The opinion of the Court was delivered 'by

On the former appeal herein, it was adjudged that the defendant had the right to make a motion, to set aside the judgment rendered against it, by default; on the ground that it was not served with a copy of the summons, nor otherwise made properly a party to the action.

When the motion was heard by his Honor, the Circuit Judge, he deemed it advisable to order a reference as to the facts, instead of determining them upon affidavits; and the appeal is from the order of reference made by him.

The case of Jones v. Mining Co., 79 S. C. 47, 60 S. E. 35, shows that the order is not appealable. In that case the Court used this language: “He (the presiding Judge) was *382 not satisfied with the facts furnished by the affidavit of the plaintiff, and the inspection of the record of the case, and desired further testimony, and, therefore, made this order of reference. This he had the right to do, for the purpose of preparing for and speeding a hearing of the cause, on its merits. An appeal from such an order will not be entertained, unless it operates to deny to' a litigant, a mode of trial to which he is entitled, or unless the order is assailed for want of jurisdiction.”

The order herein, does not come within either of said exceptions.

Having reached the conclusion that the order is not appealable, none of the other questions raised by the exceptions, are properly before the Court for consideration.

Appeal dismissed.