davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1927-05-08

I the back of his neck slowly up and
down with the forefinger of his left
hand, a sure sign that he was Wrest
ling with an elusive reminiscence.
For r. moment he took his gaze
from the face of the Englishman and
looked sideways at the pavement,
racking his brains, ransacking the
cells Of his memory. With a muttered
oath at failure 10 recapture some piece
of long-stored information. he put his
hand into the inside pocket of his
tunic and produced d tiny fiat case.
From this he took a pair of pince-nez
and adjusted them upon the bridge of
his broad. short nose. From the slow
ness and clumsiness of his move.
ments it was evident that he had only
just taken to glasses, or else wore
them very seldom.
The latter was the case. s Lieut..
Legros considered spectacles of any
kind a most unmilitary and pehin-
esque adjunct to uniform.
A quiet, gentlemanly-loo officer.
captain wearing a uniform similar
to that of Legros, observed the action.
Evidently something interests our
friend beyond ordinary" he remarked,
and followed the look that the elderly
lieutenant again fixed upon the Eng
lishman, whom the captain now no.
ticed for the first time.
AS his glance fell upon the young
couple, the captain startled slightly
and then looked away.
who's for a stroll?" he remarked.
But his suggestion was not adopted,
for glasses were charged, cigarettes
alight the shade of the cafe and avn
ing very agreeable, and the sunshine
hot without.
Have an apertif first. mon ami, and
be restful." said a you've officer. and
tinkled the little table bell loudly.
The Englishman half-consciouslv
turned toward the sound. and looked
away again, without noticing the
baleful. steady glare fixed upon him
through the glasses of the lieutenant.
The officer smote his brow in an
agony Of evaporation at the failure
of his memory. Curse it! Was he
getting old? He had the fellows
name and the circumstances of his
case on the tip of his tongue. so to
speak-at the tip of his fingers, as it
were-and he could not say the word
he was burning to say; could not lay
his twitching mental fingers on the
details. He knew. He was right. He
would have it in a minute.
). * x
A PAPER-BOY passed the long front
Of the cafe and shouted some
wholly unintelligible word, as he
gazed over the serried ranks of chairs
and loungers.
What does he say, Bill?" asked the
girl. 1T sounds like Barin. How i'll
the poor lad looks, Fancy having to
sell papers for a living when you are
starving and horribly i'll, as he OBJ
viously is" and. as her hand stole to
her charitable purse, she gratefully
thought of the utter security. peace,
comfort, and health of her life-now
that Bill had linked it to his.
What was the phrase? Yes--she
had 'hitched her wagon to a STAR,
her poor little homely wagon to the
glorious and brilliant star of her
Bills career.
The inquisitorial lieutenant used the
Evening star., 1927-05-08

then as Parthenia to the Ingomar OF
Eben Plympton. and was acclaimed
| the ideal Juliet to the Romeo of Rob
| ert Tabor. Fanny Davenport and
Marie Wainwright were other famous
! dramatic stars. The latter was con
| sidered superb as Viola in the Shakes
| peariau comedy. Twelfth Night
| Wilton Lackaye and Virginia Harmed
were widely talked of as Svengali and
| Triby i'm Du Maurier's story, '"Trilby.
| Playgoers of the 90s will recall
| many other fine plays and players
| that were offered in the leading thea
! ters of Washington at that time
| Those were the days of Fanny
Janauschek and Clara Morris. Kate
| Claxton and Cora Tanner. Maude
| Granger and Olga Nethersole, James
| O'Neill and Louis James, John Mason
and Julia Arthur. Bertha Galland and
| Frederick Warde, Alesandr Salvini
| and Georgia Cayvan.
| MANY costly and beautiful new play
| houses began to be erected every
where in America after designs by
men who had made a science of thea
ter building, and embodyinS many
novel improvements both fore and aft
the footights. The Belasco Theater
was built here Objectionable posts
/
eliminated from these auditoriums,
and acoustics were improved. Up
holstered chairs replaced gallery
benches, and elevators were provided
+ to take patrons to upper floors
Lounging and smoking rooms and
| usherS and maids were also provided
| Hats and wraps were taken care OF as
never before. Iced air filled the thea
| ter in Summer and heat was radiated
| in Winter. All sorts of mechanical
devices were introduced and de-
veloped. Electricity displaced calcium
| light on the stage. There also arose
a vigorous native school of dramatistS.
composers. costume designers and
scenic artists. The theater became
great business enterprise.
There were many comedians on
the stage then of more than average
ability. Do YOU recall w. J. Flor
ence, Nat Goodwin. Sol Smith Rus
sell. Roland Reed. William II. Crane.
| Stuart Robson. William Gillette. j..
Fl. Sothern. "Our Friend Fritz" ]. X.
Emmett. De Wolf Hopper, Digby
Bell. Jefferson D'Angelis. William J.
Scanlan, Jerome Sykes, James T.
Powers and "Adonis' Harry L.
Dixey? In grand opera it was the
days of the De Reszke brothers-Jean
anu fLuOudCu--OI I4dlneSs NitiDd'
Calve, Plancon. Schumann-Heink and
Sembrich. an aggregation never since
| equaled at one time in an orGaniza-
| ton.
The nights saw Rosina Fokes and
Felix Morris in splendid program OF
one-act plays, "Bonny Kate" Castle
! ton in THE DaZzler," Lydia Thomp-
son as Robinson Crusoe and jolly
Nellie McHenry in "A Night at the
Circus" are never to be forgotten.
There also were many American
beauty stars touring the country then
at the head of high class operate
troupes, notably, Lillian Russell.
Emma Abbott, Della Fox. Emma
Jucf. Marie Tempest. Alice Nelson,
Marion Manola, Pauline Hall and
Camille D'Arville. James X. Hackett,
Maurice Barrymore, William Faver-
sham, Otis Skinner and Kyrie Bellew
were the matinee idols of the period
and favored of many feminine hearts.
John Drew was presenting the spar
king light comedies with which his
fame is identified. Jchnstone Bennett
Evening star., 1927-05-08
L h. H.> H.K | Pennal Wren
Happiness and s'u-And They

| thousand times for blackguardly
brutal rufiian. The girl was goins
to faint Her wedding ring looked
| brand-new.
IF this is his wedding night. hel
| spend it i'll the sale de police of For
| St Jean" he reflected. IF he is or
| his honeymoon. he'll spend it in The
cellules until the general court
! tial at Oran gives him a few years
! rabiau with the Zephrys. If he sur
wives that, which is improbable, he
will finish his five years of Legior
service. No-she won't see much OF
him during the next decade. Poor
little SOUL
The gendarmes duly arrested the
deserter. lie caught the eye of the
captain.
Capt. d'Armentieres." said he
you are a French gentleman. This
lady is my wife. We have been mar
safe on board the =. & o. steamer
Maloja, which we have just left for ar
hours visit here"
II will do so,'' said d'Armentieres
A fat and kindly Frenchman who un
derstood English, translated for the
benefit of the crowd. He became in
tensely sympathetic---at least with the
girl. The French, for some reason
imagine their Foreign Legion to he
composed of Germans, and the French
do not love Germans.
And then. having commended his wife
to 'Armentieres (whom he had liked
and admired in the past, when he had
played the fools prank of joining the
Legion for a lark'O he thought rap.
idly and clearly.
If they once got him inside Fort St
Jean the clearing house for drafts
and details going to, and coming from
Algeria-recruits. convalescents, leav.
expired. all sorts: Legionnaires. Zou
aves, Turcos, Spahis. Tirailleurs), he
was done.
In a short time he would be con.
Vict at Dartmoor, Portland, or Worm.
ing the living death of existence in
the Zephyrs, the terrible Disciplinary
Battalion, compared with whose lot
that of the British long sentence con.
vict at Dartmoor, Portland or Worm.
wood Scrubbs is a bed of roses in the
lap of luxury.
After that-back to the Legion, if
he were alive to finish his five years,
of which there were four unexpired.
And his wife, stranded. without money,
in Marseille. unless d'Armentieres got
her to the ship. And what would she
do then-at the end of the voyage?
A few minutes ago-happiness un.
speakable, safety, security. peace, all
life before them. .Now-in a few min
utes he would be in Jail, and his
adored, adoring wife a deserted, friend
less stranger in a strange land. Would
they allow d'Armentieres to take her
TO the ship? Would they want her to
give eyidence-put her in some kind
OF prison, until the courts-martial sat?
Suppose d'Armentieres had not been
there, and she had been left to the
tender mercies of Legros-or. utterly
deserted. fainting on a cafe chair?
Well, things couldn't be much worse
Tor could they) if he resisted the po-
lice" assaulted the officers of the law
in the execution of their duty, and
made a break for liberty?
No, things couldn't be worse
Evening star., 1927-05-08
Strange Beds.

HABIT conceals all sorts of absurd.
tiles. 1t makes one ache to see an
illustration of a Japanese sleeping
block, followed out just enough to per.
NIT of the neck being adjusted there.
to. The Germans notion of night ~
pose does not come much nearer our
Idea of comfort. There are many Ill
made and unsatisfactory beds from
the American point of view) TO be
found in Germany.
German beds. almost without excen.
tion, are single--so much so. indeed.
that the occupant, If he attempts to
deviate an inch or two from his posi-.
ton, finds himself sprawling on the
floor. The sheets. bed-blankets. etc.
are made just TO fit the beds and
are never wide enough 10 tuck in.
They are seldom more than an inch
or two wider than the mattress. and
it requires the skill and experience
OF the acrobat, especially in the case
of q foreigner. to keep the bed-clothss
evenly balanced over one.
Many OF the German hotels use the
French pillow. which is about half the
size of the mattress and stuffed out so
hard and plump that about the only
benefit the tired traveller gets from
1t Is to have it serve as a rest for his
back while he sleeps i'm a sitting posi-.
ton. The majority of pillows found
In Germany. however. are wedge
shaped, OF the same material as the
mattress, and come to point ned.
the center OF the he'd On these the
hA
cline plane, and looks like body on
one OF the narrow planks at the
Morgue in Paris. with sheet thrown
over It.
Evening star., 1927-05-08

paper-boy for the purpose OF his
tactics. Rising, he made his way be-
tween the chairs and the groups of
apertif-drinking citizens. to where the
boy stood, bought a paper, and re
turned by a route which brought him
face 10 face with the Englishman.
Recognition was instantaneous and
mutual, The brutal countenance of
the elderly lieutenant was not i'm
proved by a sardonic smile and look
of mean and petty triumph, as he
thrust an outstretched finger in the
Englishmans face and harshly
grunted:
Henri R-r.r-obinson" and then
a sneering, hideous cackle
Staring in utter bewilderment from
the French officer to her husband, the
girl saw with horror that his jaw had
dropped, his mouth and eyes were
gaping wide, and he had gone as
white a s a sheet.
''Sergt. Legros"' he whispered.
Lieut.. Legros." grunted the other.
What had happened? What was
this? Was she dreaming? Her hus-
band looked deathly. lie seemed
paralyzed with fright.
The lieutenant turned and shouted
TO a couple of somber and mysterious.
looking gendarmes who had been
standing for some time on the little
island under the big lamp-post in
/ the middle of the road. As they
approached, the Englishman rose Ia
his feet.
Listen. darling"' he hissed Get
out of this quick-~to the ship. Take
fiacre and say p. & o. bateau.' III
join you all right. They have---
The lieutenant put a heavy hand on
his shoulder and swung him around
ARREST this man." said he to the
gendarmes. land take him to Fort
| st. Jean. He is a deserter, one Henri
R-r-r-obinson. from the First Battalion
of the Foreign Legion. Deserted from
Sidi-bel.Abbes eight years ago. But
| knew the dog. Aha
/ 4 X !, *
THE group Of officers whom Legros
= had just left joined the gathering
crowd.
Poor fellow said Capt. d'Armen
tiers. He, too. had recognized Henry
J Robinson. Poor girl" he added
I Poor little soul! She looked like one
| nouvelle mariee, too"
OF course, Legros had only done
his duty-curse him. Curse him q
Evening star., 1927-05-08

handed-off, or caused to fall by dodg-
ing them Is they sprang at him.
When he turned a sharp corner he
was so well ahead of the original pur-
suers that he was merely man run
ming. and that is not in itself an in
dictable offense.
People stopped and stared at the
sight of an obvious foreigner running
at top speed. but he might have a
boat to catch, he might be pursuing
a train of thought, or his lost youth
and innocence. Que vouleZ-vous? Be
sides, he might be English, and there
fore mad
And then the blue.faced, painting
gendarme would round the corner at
the head of such gamins. loafers, po-
lice agents, and other citizens as saw
fit to run on a hot afternoon. Where
upon people in this sector Of street
would look after the runaway and
some run after him. as well.
SO the pursuing crowd continually
changed as some left 1t and others
Joined it. until there remained of the
old original firm scarcely any but the
distressed and laboring gendarme--
who. at last. himself gave up and
reeled TO the wall, whooping and
gasping.
The Englishman dashed round
another corner and actually leaped
onto an electric tram In full fight
toward the quais!
Ciel, How mad were these English.
Fancy a man running like that now,
just to catch a tram. No, he would
not go inside; he preferred to stand on
the platform. and stand there he
would.
He did. and anon. the tram having
stopped at his polite request to the
conductor, he strolled onto the P. and
0. wharf and marched up the gang
way of the good ship Maloja.
A steward informed him that his
wife was i'll, aving been brought
aboard by a French gent and took
to 'er cabling. She were still lying
down"
She was, at that moment, very i'll
indeed mentally and physically
Evening star., 1927-05-08

gangway and lie in wait to see il he
got on board? o--d'Armentieres
was not that sort
tHe was not, and when, later. Lieut.
Legros was reduced to the rank OF
sergeant for what was practically the
brutal murder Of a Legionary. Capt
q d'Armentieres thought of this incident
and rejoiced)
And If he did--let them stop him
if they could. He'd break through the
scum Of them all right. Lay some OF
them out. too.
What was Legros saying? Urging
the gendarmes to boot him up and
lug him off by the scruff of his neck,
eh?
X = Y i
LIE groaned again, sat up with diff
flculty, shakily and painfully
rose to his feet, then smote Legros a
smashing blow between the eyes, but
ted the gendarme who stood on his
right, and. with a dodge, jump and
wiggle, was away and running like
a hare.
To the end of his life he never forgot
that race for life, and for more than
life. Scores of times he lived through
it again In terrible Nightmares and
suffered a thousand times more than
he did on the actual run itself. For
then he was quite cool, steady and
unafraid.
He imagined himself to be running
with the ball at Rlackheath or Rich.
mona, threading his way through the
hostile Is, lodging, leaping.
But there were one or two differ.
ences. In Rugger you may not drive
your clenched fist with all your might
into the face of any man who springs
at you. Nor do you run for miles
over cobbles.
1t was really surprisingly easy
Once he had got clear and put a few
yards between himself and the unn.
jured gendarme, it was even betting
that he'd win-provided his wind held
and he didn't get the stitch. and that
he did not slip and fall on the cursed
stones.
For the folk behind he cared moth
ing, and with such in front as grasped
the situation in time to do some.
thing. he could deal. Some he
lodged some he handed-off. as at
Rugger. and some he hit. These last
were slower to rise than those he
Evening star., 1927-05-08
MEANWHILE, an elderly, gri

MEANWHILE, an elderly, grizzled
AA officer, with somewhat brutal
face, was staring hard and rudely at
the unsuspecting couple. So pro-
longed was his unshifting gaze, so
fierce his frown. and SO obvious his
interest, that his companions noticed
the fact.
rs the old dog smltten with Ia belle
Anglaise, l wonder. or what" mur.
INJURED "A handsome youth in the beau
tiful pale blue uniform of the Chas-
seurs dAfrique to an even more gor-
geous officer OF Spahis.
Il have never known Legros TO take
the faintest interest in women" re-
piled the other. There will he a
oc&Stly fracas If the husband glances
this way. He'll promise Legros to
ponch ee& cad if he thinks hes be-
ing rude--as he is"
Certainly the elderly and truculent.
looking officer was being rude, for not
only was he staring with n hard, con
centrated glare, but he was leaning as
Tar forward as he could, the better TO
DO 1t. Any one--man, woman or
Hiild-being conscious Of this delib.
crate, searching gaze, must resent it.
II was that Of gendarme, examin.
ing the face of a criminal and en-.
deavoring to place" him and recollect
the details Of his last encounter with
him.
1T is as good as sitting in the
stalls Of theatre, sitting here and see.
Ing all these varied types 20 by, isn't
II. Bill?' observed the girl. ''Oh do
look at that-that boy in brown velvet
and forked beard"
we are sitting in the stalls of the
Theater of Life. nv child " uaS the
reply. but in reality they were sitting
nearer to the pit.
1he brutaI-looking officer scratched
Evening star., 1927-05-08

Neither he nor she would survive the
next ten years. And there was a
chance, or the ghost of shadow Of a
chance. The deck of the Maloja was
English soil, and they could not lay
a finger on him there. If only she
we're safe on board. he'd make the at
tempt. There was a chance-and he
had always taken the sporting chance,
all his life.
And this vile cur of a Legros. He
had many score to pay off to Sergt.
Legros-the prize bully of the 18th
Army Corps Now this, If he could
only have his hands at the throat OF
Legros.
AS these thoughts flashed through
his brain, MAY | say farewell TO my
wife and see her into fiacre with you,
Capt. d'Armentleres?" he asked. lie
appeared to be as cool as he was pale.
The captain was the senior officer
present.
YES" he said ~ will drive her as
quickly as possible to the ship.
Willing hands helped the fainting girl
in the fiacre. Was she dying? AS she
lost her hold and sank into the bottom
less depths Of unconsciousness. she
was finally aware that her husband
! winked at her violently.
nat WINK, In a. lace Wnlcn was
| paid. tragic mask. was the most
dreadful and heartrending thing she
! had ever seen. Anyhow. 1t meant
! some kind of reinsurance which ne
| could not put into words without dis
! closing some plan TO his captors.
| She tainted completely, in the act
/ Of wondering whether this was mere
! ly that he was putting "a good face on
! 1t and pretending for her benetlt, or
i whether he really had plan. Any
/ how. she was to go to the ship--and,
| in any case, she was dying OF a broken
| heart.
+, + x X X
| a he watched his wife driven rapid
ly away, the Englishman formu-
| lated his plans.
| He would delay as long as he could
| In order that his wife might be on
board the ship before he reached 1t, II
! ever he did.
He would go quietly and willingly
| but as slowly as possible--While the
f; road to Fort st. Jean was the ROAD 10
! the ship. lie would then break away
from his pursuers and run for 1t.
He would show them what an old
| Oxford miller and international Rug.
| ger forward could do in the way OF
running and lodging, and, perchance.
Evening star., 1927-05-08

many other Englishmen know any.
thing about this African army and
that it is the 99th. Now how do you
know"
1t was his turn TO smile, and he did
70 somewhat wryly.
What will you have?'' he asked,
as an aproned garcon lowered around
Coffee or sirop or-would you like a
sip Of absinthe? You'll hate it,"
No. thank you. III have some
coffee and see if it is.''
'Is what?'
Coffee y
Evening star., 1927-05-08

But not for long, when his arms
had assured her that they were not
those of a vision and a ghost
Evening star., 1927-05-08

If you ever travel home with them,
you'll find they don't go ashore at
Marseille. No, they don't like the
Evening star., 1927-05-28
FOR SALE--HOUSES.
NEAR GLOVER PARK.
ATTRACTIVE. NEW. FOUR-BEDROOM HOMES.

Two corner homes.
one of 8 rooms and
bath. the other z
rooms and bath: and
one inside home con-
tanning Z rooms and
bath. remaining in
this group. Each
house has q built-in
garage.
Evening star., 1927-05-28
= BARGAINS.
pI-CJEECC ZnEE

Fifteenth ne. bet. F and G-6-r. and
b. brick: cellar. furnace. elec. and gas
hack yard: $500 will convert it into a
store: price reduced from $4,000 to $4,000;
cash. $500: S45 mo.
Eighth st. ne. near East Capitol-6-r.
very cheanIy rreatiy redeed n nrce ooiS
$4,000: cash, $50: balance S35 mo-: now
rented at S35 mo
Evening star., 1927-05-28
FOR SALE-HOUSES.
GROOM HOME WITH o-CAR GARAGE.
AN UNUSUAL .450.

wide. with covered front porch. spiendidly
located between two beautiful avenues in a
restricted northeast section. Convenient to
stores. schools; churches and car lines. 8
in excellent condition. A real opportunity
to buy a home in this wonderful section at
a very low figure. Only S7.45O: very rea-
sonable terms. Call Atlantic 16.g-M.
GIG eth ST. NE.
Brick dwelling. containing 8 rooms ana
terms: convenient TO schools:
90 RANDOLPH PLACE NV.
Six-room brick dwelling with tile bath;
ami: Gear garage. Price. $500.
80 V ST. NV.
Brick dwelIils Containing ,rrn, rooms nsrIS re-
ami: garage: lot 1Sx144.
sol ST. S.W.
Semi-detached corner brick home OF ten
rooms and bath: ami: oil burner: brick
garage; large lawn. Will take small house
Main sss.s5s. 7ss isth St. NV.
1446 s.E-8 r.. B.. GAR. LARGE
17os T se.!Bunraiow. 5r.. bath. lot
1873 Ridge. pl.. s.e.-New 5-r. brick.
1856 W s.e-Bunsslow. r. bath:
1851 Good HOPE I'd. s.e-First comm.
zone. business property. go. 5000
43S New Jersey ave. s.e-Apartrlent house
with four. furnished apartments; $500 cash.
We have come ~ First Trust Notes for
'ais ANacosT1A AZ FINANCE FINANCE CORPORATION.
2014 Nichols AYE. Sc.
Evening star., 1927-05-28

COLORED HOMEsEEKERs SEE OUR LIST
OF HOMES FOR SALE RANGING IN
PRICE FROM $4,000 UP, on TERMS As As
IN EVERY SECTION
READ THIS ONE.
915 9th st. n.e.--6 rooms bath: hot-w ater
heat. electric lights: perfect condition: deep
lot to wide alley. PRICED very low.
Downtown-lO rooms. . baths: electric
lights; deep lot; . garages. Only $4,000:
CALL Us TO INSPECT.
WAPLE JAMES.
111e 14tb St. wv. Main 10260.
Evening star., 1927-05-28
CAFRITZ,
14th & K N. 1880
MODERN BRICK HOME.
$3.50.


This nearly new modern brick home con.
tains large. bright rooms and tiled bath
and built-in garage. Hardwood floors up-
stairs and down. built-in refrigerator. hot
water heat and all modern conveniences. Lo-
Gated IN a very convenient section of charm.
ing Brookland
An extremely small cash payment is all
we REQUIRE and monthly payments less than
rent. This is an opportunity for the home
seeker with a small amount of cash who
wants a real home.
Phone Cleveland 6O07. or After 6 PM
Cleveland HR4R
Evening star., 1927-05-28

INSPECT THESE NEW HOMES
SATURDAY, SUNDAY OR MONDAY.
4ol5 41st ST. NV, Chevy Chase D. c.
detached lot
Of
32O1 Morrison St. N. w. Chevy Chase, D. c.
of
mar ome n very
$500 Benton St. NV, Near Glover Park.
% % W
ands SOU square 10
WILLIAM K. HARTUNG & COMPANY
11O8 10th St. NV. Main 81.