University of South Carolina Libraries
FRAN d 55hn Myert CHAPTER XVII. ?Ks II ths Beeret Ba Told? Fran had expected Robert Cllatoae return lr. four or fire day ?. ax hod Grace Weir, but eecrcU that hare beeo bar lad for many yea re era not picked up la a day. However, had the chairman of the schon*ooard returned the day after his departure, Abbott Aehton would hare met him at the station. Twice, la the 'pln'ton of Fran, the yosng man had failed her by allow* las; Qrace's ro.nd to flash to Impor? tes t discoveries along the path of his losulsted remark* shout the weather. This third tent wsa more equal, since ha was to deal with no Grace Nolr? merely with a man. As Llttleburg had only one railroad, aad It a "branch." It was not difficult to mate every train; moreover. Miss Sapphire's hasty notes from her brother kept Abbott advised. At first. Miss Sapphire laid. "It will bo a weak;' later?"Then dar more?and the business left like this!" Then came the final bulletin: "I may come tomorrow. Look for mo when you What the secret was that Abbott mast prevent Clinton from divulging, ha did not care to guess; doubtless the picture of Gregory's pau. with Its face to the wall, might be inscribed. Some other women.'* For surely Or ace Nolr was some otaer woman. With thaaa thoughts, Abbott met the evening tram, to eea Robert Clinton hastily emerge from the solitude ho sad endured In the midst of many. Robert was In no pacific mood, snd when he found himself almost In the trme of Abbott, hie greeting was hohv >ren* became Impatient at being ?topped. Abbott, knowing that Robert wsa not ordlnsiily effualvs, thought, -lie has the eeoretr Robert shook heads without delay? ing progress toward the waiting hack, searing Abbot* skmg on waves of "But enrelv /oa uii not ssjgejj g* ?4*?lw Abbott ex \>o*tulat*d, 'Bualuesa--preestnr BOO yssg ister." hit 1 have busiaese wi'h you, Mr. atoa, thai caa t welt. Corns, walk with me to tows aud I'll explain; lfH rf.elay you only a few minutes.'* Like a restive horse on finding him? self restrained. Robert Clinton lifted a lag without advancing. "Oh. very well" he agreed "la fact, I've some? thing Important for you, old fellow, end I'll explain before I?before the-* yea. before." he ended, turning his back with s smothered growl. "Lacky I was at the station," Ab? bott exclslmed, "since you've some? thing to tell me. Bob. What la it?" la Una addreseing his old friend as Bob' ths young man was officially declaring that their relationship as teacher and school-director was for j ever st sn end, snd they stood as man to man. j Clinton spoke rapidly, with hit wonted braekness: "Guess you know | I'vs been knocking shout the country for the last three or four weeks -sew a good many old friends?a fellow can't | go anywhere without meeting some bod r he knows?curious. Isn't It? Well,; I've Just got an opening for yon. Ton know bow sorry 1 sm because we hsd to plump snother tescher on to your Job. but don't you worry If Fran did hold your hsnd?Just you keep your ksnds In your pockets after this, when there's danger?Say! I've got some? thing lots batter for you then Llttle? burg. School out In Oklshoma?rich ?private men behind It?he owns ths whole plsnt, sod has dstermlned to run It to suit the new tdeea. Thla rich man?chum of mine?went West, bought Isod. est on It, got up with his leans Ml of monev. Wan'a von to -o*nt % o* I abaoi * at eiaiso. ' vTba' gito if ? ?w lifajj Boo', bs *ijt4i i-rtii'i?. 1 Of that Impractical aooaenso of teaching life Instead of books. Ton know what I mean, but 1 don't think I do. Don t worry about It now?some ?blng terrible's on my mind?just aw? ful! I can't think of anything else. Wast you want to do is to scoot out r*J Tsblelah. Oklahoma, to this ad dreee? here's hla card?tell 'em Bob sent you?" He looked st Abbott fe? verishly, ss If slmost hoping Abbott would holt for Tthlelah thso snd there. Hla broad red face was set determinedly. "This osws Is splendid!" Abbott declsred enth talaatically. "I bad al? ready applied for a country school; I wae afraid 1 had lost out a whole veer. or. account of?everything. ] nviat hanta "Abbott, I don't want to be thasked, I ha ?so f got time to be thsnked. ? onder's Hsmllton Oregory a house snd that's where I'm bound?good night?" It, hob. I batent told you my business? " 111 h*ar It later, old fellow dear old fallow I think a heap of you, old Abb Hm* I ttiuit go now "No. you mustn't It afore you go into that aouss. we mutt have a little last W* vsut 1*1? here paui*> are,, coming and going?" I 1 don't want to Ulk hero. Mom you! I want to go In that house My busi? ness Is private and pressing." The gate waa bat a few yards away; he looked at it fixedly, but Abbott held hit band upon the agitated arm. "Bob, what I have to tell you cant wait, and that's all about it I won't keep you long, juit turn down this al? ley with me, for it's a matter of life and death." "Confound your life and death! My buslneea la life and death, too." At that moment, a light was turned on in Gregory's library, sod Grace Noir was seen to pass the window. Abbott's hsnd tightened on the oth? er's arm. as he urged, "Down that al? ley, a nlee dark place for talking?" "'Nice dark,' be hanged!" growled Robert. 'What business can you hare with me that wouldn't wait till morn? ing? Look here, I'm desperate!" "Bo am I," retorted Abbott "Bo. you've been to Springfield." Robert Clinton snatched oven the "uuolneec Very Prasting tee Yen Later." yard-fate, muttering, "That's my basV aess " "Miss Noir tent vom to unearth a secret'* "Oh!" exclaimed Robert, In sn al? tered tone, stopping In the gateway, "did she tell you about itr "No?but you've brought hack that teerst, snd you must not tell It to Miss Noir." "Not toll her'1 That's fanny!" Rob? ert produced a sound which he expect td to pass ae laughter. "So that's nhat you wanted to tell me. It It? Du reu know what the teerst is?" '1 do not Bat you mustn't tell it" "However, that's what I'm going to to, as soon aa I reaeh that door? lake yonr hand off, man, my blood's ip, by George! Cant you tee say Mood's up? It's a-bot!!ag, that's wusa ft't doing! So all you want It ut ask me not to tell that secret?" "Not exactly all." "Well, well?quiekt What etstJ* "Tu sue that yon don't tall it" "How (""> y>u mean tu 'tea' thai I don't tell It?" "Too will listen to reason. Boh," ?aid Abbott persuasively. "No. I wont!" cried Robert "Not sue! No, sir I I'm going to tell this minute." "You shall not!** said Abbott, hi a lower and snore compelling tone. Hit manner wan to absolute, that Robert Clinton, who had forced his way al? most to the porch-steps, vat slightly moved. "flee here, Abbott?say! Fran knows nil about It, and you pretend to think u good deal of her. Well, It's to her Interests for tho whole affair to be laid open to the world." "1 think so much of Fran," was the low and earnest rejoinder, "that if I were better fixed, I'd ask her to marry gee without a moment's delay. And 1 think enough of her, not to ask her to marry ms. until I have a good po? sition. Now It was Fran who asked | me to see that you didn't betray the secret And 1 think so much of her. that I'm going to tee that you don't!" For a moment Clinton wat silent; then he tald in desperation: "Where 1s your nice dark alley? Come on, then, let's get in it!" When they were tafe from interrup- i tion, Clinton returned: "You tell me (bat 7ran wants that secret kept? I'd think ahe'd want it told everywhere. This teeret is nothing at all but the ; *"?onr twul wtj done Fran and her | mo'b?'. ton a:nee full tri %o fiatT. eoo-f bo" ft! Uki r?'i??. I II (oUftw tail tat at? ta^t 1 hare isksl Grace fcoir to marry ms, and I know I'll stand a better show by getting her out of the hypnotic apell of that mis-' ersble acoundrel who potet as a bleat- < lng sheep?" j Abbott Interrupted: "The wrong done Fran? How do you mean?" "Why. man, that?tbat hypocrite la wool, that weed that Infests the; ground, that?" 'In abort, Mr. Gregory? Bat what ; about the wrong done Fran?" -Ain't I telling you? That worm J eaten pillar of the ehtirch that's mad* me loae no murh falrh In religion that 1 ain't got enough left worth the post-j age at amp to mail it back to tho |f>| vital meeting where It came from?" ' For heaven's sake. Bob, toll ms, what wrong Mr Gregor did Fran!" (TO BK CONT1NTJKU.) Under ttjrset regulation* la Colom? bia) rubber gut her era are. required In give the ireea .? reel period in lap* Ping them fof K"tfi. The site, num? bei snd Its it Ion of Ihr incisions urc regtihted by law. In Ihe Ignited sHnteej similar regulations ???? In force In the! |ap|ilni| id pines t<o mi|.?nfujc ,ru th?? Ft?4 Id ' ttsttoQ tl foi ? <\ WISACKY NEWS NOTES. Farmers Disappointed In Long tttspte Cotton?Little Joseph MeCutcliooii Belter. Wisacky, Nov. 26.?-The weather: bureau made a biff Blip up In Its pre- , dictions of the weather for this sec? tion, for we have had idet.l weather for the last two weeks, much to the delight of the farmers. Ir. this sec? tion the fields look pretty bare, ex? cept where oats and alfalla are be? ginning to show themse ves very boldly. I'll venture to say that one tenth of the cotton of Lee county that has been ginned was ginned at Wi sacky, and most of it was sold here, at equally as good prices, as was giv? en in 8umter. Ntarly all the seed were sold here also A number of porkers will be killed around here this winter, some fine ones too. Very little cotton is being held this season and most of that la being held is the long staple. Lots of it was planted through this section this year, very much more than will be planted soon again as those who have planted this variety are very much disappoint? ed in yield and prices. Land that made one and a half bales of short staple last year will not make more than 1,200 pounds this season with equal quantities of fertilizers. Mr. Green DesChamps, after tak? ing a six-month's business course in Poughkeepsle College, New York, has returned home. No doubt he will make good. Mrs. W. W. McCr 'hen has return home with her son, Joseph, who was taken to Florence for an opera? tion for appendicitis. After the oper? ation he fell into pneumonia, which nearly proved fatal. I am glad to say he is Improving rapidly and with no r slaps* will soon be well again. The county chain gang has returned to us again and we hope will continue: with us until Our roads are put in good condition. Your city form of government must be proving a great success, as so many other citiee are adopting the same form. I hope old Sumter will continue to grow. Truly we have great reason for praise and Thanksgiving this year and I trust the day set apart for that pur? pose will be observed in a becoming manner. The Adrantages Country Children Have Over City-bred Children, In Its December issue the Woman's Home Companlou continuee its cam? paign for "Better Babies" by publish ing In its regular department for "Better Babies" an article entitled "How to Make Babies Better" by Dr. Roger H. Dennett, a New York phy? sician who Is an authority on the care and treatment of children. Following Is an extract from Dr. Dennett's article comparing country children with city children: "When I think of the advantage* which country children have over the city-bred child, I cannot help regret? ting that all children are not born in equally healthful surroundings. The country child without the slightest effort can breathe freeh air night and day. At night the city child may breathe fresh air. such as It is, but In the daytime, during the early years, he must play upon the street alone, or the mother must give up her house? hold duties and go with him to tho park. If country mothers knew how faithfully city mothers give their chil? dren thin daily arlng, and knew what a sacrifice it Is to be taken away from their household duties so many hours each day, they would realize how for tunato they are when they can dress their chlldron and set them outside the back door to play by themselves. The Infant may sleep there undis? turbed, without fear of anything Uaxroir g him." A New Industry In Mississippi. Magnolia News, The udv?nt at the Mexican cotton boll weevil has caused at least one new industry to spring up in Pike (bounty, namely, the gathering, drying 1 grinding und sharing leaves of the I leesafras tree to be used as un article j of commerce. Tho product Is known! as "tile," and seVeri barrels of tt. grcguttng 750 pounds, were shipped to' Orleans, from here recently by I Mr. f. W. Allen, a progressive farm er residing seven miles' east of Mag- j noiiiu Mr. Allen has a mill made specially for grinding "Ilia,*' and he shipped ?t small Quantity of it last] year. While the article la used ex-, tensjvely In the preparation of "gumbo Mio" the delicious soup which has I made Freneh cooking famous, the demand for tt Is very limited. The leaves are gathered iu July and Au gusti aud are thoroughly dried In the shade before being oarried to the I mill, it requires about :k>u pounds of f?r??en leaves to make loO pounds of meal. Tho turkey crop appears to be fair*| ly abundant this year and (he prl 'el i* j;t????"?iti cntjtv per poqnd and un i Wirf? BRYAN DENIES REPORT. - I I Terms Absurd tho Statement that United State? Will Recognize Huer Washington, Nov. 2L?The Unit-, ed States will never recognize Huerta or his government. There has been BO change in the situation which would warrant this report which has been circulated in Mexico City. Sec? retary of State Bryan said today that the report was "absurd." INVITE PRESIDENT TO COLUMBIA j Congressman Lever Will Represent City When lie Cadis at White Rouse. The State. The committee in charge of ex? tending President Wilson an invita? tion to spend his Christmas vacation in Columbia expects to hear from Congressman Lever today exactly what the plans of the president are In regard to It. Mr. Lever has been asked tc see the president for the committee which has already urged the chief executive of the nation to make Columbia his winter home. It is understood that the president desires to spend his 10-day vacation quietly. In this event shoula he se? lect Columbia as the place In which to spend It, the committee will take care to carry out his wishes in this respect. SIMS CLAIMS INNOCENCE. Says He Expects Complete Vindica? tion of Charges Supporting Dis? barment Proceedings. Spartan burg, Nov. 2.?The follow? ing statement from Atlanta was sent to The Herald tonight by C. P. Sims, the Spartanburg attorney, against whom a complaint for impeachment was filed with the clerk of the su? preme court at Columbia yesterday by 11 members of the local bar; "In reference to the disbarment proceedings against me mentioned in your paper, I beg to say that I am conscious* of my innocence, and I have absolute faith in the fairness and sound Judgment of each member of the supreme court. Tr ..refore I ex? pect complete vindication when the said charges are investigated." For the Minister's Christmas. In the December Woman's Home Companion appears a page entitled "fJirl's Christmas Secrets." It is a collection of suggestions for Christ? mas. Following is a suggestion of a present for the minister: "We desired to give our minister a set of hooks at Christmas time and raised twenty-five dollars fbr the pur? pose. The committee could not decide what bocks he would Ilka best and finally hi: upon an Ingenious plan. A handsome leather pock et book was donated and the money changed into gold pieces was put Into it, together with a list of the names of the donors. Then at an evening social the pocket book was publicly presented to the minister, the spokesman stating that we desired him to make his own selec? tion of books." Probably the greatest advertising scheme, as well as advance in sys? tem of government, of any city in the country was that inaugurated by Sum? ter when it devised the City Manager form of municipal government Many cities, large and small, have followed Sumter's example and the new form of government Is be'ng talked of from the Hlo Orande to the Arctic regions of Canada. Tho Mexcu/ns have been to busy fighting to take up the matter yet The hunter! are still keeping the woods and fields lively for the birds. Every day a dozen or more can be seen going out In the morning or af? ternoon In search of partridges. Slow progress is being made with the erection of arches for the "White j Way" on Me.ln street Though some are beginning to doubt neverthelcee It Is to be hoped that the enlarged "White Way" will be "up and shin? ing" by Thanksgiving,-as was promts- j od when the, contract was made by! the city for its erection. * " hu ?I. It has been suggest*d that proper? ty owners clean up the front of their I Premises before Thursday, so that a' good showing cm be made the visl-| tors. Ths work on the Klrst National Bsnk Is pruArrcssinjj steadily. Nc*rr<? vs. White Viignuuw. Every now und th< n nur Southern cith-s get awfully excited over "Ne? gro VUgTUntA" Vagrancy in any in? habitant hurt.s a community, but tho vagrancy that hurts the white rue most s White Vagrancy. We must dovelop a sentiment which will mike any man ashamed to be u loafer, o parasite, whether he Is a millionaire or a pauper. As Or. Wulh-r Page says, "A nmo hud better mike split bottom chairs than be an unproduc? tive prominent mtisfm,' "-jJThe Pro? i :rt* kit <l P t riTi< i STUDIES TRUST QUESTION. Wilson Begins Serie* of Important Coni'eronoes. Washington, Nov. 20.?President Wilson today began a series of confer? ences on phases of the trust ques? tion, on which he will touch in a gen? eral way In his address to the regular session of congress next month. The president had a long confer? ence with Senator John Sharp Wil? liams of Mississippi, author of a bill to exclude holding companies from Interstate commerce, and tonight talked at length with Repreeentative Stanley of Kentucky, head of the committee which investigated the United States Steel corporation In the last congress. It Is understood that Mr. Wilson will confer with other Democratic leaders who have made an extensive study of the trnst question, and it is expected his address will make gen? eral recommendations, leaving to the committee of congress to work out the specino remedies to be writ? ten in bills on which the administra? tion hopes to secure a common agree? ment among the leaders before the legislation actually is launched. SUFFRAGETTE FIREBUGS BUSY IN ENGLAND. Destroy Lumber Yards at Oxford, Causing Quarter Million isoss. Oxford, Eng., Nov. 21.?Fire which is attributed to the militant suffragette swept the Bassett and Richards lum? ber yards, and threatened the city gas plant The loss Is a quarter of a million. Suffragist literature was found scattered about the scene of the Ore. DEATH OF MISS RAMSEY. Interment at Bethel at 11 O'clock To? day. Columbia, Nov. 24.?Miss Hattle Edna Ramsey, the youngest daughter of M. G. and Miranda T. Ramsey, of Privateer, Sumter county, dieel at Knowlton's hospital yesterday morn? ing at 2 o'clock. She had been an invalid for a number of years and had been in the hospital since Au? gust Interment will be at Bethel Church near Privateer this morning at 11 o'clock. A COTTON CLEANER, Laths Man Invents Machine to Take Out Trash. Th*? Maxton Scottish Chief copies from a neighboring paper in South Carolina?The Latta, Dillon county, Obs -ver?an account of a cotton cleaning machine. Invented by Mr. SUaman McLean, and which was In? stalled at a gin near Latta for demon? stration work. It is claimed for this machine In brief that it cleans the cotton from all particles of trash or dirt, leaving the staple in a fluffy state for the gin. The grade of cot? ton passed through the cleaner Is raised. But little power Is required to operate the machine and It can be attached to any gin. The cotton is put In a hopper directly over two spike drums and is passed through the machine and then through flues back to the gin so that the cotton Is handled once only. Mr. McLean has been engaged In perfecting this cleaner for a number of years. It would appear to be a good thing for handling storm and its adaptability to the ordinary gins Is a point in its favor. There can be no queetion about the fact that a machine of this character has been needed by the farmers of the South.?Charlotte Observer. The Sumter Shrine Club has re? ceived the badges it ordered for use as souvenirs for the Shriners who visit the city on Thanksgiving Day. It was stated by someone who looked at them that they were in themselves well trorth the visit even if there was no other great inducements, whioit there arc, to induce them to come to Sum? ter for the day. The badges are very handsome ones and every Shriner will get one of them, If he comee to Sum? ter. . ? . v . All the stores will be closed Thanks? giving day In obedience to the custom of many years standing. BUSINESS SCHOOL lidlvidual Tritnlif for Boys an-d ?St. TBE tottrat Of all Ksgllsta brnnehoK Khnrtliand, fypwrUlun end hook koeplni; oners naaurpessed opportu? nities to the youths of your ?vxinty at a very reasonable price. Hoard can be obtained In town, ror parti? culars address, J. M. JERVEY, CREELYV1LLE, . S. C. V_ S1IOVLD UPHOIiD PRESIDENT. - Former Ambassador Bars America as Should Realize This la Patriotic Duty. New York, Nov. 20.?Joseph ft. Choate, former ambassador to Great : Britain, speaking at the New York j State Chamber of Commerce dinner j here tonight, briefly alluded to the 1 Mexican situation. "I should like to talk about out policy in the matter if I knew what it is," he aaid. "There is only one man who does know, and he is wisely keep? ing his mouth shut tight. But I want to say there is one duty for every one of us to perform?and that is to stand by the president, and we will come out all right in the end/' RE-OPEN NAVY YARD. Roosevelt Will Recommend New Or leans Yard Re-Opened. Washington, Nov. 20.?Recommen? dation is expected to be made by Act? ing Secretary Roosevelt to re-open the New Orleans navy yard for ths repair of the navy's lighter draft ves? sels. Mr. Roosevelt returned from a Southern inspection trip today. The Navy Department has been known for some time to favor the pro? ject of the repairing of samUer vee? sels on duty in South Atlantic waters in some Southern yard. Mr. Rooee* velt said the machinery at the New Orleans yard is in perfect condition. Mr. Roosevelt also visited the Pensa cola, Fla., station. The navy Depart? ment has decided to send about 80O marines to Pensacola at the conclu? sion of the base maneuvers at Cule bra and Guantanamo. Later the Pen? sacola station will be developed tnto an Important concentration station for advanced base operations. MAN'S MEMORY FLEES. Patient In Chicago Hospital Forgets Identity. Chicago, Nov. 23.?-Attendants at the county honpital were unable today to learn the identity of a patient who came to the hospital yesterday com? plaining that he could not remember his name or home. He is aboot 48 years old and well dressed. Today ha recalled that he was born in Liver? pool. He also remembered having taught a Sunday school clasa The man said he had been wat*etfr ing around severs' days and did not know who he was His initials, "C. C.,' were on his rollar. He said be was married and had a son eight roars old. BIG EXPORT INCREASE. Export of Manufactured Artkava ta 1913 Increased la.OOO.OOO, Washington, Nov. z: ?An increase of a hundred million dollars worth of exports from manufacturers in the United States for 1913 Is predicted to? day in the report of the department of commerce. The export ot rail? way cars totalled $13,500,000. dou? ble what It was last year. Thir? ty million dollars worth of au? tomobiles and a hundred and two million dollars worth of mineral oils were exported. Some time ago work was begun on the arches on Main Street which are to extend from Canal to Bartlette Street. However, after one stringer was erected the work stopped and no other arches have been installed up to the present time. As It was agreed that the arches were to be erected befote Thanksgiving Day the work will have to be commenced again shortly or they won't be there when the Shrlners come. DR. Z. F. HIGHSMFTH, EjMlgM SpMMM Salisbury, N.C. Will ho a* Cfere moat Hotel prepared to at grlae&Oa, from Deo, 1st until tho 13 th inclusive. '?1 BRIDGE TEETH By this work the den? tist is able to fix per? manently between the teeth left to you artific? ial ones that are perfect in appearance and use? fulness. See Dr. Court? ney. He makes this work his specialty. Have an inspection. Get his opinion. Sumter Dental Parlors, Dr. C. H. Courtney. Prop Over Stiaw & McColtum.