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The Man From Brodney's I* GEOKE BARR MOUOCON Copyright, 1908, by Md. Me.d ? Co. 1 ^ ^ 1 ? CEIAPTER XX. THE riABITT BALL. mlTET were not long In finding ont what had happened to Saundera. After luncheon, while Browne and the three ladies were completing the preparations for the entertainment, Misa Pel ham appeared beforo Deppingham and Chase iu the former's headquarters. She had asked for aa interview and was accompanied by Mr. Britt. "Mr. Saunders baa deceived me." she announced steadily. "I leave it to you if his attentions have not been most pronounced. Of course, if I wanted to, I could show you a transcript of everything he has said to me in the last covplo of months. He | didn't know it. tot I Managed to c*: most everything down in shorthand | I did it at the risk, too, your lordship of being considered ooid and unrespon- j sive by him. Ifa most difficult to takei conversation without the free a so of your bands, I must say. But I've pre 1 served in my own Nock and white every promise ho made and"? "I'm afraid it wm't be good evi ! dence," volunteesod her lawyer. "It; will have to bo Mitotantiated. mjl dear." "Please don't oal sae 'my dear,' Mr ' Britt. Never you mtod about K aotl being good evidaaoa Thomas 19aub ders won't enjoy toastog it read in court Just the earns What I want to j ask of you. Lord Deppingham, as a, friend is to give Mr. Britt your deposi tlon regarding Mr. Saunders' attitude toward me to the beat at your knowledge and belief. IU take it verbatim and put it into typewriting free of x- charge. I?I doa't see anything to laugh at. Mr. ChaaeP* she cried, flushing painfully. "My dear girt," be said, controlling himself. "1 think you are misjudging the magnitude of a lovers' quarrel Don't you think M te rather a poor time to talk breaah at promise wtth the guns of aa eaetay ready to take a pop at us at any ma ascot f* "It's no worso than a charity bah. Mr. Chase," she aaU severely. "Oharltjs begins at bone, guademen. and fm heps to leok out ftr myself. No aae else wK, let ma taB yoa (hat I waat to get the depaaltftea aC every peraoo in* the chateau. Thar oaa be a wars tolfeefore Mr. Hi aha, wha is a magistrate r? told. Mo oaa aaarry pssfrte and"? "By Jovei" awhlaal Deppingbaai suddenly. "Caa hot Dpoa my soair "01s manner ehapd aa soon aa that j noma unte was ii nua came im ine i chateau. I do*"! Nke the way she mafces eyes at him, and I told him so thld morning down !a the storeroom*. My. but he dew up! He said he'd be ?i If he'd marry me." She began to use her handkerchief rigorously. The men smiled as they looked away. "I?I Intend to sne him for breach of promise," she said thickly. "Is It as bad as all that?" asked Depplngham consolingly. "What do you mean by 'bad as all that?' He's kissed me time and again, but that's all." "I'll send for Sannders," said Depplngham sternly. "Not while I'm here," she exclaimed. "Just as you like. Miss Pelhain. I'll send for you after we've talked it over with Saunders. We can't afford a scandal in the chateau, don't you know." "No. I should think not," she said pointedly. Then she looked at Chase and winked, with a meaning nod at the unobserving Deppingham. Chase followed her into the hall. "None of that. Miss relkam," he said severely. Saunders came in a few minutes later, nervous and uncomfortable. "You sent for me, U13' lord," he said weakly. "Sit down. Saunders. Your knees seem to be troubling you. Miss Pelhain is going to sue you for breach of promise." "Good Lord!" "What have you promised her?" "That I wouldn't marry her; that's all, sir," floundered Saunders. "She's got no right to presume, sir. Gentlemen always indulge in little affairsflirtations. I might say, sir. It's most common. Of course I thought she'd understand." "Don't you love inr, Saunders?" "OluJ say. iny lord, thut's rather a pointed question, ary word, it is, sir. There may hare been a bit of?er? well, you knew?belweeu us* sir, but? that's all. that's quite all. absurdly all. 'pon my soul." "Saunders." said Brltt solemnly, "I am her attorney. Be careful what you say in my presence." "Britt," said Saunders distinctly, "you are a blooming traitor. You told me yourself that she was used tc all that sort of thing and wouldn't mind. Now see wuui you uu: in?us outrageous." lie was half In tears. Then, turning to Deppiugham, ht went on fiercely: "I won't be bally ragged by any woman, sir. We got along beautifully until she began to shy figurative pots at me because Sellm's wife looked at me occasionally. Hang it all, sir, I can't help it if the ladles choose to look at me. Minnie?Miss Peiham ? was perfectly silly about it. Good Lord!" he groaned in recollection. "It was a very trying scene she made, sir. More than ever it made me realise that I can't marry beneath me." "Saunders," said Lord Deppingham sternly "she loves you. I don't understand why or how, but she does. Just because you have obtained an exalted social position at ITnmmersmith Bridge is no reason you should become a snob. I dare say she stands just as well at Brooklyn bridge as yon do at Hammersmith. She's a fine girl and would be an adornment to you such as Hammersmith could be proud of. If you want my candid opinion, Skuadeee, I think you're a silly ass!" "Do yon really, my load?" quite humbly. "Shan l prove it to yoei ny evo*j man on the place? Miss Peiham If quite good enough for any one of us. I'd be proud to have her as my wife? If I lived at Hammersmith Bridge." "You amaze me. sir!" "She's a very pretty girl," volunteered Chase glibly. "Oh, she could marry like a flash in Now York," said Britt "A dozen men I know of are crazy about her?good looking chaps too." Tht sarcasm escaped Saunders, who was fidgeting uncomfortably. "Of course, you know, the breaking of the engagement?I should say the row?wasn't of my doing," ha submitted. pulling at his finger joints nerv oust J. "I'm afraid It can't be patched np either," said Brltt dolefully. "She's been insulted., you see." "Saunders, we can't have our only romance marred by a breach of promise suit," said bis lordship resolutely. "There has simply cot to be a wedding in the end or the whole world will hate us. So far you bare t>eec our price young lover. Tou are the undisputed hero. Don't spoil everything at the last moment, Saunders. Patch It up and lefa hare a wedding la the last hapter. Tou should net forgot that it was you who advocated moltimarriage. Try It once for yourself, and If you like It, by Jere, well all eemt te your succeeding marriages and bleat you, no matter how maay wives you take unto yourself." Saunders, vary much impressed by these confidences, bowed himself out of the room, followed by Brltt, of whom be implored help la the effort te bring about a recosefltattea. He waa sorely distressed by Brltfs apparent reluctance to compromise the rase without mature deliberates. The charity ball began at 10 o'deek, schedule time, Drastlla Browne, asserting herself as an American matron. tDBisted that the invitation list should include the lowly as well as the mighty. She had her way. and as a result the bank employees, the French maids, Antolne and the two eorporals of Rapp-Thorberg'a Royal guard appeared on the floor in the grand march directly behind Mr. Brltt, Mr. Saunders and Miss Pelham. "One cannot discriminate at the ebarlty ball," Drusllla stoutly maintained. "The hoi pollol and the riffraff always get in at home, so why not here?" "I shall feel as If I were dancing with my greengrocer," lamented Lady Agnes. Later on, when the dancing was at its height, she exclaimed with all the fervor of a charmed Imagination: "I feel as the Duchess do What'sher-name must have felt. Bobby, when she danced all night at her own ball and then dressed for the guillotine Instead of going to bed. We may all be shot iD the morning." The Indian fakers and showmen gave | a performance In the courtyard at midnight. They were followed by the Bedouin tumblers and the Inspired Persians, who danced with frantic abandon. There was but one unfor ; tunate accident. Mr. Rivers. formerly i of tl:e bank, got very tight and foil | down the stops loading to the court; yard, breaking Ids left arm. Lord Deppingbam and Chase kept I their heads. They saw to it that the i watch over the grounds and about the i chateau was strictly maintained. The former led the grand march with the princess. She was more ravishingly beautiful than ever. Hollingsworth Chase was dazzled. Something seemed j to shout coarsely, scotlingly into his j ear: "Now do you realize the distance that lies between? She was made for J kings and princes, not for such as I yon!" I / lie waited long before presenting himself In quest of the dance he hungered for so greedily?afraid of her! She greeted him with a new, brighter light In her eyes. A quirer of delight long in restraint came into her Tolce. ITe uv and felt the welcome In her manner. The blood surged to his head. He mumbled his request Then, for the flrat time, he was clasping her flngera. touching her waist, drawing her gently toward his heart Onct as they swept aronnd the almost empty ballroom she looked up Into his eyes. Neither had spoken. FTls lips parted suddenly, and his fingers closed down upon hers. She saw the danger light In his eyes and knew the unuttered words that struggled to his Hps and stopped there. She never knew why she did It, but she Involuntarily shook her head before she lowered her eyes. He knew what she meant His heart turned cold again, and the distance widened once mom to the old proportions. He left her with Bobby Brown? and went out upon the cool, starlit balcony. There he gently cumed himself for a fool, a dolt, an Idiot The shouts of laughter and the clapping of bands on the Inside did not draw him from his unhappy reverie. He did not know until afterward that the official announcement of the engagement of Miss Minnie Pelham and Tbomaa Saunders was made by Bobby Browne and the health of the couple drunk In a series of bumper*. CWaa's bitter reflections were nt Hmi disturbed by a sound that cam* sharply to his attention. The nols* onm* from directly below where he ateod. He peered over th* stone railing. The terrace was barely ten feet below him. A mass of bushes fringed th* htm of the wall, dark, thick, fragrant The Beit moment a dark figure ahot eat from the shadowe and flunk off lnt* night, followed by another and another and yet others, sev*n in alL Then the truth suddenly dawned ipon him. The prisoners bad aoeaped S ik. dwmmeAwf irvuj ium uuufwu. He dashed into the ballroom and shouted tbe alarm. Confusion ensued. "There's been treachery," he explained quickly. "Some on* baa released the prisoners. We must keep them from reaching the walls. They will eTerpower our guards and open tbe gates to the enemy. Britt, see that the searchlight Is trained on the gates. We muet stop those fellows before it la too lata. Time enongh t<? hunt for the traitor later on." Twe minutes later a swarm of armad meo forsook the mock charity ball and sallied forth to engage in realities. Firing wes eoon beard at the western gate, half a mile away. Thither tbe eager pursuers rushed. The wide ray frea the searchlight swung down upon this gate and repealed the forme of etruggllag mem. The prisoners bad fallen suddenly ago* tbe two Greeks who guarded tbe water a gate, surprising them cleverly. Beth fell under the clubbed guns of their adversaries. Chase and Sellm were mot more than a hundred yards away when the Oreeke went down. Tbe blinding glare ef the searchlight aided the purMM, whe kept outside its radios. The fugitive*, bewildered, eenfuaed by tbe bright glare in which they found themselves, faced tbe light boldly, five ef them hassling with guas raised to protect their two companions who started across the narrow strip, which separated them from tbe massive gate. Sellm gave a shout and stopped suddenly, throwing his rifle to his shoulder. "They have the keys!" he cried. "Shootr His rifle cracked a second later, and one of the two men leaped into the air and fell like a log. Cha9e understood the necessity for quick work and fired an instant later. The second man fell in a heap thirty feet from the gate. His companions returned tne fire at random in the direction from which the well aimed shots had come. "Under cover!" shouted Chase. He and Selim dropped into the shrubbery in time to escape a withering fire from outside the gates. The searchlight revealed a compact mass of men beyond the walls. It was then that the insiders realized how near they had come to being surprised and destroyed. A minute more, aud the gates would have been opened to this merciless horde. The prisoners, finding themselves trapped, threw themselves upon the ground and shrieked for mercy. Lord Dcppitigham and the others came up and. scattering well, began to fire at the mass cutside the wall. The islanders were at a disadvantage. They could not locate the opposing marksmen on account of the blinding light in their faces. It was but a moment before they were scampering off into the dark wood, shrieking with rage. Tl.e five fugitives were compelled to carry their fallen comrades and the two Greeks from the open space in front of the pates to a point where it was safe for the defenders to approach them without coming in line with a possible volley from the forest. "Under cover!" shouted. Chase. jl smkil force was left to gunrd the gate. The remainder returned as quickly as poeeible to the chateau. Immediately upon the return to the chateau as Inspection of the dungeons wae made, prior to an examination of the servants in the effort to apprehend the traitor. The three men who went down into the damp, chin regions below ground soon returned with set, pals faces. There bed bees do traitor! Tbe man whose duty it was to guard the prisoners wee found lying inside the big cell, his throet cut from ear to ear, stoae daad! He had beeu seized from within aa be came to the gratlsg in reeponee te a call. While certain fingers choked him Into silence, others held his hands, and still others wrenched the keys from his sash. After that it was easy. Depplngbam, Chase and Befim looked at each other In horror, and, strange as It may seem, relief. Death was there; but, after all, death is no traitor. _ (To be continued.) YOU TAKE yO BISK. Oar Reputation and Money Are Back of This Offer. tlf? ??? ?11 virt mofhoino nanrl YY C yckj iUl an uig uituiwuv uuvu during the trial, if our remedy falls to completely relieve you of constipation. We take all the risk, You are not obligated to us in any way whatever, if you accept our offer. Could anything be more fair for you? Is there any reason why you should hesitate to put our claims to a practical test? The most scientific, common-sense treatment is Rexall Orderlies, which are eaten like candy. They are very pronounced, gentle and pleasant in action, and particularly agreeable in every way. 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Malloy and Edwin Malloy, Copartners, trading as Malloy & <Je., Plaintiffs, against John Perdue Defendant Notice of Sale by Master. In obedience to a decree of Mfl Honor, Judge S. W. G. Shipp, made at Chesterfield on the Sth day of Manfc, 1911, in the above entitled case, I offer for 6ale at Chesterfield Cowt House, on the first Monday (3rd) ef April, next, within the legal hour* ef estate, to wit: "All tho porfoin no rnnl a* tract of land situate, lying and beteg in the State and County aforesaid, o?ataining one hundred and fifty (156) acres, more or less, lying on the North side of Little Juniper creek, knows as the northern part of the Alex M?Intosh land, bounded on the North by lands of J. C. Winburn; on the NorihEast by lands of J. C. Wilks; on SomMk by waters of Little Juniper Crosfe; and on South-West by lands of Patience Stricklin. For further description see deed of Arnold Perdue to John Perdue, rocorded in office of the Clerk of Coart for Chesterfield County, in Book IS, page 632. Terms of sale cash. P. A. MURRAY, JR. Master of Chesterfie d Countr. State of South Carolina, County of Chesterfie'd. Court of Common PleM. John Sellers. Plaintiff, against William Wilson, Lizzie Sellers, Petar Sellers, Ben, Sellers, Duncan Sailers, fjllis Sellers, Anna <Selle?r, Francis Sellers, Nancy Sellers, Mi ry Elizabeth Sellers, Rebesco So lers, Nellie Sellers, William Sell*'*, Nelson Sellers, and Cora Lee Sailers, Defendants. , < Notice of Sale by Master.. Pursuant to a decree of His Honor, Judge S. W. G. Shipp, made at Chesterfield, on the 9th day of March, 1911. I will offer for sale before the town hall, in Cheraw, S. C., on Tuesday, April 4th, next, between the legal hours of sale, the following described real estate: A certain tract of land, situate, lying and being in the above State and County, being two-fifths (2-5) of a tract Of land convcve.1 to Ren Sally-*-r by W. ETTr Prince, bydeedP^3^?r 23rd Octobsr, 1879, adjoining blinds now owned by Yorke Sellers and Ruby McFarlan and Charles Sellers. This being the' part of a tract of Forty (40) acres, more or less, that has not been sold. The same being situated near the town of Cheraw, on the Cheraw and Camden road. A plat of said land will be exhibited on day of sale, or can be seen at the . office of the undersigned. Terms of sale cash. P. A. MURRAY, JR. Master of Chesterfield County. PRICES REDUCED ON rt-nnn B&tLt Having bought for cash some very fine Beef Cattle we are going to 41 vide the benefit with onr customers, and from now on until farther notice, onr prices on Beef will be as follows: Prime Bonnd Steak 17e Best Boast I7? 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