Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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JANUARY 1, 1925. THE BARNWELL PEOPLE* BARNWELL, SOUTH CAROLINA. PAGE THREE Judith of Blue Lake Ranch CHAPTER XII—Continued _1*_ 11’ «1k‘ wen* haril tirivon in soim* way slic liad not scon fit to confide to idni, if *!',e wore forced to- make tlii>; tleimiidoits sale, if slu* were mad or hud at last lost her nerve, I'riKlitolied ,at the thought of the heavv <iiins of iLionoy to he raised at the end of tin* winter, well, then it still could do no harm for him to speak his mind to her. Hampton had told him the price which the horses were to hriny it w«*ts pitifully small and I,ee meant to tel! her so, to tell her further tTiat he would guarantee an enormous train over it if she gave him time. He Would be doing ids part though she called him meddler for trhs pains. Marcia l.angworthy, hidden in a big chair on the veranda, watched him approach with interest, though Lee was unconscious of her presence. He had lifted a hand to rap at the door when she called to him. saying: “Hood evening. Mr. Mysterious Lee. Have you forgotten me'.'” Though he had pretty well forgotten her, it was not iiee< ssary to fell her that he had. He eame toward ln»\ putting out Ids hand. ’ "Hood evening,-‘-'Miss lungworthy,” he said cordially. ”1 haven’t soim mucti of you this time, have I? Two reasons, yon kj^ow: busy ;;!! da\ and half the night, for one tiling, and for atiotiier, ■" Hanipton lias monopolizi'd you, hasn't he?” Mania laughed softly. ■‘To a man your si.:e fhe s»*eond rea son is absurd. . ... Will Von sit down? You see; 1 am taking it for gran’ed 11mt voir come here to see me. I'nless," and her eyes twinkJe+l i»rig!itly ufi at him. “you were sur reptitiously calking on Mrs. Simpson?” "I’d love to talk with you.", he as sured tier. ‘T.ut. as I’ve just hinted, my work here has got into the habit of running away with me into the. n ght. 1 really came up for a word with Miss Sanford.’* VOh. didn't you know ?" asked Mar cia. '•Judith isn't here." “Isn't here?" He frowned. "No, I didn't know. 1 haven't, seen much of her Im/|> and didnM Know her plans. Where is site?'' "In San Francisco; Her lawyers seTTT for her, you know. Something about a tangle in her father's busi ness. Funny you hadn’t heard; she left Saturday night." Saturday? This was Tuesday eve ning. Judith iiad been away three full days. Lee, thinking hurriedly, thought thaf he saw now the expla nation of Judith's ordering a sale like this. Her lawyers hud found what Marcia called a "tangle” in Luke San ford's affairs; there had been an in sistent call for a large sum of motley to straighten R out. and Judith had accepted tile only solution. StiiL it didn't seem like Jifflitli to soil like tins at a figure so ridiculous ly low. Doan, Rock well Haight were not the only buyers on the coast ; Lee himself eouh| get more for the horses if he had two da\s' time to -took Nfround: the cattle were worth a great doal more than they were being sold for. even with tin* market down. “Hid she ha\e an idea what the By JACKSON GREGORY Copyright by Charles Scribner'* Sonr of paper, tossing It to Lee. "She sent me’that this morning." It was a Western Union telegram, saying briefly: •Pollock Hampton, "Hlue Lake Ranch. "Am forced to sell heavily. Send ing I loan, Rockwell Haight Wednes day morning, one hundred horses; as many beef cattle as <’ars >n can round up. Accept terms made in their letter to you last week. 4 "JUldTll SAXFORIi." The date line upon the message gave the sending point as San Fran cisco. "They wrote you a letter offering to buy?" said la*e thoughtfully, his eyes rising slowly from the paper in ids lingers, "How’d it happen they didn’t write to her?” "Well, it's a natural enough mis take, isn't it? Knowing liiat she and L were both part-owners, knowing that we were both hero, isn’t it ipiite to lie expected that they would write' to the man instead of to the woman? of course I gave her the letter as >ooii us I had opened it.”. "Of course," answered Lee. Put his thoughts Were not With, Ids answer. They were with Payne Tre vors. He knew that Trevors had long ago sold to these people; he knew, too, that at least two of the heavy share holders in the Western Lumber coiii-^ puny were interested in I loan. Rock well Haight. Tom Rockwell/him self wa> second vice president of the lumber company. "Have \on had a; i he tv other word from a sit ed. lawyers are?’ here that safe don't trouble w finally. "Why." \ oU Si C. S'll ni before .xlie left he a v Ued said Marcia, ”1 don’t know. die slipped mil late Saturday gilt after we'd ail gone to Led. ion* was a message for her over the telephone; she got up, dressed, sjni did her own horse and rode into Pocky Pend alone, just leaving a note lor me that she might be gone a week or two.” Just why lie experienced a sense of uneasiness even tlid, Lee did not know, it was like Judith to act swiftly when need he; to go alone and on tho spur of the minute to catch her train; to slip out quioUjp "itikoiit disturbing her guest." > 1 "You have heard from tier since? -- he demanded abruptly. "Not a word," said Marcia. "She doesn’t Hke letter writing and so 1 haven't expected to hear from her. Lee chatted with her for a moment, then claiming work still to In* done, turned to go hack down the knoll. A Hew thought upon him, lie once more came to Marcia's side. "I expect I'd hotter see Hampton,” tn* said. "I>o vou know where he is?” "Where lie lias been every night since .hidith left." laughed Marcia. "He's old Mr. Pusiness Man these days. In the oifice.". There Lee found him.- Hampton, ids hair rutiled. Judith's table littered with market reports, and mmjy sheets of paper, covered with, untidv figures', looked up at Lee's entrance. "Hello, Pud," he said, reaching for cigarette and mutch. "(Jot everything ready for tomorrow?" “Why didn't you Jell me Mliss San ford had gone away?” was Lee's sharp rejoinder. Hampton flushed. "Devil take those two eyes of yours. Rud,” lie said testily. “They’ve got a way of boring through u man until he feels like they were scorching the fur niture behind him. Well, I'll tell you. While Judith is away I am running this outfit. And if .the men tldnk I^n coming straight from iief with an or der they obey it. If they get the no thm she isn't here, they're apt to ask questions. Tha'-** why.” ~ . ‘This sale t.> Doati, Rockwell & Haight.” said Lee quickly. “You didn’t cook that up, did you Hump- ton?" “Loro, no!" cried Hampton. From “itirpluee on a file lie took a. yellow slip Miss Sanford?' "No” "Know who her "No. 1 don't." "Anytiling in her papers would tell us?" -“No., Her papers are in tin yonder and it's locked and I know tin* eoinbinajion." "Know what hotel she is stopping at in the city?" "No. Look here. Pud; what are you driving at? I don't get you." "No?" answered Lee absently. What Pud Lee was thinking was: "Here are too many coincidences Little things, each one in itself safe from suspicion. Put when he medi tated that the offer had come from thi> particular firm, that jt had come just u few days before Judith's first departure from the ranch, that it had been addressed not to her hut to Hamp ton, si> that lie must have the*oppor tunity to read it, that she had been called suddenly to the city, that that call had come after the house was quiet, its occupants in bed, that no letter had come since sAe had left, that no one knew where to reach tier when he passed all of these tilings in review the hltteriicx in Ids heart died tinder them and the first anxiety sprang up anew, grown almost into fear for her. “There's just <»ne tiling, Hampton," he said, his eyes hard oil the lioy’s face. "We don’t sell a single hoof rn the morning. Not a cow nor a horse until Judith is here herself." Hampton, new in his role of general manager, - tiushei) hotly, ids own eyes showing tight. "I like you. Lee." lie said sharply, his tone that of master to mqii. "And I don't want us to quarrel. Put J.u- dith wired me to sell. I've wired 'lie buyers an acceptance and we do sell in the morning'!" . For a full minute Pud Lee stood stone still, staring into Hampton's face. Then, tossing the telegram to the table, he turned and went out. His .face had-gone suddenly white. "They've got you somehow, Judith girl," he whispered through tense lips. "Put the light is still to lie made. And, by <!pd, there's a day of squaring ac counts coming for a man named Payne Trevors!" He went to flu* bunk house, neither seeing Marcia nor hearing her when sin* culled after him, and with a word to (’arson brought Hie irate cattle fore man hurriedly outside, CHAPTER Xlll "She isn’t here” replied Lee hrielly. "Hasn't been her since Saturdav night." Now, u-fih more cause, than ever, did dirson srunc-ni him. "Then what did Pollock Hamilton say sell for? Py eripes, if this is urn* of that young liop-o'-iny-lt.umb's joke-, I'm going up to the house an' murder him. That’s all. An' right now." Lee laid a hand on (’arson's arm. "Hold on, old-timer," he said short ly. "We’ll have a talk with him after a while. Now 1 want to talk with you." Contenting himself with tin* 'coldest of brief outlines. Pud Lee told Carson of Judith's absence and of Ids own suspicions. Carson, who had listened to him gravely, at the end shook his head. "That's a pretty bald play'. Pud," lie said .'■Jowly. "I don’t believe Trevors would get that coarse in his work, it doesn't look like him a little hit." "Does tills sale look the least little l>it like Judith?" demanded Lee sharp ly. "Ls it tier style to go over our Treads this way, Carson? If. she's got to sell heavily, why pick .out* tills par ticular set of buyers? Why rushed through while slit tell you there’s a nigger in the wood pile ami it's up to you and me to j smoke him out. Come up to the i house with me^c—2— Marcia did not see them as they drew near in the moonlight. For,, with a plan shaping in his brain, Leo Judged best that tjhev should not he seen, lit* and Carson passed in a wide are about tin* left end of tin* court yard, ar<>ii id tin* end of tin* house and *o> to a door opening from the office to tin* hack of tin* house. This door lo* found unlocked ami pushed quietly open. Hampton lifted swift eyes, sensing something stern and ominous in this silent "approach. • • "We want to talk tilings over with you,” began Lee. "It you’ve come to bulldoze me out of that deal in the morning,” retorted Hampton, "you might as well keep still. I'm going to sell.” “I don't know that you'd exactly call it bulldozing." smiled Lee, deter mined to lie pleasant with the young fellow as long as possible. "Put you've got sense enough to listen to reason, Hampton." "Have I?" Jeered Pollock. "Thanks." "If Mi*-s'Sanford wants the deal to go through.” continued Lee, “why. then, of course, through it goes. .If •she doe-Tt. there’s going to lie no sale.” "I tell you she wired me to sell; I slutted you the telegram—” "Put you didn't prove to me that she sent It. You didn't know yourself whether It hud been sent by her or Doan, Rockwell & Haight, or by Payne Trevors or the devil himself” He took up the telephone and -aid into it, "Western Union, Rocky Pend. . . . That you, Penton? This is Aee of tlo* Plue Lake. We went et in communication with Judith Sanford, somewhere in Send tlds message to believe Miss Sanford sent that wire. I don’t Ttetteve she is in Sun Francisco.' I do believe that y#ur friend Trevors 1ms got hold of her Somehow, and that lie is playing you for a sucker. That’s our reason in this. Now will you come with us to lu*f room?" "Trevors?” said Hampton. Then he laughed, "You are like the'rest, j Pud. Trevors is a gentleman, and you j try to make him a crook. Such a scheme as you imagine is absurd and j "idienlous. And 1 won't go prying - with you into Judith's room.” "('time on, Carson," said Lee. "If A Signal-Fire? Payne Trevors’ \way had ever been to plny--safe, - the way of a coward or a wise man. Kveri now, no doubt lie was giving an account oPTiimscli in legitimate endeavor at tin* lumber camp, putting in Ids appearance at ids fegttlar hour, safe miles lying be tween him and that which might oc cur upon tin* Plue Lake ranch, estab lishing alibis, conducting himself like tin* man he wished the world to tldnk him. Rut in the mind of Pud f,ee there wit* question, im doubt. Payne Trevors, or one of Payne Tre vors" gang, was even at this instant holding Judith some where until tills colossal deal could lie put over. Tre vors or one of his gang-^and Lee's face went whiter, ids hands shut tight er into hard (wits, as there came to his mind the picture of Quinnion's twist ed face and ev[il, red-rimmed eyes. ••Well?" snapped Carson. "What now . r» Haniplon wants to stay here,-let him.’ ^ put the young fellow was on ids j feet, Ids face Hushed, ids eyes excited, j "You’ll get out of this house^ and do it quick!” lie cried -sharply. "If •you tldnk for one little minute that i'll stand for your high handed ac tions, you're mistaken.” At a look from Lee, ('arson stepped quickly forward, so' that Hampton stood between them. “You come with us," and now Lee no longer sought to he pleasant, “And keep still or we’ll stop your mouth wiili a yard of cloth. Tlds way, ('arson.'* With right and left arms gripped, with lagging feet and furious eyes, Hamilton went between them to the doojr. For an instant only did he struggle; then, wijli a snort of djs- is the deal the futility of making a s avvav 1 ' 1 L»oi of himself, in* went quietly. Just what’ he expected as a result of a visit to the girl s room, Lee did not know. He hoped for some sign to tell him something, anything. Quietly tin* thm* went through the house until they eame to Judith's dainty blue-and-u bite bedroom. Here all had been set in order by Mrs. Simjison. On entering the room a sort of awkward shyness fell over both Lei* and ('arson. Hamilton, freed now and standing alone, though finder ('arson’s hard eye, stared ct them angrily, "When you get through with tins foolishness." in* told them stiffly, "you can either apologize or call for your time." Neither answered. Carson little by liftie had come to share Lee’s uncer tainty and anxiety ; and now, like Lee, .sought eagerly to find a sign— something to tell that Judith had been lured away by Trevors or Quinnion; or that she liad been overpowered here and taken out, perhaps through a window. Put Judith liad gone Saturday night, and Mrs. Simpson hud done tier work thoroughly. It might lie well to call the housekeeper and question tier. Had she found a chair over turned. a rug rumpled, a table shoved a little from its accustomed place? Put, again, it would lie as well not to start suspicion and surmise in other minds if, after all, there were no true cause for It. Judith might lie in San Francisco; she might have sent the order to sell. "Chances is we’re smelling powder where there wasn’t no shot” said Carson hesitatingly. "Plight boy!” mocked Hampton. "You’ll make a great little gumshoe artist one of these days.” Had Pud L'ee not loved Judith as he did, with ids whole heart and soul, it well might have been that he and Carson and Hamilton would have gone out of tlie room knowing no' more than when they had come in. Put it seemed to Lee that the room which knew Judith so intimately, was seek ing to open its dumb lips to whisper to 1dm of danger to her. He irad come here troubled for her; lie stood, look ing about liita. frowninglyr Ids heart heavy, fear mounting within him. And at length he found a sign. At the far end of the room, in a corner, was Judith's writing-table, un which were several opened letters, pen and ink, a pad of paper. .Lee stepped tn it. If she had bi*en lured away after nightfall, then some message had come to her. If that message liad come by word of mouth, there was no. need seeking it ; if it had been a note, fate might have kept It here. Impaled on a sharp file was a sheet of notepaper. The notes was brief, typewritten, even to tin* signal lire-- that of 1 >oe Tripp. It ran : hi tear Judith : . "1 am afraid of a new trouble. Have spotted another one of T's gang work ing for us. Also have got a bullet- hole in my rigid hand. Nothing ser ious so fi#r. Come down right away. I ain't let any one see you as 1 want to spring a surprise on them.' Am not even using the telephone, as I've a notion they are watching me. Hurry. >, "Tripp.’' "Come hack to the offlee," said Lee bluntly. And well in front of ('ar son and Hampton, who sfare^ vvon- deringly at tin* paper in ids hand, lie 1 elephone. j-werit to tin* office-Hdephone/ind called for Tfijip. "How's your hand?!' in* asked when Tripp answered. “All right," replied Tripp. "Why?" "(Jet it hurt?" "No” "Did you write -Miss Sanford a hurry-up note within tin* last ffvy seeking to rob him of Ids newly ac-lNf| uvs v* boy. angered at tha way In which he hud been ignored, insulted in Ids sense of dignity by lho»e words of Lee's to Tripp, "Talk with me or (’arson," see ing the reins of power being snatched from his hands, was speechless with wrath. "You fellows have hutted in all I’ll stand for!" lie' cried at them, ids simtl fists shaking. "I tell you I'm running this outfit and what I say goes. dnh't believe that Trevors or any man living would do a tMck like that. I tell you It's ridiculous. And. no mat ter where Judith is, when she i-; n^it here I run the rancli. I need money ; she needs money; we've got a fair chance to sell; I’ve passed my word vve are going to sell; and by (J—d. we are going to sell." In another mood, Hampton would not have spoken this way. In another mood and with time for' argument, Rud Lee would have expostulated with him. Now, however. Lee said tersely: "Carson, it's tip to you and me. Uet the boys out, to the lust man of them. Turn every hoof of cattle and horses hack into tlie i'pper Knd. We've got (IV » r \'' / to Miss San Francisco. every Tiotel there, will you? And Bud Lee Stood—Staring ton’s Face. Into Hamp- j rush ft; ‘Must have , word with you ! immelllutely. Important ' (Jot If? Oh, sign-it, Carson and—and LTripp. Rush it, 1 tell you. Renton. And if you get in touch with Miss i Sanford in any way, tip us off here, will you? Thunks” "She might lie visiting with friends," muttered Hampton, little pleased at the thought that Lee and Carson were Simpson?" asked quired importance. "Where's Mrs. Lee. “(Jone to lied,” answered Hampton. "And Miss Langworthy Is stilL on tlie verunda. Now Hampton. Carson and l want a look at Miss Sanford's room. Cyme with us. \111 you?” "I’m d—d if l will!" cried the boy liolly^ “I don't know what you are “There's going to*be no sale in the ui mo, hut I’m hqss here anV-Fm piorning” said Lee and at the new- strange tone In Lee’s voice Carson jerked up his head, thrusting-It for ward, peering at the other through tlie moonlit night. “Say it again,” muttered Carson. ‘‘.Who said so? Miss Judith?" ing orders, nut taking them. If there’s any reason In all this. I’ve* got tlie right to know' what It Is.” “Yes,” answered Lee thoughtfully. “You’ve got the right. 1 just don't like the looks of affairs, Hampton. I don't believe all that I hear. I don’t Typewritten snapped •No” “Sure of that, Doc? note?" “Of course I’m sure.' Tripp. "What's wrong?" "(Jod knows,” answered Lee short ly. “But you'd better come up here and come on rhe Jump. Also, keep your mouth shut until you get a chance to talk with me or Carson." He clicked up tlie receiver and turned terrible eyes on the two men watching him. They've got h**r," he said slowly. "They’ve got her. Carson. They've had her since Saturday night ! Carson rend tlie note. Only then | did It pass into Hampton's hands. The Covin nerveus WOMAN SO III WASHED DISHES SITTING DOWN Mrs. Ashcroft’s Remarkable Recovery After Taking Lydia E. Pinkham’s Vegetable Compound _i, - ■ " ■ —!■■■■» ' 1 ffton, Ky.—“I was so weak and 11 could hardly do my housework 1 | as I could not stand because of the bear ing-down pains in my back and abdomen. I sat down most of the time anddidwhat I could do in that way—aa washing dishes, etc. One day a book describing Lydia El Pinkham’s medicines was put in my mail-box. I _saw how the Vege table Compound had helped others so I £ ve it a trial. I had to take about a zen bottles before I gainedmy strength but I certainly praise this medicine. Then I took Lydia E. Pinkham’s Blood medicine for poor blood. I was cold all the time. I would be so cold I could hardly sit still and in the palms of my hands there would be drops of sweat 1 also used the Sanative Wash and I recommend it also. You may publish this letter and I will gladly answer let ters from women ana advise my neigh bors about these medicines,’’— Mrs. Harry Ashcroft, 632 Beech Avenue, Covington, Kentucky. Great CaroTs Centenary "Silent Night, Holy Night." for many decmles the favorite Christmas carol of (Jhnimny, meets with particular de votion tliia Christmas, It being one hundred years old tlds year. Tht* ocra*ton*l u»* of Roman Ey« Balaam at nlaht will pr^v-nt an<1 ralleva Mrrd ayaa and eye strain. S72 Piarl St.. N. T 'Adr. If one getk many letters, there are sure to lie some unpleasant ones among them. Bud Lee Wa« on Him, Throwing Him Back. to do It tonight. (Jet them into tlie little valley above tlie plateau. We can hold them there, even if they try to force our hands, which will be like them. 1 take tlds to be Trevors’ last big play. And,, by thunder, h'e has mighty near gotten away with It!" "Don’t you dare do It!” blazed out young Hampton. “Carson, you take orders from me. (Jet out of this house and leave the stock where they are. In the tuorning—” "(Jo ahead, Carson," cut In Lee's hard voice. "I'll take cure of Hamp ton here.” "You will, will you?" cried Hamp ton. Witli one hound lie was at the table, jerking open a drawer. As his hand sought the weapon lying there. Bud Lee was on him, throwing him back, ('arson looked at them a moment, then went to tlie door. "You're right Rud,." lie said eulmly us lie went out. Lee, forcing himself to show a calm ness like ('arson’s, said gently to Hampton: "Can’t you see tlie play? It’s up to youjo kick In and stop it. There’s a telephone; cull iqi the buyers in Rocky Beifd. They're there now, or at least their drivers are, if they're (*oni ing out here in the morning. Tell them tlie deal is off " "Can’t I see?” said Hampton, writh ing out of Lee’s hands, on ids wn> to the door. "You bet I can see! If you and Carson think that you can run me—” Then, for good and all, Lee gave over trying to reason with Hampton Then* was too much to lie done to waste time. He drew Hampton back, furnng him against tin* wall. As he tried to call out, Lee's hand over ids mouth smothered his words. "You're coming with me,” lie said sharply. “Rigid now." Though lie struggled, Hanipton was little more than a baby in the horse foreman's muscular grip. Tripped, with a heel behind his calf, b** fell heavily, Lee upon him. Beth arms were pinioned behind him, and Lee’> neckerchief thrust into ids mouth. He writhed in impotent rage. His outcries died in ids throat, the loud cm of them not reaching Marcia's ears above the creaking of her rocking chair. Lee still held Hampton’s tied hands gripped in ids own. So tlie two men went out the hack door, dow n toward _the corrals. Seeing men flurrying from tlie bunk- house to the stables under Carson’s snapping orders, Lee called out for Tommy Burkitt. And in a moment, wltl) bulging eyes, Burkitt came run tdng. "Bring out three horses, Tommy,’ Lee commanded, giving no explana tion. "Hurry, and keep your inoutt shut." , Burkitt obeyed Lqe as he alwtyt did. silently and unqu?Mloningly. Very soon lie returned* riding, leading two saddled horses. "(Jet into tlie saddle, Hampton,’ said Lee sternly. "There’s no tlrm for nonsense. (Jet up or I’ll put yoi up." (TO BE CONTINUED.) Chinese Work of Art A Cldnese Tuang Fang sncrlflcla table, consisting of a bronze stand, R vessels and a wine dipper, dated about 1122 and 256 B. C.. in the Chou pc rind, is on exhibition at tlie Met repo! Ran Museum of Art, New York. 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