luck, to pick up the threads OF the
Rats life, would inevitably have
plunged him in his blind cropping
to certain destruction. Also It hal
brought him quite thorough un-
derstanding Of White Jack--the
mans Difference that had been al
most crlnging at their first meet
ing, and then the mans subsequent
eagerness TO serve.
White Jack was one OF the
lesser breed that looked up to
the heights the Rat had at
talned with both awe and un-
bounded admiration. The man
had come like a dog to heel, e
but like a faithful dog. White ES
Jack was living in a sort OF kT