The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-09-27
NJ. Bo56s. Merrln Coz
CHAPTER X.
An Ambuscade.

phere. Since there were not manv
inhabitants OF Lttleburg detached
from housekeeping. Miss Sapphira
Clinton depended for the most part
on transients:" and, to hold such in
subsection. preventing them from In.
'duiging In that noisy gaiety to which
transients" are naturally inclined
Just because they are transitory-the
elderly spinster had developed an abb
normal solemnity.
This solemnity was not only benee-
cial to "drummers" and "cour. men"
scuteiy conscious of being away from
nome, but 1t helped her brother Bob.
Before the charms Of Grace Noir had
penetrated his thick skin. the popular
Latfleburg merchant was as unman.
ageable as the worst. Before he grew
accustomed TO fall into q semi-coma.
tose condition at the approach Of
Trace Noir. and. therefore, before his
famous attempt to get religion" the
bachelor merchant often swore--not
from aroused wrath. but from his De-
cuiiar sense OF humor. In those Anti.
Grace and heather days, Bob. sitting
on the long veranda of the green
frame building. one leg swinging over
the other knee. would say, .Yes,
H." or. No. - It." as the case might
De- IL was then that the reproving
protest OF his sisters face would Jelly
In the fat folds OF her double chin.
helping. somewhat. to cover profanity
with prudent veil.
Miss Sapphira liked a joke--or NJ
least she thought so--as well az any.
body; but like too-humorous author.
sne found that TO be as funny as DOS.
Side Was bad for business. The "trav.
cling men were bad enough, needing
70 be reminded OF their wives. whom
lloyd left at home. and. she'd be
bound. had forgotten. But when one
nA1 whether traveller or not--even
staid young teacher like Abbott Ash.
ton. Tor instance--a youax man who
was almost like a son to her-when he
secluded himself In the night.time-
oy himself? with another male? oh.
dear. no!-with Fran. for example
what was the world coming to-?
There they stood" she told Bob,
the two OF them. all alone on the
foot-bridge. and II was after nine
O'Clock IL hadn't been In q hurry
10 get home to see that roomers didn't
set the house afire, not O soul would
nave seen the two colloguing."
And IL don't seem to have dona
you any good" remarked her brother.
who. having heard the tale twenty
times. began to look upon the event
almost as a matter of course. you'd
petter not have saw them"-at an
early age Bob had cut of his educa.
ton. and It had stopped growing at
that very place. Perhaps he had been
elected president OF the school.board
on the principle that we best appre-
ciate what does not belong to us.
My home has been Abbott's home"
said Miss Sapphira, "since the death
or his last living relation, and her a
STEP and IL a mercy, for nobody could
get along with her. and she wouldn't
let people leave her alone. You know
how fond I am Of Abbott, but your
position is very responsible. You
could set rid OF him by lifting your
finger. and people are making Iots -,
talk: it's going to injure you. People
don't want to send their tender younx
innocent girls-they're a mighty hard.
ened and knowing set. nowadava
though. must say-to a superinten.
dent that stands on bridges of nights.
noiding hands. and her q young slip
OF thing. His a-standing on that
bridge"
He amt stood there as often as
I've been worried to death a-hearing
OF IT," growled the ungrateful Bob. who
was Immensely fond OF Abbott
Miss Sappbira spoke with amazingly
significant double mods between each
word-"Ane 4 saw
OnlY