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•tv V FAfiSSDL Whoever named the Island Valhalla, A aort of paradlae In the South Atlantic that flffurea In this atory, muat have had In mind aome of the strenuous eharacterlatica of V'alhalla, hall of the (ode In Scandinavian mythology, odin'a abode had Innumerable .doors eorre- eponding to the caves and secret pas sages of Mr. Walsh's, Island. The for mer was the heaven, a place of eternal feasting and dally combat for war riors who had been sla)n In battle. • The island Is a millionaire's winter home, designed probably for feasting and rsersatton, but which through the machlnatlona of certain evil-minded persona In tha rich man's entourage becomss a place of combats, dark plots and exciting adventurea. » George Ethelbert Walsh Is one of a •mall group of writers who are prov ing that good sea stories did not be- •eme extinct with the passing of the sailing ship. While steam, tlectricity. the radio and other modern develop ments have lessened the perils of the aeaan, they have not diminished Us shares, mystery and romantic qualities There ere etlll many far places, many ehereely Inhabited shores and many Is- lands ont of the paths of commerce That are ideal spots ?0r ndventure. Hu man passions have not changed and the add, no less than the land, furnishes all the materials which a novelist needs fer storing, rsd-bleoded stories. The modern tale of the deep can be made, --and In this caee Is. aa fascinating as 'ethythlng produced by story-tellers of at earlier generation. • Mr. Walsh has been writing sea sto- HedTVetern stories, boys' stories, snt- mal eteries and others dealing largely with A^'^tors and outdoor life for mors than thirty "years. He was born la Brooklyn, N. T.. and graduated Into weMlag from -newspaper werk. His se rial stories have appeared In most of the leadfng magaslaea and weeklies and his books have had a wide dis tribution. He Is the author of some thing kka •• serials and novels. He Is • member of the Authors' League of Amsrtca and makes his boms In Yon kers. MY. CHAPTER I Dirk Van Nesa was unoklng end angling off the end of the private g place where he had no bu«l- to be, when a pleasure jmrht down the river and came to Nrbor In mldntrvnm nearly abreast gf him. At first IMrk was no more than mildly Interested, for he knew the screen of spiles would effectually conceal him from view on the water front; but a moment later he hecan loaning forward, forgetting his flailing pole and the glowing pipe In hia Imud, ao eager waa he to read the name on the stern. “The 1'ellcan!” he muttered, frown- lag- “It's the old Ileacon. I’m sure of that! I'd recognlie her anywhere." Then came pleaaant and unpleasant memories to occupy hid thoughts. Hit fishing tackle was neglected, and when a fish nibbled at the bait he made no responsive jerk. “Cutler got the yacht In the final breakup, I suppose," he mused. “Thafa why ahe’a renamed.’* Before the financial crash came that ruined his father, Dick hud only to signify a desire to take a cruise ia the BoaCQD und it uas at his aarv- ice. Now the yacht was Steve Cut- lir’i, the man who had profited by bis father's downfall. He stopped in his musing* to watch a small boat being lowered over the aide of the yacht When It came plunging through the water under the powerful oars of two sailors, Dlok gathered up bis line. . "This must be Cutler’s private dock,’* he grinned. “Rotten luck to be caught fishing on it. But”—reflective ly— “he wouldn’t recognize me—rtever had a speaking acquaintance with him. Guess fll wait." There wqre only two passengers In the boat—a medium-size man, with dark hair and gray eyes, and a nose inclined to hook a little at the end, and a girl in her early twenties, with fair hair and blue eyes. Dick studied them closely from his hiding place. “If that’s Steva Cutler," he mused thoughtfully, “he’s younger than dad waa by twenty years. Thought he was alder." He turned hia attention from the nan to the girl. “Cutler wasn't married." he resumed after a pause. “Therefore, she"— meanlag the girl in the boat—“can’t h# bfp daughter. A guest, maybe.” The tailors warped the small boat alongside the float, and the first to came ashore was the one who held tha center of the stage. The easy, graceful way in which she jumped to the float, a little recklessly, it seemed •t n distance, won Dick's Admiration; bat her companion, who had leaned forward to forestall her action, ap- paared annoyed and distresaed. 'Ton should be more careful, Hiss Alice,” be protested, landing dumslly. "Please don’t be so redtlesn” reply the girl laughed merrily. , fudge! Fm. old enough to look after myself. There’s uncle waring jife ■ ■ . < daunted a strip of gauzy lace air la response to *9«stMng white fluttering over the rail of v’hc yacht. .. Ifeanwhlle. the sailors hsd keen dismissed and were rowing lustily hack to the parent craft. The girl continued watching antil^ the small boat was hauled out of the water and swung to the davits of the yacht. “1 -wish uncle had come with* us,’’ she observed; then,, speaking half petulantly, “I don’t see why—" A sudden gUKt of wind tore at her "lace scarf, and in her effort.to recover it she jerked both hands upward. Something light and glittering flew In the air and landed with a splash In the water. A III tie exclamation of dismay escaped her lips. “Oh, my hand bag!” she cried. "It'a In the river, Mr. Blake! I’leasC get It! It’s full of my papers and cards— Oh, what shall I do!” She ran to the ?'lge of the float as If to plunge In after the hag, but a restraining hand detained her. ^ “I’ll signal for the boat to come back and pick It up. Miss Alice,” re plied Mr. Blake calmly. “Don’t do anything rash now!" “But it’s sinking, and the tide's carrying It sway. Oh, can’t you get It for me?" “I’m a poor swimmer, Mis* Alice,” he apologized weakly, “and the tide Is strong. I’ll have the boat buck in a few minutes." “Oh, dear. It will sink before they get here.” At this Juncture both were startled hy a voice (list seemed to come from the air directly oVer their heads. Dick hud risen from his hiding place, and stood in clear view on the end of the dock. "I think 1 can get It for you,” he announced calmly. They glanced up st the tall, lithe figure, as if It were an apparition, Mr. Blake frowningly and Miss Alice with the light of expectation in her blue eyes; but If either thought to see him J plunge recklessly into the river the disappointment was mutual. Dick was calmly gathering In Ins line for a cast. In more than one casting tournament he had won out against all contestants. The l>«g was flouting down on the Mde. fifty feet away, sinking gradually below the sur- face us the water soaked in it. The long bamboo |M>le was not the kind he would choose for a easting tournament, and lacking sll pretense of a reel to control it, the line was liable to whip and snarl in the wind; hut there was a heavy sinker on the end, nnd Dick gauged this against the wind before he threw. The two hidow’ watched the book und sinker describe an arc In the air. hesitate a moment over his head, and The Two Below Watched the Hook and Sinker Describe an Arc in the Air. then as if propelled by some invisible force both went hurtllnf In s graceful curve directly for the. floating bag. It seemed for an Instant that Dick had overestimated the distance, and some thing approaching a sigh escaped the girl's Ups; but a second later it was changed to an exclamation of pure de light. S "Oh, you’ve got it!" she cried, clap ping liar hands. The hook bad caught in the lacy mesh, and pa If he were hauling a trout out of the stream Dick lifted the bag from the water, and swung It with: in reach of-the eager owner. “If you’ll uhhook my catch,” he saM, smiling, “III be obliged." i Before she had the dripping hag clear of the book, Mr; Biakt^ was tiotiii ring tHe steps to the dock. A near view of the man’s face was not friendly; He was clearly annoyed. “That was a lucky throw of youra, my toftn," he said.' "Of course, you knew fthing Is forbidden on this dock, but as you've done Miss Cutler a serv ice wc^f overlook that" - Hk rambled in his pocket and drew out a bill, *TU reward you for saving the bag,” he added. “But you must positively leave the dock, und not re turn. Here, take this!" v ' — + Dick glanced froth the man’s face to the bill extended to him, a slow, slum berous anger in his eyes. Then ho-sud denly smiled nntHook the bill. Crum pling It ID Ids bund, lie made a wad of It, and deliberately thrust the hook through It. - - “This might be good halt for suck ers,” he remarked. “Anyway, 111 try It.” 'He flung the money-halted hook back in the water,, and Calmly resented him self on the pier. Mr. Blake glared furiously at him, his eyes glinting dan gerously; hut before lie could speak Alice Cutler was up the steps and hy his side. Dick could feee by the amuse ment; in her eyes that she had wit nessed the whole proceeding. "Oh, let him fish here as long as he wants jto, Mr. Blake,” .shp erclainted impulsively. “I owe-Hdm-tlrst much.” ^ Dick smiled. Into her eyes, but when she fumbled into her bag for some thing his face grew red and hot. "Now please don’t use this for halt.’* she said merrily, “but* keep It until some day you may need it. It’S more than a card of introduction. I’ll re deem It In any way you ask at any time^* Dick looked at the white piece of pasteboard thrust Into his hand. 1 It was an ordinary visiting card, wijjl her name engraved neatly across the faces, CHAPTER II ! About the shabbiest trick that fate cab play on us is to bring us into the world with a silver spoon In the mouth, and then, when we grow accus tomed to It, change it Into cheap pew ter metal. It leaves an unpleasant taste lor years after, nnd some never quite get rid of that tlu-copi>ery-brassy flavor. , - Dick Van Ness was an amiable young man, without more than his share of faults and possibly with ss many virtues Hi u potential state as the average man carries around In his system, when fate subjected him to this acid test. How he met it Is not necessarily nearly so Interesting and spectacular ss many fiction writers would invent for their heroes. He was a bit put out by It, considerably chagrined and disappointed, but being young und in fine health he thought the world was his oyster, and he could open It. , A chip of the okl block, why couldn't he make a fortune as easily as his father? There was no reason, except that apparently he didn't Inherit the peculiar quality of mind that hint made the elder Van Ness a power In the financial world. Dick didn’t know It at the time, but it was revealed tuJiiui in the course of years. Combined A with the utter lack of all experience and training, the handicap was fatal. Ho drifted and floundered, driven from pillar to post, making fool mistakes that an office boy could have put him straight on, and in tke end he returned in disgust. Dick had a vein of romance in his system, inherited from his mother per haps, and a love for adventure; but neither of these had found lodgment in fhe elder Van Ness, which may have accounted for his remarkable SUei’ess in finance. They are not necessarily incompatible with achievement, but they have to be held In subjection when business calls. Self-acknowledged, nnd by common consent admitted by the world, to be a failure, Dick had no senrples in giv ing full vent to his imaginings. For getting his fishing, he dreamily pic tured scenes quite different from the reality until suddenly aroused by the footsteps of the watchman. He effected his escape from the pri vate dock with much greater celerity and safety than the previous owner of bis fishing tackle. Once on solid land again, be gave a last wistful look at the I’eUcan. “I’d sell yiy right hand for a long cruise in her again,” he slghet). “I’d even be willing to go as a deck hand." He stopped, and looked startled at 'his own suggestion. WJiy not? Then he answered Jilin self with a sad sha&a of the head. Because he had no expe rience or references, they would not employ him even as a deck hand. Deck hands had to know something. "And I don’t know anything worth knowing!" he blurted out in disgust. Nevertheless ail that afternoon and evening the fancy clung to him that his future was in some way Inex tricably mixed up with his-father’* old yacht and the girl who had rewarded him with the gift of her flsiting card. She hud promised to redeem it in any way he asked, at any time, and if ha went to her and begged a berth on her ancle’s yacht she would undoubtedly grant his request; but such a course was repugnant to him, and not to be considered. * Late In the evening Dick, still linger ing in the vicinity of the waterfront, as If fasclnatfed by the smell of the ships and the salt brine across the harbor, nibbed elbows with a couple bound in the opposite direction. The night was dark. and. the waterfront poorly lighted; but for all that Dick recognized one of the men. He stopped .abruptly In his tracks, and watched the receding figures. “Mr. Blake." he mused, placing ironic emphasis on the name. '“Wom- der If he's going aboard the Pelican:* He meditated In silence a few mo ments, and then followed.*’ It was easy to keep the couple within sight without exposing himself to view. They were going In the direction of the private dock, and Dick had no doubhs ghout the'r abjective. He took advantage of every favorable street Itmp to study their backs, and pnee, when the second man stopped to light a cigar, lie got a glimpse of his f face. “Hutt isn’t old man Cutler, either,” he said, frowning. “Too young for him. und too big and husky. If I re member rightly he was a small, wiz ened, dried-up man.”^ , The one accompanying v Mr. Blake was anything but that,. Tall, square shouldered und bony of anus and legs, he was the very picture of health and muscular strength. Dick caught a glimpse Of gold braid on an arm sleeve, and the flash of something on his cap. “The captain of the Pelican,” he breathed. He smiled- as he recalled the amount of gold bntid und emblems that his father’s skipper wore. Captain Johns ton ! Where was he? Had he lost his Job with the sale of the old Beacon? Apparently he had, for this one was the very antithesis of the short, fat navigator of the yacht under its former ownership. The dock was in dense gloom, except for red lights burning at fhe end, and a white one at the entrance. There was no sign of a watchman, nnd as the men were unchallenged Dick fol lowed. Wh*n they stopped abruptly at the head of the steps leading down to the float Dick was within twenty feet of them. He slid behind a spile and remained motionless. “You’d better coal early in the morning, Captain Brent,” Mr. Blake was saying. "Take enough aboard for a couple of montba. We may need it. We don't want to get caught short." “Reckon not, Mr. Blake," replied the other chuckling. "’Twould .sort of let the cat out of the bag If we had to sneak into some harbor for coal be fore the time was up.” “Yes. we must guard against any such contingency. I'll phone Blank’s pier theHrst thing In the me ing for ail fhe~coal you can s( abonrd.” —* ' * puffing volcanically at his cigar “Shortly after suiideiun. Lay off here at sunset, und when you see the signals send the bouts ashore." “There’ll be a lot of dunnage, I a’pose?” ... “No, nothing but light traps—chiefly personal things of Miss Cutler's. Most of the baggage will go aboard earlier. I'll see to that." “You say there'll be four of’em?" “Yes, Mr. Cutler. Miss Alice, her maid and Doctor Alster." “And yourself?” “Certainly 1” said Mr. Blake, a little tartly, “I’ll come down with the party.” "All right! I’ll have ever)thing ready. Iteckon, now, If I don't have any trouble finding that Island we’ll have a pleasant voyage.” “Why do you say that?" demanded Blake uneasily. “Havq you any doubts about finding it?“ ’ “Why. no. If the map you gave me’a correct." “Well, It la!” snapped the other. *Tve verified it In every particular. 1 You don't think I’d slip up on such a small thing as that when there's ao 1 much at atuke?” “No, 1 reckon not, hut It’s a bit pus sling in places. Some of them dots and marks looks like as If they’d been put there for private use. You don't s'pose, now, that captain was up to any misleading tricks, marking the TAX LEVIES BT SCHOOL DISTRICTS FOR TfeR- YEAR 1925. - ■ V ""-"T , t •7a--.. q > • . YV - - » "» £ -» - * , School District -I ”• •'. i V t)CK I w Z o - • s o o «■* Z o f ' £ i— sr S' a £ X w Z o £ -S’; * | £ 3’ •?? £ 1 z 9 £ £ ST [/Back Indebtedness, ] 3 ft 1 rt- • • f. w 1 9 r P z o • = ? [ Z o * £ ■—* to 2 l ? • £ ss z o ... • . £ CO ■ # No. Mills ? • £ £ & sr Ashleigh oli ii 2 1 1 3 4 4 86 Barbary Branch - ---- 5% ii 2 1 4% T 3 8 4 40 Barnwell 7 ' -- 5% n 2 1 4% 1 3 18 4 50 Big Fork - 5% If 2 1 4% 1 3 12 4 44 Blackville ^ 5* ii 2 1 4tt 1 3 19 4 51 Cedar Grove - 5% ii 2 1 4% 1 3 5 4 37 Diamond — 5% ii 2 ; 1 4% 1 3 8 4 40 Double Pond 5^ ii 2 ^ 1 4% 1 3 8 ■ 4 40 Dunbarton | 5% H 2 1 .4% 1 3 12 4 44 Ed is to 5% [ 11 2 1 iVz 1 3 2 4 34 Elko ___ 5% ii 2 1 4% 1 3 21 4 53 Ellenton 5Vfe ii 2 1 4^ 1 3 8 4 40 Four Mile ____ 5% ii 2 1 4% X 3 8 4 40 Friendship ___ 5% n 2 1 4H 1 3 8 4 40 Greene’s 5V& u 2 .1 4% 1 3 8 4 40 Healing Springs 5% ii 2 1 4% 1 3 12 4 44 Hercules : 5% ii 2 1 4% 1 3 16 4 48 Hilda. 1 — 5Vi n 2 1 4H _ L 3 - 8 4- 40 Joyce Branch 5% ii 2 1 4tt 1 3 4 4 36 Kline 5* ii 2 1 4H 1 3 12 4 44 Lee’s ii 2 1 4tt 1 3 4 4 36 Long Branch __ 5tt ii 2 1 4% 1 3 6 4 38 Meyer’s Mill .. 5% ii 2 1 4% 1 3 4 4 30 Morris 5^ n 2 1 4* 1 3 8 4 40 Mount Calvary __ 5% n 2 1 1 3 25 4 57 New Forest w - 5V4 ii 2 1 4tt * 1 3 25 4 57 Oak Grove 5H ii 2 1 4tt 1 3 8 4 40 Old Columbia | ( 11 2 1 4% 1 3 2 4 34 Pleasant Hill * — 5% ii 2 1 4% 1 3 8 4 40 'Red Oak - 5V4 ii 2 1 4tt 1 3 8 4 40 Reedy Branch r 5% n 2 1 4tt 1 3 15 4 47 Reeve’s Creek 5H ii 9 to* 1 4% 1 3 30 4 62 San Hill 5% n 2 1 4% 1 3 5 4 37 Seven Pines : | 5% n 2 1 4% 1 3 4 4 , 36 Tinker’s Creek 5H n 2 1 4tt 1 3 8 4 40 Upper Richland - 6V4 1 ii 2 1 4* 1 3 3 4 35 Williston | 5ttj 11 1 , 2 1 4tt 1 3 27 4 59 • Books open October 15th, 19*25 and close March 15th, 1926. January 1st a penalty of 1 per cent.; February, 2 per cent; March, 7 per cent. After March 15th all unpaid taxes will be turned over to the Sheriff for collection. DOG LICENSE fl.25 payable in January, 1926. ; J, B. ARMSTRONG, County Treasurer. V ’ * LONG TERM MONEY to LEND il " ■ - n 6 per cent, interest on large amounts Private funds for small loans. BROWN & BUSH LAWYERS BARNWELL. SOUTH CAROLINA. t location wrong and afilTt 1 »g r lhY~cKan- nel buoys, do you?” Mr. Blake smiled and shrugged his shoulder*.’ “You forget,” he said coldly, "that I'm running this little expedition, und I never make mistakes. The chart is correct." - “All right!” replied Brent, moving toward the steps. “Then we’ll pick up the islahd in a couple of days.’! He stopped and stared out into midstream. “Why don’t they send that boat ashore?” he added irritably. “Here it comes now!” “Well, I’ll be going. I got to put in a night doing some figuring.” Blake nodded, and waited for him to descend the steps, then walked to tha end of the float. A few minutes later the yacht's tender appeared, and Cap tain Brent was whisked out into the gloom. The man on the end of the dock remained motionless until it was gone, and then turned and walked briskly away.' Dick’s first impulse was to follow and then he changed his mind. He came from behind his hiding place afld stood near the steps, watching tha lights flickering on the river and run ning over again In hia mind the words be bad heard. They were ‘a little puzzling; but the main fact waa dear to him. Steve Cutler and hia niece were starting on a long cruise in the Pelican the fol lowing evening, saUlng under the cover •f darkness, which might or might not me«n anything unusual. Mr. Blake waa to accompany them, and, accord ing to his own statement, he was run ning the expedition. Their destination was some island whose exagt location was a mystery to Captain Brent Who was Mr. Blake, and what island was it? Dick puzzled over the situation for a long time. He recalled the reference to some mykterl- ous captain who might have played a trick on them by marking the map wrong. Who was he? ‘ (TO BE CONTINUED.) Farm Loans 6 per cent, large amounts. Town prop* erty in Barnwell, residential and business, 7 per cent Lo&ns procured promptly at lowest cost. Allendale, Bamberg andBarnwell-Counties. — THOMAS M. BOULWARE Attorney-at-law - Barnwell, S. C. SAY ‘‘BAYER ASPIRIN” and INSIST! » /■* . , • Unless you see the “Bayer Cross’ 1 on tablets you are not getting the genuine Bayer Aspirin proved safe by millions and prescribed by physicians 24 years for Colds Headache Neuralgia Lumbago ' Pain Toothache Neuritis .Rheumatism ■ { J ' * Accept only “Bayer” package . which contains proven directioffs. Handy “Bayer* boxes of 12 tablets Also bottles of 24 and 100—Druggists. 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