The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1901-09-18
"Is your name Buckingham?"


such doggone name as that! My names
Buckeye"
"How did you happen to get that
nameP
"'Cause l was borned thar"
"Where2"
"In Buckeye"
"In OhioT
"Reckon It's the same"
contemplated Buck for awhile with
out hearing any OF the questions he
continued to fire at me. Why not in
trust him with the message? There
was every reason why l should not do
80 except that he was devoted to me
and had no one else to send. While
was celebrating Lib came in, sur
prised him, dragged him out Of the
room and shut the door.
I heard footsteps on the veranda,
then In the hall. then ascending the
staircase, as Of people carrying bur-
den. The door had evidently been shut
to prevent my seeing what was being
done. For awhile there was hurrying
to and fro, and l knew that something
unusual had occurred. After all had
been Quieted Buck, who had mean
while escaped from his dusky captor,
slipped back to forbidden ground.
1t occurred to me that l could draw
from Buck the solution Of the recent
commotion. but what passed under the
! roof Of my friends was no concern Of
mine, and l scorned to get 1t from q
mere boy. But wished to test Bucks
power of reticence. Ten to one he had
been instructed not to talk to me about
| the mysterious occurrence
Buck" l asked, "who came to the
house awhile agoT
wasn't anybody came to the house
awhile ago."
"a sick man, wasn't itT
'No he wasn't sick"
II thought you said no one Gamer
'sNo one did"
"Of course no one came; he was car
ried."
"If yo' know so much about 1t, Mr..
Brandystone, what's the use O. aslSin
meT
"You admit that whoever he was he
wasn't sick7"
"Of course he wasn't sick. How
could he be sick If he wasn't any
bodyT
There was a sudden rustling in the
hall, and Helen swept into the room,
her eyes flashing fire.
"Buck. leave the roomr' she COM
eaan6ed In no uncertain tone Buck
Gave glance at his sister, which told
&tm he had better obey, and walked
out reluctantly
"You have been listening" I said
curtly.
'T have not. was coming through
The ball and heard your last remark"
Ana you infer that was trying to
bet secret which does not at ali con-
barn meF
Il most assuredly do"
You arc mistaken. I care no more
Sor what occurs in this house than for
the color Of the dress you happen to
wear. l had another object In ques-
tioning your brother"
II dare say you had"
II wished to discover IL he could keep
a secret"
X dare say you did"
Il have intended nothing dishonor-
able."
"yudeer She snapped her fingers
and her eyes at the same time.
You don't believe me. Very we'll, l
DON'T believe that you were not caves
dropping"
Il was not eayesdroppingy" she cried
hotly. you have the word of a south
asn lady"
Sand was not trying to get your
secret. You have the word Of a. 1
stopped short. I had run against q
snag. She gave me a glance Of con-
tempt and triumph. Her head was up,
a little 70 one side, her nostrils dilated,
her breath slow and measured.
"M'sa StaDforth." said-I was near
betrayfng what demanded secrecy-"I
VIII prove to you before night-no, not
before night. but soon-that I had an
other object. I Will no longer remain
In house the inmates Of which, I
rnade step toward the door.
Mr.. Branderstaner
Miss stanforthr'
In addition to sailing under false
oolorS you are now going to endanger
your life BY
"Budgel What is my life to you ~.
snapped my fingers.
"A good deal just now. It Is un-
pleasant to have person die on ones
hands,"
I was in no condition for this en-
counter. A buzzing was going on In
my ear" tingling sensation In my
limbs. y knees were giving way,
and l was obliged to sit down on the
sofa l looked longingly at a bottle OF
brandy that stood on the table, but was
100 proud to ask for It, In n moment
Helen had poured some Of the liquor
Into a tumbler and held 1t to my lips.
drank revivlng draft. She put
her hands on my shoulders and gently
forced me to lie down.
This must not occur again" she
said. "You have no strength to 60 and
have no right to excite you while In
your present condition. | believe what
you told ine." She put out her hand.
PARDON" | said humbly. when
calm. l would as soon think Of accusing
you OF eavesdroppIng as would accuse
Diana OF unchastity. have been un-
gallant. rude-rudc to woman"
Forget 1t. Lie still, and you will
soon be yourself again" She sat down
by table and'took up book. 81 will
sit here and read while you recover
your strength"
| She rend for perhaps half an hour.
L nWNNN