The Hattiesburg news., 1913-06-17

having given cheer to one on the brink
of a dreadful doom. She vanished,
that fair creature, into the forest. |
looked at my watch-the unerring,
warranted. sixteen -jeweled chonometer
which shall presently have the honor
of showing to you at the unexampled
price of three-seventy-an saw that
the hour was eXactly-for these time
pieces vary not one fraction of a sec
ond il a day -eight-forty-five. When
next / looked at the face of Father
Times trustiest accountant, it was to
mark the hour of the horrid shrek
that shoon my soul; precisely nine
thirty-one. And later, when I heard
the dread news, realized that my
ears had thrilled to death cry"
He looked about him with face of
controlled en- otion. His voice dropped
to throaty and mesmeric gurgle.
How frail,' he continued: How
frail and uncertain is the life of man.
kind Who OF these happy faces be-
I fore me may net tomorrow be bathed
| in tears for the loss of some loved
one? Best be prepared against the
time of sorrow. show you here a
unique collection of framed notices
suitable alike for the walls of the
humblest home or the grandest palace
Within these tasty frames are en-
shrined comforting mortuary verses
delicately ornamented by the hands Of
our leading art SITS, such poetry as dis
tils assuagement upon the wounded
heart, and these priceless objects o.
art and agents of mercy l am dis
tributirg at the nominal charge of ont
dollar each"
Kent moved away, his chin pressed
down upon his chest. He went to th'
office Of Lawyer Adam Balm, AM
,spent an hour waiting, with his fee
propped up on the desk. When tn
lawyer entered Kent remarked:
"You rather put our two officia
friends in hole this morning."
"Just a mite, maybe. But they'v
crawled out. l guess / spoke to
quick"
"How SOP"
'Well, if they'd gone ahead an
buried the body as it was, we coul
have had it exhumed. And then we
have seen what we'd have SEEN"
"True enough. And you didn't Sc
> it as it was?"
See what? Did you?"
Kent's quiet smile sidled down fro
the corner of his mouth.
Suppose" he said, you give me tt
. fullest possible character sketch
our impulsive friend, the sheriff"
HALF an hour was consumed In tn
process. At the end of the time Kel
: strolled back to the Square whe
Simon P. Groot had been discoursin
There he found the ornate wage
closed, and it's ornate prophet
whistling over some minor repai
that he had been making. An invit
tion to take a ride In Kent's car W
promptly accepted.
Business first" said Kent you
seller. I'm a buyer. You've G
some information that l may want.
so, I'm ready to pay. Was any
your talk true?"
TX "Yep," replied Simon P. Gre
austerely. 1T was all true but
frills"
tn "Will you trim off the frills for
~ dollars?"
es Fair dealing for fair price is !
a. motto; you'll find it in gilt lettering
~ the back of the wagon. l will"
What were you doing on Hawl
~ ~ Cliffs?"
Sleeping in the wagon"
IN "And you really met this mysterit
az wanderer?"
p. Sure as you're standing there"
IN What passed between your"
ar. 81 gave her good evening, and
m. spoke to me fair enough but queer, I
said that my children's children mi
60 remember the day. Now, l amt
10. any children to have children; o
ed wouldn't have thought Of 1t again
for the man that came inQuiring q
nd her"
t. when was that"