Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

BEGINNING THE STORY, FOR NEW READERS Roberta Antrim, beautiful Eastern society girl, who lives with her unole, William B. Latham, known as "Crooked Bill" because of his amusing slyness, receives a telegram from Jaime Miguel Hlguenes, owner of the Rancho Valle Verde, ifi Texas, Informing her her Uncle Tom Antrim has died a violent death. At the advice of Qlenn Hackett, who Is in love with her, Roberta plans to go to Texas to protect her interests, since she Is her uncle's sole heir to thou sands of sheep which Antrim had impudently driven to graze on land controlled by Don Jaime. Don Jaime, unmar ried and romantic, half Spanish and half IrUh, Is attracted to Roberta's picture in a magazine. Antrim Is warned to take his sheep off Don Jaime's ranch at once. Antrim ambushes Don Jaime. The young ranch owner Is wounded and Tom Antrim killed. On his body are found Instructions to notify Miss Roberta Antrim In the event of his death. An other Hlguenes' telegram tells Roberta her uncle was killed by Jim Hlgglns (Don Jaime's anglicized name). Latham tells her his fortune is in danger, and she decides to go to Texas to got Antrim's/estate, to save it. Don Jaime invites Mrs. Qanby, his nurse, and her crippled son Robbie, to stay at his ranch with the Idea of preserving the proprieties if Roberta, as he hopes, visits the ranch. "Crooked Bill" lets bis niece believe he has lost his fortune, furthering a scheme he hopes will forward Hackett's courtship. HTtckett, despite misgivings, "plays up" to Uncle Bill's scheme for Influencing Roberta in his favor. Don Jaime, actuated chiefly by his romantlo Interost in the pictured Roberta, allows the Antrim sheep to continue to graze on his ranch. W CHAPTER V? Continued "I know you're not, dear Uncle Bill. You're a perfectly good old sport. I have Just had a long telegram from my lawyer In Los Algodones, Texas. He Informs me that the affairs of Uncle Tom's estate are In excellent shape and that he died leaving even more sheep than was at first suspect ed. There are about ten thousand lambs that will soon be ready for mar ket and which should bring ten dollars a head and there are upwards of/ a hundred thousand pounds of excellent wool worth thirty cents a pound ? Why, It would seem that Uncle Tom's estate will run close to half a million dollars. We should worry and grow wrinkles and gray hair, darling." The butler announced dinner ? and between the fish and the roast, as per agreement, Glenn Hackett com menced to question Crooked Bill ad roitly as to the exact nature of his operations In the market. Roberta noted a grim little smile playing across Hackett's Puritanical face from time to time, so presently, with her cus tomary Impulsiveness, she asked him to share the Joke with them. "It's on your Uncle Bill," he replied. "It is my duty to inform you, Bobby, that your Uncle Bill Is an antedilu vian Idiot who can't see the woods for the trees. If he could he'd see a path out of this mess he's In ? a path as wide as the boardwalk at Atlantic City. Let us eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow Uncle Bill will no longer be a financial corpse. He will have ' commenced his resurrection." "How are you going to save Uncle Bill?" Roberta demanded. Hackett proceeded to outline to her, patiently and In words of one syllable, his plan for the salvation of Crooked Bill. ' "I understand perfectly, Glenn," Ro berta said when at last he finished. ?'You're a wonderful, wonderful friend." "The plan Is vetoed," Crooked Bill declared virtuously. "Friendship will bear up under anything except the Indorsement of notes or the swift heavy touch." "But, Uncle Bill?" Uncle Bill raised his leonine head and his cold, steel-gray eyes flickered murderous lights at her. "There will be no further dlscosslon of this un pleasant subject," he informed her coldly. When Crooked Bill looked and spoke tn thnt tone of voice. Roberta knew from experience that obedience was In cumbent upon her. Her eyes filled with tears ; In a tremulous voice she begged to be excused and withdrew. Crooked Bill's wild eyebrows went up as the girl left the room. "She's as big a crook as I am," he declared proudly. "She Isn't at all distressed She's Just pulling the old stuff? not on me this time, but on you, my boy. She expects you to follow her out and com fort her. I)o not disappoint her. For- | ward 1" "Are you quite certain she wouldn't prefer to be left alone, Mr. Latham? She's all upset." "Listen to me, son. 1 know my onions. The girl's play-acting. Vam ose 1" Glenn Hackett "vamosed." Within five minutes ho returned with Roberta on his arm. \ "Hum I" Crooked Bill reflected. "And she spont at least a minute making up her face I Four minutes to put over her loving plot against me. The little crook 1" lie beamed upon U "I'm so sorry I spoke crossly to ?kiny little girl," he announced with ^hypocritical unction. V ? Bobby kissed him fondly and gave him a little hug. Crooked Bill was not one to gum up his own finely laid plans, and presently, with a full realization of the truth of the old adage that three l4 a crowd, he withdrew to his room, leavlpg Glenn Hackett to make what progress he could with the rebellious Roberta. fcut Crooked Bill did not retire. He || emoked until ten o'clock, at which \ hour he knew Glenn Hackett, a crea ture of habit, would depart for the City. So Crooked Bill went down the back stairs, crossed the lawn and waited for Hackett at the entrance to Jp* Xnilcrest. "Did It work?" he de manded. V.,-; "Overtime," Hackett responded. MWae she nice to you after I left?" "Well ? er ? ah ? Platonic." "Agghl" Crooked Bill growled deep In hie throat, like an aged tiger. "Go home, yon Jellyflfth, You'd he a bach |' el or In the South Sea Island*? and on ?n Island where they practice polyan Thoroughly disgusted he returned to the house. He had a presentiment that Fate was. In a manner of speak ing, stacking the cards against him. Next morning Crooked Bill caught an early train to the city, explaining that the sooner he swept up the frag ments of his scattered fortunes the better for all concerned. Roberta motored In a little Inter and went at once to Glenn Hackett's ofllce, where he prepared and she signed a formal assignment of all of her right, title and Interest in and to her Uncle Tom's estate to Hackett, for and In consideration of certain moneys to be advanced to her by Llackett. "Now, then, Roberta." Hackett said when the document was signed, "you understand that this is a business deal from first to last. Not a speck of sentiment in it so far as I am con cerned. While you have given me security for the funds I am to ad vance. it may be that I will be called upon to advance a sum in excess of the total value of your Uncle Tom's estate. Consequently, it is of the ut most Importance that the estate should be administered wisely and conserved. I have looked up your lawyer at Los Algodones, Don Prudenclo Alvlso, and he appears to have an excellent record for probity but is a poor busi ness man. If I ? " "He assures me Don Jaime Miguel Higuenes is most reliable and is doing alj that anybody can do to conserve the estate," Roberta hastened to as sure Hackett. "I know. But the thought occurs to me: Why is Don Jaime Miguel Higuenes taking all this trouble? What do you mean to him? He is a cattleman, so why Bhould he bother with your sheep? My dear Bobby, I am highly suspicious of that fellow." I Bobby's lip dro.oped. She had not thought of Don Jaime in that light be fore, and her common sense warned her that there might be more than a modicum of truth in Hackett's sus picions. He saw the doubt he had planted burgeoning, and hastened to aid Its growth. "As I told you before, It is impos sible for me to go to Texas to look after your affairs, Bobby. Your un fortunate uncle dare not leave New York at this time either. His cred itors might think he was endeavoring to flee the country. Consequently, I think It Is of the utmost Importance that you go to Los Algodones Imme diately and investigate everything thoroughly." "But, Glenn, I don't know n thing about business, nnd I'm afraid It's too big an order." "I disagree with you. You have a -| feminine Intuition of the highest de gree of development. If you go there, get acquainted with your lawyer nnd Don .Tnlmo nnd, nfter n few weeks, discover that you hnve nbsolutely no mentnl reservntlons regarding either or both, I shall think it quite safe to leave your affairs In their hands for tho present, at least." This adroit speech flnttered Roberta, since it was corroborating a belief she hnd always entertained, 1. e.. that she could look through men as if they were glass. Her respect for Hackett's Intelligence nnd ability increased nt once. "I'll go to I,os Algodones Just ns soon ns I cnn get rendy," she de clnred. "That's fine, Roberta." Ho escorted her to tho elevator and upon return ing to his ofllce pressed a buzzer three times, whereupon his secretary ush ered in to hinrf from an adjoining room no less a person thnn Crooked Bill, "Well, have you sold her the Idea that she should go to Los Algodones?" he demanded of the lawyer. "I hnve. She promised me she would go ns soon ns she could get rendy." Crooked Bill rubbed his hnnds plons urably. Hackett hnnded him tho as signment which Roberta hnd Just given him, nnd Crooked Bill set fire to It nnd dropped It Into Hackett's metal wnste bnsket. "Hnve you confidence In this .Tnline Higuenes, Mr. Lathnm?" Hackett queried. "How do 1 know? He's a perfect stranger to me. However, his father and grandfather were both muy cnbal lero to the nth degree nnd never cared enough about money to get It by crooked or unfair means. And I'm a great believer In heredity. 1 hare a strong suspicion that Don Jaime la equipped with a complete set of III* bernlan Inner wurka, and I have never known a highly courageous man who was a weak mat). The crooks of this world are recruited from the weak lings, my boy. However, why should I worry about a smear of sheep? I 1 don't care two hoots In a hollow if they all starve to death. I'm solely Interested In promoting for Roberta u Journey to Los Algodones, In order that she may see the other side of the picture. Don Jaime Is unmarried (I've discovered that) and if he falls to fall In love with Roberta he's fit for treason, stratagems and spoils. If she doesn't quarrel with him about that, 'they're bound to fall out over business, because no man ever managed a wom an's business affairs without discover ing in the long run that he had per formed a thoroughly thankless task." "I wish I didn't have to mix in her affairs. I dislike deception ? even In nocent deception, Mr. Latham." "You ungrateful pup! Why, I've ! placed Rcbby under a tremendous ob ligation to you and made It possible for you two to share a delightful secret In common ? all of which Is equivalent to scattering six Inches of tanbark on the hnrd, macadamized road of true love. By pretending to ( lose my fortune I drive off about 80 per cent of your competitors and shoo Bobby out of her set, in which she might find other competitors for you. As a promoter I think I'm Just about the bee's knees myself." "But you're giving Don Jaime a free field." "And why not? He's short and fat, weighing about two hundred pounds. If he Isn't, the scientists are all wrong about heredity." "I have known tall, graceful and extremely charming Irishmen, Mr. Latham t" "But the Spanish blood predom inates In Hlguenes. At least it did in his father. They were originally As turlanos, and Asturlanos are all me dium-sized and stocky. But to return to Don Jaime. In all probability he takes a bath after the fall round-up and has never seen a bathtub except in a hotel. He will have a luxuriant, Niagara falls type of black mustache and use perfume. He will talk with a strong Spanish accent and four fifths of his life Is undoubtedly spent In his shirt-sleeves. He's Just a husky Border cowman, I tell you. Do you see Bobby falling for a man like thnt?" "No-o-o I" "You're a suspicious Yankee, Glenn. Your motto Is: 'Trust everybody but cut the cards.' . . . Well, I must be toddling along. I think I'll take on a line of United Drugs. I've had a tip that they've been quietly absorb ing about twenty-five hundred chain drug stores. Mennwhlle you keep picking on Roberta to get her out of town ; and In order to soothe your New England conscience I'm going to spread about a hundred thousand margining n line of United Drugs for you. If the deal shows a profit by the time you marry Roberta, it will bo yours. If It shows a loss ? send me a reasonable bill for professional services." "As a plnch-hitter for Cupid I think you're a total ruin," Glenn Ilackett de clared. "How come?" "I'm satisfied that Roberta Isn't In love with me." "So am I. But I'm also satisfied that she thinks a thousand per cent more of you than of any man living, and If you remain Indifferent to her ? even let her see you out with another girl occasionally ? you'll have to marry her In self-defense." He shook his stick at Hackett. "Remember, your battle-cry Is 'On to Texas !' " CHAPTER VI Roberta shopped for two weeks spent another two weeks on a housed boat party among the Thousand dones!8 departed for Los Algo Where shall I address you, Robby?" Crooked Bill queried. "At the Man USe' ln Los A,Sodones?" ^o. dear. Address me In care of Don Jaime Miguel Illguenes." "What?" Crooked Bill started as If n!mS' Y,?U g0,ng t0 put "l} ftt the Illguenes hacienda? Why? whv the man's a bachelor," "How do you know?" him" 6 be?n raakInK ln<JUlrle.s about Well, his housekeeper, a Mrs. Gan by, has written me. Inviting me to be his guest. Don Jaime was III nt the hi^6?fni^f?Uldn 1 vvrlte 1110 Pprsonally, Mr. r6 ( . Wrlt0, nt the bo"?? of Mrs. Ganby a letter. 'Official ? J M II ? Airs. (J^by says they have a lovely place and that I'll he much more com fortable at the Ilaneho Valle Verde than at any hotel In that country." Crooked Bill was assailed by* the feeling that. In some Inexplicable wav bis well-laid plans were doomed to go aft agley. "You'll write me frequent ly and tell me all about It, won't you honey?" J?, Roberta promised and kissed him good-by. Five days later she and Mignon. her maid, with three huge trunks i.nd-flve pieces of hand baggage, were depos ited on a lonely, sun-warped platform at the little llag station of Valle \ erde. "So this." said Roberta, looking around her after the train had re sumed its journey, "is Texas. Good gracious. Mignon, what is that noise?" It sounds like a zoo at feeding time said Mignon apprehensively, and looked behind her. "Oh, it's cat tle," she added, relieved. A quarter of a nille out on the Plain, in a compact mass, a huge herd of white-faced cattle were milling slowly and bellowing continuously. Why, there must be thousands of them ! Roberta gasped, and was grate ful that the station platform, which was at least five feet off the ground, appeared to offer reasonable sanctuary from attack. 9 From around the corner of the sta tion a man appeared, hat In hand. Miss Antrim?" he queried. "Yes. indeed," said Roberta grate ZLr wa,tei1 for i? ? "I'm Bill Dingle, your Uncle Tom's general manager. I got your letter tellin me you'd arrive today and ln structln' me to meet you at the HIguenes rancho tomorrow." "Yes," Roberta murmured, wonder ing if she ought to introduce Mignon to Mr. Dingle, who was eyeing the a1 dog"3 n frG8h ?OW ,n " pasture 0yc8 "So I thought I'd meet you here miss, and explain to you how come it wont be possible for me to meet you there," Mr. Dingle went on his embarrassment Increasing at every word. "It's about twenty mile straight east from here to your Uncle Tom's ranch, which is your ranch now I reckon and I flggered maybe It'd be better for all hands if yu? put up there instead of at the HIguenes J?** K 1 reckon y?u nnd tills Other ladyd be as safo and comfortable there as anywhere^" . very Una of you, Mr. Din , "oberta hesitated, then, In her usual frnnk manner, plunged. "Why " ' for ,?u mo i J r '""" rnncl,?' Mr- I>ln#lo?" Mr. Dingle scuffed a foot along the station platform and his embarrass ment increased visibly. "Well., ma'am In this country, when a feller's onemv warns him not to set foot on his ranTh ngaln until he's sent for, unless he wnmn to bo m?,lo ? col?n??r ? % ?? wjirnln's Individualism in Ants and Mankind Compared Soclnl evolution omong nnts stretches back at leost one hundred million years, while human socloty could hard ly bo said to have existed two million years ago. Thus human society Is a much more recent evolution, and wo would expect the Individual human to exhibit a greater degree of Individual istic behavior compared to social be havior than In the caso of tho Indi vidual ant. Human society has had to build mechanisms for controlling prev alent anti-social tendencies. Wo all undergo rigid training through the ac tivities of parents, teachers, and oth Historic Valley The Khenondooh valley Is more than 100 miles long and varies in width from 20 to SO miles; Included within Its area are Berkeley and Jef ferson counties, W. Va., and Freder ick, Clarke, Warren, Rhenandoah, Page, flocklngham and Augtiftta coun ties, Va. I or* which tend to Rtlmulnte the social roRponsos and suppress or redirect the nntl-Hoclal rnRponRes. ICven after we rench adulthood, we have need of po licemen. lawyers, governments. nn,j ministers to force or perRuade ns to conform to the social pattern. AntR do not need Ruch mechanlRmR, for they are horn perfectly socialized. They do not need to he tanght or persuaded or forced to react socially, for their anti social tendencies were eliminated long ago through natural selection. ? Hoston Herald. Lantern Decoration* The vogue for lanterns as house decorations spread from France to England early In the" Eighteenth cen tury. They were made of glass with frames of copper, brass, or walnut, and were most frequently used as cell ing fixtures. Aside from their prac tical qualities, they were hlghl} dec orative, ?nd gave added Interest to the rooms In wh'.ch they were used. i.A'os, i-\ "Who warned you?" "Don Jaime Hlguenes." "Indeed. Why, I had no idea Don Jnlme Hlguenes was such a blood thirsty man! Is the trouble between you something thnt cannot be recti fied? I should be happy to act as peacemaker, Mr. Dingle." Bill Dingle, rememberlM his of fenses, was honest enough 10 declare thnt the trouble could not be rectified and added something about the easiest way out of trouble being to go around it. Then lie was silent for quite a while, meanwhile scuffing his toe and gazing a bit helplessly around the hori zon. Finally he said: "I reckon you didn't think as much of your Uncle Tom as he used to let on you did. Don't you feel no resentment agin tho man that murdered him?" "Not the slightest. From all that we can learn, officially, Uncle Tom was not murdered. The sheriff of this county wrote thnt Uncle Tom mndo the mistake of taking in too much ter ritory, which Is a fatal error and tan tamount to suicide. It seems he am bushed Jim Hlgglns and shot him three times. Then Hlgglns got under cover and stalked Uncle Tom and killed hi in. I am Informed that he didn't know the Identity of his assail ant until lie saw the body." "That's the story, but it ain't true. This killer ordered your Uncle Tom to quit gruzin' his sheep on the free range or he'd kill him. A warnln's a warnln' In this country, an* If a feller don't choose to obey it he's Justified In nrguin' the matter In the smoke the first time him an' the warnln' person meet tip. Your uncle didn't see no valid reason why he should have his liberty restricted by a private citizen. He considered his life in danger, so when they met up on the range it was a case of who could get into action quickest. It was a case of an old man agin a young man, an' the young man won as usual. Hut your Undo Tom never tried to kill nobody. Ho just naturally defended his own lifo an' failed to do a good job. An', of course, a sheepman ain't In good stundln' In a cattle country. Personal ly. I'm only a hired man, but I got my private opinions, an' I'm here to say it Just naturally don't look right for you to be the guest of ? " Mr. Dingle raised his glance from tho station platform and gazed across toward the approaching herd of cattle. He appeared olert, poised for flight; whatever had been In his mind to say remained unsaid, and he was pro foundly Interested In a horseman who was galloping around the flank of the herd, evidently with the Intention of passing on In front of It. "I rockon I'll be moseyln' along, ma'am," said Mr. Dingle. "We can discuss our business when you como to the Antrim ranch." The horseman had clenred the herd and was coming on at nn easy gallop; behind hi in a boy on a small pinto pony labored to keep up. "There's the man that killed your Uncle Tom," Mr. Dingle almost hlsffrd. "I reckon I don't care to meet that hombre until I can choose the tlmo and place myself." And without stand ing upon the order of his going Mr. Dingle went ? In a flying leap off tho station platform. He lit running and continued on to a disreputable old automobile; In an Incredibly short space of time' he was on his way home. The horsemnn, observing Mr. Din gle's departure, spurred his mount t? a furious gallop; apparently It was his Intention to intercept the latter as ho fled down the dusty road that ran parallel with the tracks. "He's going to shoot," Mlgnon screamed. "Oh, the brute!" Six pistol shots rang out and Ro berta saw little puffs of dust leap up beside Dingle's right rear tire. A pause of about two seconds ? then six more shots and six more puffs of dust beside the same tire. Then the horse mnn pulled up, turned and Jogged quietly up to the station. He dis mounted a little stiffly, dropped tho reins over his horse's head, and ad vanced limping to the station pint form, upon which he climbed laborious ly nnd disappeared Into the station. "This Is exactly like the movies," Mlgnon quavered. "It's wonderful. So thrilling! Oh, I'm so glad you brought me with you, Miss Roberta 1" "When that man emerges you'll ex perience some more thrills." Itoberta warned her inald. "I'm going to tell him some things about himself he has not, In all probability, been told be fore." "Do bo careful, Miss Itoberta. He's so desperate ? " "I'll reduce him to pulp. I'm not afraid of his guns. I Intend to protect my foreman. That In the duty of an employer. We enn testify to his effort to kill Mr. Dingle. I shall have him arrested nnd tried for nttempt to com mit murder. The bloodthirsty wretch I" The station door swung open, and Don Jaime Hlguenes limped out, stood as erect as his damaged underpinning would permit, bowed from the hips and all but swept the station platform with hl? HOmbrero. Then he straight ened and said: "Meet^-I mean Mls? Antrim ? 1 am devastated to think?* (TO B* OONTINUJOn.) MercolizedWax Keeps Skin Young M ouao* tad om u dtrwUd . rta? MrticUs of m*4 ?Ma pnTofl until all dafacU ? uch >1 plmplM Kw 8klrranu^r. JJ"1 velriey. Your (tot look* yuri youutrr . Maroolised Waxbri**. out the hlddaa b??uty of jrour skin. T* j!_j j ... BH on* o<u>o? Povdirad Buollta dlmlwd la oo#-h*U plot witch hu?l. At dru? atona. There might be a commission to pick out beautiful scenery and then no one should be allowed to spoil It. WHISPERED Great Complexion Secret ! TO her friend she con fessed the secret of her flawless dear white skin. Long ago the ' -med that no cosmctic .> ould hide blotches, pimples or saUowncss. She found the secret of real com plexion-bcauty in NR Tablets (Nature'* Rem edy). They cleansed and cleared ttie ellminntivc tract ? corrected slug gish bowel action ? drove out the poisonous wastes. She felt better, too. full of pep, tingling vith vitality. Try this mild, safe, dependable, all-vegetable corrective tonight. See your com plexion improve, eee headaches, dullness vanish. At all druggists' ?only 25c. /'vi iiir" Quick relief (or acid inchae? TUIWb tion, heartburn. Only 10c. In plays people In n parlor ih> nor nil tnlk nt once as they do In real life. AT THE FIRST SNEEZE USE NIGHT ANO MORNING AND PUT Essence of MLtifal ON YOUR HANDKERCHIEF AND PILLOW IT'S NEW Most of the sloop a ft or 7 n, in. Isn't needed. for 12. tablets of pure a CO YD 111 ( CELLO PHANE\ AarlKlJN vw rapped^ Ask for It by Name Love Is blind; but who cores? Who cares for anything ? In love? STOPPED- UP NOSTRILS Toopenthenostrilsand promote clear breathing use Mentholatura night and morning. A little tiling sometimes makes a biff Impression. A routing httdnohs, an eppraaaad, flat faallnft In tha itomxh ara daugaroua "good -tlma" aouvanlra. To ?at yf??raaM"rl?Wt" prompt ly, drtntt on* or two eupa of Oarflald Taa. Your appatlta and food aplrlta will raturn aurarltln|l|f quick. MMPIB FRICi OarftoM Taa Com pany, P. O. Brooklyn, Haw York No hook of etiquette is needed for the children In a good family. MALARIA ft most successful remedy for MALARIA, CHILLS and FEVER _ for over A tt?U*U* G?Mrtl fltr*attli*nlM Toota at all onuaaiBT* WWwwrilfc Owlal C?. Int.. Ky. Glands Wear Out Hera's a NawSSItmdTonlc to protfae? raffatonUr and wKleh ?r? ?h*otqt*1? m? MMry tot hol|<1ln* h*?IUi. ? tr*nffth ?nj vitality. w^aww*ifw.?dr?fc3 Try It 20 Days-FREE nrar-*tsrstt j a ""