davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1928-06-17

Kerry was thinking with lightning
swiftness. He was trapped, and knew
It, The bulkhead back Of him con-
tanned steel door. but that door was
blocked by cargo And he knew that,
even If he could move the cargo where
he stood. he would run into solid wall
OF cargo on the other side of the door.
1t was pity, he reflected, that he
didn't have the room that was afforded
by the deck above, where there was.
as yet. virtually no cargo.
ONCE again a draft of freight clat-
~ tered into the hold: once again
the gang boss shook the big hook
loose from the sling and signaled 1t up.
An idea came to the trapped watch
man. Suppose he should make a sud-
den dash as the cable started upward
and swing onto the hook?
He discarded the idea almost as soon
as 1t came to him. Just two things
would happen" he reflected; "and
either Of them would kill me-" He
knew that, the moment the gang boss
saw him swinging on the hook, some
thing would go wrong with the winch,
and he would be dropped unceremon-
iously back into the hold. Or. failing
behind his barricade and shoot him
as ne swayed helplessly on the cable
In the middle of the twelye-foot hatch.
Kerry vas nervous. II only he had
another bullet in his gun and could
trick Lawson into the open But that
was impossible And 5 o'clock was
approaching. That might mean that
Glory's men from above would descend
into the hold to complete the Job They
could do 1t then, without attracting
attention. He whistled softly.
I've got to do something. But
what?"
And then an idea came to him: a
plan that held possibilities and was
fraught with danger The deck above
was clear. II he could make that. II
would be a simple matter 10 walI
for'ard to hatch number one through
the bulkhead door. and thence up the
ladder and into the open air. where
he knew not even Glory Lawson woulc
dare shoot him down.
The cable snaked down into the
tatchway once more. bearing its draft
of cargo. The freight fumped in a
heap on Kerry's side Of the hatch. He
saw the cable grow slack and then
wiggle excitedly. proof that the gang
boss was trying 10 loosen the hook
from the sling. And then he saw the
cable sway idly across the hatchway
and swing leisurely back in a graceful
arc.
Dave Kerry acted Once again h,
Evening star., 1928-06-17

away. H lsughted loudly and shrugged.
Kerry gave himself over to his lunch,
@ II
A ND now the Gophers blazed with
a conjecture According to their
opinion, Glory Lawson was cut in the
! head over girl Eddie Grogan was
frankly da2ed II never see a man SO
nuts" he confided. First thing you
know hen be askin' the dame to marry
hint"
Which is precisely what Glory Law
son did
OF course. 1t was quite apparent to
him that Ellen Mabry was using Dave
Kerry TO extract from him a proposal
of marriage. 1t was impossible that
she should care for Dave. while he,
Glory, remained a suitor And so.
moro to prove to the gang that he was
irresistible. he resolved that he would
crush the affair with single gesture
An offer Of marriage
He was douscd with a shower OF
icv laughter
Listen, big boy-who are you that
I should get excited because you're
willing to marry me?"
Glory was staggered He shook his
head daZedly An all the boys knew
tin ready 10 give us a swell racket"
That's all right. Just go tell your
friends they was too previous"
Glory departed. His pride had re-
ccived a crushing blow. Why it was
absurd enough that he should have
deigned TO fall for a skirt: but that
she should have intrigued him into a
proposal of marriage and then-of all
things him owl Whatll
the boys say?"
The boys said a great deal, but for
tunately for themselves. did not say it
where Glory Lawson could hear. 1t
was amazing how quickly certain mem-
bers of the Gopher Gang learned that
Ellen Mabry had refused to marry Mr..
Lawson. 1t was amazing how soon they
discovered that she was engaged TO
Dave Kerry.
Glory heard the news from Ellen her.
self She told him gently. fearing to
hurt his feelings.
III get that guy" Glory threatened.
| I'm get him, II 60 to the chair for
It."
And, even though Ellen laughed
bravely into his eyes and warned him
that Dave Kerry was capable of taking
care of himself. she became afraid and
so. when she and Dave married. o week
later. her first act of wifehood was TO
make him abandon work on the piers
Watching amt no kind Of a lob for
you, honey. You can make more than
81 a day"
Il know, sugar / didn't select the
job. Work amt so easy TO fnd now
adays. and maybe we better hold on
mo. Promise me that you won't go
back to that agency. Promise!'
AND so Dave promised, and for nearly
two years the waterfront knew him not
The day he went to work with big
warehouse concern Ellen b.eathcd more
easily. She had learned swiftly during
her tenure Of ONCE as waitress In the
Coffee Pot, and she knew what the end
Evening star., 1928-06-17
Real Folks in a Beacon House
Rogers Discovers That Light Keepers Are
Not All on the Coast-Waiting Out
on the Prairie Made Necessary by
Accidents of Flight-Substitute
for Luncheon Clubs.

while the pilot and the light man are
out trying to fix the wheel / am in
the house drinking good coffee, and
talking 10 the lighthouse keepers wife.
1t gets IS below zero out there In the
Winter. They are rs miles away from
Rawlings. the nearest town and post
Office Their only means of seeing any
one Is an emergency landing by some
pilot In a storm. They are paid by the
Department of Commerce; the salary is
around 800 month, with house rent
and fuel furnished. They have two
boys away at Laramie. at the university.
specializing In electricity. They have
been In this service ever since 1t was
started In 1924. She thinks the young
cs. boy will become pilot.
She visited her mother whom she
hadn't seen In years and lives out In
California. The Boehling line that
operates the mail service gave her a
pass. and she got on plane In her
front yard and made the trip out to
California by plane. and then back by
plane and landed right at her own
docrstoop She says that was the most
wonderful trip. and by golly 1t was
How many OF you people that have had
all our so called advantages, have ever
had an experience like that? She
spoke about how nice all the different
pilots were to her on the trip, she said
"They couldn't have treated me finer
II had been millionaire making the
trip"
She talked about all the different air
ports and the big mountains that she
flew over. she turns on the lights when
her husband is sick, they have a nice
new little car and one of the best look
ing cook stoves I ever saw. great
big dandy white enameled thing, that
burns either coal or oil, and what y
pride she took IN II when she saw | was
interested In IT, She told me what II
cost and how they were able TO AFFORD
II. just thinking Of II In these DAYS and
times. woman that takes pride In
her cooking stove. She was mighty
fine. wholesome. middle-aged woman
wasn't interested much IN permanent
wave, or reducing, but did bake some
of the best bread | had had In years
Said that the people who landed as
passengers In storms, sometimes were
all mighty fine, and put up good
nhturedly with the conditions that they
had 10 meet.
She knew all The pilots ON that run,
knew all tbout them. their JOYS and
sorrows. SHE said they was all such
fine boys Her husband come from
Iowa, and she come from Oklahoma.
and they argued oil the time over
which was the best State settled that
for EN-, Her boys will be home In a
couple OF weeks. and how she beamedl
| imagine they are working their way
through school, and bet they both
turn out great She said her and her
husband hadn't had much schooling"
but they wanted 10 have their boys
have chance, Says the boys and her
rln little filling station out on the
highway I'm the Summertime, and that
nays 'em pretty well, and then they
handle the gas for the emergency land
ings, and they get paid extra for that
by the mail company,
Evening star., 1928-06-17
Bazaars.

STREETS In the bazaar districts ol
AStatio cities are only eight To ten
feet wide The larger SaopS ARE eiRht
by ten and the smaller ones tive by six
feet. with one side giving directly on
the street In each bazaar there Is a
khan for every 10 or IL shops, These
khans are two stories high with an
open court In the center and rooms or
the four sides oil opening into the
court, A door leads from the open
court into the street.
Each bazaar has coffee shop, which
Is large open place. covered partly by
roof, where are a number OF wooden
setteeS ranged IN rows. Any visitor who
sits down Is ftrst given q cup Of Turkish
coffee and then narghile or nstive
pipe fiiled with Shrixa tobacco The
charge for eoffee and the use OF the
pipe is twa cents, Here merchants
gather To discuss trade bills.
Evening star., 1928-06-17

viouS day. The single mode OF exit was
up the ladder OF the deck, and Dave
| knew better than 10 attempt that.
lie knew perfectly well what the pres
ence Of these particular gangsterA POI.
tended. They had no intention of per-
fnitting him 10 leave the hold OF the
Regal He noticed that they had
brought their lunches. just as he him
self had done. No shadow Of an ex-
cuse then 10 Chamber out at noon.
And they were armed. and he was
not. Worse than that. they knew he
was unarmed The Trans-O Oceanic
watchmen were supplied by an agency
and we're not privileged 10 carry guns.
At 8 O'Clock work started Silence
Was transformed into bedlam There
were hoarse shouts and bellowings. a
sudden CHATTER and clangor Of trucks on
the big pier. hoarse- voiced orders, a
din that reverberated down the hatch
way and echoed from the steel sides OF
the big ship
Loading started In hatch No. 2
| There was a shout from the gang boss
on deck as the longshoremen on the
| pier sung draft on the heavy iron
hook Then a snOfting Of the Winchei
| ON deck, shrieking OF cable and thu
| I'd from the pier and suspended over
| the l2~foot hatch, Al another sigma
! 1t was lowered three decks, 10 where
| Glory lawson and his henchmen were
waiting
| They were skilled workers. The giant
| hook dropped gently, 80 expertly that II
| unlocked Itself and swung idly back ano
/ forth In the middle of the hatchway
The men stepped forward and removed
| the cases )f cargo from the sling. Then
/ the signal was given the gang boss anc
the hook and sling returned through the
hatchWay 10 the pier, while Glory anC
! hts men busied themselves placing the
| cargo.
| II was not until an hour later that ar
| overt move was made by the gangsters
| They unloaded half dozen small cases
and inspected them carefully, after tht
sling had shot upward Then, quite de-
/ liberateiy, Glory Lawson drove his hoob
! INTO one Of the boxes and tore It open
| II was fllIed with watches, and he I'm
| Refed them nA he addressed the watch
/ man.
How about u, Wanh7 You in2"
Dave Kerry knew that they knew h,
was not a CRATER, tie knew that the!
had smashed this case Of watches u
provoke him IN action And he had ~
Idea OF being betrayed into an offensiy
move.
II was his task 10 protect the eom
pany IL Was incumbent upon him h
prevent thievery below decks He sas
them waiting for him ta do something
And he did precisely nothing
This morning dragged slowly Hatci
Evening star., 1928-06-17

would have been: a dark corner. mass
ing Of Gorsaers, the bumk' rush~-~per~
| haps even q leaden pellet from an auto
matte. II was better that Dave should
| work elsewhere.
! Hell's Kitchen forgot Ellen Mabry,
! but Glory did not. Some day" he said
bitterly. that birdil come back. And
| when he does~-.~~--"
/ Life settled Into it's routine Of idle
| ness and thievery and fghting and
| dancing for Glory Lawson and his
| gang and 10 quiet round OF don1es-
ticity for Mr.. and Mrs. Dave Kerry.
| THINGS went fairly well with them
for time. But Dave was an easy
| going sort, and not overly fond of tak :
| Ing orders from bosses who did not
always choose their language with
| scruDulous care One day there was a
| fight, and Dave Wag jobIess Other
| Jobs we're found with difficulty and
| they did not prove permanent.
/ Then he announced that he was go
/ ing back IN The Chelsea Protective.
Ellen was frightened, but not as much
AZ she would have been two years be-
( fore, The Coffee Pot seemed far dis
ta'1t and Glory lawson must have for
| gotten
you see. honey" he explained "Oid
Man yanf1 likes me a heap. He knows
! In on the level and he says he'll give
| me 81 nay for special work
! Hen make me gateMan after
! Nhile~~and there's lot 0f pickingf
there Some u those feiiefs make sew
erty, eighty dollars "A week on the gate
hne make H. legitimate. Vannti do II
Tor me. TOO, II ! stick while"
80 Dave vent back ~ The water
front For Il long time nothing hap
pened. An occasional fight when some
| iongEaDrenan found temptation too
great A Wordy battle now and then
but for The most part, there ~as that
| something in KerTy'6 eyes that gave
warning that he was not the safest sort
of person In the world " fool with
You see, Ellen" he told her month
later, "everytbing's ali right. never
nave no real trouble"
Just the same, she said. I Wishi
thFyd lei you carry gun"
Well, they won't SO faf'a know
there aint but three piers On the Wesl
SIDE where they let the wstehmen t0tt
Rats, We donf really need guns, May.
be- itE safer not W have EN-"
And that WAS that Dave worked
faithfully. with the bait OF gatemanshiI
before his eyes. But, even at that. h
should not have volunteered W Watcf
alone In ths hold ~ the Regal" ~ II
customary w send two WatGhmen below
dfeks IN each haLni1Way. But Dave wa
pressed for eash. and when he p0lnn
t1ered " handle the lGb alone, Old MAJ
Vann asset,ted, lie raised Dawes pa
Evening star., 1928-06-17

banked on the element Of surprise in
his attack.
He leaped from his place Of conceal
ment There was the bark Of Law
sons gun. and a bullet missed Kerrys
head by inches. At the same instant
the cable shot upward.
The muscles of Kcrry's legs responded
like steel springs. He leaped outward
across the match: his hands caught the
rising hook, which was svaying in the
direction Of his jump.
Then there was shout from above,
and at that moment Kerry released his
grasp OF the hook and flung himself
forward. His hands clutched the deck
above With amazing speed he cian1b-
cred TO safety on that deck. directly
over Glory Lawson's head-and he
heard the vicious spank of the hook as
it dropped into the hatch again.
Glory Lawson had fired his first shot
mechanically as Kerry made his break
for safety. He had been expecting some
such move He cursed as ne saw that
his bullet had missed and. as the
watchnan disappeared up the hatch
Glory leapcd from his place OF conceal
ment, gun in hand. One good shot at
the man on the cable. ..
He reached the edge of the deck. At
that moment the cable and hook clat-
tered at his feet. But there was no
sign of Dave KERR. Glory looked
up.
Kerry vas c-ouched. waiting. He
peered down from his vantage point OF
the deck above and. as Glory appeared.
the watchRlan carefully dropped a case
of canned goods on that persons head.
Save for surprised grunt Glory Law
son did not utter sound. He pitched
forward and lay sprawled at the bot
tom of the hold.
Kerry satisfied himself that Lawson
was not shanming Then he turned
and walked swiftly for'ard. The bulk
head door was open. and he made hiz
way 10 hatch number one. He mounted
the ladder and emerged on the main
deck
The ship still buzzed with activity
/ but at hatch number two all was still
AS Kerry moved toward that hatch nc
| saw that the gang boss and his winch
man were staring down into the hold
The watchman touched Canzano on the
arm and that worthy whirled. his eyes
popping with amazement as he recog-
nized Dave. There was a grim smile
on Kerry's lips. and he spoke with
honeved Softness. 7geu a.r~~~
Listen here. Tony" he counseled
significantly. I'D sort OF investigate. If
was YOU I've got hunch that
something has gone wrong down yol-
der"
iCopvrizht. lo@sl
Evening star., 1928-06-17

caYe-free, rather indoient existence.
II was work that held promise Of ro-
nance and certainly " excitement. and
Dave Kerry was only one of thousands
who are content with the meager wage,
simply because the work and the tang
Of the waterfront appeal irresistibly,
Kerry moved across the lunchro0m
toward Ellen Mabry. Her eyes smiled a
greeting and little spots Of color famed
IN her cheeks. Glory EaW~~and under
stood.
Davy Kerry paused before the coun-
ter, and he, TOO, smiled.
''Howdy. Miss Mabry"
Morning, Mr. Kerry. What1l you
have today"
Coffee. please, maam, and three of
them doughnuts,"
She turned to serve him, but not be-
fore she giimp2ed the flushed face 0f
/ Glory Lawson There was afl expect .
! ant hush aa Glory Lawson deliberately
[ edged closer. II Vas obvious that Dave
| Kerry au3pected nothing, and 10, when
| Glory brushed hts elbow, KerYy turned
with casual "Excu&e me"
'Hotntn' " excuse you for" grog1ed
! Ci1ry Il done that n1egeif
an right"
You BET your last nickel i,'s ali
! right. Anything DO ia all right"
! u dsEned upon Dave Kerry chat thin
man VAR driving at something Hi
! eyes focuged upon the other man specu-
latjyely
! He knew jist what G!ory Lawson
I Yas. ne mad not been blind curing his
: tWG years AT WaLGhman He knew alaf
that C0fy must be- gangst2r o
! parts, for he cav nov that tfe Othe,
/ Goptlefs we're watching With respectful
/ interest. Kerry spoke frGstiiy.
Listen here" he GounEeied
/ WoUid't 80 pickin no trouble. II I va
/. yoI."
/ nor and wibos gonna stop me2"
Ellen returned Her eyes Nidened 80.
pFetleneigely 81 she sensed the hogtilfts
between her tYo aequaintauceg.
Here yTe, MF Ferry Here's you
coffee an dolIghHuss"
Thanks. Miss AatBy" He stsrtef
" turn away, but the fare ~ ,Dior,
Lawson WA insinlIated bef1re him
''Watnhmsn, sint your"
"Uh>Hun"
Wei, maybe that's Why don't lik,
you, amt get no iEe for Watchmen
smile ficksrec across Dave Kerry
lips
Thieves seldom have" he repiie'
easily,
For an instant they fsnsd each other
Dave heard the girl gasp, There Wal
a general stuffiing of feet above tn
clattsT ~ crGckeFy. snd Kerry etDoe
ezpectantiy. his eyes HnDIjnkiHg,
- ~ WsS Glory Is&Ws9H Wfl9 Haoye
Evening star., 1928-06-17

ER. GLORY LAWSON, of Hells
N Kitchen. New York, elevated
V himself to a sitting posture
4 ' i and glared peevishly at his
friend.
If YOU don't quit beatin around the
bush" he promised severely III pull
verize you"
Eddie Grogan put out restraining
hand.
C;lorvp Can't YOU tell when feller is
serious? An I guess you amt gonna
pl,lveriye nobody, let alone me"
But sten,"-Glory Lawson rose TO
his feet, better displaying the amazing
purp!es and reds Of his lounging-robe-
f'vou talk about me soin to work,
Work Eddie how 90 you expect me
TO listen patient?"
Il didn't say work" explained Mr..
Grogan painstakingly, Il said an you
vas gonna take job longshorin at the
Trans-Oceanic pier"
Glory shook his head. What 90 /
want to work as longsnoreman Ior.
he oueried. III there amt no steaIin'
70 be done?"
"Oh. there's plainly reasons! There's
a feller worSin' on that particular job
Workin' as watchman.
Glory's expression altered abruptly.
Not Dave Kerry" he inquired VEN
Eddie nodded. Him. an no other
An that amt all" Already Glory was
shedding the rainbow robe He S
watch;n' alone in hatch number two.
Glory Lawson whistled softly,
When Go We work."
Tomorrow. For one day Only.
Glory bustled about the room, as
seubiins his clothes. Dave Kerry
vatchin' alone in the hold! OF all the
luck" Suddenly he paused, Listen.
Eddie! What you reckon Dave Kerry's
widow would prefer-carnations or
hlies?"
IT was neither chance nor the spirit
i Of adventure that had brought Ellen
Mabvy TO New York two years before.
She was a sniali-town girl. delectably
pretty and quite convinced that op-
portunities for advancement in her ma
tive city were decidedly less than non
existent. There were too many per-
sonable young men IN that particular
city who knew perfectly well that she
ccncocted cakes and sinkers behind the
cleaning window Of white-front res
taurant And. somehow. they seemed
unanimously adverse to becoming pub
LEY ioenlhed With young lady so
prominent
And so. while il was not chance that
brought Ellen 10 New York, il was per-
haps chance that eventually caused
her 70 drift into a job as waitress In
the Coffee Pot
Her ignorance OF New York was irdi-
Gated by the fact that she accepted a
position IN that section Of the city that
bears the colo-ful title Of 'HelIs Kitch-
en-" Il was not until several months
had elapsed that Ellen learned that the
section IN which she labored bore that
sc5Tiquet-and, by that time. she had
become scclinated. The only impression
Evening star., 1928-06-17

forhore to visit the little lunch ROOM
and, In that time, something else hap
pened. It came to his cars through
Eddie Grogan.
why ain'tcha been down to the cof-
fee Pot, Glory?"
Glory grunted
We'll. I was kinda thinkin' that, If
YOU was really strong for that frail,
you'd better start hangn' around again."
Why"
"H-mm tell the truth, Glory. she
seems to have took up with another
feller."
Mr.. Lawson's face flushed. This was
indeed adding insult to injury. You
don't mean it?"
"Yeh. An that amt all, either, Hes
a watchman!"
Glory Lawson topped into chair
"A watchman?" he breathcd unheliev-
ingly
"Uh-huh. A Chelsea Protective man,
named Kerry"
Glory was incensed. 1t struck him as
highly indecent that Ellen should have
selected watchman 10 indicate to him
that she didn't care "A watchmanl"
he muttered. Now, can you beat it?"
Glory was In the Coffee Pot shortly
before noon. Eleventh Avenue was n
weltcr of traffic the big piers hummed
with activity. 1t was clear, cool
morning and two big steamers had just
docked, Glory sauntcred back to the
counter. where Ellen Mabry awaited
him.
"'Lo. sister"
Good morning. Mr.. Lawson
"Aw. can that formal stuff! / amt
Mister tc you.
"Ain't YOU. though. Thought said
that / didn't want 10 have notllin more
to do with you.
Then the door was flung wide open
and the hungry longshoremen stormed
in First came the men Ellen knew
should not be longshoremen: young fell
lows who greeted Glory respectfully, and
whom he knew Then the others--men
whose interest in cargo handling was
professionally limited to the so cents
per hour they received. They were un-
picturesque.
EOR ten minutes there was a wild
surging around the counter and the
waitress worked swiftly and deftly.
During this time both Ellen and Glory
were acutely conscious of the fact that
several of the Gophers were more than
casually interested In the return of Glory
lawson TO the hunt. Then the door
opened, and Dave Kerry entered.
Dave Kerry was watchman. Glory
appraising him swiftly. wondered why
the man was contented with the four
dollars day that the agency paid him.
Dave didn't look like four-dollar "a day
man; he was tall and 1.-the and quietly
impressive. Glory Lawsons verdict was
instant:
Crook" he catalogued Kerry IF he
wasn't in on some of the dock graft,
he'd be workin' somewheres else for
more than four dollars'a day
But Kerry was not crook. He was
an easy-going sort Of person who, en-
toyed this type Of work, because 1t was