The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-11-26

return ir four or f,ve days. a. had Grace
Noir. but secrets that have been bur.
led for many years are not picked M
IN q day. However. had the chairman
OF the schooL BOARD returned the day
after his departure. Abbott Ashton
weuld have met him at The station.
Twice. In the opinion Of Fran, the
young man had failed her by allow
inG orace's mind TO fiash to impor.
tant discoveries along the path Of his
insulated remarks about the weather.
This third teot was more equal, since
he was to deal with no Grace Noir-
merWly with q man.
"A Littlcburg had only ono railroad,
and q branch" Il was not difYlcult
to meet every train: moreover. Miss
Sspphira's hasty notes from her
brother kept Abbott advised. At Arst,
Miss Sapphira Iaid. "It will be q
week." later-Then day. more-and
the business left like this!" Then
came the nnsl bulletin: II may como
tomorrow. Look for mo when you zee
me."
What the secret was that Abbott
must prevent Clinton from divulging,
he did not care TO guess; doubtless
the picture Of aregory's past, with Its
facs to the wall. might be inscribed,
Some other woman" For surely
Grace Noir was some other woman.
With these thoughts. Abbott met the
evening train. to see Robert Clinton
hastily emerge from tho solitude hs
had endured In the midSt Of many.
Robert was in no pacific mood, and
whom he found himself almost In the
arms OF Abbott, his greeting was bois-
terous because impatient at being
stopped. Abbott. moving that Robert
vas not ordinarily effusivs. thought,
He has the sscrc<l"
Robert shook hands without delay.
tng progress toward the waiting hack.
bearing Abbott along on waves of
greeting.
bet surely ycc ars not going .
'i4ei" Abbott sxpostulaied.
'Husinesv-vsry preoslny--sss you
later"
but ] have business With you. Mr..
Clinton. that cant wait. Come. walk
With me to town aud I'll explain; tin
delay you only few minutes"
Like . restive horse on finding him
self restrained. Robert Clinton lifted q
LEG without advancing. "Oh. very
veil" he agreed. I'm fact I've some
thing important for you, old fellow.
aud I'll explain before I-before tho
yss. before" he ended. turning his
back with q smothered growl.
Lucky ] was at the station" Ab
oott exclaimed. since you've some
thing to tell me. Bob. What n itf-
In thus addressing his old friend .s
BOD the young man was onacially
declaring that their relationship A
teacher and schooldirector was for
ever at an end. and they stood a. man
70 man.
Clinton spoke rapidly, with HE
vonted bruskness: Guess you know
I've been knocking about the country
for the last three or four wseks--sav
good many old friends--a fellow can't
90 anywhere without meeting some.
oody ne knows-curious. isn't it. Well.
I've just got IN opening for you. You
NOV how sorry am because wa had
TO plump another teacher on to your
tob. but don't you worry II Fran aid
hold your hand-just you keep your
hands In your pockets after this. when
there's danGer-Say! I've rot some
thing lots better for you than Little
burg. School out In Oklahoma-rich
private man behind it-he owns the
whole plant. and he's determined to
run IL to suit the new ideas. This
rich man-chum Of mine-went West.
bought lsod, sat on 1t. rot up with his
Jeans full OF monev. Wants Won To
come AZ once"
Abbott was elsteo. "whst kioo Of
aer lucas, Bob" hs AsxsS joyousIy.
OF that impractical noassnso Of
teaching life instead Of books. You
know what mean. but I don't think I
90. Don't worry about it now--some-
ming terrible's on my mind-just aw.
ml' cant think Of anything else.
what you want to do is to scoot out
TO Tahlelah. Oklahoma. to this ad.
dress-here's his card-teli 'em Bob
sent you" He looked at Abbott fe-
verishly. as IL almost hoping Abbott
would bolt for Tahielah them and
there. His broad red face was set
detsrminedly.
This news is Bplendidl" Abbott
declared enthusiastically. 'T had NJ.
ready applied for q country school:
] was afraid I had lost out q whole
year. OF account of-sverything. I
must thank"
Abbott. I don't want to be thanked.
I haven't got time TO be thanked.
Yonder's Hamilton Gresorys house
and that's whore I'm bound-sood
night"
Bot. Bob. I haven't told you my
huslna.a