The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1919-05-02
CHARTER vi.
Charity Begins Far From Home, arc
Stroll in the Wildwood Fellows.

arose at eleven @ CLOCK on the llloi tiiiS
after the double murder. having sept
like a TOP through al e the cn'nlno-
4ion. He doomed all over the place,
vocal cas1igations falling right and
left On the guilty anG the innocent
without distinction.
u dent see how yoV managed TO
sleep through it, Barnes broke II.
"you must have an unusually clear
conscience. Mr.. Rushcroft."
~ haven't any conscience at all, sir,
roared the star. Il had IN unusually
full stomach, that's what was the mat
ter with ne I take oath now, sir,
never tc eat again as long as ! live.
man who cannot govern his beastly
appetite ought to defy it, if nothing
else"
II gather from that remark that you
omitted breakfast this morning"
breakfast, sir? In Gods name,
! inplore you not to refer to anything
so disgusting as stewed prunes and
bacon at time like this. Ny mind
Is"
"How about luncheon? Will you
Join me 1t twelve-thirty?''
'That's quite another NATTER said
Mr.. Rushcroft readily Luncheon is
an esthetic tribute to the physical in
Telligence of man. if you know what
mean. | shall be delighted to join you.
''Twelve-thirty, did you say?'
1T would give me great pleasure if
your daughter would also grace the
festal board. I think it is too bad that
hn hoe Sro ho,, Oh,
wears, Mr.. Rushcroft,'' said Barnes.
sShe's much too splendid. for that
have proposition I'd like to make to
you later on. I cannot make it, how
ever, without consulting Miss Thack-
cray's feelings"
my dear fellow!' beamed Rush
croft, selling the others hand. zone
frequently reads in hooks about it
coming like this, at first sight, but
damme, I never dreamed that it ever
really happened. Count on me! She
ought to leave the stage, the dear
child. No more fitted to it than an
Easter lily. Her place is in the home,
the
"GOOd Lord, / am not thinking Of"
And Barnes, aghast. stopped before
hurting out the words that leaped to
his lips. II mean to say this is prop
ostion that may also affect your ex-
celient companions, Bacon and Dilling-
ford, as well as yourself"
At twelve-thirty sharp Barnes came
down from his room freshly shaved
and brushed, to find not only Mr.. Rush
croft and Miss Thackeray awaiting
him in the office, but the Messrs. Dill
lingford and Bacon as Well.
81 took the liberty. old fellow said
Rushcroft, addressing Barnes, "of ask
ing my excellent cO-WOrkers to Join us
in our repast."
"Delighted to have you with US, gen
tlemen,'' said Barnes affably
The sole topic of conversation for
the first half hour was the mysterious
Staying Of their fellow dodgers Mr.
RushcrOft complained bitterly of the
outrageous, high-handed action Of the
coroner and sheriff in imposing upon
him and his company the same re-
Strict1Ons that had been applied to
Barnes. They were not to leave the
county until the authorities gave the
word. One would have thought tC
).
that he and his party were in a posi-
ton to depart when they pleased. 1t
would have been difficult to imagine
that he was not actually rolling II
money instead of being absolutely
penniless.
Barnes had been immersed in his
own thoughts for some time A slight
froWn. as of reflection darkened his
eyes Suddenly-perhaps impolitely-
he interrupted Mr.. Rushcroft's flow OF
eloquence
Have yeu any objection, Mr.. Rush.
croft, to more Or less personal cues
ton concerning your own private-er-
mlsfortunes?" he asked leaning for
ward
FOR a moment one could have heard
pin drop. Mr.. Rushcroft evidently
held his breath. There could he nc
mistake about that.
Its rather delicate, but would VI,
mind telling me just how much Won
were stuck up for by the-.r-vas i
writ of attachment?
IL was,' said the star. "A writ
VI lnqulSltiOn, you might as Well sinh
s'itute. Ihe act OF polluted. imne
cInlous OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES shall
say! We'll will be simple as pos.
Slole-hotel keeper. Ninety-seven dol.
lars ana forty cents. For that pitifnl
amount he subjected me to"
wen, that isn't so bad" said
Barnes vastly relieved. He was cov.
ertly watching Miss Thackerav,s ha1f.
aVerted face as he ventured unon the
proposition he had decided to pnt he.
lore them. II am prepared and vii.
ing TO advance this amount. Mr. Rush.
croft, and to take your norso,o, ~o.