The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-09-22

mite! Wouldn't lift finger to save
'em from hangin' eff I knew I could
save 'em. That's what I think about
'em. Other folks can think as they
see fit, but I say hang 'em jest as fast
as you ketch EN-"
'.'First 6. catch your hare, >" laughed
Wayne, quoting from an old recipe in
somebody's cookbook.
Dick had been listening to the con-
versation without taking part in it.
Wayne happen ed to look at him and
saw that his rival was watching him
intentiy.
"What is your opinion?" he asked
with half-insolent smile.
eff you were horse-thief I'd show
you," answered Dick, curtly. He
cared to have nothing to say to the
singing-teacher. He was irritated by
his presence in the room. To be
spoken to by him reused aquick anger
in him, which would not be kept
down.
A hot color famed into Wayne's face
for a moment. He liked Dick no bet
ter than Dick liked him, and the 9TH
er's reply stung him into quick re-
sentiment, for some reason. But he
seemed to think it not advisable to
handy words at that time and place,
and he made no response.
Presently Dick got up and went
out. He was leaning over the gate,
whistling fragment of the dolorous
tune of Barbara Allen" when Wayne
came sauntering down the path, per-
haps half an hour later.
"If you'll be so kind as to get out
of the way, I'll 60 through that gate,
he said imperiously.
Dick pretended not to hear him.
"Did you hear me?" demanded
Wayne, angrily.
''Did you say anything?" asked
Dick, coolly, without offering to move.
He was aching for quarrel with
Wayne, and it seemed as if one was
near at hand. The hitherto repressed
dislike of each for the other was ready
to culminate in an angry outbreak,
now that the opportunity was fayora-
BILE.
eyes, sir; I did speak to you" an
swered Wayne, haughtily. "stand
aside and let me pass.
"You can climb over" said Dick,
with most provoking GOODNESS.
IT don't choose to-" responded
Wayne, hotly.
"Well, then, go around or crawl
through the fence, if you like that
BETTER" said Dick.
'I shall go through that gate"
said Wayne. "I don't want any of
your insolence. I know why you feel
so sore, and I can't say that I wonder
at it."
eff you don't keep civil tongue in
your head, you'll be likely to feel
sore!" cried Dick, facing about. "Do
you know what you're saying?"
"Perfectly well," answered Wayne,
defantly. "When girl gives fel-
low the mitten, I suppose it does cut
him a good deal. You have had the
experience lately. How is it?'
He accompanied the words with
low, sneering laugh to which his
anger gave grating edge.
"See here" cried Dick, with a dan
gerous fire in his eyes, 'I'll stand no
more of your insolence! If Mamie
Boone sees fit to throw me over for
such fellow as you are, all right; but
neither you nor any other fellow will
twit me of it, as you have just done,
without something happening to him.
Do you understand what I mean, MIR.
Wayne?"
"Oh, you threaten, do you?" sneered
Wayne. "I don't care that"-with q
contemptuous snap of his fingers
"for you or your threats. I'm not
afraid of you
81 don't know whether you are or
not" said Dick, between his teeth,
while his eyes flashed fire. "But 1
know this, sir, I can knock you down
as easy as nothing; and if you dare
give me another insolent word, I'll do
it, too"
eff by insolence you mean telling
the truth about your getting the NIT
ten, shall have to repeat my inso-
lence," responded Wayne, with an all
of bravado. ''I wasn't aware that it
affected fellow as it seems to do you.
The sensation can't be very agreeable,
Judging from your looks. Can't
you"
eyes, sir, T can, and will" inter-
rupted Dick, with well-directed blow
from his muscular fist planted squarely
between Wayne's eyes. The singing
teacher fell to the ground like an OK
before butchers ak.
81 should say that sensation wasn't
very agreeable, Judging from your
looks" said Dick, folding his arms
and smiling down upon his rival, who
was half-stunned by the blow. His
face was covered with blood.
ITO be continued.]