The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-09-02

Aa WV va ITO tCttCto iouS USO
told Kendrick he was engaged to the
girl. 1t was the last letter Kendrick
received from him."
There vas a pause.
"The important point nOw," the old
man went On us the identity Of this
girl to whom you have made your
princely gift out Of the goodness Of
your young heart. propose to speak
to the woman she has introduced as
her mother and elicit what information
I can
He crossed the floor, followed by Mr..
Magee. and stood by the woman's
chair. She looked up. her eyes heavy
with sleep. her appearance more taw-
dry than ever In that faint light.
Madam" remarked the professor,
with the air Of Judge trying case,
"your daughter has tonight made her
escape from this place with a large
sum Of money earnestly desired by the
prosecuting attorney Of ReutOn county.
In the name Of the law I command
you to tell me her destination and
what she proposes to do with that
package Of greenbacks."
The woman blinked stupidity In the
dusk.
"She amt my daughter" she replied.
and Mr.. Mngee's heart leaped up. ~
can tell you that much. l keep a
boarding house In ReutOn. and Miss
the girl you speak abOut-has been my
bOarder for three years. She brought
me up here as sort of chaperon,
though i don't see US I'm old enough
for that yet. You don't get nothing
else out Of me, except that she is
perfectly lovely young woman. and
your money couldn't be safer with the
president Of the United States"
Mr.. Magee could have embraced this
faded woman for her news. He look
cd ut his watch. 1t was 1920.
'The siege Is over!'' he cried. IL
shall not attempt to direct your actisns
any longer. Mr.. Peters, will you please
go down to the village and bring buck
Mr.. Quimby and-the cOroner?"
'The corOner!" The mayor of Reu-
ton jumped to his feet. II don't want
to be In ON any inquest scene. Come
on. Max, let's get out Of here"
Bland stood up. His face was white
and worried. His gay plumage no
longer set the tone for his mood.
~ think Ill go, too." he announced,
looking hopefully ut Magee.
I'm no longer your jailer." Magee
said. professor, these gentlemen are
your witnesses. do you wish to de-
tain themT"
"See here" cried the mayor angrily.
there amt no question but that you
can 1nd me In ReutOn any time you
want me ut the little room OH Main
street. Anybody can tell you my
hours. The doors always open to any
reformer that has the nerve to climb
the stairs. Look me up there. III
make It interesting for YOU"
II certainly SHALL" the professor re-
piled, "and very soon. Until then YOU
may go when and where you please"
"Thanks!" sneered the mayor. "ITi
expect you. Ill be ready. I've had to
get ready to answer your kind before.
You think you got me. eh? Well,
you're fool to think that. AS for
Drayton, the pup. the yellow streaked
pup, Ill talk to Mr.. Drayton when I
get back to Reuton."
Before YOU so. Bland" remarked
Magee. smiling. II want to ask about
Arabella. Where did you get her?"
"Some Of 1t happened to a friend of
mine." the ex-haberdasher answered.
IA friend that keeps clothing store.
got this suit there. changed the
story here and there"
Mr.. Magee h,ighed. but over the
long lean face Of Bland not the ghost
Of n smile fitted. He was frightened
through and through.
You're a fine bunch" sneered Mr..
Max. "Reformers, eh? Well, you'll
get what the rest Of 'em always got.
Wc'll tie you up In knots and leave
you on the doorstep Of some orphan
asylum before we're through with
you"
Come on. LOU" said Cargan. "Dray-
tons a smart guy, Doc. Where's his
proof? ElOped with the bundle Of dry
goods this young mans taken a fancy
to. And even II he had the money
I've been up against this many time.
You're wasting your talents, Doc.
Good night! Come on, boys"
MIR. Magee turned back from the
window to the dim interior Of the no.
tel Office. He who had come to Bald.
pate inn to court loneliness had never
felt so lonely in his life. for he had
lost sight Of her-in the great Rcuton
station Of his imagination she had
slipped from Ills drcams--to go where
he could not follow, even I'm thought.
Selecting a log OF the hcrnit's cut
ting from the stock beside the hearth
Mr.. Magee tossed 1t on the fire. There
followed Il shower Of sparks and q
tippI nf roll lit,ht In, xh., ,,D,,,