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Show - , , - I-- J BEKlWNjUmii MEREDITH NIOJ&Ip 21 SYNOPSIS. Thomns Anlmore and Henry Maine 3rlswold stumble upon Intrigue when tho governors of North nnd South Carolina arc reported to linvo quarreled. Uoth slates are In a turmoil over one Applo-weight, Applo-weight, inn outlaw with political Influence. Qrlswold allies himself with Barbara Osborne, Os-borne, daughter of tho governor of South Curollna, whllo Anlmore espouses the cause of Jorry Dnngerileld. daughter of (he governor of North Carolina. Theso two ladles are trying to nil the shoes of their fathers, whllo the latter are missing. miss-ing. Unaware of each other's position, both Orlswold and Ardmoro set out to malto tho other prosecute. Ardmnre organizes or-ganizes a big hunt. Grlswolrt's men rapture rap-ture Applcwelght. Jerry Dangcrlleld discovers dis-covers tile captive nnd lends him to Arils-ley, Arils-ley, her own prisoner. Orlswold nnd Hnr-bnrn Hnr-bnrn explore tho scone of the disappearance disappear-ance nnd meet Ardmoro nnd Jerry. Qrlswold Qrls-wold refuses to recognize, his friend. CHAPTER XIV. Continued. Grlswold's companion spoko to him earnestly in a low tone for a moment, and then Orlswold addressed Ardmoro Incisively. "I don't know what you protend to bo, sir; but It may Interest you to know that I am tho governor of South Carolina!" "And this gentleman," cried Jerry, pointing to Ardmoro with her riding-crop, riding-crop, "though his hair Is mussed and his scarf visibly untied, Is none other thnn the governor of North Carolina, and ho Is not only on his own property, proper-ty, but In tho sovereign stnto of which ho Is tho chief executive." Prof. Qrlswold lifted his bat with the least flourish. "I congratulate tho state of North Carolina on having reposed authority In hands so capable. If this young lady Is correct, sir, I will servo official notice no-tice on you that I havo reason to believe be-lieve that a person nanied Apple-weight, Apple-weight, a fugitive from Justice, Is hiding on your property nnd In your state, and 1 now formally demand that you surrender him forthwith." "If I may Introduce myself," Interposed Inter-posed Jerry, "I will say to you that my name Is Geraldlne Dangerflcld, and that this Applewelght person Is now at Mr. Ardmore's house." "I suppose," repllod Miss Osborne with gontlo Irony, "thnt ho has tho pink parlor and leads tho conversation conversa-tion at table." "You aro qulto mistaken," replied Ardruore; "but If It would afford you any satisfaction to see tho outlaw ,you may look upon him In my wine collar, where, only an hour ago, I left him sitting sit-ting on a caso of Chateau Bizet '82. My further Intentions touching this scoundrelly South Carolinian I need not now disclose; but I give you warning warn-ing that tho Applowelght Issue will soon and forovor bo terminated and In a manner that will greatly redound to the credit and the glory of the Old North State." "I trust." said Grlswold, "that tho prisoner, whom we cannot for a moment mo-ment concede to be tho real Apple-weight, Apple-weight, will not be exposed to scarlet fever, pending a sottlement of this matter. And now, I havo the honor to bid you both good morning." He and Barbara swung tboir horses round and retraced tholr way, leaving leav-ing Ardmoro and Jerry gazing after them. When tho shabby beasts from tho stable at Turner Court Houso had borne Miss Osborno and Grlswold out of sight beyond tho bungalow, Ardmoro Ard-moro turned blankly to Jerry. "Have I gone blind or anything? Unless I'm crazy that was dear old Grlssy, but who Is that girl 7" "That Is Miss Barbara Osborno, and I hopo sho has learned such a lesson that sho will not bo snippy to mo any more, If sho Is tho president general of tho Daughtors of tho Seminole War." "But whero do you suppose sho found Grlssy?" "I don't know, I'm suro; nor, Mr. Ardmore, do I care." "He said he represented tho stnto of South Carolina do you suppose tho governor has really employed him?" "I do not," said Jerry emphatically; "for ho appears Intelligent, and Intelligence Intel-ligence Is somothlng that would never appeal to Gov. Osborno. It Is qulto possible," mused Jerry aloud, "that Miss Osborno's fathor has disappeared liko mlno, and sho Is running his of-fico of-fico with Mr. Groswold's aid. If so, wo shall probably havo somo fun before be-fore we got through with this," "If that's truo wo shall havo moro than fun!" exclaimed Ardmoro, thoroughly thor-oughly aroused. "You don't know Grlssy. Ho's tho Btnartost. man alive, and If ho's running this Applewolght case for Gov. Osborno, ho'll keep us guessing." "I wlBh you to remember, Mr. Ardmoro, Ard-moro, thnt you still bavo your opportunity, oppor-tunity, nnd that I expoct you to carry this matter through to a safe conclusion conclu-sion and to the honor of tho Old North State " "I havo no intention of falling. Miss Dangerfleld;" and .with this they turned and rodo slowly back toward tho houso. Prof. Grlswold and Miss Osborno were silent until tho forest again shut them in. Then, In a Bequestered spot, Grlswold Grls-wold suddenly throw up his head and laughed long and loud. "Do you supposo thoy really havo Applowelght?" asked Barbara. "Not for a minute! Thoy told us 1 "Do You Suppose They Really Havo Applewelght?" that story morely to annoy us when they found what we wero looking for. That touch about the wlno cellar is characteristically Ardmoresquo. If thoy had Applowelght you may bo suro they wouldn't keep him on tho premises." Whereupon they rodo back to Turner Tur-ner Court Houso much faster than they had como. CHAPTER XV. The Prisoner In the Corn-Crib. Jerry and Ardmore Bat at a long tablo In tho commodious Ardsley library, li-brary, which waB a modification of a Gothic chapel. A largo accumulation of mall from the governor's ofllco at Raleigh had been forwarded, and Jerry Jer-ry Insisted that It must bo oponod and disposed of in somo wny. Gov. Dan-gorfleld Dan-gorfleld was, It appeared, a subscriber to a clipping bureau, and thoy had boon oxamlnlng critically a batch of cuttings relating to tho Now Orleans Incident "It's a good thing wo got hold of Collins," observed Ardmoro, putting down a clipping from a Now York paper In which tho roports of Gov. Dangerflold's disappearance wore analyzed ana-lyzed and tersely dismissed; "for ho knows how to write and ho's dono a splendid plcturo of your fathor on his throno attending to business; nnd his littlo stingers for Osborno nro tho work of a gonlus." "Thero's a certain finish about Mr. Collins' lying that Is refreshing," replied re-plied Jerry, "nnd I cannot help thinking think-ing that ho has a brilliant future bo-foro bo-foro htm if ho onters politics. Nothing Noth-ing pains mo moro than a caroloss, Ill-considered, silly Ho, which Is tho best that most people can do. But It would bo very interesting to know whether Gov. Osborno has really disappeared, dis-appeared, or Just how your friend tho Virginia profossor has seized tho reins of stato. Do you supposo ho got a Jug from somowhoro, and mot Miss Osborno and " "Do you think do you think she may havo er possibly closed ono oyo in his direction?" asked Ardmore dubiously. "Mr. Ardmoro" and Jerry pointed nt him with a bronzo paper-cutter to mnko suro of his attention "Mr. Ardmoro, Ard-moro, If you ovor Imply again by act, word or deed that I winked at you I Bhall never, novor speak to y6u again. I should think that n man with a nlco sister llko Mrs. Atchison would havo a better opinion of womon than you seem to havo. I novor saw you until you enmo to my father's houso to toll mo about tho Jug and you know I didn't. And ns for that Barbara Osborno, Os-borno, whllo I don't doubt thnt oven in South Carolina a Daughter of tho Seminole War might wink nt a gentleman gen-tleman in a moment of extreme provocation, provo-cation, I doubt if sho did, for alio lacks animation, nnd has no moro soul than a gum overshoe." Tho discussion ceased abruptly on tho nppcaranco of Big Paul, tho forester. for-ester. "A body of South Carolina mtlltla is marching ncross country from the south. Ono of my men heard of it down at Turner Court House Inst night nnd rodo to whoro tho troops wero encamped. Ho learned thnt It was a practice march for the militia. Thero's several companies of Infnntry, bo ho roports. nnd a piece of artillery." "Bully tor old Grlssy!" exclaimed Ardmore. "They're coming this way, are thoy, Paul?" And tho three bent over the map. "This Is the place sir. They seem to be planning to got around Turner's without stirring up the town. But it would tako a good deal to wako up Turner's," laughed the big German. Jerry placed her finger on tbo stato line. "If they dare cross that If thoy as much as daro!" "If thoy dare wo shall show them a few things. Tako all tho men you need, Paul, to watch their movements. That will do." Tho forester lingered. "You remembor that wo spoko the other day of tho log houso on Raccoon Rac-coon creek, whoro tho Applewolghts had driven off our man?" "Yes, Paul. It is whoro tho state lino crosses tho heavy woods and tho farthest outpost, so to apeak, on my property. Also you sntd somo of theso Applowelght follows had boon cutting off tho timber down thoro, If I remember rightly." "Yes, sir," replied tho forester, twirling his cap awkwardly. "But somo of tho pooplo on tho estato havo said" Ho broko off In an embarrassment so unllko him that Jerry and Ardmoro lookod at him curiously. "Well, Paul, what's tho matter? If tho cnbln has boon burned down It's no Borlous mnttor." "Why, sir; somo of tho men passing thoro at night say thoy soo lights and hear sounds In tho cabin, though no ono from tho estate goes thoro. A child dlod In tho houso last spring nnd woll, you know how somo of theso people aro!" "Cheer up, Paul. Wo have bigger business on hand than tho chasing of ghosts Just now. When wo get through with theso other things I'll go ovor thoro myself and take a look at tho, spook." As Paul hurried away, Jerry seized a pen and wroto this messago: Rutherford Ollllngwater, Adjutant-General, Camp Dangerfleld, Azbell, N. C: Move all available troops by shortest route to Klldare t fence, and raonrt to me personally at Ar.lsley. Make no state- 'Jl WLB ments to newspapers. Answer. HHH DANOISUKIISI.D, - BBH Oovernor. 1 HHpJ "I guess that will bring hliri run- (1 HHH nlng," said Ardmoro, calling a sorv- A IyHB ant nnd ordering tho messago dls- BBb patched Immediately. I HHl Boforo luncheon a message was re- 1 ,BHi eclved from Gllllngwator, to this of- 1 IH V lH Gov. William Dangerflcld, 1 'bHJ Ardsley, N. C: Hi En route with our entire available force !J BHJ In tho field. I am' riding ahead with all' jl speed, and will report at Ardsley at ntno ft BBJ o'clock, Is full military dress do rlguour? B Ollllngwntor, M ' HB1 Adjutant-General. BhJ "Isn't thnt Just llko Rutherford! sj 1HHJ Ho's afraid he won't bo dressy enough; w jBHa but If ho know thnt tho South Carolina H JlH troops might shoot holos In his unl- V HHJ form ho wouldn't bo duo here for a S iBfll couplo of weeks, Instead of at nlno w iBHJ o'clock;" nnd Jerry laughed merrily. i They debated moro seriously this Sj telegram from Collins at Raleigh sent M the previous ovonlng: H Can't maintain this bluff much longer. B Even tin friendly newBpnpcrs are ktow- a H Ing suspicious. State credit Jeopardized ft by disappearance of Treasurer Foster. 9 H Ullllngs, of Bronx Loan and Trust, here ... M B In a great fury over bond matter. Do n H you know governor's whereabouts? I HpH "Things nro certainly growing more 1 IH exciting," was Ardmore's comment-"I I suppoao oven a gifted liar llko Col- I IH lins cnu't muzzlo tho press forover." I "You can't go on fooling all North 1 Carolina nil tho tlmo, either," said I Jerry, "and I suppose when papa, gets ' I tired of bolng Beared ho will turn up I HBh In Raleigh and tell somo plausible 1 HBl story about whero ho has been -and 1 what has happened. When It comes I jH to bolng plnuslblo no ono can touch i papa." i "Maybo ho's dead." suggested Ard- 'M moro gloomily. M BVJ "That's a real Inspiration on your n 9Bb part, Mr. Ardmore; nnd It's very flH sweet of you to mention it but I Jfl havo no idea that any harm has como HBl to papa. It's too much troublo to got elected governor, without dying in HBi office, and besides, papa Is none too ' HB friendly with tho lieutenant governor JBi nnd would never think of allowing HBl such n person to Buccced htm. But iBH thoso bonds seem rather serious and IBl I don't llko tho Idea of your Mr. Bill- HBl Ings making a fuss at Raleigh." HH "That will bo all right," remarked ' Ardmoro, blotting tho last of a num- BBi ber of telegrams which ho had been HB writing, nnd pressing a button. "It's HBl much moro Important for us to got HH Applewelght Into a South Carolina Jail; and It's not going to bo so easy ' HBl to do, now that Grlssy Is working on ;HH tho othor side, and angry at mo about BH that scarlet fovcr telegram." 'BH "There may bo troublo," said Ard- BBj moro to his guests as they sat at BH luncheon. "But I should hato to havo BH it said that my guests could not bo 'BH taken caro of hero porfcctly. I beg 'BH that you will all remain." BH Tho luncheon was Interrupted by BH tho arrival of a summons for Ard- BB more, who hurriedly left tho table. BJ Big Paul awaited him below, mount- BH ed and holding a led-borso. BB (TO UE CONTINUED.) I BH |