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11
SYNOPSIS.
The utory opens In a Confederate tent
at a critical ntage of the Civil War. Gen.
Lm Imparts to Capt. Wayne an Important
inesaug#* to Ix>ngstreet. Accompanied bjr
Sergt, Craig, an old army scout, Wayne
starts on Ms mission. They g*t within
the fines of the enemy and In the dark
ness Wayne Is taken for a Federal of
ficer and a young lady on horseback is
given in hi* charge. Slk* la a northern
girl and attempts to escape. One of the
norses succumbs and Craig goes through
with the dlapfftohes, while Wayne and My
lady of the North are left alone. They
•fek shelter in a hut and entering It in
the dark a huge mastiff attacks Wayn'?
The girl shoots the brute Just In time
The owner of the hut. .led Bungay, and
his wife appear and soon a party of
horsemen approach They are led by a
man claiming to he Red Cowrie, but who
proves to he Maj. Brennan, a Federal
officer whom the Union girl recognize*.
He orders the arrest of Wayne as a spy
and he Is brought before Sheridan, who
threatens him with death unless lie re
veal* the secret message. Wayne believes
Rdith Brennan to be lbs wife of Maj
Brennan. He is rescued by Jed Bungay,
who starts to reach Gen. Lee. while
Wayne in disguise penetrates to the ball,
room, beneath which he had been Im-
Srisoned. He Is introduced to a Miss
“nor and barely escapes being unmask
ed. Rdith Brennan, recognizing Wayne,
says she will save him. Securing a pass
through the lines, they confronted by
Brtrinan. who is knocked senseless. Then,
bidding Rdith adieu, Wayne makes a
dash for liberty.
CHAPTER XlX.—Continued.
This gave me inspiration, and be
fore the speaker's sullen growl had
wholly ceased i was again upon bands
and knees, silently groping my way
along the bank toward the rear of the
but. It proved to be a tiny structure,
containing but a single room —prob-
ably a mere fisherman’s shack, with
out windows, but possessing a door
at either end. Meeting no opposition
I crept within, where I felt some
what safer from observation, and then
peered warily forth Into the darkness
extending between It and the river.
The picket-rope stretched from one
corner of the hut, where it Beemed to
be secured around the end of a pro
jecting log, out Into the night, evi
dently finding its other terminus at a
big tree whose spreading top I could
dimly perceive shadowed against the
sky. Along it were tethered the
horses, a few impatiently champing
their bits and pounding with their
hoofs on the trampled ground, but the
majority resting quietly, their heads
hanging sleepily down. The one near
est me appeared a finely proportioned
animal of a dark color, and was
equipped with both saddle and bridle.
Of the soldier in charge I could dis
tinguish nothing—doubtless he was
lounging on his back, half asleep upon
some soft patch of grass.
I turned when It suddenly occurred
to me that tbo deserted hut might
contalu something I could use lo ad
vantage - u firearm, pernapa, or even
a stray box of mulchea. 1 Telt nbout
me cuutlotiMly. creeping along the
hard earthen floor until I had nearly
reached the opposite entrance. The
light front the fire without leaped up.
and its glow revealed a saddle, with
leather holster attached, banging to
a nail Just within the doorway mov
lng noiselessly I managed to extract a
revolver, but could discover no cart
ridges.
I was yet fumbling In the holster
pocket when the lieutenant rose front
his neat without, knocked the ashes
from his pipe, yawned sleepily, stand
lng directly between me and the tiro,
and then, turning sharply, walked
slowly Into the open door of the hut
I sprung to toy feet, or ho would cer
talnly have stepped upon mo, and be
tori he could realize the situation I
had him by the collar, with the cold
muzz'c of my stolen revolver pressed
hard against his cheek.
“A single word or sound, and I
fire!" I said sternly.
I have no recollection of over sec
tug any one more completely u.s
founded, lie gasped like a fish newly
landed, and I doubt If ho could have
made utterance even had he dared
"Come In a lltllc farther," I com
manded "Now look here. Lieutenant,
you do exactly as 1 tell you and you
will get out of this affair with a whole
shin: otherwise-well. I'm playing
this game to the limit. Now answer
ine How many men have you mourn
ed this side the ford?"
He glared at me suflenly, and 1
drew back the hammer with un omin
ous click, eyetng him (lercely.
“Well,” I said shortly, "do you
choose to answer, or die'.’"
"Two ”
“On the other bank?"
“None."
"Lieutenant," 1 said, speaking low,
but In a tone which left no doubt as to
tny exact meaning. "1 am un escaped
prisoner, and snail not hesitate to kill '
rather than be recaptured. It Is your
llle or mine tonight, and I naturally
prefer my own; but I'll give you-one
dULSi-e, and only one -obey my oi det s
and I will leave you here unhurt; dls
obey, and your Ufa Is not worth the
snap of a Unger. Move back now uu
till you face the door, and don't forget
iuj pistol Is within an Inch of your
ear, and this Is a hair trigger What
ts your sergeant's name?"
"Handley.”
“Order hltn to take ten men on foot
one hundred yards west on the ptke.
end wait further orders.”
"Handley," he called out, his voice
bo choked with rage as to make me
fearful tt might arouse suspicion,
"take ten men on foot to the cross
roads, and wait there until you hear
from me."
I could plainly note the dark shad
ows of the fellows as the) hied out
past the fire, but 1 never ventured to
lake eye or gun off the man 1 watched.
“How many remain there now?"
“Seven."
"Any non-com. among them?"
“A corporal”
"Have him take them all south on
the cross roads."
"Jones," he called out huskily.
"Yes, sir "
“Take what men you have left a
hood red vards south on the cross
read "
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We could bear them crunching
Lhelr way through the bushes, until
the sound finally died out In the dis
tance.
"Now, Lieutenant, you come with
me —3oftly, and keep your distance."
We moved back slowly, step by atep,
until we came to the rear door of the
abed. I reached out Into the darkness,
but without turning my face away
from him, and silently severed the
picket-rope, retaining the loosened
end In my grasp. It was so Intensely
dark where we stood that I slipped the
pistol unobserved Into my belt.
"Face to the rear,” 1 said sternly.
As he turned to obey this order,
with quick movement I tripped him,
sprang backward, and shut the door.
In a single bound I was upon the
back of the black, and had flung the
severed rope's end at the flank of the
next horse In line. There was a rush
of feet., a sharp snapping of cords, a
wild scurrying through the bushes, as
twenty frightened horses stampeded
up the bank, and then, lying face
down over the saddle pommel, I sent
the startled black crashing down Into
the shallows of the ferd. The fellow
o i guard tried his best to stop us.
but we were past him like the wind.
He did not fire, and doubtless in the
darkness saw merely a stray horse
b:oken from the picket-rope. The oth
er fellow took one swift shot, but It
went wild, and 1 heard the voice of
the enraged lieutenant damning in the
distance. Then with a rush we went
up the steep bank on the eastern
shore, and I sat upright In the saddle
and gave the black his rein.
CHAPTER XX.
A Demon on Horseback.
I felt positively happy then. The
(brill of successful achievement was
mine, and with the exultation of a
soldier In having surmounted ob
Stacies and peril, 1 nearly forgot for
the moment the heart tragedy left be
hind. The swift Impetus of the ride,
the keen night air sweeping past me.
the fresn sense of freedom and power
engendered by that reckless dash
through the darkness, all conspired to
render me neglectful of everything
save lhe Joy of present victory. The
spirit of wild adventure was lu my
blood.
A dozen spits of fire cleaved the In
tense blackness behind, and 1 knew
the widely scattered patrol were send
ing chance shotß across the stream.
A clang of hoofs rang out upon the
rocks, but 1 could distinguish noth
Ing Indicating a large pursuing party
—probably the two who were mounted
at the ford, with possibly others fol
lowing when they caught their strayed
burses. 1 had little to fe ir from such
half-hearted pursuit as ibis was sure
to be. The 3Wlft, powerful stride of
tie animal 1 rode assured me that I
w :s not 111 mounted, and there was
■null chance of contact with Federal
outriders before I should reach the
protecting picket lines of our own
army. 1 laughed grimly as I loanei.
slightly back In saddle and listened;
ii was like a play, so swift and ex
c'llng had been the passing events,
so unexpected their ending. I won
dered what plausible story the dis
comfited lieutenant would concoct to
account for his predicament, and
w..ether the others had yt missed me
back at the Mansion House.
The st;.rs appeared to bo paling
somewhat down In the east, for the
coming day dawn was already whiten
ing the horizon. 1 glanced at my
watch, venturing to strike a match
for the purpose, and found the hour
after three o’clock Early, I knew,
was at Sowder Church, and his ad
vance cavalry pickets ought to boas
far west ns the Warrentown road.
The distance between, by hard riding,
might be covered in three hours. My
1 oive seemed flesh, his breath enme
naturally and without effort, and I
pressed him along rapidly, for my
whole ambition now centred upon
“A Single Word or Sound, and I Fire."
bringing the Information l possessed j
wt.hln our own lines. Bungay, be
yond doubt, had been recaptured long
since. for my own experience told me j
how extremely vigilant were the Fel
erul guards To one unacquainted as
h was with military customs it would
ptr-.e impossible to penetrate their
lutes; hence, everything must depend
u; s-n my getting through in safety.
i'tteu my thoughts drifted to the
one 1 had left in such serious predlca
n tit. If 1 had loved her before. 1
loved her doubly now, for she had
p:\ %eu herself a woman among worn
ft: in time of danger and trial. How
clearly her face, with those dark
sw.et eyes and the wealth of crown
ing hair, rose before me, while word
by word 1 reviewed all that had passed
• between us, dwelling upon each look
or accent that could evince her pos
sib'e interest in me. Then reason re
| tu> ned to my aid, and resolutely, de
I Viminedly, inspired by every instinct
of soldierly honor, 1 resolved that I
would put her from my thoughts for
ever. She was not mine either to love
or possess, unless the uncertain fate
of war should chance to set her free.
Even to drearn of her, to cherish her
It memory while she remained the
wife of another, was but an affront to
her purity and womanhood. 1 would
prove myself a man entitled to her
respect, a soldier worthy my service
and corps; If ever again my name
chanced to find mention In her pres
ence it should be spoken with honor.
I was musing thus, lulled by the
steady lope of my horse, and totally
Icsenslble to any of peril,
when clear upon my ears, Instantly
awakening me from such reverie,
there rang through the night silence
the sharp clang of iron on the road
behind i_e. All sound of pursuit had
long since died away, and I supposed
the effort to recapture me bad been
abandoned. Hut there was no mis
taking now—at least one horseman,
riding recklessly through the black
night, was pressing hot upon my trail.
"The lieutenant,” I thought, “the
lieutenant, burning with anger at the
trick played upon him, has pushed far
ahead of his troop, doubtless mounted
upon a better horse, determined to
risk everything If he may only bring
n.e back dead or alive."
This thought awoke me In an in
stant from my dreaming, and I
spurred my horse furiously, glancing
anxiously backward as I rode, but un
able through that dense gloom tc dis
“That's 'Bout All I Know, Cap, Till I Lit Yere.”
tinguish the form oi my pursuer. Yet
the fellow was coming, coming faster
than any speed 1 could possibly con
jure out of the weary black 1 bestrode,
cither by whip or spur. Closer and
closer upon me came rushing down
that pounding of iron hoofs on the
hard pata. Heavens! how like a very
rumon the man rode! Asa trooper 1
could not withhold admiration from
the reckless audacity with which the
vengeful fellow boro down upon me.
In spite oi my utmost efforts !t al
most seemed as If we were standing
still Surely nothing less than hate,
and a thirst for vengeance bitter as
death. Implacable as fate, could ride
like that through the black night on
the track of a hunted man!
1 was able to trace dimly his out
lines now as he rose on an eminence
In my rear, his horse looming dark
against the sky, like those giant
sierds that snorted fire in my child's
Icture-uooks at home, and then, with
increasingly louder thunder of hoof
beats, he came charging str-ight down
toward me. In sheer desperation I
glanced on either side, seeking some
avenue of escape, but the high banks
were unscalable; my sole remaining
hope lay In a shot which should drop
that crazed brute before he struck
and crushed me. Hiding my best,
with all the practised skill of the
service, 1 swung my body sideways,
b-aclng myself firmly In the deep sad
dle, and took steady aim The ham
mer came down with a dull, dead
v.!ick, the revolver was chargless. and
with an exclamation of baffled rage
1 hurled the useless weapon full at
the advancing brute. Almost at the
instant we struck, my horse went
down with the Impetus, while over
• s both, as If shot from a cannon,
plunged our pursuer, his horse turn
ing a complete somersault, the rider
falling so close that 1 was upon him
almost as soon as he struck the
ground
A dtp of the flying hoof had cut a
shallow gash across my forehead, and
my hair was wet with blood, yet
bruised and half stunned as I was
from the hard fall, my sole longing
was to reach and throttle that mad
man who had ridden me down In such
demon style.
"You unchained devil!" 1 cried
savagely, whirling him over upon his
back, "1 spared your life once tonight,
but. by all the tods. I'll not do it
again!"
"Oosh, Cap, Is thet you?" asked the
volce of the other, feebly.
I started back, and lost my bold
upon him.
"Bungay?’ In an astonishment that
nearly robbed me of utterance. “Good
God, man! is this really you?”
"It's whut's left 'o me," he answered
solemnly, sitting up and feeling his
head as If expecting to find it gone.
"Tliet wu3 'bout ther worst ride I ever
took.”
“I should think It likely,” I ex
claimed, my anger rising again as I
thought of It. "What, In Heaven’s
name, do you mean by riding down
on me ilke that?”
“Holy Gee. Cap,” he explained pen
itently, ”y e don’t go ter think I ever
did It a purpose, do ye Why, ther
gosh-durned old thing run away."
"Ran away?”
“Sure, I've bin a hangln’ on ter
ther mane o’ thet critter fer nigh
Ton three mile, an’ a prayin’ fer a
feather bet* ter light on. It’s my last
Tistment en ther cavalry, ye bet. I
never seed none o' yer steam keers,
but I reckon they don’t go no faster
tie. thet blame hoss. Gosh, Cap, ye
ain’t got no call fer ter git mad; I
couldn’ a stopped her with a yoke
o' steers, durned If I cud. 1 sorter
reckon I know now ’bout whut Scott
meant when lie said, 'The turf the fly
ing courser spurned,’—you bet this
one did.”
•led rubbed his cheek as If it stung
him, and I looked at him in the faint
dawning light of day, and laughed.
His peaked head and weazen face
looked piteous enough, decorated as
they were with the black loam
through which he had ploughed; his
coat was ripped from tail to collar,
while one of his eyer was nearly
closed where the bruised flesh had
puffed up over it.
" ‘lt is a fearful strife, for man en
dowed with mortal life,’ ” he quoted
mournfully.
“You're right." 1 assented "No
> oubt you had the worst of it. But
how came you here?”
"Why, 1 wus a huntin' fer a hoss
tliar et thet picket post whin ye
scared up ther bunch, an' by some
sort a fule luck I got hola o' thet one,
un' tuke arter ye, tho' in course I
d'dn't know who it was raised sich a
rumpus, it wus so durned dark. Ther
whole blame Yankee caboodle tuke a
English of Supreme Court
Justices of Highest Tribunal Often
Use Ungrammatical Language
on the Bench.
“There ts a delicious reminder of
boyhood 'grammatical breaks' In the
questioning by the honored justices of
the supreme court." remarked William
R. Maddock. of Boston, at the Willard.
"During my frequent trips to Wash
ington I have visited the supreme
court, often listening to arguments and
the questions put to lawyers by the
grave and solemn members of the
court. With so much formality and
dignity surrounding the famous tribun
al. I have wondered a little at the
breaking of the rules of syntax by the
justices, who know better and would
never dream of incorporating their
offhand remarks in a written decision
it is not unusual to hear a Justice
use the expression 'he don't, and 'they
ain’t’ Is quite as often used without
jarring on the nerves of the attend
ing lawyers, and without causing the
fel'ow justices to smile. The justices
know better, and they also know that
there are more serious infractions of
j grammatical laws in the nearby house
of representatives every day of the
! session
. “1 heard ope big lawyer, who had
! noticed the grammatical breaks, one
day remark that the lapsus linguae
may be consequently thought atavistic
Mow. just what this lawyer meant by
this sentence 1 cannot explain, and
blaze et me, I reckon, leastwise they
wus most durn keerless with ther
shootin’ Irons, an’ I rode one feller
over, knocked him plum off his hoss
down ther bank, kerslush Inter ther
water, by thunder, an’ then ther deni
ed critter I wus a straddlin’ bolted.
Thet's 'bout all I knoyv, Cap, till I lit
yere.’
There was no doubting the truth of
his story, and I held out my hand.
“You’re a good man, Jed,” I said
heartily, “and so long as we are both
alive, a few hard jolts won't hurt us.
Let’s see If the horses are in any con
dition for service.”
A single glance told the story. The
black mare was browsing by the road
side, apparently little the worse for
the shock, although a thin line of
blood trickled slowly down her llank.
But the big roan had not been so for
tunate, and lay, head under, stone
dead in the middle of the narrow road.
Bungay gazed at the motionless fig
ure mournfully.
” ‘Woe worth the chase, woe worth
the day, that cost thy life, my gallant
gray,’ ” he recited solemnly, “only It's
a roan, an’ I ain’t so durn sorry
either."
Regrets of any nature, however,
were vain, and as the little man posi
tively .-efused to ride, I mounted
again He trudging along manfully
besidv me, the two of us set forth once
more, our faces turned toward the red
dawn.
CHAPTER XXI.
Reinforcements for Early.
“Come, Wayne, wake up, man!"
Captain, I say, you must turn out of
this.”
I opened my eyes with a struggle
and looked up. The golden glow of
sunlight along the white wall told me
the day must be already well ad
vanced, and I saw the lieutenant of
my troop, Colgate, bending over me,
attired in service uniform.
“What is It, Jack?”
"We have been ordered north on
forced march to join Early, and the
command bas already started. I have
delayed calling you until the final
moment, but knew you would never
forgive being left behind.”
Before he had finished I was upon
the floor, dressing with that rapidity
acquired by years of practice, my
mind thoroughly aroused to the
thought of active service once more.
“Was it the new> I brought in yes
u.-day, Colgate, which as stirred this
up?” I questioned, hastily dipping into
a basin of water.
“I Imagine it must have been, sir,”
replied the Lieutenant, leaning back
comfortably upon a cracker-box, which
formed our solitary chair. “Things
tave been on the move ever since, and
it certainly resembles an advance of
some importance. Staff officers at it
all night long, McDanie s division off
at daylight, while we go out ahead of
Slayton's troop3. Reede was in beast
ly good humor when he brought the
orders; that usually means a fight.”
‘‘Any artillery?”
“Sloan’s and liocke's batteries are
with us; did not learn who went out
with McDaniel’s. Longstreet has
crossed the White Briar.”
“Yes, 1 know,” 1 said., drawing on
the last of my equipments, and quick
ly glancing about to assure myself I
had overlooked nothing likely to be
of value. “All ready. Jack, and now
for another ’dance of death.’ ”
Our regiment was drawn up in the
square of the little town, and as we
came forth into the glorious sunlight,
the stentorian voice of the Colonel
called them into column of fours. Staff
officers, gray with dust from their all
night service, were riding madly along
the curb, while at the rear of our men.
just debouching from one of the side
streets appeared the solid front of a
division of infantry. We had barelj
time to swing into the saddles of the
two horses awaiting us, and ride swift
ly to the bead of our command, when
the short, stern orders rolled alor.g
the motionless line of troopers, and
the long, silent column swung out ts
the northward, the feet of the horsM
raising a thick cloud of red do!
which fairly enveloped us in its ch<
ing folds.
(TO BE CONTINUED.)
I would prefer the good old-fashiontl
colloquial methods of the justices,
even if they do violate a rule of prt
mary grammar."—Washington Post.
Builders of Carnarvon Castle.
Carnarvon castle is full of interest
not only for the archaelogist and stu
dent of medieval military arebitec
ture. but also for all engaged In
the economic interpretation of history
Fairly complete accounts are extant
of the money expended on wages and
material during the building of the
fortress The highest wage paid to
the workmen was three pence a day to
skilled artificers, two pence being
more common These artisans were
all Englishmen. hailing from such
places as Canterbury or Oxford Or
dinary laborers, who were, to judge
from their names, ail native Welsh
men. received only a penny. Allow
lng for the purchasing power of the
penny, these comic wages are ot
course far higher than the rates of
the present day Centi ries later the
translators of the Bib! saw nothing
ludicrous about the "tw and penes" prof
fered for the hotel bill >f the man be
friended by the Good Samaritan.—
Westminster Gazette
Take Tha .
Lend m*- a dollar. < and chap; 1 get
paid tomorrow.” "Hav n't got It, eld
scout; | £oi paid yes srday.’'—Puek
STATE BANKS GAIN
JEWS IN TEAS
/
GEORGIA FINANCIAL INSTITU
TIONS SHOW REMARKABLE
ADDITION IN 1912.
DEPOSITS $3,937,507 MORE
Overdrafts Are 55 Per Cent. Less.
Capital, Surplus and Profits
Millions Larger.
—Atlanta.
Total increase in re
sources $6,435,128.21
Increase in cash ... 2,178.620.80
Increase in paid-in capital 2,674,134.24
Increase in surplus and
profits . . ...... 1,214,292.65
Increase in deposits. . . 3,937,507.82
Decrease in. overdrafts. . 2,731,198.62
The foregoing figures represent the
condition of state banks in Georgia at
this time, as compared with one year
ago. according to a statement issued
recently by W. J. Speer, state treas
urere and bank examiner. It is
on the latest reports on call and con
ditions as disclosed by personal ex
amination by the state's examiners.
The most remarkable feature of
this remarkable statement of pros
perous banking conditions in Georgia
is the decrease in overdrafts. A year
ago overdrafts amounted to $4,929,-
560.45. The present total is $2,198,-
661.83. This shows a decrease of 55
per cent in overdrafts in one year.
These figures represent the finan
cial conditions of state banks oniy.
They do not include the national
hanks doing business in Georgia,
which report direct to the comptroller
of the currency at Washington and
are examined by national bank exam
iners. The great bulk of these state
banks are “little fellows” of from $25,-
000 to $50,000 capital. They are in
the small towns, county seats and
small cities, as a rule, though there
are some state banks in every large
city in Georgia. In the main they
do the banking business of the farm
ers, county and town merchants and
wage-earners. Therefore, they reflect
the financial condition of the masses
of the people of the state.
Treasurer Speer, in his statement
as to the condition of state banks,
says:
“Great progress was made in the
past year, and the reports and exam
inations show a healthy and gratify
ing condition of the banks, and good,
sound, conservative management on
the part of the officials. In nearly
every case good dividends have been
made and paid to stockholders be
sides the substantial amounts carried
to surplus accounts. These are, how
ever, a few exceptions where bad
methods, or the total lack of any
method or system of keeping ac
counts, and the very bad practice of
holding up collection items and per
sistent refusal to answer letters of
inquiry made with reference to same,
prevails with a few banks. Complaint
is frequently made by other banks on
account of this bad practice, and we
are making every effort to have it
discontinued through the agency of
special examinations to ■'be made by
an auditor as provided for that pur
pose.
We think that the large decrease
in overdrafts, amounting to more
than 50 per cent, is a very important
feature, and no doubt will be very
gratifying to the banks, as such ap
plication, or misapplication, of bank
funds is as objectionable to them
selves as it is to those whose money
is being used in this illegitimate way.
If a recent decision of the United
States Supreme court that such use
of bank funds is unlawful and that
bank cashiers are liable for any loss
incurred by this practice is observed,
it will have the desired effect of en
tirely eliminating this objectionable
feature in the banking business.
“The bankers of this state are a
body of fine business men made up
of the best business talent in the
state, and as a whole they can be
relied upon to thoroughly protect the
large and important interests entrust
ed to their care. It is only a few
who are disposed to take unwarrant
ed risks and pursue methods in vio
lation of law and good banking.’’
Stanley Selects His Assistant
H. M .Stanley, the newly elected
contmisssioner of commerce and la
bor, announced that Prof. Joseph T.
Perry of Atlanta and Walter E. Chris
tie of Dawson will be associated with
him a3 assistant and stenographer,
respectively.
Proft-ssor Derry has been connect
ed with the department of agriculture
for years and his ability and charac
ter are almost unrivaled. It is be
lieved here that Mr. Stanley could
not have made an appointment more
acceptable to the people of JJeoorgia.
Police Shelter Hoboes.
The police station in Atlanta is
harboring on an average of twenty
homeless birds of passage evqry
night during the present cold spell.
In fact it has become a veritable
tourist hotel, patronized by homeless
wanderers, most of them on their way
further south. There is only one
■ stipulation made by the police, and
that is that the recipients of the hos
■ pitality be o ntheir why the next
morning and not come back —that is,
not unless they want to stay a month
or two and work for their lodgings.
W. & A Answers State.
The Western and Atlantic railroad
filed answer to the suit of the state
of Georgia, charging a breach of the
! lease contract between the state and
the railroad in the matter of freight
rates. The answer reiterates the con
tention of the Western and Atlantic
that the railroad commission has no
j jurisdiction over freight rates, except
between points in Georgia. Control
! of the rates between Chattanooga and
Georgia points would interfere with
| interstate commerce, says the answer.
Chairman Davison Piea^T
Chairman Robert E Davin
state prison board, who in h th
vision of the convicts of th 6Uper '
state comes in close touch
real situation in those count,-* the
cailly where the convicts ar e
the highways, is much pleased
the first conference, which
at the Georgia university bv heki
road department. 3 “ e ne ®
He B aid, in part, speaking of ~
conference: “It will accomplish ',
of the purpose which animated
call of Professor Strahan to the J?
ty commissioners of the state
the other officials directly r
ed with road work. Every maa JJ
had his own ideas about road Zl
in some phase, they cam e from and,
ferent localities where the condition,
were unique or unusual, where th
material was of some special chara*
ter, where problems were particular
ones. The exchange of the ideas of
these men who look at the question
from so many different angles was
valuable result of the conference *
“The discussion on the proper hand
ling of the convicts in the counties
to get the best work, the most etfi.
cient service in road making and
road maintenance, and on the general
advisability of bonds for road pur
poses were especially calculated to
stir thought among the earnest con
sideration of the officials over the
state.
“The great object of the conference
was accomplished partially and in a
manner which will speedily lead t 0
complete realization. The now de
partment which Professors Strahan
and Koch are to operate for the Geor
gia counties found out what some ot
the counties at least have to confront
a road work, w-hat problems they are
up against, what help they need, what
direction and expert advice they could
use to advantage, what scientific as
sistance they could employ profitably.
The department can get down to the
actual work ill these cases and there
wilt soon be others who will learn
that the university can help them
over many a hard place, out of many
a hole, across many a near-breach and
be what it is intended in this new
work to be a practical help in sup
plying accurate, dependable knowl
edge that the county road officials
need. The commissioners of the coun
ties will pretty soon learn from ob
servation that they are in need of
expert assistance In re-establishing
roads, in grading, in selection of road
material, which is available in their
own counties and adapted to the
making of the best roads. They will
be calling on the university, as they
are invited to do, and that right
early.”
Many Illicit Distilleries.
Exactly a year ago the newspaper
correspondents in Atlanta —and they
firmly believed what they were writ
ing—sent out articles far and wide
about the “passing of the moonshin
er,” declaring that the most pictur
esque character of the Georgia, Caro
lina, Tennessee and Alabama moun
tain country would soon be known
no more, except in character novels.
And now comes James H. Surber,
United States revenue agent at At
lanta, with a report for the month of
December, showing that during that
single month alone, 102 illicit distille
ries have been seized in Geoorgia and
Alabama alone, and that $9,000 worth
of property has been destroyed by the
raiding officers. During the same
month 70 Georgians and Alabamians
were put under arrest for moonshin
ing. 'it would seem from the com
parative figures, allowing one man to
each still, that at least a fourth of
the moonshiners were clever enough
to get away, even after their hiding
places had b een discovered.
Most of these distilleries were seiz
ed in Georgia. The return of saloons
in Alabama has made the business
there less profDable, it is said. I ne
reign of prohibition, it appears, has
had exactly the opposite effect in At
lanta, and the revenue officers de
clare that three times as many stills
are hidden in the mountains as there
used to be when anybody could get
his whiskey straight in Atlanta am
wink at the “Gal in the Fountain.
Electric R. R. Fares Not Reduced-
In a decision handed down the
Georgia railroad commisssicn declin
ed to make any reduction in fares
on the Savannah Electric company,
the company thereby winning 1 s
fight against reduction of fares on
suburban lines.
The commission decided the fi lleS
tion of service- and improvements on
this line several weeks ago, but n
question of fares was held up P en
ing a very thorough investigation o
the property. Some of the poiins'.
cided by the commisssion in tins ca
are of more than local interest, ■
cause they may have general btarin-
For instance, the commission d*-
dined to include the franchise valua
tion of the property in figuring
matter. This means a precedent
tablished ar.d that in the future
intangible values of properties
net be an equation before the
mission in similar questions.
Statesboro. —Probably neter
in the history of Bulloch county
the farmers experienced a more
fated seasson with their cotton
than the season of 19U-19 1 --
is thought that many of ' e -i ier .
abandon its cultivation, f " other
the coming season and p.an _
crops. Asa result of this " cf
hundreds, and probably thoussn
bales of cotton are a total ■'■* - ;
exact amount being inestimabl y
R. Lanier is quoted as sayi - jn
there are 100 bales in t .
sight of his place.
Waycross.—Although the , co:: j,
has been given the authority ‘ j
the question to the Georgia r
commisssion for investigate f (
tic Coast Line officials in cl: ;^ r '\ v q
the passenger traffic depr.r ' j 3
be requested before such ~
taken, for a final answer on m
train service from Folkston jv, 6
cross. L. J. Cooper, chairman
committee, has had corner- - 3
officials in Wilmipgton. an:
communications have been
but so far nothing but rumc r ~
service have. l:eeti gotten.