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Dow's Fist. [Bret Hartb] DoWb Flat. That’s its name. And I reckon that yon Are a stranger? The same? Well, I thought It was true,— For thar is n’t a man on the river as can't spot the place at first view. It was called after Dow,— Which the same was an ass,— And as to the how Thet the thing kem to pass,— Jest tie up your boss to that buckeye, and sit ye down here in the grass: You see this 'yer Dow Hed the worst kind of luck; He slipped up tomehow On each thing thet he struck Why, ef he’d a straddled thet fence- rail the derned thing ’ed get up and buck. He mined on the bar Till he couldn’t pay rates; He was smashed by a car When he tunnelled with Bates; And right on the top of his trouble kem his wife and five kids from the States. It was rough,—mighty rough; But the boys they stood by. And they brought him the stuff For a house, on the sly; And the old woman,—well, she did washing, and took on when no one was nigh. But this yer luck of Dow’s Was so powerful mean That the spring near his house Dried right up on the green; And he sunk forty feet down for wa ter, but naiy a drop to be seen. Then the bar petered out, And the boys wouldn’t stay; And the chills got about. And his wife fell away; But Dow, in his well, kept a peggin’ in his usual ridikilous way. One day,—it was June,— And a year ago, Jest,— This Dow kem at noon To his work like the rest, With a shovel and pick on his should er, and a derringer hid in his breast. He goes to the well, And he stands on the brink, And stops for a spell Jest to listen and think: For the sun in his eyes, (jest like this, sir!) you see, kinder made the cuss blink. His f,wo ragged gals In the gulch were at play, And a gownd that was Sal’s Kinder Happed on a bay: ' Not much for a man to be leavin’, but his all,—as I’ve heer’d the folks say. And— That’s a peart boss Thet you've got,—ain’t it now? What might be her-fcost? Eh? Ohl—Well, then, Dow— Let’s see,—well, that forty foot grave wasn't his, sir, that day, anyhow. For a blow of his pick Sorter caved in the side, Apd he looked and turned sick, 'j'hpp he trembled and cried. For you see thedern cuss had struck —“Water?”— Beg your parding, young man, there you lied! ®w hk yOlU) 111 lilt? vjt And it ran all alike; And I reckon five oughts Was the worth of that strike; And that house with the ooopilow's his’n,—which the same isn’t bad for a Pike ’ihet’s why it’s Dow's Flat: And the thing of it is That hp kinder got that Through sheer contrairipess; For’t was water the derned cuss was seekin’, and his luck made him certain to miss. Thet’s so. Thar’s your way To the left of yon tree; But—a—look h’yur, say? Won't you come up to tea? No? Well, then the next time you’re passin’; and ask after Dow,—and thet's me. *FOU R. CHAPTER in. IK QUEST or A SOLUTION. It was half-past five before Holier a returned, lip was bright, pager au<l in excellent spirits—a mood which in his case alternated with fits of the blackest depression. “There is no great mystery in this matter," he said, taking the cup of tea which I had poured out for him. ‘‘The facts appear to admit of only one ex planation.” “What! you have solved It already?" “Well, that will be too much to say I have discovered a suggestive fact, that is all. It Is, however, very sug gestive. The details are still to be add ed- I have Just found, on consulting the back ftlea of the Times, that MaJ. Sholto, of Upper Norwood, late of the Thirty-fourth Bombay infantry, died Upon the 28th of April, 1882.” ‘T may be very obtuse, Holmes, but I fail to see what this suggests." “No? You surprise me. Look at It in this way, then- Capt Morstan dls- •Ppears. TTie only person In London whom he could have visited is Muj bhulto. Maj. Sholto denies having beard that he was in London. Four years later Sholto dies. Within a week °f his death Capt. Morstan’s daughter deceives a valuable present, which is re peated from year to year, and now cul minates in a letter which describes her *s a wronged woman. What wrong can it refer to except this deprivation °f her father? And why should the Presents begin immediately after bholto’s death, unless it is that Sholto’* heir knows something of the mystery, * n d desires to make compensation? Have you any alternative tneory wnicn will mc-« the facts?" “But what a strange compensation! And L. struugely made! Why, too, should he write a letter now, rather than six years ago? Again, the letter speaks of giving her justice. What justice can she have? It Is too much to suppose that her father is still alive. There is no other Injustice in her case that you know of." “There arc difficulties; there are certainly difficulties,” said Sherlock Holmes, pensively. “But our expedi tion of to-night will solve them* all. Ah, here is a four-wheeler, and Misa Morstan is inside. Are you all ready? Then wc had better go down, for it is • little past the hour.” I picked up my hat and my heaviest stick, but 1 observed that Holmca took his revolver from his drawer and slipped It into his pocket. It wasclear that he thought that our nlpht’s work might be a serious one. Miss Morstan was muffled In a dark cloak, and her sensitive face was com posed, but pule. She must have been more than womnn If she did not feel some uneasiness at the strange enter prise upon which wc were embarking, yet her self-control was perfect, and she readily answered the few addition al questions which Sherlock Holmes put to her. Maj. Sholto was a very particular friend of papa’s," she said. “Ills let ters were full of allusions to the major. He and papa were In command of the troops at the Andaman Islands, so they were thrown a great deal together. By the way, a curious paper was found In papa's desk which no one could under stand. I don’t suppose that It Is of the slightest importance, but 1 thought you might care to see It, so l brought it with me. It Is here.” Holmes unfolded the paper careful ly and smoothed It out upon his knee. He then very methodically examined It all over with his double lens. “It Is paper of native Indian manu facture," he remarked. "It has at some time been pinned to a board. The dia gram upon it appears to be a plan of part of a large building with numer ous halls, corridors, and passages At one point is a small cross done in red Ink, and above It is ‘3.37 from left,’ in faded pencil-writing. In the left-hand corner Is a curious hieroglyphic like four crosses In a line with their arms touching. Beside It is written, in very rough and coarse characters, ‘The sign of the four, —Jonathan Small, Mahomet Singh, Abdullah Khan, Dost Akbar.’ No, I confess that I do not see how this bears upon tho matter. Yet it Is evidently a document of Importance. It has been kept carefully In a pocket- book: for the one side Is as clean as the other." “It was In his pocketbook that we found it.” “Preserve It carefully, then, Miss Morstan, for It may prove to be of use to us. I begin to suspect that this mat ter may turn out to be much deeper aqd more subtle than I at first sup- pc,sed. I must reconsider my Ideas." lie loaned hack In the cab, and I could see by h!- ’r.iwn brow and his vacant eye that he was thinking Intently. Miss Morstan and I chatted In an un dertone about our present expedition and its possible outcome, but our com panion maintained his Impenetrable re serve until tho end of our journey. It was a September evening, and not yet seven o’clock, but the day had been a dreary one, and a dense drizzling fog lay low upon the great city. Mud- colored clouds drooped sadly over the muddy streets. Down the Strand the lamps were but misty splotches of dif fused light which threw a feeble cir cular glimmer upon the slimy pave ment. The yellow glare from the shop- windows streamed out Into the steamy, vaporous air, and threw a murky, shifting radiance across the crowded thoroughfare. There was to my mind ing eerie and ghost-like in the endless~phll'I l i | *»hm of faces which fiitted across these narrovv'rtOTjcs_of light—sad faces and glad, haggard~~aim-Lp}j:rry. Like all human kind, they flitted from' the gloom into the light, and so back into the gloom once more. 1 am not subject to impressions, but the dull, heavy evening, with the strange busi ness upon which we were engaged, combined to make me nervous and de pressed. | pould sec from Miss Mor ■.tap's manner that she was suffering from tho same feeling Holmes alone could rise superior to petty Influences. He held his open notebook upon his knee, and from time to time he jotted down figures and memoranda in the light of his pocket lantern. At the Lyceum theater the crowds were already thick at the side en trances In front a continuous stream of hansoms and four-wheelers were rattling up, discharging their cargoes of shirt-fronted men and licshawled, bediamonded women We had hardly reached the third pillar, which was our rendezvous, before a small, dark, brisk man in the dress of a coachman ac costed ns. "Are you the parties who come with Miss Morstan?” he asked. •‘1 am Miss Morstan. and these two gentlemen are my friends,” said she. He tient a pair of wonderfully pene trating and questioning eyes upon us. “You will excuse me, miss,” he said, with a certain dogged manner, “but I was to ask you to give me your word that neither of your companions Is a police officer." „ , “I give you my word on that, she answered. ,. . _ He gave a shrill whistle, on which a street Arab led across a four-wheeler and opened the door The man who had addressed us mounted to the box, while we took our places inside. We had hardly done so before the driver whipped up his horse, and wc plunged away at a furious pace foggy streets. The situation was a curious one. were driving to an unknown pl“ c «, ° n an unknown errand \et ourmviU- tion was either a complete hoax which was an inconceivable hypo hesis i h'H goo<l reason to think that i .—rtnn. issues might hang upon our journey Miss Morstan’s demeanor i collected as ever. was never at rauit, muttered the names herlock Holmes 'vover. and he as the cab rattled through squares and in and out by tortuous by-street*. "Itochoster row," said ha “Now t lucent square. Now wo come out on the Vauxhall Bridge road. Wc arc making for the Surrey side apparently. ^ es, I thought so. Now we are on the bridge. You can catch glimpses of the river." We did indeed get a fleeting view of a stretch of th Thames with the lamps shining upon the ! road, silent water; but our cab dashed on, and was soon foetorily among ourselves, without any interference. Nothing would anuoy Brother Bartholomew more than any publicity.” He sat down upon a low settee and blinked at us inquiringly with his weak, watery blue eves. „ “For my part,” said Holmes, “what ever you may choose to say will go no further." I nodded to show my agreement. “That is well! That Is well!” said he’ “May I offer you a glass of Chianti, Miss Morstan? Qr of Tokay? I keep no other wines. Shall I open a flask? No? Well, then, I trust that you have Involved In a labyrinth of streets upon no objection to tobacco smokt?, to the the other side. "Wordsworth road," said my com panion. “Priory road. Lark Hall lane. Stockwell place. Robert street Cold Harbor lane. Our quest does not appear to take ns to very fashionable regions" We had, indeed, reached a question able and forbidding neighborhood. Long lines of dull brick houses were only relieved by the coarse glare and tawdry brilliancy of public houses at the corner. Then came two rows of two-storied villas, each with a fronting of miniature garden, and then again in terminable lines of new staring brick buildings—Jhe monster tentacles which the giant city was throwing out Into the country. At last the cab drew up at the third house in a new terrace. None of the other houses were inhab ited, and that at which we stopped was as dark as its neighbors, save for a sin gle glimmer in the kitchen window* THE SAHIB AWITS TOU." On our knocking, however, the door was instantly thrown open by a Hindoo servant clad in a yellow turban, white, loose-fitting clothes, and a yellow sash. There was somethinir strangely incon gruous in this oriental figure framed In the commonplace doorway of a third- rate suburban dwelling house. “The sahib awaits you,” said he, and even as he spoke there came a high piping voice from some inner room. “Show them in to me. khitmutgar,” it cried. “Show them straight in to me." through the We was as resolute and _ cheer and a u.use her Afghanistan; but. to tell the truth' wi myLlf so excited at our situation .i cur iou8 as to our destination that my stories were slightly involve^ To this day she declares that I told Jne moving anecdote as to ho-mu, seemed to be irolwr * vety long WW, CHAPTER iv THE STORY OF THE BALD-HEADED MAN. Wo followed the Indian down the sordid and common passage, ill lit and worse furnished, until he came to a door upon tho right, which he threw open. A blaze of yellow light streamed out upon us, and in the center of the glare there stood a small man with a very high head, a bristle of rod hair all round the fringe of it, and a bald shining scalp, which shot out from among It like a mountain peak from fir trees. He writhed his hands together as ho stood, and his features were in a perpetual jerk, now smiling, now scowling, but never for an instant in repose. Nature had given him a pendulous Up, and a too visible line of yellow and irregular teeth, which ho strove feebly to conceal by constantly passing his hand over the lower part of his face. Id spite of his obtrusive baldness, he gave the impres sion of youth. In point of fact he hod just turned his thirtieth year. “Your servant. Miss Morstan,” he kept repeating iu a thin, high voice. “Vopr servant, gentlemen. I’ray step into nuNJittle sanctum. A small place, miss, but fBqrnished to ray own liking. An oasis of nrtYJn the howling desert of South London.” . ' Sk Wo were all astonished by the ap pearance pf the apartment Into which be inviteil pa in that sorry house it looked as ont of place as a diamond of the first water in a setting of brass. The richest and glossiest of curtains and tapestries draped the walls, looped back here and there to expose some richly mounted painting or Oriental vase. The carpet was of amber and black, *o soft and so thick that the foot sank pleasantly into it, as Into a bed of moss. Two great tiger-skins thrown athwart it increased the sug gestion of eastern luxury, as did a huge hookah which stood upon a mat in the corner. A lamp In the fashion of a silver dove was hung from an almost invisible golden wire in the center of the room. As it burned it filled the air with a subtle and aromatic odor. “Mr. Thartdcns Sholto,” said the little man, still jerking and smiling. “That is my name. You are Miss Mors tap, of course. And these gentlemen—” “This is Mr. Sherlock Holmes, and this Dr. Watson." “A doctor, eh?" cried he, much ex cited. “Have yon your stethoscope? Might I ask you—would you have the kindness? I have grave doubts as to my mitral valve, if you would be so very good. The aortic I may rely upon, but I should value your opinion upon the mitral.” 1 listened to his heart as requested, but was unable to find anything amiss, save indeeil that he was in an ecstasy of fear, for he shivered from head to foot. “It appears to be normal,’ I said. “Yon have no cause for uneasi ness." You will excuse my anxiety, Miss Morstan," he remarked, airily. “I am a great sufferer, and I have long had suspicions as to tliat valve. I am de lighted to hear that they are unwar ranted. Had your father. Miss Mor stan, refrained from throwing a strain upon his heart he might have been alive now." I could have struck the man across the face, so hot was I at this callous and off hand reference to so delicate a ■batter Mis* Morstan sat down sue her face grew white to tho lips know in ray heart that he was dead, said she. "I can give you every information, said be, “and, what is more, I can do you justice; and I will, too, whatever Brother Bartholomew may say. I am so glad to have your friends here, not only as an escort to you, but also as witnesses to what I am about to-do and sav. The three of us can show a bold front to Brother Bartholomew. But let us have no outsiders—no police or offi cials. We can settle everything, satla- mild balsamic odor of the eastern to bacco. I am a little nervous, and I find my hookah an invaluable sedative." He applied a taper to the great bowl, and the smoke bubbled merrily through the rose water. We sat all three In a semicircle, with our heads advanced, and our chins upon our hands, while the strange, jerky little fellow, with his high, shining head, puffed uneasily in the center. “When I first determined to make this communication to you,” said he, “I might have given yon my address, but I feared that you might disregard my request and bring unpleasant peo ple with you. I took the liberty, there fore, of making an appointment in such a way that my man Williams might be able to see you first. I have complete confidence in his discretion, and he had orders, If he were dissatisfied, to pro ceed no further in, tho matter. You will excuse these precautions, but I am a man of somewhat retiring, and I might even say refined, tastes, and there is nothing more unmsthctic than a policeman. I have a natural shrink ing from all forms of rough material ism. I seldom come in contact with the rough crowd. I live, as you see, with some little atmosphere of ele gance around me I may call myself a patron of the arts. 11 is my weakness. The landscape is a genuine Carot, and, though a connoisseur might perhaps throw a doubt upon that Salvator Rosa, there cannot be the least question about the Bougocreau. I am partial to the modern French school.” "You will excuse me, Mr. Sholto," said Miss Morstan, “but I am hero at your request to learn something which you desire to tell me. It is very late, and I should desire the interview to be as short as possible.” “At the best it must take some time,” he answered; “for we shall certainly have to go to Norwood and see Brother Bartholomew. We shall all go and try if we can get tho better of Brother Bartholomew. He is very angry with mo for taking tho course which has seemed right to me. I had quite high words with him last night. You can not imagine what a terrible fellow he is when he is angry.” “If wc are to go to Norwood it would perhaps be as well to start at once,” I ventured to remark. He laughed until his ears were quite red. "That would hardly do,” he cried. “I don’t know what ho would say if I Cure for Headache. As a remedy for all forms of cases long resist the use of this medicine. Try it once. Large bottles only fifty cents at Will- cox & Co’s drug store. * “Ef women,” said Uncle Ebon, “am ez contrary ez some folks ’club’s dey is, de bes’ way ter git’em out of wantin’ suf frage am ter tell ’em dey gotter vote— Washington Star. - Guaranteed Cure. We authorize our advertised druggist to sell Dr. King’s New Discovery for Consumption, Coughs and Colds, upon this condition. If you are afilicted with a Cough. Cold or any Lung, Throat or Chest trouble, and will use this remedy as di rected, giving it a fair trial, and experience no benefit, you may return the bottle and have your money refunded. Wo could not make this offer did we not Know that Dr. King's New Dis covery could bo relied on. It never disappoints. Trial bot tles free at Willcox & Co’s drug store. Lanre size 50c. and $1.00 Judge—“Your nge, Miss?” Miss Elder—“Thirty-two.” •Judge (to secretary) — “Put down born in 1832.”—Fliegende Blatter. “THAT WOULD HARDLY DO, HE CRIED brought you In that sudden way. No, I must prepare yon by showing you how we all stand to’each other. In the first place, I must tell vou that there are several points in the story of which I am myself ignorant. 1 eau only lay the facts licfore you as far as 1 know them myself." f, “My father was, as ybt.'asjv hj/ guessed, Maj. John Sholto, once of tlie^ Indian army, lie retired some eleven years ago. and came to live at Pondi cherry lodge in Upper Norwood, lie had prospered In India, and brought back with him a considerable sum of money, a large collection of valuable curiosities and a staff of native serv ants. With these advantages he bought himself a house and lived in great lux ury. My twin brother Bartholomew and I were the only children. “1 very well remember the sensation which was caused by the disappear ance of Capt. Morstan. We read the details In the papers, and, knowing that he had been a friend of our fa ther's, wo discussed the ease freely in his presence. He used to join in our speculations as to what could have hap pened. Never for an Instant did we suspect that he had the whole secret hidden in his own breast—that of all men he alone knew the fate of AHhur Morstr- n. • We did know, however, that some mystery—some positive danger—over hung our father, lie was very fearful of going out alone, and he always em ployed two prize fighters to act as por ters at Pondicherry lodge. Williams, who drove yon to-night, was one of them He was once light-weight eham- pion of England. Our father would never tell us what it was that he feared, but he had a most marked aversion to men with wooden legs. Ou one occa sion he actually fired his revolver at a wooden-legged roan, who proved to be a harmless tradesman canvassing foi orders. We had to pay a large sum to hush the matter up. My brother and I used to think this a mere whim of my father's, but events have since led us to change onr opinion. “Early in 1882 my father received a letter from India which was a great shock to him. lie nearly fainted at the breakfast table when ho opened it, and from that day he sickened to his death. What was in the letter wo could never discover, but I could see as he held it that it was short and written In a scrawling hand. He had suffered for years from an enlarged spleen, but he now became rapidly worse.and towards the end of April we were Informed that he waa beyond all hope, and that he wished to make a last communication to us. "When we entered his room he was propped up with pillows and breathing heavily. lie besought us to lock the door and to come upon either side of the bed. Then, grasping our tu-nds, he I mads a remarkable statement to W18 Headache, Electric Bitters has proved to be the very best. It effects a permai the most dreaded habitual sick headaches yield to its influence. We ur(;e all who are afflicted to should have been hers. And.Vc-t Thave P rOCU 1 re a , bo . tU > ? n(, T K iv0 thi ! made no use of it myself—so blind and l^niody a fair tnaK In C&S6S of foolish a thing is avarice. The mm | habitual constipation, Electric feeling of possession has been so dear ; Bitters Cures by giving Uie need- tome that I could not bear to share it ed tone to the I'OWels, and few with another. Sec that chaplet tipped with pearls beside the quinine bottle? Even that I could not bear to part with, although I had got It out with the design of sending It to her. You, my sons, will give her a fair share of the Agra treasure. But send her noth ing—not even the chaplet—until I am gone. After all, men have been as bad as this and have recovered. “ T will tell you how Morstan died,’ he continued. ‘He had suffered for years from a weak heart, but he con cealed it from everyone. I alone knew it. When in India, he'and I, through a remarkable chain of circumstances, came into possession of a considerable treasure. I brought It over to Eng land, and on the night of Morstan’s ar rival he came straight "Pver here to claim his share. He walked over from the station, and was admitted by my faithful old Lai Chowdar, who is now dead. Morstan and I h’ad a difference of opinion as to the division of the treasure, and we came to heated words. Morstan had sprung ont of his chair in a paroxysm of ang. r, when he sudden ly pressed his hand to his side, his face turned a dusky hue, and he fell back wards, cutting his head against tho corner of the treasure-chest. When I stooped over him I found, to my horror, that ho was dead. “ ‘For a long time I sat half dis tracted, wondering what I should do. My first impulse was, of course, to call for assistance; but I could not but recognize that there was every chi:nee that I would be accused of his murder. His death at the moment of a quarrel, and the gash in his head, would be bladk against- me. Again, an official inquiry could not bo made without bringing out some facts about the treasure, which I was particularly anxious to keep secret. He had told me that no soul upon earth knew where he had gone. There seemed to be no necessity why any soul ever should know. “ T was still pondering over the mat ter, when, looking up, I saw my serv ant, Lai Chowdar, In the doorway. He stole In, and bolted tho door liohind him. “Do not fear, sahib," he said. “No one need know that you have killed him. Let us hide him away, and who is the wiser?" “I did not kill him," said I. Lai Chowdar shook his head, and smiled. “I heard it all, sahib,” said he. “1 heard you quarrel, and I heard the blow. But my lips are sealed. All are asleep in the house. Let us put him away together." That was enough to decide me. 1 f my own servant could not believe my inno cence, how could I hope to make It good before twelve foolish tradesmen in a jury box? Lai Chowdar and I dis posed of the body that night, and within a few days the London papers were full of the mysterious disappear ance of Capt. Morstan. You will see from what I say that I can hardly be blamed in the matter My fault lies in the fact that we concealed, not only the body, but also the treasure, and that I have clung to Morstan’s share as well as to my own. I wish you, therefore, to make restitution. 1’ut your ears down to my mouth. The treasure is hidden in—’ At this instant a horrible change came over bis expression; his eyes stared wildly, his jaw dropped, and he yelled in a voice. I can never forget: ‘Keep him out! For Christ's sake keep him out!' We both stared round at the window behind us upon which hts gaze was fixed. A face was looking in at us out of the darkness. We could see the whitening of tho nose where it was pressed against the glass. It was a hnir y fnc<?. with wild, cruel c y c s an A an \pression of concentrated malevolence. brother and I rushed awards tf ...the man was a voice which was broken as muen oy emotion as by pain. I shall try and give It to you in his own very words. “ *1 have only one thing,’ he said, ■which weighs upon mv mind at this . supreme moment It is my treatment effects a permanent cure and TTARTSVILLE RAILROAD. of p«x)r Morstan’s orphan. The cursed * I "■ J , “' 1 —1 —- 1 - , " r “ > " greed which has been my besetting sin through life has withheld from her the treasure, half at least of which June 3, 1894. MIXED TRAIN Leave Hartsville 4.30 a m Jovaun 4.45 a m Floyd’s 5.05 a m Darlington 5.25 a m Palmetto 0.40 am Arrive Florence t’.OO a m Leave Florence 8.50 p in Palmetto 0.05 p m Darlington 0.25 p m Floyds 0.45 p m Jovaun 10.00 pn. Hartsville 10.15 pm J F. DIVINE. Gen. Supt. The sooner you begin to fight the fire, the more easily it may be extinguished. The sooner you begin taking Ayer’s Sarsa parilla for your blood disease, the easier will be the cure. In both cases, delay is dangerous, if not fatal. Be sure you get Ayer’s and no other. If you feel weak and all worn out take BROWN'S IRON BITTERS SRDVES \ gone- '* r op^ed a-VMny father h* • ijj head bad ->ulse had -yto beat- PHARLESTON, SUMTER AND NORTHERN RAILROAD CHARLES E. KIMBALL Receiver. NORTH. SOUTH. Lv 9 P.M. 4.10 Charleston 8 P.M. 2.30 Ar 5.20 Pregnall’t 1.10 7.25 Sumter 11.03 8.37 Darlington 9.50 I) 20 Henuetteville 9.00 ".52 Gibson 8.37 Ar 10.20 Hamlet 8.10 Lv P.M A.M N<>. 1* connects at Humlet with S. A. L. Vestibule train fur Raleigh, Kiclv mnnd, Wiishiii-loo, Baltimore, Phil adelphia and New York. No 8 connects with 8. A. L. Vesti bule train from above named points. Trains run solid to and from Charles ton. C. MILLARD, Superintendent. c. & D. and C. & 8. RAILROADS. In effect June 8, 1894. MIXED TRAIN Leave Wadesboro 2.00 p m Bennett’s 2.25 p tr Morven’s McFarland .. 2 55 p m Cheraw 3.45 p m Cash’s . 4.10 pm Society Hill 4.40 p m Dove’s . 5.15 pm Floyd’s 5.30 p m Darlington 6.05 p m Palmetto Arrive Florence Leave Florence Palmetto . 8.00 a m Darlington 8.35 a m Floyd’s 9.00 a m Dove’s . 9 15 a m Society Hill . 9 45 a m Cash’s Cheraw 11.00 a m McFarland 11.40 a m Morven’s 11.55 a in Bennett’s 12.10 a m Arrive Wadesboro . 12.30 a m Local Freight. Leave Darlington 4 30 p m Palmetto 4.42 p m Arrive Florence 5.00 p m Leave Florence 8.80 a m Palmetto 8 50 a in Arrive Darlington 9 05 a m A. F. RAVEN EL, President. ceaseu , “We scarener , 'i but found no sign that just under the win footmark was visible In the flowe' But for that one tn.jo, we might have thought that our imaginations had con jured up that wild, fierce face. We soon, however, had another and more striking proof that there were secret agencies at work all around us. The window of my father's room was found open in the morning, his cupboardsand boxes had been rilled, and upon his chest was fixed a torn piece of paper with the words ‘The sign of the four' scrawled across it. What the phrase meant, or who onr secret visitor may have been, we never knew. As far as we can judge, none of my father's property had been actually stolen, though everything had been turned out. My brother and I naturally asso ciated this peculiar incident with the fear which haunted my father during his life; but it is Htill a complete mys- terv to us." [TO BK CONTINUED.J Truly Astonishing. — Miss Annette N. Moen, Fountain, Minn., says: “Ayer’s Cherry Pectoral Jias had a wonderful effect in curing my brother’s children of a severe and dan gerous cold. It was truly as tonishing how speedily they found relief after taking this preparation.” Miss Waltzer—“Let us have another round befoie the music stops.” Young dancer (gener ously, but absent mindedly)— “Er—certainly—on me, this time.”—Brooklyn Life. Bucklen’s Arnica Salve. The Best Salve in,the world for Cuts, Bruises, Sores. Ulcers, Salt Rheum, Fever Sores, Tetter, Chapped Hands Chilblains, Corns, and all Skin Eruptions, and positively cures Piles, or no pay required. It is guaranteed to give perfect satisfaction, or money refunded. Price 25 cents per box. For sale at Willcox & Go’s drugstore. TASTELESS CHILL TONIC 13 JUST A8 GOOD FOR ADULTS. WARRANTED. PRICE 50 cts. Galatia, Ills., Nov. 16,1893. Paris Medicine Co., 8t. Louis, Mo. Gentlemen:—We sold last year, 600 bottles of GROVE'S TA8TELEN8 CHILL TONIC and haro bought three gross already this year. In all our ex perience of 14 years, in the drug business, have uch universal satis- never sold an article that gave sue] faction as your Tonic. ours truly, ▲SNAY, CARS &C0- XKTORTHEASTERN RAILROAD, i. v In effect Noy. 18, 1894; SOUTH BOUND. N a. 85. Leave Florence 3.10 a m Lanes 4.20 a m Arrive Charleston C.10 a m No. 23. Leave Florence 1.85 p m Kingstree 8.40 p m Iiunes 9.07 p m Arrive Charleston 11.18 p m No. 63. Leave Lanes 7.05 p m Arrive Charleston 8.40 p m NORTH BOUND. « No. 78. Leave Charleston 3.35 a m Lanes 6.40 am Kingstree 6 00 a m Arrive Florence 7.05 a u No. 32. Leave Charleston 8.55 p m Lanes 5.44 p IB Kingstree 5.59 p ro Arrive Florence 6.55 p in No. 52. Leave Charleston 7.15 a m Arrive Lanes 8.45 » it No. 52 runs through to Columbia via Central R. R. of S. C. Train Nos. 78 and 14 runs via Wilson uiul Fayetteville—Short Lino—and makes close connection for all points North. J. F. DIVINE. Gen. Supt. for sale by <T. A.. BOYID- H A.VING ■vPJant PURCHASED THE of the Atlantic Phos phate Cortlpati-jy-together with the entire stock, brands and’^w>a J rfmV,' we take this method of thanking the friends and patrons of the Chicora Fertilizer Company for their cordial support and patronage in the past, and now solicit the patronage of the Atlantic Phosphate Company, as well as the Chicora brands, guaranteeing that, under the management of the Chicora, the reputation earned by the Atlantic brands will be fully sus tained. CHICORA FERTILIZER CO., Charleston, 8. C. Geo. A. Wagener, General Manager. Mfv- Does This i Hit You? The management of the Equitable Life Assurance Society in the Department of the Carolinas, wishes to se cure a few Special Resident Agents. Those who are fitted for this work will find this A Rare Opportunity It is work, however, and those •who succeed best in it possess character, mature judgment, tact, perseverance, and the respect of their community. Think this matter over care fully. There’s an unusual opening for somebody. If iv fits yon, it will pay you. Fur ther information on request. W. J. Roddey, Manager, Rock Hid, S. C. tv 7ILMINGTON, COLUMBIA i AUGUSTA RALROAD. In effect June 3, 1894. SOUTH BOUND. 55. Leave Wilmington — Marion .6.21 p nr Arrive Florence No. 50. Leave Florence 7.25 p u» Sumter 8.36 p m Leave Sumter Arrive Columbia No. 58. I«ave Florence Arrive Sumter No. 52. Leave Sumter Arrive Columbia No. 52 runs through from Charles ton via Central Railroad; leaving Lanes 8.48 a m, Manning 9 25 a m. NORTH BOUND. No. 51. L»6av6 Columbk '*'>• . 4.30 a m Sumter... . 5.53 am Arrive Florence . 7.10 a m No. 56. Leave Florence .. 7.35 a m Marion Arrive Wilmington No. 58. Leave Columbia .. 4.20 p m Arrive Sumter . 5.43 p m No. 59. Leave Colombia •• •••****•**•• Sumter Arrive Florence ... 6.55 p m No 53 runs tluougu to ciiarle«ton via central Railroad, arriving Han- niug 6.21 p m. Lanes 7.05 p m, charleston 8.40 p in. Trains on South and North Caro lina R. K., leave Atkins 9.40 a. m. and 6.30 p. m., arriving Lneknow 11.10 a. m. and 8.00 p. m. Returning leave Lucknow ti.45 a. m. and 4.20 p m., ar riving Atkins 8.15 a. m. and 5.50 p. in. Daily except Sunday. Trains on Wiliuingtod, Cha Ibourn and Conway Railroad leave Chad- bourn at 10 10 a m, arrive at Conway 12.30 p m, returning leave Conway at 2:00 p. w., arrive Chadbourn 4:50 p. m. Leave Chadbourn 5.85 p m arrive at Hub 6.20 p. m. Re turning leave Hub 8.15 a m, arrive at Chadbourn 9.00 a m. Dally exepet r'iSsr. W yiM.®«ls.ru ■ ■'