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' Makim r j[/ <mi a.-?? /itawcaa ^ rp* /- *f r: ,Tne Risers, i ^ : I By REX E. BEACH. Copyright. 1305. by Rex E. Baach. ** J ! T ? /T [Continued trom page 2.J i ol? suddenly and consulted bis watch, while Helen remembered that she had uot heard. Shortz in the kitchen for a Vont: time. Suddenly Strove smiled on ^her peculiarly. with confident cunning, y. As lie leered at her over the disorder . be".'.' them ho <k from h' pocket j&if i a tl. < . ?v| h tossed t > her. * j i...- ;?a. - i eh. -.yv M "a ' i" i.in to 1 v .-e t i . dish-! the parcel . two h ?irs Jt.'Vi Bui! Strove .:r: it' come t> er. She 'i. ::I: but !:o o [" j.. ntncd a ."oss.. g. ;h. red up the four ornors of tlte t.i e- rh aiml. twisting lent together. curried the whole :ng out. the dishes crashing mid jailing as he threw his burden re< klessii.tn tt.f. K-ir.-h. n Then he returned J stood with his hack to the stove, ring at her while she perused the tents of the papers, which were e voluminous than she had sup& . 'dor a Ion;; time the girl pored over documents. The purport of the ers was ouly too obvious, and as L : read the proof of her uncle's guilt tood out clear and damning. There 1/iwas no possibility of mistake. The /whole wretched plot stood out plain. Its darkest infamies revealed. In spite of the cruelty of her disillusionment Helen was nevertheless exalted with the tierce ecstasy of power, with the knowledge that justice would at last be rendered. It would be her triumph and her expiation that she, who had been the unwitting tool of th is miserable clique, would be the one through whom restitution was made, y-, She arose with her eyes gleaming ant} .lips set. V* -ii> *s he*"?-" ?$( "Of course It is. Enough to convict us all. It meflUs the penitentiary for /our piecjoua uncle and your lover." aTHe stretched hi* chin upward at the aD<neution as though to free his throat _ from an invisible clutch. "Yes, your . . ^fjover particularly, for he's tho real B^ue. That's why I brought you here. ^^Qie'll marry you. but I'll be th$ best na?." The timbre of his voice was ?%npleasant. ia "?onie, let us go." she said. Ili 110 chuckled mirthlessly. , "That's a fine?example of unconscious humor." , . t' -"What do yon mean?" t'i ^ '"We.BL no human beiuir emit a fiud bin ? ? *" -* * .. to the coast in this . tempest; second but. by the way, let me explain something in those papers while I think of it." He spoke casually a?d stepped forward, reachiug for the package, which she was about to give up, when something prompted her to suatcb It behiud her back, and it was well she did. for his hand was tyujt a few iuches away, ffe was 110 match for her quickuess. however, and she > glided around the table, thrusting the " ^ T>np?rs into the frout of tier {Iress. The sudden contact with Cherry's rdtolver gave her a certain comfort. She spoke now with determination. A Intend to leave here at once. Will ec *ou bring my horse? Very well, I m hall do it myself." She turned, but his indolence vanished like a flash, and. springing in front edf the door, he barred her way. ua "Hold ou. lady. You ought to under. -and w ithout ray saying any more. . "by did I bring you here? Why did I Re an this little party? Why di.l T send ^it man away? Just to give you tlie of of ray complicity in a crime, 1 >pose. Well, hardly. You won't limjve here tonight. And when you do , j won't carry those papers. My own ^ ety depends on that, and I am selfKOO< so don't get mc sturted. Listen!" trar'y o*"ght the wail of the night ery, as though hungry for sacrifice. Iroru, you'll stay here and"? | The;e broke off abruptly, for Helen espl stepped to the telephone and taken vn the receiver. He leaped, snatcb"it from her and then, tearing the bigtrument loose from the wall, raised prj tbove his head, dashed It upon the ,>r and sprang toward tier, but she es Inched herself free and fled across ion room. The man's white hair was fllv tumbled, his face was ntirnle. i.-1 ter*?*' ?~?' ? ? I his nock and throat showed swolStn. throbbing veins, lie stood still, mg,.vevcr. and his lips cracked into his , r present, cautious suiile. now, don't lei's fight about this. lea? no use. for I've played to win. have your proof?now I'll have my or else I'll take it. Think over **^Kdi it will be while I lock up." Kit a down the mountain side a man y; urging a broken pony recklessly *ug the trail. The beast was blown Maj spent, its knees weak and l>endWP. yet the rider forced it as though viiul him yelled a thousand devils, ^ rring headlong through gully and 1 at -i, up steep slopes and down iuvisljn. ravines. Sometimes the animal 11 bled and fell with Its master, letimes they arose together, but So< man was heedless of all except his i > niet0* '5is?ei,s'kle t0 ^10 rain, which X- u^e ','IU hlindinglv. and to the wind, -" "idi seized him savagely upon the j ;es or gasped at him lu the gulwith exhausted malice. At last he ied the plateau and saw the road'. e light beueatb, so drove his heeif ;LJf x' v Into the flanks of the en j creature, which lunc^^ V ly. He felt the jv' > away l>eueatb hie Ming, and lustiufree from the o throw himself o. ud j clear of the thrus. ? ' ed that he turned fore soiuetlilug (-mote still, his gaunt, dark face uptc the ruin, while about him the a. screamed exultantly. The moment Struve disappea: ed Into i th' ~~ -ooni Helen darted to the j was merely a single sash, ; iEd immovable, but seizing ; It tie stools beside the stave through the glass, letting 11 of wind and water. Be f 1 escape Struve bound*- *""" i:. his face livid with get oarse and furiout. B gan to denounce her P"us >ment. for the girl hau/i dra \vi. eaj?on and leveled it I at hint. -v pale, and her | breast heaveu a swift run. while L"r vondrc, werte* lit with a !i lit i: > i s^et there before, glowing wVo-'O liej-ts e:i!!t:?itlC.l ?. Da-sion oi centuries. She 1 tl.c -g'i ttu'.er the deft 1. m i^tr-* sc;i!->tor. her nostrils thin ml !. !. her lips tight pressed I and pit h s !vr heal p >:*:ed proudl;. i T1 r n "r ?ve iti thmgh tlie shaij tor. d ltd \\\ over and pa t her, while | the < : ;> re 1 curtain lashed and whip 1 t-i .'"el . mihiusc. Hit ::: horreuco of the man made her voice < >nnd strangely unnatural j as she eon?i landed: "1 Jit't ?] ::x' to "to;? me!" She moved toward the door, motioning him to retreat before her, and he obeyed, recognizing the danger of her coolness. She did not note the calculating treachery of his glance, however, nor fathom the purposes he had iu n>lnd. Out on the rain swept uiouutain the prostrate rider had regained his senses and now was crawling painfully toward the roadhou^e. Seen through the dark he would have resembled some misshapen, creeping monster, for he dragged himself, reptile-like, close to the ground. But as he came closer the man heard a cry which the wind seemed guardiug from his ear, and, hearing it, he rose and rushed blindly forward, staggering like a wounded beast. Helen watched her captive closely as he backed through the d<H?r before her, for she dared not lose sight of him until free, foe middle room was lighted ?? ? cn hnr nnd its uj KiilM KIUJI' VU VMV ?"- I I rays showed that the front door was secured by a large Iron bolt. She thanked boa veil there was no lock and key. Struve had retreated until his back was to the counter, ofiferi.ig no word, making no move, but the darting brightness of his eyes showed the* ^ was alert and planning. r' ^fcett'the Ooor behind lle'^ ^Ly - ^ roucj (U(, bntheu eaacnietit. tunned ro the man made Ids first lightning-like 8i?u. |lo dashed the lamp to the 9odf, where It bursty like an eggshell, an<j aess leai>ed into the roonj 2? a? animal pollutes. Had she t?een Cfllmef or had time for an instant's thought Helen would have hastened back to the light, but she was midway to he^ liberty and actuated by the sole desire to break out into the open air, so plunged forward. Without warning she was hurled from her feet .by a body which oaipe ou{ of the darkness ntwin lift- Stu. firod th<? littlo (run Imf Struve's arms closed a boot her, the weapon was wrenched from her hand, and she found herself fighting against him, breast to breast, with the fury desperation. Ills wine burdened breath beat into her face, and she felt herself bound to him as though by hoops, while the touch of his cheek against hers turned her into a terrified, insensate animal which fought with every ounce of its strength and every nerve of its body. She screamed once, but it was not like the cry of a womau. Then the struggle went on in silence and utter blackness, Strove holdlug her like n gorilla till she grew faint and her head U'gan to whirl, while darting lights drove past her eyes, atxl there was the roar of a cataract in her oar.?. She was a strong girl, and her ripe young body, untried until this moment, answered In every fiber, so that she wrestled with almost a man's strength and lie had hard shift to hold her. But so violent an encouuter could not last. Ileleu felt herself drifting free from the earth and losing grip of all things tangible, when at last they tripped and fell against the .inner door. This gave way, and at the sarno moment the man's strength departed as though it were a thing of darkness and dared not face the light that streamed over tlieiu. She tore herself from his ciotch and staggered into the supper room, her looseued hair falling In a gleaming torrent about her shoulder's, while he arose from Ids knees and came toward her again, gasping: "I'll show j on who's master here!" Then he ceased abruptly, cringinglv, and threw up an arm before his face as if to ward off a blow. Framed in the window was the pallid visage of a man. The air rooked, the lamp flared, and Struve whirled completely around, falling back against the wall. His Ai-oo f * 1 !od vfilh 11 aiul elHftnil down where his hand had clutched at his breast, plucking at one spot as if tearing a barb from his bosom. lie Jerked his head toward the door at his elbow in cjuest of a retreat, a shudder ran over him. his knees buckled and he plunged forward upon his face, his arm still doubled under liini. It had happened like a flash of light, and although Helen felt, rather than heard, the shot and saw her assailant fall, she did not realize the meaning of It till a drift of powder smoke assailed her nostrils. Even so, she experienced no shock or horror of the sight. On the_contrary, _a_sav?ge joy at the sp.t? ; jr f I I ly i Ml.. passion. I IH'VOr SCO.. .kS ! till now. No y was : there, nothing , iutensost feeling, w /|)le live and die wit'" wing. There nro few who Ck....-- Now tlie great primitive, passioua iglngs. But iu this bluok night, b ^ defense of her most sao*'" v girl's nature had been str. purely savage l elements. As t '"ad predicted, j Helen nt last 1 ' yielded to 1 irresistibly powt..u? e. (llanclug backward creature sprawled by the door, went to her brother, put her ai >out his neck, and l isted him. ' 'lie's dea IV" the Kid at "V. She nodded and tried to but began to shiver and son it "Unlock rhe door." he "I'm hurt, and I must get When the Kid had hobb room she pressed hlra to her ... d hid matted head regardless of ? muddy, soaking garments. "I must look at him. lie may not be badly hurt," said the Kid. "Don't touch him!" She followed, nevertheless, and stood near by while her brother examlued his victim. Struve was broathiug, and, discovering this, the others lifted hint irftli difficulty to the couch. "Something cracked in here?rib*,, i guess," the Kid remavke<Jv guspjk.g and feeling his own si<j?. We tvas weak and pale, and the glrlj \^d him thto the buukroom where l*> covi'd lie down, ^rniy hid wonderful V^Qihaiian sustained him tHu. ~ I - .., uuu uow the knowledge of his helplessness served to prevent Helens collapse. The Ivld would not hear of her going for Lelp till the-storm abated or daylight caiue. insisting that the trails were^t*p treacherousud that n$ yuie cWd be S.*Vod bv doing so. ?hus ttyey waited for the dawn. At last they heard the wounded man faintly calling. lie spoke to Helen hoarsely. There was np malice, only fear, in his tones: "1 s^id tills Was my madness- and I got what I deset'ved. but I'm going' to die. O God?I'm to die. and I'm afraid!" Ho moaiiKl till the Bronco Kid hobbled in, glaring? with unquencbed hatred. "Yes, you're going to die, and 1 did it. Be game, can't you? I sha'n't let her go for help until daylight." TIaIaii fore/wl has lieathor Ivnol' frv liid I AXCltu 1 (/I v. CU uv.1 ui VlUWt L/uv.U IV hid couch, and returned to help the wounded man, who grew incoherent and be-1 gait to babble. A little Inter, when the Kid seemed stronger and his head clearer, Helen ventured to tell him of their uncle's villainy and of the proof she held, with 1 her hope of restoring justice. She told him of the attack planned that very night and of the danger which threat- j ened the miners. He questioned her : closely and, realizing the bearing of her story, crept to the door, casting the wind like a hound. "We'll have to risk it," said he. "Tho *t !i?j1 nlnwtct or, ?n?? n ml it'?5 nrtt loop till daylight." Slit? pleaded to go aloue, but be was i firm. -I'll never leave you again, and, j moreover. I know the lower trail \ quite well. We'll go down the gulch j to the valley and roach town that way. It's farther, but it's not so; dangerous." "You can't ride," she insisted. "I can if you'll tie me into the saddle. Come, get the horses." It was still pitchy dark and the rain was pouring, but the wind only sighed 1 weakly, as though tired by its vio- j lenco, when she helped the Lronco into his saddle. The effort wrenched a groan from him. but he insisted upon her tying his feet l?ene:Uh the horse's belly, sating that the trail was rough and he could take no chance of fall- j iug again: so. having performed the 1 last services she might for Siruve, she \ mounted lier own animal and allowed I it to pick lis v.ay down the steep descent behind her brother, who swayed and lurched drunkenly In his seat, gripping the horn before him with both hands. They had been gone perhaps a half hour when another horse plunged furl- j ously out of the darkness and halted before the readhouse door. Its rider, mud stained and disheveled, flung: himself in mad iiaste to the ground aud bolted in through the door. lie j saw the signs of confusion in the outer room, chairs upset and broken, the table wedged against the stove and l>efore the counter a shattered lamp in a pool of oil. He called loudly, but, receiving no answer, snatched a light which he found burning and ran to the door n_? his left, Sothlns fleeted II tiii but tlu? empty tiers of bunlc's. urning. he crossed to the other side yd burst throu.h. Another lamp was Jited lfsiil the couch v here Struve breathing heavily, his lids half i>d over his staring eyes. Kay i etl the pool of blood at his feet anil broken window; then, setting down 1 lamp, he leaned over the man and oke to hi in. When he received no answer he spoke attain loudly. Then, in a frenzy, Glenisler shook the wounded man "~">**44i^;o that he cried out iu terror: ^Ving?oh. I'm dying." Hoy v<"'i-k mail up and thrust his1 lie fore his e\es. > * i? 'II n'ster. I've o<m:e fer -where is i!;oV** A spark of r io.i dickered into the dull stare. I '"i .? to-) hi! i I*:.i ? y'ng- nnJ I'm .i" '* questioner shook Strove again, hero is rho?" ho repeated. tin:e r time, till by very force of his i insistence he compelled realiza?n in the suffeter. "The Kid took her away. The Kid shot me," and then his voice ro.se till it flooded the room with terror. "The Kid shot me. and I'm dying." He coughed blood to his lips, at which Itoy laid him back and stood up. So there was no mistake, after all. and he had arrived too late. This was the, Kid's revenge. This was how be struck. Lacking courage to face a j man's level eyes, he possessed the foulness to prey upon a woman. Hoy felt a weakening physical sickness sweep over liiiu til! his eye fell upon a sodden , garment which Helen had removed from her brother's shoulders and re 1 ...t,i. rtiirt TT.-? snsW'hcd [liUlTU mill <1 ui; vi.v. ... It from the floor and in a sudden fury felt it come apart in his hands like , wet tissue paper. lie found himself out In the rain, scanning the trampled soil by light of his lamp, and discerned tracks which the drizzle had not yet erased. He reasoned mechanically that the two riders could bufe no great start of him, so strode out beyond the house to see ' they had gone farther into the hilt. ~e were no tracks here, therefore must have doubled back toward It did not occur to him that 'ght have left the beaten path ^1 down the little creek to ch? it, replacing the light wht 'ound tt, be remounted aud I< horse Into a stiff u up towa. .ne d<vide Mi*** canter him aud the city. T*' * between J tug plainer to 'e story was growcould not ',:n' tb0URl1 as yet he 1 ^,eo? 11 nl1 together. Its ,,ties stabbed bnn with such ' . jrror that he cried out aloud and beat I his steed into faster time with both j hands and feet. To think of t'ruffians fighting ov" s-"** ! she were *' . .. tain girl As thdt1^ I Dir-' ^ofls of pillage! fte i Kkw* Tbr '' * v i?--1* be might not threw ] uim into sucL ungovern?ble mental chaos that he was forced to calm hini' self. Meu went raad that way. He I could not think of it. That gasftng I creature in the roadhouse spoke all too j well of the Bronco's determination. | And yet, who of those who had known j the I\id in the past would dream that j his vileness was so utter as this? Away to the right, hidden among the j shadowed hills, his friends rested I themselves fo'r the coming hatj^le, walt1 ing imnatlentl^ ^ tgtujy apd timing it To tne rising StW. Down In the valley to his left were the two he followed, while he, obsessed and unreasoning, fiow cursing like a madman, now j grim and silent, spurred southward toI ward town and into the ranks of his I enemies. [Continued next week.] " A CURIOUS LAKE. ' . It Makes Four Distinct Changes In Color Every Year, In Monterey county, Cal., at Seaside, there is a lake which changes its color four times each year. Apparently there is 110 outlet fur the lake, although it is never stagnant. It is full of waterfowl and fish, and when its eolor is normal it is sweet to the taste. The color changes arc very pro-1 nouneed and are in four distinct ] shades?yellow, green, red and dark ' gray that has the appearance of I black at times. After each change j the water regains its normal clear j appearance. The color i> in the water and is not the result of reflection from the sky. This has beea proved beyond doubt by the fact that the color r.uvv'iv the same for days at a time, regardless of the condition of the clouds. The four colors mentioned are the ones always seen, and they always occur in the order named, the disturbance, if such it may be called, covering a period of from six weeks to two months in July and August of each year. Old roddents of Seaside assert that the phenomenon is a regular annual event and that it is always followed by the death of a large number of tish in the lake. \ s\ on a t nf 41m nomilinr Ul^iuunuu.. w*. W.V condition lias ever been attempted by scientists, although several scion- i title men of note have studied the lake very carefully. The prevailing opinion among the inhabitants of the section surrounding the lake is j that the lake is of volcanic origin ; and that the changes aro due to subterranean disturbances, which . i produce chemical changes in the ; water of the lake. This idea is supposed to have grown out of the belief that the lake is bottomless. Years ago. when the Southern Pacific railroad was being built across one end of\ the teke^the roa<lbed eaak almoat o Scott's Lmutsio ^ nursing mothers by inci $9 nerve force. fit provides baby and mineral food fc ALL DRUGGIST I as fast as it was laid, and thousands of tons of gravel and stone were dumped into the lake before a stable foundation could be obtained. This led to the belief that the lake is bottomless. The lake is not more than three-quarters of a mile long 1 by less than half a mile wide.?Los Angeles Times. A Notable Performance. A member of the selio' board of Philadelphia deserilws a unique, schoolhouse in northern Pennsvlva-i nia, where the schoolmaster keeps his boys <rrindiri;r iteadily at their j desks, but hoiuelimes permits them j to nibble from their "lunch boxes as! they work. One day the pedagogue was instructing a class in arithmetic when he noticed that one pupil was devoting more attention to a piece of j pie than to his les-on. 'William," commanded the stern, mentor, "will you pay attention to i the lesson?" "I'm listening, sir/' said the boy. "listening, are you?" exclaimed the master. "Tb-en you're listening with one eac and eating pie with the other l^-Ilarper's Weekly. Hertaftex peaU'Vely reI itse to comraunica| ed at this office later i Tuesday, noon, except loi cal and personal items, which 'l-Ll. 1 lion WlilJlOt DC (tVcUlclUlC laici mau Wednesday, noon, for the current week. By trying1 to be accommodating we are thrown late every week and we are tired This notice applies t( I EVERY BODY. 11 4-25-tf. Don't \1 7 ^ iTI V> *1IU TILL YOUR PROPERTY IS DESTROYED, BUT INSURE NOW, Against Loss By Fire or Cyclone. If you want the best, get your j Insurance in a strong- "Old :LineH company. 1 represent several of the largest Fire and ; Cyclone Insurance Companies, L. H. FAIREY At Bank of Kingstree. 7-24?tf. Always That I can save Remember you money on SASH, DOORS ANB BLINDS AND OTHER BUILDING MATERIALS. Wholesale Prices Direct from Factor)*. Everything Guaranteed to come up to Specifica nuns. D. J. EPPS, Kingstree, S. C. Representing Cheraw Door & Sash Co. jirir ] r Applied by skilled mechanics 3 ? is worth a fair price. Cheap 3 } mixtures slopped on by cheap 3 f painters are dear at any price. ^ ? We expect to receive a reason- ) r able equivalent for our labor. ) r But we give an honest dollar's r r worth for every dollar we get, r r and we endeavor to permanent- ) f ly satisfy our customers. ) ALFRED WELLS, ) Painter and Paper Hanger, ^, j Kingstree Hardware [Co. |j n strengthens enfeebled 6 reusing their flesh and ? with the necessary fat A ?r healthy growth. jr S: 60c. AND $1.00. X BUILDING: DONE A* m Your Ov/n Price. C. E. HARRIS, General Contractor . and Builder - - Greelyville, South Carolina 1-16-tf. ? Klngstree CAMP NO- 27. L?v 1 At ^nd 3rd Monday WS ??si& up and sit on a stump . ,>r or hang about on tha Ngll. ^ limbs. PHILIP STOLL, 9 27 12m. Con. Com. Bucklen's Arnica Salvft The Sett Salve In The World, J ?e^'.Siration Notice. ( Theofflce of the Supervisor of "Reg iteration win oe openea on me nrsv ) Monday in every month for the pur? pose of the registering of any person who is qualified as follows: Who shall have been a resident of wo vp?rs. and of the the BtatP jyr ?? t county one year, And of the polling precinct in which the elector bfflrs i<i ~ vote four months before the day 0? election, and shall have paid, dl months before, any poll tax then due and payable, and who can both read 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 has paid all taxes collectable on during the present year, pioperty in this State . assessed at three hundred dollars or more. J. Y. McGILL, (.lerk of Board. uKiililiuii 1 PROCURED AND DEFENDED. 8?n?l ?odej, 'V 1 drawing orpnoto. for expert warchanu free report free adrlce, how to obtain patents, trade marks, I monty and often (hepatent. ft > SU nxtt Stmt, epp. United States ratefti OMee.1 I i^Jnsa ranee. \ Fire Insurance, | Tornado Insurance, \ jj Plate Glass Insurance i Life Insurance, | Health Insurance, ; Accident Insurance, T-\ I Burglary insurance. j We represent only ^ | Companies of unques- I tioned] reliability^and \ a policy is as good as I a gold bond. ^ We'll 5 Bond You,. I As Cashier, Treas- | urer or any position | 1 of trust in any of the | ^ largest companies in 2 America. % I Tlie Williamsburg g Insurance & Bond- I OFFICII OVER L STACKI-EY'8 ft STORE, j| Kingstree, - S. C. I ;l I