The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1908-02-13

( whom she had been thrown :" fa;e:ui-
". Already she had thrilled Il. III
spell of this country. but she had not
learned that strength and license carry
blood and violence as coro!!aricS.
Emergin. from the doorway 1T the
foot Of the stairs. they driftcd slowly
along the walk. watching the crowd.
Besides the universal tension. :aerc
were laughter and hope and eHhilara-
ton in the faces. The enthusiasm OF
this boyiSh multitude warmed one.
The girl wished to get into this spirit
to he one of them. Then suddenly
from the babble at their elbows came
q discordant note. not long nor loud.
only a few words. penetrating and
harsh with the metallic quality lent by
passion.
Helen glanced over her shoulder to
+. find that the smiles Of the throng were
gone and that its eyes were bent on
some scene In the street with an eager
interest she had never seen mirrored
before. simultaneously Glenister spoke:
ZONE away iTOm Defe
With the auickened eye Of experience
he foreeaw trouble and tried to drag
her ON, but she shook OF his grasp I'M
patiently and, turning, sazed absorbed
at the spectacle which unfoided itself
before her. Although not comprehend.
Ing the play Of events, she felt vague
ly the quick approach Of some crisis,
yet was unprepared for the swiftness
With witch It cane.
Her eyes had ieaped to the figures Of
two men In the street from whom the
rest had separated IKE oil from water.
One was slim and well dressed, the
other bulky, naackinawed and lowering
Of feature. 1t was the smaller who
spoke, and for a moment she mistudged
bis bloodsbot eyes and swaying car
rage to be the result Of alcohol until
she saw that he was raeked with fury.
Make good, tell you, quick! Give
me that bill Of sale. you -"
The unkempt man swung on his heel
with q growl and walked away, his
course leading him toward Glenister
and the girl. With two strides he was
abreast Of them: then, detecting the
flashing movement Of the other, he
whirled like wild animal. His voice
had the snarl Of beast in it.
"Ye had to have 1t, didn't ye? Well,
there
The actions Of both men were quick
as light, yet to the girls taut senses
they seemed theatrical and deliberate.
Into her mind was scared forever the
memory Of that second as though the
shutter Of q camera had snapped, i'm
pressing upon her brain the scene,
sharp, clear cut and vivid. The shag-
gy back Of the large man almost brush
ing her, the rage drunken, white shirt
ed man in the derby hat, the crowd
sweeping backward like rushes before
a blast, men with arms eexed and feet
raised In fight, the glaring yellow sign
of the Gold Belt Dance Half' across
the way-these were stamped upon her
retna, and then she was jerked vio-
lently backward. two strong arms
crushed her down upon her knees
against the wall, and she was smoth-
cred in the arms of Roy Glenister.
"My God, Don't move! We're in;
line" H.
He crouched over her, his cheek
against her hair his weight forcing
her down into the smallest compass,
his arms about her, his body forming
a living shield against the flying bull
lets. Over them the big man stood,
and the sustained roar Of bis gun was
deafening. In an instant they heard
the tbud and felt the jar Of lead In the
thin boards against which they hud-
died. Again the report echoed above
their heads, and they saw the slender
man In the street drop his weapon and
spin half round as though hit with
some heavy hand. He uttered a cry
and, STOPPING for his gun, plunged for
ward, burying his face in the sand.
The man by Glenister's side shouted
curses thickly and walked toward hts
PROSTATE enemy, firing at every step.
The wounded man rolled to bis side
and, raising himself on his elbow, shot
twice 90 rapidly that the reports blend.
ed, but without checking his antago-
nist's approach. Four more times the
relentless assailant fired deliberately.
his last missile sent as he stood over
the body which twitched and shudder-
ed at his feet, Its garments muddy and
smeared. Then he turned and retraced
his steps. Back within arms length OF
the two who pressed against the build
Ing he came. and as he went by they
saw his coarse and sullen features
drawn and working psllidly, while the
breath whistled through his teeth. He
held his course to the door they had
Just quilted: then, as he turned, be
coughed bestiarly, splitting out
mouthful Of blood. His knees waver-
ed. He vanished within the portals,
and In the sickly silence that fell they
heard his hobnailed boots clumping
slowly I'M the stairs