PAGE TWO
I IT - =[[ «
LEARNING '
MORE ABOUT
TOMMY
By H. M. EGBERT
U ~ , **
(© by W. G. Chapman.)
WHAT Mildred Carter saw in
Tommy Leesou nobody had
ever been able to discover.
Tommy was a little pale
faced, freckled, insignificant sort of
chap, with a passion for old armor,
and Mildred was one of those fine,
strapping women who no sooner set
foot in a ballroom or anywhere else
but they form the nucleus of a crowd
of admirers. Tommy had a million or
two, but then Roy Thornton had
about as much, and everybody knew
that Mildred could have had Roy as
soon as she dropped her
I think it was the disparity between
them that attracted Mildred. Tommy
was too shy to come at her beck and
call, and she mistook it for indiffer
ence. Anyway, she must have found
'him out soon, because, by the time
they were back from their honeymoon
in Europe, she was treating him like
a dog. They rented an old place in
the Catskills, a sort of heirloom of a
place full of old armor, which Tom
my spent all his days cataloguing.
I had always liked both Tommy and
Mildred, and I knew she was a decent
sort of a girl at heart. So I went to
Tommy frankly.
“Look here, old man,” I said, “if
you’ll excuse an old friend’s interfer
encedn what ought to be your private
affairs but isn’t, you’re in danger of
losing that wife of yours. Why don’t
you bundle Thornton and tke rest of
the crowd out of the house?”
‘‘Mildred likes them;' Tommy an
swered, turning a white face on me.
Then fie went on with his cataloguing.
Things went from bad to worse.
Tommy roamed the corridors like a
forlorn ghost, while Mildred and
Thornton went autoing all day. True,
they took me and Van Cleve along,
to act as chaperons, but it was pretty
evident we weren’t expected to work
overtime. And presently Mildred
made it pretty dear that she could
dispense with our company. Van
Cleve went home, but I wouldn’t see
Mildred’s hints; besides, Tommy had
invited me for the whole summer.
It was about a week after Van Cleve
went away that matters really became
serious. One night, when Tommy was
seated In his room, busy with his hob
by, I found out how matters stood. I
had left Mildred and Thornton on the
terrace, and, happening to go out with
my cigar, intending to take a smoke
and think things over, I suddenly
heard their voices on the walk below.
“Why don’t you leave him, dear?”
Thornton was asking. “You can get a
divorce out West. Everybody does
It"
I could not hear her answer, but the
tones were very tender.
“If he bad the spirit of a moupe,”
continued Thornton, and before he
could say more Mildred Interrupted
almost fiercely.
“It’s not my fault; it’s his V* she ex
claimed. Why doesn’t he assert him
self? Am I to be tied to a man with
out a spark of manhood, Thornton?”
You see, Mildred was one of those
Jumpy women. She had married Tom*
pp the rebound from Thornton,
l und ff he ogij Jyid sense
enSbgb to create the reaction. , 7 .
bill J&KPF hadn’t much knowledge
'* —m •
Thornton, I knew, was a cur with"
;a big yellow streak in himT
, JTommy,” I said, “if you love your
you will save her from herself. I
\ lt, isn’t yojj you have to think of, but
Mildred. Suppose she was being at
tacked by a savage cur and cogldn’t
TfgjK it off—wouldn’t you act then?”
| I dftTn’l know Tk>w much impression
>tny words had made until the next
,evWlhg. I had gone off for a j>trolly
[there wasn’t miicfi company so? Tue as
that period—and when I came home
I ssw a singular spectacle. Mildred
I was standing by the drawing room
'window, very erect, very white, with
iher fists clenched. Thornton was
;leaning with easy insouciance against
the mantel, while Tommy stood by the
door. He was trembling with anger,
but he saw me and called me in..
“Don’t go, old man,” lie said; “I
want you here.”
I i*hen fie fuTlicd to Thornton again.
“I’ll repeat for Jack’s benefit what
I have just said to you,” he exclaimed.
“You have tokl me frankly that you
want Mildied. The only reason why
I refuse to give her to you is that I
don't believe you have any more ca
pacity to be true to her than you had
to be true to me. But if you want
her, I will fight you for her, as you
humorously suggested.”
“My dear Tommy,” drawled Thorn
ton, “of course I’ll fight you if you
want me to. But I don’t want to hurt
you, and I’m afraid I’m rather a bet
ter boxer than you are. So you'll have
to choose some weapon .which will
give -us an equal advantage—mush
rooms, for example, or poisoned pi 11s.”-
“How about swords?” asked Tommy,
still quivering.
“My dear Tommy, I didn’t know j
your studies of the antique included
the art of Swordsmanship.” Thornton
answered, “hut as I'happen to know
something about it —”
“There are two foils in the hall.”
said Tommy. “We can reiAove the
buttons. Will you be in the stables at*
seven?”
“Sure,” grinned Thornton.
Mildred intervened with a passion
ate exclamation.
“It’s all right, dear,” Thornton as
sured her. “It isn’t nice to tight about
you, but Tommy understands the situ
i ation, and it will be easy just to pink
him in the arm without hurting him
much.”
I was sorry for Tommy. I was
afraid he would find himself unequal
to the task lie' had set himself, but
when I went to his room I found him
gazing smilingly at a couple of foils,
from which he lmd just removed the
buttons. They were thin, flexible
weapons, with which it would be hard
to do much damage, unless one got
the point at such an angle tiiat It
would make a clean thrust. I thought
Tommy would get a scratch or two
and that would end the affair.
“Tommy,” I said, grasping liis hand,
“I believe, under the circumstances,
you are doing the right thing. But
do you know anything about swords
manship?”
_ “I had a fov lessons in Paris,” he
replied, and took me by the arm.
“Jack,” he said, “I’m going to win.
I know it —because I’ve got to save
Mildred from that blackguard.”
“Suppose she doesn’t keep the
agreement,” I thought, but I didn’t
say anything. I was resolved to watch
the duel pretty closely, and to step
in and thrust up the weapons the
minute either man was in serious dan
ger. So at seven o’clock I went with
Tommy to the stables.
Mildred and Thornton were already
there. He had buttoned up his coat,
and he took my foil with a business
like air which made ine fear for
Tommy. I believed the cur had
planned to do something mean. He
was too much of a coward to kill him,
but I wouldn’t have been surprised
if he had cut his face about, to dis
figure him.
As for Mildred, she was standing
back against the wall and watching
both men with a singular expression;
she seemed like a person dreaming,
and certainly there was no look of
love upon her face for Thornton. I
think she had become conscious of
her evil part. But she was too game
to call the affair off.
“Remember, gentlemen,” I said, as
I placed the men In position and drew
the foil buttons from ray pocket, “In
case of accident we swear that -the
buttons came off accidentally. That’s
understood? Then get ready!”
They* toed the chalk lines I had
drawn, and I lowered my cane.
For half a minute the thrusts and
parries were so swiftly given that it
was impossible to see who was the
better fencer. Then I saw a look of
surprise come out on Thornton’s face.
Tommy was at least his equal with
the weapon. Thornton seemed to be
devoting all his efforts to guarding
his face, for he held himself well
back, while at the same time he ex
posed his body rather carelessly. Sud
denly I saw Tommy’s blade dart for
ward. It. seemed to go through Thorn
ton’s chest.
Evidently It had passed under his
arm, for Thornton did not appear
wounded. I saw Tommy set his teeth
as he renewed the attack; and then
it dawned on me that he had Thorn
ton at his mercy.
To my surprise Tommy began to
fence in a very curious way. He used
his foil now something in the manner
of a sword, making a succession of
sweeping slashes, at the apme time
adroitly parrying Thornton’a lunges.
All at once a ribbon of cloth flew out
of Thornton’s coat. The blade had
come within a quarter-inch of cutting
him open* - —•o
Swish! A .second ribbon flew in
the opposite direction. Then a third
and a fourth and a fifth followed,
until Thornton’s coat hung in ribbons
about hi<
There was a ghastly look on Thorn-
Um[s fttce. I thought then that it was
due to tonjmy's incredible swords
manship. But It wasn’t.
Slash! SwisliT Slash! Thornton (
looked like a ragged beggar. The coat j
was all gone in front, and now strips j
of and jshlrt began to follow j
it. And then a gentfe rasping sound
became audible. The foil point seemed
to be striking metal. An instant later
a last slash from Tommy's foil sent
the rest of Thornton’s shirtfront fly
ing, disclosing—a tightly fitting
breastplate of flexible chain armor
which had hung on one of the dummy
figures in an obscure place in the hall.
The coward had put this on beneath
his shirt. No wonder he had guarded
his face so carefully and exposed his
body!
In spite of my clqse attention to
the tight, I managed to steal a glance
at Mildred. All through the duel she
had clung to the wall; but m.w she
started forward and stood, with
parted lips, staring at Thornton.
Tommy had resumed his ordinary
method of holding his weapon, and
was quietly parrying Thornton's sav
age thrusts. I stepped between them
and. held up my cane.
“That’s all!” I said, and Tommy
lowered his point. As he did so Thorn
ton lunged with his foil. The point
caught Tommy under the collarbone
and went clean through. Thornton
pulled out the blade and Tommy top
pled over.
“Sorry, Mildred,” said Thornton in
a shaking voice. He drew her aside
“What will become of me?” lie whis
pered. “I’ll have to go.” He turned
to me. “Have I killed him?” lie asked
J He was ashen pale and his knees
would hardly support him.
. “No. you cowardly dog,” 1 answered
—for the wound was not a serious
one .arid the small opening had al
ready ceased to bleed. “Small thanks
to you,” I added. “Get out!”
But Mildred had pushed past him
and Hung herself upon her knees *at
Tommy's side.
“Tommy !” she • whispered, taking
his head upon her knee. “Tommy !”
Then l knew that Thornton wouk.
* never trouble Tommy's peace again.
THE CHATHAM RECORD
NOTICE OF SALE OF VALUABLE
REAL ESTATE
Under and by virtue of the power
of sale contained in that certain 1 rust
Deed executed on the 28th day of July,
1924, by Leon T. Lane and wife co
the undersigned Trustees, said Deed
of Trust being recorded in the regis
try of Chatham County, in Book GH,
page 425 et seq (default having been
made in the payment of the bond ana
interest secured by said Trust deed)
the undersigned Trustees will, on Sat
urdav the
25TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 1926,
at 12:00 o’clock noon, in front of the
Courthouse door, at Pittsboro, N. C.,
offer for sale at public outcry, to the
highest bidder for cash, all those cer
tain tracts or lots of land lying and
being in Chatham County, North Cai
olina, and being more fully described
and defined as follows, viz:
FIRST TRACT: Lying and being
situate in Matthews Township, Chat
ham County, North Carolina, bounded
as follows: Beginning at a gum on
the waters of Brush Creek, C. R. Lam
bert’s and Lane’s corner (17 poles
west of Brush Creek) and running
thence south 2 1-4 degrees west 9 1-2
poles to a walnut tree; thence south
25 degrees east 14 1-2 poles to said
creek; thence down the creek as fol
lows: South 7 poles, south 15 1-4 de
grees west 13 poles, south 17 degrees
east 12 poles, south 56 1-2 degrees
west 10 poles, south 29 degrees west 8
poles to a hickory on south bank of
said Creek; thence south 3 degrees
west 52 poles to Lane’s line; thence
north 84 degrees west 117 poles to a
stone, Eli M. Bray’s corner; thence
north 5 1-4 degrees east 117 poles to
a stone, thence south 85 degrees east
113 poles to the beginning, and con
taining 94 acres, more or less.
SECOND TRACT: Lying and be
ing situate in Bear Creek Township,
Chatham County, N. C., Beginning at
a pine stump, William Andrews’ cor
ner; and running thence south 98
poles to J. Y. White’s corner; thence
west with said line 42 poles to a post
oak; thence north 100 poles to a stake,
John Andrew’s corner; thence east
42 poles to the Beginning, containing
24 acres, more or less, further ref
erence being hereby made to the deed
which is registered in. the office of
the Register of Deeds of Chatham
County, North Caroliina in Book
“FB” page 254.
THIRD TRACT: Lying and being
situate in Matthews Township, Chat
ham County, North Carolina, adjoin
ing the lands of G. W. Brooks, W. N.
Fields, and Wilton Fields, and con
taining 112 acres, known as Brooks
Farm old Home Tract of the late
John M. Brooks, and being the same
tract conveyed by J. H. Bray and
wife, Emily Bray to John R. Lane, by
deed dated August 26, 1896, and con
veyed by said .J. R. Lane’ and wife,
Mary Lane, to Leon T. Lane, said
tract adjoining Tract No. One above
described in this conveyance, and ref
erence is hereby made to the title
deeds by which they held the same.
FOURTH TRACT: Lying and be
ing situate in Bear Creek Township,
Chatham County, North Carolina,
and Beginning at a hickory formerly
the Old Henry Dorsett corner; thence
north 194 poles to a black jack; thence
west 130 poles to a post oak; thence
south 194 poles to. a black jack;
thence east 130 poles to the Beginning,
containing 155 acres, more or less.
FIFTH TRACT: Lying and being
situate in Bear Creek Township, Chat
ham County, North Carolina, bounded
as follows, to-wit: Beginning at a
post oak Lane’s corner and running
north 230 poles to a post oak Henry
M. Bray’s old corner; thence west 174
poles to a stake in old field, Henry M.
Bray’s old corner; thence south 44 1-2 •
poles; thence north 89 1-2 degrees
west 42 4-5 poles to a dogwood cor
ner; thence south 1-2 degree west
37 1-3 poles to red oak corner; thence
south 88 1-2 degrees east 42 1-3 poles;
thence south 1 degree west 148 poles
to pine stump, corner with poiinter;
thence east to the Beginning, contain
ing 245 acres, more or less. An ob
long square (rectangle) 55 poles from
east to west and 28 1-2 poles from
north to south has been deeded off
sos northeast corner of this tract, but
j after taking off same leaves approxi
mately 245 acres.
SIXTH TRACT: Lying and be
' ing situate in Bear Creek township,
! Chatham County, North Carolina,
and bounded as follows, Viz: Begin
ning at a post oak and running thence
south 70 poles to a stake, J. Ir Lane’s
corner; thence west 72 poles to a
post oak, his corner (originally Ger
ra Lane’s corner) ; thence south 36
degrees west 57 poles to red oak;
thence north with his line 66 degrees
west 89 poles to red oak; thence west
86 poles to a post oak; thence north
93 poles to a post oak (original Gerra
Lane corner) ; thence west 43 poles
to a white oak ; thence north with .the
late J. R. Lane line to the James
■ Scott corner (now John R. Lane’s
heirs) ; thence east with said Lane
.ine about 140 poles to Lane’s cor
ner, in original line; thence south 45
iegrees east with the old line to a
.’tone ’die, with gum pointers; thence
Cast 91 poles to a post oak; thence
south 36 degrees west 15 poles to a
red oak; thence east 26 poles to the
Beginning, containing 211 acres, more
or less, and known as the Hadley
Johnson land, and being the same
,tract as conveyed by J. R. Lane, Mort
gagee to Leon T. Lane, by deed dated
September 9, 1899, and registered in
office of the Register of Deeds Chat
ham County, North Carolina in Book
DP. page 237.
This August the 23Vd. 1926.
i WALTER D. SILER,
\ WADE BARBER,
Trustees.
NOTICE OF SALE
OF REAL ESTATE
and by virtue of the authori
ty vested in me under the terms of
a deed of Trust executed to me by
John Crawford, dated April 26th, 1921,
and recorded in the office of the Reg- •
RfS- °£rP e o? s of Chatham County in
havLT S Page . 455 ’ 466 > default
ovil been made in the payment of
*L a ap 'd m terest of the notes se- 1
~n : nd - aid P eed 0f Trust ’ and de " f
CLu ng ‘ k ee n made upon me by 1
of t h9 . notes that I ad
thf TW? d said P ro Perty under
notes - Tr u St 7° satisfy said
notes, notice is hereby given that I
will sell at Public Auction, for Cash,
the following scribed real estate, at
12 o'clock Noon, September 18th, 1926,.
at the Court House Door in the town
of Pittsboro, Chatham County, N. C.
“BEGINNING at a point on New
Hope Creek, same being on the county
line dividing Durham and Chatham
Counties, and at the south-east corner
of land belonging to Richard Nuuii
on May 17th 1916, and running thence
West along said county line 264 poles
to a stake in said county line; thence
south 156 poles to a stake and point
ers; thehce West 158 poles to a post
oak and pointers; thence south 50 1-2
poles to an old stump and pointers;
thence west 48 1-2 poles to a stake;
thence south 196 poles to pointers;
thence west 29 poles to Morgan
Creek; thence along the meanders of
said Morgan Creek in a southwest
erly direction about 120 poles to a
stake; thence west across Morgan
Creek 166 poles to a stake; thence in
a southerly direction 133 poles to a
stake; thence east 53 poles to. a stake
in public road; thence along said pub
lic road 58 poles to a hickory and
pointers; thence ‘ east 152 poles to
Morgan Creek; thence along the
meanders of said Morgan Creek in a
southerly direction about 170 roles to
a stake on the bank of Morgan Creek;
thence East 152 poles to a post-oak
and pointers; thence north about 7
chains to a large sweet gum. thence
east 126 poles to a stake on the east
side of the Durham and South Caro
lina Railroad; thence north 124 poles
to a stake; thence East 298 poles to
a sweet gum on the bank of New
Hope Creek; thence up and along the
meanders of New Hope Creek to a
stake at Northwestern corner of the
lands of Jack Seagroves on said New
Hope Creek; thence East along the
line of the land of the said Jack Sea
groves 171 poles to a stake; thence
North 112 poles to a stake; thence
West 194 poles to New Hope. Creek;
same being the Southwest corner of
the lands of G. W. Upchurch; thence
Northerly along the meanders of said
New Hope Creek to of be
ginning and containing 1373 aCres
more or less according to the plot of
said land made by R. B. Cleg o,
veyor for Chatham County and filed
and recorded April 11th, excep
ting from the above, one acre of land
upon which is located the Merritt
burying ground, and about 40 acres
of land disputed by one McCauley
along the West boundary of said prop
erty extending- the measurement of
50 1-2 poles south a sufficient distance
before the measurement of 48 1-2
poles west, to contain said acreage.
And further excepting from the oper
ations of this conveyance that tract
of land deeded by John Crawford to
Wiley Yates by deed duly recorded in
the office of the register of deeds of
Chatham County bounded and des
cribed as follows, to-wit: BEGIN
NING at a point on Morgan Creek,
William Cheek’s south-east corner,
and running thence with said Cheek »
southern boundary line West 166 poles
to a stake; thence in a southerly di
rection 133 poles to a stake; thence
east 53 poles to a stake in the public
road; thence along said public road 58
poles to Hickory pointers; thence
East 152 poles to Morgan Creek;
thence with the meanders of said
Morgan Creek in a Northerly direc
tion to the point of beginning, con
taining 60 acres more or less and be
ing that part of what is now known
as the “John Crawford tract” of land
in Williamstownship, Chatham Coun
ty, which lies across and West of
Morgan Creek as shown on the above
mentioned plat and survey of R. B.
Clegg.
This August 10, 1926.
WILLIAM G. BRAMHAM,
Trustee.
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