davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Elk Mountain pilot., 1923-11-15
CHAPTER XVII
Dimes, Limited,


1.-THE reason some folks have to have
so much money" explained Mrs Pen
field, sis. they don't know how to plan.
Land, they'd be s'prised to know how
little money they could live on II
they'd only mix their brains with It"
It was admitted at Number At that
funds were ample for the project in
hand, but the young Miss Penfeld was
dismayed to find her capital diminished
from one dollar to eighty cents, the IN
tervening twenty being required to
liQuidate the final payment on the
Wopple window. 1t seemed that one
could not face holiday in the right
attitude If one were in debt and Let
tie could not be spared to earn fur
ther money before the festive day.
However, Crink brought in five cents,
returns from an errand, and Thad ju-
bilantly contributed one penny. gross
proceeds from two hours Of chicken
Tending from the Chatterbox garden.
Total, eighty-six centsl
Mrs. Penfield knew place in the
country where tree could be had for
nothing. But it would take two car
fares and return; also Crink and the
family hatchet. Twenty cents was
segregated for the enterprise.
The next morning an important ex-
pedition set forth from The Custard
Cup. Mrs. Penfield went along as
guide, but the motive force was Let
tie, who bore the badge of authority in
tot nj cfvtu.ctv
cents in negotiable form. She was cas-
lily the happiest child In the whole
city. Her feet pressed the rainbow
path Of Promise; her fingers held the
wand of Possibility; her starved life
was suddenly illumined with the light
of joy, dazzling by contrast, scarcely
to be believed, permeating her being
with feeling Of unreality.
The Penfields had long walk, but
the morning was beautiful. bright and
crisp, with bracing quality that EN-.
phasized the cheerful spirit Of the sea-
son. There had been rain few days
before; washing the haze from the
hills, giving greener life to lawns and
trees. The streets were bustling with
activity. Expressmen and delivery
boys were buster than usual, running
up steps and ringing doorbells with
an agreeable appearance of rush; peo-
Pile were hurrying in every direction,
carrying packages of delightful mys.
terry.
Mrs. Penfield guided Lettie to a
store that catered to shoppers whose
desires were ambitious and whose re
sources were small. Head held high
Lettie pushed her way through the
crowd that thronged the aisles. The
first item on her list was tree trim.
mings. But she blinked in bewilder
ment at the array before her. And a
dime was the limit, the absolute limit
for this department. Lettie set her
teeth and eliminated systematically
until she reached the most for the
least, which gave her three yards OF
thin silver tinsel for ten cents.
Candles? Most emphatical1y A
Christmas tree without candles is an
evening sky without stars. For the
affluent, candles were provided In
The Elk Mountain pilot., 1923-11-15

she agreed. "And the six-for-five can
dies are longern them in boxes, too"
Il gotta scheme" said Lettie. what
say if we go snucks on a card?"
"Pd be glad to-"
Thereupon nickels were pooled, and
a card was purchased and divided, to
the infinite satisfaction of everybody
concerned.
The Penfield plan allowed another
dime for candy, but 1t was no easy
matter to decide upon the variety. Di-
visibility had to be considered, as well
as bulk. Fortunately, the lower the
price, the higher the color, so the lat
ter quality took care of itself. Lettie,
pacing up and down before the long
counter of heaped-up candies, came to
rest before plain mixed" and midget
mixed" Undeniably they represented
the best values. The midget would yield
greater numbers, but plain mixed
would surely melt less rapidly and
therefore give longer entertainment to
the consumer. Ultimately Lettie's
money was on plain r,ixed.
The other purchases required little
selection and were speedily made.
They consisted of a tablet of plain,
good paper for one dime; two packages
of envelopes for another; a spool of
white thread, five cents; and a stick
of pink-and-white candy. one cent. The
latter would help decorate the tree and
also serve as a gift for Thad.
nuriDp all thaco trapcp etfnnc Arc
Penfield had been merely an attentive
bit of background, but in the following
few minutes she was called upon to
take an active stand. 1t proved to be
no simple matter to get Miss Lettie
out of the store. So engrossed had she
been in the purchases on her tentative
list that she had scarcely cast COM
pretending glance at other commodi-
ties; but now that her responsibility
was over and her cash exhausted, she
turned a fascinated eye upon tables
and counters of alluring articles.
Lettie had never had anything to do
with stores. This was the first time in
her life that she had ever bought any
thing. The hustle, the glitter, the end
less array, wrought havoc with her
Imagination, filled her with frenzy of
intoxication. Little cars with wheels
that turned; dime banks that looked
like the most blooming peaches on
Mrs. Penfield's wall; games, books,
toys! Marbles-imagine, twenty-four
round pieces of baked terra firma for
the ridiculous sum of five centsl How
happy Crink would bel How Thads
soft eyes would bulge 1t was more
than could be borne.
II don't care" Lettie burst into
frantic sobs that carried over a wide
circle. II don't carel Do you hear?
I don't carel" Tears streamed down
her face. She stamped her foot ana
swung her free arm with a violence
and latitude that first grazed several
astonished shoppers and then led to a
somewhat freer space around the
child.
'LettIe, dear" expostulated Mrs.
Penfield hurriedly. remember where
you are"
'T do" shrieked Lettie. "That's
what's the matter. I don't care. Some
day I'll have things-oceans and heaps
and oodles of things-millions more'n
they've got here DON'T"
'Lettiel" There was a finality In
the word; there was also an express
sive decision in the grasp Of her arm.
With swift skill Mrs. Penfeld pushed
her through the curious crowd, out of
the store, to the comparative seclusion
of a cross street.
The Elk Mountain pilot., 1923-11-15
Ito be Continued)
Her Tyrannicai Superior.

They had woman traffic officer IN
an eastern city and she was a good
one, too. She wore white gloves.
knickerbockers, jaunty cap and d.
rected traffic with all the nonchalance
of an expert. The other day, how
ever. she turned in her equipment and
returned to skirts. A friend wanted
to know what the trouble was.
II don't care to discuss It," the ag-
grieved one declared.
saw, go ahead and tell me, dearie,
said the other.
swell, the chief refused a reason
able request and I quit"
Something in the line Of dutyT'
the other woman wanted to know.
II SO consider 1t. 1 merely wanted
an hour Off to get my hair washed"
The Elk Mountain pilot., 1923-11-15

withdrawing into the seclusion of anx
ious meditation. She scarcely noticed
when he left her, at the call of his
own master. But his brief SYM
pathy had given her courage She
contemplated the shattered items of
her ambitious plan. That was one
trouble. She had been too ambitious.
hoping to make many dollars.
Out of the chaos a new thought took
shape, beckoned with promise, sent
Lettie flying down the street again.
back to The Custard Cup. She pelted
through the driveway and into Mum.
ber A. With flash of black curls
she whirled into the bedroom, seized
her invention from behind the sleeping
box, and was off again, racing along
through the driveway and up the
street, running, running, balancing the
long pole with plunging compensa-
hons.
ri gotta have that tree" she repeat
ed over and over. half sobblng still. ~
gotta. | promised. Oh. Penzie, I'm
gonta."
She reached the Wideawake Office
utterly breathless and frenzied by the
inward struggle between hope and de-
spair. Her cur's whipped across her
face as she dashed through the door,
through the gate in the counter, past
the astonished Jack, and brought up at
the desk. The long pole wavered un-
certainly above the head of Mr. Abb
bott, who dropped his pencil and jerked
back in instructive reaction.
Here" painted Lettie through dry
lips. "Here it's! See-for yourself.
You can have it-and the whole
scheme--make as many's you wanter
for dollar. Whole thing-a dol
lar!.
Mr.. Abbott stared a. the child In
speechless amazement, his eyes uneas-
ily following the imminent gyrations
of the long stick. Lettie, watching
him with eagle gaze and seeing no
signs of success, clutched desperately
for further leverage. Perhaps apology
That was often what people required
of her. Certainly If an apology or
two would turn the scales, 1t was NOT
a time for personal reserve.
EXCUSE me-for getting mad" she
gasped out. II gotta beastly temper
To home IL pound 1t out, but you
YOU didn't have anything to pound
quick 'nough. And excuse me for using
YOUR desk. If you'd had a gong, you
know"
"Holy smoke!" interrupted Mr.. Abb
bott. with some faint indications OF
plunglng into another pocket of good
nature. "Don't have heart failure or
iIm-iammles or anything-not In my
office. Sit down, sister, and grab on
m yourself. Let's see If we can ind
out what 'sylum you come out Of"
with humpy sigh Lettie hoppeo
info n chair; and having collected a
modest supply of breath, she launcheo
info a demonstration of her model. Al
the end of the stick were two arcs OF
wire which closed upon the card. The
arcs were held together by wire loop
which could be released by TWO arms
also Of wire, that ran down the handle
within reach of the operator.
The contrivance was crudely made.
u,ha uires were far from even, and
thew were clamped to the long SICK
With Garnet tacks; but as Lettie tri-
umphantly and repeatedly pointed ou.,
az worked" Mr.. Abbott hlmse1
vorked II number of times, not rap
,dlv but with undeniable results. Let
TO watched him in agonized suspense
He shook his head. II don't see now
,.,d save ANYTHING. 1t might In some
The Elk Mountain pilot., 1923-11-15
Sheep Buried in Snow Three Weeks

Sheep Buried In Snow Three Weeks.
A correspondent recalls an incident
which happened some years ago on
the moors between HuddeYsfield and
Oldham, England. A heavy fall Of
snow had drifted up and many Of the
sheep which had been grazing on the
moor were buried. For three weeks
the snow held fast, and drift after
drift was searched by shepherds for
the missing sheep.
At the end of the third week three
sheep were discovered buried beneath
q drift in one Of the cloughs. They
were In very emaciated state. and
had apparently lived by eating the
wool of each others back, for all
three were as bare as newly shorn
sheep. One died soon after, but the
other two completely recovered from
their enforced starvation.
The Kusko times., 1923-02-10
Alaska News Notes

By striking a match near can Of carbide that had become wet and was leaking, J. Nj. Corliss, of Hyder, was severely burned about the face recent ly, and fear is entertained that he may lose his sight.
 Dolph Smith, Charlie Barricklow and Liege Chambers are operating a commodious roadhouse at the head of Becharof Lake, on the way from the oil fields to Kanatak, and report that business is. good.
 Arthur Sessions, conductor on the Overland Limited train on the Gov ernment railroad between Anchorage and Curry. died at Anchorage recently, following paralytic stroke. The re- mains were sent to Seattle for inter ment.-
 Nellie Neal, one of Alaska's famous characters, at present operating the readhoase at Deadhorse, on the line of the governments railroad, 1t is under stood, is contemplating taking trip to South A merica, going out when the railroad hotel at Curry is completed which will be very soon.
 c. r. Magaha, an empfeye of the Alaskan Engineering Commission at Willow creek. left for the States re- gently, and will go to the Mayo hos pi tai at Rochester, Minn., for medical treasment. He IS an old time Aiaskans having arrived in the Territory in 1884, and spent 39 years on the Yukon That Guy Marks, a former Fairbanks mining man, who operated on Nos. 5 and 9 Goldstream, where he was ID partnership with Cove, Samson and Mates, was killed by Mexican bandits in the state of Durango, last August. is the news contained in letter from i Tom Whi:more. now in Wilson, Okla h homa, received by Assistant Dist let Attorney E. E. Collins. of Fairbanks. recently
 A. T. Budd, genera: manager of the
 Willow Creek Mines Company, operat ing the Gold Bullion, Lucky Strike and War Baby mines on Craggie creek, ln the Willow creek district, is authority 1 for the statement that the company 1 plans operations this year on more extensive scale than heretofore Ad- ditional stamps will be added to the Lucky Strike mill and a cyanide plant will be installed.
 A telegram recently received Ut An chorage from the clerk of the appellate court at San Francisco states that ln the case of M. J. Conroy, truS1ee, vs. the Bank, of Anchorage and the Mata- nuska Coal Company, bankrupt, the !! judgment of the district court has been reversed and the case ordered dis 1 missed. The action was brought to re- ! cover from the bank. for the benefit 0f all the creditors, the sum Of SlI,OOO
 paid to the bank in liquidation of sums
 borrowed, the payment having been
 made, it was alleged. within four
 months os the time the Matanaska Coal Company was declared bank
 rupt It was set up by the oeiense that there was no such corporation as the
 Matanuska Coal Company, and that.the ad indication of bankruptcy against such concern had DO bearing upon the
 parties to the bank transaction, which
 contention has evidently been upheld
The Kusko times., 1923-02-10
Evelyn, Thaws Tells of
 Fight Against Dope

Atlantic City,, N. J.-Evelyn Nesbit Thaw today told bow she had been through 'the Holly wood dope hell"
 live fought the grimmest, most Notwithstanding fight any woman OF man, coWlG fight, and I've won," she said.s live beaten the drug habit, which had me going. almost gone, for nearly's.year.
 Ut was at Hollywood that T. fell- that hades for men and women ifathey have not the mental stamina and the knowledge- that's the big thing-to keep away. The dope peddlers and their victims are waiting there at every corner, in every home. at every party. for chance to trap another vio- tim.
 s.Why, remember one party at Hollywood. where cocaine was served in. a big sugar bowl. I had not fallen vet. "Pass, the sugar, somebody" would be the remark every few min utes.
 But they got me. I had 8 bad toothache one day. A Follies girl she had been that-came along and eympathized.
 s' 'ru fix you up in rninute,' she said, And she did. First the needle, $ little morphine in my leg, and then & piece of cotton filled with cocaine in the aclfing cavity. In a few minutes l
The Kusko times., 1923-02-10
felt all right. How | blessed that girl.

felt all right. How blessed that girl. A nd how I've cursed her ever since.
 "She ruined me. Every cent l had went for dope for her, and some for me. When Ecould pot get the stuff l suffered the agonies of the damned. It cost me Sl0OC00 to be drug fend in cash alone. And it cost me my friends, my selfsrespect, everything. My mother made me take the cure. She threat ened to take away any boy, Russell. l couldn't stand for thas.
 ''So I put myself under the care of physician here, and endured long course of treatment, cut down from the four-grain doses 1 was taking each day to-a sixteentb of 8 grain toward the end, and then-nothing."
The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1923-05-09
A Long Look Ahead.

at is amazing how many people are
already planning their next summer
automobile trips" said n Of the
young men at the Detroit Automobile
club headquarters in the Hotel fuller.
members come in and ask for maps
of certain tours as well as logs cover
ing the routes. l asked one man what
was the idea of the midwinter aetiv-
ity. He said he and his wife liked
to map a tour, then read all they could
Of the country and cities through
which they expected to pass. Then
they travelled with their eyes open and
got much more pleasure.-Detroit
News.
The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1923-05-09
DRIVE MALARIA OUT OF The SYSTEM


Harry Pratt Judson, president of
the University of Chicago, cites the
dictum of a very crusty old bachelor ::
"The reason men are apt to be bald
while women do not usually raise a
beard Is the same in each case-hair
does not as a rule grow plentifully
where there is the greatest activity.
But this is very Ancient dare say
could be found in one of the classical
Greek comedies. In fact, the situa-
tons which lead to witticisms are
quite alike through the ages, and I
fancy that the Herald will do little
more than reproduce something from
the Egyptian papyri of the time of
Tut-Ankh-Amen."-New York Herald.
The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1923-05-09
Spaniards of Southwest

Texas, colorado, New Mexico, Ari-
IONA and California are the centers of
our Spanish-speaking colonies. El
Paso has a Mexican population of 49,
900 out of its 10000 people. In New
Mexico approximately 60 per cen of
the people speak Spanish and many
public officials know only a smatter-
Ing of English. Colorado and New
Mexico house a peculiar sect called
the P~enitentes, who practice hagella-
The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1923-05-09
Tho lively Germ.

Seven-year-old Mary had been re-
peatedly cautioned against handling
any object that might contain germs.
"Mother," she said, II shall never
play with my puppy any more. be-
cause he has germs on him."
"Oh, mol" replied the mother.
"There are nc germs on your puppy"
Eyes, there are" insisted the child.
"I saw one hop"
The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1923-05-09

ton and carry on weird religious rites
like those of the Middle Ages-such
as eross-country pllgrimages, with the
penitents lashing themselves and each
other with cactus until they drop
from exhaustion or the loss of blood,
when a cross is planted at the point of
collapse.
The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1923-05-09
WeaIIy?

"Every woman who pronOunces r.
as w will find a mate; it appeals to
all that is chivalrous in a man." From
the stage directors of Dear Brutus,'
by ]. NJ. Barrie. We hardly think so,
Sir James. Fol our part, if one should
call US "Wobert' we should feel like
pinching her.-Boston Evening Tran
script.
The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1923-05-09

upper decks of the Staten Island ferry
boats, where regular series of sprints
are conducted each trip. Old men
with whiskers and young men with
bright red noses scamper round and
round in the interest of health, while
a somewhat larger group stays inside
of the cabin and watches the competi.
ton.
The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1923-05-09

Nov. children. said the Sunday
school teacher, II have told you the
story of Jonah and the whale. Willie,
you may tell me what this story
teaches.
"Yes'm," said Willie, the brlght-eyed
son of the pastor; sit teaches that you
can't keep a good man down"
The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1923-05-09
This little line of Scripture Is the
heart of the gospel; Him thar justl-

fieth the ungod-
"" The paradox
ical phrase does
not suggest that
justification Is a
fiction: 1t proves
that it Is a mir
acle. God does
not and cannot
justify ungodli-
ness, but He can
and does justify
the un g dly.
Many there are
who try to be
The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1923-05-09
BREAKING 1t Gently.

The I%ieutenant's orderly had been
taking too many privileges in the opin-
ION of his gold-barred boss, and the
latter had decided to call him down
for it at the next opportunity. It pre-
sented itself shortly.
"Sir,' the orderly approached him
one day. I'm gonna go to town to see
my girl tonight and I should Ike to
borrow your leather puttees."
"Wun-wuff. choked the ~lieuten-
ant by way Of a preliminary. "Wuff-"
And. sir, I have them on.n-Ameri-
can Legion Weekly.
The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1923-05-09

$1,000
"At least she had found out since
she had been Ill that she did want to
know the sky better.
"And she grew to know 1t better and
better. 1t seemed to her as she
watched 1t that the sky told her many
things and the sky always illustrated
Its talk by color clouds.
AZ can't have color Sides the sky
seemed to explain to her one time. 4
have no way of using them even II l
had them, but this way is a pretty good
way
"And then one day Nelly wrote a
verse or so and she said 1t was writ
ten to the sky, the Friendly Sky.
"This Is what Nelly wrote:
THE sky. I think, is friendly
Although SO far away.
I know 1t likes to see me smile
On a clear and sunny day.
And oh, It's very human too.
I know cause I've seen 1t weep,
It's just like anyone at all
And when plunged In sky troubles deep
It has to cry its heart out,
Now, haven't you seen the sky do lit
And then the sky feels better
And with sunshine its face is lit.
"Then Nelly ang again the first
four lines which she said made up the
chorus of her little song to the sky:
1.-THE sky, I think. Is friendly
Although SO far away.
know it likes to see me smile
On a clear and sunny day.
"And indeed the sky did, For the
sky was helping to make Nelly well.
The sky knew how 1t cheered Nelly up
or If 1t didn't know 1t was surely
some ones business to tell it so!
"For anything which helped as much
as that surely should be told Of the
good work it had done.
And then Nelly looked out of her
window, too, and saw the dog about
whom Billie Brownie had had so much
to say. The dog used to stand at the
different windows of a house upon the
next city street.
For Nelly was in the city at this
time.
"And how she did love to watch the
dog as he looked out and saw what
was going on. He would look up the
street and down the street In just the
most knowing way!
Sometimes his mistress would stand
with him and look out the window, too,
and together they would see all the
interesting sights and the dog would
be so affectionate with his mistress
and his mistress would pet him.
"Oh, yes, that cheered Nelly Up,
too. It was astonishing how mar
little things seemed to be so interest
ing.
"She enjoyed even the flowers and
the plants which she could see outside
others windows-almost as much as
she enjoyed the fern she had and the
purple h%yacinth and the paper whites.
"She used to like 1t, too, when a
dark day came and rain came down
steadily and quietly.
"Then all the plants would be put
out for the fresh and cooling rain-wa-
fer drinks
The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1923-05-09

"And how much
better they would
look ~afterward-
as though they
felt ever and ever
so much better
But above all
of course above
all-was the sky,
the dear friendly
sky.
How 1t would
change its colors,
h o 1t would
dress up In all the
best sky clothes
smelly knew the
sky just adored
dressing up!
The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1923-05-09
Collapslnq Mountain.

The surface of Black Diamond noun
tain, near Carmel, Pa, is slowly sink
ing on account of a fire in the coal
beneath. The fire has been raging for
II years and eventually, it is feared,
the side of the mountain will drop.
The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1923-05-09
chrlst's Words.

If men had understanding Of the
times, saw their opportunities, rose to
the occasions in the spirit Of the cross
of Christ. they would make he world
feel how true are Chri&'s words, "Ys
are the salt Of the earth, TIE light of
the world. Joseph Parker.
The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1923-05-09

Do you wan 10 know the man
against whom you have most reason
10 guard yourselff Your looklng-glass
VIII give you a very fair likeness o.
ais face.-Whately.
The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1923-05-09
Walk Raoes While Riding.

A new species of polar bear has been
discovered in New York city. On cold
nights, when a 40-mile gale IS blowing
up the bay, you can see them on the
The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1923-05-09

HdAhS q
but now she was
getting better and
the thing she liked
best of all was to
look out of the
window at the
sky.
Somehow she
decided she had
n YER properly
known the sky be-
fore
O course she
knew II was hard
to know the sky
In a really chum-
my fashion when
the sky was so far
away, but still
she did want to