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FREE SEASON DCl I TICKET to the 1 EaJ |f > See every episode Every dollar paid on subscriptk S' 9?9?9?9?9?S ?8?8?8?8 ? 8?8?8?8?8?8?8?8?8?8 ? 5 t t A Good Hank t i: ? FOR 7 111 _ - .m rm or 7 II All QX M01I t Y ^T'HIS SAFE, strong bank is patronized by the Mer- ^ V I chant and Farmer, the progressive business man * al and the man of leisure; and in pvery inssance ha I k the customer received prompt and courteous tieatment, ^ and been extended every accommodation that his busi- I j ness and balance would warrant. .jt To those who would open a new account or trans- * HQ Jeran old one, the officers of this institution extend a o courteous invitation to oall on or correspond with them, I all conferences being regarded as of a strictly conli- | Y dential nature. ^ 1 BANK OF RUBY AND MT. CROGHAN 1 I Branch at KUBY, 8. C. MT. CROGHAN. 8 C. j | R. E. RIVERS, Pres. P. M. THERRELL, Treas. | >???? 9 9?9?9?9?S?* ? #???Sf???#???#?????? ? s I I Urain SDrills j I dtalk Gutters | S)be Harrow# j| Sow Grain and let us sell you the best B Drill made for the money. ! I v | <> u Prepare your land with a good DiscH Harrow. We have them. n ^ * , That famous McKay Stalk Cutter. E Come in and see for yourself I I y i Disc Harrows? 50-tooth, two sections 9 and adjustable. Investigate 9 ' our prices. ( v S Right now is the time to buy these ? goods, so come in and lets get right |i for ihe coming season | Armfield Hardware Co i * ? - ? ? 1 . . The Peoples Bank cSJEkJw W* ^ '' CHESTERFIELD. S. C. C. P. MANGUM, MACK DAVIS. PRESIDENT CASHIEF We solicit your business, and cordially invite you to call on us when you are in our town. The Peoples Bank - - - I II Ml I - - -- - ! | Tor Insurance See Us 1 ^ We represent the Strongest and and Best Old-Line Qj If INSURANCE Companys' in the World. ^ fl See us for all kinds of Insurance j| I Chesterfield Loan & Ii\s Col s . A _ ? & W. J. Douglass, Manager. || Watch for the O. Henry Stories Soon to start in The Advertiser of this thrillling p )n to The Advertis ; | The Little l.j ' | Stone Toad |; ' ! Strange Experience of an "'! ,' i? American Tea Buyer it !n China x < f By CLARISSA MACKIE $ ; y I I 1 I I II I"1'I'1'I"!1* | i i I ' ! Amid the yelling or a Chinese mob < outside the gate of the compound Da- i I vies culuily packed his valuables into a i couple of traveling bags, together with . I some necessary clothing. Through the i ! open window of the bungalow lie could hear the weak voice of Mr. Potter ex- . ' postulating with the frenzied leaders 1 of the mob. < Ail at once the yelling died down iuto r shrill murmurs of discontent, ami Pot- ; ter strode across the veraudt^i and Into - the room where Da vies was methodicalfj ly preparing for (light. j II "I'm afraid we can't do anything with them," wheezed Leonard Potter breathlessly. I "Told you so," grunted Dob Davie; , its lie yanked a strap iuto place. "Bettor get your stall ready. They'll he i ; tiring the place iti a jiffy." | The little man dragged out his own I . bags and ran frantically to and fro ' gathering up his belongings. | "Where shall we go?" he asked < hopelessly. uj "Van lMng will get us out of the. r neighborhood," returned Bob tersely. ,5: Lie was vexed with the utter want of fT tact on Potter's part, lie had told tin* ra ' little missionary that it was folly to LM trv to iir*rlln th?? fnhnliifmtt** I 3 foo out of the belief that the great j L | stone toad In the temple garden had i |j i anything to do with the weather of [; central China. [I "My dear Da vies," Mr. Potter had I ' '1 insisted, "leave thotn to me. It is mv ' ^ calling, the carrying of truth into the ^ dark places of the earth. 1 cannot let ft : these poor heathen continue to make jjj offerings to the stone toad. It is mv ^ duty to convince them that they are | m entirely wrong." 5>iJ Davies. who represented a big tea i house in Shanghai, was angry because j gi he was included In the neighboring | ' n hostility aronsed by Potter's 111 judged J re efforts. This affair would mean the * loss of several business deals that he | K would have hud ditllculty in handling B under the best of circumstances. lie r! was sorry that he had Invited Potter P. to share his quarters during his stay In E Pen foo. * i K "Well, did you convince the heathen ( fe that the stone toad was not a weather 1 , & maker?" lie could not resist throwing 1 Ij o.er his shoulder. K Mr. Potter blinked, g "Not exactly," admitted the mlssionB nry. "They are very ignorant and I) very bigoted." B Boh Davies straightened up. "Cnu't say I think that the OhlB nese belief that a stone toad Is ret sponsible for the weather conditions #: hero is an indication of bigotry any k more than the American confidence in E the reports of the weather bureau." R "Well?well- ah, indeed, I presume i R not!" gasped Leonard Potter, as he j I r w' I ill [ "POKE I ON DKVIK," HE WIITSPKKKO, "TAKE ' T11IS IN EXCHANGE KOH MONtiV I" ? struggled with the strops of his suit ; ) case. A long walling yell arose from out* side. ' "When Is Van Ping coming?" chat . i?reu i "Her. * uiuu c xen jou mat < I they threatened to boil mo in oil.", "That all? What was the dual straw, Potter?" i 1 "I merely went to the temple canton >nm! pounded the head of the stone toad with a sledge hammer. Just to demonstrate to them that It was stone, an inanimate object that could not possibly have any thine to do with the making of conditions." "It seems to have created a very unpleasant situation for us," retorted iJnvles disacreenbly. I.connrd Potter sighed. Tie wished that young Mr. Da vies was not tmhi u sarcastic individual. The door opened, and Van Ping, Da- < jr x icture, which wil ;er gains a seaso r'ies' model Chinese servant, appeared. "Vellv little time; bring lire soon," lio j mid briefly. I "All ready, Van; lead the "way. Ilelp dr. I'otter with his bags. I can man- i ige alone." 1 Without an unnecessary word Van t Ping pi ked up a couple of bags and j ed the way to the back of the house, lore the kitchen otlices extended in a j series of small buildings to the rear , ivall of the compound. < Beyond the wall weiQ the sluggish waters of a creek, and choking the ( ;reek for a mile above the river where t emptied was a long straggling line ( jf sampans or house boats, occupied by lie poorest class of Chinese. The sampans were connected with the bank on j sither side by narrow planks that nerval as gangwnys, and so closely were the sampans packed that one could travel from one end of the line to the xlier under the cover of their matted i roofs. Van 1*1 n;? led the Americans through i narrow gate in the wall and out into the coarsu sedge that bordered the creek. "It is the only way," he remarked ' ifter he had explained his plan to Daties. "And : fter we reach the river?" isked Davios. , "There are foreign shli>s of war there. Palie?" "Sahe," replied the American. There would be risk in escaping through the l?>ng tunnel of sampans. Some of the boat dwellers might object, although I)avies was well supplied with coin to buy their safe passage If necessary. Leonard Potter, innocent cause of all the trouble, meekly followed after Van Piag, leaving Da vies to bring up the rear. It was an exciting experience. Dan- | ger lurked in the hidden gloom of each ill smelling sampan that they entered. Hostility was in their rear. Even Davies' money almost failed to gain t licitway in some places. Slant eyed men threatened them from dark corners, angry women shrilled at them, and impudent children spat defiance sit the hated foreigners. Many of the men were paid assassins. and Davlcs was ready sit every turn to defend himself. Once there was. a little scuffle when two men darted out with naked knives, but Van Ping's angry voice sent them cowering back into the dim obscurity t>f their hiding place. When ihey li.-id nearly completed tlio journey through the line of sampans a remarkable incident occurred. Itob Davies, who was bringing up the rear, felt a touch on bis sleeve, and he j looked down into the wizened face of iiu aged Chinaman. The man looked 1 ] up at him from dimmed eyes. "Foreign devil," he whispered, "take this in exchange for money. 1 would throw It into the mud only my wicked daughter in-law would lind it. 1 shall soon die, and this must not reach her | hands." ( lie pressed a little box into Davies' unwilling palm. ".Money, how much or how little, as you wish," whined the man. i j From Ahead Van Ping was calling ( Impatiently. Davies looked down into the age smitten face, and. pulling out a handful of money, he poured it into the trembling palms of the old man. StuHing the unopened box into Ids pocket, Davies ran at top speed through the noisome deck houses until ho reached his companions. From that moment he foi ot ail about the mysterious little box. lie felt the fresher air of the river . blowing In his face, and lie was re- j lieved when at last they emerged upon j the how of the last sampan, whose ( prow projected into the mouth of the creek. Here a small sampan was in wait- i Ing. and Van Ping hustled his pas- \ sengers into the craft and took up the ] pole in his strong arms. The river stretched n turbulent yel-' i low stream east and west. The town ] of I'enfoo strangles along its north ern bank. Twenty miles below* Pen- i foo is a largo treaty port, and Pa vies j knew that they would llml protection , 011 any one ol' the foreign warships ly- j Jng in the roadstead. j | Van Ping vigorously poled tlie sain- | pan down the river, the swift current , speeding them ?>n the way to safety. < Two days l iter the tea merchant and ( the missionary, whose business in Pen- j foo had ended so abruptly, were on , board u river steamer bound for Shang- ! | hal. It oh Davios sulked alone most of the 1 j time, while Leonard Potter associated ) with the native crew and made two converts umong them. Joyfully tri- ! , umphnut, lie sought Dnvles In ids re- , treat. j , "I'm sorry I didn't stick to my post i in Pen foo," said the missionary re- ] gretfully wlien he had described ids | recent experiences among the Chinese | crew. "I am sure that my persuasions | would have touched tlieir simple j hearts at last." "You are 1*00 miles from I'enfoo and | n Chinese mob," remarked liob. Mr. Potter closed bis pale eyes and folded his hands over his black waist- i . coat. Ho Wished he liatl not mot I>a- ] i vies and offered to share the expenses i of his bungalow. The tea merchant I < appeared offended, as if their tllglit i from Penfoo was to l>o laid at Potter's iloor. i "I am suro I didn't Invent the stono ] toad." thought the missionary with j Home resentment. i I5ob Pavies was wondering what explanation lie would give to Ids employers. lie had already sent In signed contracts for a jar go quantity of the * best Penfoo ten. and he had made payments on each contract, rut now ? who could tell whether anything , would come of the contracts? Vj "Oh. for a ranch In southern Call- i fornia and never another glimpse of ] China r he groaned. BBBMBBgggg I run for months, n ticket to this thi "I shall never forget that awful ex)4rience?coming through the house- 1 joats," sighed I'otter. I I Davles started with a sudden rceol- | ection. He felt in his pockets for the j it tie box which the ancient Chinaman j lid not want his wicked daughter-ill- j aw to know about. > fjII was a small ebony box about two j . nches square and very heavy. Da- j r'ics fumbled until he found a small ; spring in the bottom of the box. which 1'lpon pressure caused the cover to lly . tit "Great George, what a Ami!" Davies j aughed aloud at the coincidence. It was the stone toad in the temple i jarden that was responsible for their ' uisty departure from the Chinese town, ? iial upon the stone toad lmvics had ^ nentally heaped all sorts of reproach. ? Before him in n little paper lined box | (vas a small stone load. This toad was ' ? fashioned from gray-green sonpstone, C jut its marvelous eyes euuglit and held ' Davies* fascinated gaze. Such glorious green, winking, emertld eyes?yes, eyes formed of magnificent emeralds. And he had purchased i T?l Tri rr M I |! BEFOllF. IUM IV A FAITH LINED LOX WAB ' . A SMALL STONE TOAD. ,i( tliciii from tlio ancient man for a handful of money, perhaps ."?5 in all. Five C; dollars for a fortune! Leonard l'otter was looking over Davies' shot I,lor. ^' "Mr. Da vies, is it possible that you, loo, area toad worshiper V" lie demanded hoarsely. To his urprise, Davies* answer was u laugh- t:< h a laugh of inlngled re- Qj lief and . ?.\ that the little missionary lould not understand, lie only guessed that t ic heathenish stone toad had Je brought happiness to the dejected tea rner'hunt, and he disapproved accord- ~ ingly. Davies sought out Van l'ing, who was accompanying him to Shanghai, mid lu* t lil him about the old man and I box he had purchased from him. j Van ring smiled in a knowing man- ' ..or when I'avies hail concluded: "11i 111 San Bong?velly bad man al- J nays. liii : soon die and no can take f ill things with him. San Bong sell V tor velly little. Where got? No can toll?no sabe. Him forgot himself." Van I'ing shook his head when Da- (?(l vies suggested that they return to l'ctifoo and try to find San Bong, who had w undoubtedly unloaded some of his stolen treasures upon Bevies. "You keep?you velly rich?no sell more tea," grinned the faithful China- 111 man. On his arrival in Shanghai Bob I >a- : to ties consulted his lawyer, and when 1 ^e had been convinced of the futility ,r>1 jf endeavoring to restore the stone f.( toad to Sun Bong he^ook the emeralds ( (lI| :o a jeweler to have them appraised. I ^ When he discovered (hat they were worth a modest fortune Dnvles re ign- J id his position with the tea iinimrtcrs ltid made preparations to return to \merlea and to realize his rosy dream >f a ranch in southern California. Van ^ IMniP iviK In nffi ?m no ?iv liltii * ".Now, I must <1<> something for little H Potter," thought Havles, "If It. hadn't ^ been for rotter nml tlio big stone t 1 ig I would never have been chased out :>f Penfoo, nn 1 consequently I would % never have gone through the creek ? jampans and would never have met ? up with that fairy godfather, San V [long, and the little stone toad. That uk being the ease, rotter is responsible for my good fortunes, so I will send q him a substantial check to help his B Kood work along." K And the grateful lellor he received from Leonard Potter ended thus: ! ? "You w ill lie interested to learn, dear 3 Mr. Imvles. that I am using this mon- S [>y tt? return to Penfoo, so thnt I H may convince those benighted people g thnt the stone toad In the temple gar- bj Ion has nothing whatever to do with 9 Hie weather." j J So Leonard Potter was r wung oiice a more into the circle of destiny that & landed him In Penfoo, hut what hap- J [toned to him there history does not J| relate. A Lame Excuse. "I'll never trade with that druggist " igain," snapped Mrs. Twohhle. "IIow now, my dear?" said Mrs, CladJcrs. "After I bought r. stfiinp f.*on: lilm t naked lilin If ho wouldn't lick it for inks, I nnd he snld I would have to excuse ; him. ns he had n pimple on his tougUiJL^I ?Birmingham Age-lie raid. riller?Don't miss the beginning^^H 'on Will Leave Three Things Behind ^ Your Business, Your Family, Your Memory These three things ire about al! nr-st men have to leave, he man who dies without enough 'ife insurance leaves one or I of them in a bad lix. These three t hings are what most men ruggle and labor iheir whole lives through to leave in a GOOI> There is only one way?just one?to accomplish this with jsolnte certainty. Hlintev j ? - ------oourn Carolina Life, Fire, Accident and Health lusiuance ) *? 90 0*???c NUTS FRUITS AND CANDIES ) * o*?*?o S The Best To Be Had I i 'C i 3 I u iiiiii iiiiiM ? m ? ? gt A. F. sJavss 11 Xt ? Mil | W ' w <u m ? TTlfi Tn Marl I 2 > 0 o**??o NUTS FRUITS AND CANDIES ^O ? "/) ? O OMtlO Auditors Notice. The Auditors' office will be opened for the assessment of Pe^nal property from January 1st 1910 to February 20th 1916. % All male citizens between the ages of 21 and 60 years are semed Taxable polls, except those whc are maimed or for other uses arc incapable of earning a support. The Law requires ."><> per cent penalty added to taxes on proptv subject to taxes and not returned lor assessment on or before e 20th of February 1910. 1 will be in the Auditor's office Jan., 1, 3, 4, 5, (5, 7. 8, 15, 29. id 31: Feb., 5, 7. 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 10, 17, 18, 19, and 20, and at e foil >wing places on the dates named: itrick Jan. 10 from 11 to 3 Plains Jan. 20 from 9 to 12 o'clock. Guess Jan. 21 from 11:30 to 2:30. I )dar Crtck Church Jan. 11 o'clock. \ from 11 to 3 o'clock. o'clock. * >hn C. Wallaces' Jan. 12 from Mt. Croghan Jan. 24 from 11 to 11 to 3 o'clock. 4 o'clock. isjios' Jan. 13 from 11 to 2l.Dudlev .Tan 4>r, r?.r>.-r. 1 t ? J W taW J1VU1 JL IV/ "T o'clock. o'clock. rants Mill Jan. I I from 0 to Pageland Jan. 20 and 27 to 12 12 o'clock. o'clock. estlield Creek Jan. 1." from 10 Ruby Jan. 28 from 11 to 3 to 12 o'clock. | o'clock. oss Roads Jan. 17 from 11 to Middendorf Feb. 1 from 11 too 3 o'clock o'clock, sfferson Jan. 1* and 10 to 12 Angclus Fob. 2 from 11 to 3 o'clock. o'clock, itarrh Jan. 15) from 1 to 4 ; Mcllec Fob. 3 and 4. o'clock. j Cheraw Feb. 8 and 9. T. W. EDDINS, County Auditor Cabbage, Beet and Lettuce Plants Before placing your order for plants are not these facts worth nshlering? 1st. L'lants you buy from us are plants off the same seed bed s use on our own farm. 2d. We make good all bona lide shortages. 3d. We guarantee you prompt ser\ ice ( weather Conditions peritting). 1th. Wo have been in the business fnr vo?rs ?ml b-nnor l grow plant? that will ?ati>ty the buyer. Our price* are a? follows: In lots from 1 to 5 thousand, #1 00; to 10 thousand, 00c; 1?> thousand and over, 75c per thousand, >,I). Meggott, cash with order. Future orders will be accepted id delivered when wanted. We guarantee our plants to bo i>st proof. Yours very truly, he Only Plant Go., Meggetts, S. C. > ttarwon ?vwnMi ig Sank of (Chesterfield t Oldest Bank In Chesterfield ? We Solicit Your Business. Pay Interests J On TIME DEPOSITS. $ We Invite You to Visit Vs ? ! SAFETY DEPOSIT BOXES f nilf Patronage wanted, whether large or I X \J il L sman Both receive courteous attention. J OUT M0tt0: Strength Security. ? \ R. E, Rivers, Pres. C. C. Douglass < ashicr J M. ,|. II ?ugh, V. Pros- I'. M. Therrel, Asst. Cashier. * % NoiicK Write mo ami I will explain iu^fcl wm cured i1 (lavs of a severe ease of L'i^^of 40 hliaiding. nr^jt'lenb^^Brnm this i ight> in