Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1880-07-15


should sail for Eugland within a week or
ten days, and should not return to Amorica.
At parting ho gayo me his card. 1t was
modest piece of pasteboard, and bore tho
nnmc of "Georgc Raleigh" in old English
text.
Everything at tho Office went on as usual,
and tho 18th came at length. Law (S Law
had arranged with me to 20 down with tho
money and had looked upon it as busi-
ness of special Importance.
"We know you arc oil right" remarked
the senior partner, as I was about to CO.;
"but want to give you word of warning,
nevertheless. Don't take any stranger into
your confidence until you bavo passed.
out tho money, and look who sits next to
you"
1t was something new for him to caution
me, and could not but wonder OF it; but
IN the hustle of getting aboard tho train l
forgot what he said. Ordinary prudence
had induced mo to place the money, which
was oil in bank bills and divided into three
packages, under my shirt and next to my
skin, where the dcft hund Of pickpocket
could rot reach it.
Interested in newspaper, time flew by
as the train flew past, and at length The
hoarsc voice Of brakeman warned mc that
had reached Grafton. lcapcd down and
was making for livery stable, when l
heard familiar voice, und looked up to SEQ
Raleigh. IIo was seated in buggy,
and had seemingly waited for mo to como
in.
"Don't express your surprise" he began,
as stopped at the wheel. 81 did intend
to 20 away. changed my mind, and like
this section SO well that am going out
to-day to look at farm with a view of
purchasing ride up to the hotel"
We rode up, ordered lunch, and while we
were discussing it, hlr. Raleigh discovered
that the farm he was going to see was jnst
beyond that of old Scrip's.
low Fortunate! | could ride out with
him, sec the farm, return in his company,
and he was greatly pleased.
was also pleased. If any man had told
me that George Raleigh meant to return
with my money in his pocket and my blood
upon his hands, should have believed him
a lunatic. Aud yet George Raleigh had
planned to do that very thing.
1t was lovely day in juno, and the cool
breeze and the sight of meadows and green
companion was very talkativc, but he didn't
away as he could.
ooh! excuse mc!' he exclaimed, after
we had passed mile beyond the village,
and were among the farm houses, II should
have offered you this before"
lie drew from his pocket small flask of
wine and handed it to me. Now | was
temperate in regard to drinks. In fact,
dctestcd the sight and smell Of anything
Intoxicating. But had not the moral
courage to tell him so, and hand back the
flask undisturbcd. l feared to offend him,
and SO drank perhaps three good swallows
lie called my attention to the woods on the
left, as he received back the flask, al / when
looked around again, he was just remov-
ing it from his mouth, as if he had drank
heartily.
In about five minutes I began to feel
queer. The fence along the road seemed TO
grow higher, and the trees grow longer;
something came to my ears SO that tie
rattle Of the buggy sounded long way off,
GLOW straugc Why, believe I am
going to be sick!' I exclaimed, holding Oh
to the scat with all my might.
"Iou do look strangc!" he replied,
snaky smile stealing over his face: ri
shouldn't wonder if it waa appoplcxy"
| did not suspect the gamo ho had
played. Ills words were like an echo, and
his face seemed twice as large as it was.
NIy head began to spin, and my brain began
to snap and crack, aud | was terribly
frightened.
'You ore badly off," he continued, look
ing into my face. 'I will drive as fast as
possible and get doctor"
My tongue was SO heavy that could not
reply. clutchcd the seat, shut my eyes
and ho put his horse to his best pace. We
met farmers team, aud can remember
that one of the occupants of tho wagon
called out to know what allied the man.
Raleigh did not reply, but urged his horse
forward.
About thrco miles from Gralon was
long stretch of forest, and this was soon
reached. The pain in my head was not
so violent, and was not 80 badly affected
when opening my eyes. had settled into
a sort of dumb stupor, with a brain so
bonumbcd that | had to say to myself:
"This is tree, this is stump" etc before
| could make sure that was not wrong.
llalf mile down the road after wc struck
the forest, and then Raleigh turned tho
horse into u road leading back into the
woods. [ could not understand what he
intended. | tried to grapplo with the
question but could not solve it,
"Wcl', here We arc!" exclaimed Raleigh
when he had reached point forty rod from
tho main road.
He stopped tho horse, got out and
hitched him, and then calno round to the
wheel.
"You don't feel lust right, but ( guess