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IKN HU Iu HERO COPYnIGHT, 1901, BY THOMAS 1.0 U ISA. 4 Loulsn aiiks fit tait ier cup of mliery was r'uil, but tier'e was muore, inIch illore, to le pourel In yet. Whlen Sfin did nlot appear ait brenk-. IAst next inorni'ling, she wenLt u to ls ror to see If he was there. It Was thenl shte discovered thet- little 111le of iinoitey anid the papers lie Ihad left oil the table. With n premionition of what was to coline she pushed the anoney aside and agerly took up1) the fiist pa-' perI anld unlfoldd it. It wals thet poor I litt(e note Sil had written to her. She read It through, then satik into a chir1 a1nd, pillowing her head on the table, 1ur1'st lato tears. It would have beien a hard heart that would not have beenvii affected by the t siiinple paitlos of Slil's words, and Lou- f Isa was not h harted. She wvasi touched, deeplly touched, by thet nlinly, genierols uinr in lt' II which Ile absolved her froin all ahiie and bravely took it ail (itn his own sioulders. That note presetied hii to ter IiI a new and I a far iiore favorabl light thanl she lad 'ver een h01n. It showed how truly lie colid love, how git and generous 1is her-t was atid how grand alid ioble his. ilitiure. 1 hle realized IIw ilit Il losing 1il1n shte haId lost oeli of the pitit-st amid tri (st Ilis that evet lived, nild she re grettd, del.I\ an11d sinCerTly. that she t Conld noit lit\.( himn. "lInt I tr -l, he (told herself, "God knows I triei. tit love bin1i wiOd wanted tO live hittm, iit I c01lldi'. UtL i W3S )wt woerily (if such a 11ani or of such loovv as I' giv e tIle. Iv PIr'esCntly slit' took up the detds and lead tho' rnl ovlr. The tearis started afresh to Ii it's. "Nitoe tf his iooinluss." site thought. "No other ti:an 11wold have done sich t t I ing. Oh. Sii! P'rl' leartbroiken Siln! low I pity yiu!" 1.ater inl the day sit' welt out antd stotd by the gate, looking" tIown IIt ward the w lt-, t' way she hItd stntlit lli ti was lit':t vy, ant lit' tI holughil were0 all (If hlini. In -foreT heV went Shit hadl always" though-It she could n-Vt I' het' h happy exept with F'rank Sltoln'ii. tit u I se felt th il sli' ceild ittVir It .1f -!:1 i I i t 1,lne l ily e le lls ltts P'resetitly N 1a.1'y M aim 1 1111lt' 4th1wilt the strit tn it' W:iv w Iaitt frtiuiii I l Stirt. w her' slt hail gont' to \h-w Nltil- ti viii's r'iinaints at1 tt learnl all t ' iu-w I aboutt theit tra get)y. I. inisa hadl iin t Itt'en frin I:,i 1 ,i lll dli , Idn nd 114) <>tle hiadtl visiil heri'. so shlI as til rIely Ig tiranit of all that hadl trantspiredo to set g.ladt if ani thppotunityt to tell the news al itt thei s:lle titne linflict ai cruiel wounid oii one site hated, shte stoppedt't whenit~ shte reach1ed Mi's. I iau k an ai)te vositd her swveetly, very', veiry sweetly, "iltowdy, Loeueesy? i'mn ighit gld to sHoe youl. Y'iou ratle wo'L" "in vtery well. lts. Mianni,"' Lou isa ri'pliied t'ully w ittut lotokig uip. "'h'in L'lal tit heal it,''" irs. Mlam saidl in htter suiav'est tont's. Ignitng Lounisit's vtohintss. "'' inalie ghid to, htear It, l.toucet'sy, bt itust imy you nin1't1 "I' in veriy well, I tha'ntkyu. "Yes? AndI Shiu *- I tiisupo )e's "I pre'tsumne so." "Is tie at home today?"' "Nio." "WVhiere Is lie, 1.ouce'Osy' ' isir s. I haniks, rinemlt iibering al) she had hiearid of' theL r'tallontsblyil existinug het tween'l t his woitanl andi Sihi, flashed'i an. gry3 In ani Instant. "'I ditn't k now,'" slit 't'ltied sco 'ifuh) 13', ''that It's irtleulai'ly any oif your buisiness where lie Is." Mr's. Mlait did not allow~ ber' feellinzs to buli ed n byv i thIiIs curt ansiiwerl. Iileri tun e to dheal a deatdly thr'ust was com.u~ lng. and1 th en her revenge woulId lit' so full that she ctold welall nord to wait. Quiletly she saId: "Oh, you feel that way 'bout It. do roul?" "I do." "Waal, I s'pose It's nat'ral, L~ouc'esy,. auat'ral that you shiould f'e'l thatmit I aIn't nobody's busliness." "Whethler I t's niatua or'iitI not, Mi's. Miain, that Is just how I 'et'l." "Jest so. Bunt, fior all that, L~out'csv there's mnany mas ill lee') d Iit'l''i specially the otlicerms, who will thinlk it's a rIght simar't of their busiin'ss.'' Louisa raised her hieadl andi gaive Mi's. Mann a look of scorn. "1 kzuow of noi reasoin why the'y should," she replied, "nor do I precsumie you know of any." "LaI ' Is that so? Then you've not heard 'bout all that's been goln onl to day?" "I have beard nothing." Now had the tImo of Mrs. Mann's revenge arrivedI-revenge for the loss of SIm and all she had suiffered~ in con sequence of It. Bluntly, almost brutal. ly, she said: "Then you didn't know that your lov er, James Melvin, had been found dead with a bullet hole through l heart. It was a cruel blow cru ly dealt, and Louisa staggered under It. Iher eyes opened wide, her faco becamie deathly white, and for a momnenit hier heart stopped beatIng. She reeled and would have fallen had she not clung to the fence for support. Her lIps moved as if in speech, but no sound esenped them. fler suffering was intense. It was pitIful. Etven a heart of stone must have been touched by it. But Mary Mann was impervious to pity. In her heart thore was no compassion. She had dealt a hard blow, but she had a llarderxet to deal, and she Ald not hes MBLD I BY THOMAS . P. MONTFORT ? P. MONTFORT - ate. RelentlessIy She said: "Yes, your sweetheart has been kil !d, an It was your husband luurdere "in, an you, Loueesy BaIks, aro r( polsible for it all." With 010 wild, heartrelding sliel 4oulsa fell back in a d('nt failt. Two hours later a group of n1)n wer taldling in fronit of 11eks' store di, ussing the nurder. Sonie there Wei vho talked, and soi1 there were wil 1ly listened. P'ap Sanipsoni. ,1n4oi toberts and Sanm Morgai were of 11i atter. Jiml Thorn, still occupying tii osition of suprtne lnportance in til hilage, was snying: "No, sir, men, I've got tiothin m! arth ag'in Sim iniks, nil thir's not j ian tli the worltl <'d berilend <iuickol han I woulm bInI,, but in, site of :a. hat I can't shut liuy eyes to the phili act that ever'thing goes to Show tIa 1in Hanks fired the shot thilt killet! felvin)." "I hate Ilnou1gltily to think Sill cout o scli a thing," Icks retalrlket but 'in areali I'il ivte to owi thit ver'thing" seeinls to point pow'fl I rong ig'i b111 ." "Of co'se it dioes," Thorn iti agreed. Lorid, Jake, its iluill its I lit to say , I got to own thast It's 1 plu111nb pla1in Ise. III the Iu)st place. uinl h:l a It Iii for k lyli Nel- iu. Jil har wa W :11y :lanotlhel' S011 iII this whiole sectio int dikd have a reasonl. you knlov tat's s, doll't you?" "I'mn afenni It Is, .11hn1," llekls ad ilttetl. "Then ylsterly evenin. Jest bfrt [elvin muust 'n,' been kdieil," Thor1,1 -ent. onl, "Slinl was seenl goin<0 Ito theln w tools with his guni till sII :ioulder. Ile knowed NIelviii was alt le Store here, o doulbt., Jiii volhl bi, -passill througlh them woois oil [iil ',y to Turner's. What in ore Ilikily Jan that he velt down (11h11.rll an hid ehL11 thatt tree till Nielvill Collie a1lng. IL1n) Rel au dlra11ed hil7"' "It 'pvars to lloi like It tnought 'a' pen tha*t nt-way," Hiceks replievd. "I t "Then onl t(p of all thjat." Thorn illtl, "is the i'act that Siun itanks i onle (or else Is" in) hitln So InIIe-whIInr. ow. vIly wouil it, runl otT or 1hb4e if L' wa'n't guilty Or S01inethinI An[Id -lat cotid lit lih e glilly of It It ain't HIicks sighld and shook his heul. "I reckonl youl Ilust he righ11t, Jilin," C. Saidl, "thoughl I ha:1te wulss'nl pizon i have to say so. Yes, It looks IlilO ill) t1uust 'a' lone It. It does shorec." "o course lie done It," another said inlphatically. "Lord, that's jest as hInIn to 111y iitnl as. the tiose Onl your net'. I don't. 8(ee how~ anybo'tld ianl "htis o ie, iTor'n."' evidnceag'n 810.It's too plu(1u "'Ti so" areeIlaotheir. T1henl I aihitld, ''.\ly IbllI, w~ha t y(ou rt'cl thecy'lI do wIth Sin foit?"t'C "Lor'tl, thll'I han. hzii, of course Molle (one r'ep Ilid. '"Th'iey'rei slhore' to.' It, he ha~d a riht sinar't ca:1use f'or| Inl I guess inebbily the. ('our1. wouhl( ft some11 of thle!)u extenutinLi elninstane1 IItolotr he' i(lp himl (lut. Any15how, si llln't kietched ylt, anl ketchina comn a fore hanugh .'' "Ity . oshi, Jake, thait ar'4 ai fact! SI 111n't ketched yht, an I het ho( ali a-goln to be ke'tehid uuthe'r. N 'fore this." ''1 on't Iyou go an tool youris-' C 'hot that,'' T1horn sl. ''It takieis a uuth sIght sInaurter felb-r thlan im~l gi::l keep (out of thei wa of5 tihel~ law, ni he ailn't keltched, I i les' ii a wteek I'llt Iin nlu to biti.'" nti ot) IS they'r'e tut shorieli to doi tha Th'lem kInd of circum !1s1 tn'i ' you Sg of while ago ain'it a-gin to cut inne fllger' hi Shnl's ':asi'. .\tnylmwi~ thev'~ shore siitu up11 !I to itsin for' lift : the ver'y bitst."' "yoliu ' a toiz bie ded3ta'in iall i '"1 ain't. I'm Jlest tailkin facts."' "Th'1ey'rue nliis'ablu hlle aineth'd falt em1) hardi." "'Waaul, I hope t hey' wonl't never hiI 01ld SItu nobiow. (Goshi anmity, ti "'It wouhtIl'io,"' IIlleks agr'eed, '"an w~outldn 't havi e It done11 for a purty."/ ''ay3,'' called( Sal) Mor'gan, "'who yeC all reckon that str'anger was that cons 'long over thjar in h wnds tona ?" "Lordl," Thorii cxelaizn'd, "if I hadn't gone an clear forgot all 'bout hint! But I ain't no notion who Ie was uohow.'' "H1e 'peared to take a right sinart Intrust in the murder, didn't lie?" "Shore. 'Poared to think it was a painful pity Melvin got killed." "Did so. Acted like It nado hin consid'able sorry. I bet he's pow'ful tender hearted." "Purty good sort of feller, I guess. But, say, fellers, what you reckon Loueesy Banks thinks 'bout the way things has turned out?" "I dunno, I'm shore," Hicks replied. "Guess niebby she don't know nothin 'bout it." "Lord, if she does I reckon she can't feel none too good with her sweetheart I dead an hter husbanil a tiurderer." "That IF a lie, Jim Thorn-every word a lie!" They started anllid looked around, and there anong themn stood Louisa, tier face white and drawn, her form treat bing, but a look of dreadful earnest ness in her eyes. COILAPTER XX. PAP SAMI'SON AS A FRIEND. "It's a lie, a positive lil" Loulsa re peated, with her gaze flxed steadily on Jilm, I'lorn's face. "I don't care if the whole world says he did, and I (ion't care what proof there is agaiust IIn1, I Say SIn Banks never comniat ted such a crime as murderl" "That's what lie didn't, Loucesy," and Plap Sampson stepped to the wo nina's side, thnmped his cane firmly against the ground and faced the oth ers defiantly. "I say it, Jilu Thorn, an I say It openly an aboveboard, an I'll continue to say it till the last dally in the evenin, Situ Banks never took that 11an's life." Louisa turned a grateful look on the old man, and the tears started to her eyesj. "Thank you, ['ap, with imy whole heart," she rald. "It's a comfort to know that Sitn has one true friend in all the world wcho will stand up lit his defense to the list." "An I will stand I) for hlin, Loicesy. As long as there's a bre:thl of life iII Illy body I'll tieIfeid Siinl 14Itiks agalist ulI tIe woibI. been use I knowit' lie's ill .1 I'l'iThorn1 atool with his head bent uind his galze. tise.l (m the- groundll lie nt 1n rioli Io ayting Louisa or 11p vniel l'*rhap for al that, hie iy hav benl in iest in his ex pressed belie-f ill 'un -. guilt There weeOth ers I her1 A% h11-r1 T n' couldi scaree ly b lGn -rteerursa cs "Yo:' I .nowi H ' iinl is iliiloceti , i.'tika 2 , i:' ez I iir liind on 'ap's in lii a n :ill (lit- world believes :'' ' ;.' lied. "IIt w.'e are notI a-I .. I. : v 'yiThar's others here l'1i insisted. "Sam \lrW: nblieve it, don' ,t y-oil?" t'a~ s .:ald oi'l 1 Andl after. besi t'in': : oli t lie tiui'led aiti walked -lx:wl axI It iii'tled iio words to %%*;;what 111- thou1ht l'p as dlisap pointi. 11. bu11t - ::Iid: ".Nix ti' :ind1. I.iutesx. Sani Morgan i h wni ll. a'i bl I l n' t hell his opin hton,. Thiurl's (tt iihe Ihough,. 1 knowx "thit you ll it ask n te rutha t.i I (11 't t'll youi a lit'." sid]es'', if' tinis, tw xxt in wxer'e nt fiindly~ to Sino i.her'e shouhui lie lotok terillit' xxi wxas?. 'lT' atiotn of' Srii aiiid .Jasoni cut nruitilg Sint's iit-:irest fr'ieinis, and iif it xxhe ae uinfori ytuhat 1 tihak tti eiou toyhiue. Yu' knwI'a as true friend int M'rany, an t inebb shteixi'''tl you away i t l m. F r ii.tineate the xx r li bil soth' ie t.b tthr.a lxr 1s himsel as' he fl t heiii't Jho ix.' '? ''wSiii li a in ttinha to hit':i was versi del'i'nt, ruI . . toi br 's b iti without ' i ''1u llifiet'tseemedh lnt esyi ta's. tg t I t' lit beven stt ure i ti't ' o h i inb say~ il "L oxI xes yous kno I iliii'lour friendi' i a~n. that 3'I ihtit dioxx 1'verythn'.''f y 'o; pennan that. I w~ohx't noilimn'to do tnt.rxy ai thin Is ilhut''fo oti it ott er t YIu b'liev i mi nt . you ?"ee e isoky. tillti bu you n h-o im, nn - Il tuht-y ouh trust you it knopeno u1t "Yes," she repiled. of Site passed through the door, and 111- I11a1 wAaited onl thie otside. WaV~lt I transpired In ttlit ioom n11 [to one Savo at Loist ever kinew. The duor stooi 't partlilly open. niad I'ap i1ght Iave looked In, bult hie would nlot halve dlone( 3d such a thing for the world. - to A quarter of nll hour pissed, and n10 then Louilsa cvaun ouit. 11'a1 Saw that I't she 3 was very pale. blit perfectly Ca1lm1. Without a word le put out the light CO and closed the door, and in perfect or silentce they walked hack liomle. u CIIAl'TEilt XXI. A LITTIE NI:GiInonLY 0OsSIP. u One day III Jenkins aind Jonithat1 I Turner ro(le over to Beckett's Mill to ly see abIlout selling sole hogs. it wa4 11 o of the days when. III's "ager' of was not working on him, so lie w1a1 fa iI I alPproaehable hutor. Naturally as in the conversation that followed th 11s arrival of the two men the murder of tir Melvint and the disaIppearance of SIn Blanks formed the chief tople. 10 "1 knowed from the very fust," Tur 1 uer riarked, "that that feller wa'n' uit down yere smellin round fur no in I eral, tin I knowed thar was somethht n, back of him that lie wa'n't keerli h1, 'bout people knowin. But, Lord t-tmais sy, itment, I never dreamied that hle' at gone an done sich a thing as murder at Great snakes an caterpillers, jest thiink Al of -. will you-that feller stayin that n in my house, a-sleepin In my beds ar a-eatin at my table when he'd don 1 tuck a feller critter's life! My land y- If I'd 'a' knowed I wouldn't 'a' had hIm thar for a htoss. Why, don't you to know sence he was thar it Jest seeit 's like ever' blame thing on the place II 10 got human blood oil It-seems like It's )u o1 the beds an the towels an the cheers ul all the dishes, an 'pears like I can taste r4 It in the vittles. Lord a-massy, but it'i f- awful!" "I bet you'd 'a' been skeered of him, ar too," Jason Roberts said, "if you'd 'a knowed 'bout him kIlIun that feller." "Great possuils tall persimmons, I il- reckon I shorely would 'a' been skeer. d, ed. Why, Jest think-that feller mought ir 'a' got up1) som1e night an killed ever' s- blame one of us." Ig "An lie never clieceped a word to you 'bout nothin he'd done nor nothin?" "Nary a word. If I'd been kInder e, lmnuisitive, like some folks, an had lit' !d pried Into him, I mnought 'a' found out 11% som1ethhin. But, Ldrd, I ain't no hand L- to ask questilons, you knlowv, an when a feller acts like lie don't want to tell 'I nothiln I Jest let 11111) alonte." .n "Didn't you ask hit notlln?" "Scarcely a thing. When he conic io up thar fust that day, I sorter flung out " one or two little questions, but I see F. right away lie cdin't wait to answer noth)[n, so I Jest quit. Land, I ain't no hanld to try to make people tell things t, anyhow whether they want to or nit." u There was anl oppressive silence after o this, a silence during whileh there was u much thinking. But Turner was bliss o fully Ignorant of the trend of thought. 't He did not even suspect it when he saw a smile on more than one face. "An 'bout that feller over to your t, house, Hi?" HIcks remarked question. e Ingly. 8 "le ain't thar no more," III replied. I- "Cone away )O" n "Yes; went ylstodly." ''I'd say't." e "Yes; lie got so'd he dIdn't 'pear to be satisfied 1no more, so ylstedy he packed I ip ani it out." t "Wa'n't satisfled with the 'commier dation you glive him?" Turner asked. a "Them fellers mostly ain't satisfied with nothin." e "Oh, It wa'n't that, I guess. Least wIse hte never made no fuss 'bout his 'comnmerdations." i "What alled hIm, then, you reckon?" "I dunno, I'm shore. Jest sented to a 'a' got sorter 'restless an unieas'y an couldn't he stIll nowhar. When he a wa'n't asleep, lie was all the time moy in abloult, either' trapsIn round over the ? woods or ('se walkin back'ards an for 'ards across the yard. I've seed him walkini out thair in the yard for hours, 1 gest gola to an fro, to art fro, till it wore mne cleani out. It got so's lie (lone it of nights jest the samei, an lots of tImes i've waked up way long towards mornin an seed 1111m at it. Then thar wvas a k In' of a skeered look Itn his eyos, an at ever' little noise he'd Jump anl look round lIke he'd been shot. never see nobody do like lie (lone." "B3y grab, It was funny, wva'nl't it?" "Looked that a-way to mie shore." "What you reckon was the matter of him, 11I?" "I ain't no notIon, Jake." "I het it was that murder done It," Sam Mor-gatn saId. "Don't you all reck on it was'?" "Lord(, I don't see how thlat murder could 'a' had anythIng to do wilth it," Hi relied. "Thle murder wa'n't nothina to hin noway, an lie ldi't knowv Mel vin nior SImu Baniks nuthler. Guess he never see nuthier of 'em 'less lie see Melvin that day he was lyin here a Cawpse." "IIe dId see him that day," Sam said, "an he acted sorter quaire too. I was a-watchin him when lie went' up to whtar the cawvpse lay, an, for all he'd beent so cool out thar in the woods, the seconld lis eyes fell on thlat (dead face he turned right white an lput hIs hand upi to his heart, then looked round right quick, like lie wondered if any body'd seen him. Guesq lie must be one of theCm kind of people that's easy teched by anything likec that." "Must be If he (dotne that a-way," 01(d III replIed. "My skin, It don't make 110 difference to inc to look at a dead feller, an I'd Jest ats soon tech hIm as not." "Lord, Ill, not If he'd been killed?" "Yes, sir, even if he'd been killed." "Bly grab, I w~ouldn't. They say if you tech a feller' that's been murdered that a-way he'll come to you thiree nights hand ritmnin antd stan' by your bed an look at you." "Wonder if that's so?" Jim Thorn asked. "By grab, they say it is, shlore, an I can tell you right now I dlon't want no dead fellers pesterln round me of nights." "Lord, yon bet I don't. I don't want niothini to (10 wIth themi ha'nts an flx In's, an~ I ain't never goin to tech no body that's been killed, you bet, even If they never are teced~." "Shiucs, you fellers don't know what you're talkcin 'bout. Say, you all jest wait till you've seed dead men as I've seed 'em, lt i ..- . - a~fi co-se, atni 1 iny lie iall 1in the wrong, 1 I kinder 'lowed iuobby, on 'count what xan ItNvlxt you two, thilt ilt'r ly You'd like to see hiIi Once lore. jest sorter 'lowel it inought be ti a-way, you know. tiln I hope I all sild nothil to huIIIrt you. "No, you have not." she repiled, "a perhaps it's wrong. but I would like sec hiln. I hope youI Won't thiiink I wicked, Pap, for God knows I ca help lny f(elings." "I don't, LOlcesy. It alni't ly pin to judge, on I aIn't blaintiolody I nothin. I know it's sad that you Sm couldn't git along, but If y couldn't you couldn't, nln that's ill th Is to it. Sill ain't never faulted y for nothili, ait I'm iouglity shore ain't a-gon to nuther. Whatever im he said, I know one thing, Loneesy, that is, 110 ilatter whiat you thought flnybody else, you've alwtiy .been true wife to 8ii. Your conduct hI been right, tn that's ill the world I got to do with. Your thoughts an yo feelini's Is latwixt You all your God." "And God knows I never ieant to Wionig," Louisa Kaid, "but I did whetr mautrried Sini without loving hIm. 13 I didn't know, Pap; I didn't know. was too young. I loved the other the but I liked Slim, and I wasn't sure. C love is so ci'tiel, so cruel!" "No, Loueesy, it ain't that. It's ti people ain't keerful enough of wh they're dn when tley inarry. Y was too young to know your o0 heart." "I was, aind the consequence is have ruined Slim's life and made m self miserable forever." "No, no, Loueesy. Don't you go lookini at It that nt-way. Lord, tha man1y years afore yoti, an thar's 1 tellin what all Inay1 happen yit. Yo jest keep up1) Colrage all ie as hoper its y-oui ('nn, on soine of these da, you'l 1111fid tint ill yOu)11 a111i a 1n forin1's hals beenl left beindI~." "Not in this life, l'1p. It can't ev be in this hard, cold world." "But It caln, an It will. You'll see." They walked oil i little waly in I lence. They were boti t hinking, an though nellitCer of thIeiii knew it, thc iminds were oi the same subject. 're mitly Louisa sighed and, as if speakii to herself, sd1(1: "Poor Slim, poor. Slim!" Pilp glaneed quickly at her fac 6yhile the faint trace of i smile play( ihout his lips. In that moment I miw farther into the future than Lo si would have believed. "An now about Melvin," he said. 'eckon y-oui know what people say c h1nk ?" "No, but I suppose they think n 'lcked and sny hard things about me "Wail, sone of 'eiI do, Louces Ces; 'i afeard soime of 'em do." "I'm sorry, but I can't help it." "In eo'se. I understand sill that. Bu r'eln as things aire so, I 'lowed yc votildn't keer. 'hout givin folks r nose room for sayin things thani yc ,ainl holp. so I i'eckoned you'd ruther C o see Melviil whenl ever'body wa'II lilr to see yOu." "Yes; I would. Iut can I?" "Shore. If you jest Wait till tonigh vhen ev'r'body's gone home, I'll taik ou tihnr. I'll arrange It with Iliek o's- you can go in. j'hat a-way ti 1(dy3 won't know nothin 'b)out it, a obodly can i't have n. iothini to sny." "'Thiank y ou, Pap. You are imor hanu thou01ght l a nd kInd.'' "Lord'(, thait aiin't nothin. Even if lidns't keer' niothini fom' you I'd do ths 31uch1 jest to Ihalk Mlar'y Manni." A t t he ment Ion of tha t noamo Louis hudi'ed. IPap niot Ieed it and saId: "I retckonf y'ou ain't got much mor na'e for t hat womni~i thain I have.'' "'I detspise hier'.'' Louisa replied. "31 ost lolks dio(e. Lord(, she masde; >h1n11h tiol of h1eltrself tover! Simi.'' 'Andmi I neeused im of inakIng lov "'lkini~i hive to4 hier! Sim Bank nin I've to) Mary Maiinn! My Loi' al1, whati was you ev'er ai-thinkin of lihy~, Miml hantedl lher' wussin pizen.'' "I kniow n11ow tha:t I was unjust.'' "To lie shlore yOU was. But I reckoi omeb11ody I told y'ou som~ethin ?" "Yes." "T hat's the way' it is-nlhis somes oi fly i13 pllittini thir skins to gi Ii stir up>i irouble'. Siih ieoplie Or't ti aret theirl tongues3,''. silit 2an their leg: in through'1 'em."' As l'aiy hadil i1rliis',d. Mrls. Mamnpsoi >rovedl a true' fiend1 to Louisa5. Shie l'teji'ed her hiimlly 1( atlilmade her fee ii'art ily wei'ozs'',iiro the inlstnt shi m3iered tihe houlise. h.iike Panp, she nel hiei jud1'g.'d nor3 hnned31, buit rathie: ein rols kIil '1 il53h& loiis ofthlet opn ', ain1 she ie 'ver f'org'ot It. 'han~t night l'aii toolk Louisa to thi 11r31 to see' forl thei Pist timne aill that einined 03' the, imain she loved. I11 li tat he wlas ding right, and~ whm II sp oke of itI to Ihis wIfte she read ily ''1 think It ill bei for the' be.4t,"' sI ii I al17 it enn15't do niobiody nl( Il tte titIreibt lip 1h211 secured'e r5t Efii11eks thet key'3 to the wiar'eroomr vbhero thjo b)ody lay. Leav'ing Louise In thio outside, ho openedl the door and) Venit in and( strucitk a light. Trhen hi amo~t baick to her and( wvhispered: N 3w11o ('01 go i. , n ..'oe o' OR IA Bouglit, aid which has beca has borne the signature of tas beent made under his per supervision sIice its infancy. no one to deceive you in this. and "Just-as-good " are but A and endanger the health of irience against Experiment. ASTORIA stitute for Castor 011, Pare Syrups. It is Pleasant. It orphine nor other Narcotic arantee. It destroys Worms eures Diarrhma and Wind Troubles, cures Constipation ates the Food, regulates the. g healtliy and natural sleep. Lie Mother's Friend. rORIA ALWAYS Signature of ye Always Bought ver 30 Years. IUnMAY STRET, NEW YOMK CITY. "Waal, I didn't see her come," he said. "Any you fellers see her come?" They all shook their heads. "Some folks 'lowed she'd take on a heap over him an mebby give sim fits too." "Lord, she tuck right off for Sim. She Jest acted for all the world like she kiered more for him than any body." "It would 'a' been a menghty good thing if she'd 'a' tuck oi for hIm soon er 'stid of foolin wIth that other feller, a-gittin him killed an puttin SIm Into this mess." "I reckon that's so, III, but I ain't never b'lleved Loueesy Banks aimed to do nothin wrong. She was jest sorter thoughtless, I guess." "No, sir; it's jest like I've said time an ag'n. Jake. WYheiever you go an send a gal oil' to theml) doggole colleges you Jest nat'raliy spile her for all time to come. By gosh, you Jest as wll take her out an knock her in the head. That's all in the world's the matter of Loucesy Banks." "No, I 'low her an Sim jest nat'rally didn't suilt.'' "Co'se they dl~int atter' she'd gonte down thmar an tuck upi a lot of' doggone fool notions. Thiey'dl 'n' suitedi well enough if it hadn't been for that she 'lowed shet'dl got to lire one of0 1 themii white shirt fellers or she couldn't lie' er he happy. It's that (dad hurn college done it all." "Still, Ili, edleation's a pow'ful good thing.'' "Not for a gal, It ain't." "Why?~" "W'aal, she ain't got no use for It, an it's jest plumb shore to ma~ke a fool or her1. Lord, a manh1 een, dlon't need so awful blame munch edicatlon to git on~ all right." "You think so'?" "I know it. Take mysell', for in-. stitince. I ain't nlever~ had no edication to speak of. yit see how 1 sot on to that jury' that t Ime. I managed 'bout run n11n that court jest aLs well as any of them rellers dlown thmar. If a feller's got it in himi, lhe can gi t uip in the world even if lhe ain'tI got no book I'iirn in "' "spea0kin 'bout se'ttlin On to a jury 'minds mo1 of somlethin." "What ls It7" .Jnson askedl. "Why, It Simu's ever ke'tched' they'll have to git a jury to try him, an I dui~n no but likely enough I'll git a chanice to set On It." [CoNCLUDED~ NKXT'P ERK ] Our Spring Lines Of .Shoes.. Are now being opened up, and we find them prettier and better thani weihad even hoped for. We get them direct from the world's best manuf actur ers. If you will favo: us with a look we can certainly please you. Sonme veryfdesirable win ter Shoes still going'at gieat ly reduced prices. Pride & Patton Greenville, S. C. MONEY TO LOAN On tarmir g lands. Easy payments. No commhissions charged. llorrower pays ac tual cost of perfecting loan. Interest 7 per Dent, up, according to security. JNO. B. PALMER &80N,' P ORiTrION8 I POSITIONs i i NO OHJ ECT. More calls than wo can possibi -yfili. Guar antee of positions backced by 10O. Coursos .inoxcolled. Enter any timo. 'ntaloguO free, addroess. COLUMBIA JIUSINEBS OLLHEE Ormnr A. B. G The Kind You Have Always In use for over 30 years, and I % iVW9_TAllom All Counterfeits, Imitations Experiments that trifle wvitl Infants and Children-Expc What is C Castoria is a harnless sub gorie, Drops and Soothing contains neither Opium, M substance. Its age is its gi and allays Feverishness. I Colic. It relieves Teething and Flatuleiicy. It assinil Stoiachi alInd Bowels, givi The Children's Panacea-T CENUINE CAS7 Bears the The Kind You I In Use For C THE CENTAUR COMPANVe TT4V jest ever'whar." 'hius spoke Ebenezer Sparks, the warrior bold. "Lord n-mighty, I've fit into many a battle whar men were jest a-drappin all round me so thick that I couldn't move 'thout steppin on a lot of 'em. My land, I wa'n't skeered of techin 'em, an they never come back of nights to pes ter round ha'ntin of me, nuther." "It wa'n't that at-way that time when you went into Ilicks' cellar to whup the battle, was it, 'Ebenezer?" Jasoil Roberts asked. Ebenezer flashed angry. "Doggone it all," he cried, "ain't I never goin to hear the last of that dad burned old cellar? Ever' time I men tion any a word 'bout when I fit into the war some blame fool has got to go to work an drag that dod blasted old cellar in. "Waal, we want to show a intrust in your war record, Ebenezer, an that's the only battle we ever see you fight in, 80 that's all we got to speak 'bout." "Waal, you needn't pester 'bout showin no intrust, then. I'd ruther you wouldn't." "Say," Sam Morgan called, "don't you reckon Sim Banks has a ha'nt?" "Of co'se he has," Thorn replied, "an, say, fellers, I bet it pesters him jest awful." "To be shore," Turner agreed. "Speakin of Sim Banks 'minuds me- of somethin," i said, "Reckon ain't none of you uns hearn nothin of Sinm senco he went away ?" "Nary a wordl," Ilicks answered. "Quaire themi oflcers don't find out nothin 'bout him, ain't it?" ""'is so. Guess they've hunted round all over ever'whar most an they ain't found hair nor' hide of him." "S'Dose he must 'a' gone clean off somewhar." "Looks like it. You know lie left a note for his woman sayin lhe war a-go in away an wa'n't never comina back no more ?" "I hearn he did." "But she don't .b'lieve it." "Don't she'?" "Not now, she don't, She b'lieved it a right smart at fust, but Pap Samp son kept a-talkin till he got her to change her mind." "Pap still stan's out that Sim never killed that feller?" "La, yes, wuss'n ever." "Quaire he'd git that sorter notion, ain't it ?" "'Tis, shore. Pap's gln'rally putty level headed, but he got his nose p'int ed wrong this time shorely." "Ho thinks Sim'll come back, does he?" "Jest knows he will." "Waal, he'll be hung or sent up to prison if ho does come." "Pap's got a notion somethln'll turn up to clear SIm 'fore h3e gits back," "Don't see how he goes 'bout makin that out." "I don't see nuther2 but that's his talk." "How's Sim's womain a-doin?" "Kinder porely, 1 guess. She ain't liv in hero no more," "That so?" "Yes; she left the tust of the week." "Whar'd she go?" "Down to the county seat." "What's she 'lowin to do down thar?" "She reckoned she'd git into some work of some kind." "An jest 'bout manage to go through ever'thing she's got." "She ain't got nothin." "Ain't? Why, I been hearin Sim left her all the land an ever'thing." "lie (lid, but she won't tech it." "Won't? Why, say, what's the rca "e'lows it's his'n an she ain't no right to live it up. Says mebby some time he'll need it." "WaaI, i'll be smutched I" "Then I guess she kinder wanted to git away from here anyhow. That 'bout her an Melvin started a good bit of talk, an I reckon she found it'wa'n't none too pleasant a-stayin here." "Nat'rally. IIow'd she take it 'bout Melvin beln killed? Did sho carry on much?'" "Nary a bit that any of us seen. Guess she behaved plumb nice." "Did she como to see the cawpso?" Hicks hesitated for an instant, Ho knew from Pap Sampson about that night visit, but ho had pnomied to