The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1919-05-23

Barnes waited TO near no more. Ills
blood seemed to be running Ice cold
as he retreated into the room and be-
gan scrambling for his clothes. The
thing he feared had come to pass. Dis
aster had overtaken her in that wild,
senseless dash up the mountain road.
He was cursing half aloud as he
dressed, cursing the fool who drove
that machine and who now was per.
haps dying down there in the taproom
''The other one is dead as door nail, VI
kept running through his head-"the
| other One."
A dozen men were in the taproom,
gathered around two tables that had
been drawn together. The men about
the table, on which was stretched the
figure Of the wounded man, were un'
doubtedly natives: Farmers, woods
men or employees Of the tavern. At
word from Putnam Jones they opened
up and allowed Barnes to advance to
the side Of the man.
"See If you en- understand him, Mr.
Barnes" said the landlord. Perspira.
ton was dripping from his long, raw
boned face. "And you, Bacon-you and
Dlllingford hustle upstairs and get
mattress off'n one Of the beds. Stand
at the door there, Pike, and don't let
any woman in here. Go away, Miss
Thackerayl This Is no place for you. VI
Hiss Thackeray pushed her way
past the man who tried to stop her
and Joined Barnes. ,.
1T Is the place for me-" she said
sharply. ffHaven't you men got sense
enough to put something under his
head? Where Is he hurt? Get that
cushion, you. Stick it under here when
I Lift his head. Oh, you poor thing
We'll be us quick as possible. There!
The mans eyes were closed, but at
the sound Of a woman's voice he
opened them. The hand with which he
clutched at his breast slid of and
seemed to be cropping for hers. His
breathing was terrible. There was
blood at the corners Of his mouth, and
more oozed forth when his lips parted
in an effort to speak.
With a courage that surprised even
herself, the girl took his hand In hers
1t was wet and warm. She did not
dare look at 1t.
"Merci, madame" struggled from the
mans lips. and he smiled.
Barnes leaned over and spoke to him
in French. The dark, pain-stricken
eyes closed, and an almost imper
ceptible shake Of the head signif1ed
that he did not understand. Evidently
he had acquired only a few Of the
simple French expressions. Barnes
had a slight knowledge Of Spanish
and italian, and tried again with nc
Detter results. German was his last
resort, and he knew he would fall once
more, for the man obviously was no,
Teutonic.
The bloody lips parted, however, and
the eyes opened with piteous, appeal
ing expression in their depths. 1t was
apparent that there was something =:
wanted to say, something he had to
say before he died. He gasped dozen
words or more in tongue utterly un'
known to Barnes, who bent closer to
catch, the feeble effort. It was he who
now shook his head; with a groan the
sufferer closed his eyes in despair. BE
chokeq and eoughed violently an In
slant later. 'sfa'es
HGet some water and towel" cried
Miss. Thackeray. tremulously. She
was very white, but still clung to the
mans hand. "Be quick! Behind the
bar"
Barnes unbuttoned the coat and re
vealed the blood.soaked white shirt.
Better leave this to me-" he said II
her ear. There's nothing you can do
He's done for. Please 60 away"
"Oh, I sha'n't faint-at least, mo-
yet. Poor fellow! I've seen him up
stairs and wondered who he was: Il
he really going to die?"
| "Looks bad" said Barnes, gentl!
opening the shirt front. Several o.
the craning men turned away sud
denly. - ..>
"Who Is he, Mr.. Jones?"
HE is registered as Andrew Paul
from New York. That's all I know
The other man put his name down a
Albert Room. He. seemed. to. be tn
boss and this man a sort Of servant
far as 1 could make out. They neve
talked much and seldom came down
stairs. They had their meals In thei
ROOM"
| To be, Continued
i