University of South Carolina Libraries
L \VU i , > i)1 GREEN FANCY By GEORGE BARR j McCUTCHEON /offer ofGRAUSTARK." THE 1 HOLLOW OF HER HAND,** "THE PRINCE OF GRAUSTARK." ETC CocniiiiilvDidiMiWiWCtaptv.Iao. (Continued From Tuesday) "All right," he responded. The doctor had been working orer the prostrate form on the tables. As Barnes entered the room, he looked up ''oflloisid *hnt tho mnn won lipad. "This is Mr. Barnes," said Putnam / Jones, Indicating the tall traveler with m short jerk of his thumb. "I am from the sheriff's office," said the man who stood beside the doctor. The rest of the crowd evidently had been ordered to stand back from the tables. "Did you ever see this man be1 *orer "Not until he was carried In here v an hour ago." ' "What's your business up here, Mr. Barnes?" "I have no business up here. I Just happened to stroll In this evening." "Well," said the sheriff darkly, "I guess I'll have to ask yen to stick aruuiiu ucre tut wc uc<u uiio uwuicoo ! up. We don't know you an? Well, ' we can't take any chances. Ton an* derstand, I reckon." "I certainly fail to understand, Mr. Sheriff. I know nothing whatever of this affair and I intend to continue on my way tomorrow morning." "Well, I guess not You got to stay here till we are. satisfied that you doa't know anything about this business.' That's alL" : "Am I to consider myaelf under arrest sir?" "I wouldn't go so far as to say that Ton. just stick around here, that's all t got to say. if you're all right well oon find it out What's more, if you are all right you'll be wlllln' to stay. Do you get mef* "I certainly do. And I can now1 assure .you, Mr. Sheriff, that Td like ? nothing better than to stick around here,- as you put It Td like to help * clear this matter up. In the meantime, yoo may readily find out who I am and why I am here by telegraphing to the mayor of New York city. This document, which experience has Jtaught me to carry for just such an emergency .as this, may have some i weight with you." He opened his bill folder and drew forth a neatly creased sheet of paper. "Read It, please, and note the date, the signature, the official seal of the New Torte, police dev partment, and also the rather Interesting sliver nrlnt Basted in the lower left hand corner. I think you will agree that It Is a good likeness of me. Each *year I take the precaution of having myself certified by the police department at home before venturing Into'unknown and perhaps unfriendly communities." "Yes," said the sheriff dubiously; "but how do I know it ain't a forgery?" *^pu don't know, of course. But in case it'shouldn't be a forgery and I >. ? ' am subjected to the indignity of arrest or even detention^ you would have a nasty time defending yourself in a civil suit for damages. I shall remain here, as you suggest, but only for the , . purpose of aiding you in getting to the bottom oft this affair." 1 Standing on Jim Conley's front sorch a little after sunrise. Barries made the following declaration: "Everything goes to show that these men were nil here for one of two reasons. They were either trying to prevent or to enact a crime. t The latter Is 1 my belief. They were afriald of me. Why? Because they believed I was trailing them and likely to spoil their gstae* Gentlemen, those fellows were here for the purpose of robbing the place yon call Green Fancy." "What's that?" came a rich, mellow voice from thp> ontRklrtR of thp rmwrt ,A man pushed his way through and confronted Barnes. He was a tall, good-looking fellow of thirty-five, and It was apparent that he had dressed In haste. "My name Is O'Dowd, and I am a guest of Mr. Curtis at Green Fancy. "Why do you think they meant to rob . . ; his place?" "Well," begfen Barnes dryly, "it would seem th.it his place is the only one in the neighborhood that would; * bear robbing. My name is Barnes. Of course, Mr. O'Dowd,, it Is mere sp.TU-1 lation on my part." "But who shot the man?" demanded j the Irishman. "He certainly wasn't | winged by anyone from our place. I Why, Lord love you. si/r, there Isn't a ? soul at Green Fancy who could shoot a thief if he saw one. This is Mr. De sotq, aiso a guest at lireen Fancy, lie1 > will," I think, bear me out in upsetting! ; : ' your theory." A second man approached, shaking his head vigorously. He was a thin, pale man with a singularly scholastic face. Quite an unprepossessing, unsanguinary person, thought Barnes. "Mr. Curtis' chauffeur, I think it was, said the killing occurred Just abovo this house," said he, visibly excited. "Green Fancy Is at least a mile from here, isn't It? You dou't shout burglars a mile from the place they, are r.lfti.iiing to rob. do you?" "I'll admit It's a bit out of reason,"' e&id Barnes. "The second man could l " | ->nly have been shot by some one who | I A-as lying in wait for him." " Bedad," said O'Drtwd, "it beats the (levll. There's something big in this Wjgggjj "Bedad," Said CDowd, "It Beat* the Devil." thing, Mr. Barnes?something a long shot bigger than any of ns suspects." Totfll find that It resolves Itself into a problem for Washington to solve,'' said De Soto darkly. "Nothing local about It, take my word for It These men were up to some Interna* tlonal devilment There'll be a stir In Washington over this, sure as anything.0 "What time was It that yon heard tie shots np at Green Fancy?' ventured Barnes. " "Lord love you/* cried ODdwd, "we dkln't hear a sound. Mr. Curtis, who kts Insomnia the worst way, poor devil, heard them and sent some one out to see what kll the racket was about TJie man, It seems, made such a devil of a racket ghen .he came home with the news that the whole house was up in pajamas and peignoirs.* "I think I have a slight acquaintance i with the chauffeur." said Barnes. "He gave me the most thrilling motor ride Fre ever experienced. Gad, HI never forget It" V The two men looked at him, plainly perplexed. "When was all this?" Inquired t>e Soto. "Early last evening. He picked up your latest guest at the corners, and she Insisted In his driving me to the tavern before the storm broke. I*ve been terribly anxious about her. She must have been caught out In all that frightful?" "Whafs this you are saying, Mr. Barnes?" cut In De Soto, frowning. "No gnest arrived ai Green Fancy last evening, nor was one expected." Barnes stared. "Do you meftn to I say that she didn't get there, after all?' "She? A woman, was it?" demanded O'Dowd. "Bedad, if she said she was coming to Green Fancy, she was spoofing youi Are you sur? It was old Peter who cave vou that jolly' ride?" "No, I am not sure,": Bald Barnes uneasily. "She was afoot, having walked from the station below. I met her at the corners and she. asked me If I knew how far it was to Green Fancy, or something like tha{. Said she was going there. Then along came the automobile, rattling down this very road?an ancient Panhard driven by' an old codger. She- seemed to think -it was all right to hop in and trnst herself to him, although she'd never seen him before.'! ."The antique Panhard fits In all right," said O'Dowd, "but I'm hanged if the woman fits at alL No such person arrived at Green Fancy last night""Did you get a square look at the driver's face?" demanded De Soto. | It was almost too dark to see, but he was old, hatchet-faced, and spoke with an accent" "Then it couldn't have been Peter," said De Soto positively. "He's old, right enough, but he Is as big as the side of a house, with a face like a full tnoon, and he is Yankee to his toes. By gad, Barnes, the plot thickens! A woman has been added to the mystery. Now, who the devil Is she and what has become of her?" CHAPTER VI. Charity Begins Far From Home, and a Stroll in the Wildwood Follows, j Mr. Rushcroft was furious when he arose at etfeven o'clock on the morning after the double murder, having slept! like a top through all of the commo- , tlon. He boomed all over the place, I vocal castlgations falling right and left on the guilty and the innocent without distinction. "I don't see how you managed to sleep through It," Barnes broke in. 1 "You must have an unusually clear .conscience, Mr. Rushcroft." "I haven't any conscience, at all, sir," roared the star. "I had an unusually full stomach, that's what was the mat- 1 .ter with me. I take oath now, sir, r never to eat again as long as I live, j A man who cannot govern his beastly j appetite ought to defy It, if nothing |v else." 11 "I gather from that remark that you1 ^ omitted breakfast this morning." 1 s "Breakfast, sir? In God's name, I "" Implore you not to refer to anything * so dlr.fnratlne as stewed prunes and e bacon at a time like this. My mind *-* ...... "How about luncheon? Will you i Join me at twelve-thirty?" 1 "Thnt's quite another matter," said j Mr. Rushcroft readily. "Luncheon Is an esthetic tribute .to the physical in- 1 telligence of man, if you know what I < mean. I Rhall be delighted to join you. , "Twelve-thirty, did you say?" "It would give me great pleasure if your daughter would also grace the festal board. I think it is too bad that 1 Bhe has to go about in the gown she wears, Mr. Rushcroft," said Barnes. ?/ ? ? ?- j-? ?i aijj x> it.i T Sne S mucn 100 sineuuiu ior mm, j. have a proposition Ivd like to make to you later on. I cannot make It, how- 1 ever, without consulting Miss 'JThack- i era j'8 feelings." "My dear fellow!" beamed Rushcroft, seizing the other's hand. "One frequently reads in books about It 1 comin^llke this, at first sight, but i damfcie, I never dreamed thar It ever really happened. Count oo me! She ought to leave the stage, the dear child. No more fitted to It than an Easter lily. Her place la Id tbe home, the?" "Good Lord, I am not thinking of? " And Barnes, - aghast, stopped before blurting out the words that leaped to his lips. "I mean to say this Is a proposition that may also affect your excellent companions, Bacon and Dilllngford, as well as yourself." At twelve-tnirry snnrp saruw raue down from his room freshly shaved and brushed, to find not only Mr. Rushcroft and Miss Thackeray awaiting him in the office, but the Messrs. Dilllngford and Bacon as well. "I took tha liberty, old fellow," said Rushcroft, addressing Barnes, "of ask- , ing my excellent co-workers to join as in our repast" "Delighted to have you with us, gentlemen," said Barnes affably. The sole topic of conversntion for the first half hour was the mysterious slaying of their fellow lodgers. Mr. Ruskcroft complained bitterly of the outrageous, high-handed action of the coroner and sheriff in Imposing upon him and his company the same restrictions that had been applied to Barnes. They were not to leave th* county until the authorities gave the i word. One 'would have thought, to hear the star's Indignant lamentations, that he and his party were In a position to depart when they pleased. It would have been difficult -to imagine that he was not actually rolling in money Instead of being 'absolutely penniless. . Barnes had been Immersed In hie own thoughts for some time. A slight frown, aa of reflection, darkened his eyes. Suddenly?perhaps impolitely? he interrupted Mr. Rush Croft's flow at eloquence. / . , "Have you any objection, Mr. Bushcroft, to a more or less personal question concerning your own private?er? misfortunes?" he asked, leaning forward. For a moment one could have beard a pin drop. Mr. Rusi(croft evidently beld his breath. There could be no mistake about that "It's rather delicate, bbt would you mind telling me just how, much you were stuck up for by the?er?was it * writ of attachment?" "It was," said the star. "A writ *1 inquisition, you might as well substitute. The act of a polluted, impecunious, parsimonious?what shall I say? Well, I will be as simple as possible?hotel keeper. Ninety-seven dollars, and forty cents. For that pitiful amount He subjected me to?" "Well, that isn't so bad," said Barnes, vastly relieved. He was covertly watching Miss Thackeray's halfaverted face as he ventured upon the proposition he had decided tp put before them. "I am prepared and willing to advance this amount, Mr. Rush* croft, and to take your personal note as security." Rushcroft leaned back In his chali and stuck his thumbs In the armholes of his vest. He displayed no undue elation. Instead he affected profound calculations. .His daughter shot a swift, searching look at the would-be Samaritan. There was a heightened color in her cheeks. "Moreover, I shall be happy to Increase the amount of the loan sufficiently to cover your return at once to K'ew York, If yon so desire?by train." Barnes smiled as He added the last two words. "Extremely kind of you, my dear Barnes," said the actor, running his fingers through his hair. 'Tour faith in me is most gratifying. I?I really don't know what to say to you, sir." "May I inquire Just how you expect to profit by this transaction, Mr. Barnes?" Miss Thackeray asked steadily. He started, catching her meaning. "My dear Miss Thackeray," he ex-j claimed, "this transaction Is solely between your father and me. I shall have no other claim to press." "I wish I could believe that," ;?he. said. "You may believe It," he assured; her. i. To be Continued iVINTHROP TRAINING SCHOOL TO CLOSE ? ! Rock Hill, May 27?The Winthrop' ["raining School will close one of its nost successful session Thursday vening when graduating exercises vill be held in the auditorium of Vinthrop College. The literary ad- j Iress will be delivered by Dr. Reed| Smith of the University of South Carolina. Diplomas will be present-j id to the graduates by W. D. Ma-, jinnis, superintendent. Other num- ] bers on the program include the sa- 1 lutatory by Miss Margaret Miller and the valedictory by William J. Cherry, ] Jr. Both of these students are hon- ] ar graduates. Special,music will be i furnished by the training school g!ee i club and by students of the high 1 3C00l. 1 The sermon was preached by the i Rev. Alexander Martin, D. D., at the ] Oakland ^Presbyterian Church Sun- : day morning.' Pinal examinations ( are scheduled for Tuesday and Wed- 3 nesday and class day exercises will take pla<ie in the training school au- < dfcoriutn Thursday morn:ng. There i are 19 girls and two boys completing ( the 11th grade at the training school, ' one of the largest classes this school has graduated. i Many improvements and additions 1 to the regular courses of study are ' being arranged for the 1919-20 ses- ' sion. A new domestic science depart- 1 ment has recently been furnished i and at present a large swimming pool is being constructed. This pool urill ho ren/lv fnr line h^ the end of the summer. Handsome new equipment has been ordered lor the auditorium1 and will be installed during the summer. The prospects for the coming year are unusually bright. The training school low has enrolled many pupils from various sections of the State and this number will undoubtedly be increased when thd fall session opens. , / ! BITTERNESS SHOWN IN DEBATE ON LEAGUE Washington,\hly 26.?The league of nations Was debated in the Senate again today with an increasing show of bitterness. Senator Reed, Democrat, of- Mis-i souri, attacked the proposal in suclr vigorous terms that he aroused re-} pea ted objections'from Senators supporting it and developed a running debate colored by dramatic accusa-i ~ A x\ ' * } i * tjftis and heated reports. The Missou-ij ri Senator declared the! league would plaqe the destinies of this white race,, in the hands of ignorant and super/ stitious'nations of black and yellow population, and charged that many . *. I *ato*' We /.yvoir United St ?? .v we sell tnem. Democrats \vere suporting it for par;isan reasons. ? i In fr(equent interruptions of the Missouri Senator's speech, Senator Hitchcock of Nebraska ranking Demicrat of the foreign relations coiflnittee, insisted that the premises "for ;hese charges were false and that ;he inferences drawn were unfair and dangerous. He drew in turn a reply from Senator Knox, of Pennsylvania, who sugested that supporters of the 'league covenant should read it before they discussed it. So heated did- the exchanges besome at one point that the chair rappe'd for order and Senator Heed, declared that Senator Hitchcock had "lost his temper." The measure which brought thja issue before the Senate was the resolution of Senator Johnson, Republican, of California, requesting from the State Department'the full /text of the peace treaty. There was no attempt to reach a vote on the Resolution, on which debate began last Friday, and the measure went over again as unfinished business to come up when the Senate reconvenes Wednesday. ' STORM AT HODGES DOES MUCH DAMAGE Greenwood, May 26.?Official estimate of demonstration agent and county Officials place damage from a severe hail storm last evening in this Pure fee . \ . J /Jk '' ' Manufactured Under SOFT DRINKS Sofl CIGARETTES TOBACCOS PAT CANDIES . FRUITS W?? CIGARS ' ' the moi licit you Abbeville C& i ' ~ ?? tana ever} ' States Ti tires ? the *; , be built, is / growing 1 IH "We car United St and meet vidual ne< ^ United are C ates Tires are good E. F. ARIS j H - MHmH 81 . /nSBBKEA9kH ' I * n The Greenwood Piano Man. fl The largest dealer inmusleai instro^H . ments in Western South Carolina. BellJD pianos, self-player pianos, organs an^H sewing machines. Reference: TheH Bank of Greenwood,' the oldest an^H strongest Bank in Greenwood ConntyJ county at $$0,000. A strip nine milefl long and five miles wide aroun? Hodges was made, bare of all growinjfl crops by the storm. AUcottoii wdl have to be planed over. Fruit treeiH bad bark beaten by force of hailH A negro church ill which a ainginiB convention was being held was blown down and though several were izH j ured, none was killed. H / * m I Sanitary Conditions Bj t Drinks and I lfections I r? prepared to mtv? you is 'J'i* t courteous wwwr and so r patronage. Dfl idy Kitchen | >d Tire Yearl < -.HB I 1 ?& ' ve doubtless aoticedj H| ng preponderance ox 91 >ne is asking lor tires flj a value and proved H at is precisely what H tates Tires represent BH ids of motorists here I \n* Iv>rlr of United res ? to build good i?best tires that can $ appealing to rapidly lumbers, 1 provide you with ates Tires to meet? ' exactly.your indi? H ?ood Tires I tires. That's whjHj (H