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K L L THE COUC H AND CURE THE LUNCS -Dr. King's New Discovery FO ONSUMPTION Price FOROUGHS and 50c & $1.00 O0LDS Free Trial. THROAT and LUNG TROUB LES, or XONEY BACK. -rhe R B. Loeea Druge Store. I B. The Substil Copyright. 1903. by I C liii XNXVII. Ira- :::d!y knew wherelhe went,1 huiso nund himself n I-j irrrriment was at its height. -;*:-:::* :f meetin1 some one who would r:: hi:i . he walked on rily. Ii wanted to be la motion. It Vals t;:(- only thing that seeed to deaden tiw 0 :ony in his breast. One mn t he would clinch his hands :d st :e a -anlzi of pain as he thought of Lydia's social triuinh and her nearness to the :i he de spised and yet dreaded. and he would pause and look up at tle S1y as if trying to read there a reason for his misery. 1le was again passing the Dunleigh house and was about to re trace his steps to his hotel when he heard the sound of an approaching car riage. He believed it to be the Dun leighs' and darted into the grounds and back to his former hiding place. He was right. The approaching vehicle turned in at the gate and was rapidly curving to ward the veranda when George noticed that one of the rear wheels was com ing off. His* heart was in his mouth. He wanted to give the driver warning, but it was too late. The wheel was off. The carriage lurched to one side. There was a chorus of muffied screams from within, and, to make matters worse, the horses took fright and be gan to rear and plunge. With no thought as to the incongruity of his presence there at such a moment Buckley'darted from his place of con cealment and ran to the aid of the la dies, who were loudly calling for help and trying to break the heavy plate glass windows. Buckley followed the Jolting. carriage along the drive and finally succeeded in jerking the door open just as the coachman drew his horses to a stand in the light at the steps. George helped the ladies out. "Why, its Mr. Buckley!" exclaimed Mrs. Cranston, in grateful astonish ment. It was a most awkward mo ment. Buckley could only bow, his hat in hand and pale to the lips. Miss Cosby gave him a knowing look as she extended her gloved hand. "It was good of you," she said. Mrs. Dunleigh seemed so much ex cited over what had happened that she took no notice of Buckley nor seemed to remark on the oddity of his sudden appearance at such an opportune mo ment. The coachman unhitched the horses from the carriage and led them away, leaving George in the center of the cluster of ladies. Kitty Cosby in troduced him to Mrs. Dunleigh, but that lady simply bowed and continued her nervous exclamations of horror at the catastrophe. "I thought we were being hurled into eternity" "In our reception gowns," laughed Kit ty, who was calmness itself. "Pshaw! Mrs. Dunleigh, I knew the old thing would simply drag and bump along till arrson stopped the horses, but I do believe you and Mrs. Cranston would have crushed the life out of Lydia and myself." "Well, I'm glad it was no worse,".*de cared Mrs. Dunleigh. "Come on in. You'll all catch your deaths out here in those thin dresses." Lydia and George ascended the steps last, and she paused with him a mo ment alone on the veranda- She had not spoken "I have simply no explanation to, make," he said, eying her contritely. "Explanation?" she said. "Whyshould there be one?" "As soon as their excitement is over," he reminded her, "they will wonder how I happened to be up here in the grounds at this time of night." "Oh!" She raised her eyes to his in a startled expression. "But you may know," he went on "you may know that It was simply be Gerehlpdte- aisot ove thewhle scpte ha you eto e come his wife. I did not come to At lanta for this. I came on business. I finished my work at sundown and ought to have gone back home, but my mis ery chained me here. I won't keep back anything. I passed here earlier in the evening and noticed the car rige waiting for you. I saw that I couldhd behind that hedge and set you come out. I did it and drank in your beauty and my deeper despair. Then I came back a few minutes agc a~nd hId again to see you once more. Somehow I felt that my agony would be less keen if I could merely see you last-do you understand?-see you aft er he had told you good night back there in all his glory. I saw the wheel coming off. I knew what was going to happen. I could have remained hid den and allowed the coachman to let you out and thus have escaped this humilation in the eyes of your friends. But what does it matter? They know who I am. They know why I had to act like a thief to steal a gllmse of the woman who has enslaved me-why I had to do that, when she Is the favored guest of th< governor of the state and v WILL N. HARBEN, Author of "Abner Dan Tel." "Th e ULand of the Changing Sun." "The North Walk Mystery," Etc. IARPER Q BROTHERS "Stop!" Lydia cried. "Don't, don'tl I can't bear any more. I-I am only a woman, George. I'm only a girl who is being pulled and dragged by others. Father begged me to permit this en tertainment, to accept Mrs. Dunleigh's invitation. I refused at first, George; on ny honor I did, but father is in a critical condition. The doctor told me not to worry him in the slightest, and he had set his heart on this affair to night. The poor man loves such things with all his soul, and he thinks Governor Telfare a great man. He actually broke down and cried when I refused; it was pitiful to see his old gray head shaking with sobs over what he considered base ingratitude. Be sides. Kitty was included in the in vitation. She is my guest, and any natural girl would like to go to such an affair, and mamma urged it. Oh, George, do pity me. Don't-don't think I'm like the rest of the world, for I'm not. I hunger for better things, higher thngs, but in this case I really don't know what to do." "Then"-he took a deep breath, as if 1 trying to fortify himself against a 4 coming blow-"then you are engaged I to Telfare?" "No; I am not, George. Don't-don't . question me so closely. I am not hap- I py. I"- I "But he looks upon this affair to night as favorable to his suit. Is that not true," "He may, George, but I really don't know what to do." Buckley was as pale as a corpse. He brushed his brow with a quivering hand. "God knows I have nothing to offer you," he said in a low tone. "And it. ; Nas wrong for me to thrust myself on you as I have done tonight. Your friends will laugh at me for my des peration, but I don't care. Goodby. I shall never trouble you again." "Oh, George"-but he had turned and was walking away in the darkness. she stifled a groan of pain, and then 1 went into the house. She saw her. mother and Mrs. Dunleigh in the draw ing room under the prismatic chande lier in close conversation, but she pass ed on and ascended the stairs to the room assigned to herself and Kitty. , The latter was unfastening her hair before a pier glass and came forward, her hands extended. t "Don't let it worry you, dear," she t said simply. 1 Lydia'made no reply, sinking, pale and miserable, into a chair and cover ing her face with her hands. "I say, don't let it worry you," said Miss Cosby. "But the whole thing makes me fighting mad."'] "Mad?" said Lydia, looking up al-i most hopefully at the unexpected out- ] burst "Yes, mad," said Kitty. "Why should that young god of a man be kicked and sneered at by our world, forced to sneak around behind rosebushes mere ly to see the idol of his dreams step into her carriage, while a half bald, sallow faced creature receives her un der palm trees, in the glare of eleetrie lights, in the perfume of costly flow-] ers and amid the plaudits of a squirm ing, low necked, white shirted mass I of hero worshipers-hero worshipers, Indeed! -when George Buckley, the 1 kind of hero we know, is left out in the cold?" "Oh, Kitty, you are a darling!" Tie color was running into Lydia's wan face. Her eyes were gleaming as they had not gleamed that night. "But pa pa? What about him? What would you do about him?" "What would I do about him? I'd make himghange his pills. I don'tI think he has any more heart disease than I have, and mine flops as regular as a clock, except when George Buck ley comes near, with those big, dreamy eyes of his. Lydia Cranston, .I told I your mother I wasn't going to influencea you either way, but if George Buckley wanted me like he wants you he could have me at the drop of a hat. God doesn't bring up real men in velvet lined cradles; lhe simply gives them thei chance to bring themselves up. I know where you stand tonight, Lydia. Se cure in the joy of George Buckley's1 love, you are drifting away from it. You are in danger, my girl-In danger of losing the very thing you treasure above all else. You think you can obey your parents and always retain George 1 Buckley's love, but as sure as fate, while you are now all a woman could I be in his sight, if you degraded your 'self by merrying Telfare he would gradually cease to love you and would transfer his giant heart to some other woman. I'd hate to be second choice; but, as God Is my judge, I'd like a chance to make that man thoroughly happy. What do I care about his fam ily? Napoleon said he was the first of 1 his name, and George Buckley may be1 the first of his." Lydia looked up sharply and fixed a steady glance on the face of her friend. "You are actually in love with him," she said. "What right?"-- She sud denly covered her face. "Oh, don't be a goose!" Kitty said. "We've got work to do before we go to bed. Your mother and Mrs. Dun leigh are now rolling a delightful mor sel of gossip under their tongues. I can hear their mumbling voices. I have an idea. I can't sleep until I have rid their minds of the belief that George Buckley was hiding on the lawn to catch sight of you. That's the sort of thing women love to circulate. Wait. I'll fix 'em, and then we'll go to bed." Descending the stairs and entering the drawing room a moment later, Kit ty overheard Mrs. Cranston saying: "Yes, that accounts for it He was not. invited and was simply jealous and desperate over not seeing her, so he stole into the grounds, and" "Oh. my, what an imagination you have, Mrs. Cranston!" Kitty laughed heartily. "But you are away off. Mr.L Buckev explained it to Lydia. He was going by here, returning from a stag party down the street. He saw the carriage pass and noticed the wheel coming off. He called out-I thought I heard some one-but could not at tract the attention of the driver. He tried to catch up, but could not do so until he was in the grounds, then the wheel came off, and we were flopping about in each other's laps." "Oh:" Mrs. Cranston exclaimed dis appointedly. "Well, that does seem more reason able," said Mrs. Dunleigh. "I can bard t imneaine lovrs, thi (ay neltme. I-oing the other tling. It's rather too stagy-too romantic, don't you think?" "Well, I really don't know what we ire going to do with Lydia," sighed Uirs. Cranston. "She didn't seem to mjoy herself a bit tonight Just th.nk )f It! Why, I could hear whispering ill over the rooms, 'Where Is she? Is :hat her? My, ain't she pretty! They say that necklace has been in her 'amily for 200 years. Have you >een introduced?' And yet the object >f it all sat on a divan half the even ng talking to a married Presbyterian, ninister, who didn't even have on an ?vening suit." "Really, I was proud of her," de !lared Mrs. Dunleigh. "She's just a yure, sweet, unspoiled girl, and every >ody knew it by her modest, shrinking nanner. That's why she created such L furore, and why Governor Telfare s such a fool about her. When she leclined to go out to supper with him nd in such a sweet, natural way sug ested that he takejou instead, I was fraid he might be offended, but he :ook it beautifully, and-well, It did ook better. She wasn't going to put ierself in such a conspicuous position f she could avoid it, and, on the whole, think she was right." "Well, I'm going to bed," said Kitty. 'You two hens can stay off the rQost nd cackle all night If you like, but I'm leepy." -"She's an original creature," said mIrs. Dunleigh, when Kitty had left hem. "I wish you'd share her with ne." "She's that way all the time," said Irs. Cranston. "Almost toc independ nt to be a favorite with men, but wom n adore her. She's very exacting ants men to be more perfect than hey are. I really think she admires eorge Buckley, and she won't help e with Lydia a bit." When Kitty returned to Lydia she ound her in bed, the gas burning low, Ler face to the wall. Kitty disrobed toiselessly and got into bed. She lay till for a moment, then she said sud tenly: "Look here, are you-well, I declare, ou are crying!" There was no response. Kitty was niet for several minutes, then she ose. "In the excitement of It all," he said, "I forgot to say my prayers. 'd better get it done. Those two wom n fell Into my trap with a dull thud ust now. I'll tell you about it in the aorning." Lydia still made no sound nor move ent to indicate that she was awake, t Kitty knew she was. Kitty knelt .t the bedside for several minutes; then he rose, with a sigh, and got back inder the covers. "If it will do you iy good," she said, "I'll tell you I've een praying about this thing. I don't elieve God pays the least attention to eople who pray about wet weather in ry season or dry weather in wet, but omehow I believe he listens when you all his attention to real downright Leart suffering. I told him I was at he end of my rope and that he ought o try to help you and George out of he mess you are in. You are both too rood and sweet and noble to"- There cas a sudden catch In Kitty's voice, nd a sob struggled into her throat and hook her from head to foot "Now, what's the matter wl--ou?" lydia suddenly exclaimed an she urned over and put her arms about mer friend. "Don't, don't, Kitty!" Then hey cried silently together until they eli asleep. CHAPTER XXVIII. ~]HE next morning, after his re turn from Atlanta, George met Bascom Truitt at the ware house. "Brought yore mother in with me," ie said. "I left 'er up at the postoffice eadin' a letter. She'll be down direct y. I missed you at the reunion, but I eard you was on hand. Lord, I missed he sidewalk, they tell me! I met some d friends that kept mae full to the reck through the whole business. I ~ouldn't toot my bugle." "That's one way to celebrate," George aid, with a smile, as Truitt was turn ng away. A few minutes later Mrs. Buckley ame into the office. She wore a check d gingham sunbonnet and it was ~uled well down over her face. In mer hand she held a letter. By her ence and agitated manner George new she had received unpleasant mews. He placed a chair for her near ls desk and resumed his own seat, rondering what could have happened. "You have a letter from father," he aid tentatively. "Not from him, George, but it's from Ip thar. It's from the prison doctor." she was silent a moment, then she :ontinued: -Yore pa's bad off, George. [he doctor thinks he's ha. a serious at ack. It's that old hurt place in his read that he got when he fell off the vagon fifteen year ago. The doctor ayn't tell how it'll come out, but he iays I'd better be up thar. Yore pa eeps axin' fer me. I cayn't refuse im, George." The speaker suddenly aused and applied her handkerchief to rer eyes. "Well, you can go, of course," said 1eorge. "Oh, kin I?" she exclaimed. "I was reard you wouldn't want me to. I'd ather go, George. I sorter hardened ny heart agin 'uim when he was stout in' well, but now he's sufferin', I want :o be with 'imn." She broke down and >egan to cry again. "There is nothing on earth to hinder rou," said her son, who was deeply :ouched by her emotion, "and If you wvant me to do so, I'll go, too, mother. Ee's my father-the only one I ever id, and" "One of us will be enough," said Mrs. Buckley. "But, George, I've been ;tudyin' since 1 got this letter. I never :hought of it before, but I never mowed yore pa to do a dishonest act :11 he had that fall an' hurt his head. read in the Index t'other day whar a rood man had got a lick in the head mn' It made a demon out o' him till the octors operated on him an' cured 'im. 3h, George, It may be that a-way in Fore pa's case, an' them twelve men n' the judge jest sent a pore sick manm >ff fer what he couldn't help. It wasn't anaged right Somebody ought to a' fetched up that point He mighty :gh made life unbearable fer us all ut the chain gang wasn't the place fer man in his conditIon." She had pushed back her bonnet and ier gray eyes were fiashing rebellious .y. George was dleeply moved. "That's right, mother," he said ad iringly, his fine face aglow, "stick to him. I remember, when I was a very ittle fellow, that he was kind and gen le with me, and although he treated! ne pretty badly after I grew up I never ould forget that period. Yes, you nust go to him and do all you can for ls comfort I'll pay for It" "Oh, George, George!" the old worn m cried, standing up. "It don't seem ight for you to" "I want to do it, mother," he said imply and firmly. "You must take the right train, and remember, you are to spare no expense." I said. I felt re.lievedA to haven 'Izng.5n off." whimpered .Mrs. Buckley, "but after awhile I missed 'im, an' ef I could 'a' had 'im back without the responsi bility of what he'd do I'd 'a' beenI willin'. When me 'n' 'im got married it was so different. George, I'd 'a' picked yore pa oat of a thousand men. I was so proud of im, an' was the hap piest woman alive fer several years Lfter you was born. George, ef he gits well and serves his time out I think me 'n' 'im had better move off somers whar we don't conflict with yore Inter ests. I see my duty clearer now. I'll stick to 'im fer better or worse as long as me or 'im lives." George Buckley's head sank for an Instant, then he looked up and gazed nt her tenderly. "There is nothing. mother, that can keep me froi being with yon nd him. When his time is out we'll an live to gether. I've made up my mind on that point. le's a convict, and I want things differencf but he's my father and you are my mother, and that settles It." The old woman started away. She had reached the door, but turned back and stood near him. "George." she said huskily, "you are a good boy," and then she slowly walked away. She came in about the middle of the afternoon ready for her train, and as he was walking with her to the sta tion she surprised him with a confes sion. "I don't think I ort to keep back a thing from you. George," she said, "an' I'm goin' to tell you some'n' I did that I don't feel right about." "What was that, mother?" "George"-she looked up hesitating ly, as if dreading his displeasure-"I seed Lydia Cranston ag'in. Jest a day or two before she accepted the govern or's invite to Atlanta she driv out home in her buggy an' come in to see me. She didn't ax me not to tell you, but' I'm sure she wouldn't want you to know. She told me all about her trou ble, cryin' like 'er heart ud break. Her pa was in a critical condition an' want ed 'er to go. .n' 'er ma was dingdong in' at 'or ni.;ht an' day. She didn't say right out that she loved you, but her actions said It, an' she knowed I understood. She don't like that man a bit, but her pa wants 'er to marry 'im, an' she's afeard it will kill 'im ef she refuses. George, she axed me right out what I thought she ort to do, an' to save ny life I didn't know-I couldn't tell. She told me she loved me, George, that her own mother never'd been good to 'er an' never understood 'er an' that she'd come to me fer advice. I hugged her up In my arms, an' she sobbed like a baby, but we never got no nigher solvin' the riddle. When she went down to the big party the governor give 'er, I thought maybe she'd decid ed to marry to suit 'er folks." "She has," Buckley said, swallowing his emotion. "But let's not talk about it That's all over, mother. She and I live in absolutely different worlds." "No, you don't, nuther," said Mrs. Buckley. "She's jest a good, natural, lovin' woman that wants to do her duty accordin' to her lights, but thar s a sight agin you both, an' thar's no gittin' round It. A heap o' people blame ~A She brokec down and bcgan to cryi again. a sin like yore pa's on a child, an' that family, folks tell me, has never mixed with crime o' any sort." "It was all my fault," he answered sadly. "I ought not to have visited their house so much. My trial will come, mother, when she is Telfare's wife. I get desperate when I think of that." "Well, try not to think of it," she Her train was coming, and he went to buy her ticket. He found her a seat and then kissed her goodby. "Telegraph if you need me," he said. "'ll come on the first train." CHAPTEIt XXIX. HE next morning, when GeorgeI W was alone in the offie, a mid dIe aged, hard faced country man slouched in. skd"Is this Hllyer's warehouse?" hze "Yes," said George. "Anything I can do for you?''" "Well, not exactly for me," said the man "but old Squire Deck-I reckon' you know him, over in Gilmer?" "I know of him," George responded. "Well, he sent me to ax of you uns would let 'im put his will in your safe -that is, of you got one; the squire didn't know whether you had or not." The man was looking about the room. I don't see none, I'm shore." "It's there in the vault." George ex plained, pointing to the big steel door. "Oh, It's in thar? Well, I reckon it's good an' strong." "One of the best in the country,"? George said, leaving his hIgh stool and opening the outer door. "One o' them com-combination3 locks?" "Yes-that's it. Did you bring the paper with you? We are always glad to accommodate people." "No; I didn't fetch it. . He told me to squre. I never did like the notion 0' them combination locks, as fer's I'm concerned'' said the man. "Too many folks has got the password into 'em. Now, a good, stout key that shoves a teel bolt Into a good. strong socket is hard to beat." "'m the only one about here that knows this combination." Buckley ex plained politely. "We changi it quite often too. Even Mr. HI{llyer d"oesn't keep up with it unless I'm going away." "Oh, well, I reckon it will be safe enough, an' FIll tell the squire about it 'hen I go back." The man turned out of the wvare house, crossed the railway tracks and 'walked on till he was In the woods on he edge of the village. Here he was -et by two other men who, glancing about furtively, came out into the open o met him. George had considerable work to do that night in the office. The safe was ilready closed and the front and rear loors of the building were locked and >arred. Countrymen often came about the warehouse early in the evening, ind, as he wished to be undisturbed, he :losed the door to keep them from rnowing he was there. He also closed the heavy wooden shutters of the front windows that the light of his lamp night not show through to the street. Re worked on unconscious of the pas age of time from 8 o'clock until near midnight. Suddenly he detected a ound like the crunching of a grain of wheat under foot, and, looking round, ie saw three men standing behind him with leveled revolvers. "What does this mean?" he asked, his eyes fixed on the rigid face of the man whom he recognized as his visitor >f that afternoon. "Is this a trap?" "That's abou. the size of it, young nan," was the ctol reply. "Now, YOU ieep yore seat on that stool an' don't bat yore eye. The fool on my left's got a gun that's powerful easy on trig er, an' it's all he kin do to keep his anger up. Don't shoot 'im, Bill, till ['ve give 'im a chance." "What Is.it you want?" George asked. Re was not frightened, but the situa tion certainly was a grave one, and e felt that he had little, if any, chance 'or his life. "We axe mountain hoosiers," said the eader of the men. "but we hain't fools by a long shot. We know our business is well as you know yore'n, an' thar's o need tellin' you ef you don't git a move on yoreself an' open that safe Fou'll never open it ag'in." "That's it, then?" "Yes, that's it. This is one time when rou've got to knuckle ur git the wust )f it." George glanced toward the front loor. "You needn't be lookin' fer a way Dut." said the mountaineer, "an' you aeedu't expect the night watchman to be pacin' along by here. He's dead Irunk. I know, kase I furnished the iquor an' seed it take effect." "So you think you can force me into this thing," said George. "Do you know, I'd rather die right here than let you rob that safe while It is in my mare?" "Oh, come off; you are no fool, Buck ley. Open the safe. We are not here to palaver. At least say positive whether you will or not. I'll jest give you sixty seconds by that clock up thar. Boys, ef he don't open the safe in one minute from now pull down on m an' don't miss fer all you do. You'd ruther die, had you, Buckley? Well, we'll see if that's so or. not He's a chip off'n the old block, boys. His daddy couldn't keep his hands off'n other folks' things, an' his life wasn't at stake. He'll wilt, all right." "So that's the reason you thought rd ive in," said George, now quite pale, his lips quivering. "Well, that's one reason," said the man. "But what's the use o' talki '? Time is passin'. .est another half min ute, boys. Git ready. He may be fool enough to want to defy us." Hundreds of thoughts fashed through George Buckley's brain. There was, indeed a large amount of money In the safe; and thousands of dollars of it belonged to poor people who had brought It to him and Hillyer in abso itefath as to Its security. Could he give up their money to save his own life, and "Another quarter," said the leader of the men. "I'll count six, and ef he don't move when I say six, pull down together. Listen! That's the 12 o'clock train. Fire jest as it's passin',. boys. We won't take no resh on the sound reachin' outside." George heard the coming train. The rumble of It was .felt in the walls of the building. The mountaineer was measuring its approach by counting slowly: "One-two-three--four" "Put down your guns," said George Buckley. "No man can expect another to sacrifice his life for a little money. I've done the best I can. Put down your guns." "That's the talk, young feller. You are no fool. For a mint'i-e you tuck this thing so durn cool I thought you was goin' to commit suicide. But keep 'Im covered, boys. We don't take no chances on him, nur no other chap." "You needn't be afraid," said George, with a cold, hard smile. ."You feliows are simply too much for me. They say every man has his price; I reckon you'll give me part of die money. I want to leave the country. They will all say I was concerned In It-because of my father. Is that understood-I'm to get part?" "Yes, that's understood," said the leader eagerly. "Boys, we'll have to divide with 'Im-he's the right sort." The train rattled by. George left his stool and went to the safe. With a hand that gleamed like-that of a dea'd man's in the lamplight, he twirled the combination bolt back ~and forth; then he suddenly turned to them, passing his hand wearily over his brow. "Look here," he said. "I'll have to confess that you've rattled me. I changed the lock toda~y, and the letters of the combination have slipped my mind." "Ah!" snarled the man addressed. "You can't come that on us. Boys, he's Wyin' to gain time. He thinks we -'ayn't git in the safe. Socle it to the" "Hold on!" George held up his hand, still smiling mechanically. "Don't fly off the handle. I can figure out the combination in a few minutes If you'll only take those blasted guns off me nd stand back. I'm not made of stone. How can a man get his mind n a thing like that while you are pointing revolvers at him. Leave me alone :i minute. I'm with you, but give me a minute to collect myself-to think it out." The leader laughed. "Boys," he said, "he's scared a sight wuss 'n he looks. That's a compliment to us. Stand out side the office. I'll stay with 'im, but ef you hear the slightest noise run in." The two men did as ordered, and George sank into a chair at Hlllyer's desk. He drew a blank sheet of paper to him and dipped a pen. "Now git to wvork," said the leader, approaching and looking over his shoul George glared up at him. "Not un less you keep away from me. Get back," he demanded sharply, "or I'll throw it up." "Well, you needn't be so tetchy," and the burglar retreated to the door, where he stood leaning against the wall. George had gained his point. Under e ~retense of trying to recall the combination he had gained time for something he had In view. He was going to write a note to Hillyer and cautiously slip it Into the old man's day book on the desk. This is what he hastily penned and addressed to Hill Three unknown men have me covered with revolvers to force me to open safe. They think I am now studying out com bination. Escape impossible. I know you would rather have mue give in. but I can't The world believes the son of a. a party to the crime. m tired b the struggle anyway. I never would have committed suicide, but am not. averse to this chance to prove I despise. dishonesty. Do this one thing for me: Tell L. C. I died hoping it would show that I am an honest man. I don't believe these men .:an possibly get Into the safe, and by refusing them the combination I can save your money and the money deposited by many poor people who need it. Tell her the only hoivror I have In facing this thing tonight Is In leaving her to become that man's wife. God knows he cannot take care of her or make her happy. I discovered In Atlanta that he is a bank rupt. Tell her that "Say, are you goin' to take all night?" cried the man at the door. George deftly slid the unfnished let ter into the book on the desk and drew another sheet of paper to him. This sheet he held before his eyes as if studying It as he turned to the speaker. "I say, are you goin' to set thar all night?" repeated the burglar testily. George tore the sheet into small bits and threw them on the floor. "I've been thinking.it over," he said. "You've got the upper hand of me, but"-he stood up and leaned on the back of his chair, grasping it firmly. "I'm going to refuse." "Refuse?" "Yes, I'm going to refuse." George's fngers closed on the posts of the chair like prongs Of steel, and, swinging It upward, he sprang toward the man on guard. But he was not quick enough. With a grunt of alarm the burglar fired directly at his breast. George had seen his peril and tried to dodge, but the shot struck him in the forehead, and he reeled, tottered against the wall and fell. The others rushed In and would have fired again at the prostrate form, but their leader stopped them with a The shot struck Mma ti the forehead. motion of his hand. Kneeling, he put his -hand in the vicinity of Buckley's heart. ."That will do;" he said grimly. "He's done for. Now, git yore tools and set to work. We can't afford to miss on this job now." "I reckon not," said the man called Bill, and he hurried out into the dark ness of the warehouse. While he was creeping about over the rough, grain strewn floor with massive, crunching tread the remaining two-stood facing each other, their faces paling imder the growing realization of what had been done. "He fetched it on hisse'f," said the man with the smoking revolver. "He didn't Intend to give up the combina tion. He was playin' us to gain time an' done It well. I say that fer 'im." ,He- stepped to the office door and called out, "What In thunder are you doin' back thar?" A smothered oath was all that came to him and the jangling clatter of a pair of iron floor scales, against which the searcher for the tools had stum bled. Suddenly rapid footsteps sound ed on the sidewalk near the .front door, and a hand was laid on the latch. "George! George Buckley! What's the matter In there? Killing rats, old man?" It was Bob Hanks' voice. It was the signal for flight. The man who had gone for the tools .could be heard unbarring the door in the rear. The two in the office tiptoed out into the warehouse, and then, seeing the door open, panic seized them, and they ran for their lives. Bob Hanks heard them, and, having had no reply to his question, he suspected foul play and darted at once round the warehouse toward the back end. He was just in time to see three figures running at the top of their speed down the rail way. He pulled his revolver and fired an ineffectual shot after them. With the weapon In his hand he entered the open door and groped toward the light in the office, calling loudly for Buck ley. Reaching the office, he found George stretched upon-the nloor. Turn ing him over, he saw the wound in his head and hastily felt his heart.. "My Lord, they've killed 'im!" he gasped. Hastening to the front door, e opened It and ran out. In the hal moonlight down the street he saw a man standing motionless. "What's the matter over thar?" the man called out "Shootin' at some body, Mr. Buckley?" "Bckley's been shot!" Bob answer ed. "Run for a doctor, quick!" "My God!" the man exclaimed. "I'll be as quick as I can. Dr. 3obe's at home." When the physician came ten min utes later Bob met him at the door. "J thought he was dead just now," h4 said, "but be's still breathing." "Hold the lamp for me," said the doctor as he bent over the, wounded man, and as Bob obeyed he quickly made an examination of the wound The firm pressure of his fingers seemed to revive Buckley somewhat, for h4 groaned and began to struggle. "Is this all the wound he has?" Dr Jobe asked. "I think so," said Hanks. "I hearn only one shot" I"Are you sure of that?' "Yes, I am. I was on the far cornes Iof the vacant lot -going home.*I' pretty sure only one was fired." The doctor made another' ezalnS "Is it bad?" asked Bob anxiously. "Can't tell yet," said the doctor, "bli I think he has a good chance to pul through. He's badly stunned, but] don't think there's any fracture of thi skull. We must move him up to.Hill yer's. This is no place to nurse a maz as bad off as he is." - CAPTER XXX. SHE next morning half the vii lage dropped in to see wlib George Buckley had fallen. N one was able to say exactl: how the thing had happened. Thedo( or, while reporgthat 9.oe [CONTIrn ON NET PAGE aWvIVYflVW1ytWyyyvyuvvyyyvivvnrvivvin~~u in II SI ,desire to' direct at-' tention to the fact that I have moved into the store next door to thle 4 Manning Hardware Co. which was especially a prepared for my line of business, and I am now in a position to handle'. my increasing trade bet. ter than ever. My stock: : of Family and Fane Groceries cannot be excelled any wh. ecause I am in cons --t-touch with the:-, best of markets, and handle first grades in - everything. I am sole agent for the celebrate SLOffNEY'3 CANDIES. You will always get from me the freshestL and choicests of Fruits. I buy my Fruits in car-. load lots, and am in position to sell at whol sale prices. There is no store. in the county with a better'. stock of 1013 IRIS, NNED"GOODS, Meats,Freserves, Jeli etc. We have theb of Pickles. Olives, ads, and. -in fact every thirigc to entiejand m' C: it easy for thg house--.? keeper to prepare a good' dmner-come to see.me Th e's a D0a t ach Each End of a and thd thgesFir The first Dollar Call on us. and get one of.omrj R ED E E LOP ES, wlic~ will help yoiu to save your smal a, change. Wh en you get One Dollar, de- - posit it with us. You will find it easy enough to keep it -growing after you once begin: COME AT ONC~E Bank of Summeoton, Summerton, S., C. Undertakmng A cmlete stock -of Caskets. Coffins and F'. neral Supplies always on hand. Mv hearse will be sent to ay part of the county, and calls will be responded to by a competent funeral dire tor day or night. W. E. JENKINSON CO. R.J. FRANK GEIGER. DENTIST, MANNING, S. C. TPhone No. 6. DR. J. A COLE, DENTIST, Nettles Building. upstairs, MANNING, S-. C. C. DAVIS, ATTORNEY AT LAW MANNING, S. C. ..S. WttSON. W- C. DURANT. W. J- MU7LDROW ISON DUR~ANT & MULUROW, Atorneys and Counselors at l~uo, MANNING, S. C. OSEPH F. RHAME, ATTORNEY AT LAW, - MANNING, S. C. BringurioabWorktsThellTfim s f8