The Barnwell people-sentinel. (Barnwell, S.C.) 1925-current, August 25, 1927, Image 6
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AiipKael J. Phillips
lustration* ly Homy J^y Loo
Cogyridit MIcKmI V. PKillip* -
Tiittimtl thru PuJ»liah«rs Autocut«r Service
:^N
L<^
THE LEADING CHARACTERS
1
Edison Forbes, a young resident
of Scottdak trHh an inherent craving
fm liquor, is held for the death of a
nuntn who has been killed by h boot-
.iNTRing truck. Circunutatniul envi-
denee points to Forbes ard rath*
er than toll the truth of thr
episodti, which would clear him
hot cast another friends into bad
arrived. But it wasn’t like Pat to go
without a word. She had left a mee-
•sage. It should he here, if the motor-
tramp had riot) destroyed tit. Hi*
glance turned to the fireplace. There
were ashes and blackened embers, a
crumpled newspaper, and, yes, par
tially under the black log, a little
ball of white paper.
He smoothed it out. It was in
Patsy Jana. He must convince her
that this time hig resolution was com
plete and sincere, that he would never
drink again. * The thought of her
working in Long Portage made him
writhe. All this Ettle world, as all
their, former world of Scottdale,
must consider him a drunken failure.
He was surprised to note that this
eventful day was but half spent. The
s- triatj»»4Jlua«atea4in E&i*’* .***»* thorspghhredl Verliead wRen
'term in prison. The *53Sl8ppHBE pointed and well-
govornor of the state, an old friend
of Eddie’s father, believes him inno-
oant and pardons him shortly after
his arrival at the jail. Back in. Scott
dale ho and
Scoots Libbey, a worthless charact
er, who haa smashed his machine into
another car, killing its lone occupant,
a woman. Forbes’ companion and
libbey quit the scene hurridly, leaving
the former alone to face a constable
who reasons that Eddie, with the acent
of whiskey about him, must be con
aqme way with the accident,
Accordingljft^Fart*s is arrested.
Patsy Jane, Eddie’s pretty wife, a-
grets that public sentiment runs too
high against him. Accordingly they
migrate up nofth to some land that
haa been in t|he family for
log cabin
n, a neighbor, pays
it and intimates that
back taxes for t^f
years.
Battled in theiy
Irish
the Forbes a
are somei
shaped. “They have just told me in
Long Portage,” he read, “that you
passed through town yesterday, drunk.
So I cannot stay any loger. There
is so use. You would ruin both our
lives. I know you can conquer this
habit if you wish. Show that you
care enough ab^ut me to do it. I
am going to town to work.”
He looked UP- The eyes of his
late adversary, from a face that was
a ranear, were fixed upon him. Ed
die laughed grimly, drew a chair for
ward and sat down, confronting the
motor-tramp. The rifle was across
his knees. “Found out who #wns the
house?” he asked
“Yes,” responded the man in a sub
dued tone. “You do. Can I have
some water?”
couple to ’pAy. Sealman offers
to give Eddie a job after he goes
down to Long Portage, a nearby town,
and learns about the taxes.
The neoct day while walking about
Emir property they discover a mys
terious mound that contains outcrops
dlmilar to salt. At the tax office
Forbes learns that the back* taxes a-
mount to over eight hundred dollars
and that the certificates are held by
lie has five
to pay. A few days later he
helps a booze truck out of the mud
and » presented with a bottle of
whiskey which he hides before walk
ing over to interview Seahnan.
Not finding him in, Eddie im
bibes too freely of his liquor and
mu a result Patsy warns him that
the next occurrence pf & similar
nature will result in her departure.
Ssalman hears of the trip to the tax
office and makes a generous offer
for their place, but Eddie, scenting
something in the air, declines. Seal-
mpn cdfuses him work and several
Then one day, Eddie’s
wEakten and he accept a
ride aboard another liquor truck. He
dkinks heavily . Now Continue!
CHAPTER XIII
Patsy Declares Herself
Eddie backed until he possessed him
self of the rifle. It was loaded, he
^He straigh&ned the uncon-
man, thrust the table aside,
and permitted the other to slide to
Em floor. Ho sat huddled against
the legs by the fireplace. Rifle in
4, qtid with frequent glances at
blood-stained figure, Eddie look-
about the cabin.
his belongings had not been
Hie atdtcass, under one
bad not been disturbed,
sf Pstey Jane’s was to be
the other bag
before the usurper
“After we’ve talked. Who sent you
here?”
“Nobody. ^Tcame along and found
it—”
“You knew I wa^ coming beck.
Why did you try to drive. me out
with a gun?”
The man did not speak. “Well,”
went on Eddie, “there’s a law against
trespass. Guess I’ll turn you over
to the sheriff.”
The motor-tramp looked up. “Don’t
do that, mister,” he pleaded. “HI
go away from here
' v 'letf ■‘*‘7 , T'
. «*af
conbidered. Nothing parti
cular could be gained by sending the
fellow to the coupty jail. If he had
been hired to hold the cabin against
its rightful owner,, he was merely
acting for some one else. He would
not know that other’s motives. It
was possible, too, that he was telling
the truth; that he was a wanderer who
had stayed in the cabin before.
“All right,” agreed Eddie, I’ll let
you go. But you must get out
of this country and stay out. ’ First,
clean up this place and put all my
stuff back where you found it. If
you try any funny-business—” His
finger-nails clicked significantly on
the stock of the rifle.
The man rose unsteadly. He wash
ed the blood from his face at the
pump and took a long drink of water.
He ran the rusty car out of the gar
age, loaded it with hiv belongings and
tied 1 them in place with pieces of wire
and rope. Piece by piece, he restored
Eddie’s furniture and bedding, after
sweeping and scrubbing the floors and
burning the litter in the fireplace.
When he left, his rifle accompanied
him. But Eddie had taken the pains
to remove all his cartirdges. The
victor washed hie own hurts. He was
relieved to find that the scalp wound
was not seriour?. He trembled with
weakness as he cooked a nd ate the first
satisfying meal in several day*.
His strength flowed back after he
had eaten. He prepared to set out
for town. It was a long walk, if : h«
could get no ride, but he bad to find
road He had not walked far when
he was overtaken by Milo Bull, fore
man of the Davenant ranch.
“Hop in,” incited Bull, stopping the
car alongside. Eddie surveyed the
lanky Bull with shrewd glances. He
was freshly shaven, and a necktie
knotted awkwardly under the collar
of his flannel shirt. *
“Mr. Davenant’s coming on the
afternoon train, isn’t he?” querifed
Eddie.
“Yeah,” replied the foreman. “Got
a telegram yesterday.”
“Now, don’t you go hiring too many
men down town,” commanded Eddie,
smiling. “I’ll be over bright and
early tomorrow.”
“All right, Forbes; if there’s a job
for anyone, you’ll have it” He look
ed at Eddie quizzically: “Of course
A it’s none of my business, but whose
buzzsaw did you tangle with?”
“Found a tramp in my cabin
and
a week on* so ago. She said he’d call
for it. “She"is working in Mr. Kin-
nane’s office,” he added, watching
Eddie to see how the information
would be received.
“Thank you,” returned Eddie, non
committally, and drew back to cover
the charges. He drove two blocks up
the street to the one-story frame
building which eerved Lawyer Joeeph
Kinnane as an office
Mr. Kinnane was *in court, Patsy
Jane was alone in the sunshiny main
room when he entered. The color
left her face and her hand flew to
her throat when she aaw his disfigure
ment “Eddie!” she breathed, “you’re
hurt!” But she kept the tall pine
railing between them and recoiled
when he attempted to take her in his
arms.
“Not much,” he replied, with a
rueful smile at the repulse. “A tramp
had our house and didn’t want to
leave. But I got him out finally.”
She surveyed him anxiously. “Don’t
you want to hear about it—where
As*
juxtJfy - lfimselfI and restless under
her grave, unsmiling eyes.
“Why, yes, Eddie.”
So he &»Fd her everything. He
• —. «; * t
blamed himself fully and made no
excuses, though his boyish, disarm
ing smile pleaded for him “I know
I’ve said this before,” he concluded,
“but this time I mean it. I’m
through Pat. Never again. I’m off
the booze for life. There’s nothing in
it from any standpoint
“Besides, the stuff’s getting wors?
and worse. It’s downrivht dangerous.
But it won’t catch me. I’ll never take
another drink. So you jUst quit here
and come on back home. I’m sure of
a job on the Davenant ranch tomor
row.”
’ CHAPTER XIV.
A New Job
“Poor kid,” he rattled on, for her
attitude nor her expression had not
changed, “it must have been tough,
that night alone in the house, not
N Wrmour-
YOU!” YOU CANT
WIN IT WITH,ME.
THAT’S BEEN
PROVEN.” .
^■1 " ’ i \ wHaiir-
fight. It must be made right away,
if you’re to win.” " v
“But, Pa^l” There Was hurt and
bewilderment in his eyes and his
tones. “I know it; I know all that.
But the* fight is won. I’ve told you
I’ll never touch another drop When
the craving for the stuff comes you
must be there to help me fight it.”
She smiled sadly. “I’ve been with
you before when the craving came and
it didn’t make any difference,” she
reminded him. “You’re mistaken,
Eddie. The fight isn’t over. You
can’t win it with crutches. You must
win it alone.”
“But I can’t win it without you!”
“You can’t win it with me. That’s
been proven.”
It was a wretched hour that follow
ed, painful for both of them. Eddie
pleaded with all the power of a lova
ble personality. It gftsw harder and
harder to hold out against him, but
somehow Patsy Jane did. “No,” she
would say. “I don’t dare. If I
give in now, Eddie, you’ll neve,
oull. always.be a dru
ard, if poisonous liquor doesn’t kill
you before your time. Please don’t
ask me.”
He gave over at last, his free sul
lenly clouded. “Well, when are you
coming back?” he asked, more un-
kindness in his tone than he had ever
displayed toward her before. “When
will this cure be complete?”
“Oh, I don’t know—I don’t know,”
she replied dreadily. “There hasn’
been a single month since our mar
riage that you haven’t had liquor;
that you havn’t been drunk.” Maybe
six months or a year—”
He echoed her words with angry
incredulity. “Why don’t you get n
divorce and be done with it?” h* de
manded. “I think that’s yhat you’re
aiming at.”
He slammed the door violently as
he went out But remorse overtook
him before fee reached the car. He
yrettt back to find Patsy bowed in tears
over the typewriter. “I’m a beast,
Pat,” he said, remorsefully. “I’m not
worth crying over. It wasn’t true,
that nasty thing I said. You’re
right. It will have to be fought out.
And I suppose I must do it alone. I
can,see you sometimes?”
She nodded a nd smiled through her
tears.
H., P. Davenant decided to go
through with hb ambitious schem
he didn’t want to leave,” explained
Eddie. “I’d been away for a few
ckQfeand when I came hack he’d taken
possession.” <
A short distance from town they
saw two motor car* ahead of them in
the road. One, bulging like a fat
man carrying many packages, Eddie
recognized as the property of the
tramf). When their car came into
view the other one, headed toward
them, was started »nd the conference
which had been going on was broken
Up. The eastbound automobile, Ed
die noted as it passed them, was oc
cupied by Seahnan. '
He went first to Long Fine’s largest
garage. His car was there, the at
tendant told him readily, glancing
curiously at his disfigured face the
while. The misses had brought it in
knowing where I was or what had
becotpe of me!”. Concern and contri
tion overspread his face/ “I’m a
beast, Pat; a selfish beast But it’s
the last time. Where you staying?”
“With Mr. v and Mrs. Kinnane.
They’re nice old people.”
“Well, we’ll gorget aH this and start
out on .the right foot. I’ll see Mr.
Kinnane and explain—”
“No.” The word stopped him m
midsentence. “I can’t do it, Eddie.
This hag net been an impulse I’ve
thought it all out I don’t dare go
on any longer. Drinking is a habit
with you. It will become more of a
habit as the years go on until you
are just a sod.” She drew her breath
sharply. “It wSH never he any
easier to ftop than it ig now. You
t fight on four hands, a terribly
ng owof’hls ffcnnhUhdS for the eum-
mer. The wages Davenant*- paid
were albove the usual scale. But he
demanded superior service. There
was plowing and planting in the older
fieldh; the breaking up of new tracts
with a tractor; and, when the planting
was done and before the need of cul-
m
tivating, the removal of great pine
stumps.
As Eddie worked his mind engaged
in endless calculations. Even if he
saved every cent, sold the car and
their household belonging^ he could
not, by several hundred dollars, raise
enougfe money to pay the back taxes.
But he had a vague idefe that money
could be raised elsewhere. Perhaps
the governor, or Davenant, would 1 ad
vance it. Anyway, he would not wor
ry until worry ’was necessary.
He lived at the ranch and spent
Sundays at hig own cabin. Ugually
he left Davenantfe early, so that he
might have many nours at home.
It was his first impulse to geek Patsy
in town every Sabbath, tat her plead
ings and his own pride changed that.
She had urk$d him to stay away,
thus making it harder for both of
them. So only occasionally he went
to Long Portage for dinner with Pat
sy at the Kinnane’s, returning to the
wilderness in mid-afternoon.
One Sunday in late May he was at
the cabin unusually early. He was re
placing a broken boaril in the floor
w * ien k* h **$<£emhness arisfchrob-
bin,* « ^
looked out/
Us loud e
front of his door and went on toward
Long Portage. Within half an hour
there was another, and inside a simi
lar lapee, another.
“Must be a liquor ship is at the
landing,” he thought, putting away
his tools. “Guss I’ll go up and see
what she looks linke.”
Couriosity wa? not the only motive
for going. He had not conquered the
craving for liquor. At times the
appetite swooped down like a tidal
wave, utterly submerging him. Then
he clung to one anchor: The thought
of Patsy Jane. .4^ ■
“You’ll lose her if 'ydtf slip,” he
warned himeedf. “You’ll lose her
forever. And what kind of a warld
would it be without her ? She believes
you can beat the booze. Show her
she’s right She’s worth fighting for
You’re the luckiest man in the world
that she loves you enough to give you
a chance.” - .• 1 ^
He had beaten the wave so far, be
cause there was no liquor available
when the appetite rolled the highest.
err^ #is none on- the DayenankT-”
ranch, principally because Davenant
hated it, and would not have on the
place a man who drank. So victory of
a soit rested with Eddie.
When the craving subsided, it left
him, sometimes, sullen and resentful
toward Patsy. He would tell himself
that she was deserving of no consider
ation; that any fight for her sake was
fruitless because she had abandoned
him in time of need. This unreasona- _
ble’mood soon passed, however. Then
he would acknowledge she* was right
Love welled up anew, and he resolved
to make the fight for her sake. If
he did win, it would be for her.
But on thia Sunday his heart beat
recklessly as he left the house and
went out along the lonesome road to
the north. His eyes were alight, his
step bouyanb There was in his air
something of the fearful exhiliation
that men exhibit as tfcey go into bat*
tie
Soon he passed a fourth struck.
There were two on the seat m front,
a third perched on the rear of the load.
All eyed him suspiciously As ’ they —
jolted by. Another two miles and he
came on a fifth truck in the bottom of
a little valley. The crew of three was
changing a tire. His hands clenched
involuntarily and blood surged into
his eyei. He recognized two of the
three—Jake, the driver, and.
who had -wivgn him 1 drugged WKTsgey'*
and' locked him in the car bound for
Chicago. a
There was no retreating, for Culley
had looked up and the recognition
was mutual. He saw the guard’s hand
go swiftly to hi® hip pocket. He ia\r
him speak cautiously out of the cor
ner of hig mouth. Whereat the otber
two men straightened and stood in an
attitude of wasting, ready to snatchy
out a weapon if the necessity arose.
He decided in a course of action,
and throttled-the rage that possessed
him. He brought a smile to his face.
“Hello, there, sports!” he called gaily.
“It’s a long time since I saw you fel
lows. Where have you been?”
(CONTINUED NEXT WEEK.) t
Fact and Fancy.
“The worse winter I remember was
when we were besieged,’*' said fhe
old soldier. “We had only one bite
a day for two week*, and that waa
borse fkrh.”
“I remember living for a month on
one bite, and that was out of my leg,”
said O’Brien, his companion.
“You don’t expedt me to believe you
turned cannibal, do you?” roared the
soldier. -
“If* true, believe it or not,” said
O'Brien calmly. “A dog took a bite
out of my leg, and the insurance
keptt me like a lord for four weeks.” /
■ ——• m
Given Is Right.
She:—-“Bow many cigars do you -.
ke in a day?” t
“Ofcfc any gfvsn number ”
\