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

CHAPTER XVII.
1--WE c,arn!nc about the 1st Of
Is Deae;a'er George was vas. alone a.''Ssia IN
sH gS tie ot:ice. he had just finished
| ~ writing some letters when Jen
Truitt came in and stood near the
stove. He WAS Il slender young man,
under twenty live. short and frail look
inc. His clothing was ragged and his
sandy hair unkempt Buckley looked
at him and smiled Been getting your
| self into no end Of rows over home"
he remarked My mother tells me
they sent you L deaths lead the other
night, and your father said somebody
shot ct you in the field
That's ali SO, George said rruitt
gloomily. Il reckon I've been shootin'
off my mouth Il little too much
~ really thought you had more sense
than to report that desperate gang over
there for moonshining," said George
In a kindly tone.
Wouldn't a done it eff I'd been
SOBER" replied Truitt. 'They made
me mad when was full, an done
'ern all the harm could"
"Well, what are you going to do about
it, Jed?"
That's what I come to ak you,
George. Ma and pa are mighty nlSn
crazy about it, an I give 'em my word
I'd come an AK yore advice. BY gum,
they think they'll so to you when they
die! Eff you was me would you so
back over thar today, George? IL
got another warnil' last night; in fact,
six or eight of 'em was scattered eli
about the place. I say warnin', but
reckon they was wusS than that; they
was to pa an ma an said ef they
ketched me they wouldn't do a thing
| to me-"
"Well, there's some consolation in
that" said George dryly.
s'You know hain't afeard O any rea-
sonable number O men," said Truitt IN
his whining voice, but when whole
regiment Of 'em comes to drink fel-
lers blood I jest git ratified an want
| to make tracks. Eff I had my way,
though, I'd go back home an defy EN-,
but mas mighty nigh crazy"
'sNo; you'd better stay in town today
anyway, jeff" said Buckley after
moments reflection. go up to the
Johnston House and get your breakfast
! take all your meals there While you
are in town-I've got an account there;
tell them to charge it to me. Stay IN
town tonight anyway. III see you to-
morrow. I'm very busy today. Do
you think the gang would dare follcw
you here?'
"They might, George. They raised
rumpus here about year ago, you
know-whippin' niggers in Niger
town"
Later in the morning Buckley met
the town marshal, Joe Batey, on toe
street. The officer wore q broad brim-
med hat, a dark blue suit of clothes
with brass buttons and carried po-
,iceman's club strapped to his wrist.
George gravely explained the situation
to him, but the officer refused to con-
cern himself in the matter.
'Look v here, George Buckley he
said. do you reckon I'm paid measly
town wages to do both town and coun-
ty work: Eff the sheriff caynt keep
down them riots over thar in the noun
taias, I cayn't Fer $50 4 month I'm
expected to do police duty in daytime,
watchman at night an act as coroner
on special occasions. Besides, JEFF
Truitt's gettin' entirely too numerous.
Every time he gets full he wants to
scratch some @ them daredevils' eyes
out. He's funny chap. They say
when he's drunk he'd fight a swarm G.
| wildcats, but when he's sober he'd
scare at the sight Of baby popgun,
an, on top O that, when he sobers up
he's so stubborn he'd die fore he would
apologize fer what he's done. What
you goin' to do with man like that?
Hes no ornament to the community
well, only thought I'd let you
know the situation" George. smiled as
he walked on. All I want to do is to
save the fellows neck"
George saw no more of JEFF Truitt
that day. He had some important cal
culationS to make in connection With
the sale of certain large quantities Of
cotton to mills in the east. and he was
closely occupied in his Office till past
midnight. When he had finished he
went to the front door Of the ware
house to get breath of fresh air be-
fore retiring. He did not feel sleepy.
Such work as he had been doing uSu-
ally had a contrary effect on him. Sud
denly be heard a shout up the street
in the direction of the Johnston House,
a revolver was fired, and gruf voice
cried out, Thar he goes, boys!"'
This was followed by q clatter Of
many feet on the brick sidewalk,
storm of furious CALCULATIONS and sti-
fed oaths, and then dark human bill
low rushed down the street in Buck
ley's direction 1t was mob pursu-
ing Jeff Truitt.
Hardly knowing why he did it,
George ran into his Office and secured
his big revolver from the drawer of his
desk and turned back quickly to the
door He was just in time, for the
mob, numbering fifty OF more, was not
ten yards away. Painting and almost
out Of breath, JEFF Truitt came bound
ing along ahead Of them and just out
Of their grasp. He was making for
the warehouse with the instinct that
there, and there alone. lay some chance
for escape. He gasped out something
to George and darted past him INTO the
warehouse.
"Haltv' George thundered, bis re-
volver leveled at the man in the lead.
"HaIt or III blow your brains out.'
The man fell back against those be-
hind him, and the surging mass came