The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1902-12-24
Donald Donaldson, Jr.
ICONTINUED.I

lJON / IN l Ell.
lie stood by the end of the table,
and we fell into j sort of group around
it. The light was above, and il showed
our inverted images in the black and
polished surface.
1T was all III the past" said Donald.
81 feared that it might be so. cannot
help you, Mr.. Kelvin, further than to
assure you that the deed of transfer
once existed and that it came into the
possession Of the riGhtful cwncr OF
this property after having been in the
hands OF rascal. This judge by the
scene itself. l know nothing Of the
people"
Come" said Gv2dy. That's worth
knowing Let's hear yo;ir story"
Bum. who was Standing beSide me,
suddenly leaned upon my shoulder.
~ feel Z bit faint" he said and point
ed down to the reflections in the table,
where for 4 certainty we all looked
like dead men.
I'll have to do the best l can" said
Donald, with something like q groan.
This takes the life out Of me, but I'll
have to go through with it somehow.
It's rs if I saw this room, but good
deal different, Of course. This table is
here, and there is q single candle burn
ing upon it. Beside the table is a man
sitting in q chair. He seems to have
q sort Of light sack coat on over 4 part
Of q military uniform. He is very
broad in the shoulders. He's one Of
the strongest looking men that ever I
saw, though not very tall, I should
Judge He has q little black mustache
that is too small for his face. 1t looks
ridiculous on man with such heavy
jaw"
That's Westcott Norman West
cott." gasped Bum. when 1 was
boy
Donald went on without seeming to
hear this interruption.
'.I never saw man sit so stlll,' said
he. 'It startled me at first. thought
he was dead After quite q long time
another man comes into the room-the
man whom I described to you this
morning. He looks scared; he has
q pistol in his hand. He comes in
by that window, and the other man
seems to see him without looking that
way.
"'Have you brought it?' he asks
without movement except of his lips.
The other seems to so into a sort Of
panic. He walks up to the table like
crab, the pistol in his left hand and
th.t side of him coming foremost.
eyes; I've got it, he says, and then
he breaks into sort Of harangue. NO
tricks. he cries over and over again.
You'll do as sou say-WestcottH
That's the officers name West
cott."
"And the others Walmsley!' exclaim-
ed Bum.
Donald looked up dreamily.
"Walmsley:" he repeated What
was saying"
keep quiet, everybody" said Reedy.
Don't break in. This is too big
thing to be fooled with. No tricks;
that's what you said. He was afraid
the other fellow would do him out Of
something"
Donald looked down at the table and
put his fingers lightly upon the scar in
it before he proceeded.
"sYou shall have your price, Walms-
ley said Westcott, and you shall leave
this room with it in your pocket and
will not put the law upon you for this
crime. I give you my word as an OIL
Ger and a gentleman. Put the deed on
the table
"'The money first said Walmsley.
sWestcott had had both his hands
under the table he withdrew the left
hand and threw down q little bag.
Walmsley, still holding his pistol, man
aged to open the string that fastened
the mouth Of the bag, and be poured
out the gold coins upon the table. Then
he counted them off with his right
hand, putting each into his pocket.
"'Its right he said, and here's the
deed
'sHe took it from the breast Of his
Goa. and laid it before Westcott. AS