Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1922-06-14
The Treachery Of
Dale Woods
AZ. CALVIN HENDRICKS
EIHlREa REaiAiaDliR OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES

Hector Wnith was rnoro surprised
than alarmed. Four men faced him
In the3ruggcd Kentucky mountain path
whom he had heretofore accounted as
his friends. He was too accustomed
to the rugged mandatory ways Of the
group, however, to hesitate ut the or
der given.
.'Why, what is the trouble?" he
asked quietly enough, although he did
not like the CLINT In the eyes Of the
leaderiof the coterie, Wilson Vance.
Shutdown on that rock" directed the
leader Of the quartet.
us this a holdup or O court Of in
quiry7" he hnznrded with faint SMILE
ITS court Of justice andea serious
affair."" replied Vance uRDendlngly.
"To state the case briefly: You, pur-
porting to be 4 young business man
from the East, came out here nearly a
month ago seeking your health"
MY letters should persuade you that
am the genuine article" spoke Walth
lightly and again with the smile.
ut looks different now," declared
Vance. you We're welcomed as tenn
porary guest at the home Of my uncle.
You took an interest IN my cousin, Mel
lie, his daughter. When mans square
the Vances treat him right When he's
spy"
"What do you mean by that?" de-
manded Waith instantly and sternly.
Just what the word implies" broke
In new voice. The instant Waith
recognized the man as Dale Woods he
knew that he was In trouble. Dale
Woods was an old rejected but persist
ent suitor Of pretty Nellie.
II say you are spy" declared
Woods, facing Waith flercely. "and
these men know 1t. You lost coat
while bathing in the creek. I found
1t and I'm secret pocket discovered
this"
Woods held close to the eyes Of the
astonished Waith a badge of the gov
ernment secret service.
II never saw 1T before" declared
Watth.
"That won't dol" snarlcd Woods.
"You have come here under false pre-
lenses to get clew to the hiding place
of my hunted brother"
There was silence and bowed heads.
Hector Waith knew that his fate was
sealed. He must act If he would save
his life.
The men stepped aside In low-toned
consultation. Waith saw Woods draw
out his revolver. Just beyond the copse
horse grazed untethered. With a
spring Waith gained his feet and
dashed toward the animal. He was in
the saddle In flush.
The horse made O bound along a mar
row ledge sktrting deep ravine.
The pursuing coterie reached the
edge Of the ravine. They peered down
In awed silence. Only Dale Woods
said to himself, with n thought Of Mel
lie Vance:
"That ends the man who came be-
tween me and my love!"
1t was hours afterward, when q limp
Ing form with tattered and disordered
attire emerged from Il remote passage
way between two walls of rock leading
from the rayine.
1t was Hector Waith. He had sunk
few rods down into q nest of dense
enveloping vines.
Wnith had clung. to these, safely
sheltered from the view Of his pur-
suers until they had left the spot.
The moon was up when he emerged
from the ravine.
1t was In the early hours Of the
morning. The moon was just sinking,
when lying In the road before him he
made out human form. 1t was that
OF an old woman. She was inssnsible
and Waith could not arouse her.
what shall 1 do7" he questioned
himself 1T is dangerous for me to
delay, but cannot leave this helpless
old woman to die.
Like the true man ne was. Waith
thought only Of the unconscious charge
on his hands and the hours passed on.
He discovered deserted hut at little
distance. lie carried the old woman
thither. She revived somewhat but
was still incoherent.
For two days Waith gathered ber-
ries, nuts, whatever he could find to
give sustenance to his charge. She
was gradually rallying her strength.
"Even at the risk of coming across
any Of the Woods band, must get
word to others to care for her, as I
cannot" he decided.
He had not gone half a mile from
the old hut In search Of some other
habitatlon when, turning ledge of
rocks, he faced leveled revolver.
Dale Woods behind 1t.
$50 you escaped7" he Kissed out.
"What luckl March,"
"Wait," demurred Waith. "An old
woman whom l found two days ago Hes
very Ill In hut near here"
my motherl" were the first words