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We are in our new quarters at the same old stand, next to Jenkinson's, where we are prepared to fill all orders for Groceries. We will be glad to see you and "figger" on any bill of Groceries you may need, and feel assured we can satisfy you both in qual ity and price. The Manning Grocery Co. 8 SUMMERTON HIARDWARE CO., g SUMMERTON, S. C. C. 1l. DAVIS, J. A. JAMES, President. Vice-President. Sec.-Treas. OUR MOTTO: 3 L'S. Live and Let Live. For dry goods, go to a dry goods store. For shoes, go to a shoe store. For g-roceries, zo to a grocery store. For medicines, go to a medicine store. For HADWARE and its kindred articles, go to a HARDWARE STORE. Paints, Agricultural Implements, Pumps, Pipe, S Stoves and Stoveware, Harness and Saddlery, Crockery and Glassware. We have them all. Our long residence in the county is our guarantee of fair and Shonest treat'ment of our customers. hWe have recently associated with us Mr. J. M. Plowden form. erly with the Dilon Hardware Company. who thoroug-hly,., under stands the hardware business and will take pleasure in giing th public the benefit of his experience. SU M.T ER,S. C. We are giving more attention to the handling of Cotton * this'season than ever before, which means that while we bought more Cotton than any other firm on the market, it is our purpose to buy a still greater quantity. This we can not do unless we pay the price, and when you bring or ship to us your Cotton, the VERY HIGHEST PRICE IS AS SURED. Our General Mercantile Department has been thoroughly looked after and we invite an inspec tion of our Dry Goods, Fancy Gceods, Shoe and Clothing Stocks. Our buyer has devoted much of his experience this season in looking after the Dress Goods selections, and we can assure our Lady friends that we are enabled to please them. not only in styles, but prices. Our General Dry Goods Stock was never more complete and better bought-"'GOODS WELL BOUGHT ARE HALF SOLD. Shoes ! Shoes ! There is no need wearing out shoe leather running about for .footwear, when we have, direct from the factories, Shoes of the best make. and which we can sell with a guarantee. Then, we carry as nice a line of Gents' Youths' and Boy's Clothing as you will be able to see in any other city. This Department was selected with a view to style, fit and dura bility. OR GROCERY DEPARTENT Cannot be excelled anywhere, and our prices defy competi tion. We have always enjoyed a tine Clarendon patronage for which we are grateful, and we shall strive to continue to merit tile patronage and confidence you give us--come to see us, Y ours, &c. LEVIBRT RS SIUM"T"'R," SEC. By The Subsi t Copyright. 1903, by HA CIAPTER XVII. g about the 1st of rGeorge was alone in tl:e lb-He had just finished wrig some letters when Jef Truitt came in and stood near the stove. ie was a slender young man, under twenty-live, short and frail look ing. His clothing was ragged and his sandy hair unkempt. B3,.kley looked at him and smiled. "Been getting your self into no end of rows over home," he remarked. *My mother tells me they sent you a death's head the other night, and your father said somebody shot &t you in the field." "That's all so. George." said Truitt gloomily. "I reckon I've been shootin' off my mouth a little too much." "I really thought you had more sense than to report that desperate gang over there for moonshining," said George in a kindly tone. "Wouldn't 'a' done it ef I'd been sober," replied Truitt. "They made me mad when I was full, an' I done 'em all the harm I could." "Well, what are you going to do about it, Jeff?" "That's what I come to ax you, George. Ma and pa are mighty nigh crazy about it, an' I give 'em my word I'd come an' ax yore advice. By gum, they think they'll go to you when they die! Ef you was me would you go back over thar today, George? I-I got another warnin' last night; in fact, six or eight of 'em was scattered all about the place. I say warnin', but I reckon they was wuss than that; they was to pa an' ma an' said ef they ketched me they wouldn't do a thing to me." "Well, there's some consolation in that." said George dryly. "You know I hain't afeard o' any rea sonable number o' men." said Truitt in his whining voice, "but when a whole regiment of 'em comes to drink a fel ler's blood I jest git rattled an' want to make tracks. Ef I had my way, though, I'd go back home an' defy 'em, but ma's mighty nigh crazy." "No; you'd better stay in town today anyway. Jeff." said Buckley after a moment's reflection. "Go up to theil Johnston House and get your break-fast -take all your meals there while you are in town-I've got an account there; tell them to charge it to me. Stay in town tonight anyway. I'll see you to morrow. I'm very busy today. Do you think the gang would dare follew I you here?" "They might, George. They raised a rumpus here about a year ago, you know-whippin' niggers in Nigger town." Later in the morning Buckley met the town marshal, Joe Batey, on the!1 street. The officer wore a broad brim-' med hat, a dark blue suit of clothes, with brass buttons and carried a po liceman's club strapped to his wrist. George gravely explained the situation: to him, but the officer refuised to con ern himself in the matter. "Look y' here, George Buckley," he said. "Do you reckon I'm paid measly town wages to do both town and coun ty work? Ef the sheriff cayn't keep do 'n them riots over thar in the moun tal, I cay n't. Fer $30 a month i'm expected to do police duty in daytime,! watchman at night an' act as coroner on special occasions. Besides. Jeff Truitt's gettin' entirely too numerous. Every time he gets full he wants to scratch some o' them daredevils' eyes out He's a funny chap. They say when he's drunk he'd fight a swarm o' wildcats, but when he's sober he'd scare at the sight of a baby popgunI an', on top o' that. when he sobers up he's so stubborn he'd die 'fore he would apologize fer what he's done. What 1 you goin' to do with a man like that? He's no ornament to the community." "Well, I only thought I'd let you know the situation." George, smiled as he waflked on. "All I want tofo is to save the fellow's neck." -. George saw no more of Jeff Trui tt that day. He had some important cal-, culatons to make in connection with 1 the sale of certain large quantities of , otton to mills in the east. and he was) losely occupied in his office till past midnight. When he had finished he went to the front door of the ware house to get a breath of fresh air be fore retiring. H~e did not feel sleepy. Such work as he had been doing usu-! ally had a contrary effect on him. Sud-: denly he heard a shout up the street in the direction-of the Johnston House, a revolver was fired, and a gruff voice ried out. "Thar he goes, boys:" 1 This was followed by a clatter of many feet on the brick sidewalk, a 1 storm of furious ejaculations and sti-: fled oaths, and then a dark human bil low rushed down the street -in Buck-j ley's direction. It was a mob pursu ing Jeff Truitt.' Hardly knowing why he did it, George ran into his office and secured his big revolver from the drawer of his: desk and turned back quickly to the door. He was just in time, for the 1 mob, numbering fifty or more, was not I' ten yards away. Panting and almost'< out of breath, Jeff Trultt came bound g along ahead of them and just out: of their grasp. He was making for the warehouse with the instinct that i there, and there alone, lay some chance.' for escape. He gasped out something to George and darted past him .nto the!: warehouse. "Halt!" George thundered, his re volver leveled at the man in the lead. "Halt or I'll blow your brains out!" The man fell back against those be hind him, and the surging mass came1 to a sudden pause.4 "Heigh! What's thisy' panted a man in the rear. "What's this?" "It's me," said Buckley calmly. "That boy has come to me for protection, and I he shall have it if I have to shoot sis of you in your tracks!" "Oh, thunder: Come off!" sneered a man in the front. "Git out o' the door, Buckley, or we'll mash you flatter'n a fitter." "he first man that tries to pass this step dies as sure as God's in heaven: There was a swerving back from the weapon in Buckley's steady hand. Si- I lence fell-a threatening silence. The ] cocking of a revolver somewhere In the crowd sounded clearly. 1 "That's right, shoot at me, y ou dirty coward," said Buckley defiantly. "Here I stand in the light, and I can't pick 2 you out In-the dark. Shoot, you cow-1 ardly sneak!" "Put that gun down," cried a deter mined voice in the throng. "You harm WILL N. HARBEN, Author of "Abner Dan iel." " T h e Land of the ,Changing t isSun." "The North Walk Mystery," Etc. RPER Q BROTHERS Leorge nuee 2n' Il put daylignt hrough you." There was a sound of a struggle, stifled oaths and the clash of a revolver is it struck the pavement. It was fol [owed by grumbling words, hot dis >uting and-silence. "You are a set of cows-ds." said Buckley, "running like a p:. of wolves .fter a poor boy for what he said and lid when he was drunk. Now, clear >ut, the last one of you: You know who I am-and you know if there is any one of yon. or any three. that want to hold me responsible for this step ['11 be on hwnd. Has any one here any ow to pick with Jeff Truitt, then let him speak up. I'll represent him. I'm n a fighting mood tonight and will 4atisfy just as many as will apply." "An' he'll do it, too, boys," said an tdmiring voice. "Buckley's got the right stuff in -im! Come on, let's go ome. George seems friendly to the nuss, an' any friend o' his is safe as ur as I'm concerned." "Same here." joined in another voice. "Buck. yo're all right, but that's a lern slack wad yo're takin' up fer. as hore as yo're knee high to a duck." "Well, he's my friend, and I'm his mother's friend." said Buckley. "A mob like yours shan't send his corpse home to her if I can help it." "He'd be about as much use to 'er that a-way as in his natural condition," Laughed a man near the front. "But f she hankers after 'im, an' Buckley wants 'im to live on. I'll withdraw my claim. This is the sort of rabbit hunt : don't much like nohow." A laugh rose and went round. It was , favorable sign. George lowered his revolver. "Go home, boys," he said wearily. "I'm sorry I spoke as I did ust now. You are all my friends; I an see that. Good night." They stood for an instant as if un ertain what step to take, but Buckley's ast words had completely disarmed them. Slowly they disbanded and traggled away. When they were all ost in the darkness George closed the loor and locked it. Just then Jeff rruitt emerged from the darkness in :he interior of the building and, with annging head and downcast eyes, drew aear. "Oh. George," he faltered, "I wish hey had killed me. I'm a coward. I was afeard of 'em-afeard of 'em!" "It wasr'L that. my boy: don't you be ieve it," said G'ege consoiingly. "You eere simply stampeied. The best sol er are that vay when they 'see ;erwvheliming numbers approaching. 0ou've got grit, but they tell me you =ave to fill 9'p with Whisky to float it." "But you wasn't ;afeard of 'em," wail d thle boy. "Yes. I was-at first," said Buckley. 'I shook all over. and then I got drunk 'ith rage, just like you do os. whisky. :t's the same thing-just as wide as t' long. D)onN you botgr; you'll iht, Jeff. If I'd thought you were a :oward I'd never' been the friend to e I anm. Mfy Lord, don't I remember, wy back at the log schoolhouse, how ress Tiff ton bullied you all day, pinch ig you, calling you names. and finally, h'n lie began to bump your head giast the wvall, you turned in aind ave him the worst licking he ever iad He had black eyes and puffy aws for a week. Some men are that vay-just-{on1't like trouble and stay Lway from it till it's shoved on them. low did thtey happen to come here for "They wvent home after me, I reckon," aid the boy, "an' when they found out was here they come on to get liquor f' settle with me. Ef you was me, -eorge, what would you do-go home onight? You know the folks wlli be L-worryin." "No; you siay here and sleep with ne," said George. "I'm not going to 'lsk you anywhere else tonight." They wvent back to the bedroom, 3ucley carrying the light. As they )assed the big fireproof vault in the flice Jeff said, "Looks like it would e resky to leave jest one man here vith a whole lot o' money in a safe ike that, George." "It has a comnbinationi lock," Buck ey told him. "It would take an ex )ert burglar several hours to open it. id the noise would wake mec. That's -hy I sleep here. Nearly all the poor eople in tihe mountains and here in ovn deposit their savings with us. 's a big responsibility, but the safe Lnd vault are the best in the state. 'hey are better than those at the bank aptown, an' that's wvhy the people t'ant to deposit wiih us. It's a lot of rouble, but Mr. IHillyer likes to accom nodate them." "And thar's always a lots o' money n the safe. I reckon,'' said Jeff. "Thousands of dollars, my boy," re lied Buckley: "but it's fireproof, and he risk is very little, as I told you. I im in this room ev'ery night, and when go away Kienner sleeps here." "But thar's another thing you hain't bought of," said Jeff. "Robbers some mes slip up on a man. git 'im well orered an' then force 'imn to open a ale. What would you do in a case lk that, George?" Buckley laughed. "I haven't thought f that, I'll admit." he answered; "but, ith the responsibility on me like it is, believe I'd die fighting rather than -oluntarily give in." "That ud be foolishness," said Jeff. WWhat's money--even a fortune-to a nan's life?" "It's different with me, my boy." lorge placed the lamp on the little able. "You could give in and many hers eculd and nothing would be said .out it, but if I did it they would say t was-my father's weakness cropping ut in another generation. That would eO the general verdict, Jeff. Folks are hat way." "Do you reckon so, George?" "Yes, that's the way of the world. oo git in bed, Jeff." ruitt hesitated and flushed. "Jest e' me lie on a pile o' sacks on the or," he said. "I don't want to crowd ', George." "You think I'd be above sleeeing ith you, my boy." Buckley laid his) and on his shoulder and turned him 'rcibly to him. "You've heard all hat talk out home about my being tuck up, but it is a lie out of whole loth. Jeff, Jeff" - Buckley's breast ose high and fell-"I'd give all I have o feel as good in the eyes of the world ss you are. There's a stain on me that othing will remove. Yes, I'd freely .mlme up. + na t rv that I am not naturally a thief." Awed to silence by the strange man ner of his friend, Jeff Truitt undressed and got into bed. George turned out the light. Jeff heard him undressing, and then all was still for two or three minutes, after which Buckley rose fromu his knees and got in the bed. "Been sayin' yore prayers, George?" Ieff asked in wonder. "Yes, Jeff: I try not to neglect it once a. day. It seems to be about the only thing that keeps me straight. Good ight, Jeff." "Good night, George." CHAPTER XVIII. " HEY say the old junk shop was turned into a reg'lar fort last night," Kenner jested as he slouched into the office the next morning after breakfast, a bundle of letters in his hands. George and Hillyer exchanged glances mnd smiled. "You'd have thought something was wrong if you'd been here," George an swered lightly. Hanks was at his desk munching a piece of cracker and now and then taking a sip of water from a thick, anclean tumbler. He had no comments to make. If the building had been half :Iemolished during the night he would liave inspected the ruin with supreme [ndifference, for it was not his per onal property. Half an hour later a man and a woman came down the treet and entered the warehouse. yhe woman was short and fat, wore a black sunbonnet and a heavy gray shawl. The man carried a worn Con federate flag in his left hand, in his ight a battered army bugle. "Jeff's mammy an' daddy," Kenner said. "My Lord, they got here quick! I reckon somebody must 'a' told 'em the news last night." "Come on in, old woman," Truitt said to his wife. "Nobody hain't a-goin' to trt you." le took the chair Ken nr was proffering and placed it near the store. Then he leaned unsteadily n the short staff of the furled flag. The bugle rattled on the brass buttons Af his long overcoat as his arm hung lown. "The camp meets today," he said uskily, "but I hain't blowed a note it, an' I hain't stuck up the flag. The boys will wait on oV Bus this mornin'. [ wish some o' my tried comrades could be here to listen to what-1 got to say. George Buckley, I'm goin' to speak to ou, sir." George had flushed all over with em barrassment. His profile was to the loor, but out of the corner of his Dye he had caught a glimpse of a oman's figure in the main doorway. he thought flashed through his brain that it was Mrs. Hillyer or Hortense Snowden, and he wanted to direct Hill yer's attention thither, but with set, expectant features the merchant was staring at the speaker. "Jeff told us jest how it happened," rruitt went on, his earnest eyes half ull of tears, "an' me an' my old wom in felt like we wanted to see, to look t, the man that saved our child. Thar le is, Matilda; thar he is! Thar's the :hap that stood up in the teeth o' that magin' mob an' said of they got our oy it ud be over his dead body. George Buckley done it. He"-the old man's roice sank so low for a moment that it was scarcely audible-"he done It! [wish God would help me talk, but he wont, an' I cayn't. I had lots to say, aut I cayn't talk. I want to show what I feel, but I cay'n't. I 'lowed :at a-a man that fit fer Jackson an' Lee an'' Davis was good enough, but i mn blessed by a high place in the world that stoops down an' offers his .ife fer a pore, weak, scared boy is bet :er'n a soldier. He's more like God han a soldier. Hie's actuated by love m' pity, while the soldier is fightin' Eer spite. I--I jest wish God would ive me a chance to show what I feel. Katilda. ef you want to say anything, say it. Yore old man's made a fool of aissef!" "Oh, don't, don't, Mrs. Truitt!" George arotested as the old woman pushed ack her bonnet and began to speak, >ut she went on. "I cayn't say what I want to, noth ar," she sobbed, "but I kin pray for ou, George, an' I will. I hope the Easter will shower blessings down en rore head. I've knowed 'im, gentle en, sence he was a little boy, an' he always was one o' the best children :hat ever lived. God knows he's had rouble, but it jest seems to 'a' sancti ~ :e i. ok says hehi' ap 'eeSnhown an' thatcy itlook like hep ayn't git all he wants, but he will, God bless 'im, ef my prayers kin do my good. I'm a-goin' to ask the Lord 'mighty to give 'im peace an' all he wants!I" She drew her bonnet over er face and fell to sobbing aloud. Truitt stood his flag In a corner and ed her to the door, and, as all eyes 'ollowed him, George looked and saw Lydia Cranston and Kitty Cosby stand ng a few feet from him. They had aard all. In Lydia's eyes great tears ;tood, and in her face shone a kindling ght upon which her very soul seemed o breathe. Covered with embarrass neat, Buckley went to them. "I'm very sorry," he began, but Lydia put up her gloved hand and stopped hima. "Don't, don't!" she said gently, almost everently, as she looked straight into ls eyes. "Don't!" He had not been introduced to her ompanion, and the fact seemed to ave escaped her. The three walked to the door. "I am Miss Cosby, Mr. Buckley," Eitty said sweetly. "Lydia has com ,+1 emen ~~ttan that we idon't know each other." "I am delighted to meet YOU," he faltered, red in the face. "This is a rather rough and tumble camp. meet ing reception to offer you the first-time you honor the old warehouse with your presence, Miss Cosby," he managedtO get out. "but we are an emotional'peo pe and" "Hush!" suddenly exclaimed Lydia, facing him with her great, wondering eyes. "Don't speak lightly of that." Then her voice sank into ineffable sweetness. "Show me, Mr. Buckley, where it happened. I mean from whieb directior 1d +he mob come. and Is this the door-.'hore the poor boy where you stood-tbis here?" George grew redder: he essayed a light laugh, but she was persistent. She laid her hands on his arm. "Tell me," she urged, "is this the very spot?" "That's right, miss." said Truitt, coming up. "The gang come runnin' rIght down that walk after Jeff. He hain't a plumb coward, but a mob o' fifty bloodthirsty men wouid rattle any boy that's been made a pet of all his life. They was all right on his heels, an' he seed George Buckley's open door an' made a break fer it. George let 'im in an' then stood right on that sill thar an' dared one of 'em to pass 'im. He had a gun, but they could 'a' ground 'im to sausage meat. One man cocked a revolver, an' George heard it an' yelled out an' dared 'im to shoot 'im while he stood in the light, an' bemeaned 'im fer a coward an' all he could think of. His pure grit, an' the respect they had fer 'im, shamed the gang, an' they left But thar's a hero, miss. You young ladies study about leaders of gieat battles that are tiis an' that, but I'm a old soldier, an' what George Buckley done last- night was the bravest thing I ever seed or heard tell of." "We thought Major Cranston was here," Miss Cosby explained when Tru itt had gone. "We have been looking all over town for him." George accompanied them to the car rlage and helped them in. He -was still flushed and embarrassed. Lydia was quiet and thoughtful. "You must come up and see us very soon," she said. "I want you to know Eitty." Buckley turned back to the office, an gry with himself, the Truitts and ev erything pertaining to the recent hap pening. "Oh, what an ass I made of myself," he thought-"what a deplorable, help less ass!" He had just seated himself at his desk when Jeff Truitt came in. "George," he said, "Kenner has "ffered me a job at the compress, and" "Well"-George looked up from his work, with a frown--"that's all right, I guess." Their eyes met, and Truitt's fell to the ground. He turned out of the door, meeting Kenner on the sidewalk. "I made George mad jest now," he said to Kenner. "I wouldn't 'a' done it fer the world, but" "You didn't make me mad, old boy," said George, coming up, with a smile. "I was worried about a calculation I was making. I hardly knew who was speaking, to me." "Well, I'm glad," said Jeff, with a smile of relief. "I -wouldn't bother you fer th,- world." "I'll bet he was mad." said Kenner to himself as he moved on. "George Buckley's as hard to understand some times as a woman. He didn't like the way the Truitts carried on 'fore them young ladies. Lord, he don't know which side his bread's buttered on! Ef I live a hundred years I'll never forget Lydia Cranston's face while old Truitt was a-talkin', an' George is as blind as a bat-kickin' himself right now." He went into the office a few miinutes later. George was at his desk, a dry pea in his hand, the flush still on his face. "I met Bob Hanks uptown awhile ago," Kenner observed. George did not seem to hear. "He's put on a new two- horse deliv ery w'ahgon, painted up with his sign on it, jest like city wagons." Buckley was still Inattentive. "By the way, the little devil told me he was goin' to let up on that school girl racket o' his. He told me of his own accord, so I reckon my talk did some good t'other night" "I suppose It did," said Buckley, with a start, and he went to work. Kenner stood watching him for several min utes. The flush remained on Buckley's face all that morning, and he seldom answered when spoken to. Even Hill yer remarked upon his strange con duct "He's a <quar boy," said the old man. "I don't pretend to understand 'Im, but I bank on 'ima jest the same." "I think I understand 'im," replied Kenner. "I kin see through a plank, when thar's a knot hole in it." But that was as far as the cotton buyer would commit himself. CHAPTER XIX. N their arrival at home that morn (Tling the two girls separated in the hail, Lydia going up to her room with a grave look on her face, and Miss Cosby turning into the parlor to take off her wraps. Mrs. Cranston joined her immediately. "I was in the summer house and saw you coming," she said eagerly. "I thought I'd give Lydia a chance to go upstairs, for I am crazsy to hear what you have to say. Well, did you meet the paragon?" Miss Cosby rubbed her kid glove down from her wrist toward the tips of her slender fingers. "Meet him? by a large majority, I assure you. We walked right into his den. Your scheme worked, Mrs. Cranston. As soon as we missed the major uptlown I told Lydia that you said he might be down at the grain warehouse, and she ordered the carriage there. I have one thing to ask you, Mrs. Cranston"--Kitty was smilng-"what are the rates of board in this town?" "Rates of board?" excaimed Mfrs. Cranston. "What on earth do you want to know that for?" "I'm going to pay my board while I'm with you," said the girl, with mock seriousness. "I know you invited me down here to help you out of your mess, and I have washed my hands of the whole business. I'm out of it from now rn-out. Do you understand?" "Oh, Kitty, do be serious-don't be silly." "I'm out of it, I tell you," persisted se girl, pulling at the other glove. "I won't work for anybody that don't tote, fair. Why didn't you tell me this Buckley was a regular Apollo In a business suit? Why, I never felt in my life as I did with him. I may be romantic, cracked, soft or something, but I simply stood and stared at him, unable to say a thing that was sen sible. Besides, we were all upset-el cited to death, and" "Excited!" gasped Mrs. Cranston. "Why, what about?" "Oh, about that White Cap affair down there last night. You never heard half of jt. The major hinted that it was Clothing FALL AND WINTER. 7II Our Fall and Winter Garments are now ready, and whatver your needs may be in Men's, Boys' or Children's Clothing, Hats and Furnishing Goods, we woul& like the pleasure of supplying. We would certainly like to number you amoug our regular patrons, and we hope to win you by the excel lence of ou-r Clothing and the reasonableness of our prices. In New Quarters. We now occupy the Ryttenberg Building, Main and Liberty streets. jDdCHAn DERI SumLTeHrS C 1 .LDOUGLAS T E W. L.DO LAS 3*AND ZES GLES TH . .BRO.'S SHOES. THEW.L.DOUGLAS SHOES for Mcn and the a SZEIGLER BRO.'S SHOES for Women and Children ex Scel in quality, style and fit any other shoe on the market. SNow to more circulate and prove the merit of these SShoes we will, during the month of November, sell shoes e less than regular price, on the following conditions: Any one bringing this advertisement wilget our. SL. Douglas $4 Shoes at $3.50; $3.50 Shoes at $3; $3 Shoes Sat $2.50. SThe Zeigler Bro. 's Shoes we will sell accordingly. SRemember, It is only during this month that we can sell these Shoes for that price. After December 1st regular price will go Sinto effect again. SNow if you want to make 50 cents or as many times 50 cents as you choose, come to the NEW IDEA and get the best Shoes made for yourself, wife and children. 1M. MW. KRASNOFF, Prop.