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VOLUM~E XXXVI. LAURENS, SOUTH CAROLINA, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1920. NME LAI K X-OIDIT (Continued froni Last Week.) / lIls age might have been thirty. He was a suave, polished, sophisticated person. Nothing was more natural -than that lie should pause in his trav els to call upon two agreenble women lie had net on a Pacific steamer. Pos siblyv lie was in love with Allee liash ford; this was not a (illcult state of heart and mind for a inat to argue himself into. She was even iore strikingly beautiful tonight than I had thought her before. She was again in white-it was orily in daytime that she wore black-and white was exceeding ly becoming to her. As we talked she plied listlessly a fan-a handsome trinket of ostrich pluiea. A pretty wonan and a fan are (lie happliest .possible combination. There is no severer te-st of graco than a woman's manner of using t fan. A clumsy woman makes an lipleitent of this plaything, flourishing it to eni phasize her talk, or, what is. worse, pointing with it like an instructor be fore a blackboard. But in graceful hands it Is unobtrusive, a mere bit of decoration that teases and fascinates the beholder's eye. With all his poise and equanimity I was distinctly conscious that Monta ni's dark eyes were intent upon the idly swaying fan. I thought at first it was her hands that interested him as they unfalliigly- Intei'ested me, but when, from tine to tine, she put down the fan his gaze still followed it. And yet there was nothig novel In the dilicate combination of ivory and feathers. I bad seen many. fans that to all appear ances were just like it. Once, as she picked it up and lazily opened it, I saw him bend forward eagerly, then, find Ing that I had noted his eagerness, lie rose, pretending that a brass screen before the fireplace had caught his eye, and asked whether it was not a Feior entine production, which shook my falth in his connoisseurship, is I had bought the thing myself from a New York brassworker who had tmade it to limy 1onder. Mi 'ttanl spoke of the porcelains. "- ih1, to be -sure I They don't show to best advantage in electric light, tk ihe'y? But I can have a few ot the prize pieces taken into the dining rooim." said Alice. Mrs. Fearnsworth had excused her self to finish a letter, and fron my chair I could see her head bent over the big itesk in the library. Alice rang for Antoine, and I followed her Into the hall to offer my aid. "Oh, don't trouble," she said. "An toine' canl (d anything necessary. Yes; thaitks; If you will turn on the dIning rooma lights." I was gonie hardly half a mIrm.te. Whieui I reached the drawing-room doori Mlontani had crossed the room to the table on which Alice had dropped the fan and was examining it closely. He faced the door, and the muomient he detected tme excluimited carelessly: "An exquisite little bauble! I am always curiouis as to the source of such trifles. I was looking for the umaker's imprimnatur. I know a Pari sian wvho is the leading manufacturer of the world. But it is not his, 'I see." As we stood talking of other things lhe plied the fan cai'eiessly as though for the pleasure of the faint scent it exhaled, and when Alice enaled us he putt it down carefuliy where ho hadh found~ it. lie really did seemi to know some thing about ceramics and praised, with lively enthiuslasmi, the pIeces that hatd bean set out on the table. One piece, as to whose authenuticity my uncle had ente'rlainedl serious doubts, Montani unulitatingliy pronotunced genuine ail stated very plausible reasons for his O'' the wvhole, lie was an interesting felilos When he had fitnished hits in 5ipec(ti ns lie linigered for only3 a few mInutes and took his leave. saying that lie wais spending the n:ight at an inn near Stamford. "Well," said Alice wvhen the whir 6f his maclino had died away, "\vhnt do you think of hitm?" "A very agreeable gentlemani," I an sweredi. "if lie doesn't kcnow [porge loins, lie takes his talk admirably," "And as to fans-" suggested Mrs. Farnsworth., J bad not intondna in mention Mn 111's lIaterest in Alice's fan, and the remark surprised ile. "Oh, I saw It all from the library," Inighel 'Mrs. Farnsworth. "My back was to the door, but I was facing a mirror. The moment you and .Alice wont into the hail he pounced upol the fan-pounced is the only word ha1t lesrli1bes it. Ile conce(.aled iss inftrest in it very nea tly when you vanught him1 examining it." "Pans are .harinless things," said Alice, "and if there's any story at tached to this one I'm not aware (tf it. My father bought it In l'aris ahout three years ago, and it has never been Out of mlly possession except to alv%*e it repaired. There's a Japanese Jew eler who does wonderful things in the way of repairing trinkets of every kind. I left it with him for a few fhays. I can't tell now which panel was broken, he did his work s. deftly." I took it from her and balanced it in my fingers. It was a beautiful piece of workmanship with the sim plest carvings on the ivory panels. "Lie couldn't have seen It anywhere before tonight," observed Alice mus Ingly. "In fact, I hadn't used it at all for a year. It was really by mistake that my maid put it into my trunk when I went to Japan. I didn't want to risk breaking it again, so I've been .carrying it in q iandbpi;. . Tl!2 J. day we were in Tokio 1 think I had it in our sitting room 'in the hotel, to make sure it wasn't jammed into the trunk again. We had a good many callers-a number of people came In to bid us good-by, but I'm sure Cotint Montant was not among them, and It would have been impossible for him to see it at any other time." "Oh, tihere is nothing disturbing In the count's Interest in the thing," said Mrs. F'arnsworth with an air of dhis missing the matter. "If it were a jade trinket inscrilhd with Chinese nys terles. you might Imagine thiat it would be sought by some one-I haisve heard of such things-but Alice's fan has no such history." "We weren't very hosipitisaie," said Alice. "I might iave usked Count Montani to dine with us tomorrow; and we might even have pua l in up for the night in this nvast house." Not with Antoine on the preises!" I exJ, l:med. "Antoine ai n eenvinced thast the ian 0a whal we caili in Amer ten a crook. Atnd Antolr.e takes his respon lIlities very se I u.iy." While I was breaao-niilg at the garage the next tnorninea A:Oane Hap apaeart'ed a nd. wat in;:~ itil i'Iyaan wva s out of henrai ng. huaandeda :sa a slip of "Th'iat's a New Y'ork automsobile anmber."' ihe sa Id. ''it wats on thae tag of thlat mnineiia the im'rty came in inst night . I lieardi hima sayin~g, sla, as hsow he land msot ored uap from the Elkton lant at Stamfi ord. Visitorss from Stam-s faord woui hatrdly send in to the city for' a n inaae." Ishdh- him wvalt while I called the Elkasun by telephone. No such person ats Giuseppe Mlontiani haid spent the night there or had been a guest of thse hsouse within the memory of the clerk. Antoinse's chest swelled at this coatir mation of hsis suspicions. "If the man returns, treat him an yout did( last night-as though he were entlitledi to the highest consideration." "le wons't come back-not the same way," said Antoine. "lHe mentioned the Elkton Just to throw you off. Thse next you hear of him will be quite dif feren t." "You mean he'll conmc as a bturglar?" "That's what's in my mind, Mir. Sln gleton. Everythaing seems very queer, sir." "Such as what, Antoine?" "Thse widow~ has beens telegraphing anti telephmoning conailerable, sir." "There must be no spying umpons these ladies I" I admnonishsed severely. "All thse people on the place muast re mnember that Mirs. flashfor'd Is mis tress here, and entitled to fullest re spect." le had hardly gone beCfore Torrence had me on the wire to hear my report and~ to say that Rlaynor land left WVash ington for a week-end in Virgina., I assured him that nothing taid oc curred to encouarage a suspicion that Mirs. Bashford was not all that she nroinnlded to be. The day wna marked by iinuiisii activities oli (he part of the waiters and bell-hops. Instead of the company drills to which I had be come accustomed they moved about in pairs along the shore and ie lines of the fences. I learned that Antoine had ordered this, and the "troops" were'obeying him with the utmost se riousness. The "service" on the es tate was certainly abundant. It was only necessary to whistle and one of the Tyringhain veterans would come runn!ng. In spite of the complete satisfaction I had expressed to Torrence as to the perfect integrity and honest intentions of te tio woien, thue iHosTty-of ffe American state dephrtment and the visit of Montani required elucidation beyond my powers. At dinner they were in the merriest humor. The per formances of the- little army through out the day'had amused them greatly. "How delightfully feudal I" ex claimed Alice. "Really we should.have at moat and drawbridge to make the thing perfect. Constance and I are the best protected women in the WYorld I" We extracted all the fun possible from the idea that the estate was un (Continued on 'page two, this section.) GET OUR DRAG SAW PRICE! We have a high power, fast -cutting outfit, forced feed-a con plete ipower plant in itself for sawing logs to any length Does th work of 6 to 10 men. Lever control of blade while engine Is runnin SEND FOl ENGINE CATOLOGa, Showing Gasoline Engines 2 t 30 11. P.. Power Saw Rigs an Orag Saws, all equiped witl Josch 'High Tension Magneto. Starts and Stops Saw Lever Control COLUMBIA SIiPPLY CO. 823 Gervals Street, COLMBIA, S. C. SWITZER 0oMPAN. Here we go for Big Business for November. Now, I know you will say "how can that be done"? Here's the reason---by giving big bargains in every department and having what you want. We have gone through our stock again and marked down goods and also buying goods every day when we can get them at the right price. Don't make a mistake, come here and look and get our price and see the quality before buying. BIG NOVEMBER SPECIAL Ladies' New Hats 15 All Wool Middy Suits, sizes 14 to 20 We have bought five dozen ladies' trim worth $17.50, thisieot to close out at $.9.95 med hats, worth $10 and $12.50 each on sale Saturday, your choice for only $5 Just received one lot New Plaid Skirts pleated. We bought this lot at at 50 per 12 All Ladies' Skirts, Navy and Black cent on the dollar, will sell the same way, good style, sizes 26 to 30, Waists worth skirts worth $16.50 for only -m$9.95 $6 will close this lot out at, each $2.95 BIG SILK SALE 1 lot Men's Silk Pleated Hose, 89e quality, sale price .500 36-inch all Silk Messaline, worth $2.50 per , o hldrc, sale price .. f yard, big value special per yard for only.. $1.50 A 2 Don't let this get away from you. 50e Quality Standard Outing, sale price .. .......Me 36-inch Silk Poplin, per yard, for only.------ 75c 36-inch :3-! Quality Bleachig, sale price.............250 1 lot Selmore Voile Waist, worth $3.50, one I Lot all Wool Black Serge skirts. Extra size, worth $10.00 each for only ...------------------.-.-. 1.75 and $12.50 your choice only.$.00 36-inch 35cts. Buality Brown Sheeting, sale What about that Suit? Nom is the time to buy. For this .price.----------.-.-.---------------- --- 20c week only we will sell $6OA0)and *75.00 suits for only $42.50 50cts. Curtain Scrim, only-. ..-------------- 35c 1 Lot Sampson Middy. Good Quality Drill with white eollars 65cts. 32-inch Standard Dress Gingham, sale and navy collars, worth $2.50. Tlii lot for sale now for only price............. ........................................4.......................16 price ------------------------------- 400. Just received 25 dozen Fibre Silk Hose, worth todlay $1.25. 36-inch dark and light Percale, only -------. 25c Will sell this lot for only......................75c pair $3.00 full size Sheets, sale price ---------- 1.98 1 lot Fashioned ilk Hose, Brown only, wort.h $2.00, yours for $3.00 size White Quilts, sale price .... -1.98 only.$1.06 54-inch Wool Ladies' Cloth, green, black, navy and grey, I lot Boys' Wunlerhose, large size, worth 50v pair, now 25c worth $1.75, sale price ..................... ......$1.00 M 36-inch Wool Danish Poplar Cloth, navy, green, garnet and We have just received a big shipment Peter Diamond Brand black, worth $1.00, sale price ........................69c Shoes at. the low price, and we can save you $2.00 to $3.00 oi 36-incli Wool and Cotton Plaid Dress Goods, worth $1.00; every pair. sale price ..........................................69c 1 lot 36-inch all Wool Serge, all new shades for Dresses and prive tar Every Purse. Suits, worth $1.50, sale pri.e ..................... $1.00 1 lot Meii's (I!n delrwear, worth $2.00, our price now ....$1.00 No. 1586 Black ki. IIain Toe....................$7.95 No. 1 625 Grim opta.. E.nlish ..................... $745 No. 1562 Mahogany kid Inglish, only. ..............$9.95 o No. 1561 Mliahoganyv kid, Plain Toe, only .. .. .. .. .. ....$9.95 No111hnMeaBtleral......... No. 1467 .Mahoga ny kid English, only ................$8.95 Wmn' Iev I No. 1 665 Mahogany Calf, English, only .......*.$7.95 ivaus*.an11teer..........$9 36-inch'Coito Dre s a ids shodeses, svle~ arced No. 645 lac kidEngish................367-95 leah3 e Qualit leachingosa.e.price...............24.5 LarenSo t aolina ot 250 hsltfrsaenwfrol