davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1941-10-14

or near 1t. in the middle OF the
night, last night"
All the cruel merriment went
out of, James face. She stared
hard at Franklin and then tossed
her head imperiously. What If I
were? Harrington was killed In
the libary, in case you've forgotten"
Liars Must be Clever.
II haven't forgotten a thing. You
have, though. You pretend to be
a hard, sophisticated girl. Prob
ably you'd never admit, unless you
were caught" he added significantly,
Ito reading the society news In your
home town newspaper"
Il don't deny or sonfirm any
thing"
"Strasson will be here soon. About
last night, mean"
He'll have plenty to say, most
Of 1t not true"
You seem to know what to ex-
pect from Mr.. StraSson."
Jane merely tossed her head.
What I would like to know Is
what you did with the papers Tar
rington was reading last night"
Jane said nothing.
"You typed them, no doubt?"
Eyes"
Then you do know what he was
reading. You may 90, Miss Trow-
bridge"
When the door had slammed be-
hind her, Franklin chuckled. Liars
should be skilled before they try
to outsmart me-" he said compla-'
GENTLY II think we're getting some
where"
A low siren whirred as . car
rounded the curves OF the drive
way. This is probably Strasson.
The fact that he started of last
night before any alarm was given
on this affair makes me think he
knows about Tarrington's murder.
He's your game, Tom"
Soon the door to the morning
room opened and two big men
fanked Strasson as he walked into
Evening star., 1941-10-14

the French doors in the library.
She often came In, that way, un-
nounced."
Now, about Hilary last night?"
The question was so smooth, 50
courteous, she answered before
thinking, "I did give him some tab
lets, but they were just malt candy,
to soothe him."
"And. you had them In your
pocket?"
IT had them in my hand"
Mrs. Fowler, what do you know
Of Jane Trowbridge?"
Jane is Next.
know of her? She's been here
ever since we came. She works
both here and in New York for Mr..
Harrington"
what do you know about his
business?"
She clamped her mouth tightly
together before she replied, Moth
ing"
"Oh, come now, Mrs. Fowler;
you've been with Harrington longer
than any one slse."
ct know nothing, tell you"
Franklin sighed. and Tom looked
from Mrs. Fowler to the detective
and back again. Then Franklin said,
We'll, thank you, Mrs. Fowler.
That's all now. You might ask Jane
Trowbridge to come in" The
housekeeper had risen and was near
the door. Just one more thing-do
you smoke?"
She turned, her hand on the door
knob. mo, never" and was gone.
Tom walked to the window. but
Franklin merely shifted his bulk
in the chair and sighed again.
What do you think she's trying
to conceal, Franklin"
"The identity of the murderer"
A knock sounded at the door and
Jane poked her head around. do
you want me?" she asked in her
sparkling voice.
Come in, Miss Trowbridge,'
Franklin greeted her. Tom mo-
toned her to a chair, but before
she sat down she turned 1t so that
the light fell obliquely on her face.
Franklin asked, Miss Trowbridge,
did you order chocolates for Mrs.
Harrington at her husbands re-
quest7"
mo"
Might he have taken care Of 1t
himself2"
Jane shook her head vigorously.
He'd never send any one choco-
lates. especially his wife. 1t wasn't
like him"
Just what did you do last night?'
IT went to my room after din
ner and worked quite late. Then I
went to bed and was awakened by
the doorbell when you came"
"And the doorbell? Where Is it?"
Jane Is Trapped.
Jane flushed and paused before
she replied, why, I really don't
know, Mr.. Franklin. There must be
a connection on the third floor"
However, you didn't realize I'M
til just now that you perhaps
couldn't have been awakened by the
doorbell If you had really been
asleep"
The girl wet her lips and pushed
back her hair from her forehead
That's when I woke up. thought
it was the doorbell."
mo, Miss Trowbridge; that is not
when you woke up, and you know
it. Not even Miss Newgate's scream
woke you up. for you hadn't been
asleep at all"
Jane opened her blue eyes wider,
gripping the chair seat momentarily.
Perhaps you'll tell me next that
I killed Mr.. Harrington and did my
self out of a nice soft job"
"You may have killed him." the
detective returned imperturbably. u
have considered the possibility. Tom
offer Miss Trowbridge one Of your
cigarettes; it may help to quiet her. ,
Jane accepted the cigarette and the
light and pulled deeply, savoring the
smoke before she let 1t go.
who else smokes here. Miss
Trowbridge? I see lots Of ash trays
everywhere"
"Just Mr.. Harrington"
Franklin smiled. Then you were
Evening star., 1941-10-14

made no sign. sWe know what Tar
rington was reading and that sub
stitution was made for that docu-
ment."
And how do you know all this?"
I'VE have Just been talking to
Jane"
Strasson smiled. "She said all
this, did she?" The two investi-
gators said nothing. We'll, you
can't depend on Jane. Shes likely
to say anything"
Under oath?"
Strasson frowned. did you have
her under oath? I doubt 1t. ANY,
way she can't hurt me-"
MOP"
"Nop Strasson shot back. Then
he laughed. You're not 50 precious
clever after all. I see III have to
help you. Your friend Jane can't
Evening star., 1941-10-14

the room. He was still sleek and
unrufned in appearance. but his
eyes held a wary look that Tom
saw roved around the room and
came to rest at last on the big de-
tective. Strssson, still flanked by
the guard, sat on the edge Of the
chair Tom indicated.
$50. 1t is Barnes again"
Tom nodded. We've got you this
time, Strasson. 1t was stupid OF
you really"
What was stupid of me7" The
accent was smooth but insulting.
"Suppressing evidence is a crime,
you know" Franklin put in lazily.
And who says I suppressed evi-
dence?"
I'VE know whom you met in the
summer house" Franklin watched
the effect on Strasson but that man
Evening star., 1941-10-14
Mluroer at Runymeoe @
By ellen Tower ~

Felicity NeUgae pretty English
brings Hemingway children Runymede
chdrens uncle Shirley and Henry
harrington Immediately she finds herself caught several
Shirley husband and finally
the household only turn the morning after
Harrington found dead in his study The ousekeepe Mrs
especially Felicity Tom Barnes
Felicity ,o boat at Runymede
teop passengers Sasson Uho had dealings NTH Harrington
Shirley
friend Backrack oil Henry secretly the
night OF the murder.
CHAPTER X.
Felicity children out for their walk among the
Franklin resumed their smoking and poos
the morning for As and asked for Mrs Fowler
opened and Marian Fowler came INTO tne
Evening star., 1941-10-14

hurt me for the simple reason that
a woman can't testify against her
husband. She's my wife. Or didn't
you know"
(Copyright, 1e41, the CHICAGO Daily
News, Inc.)
Evening star., 1941-10-14

Continued Tomorrow
Strasson Is persuaded to talk.
Evening star., 1941-02-19
Crime and Disease

Opening of the new home Of the
second police precinct at New York
avenue and Sixth street marks a
long step forward in the Police De-
partment's drive to reduce lawleSS-
ness in a section Of the city long no
torious for its high crime rate. Police
records show that the central north
west area covered by the second and
thirteenth precincts is the darkest
spot on Washington's law enforce
ment picture, with an unenviable
record of more arrests per month
than any other part of the city. The
new precinct station will provide Po-
lice Superintendent Browns patrol
forces with a second bastion from
which to operate in this congested
area. In addition to simplifying
patrol work, the impressive station
house should have salutary stabi-
izing effect throughout the precinct.
Significantly, this general area
also is the darkest spot on Washing
tons health map. Indicating that
crime and disease march hand in
hand, Health Department records
show that the central northwest Sec
tion has the highest death rate from
disease in the city, 1862 per thousand
persons as compared with 1879 per
cent for the city as a whole. The
fatality rates for tuberculosis and
syphilis are approximately twice
those prevailing generally in the Dis
trict OF Columbia. 1t is with view
to battling this health problem at
close range, with concentrated rein
forcements, that Health Officer Ruh-
land long has urged health pre-
cinct station" in the form of a public
health center in this troublesome sec
tion. His repeated efforts to obtain
provision in the budget for such
center have failed to date, but neither
he nor many others who realize the
Importance Of this project have given
up the fight. The Star hopes that
Congress will give special considera-
tion to the health center program
when appropriations for the Health
Department are taken up.
Evening star., 1941-02-19
Aircraft Production

The report of Colonel John H
Jouett, president of the Aeronauti-
cal Chamber of Commerce, that mil
itary aircraft production in the
United States has passed the level
of 1000 a month and should reach
1900 a month by midyear is cause
for qualification, but these figures
should not be accepted as meaning
that American factories actually are
producing combat planes in the to-
tai indicated.
A complete picture of aircraft
production cannot be obtained with
out breaking down totals to differ
entiate between training and COM
bat planes, and to enumerate the
several types in the latter clasSif1-
cation. Since these breakdowns are
not made public on the theory that
such information is defense secret,
the public is left more or less in the
dark as to the details of our military
airplane output.
There have been unofficial esti-
mates, however, to the effect that
approximately half of the 1,016
planes produced in January we're
training ships. If these estimates are
correct, there is less cause for opti-
mism concerning the overall pic
ture than might seem to be the case
from a casual reading of Colonel
Jouett's statement, but even If our
total present production of combat
planes is only in the neighborhood
of 500, the aircraft industry has
made important progress toward the
current goal of 5000 training and
combat planes a month.
In this connection, an important
question has arisen concerning the
drafting of airplane workers for
military training. The aircraft in
dustry had $4,000 shop employees
when the war started It has 10000
Evening star., 1941-02-19
Italian Defends Italy
Against Editorial Criticism.

To the Editor of The Star:
I meant to send this letter soon after
I read your editorial of February en-
titled Ethiopia Resurgent," but friend
explained to me how futile 1t is for US
italians to expect to be needed by the
American press. However, on second
thought, am sending this letter to you
anyhow in the name of that democracy
which is supposed to allow the free ex-
preston of all opinions.
Ethiopia ReSurgent" Is a beautiful
title and If its author were prompted to
write it to express a desire similar to
that of the savage who, after having
been educated in England, preferred to
return to his native life, so disguised
was he with civilization, then I would
take my hat off to him. But, of course,
such is not the case.
To hope or to claim that ruler like
Selassie, who exacted most of his in
come from the market of slaves Chis
dear subjects, can bring comfort and
happiness to a people is wiShful think
ing. If the most repellent diseases, such
as leprosy; If chastisement by mutilation,
such as emasculation, will restore to
people a so-called "lost happiness and
freedom" then I suggest that such meas
ures be tried in the United States Any
thing for the pursuit of happiness!
There is no denying that Italy took
Ethiopia by force. But will any one tell
me how other nations acquired their
empires? The world is still shocked with
horror at the methods used by peace
loving Albion to conquer the Beers.
AS a well-informed newspaper ought
to know, the more sensible people of
England sold Ethiopia down the river to
Mussolini. Such people as Anthony Eden
changed their minds and tried to stop
with threat what would have been an
otherwise peaceful concession. The
Edens simply wanted Italy to pay dearly
for her conquest. Closing the Suez Canal
would have choked the venture at the
start. But how could England resist the
temptation to capitalize on the traffic
which war would have created for the
Suez Company? Every individual has to
pay the equivalent of SO If he wishes
the privilege to cross the canal A ship,
even II not loaded, has to pay as If laden
with full cargo. Such is the democracy
of imperial England!
If Britain wishes to restore the con-
quered savage nations to their former
rulers she should set good example by
returning all she has taken far and wide.
Where Italians have settled homes,
farms and flowers have bloomed The
British have said so themselves England
with her goth century civilization will
remove these laborious children of the
white race to restore the last stronghold
of slavery, and writer of The Star sa-
lutes with joy the return of Ethiopia to
its native customs. The atavistic instinct
of certain persons have not yet died!
N. RICCIARDELLI DE MENEFREGO.
Evening star., 1941-02-19

had been passed demonstrated the
desire of Congress to curb the use of
criminal proceedings against labor
unions under the Sherman Antitrust
Act. In fact, the minority felt that
the two cases had a common princi-
pie, the dissent by Justice Douglas,
in which Justices Black and Reed
joined, citing the earlier decision as
an example, and insisting it was
necessary to deal with the Federal
Trade Act in equally liberal fashion
If 1t was to be fully effective in
curbing unfair trade practices.
The dissent warned against the
"whittling" away of administrative
power, but it is of equal Importance
that the various regulatory agencies
be prevented from pursuing their
quest for power beyond the limits set
by Congress.
Evening star., 1941-02-19
District Income Tax

Indications that renewed efforts
may be made in this session of Con-
gress to revamp the District tax
structure by substituting a sales tax
for the income tax are more than
disquieting when viewed against the
rather dismal background of the
history of local tax legislation.
The objection to these efforts does
not go to the merits of the sales tax
itself, but rather to the seeming dis
position to propose substitutes for
existing taxation that in the end
become additional forms of taxation.
The sales tax doubtless appeals to a
great many people as a sound sub
stitute for the local income tax. But
in the light of bitter experience, the
sales tax, if enacted, probably would
become a new tax and the income
tax be retained. In the local tax
structure, the immediate need this
year is amendment of the local In
come tax to make it fair and just to
the people of the District.
As a result of the Court Of Appeals
decision in the Sweeney case, eQuita-
BILE enforcement of the present local
income tax has become a virtual i'm
possibility and its usefulness as a
revenue raising measure has been
seriously impaired. The appellate rul-
ing turned on the right of the District
to tax intangible personal property
owned by James j. Sweeney, who
claimed exemption on the theory
that he was "domiciled" in MaSSa-
chusetts. The court upheld his con-
tention and this decision, by analogy,
has been considered applicable to the
local income tax law, which affects
only persons domiciled in the Dis
trict.
The Commissioners, faced with a
situation in which a substantial
number of persons who live in the
District, earn their incomes here and
enjoy all the benefits of citizenship,
would contribute nothing under the
income tax to municipal expenses
because they are domiciled elsewhere,
have asked Congress to amend the
law. AS outlined by Tax Assessor
Dent, this amendment would require
payment of the tax by persons other
wise eligible who have resided in the
District for six months or who were
domiciled here at the end of the tax
able year. This, if accompanied by
an appropriate provision to avoid
double taxation of District residents
who pay income taxes in the States,
would be comparable to most of the
State income tax laws, and would
cure the inequity and the inadequacy
of the local statute in its present
form. If the best interests of the
District are to be served, the men,
bers of Congress charged with han
ding local tax legislation should di-
rect their efforts toward working out
some such amendment as this.
Evening star., 1941-02-19
THIS AND THAT
BIZ Charles z. TrdcetoeH.

today not altogether unmitigated bless
ings.
More fresh air got into houses then.
This kept the rooms cooler and damper.
Both GOODNESS and moisture are essen
tial to the best growth of indoor plants.
Such conditions, being more natural,
keep the plants in better shape, and this
helps them fight attacks from fungi
and insect pests. The healthier plant,
the better It's resistance to all inroads.
But the soil also was kept in con-
dition more to the liking of most plants.
The water in the soil did not evaporate
so quickly, and the air got better
chance to get to the roots.
k* *%
Today II we want house plants, we
must build some sort of room or even
hot-house, where conditions can be kept
nearer to the old normal of yesteryear.
Those who have tried to achieve these
conditions in modern living or dining
room know that it is compromise be-
tween plant comfort and human COM
fort.
If we keep the room at temperature
Of so degrees, which is about what
plants like, the human Inhabitants nearly
"freeze to death" as they say.
And even then it is almost impossible
to keep the air as moist as plants like.
Any one who is interested in gadgets
can find out quickly how difficult 1t Is
to keep indoors air moist enough.
A small instrument called a hygrom-
eter, which measures the relative humid
ity of air, will scarcely rise point when
much water is evaporated in a house.
A simple way to put moisture into
the air is to boil water on the kitchen
stove. But literally gallons of water
must be boiled away in this manner to
make a hygrometer hand move up. And
even after it has moved, it will drop
back quickly, once the evaporation OF
water is stopped.
~ ~
Persons interested in house plants,
therefore, will not expect the best results
nowadays.
Grandmother had no trouble at all.
She had plenty of fresh air coming in
around the windowframes. She had cool
rooms, and air inside which was not as
dry as the Sahara Desert. ct is claimed
that the air of a modern living room
closely approximates that of such places0
The best modern can hope to do, In
ordinary quarters, is to keep the plants
well watered and to look out for inroads
by pests.
Some attention to fertilization, TOO
will help considerably. Many types OF
plant tablets are on the market. One
Of these, every now and then, in an
average sized pot, will do great deal
to give plant the ability to grow under
inimical conditions.
Care must be taken not to fertilize
house plants too heavily. Neither should
they be "watered to death" golden
mean is necessary, If success Is TO be
achieved, here as elsewhere.
Evening star., 1941-02-19
Criticizes Supporters
OF Lease-Lend Bill.

To the Editor OF The Star:
Freeman's Life of Lee" Vol. 4, p. SIC,
a recognized authority in the South, con-
tains letter dated November 4, 1866,
from Sir John D. Acton to Gen. Robert
E. Lee which states: Much OF Eng
lands good will toward the South was
neither unselfsh nor sincere. 1t sprang
partly from an exultant belief In the
imminent decline and ruin of democratic
institutions and partly from the hope
that America would be Weekend by the
separation" Sir John D. Acton, after
ward Lord Acton, was distinguished
English historian, a member OF Parlla-
ment and regius professor OF modern
history at Cambridge.
Continuing selfishness and insincerity
toward America is shown by letter
written in 1914, during the last European
war, by winston Churchill, then in the
cabinet, now Premier of his imperial
majesty's government, in which Churchill
urged the enlistment of thousands OF
American boys, including large num-
ber of Southerners, to fight for England.
He stated:
Nothing will bring American SYM
pathy along with us so much as American
blood shed in the field" From "The
World Crisis" p. 293, written in 1928 by
Winston Churchill in London and pub
lished by Charles Scribner's Sons IN
New York;
Mr.. Churchill recently denied the
truth of an oral interview which he gave
to an editor Of New York paper in 1886.
Churchill cannot, however, deny those
uneuuivocal and cold-blooded words
which he wrote, sold and published in
1928. Is Churchill, by his present assur-
ance that he does not want our boys, as
crafty as was Balfour, who headed the
British delegation to the United States
in the spring Of 1917 and declared that
what the Allies wanted from us was
money and ships, but in a short while
the English were clamoring for unframed
American troops to be put in the front
lines to die under English generals?
Why do our Southern Senators and
Representatives almost unanimously
clamor for "all-out aid to England"
though it jeopardizes the future exis-
tence of the Republic, the lives of its
sons, its financial solvency, and deprives
us of our weapons Of defense?
I am the daughter of Confederate
soldier who was wounded ut the age OF
Evening star., 1941-02-19
Shop Talk

Aboard the S. S. Excambion in
European waters there is an Ameri-
can barber, Joe, who has taken the
attitude that his shop is a part Of
America, where speech is still free.
Elsewhere on the vessel passengers
and crew must guard their tongues
and keep silent about the war. When
they can stand it no longer, they
head for Barber Shop, U. S. A., the
land of the free and the home of the
shave, for haircut and a CAB Ses-
sion, secure in the knowledge that
not even the captain is going to un-
dertake the hopeless task of CEN
soring discussion in a tonsorial
emporium.
Joe has his troubles, of course. A
seagoing barber must suffer severely
under the handicap of not having
the days entries for Hialeah, so that
he may tell his customers that he
knows positively that Eczema will
win the fourth race in a walk, but
no doubt he makes up for that by
giving an infallible remedy for sea-
sickness as we'll as dandruff. Then,
too, he can always tell the assembled
company what he would do, if he
were Churchill, to win the war in
three months. When he attends the
next reunion of his barber college,
he should be able to give undergradu-
ateS and alumni an interesting talk
on how to run a shop under Difficult
ties.
Evening star., 1941-02-19
Kindly Reader Praises
Visitors Description Of Snow.
To the Editor OF The Star:


How delightful in The Star is Manuel
Vegas description of falling snow,
phenomenon still new to him: This
white rain comes down fine and gently,
and leaves It's visible imprint on things"
1t reminds me of a little Chinese poem
describing the authors sensation when
first he saw an American maiden pow
dering her nose:
"a little bag with tassel,
Ting ling ling! 1t opens.
She looks into it. In her hand
She holds q soft sweet cake,
All white. She does not put it
In her mouth. She dusts her
Tiny nose-end with powdered sugar.
watch. I smile. am delighted!
I cannot find time again"
Let's hope, for the sake OF your Chill
can visitor, that more white rain" will
soon come down over Washington to awe
and delight him. To be sure, there is
"red rain" over Europe just now, but
such is the curious law Of nature-snow
is more permanent, snow will outlast
bombs. ANNA TuRIlChA-
Evening star., 1941-02-19
Schooner

DaUn'S amber glo10 blots out the
morning stars,
And, through the mist that blnrs
the sunrise line,
A lone ship comes. And oh, her
shimmering sparS
Rouse old, adventurous drednri
hear the 1Uhine
OF Dind on Stornl-t1ut salts, me
hiss OF. spray,
Watch lunging t0dUeS teor mast
and boats dWay.
But, 1Ohen the sun diSSolUes the
fringe of mist,
Sea-Storm and ship are lost tn
prairie sky.
plop the sandy field WhiIe small
1UindS t1DiSt,
Dream of my ships return Dhen
hedt-DdUeS die.
She comes, bright-Sdiled tn sunset
cloudS-is gone,
But I shall see her, pedrIed ,otth
mist, at daDn!
SUDIE STUART HAGER.