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I II 1 <*+ ,♦+++++. > ABNER DANIEL By ... . WILL N. HARDEN Author of “TOtjUrftlt" Copyright. 1902, by HARPER ® BROS.. Who Publish thr Work in Book Fo;m. All Rights Reserved - - ^ar' A CIIAFTER XXVIII. |S the elevator in the big build ing was taking Rayburn Mil ler up to the offices of the Southern Land and Timber company many reflections passed hur riedly through his mind. “You sire going to get the usual eoltl shoulder from Wilson.” he mused, "but heTl put it up against something about as warm as he's touched in many st day. If you don't make ! im squirm, it will be only because you don't want to." Wilson was busy at his desk looking over hills of lading, receipts and other papers and now and then giving in structions to a typewriter in the corner of the room. “Ah, How are you, Miller?” he said Indifferently, giving the caller Ids hand without rising. “Down to see the city again, eh?” Rayburn leaned on the top of the desk and knocked the ashes from his cigar with the tip of ids little finger. “Partly that and partly business," he returned carelessly. “Two birds, eh?” “That’s about it. I concluded you were not coming up our way soon, and so I decided to drop in on you.” “Yes; glad you did.” Wilson glanced at the papers on his desk and fyowned. are on trade with other parties. Arc ! they?” Miller smiled and shook his head, i “As their lawyer, Mr. Wilson, I simply | couldn't answer that question.” The blow was well directed, and it struck a vulnerable spot. “I beg your pardon,” Wilson stam mered. “I did not mean to suggest I that you would betray confidence.” He I reflected a moment, and then he said j in a flurried tone, “They have not actu- | ally sold out, have they?” Miller was silent for a moment, then ! he answered: ”1 don't sec any reason I why 1 may not answer that question. I don’t think my clients would object to my saying that they have not yet accepted any offer." A look of relief suffused itself over i ’Wilson’s broad face. “Then they are still open to accept their offer to me?” Miller laughed as if highly amused at the complication of the matter. “They are bound, you remember, on ly so long as you hold their note.” “Then 1 tell you what to do,” pro posed Wilson. "(Jo back and tell them not to bother about payment for a few days, anyway, and that we will soon tell them positively whether v.we will pay their price or not. That’s fair, isn’t it?” “It might seem so to a man^erson- “Wish I had more time at my disposal I’d run up to (he club with you and interested in the deal,” admitted show you my Kentucky thoroughbreds, Miller as the introduction to another but I really am rushed, today particu larly." “Oh, I haven’t a bit of time to spare myself I take the afternoon train home. The truth is I came to see you for my clients, the Bishops.” “All, L see.” Wilson’s face clouded of his blows from the shoulder, “but as lawyer for my clients l can only obey orders, like the boy who stood on the burning deck.” Wilson’s face fell. The remote click ing of the typewriter seemed to grate upon his high wrought nerves, and he when the boy appeared, and, leaving tbo lawyer suddenly, he went into the room containing the telephone, closing the door after him. In a few minutes he reappeared, standing before Miller, who was chew ing a cold cigar and attentively read ing. He looked up at Wilson abstract edly. “Bully for Atlanta!” he said. “The boys made ten runs before the Mobiles tad scored”— “Oh. come-down to business,” said the New Englander, with a ready made smile. “Honestly, I don’t believe you drowsy southerners ever will get over your habit of sleeping during business hours. It seems to be bred in the bone.” Miller laughed misleadingly. “Try to down us at a horse race, and well beat you in the middle of the night. Hung it all. man, you don’t know hu man nature, that’s all! How can you expect me on my measly fees to dance a breakdown over business I am trans acting for other people?” “Well, that may account for it,” ad mitted Wilson, who seemed bent on being more agreeable In the light of some fresh hopes he had absorbed from the telephone wires. “See here. I've got a rock bottom proposal to make to your people. Now listen and drop that paper for a minute. By Jove! If I had to send a man from your state to attend to legal business. I’d pick one not full of mental mor phine.” “Oh, you wouldn’t?” Miller laid down the paper and assumed a posture Indicative of attention roused from deep sloe]). “Eire away. I’m listening.” “I already had authority to act for the company, but I thought it best to telephone some of the directors.” Wil son sat down in his chair and leaned toward the lawyer. “Here’s what we will do. The whole truth is we are will ing to plank down the required one hundred thousand for that property, provided we can lay our road there without incurring the expense of pur chasing the right of way. Now if the citizens along the proposed line want their country developed bad enough to donate the right of way through their lands, we can trade.” There was a pause. Then Miller broke it by striking a match on the sole of Ids boot. He looked crosseyed at the flame as he applied it to his over by some mechanical arrangement went and slammed the partly opened known only to himself. “Well, I can’t really report any progress In that mat-' ter,” he said. “All the company think Bishop's figures are away out of rea son, and the truth is right now we arc over head and cars in operations in other quarters, and—well, you see how It is?” “Yes, I think 1 do.” Miller smoked a moment. “In fact, l told my clients last month that the matter was not ab sorbing your attention, and so they gave up counting on you.” Wilson so far forgot his pose that he looked up in a startled sort of way and began to study Miller's smoke wrapped profile. “You say they are not—have not been counting on my company to—to buy their land?” “Why, no,” said Miller in accents well resembling those of slow and gen uine surprise. “Why, you haw not shown the slightest interest in th« mat ter since the day you made the loan, and naturally they ceased to think you wanted the land. The only reason I called was that the note is payable to day, and”— “Oh, yes, by Jove! That was care less of me. The interest is due. I knew it would be all right, and I had no Idea you would bother to run down for that. Why, my boy, we could have drawn for it, you know.” Miller smiled inwardly as he looked calmly and fixedly through his smoke into the unsuspecting visage upturned to him. “But the note itself is payable to day,” be said, closely on the alert for a facial collapse, “and, while you or I might take up a paper for $25,000 through a bank, old fashioned people like Mr. and Mrs. Bishop would feel safer to have it done by an agent. That’s why I came.” door, muttering something like an oath. On that slight journey, however, ho caught an idea. “Suppose you wire them ray propo sition and wait here for a reply,” ho suggested. Miller frowned. “That would do no’ good,” he said. ‘T’m sorry 1 can’t ex plain fully, but the truth Is this: I hap pen to know that they wish for rea sons of their own to take up the note you hold and that nothing else will suit them.” At this juncture Wilson lost his grip on all self possession and degenerated into the sullen auger of sharp and un expected disappointment. “I don’t feel that we are being fairly treated,” In* s: id. “We most naturally assumed that your clients wanted to— to extend our option on the property for at least another six months. We assumed that from the fact that we had no notifl -ation from them that they would be ready to pay the note today. That’s where we feel injured. Mr. Miller.” Rayburn threw his cigar into a cus pidor. His attitude of being a uonin terested agent was simply a stroke of genius. Behind this plea he crouched showing himself only to fire shots that played havoc with whatever they struck. “I believe my clients did feel, I may say, honor bound to you to sell for the price they offered, but—now I may be mistaken—but I’m sure they were un dor the Impression, as I was, too, that you only wanted the property provided you could build a railroad from Darley to it, and”— “Well, that’s true,” broke in Wilson. “Tiiat’s quite true.” “And,” finished Miller, still behind his inevitable fortification, “they till me that you have certainly shown in m Fa. “IFcllf” he linked, almost breath. Miller In silent satisfaction saw the i difference to the project ever since the face of his antagonist fall to pieces like an artificial flower suddenly shat tered. “Pay the note?” gasped Wilson. “Why”- Miller puffed at his cigar and gazed at his victim as if slightly surprised over the assumption that his clients had not all along Intended to avail themselves of that condition in their contract. ‘*You mean that the Bishops are- reedy to”— Wilson began again on an other breath—“to pay us the $25,000?” “And the interest for six months,” quietly added Miller, reaching for a match on the desk. “I reckon you’ve got the note here. I don’t want to miss my train.” Wilson was a good business man, but his Puritanical training In New England had not fitted him for wily diplomacy. “Of course they can take up their note today If they wish,” he said, with alarmed frankness. “I was not count ing on it, though.” He rose to his feet. Miller’s watchful eye detected a cer tain trembling of his lower lip. He note was given. In fact, they asked me pointedly if I thought you meant business, and I was forced conscien tiously to tell them that I thought you seemed to have other fish to fry.” Wilson glared at the lawyer as if he wanted to kick him for a stupid idipt who could not do two things at once - work for the interests of his clients and not wreck ins plans also. It had been a long time since be had found himself in such a hot frying pan. “So you think the thing is off?” he said desperately, probably recalling several purchases of land he had made in the section he had expected to de velop. “You think it's off?” “I hardly know what to say,” said Miller. “The old gentleman, Mr. Bish op, is a slow going old timer, but his son is rather up to date, full of energy and ambition. I think I. *’s made up his mind to sell th u ;. , y.” Wilson went to ’..is d ..k, hovered over it like a dark human cloud and then reluctantly turned to the big iron safe against the wall, obviously to get the note. His disappointment was too great for ec c.al u”. With his fat, cigar. “Don't you think your people could stand whatever value is ap praised by law in case of refusals along the line?” “No,” said Wilson. “The price for the land is too steep for that. Your clients have our ultimatum. What do you say? We can advertise a meeting of citizens at Springtowu, which is about the center of the territory in volved, and if all agree to give the right of way it will be a trade. We can have the meeting set for today two weeks. How does that strike you?” “I'd have to wire my clients.” “When can you get an answer?” Miller looked at his watch. “By 5 a’clock this afternoon. The message would have to go into the country.” “Then send it off at once.” A few minutes after 5 o’clock Miller sauntered into the office. Wilson sat at his desk and looked up eagerly. “Well?” he asked, almost under his breath. The lawyer leaned on the top of the desk. “They are willing to grant you the two weeks’ time provided you sign an agreement for your firm that you will purchase their property at the price named at the expiration of that time.” the provision,” interpolated “that a right of way is do- Men and Women of All Ages, I CAN CURE YOU! The specialist is now Indispensable. In all walks of life there is a demand for the who can do one particular thing better than any one else, and such a man is one who has his endeavor to, and centered all of his energy and ability on the specialty he has chosen fr,r hie life's work. * Early In my professional career I realized that Chronic Diseases were not being given the attention which their importance warranted. 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Wilson flushed and then admitted that he had been up that way several times looking the situation over. “How about the charter?” asked Mil ler indifferently. “That’s fixed. 1 have already seen to that.” "Then it all depends on the right of way,” remarked the lawyer as he drew a check from his pocket and handed it to Wilson. "Now get me that note,” he said. Wilson brought it from the safe. “Turning this over cuts my option down to two weeks,’’ he said, "bet we’ll know at the meeting what can be done.” “Yes. we’ll know then what they can do with you," said Miller significantly as he put the canceled note in his pocket and rose to go. This s f orv will he* continued n nfxt Friday’s is-ue foe Gaffney City Land and Improiemtni Company Offers for ship MullUIng Lots Id this flourishing town, Gaffney Olty; Also neai by v. J In rsai h of th-* Sc boo s > f Liuesti ue Springs rad of this uluce, it, lets < f from 30 o TO I'Cr-Jt oi IlNor i: ’Dot rates; also \cr''-alti ral LhnrN >o-ei t f r F s-m t r- jt.-ef, For full parLculai»apt>.v tc J. V. A K »« A. HTTP, \ tr**u*t N. 11. —All persons are forbidden to enter on. walk or rtde. through or over the lauds of this - Tf.pany. cutting and removing timber, fishing or hunting, under penalty of law. Mr Win. 8 Pran 0 , of Osiiforr.i i, ^ Vlrt , Huffered for year* from rh'-un 1 tism and lumbago He whs fi*»l y advised to try Chamberlains Pair! Balm, which he did and it effected a complete cure. For pale by Cherokee Drug(!t)., (iaffney, 8 C., and L. D. 1 Allison, Cowpens, 8. 0. At Brinkley. Ark., Sunday morning a white man who had cut a police ! man to death was lynched by a mob composed of lees than fifteen people The coroner’s jury returned the usual verdict. Ilow We Catch a Cold. A cold is sometimes contracted while remaining inactive for a while i in an uncomfortable room or a crrtd I draft and by falling to sleep under like conditions. But most colds are caught while sleeping too cold at night. Deep sleep causes sluggish circulation which renders the system ! susceptible to change of temperature.! To prevent colds, sleep u^der plenty i of cover. To cure colds use Rydales Eiixir. it lessens the severity and shortens the duration of a cold and prevents Pneumonia, Bronchitis and Consumption. Gaffney Drug Co. j Big Values in Rea Estate. Improved Farms in Cherokee For Sale One contains 126 acres, bottoms and upland, with three (3) good dwelling houses of two, three and seven rooms each, barns, stables and outhouses, and a fine orchard.' The other contains 140 acres, well improved in every way, and situated in desirable sec tion of the county. For full information, terms, ^&c., apply to HALL & WILLIS, Attorneys Gaffney, South Carolina. with that provision,” Miller thrust his hands /nto his pockets nerv- pink hand on the silver plated combiua- ously, and in a tone of open Irritation he said to the young man at the type- 1 tion bolt he turned to Miller again. “Would you mind sitting down till I writer: “Brown,' I wish you’d let up on that Infernal clicking. Sometimes I can stand it, and then again I can’t. You can do those letters in the next room.” When the young man had gone out, carrying his machine, Wilson turned to Miller. “As I understand It, you per- aonnlly have no interest in the Bishop property?" “Oh, not a dollar T’ smiled the lawyoi •I’m only aeting for them.” "Then”—Wilson drove his hands In to his pockets again—“perhaps you wouldn't mind telling me if the Blsbofl£ I telephone one or two of the directors?” “Not at all,” said Miller, “if you’ll get me a cigar and the Constitution. The 'Atlanta baseball Lam played Mobile yesterday, and 1 was wondering"— “I don't keep track of such things,” said Wilson, coining back to his desk with an impatient frown to ring his call hell for the office boy. “Oh, yes, I believe football Is your national sport," said Miller, with a dry smile. “Well, it’s only a difference be tween arms and legs—whole hones and casualties.” Wilson ordered the cigar and paper “With Wilson, nated.” "Yes, nodded. “Then sit down here and write out your paper.” Miller complied as nonchalantly as if he were drawing up a bill of sale for a woruout horse. "There yo^ire,” he said, pushing the paper to WiWon when he had finished. Wilson read It critically. “It certain ly is binding,” he said. “You people may sleep during business hours, but you have your eyes open when you draw up papers. However, I don’t care. I want the Bi -hops to feel secure. They must got to work to secure the right ot way. It will be no easy Job, I’ll let you know. I’ve struck shrewd, obstinate people in my life, but those up thorn beat the w rid. Noah couldn’t have driven them in the ark even after the flood set In.” Von know something about them. Y u will never know how little you can do until you try. The prevention of consumotion is entirely a question of commencing the proper treatment in time. Noth Ing is so well adapted to ward off fatal lung trouble as Foley’s Honey and Tar. Cherokee Drug Co. Every man is a volume if you know how to read him. Pneumonia anil La Grippe. Coughs cured quickly by Foley’s Honey at d Tar. Refuse eu istitutes. Cherokee Crug Co. Words will not make the wheels of a mill go round. “Give your binod a cleaning ” Rheumaeide clears out all the Impu rities that make yon ill. Ask your druggist. And Still They Come. The 1 argnins referred to last week have been arriving almost daily, “and still tlf'*y conn .” There’s no end to the good values I have lor my friends and cus tomers tb s time. My line of Men’s, Youths’and Boys’Clothing is unsurpassed, both in quality a id price. Men’s Suits from ?5.oo to #15.00 Youths’ Suits from #2.00 to #8.00 Boys’ Suits from 75c to #4.00 Shoes and Hats to fit and please all. Dress Goods in Flannels, Zibelius, Shark Skin and Jother styles. 25c and up. Fleeced Waistings and Tricot Flannels, at 25c per yard. * Red, White and Blue Flannels 4 to 15c per yard. Ladies’ Skirts from #1.00 to #5.00. Jackets #1.00 and up. Quilts from 75c to #1.50 each. Blankets from 75c to #5.00 per pair. Lap Robes from #1.50 to $6.00 each. Horse Blankets #i.oo to #2.50 each. Biggest line of Trunks, Dress-suit Cases, Telescopes and Satchels to be found in the city and the prices are as low as the lowest. For a few days only I will offer my entire stock of Buggies at cost to close out. If in need of a Stylish Rig now is the time and this is the place to get it at bargain. » I am also prepared to give you a bargain in Harness and all other leather goods. Disc Harrows to prepare your land for grain. Bagging and Ties as low as can be sold anywhere. Fresh lot Fertilizers for grain at prices that can’t be beat. My Trunk ami Clothing department is on second floor. Come up and take a look. Yours for trade, I. « TV I* I* ^ T T.