davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-06-07

m st. Louis q few days ahead Of the date on
which Gon was expected. While he was wait
ing, news of the Sierra Mojada strike which
took so many Of us border Texans to Mexico.
broke. The first thing that Fancho thought
when ne heard the news was that his own
silver ledge had been discovered Detailed maps
of the country to refer to did not exist He
burned to get to Mexico at once; he continued
to wait for his partner. The day on which Goh
was to join him came and passed; week
dragged by-and not word OF Gon.
Fanche was staying at hotel in st. Louis,
and somehow, while he paced the lobby floor
and fretted he and one of the clerks, MCNEIL,
became rather intimate. He told MCNEIL OF
his ungTasped fortune, of his delay, Of his
eagerness to be gone. Then, Golf or no Goh,
he decided to go. He told MCNEIL that If he
would go with him he would take care OF
him" They left for Eagle Pass. At Eagle Pass
Fanche learned that the Mojada strike could
not be on his ledge, and while he was there
Burris and Heath, fresh from the excitement,
met him. They were old forty miners; so was
he He wanted trusty aides to help him open
the mine; they were out for anything. Fanche
proposed that they throw in together, and when
we overlook the four men they were heading
for Ell Paso with the purpose of entering Chi
huahua at that point and going down the
country. The ledge was 800 miles southeast
of Paso del Norte.
Well we travelled on at a fair rate and at
length reached FL Paso-just little town then.
Fanche seemed to be waiting for something
I've never known what-and We camped and
lay around town for week Then one evening
Fanche came into camp
I'm being watched. boys" he said, "rm
being watched. I've got to get out Of here
quickly and secretly
He acted quickly. His proposal was that he
and Burris should leave for Chihuahua City
on horses that night and that We should follow
them in a day or two, proceed to Ojo de Aqua,
located on the great ranch Of Gen. Terrazas,
and there await message from him. It seemed
desperate to me for these two old men to set
out on that 30o-mile horseback trip through
a desert country beset by Indians Fanche
was heavy man, and his legs were troubling
him. He was suffering severely every day, and
I did net see how he could ride at ALL The
Mexicans at this time were not allowed by
Diaz to possess arms, and the Indians were
bold and ferocious all over Northern Mexico
About midnight Fanche and Burris pulled out
In day or two we followed. After we got
to. Ojo de Aqua we had fight with the In
dians the TerrazaS forces being the chief
combatants on our side. We waited on for 10
days without any message. We got restless
and pulled out for Chihuahua City. Half
way there we met old man Burris, and he had
q tale to tell.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-06-07

lie said that he and Fanche had made it
I from FL Paso to Chihuahua all right, but
that he himself had gone nearly blind on the
trip. Then Fanche had become very III, too.
so he claimed, to ride any further Fanche
claimed that he had once been operated on
and restored to health by a noted physician In
San Francisco and that he was going back to
that city. Accordingly. he took stage to the
Pacific Coast, from which he would board Q
steamer to San Francisco Before he left,
however, he said to Burris:
"You have come with me far and been
o true man. I want you to go on and de-
nounce the mine in our names You can. ]
believe, find 1t alone. It will be better to start
from Oio de Agua rather than from Chihuahua
City. Go to that place and ride to the south
east. You will come to a range OF mountains.
Cross it. Fourteen or fifteen miles away you
will come to another range running parallel to
the first range In q direction northwest and
southeast. Cross it. Then go on and cross
third range.
after you have crossed it, ride on down the
valley keeping your eyes on a fourth range.
which you must not cross. After you have
ridden alongside this range for a half day or
so you will see that the formation and color Of
the mountains change. Ride on down the VAL
ley Then you will see pass into the noun
tains. The rock walls Of this pass viii be
straight up and down--muy encajonado
(boxed) as the Mexicans say. Ride into this
pass or canyon. You will find great round
boulderS IN 1t that 1t has taken millions OF
years to wear thus and your path through them
will be dificult, but ride Then after .
while the pass you are in will open out onto
a kind Of Sloping mesa. Upon the sides Of
that mesa are some low trees Of peculiar
kind. They are reddish and called ma
dronas. Above them is the edge"
After old man Burris had told this story
and had assured US Of his belief in the sim
cerity Of Ranches actions we turned back TO
Ojo de Aqua. There We camped and Burris,
Mcneil and myself set out to follow directions.
We travelled light taking only our guns, some
food In morals, canteens Of water and one
blanket each. We found a range Of mountains
running northwest and southeast, and We
crossed It. We crossed another range parallel
to 1t. then o third range Then We rode
down . valley skirting the base Of . fourth
range After We had gone . way We saw
the formation and color Of the mountains
change. They became whittier. Then we saw
q pass leading into the range. As We ap-
preached it. looking IN . southeast direction
we saw that It was between high bluffs Of
rock. After we had ridden up the canyon
some distance it spread out and we came to
great bouderS. The canyon grew more shall
low, and after a while we came to a kind Of
sloping mesa. There On the mesa were some
thick-set. reddish trees. the madronas.
We could hardly wait to get near them. But
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-06-07

them. got plenty Of pencils and paper which
always carry on account Of not knowing what
amusing new games you will run into when out
for the evening""
Well, inspector, I find that the other two
couple said it was okay with them on account
Of Mrs. Tinkum buying the tickets to the wrass-
ling, but this Mr.. Tinkum said to wait, he would
be back in minute. And with that, inspector,
he disappeared in the crowd, and that's that
He amt been seen since and 1t Is Q mystery.
Leaving q wife who would numb lou and .
business that amt ever heard Of hard times.
This anagrams I was mentioning is . game
Mrs. Tinkum took 1t UP a couple years ago On
account Of her husband being run down and
the doctor saying he needed q rest and
recreation even If he was too busy TO take o
trip That Is why she learned the anagram
racket-to keep him from worrying about his
business. according to the doctors orders.
No, sir, I can't see this case at all. It's
mystery. With wife like her this guy Mr..
TinIum was sitting pretty. All he, had to do
was work In the daytime and leave the recrea-
ton and so forth up to her. and her breaking
her neck 10 amuse him, as they said.
Just to show YOU, she don't stick to anagrams.
No, inspector, she takes UP game called back
CANNON, which Is played on a checker board,
which amt laid out like checker board On
account Of not having squares in 1t, but txi-
angles on both ends, except you play It with
checkers. She mixes up the two games and has
parties almost every night mixing anagrams
and Backgammon until her husband has .
nervous breakdown In spite of everything she
could do to carry out the doctors orders.
BETWEEN you and me, inspector. this Mr..
Tinkum don't give his wife much help.
find out he don't give her no cooperation. He
is always kicking he don't want to play back
CANNON and anagrams, but wants to 60 to bed.
Also he Is always kicking about her inviting
parties in and keeping things lively like the
doctor ordered. All this guy does, inspector, b
to crab that he wants to be left alone, and she
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-06-07

Is not the kind of lady to let him alone so as
he can be thinking about his troubles and his
business against the doctors orders.
Well, as say, he has this nervous breakdown,
which don't amount to much on account Of her
sitting up with him and keeping him cheered
up and not letting him think. She even takes
up q new game called salvo. Now this game
Is the kind that will keep your mind on your
troubles. been UP there talking to Mrs.
11nkum and she showed me. But, as told her,
! got so much 20 think about can't take the
time on to get all the dope on this new game
she Is taking up-salvo. It's about the Navy
To show you what wise little lady this Mrs.
Tinkum is. inspector, her husband jumped out
Of bed the second night she had him playing
It. The doctors said he wouldn't be able to
yet cut Of bed for two weeks, but she had him
out in two nights and was all set for him with
another game they call camelot. A week before
the doctors said he would be out of bed he Is
sitting In on q evening Of mixed anagrams,
salvo, camelot and backgammon, which breaks
up at In the morning because he gets sore at
somebody OF maybe takes Q drink too much and
falls into . fireplace.
The next day, inspector, the doctors tell her
TO cut out backgammon, anagrams and the
other games and forget them for o while, be-
cause they say her husband needs Q change.
So she cuts them out for . week and the way
this Mr.. T1nkum snaps out Of his troubles Is
surprising. She told me that II It wasn't that
she had kept him amused and his troubles OF
his mind he would Of been dead year, and all
her friends including the other two couple
who went with them to the wrassling back her
up She was always cheering him up.
Wen, inspector, once he was snapped out Of
It and was okay again she takes up another
game, 30 that he would not get to thinking
again and have another relapse. This time
she takes up o game called murder, which Is
not like any Of those other games. but Is
played in a room where the lights go out and
one player falls on the floor like he was
knocked off, and the detective vhe q been out
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-06-07

y AM sorry to report, inspector, that We
amt got any line on this Hector Tinkum,
the big tennis player and banker yet.
No. sir after running down lot Of leads
I don't get nowhere. It is q mystery
II you ask me I would say that 1t Is one Of
those things which will never be solved because
this guy had everything-dough, a fine home,
couple yachts, a garage full of buses and a wife
that would knock you dead, inspector. been
talking to her. Listen, she's panic.
Listen, this guy faded out the night Of the big
wrassling bouts in the Garden-the night Grak-
koviffotz throwed Utz into the gallery. Him and
his wife and two other couples were in the
party at the bouts, and while don't know much
about the other couples find cut, inspector,
that this Mrs. Tinkum is a little Lady who Is
always trying to make her husband happy by
entertaining him and keeping his mind of any
troubles a guy like him might get into II 1t
wasn't for his wife, See?
For instance, that night. There was six bouts
before Grakkoviffotz throwed Utz into Eighth
avenue see This Mrs. Tinkum likes wrassling
but wasn't paying no attention to most Of the
bouts because she was thinking up an idea to
AnnuSe her husband as usual been talking to
her and the others in the party with the ex--
ception of Mr.. Tinkun, who, as you know, amt
been seen since, to find out what she was doing.
UIEIL after Grakkoviffotz throwed Utz away
and everybody was reaching for hat and
coat, which I ind out Is something too bad
on account Of who may Of been sitting back Of
you during the evening, this Mrs. Tinkum hol-
lers to her husband and the other two guests
mot to move.
Listen" she says, 1T been working on the
perfectly wonderful names. Of these wraSSlers
and thinking what wonderful anagrams they
would make. As soon as saw the program
with all these wonderful names Of these wrass-
lers something told me there was a great idea
IN It. Suddenly 1t all come to me. They are
the makings Of some Of the finest anagrams we
ever worked on Sit down and we viii work ON
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-06-07

Of the room Is called In and it is up to him -
question everybody and finally decide who did
the job. Everybody he talks to tells the truth
about what they was doing when the lights
were OF except the murderer, who can say any,
thing he wants, and 1t is up to the detective to
find out who Is lying and put the finger on him.
See?
Wen by this time Mr. Tinkum is got some
spunk about him and braces up. He always
wants to be the guy who Is murdered because
once the guy Is knocked OF he is out Of tia
game.
THIS works 20 well that she takes up game
called sardine. This is q game where an
the lights oil over the house are turned out
and the guy who has been picked goes and hides
and they all begin hunting for him. The first
one to find him hides in the place with him.
The second one does the same until everybody
has found the place and they are all get IN.
which Il the end Of the game and you have 10
start over II there is any time and the party
Is stin speaking to each other.
This Mr.. Tinkm has to be humored like q
kid, 50 he Is always the guy to do the hiding
and he always gets Ia a closet or somewhere
nobody can ind him and go to sleep He hkea
these two games Of sardine and murder %
good, inspector, that he tries to make his wife
promise never to have any other kind a
games, and he even goes around to stores aSk-
ing II anybody Is thought up another game like
them.
He got 30 wen, an due to his wife, inspector,
that In no time she had him going to the
theater and wraSsling matches like was telling
you. Everybody Is swell, like say. This little
lady devoted her life to making him pull O
comeback and she Is getting away with 1t unti1
this happens
And there you are inspector This is what
I would call q mystery. She tells me that she
wanted to be sure her husband was okay
again. so that night after Grakkoviffotz throwe6
Utz 10 the eagles she springs her little surprise
and Mr.. T1nkum amt been seen since.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-06-07

when we did come near we saw lodges OF ore
They were Lodges, too want to say. Wen,
all we could do was look. We nd not have
pick or a tool Of any kind. The only thing to
do was to 60 back to camp at Oio de Aqua.
Before We left hunted about for bones Of the
Apaches slain 80 years before by the scalp
hunters. In the high dry climate Of Chihua-
hua decay Is slow found q few human bones.
The country was so desolate that could well
believe no human being save Fanche and his
partner Con, from the time the scalp hunters
left 1t until our arrival, had been near the
ledge.
THE night after we got back to Ojo de Aqua
we alniost had a quarrel. Burris, as the
man who had brought the directions from
Fanche claimed a one-third share in the mine;
another belonging, Of course, to Fanche, thus
leaving only a third to be divided among Nc
Neill, Heath, Smith and myself. This pro-
posed division did not suit uS ether fellows q
little bit. Finally agreed to put OF the
division until it came time 70 draw up the
papers. The thing to do now was to go back
to the lodges, get some ore specimens and
denounce the claim.
The next day the same three Of us who had
made the first trip started back, fully equipped
with guns, ammunition, provisions and tools,
q pack mule carrying most Of the stuff. As
remember it, the Lodges are nearly two days
ride from Ojo de Aqua. We crossed two Of the
mountain chains that we were supposed to
cross and t3en stopped for n late noon. We
had halted along the main sink Of the valley
near sonss sharp cuts or canyons in the
ground. We made coffee under q mesquite
bush and then all lay down in the shade to
take little siesta.
I had my hat over my face so as to shut
out the fierce light and had, suppose, dozed
OF when all at once something reused me. L
think it was the sudden ceasing Of the horses
to Craze. A grazing horse makes kind OF
musical noise cropping the grass and grinding
It, and men out with their lives depending on
horses often notice that music" or the alb
sence Of It. Anyhow, when I raised up I saw
every animal with head and ears pointed to
the range Of mountains we had last crossed.
looked, too, and saw thin, strtngy cloud OF
dust
"Indians!" yelled.
We had plenty Of time to prepare We got
our horses and equipment and took them into
one Of those sharp canyons getting back into
kind Of pocket Somehow did not feel UNI
easy; knew that we could protect ourselves;
Mcneil felt the same way. We had enough
ammunition to supply . company Of rangers:
we had little water in our canteens. But old
man Burris was panic stricken. He was for
surTendering before he got . good view Of the
on-coming riders.
As they drew near, we saw that they were
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-06-07
They demanded

Mexicans and not Indians. They demanded
a surrender.
Surrender he'll" McNein said, and agreed.
why are you after us?" asked
I'VE are troops and we arrest you foT
smuggling goods into Mexico they replied.
While we were talking, old man Burris Slip
ped out on the open and was walking to them
with hands up. I never saw anything like what
he did.
what shall we do?" said to Mcneil.
well, Burris Is In their hands. II W
shoot they win kin him." answered Mcneil.
IAN right, we had as well give up"
agreed.
We gave up. The Mexicans, of course, took
all our stun, and then mounted US on our
horses and set out Among them noticed q
man, Pedro Garcia, that had come to know
at the Sierra Mazda; his son was IN the
company also. During the afternoon man.
aged to ride up alongside Pedro and exact
from him q promise that he would get word to
the American consul at Chihuahua City. So
far know the consul did not help us any:
Pedro's good work did But for Pedro our
bodies would very likely have been left to
bleach out in the mountains instead Of being
delivered into the jail at Parral.
At length we were released, penniless, strip
ped The two men waiting for us at Ojo de
Aqua had, as later learned, given us up
for dead and gone back to Texas. While in
prison contracted what developed into slow
fever; it was many weeks before was strong
home had been gone nearly year.
c INCE coming out Of Chihuahua have never
- heard q word concerning Fanche Perhaps
he did not live to reach San Francisco; un-
doubtedly he has been dead many, many years
now. Heath and Burris soon passed of the
scene. My dear friend, Will Smith, had
large family and became a settled man; he has
been dead more than 20 years now What
has become Of Mcneil do not know but I
believe that am the only man living who
has seen the silver ledge discovered by the
scalp hunters. I have never been back to look
at it.
1 often think that I will take one Of my
sons down there and see 1t again, but business
of something always prevents. Some other
man may have glimpsed the ledge since I
laid eyes ON 1t 50-odd years ago, but if 50.
more than likely he did not know that 1t con-
tanned silver. That part of Chihuahua is still
wild and unsettled, much of it an irreclaim-
able waste. The chains of mountains Stiu
parallel each other running northwest and
southeast. The boxed canyon would be easy
to recognize. No doubt the gnarled madrona
trees still redden the mesa up the canyon and
I'd be willing to bet that few bones, from the
Apaches left by the scalp hunters, are still
to be picked up. Fifty or hundred years
don't change things much down IN the Sierra
Madre.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-06-07

AM sorry to report, inspector, that We
amt got any line on this Hector Tinkum,
the big tennis player and banker, yet.
No. sir, after running down o lot Of leads
The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1931-09-17

Jay Hotaling of st. Paul was here
on business Thursday.
Mr.. and Mrs. A. j. Coleman spent
several days in Minneapolis this
week.
Mr.. and Mrs. H. w. Shoemaker and
Mrs. Hugh Swain picnicked at Gran
lite Falls, Sunday.
Mr.. and Mrs. w. A. Cook and Miss
Gertrude Cook of Window spent Sun
day at the Richard Cook home.
Mr.. and Mrs. E. w. Dahl and Rev.
and Mrs. Swan of Minneapolis were
recent guests of Mr.. and Mrs. Glenn
Hillig.
Mr.. and Mrs. Will French of Oil
via and Mr.. and Mrs. Fred Child of
Maynard called on old-friends here
Monday.
The Missionary Society of the
Presbyterian church met Wednesday
afternoon at the home of Mrs! Joseph
Tyson.
Mr.. and Mrs. o. M. Anderson and
Mr.. and Mrs. James S. Lombard
were weekend guests Of Mr.. and Mrs.
George T. Freyer.
Mr.. and Mrs. Conrad Ackmann and
daughter Nathalie of Pipestone were
Sunday visitors at the home of Mr..
and Mrs. Fred Ackmann.
X. w. Stockton of the Smith
Agency went to Graceville Wednes-
day where he will spend the remain
der of the week on business.
Mrs. N. H. Bovee entertained
fifteen children Tuesday afternoon in
honor of the ninth birthday of her
son John. A feature of the after
moons enjoyment was wiener and
marshmallow roast in Ramsey park.
The Sorosis Club began it's years
activities Monday afternoon when a
meeting was held at the home Of Mrs.
John Kohler. Short nature poems
were given in response to Roll Call.
Mrs. Ward Pease and Mrs. B. J. Par
sons, delegates to the Second Dis
trict Convention which was held here
last June, gave reports of the meet
ings. Mrs. Freda Macs, president,
talked on plans for making this years
work successful. The program COM
mittee, Mrs. Ray Tenney, Mrs. Earl
Peabody and Mrs. E. w. Currier dis
tributed the new programs with a
short explanation and a discussion
of the study work followed. During
the business meeting, Mrs. T. O..
johnson and Mrs. Roy L. Crooks were
unanimously elected members of the
club. Light refreshments were serv-
ed by the program committee.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-08
CTORY OF <QJNFURNESE HE'D APARTMENTS

EVERETT APIS, 2i27 P NV.
RM., DINING ALc., KIT, BATH. ..sss.eo
3 Rms, KIT, BATH, ...t.,...,...... $3.50
GENERAL ELECTRIC REFRIGERATION.
THE HAMPTON APIS.
1740 18th ST. NV.
Eront-S rooms. kitchen and bath with
Front-4 rooms kitchen and bath vita
General Electric refrigeration, SEQ. o.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-08
A7O0 CONNECTICUT AVE.

ana Cumberland 30.
Unusually well furnished lobbys 14~
hour elevator services eelepnone-Bwixcn.
board; refrigeration; garage in building.
. rooms. dinettes kitchenette. FOYER
S rooms. Kitchen. foyer. . baths and
porch.
rooms, kitchen, foyer and q baths.
Resident Manager.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-08
500.

The entire upper floor of q new semi
detached brick home, containing rooms and
beautiful tile bath with built-tn tub and
shower; electricity, gas, telephone service
and buiIt-in heated garage included in price.
5i7 Oglethorpe st. NV. Inspect all day sun
day or any evening after o'clock.
ONLY $42.50.
1913 Oak ST. n.w.--3 nice rooms and bath,
newly decorated; y block on i4th st. See
janitor or call National 77e0.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-08

CARLISLE COURTS.

18th ST. Az COLUMBIA BD.
NORTHWEST CORNER.
Very Attractive Apartments,
Parquetry Floors Throughout.
2 rooms, kit, bath and porch. $40 80
8 rooms, kit. bath and porch. $3.50
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-08
sOIO WISCONSIN AVE.

1910 WISCONSIN AVE.
ovsrioeEne E.to TsHFo0f a 9ianfr
house current. Elevator. All apart
ments In EXCELLENT condition. Res.
large rooms, kitchen and
path. large closets, furnished
Open and iiehted' evenings. ''"0
1873 WEBSTER ST. NV.
neon TSSpf so Tef hall i,d and bath $3.50
See janitor.
GoRGAS, 6sO5 GA. AVE.
Opposite Walter REED H Hosppitsssls m
rooms Res. mgr, Apt. 4.
SIBLEY. Is M ST. NV.
Frigidaire.
Union Station. Res. mgr, Apt. 20.
1925 Nj ST. NV.
rooms cTrsr and bath dnnr;ovn iocaijs sS1SO
ASIA IOWA AVE. NV.
!Corner 18TH
SR nSSms ne p DEhriAcHiEiD 'BUILDINdS
3l7 srd ST. SEE.
Near &C" consrs asiii Library. '''
See Janttof.
228 10th ST. NE.
rooms, rec hall and bath. .$4T.50
Near Lincoln PARK.
Res. Mgr, Apt. 5.
1904 TaIbert ST. Sc.
Corner Nichols Ave.
Frigidaire.
3 rooms and bath. .g42.50
See Resident Manager.
lis ID st. Sc.
4 rooms and bath. ........ 1880
See Resident Manager,
l245 NEAL ST. NE.
In desirable Trinidad residential section
3 rooms and bath. ...........3 4T.50
Zee Resident Manager.
j. C. WEEDON CO.
17s7 X %. NV. Mstyopsagtan s0al