Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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A ■ * * i * » ABNER DANIEL By ... I WILL N. f HARDEN Axiihor of “tOejUrfelf" Copyrighl, 1902, by HARPER <& BROS^ Who Publish ihe Work In Book Form. All Rights Reserved - - •5*4~b*i , ' T ^P T *'M BJk^^Tgt^- v »IlTa CHAPTER XX\'. HE following morning Polo rose before daylight and rode to Parley. As he reached the place the first rays of the sun were touching the slate covered spire of the largest church in town. He went to a public wagon yard and hitched his horse to one of the long radks. A mountain family he knew slightly had camped in the yard, sleep ing iif their canvas covered wagon, and were making coffee over a little lire. Pole wanted a cup of the bever age, but he passed on into a grocery store across the street and bought a dime's worth of cheese and hardtack crackers. This was ids breakfast. He washed it down with a dipper of water from the street well and sat around the store chatting with (he clerk, who was sprinkling the door and sweeping and dusting the long room. The clerk was a redheaded young man with a short, bristling mustache, and a suit of clothes that* was too large for him. “Don’t Mr. Craig stay around Finch er’s warehouse a good deal?” Pole asked as the clerk rested for a moment on his broom near him. “Mighty nigh all day long,” was the reply. "Him an’ Fincher's some kin. job,” he said. “He was born that way.” “Say, Mr. Trabue,” retaliated Pole, “did you ever beer how 1 got the best o' Mr. Fincher in a chicken trade?” “I don’t think I ever did, Pole,” laughed the lawyer, expectantly. “How was it?” "Oh. come off. don’t go over that again,” said Fincher, flushing. „ "it was away,” said Pole, with a broad, wholesome grin. "My cousin, Bart Wilks, was runnin’ the restaurant under the car shed about two yeer ago. He was a new hand at the business, an’ one day he had a awful rush. He got a telegram that a train load o’ pas sengers had missed connection at Chat tanooga an’ would have to eat with him. He was powerful rattled, run nin' round like a dog after its tail, lie knowed he'd have to have a lot o' fry- in’ chickens, an’ he couldn't leave the restaurant, so he axed me ef I’d take the money an’ go out in town an’ buy ’em fer ’im. I Consented, an’ struck Mr. Fincher, who was soilin' sech truck then. He 'lowed, you know, that 1 jest wanted one, or two at the outside, fer my own use. so when I seed a fine coop out in front an' axed the ju ice of 'em he kinder drawod on his boord till Ids mouth fell open an’ studied how he could make the most out o’ me. After awhile he said, ‘Well, Pole, I'll make ’em 10 cents apiece ef I jock 'em, an’ Jh ef ybu pick ’em.' 1 sorter skeerd the chickens around an’ seed thar was two or three tiny ones hidin' under the big one's, an’ I sisal what he was up to, but I was ready fer ’im. ‘All right,’ ses I, ‘you pick ’em.’ Thar was two or three loafers standin’ round an’ they all laughed at me when Mr. Fincher got down over the coop an’ finally ketched one about the size of a robin an’ hauled it out. ‘Keep on rt-pickin’,’ ses I. an* he made a grab fer one a little bigger an’ handed it uj> Then be stuck his hands down pockets, doin’ his best to keej) from laughin’. The gang yelled then, but 1 wasn’t done. ‘Keep on a-piekin’,’ ses I. An’ he got down agin. An”, sir. I got that coop at about 4 cents apiece less'n he’d paid fer ’em. He tried to back, but the gang wouldn't let ’im,. It was the cheapest lot o’ chickens 1 ever seed. 1 turned the little ones out , to fatten and made Wilks pay me the valise!” sneered the red- price all round fer the bunch.” "I'll be bound you made some’n’ out of it," said Trabue. “Fincher, did you ever beer how that scamp tuck in ev ery merchant on this street about two Iyeer ago?” "Never heerd anything except his owin' 'em all,” said Fincher, with a i laugh. "1 could i»ut 'im in the penitentiary ! for it,” aflirmed the lawyer. “You , know about that time thar was a pow erful rivalry goin’ on among the store- keepers. They was movin’ heaven an’ j earth to sell the'r big stocks. Well, one | of the spryest in the lot, Joe (faylord, i noticed that Pole was powi rful jiopu- i lar with mountain folks, an’ he made j ’im a proposition, bindin’ ’im down to , secrecy. lie proposed to give Pole 10 ] per cent commission on all the goods he'd he’p sell by bringin’ customers wants sornewhar In pussin’ I’ve several times at I think.” “On his wife's side,” said Pole. "1 want to see Mr. Craig. I wonder ef he'll be down thar this mornin’.” “Party apt,” said the clerk. “Finch er’s his best friend sence his bu'st uj), an' they are mighty thick. 1 reckon he gits the cold shoulder at a lots o' places.” “You don't say!” “An’ of course hf to go besides hoim seed ’im a-figurin' Fincher’s desk. They say he’s got some notion o’ workin’ fer Fincher as his bookkeeper.” “Well, he'll have to make a some Way,” said Pole. The clerk laughed significantly. “Ef it ain’t already made,” said he with a smile. Pole stood up. “I don't think that's right.” he said coldly. “Me nur you nur nobody hain’t got no right to hint at what we don’t know nothin’ about. Mr. Craig may ’a’ lost ever' cent he had.” “In a pig’s headed man. “I’d bet my hat he's got money an' plenty of it, huh!" “Well. 1 •don’t know nothin' about it,” said Pole, still coldly. “An' what's more, Dunn, I ain't a-goin’ about smirchin' any helpless man's character nuther. Ef 1 knowed he had made by the bu'st, I’d talk different, bul I don’t know it.” • “Ob, I see which side you are on. Baker,” laughed the clerk. "Folks are about equally divided. Half is fer "mi. an’ half agin. Rut mark my words, Craig will slid*' out o’ this town some day an' be heerd of after awhile a-git- tin’ started agin some'r's else. That racket lias been worked to death all over the country.” Pole carried the discussion no fur ther. Half an hour passed. Customers were coming in from the wagon yard i livin' [ to me. in bis awhile an’ stopped him,” said Trabue, “but lie made good money while he was at it ’fhey’d ’a’ sent ’im up fer it ef it hadn’t been sech a good joke on ’em.” “1 don’t know about that,” replied Pole thoughtfully. "I was doin’ all 1 agreed, an’ ef they could afford to pay 10 i»er cent to anybody they mought as well ’a’ paid it to me. 1 drawed trade to the whole town. The cigars an’ whisky I give away amounted to a Jot. I've set up inauy a night tellin’ them mossbaeks tales to make ’em laugh.” "Well, ef you ever git into any trou ble let me know,” said Trabue as be rose to go. “I’ll defeud you at half price. You’d be a sight o’ lielj) to a lawyer. I’ll be hanged if 1 ever seed a better case ’au you made out in the mayor's court, an’ you hadn't a thing to back it up uitb nuther.” 1'lie hay was unloaded and the wag ons driven away. Fincher stood eying Pole with admiration. “It's a fact,” he said. “Y’ou could ’a’ made some'n’ out o’ yore’se’f if you’d ’a’ been edu cated an' had a showin’.” Pole jerked ids thumb over his shoul der at Craig, who was standing in the trout door looking out into the street. "Everybody don’t git a fair showin’ in ! this world. Mr. Fincher.” he said. "That man Craig hain’t been treated right.” The jovial expression died out of the merchant’s face, and he leaned against the door jamb. "You are right thar,” he said—“dead right He’s been mighty unlucky and . bad treated.” Pole*grasped the brim of his massive hat and drew it from his shaggy head, “t makes mo so all fired mad some ics, Mr. Fincher, to heer folks a-run- that man down that I want to fight. 1 ain’t no religious man myse’f, but 1 respect one. an’ I’ve always put him down in my book as a good man.” “So’ve I,” said the merchant, and he looked toward the subject of their conversation and called out, “Craig, oh, Craig, come back heer a minute.” Pole put on his hat and stared at the ground, lie made* a gesture as if of protest, but refrained from speaking. "What’s wanted?” Craig came down to them. He was smoking a cigar and wore a comfortable look, as if he had been fighting a hard but successful fight and now heard only random shots from a fleeing enemy. “You ain't a candidate fer office,” laughed Fincher, "but nearly all men like to know they’ve got friends. This chap heer’s boon standin’ up fer you. He says it makes him mad to hear folks talk agin you.” i! t could tell a piece o’ gold ef they seed it?” lie asked. “Oh, a good many, I reckon,” said Craig, a steely beam of excitement in his unsteady eye. “I can myself. I spent two years in the gold mines of California when I was a young man.” “You don’t say! I never knowed that.” Pole had really heard of that fact, but bis face was straight. He had managed to throw into it a most won derful blending of fear and overcau tiousness. “Oh, yes; I’ve had a good deal of ex- perience in such things.” “You don't say!” Pole was looking toward the compress again. Craig laughed out suddenly and put his hand on Pole’s shoulder with a friendly, downward stroke. “You can trust me. Baker,” he said persuasively, "and it may be that I could be of assistance to you.” There was something like au actual tremor of agitation in Pole’s rough hand as lie drew his little nugget from its resting place at the bottom of his pocket. With a deep, indrawn breath ho handed it to Craig. “Is that thar lit tle lumj) gold or not?” he asked. Craig started visibly as his eyes fell on the jiiece of gold. But he took it indifferently and examined it closely. “Where did you run across that?” he asked. “I want to know ef it’s the puore thing,” answered Pole. Craig made another examination, ob viously to decide on the method he would apply to a situation that claimed all ids interest. “I think it is,” he said—“in fact, 1 know it is.” Polo took it eagerly, thrust it back into his pocket and said: “Mr. Craig, 1 know whar thar’s a vein o’ that stuff twenty yards thick, runnin’ clean through a mountain.” “You do?” Craig actually paled un der bis su[(pressed excitement. “Yes, sir, an' I kin buy it, lock, stock and barrel, fer five hundred dollars. The feller that owns^it ud jump at it like a duck on a June bug. That’s my secret, Mr. Craig. I hain’t one dollar to my name, but from this day on I'm goin’ to work hard an’ save my money till I own that property. I’m a-goin’ down to Atlanta next week, whar peo pie don’t know me, an’ have a lump of it bigger ’n this examined, an’ ef it’s gold I’ll own the land sootier or later.” Craig glanced to the rear. “Come back here,” he said. Opening a door at the end of the warehouse, he led Pole into a more retired spot, where they would be free from possible inter ruption. Then in a most persuasive voice lie continued; “Baker, you need a man of experience with you in this. Besides, if there is as much of—of that stuff as you say there is, you wouldn't be able to use all you could make out of it. Now, it might take you a long time to get uj> the money to buy the laud, and there is no telling what might happen in the meantime. I’m in a close place, but l could raise five hundred dollars or even a thousand. My friends still stick to me, you know. The truth is, Baker, I’d like the best In the world to he able to make money to pay back what some of my friends have lost through me.” Pole hung his head. Ho seemed to be speaking half to himself and on the and examining the wares on the coun- ! 1,1 lhe ^ Imitated beca’se, he rpj, (V i said, they might find it out, an’ Joe ters and making slow jnychasi proprietor came in and let the clerk go | to breakfast. Pole stood in the door- ' way looking uj» the street in the direc- , tion of Craig's residence. Presently he i saw the ox-banker coining from the i postottiec reading his mail. Pole steji- j ped back into the store and let him go | by; then he went to the door again | and saw Craig go into Fincher's ware- I house at the end of the next block of ! straggling, wooden buildings. Pole sauntered down the sidewalk in that direction, passing the front door of the warehouse without looking in. The door at the side of the house had a long platform before it, and on it Fincher, the proprietor, was weighing bales of hay which were being unload ed from several wagons by the coun trymen who were disposing of it. "Hello, Mr. Fincherl” Pole greeted him familiarly. “Want any help un loadin’?” “Hello, Baker!” said Fuwhcr. look ing up from the hlankbpok In which he was recording the weights. ‘"No, 1 reck on they can handle it all right.” Finch er was a short, fat man, very bald and with a round, laughing face. Hc^haid known Pole a long time and consid ered him a most amusing character. “How do you come on, Pole?” “Oh, about as common. I jest thought them fellers looked sorter lightweight." The men on the wagon laughed ns they thumped a bale of hay on to the platform. “You’d better dry up,” one of them said. “We'll git the mayor to put you to work agin.” “Well, he’ll have to be quicker about it than he was the last time,” said Pole dryly. Some one laughed lustily from be hind u tall stack of wheat in bags in the warehouse. It was Lawyer Tra bue. lie came round and picked up Fincher’s daily paper, us he did every morning, and sat down and begun to read it. “Now you are talkin’," be said. “Thar was more rest in that job, Pole, than any j'ou ever undertook. They tell me you didn’t crack a rock.” Fincher laughed as he closed finally agreed that all Pole would have to do was to fetch ’em In, give the wink, an’ him an’ his clerks would do (he rest. It worked mighty slick fer awhile, but Pole noticed that very of ten the folks he'd fetch in wouldn’t be pleased with the goods an’ j»rices an’ ud go trade some’r’s else. Then what do you think the scamp did? He went to every store in town an’ made a se cret contract to git 10 per cent on all sales, an’ he had the softest snap you ever heerd of. He'd simply hang on to a gang from the country, whether he “Oh. it’s Baker!” exclaimed the ex banker, shaking hands with Pole and beaming on him. “Well, I don’t know a man I’d rather have for a friend,” fie said smoothly. Pole tossed Ids head and looked straight into the speaker’s eye. “I’m fer human justice, Mr. Craig,” he said, “an* I don’t think folks has treated you right. What man is thar that don't now an’ then make mistake^, sir? You’ve always had means, an’ I never was anything but a pore mountain boy, but I’ve always looked on you as a good man, a law abldin’ man, an’ I don’t like to heer folks try to blame you fer what another man done. When you had plenty, 1 never come nigh you. beca’se I knowed you belonged to one ! like to see you pay back s. life an’ me another, but now you are i too, Mr. Craig.” flat o’ yore back, sir, I’m yore friend." Craig's face beamed. lie pulled bis beard; bis eyes danced. "I'm glad there are men in the world like you, Baker,” he said. “I say I’m glad, and T mean it.” Fincher had begun to look over the figures in his book and walked to the front. "Oh, my friendship ain’t wuth noth in’,” said Pole. “I know that. I never was In the shape to he’p nobody, but 1 k^w when a man’s treated rigid or 1 wrong.” “Well, if you ever need assistance and I can help you. don’t fail to call i on mo.” Craig sj)oke with a tone of ; sincerity. Pole took n deep breath and lowered his voice, glancing cautiously into the house, as if fearful of being overheard. “Well, I do need advice, Mr. Craig.” he said—“not money nor nothin’ cx- ! pensive. But I’ve laid awake night after night wishin’ ’at I could run on i some man of exjjerience that 1 could ax fer advice an’ that I could trust. ; Mr. Craig, I’ll be blamed ef I don’t 1 some’r’s.” feel like tellin’ you some’n’ that never “A good idea, a good idea, Baker.” has passed my lips.” “Do you know whar the Ducktown Craig stared In interested astonish- j road crosses Holly creek at the foot o’ i Old Pine mountain?” verge of a smile when he rep'ied, “I'd of ’em. Craig laid his hand gent^ Pole's shoulder. “How about lettin’ me see the place, Baker?" he said. Pole hesitated, and then he met the ex-banker's look with the expression of a man who has resigned himself to a generous inijiulse. “Well, some day when you are a-passin’ my way stoj> in. an’ I'll’’— “How far is it?" broke in Craig, pull ing ids beard with unsteady fingers. "A good fifteen miles t'ro,m heer.” said Pole. Craig smiled. "Nothin’ but an easy ride,” he declared. “I’ve got a horse doin' nothing in the stable. What’s to hinder us from going today—this morn ing—as soon as I can go for my horse?” "I don’t keer,” said Pole resignedly. “But could you manage to go without anybody knowin’ whar you was bound fer?" “Easy enough.” Craig laughed. He was really pleased with Pole's extreme ca utiousness. “Then you mought meet me out thar WEAK LUNGS Afflict flany Hen and Women and Lead to Pneumonia, Grip and Consump tion, if the System Is not Kept in HeHthy Condition Strengthened with Duffy’s Pure Halt Whiskey. Throat and lung troubles caune more deaths in this com try than all other diseases combined. At least one half could be cured if taken in time. STOPPED HERGRRNAGES “ Gentlemen—My lung trouble is two years old. I bad ^ about eight or ten hemorrhages, which broke me down in W’''\ weight and strength. The la-t, in February, was the worst of all, so that l honestly bi lieved I could not live to see another summer. When I commenced to take Bully’s Pure Malt Whiskey my weight was 117 pounds; today I weigh 129 pounds, and have made good improvement iu every respect. I feel stronger from day to day and have had no hemorrhage since I cnmmencedto use ‘ Duffy’s.’ ” GOTTFRIED £BER, Scranton, Pa. O XT I* E> We have thousands of such letters as these! “ LUNGS IS STRONG AS EVER ” “Dear Sirs—Having suffered with weak lungs j severe cough and loss of app the, I tried nearly all medicines, but without benc h. A few weeks ago on advice I commenced tin us<^of Duffy’s Pu; e Mult Whiskey. My ajijet itcimproved almost immediately, my cougli hopped and my hi figs fl are as strong as ever; m? strength has retv rn- ? ed, and I shall continue its use a« a prevent ive against all diseases" FLORENCE WHITING, No. 110(1 U St., Washington, D. C» Ql’FFfS PURE MALT WHISKEY cures consumption, coughs, colds, grip, bronchitis pneumonia, caarrh, asthma, pleu risy and all diseases of the throat ami lungs; indigestion, dyspejisia ami every form of stomach trouble; malaria and all low fevers. It is an absolutely pure, gentle and in vigorating stimulant and tonic; builds up the nerve tissues, tonesuptho heart, gives power to the brain, strength and elasticity to the muscles and rich mss to the bleed. It brings into action all the vital forces and enables you toget from the food all the re >ur- ishment it contains. It is invaluable for overworked men, delicate women and sickly children. It strengthens and sustains the system; is a promoter o* good hea/th and longevity, makes the old young and keeps the young strong. It is ahiolutely pure, con tains no fusel oil, and is the only whiskey recognized by the Government as a medicine: this is a guarantee. CAUTION.—When you ask lor Duffy’s Pure Matt Whiskey he sure > ju get the genuine. Unscrupulous dealers, mindful of the excellence of this preparation will try tu sell you cheap im itations and malt whiskey substitutes, wfilch are put on the market for profit only, and which, far from relieving the sick, are positively harmlul. Demand “Duffy’s" anC be sure you get it. It is the only absolutely pure Halt Whiskey which contains medicinal, health giving qualities. Duffy’s Pure Mult Whiskey is sold in sealed bottles only; never in flask or bulk. Look for the trade-mark, the “ Old Chemict," on the label, and be certain the seal over the cork is unbroken. Beware of refilled bottles. Sold by all druggists and grocers, or direct, $1,00 a bottle. Interesting medical booklet postpaid to any address. Dully Malt Whiskey Go., Rochester, New Y’ork. For Sale in Saufli Carolina at all Dispensaries, FOR BILIOUSNESS The liver must be gently stirred So that the bile wih be thrown off in the right channel; the system at the same time should be invigorated by a tonic that Nature may begin her work and complete the cure. IN’S LIVER PILLS anoTONIC pellets Form the modern mild power cure that completely does the work, without shock or injury to any partjof tbo system. Booklets and samples free of any dealer, or complete treatment, Twenty-five Doses, 25c. BROWN MFG. CO. NEW YORK AND orleneyille. TENN, ‘For sale by Cherokee Drug Company. LOANS - “/« that thar little lump <jol<l or not?” knowed ’em or not, an’ foller ’em around till they bought; then he’d walk uj) an’ rake in bis part” “I got left once,” said Pole, laughing ! with the others. “One gang that 1 his ! stuck to all day went over to Melton book and struck Baker with It play fully. “Pole was too tired to do that an’ bought.” “\Vell, the merchants caught on after ment. "Well, you can trust me, Ba ker,” he said, “and, if I can advise you, why, I’ll do it with pleasure.” There was a cotton compress near by, with its vast sheds and platforms, and Pole looked at it steadily. lie ' thrust his hand into his pants pocket and kept it there for u full minute; i then he shook his head, drew out Ids i hand and said: “I reckon I won’t both er you today, Mr. Craig. Sgine day | I’ll come in town an’ tell you, but”— i Pole looked at the sun. “I reckon I’d : bettor be goin’.” "Hold on!” Craig caught Pole’s arm. 1 The ex-banker was a natural man. Despite his recent troubles life bad bis ihnre of curiosity, and Pole's manner 1 -yid words had aroused it to unwonted activity. “Hold on,” he said. "What’s ! your hurry? I’ve got time to spare if ! you have." I Pole hung his head for a moment in ; silence; then he looked the old man In the face. “Mr. Craig,” he began in even a lower voice, “do you reckon thar’s The*fellow who woubi msrry any gold In them mountains?” Pole money finds it pretty hard work, i nodded to the blue wave In the east. j _ Craig was standing near n bale of 1 ~— — cotton, and be sat down on it, first part ing the tails of his long, black coat. “I don’t know; there might be,” he ; said, deeply interested and yet trying to appear indifferent. “There is plenty , of it in the same range farther down about Dalonegn.” Pole bad ids band in the right pocket of his rough Jean trousers. “Is thar anybody in this town that “As well as I know where my house Is.” Pole looked at the sun, shading his eyes with ids hand. “Could you be thar by 11 o’clock?” “Easy enough, Baker.” “Well, I'll meet you. I’m a-goin’ to trust you, Mr. Craig, an' when you see the vein ef you think tliar’s enough (honey in it fer two—but we can see about that later.” “All right, Baker. I’ll be there. But say,” ns Pole was moving away, “you are a drinking man and get a little off sometimes. Y'ou haven’t said anything about this where anybody”— Pole laughed reassuringly. “I never have been drunk enough to do that. Mr. Craig, an’, what’s more, I never I will be.” This story will be next Friday’s issue. continued in for Made on Real Estate in City of Gaffney and County of Cherokee. Abstracts furnished. «V ATTORNEYS AT LAW, Star Theatre Building. Tte Gdiliiey City Lanu and ioipmerntDi Company Offers tor irtte BullLiug Loi.stu ibis flourWniug town, Oaffi.sy City ; Also arms aeai by and In reach of the Schools of Limestone Springs and of this place, In lots of from 30 to 100 acres on liberal time rates; also Agricultural Lands to rent for Farm pur poses. For full particulars apply to J . V . A. P* A A t N. B.—All persons are forbidden to enter on.-walk or ride through or over the lands of this company, cutting and removing timber. Bstilng or hunting, under penalty of law. R. M. Wilkins Hardware Co. Have just received a lot of up-to-date open and top Buggies and are making some very attractive prices for cash. They have also just gotten in a car of Barb Wire Nails at good prices. Gaffney, S. C., Oct. 20, 1 903. Gaffney Savings Bank is authorized to act as Administrator, Executor and Guardian without cost of bond. We pay 4 per cent, on deposits of $1.00 or more. Deposit your money in this Bank and avoid the risk of losing it or having it stolen. F. G. STACY, President, D. C. ROSS, Cashier. To Cure a Cold in One Laxative Bromo Quinine Tablets. £ DllSon boxes aoM in post 13 montht. This Signature, ^ Cures Grip in Two Days. on every box. 25c. Fib