The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1902-12-31
posed by the recording angel, and it
will have no effect in Tunbridge."
CHAPTER XVI.

"a and l went over to the juno
ia ton on the early train. There
were three or four stockhold-
ers over there to whom we wished to
say q final word, though, in our opin-
ion, the election was as good as over I
experienced a great relief and, as
sometimes happens, was the better
able to realize how great would have
been my bitterness Of spirit if Kelvin
had won the fight.
had various errands here and there
in the Junction and was separated
from Donaldson for some hours. We
met about noon in front Of the busi-
ness block in which the Office Of the
branch is located. Ny first glimpse
Of Donaldson showed me that some
thing was wrong.
"I've just had a telephone message
from Archer" he said. "He tells me
that he can't find Bunn."
Cant find him?" I echoed. Hasn't
he been at the Officer"
"No. And that isn't the worst Of
it." he replied. "Archer has sent up
to Mrs. Stewart's," Bunn's boarding
place, "and it seems that he wasn't
there last night"
"Good heavensv' l exclaimed. "Can
he have gone out on one Of those long
evening walks Of his and fallen dead
in an out Of the way place? I don't
mean to be heartless, Donaldson, but
you know what this means to u.s.
"It means destruction" said he.
"That's the name Of it."
"Do you remember" said I, chat
when Don was talking to Jim Bum
the other day he seemed to get an i'm
preston that this vote would be a
hundred shares short? Can that have
been a vague hint that something was
going to happen to Bunn?
81 tried to get the boy by telephone"
answered Donaldson. Dorothy doesn't
know where he is. Nobody knows"
'I wish we had him here" said l.
Upon q chance I went to public
telephone and called up the Office, but
got no word of any one, Archer, Bum
nor Donald. l had a curious expert
ence with crossed wires, however, in
the course Of which I heard Kelyin's
voice for a few minutes and made out
that he was trying to get communica-
ton with Gillespie. It came to me
then to wonder whether that rascal
had spirited Bum away. 1t was a
trick that 7 did not believe Kelvin
would stick at.
Donaldson and were entirely help
less. We had to rely upon Archer, for
we could not get to Tunbridge and
back before the time set for the meet
ing, and so, as there was nothing bet
ter to do, we had morsel Of dinner.
Shortly before 2 o'clock Archer ar
rived in a pitiable state Of excitement.
"What shall we do?" he cried as soon
as he was within speaking distance.
without Bum we're lost, and I can
get no trace Of the man. I've got all
Tunbridge hunting for him. We must
hold up the meeting as long as we
can"
There were about dozen Of the
stockholders in the room when we
three entered. Thorndyke was there,
and Immediately perceived that he
was very restless. I could not get him
into conversation. He sat in q corner
of a window seat in the attitude Of a
man with the stomach ache and drum
med upon the floor with one foot, a
habit that especially distresses me.
Presently the meeting was called to
order by a little dummy who acts as
president of the company because more
important men do not want the office.
Some reports were read, and then, un-
der the rules, it became necessary to
proceed to the election Of a board OF
directors. had a little scheme for
holding back the vote, but it was not
necessary to spring it Immediately.
Meanwhile the proxies were passed
upon in the usual way, and teliers were
appointed, one from each party. They
were Donaldson and a man named Al
vim Green, a small stockholder who had
gone entirely over to the Kelvin party,
although he owed his stock and every
thing else which he had in the world
to me.
There were two tickets-that is, two
lists Of men named for directors. The
lists were printed and were entitled
Ticket No. 1 and Ticket No. 2. Ours
was No. 1.
I was about to begin my tactics for
delay when there was loud knocking
at the door, which was locked. We all
jumped up from our places around the
long table except Thorndyke, who had
maintained his seat in the window
throughout the proceedings and did not
stir at the noise.
The door was opened, and Jim Bum
stalked into the room, with the air OF
q crazy man. I cast one look at him
and then turned toward Kelvin. My
enemy had seized upon Archer, who
happened to be nearest to him, and had
dragged him into O corner. judged
that Kelvin was protesting upon one
ground or another against the admls-
sion Of Bunn's vote, but I could not
hear what was said. So I turned to
Bum.
"Well, Jim said. l. where have you
been"
"Wait," said he, speaking like man
in trance. wait. I'm here to vote"
''That's what we're all here for"
responded, "and the sooner the better" !"
Quiet was restored, and the voting
began, the ballots being dropped into a
hat When all had been collected, the
tellers took them to little table in the
corner and proceeded to make the
count. 1 glanced across at Donaldson
and saw instantly that he had encoun-
tered a most unpleasant surprise. In
great uneasiness I turned to Carl. He
was gnawing his fingers. Bum sat
rigid in chair, his head thrust for
ward, his eyes staring.