The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1915-01-27

new dress. But MIS-. LUDLOW Stlll was
nursing grievance against her
spouse that had been born at the
breakfast table.
Size had asked for SO to buy a new
hat, and it had not been forthcoming.
The hat which had warmed the
cookies Of Mrs. Ludlow's heart was
blooming upon a nickel stem in the
window Of Sam Sellers store, Smiley
yiile'c Only Department Store.
This emporium, brand new and i'm
posing. and selling everything from
bacon to bonnets, was directly across
Main street from the general store Of
Mr.. Ludlow.
It was a matter Of history that the
latter store had evoluted from mere
grocery that had been owned and man
aged by Old Man Pershing. In those
days the two young clerks, Jim Lud-
low and Sam Sellers, had both aspired
to the hand Of Old Man Pershings
niece, the fair Efde. who kept Smiley
vile, as well as the young men in
question, guessing as to her choice
It had ended one Sunday in Jim Lud:
low taking affairs into his own hands
and eloping with the girl to Parsons
Corners
The next morning Sam tried to lick
Jim in the middle Of Main street, but,
getting the worst Of it, had packed
up and departed the same day for
parts unknown. vowing eternal ven
geance.
The years passed, and Old Man
Pershing died. leaving the store and
q few debts as legacy to his niece
and nephew-in-law.
Things were prospenng, when Sam
came back from the unknown parts" !"
which had evidently been lucrative,
for he fairly oozed money.
Emileyvine beM It's besasa o. soa
the outcome Of semts VOW q venr
geauce. It had not long to wait. In
side of three months the Only Depart,
ment Store was complete.
Then bad days began for Jim Lud-
law. The public deserted him, not
from any personal allegiance to Sam,
but It was a novelty to have things
sent home in an auto truck.
But there was no use worrying his
wife! SO Mrs. Ludlow remained In
ignorance Of the true state Of affairs
and cried for new hat
Finally she was ready for the
rocker, the disreputable piece Of fur.
niture in which Mr.. Ludlow was wont
to read the evening paper. She gath
cred up her pins and paper and
crossed tAe room to where 1t stood 4
fallen broom stood in her path which
she did not see, her toe caught; she
pitched forward, and struck her head
on the edge OF the chair in falling.
Fifteen minutes later she stirred and
opened her eyes. Where could she
be? And what on earth could be the
conglomerate mass Of bent, rusty
springs above her head?
She stuck an investigating finger
into the torn facing. She had no idea
1t was in such bad shape. It was like
putting powder on q dirty face to
cover up decay Hike this with a new
cover. She poked here and there into
its depths.
Then something dropped with a soft
thud to the floor Mrs. Ludlow picked
It up. Suddenly she scrambled to her
feet and carried it to the window. a
queer look came into her face as she
examined it
"Jim Ludlow's meaner n thought" I"
she muttered. 81 just wish he was
here"
AS if in answer to her words, the
front door opened, and Mr.. Ludlow,
carrying an immense Powered box,
stepped inside.
Whats wrong? And what have
you got in that box7" In her astontsh.
ment she forgot to be angry.
Its your hat, Efael" He sank
heavily into a chair. "It's about all
you II Set, 81 you udy aS well u6fS ~"
got it on my way home. Sans fore
closed. Or that hs-he's going to to-
day."
Jim Ludlow. just what do you
nean?"
Il mean I've been struggling to keep
up for some time, an I've had to
mortgage and borrow and borrow and
mortgage TILL I'm cleaned out. Sans
bought EN- all up. He's done what he
said, and ruined me. Pm cleaned
out. I hope you'll like your hat,
Efie."
But Mrs. Ludlow was not thinking
OF hats.
"Jim," she said mysterfously. did
you ever hide any money in your old
chair?"
Heavens. mol"
well, then. Uncle Pesshins dR. %
set an ak
That afternoon, when Mr.. Sellers
called with hts lawyer to take over
all the worldly property Of the Lud-
lows. he was d!sagreeably surprised