The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1915-11-25

He Dropped the Jewel Into the Mail
Box.
where Arthur might be found that
night to Sheriff Sam Swain, freshly ar
rived from Fairfax.
Down the street, the quiet deserted
residence street of Richmond's fash
ionable residential neighborhood, fed
Arthur. Behind him the sound OF the
police whistles and the pursuit grew
fainter. Arthur, in splendid physical
trim and spurred by excitement, ran
like deer. He slipped down an OBJ
scure alley. crossed by the backs Of a
half score Of mansions, and found vhim-
self in a mean street that led down
to the railroad tracks. The pursuit
was left far behind or else 1t had gone
off in a false scent in another direc-
ton.
Arthur slackened his pace and re-
gained his breath. He looked down at
himself and saw that he was in even
ING attire. True, in the struggle his
clothes had received some rough han
ding. His dress coat was torn under
the sleeve and his low cut waistcoat
tapped apart, bereft Of its buttons.
And Arthur gave little laugh as he
saw his shadow under a dim street
lamp and realized that despite the
strenuous encounter through which he
had just passed his silk hat, somewhat
rufled and battered, as examination
proved, was still upon his head.
How will l ever escape in these
togs? he said to himself ruefully.
They'll have my description broad
cast in an hour" Yet he did not falter
for all that, but hurried ON in the night
through the deserted streets, and in
some fifteen minutes brisk walk found
himself. by rare good luck. in the rail-
road yards and by long freight train.
just slowly moving out.
With reckless haste he threw him
self under freight car and drew him
sell upon tile DFGhe pcStu
His head ached from the noise and
the reaction Of all he had passed
through In the crowded hour at Mrs
Randolph's ball. Every bone In his
body ached as he held to the jolting,
creaking. brake beam. CramDed and
bruised from the position in which he
lay on his narrow, perilous perch above
the grinding wheels, dreadful I'm
pulse seized upon Arthur to let 60 his
straining grasp and end the now fit-
full fever Of his life beneath the clank-
ing wheels that ground and groaned
beneath him.
What was he after all but living
falsehood and a cheat? Not Stanley
Of Stanley hall, spending with free
hand as became reckless gentleman,
but q gypsy impostor, cheat, vast
ing substance that was not his! A fu-
gitive from justice and bankrupt be-
lieved by all who had known him to
be the murderer Of kind and gentle
old man who had never harmed him,
but on the contrary had been his friend
and had been one Of the agencies by
which he, a hedge born gypsy, had
been reared in q mansion under high
name never his. ,
The glamour of his self sacrifice in
shielding Blair and thus making him.
self voluntary murder suspect pass
ed from Arthur. He saw now that in
saving Blair he had only done so to
save himself from the open shame and
humiliation that would come to him
when the searching inquiries Of a muir
der trial, with the evidence that Hagar
possessed evidence he felt sure she
would produce to save the life Of her
son-would result in his acquittal Of
murder, but would leave him stripped
Of the peacock feathers Of the Stanley
heritage that he. the gypsy jackdaw.
had worn so long.
He saw in the dust and darkness the
baleful CLEAN Of the diamond from the
sky. He saw the accusing, fierce gaze
Of his gypsy mother, and then. like a
benediction and q saving grace, he
saw. in the dust and gloom, the sweet
face and the sad, wistful eye Of Es-
ther.. He grasped the cold iron rod
rtanchly now. Let destiny deal him
what it might, he would stand the buf-
J, IS and fight on for Esther's sake!
-.