The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1904-11-23

81 am delighted to meet you," he
faltered, red in the face. This IS a
rather rough and tumble camp meet
ing reception to offer you the first time
you honor the old warehouse with your
presence, Miss Cosby" he managedato
get out. ''but we are an emotional peo-
! PIE and
Hush suddenly exclaimed Lydia,
| facing him with her great, wondering
eyes. Don't speak lightly Of that"
Then her voice sank into inefable
sweetness. Show me, Mr.. Buckley,
where it happened. mean from
which direction dii the mob come, and
| Is this the door-vherc the poor boy
where you stood-this hcre?'
George grew rcdder: he essayed o
light laugh, but she was persistent.
She laid her hands on his arm. "TeIi
me-" she urged, "is this the very spot:'
"That's right, MISS" said Truitt,
coming up. The gang come runnin'
right down that walk after JEFF. He
hain't a plumb coward, but mob o.
fifty bloodthirsty men would rattle
any boy that's been made a pet Of all
his life. They was all right on his
heels, an he seed George Buckley's
| open door an made q break fer It
George let i'm in an then stood right
on that sill thar an dared one Of 'em
to pass i'm. He had gun, but they
could u ground i'm to sausage meat.
One man cooked revolver, an George
heard it an yelled out an dared i'm
to shoot i'm while he stood in the
light, an bemeaned i'm fer coward
an all he could think of. His pure
grit, an the respect they had fer i'm,
shamed the gang, an they left, But
thars a hero, miss. You young ladies
study about leaders of great battles
that are this an that, but I'm a old
soldier, an what George Buckley done
last night was the brayest thing ever
seed or heard tell off,
"We thought Major Cranston was
here" Miss Cosby explained when Tru-
lit had gone 1--WE have been looking
all over town for him"
George accompanied them to the car
riage and helped them in. He was stlll
flushed and embarrassed. Lydia was
quiet and thoughtful.
You must come up and see US very
soon," she said Il want you to know
Kitty"
Buckley turned back to the Office, an
gry with himself, the Truitts and ev-
erything pertaining to the recent hap
pcning.
"Oh, what an ass I made Of myself"
he thought-"what deplorable, help
less assr'
He had just seated himself at his
desk when Jeff Truitt came in.
George" he said, "Kenner has offered
me job at the compress, and''-
"Weu'-George looked up from his
work. with q frown-"that's all right,
I guess"
Their eyes met, and Truitt's fell to
the ground. He turned out Of the
door, meeting Kenner on the sidewalk.
II made George mad jest now" ne
said to Kenner 81 wouldn't "a done
it fer the world, but
"You didn't make me mad, old boy"
said George, coming up, with smile.
"I was worried about a calculation 1
was making. I hardly knew who was
speaking to me-"
"Well, I'm gIad,'' said JEFF, with
smile of relief "I wouldn't bother
you fer the world
'I'll bet he was mad" said kenner
to himself as he moved on. George
Bucklev's as hard to understand some
times as woman. He didn't like the
way the Truitts carried on fore them
young ladies' Lord, he don't know
which side his breads buttered on!
Eff I live q hundred years I'll never
forget Lydia Cranston's face while old
Truitt was a-talkin', an George IS as
blind as a bat-kickin' himself right
now"
he went into the Office few minutes
later. George was at his desk, dry
pen in his hand, the flush still on his
face. "I met Bob Hanks uptown
awhile ago." Kenner observed.
George did not seem to hear.
"He's put ON new two horse del1V-
cry wagon, painted up with his sign
on it, jest like city wagons"
Buckley was still inattentiye-
"By the way, the little devil told me
he was goin' to let up on that school
girl racket O. his. He told me Of his
own accord, so I reckon my talk did
some good t'other night
Il suppose it did," said Buckley, with
a start, and he went to work. Kenner
stood watching him for several min
utes. The flush remained on Buckley's
face all that morning, and he seldom
answered when spoken to. Even Hill
yer remarked upon his strange con-
duct.
Hes quar- boy" said the old man.
"1 don't pretend to understand '1m' our
I bank on i'm jest the same
81 think I understand 'im," replied
Kenner. - kin see through plank,
when thars a knot hole in it." But
that was as far as the cotton buyer
would commit himself.
CHAPTER XIX.