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/W. ■ - . . - - >' ,.r Illu.strat’lonf by H«my J*y Lee Copyright MicKael V. Phillip* lUlsuad thru Publiahar* Au.tocv*t»r Service CHAPTER V "I’m Warden Courtney,” announced the newcomer. “You’re to go to Lan sing right away. The governor want* to see you.” Edison looked at him unrompre- hendingly. “The governor?” he stammered. “Me—why?” The warden *m!1ed. "He*!! tell yoti when you get there. If you hurry you can catch the next interurban limited. There’s one due in 10 min ute*” “But—” Edison looked about un certainly. “No officer; you go alone.” Still smiling the warden shook hands with him. “Good luck.” The handclasp propeKed Edison toward the door. "You know where the station is? All right; better step lively.” He caught the car. He did not know what to think. In fact, the w waves of emotion which had passed ever him made clear thinking imposs ible. He dared not hope; but the car whf*ls clicked endle r sly: "The governor, the governor, the governor —” and it senmed a aong of hope. When he reached Lansing he found that Governor Albright was expect ing him. When he gave his name to the attendant i n the executive suite, he was ushered at once Into the pri vate office. “Wr>M, For+>es,” grunted the governor, a* they shook hands, "how many kinds of a fool have you been making of yourself?" He was a big man whose age was hand to estimate and whose hair was of a certain shade which defied the coming of gray. Edison started at the beginning and told him thei whole atory, withholding only the name of i zzn—■ ‘ — “So you took a chance on prison to protect this fel’ow who was you?” queried the governor, when he had finished. . Eddie nodded. “But I don’t know that I would Khve done it,” he confes sed frankly, “if I’d thought they’d convict. It didn’t seem possible thoy could do that on the evidence.” "Anyway, you did.” returned the governor. “The world calk you a chumn for that. But somehow, mv boy. I’m for you. There’s too much thinking of ourselves and too little thinking of the other fellow in the world today. “T suppose you’re surprised at my Bending for you. Fact is Ediron, we should know each other. Did you river hear that your father rvas one of my best friends 40 years ago?” "He mentioned you sometimes be fore he died, sir.” "Well, I brought you here on his account. When we were both young sters we worked in the lumber woods together. It was he who gave me my gtart. He came into a littlle money about the time I had a chance to buy a block of -pine. He let me have it. In a couple of years I cleaned up a right comfortable stake. There was no stopping me after that. "Of course I paid him back long ago. But I’ve always had a warm ■pot in my heart for Joe Forbes. If H hadn’t been for him the chances are about fifty to onel’d never been gov- vemor of Michigan. ' 1 kept an eye on your case. I could trial. When I heard you’d been con victed I telephoned the warden to send you down. Boy, I’ve pardoned you.” “Pardoned me—pardoned?” gulped Edison. ; . • . v' “Yes, I read the evidence pretty closely. I came to the conclusion you were -Prliing the truth. I was far enough away from Scottdalo not to f>e blinded by prejudice, and ^ocal issues.^ So you’re a free man.” E<u*on sat motion]* a, bereft of the power of speech. “Of course, the longhairs will rant about my turning you loose,” went on the governor, with a goodnatured smile. “But I’m through with this term. I should through the uncertainty of the journey to the governor’s office and through most of the interview that followed, had left him somewhat exhausted. So he was in a condition of deflight ful langour, swathed in the ineffable thought that he was a free man— free to start over again, free to take up life again with Patsy Jane. Pri son doors did not open bleakly be hind him. They had closed, closed foreveh\ “That’s as near as I want to get, he said to himself, with a shudder. “That’s what booze did for me. I'll never take another drink!” But even as he reiterated the pledge anxiously ho was conscious of a lack, of a void we ccn “Why, stay here tonight, Pat,” he announced gleefully. “It won't be much of a job to clean up. Wonder if the pump's ail right?” * ’ V • , ‘ • -■ »■ i , *• . . .-•* »▼** !■* ’ ■ • ■ % fj:.' • ■ • -yy ) * woiry what they say when my con science tells me I’ve done right. Now Edison—” “Yes, sir.” “There’s one thing I want you to picmise me. You know, your father was a fine man and a clever man. Hr. would have gone a long ways if it hadn’t been for—” “I know, Governor, liquor.” “That’s rightj, boy. It looks as though you’ve started the same way There’s nothing in it; never has been. at his nerve centres which a good stiff drink would plug up effectually. CHAPTER VI A Change of Scene “It isn’t worth it, Eddie,” agreed Patsy Jane, soberly when, the first rapture of reunion over, they discuss ed the future. “Any boy that was jbom here and tries to be somebody is**mder a handicap. They can’t ad mit he can possibly be as good as someone who comes from away No; we’ll go. But where?” “I’ve thought of that,” replied Ed die eagerly. “Don’t you remember dad had som£ cutover pine lands near Long Portage? Let’s go up there. The land irn’t much good, I suppose. But there’s a hou : « on the place; anyway th$re was three years ago when I went fishing on Portage Creek. “It’s wonderful up there in the sum mer. We can make the land support us. If you’d care to go so far from civilization and rough it, Patsy Jane,” he concluded, wistfully. -“Why, of eoursft I would. Eddie.” she returned promptly. “I’d love it! ^ If the land won’t support us, why; there are opportunities there just the' same as there are here. It’s that or a big city. And I hate big cities.” “So do I,” he rejoined, his face clearing magically. “I’m crazy to give <the wilderness a trial. We’ll buy a secondhand bus and some camping stuff and start.” It was nearly noon of the third day whe n surmounting a considerable rid ge. thev >saw the roof of. a log cab : n. Patsy Jane greeted it with a trium phant chirrup. The journey had been a pleasant one. They had left behind tho prosperous section of the state with its paved road, with the first day. Concrete had beer replaced by gravel, which in turn yielded to dirt There made way for sandy tracks which wiggled with apoarent aimless ness through the jack-pine country. Spring was appreciably more tardy as they penetrated nothward. The nights wore chill but the days were fine and sunshiny. The Forbes hundred and sixty acres were twelve miles east of the village of Long Portage. They had stopped in the wood* town for provisions and other supplies. It boasted a railroad division‘headquarters, a sawmill, and little eUe. , • Hie log hos>s«s much to Eddie’s surprise and satisfaction, was found to be in fairly good condition. The roof was whole. Apparently, deer- hunters had u ed the place the pieviou autumn as a eamp.' There was a rusty but serviceable stove which he did not recall ?s having Peen there pre viously. in the kitchen. * » The kitchen was a teapto a4i<?im n l? the main building. The bigger sW»e~ ture wa? divided into a combination living-room and dining-room, and a bedroom considerably smaller. The living-room had chairs and a tablet, of a’sort, and there were bunks nailed to the log walls on two sdes. “Why we can stay here tonight, Pat, he announced gleefully. “It won't Scottdale hummed like a swarm of! angry bees over the governor’s par don. The community had never been for AHbright. In all his campaigns it had voted for his opponents, pro fessing churchgoers who singled out and now lessMhan ever. I wish you’d the liquor law in their speeches as! crazy tear j n an d ma k e something. be much of a job to clean up. Wonder if the pump’s all right?” A few strokes of the handle of the iron “pitcher” pump near the back door brought up an abundance of clear cold water. “We're sitting pretty,” he deciared. “Let’s have lunch. I’m I feel I owe his eon something. I promise me, Edison—not to quit drimking, because that may be b»- yond your sttength, but to try to quit drinking.” "Oh Governor, I promise now to quit forrrer ” breathed Edison. The governor clapped him on the shoulder. “AH right, lad; That’s fine. You see, it sort of puts us in the hole and matys the longliairs right if you flail down on me. I’d like to turn the laugh against them. Now run along to that little wife of yours.’* In the train ride from the capital to Scottdale Edison came as near to true happiness as gt any time in his Ufa. The fate which he had faced and so narrowly escaped had toned down “That’s why I sent for you, Edison, ftw-riotousneas of his joy. The tor nado of emotion which had carried interfere until you’d had your. breathlessly to the depths of misery, the one they would enforce mofet ri gorously This applied to Scottdale which, furthermore, disapproved of Richard Aljbjigl^t because he was known as a rt liberal”. Juc^ge Person*;, issued a public statement in which he declared that the governor’s action was a “gross abuse of power,” and made the Forbes’ case a “traveatry of justice.” To Edison and his wife the town had become impossible. He coufti have stayed on, found work of some kind, and forced it to reverse its esti mate. But the game waan’t worth the candle. He knew something of the inert vindictivenesa toward the erring of wh!th small communities are capa ble. It mght be years before he could fight back to grudged position again. These would be years of loneliness nd ostracism. In mid-afternoon, as they scrub bed and furbished happily, they had a visitor; He walked to the cab in over the rolling jackpine warvtes. “Good day to you,” he began. “I saw smoke from your chimney. My name is leaah Sealman. My land adjons part,of ycur quarlersection on the west.” “How do you do?” greeted Edide, taking the proffered hand. “I am Ediscn Fprbes. This in my wife.” ‘ Sealman. Somehow, the name fit ted him admirably, Eddio fhofcight. He was as sleek as a seal which has 7 j • just emerged from water. He had smooth brow n hair, worn long, but kept in excellent order. He had a fuH though sloping forehead, and a large high-bridged nose. The lower part of his face was covered by a beard ssweral shades figiter than the hair. It was also sleek and well kept. The man was large, inclined to stoutness, and with an air of being above the rough frontier clothing which he wore. “Here for a summer outing, I sup pose?” persuaded Sealman, as he looked about with large, shrewd blue eyes. “Here for good,” returned Eddie, smiling frankly. “I own this places you know. We thought we’d give the north a trial.” Sealman shot him a quick glance. “I had heard that people named For bes owned it,”' he said, slowly. “But I thought ■ you’d; abandoned it. Thfe taxes—” “By Jove, that’s so!” interrupted Edie, frowning thoughtfully. “I’ve neglected the taxes for some time. I must go downtown tomorrow and <1 see about them.” “You intend to farm K Mx. Forbes?” “To tell the truth, ! don’t know,’*’ re turned Eddie. “We haven’t had time * • to look around and decide. I don’t « suppose much of this land is good. - ' • I haven’t any implements or horses—” Sealman nodded agreement. “The land isn’t much good. It goes in • * streaks Up here in the jackpine coun try. There’s an occasional belt of good land and then a belt of white a-nd that won t raise ragsweed. Yours except along Portage, is mostly sand. It’s all right to spend a vacation 0*1, though it’s pretty lonesome, even in summer. I’m afraid you’ll do pulling up stakes pretty soon.” Eddie had a good, sizable jaw. He' thrust it forward unconsciously as he answered: “Oh, no, we won’t. We’-I ve decided to locate in the southern part of the state. We haven’t seen much of our land, but we like what we’ve seen. I don’t think it’s lonesome here—” He looked doubtfully at Patsy Jane. “Neither do I," shei supplemented, spiritedly. “I want to stay here. I love it. If the farm won’t support us, my husband can find something to do, I’m sure. We don’t need much.” „ Sealman considered without speak ing for a time. He ’spoke slowly: “Well, if that’s the way you feel about it I might be able to use you, Forbes. I’m raising a good deaJ of alfalfa late ly. They’ve taken to feeding sheep and cattle on these batrCTh. Most of my land’s,-under cultivation. I need a hand—” he stdpped. "I tell you: come over after you’ve seen a- bout your taxes and made up your mind fully whether you’re going to stay.” (CONTINUED NEXT WEEK.) S11.50 Round Trip Excursion * ’ * Fare to Norfolk or Richmond t August 5th. From Barnwell Other Points Proportional Final Limit-7-— Midnight August 9th. Tickets and Information J. E. Mahaffey Ticket Agent Phone 5 ATLANTIC COAST LINE 666 la a Prescription for Malaria, Chills &. Fever, Dengue or Bilious Fever. It kills the germs. Wm. McNAB . FIBR, HEALTH AND ACCIDENT INSURANCE COMPANIES. Paraonal attention given all buaincea Office in Harrison Block, Main St BARNWELL. 8. C ;l LONG TERM MONEY to LEND :: 6 per cent, interest on large amounts- Private funds for small loans. BROWN & BUSH LAWYERS BARNWELL. SOUTH CAROLINA. NOV/— ■> That the Easter rush is over—is the best time to get a permanent wave. You will enjqy^it through the Spring and Summer months. Phone or write for an appointment. Leonard Beauty Shoppe MRS. A. DEAS, Prop. Leonard Building ' Phone No. 2287 Room No. 408 Augusta, Ga. . 1 1 — Advertise in The People-Sentinel