The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1902-03-07
AUGHT
a TARTAR



of the thick timber, she heard familiar
voices. Steaithily drawing near abe
took position behind the trunk OF a
tree aud listened.
II must put this man Sumner out of
the contest. can never win the fair
Virginia so long us he is In the race.
''llow will you do thati''
With your assistance"
.kxplain.
II want you to pick a quarrel Win
him. You are u dead shot. II he ehal-
lengas you. will step in and save
him from you by taking the quarrel
upon myself. II he does not resent
your insult. will challenge you ON his
account. In either event he Will be
under an obligation TO me. Then VIII
cook up a story about myself and Viz
GINA and secure his promise to with.
draw from the contest"
'And what am to gainY
BY this time the speakers had passed
out of hearing. Miss Maynard at first
determined 10 warn Mr.. Sumner of the
conspiracy. Then she concluded to re
main silent and see how he would con-
duct himself, He was quiet man.
with more inclination for books than
for fight.
A week passed, during which she
saw nothing unusual In Sumner except
that his manner toward her was chang
ed. II was plain TO her that the scheme
Of the plotters had worked admirably.
Every day she expected TO receive
call from the victor, Martin Archer,
but he did not appear, and ut last she
heard that he was suffering from ~
phoid fever. Then, with freak which
She herself could hardly explain, she
sent Archer some flowers. a reply
came from his mother that he was too
Ill TO thank Miss Maynard even by
note. The next day Sumner called.
and she sent word to him by the maid
that she was engaged and would IKE
10 be excused.
sumner did not need so strong a
hint as this to drive him away He
ceased his calls on Miss Maynard aud
In another week went 10 his home IN
the north. Archer, after several weeks
confinement. went to New York without
visiting her or in any way taking leave
of her. From New York lie sailed for
Eirope.
Miss Maynard was puzzled. She re.
turned TO her northern home and spent
n summer wondering what tail meant.
The following November found her
arain In Florlda. She knew Of but
three persons who could satisfy hcr
curiosity, and none of them was avail
able. Neither Sumner nor Archer was
near. and George Hinkley, Archer's ac-
complice, had been Obliged by the au-
tlioritie:, to leave the state for some in
frin.cment OF the law.
Miss Maynard was wondering what
to do when she made the acquaintance
of stephen Withers. Withers was q
northern man, tie owner OF IN orange
plantation. and lived most Of the year
in Florida He was acquainted with
MI the parties concerned and had Dech
mn Intimate friend of Sumner. Miss
MAYNARD noticed that Witllcrs always
regarded her with curious interest.
This at Inst induced II suspicion that
lie knew something about the affair
which had aroused her curiosity. One
day She boldly asked him;
"AIr. Withcrs, do you know anything
about !; challenge having passed from
one George uinliley to Walter sum
ner:"
Il ought to. since | was Summers
second"
"You dent mean it! So there was a
Guel. nl;.s didn't you tell mcf'
Il was pied sed not 10 telsbut. since
the affair was about you and is thing
of the past. don't MUD speaking of
1t now"
..,rell it all ut once"
"Hinklcy insulted Sumner, and sum
ner knocked him down. Then Hinkley
challenged Sumner, and Sumner nc
cepted. Archer told Sumner that Hink-
lev was a dead shot and would Kill
him, offering to take the matter on his
hands. Sumner finally permitted him
to settle the matter amicably. which
he did. Then Archer minated to
Summer that, in consideration of hav-
ing saved his life, he would ike hin
as a favor to do something, never
knew what, but it made bad blood be-
tween Archer and Sumner They had
n scuffie one day in the presence or
witnesses. and Archer challenged sum-
ner. ucted for Sumner, Hinkley Tor
Archer. AT the first round Sumner sur
prised us all by firing very quick and
true. wounding Archer In the arm
~ t. aSNf