davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-09-06

gested. She did, oftener and oftener.
And then one day he worked up courage
to say Il would like to meet your mistress,
Madame Bonaventure."
All, thought Fifne everything was clear
at last. Her smile grew thoughtful.
Monsieur lie Capitaine, ii cannot be-
Why" the Captain wanted to know.
My mistress is good woman" she said.
mot even for her orphans would my mistress
consider a man. except in honorable marriage"
The heart of Captain Book overlooked.
With ardor he proclaimed that never were
mans intentions more honorable.
Mile. Fifine spoke again Still madame
could never receive you openly"
Then" he pressed, "let her receive me in
private. Promise me your help. Mile. Fifne."
Ffne promised. But inwardly she quaked.
She had never told madame much about the
German Captain who granted the food per-
mits. That would only have upset her. If she
asked Madame Bonaventure to receive him,
she might get a point blank refusal Then
the butter and eggs and wooens would stop.
AT this juncture Fifne decided TO take
matters into her own managing hands
And how did she know how to handle the
Situation? All we'll she was an avid reader,
this fun-loving little Fifne. who had served
her apprenticeship in Paris, and her taste in
literature included such spicy classics as THE
Decameron of Boccaccio." The Heptameron
of Margaret OF Navarro" Les Cent Nou-
velles Nouvees," Poggio Bracciolini's "Fa-
cetiae,' and Sachetti Moral Discourses"
In these, she had read with zest of certain
sprightly adventures based upon situations
somewhat similar to the one that now con-
fronted her. So the bright-eyed little mink
had no trouble hitting upon happy solution
Gravely next day she returned to Captain
Book to announces
Madame says she cannot see you face to
face. But If you care to sit in her drawing.
room. with the lights all out. and talk to her
IN the utter darkness, she will listen But she
will not answer. She has taken an oath
not TO speak TO the conquerors for a year"
Captain Book shook his head This lady
she must be little mad! Her proposal was
absurd. But he loved her even TO absurdity
Finally he answered.
Il accept. i will call upon madame and
try 10 win her 20 a better frame of mind"
He came. Admitted by an old maid servant
he was escorted to a darkened room at the
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-09-06
BY PRINCESS AMELIE KXRAPOW

q kOU WILL. Of course. understand that
" / give neither the exact names of those
involved nor places in these amusing
incidents that have come to me from Occu-
pied France To do so would only invite
reprisals upon the ingenious ACTRESSES or
actors.
In only one case have used the real name.
the incident Of the fire that turned out the
Microscope guests. and that is because Madame
Lafontaine and all those intimately con-
cerned in this curious case are now safe
Somewhere in England" thanks 10 her
friends, the British Commands
With this brief explanation l proceed.
Captain Book rather a decent Ger
man in the Office of Food Requisitioning and
Rationing in a certain city of Occupied France.
His forty-year-old affections were now at
last, ripe to be plucked. But those affections
had never caught up with their ideal in his
home town. What the Captain dreamed of
was delicate woman, religious and refined,
like French women he had read about. in
long forgotten stories
In this melting mood Captain Book stood
one Sunday, on the street as church was
letting out Stiff in his tunic and high leather
boots the Captain looked up and saw a lady
riding by, in an ancient carriage behind an
ancient horse.
There she was the ideal lady he had long
been hungry for ms hcdrt trdped. lie said
to himself II must have her"
So Captain Book followed her ancient car
rage TO her house. Then he summoned a
Gestapo man to make an investigation The
man reported the lady was well let us call
her Madame Elise Bonavcnturc widow Her
one passionate interest was a small home for
orphans for which she struggled constantly
TO obtain a few eggs. a little milk and cod
liver oil. Captain Book also found out that
Madame Bonaventure had a maid. Fifine. who
was not the distant virtuous woman her mis-
tress was.
~ Captain Book wrinlled his brow and even
while he was wrinkling a. fate played right
into his hand Mile Fihne called 10 ask for
extra food allowances for msdame's orphans
Mile. Fifne's eyes grew wide as the Captain
answered, shortly:
Certainly We cannot starve the children"
That was The beginning Mile Fihne de-
cided this was so easy she would return with
other requests, as Captain Book had sug.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-09-06

had just been caught up
in it, as had madame.
Finally. he thought, he
was having effect. for
the delicate lady sighed.
That encouraged him. He
reached over quickly.
patted her hand. Quickly
she patted his back.
Then he implored:
do not hate me,
gracious lady. Try only
to remember / have
loved you since l first
saw you, driving home
from church in that alb
surd carriage"
Again her little hand
went out TO pat his biz
hand. His simple heart
overlooked. He took the
little woman into his
arms and kissed her
reverently. Then he
asked forgiveness.
Some day." he said,
you win know my love
for what ii is"
All too shortly and he
had passed from her
bright presence. This
was the beginning of
many such evenings in
the dark - tantalizing.
but not progressing.
Finally the Captain
pressed Fifine.
ASK your mistress
to give me one little sign
OF recognition, when l
wait, as she passes by
from church. Plead with
her TO do this" N
Fifine promised. But
here I, as an unorthodox
story teller. must inter-
polate. Fifine never took
one of the Captains
messages TO madame.
But yet, always, she
brought him back from
madame answers, OF
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-09-06

a great deal, but not
quite enough for mar
riage. Well, by all the
gods, he had found a
similar thing, in this
woman. She considered
him good enough for
tender attentions. But
not good enough TO see
him in the light. receive
him openly. More and
more he brooded till that
day of deliverance, when
he spoke to himself. out
Of his ehastened heart:
"She is above me. I
have looked too high.
She scorns me. / will
never win her. And all
the while / have been
crying for the moon,
another, a pretty, soft,
ten d er and sensible
young woman has been
here"
AT his desk, Captain
Book rang for his
orderly.
Take this message
to Mile. Fifine," he COM
manded.
That evening he sat
opposite the bright-eyed
maid, in a little restau-
rant where the food and
wine were good. He
poured out his troubles
and his decision. Then
he spoke bluntly:
you have an honest
heart. You love children.
You are a practical
woman. My dear, I
looked too high in your
mistress. So now / ask
you, will you have pity
on me? And marry
me?"
Mile. Fifine answer
cred like a practical
woman. She would -
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-09-06

vague promise. And in the same breath she
asked for extra food, for the orphans
But at last the period of madame's vowed
silence was over Bursting with eagerness,
Captain Book arrived on the fateful night.
He was led this time up the stairs to
chamber on the bedroom floor. The room
was still dark. But little hands warmly well
coming. clasped his when the door was shut.
Imploring, discouraged. desperate, he begged
the unreasonable lady to speak at last
For answer. she burst into tears. Then
he held her hard against his heart COM
forting her. till at last she stopped her
weeping. 1t seemed incredible to Captain
Book. Yet he felt as he left her house
defeated in his triumph
And that began a period of gloomy, re-
oellious oroodng for the Captain. He had
read many times. about men who loved women
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-09-06
About madame ?"
Leave her TO me. "

About madame ?"
Leave her TO me"
The Captain felt that would not be GAL
liant So he ordered a beautiful bouquet and
sent 1t, with words Of regret withdrawing
his offer of marriage. Madame Bonaventure
found the flowers exquisite. But the note
puzzled her almost TO anger as did the
gnature-Ernst Book
Word came TO me from France last week
that Fifine was married to her Captain And
madames orphans still were fourishing on
the groceries.
Another tale also came to me from France
and this. too has to do with food And this
too is not without a smile. My friend Pro-
fessor Trotter Of a certain university. has a
pretty managing wife. Poor young Madame
Trottier worried about food for her family
applied to the Rationing Board for an extra
allowance. you will understand. of course
that Trottier is not the actual name. Nor is
he a professor)
Quartermaster Gunther Grosschmitt big
and bluff and rather stupid, looked up from
his desk to see a chic and appealing young
French woman. That morning, as il hap
pened, the Quartermaster was not pleased
with his French service. DR.. Goebbes and
his aides had explained that service in France
would be charming with feminine attrac-
tons" QuartermaSter Grosschmtt had not
found it so. The French women he met either
did not see him, they looked the other
way And then came Madame Trottier and
everything seemed changed
In the next moment Madame Trottier was
explaining that she needed extra food for her
children The Quartermaster looked into her
big blue eyes. Then he spoke. encouragingly.
Gracious lady" he said, II know that
delicate children need extra allowances
grant them to you" He paused, his spirit
puzzled and confused. Then clumsily. he
blurted: $50 soon you came in here.
wanted to help you. II wanted to know
you. 1t is lonely for me in your strange
land. Madame. l would like 10 call on you
Might 1 come-some time-when it would
be convenient"
Madame Trottier said to herself: He is
a beast" Out loud she replied:
Yes, there is a time. Sunday My bus
band always goes fishing on Sunday. So, If
you could come and-please, food is so diff
ficult, If you could bring the food for a Sun
day dinner, we might"
He interrupted: Il will bring plenty Dear
lady. will bring hamper of things, beyond
beyond your food permits"
Sunday came. So did the Quartermaster.
Bursting with enthusiasm he set down a
huge hamper filled with delicacies, a ham.
fruit, cheeses, eggs, several pounds of coffee
Quartermaster Grosschmitt said 1t with
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-09-06

queer and helpless. He even felt little impa-
tient with himself Struggling, he began at
last to break down the lady's prejudices. Ear
nestly he talked with rugged, honest words
which, he thought, should have effect. He
said he had not invented the Nazi system. He
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-09-06

end of a
long cor
rid or. Be-
fore h G
door closed.
he could
just make
out t h e
figure Of
m a q a m G,
sitting on
a di va n
G a p t ain
b &C k felt
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-09-06
coHeweyPksto

and the orphans, those poor little dears. they
needed eggs again, and more of that good cod
liver oil. So they basked in each Others
smiles, for while Then, worriedly, the
Captain asked:
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-09-06

September O. 1912
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-12-27
BOOKS IN REVIEW
By Benjamin DeCassere smnmrnnnm
HERE is something unusual in
- the Nuav Of American bic

HERE is something unusual in
- the way Of American his
torical biography. 1t is nothing
less than an autobiography of
Thomas jefferson - fuif-fength
candid Photographic shots" of
the father of American democ-
racy taken by himself.
1t is entitled jefferson Him.
self" (Houghton, Mifflin Com
pany). 1t is Jefferson compiled
almost day by day from his
birth to his death by Bernard
Mayo. 1t is based on Jefferson's
public writing and his private
letters. with short prefaces by
Mayo before the verious phases
of his hero's life.
1t is all done so ingeniously
that it>conveys the impression of
a continuous narrative in which
Jefferson speaks directly to his
age, TO the past and to posterity,
which is you and me. Appropri-
ate headings over all excerpts
aid the reader to follow the ca
reer Of this very great man from
behind the scenes, so TO speak, of
his own life and also from behind
the scenes Of our republic right
down TO 1896.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-12-27
Others Liked Them

A LITTLE ferreting about re-
"A veals that l have had dis
tinguished companions through
the years in this yearn for the
blood-curdlerS.
Woodrow Wilson, for instance,
turned TO detective stories 10
ease the tension Of weighty af-
fairs of state.
Roosevelt may not be a curler-
upper-but when he can find
the time, he digs into a current
crime pot-boiler-perferably one
with a couple of juicy assassina-
tons.
Good old Honest Abe Lincoln
liked nothing better than TO
swap yarns on homespun crime
preferably unsolved.
When the blitZ was fiercest In
London in 1910, and everybody
sought refuge underground. the
books most in demand in the
raid libraries" were WhodunitS.
Fictional tales of horrer were
found soothing panacea for the
actual horrors unloosed by the
NaZi luftWaffe.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-12-27
Gets Life in Prison
For Staying Of Bride

Medical examination made
at the autopsy of your dead wife
revealed that though you had
been married for two weeks. sOr
some reason, psychological per-
hapS, that marriage had never
been cOnSumatedw
After receiving KnaeSche's
signature to the confession.
Sheriff Byrnes rushed the klrer
10 the Santa Rosa Jail in Soncna
County,
On the twenty-second Of the
following month Knaesche stood
before S3-year-old Judge j. g.
White and admitted to his mon
StrouS crime But the Judge
who had a 50-year record Of
never having handed down a
death sentence-waS anxious 10
MAINTAIN his record and so or
dcrcd tho confessed murderer 10
San Quentin prison for life.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-12-27
Reader Rationed Them

THE late and amiable jurist,
IL Oliver Wendell Holmes, once
complained TO friend that his
enormous appetite for detective
stories compelled him 10 ration
his consumption of them.
The more experienced Who
dunit authors restrict their muir
ders to a maximum of three
after that, they contend, comes
boredom. One we'll executed
death by a mysterious method
is even better than the whole
safe dispatch of victims, in the
opinion of leaders.
The titles are most important.
A trite label may reduce sales
by as much as 10000. Some
titles l have liked are Death
Dunks a Doughnut" and Corpse
With the Artificial Umbilicus."
Then there was one called
Death in Four Letters" That
might have meant anything
and il did--mostly something
against the NaZis.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-12-27
You Killed Her
Before Lunch Time

you didn't have lunch with
your wife that day because YOU
murdered her BEFORE lunch.
And after you killed her YOU
tried TO establish an alibi by
sending Foster out from town.
You thought you were quite cute
when YOU bought candy TO make
us believe you loved your wife,
whereas actually you hated her.
You held such hatred for her
that you shot her like a dog"
You're crazy" gaspP
knaeSche. "Why would 1 kill
my wife"
That's question that had
me stumped until yesterday
when doctor gave me the
answer. He informed me that
YOU were married in name only.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-12-27
Wound in Chest,
Another in Head

Foster peered over the mans
shoulder and saw, sprawled
across daybed, the comely
young bride. n gaping shotgun
wound in her chest and an
other that had torn into the
side of her head.
The electrician notified the
authorities; then he took
AKnaesche 10 the home Of his
mother.
At the foot OF the stairway
leading 10 the second floor be-
gan a trail of red that widened
as ii approached the opposite
wall on which hung a telephone.
The trail turned abruptly TO
the left out the door 10 the
porch, then IL swung right 10
the daybed where the body
lay.
IL was obvious from this that
the victim had received her
chest wound while facing her
assassin at the foot Of the
stairs; then thwartcd in her at
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-12-27
TRUE DETECTIVE STORY

A BOUT a hundred miles north

A BOUT a hundred miles north
"A OF San Francisco, the town
Of Ukiah nestles in a valley on
the Russian River watershed.
But even in this Eden the
evil passions OF men lie only
skin deep. Or so thought
Sheriff Ralph r. Byrnes Of
Mendocino County. when he and
his deputies viewed the mt
tilated remains OF 1S-year-old
Frieda Knaesche, bride Of
two weeks, in her honeymoon
home"
II was 4 p. m, July 9. 1919.
An hour before r. o. Foster, an
electrician repairing a pump on
the Knaesche farm, was horri-
fed by a scream from the
ranch house. Dashing toward
the building he found Herman
Knaesche in the doorway sob
bling.
Get help! For Gods sake get
help!"
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-12-27
Shotgun Identified
As Her Husbands

Byrnes noted that the wielder
OF the shotgun had been care
full 10 avoid the red trail, for
his shoes left no trace on the
floor. A reeking double-barreled
shotgun that lay on the floor
alongside the body was identi-
fed by a neighbor as belonging
10 the dead girls husband.
Examination OF the vicinity
failed 10 disclose a sign of the
killer. Robbery was obviously
not a motive.
DR.. S. l.. Rea performed an
autopsy and subStantiated the
officers findings; the girl had
been shot twice at very close
quarters. The first in the chest.
he announced, would eventually
have proved fatal: the second
in the head was the immediate
cause of death.
Had the girl been as
saulted ."
mo. In fact :" The sur
geon faltered-he seemed TO be-
come wrapped up in deep
thought for a long moment.
However, he abruptly concluded
his visit with: That's all,
guess" and walked out. leaving
a puzzled sheriff wondering at
this noted physicians odd be-
haVior.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-12-27
A Strange Marriage
CGmaxed by Tragedy

she visited with some friends
while he did some business at
the bank-he was q fruit
farmer.
They returned home at about
10 a. m. and Immediately set
TO picking peaches in the or
chard, Grating them for ship
ment and loading the boxes on
his truck. They finished at neon,
had their lunch. and at / o'clock
Knaesche left 10 drive his fruit
10 the railroad station.
There he had met Foster, the
electrician. Foster agreed TO go
out and do the job at once.
Later, Knaesche continued. he
went 10 a confectionery store
and bought a box OF candy for
his bride.
After that he drove 10 the
home Of his wife's parents and
asked Mrs. Chris Beckley where
t'rieda was; when told she had
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-12-27
Here's a Thriller

CHRISTOPHER MORLEY,
~ who now totes a beard, In
chairman of the Baker Street
1rregulars-an organization OF
Sherlock III oil m enthusiasts
which meets occasionally to hear
and discuss scholarly research
concerning the Old Master.
Up in Boston, where the Ivy
climbs higher and grows thicker
than anywhere in New England
or China, there is another Sher-
lock Holmes club-the Speckled
Band.
incidentally, Rex Stout. Gre
ator of the Nero Wolfe" stories,
believes that Watson was really
Mrs. Conan Doyle-because her
maiden name was Irene Watson.
Well. that's all, folks, for to-
day. I've just received honey
of a thriller-title: He Killed
the Draft Board"
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-12-27
By Terry McShane

sat dumfounded. then he began
10 plan a course of action.
First he made a trip to a
photographer and ordered en-
largementS Of two photos which,
when completed were 10 be
framed in black. Both were
pictures OF Frieda KnaesChe:
one as a laughing bride and the
other rs butchTred corpse.
Byrnes hung them in an ante
room adjoining his office.
At 9 the following morning he
ordered a deputy TO bring Her
man Knaesche 10 his office.
Sheriff Byrnes greeted him
cordially and declared:
81 have n fresh lead Herman
one that may trap the fiend
who killed your wife. thought
YOU might like 10 wait around
here until 1 get back. i won't
be long"
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-12-27
Absent-Minded Papa

YOU will here see Jefferson
L not only as the designer of
the Declaration of Independence
but as the absent-minded father
who made up a schedule for his
daughters day and left out
meals; the jefferson who not
only went to France as our
minister but who also went there
TO buy corset for John Adams
daughter; the Jefferson who not
only invented" with James
Madison, the Bill of Rights. but
who also invented that object
you'll find in your cellar which
is so important-the coal fur
mace.
There never was time In the
history Of our country in which
the continuance of the two-party
system was more necessary.
jefferson. at 50. nearing the end.
wrote this, as true today as il
was on the day he wrote IL:
Parties are censors Of the
conduct Of each other. and use
full watchmen for the public.
Men by their constitutions are
naturally divided into two par
ties:
"1-Those who fear and dis
trust the people and wish to
draw all powers from them into
the hands Of the higher classes.
Those who identify them
selves with the people, have con-
fidence I'm them, cherish and
consider them as the most hon
est and safe, although not the
most wise, depository OF the
public interests.
lin every country these two
parties exist. Call them, there
fore. Wings and Tories. Republl-
cans and Federalists. Aristocrats
and Democrats, or by whatever
name you please, they are the
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-12-27
Has Husband Wait
All Day in Room

Before Herman could give his
swallowed assent the sheriff Lad
the youths elbow in gentle
but firm grasp and propelled
HIM into the ante room.
Finally dusk fell; and when
the lights came on they focrsed
in a brilliant glare on the Two
framed pictures OF Fricda
KnaeSChe. .,
A few minutes later ,Byrres
hustled into the room end
greeted his guest with a great
show of satisfaction. =
We've got him, Herman,
we've got him.
The fruit farmer stiffened
with surprise. then relaxed into
a cunning suspicion as he tried
10 read the Sherif's face.
you caught him? Who il
he ."
You know that. Herman as
well as I do" answered ByrncS
heartily. ITS YOU"
"Me ." qucried the youth
weakly.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-12-27
Conspiracy Charged

RUTLEDGE was a big man IN
IL the Continental Congress
and the Constitutional Conven-
ton. In the former body he
wanted 10 open the session with
out prayers In the Constitu-
tional Convention. il was Rut.
ledge who conceived the idea Of
making the president also COM
mander-in-chief of the army and
navy.
In fact. John Rutledge Of
South Carolina had his finger in
everybody'S pie during our pre-
Revolutionary and post Revolu.
airy periods. The author says.
however, that there has been a
conspiracy Of silence about him
and his great services TO the
country. due mainly 20 sectional
Jealousy" Charges were even
made, that he\was mentally UNI
sound"-a libel II ever there
were one.
This is a book that ! highly
recommend in order 10 renew
your acquaintance with the
founding OF the greatest and
most successful experiment on
earth-your United States of
America II reSurrccts a great
American Dictator John"
copyfghi, 1881 bY KiaF Ysstur-s
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-12-27

not come the young man
searched the house Convinced
that she had not kept her APP
pointment with him he grew
worried and drove home.
Foster stated that he arrived
at 2 p. m. and went directly 10
the pump; he didn't GO near the
house, he Swore, until KnaeSche
cried eat fer help He heard
no gunfre.
The young husbands state
ment was investigated and his
movements checked.
Such was the status OF the
case when Doctor Rea called
Byrnes' office two days after the
crime. and asked TO have a woro
with the detective.
When he found the offer
seated at his desk the physician
walked around and whispered a
few words in his car: then he
quickly departed. Sheriff Byrnes