Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1901-12-25

AA Saturday, Dec. 23 DR.. DON
RA aid Lafarge, chemist to the
~ yA board Of health. affixed his
signature to an official doc
ument and swore with gentle earnest
ness that he would not do any more
work until Tuesday. His assistant,
DIR. Hale, who had just entered the Of
fee from the laboratory, remarked that
everything seemed to be In shape to
take care of itself for awhile and forth
with removed long apron, stained and
ragged, which he viewed with stern
dissatisfaction as he rolled 1t up and
thrust 1t into drawer.
Hale was dark visaged young man,
with picturesque shock of black hair
and eyes rs fierce as pirates. He
had a deep and rumbling voice, COM
pact and rugged form, and he went
about the simplest duties of this life
with an air of ruthless determination
as IL they were crimes.
"What are all those thlngs?" he ask
ed, indicating great number of par
.sls on Lafarge's broad, fiat topped
desk.
Lafarge, who had been bending over
the parcels Strengthened his tall figure
ASan'H .:.>>.lS9ed back the silky blond hair
which would always fall over his fore
head when he stopped.
christmas presents" said he.
you've got more friends than
have" said Hale.
"More and better friends than de-
serve" was the reply, "and not great
many at that. I'm lonesome, unami-
able brute. There's no reason why
anybody should care for me-"
"Well, somebody does" growled Hale.
Lafarge became Interested.
"Do you think so, old manT' he ask
ed, with an eagerness that was very
youthful. IL can't get a line on her
myself But you're mighty shrewd,
and you've seen her quite number Of
times down here. These little things
and he swept his hand over the pack
ages-,"are intended for the Christmas
tree at her horse."
"Whose house2'
Miss Mallory's," answered Lafarge.
Perhaps you didn't mean
"Her7 No, confound It'll I meant my
SELF Idlotic thing to say, of course,
tut was sparring for an opening. You
see, l'ye got little thing for you here,
and didn't know how to excuse my
self for giving 1t to you. Here; take
It," pulling package out of the drawer
beside him. "It's nothing but a box of
cigars. and they're pretty rank, guess.
Cheap, anyway. But they'll do for Wis
tors"
He tossed the package upon the desk
and stood moment, his bow legs apart
like a sailorman's, and his manner as
awkward as schoolboy's who has for
gotten his piece" and can neither go
on with 1t nor get back to his seat.
Lafarge, also, was considerably en-
barrassed, for he had neglected to buy
anything for Hale, or even to think OF
him In such o connection.
upon my word old fellow" he be-
gan, extending his hand, but at that In
stant the queer little scene was inter-
rupted by the sudden entrance Of Dis
trict Attorney Blake Wallace.
The district attorney had package
In hls hand about the size of an ordi-
nary cigar box, wrapped in brown pa
per and tied with red string. He car
ried 1t In a peculiar way, with his fin
ger and thumb upon one corner or Il
and his arm extended In front OF him
word until he had put down the pack
age OIL the desk. Then he backed to-
ward the door, at the same time say
Ing:
Come out here, Lafarge. want to
talk to you.'
rs 1t anything SO confidential that
Dr. haie cunt hear it?" demanded the
chemist I'm surprise.
No, mol" exclaimed Wallace. LET
MIN come. too. and the quicker the bet
ter"
Wallace seemed to breathe easier and
to recover something OF his official dig.
nifty when he had passed the door He
put hand upon q shoulder Of each of
the others, and, with the imperceptible
dexterity OF the practiced trlckster In
law, kept them between himself and
the office as he said:
THAT thing is an Internal machine.
at least believe that 1t Is. You know
about KcnsleyT
The Wall street man q, said Lafarge.
Yes" responded Wallace. "ThIs
thing was left at his house scarcely
more than half an hour ago. He has
been receiving threatening letters for
some weeks. and the police have had a
good many men ont on the case. This
Is the result OF It,"
"I'd like to know what you fellows
Will load Off on to me next" grumbied
the chemist. "Eor heavens sake,
haven't enough to do in my own de-