Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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I ~1 ~ m CJk the tj} "mv lapy of t1 ?j^e?yyr (Continucd from last week) r * CHAPTER XIII. A Needle In a Haystack. The little marshal of Haskell had the reputation of being as quick of wit as of trigger finger. Startled as he was by that sudden apparition appearing before them In the dark road, and at i being addressed by a woman's voice, ! the mention of the name Cassady gave | him an Instant clue. There was but j one Cassady Jn camp, and that lndl- i vldual's reputation was scarcely of a kind to recommend him In the eyes of ' the law. If any woman sought that fellow In this out-of-the-way spot, it was surely for no good purpose. Brennan leaned forward over his saddle born, lowering his voice confidentially, and managing to achieve a highly meritorious brogue. "Sure, Ol'm Cassady," he admitted grouchlly. "How lver come yer ter guess thot?" "You were expecting to meet Mr. Bnrlght, weren't you? That was what Bill Lacy told you. He was to explain to you Just what you were to do." I Brennan mumbled something indistinctly, now thoroughly aroused to the situation. "Well, Mr. Enrlglit couldn't come, and Lacy Is over across the creek yet, hunting down Ned Beaton's murderer. I am Miss La Rue," she hurried on, almost breathlessly, "and I've brought you Lacy's note, which you arc to give to that Mexican?Pascunl Mendez. You understand? You are to give It to him, and no one else. Lacy said you could kill your horse, if necessary, but the note must be there by daylight tomorrow. Ilere?take lt^' Brennan thrust it Into an Inner pocket, and cleared his throat. There was no small risk in asking questions, yet, unless he learned more, this information might prove utterly useless. The note to Mendez meant little until he discovered where that bandit was to be found. "Shure now, miss," he said Insinuatingly. "Mr. Lacy must hev' slnt more lnsthructlons 'long with ye then them. All ther word tliet Iver come tor me wus ter saddle oop, ride down here an' mate this man Enrlght. I don't aven know fer shure whar ol' Mendez la?likely 'nough he be in Mexico." I "In Mexico S" indignantly. "Of course not. Lacy said you knew the trail. It's a place they call 'Sunken valley'?out there somewhere," nnd Brennan could barely distinguish the movement of her arm desertward. "It's across that sand flat." "snosiione?" "Yes; I couldn't remember the name. That's all I know about It, only Lacy said you'd been there beforaj* Help Your Favoril Contest By Sending Pedigreed Like Gooc [ * N order to pr I duet hnndrt highest orili i It It ... eight years and greed staple cot seed of tlieir ow you know how t! For twenty year tific plant lire'* scientifically bri of plant breed -i sold only under I We Are Known by the Some of our varieties are well nators of the following staple cotton and quality. Webber 49-4 This Is our newest strain of the now famous Webber 49 cotton, largo round bolls, fine quality 1 5-16 to 1% inch lin?, 33% turnout tinder ft?uu tuiiuiiiiiiiD. aii cany ma;tiring, prolific, boll weevil resisting cotton. Pedigree seed of an older strain 40-3 also available at a low price justifying general planting. Write for free ilfustrnti PEDIGRi i ^ inge f fe m wise! m&Mszf crwis* 1m WE NORTH " ETC P* KAASZXUU. ^U?/2/oW i I "Shure, miss," assured the marshal ' softly, clearly realizing thut he had already gone the limit, and that any further questioning must lead Inevitably to trouble. "If It Is Sunken valley I'm ter ride ter, thet's alsy." "Then it's good night." She vnnlslied up the side trail, as though the wind had blown away a shadow. Rrennan gathered up hi?j reins, straightening his body In the saddle. He glnnced back toward the dim shade of his companion, chuck ; ling. "Some bit of luck that, Jim." "Doesn't seem to me we know niucl uiuie tnan we did before," Westcott , answered gloomily. "Only that this ' chap Mendez Is at a place called | Sunken valley. I never heard of It: ! did you?" "No; I reckon it's no spot the law j hns ever hnd any use for. I've supposed all along them Mexican cattle \ thieves had a hidden corral somewhar i in this country; but nobody has ever found It yet. Right now, thanks to 1 this Miss La Rue, I've got a hunch that we're goln' to muke the discovery, and put Bill Lacy and ol' Mendcz out of business. But there's no sense of our gnss>o' here. We got a right smart bit o' ridln* to do afore daylight." "How about the note she gave you?" "We'll wait a while to read that. I don't wnnt to strike no light Just yet. Maybe it had best be kept till daybreak." The men rode steadily, and mostly in silence, a large part of the way side by side. The animals they bestrode were fairly nulled, quite capable of maintaining their gait for several hours, and needing little urging. The night gloom enveloped them completely; their strained eyes were scarcely able to trace the dim outlines of the ridge road, but the horses were desert broke, and held closely to the beaten track. Then Westcott's pony, which carried by far the heavier load, began to show signs of fatigue. They drew up, and the marshal dismounted, searching about blindly in the darkness. "Too d n dark." he eald, coming hack, and catching up his rein. "A EED SEED CC Dept. 17'G Hartsville, South Carolitu car couldn't ttml aovt?*In? were; hut there's firm sftnd. Walt a minute; I've got a pocket compass." lie struck a match, sheltering the sputtering blnze with one hand. The light Illumined his face for an instant, and then went out, lcuving the night blacker than before. "Thnt's south," he announced, snap ping the compass case shut, "and this blame wind Is southeast; that ought to keep us fairly straight." i "The ponies will do that; they'll ; keep where the traveling is good. Shift this hag buck of your snddle, Dan. You 1 ride lighter, and ray horse is begin- I :e Candidate Win in Your Subscriptio Cotton Seed l Stock Can Not Be oducc a single now strain of pedigreed cotu d* of scientific te-ls over a period of seven r. requiring path nee, expert knowledge, an< iio originated comniereial plant-to-row Itreed spent about thirty thousand dollars before o ion for sale. No concern can go into the see rn origin under three or four years. If they hey got lluin and you know that they cannot s or more our President and our General M ling. They are pioneers in their profession d seed. With their assistants they make up rs employed by any company in the Tinted our registered trade mark, official f). K. and X R. COKEK, President and 11. J. WEBBER Varieties We Have Originate known to thousands of planters throughout s and offer you seed of these ami other vatii Hartaville 14 This is the largest hulled long staple cotton we know of, 55 to the pound of seed cotton, fine 1% inch lint, ?>\'U turnout. Gives lint of remarkably good, quality and grade. A later maturing variety not recommended for boll * weevil section". "// mtrtlnn with lull /Intrri ntinn* It msiv /ie nlng to pant already; that will ease him - tmm fails The transfer was made, and the two men rode out into the rear desert, urging their animals forward, trusting largely to their nuturai Instinct for guidance. They would follow the hard sand, and before long the scent of water would as certainly lead them directly toward the spring. Yet It was not long until dawn began to turn the desert gray, gradually revealing its forlorn desolation. Westcott lifted his head, and gazed about with wearied eyes, smarting still from the whipping of the sand-grit. On every side stretched nwt^ a scene ol utter desolation, unrelieved by either Bhrub or tree?an apparently endless ocean of sand, in places leveled by the wind, and elsewhere plied into fantastic heaps. The breeze slackened somewhat as the sun reddened the east, and the ponies threw up their hands and whinnied slightly, increasing their speed. Westeott saw the marshal arouse himself, straighten in the saddle, and stare about, his eyes still dull and heavy. "One h ? 1 of a view, Jim," he said disgustedly, "hut I reckon we can't be a great ways from that springs We've been rldln' right smart." "It's not far ahead; the ponies sniff water. Ah! there's a bunch o' green ahead; that'll likely be Badger springs." Assured they were beyond pursuit; the two unsaddled und turned the ponies out to crop the few handfuls of wire grass which the sweet water bubbling up from a slight depression had coaxed Into stunted growth. There was no wood to be had, although they found evidence of several camp fires, and consequently they were obliged tc content themselves with what they could find eatable In their hag. Except for a few sentences neither spoke, un hi crennan, naving partially satisfied his appetite, produced the note given hlin by Allss I.a Hue, and deliberately slashed open the sealed envelope. "In tho name of the law," he said grimly, hauling out the inclosure "Now we'll see what's the row. Holj The Light Illumined His Face for an Instant. mwKei it's In Spnnlsh! Here, Jim, do irou rend thai lingo?" "I know words hero and there," and Westeott lient over the pat?er, his [>rows wrinkling, ""t-ct's Roe; it's not in the ^almafesta n to the Advertiser ! Bred in a Day >n seed it is necessary to connl years. This work is of the 1 large expenditure. Our Mr. ling in the South, worked for lleriug his first strain of pedid business and offer pedigreed offer our strains as pedigreed lie our newest and best strains, anager have been doing sclcni and their names mean pure the largest and strongest staff States. The seed we offer are seal and over the signatures of , Gen. Manager. I d, Bred and Introduced % ill#* cotton licit. We arc tlic origiSties under our guarantee of breeding Deltatype This if a new variety and wc believe it to lie the best and most prolific cotton of fine 1% inch staple in existcn e. Lint turnout 33 1-3%. Bolls larger llian (doveland Big Boll. Erect growing, early, easy to pick ami storm resistant. Especially recommended for boll weevil sections. Ip 'you In make money. \ n e arv * m rv w tMfAIN r a .?afcwu*i5N*iini 1 /leg > 11J d>? ."D*' <%*Aa4an*>3 dbttars for somathJjjg-pI-^as't?; *%?!*? .out* Nvhat, ' only it Ims to uo wlthf^npra.^a^ ' suys.he'll bo thepe t? *^nfep-jvlth hlib Sortie"time totalgKt*f>. * . . . -I^oywviv llr j' f ?' 1 " Yes; nt ldust"b? gffchetf IC"'* "Well, If Lacy-trfi^s So meet btttfdea* 1 tonight, ho ought IdJ^he' -'(Hong here* Soon after. Jdghrfnji.t**fio\*?d It rto to ' hIUe>q-these-?ondThfUfr and wait?" , "Wg can do>Uiat, i)t(i>.' if. we .don't. ' bjt .any. .trail,'.' - stdd^Vd&toptt,- leaning over, his hand on the other's knee, "but If we can get {here earlier. I'd | rathef not wasted 'tlrtie. There's no knowing what a deVfl like Merulez may ; do. Let's take a aco?t*AMtrnd, anyhow.'' . : .f?* .*? . ' ^ They started, the en* going east, the ( other west, -and made ft.semicircle uu, til they met, a hundred yards .or .so, south of the spring,, having jtound nothIng. Again they, clrctejj. out,, plowing Illicit* It'll V tltTAHirli tha ?n ... - ..a# v... vun'1 IliDWUU, UUU Ull.UI once Brenhnn lifted hUt Wind Into the air and1 called. Westcott "hurried over to where he stood motionless, staring down at the track of-a ^wagon wheel. It hadslld along a slight 4??<livity, and left a- irtack so decgrasTiibt'yot'.to he obliterated. They traeod^lt.fur thirty feet before It entirely* dhsa^jjenred. . "Still goin' south," affirmed the marshal. gazing In that "defection. "Don't look like there's nriftilb^aytJhero, but we might try. Let'^^'aiJi^^y^i. ' It w6s a blind tralj,p^ogfess was slow. The men'^boont^.' riding back and fofth, leauf^Jtofowrj} liji the saddles, scanning tliis . the | slightest sign. I'w^ m^counj tered un undoubted wfie^'mark, and 1 once traces ,of..theiW^?Le four wheels , were plainly . visible.,. T^hesq^coubl he i followed easily .for nearly (ft-Quarter-ot i a mile, but then as quickly vanished as i the wagon came again toiRn??outcrop1 ping of rock. Yet this wah assured? : the outfit had headed stotfdlly south! ward. . .. i I This jvas desperately slow ewk. and beyond that ridge of rock {hey "discovered no other evidence. An hour passed, and not the slightest sign gave , encouragement. Could the 'wagonshave : turned In some other direction? " In the shadow of a sand dune thsy hhlted finally to discuss the situation. Should they go on? Or explore further to the west? . Might It not even be lieKer to retrace their way to the springs, and valt the coming pf'Lncy? ' Rrennnn was for turning back, arguing the uselessness of going further, and the necessity of water for the ponies. "Come on, Jim," he urged. "Bo sensible; we've lost the trail, and "Mint's no fault o' ours. An Apaejio ludtnn couldn't .trace a herd o' steers 'through this sand. And look ahead tbttrh It's wui-se^Bii" more or it. I'm lor stalking Lacy at the springs." He stopped suddenly, staring southward as though he had seen a vision. "Holy smoke I What's that? By (!od> It's a wagon, Jim; an' it come right up out of the earth. There wasn't no wagon there a second ago." For a moment borh men suspected that what they looked upon was a mirage?Its actual existence there in that place seemed impossible. Yet there was no disputing the fact that yonder in the very midst of that desolation of sand a wagon drawn by straining horses was slowly moving directly toward them. Westcott was first to grasp the truth, hnstlly jerking the marshal back to where the tired ponies stood with drooping heads behind the protection of the dune. Westcott lay outstretched on the far side of the dune, his hat beside him, and his eyes barely able to peer over the summit, ready to report observations to the murshal crouched below. "It's Moore's team, all right," he whispered back, "ami Matt is driving them. There isn't anyone else on the seat, so I guess he must he alone.'' "We cun't be sure of that," returned Brenuan. wise In guarding against surpriR3a. "There was another fellow with him on the out trip and he might i be lyiug down back in the wagon. We'd better both of us hold em up. I can hear the creak of the wheels now. so maybe you best slide down. Is the 1 outfit loaded?" "Traveling light, I should say," and I Westcott, after one more glance, crept down the sand heap and joined the | waiting man helow. Both stood Intent and ready, revolvers drawn, listening, j 'Hie heavy wheels grated In the sand, the driver whistling to while away the dreary pi'.ll and the horses breathing , heavily. Moore pulled them up with a ' Jerk as two figures leaped into view, his whistle coming to an abrupt pause. I "H?l's fire!" was all he said, staring : dumbly down Into Brennnn's face over the front wheel. "Where In Sam Hill : did you come from?" "I'm the one to nsk questions, son," returned the little marshal, the vicious blue barrel shining In the sunlight, "and the smarter you answer the less ORCHARD AND GARDEN NOTES Clcmson College, Feb. 28.?It is not too late to spray fruit trees for the San .lose Scale with commercial lime-sulphur. The Lady Thompson is one of the best varieties of strawberries for the home garden. Early spring is an excellent time for planting. Two hundred plants will supply the family table. Prepare to spray for the brown rot and plum curculio this season. Purchase now the spray material, good burnt lime-sulphur and arsenate, of lend. The following vegetables may be planted now: beets, carrots, celery, kale, lettuce, otoions, parsley, parsnips, peas, Irish potatoes, radishes, and spinach. Start tomato plants indoors by sowing seed in a box, which should be placed in a sunny location, Earlyiana is a good early variety. GASOLINE SYSTEMS Oil Tanks and Pumps, Air Compressors, Computing Scales j Floor Scales, Show Cases, Ac I count Registers. Rebuilt Cash Registers. Safes, Store Fixturqa. HAMltTOW SALfcS CQ. Lucky Strike cigarette . v Y If e fnaeft*A tended, but what was the difference? "Cateras took her," he admitted, "hut I don't know Whar. I tried ter find out whar she was, hut nobody'd tell me. Then 1 had ter pull out." Westcott interjected a question. "What's the valley like, an' how do you KOt Into it?" "Well, I'd say It was Just a sort o' sink in the desert, a kinder freak. Anyhow, I never saw nuthin' like It afore. The wulls is solid rock, almost straight up an' down, hut thar's a considerable stream flowin* down tliar that Just bursts out a hole In the rock, an' plenty o' gruss fer quite a bunch of steers." "How do they pet down into it?" " 'Lonp a wlndln' trail on the west side. It used to be mighty rough, 1 reckon, an' only good fer hikers, hut they fixed It up so Ihey can drive cattle down, an' even a wagon If yer take it easy." "And there Is no other way to the bottom except along this trail?" "That's 'bout all." Brennan and Westcott looked at each other, both uncertain as to the next step. What were they to do with their prisoner? And how could tffey proceed toward effecting the rescue of the helpless girl? ft was a problem not easy to solve, if what Moore told them was true. The latter shuttled his feet In the sand, lifted his eyes shrewdlv ?inft stiullerl tlio fnenu i\t ..orv. tors. He wns figuring his own chance. "You fellows want ter pet down Inter the v.liey?" he nskoil at Inst. "Yes," and Brennnn turned apnin quickly, "if It euu he done. Of course inui s only two of us, an' It would hfl sort o foolkh tryin' ter fight a way through, even ap'in' Mexicans. Fifteen tor two is some odds, hut 'tain't in my nature, or Jim's here, ter turn round an' leave that girl in the hands </ them cusses?is it, Jim?" "I never will," replied Westoott earnestly. "Not if I have to tackle tlio whole outfit alone." "You won't have to do that. What's the idea, Moore?" "Oil, 1 was Just thinkln'." lie answered, still uncertain. "If I show yer a way, what is thar in it for mo?" Brennnn stiffened, his features expressing nothing. "What do you moan? I'm an officer o* the law!" "I know it; I ain't asking yer tor make no promise. But yer word will go a h?1 ov a ways if tills ever gets ii court If I help yer I've got to lie protected fmm Bill Lacy, lle'd kill me as quick as he'd look at me. Then I'd want yer ter tell the Judge how it all happened. I know ye're square. Dan Brennnn, an' whatever yer says goes." The marshal stuck out his hnnd. "That's the gospel truth. Matt," he said gravely, "an' I'm with yer till the cows come home. What is it you know?" "Well," with a quick breath as he took the plunge, "it's like this, mar der," and he waved his hand to indicate the direction, "on the east rim o' the valley, where yer might get down. ?Vii Mr hm toou- ja joj reft 6) n 1. shall huv? t6 hurt yen Don't reach for that gun I Are you traveling alone?" - Moore uodded, his hands up, but still grasping the reins. . "Then climb down over the: wheel. Jim,,.tnke a look under that canvas; Moore," here", lg generally u genial sort o'? liar and we'd better be sure. All : right?hey? Then dismount. Matt, and he quick about it." Js'oxv unbuckle that belt and hand the whole Outllf over to Westoott; then we'll talk business together." . t ' lie shoved.his own weapon back Into its holster and faced the prisoner, who had recovered from his first shock of ! surprise and whose pugnacious temper , was beginning to assert itself. RrenI nun read this- In. the man's sulky, defiant glance, and his... lips smiled grimly. "Getting bullish, are you. Matt?" he said; rather softly. "Goln' tcr keep a close tongue In yer herid; so that's the game? Well, I wouldn't, son. If I was ^you. Now, see here, Moore," and the marshal's, eyes were like flints. "You know me, I reckon, an' that I ain't Illlich on hnuo' **!?..? -v.... - * * u.vu |nuj, xnu never neuru tell o' ray hlttin' anybody Just fer fun, did yer?" There was no answer. "An' yer nevfer heard no one say," went on Brennan, "that I was afraid ter hit when I needed to. I reckon also yer knows whnt sorter man Jim Westcoft'is. * Now the two ov us ain't out here In this d d Shoshone desert fer the fun of It?not by a jugful. Oet that fact lntd yer-heud, sou, an' maybe it'll bring yer some seuse. Do yer get ,tne?" "Yes," . sullenly and reluctantly, "but yer haven't got nuthin' on me." "Oh, hnven't I? You drove u young woman out here from Haskell night afore last for Bill Lacy. Ain't abduction no crime? An' that's only one count'. I've had an eye on you for more'n sjx months,, an' .Lucy's been making a cat'spaw out of you all that time. Well, Lacy is playin' his last ' hand right now, an' I've got the cards." The marshal paused, fully aware that he had struck home, then added quietly: "It ullers struck me, Mutt, that naturally you was a pretty decent fellow, but had drifted in with n h.wl * * ?. vivnu. A III lUHTIHg you now a chance to get straight again." lie threw hack his coat and exhibited his star. "Yer see, I ain't just talkiu' tei yer as Dan Brennnn?I'm the law." The. boy, for he was scarcely more than that in years, shuffled his feel uneasily, and Ills eyes wandered from Brennnn to West cot t. The look of sullen defiance had vanished. "Wotcher wante'r ask?" "Who- was with you the out-trip, along with Miss Donovan?" "Joe Sikes." "And yer left hiin hack there, guarding the girl?" "He stayed 5 them was the orders, while I was to bring back the team; but I reckon he Won't need to do no guardin' to speak of, fer we run mtei a bunch o* fellows." "How many are they?" "Maybe h dozen; f don't Just know." "What was done with the young lady?" Moore spat vindictively into the sand, digging a hole with ids heel. He had talked already more than he In IVUJICU ?r _ ' i nail; but both of yor nro mountain I men, an' I reckon yer could make the i trip if yer took It careful an' slow | like," Westcott asked: "IIow can we pet i there safely? Can you pulde us?" { Moore swept his eyes over the dull ranpe of sand, expectorated thoughtfully, and rammed his hands deep into his tronser-pockets. He was slow | nhout answering but the two men waited motionless. "If it was me," he said finally, "I'd I take It on foot. It'll he a jaunt ov I near on to three miles, unless yer want tor risk bein* seen by them , Mexes on the main trail. You couldn't ! po straight, hut would have ter circle out nn' travel mostly behind that ridge ' o' sand thnr to the left. Goln' that a-way nobody's likely ter get sight o' | , yer on foot. Ynu couldn't take no | noss. though. ITcreVl he my plan; Load this yore outlir o' mine tin' your ponies hack inter them sand dunes wliar nobody ever goes. They're tired nnugh ter stand, an' there ain't nnyhing fer 'em to prize on. Then we kin hoof it over ter the place I'm tellin' yer nhout. an' yer kin sorter size it up fcr yerselves. That's fair, ain't | It?" I They went at It with a will. The j team was driven Into tlm security ot the sand drifts and unhitched. The saddles were taken from the hacks of the ponies, and what grain Moore had in the wagon was carefully appor 1 iM>ik'ii among me lour minimis, rmtisJ tied these would lint stray, tin* men i looked carefully to their supply of ammunition and set fortli on their tramp. This proved a harder journey than either I'rennnn or Westcott Imd antieipnted, for Moore led off briskly, taking a wide circle, until a considerable ridge concealed their movements from the south. .At last Moore turned sharply and plunged into what resembled a narrow ravine through the ridge. Here they struggled knee deep in the sand, hut finally emerged on the very rim overlooking the valley. So perfectly was it concealed tlu^l were within t?>n feet of the edge hefore the men, their heads bent in tlie strenuous effort to advance, even realized Its immediate presence. Moore grinned as lie noted the surprise d<?picted on their faces, and waved his hnnd. "Yer better lie down an* crawl up ter the edge," he advised. "Some hole, ain't it?" "I should sn.v so," and Westcott dropped to Ids knees. "I never dreamed of such a place. Dan, ain't this an eye-opener?" ' It sure is," and the marshal crept cautiously forward. "Only it's devils 1 who've got possession. What's that down below. Matt? Houses, by Jingo! Well, don't that heat li?1??all the comforts of home." liiir /toltlriQ " OV??ln i iuv/1 rather proud of his knowledge. "Carted the logs in from ol' lialdy, more'n forty miles. Creep up a hit an' I'll show yer how the trail runs. Don't he afeerd; nobody kin see jer from down below." "All right. son; where Is it?" "It starts at the foot o' that bowlder," Indicating with his linger, "an* goes along the shelf clear to the end; then thar's a drop ov niayhe five feet to that outcrnppin' o' rock just below. It's wiiler than it looks to he from ' yore. After that yer can trace it quite a spell with yer eyes, kinder ! sldlin' ter the left, til! yer come to j that dead root ov a cedar. Then j thar's a gap or two that ain't over I easy, an' a- slide down ter another I shelf. Yer can't miss it, cause there's i no other way ter go." "And what's at the bottom?" j "Them huts, an' the mouth of a big | cave just behind 'em. I reckon it's in ' the cave thev'vo got the gal; there's , places there they kin shut up. but I i don't know what they was ever made l'er. I asked Lacy wur.st, but he only laughed." The two men lay flat, sttiring down. It was almost a sheer wall and the very thought of climbing along the almost Inrassnhle path pointed out by Moore made West cot t dizzy. It was such n sheer, precipitous drop, a paf.b 4.T. DAVIS MARKET The Finest Fresh Meat* Ike Best Fancy Groceries High Grade Canned Goods The Best of F.verything for the Table j A.F DAVIS MARKET E. MAE EDGE WORTH Optometrist Eyes examined and glasses fitted scientifically. Office hours 10 A. M. to 4 P. M. Office upstairs in Ross building. DISCHARGE NOTICE On l J1 y. :rch, next, I will apply to I the Probate Court for a discharge as I Administrator of Estate of G, J. Kirkley, deceased. P . Administrator. - CL..W- ,J ' I" I M *-lf ptth It could b? called?bo thickly studded with danger the mind ao ^ tuully recoiled In contemplation. They were still sitting there crosslegged In/the sand when the silence was suddenly punctuated by the sharp report of u revolver. The sound barely reached their ears, yet It undoubtedly came from below, and all three were upon their feet, when a second shot decided the matter. West cot t was lirst ut the rim, staring eagerly downward. For a moment all he noticed was a man lying . r -?- --- -? ? Westcott Was the First at the Rim, Staring Eagerly Downward. on tho iri'ouinl in front of tlm cmoll hut, hut almost immediately men began to swarm out through the door ??f the hunk-house, and a horseman came spurring from the llehl beyond. The men were armed, several with puns in their hands; all with revolvers buckled at the waist, and they hunched there. Just outside the door, evidently startled, but not knowing which way to turn. The figure on the ground lifted Itself partly, and the fellow must have called to the others, although no sound of a voice attained the summit of the cliff, for the whole git tic rushed in that direction, and clustered about, gesticulating excitedly. An occasional Spanish oath exploded from the mass with sullieient vehemence to reach the strained ears above, and the watchers were able to perceive the fellows.lift the fallen man to his foot, and untie his hands, which were apparently secured behind nIs back. He must have been wounded also, for one sleeve was hastily rolled up. and water brought from the stream, in which it was bathed. Moore's hand closed convulsively on the marshal's arm. "It's ol* Mende*/. a-? I'm a livln' sinner." he announced hoarsely. "An' somebody's plunked him. What'd yer make o' that?" itrennan never removed his gaze from the scene below, but bis face was tense with interest. "Illumed If 1 know; might be a niCre row?hold on. there! Whoever did it is in uiai cuuin; watcn what they're tip to, now." More minx wore brought forth from the hunkhouse, anil distributed; the single horseman rode swiftly up the valley, and a half-dozen of the fellows lugged u heavy timber up from the corral, and dropped it on the ground in front of the smaller cabin. Mendez, his arm in a sling, passed from group to group, profanely busy, snapping out orders. (To be continued) PALMAFESTA Palmetto Stale Festival Colanilii.1, March 2S to April 2. J. ARTHUR KNIGHT A ti - ? t /" ?iurncyaa(-L.iw Gd'.ce in Courthouse Chesterfield, S. C. DK. J. T. RUTLEDGE Dental Surgeon A; l'a!_? I' nil Tucsiiay and Wedneslay K minder of time at Chesterlield, . liice in lJa.r. of Chesterfield !>u 11 tl i 11 ja'CiL&uSJHILDREN Black-Draught, Long in Successful Use, Praised by an Arkansas Mother, "Soon Does Its Work." ?Tnrmr.dulce. Ark.?Speaking of Thodioiu'c Black-Draught, which from long use in hor household has become regarded as "the family medicine," Mrs. Mary E. Hill, of Route 1, thla "Whon the children got bilious, I give thrm a roui>lo of good doses, and whon we have sour stomach, headache, or any liver or stomach trouble, wo use Black-Draught. It is an easy laxative, and soon does tho work. I certainly think it is one of the best remedies made." Black-Draught acts on the Jaded liver, gently, but positively, and helps it. in its important function of throwing out waste materials and poisons from the system. In thousands of households BlackDraught is kept liandy for immediate use in time of need. Prompt treatment often Is half tho battle, and will often prevent slight Ills from developing into serious troubles. Its well-established ' merit, during more than 70 years of successful use, should convince you of the helpful effects obtainable by taking BlackDraught for liver and stomach dls orders. (Jet a package today, and keep it in your houso. See that the package bears the words, "tWorq. W-. N.vm