The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-08-28
CHAPTER I.

II once whole fleets had ridden
at anchor. the once -four
~ ishing town had dwindled
and sunk, in spite of valiant struggles
to revive and retain her ancient su-
premacy.
In the length and breadth Of the
land no place could be found so sleepy,
so much behind the times, SO tortuous
of street and so moss-grown of stone,
as Stroan had become, when, by q
happy chance, the game of golf came
down from the North and established
itself as the fashion. Then somebody
discovered that the bare and uapToduc-
tive sands between Stroan and the
sea made excellent 'links;" visitors
began to arrive and to put uD at 4
brand-new hotel built expressly for
their accommodation, and a little
breath of active life began to stir
once more in the narrow, winding
streets.
Among the visitors cne warm Sep
tember came down from London three
friends, who tempered their devotion
to golf by various other pursuits, each
according to his inclination.
Otto Conybeare, the eldest OF the
three, was journalist, who had asptr-
ations to literature of less ephemeral
sort. He used his holiday by trying
his hand at both prose aid poetry, OF
which his two companions offered tren-
chant if not discriminating criticisr,.
He was a tall, thin, darhsainned man,
with cIean-cut, aquiline features, and
was looked upon by the two others as
their champion and social leader.
Willie Jordan, the youngest Of the
party, was short and, alas! fat, with
curly, light hair and 4 huge, tawny
mustache, which he had cultivated as
the trademark of his calling, which
was that of an artist.
Clifford King, the remaining member
of the trio, was a barrister, to whom
no one had as yet intrustcd 4 brief.
He was a dark-haired, blue-eyed, good
humored young fellow, whom every
body liked and in whom all his friends
believed with an enthusiasm which
was not without excuse, for Clifford
had brains, and was only waiting for
the opportunity which comes to all
who can wait in the right way.
They had been at St-oan five days,
and the little god, Cupid. had already
spoiled the harmony of the party.
Willie was the victim, Of course.
It was always Willie who could not
resist q pair of handsome eyes, black,
blue or gray; so that when he became
attached to the society OF old Colonel
Bostal, and would insist upon accom-
panying that uninteresting old gentle
man from the Links to his homo three
miles away, Clifford and Otto ex-
changed winks, and having found out
that the colonel had daughter, at
once believed that they haC probed
successfully into the mystery of Will
lies civility.
So, justly incensed at Willie's du-
plicity, for that young man had spoken
slightingly of Miss Bostars attrac-
tions, Otto and Clifford determined
upon tracking the traitor to bis lair.
This they did on ! sunny afternoon.
when the straight road over The re-
claimed marsh between Stroan and
Shingle End was thick in white ulS;.
They knew the coionels house from
the outside, having passed it on many
a walk from Stroan to Courtstairs,
the next town. 1t was about half 4
mile beyond the Elue Lion, 4 pictur-
issue roadside inn, which was the
halfway house between Courtstairs
and Stroan. Very poor the colonel
was, as he took care to inform every
body, and very povcrty-stricken his
dwelling looked il the observant eyes
81 the two young mcr, as they rang
the bell and waited Z long time before
any one answered it.
Shingle End was pretty, tumble
down house, which stood at the angie
formed by two roads. Il had once
been white, but neglect and ha:[
weather had made it mottled gray;
while cracked Snd dusty windows,
rickety shutters and untrimmed trees
and bushes combined to give the place
a dreary and ua0rosperous appear
ance.
Behind the house was garden, with
a Doultry-Tu1 and . paddock; md
Otto had seen, as they passed, the
colonel reading his paper Under an
apple tree, while the du.tcr Of petit
coat in the background among the
trees seemed to confirm their suspi-
cions.
We've unearthcd tic rascal" smiled
Otto, as they at last heard footsteps
in the house in answer TO their second
ring.
But when the door was opened their
hearts sank, fo- there stood before
them a woman OF ccrty, at leas::, small,
lean, dowdy, precise OF manner and
slow Of speech, wearing pair OF
gardening gloves and sun-bonnet,
who looked Ct them in Some surprise
and asked them s;:Gy what they
wanted.
Otto, who was acute enough to per,
ceive that this must b. the coloneps
daughter, apolosizai for disturbing
her, and said they had brought let.
ter for their friend Jordan. who, they
understood. was spending the after.
noon with Colonel Bostal. They
would not have irtTudcd but that
they believed TIC letter was very lnI-
portant, as it IVES marked on the en-
velope please deliver immediately
And the plotter drew from his pock.
ct. with oStentatiouS care. q miSSive