The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-10-06

- ample food for thought He
decided to be more circumspect in the
future, and to keep an eye out for in
qulsitlve strangers. That Hazen was
antagonistic to him he had always
known but that he was regarded by
him with suspicion he had not realized
till now.
1t was now five o'clock and he was
sitting in his room awaiting the usual
report from the river, when a quick
tap at his door was followed by the
entrance of the very man he was
thinking about. He rose eagerly to
receive him. determined, however, to
allow no inconsiderate impulse to
drive him into unnecessary speech.
Taking the seat proffered him Haz-
en- opened the conversation as fol.
lows:
Mr.. Ransom, l have been doing
you an injustice. / do not consider
1t necessary to tell you just how l
have found this out, but l am now
convinced that you are as much in the
dark as myself in regard to this un.
fortunate affair, and are as willing as
] am to take all justifiable means to
enlighten yourself own that at first
/ thought it more than probable you
were In collusion with the girl here
to deceive me. That wouldn't stand.
I'm glad to find you as truly q victim
OF this mystery as myself"
Ransom Strengthened himself.
IF this is an apology" he returned,
II am willing to accept it in the spirit
in which it is proffered. But l should
like something more l., an an apology
from you. Candor for candor;-your
whole story in return for mine."
"I'm afraid it would be a trifle tedi
my whole story" smiled Hazen
"If you mean such part of it as con-
Germs Georgian's peculiar actions and
the complications with which we are
at this mome2t struggling, l can only
repeat what ] have already told you
both at the st. Denis in New York
and here. l an Georgian's returned
brother, saved from the jaws O. hell
to see my own country again. ar
rived in New York on the tenth Nat
urally, after securing a room at the
hotel. | took up the papers. They
were full OF tine approaching marriage
OF Miss Hazen.< l recognized my sis
ter's name, though not her splendor,
for we were the sole survivors of a
poor country family and knew moth.
ing of the legacy l am now told she
received. Anxious to see her, l at
tended the ceremony. Sne recognized
me. l had not expected this, and feel
ing old affections revive, | followed
her friends to the house and was pre-
sented to them and to you. What I
whispered to her on this occasion
We're my assumed name and the place
where l was to be found. My changed
countenance called for explanations
for which bridal reception offered
no opportunity. Besides, as have
already said, l stood in sore need of a
definite amount of money. / meant
her to come and see me, but / did not
expect her to play trick on you in
order to do so. This had its birth in
the to me unaccountable mystery en-
bodied in the girl you call Anitra, but
whom I'm not ready yet to name. For
when l, do, action must follow convic-
ton and that without mercy or delay"
"ActiOn?" repeated Ransom, with
quick suspicion and confused rush
of contradictory visions in his mind.
What do you mean by that?"
Hazen covered his chin with his
hand.
Il will try and explain" he replied.
"If l an abrupt in my language, it is
owing to the exigencieS o. the case.
| have no time 10 waste and no dis
position to whitewash rough piece
Of york. To speak to the point,
have an intense lnLe4 ct II I.iy s.ster
Gee SIN. | haTe l-tt4e OF none IL l-.y
s;stC.' ..Eltra. Geo. AS in.e.ASe.-~y, =,
o6-will, and command OF money
would DC OF ineStI:-.-1-e C~nc-.1 -
ne. Anitra, on the cO2trary, CCC.d be
nothing but burCen, unless" Ee.e
he cast very sharp glance at Ran
som-"unless Georgian should have
been sufficiently considerate TO leave
her good share Of her fortune in the
will you say she made just before her
disappearance and supposed death"
That l can say nothing about" re-
joined Ransom in answer TO this feel
er. "The will is in the hands of her
lawyer, but if it will help your argu-
ment any We will suppose that she
left her sister to the care of her
friends without any especial provision
for her in the way of money"
The steady fingers clutching the
SCARED neck loosed their grip to wave
this suppOsitiol aside.
"A h~illy suppoS.bie case was the
cold comment with which he supple
mented this disclaimer; but one
which would make the girl burden
indeed; q burden which Tor many rea-
sons | could not assume" Here he
Struck himself sharnly on the neck