The Barnwell people. (Barnwell, S.C.) 1884-1925, August 18, 1921, Image 3
#
THE PEOPLE, BABHWELL, 8.
\
CHAPTER XI—Continued.
—17— ' •
I stole as silently as possible across
to the door. It was securely locked, of
course, and could be forced open, If
at all, only by creating considerable
alarm. I stood, staring helplessly
about, feeling the Impossibility of
escape. I could only wait for my Jail
ers to appear, impotent to aid myself
in any way—or her. After all, that
last thought was the most Impelling.
That they suspected Maiie Gessler of
being implicated In both murder and
robbery was clearly evident; Indeed,
they not only suspected, but were con
vinced that she had done the dead.
I was secretly obliged to admit that
they had some reason to so believe;
that they even possessed proof which
would probably convict her In court
of the crime. This gave them a ter
rible advantage over' the girl, once
they had her bodily in their posses
sion. Guilty or not guilty, she could
not establish her Innocence; under
torture and threat, such as they would
doubtless use In their money lust,
there was no knowing what might
happen. Alone, helpless In the grasp
of these unscrupulous crooks, her fate
might he death, disgrace. Certainly It
would be fool Insult, and. If she failed
\ to yield, the desire for revenge might
/even drive those cowards to a secret
denouncement of her to the police.
This, howtrer. would be their last re
sort ; they would exhaust all otper
efforts first. And no one else knew
of her danger; no one else was In
position to aid her; she moat face
this gang absolutely alone unleas I
could effect an escape. It was not
merely my own life at stake; hers
was also In the balance
And the time In which to act was
abort. If 1 escaped at all. It must
he
ar
cc
•Utpll*hed 1
•eft
•re
1 my jailers re-
fume
fr
rfore They
dreamed that 1
he
A srv
m*
ed from
nr
murinoaneas. nr
ha
<1
mV
m
rgth rtv
oug
it
to make the
an
1 |M
Yet i
r ha
it
possible way
SO.
rgv
Bt
9*61
Ifself?
I felt
In ray pocket *;
1 -H
p y
Ve |
m
utterly
eni
ISkt
y. except fur a
Mr
1 lb If
k f
IV f*
rlooked
bll
1
There was no
im
“St!
%
as#
VI
nth
0f
tbsa the win*
Ad
fg
f
that an
<1
bofele**. Yel
In
ih
r N
»•' r
utluo 1
cr
«J w
sed over once
ia<
I again
till
ed out. Could
I-
-Is
tr
i
—aH‘*»»l
X
to
cling to that
*1
—a t
1
i «!i
cr In iuj
r st
or
king fuet. even
t
for
to teac
omcep:
head re
la prof
It by «
window
How n
regain
Tet »
or* t-nr
I p.*WHS
••|.s neceaaary
>w? The eery
feat mad# my
they
c
no pleasant Job, to be sure, and I
wajs compelled to steel myself to the
attempt, yet I no longer held back para
lyzed by fear. I easily found a secure
fastening for the strip of bed-spread i-at
my own window, and then, satisfied
that It was taut, hnd securely held at
both ends, lowered my body cautiously
over the sill, until my stockinged feet
nervously gripped the narrow stone
of tba coping. I dare not look down
or penult my mind to dwell for an
Instant on what was below. Slowly
I straightened up, until my entire
weight was upheld by this precarious
foot-hold. To advance step by step
was impossible; all I could hope to
accomplish In locomotion was to
stealthily advance one foot a few
Inches, sliding It along the stone, ever
retaining contact, and then, as care
fully drawing the other after until
they met, toe and heel. It was the
slow progress of a snail, yet the slight
est effort at hurrying would mean a
certain fall.
This was not unduly perilous, how
ever, so long as I retained firm hold
on the Bill, or even could grip my
fingers over the lower frame of the
open blind, as I was enabled thns to
partially sustain my weight, and, even
If a foot slipped, the feel of the solid
wood yielded confidence. But finally
my hand readied out and grasped only
the doth cord, twisted Into some sem
blance of a rope, and, as It gave slck-
enlngly to the pressure, the old fesr
swept over me In a torrent of agony.
I could never make It—never! I would
go swirling, crashing down to that
death below. It was bat s^step. to
be sore; a step and I could reach
the firmness of the other Mind; hut.
oh, the step—the speechless horror of
It! Y*e there was no going beckwanl:
I tried this, only to realise at once Its
Impossibility, and the perspiration
burst out from every pore, as the full
horror of my sitoattoti suddenly
flashed over me. I must go na. trust
ing to that thin. nnstaMe cord, balanc
ing myself above the gulf. Tlierv was
no other way. do retreat. Do means of
escape I da not know Dow how the
act was accomplished; it is hardly a
e one or two I
Hi the nett wtn<
irtoft of au«-h a
fd giddily and my stomach rise
~t. Besides even If I made
me miracle, what If that other
should he Hosed and locked?
mid I ever move backward to
lafetr?
alt: there *as a way. danger-
ugh to be sure, yet poasIMe If
s»*| the necessary nerve. There
tened hl'nds at each window;
ould help some as grasping
«
*l>ots for the hands. The one within
reach rppeared solid enough, firmly
anchored m the casement, and secured
to the brick wall hy means of an Iron
hook. Between the two the apace to
ho traversed was not wide; a single
stride on the ground beneath would
bridge the distance. If I had some
Ihlng to dins above—anything that
would keep me upright—I might hold
tny on the narrow stone and
iflAkf I*** passage slowly. It was a
.tinil'-g. .‘.sadly venture, but possible.
ll'j; what could I hope to utilize as
a hi;'port? The hare room offered hut
n single suggestion—the dirty coverlet
which had been thrown over me. Toni
apart from corner to corner, and
twisted Into the form of a rope. It
ought to safely sustain my entire
weight In case a foot supped. I
started to tear with my teeth, and thus
succeeded In ripping the' thing from
- end to end. It was scarcely long
enough for the purpose, which com-
pdled me to make the noose corre
spondingly small. However, with this
Improvised lasso gripped In my right
hand. I took position astride the sill
of the window, In an endeaver to pro
ject the loosened-end over some pro
tuberance’of the blind beyond. By
holding tight to the fraipe with my
loft hand, the right was left free,
and I was enabled to lean out far
enough to obtain a clear toss. There
was little the noo«se could.catch on,
and continued failure left me listless
and discouraged. I lost hope, yet
kept afTETaud finally, to my surprise,
Iho ring of the cloth settled over an
"Iron projection of the hinge, and dung-
there, extending straight acro& from
window to window. I hardly (Jared
breathe as I drew the thing taut and
tested the firmness with which It was
held at the other end. The noose
closed down tightly about the Iron
staple, and resisted every effort at re
lease, To all seeming It was as safely
anchored as though I bad placed It
there by hand. Somehow th« very
knowledge that this had been aocom-
plished, that the way wkl open,
brought with It a renewal of the feel
ing of horror with which I had first
contemplated the .possibility of such
an accomplishment. Would I ever dare
the attempt? My bead swam as ' I
gazed downward, aod then acmes, and
! shrank back sbaolotely terrified at
the vary thacfht
Tot my Dorvo rammed, sad 1 f ocnd
The Sleeper Wae Marie Geeelerl
memory, except as some wild delirium
of sleep haunts one when they awake.
Inch by Inch I crept, hand encroach
ing on hand, foot pressing against foot,
every slightest movement’ an In
expressible agony—then I gripped the
support of wood once more, and clung
to It as with the grasp of death.
I clung there until my mind came
hack, until I felt the return of strength
to my body, and I could look down
through the moonlight without reeling
dizzily. The blind was strong, firmly
braced, and I felt safe In Its protec
tion. But what about the window
beyond? Suppose It should be locked?
or the room into which I opened,
occupied? I could not continue to cling
there in uncertainty: I must learn the
truth—assure myself that I had not
passed through alt this tense agony
In vain. >
I moved slowly, barely an Inch at
a time, each advancing foot feeling
for support, but more confident bow
because of the grasp of my fingers oo
IfTe upper wood. The window was
closed, but dark and grltfly looking’,
as though the room, within had been
long unoccupied. Its very appearance
gave me courage. I balanced myself
on the precarious footing of the ^tone,
clinging tenaciously with'my left hand
to' the Iron hinge of the blind, while
my right endeavored to raise the sash.
At Tlret I believed the window 4
firmly fastened down—the suspicion
leaving me numb with despair. But
reckless tugging loosened jtg bold,
and enabled me to shove up the sash
little by little, until finally the open
ing became soAclent for me to squeeze
through. I felt as though I had re
turned from the dead, the nervous re
action so great that I lay for a moment |
m the floor where I had fallen, un
able to move. 1 knew I was aloocu
the *»cr an tenanted, the walla as
bare as i» time other room from which
JL * w
I had fled. I knew' this, and 1q my
exhaustion eared to know no more.
Then I staggered to my knees, and,
with opened eyes stared curiously
about, gathering m^ wits together.
There was nothing to see but the
four walls. I tried the door, and it
opened silently, fiennlttlng me t0
glanoe out Into a narrow dark hall
way, ynearpeted. T ...could dl^tHjy
discern the top of a flight of stalra
leading down to the story below. I
slipped out, and closed the door softly
behind me, being plunged instantly Into
funereal blackness.
I groped a way forward toward the
stairs, guided by a hand against the
wall, until the touch of the upper rail
assured me of my position. A narrow-
strip of carpeting—rag I took -it to
be from the feeling—extended down
the center of the start’s, sufficient to
muffie any footsteps, and I paused
a moment listening for the slightest
noise amid the darkness beneath. All
remained still and mysterious; so that
I drew forth my shoes from a'coet
pocket and slipped them on.
Twice the boards creaked ominously
under my tread, sounding terrific In
that silence, and causing me to hang
In suspense over the banister rail,
bolding my breath In fear of discovery.
At last I attained the wider space at
the bottom, and sought blindly to ex
plore ray surroundings. But for the
carpet underfoot, and a small sofa
encountered in a recess. I would have
believed myself In a deserted house.
I knew I was on the third floor, yet
there was no curve In the banisters,
showing a way to the next flight of
stairs, nor could I locate them hy any
effort. As the result of blindly groping
about. I lost all sense of direction and
most have wandered Into a side room
through an undraped recess, for I
suddenly brought up against a table,
littered with papers and hooka.
8t art led by this encounter Into a
rrellaatluo that I was Inst la a strange
house et an Unholy hour of the morn
ing. and that the slightest misstep In
that darkness might result in an alarm
to awaken every sleeper, for a few
minutes I did not venture to move In
any direction. Yet manifestly I could
not remain there Indefinitely, and so.
Mindly choosing a course, I set forth,
feeling a way cautiously forward until
I first ran Intu a chair, and then struck
one hand against a aide wall. I fol
lowed this latter aa heet I could,
inspired by the thought that If I con
tinued this course long enough I must
attain the opening through which 1
had entered the room, tin the way
my hands fait the outlines of a rkmed
door. and. In aimlessly groping about,
encountered a key In the lock. It
waa so Inserted aa to be extracted
at the touch of my fingers and Instant
ly a tiny ray of light shot forth
through the vacated hole. It was such
a relief In the heart of that darkness
as to cause me to quickly bend down
and endeaver to view the scene within.
It was evidently a chamber of some
sise, and well furnished, rather dimly
HUimlnaled hy a single shaded electric
globe, a handsome green' rug on the
floor, and numerous pictures hung
aliont tlie- walls. I could perceive the
outlines of a bed at one side, barely
within the range of the vialon. and
opposite this an ornate dresser, with
three mirrors. But what my eyes
rested upon with greater Interest was
a luxurious leather couch beside the
further wall on which a woman rested,
with some sort of covering draped
about her. She lay with fare toward
the wall, motionless, and to all appear
ances sound asleep. * •
To arouse her was the last thing
I desired, and I would-have slipped the
key hack Into the lock, and stolen
silently along In the darkness, had she
not suddenly stirred, flinging out one
hand as thoifl^ In fear of some dream,
and turned partially, so that her face
became clearly visible. The sleeper
was Marie Gessler! For a moment I
could seaf’cely ctedit the discovery;
yet there could be no mistake. I re
membered too well every character
istic of the girl, to he deceived.
(TO BE CONTINUED.)
S Reasonable Excuse.
Pr. Harvey \V. Wiley, the noted food
expert, and .Dr. Samuel Wilson, re
tired minister, were discussing old
times one day last week.
Both the men are graduate* of Han
over corjlege, near the Ohio river, along
which the/minister spent his early
“I remember the great floods of ’82,
’83 and ’84” said Dr. Wilson. “Dur
ing one of those floods we had to re
tire to the second floor, and then to
the third floor,^
“We had to cook our food over the
grate ” be recalled, “In the morning
we would let down a bucket on a
rope to the milkman, who came in a
skiff.”
Dr. Wiley smllejL
"That would he some excuse for
watering the milk,” he aald.
I
A Slam.
He—Witty people make me tired.
She—Trying to keep up with them.
I suppose.— Boston Transcript
PLANTERS SIGNING
SECRETARY OF CO-OPERATIVI
MARKETING ASSOCIATION IS
MUCH ENCOURAGED.
MUCK ENTHUSIASM PREVAILS
Farmers In Any County, Impatient to
Sign, May Receive Contracts by
Applying to Headquarters.
Columbia.
Six of the largesl planters In the
state signed the cotton cooperative
marketing contract lastwr sek. accord
ing to an announcement made by Har
old C. Booker, secretary of the South
Carolina Cotton Growers’ Co-operative
association. The six planters were,
Harry G. Kaminer of Gadsden. R. C.
Hamer ot Acton, ’Louis I. Glion of
Lugoff. Former Gov. Richard I. Man
ning of Columbia, D. Butst Anderson
of Moore and Dr. A. R. Johfiston of St.
George.
Letters are pouring In from all over
the state felling of the enthusiasm
which Is prevailing for the cooperative
marketing of cotton. The campaign
In Spartanburg and Marion counties
will be continued for g couple of weeks
yet and then the forces will move on
to-other counties. In the meantime
the farmers in the other counties who
are Impatient to sign may receive
contracts hy applying to the assocla*
tlons’ headquarters.
That the cooperative marketing as
sociation la tbf fanners' only hope of
salvation Is the opinion expresed by
B. D. Dargsa of Darlington In s letter
I to Hsrrv G. Kaminer, president of the
I association.
“I can’t see a very bright future In
{ the hnslnee of farming nnleea we can
^ In some way stablllte the prices of
I our chief crops.'* said Mr. Dergan.
Good Year for Frsahyterlawa.
Presbyterians particularly, and oth
er denominations generally, will bo In
terested in, the tact that this state
atands fourth In membership In the
Southern Presbyterian church in the
15 Etates comprising that organization
and is outranked by North Carolina,
Virginia and Texas, Probably no ay-
nod Is better organized. This and oth
er Intereating facta are available In
the minutes of the meettpg of the gen
eral assembly held recently in SL
Louis. "
„ In Soutb~Caroltna there are 32,911
members, a gain ot 7,688 In ten years;
just about 30 per cent. There were
received into the church on profes
sion of faith last year 1,041 persons or
about five to every 100. members. The
Sunday school enrollment was 26,555.
or 80 to each 100 members, the largest
ever reported.
The receipts tor benevolent causes
amounted to 3456,786 or about |13.87
per capita. This is well above the
average of the church as a whole. Tha
total gifts to all causes amounted to
31.049,183 or 331.84 per capita, the
largest amount ever contributed. In
1911 they gave to all causes only 312.11
per member. !
The report shows that the year Just
closed was the best the church ever
had. The membership Increased 20,-
541 In the entire Southern Presby
terian church, making the total now
397.058. *
Mar Is Due Is
P&RU-NA
BBS,
A very dependable remedy niter
protrEOed ricknras, the grip or Span*
bh Flu.
PE-RU-NA la • good
have oe
IN US1 FIFTY YIAA3
SURELY DESTINED TO SHINE
; The Weather During July.
| The month of July waa a medtoerity
according to the moethlv report of
1 Richard H. Ralllvaa. meterologist ta
| charge of the Columbia weather hu-
, r.aa. thermal cnndUloes foe the ft
' davs raagtnc cioee to tho seasonal
average “Rainfall, however, was sw-
! perabun<Uat on the whole.” Mr del-
i tlvaa aaya. “and was excessive
I throughout nearly the entire coastal
> plain, while over a large portion of
the Piedmont the monthly amount*
were below normal
"All vegetation Improved wonderful-
tv inrM*n» to the mine which finally
I exceeded all need* la the major por-
I tlon of the coastal plain
Tobacco carina Is neariag romp lo
tion Having has been bumpered hy
local rains la many parts.
*
Want Meney far Pech Medal.
A movement to’ raise lioo from
I esch etate la the aaloa through the
! school children fpr a medal to be pre-
j seated to Marshal Foch when tha dla-
l tinrulshed general visits America this
, fall and at the same time U» raise
| from 36 MM to Slfl.MM from each state
for the establishment of two memorial
high schools la France has been railed
td the attention of Governor Cooper.
“Full Speed Ahead."
That this fall should aee all tn read
loess to signal “full speed ahead’’ is
the opinion of Lee T. Eastman, presi
dent of a motor car company of New
York, expressed in a letter to A. Ma
son Gibhes. president of the South Cat*
oltna Automotive Trade association.
“There is nothing we should be
more thankful for la this period of
readjustment.'* says Mr. Eastmaa.
“than that the transition to a state of
normalcy Is a slow and gradual one.
If you have ever seen the long shiver
that runs down a llna of freight care
whan thay first gat undue way. you
know how that first Jerk of the loco
motive trmvela back ovar tba whole
line until every car Is ta motioa Full
speed ahead at the start would havu
been Impossible The whole Hue way
down to the cabooee at tha ead. had
to gat movlag first.
Youth’s First Performance an Assur
ance ©f n** F-t”— *' , stlnction
a an Architect.
A Chlrapo man stopped an architect
In the street.
“Good morning. HafHIns” said the
architect. “Are you thinking of build
ing again?"
“No; I stopped you to Inquire
whether you could take my son Into
your office as an apprentice. With
training I believe he would some day
prove n magnificent architect ”
“He has shown some talent, has
he?” asked the architect, glumly, for
he was disappointed at not getting an
other contract.
“Talent! Genlns, sir; poaltivu
genius!”
“What has he done?"
“He designed a garden for onr
Christmas tree.”
“Well, what Is there so remarkable
about that?”
“Why.” answered the father. “1
signed that garden for 38 and It
9X1!"—Philadelphia Ledger
coat
SWAMP-ROOT FOR
KIDNEY AILMENTS
as a
Anrsaation Commission No mod.
Commlssloaors to examlao the pw
tltlon of tho voters of Brooklaad sad
surrounding territory to join Richland
county wars appointed by the gover-
In favor of tho saaoxatton am P 1.
Wesslaser. Broolaad; opposed to tho
sBaezattou are George Bell Thames
mam. Lazlagtou. aud D. E George
The commission will examine all
tha records, aee If the petition moots
with coaslnational raqatremonta and
then report to the governor If tho
roamlaetoaers make a favors bit re
port an election oa tao anauxallon
move will be ordered
Dr.
big beet for the
te be just the n
its mild sad
fueitsed is moot
the
It la a
rat ■tores la bottles of two
m sad bras.
* Cb,
■ample battle. Wbsa
V. Y, far *
-Advt
Unwarranted Pellagra Scare.
Additional reports were received
, from physicians over the state bv Dr.
{ James A. Hsyne. state health officer,
in regard to the alleged pellagra out
break famine situation aald by the
public health service in Washington
and President Harding to exist in the
South. All these renorts. Dr. Hayne
said, are along the line* received sev
eral days ago and Indicate no out
break of pellagra. «
It must be awfully nice to be
rich that yea ran afford In
about the
Lever A Wallace to Speak.
The attractive booklet announcing
the premium list of the third annual
tri-county fair at Andrews, October
11, through October 15, Is published.
A feature of the fair this year will
be the agricultural day,' Friday. Oc
tober 14, when Henry C. Wallace,
United States secretary of agriculture,
and Asbury F. Lever of the farm loan
board will be present, both delivering
addresses.
Successful Industrial 'Camp.
T. B. Lanham, state secretary of
the South Carolina Y. M. C. A., return
ed from the industrial training camp
at Camp Tippecanoe, near Saluda, N:
C„ and reported a jnost successful en
campment for the mill boys.
’ “This Is the first attempt at a train
ing camp for industrial^ boys and the
officers In charge of the camp are
most pleased with the results,” Mr
Lanham said. The encampment, which
was held at the regular encampment
site of the Spdrtanburg “Y.” was In
progress four days.
Fall Opening at University.
For the first time In many years If
not in history, formal -onening exer
ciser'will be held at the University of
South Carolina the second day of the
seeelon, September 22. is the univer
sity chapel.
Former Representative A. F. Laver,
of th^ federal farm loan board. Wash
ington. baa consented to speak for tha
occasion and will fernlsh tbs major
portion of the program.
The members of the utvarslty fac
ulty will be
Copper Distillery fileaed.
Federal and state officers captured
a boose mill sear Oedsdea. but fulled
to find the owner or operator. The
still waa of between M and te gal
lon* capacity and made of cepper.
The joy plant was one tha “yoa
find It” braad. haring vome*blaf of a
new effect ta the manner of hiding tba
fire under the boilers
Federal Officers rol»m«n sad Scott
and State Constable Siryrl were la
the raid lag party. —
Effective T«
Te ellailoate a greet number af
petty lunoveuleur** that generally
go with washing the teeth Ip the moot
ing. a fountain tonthbrush te a prac
tical recent Invention, .aaya Pnp-
alar Mechanics Magazine. Within tha
brush handle Is a narrow compart
ment designed to carry a tab# of
paste. To wash the teeth, the brief lea
of the brushes are wetted and tba
paste from the Inner tabes Int rod need
to them hy turning a knurled collar at
the end of the handle, which forma
It out
Health Campaign te Begin.
Dr. L. A. Riser, head of the bureau
of rural sanitation, state department
of hfealth, will conduct a two weeks’
health campaign In Anderson county.
Lectures, moving pictures and other
health features will be given the pe>
pie of the county.
A large number of meetings and ex
hibitions have been arranged for var
ious sections of the county.
—I _
H onset, at Any Rate.
“Am I the first girt yoa ever loved?"
“No. dearie.' But I rame to this
resort with 3300 saved up. I’ll cheer
fully buy you Ira cream and randy
! until !*ve spent my wad.”—LouUrrfllp
| Courier-Journal.
""" 11 1 ■
Transfer Tresckow by Request
Orders transferring Lieut. Col. E. C.
vonTreckow to the reserve corps were
issued by Adjutant General Grant.
Lieutenant Colonel vonTresckow re
signed big office in the National Guard
several days ago hnd at hia own re
quest he was placed on the reserve
list, ..
The order also contained notice cf
federal recognition grant’d tc Second
Lieut. James B. GardnSP, Company L,
First infantry, S. C. N-. G., Hartsvllle.
Unregistered Automobiles.
Registration of automobiles, trucks
and other motor vehicles in South
Carolina continues to show a large
number of these vehicles “missing” so
far as the state highway is Concerned-
Figures to date, including the month
of July, show that during the present
year 79,597 automobiles, 6,772 trucks,
50 trailers, 712 motorcycles and 651
dealers have been licensed. These
figures were compiled and announced
by L. H.Thomas, secretary of the the
State highway commission. *
Signs up Entire Crop.
Former Gov.- Richard I. Manning
attached bis signature to the cotton
•co-opergtlve marketing contract and
will sell all thb cotton he grows oa
hti Sumter county plantation through
tha South Carolina Cotton Growers’
Co-operative association, accord lag to
a recent Interview.
In sending Harry Q. Kaminer. prest-
dent of the association, his <
Mr Mans lug wrote: -
my
of
GENUINE
Bull’’
DURHAM
tobacco makes 50
good qgarsttes for
• 10c
What Cause*
Skin Troubles?
Mhixy ot tho fiary, itching ikla
troubles pro due solely to dfak-
ordsrs of tho .blood. Don’t lot
thooo tepuritiofi torture you.
Thousands harp gotten relief
from such troubled *
fit A. ft, *e
M
X '-v
n