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r" " i •. I „ • i . ■ -. 1 ■ ■ ^ j . .< • . . . . _£■ ;" .' i — • JUT"-' : , ■ v : v 1 > ~.i • ,. ^ sV>/r<«y ~T?t- V. ; ■ ‘ • U l IT, ■i- A. PAGE EIGHT ; THE CLINTON CHRONICLE, CLINTON, S. C THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1927 *6^ Meredith Nicholson OCP7RIGHT CHARLES SCRIBNERS SONS - RELEASED THRU PUBLISHERS .ifesfr ALrrOCASTZR Si INTRODUCTION defaulter, perhaps? No? Then let^em over while I'm working on the] car. ■A No other girl had ever roused him so much, or g}ven him so good reason for standing off and taking a look at him self. He wondered what she would say if-she could see him, joy-riding in a stolen car. His thoughts of her had led him far afield when the Governor remarked ruminatively: . “Do you.manage to see her? That’s the devil of it in my case! The lady’s forbidden to recognize me in any way and her father is a tart old party and keeps sharp watch of her. I can’t see her and the regular mails are closed to us. Nevertheless we have an arrangement by which if she ever needs me or thinks I can serve her in any way she’s to leave a note in a cer tain place. It’s her own idea and very pretty.” As dawn brake the whistle and rum- jble of a.train caused the Governor to stop the car and dive into his pockets Archibald Bennett, wealthy bache- it £0 at murder, thought I confess you lor. travels constantly in the interest don’t look as though you would have of his health. He meets Isabel Perry, a stomach for homicide.” who recommends a life of crime, ad-j* “I came damned near getting pinch- venture. romance and excitement as a ed!” asserted Archie stoutly. “The cure for his nerves. Archie goes to j cops back there in that town gave me | well. He wondered what Isabel would Bailey Harbor to investigate a sum-'a hard run for it. I was just crawling say if she knew that he had already mer house for his sister. A heavy ! through the window of a drug store ! slipped the leach that bound him'to storm forces him to spend the night | when here comes a chap tiptoeing'convention and performed even more,— — there. During the night he is awaken-! through the alley, and I bolted for the reckless deeds than she had prescrib- ped, opened a gate and ran the car ed by footsteps, and in an encounter tall timber as hard as I could spring, ed for him. " 1 .through a barnyard and into an empty In doffing the clothing he had ac quired "honestly and substituting stol-! for time tables of which he carried a en raiment, it was almost as though j large supply. He scanned one and Archie were changing his character as hummed his satisfaction. “We’ll get rid of this machine right now as there’s $ station over there a little way where we can pick up a lo- a chap tiptoeing' convention and performed even more cal right into Portsmouth. He stop- with the intruder, who sees Archie’s The fire bell rang, and the whole town figure reflected in the mirror and woke up. There’ll be a whole army shoots. Archie fires in return, wound-, looking for me; and if your friend ing the intruder, who makes his es- Hoky’s been killed they’ll be keen to > turn. “What do you make of cape. Archie plans flight to evade pinch me as another member of the | Found it in the car. “Wfell, I must say you’re a credit shed, to our gents’ clothing department!”] “Now for a brisk walk!” They cross- remarked the Governor upon his re- j ed the railroad and were soon buying this ? ; tickets from a sleepy stationmaster. i They alighted at Portsmouth without publicity. afoot. He starts cross-country gang. The Governor listened’ patiently. “An amateur, I take it?” he remarked. “Hell, no,” grumbled Archie scorn fully. “But I always play the game mishap, and Archie wired his sister that the Congdon house would not do. Then he redeemed his suitcase in the check room and joined the Governor. They drove to the hotel, where they commanded the best service of the inn. The Governor registered elaborately wrote Archie down as Ashton Cpmly, He extended a crumpled telegram which read: Bailey Harbor, Maine. ■\rchie Meets “The Governor” “Hell, no,” grumbled Archie scorn- June 11, 1917. The first glimmer of dawn was fully. “But I always play the game j Putney Congdon, breaknig over a gray world, when a alone; I never had any use for pals. Thackery Club, N. Y. curious whistle, a long pipe and then They get in the way.” j I am offering the house for rent, a short quick one. in the roadside a] “Wrong, my boy; wrong! A good , Shall take every precaution to pro- little way ahead brought Archie to a partner like me is essential. As for tect my children from your brutality, j as Reginald Heber Salusbury and halt. He drew his gun from his over- myself, I rarely venture to expose] A. B. C. indocating the residence of both as coat pocket and stood perfectly quiet, myself in these little affairs; but I, Archie felt the hut whirling around New York. In a few seconds the whistle was re- advise and counsel the brethren. You him. What he held was beyond ques-j At the breakfast table, the Gover- peated and Archie, grown suddenly haven’t the judgment of a month-old tion the reply of Mrs. Congdon to ] nor scanned a local paper and with bold, checked an impulse to fly and infant. A stormy night always makes 1 her husband’s telegram that had been ! a chirrup passed it? to Archie, point- imitated, iC A man rose from behind ..... _ wall on the right and walked toward but not for discretion. You should al- ( Bailey Harbor immediately to put in- i Maine.” Archie’s eyes fell upon the him. Iways ask me about such things.” (to effect his threat to abduct his child. J bizarre photograph of a dead man “That you. Hoky?” he called sharp- “I’m sorry,” replied Archie meekly, it might have been Congdon he had with which the page was illustrated. honest householders wakeful. Your at- left lying on the dinner* table. And ing to a double column headline, which a stone tempt, my son, speaks for courage, if Congdon had left New York for 1 read, “A Carnival- of Burglary in '-,1 ly, peering through the mist. Seeing that h£ was not Hoky but a stranger with a pisotl, he sprang for- “that I didn’t run into you sooner k ” ] shot—not Hoky. (and he choked on a fragment of grape- ‘The loss is mine!” cried the Cover-| The Governor’s ceaseless flow of fruit as he read the inscription: nor heartily. “But let us be practical. ^ talk fortunately diverted his thoughts , “Dead Thief, Identity Unknown.” ward and vrenched the gun from Ar- We must make a long jump, son, for to more cheerful channels, and he “That’s poor old Hoky, all right,” chic's hand. ] the coast will ring with this, particu- 1 obeyed with alacrity a hint that he murmured the Governor, buttering a “Stop squeajing! Bad enough for ' larly if Hoky is lying cold at the un-' prepare luncheon. After this had been piece of toast reflectively. “As you you to fool me with that whistle with- dertaker’s.” j consumed the Governor suggested a] seem to be entranced with the liter- out pulling a gun. Now you get right! He walked off briskly with Archie game of chess, produced a set of ivory ary style of our Bailey Harbor cor over there by the fence where I’m close beside him. | chessmen .from a cupboard and soon, respondent, I shall take the liberty of pointing and we’ll consider matters a “When Hoky persisted in his ill- proved himself a skillful player. I helping you to a fried egg.” little.” ! chosen enterprise I lifted a little road-j At the end of two hours the Gover-J However, Archie’s appetite was “1 was just walking to Portsmouth,” ster that I’ve tucked away down here nor declared that they must take a pretty effectually-spoiled by this par- began Archie in a blithe tone he hoped , in a peaceful lane. Thought I’d be all; nap before setting out and turned into agraph: would prove convincing. His captor ready to give the old boy a long pull one of the berths. He was soon snor-[ -“And odd circumstance, more or less laughed ironically. |for freedom when he canje back, but ing. Archie kicked about restlessly remotely connected with the killing “Now you listen to me! You’ve been !—!” |for a time, but finallylsljept—-only to ■ of the burglar in the fashionable col- up to something, so don’t tell me that j Sure enough, the roadster was there, .wander through a wild phantasmago- 'ony, still remains to be explained. Of- you’re taking a little before-breakfast and the Governor became suddenly a ria of crime. ! ficer Yerkes shortly before two stroll to Portsmouth to work up an man of action. Kneeling down he de- j “To gain or lose it all,” he was o’clock, the hour at which the thief appetite. In the first place, have you , tached a New York license tag from j stammering as he opened his eyes., was shot, in Mr. Cummings’home, saw seen a man about your size along the the machine, drew from his pocket a' But it was not Isabel he was address- road anywhere' “Not a soul ^mnlv. a man hurrying throu'gh Water street. | Maine tag and attached it, humming 1 ing, but his confederate, blandly smil- He bore the appearance of a gentle declared Archie sol-: meanwhile. Hng. * j man, and the officer did not accost “The rural police haven’t learned ^ “The boy quotes poetry!” exclaimed t him, thinking him a yachtsman from “Mighty queer Hoky doesn’t turn! this simple device,” he explained, as the Governor. “Archie, you’ve come 1 one of ^he boats in the harbor who »d tag skimming! in answer to my prayers! Together I had been visiting friends ashore. The up! I warned the beggar against these i he sent the discarded tag skimming ^ stia-side villas; they’re all outfitted : into a corn field. He jumped in and with fancy burglar alarms that make hade Archie take the seat beside him. a deuce of a row when you step on ! The car was soon bumping mei^rily the wire. It rings a gong loud enough over a rough rode that wound through to wake the dead on then some chap a pine wood. They followed a gross- jumps out of bed and turns on all the grown trail that ended abruptly at an lights in the house and very, likely abandonend lumber camp Together! we shall drink of the fount of Cas- talia. We shall chum with Appollo and the Muses Nine. But the gods call us elsewhere. We’ll snatch a bite and be off! And we’ve got a job all wait- man walked oddly, pausing now and then as though in pain, and was carry ing his right hand upon his left shoul der. This morning drops of blood were found on the board walk crossed ing for us. One of the brotherhood by the stranger, and it is believed that has commissioned me to dig up some this Was another of the burglar gang « pens up with a gun before you can j “We’ll shoot the car around behind boodle he’s planted over in New who was wounded in a srtuggle some say Jerusalem. But Hoky thought he j that pyramid of sawdust and walk a knew better.” Archie clutched at the^STTmcf'fence against which his captor had pushed him and-his-biTath came in long gasps. “You mean,” he faltered, "that you Icar your frier<1 has been shot!” is exactlv bit to stretch our legs,” the Governor informed Archie. There was po trace of a path where he struck off into the woods, but he strode along with the easy confidence of one who is sure of jhis destination. They brought up pres- “That, my dear, is exactly what ently beside a brook and in a moment troubles me!” i more reached a log hut planted on the Archie’s tongue clung to the roof edge of the high bank, of his mouth as he tried to murmur “What do you think of that, Sir his sympathy for the-stranger’s sor- Archibald?” inquired the Governor row. The thought that he was prob- carelessly. Then, a’s Archie paused, he ably talking to the accomplice of the added. “Oh, your name.” Perfectly man he had shot was terrifying; the'easy! Archibald Bennett was neatly stranger seemed enormously fond of sewed in your coat pocket by your tai- Hampshire. You may recall the inci-; where in the interior and was seeking dent. Red Leary, a rare boy, held up , the help of his confederate, presum- an express messenger and sauntered ably the man shot in the Cummings off with fifty thousand dollars in new house. bank notes fresh from the treasury. J As the paper fell from Archie’s Do you follow me ? hands the Governor took it up. “He hid it somewhere and wants ] “You seem agitated, Archie! You your help in recovering it?” I must learn to conceal your feelings!” “Right the first time! That cash j He read the paragraph and glanced is tucked away in the cellar of a ] quickly at Archie. church and by this time tomorrow, „ Your WQrkf p 08g i b ly?” murmured night well have it, all ready for old: the Governor “Compose yourself. Red and check the item from our tab-] ^ afraid yQU , ied to me ab(iut the leLs ' , , „ , < drug store. He held up his hand warn- ‘But the numbers of those notes are TeH me nothinK! But if W e’v e m every hank in the country; the po- ^ murder behind U8 we shall cer . Hoky and if he knew that he had with- lor as I observed when I rubbed my j lice are only waiting for the bills t0 i taTnly be ^most circumspect in our over your waist-coat to see if get into circulation to pounce on the , v- in his grasp the person responsible hanis ov< get thief.” for Hoky’s failure to return from his you wore a badge.” visit to Bailey Harbor he would very j "1 pot these duds out of a suitcase likely make haste to avenge his I sneaked—and that’s no name of i you, my son! That point had given “I am more and more delighted with movements. You interest me more land more, Archie. I congratulate you jon your splendid nerve.” ftiemi’s death. It seemed to Archie ' mine,” Archie explained hurriedly, still; me no little worry. But something 1 Archie s nerve was nothing he cou d tbar the gods were playing strange anxious to convince the Governor that. will turn up; there will be a way outi a ^ rn ' re bimself, but a second cup o tricks upon him indeed. The man’s he was a thief. I of the difficulty. Chuck your old duds warm „. V 1 ^ 0 . 8 vl ^ a ‘ s aaa speech was not the argot he had as- “Very careless of you not to rip out into the creek and cdose-Hnr'Wihddws.^ ne ret ' ovcre d sufficiently to pay the, sumed from his reading bf crook sto- the label. Men have been hanged on I We’ll hit the long trail!” breakfast check. If it was Congdon; ries to be the oojnmon utterance of the slighter evidence. But Archibald is underworld. There was something at- not a name to sneeze at, and I rather tractive in the fellow. He carried like Archie, so Archie I shall continue himself jauntily, and his cleanshaven, to call you. Now, we’ll see What we rounded fabe and fine gray eyes would can do to shake up a breakfast.” not have suggested his connection He drew out a key and opened the with burglary. He was an engaging door of a hut. >brt of person, and Archie decided sud- “Not a bad place, Archie. I stum- denly that the man might be of ser- bled upon it a couple of years ago vice to him. He was in pressing need quite by accident and use it occasion- ■of a change of clothes, but he was in no condition to proceed to Portsmouth to redeem his suitcase; an impression that was confirmed unexpectedly by his captor. “You will pardon my candor, but you certainly look like the devil. Let me introduce myself to you as the Governor. Among the powers that prey that is my proud cognomen, not to say alias. Now please be frank, what mischief brings you here at this hour?” Archie gave serious thought to his answer. If he could convince this per- .son that he was a crook he would be less likely to suspect that he had been the instrument of Hoky’s undoing. “I’ve got to make a getaway and be in a hurry about it,” declared Ar chie in a confidential air. “A little trouble of some sort, eh? It rather occurred to pie that you were promenading for mere pleasure/’ jvernor, “A fashionable ally.” He opened a cupboard reveal ing a quantity of provisions, and they prepared their'breakfast. CHAPTER IV “My friend,” said the Governor so berly as they rose from the table, “we have dipped our hands in the same dish and broken bread together. I don’t mind saying that you’re a like able chap. I’ll be a good pal to you and I ask you to be straight with me. Are we friends or —” He put out his hand and Archie grasped it. “All * right, Archie—for* such you shall be to the end of the chapter, whether you lied about it or not. And now letfs deal with practical affairs. I’m going to spend the afternoon on that stolen machine. I’ll paint ’er white to symbolize ouy purity, There’s an assortment of clothes the boy? have left from time to time. You cap pick Out of the woods and once more on j s ^ ot was hope, a smooth highway, the stolen car sp ed | encoura S ed b y the newspaper, that the like a frightened ghost through the wounded man was in no haste to re- starry night. The Governor drove P ort h,s ,n J ur >' t( J the P°i ,ce - Ar- with the assurance of a man who! thie fouad llttle comfort in the knows what he’s about. Occasionally ; tbou K b t that somewhere in the world the Governor lifted hfs voice in songs there was a man he had shot and per- of unimpeachable literary and musical ba P s fatally w'ounded. quality that rang sonorously above ' He must conceal his anxious concern the hum of the engine. jfrom the Governor; for more than ev- They struck a stretch of road under , er he must rely upon his strange repair and slowing up the Governor i friend for assistance in escaping from remarked carelessly as he picked his way through a line of red lanterns: “Speaking of women, my dear, Ar chie, do you share the joy of the lyric poets in the species? It occurs to me that you have probably had many af fairs. I’m thirty-four but I’ve loved only one woman. And strange as it may seem, she’s a bishop’s daughter.” This confidence made it incumbent upon Archie to make some sort of re ply. The Governor would probably be disappointed in him if he confessed the meagreness of his experiences. “Well, I’m in the same boat,” he answered glibly. “There’s only one girl for me!” This reference to Isa bel Perry, remote and guarded as it was, he defended (jjrty on the ground that it was necessary in some way to meet the Governor half-pray in his confidences. And it was no lie that he sincerely ^believed that he loved her. the consequences of the duel in the Congdon cottage. (To be continued next week.) SEED GRAINS OF , ALL KINDS See us for what you need. We are offering Barley, Rye, Seed Wheat, Texas, Apeler and 100 to 1 Oats. We invite all farmers to call and see us and let us serve you. Our prices are right and your business will be appreciat- ed. V-.-v vVY • . Farmers’ Exchange T. J. BLALOCK, Prop. Clinton, 5,. C. BH1 Sul -l. •JtsiL I l I, • How best can I trade in my present car for a new car?" 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