The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1907-05-02

said. '.Gnd you'd better try to. Cory's
laying for you, Of course. You say he's
after your wife? He must have set
about 1t pretty openly IL they're going
to the Beach today. for there is always
crowd there on Sundays. Is 1t hard
for you to see why he's doing it? It's
because he wants to make you jealous.
What for? So that you'll tackle him
again. And why does he want that?
Because he's ready for your
The others eyes suddenly became
bloodshot, his nostrils expanding in
credibly. Ready, Is he? He better be
ready. r.
That's enough Joe interrupted
swiftly. "We'll have no talk like that.
I'll settle this for you myself. You
send word to Claudine that l want to
see her at my office tomorrow morning.
and you-you stay away from the
Beach today. Give me your word"
Mr.. Fears expression softened. "All
right. Joe," he said. "I'll do what
ever you tell me to. Any Of US II do
that; we sure know who's our friend"
Keep out of trouble. Happy" Joe
turned to 90 and they shook hands.
"Good day. and-keep out Of trouble"
When be had gone Mr.. Fears coun-
tenance again gloomed ominously, and,
shaking his head, be rumiHatively en-
tered an adjacent bar through the al
ley door.
The Main street bridge was an old
fashioned wooden covered one, dust
colored and very narrow, squarely
framing the fair open country beyond,
for the town had never crossed the
river. Joe found the cool shadow in
the bridge gracious to his hot brow,
and through the slender chlnks Of the
worn flooring he caught bright glimpses
of running water. When he came out
of the other end he felt enough re-
freshed to light cigar.
"Well, here I am" he said, across
Main street bridge, and 1t must be
getting on toward noon" He spoke
almost with the aspect Of daring and
Immediately stood still listening. "'Re-
member" he ventured to repeat,
again daring" remember! Across
Main street bridge at noon!" And
again he listened. Then he chuckled
family with relief, for the voice did
not return. Thank God, I've got rid
of that!' he whispered. "And CT the
circus band toov'
A dusty road turned to the right, fol-
lowing the river and shaded by big
sycamores on the bank. The mongrel.
intensely preoccupied with this road.
scampered away. his nose to the
ground. Good enough" said the
master. Lead on and I'll come after
you"
But he had not far to follow. The
chase led him to a half hollow log
which lay on a low grass grown levee
above the stream where the dogs In
terest in the pursuit became vivid:
temporarily, however, for after few
minutes of agitated investigation he
was seized with Indifference to the
whole world, painted briefly, slept. Joe
sat upon the log, which was in the
shaGe. and smoked.
For the first time it struck Joe that
1t was a beautiful day, and 1t came to
him that a beautiful day was a thing
which nothing except death, sickness or
Imprisonment could take from him, not
even the ban Of Canaan. Unforewarn-
ed music sounded In his ears again,
but he did not shrink from 1t now.
This was not the circus band he had
heard as he left the square, but a mel
ody like a faraway serenade at night,
as of "the horns Of elf land family
blowing" and he closed his eyes with
the sweetness Of 1t.
"Go ahead" he whispered. "Do that
all you want to. If you'll keep it up
like this awhile, I'll follow with Little
Brown Jug, How Love Thee! 1t
seems to pay after ALL"
The welcome strains, however. were
but the prelude to a harsher sound
which interrupted and annihilated
them-the courthouse bell changing out
II. GAIL right" said Joe. "1t's noon,
and I'm across Main street bridge
He opened his eyes and looked about
him whimsically. Then he shook his
head again.
A lady had just emerged from the
bridge and was coming toward him.
| It would be hard to get at Joe's frst
impressions Of her. We can find con-
yeyance for only the broadest and
heaviest Ancient and modern instances
multiply the case Of the. sleeper who
dreams out a long story in accurate
color and fine detail, tale of years, IN
| the opening and shutting OF door. 80
with Joseph in the brief space OF the
lady's approach. And with him, as
with the sleeper, it must have been
in fact it was-in his recollections later
blur Of emotion.
He had little knowledge of the mil
linery arts, and he needed none 10 see
the harmony-harmony like that OF the
day he had discovered a little While
Il 1@y.