Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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By HAROLD TITUS Copyright 1928-1954, Harold Titus. WNU Service CHAPTER XI ? Continued ? 15 ? "When a man loves a girl, that girl can't let herself love hlra, can she, when she's under a cloud herself? She can't bring a man's children Into the world and have them whispered about aa the grandchildren of a murderer?" "Dawn I Dawn, girl, don't think that I Why, It's ? " 'But It's so, Able! I don't wa-want to talk about It. All I can do for Ben now Is to let him know how weak I was to doubt him and to use any In fluence I may have to protect him from this terrible danger. I will do that ; I must do that because It Is duty. Bui It must stop there. It can't go on, you see. Not while I have nothing more than Just my faith In my father's good name." Able, the wise man thnt he wns, did not force the argument. lie brought his team to a halt before the Hoot Owl office, gave the reins to Dawn and stepped out. Martin, the bookkeeper, was the only occupant of the place. "Where's Ben?" he asked. The bearded man looked over his shoulder, recognized Able and then his gaze went past the man to the waiting cutter where Pawn sat. "He's . . It seemed as though Martin's voice failed after that word. He half started from his chair and the pen, dropped from flexed Angers, rolled across the ledger sheet. He made a faint sound and In his eyes appeared an expression that startled Able. "What's wrong. Martin?" he asked 1n alarm, stepping quickly Into the room. "Sick?" "No ... all right, now," the other said, as If with great effort. "Ben? In the mill, I think." He picked up his pen, then, and bent over his work. Able crossed the mill-yard looking for Ben and as' he went Martin rose cau tiously from his chair, moved quietly to be in line with the window and stared for a long Interval at the girl huddled in the robes. Ills hands worked and his breath wns uneven. "Dawn is here to see you," Able said simply as he encountered Ben. "She had me bring her out so she could talk to you. She's waiting over by the office." Elliott stood hesitant for an Instant; then turned and walked swiftly along the pond. Able watched him go but did not follow. What wns to bo said by the girl was not for his ears, he knew. Ben gave no sign of recognition as he approached the cutter; made no snlutatlon as he came near the girl who sat watching him so steadily. He only spoke her name, when he wns at her side. She gave him a small, gloved hand and smiled wanly. "I have come to say mnny things, Ben," she began In a strange, strained voice. "To beg forgiveness, to beg other things . . . perhaps to explain a little. , "A week ago tonight,"? struggling, now, to hold her voice stendy ? "I ran out of the dance hall and on home, thinking thnt that woman wns honest. The time since then, until noon today, has been a nightmare. "Lydla came to my house at noon. She explained everything. Aunt Km brought her. Aunt Em went to her house nnd convinced her thnt she had done n terrible thing to you nnd that an explnnntlon to me was the only wny to right the wrong. Lydla told me everything. ... It was Mr. Brnndon who thought out the plan and forced her to do It under threats of some sort. She didn't tell us what the threats were but left our house for the train and Is gone from Tlncup for ever. . . . And I've come to tell you how miserable I feel to think thnt I was weak enough to act as Mr. Brnn don seemed to he sure I would act. . . ." Relief was singing through Elliott; relief nnd n great Joy. lifting him above rage for Brandon. "Oh, I'm glad!" he said earnestly. "I've . . . Why, It completely knocked me off my pins! Dawn, It's been tor rlble for you hut . . . but this makes me bo happy!" "I'm happy because you are happy," she ?ald, but something in her ton.) nnd expression dampened his enthusiasm, . checked his soaring spirits. She wns so calm, so stendy, so restrained ; her mood was not at all that of one who comes Jeyously to wipe out heartbreaking mis understanding. "And I'll never forgive myself for . , , for falling Into the trap that was set for in?. Ben P "Why shouldn't you? Any girl would have felt as you did. . . . But It's ex plained, now. I.et's forget It and I** Kin where we left off and And peace and?" The sharp shake of her head and the qnlck withdrawal of her hand cut him ?ff. "There are sterner things to' think Of, first; quite different things, Ben. That Is why I came out here, to talk ' to iron about Bart Delaney. Able hns told me what happened yesterday. don't take It seriously enough, Keefc safe antll you're certain that the danger It past." "Hide and skulk while other men protect met A man can't do that. Dawn! 1*11 be on my guard, of course. B?t I can't run away tfom anybody who Is trying to strike from behind. What would these boys here on the Job think of me If I did? This man De lanej mny be a hobgoblin for the rext of the country, but I can't let him be for me. If I do the safe thing and think of my own skin, some of our workers will tumble to the fact that I've no more courage than most of them, less than plenty. I can'i let them down you see, and still keep my standing in their eyes. "It Isn't worth It, Ben! It's my Job, my property you'ro taking these risks for. It Isn't fair to me!" | "I can argue that. I'm uot anxious to be put out of the picture yet a while. I'll keep my eyes open. I've already made the move that should stop De laney from trying me again. Able and the others have gotten you all In a flutter, Dawn. Don't worry. I'm com ing to Tlncup tonluht and I'm going to appear to be thinking about nothing but the errands I have to do. Kvery second. I'll be on the watch for a crooked move from anybody. I prom ise you that. And when I've shown myself to people I'll come to see you and talk you Into the same way of looking at this situation." "Don't," she begged. "But I can't k(-ep away from you, now that this other mess has been explained !" She shook her head. "I'm asking two things of you. The first is to stay here; the other 1b not to come to see me. . . . Please!" She put a hand on his with that plea, and he frowned. "I can understand your being a little timid about having me aroun 1 town but 1 can convince you that I'm right. It's Brandon 05; me. now, you see. If I run, he wins. . . . But this other: Dawn, don't you want me to see you?" The girl's Hps worked. "No," she said, ever so faintly. "No. . . . Oh, please don't argue with me, Ben ! Please don't come to see mo. You don't understand. You mny never understand. . . . But I'm begging you from the bottom of my heart not to come and see me again!" "No, I don't understand. It's . . . Why. It's . . ." lie laughed aloud at his own bewilderment and Able, In the near distance, mistook that laugh born of distress for one of relief and came toward them. "Well, have you two got matters cleared up?" he asked. Dawn nodded silently. "Some things are cleared up," Elliott I notice that the girl followed him, wait ed outside while he bargained for a month's supply for camp In a butcher shop, and trailed along behind when he emerged. + From place to place io went, Dawn behind him In the Hying snow and when she had been following so for half an hour, her eyes alert for others who might be watching Elliott, another fell Into the train ahead of her. She saw this man step from a store entrance and follow Ben. She hastened to be close nnd not until she was abreast of him did she recognize John Martin, whom she had seen but once before, lie did not turn his head and she dropped back. She had no doubts of his loyalty from what Ben had told her of his bookkeeper. When Elliott went Into the drug store she stood out of the light from the building and noted that also Mar tin loitered near. When Ben reap peared, Martin followed. . . . For the better part of an hour this double stalking continued while the snow fell thicker and then Elliott turned Into a side street and made the next turn Into the alle> where he had left his team. Two figures followed him. hastening a bit as he disappeared Into the gloom. Martin followed Ben, as Dawn trailed both. And then, as Elliott drew close and spoke gruffly to his horses, another shadowy figure appeared: It was only a Mur In the shadows, crouched and stealthy. The figure swept forward; an arm drew back and upward; It struck and with a muffled ?runt Ben Elliott turned, tailing sideways and backward under the Impact of a blow. Another voice lifted then In a sharp cry as John Martin ran forward and the Indistinct figure which was poised over Elliott, about to strike again, turned, hesitated, whirled and fled. "What Is It. son?" Martin cried as lie dropped to his knees beside Ben. Before a reply could come Dawn was there, moaning his nnrne over and over. "Knife!" Ben gasped. "In the neclc . . . here . . John Martin unbuttoned Elliott's thick Jacket, ripped open the shirt and his ringers encountered a warm, sticky gush as he thrust them across the back. "Knifed you! . . . Ah, son!" Dawn poered close Into the bearded man's face as though fearful of what he might say next. "We've got to get him somewhere SYNOPSIS Ben Elliott ? from "Yonder" ? arrives at the lumbering: town of Tincup, with Don Stuart, old, very sick man, whom ho has befriended. Nicholas Brandon, tho town's leading citizen, resents Stuart's presence, trying to force him to leave, and Elliott, resenting tho act, knocks him down. Judge Able Armltago hires him to run the one lumber camp, the Hoot Owl, that Brandon has not been abl1? to grab. This belongs to Dawn McManus, whose father has disappeared with ? murder charge hanging over his head. Brandon sends Duval to beat up Hen. and Ben throws him out of camp. Don Stuart dies, leaving a letter for Elliott "to bo used when tho going becomes too tough." Ben refuses to open tho letter, bellovlng ho con win the fight by his own efforts. Fire breaks out In the mill. Ben, when tho flames aro subdued, discovers It was started with gasoline. Elliott gets an offer for. logs, that will provide money to tide him over. But a deflnlto tlmo Is set. Ben discovers Dawn McManus Is not a child, ns he had supposed, but a beautiful young woman. Tho railroad bridge over which the Hoot Owl lumber must pass Is blown up. By superhuman efforts Bon builds a new bridge and himself drives tho train over tho rickety structure to Tlneup. making the delivery with only a few minutes to spare. Brandon compels a woman (known as "Dydla") who Is In his power, to accuse Elliott of misconduct with a girl At a dance to which Elliott escorts Dawn, Lydla makes public her charges. Overwhelmed. Elliott can only make a feeble denial. Dawn, apparently believ ing him guilty, leaves tho dance without waiting for him. Whilo In tho woods, Elliott Is fired on, and drops, seemingly dead, but his fall has been a ruse to make his enemy bollevo him dead. The would-be killer proved to be Bed Bart Delaney, notorious desperado. "Aunt Emma," Dawn's closest friend, prevails on tho woman Lydla to acknowledge the falsity of her accusation. said. "'But there nre others. . . . Dtiwn, won't you explnln?" The Kir) turned tier fnce to Able. "I'm reiuly to go home now," she snld weakly. CHAPTER XII Tennis drove from tho Hoot Owl toward town through the falling snow that evening. First went Ken HI 1 lot t, nlone and sending his drivers at a spanking trot, wondering and at odds with himself. Why was Dawn so obdurate in this matter of having him see her? Why that odd repression, as though she Htrnggled to keep from saying the things thnt were bursting her heart? Ills Inability to answer those ques tions drove him Into a dogged mood. He felt like blaming Brandon for this, as well as other troubles. A half hour behind him came n team from ramp, driven by Bird-Rye Illnlne. A figure ahead stepped out of the ruts and awaited his approach. "Town?" the man cried. "Yup. . . . Hello, Martin! Whoa. . . Blaine lifted the heavy robes for tho bookkeeper and then clucked his team on. , | "Mlsther Rlltott gono In?" ho ashed. "He has. eh? . . . 'Nd Mlsther Red Burt Delaney still persecutln' th' coun try with his preelnce, lolkely. Ah. th' b'y, th* b'y!M Martin proved to be uncommunica tive, however, and they drove much of the way In silence. Ben turned his team Into an alley, hitched And blanketed them, and then made his way between building* to the town's principal thoroughfare which was lighted by glaring store fronts. He purchased some articles In * clothing Store And did not see Dawn McManus enter, observe him, and then withdraw. When he went out again he did not right away," Martin muttered. "CJot to. . . . It s bnd." "My house Is Just around the cor nor 1" she cried. "Hrlng him there . . . Oh, hurry !" Together they lifted Hen to his feet. Mis teeth ground shut to keep bnck the moans, lie was sick and weak with pain. He could feel blood smearing over his side and back. He sagged against Martin as the man supported him. "Tough, Dawn ... to get yon mixed up ... in a mess. . ." "Hurry I" she said. "He's so wenk I" He wns weak, Indeed. With their arms about his body for support, they moved through the snow. Klllott felt Dawn close to him and closed his eyes almost happily. He struggled to help himself so he would not burden her, but ho stumbled and nearly fell and another gush of blood bathed his body. After ages of effort and pain a glare seemed to be all about, warm breath fanned his face . ? . and Aunt Km. standing In tho doorway, was saying sharply : "In here. . . . If our room, Dawn. . . . I'll phone {he doctor." Kmory Sweet worked rapidly, once there. "Deep!" he muttered. "Gad, what a blow. Missed tho Jugular by ft hair." The wound was only a slender slit In the skin but the hlndo had been driven deep. Indeed, and the blood that flowed from It had drawn the bronxe from Klllott's face, tho strength from the splendid muscle* that lay related now beneath clear skin. "Now 1" said the physician when Hen Anally lay hack on Dawn's pillow, breathing shallowly, eyos closed, guess he'll he all right In a few days. But what an escape I" He shrugged. Sweet looked mi John Martin, theu. The doctor's brown drew ? bit; be seemed to lean forward and blinked slowly, Incredulously. Then Martin moved and the other relaxed. Still, his expression was one of startled specula tion. "Yes, a close shnve," Martin mut tered under his breath. "But now . . . He's In the best possible place In the world." The doctor uegan gathering his In struments. Martin stood staring at Ben In deep thought. Then his right hand went to the lobe of his left ear and tugged slowly In that characteris tic gesture. He did not observe Emma Coburn standing In the doorway. He "Knife!" Ben Gasped. did not look at tier until the woman gasped. It whs n light, light gasp ; so light that Emory Sweet did not hear. But Martin heard and turned And stood ns though frozen In the posture. Aunt Em's hend was hold rigidly back, one hand pressed against a cheek, i Quickly, Martin's finger went against tils lips In a sealing gesture. He held so an Instant and then slowly shook his head, a movement of unmistakable warning. Pawn entered the hallway from the living room and these two relaxed from the rigidity of their strange panto , mime. Em bustled out Into the kitchen j and Martin smoothed the covens of Elliott's bed with a hand that trem bled slightly. "Now. the boy's going to be all right." the doctor said. "I'll look In tomorrow*. Quiet Is going to be essen tial for a few days You two women all right?" A close observer might have noticed that Aunt Em's ejos were oddly avert ed from John Martin's searching gaze and that her breathing was quick. "Why, It might be handy to have ft man In the house tonight," she said, evenly enough. "I'm . . . I'm won dering if Mr Martin would stay. He could sleep on the couch In the living room." "I'd be glad to," the man said and cleared his throat sharply. "There might be something I could do . . . for you." lie had looked nt U.iwn on this lost and It seemed thot hla voice caught ever so slightly. So It was arranged that he should stay through the night and the doctor lofL Aunt Em carried the light out of the sick room and placed It on a table In the hall. She bustled here and there, occupied with a variety of minor er rands and finally drove Dawn to bed despite the girl's protests of sleepless ness. Alone, she fixed blankets on the living room couch while Martin sat In the darkened bedroom. That done, she beckoned to him from the hallway. They confronted one another thero a long moment. Tho woman's face worked jueerly and she seemed at a loss for words. TO BK ?ONTlNtJKD. Once England1! Nnznreth The Shrine of Our Lady at YValsIng hain, England, Is where Henry VIII walked barefoot as a pilgrim. In n few years the ruler destroyed^ the I'rlory, confiscated the lands and treas uries, burnt tho shrine and executed five of the I'rlory canons for treason. Another shrine wa? built In the Slip per chapel, so named because In an cient days pilgrims removed their shoes when visiting It. Walslngham once was England's Nazareth, which brought It Immense fame. It wan founded about 1001. Like I<ourdos, It had Its holy wells, and became famous for the many miracles which wero be lieved to have been wrought there. Th? Faculties The ages when certain faculties first appear In average Infants and chil dren vary considerably. Memory and simple consciousness come goon after birth, curiosity at about ten weeks, the senses of shame, remorse and the ludicrous at fifteen months, self-con sciousness at three years, the color sense at four years and the ?ense of fragrance at five years* G?UUr' Weekly. Unique ."Primrose" Rug to Crochet By GRANDMOTHER CLARK This rag rug measures 4'J Inches aad requires about three pounds of material to finish. It appears to ho made of six squares each of a differ ent size, with the horizontal positions alternating. Work Is started with the center square about 5 Inches in diameter. Triangles are then cro cheted on the tour sides of Inner square forming the second square.J Continue same way for third, fourth and fifth squares.. The sixth square Is the same size as fifth square and therefore h?qulros smaller triangles on sides than the others. Colors should be so arranged that center Is In light shades of yellow, while outer triangles represent the petals of dow ers, and may be shaded In color de sired. This can be made Into a very attractive and unique rug, depending very much on the color scheme used. This Is one of the twenty-six cro cheted and braided rugs Illustrated with instructions In Grandmother Clark's rug book No. 2.r). Detailed Instructions are given In this book for the "Primrose" rug, and If you are Interested, send Ific to our Hug Department and we will send It to you by mall. Address? HOME CRAFT COM PANY. DEPARTMENT C, Nineteenth and St. Louis Avenue, St. Louis, Mo. Enclose a stamped addressed en velope for reply when writing for any information. Week's Supply of Postum Free Read the offer made by the Postum Company in another part of this pa per. They will send a full week's sup ply of health giving Postum free to anyone who writes for it. ? Adv. Might Try It If you have a tree that bears no fruit put a stone In Its first crotch Just before blossoming time: the tree will surely be fruitful after that. ?Old Relief. To keep clean and healthy take Dr, Pierce's Pleanant Pellet*. They regulate liver, bowels and stomach. ? Adv. Incurable ? No talkative man was ever nlilo to reform himself in that particular. Uncover Mayan Cities Fifteen Centuries Old Carnegie Institution scientists probing the dense jungles of Gnate malu and Honduras have made new discoveries In connection with the ancient Mayan civilization which flourished In Central America when a few people still lived who could re member the crucifixion of Christ. Under many feet of deposited silt and tangled vegetation they have found cities once populous and richly built with palaces and temples, but deserted now for 1."> centuries. One ruined city in particular In northern Guatemala has attracted attention. It Is surrounded by a moat very sim ilar to those used extensively cen turies later In Kurope. Originally the ditch was abo't ten feet deep and ten feet wide. It was spanned In different places by seven masonry bridges, and was connected with a nearby swamp so that during the rainy season It was tilled with water. This Is the first moated city ever found In America and It Is not cer tain whether It was used as a means of protection against raiding tribes or whether It had a religious mean ing. In Honduras an expedition has uncovered two stone altars and many monuments. All were ornately carved with the picture writing of the an cient Mayas which leaves us a re<* ord of their empire. ? Pathfinder Mag azine. Debt to Science When sugar was first made from beets it required about -0 tons of beets to produce one ton of sugar; now It requires but six tons, the change being due to scientific pro duction of beets. CLASSIFIED ADS FINOKK WAVING I.oarn nt homo. We tf ich you how. f'om pli'to courao for lltnlt<>il tlm>- Sl.fo. StMi'l )0o for Informal Ion. THOMPSON, llo* H>8. ?Inineatown. N. V. KKKK premiums of vnluo ami nWlt t>? ?VKW V.KNTS ? m< n ami \vi>uvn. V1C1NK PKOIH (TS CO., Memphis. Tcnn. Why Pay the Doctor! XEMA-KKM for nil *kln (llseBsPs. doctors prox> tIIic It l"ir,? 5 ilo; Jl. 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