davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-16

told them what he knew Better to
have been snitch than to have
| proved faithless to Baltimore Ryan.
| Now 1t was too late. He was out of
the race. He was helpless. How
| could he boot Corporal Joe under the
wire when every move of his shattered
ankle meant torture? He couldn't
He couldn't, Yet the very thought
was sufficient to tighten his lips, to
set him crouching still lower in the
saddle. small arms and legs moving
the way a frog swims. Corporal Joe's
stride increased.
Dorando and Duty Boy came out
Of the second division under urging
and for a furlong raced abreast of the
gelding. The mud-bug shook up his
mount, and they fell back, beaten.
Gradually Corporal Joe improved
his position. going around King Will
liam and Broom Blossom. to land in
fourth place. But the effort told on
Jackie O'Day. The last vestige of
color drained from his face.
STEADY, joe" he gasped. Stake
horse. you are! Steady. old boy!
Whips gonna make it, he is
We won't have - to - try-so-hard!
Oh, Joe, I'm hurt, 1 am?'
All this time the crowds attention
SLTu&RIG
among the leaders. Queens Token,
showing unexpected endurance, was
still holding stubbornly to the lead.
Two lengths behind raced North Star.
the favorite, closely followed by Rapid
Fire
Jiggs Bradley had joined Ryan and
Marty Montgomery.
Queens Token will chuck it up
| said Jiggs. She's through now
Rapid Fires the one I'm afraid of.
Whip ought to have a bigger lead on
that colt. He amt following instruc-
tons. Looks to me like he's carrying
that third horse, instead of shaking
him off"
Marty Montgomery whispered to
Ryan: might as well tear up your
tickets. Whips riding for the books
He's gonna get North Star beaten.
There it goes! What did 1 tell you?
Look at him bear out on the turn
A groan went up from the stands
as Whip Farrell. swinging wide as
they swept into the. home stretch; lost
two full lengths and left an opening
on the rail for Rapid Fire to come
through. The heavily played good
thing" came on with a rush, catching
the firing Queens Token and forging
rapidly into the lead
All over but the shouting" grunt-
ed Marty. mo chance now. The race
is tossed
X X y X
MARTY spoke just a little too soon
49, Some one else had been watching
Whip Farrell even more closely than
the famous clocker. 1t was a tiny
mud bug on the back of an old stake
horse. Jackie O'Day saw Farrell bear
out and leave that wide opening for
Rapid Fire: he saw the latter take
quick advantage of the move. Down
went the youngsters head, out came
his whip, and the real race was on!
"G'wan you joel" he shrieked.
Lay down to it, oil boy Gotta get
up. we have! Hug the rail, Joe, Now
you're drivin'! Smash through, Joe!
Get up there! G'wan! Gwan.
Gwanw
Their path was blocked by the ex-
hausted Queens Token, one position
out from the rail. To go around her
meant fatal delay. There was but one
chance, and Jackie took it. None but
a desperate midget could have
squeezed through that narrow open
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-16

unable to let her go free, sentenced
her to cross the lines and do some
reconnaissance for the French.
Doubtless he reasoned that If she
were German she would remain away,
but if she We're French she would
turn up again.
She did return after the most har-
rowing experiences, crawling In and
out of shell holes to escape the first
attack of liquid fire. Muddy, SCARED
and disheveled, she reported back to
that French general with informa-
ton which the allies found priceless.
After that her sentence to spy
work was not committed. The French
needed her too badly in her newly
discovered vocation. She became so
skillful at squirming from French to
territory and back as to seem
to bear a charmed life.
Then another unusual thing hap
pened to this extraordinary woman.
She was again arrested as a German
spy. this time as a certain specific
woman. And in this way came the
strange discovery that she had a dou-
BILE among the enemies forces!
With great daring she set out
again and reported to the German
headquarters to try out this supposed
resemblance. 1t proved to be true.
She was accepted as her German
counterpart and entered upon one of
the most astounding series of adven-
lures an impersonator ever under
took
Ostensibly for Germany she return
ed to France to get in touch with
every woman spy the Teutons had
posted in the Gallo country. Faith
fully she delivered the messages with
which she had been intrusted by the
German headquarters. Then, having
received the replies, she went to the
allied councils, where every report
the Germans were to read was
changed according to definitely laid
plans. Thus. If a certain sector was
reported to be weak, and the Goldman
spy had advised an attack, the French
made the advice more emphatic be-
fore relaying the message, but care
fully move up reserve troops to catch
the Teutons on the offensive. Or they
respectfully suggested to the German
aviation staff to lombard an open
field. where they falsely reported
much ammunition to be inferred.
The brave woman became bolder
as these efforts grew more success
full. She crossed the trenches SO
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-16

| many times that she became as used
to shell fire as a poilu.
Each time she would get in touch
with the German spies on either side,
delivering supposedly valuable mes
sages, which had been through the
hands of the French intelligence
service first.
1t was, thus that Mathilde came
to play such an important role i'll
the tragedy Of that famous German
charmer, Mata Hari. When the
Javanese- German dancer had been ar
rested, accused of obtaining informa-
ton from numerous high French gov
eminent officials, it was difficult to
prove that she was also in communi-
cation with the German secret Serv-
ice. MINNIE. Lebrun was rushed from
the front to testify that she had seen
Mata Hari at the German head
quarters on the very day the Javanese
pretended to have filed a dancing en-
gagement in Spain.
She sent Mata Harl to the gull
lotine. That was one OF her most I'm
portant acts, but also the one which
brought about her own undoing.
Before she died, Mata Hari man
aged to send word to the Germans
that a French woman was imper-
sonating one of their most trusted
spies. The next time Mathilde lie
brun appeared at the Teutonic head
quarters, she was confronted by her
own likeness in the person of that
German woman she had pretended
to be.
She escaped. and ran through the
slippery mud of the battlefield to
the lines. With all her old skill, she
was able to outwit her pursuers and
, crawl back to French territory,
! through the fire and explosions Of no
| mans land, unframed.
But her usefulness was ended. Now
that she was known it would be futile
for the French to send her back into
Germany. She returned to her do
| mestic life behind Verdun. and has
since lived as quiet widow, her
heroism being known only to her
| friends. -. ~
Lately, however. her story,has come
to notice. and she is being recon-
mended for a military medal. Her
name has appeared on the front pages
OF Partisan journals.
! Like Louise de Betignies.. whose BIZ
ography has just been published. Nine
Lebrun Is receiving tardily tribute
which is DUE
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-16

riders pleaded with the starter. "No
chance in here. sir! Just a
| minute, Mr.. Kennedy! Yes,
| sir; | hear you but / can't hold him. "
&. Can I whip this horse, Mr..
Kennedy? Please. sir, can l take back
with mine?"
| Two minutes passed. and the con-
, fusion grew worse. Rapid Fire was
causing most of the trouble. The i'm
| ported colt was almost unmanageable.
Finally, they took him to the outside
position, next to Corporal Joe.
| An older boy would have known
| how to protect himself from the
thunderbolt that was now ranged
experienced Jockey would have either
kept very close or so far away that
, those flying heels could not have
| reached him. But the midget, watch
ing only the starter, had no thought
of anything but to get off in front.
Jiggs Bradley. now standing with
Baltimore Ryan, leveled his glasses at
the scene of action. North Stars
standing pretty" he reported. I'm
glad they took that he-devil to the
outside. He thinks he's in foot ball
game. Look at him kick! Aha, l
| thought so! Well, we've only got one
kicked the Corporal--both heels, right
out. Good thing it wasn't North
Starr
But Jiggs Bradley had miscalled the
turn. That terrific blow from the
steel-shod hoof had left Corporal Joe
unscathed None knew it better than
the writing mud-bug whose left foot
! had caught the full force of the i'm
pact. Exquisite pain possessed him
He crumpled, caught himself and
looked down. His ankle was impris-
oned by a twisted stirrup that bit
through boot and into tortured flesh
with the force of a steel trap.
"Oh, Mr.. Kennedy" he called.
please, Sir--''
But at that instant the last horse
swung into line, up went the barrier,
and Marse Kennedy sent the field on
its way.
TO little Jackie O'Day it was all a
pain-racked nightmare. He had
no memory of going past the stands
the first time He did not know
where he was. nor what he was doing
He chung to his mount. knees braced
against the withers, head held low
against the wind. 1t was Corporal
Joe. wise old campaigner. that saved
them both in the first half of the race.
The big gelding rated himself per-
fectly, laid off the early pace and grad
ually worked his way toward the path
at the inner rail where the footing
was favorable. Queens Token, al
ways a quick breaker, was out in
front. closely followed by freight
and Dick Wells. Rapid Fire was ly-
ing third, with North Star half a
length behind. The others were close
up and punched.
In the long run down the back
stretch Jackie O'Day struggled against
the pain that stupefied his senses and
Slapped his strength. Any other boy
on the track would have pulled up
and summoned help. But this was a
mud-bug in his first race, and nothing
short of a bullet in the heart would
have stopped him. BY sheer courage
he conquered the pain and cleared his
thoughts. Then he remembered Bal
timore Ryan, Mother Slap, and, lastly.
the ticket on Rapid Fire which Whip
Farrell could cash by giving North
Star an easy ride. Why hadn't he
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-16

BY 1 o'clock the highway from Gin
cinnati was choked with a taxi
cab armada. Latonia's clicking turn
stiles denoted a record crowd. The
stands grew black; the betting ring
overlooked; the lawn became a surg
ing sea of faces. and still they came!
mo fool like an old fool!' painted
Mother Slap, battering her way up
the grandstand with an umbrella. Il
should have stayed Home. 'Tis enough
to suffocate a sardine"'
Since ] o'clock the Jockeys had
been locked up in their closely guard
eel quarters near the paddock. From
an upstairs window a boyish butterfly
in gaudy silks had been watching the
incoming crowd. Other youngsters, to
whom the gathering mob was no nov
city, sat around on trunks, playing
cards or writing letters to the folks
at home. But the mud-bug's face was
glued to the window pane and his
small heart thumped like the hoof
beats of a thoroughbred.
The paddock bell rang, and the
youngsters went trooping down to
answer its summons. 1t was then
that veteran horsemen and stable
Swipes got their first laugh.
For the love o. Pete" said Terry
Mundane, boss of the Pinkertons.
"Will you look at the tadpole that's
going to- ride Corporal Joe! Why. he
can't hardly carry his tackr He's
trippin' on the stirrups."
Mundane spoke truly. Jackie
O'Day passed along the corridor, hold
ing up with difficulty the postage
stamp" saddle.
Johnny Dunlap. clerk Of the scales,
chuckled to Mundane: THE Corporal
was assigned a, hundred an two
pounds, and we had to put 80 pounds
of lead In the bag. No wonder the
kid is staggering. You'd have trouble,
too. carrying half your weight"
Jiggs Bradley was devoting most
of his attention to North Star. Jackie
O'Day was left to the care of Snow
ball, the gray-haired negro. The
youngster looked around hopefully for
Baltimore Ryan, but the latter was
tied up in the betting ring, striving
to interpret the last minute flood of
Rapid Fire money. Poolrooms in Chi
cago, Baltimore and New York We're
behind the plunge on the imported
colt Commissioners who represented
wise money" were gathered at the
board where every click meant a
hundred.dollar bet. Ryan watched
thOuSa nds of dollars being rung I'D on
Rapid Fire
Marty Montgomery whispered in his
employers ear: II don't like the looks
of it. Too late to hedge now, but I've
got bunch We'll be on the wrong end
of one of those family finishes. Come
up in the press box where we can see
what happens"
THE bugle summoned the field to
the post, and here they came, a
string of II thoroughbreds, with Peter
the Great leading the way, North. Star
in fourth place. and Jackie O'Day on
Corporal Joe bringing up the rear
The crowd roared as it beheld the
mud-bug. His diminutive figure was
the focus for all eyes. In his Jockeys
uniform he looked smaller than ever,
mere baby, facing bravely his hap
ttsm on the battlefield of the turf
Latonia villagers led the applause.
They were lining up at the barrier
now. and the crowd became tense and
silent. Peter the Great stood at the
pole. Other entries were weaving in
and out. backing and siding as their
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-16
BY DAVID CARTER.

7 T HAS taken nearly 10 years to
discover even a few of the roman
tic espionage careers of the re-
4 cent war, In particular, the stor-
les of two French women have
come to light: Louise de Betignies of
Lille, and Mathilde Lebrun of Verdun
are now, tardily receiving public ac-
claim.
Neither was the traditional feminine
spy of the mystery novels svelte and
charming. On the contrary, these
were women embattled crossing and
recrossing no mans land, fighting
men and the elements, risking a thou
sand deaths to gain information for
the allied headquarters, and to deliver
their messages.
Louise de Betignies was known as
Alice during her spy days. She is
now said to have been the head of the
allied secret service.
She became a spy almost by acct
dent.
Born of a noble Lille family
never, in all her DISCUSSES, did she
take off the ring bearing it's crest,
she arrived in Folkestone with the
first of the French refugees of 1914.
There, English secret agents found
her, and learned of her f1uency in
the French, English, German and
Italian languages. They saw how
perfectly she could serve the allied
cause, and drafted her Immediately
into that part of the intelligence
service which operates from behind
the enemies lines.
Louise, now definitely alice, :"
made her way back to Lille through
the Holland frontier and took up her
! new life work.
Her former high position in the
community and her attractive person
atty enabled her to gather together
corps of trusted, skilled informers,
with whose aid she could furnish the
British with whatever information
| they desired.
| She mapped out battery positions,
munition supplies, noted down the
remarks of officers, having them
| Transcribed by an expert on thin
sheets of Japanese paper in such
minute characters that they could
/ only be deciphered with a magnify
| ing glass. AS many as three thou
sand words were thus written on
| sheets as small as a 50-cent piece
And these sheets would be put in the
heel of a shoe or under the wrapper
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-16

ing. He brushed boots with Chick
Collins as he went by, and the pain
from his crushed ankle added the last
touch to his agony. Ahead of him ne.
saw blur of cOlors to the right
Rapid Fire leading the pride of the
Ryan stables by a length.
Then the youngster laid his face TO
the steaming neck of Corporal Joe
clsed his eyes, and, banging away with
his whip, came on the crowded stands
straight on to where Baltimore Ryan
stood. biting clean through a black
cigar, and watching a miracle of mir
acles unfold.
Neither Whip Farrell nor the boy
on Rapid Fire perceived the new chal-
lenger until it was too late. They
were too busy watching each other
Not so the crowd, All Latonia saw
that run through the stretch. and the
roar of voices was like a great organ
note swelling in crescendo. Kentucky
hailing the winner of the Sweepstakes!
The mob paying laundering homage
to Tom Thumb hero, the tiniest mud
bug of them all,
In the very last jump he made il
nodding out Rapid Fire at the post
itself, but he alone of all that vast as
Semblage was unaware that the race
was over. Blind with pain. sick with
vertigo. he rode on and on. until the
field fell back. Corporal Joe slowed
up of his own accord, and a man with
scarlet coat came galloping after
him to lead Jackie O'Day back into
the flower-laden winners circle
He heard Jiggs Bradley's excited
voice booming in his ear, "Sit still.
Kid-while they take your picture"
and then Baltimore Ryan's outburst
Look at the stirrup, His ankles
smashed Easy. son! Leggo Jackie
it's alp over. Lego, I'VE got your
Yes, SIR he faltered; and tum-
bled, saddle and ALI into the arms of
his employer.
DUSK fell on Latonia. Mother
- Slap's place basked in the after
glow of drama. All her progeny,
with two exceptions, sat on the front
steps discussing enthusiastically the
events of the day. Whip Farrell was
missing from the picture.
Up the steps came Capt. O'Connell
of the special service squad. He en-
countered, Baltimore Ryan. Whips
made clean breast of it," he re
ported. Ruled off, of course, and
we've nailed the other rats. Hows
Jackie? / suppose l cant talk TO
him.
NO" said Ryan. IT can't talk to
him. either. But come here q mo-
ment, and III let you take a peep at
the hero. Go easy. now-don't dis
turb him. for he's getin' the kind
Of comfort that you and 1 will never
get again"
Sportsman and sleuth tiptoed to
Jackie's room and peered past the
door that stood ajar. The hero of the
day lay in his cot, one small leg
bound in splints. His eyes were
closed and his head was nestled con-
tentedly on the lap of the first lady
of Latonia. Mother Slap, her voice
trembling with pride and tenderness.
was soothing the hero deeper into
slumber:
'Skeeters am a-hummin'
On the honeysuckle vine,
Sleep, Kentucky babe"
Gently, Baltimore Ryan closed the
door
That" said he, 'fs the very best
finish of the day"
fCoDyright 1927
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-16
Spy Heroines Receiving Tardy Honors
For Courageous Service in World War

of bar of chocolate, so that the
bearer could be searched for manu-
scripts unsuccessfully by even the
most thorough German guards.
Posing as a milk maid, a seam
stress, a school teacher, Alice and an
assistant named Charlotte would
cross the lines again and again. Once
they Travelled in a dairy cart, with
their pellicle of information concealed
In the candle of a lantern which
dangled between the wheels.
Alice, losing her identity as Louise
de Betignies, became known as the
most valuable British agent in the
battle area. Her field of operations
widened as the war went on. until
she was the center of veritable net
work of spies.
Perhaps her most significant
achievement took place at the battle
of Mont KENNEL, in April, 1918.
While her organization in Lille still
functioned, sending reports twice
weekly over the Dutch border to the
British and to Foch, she herself hid
in a ruined hut behind Mount KENNEL
and took notes on the railroad cars
of wounded which were coming back
from the German offensive. AS the
trains went by Alice was at a Win
uOW, tapping out Il cOO0 on IlG Sill
which a woman or child behind her
would transcribe on paper for the
elucidation of the allied councils con-
corning the strength and weakness of
the German force.
Spies live in the expectation of
being captured. Their hope is scarcely
to live through a war-rather, it is
to last out as long as possible while
the war continues. When Alice
heard that her accomplice Charlotte
had been taken, she knew that she
had not much more time at liberty
herself.
Eventually she was caught, tried,
and condemned to death. Reprieved
for her valor by Won Kissing, she
was sent to prison. But there, as
has been vaguely stated, "she Ian
guished after an operation, and died. :"
Mathilde Lebrun also began her
espionage by accident.
Because she spoke German and had
remained with the French soldiers at
Verduns when all the populace had
taken to the roads, she was arrested
as German spy. A strange coinci-
dence ~ events presented strong but
false evidence against her. So a
French general, believing In her but
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-16

T HAS taken nearly 10 years to
discover even few of the roman
tic espionage careers of the re-
L cent war, In particular, the stor-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-16


RUT that was another of Mother
Slap's resolutions destined to be
broken. The very next day she in
herited still another addition to her
family. the youngest and smallest of
them all, and the heart-mending proc
ess began.
He came at noon, attired in a
frayed sweater, a cap that was many
sizes too large for him and pants from
which the seat was missing. He was
dragging bull pup.
Heaven help u.s. said Mother Slap
as she read the letter of introduction
presented by her tiny visitor. "Ryan's
come down to Robin the cradle at
last, VIII you look what he sends me
clear from California;"
There was some justification for
Mother Slap's bewilderment. This lat
est applicant was no larger than Tom
Thumb. Brown eyes, large and trust
full. were set in baby countenance
and the effect of immaturity was
heightened by what appeared to be a
Buster Brown haircut, but was in re
atty only the result of tonsorial neg.
lect. But what the midget lacked In
stature he made up in confidence.
my names Jackie ODay," he told
Mother Slap. This is my dog. His
name is Hannah and he can fight like
anything, he can. He bit the brake
man and killed two cats and tore my
pants. See? Guess you'd better tel
Mr.. Ryan to send me some more
clothes. He's my boss and he owns
the best horses in the world, he does
I've signed on to ride for him, have"
RIDE WHAT" demanded Mothel
Slap. Faith. you amt big enough Is
Z
Imperial Valley press., 1927-07-22
Round By Round
+ Story Of Fight
ROUND ONE

Sharkev rushed and missed with
left, Dempsey drove short rights
to the body. Dempsey struck four
rights to Sharkey's body at close
oslarterS without return. They
fought at close quarters with Demp,
ssy driving Il ONE blows to the
body with both hands Sharkey
whipped left to the head Sharkey
stabbed left and Dempsey drove
Doth hands to the body Sharkrv
Nut a left and right to the head
Dempsey was Furnishing has OPP
ponent badly at close quarters with
snort blows to the ribs. Dempsey
uppercut Sharkey to the Jaw with q
left Sharkev was slow and Demp-
sey carried the fight to Sharkev.
Sharkey hooked 4 right to the Jaw
which staggered Dempsey. Lemp-
ssv backed away and uppercut a
left to the BODY. Dempsey was
bleeding and III distress Sharkev :
furry toward the end Of the round
made him look the better man.
Dempsey appeared T. be III serious
distress between rounds.
Imperial Valley press., 1927-07-22
ROUND TWO

Sharkey led with 4 left and right
9nd drove Dempsey to the ropes.
Dempsey drove two rights to the
body but was low Dempsey struck
:, right to body. Sharkev complain.
ed IL the referee. Sharkev sent 4 left
to the jaw, slowing up Dempsey.
Dempsey was doing little except to
bore in with play for the body.
The ex-ehamplon was bleeding about
the mouth and ewes. Sharkev sent
TWO leftS and two rights to the
head. Dempsey came hack with a
right TO the head Sharkev put two
lefts to the face and Dempsey was
Froggv. They clinchc3. Dempsey
shot over hard left 10 the iaw
apd TWO lefts to the head Sharkev
was hurt hut fought back frrious,v.
Dempsey Uppercut with left to the
law and Sharkev backed away.
Sharkev was mark for Dempsey :
left. He was bleeding from the
',,..d:h Both we've tired arc there
was still little to choose between
them It was hard left hook 20
the Jaw which turned thr tide
against Sharkey in this round.