The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1902-12-17
"Tne branch IS a stock company, Of

500 each. 1t is rarely on the marker,
but the last sale, as l remember, was
at 130. The value has greatly ad'
vanced of late. A little more than
year ago there was quite block Of it
for sale. l bought some, and your
father and Carl and Mr.. Bum bought
100 shares each. We got it at about
1O5. 1t was upon my advice that the
others invested in it."
"Wasn't that quite q large purchase
for Mr.. Bunnw said Donald. Il
wouldn't have thought that he could
raise S1O,50O. I'm not asking for idle
curiosity, uncle" ne added earnestly.
"Mr. Bum put up about half the
money" replied, land l made up the
balance The hundred shares stand in
my name, but he can have them when
ever he pays what is due. Meanwhile
he draws the dividends on the whole
lot. shan't charge him interest on the
money which I advanced. wanted
him to make a good investment, you
understand. If left to himself, Bum
always makes bad ones. That's why /
hold the stock in my name. I'm afraid
he'll sell it and lose the money. It's
friendly arrangement"
"You couldn't prevent Mr.. Bum
from taking the stock if he paid you
your money, could your asked Don
aid, and replied in the negative.
We were just entering my grounds.
Donald stopped suddenly and leaned
against one Of the gate posts, as if
overcome by a sudden exhaustion: l
observed that his face, which had been
flushed as a result Of his recent ex-
ercise in the heat, had grown quite
pale.
"Wait a minute, uncle" he said, and
I stood stock still, staring at him.
'Mr. Bum will do that within three
days."
"What do you mean:" demanded.
"Pay that money? He hasn't got it."
"He will get it." responded the boy
firmly. "Mr. Kelvin will give it to
him."
"Kelvia!'' exclaimed. "Why should
he do it,"
"Will you let me ask you question,
uncle?" said Donald. "Did Professor
Serern-the fellow who wasn't Pro-
fessor Severn-talk to you about the
branch road?"
MY memory suddenly began to work
with astonishing clearness and rapid
ity.
eve were standing by the Office one
day." said l, "and he pointed down to-
ward the station and mentioned the
curious circumstance that while travel
ing in the west he had met man who
held stock in that road. Naturally L
asked him who it was, and he named
my cousin, Silas Harrington. "A very
agreeable man. said our professor,
but eccentric. He told me that he
never lived more than six months in
one place. What part Of the world has
he reached by this timer"
"And you told him?" said Donald,
wiping his dripping forehead.
ayes; 1 told him that Silas was in
Colorado Springs the last that heard
Of him."
GLOW much stock does be hold?''
I replied that to the best Of my
recollection the amount was 200 shares.
1--WE must telegraph to him." said
Donald.
"Do you mean to tell me-" said l,
chat serious attempt is being made
to get control Of the branch"
"There is no doubt of it," he respond
ed, with a groan. "I should have told
you before, but I didn't know the
truth until today. 1t was all guess
work. But they can't do it, uncle?
They can't really do it,"
'I don't see how it's possible" said
l. "There's the whole Hackett inter
est to reckon with. Why, William
Hackett and the other heirs control
almost two-ffths OF the stock
"I'm afraid Kelvin has it by this
time" said Donald almost in a whis-
per.
"My boy" said 1 very seriously, 'is
not this pretty deep water? I'm afraid
you're relying too much upon your
SELF"
"I'm relying upon you, Uncle John,
all that can," he replied. "I'm fight
ing for my life and more than my life.
That's the truth about it You know
that for any trivial motive I would
not take advantage of-make use off,
He could not 80 on, but understood
him. His instructive knowledge Of
these plots against me had driven him
to rely upon his special gift, and in the
use Of it he knew not how to work in
full harmony with an ordinary man
like me. Much that he knew was
doubtless too vague to be put into
words, and certainly it was susceptible
Of no rational proof. then saw more
clearly than ever before how terrible
a burden this mysterious power might
be, and I fully understood why those
who possess it deny the possession and
zealously strive to turn the inward eye
away from such revelations.
Yet suspected that Donald was as
sisted by disclosures Of more palpa-
BILE nature. There was tangible ex-
PLANTATION Of his knowledge Of Keivln's
part in these designs. l could not ask
the boy to lay bare his soul to me, to
disclose the inner mysteries Of an en-
dowment which l should doubtless be
wholly unable to comprehend, but l
thought that he ought to confde in me
in all things Of the common sort There
fore asked him straight out whether
he had derived any information from
Amy Kelvin in regard to her fathers
underhand schemes.
"None whatever" he replied, looking
me straight in the eyes
Docs this inforlLation depend upon
the exercise Of q peculiar power not
possessed by the generality of man
kindT said l.
He hesitated q moment, struggling