Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, March 02, 1909, Page 8, Image 8
8 THE BARRIER Illustrated by DENMAN FINK CHAPTER XV.—And a Knot Tightened A day of shattered hopes is a desolate thing, but the night of such a day is desolate indeed. In all hts life Poleon Doret had never sunk to such depths of deepon<iency. for his optimistic philoso phy and his buoyant faith in the good ness of life forbade it. Therefore, when darkness came it blotted out what little brightness and light and hope were left to him after Necia's stormy interview with the lieutenant. The arrival of the freight steamer afforded him some dis traction. but there was only a small con signment for the store, and that was quickly disposed of; so. leaving the other citizens of Flambeau to wrangle over their private merchandise, he went back to his solitary vigil, which Anally became so unbearable that he sought to escape his thoughts, o* at least to drown them for a while, amid the lights and life and laughter of Stark's saloon. Being but a child of nature, his means of distraction were primal and elementary, and he be gan to gamble, as usual with hard luck, for the cards had ever been unkind to him. He did not think of winnings or los ings. however—he merely craved the occu pation. and it was this that induced him to sit at a game in which Runnion played, although ordinarily he would not have tolerated even tacitly such a truce of his dislikes. As it was. he crouched tn a corner, his hat pulled down over his brow, his swarthy face a darker hue beneath the shadow, losing steadily, only bow and then showing a flash of white teeth as he saw his money go. What mat tered loss to him? He had no more need of money now than Necla had of his love. He would spend the dollars he had eked and scraped and saved for her as she had spent the treasures of his heart, and now that the one had brought him bo return he wished to be rid of the other, for he was shortly to go again in search of his “New Country,” where Bo man needs gold half so much as a clean heart. It would be a long journey, far to the west and north—a journey that none of’his kind had ever fared back from, and he wished to go light, as all good adventurers go. Runnion annoyed him with his volubil ity, for the news of his good fortune han fired the man with a reckless dis regard for money, and he turned to gam ing as the one natural recourse of his ilk. As the irony of fate would have it. he won what the Canadian lost, together with the stakes of various others who played for a time with him. and then gave up, wagging their heads or swearing softly at the cards. It was shortly after midnight that Stark rame into the place. Poleon was not too absorbed in his own fortunes to fail to notice the extraordinary ferocity and exhilaration of the saloon-keeper, nor that his face was keener, bis nostrils thinner, his walk more nervous, and his voice more cutting than usual when he spoke to Runnion. “Come here." Til be with you when I finish this hand.” said the player, over his shoulder. “Come here!” Stark snapped his com mand. and Runnion threw down his cards “I’m right in the middle of a winning streak. You’ll break my luck. Ben.” But the other only frowned impatient ly, and. drawing the reluctant gambler aside, began to talk rapidly to him, al most within ear-shot of Poleon. who had to say that could make Runnion start had to say that could mawe Runnion start and act so queerly. Well, it was their af fair. They made a bad pair to draw to. He knew that Runnion was the saloon keeper s lieutenant and obeyed implicitly his senior’s commands. He could dis tinguish nothing they said, nor was he at all curious until a knot of noisy men crowded up to the bar. and. forcing the two back nearer to the table where he sat. his sharp ears caught these words from Runnion's lips: "Not with me! She’d never go with me!'' and Starks reply: “She’ll go where I send her, and with anybody I tell her to.” The Frenchman lost what followed, for a newly dealt hand required study. He ■canned his cards, and tossed the*i face up before the dealer; then he overheard Runnion say: “It’s the only one in camp. He might ■ell it if you offered him enough.” At this Stark called one of the men at the bar aside, and the three began to dicker. "Not a cent less.” the third man an announced, loudly. “There ain't an other Peterborough in town.” It was Poleon's deal now, and when he had finished boti. Stark and Runnion had disappeared, also the man they had accosted, which pleased the Canadian, for now that Runnion was eliminated from the game he might win a little. A steady, unvarying run of bad hands is uninteresting, and does not occupy one's mind as well as an occasional change of luck. Outside Runnion was saying again to Stark: '•She won’t go with me. Ben; she don’t like me. You see. I made love to her, and she got mad and wanted me killed.” ••She'll never know who you are until it's too late to turn back.” said the other, “and you are the only man I can trust to take her through. I can trust you—you owe me too much to be crooked.” , “Oh. PH act square with you! But look here, what's all this about, anyhow? Why do you want that girl? You said you didn't care for her that way; you told me so yourself. Been having a change of heart, or is it your second childhood?” He laughed disagreeably. “It’s none of your business.” said the gambler. “I want her. and that's enough. All you have to do is to take her to St. Michael's and keep her there till you hear from me. She thinks she is going to the mission, and you needn't tell her otherwise until you get her ■board a steamer; then take her. no mat ter what kind of a fight she puts up. You’ve got a light-rowing skiff, and you'd better keep going till you're overtaken by a down-river boat. I want her as far away from here as possible. There's going to be some hel! in this camp. Now, hike, and get yourself ready.” “All right! But I ain’t the safest kind WINCHESTER. ' ’PS By REX BEACH, Author of "THE SPOILERS" of a chaperon for a good looking girl." Stark laid a cold hand on Runnion's shoulder, close up to his neck. “Get that out of your mind. She be longs to me.” "You said just now—*’ “Never mind what I said. She's mine, and you've got to promise to be straight with her. I've trusted you before, and if you're not on the level now, say so. It will save you a lot of trouble.” “Oh! Ail right!” exclaimed Runnion, testily. "Only it looks mighty queer.” He melted into the darkness and Stark returned to his cabin, where he paced back and forth impatiently, smiling evilly now and then, consulting his watch at frequent intervals. A black look had be gun to settle on his face, but It vanished when Necla came, and he met her with a smile. “I was afraid you had weakened,” he said. “Everything is ready and waiting. I've got the only canoe in the place, a Peterborough, and hired a good oareman to put you through, instructing him to make as fast time as he can. and to board the first steamer that overtakes you. Too bad this freighter that just got In Isn't going the other way. However, there's liable to be another any hour, and if one doesn't come along you'll find enough blankets and food in the skiff, so you needn’t go a&hore. You'll be there before you know it.” “You are very kind,” said the girl. “1 can't thank you enough.” She was cloth ed in her simple every-day dress, and looked again the sun-colored half-breed girl with tne wide, dark eyes and the twin braids of crow-black hair. “You didn't run into anybody, eh?” She shook her head. Then he led her out into the darkness, and they stumbled down to the river’s bank, descending to the gravelly water's edge, where rows of clumsy hand-sawed boats and poling skiffs were chafing at their painters. The up-river steamer was just clearing. Stark's low whistle was answered a hundred yards below, and they searched out a darker blot that proved to be a man's figure. “Is everything ready V' he inquired, at which the shadow grunted unintelligibly. So, holding Necla by the arm. Stark help ed her back to a seat In the stern. “This man will take you through,” he said. “You can trust him, all right.” The oarsman clambered in and adjusted his sweeps, then Stark laid a hand on the prow and shoved the light boat out into the current, calling softly: "Good-bye, and good luck." "Good-bye, Mr. Stark. Thank you ever so much," the girl replied, too numb and worn out to say much, or to notice or care whither she was bound or who was her boatman. She had been swept along too swiftly to reason or fear for herself any more. Half an hour later the scattered lights of the little camp winked and twinkled for the last time. Turning, she set her face forward, and, adjusting the cushions to her. comfort, strained her tired eyes towards the rising and falling shadow of her boatman. She seemed borne along on a mystic river of gloom that hissed and gurgled about hei;, invisible but all-per vading. irresistible, monstrous, only the ceaseless, monotonous creak of the row locks breaking the silence. Stark did not return to his cabin, but went back instead to his saloon, where he saw Poleon Doret still sprawling with elbows on the table, his hat pulled low above his sullen face. The owner of the place passed behind the bar and poured himself a full glass of whisky, which he tossed off, then, without a look to right or left, went out and down towards the bar racks. A light behind the drawn curtains of the officer's house told that his man was not abed, but he waited a long moment after his summons before the door was opened, during which he heard the occupant moving about and another door close in the rear. When he was allowed en trance at last he found the young man alone in a smoke-filled room with a bottle and two empty glasses on the ta ble. For at the sound of his voice Gale had whispered to Burrell, "Keep him out!” and the Lieutenant had decided to re fuse his late visitor admittance when he lighted on the expedient of conceal ing the trader in the bedroom at the rear. It was only natural, he reasoned, that Gale should dislike to face a man like Stark before he had regained his composure. "Go in there and wait till I see what he wants,” he had said, and, shutting the old man tn, he had gone forth to admit Stark, resenting his ill-timed intru sion and inquiring brusquely the cause of it. Before answering Stark entered and closed the door behind him. “I've got some work for you. Lieuten ant.” “I guess it can wait till morning,” said Meade. “No. it can't; it's got to be done to night, right now! You represent the law, or at least you’ve taken every occasion to so declare yourself, and to mix in with little things that don't cut much figure; so now I've come to you with something big. It's a serious affair, and being as I'm a peaceful man I want to go by the law.” His eyes mocked the w’ords he uttered. “You're mighty prompt and de termined when it comes to regulating such affairs. You seem to carry the weight of this whole community on your shoulders, so I'm here to give you some information.*-' Burrell ignored the taunt, and said, quietly: “It's a little late for polite conversation. Come to the point.” “I've got a criminal for you.” “What kind?” “Murderer.” “You've had a killing in your place, eh?” “No, I've just made a discovery. I found it all out by accident, too—pure accident. By heaven! You can't tell me there isn't a beneficent Providence over looking our affairs. Why, this felon has lived here among us all this time, and only for the merest chance I never would have recognized him." "Well, well! Go on!” snapped Burrell, impatiently. "He's a friend of yours, and a highly “Leader” and “Repeater” SMOKELESS POWDER SHELLS Carefully inspected shells, the best com binations of powder, shot and wadding, loaded by machines which give invariable results are responsible for the superiority of Winchester “Leader” and “Repeater” Factory Loaded Smokeless Powder Shells. There is no guesswork In loading them. Reliability, velocity, pattern and penetra tion are determined by scientific apparatus and practical experiments. Do you shoot them ? If not, why not ? They are THE SHELLS THE CHAMPIONS SHOOT THE ATLANTA JOUKNAL, ATLANTA, GEORGIA, TUESDAY, MARCH 2, 1909. Copyrighted. IMB. by Harper & Brothers. All rights reserved. Published March. I**- respected party. He’s a glorious exam ple to this whole river.” The officer strted. Could it be? he won dered. Could knowledge of this affair have reached this man? He was uncom fortably aware of that presence in the back room, but he had to know the truth. "Who is the man?” "He’s your friend. He's —" Stark paus ed, gloating over his enemy’s suspense. “Go on.” “He’s everybody’s friend. He's the shining mark of this whole country. He's the benevolent renegade, Squaw-man Gale.” “John Gale?” "Gaylord is his name, and I was a fool not to know it sooner.” ‘•»How did you discover this?” inquired Burrell, lamely. "What proof have you?” The disclosure had not affected the sol dier as Stark expected, and his anger began to lift itself. “That’s neither here nor there; tne man's a murder; he’s wanted in Cali fornia, where I came from; he’s been indicted, and there's a price on his head. He’s hidden for fitteen years, but he 11 hang as sure as I stand here. Disclosures of a complex nature had so crowded on Burrell in the last few hours that he saw himself the center of a most unfortunate and amazing tangle. Things were difficult enough as it was, but to have this man appear and cry for justice -this man above all others!—it was a complication quite unlooked for a hid eous mockery. He must gain time for thought. One false step might ruin all. He could not face this on the spur of the moment; so, shrugging his shoulders with an air of polite skepticism, he as sumed a tone of good-natured raillery. “Fifteen years? Murder? John Gale a murderer? Why, that's almost—pardon me if I smile—l’m getting sleepy. What proof have you?” “Proof!” blazed the gambler. "Proof! Ask Gaylord! Proof! Why, the woman he murdered was my wife!” It was Burrell’s turn now to fall inco herent, and not only did his speech for sake him, but his thoughts went madly veering off into a wilderness where there was no trail, no light, no hope. W hat kind of a coil was this? What frightful bones were these he bared? This man was Bennett! This was Necia’s father! This man he hated, this man who was bad, whose name was a curse throughout the length and breadth of the west, was the father of the girl he loved! His head began to whirl, then the story of the trader came back to him, and he re membered who and what the bearer of these later tidings was. He raised a pair of eyes that had become furious and bloodshot, and suddenly realized that the man before him, who persisted in sad dling upon Gale this heinous crime, was the slayer of Necia's mother; for he did not doubt Gale’s story for an instant. He found his fingers writhing to feel the creature s throat. "Proof!” Stark was growling. “How much .proof do you need? I’ve followed him for fifteen years. I’ve tracked him with men and dogs through woods and deserts and mining camps. I’ve slept on his trail for five thousand miles, and now do you think I'm mistaken? He killed my wife, I say, and robbed me of my little girl! That’s her in his house. That’s her he calls Necia. She’s my girl—my girl, do you understand?—and I’ll have his life!” It was hate that animated him, and nothing more. He had no joy in the find ing of his offspring, no uplifted thought of justice. The thirst for revenge, per sonal, violent, utter, was all that prompt ed this man; but Burrell had no inkling yet of the father's well-shaped plans, nor how far-reaching they were, and could barely stammer: “So! You—you know?” , "Yes! She wears the evidence around her neck, and if that isn’t enough I can furnish more—evidence enough to smoth er you. My name isn’t Stark at all; I changed it years ago for certain reasons. I’ve changed it more than once, but that’s my privilege and my own affair. Her name is Merridy Bennett.” “I don’t suppose you know I’m going to marry her,” said the Kentuckian, ir relevantly." "No,” replied the other; “I wasn’t aware of the fact.” “Well, I am. I’ll be your son-in-law.” He said this as if it were the statement of an astonishing truth, whereat Stark grinned, a mirthless, disquieting sort of grimace, and said: “There's a lot of things for you and me to settle up first. For one thing. I want those mines of hers.” "Why?” "Well, I’m her father, and she's not of age.” "I’ll think it over.” “I’ll take them, anyway, as her next of kin.” ' Burrell did not follow up this statement, for its truth was incontrovertible, and showed that the father’s ill-will was too tangible a thing to be concealed so he continued: "We’ll adjust that after Gale is at tended to; but, meanwhile, what do you want me to do?” "I want you to arrest the man who killed my wife. If you don’t take him the miners will. I’ve got a following in this camp, and I’ll raise a crowd in 15 minutes—enough to hang this squaw-man, or bater down your barracks to get him. But I don't want to do that; I want to go by the law you've talked so much about; I want you to do the trick.” At last Burrell saw the gambler’s dev iltry. He knew Stark’s reputation too well to think that he feared a meeting with Gale, for the man had lived In hope of that these fifteen years, and had shaped his life around such a meeting; but this indirect method—the Kentuckian felt a flash of reluctant admiration for a man who could mould a vengeance with such cruel hands, and even though he came from the land of feuds, where hate is a precious thing, the cunning strength of this man's enmity dwarfted any he had ever known. Stark had planned his settle ment coldly and with deliberate malice; moreover, he was strong enough to stand aside and let another take his place, and thus deny to Gale the final recourse of a hunted beast, the desperate satisfaction that the trader craved. He tied his ene my’s hands and delivered him up with his thirst unsatisfied—to whom? He thrust a weapon into* the hand of his other ene my. and bade this other enemy use it; worse than that, forced him to strike the man he honored—the man he loved. Bur rell never doubted that Stark had care fully weighed the effect of this upon Ne cla, and had reasoned that a girl like her could not understand a soldier’s duty if It meant the blood of a parent. If he refused to act, the gambler could break him. while every effort he made to pro tect Gale would but Increase the other’s satisfaction. There was no chance of the trader's escape. Stark held him in his hand. His followers would do his bidding. It was a desperate affair. Was it impossible, the lieutenant wondered, to move this man from his purpose? "Have you thought of Necia? She loves Gale. What effect will this have on her?” “Dam her! She’s more his brat than mine. I want John Gaylord!” At this a vicious frenzy overtook Bur rell. and he thought of the man behind yonder floor, whom he had forgotten un til these words woke something savage in him. Well! Why not These two men had stalked each other clear into the farthest places, driven by forces that were older than the hills. Who was he to stand between such passions? This was ordained, and was the course of nature, the clash of elements, and this was a fair battle-ground, to why should he under take to stop a* thing decreed The gamier’s words rang in his ears— "l want John Gaylord”—and before he knew what he was doing he had answer ed: “Very well. I'll give him to you," and crossed quickly to the door of his bedroom and flung it open. On the threshold he paused stock-still. * The place was empty; a draught sucked through the open window, flirting with the curtain and telling the story of the trader’s exit. “If you’re looking for your coat, it’s here,” he heard Stark say. “Get into it, and we’ll go for him.” The lieutenant’s mind was working fast enough now. In all conscience, and he saw with clear and fateful eyes whither he was being led, at which a sudden reck less disregard for consequences seized him. He felt a blind fury at being pulled and hauled and driven by this creature, and also an unreasoning anggr at Gale’s defection. But it was the thought of Ne cia and the horrible net of evil in which this man had ensnared them both that galled him most. It was all a terrible tangle, in which’the truth was hopelessly hidden, and nothing but harm could come from attempting to unravel it. There was but one solution, and that, though fundamental and effective, was not to be expected from an officer or the law. Nev ertheless, he chose it, for Ben Stark was too potent a force for evil to be at large, and needed extermination as truly as if he were some dangerous beast. He deter mined to finish this thing here and now. Meade went to his bureau, took his re volver from the belt where he had hung it, and came out into the other room. Sark, seeing the weapon, exclaimed: "You don’t need that; he won’t resist you.” “I’ve decided not to take him,’ ’said Burrell. “Decided not to take him?” shouted the other. “Have you weakened? Don’t in tend to arrest that man?” “No!” cried the soldier. "I’ve listened to your lies long enough; now I’m going to stop (them, once for all. Your’e too dangerous to have around.” They faced each other silently a mo ment; then Stark spoke in a very quiet voice, though his eyes were glittering: "What's the meaning of this? Are you crazy?” “Gale was here just before you came, and told me who killed your wife. I know.” “You do?” “I do.” "Well?” “It’s pretty late. This place is lonely. This is the simplest way.” The gambler fell to studying his antag onist, and when he did not speak Burrell Continued: "Come, brace up! I’m giving you a chance.” But Stark shook his head. “Don’t be afraid,” insisted the lieuten ant. "There are no witnesses. If you get me, nobody will know, and your word is good. If not—it’s much simpler than the other.” Then, when the gambler still made no move, he Insisted. t'You wouldn t have me kill you like a rattlesnake?” “You couldn't,” aaiu the older man. "You're not that kind—and I’m not tho kind to tie cheated, either. Listen! I’ve lived over forty years, and I never took less than was coming to me. 31 won t be gin tonight.” m "You’ll get your share— “ Bah! You don’t know what I mean, don’t want you; it’s him I’m after, and when I’m done with him I’ll take care of you; but I won’t run any risk right now. I won’t take a chance on losing what I ve risked so much to gain, what I’ve lived tbore fifteen years to get. You might put m« away—there’s the possibllity-and I wo«’t let you or any other man—or woman either, not even my girl-cheat me out of Gale. Put up your gun. The soldier hesitated, then did as he was bidden, for this man knew him bet ter than he knew himself. “I ought to treat you like a mad dog, but I can’t do it while your hands arc up. I’m going to fight for John. Gale, however, and you can’t take him.” “I'll have his carcass hung to my ridge pole before daylight.” “No.” < , . "I say yes!” Stark turned to go, but paused at the door. “And you think you 11 marry Necia. do you?” "I know it.” “Like hell you will. Suppose you find her first.” “What do you mean? Wait—” But his visitor was gone, leaving behind him a lover already sorely vexed, and now harassed by a new and sudden ap prehension. What venom the man distill ed! Could it be that he had sent Necla away? Burrell scouted the idea. She wasn't the kind to go at Stark’s mere behest; and as for his forcing her, why. this was not an age of abductions! He might aim to take her, but it would re quire some time to establish his rights, and even then there were Gale and him self to be reckoned with. Still, this was no time for Idling, and he might as well make certain, so the young man put on his coat hurriedly, knowing there was work to do. There was no telling what this night would bring forth, but first he must warn his friend, after which they would fight this thing together, not as soldier and civilian, but as man and man, not for the law, but against it. He smiled as he realized the situation. Well, he was through with the army, anyhow; his path was -strange and new from this time henceforth, and led him away from all he had known, taking him among other peoples; but he did not flinch, for it led to her. Behind him was that for mer life; tonight he began anew. Stark traced his way back to his cabin in a ten times fiercer mood than he had come, reviling, cursing, hating; back back past the dark trading-post he went, paus ing to shake his clenched fist and grind out an oath between his teeth; past the dooro of his own saloon, which was a-light, and whence came the sound of revelry, through the scattered houses, where he went more by feel than by sight, up to the door of his own shack. He fit ted his key in the lock, but the door swung open without his aid, at which he remembered that he had only pulled it after him when he came away with Ne cla. He closed it behind him now, and locked it, for he had some thinking to do; theqj felt through his pockets for a match, and, striking it, bent over his lamp to adjust the wick. It flared up steady and strong at last, flooding the. narrow place with Its illumination; then he straightened up and turned towards the bed to throw off his coat, when sud denly every muscle of his body leaped with an uncontrollable spasm, as if he had uncovered a deadly serpent coiled and ready to spring. In spite of himself his lungs contracted as if with the grip of giant hands, and his breath came forth in a startled cry. John Gale was sitting at his table, bare ly an arm's-length away, his gray-blue eyes fixed upon him, and the deep seams of his heavy face set as if graven in stone. His huge, knotted hands were up on the table, and between them lay a naked knife. Continued in Next Issue READ THIS! DOTHAN, Ala.—We have been selling the Texas Wonder for years, and recom mend it to any one suffering with any kidney trouble as being the best remedy we ever sold. J. B. YOUNG. Sold by all druggists. Price $1 by mail from St Louis. BALKS ON PASSAGE OF PROHIBITION BILL COLUMBIA, S. C., Feb. 26.—The senate re fused by a vote of 28 to 9 to pass either a straight statewide prohibition bill, such as the house passed, or a statewide referendum meas ure. It finally passed to the third reading a bill providing for statewide prohibition on the first Tueseday in August with the proviso allowing the present “wet’’ counties to vote dispensaries liack on the third Tuesday in August and allowing the present “dry” eotin tles to go back to liquor by petition for election under the present, law. The probibtlonlsts have gained practically nothing and this little bit will be rejected by the honae. The whole matter will go to a free confer ence, where it will likely die. ;I® fl Conforming to every requirement of the Pure Food Laws, insuring B \xT 11l 11 "f >urest " Whiskies for medicinal or personal uses. '' iLk It Shipments made in plain packages same day orders received. & \\ I! 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Corn Whiskey. 3:50 10.00 t— rr — IZ 1 / ///// I\X •*■ Old Burro Corn Whiskey 4.00 7.75 For mit FAGHtONF.O COPPER PIST.M-« P Swan Gin 2.25 6.45 2.60 5.00 ANO OTHER*" Ut COIKDJC SUrrh Apple Brandy 2.50 7.20 2.70 5.25 WV Very Old Apple Brandy 3.50 10.00 4.00 7.75 IHF ffiUCINS CfTPr SOLE PROPRIETORS Peach Brandy 3.50 10.00 4.00 7.75 ** WV COUSINS SUPPLY CO. ‘ The Old Reliable Mail Order House, GEORGE BELL GETS OUT Os ASYLUM MACON, Ga., Feb. 26.—At a hearing held before Judge Hal Lewis at Greens boro yesterday afternon the stigma of a charge of lunacy was removed from the head of George H. Bell, the former rep resentative from Swainsboro, Emanuel county. Today Bell is with his father, mother, wife and sisters at his old home. There is general rejoicing at his home, today. In thirty days Bell will receive from the officials of the state asylum at Mil ledgeville papers to show an honorable discharge from that institution, unless lunacy proceedings are taken out against him in the meantime. It is not believed that such a step will be taken, however, as the officials while returning on a train to Milledgeville yesterday, stated that they had no desire to press the case. Contentions of Attorney In the court room at Greensboro yes terday it was pointed out by Colonel Mc- Neil how illegal proceedings had been employed at the outset to keep Bell in the asylum. Through the endeavors of Dr. Green Bell, the father of the former rep resentative, George Bell was sent to the state private sanitarium of Dr. Allen at Milledgeville three years ago. It was while he was incarcerated there that the lunacy hearing was held in Swainsboro, and the young man adjudged a fit subject for the state asylum. Such a proceeding was illegal and furnished a foundation for the fight to secure his release. When George Bell went back to his home yesterday after an absence of three years, he was accompanied by his father, his mother and his two sisters. The release of Bell was in a large meas ure due to the efforts of Mrs. Blanch Burton, a former actress, whom Bell be friended while connected with the same S3OOCASH I Given to Subscribers of The Semi-Weekly Journal No guess work. A test of skill. Are you going to be one of the lucky ones! How many squares can you make out of this Square Chart! ~ i iri pzz z 1 the XSXX x v v journal. ry 67 67 Cv ““ The best family and general !_S w news, semi-weekly periodical in , /\?\ ZV Zj • J - the South, and should be in ev- zv er y Southern home. Each column XZ NZ" SZ sZ Sz SZ is edited with the utmost care. xZ xZ \Z7zrz<Z7z lZ <7 An intensely interesting serial '"”7'““ <z \Z XZ \Z <Z kZ kZ \Z \Z </ t j story is always found in its col- —ZS Z\ LX lS CS umns. The writings by Mrs. W. ZX ?X ZX ZxZx /x /X <X. H. Felton on The Country Homes, XX A XXCKX AaX X- J M’ BB Lizzie 0. Thomas on Our ■MM MMM CmJI r I - X I Z i I HIM mm! IMMMI XZ NZ \Z SZ Household, Prof. Andrew M. 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All answers accompanied by remittance for one or more years’ subscription to fi The Semi-Weekly Journal will be promptly and correctly recorded, after which no changes B in answers will be made. Whether you count the squares correctly, depends on your skill 3 and ability for making the greatest number of perfect squares out of the chart. If you make the greatest number of perfect squares you get the money. j USE THIS COUPON Do you need the mon- J WHEN POSSIBLE. - . W 1 «." ' " Then try your skill. THE SEMI-WEEKLY JOURNAL, No one has a better Atlanta, Ga., chance than yon to get „ , , , . this money. Gentlemen: Please find enclosed $ for years’ subscription to The Semi-Weekly Journal. and^nswe^todtv^ tIOD Send paper to • . n n , £ The Semi-Weekly . . , , Journal, —; —l —l —!| ° Atlanta, Ga. -x —i State J 3 I I I I ii.,* theatrical company out west. Mrs. Bur ton was ill and the manager of her com pany sought to leave her behind, when Bell forced him to care for the sick wo man. Mrs. Burton is the wife of a wealthy Indianapolis manufacturer, who is spend ing the winter in Macon. She arrived at Greensboro yesterday in the same coach with Mr. Bell, sat with his family throughout the trial and was the first to congratulate him when the judge gave the order. W. D. McNeil, a prominent young law yer in Macon, was Interested in the case and made a strong fight which won Bell’s freedom. ♦ Bell was termed a “paranoic” and de clared to be suffering from delusional in sanity by Superintendent Jones, of the state sanitarium, and Drs. Green and Little, attending physicians. In a statement made on the witness stand yesterday. Bell declared he prayed to die while confined in the asylum. He says he was associated with gibbering idiots. He says such association makes one doubt if the things he says can really be and are not the imaginings of an in sane mind and if he has been sane for the last three years how he has managed to remain so. He said his wife, who is now living at Waycross, had not been loyal to him in that he had been allowed to be im prisoned and she did not try to get him out. "I will never live with her again, which I think is satisfactory, but I deny I have ever criticised her and defy the universe to prove it.” He took up the subject of telepathy, thought transmission and the like, and told of some of his experiences, adding "I used to travel as d hypnotjfet, though I wasn’t much of a one.” He concluded his statement by declar ing that he had never threatened his father, brother, wife or sister. That he could never feel the same toward “Dr. Green Bell,” and would never go back there to live. “I want to add,” he said, “that the only prayer I have prayed in a jury In Baldwin county passed on his sanity without hearing evidence and 15 years has been in the asylum, when I psayed to die.” Injections of Poisons He began his statement with April, prior to his commitment in May, 1906, and declared that he drank no whisky in that month except that given by his wife through the doctor's orders, and that he saw no necessity for tha forci ble injection of the poisons which Dr. Green Bell gave him and which he pro tested so givorously. He fben told of his first trip to Dr. Allen and his re turn to Swainsboro, where he said his business had been confiscated, and de spite the fact that he belonged to four secret orders, he was bereft of friends. The petition was read at the habeas corpus hearing in Greensboro Thursday afternoon by Attorney McNeal, of Ma con, alleging that George H. Bell was committed to the asy lum without due process of law, that without any sort of trial. He alleged that his commitment was the result of a con spiracy, that he had been greatly abused while In the asylum and that repeated ef forts had been made by himself to have an opportunity to be heard and a fair trial before the courts; that his father had injected morphine and other poisons into his body and he believed that if con tinued It would result in his death; therefore he resisted further treatment along this line from his father; that his father then swore out a writ of lunacy and a jury was summoned to pass on the question of his sanity but that the jury said that they had seen him and were satisfied that he was insane without hearing evidence. This was not denied b> respondents in their answer read by At torney J. E. Pottle. His father, Dr. Greene Bell, testified that he did inject morphine and other medicine into his body, thinking that it was for his physical benefit to do so and not with any desire to harm him in any way. That he swore out a writ of lunacy thinking at the time he wa si crazy. ’ One of the physicians of the asylum sworp that he thought petitioner's trouble was caused from chronic alcoholism.