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ccEhioht, w (Continued from lait Weak) CHAPTER IX. Perond*s Cafe. A thousand questions were upon my lips as I waited Just outside the door, yet when she appeared, wrapped from head to foot In a raincoat, I asked nothing. The pressure of her hand on my arm guided me- across Broadway, Into the quieter streets beyond. It was a dark, coo( night, cloudy but without rain, and we walked rapidly, entering a region with which I was j unfamiliar. Here was a strange situation indeed, acting as escort to a woman about whom I knew next to nothing; voluntarily accompanying her on a mission of peril, with no con ceptlon of Its nature, or the purpose she had In view. I glanced aside at her profile revealed by the gleam of .a street lamp, hut she appeared lnqjirferent to my presence. Intent only upon whatever object she had In mind. >Ve were In the glootn of the deserted block beyond, when she spoke Abruptly, startling me with the In- j anlrv I "Do you know a Russian named Waldron?" I "No. I hnve heard of him; that Is. ' If you refer to the agitator, the socialist. That was his wife, wasn't It, where you sent me this afternoon?" She turned toward me In surprise. '"How did you chance to learn that, pray?" "I stopped on the corner, at the delicatessen store, and made some In' ^ulrles." ? She laughed, one of her soft laughs, with an odd suggestion of music In the tone. "Why, really, you are developing wonderfully. I must give you credit. Well, then It may Interest you to know that I am going now to meet Ivan Waldron. The place where I believe him to be Is not altogether safe 'tor a woman without an escort. Your mere presence will be sutllclent protection, however; It is not necessary that you encounter him. By the way, what has become of your friend ?Horner, alias Harris?" "Dropped completely out of sight," T ?- **- - ' m amuiucu, niutr euriy mis muinnm. ^ * That chances to be why 1 feel some Interest in this man Waldron. It wa?s a note from him, left at Costlgan's saloon, which caused Harris to''leave so hurriedly." "Who brought the note?" she stopped suddenly, and faced tne In the idim lamp light. j "A Jewish boy, known as 'Sly Jjevy.'" "Zi was from Waldrou then, no doubt. I'm glad you told tne. The ?hances are they will both he where Eyed^Us Curiously as He Went By. we are going, unless they have already quarreled over that bunch of .easy money you- spoke about." "But has that been paid over by iKrantz? Who has It?" "The fellow who put a knife Into Alva?whoever he may be." i "And yon don't know who the aattasslM was?" "No. Only it must hare been one of certain men; perhaps two were In the affair. At first I figured It out ' to bo Waldron alone; now I am not ait*A tliot Ilnhrla ha ?rn aomA hand la It. They may have had the affair all planned?the money was passed ?*/er to Alva early In the evening. I didn't know It then; I learned this later. Krants told me when we were alone on the way back to New f:; r York. Let's move along; there la A policeman coming yonder.** The officer passed us slowly, swinging his club, and eyed us curiously as ihe went by; I did not turn my head, jret felt certain he stopped and looked back as though-wondering what our business could be In that neighborhood. We turned down a still darker aide street before exchanging further speech. believe I know what you are," I eeld at last In low tonea close to her Mr - ear, "an agent of the Secret Service." By. V "Oh, no; the honor you. offer me la far toe mat X have not attained to any such official dignity." "t ratfeer expected yen to deny} - V ilMXPJU&ISH lOROT f iANGK CASHtf CAVENDISH ?, ILLUSTRATIONS' *J*r V4-WEILRAMPALl. PARR15H ttAnd so you decide to believe that? Very well, Mr. Severn, I shall let you have It your own way. You deserve reward; only, pray, never suggest this theory to any one else. Let. It remain our secret, will you?" "Your mockery does not change my mind." MI had no expectation that It would; notthox /??/?* 1* 1 " ~~ uuen II unD( DII A lalftTJ. t)Qt seriously, forget all thla raillery tonight, and remember only that you 1 are with Marie Oessler. Whatever ' her purpose may be, you are to be loyal only to her." "I am, absolutely," I replied with a conviction my voice was unable to disguise. She turned her face quickly, and in the dim light our eyes met. "You said that very earnestly. You make me believe I Judged you right, Philip Severn. Here Is my hand." , I clasped It tightly, the firm pres- . sure, of the warm fingers sending an Instant thrill through every nerve of my body. It was not withdrawn, and we walked so closely together I could feel the slight pressure of her form, almost resting against mine. "Where are you taking me?" "To Perond's French cafe?have you ever heard of it?" "No, I think not." '"I have been there with slumming parties once or twice, with a plainclothes man along, of ^ourse, to show | us the sights. It Is not very respectable, I believe, although really I never saw anything particularly dangerous. Interesting and unconventional, of course, but I anticipate no trouble, unless we care to make It ourselves. You see the cluster of lights at the next corner. That's Perond's." As I gazed forward, she drew her hand from my grasp, aud her form straightened. "What p. I to do when we arrive?" "Merely be the attentive escort? but not too attentive, please. Have vaii #1 Inn/1 ? "No. I w?s going to ask yon.'* "You need not ask me?I am famished, and this place is really famous for its meals." Perond's was really underground; at least you descended a broad pair of steps to attain Its entrance, and the glass In windows and doors fronting the street was heavily draped, preventing any view of the Interior from wtyiout. What was overhead could not he determined in the darkness, my eyes merely discerning the outlines of a tall building, without a gleam of light showing anywhere from top to bottom. The front of the restaurant, however, was brilliantly lit, and a colored man In uniform promptly held open the door as we began descending the stairs. Within the vestibule a maid relieved us of outside wraps, and thus unencumbered we advanced through open doors directly into the main room. This was a surprisingly large apartment, filled with tables of various sixes and shapes, the majority occupied by men and women, either eating or drinking. Near the center was a cleared space for dancing, but at that moment unoccupied, while against the farther wall, on a rather high stage, two cabaret singers were noisily entertaining the crowd. Altogether It was a stirring and attractive s<-ene, bearing to my mind no resemblance of any preconceived notion of the underworld. I could have eas lly Imagined that we lrad entered, rather, the restaurant of an ultra* fashionable hotel the other aide of Broadway. Nor did our entrance create the slightest Interest, beyond awakening the attention of the head waiter, who met us smilingly. "A table for two. M'sleur?" MA booth, please; have you one near the center?" and I slipped a bill Into his hand, which closed It InstaWtly out of sight. "Ah, certulnly; the very thing, M'sleur. I will show you. Francois, the central booth for the gentleman. Ah, see, M'sleur?blen, tres blenl" It was Indeed a cozy spot, with the heavy curtains held aside. A divan of soft plush across the end, a table covered with snowy linen, and already glistening with silver and glass, in the center, nnd three exceedingly comfortable chairs. * "It Is very fine, M'sleur," I said. "Quite to my satisfaction. You might lower one or those curtains. ir you will. Yes, that Is much better. Is Francois our waiter?" "Oul, M'sleur; you would be served? the table de holt,* Francois. Tliese dishes are ready-^but, M'sleur, we serve quickly whatever you wish." . He spread his hands expressively, gin need swiftly about to assure himself all was well, and backed out. still politely bowing, leaving the attentive Francois beside me, pad' In hand. At my suggestion the lady gave the order, rs'-frf discretion, I thought, while I supplemented with a bottle of wine, In spite of the energetic negative conveyed to me across the table. As the waiter depurted I surveyed my companion, realising as never before how extremely attractive she was. She must have read something of this In my eyes, for her own smiled wistfully. i "What Is It yon were thinking about?" i "Perhaps I had better not tell." "Another secret? Well, then, answer this?what do you think of Parotid'st*. S? V ' ' " tuSgdsflve of crimp, to this brilllanc? I s altogether too sodden. It has left ne d&sed; my mind refuses to funcJon." "It affected me that way the first rlalt. I could not convince myself of I he true nature of the place; It teemed?well, altogether coo respective. I always associated the underworld with roughness and poverty, poles surveillance, and all that. But look out there; It Is like a big hotel dining-room after the play. Those women?some of them, at least?are really elegantly dressed, and In excellent taste, and there Is no more noise, no more coarseness, than I have witnessed at the Waldorf. The men are not bad-looking, either, do you think T" "Well, there are all grades hers, now that I look about; yet, as you lay, the average is not bad. Prob- ; tbly they will grow louder later In the evening, when they take the lid off." "I don't bellsve they ever do?that Is, entirely. Mr. McLaughlin, the detective who came with us, said this was really the most dangerous place In town from the police viewpoint. Its rery surface quiet made It a special menace. Nothing was ever permitted to occur here which would give the department any excuse for a raid. If there waa a fight, or even a murder. It eras hushed up Instantly, and the ( rtctlm hidden away, before even the patrolman on the block could hear about It. He mentioned several cases; and said the waiters were especially selected to take care of any rough bouse." - , "Perhaps that Is what makes It pop- J alar with the class they cater to." | "Safe, you mean. Tee; he said they could spot any criminal of reputation In the country at Parotid's, If they only waited long enough; that half the big Jobs in New York were plotted : at theRe tables." "I begin to comprehend," I said , Joenlarly, "why I was received as a distinguished guest. The headwalter must have recognlz/-1 me as an old pal?my face is my fortune." "He may huve mistaken you for Daly," she admitted soberly, "but more likely It was yoi-v tip which made him so attentive. You are some spender, Mr. Severn." "That depends on who I am with; this is an unusual occnslon." She did not smile, or look at me, but leaned slightly forward, drawing back a fold of the curtain with one hand, so as to gain a wider glimpse of the large room without. A moment she remnlned motionless; then turned her face sideways toward me. "Waldron is already here," she whispered warnlngly. "He is alone at that second table, against the pillar. Step around this side and you cnn see; the man with gray, bushy hair." I could not easily have mistaken the r<Miow; his- apnfearnnce was too emphatically' that of the Russian Jew of a certain type to enable him to conceal his birthright. His baca was toward us, yet as he occasionally his eyes about over the faces of those around him, I had a glimpse of a beaked" nose, and a sallow, dull complexion, which seemed to blend naturally Into a scrnggllng beard of no perceptible color. His hair thpugh was Iron-gray, Apparently uncut for weeks, and thrust back from an unusually high forehead, so as to give the man a ruffled, unkempt appearance far from pleasing. He was big all over, strangely burly for a Jew, with broad shoulders and large hands, thickly covered with hair. I 1 moved back around the table as Francois appeared, and resumed my seat, keeping silent until the waiter again vanished, and left us alone. i "And now ihni*you have located the fellow," I asked curiously, "what do you propose doing?go out and talk with him?" She shook her head. "1 have reason to believe he expects to meet some one here," she explained. "I do not know who; that Is one thing I desire to find out. From what you have told me tonight I rather think now It may be Harris." i "To dlvvie up?" "To talk It over, at least; they'd unruly oring uie stutr in here. Probably by this time that Is safely planted." Francois came back, and we devoted ourselves to the meal, although I could observe her glancing constantly through the opening In the curtains to ! make sure of her man. Finally1 Francois disappeared with the remnants, while we awaited the serving i of dessert. From my seat I could see nothing of the 'Russian. "No one arrived yet?*' I Inquired. "The Jew still there?" "He remains alone eating. Ah! my guess was right?Isn't that Harris, who has Just come In?" I It was "Gentleman George" lieyond the shadow of n doubt. He had evidently located Waldron the moment j of entering the room, and with no . other thought In his mind bended j straight toward where the letter sat. j fTl.o Tott. olanoAi) ? ' m nr ?;r?? ^,iaiiv.cu U|i, ?HW III 1(1 nj> proaehln" and drew partially back from t tnnle, the knlftehe had been using aflii gripped in his hand. Ills posture was that of defense, of one who anticipates possible attuck. Nor did Harris' expression and manner render this Improbable. The latter pushed his way forward with angry strides, until he reached the man he sought, leaning over the table to front him, his face black with passion, his first words plainly audible to us above the din of a jazz band. "Ray. where the h?1 have you been? What is this, a double-cross, Waldron?" "What you mean?" ejaculated the other. "By Gott! It Is rather you I should ask why you not tell me the truthr "Tell you! What the devil have 11 goi iv ten you r von t get runny wltn me. Tou sent me note this rooming, didn't you?" "Sure,I did." "Well, then, why didn't you roc*et me? D?n It, I've been hunting you all day long. What'a the idea? Come, blurt It out, before I wrtng your d?n Jew neck," Waldron spread hla hands, and lifted his shoulders in an expression more eloquent than words. "What a man I Ton cues roe, but not wait to hear why this all was so. Ten alt down, and I tell yon. Then maybe yon tell me something also." .<* Harris statvd at him. then sank Into - Vv IF rC; *n wi ?_ "What la Thla. a Douhli.rm*? ur?i. dronF* 1 paused at his elbow expectantly, and, in response to something said, the thief Jerked out a surly answer. "No, I don't want anything to eat. Bripg me some whisky?a half pint? with a little water. Yes, that's all; now get out of here." At this moment Frnncols returned with our final course, obliging us to appear Indifferent to the quarrel raging beyond tne curtains. Both men must have lowered their voices, for our ears caught nothing of what vas said It seemed to me the waiter was unusually slow In rearranging the table. "There, that will do, Francois," I broke out, at last, Impatiently. "We will want - nothing else at present. When I need you again I will ring. That Is the bell, I presume." ! "Oul, M'sleur." I "All right; then leave us alone for a while." Neither one of us touched a thing, the coffee growing cold In the cups, as we endeavored to distinguish what was going on at that second table out In the main dining room. I came around beside her, to where I could peer out also beneath the curtain fold, and thus gain glimpses of the two men. They were talking earnestly, but bud lowered their voices, until they were nearly Inaudible amid the din of the place. The anger and threat had gone out of both voices; but only occasionally could we weave together words Into an understandable sentence ; these came to us detached, unrelated, as the surrounding noise ceased suddenly, or the music came to a pause. I "You didn't get It I Then who the h?1 did? Me, 1 should say no; why I never knew the old man had even Rlipped him the dough. That d?n girl rode down with him. Of course I do; I saw them go out together; that's why I thought I was playing safe to keep away. Somebody has played us for suckers. If you had kept your d?n mouth shut we'd a-had It easy." Waldron broke In, stung by this last taunt Into elevating his voice. "What you mean, I keep my mouth shut? So help me, Moses, I tell nobody." i j "The h?I you didn't 1 You blabbed the whole thing to Daly. He told me so Himself. That's what I was doing last night, bluffing him out." "I tell Daly? Where you git that stuff? I ain't seeu Daly for three year. Was he In this deal? Why you not tell me of Daly before?" "Tell you! I never knew It until he told me." A waiter brushed past him, hearing a tray, striking against one shoulder as he passed. Harris glanced tip with a snarling onth, and, before I realized the danger, his eyes must have caught a glimpse of me beneath the draped curtain. Instantly the fellow was mi his feet, all else forgotten in a swift wave of pnsslon. "There's the guy now!" he burst forth. "He's hiding In that booth: I saw him Come on, and we'll have the ail.*, cough up yet!" I drew bnck swiftly, pushing the ?lrl behind me. There was ro place in which to hide, no chance for escape. Perhaps I could explain, but, If not, then I must fight. The two came plunging through the opening and faced us, the heavy curtains dropping behind them and shutting out nil view beyond. Harris, inflamed by drink, glared about as though doubting the evidence of his own eyos, but his expression was that of savage hatred. "H?1, If they ain't both of 'era here 1 Say, this Is rich. So you two are In cahoots, hey? Thought you'd play me for a d?n fool, did you, Daly? Well, I'll show you what you're up against? yon and yer girl. Come now, where's that boodle?" "I know nothing about It, Harris." "You're a liar. Tbls dame went away with Alvn In his car. I saw her go out with him. You cough up, both of you, and be d?n quick about it, or you'll never get out of here without a hole through you. You think you can double-cross me; I'll show you a trick of my own!" He was reaching for his gun. It must have caught In his pocket, though I wasted no time. It was his life or mine, and I gripped the empty wine bottle on the table and smashed a vicious blow at his head. He went down like a log. bis body half projecting through the curtains, while I wheeled about barely In time to meet the mad bull rush of Waldron. The Russian could not have heen armed, for he came at me with bare hands, his grip like that of a bear. For an lnstiint he had me throttled, scarcely able to breathe, my hands pinned helplessly In the grasp of his arms. But brute strength was all he possessed, brute strength and ferocity. The bottle was crushed out of my Angers, yet I wriggled partially free, and got one hand twisted into hiN whiskers, Jerking his liend back, and side-wise, until the strained neck threatened to crack, and he had to release his grip to protect himself. It was all over In a minute, but hot while It lasted; I know we struck against the girl, throwing her to her knees; I know the RAILROAD PLAN 10 GET RATES DOWN . , i-*&*?r? Proposc to Reduce Wageu aiu! Return All the Saving by j Reduction in Charges. j FULL TEXT OFTHE PROPOSAL! Statement by Thomas DeWitt Cuylsr, Chairman of the Association of i Railway Executives on the j Situation. ; __ Following a meeting In Chicago, October 14, 1921, of the presidents of noarly all the leading ra'.lroads in the country, Mr. Thomaa DeWitt Cuyler, hairman of the Association of uah way Executives, made the following statement: At a meeting of tha Association of Railway Executives today It was de- 1 termtned by the railroads of the United States to seek to bring about i reduction in rates. And as a means to that end to seek a reduction In the present railroad wages which have compelled maintenance .of the present rates. An application will bo made Immediately to the United States Railroad Labor Board for a reduction In wage:, of train service employes sufficient to remove the remainder of the Increases made by the labor board's decision of Jnlv an loan /?.v.s ? - -V, \nuivil nuuiu III V HI w H , further reduction of approximately 10 | per cent) apd for a reduction iu the j ' wages of all other classes of rail 1 road labor to the going rate for such 1 1 labor in several territories where the 1 carriers operate. ! ' To Reduce Rates as Wages Go Down. < The foregoing action is upon thf 1 understanding that concurrently with < such reduction in wages the benefit 1 of the reduction thus obtained shall 1 with the concurrence of the Intel ' state Commerce Commission, be pass ed on to the public in the reduction < of existing railroad rates, except in * so far as this reduction shall have been made in the meantime. The managements have decided upon this course in view of their realization of the fact that the wheels of industrial activity have been closed down to a point which brings depression and distress to the entire public and that something must be done to start them again in operation. The situation which confronts th railrqads is extremely critical. Thrailroads in 1920 realized a net rai' way operating income or about $02 000,000 upon a property investment o' over $19,000,000,000 and even thi amount of $62,000,000 included bad mail pay for prior years received fron the government of approximate!} $64,000,000, thus showing, when the operations of that year alone are considered, an actual deficit before mak i ing any allowance for either interes j or dividends. | The year ended in serious depres- < -??*? <a all branches of industry and In marked reduction of the market de mand for and the prices of basic com modifies, resulting in a very serious falling off in the volume of traffic. Roads Foroed to Defer Maintenance In this situation, a policy of th< most rigid economy and of postpon j ing and cutting to the bone of the up | keep of the properties was adopted i by the railroads. This was at the j price or neglecting and for th: time < Hafuri?lr> ? 1 .m.v< u>b nviK wi'icu in us v uei eaive . and In the near future be done and paid for. This ia illustrated by th ( fact that, as of September 15, 1921 over 16 per cent, or 374,431 In nun i her, of the freight cars of the carrier ] were In bad order and needing re t pairs, aa against a normnl of had or J der of not more than 160,000 as i; j further illustrated by the deferred | J and inadequate maintenance of othe: | * equipment and of roadway and atruc ' 1 tures, I < Bven under those conditions, and J with this large bill charged ui i against the future?which must soor. be provided for and paid If the car rlers are to . perform successfully their transportation duties?the re J 'lit of operations for the first etgh i months of this year, the latest avail able figures, has been at a rate of ne' I railway operating income, before pro j viding for interest or dividend i amounting to only 2.6 per cent pe ! annum on the valuation of the car rier properties made by the Inter state Commerce Commission in th< recent rate case, an amount not suf flcient to pay the interest on thoi. l outstanding bonds. Roads Earning Far Below Reasonabh Returns. I I It 1b manifest, from this showinr that the rate of return of or ' l I per cent for the first two years afte I March 1, 1020, fixed in the Transpoi i tation Act as a minimum reasonabl return upon railroad Investment, ha not been even approximated, muci ; less reached; and that the presen high rates accordingly are not due t< any statutory guarantee of earnings for there is no sueh guarantee. In analyzing the expenses whicl have largely brought about this sit uation, it becomes evident that h far the largest contributing cause t tho labor cost. i Today tbe railroads pay out to la l,or approximately 60 cents on the dol lar they receive for transportatloi B?rrice8 t heroes in 1916. 40 cents on the ooliar went to labor. Oa *> firit day of January, 1117 NOTICE OF SALE District Court of the United States Eastern District of South Carolina n Bankruptcy, j In the matter of H. E. Seegars A Co. Bankrupt. Pursuant to the order of Robert J. Kirk, Esq., Referee in Bankruptcy, dated September 28th, 1921 and directed to me as trustee, I will offer for sale at public auction at the store boose of the said H. E. Seegara & n I I / 1 ' when th* fOTtnunnt took oham?~*g^ wage* through th* Adamaon Act, tfc* labor coat ot th* railroad* had not axceeded the imu ot about $1,448,000,1)00 annually, la 1920, when govarament authority mado the last wag* Increase, the labor cost of the railroad* was about 3,698,000,000 annually, of, it continued throughout th* year Instead ot tor the eight month* during which the wage increase* were In effect, th* labor cost, on an tnuual basis, would hare bae& largely In excess of $3,900,000,000? in increase, since the government look charge of railroad wages in the kdumBon Act, of approximately |2,150,000,000 annually. In the light of these figures, it is manifest that the recent reduction of wages authorized by the Labor Board, estimated at from 10 to 12 per cent, In no sense meets or solves the problem ot labor costs, and In no way makes it possible for the railroads to afford a reduction of their revenues. Thousands of Rates Already Reduced. Indeed, during the" past year there have been between four and five thousand individual reductions in freight rates. On some railroads the reductions in rates have amounted to more lhan the reductions in wages so tar made, and on many other railroads the reductions in wages allowed no net return on operations, but merely pro- i titled against the further accumulation of a deficit. The point Is often made that agrlcu-1 Lure and other industries are also metering the same immediate difflcul :ies as the railroads, why, therefore, lo not the railroads take their medt:ine like anybody else? The answer lies in several facts: 1. The railroads were not permitted, as were other industries, to nako charges during the years of prosperity, making possible tbe accumulation of a surplus to tide them over the present extreme adversity. According to the reports of the Interitute Commerce Commission, the rate jf return in property investment of .he railroads of the United States for he past several years has been as follows: Rate of returns earned by railroads >f the United States on their property investment: Per cent 1012 4.84 1913 6.15 1914 4.17 191.1 4.20 ism (fiscal year) 6.90 1917 .6.26 1915 .3.16 1919 2.46 1920 0 82 1910 (calendar year). 6 16 It will thus be noted that during he years when other industries were naking very large profits, when the prices of farm products and the wages )f labor were soaring to unheard-of lelghts, the earnings upon railroad nvestment in the United States were leld within very narrow limits and hat they have duilug the past four fears progressively declined. Roads handicapped More Than Other Business. S. The railroads are responsible to he public for providing adequate ransportation. Their charges are lim- i ted by public authority, and they are i n very large respect (notably for ahor) compelled to spend money on ? hn?<e fixed by public authority. The j nargin within which they are permit- j :ed to earn a return upon their In- 1 restment or to offer Inducements to ittract new capital for extensions and letterments Is extremely limited. However much the railroads might | lesire, therefore, to reduce their charges In times of depression, it will ie perceived that the limitations surrounding their action do not permit :hem to give effect to broad and elas lc policies which might very prop jrly govern other lines of busineBs not .lius restricted. It has been urged upon the railroads :hat a reduction in rates will stimulate trafTio and that Increased traffic will protect the carriers fr' m the loss incident >.? a reduction in rates. The railroad managements cannot disguise from themlelveu that this suggestion Is merely conjectural and that un adverse result of the experiment wou-d be disaatroua, not jnly to the railroads, but to the public whose supreme need Is adequate transportation. Consequently the railroad managements annot reel iuslilled n placing these Initrumentalities, so essential to the public welfare, at the haaard of such an experiment based solely upon such conjecture Farmers Especially Need Lower Rates. It Is evident, however, that existing transportation charges bear in many rases a disproportionate relationship to the prices at which commodities can be sold in the market and that existing labor and other costs of transportation thus Impose upon industry and agriculture fenerally a burden greater than they should iiear. This is especially true of Agriculture. The railroad managements are feeling sensitive to and sympathetic with the distressing situation and desire to do everything to assist in relieving it that is computable with tneir duty to furnish transportation which the public must have. At the moment railroads in many cases ire pn> ing |rt cents an hour for unskilled labor when similar labor is working alongside the railroad and can easily he obtained l>y, them at 20 cents an hour. The railroads 'of the country paid in 1920 a total of considerably over $1.3rt0.ono.ooo to unski.led labor alone. However desirable it may be to pay this or that schedule of wages. It is obvious that it cannot be paid out of tiie railroad earnings, unless the industries which use the railroads are capable of meeting such charges. The railroads, and through thern the generally are ntso nampared In their efforts to economise by a schedule of working rules and conditions n<>w In force us a heritage from the period of Fcdi ral control and upheld by the ral'road labor hoard. Theft* conditions aj-? expensive, uneconomic and unnecessary from the point of view of rillroad operation and extremely burdensome upon the public which pays the hi I. The schedule of wages and of working conditions prevents the railroad i mm dealing equitably with their labor and costs in accord inee with rapidly changing conditions and the great variety o. local considerations which ought to control wages In differ *nt parts of the country. The railroads are seeking to have theso rubs and working conditions abrogated. The r.illrn.idi' will ? k a reduction 'i wages now pronost d by first r? q testing the sanction of the ral roed labor board The r<i.!i'o<tis will piocced with all pos sibie firpalch, and as soon as the r tliros labor hoard shall haw given its asselv to the reduction in wag s the general re Auction in rac<s will be pu*. Into iffec October 22nd, instant at 12 o'clock noon, the entire stock of goods bolonging to said bankrupts contained in the said store and inventoried and apprair.ed at the sum of one hundred eighty three dollars twenty one cents ($183.21), also accounts receivable valued at about $1000,00. Terms ol snl0 cash. Goods to be removed from building at once. Oct. 10, 1921 M. A. McPherson, Trustee in Bankruptcy. 1 am again carrying those matchlaaa Gardaar Cake*. A. F. Davit State of Sooth Carolina, County of Chesterfield. Court of Common Pleas. Albert Oliver, et al, Plaintiffs against 11a Moore, et alf Defendants. NOTICE OP SALE By virtue of an order gTanted by Ilia Honor, Jas. H. Purifoy,in the above stated case, I will offer for sale to the highest bidder for cash before the Court' House door at Chesterfield, S, C., on the first Monday in November, 1921, between tho legal hours of sale, all that certain piece, parcel or tract of land in sail State and County containg one hundred and seven acres more or less and bounded by lands of Mathew (iriggs, N. C. Cleveland, Sellers land, and others, same being estate lands of Mary Elizabeth Oliver, and this sale is for partition. W. J. Douglass, Clerk of Court of Common Pleas State of South Carolina, County of Chesterfield. Court of Common Pleas. C. H. Sumner et al Plaintiff. against iuary carter, defendant NOTICE OF SALE By virtue of an order granted by His Honor, Judge Edward Mclver, in the above stated case, I will offer for sale to the highest bidder for cash before the Court House door at Chesterfield, S. C., on the first Monday in November, 1921, between the legal hours of sale, all that certain piece, parcel or tract of land in said State and County containing Eighty-six acres more or less, bounded on the North and East by land of C. R. Sumner, South by land of J. W. Ruther, and on the West by land of C. R. Sumner, same being the estate lands of Li. R. Sumner, deceased. W. J. DOUGLASS, Clerk of Court of Common Pleas. NOTICE OF SALE OF PERSONAL PROPERTY Notice is hereby given that I will expose for sale at public auction to the highest bidder or bidders, for cash, at the store of Steen Grocery Company, at McBee, S. C., on Saturday the 8th of October, 1921, at 12 o'clock noon, all the stock of merchandise consisting of groceries, canned goods, dry goods, hats, caps, shoes, hardware and all other stock in said store. Said sale will be made under and by virtue of a chattel mortgage thtreof eecuted to the State State Bank of McBee on Nov. 12, 1920, by the Steen Grocery Company and assigned to me, the conditons of which mortgage have been breached by non-payment. Oct. 1, 1921. E. B. Johnson. NOTICE Notice is hereby given that under and by virtue of an order signed by his Honor, Judge J as. E. Puerifoy, dated September 27, 1921, in the case of F. M. Stanton, Plaintiff vs Minnie Ellison, Defendant, I will off c? iui rsuie in iront 01 xne Loui't House door in Chesterfield, S. C., on Monday, November 7th the same being the first Monday, between the legal hours of sale for cash at public out cry, the following described property to wit: All that certain piece, parcel or lot I of land, situate on the corner of Market Street and Ladd's Alley, in the town of Cheraw, Chesterfield | County, South Carolina, and known and numbered on map of Cheraw, made by Gilespie and Watson, C. E., 1U14, as Lot No. twenty-four (24) j in Block thirty-five (35) ; bounded West by Market Street; North by lot 'of Prince Ellison; East by lot of j Chanie Ellerbe and South by Ladd's ! Alley. This being the same property ! upon which is situated two small i tenant houses, and is so much of I those lots of land conveyed to Minnie Ellison by Moore and Turlington, see deed recorded in Book 43, page 343, office of Clerk of Court, Chesterfield County, as was not conveyed by Minnie Ellison to Prince Ellerbe, W. J. Douglass, Clerk of Court, Acting Master. ? SHERIFF'S SALE St:itr> of Smith furnliiiii J County of Chesterfield, Court of Common Pleas. C. C. Morgan, Flaintiflf, vs I.illie Miller, et a!, Pefendants. By virtue of a decree of the Court of Common Pleas for Chesterfield county heretofore made in the above case, I, J. T. Grant, Sheriff of Chesterfield County, will sell on Salesday, next, same being Monday the 7th, day of November, 11)21, during the usual hours of sale, before the court house door, in the town of Chesterfield county, and state above written, to the highest bidder, for cash, the buyer to pay for all necessary papers. All that certain piece, parcel or tract of land, situated lying and be ing in Chesterfield county. State of South Carolina, hounded as follows: Beginning at a stake on Little Black Creek at the mouth of McAuly Branch, run up McAuly Branch 2915 foot to a stake, thence to N. 13 Vfr VV 1332 feet to a stake thence to N. 61 W 415 feet to a stake thence 46 Vfc W 1230 feet to a stake on the i head of a branch, thence down sa'd branch 1381 feet to little Black Creek thence down said creek to beginning corner, containing 92 acres, more or less. J. T. Grant, I Sheriff or Chesterfield County. - -