The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1904-12-07

rose quickly, as II ashamed TO be seen
there without reason for it.
George, what's the matter with you?
Amt you well this mornin'" the old
man questioned gently.
s.Not very, Mr.. Hillyer," George said,
dropping his eyes, but I'll feel better
when T get to work. I'm going down
pretty soon-'
THAT hain't it, my boy-that 'hain't
it." said Hllyer, his sympathetic eyes
resting on the troubled face before him.
"Somen' has gone wrong, George, an
wish you'd tell me about it. I'd take
it as a faror-so I would. l-l-feel a
big interest In you. I don't know as I
could ever explain how big it is. Tell
me, George"
"It wouldn't do any good" the young
man replied slowly, land might disturb
you q Nttleyou are so kind hearted" )"
II want to know, George"
"Well, I will tell you, Nr. Hillyer.
Do you know. what is the hardest thing
on earth to bear? 1t is to be insulted,
grossly insulted, By a man whom you
can't strike" Buckley then told all
that had taken place between him and
Telfare.
"He said that to your cried the old
man. ayes, I know what it would
mean to a proud sperit like yore'n, my
boy, an it's simply awful-awful! Hes
cowardly dog, but that don't make
you feel any better. Men in the northern
states don't understand how we kin
feel as We do on that line, but, it's bred
in the bone with u.s.
Hillyer suddenly turned from the
room and went downstairs. His wife
heard him going out at the gate ane
called to him from the veranda, but b"
walked on without needing her. At
the street corner be QuickenN his step
going faster and faster till he reached
the warehouse. He saw kenner and
Hanks in the Office, but he passed on
to Georges room in the rear. There on
the table lay Buckley's revolver.
Thrusting it into the pocket Of his
short coat he hurried out at the SIDE
door and went up the railroad to the
Johnston House. Going into the Office
he approached the desk and asked the
clerk>for Governor Telfare.
"He left on the s o'clock train this
morning, Mr.. Hillyer," said the clerk.
'He had us call him at T.
Gone? The old man stared blank
y.
"Yes, he got off, but he'll be back
next Sunday. He engaged the best
room in the house and gave orders that
it was not to be used by any one else"
"Goner Hillyer turned and started
away aimlessly. In the hall leading to
the street he was met by Bascom
Truitt, who stopped him.
"Say, old man, what's the matter:
Sick?' Hillyer stared at him, but made
no reply. ''Look y here, what ails you
anyway? The old soldier placed his
hand on the merchants shoulder and
turned him into vacant room on the
side Of the hall, room used by COM
mercial travellers for displaying their
| wares to the village storekeepers.
Hillyer sank into a chair and groaned.
Truitt heard some one passing In the
hall and closed the door.
II know some'n's wrong" he said.
| "Some'n's wrong when q deacon in the
church an a man O yore stamp goes
round white as 4 grave rock with a
a caliber gun in his pocket an his
teeth chatterin' on as warm day as
| this is.'
Hillyer told him what had happened
| to George and his own failure to meet
Telfare. He told it in an unsteady
voice, his lips quivering as he spoke.
Then, with his head down, he added:
'Bas, you know I split human blood
thirty year ago. I've prayed all them
years to git God to blot out the crime,
| an yet, after all that. If I'd "a met
TeRare just now, IL reckon, ef he
hadn't apologized to that pore boy I'd
"a shot i'm dead in his tracks. was
all upset about it. Oh, my God, I'm
as bad as I was away back when I was
young an hot blooded!'
| Truitt shrugged his shoulders. Then
reckon it's better fer all concerned
that Telfare went off when he did.
Now, look here, old man." Truitt bent
and took the revolver from Hillyer
and put it into his own pocket. "Yo're
| entirely united to run round with q
loaded gun In yore pocket. You take
my advice an so back to yore store.
I'll tell you what III do. I'll study
over this an try to come to some con-
ctusion what's best, then I'll come
down an see you I'm interested In
George Buckley, an don't you lee that
slide out O. yore mind In yore excite
! ment. Hes been q friend true an
| tried to me an mine, an I'll stand to
i'm or die Now, you 80 on to the
warehouse"
"And when will you be DOWN." asked
the merchant
"Jest as soon rs can see some way
out O. the difficulty" said Truitt
evasively. ~ tell you, you are too ex-
cttable-you go off half cooked. That's
what got you in the trouble that you
say has worried you so much. Why,
even eff you had shot the scalawag just
now. you'd "a done it too quick to'Ve
had any fun watch1n' i'm squirm. Ia
ruther see dern coward that's wrong
ed me or mine beg fer life an to see
IN, die. we all die-that's common as
4 pig tracks in wet weather, but only the
I dirty, sneakio' towards is afeard Of 1t.
You 80 .onanow; We are alosin' time.
I'll come doEn-Il come down! ]
/ sfnt 10 anarchist, goin' round klhn'
/ big. men 4n office. but that feller's: got
to be tended to, an I'll study up
eoUE,p..tH,