The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1908-02-06
1heSpoilers.
BY REX E. BEACH.
Copyright, 1905. by Rex E. Beach.
[Continued from page p
BY REX e. BEACH.

" noI q PhSSS
seems almost a pity to change Ito
marry, as you will"
81 am not going to Nome to get mar
RED"
He glanced at her quickly.
rThen you won't like this country.
You are two years too early. You
ought to wait till there are railroads
and telephones and tables dhote and
chaperons. It's a mans country yet
81 don't see why it isn't womans
country too. Surely We can take
part in tanning 1t. Yonder on the Ore
gon Is a complete railroad, which will
he running from the coast TO the mines
in a few weeks. Another ship back
there has the wire and poles and fx-
rings for q telephone system, which VIII
go up in q night. AS to tables dhote,
I saw q real French count In Seattle
with a monocle. He's bringing IN
restaurant outfit, imported snaiis and
pates de foie gras. All that's wanting
is the chaperon. In my flight from the
Ohio 1 left mine. The sailors caught
her. You see, am not far ahead OF
schedule"
"What part are You going. to take In
this tanning process?" he asked.
She paused long before replying, and
when she did her answer sounded like
a Jest.
81 herald the coming Of the law"
she said.
"The law! Bah! Red tape, dead
language and horde of shysters! I'm
afraid of law In this land. We're top
new and too far away from things. 1t
puts too much power in too few hands.
Heretofore we men up here have. had
recourse to our courage and our Colts.
but we'll have to unbuckle them botn
when the law comes. l like the court
that hasn't any appeal" He laid hand
upon his hip.
..The Colts may go. but the courage
never WILL" she broke in.
perhaps. But I've heard rumors al
ready Of plot to prostitute the law.
In Unalaska a man warned Dextry,
with terror In his eye, to beware Of it;
that beneath the cloak Of justice was
drawn dagger whetted for US fellows
who own the rich diggings. l don't
think there's any truth in it, but you
can't tell"
"The law Is the foundation. There
can't be any progress without 1t.
There Is nothing here now but disor-
der"
There isn't half the disorder you
think there Is. There weren't any
crimes in this country till the tender
feet arrived. We didn't know what
thief was. II you came to a cabin,
YOU walked In without knocking. The
owner filled up the coffeepot and sliced
into the bacon; then when he'd started
your meal he shook hands and asked
YOUR name. 1t was just the same
whether his cache was full or whether
he'd packed his few pounds OF food
200 miles on bis back. That was hos
pitality to make your southern article
look pretty small. II there was no
one at home. you ate what you needed.
There was but one objectionable breach
OF etiquette-to fail to leave dry kin
tlllngs. I'm afraid Of the transitory
stage we're coming to-that epoch or
chaos between the death Of the old
and the birth Of the new. Frankly,
like the old way best. l love the IL
cense Of 1t. love to wrestle with ma
ture, to snatch and guard and fight for
hoop hovnn6 fhn
law for years, and want to stay there,
where life Is just what 1t was intended
to be-a survival Of the ittest."
His large hands as he gripped the
bulwark were tense and corded. while
his rich voice issued softly from his
chest with the hint Of power unlimited
behind 1t. He stood over her. tall.
yirile and magnetic. She saw now
why he had so joyously hailed the
fight Of the previous night. To one of
his kind it was as salt air to the nos
trils. Unconsciously she approached
him. drawn by the spell Of his strength.
my pleasures are violent, and my
hate is mighty bitter in my mouth.
What I want l taSe. That's been my
way in the old life, and I'm too selfish
to give 1t up"
He was gazing out upon the dimiy
,ncept miles Of ice. but now he turned
toward her and. doing so. touched her
warm hand next his on the rail.
She was staring up at him unafect'
edly 80 close that the faint odor from
her hair reached him. Her expression
was simply one Of wonder and curios-
ity at this type. so different from any
- had known. But the mans eyes
were hot and blinded with the sight OF
her. and he felt only her beauty
heightened In the dim light. the brush
of her garments and the small. soft
hand beneath his. The thrill from the
touch of it surged over him. mastered
him.
4 what / want, take" he repeated,
and then suddenly he reached forth
Nd. taking her in his arms, crushed
er to him, kissing her softly, fiercely,