The watchman and southron. (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, May 17, 1905, Image 2

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He read this remarkable document twice through to make sure that it ex? actly recorded his sentiments. He even smiled sarcastically at tue endowment of the uncle who disinherited him. ?ben, satisfied with the perusal, he tore ?ut the, two leaves covered by the letter and began to devise a means of pro? tecting it securely while in Iris* pos? session. 4 1 At that moment he looked up and ?aw her coming toward him across the j ?eaci, TH^QyHIuslied^ter lieFoath, walking like a nymph clothed in tat? tered garments. Perceiving that he was watching her, she waved her hand sad instinctively quickened her pace. Even row, when they were thrown to? gether by the exigencies of each hour, she disliked to be long separated from Instantly the scales fell from his mental vision. What! Distrust Iris! Imagine fOR one second that riches or poverty, good repute or ilL would affect that loyal heart when its virginal font "was filled with the love that once in her life comes to every true woman! Perish the thought! ? Toughing at his fantastic folly Jenks tor? the letter into little pieces. It might have been wiser to throw the sheets into the embers of the fire close at hand, hut for the nonce he was over? powered by the great awakening that nad come to him. "Good gracious! Don't gaze at me in that fashion. I don't look like a ghost, do IT cried Iris, when near enough to note his rapt expression. -"You would not object if I called you a vistan?" he inquired quietly, averting Ids ejes lest they should spsbk more plainly than Ms. tongue. **Not if you meant it nicely. But I. fear, that 'specter* would, be a more aj> jpropriate word. Just look at my best * She spread out the front widths of lier skirt, and certainly the prospect was lamentable. The dress was so patched and mended; yet so full of fresh rents? that a respectable house? maid would hesitate before.using it to clean fire irons. "Is that really your best dress?* he said. ^YesL This ls my blue serge. The brown cloth did not survive the soak? ing lt received in sait water. After a few days it simply crumbled. The oth? ers are muslin or cotton and haye been -sr-adapted." "There is plenty of men's clothing," feebegasL "Unf artenately there Isn't another is? land,'* she said severely. "No. I meant that it might be posai-. 6$e to-er-contrive some sort of rig . that will serv? ail purposes!" "But ali my thread is gone. I have barely a needleful left** "Ia that case we must fail back on ^ocr supply of hemp.". *T suppose that might be made to serve,** she said. "You are never at a loss for an expedient" "It win be a poor one, I fear. But you can make up for it by buying some mee gowns at Doucet's or Worth's" She laughed delightedly. "Perhaps ls bis Joy st my reappearance my dear "I? that really your ?jest dress f" old dad may let me run riot in Paris on our way home. But that will not last We are fairly well off. but I can aot afford ten thousand a year for ?ress alone." * *Tf any woman can afford such a som for the purpose you are at least ber equal." Iris looked puzzled. "Is that your way of telling me that fine feathers would make me a fine bird?" she asked. "No. I intend my words to be under? stood in their ordinary sense. You are Tery, very rich. Miss Deane, an ex? travagantly wealthy young person." "Of course you know you are talking nonsense. Why, only the other day my father said" -Excuse me. What is the average jsiee cf a talking dresf; from a lead , By LOUIS ? i A TRACY +Ff Copyright. 1905 bj g??Sj ^ Edward J. Clod? ?.?:. \ I Sig Paris"bouse7rt ' "Thirty pounds." . "And an evening dress V "Oh, anything from fifty upward." He picked up a few pieces of quartz from the canvas sheet "Here is your walking dress," he said, handing her a lump weighing about a pound. "With the balance in the heap there you can stagger the best dressed woman you meet at your first dinner in England." "Do you mean by pelting her?" she Inquired mischievously. . "Far worse. By wearing a more ex? pensive costume." His manner was so earnest that he compelled seriousness. Iris touk the proffered specimen and looked at it "From the cave, I suppo?e? I thought you said antimony was not very valu? able?" "That is not antimony. It is gold. By chance I have hit upon an extreme? ly rich lode of gold. At the most mod? est computation it is worth hundreds of thousands of pounds. You and I are quite wealthy people, Miss Deane." Iris opened her blue eyes very wide at this intelligence. It took her breath away. But her. first words betokened her innate sense of fair dealing. "You and I! Wealthy!" she gasped. *T am so glad for your sake, but tell me, pray, Mr. Jenks, what have I got t? do with it?' "You!" he repeated. "Are we not partners in this island? By squatter's right if by no better title we own land, minerals, wood, game and even such weird belongings as ancient lights and fishing privil?ges.'' "I dont see that at alL Yon find a gold mine and coolly tell me that I am a.half owner of it because yon dragged .me-Gut,:of ; the-sea, fed me,. housed me,, saved my Hfe from pirates and general? ly acted ?ike a devoted, nursemaid in charge of a baby. Really, Mr. Jenks" "Really, Miss Deane, yon will annoy me seriously if yon say another word. I absolutely refuse to listen to such an argument" For some time they stood in silence until the sailor commenced to reproach himself for his rough protest Perhaps he had hurt her sensitive .feelings. What a brute he was to be sure! She was only a child in ordinary affairs, and he ought to have explained things more lucidly and with greater com? mand over his temper. And . all this time Iris' face was dimpling with amusement, for she understood him so well that had he threatened to kill her she would have laughed at him. "Would yon mind getting the lamp?" he said softly, surprised to catch her expression of saucy humor. "Oh, please may I speak V she in? quired. "I don't want to annoy you, bnt I am simply dying to talk." He had forgotten his own injunction. "Let ns first examine our mine," he said. "If yon bring the lamp we can have a good look at it" Close scrutiny of the work already done merely confirmed the accuracy of his first impression. While Iris held the light he opened np the seam with a few strokes of the pick. Each few -inches it broadened into a noteworthy volcanic dike, now yellow in its abso? lute purity, at times a bluish black when fused with other metals. The ad? ditional labor involved caused him to follow up the line of the fault. Sud? denly the flame of the lamp began to flicker m a draft There was an air passage between cave and ledge. They came back into the external glare. Iris was now so serious that she forgot to extinguish the little lamp. She stood with outstretched hand. .There is a lot of money in there," she said. "Tons of Jt" "No need to quarrel about division. There is enough for both of us.'' "Quite enough. We can even spare some for our friends." The hour drew near when Jenks climbed to the Summit rock. He shoul? dered ax and rifle and set forth. Iris heard him rustling upward through the trees. She set some water to boil for tea and. while bringing a fresh supply of fuel, passed the spot where the torn scraps of paper littered the sand. She was the soul of honor for a wo? man, but there was never a woman yet who could take her eyes off a written document which confronted her. She could not help seeing that one small morsel contained her own name. Though mutilated, it had clearly read "Dear Miss Deane." "Sb it was intended for mer' she cried, throwing down her bundle and dropping to her knees. She secured that particular sl.'p and examined it earnestly. Not for worlds would she pick up all the scraps and endeavor to sort them. Yet they had a fascination for her, and at this closer range she saw another which bore the legend-"I love you!" Somehow the two seemed to fit to? gether very nicely. Yet a third carried the sume words "I love you!" They were still quite coherent. She did not want to look any further. She did not even tura over such of the torn pieces as had fluttered to earth face downward. Opening the front of her bodice, she brought to light a small gold locket containing miniatures of her father and mother. Inside this receptacle she carefully placed the three really mate? rial portions of the sailor's letter. When Jenks walked down the hill again he heard her singing long before he caught sight of her sedulously tend? ing the fire. As he came near he perceived the re? mains of his useless document He stooped and gathered them up, forth? with throwing them among the glow? ing logs. "By the way, what were you writing while I had my bath ?" inquired Iris de? murely. "Some information about the mine. On second thoughts, however, I saw it was unnecessary." T'?h. was that ?ll?" "Practically all." "Then some part was impractica? ble?" He glanced sharply at her, but she was merely talking at random. "Well, you see," he explained, "one can do so little without the requisite "/ love youl" ?plautr? This- 8ort^of^'^^.'req?nTe8^.*a: crushing milk a smelting furnace, per? haps big tanks filled with cyanide of potassium." . "And of course, although you can do wonders, you cannot provide all those things, can you ?" Jenks deemed this query to be unan? swerable. They were busy again until night fell. Sitting down for a little while be? fore retiring to rest they discussed for the hundredth time the probabilities of speedy succor. This led them to the topic of available supplies, and the sailor told Iris the dispositions he had made. CHAPTER X. 1GHT after night the Pleiades swung higher in the firma? ment Day after day the sailor perfected his defenses and anx? iously scanned the ocean for sign of friendly smoke or hostile sail. This re? spite would not have been given to him were it not for the lucky bullet which removed two fingers and part of a third from the right hand of the Dyak chief. Not even a healthy sav? age can afford to treat such a wound lightly, and ten days elapsed before the maimed robber was able to move the injured limb without a curse. Meanwhile each night Jenks slept less soundly. Each day bis face be? came more careworn. He began to realize why the island had not been visited already by the vessel which would certainly be deputed to search for them She was examining the great coast line of China and Slam. It was his habit to mark the progress of time on the rudely made sundial, which sufficiently served their require? ments as a clock. Iris happened to watch him cWpt>mg~'the' forty-fourth notch on the edge of the horizontal block of wood. "Have we really been forty-four days here?" she inquired after count? ing the marks with growing astonish? ment "I believe the reckoning is accurate," he said. "The Sirdar was lost on the 18th of March, and I make this the 1st of May." "It seems to be a tremendous time; indeed, in some respects, it figures in my mind like many years. That is when I am thinking. Otherwise, when busy, the days fly like hours." "It must be convenient to have such an elastic scale." "Most useful. I strive to apply the quick rate when you are grumpy." ? Iris placed her arms akimbo, plant? ed her feet widely apart and surveyed Jenks. with an expression that might almost be termed impudent They were great friends, these two, now. When the urgent necessity for con? tinuous labor no longer spurred them to exertion during every moment of daylight they tackled the box of books and read, not volumes which appealed to them in common, but quaint tomes in the use of which Jenks was tutor and Iris the scholar. It became a fixed principle with the girl that she was very ignorant, and she insisted that the sailor should teach her. For instance, among the books he found a treatise on astrono? my. It yielded a keen delight to both to identify a constellation and learn all sorts of wonderful things concern? ing it. As a variant Jenks introduced a j study of Hindustani. His method was to write a short sentence and explain | in dct;ul its component pnris. She knitted her brows in the effort to mas? ter tho ridiculous complexities of : language which, instead of simply say? ing "Take" or "Bring,** compels one to say "Take-go" and "Take-come." One problem deiiec'l solution-that of providing raiment for Iris. The united skill of the sailor and herself would not induce unraveled cordage to supply the need of thread, it was either too weak or too knotty, and meanwhile the girl's clothes were falling to pieces. Jenks tried the fibers of trees, the sinews of birds-every possible exp?di? ent he could hit upon-and perhaps after experiments covering some weeks he might have succeeded. But modern dress stuffs, weakened by aniline dyes and stiffened with Chinese clay, per? mit of no such exhaustive research. It must be remembered that the lady passengers on board the Sirdar were dressed to suit the tropics, and the hard usage given by Iris to her scanty stock was never contemplated by the Man? chester or Bradford looms responsible for the durability of the material. As the days passed, the position be? came irksome. It even threatened complete collapse during some critical moment, and the two often silently sur? veyed the large number of merely male garments in their possession. Of course in the matter of coats and waistcoats there was no difficulty whatever. Iris had long been wearing those portions of the doctor's uniform. But when it came to the rest At last one memorable morning she crossed the Rubicon. Jenks had climb? ed, as usual, to the Summit rock. He came back with the exciting news that he thought-he could not be certain, j but there were indications inspiring j hopefulness-that toward the west of . the farofi! island he could discern the smoke of a steamer. [ Though he had eyes for a faint cloud of vapor at least fifty miles distant, he saw noth?ng?? aT?markable chang? effected nearer home. Outwardly Iris was attired in her wonted manner, but if her companion's mind were not whol? ly monopolized by the bluish haze de? tected on the horizon he must have no? ticed the turned up ends of a pair of trousers beneath the hem of her tat? tered skirt It did occur to him that Iris re? ceived his momentous announcement with an odd air of hauteur, and it was passing strange she did not offer to accompany him when, after bolting his breakfast he returned to the observa? tory. He came back in an hour, and the lines on his1 face 'wera deeper than be? fore. "A false alarm,** he said curtly in re? sponse to her questioning look. And that was all, though she nerved herself to walk steadily past him on her way to the well. This was discon? certing, even annoying, to a positive young woman like Lris. Resolving to end the ordeal, she stood rigidly before him. "Well," she said, "I've done it!" "Have you?" he exclaimed blankly. "Yes. They're a little too long, and I feel very awkward, but they're better than-than my poor old dress unsup? ported." She blushed furiously, to the sailor's complete bewilderment but she brave? ly persevered and stretched ont an un? willing foot "Oh, I seer* he growled, and he, too, reddened. '.. And during the remainder of the day he did not once look at her feet In? deed, he had far more serious matters to distract his thoughts, for Iris, fe? verishly anxious to te busy, suddenly suggested that it would be a good thing were she able to use a rifle if a fight at close quarters became neces? sary. The recoil of the Lee-Metford is so slight that any woman can manipulate the weapon with effect provided she ls not cali ed upon to fire from a stand? ing position, in which case the weight is liable to cause bad aiming. Though it came rather late in the day, Jenks caught at the idea. He accustomed her in the first instance to the use of blank cartridges. Then when fairly proficient in holding and sighting-a child can learn how to refill the clip and eject each empty shell-she fired ten rounds of service ammunition. The target was a white circle on a rock at eighty yards, and those of the ten shots that missed tte absolute mark would have made an enemy at the same distance extremely uncomforta? ble. Iris was much pleased with her pro? ficiency. "Now," she cried, "instead of being a hindrance to you I may be some help. In any caise, the Dyaks will think there are two men to face, and they have good reason to fear one of us." Then a new light dawned upon Jenks. "Why did you not think of it be? fore?" he demanded. "Don't you see. Miss Deane, the possibility suggested by your words? I am sorry to be com? pelled to speak plainly, but I feel sure that if those scoundrels do attack us in force it will be more to secure you than to avenge the loss of their fellow tribesmen. First and foremost the sea? going Dyaks are pirates and maraud? ers. They prowl about the coast look? ing not so much for a fight as for loot and women. Now, If they return and apparently find two well armed men awaiting them, with no prospect of plunder, there is a chance that they may abandon the enterprise." Iris did not flinch from the topic. She well knew its grave importance.^ '<rr fro BE CONTINUED.] kZURS-_ A Mean Trick. Adele-Harry is a brute*. Estelle What is the matter now? Adele-He bought my engagement ring while he wns on a trip to Chicago, and I will never be able to find out how much it cost-Philadelphia Bulletin. Doing is the great thing, for if, reso- i 1 iuteiy, people dp what is right they i ANOTHER VICTIM. Sam S. Shnbert Dies of Injuries Re? ceived in Wreck. Harrisburg. Pa., May 12.-Sam S. Shubert, manager of the Princess, Lyric and Casino theatres in New' York, died at 9.50 this morning from burns received in the Pennsylvania wreck of yesterday. Shubert was res? cued from the wreck badly burned from head to foot, though it was not thought at the time that his in? juries would result fatally. CASTOR IA For Infants and Children. ibe Kind You Have Always Bought Bears the Signature of PATENTS Promptly obtained or 20 fee. Write for our CONFIDENTIAL LETTER before applying for patent : it is worth money. We oBMn PATENTS THAT PAY. and help inventors to success. Send model, photo or sketch, and we send IMMEDIATE FREE REPORT ON PAT? ENTABILITY. 2? y ears'practice. Eegis-I ter ed Patent Lawyers. Write cr come to j ns at 505-507, 7th St. WASHINGTON, D. C. ?SWIFM Anyone ?enn!ng a sketch and description muy quickly ascertain oar opinion free whether aa invention is probably patentable. Commnniro tions st rictly confldent?aL Handbook on Patents sent free. OMest aeency for securing patents. Patents taken through Muna & Co. receive special notice, without charge, in the Seien? American. A handsomely illustrated weekly. Lanrest dr ?n?atio.i of any scientiuc Journal. Terms, $3 a -rear ; four months, *L Sold by all newsdealers MUNN & Co.3s,BTOd-^' New York 1,000 e yr erne/ Yemf M?I TO awAi.inr FOR GOOD POSITIONS GUARANTEED IN WRITING. 600 FREE ?""S?^ft?"? OA.?ALA. ?US. COLLEGE, MACON, OA The Lamest anil Host Complet ; EstaUisbieot M Geo. S. Hacker & Son. -MANUFACTURERS OP DOORS, SASH, BUNDS, Moulding & Building Material. >ffice and W%rerooms, King, opposite Cn , non Street, CHARLESTON, S. C. pm**Parchase onr make, which we gcaranr superior to any sold South, and thereby save money. Window and Paney Glass a Specialty October 16-o THE HEGE LOG BEAM SAW MILL WITH H EACOCK -KING FEED WONKS ENGINES AND BOILERS, WOODWORKING MACHINERY, COTTON GINNING, BRICK MAKING AND SHINGLE AND LATH MACHINERY, CORN MILLS, ETC., ETC. GIBBES MACHINERY CO., Colombia, S* C. THE GIBBES SHINGLE MAOHINIC DeLORriE'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. Four patronage solicited. Call bell for night work. r Potash m is necessary for cotton to produce high yields and good fibre. Write for our valuable books on fertilization; they contain informa? tion that means dollars to the farmers. Sent free on request. Write now while you think of it Ito the GERMAN KAU WORKS New York- Atlanta, Ga. 93NassauSt.,or Q ^g^1 MONEY PICKED UPI! BY Writing Life Insurance In The Peon Mutual Insurance Go. -IBERAL contracts to live agents M in unoccupied territory. ADDRESS PERRY MOSES, JR. General Agent, Sumter, S. G. $100,000.00 Capital. THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK of Sumter, 3. C. THE Comptroller of the Currency hav? ing approved the increase of the Capital of thia Bank to $100,000.00, depositors now have ?is security for their deposits :. Capital, - - $1C0,000 00 Stockholders' Individual Lia? bility, - - - "XXMXH) OG Surplus and Undivided Prof? its, ... 25,000 00 Total Security for Depositors, $225,000 00 ONLY MATtONLA BANK th CITY OF SUNTEB. Largest Capital of any Bank in thia 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 O'DONNELL, Vice President. H. D. BARNETT, E. D. LEE, Gk A. LEMMON, JOHN REID, E. P. RICEER. B. lu Er MUNDS, Cashier. B. D. LEE, Solicitor. BOOKKEEPERS. J. L. Mccallum, D. J. Winn, Jr. _ Oliver L. 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. I. MANNING, W. F. RHAMT, vice-President. Cashier. Jan. 31._ Tl SUMTER SAW BANK. HORACE HARB Y, President. L C. STRAUSS, Vice-president. GEO. L. KICKER, Cashier. Capital Stock, $25,000 Liability of Stockholders, 2^,000 Every Facility For the transaction of business is afford? ed those who deposit their money with The Sumter Savings Bank. Important papers can be drawn up and signed in a private room set aside for use of our clients and any information de? sired will be cheerfully furnished by the management. Savings deposited here draw interest at the rate of 4 per cent p9r annum. $1.00 ?rill open an account and secure a bank 300k,