The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-04-13


! was doing? Hewas in ganshop on tie
Strand buying cartridges for that VII
famous locking seven shooter Of his I
asked him what he was going to do
with a revolver in LcDdon, and be told
me shortly it was ncne of my business,
which struck me as so accurate suiis
ming up of the situation that came
away without making further remark.
If you want any more stories kv Glib
berts, you should lock after him. y
Shorely found himself rapidly vc1g
ing into state of NERVOUSNESS rega1(;
ing Gibberts He was actually begin
ming to believe that the novelist n,el.i-
tated some wild action which might
involve others in disagreeable co,np!i-
cation. Shorely had 70 desire to be az
cessc-y either before o. after the TACT.
He hurried back to the Office and there
found Gibber5s' belated reply TO his
note. He hastily tore it open, and the
reading Of it completely banished what
little self control he had left:
DEAR .SEog.ELY-J know why you want TO
sec me, oua nave 50 many 2IIa1T:' 70 SettIe
that it is impossible for nc to call upon you.
However, have 70 fears. shall stand 20 ny
bargain without any goading from you. Only
few days have elapsed since the publication
of ttc story, and did not promise the tragedy
before the week was or. leave for ChanHor
Chase this afternoon. You shall have your
pound Of flesh and more. Yours,
BROMLEY GIBBrRTs.
Shorcly was somewhat pale about the
lips when he finished this scrawl. He
flung on lis coat and rushed into the
street. Calling q hanson, he said:
.Drive to .Kidner's i'm as quickly as
you can. No. 10
Once there, he sprang up the steps
two at time and knocked at Gibberts'
door. The novelist allowed himself the
luxury of "man, - and it was the
'sman'' who answered Shorely's impe-
rious knock.
"Where's Gibberts?''
"He's just gone, sir. in hanson. %
"Gcne where:?''
''To Euston Staten, I believe, sir.
He's going into the country for Il week,
and l wasn't 10 forward Letters, SO l
haven't his address. y
'Have you an a 3 C?''
eyes, sir. Step inside, sir. Mr.. Glib
berts was just locking Up trains, sir,
before he left.''
"Shorely saw it was open at G, and
looking down the column to Channor
he found the train left in 30 minutes.
Without a word he dashed down the
stairs again. The "man'' did not seem
astonished. Queer fish sometimes came
to see his master.
"Can you get me to Euston station in
30 minutcs:"
The cabman shook his head as he said:
''I'll do my best, sir, but we ought
to have a good half hour
The driver did his best and landed
Shorely On the departure platform two
minutes after the train had left.
"When's the next train to Channor?"
demanded Shorely Of a porter.
"Just gone, sir. 20
.'The next train isn't gone, you fool.
Answer my question. %
s.Two ho1rs and 20 minutes, sir, y
replied the porter IN huff.
Shorely thought of engaging spe-
cial, but realized he hadn't money
enough. Perhaps he could telegraph
and warn the people of Channor Chase,
but be did not know 70 whom TO tele-
graph. Or, again, he thought he might
have Gibberts arrested on some charge
or other at Channor station. That, he
concluded, was the way out, dangerous,
but feasible.
By that time, however. the porter
had recovered his eGuanimity. Porters
cannot afford to cherish resentment, and
this particular porter saw half crown
in the air.
"Did you wish to reach Channor be-
fore the train that's just gone, si-?''
eyes; can it be done?''
"It might be done, sir, said the por
ter hesitatingly, as if he were on the
verge Of divulging secret which would
cost him his situation. He wanted the
half crown to become visible before
committing himself further.
Here's half a sovereign if you can
tell me how it can be done short OF
hiring special. I"
"Wcll, sir, you could take the ex-
press that leaves at the half hour. 1t
will take you Is miles past Channor to
Buley Junction; shen in II minutes
you can get local back to Channor,
which is due there three minutes before
the down train reaches there-if the To-
cal is on time, I" he added when the
goldpiece was safely in his pocket.
While waiting for the express Shore
ly bought a copy of The Sponge and
orce more read Gihberts' story Oh the
way down. The = reading appalled,
him. He was ann I'd that he had not
noticed before the deadly earnestness Of
the tone. We are apt to underrate or
ove1rate the work of a man with whom
we are personally familiar. Now for
the first time Shcrely seemed to get the