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I Sable I I Lorcha I "Tall ma!" was what aba said. And although I knew that aha would do stand It I was unprepared. To gain time rather than Information I bade her be more explicit. "Everything." the purened, inclu? sively, with a peremptory emphasis which Indicated her determination not to bo denied. My beslUtlon resulted In some am? plification on hsr part B*-. was Im? patient as wall as reeoiverl, and re? sented what she Interpreted as my re? luctance to gratify hsr. "Everything." she) repeated. "Bv? I earthing that you bare been hiding from me from the first I am entitled to know. What about too head that wan out from the portrait? What was It that caused the shocks which brought on Uncle Robert's Illness? Why did tow go for the mall four times today, and sit all the root of the time In Uaelo Robert's study? What has happened to make him worse thin afternoon? What is troubling you, now? I'm not a child, I'm a1 woman, and I refuse to bo kept In lg noraaoo any longer." She was glorious as aba thus for* mslated her demands, her cheeks IfflgfsjSj her syeo brilliant, her voice a crest endo. Bhe must bars seen my admiration. Certainly I made no at? tempt to hide It; and before she had quite hntshod I had poeeeesed myself of hsr clasped hands, and w*?e bestow? ing upon them am applauding pros And her ergument prevailed. She know too much not to know more. Cameron's wishes In the matter could BO longer bo regarded. Just how tactfully I managed the disclosure, it Is not for mo to judge. Perhaps 1 told mom than I should. Possibly I revealed too mtl* I wan guided solo- ? ly by the wish not to alarm hsr, un? duly. And yet, as nearly every fea? ture of the affair was of necessity alarmlag, rt besame a vexing problem I as to what to include and what to Eventually she beard the whom story, enrery phase of It And so it is sot ahosjother clear ha my memory hvw mack I conveyed that night and how mack was loft for mo to add ton days later. I T*vore Is no fneetlon. howreer, re? garding that third letter which had aeon so mysteriously received that day. I drew It from the envelope, there, at the tttbto, and wo read It to? gether, by the light of the ptnk-ehad ed candles; our chairs touching and her cool little left hand claaped bard In my sinewy right. As I spread the sheet that sinister appearing black daub at the bottom smoto me with a oeneo of 111 as acute? ly poignant as a rapier thrust and the heavy, regular, upright cblrog-. repay, with Its odd f's and p's, so awesomely familiar, was scarcely less disturbing. Silently the girl and I ran through the dosen lines. Like iti two predecessors the let? ter began with the sentence: "That which you bsvs wrought shall In turn be wrought upon you." No longer could this be regarded ss Idle boasting. It bed become an edict of grave significance. And what fol? lowed only emphasised the proven foroe behind this series of singular communications. i "All hsvlng been performed as fore? told, our power is demonstrated." Then, simply, almost crudely, but of horrid poignancy, rsn the words: "Know tbeu, that before the morn? ing of the K.lsbth hay hence, as passed - toe :*<e rrom the norm.', i *d 1 the reflectlo'j from Ike j| you, physically, will paas ...... . *bf men Into torment." As 1 read my breath caught lu my throat and my pulses paused. Evelyn pressed cloeer to my side, and I felt her shiver si with cold. The final words, solemn, admonitory, priest like, were thoa*.: "Bay not H*aven is blah abovs! Heaven ascends and descends about our deeds, dally inspecting us, where- . soever we sre." instantly the turned to me, and 1 saw there were tears on her cheeks, and that hsr long dark laahea were wet I "You cannot tefl him this. Philip," Oho said, her voice low but unfalter- | ins. "No." I replied, "I cant.ot tell him. la bis prssent condition. It might be ; fstsl " "And now be must get well." she declared, with decision. "He must be well enough In a few days to b? moved. HI ihall not stop In this bouso atiy . nc?r. Ho nhal) go where be can be protected and these fiends, whoever they are, cannot, or will r.ot dar? to folio v." As she sptfco nu Inspiration caruo to me "The yacht ? 1 said. Impulsively ihe laid h >ld upon my srm. In s way she hsd. "The Sibyl's," she agreed, delight? edly. "Of IK urse. It will do every? thing for him." "But what am I to tall him about thle?" I asked. In perplexity. For a second she was thoughtful "Wo couldn't imitate the writing, could wo?" aho asked. "Oa, yes," I answered. **We could. I think I'd even guarantee to repro? duce) that hideous black thing, but?" "But what?" "We can't Imitate the paper. The paper Is as characteristic aa any of th# other features, If not Indeed more so. And he knows that paper." "Then you must just He to him," she decided. "Too must toll him the envelope was empty; and you must make him believe 1L" (TO BK CONTINUED) McMASTER St'C; GESTS REMEDY. ; Want* irf'trislaii'Mi to Make Lower Fire Insurance Hates Possible. Columbia, Dec. 15.?"Rates of fire Insurance and Are Insurance rate making: are on a satisfactory basis in South Carolina," says Insurance Com? missioner F. H. McMaster in his an? nual report totho General Assembly, In discuaaiiif this subject and In sug? gesting remedial legislation. "Thus an unnatural and Illogical condition exists in South Carolina," says the commissioner after discussing tho rates and rate-making now in ef? fect, and continues: "By forbidding both agreement as to rates between companies, .ml local hoard argee menta between agents, and by re? quiring each company to file and ad? here to Its rats oa the several classi? fication which It writes, there will be provided an equitable system which It la believed will reduce fire Insurance rates In South Carolina." MEETS WITH SERIOUS ACCI? DENT. Mrs. Montgomery Is Kicked In Face by Her Horse?-Other News of Wl aacky. Wlaacky, Dec. 16.?Christmas is about here and every one la In a rush to get ready for the holidays. It is to be hoped that all who anticipate hap? py unions and a good time In general will have nothing to mar their antici? pation, mindful of what the Christ? mas season means to us all. And what It le Intended to celebrate, and though we ought to be Joyful, yet let us be grateful. Most of ua are In a position to enjoy the occasion, but others are not Mrs. John Montgomery met with a serious accident last week when she was kicked by her horse. She waa atruck in her face, fracturing one of the bones and caualng her much suffering. She is doing as well as could be expected, and we hope will eoon recover entirely. Mr. Aaa Mooneyham la very HI and la a great sufferer. I trust God will be merciful and spare him to h?? dear wife and little children. Mrs J. C. Scott Is also quite sick and a great sufferer. She Is In Mt. Pleaaant but her daughter, Mrs. Wm. McCutchen, has gone to her, and alii move her to her beautiful new home which has Just been completed, and where she can have her with her and give her every attention. Mr. W. B. McLeod. of Hartsvllle, is vlilting at *.he home of Mr. W. W DesChamps He is better than he has I een for years. The stork has visited in the neigh? borhood recently and brought ua a little "Held," not a "Carrie," 1 hop*), The way the father smiles shows he has no fears <f his future destiny. The pastor of St. Luke's Church, ItOV. J. s. Hethea. has not arrived at ?>ur parsonage yet, consequently v.e had no preaching last Sunday. Hope he will be her?? In time to till his next appointment. The farmers are living high BOW. We have plenty of sausage, ribs md backbones and many other g ?od things to enjoy. MEXICO SIIOI I.D FAY $K?,000. Total of Claim* Resulting from Dune ugcw to AmerhtuiH. Washington. Dec. 14.?Twenty three Americans, who were wounded or whose relatives wer?- killed or wounded by shots from beyond th,c Mexican OOrdOf in ApfU or May, till, should refOlve indemnities aggre? gating IM.SOO from thS Mexican QoTeraincnti according to s report to Congress by a commission of army ofheen authorised to Investigate the ! cases. All claims of Mexicans Injur? ed on American soil by bullets from Mexican revolutionists or Federal! I were disapproved* Tho hunters are planning for a big time during Christinas week, if the old weather continues. California Woman Seriously Marmeil. i a short time ago i contracted * ee vet.id which settled on my lungs and caused me ? great deal <>f an? noyance, l would have bad cough , ine spalls and my lungs were s<? sore ami Inflamed I began to be seriously alarmed a friend recommended Chamberlain's Cough Remedy, my ! ing she bad used it for yt nrs I bought a bottb? and it relieved my cough ihe ! first night, and in a week i wss rid of 1 the cold and soreness of my lungs," wnt. M i Marie I i ber, B iwtelle, Cnli Tor sale by ;?ii dealei Advt SATISFIED WITH RESULTS. Philadelphia Women Plan Further Fight Against Trusts. Philadelphia, Dec 15.?With ex? pressions of satisfaction over the re? sults of their campaign for cheaper eggs, ofllceri of the Housekeepers* League today spoke enthusiastically of plans to reduce the price of other food producta and predicted that i "within a short time Philadelphia!!! will be living cheaper and better than for many years." During the four days* crusade near? ly 10,000,000 eggs have been sold at 24 cents a dozen with a saving to the consumer, according to Mrs. Wil? liam R Derr, president of the League, of $83,050. "And we are not yet through with the trusts," declared Mrs. Derr, "when we have broken the 'corner' in eggs, other items will be taken up. There are nine million pounds more butter in cold storage than at this timo last pear, which to me indicates an excel? lent Held for extending our effort to reduce the cost of living. The League is negotiating for the purchase of a large amount of this butter to be dis? tributed at prices very much lower than is now being Charged.*' Mrs. Derr displayed hundreds of letters from farmers In all sections of the East offering to sell their products to the League for distribution to con numers far below their present cost. A conference of officers of the league and these men probably will be held soon. Chicago Women in Line. Chicago, Dec. 15.?Meat, butter and vegetables, as well as eggs, will be sold at cost here by women's leagues in the endeavor to break the egg market by selling eggs at 24 cents a dozen. Today twenty stations where eggs will he sold beginning to? morrow at that price were announced. The announcement was also made that a campaign of provision selling to cov? er the whole range of fresh food would follow the egg campaign if that Is successful. FREE FLOWER SEED. Congressman Lever Has Two Thous? and Package* for Distribution. Mr. Editor. For the spring distribution, I have allotted me for our District, two thousand packages of flower seed. I shall be glad to send a package of these to any lady who will make known her wishes by dropping me a card, and I will thank you to make this notice through your paper. Very truly, A, F. Lever. Washington, Dec. 12. SKULL CRUSHED WITH AXE. Greenville County Difficulty Likely to End in Tragedy. Greenville, Dec. 14.?Luther Mc Hee, a well-to-do farmer of the coun? ty, and Doc Knight, a well-known planter of the same neighborhood, engaged in a difficulty this afternoon, with the result that Knight was dealt two blows In the head with an axe and mortally wounded. The attend? ing physieian stated that the man's skull was badly crushed and the brain lacerated, necessitating the removal of a large section of bone. The wounded man can last hut a few hours longer states the physician. HELEN GOULD DECIDES TO WED. Rich "Bachelor Maid" Falls ruder Cupid's Dart. Lakewood, x. J? Deo. IB.?An? nouncement Of the engagement of Miss Helen Miller (build, of New York to Plnley J. Bhepard, a prominent railroad man of St. Louis, was made this afternoon al the residence ?f Mr. and Mrs. George J. Could here. It was said that announcement of the time and place of the wedding would be withheld for the present and thll statement was confirmed up? on inquiry at the residence of Mis^ Gould in New York. Mr. Bheppard hUS long been promi? nently Indenttfled with railroad and financial affairs in the West. He is at present assistant to the president of ti,<- Missouri Pacific Railroad, with headquarters In Bt Louis. Upon the death of her father, Jay Gould, In 1898, Helen Gould, then 84 years old, Inherited a fortune of about 110,000,000. it has been esti? mated that by Investment she has trebled this fortune, nd ' " time devoted fully half <>r her time to benefactions which brought her Into world prominence, Fit His Case Exactly. "When father was sick about six years ago he read an adv< rtlsement of Chamberlain's Tablets in the paper that tit his case exactly," writes Miss Margaret Campbell of i t. smith. Ark. "He purchased a boi <?. them and he has not been sick since. Ify sister had stomach troub' i and was also benefited by them." Bold by an dealers, -Advt. G?TTIN MARKET REPORT. GINNING FIGURES WILL BE AN? NOUNCED FRIDAY. Market Will Probably Be Nervous and Family Influenced by Report* Won Interior. New Orleans, Dec. 15.?Without any doubt, the chief event In the cotton market this week will be the census bureau! report on ginning, to be given to the trade at 9 o'clock Friday. New Orleans time. This report will be Im? portant because of its bearing on the government estimate of the crop last week. The figures. 13,820,000 bales, are generally considered by the bears to be too low and hardly to be re? conciled with tiie amount of cotton ginned or to be ginned since Decem? ber 1, to about which time statistics upon which the estimate was built were carried. At the end of last week there was many rumors concerning ginning, and this week the market probably will be nervous and easily influenced by every report from the interior relating to the output of the ginners, or re? garding the statistics of private crop reporting bureaus. There are many traders who believe in the govern? ment's small crop estimate, and as a result they believe In a sudden falling off In ginning. One element in the market is prepared to believe that only 400,000 bales were turned out by the gins In the period just ended? that Is, between the end of Novem? ber and December 13. A year ago in the same period the gins turned out about 953,000 bales. In the two weeks preceding the end of November this year, the period preceding the one now under consid? eration, the gins produced about 1, 589,000 bales. Should any such de? crease be shown in this last period, as the bulls are now predicting, prob? ably violent upward prlc_ movements would take place, unless the proba? bility of any such report was discount? ed before hand. The market can hard ty escape considerable excitement over this pending census report. The export movement, which con? tinues remarkably large, the out of sight movement, or mill takings, which are still on a record breaking basis, the spot demand, on the one hand; the unsettled and pessimistic tone in the stock market, the money situation and the war scare In Eu? rope, on the other hand, will be the main features to be considered by the trade this week, outside of the cen? sus report. Unexpected developments might result in very heavy trading, especially as the approaching holiday period will be unusually nhort AKMKRS' CX'VFFPENCE. Session Called by Barrett for January 30th. Columbia,, Dec. 13.?According to a dispatch received here from Ra? leigh, C. S. Barrett, president of the National Farmers* Union, has called the midwinter conference of the union to be held in Columbia on Jan? uary 30, in connection with tho Na? tional Corn Exposition. This infor? mation was given by E. W. Dibbs, president of the South Carolina union, who Ir attending the annual meeting of tho North Carolina union. Bet on <iamc; Cadets In Troutle. Annapolls, Md.. Dec. 13.?Punish? ment, consisting of twenty-five de? merits ouch and restricted to their rooms for six days, was assigned to? day to the 400 midshipmen who were found to have violated Superintendent Gibbons' orders forbidding betting on the recent inter-service football game. It is undetstood the youths practi? cally confessed to having participated in the formation of a $L\000 pool to wager with the West Point cadets on th?' result of the game. The Seaboard connection which Sumter bad long wanted is an ac? complished fact and there is a rea? sonable certainty that this road will be extended to Charleston in the near future, but this is no reason for sit? ting down and doing nothing in the direction ?>f improving our railroad facilities Sumter needs the Alcolu railroad or a direct road to Shiloh. A big thing for Sumter would be the extension ><( the Sumter Wateree railroad (Southern) across the county to SoUthport, N. C. This would open up an undeveloped and fertile section ..t tiie State that sadly needs a rail? road. Some people are never satisfied, a woman advertised for a husband and got him. ( Von can get 'most any? thing by advertising.) After a short time the huaband hanged himself and now tie- widow Is advertising again. Kingstree County Uecord. The talk of a South Carolina Base? ball League creates little interest and in* excitemt nl in Bumter. The local fans have found that this town can exist and continue to prosper without ,1 pr< fe Bit nal ball t< am. TALK lit PEACE BEGINS. STAGE SET FOR TURKISH-BAL? KAN CONFERENCE. RoproKmtatlxeN Do Not Think Aus tro-Sorvlan Controversy Is to be London, Dec. 15.?Dr. Daneff, head of the Bulgarian plenipotentiaries, re? turned to Ixmdon from Paris late to? night and the Turkish-Balkan peace i conference is expected to open to? morrow noon. Sir Edward Grey, the British secretary of foreign affairs, will make a brief speech of welcome and after expressing the hope of a fruitful end of their labors, he will retire and leave the conference to de- ' liberate in private. The sessions will he held in the his? toric St. James palace. The delegates spent a quiet day Sunday. Nothing has transpired yet to show whether any serious difficulty is likely to arrive over the attendance of the Greek delegates. Concerning the Austro-Servian controversy the Balkan delegates think it the result of Austrian bluff. They say: "Vienna, having seen her tradi? tional programme of gradually ex? tending through the Balkan states to Saloniki completely wrecked has tried to counterbalance the bad effect it has had at home by clamoring that Al? bania must be autonomous, according to the Austro-ltalian agreement con? cluded in 1907. Therefore neither Greece nor Servia can occupy the Albanian Adriatic coast, much less Servia, as Servia means Russia. "What does Montenegro repre? sent?" asked one of the delegates laughingly, "with its ports at Antivarl and Dulcigno, to v.hich Scutari will soon be added, it being no mystery to anybody that the small kingdom can be considered almost as a Russian province and the Montenegrin army as a contingent of the Muscovite forces." According to the Balkan delegates, Austria's increased armament and the practical mobilization of her army are due less to the probability of de? claring war against Servia than to the grave internal situation in the monarchy, the unrest in Hungary and the agitation among Servians, especially in Bosnia and Herzegovina, where even those holding positions I under the Austrian government have I openly protested against the attitude of the empire. An additional cause i for concern Is the threatening atti? tude of the Slavs generally throughout Austrian territory which caused the I dissolution of the municipalities of Sebenlco, Spalato and Zara, on the charge of being anti-Austrian. "Vie/ .j," the Balkan delegates continued, "has too many troubles at "home to think seriously of war, for which she is financially not prepared, a fact proved by the loan recently concluded in the United States at a rate of interest higher than any great power has paid in late years. "Besides, Germany, notwithstanding her alliance, has exercised an influ? ence tending to moderate Austrian order. "Admitting, however, a coup d'etat on the part of Austria, we certainly know that neither Servia nor any other of the Balkan states would be left alone as Russia would come to their assistance, being today no more the Russia of the war with Japan, and, indeed, anxious to show what she can do in Europe. "This would mean a general con? flagration, which all are more inter? ested to prevent than to hasten and which will not be brought about for a relatively Insignificant cause such as allowing Servia to have a strip of land along the southenr frontier of Montenegro and a small stretch of coast on the Adriatic." No further development in the in? ternational situation is reported. Ac? cording to a Vienna dispatch tonight nothing is known of the statement circulated in Paris that Servia has protested to Austria against the bat? ter's military demonstrations. A Belgrade dispatch represents the Setvlan government as ready, if nec essary to send delegates to Vienna for friendly negotiations with Albania on Albanian autonomy and a southern poit on the Adriatic, which Servia v ould engage not to transform into a Military port. while Austria would enjoy the right of preference in the matter of loans and public works, and the most favored nation treatment. if congress should enact the Kenyon bill that is framed to prevent the shipment of liquor into prohibition ?errltory, ti.e era of real prohibition would arrive and many theoretical prohibitionists who preach total tbstanence for other people would be going around complaining of the drought, Cured of f.lxer Complaint. ? | was suffering with liver com? plaint," says Iva Smith of Point I dank. Texaa, "and decided t<? try a 26c box of Chamberlain's Tablets, tnd am happy to say that i am com? pletely cured and can recommend them to every one." For sale by all dealers Advt Taken Seriously. MOCH MOONSHINE CAPTURED COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAT* HEVEN I i; MARES REPORT. Many ?Stills" Were Destroyed by Of? ficers-? Returns From the Corpor? ation Tax. Washington, Dec. 15.?"Moonshin ing and "bootlegging" continued without sign of abatement, declared Royal E. Cabell, United States com? missioner of Internal revenue, in hia annual report, made public today. During the fiscal year 1912. 2,465 il? licit distilling plants were seized, about the same number as the pre? vious year, and the commissioner ad? mits that the government did not get all of the violators of the law. A great number of "moonshiners" still are operating, resulting in a large loss of revenue to the government, he adds. "Illicit distilling is most provident," says the commissioner, "in the States jf Georgia, Alabama, North Caro? lina, South Carolina, Tennesse and Virginia" The total number of corporations during 1911 as shown by returns un? der the corporation tax law was 288, 352, with capitalisation $50,067,138, 925 bonded indebtedness of $32,163, 53 7,961 and an aggregate net income of $3.213,707,247. Capital stock in? creased over 1910 by more than $2, 180,708,000 and bond and other In? debtedness by 81,448,201,000 whHe the net income decreased by $146,543,000. Incorporated financial institutions and insurance companies reported an ag? gregate annual net income of 15.74 per cent on capital; public service* corporation 4.17 per cent; industrial and manufacturing concerns 4.80 per cent and mercantile corporations 10.13 per cent. The corporation tax, which yielded $28,582,259 on the 1911 returns is ex? pected by Mr. Cabell to become a con? stantly increasing source of revenue to the government. By its close watch on the recordo and books of corporations the bureau of internal revenue, the commissioner says, is assisting in detecting and pun? ishing the promoters of "get rich quick" and other fraudulent and stock Jobbing concerns. The commissioner recommends the renovation of the oleomargarine law because, as at present construed, it results in evasion and fraud accord? ing to his report. During the fiscal year 1912 more than 123,365,000 pounds of colored oleomargarine were produced. A considerable amount of revenue is lost to the government, declares the commissioner, because of ar insuffi j dent revenue field force. He estimated that internal revenue receipts during the current fiscal year will reach $3:6.000,000 and during the fiscal year 191* probably $325,000,000, breaking all previous records. Brad street's Weekly Review. New York, Dec. IS.?Bradstreet's tomorrow will say: Despite cross-currents in trade, re? flecting the advance of the year to? wards the close, business as a whole; Is still active and Industry is also in a high degree In purely wholesale lines there is less doing as the time for stock taking approaches, but while there is some talk of tariff unsettle ment, tho situation in most lines i? ono of light stocks and insistent de? mand. Jobbing trade reflects more and more the influence of holiday demand and orders from salesmen are smaller, while mail business is larger, especial? ly in reorders to fill broken stocks. It is in retail trade that chief reflec? tion is found of the ad\ent of colder Weather and the near approach of the reports received from different sec? tions. In the West and Northwest trade in seasonable goods has been stimu? lated by the Colder weather as well as the near approach of the year-end holidays. In the Southwest trade is good, especially so in Texas, and yet in that State there is some talk of re? tail trade expectations having been keyed too highly. In the lower Mis? sissippi Valli 1 trade is good as a whole at retail, but In the South At? lantic States, while business is better 4 at retail, there is no great rush and wholesale trade is dull. In industrial lines there is no ap? parent let-up In the general activity heretofore noted. Iron and steel, coal, coke, lumber and cotton goods concerns are full of business, and the chief complaint is lack of help and car congestion! but statistically the latter situation has ceased. Business failures In the United States for the week ending December 12 were L'71 against ISSt week. 309 In the like week of ItII, 200 in 1910, In 1909 and 111 in 190S. Business failures In Canada for the week number 14, against 2:^ lost week and 2'.? In the same week of last year. The question is not "what the coun? try should do for Its ex '"'residents.'" but what it ought to do to them.? Wilmington star.