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i MasqtJ By KATHERINE Author of "1 Copyright. 1004. b: Lodor poshed Hack the scattered pa pers that lay under his arm. "Only a lunatic would propose suet ) a scheme," he said brusquely and without feeling. "Why?" The other's lips parted for a quick retort; then in a surprising way the retort seemed to fall him. "Oh, because the thing Isn't feasible, lsn'1 practicable from any point of view!" Cbilcote stepped closer. "Why?" he insisted. "Because it couldn't work, man? couldn't hold for u dozen hours!" Chllcote put out his hand and touched his arm. "But why?" he urged. "Why? Qlve me one unanftwarnhi. reason." Loder shook off the hand and laughed, but below his laugh lay a suggestion of the other's excitement. Again the scene stirred him against hla sounder judgment, though his reply when it came was sound enough. l "As for reasons," he said, "there are ^ a hundred, If I had time to name them. (Take it, for the sake of supposition, that I were to accept your offer. I should take my place In your house at?let us say at dinner time. Your * man gets me Into your evening clothes, and there at the very start you have the first suspicion set up. He has probably known you for years, known you until every turn of your appearance, voice and manner Is far more familiar to him than It Is to you. There are no eyes like a servant's."' "I have thought of that. My servant and my secretary can both be changed. I will do the thing thoroughly." Loder glanced at him In surprise. The madness had more method than he had believed. Then as he still looked a fresh idea struck him, and he laughed.. "You have entirely forgotten one thing," he said. "You can hardly dismiss your wife." "My wife* doesn't count." gain Loder laughed. "I'm afraid I scarcely agree. The complications would be slightly ? slightly" ? He paused. Chllcote's latent irritability broke out suddenly. "Look here." he said. "this Isn't n chaffing matter. It may be moonshine to you, but it's reality to me." Again Loder took his face between bis hands. "Don't ridicule the idea. I'm in dead earnest." Loder said nothing. "Think?think it over before you refuse." For a moment Loder remained motionless, then he rose suddenly, pushing back his ihulr. "Tush, man! You don't know what . you say. The fact of your being mar* lied bars it. Can't you see that?" Again Chllcote caught his arm. "You misunderstand," be said. "You mistake the position. I tell you my wife and I are nothing to each other. She goes her way; I go mine. We have our own friends, our own rooms. Marriage, actual marriage, doesn't enter the question. We meet occasionally at meals and at other people's houses; sometimes we go out together for the sake of appearances; beyond that, nothing. If you take up my life nobody in it will trouble you less than Eve? 1 can promise that." He laughed unsteadily. Loder's face remained unmoved. "Even grunting that," he Baid, "the thing is still impossible." "Why?" "There is the house. The position there would be untenable. A man it known there as he is known in bi? own club." He drew away from Chll rAtn'a tniinh | "Very possibly. Very possibly." Chlleote laughed quickly and excitedly "But what club Is without Its eccentric member? I am glad you spoke of that I am glad you raised that point. II was a long time ago that I bit upon c reputation for moods as a shield for? for other things, and the'moro useful it has become the more I have let 11 grow. I tell you you might go down tc the house tomorrow and spend the whole day without speaking to, ever nodding to, a single man, and as long as you were I to outward appearancef no one would raise an eyebrow. Ii the same way you might rote in mj place, ask a question, make a speed if you wanted to"? At the word speech Loder turned In voluntarily. For a fleeting second tin coldness of his manner dropped ant his face changed. Chlleote, with his nervous qulcknos: of perception, saw the alteration, and i new look crossed his own face. "Why not?" he said quickly. "Yoi once had ambitions in that direction Why not renew the ambitions?" "And drop back from the mountain Into tbe gutter?" Loder smiled am lowly shook his head. "Better to live for one day than 1 exist ?for a hundred!" Chllcote's vole trembled with anxiety. For the thlr< time he extended his hand and tooche* the other. This time Loder did not shake off th detaining hand. He scarcely seemed t feel its pressure. "Look here." Chllcote's fingers tlghl ' ~~ * .... ????? tl HE i ! _ I I ' u lerader : CECIL THURSTON, f0 The Circle." Etc. 11 V Harper t> Brotb?ri I tl . ened. "A little while ago you talked of Influence. Here you can step Into a tt i position built by Influence. You might 1c I do all you once hoped to do"? hi Loder suddenly lifted his head. "Absurd!" he so Id. "Absurd! Such a scheme hi was never carried through." le , "Precisely why It will succeed. People never suspect until they have a hi 5 precedent. Will you consider It? At tb least consider It. Remember, If there > is a risk It Is I who am running It. On gl your own showing you have no position et . to Jeopardize." The other laughed curtly. "Before I go tonight will you promise me to consider It?" pi , "No." . hr "Then you will send me your decision he by wire tomorrow. I wont take your | hi answer now." I te Loder freed his arm abruptly. "Why th ( | not?" he asked. Chilcote smiled nervously. "Because ca I know men and men's temptations. ( We are all very strong till the quick Is be touched. Then we all wince. It's morphia with one man, ambitions with cb another. In each case It's only a mat- dl J ter of sooner or later." He laughed In < his satirical, unstrung way and held th out his hand. "You have my address," ge ho sold. "Au revolr." Tc t Loder Dressed the hand and dropped co i It- "Ooodby," tn? mu meaningly. Then flL he crossed the room quietly ana i?u ' ( the door open. "Goodby," he said again sit as the other passed him. 1 As he crossed the threshold Chilcote paused. "Au revolr," he corrected, , with emphasis. h'? Until the last echo of his visitor's m< steps had died away Loder stood with re his hand on the door. Then closing It UE ! quietly he turned and looked around tile room Pnr n tfinaldornhlo i stood there as If weighing the merits of ro I each object. Then very slowly he mov- of i ed to one of the bookshelves, drew out sti . May's "Parliamentary Practice," and, cr carrying it to the desk, readjusted the ku lamp. 1 be CHAPTER VL I * ILL the next day Cbllcote moved m< I A I In a fever of excitement Hot 111 I r\ I with hope one moment cold ?y ' ' with fever the next he rushed ^ with restless energy Into every task ^ that presented Itself, only to drop It as aa speedily, ^wicfcdurirur the jgorniiur h* rtt drove to the entrance of Clifford's Inn, but each time his courage failed him be and he returned to Grosvenor square to bli learn that the expected message from Loder had not come. co It was a wearing condition of mind, but at worst It was scarcely more than an exaggeration of what his state had been for months and made but little j hli abvlous difference In his bearing or vo ; manner. In the afternoon he took his place In ^ Sll the houtie, but, though It was his first appearance since his failure of two Da days ago, he drew but small personal notice. When he chose, his manner could repel advances with extreme a 1 effect, and of late men had been prone *? to draw away from him. e In one of the lobbies he encountered Fralde surrounded by a group of 'ni 1 friends. With his usual furtive haste br ' he would have passed on, but moving ?t< away from his party the old man ac- bt 1 COsted him. He was nlwnvs ennrtennalv ' pnrtlcular In his treatment of Chllcote, | ill as the husband of his ward and god- I ed child. "3 "Better, Chllcote," he said, holding ac 1 out Ills hand. At the sound of the low, rather formal tones, so characteristic of the old statesman, a hundred memo- ra 1 rles rose to Chllcote's mind, a hundred . 1 hours distasteful In the living and un- j kr 1 bearable In the recollection, and with su " them the new flash of hope, the new ; w possibility of freedom. In a sudden j rush of confldence he turned to his j leader. ! "I believe I've found a remedy for my nerves," he said. "I?I believe I'm or going to be a new man." He laughed 1 with a touch of excitement. * j8, Fralde pressed his Angers kindly. . ' "That Is right," he said. "That Is right. ' I called at Grosvenor square this morn' Ing, but Eve told me your Illness of the 1 other day was not serious. She was 1 very busy this morning. She could only spare me a quarter of an lionr, 1 She Is Indefatigable over the social plde 1 of your prospects, Chllcote. You'Owe r her a large debt. A popular wife 1 means a great deal to a politician." The steady eyes of his companion dls" turbed Chllcote. 9 He drew away his hand. ' "Eve is unique," he said vaguely. Fralde smiled. "That Is right," he 9 said again. "Admiration is too largely 1 1 excluded from modern marriages." | And with a courteous excuse he re1 Joined his friends. ' I It was dinner time before Chllcote j 1 could desert the house, but tne moment j urj;.u uiir >vns |m>hhii>i<- nt* uurritm iu Orosvenor square. As he entered the house the hnll 0 was empty. He swore lrrltn?>!y under e his breath and pressed the nearest ^ bell. Since his momentary exaltation * In Frnlde's presence his spirits had steadily fallen until now they hung at B the lowest ebb. ? As he waited In unconcealed Impa| tience for an answer to his summons he caught sight of his man Allsopp at . le head of the stairs. "Come Imre!" lie called, pleased to nd same one upon whom to vent his Tltatlon. "Has that wire come for ie?" "No. sir. I inquired five minutes nek." "Inquire again." "Yes, sir." Allsopp disappeared. A second Inter after h'.< dls.appenrace the hell of the liall door whizzed udly. l? Chlleote started. All sudden sounds, ke all strong lights, nffec'.ol him. He alf moved to the door, then stopped Imself with 11 short exclamation. At ie snme Instant Allsopp reappeared. Chlleote turned on lilni excitedly. "What the devil's the meaning of lis?" he said. "A battery of servants i the house and nobody to open the ill door!" Allsopp looked embarrassed. "Crapim is coming directly, sir. He only ft the hall to ask Jeffries"? Chlleote turned. "Confound Crapim!" he exclaimed. "Go and open ie door yourself." Allsopp hesitated. Ills dignity Struglug with his olxidlence. As he waltl the bell sounded again. "Did you hear ine?" Chlleote said. "Yes. sir." Allsopp crossed the halL As the door was opeued Chlleote tssed his handkerchief from one ind to the other In the tension of >pe and fear, then as the sound of s own name In the shrill tones of a legraph boy reached his ours he let ie handkerchief drop to the ground. I Allsopp took the yellow envelope and irrled It to his master. "A telegram, sir," he said. "And the >y wishes to know if there Is an nurer." Picking up Chllcote's handkerilef, he turned aside with elaborate gnlty. Chllcote's hands were so unsteady at he could scnrcelv lnsort hi? fln r under the flap of the envelope. >arlng off n corner, he wrenched the verlng apart and smoothed out the may pink paper. rhe message was very simple, conitlng or dui words: Shall expect you at 11 tonia*?. LODJ?. He read It two or three times, then = looked up. "No answer," he said < BchanU-ally, and to his own ears the lief In his voice sounded harsh und inatural. Th Exactly as the clocks chimed 11 lllcote mounted the stairs to Loder*s oms. Hut this time tliere was more haste than of uncertainty in his tin spa, and, reaching the landing, he ossed it in a couple of strides and . locked feverishly on the door, it opened at once, and Loder stood so fore him. jcf The occasion was peculiar. For a (lis jinent neither spoke; each lnvolun- he rily looked at the other with new r!v es and under changed conditions. 1111 ich had assumed a fresh standpoint ^ the other's thought The passing jf tonlshment, the half Impersonal cu-ijia Wily Smt Innl pivrtvusij HilgTO iwT'y latlonshlp, was cast aside, never to K<" i re assumed. In each the other saw mself?and something more. ' \8 usual, Loder was the first to rever himself. ac 'I was expecting you," he said, ha Von't you come In?" g< rhe words were almost the same as ha s word of the night before, but his 'h . , do ice had a different ring, just as his ot1 ce when he drew back into the om had a different expression ? a cc ggestion of decision and euergy that N d been lacking before. Chilcota 151 ught the difference as he crossed e threshold, and for a bare second flicker of something like Jealousy uched him, but the sensation was eting. 'I have to thank you," he said, hold- ')C g out his hand. He was too well ed to show by n hint that he under- bi ood the drop in the other's principles, la it Loder broke down the artifice. cii "Let's be straight with each other. ace everybody else has to be decelv- I I," he said, taking the other's hand, fou have nothing to thank me for, id you know it. It's a touch of the 1 Adam. You tempted me, and I ?| II." He laughed, but below the laugh n a note of something like triumph? e curious triumph of a man who'has town the tyranny of strength and ddenly appreciates the freedom of a eakness. m to [to be continu*?.] fo G Not Anslom to Please, CC Neptune?I suy. Boreas, if you keep I i blowing like that you'll get yourself '> silked. Boreas?What do I care? It V n't my business to furnish popular ^ rs.?Modern Society. l? WOOD'S SEEDS | Bliss Triumph Seed Potatoes n are one of the most popular kinds with truckers all through the ^ South. They are extra early, pro- pliflc, fine appearance, and are largely sold in northern markets p as "Bermuda Potatoes" at high prices. We have a large stock of this } potato, extra fine quality, both Maine and e Second Crop Seed. Wa tkro 41ia larffpfif ill a Seed Potato** in the South, and ^ offer all of the best and most pro- o ductive kinds. Write for prices. , Wood's Descriptive Catalogue gives full information about Seed Potatoes and all Farm and Qar. l den Seeds. Mailed free on re- r quest. T. W. WOOD ft SONS, Seedsmen, Rlohmond,Va. wmmmmmmmmmmsBP H WtcA OT\ "to\sac Vmpms tot SWanAoW Vrv Three ways are used for curing and preparing bacco for the market; n cured, air cured and i The old and cheap way i cured; the later discover proved way is called flue < In flue curing the tobac from the fields and racke especially built to retain there subjected ^o a conti temperature, produced by heat of flame heated fli brings out in the tol stimulating taste and a expert roasting develops coffee. These similar pro to both tobacco and coffee ing and stimulating quality ularizes their use. The quality of tobaco much on the curing proce kind of soil that produces pert tests prove that this R. J. Reynolds To iituir tup i/iniipvc nn wn/\i inc niuncia uu. eir UnGeasing Work Keeps Us Strong and Healthy. All the blood in the body passes ' rough the kidneys once every three, nutes. The kidneys filter the blodd. 1 ley work night .and day. When althy they remove about 500 grains impure matter daily, when unhealthy me part of this impure matter is t in the blood. This brings 011 many .eases and symptoms,?pains in back, adache, nervousness, hot, dry skin, eumatism, gout, gravel, disorders of e eyesight and hearing, dizziness, irgular heart, debility, drowsiness, opsy, deposits in the urine, etc. But you keep the filters right you will ve 110 trouble with your kidneys. W. MM. -OX V-? ocery business, Chester, S. C., now tired, says: "I used Doan's Kidney lis for my kidneys and back and was catly benefited thereby. I had sufred from backache and weakness ross the loins for a long time and d found little if any relief until I >t a box of Doan's Kidney Pills. I ve not had backache since I used em, and they have given me a great al more strength. 1 am glad to rec-1 ntnend them." ' For sale by all dealers. Price 50, nts. Foster-Milburn Co.. Bhffalo, ew York, sole agents for the United ates. Remember the name,?Doans,?and ke no other. A committee from the Central ethodist church in Spartanburg has en appointed to solicit subscriptions r the erection of another church hiding. The Central church is so rge that the congregation has deded to form two churches. rnnu 1 r 4 IVT1I t PC TKUin 1 tlL AN IILLL3. lamberlain's Cough Remedy Benefits a City Councilman at Kingston. JamaiGa. Mr. W. O'Reilly Fogarty, who is a ember of the City Council at Kingsn, Jamaica, West Indes, writes as Hows: "One bottle of Chamberlain's ough Remedy had good effect on a >ught that was giving me trouble and think I should have been more quickrelieved if I had continued the remly. That it was beneficial and quick relieving me there is no doubt and is my intention to obtain another >ttle." For sale by Union Drug Co. VHITE GOODS SALE : no delay in freight, we rill put on sale Saturday morning the largest assortment and prettiest line of WHITE GOODS ver shown in Union at the ( price. Iso everything in the store t a big reduction, especially all winter;goods. <ome early and get the pick of bargains. IUTCHINSON & CAUGHMAN to W rv$ ktoma Tat ScYmc^sloVtac and Ctitttt by farmers tobacco, gi r their to- mont regie amely sun sweetening hie cured. any other s s called air and has a y and im- juicy, full t cured. tobacco hu :co is taken prefer Sch d in barns cheers moi t heat and tobacco, ai nuous high Schnapps ' the direct ?one ct^ lies, which until the bacco that there are Lroma that pounds of ; in green population cesses give tobacco is the cheer- those states / that pop- yet been o A ioc. p o depends economical :ss and the plug of che ; it, as ex- per pound flue cured and 15 cen bacco Company, Wi SMITH S PRICES Corn per bushel (full sack) - 75c Single bushel ----- 80c Onp-hnlf hnsbpl - AZ.n One-fourth bushel - - - - 25c Don't wait until you get ready to feed before you order the Corn. White Vinegar per gallon - 20c Egg-O-See - 05c Shredded Whole Wheat - - 08c Kraut per pound - - - - 05c Sound English Walnuts - - 20c 3 for 50c Snow Flake Crackers - - 20c Phone Early. W. Newell Smith Engraved Cards, Invitations, Announcements, Etc. We have a beautiful line of samples, representing all the best styles of the engraver's art. If you have your plate, we will have them made from it or we can have plates and cards made at a reasonable price for high class, artistic work. Call in, inspect our samples and get our prices before placing your orders for an> thing in this line. DUKE DRUG CO. | The Publisher's Claims Sustained ??? United States Court of Claims The Publishers of Webster's International Dictionary Allege that it " is, in fact.the popular Unabridged thoroughly re-edited in eVery detail, and vastly enriched in every part, with the purpose of adapting it to meet the larger and severer requirements of another generation." Wo nre of the opinion that this allegation most clearly and accurately descrittes the work that has been accomplished and the result that has beeu reached. The Dictionary, as it now stands, has been thoroughly roedlted in every detail, hns been corrected in i every part, and is admirably adapted to meet the larger and severer requirements of a generation which demands more of popular philological knowledge than any generation that the world hnsevcr contained. It is perhaps needless to add that we refer to the dictionary in our Judicial work as of the highest authority in accuracy of definition: and that in the future as in the past it will be the souroaof constant rcferonoe. 4 CHARLES O. HOTT, Chief JuMio* 1 LAWRENCE WKLDON 1 JOHN DAVIS. stanton j. peei.i.it charles b. howry, TKe above refer* to WEBSTER'S INTERNATIONAL DICTIONARY THE GRAND PRIZE (thohifrhost award) wo* Rlvrn totlie International at tbe World's Fair, 8t. Louis. GET THE LATEST AND BEST You trill he intrrtet&l in our f flV\ tperimen juiye*, nent free. / V-/ \ I wruTtn \ G. 8c C. MERRIAM CO., Utesnat?oJ PUBLISHERS, \MCT**?A*y 8PRINQFIEL0, MASS. UVft \Y? A? \outv& CO rown in the famous Pied>n, requires and takes less <; than tobacco grown in ;ection of the United States t wholesome, stimulating, . obacco taste that satisfies ' nger. That's why chewers tnapps, because Schnapps e than any other chewing id that's why chewers of pass the good thing along ver makes other chewers, fact is established that more chewers and more tobacco chewed to the in states where Schnapps sold than there are in > where Schnapps has not ffered to the trade. lug of Schnapps is more than a much larger ioc. ap tobacco. Sold at 50c. in 5c. cuts. Strictly 10 t plugS. 0^ JSSTON-fcALEM, IN. U. Tax Assessment Notice. The time for taking tax returns begins on the ist day of January, 1907, and expires on the 20th day of February, 1907. It is required by law, that all personal property be returned, and those failing to return will be liable to 50 per cent, penalty on same. All land owners should see that their tenants make their returns in the proper time. All returns not made to the auditor, or his clerk, must be sworn to before some one com4administer, an. oat)1 T wnFoem tne omce at union from the ist day of January to the 20th. after which time will be . I at the following places: Buffalo Mills, January 21. West Springs, January 22. Gibbs, forenoon, January 23. Harrison's store, afternoon, January 23. II Wilburn's store, Cross Keys, January 24. j Sedalia, Minter's store, Janu> 1 ary 25. Black .Rock, forenoon, Janu? ary 26. Carlisle, January 28. Santuc, January 29. ' Ar1"*r?1cKtiror Toni.o?f , * fS' J<* [ Lockhart Mills, January 31. ' Kelton, February 1. Jonesville, February 2. [ Monarch Mills, forenoon, February 4. ' j Aetna Mills, afternoon, Feb:! ruary 4. '! From the 5th day of February to the 20th, in office. All male citizens between the ages of 21 and bo years are liable to pay a poll tax, except the following. who are exempt: Confederate soldiers, school trustees, and those who are af flicted to the extent that they are not able, on account of such affliction, to make a support for themselves. A leg or an arm being broken does not exempt a person from paying poll tax. Don't forget to make your returns. as the comptroller general positively requires the 50 per jcent. penalty to be charged to those who do not make their re| turns, regardless of who thev ! are. John G. Farr, Auditor. Land Sale. We offer for sale the tract of land owned hy our father. Layfette Mill, lying two miles east of Jonesville, containing one hundred acres. There are two tenant houses and some out-buildings on the place, and a fine spring near the house. This land is offered for sale next salesday in Union, S. C., at the court house. Terms of sale: Onethird cash and balance in equal pay- . mcnts of one and two years, purchaser to give mortgage and pay interest on balance at the rate of 8 per cent, per annum, and also to pay for necessary papers. ' John \V. Hill, 2 4t Jonesville, S. C. jfo. .jj