davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1923-03-01

Her father wanted to swear. IN
wardly he was doing so. Before
him in all her spiritual beauty was
his own daughter in dress so light
and filmy and fy-away that there
was not enough in it to wad a shot
gun to shoot rabbit, and that fool
Poison was sitting by him clapping
his hands and yelling for the or
chestra to go on.
Whats the matter with you? Try
ing to encourage her? I think that
is absolutely rotten playing. Do not
forget I paid you to discourage her"
and Mary's father sank back into his
seat, defeated for the moment.
Poison laughed at him. Always a
rise before a fall, old man. She is
coming along all right" He looked
at Mary, calling to her to regis
ter great fear, then with lightning
like rapidly he called for humor,
tears, love, premeditated death,
mother love, disaster, great loss,
melancholy, insanity, idiocy, passion,
intrigue, lust,-then she stopped
breathlessly and asked so innocently,
The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1923-03-01
By Hazel Courtney

Nonnie, and was soon lost in the
crowd.
1t was while Paula was waiting for
a traffic jam to untangle that David
espied her and hustled her into the
gray roadster for a ride and dinner
in the country. When he left her at
the boarding house door it was 9
O'clock.
"You missed it," Miss Mayberry
greeted Paula with this remark as
she mounted the stairs to her room.
''You missed it! There's been lots
doing here tonight. Nonnie was mar
ried and, say! she had the SWEETEST
rig you ever seen. I don't know
where she got the money to buy it.
Goodness knows her mother didn't
give it to her, nor the man she mar
ried, but twill say Nonnie looked
elegant in it."
"Yes?" Paula inserted the key in
her door while suspicion dawned
upon her.
white georgie-ette and SATIN
Paula hastily shut the door upon
The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1923-03-01

Miss Mayberry and her report. She
switched on the light and looked for
the bundle Nonnie should have left
somewhere in the room. There was
no bundle. She went to the closet
and looked. She was right-Non-
MES wedding finery had been her
wedding fnery and Nonnie's glory
neither honestly borrowed nor
bought.
ooh, how dared she?" Paula wall
ed miserably to herself, "how dared
she? And what am | to do now? Will
she bring it back? And if she does,
how can I bear to wear it after her?
But if I don't-what shall I do? I've
got to look my best onJmy wedding
night and the $3.50 dresses that are
to be nothing in my life a year from
now, as Nonnie elegantly expressed
it, are worse than nothing now. Oh,
what shall I do? What shall I do?'
There was timid knock at the
door and on the threshold stood Non
ME guiltily sobbing, in all the glory
of the satin dress and ven.
The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1923-03-01

semblance.
I'm Richard Harper" nodded the
boy. do you know my father?"
used to-" replied the man. How
about this affair with Billy?"
WELL" said Richard slowly, de-
Gliding after close scrutiny that this
was a man and brother, "BilIy's a
new kid in my grade. He asked me
what kind of teacher we had and I
told him she was all right and awful
hon'able. She wouldn't lick anyone
if he said, honor bright, he didn't do
it. He said he bet she would. Then
he said I couldn't prove it, and dou-
ble-dared me. So, Of course, had
to-"
He looked appealingly at his hear
er, who nodded as one who sees
stern necessity.
Fl told him to WATCH" resumed
Richard, "and leaned over and
pulled Whitley McLeod's hair. Whitley
yelped, and Miss Laurel found out
what had happened, and then she
asked me if l did it. "I said, No,
honor bright and she said, Very
we'll, Richard Billy had to b'lieve it
then, didn't he?"
The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1923-03-01

conscience that the money was not
rightfully hers, and resolutely hoped
that she would not find anything
that would make identification of the
owner of the wallet possible.
She smoothed out the last sheet Of
paper. Nothing so far" she thought,
and drew sigh of relief. And then
her eye caught sight of some writing
on the paper she held in her hand.
Carefully she scanned the delicate,
rather feminine looking characters.
Dear Boy" it read, II think you
ought to come at once. I hate to
bother you just now when you are SO
busy, but I am afraid there isn't
much time to spare. THEO."
"Well, that doesn't tell me much, y
reflected Sheila, "but it sounds rather
sad. Perhaps I'd better return that
money if 1 can find the owner. I'd
never have any peace If I kept it,
anyway. Maybe Geof will be in good
humor and I'll tell him all about it. y
But one glance at her brothers
face drove all thought of her recent
adventure from her mind. Whats
wrong, Geof?" she cried, when he
came in. "Tell me. has anything
The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1923-03-01
Under the Skin

she said distinctly. "You gave me
the exact amount"
Nonnie's watery blue eyes opened
wider. "One hundred and fifty dol
lars for a DRESS" she breathed.
She accompanied Paula, unlimited,
while Paula bought gloves and shoes
and stockings. She looked at each
article wistfully, longingly, but not
enviously. Paula Henderson was a
young goddess, deserving of every
thing good in her life, in the opinion
of Nonnie Plainbody.
They were on the sidewalk when
she burst out suddenly, "Let me car
'ry it! Please! It's the nearest I'll
ever come to $3.50 dress, and year
from now it won't be nothing in your
young life"
Paula laughed.
Garry 1t home for me-" she con-
coded, "and I'll stay downtown. ]
won't come back to supper-not I'M
til very late"
"You bet I'll carry It," promised
The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1923-03-01

wonderful-like a movie star. It's a
weddin' dress, amt it?"
"Yes," admitted Paula, reluctantly.
"Then you're goin' to marry him
the Teller what's ben takin' you ridin'
all Summer in the gray roadster?
You'll be rich and live in the park
in the big stone house Of his?"
eyes," assented Paula, more re-
luctantly still. She had hoped to get
away from Mrs. Plainbody's boarding
house before anybody knew Of her
change of fortune.
Nonnie looked at her worshipfully.
II knew you'd land him." she de-
clared, although the other boarders
said you wouldn't. You're the kind
that has things come their way. I
knew. But you amt the only one
what's goin' to be married. I am
myself"
The saleswoman was coming with
the box. Paula hoped fervently that
she would not mention the price in
Nonnie's hearing. But
Zone hundred and fifty dollars, -
The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1923-03-01

false pride! Why don't you come
right out and tell them that you can't
afford to play their game?" And the
faster she walked, the harder her
conscience fayed her. "I1l never
dare ask Geof for the money-he will
send me straight home if I do" she
reflected. IT wonder-good heavens
oh! OH"
A sudden bump sent her Keeling
against the side Of nearby build
ing. For moment the girl did not
know what had struck her, and
gasping for breath, she leaned weak
ly against the wall. AS she did so,
there doomed before her eyes a large,
masculine figure, running as though
for dear life, aid fast disappearing
down the street. Sheila watched him
resentfully.
well, he certainly must be in a
terrible rush." she exclaimed angrily
to herself. "The least he might do is
to stop and see what the damage is,
after humping into anyone like that. !"
And she Strengthened her hat with an
unsteady hand.
"My best gray suede pumps, too, -
she reflected, and looked down to see
The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1923-03-01
HENDERSON

~ AULA HENDERSON pushed
through the doors of Reeves
with the fixed determination
to commit extravaganza with $3.50
which she had concealed in the in
nermost recesses of her pocketbook.
But If $3.50 was to Paula hard
earned, harder saved fortune to
spend upon the purchase of her
wedding dress, the majestic clerk
who came forward gave her to I'M
derstand that it was mere triae to
spend for garment in Reeves.
1t was while she was waiting for
the saleswoman to box her parcel
that she spied Nonnie Plainbody.
What was Nonnie doing here in
Reeves when she should have been
at home helping her mother get din
ner for score Of hungry boarders
AS she wondered, she also hoped
that Nonnie would not see her.
But Nonnie did. She came down
the velvet-carpeted aisle and spoke
In a reverent whisper.
81 seen you in it. You looked
The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1923-03-01

WN WO in spades" said Sheila's
high-pitched voice, and the
muscles about her mouth be-
came suddenly tense. She knew she
had no business to be playing
bridge again. Godfrey had warned
her only that morning that they
simply must cut down expenses.
1.-TWO no trump" Eileen's voice
sounded, almost triumphant. yours, F"
said the others, and one more the
game was on.
But it was very chastened Sheila
who left the Davenant's beautiful
home later that afternoon. Refusing
all offers Of a Gift" in any Of the
luxurious cars, she set out in low
spirits for the modest kitchenette
apartment where she kept house for
her brother, Godfrey. Her head
dropped from it's customary proud
little tilt, and she roundly scolded
herself.
"You ought to be ashamed Of your
self, Sheila West" she ragged. Nov
you need $22 to pay up bridge
debts-and the first thing you know
Geof will send you back home to the
stupid old country. It's all your
The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1923-03-01

TS HE man who sat on the sun
whitened log, facing the wa
@ ter, looked up. startled, as the
wriggling morsel of dog hurdled the
log and circled gayly about him.
Here, Plump" said an authorita-
tive voice. "Lie down, sir"
The man turned his head and gazed
amusedly at the small boy who seat
ed himself on the other end of the
log.
why Flump?"
"'Cause that's the way he lies
down when he's tired. He goes
Hump' down on the ground. So I
called him Plump"
The small boy was touching his
knuckles tenderly with the dingy rag
that passed with him for handker-
chief.
Sears of honorable warfare?" in
Quired the man.
"I'ye been fighting with Billy Bak-
er, if that's what you mean" re-
turned the belligerent, examining a
scratch on his forehead with the aid
of small pocket mirror
"You must be Dick Harper's boy
said the man, catching a fleeting re-
The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1923-03-01
By Joella Johnson

finally stole away, clutching with
warm fingers the quarter in his
pocket.
Frederick Trent gradually made a
place for himself in the life of the
old town. He and Ana Laurel met,
on occasion, with grave courtesy.
Trent made no advances, though a
faint hope still fingered in his heart.
He went often to the log under the
spruce tree where, on an Autumn
afternoon, Ana Laurel found him.
Tell me about it, Frederick" she
said, simply.
As If he had been expecting 1t,
Trent began at once: when 1 left
you that night, Ana-you remembers"
She bowed her head, silently. Did
she not remember-that night and
all the suffering nights that followed?
"There was a telegram from Jack,
The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1923-03-01
0sSdg6ls oSgS19gG1S

from San Francisco, to come at once
I drove all night to get the
earliest train. Jack was in jail
charged with swindling. I'd prom
ised father to look after Jack. II
took years to pay back. What had l
to offer and what could I say? 1t
can do no harm to tell you now, for
Jack is gone. He was lever strong,
and the confinement disgrace"
. What suffering you would have
saved us both il you had told me this
in the beginning" Her hand touched
his clasped ones.
as there chance, Ana? he asked.
"Yes," she answered, but couldn't
at first"
Richard said the punishment
might come first" he whispered, "but,
bless him, he said you'd give fellow
another chance"
The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1923-03-01

"And did he?" Sheila's voice sound
ed queer.
mo, he didn't" growled her broth
er; But that isn't the worst. On
the dead run, he had to bump into
some silly little f1apper who didn't
know enough to look where she was
going, and in his rush he never no.
ticed that the wallet fell out of his
hand. So, not only did Luke not get
the money-we've lost it into the
bargain"
"How strange" murmured Sheila,
a funny little twinkle beginning to
dance in her brown eyes.
"Grainger's going over every step
of the way again" continued Geoff,
''but''- and went to answer a ring at
the door instead of completing his
sentence. Introductions over, in a
voice suspiciously meek, Sheila
asked:
What sort of girl was it you
bumped into?"
"To tell the TRUTH" answered
Granger, 81 really didn't get look
at her. She must think me a rufian,
all right, for 1 never even stopped
to find out whether I had hurt her.
I'd give whole lot to see her again,
though. I'll bet she could tell me
something about that wallet"
"I'l1 bet she could. too" said Sheila
dramatically. "And what's more
she will" And she held out the bill
fold.
The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1923-03-01
SS(Ss26I SE@G aSz6IeES1l

Surely" agreed the man. what
did you say your teachers name
WASP"
Miss Ana LAUREL" replied Rich
ard. well, after school asked
Billy if he b'lieved it now, and he
said. Yes but I'd told lie and he
was going to tell Miss Laurel. So I
hit him. and Miss Laurel saw me.
She called us both in, and Billy told
her. I didn't say anything, so Miss
Laurel just said: Richard and I set
tied that once He said honor bright,
he didn't do it. But she looked kind
Of sorry"
Richard gave a regretful sigh be-
fore finishing his story.
well, we had to stay in and copy
a long poem. I got through first and
waited outside to lick Billy. That's
all, but s'pose I've got to go back
The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1923-03-01

Company Oh, DEAR" bewailed
the girl, there isn't thing in the
house." and she unfastened her
apron hurriedly.
Don't worry. it isn't real COM
pany," Geoff treasured her, 'it's just
our Western man. He's coming here
to let me know if he had any luck. +"
ANY luck? But, Geoff, don't u1l-
derstand! do tell me the rest!"
well, you see, dear, Hawley
doesn't get a very big salary, and of
course it has cost him a lot to take
care of his wife. So the boys in the
office got together and collected
some money for him. He had only
20 minutes to make his train, so,
without a word to him, we Switched
his wallet from his pocket and
slipped three ten dollar bills into it. u
"Three $40 bills!" Sheila sat VI
with a jerk.
eyes" Godfrey continued. well
to make a long story short, in the
hubbub of getting off, we forgot to
put the wallet back, and Luke went
off without cent"
co." said Sheila weakly, chow aw-
full"
"Stephen Granger, our Western
man, just happened to blow in then
He's an old-time college athlete with
about six feet of length to him, so he
volunteered to make run to the sta
ton to try and reach Luke before the
train pulled out."
The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1923-03-01

the small mother. Then, Charles,
you must admit that She is quite
clever. : think she has real ability"
"Let her be clever. paid a for
tune for the different schools to put
something into her head. I know
she does not slump when she stands,
and can meet any person, prince or
potentate; but that does not signify
that she is qualified to be in the
movies. She is just stage struck, at
tho crazy age, and honestly, Louise,
I do not think you encourage me the
least in keeping her down. Your
vanity or pride makes you totally ig-
norant-well, Indifferent then to my
cherished views. You know we put
her in the Washington and New
York schools to give her the oppor-
tunity to widen her social world, and
she has friends among the finest and
wealthiest families in America. Are
we going to permit that little simple
ton to rule us at this end of the
game? shall make her obey me. "
"She insists on going to Poison for
, a hearing. She 10 getting ready to
see him now"
did she make an appointment"
he Numbered, black with anger.
mo, I did not" said the object of
his wrath, appearing in the door.
"But want to, Daddie."
well, you shall not do 1t your
self. shall see him first, am going
The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1923-03-01

Was there after all so much diff
ference between Nonnie Plainbody
and Paula Henderson?
"Nonnie," she asked suddenly,
"did you ever know Judy O'Grady and
the Colonel's lady?"
"I-don't think so, Miss Hender-
son."
you're sure they never boarded
here?"
ooh, I'm pretty sure" returned
Nonnie, in bewilderment.
Then Paula laughed. Look up,
Nonnie," she said. LET me see if
you did look nice for his folks"
Nonnie threw up her head. The
soft veil, the satin train, the lace
sleeves had made lovely creature
out of the little household drudge.
"Nonnie," said Paula, sit wasn't
the right thing to do at all, and I
was angry. But you see, I know
Judy O'Grady and the Colonel's lady,
and I understand! I believe the
dress is as becoming to you as it is
to me-"
ooh, it couldn't be" protested Nom
ME, almost Indignantly, cit couldn't
be. Men you is two different things.
We amt alike in anything"
ooh, yes, we are, Nonnie," she
smiled, We're sisters-under the
skin"
The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1923-03-01

ooh, / don't know what you'll do
to me, Miss Henderson" she began.
/ know I ought not to have done it.
But I wanted it so. You see, I've
been lookin' at THE dress in Reeves
for a month. 1t used to be on a fig
ure in a glass case. Then you
bought it. When you let me take
it home and said you wouldn't be
back till late the idea came to me. I
thought I'd get it back and you'd
never know, especially when I seen
you go by me in Mr.. Neville's car.
But, you got home first.
ooh, Miss Henderson, don't see
why I treated you so; you who've
been the kindest of any boarder Ma
ever had. But" she ended her plea,
miserably, II amt hurt it mite and
nobody but you'n nell ever know,
And I wanted to look nice for him
and his folks"
For a moment the silence was
broken only by Nonnie's sobs, while
Paula looked steadily into space and
thought over and over of the lame
excuse, 81 wanted to look nice for
him and his folks" What a brazen
plea! 1t was preposterous! 1t was
outrageous! To look nice for him
and his folks! But-well, wasn't
that just why she had scrimped and
pinched to buy the dress, herself?
The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1923-03-01

note?"
He wrote hastily.
Richard has lifted my courage
by reminding me>of what I already
know--that you were awful square.
VIII you listen to an explanation of
the long silence with judgment sus-
pended? I am waiting at the old log
under the spruce tree"
He waited until Richard reappear-
ed with traces of tears on his cheeks.
1--WE decided I'd ought to take
some punishment" he said. at was
just little. That wasn't what made
me cry. Here's a note"
The note said: six years is too
long, Frederick. Please excuse me.
can't"
The man crushed it in his hand
and sat looking silently across the
water. Richard shuff1ed uneasily and
The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1923-03-01

N NARY passed a delicately CO.
W logne-scented forefnger over
vs. an arched, golden eyebrow.
Then she sighed and fixed the other
eyebrow, not with perfume from
some distant Orient, of which she
dreamed, but moistened by putting
her wee pink finger in her small red
mouth. Then that mouth pouted,
making one forget such things as red
rosebuds. 1t looked like cruel cut.
After a reflection in the mirror, she
stared and stared until real-not
glycerine tears, fell upon naturally
pink cheeks.
OF course, she was pretty. She
was just whole lot more than love-
ly, and she knew it.
Down stairs sat the two causes of
those genuine pearls of disappoint-
ment. The two were her mother, a
small Dresden-like piece of feminin-
ity with no more will-power than an
Autumn leaf in gale; and the girls
stern father, who turned everything
into chaos when he came into the
house.
"It shows just how frivolous she
is when she does thing like this,
passing her colored postal card
repeating the words written BY
Mary,
Lovingly thine-Twinkle-Twin
kle.'"
''But Mary is so young" admitted
The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1923-03-01
G2slgISxgycggIgNg g2gYS&9Q
Man To Man
IN69gSlag5sa1SSZ6Iag 6IS2sIagG1G

and take my medicine"
What do you mean, medicine?"
asked the man.
"Tell her, and take the licking, -
explained Richard. She'll give me
another chance. She's awful
square"
Man to man, now, Richard" said
the stranger, suddenly, eff you had
disappointed Miss Laurel long time
ago without being able to explain,
and had just got where you could ex-
plain, do you think she would isten?"
Richard nodded.
"She's awful square. OF course"
he warned, "I'll probably have to
take my licking, but if I tell her
about it she'll b'lieve me next time,
just the same"
Thanks, Richard" returned the
man. will you take Miss Laurel a
The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1923-03-01
By Margaret Taylor
9H2ngSSso93HSS

do not know an actress when you see
one"
"Some more of your mothers
work." and he grinned. If she was
that good, and Poison was dynamic
force in the theatrical world, maybe
she was a find. OF course she was
His money had merely made addi-
tional changes, preparing her for
this wonderful role in life.
He got up laughing, declaring he
was going right downtown and shoot
Poison.
TwinkIe-T Twinkle elevated two del
icate golden eyebrows, then moist
ened one with a finger which had
been poked into her mouth. That
rosebud expanded into q full-blown
rose; for truly Twinkle-Twinkle was
a gay little star.
The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1923-03-01

Said the weather prophet, "I think
it is safest always to predict bad
weather"
Why's that?"
well, people are ready to for
give you if you turn out to be wrong. "
The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1923-03-01
Secrets
and
Gents
By Claire Wess0n

A CLEAR, sweet whistle float
"A ed up the stairway: 'tAice,
y Mhorn Art Thou 9n ita thenna
SveÌŒt = World. [volume] (Cleveland, Ohio) 1911-1939, 1923-08-27
PADEM BERLfNA STRzENA
BUDE l FRANCIE.
Predpovida talk Viktor Berger

New York, 26. srpna. -
"Nemecko jest ma pokraji zka
zy, ale padne-li, strhne sebou
i Francii" vypravi Viktor Ber-
ger z Milwaukee, socialisticky
Glen kongresp. "a dnesniho ma.
yratu lodi Albert Balm pc
dvoumesfcnfm pobytu ' Evro
pc. SoucasnG vyslovil jiste u.
spokojeni vysledky mezina'
rodniho kongresu socialisticke.
no v Hamburku, ktereho sc
sdGastnil jalko oficielni delega.
strany zdejsi. Ma kongresu
byli odmitnuti, jak tvrdi dale
nejen kymmisticti delegati.
ale jejich theorie. v Meme
cAu navs.tvil Berger 81 NEST
osad, intervenoval Sc zebraky
i politickymi nacelniky, bo.
haci chudaky, ale nikde ne.
nalezl vysloveneho nepfatel-
stvi proti Americe. Veri, re
by p1jcka jedne milliardy dol.
lari postac;la na zakoupeni su
rovin a tax pomohla nemecke.
mu prdmyslu ma nohy. Znovu
zrizeni zamoznosti vedlo by k
ustaleni nemecke marky, COZ
by op6tne Nemecku umoznilo
zapociti sc splacenim valec-
nych dluhI. Dale obvinuje
Berger Ameriku, ze pomahd
Francii, kterou soucasne stve
"Kdyby Amerika nebyla "a
sahla We va!ku, skoncila by ia.
to nerozhodne a celia Evropa
by 81 pax sama upravila dalsi
vlastni osud," dodal ku konci
zajimaveho rozhovoru.
SveÌŒt = World. [volume] (Cleveland, Ohio) 1911-1939, 1923-08-27
ZABlTA ZAHADNE VYSTRE
LENOU KULf.

Somersville, N. j., 26. srpna.
- Manzele Henry a Marie Ge
hlenovi z East Orange, vyjeli
81 vcera automobilem ma vylet
We spolecnosti dcery a zete
Kramerovych. Hledali prave
u Bound Brook vhodne misto k
taboreni, kdyz Sc pojednou
rozhlehla rama, podobna wy
buchnuti praskle pneumatiky,
a kule pronikla postrannfm
zasklenim stroje a vnikla pi.
Marii Gehlenove primo hla-
VII. Postrelena zena upadla v
bezv6domi, ktereho vice nena-
byla, zemfela "a kratko po do
praveni do Somerset nemocni-
ce v zdejsim meste. Kule wy
palena jest maleho kalibru.
Po pachateli sc patr&.