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foGATEE A story or lovc A? KfSTCHY. INVOLVING STARTLING INCID??-^ COMPLICATIONS ADVENTURES J>y ANNA KATMERJNE CRttN. we* sy^ewoeve ^?ee?J^a*w*wo cLostbi Dooe>"rr< FOREWORD. Shifting from New York City to m\m hmk Connecticut town of Sitford, *t main thread of THE CHIEF ?LEGATEE is there unwound through of perplexing personalities phases. You come to and then disbelieve in Mr*. Rem oca's suicidal plunge into the Deed's Cauldron; you believe end then cfisbcueve that Mrs. Ransom's deaf sitter, Anitre Hazen, it really when I spoko to her end seemed to be mainly concerned In getting out of the church before her emotions over? came her. This she succeeded in do? ing with my help; end, once In the vestibule, recovered herself so com? pletely, end 10 et ell my inquiries with such a gay shrug of the shoulders, that I should here pessed the matter over as a mere attack of nerves, if I had not afterwards detected in her face, through all the hurry and ex? citement of the ensuing reception, a strained expression not at all natural to her. This was still more evident after the congratulations of a certain guest, who, I am sure, whispered to mm T} i ir j i ner before he passed on; and when Mn, Kansom herself; you are du- (fee time came for her to go up-stairs by the apparent utter selfishness j the waa so pale and unlike herself brutality of Alfred Hazen, and < 1 becamo ?**o?*]r alarmed and asked if she felt well enough to start upon the journey we had meditated. astounded by evidences of his and complete unselfishness; you re the affection of Roger Ransom Instantly her manner changed. She turned upon me with a look I have a t . , j . . , , j been trying ever since to explain to lav his wife, and his loyal determine- myielft and l)egged me not to take tie* not to believe her lost to him so ber out of town to-night but to some loa* at there is the slightest sign of: *u,et notel w iere we mi*bt re8t for ?1 . j J . a few days before starting on our ; you are enmeshed m doubt by travels. Sne looked me squarely in which on one day clearly point the eye as she made this request and, en certain conclusions, and then on the ni?in* iu her nothing more than a ? u . , i feverish anxiety lost I should make day puzzled more than ever by i difficulties of somo kind, I promised ssdscr equally reliable signs which point to do what the arked and bade her the Diverse way. The ending of the' run ?W*y *na get :ier8elf reRdy to g0 ?*Li ^ end sey nothing to any one of our ? ?.tef.etorr enough, but the chang/of 22 She smiled and of this foreword is free to say As*, 'if he had prepared the last chapter . Isa would have made a still more satnv factory conclusion, in his judgment, hj ssmpry destroying the will made in of the unknown Auchincloss, thus The Cause of chance other in oV> harm to anyone or to earuire an fortune. I CHAPTER I. A Bride of Five Hours. i'Zi HAT'9 upf This from the manager of the Hotel - to his chief clerk. "Something wrong In tir ?Tee air. I've Just sent tor a de? tective. Ton were not to be found ened the gentlemen Is desperate. But anxious to have It all kept quiet; anxious. I think we can oblige there, or, at leant, we'll try. Am I right, sir?" ??Of course, if?M "Oh! It's nothing criminal The lady's missing, that's all; the Udy name you see hern." register Isy open botween i; the cierk's Anger, running ale ng column, rested about ha f a ay m\t The manager bent over the pa?e. ? 'Roger J. Ransom and wife,' " he out In decided astonish neat ?Why, they are?* i "You're right Married to-day In Church. A great wedding; the are full of it. Well, she's the They registered here a few pkea before five o'clock end in tan ententes the bride was missing. It'a n queer story Mr. Ransom tells. Tou'd better hear It Ah, there's our ma.il Ferhape you'll go up with him." "You may bet your last dollar on that" muttered the manager. And leaning the newcomer, he made a iltcant gesture which was all that between them till they step pd out on the second floor. ?Wanted in Room 81 ?" the manager aaV*d. Tee. by a man named Ransom." -Just so. That's the doo*. Knock rather. Ill knock, fo* I must his story ns soon as you do. The fwputstlon of the hotel?" ?Yea, yes. bu1 the gentleman's wait? ing. Ah* thaf? better." The manager hid Just knocked. ^ An exclamation from within, a hur? tled step, and tie door fell open. The #gnrs which m?t their eyes was start? ling. Distress, anxiety, and an 1m imtience almost verging on frenzy, dis? torted features naturally amiable if not handsome. "My wife." foil in a gasp from his writhing lips. "We have come to r#?!p you find ?er." Mr Oerrldge calmly assured him. Mr Oerrldge v. as the deteetlvo "Relate the circumstances, sir. Till we where you wore when you firs t missed her.** Mr. Ransom's glance wandered past him to the door. It was partly open. The manager, whoee name was Loom la, hastily closed It. Mr. Ransom ehowed relief end hurried Into hla story It was to this effect: "1 wee merried to-day In Grace Church At the altar my bride?you probably know her name. Miss Oeor Hasen?wore e natural look, and In ell respects, so far as any one see. n happy woman, satisfied ber choice end pleased with the eud siegendes of the occasion. Half war down the alale this all eftsanged. I remember the Instant per Asctly. Her hand wee on my arm and J seit It aeddenly stiffen. I waa not bet I gave ber e quick look' aew that something had hae 1 Whet. 1 could not at the me i^tnVbe alda! anew er turned away towards her own room, but presently came hurrying back to aak if I would grant her one more favor. Would I be so good as not to speak to her of expect her to spes.k to me till we got to the hotel; she waa feeling very nervoua but was sure that a few minutes of complete rest would entirely restore her; something had occurred (she acknowledged this) which she wanted to think out; would not I grant her this one opportunity of doing so? It waa a startling re? quest, but ahe looked so lovely?par? don me, I must explain my easy ac? quiescence?that I gave her the as? surance she wished and went about my own preparations, somewhat die concerted but still not at all prepared for what happened afterward. I had absolutely no Idea that she meant to leave me." Mr. Ransom paused, greatly affect? ed; but upon the detective asking blm bow and when Mrs. Ransom had deserted him, he controlled himself sufficiently to nay: "Here; Immediately after the/ silent and unnatural ride. She entered the office with me and was standing close at my side all the time I was writing our names in the register; but later, when I turned to ask her to enter the elevator with me, she was gone, and the boy who was standing by with our two bags ba'.d that she had slipped Into the reception-room across the hall. But I didn't find her there or In any of the adjoining rooms. Nor has anybody since succeeded in find lng ber. 8he has left the building left me, and?" "You want her back agtiin?" This from the detect!vo, but very dryly. "Yea. For she was not following her own Inclinations in thus abandon? ing rae so noon after the words which made us one were spoken. Some inllu ence was brought to bear on her which she felt unable to resist I have confidence enough in her to be? lieve that. The rest is mystery?a mystery which 1 am forced to ask you to untangle. I have neither the nec? essary cuhnness nor experience my? self" "But. you surely have done some? thing," protested Cerridge. "Tele? phoned to her lat3 home or?" "Oh, ye3, I ha* e done all that, but with no result, i'he has not returned to her old home. Her uncle has just been here and he is as much mysti lii ' In the wholf n currence as 1 am. He could tell mc nothing, absolutely mi .hing." "Indeed! r.nd the man. the one who whispered t > lit . during the recep? tion, too] Int you learn anything about aim?* Mr. H? I*l face took en an ex? press < ii almost ferocious. "Nn. He's a str inger to Mr Fulton; Mr. l u'to./H niece introduced him to i:.o as a r< l itive.' "A relative? When was that?" "At tho reception. He was intro? duced as Mr. Hazen (my wlfo'a maid? en name, you know), and when I saw how his presence disturbed her, I said to her, 'A cousin of yours?' and she answered with vory evident em? barrassment 'A relative;'?which you must acknowledge didn't locate him very definitely. Mr. Fulton doesn't know of any such relative. And I don't believe he la a relative. He didn't sit with the rest of the family In the church." "Ah! you saw him in the church." "Yes. I noticed him for two rea? sons. First, because he occupied an end seat and so came directly under my eye In our peeiege down the aisle. Secondly, because hli face of all those which confronted me when I looked for the cause of bar audden agitation, was the only one not turned towards her in curiosity or Interest Hla eyes were fixed and vacant: hla only. Thai ?nnde him conspicuous and when I saw him again I knew him." "Describe the man." Mr. Ransom's face lightened up with an expression of strong satis? faction: "I am going to astonish you." said he. "The fellow is so plain that chil? dren must cry at him. He has suf? fered some injury and his mouth and jaw have such a twist In the ji that the whole face Is thrown out of shape. So you see," continued the unhappy bridegroom, as his eyes flashed from the detective's face to that of the manager's, "that the influence he ex? erts over my wife is not that of love. No one could love him. The secret's of another kind. What kind, what what what? Find out and I'll pay you any amount you ask. She is too dear and of too sensitive a tempera? ment to be subject to a wretch of his appearance. I cannot bear the thought It stifles, it chokes me; and yet for three hours I've had to endure It Three hours! and with no pros? pect of release unless you?" "Oh, I'll do something," was Oer ridge's bland reply. "But first I must have a few more facts. A man such as you describe should be easy to find; easier than the lady. Is he a tall man?" "Unsually so." "Dark or light?" "Dark." "Any beard?" "Is he what you would call a gentleman?" "None. That's why the injury to his jaw shows so plainly." "I see. Is he what you would call a gentleman?" "Yes, I must acknowledge that. He shows the manners of good society, if he did whisper words into my wife's ear which were not meant for mine." "And Mr. Fulton knows nothing of him?" "Nothing." "Well, we'll drop him for the pres? ent. You have a photograph of your wife?" "Her picture was in all the papers to-night." "I noticed. But can we go by it? Does it resemble her?" "Only fairly. She Is far prettier. My wife is something uncommon. No picture ever does her Justice." "She looks like a dark beauty. Is her hair black or brown?" "Black. So black It has purple s! In it." ^And hor eyes? Black too?" "No, grny. A deep pray, which look bJCCl owir'r to her long lashes." "Very good. Now about her dress. Describe It ps minutely as you can. It wag a bridc'3 traveling costume, I sup pore." "Yes. TV'.t is. I presumo 10, 1 know that It Was all right and sui'.a- | ble to the occasion, but I don't re momber much r.bout it. I was think? ing too much of the womr.n In the fcown to no'lee the gown Itself." "Cannot you toll the color?" "It was a dar', one. I'm sure It was a dark one. but colors are not much in my l'r.e. I fcCQW she looked well? they can tell you about it at the house. All that I distinctly remember is the veil she had wound so tightly around her face arid hat to keep the rice out of her hair that I could not get one g?r.ip^c of her feature?.. All nonsense that veil, especially when I had promised not to address her or evtfn to touch her in the cab. And she wore it into the office. If it had not been for that I might have lore seen her intention in tin e to prevent it." "Perhaps she knew that." "It looks us if she did." "Which means that she was medi? tating flight from the first." "From the time she saw that man," Mr. Ransom corrected. "Just so; from the time she left her uncle's house. Your wife is a woman of means, I believe." "Yes, unfortunately." "Why unfortunately?" "It makes her independent and of? fers a lure to irresponsible wretches like him.' "Her fortune is large, then?" "Very large; larger than my own." Every one knew Mr. Ransom to be a millionaire. "Irfjft her by her father?" "No. by some great-uncle, I believe, who made his fortune In the Klon? dike." "And entirely under her own con? trol?" "Entlrelv so." (To Be Continued.) Your sewing vanish when you use the White Machine. tf. BUYING SUPPLIES, IMPORTANT DECISION BY GOV. ANSEL ON PURCHASES. Affects Coming Election?Counties Voting Out Dispensaries Must Dis? pose of Their Stock Before Novem? ber 15. Columbia, July 2.?Gov. Ansel has given an important opinion in the matter of purchasing goods for the county dispensaries in connection with the August election on dispen? saries in 21 counties. This opinion was given at the request of Dispen? sary Auditor West and states that un? der the act no goods may be pur? chased or any order filled after the August election in those counties that vote out the dispensaries. Mr. West wrote Gov. Ansel as fol? lows: "In the event of the disestablish? ment of any of the county dispen sarles as a result of the coming elec? tion, it is quite probable that there will be a considerable portion of the awards made at the last purchase of the boards unfilled on August 17, and I am asked to get an opinion as to whether or not the county dispensary hoards will be obligated to receive the unfilled portions of the awards, or whether or not it is legal for them to receive any goods whatsoever after the election, if the result of the elec? tion is against the dispensary. I most respectfully submit this matter to your excellency that I may be able to prop? erly advise county dispensary board* as to what action they will take in the matter. The Governor's Ruling. Gov. Ansel, after consulting the UlW, made the following ruling: "Your letter of the 30th ultimo, asking as to where awards have been made at the last purchase of the county dispensary boards, which are unfilled on August 17, the date the election is to be held, the county boards would be allowed to receive the unfilled portions after that time ll R( hand and in reply will say that I do not think they will. "The act prescribes in the first sec? tion that the election shall be held on the third Tuesday in August, and in those counties voting against re opening their dispensaries, the stock shall be taken, and the act also says they shall continue to sell the stoci; on hand at retail or wholesale until November 15, and further provides that no purchase of liquor shall be made after the thid Tuesday in Au? gust. "So my opinion is that In all those counties refusing to vote In the dis? pensaries, no liquor can be purchased or received after the third Tuesday in Ar gust, even though the awards for the same had been made at the pre? vious time (ft purchase. "The act to which I refer is on page 423, act of the general assembly of 1909, being an act to provide for the closing of the several dispensaries in this State and for the sale of all stocks of liquors, beverages, fixtures and other property belonging to the several dispensaries. The Act. The act referred to by Gov. Ansel 's, In part, as follows: "Be it enacted by the general as? sembly of the State of South Caro? lina. That immediately after the elec? tion to be held on the third Tuesday in August the county dispnsary board In each county which may vote against reopening the dispensary or dispensaries, shall reopen said dis? pensary or dispensaries and continue to sell the stock on hand at retail o'1 wholesale until November 15, 1909. immediately after which day said county dispensary board shall dis? pose of all remaining goods and prop erty belonging to the said dispensary then on hand, in the manner herein? after provided: Provided, That no pur? chase of liquors shall be made after the third Tuesday in August, 1909." The act goes on to provide for the taking of inventories and the dispo? sition in other respects of the stock on hand, The whole matter hinged, it ippears, upon the word "purchase" Which is now construed to mean de? livery of the goods. Set your sail according to your wind.?Italian. DEAFNE8S CANNOT BE CURED by local applications, as they cannot reach the diseased portion of the ear. There is only one way to cure deaf? ness, and that !?* by constitutional remedies. Deafness is caused by an inllamed condition of the mucous lin? ing of the E u stach ian Tube. When this tube is inflamed you have a rumbling sound or imperfect hearing, and when it is entirely closed. Deaf? ness is the result, and unless the in? flammation can be taken out and this tube restored to its normal condition; hearing will be destroyed forever; nine cases out of ten are caused by Catarrh. Which is nothing but an in? flamed condtlon of the mucous sur? faces. We will give One Hundred Dollars for any case of Deafness (caused by catarrh) that cannot be cured by Hall's Catarrh Cure. Send for circu? lars, free. F. J. CHENEY & CO., Toledo, O. Sold by Druggists, 75. Take Hall's Family Pills for con? stipation. 7-4-lm. I ? Sal If!. ALCOHOL 3 PER CENT AVcgctaWerVepart^firAs similaiing the food ting tlie Stomachs aniBowhof INFANTS/CHILDRKN CASTORIA For Infants and Children. The Kind You Have Always Bought Bears the Signature Promotes Di^uDnOKerM ne ss and RestCoiiiaias irafoerI Opiuni .Morphine iwrMioeraL] Not Narcotic. Aa^ofOldDrSMJUmom Rnapkin Sud" JbcSeana + ?bcMUS?tx Amt Seed* ^iSmfcSsda* lUrmSefd CtarifiedSugar ? hwteptanTlanr. Aperfect Remedy forConsfipa tton, Sour Storaaei\Dtarrtm Worras,Con\alsk)iis Feverish ness and LOSS OF SlEEP. Facsimile Signatare of I NEW Y031L _l , i Atb months did Exact Copy of Wrapper. For Ovor Thirty Years CASTOR r > ? ? TMS OCNTAUB MHHNV, NCW TORR CITY. rug Store, &UMTER, S. C. Dealer In Pure Drugs and Medicines, CHOICE PERFUMES JAND FINE TOILET ARTICLES, COMBS AND BRUSHES, PATENT MEDICINES AND DRUGGISTS' SUNDRIES, A FULL LINE OF CIGARS AND TOBACCO. :: :: :: :: :: AND RELIABLE Our stock is complete and we cheerfully solicit your patronage. X-ltay Traps n Liar. "Doctor, do you ever do anything for charity? I am an awfully poor woman and have heart trouble Won't you please examine my heart with the I X-Ray free of cost?" This plea was made today by a | poorly-dressed woman of about 65 to Dr. George Hermann, of Corryville. ? Happening to look a little lower than; the heart, he discovered two $20 gold pieces in a chamois bag under the wo? man's garment. "How is my heart, doctor?" "Your heart is pretty bad," he ejac? ulated with a tinge of sarcasm. "Is there any hope for ir ? ' "Not if you keep on this way" he declared as the third $:!?> gold piece came into view. "I really mean that | you had a bad heart. Toil lied when j you said you were poor. Take that RlOliey OUt Of your waist and pay me $5." The woman marly collapsed, but sht took out the $60 in fold and from another part of her raiment drew out :i purse containing bi'ls.?Cincinnati Letter. Syria and Palestine have an inordi? nate appetite for imported dru^s. In Beirut, a city where soft drinks are in great demand, there is not a sin? gle soda fountain. T. to nil Barber m\\ shop Under Xew Management. D. Atkinson, Proprietor. The Best Service in the City. Your patronage solicited. To Investigate McLcndon Caae, Foley's 0RIN0 Atlanta, da.. July L?Investigation of the suspension of Chairman Mo Lendon of the state railroad commis? sion by (low Smith was assured todi } by the action of the house In author? ising the appointment of a joint com? mittee for the purpose. Tin senate already has taken similar action. The house resolution provided also for in vettlgation Of charges that Mr. Mc lA ndon had dealt in railroad securi? ties. Frank A ikon, colored, who made a criminal attack on Mr. C. L. Town send, a prominent farmer near Nine ty-Six last Teusday, was captured Wednesday and located in the jail at Greenville. Mr. Townsend reproved Alken'g wife about her work. Alken got offended and struck Mr. Town send with a hoe. ive la Pleasant and Effective CURES Constipation, Stomach and Liver Trouble. by stimulating these organs and restoring their natural action. Is best for women and chil? dren as OR1NO does not gripe or nauseate. SiEBERTS DRUG STORE. KILLTHE COUGH AHoCUBETHtLUNCS withDR0ECINC5 newdescoveryi RrtDlf OUCKS 50*8r?I.OO WH\fc*?LD8 ffl TRIAL BOTTUfRH AND AIL THROAT AMD LUNG TROUBLES GUARANTEED SATISFACTORY