Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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r ' in ^(p IPi - ' ! Z' \ J \ 1 \-? .. iSW if " -r?' ' V.;. ,V '? * .v ?L. _____ IN THE TOWN^OF UNION rWy ^ ^ '. OUT?.0? OF TH? OTTV " r I 11 i j ' I . \ I I I V rl,Tl 11 J^:XTL^rr%K!^g two Furniture Manufacturing of Court 'al I III .. BLl I I l/l ^ Mill, another building, Gold Mimcerns, Female Seminnrj, 1'ivc ,.3 ral 9 Bj B 9 W " f* I I I | 1 1 ? *a6t Fumoue Mineral Springe, Graded Schools, Water Wortre and fcj L:1 | J I J I I I r "' I * I I V I I J L /A Taxable value in end out of town Electric Lights, Population 7,000. " B_ ^ -i- * -B_ ^ 9 B JL ? B B Ji F^_-/ V #5,000,000. _____ ^ g YOL. L1V. NO. 8. UNION, SOUTH CAROLINA, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19. 1904. - #1.00 A YEAR: FARMERS' We Rive to the B and lent Acceptab Wm. A. NICHOLSOI v v ~1 I ! 5>fjWA| Di " I i wiwuir DONALDS ! Copyright, lr03, by jgflj Charles W. Ilookc ? I CHAPTER X. TUK MYSTERY OV JIM nUNN. regard to tho bogus professor ' tbe most reasonable supposition is tlmt be bad been hired by Kelvin to "investigate" Donald. Yet there were objections to this theory. The man bad come upon bis errand too openly. If bo lind represented Kelvin in such a matter, lie would probably have made some other excuse for his visit, thus attempting to take Donnid off ills guard. So far as I could see, tbe emissary bad gained nothing whatever, and it was difficult to f?- Imagine that lie could have hoped to gain anything by such a method. Altogether tbe affair was very perplexing until a new point of view was Shown to me by Donald. 1 A few days after the impostor's doparture I left tbe office in the latter part ouiic noon Iiour. Tlie men were \ returhiqg from dinrtcr. . There was already a crowd In the narrow strip of t shade Vhcside the factory, nnd in the / blazln \ sun some of the younger fellows were throwing ball. With thein was Donald in his college uniform, and he seemed to be giving instruction. There was much pride that summer In our baseball nine, which had won against all opponents. As 1 approach^ ed the players Donald was illustrating some method of holding the ball in^ one's Angers in order to "put a jump into it," as I heard him say. Beside . him stood poor little Tim Ilenly, leaning upon his crutch. lie was looking up at Donald with eyes of adoration i and drinking In wisdom which his crip* pled body would never permit him to I use. "Like this," he exclaimed, taking the ball from Donald's hand and clasping \tt in his long, thin lingers, while lie made a feint of throwing it. "That's right, Tim," said Donald; "you've got the knack of it." The cripple flushed with pride as he gave the bail to the big fellow who whs the real pupil. flilttle Tim beholds in Dounld the realization of nil which bo himself would nsk of the fairies if they should come to him as servants of his dearest wish. He would have but one?to he like Donald. I had watched this hero worship for some years, and Its warm sincerity, matched with the great kindness and delicacy of tuy boy's response to it. has sometimes brought the tears to my eyes. IJealy's condition Is due to an Injury which he received when he was eight years old. It disabled his left leg and shoulder, stunted his growth nndin addition made liim totally deaf ^^^peveral years. 1 have always re^^ffetted that his misfortune was not brought promptly to my attention. One overlooks so many of these things. When-1 learned the facts, at the time M| ^ of his father's death, I had a good doctor take charge of the boy's ease, with tho result that his hearing was, restored, though there was at flrBt no HM . - - nope or u. his uerornuues were Degflbj . yond cure. When ho had had his schoolJug. I took him into my employ. lie 1^ W*is some years older than Donald, but, having lost a part of his youth, he waited as long as possible to gather up all . that remained. r I learned from Dotrald that tho ball nine "had nil northern New Jersey In a panic" und from Timothy Healy, treasurer,'that the finances of the organization did not require the small assistance which I should have been willing to offer. Then the l o'clock whistle blew, und Donald and I were left to K* "I've been thinking about the fellow who wasn't Professor Severn," said I. "What do you suppose Mr. Kelvin ex pected to get out of you?" S "Out of met" ho responded. 0 "Out of whom, then?" said I. - "Uncle John," he replied, "this Is a S subject upon which 1 don't seem to get light I can onlv make a fait \ ' ' . ' * i/ : '- V-V ^ i' ______ I BUSINESS. ! particular attention usiness of Farmers 1 them Money on >lc Security. N & SON, Bankers. l ng o I rue facer J c.-.J f\p!;naii;n of tiic Seven \ VfurtdrLnr Mnu. In.I in. U i_ * Iijvivinv IWH 'pwall U Ulil' ?ll.> 'Millie 10 Ihc Putrc end of <n fitjSilh. Which Is tho Key of the M'un >0N? J|. By HOWARD FIHIDING wild puessos." . "For instance?" Donald made some small, mysterious passes In the air with the ball bat which he carried in Ids right hand as we walked along. "That man was a detective," said he. "He was paid to find out something, to do secret work. Isn't it a mistake, then, to consider th6 work which he did openly? I think that Ids Interest in me may have been only a blind." - "Hut he didn't do anything else," 1 objected. "lie bad some long talks with my father," Baid Donald, "and with you. He had planned to go driving with you when he was suddenly called away." I replied that I could >uot guess what, the man had hoped to do with me unless to kidnap mc and hold me for ransom. Neglc&Llng this Jest/ Donald asked me If thore were any way In which my business- could be attacked. He hud rend something In a newspaper about an attempt to force me Into a trust. "Such attempts have been made," 1 admitted. "I have been approached soverul times during the past year and n half, but if any of tliose men dream that they can coerce me they ought to wake up at the earliest possible moment. We have the best machinery in the world in that factory, Donald. We hold our patents hard and fast. Attempt^ have been made to undersell us at a loss and to hurt us with our customers In various parts of the country, but we are too strong for them. If we were in debt or if there were any way to interfere with our shipping arrangements the situation would be very dlf, ferent, but we control this branch raili road absolutely, and through it we hold ninety-nine yeaf* contracts' with the main line, so tliorthere is no possibility of discriminating against us." Donald tapped with the bat :;s if upon the bead of an invisible enemy. "Suppose that you 'didn't control the branch," said lie. "Then," I replied, "it would he all up with us. The manufaeturer must own the railroad or the railroad will own the manufacturer." "But there are other factories in this town," ho persisted. "Because of our great mercy they continue to exist, my s. a." said I. "You will observe that n. no of them is a carpet factory." "The branch is a stock company, of courseV" said he. "It is olDclally knovn as the Tun bridge and Wells Junction Railroad company," I replied. "There are hJ.oun shares of stock of the par value of $100 each. It is rarely o.i the market, but the last sale, as I iviucinhcr, was at 130. The value lias greatly advanced of'late.* A little inure than a yenr ago there was quite a block of It for sale. I bought souse, and your father and Carl and Mr. Bnnn bought 100 shares each. We gut it at about 105. It was upt?h my advice that the others Invested In it." "Wasn't that quite a large purchase for Mr. ItimnV" cii I llnii'ilil "1 wouldn't have thought that ho could raise $10.f>00. I'm no? asking for Idle curiosity, uncle," lie added earneslly. "Mr. Burnt put up about half the money," I replie d, "ami 1 made up the bnlnnce. The hundred shares stand in my name, but he can have them whenever ho pays what is due. Meanwhile he draws the dividends on the whole lot. I shan't charge him interest on the money which i advanced. I wanted hiin to inake a good Investment, you understand. If left to himself. Bunn always makes bad ones. That's why I bold the stock in my name. I'm afraid he'll sell it and lose the money. It's n friendly arrangement." "You couldn't prevent Mr. Hunn from taking the stock if be paid you your money, could you?" usked Donald, and I replied lit the negative. We were Just cutcriug my grounds. Donald stopped suddenly ana leaned against one of the gate posts, as If overcome by a sudden exhaustion. 1 observed that his face, which had beeu flushed as a result of his recent exercise in the heat, had grown quite pale. "Wait a minute, uncle," he said, and I stood stock still, stnring at him. "Mr. Bunn will do thnt within three days." "What do you mean?" I demanded. 'Toy that money? He hasn't got it." "lie will get it," responded the boy flrmly. "Mr. Kelvin will give it to him." "Kelvin!" I exclaimed. "Why should he do it?" "Will you let me nsk you a question, uncle?" said Donald. "Did Professor Severn?the fellow who wasn't Professor Severn?talk to you about the branch road?" My memory suddenly began to work with astonishing clearness and rapidity. "We were standing by the office one day,'1 said I. "and lie pointed down toward the station and mentioned the curious circumstance that while traveling in the west he hnd met a man who held Stock in thnt road. Nntnrnllv T asked liiin who it was, and ho namedJ my cousin, Silas Harrington, 'tf ^ery p agreeable man,' said our proiFBsor, 'l>ut eccentric. He told me that he never lived more than six months in one place. What part of the world has ho reached by this time?' " "And you told him?" said Donald, wiping his dripping forehead. "Yes; I told him that Silns wns In Colorado Springs the last that I heard of him." "How much stock does ho hold?" I replied that to the best of my recollection the amount wns 200shnres. "Wo must telegraph to him," said Donald. "Do you mean to tell me," said I, "that a serious attempt Is being made to get control of the branch?" "There is no doubt of it," he responded, with a groau. "I should bnve told you before, but I didn't know the truth until today. It was all guesswork. But they can't do It, uncle? They can't really do it?" "I don't see how It's possible," said I. "There's the whole llackett inter-; t est to. reckon with. Why, WilUam Hnokett and the other lielfs eohtt6t; almost two-fifths of the stock"? "I'm ufraid Kelvin has it by this time," said Donald almost in a whisper. "My boy," said I very seriously, "ifl not this nrettv deen wntev? I'm nfmld you're relying too much upon yourself." # "I'm relying upon you, Uncle John, all that I can," he replied. "I'm fighting for my life and more than my life. That's the truth about it You know that for any trivial motive I would not take advantage of?make use of"? lie could not go on, but 1 understood him. Ilis instinctive knowledge of these plots against me had driven him to rely upon his special gift, arid In'the use of It he knew not how to work In full harmony with an ordinary man like me. Much that he knew was doubtless too vague to bo put into words, and certainly it was susceptible of no rational proof. 1 then saw more clearly than ever before how terrible a burden this mysterious power might .be, and I fully understood why those who possess it deny the possession and zealously strive to turn the inward eye away from such revelations. Yet 1 suspected that Donald was assisted by disclosures of a more palpable nature. There was a tangible ex plnnation of his knowledge of Kelvin's part in these designs. I could not ask the hoy to lay bare his soul to me, to disclose the inner mysteries of an endowment which I should doubtless be wholly unable to comprehend, but 1 thought that he ought to cenflde in me in nil things of the common sort. Therefore I asked him straight out whether he had derived any information from Amy Kelvin In regard to her father's underhand schemes. "None whatever," he replied, looking me straight in the eyes. "Does this information depend up?n the exercise of a peculiar power not possessed by the generality of man* L-SiwlV co 1,1 I lie hesitated u moment, struggling with himself. "It does, Uncle John," he answered. "But?but you're nil at seu. You don't in the least know what I mean. This power can be acquired by anybody? absolutely by anybody who Is not blind, dumb and Idiotic. Yet not five in a million ever pny the slightest attention to It. Great heavens! A person can't throw n ball unless he learns. Now, please don't ask ine any more questions or I shall lie to you." He seemed overwhelmed with that J shame, as for a deformity, which the psychic power always seems to carry with it. "I will press you no further, my boy," said I, "but it would occur to me that you might perhaps be able to contlde more fully in your parents." "I can't! I can't!" he cried. "I can't bring myself to speak of it I can't ever help you nny more unless we cense to talk of the means." "Then we will cease to talk of them," said I. "Do your best.-my boy. Tell mc whatever comes to you, and 1 i will mention it to no que. Meanwhile ' i In regard to this particular business matter 1 nui very glad to be warned, but 1 do not think that there Is much danger." In the.hurry of tny thoughts I had forgotten what Donald had said about Jim Bunn, though this was the most shocking and surprising feature of the disclosure. It was impossible for me to believe that this man who for thirty yenrs had served me faithfully would form nn alliance with my enemies. He had always seemed to be devoted to my interests, he had run to ine with all his troubles, he had found me his friend in the many difficulties into which Ills injudicious investments had involved him, for Bunn was one of those men whose business judgment is excellent in his employer's affairs and persistently wrong in his own. Certainly lie was bound to me by ties of gratitude; but, above nnd beyond this, I believed him to be a man of honor. Recurring to this matter, I insisted mat nouaki must be mistaken, yet, while the words were on my lips, I had no great confidence in them. In my heart I believed that if he predicted this event it would occur. Still he might redeem his stock from me and not l>e a traitor. This view I suggcstvxl to Donald. "It may be true," said he. "And, at any rate, I want you to promise me that you will not let Bunn know that you have any suspicion." f "I don't see that, Donald," said 1. "It Bunn is tempted to sell this stock, he may not know who is buj'ing it. Even if he knows Kelvin to be the buyer and is tempted by a fancy price he may not be aware that there is a chance of a successful Gght against me in the company. 1 can talk hijn into the right .line of conduct. Jim Bunn knowp me. He will do what I say." "if ' Donald looked at me with'an expfcssion of extreme desperation. "If I beg of you not to do this," he cried, "will you take my advice?r .1, give you my word of^honof tbut foresee the end of It jill and .that yon-, will be glad if you follow iny -.way." "May I consult with anyone?"- 1 asked, thinking of lij^fntherTV- r lie sei/.cd my hand with u grH> that ^eepao^to pur^lyxe ^rin to the promise that yon won't." I looked him in the eyes and gave the word that he asked. It was,partly su lie hesitated a moment, struggling with himself. perstitlon that led me to do it, partly my affection for the boy, and both these influences were modi tied by my feeling that no harm could come of my nrnmiiP mwl flint fhnnn woo adventurous and exciting in this affair?something that 1 would like to follow through to the end. That afternoon Jim Bunn came to me and told a rambling story of success in various ventures. He seemed to be lying, but be had the advantage of n demeanor always so nervous and restless that the signs of prevaricution could not appear upon bim as upon an ordinary man. I heard ids story quietly, and when at the end of It he produced the money with which to redeem bis stock I made no comment. It would have been better to congratulate him, but I am not a good hand at such deceits. In snite nf thin rprlfiontlnn nf nnn aid's prediction I did not believe tbathe danger was serious. However, l began an investigation immediately telegraphing to Silas Harrington and to other holders of the branch stock. I discovered that my cousin hnd left Colorado Springs for parts unknown and that earnest Inquiry was being made for him, doubtless In the interests of iny enemies. 1 learned In the course of a few days that Kelvin was heavily Interested In the trust which was endeavoring to gain control of my factory; that he had secured options on the entire nackctt interc-st; that he hnd privately bought out some of my old friends right bore in this little town of Tunbridge and hnd gained a paramount influence over others so that they would (certainly vote against me at the meetv. gbtefesskt;. V . WE iLR (TO i OUR resources are not fabi ,on earth, nor do we d< BUT we are here among th ample means for all enough to take care ol WE COME, backed up by a good r made irreproachable 1 WE ARE here to stay and we s< accommodation consu Interest Paid on ilerchants and Plan ing. The pow.T of the money which he commanded seemed to surround me upon nil sides, uud. though my position was so strong that I had great confidence of victory, still i perceived that I might say In tlie words of Donnld-*wortls. by the way; which had contained an element of mystery beyond miy. power i<? solve r.t that time?that^i was, 'lighting for my life and than my life." For iudepcndcncc^Bra man of my. years and long chrfMBMd habits of thought, was tho/\yfrfl^Mp sauce of thy existence. T InifcdJ^^VMFuoss which 1 had ;worked to hould In? .awnmped and lost In ?Sme . nj,j,nrjtllWM, UI CapilJll WllUOUt 'apart or."feeling'for It, wutlld have liorn too heaVy a blow'for me to- Woaf'with putionc? at my time of lire or even to bc..r atf u 11. perhtipa. ciiArrnft xi. ^ UY8TEBY OF JTIE UEAI> JllSF.n'S ITANT). WFIII.ij f .wns quietly endeovto sfcfifve us much of the itrafjch stock as could i Jsgjiad. Kclvii) made a somewhat move than 1 had expert eg of the game. He ' upper, revjtft-.tfcb cilice of the railroad, ;at accomiKuded by \Vil ^anf tLickett, jtttd the transfer ot the entire?H'n<i*kett- Interest was recorded upon the books, it amounted to 3,000 ahiu*v AftSrwfiruIImkett*came oyerjjp see me at .Tunbridge-glVd tohl met Rut this action was in accordance witk.hl* own less Kelvin would agree, in writing, to declare, himself the owner through the usual medium of the siockhook before a certain date. "That was very honorable in you, William," said I. "But I wish you had given ine n chance nt the stock." "The deal was proposed to me in confidence," he rejoined. "I could not disclose It to you. Besides," ho added thoughtfully, "I wouldn't have had the face to ask you to meet his terms." This was all that 1 could make him ay about the price which Kelvin had paid. "I knew what he wanted It for," said he, "but it's a wild Ihiancial nightmnrc. Kelvin will never get control of this road." "He will come mighty close to it, William," said I. Upon the same clay at a later hour I received a call from Kelvin. He came to my ofllce to see me, and the shock of that surprise was considerable to n man of my years. Kelvin is capable of that engaging frankness of deportment which characterizes the man who does not see anything wrong in lying, ne mentioned his investment in the branch stock as if it had been something that I should be glad to hoar of. When he moved into a town, he said, it was always his way to get a property interest aside from a mere house in which to live. It made him feel free to go ahead and take a hand in the town's affairs. He had bought this branch stock because It was a good Investment and because it would Identify him with Tunbridgc, which, because of its situation, depended so much upon the railroad for Its prosperity. When lie had finished this address, I perceived that the real reason of his visit did not lie in that matter at all. This amicable mention of it had merely paved the way for something else. While he wns preparing to Introduce this other subject, the nature of which I could not guess, Donald strolled into the office, and, seeing Kelvin, he was about to bnck out again. "Nothing private." said Kelvin. "Don't go on my nccount. I'd be glad to have you stay. This is a case where euperhuman agencies will be welcome." "A cose In which they would be welcome to me, sir," said Donald, "would toe a distinct novelty in my experience." I recognized a flavor of little Rollo In this remark which let me know that Donald was disturbed In mind. - "As on old resident of Tunbridge," aid Kelvin, turning to me, "you will remember Ezra Walmsley." I have already mentioned this old miser whose mortal part?with the exception of the right hand?lay burled in Tunbridge cemetery. lie was a most unpleasant creature, n sullen and brutal scoffer against all things sacred, and a man of secret and mysterious ways. The house In which he lived had long been viewed with disfavor by the su perstltious. for it had a history before Walmsley's day. It was set with a I garner to the road and had been paint ^ Y JE5 IIST IT STAY.) 11I0118, we haven't the largest bank o all the business of the country, e good people of the county with reasonable demands, with capital ' all your wants. ocortl, that began years ago; a record )v fair business methods. >licit your patronage, offering ?y'ery (tent with good banking. Time Deposits. iters National Bank. ed red In some dim date of old times, but the paint bad weathered to a dingy black, upon which. In certain states of the atmosphere, dull spots like faded blood stains would appear In curlons designs. When Walmsley died, his hoanDproved to be very small, thougb f there were stories of large Bums hidden.' What was found the public administrator took charge of for lack of an heir. "Yes." I replied to Kelvin. "I knew him, but there is an old maxim which 1 'would prevent my saying anything about him now that he Is dead." "Don't know any good of him, eliT' T ,responded Kelvin. "Well, I guess there wasn't much to know. But to get back to business. My property up here. The Elms, used to be called the Stouehton p'nce. Thnt family in this town goes hack to colonial times. Ezra Walmsiey married a Stoughton after the family had lost its nBney and was nearly extinct. When Mrs. Walmsiey died, she * was'supposed to be the very last of the Stoughton blood. Soon afterward, along in the early sixties. Walmsiey,' at the ' r heir of his wife, brought suit for this property which is now mine. He claim- , ed that there had been no leyal.fhtns"Thnt was his contention," satd Liv/?-/ family named Westcott then owned place. Korman Westcott.the-teafljMMBythe family, was a colonel li? the Unffo > armyAnd uflne fighting man. Hecaidie Cotanfet Wistcott was busy oglm^ dowSi the tied. The''w^^^ ??MThl^-cnme out,' / v? so far as I know. It was very much of a mystery, ns I remember. About sthat time Walmsiey JoBt his right hand, nobody knew how. There was a legend that he had sold it to the devil, but if so he didn't get his price, which could hardly have been anything else than the fine property now known as Kelvin Elms." ; "What do you suppose the facts were?" asked Kelvin. "The facts commonly known," I replied, "were that the public record of the transfer of the property from the Stouf^htons to the Wcstcotts hnd been destroyed and thnt Colonel Westcott could not produce any deed, or, to be more exact, Mrs. Westcott couldn't produce it. Just what happened when the colonel suddenly and unexpectedly appeared no one could And out. He muy have shown the deed to wnimsiey ana tnus nave enaea tne proceedings, but there is another story to the effect that Walmsley had this deed himself and that Westcott got it away from him either by force or by a payment" "EIow did Walmsley get It?" inquired Kelvin. "The story told by those who seemed to know," said I, "was that it had been stolen by thieves who entered the house, and that Walmsley, who was generally believed to be a receiver of stolen goods, bought this document with the rest of the plunder. That there was a robbery in the old Stoughton house I know positively. It was said tbnt Walmsley lost hiB hand in a quarrel with these thieves; that it was so badly Injured as to necessitate amputation. The name of a doctor was mentioned, but If be did the work he held the fact to be n professional secret" "When I bought the place," said Kelvin, "1 was aware of this flaw In the title, but I was assured that there was not a Stougbton heir nor a WalmBley heir on the face of the earth." "1 don't believe that there Is one," said 1. "Walmsley had a son, but be died." "Can you prove It?" demanded Kelvin. "No." 1 admitted. "He didn't die here. Yet I think It Is susceptible of proof. lie died In early childhood, as 1 remember." [to be continued.] j an Far a# ?e Knew. "One of the comp ;ent parts of sugar," said the professor, "Is an essential In the composition of the human body. What Is it?" "I know!" shouted the grocer's boy. "Sand!"?Exchange. Knocks the Romance. To t&ke a trip aboard a ship Across the broad Atlantic And sail and sail through calm and gmla Is said to be romantic. I But when in pain with might and main Seasickness yon are flghttng ' . And long for land on which to stand The rotnanca goes n-iutlng. ii. ... V 5 . :'.,V -