The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1903-02-05
CHAPTER VIII.
Continued

"It shall De as you say, Mynheer
Joe, only must give him to under
stand that the next similar Of
fense--''
.Yes- the next similar offense-"
"Will not only be followed by dis
pleasure. but something more lasting"
You need never fear that this un-
lucky wretch will ever offend again
In the same way. I can guarantee
that, Miss Molly. 1t was all mis-
take. anyhow. which 1 can explain.
You see, he had q positive idea"
Unfortunately for his peace Of mind.
Mynheer Joe gets no further than this.
They are interrupted. The baron and
q companion come up and introduce
some subject that all Cairo is talking
about.
Molly looks annoyed, while Mynheer
Joe is secretly fuming. He silently
nurses his wrath, hoping that some
time the chance may come when he
can take it out upon the baron. De-
pend upon it. he will no longer stand
between the other and any vengeance
he may invite; indeed, it would do
him good to watch a man Of about
Tanners build use the baron neatly
up. His ideas have changed, you see.
Then Sandy makes his appearance.
and Joe presently finds himself tete-
a-tete with his voluabie newspaper
friend.
There are times whcss one desires
a confdant; even a man likes to pour
his woes into sympathetic ear. Myn-
heer Joe's life has been such that, as
q general thing, he has been deprived
of this privilege; but he has the feel.
ing deep down in his heart oil the
same.
IN Sandy he sees the friend who may
help MN out of the hole. A sugges-
ton will do it, for his brain, usually
so clear, seems strangely muddled just
at present.
Besides, the war correspondent
knows Molly and her father very well.
having met them in various places.
Perhaps he can discover loophole
of escape, whereby Joe may crawl out
of his awkward scrape with honor.
Having made up his mind to trust
SANDY, he first Of all draws pledge
from him that he will not reveal a
word Of the story or hint ut it in any
of his correspondence; all Of which
Sandy, duly impressed with the grav.
ity of the situation, solemnly prom
ises.
Then Joe relates the difficulty into
which his impetuosity and love Of fair
play have led him, nor does he forget
to lay due emphasis on the fact that
he fancied and truly believed he was
defending the dear old governor him.
self.
Sandy holds in as long as he can.
aad at last, doubling up. shakes all
, o+er with laughter. 1t Is silent. too,
w but the gurgling sounds as of water
bubbling down a rocky ravine.
Mynheer Joe appreciates the situa-
tion, knows he has made a.consummate
donkey Of himself, and although nat
urally tempted 10 make use Of his
boot, firmly refrains. Two mistakes
do not make a right. Sandy has rea.
son to be merry. And, besides, Joe
realizes that he has need of advice
\from this sagacious writer-this little
pan who has, figuratively. waded
/ desp~in gore at battles, search
,ihg Tor news.
The great obligation under which
he has, this night, placed Sandy, by
giving him the story Of Khartoom's
downfall and Gordon's death, must
serve as q lever to lift him from the
slough Of despond. Back Of it, Of
course. is Sandys personal regard for
his fellow-citizen. That goes a great
way. He patiently waits till the other
has had his laugh out.
II must beg your pardon, Joe. Aw-
full trick, that Of yours. Too impul-
sive by half, my dear boy. If you
had known the baron as 1 do"
81 would have danced to see him
knocked out" cried Mynheer Joe. vim.
dictively.
+Ho! You've come to it already, eh?
Thought it would be that way. FIX.
pect pistols for two between you and
the baron yet. Sly fellow, that man.
Yhey do say he's downed half dozen
men In affairs of honor, with sword
or pistol"
Mynheer Joe snaps his fingers.
"Yo the deuce with the baron! II
he ever comes my way. I'll ring his
beastly neck as I would that Of
chicken" he mutters.
Good! Glad to hear you say so!
Despise the fellow myself. And yet,
Joe, he's a power in the land. protected
by hired gang that is paid by Rus
sian gold. When the time comes, Il
it ever does, for you to lay that plotter
out, remember that the moment your
hand touches him it will be signal
Tor several desperadoes to leap into
the game, armed, and ready to take
life, if necessary. in order to save the