The Elbert County tribune., 1910-08-05

Ill a 6tu-ROSbCbbiOA 6O COIuDieLe-a
tranquility as sweet as the fading
afternoon.
mt. .Ardmore. ! dislike to do It, but
your amazing conduct makes II nee
essary for me to disclose my Identity"
and the mans manner showed real
embarrassment.
Il knew 1t; l knew it," nodded Ard
more. folding his arms across his
chest. You're either the king of Siam
or the prince of Petosky. AS either,
salute you!"
mol" roared the captive, beating
impotently against the door of the
cage with his hands. mo! I'm the
governor of South Cardinal"
This statement failed. however, to
produce the slightest effect on Mr..
Ardmore. who only smiled slightly, a
smile less incredulous than disdainfl.
"Oh, pshaw; that's nothing" he re-
piled I'm the governor Of North Caro-
lina!" and mounting his horse he
gravely lifted his hat to the prisoner
and galloped away.
While Mr.. Ardmore was securing
his prisoner in the corn-crib 1t may be
interesting to return for moment to
the haunted log cabin on Raccoon
creek, the interior of which was
roughly but comfortably furnished.
Above were two small sleeping-rooms,
and beside the bed in each stood a
suitcase and a hand-satchel In each
room hung, on convenient hooks.
long, black frock-coat. pair of trou-
sers of light cloth, and broad-brim
black felt hat Coat, trousers and hat
were exactly alike.
In the room below sat man In his
shirt-sleeves. his feet on cheap deal
table, blowing rings from cigar. He
presented picture of the greatest
ease and contentment, as he occasion
ally stroked his short brown beard.
or threw up his arms and clasped his
hands about his head or caught lazily
at the smoke rings. On the table lay
an array of playing cards and poker
chips.
ITS too good to last forever" the
lone occupant reflected aloud, sitting
a yawn. and he reached out, with
careless Indifference, toward bum
die of newspapers tied together with
a piece of twine and drew one out
and spread it across his knees. He
yawned again as though the thought
of world whose affairs were
stamped in printers ink bored him i'm
mensely; and then the bold headlines
that shouted at him across half a
quarter of the sheet caused him to
gasp, and his feet struck the bare
floor of the cabin resoundingly. He
now bent over the paper with the
greatest eagerness. muttering as he
read, and some of his mutterings
were. it must be confessed, not with
out profane establishment
TWO COWARDLY GOVERNORS
MISSING.
Scandal Affecting Two State Execu-
tives-Is the Appleweight Case Re
ible?-Rumors of Fatal Duel
on State Line.
He read breathlessly the startling
story that followed the headlines,
then rose and glanced anxiously at his
watch.
Am l drunk or mad? l must find
Osborne and get out of this"
He leaped to the open door, and
gazed into the forest from a little
platform that commanded all sides of
the cabin. And there, to his utter
amazement, he saw men in khaki
emerging cautiously from the woods.
They were Enthusiastically soldiers of
some sort, for an officer was givs1H
sharp commands, and the line opened
out like a fan along the creek. The
observer of this maneuver mopped his
head with his handkerchief as he
watched the alert movements of the
figures in khaki.
He was so absorbed that he failed
to hear stealthy steps at the rear of
the platform. but he was now rudely
aroused by two uniformed youngsters
with S. c. N. G. on their caps, who
sprang upon him and bore him with
a crash to the puncheon floor.
You're our prisoner!" shouted one
of them, rising when he found that
the prisoner yielded without resist
| ance.
What for?" blurted the captive,
sitting up and rubbing his elbow.
For being Bill Appleweight, alias
Poteet. Get up. now. and come with
us to headquarters, or my instructions
are to break your head"
Who in the devil are you?" painted
the prisoner.
We'll. if it's anything to you, we're
the South Carolina militia, so you'd
better get up and climb"
tTO BE CONTINUED)