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1 The Sf By REX I Copyright, 1003. I [Continued lro tn?l Th? tame. Goofl night.** *X)b, I'm not golDg," said tbe young man "If you stick, I'll do tbe same." He made tbe rounds of tbe first floor sooms, locking doors and 'windows. As q place of defense It was hopeless, and be saw that be woald bare to make bla 1 land upstairs. Wben sufficient time P?d elapsed, be called up to Helen: "May I come?" "les," she replied. So ne ascended. b> find Stlllman In tbe ball, half i elotbed and cowering, wbile by tbe light from the front cbamlier he saw , ber finishing ber toilet. j "Won't you come with me? It's our last chance." She only sbook her | head. "Well, then, put oat the light ! I'll stand at that front window, and when my eyes get used to tbe darkness 111 be able to see them before tbey seech tbe gate." She did as directed, taking ber place beside bim at tbe opening, while tbe crept In and sat upon tbe bed, hie beery breathing tbe only sound In tbe room. Tbe two young people stood e close to eech other that tbe sweet; scent of her person awoke In blm an atmoet Irresistible longing. He forgot tor treachery again, forgot that she wee another's, forgot all save that be loved her truly and purely, with a love which was tike an agony tqf him. Her boolder brushed his arm; be beard the eft rustling of ber garment at her breast aa she breathed. Some one paasad In the street and she laid a : hand upon him faarfolly. It was very | old, very tiny and very soft, bot be ; asade no move to take It. The mo sent* dragged along, atill, tense, intermlnabie. Occasionally she leaned to-! ward biin. and be stooped to catcb ber | vbiepered words. At each times ber i breath best warm against bis cheek, j and be dosed his teeth stubbornly. ) Out In tbe night a wolf dog saddened I the air, then came tbe Bound of others ' ?m*narlln<r onri Knurling In fl nearhV I . corral. This Is a chickless land and BO cock crow breaks the midnight < peace. The suspense enhanced the j judge's perturbation till bis chattering j teeth sounded like castanets. Now and then be groaned. The watchers bad lost track of time , when their strained eyes detected dark ; biota materializing out of the shadows. ' "There they come," whispered Glen- j later, forcing her back from the aper- ' tore; but she would not be denied, and ) returned to his side. Ai the foremost figure reached the ! fate Roy leaued forth and spoke, not j loudly, but in tones that sliced through the 6>lcuce, sharp, clean and without ; warning. "Halt! Don't come Inside the fence." > There was an instant's confusion; then, I before the men beneath had time to [ answer or take action, he continued: j "Tbia is Roy Glenister talking. I told : you not to molest these people, and I ! warn you again. We're ready for you." The leader spoke. "You're a traitor, j CUnUloa't Winced. "Perhaps I am. You ; ved me first though; aud, traitor f or not yod can't come into this bouse." There was a murmur at this, aud bo me one said: "Mies Chester is safe. All we want i Is the judge. We won't hang him, j not If he'll wear this ault we brought along. He needu t be afraid. Tar Is good for the skin." "Qb, my God!" groaned the limb of he law. Suddenly a man came running down *"? nnvompnt and into the ' croup. I "McNamara's gone and so's the mar- < thai aud the rest," he panted. There was a moment's alienee, and then the j leader growled to his men. "Scatter out i and rush the bouse, boya." He raised ! bit voice to the man In the window, j "This Is your work, you damned turncoat." His followers melted away to right aud left, vaulted the fence and dodged Into the shelter of the walla. The click, click of Glenlster's Winchester sounded through the room, while the sweat stood out on him. He wondered If he could do this deed, If he could really fire on these people. He j wondered If his muscles would not I wither and paralyxe before they obeyed his command. Helen crowded past him and. leaning half out of the opening, called I loudly, her voice ringing clear and true: "Wait! Walt a moment! I have something to say. Mr. Glenister did i not warn them. TOey thought you were going to attack the mines, and I o they rode out there before midnight. I am telling you the truth. | *eally. They left hours ago." It was j the first slgu she had made, and the? t leeognlzed her to a man. There were uncertain mutterlngs be- i low till a new man raised his voice. Both Roy and Helen recognized Hex- | try. "Boys, we've overplayed. We don't . want these people McNamara's our meat Old bald face up yonder has to 1 what he's told, and I'm agMn this twenty to one midnight work. I'm goln' home." There were some whisperings, then the original spokesman called for Judge Stlllman. The old man tottered to the^ window, a palsied. i >oilers. ! 1 :. BEACH. ! i E. Bcxb. < ?i tn last week.] ? *f?i l-.en object. The girl was r!:n! t < ? ? ?:!?! not l?e seen from below. i We v-< n't hurt you this time. Judge !u?t you've vone far enough. We'll i .?rl\e yo.j another chance: then, if you j <J?.n't n ake good, we'll stretch you to a lamp i?>st. Take this ns a warning." j "I s-shall do my d-d-duty." said the | Judge. The men dh??pi?eared into the dark- ; ness. atKl when tbey had gone Glenle- j ter closet! the window, pulled down the | shades aud lighted a lamp. Ke knew i by how narrow a margin a tragedy ' had t>een averted. If he had tired on i these men. his shot would have kindled a feud which would have consumed every vestige of the court crowd and himself among them. He would have fallen nnder a falae (tanner, and hie life would not have reached to the next sunset. Perhaps It was forfeit "it. He coold not tell. The vigilantes vould protwbly took upon bta part ? rtthorous. and at tb? t?rr least ba rut himself off Proa tbelr support, > only support the northlaud offarad .dm. Henceforth be wm a renegade, u pariah. hated alike by both factions lie purposely a roiled aigbt of Rtillman aud turned Lie back when the Judge extended hfe bund with expreaaioua of gratitude. His work war done, and be wished to leave this bouse. Helen followed him .town to tbe door and at be opened it laid ber band upon bis tleere. "Words are feeble tbiugt, a id I can never make amends for all you're done for ot." "? W> 14k - WmsW In "For ur: rrieu irnj, *iu> ? u>vn? ?i bte voice. "Do you tbiuk I sacrificed my bonor. t*traysd my friend*. killed my last hope, ostracised myself, for 'u?T This is the last time I'll trouble you, perhaps the last time I'll see you. No matter what else you're done. however, you've taught me a lesson, and I tbank you for It. I have fonnd myself at last. I'm not an Eskimo any longer, j I'm a man!" "You've always been that.'* she said. "I don't unders*"tid as much aU>ut this affair as I want to. aud It seems to me that uo one will explain It. I'm very stupid. 1 guess. Rut won't you come Iwek tomorrow and fell It to me?" "No." he said roughly. "You're not of my people. MeNamara and his are no friends of mine, and I'm no friend of theirs." lie was half down the steps !>efore she said softly: "Good night, and God bless you I friend." She returned to the judge, who was j iu a pitiable state, and for a long time she tailored to soothe him as though he were a child. She undertook to question him about the things which lay uppermost iu her mind and which this night had half revealed, but he I tsvame frerful and Irritated at the I mention of mines and mining. She sat beside his bed till lie dozed off. pnzallug to dlwover what lay l>ehlud the bints she bad heard till her brain and body matched In absolute weariness. The ref.ex of the day's excitement sapped her strength till she could barely creep to her own couch, whe;e she rolled anil sighed, too tired to sleep at once. She awoke finally, with one last nervous dicker. l>efore complete oblivion took tier. A sentence was on her mind it almost seemed as though she had spoken it aloud: "The handsomest womau in the north but (Jlenister rau away." OH AFTER XVI. IT was nearly uoou of the uext day when Helen awoke to fiud that McNamara had ridden In from the creek and stopi>ed for breakfast with the Judge. He had asked for her, hut on hearing the tale of the night's adventure would hot allow her to be disturlted. l.ater he and the judge had gone away together. i 1 - K?r fn^irmaiit annrnv*il tllt> I AumMi^ii uvi j step she had contemplated the night before, still the girl now felt a strange reluctance to meet McNamara. It Is true that she knew no 111 of him except that implied in the accusations of certain embittered men, and she was aware that every strong and aggressive character makes enemies in direct proportion to the qualities which lend htm tfpaatnMt K?r?rthi>lMR she was aware of an Inner conflict that she had not foreseen. This man who ao confidently believed that she would marry him did not dominate her conaciousness. 8be had ridden much of late, taking long solitary gallops beside the shimmering sea that she loved so well or up the winding valleys Into the foothills where echoed the roar of swift waters or glinted the flash of shovel blades. This morulng her horse was lame, so she determined to walk. In her early rambles she had looked timidly askance at the rough men she met till she discovered their genuine respect and courtesy. The moat unkempt among them were often college bred, although for that matter the roughest of the miners showed abundant consideration for a woman. So she was glad to allow tbs men to talk to her with the fine freedom inspired by the new country and its wide spaces. The wilderness breeds a chivalry all its own. Thus there seemed to be no danger abroad, thongh they bad told the girl oT mad dogs which roamed the city. ! explaining that the hot weather affects I powerfully the thick coated, shaggy j "mulamoots.'' This Is the land of the ! dog. and. whereas In winter his lot Is . to hil>or and shiver aDd starve. In sum- l rner he loafs, fights. grows fat and | runs mad with the beat. Helen walkeu far and. returning, chose an unfamiliar course through ! the outskirts of the town to avoid ! meeting any of the women she knew I because of that vivid memory of the 1 night before. As she walked swiftly j along she thought that she heard faint ( cries far behind her. Ix>oking up. she noted that It was a lonely, barren quarter and that the only figure in sight was a woman some distance j away. A few paces farther on the j shouts recurred, more plainly this ; time, and a gun shot sounded. Glanc- j ing back, she saw several men runnine. one bearinr a smoking revolver. ! aud heard uearer still the snarling j hubbub of fighting dogs. In a flash , the girl's curiosity becatue horror, for as she watched one of the dogs made a sudden dash through the now sub- : dued group of animals and ran swiftly j along the planking on which she stood, i It was a handsome specimen of the Ksklmo mala moot tall, gray and coated like a wolf, with the speed, strength ud cunning of its cousin. Its head imig low and swung from side to side as It trotted, the motion flecking foam and alaver. The creature bad scattered the pack and now, swift, menacing, relentless, was coming toward Helen. There was no shelter near, no fence, no bouse, save the distant one toward which the other woman was making her way. The men, too far away to protect her, shouted hoarse warnings. Helen did not ecream or hesitate she turned and ran, terror stricken, to ward the distant cottage. 8be wit blind with fright and felt an utter certainty that the dog woo Id attack bar before tbe could reach safety. Tee; there was tbe quick patter of bis pads cloee op behind her. Her knees weakened. Tbe sheltering door was yet some yards away. But a horse tethered near the walk reared^nd snorted us ; the flying pair drew nAr. The mad creature swerved, leaped at the horse's legs and snapped In fury. Badly frightened at this attack, tbe home lunged at his halter, broke It and galloped away, but tbe delay bad served for Helen, weak aud faint, to reach the door. She wrenched at the knob. It was locked. As she turned bo|>elessly away she saw that the other woman was directly behind her aud was, in her turn, awaiting the mad animal's onslaught, but calmly, a tiny revolver In her band. "Shoot!" screamed Helen. "Why don't yon shoot?" Tbe little gun epoke. tbe dog spun around, snarling and yelping. The woman fired several times more before it lay still and then remarked calmly as she "broke" tbe weaooo and ejected the shells: 'The caliber Is too small to be good for much." Helen sank down upon the steps. "How well you shoot!" she gasped, j Her eyes were on the gray bundle < whose death agonies bad thrust it al "Shoot!'' ?c> earned Helen. "Why don't you xhoot t" moet to her feet. The men had run up and were talking excitedly, but after a word with tbein the woman turned to Helen. "You muat come in for a moment and recover yourself," she said and led her inside. It vii a cozy room in which the girl found herself more than that, luxurloua. There was a piano with scattered music and many of the pretty, feminine things that Helen had not seen since leaving home. The bostefs had stepped behind some curtains for an lnstaht and was talking to ber from the next room. "That is the third mad dog I have seen this month. Hydrophobia is becoming a habit in this neighborhood." She returned, bearing a tiny allrertray with decaDter and glasses. "You're all unstrung, but this brandy will help you If you don't object to a swallow of It. Then come right In here and lie down for a moment and you'll be all right." She spoks with such genuine kindness and sympathy that Helen flashed a grateful glance at ber. 8be was tall, slender, and with a peculiar undulating suggestion In ber movements, as though she had been bred to tbe clinging folds of silken garments. Helen watched the charm of her smile, the friendly solicitude of her expression, and felt her heart warm toward this one kind woman In Nome. "You're very good," she answered; "but I'm all right now. I was badly frightened. It was wonderful, your saving me." She followed tbe other's graceful motion as she placed her burden on the table, and in doing so gazed [Continued on page 3.] j i New Train Schedule. The following' schedule of the new tram from Lane 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 Coast Line railroad at Kingstree: North Bound Arrives No. 80 7:37 A. M, *No. 46 11:42 A. M. No. 50 6:36 P. M. South Bound Arrives No. 89 9:18P. M *No. 47 5:46 P. M. No. 51 10:52 A.M. * Daily Except Sunday. Weak Women To weak and allinf women, then U at leart on* way to help. But with that war. two treatment*, must be combined. One 1* local, one la eonatltutiooal. but both an Important both smtntiaL Dr. 8boop'? Nlffht Cure la the Local. Dr. Stoop's Restorative, the Conatl^-rtienal. The former?Dr. 8hoop'sNlfhtCure- l?a topical mucouamembraneauppoaitorynmed: .while Dr. Sboop'a Restorative la wholly an inn -nal treatment. The Restorative reaebee thro fbout the entin ayitem, tee king the npair oil all nerra all tissue. and all blood ailments. The "Nitht Cure", as its name implies, does its work while you aleep. It soothes sort and Inflamed mucous surfaces, haals local weaknenes and dfceharyes. while the Bsstoratlre. eases nervous ezdtement fires nntwed rltor and snWIas. builds up wasted tissues, brtcftnt about renewed strenfth. rlaror. and energy. lake Dr. Sboop'a Bestaratl re-Tablets or Uqaid?ese general tenia to the system. For poaitire local help, an as wall n? JLfl VJIlWf# 9 Night Cure D. C. SCOTT. The Largest aud Moat C juplete Establishment South. G^EO. S. HIGHER I SON. H pD a^K=X22BE2jari^BI^^^Umff ^ -MANUFACTIB :RS OFSash, Doors, Blinds Moulding and Building Material, Sash Weights and Cords CHARLESTON. S. C. rim I R. E. & E. N. B EATY ENGINEERS AND CONTRACTORS Georgetown, - - - S. C. Civil Engineeriog Land Surveying Kauroaa surveys and Construction Prompt attention to out of Town Work. 3-19-tf W. LBam A. C. Hinds BASS & HINDS, Attorneys-at-law KNGSTREE, S. C. 9-20-tf. u nitfis NKIIITU Dentist. I in. unnu iiiuiniin, , Lake City, S. C. Crown and Bridge Work a Specialty. ALL WORK Guaranteed as Represented. W. L. BASS Attorney at Law LAKE CITY. S. C. Dr R J McCabe Dentist masrsBE. - s. c. J. D. MOUZON'S BARBER SHOP in the hi Keirei Hotel is equipped with up-to-date apni<an/>HH Polite Service. < ompetent | Workmen. 5-8-08. W. P. TENNENT ARCHITf C T General Contractor and Builder Solicits vour 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 Ce, stores Timraonsville and Beulah and residence at National Cemetery. : : : : : Not a drop of Alcohol Doctors prescribe very little, if ?ny, tlcohol these days. They prefer strong tonics and alteratives. This is all in keeping with modern medical science. It explains why Ayer's Sar saparilla is now made entirely free from alcohol. Ask your doctor. Follow his advice. Jk Wo publi.h our formulas jm m W banlah alcohol MmM / from our modiclaaa / 1 liPT C W? urf # yo* to A AUWI O Unlets there is dtily action of the hovels, poisonous products are absorbed, causing headache, biliousness, nausea, dyspepsia. We wish you vould ask your doctor about correcting your constipation by taking laxative dosca of Ayer's Pills. i Hot* by tho J. C. Ajm Co.. Low 11, Mm, COTTON -i.td the ram TOBi There will be a number of su Fall and we are ready to 6erv? splendid crop prospect we are re enlarge our floor space, and rath Queen Stoves and Ranges from price ,20 JPei We have just received a carl< fered at a low price. Remember min Moore & Co's Paint. Also, Cutlery and Razors. The Robes predate our friends* patronage a tmued confidence. Lake City h LAKE CI "A dollar is a doll; There is no better way dealing with J. L Stuckey, the o] man. I have a splendid line < Bill, tlip that in view of the hard time above cost. A nice bunch of HORSE! at prices to suit. J. L Stu BANK OFTK Kingstree. Soi CAPITAL. $30000" === DIREC I IJas F Cooper D C Scott Collections made promptly LOANS, large or small, mi MOW Ar R AK GIVE US ADDED McCOF HOWER Al Do not wait uutil your oat A CAR of flcCormick flowers ant Yours for THE WILLHURI Hi ngstree & Creelyville, 1 in camp or field-ati mountain or shore Thorala always a chaaeo to onjoy umt shooting I TO MOOT WELL TOU MUST BE EQUIPPED WITH A RELIABLE FIREARM: tho only kind wo havo boon making for upward* of fifty ysars. Our Um: RIFLES, PISTOLS, SHOTGUNS, RIFLE TELESCOPES, ETC. Ask yonr Dealer, and Insiot on tha STEVENS, Where no* oold by Re* tallers, we ship direct, exjjressjgre^ vwij/i. ui vmaiu^ pnc?? ? < for 14* lllmtrtM^I. etUUf. Aa tadlspemaable book ef w*T Nftme* Mr au aad bay 4 ihMtm. Mailed for 4 read la ' teaye loeorer poetufe. Braatlfal > Tea Coler Haayer forwarded for ala eeafo la ?tomm. J. STEVENS ARMS A TOOL CO. P. O. Box 4097 Chlcopee Falls, dfoSL Maj?.. U.S.A. " 5H5i^* IS KING CE RECENT IS 1CCO. ibjects of both in Lake City this i them. In anticipation of the pairing our warehouse so as to er than remove the stock of O.K. rarehouse we have [reduced the ? $ ? Cent. oad of Wire Fence, which is ofwe are headquarters for Benja- ^ * we offer exceptional values on Razor can't be beat. We nd will try to merit their con, . ? hardware Co., [TY. 8. C saved ar made" \ to save your dollars than by " Id reliable live-stock >1 i ail Ian, j s am offering at 10 per cent \ S and MULES always on hand ckey, Lake City, S. C. v JNGSTREE uth Carolina. STOPLUS, S 7,800 TORS ===^= it 21 Aeuanan J A Eelley I ide on approved security. ? ERS jn ;es ; YOUR 4 FOR A {HICK y VD RAKE * s anb hay begin to waste. LOAD j Rakes now in transit, business, j LIVESTOCK CO., South Carolina. I 4