davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1926-05-27

they were practically in my hands
One thing, however, ! did
do / at least managed to tell
everything necessary to the ooro-
ner's jury; and yet keep the Blue
Scarab, and everything else that
was none Of the pubIic's business,
from the jury and the news
papers"
IF I could only find the Blue
Scarab once more! / wonder who
has it now?''
There flashed before DR.. Cressy
a mental picture OF the arm with
the barbaric bracelet which had
twice saved his life. Mysticism
and superstition swept over his
modern soul for a moment. Per-
haps Suke, who could not have
1t In life. now possessed this Blue
Scarab, which had lain with its
queer. ghostly warmth against his
chest. How much mystery there
was still connected with 1t. Its
disappearance the radio.
gram "Amon-Ka swallowed Bug:
Bug swallowed sum- What was
the ''sun" the bug swollowed?
A knock sounded at the door.
Kathleen opened It: A belIboy
came forward with q card on his
tray. This he presented to DIR.
Cressy.
"They told me at the office that
you were here. doctor. I'm to
wait for the answer"
DR.. Cressy read the card aloud:
Mr.. Jonathan d. Emmons."
why, that's the old man with
insomnia in sos. isn't it?" asked
Kathleen.
Yes, ma'am," said the bellboy,
the old fellow that trots the halls
half the night
DIR. Greasy turned the card on
the other side and read In fine.
small handwriting:
II would like your company
and that Of Miss Kathleen Crit
tenden at a little entertainment
Of sleight'of-hand and magic which
will give in my rooms at 10
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1926-05-27

we had better corse back q little
Not at all Not at all! You're
just in time"
''Then all the other guests are
later" hazarded Doctor Greasy.
Not at all! !, Not at all! You
are the only. guests"
They politely murmured their
appreciation, inwardly wondering.
You see, this performance of
magic I'm giving is unique. It's
not for the polloi. It takes a
million dollars to stage"
They stared at him speechless,
not knowing whether he was TAX
ing leave of his senses, or IL 1t
were one Of his queer jokes.
y want you two to sit here on
this diyian until call from the
other room. Then come through
those curtains" He pointed to
heavy, black velvet curtains that
separated the living room of his
suite from what was evidently a
bedroom.
do you suppose there's any
thing wrong with him?" whis-
pered Kathleen, as soon as the
Ola utdA AAAAA6CAL tAAtbu NASARPpoA va
through the curtains, "Could his
mild be affected from his loss OF
sleep?"
"Oh, he's just an eccentric.
Wen have to hunor him and
admire his magic extravagantly
since we're here"
They sat perhaps three min
utes before the order came from
the other room.
Through the Curtains
"Come!"
They passed through the sim
lister, heavy curtains whose folds
closed behind them softly as water
folding together.
They gasped in unison. All the
lights were out In the inner
. room. But at the far end, on an
altar or high dais, there blazed
some substance so whitley ra-
diant that all the air within a
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1926-05-27

] radius Of many feet OF It was
softly lighted. D.
They stared at this beautiful
nucleus Of light, in itself hardly
larger than a birds egg. It
seemed to burn, yet not to flame.
A diamond Of wonderful sis
and brilliancy the most
wonderful diamond in the world!'
thought DR.. Greasy, but even a.
he thought it, he knew he was
wrong. It was no diamond that
lay like the freed soul of light
on that black altar. A voice
came suddenly. 1t was the voice
of the old man but starlingly
fun and strong.
Amon.Ka swallowed the Bug;
the Bug swallowed the SUM-
The words, cIanted aloud, meant
nothing to Kathleen, but DR..
Cressy stiffened with astonish-
naent. Who was repeating the
words of the radio OF dead ~kent
f1lendenning, which the dead
Egyptian had stolen?
This is the sun the Bug swal-
lowed" continued the voice.
Out OF the darkness an arm
shot into the radiant circle OF
white light. Upon it was clasped
the barbaric. heavily jeweled
bracelet, DIR. Cressy suddenly felt
dizzy.
land this" the voice continued
to chant, sis the Bugg'
The hand reached forward and
placed in the blaze Of light iii
rectly in front OF the radiant
stone, the blue scarab.
DIR. Cressy heard Kathleen
gasp. Her trembling hand
reached out Tor his. He claSped 1t
tightly and they chung together
I'm the darkness, watching the
mysterious altar, not knowing
what to expect.
Suddenly q thought whipped
like lightning across DIR. Cressy's
mind. Who or what was this old
man? Perhaps they were caught
In some trap set by Lecay's hate?s
He crossed the darkened room in
soft leaps. OF sudden he
gripped the arms of the old man
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1926-05-27
THE BLUE BEETLE.

o'clock tonight. Do not fail me.
I am counting on YOU"
DR.. Cressy stared at the card
in some surprise.
We'll" he laughed, 'the old
BOYS becoming sociable Enter.
taining, Ell? Sieight of.hand and
magic. I wonder II he's the art.
list himself? Shall we go oyer?"
80, I cant. I feel too nervous
and worried"
His Advice
"But as your physician think
you should. TIN divert your mind
just enough without firing you.
You won't have to make any
effort , >. it's right here on your
own floor. You'll become serious
~. iii IL you Just cit here and
worry after all you've gone
through"
Kathleen, made no answer and
DR.. Greasy turned to the waiting
boy
Thank Mr.. Emmons for Miss
Crittenden and myself and tell him
well be there at TO-"
At 10 o'clock DIR. Cressy, who
had made some necessary calls on
patients in the hotel in the mean
time, knocked on the door Of sol.
Kathleen came to 1t, ready to go.
hatless, a light scarf over her arm.
''I'm glad I'm not going. think
the old boy'll make you both disap-
pear or turn into grasshoppers, or
something" Hazel called after
them. She was still child enough
to like performances of magic and
was piqued at not being invited.
Mr.. Einmons, oddly enough still
in his green dressing gown
which was hardly appropriate dreas
for the occasion received
them at the door Of sos, and cere.
moniously ushered them into tho
parloF Of his suite.
''Are we early?" asked Kathleen,
seeing no other guests and observ.
ing her hosts informal attire.
perhaps we've rushed you
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1926-05-27

afraid of what Lecay will do for
revenge after not getting the
Blue Scarab. i tPemble every
time a fresh edition comes nut
not because it's full OF
the things that happened at the
coroner's jury 1 know that
that must be and I'm prepared
for 1t - > but because expect
to see Marie's letters to Kent
grinning out horribly at me in
black type.
"And I'm to blame for it. II
I'd kept my promise to you ana
never let the Blue Scarab out Of
my hands for an instant. you'd
have had it to give in ex-
change for the letters"
How can you blame yourself?
1t was due to your work that
was freed of this terrible
charge. Without you what would
have become of me2 OF Loren?
Even though you won't tell me
the details of how you did 1t
all vet
Terribly Worried
Time enough when you've
weathered one storm to hear
about another. l know how ter
ribly worried you are still. You're
more worried over your sister,
believe, than you were over your
SELF
"Wel1,. know ] was innocent
while Marie
She bowed her head.
"I can't help feeling what a fool
I was to lose those letters when
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1926-05-27
You Viii Want to Know Beautiful Peggy Starr, Heroine 81
the Most Interesting Story of Young Love Ever
Penned By Beatrice Burton

Peggy heard her say, land be
sure to bring your rubbers along.
It's going to be awfully. awfully
/ wet, I'll tell the Ben-Turpiri
world,
Peggy walked out into the han
and laid her hand on Fay's shout
der. Don't say we're going to
have a wet party" she whisper
ed. shaking her head, because
were not
Fay cut her conversation short
and asked. Peggy what she
meant, ''for the love Of MikeP'
Just what I said-we're not
having any more LIQUOR parties in
this house, Peggy answered.
tRanny's cut out drinking and
I'm not going to help. pull him
off the water wagon.
Fay stared at her and began to
hum something about Sunday
school scholars, every one fOl-
lowing In the steps Of Washing
ton. =
Listen, Lizzie!'' she said, In
her conical way to Peggy when
she had finished, III you really
have a yen TO hold Ranny, you're
not going to do It this wayyby
giving bone-dry parties and
preaching to him about the evils
OF red rnTnH'
settled Down Of Late
Peggy flushed under the sting
of her words
Il don't preach to him shout
anything she answered, but
Ranny.s settled down lately He's
changed n lot since we've been
aYes. he has 80 notg' Fay
laughed, blinking her big green
ewes like some 1.-THE, lazy tiger
cat. "YOu may think he's settled
down for good, but he hasn't any
more than gas balIoonl You
just wait for q while and he'll be
giving you such a run Tor your
money that your ankles viii
catch fire trying to keep up with
hiYn!n
Peggs was not at ali ruffled
by what she said. She was sure
that Ranny was through with his
philandering and his poker play
ing. She knew that he had set
led down, once and for all. to
the serious business Of being b
married man and the Head az a
Family for hadn't he told her 30
Z himself? And hadn't he beAn
home every night for q month";
What more could she ask IN the
way Of prOof2
well. don't say didn't warn
your Fay said, getting up from
her chair and lighting q fresh
cigarette.
Warn me about wlaatf"
Warn you about Ranny," Fay
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1926-05-27

paper wrappines from ! third
bundle. Peggy knew from the
sire and the shape az II that there
were flowers Ia II.
And there were Two doz0n
great yellow chrys ant hemums that
filled the little kitchen with that
uiiforgettal1le autumn smell OF
theirs.
~ remember you used to like
these, " he was saying as he put
them into Peggyss hands.
She held them tight in her
arms and looked up at him.
Peter" she said to him. .you
and Sarah are the two best pee
pie in the world. You always
have been so good to me and do
you know something X ever /
were in trouble, I think you two
would be the people I'd come
to-
She broke OFF suddenly, rea1ix-
ing what she was saying. and
walked into the dining room for
a vase for the flowers
When Peggy came back Peter
was sitting at the kitchen table
beating q bowl Of salad dressing
z Will y atls his Igll84Aks he ueA0 4tszAA
an apron oevrs his suit and he
seemed to be thoroughly at home.
Never did this before IN my
life, he said, stirring wildly. hut
II do 1t well, don't Il
A half hour later everything
was ready for the supper. Peggy
was washing some olive oil from
her hands when Ranny and Fay
opened the door and came into
the kitchen They were laugh
Ing uproariously.
No Cause FOR Worry
Well. we Sid woeEy now
whether its 4 dry party or not
Pegsy!s. asay gurgIed, leaning
against the sink ROr support
.eNe're four drinks ahead Of the
world. aren't we, RAINY r She
held up I silver whiskay Task
and shook it to show Peggy how
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1926-05-27

and solernniy Winked her eye 1T
him and Peggy.
See what the cat dragged in
he said. nOdding tsssward the hall
door. And in walked Peter WIKI,
with his arms full uf bundles.
What do you TIL nj Of ~ aa
s the new vaudeville TIA ne an
PETE esT she asked iylipudently. Il
telephOnel him and asked him 20
brlng me over. he big idea -
to mako Eddie jealous. see?
Ran,lv laughed aid answertr1
with q line of slang that always
puzzlel Peggy: Sos your ole
mani
Al Stab Of Jealousy
.So,s your Wild OATS Fay
came back at him, looking up
and rigging cOzlly, as IL the two
Of them were the closest friends
IN the world and had all sorts Qf
Jokes between them.
AS she watched them Peggy
couldn't help feeling the familiar
stab Of jealousy that she always
felt when Fay and RannY were
together.
For Fay gave him the thing
that Peggy knew she never could
Give him amusement. hAnny
always said she "tickled him g
death and was more fun than
3 barrel Of monkeys, and Wnlen
she WAS around he never notlessu
anyone else
neggy forced hernelf to look
away from them and 20 talk to.
Eeter who was still holding his
bundles.
III don't know what's Iii YOUR
PACKAGES. Santa Claus, she said,
smiling at him with her lowell
eyes, hut 4 can guess
All her life she had seen pack
ages like the ones that Peter WAS
holding now They were wrapped
in shiny white paper and were
hnund with the green cord thai
Peters sister, Sarah WIKI, all
ways used when she tied up gifts.
A Gift From Sarah
Usually her gifts were things
that she had baked pies ana
cakes and crullers. For she was
not only 4 wonderful cook. but
very proud Of her baking. and
generous with II.
This time she had sent 100 tiny
sandwich dainty, airy things
made with jelly, or chicken. or
caviar and 100 suggared cookies.
IT told Sarah you were having
a party and she thought it might
help you out II she made these
little things for YOU" Peter said
in his awkward embarrassed way.
He began to pull off the brown
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1926-05-27
Old Folks Need
a Mild Laxative
Not a "Physic'

Most men and women past fifty
must give to the bowels some occa-
sionaf help else they suffer from
fconstlpation. One might as we'll
refuse to aid weak eyes with glasses
as. to neglect gentle aid 70 weak
bowels.
Is your present laxative, In what.
ever form, promoting natural bowel
s.rerularityss--or must you purge and
.ssnl1ysic' every day or two to avoid
aick headache, dizziness, biliousness,
colds. or sour, gassy stomach?
DR.. Caldweil's Syrup Pepsin helps
to establish natural. regular bowel
movement even for those chronicai-
" constipated. 1t never gripes.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1926-05-27
By Stella Wynne
Whose Stories OF Mystery q
Love Are Causing Wide
z spread Comment

ESUEs." agreed DIR. Greasy. I'VE
i must keep the fact that Loren
! tried to murder Glendenning from
8 her until she's stronger. OF course
thing that's the sensation OF
the hour can't be kept from the
wife of a man forever
But she can bear it better later
7 than now. Her nervous deprea-
sion Is such that 1t would only
take very little more to cause
her to snap and perhaps
do herself some violence
At the name of Marie. Kath-
leen's face clouded again; the
tenseness and worry sprang into
It again like tigers that had
been merely jungle hidden AS
soon as Hazel had closed the
door, DIR. Greasy reached across
me little table and took her
hand.
Dear" he said.
: She looked up with a smile
and a light in her eyes that
tor a moment sent the worry
and dread scurrying back to
cover.
'tArs you a little happier now
7 that the terrible strain IL over?"
''Of course for myself
But for Marie" the dread came
leaping back again. 20, I'm so
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1926-05-27
NOU Continue

at twenty three these daysi Hon.
estly. I'm beginning to feel like
an old maid, and I've just about
made up my mind to carry Ed.
die Carter right away and be
done with it! II I don't, this
March kid or some other flapper
is going to sign him up, surev'
It was plain that she was most
unhappy because the faithful
Eddie had gone stepping with
Sally March's flapper sister.
Her Own Misery Forgotten
And at the sight of her misery
Peggy forgot all the heartache
and jealousy she had ever given
her. Once more she was Fay's
very best friend, as she had been
since they where ten years old.
s.sI1l tell you what, I'll throw q
Halloween party omorrow
night" she said, her eyes dane
ing with sudden excitement.
think Ranny's getting bit bored,
anyway, or he wouldn't have
wanted to play cards tonight.
In five minutes time she was
making out a list OF the things
she would need for a midnight
lunch tomorrow night, and Fay
was at the telephone inviting the
old crowd.
Peggy and Ranny are going TO
have a rodeo tomorrow night"
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1926-05-27
Tense Situations Thrilling 0imaxes and the mOuTs Of
HOt-Headed Youth Feature This EngrOsslng
and Exciting Serial Novel

she and RAINY had emptsed It Of
every drop
Fanny had stopped laughing
suddenly. He was standing per
fectlv still III the center Of the
Kitchen. with his eyes fixed on
: the table wltere Peters cfrysan.
tiaemums bloOned Ike yellow
suns ia their tall VASE.
From them he looked grinniy at
Peter.
who told you you could bring
my wife flowers he sslxed
thiclxly walking toward the table.
His face was flushed ana his
eyes blaxed with his anger. Peggy
laid her hand on his enn. but
he shook II or and leaned down
into Peters face
81 repeat. 4 ne said agasn, who
told you you could bring flowers
To my perfectly good vile :
Peters level gaze never shifted
from his face as he answered
him.
Phelps, you're just plain
fool, aren't your he asked, and
he got up, united his apron and
handed II Ia Peggy. Before any
Of them guessed what be was
about he had walked cody out
OF the flat. "A second later came
the sound Of the Ness front
door closing quietly behind him.
The whole thing was over IA
two minutes, and the stiffness n
the Kitchen was so great that the
sound Of the door closing softly
behind Peter seemed To thunder
there.
Peggy looked from Ranny's
flushed distorted face sto the aii-
yer flask that glittered III Fay's
hands.
1T was only too plain to her
that the flask wax the cause Of
Rant1y's jealous oiItbufst Cold
sober he would never have seen
anything wrong in Peters offer
ing of flowers.
I'm sorry You talked that way
to Peter, Ranry. she said 70
him, and her voice was strained
for all It's gent1eness. YOu
wouldn't have done 1t, either, e
you hadn't been drinking! Why.
Peter and sarah WIKI have been
doing nice things for me ever
since I can refnemher And
they've never been anything but
friends be mine good friends Do
you see an those sandwiches on
that pIatter2'
She waved toward large viii
lowtree plate. piled high with the
airy little sandwiches that Sarah
he'd made and sent over.
Tc Be Continued TomorT0w.l
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1926-05-27

OF course, when I told Bobby
" and Elizabeth that I was
going to take them to call on
some friends of mine who are
famous movie stars they jumped
up and down and made so much
noise that thought the people
who lived under our apartment
might call up the landlord and
say that we were undesirable
tenants.
We went to the hotel, sent our
names up, went up in the ele.
vator and walked through the
long hall TO their apartment.
The secretary received us and
asked us to come in and wait
1og a few minutes.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1926-05-27
HERE'S FOXY GRANDPA'S STORY

the tune for us. as IL to keep US
entertained until his beautiful
little mistress came home.
After q little while my friends
came in and what lovely time we
had. The children's eyes grew as
big as saucers as they sat and
talked with the real stars whose
pictures they loved so much.
please tell me-" asked, chow
did your bird learn to sing "Over
Ther&?"
HE has quite repertoire. He
has several songs which he sings,
and Til tell you how he was
taught.
when he was a very young
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1926-05-27

bird and was just learning to sing.
he was put in darkened room
with q photograph and on the
monograph was the record "Over
There" Over and over again 1t
was played. 1t was /. the only
sound he heard and in a remark.
ably short time the little fellow
was whistIing It himself and has
never forgotten it."
On the way home the children
declared they had never had such
a wonderful time in all their
lives.
AS we left Elisabeth at her
house she said:
II wonder IL my bird Fritz is
too old to learn a tune?f
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1926-05-27

The room was filled with beau
tiful flowers, sent to this interest
ing couple by loving friends, and
there. on a table, in a cage,
was a very beautiful canary.
"Is he going on the trip to
Europe?" / asked the secretary.
"Oh yes" she said, 1--WE take
the dog and the canary every
place we &C."
We sat there for a few mo-
ments, and then, all of a sudden,
what do you think that canary
did? He whistled "Over There"
just as plainly as you could
whistle IL yourself. We lust sat
there, too surprised to speak.
Over and oyer again he whistled
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1926-05-27

yawned. IT know his type. He's
just like I ain-full Of pep and
gingerfizz and adventure. Keep
him guessing, Peggyl Don't let
him be to sure OF you, Make
him the least BIT jealous OF you
every now and then It'lI do him
good. It's the way ia hold hinig''
Peggy shook her head.
Not Her Idea of ! wife
NO. she said, with a quiet
little smile that barely dimpled
the corners Of her soft mouth
That's not my idea OF being a
wife TO RannY--to run away from
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1926-05-27
By Beatrice Burton


nEGGY burst out laughing.
Z Yon? At twenty .threeg You
must be crazyl' she cried. Why
Of course you don't look old!
What makes you think you dot"
1.-TWO things" Fay answered.
First of all, Eddie calls up this
afternoon to ask me IL he can
take Sally March's young sister
dance tonight! It seems
this kid has no regular beau of
her own and she wanted to Dor.
row Eddie. | told him to so
ahead. I really wasn't jealous,
because the kid is a dumbbell-a
Irregular blank cartridge. But think
1 Of it! Here are these flappers OF
sixteen coming along and taking
our men from us!'
Her face was quite tragic as
she went on: aAnd then, there's
another thing. Tomorrow night IL
Ha1lowe en- and for the first time
IA my whole life haven't been
invited to some kind of Hal,
1owe'en party You haven't any
idea how old and blue it makes
me feel You know, girls are old
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1926-05-27
you're just fool, aren't your he said.

him and say Chase me, Ranny,
I have new place to hide!' NY
notion OF holding his love Is by
being on the job an the time. by
letting him know the truth that
he's the only man I've ever cared
two pins about, or ever wilt
Maybe I'm old fashioned, but
cant help 1t.
Fay come over to the Nest
early the next evening to help
Peggy make sandwiches for the
Halloween party.
When Ranny opened the door
for her she marched in jauntily
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1926-05-27

In the green dressing gown. Pm.
ionIng them to his sides.
At the same moment all the
room lights flashed on. Kathleen
had found the switch,
The Stranger
He was gripping a stranger
This younger nsn dressed IN
evening clothes. sllolxe.
Won't you unlland me. DIR.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1926-05-27
The Story Thus Far

PEGGY STARR has been engaged RANDALL PHELPS for
nearly when he asks her break their He
frankly tells her that he's love with her best FRIEND FAY
SHIRLEY.
Peggy gives him much to the satisfaction of
AUNT AGONY the shrewd who reared her. She
Peggy marry PETER WLK. soberminded bach
Tor who's IN with
As the time draws for the marriage Of Fay and Ran
enough for each other through life together And Peggy dis
that Fay still seeing deal of her old beau EDDIE
3 CARTER. ss
On moOnI May night Peter gives picnic in Peggy honor
The hdeandseek like children in the dark
woods. and Peggy find paired Ranny
after
that she lose him doesn't take him
suggest that they that night and married
And they do
Before months Peggy finds dream
welded life different from Rannys. His real life
M spent with Eddie Cars crowd of poker players He loses
heavily and Peggy nothing,
work. And he rather
The day after Peggy tells Ranny
baby in few months she finds Fay Sreys handkerchief
carved hapn OF hers IN Rannys and takes in to her.
NOtD Continue
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1926-05-27
By STELLA WYNNE

} Cressy. You don't quite realize
Just how strong yonr grip il
The bewilderad physician drop
ped his arms instantly. The 0thor
man continued to look from him
! to kathleen, smiling. chucklIpg
to himself. evidently finding
something Inirtilsprovoking In
their faces.
TO Be Confined T0ni6r.n