davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Roanoke Rapids herald., 1923-11-30
The Light Of S
Uesfern Stars IS

divine what all this strange talk and
action meant
Hold on. Nels, they don't need to
hear it," said Stewart, hoarsely as he
waved a hand toward Madeline's silent
group.
"Wal. I'm sorry. but reckon they'd
as well know fust as last Mebbe
thet yearnin' wish of Miss Helen's fer
somethin' to happen will come true
Shore L"
"Cut out the joshin'," rang out
Monty's strident voice.
1t had as decided an effect as any
preceding words or action. Perhaps
form these men. doing unaccustomed
duty as escorts of beautiful women.
to their natural state as men Of the
wild
Tell US what's what" said Stewart.
cool and grim.
Don Carlos an his guerrillas are
campin' on the trails thet lead up
here. They've got them trails blocke ed.
BY tomorrer they'd he'd us corrallcd.
Mebbe they meant to surprise US. He's
got lot of Greasers an outlaws.
They're we'll armed. Now, what do
they mean? You-all can figger 1t out
to suit yourselves Mebbe the Don
wants to pay n sociab call on our
ladies'. Mebbe his gang Is some hun
CRY, us usual. Mebbe they want to
steal few hosses, or anythin they can
lay hands on. Mebhe they mean wuss,
too. Now. my idea is this, an mebbe
it's wrong. | long since separated
from love with Greasers. Thet black
faced Don Carlos has got deep game
fhet two-bit of a revolution is hevir
hard times. The rebels want Amer
ican Intervention. They'd stretch any
poirt to make trouble We're only ten
miles from the border. Suppose them
guerrlllas got our crowd across thet
border? The United States cavalry
would foler. You-all know what thet'd
mean. Mebbe Don Carlos mind works
thet way. Mebbe IL don't. ! reckon
We'll know soon. An now, Stewart,
whatever the Don's game Is, shore
you're the man to outtigger him. Meb-
be its just as well you're good an
mad about somethin. An I'm goin.
to resign my job because I want to
feel unbeholdln' TO anybody. Shore 1t
struck me long since thet the old days
he'd come back for little spell. an
there | was trallin' a promise not TO
hurt any Greaser."
Roanoke Rapids herald., 1923-11-30

up without assistance Edith Wayne
and Madeline climbed last. and, once
up. Madeline saw . narrow bench
thick with shrubs and overshadowed
by huge. leaning crags. There wes
holes In the rock, and dark fissures
leading back. II was a rough, wild
place. Tarpaulins and bedding were
then hauled up. and food and water.
The cowboys spread comfortable beds
in several of the caves, and told Made
line and her friends to be as quiet as
possible, not to make a light, and to
sleep dressed, ready for travel at a
moments notice
Madeline deplored the discomfort
and distress. but felt no real alurm.
She was more Inclined to evasive kind
ness here than to sincerity, for she
had decided uneasiness. The swift
change In the manner and looks of
her cowboys had been a shock to her.
The last glance she had of Stewards
face, then stern, almost sad. and hag
gard with worry, remained to aug
ment her foreboding.
Darkness appeared to drop swiftly
down; the coyotes began their haunt
Ing mournful howls the stars showed
and grew brighter; the wind moaned
through the tips OF the pines. The
cowboys below had built a fire, and
the light from 1t rose in a huge, fam
shaped glow. Madeline peered down
from the cliff. The distance was short,
and occasionally she could distinguish
word spoken by the cowboys. They
were unconcernedly cooking and eating.
Presently Nick Steele silenced the
campfire circle by raising warning
hand. The cowboys bent their heads.
listening. Madeline listened with all
Roanoke Rapids herald., 1923-11-30
CHAPTER XVII


Stewart took Nels, Monty and Nick
Steele aside out of earshot, and they
evidently entered upon an earnest col
ioquy. Presently the other cowboys
were called, They all talked more or
less. but the deep voice of Stewart
predominated over the Others Then
the consultation broke up, and the
cowboys scattered
Rustic, you Indians :" ordered
Stewart
The ensuing scene of action was MOI
reassuring to Madeline and her friends.
They were quiet. awaiting some one
to tell them what to do. At the offset
the cowboys appeared to have for
gotten Madeline. Some of them ran
Off into the woods, others into the open.
grassy places, where they rounded up
the horses and burros. Several cow
boys spread tarpaulins upon the
ground and began to select and roll
small packs, evidently for hurried
travel. Nels mounted his horse to ride
down the trail. Monty and Nick Steele
went Off into the grove, leading their
! horses. Stewart climbed up steep
| tumble of stone between two sections
of low. cracked cliff back of the camp
Madeline's friends all importuned
her: Was there real danger? Were
the guerrillas coming? Would a start
be made at once for the ranch? Why
had the cowboys suddenly become so
different? Madeline answered as hest
she could; but her replies were only
conjecture, and modified to allay the
fears of her guests. Helen was In
white glow of excitement.
Soon the cowboys appeared riding
barebacked horses. driving in others
and the burros Some of these horses
were taken away and evidently hidden
| in deep recesses between the crags
The string of burros were packed and
sent off down the trail In charge of Il
| cowboy. Nick Steele and Monty re-
turned. Then Stewart appeared
clambering down the break between
the cliffs.
His next move was to order all the
baggage belonging to Madeline and
Roanoke Rapids herald., 1923-11-30
Once Hooked by Eskimo Hunter, There
Is No Way by Which He
Can Get Away.

An Eskimo, when once he has gone
to the trouble of splicing fine spear
handle. does not wish to break 1t, so
the point is put on with tangle or
joint.
When a seal or walrHs Is harpooned
the sudden struggle of the animal does
not break the spear. but merei, un-
Joints the point. and the more the AMI
NAL struggles the more the point turns
crosswise in the wound and the tirmer
the barbs take hold
But the animal cannot escape. for
with thongs Of skin the point is con-
nected with the spear shaft. The AMI
NAL merely swins away or dives deep
into the sea, carrying with him the
spear. The long leather thong which
Is attached to 1t uncoils from the deck
If the kyack and pays out. 1t carries
with 1t a drag like kite. which re-
fards the animal and exhausts him.
hut does not pull hard enough TO break
he line. Even this draw Is nnde of
si;i stretched over u spl!ced frame
80. ~
Roanoke Rapids herald., 1923-11-30
out yesta Blaine. mo laggingi

out yesta Blaine. mo laggingi A
fine for being the last one"
That parlor full of hoarders re-
sembled small army Of squirrels
scrambling about in heap of nuts.
Everybody got in everyboGy's way:
everybody laughed-even the sober
man was guilty of happy look around
his eyes.
At last the seven stockings were
bulging with gifts; they swayed gently
back and forth in all the energy Of
their recent filling.
Select your own stockings" shout
ed Vesta Blaine like general ordering
his troops into battle, "and open your
presents,
1t just happened by the merest
chance that Nesta and the sober man
were seated on the sofa together. They
shook out their stockings into mu-
tual heap and began to unite the
strings and rip off the seals.
Look here" said the sober man
sternly ''how did anyone know
wanted that book?" and he held out
IA thin, leather-bound volume toward
Vesta.
you said you did, once last sum-
mer," answered Vesta a little shyly.
Caesars ghost,' he whistled, land
you remembered?"
"Yes," nodded Nesta.
This affirmation seemed to concern
the sober man very much.
why" he asked after moments
consideration.
"Oh," replied the girl. Il just wanted
YOU to have what you wanted
to have"
This afforded the sober man more
food for thought
81 didn't even know you were aware
of my existence. l used to bet with
myself that if 1t came to a pinch and
Roanoke Rapids herald., 1923-11-30

YOU had to Introduce me- you could not
that sort of thing, that l thought"
he was unable to finish.
Nesta made gesture as If she threw
caution to the winds. Listen to me-"
she said. You're the most interesting
person here; l hated not ever having
word with you about books. That's
one reason I had this party, hoped
you'd talk to me Il little. You always
looked so bored when I came in. and
| was sorry. I'm not so frivolous as
| seem. My father-the man playing
Santa Claus-is owner of the London
Book shop here; I'm working there
just to learn something of the busi-
ness. Its Dad who's really back of
the party. | just did the suggesting.
He's perfect old dear. | wanted to
try being regular shop girl. so came
here to board. and it's been the great
est fun. did not mean to deceive
people too much, but really"-here she
permitted herself a tiny gurgle of
mirth-"Miss Billings got so fright
fully interested in man who was
paying me such attention. and Of
course it was no one but Dad, who
came now and then to give me some
pleasure at the theater or con-
cert
She stopped from lack of breath.
The sober man beamed You would
never believe that an expression could
change the way his did. 1t was like
"A dawnng, new light spread upon
his face.
What happened after this Is almost
too confusing for description.
Santa unmasked and was introduced
to everybody. Such thanking and
explaining. Such happy, laughing
group. Miss Billings discovered she
could play the piano and Mr.. Blaine
swung out first with Mrs Cummings,
who tluttered like CIR! at her first
party. The rest whirled in with great
fervor
If anyone had been looking sharply
for the happiest couple, | think, Vestn
and the sober man would have been
selected. What he said to her is no.
body's business. nor what she an
swered-and yet they seemed to have
settled something very happily.
TO- 1898. Western Newspaper Union.)
Roanoke Rapids herald., 1923-11-30

mine, that I'm sick with admirin' of
you. II you hedn't sent me-wal. I'm
reckonin' somethin' might hev hap-
pened. AS it is we're shore up against
a hell Of proposition
How significant was the effect Of his
words upon all the cowboys! Stewart
made fierce and violent motion. ter
rible where his other motions had been
but passionate. Monty ieaped straight
up into the air In singular action as
suggestive Of surprise as 1t was Of
wild acceptance Of menace. Like Il
stalking giant Nick Steele strode over
to Nels and Stewart. The other cow
boys rose silently, without a word,
Madeline and her guests in litiie
group, watched and listened. ur,Ii,.c Ii.
Roanoke Rapids herald., 1923-11-30

her might. She heard one of the
hounds whine. then the faint beat of
horses hoofs. The beat OF hoofs grew
louder, entered the grove, then the
circle of light. The rider was Nels
He dismounted, and the sound OF his
low voice just reached Madeline.
Gene, it's Nels. Something doin'.'
Madeline heard one of the cowboys
call, softly.
Send him over" replied Stewart.
Nels stalked away from the fire.
"See here, Nels, the boys are all
right. but l don't want them to know
everything about this mix-up," said
find the girl?"
Madeline guessed that Stewart re-
ferred to the Mexican girl Bonita.
mo. But l met"-Madeline did not
catch the name-"an' he was wild. He
was with forest-ranger. An they
said Pat Have had trailed her an was
takin' her down under arrest"
Stewart muttered deep under his
breath, evidently cursing.
wonder why he didn't come on up
here?' he querled. presently. HE can
see trail"
"Wal, Gene. Pat knowed you was
here all right, fer thet ranger said Pat
he'd wind Of the guerrillas, an Pat
said If Don Carlos didn't kill you
which he hoped he'd do-then it'd be
time enough to put you in Jail when
you come down."
Hes dead set to arrest me, Nels.'
San he'll do 1t, like the old lady
who kept tavern out West. Gene. the
reason tibet red-faced coyote didn't
trail you up here Is because he's
scared. He allus was scared of you.
But reckon he's shore scared to death
of me an Monty"
"Well. We'll take Pat In his turn.
The thing now Is. when will that
Greaser stalk us. and what'll we do
when he comes?"
My boy. there's only one way to
handle Greaser. shore told you
thet. He means rough toward us. He'll
come smiln' up. all soci'ble like, in
sinuatin' an sweeter n woman. But
he's treacherous: he's wuss than an
Indian. An, Gene, we know for a
positive fact how his gang hev been
operatin' between these hills an Aqua
Prieta. We know Jest about what
thet rebel war down there amounts to.
It's guerrilla war. an shore some har-
vest time fer lot of cheap thieves an
outcasts."
"Oh. you're right, Nels. I'm not dis
putting that" replied Stewart. "If II
wasn't for Miss Hammond and the
other women, I'd rather enjoy seeing
you and Monty open up on that bunch.
I'm thlnkin I'd be glad to meet Don
Carlos. But Miss Hammond! Why,
never recover from the sight of real
gun-play. let alone any stunts with a
rope. These eastern women are differ.
ent. I'm not belittling our western
women. It's In the blood. Miss Ham
mond isis"
"Shore she is" interrupted Nels,
"but she's got d-n sight more spunk
than you think she has, Gene Stewart.
I'm no thick-skulled COW. I'd hate
somethin' powerful to hev Miss Ham,
mond see any rough work. let alone me
an Monty startin' somethin'. An me
an Monty'll stick to you. Gene, as long
as seems reasonable. Mind, ole Teller.
beggin' your pardon. you're shore stuck
on Miss Hammond. an overtender not to
hurt her feelin's or make her sick by
lettin' some blood. We're In bad here.
an mebbe we'll hev to fight. Sabe.
senior? Wal, II we do you can iesi
gamble thet Miss Hammondll be game
(rO BE coNrrNUED.l
Roanoke Rapids herald., 1923-11-30

strlde+loomed over her.
I'm not thinking about myself" he
thundered. "Will YOU listen?"
"No." she renlied. and there was
freezing hauteur in her voice. With a
slight gesture of dismissal. unnistak.
able In its finality she turned her back
upon him. Then she Joined her guests
Stewart stood perfectIv motionless
Then slowly he began to lift his right
hand in which he held his soubrero
He swept IT nm and m high over his
head His tai form lowered With
fierce suddenness he flung his sombrero
down He leaped at his black horse
and dragged him TO where his saddle
lay. With one mitch he tossed the
saddle upon the horses back. His
strong hand flashed Mt girths and
straps, Every action was swift de-
cisive, fierce Bounding for his brldle.
which hung over hush he ran against
cowboy who awkwardIy tried to
avoid the onslaught
Get out Of nv wav," he yeIled
Then with the same savage haste
he adjusted the bride on his horse,
"Mebbe YOU better hold on min.
nit. Gene. ole feller" said Monty
Price.
monty. do YOU want me to brain
you?" said Stewart with rho short
hard ring in his voice
"Now. considerIn' the high class Of
nv brains ouqhter he reoI careful
10 keen EN-" replied Monty AVON
can betcher life Gene T oin't eoIn'
to cit in front of Won But 7 lest sovs
listen ;"
Stewart raised his dark fare rv.
ervhodv listened And avervhodv
heard the rapld heat Of q horses
hoofs The SIN had scr hrt the mark
WAS light NeIs anneared down tho
trail. and his horse was runninr In
another moment he was in rho circle
milling his hav hock tn n sliding holt
He leaned Off ahre,s, of Stevorr
Madeline saw and felt n difference
in Nels, nresence
"What,s nm Gomez" ha ouar,ea
shsrply
NeIs, lono arm shot on, and his
hand fell unop Stewart holding him
down
"Shore I'm sorry" " said Nels SLOW.
ly. "Then Won wos roIn' 10 hit the
traiI7"
~ am going TO Lot 90 NaIs"
"Shore Won ain't pnjn, Gena,"
"Iet 70 d-n won :, cried stewart
as he wrestled free.
"V.ha,,s wronga" askad Nels lif,ing
his hand again
"Nnn, Don't touch me-"
Nels stepped hock Instantly He
seemed TO becorne o,yare of Stewort,s
white wild passion. Arain Stewart
moved to mount
"Nels. don't make me forget we've
been friends" he said
"Shore ain't fergettin'." repIied
Nels. "An' | resign nv iob right here
an now"
His strange speech checked tn.
Roanoke Rapids herald., 1923-11-30
Opposed Teaching Of WRITING.

In ancient Egyptian history, 1t was
Thot who invented writing. Says an
eminent historian: "An old legend re.
lates that when the god (Thot) un.
folded his discovery to King Thamos
whose minister he was, the monarch
Immediately raised an objection to it.
Children and young people. who had
hitherto been forced to apply them.
selves diligently to learn and retain
whatever was taught them, he de
clared, would cease to apply them.
selves and would neglect to exercise
their memories."
Roanoke Rapids herald., 1923-11-30

Was No Escape for the Seal

When the line is oil played out It Is
seen to be attached to float. which Is
also carried on the deck OF the boat.
This Is made of an inflated skin. 1t
has plugs and attachments Of cleverly
carved ivory. for wood is far too pre-
ciocs to be used in this land of ivory
so fer from the forests.
The float serves as a buoy so that
the Eskimo can follow the animal and
find 1t after 1t gives up its struggle
and dies. Then, too, the float keeps
the catch from sinking and being lost
In the oceans depths.
Roanoke Rapids herald., 1923-11-30

may aii sing anything that happens
To occur to them at the time.
All endeavor to disguise their voices
as much as possible. The blindfol,led
players must listen attentively. the
OBJECT Of each being to guess cor.
rectly who his singing rlght-hapd neigh.
Dor is.
Those whose guesses are correct have
their bandages removed. and change
places with their singing neighbors.
The unsuccessful guessevs must try
again. One. guess only Is allowed
each time.-F. II. Sweet.
20. 1919, Western Newspaper Union,
Roanoke Rapids herald., 1923-11-30

w nat le HSkeo -; ohserved to
and HerAnswer the e rest of the din
Should Be an ers that it was nice
Easy Guess n to have ir'eH@s %n one ns
denied it. OF the seven places at the
table one was vacant, that belonging
to Vesta Blaine.
Miss Blaine" continued Miss Cum
Mings a little wistfully, always mas
Such delightful time at holidays. she
has so many pleasant acquaintances
And of course" she hesltated to give
emphasis to what was coming. she Is
getting good deal of attention from
that young man
No one had any comments to make
But serious-faced man at the other
end of the table seemed to be very
grave indeed he bent concentrated
regard upon his plate, as though the
contents might yield some secret which
he hunted
"A real Christmas Eve" chanted
Vesta Blaine. Her eyes were Ike stars
her cheeks bright with color, she
looked like a flower set down in veg
etable garden. The other boarders
were a bit older a hit more tired. bit
iisillusioned; they drank their sun
shine from the exuberant girl and won
dered how she could come home at
night still bubhling with high spirits
and fun.
"It's snowinr" continued Vesta.
darling "A smile at the sober man. who
apparently was not aware of his good
fortune. for ne never looked up. That
soft sift of feathers that comes down
like like"-she hunted for an
adequate siufle-"like PRAYERS of the
angels, Only PRAYERS are supposed to
her own conceit. The trees are like
dreams behind white wells, and the
street lamps are orange moons. | love
it, Do pass me the butter, somebody
I'm hungry enough to eat shredded
hairpins!''
Everybody did their best to make
Nesta comfortable, even the scrap of Il
maid who waited on the table. Miss
Blaine offered her pepper ana salt
twice, ana the landlady asked II she
preferred her roast beef well or me
dium done.
I'm going to party tonight. an
nounced Nesta after a few monthfuls
to fortify her wants. the very best
party ever perpetrated.'
MISS Biiilhgs smiled her interest and
asked where.
ON not very far from here; and
she paused looking around the table
win curious elance-you re all In
Nited! Thats why IT'S the best party
because IT'S got the incest folks com
ing I" IL!
What huhbub there was ten
Everybody asked five questions at once
ana none found out the answer. Miss
Billings qulVered with excitement.
Mrs. Cummings waved the carving
knife and nearly took of slice from
the sober mans nose. Finally, Nesta
stood up, commanded silence, tapped
Importantly on the table with silver
spoon, and began:
Ladies and gentlemen, you are ear
nestly requested, cordially invited and
definitely ordered to clothe yourself
In radiant raiment after dinner, and
then wait for me in the hall. No one
snail be allowed to say no. Penalty
Tor disobedience is so horrible | can't
even mention II
And ready they were as soon as they
could jump into their best and as
semble in the hall The sober man
was the last to appear. He looked as
though he did nos dare stay away.
That's the best that could be said
about him. But the rest were laughing
and talking in happy expectation.
Vesta Blaine went to the front door,
opened it, made strange signs with her
hands, and in there tramped a big,
Roanoke Rapids herald., 1923-11-30

chairs us there are players in the
/ form of n circle. When this has
been done the party must divide into
sides. one side being bIindfolded and
taking possession of the chairs In such
way that each has vacant chair
at his right hand
The other side then move silently
into the middle Of the circle. and at
given signal they must ali nysteri.
ously and Loiselessly seat themselves
In the vacant chairs. At the word
..sing" the unblindfolded players must
all start singing. A well-known tune
nay be arranged beforehand. or they
Roanoke Rapids herald., 1923-11-30
. WASn NJ Ii AN6 eHkN@ .
Who Is Your Neighbor? Christmas Game

HIS is a very lively Christmas
game, and one especially use
ful in an emergency, for 1t can
be played without preparation
of any kind. Arrnnge as mnnY
Roanoke Rapids herald., 1923-11-30

the interval be-
tween two strHiS
beans Miss Bill
linss observed to
the rest of the din
ers that it was nice
to have friends at
this season. No one
Roanoke Rapids herald., 1923-11-30
Why he Sober
Man Did Smile
b MARTHA B. THOMAS

+ WAS Christ
mas Eve ut
NJ r $. { Il M
inings' board
ing house. In
- hA
Southwest Washington labor press. [volume] (Hoquiam, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1923-06-08
OPPOSE LEASING OF
ALABAMA CONVICTS

BIRMINGHAM, Ala, June Ala
bama would have a worse reputation
than Florida If concealed truth about
the methods of the convict lease sys-
tenn were known, declared speakers at
meeting held under the auspices of
the league of women voters. The abo-
lition OF this system was demanded
w. c. Davis, former member OF the
Alabama legislature, cited the explo-
sion in the Banner mine. where scores
Of cOnvicts, there against their wills.
were killed
I'VE are training Alabama girls in
a state college at Monevalla within
sight OF another institution where free
labor refuses to work. Count the I'M
college," he continued, where the
mine victims were buried II you want
to know the death toll of miner con-
victs. Last year there were nearly
twice as many accidental deaths OF
convicts In the mines as we're claimed
in the whole state convict system by
pneumonia and tuberculosis COM
blned."
''Yeu can kill COW at the state PEN
itentiary," said John c. Arnold, also
former member Of the Alabama legis-
latuRe, "requisition another and be
told that the first must be paid for,
but kill or main a convict and an
other is practically instantly available
without charge, other than for his
work"
Southwest Washington labor press. [volume] (Hoquiam, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1923-06-08
PRIVATE DETECTIVE.
AGENCY PADS BILLS

NEW YORK. May 3O.-The manner
in which railroads. are wasting the
peoDe's money is shown by the New
York Central's charge that John J..
Ascher, head of private detective
agency, padded his bills 500 to 900
per cent.
Asche furnished strikebreakers to
the company before 1t reached an
agreement with organized shop men.
The private detective was paid 1884,
9S1 for hiring and feeding the strike
breakers. He claims that his bill to
tails 1917 ,262, and wants an additional
$3s2,331. The railroad contends that
Archer padded his expenditures and
has been paid $25O,O55.