davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
, 1927-05-06

drums, was said to be the largest sell
zure Of its kind ever made in this port.
Washington, May 4th-President Cool
idge yesterday issued a Proclamation
urging nation wide support Of a new
minimum quote of 10, 600, 900 dollars for
relief of the Mississippi flood sufferers
set up by the Red Cross upon recommen-
dation of Secretary Hoover who has re-
turned from the inundated territory.
Belief that the city Of New Orleans was
safe from the flood unless some u0fOre-
seen circumstances arose was expected
bv Major General Edgar JadWin chief
of army engineers.
New York, May 4tE-The buying Of
large blocks of sterling exchange yester-
day resulted in the highest price of the
year for demand sterling, which was
marked up to ~$4-859I16, a gain Of BIG
over the previous days close This fol-
lowed the expiration of 200, 00G, 600 doll.
ars credit to the Bank of England at the
New York Federal Reserve Bank and
100, GOO. 600 dollars credit to the British
Treasury at j. P. Morgan and Company,
Neither of the credits was used and the
British Chancellor in his budget speech
announced that they would not be re-
newed.
London May 4th. An exchange lele-
graph. Despatch from Toxic says that
dispatches from Picking state that John
Van A. Macmurray, United States Minis
ter to China, has resigned. The despatch,
which deals with the relations CT the
powers growing out of their attitude to
China. is as follows. Opinion in Japan
is puzzled by reports from Picking indi.
eating that the United States has COM
pletely withdrawn from cooperating with
the lpowers in China and will follow an
entirely independent course, Despatch
es from Picking state that Mr.. Macmur-
ray has resigned, indicating that he is
not in agreement with the policy an
n|ounced from Washington"
London May 4th. Mr.. Ramsay Mac
Donald, who is still in hospital in New
York; pronounced by his doctors to be
unable to sail for England today. and, al
though reports. that his ilIess is serious
are denied, the date of his departure
remains uncertain,
SUGAR MARKET
New York, May 4th.-Hhere was no
change in the raw sugar market yester-
day. but, a steadier tone prevailed.
Sales were 1000 bags of Porto Rican,
due next week. at LA and about Is, 600
bags of Philippines, due the end of May.
at ATT. Ten thousand bags of Cuban
also were sold to an operator, load
ing May 4th, at ATT. Raw sugar fu-
A,uoo oIoeod of tho host of the SoSCiOn
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-02-20
n1azng Adventures of Sea Devil Lucner Lead New Peri

directly beneath the eyes of the one
guard.
Then something went wrong with
the bridge itself, several boards fell
through or something of the sort, and
the count offered to put his men to
work at fixing 1t.
The prisoners requisition for sup
plies came for the adjutant's sigma
ture in a new form, with considerable
space between the written lines OF
foodstuffs named. Somehow, no one
thought that. after the signature was
affixed, the Germans would add other
lines and double their rations.
On a bright sunny day the count
came down to the bridge to see how
his men were progressing. his lips a
little tight, but his face as smooth and
suave as when he Is recounting a
funny story. He joked with the soldier
on guard; then wandered about, taking
particular interest in the wOrkmen's
kit-bags. He asked one of the men
where the German who acted as the
generals valet was. The workers. the
count and the guard entered into
pleasing conversation.
Then one of the Germans tripped
and fell off the bridge into the water
Without a word the English guard
him.
'Ho" yelled the count, his demeanor
changed. his face all alight, his big
bulk active. Nov for it. men,
And the entire party leapt into the
sound and started swimming for that
part Of the beach where the generals
motor boat lay. No one could see
them; the one guard was with them
In the water. and the watch.tower
overlooked every part Of the island
but this bridge,
The guard found himself seized in
the water by a big hand.
Now we are your guards!" an ex.
cited Viking voice beloved In his ear.
You shall come pirating with me and
my boys! Won't that be fun?"
They scrambled out together on the
shore. Beside the launch the valet
sailor sat waiting.
"All is in readiness. Herr Count"
he said.
They seized the little craft and
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-02-20

military gentlemen stranded in an
out.of-the-way place during q war.
Did it matter that they were from OPP
posing sides in the struggle? The
Englishman was without an army.
and the German without a ship
Count Felix was allowed to stroll
unguarded about the internment is
land. There was an armed soldier at
the bridge. the only way to egress.
and a Waterman was stationed night
and day in high tower which over
looked the rest OF the encampment.
But on a certain day, as he wan
dered with one of his men by the sea
side, the old restleSsness came again
on the count. The seat called him
again! He was born adventurer. not
man to lie down peacefully in the
middle OF a war! Suddenly he turned
to his companions:
But we are fine lot of patriots!
Here, we might be pirating again,
with all the danger and all the fun
of It before us and we stick in this
silly CAMP
But, Graf Luckner." replied the
sailor, "how should we escape?"
"Ah, wait and see" the count roared,
feeling an inspiration. Wait and
see" He swung his great hand over
the sailors back. Have we not
called ourselves pirates? We must
use the tricks Of the trade"
He took his pipe out Of his mouth,
smiled slyly. and returned 1t to firm
jaw. He folded his arms complacently
over his chest:
"Ho. no! I have many ideas. My
boy, my boy-wait and see"
X X X X
NOV the count showed his YER
satility. Before his exploits had
been boisterous. but now he became
quiet and sly. The routine Of life
seemed to go on as before. But little
things began to happen.
For instance, on one of Gen. Sir
James trips to Auckland his motor
boat sprang a leak and his solicitous
German chauffeur, seeming terribly
sorry, asked permission to beach it
for repairs. Hitherto the launch had
been tied up by the entrance bridge,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-02-20

be a group Of soldiers armed only
with bayonets at their belts. Then. ac-
cording to his story. feeling that a
fight at once would be the only way
to take the Amra, and that 1t would
be unfair to fire upon these soldiers
who came in peace on an errand of
rescue, the genial count surrendered.
AS result, the eight Teutons soon
found themselves marching as cap
tive pirates, tame sea devils, up the
main street of the British South Sea
colony at Suva. And it was there
that the count first realized how his
sportsmanlike behavior was to affect
his future and give him opportunity
to become a hero in defeat.
y X X
THE population of the little village
of Suva had turned out to a man.
Natives In a variety of undress, En-
glish civilians in pajamas or white
duck, soldiers in much washed khaki
and pith helmets. lined the vague
curbs of the dusty street to see the
first war prisoners In their part OF
the world.
|. Through the press, escorted by
guards now armed. with bayonets
fixed, marched Count Felix and his
seven buccaneers. All, it was nara,
this, to be taken after SO much strug-
Cling. Luckner himself had been in
many scrapes, but always before
there had been the possibility or
| wriggling through. Now. as he
slouched along, his big mouth
clamped on the inevitable pipe. his
blue eyes squinted to Sits beneath a
scanned forehead. he thought his ad-
ventures must be at an end, ignomin-
| Gus, at least for the duration of the
war.
Yet, he was not the man to lie
| down.
"Chins up, boys" he growled to
his companions. "Ho. they have
caught the pirates, Ell? But we have
| been honorable--we have done moth =
| ing wrong. Shoulders back, boys!
| We've done no crime."
Just then one of the bystanders
| spat full in the face of German
' seaman.
,'u;.tt TD-tE luit i.url uc. ieaD ii
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-02-20

cook. a Russian, spoiled the drama.
however. by rushing forward, his
hands in the air:
Me Russie! Me Russie! Don't
shoot! neutral!"
Neutral nothing" beloved the
count. Get below and make some
stew. you fool. we're hungry! and
captain, I'm now in charge of your
ship"
All. that first night. under the
South Sea stars, with the bridge
again surging beneath his feet, and
the phosphorescent wake of the Moa
reminding him Of the Sea Eagles
evening flights.
Thought we were through with
pirating, Ell. Kling?" he said to his
mate as they changed watches.
AS he lit his pipe. the flare re-
vealed his genial face looking almost
sentimental. Then he grinned, his
paw closing over the bowl:
Bet there's the devil to pay in
Auckland"
How the Moa, with her crew az
captives or volunteers for the
enemy. ran in under the nose of a
British warship. and got supplies at
the shipwreck station of Curtis Is
land. is still the talk of late evenings
in New Zealand. How. just too late,
the authorities created a stir, and
sent out all the available fleet to re-
capture the Sea Devil. is well re-
The Moa turned south, heading
toward the trade routes to Australia.
Short-handed as he was, the count
was going to resume the role of buc-
cancer.
For 1900 miles he let the fair
breeze sweep him on, happy in the
slap of the canvas and the swish of
spray, without sighting anything he
could capture or any one to capture
him. The painted sheet of German
flag jiggled from the yards un-
noticed, useless.
Then two cruisers came over the
skyline at the same time.
Behind them were IL steamers and
a strange fleet of motor launches,
three dozen I'm all. This was the
Australasian fleet.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-02-20

Jane into the bedroom. launched
down, he hurried along the hall and
into the monstrosity room. He tuck
ed the kennel under one arm and tn.
coop under the other.
And just look at the view from
this window" Jane was urging.
Yes" said Aunt Jane, but she
caught a glimpse of red and yellow
and gold. and of an elbow and of two
legs. She turned to the window
Yes" she said, "a very nice view
You can see almost an inch of tn"
river, can't your"
"And this, of course, is our hall
said Jane. putting out hand to latch
the door of the extra room, land then
here Is our living room. and you
haven't met my husband, have you"
Ned, this is Aunt Jane"
well, we'll, WELL" cried Ned Nor.
ton. $50 this is Aunt Janet I was
beginning to think 1 would never
But Aunt James eyes were on the
mantel. On either corner of the
dainty. white mantel stood a vase.
The vases glared like whanging
brass. They dwarfed the mantel. they
dwarfed the room, they dwarfed
everything. They were hideous.
"Ah, the vases" said Ned. Jane
thanked you, but / haven't thanked
you. Il went to the kennel and
touched with his fingers, gently
lovingly. They're wonderful things.
The fesign-the Japanese know how
to d, these things. There's a touch
you know what / mean-a feel
ing
He stood back and looked from the
1ro % tI1a 1xrHt v.tv x1xr hi
head on one side.
Yes. they're lovely" said Jane
hastily. II was showing Aunt Jane
the apartment-''
Superb things" insisted Ned.
II suppose you keep them there all
the time?" said Aunt Jane.
Ned hesitated.
well, nor he said at last. mo, We
don't. We move them around. We try
to see where they look best. One
place and another, you know. But
here-I do think, Jane. that where we
have them now
YES" said Aunt Jane, but how
does the dog get into it?"
'The dog?"
II can see how the cat can get in
one" said Aunt Jane, ''but I don't
see how a dog can get up there. Not
and get in 1t without breaking 1t.
Not a big dog like a COLLIE
For moment Ned looked at Aunt
Jane and his face changed expression
dozen times. Then he saw some
thing in Aunt James eyes. He held
out his left hand and slapped it
smartly with his right.
Down. Fido, Bad dog" he said
But little James face was rather
pitiful.
I'VE loved-loved to have you give
them to us. Aunt Jane, but they did
not seem to fit in with our other
things"
And then Aunt Jane proved that she
was indeed the Family Hope. She
walked to the mantel and took down
the two vases.
rs the cat in the COOP" she asked
mo? Then"
She bumped the two vases together
and the pieces fell crisply jangling To
the tiles before the mantel.
MY dear childv' she cried. and she
threw both arms around little Jane
and kissed her.
Ned Norton slipped quietly out OF
the room. He went to the spare room
and opened the window and, looking
down the air shaft to see that a. fall.
ing object would harm no one, he
dropped out of the window the most
unuseful article of furniture ever
made. He was merely reducing the
number of Aunt James.
Copyright. 1927
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-02-20

showed her into the water. They-thre
in their kit.bags, tumbled the British
guard over the side and disposed them
selves about the cockpit. Thu
mechanician spun the motor, the little
boat sputtered-and the pirates wert
once more headed for their old love
the deep sea.
y xx
THE count was as a new man. He
was roaring praise and encour-
agement to the rest Of them, as he
stood near the bow. changing his wet
clothes for dry ones the valet-sailor
was handing him. Suddenly the lit
tie launch full of Germans broke into
a roar Of laughter.
The new clothes proved to be Gen
Sir James Aliens best uniform.
The count smoOthed out the broad
pockets. strapped on the Sam Brown,
and nodded. Then came the final sur
prise, as the valet-sailor handed him
the generals parade sword.
Sword in hand. once again bolster
Gus and gesturing, Count Luckner
stood in the motor boat and scanned
the horizon They didn't know where
they were going, but they had a good
idea. They were looking for a ship
any ship-to take them to sea. And
as they had anticipated, 1t was not
long before a sailing vessel. the Brit
ish ship Moa, appeared. Luckner. in
the generals uniform, saluted with
the generals sword. and announced
to the captain that the motor boat
was out of gas. The false general
and his German crew were promptly
taken aboard.
When they had climbed the ladder
to the deck Of the Moa the count
called her captain to the rail and
pointed down to something which
had gone hitherto unnoticed on the
generals launch. At her small mast.
head fiuttered a sheet, painted dis.
tinctly with the colors black, white
and red.
my God" said the Moa's captain,
quietly. You're the countv'
The count drew the generals re-
volver. He was at home now,
once more on the ships deck, and
master of the situation! The crew
came running 70 surrender. The
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-02-20

That's your room? Very nice!
Where do they Sleep"
"Coom.' said Marjatta cheerfully.
and she led the way to the bedroom.
where Aunt Jane saw her hat on the
bed and approved of the wall paper.
the furniture and everything.
Mice" she said. And where do
this Mr.. Daphnoos and Aunt Jane
stay?"
Here" said NIarjatta, and she put
her hand on the door of the extra
room.
mo, no." exclaimed Aunt Jane. 81
| won't bother them; they're nothing to
me. What's the cat like?"
Marjatta opened the door OF the
spare room.
my word.' exclaimed Aunt Jane.
What she saw was the conflagratiOn
in the egg-packery lying on the floor,
the amazing picture of Mr.. Dia-
phanoos bobbling at the brook. on the
wall, and the kennel and the cat-coop
lying on their sides in one corner.
Kennel" said Marjatta. bending
down to look in the first vase. Cat.
COOP" she said, looking into the other.
Coon, keety. keety!" She picked up
the imaginary cat and showed 1t to
Aunt Jane.
MY world! exclaimed Aunt Jane
again. "Is the child insane?"
Marjatta put the cat on the floor,
and, presumably, the cat went back
into the cat-coop. She turned to the
photogravure.
"Meest' Daphnoos," she said, with
deep admiration. for, except for the
kennel and the cat-coop. she thought
Mr.. Diaphanoos the most beautiful
thing in the world. And she liked
this queeniy visitor; she was eager to
be of the utmost service to her.
"Ekks on fire." she said, picking up
the mad soft -pillow and patting it.
"My absolute wordr' exclaimed
Aunt Jane. Child, / will see this
Aunt Jane. after all. Where is she?"
"Aun' Jane" said Marjatta, and she
pointed a stubby finger at the clothes
stick. She did more. She went into
the hall and got a cap of Ned's and
hung it on one Of Aunt James pegs
and Aunt Jane Immediately fell down
fiat on the floor. Marjatta grinned
her deep appreciation Of this athletic
ability. Aunt Jane seets down stand
ing oop." she said proudly.
YES" said the other Aunt Jane
hastily. Yes, so / see. And I sup
pose these are wedding presents too
Mucous TO De seen. wen. Anu WHAT
did you call these?"
kennel for dog; cat-coop for cat"
said Marjatta.
And whoever gave them these hide
Gus things?"
"Aun' Jane, where the ottermobiles
are making" said Marjatta.
"Ohw exclaimed Aunt Jane. $50
that's 1t! Well-what's your name?"
"Marjatta."
"Well. won't wait, Marjatta; I'll
come back. My hat, If you please"
k* 4 X
MARJATTA was gone when Ned
opened the door with a There
you are. home again. old fellow" and
threw of Fido's leash. Ned hung his
hat on the rack in the hall and went
straight through to the living room.
Jane was putting her best hat in the
little closet in the bedroom. The bell
rang.
I'm co. she called to Ned, and
went. The Family Hope was stand
ing there. "Oh, Aunt Jane" she
cried. and kissed her. Ned sat sud
denly straight in his chair. For a
moment he stared at nothing with
startled eyes, listening to James
eager words of welcome; then he got
down on his hands and knees eau
tiously. He peered from behind the
big chair, until Jane had taken Aunt
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-02-20

The count laughed, but then he
sobered. These boats were armed.
and he could not resist them. Ii
would only mean a loss of life OH
both sides, and capture in the end
anyway. He drew down his German
flag and hove to.
"Oh. WE'LL" he said. We've had
LOO miles of 1t. We've done our
best"
Alone. the only German fighting
men in that island continent, they
mad gotten away with 1t for nearly a
week. The British were as much
astonished as he was exultant.
Count, you are q SPORT" said the
first English captain to board him.
I'm sorry have to take you back
But that was only a small part of
the British praise in store for the
Sea Devil.
THE radio Of the cruiser Iris told
Auckland that Count Luckner
had been apprehended. and the news
papers soon had 1t in headlines:
SEA DEVIL CAUGHT; RE
TURNS TODAY"
There were the annual horse races
scheduled for that time in New Zea
land, big event. but no one went
near the track. Felix Won Luckner,
who 20 years before had visited these
shores unheralded as a runaway ur
chin, stepped off an enemy ship to Il
reclamation.
Gen. Sir James Allen came for
ward to shake his hand. He repeated
the phrase of the cruisers captain.
Count. you are a sport. We
bring you back, not in enmity, but be-
cause we like your company. And |
do want to have my sword"
Surprised, pleased and bewildered,
the daring count offered his hand In
return. Enemy raider, escaped pris-
oner Of war, he was having q tri-
umph, here in New Zealand!
In the generals equipage he drove
up the street toward his old island
camp. with the crowd
surging on every side. yelling their
THE END
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-02-20

III
land. New Zealand. after the
British. in 1918. had interned him as
prisoner there.
The count is now in New York. he
ran choose almost any portion or ms
life as subject and thrill you by its
recital.
Born a count, he ran away to sea
when he was 10, and only by great
struggles reinstated himself in Ger
many as an officer and gentleman.
How he sailed the seven seas, tramped
the continents, starved, shaved and
studied like any waif, are moving tales
Of the counts abundant history.
His pirate career, begun in 1917
when Germany ran short OF coal ana
commissioned him to go raiding In
the full-riGs;ed ship Sea Eagle. rs one
of the most thrilling personal chapters
of the recent war.
In August, 1918. having sunk IA
allied vessels without injury to a sin
gle man, woman or child, this genial,
big framed, broad grinning Viking
found himself shipwrecked, as'he says.
$500 miles from home away" and.
caught by the FIJI Island police, he
had surrendered.
He and his seven compa mons, after
q 4S-dav cruise in a small boat, had
landed on the corals in a blue lagoon
of the islands and fondly fancied that
their buccaneering was just about to
begin. On the horizon they had spled
the British steamer Amra. and they
decided to make her theirs. Armed
with machine guns, grenades and re-
volvers, they had intended to be taken
aboard as castaways; then. at a given
moment, the count was to change into
his naval uniform and demand the sur
render of the crew. The Germans
signaled to the passing steamer
which stood by. A landing party
could be seen getting into small boats.
The eight refugees. feeling the crisis
approaching. hid every sign OF their
beIi;r4 ~ I'D waited. But when
IL u ,HiS u.scoNereu u
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-02-20


| ant about 1t.
"Mariatta," Jane said now and then,
this morning take some soap and
water and wash the kennel and the
cat coop. And don't break them
"Yez'm; nom,' Marjatta would say.
X X X X
nNE Sunday afternoon Ned and Jane
took. Fido to Mount Tom for a
| run. They went Immediately after
| dinner, leaving Marjatta to do the
| dishes, after doing which Marjatta was
to have the rest of the afternoon and
the evening off. She had finished the
| dishes and Strengthened the dining
room and was giving the kitchen a
last touch when the bell rang. The
little maid went to the door, her face
beaming good will to all mankind.
When she opened the door, she saw
tall woman. very straight and i'm
posing, with hair only slightly flecked
with gray. She more nearly fitted
Marjatta's idea of a queen or an en-
press than any one Marjatta had ever
seen.
us this where the Nortons 1ive?"
asked Aunt Jane.
"Yez'm," said Marjatta.
Are they in?" asked Aunt Jane.
Nom" said Marjatta. They go
out with Fido."
"Is no one here, them" asked Aunt
Jane.
Marjatta considered this.
"Yez'm," she said, when she had
given the matter thought. 'Aun' Jane
an Meest'r Paphnoos. An Alex
ander."
"Oh. said Aunt Jane with some
of knowing that Aunt Jane and Mr..
Diaphanoos and Fido and Alexander
were known to all the Norton's friends.
Aunt Jane is here. is she? Well I'll
come in. When are the Nortons to be
back?"
Don know" said Marjatta cheer
fully.
(which way do / go? Straight
through there?" asked Aunt Jane. and
she walked through into the living
room. She stood moment looking
about her. We'll. this is all very
nice; Jane has done herself WELL" she
said. II say this Is al very pretty and
nice" she repeated to Marjatta, who
stood smiling her broad. innocent
smile. II suppose Mr.. Daphnoos Is q.
boarder? Sounds Greek to me. Who
Is Aunt Jane?"'
"steek." said Marjatta. Putting
hats on"
Never heard of her." said Aunt
Jane. "A milliner? Well, no matter.
You needn't bother Mrs. Steek, girl.
I'll wait for the young folks"
She removed her hat and placed it
on the back of chair. Marjatta i'm.
mediately took it to the bedroom. and
Aunt Jane walked here and there,
looking at the few pictures on the
walls.
"All very nice; they have good taste, /"
she said. And clean, too" Mar
jatta returned. "They must have a
decent dog" Aunt Jane said. mot a
hair anywhere. What kind Of dog"
Collie dog" said Marjatta.
Does It have fleas?"
"Yez'm. soomtimes fleas." said Mar
jatta, remembering Ned's seedlings OF
the imaginary dog.
II like dogs" said Aunt Jane. do
they have cat?"
"Yez'm; Alexander" said Marjatta.
II don't like cats" said Aunt Jane,
who was now In the dining room and
giving it her minute approval. This
the kitchen? Very nice. 1 don't sup
pose they'll mind my looking about a
little. I'm Mrs. Elfus.''
"Yez'm," said Marjatta.