davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1925-11-20
CHAPTER XIV-Continued


Carl Peterson was no coward. In
the world In which he moved. there
were many strange stories told of his
iron nerve and his complete disregard
of danger. Moreover Nature had en-
dowed him with physical strength far
above the average. But now, for per-
haps the first time in his life, he knew
the meaning of stark, abject terror.
The sinister men in black-members
of that very gang he had come over to
England to destroy-seemed to fill the
room. Silently, as If they had been
drilled to it, they disarmed everyone:
then they stood round the walls
waiting. No one spoke: only the hor-
rib.e imprecations of the dying Rus
sian broke the silence. as he strove
feebly to pull out the rifle and bayonet
from his chest. which had fixed him to
the wall as dead butterfly is fixed in
a collection with pin.
Peterson had fieeting vision of
girl with white face and wide. star
ing eyes, beside whom were standing
two of the motionless black figures as
guards-the girl whom he had just
sentenced TO dreadful and horrible
death. and then his eyes came back
again as If fascinated to the man who
was coming toward him. He tried 20
shrink back farther into his corner.
plucking with nerveless fingers at his
clerical collar-while the sweat poured
off his face in a stream. For there
was no mercy In Hugh Drummond's
eyes: no mercy In the great arms that
hung loosely forward. And Peterson
realized he deserved none.
And then it came. No word was
spoken - Drummond was beyond
speech. His hands shot out and Peter
son felt himself drawn relentlessly t.
ward the man he had planned to kill,
not two minutes before It was his
turn now to wonder desperately If it
was some hideous nightmare, even
while he struggled impotently In his
final frenzy with man whose strength
seemed equal to the strength of ten.
He was choking: the grip on his
throat was not human in its ferocity.
>9There was great roaring in his ears,
and suddenly he ceased to struggle.
The glare in Drummonds eyes hyp-
Noticed him, and for the only time in
his life he gave up hope.
The room was spinning around: the
silent black figures. the dying Yulow-
ski, the girl-all seemed merged In
one vast tumble of color growing dark
er and darker, out of which one thing
and one thing only stood out clear and
distinct on his dying consciousness
the blazing eyes Of the man who was
throttling him. And then, as he felt
himself sinking into utter blackness,
some dim sense less paralyzed than
the rest seemed to tell him that
change had taken place in the room.
Something new had come into that
whirling nightmare that spun round
him: dimly he heard voice-loud and
agonized-a voice he recognized. It
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1925-11-20
CHAPTER XIV
In Which the Threads Are
Gathered Up

1t was a week later. In Sir Bryan
Johnstone's office two men were seat
ed. the features Of one OF whom, at
any rate, were well known to the pub
lie. ST. Bryan encouraged no noto-
riety: the man In the street passed
him by without recognition every
time. But with his companion 1t was
different: as member of several sue
cessive cabinets, his face was we'll
known. And 1t is safe to say that
never in the course OF life devoted
to the peculiar vagaries Of politics had
that face worn such an expression of
complete bewilderment.
"But it's Incredible. Johnstone," he
remarked for the tiftieth time. "Sim-
ply Incredible"
Nevertheless. Sir John" returned
the other, lit is true l have absolute
indisputable proof of the whole thing.
And if you may remember, have long
drawn the governments attention to
the spread Of these activities in Eng
land"
Eyes. yes, I know" said Sir John
Haverton little testify. "but you have
never given US chapter and verse like
this before. Incredible" he muttered.
Incredible"
sand yet-the TRUTH" said the other.
"That there is an organized and we'll
financed conspiracy to preach Bolshev-
ism in England we have known for
some time: how well organized it is
we did not realize. But as you will see
from that paper, there is not single
manufacturing town or city In Great
Britain that has not got a branch of
the organization installed. which can
If need be draw plentifully on funds
from headquarters"
Sir John Haverton nodded thought
filly.
II must go into all this in detail"
he remarked. But in the meantime
you have raised my curiosity most In
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1925-11-20

"a breathing-space. And that was all
that mattered for the moment-that
and the fact that the madness was
gone from Hugh Drummond's eyes.
The black figures were still stand
ing there motionless round the walls !;
the Russian was lolling forward
dead. Phyllis was lying back in her
chair unconscious. sBut Peterson had
eyes for none of these things: Count
Zadowa shivering in a corner-the
huddled group of his own men stand
ing In the center of the room he
passed by without glance. 1t was
on Drummond his gaze was fixed !:
Drummond, who stood facing Irma
with an almost dazed expression on
his face. whilst she pleaded with him
in an agony Of duplication.
"He ordered that man to brain nv
wife with rifle butt" said Drummond
hoarsely. "And yet you ask for
mercy"
He swung round on the covering
clergyman and gripped him once
again by the throat. shaking him as
a terrier shakes a rat. He felt the
girl. Irma. plucking feebly at his arm,
but he took no notice.
But once again Fate was to inter-
vene on Peterson's behalf, through the
instrumentality of woman. And
mercifully for him the Intervention
came from the only woman-from the
only human being-who could have
influenced Drummond at that moment.
1t was Phyllis who opened her eyes
suddenly, and. half-dazed still with
the horror of the last few minutes,
gazed round the room.
For second she stared at Hugh's
face, and saw on it look which she
had never seen before-a look so ter
rible, that she gave a sharp, convul-
sive cry.
Let him go. Hugh: let him go.
Don't do it."
Her voice pierced his brain, though
for moment it made no impression
on the muscles of his arms. A slight
ly bewildered look came into his eyes:
he felt as dog must feel who is
called off his lawful prey by his
master.
Let him go--let Carl Peterson go
That was what Phyllis was asking him
to do-Phyllis who had stood at
deaths door not five minutes before.
Met him go! And suddenly the mad
ness, faded from his eyes: his hands
relaxed their grip, and Carl Peterson
slipped unconscious to the floor-un-
conscious but still breathing. He had
let him go, and after a while he
stepped back and glanced slowly round
the room. His eyes fingered for mo-,
ment on the dead Russian. they trav-
eled thoughtfully on along the line of
black figures. And gradually smile
began to appear on his face-a smile
which broadened into grin.
Perfectly sound advice, old thing"
he remarked at length. straight from
the stable. l really believe I'd almost
lost my temper"
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1925-11-20
~eu. Though. You Were So Fond Of Dogs Exclaimed Phyllis

"Why, yesw cried Phyllis. THAT'S
just what we were talking about, when
you came along. We were wondering
why"
IF you were on the stage and got
tired out and wanted to rest" said
Old Man Negley. land kind man in
the wings Of the theater was watching
you closely and fired pellet Of lead
at you from an air gun every time you
Jagged. don't you think you'd give
jump and work all the faster when
one Of those shots stung your tender
flesh?
I'm not saying that this Is done in
all animal acts Of course. But I
happen to have seen 1t done in some
Of them. in my time; when / was
working behind the scenes. And I've
seen what happens to some poor little
dog when he comes off the stage, If he
hasn't done his work as well as the
man thought he should. That isn't all
I've seen. either; in the theater or in
watching dogs being trained for such
acts.
"I'm not going to tell you about
those things. But I'll ask you if it
is natural for dog to walk on his
front legs, with his hind legs in the
air behind him. Did he learn to do
that, unless there was something pref
ty bad liable to happen to his hind
feet If he let them touch ground?
That's just one Of lot of questions
I could ask you about that sweet play
you saw. Think 1t over.
II hear that there are proprietors
of animal acts, lately, who claim their
dogs learned all their tricks through
love and kindness. can't prove that
isn't true. But do know a lot of
trick dogs learned their stage stunts
through torture and through treatment
don't like to remember.
"You say there was a cat In the
play. Without asking I can tell you
she had only small part to play and
simple stunts to do. Do you know
why that Is? A dog can be tortured
into doing tricks. A cat can't. Thrash
or burn cat, and she won't act The
only way to teach an unwilling cat
how to do her few simple stage tricks
Is to starve her.
81 have read that twenty-seven kit
tens must be starved to death for
every one that survives to become a
trick cat in an animal act. don't
vouch for the exact number being
right; though 1t was said on what was
said to be good authority. But l do
know It has happened many a time.
"Your dog loves to do simple tricks
for you. II he's taught them in the
right way. Some learn much quicker
than others. A mongrel generally
learns quickest of all. That is why
most stage dogs you see are mongrels-
That and because 1t costs too much to
buy lot of thoroughbreds when some
Of them may die from the education
before they become stage stars.
"Some animal acts are said to be
humane. can't prove they aren't.
But-well. I wouldn't encourage those
that aren't by watching those that
may be.
"No. thanks. guess I'll keep on
putting Squire through his tricks. In
stead. They aren't very wonderful
tricks. maybe. But he learned them
because 1t was fun for him. Not be-
cause he'd be made to suffer If be
didn't"
Copyright by the Mcknight Syndicate. Incl
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1925-11-20
Caution

"Oh. dearP' is wicked oath. 1t
Is a corruption of the French "Oh,
Dleu l''-Oh, God-and therefore we
should not employ 1t except In extreme
cases.
"Drat it!'' is an even more wicked
and more shocking oath. 1t Is corrup-
ton Of the old God rot it," which in
its time was considered ranker swear
word than God d-n It,"
"Deuce"-yes, even "deuce"-is a
word that our best people should not
employ. for 1t comes directly to us
from the Latin word "deus"-a god
and so smacks considerably of lrra
erence.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1925-11-20

formally about this Black Gang Of
yours"
Sir Bryan leaned back In his chair
and lit cigarette.
"There are one or two gaps haven't
filed in myself at the moment" he
answered. "But I can tell you very
briefly what led us to our discoveries
at that house in Essex OF which
spoke to you-Maybrick hall. About
six days ago received q typewriter
communication of similar type to one
or two which I had seen before. A
certain defect In the typewriter made
it clear that the source was the same,
and that source was the leader of the
Black Gang. Here is the communion
tion:"
He opened q drawer in his desk.
and passed sheet Of paper across to
the cabinet minister.
''If." 1t ran, Jolly old McIver will
take his morning constitutional to
Maybrick hall in Essex, he will find
much to interest him In that delight
full and rural spot. Many specimens,
both dead and alive. will be found
there, all In a splendid state of
preservation. He will also find a great
many interesting devices In the house.
Above all, let him be careful Of an
elderly clergyman of beneficent aspect.
whose beauty is only married by q
stiff and somewhat swollen neck, ac-
companied by charming lady who an
sMers to the name Of Janet. They
form the peerless gems Of the collec-
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1925-11-20

ton, and were on the point of leaving
the country with the enclosed packet
which removed from them for safe
keeping. My modesty forbids me to
tell an unmarried man like you in what
portion of dear Janet's garments this
little bag was found, but there's no
harm ir your guessing"
what the devil" sputtered Sir
John. rs it practical joker"
Far from It," answered the other.
Read to the end"
After McIver has done this little
job" Sir John read out, "he might like
trip to the north. There was an un-
Inhabited island off the west coast Of
Null, which is uninhabited no longer.
He may have everything he finds there.
with my love.-The leader of the
Black Gang"
Sir John laid down the paper and
stared at the director Of criminal in
vestigation.
rs this the rambling of a partially
diseased intellect?" he inquired with
mllu sarcasm.
Nothing of the Sort" returned the
other shortly. "McIver and ten plain
clothes men went Immediately to May
brick hall. And they found 1t very
peculiar place. There were some If
teen men there-trussed up like so
many fowls, and alive. They were laid
out in a row in the hall.
"Enthroned in state, in two chairs
at the end, and also trussed hand and
foot, were the beneficent clergyman
and Miss Janet. So much for the liv-
ing ones. with the exception of an
Italian, who was found peacefully
sleeping upstairs, with his right wrist
padlocked to the wall by long chain.
I've mentioned him last. because he
was destined to play a very important
part in the matter" He frowned sud-
denly. "A very important part. con-
found him." he repeated. However,
we will now. pass to the other speci-
mems. In the grounds were discovered
"a dead fowl. dead fox-and three
dead men,"
Sir John calculated explosively, sit
ting up in his chair.
They had all died from the same
cause" continued the other imperturb-
ably-"electrocution. But that was
nothing compared to what they found
inside. In an upstair room was q
dreadful looking specimen more like
an ape than man. whose neck was
broken. In addition, the main artery
Of his left arm had been severed with
knife. And even that was mild to
what they found downstairs. Support
ed against the wall was a red-headed
man stone dead. A bayonet fixed to a
rifle had been driven clean through his
chest, and stuck six inches into the
wall behind him. And on that the
body was supported.
But, my dear fellow" sputtered the
cabinet minister, you can't expect me
to believe all this. You're pulling my
Leg" =
(TO BE CONTINJJEDA
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1925-11-20
The Letter "En

The letter ''e" Is the beginning Of
elegance, energy, endurance, eminence,
evolution, empyrean, emulation, enter
prise, enthusiasm and exultation. 1t
is the center Of usefulness and the end
of hope. 1t is also the beginning of
Ernest, the center Of spare ribs, the
support of delectable and the charm
of cucumber.-Walton (Ga.) Tribune
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1925-11-20

Orummond's Hands Shot Out and Pc
terson Felt Himself Drawn ReIent-
Iessly Toward the Man He Had
Planned to XIII.
was woman's voice. and after a
while the grip on his throat relaxed.
He staggered back against the wall
gasping and spluttering, and gradual
ly the room ceased to whirl round
the iron bands ceased to press upon
his heart and lungs.
1t was Irma who stood there: lrma
whose piteous cry had pierced through
to his brain: Irma who had caused
those awful hands to relax their grip
just before ii was too late. Little by
\little everything steadied down: he
pund he could see again-could hear.
still crouched shaking against the
III. but he had got respite anyway
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1925-11-20

Men take opposite sides on the
money question, but the majority are
on the outside.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1925-11-20

Thrift spends money only when it is
necessary. Stinginess won't spend it
even when it is.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1925-11-20

A torpid liver prevents proper food as
Sanitation. Wright's Indian Vegetable Pills
tone up the liver. They act gently but
surely. S72 Pearl St.. New York. Adv.
The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1925-10-06
PROSPERITY WAVE
FLOODING GEORGIA
INCREASED BANK DEPOSITS,
MORE CONSTRUCTION, AND
REAL ESTATE ACTIVE.

ATLANTA, Ga-Evidences Of in
creased prosperity in Georgia were
seen today in reports OF added
strength of financial institutions, a
larger volume OF construction and
greater activity in real estate circles
of the various cities of the state.
Rejecting in a measure the condi-
ton of the banks of the state, FIVE OF
the leading financial institutions OF At
lanta announced that there is approx
imately Is per cent more money on
deposit in their vaults than at any
time in their history.
During the month just ended the
banks had average daily deposits APP
proximating $l50,000,O0O, while the
average daily deposits for the same
month OF last year was about $ll8,-
100000.
Building operations over the state
were relatively larger than increases
in bank deposits, many cities repre-
senting that larger number of build
ing permits were issued than during
any previous month Of the year.
The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1925-10-06
SLAYER BLAMES WIFE'S
BOBBED HAIR, PAINT.
MUSCOGEE COUNTY MAN CUT
HIS MATES JUGULAR VEIN
IN A DEATH STRUGGLE.

COLUMBUS, Ga-"She drove me
to it with her repeated threats to bob
her hair and paint her cheeks" said
R. L. Shepherd, So, alleged slayer of
his wife, as he sat in the Muscogee
county jail this morning ITS been
going on for two years" the accused
man declared.
Shepherd was jailed soon after the
tragedy which occurred at the family
home in Columbus Mrs. Lula Shep-
herd, the wife, lived only few min
utes after her jugular vein was slash
ed with a pocket knife in a struggle
with her husband. Neighbors said
they were eye-witnesses to the TRACE
dy and a coroner's inquest was not
held.
The fatal wound was inflicted while
Shepherd held his wife against a wood
pile in the backyard OF the home.
Neighbors rushed to the scene and
with blood gushing from her veins the
woman was helped into the house
where she fell dead.
Officers were Immediately called and
Shepherd calmly submitted to arrest,
AT the jail this morning his chief con-
cernF seemed to be his two small chill
dren, one ten months old and the 9th
er three years. He refused the request
of relatives that they be allowd to take
the babes, and became very emotional
when speaking Of them.
The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1925-10-06
RAZE NEW YORK
AS A MORAL BLOT
CHURCH MAY BEG IT OF CON-
GRESS. is CONDUCTING AN
INVESTIGATION.

WASHINGTON, D. C.-Congress
may be asked to abolish New York.
The board of temperance, prohibition
and public morals of the Methodist
Episcopal church is conducting an in
vestigation.
THE west wants to know if New
York is a menace" the Methodist
board asks. Throughout great part
of the territory of the United States
the people are asking whether or not
they have created a Frankensteln in
building the gigantic city of which
they are so proud.
"The whole country has assailed the
indecency of certain large group OF
and of the product Of GER
tain popular novel writers. Most OF
this nastiness is coming out OF New
York city"
From New York ,emanate5 most
of the propaganda melting to violation
of the prohibition law and attacking
the standards of Americanism which
Greenwich Village calls 'Puritanism,
it declares.
"If New York has the safety Of its
own future in mind it will apply press
ure upon theatrical producers, pub
fishers OF erotic literature, and the
propagandists Of crime"
The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1925-10-06
FIGHT ON WEEvIL
LARGELY SUCCEEDS
RESULTS so FAR OBTAINED
ARE PUBLISHED IN REPORT
BY CONTROL BODY.

Government scientists have largely
succeeded in controlling the boil Wee
vii. according to a statement issued by
Clarence Ousley, president OF the Ma
tional Boil Weevil Control Associa-
ton.
Results so far obtained through ex-
perimentation are described IN a de-
tailed statement issued by him through
the department of agriculture.
There is no indication that the gov
eminent experts wrestling with prob
lens of boil weevil control will slack
en- their efforts at this stage, it IS
said. With present knowledge on hand
their methods are being pursued with
a view to securing more complete con
troll of the pest.
Cheaper Insecticides Promised.
This wear several new insecticides
are being tested, looking TO cheaper
source Of poison, and research IS con
tinuing in the analysis OF the cotton
plant in the hope of discovering means
of separating the substance IN II Wfioil
attracts the weevil.
Mr. Ousley declared that one OF the
hindrances to fuller weevil control IS
the lack of knowledge by many farm.
ers OF weevil habits and methods OF
DESTROYING them. Through the dissem-
nation of information, he added the
association is attempting to remedy
this widespread defect. =,
Practically all OF the boil weeWl
catching machines, which 50 long de-
ceived their inventors and many OF
the farmers, are out of business Most
of the commercial nostrums and NIX
lures. which likewise deceived their
inventors and a large number OF farm
ers, are in disrepute.
The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1925-10-06
TESTAMENT AND 140
GALLONS WERE IN CAR
AN UNUSUAL COMBINATION
IN WHISKY CAR CAPTURED
BY GWINNETTE SHERIFF.

LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga.-Sherltt
w. T. MCGEE captured large tour
ing car containing $40 gallons OF whis-
XIV after a chase of about IS miles.
The officers encountered a smoke
screen almost the entire chase and
came very near being seriously in
iured by their car hitting the railing
on a bridge, which the smoke obscur-
ed. The right fender was torn Off OF
the sheriff's car, but the officers kept
in the race continually until the liquor
cars smoke screen apparatus failed to
work. at which time the drivers OF it
left the main highway, about four
miles from Stone Mountain, and went
down into the woods, where the Off
GERS found it. The men had fed.
In one of the pockets OF the liquor
car small testament wedding pres
ent to the contracting parties from
friend, was found, the names OF whom
were plainly written in the back.
Sheriff. MCGEE says that the owners
of the testament may get same by
calling on, him.
The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1925-10-06
Postum Hunting Season
Has Opened in Georgia
Cat Squirrels, Migrating Ducks, Rab-
bits and Woodcock May He Hunted.

With the closed season on 'possums
ending Wednesday at midnight, and
the open season for sweet 'taters al
ready on, the state game and FISH de
partment arranged for statewide
1'tion OF hunting licenses. Ev-
cry ter must have a license if he
gets off his own land, Commissioner
Peter S. Twitty points out.
In addition to opossums, cat squir-
rels can be hunted after October LIST,
and the season already has opened on
summer or wood ducks, migratory
ducks, woodcock and rabbits.
Commissioner Twitty has instructed
the various county wardens to place
hunting licenses on sale at the most
accessible places possible for the con-
veniece of the sportsmen who desire
to procure them. The game wardens
also have been instructed to require
hunters to show their licenses when
they are caught in the fields.
The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1925-10-06

Costs of guarding small liquor ship
ments far exceed the revenue collected
for their transportation, the Louisville
and Nashville railroad has found, but
the Interstate Commerce Commission
at Washington ruled Thursday that
the road must continue to handle such
business.
The commission did not question the
right to raise the freight rate to cover
the cost OF guarding the liquor
The issue was raised by a state
schedule the Louisville and Nashville
filed in June, cancelIing arrangements
for taking liquor in less-than-carload
shipments. The road still was prepared
to take carload shipments. The COM
mission, after protests from shippers,
instituted an investigation, which ter
minated in the order.
In pleading for the right to refuse
small shipments the road introduced
evidence to show that it had collected