davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-04-01

frisking the effects of his prisoner and mumbling to himself.
 "They ain't there. And I'm goin' tuh make that-horn toad tell where they are or croak him-mebbe both. I'll learn him how to hold out on me-"
 Grabbing his pistol from the table he made rush for the vault door and yanked it open. At the same time a left hand, strong as steel trap, clamped into his hair and another, holding shining knife, ap- peared foot before his face. The enemy had flanked him and he dared not attempt to turn the muzzle of his gun.
 "Drop it."
 The pisto, clattered on the cement floor MT. Singleton's red face turned yellow and his eyes bulged. The knife pointed at his throat, and the chill of dread left him help less as jellyfish. A push sent him sprawl ing to the center of the vault, and as he slowly turned over it was to face his own gun in the left hand of an unclothed person with glittering eyes and little side whiskers.
 "Now, you fat skunk" came the voice of the Deacon, "It's your turn to peel. Take lem off"
 earlier stripping, the big mans hands trembling so that it was with difficulty he could unlace his shoes or locate button, but in few minutes the vault contained a strange sight, two absolutely naked men, one hanging in wrinkles of fat, the other lean and tough as the late MT. Pharaoh's eadaver. Driving his prey against the rear wall, Deacon kicked the discarded clothing through the door and stepped out. He had done aI the talking. Singleton had opened
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-04-01
30 .1-2 ( 2e )2 15 1-2 3 Al

30 1-2 { 3 26 )2 15 1-2 Al
 And he translated audibly-hs method of stamping tue legend on his retentive memory:
 'He's checked it-sure to be right; thirty and a haft start; right turn three times, stop twentysix; left turn twice, stop; fifteen and hauf; right turn three times to forty-one."
 For another long minute the Deaco~ stood in silent contemplation, then again the grin. Turning to the miscellaneous collection of articles he had dumped from MT. Singleton's pockets by the simple ex- pedient of holding the garments upside down and shaking them, he selected folded blueprint of the local oil fields, upon which MT. Singleton had made solne pencled notations. Cautiously showing a sheet of paper under this article, the Dea- con wrapped it without letting it come in contact with his fingers and pocketed the packet. Tipping his hat to the vault docr, he departed.
 The end of the story came out at the nasty trial and quick conviction of "Fat" Henderson, alias R. A. Singleton. Before daylight the morning after his incarcera- tion, Fat" exhausted by his vain yelling and pounding on his prison door, had fallen into fitful slumber. When he wakened his first thought was of the door. A nasty in- vestigation proved it to be unlatched and he staggered forth into his office and began to don his scrambled clothes. He had bare ly completed the job when the door opened and Rufe Ordway,-one of the oldest and most famous operatives of the Bankers Protective Association, walked in. He was accompanied by the local limb of the law, and clear case was there before them. It took Ordway but an instant to spot the aimed telescope, the jotted combination of
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-04-01

suspiciously firm spot in the laped of Mr. Sin silk, which in turn yielded a slip of paper, irregularly torn. This the Deacon inspected with interest before donning his own clothes. He cursed audibly> as he tucked under the mutilated edges of his lapels and trouser band. After assuming all his gar- ments, except socks and shoes, he seated himself and began to scratch the sole of his right foot. First came some strips of adheive tape, then folded strip of oiled paper from which he extracted two torn sheets and strangely like that he had sal vaged from MT. Singleton's lapel. This he laid beside the specimen on the table, matching the torn edges Then with great care and no sign of haste he folded the three fragments into a compact parcel Next put on socks and shoes, picked up his cane and rose to depart.
 Had the Deacon obeyed that first im- pulse to walk out, the subsequent career of Mir. Singleton would have been diff ferent story, but something compelled the avenger to step to the window and have a look over the outside landscape before de- scending to the street. In this movement he dislodged carelessly thrown newspaper and exposed small, black telescope prop ped on a pile of books and obviously sighted at some object across the way. The Deacon walked slowly around the table, seated himself in MT. Singletons office chair and applied an eye to the glass. What he saw seemed to please him, as his poker face split in wide grin. A quick glance around the table and he spotted some pencil notations, thus:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-04-01

Deacon stopped over and began scratching the sole of his left foot. From it he re- moved some scraps of adhesive tape, then his hand came up with flat, brass object about five inches long which might have been machinists folding rule-but wasn't.
 Unfolding this article two ways exposed a glittering blade, sharp as a needle and razor as to point and edge. Locking this in an open position, the Deacon grasped it firmly and moved close to the door.
 Meanwhile work of destruction was progressing outside. Mr. Singleton was
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-04-01

his mouth to speak several times but couldn't produce a sound. Again the vault door changed shut and the fat man was left with his meditations. Then he found his voice and bombarded the unrespousive dcor with threats, entreaties and conciliatory promises. Outside the search of his cloth ing was being conducted in a thorough manner by naked man who paid not the slightest attention { the muffled sounds from the vault
 It required but little effort on the part of the Deacon to find what he sought. The
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-04-01

a footed safe and the automatic pistol lying on the table. The trial brought the add;- tional evidence of an oil field map, bearing Flats" fingerprints, which were found be- side the safe.
 The testimony of the bank cashier and Detective Ordway was merely incidental to the quick finish of "Fat." It appeared that by some accident the night marshal of the town-probably an attack of indigestion part of the evidence-had found the jim mied window during the early morning hours and hastened to notify the cashier, who without wasting time had telephoned to town fifty miles away where Ordway was Investigating bank case. In response the detective had caught train and was on the job less than two hours after the discovery of the theft. Likewise he knew "Fat," who had record long as a tele- graph pole, but only one ancient conviction to his credit.
 Travellers in Europe have reported meet ing a skinny little gentleman with side whiskers, horn-rimmed glasses and "bug" for collecting curiously constructed knives and daggers, both antique and modern. He seems to have no other bad habits, and is evidently man financially able to ride his hobby without spurs.
 But, of course, that may not be the Dea- con. There are others who wear side whiskers and horn-rimmed glasses.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-04-01

described as a novel of out-of-doors, will be published shortly by the Applctonx.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-04-01

'em 0ff.
 Still silent, and as though preparing for his bath, Deacon began methodically and deliberately to remove his clothing. In two minutes he was wearing nothing but horn trimmed spectacles, socks and gatters.
 Finish the job," ordered Singleton with a grin, "come clean" The spectacles were added to the discard, then, standing on one foot at time the victim removed his socks. He stood there, exhibiting neither fear nor embarrassment, shorn of everything that had made him look like middle-aged busi- ness man. His skinny arms and legs were corded with muscles that indicated great strength and years of physical exercise. He looked like skinned wildcat, even to his lean face and glittering eyes.
 "Back against the wall," ordered Single ton, as without lowering his gun or stoop- ing to use hand, he scraped the pile of garments along with foot until they were outside the door. 'T don't aim to give you no chance with atknife. You just.stay here, cool and comfortable like, while frisk this pile of dry goods for the key and the other half of the map" Thus he left the pris- oner, closed the door and shot the bolt.
 Another careful inspection of the vault, then warily, with en eye on the door. tba
Perth Amboy evening news., 1923-10-02

MY necklacer' she gasped. "Don't
tell me that it is gonel'
Madam" the manager began, ST
regret to say"
What were you doing, then ?" she
cried, turning to me. "Do you mean
to say that it was stolen while An
nette was with you?"
Annette was never with me-" I
replied. "She left your bedroom with
| the jewel case, without coming near
/ the sitting ROOM"
rs this true, Annette?" her mis-
tress demanded.
"But why not, Madame?" Annette
faltered. "You said nothing to me
about going into the sitting room. l
did not know that Monsieur was to
accompany me-"
1.-THE girl is telling a falsehood," !"
Mrs. De Mendoza declared angl'ily.
"Could these matters wait for a
moment?" I iutervened. "Our i'm
mediate task is to try to recover
| the necklace. 1 wish everyone to
leave this place-except you, sir" ]
added. addressing the manager, land
| myself"
Mr.. Stanfield reluctantly withdrew.
We first of all entered the room op-
posite to US. 1t was empty and ap-
parently undisturbed. There was a
connecting door on the left.
where does that lead to-"
asked.
The manager unlocked 1t. 1t led
Perth Amboy evening news., 1923-10-02

"T'vc rung all three" he an
Then the wires have been cut"
answered, pointing to the register
lower down, which had not moved.
go to the lift and see If you can get
anyone"
He was gone for about half min
ute. 1 leaned down toward the girl,
who was beginning to cry.
did you see who attacked your" I
asked.
mol" she sobbed. "All the lights
went out suddenly. Someone came
up from behind. I never heard a
sound-just the clutch at my throat
and the choking"
"Why did you not wait for me or
so by the lift?" demanded.
She looked little puzzled. "I
never go by the lift," she replied.
"Why not?"
Erred, the second, floor valet, gen.
orally meets me on the floor below
she explained reluctantly, land"
81 see," 1 interrupted. But didn't
your mistress tell you to wait and go
down with me?"
The girl seemed surprised.
"My head is queer" she admitted,
Madame said nothing to me except
to tell me to hurry down."
The silence of the corridor was
suddenly broken. Mr.. Stanfield re-
appeared, followed by little army
of servants and the manager.
"Send everyone away except two
men whom you can trust" 1 begged
the latter. Mrs. De Mendoza s
necklace has been stolen"
There was a murmur of consterna-
ton and excitement. The manager
selected two of his servants and dis
missed the rest. } He posted one BY
the lift and one by the staircase.
"Do you think the thief has got
away?" he asked.
"One cannot tell" I replied. II
want to know about these three
rooms"
He glanced at the numbers.
"The farthest one is occupied by
Mr.. Stanfield," he announced. THE
other two are empty"
you are sure that this one," /
asked, pointing to the door close to
where we stood, "is unoccupied 2"
"Certainly," was the confident re-
ply. "Take my keys and see for
yourself
I was on the point of doing sc
when Mrs. De Mendoza appeared.
She was clad in wonderful lighi
blue wrapper, and the touch of ex-
citement seemed to add to her
beauty.
Perth Amboy evening news., 1923-10-02

performance of their duties. John
Harrigan, John Andres and Thorn
as McNally, are named as the trus-
tees.
New Brunswick Garage
Burkes Garage, Inc, 80 Albany
street, this city, has filed a certificate
of incorporation for a general gar
age business and the running of a
bus line between Highland Park and
this city. The company is incorpor-
ated for $4,000, five hundred shares
at 500 each. Thomas Burke, of
this city, holds twenty-seven shares,
Helen M. Burke, this city, one share,
and John Kurswan, this city, twenty
seven shares.
Dunellen Real Estate
A certificate of incorporation has
been filed by Lake Nelson. Inc, 420
Prospect avenue, Dunellen, for the
purpose of conducting a real estate
business. The company is incor-
porated for $4,000, FIVE hundred
shares at 500 each. The incorpora-
tors are Lester e. Nelson, New Mar
ket, twelve shares; Harry S. Hall
Dunellen, twelve shares, and Walter
Mullen, Dunellen, twelve shares.
Trade Name Filed
A certificate of trade name has
been filed by the South River Bot
tling Company, mineral water dis
tillers at 109 Whitehead avenue
South River. John Knobel is the
agent in charge.
Perth Amboy evening news., 1923-10-02

door I conceived the sudden idea
which prompted my action. ]
crossed the floor of the sitting room
and opened the door which led on to
the corridor. There was no one in
sight, and 1t seemed to me that fewer
of the electric lights were lit than
usual. I stood there, every nerve of
my body riveted upon an attempt at
dual listening. l listened for the
return of Mrs. De Mendoza, and 1
listened for the opening of either of
her doors. Presently what 1 de-
vined might happen, came to pass.
The door of her bedroom, in a line
with the one behind which l was
lurking. opened. l peered through
the crack.
Annette, the maid, a trim, dark
figure, had crossed the threshold.
She stood for moment listening.
Then without even glancing toward
the sitting room she walked swiftly
along the corridor and turned to the
left toward the lift and staircases.
In a couple of stealthy strides 1 too
had reached the corner, and peering
round, watched her movements. To
my surprise, she passed the lift and
turned the other corner of the cor
ridor toward the staircase. AS soon
as she was out of sight, I followed
AS I reached the farther angle,
every light was suddenly extin-
guished. There was little gur-
Cling cry, the sound of a heavy fall
upon the soft carpet. In a second or
two was on the spot. could dhnly
see where Annette was lying, gasp
ing for breath, apparently half I'M
conscious. By her side lay the
jewel-case, open and empty.
I did nothing for a moment to-
ward raising any alarm. l bent
over the girl and satisfied myself
that she was not shamming-that
she had, in effect, been subjected to
a certain amount of violence. /
glanced at the transoms over the
doors of the bedrooms opposite.
There were three of them between
where was and the turn to the lift.
Suddenly the farthest door was
opened, softly but not stealthily. A
figure appeared, and leaning down.
threw a pair of shoes upon the mat.
suppose that was dimly visible in
the semi-gloom for the man sudden
ly left off whistling and turned in
my direction.
tlS GdAlSu ools
1 drew from my pocket the little
electric torch which had been keep
ing in readiness, and flashed it upon
him. 1t was my friend Mr.. Stan
field, in striped yellow and white pa
jamas, cigaret between his teeth.
his feet encased in comfortable slip
pers.
"What the devil are you doing out
there?" he demanded. "And who's
turned the lights out?"
Better turn them on and you may
see," I replied. There's switch
close to your door,"
He found 1t after moments fum-
bling, and stared at us in amaze
ment. The maid, with her fingers
still to her throat, had recovered
sufficiently to sit up. and was lean-
ing with her back to the wall, ghast-
ly white and moaning to herself. The
empty Jewel case told it's own story
"Jerusalem!" Mr.. Stanf1eld ex-
claimed breathlessly. "A robbery"
"Ring your bell," I directed.
He disappeared into his room for
a moment, leaving the door open.
Presently he reappeared.
Perth Amboy evening news., 1923-10-02

into a similar room, also empty. The
room on the other side was Mr.. Stan
fields also connecting.
''These are our cheapest rooms,
my companion explained. ''They are
generally occupied by servants, OF
people of an economical turn OF
mind"
We withdrew into the first one we
had entered.
"Will you lend me that master
key of yours?" [ begged.
The manager detached it from his
chain and handed 1t to me.
"If you should be instrumental in
recovering the necklace, Sir Nor
man." he said, the hotel authorities
would appreciate all possible reti-
cence. in the matter"
I nodded.
Continued in Our Next Issue
Perth Amboy evening news., 1923-10-02
POLICE SOCIAL CLUB OF
CARTERET INCORPORATES

NEW BRUNSWICK, Oct. g.
A certificate of incorporation has
been filed by the Public Social Club,
of Carteret. located at AZ Lafayette
street, Carteret. George Sheridan is
named as the agent of the club which
was formed to promote sociability
among the members to help in the
Perth Amboy evening news., 1923-10-02
Begin Here Today

NR NORMAN GREYES, formerly of
IScotland Yard, is devoting his
time to tracking down an arch
! criminal known to him as
1ICHAEL SAVERS.
= -AANET SCALE, maid in Sayers' cot
Atage, is in love with her master.
fShe shoots down a police officer
twi1o tracks Michael to his abode.
fSir Norman meets Sayers at the
golf club where Sayers is known
PAS Mr.. Stanfield. Greyes becomes
suspicious of the real identity OF
Stanfield.
After a three-months' vacation,
Hir Norman meets Stanfleld i'll a
Hotel lobby. At the same hotel, to
Z amor an insurance company
& zsireyes has an interview with a
South American widow regarding a
zxbol-cy of hundred thousand pounds
Married on her remarkable rope OF
pearls.
Go On With the Story
Sir Norman continues:
HE is quaint, that little man.
my companion remarked once, as he
glanced over toward us. "He re-
minds me of those impossible char
acters one reads about in magazines,
who detect crime for the pleasure of
it, and discovers hidden treasures in
absurd places"
HE is, as matter of fact" told
her, "a retired city merchant with a
passion for golf--at least, that is
what the golf secretary at Woking
told me-"
The music was seductive, and pres
Iax@ nYsf
the ballroom, however, my compan-
ion showed signs of renewed nerv-
business. The fingers of one hand
were nearly all the time straying
around her neck, as though to as
sure herself that the necklace was
still there. Presently she drew me
away with an apologetic little }augh.
~.I am quite mad" she confessed,
''but l have a fit of nerves tonight.
am going upstairs early. DO you
lnind?p
"Of course not" I told her. LET
me see you to the lift"
"I am going to ask you to do more
than that" she said as we crossed
the hall. "I am going to ask you to
come up to my sitting room ana
escort my maid down to the office
when she takes my necklace there.
AS a reward you can come bacK
afterward, If you will, and have
whiskey and soda with me-"
rang for the lift, and we ascend
ed together to the fourth floor. she
handed me her key and I unlocked
the door of her charming little salon.
She pointed to the evening paper
and an easy chair.
.sPlease make yourself comfortable
for five minutes" she begged, look
Ing back from the threshold of the
inner room. 'I shall just let An
nette help me out of my gown. Tnen
I will give her the jewel-case ana
she shall call for you."
She nodded and disappeared.
stood for a moment looking after her.
The door was closed softly. heard
her call to her maid in the farther
apartment.
Those next few seconds seemed to
heat themselves out in my brain,
charged with a strange and almost
amazing significance. am con-
vinced that I acted from Impulse.
There was nothing definite In my
mind when from behind that closed
Evening star., 1923-12-05

number Of local chambers Of commerce
and presided over by DR.. Joseph H.
Smith, president of the Petersburg
body.
A committee report prepared at the
meeting yesterday will be presented in
the near future at an assembly of
representatives OF virtually all Vir-
ginia chambers and boards of trade.
The object of the state organization
would be, according to the report, ito
promote the welfare of the agricul-
tural, industrial. financial, civic and
educational interests of the state"
Among those present were: II. Fl.
Rumble, president; T. p. Thompson.
vice president, and w. A. Cox. exec
utive secretar OF the Norfolk-Ports-
mouth chamber.
Evening star., 1923-12-05
SCOUT CRUISER CONCORD
is PROVED SEAWORTHY
Makes Record for Stanchness on
First Leg of Her $4,000
Mile Cruise.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
GIBRALTAR, December .. - The
new American scout cruiser Concord
proved herself stanch vessel on
the first leg of her 24,000-mile cruise,
which includes run through the
Mediterranean sea. down the east
coast of Africa, touching at NADIA
gascar, then round the Cape of Good
Hope and thence across the Atlantic
to South America and home.
In mid Atlantic on the voyage from
Philadelphia to Gibraltar the cruiser
met with a terrific gale, which end
cd in an intense hurricane. She
weathered the storms gallantly, how
ever, and put into port here without
having suffered any damage.
The British and French officials
here have informed Capt. Orin Murfin
of the Concord that great interest is
being taken by the people Of the ports
where the cruiser is scheduled to
visit and that the vessel and her Of
ficerS and crew will receive enthu-
siaStic welcomes. The Concord will
be the first American warship to visit
the east coast of Africa in twenty
years, and she Will enter many ports
which never before have received a
visit from an American man of-war.
Evening star., 1923-12-05

magnetic while IN the employ OF
the Ford Motor Company and asserts
he was to have received a royalty
Of $3.50 for each one used When
he filed his suit in federal court a
Miami last year he calculated there
defange is that the Inventor wa
paid $4,000 as a reward for develop
ing the contrivance and that there
was no agreement specifying
royalty.
The case goes before the court
at the instance OF the Ford COM
pSny on an appeal from the rulinE
OF Federal District Judge Henry =
Clayton at Jacksonville. Fla, sev-
eral months ago that the main issue
could be tried before d jury.
Evening star., 1923-12-05
LAST OF FINES is PAID,
Mississippi Insurance Prosecutions
Now Closed.

JACKSON. Miss, December 5.-The
last of the fines assessed against
fifty-six fire insurance companies
which quit doing business in Mississippi
three years ago when suits alleging
violation of the states antitrust
laws were filed were paid to Revenue
Agent Stokes V. Robertson.
The total amount, including interest.
was $7s4, ,77304.
OF this amount the revenue agent.
unaer a MISSISSIPPI law, IS entitled
to 20 per cent, or $156,954. One half
of the latter amount will be paid to at
torneys representing the revenue
agent and expenses of the trial of
the suits. Approximately $4,000 will
come out Of Mr.. Robertson's share.
Evening star., 1923-12-05

while they robbed citizens. forcing
them to carry the loot.
Business at Chenchow Is at a
standstill. with the leading citizens
hiding in the hills and farmers re-
fusing to bring food to the city. The
city government has been suspended
Foreigners managing a neighboring
mine were forced to contribute funds
to the marauders and their persons
stripped of jewelry. The post Office
was even robbed by the soldiers, who
then looted the postmaster's home.
Life in the interior of China is the
same story. differing only in the
name of the city and whether the
marauders are troops or bandits.