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j AN HUMBLE I Sil HERO ""BY THOMAS^""!-:: S -P. MONTFORT m,1 K'V$$ COPYRIGHT, 1001, HY TIfOMAH 1*. MONTFORT f'ttyfflL I CIIAI*TF.n XIX. , l.ol ISA. Louisa Banks felt (lini her cup ol misery was full, bul llioro was more, much more, to he poured in yet. When Sim did not appear nl break fust m-xt mom lug, sin- went Up to hi rootll to see If llO was there. It was then she discovered tho little pile of money and the papers he had h it on the table. With a premonition of what was to COIIIO she pushed the money aside and eagerly took up the first pst per and unfolded it. It was the poor little note Sim had written to her. She read it through, then sanU into a ehttlr and, pillowing her head on the table, burst into tears. It would have bee" a hard heart that would not have beoll affected by the ) simple pathos of Sim's words, and Lou- ( Isa was not hard hearted. She uns; touched, deeply touched, by the manly, generous manner In whleh be absolved her from all blame and bravely took it all on his own shoulders. That note presented him to her In a new anil a far more favorable light than she had j ever seen him. It showed bow truly he could love, how good and generous his | heart was and how grand and noble his uoturo. She realized now that in losing blm she hail lost one of tho purest and tin- i est souls that ever lived, and she re- ! gretted. deeply and sincerely, that she could not love him. "Hut I tiled." she told herself, "Cod kUOWS 1 tried, to love him and wanted to love him, but I couldn't. Yet I was not worthy of such a man or of such love as he gave me." Presently she took up the deeds and read them over. The tears started afresh to her eyes. "More of his goodness," she thought. "No other man would have done such a thing. Oh, Sim! Poor, heartbroken Sim! How I pity you!" Later in the day she went out and stood by the gate, looking down to ward the wood, the way she had seen Sim go the previous evening. Her heart was heavy, and her thoughts were all of him. liefere he went she bad always thought she could never be happy except with Crank Shelton, but now she folt that she could never be happy again under any circumstances. Presently Mary Mann canto down the street on her way home from the store, where she had gone to view Mob viu's remains and to barn all the news about the tragedy. Louisa had not been from home till day, and no one had visited her, so she was entirely ig norant of all that had transpired to set the community In a tumult of excite ment. Mary Mann knew this, and, glad of an opportunity to tell the news and at the same time Inflict a cruel wound on one she hated, she stopped when she reached Mrs. Hanks and ac costed her sweetly, very, very sweetly, with: "Howdy, Loueesy? I'm right glad lo see you. You rale well?" "I'm very will. Mrs. Mann," Louisa replied coldly without looking up. "I'm glad lo bear it." Mrs. Mann said In her suavest tones, ignoring Louisa *, coldness. "I'm rale glad to hear It, Loueesy, but I must ttay you ain't n-lookln very well." ??I'm very well, I thank you." "Yes? And Sim ? 1 suppose he's Well 7" "1 presume so." "Is he tit home today?"' "No." "W here Is he. Loueesy?" Mrs. Hanks, remembering all ahe had heard of the relationship existing be tween this woman and Sim, Hashed an gry In an instant. "1 don't know," she replied scornful ly, "that It's particularly any of your business where he is." Mrs. Mann did not allow her feelings to be ruffled by this curt answer. Her time to deal a deadly thrust was com ing, and then her revenge would be so full that she could well afford to wait. Quietly she said: "Oh, you feel that way 'bout It, do foil?" "1 do." "Waal, I s'pofio It's nat'ral, Loueesy, that you should. I reckon It's even nat'ral that you should feel that It ain't nobody's business." "Whether It's natural or not, Mrs. Mann, that Is just how I feel." "Jest so. But, for a'.l that, Loueesy. there's many as will feel different 'bout It. There's a heap of people, an specially the ofUcers, who will think It's a right smart of their business." Louisa raised her head and gave Mrs. Hann a look of scorn. "I know of no reason why they Should," she replied, "nor do I presume you know of any." "La! Is that so? Thou you've not heard 'bout all that's been goln ou to day?" "I have hoard nothing." Now had the time of Mrs. Mann's revenge arrived revenge for the loss of Sim ami all she had suffered In eon Bequenco of it. Bluntly, almost brutal ly, she said: "Then you didn't know that your lov er. James Mclvln, had been found dead with a bullet hole through his heart. It was a cruel blow erudrly dealt, nnil Louisa staggered under It. Her eyes opened wide, her faco became deathly white, and for a moment her heart stopped beating. She reeled and would have fallen had she not eh ng to the fence for support. Her Hps moved as If In speech, but no sound escaped them. Her suffering was Intense. It wns pitiful. Even a ln-art of stone must bave boon touched by It. Hut Mary Mann was Impervious to pity. In her heart there was no compassion. Sho hud dealt a bard blow, but sho had a harder yet to deal, ami sho did not hes itate. Relentlessly she said: "Yes, your sweetheart has been kill ed, an It was your husband murdered him, an you, Loueesy Hanks, uro re sponsible for It till." With one wild, heartrending shriek Louisa fell back In a dead faint. Two hours later a group of men wero Btnndlng In front of Hicks' store dis cussing the murder. Somo there wero who talked, nnd sonio there wero who only listened. Hap Sampson, Jason Roberts and Sam Morgan wero of tho latter. Jim Thorn, still occupying the position of supremo importanco in the village, wns saying: "No, sir, men, I'vo got nothln on earth ag'ln Blm Hanks, an thnr's not a man In the world I'd bofrlcnd quicker than I would him, but In splto of all, ^ that I can|t shut my oyea to tho plolnj fact that ever'thlng poos to show that Sim Banks tired tho shot that killed Melvlu." "I liato tnoughtlly to think Shu could do Bloti a thing," Lllcks remarked, "but I'm afeard I'll bavo to own that ever'thlng seums to point pow'ful strong ug'lu him." "Of oo'so it does," Thorn agreed. "Lord, Juke, as much as 1 bate to say it. I got to own that It's a plumb plain oast'. In the tust phlCC, Sim bud a icu sou for kllllu Melvlu, nn thnr wu'n't llttry another soul in this whole section that did have a reason. Von kuow that's so. don't youV" "I'm afeard It Is. Jim," lllcks *d inttted. "Then ylstedy evonln. jest before Melvlu must 'a' beeu killed." Tbeill went, on, "Sim was seen goln dotrii into them woods with his guu on ids Bhoulder. Lie knowed Melvlu was ut the store hero, no doubt, an would he tt'passln tlirougli them woods on bin way to Turner's. What more likely than that lie went dowu lliur nn tiid behind that ?reo till Melvlu comeuloug, then Uped uu dropped blmV" "it 'pears lo look like lt-mought a been that a way." 1 licks replied. "Il docs shore." "Then ou top of nil that." Thorn added, "is the tact that Siin Hanks i< gone or else is in hldlu Bomewbar Now, why would lie run oil or hide it '< ho wa'n't guilty of souiethiuV Aud what could lie be guilty of If it ain't this murder?" Hicks sighed and shook his head. "1 reckon you must be rigid. Jim," he said, "though 1 hate wuss'n plzen to have to say so. Yes. It looks like Sim must 'a' done It. It does shore. "Of course ho done It," another said emphatically. "Lord, that's jest as plain to my mind as the nose on your face. I don't see how nnybody'd man "T7iot is a lie, Jim Thorn." age to go 'bout doubtln with all that evidence ng'ln Slin. It's too plumb plain tor doubtln." 'Tis so," agreed another. Then he added, "My land, what you reckon they'll do with Slin for ltV" "Lord, they'll hang him, of course," some one replied. "They're shore to." "I dunno," lllcks said. "If Sim done It. he had a right smart cause for It, an I guess mebby the court would Mud some of them extenuatlu circumstances to sorter help him out. Anyhow, Slin ain't kctched yit, an ketchln comes afore hangln." "By Josh, Jake, that are a fact! Sim ain't ketched ylt, au I bet he ain't R-goin to be ketched nuther. No, Blr-ee! lie's got clear plumb away ?fore this." "Don't you go an fool yourse'f 'hont that," Thorn Bald. "It takes a moughty Bight smarter feller than Sim Hanks to keep out of the way of the law, an If he ain't ketched In less'n a week I'll be pow'ful fooled." "Waal, If they do ketch him," lllcks remarked, "1 hope they won't do noth ln much to htm." "Oh, they Won't do notbln more than hang him," Thorn observed, "an my notion is they're most shore to do that. Them kind of circumstances you spoke of while ago ain't n-golu to cut much Qggcr In Shu's case. Anyhow they'll shorn send him up to prison for life at the very best." "(Josh, Jim Thorn," somebody said, "you 'pear to be dead sot ag'ln Sim. What mnkos you so plzen hard on him?" "I ain't. I'm Jest talkin facts." "They're mls'nhlo blame hard facts, then." "I can't help that I didn't make 'em hard." "Waal, I hope they won't never hang old sim nohow. Gosh n-mlgbty, fel lers, that'd Jest tie awful, wouldn't It?" "it would so." ilicks agreed, "an I wouldn't have It done for a purty." "Say," called Sam Morgan, "who you all reckon that stranger was that come 'long over thnr In the woods today'/" "Lord," Thorn exclaimed, "If I hadn't gone an clear forgot nil 'bout him! But I ain't no notion who be was nohow." "IIo 'pearod to lake a right smart Intrust in the murder, didn't he?" "Shore. 'Poured to think It was a painful pity Melvln got killed." "Did so. Acted like It made him COnsld'able sorry. I bet he's pow'ful tender hearted." "Purty good sort or feller, t guess. But, say, fellers, what yon reckon Loucesy Banks thinks 'bout the way things has t limed out V" "I dunno. I'm shore." lllcks replied. "Oitess mebby she don't know notbln 'bout it." "Lord, If she does I reckon she en n't feel none too good with her sweetheart dead nn her husband n mnrderer." "That Is a He, Jim Thorn?every word a lie!" They started and looked around, nnd there among them stood Louisa, her face white and drawn, her form trem bling, but n look of dreadful earnest ness In her eyes. CIIAPTKIt XX. r\T BAMI'SON AH A FRIEND. "It'sin lie, a positive Hol" I-oulsa re pented, with her gaze Mxed stendlly on Jim'Thorn's face. "I don't care If the whole world Bays ho did, and I don't care\what proof there Is against him, I Ray. Sim Hanks never commit ted auch m crime as murdcrl" "That's/what ho didn't, Loueesy," and Pap 'Sampson stepped to tho wo man's aldo, thumped his cano firmly against >the_grout!d and faced the oth era defiantly. "I say it, .lim TUoru, an I say It openly an nhovohoard, an I'll continue to say It till the last day In tin? CVOUlu, Slin Hanks never took that roan's Hie." Louisa turned a grateful look on the old man, and the tears started to her eyes. "Thank you, Hap, with my whole heart," she said. "It's n comfort to know that Sim has one true friend In all the world who will stand up In his defense to the last." "An l w ill Blond up for him, Loueesy. As long as there's a breath of life In my body I'll defend Sim Hanks against nil the world, because I know he's an Innocent man." Jim Thorn stood with his bead bent and his gaze fixed on tho ground. Ho made no reply to anything Louisa or Pap aald. Perhaps, lor all that, ho may have beeil honest In his expressed belief in Sim's guilt. There were oth ers there w ho were. They could scarce ly be blamed under the circumstances. "You and I know Sim Is Innocent/' Louisa said, laying her hand on Pap's arm, "even If all the world believes he's guilty." "We do," Pap replied. "Put we are not alone, Loueesy. That 's others here who b'llovo Sim Is Innocent" Louisa shook her head. "Put thar Is." Pap Insisted. "Sam Morgan, you bileve It. don't you7" Sam's head dropped, and after hesi tating a moment he turned and walked slowly away. It needed no words to tell w hat he thought. Pap was disap pointed, but he said: "Never mind, Loueesy. Sam Morgan Is honest, and he can't help his opin ions. That 's one here, * hough, I know Is with us. Jason Roberts, you don't b'llevo Sim Banks Is guilty, do you?" Jason, too, dropped his head and hes itated, but he replied: "1 wish, Pap," he said In low tones, "that you hadn't asked tae that. 1 don't want to tell you the truth, and I can't tell yen a lie." Pap said no more. Two such keen disappointments were enough. Be sides, If those two men were not friendly to Sim, where should he lock for one who was? The action of Sam and Jasou cut Louisa to the heart They had been among Sim's nearest frlcuds, and if anybody could believe in h.j Innocence certainly tin y could. "Come. l.otH'osy." Pup said. "This Is not the place t"i you, Let me take yon to my home You'll lind a true friend in Mhandy. an mebby she'll do you good. Louisa took Pup's arm and walked awnv with i in Por some time after thej were hoth silent, but there was KotneliiiSU' oeeupylug I'ap's mind. There win ?"?nulluni; he wanted to say. Inn I,. >\ n - ;it ;i hiss for words to exp . In:. ?- II a- lie felt lie should. It wns a mailt i i!.;ii tu him was very delicate .ii. t to liroach il without glv Ing nft'i use Koeiucd no easy task. Put llnnllv he ventured io twgtn by saying "Loueesy you know I'm your friend an thai I waul to do everything for you I can a;i Hint I wouldn't knowln'ly do miry n thltig in hurt you for notbln <>n earili. You h'llove that, don't you?" "I do, Pup. I believe every word you say. Im you know before Sim went away he wrote m note and h it it for me, and in that note he said. "If you ever need a friotld, go to Pap SUinpSOU.' lie said I could trust you and depend on you." "Lord! Did Sim write that a-way 'bout me?" and Pap's face fairly beam ed with pleasure. "lie di.l." ".My hind, ain't that qua I re, now? Who'd ever 'a' thought of Sim writ In like that "bout a old no 'count scrub like me? Waal, wnnl!" "Sim thought a great drr.l of you. Pap. more than he thought ? >' anybody else." "Yon don't say so!" "Yes, l do. And it's true too." "Waal, w aal! Who'd 'a' thought rich a thing? A old played out plug like me, too my, my! Bui I nllus liked Sim. lie was a pow'ful line feller, Sim was. an a good, honest feller too. An Sim told you to come to me? Waal, I swan!" "Put I didn't have to come to you. I did I? You came to me." "That's qua Ire, too, ain't It? Put It's nil right, an now we understand each other, don't we?" "I understand that Sim was rigid about you." "I hope so. Loueesy. I hope so. And now I was Jest a thinkin 'bout some thin that I sorter felt like I ort to men tlon, but ylt I didn't know exactly." "What Is It. Pap?" "I dunno, Loueesy. I'm most afcord I'll hurt your feelin's." "\<>: speak out. I know you mean to do that which Is right." "Then It Is about Mclvin. Yon see. we know all that 'bout you an him, nn I thought - you see, I don't know, of cose, nn 1 may be all in the wrong. huT I kinder 'lowed tnehhy, on 'count of what was atvv ixt you two. that nat'ral ly you'd like to see him once more. I jest sorter 'lowed it mought he that a-wny, you know, nn I hope I ain't said notbln to hurt you." "No. you have not," she replied, "and perhaps It's wrong, but I would like to see him. I hope you won't think me Wicked, Pap. for Cod knows I can't help my feelings." "1 don't, Loueesy. It ain't my place to Judge, an I ain't hhiinln nobody for nothlll. I know It's sad that you an Sim couldn't git along, hut if you couldn't you couldn't, an that's all thar Is to It. Sim ain't never faulted you for notliln, an Pin moughty shore I ain't a goln to nuther. Whatever may he said, I know one thing, Loueesy, an that Is, no matter what you thought of anybody else, you've always hecn a true wife to Sim. Your conduct has beeil right, an that's all the world has got to do with. Your thoughts an your feelin's Is atwixt you an your Ood." "And Qod knows I never meant to do wrong," Louisa said, "hut I did when 1 married Sim without loving him. Put I didn't know, Pap; I didn't know. I wns too young. I loved the other then, hut I liked Sim, mid I wasn't sure. Oh, love is so cruel, so cruel!" "No, Loueesy, It ain't that. It's that people ain't keerful enough of what they're (loin when they marry. You was too young to know your own heart." "I was, and tho consequence Is 1 have ruined Sim's life and made my self miserable forever." "No, no, Loueesy. Don't you go to lookln at It that o-wny. Lord, thar's many years nfore you. an thar's no tellln what all may happen ylt. You Jest keep up courage an he ns hopeful us you can, nn some of these days you'll lind that nil your pains an Btlf? ferin'S has been left behind." "Not in this life, Pap, It enn't ever be In this bard, cold world." "Hut It can, an It will. You'll see." They walked on a little way In si lence. They were both thinking, and, though neither of them knew It, their minds were on the same subject. Pres ently Louisa sighed and, as If speaking to herself, said: "Poor 81m, poor Sim I" Pap glanced quickly at her face, while tho faint trace of n gmllo played about, his lips. In that moment ho gaw._f*rther utto tho tuture^han Lou isa would Utlvi1 believed. "An now about Melvln," bo said, "l reckon you know wbut pooplu say an tblnkV" "No. but ? suppose thoy 111iIIIc im? Wicked lUld say haul things about u10." "Waal. Boino of 'oin do, Louoosy. Yes; I'm al'card bouio of 'oiu do." "I'm B?rry, but l can't help it." "In co'bv. 1 uudersl tud all that. But, si i ln as things are so, 1 'lowed you wouldn't kocr 'bout glvln folks no more room for savin things than you can bolp. su 1 reckoned you'd ruthor go to see Molviu win n ovcr'body wa'n't Ihnr lo see vim." "Yes: 1 would. But win l V" "Shore. If you jest WO It till tonight. when ovor'body's gone home, I'll toko you thur. I'll OlT?Ugo it with Hicks bo's you < :ui go In. That o-way no body wou't kuow uothlu 'bout it, an nobody wm't have uotbiu to say." 'Thank you. Pap. You are more than thoughtful and kind." "Lord, that ain't nothln. Even If I didn't koer nothln for you I'd do that much jest lo halk Mary Mann." At the mention of that name Louisa shuddered. Pop noticed It and said: "I reckon you ain't got much more love for that woman than 1 have." "I desp.so her." Louisa replied. "Most folks does. Lord, she made a plumb fool of herself over Sim." "And I accused blm of making lovo lo her." "Makln love to her! Sim Hanks mokln love to Mary Mann! My Lord, gal, what was you ever a thlnkln of? Why, Sim hated her wussln pi/.cn." "I know now that 1 was unjust." "To be shore you was. Hut I reckon somebody told you sou ethluV" "Yes." "That's tin- waj 1 Is tllllts some body fairly spllttiu 'it .kins to git to stir up trouble. Sich people ort to have tbolr tongues split an their legs run through 'em." As Pop bad promised, Mrs. Sampson proved a true friend to Louisa. She received her kindly and made her feel heartily welcome from the instant she tillered the bouse. Like P?|?, she nei ther Judged nor Ida.I, but rather Bought to soothe and comfort. The generous kindness of these two plain, simple old people touched Louisa deep ly, and she never forgot It. That night Pup took Louisa to the store to see for the last time all that remained of the man she loved. He felt that he was doiug right, and when he spoke Of it to his wife she readily agreed with him. ?I think It will be for the beat," she said. may be a comfort to her. an nujrwfif U can't do nobody no ha rin.w The fnme was dark, and there was no one tfcere, but Pap had secured from Htefca the key to the wareroom "A'OUI J/Oll COM </o III." where the body lay. leaving Louisa on the outside, he opened the door and went In and struck a light. Then he came back to her ami whispered: Now you euu go In, an I s'pose you'd ruthor go oloneV" "Yes," she replied. Bho passed through the door, ami Pap waited on the outside. What transpired in that room no one save Louisa ever knew. The door Blood partially open, and Pup might have looked In. but be would not have done such a thing for tin; world. A quarter of an hour passed, and then Louisa oaino out. Pap saw that she was very pale, but perfectly calm. Without a word he put out the light and closed the door, and in perfect silence they walked back home. CHAPTER XXI. A I.itti.k nkioiiiioiu.y gossip. One day Hi Jenkins ami Jonathan Turner rode over to Beckett's Mill to see about sidling some bogs. It was one of the days when Hi's "nger" was not working on him, so he was In an approachable humor. Naturally In the conversation that followed the arrival of the two men the murder of Mclvlll and the disappearance of Sim Hanks formed the chief topic. "I k no wed from the very fust," Tur ner i t marked, "th t that feller wa'n't down yore sincllln round fur no min eral, an 1 kllOWCd thar was snincthin back of him that he wa'n't keerin 'bout people know in. Hut, Lord n-IUOS By, men. 1 never dreamed that he'd gum- nn done sich a thing as murder. Orent snakes an caterplllers, Jest think of . . will you ?that feller stayln thar In my house, n-sloopll) In my beds an ncatin at my table when he'd done tuck a feller critter's life! My land. If I'd 'a' knoWCd I wouldn't 'a' had him thar for a boss Why, don't you know BCUCO he was thar It Jest seems like ever' blame thing on the place is got human blood on It- seems like it's on tllO beds an the towels an tin? ( beers an the dishes, an 'pears like 1 can taste It In the VlttlCS. Lord a inassy, but It's awful!" "I bet you'd 'a' been skoercd of him. too," Jason Roberts said, "If you'd V knowed 'bout him lv 1111 it that feller." "Orent possums an persimmons, I reckon I shorcly would 'a' been skeer ed. Why. Jest think?Hint feller mought 'a' got up some night an killed ever* biomo one of us." "An ho never cheeped a word to you 'bout nothln he'd done nor nothlnV" "Nnry a word. If I'd been kinder Inquisitive, like some folks, an had 'a* pried Into blm, I mought 'a' found out sometblu. Hut. End, I ain't no Hand to ask questions, you know, an when a feller nets like he don't want to tell nothln I Jest let blm alone." "Didn't you nsk him nothln?" "Scarcely a thing. When he come up thar fust that day, I sorter Hung out one or two little questions, but I seo right nwny he didn't want to nnswer nothln, so I Jest quit Land, I ain't no hand to try to make people* tell things anyhow whether they want to or ndt." There was nn oppressive silence after this, a silence during which there was much thinking. Hot Turner was bliss fully Ignorant of the trend of thought no did not even suspect It wheu ho saw a snillo on more than one face. "An 'bout that feller ovor to your house, HI?" IHcks remarked queslion lngly. "Ho ain't thar no more," III roplled. "Gonoaway?" ?Zfilj wejJiyistedy." J 'T.I MlV't." "Yes; he ROt Ro'd ho didn't 'pear to he ?Atlslled no more, so ylstedy bo packed )I> itll pllt otlt." "Wtl'tl't satisfied with the 'couitucr datloii you Rive blin?" Turner usked. "T?eUl fellers mostly ain't satisfied wltli notblu." "Oh, it wa'n't that, I guess. Least Wise be never made no fuss 'bout his 'conimerdnt Ions." "What tilled him. then, yon reckon?" i "I dunno. I'm shore, .lest seemed to 'a' got sorter restless an uneasy an couldn't ho still itowhar. When he I wa'n't asleep, ho was till the time mov- | In ohotit, either trnpsln round over the woods or else wnlkln baok'ards an for 'arils across (In- yard. I've seed liim witlklii <>nt thar In the yard for hours, Jost golll to nn fru, to an fro, till II wore me clean out. it got bo's he done It of nights jest tin- same, nn lots of times I've waked up uns long towards mornlu nn seed him at it. Then thar was a hi"' <>f a Bkcered look in his eyes, an at ever' little noise he'd Jump mi look round like he'd been shot, l UWer see llobody do like he done." "By grab, it was funny, wa'n't It?" "Looked that a way to me shore." "What you reckon was the matter of blm. HIV" "l ulll't no notion, .hike." "1 bet it was that murder done It," Sam Morgan said. "Don't you till reek on it was?" "Lord. 1 don't see how that murder could 'a' had anything to do with It." Li replied. "The murder wa'n't nothln to him noway, nn he didn't know Mob vln nor Sim Hunks nut her. CJuess he never see nuther of 'em 'less he see MelvlU that day he was lyln here a eawpse." "He did see him that day." Sam Bald, "an he acted sorter quuirc too. I was n-wiilchin him when he went up to whar the eawpse lay, an, lor all he'd been so cool out I bar in the woods, the sec ond his eyes fell on that dead face he turned right white an put his band up to his heart, then looked round right quick, like he wondered If liuy body'd seen him. Cucss he must be one of them kind of people that's easy teched by anything like that." "Must be if he done that a way," old HI replied. "My skin, it don't make no difference to me to look at a dead feller, nn I'd Jest as soon tech 111 111 nt not." "Lord. Hi. not If he'd been killed-.-" "Yes, sir, even if he'd been killed." "Hy grab, I wouldn't. They say if you teeh a feller that's been murdered that a way he'll come to you three nights hand ruunlti and stau' by your bed an look at you." "Wonder if that's BO?" JIlU Thorn asked. "By grab, they say it Is, shore, nil 1 can tell you right now I don't want no dead fellers pesterln round mo of nights." "Lord, you bet I don't. 1 don't want nothln to do with them hu'nts an llx in's. an 1 ain't never goln to tech no body that's been killed, you bet, even If they never are teched." "Shucks, you fellers don't know what you're talkln 'bout. Say. you all Jest wait till you've seed dead men as I've seed 'em. lyln round on a battlefield Je: t ever'whar." Thus spoke Ebeuezcr Sparks, the warrior bold. "Lord a mighty. I've lit Into many a battle whar men were Jest a drnppln all round me so thick that 1 couldn't move 'thout stoppln on n lot of 'em. My land, 1 wa'n't Bkcered of techin 'em, an they never come bju k of nights to pos ter round ha'ntin of me, nuther." "It wa'n't (bat ii-wny that time when you went Into Hicks' cellar to wbup the battle, was it, Ebonozer?" Jnsoii Roberts asked. Ebonczcr Hashed angry. "Doggone It nil," he cried, "ain't 1 never goin to bear the last of that dad burned old cellar? Ever' time I men tion any a word 'bout when I lit into I he war some blame fool has got to go to work nn drag that dod blasted old cellar in.* "Waal, we want to show a Intrust In your war record, Ebenezer, an that's the only battle we ever see you light In. so that's all we got to speak 'bout." "Waal, you needn't pester 'bout sho win no Intrust, then. I'd rutber you wouldn't." "Say," Sam Morgan called, "don't you reckon Sim Hanks has ti hn'ut?" "Of co'so he has," Thorn replied, "an, say. fellers, 1 bet it pesters him Jest awful." "To be shore," Turner agreed. "Speakin of Sim Hanks 'minds nie of Bouiethln," 111 said. "Reckon ain't none of you uns beam nothln of Sim sence he went away?" "Nary a word," Hicks answered. "Quaire them ofllccrs don't Und out Ever have them? Then we can't tell you any thing about them. You know how dark everything looks how you are about ready to give up. Some how, you can't throw off the terrible depression. Are things really so blue? Isn't it your nerves, after all? That's where the trouble is. Your nerves are beingpoisoned from the impurities in your blood. f < '4 '< i sarcapanin purifies the blood and gives power and stability to the nerves. It makes health and strength, activ ity and cheerfulness. This is what "AyerV* will do for you. It's the oldest Sarsaparille in the land, the kind that was old before other Sarsa parillas were known. This also accot ts for the saying, "One bottle I of Ayer's is worth three bottles of the ordinary kind." SI M a bold*. All drarflcts. WrSto thm Doctor. If Yon li.no any complaint whitonr nnd anitlro tlio hot! medical adrioa 7011 can poatlbly ro.ulvo, write the doctor frnely. You will recolvo a prompt ? ply, without roit. A.lilrrm, Du, J. 0. AYKii, Lowali, Mam. ? ?otuIii 'bout htm, tiin't it 7" " "J is so. tJui'ss tbey'vo bunted rouiul ull over over'wbur must an they ain't fouud balr uor bide of him." [ "S'nose bo must 'n' gone clean olT so tue w bar." "Looks like It. You know bo left a note for his woman sayin he war a-go tn away an wa'n't never coullo back no more 7" "I beam be did." I "Hut she don't b'lleve It." I "Don't she?" "Not now, she don't. She b'lleved It I ft right smart at fust, but Tap Samp son kept a-talkin till lie gut ber to change her mind." "Pup still stan's out that Sim never killed that teller?" "La. yes, wussii ever." "Qua I re he'd git that sorter notion, ain't It?" " "Tis, shore. Pap's gln'rally putty level beaded, hut he got his nose p'lut ed wrong this time shorely." "He thinks Siiu'll come hack, does he?" ".lest knows he will." "Waal, he'll be hung or sent up to prison if he does come." "Pap's got a notion BODJCthln'll turn up to clear Sim 'fore ht gits hack." Lost Temper, Leisure and K n o r g y l>y t Ii o li oit so 1; oope r \\ lio lie glee tod to use GOLD DUST WasKirvg Powder The practical side of science is reflected in ffATENT % JgGORD A montlily publication of inestimable valuo to the student of every day scientific problems, the mechanic, the industrial expert, the manufacturer, the inventor ? in fact, to every wide-awake person who hopes to better his I condition by using his brains. The inventor, especially, will find in The Patent Record a guide, philosopher and friend. Nothing of importance eseapes the vigilant eyes of its corps of expert editors. Everything is pre sented in clean, concise fashion, so that the busiest may take time to read and comprehend. The scientific and industrial progress of the age is accur ately mirrored in the columns of The Patent Record, ami it is the ou\y publication in the country that prints the oilicial news of the U. S. Patent Ollice and the latest developements in the field of invention without fear or favor. sunscRiPTiON price one dollar pkk year. THE PATENT RECORD. Baltimore, Md. "Don't see how he goes 'bout innkin that out." "I don't see nuthcr, but that's his talk." "How's Sim's woman ?-dolu?" "Kinder porely, I guess. She ain't llvln here no more." "That so?" "Yes; she loft the fust of the week." "Whar'd she go7" "Down to the county seat." "What's she Mo win to do down thar?" "Site reckoned she'd git Into some work of some kind." "An Jest 'hont manage to go through cver'thlng she's got." "She ain't got nothin." "Ain't'.' Why. 1 been hearin Sim left her all the land an cver'thlng." "He did, hut she won't tech it." "Won't? Why. say, what's the rea ".*?? 'lows It's hls'n DU she aln t no rieh! to live It un. Says inebhy some time he'll need It." "Waal. I'll he smutched!" "Then I guess she kinder wanted to git away from here anyhow. That 'bout her an Melvln started a good hit of talk, an I reckon she found It Wtt'n't none too pleasant a stayln here." "Nat'rally. Ilow'd she take it 'bout Melvln beln killed? Did she carry on much 7" ? .vary a hit that any of US neon. Guess she behaved plumb nice." "Did she come to see the cawpse?" 1 licks hesitated for an Instant. He knew from 1'ap Sampson about that night visit, but he had promised to keep it a secret, "Waal. 1 didn't see her come," he said. "Any you fellers see her come?" They nil shook their heads. "Some folks 'lowed she'd take on a heap over him an mehhy give Sim tits , too." "Lord, she tuck right off for Sim. She jest acted for all the world like she keered more for him than any body." "it would 'a' been a moughty good thing If she'd 'a' tuck off for him soon er 'stld of foolltl with that other feller, a-glttllt him killed an put tin Sim into this mess." "1 reckon that's so, HI, but I ain't never b'lleved Ixmccsy Banks aimed to do nothin wrong. She was Jest sorter thoughtless. I guess." "No, sir; It's Jest like I've said time an ng'ln, .lake. Whenever you go an send a gal off to them doggone colleges you Jest nat'rally spile her for all time to come. By gosh, you jest as well take her out an knock her In the head. That's all in the world's the matter of Louccsy Banks." "No, 1 'low bcr an Sim Jest nat'rally didn't suit." "Co'80 they didn't attcr she'd gone down thar an tuck up n lot of doggone foul notions. They'd 'a' suited Well enough if It hadn't been for that she 'lowed she'd got to have one of them white shirt fellers or she couldn't nev er he happy. It's that dad burn college done It all." "Still, Hi, cdlcatlon'8 a pow'ful good thing." "Not for a gal, It nln't." "Why?" "Wnnl, she ain't got no use for it, nn It's Jest pi 11 ml? slime to make n fool of In ]. Lord, n llian, even, don't, need so awful blame much edlcatlon to git on nil right." "You think so?" "I know It. Take myself, for In stance. I nlll't never hnd no cdlonthm to speak of, yIt sec how 1 sot on to that jury that time. I managed 'bout run nln that court Jest as well ns any of them fellers down thar. If a feller's got It In him. he can git up In the world even If he ain't got no book I'nrnln." "Lord n-nuissy," Turner exclaimed, "speakln 'bout settln on to u Jury 'minds me of somethln." "What Is It?" .InAon askod. "Why, If Sim's ever ketcbed they'll hnvo to git n jury to try bim, au I dun no but likely enough I'll git A ohancu to ?et on It." [CONCLUDKD MBIT WIK*.] NS Double Daily Service Between New York, Tampa, Atlant?. New Orleans, und Points. South and Wept. In Effkct Pkh. 24, 1901. sooth bound. Dallv. Dailv No. hi. No. 27. I.v New York, I*. II, K. .. 12 I?pm 12 loan. I.v|l'hdiidelphla, " .. 3 '.i'pni 3&0UIU I.v Haltiinort), " .. B i">,>in II 22am l.v Washington, l*. It, It... t>6>pm 8 36 tu LvKiehmotid, S.A. 1..lo lUpm \i 3pn l.vl'e ersburg " ......1131pm l lOpm IjV Norlina Juuction. 2 05am 3 3Jpui l.v Henderson. 2 30am 3 65pm I.v Kalcigli. 3 4'iam 6 0!),in l.v Ho Pinea. b 37am 067|>n Lv Hamlet. 0 30am 8 1 prr LvColumbia]. .. 84"ani 10 30pm ArSavaanali.12 lOpm 2 20am ArJacksouville. 360piu UcOam Ar Tampa...'> OOain f 5 pni No. 403. No. 41. Lv New York, n.Y p.AN. 17 Warn 8 65pm Lv Philadelphia, " 10?0am II ItUpuj Lv n bw York. <) D.8.S.(to^ j 3 tupm Lv Haltiinorc, li~S V Vo. 11i ;<Upm Lv Wash'ton. N A W b K .... ti anj.ni LvPortSDionth H.A. L. OCOpm I0 0ft*n LvWeldon .II S3am I23tfpn Lv Norlina J tine.12 56am 2 lUpm Lvllondereon. 1 2 am 2 15pm Lvltaleigh _ .... 3 02am i27,m LVboulhern Pines. f> l*am ii 13pm LvlJamlet.... . ... 646am 8i5pm Lv Wilmington. . 3 3optr ArCharlotte. 06lara lo45pn LvChester. I ? U8am II 20pn LvQreenwood.12 07pm 1 32am Lv Athens. 2 l'.hnn -. OWarr Ar Atlanta;. . S 36pm u ;uan Ar Augusta, ? & WO .... 8 10pm . Ar Macotl 1 Oof oit . 7 '-'Opnill lUaui ?r MontgiTnieryrA W I*. '.'i?pmU ou.iin Ar Motu to, LAW.~ aia.n 'I l.'pm Ar New Orleuiifl. L& N ., 7 30am 8 30pm Ar Nashville, N O & St L.. .r> ????.on t> 66pm Ar Memphis,_''_.. 4 OOpni 8 lOain nokthhound. No. 402. No. 38 Lv Memphis, N 0 & 8t I... 1 0'prr. 8 43pm Lv NikHhviiiti, " ..106jpm l>3uatn Lv New Orleans, 1. & N... V l.'pm . l.v Mobile, " . .12 20.1111 . Lv Montgomery, A ?V W 1* tlvOatu 1 30pm l.v M aeon, C 01 Ua. souum 420pm Lv Augusta, O & W 0. 11 4.1am _ i.v aintuia; S.A.L.I2uupm 8 0)prr Ar Athens. 2 48pm II 2'lpir Ar Oreenwood. 4 60pm 2 04)0) Ar l'hestor. (i ?3pm 4 '.'mm Lv Charlotte HAL.ti 3Upm.r> (Hliiir. Lv Wilmington, HAL_ 330pm _ Lv Hamlet HA I. n.aopm 8 lOan LvHo Pinea H A L. 10 55pm '.m.sarn Lvltaleigh. I " pm II10 01 Ar Henderson .. .2fc7&<n 100pm Lv Nurlinti .unction .... ;? lOaiu 2 OOpin IiV Weldon. 4 2?am 3 lu(.m Ar Portsmouth. 7 00am 6 60nm Ar Wash'ton N St W H II. ? Stain Ar Baltimore, it a I* Co. tti 45 m Ar New York, O 0 8 8 Co . 11 ;tupn, Ar Philadelphia,N Yl'&Nfd 4tipm 6 loan Ar New York,_ a 40pm Hooam No. 44. No. (Mi LV Tampa, 8 A I. Hy.H o Ipm 8 00am Jacksonville.in mam 7 4511m (Savannah. 1 ftupra 11 m>m Columbia, S. t. 27pm 4 ?um Hamlet . IMOpm (I20ai? southern Pines.10.f.',,m lotniam Ha'cigli .12 .'Muni I2 07pnt llundereoy. 1 44am 127pm Norlina Junction. 2 l. am 2 14pm l'eterohurg,. 4 O?am 4 43pm Kichmouu. 4 ,r>t>am 6 .5.'. .11 VvashingtonviaPeunKit M jftam Uttopn Baltimore - ic i .;.,M, 11 2 .pi, Philadelphia " 12 27pm 2;>)iuir. _New York. " ;( |5pm H :soaro Not??tDaily Kx. Hunday. Dining fart* helwcen N?w York ami Richmond, ftnd Hantlet and St. AugusUiio on Tralna dm. ;ti and 44. ;('eiiiial Urne. tjKastarn l ime. KILLS Buos.RoAeHE6.Anr5 (jlOTONDUG?. o>PIDB?'\ FUB?TlEAS. AND . L INSECT Lift. Hl^RMte fjEATH TO iNiECTA IO AND 25 CENTS ..??ALL DBALER.-S*? \Pft CaMOU TON CfftMICAt U '? DAL TIMOfiej Mg. ? * ' If Death Him is not for tale by your dealer, wo will upon receipt of 2ft cent* ?end you the large package by mall post paid. I UV CASTOR IA ^/lm>^^^s^^^^^^>^^ Tho Kind You Ilavo Always Bought, and which has 1>0?U 111 U80 for over HO years, has borilO tllO sig nal uro of _ /? and has boon mado under his per?* fj^ ynonnl supervision since Its Infancy* */y. /ctt'Sut: Allow no ono to deceive you in (his. AH Counterfeits, Imitations and "?Just-ns-good*'arc hut Experiments that trillo with and endanger tlio health of Infants and Children?Experience against Experiment* What is CASTOR IA Costoriu is a Iiarinlcss substituto for Castor Oil, SV.ro goric, Drops and Soothing Syrups. It. is Pleasant, l^ contains neither Opium, Morphine nor other Narcotic HUbHtaneo. Its ago is it:; guarantee, it destroys Worm*) and allays kVoverishncss. Ii eures Dinrrlioeu and Wind Coli?*. It roliovos Toothing Troubles, euros Constipation and Flatulency. It nssimilates the Food, regulates (ho Stomach und Bowels, giving healthy and natural sloop* Tho Children's Panacea?Tho Mother's Friend* GENUINE CASTORIA ALWAYS Bears the Signature of The Kind Yon Have Always Bought In Use For Over 30 Years. THE CCNTAOn COMPANY. TT MUnilAV CTntlT. NCW VOI'K CITV. SOUTHERN RAILWAY. Comi, i 8oh*dule of I'aasonB**' Vrmtr In lCiroot .Inn. 27. VM)\. Ureouvtllo, Washington and tlio .".am. I No. l ? ?S Sfo.84iNo. It Daily nun?. Dally I tu 117 Noil h bound. Lt. Allnnta, C. 'P. " Atlanta, K. T. " ?aiiioirvlliu. " Athens. " I.uin. " Toccott. " rM'iittca . " Urnenvttle " bpiiriiiuburg. " CillfflHIV . . " RlankHiuirg " Unsinniu. " Charlotte Ar. liIH-uiiahnrO Ar Durham Ar. Ifnlulgli Ar. Dan vi Id Ar. Norfolk Ar. HMnnond T AO a 12 00 in Ii? At \ 8 1 a 1 ou 11 1 1 ] In I.) n 'i ?5 \>. ti u-j 1 l?U5 a! . Hi bo a, 2 45 p, 3 ;tt \ 11 ;>:t aI R as I: W p' 4 I.S ?i.<4 1 ? hi ,. t< 4?* 11 t aj i> 4 4? p II 4' ? |> 8 IS p t'.V. p 1 4 If p ? ? |i It p t ??r 11 : 4j r H ItS 1 I 1 1 :t sa a :t .Vi a 5 110 a .'. ;.o a p 11 l>. I a ,v.' r Ar. Washington " Itnltin'i't'KR " Philadelphia. " Nfw York From the IJ-i.st 1 11 60 l i 6u 1 a is a 28 2H (, " Plltllldolp " haiiiiuoro. " Washington. I.v Hi 'Innolid Lv Norfolk .... Ly. Danville . Lv IhdHgh. Lv Diirliiun .. _r> p 11 w ia bi . h .?j 11 s ;n a s ..0 1 SOU a tl fit) a it '?i .? . I 0 42 al ? U6 1.1 8 AO .? s 0:: a !? 15 el 1 lib lU 16 a II ?5 nl i .vi . 12 in in; j n.1 pi ii iei 1 III*.. In A 1 lau ' 1% .17 N11. 1 1 \,, X IIV. h;.^ I > ? 1' y I l)t|l. ?; 5 "j:? i? ? i'p7* . jO a 1. o-> p. 0 06 1 it aa h t. *j p. a J :n 15 j(i 46 p w rv', j 1? oinn ii uu p 11 uu p 11 mi , ti 35 p 7 4u p ~7 4u p ? 4y i 6 4- p II 50 p l 411 p n ii lo u 4 Da , ,\ w R| 1 u? al 1 00 i - ?1 3 00 a a bo 1 7 10 Lv (11 i i n-bnro Ar. Chariot tu_I 11 4 Lv Oastonia ....110 4 " I . nrkshurg ! 1 2 " HalTm v . in \ Kpartnnhurg. ta i " (4iiM>nvillu 7 tCi beneea . M Topcoa . " Lula. Ar. Athen* Qnlnesvlllo " Ai Ian i a, k. 'P. " Atlanta, < r 5 p 10 4r> .' p le 58 ll a II m 1 m a 12 ,tti 2 82 a 1 ;w ;i as a a 10 4 is a a 14 4 ;m a; 0 10 a' 6 10 a ? B8 4 55 a 7 it7 a 6 62 1 a ta l'6ll? H 11:. f I I 1 .' p h ,',! ? a in! p n ;io 1 a -..'4 pi Ii 4H 1 I? ti In p lo 2u t P i uo pill 1.) t p; 111>^ p la :ni I'l 7 p i 2i I P s In p m I 100? p, 1' hp a i:> f p 10 16 p 4 :r> f I' 0 16 p a m f -II ^ ? '?' H> pr-Jua'a 0 10 1 _ClintlHnooRft,| (I 4., a a 40 j. .', 4.'? a h i; J Ar. Uinoinnati " Loui>viiii. uu p, 7 40 p 7 " BlrinlimliHin.jia 00 HI Hi U0 p Ar. New ?irleansi 7 4.ri p s :u. H 4^ a 5 flu p 7 46 1 " 7 4U pi 7 60 a Ar C<)lHinhna,(fla 0 60 a H " Miu'on I h .hi n 7 "_Brnnswli k... I s 85 p Ar. Jackson vi I In. TTTT 10 ou 1 8 an ? ?<?*> i> ... U0 p 19 65 a _1 7 15 a 8 30 al... Bally j 751 Nu 1-t. N,, 7 Uo I ^lilft " No.lf. [No. iS. s 1 ATI ON 8. W*> P_f?v.fSitvaminh..Ar . ITwTi * '>_iL^Hla.-Uvinn "."Arl.~ ~ T6f i 7 01 a 11 im p i.v (ihaiifHion Ar v STa . 7 41 a l; in n " Sununervllle." | 6 67 a 7 HI 0 226fj anoS o ????'..,?.?? .;; noop b5o 1 vi ! ?'^1 " ? (JNoM b?rry.. 0 UO p! 2 00 p IVX 1 1- " . ? ".'u '""1- " 7 ,v> ' 1"-' P -*16V i?J-'. " J._ h?k1k*'s . . ??! 7 uu p 11 66 ll 4?1' l>a5 a{1* Ahlwvtlla Ar 's 10 p f? S5 g no pill 15 a !Lv HoTToTj a 1 ft i", p t fuTi 2*11* I"1'1 " '"'v Andr-raoi) Ar ! 15 p fl 4t> t i [51 '-"""ij Ar .<?;.v.u.. .i.v KTVTJj [? [Jl a.,i v ? 7V P ''v Oriwnvllle.. Ar 1 ?? a ll? >. l>, 0 iu p ArSpnrtniibnrii Lv ia au a ll 114 a A nhovllla.... Knoxvillo... ?? Ar.. Cincinnati/ Lv 7 |Ar...Loulsvlil??T7rLvlr 8 00 a J 20 ? s ail ? 7 in T4gp;... "A" a. in. "v p. m. "M" noon. "N" night* Train? leave KlngvlMo, dailj exeepl Sunilan for ( am,Ion 10 :15 a. m ai?l i L p J<? , r j tog leaveiCamdon for Kingville dally 8undav.8:8u a. ,?. ?,?1 a:6u n. m. AlsoYor Sum f? i.V;." 1<"">V''"i< ,eava ?nmtor at 6.60 a. m. 10.05 a. in. and 4:t?p. in.,timklngoonneotloi oiiiVieiiton trft1"" U,tw"#n <?iSbtoanj Traina leave Spartan burg via 8 V a r al vision daily for?lendale. JTmesville. Unlonenl Oolumula and iiitornio.iiKta points at ll 46 ? m. und 11:16 p. in " *? * I Train? letive l'ocooA, (Ja., for Kll"?rto i, (la., I Uatly 4:25 |>- m, except Sunday, 7:00 av m. K?t 11 nil Ii K l'-iiva E!l>erton daily I':O0 a. in. except Sund Ay, 3:15 p. m,, mitKtng ronnr? lion at ToccoA with trnlna between Atlanta, Ui ci'i;?.? i.'.<? itml iin> Kant. Chean|>cnkfl Lina .sit<:nnora In dally sorvlo? between Norfolk And liAltimore. Nos. 117 And ltt?? "Washington an'l South western Limited " Through Pullman sipop Ing part between Now York And N'-vf. Orii iinx, via Washington, Atlanta ?ud Montj ?emery, and Also netweon New torli and MempMa, via Washington, Atlanta and Blr mtnL,'liain. Alao ftlftgnnt PULLMAN I.iiiiiahI OlisRll vation OAlMbotWOOn Atlanta and Saw York KHrstoliiu i i i - ignfai " f>a<'li**i he> twesn WAHhlngton and At lAnta Dining oAri ??rve all iim-hIh < n route. I'll Inuin sle?>i>tni cam between rtreeneltoro And linl* gh. (;'<>?/ sonneotlon at Norfolk for Oi.it I'ointOimitokt, {Uo Kt Atlanta with I'u'lnian D. It tleepei ler (Hinti Anoi>xa and Otnolnnatl r>o??. no and Wl?"Unltod mm?? Knut Mali" rum ?olid between Washington end New 'jtr'eane. being composed of oonohos, tin k*? v- l,? qhuiige for piiasongerM of all classes. Pullman drawing room iteeptng earn bot whoh New York ?ltd New i.am. via Al lanta anil Montgomery and between Birmingham ami Richmond. Dining ''hi h servo all meals anrollte. Nob. I?) end 114 ?' Atlanta and New Yorl Bxpross," New loual train bot wann Atlanta enu Cherlotta, oonnootlng at Charlotte wits through trnlui of name numliora oarry Ing Pullman sleeping ?eis between Charta*1? an 1 Richmond, Norfolk. Washington aad N?>? Y' rk. No Pullman oars on these trains'* tv. een Atlanta and Chariot te. Leaving \Vn?>i Ington oa<ih Monday, Wednesday and Prlrti ? a tourist sleeping rnr will run threugh L,? ttvoen Washington and San Kranclsoe without (hange. Connection at Atlanta with thrours Pullman drawing room xleeiung nar for Jaog ?on vi lie ; also Pullman sleeping oar for Brune wick. Oonneotton made at Hpartanburg wt? through Pullman sleeper for Ashevllle, Km r rule and Olnotnnarti also at Columbia for ha rannah and Jacksonville. FRANK B. GANNON, 8. X. HaHDWIOK, Third V P. At Ueu. Mgr., Oen. Paaa Att., Washington, D. C. Washington. U. O. W, H. TAYI.OB, <*. D. M<K?K?, Aas'tUon'lPasa.Ai's., Pass ct? T'kt Agaat, Atlanta, Of). UreenvUlet sV a MONEY TO LOAN On farmirt? landa. Knpy payments. No coiniirianions charged. Borrower pay*, ao mal coat Of perfecting loan. Interest 7 per cent, up, according to nncurity. jNO. H. palmer a 80n, Columbia,. H. 0 F 0SITION8I PQST^ 'II NO OBJECT. MoreA. ''s thatj f -siMyntt. Guar anteue) IML V>00u. (bourses Add rata, 1 Mfci OLLBOK