davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-25

Perhaps we took rather a liberty with you," Major Hartopp went on. "We got those trifles out to Hyeres quite safely, but Nina and weren't feeling quite comfort able, so we thought they would be safer in your rooms, in a bag that-er-might have belonged to you"
 MT. Cray muttered something under his breath and swallowed hard.
 But what about Pomfret?"
 "Ah, yes-Pomfretw Major Hartopp re- peated, Good fellow, George Pomfret.'
 "One of our oldest friends Mrs. liar topp murmured.
 You see, when we made up our minds to leave," Major Hartopp explained, "we naturally wanted the jewels back again, the coast being clear, and all that sort of thing Pomfret's done few stunts with us before, and he undertook to get the jewels back and keep you out of the way in case you were inquisitive at our leaving"
 q gather, then," said MT. Cray, "that Mr. Pomfret is not connected with the de- tective force?"
 Great Scott, not" was the emphatic re- ply. "On the contrary"
 "And the jewels!" queried MT. Cray
 "Were safely disposed of long ago." Mrs Hartopp assured him.
 "This is-er-one of the best markets in the world" her husband observed, "for delicate transactions of that sort. Lump sum down, and no questions asked, you know"
 q see," MT. Cray murmured "And you are now engaged, I presume,- in spending the proceeds?"
 Mrs. Hartopp laughed delightfully."-.
 My dear man. we don't need to do that. r she said. "Didnt you hear about Mir. Ho- mor?"
 ''Fve heard nothing" MT. Cray assured them. ''Ive been in Algiers.'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-25
MR. CRAY AND THE MEDIUM
(Continued From Page Eleven.

(Continued From Page Eleven.) sign of the person of whom he was in search. An acquaintance welcomed him.
 Thought you'd left too, MT. Cray. Didn't see anything of you yesterday"
 I had slight headache and stayed in my room," was the somewhat grim explana- tion.
 You haven't heard the news, then?"
 "Nary thing!
 "First of all, then the Hartopps left yes- terday, by the same train as MT. Pomfret." " 'God bless my soulw MT. Cray exclaimed. ''She looked terribly ill.," his informant went on. "They had almost to carry her into the bus. Then you haven't heard about Mr. Homer, I suppose.
 ''Not thing"
 His lawyer arrived from London last night. They say that he is much worse. The doctor announced this morning that he could not live through the day."
 That's bad!" MT. Cray murmured. Anything else?"
 ''There's a great golf match on this morning-the Costabel pro and visitor from Costabel, against Dell and Scott"
 sIll stroll down and have a look," Mir. Cray decided, lighting a cigar and turning away.
 It was very nearly two months later when full elucdatiol of many perplexing happenings came to MT. Cray. Newly ar rived in Monte Carlo, he made his first ap. pearance at the Sporting Club and mingled for somo time with the smartest crowd in Europe. In the act of trying to approach close to one fthe roulette tables, he was suddenly aware of tall and elegant woman who had risen from her place at the tables, with ter hands full of notes and plaques
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-25

4 s l passed the partly open door on "A the third landing I suddenly stopped. From inside the darkened room there stole melody, soft and in effably delicious.
 I am a music-lover generally but now my brain was caught in loop of siren sound. from which had no desire to free myself It seemed to eddy and swirl around me like the breath of incense. When it's wailing notes were wistful, I, too, felt exquisite yearnings, and when it rose into a rich and vibrant volume, my own heart throbbed to it's ecstasy. Suddenly-it seemed as unnatural as the abrupt ceasing of stream-it stopped.
 Come inside, young man come inside" !" said a silky voice from within the room.
 Hesitating. l pushed open the door, and stumbled into the darkness. At the other end of the room, casting little reflection outside it's own orbit, was a duly glowing fire, sunk in the blackness like great mis- shapen ruby.
 "You are the young man who has come to live in the top room?" asked the voice.
 "Yes, and you are-," l began.
 ''Oh, our mutual landlady, Mrs. Hain, has t0lQ you or me, went on the smooth VOice s'I'm old Mir. Gettle, the blind man, "a little queer on top,' as Mrs. Hain always tells her new lodgers, but perfectly harmless but for the fact that his mouth was hard.'" His laugh, as he ended, possessed all the silki- ness of his voice, yet it was an eere laugh
 "L happened to be passing the door, and I paused to hear your violin," I hastened to say.
 '1 heard you, young man. And would you care to hear more of my playing?"
 q would," was my reply. Somehow was feeling far from comfortable.
 'Then light the gas No, I'll see to it. Light isn't necessary for me, but I know you'd prefer not to sit in the dark ness"
 I heard him go to the gas bracket, and never once did he tumble. Soon the room was brilliant in the yellow light.
 I looked curiously at the occupant. He was a small, old man, with soft silver hair and beard. His face would have held the usual placid expression of the sightless, but for the fact that his mouth was bent in hard, repellent curve. His open eyes. dull, motionless, made me think of windows heavily whitened on the inside so that no one can see through them.
 He caught up his violin as though again to make it whisper and cry and sing with
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-25

"The dear man left me 50,OOO pounds in order that might pursue my investiga- tions. Wasn't it perfectly sweet of him?"
 MT. Cray sat quite still MT. Pomfret strolled up, followed by waiter bearing on his silver tray four tall glasses filled with cloudy, amber-colored liquid.
 MT. Cray mechanically accepted his glass but made no response. His attitude re- mained negative. Pomfret leaned little toward him.
 "Mr. Cray" he said, "may speak plain word to you? You are one of those shrewd. amiable gentlemen of independent means who have natural taste for adventure and who go muddling about the world, some times interfering good deal in other peo- ple's business. You get lots of fun out of it, and from what know Of you, you gen erally come out on top. From what know of you further believe you to be latitudi- marian. The law isn't always just. The criminal is sometimes . good fellow. Our friends here have been up against you a bit, but you haven't come to much harm Anything you know that you don't care about, forget B ca sportsman ,and don't look at that glass, as though you saw poison inside"
 Nina Hartopp's smile was irresistible.
 You are really such dear, MT. Cray,' she murmured. "You won't refuse to drink with mel"
 MT. Cray raised his glass. All four were solemnly clinked together. The tension had passed. As he set his glass down empty, beatific smile parted MT. Cray's lips. He made telegraphic signs to the functionary behind the bar.
 You'll repeat that with me-" he invited.
 'It's pax isn't it." Nina Hartopp whis- pered in his ear.
 "Sure! MT. Cray promised.
 Copyright, 1922, by the Bell Synd., Inc.)
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-25
THE STEALER OF SIGHT
By Buck Williams

catch in the mothers breath as though she suffered some sudden fear for her tiny off spring.
 was becoming drowsy. My eyelids seemed to be swollen and heavy, and l closed my eyes. How sweetly the mother and babe were sleeping.
 Once lifted my reluctant lids and noticed that those of the blind violinist also dropped over his empty shells of eyes. Again closed mine. The music became softer and softer. My own deep breathing was now drawing in time with those I seemed to hear But I was floating away away from the gentle rise and fall of those sleepy sounds. I
 Slowly my brain returned to conscious ness. First I became aware of the peculi- arly stiff position I was in. There was a burning pain around my ankles and wrists, and I felt I was choking
 Then my senses became normal opened my eyes with start. Around my arms, wrists and legs were cords, binding me to the heavy armchair in which l sat. Some thing soft filled my mouth and pressed on my tongue, while handkerchief was bound tightly around my jaw.
 The next thing I noticed was that the fire was now nothing but dead mass of flaky gray ash. I lifted my head, and saw that the old man was standing by my sde He seemed to perceive that l had returned to consciousness.
 "So the young fly has become enmeshed in the web of the patient old spider" he said softly.
 He came forward, and once more his finger tips passed over my face. "Yes, you are ready" heard him say. q put in the port only just sufficient to make you sleep little while. have barely finished tying you up. Yes, you are ready
 watched him as he stood with his va cant eyes staring before him.
 Do you know why you are here?" lie paused as though it were possible for me to rcLly.
 "Nearly 50 years," he began again, with that wonderful silken quality of tone, Shave I been living in the great darkness. Always alone. Always alone. It's not that. It's color I've craved for all my life-living, vivid color. There is only one way Tn which can obtain it. That is with music the music of my violin"
 I looked at him wonderingly, perhaps little frightened.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-25

s'You with sight cannot understand that" he continued, now angrily. q learned to play with my violin so that could feel color. There is no sound so beautiful or awful that I cannot achieve. And to me every sound is colored." He stopped, and recommended abruptly with what thought was another topic. 'Have you ever heard of the Secret Note, of Tibet?"
 He paused again, and then went on.
 ''It is practiced in Tibet, m the Hidden City. There they have secrets centuries old. Sometimes, to punish a criminal, they place him in a cell, and every so often a certain curious note is sounded. The con- stant repetition of that note is so awful that in some way it destroys the optic nerves. The man goes blind forever know that note!''
 Then and not until then did my befogged brain realize this was madman speaking
 'For some years I have been searching for that sound, and at last I found it. l did it by the colors> I feel. An! you can't understand, but you will soon. l am going to sound that note again and again and again until you are blind. It can't hurt me. How could it?" He gave laugh that was born of something blacker than mere blindness.
 "And why you?" he went on. "It is not just because it is you. I've been waiting preparing months for someone to come into my web. You happen to be the one. But you will be only the first. Yoa should live in darkness. All the world should Yes, l am going to drag you into the pit with me, where light never comes Then you will know'
 He went to the window, and, pulling aside the blinds, drew across the old-fashioned windows their heavy wood shut.ers.
 'No one will hear us now," he muttered.
 Without another word he took up his violin and bow and stood facing me. He was full in the glare of the gas, which was well behind me, and the silver of his hair and beard and the varnish of the violin re- 'flected back the light. But his lusterless eyes seemed to absorb it.
 He drew the bow slowly across the strings of his instrument. It is hard to describe what I heard. Beginning with high-pitched sigh, it gradually rose and rose to repressed painful -shriek, ending in discordant crackle that made me think of diabolical chuckling.
 It set my teeth on edge, was in such
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-25

the cunning God had given his hand, but with sudden decision he replaced it on a chair.
 "So the fly. quvering with it's gauzy iridescent wings through the sun-lit air of youth, has bravely entered the silken tolls of the patient old spider" he said.
 "Why-why do you use such queer words?" 1 stammered.
 He laughed, such laugh as is born of eternal blackness.
 Don't you remember" he said, "that Mrs. Hain told you I was not quite the thing?' It's nothing, my young friend. It's only that in the darkness I crave for color, and some words are colors. To me they are the same as butterflies are to you, dazzling splashes of crimson and purple and green floating through the air"
 "So you were not always-?" ventured for something to say.
 'No. I could see until I was three. Sometimes even now I can remember a great mass of wonderful brazen blue-the summer sky, suppose But let me touch your face. 1 want to tell if"
 shrank back instinctively, and then, ashamed, let him approach. His cold fingers came lightly over my face, and though their touch was but momentary, there was some- thing queerly tenacious in their passage. For seconds they played over my eyes, al- most lovingly.
 But Pm forgetting myself" was his declaration. 'I'm not doing the duties of host properly I'm selfish. You must have a glass of wine with me-"
 I demurred, but he insisted With won- derful sureness he went to a corner cup board, and after minute or so returned to me bearing a glass of wine It was port, sickly stuff, and curiously sweet, but drank it as well as I could.
 He took up his violin again and began to play.
 Whether it was one of the works of some master composer, rare old melody, or just that he extemporized, I do not know. At first the music was wild, tempestuous, mak- ing me think of alstorm, raging and hurtling across the earth in blind fury to destroy all things in it's path.
 Slowly the storm died away, and in the sweet rhythmic whispering that followed l seemed to be near a tiny babe, resting on its mothers breast I could hear their two breathings minglng in a curious harmony, broken only now and again by sudden
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-07-03
PLANS To FORCE
MD.-D. {. JOIN
AUTO TAGS
Congressman AsWeII Is Dis
pleased at Attempt to Block
License Movement.

Displeased at the disinclination of
Maryland to effect automobile II.
cense tag reciprocity with the Dis.
trict, Congressman James B. AS.
well of Louisiana plans to use the
mailed fist" on the Old Line
State in the next Congress.
"Only last Saturday." Congress.
man Aswell told the Washington
Times, II saw 1000 persons wait
ing in line for Maryland tags with
only one examiner to satisfy their
needs.
believe me, this sight made nv
blood boil and determined me to in
troduce bill at the new Congress
providing for the Withholding OF
Federal road funds from any State
INDUCING in license tag .discrimina.
tion."
Congressman AsweIl points out
that roads are partly built by Fed.
eral appropriation, and there ts
no excuse for license-taR discrini.
nation. He pointed out that with
the levying Of a gasoline tax in
most States there is still less reason
for any reciprocity controversy be.
tween States.
The Louisiana solon saws he "a
confident there is a large groun
In the House of representatives.
who feel just as he does about the
matter, and that his bill will re.
ceive their cooperation and votes.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-07-03
BIRTHS.
MARRIAGE LICENSES.

co Ea~ r. Rev 4 S F. Ii Harn aSa Ruth B.
Ernest A. Hind. so. Of New York,
Lngton. N. G. The Rev. e. Whitley.
90 H. Ruddlei 81. and ss JIne ". stiebe.
Wallace Rsdcliff. " i'e'
Lee HodEkin. II. and Mary e. Red
mOnd. "a. Rev. J. e. Briggs.
~ CLAUDE, W: Markward, IS, Mt. Rainier,
Andria, KY. Rev. Charles. 2. Fuitz:
Earl A. Houe. Fl. and Elva c. Mar
ton. Is, both OF Louisa. Va. Rev. H.
F. Downs
Luigi DehoIe., rs. and concetta crini.
20: Rev. n. NJ. De Carlo.
and Cora Neeensast. ~. Rev. M. s.
g. penn. 2s: Rev !. " B@e a ie8"0f
and fh1 Rnlshsa Fl f. s seaWag e.,
Philip j. Reinsfelder, 20. and Gladys
e. Commit. rs. both of Baltimore
Rev. H. D. Mitchell.
pd Irving Rsosenburg. 20. and Mabel E.
N:3k a@ss e. cray Esy a. T. a Radd ciar.
rGfSaasr F. The k Rfv ~ ~ sas Scott fran
cisco. and Marguerite sewell, rs. Gar
neil. kans Rev. M. L. Rippy.
L. Steep, 90 The Rev r B. 6nf M asrssret
=, John H. Shotroff. 20, Of Henderson
Va, and Madge NJ. Crosen, q, of Ster.
ing Va The Rev. T, e. Davis.
wii i,Inard II Mann. %. and Bessie p.
The Rev; z. Whitley.
Leacard. 10. The Rev. n. r. Downs. "
Fred W. Holland. 81. and Anna l..
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-07-03
ALEXANDRIA 7 D
OPEN PLAY
CENTER.
Summer Playground, Fully
Equipped, Is Turned Over
to Children.

With the opening of Alexandria 3
plans for establishing at least two
additional recreation centers are be-
ing made by the committee which
for the past seven years has provid.
ed a Juvenile summer center for
the city's $500 children.
The playground going into COM
mission today is located in the old
Friends Cemetery. 1t covers Drac-
tically half a city block and Is
within easy distance of the children
residing in the central section OF
the city. The two additional play
grounds, 1t is understood, will be
located in the outer districts where,
according to the committee, they
are needed by children unable to
reach the central ground.
To carry out the program addi-
tional equipment required includes
hammocks, volley balls, tennis balls
In addition it will be necessary to
employ the services Of two assist
ant playground aides. Approx
mately $500 will be required to
finance the activities incident to
the expansion of the system. The
money must be obtained by con-
tributions from those interested In
child welfare. A campaign will
be directed to raise the fund.
Playground OutgrOwn.
'Seven years ago the first play.
ground was opened here in con-
nection with the Washington
school," said Mrs. r. c. Howard.
chairman Of the committee. ut
was outgrown the third year when
1t was moved to the grounds of the
Leeds School where 1T was con-
tinued for the next three years.
Then the time came when more
spacious grounds were required and
the Friends Society offered the use
of the old cemetery. There the
playground has been in operation
ever since"
Mrs. Howard is probation Of
ficer. The position carries no sal
airy. 1t affords her an oppor-
tunity, however, to come in close
touch with the children, and prob
ably she is better informed as 10
playground needs than any Of the
city officials. Recently she made
a survey of several sections of the
city. This convinced her that the
additional Fairgrounds are needed
and the committee, acting on re.
suits following an investigation, de-
cided to make an appeal for the
organization Of the needed recrea-
ton centers.
The sites for the Fairgrounds
have been selected, and it Is under
stood they will be made available
Now 1t remains for the committee
to raise the funds required to pro-
vide them with the needed equip
ment and employ the additional
sides.
This year the Fairgrounds will
be under the direction of Miss Mar
garet Behrenburg, of New York.
Miss Bahrenburg Is a trained play.
ground worker who comes to her
new position equipped to develop a
system along modern recreational
lines.
The cemetery playground is ideal
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-07-03

for the purpose to which it IL being
put. 1t is shaded by handsome
trees, is enclosed by brickwalls and
the walls of abutting houses. II
has been provided with sandpit
several swings and basket ball
ground. There is also a small
frame house which can be used as
executive headquarters and for the
storage Of equipment. It lies level
and is fairly well sodden. There
Is ample room for putting in a foot
track, tennis court and at least
three sliding boards. At night it
can be closed as the massive iron
gates still swing on their hinges.
While the ground has not been
officially opened until today, for
the past week children have been
gathering on it in expectation of
it's opening. Hundreds of children
will be there this afternoon and
tomorrow.
Interest in the opening of the
playground Is widespread among
children in all sections of the city.
Mrs. Howard Is best known among
them for her activities in play
ground promotion. Wherever she
goes she Is continually reminded
nation as to when the recreation
center will open. The playground is
the most popular spot in the city.
This interest is not cinfined to chill.
dren. 1t is entertained by hun
dreds of mothers who have come
to experience the feeling OF safety
caused by knowing their children
are not subjecting themselves to
the dangers of playing in the
streets or on unguarded vacant lots.
The Fairgrounds will be made
educational factors, provided the
committee can raise the 500 need
ed to finance their development.
On them the smaller children will
be taught many instructive diver
sions such as feature similar
centers in the larger cities.
Experience here has shown that
the playground is one of the great
factors in discipline training to be
employed" said a member of the
committee today. ct has proved
that organized play can be made
both entertaining and instructive,
and this applies to children Of all
ages. In the development of our
Fairgrounds Alexandria is taking
an important step toward the up
building of citizenship. These are
old truths demonstrated many times
elsewhere, SO there is nothing novel
TO be urged about them, but there
is one thing every mother and
father in the city can bear in mind,
the supervised playground is q de.
cided lessener Of doctors bills while
it assures the children a proper op-
portunity to develop social in
StinctS."
Kiwanis Club Helps.
Last year the Kiwanis Club con-
tributed $1,000 to the playground
fund. 1t is planned this year to
obtain the financial aid Of all of
the clubs and other organizations in
the city.
A program to include public play
ground entertainments will be
worked out by the committee.
Field days will be organized and
arranged in which
the children will participate.
The playground committee in
cludes Mrs. T. M. Jones, Miss H.
Cummings, Mrs. Albert Driefus,
Edward Gentry, Harry Kirk, Taylor
Burke. and Edwin F'eldtkeller. Miss
Evelyn Howard, daughter of Mrs.
Howard, chairman of thea commit
tee, has charge Of the Georgetown
playground.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-07-03
BULGARIAN KING
DENIES He IS
To MARRY
Boris Says Job of King Is Too
Insecure Nowadays to Risk
Taking Consort.

LONDON, July liking Boris Of
bulgaria in an interview in the
Chronicle denied reports Of his be.
trothal.
The Chronicle quoted King Boris
as saying be was welded to his
work these serious times"
my duty to my country leaves
me little time for love making" the
king said. Besides. the job Of a
monarch is insecure and one best.
tates in these troublesome times to
take a consort.
Kings are mere mortals like
others and must suffer and sacri
flee with their people. With al
their restricted powers, it is easy
for kings to make mistakes and
steer Ene ship of state upon the
rocksE
"Then the world condemns-but
doesn't understand"
Bulgaria, the king added, has the
friendliest feeling towards all Of its
neighbors.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-07-03
BELLHOP Is FAILURE
AS HOLD-UP BANDIT

wILKES<BARRE, July "A
brief career as a bandit, but a
rather bold one, was that of Samuel
Danese, twenty, when he staged a
hold-up in his place of employment,
the Terminal hotel.
Familiar with the habits of John
Lee. hotel manager, Danese, bell
Top, accosted the former in his bed
room and demanded, at the point
of a revolver, the surrender If
cash which Lee was preparing for
removal to the bank.
Lee refused the demand and
made a dash at Danese, the bell
hop then fleeing from the hotel.
Two hours later he gave himself up
to the police.