davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1924-02-15

Mother-No. Bobby. for the third
time, you can't have another choco-
late.
Bobby Tin despair)-I don't see
where father gets the idea that you
are always changing your mind.
Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1924-02-15
It's q Secret

Hell hear that the people who have
bought the manor-house are keen
collectors Of Antiquities
She-Yes.' saw them In their car
today. But did he collect her, or did
she add him to her collectlon7
Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1924-02-15
The Mauicurist

Suitor-I called to-er-taIk-er-
to you about-er-you daughters
hand.
Father-James Tell Miss Helen
the manicurist has arrived
Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1924-02-15
"DANOELIoN BUTTER COLOR

A harmless vegetable butter color
used by millions for so years. Drug
stores and general stores sell bottles
Of 'Dandelion" for 80 cents.-Adv.
Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1924-02-15
Painful

Teacher (Jocularly)-Do you know
anything worse than giraffe with a
stiff neck7
Pupll-Yes. sir.
Teacher-what1
Pupil-A centipede with corns.
Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1924-02-15

simple oid-fashioned medicine, as good
today in 1897. is compounded in Wright
Indian Vegetable Pills. They regulate the
stomach. liver and bowels. Adv.
Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1924-02-15
ArkeoloeicaI

Mrs. Noah-Noah. dear. what can
be the matter with the camel?
Noah-The poor beast has both the
fleas.
Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1924-02-15
GIRLSl A GLEAMY MASS
OF BEAUTIFUL HAIR
s5.cent "Danderlne" So Improves Llfs.
less, Neglected Hair.

An abundance
Of luxuriant hair
full of gloss,
CLEANS and life
shortly follows a
genuine toning up
Of neglec t e d
scalps with de-
pendable Dan
derine."
Eo11fn. hat
Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1924-02-15

Experts are quite often determined
to make the facts agree with their
theories.
Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1924-02-15

The number three was the perfect
number Of the Pythagoreans, who SAID
It represented the beginning. middle
and end
Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1924-02-15

A church wedding helps a man TO
remember the anniversaries Of his
marriage.
Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1924-02-15

Man who wins success knows he
can't depend on luck. but he wei
comes It.
Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1924-02-15
"cAScARETS" FOR LIVER
AND B0WELS-10c A BOX

Cures Billousness. Constipation, Sick
Headache. Indigestion. Drug stores, Adv
Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1924-02-15

In Allcock's Plasters from local aches
and pains. So can you. One trial will
convince you Of their merits.-Adv.
Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1924-02-15
Catnip

Thomas-rd give my life for you,
dear.
Maria-Cheap skatel Nine or moth
ing.
Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1924-02-15

One application Of Roman Eye Balsam
will prove how good II Is for sore eyes. Costs
only IS cents. 372 Pearl St, N. 7. Adv.
Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1924-02-15

Grammar, like mathematics. never
soaks into a boy at school unless he
hikes it.
Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1924-02-15

A good taxidermist should be able to
turn out first-class stuff.
Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1924-02-15
Sure Sign.

What is the surest Sign that fell
low is In love?" "when he divorces
his wife."-Princeton Tiger.
Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1924-02-15
WOMEN CAN DYE ANY
GARMENT, DRAPERY
DYE or Tint Worn, Faded Thlnqs
New for is cent&
1IanondDvs>

Don't wonder whether you can dye
or tint successfully, because perfect
home dyeing is guaranteed with "Dia-
mond Dyes" even IL you have never
dyed before. Druggists have all colors.
Directions in each package.-Adver-
tisement.
Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1924-02-15

About the easiest way to settle an
argument is to shut up.
Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1924-02-15

most no time, had hardly been able
to do my own work and after taking
the Vegetable Compound felt like q
new woman | recommend it 70 my
friends who have troubles like did,
and hope they will find the same re-
suits. Mrs. M. CARPENTER, 607 w.
Chase Street, Springfield, Missouri.
40 Years Old, Feels Like 20
Hagerstown, Nd. ~ was very bad
off with backache, a bearing-down
feeling in my body and pain in my
left side. / could not be on my feet
at times and once | was so bad |
walked bent over to one side for three
weeks. My sister read of Lydia E.
Pinkham's Vegetable Compound and
got me bottle. / got so much relief
that took more until was well. l
am 40 years old and feel like 20. /
women. Mrs. MARY E. SANDY, 436
W. Franklin Street, Hagerstown,Md.
Over 100000 women have so far
replied to our question, Have you
received benefit from taking Lydia
E. Pinkham's Vegetable Compound"
96 per cent Of these replies are
ayes"
That means that SO out of every
100 women who take this medicine
for the ailments for which it is recon-
mended are benefited by it.
All druggists are having increased
sales of this medicine.
Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1924-02-15

Keep Well Avoid Sickness
Take Brandreth Pills. One or two at
ped time win cleanse the system, purify
the blood and Keep you well.-Adv.
Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1924-02-15

Consistency is a Jewel, but so many
people do not care for jewelry.
Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1924-02-15
THE STORYl

THE STORYI
People throughout this country are
giving more thought to hygiene and to
the purity of remedies on the market,
but no one doubts the purity Of Doctor
Pieree's vegetable medicines, for they
have been so favorably known for over
fifty years that everyone knows they ara
just what they are claimed to be. These
medicines are the result of long research
by weH-irnown physician, R v. Pierce,
NJ. D., who compounded them from
health-giving herbs and roots long used
in sickness by the Indians. DR.. Pierce's
reputation as a leading and honored
citizen of Buffalo, is a sufficient guaran-
tee for the purity of that splendid tonic
and blood medicine, the Golden Medical
Discovery, and the equally fine nerve
tonic and system builder for womens
ailments, DR.. Pierce's Favorite Prescrip-
ton. Send loo for trial pkg. tablets to
DR.. Pierce's Invalids Hotel, Buffalo, NY.
, 1924-02-20
CHAPTER u

The two men occupied q table set
against the wall. They were. in their
way, an interesting contrast physically.
neither Of them ~good-looklng. according
to ordinary standards. hut both with
many pleasant characteristics. Andrew
wilmore. slight and dark. with sallow
cheeks and brown eyes. looked very
much what he was-a moderately SUI
cessful journalist and writer OF stories,
a keen golfer. a bachelor who pre-
ferred a pipe to cigars. and lived at
Richmond because he could not find a
fat In London which he could afford.
large enough for his somewhat ex-
p~nnsive habits. Francis Ledsam was
of n sturdier type, with features per-
haps better known to the world owing
to the constant activities Of the car.
toonist. His reputation during the
last few years had cnrrled him. NOT.
w~ithstanding his comparative youth
he was only thlrty-five years of age
into the very front ranks OF his profess
sion. and his Income was one OF which
men spoke with bnted breath. He
came from n family OF landed proprie.
tors. whose younger sons for genern.
lions had drifted always either TO the
bar or the law. and his name WIS well
known In the purlieus OF Lincoln's Inn
before he himself had made II famous.
He was n persistent refuser OF invita-.
lions. and his acquaintnnces In the
fashionable world were comparatively
few. Yet every nov and then he felt
- -.
, 1924-02-20

up his ha; and ave an order. The
woman slowly began to remove her
gloves. When she pushed back her
veil, her vis-a-vis received almost a
shock. She was quite as good-looking
as he had imagined, but she was far
younger-she was indeed little more
than a girl. Her eyes were of a deep
shade of hazel brown, her eyebrows
were delicately marked. her features
and poise admirable. Yet e skin
was entirely colorless. She was as
pale as n whose eyes have been
closed In death. Her lips, although In
no way highly colored, were like
streaks of scarlet blossom upon n
marble image. The contrast between
her appearance and that of her COM
panion vas curiously marked. Fran
els Ledsam conformed In no way to
the accepted physical type Of his pro-
fession. He was over six feet In
height. broad-shouldered and power
fully made. His features were cast
in a large mold. he was of fair, almost
sandy complexion. even his mouth was
more humorous than incisive. His
eyes alone, gray and exceedingly mag
netlc. suggested the gifts which with
out a doubt lay behind his massive
forehead.
81 am anxious to avoid any possible
mistake" she began. "Your name is
Francis LedsamT"
at Is" he admitted.
"You are the very successful Grim.
inal barrlster." she continued. "who
has JUST been paid nm extravagant fee
to defend oliver Hildltch."
81 might take exception TO the term
'extravagant.'" Ledsam observed dry.
ly. "Otherwise. your Information ap-
pears to be singularly correct. do
not know whether you have heard the
verdict. II not, you may be interested
to know hat ! succeeded in obtaining
the mans acquittal."
"I know that you did" the woman
replied. II WINS In the court when the
verdict was brought In. II has since
occurred to me that l should like YOU
to understand exactly what you have
done. the responsibility you have In.
Cured"
''h hhN' hh'
Responsibility" he repeated.
"what have done Is simple enough.
I have earned a very large fee and
won my case"
"You have secured the ~acquittnl of
oliver Hilditch." she persisted. "He
Is by this time n free man. Now !
am going to speak to you OF that re-
sponslbllity. / am going to tell you a
little about the man who owes his
freedom to your eloquence."
II was exactly twenty minutes nfter
their entrance Into the tea-shop when
the woman finished her monologue.
She began to draw on her gloves again.
Before them were two untasted cups
of ten and an untouched plate OF bread
and butter. From u corner Of the
, 1924-02-20

Dom the waitress was watching them
curiously.
Good Godl" Francis Ledsam ex-
claimed at last, suddenly realizing his
whereabouts. "Do you to affirm
soleInnly that what you have been tell.
ing me is the truth?'
The woman continued to button her
gloves.
at is the TRUTH" she said.
Ledsam sat up and looked around
him. He was a little dazed. He had
almost the feeling Of a man recovering
from the influence Of some anesthetic.
Before his eyes were still passing
visions of terrible deeds, of naked,
ugly passion, of mans INSCRIPTIONS
savagery. During those few minutes
he had been transported to New York
and Paris. London and Rome. Crimes
had been spoken of which made the
murder for which Oliver Hilditch had
just been tried seem like a trifing In
discretion. Hard though his mentality,
sternly mat~ter-of-fact as was his out
look. he was still unable to fully be-
lieve in himself, his surroundings, or
In this woman who had just dropped
a veil over her ashen cheeks. Reason
persisted In asserting itself.
"But II you knew all this" he de-
handed. "why on earth didn't you
come forward and give ~evfdenceT"
Because" she answered calmly. as
she rose to her feet, my evidence
would not have been admissible. I am
oliver Hilditch's wife"
Francis Ledsam arrived at his club.
the Sheridan, an hour later than he
had anticipated. He came face to
face with his most intimate friend,
Andrew Wilmore. The latter. who had
just hung up his coat and hat. greet
ed him with a growl Of welcome.
$50 you've brought 1t of again.
Francis !"
"Touch and Co." the barrister re
marked. 81 managed to squeak home.
This case has upset me-"
upset you? But why the dickens
should it?" the other deman Led. In q
puzzled tone. at was quite an or
binary case. in Its way, and you won
It."
81 won It," Francis admitted.
your defense was the most ingeni-
GUS thing l eve heard"
MOSTLY suggested. now I come to
think Of it."
self. and with his elbow resting upon
, 1924-02-20
CHAPTER !

Francis Ledsam, alert, well satisfied
with himself and the world. the echo
Of a little buzz OF congratulations
still In his ears. paused on the steps
OF the modern Temple of Justice to
light q cigarette before calling for a
TAXI to take him to his club. Visions
Of a whisky aud soda-hIs throat was
n little parched-and u rubber of easy
going bridge at his favorite table,
were already before his eyes. A won
an who had followed him from the
court touched him on the shoulder.
'May I speak to you for a moment.
Mr.. LedsamT"
The barrister frowned slightly as he
swung around to confront his ques-
toner. II was such a familiar form
OF address.
what do you want?" he asked. a
little curtiy.
"a few minutes conversation with
you" was the calm reply. 1.-The mat
ter Is important"
The woman's tone and manner. not
withstanding her plain. inconspicuous
clothes, commanded attention. Francis
l>tuSttH WhS a tAtttc puLLitd. iiu
things meant much to hin In life, and
he had been looking forward almost
with the zest OF a schoolboy to that
hour OF relaxation at his club. He
was impatient OF even n brief delay.
a sentiment which he tried to express
I'm his response.
"What do you to speak to me
about7' he repeated bluntly. II shall
be In my rooms In the Temple tomor-
row morning. any time after eleven"
TT In necessary for me to speak to
you now" she insisted. There Is n
tea-shop across the way. Please ac-
company me there"
Ledsam, a little surprised at the
coo,ness OF her request. subjected his
accoster to a closer scrutiny. As he
did so. his irritation diminished. He
shrugged his shoulders slightly.
"If you really have business with
me-" he said. II will give you q few
minutes"
They crossed the street together. the
woman self-possessed, negative. wholly
without The embarrassment OF one
performing an unusual action. Her
companion felt the awakening OF curl
osity. Zealously though she had. to
all appearance, endeavored to conceal
the fact. she was without n doubt per
eopabie. Her voice and manner lacked
nothing OF refinement. Yet her attrnc.
tion 10 Francis Ledsam. who. although
n perfectly normal human being. was
M seeker after promiscuous adven-
az -. ia. L.. H..
As a barrister whose success ut the
criminal bar had been phenomenal. he
had attained to n certain knowledge
Of humnn nature. He realized thai
thfs woman was no impostor.
They passed into the tea-shop and
found an empty corner. Ledsam hung
, 1924-02-20
MYSTERY, ADVENTURE, ROMANCE, LOVE

Mrs Hadtch." said Ledsam. "wiH you aHow M to make
my dpoiogiesS Your husband and l have arriped at an understand
tie acceptance of any further hospitality on my part impossible"
She held out The tips of her fingers.
II had no idea" she observed. NTH gentle sarcasm. that you
barriters were such pu1as morally. l thought you yer rather
proud Of being the last hope of the criminal classes"
MADAM" Ledsam replied, Il am not proud of having saued
the life of a seEeOnfessed murderer. cue" though that ma" may
be your husband"
Hddach was laughing softly to himself as he escorted his
departing guest to the door.
You have a quaint sense Of humor" Ledsem remarked.
Forgive me" Oliver Hidhch begged, "but your last few
pords rather appealed to me. You must be a person of very scanty
perceptions if you could spend the evening here and not understand
that my death is the one thing in the World which Mould make
my Wfs happy"
at is Margaret Haditch speaking" she announced. ri felt
that I must ring up and tell you of q very strange thing which
happened after you left this evening. Ny husband persisted in
and seated himself in the chair which Mr.. Jordan had occupied. in
the same attitude 1t was what he called a reconstruction. While
he vas holding IL there, l think that he must have had a fit, or it
may hare been remorse. rpe shall neuer know. He called out and l
hurried across the room to him. l tried to snatch the dagger duay
i did so, in fact-but l must have been too late. He had already
applied that slight Increment of the fingers wMch a necessary.
Instantaneous"
barister Of thIrtyHve, who has v beer interested In a woman. He
has Just succeeded in securing the aequttance Of oliver Hilditch In a
san has fallen In love with the wife at first glance. Hildteh boasts Of
committing the murder. Also he says his W death would make his
him her husband |. dead. It sounds like suieide-but Ledsam knows bet
tel and fears that Mrs. HiIdtch Is guilty.
oppenheim, whose public is International It's rot necessary to say more.
They're all good reading and this Is n Of the best The author has
ing and &c stirring that tn nos hardened reader en hardly fah to get
many a thrill out of II.
e. Phillips oppenheim was porn In England In 1866. His good Eng
hsh and eiear style are probably due In large part to a Boston u. s.A)
influence, for in 1892 he married Elsie Hopkins. who I'M from that city
I'M turns ut W ess than W. I'M sometimes three OF OF books
4 yeA.
, 1924-02-20

the mantelpiece leaned down toward
his friend.
"T1l tell you. Andrew. You're about
the onl. man In the world I could tell.
I've gone crazy"
II thought you looked as though
you'd been seeing spooks," Wilmor~
murmured sympathetically.
II have seen a spook," Francis re
Joined. with almost passionate seri
BUSINESS, "a spook who lifted an in.
visible curtain with Invisible fingers.
and pointed to such n drama of hor.
rors as De Quincy. Poe and Sue
combined could never have Imagined.
oliver Hllditch was guilty. Andrew.
He murdered the man Jordan-mur.
dered him In cold blood"
I'm not surprised to hear that
was the somewhat puzzled reply.
"He was guilty, Andrew. not only OF
the murder OF this man. his partner,
but Of ~innumernble other crimes and
brutnllties." Francis went on. "He IL
a fiend In human form. II EVER there
was and I have set him loose
once more to prey upon society. I am
morally responsible for his next rob-
berry. his next murder. the continued
p~urgatory OF those forced to assocl.
ute with him."
you're dotty, Francis" his friend
declared shortly.
II told you I was crazy" was the
desperate reply. $50 would you be II
you'd sat opposite hat woman for
half IN hour. and heard her story"
"What womanf" Wilmore demand.
ed, leaning forward In his chair and
gazing at his friend with increasing
unenslness.
, 1924-02-20

Hurry MotherI A teaspoonful Of
California Fig Syrup" now will thor
oughly clean the little bowels and in a
few hours you have a well, playful
child again. Even IL cross, feverish.
bilious, c%onstlpated or full Of cold,
children love its pleasant taste.
Tell your druggist you want only the
genuine california Fig Syrup which
has directions for babies and children
Of all ages printed on bottle. Mother,
you must say california" Refuse any
imitation.
, 1924-02-20

court and told me the story of Oliver
Hilditct's life."
"A stranger?"
"a complete stranger to me. 1t
TRANSFERRED that she was his wife"
Wilmore lit a cigarette.
believe herr"
"There are times when one doesn't
believe or disbelleve." Francis an
swered. zone knows"
Wilmore nodded.
"All the same, you're crazy" he de-
clared. Even II you did save the fell
low from the gallows. you were only
doing your job, doing your duty to
the pest of your ability. You had no
reason to believe him guilty"
THAT'S just as 1t happened" Fran
els pointed out. II really didn't ARE
at the time whether he was or not.
had to proceed or the assumption that
he was not, of course. but on the other
hand l should have fought just as
hard for him If l had known him to
be guilty"
"And you wouldn't now-tomorrow.
say?"
Never again."
Because Of that woman's story?"
Because of the woman"
There WINS a short silence. Then
WHmore asked a very obvious ques-
ton.
what sort Of person was she7"
Francis Ledsam was silent several
moments before he replied. The ques-
ton was one which he had been ex
pecting. one which he had already
asked himself many times. yet he was
unprepared with any dehnite reply.
~ wish l could answer you. An
drew" his friend confessed. AS a
matter Of fact. l can't. l can only
speak of the impression she left upon
me, and you are about the only per-
son breathing to whom I could speak
of that"
Wllmore nodded alphabetically.
He knew that, man Of the world
though Francis Ledsam appeared. he
was nevertheless a highly imaginative
person, something of an idealist as re-
CARDS women, unwilling as a rule to
discuss them. keeping them. In a gen.
eral way, outside his daily life.
G ahead. old fellow" he invited.
You know I understand"
"She left the impression upon me-
Francis continued quietly. "of a WON
an who had ceased to live. She was
young. she was beautiful. she had all
the gifts-culture. polse and breeding
but she had ceased to live. We sat
with a marble table between us. and
a few feet of ~Oil-covered floor. Those
few feet. Andrew. were like an impass-
able gulf. She spoke from the shores
of another world. I listened md an.
swered, spoke and listened again. And
when she told her story. she went.
can't shake Off the effect she had upon
me, Andrew. I feel rs though / had
taken a step to the right or to the left
over the edge of the world"
Andrew Wilmore studied his friend
and understanding. His one desire at
that m was not to make a mis-
take. He decided to leave unasked the
obvious question.
81 know" he said simply. Are you
dining anywherer"
II thought of staying on here" was
the Indifferent reply.
ave won't do anything of the Sort"
wilmore insisted. There's scarcely a
soul In tonight. and the place Is too
humpy for a man who's been seeing
spooks. Well go to Claridge's."
, 1924-02-20
Cafnip

Thomns-Td give my life for you
dear.
Maria-Cheap skate! Nine or moth
ing.
, 1924-02-20
Obliging

"What do you do when one OF your
oil companies peters out?"
"Oh, we keep swapping the custom
ers' shares in new companies until they
get tired Of paying postage"
, 1924-02-20
Anxious

Sambo-Look here. Yuh amt even
yuh owes me.
Rastus-Ah knows it. man. But All
am worryin' bout 1t.
, 1924-02-20

Hunting is likely to go on even afte'
there Is not a rabbit left.
, 1924-02-20
Keen wei! Avoid sickness.

Take Brandreth Pills. One or two Mt
bed time will cleanse the system, purify
the blood and keep you well.-Ady.
, 1924-02-20
DEMAND "BAYER" ASPIRIN
Take Tablets Without Eear II You
See the Safety "Bayer Cross"

Warningl Unless you see the name
"Bayer" on package or on tablets you
are not getting the genuine Bayer
Aspirin proved safe by millions and
prescribed by physicians for % years.
Say "Bayer" when you buy Aspirin.
limitations may prove dangerous.-Adv'
, 1924-02-20

II killed Jordan In tho very
chair In which you are nov sit
ting"
, 1924-02-20

ITO DE CONTINUED,