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Billy glanced nonchalantly at her. -Don't you think. Aunt Minerva," ha made ?oswer, "1 ? glttln' too big to go tbout uny aboea? I '? moo' ready to pot on long pants, an' how'd I look, rd ftm like to know, goln* round' bare? footed an' got on long breeches. I 4oo' boh eve I II go barefooted no mo* ?TO Jest wear my shoes ev'y day." "1 Just believe you won't. Go take there oi at once and hurry back to ?*OOr dinner " "lomme Jest wait tell I oats," bo begged, do* .v to postpone the evil boor of ixpoeure. "No. oi st once, and bo sure and waah 70% c bands." Miss Minerva spied the paint the In? stant he made his seconl entranco ' Immediately Inquired, "How did . get that paint on your feet?" he little boy took bis neat at tho le and looked up at her with his sweat, attractive, winning smile. Paint pertec's little boys'feets," ho said, "an* keepa Vtn Tom glttln' hurt Aant Minerva, don't It?" dies Minerva laid down her fork an ort Qer nephew her undivided cation. Ton nave been getting Into mischief - tin. I see, WflMam: now roll me all ot It Are you afraid of me?" Tad *m." was bis prompt response, 'an' 1 don't want to be put to bed th?r. The major be would n't put little boys ?o bed day times." She bra*.bed and eyed him thought* fully. She was making slow progress with tho child, she know, yet she stlU fort it her stern duty to bo vary strict wtta kiss and; having laid down cor* tat? rides to rear him by, she wished to Ibere to them. "Wintern." she said after bo had mads a fall confession, "I wont pun* / s you this time for I know that Jim say led you Into It but?" "Navm. Jimmy did At Me an' aim an' Frances an' Una's sll 'spons talu, but I promise you. Aunt Minerva, oot to clam' no mo' Udders." CHAPTER XXI. Pretending Reality. Toe chain-gang had boon working ig too struct not far from Miss Ml nerve's bouse, snd lias, Prances, B'Jly sued Jimmy bad hung on her fvont fsoss for so hour, watching them with eager interest. The negroes were eoalasd together la pairs, and guard od by two. big. burly white men. "Let's us play chain-gang," suggest? ed Jimmy. "Where wo goln' to git a chain?" -queried Billy; "*1 root be no fun tbout a lock an' - vn." "1 can get th? lo< rd chain off *BJ Sarah Jsne's cabin "To' mam. >w rou to go to bor cabin. y mama don't car* If I just borm j n lock and chain; so I'm going to got If I 1 m going to bo ths porlico of the 1 ajenf." said Frances. "Psrlice nothing. Ton ail time talk? ing tiout you going to ho a perllce," scoffed Jimmy. "1 m going to bo *ho lice myself " "No, you a?e not." lnterpoeed Una, '-Billy and 1 are the tallest and ore are going to bo the guards, and you and Frances must be the prison far lice aS "Wen. I ain't going to play thou: I gt* b? the boss of the niggers. It 's Sarah Jano'a chain and ehe 'a my mams ? cook, and I'm going to be what I please." "I 11 tell you what do." waa Billy's euggeetioa. "we'll take It turn about; see sa Lina II drat bo the perllce an' y* all bo the chain sang, an' then we II be the niggers an' y* all be the This arrangement waa satisfactory, ?o the younger boy climbed the fence and soon returned with a short chain and padlock. Billy chained Jimmy and Frances to? gether by two round, fat anklea and ! om? ?*? *-%y to the lock In hla pocket 1 "We meet decide what crimes they bar*' d mh .od," said Una. 0 dors got 'rested fer shoot on' Jimmy done got 'rested fer '? In' public worship." aald the other -osa, ain't neither," objected the nber of the chain gang, "I my woman with a raaor cease 1 too her racking down the 1 a proud c>on with another gen* what Sarah Jane's brother t ten* ' ho done at the picnic." dren plryed happily together half ~a hour, Hilly and Lina com UKii-q--g and the prisoners, entering thoroughly Into the spirit of the game, according prompt obedience to their bosses At slot the captive* wearied] kof their role and clamored for an ex of narts Job work. "All right," agreed Lina "Get the key, Billy, and we 'U be the chain gang." Billy put hla right hand In his pocket but found no key there; he tried the other pocket with the same success; he felt In hla blouse, he looked in bis cap, be jumped up and down, he near? ly shook himself to pieces all without avail: the key had dlaappeared aa if by magic. "I be rile vo y' all done loa' that key." concluded he. "Maybe It dropped on the ground," I said France?. They searched the yard over, but the key was not to be found. "Well, If that ain't just like you, Billy," cried Jimmy, "you all time per poaing to play chain-gang and you all time loae the key." Lina grew indignant. "You proposed this yourself, Jimmy Garner," she said; "we never wouM bave thought of playing chain-gang but for you." "It looks like we can't never do any? thing at all," moaned Frances, "'thout grown folks 've got to know ?bout it." "Yes. and laugh fit to pop thelraelfs open," said her fellow-prisoner. "I can't never pass by Owen Glbba and Len Hamner now 'thout they laugh juat like idjeta and grin just like pole? cats." "I ain't never hear tell of a pole-cat grinnin'," corrected Billy, "he jea smell woraer 'n what a billy goat do." "It la Cheesy cats that grin," ex? plained Lina. "Look like folks would get 'em a lot of pole-cats stead o' cnuiena always hau to be wearing assfetty bags 'round their nakes, so 's they can keep off whooping cough," said Frances. "Too can't wear a pole-cat roun' yo' oake," grinned Billy. "And Len Hamner all time now ask? ing me," Jimmy continued, "when I'm going to wear Sarah Jane's co'set to Sunday school. Grown folks 'bout the Iunatickest things they la. Ain't you going to unlock th'.a chain, Billy?" he demanded. "What I got to unlock It with?" aaked Billy. Aa Jimmy's father was taking the crestfallen chain-gang to the black? smith shop to have their fettere re? moved, they had to paaa by the livery stable; and Sam Lamb, bent double with Intoxicating mirth at their predic? ament, yelled: "Lordee! Lordee! Y' all sho' is de outlandiaheat klda 'twlxt de Bad Place an' de moon." CHAPTER XXII. A Transaction in Mumps. "Don t come near me." screamed Billy, sauntering slowly and deliberate? ly toward like dividing fence; "keep ***ay fdjUl they's kttcbin'." Jimmy wss sitting on hi * front steps and the proverbial red flag could not have excited a bull to quicker action. He hopped down the step*} and ran across bis own yard toward Hilly us fast as his short, fat legs could carry him. "Oit 'way f'om me; you V ketch '3m if you teches me," warned Billy; "in' you too little to have em," and he wnved an authoritative hand at the other chili. But Jimmy's curiosity was aroused tp the highest pitch. He promptly [jumped the fence and gazed at bis chum with critical admiration. What'! the matter," he inquired, "y >u got the toothache?" "Toothache!" waa the scornful ecbo, "well, I reckon not. Oit tack; don't you tech 'em; you ain't or 'nough to bare 'em." Billy's head was swathed in a huge, white cloth; his usually lean little cheeks were puffed out till he reseci bled a young hlppopotamuu, and his pretty gray eyes were almost invisible. "You better git 'way f'om me an' don't tech 'em, like I tells you," he re? iterated. "Aunt Minerva say you ain't never bad 'em an' she say fer me to make you keep 'way f'om roe 'cause you ain't a ol' chile like what I is." "You ain't but six," retorted ang" y Jimmy, "and I'll be s'i next mor.h; you all time trying to 'auade lltle boys to think you're 'bout a million years old. You 'bout the funniest looking kid they is." Billy theatrically touched a distend? ed cheek. "These here is mumps," ho said Impressively; "an' when you got 'em you can make growu folks do per sactly what you want 'em to. Aunt Minerva 's In tho kitchen right now makln' mo 'lasses cuatard If I'll be good an' stay right In the house an' don't come out here in the yard an' don't give you tho mumps. Course 1 can't toco that custard now 'cause I done come out here an' it ain't hotior ble. but she's makln' It Jes' the same. You better glt 'way f'om me an' not >uid ms your Jo^; Wi.?ric "Are they easy to ketch?" asked the other little boy eagerly; "leinme Jest tech 'em one time, Billy." "Git 'way, I tell you," warned the latter with a superior air. To increase Jimmy's envy he continued: "Grown folks tries to see how nice they can be to chillens what's got tho mumps. Aunt Minerva ain't been lmpedent to me to? day; she leinme do jest 'bout like 1 please; it sho' is one time you can make grown folks step lively." He looked at Jimmy meditatively. "It sho' is a plumb pity you ain't a ol' chile like what I is an* can't have the mumps. Don't you come anp closter to me," he again warned, "you too little to have 'em." TU give you five pewees if you'll lemme tech 'em so's I can get 'em," pleaded the younger boy. Billy her: ated. "You mighty lit; tig?" he began. "And my stoney," said the other ' child eagerly. "If you was a oT boy," said Billy, "it wouldn't make no dlffunce; I don't want to make yo' ma mad an' Aunt Minerva say for me to keep 'way f'om you any how, though I didn't make her no promises." Jimmy grew angry. "You're the stingiest Peter they is, William Hill," he cried; "won't let no? body tecb your old mups. My cousin in Memphis 's got the measles; you Just wait till I git 'em." Billy eyed him critically. "H you was ol?" he was beginning. Jimmy thought he saw signs of his yielding. "And I'll give you my china egg, too," he quickly proposed. "Well, Jest one tecb." agreed Billy; "an* I ain't a-goln' to be 'sponsible neither," and he poked out a swollen jaw for Jimmy to touch. Ikey Rosensteln at this moment was spied by the two little TJoys as He was walking jauntily by the gate. "You better keep 'way f'om hero, Goose-Grease," Jimmy yelled at him; "you better get on tho other side the street. Billy here 's got the mumps an' he lemme tech 'em so's I can get 'em, so's my papa and mama '11 lemme do just perzactly like I want to; but you're a Jew and Jews ain't got no business to have the mumps, so you better get 'way. I paid Billy 'bout a million dollars' worth to lemme tech his mumps," he said proudly. "Get 'way; you can't have 'em." Ikey bad promptly stopped at the gate. "What'll you take, Billy, to lemme get 'em?" he asked, his commercial spirit at once aroused. 'What'll you gimme?" asked has of the salable commodity, with an eye to a bargain. Ikey pulled out a piece of twine and a blue glass bead from his pocket and offered tue.ni to the child with iu mumps. These received a contcm 1 jus rejection. "You can do perzactly liko ;?*u ploaae when you got the mumps," In? sinuated Jimmy, who had seemingly allied himself with Billy as a partner in business; "grown folks bound to do what little boys want 'em to when you got the mumps." Ikey increased bis bid by the stub of a lead pencil, but It was not until no had parted with his most cherished pocket possessions that be was at last allowed to place a gentle finger on the protuberant cheek. Two little girls with their baby-bug? gies were seen approaching, "G' 'way from here, Frances, you and Una," howled Jimmy. "Don't you come In hero; me and Billy's got the mumps and you-all 'r' little girls and ought n* to have 'em. Don't you come near us; they 're ketchlng." The two little girls Immediately opened the gate, crossed the yard, and stood in front of Billy. They Inspected him with admiration; he bore their critical survey with affected unconcern and indifference, as befitted one who had attained such prominence. "Don't tech 'em," he commanded, waving them off as he leaned grace? fully against the fence. "I teched 'em,' boasted the younger boy. "What'll you all give us if we '11 let you put your finger on 'em?" "I ain't a-goin' to charge little girls not hin' " said the gallant Billy, as he proffered his swollen jowl to each in turn. A little darkey riding a big black horse was galloping by; Jimmy hailed and halted him. "You better go fast," he shrieked. "Me and Billy and Frances and Lina s got the mumps and you ain't got no business to have 'em 'cause you 're a nigger, and you better take your horse to the llb'ry stable 'cause he might ketch 'em, too." The negro boy dismounted and hitched the horse to the fence. "I gotter little tarrapim?" he began in? sinuatingly. And thus it came to pass that there was an epidemic of mumps in the lit? tle town of Covlngton, and William Green Hill grew rich in marbles, in tops, in strings, in toads, in chewing gum, and in many other things which comprise the pockot treasures of little boys. (TO BE CONTINUED.) County Teachers' Examination. A special examination will bo held on Friday, January 12, 1912 for those desiring touchers' certificates, and thoso teaching without valid certlfl catee. This Is a special CQMOsOSloll by tho State Hoard of Education, and those who fall to comply need not ?Xpert special favors, for tho duty of the County Board is to carry out tho law. When you want a reliable medi? cine for a cough or cold take Cham? berlain's Cough Kemedy. It can al? ways be depended upon and is pleas? ant and safe to take. For sale by all dealers. How about some provision being made for drainage on West Liberty street before the next fain comes along? Persons troubled with partial pa? ralysis ar? often very much benefited by massaging the affected part3 thoroughly when applying Chamber? lain's Liniment. This liniment also relieves rhemuatic pains. For sale by all dealers. HUNT'S . ? LIGHTNING OIL Is the one unfailing scientific dressing which instantly relieves and permanently cures all hurts, cuts, burns, bruises, sprains und wounds of every kind. Pain leaves at once because the air Is excluded, and the oil covering nets as artificial skin. The queck cst. fastest healing oil known? HUNT'S LIGHTNING OIL. 25 cents and 50 cents bottles. A. B. RICHARDS MEDICINE CO. Sherman, Texas. For Sale If Slbert's Drug Store. Tax Returns for 1912. Sumter, S. C, Dec. 11, 1911.?No? tice Is hereby given that I will at? tend in person or by deputy at the following places on the days Indicat? ed, respectively, for the purpose of receiving returns of personal proper? ty and poll taxes, for the fiscal year commencing January 1st, 1912. All males between the ages of 18 and 55 years, must make returns as to whether or not they are liable for road duty for year 1912. Tindal, Tueeday, Jan. 2. Privateer. Station, Wednesday, January 3. Manchester, Levi'a S:dir.g, Thura d nyf January 4. W'edr: field, Thomas' Store, Friday, January 5. Clare-mont Station, Tuesday, Jan. *. Hagood, Wednesday, Jan. 10. Remberta, Thursday, Jan. 11. Dalzell. Friday, Jan. 12. W. T. Brogdon's Store, Monday. Jan. 15. Mayes villa, (Barnett's Store). Tuesday. Jan. 16. Pleasant Grove, Wednesday, Jan. 17. Shlloh, Thursday, Jan. 18. Norwood, Cross Roads, Friday, Jan. 19. Oswego, Monday, Jan. 21. All persons, whose duty It is to make returins, should be prompt to meet at those appointments. All re? turns must be made before Feb. 20. 1912. ? R. E. WILDER, Auditor. DO YOUR XMAS SHOPPING FARLY AND AVOID THE RUSH OF THE LAST FEW DAYS. We have the goods at prices that will suit you. New and latest designs In Jewelry, rings in all blrthstones, bracelets, lockets, LaYallers, mono? gram fobs made while you wait, um? brellas, parasols, toilet sets, lnsterllng, plated and genuine Ebony, manicure and military sets, Hawkee cut glass, sterling silver and plated flat-ware, from the smallest pieces to the large cheat. We engrave any article bought without charge any design, while you wait. Every article guaranteed. We know what we sell Is good. W. A. THOMPSON, Jeweler and Optician. 6 S. Mala St. Sumter, S. C. Foley Kidney Pills What They Will Do for Yuej They will cure your backache! ?trengthen your kidneys, cor? rect urinary irregularities, build up the worn out tissues, and eliminate the excess urio acid that causes rheumatism. Pre? vent Bright's Disease and Diau Bees Save WHY DONTW? NATURE TEACHES US M t/. & TO SAVE /L ?8 tfiftir put it m %* INTO THE > ?? BANK Now SOYOU'lA, HAVE IT WHEN YOU _ NEED IT. ITS SAFE IN THE BANK JAMES J. HILL, the great railroad king, made money slinging a pick when a young man. He BANKED and SAVED his earnings. He became a contractor and mul? ti-millionaire. Make OUR Bank YOUR Bank. We pay liberal interest, consistent with safety 4^. < Fir^l National Bank OF SUMTER, T TATT? /""ittvx rnivTm a cub plastkr. phinolm LUVUli, v^LMrilN 1, j^VK? BEICK- DRAlN TTnv tlrom Rlce Flour, Skip Stuff. Bran. Xiay, Viraill, Mixed Oow and Chicken Peed. Horses, Mules, Sf^Jf No Order Too Darf o Or Too Scuali. Booth-Harby Live Stock Co. SUMTER, SOUTH CAROLINA. r Undertakers and Embalmers, and Private Ambulance HEARSES FOR WHITE AND COLORED Ring 14 or 251?Day or Night Prompt Service J. D. Craig Furniture Company 8,10,12 West Liberty Street. Fro^l Proof Cabbage Plants. We grow only guaranteed plants, true to name, recommended by all whc hare used tbem. Our prices are as follows: 1,000 to 4.000 plant* at $1.25 pei thousand; 5.000 to 9.000 at fl.et per thousand; 10.000 to 15.000 H cents per thou? sand. Agents wanted In every town. Write for booklet on culture, etc Vari? eties: EARLY JERSEY, known by all as the earliest pointed head; CHARLES TON WAKEFIELD. same type, but larger and little later; SUCCESSION, largest and earliest of all fiat varieties: FLAT DUTCH, our large, flat, late cabbage and a leader. We guarantee full count In every box. safe delivery to your express office, and satisfaction or money refunded. I'lants shipped when ordered; no delays. Send money by Registered Letter. Express Money Order or 1'ost Office Money Order. The Carr-Carlton Co., Box 61, Meggetts, S. C. if Buy Your Fertilizers From Wulburn Fertilizer Co,, Charleston, S. C. We make the best grades of all kinds of Fertilizers. Can furnish testi monials from best farmers in Sumter Coun? ty. For information apply to L. D. NETTLES, Local Agent and Traveling Representative i