davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Holly chieftain., 1923-01-11
PUSSY HAD TO COME FIRST
Good Reason Why Impecunious Pair
Couldn't Afford to Steal Cats
Provisions.

A certain artist and his wife-who
is an artist too-recall an incident of
their early studio days. A friend leav-
ing the city for few weeks left In
their care large. healthy and hungry
looking cat with injunctions to give 1t
good care. The feline's owner left with
them sufficient funds to keep the cat
in meat.
The artistic pair, not having at
tained their present success, we're the
reverse of affluent at the time.
"There we were, not eating regular
ly ourselves" said the husband the
other evening as he consumed the last
Of large pork chop, "and we seldom
had meat. But we had to sit around
and watch the cat eat good liver"
''Why didn't you steal the cats liver
sometimes?" he was asked.
1--WE wanted to-" he answered, "but
the animal wasn't fat and we were
afraid its ribs would show when its
mistress got back"
The Holly chieftain., 1923-01-11
CHAPTER ~
Ar. You HI,Iw.rd2

The bell In the washroom at the
end of the car was ringing violently,
and someone was reinforcing his ring
with a stentorian call for PORTER !
Porter!"
Eaton realized that 1t was very cold
In his berth-alsO that the train,
which was standing still, had been in
that motionless condition for some
time. He threw up the window cur
tain as he appreciated that, and, look
ing out, found that he faced a great
unbroken bank of glistening white
snow as high as the top of the car
at this point and rising even higher
ahead. He listened. therefore. while
the Englishman-for the voice calling
to the porter was his-extracted all
available Information from the negro.
"Porter, where are we?"
Between Fracroft and Simons,
suh."
"Yet?"
"Yessuh, yit!"
"That foolish snow still?'
"Yessuh; and snow some more,
subj"
but haven't we the plow still
ahead?"
"Oh. yessuh; the plow's ahaid. We
still got 1t; but that's all. sub. 1t
amt doin' much; it's busted"
"Eh-what?"
"Yessuh-busted There was right
smart of slide across the track, and
the crew. understands. diagnosed 1t
JUS TO- snow bank and done
bucked right into 1t. But they was
rock in this, sub; we's layin right
below hill; and that rock JUS busted
that rotary like Belgium shell hit it.
Yessuh-pleces Of that rotary essen.
TALLY scattered themselves in four di.
rections besides backwards and TO-
wards. We amt done much travelIn'
since them
Eaton no longer paid attention.
"Snowed In and stopped since
four!" The realization startled him
with the necessity of taking 1t into
account in his plans. He jerked him
self up In his berth and began pulling
his clothes down from the hooks; then,
The Holly chieftain., 1923-01-11
LOST FAITH IN PHYSICIAN
Mrs. Giles Naturally Indignant at His
Frank Admission Of Ignorance
of Medicine.

Mrs. Giles husband had been very
Ill. For days he had been gradually
getting worse, but at last there came
change for the better
When the doctor called and had a
look at his patient, he announced:
HE is convalescent."
On. hearing this. Mrs. Giles regarded
the physician suspiciously; and her
suspicion increased when he prepared
to go without further comment.
"Well, DOCTOR" said Mrs. Giles,
what are you going to do about 1t ?"
"DO?" was the answer. "There amt
nothing to be done"
swell, you are doctor, amt your
retorted the enraged lady. "Ain't you
got no medicine for this ere GONZALES
cence!"
The Holly chieftain., 1923-01-11
Railroad Rohberies.

French railroads in the past three
years have paid total of 598,5O0.0 600
francs indemnity for merchandise
stolen in stations and transit, lost, or
deteriorated 1t was announced recently.
All but few millions of this SUM
which Is considerably greater than the
budget voted for Frances army this
year-covered the work of railroad rob-
bers. No wonder that the French
passed legislation increasing greatly
the penalties of this type OF theft and
providing In extreme cases the penalty
of hard labor for life.
The Holly chieftain., 1923-01-11
CHAPTER Ill-continued.

"You mean" The sentence, obvi-
ously. was one she felt 1t better not
to finish. As though he recognized
that now she must wish the conyersa-
tion to end, he got up. She rose
stihiy.
"Iil see you into your car. If you're
returning there" he offered.
Neither spoke, as he went with her
into the next car; and at the section
where her father sat. Eaton bowed
silently, nodded to Avery, who coldly
returned his nod, and left her. Eaton
went on into his own car and sat
down, his thoughts in mad confusion.
How near he had come to talking
to this girl about himself. even though
he had felt from the first that that
was what she was trying to make him
do! Was he losing his common sense?
Was the self-command on which he
had SO counted that he had dared to
take this train deserting him? He
felt that he must not see Harriet
Dorne again alone. In Avery he had
recognized, by that instinct which so
strangely divines the personalities one
meets, an enemy from the start !;
Dorne's attitude toward him, of
course, was not yet defined; as for
Harriet Dorne-he could not tell
whether she was prepared to be his
enemy or friend.
Eaton went into the mems compart-
ment of his car, where he sat smok-
ing till after the train was under way
again. The porter looked in upon
him there to ask II he wished his berth
made up now; Eaton nodded assent,
and fifteen minutes later, dropping
the cold end Of his cigar and going
out into the car, he found the berth
ready for him. half hour later the
passage Of someone through the aisle
and the sudden dimming of the crack
Of light which showed above the cur
talns told him that the lights in the
car had been turned down. Eaton
closed his eyes, but sleep was far
from him.
Presently he began to feel the train
beginning to labor with the Increasing
grade and the deepening snow. It was
nearing the mountains, and the wealth.
er was getting colder and the storm
more severe. Eaton lifted the curtain
from the window beside him and
leaned on one elbow to look out. The
train was running through bleak,
white desolation; no light and no sign
The Holly chieftain., 1923-01-11
BoNEHEAD PLAY OF NoAH's
Asleep at the Switch When he Had
Opportunity to Benefit the
Human Race.

Boneheads have been pulled since
the dawn of light. The idea that any
particular age sees them running Wild
is mistake. The first famous bone
head that history records was pulled
by no less parsonage than old Noah.
Noah simply couldn't see things
right; he had no vision and, therefore,
missed the "Golden Chance" He had
40 long nights In which to get up and
put the two mosquitoes in the world
out Of business. He could have done 1t
with one smash Of his fly swatter. But
Noah snored away at the switch and
in time the dove appeared with the
olive branch and the next day the peo-
pie walked off the ark onto land-and
the mosquitoes went with them.
There are many other famous bone
heads that might be here recorded, but
none Of them equals old Noah's as a
work Of art, SO the committee ap-
pointed for the purpose has decided
unanimously to place his name in the
hall of fame.-Bert Walker in the
Topeka Capital.
The Holly chieftain., 1923-01-11

turned in his seat. was matcnine this
diversion on the part of the conductor
with interest. Connery stopped be-
side Eaton's seat.
"You took a telegram for Lawrence
Hillward this morning." he asserted.
"Yes,''
"WhyY
Because 1t was mine, or meant for
me, as / said at the time. My name
is Eaton: but Mr.. Hillward expected
to make this trip with me-"
The stout man with the conductor
forced himself forward.
That's pretty good, but not quite
good enough" he charged. "Conduc-
tor. get that telegram for mel"
Eaton got up, controlling himself
under the insult of the others manner
'What business is 1t of yours? he
demanded.
"What business? Why. only that
I'm Lawrence Hlllward-that's all, my
friend! What are you up to, anyway :?
Lawrence Hillward travelling with
you! l never set eyes on you until l
saw you on this train; and you take
my telegram!" The charge was made
loudly and distinctly; every one in
the dining car-Eaton could not see
every one, but he knew 1t was So
had put down fork or cup or spoon
and was staring at him. what did
The Holly chieftain., 1923-01-11

ished as one by one the passengers
went away to bed. Connery, looking
into this car, found 1t empty and the
porter cleaning up; he slowly passed
on forward through the train. stopping
momentarily in the rear Pullman op-
posite the berth of the passenger
whom President Jarvis had commend
ed to his care. His scrutiny of the
car told him all was correct here; the
even breathing within the berth as
sured him the passengers slept.
CoDnery had been becoming more
certain hour by hour all through the
evening that they were going to have
great difficulty In getting the train
through. Though he knew by Presi-
dent Jarvis note that the officials of
the road must be watching the prog
ress Of this especial train with par
ticular interest, he had received no
train orders from the west for sew
eral hours. His inquiry at the last
stop had told him the reason for this
the telegraph wires to the west had
gone down. To the east communIca-
ton was still open, but how long 1t
would remain so he could not guess.
Here in the deep heart of the great
mountains-they had passed the Idaho
boundary line into Montana-they
were getting the full effect of the
storm; their progress, Increasingly
slow, was broken by stops which were
becoming frequent and longer as they
struggled on.
At Fracroft-the station where he
was to exchange the ordinary plow
which SO far had sufficed, and couple
on the "rotary" to fight the noun
tain drifts ahead-Connery swung
himself down from the train, looked
In at the telegraph office and then
went forward to the two giant loco
motives, on whose sweating, mon
strous backs the snow, suddenly WIS.,
ible in the haze of their lights melted
as It fell As they started, he swung
aboard and In the brightly lighted
mems compartment of the first Pull
man checked up his report sheets with
stub of pencil
Again they stopped-once more
went on. Connery. having put his
papers into his pocket, dozed, awoke,
dozed again. The progress of the train
halted again and again; several times
1t backed, charged forward again
only to stop, back and charge again
and then go on. But this did not dis
turb Connery. Then something went
wrong.
All at once he found himself, by a
trainman's instructive and automatic
action, upon his feet; for the shock
had been SO slight as barely to be
felt, far too slight certainly to have
awakened any of the sleeping passen-
gers in their berths. He went to the
door of the car. lifted the platform
stop. threw open the door of the ves-
tibule and hanging himself by one
hand to the rail, swung himself out
from the side of the car and looked
ahead. He saw the forward one Of
the two locomotives wrapped in clouds
of steam, ard men arm-deep In snow
wallowing forward to the rotary still
farther to the front, and the sight con-
formed fully to his apprehension that
this halt was more important and
likely to last much longer than those
that had gone before.
The Holly chieftain., 1923-01-11

you do 1t for7 What did you want
with it?" the stout man blared on.
ibid you think l wasn't on the train7
What?"
Eaton felt he was paling as he
faced the clustering smaller man. He
realized that the passengers he could
see-those at the smaller tables
already had judged his explanation
and found him wanting; the others
unquestionably had done the same.
Avery was gazing up at him with Z
sort Of contented' triumph.
1.-THE telegram was for me, Conduc-
torp he repeated.
Get that telegram, Conductor" the
stout man demanded again.
II suppose" Connery suggested,
"you have letters or a card or some
thing, Mr.. Eaton, to show your re-
lationship to Lawrence Hlllward."
NO have not"
Connery gazed from one claimant
to the other. "Will you give this gen.
tleman the telegram" he asked Eaton
II will not"
Then l shall furnish him another
copy; it was received here on the
train by our express clerk as the op-
orator. I'll 60 forward and get him an,
other copy"
That's for you to decide" Eaton
said; and as though the matter was
closed for him, he resumed his seat.
He was aware that, throughout the
car the passengers were watching him
curiously.
Are you ready to go back to our
car now, Harriet?" Avery inquired
when she had finished her breakfast,
though Eaton was not yet through.
Surely there's no hurry about any
thing today" the girl returned. They
waited until Eaton had finished.
"Shall we all go back to the obser-
walton car and see If there's walk
down the track or whether it's showed
over:" she said impartially to the two.
They went through the Pullmans to.
gether.
The first Pullman contained four or
hNC phSsthSVl', VIC hSAt, III Which
Eaton had his berth, was still empty
as they passed through. The next
Pullman also, at first glance. seemed
to have been deserted in favor of the
diner forward or of the club-car far
ther back. The porter had made W
all the berths there also, except one
but someone was still sleeping behind
the curtains of Section Three, for
mans hand hung over the aisle. 1t
was a gentleman's hand. with long,
well formed fingers. sensitive and at
the same time strong. That was the
berth of Harriet Dorne's father; Ea.
ton was the last Of the three to pass,
and so the others did not notice his
start; but so strong was the fascina-
ton of the hand in the aisle that he
turned back and gazed at 1t before
going on into the last car. Some
eight or ten passengers--men and
wOmen-were lounglng in the easy
chairs of the observation room; n
couple, ulstered and fur-capped, were
standing on the platform gazing back
from the train.
The Holly chieftain., 1923-01-11
THE TELEGRAM


Gabriel Warden, Seattle capital
LIST. tells his butler he Is expecting
a caller. to be admitted without
question. He informs his wife of
danger that threatens him II he
pursues q course he considers the
only honorable one. Warden leaves
the house In his car and meets
man whom he takes into the ma
chine. When the car returns hone.
Warden is found dead. murdered.
and alone. The caller, young
man. has been at Warden's house.
but leaves unobserved. Bob Con-
merry. conductor. receives orders to
hold train for = party. Five men
and a girl board the train, the
Eastern Express. The father Of
the girl, Mr.. Dorne, Is the person
for whom the train was held. Philip
D. Eaton, . young man, also
boarded the train. Dorne tells his
daughter and his secretary, Don
Avery. to find out what they can
concerning him. The two make
Eaton's acquaintance.
The Holly chieftain., 1923-01-11

Eaten Went Into the Mems cempart-
ment Of His Car, Where He Sat
Smoking Till After the Train Was
Under Way Again.
Of habitation showed anywhere. The
events Of the day ran through his
mind again with sinister suggestion.
He had taken that train for certain
definite, dangerous purpose which re-
quired his remaining as obscure and
as inconspicuous as possible: yet al
ready he had been singled out for at
tentlon. So far, he was sure, he had
received no more than that-atten-
tion, curiosity concerning him. He
had not suffered recognition; but that
might come at any moment. Could he
risk longer waiting to act?
He dropped on his back on the bed
and lay with his hands clasped under
his head, his eyes staring up at the
roof Of the car.
In the card.room sf the observation
car, playing and conversation still
went on for a time: then II dlmln-
The Holly chieftain., 1923-01-11
Out Of Date.

The mid-Victorian aunt was paying
her annual visit. 1t was Sunday after
noon and she had been left in charge Of
the baby flapper Wondering how she
should entertain her, she said: "Shall
tell you a storyT YES" assented
the youngster in rather bored tones
"How would you like TO hear about
Adam and Eve In the beautiful gar
den" "Oh, I'm sick Of the AdamseA.
Don't you know anything elsef'
The Holly chieftain., 1923-01-11
Birth Rate in France.

During the first six months of 1922
the birth rate In the ten largest cities
Of France showed decrease of 10
per cent compared with that Of 1921.
The figures for Paris were 2423S per
1000.
The Holly chieftain., 1923-01-11
Ask Him at End Of Month.

Brother Williams, If the summons
were to come for you to go to heaven
tonight, would you be ready and
willin'"
"Looky heah, Mr.. Tom," was the re-
ply, "aln't you ware de fact dat I
done paid a months house rent in ad-
vance,"
The Holly chieftain., 1923-01-11
mo, No! Isn't this--isn't this
Basil Santoine7"
tTo BE coNTINuED.)

Tip.
When the girl keeps on calling your
attention to what lovely ring the
moon has, grab your hat and 60 home.
Richmond TlmesDlspatch.
The Holly chieftain., 1923-01-11

As soon as the moon gets three
quarters 1t proceeds to get full.
The Holly chieftain., 1923-01-11

Few great men have introspection
enough to tell how It feels to be great.
The Holly chieftain., 1923-01-11

He that endureth is not overcome.
The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1923-03-21
Former Resident Is
"MoOnshine" Victim
Peter Mccain VIII Survive Ac-
cording to Reports, But Wife
Died at Hospital.

Peter Mccain, a former resident OF
this city, now residing in Atlantic
City. Mrs. Mccain, Miss Grace Carlin
and Andrew O'Brien. we're recent vic
time of wood alcohol poisoning.
A milkman who called at the home
of Mccain, at 9 Graham place, last
Friday morning, discovered the vic
tins seriously i'll and Mrs. Bridget
Mccain in a critical condition. An
ambulance was summoned and the
victims rushed to the hospital. where
Mrs. Mccain died shortly after her
arrival.
Investigation by the police failed to
disclose the hiding place of any guam
tity of liquor at the Graham place
home. although a bottle containing
alleged whiskey vas found, and after
examination of the contents chemical
ly. it was announced the liquor con-
tanned a of wood alcohol.
1t was at first believed that O'Brien
was in such a critical condition that
death was imminent. but from reports
it is understood he will probably sur
vive the ordeal.
Mccain is a church sexton. OF the
three at the hospital he is in better
condition than the other two.
The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1923-03-21
Dinner At Quality
Restaurant Tonight
Chamber of Commerce Has Two
Important Meetings Sched-
uled for This Week.

The Pleasantville Chamber of Com
merce has two important meetings on
hand for this week. THIS Tuesday
night the local Chamber members,
combined with the Somers Point and
Absecon Chambers, will hold a joint
meeting in the Absecon School Audi
torium. At this meeting the principal
topic for discussion will be the i'm
provement of the Shore Road between
Absecon and Somers Point. Several
prominent speakers will address the
gathehing on this question. County
Solicitor E. A. Higbee will be n of
the principal speakers. Every men,
Der of the three organizations is urg-
ed to attend this meeting because of
its importance to the entire mainland
between the two points named.
This Wednesday night the Pleasant
vile Chamber will sponsor a dinner
to be given at six-thirty o'clock at the
Quality Restaurant, on North Main
street. A special menu, has been pre-
pared for this occasion. The princi-
pay question to be discussed at the
dinner will be more light for the bus
mess section of Pleasantville. Sever
al lighting experts, members of City
Council and others will make address
SEES. Every business mar in Pleasant
vile is invited to attend this affair.
Already many reservations have been
made for the dinner, and it is expect
ed that at least one hundred will at
tend.
The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1923-03-21
HADDON HEIGHTS
LOST TO P. H. S.
Contest Was Close and Exciting
Visiting Girls Team Defeat
ed Local Quintet.
FINAL o 27-25.

One field goal was the margin by
which Haddon Heights basketball
squad lost to Pleasantville High five
last Saturday night on the local court.
Henry had just shot a field goal to
make the score even at % all. Lloyd
who came in the game as a substitute
for Painter in the closing minutes,
followed Henry's shot with another
field goal, which closed the contest as
well as the season for the local quin.
tet.
Captain Johnny Norris, Haddon
Heights forward, was ruled out of the
game early in the final half, having
four personals credited to his name.
Up until he was sent out of the
game, Norris had scored of the
losers points. Peterson, who replac
ed Norris, was at a loss to find the
basket, while Reeves, who succeeded
him, made n shot from the field.
A brilliant defensive game featured
the opening half, Haddon Heights
High School coming off with a 8 to s
lead at half time.
Haddon Heights girls played the
Pleasantyille girls five the same eve
ming and secured a victory by the
score of 30-23. Pleasantville High
Schools passers, mere mites wher
compared to the powerful Haddor
Heights High School machine, Tailed
but eleven times from the field, while
the invaders registered fifteen shots
from all angles.
The box score.
The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1923-03-21
Art Students Give
Successful Comedy
Proceeds Go To Seniors Annual
Washington Trip and For Pic
lures for High School.

Art students of the Pl~easantville
High School presented a three act
comedy Between the Acts, in the
school auditorium, last Thursday and
Friday evenings. The proceeds of the
play are to be used for the purpose
of purchasing art pictures for the
High School and to cover part of the
e of the annual trip of the Sen
Tor Glass t O Washington in June.
Fred Smith, took the part of Dick
Comfort, who gets into trouble with
his uncle, Alexander Meander CONAN
Van Lew, because of his marriage to
Edith Comfort (Henrietta Bailey.
After a series of climaxes everything
is settled to the satisfaction of both
actors and audience.
The acting of Vincent Williams, as
George Merrigale, a curious friend of
Dick eddie Blake), as Harris, Com
forts servant; Frances Thomas, as
Clementina Alexander, Dicks aunt,
and Dorothy Stiles, as Sarah, Mrs.
Meander's Irish maid, vas enjoyed.
Miss Irma Stiles and Miss Laura
Leeds dancing class furnished the
entertainment between acts. The
play was produced under the direc-
ton of Miss Laura M. Carpenter, art
supervisor, and Mrs. Alice Macmillan,
coach.