The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1904-12-21


rumors were in the air It was not
until late IN the afternoon that even
Hiilyer had a full explanation, for II
was not till then that he ran across
the letter George had written. Several
old men were in the Office at the time.
Hanks was there, and Bascom Truitt,
wiping his eyes and yowing revenge
on the miscreants who had so coward
ly attacked brave man.
Major Cranston, well wrapped IN
rugs and braced by pillows, had come
down in q carriage with his negro man
servant and sat with the rest, pale Of
face and weak looking, yet relieved to
discover that some valuable papers he
had left in Hillyer's keeping were In
tact. He had heard that the safe b.
been opened, and then he had heard
that report contradicted and could only
rest satisfied by coming himself, weak
as he was. Hillyer had been strange
ly silent all the afternoon, but when
he came upon Georges letter he rose
and began to talk in voice that sank
deep and shook with uncomfortable
emotion.
I've jest found the key to it, he
said, the letter in his hand, "an' I'll
bet you all will think well O that pore
wounded boy when you know what I
do. Last night three armed men slip
ped up on i'm right here IN this Office.
I reckon, from what I gather, that
they told i'm his daddy was convict,
an folks in general didn't expect i'm
to be honest nohow, an that ef he
didn't open the safe they'd kill i'm an
bore il it the'rselves. he wasn't
tempted one minute, but he wanted to
leave line to me before he died y
Eillyer choked up and was silent for a
moment. The group bent toward him,
with working features and eyes dis
tended. $50 he told 'em all right, the
jig was up, but they'd have to give i'm
time to work out the combination.
They lowed he was doin' it, but IN
stead he was writin' a last word to
me. He said he was tired O lvin' any
how, the world was so down on i'm,
an that he'd ruther die AN take hand
in lettin' a gang O thieves steal the
savin's O. pore folks, an so he said re
was goin' to refuse. he said he hoped
it would give the lie to the belief that
he was dishonest beca'se his old daddy
had gone wrong. Thar was another
matter he writ about, but that was
private I want to say, though, that
George Buckley wasn't happy; he
hain't been happy fer a long time.
Thar are men in this world that think
they are too good to mix an mingle
with men O. his stamp, but I've got
sech durn contempt fer that sort o
thing that I feel like slappin' the jaws
O. folks that do in this day Of enl1ght-
enment"
Same here.v' said Bascom Truitt-
They were all somehow looking at
Major Cranstor. Even Hanks had fixed
him with q curious stare. The invalid
stirred uneasily in his chair. One Of
his pillows fell to the floor, but the
negro man behind him forgot to restore
it. Negroes comprehend the most deli
cate. workings Of the Anglo-Saxon
brain, and this black creature knew
that his master had incurred the dis
pleasure Of his neighbors. Cranston
seemed to feel that he ought to speak,
but he did not like the expressions on
the faces Of Truitt and Hillyer, and
their voices had rung with accusing de-
fiance
What do you think ought to be done.
Mr.. Hanl;s?" he asked.
ST don't know" said Hanks. 81 don't
know"
well" veutured Cranston, interlac-
Ing his white. thin fingers, 4 see no
harm in wiring the governor to offer q
reward for the arrest Of the men. The
editor of the Citizen told me as I came
down that he'd publish anything free
of charge If the governor would Of
I0T WV, VI CIV GA lILS
Governor" snorted Truitt. do you
reckon I'd 60 to that cowardly skunk
to help in matter like this? Eff we
hain't able here ct home to stand be-
hind a boy that offered his life to save
the money O. the widows an orphans
In this county we ort to be whipped"
''Huhw CALCULATED Hanks suddenly.
"Five hundred dollars fer the man that
shot George Buckley. I'll give $4,000
n cash out O. my own pocket! You tell
the editor that fer me, an tell i'm the
quicker he prints it the better it'll SUIT
me. Tell i'm to git out extra az
handbills an send 'em on hosses an
trains in ull directions. III foot the
bill" F.e was standing now, and his
glance vas bearing down significantly
on the major Il never met better
man ths George Buckley. Hes wutn
more t. the community than forty
'leven futed bosom ring politicians.
Seems TO me heard some fool woman
or other say thar was few people IN
this town that tried to hold their heads
above i'm on account O his aff1ict1on.
By gum, them sort I'D have to climb a
powerful high mountain to look over
that boys head, an don't you forget
it."
That's the ticketr' said Truitt, fol-
lowing Hanks outside.
Seems to me-" said Cranston, his
proud lip quiyering as he turned to
Hiliyer, that Pm being hit at I didn't
come down here to talk over my-my
family matters with anybody"
1--WE are all worked up in sympathy
for George" Hillyer said coldly. "But,
knowing what I do about the hearts
O. yore daughter an George Buckley,
feel like telliN you to 50 to the deuce
with yore notions o family honor,
Major Cranston.'
1T have not said wanted to discuss
tho matter with you" retorted the ma