Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

?*- _ 4B^?C,vr?2.*??" .'.**,r*.**.*.V"?**-^*".:*.**;. r*i".?*.??.**.*." I i ?fe wii II Mornii "J CHAPTER XIII. jLfv lESIDENTS ia tropical countri* * 11% know that the beat is gr??tes li\ or certaillI.v -east bearable, bi % ' tween 2 and 4 o'clock in tb Afternoon. At the conclusion of a not very lus ' ^ous repast Jenks suggested that the Should rig np the tarpaulin in sue ^wfee as to gain protection from th fc?ttt and yet enable him to cast \ratehful eye over the valley. Iris heh; to raise the great canvas sheet o %he supports he had prepared. One t&ut off from the devouring rays, th feat breeze then springing into fitfu K; *?sristerice cooled their .blistered but pei %piriag skia and made life somewha 'tolerable. % Still adhering to; his policy of corn batting the first enervating attacks o thirst, the sailor sanctioned the con %ttmption of the remaining water. A . last desperate expedient, to be re ".Sorted to only in case of sheer necessi ^y> fie uncorked a bottle of champagne tod filled the tin cup. The sparkling Vine, with its volume of creamy foam booked, so tempting that Iris wonk %faen sud there have risked its potency she not promptly withheld. Jenks explained to her that when th? keirle became quite flat and insipid thej knight use it to moisten their parched I %tps. Even so, in their present super heated statte, the liquor was un'ques tionably dangerous, but he tioped it Xrould. not harm them if taken1 in mi? aste quantities. Accustomed now to implicitly accept BE -^issadrice. she fought and steadily con? f?rai the craving within her. Oddly ^???ugn, the ''thawing" of their scorch -bodies beneath the tarpaulin brought certain degree of relief. They were ? ''%'flrpremely uncomfortable, but that was >%s naught compared with the relaxa ?*%ioa 4rom. the* torments previously ^Fbr long time-the best part of an ^lour, perhaps-they remained silent. </*?he sailor was reviewing the pros /%nd cony of their precarious condition. xrould, of course, be a matter of su? preme importance were the Indian to be faithful to bis promise. Here the fMX?pect was decidedly hopeful. Tfee tuan was an old soldier, and the ex t)fBcer of native cavalry knew how en? during was the attachment of this poor convict to home and military service. Probably at that moment the Moham toedan was praying to the prophet and fels two nephews to aid him in rescuing " "sahib und the woman whom the %ah&> held so dear, for the all wise and ^0 powerful Indian government is very ^?terciful to offending natives who thus Condone their former crimes. feut, howsoever willing he might be. \??hat could one man do among so S&any? The Dyaks were hostile to him tace and creed, and assuredly in ^sriated against the'.foreign devil who lad fcafled or wounded in round num? bers oae-fifth of their total force, Veiw likely -tte hapless A?ussulman would lose -his life that night in attempting bring water to the foot of the rock. ^?ven if the man succeeded in eluding *ine vigilance of his present associates, "Vhere was the water to come from? "^There was none on. the island save ^hat in the well. In all likelihood the ?)yaks had a store in the remaining Sampans, but the native ally of the ?^jeieaguered pair would have a task of exceeding difficulty in obtaining one ^rf the jars or skins containing it. Again, granting all things went well %hat night, what would be the final *^>utcom<? of the struggle? How long ^could ?rSs withstand the exposure, the strain, the heartbreaking misery of %fce rock? fie shook restlessly, cot aware that "?he girl's sorrowful glance. luminous "Vrtfch love and pain, was fixed upon *birn. Summarily dismissing these gris? ?t*? phantoms of the mind, he asked himself what the Mohammedan exact? ly ?fj&eant by warning him against the ^rees on the right and the "silent ^^earth* that might come from them. He "."Was about to crawl fsrth to the lip of ^be rock and investigate matters in t"b?t "locality when Iris, who also was fe*"csy with her thoughts, restrained him. "**T*fait a little while." she said. "None tbe Dyaks will venture into the open ^?s??l night falls. And I have some? thing to say to you." "53>>re was a quiet solemnity in her *TQ?C?? that Jenks bad never Leard be ^bxe. It chilled him. His heart ac %*.??;wledged a quick sense of evil omen. -raised himself slightly and turned ^?r?lt? her. Her face, beautiful and Serene beneath its disfigurements, wore ^OJL expression of settled purpose. For %ise life of him he dared not question fcser. . * ~Th&t man. the interpreter." she said, ''"told you that if I were given up to the ^Sf??t he ~an3 his followers would gb Stwsy and molest you no more." His forehead seamed with sudden Stager. *"A mere bait," he protested. "In any ^re-nt it is hardly worth discussion." A.nd the answer came, clear and res ^>h2?e: ."I think I will agree to those terms." At first he regarded her with undis "?^?sed and wordless amazement. Then "32** appalling thought darted through brain that she contemplated this **v<prcme sacrifice in order to save him. <A 'clammy sweat bedewed his brow, ?wt? bj sheer will power he contri*fed :^?ayj. . ... By LOUIS TRACY Copyright. 1903. by Edward J. Clode . "You must be mad to even dream of such a thing. Don't you understand what it means to you-and to me? It is a ruse to trap ns. They are ungov? erned savages. Once they had you in their power they would laugh at a promise made to me." '.You may be mistaken. They must have some sense of fair dealing. Even assuming that such was their inten? tion, they may depart from it. They have already lost a great many men. Their chief, having gained his main object might not be able to persuade them to take further .risks. I will make it a part of the bargain that they first supply you with plenty of water. Then you, unaided, could keep them at bay for many days. We lose nothing; we can gain a great deal by endeavoring to pacify them." "Iris," he gasped, "what are you saying?" The unexpected sound of her name on his lips almost unnerved her. But no martyr ever went to the stake with more settled purpose than this pure woman, resolved to immolate herself for the sake of the man she loved. He had dared all for her, faced death in many shapes. Now it was her turn. Her eyes were lit with a seraphic fire, her sweet face resigned as that of an angel. "I have thought it out,*' she mur? mured, gazing at him steadily, yet scarce seeing him. "It is worth try ing??'s a last expedient We are aban? doned by all save the Lord, and it does not appear to be his holy will to help us on earth. We can struggle on here until we die. -Is that right when one of us may live?" Her very candor had betrayed her. She would go away with these mon? strous captors, endure them, even flat? ter them, until she and they were far removed from the island, and then she would kill herself. In her inno? cence she imagined that self destruc? tion under such circumstances was a pardonable offense. She only gave a life to save a life, and greater love than this is not known to God or man. The sailor, in a tempest of wrath and wild emotion, had it in his mind to compel her into reason-to shake her as one shakes a wayward child. He rose to his knees with this half formed notion in his fevered brain; then he looked at her, and a mist seemed to shut her out from* his sight. Was she lost to him already? Was all that had gone before an idle dream of joy and grief, a wizard's glimpse of mirrored happine-s and vague perils? Was Iris, the crystal souled, thrown to him by the storm lashed wayc. to be snatched away by some irresistible and malign influence? In the mere physical effort to assure himself that she was still near to him he gathered her up in his strong hand> Yes, she was there, breathing, wonder? ing, palpitating. He folded her closely to his breast and. yielding to the pas? sionate longings of his tired heart, whispered to her: "My darling, do you think I can sur? vive your loss? You are life itself ty me. If we have to die, sweet one, le1, us die together." Then Iris ?ung her arms around hi-: neck. "I am quite, quite happy now." sh sobbed brokenly. "I didn't-imagine it would come-this way, but-i am thankful-it has come." For a little while they yielded to the glamour of the divine knowledge that amid the chaos of eternity each soul had found its mate. There was no need for words. Love, tremendous in its ...power, unfathomable in its mystery, had cast its spell over them. They were garbed in light, throned in a pal? ace built by fairy hands. On all side. squatted the ghouls of privation, mis? ery, danger, even grim death; but they heeded not the inferno; they had cre atej a paradise in an earthly heil. Then Iris withdrew herself from the man's embrace. She was delightfully shy and timid now. "So you really do love me?" she whis pored, crimson faced, with shining eyes and parted lips. Ho fondled her hair and gently rub bed her?cheek with his rough fingers. The sudden sense of ownership of this fair woman was entrancing. It almost bewildered him to find Iris nestling close, clinging to Lim in utter conti dence and trust. "But I knew. I knew." she murmur? ed. "You betrayed yourself so many cimes. You wrote your secret to me. and though you did not tell me. I found your dear words on i ie sands and have treasured them next my heart." What girlish romance was mis? il?' held her away gingerly, just so far that he could look into her eyes. "Oh, it is true, quite true," she cried, drawing i the locket from her neck. "Don't you recognize your own hand? writing, or were you not certain, just then, that you really did love me?" Dear, dear! How often would she re? peat that wondrous phrase! Together \ they bent over the tiny slips of pap? There it was again. "I love you," twice blazoned in magic symbols. With blushing eagerness she told him how. j by mere accident, of course, she caught 1 sight of her own name, it was not : very wrong, was it. to pick up that tiny scrap or those others, which she j could not help seeing and which un? folded their simple taje so truthfully? i Wrong! It was" so delightfully right that he must kiss her again to empha? size his convictions. They grew calmer, more sedate. It was so undeniably true they loved one another that the fact was becoming venerable with age. Iris was perhaps the first to recognize its quiet certain? ty. "As I cannot get you to talk reason? ably," she protested, "I must appeal to your sympathy. I ;.m hungry, and, oh, so thirsty/' The girl had hardly eaten a morsel for her midday meal. Then she was despondent, utterly broken hearted. Now she was filled with new hope. There was a fresh motive in existence. Whether destined to live an hour or half a century she would never, never leave him. nor. of course, could he ever, ever leave her. Some things were quite impossible-for example, that they should part. Jenks brought her a biscuit, a tin of meat and that most doleful cup of champagne. "It is not exactly frappe," he said, handing her the insipid beverage, "but, under other conditions, it is a wine al? most worthy to toast you in." She fancied she had never before no? ticed what a charming smile he had. " 'Toast,' is a peculiarly suitable word," she cried. "I am simply friz? zling. In these warm clothes" She stopped. For the first time since that prehistoric period when. she was "Miss Deane" and he "Mr. Jenks" she remembered the manner bf her gar? ments. "It is not the warm clothing you feel so much as the want of air," explained the sailor readily. "This tarpaulin has made the place very stuffy, but we must put up with it until sundown. Ey the way. what is that?" A light tap on the tarred canvas di? rectly over his head had caught his ear. Iris, glad of the diversion, told him she had heard the noise three or four times, but fancied it was caused by the occasional rustling of the sheet on the uprights. . Jenks had not allowed his attention to wander altogether from external events. Since the Dyaks' last escapade there was no sign of them in the val? ley or on either beach. Not for trivial cause would they come again within range of Jenks' rifle. They waited and listened silently. Another tap sounded on the tarpaulin in a different place, and they both con? curred in the belief that something had darted in curved flight over the ledge and fallen on top of their protecting shield. "Let us see what the game1 is," ex? claimed the sailor. He crept to the back of the ledge and drew himself up until he could reach over the sheet. Ele returned, carrying in bis hand a couple of tiny arrows. "There are no less than seven of these things sticking ia the canvas," he said. *cThey don't look very terri b'e. I suppose that is what my Indian friend meant by warning me against, the trees on the right." Ile did not tell Iris all the Moham? medan said. There was no need to alarm her causelessly. Even while they examined the curious little missile another flew up from the valley and lodged on the roof of their shelter. The shaft of the arrow, made of some extremely hard wood, was about ten inches in length. Affixed to it was a pointed fish bone, sharp, but not barb? ed and not fastened in a manner sug? gestive of much strength. The arrow was neither feathered nor grooved for a bowstring. Altogether it seemed to be a childish weapon to be used by men equipped with lead and steel. . Jenks could not understand the ap? pearance of this toy. Evidently the Dyaks believed in its efficacy or they 1 would not keep on pertinaciously drop? ping .nu arrow on the ledge. "How do they fire it?" asked Iris. ; "Do they throw it?" "I will soon tell you," he replied, reaching for a rifle. "Do not go out yet," she entreated him. "They cannot harm us. Terhaps The laut arrow /ell, and he sprang to thc right of Vic ledge. we may learn more bj' keeping quiet. They will not continue shooting these things all day." Again a tiny arrow traveled toward them in a graceful parabola. This one fell short. Missing the tarpaulin, it al? most dropped on the girl's outstretched j hand. She picked it up. The tish bone \ point had snapped by contact with the j floor of thc ledge. She sought for and j found the sinai! tip. ? "Sec.* she said. "It seems tu have been dipped in something. It is quite discolored." Jenks frowned peculiarly. A star- , ?hrr explanation had suggested itself ? to him. Fragments of forgotten lore were taking coh?sion in his mind. "Put ii down. Quick!" he cried. Iris obeyed him. with wonder in her eyes. Ile spilled a teaspoonful of cham? pagne into a small hollow of the rjck and steeped one of the fish bones in the liquid. Within a lew secou.ds the cham? pagne assumed a greenish tinge and the bono became white. Then he knew. "Good heavens." he exclaimed, "these are poisoued arrows shot through a blowpipe! I have never before seen one, but I have often read about them. The bamboos the Dyaks carried were surupitans. Tl-ese tish bones have been steeped in the juice of the upas tree. Iris, my dear girl, if one of them had so much as scratched your finger noth? ing on earth could save you." She paled and drew back in suelden horror. Another tap sounded on their thrice welcome covering. Evidently the Dyaks would persist ir. their efforts to get one of those poisoned darts home. Jenks debated silently whether it would be better to create a commotion, thus inducing the savages to believe they had succeeded in inflicting a mor? tal wound, or to wait unti.'i the next ar? row fell, rush out and try conclusions with dumdum bullets against the surn pitan blowers. He decided in favor of the latter course. He wished to dishearten his assailants, to cram down their throats the belief ?iat he was invulnerable and could visit their every effort with a deadly reprisal. : Iris, of course, protested, when he ex? plained his project. But the fighting spirit prevailed. Their love idyll must yield to the ,tteeds of the hour. He had not long to wait. The last arrow fell, and he sprang to the ex? treme right of the ledge. First he looked through that invaluable screen, of grass. Three Dyaks were on the ground and a fourth in the fork of a tree. They were each armed with a blowpipe. He in the tree was just fit? ting an arrow into the bamboo tube. The others were watching him. Jenks raised his rifle, fired, and the warrior in the tree pitched headlong to the ground. A second shot stretched a companion on top of him. One man jumped into the bushes and got away, but the fourth tripped over his unwieldy sumpitan, and a bullet tore a large section from his skull. The sailor then amused himself with breaking the bam? boos by firing at them. He came back to the white faced girl. "I fancy that further practice with blowpipes will be at a- discount on Rainbow island," he cried cheerfully. But Iris was anxious and distrait "It is very sad," she said, "that we are obliged to secure ou:r own safety by the ceaseless slaughter of human beings. Is there no offer we can make them, no promise of future gain, to tempt them to abandon hostilities?" "None whatever. These Borneo Dy? aks are bred from infancy to prey on their fellow creatures. To be strangers and defenseless is to court pillage and massacre at their hands. I think no more of shooting them than of smash? ing a clay pigeon. Killing a mad dog is perhaps a better simile." /'But, Robert dear, how long can we hold out?" "What! Are you growing tired of me already?" Ile hoped to divert her thoughts from this constantly recurring topic. Twice within The hour had ?t 'been "broached and dismissed, but Iris would not per? mit him to shirk it again. She made no reply, simply regarding him with a wistful smile. So Jenks sat down by her side and rehearsed the hopes and fear's which perplexed him. He determined that there should be no further concealment between them. If they failed to secure water that night, if the Dyaks main? tained a strict siege of the rock throughout the whole of next day, well -they might survive-it was proble? matical. Best leave matters iu God's hands. With feminine persistency she clung to the subject, detecting his unwilling? ness to discuss a possible final stage in their sufferings. "Robert," she whispered fearfully, "you will never let me fall into the power of the chief, will you?" "Not while I live." "You must live. Don't you under? stand? I would go with them to save you. But I would have died by my own hand. Robert, my love, you must do this thing before the end. I must be the first to die." . The sailor wrestled with the great problem. He may be pardoned if his heart quailed and he groaned aloud. "Iris," he said solemnly, "whatever happens, unless I am struck dead at your feet, I promise you that we shall pass the boundary hand in hand. Be mine the punishment if we have de? cided wrongly. And now," he cried, tossing his head in a defiant access of energy, "let us have done with the morgue. For my part I refuse to ac? knowledge I am inside until'the gates clang behind me." They chatted in lighter vein with such pendulum swing back to noncha? lance that none would have deemed it possible for these two to have already determined the momentous issue of the pending struggle should *it go against them. And so the sun sank to rest in the sea, and the stars pierced the deenen ing blue of the celestial arch, while the man and the woman awaited patiently the verdict of the fates. [TO BE CONTINUED.] ir \?s. _ Their Opportunity. Miss Fluffy-I made quite an impres? sion at tile reception, didn't I? Every? body seemed t?> he talking about me. Candid Friend-They talked still more about you after yon had gone! The Secret. Wife-I found out :omething today that I promised uevei *o tell. Hus? band-Well, go ahead; I'm listening. C1?IXA CLAIMS DAMAGES. Pekin. June 16.-The Chinese gov j ernment is ui-ging the great powers to support her in an endeavor to secure from the belligerent nations a definite understanding that she is to be com? pensated for losses of life and prop? erty which have been inflicted on Chinese subjects jr. Manchuria during the Russo-Japanese fighting. China takes the grounds that as Japan is the victorious nation she should make good for the havoc that has been wrought by the war. ?or Infants and Children. fte Kind You Have Always Bought Bears the Sp Signature of L4uz/tfff?Z???/>? Promptly obtained or no fee. Write for our CONFIDENTIAL LETTER before applying for patent ; it is worth money. "We obtain PATENTS THAT PAY, and help inventors to success. Send model, photo or sketch, and we send ?IMMEDIATE FREE REPORT ON PAT? ENTABILITY. 20 years'practice. Regis Itered Patent Lawyers. Write or come to us at 505-507, 7th St.. WASHINGTON, D. C. Antone sendlmsr a sketch and description rca? quickly ascertain dr opinion free whether an invention is probably patentable. C<>n:ni".nioi? tions strictly confidential. Handbook on Patents sent. free. Oldest acency for securing patents. Patents taken tb rouen Munn & Co. receive special notice, without charge, in the Scientific ?rican. A handsomely illustrated weekly- J.^rcest cir? culation of any sfientiuc Journal. T r??.s. ?" a venr: four months, $L Sold by all rew.-tlc-alers. mW & Co.?6j^?^- Hew York WeWont ?SS2 TO QUALIFY FOR GOOD POSITIONS GUARANTEED IN WRITING. 500 FREE SCHOiiSTEm ftA.-ALA. 8US. COLLEGE. MACON. GA The lamest awl Most Cmpletf Geo. S. Hacker & Son -MANUFACTURERS OF DOORS. SASH, BUNDS, Moulding & Building Material* See and W^reroora?, King, opposite Ca non Street, , CHARLESTON, 8. C, ^8^" Pnn-flHie our nsake, whk-b we guaras superior to any sold South, and thereby aave money. lindow and Paney Glass a Special-} O'jtooer 16-o ITHE HEGE LOO BEAM' SAW M!LL HEACOCK-KING FEED WORKS ._ ENGINES AND BOILERS, WOODWORKING i1: MACHINERY, COTTON GINNING. BRICK I MAKING AND SHINGLE AND IIATH .MACHINERY. CORN MILLS. ETC., ETC. GIBBES MACHINERY CO., A. Columbia, S. C. ITnE GIBBES SHINGLE MACHINE PHARMACY, 23 South Main St Open from 7 a. m. to 10 p. m. ; Sunda}', 9 a. m. to 1 p. m. Having consolidated my two stores, 1 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 tor and delivered. Phone 45. Full line ol' Drugs, Garder: Seed and Cigars. Your patronage solicited. Call bell for night work. r" ^ GOOD POTATOES ^1 BRING FANCY PRICES M If To grow a large crop of good potatoes, the g g soil must contain plenty of Potash. _ $ Tomatoes, melons, cabbage, turnips, kttuce ?0 * -in fact, all vegetables remove larg.; qdia;:- 3 3 fc^s of Potash from the soil. Supply ; liberally by the use of fertilizers containing: net Uss tkan 10 per cent, actual Potash. Better and more profitable yields are sure to follow. . . Our pamphlets are not adver:is:ngr c:rcu.ars boominsr special fertilizers, but contain valu? able information to fanners. Sent free tor me asking. Write now. GERMAN KALI WORKS New York-93 Nassau Street, or Atlanta, Ga.-22jj South Broad St. MONEY PICKED UP!! BY Writing Life Insurance In The Penn Mutual Insurance Co. I 1BERAL contracts ?o live agents in unoccupied territory. ADDRESS PERRY MOSES, JR. Genera! Agent, Sumter, S. G. $100,000.00 Capital. IKE FIRST NATIONAL BANK of Sumter, S. C. THE Comptroller of the Currency hav? ing approved the increase of the Capital of this Bank to $100,000.00, depositors now have as security for their deposits : Capital, - - $100,000 00 Stockholders7 Individual Lia? bility, - - - '00,000 00 Surplus and Undivided Prof? its, - - - 25,000 00 Total Security for Depositors, $225,000 00 ONLY NATI0NLA 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 O'DONNELL, Vice President. H. D. BARNETT, R. D. LEE. G. A. LEMMOX, J^HN REID, E. P. RICEER. R. L. Er MUNDS, Cashier. R. D. LEE, Solicitor. BOOKKEEPERS. J. L. McCpJlum. D. J. Winn, Jr. Oliver L. Yates. THE BANK GF 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 3st allowed at the rate of 4 per cent, per annuni. payable semi-annually. W. F.*B. HAYNSWORTH, President R. I. MANNING, W. F. RH AME, vice-President, Cashier. Jan. 31._ THE SUMTER SAVINGS BANK. HORACE HAR Bk*. President. I, C. STRAUSS. Vice-president. GEO. L. RICF.ER, Cashier, Capital Stock, 825,000 Liabilitv of Stockholders, 2^,000 ;i!|i|!'!'|t pli .^^^^^^pl jg J ? iTli iv^^??fir 1 Every Facility For the transaction of business is afford? ed those who deposit their money with The Sumter Savings Bank. In-portant papers can be drawn up and signed in a private room set a<ide 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 per annum. $1.00 will open an account and secure a bank book. promptly obtain U. S. and Foreign ' Si^Gffl SJT'"1 ir" ni 'vTr^11? > I SB ? 1B H3 ?8 1 h es J > a / . w gs i? * g* sL ' ??f? A w Ea k ?3 s&^ll ' If !?P w HS ? SH M > itTySbig^iLiiHuri JL ju. AIJTIIJIE.WHMIUIH] (Seud model, sketch or photo o? invention for' ft-eereportoa patentability. >or free book < Opposite U. S. Patent Office WASHINGTON D.C.