Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1869-08-12

COull, anu uNSO, "HolA iSSo'ASSeNN AN
a leading Q. c., when | was finishing in London
and whom l had met at consultations sometimes
condescended to have chat with ME, and asked tc
be presented to Mary Jane, | felt as if | had at
tained to considerable elevation. After the
Spring assizes, had little leisure. 1t was one
of the best fishing seasons l ever remember and
used to be on the river every day, and every day
would meet Potts We became great friends,
and Potts would often come up to my house, and
have smoke and glass Of grog. | was much
annoyed then, when one Tuesday mornings post
brought down Gu So. from my agents, endorsed
| by the firm of Moses & Moshiem, commanding me
to take the body of one Bellingham Billingsgate
Potts, and bring him before her Majesty's Court
of Exchequer. And [ was to have met Potts this
very afternoon. Duty is duty, and couldn't think
of giving poor Potts any warning Of the danger
that threatened him. sent for the two bumbai-
lifts who did the few jobs that occurred in our part
of the country. | explained to them what they
had to do, and they seemed pleased with the work.
Had it been one of their own countrymen who was
in the mess, they would have undertaken the bust
ness with reluctance but the victim being an En-
glishman, they seemed to like it. felt like des.
pcable scoundrel as sent these men out to track
and make prisoner of man whom had come
to look upon as friend To my horror, five min
utes after I had dismissed the men, Potts himself
put in his head through my Office doorway.
"Hullo, Roberts" he cried, busy as usual, old
fellow May come in %
"My presence of mind forsook me: could only
gasp for breath, and point to the door. Potts
came in, alarmed-'What on earth is the matter? ?
Just then the two buns, who had traced Potts to
my office, bounced in and seized Potts, one on each
side very roughly, almost tearing the coat off his
back But Potts was as nimbe as an eel. He
drove his elbow into the long mans stomach, and
doubled him up in an instant, and he let fly his
right into the face of little JONES' sending him
spinning across the ROOM There were two doors
opening into my Office; one led to the outer OF
clerks Office the other opposite opened into lit,
tie back street. This latter was usually kept locked
and the key hung on nail close to my desk. By
this door Potts and 1 had often made our way to
the Prince Lleweyn for our morning beer Potts
consequently knew we'll where the key was to be
found, and saw in moment the way Of escape.
The same idea flashed into my mind at the same
instant. Ought to have remained passive and
let him escape? Shouldn't I have acted negli'
gently in my office had done SO? | don't know
now what ought to have done; and, though the
pros and cons dartcd through my brain while Potts
tooka single step across the room, yet don't think
it was from any conscious sense Of right or wrong
but from sort of professional instinct, a kind Of
spiderish feeling, that seized the key and put ii
| in nv pocket. Potts gave me a look of scorn and
reproach, and then, putting his hands into his
pockets, leaned back against the mantle-shelf and
laughed.
"Are you all gone mad? What's the meaning
of this?
"It means, Captain Potts, said l, feeling small,
er than had ever done in my life before, that
these men have warrant for your apprehension
for debt of-how much pa hundred and twenty
pounds and costs.
"'Why didn't you say so before, said the Cap
tain, instead of setting your dogs on me? II
would have saved your red headed friend pain ir
his inside Well, of course, it's your business tc
do such dirty work. I'm sorry, though, I've hurt
these men of yours. Here take half crown a
piece, you fellows!'
"'Well, indeed said Jones, L like you very
muchn'
civilians ceased to rub his damaged brcad-bas
ket, looked supicousy at the coin and then pocket
ed it with grunt.
$50 it's Moses & Moshcim who've put me in
to this hole! We'll, haven't the money, and
don't know how to get it; how long can you give
me?'
/ "Wel, you can stop at the Prince Llewellyn to
. night; you'd better go on there now with these
men, and will come up and talk matters over by
and.by
"Potts went out, attended by his keepers, ant
he had hardly left the Office, before [ received {
card: Mr.. Brabham Moses & Mosheim. A sal
low youg man, much bejeweled, and with very dir
ty hands, was shown in to me. lie had come W
by the night mail to Chester, and posted on
fancy he came to see that the ca. So. was proper!
executed. He ascertaincd that the capture hat
been made, and lodged detancrs to the amount o
fifteen hundred and twenty pounds eighteen shil
|lngs and sixpence | recollect the figures we'll
never shall forget them. | sent the brute off
and had scarcely got rid of him before Lad.
Laura Potts was announced Poor little thing
how lovely she looked But in such distress
She brought all her jewels, bracelets, rings, gol(
watch, diamoud necklace lots of things, worth tw'
or three hundred pounds | dare say.
"'Oh! Mr. Roberts. she said, cant you taxi
these things as security and let my dear husban'
go?'
"'I.ady Laura | said, If it were only for a tev
hundred pounds. I'D take this undertaking for i
in a minute, and arrange for his release, but In
sorry to say here are dctaincrs for fifteen hundred
pounds or more.
"'Then, poor lady, she began to CRY.
! "Couldn't enter into some compromise? she {
slj0 a year of her own wouldn't take the mon
ley in fifteen yearly nstalmcnts Of fl0O!
i II explained to her that had no power to MAKE
any arrangement-she must 60 to the creditors
but | advised her strongly not to ALLEVIATE or dlssl
pate her own property in any way, but to let he
, husband take the benefit of the Act.
''Shc was a sensible little woman, and saw tina
my advice was good she dried her eyes, packeC
up her jewels, and was Just opening the door 70
her when | was almost knocked down by job,
f Jones, who rushed into the office looking like
} ghost.
t "'Hcs gone he cried, in Welsh. We've los
him.
t ''I.caving her ladysllip to find her own way out
| ran bare headed into the street and on to tn
, Prince Llewclyn The bird had flown indeed
, Red headed William stood at the door, gaping an
staring at the roof as if he thought Potts were
L.. 1 l. l.. g.,