davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1922-12-08
In an instant more 1t was in her hands

In an instant more 1t was in her hands.
She saw at once that 1T was not
Bruce's gun. The action make and
caliber were different. Besides, it had
certain peculiar nOtches on the stock
that the gun Elmfra had furnished
Bruce did not have.
She stood a moment in thought. The
problem offered no ray of light. She
considered what Bruce's first action
would have been. on returning to the
house to find her absent. Possibly he
had gone in search of her. She turned
and went to the door of his bedroom.
She knocked on it softly. "Are you
there, Bruce?" she called.
No answer returned to her. The
rooms, in fact, were deeply silent. She
tried the door and found it unlocked.
The room had not been occupied.
Thoroughly alarmed, she went back
into the front room and tried to de-
cipher the mystery of the strange
weapon. She couldn't conceive of any
possibility whereby Bruce would ex-
change his fathers trusted gun for
this. Possibly it was an extra weapon
that he had procured on his journey.
And since no possible gain would come
of her going out into the forests to
seek him, she sat down to wait for his
return.
The moments dragged by and her
apprehension grew. She took the rifle
in her hands and, slipping the lever
part way back, looked to see if there
were a cartridge in the BARREL She
saw a glitter of brass, and it gave her
a measure of assurance. She had a
pistol in her own roOm-a weapon that
Elmira had procured, years before,
from a passing sportsman-and for a
moment she considered getting 1t also.
She understood it's action better and
would probably be more efficient with
it if the need arose, but for certain
Acknowledgements reasons she
wished to keep this weapon until the
moment of utmost need.
Her whole stock of pistol cartridges
consisted of six-completely filling the
magazine of the pistol. Closely
watched by the Turner'S, she had been
unable to procure more Many a
dreadful night these six little cylinders
of brass had been a tremendous con-
ISOLATION to her. They had been her
sole defense, and she knew that in the
final emergency she could use them to
deadly effect.
Linda was girl who had always
looked her situations In the face. She
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1922-12-08
Simon Stood UP and Bruce Sprang
From His Chair Like Wildcat.

that he could rise above the fear and
bitterness that had begun to Cypress
him. But only the pines could talk to
them. Only the tall trees. stretching
upward toward them, could reach into
their mysterious calm.
His eyes discerned thin filament
of cloud that had swept up from be-
hinf the ridges, and the sight recalled
him to his own position with added
force. The moonlight, soft as it was,
had been tremendous relief TO him.
At least, it would have enabled him
to keep watch, and now he dreaded the
fall of utter darkness more than he
had ever dreaded anything in his life.
1t was an ancient instinct, coming
straight from the young days of the
world when nightfall brought the hunt
ing creatures to the mouth of the cave
but he had never really experienced it
before.
He watched with growing horror the
slow extension of the clouds. Finally
the moon swept under them.
The shadow fell around Bruce. For
the first time he knew the age-old ter
ror of the darkness. He no longer
knew himself as one Of a dominant
breed master of all the wild things in
the world. He was simply a living
creature in a grim and unconquere6
world. alone and helpless In the terror
of the darknesa
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1922-12-08
CHAPTER XXI

"If Simon Turner isn't a coward"
Bruce said slowly to the clan, she will
give me a chance to fight him now"
The room was wholly silent, and the
clan turned expectant eyes to their
leader. Simon scowled. but he knew
he had to make answer. His eyes
crept over Bruce's powerful body.
"There is no obligation on my part to
answer any challenges by you," he
said. "You are prisoner. But if you
think you can sleep better in the pas
ture because of 1t, I'll let you have
your chance. Take off his ropes"
knife slashed at his bonds. Simon
stood up, and Bruce sprang from his
chair like a wildcat, aiming his hard
ened knockles straight for the leering
lips. He made the attack with aston
fishing Swiftness and power, and his
intention was to deliver at least one
terrific blow before Simon could get
his arms up to defend. himself. He
had given the huge clan leader credit
for tremendous physical strength, but
he didn't think that the heavy body
could move with real agility. But the
great muscles seemed to snap into
tension, the head ducked to one side,
and his own huge fists struck out.
If Bruce's blow had gone straight
home where it had been aimed, Simon
would have had nothing more to say
for few moments at least. The leap
had been powerful and swift yet Who'll
~ inaccurate. And the reason was
Just that his wrists and ankles had
been numbed by the tight thongs by
which they had been confined. Simon
met the leap with short, powerful
blow into Bruces face; and he reeled
backward. The arms of the clansmen
alone kept him from falling.
The blow seemed to daze Bruce: and
at first his only realization was that
the room suddenly rang with harsh
and grating laughter. Then Simon's
words broke through it. "Put back
the thongs" he ordered, "and go get
your horses"
Bruce was dimly aware of the fall
ing of a silence. and then the arms of
strong men half carrying him to the
door. But he couldn't see plainly at
first. He knew that the clan had
brought their horses and were waiting
for SimOns command. They loosened
the ropes from about his ankles, and
two Of the clansmen swung him on to
the back of a horse. Then they passed
rope under the horses belly and tied
his ankles anew.
Simon gave a command, and the
strange file started. The night air dis
PEELED the mists in Bruce's brain, and
full realization of all things came to
him again.
One of the men-he recognized him
as Young Billed the horse on which
he rode Two of the clansmen rode in
front. grim, silent, incredibly tall fig.
ures in the moonlight. The remainder
rode immediately behind Simon him.
self bowed in his saddle, kept a little
to one side Their shadows were long
and grotesque on the soft grass of the
meadows. and the only sound was, the
soft footfall of their mounts.
A full mile distant across the lush
helds The. cavalcade hal>x about q
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1922-12-08
Writer Considers All Forms In Meas
ure Ridiculous, but Sanctioned
by Custom.

Nearly all etiquette Is ridiculous,
only we are more or less accustomed
to it, and have largely modified its
eccentricities. Take kissing, for
example. How well every man must
remember how, when small boy, he
feared that his mother might kiss him
in the presence of his schoolfel-
lows. What amusement, too, the
kissing of foreign men on the railway
platforms of the Continent has caused
usl But witness the meeting of two
great Morocco chiefs-the stately
approach, the last few more hurried
steps, and the graceful embrace as
each bends forward and kisses the
others shoulder. / have seen the
meeting of great men in Morocco in
the hour of sorrow, when they have
fallen upon each others necks and
wept. How few soldiers know that
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1922-12-08
SIMON, HAVE MERCY!

SYNOPSIS.-At the death Of his
foster father Bruce Duncan, in an
eastern city, receives a mysterious
message, sent by Mrs. Ross, sum-
moning him peremptorily to SOUTH
ern Oregon-to meet Linda.
Bruce has vivid but battling recol-
lections of his childhood in an or
gphanage, before his adoption by
Newton Duncan, with the girl Lin
da. At his destination, Trails End,
news that a message has been sent
to Bruce gets to Simon Turner.
Leaving the train, Bruce is aston
ished at his apparent familiarity
with the surroundings, though TO
his knowledge he has never been
there. On the way Simon warns
him to give up his quest and return
East. Bruce refuses. Mrs. Ross,
aged and infirm, welcomes him
with emotion. She hastens him on
his way-the end of 'Pine-Needle
Trail" Bruce finds his childhood
playmate, Linda. The girl tells him
of wrongs committed by an enemy
clan, the Turner'S, on her family,
the ROSES. Lands occupied by the
clan were stolen from the ROSES,
and the family with the exception
of Aunt Elmira Mrs. Ross and
herself, wiped out by assassination,
Bruce's father, Matthew Folger,
was one of the victims. His mother
had fled with Bruce and Linda.
The girl, while small, had been kid
naped from the orphanage and
brought to the mountains. Linda's
lands
Matthew Folger, but the agree
ment, which would confute the
enemy claims on the property, had
been lost. Bruce's mountain blood
responds to the call of the blood
feud. A giant tree, the Sentinel
Pine, in front of Linda's cabin,
seems to Bruce's excited magma
ton to be endeavoring to convey
message. Bruce sets out in search
of a trapper named Hudson, a wit
ness to the agreement between
Lindas father and Matthew Fol-
ger. A gigantic grizzly, known as
the Killer. is the terror of the vi
cinity. Dave Turner. sent by
Simon, brides Hudson to swear
falsely concerning the agreement.
The Killer strikes down Hudson.
Bruce, on his way to Hudson,
wounds the Killer, driving him
from his victim. Hudson, learning
Bruce's identity, tries to tell him
the hiding place of the agreement,
but death summons him. Dave de-
COys Linda and Aunt Elmira from
their home. The man insults Linda
and is struck down by the aged
woman. Elmira's son has been
murdered by Dave, and at her COM
mand. after securely binding the
desperate, Linda leaves them alone.
Returning, Bruce finds note, ap-
parently from Linda, telling him
she has been kidnapped by the
Turner's. Bruce falls into Simon's
trap, and is made prisoner. Charg-
ing Bruce with attempting to re-
open the bloodfeud, the clan de-
cides to leave him, bound, in a
pasture on the spot where the
Killer had slain and half eaten a
calf the night before. They look
for the return of the grizzly.
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1922-12-08
Copyright by Little, Brown, and Co.

open, and she found plenty of evidence
that Bruce had returned from his
journey. In the center of the room lay
his pack. rifle slanting across 1t.
AT first she did not notice the gun In
particular. She supposed 1t was
Bruce's weapon and that he had come
in, dropped his luggage, and was at
present somewhere in the house. 1t
was true that one chair was upset, but
except for an instant's start she gave
no thought to it. She thought that he
would probably go to the kitchen first
for bit to eat. He was not In this
room, however, nor had the lamp been
lighted.
Her next Idea was that Bruce, tired
out, had gone to bed. She went back
softly to the front room, intending not
to disturb him. Once more she noticed
the upset chair. The longer she re-
garded 1t, the more of puzzle it be-
came. She moved over toward the
pack and looked casually at the rifle.
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1922-12-08

grotesque shadow in the grass. Bruce
didn't have to look at 1t twice to know
what it was: the half-devoured body
of the yearling calf that had been the
Killers prey the night before. From
thence on, their operations became as
outlandish occurrences in dream.
They seemed to know just what to do.
They took him from the saddle and
bound his feet again, then laid him in
the fragrant grass. They searched his
pockets, taking the forged note that
had led to his downfall. at saves me
a trip" Simon commented. He saw
two Of them lift the torn body of the
animal on to the back of one of the
horses, and he watched DULY as the
horse plunged and wheeled under the
unfamiliar weight.
Simon spoke in the silence, but his
words seemed to come from far away.
Quiet that horse or kill him." he
said softly. you can't drag the car
cass with your rope-the Killer would
trace it if you did and maybe spoil the
evening for Bruce"
Strong arms sawed at the bits, and
the horse quoted, trembling. For
moment Bruce saw their white moon
lit faces as they stared down at him.
"What about gag?" one Of the
men asked.
mo. Let him shout If he likes. There
is no one to hear him here"
Then the tall men swung on their
horses and headed back across the
fields. Bruce watched them DULY.
Their forms grew constantly more dim,
the sense of utter isolation increased.
Then he saw the file pause, and it
seemed to him that words, too faint
for him to understand, reached him
across the moonlit spaces. Then one
of the party turned off toward the
ridge.
He guessed that it was Simon. He
thought the man was riding toward
Linda's home.
He watched until the shadows had
hidden them all. Then, straining up
ward, he tested his bonds. He tugged
with the full strength of his arms, but
there was not the play of an inch be-
tween his wrists. The Turner's had
done their work we'll. Not the slight
est chance of escape lay in this quar-
ter.
He wrenched himself to one side,
then looked about him. The fields
stretched even and distant on one side.
but he saw that the dark forest was
but fifty yards away on the other. He
listened; and the little night sounds
reached him clearly. They had been
sounds to rejoice in before-impulses
to delightful fancies of a fawn steal
ing through the thickets, or some of
the Little People in their scurried,
tremulous business of the night hours.
But lying helpless at the edge of the
forest, they were nothing to rejoice
in now. He tried to shut his ears to
them.
He. rolled again to his back and
tried to find peace for his spirit in the
stars. There were millions of them
They were larger and more bright
than any time ne had ever seen them.
They stood in their high places, wholly
Indifferent and impressive to all the
strife and confusion of the world be-
low them; and Bruce wished that he
could partake of their spirit enough so
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1922-12-08

she had dreamed of expelling it's usurp-
ers. Yet she was willing to renOunce
it all. The power that had come to
her was one that he, man whose code
of life was no less cruel and remorse-
less than that of the Killer himself,
could not understand.
But why?' he demanded. why
are you willing to do all this fOf
him?'
''Why?" she echoed. Once more the
luster was in her dark eyes. Il sup
pose it is because love him."
He looked at her with slowly dark
ening face. Passion yelled within him.
An oath dropped from his lips. bias
phemous, more savage than any wilder
ness voice. Then he raised his arm
and struck her tender flesh.
He struck her breast. The brutal
fty of the man stood forth at last. No
picture that all the dreadful dramas
of the wild could portray was more
terrible than this. The girl cried out,
reeled and fell fainting from the pain,
and with smoldering eyes he gazed at
her unmoved. Then he turned out of
the door.
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1922-12-08
DYED HER SKIRT, DRESS,
SWEATER AND DRAPERIES
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wool or silk, or whether it is linen, cotton
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The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1922-12-08

blazed 1t was a strange scene-the
silent room, the implacable foes, the
breathless suspense, the prophecy and
inspiration in her tones.
Perhaps should have been more
gentle" he admitted. II might have
forgotten-fOr little while-this surg
ing, irresistible impulse in my muscles
and tried just to WOO you, gently
and humbly. But it's too late now.
I'm not fool. 1 can't expect you TO
begin at the beginning. l can only go
on in my own way-my hard, remorse-
less, ruthless way.
1T isn't every man who is brave
enough to see what he wants and
knock away all obstacles to get it," he
went on. ''Put that bravery to my
credit. To pay no attention to meth
DDS, only to look forward to the result.
That has been my creed. 1t is my
creed now. Many less brave men
would fear your hatred-but l don't
fear it as long as 1 possess what l go
after and a hope that l can get you
over it. Many Of my own brothers
hate me, but yet don't care as long
as they do my will. No matter how
much YOU scorn it, this bravery has
always got me what wanted, and it
will get me what l want now"
The high color died in her face. She
wondered if the final emergency had
come at last.
I've come to make a bargain. You
can take it or you can refuse. On one
side is the end of all this conflict, to be
my wife, to have what you want
bought by the rich return from my
thousands of acres. And 1 love you,
Linda. You know that"
The man spoke the truth. His ter
rible, dark love was all over HMM
his glowing eyes, in his drawn, deeply
lined face.
I'm time, when you come around to
my way of thinking, you'll love me.
If you refuse-this last time-Pve got
TO take other ways. On that side is
defeat for you-as sure as day. The
time is almost up when the title to
those lands is secure. Bruce is in
our hands"
She got up, whitefaced. "Bruce-?"
Eyes! Did you think he could stand
against us? I'll show him to you I'm
the morning. Tonight he's paying the
price for ever daring to oppose my
will"
She turned imploring eyes. He saw
them, and perhaps-far distant-he
saw the light of triumph, too. A grim
smile came to his lips
Simon" she cried "Have mercy"
The word surprised him. 1t was the
first time she had ever asked this man
for mercy. "Then you surrender"
"Simon, listen to me-" she begged.
Let him go-and 1 won't even try to
fight you any more. I'll let you keep
those lands and never try any more to
make you give them up. You and
your brothers can keep them forever,
and we won't try to get revenge on
you, either. He and l will go away
He gazed at her in deepening Won
derment. For the moment, his mind
refused to accept the truth. He had
known perfectly the call of the blood
in her. He had understood her hatred
of the Turner's; he could hate in tina
same way himself. He realized her
love for her fathers home and how
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1922-12-08

SEES MUCH HUMOR in ETIQUETTE

the origin of the salute they give to-
day comes from the East, and is
really no more than the movement Of
the subject to shield from his eyes the
effulgent glory of his sovereign. only
today it applies equally to the efful-
gent glory of his second lieutenant
as well. Habit is everything, and
prejudice scarcely less.-Walter r
Harris, in Morocco That Was"
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1922-12-08
Senatorial Hardships.

Life is filed with disappointment"
sighed Senator Snortsworthy.
Whats wrong?'
Here's letter from one of my most
prominent constituents. / hoped he
would say my hold on the dear people
was as strong as ever, or at least COM
pliment me for the hard work I've been
doing lately, but he wants to know.
What about Armenia 2 Birmingham
Age-Herald.
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1922-12-08
Cheeky. All Rinht

Old Gotrox-I told you that Won
could marry my daughter when Won
could write check for $4,000. Have
you written it?
Nervy Suitor-Yes, sir; IT only
awaits your signature.-Boston Tran.
script.
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1922-12-08
Plausible influence.

what do You think of that young
woman who talks radical politicsT
II think" said Miss Cayenne, that
she is probably not much help to her
mother. A parlor socialist is usually
a bad performer in the kitchenette."
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1922-12-08
CHAPTER xxi

When Linda returned home the
events of the night partook even of
greater mystery. The front door was
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1922-12-08
In Nosepaint Gulch.

"Now don't git skeered if a man
reaches for his hip pocket He may
be gonna offer you his bottle"
I'D rather take shot from the
gun"
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1922-12-08
Different

Ted-"Ienr friend is an optimistic
racetrack goer." Ned-"But he's ean.
orally pessiInistic coming home"
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1922-12-08

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package.-Advertiseme
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1922-12-08

Cynics and pessimists have a hard
row to hoe in this contrary old world.
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1922-12-08
Linda goes to rescue Bruce
from the Killer.

sTo BE CONTINUED,
The Chesterfield advertiser. [volume] (Chesterfield C.H., S.C.) 1884-1978, 1922-02-02
BAD BLOOD RUINS COMPLEXION
Pepto-Mangan Makes Rich, ked
Blood-Liquid or Tablets

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energy at all.
Her blood is weak and thin and she
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for while, as thousands of women
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The druggist in your neighborhood
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been recommended by doctors for
years. There is the liquid and tablet
form. Take your choice because the
medicinal value is the same. The
nam, "Gude's Pepto-Mangan," is on
each package. adv.