The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, March 18, 1904, Image 1
IN THE TOWN OF UNION ?iik Bf "TB?*v ^T* " * tj" > -v 'A w-"TB~ "TB* M" ^ OUT8IDE OF THE CITY
-****? _coft?n MM*, Qg<^i<tfg|i8li3K V I I M I \ III ^ I I m lu I . T%IKrf Thre3 Cotton Mills, one Knitting
SSBFSSS*!-efcH Hj I \ 111 \ I I VI ??ar?*ss:
graded Schools. Water Works anSEMUk V H H H A W i B B W B I H V H i-fc. /? Taxable value in and out of town
leotrlo Lights, Popnlation^ooo^^Jp *^L_ -H. * - - ? -B? I $3,000,000.
VOL. L1V. NO. 1'2. .'f. ' ONION, SOUTH CAROLINA, FRIDAY, MARCH 18, 1904. #1.00 A YKAR
.. .NO INFgj
The officer A
this instituvH
to impart no
concerning i
of its cust]H
Wm. j A. NICHOLSfl
I DbAiiii rJI
j uuimu"!
; DONALD!
Copyright, 1C0S, by cfr
Charles W. Hooke
-Hi 7. ? "
Donald stopped forward Into tboi !
man's patli. I saw that some unngjaijra
Impulse was upon the boy, and It^uM 5
footed me with a peculiar thrttSjKflJi
had often seen him show the sa.nra| 3
aspect, but never with such iutcn^^HP
"Frank Gillespie," said he, "if
have anything to say upon thls jUK- | 1
ter speak flow. Tomorrow will '
late. If you wait till then, '
that you will not
your time, and
He extended Hp (
touobed QUleepi<|'iaW0BHBn^W4r
the heart. He hiMjjwfi&^HSfl^^^R
that the gesture
. tel. that ha war jrHB^IHjlK!) $
f And 1 think tU^bm^n^^KflKesi
points In the
It seemed as if the whole town of Tunbridge
had stopped to take Its breath.
.In certain moments Donald undoubt
edly exercises an Influence upon those
about him which has uo rational explanation.
Gillespie put up his hand and cov*
ered the spot which Donald had
touched. r
*; "Hocus pocus!" ho cried somewhat
hoarsely. "I'll attend to your case tomorrow."
He brushed past Dounld and unhitch^4
4k? U Ul- ?
cu tuc iiuim: Willi KU II1UCI1 ui'rvuus uus.
tie that the unimal wns Irritated and
started just as Gillespie had a foot upon
the step of the buggy. The man
jerked the reins with his rlgli\ hand,1 1
slipped upon the step and turned about | 1
so that he was thrown against the 1
hitching post, the iron ball upon the ! 1
top of it striking him with considerable 1
force upou the breast. The horse stopped,
and Gillespie tottered back against
S wheel of the buggy. His face was
' rery white and somewhat contorted.
Such wns my state of nervous und
superstitious uppreliension that 1 ex"
pected to see the man fall dead, though
In ordinary circuinstnuccs I should not
have fenred a serious result from the
accident. Evidently 1 was not alone in
my alarm, for a strangely suppressed
and inarticulate cry went up from the
group upou the sidewalk, and several
men stepped forward to assist Gillespie.
He recovered himself, however,
without help, climbed into his carriage,
this time with sufficient care, and drove
sway.
- Huiu i 111 ins far, wuui
did you menu?"
"Menu?" Ue repeated as If dazed.
"Nothing at all except that 1 wanted
hlni to spenk. I wlali to heaven he j
could have exposed me right there In
the publle street."
"Well, my boy," said I, "If anything (
happens to Mr. Gillespie after what |
you told him just now you may be exposed
'by the recording angel, aud It
;will have no effect In Tunbrldge." ,
-? j
CHAPTER XVI. ;
THE FATE OF A TIIAITOR. '
THE next morning Donaldson i
and I went over to the June- <
flpn on the early train. There t
were threp op four stockhold- '
ers over mere 10 wnom wo wished to
my a inn I word, though. In oar oplo- I
Ion, the election wan nu good as over. I I
experienced n great relief and, as 1
sometimes happens, was the better '
able to realize how great would have
been my bitterness of spirit if Kelvin <
had won the fight. i
I had various errands here and there ;
in the Junction and was separated !
from Donaldson for some hoars. We I
met about noon in front of the busl- i
ness block In which the office of the i
branch is located. My first glimpse
of Donaldson showed mo that some- i
filing was wrong. i
'7've Just had a telephone message i
from Archer," be said. "He tells me <
that lie can't find Bunn," 1
"figu't flpd ^ echoed. "Bgjuj't <
pnATioN... ;
f'-x"' I
Bd clerks of
W are pledged
Information
B dealings
R SON, Bankers.
iflrcc Record ond Explanation of the Seven
Hies Now Associated With Ills Name In
HI Public Mind, %nd of an Fighth.
Wrfch Is the Key of the Seven
DM, JR.
|y HOWARD FIELDING
BtDccn at the ottiec?"
* "No. And that isn't the worst of
1/' he replied. "Archer lias sent up
tt Mrs. Stewart's," Dunn's hoarding
ace, "arid if seems that he wasn't
Millra loo*' i.lrrV.4
y?V?V IUOIi
''Good hen vetuS!" I exclaimed. "Can
le have gone out on one of those long
tvenlng wujk$ pf his nnd fallen dead
n an out_o'f.lfbe way place? I don't
mean tp be heartless, Donaldson, but
fou know what this nienns to us."
"It meani destruction," said he.
'That's the- niame of it.^
"Do you remember," said I, "that
when Don was talking to Jim Bunn
the other diy he seemed to get au impression
that this vote would be a
hundred shares short? Can that have
been a vague hint that something was
going to happen to Bunn?"
"I tried to get the hoy by telephone,'
tn'swered Donaldson. "Dorothy doesn't
know whefe he Is. Nobody knows,"
"I wish we had him here," said I.
Upon a chance I weut to a publifc
telephone and called up the oflice, but
I got no word of any one, Archer, Bunn
aor Donald. I had a curious cxperisnce
With crossed wires, however, in
the course of which I heard Kelvin's
roice for a few minutes and made out
that he was trying to get communication
with Gillespie. It came to me
then to wonder whether that rascal
had spirited Bunn away. It was a
trick that I did not believe Kelvin
would stick nt.
Donaldson and I were entirely helpless.
We had to rely upon Archer, for
we could not get to Tunbrldge and
back before the time set for the meeting,
and so, as there was nothing better
tQ do, we had a morsel of dinner.
Shortly before 2 o'clock Archer nr
rived lii a pitiable state of excitement.
"What shall wo do?" he cried as soon
ts he was within speaking distance.
'Without Bunn we're lost, and I can
?et no trace of the uian. I've got all
runbrldgc hunting for hint. V.'e must
hold up the meeting as long as we
:an."
There were about a dozen of the
stockholders in the room when we
three entered. Thorndyke was there,
ind I Immediately per eel veil that he
was very restless. I could not get him
Into conversation. lie snt In a corner
>f a window scat in the attitude of a
man with the stomach uehe and drummed
upon the tloor with one foot, a
habit that especially distresses me.
Presently the meeting was called to
jrder by a little dummy who acts as
president of the company because more
important men do not want "the otllce.
Some reports were rend, and then, Under
the rules, It became necessary to
proceed to the election of a board of
directors. I bail a little scheme for
holding back the vote, but It was not
necessary \o spring it Immediately.
Meanwhile the proxies wore passed I
upon in the usual way, and tellers were
appointed, one from each party. Tlicy I
were Donaldson nri(l a man named Alrln
Green, a small stockholder who had
gone entirely over to the Kelvin party.
Although he owed ms stock and everything
else which he had In the world
to me.
There were two tickets?that Is, two
lists of men named for directors. The
lists were printed and were entitled
Ticket No, 1 and Ticket No. 2. Ours
was No. 1.
I was about to begin my tactics for
delay when there was u loud knocking
it the door, which was locked. We all .
lumped up from our places around the'
long table except Tborndyko, who had I
maintained his scat In the window
throughout the proceedings and did not
stir at the noise.
The door was opened, and Jim Bunn
talked into the room, with the nlr of
A crazy man. 1 cast one look at him
And then turned toward Kelvin. My
enemy had seized upon Archer, who
liappened to be nearest to him, and had
dragged hlia Into a corner. I Indued
I
T .
tiL it
that Kelvin was protesting upon one
ground or nnother against the admission
of Buna's vote, but I could not
hoar what was said. So I turned to
Rutin.
"Well, Jim," said I. ' where have you
been V"
"Wait," Siiid lie, sneaking like a man
in a trance. "Wait. I'm here to vote."
"That's what we're all here for," I
responded, "and tlie sooner the better."
Quiet was restored, and the voting
began, the ballots being dropped into a
hat. When all had been collected, the
tellers took tlieni to a little table In the
corner and proceeded to make the
count. I glanced across at Donaldson
and saw Instantly that he had encountered
a most unpleasant surprise. In
great uneasiness I turned to Carl. lie
was gnawing his lingers. Runn sat
rigid in a chair, his head thrust forward,
his eyes staring.
I began to feel a dire isolation. These
men seemed to know something of
which I was ignorant. The perspiration
started from my face. I would
have given much for a gift of prophecy
to anticipate the events of the next
few minutes, and this wish naturully
suggested Donald. I took from my
pocket the envelope which contained
his prediction and turned it nervously
in my lingers. Curiosity overcame me,
I broke the seal and read, with great
surprise, this line:
"The Harrington ticket will win by
300 majority."
While I was vainly trying to make
this result lit the mathematical possibilities,
I heard the tellers rise from
their table. Donaldson handed a slip
of paper to the secretary of the company,
who rend as follows: ?.
"All ballots are straight. No. 1 ticket
bus received the preferences of the
holders of 5,150 shares. No. 2 ticket
has received the preferences of the
holders of 4,850 shares. No. 1 ticket is
therefore elected."
"Here!" cried Kelvin. "There's some
mistake nbout this. We'll verify those
ballots."
I expected n reply from Donaldson,
but ho had crossed to the end of the
table where Carl was sitting. I followed
and touched hiin on the shoulder.
i
"How the dickens did wo get such 1
a result as that?" 1 asked. "Thonijj .
dyke must have voted for us and lMW
against us."
"Thorndyke voted for us," said Donaldson,
"and Bunn voted for us. This
man voted against us."
"Carl!" I exclaimed. "Impossible!"
"My son tried to warn me of this
long ago," said Donaldson, "and I
would not hear him."
"It is a matter of business," said
Carl harshly. "I am a stockholder of
this company. I vote as my Interest
dictates."
"Thorndyke," cried Donaldson, seizing
the man's arm as he was passing,
"did my son know how you were going
to vote?"
"Well, to be frank with yon," replied
Thorndyke, "your son is responsible
for it. I had thought that I saw my
interest clear to vote with the other
party, hut at a late hour last evening
your sou came to my house with
Mr. Bunn, and I then learned what an
infernally crooked game this man Kelvin
has been playing. Between us,
gentlemen, and to use the slang of the
lay, I couldn't stand for it."
"Why didn't you lift the weight
from our minds by telling us this?"
1 demanded.
"Youner Mr. nnnni<Unn .incii-mi
1 should say nothing," wns the reply,
"and I seemed to see his point."
For the tirst time in his life Thorndyke
had kept a secret. %
"Don't you understand?" said Donaldson.
"Archer, Archer! lie's the
man whom my son was lighting
against. If Hunn had stayed away,
Archer would have volod with us, and
we'd have lost the election Just the
same, supposing that Thorndyke had
not changed his mind. Rut with Hunn
hero to vote for us and Thorndyke
supposedly safe for tlie Kelvin party,
Archer's vote would turn the scale,
und It could be tinned In no other icnj/.
Kelvin would force him to cast it,
Donald has foreseen this a long time.
It was the only way to unmask this
man completely."
"Unmask, eh?" cried Carl. "Well, I'll
do a little unmasking. Kelvin, wliere's
that man Gillespie?"
"Cdhic a.vny!" growled Kelvin.
"You're making a fool of yourself. It's
all over."
"No; not quite," said Carl. "Jim
Bunn, answer me this: Who stole that
money? Who got the $40,000? You
know. Is this the man?"
He struck Donaldson roughly on the
shoulder.
"J\"o," answered Bunn almost In n
whisper. "You'll get no lies from me. I
am the umn."
Carl's hands dropped to his sides.
"Are you?arc you such a d d fool
as that? Go to state's prison, then, if
you want to and die In a cage like a
rat."
Bunn shrank nway as If he had received
a blow In the face, while Archer
turned on his heel and walked out of
the room, followed by Kelvin.
"lie has played the game too hard,"
said Donaldson. "The strain lias smash-!
ed bis wits." .
"Upon my word," said I, "I d?nj-jc
quite see what hie game wae," . m
"l'ower!" answered Hunn. "Kelvin's
control of this road would have forced
your business Into the trust. You
would have made the best terms you
could and would have retired from active
management. Kelvin promised
Archer that he should have the whip
hand of everything here, and you can
see what that would have meant for
Donaldson. As for me, they had me in
a trap."
CHAPTER XVII.
DONALD'S DISCLAIMER.
TIIE room was now empty except
for Thorndyke, Bunn,
Donaldson and myself. Archer's
outburst had not been understood
except by the members of our
group, and so the other men who had
been present at the meeting had escaped
as soon as possible into the cooler
air outside.
"Bunn," said I, "tell me the straight
truth."
"I took the money," he replied. "1
was bard pressed with that land company
deal and other matters."
"In heaven's name," cried Donaldsou,
"why didn't you hold on with the
land company, as I told you? . We've
turned the corner with It In these last
few days. The company Is more than
all right."
"My luck," said Bunn. "I thought
that there was no way out; that I was
ruiued. Yet I hoped with that money
Vint.- ???
......w; mjoirn wuon*. i meant to |
return IMtat ^urc.that. L could. You I
know how 1 got It. 1 the parcel of I
hills on y?u^7fc*k null iiSnde a dummy
Soihe ode me; rob"/
tool: the money," lie replied.
about $.">.000. I'd got out of the land
scheme. I seemed to l>c In better shape.
1 felt that I could restore this money
and that nobody would ever know.
Then, suddenly, it was gone. Do you
wonder that I went crazy?"
"Who took It?" I demanded.
"I only know what Donald snvs" r*?.
plied Bunn. "But I don't see how there
could be better evidence than his. He
knows everything, lie has told ine the
inmost thoughts of my heart. lie says
that Archer took the money from my
hiding place."
"Well, there can't be much doubt
about it," said I.
"One day in your office at noon Archer
accused me of being the thief," continued
Bunn. "That was Just after
Gillespie came here as Professor Severn.
lie was in Archer's pay as a detective.
I suppose that he found the
money. When Archer accused me, I
did not know that it was not still In the
letter file. You can understand what I
felt when this charge was brought
against me. It meant?it meant Just
what lie said two minutes ago; that I'd
die in a cage like a rat. Yet when he
told me what he wanted me to do; that
I must redeem my stock from you and
vote it against you at this meeting, 1
declared to him that I would take my
punishment before I would do such a
thing. I said that I would return what
was left of the money and raise the
balance somehow to make all square
with you.
" 'All right,' said he, 'but do it now.
or I'll expose you.'
"You, Mr. Harrington, were standing
outside the office at that moment. I
made my choice and went to get tho
money. It was gone. I accusod Archer
of taking it, but he denied the charge
in such a way as to convince me that
be hadn't done it. I believed that some
thief had found it. I suspected Tim
Heaiy?everybody. Archer promised to
help me recover it. He had me in his
power, for what could I do without the
money?
"More and more fids mnn cmt ma nn.
'-r his thumb until I half agreed that
-Ahe money could l>o found I would
> Slow it to be thrust upon Donaldson.
,]|?nd known oil along that Archer was
i a*ting against him. Carl used to
?sWk the floor in your office at noon
j tall Bay over and over again: 'Donald|Jo*V
Donaldson I I'll have him under
Uo ua^dAo da thin even be
???? 1
>" %
ML ^
mf' i
Wjffl AR.
(TO ?
OUR resoitsoes are not fabu
on carta, nor do we dc
BUT we art here among th<
ample means for all i
enough.to take care of
WE COME, backed-tjp by a good re
made irreproachable b
WE ARE here to stay and we so
accommodation consist
Interest Paid on '
rierchants and Plani
xore nij' crime. I overheard him once
as long ago as the early spring. I had
opened the door suddenly when his
hack was toward it."
"Why didn't you tell me, Jim?" sntd I.
"Tell you?" he echoed. "Would you
have believed It?"
I was silent. Therein had lain the
weakness of the ease both for Bunn
and for Donald. They knew that I
would uot be convinced of Carl'* real
character.
"Archer told me that Kelvin would
furnish any amount of money that
might be required," continued Bunn.
"Kelvin was to know nothing about
any robbery. It was merely Jbut the
money \vna needed. Kotv/vrbat wits I
to tto* Mr. Hnirlngrtm?. yWher x|puld
ajgee to vote rnjr stock^Ejjttlust you.
Not even the threat M?|mK>u could
mttko me do'tbat. But X utd nt lost
agree to absent myself from the meeting.
IT you wont to khpW Just whnt L
really meant to do," he cried, rlslpjg
Hiiu seizing me i>y the shoulder. "I
meant t<r go to New *"ork and kill myself
In cr hotelr'' where no one
would ktioyr ^e. Bat I had their
pledgo thatS^fce money which I hat}.
count upon Donald: but, Jim. what
changed this crazy plan of yours?"
Bunn shuddered.
"More and more," said he, "throughout
nil these terrible days I have come
to fear Donald. I had no faith in him
at first, but that night at Kelvin's I
saw my own fate in it. Well, let me
finish. Last evening I went quietly
across to Solway to take the train for
New York. No man can know what
misery I endured. A traitor to my
best friend, a ruined man, a suicide at
my age, unable to bear the weight of
the year or two that would be granted
me at the best! I was insane, truly
insane. 1 walked across to Solway,
and as I stepped up on the platform
of the railroad station there I came
face to face with Donald.
" 'Ah, Mr. Bunn,' said ho, 'I was
waiting for you.'
*'i would have fallen if he hadn't
caught me in bis arms. lie lifted me
into a Wagon, and when 1 got my
senses I found that Isaac Thorndyke
was there. We rode slowly back to
Tunbridge, and upon the way Donald
told me everything that had happened
to ine in these dreadful weeks. He
ioiu me wnat l unci saiil to Archer and
what Archer hud said to me in our
most private conversations. lie knew
my crime and my temptations and my
sufferings as they are known in heaven.
Do you think it's any wonder that
not only I, who was at his mercy,
but Thorndyke also, who wns merely
a spectator, agreed to do precisely as
Donald directed? 1 was hidden in
Thorndyke's house, and Donald drove
me over here this morning. We were
hidden across the sti'oet. Thorndyke
plgnaled to us from the window when
I should come over."
*'8o far ns my part of it is concerned,"
said Thorndyke, "this is all strictly
true. Of course 1 could have no part
with Kelvin when such business as
this was doing."
And he entered into a weak explanation
and justification of his previous
conduct. lie was intorruntert hv n
sound of confusion outside. We rnn
into tho ball and saw men looking
from the window down Into the street.
As we went toward then* Donald came
flying up the stairs.
"Uncle," he cried, taking my arm in
a grip that nearly broke it, "don't you
believe this! Don't you believe it! Father.
tell him that I had no knowledge
of it. I didn't mean that the man
would die!"
"Not Gillespie?" I cried.
"Yes," answered Donald, with white
lips. "He's dead. He's been sitting in
bis wagon before the door here fo?
hours stone dead, and no one suspected
it. Ho was there by agreement with
Archer to stop Jim Dunn in case he
should not keep his word?in case he
should not stay away from this meeting,
as he had promised."
"Dead!" I exclaimed.
"It's heart disease," said Donald.
"Uncle, you won't believe that I knew
it? I have no such powers. I am a
fraud-an absolute fraud?and when I
told jGUympio to denounce me yeater*
- "1
I
J53 I2NT IT
TAY.)
ilous, wo haven't the largest hank
? all the business of the country.
3 good people of the county with
reasonable demands, with capital
all your wants.
cord, that began years ago; a record
Sfair business methods,
cit your patronage, offering every
tent with good banking.
rime Deposits*.
ters National Bank.
day because today would be too late I
meant that I should confess everything
openly today, and I'm going to do it. I
have merely been playing tricks."
"You're excited. Donald," said his father,
trying to soothe him. "This man's
deatb should not affect you bo. You are
in no way responsible for it."
We made our way to the street. Gillespie's
body had been taken into a
store, and the doctor who had pronounced
him dead was just coming oui
again. ,.
"Tbc fellow had a weak heart," said
he In answer to my question. "The
bkftv which he got by falling against
that'-hitching post weakened it still
more, and liquor combined with the
heat of tills noon llnislicd him. There's
nothing unusual in the ease."
"Isn't there, eh?" said a voice behind
me. ,
I turned and saw Kelvin, who raised
his right hdnd and shook a linger at
("Donald.
' "I've got no cause to take sides with
you," lie said, "but one thing I'm willling
to (\diult: You arc a wonder, a
jvohder! That's what you are."
"Mr. Kelvin," cried Donald in a voice
of ilgonv. "I, have confonRpd"?
i /'Con few All you want to," answered
^Kplvin.v 'T^eard what you said to
irjthat man, and. I know what has happened
to him. That's enough for me."
"But don't you see," exclaimed Donald,
"a coincidence was hound to come.
It was certain. "I couldn't go on in the
ijray I wos-goltag without having someAJdDg
of 11 bis kind happen sooner or later.
*1 here? meimt.thUJL he would die."
Kelvin waa turning away, but Donald
tprang after blm and caught his arm.
"Let me tell Jfib," he pleaded. "The
diamonds! I knew where they were.
Some one told me. Some one in your
house hoard a noise in the night and
looked aut of tfro window. And there
was Cobb digging a hole in the ground.
It was dark, hut she knew him by his
extraordinary shape. Of course she
had no idea what he was doing it for.
hut when the diamonds were missed
she understood. Meanwhile she'd mentioned
the Incident to me. I'd confided
In her days before. I had told her that
I knew there was a plot against my
father and that Archer was in it, but
I Mr. Harrington would never believe
the truth unless some awfully queer
thing was done to impress him. Well,
ehe agreed to help me. She saw in the
Cobb affair a chance for me to shine.
She'd mentioned the incident to mo in
the morning before the diamonds were
missed. She knew that I would know
what it meant. So when Mrs. Kelvin
Insisted upon coming over to see mo
Amy chimed in with. her. And you can
understand the rest."
"This may all be true," answered
Kelvin, "but it doesn't change my
opinion in the least."
"When Cobb was let out of Jail,"
continued Donald eagerly, "he went
straight to your house and climbed in
through the library window. You
caught him taking down some books.
What was the absolutely certain inference?
Why, that the deed was in
that room and somewhere near those
books. Cobb had found it weeks acr?
and bad left it there because he could
not tblnk of a safer place. I told
Amy, and she smuggled me into the
library. We fouud the hiding place,
with the deed and other documents in
it. We took them all out. Of course
it waa certain that Cobb, having been
prevented by you from gettiug tlio
deed, would elude Reedy and return.
"Joe Harvey, as we all understood,
was In this plot to blackmail you by
makii\g a pretense of producing an
heir of Walmsley and then selling you
the deed. He had put up the bnil for
Cobb. When Cobb escaped from Reedy
that evening, he got into your library
and found thnt the deed was gone.
What could he do? Tell Harvey and
go back to jail? Not at all. lie skip*
ped, Just as any other rascal woultt
have done. Then 1 went and bought a
skeleton hand of n young doctor over
in Solway, and, with the aid of that
old scar on the table, 1 tlxed up my
story."
i iu he. WjnTIRDID.|
Victories of Peace*
Peace hath Its vlctott?? no less than wart
If you have never thought of this before.
And should the statement to your mind
pcem raw,
I You'll own It when you get a roother-ln\\
,ftW> ;
An Iwinuttloa
^ "Truth la stranger than Action."
t^That may bo, but how do yoo