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ISSUED TWIOE-A-WEEK?WEDNESDAY AKTD FRIDAY. lewis m. grist, proprietor. J- gl ar'amiti,) Jhrcsgagcr: ^or the (promotion of the political, Social, Agricultural and Commercial Interests of the South. three ces4 VOLUME 41. YORKVILLE^S. C., WEDNESDAY, MAY 15, 1805. NUMBER 37. BY LUCIE [Copyrighted 1SH, by American Press Associnti CHAPTER XIV. But which window would be used by the cowans? That must be conjecture; but, since the light had shone plainly from the room I mentioned, and since its approachability struck me, it seemed likely that it would be' favorably noticed by the two figures prowling among the trees. If such should prove the fact, no position could be better than mine. So 1 decided to await deve omenta A soft rustling reached me. The stillness was profound, and my acute hearing told me it came from the other side of - toe nouse. "They are forking at the front; they have found a better mode of entrance there." But while the thought was framing itself the rustling ceased. I waited for its renewal, but heard it not They had stopped working or possibly had effect__ ed an entrance. In that event a light would soon show. It became evident this time that a light was burning in the upper room, from which my view had been shut off It was dim, however, and only the hutline of the window showed a little more dearly. The lamp on the other side of the curtains was at a low point. "They have effected an entrance and are moving around in that apartment. " ? The light became a little stronger The outlines of the sash were more marked, but the illumination remained indistinot From between me and the house came the faiintest possible noise, as if a serpent was gliding over the withered in-ass. The resemblance was deeDened bv ' . - several almost inaudible hisses. They were not serpents, however, bnt the two men had stolen to the rear of the building and were standing between it and me. If they bad contemplated entering the front, they had changed their minda 1 saw him stoop to raise the sash. Not only that, but they meant to use the window upon which I had fixed my attention. The low scraping sound which was next heard was made by one of them olimbing the tree which grew so close to the stone wall that some of its branches must have touched it The Asiatic intended to ascend to the window and enter the bouse through it, even though the light showed that som6 one was on the other side of the curtain. From my position behind the oak 1 saw the figure of the man rising slowly to sight as he climbed the trunk until his head and shoulders were above the window ledge. Then he braced himself among the limbs and stood still. It was easy for him to step across the intervening 6pace, but he was waiting for his companion to join him. The second bead and shoulders rose on the horizon of my sight, and after some shifting about the second secured a position beside the other. Then, steadying himself by grasping a projecting limb above him, he placed his foot on the window lodge. Hi9 whole figure wa9 now stamped with ink against the dimly lit window shade, his head reaching to the top, and bi9 arms, body and legs clearly showing as if painted against the yellow background. His companion waited for him to open the way They intended to enter the apartment Murder was in the air. I saw him stoop to grasp and raise the sasb. idis pose was a tair one, ana sighting as well as 1 could in the gloom I pulled trigger. A smothered exolaraation, a wild clutching for support, and the man slumped to the ground, where he lay as if killed. His astounded comrade was paralyzed for the moment and then let go and dropped beside him. I maintained my position, with the smoking revolver ready for more service "That evens up the little affair in the lane," 1 muttered, "and saves the life for tho time of the man whose life may not be worth saving. " But the fellow was not killed. There were whispered words botween the two, and then, from the sounds that reached me, for I oonld not make them out in .ho rieenpr crlnnm I IrnfiW t,hnv WflrA moving slowly aronnd the end of the honse toward the front. What could be their thoughts? Did they believe the shot came from the man whom thoy attacked in the lane, or did they think that tne suspicious Howard was on guard and winged one of them in the nick of time? The explosion of the pistol must have reached those in the house, even if all were asleep. But no one oame to the window to investigata The dim light i fiiiif ist ST. DEANE. ion.] was undisturbed, aud so far as appearances went a tomb was uct more devoid of life A curious impulse came to me. It was to sound the knocker on the door, rouse the occupants and tell them what had occurred. 1 could well claim that 1 had prevented the commission of a crime and probably 6aved the life of one or more persona That ?uch was the fact would be so evident that Howard and his wife, as well as the old couple with whom they lodged, wouia De nuea who thankfulness therefor But bow explain my presence at the critical moment? They would naturally want to know what brought me there at that unseemly hour If I should say that I was au officer of the law who had regarded the interlopers with suspicion, it. would hardly satisfy them. More likely they would believe 1 was one of the burglars who had quarreled with the others and was as much to be dreaded as they A complaint to the autbori ties would put me iu an unpleasant situation, and though 1 coukl soon establish my identity all proceedings, so far as concerned the couple in whom 1 was interested, would be brought to naught. it is rarely safe for a detective to act upon impulse.' He must weigh each step carefully and labor to the end iu view with the careful calculation of a professor solving an intricate problem in mathematics. VVUIllUg UL1U1 IDW UUUbJJliatAJlO U9U time to get well dear of the premises, 1 moved stealthily around the end of the house to the front and was making my way toward the lane when a tall figure loomed up in the darkness, and 1 came face to face with a man who held a shotgun in his band. "Who are you?" he demanded in a threatening voice, bringing his formidable weapon partly to a level. "A friend." I made haste to reply "1 moan no harm. " 1 knew instinctively that the man be. fore me was Isaiah Bridges, the owner of tho house, and that he was making an investigation of his own, with loaded weapon in band. "Was it you who fired that gun a little while ago?" "Yes; 1 saw a burglar trying to climb into one of your windows and dropped him." This ought to have disarmed his suspicion, but it did cot "And how come you to be sneaking round here?" It was a natural question and the one I was expecting. "I was passing along the highway, and they entered your lane. I did not like their looks and followed. When I saw them trying to euter the window, I fired." "Did you kill the tarnal scamp?" "No, but hurt him so badly that be was glad to leave with the help of his companion. They will trouble you no more." "But why didn't you let me know afore they tried their tricks?" "They are strangers to me. * 1 could not know they intended any wrong until 1 saw them attempt it Then it was too late to warn you. " "Why didn't you come round to the house afterward and tell mo?" "Youwere asleep, or 1 supposed so." "So we war, but that racket woke ua "I have just come from the rear, where I discharged my pistol and hadn't time to wake yon tip. " "That \von't do," 6aid the old man, his suspicion active again. "You warn't going toward the front door, but trying to 6neak off down the lane. Confound you, I believe you arc one of 'em! I've a good mind to fill you full of buckshot " "I wouldn't advise you to try that for there are several cartridges left in my revolver, and before you could bring I your gun to a level I would use them all. I told you I was a friend, but you can consider me an enemy if you wish. " I made a suggestive motion with my weapon, which he understood. He ached to let me have the contents of his gun, but was afraid. "Waal, the best thing you can do is to clear out from hero as quick as you j can travel. There have been several murders in this part of tlio country, and the law hain't found out who done 'em, but if you should catch it while prowling round where you've got no business to be I won't hesitate to toll the folks that I done it. " "Now, Mr Bridges," 1 said conciliatingly, "what is the use of our"? "Who told you my name?" he broke in. "Every one in the neighborhood knows yon as a goorl citizen ana a gentleman like your brother Nathan. Yon do me great injustice to suspect inc of any wrong intention. I would no more harm you than I would my own father. " "That talk is very nice, but I don't know you. You haven't told me your name nor whero you come from. " "Don't you know William Browning of Railway?" "The president.of our bank?" "Of course. He knows you well, and I'm his son." "That won't work. I don't know any Mr. Browning, and there's nobody of that name that has anything to do with our bank. Now I know you're an impostor. Cl'ar out!" The old fellow was too shrewd for ma I was outwitted, and with a little laugh I turned about and strode toward > the open lane. 1 baa not gone 20 pacos when what e did he do but bring bis shotgun to a t level and let fly at me.with both barrels f in quick succession! c CHAPTER XV. s Had the 6uu been shining the "State- t meut of Carl Wittner" would never d have been written. The gloom inter- s fered with tho old farmer's nim; but, as r it was, 1 felt tho wind made by the r heavy load of buckshot as it whizzed 0 past my ears. It was a closo call. t Angered, I wheeled about and leveled my revolver, but checked myself before fc pulling the trigger. Suppose I fired and fc killed him! It would have been murder without a excuse My life was no longer in any danger and bis act in firing at me was $ justifiable. He would not have been h punished had be carried out his threat t and "filled me with buckshot." Many E ; "Too late," he called. t might censure him for not having done- t so. 1 shoved my weapon back in place a and walked briskly down the avenue o ifindinc to the main hiehwav. e Bat there were others to think about. c The presumption was that the two East Indians, having preceded me, might be a waiting in ambnsh to adjust that little s affair in tbo rear of the farmhouse. v They could not fail to know that it ]< was I who had tumbled one of them c from his porch and nipped in the bud ii the scheme he had in mind. They must believe I was in league with the How- b ards, and that before they could succeed k with them I must be brushed from the a path. .What better opportunity than e that which now presented? But the wound of one of them must f have been a potent factor in preventing i: what 1 feared, i was that apprehensive c that I held my partly discharged revolv- c er in hand after entering the road and turning in the direction of the farm- a house where I made my temporary e home. ' What had become of them could not ? be guessed. They had probably gone in t the direction of the town and were not likely to be heard of again. o Reviewing my work of the evening, I as I walked homeward. 1 saw little in it to encourage me. 1 had not only q failed to cain an iota of additional t knowledge of Nana Sahib'B ruby, bnt j bad pat the suspected ones on gnard, and therefore increased the difficulty 1; that confronted me from the first i Probably up to this night Darius d Howard was confident that no one had followed him to this pleasant little t town, and that he was still safe with F his secret in the house where he had s made his home for an indefinite time. But the occurrences of tho uight must v undeceive him. A desperate attempt t had been made to break iu upon him. 4 His secret was no louger secure. He E would take instant measures to avert the jthreatened danger. The most effective step would be a ? change of quarters. He was not likely to spend another night in the old stone house What was doue, therefore, to checkmate him must be done quickly. * It is well known that the safest hiding place for a criminal whom the officers of the law want is in tho heart of the great city of New York. It was 1 hard to understand why this strange couple had left so secure a concealment ' and taken up their residence where their chances of detection wero increas- * ed tenfold. But, for that matter, everything thus far was hard to understand. Tho con ceded tact, as i saw it, wiucn conirouted me was what next would be done by them. They were under my eye now, and if I let them slip I would not be likely to get on their track again. 1 I was glad to find on reaching my home that all the folks had retired. 1 J let myself in with the night key with which I had been furnished and went to my room without being seen by any 1 one. This was fortunate, for my cloth- J ing had lost much of the neatness which marked it at first and was in need of at- 8 tentiou. . The farmers breakfast early, and J finding that Mr. Bridges intended to drive into town I rode with him, reaching tho station in time to catcli the early , trains had I wished, but my purpose was not to leave unless tho Howards did a so. I waited most of tho forenoon, but saw nothing of them. Guarded inquiries gave me no information of tho two men of the night before. Had I chosen I might have killed s that one at the window, but was reliev- e ed to know that such was not the case. h He must have been hit pietty hard, but e not sufficiently so to endanger his life. h If there had been any feeling of con- v ceit in my mind?and I protest there o was little, if any?it was* pretty well e removed by what followed by my loitering about the railway station. My in- ]] tention was. if either Howard or his g wife boarded any train, to do the t same and shadow them wherever they e went, but I made an inexcusably stupid s failure to carry out my purpose. I scanned every train that went toward New York and of course, kept an c ye on tnose going in the opposite direcion. This was somowliat perfunctory, or 1 did not suspoct that either of the ouplo would proceed southward. A Philadelphia train drew up at the tation, and from my coign of advauage I watched the passengers as they isembarked and others got on. The top was brief, and just as it began [loving again Darius Howard made a ush from somowhero and swung upon ne of the platforms, being helped by he waiting brakeman. I made a dash to do the same thing, mt had farther to go, and the brakeman ilooked my way."Too late, " he called. "There'll be nother along in half an hour. " There was no help for it. If Howard aw me, and in all probability he did, le must have read my purpose, and hereforo would bo on his guard against oe unless I effected a complete change n my appearauce. Mr. Bridges has returned Home aione, ud for the time I was perplexed as to that to do. It was useless to try to folow the man who bad gone southward, or there was no saying what his. destilation was. He might have started on a ouruoy of 20 or 1,000 miles. I have referred to a game of bluff rhich 1 had in mind. Hitherto I had leen working at long range, as may be aid. Now I decided upon a bold step, rhich insured success or failure. From the railway station I walked to ay dwelling place, reaching thero just n time for diuner. I spent a couple of lours in my room, and then, telling my riends that I might not return until ate, once more set out for the old stone inilding where lived Isaiah Bridges, the irother of my host Of necessity I was ttired as on the night before, but my rnamental cane was left behind, and very chamber in my revolver had its barge. It was a cool, brisk autumn afternoon, ntl the sun was shining. Any effort at ecrecy would have been idle, and I calked with a confident step up the ong lane, which had been the scene of aore than one stirring occurrence withn the preceding 24 hours. Without hesitation I stepped upon the road porch and sounded out a ringing :nock with the old fashioned contrivnce which must have penetrated to very recess of the building. The summons was answered by Mrs. Iridges, a sedate old lady, who wonderugly surveyed me through her spectales and waited for the announcement of ay business. "Good afternoon, Mrs. Bridges. I am n officer of the law. but don't be alarm d," I added, noting her slight start. 'Something occurred here Inst night lurglars I believe tried to effect an enranee, and a pistol shot was fired." She stood as if hesitating what to do ir say. Assuming that I was welcome, stepped aside, removing my hat "I would like to make a few inuiries, and we can do it better inside ban on the porch, if you have no obection." She led the way into tho wide, plainy furnished parlor, her manner showng that she was doubtful as to the pruIcnco of the step. Evidently she had received instrucV*n-r KnarHnro anrl oron mU l\JHJ LAULU iiV/A UUUA V4VAU) MUU v < WU ~~~J iretended business did not fully reasure her. My original plan, as I have hinted, ras to pretend to be an assessor who ind called to examine the property, but he events of the preceding night gave ne another pretext I doubt whether ven that would have worked had her lusbaud been at home, so 1 took care to all when he was absent, looking after lis farm duties. "Couldn't you stop when Mr. Bridges s home?" she asked, sinking into a ocking chair and surveying me with listrust "When will ho bo in?" "I can call him. If I don't, he will lot be home until 6undown. " "That is hardly necessary. May I ask whether you saw any of the burglars?" "Mercy, no! I didn't dare look out of be winder. My husband shot at one of hem, who pretended ho was a friend." "Did be kill him?" "I'mafeard not, for we haven't fonnd lis body." "What a pity! He will not be likely o show himself around here again. " "No, indeed. The gun in tho kitchen b loaded, and we're ready for him. " "That's right. Don't let him catch on unawares. Did tbey attempt to ener by way of the door?" "No; they must have dumb one of he trees and tried to git into the back rinder. They had a quarrel among bemselvos, and one of 'em fired off a ;un or pistol, and then my husband be ired, too, and the man groaned and umpcd up in tho air. So he must have teen bit purty hard." "Undoubtedly. I will take a look at ho room and window, please. Von mow it is necessary that I should secure >11 tho information I can." "Mercy, I can'tallow you to do that!" TO HE CONTINUED XBXT FRTDAY WEDOMBBm fiST" A boy of 15 walked in an uptown treet the other day, smoking a cigartte. He seemed not a little proud of lis accomplishment, and strutted along, videntlv conscious of budding manlood. He was stopped by a little girl, rho could not have been over (3 years Id. She looked up at him and exclaim (1 earnestly, "Oli, don't smoke cigarttes. If you do, you won't go to leaven when you die. If you stop I'll ive you a penny." The boy wouldn't ake the cent, but he threw the cigartte away, and promised never to moke one again. 85T A gold coin depreciates 5 per ent. in value in 1G years use. 4 TILLMAN CHARGES BRIBERY. Slmonton Reverses Himself?Goff for the Republicans. Senator Tillman was delivering an ' educational address atAIicanopy, Fla., at the time the decisions of Judges Goff and Simonton were rendered. A correspondent of the Jacksonville Times-Union saw him next day and asked what he thought of the new turn of affairs. "I have not seen the papers," the senator replied, "and, while I anticipated the result, I have no direct knowledge in regard to the decisions." The correspondent handed the senator The Times-Union contuiniug the report. After he had read the report, ' me senator ?mu ; "In regard to the registration law, there is no general election in South Carolina this year, and no franchise will be exercised only in the election of delegates to the constitutional couvenveution, called by the last legislature after having been voted upon by the people at the last general electiou last November. There is evidently a conspiracy afoot, and this dirty Republican?Judge GofT? was brought from his home in West Virginia into another circuit to do the work which it is hoped will overthrow the rule of the people in our State. Simonton, in whose circuit South Carolina is, was, I think, a member of the legislature at the time the registration law was passed in 1882. It was good enough then because he and his clique governed the State. It has been in force for 13 years, and is only sought to be overthrown now because the people at three consecutive elections have been indicatiug a fixed purpose to permanently retire certain old-time leaders. I do not know what the United States supreme court will do, but I do know this: the constitutional convention will I UsOsJ Tf Ko nnmnncorl nf whitP I UC UC1U 11 >1 111 I'V VVUi^<Vwv\? va ? . men principally, who will take care of South Carolina and see that white supremacy is maintained within her borders." "What about the dispensary?" was asked. "Judge Simonton has once declared that.this law was constitutional," replied the senator. "He has practically reversed himself. From the sweeping nature of the injunction, I am almost ready to think that in going so far in trying to overthrow the law, the judge has been improperly influenced. The dispensary system is so popular in the State, and is being watched with such keen interest by the people outside with the almost absolute certainty of being adopted by other States, and the barkeepers and liquor manufacturers could well afford to raise 61,000,000 to buy a judge or two. Congress has declared by enactment that liquor upon arrival in a State shall be sub ject to the laws of that State to toe .same as that manufactured therein. The supreme court has time and time again affirmed the right of a State to control liquor in utiy way it saw proper. It behooves the lovers of temperance throughout tho United States to make their iutiueuce felt aud heard at this crisis, for experience has shown the dispeusary system to be the best political solution of the liquor problem. "These two judicial decisions, if sustained practically destroys the vestige of States' rights and Jefferson's prophesy that the Federal judiciary would be the means of overthrowing our liberties and destroying local self-government will have been fulfilled. Governor Evans's plan to resist tbe injunction is the quickest and best way to have the supreme court pass upon it." "What do think of the outcome?7' "Unless the supreme court shall also prove subservient to the liquor interests, and lend itself to the dirty work which these judges have in band, they will interpret the act of congress according to the English language, and the law will certainly continue its beneficent work in reduciug drunkenness 1 . TU- k.. ana liquor uriuiuug. iuc juug? ujr their decisions aud injunctions, and congressmen by their votes, are rapidly making this country a despotism in which the rights and interests of the masses are of as little moment as they are in Russia. Uuless the people bestir themselvas, the lawyers and judges will sell our liberties to the corporations and the money power. But I am glad to see them pressing their schemes, for it will only bring upon us the revolution that must come sooner or later." The Law Still Good.?Governor Evans this morning had a loug talk with me about the dispensary situation, and he says that it is all foolishness to think that the dispensary law will go under, even if the Inter-State clause is struck out of the law. It will uot allow the barkeepers to resume their business, and it will not permit "blind tigers" to be run by those who wish to inke the risk. As a matter of fact it is the intention of the State to push the fight against the "blind tigers" more vigorously than ever, and if possible to get a few penitentiary sentences, and they think that this will have a most decided effect. Governor Evans holds that under the law, as defined by Judge Sim on ton, there must be some one to decide whether the liquor is for personal use of the party to whom it is shipped, and the constables will judge that matter until there is some other construction. Going on Governor Evans said: "Section 22 of the dispensary law will be more rigidly enforced than ever." (This is the section which gives judges the right to imprison for violations of injuuetions on contempt proceedings.) "While this contempt business is going on we will see if the State circuit judges are uot entitled to as much re-, spect as the l*nited States circuit judges. The people are determinedly in favor of this law, and I will see that it has a fair trial and every power put in my hands will be used to give it. Any town whose mayor, aldermen or city police refuse to euforce the iliennnonff 1 o xtt uc it ic /llltv if\ UIOJPV UOU1 JJ ian f u.; I V i? VI wvj WW do, will be placed under the provisions of the metropolitan police law." Governor Evans went on to say that there was no use for the "blind tigers" to try and get. under cover at this time. Incidentally it might be mentioned that if the towns are put under metropolitan police it would save the dispensary system a great deal, in the matter of expenses, as it now costs about $75,000 to sustain the force, not to count the extras that are being paid for.?August Kobu, in The News and Courier of Saturday. AT THE CRUCIFIXION. Planets in the Smne Position This Spring as When Christ Died. If some astronomical calculations recently made may be believed, the plauets which gravitate around the sun were last month, about Easter time, in relatively the same posi non in uie ueavens as mey were iu the spring of 29. A. D., which is the year when Jesus Christ is generally supposed to have been crucified and to have risen from the dead. Not since that time has this coincidence occurred. Each of the heavenly bodies has its owu time for making a revolution around the sun, and these times differ widely. The earth, as everybody knows, goes around once every year. Mercury takes but a quarter of this lime, while Saturn is employed for nearly 30 years in making a circuit of the path laid out for him. Consequently, iu all these hundreds of years, they have never yet moved into the same positions which they occupied in the month of April, 29, A. D. Neither are they expected by astronomers to be iu exactly the same position as they were then, for the attraction of other planets aud of the sun has caused variations in their respective cycles during the 18 centuries. It is for this reason that the recurrence of a similar conditiou of the skies possess no scientific interest to the astronomer. But to the millions of Christian people all over the world it is an important coincidence that they should have seen during Holy Week of this year, the heavenly bodies almost as they were when Christ looked up to them nightly in the rapid succession of events which marked the fortnight preceding his crucifixion. That the last year which Christ spent upon earth was really the year 29, A. D., is a question which is not settled. It and each of the four years succeeding it have been named by Biblical scholars who have compared the chronology of events mentioned in the New Testament, with the events as given in Josephus and the best Roman historians. Christ is supposed to have been 33 years old when his life upon this earth was ended. His crucifixion occurs in the 33rd year of what is called the Christian Era. But the Christian Era was first invented by a learned monk called Diouysius Exiguus, and it is now admitted that its inventor made an error in his calculation of at least four years, and that the birth of Christ really occurred in the year wmcn is now eaiien 4, u. t. mis would make 29, A. D., the most probable date for his crucifixion, but the Encyclopedia Britauica and a number of German scholars favor 30 A. D., and this would make Eastertide of next year, and not this year, the date at which the similar position of the planets cau be recalled.?Baltimore Sun. Superstitions About Fire.? Where a fire burns upon the hearth the German say that lightning never strikes. In Cambridge, England, there is a curious Deuei 10 me eneci mai a nre staried by a lightning stroke can only be quenched with milk. In Devonshire if a fire burns blue and dead it is thought to be a forerunner of death or disaster in that house. When a Russian family moves from oue house to another they always rake all the lire from the hearth of the old domicile and carry it in a closed pot to their new residence. The Sicilians say that fire will not buru a man born on St. Paul's Day (January 25,) but that if a woman be burned upon that day the sore will never heal, and will eventually cause her death. In Greece, when one peasant borrows fire from another's hearth to kindle his own, the owner of the fire must accompany the borrower to his home "to see the fire blaze," otherwise the man making the loan will have his house and goods destroyed by the "devouring element." In Wales and in Cornwall miners burn their hats upon the the birth of a male child ; if a girl be born, his neighbors burn it for him. ? The next United States senate will be constituted as follows: Republicans, 42 ; Democrats, 39 ; Populists, 6. This gives the Populists the balance of power. How the senate will stand on the financial question has not yet been ascertained; but it is believed that a majority of the members are for the free coinage of silver.