Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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V . I f ?5 CONQUEST / By BOOTH T Author of "Cherry." "M ______________ COPYRIGHT. 1905. BY * V ^ jp (Continued fro n last week.) ft? TTnj>F>y Fear was safe inside. l?ut the Jostlers were outside. I tattled, ugly and stirred with tlie passion that changes a crowd into a mob. Then some of them caught sight of Joe as he stood alone at the top of the steps, and a great shout of rage and exultation arose. For a moment or two he did not see bia danger. At the clang of the door bis eyes, caught by the gleam of a wide white bat. ha-.l turned toward the treet, and lie was somewhat fixedly watching Mr. Ladew extricate Ariel ] and her need and indignant escorts ^ from an overflow of the crowd in which they bad been caught. But a j voice warned him. the wild piping of | a newsboy who had climbed into a tree near by. "Joe Louden," lie screamed, "look ; out."' With a muffled roar the crowd surged | back from the jail and turned toward < tbe steps. "Tar and feather him!" 1 'Take him over to the river and throw him in!" "I>rowu him!" "Hang him!" j Then a thins happened which Was j dramatic enough in its inception, but almost ludicrous in its effect. Joe walked quietly down the steps and i toward the advancing mob with bis bead cocked to one side, one eyebrow lifted and one corner of his mouth drawn down in a faintly distorted mile. He went straight toward the yelling forerunners, with only a small bundle , of papers in his bauds, and then, while j the nonpartisan spectators held their breath, expecting the shock of contact, ! traigbt on through them. A number of the bulge checked form cd the scattering van of these forerunners. charging with hoarse and cruel brleks of triumph. The first apparently about to tear Joseph Loutfhi to nia/io* s-hnncml countenance at arm's - f? length, swerved violently and with the loud cry. "Head him off!" dashed on up the stone steps. The man next be- j hind him followed his lead, withstbe game shout, strategy and haste. Then ; the others of this advance attack, find- j Ing themselves confronting the quiet man. who kept his even pace a^)d show- i ed bo intention of turning aside for them, turned suddenly asidp for him ; And. taking the cue from the first, pur- j " ' * - * * guea ineir war, wiiowiuk; nt?u u>ui off: Head him off!" until there were dozen and more rowdy ish men and youths upon the steps, their eyes blaz- ; tag with fury, menacing Louden's back 1 With frightful gestures across the mar- i Me balustrade as they hysterically triMted the chorus. "Head him Off!" i Whether or not Joe could have walked through the entire mob as he had walked through these js a matter for speculation. It was believed In Canaan that he could. Already a gust Of mirth began to sweep over the sterner spirits as they paused to marvej qo -i , leaa at the disconcerting advance of the lawyer than at the spectacle presented ' by the Intrepid daredgvils "poo Jbe I steps, a kind of lalie actually" Opening before the young man as he walked , teodlly on. And when Mr. Sheehan, leading half a dozen huge men from i fflrbncb hrowery. unceremoniously ibouldered a way through the mob to Joe's side, reochlng him where the ! press was thickest, it Is n question if i the services of his detachment were affiled. ^ -? ~ The laughter increased. It became voluminous. Homeric salvos shook the fir. And never one of the lire eaters Upon the steps lived long enough to live down the hateful cry of that day, "Head him off!" which was to become i a catcliward on the streets, a taunt more stinging than any devised by deliberate invention, an insult bitterer than the ancestral doubt, a fighting word and the great historical joke of ! Canaan, never omitted in after days ! when the tale was told how Joe Lou- , den took that short walk across the courthouse yard which made him may4 or of Canaan. . j^^CHAFTER XXIV. ft N hour later Martin Pike, looking /\ forth from the mansion, saw ; / 1 a man open the gate and, A mk passing between the unemotional deer, rapidly approach the Tious"e. ! He was a thin young fellow, very well dressed In dark gray, his hair prema-J turely somewhat silvered, his face prematurely somewhat lined and bis hat covered a scar such as might have fceen caused by a blow from a blunt f instrument in the nature of a poker. < He did not reach the door, nor was there necessity for him to ring, for be- I fore be had set foot on the lowest step i t'* judge had hastened to meet him, 1 not, however, with any fulsoiuely hos- i pitable intent: his hand and arm were ; raised to execute oue of his -npiun gestures of the kind which had ob- i literated the young man upon a " er- ; tain bygone morning. Louden looked up calmly at tL*?- big 1 figure towering above him. "It won't do. judge,'' he saic, that aras nH but there was a slcnific inre in t V , f 1 '?f CANAAN arkin6ton, ionsicur Beaucaire." Etc. HARPER I* BROTHERS c -* his manner and h ntr in n'.s voice which mused the uplifted hand to drop limply, while the look of apprehension which of late had grown more and more to l-e Martin l'ike's habitual expression deepened *iato something close upon mortal anxiety. "Have you any business t> set foot upon my property?" he demanded. "Yes." answered Joe. "That's why I came." "What busin. ts have you get with me?" "Ktiough t > satisfy you. 1 think P.at there's one thing I d .n't want to do"? Joe glanced at the open door?"and ill "Have you tin)/ luminals to s/ t foofupon my property f " he demnndt <1. that is to talk about it here?for your own sake and because I think Miss Tabor should l>e present. I called to ask you to come to her hous? at S o'clock tonight." "You did!" Martin Tike spoke angrily. but not in the bull bass of yore, and he kept his voice down, glancing ;ybout hiui nervously as though ae feared that his wife or Mamie might hear. "My accounts with her estate are closed," he said harshly. "If she wants anything, let her come here." Joe shook his head. "No; you must be there at 8 o'clock." The judge's choler got the Ix-tter of his uneasiness. "You're a pretty one to come ordering me around." lie broke out. "You slanderer! I>o you suppose I hafen't beard bow you're going about traducing me. undermining my character in tbis community, spreading scandals that I am tbe real owner of Beaver Beach"? "It can easily be proved. Judge." Joe interrupted quietly, "though you're wrong: I haven't been telling people. I haven't needed to-even if I'd wished. Once a thing like that gets out. you can't stop it?ever. That Isn't all. Jo my knowledge you own other property worse than the Beach. I know tK-tt you own half of the worst dens in *<? town?profitable Investments too. You bought them very gradually and craftily, only showing the deeds to /.iioiiM?na vmi dlJ t > Mike vu?uj%%, ?^ ? ? ?. Sliee'.ian?and not j^ecortlliig them. Sheehau's betrayal of you gave jpe the key. I know most of the i>oor creatures who are your teuauts, too, ?ou so?. and that gave me an advantage J because they have some confidence in me. My investigations have been almost as quiet and careful as your purclrvcs." "Vol blackmailer!" The judge bent upon hi:n a fierce. Inquiring scrutiny, I in which, o.ldiy enough, tliere was a kind of haggard hopefulness. "And out of such stories." he sneered, "you are going to try to make political capital against the Tocsin, are you?" "No," said Joe. "It was necessary iu the Interests of my client for me to know pretty thoroughly just what property you own, and I think I do. These pieces I've mentioned are about JUI you uavc U'>i muu^ugru. iuu couldn't do that without exposure, and you've kept a controlling interest in tire Tocsin clear, too?for the sake of its Influence, I suppose. Now, do you flant to hear any more, or will you agree to meet me at Miss Tabor's this evening?" TO mover the look of hopefulness had signified. It fled from Pike's face during t'ais speech, but he asked with some show of contempt, "Do you think it likely?" "Very well," said Joe, "if you want me to speak here." And he came a little closer to him. "You bought a big block of Grauger Gas for Itoger Tabor." he began iu a low voice. "Before his death you sold everything he had except the old house, put it all into cash for hirn and bought that stock. You signed the check as his attorney In fact, and it came back to you through the Washington National, where Norbert Flitcroft handled it He hn$ a good memory, and when he told me what he knew I had him to do some tracing. Did a little myself also. Judge Pike, I must tell you that you stand la danger of the JaSL. I OILS'ere , r . / ffie ousfofTTiiM or fiinT sToeTc for Uoger Tabor. If was transferred in blauk. thouib I think -ou meant to be 'legal' at that time, and that was merely for convenience in case Ilouer had wished you to soil it for him. I'.ut just after Lis death you found yourself - oldled with : s'i'b ry stock, which was going bad on y?#ur ban Is. < ?;h?T speeuL.tiuns of yours were failing the son.'" time.Von had t> have tn :ay. You tiled your v port as ndmiiiistrub r. crediting Miss Tabor with your own stock which you knew was going to the wall. and transfer!" ! hers t> yourself. TLen you son it 1 iiusc y j'i needed ready money. You rs-d lur f ?rtuue to save your- 1 s. if. but you were I; >rribiy afraid! No matter how rotten vottr transactions lad been, y a had always kept inside the law. r.nd now that you had gone outside of it you were frightened. You didn't dare come Cat out to Miss Tabor with the statement that her fortune had gone. It Lad been in your charge ail the time, and thiugs might look ugly. So you put it off. perhaps from day to day. You didn't dare tell her until you were forced to. and to avoid the confession you sent her the income which was rightfully hers. That was your great weakness." .Toe had spoken with great rapidity, though keeping Iks voice low, and he lowered it again as he continued: "Judge Tike, what chance have you i to l>e believed in court when you swear that you sent her 5'JO.OOO out of the goodness of your bean? Do you think she believed you? It was the very | proof to her that you had robbed her. 1 for si.w' knew you! Do you want to hear more now? Do you think this | is a good place for it? Do you wish me to go over the details of each step j I have taken against you to laud you j at the bar where this poor fellow your paper is hounding stands today?" The Judge essayed to answer and i could not. He lifted his bar.d unct*- j tainlv and dropi?ed it, while u thick i dew gathered on his temples. Inar- , tieulnte sounds came from between his teeth. "You will ecine?" said Jce. Martin Dike bent his head dazedly, and at t\uit the other turned quickly i from him and went away without looking back. Ariel was in the studio half an hour , later, when Joe*"was jjnnounml by the ' smiling Mr. Warden. Ladew was with , her. though upon the point of taking ! his leave, and Joe murked. with a sinking heart that the young minis tor S CDOOKS wore IiUMJCU aim Uio cjm very bright. "It was a magnificent thing you did. Mr. Louden," he said, offering his hand J heartily. "I saw it. and it wu9 even finer in one way than it was plucky. ; It somehow straightened things out with such perfect good nature. It i made those people feel that what they were doing was ridiculous." "So it was." said Joe. "Few under the circumstances could have acted as if they thought so. And I hope you'll let me call upon you. Mr. J Louden." "I hope you will." he answered and then, when the minister had departed, stood looking after him with sad eyes, j in which there dwelt obscure raedita-1 tions. Ladew's word of farewell had covered a deep look at Ariel, which was not to be mistaken by Joseph Louden for anything other than what j it was. The clergyman's secret was an open one. and Joe saw that he was as frank and manly in love as in all | other things. "lie's u good fellow." he said at last, sighing?"a good man." Ariel agreed. "And he said more to me than he did to you." "Yes; I think it probable." Joe smiled sorrowfully. "About you. I mean." lie had time to fear that her look admitted confusion before she nroceeded: "He said he ' Lad never seen anything so fine as i your coming down those steps. Ah, he J was right! But it was harder for me i to watch you. I think, than for you to , do it. .Joe. I was so horribly afraid? | and the crowd between us?if we could have got near you?but we couldn't? we"? She faltered and pressed her hand cfose upon her eyes."'- j "We?" asked Joe slowly. "You mean you and Mr. Ladew?" J "Yes; he was there, but I mean"? j her voice ran into a little laugh with a beatific quaver in it?"I mean Colonel Flitcroft and Mr. Bradbury and Mr. Buekalew, too?we were hemmed in together when Mr. Ladew found us. And, oh, Joe. when that cowardly rash started toward you those three? I've heard wonderful things in Paris and I Naples, cabmen qfiarreling and disap- j pointed beggars, but never anything j like them today"? "You mean they were profane?" "Oh, magnificently, and with such ! inventiveness! All three begged my i pardon afterward. I didn't grant it? | I blessed them." "Did they beg Mr. Ladew's pardon?" J "Ah, Joe!" she reproached him. 1 "He isn't a prig. And he's had to fight some things that you of all men ought to understand. He's only been here a few months, but he told me that Judge ' PtVn has been asrainst him from ^lie. j "-i" "SJVT * - ?"-? I start. It seems that Mr. Ladew is too liberal iu his views. And he told me j that if it were not for Judge Tike's | losing influence In the church on ac- j count of the Beaver Beach story the ' judge would probably have been able I to force him to resign, but now he will i stay." "He wishes to stay, doesn't he?" "Very much, I think. And, Joe," she continued thoughtfully, "I want you to do something for me. I want you to ! go to church with me next Sunday." ' "To hear Mr. Ladew?" "Yes. I wouldn't ask except for ! that." "Very well," he consented, with averted eyes. "I'll go." Her face was radiant with the smile she gave him. "It will make me very happy," she said. He bout his head and fumbled over r ' . some papers he had taken from his po<-ket. "Will you listen to these memoranda? We have a great deal to go over before S o'clock." Judge l'lke stood for a long while where Joe had left him, staring out at the street apparently. Really he saw nothing. Undoubtedly an image of Marian-.: foliage, eust iron, cement and turf. with sunshine smeared over all. flickered upon the retinas of his eyes, hut the Praia did not accept the picture from the optic nerve. Martin Pike was hnsy with other visions. Joe Louden had f >!lowed him hack to his hidden deeds and had read them aloud to Liirn ns tJabriel would read them on judgment day. perhaps this was the judgment day. .Martin I'ike had always been prompt. It was one of the thing* of which he had bt en proud. In all his life he had never fai ed to keep a business engagement precisely upon the appoinrel time, and the1 courthouse bell clanged e gi.t when iv.ni Warden opened tue dour for his o.d employer tonight. The. two young pecfle looked up i gravely from the script laden table he- j fore them as Martin Pike came into t "Well," he said Itrolurnly, "what are yhu ijoiiiQ to do T" the strong lamplight out of the dimness of the ball, where only a taper 1 burned. He shambled u few limp steps luto die room and came to a halt. Big as he was. his clothes hung upon him loosely, like coverlets ui?on a collapsed bed. and he seemed hut a distorted Image of himself, as if, save for the dull and reddened eyes, he had been made of yellowish wax and had been left too long :u tue sun. ADjeci. uopeiess. u.s attitude a confession of ruin and shame, he stood before his judges in such wretchedness that in comparison : the figure of Happy Fear, facing the courtroom through his darkest hour, was one to be envied; ! "Well," he said brokenly, "what are you going to do?" Joe Louden looked at him with great intentness for several moments, theu he rose and came forward. "Sit down. " judge." he said. "It's all right. Don't worry." CHAPTER XXV. MRS. FLITCROFT at breakfast ] on the following morning continued a disquisition which j bad'ceased the previous night only because of a provoking human incapacity to exist without sleep. The Tocsin had been tier great comfort. "Yes. young man," she said as she lifted her first spoonful of oatmeal, "you better read the Tocsin 1" "i nm rAailinir if." resnanded Nor bert, who waa almost concealed by the paper. / "And your grandfather better read it," she continued severely. "I already have," said the colonel promptly. "Have you?" "No, but you can be sure 1 will." "All right," said Xorbert. suddenly handing her the paper. "Go ahead." "Ha!" exclaimed Mrs. Flitcroft. i "Here it in in headlines on the first J page. "Defense Scores Again and Again. Ridiculous Behavior of a } Would Be Mob. Louden's"'? She ; paused, remaved her spectacles, exam- j iued them j|j!)iously, restored them to > place and continued, " 'I.ouden's Mas- : terl.v Conduct and Well Deserved'"? She paused again, incredulous?" 'Well deserved Triumph' "Go on." said the colonel softly. "Indeed I will," the old lady replied. "Look at the editorials," suggested Xorbert. "There's one on the same subject." " The best of us make mistakes, and it is well to have a change of heart sometimes."' Thus Eugene's successor had written, and so Mrs. Flitcroft read. "'An open confession is good for the soul. The Tocsin has changed its mind in regard to certain matters and means to say so freely aud frankly. After yesterday's events in conueetloh with Hie murder trial beforitur public, die evidence being now nil presented, for we understand that neither side has more to offer, it is generally conceded that all good citizens are hopeful of a verdict of acquittal, and the Tocsin is a good citizen. No good citizen would willingly see an Innocent man punished, and that our city I ic nof tn lio fliscrared bv such a mis- i carriage of justice is due to the efforts of the attorney for the defendant, who has gained credit not only by his masterly management of this case, but by his splendid conduct in the face of danger yesterday afternoon. He has distinguished himself so greatly that we frankly assert that our citizens may point with pride to'Mrs. Flitcroft's TOlce, at the lcginnlng pitched to a (Continued on page 7.) r - ' > " l* < X ' V ' JV.V > > T. i i - 7. < ^ , ' , Rheumatism I havp found a tried and tested cure for Rheumatism ! Not a remedy that will straighten the distorted limbs of chronic cripples, nor tum bony growths back to fcsh again. That is impossible. But I can now surely kill the pains and pangs of mis a?4pioraoie uistrosc. In Germany?with a Chemist In the City of Darmstadt?I found the last ingredient with which Dr. Shoop's Rheumatic Remedy was made a perfected, dependable prescription. Without that last ingredient. I successfully treated many, many cases of Rheumatism; but now, at last, it uniformly cures all curable cases of this heretofore much dreaded disease. 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