The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1906-09-12

ceiyabie that refined girl should toll
crate man who passed from one igno-
rant and vicious woman to another,
and yet AIMS greeting remained gra-
cious. if not friendly. What it was
when they were alone, he dared not
think.
rs for Raymond himself, he contin-
ucd to punish himself by putting aside
the many opportunities which came to
plead his own suit, and took a morbid
sort Of pleasure il his renunc1ation.
There will be one man at least who
will not persecrte her," he said saw
agely and bent his best energies to tne
work of developing his mine.
One afternoon as Ann and Mrs. hei-
ly sat sewing and chatting together
woman suddenly appeared in the open
door. She was large and high colored,
her hat was awry, and there was a
wild glare in her eyes and look in
her face that froze even Nora into 81
lence Both stared at their strange
visitor in breathless apprehension till
she pointed her unsteady finger at
Ann and hoarsely cried out:
$50 you're the one that's cut me out?'
The muscles Of one cheek contorted
and her eyelid dropped like that Of a
paralytic as she fixed baleful look on
the astonished girl After moments
pause she stepped uncertainty upon
the threshold and leaned against the
jamb. "Well, you'd better watch out.
If you don't give him up, I'll kill your
"She's crazy" whispered Nora.
The Intruder fumbled in her absurd
iy famlooyant skirt and at last, drew
out pistol. "Now you better hop!"
she said, with menacing calmness.
Ann rose, white and calm. 'Whc
are you? What do you want?"
"Wbo am I? I'm Jack Munro's wife,
that's who am, and want you to let
him alone, that's what want. You
can understand that, can't you?" Her
big, fabby face again contorted hor-
| ribly.
Nora found tongue. "You go away
or I'll call Matt"
"Call him. What do I care for him?
amt afraid Of no man livin'. No,
sir; let him come. But I got no war
with you; you're all right. But that
thing there, with her fancy dresses
!! I'll pink her with a bullet If she don't
let my Jack alone"
If the drunken creature had swept a
handful of mire into her face Ann
could not have been more revolted,
more degraded. Fixing look Of dis
dain on the woman, she said: "You are
quite mistaken Your Jack is less than
nothing to me- I despise him and all
he represents"
The other wildly laughed. "Ah, yes,
you can talk-you're smooth-but I
know" She began to buster. "If you
hated him, why do you talk and laugh
with him? 1 saw you yesterday She
raised the pistol. ''I tell you, I'll blow
you into kingdom come if you don't
promise right now to give him up."'
AS SIG dON duCcu luS lWO 11lltC 1cOo
at play Just outside appeared in the
doorway, and the sight of them steeled
the little mothers heart go away,
darlin's," she called to them. "Quick,
run for dad!'
The woman turned to see who was
behind her, and the desperate Nora
seized her By the wrist. Give me the
gum she called
81 won't! Le' go mer' shrieked the
intruder, jerking hard III the effort to
free her hand
Ann seized the other arm. 81 prom
ise,'' she said quietly, fixing her eyes
full upon those Of the infuriated VIC
man, who ceased to struggle. "Now
go away"
'.You promise?"
81 promise"
The woman again laughed harshly,
drunkenly. ST don't trust you. II! kill
you; then I know Let go mer' she
called. 'Iet go or I'll smash your
face"'
"latt! oh, Matt" called Nora as
she clung desperately to that terrible
wrist.
Help came from an unexpected quar-
ter. Like a fash, Woo, the new Chinese
e- -~