University of South Carolina Libraries
THC SUMTER WATCHMAN, Established April,?IS50. 'Ee Just and Fear not-Let all"the Ends thou Aims't at, toe thy Country's, thy God'sJand Truth's." THE TRUE SOUTH RON, established Jone, 1266 Consolidated Avg. 2, ISSI. SUMTER, S. C., WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1894. New Series-Vol. XIV. No. 19. Published Every "ETodaesday, 3NT. Gr, SUMTER, S. C. TERMS : Two Dollars per annum-iu advance. ADVE8T13?MEST; One Square first insertion.............$1 00 Every subsequent insertion... 50 Contracts for three months, or longer will be made at reduced rates. AU communications which subserve private interests will be charged for as advertisements. Obituaries and tributes of respect will be charged for. CHAPTER L It was a winter night I was sitting over the fire at my chambers in the Hiddle Temple, and my friend, Frank Bowser, was pacing about the room. "Arthur," said he, stopping sudden? ly and tossing a bag of gold toward the ceiling, "I shall soon claim the hand of Alice Darell now." Again he pitched the bag of gold into the air, and the pieces of money, clink? ing together, sent forth a low, ringing sound. "Bowser, *' said L drawing my arm? chair closer to the fire, ''this is a danger? ous scheme It will end in disaster. Take my advice and don't pursue it farther." In the old college days Bowser had gained a reputation for recklessness, and he had not changed in character 'sh??&'i??R^ was a laagh. ;Hls inflexibility irritated me. | v"Can yon not realize, " I exclaimed, 'what a risk you are running* You go ont nearly every night oh this strange search Yon take nopreca^ that I Again Tie pitched the bag of gold into the air. know of. The day must come, though . I dread to think of it, when you will be robbed and probably murdered. " "Murdered !" said Bowser, laughing and still tossing his gold. "How nerv? ous yon are tonight! Nonsense! My plan will succeed. I am hunting about the docks at Limehouse now, and if you only knew what a discovery- Hello, who's that?" It was a muffled, mysterious sounding knock at the outer door. "It's Scroggie," said L jumping up. "Old Scroggie!" "Ah! Scroggie, is it?" said Bowser. "Ah!" A change crossed his face, I though t, but possibly I was mistaken, for there was no light in the room except a shad? ed lamp and the uncertain flicker of the fire, which threw shadows upon our faces as well as upon the dark paneled walls. I went out to admit my visitor. As I walked along the passage I could hear the ring of Bowser's gold. I felt a chill pass over me, and I shuddered. "Alone?" said Scroggie in a low voice as I opened the door. "Come in!" I said. "Come in! It's only Bowser. " He hesitated, with his hands deep in his pockets. Then he hugged himself, as if suffering from cold, and said: "No; m look in later" "Not you, " said I, taking him play? fully by the coat collar (we were fa? miliar in our manners toward each other). "Not you! I'm going to give Bowser a lecture, and I want an audi? ence. So come and take the chair. " As I still held him by the collar and refused to release him, Scroggie, after a slight resistance, yielded to persua? sion. So I shut out the cold air on the staircase and led tbe way into* my cozy room. "Good evening, " said Bowser, throw? ing up his bag and catching it. "Good evening, Scroggie. I'm practicing at a little game. You'll excuse me. Our friend Field, " he added, turning to me -"orr friend Field will tell you all about it It'smusicto me, sweet music. ' ' "I hate the sound of gold!" said Scroggie, seating himself beside the fire with another hug and turning his back on Bowser. "It reminds me of the dig? gings. And at Frisco I used to hear that clinking all day long. I bato it!" He spoke in a low voice, with his eyes fixed resentfully on the bright coals. My old schoolfellow Scroggie was one of the strangest characters I ever met. Nobody knew where he lived or how. Nobody saw him in the streets until after dark, and then he was usually walking at a quick pace, with a slouch? ing swing about the shoulders which distinguished him even in dark streets or in a crowded thoroughfare. He wore a low felt hat and at times and in all seasons a thick, roi overcoat buttoned tightly abont neck, giving him more the appeara of a sailor than of a landsman- He h in fact, since our school days pas most of his time upon the sea-at lei so I gathered from his conversatioi for many a night we had sat toget over the fire in these chambers while recounted to me the shipwecks ? other perils and dangers he had exp* enced. He had a quick; bright eye; a : beard, which he had a habit of soi times stroking with his small, nerv< hand when he talked. His hair, th and curly, always looked to me as if . tying a brush and comb, and his o had invariably that dusty appearance suggestive of the wearer having tramj over country roads. Why I had resun my acquaintance with this man-hi ing met him accidentally in the stre j some two or three years ago-and w j I at once became as intimate with h as I had been in our school days i mystery in human nature which I w not attempt to solve. , He was amusing, which may accou for a good deal, and I had known hi at school to belong to a good famii though I remember his education h been much neglected. It was of liti consequence to me chat he was peculi in his dress and manner, for we nev met, except on rare occasions, in a other place than my chambers. , "Now, Bowser," said I when I h mixed a glass of whisky for Scrogg and had resumed my seat by the & "now, Bowser, put that bag of go into your pocket and.listen tome. Ia going to explain your scheme to Sere gie and show him how very unsatisf a tory I consider your conduct Noi Bowser, for goodness' sake, sit down Bowser bestowed upon me a ha amused, half impatient glance, and gi ing his bag a parting toss dropped into his pocket and sat down away fro the fire, in the shade, beyond the rea ing lamp, and with his arms folded < the tabla He was a large, ;?owerf man, and I remember thinking how g gan tic his shoulders looked in that sem darkness as he leaned forward to liste] -, "The facts of the case, " said I, "tl facts of the case are somewhat as fo lows: My learned Mend has fallen i love, if I am not mistaken? Bowser nodded. "Has fallen in love with a your lady named Darell"- I thought Scro< gie had spoken. He had started an muttered something beyond doubt whe I mentioned the name of Darell "Nothing," said Scroggie, returnin with a quick glance the inquiring loo which I gave him. "And, moreover;," I then resumec "if I am not mistaken, my learne friend and Miss Darell are engaged. " Again Bowser nodded. "But," I said-"but there is a claus in the engagement. Miss Darell has los her father, who met his death unde circumstances of a very painful nature In a word, Miss Darell's father wa murdered. " At this moment I happened to b looking straight at Scroggie, and a dar shadow seemed to gather over his face The expression startled me and van ished. "Stay!" said Bowser as I was abou to continue. "Let me tell the story a I heard it from Alice Darell " I said, "By aH means," and leaninj back in my chair I waited for Bowse to proceed. "Miss Darell's father, " said Fran! Bowser, "was chief cashier at a bank ii a large market town in the north o: England. He lived on the premises, an( his daughter Alice lived with him. Hil position was an arduous one. He wai frequently engaged over the cash or ii examining the ledgers until late inti the night, especially on evenings pre ceding market days. "It was part of his duty to weigh 01 count over and check off in the bullior book the various bags of gold, large ano small, before they were handed over 01 distributed among the cashiers. And so, night after night, the clink of gold might be heard in the iron room beyond the back parlor, for night after night Mr. Darell sat there weighing the gold in the scales, or counting it, or shovel? ing it into the bags-clink, clink, clink !" : Here Bowser paused, and taking his own bag of gold oui' of his pocket placed it on the table before him. Scroggie was sitting in an attentive attitude, but his eyes were never raised from the fire, and a worn look, which I :had not observed at first, had settled upon his faca Bowser moved nearer to? ward us, coming within the circle of light under the lamp, and emptying out of his bag a quantity of bright sovereigns he continued in an impressive voice: "One night, " ho told us-"one night, between il and 12 o'clock, the cashier is scattrl in the iron room under a shad? ed lamp-as I am scated now-weigh? ing the gold as usual and filling thc bags one after another, entering them in the bullion book, tying them up and casting them aside. 1 "He is deeply engrossed in his occupa? tion. Ls he thinking-this honest, in? dustrious cashier-is he thinking, as he looks upon ibis glitter and listens to the clinking and ringing of this gold, what a hateful thing inoney is, or-who shall say?-who shall say but what, with a desire for his daughter's happiness pass? ing through his mind-who shall say but what, for her sake, he is wishing thal; the sovereigns -were his own? "He is working, working now, solely for her, and if ho is dreaming of riches what more natural on earth? ' 'But whatever his thoughts may be he is so absorbed that ho hears no catlike footstep moving stealthily toward the spot where he weighs the gold-clink, ?lins; clink!-he sees no shadow cross tho light in the cuter room, within a short distance of where he stands. He hears nothing, observes nothing, until an arm is uplifted swiftly behind him, and a stifled cry escapes him-no time for more. "He falls, beaten and crushed by a heavy blow. What's happened? A mur? der ! Committed in the dead of night ! ' ' When Bowser had uttered these words, there was a silence between us for some minutes. Scroggie was the first even to move in his chair. 1 had refilled his glass during the last pause in the narrative, and he now stretched but his hand hastily and lifted the tum? bler to his lips and drank it off as if it were water. Eis hand shook violently las he placed the empty glass on the mantelshelf. I had often seen his hand tremble. Indeed it was seldom quite 'steady, but he had never exhibited ex jcessive nervousness before, j "Well," said he without looking round. "There is not much more to tell," said Bowser. "It was evidently a col? lusion between the bank porter and a sailor-or at least a man that looked very like one-seen loitering about in the neighborhood of a public house on the night previous to the one on which this tragedy occurred. The porter was arrested, tried and sentenced to penal servitude for life. " "And the sailor?" said Scroggie. "Escaped. He made off with bass containing a large sum of gold, and he ! has never been heard of since. " With these words Bowser rose from j his seat and began to pace up and down the room, playing with his bag of gold ! in an excited manner. "Yes," said he presently, "the mur? derer escaped, but I have sworn to solve I this mystery as to who is the murderer of her father before I marry Alice Dar? ell That is the clause in our engage? ment If the villain is alive, I will ferret him out, hunt him down and bring him to justice, for I love Alice Darell more than my life, and for her I would run any risk. Mr. Darell was my friend. I honored him as much as if he had been my own father. " He stopped, glanced around the room with a savage energy expressed in his face, and then, flinging up the bag of sovereigns defiantly, he cried: "But the clink of gold will some day awaken the evil conscience! The man who com? mitted this crime will betray himself at last His guilt will be branded on his face, like an ugly scar, when he hears the sound-clink, clink, clink! There is no escape. The conscience is stronger than the man. " Again Bowser tossed up the bag of gold and paced the room, more excited than ever. "My dear Bowser, " I exclaimed, "for heaven's sake, be rational! To visit,. as you do, the lowest haunts in London, to mix among savages-for some of these men in the east end are nothing better -is to expose yourself to real dangers. These sailors know the sound of gold only too welL Some night you will, I again warn you, be robbed and mur? dered. And that, ' ' I added-* 'that will scarcely be agreeable news for me to ! carry to Alice Darell. Once more let me j seriously advise you to abandon this I scheme. And Scroggie," I added-j "Scroggie will, I know, support me in my appeal." "Abandon it?" said Bowser as he j walked toward the door. "Why, I've j already taken two or three sharp detect? ives into my confidence. Good night I'm going to meet one now. " As he went down the passage I heard the clink, clink of his bag of gold, and it seemed expressive of his contempt for my opinion, and when he had slammed the outer door of the chambers and his footsteps on the staircase had died away the sound was still ringing in my ears. J CHAPTER IL No sooner had Frank Bowser gone than Scroggie's whole manner changed. His face grew cheerful, and his voice sounded natural and pleasing. "Does Bowser entertain you in this musical style every night?" said Scrog? gie, with a laugh. "Yes," said I, stirring the fire into a blaze. ' 'It's a habit which seems to have become a necessary part of his exist? ence. As you or I may derive pleasure, for example, from a quaint thought, so Bowser derives pleasure from the sound of gold. In fact, he fancies that he does not deserve to gain Alice Darell's whole heart until he has succeeded in clearing up the mystery as to who murdered her father. It is a strange mistake. I know Miss Darell well, and although I have never mentioned this subject to her I am convinced that she would be the first to dissuade him. Indeed I have no doubt she has done so already if she knows anything about his scheme. " "Frank Bowser is mad," said Scrog? gie. "Tomorrow evening, " said I, "Miss Pilkington-an aunt with whom Miss Darell is living-expects me to after? noon tea. I shall go early, and before Bowse r arrives tiy to learn what they know about tho matter. I shudder when I think what may happen." "Then don't think,"said Scroggie. "Lot us change the subject." "You're right," said I, rising from my seat and standing with my back to the firo and looking round the room. "You're right. Let's change the sub? ject" Scroggie had also risen and had I glanced at tho sideboard and then at i the bookcase. "I suppose," said he, turning over the leaves of n volume-"I suppose you ; haven 't dined. Have you?' ' So well did I know Scroggie 'scharac- I ter that I was at once convinced by the i manner in which he put this question | that he had isot dine*:!. When or where, in fact, he ate anything was anoth problem, as deep as the one as to wh or where he slept. I had often thong when trying te puzzle out the li since our school days of this strange i dividual that he never slept anywhe or ate anything except within my chai bers. He was always supernatural hungry, though, to do him justice, 1 adopted all the gentlemanly devic which he could invent in order to co: ceal his voracity. Of course I declared that I had hi nothing to eat worth mentioning sin? the morning, though, in truth, I hi dined sumptuously at the Old Cock ta ern with Frank Bowser at 5 o'clocl But it was nearly ll, and I did n< doubt that I should be able to do justi< to the savory pie and the pickles ar other luxuries placed by Mrs. Billing my laundress, that af ternoon in my cu] board. The gusto with which Scroggie sprea the cloth and arranged the table win. I went on a foraging expedition in! gloomy recesses in search of provisioi would have given an edge to any man appetite. W6had forgotten in five mil utes all about Frank Bowser and tit sound of gold. The fire was burnin brightly, and the reading lamp, whic usually cast its light on my lawboot about this hour, was throwing a gio1' upon our festive board. Scroggie's a( tivity was bewildering. No sooner ha he uncorked a bottle of beer than off h went to refill the kettle, so that w might be prepared to mix hot whisk by and by. At last we settled down a the table, and Scroggie began to roll cigarette as though the idea of eatin, anything had never entered his head The temptation, however, which the pi held out was too great to be resisted. "I can't help thinking, Field," sai< he when he had partially appeased i very keen appetite-"I can't help think Lng that you're an uncommonly luck fellow." "Possibly," said L "but few men you know, consider themselves lucky. ' Scroggie glanced round the room, ant I could see by the nervous manner ii which he was rolling a fresh cigaretb that he had something on his minc which he wished to communicate. ' 'Un commonly lucky," he went on thought fully-"a cozy set of chambers, a warn fire, an easy chair, ? reference library, all complete. Not much inducement under the circumstances, to leave Eng land, now, have you?" I had returned to my armchair an< had lit my pipe. I answered, with nrj eyes on the fire, where pictures rose u] among the red and rugged coals: "A tour through France, Switzerland and Italy is a pleasure which I'm look ing forward to. At present I can't af ford it" "No?" said Scroggie quickly and ir a tone of concern, though whether foi me or for himself I could not decide. His voice and his manner puzzled me. 3 fancied at first that he contemplated borrowing money, but I quickly dis? missed the thought, for he had nevei hinted to me that he was needy, and al? though he had no scruples about sharing my snpper or passing a night upon my sofa I believed that he would have starved rather than borrow a sou. We never spoke to each other of our private affairs, but since Scroggie had referred to my cozy chambers I was constrained to say something by way of apology foi being in possession of such a luxury. "As you know-as you know, I'm only a briefless barrister. I inherited these books and this furniture from my grandfather. He lived in these rooms, and I came into possession when he died. My literary work pays for bread and cheese. When a 'foreign correspond? ent' is wanted, away I shall go, with a light valise on my shoulder and a walk? ing stick in my hand. " Scroggie looked still more thought? ful Presently he said, "And when you arrive, after a long day's journey, at your hotel you will sleep soundly, with no troubles in tho past " "Not many." "With no anxieties, about the future, except such as give zest to life and awaken ambition. " I laughed and said that I liked the picture. "And when," continued Scroggie "and when you have grown tired of traveling, and you tum your face to? ward home, how pleasant to know that a snug set of chambers" "And that laundress of mine will be waiting to receive me," I said, with a smile, "but," I added, "talking of Mrs. Billings, I now propose that we mix the whisky. " Scroggie was, I feared, becoming sen? timental, so I made this suggestion in order to revive his spirits. But the whisky did not altogether have thc desired effect. He sat silent for some time, looking sternly at the fire, and thc same worn expression came over his face which I observed when Frank Bowser was recounting the murder of Mr. Darell "Field, " said he as last without changing his attitude-"Field, old fel? low, for more than two years I have I been living in London, and almost on j my arrival I began to receive hospitality ' from you. You gave me a hearty wel? come when we met, and ever since I have been 'dropping' in here, and, I am afraid, wasting valuable time." I assured him-how could I do other? wise?-that ho had never wasted an hour. "Well, " said he doubtfully, "I hope not. However, it will end tonight. I'm going to travel." I expressed astonishment, though nothing could have surprised me less. "Yes, I am going to travel," he re- j peated, "and although it was my inten- '? tion to have started without mention- j ing the matter even to you, somehow, j after all your kindness, I thought per- ? haps if r did it might have created a wrong impression. I wished to thank I wished to-to- Yes, I'm going to travel." "America?" I suggested. "That depends, " he replied quickly -"that depends on circumstances. I'm waiting for a-for instructions. Any? how, " he added, "I'm going to travel. " Now that he had relieved his mind of the confession he began to grow drowsy and frequently nodded at the fire, as though he were bidding it adieu, but as soon as he fell into a doze he would get a start and gaze about him with a frightened look in his eyes. Then, as soon as he caught a glimpse of me quietly smoking my pipe, he would smile, mutter "All right" and go off into another doze, "You're tired," said I at a moment when I thought he appeared to be look? ing in my direction. "Fm going,"was his reply, shut? ting his eyes and again nodding at the fire, "to travel." "Not tonight" He started up suddenly, with a cry upon his lips. "What?" "I asked you if you were tired?" said L "Tired? No. Was I dreaming?" "Yes," said L "Won't von lie down?" '1 Well, ' ' he answered, looking toward the sofa sleepily, "if 'you've no objec? tion. Yes, I think I will for five min? utes. I shall be all right in five min? utes. Eh?" He always said "five minutes," but his sleep usually lasted over the night and often far into the day that followed. He pulled off his coat, threw my rug over his shoulders and lay down "I say, Field, old fellow," said he, in a scarcely audible tone,, as he turned his weary face to the wall, "what a hospitable-old chap-you arel I say dear boy-I'm-going-to-trav" Then I heard his heavy breathing and knew that he was fast asleep. How lone I sat in mv armchair be? fore the fire after Scroggie had fallen asleep I do not know, but hours must have passed before the incident oc? curred which I am now about to relate. I felt no inclination to retire to bed, and in this wakeful mood many strange fancies took possession of me, and the most strange of them ?12 was that a sound like the clink of gold was ringing in my brain. I could not dismiss it It kept my thoughts constantly fixed upon Frank Bowser until I became absolutely haunt? ed by scenes in which I imagined that he formed a central figure-scenes on the docks, in noisy taverns and dark streets, where men lurked about with villainous looks, until at last the river and its mysteries rose up before me, and I became troubled with a presentiment that some harm had really befallen my friend, for when the sound of a foot '' S raised Ms ar^^ step echoed in the court below my win? dows or a heavy tread on the staircase outside reached my ear I feared it was a messenger who had come to confirm what was passing-in my mind In this nervous, dreamy condition my thoughts 1 ecame so completely separated from my immediate surroundings that when, with a suddenness that appalled me, the dead silence of tho night was disturbed by a prolonged and dreadful shout, my heart seemed to have ceased to beat and my limbs to be paralyzed with terror. The impulse was strong within me to spring to my feet; but, although my brain was remarkably active, strange to say my body was dead to all sense of volition. Yet, although I could not move my head, objects which passed within the limits of my vision were not even clouded, but distinctly defined, and there I saw, with the palo and hag? gard face of one who is haunted, my old schoolfellow, Scroggie. His eyes were wide open and seemed j to express an irresistible fascination for | some beckoning spirit Presently he j spoke in whispers, as though addressing ; this phantom of his brain, but in a voice j so low ? hat not a word reached my ears, j At last he looked about as though the j shadow had vanished, though his breath j fell more quickly from his lips, and Iiis j right arm now stiffened from the shoul- ; der, and he grasped, in fancy, some ? heavy weapon which he was handling, j with a look of dogged energy and rcso- j lution. His face had changed into tho j expression of a demon, dark as night, j and lie seemed to be groping his way, j as if blind, and stopping in a listening j attitude, aud then groping on again, but with one overmastering purpose. Suddenly he raised his arm, and with his imaginary weapon aimed at the air a blow so fall of concentrated force that he staggered under it, uttered a low cry and fell heavily to the ground. Then, and only then, the power to move came back to me, and I sprang to his assistance. He was lying' on his back, gasping. He had become as black in the face as if he had been trans? formed into a veritable demon. With great difficulty I succeeded in loosening his collar. Each moment it seemed to me must be his last I raised him from the floor and placed him on the sofa, and slowly signs of consciousness returned. After staring around the room in a strange, bewil? dered fashion his eyes settled upon my face. "Are you all right now?" He pat his hand to his forehead, and a look of pain passed over his face such as I shall never forget "All right," said he, "all right It was only a dream. " Then he again turned his weary face toward the wall, muttering, "Only a dream, " and then he fell asleep. At this moment the flame of the read? ing lamp fluttered, like a heart, ?and expired, and I was left in darkness. The Are had burned out, and the mid? night air had a ghostly chill in it as it touched my cheek, and my pulse, beat? ing loudly, sounded in my ear like ghostly whisperings that seemed to warn me that I was alone in my chambers with the man who had murdered the father of Alice Darell [TO BE CONTINUED.] Appearances Deceptive, There is a well attested story of an officer of the Army of the Potomac who won great renown for his personal cour? age In every action of consequence his post was in the heart of danger, and it was noticed that no matter how thickly the bullets were flying he sat his horse in apparent disregard of them and never moved, even when the enemy's fire seemed concentrated upon him. It wasn't until 20 years after the war was over that he confessed that the secret of his apparent indifference to danger lay in the fact that he was so badly scared each time that he didn't dare to move for fear of running against some bullets. -New York Herald. Her Devotiop to a Canse, "Marguerite, " he murmured, "will you be mine?" "Harold," she answered, "I believe in the emancipation of our sex. My zealous devotion to the cause compels me to insist upon what may, to you, seem a punctilious absurdity. " "Nothing you say can seem absurd, " he protested. "Modesty forbade me, " she went on, "to frame the original question, but now that you have spoken there is no impropriety in my offering an amend? ment Do not ask me if I will be yours. Ask me if I will permit you to be mine ' ' -Washington Star. Effect of Cold Upon Metals. A series of experiments was recently made with a view to testing the rela? tive strength of metals when heated or cold. The result was surprising even to those who conducted the tests. Under a very low temperature the tensile strength of many m .tais was enormously in? creased. The breaking strain of tin was increased from 200 pounds to 400 pounds; that of fusible metal from 140 pounds to 450 pounds. The magnetic powers of metals seem to be in some way closely related co their tensile strength, and these as well are many times muliplied by excessive cold. New York Ledger. The Needful Inspiration. This little story is told of Mrs. Ward's most famous book. When the manu? script was completed, the hero bore a name altogether unsatisfactory to the author. She had fixed on Robert, but, although she went through long lists of names, could not get a surname which pleased her. Mrs. Ward was in London just then, .and her husband playfully suggested that the fresh air about their home at Haslemere might bring her the ? needful inspiration. "Haslemere," the novelist repeated dreamily, "Haslemere -Elsmere! I have it - Robert Els? mere!" And so the novel was named. New York Times. Egyptian Hieroglyphics. The Egyptians had four separate and distinct styles or forms of writing-the hieroglyphic, the hieratic, the enchorial and the Coptic The hieroglyphic was probably in use as early as the year 4000 B. C., and at first was made up entirely of pictures. About the year 2000 B. C. the hieratic form or style was introduced. In this the picture hieroglyphics were greatly simplified, finally developing into forms purely linear.-St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Annoying the President. Thc French government are taking measures to protect the presideut from annoyance. A man was arrested because he wanted to give M. Casimir-Perier a package of newspaper cuttings criticis? ing his policy. Thc oi?ender will be prosecuted on the charge of insulting the head of the state. Highest of all in Leavening Power.-Latest U. S. Gov't Report g Powder ABSOLUTELY PURE