The Sf
By REX E
i' Copyright. 1005. fc
[ -"uMtinued t: o
"SIcNaTnara. with apparent candor,
broke In:
"Yon thought you were doing right,
of course, but your action will have
terrible consequences. Now we'll have
riot, blooiohed and heaven kuows 1
what. It was to save all this that I
wanted to break up their organization.
A week's Imprisonment .vould have
done it, but now they're armed and
belligerent, and we'll have n battle tonight."
"No. no!" she cried. "There mustn't
be any violeuce."
"There* Is no use trying to check
them. They are rushing to their own
destruction. I have learned that they
plan to attack the Midas tonight, and i
I'll have fifty soldiers wuitlng for then) '
there. It Is a shame, for they are de
cent fellows blinded by ignorance and
misled by that young miner. This will j
be the blackest night the north has j
rer seen."
With this McNamara left the bouse
and went In search of Voorhees. re- i
marking to himself: "Now. Miss Helen. ;
tend your warning the sooner the bet- :
tsr Tf I know those vigilantes, It will
aat them cratv, and yet not crazy
enough to attack the Midas. They will
strike for me, and when they hit my
poor unguarded office they'll think bell
has moved north."
"Mr. Marshal," said he to his tool,
"I want yon to gather forty men quietly
and to arm them with Winchesters.
Tbey miut be fellows who won't faint
at blood. You know the kind. Assero- i
bit them at my office after dark, one '
at a time, by the back way. It moat i
be dooe with absolute secrecy. Now. !
Vte If yon can do tbia one thing and
Dot get balled up. If yon fall, I'll
?i"ke you answer to me."
"Why don't you get the troops?"
ventured Voorhees.
"If there's one thing I want to avoid,
1ft aoldlera, either here or at the
lnee. When they step in, we step |
out, and I'm not reedy for that Just
yet" The receiver smiled slnlsterly.
x Helen meanwhile had fled to her
room and there received Glenister'a
note through Cherry Malotte's messenger.
It rekindled her worst fears
and bore out McNamara's prophecy.
The more she read of it the more j
Certain she grew that the crlfels was ,
enly a question of hours and that with j
darkness tragedy would walk the
ftreets of Nome. The thought of the
wrong already done was lost in the
lonely girKs terror of the crime about i
to happen, for It seemed to her she had
been the instrument to set these forces
In motion, that she bad loosed this
awift si>eedlng avalanche of greed,
hatred and brutality. And when the
crash should come the girl shuddered.
It must not be. She would shriek a
warning from the housetops even at
coet of her uncle, of McXamara and of
herself. And yet she had no proof that
Althniiffh it all lav
Clear in her own mind, the certainty i
f It arose only from her intuition. I
It only she were able to take a hand i
If only she were not a woman. Then f
Cherry Malotte's words anent Strove
recurred to her, "A bottle of wine and
woman's face." They brought back
the lawyer's assurance that those documents
she had safeguarded all
through the long springtime journey ;
rtally contained the f>roof. If they !
did, then they held the power to check
this impending conflict. Her nncle :
end the Doss wouia noi aare roauoue
if threatened with exposure and prosecution.
The more she thought of It j
the more urgent seemed the necessity j
to prevent the battle of tonight. There i
vis a chance here at least, and the j
only one.
Adding to her mental torment was
tbo constant vision of that face in the ;
curtains at the Northern. It was her
brother, yet what mystery shrouded '
thla affair also? What kept him from
her? What caused him to slink away
Uke a thief discovered? She grew
dlszy and hysterical.
Struve turned in hla chair as the :
door to his private office opened, then
leaped to his feet at sight of the gray
eyed girl standing there.
"I came for the papers," she said.
"I knew you would." The blood went |
eat of his cheeks, then surged back up j
k. VI. "If. . K.mln I
w iUV V/W?. *? ? .
She nodded. "Give them to me first."
Be laughed unpleasantly. "What do |
tou take me for? I'll keep my part of |
. ? the bargain If you'll keep yours. But j
this Is no place, nor thne. There's I
* riot lu the air, and I'm busy preparing
far tonight. Come back tomorrow
,*hen Its all ?ver."
Bat It was the terror of tonight's doings
that led her Into his power.
II uwrer. tvuie use*, wc saiu. n ,
Jf iny whim to know today?yes, at i
met."
Be meditated for a time. "Then today
It shall be. I'll shirk the fight.
W sacrifice what shreds of duty have
ftjtxng to me, because the fever for
?00 Is Id my bones, and It seems to me '
Y& 60 murder Vy it. That's the klDd
ft a man I am, ^r.d I have do pride In '
tayself because of It. But I've always |
psen that way. We'll ride to the Sign
at the Sled. It's a romantic little roadbouse
ten miles from here, perched
bight above the Snake river trail. We'll ;
take dinner there together."
"But the papers?"
jTll have them with me. "We'll start
"..v <* '
I <
toilers.
:. BEACH.
iy Rex E. Beach. s'
m last week. ]
.. -he echoed lifelessly
i ... ...el uriirdy and seized the
ui j ; . "?* tilrai mil the Sled j
; i. . riojjs on the Snake
!'i"> M* 1 Hello! That you.:
short/, r TI.js is Struve. Anybody at ;
the houseV tlotxL Turn them away
if they cuiue and say that you're
clo<ed. None of your business. I'll
he out about dark, so have diuuer for
two. Spread yourself and keep the
place clear, (loodhy."
Strengthened by Hlenister's note.
Helen went straight to the other woman
and this time vns not kept wait- j
lnjr nor greeted with sneers, hut found
Cherry cloaked in a shy dignity, which
she dawned tijrhtly about hereeif. Uu- |
der her visitor's incoherence she lost !
her diffldeuce, however, and, when j
Helen had finished, remarked, with de j
cislon: "Don't go with hfm. He's n
bad man." * j,
"But I must. The blood of those roen |
will t>e on uie if I don't stop this trag- '
edy. If those papers tell the tale 1
think tbey do. I can call off my ancle
and make McNatnara give back the !
mines. You said 8truve told you the
whole scheme. Did you see the proof?"
"No, I have ouly his word, but he ,
spoke of those documents repeatedly,
saying they contained his Instructions
to tie up the mines In order to give
a foothold for the lawsuits. He '
bragged that the rest of the gang were j
in bis power and that be could land !
them iu the penitentiary for conspiracy.
That's all." j,
"It's the only chance," said Helen. 1
"Tbey are sending soldiers to the Midas j
to lie In ainbnsb, and yon must warn
the vigilantes." Cherry paled at this
and ejaculated:
"Good Ix>rd! Roy said he'd lead an
attack tonight." The two stared at !
each other.
"If I succeed with Strove I can stop
It all all of this injustice and crime
everything."
"Do you realize what you're risking?"
Cherry demanded. "That man ;
Is an animal. You'll have to kill blm
to save yourself, and he'll never give
up those proofs."
"Yes. he will," said Helen fiercely,
"and I defy hIm to barm me. The 81gn
of the Sled Is a public roadbouse with
a landlord, a telephone and other I
guests. Will you warn Mr. Gleuiater
about tbe troops?"
"I will, and bless vou for a brave
girl. Walt a moment." Cherry took !
from the dresser her tiny revolver. (
"Pou't hesitate to use this. I want
you to kuow also that I'm sorry for j
what I Raid yesterday." *
As she hurried away Helen realized I
with a shock the change that the past
few months had wrought In her. In
truth. It was as Glealster had said,
his northland worked strangely with
Its denizens. What of that shrinking
girl who had stepped out of the shel-1
tered life, strong only in her uutrled
honesty, to become a hunted, harried j
thing. Juggling with honor and reputation,
In her heart a half formed fear
that she might kill a man this night to j
gain her eudV The elements were
molding her with Irresistible hands.
Roy's contact with the primitive had i
not roughened him more quickly than
had hers.
She met her appointment with
Struve.aud they rode away together, he '
talkative and elated, she silent and Icy. :
Late la the afternoon the cloud banks
to the eastward assumed alarming proportions.
They brought with them an
early nightfall, and when they broke j
let forth a tempest which rivaled that j
of the previous night During the first
of It armed men came sifting Into McXamara's
office from the rear and were (
hidden throughout the building. When- .
ever he descried a peculiarly desperate
ruffian the boss called him aside for
private Instruction and gave minute ,
description of a wide shouldered, erect :
youth In white hat and half boots. : 1
Gradually he set his trap with the men
Voorbees had raked from the slums,
and when It was done smiled to hkn- j
self. As be thought It over he ceased
to regret the miscarriage of last night's j
plan, for It had served to goad his enemies
to the point he desired, to the
point where they would rush to their
own undoing. He thought with satisfaction
cf the role he would play la the
United States press when the sensational
news of this night's adventure <
came out A court official who dared
to do his duty despite a jawless mob.
A receiver who turned a midnight attack
Into a rout and shambles. That Is
what they would say. What If be dM
eiceed his authority thereafter? What i
If there were a scandal? Who would
question? As to soldiers no, decidedly
no. He wished no help of soldiers at <
this time.
The sight of a ship In the offing toward
dark caused him some uneasiness.
for, notwithstanding the assurance
that the course of justice In the
San Francisco courts had been clogged,
he knew Bill Wheaton te ba a resourceful
lawyer and a determined man.
Therefore It relieved him to note the
rising gale, which precluded the possibility
of Interference from that source.
Let them come tomorrow If they
would. By that time some of the mines
Hyould be ownerless and. bis position '
strengthened a iunaredroid.
He telephoned the mines to r~
ont guards. although he reasone/"
none but madmen would tb*
striking there In the face of the w
In? which he knew must have !>?
transmitted through Helen. I'utfvT
on his raincoat he sought Stillmnn.
"Bring your niece over to my place
tonight. There's trouble in the air n^jf
I'm prepared for it."
"She hasn't returned from her ride
yet. I'm afraid she's caught in the ,
storm." The Judge gazed anxiously f
into the darkness. '
D aring all the b ug day the vigilanW*^
Jay in liming, impatient ar moir n.
ness and wondering at the hick of*
fort made toward their discovery, i>
dreaming that MeNaniarn liad mo
cleverly hidden plans lx-hind. When.
Cherry's note of warning came they
gathered in the hack room and g:i/*'
voice to their opinions.
"There's only one way to eil
atmosphere." said the cha5cma*\
"Yon het." chorused the o(2 .,
"They've garrisoned tlie mines.
go through tlie town and make a
job of it. I.et's hang the whole
fit to one post."
This met with general nppro\-.*
Clenlster alone demurring. Said he:v
"I have reasoned it out differently, anu
I want you to hear me through liefore | J
dec iding. Last night I got word from ' i
"Whenton that the California coerrs J
are against us. He attributes it tr^*Influence,
but whatever the reason, we
are cut off from all legal help either*
hi this court or on appeal. Now. sup- ;
pose we lynch these olflclals tonight. L
what do we gain? Martial law in two :
hours, our mlues tied up for anotbet*'
year, and who knows what else? Maybe
a corrupter court next season. Suppose,
on the other hand, we fall, and
somehow I feel that we will, for that
boss Is no fool. What then? Those of
ws who don't find the morgue will end .
In jail. You say we can't meet the "
a \r?
owners. 1 8aj we cbu auu uiubi. *.
must carry this row to tbem. We
nywt Jump It past the courts of Alakka.
past the courts of California, and up i
to the "White House, where there's one 11
honest man. at least. We must do
something to wake up the men In
Washington. We must get out of polltics,
for McXamara caD beat us there.
Although he's a strong man he can't
corrupt the president. We have one
shot left, and It must 'pach the Poto- .
mac. When I'ncle Sam takes a hand '
well get a square deal, so I say let us i
strike at the Midas tonight and take
her If we can. Some of us will go"
down, but what of It?"
Following this harangue, he outlined |
a plan which In Its unique daring took I
away their breathe, and as he filled In
detail after detail they brightened with
excitement and that love of the long <
chance which makes gamblers of those
who thread the silent valleys or tread
the edge of things. His boldness
stirred them and enthusiasm did the ,
rest.
"All I want for myself," be said, "Is
?- >lab Tt'a ,
ine CllllIRT IU TUU UJC 1/J0 lira. *? ? ,
mine by right."
Dextry spoke breathlessly to Slapjack
In the pause which ensued:
"Ain't he a heller?"
"We'll go you," the miners chimed
to a man. And the chairman added: j
"Let's have Glenlster lead this forlorn
hope. I am willing to stand or fall ou j
his Judgment." They acquiesced with- j
out a dissenting voice, and with the
firm hands of a natural leader the (
young man took control.
"Let's hurry up," said one. "It's a
long 'mush' and the mud is knee deep." |
"No walking for us," said ftoy.
"We'll go by train." i
"By train? How can we get a I
traiu?"
"Steal It," he answered, at which "
Dextry grinned delightedly at his 1
loose Jointed companion, and Slapjack
showed bis toothless gums in answer,
saying:
"He sure le."
A few more words and Glenlster,-accompanied
by these two, slipped out
Into the whirling storm, and a half hour $
later the rest followed. One by one .
the vigilantes left, the blackness blot- <
ting them up an arm's length from I
the door, till at last the big, bleak j
warehouse echoed hollowly to the
voice of the wind and water.
Over in the eastern end of the town, (
behind dark windows upon which the !
sheeted rain beat furiously, otber
armed men lay patiently waitingwaiting
some word from the bulky shadow
which stood with folded arms
close against a square of gray, while
over their heads a wretched old man
paced back and forth, wringing his
bands, pausing at every, turn to peer "
ont into the night and to mumble the
name of his sister's child.
r
CHAPTER XIX. j 1
EAJRLY In the evening Cherry Ma- "
lotte opened her door to find the
Bronco Kid on her step. He
entered and threw off his rub- 1
ber coat. Knowing him well, she waited
for his disclosure of his errand. His "
sallow skin was without a trace of
color, his eyes were strangely tired, |
deep lines had gathered about his Hps, I
while his hand* kept up constant little
nervous explorations as though for
days and nights he bad not slept and .
now hovered on the verge of eonse hys- ?
terla. He gave ber the Impression of ^
a smoldering mine with the fire eating
- " < r\A*p/1flr Rha tn/lflred
UVDC U^ IV IUV JTV mvi . vuv
that his bod; had been racked by ev- ery
passion till now It banc jaded and
weary, yielding only to the spur of his
reetless, revengeful spirit (
After a few objectless remarks he '
began abruptly:
"Do you love Roy Glenister?" His
voice, like his manner, was Jealously
eager, and he watched ber carefully as I
she replied without quibble or deceit:
"Yes. Kid, and I always shall. He Is <.
the only true man I have ever known,
nnd I'm not ashamed of my feelings."
1'or a loug time he studied her and
[Continued on pape 3.]
%
it puirh'jf1
>ine-ma<le
*
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torrc I
u iiiir v?u r j
INK.
icey
12, at 12 m. the,
- ommissi'uiers will re-1
> ieir office to put in J
?:l?5i* of court prid audrecover
jail.
?th
Rh sothe
n bony
iposslble.
jd pepoof
- ot
iTedieuv with
aedy vu made
^floo. Without
. Wtraftted many.
f.n: J.fti last, it uniform
thie heretofore
s ^"saas
remedy u
e water.
?ji wartee
$ CftUM Of
-ooer no
TWtt?ir
i
Rlkuim Remedy
rC ?00TT.
_ .
The Largest d Most C ..mplete
inent South.
3E0. 8. . JGKER i SON.
%
? tt
-MANUFACTl 1 :E8 OKSash,
Doors, Blinds
Moulding and Building Material,
Sash Weights and Cords
CHARLESTON. S C.
PROFESSIONAL US
R. E. & E. N. B EATY
ENGINEERS AND CONTRACTORS
Georgetown, - - - S. C.
Civil Enaineerinq
Land Surveying
Railroad Surveys
aud Construction
>rompt attention to out of Town Work.
3-19-tf
iV. L. Basi A. C. Hinds
BASS & HINDS,
Attorneys-at-law
KNGSTREE, S. C.
-20-tf.
or rats
Lake City, S. C.
irown and Bridge Work a Specialty.
ALL WORK
Guaranteed as Represented.
W, L. BASS
Attorney at Law
LAKE CITY, S. C.
Dr RJ McCabe
Dentist.
UN3ST1EE, . - S. C.
J. D. MOUZON'S |
BARBER SHOP
?in thecal
Keirei Hate!
s equipped with up-to-date apiliances.
Polite Service. ? orapetent
Vorkmen.
5-8-08.
W. P. TENNENT
A R C H I T E C T
Seneral Contractor and Builder
Solicits vour business. Estimates
cheerfully furnished on all
: : kinds of work. : :
26 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
Co, stores Timmonsville and
Beulah and residence at National
Cemetery. : : : : :
ISloTl alcoholic I
Snrznrsnrma
W ?WW
If you think you need a tonic,
ask your doctor. If you think
j yo^*?ed something for your
bi i^our doctor. If you
yould like to try
alcoholic Sarsapaai
jur doctor. Con'
him often. Keep in close
touch with him.
1
We publish our formulas
j a _ We banish alcohol
i Jal f from our medicines
/ I f/Z> 1*0 We urge you to
A a a ^ M .J consult your
^ V dootor
Ask your doctor to name some of the
results of constipation. His long list will
begin with sick-headache, biliousness,
dyspepsia, thin blood, bad skin. Then
ask him if he would recommend your
using Ayer's Pills.
c. _ -?.l. Itass.?
JflTTM
?AND THE PRN
TOBi
j 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 i
price
2?
We have just received a car
fered at a low price. . Remembei
rain Moore & Co's Paint. Also,
Cutlery and Razors. The Robe!
preciate our friends' patronage ;
t'nued confidence.
Lake City I
T AFV P
UtXOkJU \J
"A dollar
is a doll
There is no better wa)
dealing with
J. L. Stuckey, the o
man.
I have a splendid line
Rik Will
?' "DO 1 " -Othat
in view of the hard timi
above cost.
A nice bunch of HORSE
at prices to suit.
J. L Stu
BANK OF *
Kingstree, So
CAPITAL, $ 30.000"
1=^== DIREC
Jas F Cooper
T> O Snntt.
I 1
1 Collections made promptl
1 LOANS, large or small, rr
MOW
Ar
RAH
GIVE U!
ORDER
McCOt
HOWER A
Do not wait uutil your oat
A CAR
of HcCormick Howers an
Yours for
THE WILLIAM
Kingstree & Creelyville,
bj. '^^"'^t-of-doors" a S7lVEN3^^^^
I | fiiLP-CONTROL, DECISION. ANDI
I! A+k your Dealer for Stove :s Ib'f!c? 1 * A
i'% ?.iOU:uns Pistols. Insist o:?. our -1 H
| Si'om rod make. If you cannot obtain.
[i ve ship direct, ox^rr^ ? UjMM HHfl
|{ r^roipt of Catalog I'mo.
j J v'*r>fl] ugyoa v*ant t kuowaU; I Si*.VLN>
. ff | i *.' .n<\ in S10 Pag* llhutratc.l '*;.?! >g. Ma !? \
c( n in stamp* to pay put Bra at
i j r llaagrr w . f ? HI
W | l? vr">?j?--ri-iV f r o '-in t
STEVENS ARMS & 70CL CC ?Bfl
P. 0. Box 4>,97
}| . hicopce Fills. Mass.. U. S. A
-JME.
IS KING 1
fCE REGENT IS- - M
ubjects of both in Lake City this- I
e them. In anticipation of th& Bj
epairing our warehouse so as to
ier than remove tbe stock of O.K.
warehouse we have ^reducedthe A
c Cent. flj
load of Wire Fence, which is of-H
r we are headquarters for Benja- V
we offer exceptional values in
son Razor can't be beat. We ap- I
and will try to merit their con? 1
ia.rd.wa.re Co., ]
t w
ITY, 8. c y
saved
ar made"
r to save your dollars than by
>ld reliable live-stock
of
4
os if tavj
is am offering at 10 per cent I
:S and MULES always on hand 1
ickey, Lake City,S.C I
1E = l 1
NGSTREE I
uth Carolina. |
SURPLUS, S 7800 ]
/TORS =====
R H Kellahan
T |
J A Kelley
y. .
lade on approved security. I
ERS j
MD I
CES I
5 YOUR M
FOR A * |
in IC K I
ND RAKE J
s and hay begin to waste. I
LOAD
J n 1 ?? concit
U l^ttKCS 1IUW 111 UHUOIk. M
business,
G LIVESTOCK CO., J
South Carolina. V