Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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The House of WMspers JOHNSTON IutaoMg by mRWIN MYERus Copyifght by IAtle, Brown &0C, (Continued from Page Three.) twerity dollars of the thirty-five I -drew that day and add it to the one hundred and eighty dollar$ I had in thd savings bank. I would niall a reg Istered letter to my mother and re duce my indebtedness to her. On my way to business I stopped at the bank and drew out every penny I had there. It was my intention to go to the post office at lunch time to register the letter. Just before twelve, 'Mr. Wood, the head of the firm, had sent for me. "Mr. Nelson," he had said wrath fully, the minute I entered his olice, "here is your week's salary. You will leave our employ at once." Stunned both by his manner and hIs words, I gasped out something about not understanding what lie imeant. I knew of no reason that would war rant my discharge. "I can't put it in any plainer Eng lish, can I?" he roared at me. ''3et out !" I held my ground. "Surely I im entitled to some ex planation," I protested. "If there's been anything wrong with my work-" "Your work's till right." he hel lowed. "It's this," he cried, waving at ie a letter that had been lying on his desk. "This letter Is enough. It exposes you for what you are." Dumfounded at his amazing state 'ment, I demanded to see the accusing -document. Angrily he refuwed. "You know as well as I what's in It.", In vain I protested. Every word I uttered only seemed to add to hIs wrath. In the end lie almost hustled ie out of his otlice. Blindly I found ily way to the street, still Clutching In my hand the week's 'pay lie had ,rudely, t?-uit on me. r Tlft letter .to which he referreil -who ceuld hsve written it? What Obuld have been in It that hnd Fo In. flamed my employer against iv ? I racked my brains in vain, puzzling to account for it. I had not been aware that I had an enemy in the world, yet who but an (nemy could have written a letter that would have such dire effect? The mystery of my disminssnl was too great for tile to solve. The one thing I felt thankful for was that it had conie before I had sent ot 'my money. At least I had tw hu6idred and fifteen dollars in mny, go -ket. Un der my r elit Imodt 'of life that This Letter Ia Enough. It Exposes "r You for What You Are." would last me quite a while, stmrely ,until I found anoiher position. Well, there was nothing to do but muake :the best of it. I dinied in a little restauranit in one 'of thle side streets antd walked honme. Ytmeditely (on entering the apart ment I deeided to put my monecy In the wall safe. There wvould be less temptation for me1 to spendt it if I -carriedl only a lIttle in my pocket. As I opened the safe by means of the combination I miadle the astound lng dliscovery that one of the jewel cases had dilsappeared. And now I stood hesitating at the 'telephonie. Self-protection hiade me enotify neither the super'inatendlent no! the police - et I must (10 somnething. 'The jewels entrusted to my care had ~been stolen. The thief must be0 found and( the pearlIs recovemred. WVhy should niot I rayself play the detective? I had abuindanit leisure now. My great-uncle hadt~ informed me that there was something wvrong in the house and had charged me te discover what It was. Here was the opportunity for me to fulfill the trusi he had imiposedl on mue. The thought tflashed across my mind too, that pethaps the crafty 01(d gen tleman hmad dlelier-ately planined thi disappearaunce of tihe gems. P'erhap! he had deCvised an elaborate test t4 see if I was honest, if I was of thi right caliber to be his heir. Maybe hi and his wife had not gone to Blaine at all. They might even be quartered in another apartment in this very house, surreptitiously entering when they knew I was absent. There real ly had been no necessity 'for them to give me the combination of the safe. They need not have told me anything about the pearls. I wondered if they themselves might not have taken away the jewel box just t6 see if I would discover the loss and to ascertain what I would do about it. Another theory suggested itself. My aunt evidently prized her jewels high ly. After they had started she might have repented having left them behind and have sent the old colored butler back to get them. He of course would have a key t6 admit him, and they would have supplied him with the safe combination, as they had me. Probably he had been told to leave some message for me and had forgot .en to do so. More than likely in a day or two I would receive a letter from pid Rufus that would explain everything. I was glad now I had not notified the superintendent nor the police. ly second theory surely was far more log leal than the first. It seemed prepos terous that they would risk hundreds of thousands of dollars' worth of gems just to test my honesty. Still, I determined to make a thor ough investigation. If they had been stolen, I would set about in a selen title way to discover the method of the theft and to bring about restora tion. I would keep my investigation secret, and if it turned out that the pearls were safe, no one would know of my fright about the matter. I be gan outlining my work as a detective. First, I would examine the safe knob for possible finger prints. Second, I would interrogate Mrs. Burke. I would watch her carefully -for any appearance of guilt. I would try, without arousing her suspicions, to ascertain if she had let her key out of her possession. Third, I would insert an advertise ment offering a reward for the return of the jewels, so worded that only the thief and myself would understand. Fourth, I would try to locate the Gastons and would question the haUll boys and telephone girl as to whether they had surreptitiously returned. Fifth, I must try and discover whalt was in the mysterious letter that had led to my diseharge. While this di( not seem to have any connection witi the other nifairs that were troublii me, if I was to remain in New Yorki and becoie better nequainted witi Barlara Bradford, as I fondly hoped I mnreant te, have nothing hanging ovei me. I was about to get into bed. ait turned out the light, in fact, w'hn I recalled the errand that had led me te open the wall safe. I had more thar two hundred dollars in my trousers pocj5et and I purposed putting it where it would be safe. With th< feeling that if the jewels had disap peared, so migl)t my money, I pressef the light button in the sitting rootir and looked about for a hiding place Recalling a custom of my mother's, stepped over to the bookcase and tak ing a Macaulay's History, Volum ThQDe, from the shelf, placed betweet the leaves all of my money excepl fifteen'dolhlars. No bnrglar was likel toLlnd it there. I extinguished the light and in th dlarkness stepped lback into my bedl room, and stopped stock still. From somewhere in thte roomi ther< came three dlistinct taps. Instinctive iy I crouched in an attitude of self dlefense and strained my oars to listeni My fhs~t impression was that thor< Wil pomeone in the room, probal|: the iurgini'. I heaitated about turn ing on thie light. If he were arme< it would give him all tihe aidvantage .Breathlessly I listened. Once mioi there came three distinct raps, tli time apparently fronm somewhere out aide the room. I wondered if it ha< been sounds like these that had so ter rifled thme 01(d couple, Perhaps it was the echo of somneoni pounding in another apartment, thu noise being carried along by a watei pipe. Thle thought that it mighit hi the crackling of some hidden steam ON refrIgerating pipe suggested Itself Both, these theories I rejected. Thu sound, whadever It was, had originaterl close ait hiand. It came again. This time I was cor tain ihnt it was hot (lue to footfall) as I had at first conjectured. I was able, too, to locate more closely the direction from which it came. The wind~ow at the foot of the bed stood open, and the sound seemed to float in from somewhere outside. I hurried over to the wvindowv and thr-ust my head out. At fIrxst 'I could see noth lag, but even ns I looked a white armi thrust forth from an adjacent windowu on the same floor. It held a riding crop and reaching out as far as wvas possible it rapped three times on the sill of my wvindow. It dlawnedl on ame at once that the windlow next must belong to the Brad. ford apartmenat. It must bO Miss Bradford trying to signal to me. "Hello," I called out softly. "Oh, is that you, Mr. Nelson?" a re Iloeved voice whi spe(redl. "I thoug~ht you would never lhear. I must set yout." "Wh'ly (di't you phone1 me?1" "I couldn't. Someone might heal me." "WVhat's the matter?" -"I've hnd a nothier letter." "-rm t hose meni in the park?" "I suippoise s0." "Tell mie about it." "I can't ntow. Can you meet mu somiewher'e t onuorrow?7" "Wherever you say." "Do you ride ?" "Yes, indeed." "TIR be in the cross lane that leads from McGowan's Pass tavern between eight and eight-thirty." "I'll be there." Whether or not she heard me I did not know. She withdrew quickly from the room as if someone had en tered. I waited there in the window for it full hour in case she should wish to communicate with me again. By and by the light In her window was extinguished, but even then I sat there at the window adjoining, hoping in vain that she would seek to renew the conversation. When at last I got into bed I was in a jubilant mood. I had quite for given Miss Bradford for cutting me when she met me in company with her mother and sister. It was enough for me to know that when trouble again threatened her she had decided to trust in mc and had sought my aid. I fell asleep at last and slept for I do not know how long. Opening my eyes in the darkness I seened to fee the presence of someone in the room. There was the sound of footfalls some where-muflied, seemingly some dis tance oft. I was almost certain I could detect muttered words. In a curious detached state of mind I list cied, wondering whether I was awake or asleep. The footsteps seemed to come closer, then reeede. The w his pering noise ceased. I sprang up, and hastily lighting up all the rooms, ex plored them thoroughly. There was As I Read it I Stood There Aghast. no evidence nnywlere of anyone's presence. As I lay there thinking about it, I decided that my illusion must have been a dream, due to my thought . i rappings when I first had heard Miss . Brad ford's signal. I was still thinking about my expe. uiePce when I awOSV early the neix morning. Springing Ilglitly out o1 bed, I stopped in utter bewilderment There, in the center of the room or the floor lay a small white folded sli of paper. It could not have been f dream, after all. I had heard foot steps and whispers. I had not Inag ined it. Someone had been in th4 room whilo I sJgt, There was thi proof, the note they had dropped. Wonderlag if- Miss Bradford lia found still another unusual way o: connmunieating with me I hastened t< pick up the folded paper that lay o the floor. On the outside it bore min name, in typewriting, "Mr. SpUldin) Nelson," With cager fingers I unfolded th< paper, wondering what message it con tainied. As I read it, I stood thuer aghast. It ran: - "Why didn't you tell the polica -about the pearls?" (To .be egntinuled.) "I Never iKnewl Youi (oid Keep 114u Out of a Huteht?~i Shopi." -ured( rates aroundl store had enough t feed ot; weouldn't touch anything sw iiciouts. Heard ablouit RtATi-SNAl gave it a trial. Resutis were wond~el fuil. Cleaned all rats out in ten day; )ogs 'about store niight and day nert touch RAT-SNAP." Thruee sizes, 25< 50c, .$l.00. Sold and guaranteed bi Laur'ens I ardwarie Co., P'utnama iOrug Store and Ken nedy ilras. Engraved Cards and Invitations. Advertiser Printing Co. ENJOYS HIS~ 3 MEALS A DAl Mr. Wooten Thinks Much of ZIHONlecanw it Made Him is Old Self Again, Sick people do not get mutch out of Ilfic in order to enjoy your meals, to do yot workc weil, you must be strong an healthy. Pale, weak, nervous people frequenti need iron to enrich their blood'and to re store vitality to their system, and a goo way to supply the ireon Is to follow th example of Mr. Cia ytorn Wooten1 oh Scol land, Ga., who used Ziron iron'] onic an has this to say about it "I have taken Ziron according to direci Ions anid I can truthfully say that it is line tonic. it has done me all the good Since I began taking it, I have gainedfeigi pounds in weight anid enjoy eating thire meals a day. I shall do ali i can to re commend Z iron.'' Try Zironi Your druggist sells ZIro on a guarantee to refund your money the first bottle falls to benuelit. Yoti canl not lose any thing, bitt very likely wi gain much, by getting a boltle of Alro: today IZi Your Blood Needs NEGO1 SPIRITED FROM ANGRY MOB Alleged Assailant and Kidnapper of Six-Year-Odd Boy Is Safe at Lexing. toln. Lexington, Ky., April 18.-Lucien Jenkins, 27, negro charged with as saulting six-year-old Willie Trimble, of Danville, Ky., was rushed to the Lexington jail from Danville early to day to thwart a ipossibe lynching at the hands of a mob in Danville. Jenkins, -who with Keith Phillips, 13 year old white boy, is charged with kidnapping the Trimble child Friday night, taking him into a cornfield and striking him on the head with a ham mer, denies knowledge of the crime. Jenkins was spirited out of the I)an ville jail last night by ofilcers while a mob was outside demanding entrance. The lights in the jail suddenly were turned out and while the place 'was in darkness Jenkins and the oflicers escaped. Uater Imellbel's of the 1mob were admitted to the-jail and imade a search. .lenkins, a grocer's delivery man, admits having had trouble withl the Trilmble faminy because of the manner in which he delivered groceries. RIeports from Danville tonight, were that the town was quiet. The Trim ble boy is recovering from a frac tured skull. INSURANCE--FIRE AND LIFE ABDEV1JILE-GIEE-NYW0D MUTUAL INSURANCE ASSOCIATION Hate: $5.00 per $1,000. We represent several of the best Life Insurance Companies. Attractice Pollele saund Low Itates. SULLIVAN & MADDEN Offiee-Old Robertson Hotel Phone 419 The Twin-City Tractor 12-20 16 VALVE ENGINE Will enable you to beat the weather con ditions. See it working. A practical dem onstration daily on the Barksdale Farm to which the public is invited. J. McC. BARKSDALE Laurens, S. C. This Miller - Cord Tire has run 22,000 Miles On a Heavy Truck 2 ,0 - i v TyA~Tread And Why They Are Exceptions t Wor-i Miller Tires are often exhibited with some sign like above. What Our Tests Show Countless letters also reach us telling such Ve run tires at our factory ten million mileage tales. miles a year to make these service tests. These are very pleasing. But we don't These are radical tests. Tires are run con want users in general to expect miracles from stantly, night and lay, and under heavy load. Millers. rWe want quick comparisons. On" our testing machines Miller Cords ervice to Expect average 15,000 miles, and Fabrics about Exoct froni Millers greater service than half that. from any like-type tire. And 19 times in 20 But these are not mileage records. We you will get it. are running Miller Tires Expect it to outserve against -high-grade rivals any tire you put opposite, With 3-Ton Loads to prove that Millers last and it almost invariably Miller Cord Tires were tested by Ray C. best. will. E--xpect twvice thc Carpenter olia 22-passenag bus, averaging eStife ileage se 3ton load each trip. he first tire nae atisfied milege iresgav a fw rar weelran 23.700 miles wuithout a blow years ago, and they will and wne never removed from the wheel. With This It;~ second was punctured by railroad sPike doubtless do still better. at5.000mils.butwhenrepai ran 12.00o You will get on a Miller Expect tread wear 25 wheelthe Millarran 22,000 miles without a an exceptional tread. It is per cent better than from blowout. Al"were pass*nger typotres. by 25 per cent the best others and you'll not be tread made. disappointed. Not one Miller Tire, But don't expect that Millers, made under present methods, has tinder all conditions, can match some - ever come back with the tread gone. exceptional mileage. . You will get uniform tires. Every Why Mileage Varies Miller Tire is signed, both by maker W and inspector. Every man knows 'A Cord Tire gives vastly greater that a faulty tire means a penalty for service than a Fabric Tire. him. And faults are extremely rare. An oversize tire will vastly excel You will get greater mileage than from a tire that is undersize. Care, load ) any tire you put on the opposite wheel. and roads affect tire service greatly. * That is so nearly universal that we will Millers are uniform tires. That is stake your favor on any single test. a major reason for their supremacy But you will get the best tire built to But uniform tires will vary with \ ,' day. There are hundreds of thousands conditions. ' who know that. When you buy a new car insist on Miller Tread Patented Tires. Twenty car makers now supply Center Tread smooth with suction, cup them and there is no extra charge. for firm hold on wot asphalt. Geared-to-the. .Road side treads, mesh like cogs in dirt. THE MILLER RUBEER CO., Akron, Ohio Now the Topic of Tiredom ,Cords or Fabrics Geared-to-the-Road ftecaste red U. S. Pate nt Office VINCENT MOTOR CAR COMPANY LAURENS, S. C.