Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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+ ? 1? I ! Hie Spoilers. By REX E. BEACH. Copyright. 1905. by Rex E. Beach. [Continued fromjpa^e 2.] ways, watching a cnance to dodge out ^ again. When vehicles passed from the comparative solidity of the main street J. out Into the morasses that constituted the rest of the town, they adventured perilously, their horses plunging, snorting. terrified, amid an atmosphere of profanity. Discouraged animals were down constantly, and no foot passenger. even with rubber boots, ventured off the planks that led from house to bouse. To avoid a splashing team Dextry pulled his companion close In against the entrance to the Northern saloon, standing before her protectlngly. Although It was late in the afternoon. the Bronco Kid had Just arisen and was now loafing preparatory to the active duties of his profession. He was speaking with the proprietor when Dextry and the girl sought shelter just without the open door, so he caught a fair though fleeting glimpse of her as she flashed a curious look Inside She had never been so close to a .gambling ball before ami would have liked to peer in more carefully hud she dared, but her companion moved forward. At the first look the Bronco Kid had broken off In his speech and ?tared at her as though at an apparition. When she had vanished, he spoke to Reilly: "Who's that?" Reilly shrugged his shoulders; then, without further question, the Kid turned back toward the empty theater and out of the back door. He moved nonchalantly till he was ^outside, then with the speed of a colt ran down the narrow planking between the buildings, turned parallel to the front street, leaped from board to board, splashed through puddles of water, till he reached the next alley. Stamping the mud from bis shoes aud pulling down his sombrero, he sauntered out Into the main thoroughfare. Dextry and his companion had crossed to the other side and were approaching, so the gambler gained a t*Iaw a# thorn Ua cnarnhiwl avorv inch of the girl's face and figure, then, as she made to turn ber eyes in bis direction, he slouched away. He followed, however, at a distance, till he saw the man leave her, then on up to the big hotel be shadowed her. A half hour later he was drinking la the Golden Gate barroom with an acquaintance who ministered to the meehanical details behind the hotel ^ <rounter. "Who's the girl I saw come In Just now?' he Inquired. "I guess you mean the Judge's niece." Both men spoke in the dead, restrained tones that go with their callings. "What's her name?" "Chester, I think. Why? Look good to you. Kid?" Althnncrh th?? nfhor neither snoko nor made sign, the bartender construed his ?llence as acquiescence and continued, with a conscious glance at his own reflection while he adjusted his diamond acarfpln: "Well, she can have me! I've got It fixed to meet her." "Bah! I guess not," said the Kid suddenly, with an inflection that startled the other from his preening. Then, he went out, the man mused: "Gee! Bronco's got the worst eye In the camp! Makes me creep when he throws it on me with that muddy look. He acted like he was jealous." At noon the next day, as he prepared to go to the claim, Dextry's partner hurst in upon him. Glenlster was disheveled, and his eyes shone with Intense excitement. "What d' you think they've done now?" lie cried as greeting. "I dunuo. W'hut is it?" "They've broken open the safe and taken oiir money." "What!" The old man In turn was on his feet, ghe grudge which he hud felt against Glenister in the past few days forgotten In this common misfortuue. "Yes. by heaven, they've swijied our money, our tents, tools, teams, books, hose and all of our personal property? everything! They threw Johuson off and took the whole works. I never beard of such a thing. I went out to the claim, and they wouldn't let me go near the workings. They've got every mine on Anvil creek guarded the same way. and they aren't going to let us come around even when they clean up. They told me so this morng." ^ "But, look here." demanded Dextry sharply, "the money in that safe belongs to us. That's money we brought 1 In from the States. The court ain't got no right to It. What kind of a damn law Is that?" "Oh. as to law, they don't pay any attention to it any more," said Glent ister bitterly. "I made a mistake in l^pfliilllng the first man that set foot oa.the claim. I was a sucker, and now we're up against a stiff game. The Swedes are In the same fix, too. This last order has left them groggy." "I don't understand it yet," said Dextry. "Why, it's this way: The Judge has issued what he calls an order enlarging the powers of the receiver, and it authorizes McNamara to take possession of everything on the claims?tents, tools, stores and personal property of all kinds. It was issued last night without notice to our side, so Wheaton says, and they served It this morning early. I went out to see McXamara. and when I pot there I found hi:n In our i?rlvate tent with the safe broken open." " 'What does this tr.ean?' I said. And then he showed me the new order. "Tin responsible to the court for every penny of this money.' said lie. 'and for every tool on the claim. In view of that I can't allow you to go near the workings.' " 'Not go near the workings?" sakl 1. 'Do yon mean you won't let us see the cleanups from our own mine? IIow do we know we're getting a square deal If we don't see the gold weighed ?' ""V tho <>niirt and I " i ru uu iiuji-ci vi imv , under bond,' said he. and the smiling triumph in his eyes made me crazy. " 'You're a lying thief,' I said, looking at him square. 'And you're ?olng too far. You played me for a fool once and made It stick, but It won't work twice.' "He looked Injured and aggrieved and called In Voorhees. the marshal. 1 can't grasp the thing at all. Everybody seems to be against us?the Judge, the marshal, the prosecuting attorney. everybody. Yet they've done It all according to law. they claim, and have the soldiers to back them up." "It's Just as Mexico Mulllus said." Dextry stormed. "There's a deal on of some kind. I'm goln' up to the hotel an' call on the Judge myself. I ain't never seen him nor this McNamara either. I alius want to look a man straight In the eyes once, then I know what course to foller In my dealin's." "You'll find them both." said Glenlster. "for McNamara rode into town behind me." The old prospector proceeded to the Golden Gate hotel and Inquired for fudge Stillman's n?oin. A boy attempt ed to take his name, but he seized kiin by the scruff-of the ueck and sat him in his seat, proceeding unannounced to the suit to which he had been directed. Hearing voices, he knocked and then, without awaiting a summons, walked in. The room was fitted like an office, with desk, table, typewriter and law books. Other rooms opened from it on both sides. Two men were talking earnestly?one gray haired, smooth shaven and clerical, the other tall, picturesque and masterful. With his first glance the miner knew that before him were the two he had come to 6ee and that in reality he had to deai with but one. the big man who shot at him the level glances. "We are engaged." said the Judge; "very busily engaged, sir. Will you call again in half an hour?" Dextry looked him over carefully from head to foot, then turned his back on him and regarded the other. Neither he nor McNamara spoke, but their eyes were busy, and each instinctively knew that here was a foe. "What do you want?" McNamara in quired dually. "I Just dropped in to get acquainted. My name is Dextry?Joe Dextry?from everywhere west of the Missouri. An' your name is McNamara, ain't It? This here. I reckon, is your little French poodle-eh?" indicating Stillman. "What do you mean?" 6ald McNamara, while the Judge murmured indignantly. "Just what I say. However, that ain't what I want to talk about. I don't take no stock In such truck as Judges an' lawyers an' orders of court. They ain't intended to fee took serious. They're all right for children an' easterners an' uon compos mentis people, 1 s'pose, but I've always been my owu Judge, Jury an' hangman, an' I aim to continue workin' my legislatlf, executif an' judicial duties to the end of the string. You look out! My pardner Is young an' seems to like the Idee of lettin' somebody else run his business, so I'm goln' to give him rein and let him amuse himself for awhile with your uiukv mue wnis an receiverships. But don't go too far. You can rob the Swedes, 'cause Swedes ain't entitled to have no money, an' some other crook would get it If you didn't, but don't play me an' Glenlster fer Scandinavians. It's a mistake. We're white men, an' I'm apt to come romancln' up here with one of these an' bust you so you won't hold together durin* the ceremonies." With tys last words he made the slightest shifting movement, only a lifting shrug of the shoulder, yet in his palm lay a six shooter. He had slipped it from his trousers band with the ease of long practice and absolute surety. Judge Stillinan gasped and backed against the desk, but McNamara Idly swung his leg as he sat sidewise ou the table. His only sign of interest was a quickening of the eyes, a fact of which Dextry made mental note. "Yes." said the miner, disregarding the alarm of the lawyer, "you can wear this court in your vest pocket like a Waterbury, if you want to, but if you don't let me alone, I'll uncoil its mainspring. That's all." He replaced his weapon and. turning, walked out the door. CHAPTER IX. **\ J E must have money," said 1 ? / Glenlster a few days later, l/y "When McNamara Jumped ? ? our safe, he put us down and out. There's no use fighting in this court any longer, for the judge won't let us work the ground ourselves, even if we give bond, and he won't grant an appeal. He says his orders aren't appealable. We ought to send Wheaton out to 'Frisco and have him take the case to the higher courts. Maybe he can get a writ of supersedeas." "I don't rec'nize the name, but if It's as bad as it sounds it's sure horrible. Ain't there no cure for it?" "It simply means that the upper court would take the case away from this one." & ' Well, let's send him out quick. Every day menus $10,000 to us. It'll take him a month to make the round trip, so I s'pose he ought to leave tomorrow on the lion no ke." "Yes, but where's the money to do It with? McXnnmra has ours, My God! What a mess we're in! What fools we've l?een. Dex! There's a conspiracy here. I'm begiuuiug to see it now that it's too late. This man is looting our country under color of law aud figures on gutting all the mines before we can throw hint o(T. That's his game. He'll work them as hard and as long as he can. and heaven only knows what will become of the money. lie must have big men behind him iu order to fix a United States judge this way. May lie lie hus the 'Frisco courts corrupted. too." 'if lie h:is. I'm goin' to kill hlra." said Dextry. "I've worked like a dog all my life, and now that I've struck pay I don't aim to lose It. If Bill When ton can't win out accordln" to law. Fin golu' to proceed accordln' to Justice." During the past two days the part ners bait 'ed the courtroom wfcc their la tho? ^ el for the . .<huv.a and pleade ing every [losslble professional >1 unprofessional artifice In search ' relief from the arbitrary rulings of he court, while hourly they had became more strongly suspicious of some sinister plot, some hidden, powerful understanding back of the Judge and the entire mechanism of Justice. They hud fought with the fury of men who battle for life and had grown to hate the lines of Still nan's vacillating face, the bluster of th? district attorney and the smirking confidence of the clerks, for It seemed that they all worked mechanically, like toys, at the dictates of Alec McNamara. At last when they had ceased, beateu and exhausted, they were too confused with technical phrases to grasp anything except the fact that ? I /vri thorn that thf>lr reilCl ? art ucutvu tuvtu, ?wm? claims were to be worked by the, receiver and. as a crowning defeat they learned that the judge would move his court to St. Michael's and hear no cases until he returned, a month later. Meanwhile. McNamara hired every idle man he could lay hand upon and ripped the placers open with double shifts. Every day a stream of yellow dust j)oured into the bank and was locked in his vaults, while those mine owners who attempted to witness the cleanups we:e ejected from their claims. The politician had worked with Incredible swiftness and system, and a fortnight after landing he had made good bis boast to Strove and was in charge of every good claim In the district, the owners were ousted, their appeals argued and denied and jvni.i* nnno f/?r thirty diivs. leav ilie V-VUi k ftvuv * V? . v -? Ing him a clear field for hla operations. He felt a contempt for most of his victims, who were slow wltted Swedes, grasping neither the purport nor the magnitude of his operation, and to those litigants who were discerning enough to see its enormity he trusted to his organization to thwart them. The two partners hud come to feel that they were beating against a wall and had also come squarely to face the proposition that they were without funds wherewith to continue their battle. It was inaddating for them to think of the dally robbery that they ' suffered, for the Midas turned out many ounces of gold at every shift, and more maddening to realize the receiver's shrewdness In crippling them by his theft of the gold lu their safe. That had been his crowning stroke. "We must get money quick," said Glenlster. "Do you think we can borrow?" I "Borrow?" sniffed Dextry. "Folks don't lend money in Alaska." ] Thov r*lnnsp<l Into a nioodv silence. "I met a feller this mornln' that's workln* on the Midas," the old man i resumed. "He came In town fer a < pair of gum boots, an* he says they've run Into awful rich ground?so rich that they have to clean up every mornln' when the night shift goes off cause the riffles clog with gold." "Think of It!" Gleulster growled. "If I we had even a part of one of those 1 cleanups we could send Wbeaton out- i side." In the midst of his bitterness a thought struck him. He made as < though to speak, then closed his mouth. But bis partner's eyes were on him, i filled vrlth a suppressed but growing ] fire. Dextry lowered his voice cau- i tiously: 1 "There'll be $20,000 In them sluices tonight at midnight." Glenlster stared hack, while his pulse pounded at something that lay In the other's words. "It belongs to us," the young man said. "There wouldn't be anything wrong about it, would there?" Dextry sneered. "Wrong! Right! Them is fine an' soundln' titles In a mess like this. What do they mean? I tell you at midnight tonight Alec MeNaraara will have $20,000 of our money"? "God! What would happen If they caught us?" whispered the younger, following out his thought "They'd never let us get otr the eiaim anve. jue couldn't find a better excuse to shoot us down aud*;et rid of us. If we came up before this judge for trial, we'd go to Sitka for twenty years." "Sure! But it's our only chance. I'd rather die on the Midas in a fair fight than set here bitlu' my hangnails. I'm growin* old, an' I won't never make another strike. As to bein' caught? them's our chances. I won't be took alive, I promise you that, and before I go I'll get ray satisfy. Castin' things c up, that's about all a man gets In this vale of tears, Jest satisfaction of one kind or another. It'll be a tight In the open, under the stars, with the clean, wet moss to lie down on, and not a scrappln* match of freak phrases and I law books Inside of a stinkin' court- { room. The cards Is shuffled and in the L / box, pardner, and the game Is started. If we're due to win. we'll win. If we're due to lone, we'll lose. These things Is all figgered out n thousand years back. Come on. boy! Are you game?" "Am I game?" Giculster's nostrils diluted, uu.1 his voice roje a tone. "Ain I flume? I'm with you till the big cash in. and Ix?rd huve mercy on any man that blocks our game tonight." "We'll need another hand to help us," said Dextry. "Who can we ge.?" At that moment, as though In an 8wer, the door opened with the scant ' "'' ! i Ttie watchman sank with a faint cry. ceremony that friends of the frontier are wont to observe, admitting the at tenuated, flapping, dome crowned figure of Slapjack Simtus, and Dextry fell upon him with the hunger of a wolf. 1 It was midnight, and over the dark walls of the valley peered a multitude of stars, while away on the southern 1 horizon there glowed a subdued effulgence as though from hidden fires beneath the Gold God's caldron or as though the phosphorescence of Bering had spread upward Into the skies. Although each night grew longer, it was not yet nece/sary to light the men at work In the cuts. There were perhaps two hours In which it was difficult to see at a distance, but the dawn came early; hence no provision had been made for torches. Five minutes before the hour the ( night shift boss lowered the gates In the dam, and as the rush from the sluices subsided his men quit work and climbed the bluff to the mess tent. The dwellings of the Midas, as has already been explained, sat back from the creek at a distance of a city block. the workings being thus partially hidden under the brow of the steep bank. It Is customary to leave a watchman la the pit during the noon and midnight hours, not only to see that strangers preserve a neutral attitude, but also to watch the waste gates and water supply. The night man of the Midas bad been warned of his responsibility and. knowing that much gold lay in his keeping, was disposed to gaze on the curious minded with the sourness of suspicion. Therefore, as a man lead- ( Ing a packhorse approached out of the gloom of the creek trail, his eyes were on him from the moment he appeared The road wound along the gravel of the bars and passed In proximity to the flumes. However, the wayfarer paid no attention to them, and the watchman detected an explanatory weariness in his slow gait. "Some prospector getting in from a trip," he thought. The stranger stopped, scratched a match, and as he undertook to light bis pipe, the observer caught the ma- i bogany shine of a negro's face. The match sputtered out and then came Impatient blasphemy as he searched for another. "Evenln', sah! You-all oblige me with a match?" He addressed the watcher on the bank above and, without waiting a reply, began to climb upward. No smoker on the trail will deny the luiury of a light to the most humble, so as the nogro gained his level the man reached forth to accommodate him. Without warning the black man leaped forward with the ferocity of an animal and struck the other a fearful kl.? rrk? oont. n-lf K a UIUW. -Llie ?uuuuiau oaua nnu a faint, startled cry, and the African dragged him out of sight over the brow of the bank, where he rapidly ' tied him hand and foot, stuffing a gag ' Into his mouth. At the same moment ' two other figures rounded the bend " below and approached. They were nounted and leading a third saddle torse as well as other pack animals, teaching the workings, they dismount>d. Then begun a strange procedure, 1 'or one man clambered upon the ' iluices and, with a pick, ripped out j he riffles. This was a matter of only < i few seconds; then, seizing a shovel. ' le transferred the concentrates which J ay In the bottom of the boxes into j ranvas sacks which his companion leld. As each bag was filled It was j led and dumped Into the cut They J reated but four boxes in this way, j * 11 n.n.fhlfdo ftf thf? l earing iiic ivwc? *.?? v v~ w. Sume untouched, for Anvil creek gold j s coarse and the heart of the cleanlp lies where It Is thrown In. Gatherng the sacks together, thej lashed hem upon the pack animals, then nounted the second string of sluices ind began as before. Throughout It ill they worked with feverish haste ind In unbroken silence, every moDent flashing quick glances at the figire of the lookout who stood on the rest above, half dimmed In the shad>w of a willow clump. Judging by ] heir rapidity and sureness, they wen . ixpert miners. < [Continued next week.] ! Title, Mortgage, Bill of Sale, j jien on Crop, and Lien and Bill of 1 Sale combined blanks for sale at 1 ;his office. 2 13tf | j ."-V ^ \ 4 Nursing baby? 4 It's a heavy strs 4 Q Her system is ca 4 nourishment for tw ^ e r? Q junic iuiui ui w ^ be easily taken up 4 is needed. # Scott's Emu 4 greatest possible a ^ . ment in easily digesl Mother and bal jfizHjf helped by its use. ] ] i ll ALL DRUCGU RHEUMATIC FOLHST mr vnn uirf vnim viniUFYS JRF flUL IVU UVUb luvn iiawiiMi* WELL? Many rheumatic attacks are due to uric acid in the blood. But the duty of the kidneys is to remove all uric acid from the blood. Its presence there shows the kidneys are inactive. Don't dally with "uric acid solvents." You might go on till doomsday with them, but uutil you cure the kidneys you will never get well. Doan's Kidney Pills not only remove uric acid, but cure the kidneys and then all danger from uric acid is ended. Rupert B Calvo, bookbinder, employed at the State Publishing Co., official printers for the State of South Carolina, living at 1010 Lumber St., Columbia, S C, says: 'j, thought I had rheumatism and treated for it on that belief. I used all kinds of liniment. The pain was in my back and in my bips clear to the shoulders. The liniments did no good and I took blood medicines but they did not help me. I took a long trip in hopes that the change of climate might help me. I was away for three months but could see no change for the better. I heard of Doan's Kidney Pills and determined to try1 them, and got a box at a drug store. They completely removed the paias out of my back and I have not felt a touch of the old trouble since I used them." For sale by all dealers. Price 50 cents. Foster-Milburn Co, Buffalo, New York, sole agents for the United States. Remember the name?Doaa's? And take no other. Don't Wait! TILL YOUR PROPERTY IS DESTROYED, BUT INSURE NOW, Against Loss By Fire or Cyclone. If you want the best, get your Insurance in a strong "Old Line" company. 1 represent several of the largest Fire and Dyclone Insurance Companies. L. H. FAIREY At Bank of Kingstree. f-24-tf. Applied by skilled mechanics J is worth a fair price. Cheap J mixtures slopped on by cheap 3 painters are dear at any price. J We expect to receive a reason- J able equivalent for onr labor. J But we give aa honest dollar's r worth for every dollar we get, r and we endeavor to permanent- ) ^ ly satisfy our customers. ) I ALFRED WELLS, | Painter and Paper Hanger, } I KINQSTREE, S. C. I ' ^ Leave orders with 5 [ Kingstree Hardware Co. j J t -! I tin on mother. A lied upon to supply A >urishment that will ? by mother's system o Is ion contains the f jnount of nourish- V :ed form. Y , ly arc wonderfully Y 1 TSt 50c. AND ?14)0 X Hereafter we positively refuse to publish any communication received at this J office later than Tuesday, noon, except local and personal items, which willjnot be available later than Wednesday, noon, for the current week. By trying- to be accommodating we are thrown late every week and we are tired of it. This notice applies to EVERY BODY. 4-25-tf. For coffins,caskets or un dertakeri supplies day or night call on L. J, Stack ley, Kingstree, S. 0. "R eon strati rvn Wntip.a. Theoffice or the Supervisor of Reg1" istration will be opened on the first Monday in every month for the purpose of the registering of any person who is qualified as follows: Who shall have been a resident of the State for two years, and of tba county one year, and of the polling precinct in which the elector offers to , vote four months before the day of election, and shall have paid, six months before, any poll tax then due and payable, and who can both read ASM and write any section of the constitution of 1895 submitted to him by the Supervisors of Registration, or who can show that he owns, and haa paid all taxes collectable on during the present year, piopertJ in this State assessed at three hundred dollars or more. J. Y. MoGIIJ,, Clerk of Board. t i aM I CLEANING j I and Pressing, | J I Cleaning and Pressing and I flight Alterations of Clothes * ) $ done?the best of Style by P. 1 V. Hazel?next door to Corner 0 Drugstore. ENTRANCE ? back in Recess side of Stairs. * Excellent Bargains an Fine z and Second Hand Clothing, f ALSO I . I Second Hand Clothing for J Sale solicited. 11-14. ? ? - | insurance. Fire Insurance, Tornado Insurance, Plate Glass Insurance Life Insurance, ' Health Insurance, Accident Insurance, Burglary Insurance. We represent only Companies of unquestioned* reliabilityjand a policy is as good as a gold bond. We'll Bond You.. As Cashier, Treasurer or any position of trust in any of the A largest companies in XALLl^l i^a# The Williamsburg Insurance & Bonding flgencu, OFFICE OVER L STACKLEY'8 STORE, Kingstree, - S. C.