Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Thursday, September 24, 1931 McCOKnIICK MESSENGER, McCORMICK, SOUTH CAROLINA' PAGE NUMBER THREg THE MULE Copyright 1931 by the Author (BY ETHEL HUESTON) THIRTEENTH INSTALMENT Rowena and Peter are employ ed by Rackruff Motors to make a coast-to-coast trip, advertis ing the roadster. They take Bobby along as chaperon but she deserts them in Colorado and they get married, in name only, so they can travel with out criticism. At last, after many tiffs, they near New York. They discuss what they intend to do after obtaining an annulment. NOW GO ON WITH THE STORY Rowena was a little more touchy even than usual just at that time because she was having some trouble with her own work, and the fact that Mr. Rack had not been entirely satisfied with her last three stories had done nothing to improve her disposition. When—the picture done Peter’s way. in spite of her—he turned the roadster east once more, Rowena retired sulkily to the rumble seat. In Richmond they received a long telegram from Bobby Lowell. It was “Prepaid.” As Rowena said afterward, “We should have known from that they were married.” As indeed they were. “Darlings,” exclaimed the tele gram extravagantly. “We did get married and my gown was lovely. Carter* was going to sue the rail road but the conductor took him off and apologized so Carter gave him ten dollars instead. Can’t we fly down and meet you some place and finish our honeymoons togeth er—even if yours isn’t real?” Peter said he thought he had better answer that telegram and he wrote very fast indeed without one pause for thought. “Love, kisses and condolences I mean congratulations. As your honeymoon waxeth ours alas doth wane hence how could we twain ride opposite directions in one Rackruff? Anon.” “It doesn’t seem to mean much,” objected Rowena. “It means plenty,” said Peter firmly. “It means that our honey moons aren’t riding the same sky if I can help it. Carter’ll under stand.” They were increasingly quiet as they neared New York and the end of their adventure. Peter thought Rowena was troubled about the future because she often referred to things she might do and regretted that her work had fallen off. “If I had kept up as well as I started I could land a good job on the strength of it,” she said ruefully. “You can .anyhow. Your work, as a whole, has been top-notch. You were good down to the last adjec- tiv£. The trouble was that in the beginning you were so superlative you got them to expecting miracles. Never begin at the top,” he advised her wisely. “It leaves no place to climb to. Anyhow,” he added sly ly, “you must have saved up enough on your expense money to keen the children in bread and milk for a long time—what with doing your own laundrv and living on soup and cheese.” “Well—some,” she admitted evas ively. “Do you suppose we’ll ever be real good friends, Rowena? And never quarrel again?” “I’m good friends now! I’ve been friends from the very first. I am really fond of you. Peter, but you are so darn mean the angels them selves couldn’t get along with you.” “That’s odd. Every one has al ways remarked what a good dis- nosition I have.—No credit to me,” he added modestly. “I was born with it.” sible into New Jersey and home annulment, you may get a divorce, that way. He said it was shorter you may get anything you ' and he knew the roads. Rcwena. | please, but you re my wife—you’re on the other hand wanted to go up married to me— through Pennsylvania. She ad- : “But—not really married — Peter mitted it was a longer route, but, — said she would try to endure a few I “Well, you are going to be. and more days of Peter’s company 191- pretty * . quick,” he said decid- the sake of the scenery. Peter did ' J, '’ not argue with her. He just turn ed off and went over the Water Gap into New Jersey. Then they realized indeed that they were nearing home, for New Jersey was j “We’re honeymooning their neighbor and Peter recognized Monday.” every road and landmark. The - sign-posts began to give mileage to New York—seventy-five miles, six ty miles, and then fifty. it with a great processional, wir.h I never have much appetite, incense and incantations. But our Peter. You know I never eat minds are on other things tonight much.” so we won’t bother.” * i But you haven’t eaten anything. Rowena followed him down the You usually eat something. You steep rocky path to the cabin again, didn’t even eat your adored soup. “Been here often?” she asked You’re not sick, are you?” casually. j “No.” She smiled at him, the “Yes.” Peter was laying a fire friendly warm smile that was gen- in the grate. uinely Rowena. “I think maybe Were you here with crowds—or it’s because I feel so sorry for you, Peter.” “Sorry—for me edly. With a wave of his hand he in dicated a little log cabin, deserted and still, that showed above the just—alone?” boulder in the thick of the forest. “Both.” here till Rowes-a walked about the cabin “Yes. Because you’re doing such , „ , , ruffling her bronze-bright hair a very stupid thing and putting Rowena blinked her lashes very with both hands. She looked at the yourself in my power like this. I fast indeed. She fumbled around pictures — the autographs — the can do quite terrible things to you in the pocket of the rumble until candlesticks—the incense burners, —after this—if I want to.—And I she found rouge, powder and lip- “Belongs to a woman, doesn’t it, can be most frightfully mean—if I They had luncheon at a lovely stick and painstakingly repaired Peter?” want to.” little wayside place near a cool blue the ravages of travel. After that “Yes.” , “Yes, I know that.” lake and Peter said if Rowena she looked at Peter and laughed. Peter was opening up his bundles “You don’t know anvthing yet.” would excuse him a few minutes he “You—you’re good-natured about and putting the food supplies in “Oh, well. I’m taking the chance.” wanted to call up some people in|it,” he said. their proper compartments. sh" assured him. New York. ' “ of course,” she declared gaily. “Do you think she’ll like your When they had finished supper “Gosh, but you’re in a rush to get “This is an accident. Accidents bringing another—woman—here?” he cleared away the dishes qulcxly in touch with everybody,” she pro- never make me mad.” < “I don’t care whether she does or and shoved the table into its cor- tested irritably. “I suppose you’d 1 “Well, save up as much good hu- not.” ner. Then he drew the big. high- like me to call up the judge and ask mor as you can,” he told her. Rowena threw off her air of backed divan befor the smoldering Him to have the papers ready for us “You’re going to need a lot of it ouiet moodiness. She ro’led ur* the fire and heaped it with cushions. between now and Monday.” i sleeves of her blouse and asked for and turned out all the lights but Rowena looked about her. The a job. left two candles glimmering on the little cabin was tucked away snug- I “You can put the rolls in the mantel. ly in a huge cleft of great rocks! oven,” said Peter. “And you may as She did not hesitate but went and about it on every side towered to sign tonight.’ Peter didn’t say anything, but went on into the telephone booth. When he came back his face show- little white under his ed a little white under his sum- ... mer’s tan and his lips were grimly broad branched trees, beginning to “Do you suppose we’ll ever be real good friends, Rowena?” locked. ! show gold and blood-red with the “I suppose she had another ; touch of autumn. Somewhere near date,” said Rowena disagreeably, a noisy brook chattered down-hill lay well get as much fun out of thmgs over at once and sank down among as you can. There’s no use to try to the cushions in the corner of the get away. You can’t.” big divan. Peter sat beside her and “I’m not going to try,” she said, drew her into his arms, and Con- Peter pressed the button that stantine crouched at their feet. Re started the electric refrigeration, wena made no resistance. For some pulled out the drop-leaf table and time they sat there, motionless and measured four cups of water into silent, both staring, a little awed the tea-kettle. I and verv sober, into the flickering “I hope you’re hungry,” he said. fire. It was very still—the still- “We’re eating camp rations to- ness seemed to touch them, to night. Tomorrow I’ll show you make them one with it. The light some good country cooking for I’m was low. Little soft scents of wood really the cabin’s star chef. But and pine and smoke crept out to tonight my mind’s on other things, them. Little soft sounds of nteht and I don’t want to be bothered, in the hills crept in to them. The Our fare will be quick and rough, chirr of katydids filled the air. and it will require an appetite to Suddenly Peter lifted his hand enjoy it.” and drew her .face toward him un- “I’m just ravenous,” said Ro- til her lips lay against his throat, wena politely, although knowing His hand caressed her shining, very well that the smallest crumb bronze-gold hair, would catch in her throat. “Close your eyes,” he said. “It’s Peter measured four tablespoon- quite dark here and I will not talk, fuls of coffee into the not and Maybe you can forget it’s only Pet- poured boiling water over it to drip, er and think it’s some one you Then he set the table with silver- like.” ware of sorts and paper plates— Rowena lay very still, scarcely “We never wash anything but silver breathing, against him. He could and pans up her,” he explained, feel her lips upon his throat quiv- “and toss a coin to see w ; ho has ering ever so little. And I’m glad of it. Peter had nothing to say, but when they had reached the next town he said he hoped Rowena wouldn’t, mind waiting as he had a over the stones. And there was no little shopping to do ting!” ‘Shopping! she “Shopping within forty miles of home? What do you want? Is it anything I can lend you?” “Oh, no, nothing like that,” said Peter vaguely. “Just some odds and ends—little souvenirs—pres- ! ents, you know—nothing much.” “You would go through Yellow stone and the Rocky Mountains. and buy your souvenirs in New Jersey,” she remarked coldly. When he came back his arms pretty well filled with stoutly tied bundles, Rowena and Constantine were under the umbrella in the rumble seat. “For heaven’s sake ” he began impatiently. “It’s a sort of .sentiment with me,” she said. “I would never feel that we had a grandstand finish unless we breezed into Times Square in our regular traveling order. You can put your souvenirs in Bobby’s place. sight of other habitation or wan dering woodsmen in all the length and breadth of the forest. “It belongs to a friend of mine,’ , said Peter. “That’s what I pnoned ejaculated, about—to say we were tired and to do it.” He laid out slices of cold roast beef, and liverwurst, po tato salad, crackers and cheese. Then he opened a can of soup, add ing an equal portion of water ac cording to directions on the can. You see, when I think of pro- “Peter,” she said. “Mmmmm,” he murmured indis- tinguishablv. “Who—whose cabin is it?” He laughed softly. “Do—do you care?” Unconsciously she stiffened a lit- would appreciate the use of the cabin for a few days?” “Are—are we to be quite alone here?” she inquired casually. “Quite alone.” “It—it will make it—difficult— about the annulment.” “That,” said Peter haughtily, “is up to your friend the judge.” Rowena put her hand on his arm. “Peter,” she said gently, do anything rash. You’d th-think it over.” “don’t better ‘People are so dumb,” sighed Rowena. “Do you think your judge will have any trouble getting the annul ment?” “No.” “How long will it take?” “I don’t know.” “When will he start?” “He’s started now.” “Started now! Why, what do you mean?” “I wrote to him the day we were married and told him to go ahead with the preliminaries so he could put it through with a rush.” Peter resented that. “I think it was needlessly insulting of you, Ro wena! To spread the news like that the day we were married.” “Married! Oh, ti§h, tosh and even tush! That was no marriage.” “No. But it was nasty of you just the same.” “I’m "on'v you feel that way about it, Peter,” she said gently, -i aid not mean to be offensive. I assure you. I really thought I was doing the stitch-in-time sort of thing.” “Do vou think you’ll ever marry the judge?” “I don’t think I’ll marry any body. I hate men.” “What are you going to do when w r e get home, Peter?” “Oh, work at something, I sup pose. I don’t know just what. May be I’ll go to Paris.” “You can’t go until we get that nnulment. They will need you ere to swear that we—we didn’t \-that we never—that we never jere really married, or anvthing.” “How long will it take?” “Why? Are you in such a hurry >r your freedom?” “No. I was just wondering.” “What do you intend to do first, owena?” Peter asked. '“Oh, I really don’t know, Write those stories perhaps.” . No plans for the far future?” “No. Maybe I’ll keep house for S ddy when he gets through 100I. Maybe I’ll get married.” But you say you hate men!” ‘So I do. That’s the only way to even with them.” Pennsylvania Peter wanted h as quickly as pos- Rowena slimped lower and lower in the rumble as he drove swiftly along the heavily shaded roads. She did not feel at all well. In a way, she almost believed she was sorry it was over. It had been fun—all except Petr. It would have been great—glorious—without Peter. Ro- went certainly was not feeling well. Her heart was leaden within her. Two large tears forced themselves under her hot lids and through the silken lashes. Rowena closed her eyes and pretended she was asleep. “If Peter thinks I’ve got anything I to cry about, he’s crazy,” she said I stmit.1v t?, stoutly. At a sudden lurch of the car she opened her eyes. Much to her sur prise she saw that they were far from the state highway, and fol lowing a narrow dirt road through a thick piece of woods. She tapped on the window. “Peter, you’re off the road. This isn’t the way to New York.” “I know it. It’s a short-cut.” Rowena sighed. “I knew I should watch you.” she said resignedly. Presently he turned off from the dirt road into a narrow wood lane, no more than a cow-oath it seemed Rowena knew instantly it would never take them any place at all. She knocked on the window again. “Peter, you’re lost. This road doesn’t go anywhere!” The cow-path turned abruptly up a sharp and jagged hill and ended abruptly at the foot of an immense boulder in the very heart of the forest. “It’s a dead end,” said Rowena. “What did I tell you?” Peter got out of the car and went back, very slowly, to stand beside her, folding his arms rigidly on the rim of the rumble. She noticed FINAL INSTALMENT “I have thought it over. I’ve been thinking it over since that night in Cheyenne—the first time we had to show the certificate. We won’t have to show any certificate here. We’re as free as the birds and the flowers.” "Rack and Ruff will expect us in tonight. They won’t like it.” “They’re not expecting us. I wired them two days ago that we wouldn’t be home until Monday.” “Are—we going to stay here—un til Monday?” “We are,” said Peter firmly. ’ “Peter, Peter,” said Rowena, “be careful, oh, be careful! If—you do this it—it will give me a grand chance to be mean to you—if I want to. I can make it hard for you to get a divorce—I can get alimony ” “It’ll be worth it.” said Peter grimly. “Besides,” he added smil ing, “even when you are Mrs. Peter Blande in fact, at heart you will still be just Rowena Rostand. You are immortal.” Rowena did a strange thing. She clasped both her hands tightly over Peter’s arm and looked up into his face—deep, deep into his eyes— searchingly, for a long time and did not speak. Peter’s fell at last before the intensity of her silent gaze but there was no diminution of pumose in his manner. “And you ought to know by this time that when I make up my mind, it’s made,” he said doggedly. “So you needn’t try to talk me out of it/’ “I’m not going to try,” said Ro wena faintly. He helped her out of the rumble and cautioned her to be careful of the rocky path up the hill. “It’s easy to get a twisted ankle here,” he said. He even asked her to help carry his bundles up from the car and filled her arms with them. At the foot of the steps that led to the wide unroofed oiazza, he kicked viding for you as a good husband tie in his arms, her quivering lips should,’.’ he said, “I can’t get away grew firm. But she pressed more from soup and crackers and cheese, closely into the curve of his arm. The cheese trust ought to give you “No,” she said firmly, a discount. I wonder vou haven’t “It’s my mother’s,” he said. “She got a band of mice following you likes this sort of thing.” about. What a Pied Piper you’d Rowena relaxed and laughed a be for Hamelin!” little, tremulously. And the throb- Rowena laughed tolerantly, bing silence enfolded them warm- “Cheese is very good for one,” she ly. said. After a long while—“Peter,” she Peter opened up a bottle of horse said again, radish, put salt and pepper on the “Mmmmmmm.” table, and sugar, cursing softly be- “jt’ S the third and last warning, cause he had forgotten cream for _You’d better take me to town— the coffee. Then he filled a great take me right away quick—as fast bowl with fresh fruit for a center piece with candlesticks around it. “Here you are, Mrs. Blande,” he said jauntily, and held a chair for her. as ever you can- “It’s too late now.” “Too late is better than—never,” she said. “And pretty soon it will , be never.” Unconsciously their ‘Rowena sank down, a little- voices had fallen to whisners. “It’s breathless, rather pale. j never really too late—until ft really Just the barest fraction of an in- is—too late,” she added enigmati- stant Peter hesitated. Then he cally. “Peter—believe me—you’d lifted her face with a very determ- better ” “Phillips:; For Troubles due to AckJ indigestion acid STOMACH heartbupn headache CASES-NAUSE* t. fc- When FOOD SOURS' A BOUT two hours after eating, many people suffer from sour stomachs. They call it mdigestion. It means that the stomach nerves have been over- stimulated. There is excess acid. Th® way to correct it is with an alkali, which neutralizes many times its volume in acid. The right way is Phillips Milk of Magnesia—just a tasteless dose in water. It is pleasant, efficient and harmless. It is the quick method. Results come almost instantly. It is the approved method. You will never use another when you know. Be sure to get the genuine Phillips Milk of Magnesia, the Kind physicians prescribe to correct excess acids. 25e and 50c a bottle—any drugstore. ‘ “Milk of Magnesia” has been the U. S. Registered Trade Mark of The Charles R. Phillips Chemical Company and its sredecessor Charles H. Phillips sine® 1875 Aspirin BEWARE OF IMITATIONS over a stone and produced a big brass key that lay beneath. cabin ’ s a sort of open house for Lh bif r,vp« w I everybody and his friend._ and the LOOK for the name Bayer and the word genuine on the package as pictured above when you buy Aspirin. Then you’ll know that you are getting the genuine Bayer product that thousands of physicians prescribe. Bayer Aspirin is SAFE, as millions of users have proved. It does not de press the heart. No harmful after-effects follow its use. Bayer Aspirin is the universal anti dote for pains of all kinds. Headaches Neuritis Colds Neuralgia Sore Throat Lumbago Rheumatism Toothache Genuine Bayer Aspirin is sold at all druggists in boxes of 12 and in bottles of 24 and 100. Aspirin is the trade-mark of Bayer manufacture of monoaceticaddester of edicylicadd. “This place is my mother’s.” said Peter, gently. ined fore-finger—and touched his 1 Again he laughed softly. “Why, lips to hers, faintly with stubbornly Rowena, why?—You are my wife—” rising courage crushed them rough- -Because, if you don’t—I warn ly. It was with quite an air of y 0 u. Peter!—I’ll never let you go bold bravado that he went to his again—never—as long as you live— own chair opposite, but his face and it will be too late for ever.” was flushed and his eyes did not Even against the straining of her pff nprvrm«- arms about him she wondered Rowena nervous breathlessly if he would rise up at n <*sm ^k ter ;, that and go away. But of course Oh, Pumpkin E3.t6r, she saia didn’t He laughed attain an one who has too little breath for a odd oleased lanehanrinrelsed' his gaily, though her voice was that of S h er f ra a „ u r |nt hair torrent of tumbling words, “fancy ^ . g .. . . all this furor after three solid. A P d Constantine murmured quiet months of marriage ” • con tentment at their feet. NO MORE BATS ed deeply into his eyes, her lashes still wet with tears, and waited for him to speak. “Get out, Rowena,” he said at last thickly. “This is our last stop.” “Why, we can be in New Vork in two hours!” she protested faintly. “We’ve had our luncheon—there’s nothing here to stop for!” “Get out,” he repeated doggedly, “We’re staying here tonight.” Rowena looked at him wonder- ingly and put out her hand, slender and sunburned, pink palm upturn ed and fingers curling. Peter ig nored the silent appeal of it. “Rowena,” he said, his voice grown low and strange, “you’ve made a fool of me day af ter day the whole summer. You’ve made me the laughing-stock of re porters and hotel clerks and auto mobile mechanics from coast to coast—not to mention the kick your friends in New York are get ting out of my predicament. Well, It’s my turn now. You may get an key bears the household motto ‘Come easy—go easy’—see?” “Appropriate to week-end honey- mooners, like us,” she said quietly. “You would sav that,” said Peter. “I assure you. that was not the idea back of it.” The cottage, which consisted of but one immense room and a huge screened bath, with miniature kitchenette, was roughly finished with heavy oaken beams. There was a great fireplace of natural stone, and running end to end away from it on both sides were studio couches against the wall, comnrising three full sides of the cottage. Water was supplied by a wind mill among the rocks higher up the hill, and Peter Invited Rowena up with him to witness the ceremony of chaining the wind. It’s our one servant up here.” he said. “Loosing the windmill is one of the real events of coming* You won’t be laughing about it three days from now” he said grimly. “Oh, maybe I will.” she answer ed cheerfully. “I’m one of the grandest little laughers you ever saw in your life.” He smiled at her suddenly. “Yes, you are. I’ll say that for you. You are just great about—things like that.” | Deftly he served a portion of salad and meat on a paper plate for her. and poured the coffee. “Sorry to have nothing better than canned cow for your wedding- night,” he said. “Oh, I adore canned cow. I al ways ask for it at all my weddings.” She was glad to have the coffee and drank it steaming hot al though it scorched her throat. But she could not eat. “Why don’t you eat, Rowena?” he demanded. “I’m not hungry.” “You’re not nervous. I hope—not frightened, or anything.” “Not in the least. I’m just not hungry.” “Why aren’t you hungry? You haven’t had anything to eat for j -THE END- Conquers Cancer? or mice, after you use RAT-SNAP It’s a sure rodent killer. Try a Pkg. and prove it. Rats killed with RAT-SNAP leave no smell. Cats or dogs won’t touch it. Guaranteed. 35c size - 1 cake - enough foe Pantry, Kitchen or Cellar. 65c size - 2 cakes - for Chicken House, coops, or small buildings. S1.25 size - 5 cakes - enough for all farm and out-buildings, storage buildings, or factory buildings. Sold and guaranteed by STROMS’ DRUG STORE McCormick, S. C. Professional Card V. K. CHARLES Attorney-At-Law office, Farmers Bank Building Dr. Harry Coke, 25, of St. Mary’s Hospital, Paddington, Eng land, who has developed a scum which retards the growth of can cer cells. When there is a crowd they do ‘hours,” he persisted stubbornly. Days at McCormick WEDNESDAYS and SATURDAYS toEQiSH - M . ^ v :W IJItcosts a woman ; twice as much Foe I SILK SToCKlWGS as WHAT SHE SAVES ON MAtEClAL FOR SHORT o i nfC -