Rimrock Jones

Chapter XX · Chapter 20

Chapter 20 of Rimrock Jones is here in full — 120 sentences across 24 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Dane Coolidge • Curated US English Learning Edition

English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5

A LETTER FROM THE SECRETARY As Mrs. Hardesty guessed, Rimrock was hurrying away in order to follow Mary Fortune; and as Rimrock guessed, she had invited him in to keep him from doing just that.

She failed, for once, and it hurt her pride; but Rimrock failed as well.

After a swift spin through the streets he returned to his hotel and called up his detective in a rage.

"Say, what kind of an agency are you running, anyhow?" he demanded when he got his man.

"Ain't you been working ten months to find Mary Fortune?

Narrator

Speed 0.75x

AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English

LEARNER DICTIONARY

Archivist

/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/

Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Chapter XX Reading 1/24

Rimrock Jones

Chapter XX · Chapter 20

Chapter 20 of Rimrock Jones is here in full — 120 sentences across 24 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/24 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1

A LETTER FROM THE SECRETARY As Mrs. Hardesty guessed, Rimrock was hurrying away in order to follow Mary Fortune; and as Rimrock guessed, she had invited him in to keep him from doing just that.

Line 2

She failed, for once, and it hurt her pride; but Rimrock failed as well.

Line 3

After a swift spin through the streets he returned to his hotel and called up his detective in a rage.

/ˈæftər ə swɪft spɪn θruː ðə striːts hiː rɪˈtɜːrnd tuː hɪz hoʊˈtel ənd kɔːld ʌp hɪz dɪˈtektɪv ɪn ə reɪdʒ/

Line 4

"Say, what kind of an agency are you running, anyhow?" he demanded when he got his man.

/seɪ wʌt kaɪnd ʌv æn ˈeɪdʒənsi ɑːr juː ˈrʌnɪŋ ˈenihaʊ hiː dɪˈmændəd wen hiː ɡɑːt hɪz mæn/

Line 5

"Ain't you been working ten months to find Mary Fortune?

Learner Dictionary

These definitions explain words found in the current reading and keep every example grounded in its original sentence.

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, and audio.

agency noun US /ˈeɪdʒənsi/

an administrative unit of government

From this reading “"Say, what kind of an agency are you running, anyhow?" he demanded when he got his man.”

anyhow adverb US /ˈenihaʊ/

used to indicate that a statement explains or supports a previous statement

From this reading “"Say, what kind of an agency are you running, anyhow?" he demanded when he got his man.”

detective noun US /dɪˈtektɪv/

a police officer who investigates crimes

From this reading “After a swift spin through the streets he returned to his hotel and called up his detective in a rage.”

guessed verb US /ɡest/

past form of “guess” — expect, believe, or suppose

From this reading “A LETTER FROM THE SECRETARY As Mrs. Hardesty guessed, Rimrock was hurrying away in order to follow Mary Fortune; and as Rimrock guessed, she had invited him in to keep him from doing just that.”

hurrying adjective US /ˈhɜːriɪŋ/

moving with great haste

invited verb US /ˌɪnˈvaɪtəd/

past form of “invite” — increase the likelihood of

secretary noun US /ˈsekrəteri/

a person who is head of an administrative department of government

spin verb US /spɪn/

revolve quickly and repeatedly around one's own axis

From this reading “After a swift spin through the streets he returned to his hotel and called up his detective in a rage.”

All words in this reading · 70

Every word in these five lines is listed here, and every one of them can be played on its own.

Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

AdeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading A LETTER FROM THE SECRETARY As Mrs. Hardesty guessed, Rimrock was hurrying away in order to follow Mary Fortune; and as Rimrock guessed, she had invited him in to keep him from doing just that.

AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading After a swift spin through the streets he returned to his hotel and called up his detective in a rage.

agencynounUS /ˈeɪdʒənsi/

an administrative unit of government

From this reading "Say, what kind of an agency are you running, anyhow?" he demanded when he got his man.

Ain't

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading "Ain't you been working ten months to find Mary Fortune?

andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading "Say, what kind of an agency are you running, anyhow?" he demanded when he got his man.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

anyhowadverbUS /ˈenihaʊ/

used to indicate that a statement explains or supports a previous statement

From this reading "Say, what kind of an agency are you running, anyhow?" he demanded when he got his man.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading "Say, what kind of an agency are you running, anyhow?" he demanded when he got his man.

AsconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

awayadverbUS /əˈweɪ/

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading "Ain't you been working ten months to find Mary Fortune?

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading She failed, for once, and it hurt her pride; but Rimrock failed as well.

calledverbUS /kɔːld/

past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading After a swift spin through the streets he returned to his hotel and called up his detective in a rage.

demandedverbUS /dɪˈmændəd/

past form of “demand” — request urgently and forcefully

From this reading "Say, what kind of an agency are you running, anyhow?" he demanded when he got his man.

detectivenounUS /dɪˈtektɪv/

a police officer who investigates crimes

From this reading After a swift spin through the streets he returned to his hotel and called up his detective in a rage.

doingverbUS /ˈduːɪŋ/

-ing form of “do” — engage in

failedverbUS /feɪld/

past form of “fail” — fail to do something; leave something undone

From this reading She failed, for once, and it hurt her pride; but Rimrock failed as well.

findverbUS /faɪnd/

come upon, as if by accident; meet with

From this reading "Ain't you been working ten months to find Mary Fortune?

followverbUS /ˈfɑːloʊ/

to travel behind, go after, come after

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading She failed, for once, and it hurt her pride; but Rimrock failed as well.

FortunenounUS /ˈfɔːrtʃən/

an unknown and unpredictable phenomenon that causes an event to result one way rather than another

FROMprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

gotverbUS /ɡɑːt/

inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading "Say, what kind of an agency are you running, anyhow?" he demanded when he got his man.

guessedverbUS /ɡest/

past form of “guess” — expect, believe, or suppose

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

Hardesty

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

hepronounUS /hiː/

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading After a swift spin through the streets he returned to his hotel and called up his detective in a rage.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading She failed, for once, and it hurt her pride; but Rimrock failed as well.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading After a swift spin through the streets he returned to his hotel and called up his detective in a rage.

hotelnounUS /hoʊˈtel/

a building where travelers can pay for lodging and meals and other services

From this reading After a swift spin through the streets he returned to his hotel and called up his detective in a rage.

hurryingadjectiveUS /ˈhɜːriɪŋ/

moving with great haste

hurtverbUS /hɜːrt/

be the source of pain

From this reading She failed, for once, and it hurt her pride; but Rimrock failed as well.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

invitedverbUS /ˌɪnˈvaɪtəd/

past form of “invite” — increase the likelihood of

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading She failed, for once, and it hurt her pride; but Rimrock failed as well.

justadverbUS /dʒʌst/

and nothing more

keepverbUS /kiːp/

cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”

kindadjectiveUS /kaɪnd/

having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior

From this reading "Say, what kind of an agency are you running, anyhow?" he demanded when he got his man.

LETTERnounUS /ˈletər/

a written message addressed to a person or organization

mannounUS /mæn/

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading "Say, what kind of an agency are you running, anyhow?" he demanded when he got his man.

MarynounUS /ˈmeri/

the mother of Jesus; Christians refer to her as the Virgin Mary; she is especially honored by Roman Catholics

monthsnounUS /mʌnθs/

plural of “month” — one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year

From this reading "Ain't you been working ten months to find Mary Fortune?

MrsnounUS /ˈmɪsɪz/

a form of address for a married woman

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading "Say, what kind of an agency are you running, anyhow?" he demanded when he got his man.

onceadverbUS /wʌns/

on one occasion

From this reading She failed, for once, and it hurt her pride; but Rimrock failed as well.

ordernounUS /ˈɔːrdər/

(often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed

pridenounUS /praɪd/

a feeling of self-respect and personal worth

From this reading She failed, for once, and it hurt her pride; but Rimrock failed as well.

ragenounUS /reɪdʒ/

a feeling of intense anger

From this reading After a swift spin through the streets he returned to his hotel and called up his detective in a rage.

returnedverbUS /rɪˈtɜːrnd/

past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before

From this reading After a swift spin through the streets he returned to his hotel and called up his detective in a rage.

Rimrock

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

runningadjectiveUS /ˈrʌnɪŋ/

(of fluids) moving or issuing in a stream

From this reading "Say, what kind of an agency are you running, anyhow?" he demanded when he got his man.

SayverbUS /seɪ/

express in words

From this reading "Say, what kind of an agency are you running, anyhow?" he demanded when he got his man.

SECRETARYnounUS /ˈsekrəteri/

a person who is head of an administrative department of government

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

spinverbUS /spɪn/

revolve quickly and repeatedly around one's own axis

From this reading After a swift spin through the streets he returned to his hotel and called up his detective in a rage.

streetsnounUS /striːts/

plural of “street” — a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings

From this reading After a swift spin through the streets he returned to his hotel and called up his detective in a rage.

swiftadjectiveUS /swɪft/

moving very fast

From this reading After a swift spin through the streets he returned to his hotel and called up his detective in a rage.

tennounUS /ten/

the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system

From this reading "Ain't you been working ten months to find Mary Fortune?

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

throughprepositionUS /θruː/

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading After a swift spin through the streets he returned to his hotel and called up his detective in a rage.

toparticleUS /tuː/

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

upadjectiveUS /ʌp/

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading After a swift spin through the streets he returned to his hotel and called up his detective in a rage.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

welladverbUS /wel/

(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)

From this reading She failed, for once, and it hurt her pride; but Rimrock failed as well.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading "Say, what kind of an agency are you running, anyhow?" he demanded when he got his man.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading "Say, what kind of an agency are you running, anyhow?" he demanded when he got his man.

workingadjectiveUS /ˈwɜːrkɪŋ/

actively engaged in paid work

From this reading "Ain't you been working ten months to find Mary Fortune?

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "Say, what kind of an agency are you running, anyhow?" he demanded when he got his man.

Chapter 20 of Rimrock Jones by Dane Coolidge holds 120 sentences, grouped into 24 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the source edition, unabridged, and the chapter records which sentences cover which part of the work so that nothing is dropped. Every word can be tapped for its pronunciation and dictionary entry.

What does chapter 20 of Rimrock Jones contain?

Chapter 20 holds 120 sentences of Rimrock Jones, unabridged, divided into 24 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 20 of Rimrock Jones by Dane Coolidge exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 120 sentences, grouped into 24 sections of at most 5 sentences so that a reader can take the chapter in steady, finishable pieces. The chapter also stores a coverage record mapping every one of its sentences to a part of the work, which is how the edition demonstrates that no line was dropped.

How do I study chapter 20 of Rimrock Jones?

Work through the 24 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 24 sections in this chapter is short enough to read once, hear once, and then re-read with the vocabulary in view. Tapping a word plays it alone and opens its dictionary entry with IPA, part of speech and meaning, so the reader is never forced to guess a pronunciation from spelling. Working section by section keeps a long chapter from becoming an undifferentiated wall of text, which is the usual reason a reader abandons a work of this period.

Can chapter 20 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 20 can be played aloud in United States English.

Audio covers the whole chapter: any sentence can be played, and any single word within it can be played on its own. The voice uses United States English. For a work of this period that matters, because spelling is an unreliable guide to pronunciation for vocabulary that has fallen out of daily use, and a learner who guesses wrong tends to keep the error. Hearing the word in its own sentence, and then alone, settles it.

Questions about reading Rimrock Jones

Common questions about reading Rimrock Jones by Dane Coolidge on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Rimrock Jones?

Yes. All 4497 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #20076 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Rimrock Jones is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #20076, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Rimrock Jones take to read?

About 374 minutes of reading across 900 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Rimrock Jones section by section

How to work through Rimrock Jones section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

Open a chapter

Choose one of the 29 chapters of Rimrock Jones to begin.
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Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.
Listen and tap

Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.

Vocabulary met early in Rimrock Jones

Words and structures a reader meets early in Rimrock Jones, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Peace: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Rimrock Jones; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Midday: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Rimrock Jones; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Gunsight: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Rimrock Jones; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Broken: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Rimrock Jones; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.

Chapter XX · Chapter 20

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How do I study chapter 20 of Rimrock Jones?

Can chapter 20 be read aloud to me?

Questions about reading Rimrock Jones

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Open a chapter

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