davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Coulee City dispatch. [volume] (Coulee City, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1938-08-25
SYNOPSIS

Richard Exon, poor young Enghshman.
befr1ends elderly Matthew Gering, who at
his death, gives him a statement claiming
he, Gering is Rudolph Gilbert Virgil, Count
of Brief, of ancient Austrian nobility who
was betrayed 20 years before by his twin
brother, Ferdinand, whose sentence for
forgery he himself served. Ferdinand ap-
propriated his title, property and daughter.
Before he dies, Gering tells Exon there is
family secret, known only to the head OF
the house, to be found in the great tower at
Brief, by a doorway none can ever find.
Exon inherits his uncle's fortune and sets
out to right Gering's wrongs. En- route
he encounters Percy Ebert Virgil, son
of the villainous Ferdinand and sees him
in conference with Inskip, diamond
merchant. He engages a valet, Winter,
who hates Percy and meets by chance at
garage, John Herrick, who is linguist and
who as youth served as page at Gering,s
wedding, and had visited Brief. Herrick
agrees to aid Exon They establish head.
quarters at Brenda Revokes farm at
Raven, few miles from Brief and make
their plans. They find the castle almost
inaccessible. They see a closed car &C.
cupied by Percy Virgil, chauffeur and a
woman. Hearing a dog scream, they see
the chauffeur fogging it, just as a horse with
girl astride bounds along the path and is
felled by a strung wire: The girl, uncon-
scious, Is picked up carelessly by the
chauffeur and woman, who then run away,
after dropping her. Exon rescues the girl
and carries her to his waiting car. He identi-
6es the girl as Elizabeth, daughter of the
disowned Gering, tells her of her cousins
plot to abduct her and takes her to Raven,
Coulee City dispatch. [volume] (Coulee City, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1938-08-25

for too much. It'll prove what I've
told to you: but it wouldn't cut
much ice in a Court of Law"
II don't care about that. I want
to be sure myself"
$50 you shall be-" said I, and
made my way to the house.
Three minutes later I faced my
lady again.
"There are the papers," I said.
zone is your fathers statement,
which he had written and signed.
The other is mine, which sets out
what he told me before he died.
Both of these are copies. The origi-
mails lie at my bank" .s
She read them through twice over.
Then she folded the sheets and lifted
her head.
"My God," she cried. "My God,
how he must have suffered. Sent
down into hell by the man he was
trying to save. Sent down for good
for ever. Sentenced to death-for
life And what of the man who
did it?" Her eyes were af1ame.
"What of that double-traitor that
saved his body by losing his broth
er's soul?"
"I'n go all lengths" said I, "to
help you to bring him down."
Coulee City dispatch. [volume] (Coulee City, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1938-08-25
"Hall-Marked" Houses Are Now Being
Built in London; bodybuilding Out

You cannot be fooled into buying
a plated spoon in place of a silver
one, because the silver one bears
the government hallmark, and put
ting any such mark on the plated
spoon would get it's maker into Sc
rious trouble.
But you and I or anyone who is
not an expert in building can get
very badly swindled by buying a
house which, however pretty it looks,
is actually jerry-built, asserts Sgd
ney Forth in London Answers maya
zine.
What does "jerry-built' mean? It
includes the use of badly burned
bricks sometimes covered with
stucco or rough-cast to hide them;
the use of unseasoned wood, which
shrinks and is likely to dry rot;
weak floor joists; lack of a proper
damp course; windows glazed with
inferior glass; the use of concrete
made with clinker; and large
number of similar swindles.
War has been declared on jerry
building by the Birmingham and
District House Builders association,
and in future purchasers who apply
to the association can have houses
inspected by Independent surveyors.
Houses which satisfy these survey
Coulee City dispatch. [volume] (Coulee City, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1938-08-25

like to speak with them here"
"No. Wait a moment" said Vir-
gil. "First show us their car" He
turned to the police. eff this fell
low Identifies it,
IT think, perhaps said the SER
geant, but Virgil cut him short.
Cant you see," he said, chow
much it'll strengthen your hand?"
every WE'LL" said the other, re-
luctantly.
Brenda hesitated. Then she passed
down the steps and led them away
to the left and out of my sight :.
In a flash we we're both at the
door, en- route for our sitting-room.
AS we entered the hall, Lady Eliz-
abeth Virgil slipped from behind
the front door.
"And now?" she said.
"We may" said Herrick, eve
may have to call upon you. We
shan't if we can help it, but Percy,
err, knows no law"
She smiled and nodded.
Cali right"
And then we were back in our
room and had shut the door.
Quite apart from the fact that I
could speak no German, Herrick
was plainly the man to play our diff
fcult hand. His wit was far quick
Coulee City dispatch. [volume] (Coulee City, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1938-08-25
CHAPTER Nv

There is at Raven window, IL
feet from the farms front door.
Masked by one of it's curtains, I
watched a car approach and sweep
to the foot of the steps. On the other
side of the window, Herrick was
standing still, with his back to the
wall.
Gin the car were four men. Two
were strangers to me, one seemed
family familiar, and Percy Virgil
himself had the driving-wheel.
/ shot a glance at Herrick and
wondered what was to come.
Virgil switched off his engine and
wiped his sinister face. Then he fol-
lowed his fellows out of the car.
I heard the front door open be-
fore they had reached the steps.
Then
"Good evening, Brenda" said
Virgil. "I'm afraid I've some seri-
GUS news. My cousins been taken
kidnapped"
"The Lady Elizabeth? Kid
naped?"
"It's true enough, I'm afraid. Her
horse came in without her this
morning, at six o'clock. At first we
thought she'd been thrown, but it's
worse than that. We found clear
signs of a struggle in one of the
rides"
Coulee City dispatch. [volume] (Coulee City, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1938-08-25
seen my lady at any time"

seen my lady at any time"
Brenda nodded and fled, and we
strolled out of the house and into
the drive. The police and Virgil
were there, but the smith was not
to be seen. I afterwards found that
he had been left with the Rolls-to
raise the alarm in case we should
try to make off.
I had wondered if Percy Virgil
would know me again, for, while I
had had good reason to study him
and his ways, I had been to him
no more than one of several guests
at country hotel. But he did-im-
mediately. And though he would
have concealed it, I saw him
start >.
Herrick was addressing the po-
| lice.
"Good evening, gentlemen. I'm
told that you wish to see us. If we
can be of service in any way ="
The police seemed taken aback. I
suppose that. we did not resemble
the men they had expected to see.
Then the sergeant took off his hat.
''The matter is serious" he said.
"Of course" said Herrick. Goth
erwise you would first have asked
us before inspecting our car"
] ITO BE CONTINUED
Coulee City dispatch. [volume] (Coulee City, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1938-08-25
SERIAL FICTION
She Painted Her ace
II stony Of eoux and Intrigue =. BY DoRNFoRD YATES

err than mine, and he had, besides,
an address which would have I'M
settled the hottest enemy.
"We've no time to discuss" he
said, "the line we should take. But
I think we must get dear Percy to
help us out. This means giving
something away, but charity some
times comes off,"
"You mean?" said I.
"I'm not quite sure" said Her.
rick. "I have an idea, but it's still
in state of fux. Should it take
shape, I have a horrid feeling that
Percy is going to perspire. And
now don't talk for moment. If"
Here Brenda flew in with her sum-
mons, fairly aglow with excitement
and ready for any mischief that we
might command.
"Have they found map?" I said,
rising.
"They are now inspecting it, sir
with their eyes half out of their
heads"
"Good," said Herrick. where's
Winter?"
cat tea in the kitchen, sir"
"Ten him to stay there" said
Herrick. "And if he should be sent
for, to tell the truth except, of
course, on one point. He's never
Coulee City dispatch. [volume] (Coulee City, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1938-08-25
BANNER SERIAL FICTION
Q Dornford Votes

lip caught in her teeth, she held to
my hands as though she would new
er let 60, and her breath was whis-
ting in her nostrils and the blood
was out of her face.
"What proof have {.
you of these things?"
''I will go and get it," l said.
''No, no. Don't leave me just yet.
You say that-that this man is my
uncle, and not my father at all: that
he is Percy's father :"
EYES," said I.
"Does my cousin know this?"
ct shouldn't think So" said I.
'That's the kind of secret which a
man not only keeps but does his best
to forget"
She nodded thoughtfully.
Then
evil you show me the proof you
spoke of? When you say that this
man is my uncle, know that's true.
mean, it explains-everything. But
l cannot realize that he is not the
Count of Brief. And what of my
mother? Wasn't he married to
herr"
I got to my feet.
'Your fathers statement" I said,
twill make everything plain" I
hesitated. "Only please don't hope
Coulee City dispatch. [volume] (Coulee City, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1938-08-25
heard Brenda draw in her
WNU Service

1 heard Brenda draw in her
breath.
Then
"But who would"
"That," said Percy, sis what we
want to find out This is ser
geant of police, with one of his
men," He turned to the strangers.
"This girl is Brenda Revoke"
The sergeant stepped forward.
"We are seeking to trace two
strangers lately seen near Brief in
a fine, gray car" He jerked his
head at the man whom I thought
knew. "This blacksmith saw them
in Cola four days ago. And other
people have seen them this side of
Brief"
Brenda laughed.
"You mean our visitors?"
"There you are,' said Virgil.
"What did I say?"
"We do not lodge bandits" said
Brenda, coldly enough. "These are
two English gentlemen, who"
'Since when have they been
here?" said the sergeant.
''They came to us five days ago."
"And are they within?"
IT believe" said Brenda, "that
they are taking their tea"
"Then tell them the police would
Coulee City dispatch. [volume] (Coulee City, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1938-08-25

ors will be hall-marked. A hallmark
brick of special design will be built
in over the porch.
Although this scheme was intro
duced only a short time ago, nearly
a thousand homes have been in
spected, and hall-marked houses
are now being built in all parts of
the city and it's suburbs.
There is a building research sta
ton at Garston, near Watford,
where many sorts of building mate
rails are tested.
At present about one-seventh of
the nations income is being spent
on building. Nearly three million
people are employed in the trade.
Of every G100 spent in building
houses, G40 goes for labor, G1O in
overhead costs, and no less than ESQ
for material. Builders who attempt
to foist off bad material in the flu
ture are likely to find themselves in
serious trouble.
Coulee City dispatch. [volume] (Coulee City, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1938-08-25

II ERE are two perfectly charm
4 1 ing fashions that will fill a
definite place in your life if you
make them up Immediately in
pretty cotton or cool silk. And they
are so perfectly in key with flu
ture fashions that you should by
all means repeat them later in
fall and winter materials. You'll
be surprised, when you study the
detailed sew chart included in each
pattern, how quickly and easily
you can finish them. You don't
need experience. Even beginners
enjoy working with these simple
patterns.
Tailored Dress of Pique.
If your daytime wardrobe needs
replenishing for the remaining
weeks of summer, make this nice
tailored dress of pique or bingham,
and see how refreshed and COM
Portable you'll feel. Later on,
wear it for fall in challis, jersey,
or fiat crepe. The short sleeves,
easy waistline and action pleats
in the skirt make this dress very
easy to work in-and the deeply
notched collar and patch pockets
give it finish enough so that it is
appropriate for street wear, too.
Tiny-Waisted Afternoon Dress.
Here's the type of dress that all
important fashion sources show
for fall! The shaped, rather high
square neckline, the short sleeves,
pulled at the top, the gathers that
give you fattering bust fullness
and the very, very small waist
these are all new notes. Just five
steps, too, in the sew chart. For
immediate wear, make it up in
dotted Swiss or voile. Your fall
version should be thin wool, crepe
de chine or rayon jersey.
The Patterns.
No. 1862 is designed for sizes "a,
SO, 38, 40, AZ, A and 46. Size So re-
quires 4A yards of 39-inch ma
terial.
No. 1861 is designed for sizes IL,
IA, 16, 10 and 20. Size ID requires
AZ yards of 39-inch material; Us
yards ribbon for belt.
Send your order to The Sewing
Circle Pattern Dept, 149 New
Montgomery Ave-, San Francisco,
Calf. Patterns Is cents Gin coins)
each.
9 Bell Syndicate.-WNU Service.
Coulee City dispatch. [volume] (Coulee City, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1938-08-25

Of course, the populace loved this
method of trial. They always went
to court in the utmost excitement,
because they never knew whether
they were to witness fierce death
or overwhelming happiness.
Lover Brought to "Trial."
Now this king had a daughter who
was the apple of her fathers eye.
But the, princess had an eye for the
youths Of, the court. One of them
was ESPECIALLY handsome, and the
princess and this commoner had a
love affair." All went along well I'M
til the king heard of it. Then the
youth was brought to trial, to de-
ternine whether he was guilty or
not in daring to love princess of
royal blood.
The day came. The tiers of seats
were filled to the top row of the
arena. The whole city knew of
the royal love affair and every one
had come to see the trial.
Presently the door opened into the
arena and the youth walked into the
vast circle. All the spectators
sighed, for he was indeed a hand
some young man and worthy of a
princess affection. He looked quick
ly toward the royal box, caught the
eye of the princess and knew in the
flash of an eye that she knew which
door led to the tiger and which to
the lady. He waited for some sign.
With an impatient gesture, imper-
ceptible except to the eyes of her
lover, the princess brushed her right
hand toward the right.
What Happened?
With no faltering, the youth
walked toward the right door and
opened it. The decision of the prin-
cess was given to her lover swiftly
and with no indecision.
But it had not been reached so
easily. Night after night she had
awakened hearing the sounds of his
shrieks when the tiger hurled him
self through the air upon his victim.
But night after night she had been
agonized with jealousy and despair
when she thought of her lover wed
to another woman. Anger and rage
would descend to tear her very soul.
So the princess had endured great
agony of mind to reach her decision.
Frank Stockton, author of this
story, finishes his narrative thus:
"The question of her decision is one
not to be lightly considered, and it
is not for me to presume to set up
myself as the one person able to an
swer it. So leave it with all of you:
Which came out of the opened door
the lady or the tiger?"
And he leaves the reader in this
suspended excitement!
@ Bell Syndicate-WNU Service.
Coulee City dispatch. [volume] (Coulee City, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1938-08-25
AN EDITOR-AUTHOR

Frank r.. Stockton was attract
ed by stories of adventure. Pi-
rates appeared in some of his
longer stories, and the action of
"The Lady or the Tiger" speaks
for itself.
He was born in Philadelphia
in 1884. His writing career in
Guided work as editor and origi-
nal writer. As assistant editor
he worked on the stats of st.
Nicholas Magazine, the Century,
and Hearth and Home. His own
writings were designed to amuse
the public, not to espouse any
cause; nor was he Influenced by
sectional traits in style. He died
in 1902.
Stockton was famous in his day
as hunlorist, this spirit first be-
ing evidenced in "The Ting-a-
Ling Stories" which showed his
nimble, elf-like fancies. Never
did he exceed the natural humor
of "Rudder Range" a collection
of short sketches on rural life
first published in Scribner's
Monthly. He was keen observer
of the feminine temperament, de-
irving humor from this source.
Coulee City dispatch. [volume] (Coulee City, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1938-08-25

door was a fero-
cious tiger; behind
the other was a
beautiful maiden. If
the d e f e n d a n t
opened the door
with the tiger, JUS
tice declared him
guilty and his pun
ishnent was instant.
There was no delay
ing of justice. If he
opened the door
with the lady, he
was innocent and
Ls1 ~Nxr,0~I x,oc i'm
Coulee City dispatch. [volume] (Coulee City, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1938-08-25
BOOKS IN BRIEF !.
NOOne KNOWS
Fate Of This
Braue L0ver
BY ELIZABETH G. JAMES
"THE LADY OR THE TIGER"
II

"THE LADY OR THE TIGER"
= by Frank r. Stockton, is a
story of olden days, when a semi
barbaric king in far land held alb
solute power over his subjects. This
monarch had devised a system of
justice that pleased him nightly.
Instead of all the bother of trials
that the modern world struggles I'm
der, he had an arena where all
trials took place.
The defendant was put into the
arena facing two doors. At signal
he opened one of the doors. Each
door led into a chamber, heavily
padded with skins and furs so that
no sound issued forth. Behind one
Coulee City dispatch. [volume] (Coulee City, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1938-08-25

mediate. He was married to the
fair lady instantly, for the king had
a minister and chorus all ready for
the wedding ceremony. If the de-
PENDANT already had a wife and
family, that made no difference in
the proceedings, for the king was
too fond of this method of justice
to change it for individual cases.
Coulee City dispatch. [volume] (Coulee City, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1938-08-25
NERVOUS?

Do you feel so nervous you want to scream?
Are you cross and irritable? Do you scold
those dearest to you?
If your nerves are on edge and you feel
you need good general system tonic, try
Lydia E. Pinkham's Vegetable Compound,
made especially for sDonsen.
For over so years one woman has told an
other how to go 'sniling thru" with reliable
Pinkham's Compound. It helps nature build
up more physical resistance and thus helps
from annoying symptoms which often &C
company female functional disorders.
Why not give it q chance to help YOU?
Over one million women have written in
reporting wonderful benefits from Pinkham's
Compound.
Coulee City dispatch. [volume] (Coulee City, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1938-08-25
CHAPTER III-Continued

Herrick glanced at his watch.
cts eight o'clock now, and she'll
probably sleep till lunch. D'you pro-
pose to tell her the truth this after
noon?"
"About her father? Why not?"
every good" said Herrick. "And
them"
I got to my feet.
"I'm going to suggest that she
stay here. It's clear that Brief ism t
safe. If she is to come by her
rights, we've got to get Percy down.
And we've stolen a march on him
if she doesn't go back. You see,
he'll think that his DULLES carried
her off. There's nothing to show
that they failed. And they're not
likely to tell him-from what you
say"
We had finished lunch, but Lady
Elizabeth Virgil was still asleep, So,
since we were both of us tired, Her
rick withdrew to his chamber and I
went down to the meadows, to take
some rest.
After a very few minutes I fell
asleep.
afterwards found I had slept for
an hour and a half, but when I sat
up with a start-for I had meant
only to doze, so that I might be in
attendance directly my lady came
down-there she was sitting before
me and waiting for me to wake up.
GOOD Lord" said I. "Where's
Brenda? I told her to let me know
the moment you walked"
Lady Elizabeth smiled.
81 overruled your ORDERS" she
said.
She had changed her clothes and
was wearing full-skirted frock
falling perhaps three inches be-
low her knees, which had come out
of Brenda's drawer.
begged her to excuse me a mo-
ment and stepped to the stream.
There I laved my face and my
hands, and then came back better
fitted to tell my tale.
took my seat before her and
waited for her to begin.
"I'm told I can trust you," she
said. GLOW do I come to be here,
instead of at Brief? What was the
reason you gave me? You see,
can remember nothing from the mo-
ment I took my toss. That's some
times the way of conclusion. Did
you pick me up?"
"It's a curious story" said L.
"May I tell it in my own way?
And I'll answer what questions you
like as soon as I've DONE"
''That's fair enough. Will you give
me cigarette?"
did as she asked, and then /
told her my tale, beginning from
where we had sighted the closed and
numberless car and ending with
Herrick's account of it's occupants
CONSERVATION on finding their vic
tim gone. She never interrupted me
once, but sat very still with her
beautiful eyes on my face, and she
showed no emotion at all, except
that once or twice she knitted her
brows.
When I had done, she lifted her
head to the sky.
ct should like to thank you," she
said, "before I say anything else.
But for you Z" A tremor ran
through her. "That change Of
marked clothes sounds ugly. I was
to be passed off as somebody else.
Never mind. I'm very grateful.
think you've probably saved far
more than my life"
I got to my knees and put out
my hands for hers.
"Take hold of them, please"
said. "I'm going to give you a
shock"
Her eyes never left my eyes, but
she did as I said.
"a year ago last April, your ia
Their died in my arms. He was the
Count of Brief. The man you call
father is your uncle, and your cous-
in his only son."
Eyes shut, head back, her under.
Coulee City dispatch. [volume] (Coulee City, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1938-08-25
Early Kind of Match

One of the first types of matches
was the birthstone match, which
consisted of small strips Of pine
wood dipped in sulphur and lighted
by a spark dropped from flint on
steel.
Coulee City dispatch. [volume] (Coulee City, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1938-08-25

Of course, the populace loved this
method of trial. They always went
to court in the utmost excitement,
because they never knew whether
they were to witness fierce death
or overwhelming happiness.
The Daily Alaska empire., 1938-04-02
 Relief Scheme
 Up in Canada
National Commission Makes Recommendations
 After Study

OTTAWA, Ont, April 2-The National Employment Commission has recommended that the Federal Government assume all costs of un- employment relief in Canada
 The recommendation was made in a report tabled by the investigat- ing group in Parliament after months of study in all provinces of the Dominion.
 The Commission substituted that unemployment insurance be estab- lished to help bear the cost of re- lief. The Government already has insurance plans under way, but their passage hinges on unanimous approval by the provinces. Some provinces have expressed opposition to the measure.
 The municipal, provincial and fed eral administrations have been arg uing for years as to how to split the costs of relief. Officials hope the report of the Commission will serve to turn the differences of op- inion into one course of procedure
The Daily Alaska empire., 1938-04-02
INVESTIGATION
 OF A. I. & I. co.
 IS INDICATED
Senator Bone Says Hear ings to Be Held Soon to
 Determine Action

WASHINGTON, April 2. = The chairman of the Interstate Com merce Subcommittee, Senator Hom- CT T. Bone of Washington State, in dicated today that monopoly in- vestigation program now pending might be revised to include the American Telephone and Telegraph Company The subcommittee ann ounced it would hold hearings soon on the resolution of Senator Nicely of West Virginia for an investiga- tion of communications monopolies. A report drafted by Commissioner Paul Walker of the Federal Com munications Commission had de- clared the nations telephone bills could be cut by 25 percent without disturbing theAT. and T. profits
 A member of the Senate Interstate Commerce Committee, Senator Wagner, indicated he approved of at least part of the Recommends tions. He declared the vast AT. and T, the biggest private business in the world