The Irish standard., 1910-03-12

WdTu IL as new message 70 0Fao-
void at Columbia. The chilling words
thus fang at him were:
Prof. Fienry Maine Griswold. &
saluda House, Columbia. 8. c.:
I am very sorry, old man, but can NOT
take yen in just now. Scarlet fever 10
epidemis among my tenants, and could
not think Of exposing you to danger. As
soon as the accursed plague passes I
want TO have you down.
An epidemic that closed the gates
of Ardsley would assume the proper
lions OF national disaster; for oven
if the great house itself were quar-
antined, there were lodges and bunga-
lows scattered over the domain, where
a host of guests could be entertained
in comfort. Griswold reflected that
the very fact that he had wired from
Columbia must have intimated to Ard.
more that his friend was flying to-
ward him, pursuant to the Atlanta in
vitation. Griswold dismissed thou
sand speculations as unworthy. Ard
more had never shown the remotest
trace Of snobbishness, and as far as
the threatened house party was con-
cerned. Griswold knew MIRA. Atchison
very well, and had been entertained at
her New York house.
The patronizing tone Of the thing
caused Griswold to flush at every
reading. II the Ardsley date line had
not boon SO plainly written; if the
phraseology were not so characteris-
tic. there might be room for doubt;
but ADMINISTRATORS of all men,
had slapped him in the face!
But, scarlet fever or no scarlet
fever. the pursuit Of Appleweight had
precedence of private grievances. BY
the time he reached Turner Court
House Grswold had dismissed the
ungraciousness Of Ardmore, and his
Jaws were set with determination
to perform the mission intrusted to
him by Barbara Osborne, and to wait
until later for an accounting with his
unaccountable friend.
Arrived at Turner's. Griswnld
strobe at once toward the courthouse.
The contemputnous rejection of his
message by the sheriff of Mingo had
angered Griswold. b:it he was destined
to feel even more poignant insoence
when. entering the sheriff's office. a
deputy, languidly posed as letter
Nv" in n swivelchnir, with his feet
on the mantel took cob pipe from
his mouth and laz.ly answered Girls
wold's importunate query with:
1.-THE sheriff mint hych, seh He's
a-visitin' his folks in Tennessy"
when will he be back?" demanded
'Griswold, hot of heart, but maintain.
ing the icy tone that had made him
so formidable in cross-examinatlon.
Il reckon I don't know, seh."
"Do you know your own nancy"
persisted Griswold sweetly.
Go to hell, seh" replied the deputy.
He reached for match relighted his
pipe, and carefully crossed his feet ON
the mantel-shelf The moment Girls
wold's steps died away in the outer
corridor the deputy rose and busted
himself so industriously with the tele-
phone that within an hour all through
the Mlngo hills, and even beyond the
state line, along lonely trails, across
hills and through valleys, and beside
CHEEKY creeks and brooks, 1t was
known that strange man from Co.
lumbia was In Mingo county looking
for the sheriff. and Appleweight, alias
Poteet, and his men were everywhere
on guard.
Griswold liked the prosecuting at
torney on sight. His name was Haber-
sham, and he was a youngster with a
clear and steady gray eye. Instead of
the southern statesman's flowing
Prince Albert, he wore sack.coat Of
gray jeans, and was otherwise distin-
guished by a shirt of white and blue
check. He grinned as Griswold bent
a puzzled look upon him.
IT took your courses at the uni
versity two years ago, professor, and l
remember distinctly that you always
wore a red cravat to your Wednes-
days lectures"
"You have done WE'LL" replied Girls
void, "for I never expected to find an
old student who remembered half as
much of me as that. Now, as l I'M
dcrstood you over the telephone, Ap-
pleweight was indicted for stealing a
ham in this county by the last grand
jury, but the sheriff has failed or re-
luSCu W HlihE lfc dIICSI. HOW uIQ
the grand jury come to indict If this
outlaw dominates all the hill coun-
try?"
1.-THE grand jury wanted to make q
showing Of virtue, and 1t was, Of
course, understood between the FORE
man, the leader of the gang, and the
sheriff that no warrant could be
served on Appleweight. I did my
duty; the grand iury's act was ex-
emplary; and there the wheels of Jus
tice are blocked. The same thing is
practically true across the state line
in Dilwell county, North Carolina.
These men, led by Appleweight, use
their intimate knowledge of the coun.
try to elude pursuers when at times
the revenue men undertake a raid.
and the county authorities have never
seriously molested them. Now and
then one Of these sheriffs will make a