The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1901-10-03

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themselves, with poncy under which
they might become great and stand
alone. Uncle Thomas was a staunch
supporter of the right wing.
The rule of the queen was at time.
surprisingly lax and at others woefully
harsh. She was evidently creature
of impulse, and was each day swayed
by her emotions and by the influence
of the unscrupulous men around her.
The leader of the left wing of the
Liberals, judge Dole, had frequent
| tilts with his Royalist enemies, and
they did all they could to iniure him
and his friends. In fact. it had begun
to iooK as II the adnerents OF the
queen, always deep in the mire OF i'm
morality and evil practices, were go
ing to drive the Americans from tn,
islands, if possible, by persecution.
The condition of things had been
getting worse gradually for years. The
situation had now become painfully
strained.
Itwas we'll understood that the queen
was going to override the law and was
going to replace the existing constitu.
ton with one OF her own. More than
incense with nuge 1otIery scneme,
and grant, as we'll, demand that had
long been made by the opium ring,
which would largely increase her OWE
revenue, but which would forever de-
stroy all progress in morality and in
dividual liberty.
The Church Party were even nov
wavering in their allegiance and al
most ready to break with the govern
ment. The Liberals were aghast a
the bold and audacious position taken
by the queen, and even her most vio-
lent supporters could not face the mr.
guments of Dole and others against
the preposterous scheme.
All this I learned from Uncle Tom
as we sat mournfully at The Corals.
after Winnie had disappeared.
cit is easy to understand" said my
uncle, chow the pesky nig9krs believe
they will destroy all opposition to the
queen by resorting to violence and
crime. But mark me, Tom, my boy,
if harm comes of this-ifa a hair of our
Winnie's head is hurt-I'll have it
out of the old she-devil if it takes m!
las! dollar and my life as well. Now
you thoroughly appreciate the situa'
tion. Things are hot here now. The
strain is too great. Something's got
to happen pretty soon."
"Do you know enough Of the habits
Of the natives to guess where they
have taken Winnie?"
"There are dozen things they might
do. They are full of willy deceits and
unholy idolatry, and all the heathen'
ish things you could imagine. Mo,
there's no telling what they might do.
We must keep on looking, that's all,
until we find her"
While we were speaking Gordon
came in, hot, weary and thoroughly
ugly.
"What hope? What have you
learned?" I asked him eagerly.
Nothing" he replied savagely.
banging table with his sword. "pd
like to take the whole cussed lot OF
the rascals into a ten-acre field and
shoot them. We have looked every
where that was possible. Not trace
can be found. And the worst of it il
the natives all seem to enjoy the thing.
1t is sort of triumph for the queens
party. But it won't be triumph
long. I'll find Winnie if it takes not
only my life, but everybody's."
grasped his hand.
"You are indeed friend, Gordon.
We will work together. We must find
her. We will hunt down the mysteri-
Gus fends who abducted her, and SAY
them"
"That we WILL" he said, grimly,
tapping his sword. 81 must go to tho
palace now. Don't be surprised II
you hear that have thrown the queen
out Of the window"
CHAPTER VI.