The Manning Times

Sallie's Temptations
By Claudys Baker

SALLIE FACES A WIFE'S WRATH—AND ACCUSATIONS

She could mean only one thing. She gave it away, shamefully, without shame.—A detective

"Oh, I see," I murmured, and back somewhere in my subconscious mind, I saw the lean man with the cap and cigarette. I had noticed him once on the train and again in the lobby. Oh, she had been clever!

"Did your consort also tell you how the Inn episode ended?" I demanded, rather calmly.

"Just about your leaving the hotel in the gray of the morning."

"Two o'clock, Mrs. Fisher, is scarcely morning."

"Let us not mince words," she answered tartly, "I know what I know, my young woman. I've suspected my husband ever since the night I saw you two together in Pensacola. But only recently did I have the forethought to engage someone to help me get at the bottom of the situation, I am still in love with Mr. Fisher, but things have gone too far," she resumed the conversation.

"I did not object to him having a little fun with the girls as long as he did not select one subject. The situation is impossible! I shall not permit the present status of things to continue. Do you think for one minute that I would have the world looking upon me as a discarded woman?" she drew her sables about her with a frigid aloofness.

"But I want to tell you that you have broken up my home. If it were not for you and your angling for my husband, this thing would not have happened."

"But, Mrs. Fisher, really," I began.

"Kindly do me the kindness of not interrupting until I have finished. As I was saying, you have stolen my husband and before he flagrantly deserts me I shall take action

"You mean," I stammered, "surely you are not considering a separation?"

Conditions, then, were worse than I had imagined.

"What would you do under similar circumstances?" She hardly waited for my reply, hurrying on, her words bitingly coherent. "Certainly I shall get a separation and I intend to have the world know the reason!" There was no giving in, no gentleness, only a steel-like determination.

"You wouldn't mention my name, would you, Mrs. Fisher? I tell you it's all a horrible mistake. It wouldn't be fair," I pleaded.

"Don't talk to me of fairness. 'My husband was true to me' I winced at the allegation," -- until you deliberately used your wiles upon him."

"One moment, please," it was Ellie,
who had evidently been sitting upon the sun porch, leading from the room in which we had been talking.

"I am Ellie Mitchell, Mrs. Fisher, and there are some things you have said to my friend here, that must be retracted."

"Indeed!" She drew herself up in an attitude of antagonism, "and what right have you to interfere, Miss Mitchell?"

"Just this, that the things of which you have just accused Sallie have been absolutely without foundations That you do not know your husband; that Sallie is as blameless for his flirtations as the strangest girl whom he passes."

"And how do you happen to know so much about him?" she demanded.

"Because I know your husband, Mrs. Fisher. He sought amusement with me before he forced his affections upon Sallie. It would be the same with any girl who had the slightest acquaintance with Warren Fisher. He has reached the age in life where at the swish of a skirt he's off in a cloud of dust. He's terrified at facing the future without a last wild fling at Youth and it's as thrilling adventure. Often when men reach a susceptible forty, they feel that if they can get the attention and interest of a young girl, that old age is not an imminent condition. It's usually no hard matter to find some girl too, who'll believe them in their beautiful love making. A man with the experience of your husband, for instance, can say things so beautifully, so personally, so different from the compliments the boys our own age are capable of bestowing. They make you believe that you are unappreciated, that "she paused for words to express her exact meaning, "that they are misunderstood; that with you as a pal and a stimulus, they could have scaled the heights and accomplished wonders. Oh, I know. I know, and I won't have you abusing Sallie."

As she stood there silhouetted against the casement doors in the fading light of the late afternoon, I marvelled at Ellie. Gone was the girl of frivolous thoughts, of hoydenish chatter. Gone were the slang phrases. She was one woman defending another in whom she believed, a friend who was willing to sacrifice her own reputation for the sake of another. Ellie's loyalty to me was beautiful and inspiring.

Even Mrs. Fisher was touched by the fineness of it. There was a sort of Duse eloquence about the whole business.

"Then, who is responsible for the distance that has grown between us?" Mrs. Fisher inquired.

(To be Continued)

SOUTH CAROLINA INDUSTRIAL NEWS

"The labor movement in this country is so far in advance of that in any other country as to make comparison impossible," says the Chicago North Shore Bulletin. "In European countries, including Great Britain, labor organization and labor leaders are still pursuing antiquated methods that are comparable to the attempt of a man to lift himself by his boot straps. In this country instead of fighting capital they are beginning to recognize its power and to use it as an implement for their own improvement."

Columbia—New Parr Shoals plant now in process of erection, to be completed this fall

Allendale—Contract to be let soon for 10,000 square yards of paving.

Columbia—Gas filling station to be erected at intersection of Washington and Sumter.

Charleston—Agricultural experimental station of 100 acres, on property belonging to Agricultural Society of South Carolina, has been established on James Island, in this county.

North—New state bank formally organized.

Columbia—Sidewalks being laid on Green street between Southern Railway crossing and Maxey Gregg park.

Allendale—Contract to be awarded soon for constructing "white way" electric lighting system.

Dorchester—Four cars of poultry shipped from here recently, the third bringing $2,000.

Columbia—Charter has been issued for Cotton Belt Farm & Development Co., with $40,000 capital stock.

Wagener—Bids received for erection of high school building.

Greenville—Carolina Loan & Trust Co., increases capital from $500,000 to $2,000,000.

Rock Hill—Additional lights being installed throughout city on poorly lighted thoroughfares.

Columbia—Repairs to be made immediately on buildings at Camp Jackson.

Lancaster—County awards contracts for 16 reinforced concrete bridges and eight concrete culverts.

Greenville—J. Archie Willis & Co., granted charter to deal in estate, stocks and bonds and operate daily and Sunday newspaper in this city.

Orangeburg—Addition to Dr. Mobley's hospital completed at cost of $50,000.

Florence—Long Life Agency, with $50,000 capital stock, granted charter to operate general insurance agency.

Columbia—New club-house under construction at Lakeview, near here.

Varnville—Local street improved.

Gaffney—Goucher Baptist church building completed.

Beaufort—Two story brick building, to be used as combination apartment house and grocery store, to be erected on Carteret street.

Rock Hill—Local lumber company plans erection of new plant at cost of $10,000.

Gaffney—High school and Elm street grammar school dedicated.

Walterboro—Baptist congregation to erect new Sunday school as preliminary step toward erection of new church to be built later.

Columbia—Plans and specifications filed for new Heathwood grammar