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r | By REX I I -> Cuovricht, 19 0 3. I From the tent came the voices of the j Bight shift at table and the faint rattle of dishes, while the canvas walls glowed from the lights within like great fireflies hidden in the grass. The fore- j man, finishing his meal, appeared at the door of the mess tent and. pausing to accustom his eves to the gloom, peered perfunctorily toward the creek. The watchman detached himself from ^ the shadow, moving out Into plain Bight and the boss turned back. The i two men below were now working on the sluices which lay close under the | bank and were thus hidden from the ; tent. McNamara's description of Anvil creek's riches had fired Helen Chester with the desire to witness a cleanup, o they had ridden out from town in time for Bupper at the claim. She had not known whither he led her, only understanding that provision for her entertainment would be made with the super!ntendent'a wife. Upon rec ognlxing the Midas she bad endeavor- i ed to question him as to why ber friends bad been dispossessed, and be bad answered, as It seemed, straight and true. The ground was In dispute, be said another man claimed It and while the litigation pended be was In charge for the court, to aee that neither party received Injury. He a poke adroitly, and It satisfied her te have the proposition reeolved Into anch simplicity. She bad come prepared te spend the night and witness tbe early morning operation, so the receiver made the moat of bis opportunity. He showed ber over the workings, explaining tbe many things that were strange to her. Not only was he In himself a fascinating figure to any woman, but wherever he went men regarded him deferentially, nnd nothing affects a woman's Judgment more promptly than this obvious sign of power. He spent the evening with her, talking of his early dflv* and the things he had done In the | west, his story matching the pictur- I esqneness of her canvas walled quarters with their rough furnishings of skins and blankets. Being a keen observer as well as a finished raconteur, he had woven a spell of words about the girl, leaving her In a state of tumult and indecision when at last, toward midnight, he retired to his own 1 tent. She knew to what end all this was working and yet knew not what her answer would be when the quesNtlQH came which lay behind it ail. At moments she felt the wonderful attraction of the man. and still there * - * - - ? cha was some uisinm ui uim ?u could not fathom. Again her thoughts reverted to Glenlster, the Impetuous, and she compared the two, so similar !q pome ways, so utterly opposed In others. It was when she heard the night shift at their meal that she threw a silken thaw! about her head, stepped luto the cool night and picked her way down i^toward the roar of the creek. "A fcreath of air and then to bed," she thought. She 6aw the tall figure of the watchman and made for him. He eeemed oddly interested in her approach, watching her very closely, almost as though alarmed. It was donbtJew because there were so few women out her*, or possibly on account of the lateness of the hour. Away with conventions! This was the land of instinct and impulse. She would talk to him. The man drew his hat more cloeely about his face and moved off as she came up. Glenister had been In her thoughts a moment since, and he now noted that here was another .with the same great, square shoulders and erect head. Then she saw with & start that this one was a negro. lie carried a Winchester and seemed to watch her carefully, yet with indecision. Jo express her Interest and to break the silence, she questioned him, but at the sound of her voice he stepped toward her and spoke roughly: r amw then be paused and stammered In a strangely altered and unnatural voice: "Yasa'm. I'm the watchman." She noted two other darkles at work below and was vaguely surprised, not so much at their presence, as at the manner In which they moved, for they eemed under stress of some great haste, running hither and yon. She saw horses standing In the trail and sensed something Indefinably odd and alarming In the air. Tnrnlng to the man she opened her mouth to speak, when from the rank grass under her :feet came a noise which set her a- j tingle and at which her suspicions I leaped full to the solution. It was the (groan of a man. Again be gave voice to his pain, and she knew that she ia+Atri fipo tr? fnpA with somethirur sin Jster. Tales of sluice robbers bad come to ber and rumors of the daring raids Into which inen were lured by the yell v and yet this was Incredible. t 11.in.men by within sound of her \ vo S:v eau.J bear their laughter. <ne whistling a popular refrain. A iter mile away on every hand > i*'. v cai'.ps. A scream from her * i:*ui bri.ig th'*ui a!l. Nonsense, this , v . t;i? *.uke robbery, and then the j n in the bushes t>elow inoaned for t ' third time. "V.'hnt is that?" she said. W ft bout reply the negro lowered the muzzle of hia ri' joilers. :. BEACH. t>y Rex E. Deach. \ il!I it covered her breast, and at the sume time she heard the double click of the hammer. "Keep still and don't move,"' ne warned. "We're desperate, and we can't take any chances, miss." "Oh. you are stealing the gold" The was wildly frightened, yet stood still while the lookout anxiously divided his attention between her and the tents above until his companions signaled him that they were through and the horses were loaded. Then he spoke: "I don't know what to do with you. but 1 guess I'll tie you up." "What?" she said. "I'm going to tie and gag you so you can't holler." "Oh, don't you dare!" she cried fiercely. "I'll stand right here till you've gone, and I won't scream. I promise." She looked up at him appealingly, at which he dipped his head, so that she caught only a glimpse of his face, and then backed away. "All right! Don't try it because I'll be hidden in tboae buahea yonder at the bend, and I'll keep you covered till the others are gone." He leaj>ed down the bank, ran to the cavalcade, mounted quickly, and the three laehed their homes Into a run, disappearing op the trail aronnd the abarp curve. She beard the blows of their qnlrts aa they whipped the pack horses; Tbey were long out of sight before the girl moved or made sound, although she knew that none of the three had paused at-j the bend. Bhe on^y stood and gaaed, for as they galloped off she bad heard the scrap of a broken sentence. It was but one excited word sounding through the rattle of hoofs her own name-'"Helen!" and yet because of It she did not voice the alarm, but ratber began to piece together bit by bit the strange points of this adventure. She recalled the outlines of her captor with a wrinkle of perplexity. Her fright disappeared entirely, giving place to Intense excitement. "No, no; It can't be! And yet I wonder if It is!" she cried. "Oh, I wonder if It could be!" She opened her lips to cry aloud, then hesitated. She started toward the tents, then paused, and for mauy moments after the hoof beats had died out she stayed undecided. Surely she wished to give the signal, to force the fierce pursuit. What meant this robbery. this defiance of the law, of her uncle's edicts and*of McNnmnra? They were, uoiuiuuii iuie\e?, vuiuiuaio, uur laws, hese men, deserving punishment, end yet she ^recalled a darker night, when she herself had sobbed and quivered with the terrors of pursuit cud two men had shielded her with thetr bodies. She turned and sped toward the tents, bursting in through the canvas door. Instantly every man rose to his feet at sight of her pallid face, her flashing eyes and rumpled hair. UOI-' tl 1-1 Kw.nfV BJU1CV ruuwio; cur: vuru uiraiu lessly. "Quick! A holdup! The watchman is hurt!" A roar sVook the night air, and the men poured out past her, while the day shift came tumbling forth from every quarter in various stages of undress. "Where? Who did it? Where did they go?" McNamara appeared among them, fierce and commanding, seeming to grasp the situation intuitively withoul explauation from her. "Come on, men. We'll run 'em down. Get out the horses. Quick!" He was mounted even as be spoke and other joined him. Then, turning he waved his long arm up the valley toward the mountains. "Divide Into squads of five and cover the hills! Run down to Discovery, one of you, and telephone to town for Voorhees and a posse." As they made ready to ride away the girl cried: "Stop! Not that way. They weni down the gulch three negroes." She pointed out of the valley toward the dim glow on the southern horizon and the cavalcade rode away Into the i gloom. CHAPTER X. UP creek the three negroes fled past other camps. to where the stream branched. Here they took to the right and urged their horaes along a forsaken trail tc - *- ? AU. 1U4U tne neaawaiers 01 ui? umc uiuumi^ and over the low saddle. They had en deavored to reach unfrequented path! as soon as possible In >rder that thej might pass unnoticed. Before quitting the valley they baited their heaving horses and, selecting a stagnant pool scoured the grease paint from theli features as best tbey could. Theh ears were strained for sounds of pur suit, but as the moments passed anc none came the tension eased some what, and they conversed guardedly As the morning light spread thej crossed the moss capped summit of tb< range, but paused again, and. remov lng two saddles, hid them among th< rocks. Slapjack left the others hen and rode southward down the Drj Creek trail toward tcv^n, while tb? partners shifted part of the weigh from the overloaded pack mules to thi remaining saddle animals and con tinned eastwurd along the barrel comb of hills on foot, leading the fiv horses. "It don't seem like we'll pet away thi* easy." said Pox try. scanning the J btr U trail. "If no do. I'll bp terrnfed n< to follor the business rejr'lnr. This ^ grease naint ou my face makes me D smell like a minstrel man. 1 l?et we'll got rne liully press not Pes tomor: row." C( "l noi del' what Helen wa? doing i th re." <;ieitis?er answered i -.eiovar.' - . . . 1 1 j Ij . 11?r lie Its'tl i'Cf ii > :>:ir" ! :>y 11 , his encounter with her than nt It:- part | in i* it-1 ; ;he ;?ri?*. :.n : ' imind. whir !i should have I con busied ! v. irh the flight. held nothing Imt p!oi ftires < f her as site stood in the half darkn' -' the fear of his Winchest. If she ever lea rued who ruffian was!" He quaiknl 'lit. . k ; ' "Sav. dug to marry that 1 girl." "I dun not." said Dextry. "Bette. "nmap?-" "What?" The . \>ped and stare<l. "What do you m v ^ "Go on. Don't stop the boi> ain't blind. I kin put two an' two to \ getber." | "You'll never put those two together. L Nonsense! Why. the man's a rascal. J I wouldn't let him have her. Besides. It couldn't be. She'll find him out. I ^ love her so much that oh. my feelings dii are too big to talk about." He moved his hands eloquently. "You can't un- th derstand." p,3 'Tm-m! I s'pose not," grunted Dex- I wl try. hut his eyes were level and held the llglit of the past ^ "He may be n rascal," the old man ? continued. after a little. "I'll put in with you on that, but he's a handsome t* devtl, and as for manners be makes you look like a logger. He's a brave H man too. Them three qualities are jj trump eards and warranted to take , most any queen hi the human deckred, white or yellow." "If be daree," growled Gleaister. while hia thick brows ckme forward. E and ngly Hnea hardened in his face. In the gray of the early morning they descended the fo^btlto into the wide valley of the Name river and lied out across the rolling country to the river bluffs where, cleverly coi:- jg cealed among the willows, was a _ rocker. This they set up, then pro- * ' oeeded to wash the dirt from the sacks carefully, yet with the utmost speed. 1 for there was serious danger of discovery. It was wonderful, this treasure of the richest ground since the g|. Jays of *49, and the men worked with CI shining eyes and hands a-tremhle. The " gold was coarse, and many ragged, yel < low lumps, too large to pass through DE the screen, rolled in the hopper, while the aprons bellied with its weight. In C the pans which they had provided there grew a gleaming heap of wet. raw gold. ? Shortly, by divergent routes, the part- Ph ners rode unnoticed into town and into ^ the excitement of the holdup news, while the tardy still lingered over ? I their breakfasts. Far out in the road- ^ I stead lav the Roanoke, black smoke *H pouring from her stack. A tug was re- J23 turning from its last trip to her. Glenister forced his lathered horse down to the beach and questioned the o, longshoremen who hung about. "No. It's too late to get aboardthe last tender is on its way back," they informed him. "If you want to go to the 'outside,' you'll have to wait for the fleet. That only means another week, and there 6he blows now." A ribbon of white mingled with the velvet frcin the steamer's funnel, and there came a slow, throbbing, farewell I blast. Glenister's jaw clicked and squared. I "Quick, you men!" he cried to the I sailors, "l want tne ugntest dory on i the beach and the strongest oarsmen ^ In the crowd. I'll be back In five min utes. There's a hundred dollars In It for you If we catch that ship." He whirled and spurred up through the mud of the streets. Bill Wheaton was snoring luxuriously when wrench' ed from his bed by a disheveled man ' who shook him into wakefulness and Into a portion of his clothes, with a storm of excite^ Instructions. The lawyer had neither time nor oppor tunlty for expostulation, for Glenister if f snatched a valise and swept Into it a U ' litter of documents from the table. Ill "Hurry up, man!" he yelled, as the ' lawyer dived frantically about his of' flee In a rabbit-lika hunt for Items. Cr 1 "My hearens, are you dead? Wake . 1 up! The ship's leaving." With sleep still in his eyes, Wheaton was dragged down the street to the beach, where a knot had assembled to witness the race. As they tumbled Into the skiff. willing bands ran It out Into the surf A ' on the crest of a roller. A few lifting > heaves and they were over the bar 1 with the men at the oars bending the white a9h at every swing. "I guess I didn't forget anything," * gnspod Wheaton as he put on his coat. X "I got ready yesterday, but I couldn't ' find you Inst night, so I thought the deal was off." I Glenister stripped off his coat and, xL ? facing the bow, pusbed upon the oars _ ' at every stroke, thus adding his strength to that of the oarsmen. They I crept rapidly out from the beach, eat- C r lng up the two miles that lay toward the ship. He urged the men with all f his power till the sweat soaked , through their clothes and, under their j8 chl*+a tVio mnorlcs Rtood OUt nli Viiu^iu^ o"" '-v ' --- r like iron. They had covered half the w distance when Wheaton uttered a cry I I and Glenlster desisted from Ms work - with a curse. The Roanoke was mov. ing slowly. r The rowers rested, but the young ! man shouted at them to begin again G - and, seizing a boat hook, stuck it into ? the arm of his coat He waved this i on high while the men redoubled their 7 efforts. For many moments they bung IS i in suspense, watching the black hull t as it'gathered speed, and then, as they i were about to cease their effort a puff - of steam burst from Its whistle and i the next moment a short toot of racog? nltion reached them. Glenieter wiped the. moisture from his brow and grin[Continued on page 3.] i ass New Trala Schedule. The following schedule of the ?<v train from Lane to Florence, hich went into effect .Monday, ecember 17, has bren furnishl us by Mr J P Taylor, the mrteous and efficient agent of ie Atlantic < oa*>t Line railroad Kingstree: North Pound Arrives No. 80 7:37 A. M, No. 46 11:42 A. M. No. 50 6:36 P. M. *? South Bound Arrives No. 89 * 9:18 P. M No. 47 5:46 P.M. No. 51 10:52 A.M. * Daidv Except Sunday. Just received, our nice line of ress Linen. People's Merc ante Company. 1-30 tf IfiruiiiC sm I hare found a tried and tested cu for Rheoktisxo! Not a remedy that will it .If hten the (torted limbs of chronic cripples, nc turn bony owths hack to flesh again. That is .inposslble. it I can now surely kill the pains and pangs of Is deplorable disease. tn Germany with a Chemist in the City of innstadt I found the last ingredient with glchDr. Shoop'i Rheumatic Remedy was made perfected, dependable prescription. Without at last ingredient. I successfully treated many. oeh dreaded disease. Those sand-like granular Mtaa. found la Rheumatic Blood, seen to dissolve 4 pass away ta?der the actios of this remedy as mly as dam sugar when added te pure water, tdlhsa. when dUetflred. these polMncus wastes Mty earn frees the MM. and *e caoss of iiUSnMm is ?mm fastest. There is new ao slhssd so acSml euccst Sc ruler Isuger with, a help. We sell, sad In crnilSeers renamiasuii Dr. Shoop's theamatic Remedy D. C. SCOTT. See our new line of Laces and mbroideries. Just to hand. eople's Mercantile uo. J-au-ti The Largest and Most r^mplete Establishment South. [0. S. DICKER I SON. MANUFACTl'B IRS OFash, Doors, Blinds Eoulding and Building Material, oish Weights and Cords CHARLESTON. S. C. Plfflll r. L. Bam A. C. Hinds BASS & HINDS, Attorneys-at-law KNGSTREE, S. C. 10-tf. jus ram m Lake City, S. C. own and Bridge Work a Specialty. ALL WORK Guaranteed aa Represented. W. L. BASS attorney at Law LAKE CITY. 8. 0. * | t <1 I M )r R J McCabe Dentist INSSTSEE, - S. C. J. D. MOUZON'S 5ARBER SHOP in the Tan Kenren Hotel equipped with up-to-date apiances. Polite Service, c ompetent orkmen. 5-0-08. W. P, TENNENT ARCHITl eneral Contractor and Builder OsiiuMfa vnnr business. Estimates UViiv.w/ y * cheerfully furnished on all : ; kinds of work. : : !6 Evans 'Phone 1962 FLORENCE, S. C. ipervisorof construction New School Building and Superintendent of work on U. S. Post Office and of John McSween O, stores Timmonsville and Beulah and residence at National Cemetery. : : : : : > i : Have One Doctor I No sense in running from one doctor to another. Select the best one, then stand by him. Do not delay, but consult him in time when you are sick. Ask his opinion of Ayer's Cherry Pectoral for coughs and colds. Then use it or not, just as he says. jM W# pablUh our formula* yU m W? banlah alcohol AJ from our modlolnot flyers ^ Always keep a box of Ayer's Pills in the I house. Just one pill at bedtime, now and ! then, will ward off many an attack of biliousness, indigestion, sick headache. : How many years has your doctor known these pills? Ask him all about them. Madabytta J. C. Ayr Oo.. LowU. Waaa n ft mm ft it GUTTM -AND THE PR INI TOBj There -will be a number of si Fall and we are ready to serv splendid crop prospect we are r< ! enlarge our floor space, and rath 1 Queen Stoves and Ranges from \ price 2? JP03 I We bavejust received a csyl fered at a low price. Remember min Moore & Co's Paint. Also, Cutlery and Razors. Tbe Robes predate our friends' patronage 1 tmued confidence. L,ake City h LAKE C: U A is a dolh Tjiere is no better way 1 dealing with J. L. Stuckey, the ol< man. I have a splendid lineo Dnirmoo U/ifrnri Ullgpii), W Opil that in view of the hard times above cost. A nice bunch of HORSES at prices to suit. J. L 5tuc fA CAR -r-i OF Fh lorses< Nice drivers and Come in and ge uggies and Harness Give us a call the rest. Yours to n iiiiiiiiupniini 5 lilt fflLLlMIODUIll X Hiy pp, & Creelyvllle, IBANK OFTK , Kingstree, So (CAPITAL. 8 30.000 ===== DIREC Jas F Cooper D C Scott Collections made promptly LOANS, large or small, m / f pp * t;' with u STEVENS J viM best thing 'or a growing boy ! kf Learning to shoot well and * | SELF-CONTROL, DECISION, AND H are all doe to STEVENS FIRE AlUtS EDUCATION,' U II Ask your Dealer for Stevens Kfflea VB Shotguns?Pistols. Insist on our time- DM honored make. If you cannot obtain, we ship direct, express prepaid, upon ^M] receipt of Catalog Price. ' i fclror/tbinx 70a >ul to know a boot Lb* 8TEVEH8 1? foond in ltO Pefo lllnotreted Cetelof. Moiled tor (oar renU in (tempo to pey poo gn. Boeatiful Ten Color Henfor?Sno decoration for 7oar "den" orcloh room?tneiled fnrt cento in (tempo. J. STEVENS ARMS & TOOL CO. y P. 0. Box 4097 ' Chicopee Falls, Maaa., U.S.A. 1 IS KING CE RECENT IS- M 1CCO. abjects of both in Lake City this MM e them. In anticipation of tbeHn epairinp our warehouse so as to^H ler than remove the stock of O.Kf^H warehouse we have (reduced tbe^B : Cent :.M oad o/.Wjre Fence, which is ?f-M ra+ j? hMUuumn for Benia-M we offer exceptional values iiH ion Razor can't be beat. We a^Sw ind will try to merit tbeir coa HBfl l&rcLweire Co.^B [TY, S. C saved I ar made" I o save your dollars than by 9 d reliable live-stock ' 'in 1 i if E?s, 1 am offering at 10 per cent 1 and MULES always on hand ;key, Lake City, S. C. I LOAD*** | {ESH> r.: O Ci X X 1 1U1C9 X good workers. V ;t your choice. * Wagons g I and Whips^JLJ and we will do V n Please, 8 I i LIVESTOCK GO. 8 J South Carolina. X >0000000000c:S ? . UU. &= 8 I E I I JNGSTREE 1 I -I utti Carolina, SURPLUS, $ TWO ; I TORS =^== 1 R H Kellahan -J J A Kelley f I a'de on approved security. 1