Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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’ f ~/ifi ii •• ' niiiia' Barnwell S. C- Thursday, May 7, 1936 |v »T Don&fordl Tates Copyright by Minton, Bnlch A Co. WNTJ Borrlco. CHAPTER X—Continued —18— “He sn!d—It may not be true, but h* said they were always tattooed be- ■eath the left breast. ... In your case, 1 think, an expert was brought from Japan. It was thought, very properly, tf I may say so, that so exquHte a eanvns deserved a master's brush. . . . May we ... see his handiwork, please?” Helena sat as though stricken- turned Into stone. Pharaoh proceeded mercilessly. “If you would like assistance, you’ve •nly to say the word. We’re none of ■s Indy's maids, but Kush has the peputatlon of being a lady’s man.” The sweat was running on my tern- »les. As I tried to measure my distance, 1 found that I could not see, for my •yes had been fixed on Helena and »ow could not pierce the darkness which veiled the rest of the room. And then I heard Kush moving. . . . Had the fellow moved forward, that must have been the end of this tale. But he only passed behind me, to stand between me and Dewdrop—1 suppose to be nearer his master . . . the sud denly favoured courtier approaching the steps of the throne. That the end was fast approaching was very plain. Any moment now I should have to send my mask flying. First Pharaoh. ... I would strike down the torch and hurl myself at the aionster before he had time to think. First Pharaoh, and then his fellows. But for the thought of his fellows, I could not have stood my ground. But If I should not survive Pharaoh. . . . My heart that had been smoking ■eemed suddenly cold. Kush had the reputation of being a lady’s man. Helena was trembling. A little hand went up to cover her eyes. “I’ll make you an offer. I nearly made It Just now. If you'll go now. I’ll show you the secret way. Tomorrow sight I’ll meet you with five thousand pounds In gold. And after that I'll pay you five thousand a year—for every year that you let Mr. Spencer live." It was clear that a child was speak- Init. a terrified child. Offer, promise, igures were things grotesque. Her sug gestion was below comment. But Pha raoh had his foot In the opening, quick as a flash. “That’s better,” he said. “Much bet ter. You’ve gone, shall we say, a long way. But I’m sure Mr. Spencer’s worth ten thousand a year." The man was playing with her—play ing the fish he had hooked. Helena’s voice was shaking. “I’ve no right to give any more. The money’s not mine. That’s more than I ought to take for my personal use.” It was awful to hear such naivete is sue from Helena's lips. *T am not concerned with your right. To Insure Mr. Spencer’s life will cost you ten thousand down and ten thou sand a year." Her palms clapped fast to her eyes, Helena threw back her head. “All right,” she said, "I’ll pay It." The words seemed torn from her throat. “One thing more," said Pharaoh. “It till not be convenient to meet you to morrow night. I take the first premium •ow. Show me that cellar, or strip. I don’t care which you do, for I guess you can open it naked as well as elothed.” I think a full minute went by before helena moved. Then very slowly she rose and turned to the right. Then her hand went up to • sconce, laid hold of the bracket and pulled It down. I beard *no sound, but a panel below Hie sconce moved, and, when she turned, I saw the shape of a door which was standing ajar. So Helena severed one of the threads by which her life was hanging. Slowly she returned to the bench. As she took her seat, Pharaoh rapped •ut an order. “Put a light on the lady, Bugle.” I think my heart stood still: but 1 had a torch and the wit to do as he said. “Kush and Bugle stand fast: Dew- imp with me." He crossed to the gaping panel, with I'ewdrop directly behind him, lighting bis steps. As he pulled open the door, I saw the stonework beyond. h stood waiting for their footfalls to fade. My moment had come. Kush was speaking and wagging his dreadful head. “Sheba’s the goods," he murmured. “Look at that mouth. Here. I’m goln’ to ’ave a close-up. Gimme that—torch." Between us we bungled the business, •nd the torch fell down and went out 1 let him grope and find It As he stood up, grunting, I took him fast by the throat and drove my knife Into bis heart He gave one frightful convulsion, hod then I knew he was dead I got to my knees and sought for the torch. WhM I had found it, 1 •witched It oo to the bench. TM» was empty. 1 turned the beam on to myself. -Helena." I aald, "It’a all right I’ve done the swine In." She did not answer, so I got to my fe^t and threw the beam round the room. She must be there somewhere. And then all at once I knew where Helena wan She had fled for the atalrcase-turret when Rush and I, between us, had dropped the torch. Rush bad locked the door of the hall, not the door of the secret room. I took a step towards this—and stopped In my tracks. The doorway by which I had en tered had disappeared. • •§•••• Helena was safe—for the moment. So much I saw. (As a matter of fact, she was saved: but at that time I did not know that no one within the room could open the door she had abut.) And Rush was dead,.and Pharaoh and Dewdrop knew nothing of what had occurred. In the twinkling of an eye my position had been reversed. If 1 could not make an end of the two, I deserved to be shot. I stepped to the cut through which Pharaoh and Dewdrop had passed. As I had supposed, this gave to a winding stair—no doubt of a consid erable depth, for though I strained my ears, I could hear dhthlo^ at all. Determined to leave nothing to chance, I proceeded to lay my ambush with Infinite care. Pharaoli must find nothing wrong —until too late. To all appearance the room must be as he had left It. The bench, however, could be seen from the head of the winding stair. 1 must therefore suggest to Pharoah that his captive had merely moved This was easy enough. Next to the bench stood the fireplace, which Jutted into the room. On the other side of this was a chair with its back to the wall. If my torch were trained upon this. Pharaoh would receive the Im pression that his captive had changed her seat, for the chair was masked by the fireplace and could not be seen from the cut. The only question was how to support the torch. For s moment I steod thinking. Then I perceived that, unless I were to flout Reason, this office must devolve upon Rush. Anyone leaving the stair with a torch In his hand would be almost sure to Illumine the opposite side of the room. The corpse must therefore be moved, in any event. And If I could gird It Into the semblance of life. ... , In two or three minutes the grisly business was done, and Rush was seated upright in a high-backed chair, with an arm along one of the chair’s and the torch In his hand. His belt and mine and some cord I had found In his pocket had done the trick. His head had proved troublesome, but I took s stick from the grate, buttoned this into his waistcoat and propped it like that. The effect was hideous, for the corpse was poking its head. But that was beside the point. At the first blush, not even the man’s own mother would ever have known he was dead. Here I should say that, before I had set Rush up, I had taken away his pistol and Helena's master key. Once again I took care to listen at the head of the winding steps—and heard no sound. To pick my own position was easy enough. I had only to take my stand behind the panel-door that belonged to the cut. This was wide enough to con ceal me. I decided to use a pistol, fof the bul let was swift and sure and at quar ters so close I could not possibly miss. For all that, I took the knife too. And then at last I was ready, with the knife at my hip and a pistol in either hand. . . . Looking back, I find It strange that I, who ten days before had never, that I can remember, so much as knocked e man down, should have made these dreadful preparations without a qualm. That I had already done murder troubled me very much less than the loss of my belt. Indeed, my only con cern was lest by some Improvidence on my part the butchery which T pur posed should not be fulfilled. It might be said that I was but making ready to save my life; but I cannot plead that excuse, for that consideration never once entered my head. But that was not of valour. I think the plain truth Is that I was possessed. What I had witnessed In that cham ber had fired within me a furnace of roaring hate. I was going to kill Pharaoh and Dewdrop exactly as I had killed Rush—not because I had-> set out to do It, not because that was (he reason why 1 was there, but because they had ravished Virtue—broken a lovely spirit, by abusing Its lovely flesh. I had to wait full five minutes be fore I heard a sigh on the winding stair. The sigh grew Into a murmur, and the murmur Into th*t unmistakable sound—the regular scuffing of feet that are mounting a flight of stone steps. The footfalls were hasty. The two were mounting apace. Why this was I could not Imagine. Why should they run? The stars were fighting against them. But for their haste, I should not hare heard them so soon. The rapid, regular shuffle began to grow clear. ... Unless^ they were moving as one, the shoes of one of the two were ruh- ber-soled, for only one set of footfalls came to my ears. In this case— And then I saw the glow of a torch. Two steps more, and I heard their heavy breathing. . . . The stars against them? All the company of . heaven had ranged Itself O oa my aide. The twa would to spool and breathleas. . . . Dewdrop began to apeak before to bad entered the room. “Bugle an’ Ruth to go down. Ph* raoh thayth—" ■* As he stepped through the cut and I fired, 1 saw my mistake. Dewdrop would lisp no mora, the deafening roar of,ray pistol tod carried a message to Pharaoh which not even a child could misread. I could have done myself violence. It was not as If I had not warned: I had been told at plainly as any fool could have been told that Dewdrop alone was'mounting the wind ing stair. I had only to pocket my pistol and to take my knife. Torch In hand, out of breath, my victim could have made no resistance. ... ' As it was. by using my pistol, I had thrown away the most valuable weapon I had—the element of surprise. It was true that, had I stabbed Dew- drop, Pharaoh would still have waited In vain for Bugle and Rush. But though be would have been angry and would at last have come up to sfee for himself the reason for their delay, he would never have dreamed of danger. But now he was warned. Pharaoh was more than warned. My shot, being fifed when It was, had reported the ugly news that Dew- drop was dead. The fact that no one came, down would confirm this report. And no one could have killed Dew- drop. unless he had first made an end of Bugle and Rush. The Truth was In Pharaoh's hands. He knew as well as did I that someone was In the chamber, waiting to take his life. As I say, I could have done myself violence. I was here to play the knave, and Instead 1 was playing the fool. lam bound to confess that I cannot defend my annoyance at finding that I must fight Pharaoh Instead of play ing the butcher as I had already done. I can only say that at that time I had no fear for myself: but since I knew very well that the man was as swift and as cunning as I was slow, I was full of apprehension lest he should es cape. The bare thought of such an ontcome made the sweat start on my brow. Live—after what he had done? Live—to walk out of that room and do It again? Somebody laughed—a very unpleas ant laugh. I think It was the devil within me— the sheriff that had been sent-to fetch Pharaoh's soul. I pulled myself together, slid my pistols Into my pockets and set about hoisting Dewdrop out of my way. CHAPTER XI Hdcna Now by firing, as I had, upon Dew- drop, I had cast away the element of surprise: but that was not all the mis chief that I had done, for the roar of the heavy pistol had made me com pletely deaf. When I had fired In the forest, so savage was the report that four or five minutes went by before my full hear ing came back: but here, within fonr such walls, the shock of the violent ex plosion had appalldti the drums of my ears. To listen for Pharaoh’s coming was, therefore, but waste of time, and, since he might arrive any moment, I made my preparations as swiftly as ever I could. These were simple—there was not much I could do. The chair on which Kush was seated I slewed to the left, so that the beam of his torch fell full on the cut In the wall. I then took Dewdrop’s torch and studied the room, marking the furniture well In case I must move In the dark. Then I slid the torch Into my pocket and lay down behind the great table of which I have spoken before. This was a pedestal table of carved, gray oak. Between the two pedestals there was a knee-hole or archway three feet wide by some twenty-six inches high. Looking through this, I directly commanded the cut, while the pedestal offered good cover on either hand. I ventured to settle mysejf with the greatest care, for I knew that If I possibly could I must kill my man be fore he had entered the room: If Pharaoh could contrive to come in, the advantage I presently held would be utterly lost, for, though we should. In sense, be fighting on even terms, Pharaoh was an expert at murder, hut I was no more than s resolute ama teur. TALL TALES 65 As Told to: FRANK E. HAGAN and ELMO SCOTT WATSON The Absent-Minded Carpenter W HEN Charles O. Grant, former Ohio newspaper man, was a boy In Columbus he knew a carpenter named J. Elmer Putterbaugh who was Just about the best In the buslnessi No Job was ever toor big for him to tackle, according to Mr. Grant “Why, I remember the time,” he says, “when J. Elmer took the contract to build a big church over near Washington Court Hopse. He got so Interested In his work that-tie. fofgot to Mop. So the main aisle was so long that they had to have two preachers—one to stand at the altar and marry folks and the other to stand at the front door and christen their first baby as they came out." Another time J. Elmer’s absent- mindedness got him In trouble. He was shingling the roof on a barn when a thick fog came sweeping up the val ley from the Ohio river.. J. Elmer kept right on shingling and without noticing what he was doing shingled 26 feet of fog beyond the edge of the roof before he noticed his mistake. This turned out to be pretty serious because he fell and broke one of his legs off clean when he tried to get down. As a result he had to have a wooden leg, but that meant more trou ble. Every time J. Elmer reached down to scratch his knee cap he’d get a splinter In his finger. That made him so angry that he’d grab his saw and saw his wooden leg right off. It broke him up buying new wooden legs. At last he went to a pauper’s grave. “But they had a hard time keeping him In It," declares Mr. Grant. “You see, J. .Elmer was something of a cross roads philosopher—Just full of wise saws. His ghost used one of thfes* to saw his way out of the pine box In which they burled him. Folks got pretty tired of having his ghost chas ing around at night So they finally captured- It, enclosed It In a* box of chilled steel and from that time on there has been nothing but frozen silence out of J. Elmer Putterbaugh.” It’s a Ringer! O NE subscriber to the belief that. Id the long run, trufh must prevail is John D. McDougall, nestor among grain receivers In the Chicago market. "Here Is the proof of what I am compelled to tell,” Mr. McDougall as serted, Indicating a sheaf of beauti fully ripened wheat. “The facts con cern a friend and customer of mine, one A. J. Sundberg of Hillsboro, N. D. “Sundberg shipped this sample of ><• I do not know how long I walted^i-ftae wheat. When I complimented but the first intimation I had of Pha raoh’s approach waa the audden roar of hia pistol as he fired at and shat tered the torch. And then—silence. We were both of us deafened, of course; and, remembering that, I at east had the sense to move. Pharaoh was trying to find me, steal- ng this way and that He had only to brush against me, touch me with the Ups of his fingers, and I should be— caught. At once 1 set out to find him, with my left hand stretched before me and my pistol all read^-. I truly! belleVe that my action saved my lifer for Pharaoh passed me lo tto darkness and came upon Rush. I enow this was so, for be fired upon :he body, supposing It to be me, and the flame that leaped from his pistol gave me a mark to aim at. Instead of ightlng my face. (TO BE CONTINUED) First Greyhounds ia America The first greyhounds Imported Into America from England were In tbs ate 70's, and It la from this foandatloa stock that the xaclng dogs was to •sloped. v -ii’ The Crazy Woman Wrangler A RT QUIGLEY was a cow hand, temporarily, for Half Circle ranch near Buffalo, Wyo.; It was there he met the wrangler from Crazy Woman River and heard his story. "I was a tenderfoot,” acknowledges Quigley. “So much so, I’d rise at day break, saddle up and ride to Buffalo to eat hash house breakfast with the rest of the Chinamen. “One mornlt^ another rider yelled at me, back trail, but 1 paid no at tention. Figured he’d spotted me for a tenderfoot cause I wore the only stiff-brimmed Stetson of the county. “Catching up, the stranger Intro duced himself as the Wrangler from Crazy Woman River. An old fellow, but plenty pert and capable. Pointing to a grove we passed, the wrangler said that there, after a night in Buf falo, he met a bear. Had only a rifle and Just three .22 shorts—not much to use If you’re loading for bear. “He drew careful bead and fired. The bear went down. Then he was up. It was like the radio report of a prize fight. My friend aimed and fired. Again the bear fell, once more was up. Aiming carefully over his horse's neck, the man from Crazy Woman fired his last .22 and saw the bear fall. “Leaping down, Bowie knife In hand, he charged. And he was tre mendously relieved to discover three bears, all dead In the trail . . . “I believe the story Implicitly,” says Quigley. “You see, this Crazy Woman fellow never once regarded me as a tenderfoot, but he treated me like an old-timer on the range.” him upon Its quality he relaxed, as most folks do under the Influence of praise, and he recalled some of the difficulties under which the grain grew. "Why, even at a time this wheat was ripening—my friend^ told me^he hitched his wagon team to a weeping willow tree out In the fields and re sponded to the cheery Invitation of the dinner bell. “He was gone 41 mlnqtes but grass hoppers invaded the place in such numbers they devoured both horses and all of the wagon except Its tongue. When my friend finished bis dinner all that was left of the horses was their shoes. And the grasshop pers were playing quoits with them/ 0 Weatera Nawapaper Union. Presidential Frank* Since the early days of the nation iTesIdents of the United States have been authorized to frank their mall, that Is, send it post-free. Early laws, says Pathfinder Magazine, required the President’s actual signature “writ ten by his own hand” but from the time of Hayes oo the well known "penalty” envelope has been used More recently the custom has been to use the simple Inscription, “The White House." A Colorful Picture for Your Wall, Using Simple Embroidery Stitches In honor of spring your house de serves a colorful new wall-lianglAit such as this, which depicts roses and lilacs In their natural splendor. You’ll enjoy embroidering It—It’s so easy even a beginner will he won over to this delightful occupation. The lilacs are In lazy daisy—the roses In satin and outline stitch; and you needn’t frame It—Just line it anfi hang It up. In pattern 7>527 you will find a transfer pattern of a hanging 15 by Noble Thoughts T HE note of the day In all its higher and nobler trend' of thought is to Include, to share, to communicate. Emerson has re marked that “exclusiveness ex cludes Itself." All that we keep out we go without. If we admit no one we deprive ourselves of every one, and If we admit a few In order to lay to our souls the flattering unction of exclusive ness, we exclude the many. If you hare greater knowledge, finer culture, do not exclude but share, and find In It Its divinest sweet ness.—Lillian Whiting. Counsel and wisdom achieve more than sense. ^0 Inches; a color chart; material requirements; Illustrations of all stitches needed; directions for mak ing the hanging. Send fifteen cepts In coins or stamps (coins prefefred) to The Stewing Circle. Household Arts Dept, 259 W. 14th St., New York. N. Y. Baby Falls Into Basement; Dad Makes Shoestring Catch f . -j James SUer, fourteen months old, rocked back and forth In his high, chair in his Milwaukee home. It toppled over and James fell through an open trap door Into the basement. In the basement was the baby’s fa ther, John. He heard the tot cry out and looked up in time to make a Shoestring catch of his plunging son. James escaped with a cut over one eye. , REMOVE FRECKLES, BLACKHEADS.! No matter how dull and dark your com plexion. no matter how freckled and coaraened by tun and wind, Nadinola Cream, tested and trusted for over a gen eration, will whiten, clear and smooth your skin to new beauty quickest, easiest way. Just apply tonight; no massaging, no rubbing; Nadinola begins its beauti- Dr. Pierce’s Pleasant Pellets are the orig inal little liver pills put up 60 years ago. They regulate liver and bowels.—Adv. Bluffs and Mountains A man can make a big bluff easier than he can a little mountain. satin-smooth loveliness. No disap^ K intments; no long waiting; money ck guarantee. Get a large box pf NADINOLA Cream at your favorite toilet counter or by mail, postpaid, only 50c. NADINOLA, Box 45, Paris, Tenn. 5* AND 10$ JARS THE I0« SIZE CONTAINS 3* TIMES , AS MUCH AS THE S« SIZE £3=3=3 ' ‘ WHY PAY MORE? MOROLINE I SNOW WHITE PETROLEUM JEUY ZS GRAND IRINKS FOR il.SS All different, labeled. SUNNY BRAE GARDENS.R 1-o.Jmaper.Q*. This story will interest many Men and Women N OT long ago I was like some friends I have...low in spirits...run-down...out of sorts.. .tired easily and looked terrible. I knew I had no serious organic trouble so I reasoned sensibly.. .as my experience has since proven... that work, worry, colds and whatnot had just worn me down. r The confidence mother has always had In S.S.S. Tonic.. .which is still her stand-by when she feels run-down...convinced me I ought to try this Treatment...! started a course...the color began to come back to my skin...I felt better... I no longer tired easily and soon I felt that those red-blood-cells were back to so- called fighting-strength... it is great to feel strong again and like my old self, q y gg, c* "Y—, I harm coma tack to whara I faai Ilka mysnff again." S.$5 ' TO NIC Makes you feel like yourself again *0\N FAR CAN YOU go.. The FIRST QUART Tells the Story p Out of the experience of thousands of motor ists has been developed a simple method of comparing oil performance . . . the “First Quart” Test. It is just a matter of noting how many miles you go after a drain-and- refill before you have to add a quart. If you are obliged to add oil too frequently, try the “First Quart” Test with Quaker State. See if you don’t go farther before you have to add that tell-tale first .quart. And, the oil that stands up best between refills is giving your motor -the safest lubrication. Quaker State Oil Refining Company, Oil City. Pa.