Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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I jj ?^Wi -jp Morni - "lie IfaXted s?ent?y until her : ceased. "Nw, madam," he said, "it is es tia! that we should obtain some f I don't wish to 'leave you alone r we are better acquainted with whereabouts. Can yon walk a I "way toward the trees, or shall I as you?' Iris?mediately.stood np. She pr ed her hair back defiantly. "Certainly I can walk," she ansi e?V "Wist .do you propose to do?" "Well, madam" "What is your name?' she intern ed imrjeriously. "Jenks, madam. Robert ?enks-" "Thank you. Now listen, Mn* Sol Jenks. My name is Miss Iris Dea On board ship I was a passenger J yon were a steward-that is, until : became a seaman. Here we are equ in misfortune, but in all else yon the leader. I am quite useless. I < only help in matters by your directi Plodding together through the stand, so I do not wish to be addressed a 'madam' in every breath. Do yon tn derstand me?* "As yon wish, Miss Deane," he said "The' fact remains, that I have maaj dings to attend to, and we really mus eat something." "What can we eat?' "Let ns find ont" he replied, sain n lng tiie nearest trees with keen sc rn "tiny. They plodded together through IJM "sand in silence. Physically they wari "a superb- couple, but in raiment they resembled scarecrows. Both? of com se were bareheaded. The sailor's jersey and trousers were old and torn, and the ses: water still soughed loudly ir nii5 hea vy boots with each step. But Iris was in a deplorable plight K?r hair fell in a great wave of gold? en brown strands over lier neck iind shoulders. Every hairpin had vansh ed, but with a few dexterous twists she celled the flying tresses into a loose knot Her beautiful muslin diess " was rent and draggled. It was dry ing rapidly under the ever increasing pow? er of the sun, and she surreptitiously endeavored to complete the fastening of the open portion about her neck. Suddenly he gave a glad shout. "By Jove. Miss Deane, we are in luck's w?.y! There is a fine plantain tree. ' The pangs of hunger could not be re? sisted Although the fruit was hardly ripe, they tore at the great bundies and ate ravenously. Iris made no pre? tense in the matter, and the sailor was in worse plight, for he had been on duty continuously since 4 o'clock the previous afternoon. At last their appetite was somewhat appeased, though plantains might not appeal to a gourmand as the soli tary' joint "Now," decided Jenks, "yon must rest here a little while, Miss Deane. I'm going back to the beach. Yon need not be afraid. There are no animals to barm yon, and I will not be far away." "What are yow going to do on the beach ?" she demanded. "To rescue stores, for the most part" . "May I not come with you. I can be of some little service surely V He answered slowly: "Please oblige me by remaining here at present In less than an hour I will return, and Cien perhaps you will find plenty to do." "She rea4 his meaning intuitively and shivered. "I could not do that,"' she murmured. "I would faint. While you are away* I will pray for them, my un? fortunate friends." As he passed from her side he heard ber sobbing quietly. When he reached the lagoon he halt? ed soddenly. Something startled him. He was quite certain that he had counted fourteen corpses. Now there were only twelve The two Lf.scars' bodies which rested on the small group of rocks on the verge of the lagoon had vanished. Where had they gone? gs of the , By LOUIS O * TRACY gp|| ^-f^ . Copyright. 1903, by 8 Edward J. Clode o*-^;':^ *.**?*. * * ****** *. * . *?.**,.**,*..*.. . **-. .*.; SM 'V"*-* **.*"*..*".*.***.?* .?.**. .**. ...**.*.* * ?v / M CHAPTER in. mHE sailor wasted no time in idle bewilderment He searched carefully for traces of the miss? ing Lascars. He came to the conclusion that the bodies had been dragged from off the sun- dried rocks into the lagoon by some agency the na? ture of which he could not even con? jecture. They were lying many feet above the sea level when he last saw them, lit? tle more than half an hour earlier. At that point the beach shelved rapidly. He could look far into the depths pf the rapidly clearing water. Nothing was visible there save several.varie? ties of small fish. The incident puzzled and annoyed bim. Still thinking about it,- he sat down on the highest rock and pulled off his heavy boots to empty the wa? ter out. He also divested'" himself of bis stockings and spread them"but to dry. The action reminded him of-Miss Deane's necessities. . He hurried to a point whence be could call out to her and recommend ber to dry some of her clothing during his absence. He retired even more quickly, fearing "lest be should be. seen. Iris bad already displayed to the sunlight a large por? tion of her costume. - ; Without further delay he set about a* disagreeable but necessary task. . From the pockets of the first officer and doctor he secured two revolvers and a supply of cartridges, evidently intended to settle any dispute which might have arisen between the ship's officers and the native members of the crew. He.hoped the cartridges were uninjured, but he could not test them at the moment for fear of alarming Miss Deane. Both officers carried pocketbooks and pencils. In one of these, containing dry leaves, the sailor made a careful inventory of the.money and other val? uable effects be found upon the dead, besides noting names and .documents where possible. Curiously enough, the capitalist of this island morgue was a Lascar, who in a belt around his waist boarded more than., a hundred pounds in gold. The sailor tied in if handker? chief all the money he collected and ranged pocketbooks, letters and jew? elry in separate little heaps. Then be stripped the men of their boots and outer clothing. He could not tell how long the girl and be might be detained on the island before help came, and fresh 'garments were essential. It would be foolish sentimentality to trust to stores thrown ashore from (the ship. Nevertheless when it became neces? sary to search and disrobe the women he almost broke down. For an instant he softened. Gulping back his emo? tions with a savage imprecation, he doggedly persevered. At last be paus? ed to consider what should be done with the bodies. His first intent was to scoop xa large hole in the sand with a piece of timber, but when he took into consideration the magnitude of the la? bor involved, requiring many hours of bard work and a waste of precious .time which might be of infinite value to his helpless companion and himself, he was forced to abandon the project It was not only impracticable, but dan? gerous. Again he had to set his teeth with , grim resolution. One by one the bod? ies were shot into the lagoon from the little quay of rock. He knew they would not be seen again. He arose and shook himself like a dog. There was much to be done. He gathered the clothes and other articles into a heap and placed portions of shat? tered packing cases near to mislead Iris. While thus engaged he kicked up out of the sand a rusty creese, or Malay sword. The presence of this im p?einent startled him. He examined it slowly and thrust it out of sight. Then he went back to her, after don* ning his stockings and boots, now thor? oughly dry. "Are you ready now. Miss Deane?" he sang out cheerily. "Ready? I have been waiting for you." Jenks chuckled quietly. "I must guard my tongue. It betrays me," he said to himself. Iris joined him. By some mysterious means she had effected great improve? ment in her appearance. Yet there were manifest gaps. "If only I had a needle and thread" she began. "if that is all," said the sailor, fum? bling in his pockets. He produced a shabby little hussif containing a thim? ble, scissors, needles and some skeins qt unbleached thread. Case and con? tents were sodden or rusted with salt water, but the girl fastened upon this treasure with a sigh of deep content. "Now, please," she cried, "I want a telegraph oifice and a ship." When they roached the sands she caught sight of the pile of clothes and the broken woodwork, with the small heaps of valuables methodically ar? ranged. The harmless subterfuge did not deceive her. She darted a quick look of gratitude at her companion. How thoughtful he was! After a fear? ful glance around she was reassured, though she wondered what had become of-them. "I see you have been busy," she said, nodding toward the clothes and boots. "Yes?' he replied" "simply. "Lu find, wasn't it?" "Most fortunate. When they are qi dry I will replenish my wardr< What is the ?vst thing to be done?' "Well, Miss Deane. I think our j gramme is, in the first place, to amine tiie articles thrown ashore ; see if any of the cases contain fe Secondly, we should haul high and < everything that may be of use to lest the weather should break ag and the next tide sweep away the sp Thirdly, we should eat and rest, a finally, we must explore the island fore the light fails. I am convinced are alone here. It is a small place the best, and if any Chinamen w ashore they would have put in an pearanc? long since." "Do you think, then, that we may main here long?" "It is impossible to form an opin: on that point. Help may come in day. On the other hand" "Yes?" "It is a wise thing, Miss Deane, prepare for other contingencies." "Do you mean," she said slow "that we may be imprisoned here : weeks, perhaps months?" "If you cist your mind back a ft hours you will perhaps admit that ' are very fortunate to be here at all.* She whisked round upon him. "! not fence with my question, Mr. Jeni Answer me!" He bowed. There was a perceptit return of his stubborn cynicism wh he spoke. "The facts are obvious, Miss Dear The loss of the Sirdar will not definitely known for many days. will be assumed that she has brok down. The agents in Singapore w await cabled tidings of her whei abouts. She might have drifted an where in that typhoon. Ultimate they will send out a vessel to searc impelled to that course a little earli by your father's anxiety. Pardon m I did not intend to pain you. I a speaking my mind." "Go on," said Iris bravely. "The relief ship must search the e tire China-sea. The gale might hai driven a disabled steamer north, sout east or west. A typhoon travels in whirling spiral, you see, and the dire tion of a drifting ship depends whol] upon the locality where she sustaine damage. The coasts of China, Jav; Borneo and the Philippines are n< equipped with lighthouses on ever headland and cordoned with telegrap wires. There are river pirates and sa1 age races to be reckoned with. Castin aside all other possibilities and assun lng that a prompt search is made to th south of our course, this part of th ocean is full of reefs and small island some inhabited permanently, other visited occasionally by fishermen." H was about to add something, but ched ed himself. - "To sum up," he continued hurriedlj "we may have to remain here for man; days, even months. There is always : chance of speedy help. We must ad nowever, on the basis of detention fo an indefinite period. I am discussinj appearances as they are. A survey o the island may change all these views.' "In what way?" He turned and pointed to the sum mit of the tree covered hill Denim them. "From that point," he said, "we ma} see other and larger islands. If so they will certainly be inhabited. I an surprised this one is not" He ended abruptly. They were los ing time. Before. Iris could join hin he was already hauling a large un damaged case out of the wa+er. He laughed unmirthfully. "Cham pagne!" he said. "A good brand too!" This man was certainly an enigma Iris wrinkled her pretty forehead ii the effort to place him in a fitting cate gory. His words and accent wen those of an educated gentleman, yel his actions and manners were studious? ly uncouth when he thought she was observing him. The veneer of rough? ness puzzled her. That he was nat? urally of refined temperament she knew quite well, not alone by percep? tion, but by the plain evidence of his earlier dealings with her. To the best of her ability she silently helped in the work of salvage. They made a queer collection. A case of champagne and another of brandy, a box of books, a pair of night glasses, a compass, several boxes of shin's bis? cuits, coated with salt, but saved by their hardness, having been immersed but a few seconds; two large cases of hams in equally good condition, some huge dish covers, a bit of twisted iron? work and a great quantity of cordage and timber. There was one very heavy package, which their united strength could not lift The sailor searched around until he. found an iron bar that could be wrenched from its socket With this he pried open the strong outer cover and revealed the contents-regulation boxes of ammunition, each containing 500 rounds. "Ah!" he cried. "Now we want some rifles." "What good would they be?" inquir? ed Iris. He softly denounced himself as a fool, but he answered at once: "To shoot birds, of course, Miss Deane. There are plenty here, and many of them are edible." They worked in silence for another hour. The sun -was nearing the zenith. They were distressed with the increas? ing heat of the day. Jenks secured a ham and some biscuits, some pieces of driftwood and the binoculars and invit? ed Miss Deane to accompany him to the grove. She obeyed without a word, though she wondered how he proposed to light a fire. To contribute some? thing toward the expected feast she picked up a dish cover and a bottle of champagne. The sailor eyed the concluding item with disfavor. "Not while the sun is up." he said. "In the evening, yes." "It was for you," explained Iris cold? ly. "I do not drink wine." "You must break the pledge while you are here, Miss Deane. It is often ^^^^^^^ - The bodies were shot into the lagoon very cold at night in this latitude, chill would mean fever and perha; death." She covertly watched his prepar Hons. He tore a dry leaf from a not book and broke the bullet out of cartridge, damping the powder wi1 water from a pitcher plant. Smearii ,the composition on the paper, he plac? it in the sun, where it dried at one He . gathered a small bundle of wit ered spines from the palms and arran ed the driftwood on top, choosing place for his bonfire just within tl shade. Then inserting the touch.p; per among the spines he unscrewe one of the lenses of the binocular converted it into a burning glass an had a fine blaze roaring merrily in few minutes. With the aid of pointe sticks he grilled some slices of han cut with his clasp knife, which he firs carefully cleaned in the earth. Th biscuits were of the variety that b< come soft when toasted, and so he ba anced a few by stones near the fire. Iris forgot her annoyance in her ii terest A most appetizing smell fille the air. They were having a picni amidst delightful surroundings. Yes terday at this time- She almost yieldei to a rush of sentiment, but forced i back with instant determination. Tear were a poor resource, unmindful o God's goodness to herself anther com pardon. Without the sailor, wha would have become of her, even wen she thrown ashore while still living She knew none of the expedients whicl seemed to be at his command. "Can I do nothing to* help?" she ex claimed. So contrite was her tone tba Jenks was astonished. "Yes," he said, pointing to the disl cover. "If you polish the top of tba with your sleeve it will serve as ? plate. Luncheon is ready." He neatly dished up two slices ol ham on a couple of biscuits and hand ed them to her with the clasp knife. "I can depend on my fingers," he ex plained. "It will not be the first $me.' "Have you led an adventurous life?" she asked, by way of polite conversa? tion. "No," he growled. "I onlj* thought so because you ap? pear to know all sorts of dodges for prolonging existence-things I never heard of. "Broiled ham-and biscuits-for in? stance?" ? At another time Iris would have snapped at him for the retort. Still humbly regretful for her previous at? titude, she answered meekly: "Yes, in this manner of cooking them, I mean. But there are other items methods of lighting fires, finding water, knowing wnat fruits and other articles may be found on a desert island, such :'.s plantains and cocoanuts and certain sorts of birds." When the meal was ended Jenks .-nrang lightly to his feet. Rest and food had restored his faculties. The girl thought dreamily, as he stood there in his rough attire, that she had never seen a finer man. He was tall, sinewy and well formed. In repose his face was pleasant, if masterful. Its somewhat sullen, self contained ex? pression was occasional and acquired. She wondered how he could be so ener? getic. Personally she was consumed with sleepiness. He proHuced a revolver. "Do you mind if I fire L shot to test these cartridges?" he inquired. "The powder is all right, but the fulminate in the caps may be damaged." She agreed promptly. He pointed the weapon at a cluster of cocoanuts, and there was a loud report. Two nuts fell to the ground, and t^e air was fill? ed with shrill screams and the flapping of innumerable wings. Iris was mo? mentarily dismayed, but her senses confirmed the sailor's explanation - "Sea birds." "Can you use a revolver?" he asked. "My father taught me. He thinks every woman should know how to de? fend herself if need be." "Excellent Well, Miss Deane, you must try to sleep for a couple of hours. I purpose examining the coast for some distance on each side. Should you want me, a shot will be the best sort of signal." "I am very tired," she admitted. "But you?" "Oh, I am all right! I feel restless that is, I mean I will not be able to sleep until night comes, and before we climb the hill to survey our domain I want to lind better quarters than we now possess." Perhaps wore she less fatigued she would have caught the vague anxiety, the note of distrust, in his voice. But the carpet of sand and loaves on which she lay was very seductive. IIer_eyes c?oseu. "Slie n?slIeO Inlo "a comforta? ble position and slept. The man moved the revolver out of harm's way to a spot -where she must see it instantly, pulled his sou'wester well over his eyes and walked off quietly. They were flung ashore on the north? west side of the island. Except for the cove formed by the coral reef, with its mysterious palm tree growing ap? parently in the midst of the waves, the shape of the coast was roughly that of the concave side of a bow, the two visible extremities being about three quarters of a mile apart. Ile guessed by the way in which the sea raced past these points that the land did not extend beyond them. Be? hind him it rose steeply to a considera? ble height, 130 or 200 feet. In the cen ter was the tallest hilt which seemed to end abruptly toward the southwest. On the northeast side it was connect? ed with a rocky promontory by a ridge of easy grade. The sailor turned to the southwest as offering the most likely direction for rapid survey. He was not surprised to find that the hill terminated in a sheer wall of rock, which stood out, ominous and massive, from the: wealth of verdure clothing the remainder of the* ridge. Facing the precipice and separated from it by a strip of ground not twen? ty feet above the sea level in the high? est part was another rock built emi? nence quite bare of trees, blackened by the weather and scarred in a manner that attested the attacks of lightning. The intervening* belt was sparsely dotted with trees, casuarinas, poon and other woods he did not know, resem? bling ebony and cedar. A number of stumps showed that the ax had been at work, but not recently. He prised into the cleft and climbed a tree that offered easy access. As he expected, after rising a few feet from thc ground his eyes encountered the solemn blue line of the sea, not half a mile distant. He descended and commenced a sys? tematic search. Men had been here. Was there a house? Would he sudden? ly encounter some hermit Malay or Chinaman? At the foot of the main cliff was a cluster of fruit bearing trees-plan? tains, areca nuts and cocoa palms. A couple of cinchonas caught his eye. In one spot the undergrowth* was rank and vividly green. The cassava, or tapioca plant, reared its high passion fiowrer leaves above the grass, and some sago' palms thrust aloft their thick stemmed trunks. "Here is a change of menu, at any rate," he communed. ; Breaking a thick branch off a poon tree, he whittled away the minor stems. A strong stick was needful to explore that leafy fastness thoroughly. A few cautious strides and vigorous whacks with the stick laid bare the caui'e of such prodigality in a soil cov? ered with drifted sand and lumps of black and white speckled coral. The trees and bushes inclosed a well-safe? guarded, - in fact, from being choked with sand during the first gale that blew. Delighted with this discovery, more precious than diamonds at the mo? ment - for he doubted the advisability of existing on the water supply of the pitcher plant-he knelt to peer into the excavation. The well had been proper? ly made. Ten feet down he could see the reflection of his face. Expert hands had tapped the secret reservoir of the island. By stretching to the full ex? tent of his arm he managed to plunge the stick into the water. Tasting the drops, he found that they were quite sweet - The sand and porous rock pro? vided the best of filter beds. He rose, well pleased, and noted that on the opposite side the appearance of the shrubs and tufts of long grass indicated the existence of a grown over path toward the cliff. He followed it walking carelessly, with eyes seeking the prospect beyond, when something rattled and cracked beneath his feet Looking down, he was horrified to find he" wis trampling on a skeleton. Had a venomous snake coiled its glis? tening folds around his leg he would not have been more startled. But this man of iron nerve soon recovered. He frowned deeply after the first involun? tary heart throb. ' With the stick he cleared away the undergrowth and revealed the skeleton of a man. The boues were bis and strong, but oxidized by the action of the air. Jenks had injured the left tibia by his tread, but three fractured ribs and a smashed shoulder blade told some terrible unwritten story. [TO BE CONTINUED.] t- ic. CASTOR IA For Infants and Children. The Kind You Have Always Bought Bears the Signature of DeLORHE'S PHARMACY, 23 South Main St. Open from 7 a. m. to 10 p. m. ; Sunday, 9 a. m. to 1 p. m. Having consolidated my two stores, I will be pleased to see all my customers at the above stand, where I am better pre? pared than ever to serve them Your prescriptions will be called for and delivered. Phone 45. Full line of Drugs, Garden Seed and Cigars. Your patronage solicited. Call bell for night work. RGOOD POTATOES % BRING FANCY PRICES 1 ll To grow a large crop of good potatoes, the af soil must contain plenty of Potash^ 8| Tomatoes, melons, cabbage, turnips, lettuce B "Tin fact, all vegetables remove large quanti 5| ties of Potash from the soil. Supply liberally by the use of fertilizers containing not less than 10 per cent, actual Potash. Better and more profitable yields are sure io follow. Our pamphlets are not advertising circulars booming special fertilizers, but contain valu? able information to fanners. Sent free for the asking. Write now. GERMAN KALI WORKS New York-93 Nassau Street, or Atlanta, Ga.-223^ South Broad St. MONEY PICKED UPI! BY Writing Life Insurance In The Penn Mutual insurance Go. J 1BERAL contracts to live agents in unoccupied territory. ADDRESS PERRY MOSES, JR. General ?gent, Sorter, S. G. $100,000.00 Capital. THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK of Sumter, S. 0. THE Comptroller of the Currency hav? ing approved the increase of the Capital of this Bank to $100,000.00, esposito rs now have as security for their deposits : Capital, - - $100,000 00 Stockholders' Individual Lia? bility, - - - \00,000 00 Surplus and Undivided Prof? its, ... 25,000 00 Total Security for Depositors, $225,000 00 ONLY NAT IO NLA BANK IN CITY OF SUMTER. Largest Capital of any Bank in this section of South Carolina. Strongest Bank in Eastern part of this State. Interest allowed on deposits to a limited amount. BOARD OF DIRECTORS. A. J. CHINA, President. NEILL ODONNELL. Vice President. H. D. BARNETT, R. D. LEE, ' G. A. LEMMON, JOHN REID, E. P. RICKER. R. L. EE MUNDS, Cashier. R. D. LEE, Solicitor. BOOKKEEPERS. J. L. Mccallum, D. J. Winn, Jr. Oliver lu Yates. THE BANK OF SUMTER, SUMTER, S. C. City and County Depository. Capital stock paid in, $75,000 00 Undivided surplus, 16,000 00 Individual liability of stockhold? ers in excess of their stock, 75,000 00 Transacts a general banking business; also has a Saving Bank Department De? posits of $1 and upward received. Inter? est allowed at the rate of 4 per cent, per annum, payable semi-annually. W. F. B. HAYNSWORTH, President R. L MANNING,^ W. F. RHAME, vice-President. Cashier. Jan. 31._ THE SUMTER SAYINGS BANU HORACE HARBY, President L C. STRAUSS, vice-President GEO. L. RICKER, Cashier, s Capital Stock, $25,000 Liability of Stockholders, 25,000 Every Facility For the transaction of business is afford? ed those who deposit their money with The Sumter Savings Bank, Inj portant papers can be drawn np and signed in a private room set aside for use of our clients and any information de? sired will be cheerfully' furnished hy the management. Savings deposited here draw interest at the rate of 4' per cent per annum. $1.00 will open an account and secure a bank book. We promptly obtain U. S. and Foreign PATENTS Send model, sketch or photo of invention for' free report ba patentability, lor frfte book, HowtoSecareT?jinC MAQIfO write Patents and J hMlfE'lflMfmO to Opposite U. S. Pater? WASHINGTON D. C.