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/ SS5E M - - - , ^ : 3 |! The Sf By REX E ! .i/pyniflti I ? C -. b "Very well. I wish to find Mr. Struve of Dunham & Struve. lawyers." "I'll take you to their offices," said Glenister. "You see to the baggage, Dex. Meet me at the md Class in half an hour, and we'll run out to the Midas." They pushed through the tangle of tents, past "piles of lumber and emerged, upon* the main thoroughfare., which ran parallel to the shore. Nome consisted" of one narrow street, twisted between solid rows of canvas and half erected frame buildings, its every other door that of a saloon. There were fair looking blocks which j aspired to the dizzy height of three stories, some sheathed in corrugated ; iron, others gleaming and galvanized, j Lawyers' signs. doctors', surveyors', I were In tbe upper windows. Tbe street j was thronged with men from every ( land. Helen Chester heard more dialects than she could couut Laplanders | In quaint three cornered padded caps j Idled past. Men with the tan of the tropica rubbed elbows with yellow haired Norsemen, and near ber a carefully groomed Frenchman with riding breeches and monocle was In pantomime with a skin clad Bsktmo. To her left was tba sparkling sew, abve with ships of every dims. To ber right towered timber less mountains, unpeopled, unexplored, forbidding and desolate, their hollows inlaid with snow. Ob one hand were the lift and the world she knew, on tbe other sHence, mystery, possible adventure. * The midway where she stood wss s crash of sundry vehicles from bicycles to dog hauled water carts, and on all < sides men were laboring busily, the echo of hammers mingling with the i cries of teamsters arxl tba tinkle of music Wltbfn tbe saloons. "And this Is midnight.1" exclaimed i Helen breathlessly. "Do they ever rest?' There isn't time. This is a gold stampede. You haven't caught the spirit of it yet." They climbed the stairs ha a huge iron sheeted building to the office of Dunham & Struve. and in answer to their knock a red faced, white haired, tousled man in shirt sleeves and stocking feet opened the door. 'What d'ye wan'?" he bawled, his i legs wavering uncertainly. His eyes were heavy and bloodshot, his lips i loose, and his whole person exhaled al- i > coholic fumes like a gust from a still house. Hanging to the knob, he strove i vainly to solve the mystery of his sus- i penders, hiccoughing intermittently. "Humph! Been drunk ever since I i left?" questioned Glenister. I I "Somebody mus' have toP you," the ] ' lawyer replied. There was neither cu- i riositv. recognition nor resentment in i his voice. In fact, his bead drooped ; so that he paid no attention to the girl, who had shmnk bectf at sight of ( him. He was a young man.' with 1 marks of brilliancy showing through ] the dissipation betrayed by his silvery hair and coarsened features. , I '19K ???w wh*t to la- i mented the girk < ( "Anybody else here besides you?" bej escort of the lawyer. ! "No. I'm runntn" the law business unassisted. Hon'*- need any help. Dunham's in Wash n'ton, D. C., the Ian* of the home, the free of the brave. What can I do for yon?" Be mad? to cross the threshold hospitably, but tripped, plunged forward and would have rolled down the stairs had not Glenlster gathered htm up and borne him back Into the office, where he tossed him upon a bed in a rear room. "Now what. Miss Chester?"' asked the young man, returning. "Isn't that dreadful?' she shuddered. "Oh. and I must see him tonight!" She stamped Impatiently. "I must see him alone." "No, you mustn't," said Olenlster, with equal decision. "In the first place, be wouldn't know what you were talking about, and. In the second place, I know Strove. He's too drunk j/ <o talk business and too sober to? ' well, to see you alone." T mi,at baa him " ah#? insisted. "It's what brought me here. You don't understand." "I understand more than be could. ' He's in no condition to act on any 1 important matter. You come around tomorrow when he's sober." "It means so much," breathed the girl. "The beast!" . < Glenlster noted that she had not 1 wrung her bands nor even hinted at O . tears, though plainly her disappointv ment and anxiety were consuming her. $ "Well, I suppose I'll have to wait, but I dont know where to go?some hotel, I suppose." "There aren't any. They're building two, but tonight you couldn't hire a room in Nome for money. I was about to say 'love or money.' Have you no other friends here?no women? Then you must let me find a place for you. I have a friend whose wife will take you In." She reMled at this. Was she never to have done with this man's favors? She thought of returning to the ship, but dismissed that. She undertook to decline liis akl, but he was halfway down the stairs and paid no attention to her beginning? so she followed him. It was then that Helen Chester witnessed her first tragedy of the frontier jjnd through. It came, to know better oilers. . BEACH. y Rex E. Beach. f!: ? man Whom s".n? dlsiiked and w?:"i \vh mi she !i ;?l been thrown so fatefully. Already she had t!:ri!??'?l at th spoil of this r.iimtry. but s!n? had :i"t learned that strength ami licence carry blood and violence as corollaries. Emerging from tlto doorway at tho foot of tho s'nlrs. thoy drifted slowly along the walk. watching tho crowd. Resales tho ^universal tension. thoro woro laughter and hojio and exhilaration in tho faros. The enthusiasm of this boyish multitude wanned one. The girl wished to pet Into this spirit? to Ik? one of them. Then suddenly from the babble at their elUnvs eaine a discordant note, not long nor loud, only a few words, penetrating and harsh with the n?etal!lc quality lent by passion. Helen glanced over her shoulder to find that the smiles of the throng were gone and that its eyes were bent ou some scene In the street with an eager Interest she had never seen mirrored before. Simultaneously Glenlater spoke: j "Come away irom ik-ts. With the quickened eye of experience be foresaw trouble and tried to drag her on, but sbe shook off bis grasp Impatiently and, turning, gazed absorbed at the spectacle whfcb unfolded itself before her. Although not comprehending the play of events, sbe felt vaguely the quick approach of aome crista, yet was unprepared for the swiftness with which It came. Her eyee had laaped to the figures of two man In the street from whom the rest had separated Tike oil from water. One was allm and well dressed, the other bulky, thackinawed and lowering of feature. It was the smaller who spoke, and for a moment she misjudged bis bloodshot eyes and swaying carriage to be the result of alcohol uutll she saw that he was racked with fury. "Make good. I tell you, quick! Give me that bill of sale, you ? The unkempt man swung on hie heel with a growl and walked away, his course leadiug blm toward Glenlster and the girl. With two strides be was abreast of tbem; tben, detecting uie) Boshing movement of the other, he whirled like n wild animal. His voice had the 6nurl of a beast in it "Ye had to have it, didn't ye? Well, there:" The actions of both men were quick as light, vet to the girl's taut senses they seemed theatrical and deliberate. Into her mind was seared forever the memory of that second as though the shutter of a camera had snapped, impressing ui?on her brain the scenf, sharp, clear cut and vivid. The shaggy back of the large man almost brushing her, the rage drunken, white sbirted man in the derby hat, the crowd sweeping backward like rushes before a blast, men with arms pexcd and feet raised In flight. the glaring yellow sign of the 'Gold Belt Dance Ilall" across the way?these were stamped upon her retina, and then she was Jerked violently backward,, two-,- strong arms crushed her down upon her knees against the wall, and she was smothered In the arms of -Roy Gleolster. "My God! Don't move! We're In line;" *- f He crouched over her, hte cheek against her' hair, his weight forcing her down into the smallest compass, his arms about her. his l>ody forming a living shield against the flying bullets. Over them the big man stood, and the. sustained roar of bis gun was deafening. In an Instant they heard the thud and felt the Jar of lead In the thin boards against which tbey huddled. Again the report echoed above their beads, and tbey saw the slender man In the street drop his weapon and spin half round as though hit with some heavy hand. He uttered a cry and, stooping for hjs atin, plunge^ forward, burying his face in the sand. The man by Glenlster's side shouted curses thickly and walked toward his prostrate enemy, firing at every step. The wounded man rolled to his side and, raising himself on his elbow, shot twice so rapidly that the reports blended, but without checking his antagonist's approach. Fonr more times the relentless assailant fired deliberately, his last missile sent as he stood over the body which twitched and shuddered at his feet. Its garments muddy and smeared. Then he turned and retraced his steps. Bnck within arm's length of the two who pressed against the building he came, and as he went by they saw his coarse and sullen features drawn and working pallidly, while the breath whistled through his teeth. He held hla course to the door tbey bad <,??, ?Kan aa ho turn?*! ho coughed bestially, spitting out a monthful of Wood. His knees wavered. He vanished within the portals, and in the sickly silence that fell they heard his hobnailed boots clumping slowly up the stairs. Noise awoke and rioted down the thoroughfare. Men rushed forth from every quarter, and the ghastly object in the dirt was hidden by a seething mass of miners. Glenlster raised the girl, but her head rolled liinplv, and she would have slipped to her knees again had he not placed his arm about her waist. Her eyes were staring and horror filled. "Don't be frightened," said he, smiling at her reassuringly. Bnt his own lips shook and the sweat stood out like dew on hlm,_for lhev_ had both been il . -i ?' V at* I ?% v :.?7k </ m/?' t/n xlnnlrr ir:<fi tpfn half round. oil *< t?? ~-:m. ditto on mi' a serge and swirl through (ho <rowd. aud , 1'extry swunjiod upon tlieni like, a | hawk. i "lie ye hurt? Holy Maokiuaw! When 1 see 'etn blaze away I yells at ye flt to bust my throat. I shore thought you was gone. Although 1 can't say but this kliliu' was a sight for sore eyes?so neat au" genteel?still, as a rule, iu tin* o street brawls It's the lnno'-ums I ystnndor that h;is dower* sent aro. nd to his house afterward." "Ixiokat this." said < doubter. P.reast high In the wall against which they had crouched, not three feet apart, were bullet bole*. "Them"* the first two he unhitched." Deitry remarked, jerking his bead toward the object In the street. "Moat have been a new gon an'jmDed hard | ?throwed blm to the right Seer Even to the girl ft was patent thet had she not been snatched as she was the bullet would here found her. "Come away Quick," she Tinted, and tbey led ber Into a nearby store, where she sank upon a seat and trembled until Deitry brought ber a glass of whisky. "Here, miss," be said. "Pretty tough go for a tbeechako.' I'm afraid you ain't getfin' enamoured of this here country a whole lot" For half an honr he talked to ber In his whimsical way of foreign things till she was quieted. Then the partnerS arose to go. Although Glenlster had arranged for her to stop with the wife of the merchout for the rest of the night, she would not. T not,'# rr,. in twvd llotl'f IdlVP A VttU V p,V IV WV. m ?VMVV ? me! I'm too nervous. I'll go mad If you do. The strain of the last week has been too much for uie. Lf I sleep I'll see the faces of those men again." Pextry talked with his companion, then made a purchase which he laid at the lady's feet "Here's a pair of half grown gum boots. You put 'em on an' come with us. We'll take your mind off of things complete. An' as fer sweet, dreams, when yo? get back you'll make the slumters of the Just seem as restless as a riot or the antics of a mountain goat which nimbly leaps from crag to cragi and?well, that's restless enough. Come on!" As the sun slanted up out of Bering] sea they marched hack -toward the hills, their feet ankfe deep in the soft fresh rhoss, while the air tasted like a cool draft and a myriad of earthy rnco tin and pncircled them. VUVI O ? wv U|> ? - ? Snipe and reed birds were noisy in the hollows, and from the misty tundra lakes came the bonking of brant. After their weary weeks on Rhipboard the dewy freshness livened them magically, cleansing from their memories the recent tragedy, so that the girl became herself again. "Where are. we going?' she asked at the end of an hour, pausing for breath. "Why, to the Midas, of course," they said, aud one of them vowed recklessly as he drank in the beauty of her clear eyes and the grace of her slender, panting form that he would gladly give bis share of all Its riches to undo what he bad done one Bight on the Santa Maria. OH A ITER V. IN the lives of countries there are crises where for a breath destinies lie io the laps of the |pds and are A Jumbled, beads or tans. inun air marked distinctive cyoies flke the seven a ges of a man, and, though perhaps tbey are too subtle to be perceived'at the time, yet, having rwpng past the shadowy milestones, the epochs disclose themselves." Such n per16d in the progress df the far northwest was the 19th day of July, although to those concerned In the building of this new empire the day appealed ooly as the date of the coming of the law. All Nome gathered on the sands as lighters brought ashore Judge Stllknan and his following. It w-as held fitting that the Senator should be the ship to safeguard the dignity of the first court and to Introduce justice Into this land of the wild. The interest awakened by hte honor was augmented by the fact that be was met on the beach by a charming | girl, who flung herself upon him with evident delight. "That's his niece," said some one. "She came up on the first boat Name's | Chester. Swell looker, eh?" Another newcomer attracted even more notice than the limb of the law; a gigantic, well groomed man, with keen, close set eyes and that Indefinable easy movement and polished bearing that come from confidence, health and travel. Unlike the others, he did not dally on the beach or display much Interest In his surroundings, hut with purposeful frown strode through the [Continued o^page 3.] jx Rev Trala Scbedile. I The following schedule of the I new train from Latye to Florence, which went into effect Monday, December 17, has been furnished us by Mr J P Taylor, the courteous and efficient agent of the Atlantic < oast Line railroad at Kingstree: North Hound Arrives No. So <:o< A. M, *No. 4(3 11:42A.M. No. 30 0:30 P. M. .South Bound Arrives No. sh 0:1v P. M *No. 47 5:46 P. M. No. 51 10:52 A.M. # Daidy Except Sunday. Just received, our nice line oi Dress Linen. IVop'e's Mercan- i tile Company. 1 o0 tf Weak Kidneys Weak Kidneys, surely point to weak kidney , Ferves. The Kidneys, like the '.Heart. and the I Stomach, find their weakness, not In the organ I itself, but In the nerves that control end guide and strengthen them. Dr. 6 hoop's Re stive is medicine specifically prepared tr i these i controlling nerves. To doctor the " alone, n futile. It h a waste of time, a oney as well. If your back achea or is weak, u jm vine Scalds, or is dark and strong. If you have symptoms I Of Brlghu or other distressing or dangerous kidOefioryoa. Draggles is ma?an I! and seB I I I Dr. Shoof's Restorative D. C. SCOTT. See our new line of L^ces and Embroideries. * Just to hand. People's Mercantile Co. 1-30-tf The Largest and Moet C ^mplete Establishment South. (JO. S. IICUI 2 SOI. -MAM'FACTVH :R8 OFSash, Doors, Blinds Moulding and Building Material, Sasfi Weights and Cords CHARLESTON, S. 0. I iiftaiiiMs I * * i W. L. Bau A. C. Hinds BASS & HINDS, A ? ? - X 1 Auorneys-ai-ittw KNGSTREE, S. C. 9-30-tf. iurn ram. m Lake City, S. C Crown and Bridge Work a Specialty. ALL WORK Guaranteed as* Rep resented. W. L. BASS~ Attorney at Law LAKE CITY, 8. C. tJ T TUT ?nAka UI A U M&WVQMV Dentist mosim - s. a J. D. MOUZON'S BARBER SHOP ?in the? Til Kearei Httel is equipped with up-to-date appliances. rolite Service. Iompetent 5-8-08. W. P TENNENT ARCHITECT General Contractor and Builder Solicits your business. Estimates cheerfully furnished on all : ; kinds of work. : : 126 Evans 'Phone 1962 FLORENCE, S. C. Supervisor of construction New School Building and Superintendent of work on U. S. Post Office and of John McSween O, stores Timraonsville and Beulah and residence at National Cemetery. : : : : : I Coughs of Children Especially night coughs. Nature needs a little help to quiet i ,u~ --Jtotjon, control the in.aifiiii3tion) c m woo of the disease, uur advice is ? give the children Ayer's Cherry Pectoral. Ask your doctor if this is his advice also. He knowb best. Do as he says. ? We publiah our formulae We bar.iah alcohol jr y from our medlcinea m s J i ur?? y?u to <? JLUC/O con5o^our If you think constipation is of trifling consequence, just ask your doctor. He will disabuse you of that notion in short order. "Correct it, at once!" be will say. Then ask him about Ayer's Pills. A mild liver pill, all vegetable. ?? ]fedo by tie J. C. Ayr Co., Lowell, Km, > COTTON ?AXD THE PRIX TOBi There will be a number of s Fall and we are ready to serv splendid crop prospect we are r enlarge our floor space, and rati; Queen Stoves and Ranges from t price SO Pea We have just received a carl fered at a low price. Remembei min Moore & Co s Paint. Also, Cutlery and Raaors. The Robes predate our friends' patronage < tinned confidence. t r ivaiit? vW Ly 1 LAKE CI "A dollar is a dolli There is no better way 1 dealing with J. L. Stuckey, the ol< man. I have a splendid lineo Blfflti. Willi iL.i : ? . ?r it,- i J A: ? inai in view ui uic naiu uincjr above cost.. . A nice bunch .of HORSES at prices to suit. J. L Stuc 5*xA car 8 ?<QF Fl o Horses < jl Nice drivers and Sr Come in and ge Q Buggies and 8 Harness * Give us a call It the rest. y Yours to 8 THE WILUAHSBURI 8KJ^gstre8&Gre8ly?iIIe, BANK OFK Kingstree< So CAPITAL. > 30.000 ===== DIREC Jas F Cooper D C Scott Collections made promptly LOANS, large or small, mj HHHHHBHHnHUB i MOUNTAIN OR SHORE j Tberi it slways* chsne* to enjoy tome ehootiof TO SHOOT WELL YOU MUST BE EQUIPPED WITH A RELIABLE FIREARM: the onlv kind we hart been making for upwards of fifty years. Our Line: RIFLES, PISTOLS, SHOTGUNS, ",r'.E TELESCOPES, ETC. Ask your >lcr, an<l insist on the STEVENS. V here not sold by Re- J tailers, we ship direct, exjjress^jjreP"i?l. upon receipt of Catalog price. Mend lor l IO i'u(e illustrated JA rataloK. An indispensable book or " ^H| ready reference for raun and boy HBfl auuuirn, .11 mien ior * rent* In titmps torovrr pnxtuiro. Reuutlful H Ten Color Hunger lonvardrd Tor ix een's in J. STEVEN'S AH.US & TOOL CO. ^bH P. O. l>ox 4007 r. ^D| Chicopoe Fa IN, Mass., U.S.A. ' ' ISKIKfi 1 CE RECENT IS- | 1COO. | ubjects of both in Lake City this- I e them. In anticipation of the. M epairinp our warehouse so as to m ler than remove the stock of O.K. I warehouse we have Reduced the : Gent. ' ' -M load of Wire Fence, which is of we are headquarters for Benjawe offer exceptional values ift on Raior can't he beat. We apmd will try to merit their co?- g y-v J lard, ware Co., 1 [TY. 8. C. j saved 1 ar made" . :o save your dollars than by d reliable live-stock f ? ni ins, am offering at 10 per cent 9 and MULES always on hand y Lake City, S. C. LOADxxs IESH* ** 9 & riules | j good workers. jl 1 ;t your choice. * X Wagons Q J t -m. r? A ? ana wnips. o l and we will do jl 1 Please, 9 . I i LIVESTOCK CO. 8 , Sooth Carolina. X 1 kxxxxxxxxxxxS i ??> J JNGSTREE ufh Carolina, * SURPLUS. I7R00 TORS 1 R H Kellahan J A Kelley a. h &de on approved security. \ 3 i J ij 1