Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1856-02-28
CHAPTER w.

But another difficulty arose. There was
probably not more than one Of the company
who was not fully convinced Of Thornton's
guilt. In their excitement-which, with
the majority of them, had been inAamed by
spirits, they were willing to proceed to ex,
treme measures; but, while no witness might
be had, their notions of legal procedure,
vague as they were, rendered each one un,
willing, individually, to assume the respon.
sibility, by striking the first blow. Perhaps
another consideration had some weight
Few, if any, were willing to take Thornton
life; and there was a deadly coolness in the
Of hio warning, mhivL malo oacL
pause, if not retreat, before occurring an un.
dying hatred, which could be quenched only
in blood. An awkward silence ensued, in
which each man looked into his neighbor's
face, and irresolution began to sap their
courage. One or two commenced timidly
to suggest that, perhaps after all, they had
better proceed to Lowden's, when Bolton
broke furiously in, with blasphemous i'm.
precation, which We Go not care to write:
care you all turned cowardsw exclaimed
he, springing to his feet "I'll do myself,
then-since you are afraid"
He seized long hickory withe, which
had been cut and trimmed for the purpose,
and, advancing toward Thornton, with this
uplifted in the act of striking, insolently de.
manded-
"Will you confess, you thieving scoun'
drel W
Thornton turned his head 80 as to look
him full in the face.
"Bolton," he said, with the same coolness
as before, "you have it in your power, if
these men will allow themselves to be gov,
erned by you, to work your will for the pres.
ent. But I warn you now, that you must
either take my life, or lose your own!'
In the pause which ensued, while Bolton
held the withe suspended in the air, Tilford,
who lay with his ear to the ground, heard, at
a distance, the clatter of hoofs upon the road
Quick as thought he interposed, to gain
time.
"Bolton," he hastily cried, "before you
strike, let me make charge against you
Regulators" he continued, 'this money was
stolen by Bolton himself, and he is only di.
recting suspicion toward another, in order
that he may escape it. 1fyou will force him
to wait ten minutes, it shall be proved here. "
The accusation was we'll timed, though
made 30 far as Tilford knew, without evi.
dence. Astonishment suspended the blow
for a moment until reflection showed the
furious leader that he had now no alternative
but to submit, at least for the ten minutes.
Several of the cooler men now interfered,
willing to see the proceedings arrested in
any way, but incredulous of Tilford's charge.
Bolton burst into loud, affected laugh,
thus covering his impotent rage. But his
cheek blanched, and the loud words of de.
fance sunk back into his throat, when, upon
the noise dying away, the galloping Of sew.
eral horses was heard Immediately at hand
The next moment Nellie Lowden, with hel
two brothers and the peddler, dashed within
the circle of light, and springing hastily to
the ground, pointed to Bolton and exclaim'
ed
"Arrest this mani accuse him Of robbie
ry"
"You arc my prisoner" said Currie, lay.
ing his hand upon his shoulder at the same
moment.
The discounted rufian aimed blow al
Currie's head, but his arm was seized from,
the other side, and few moments we're sufi,
cient to bind him as securely as he had
bound Thornton. Nellie stood watching the
process, her fine figure dilating in the lurid
light of the fire, and her eyes flashing with
the reused spirit within.
"Now, where is Thornton ?" she demand
ed, in voice which rang through the silent
forest like a silver bell.
Some of the Regulators had already re-
leased him, and, having resumed bis clothes,