Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1876-03-09

zing harmlessly above the heads OF the crowd.
Resistance was vain. The jailer, and the few
frightened assistants who had gathered around
him, were powerless to oppose the assailants,
who carried everything before them by storm.
They were speedily bound, and possession ta'
ken of the keys, which the jailer carried on
his person.
"What cell p demanded Henriquez.
II shall tell you nothing" was the reply.
"Fool! Can we not easily discover for our
selves? But it will be the worse for your
other prisoners if you refuse to answer my
question, for they will all stand a chance Of
escaping. We shall unlock every door in
turnw
With this threat before him, there was no
resource for the powerless captive but to give
them the required information, which he did
with much reluctance; and quickly entering
the building, Henriquez led the way through
dark corridors, along winding passages and
up various flights of steps, in eager pursuit of
his prey.
In narrow cell, heavily ironed, sat Con
zaIes, meditating gloomily on his situation,
when the noise of the approaching party at
tracted bis attention. Engrossed as he was
in momentous thought, it at first made but
little impression upon him; but as the foot
steps came nearer and nearer, and finally
paused at his door, a feeling of wonder enter
ed his mind, and he raised his head and lis
tened, with vague expectation of something
UNUSUAL about to happen.
"Number 93," said voice. "Here it is /;
all right"
"Qpen the door, then," said another voice.
"We have no time to lose"
Gonzales rose to his feet, and gazed in as.
tonishment, as the heavy key turned in the
lock, and the opening door discovered his un'
expected visitors to his view. What did it
all mean? Had they come to his release7
If such was the irstsuggestion that flashed
across bis brain, it was speedily enough ban.
ished. Many of the faces before him were
familiar ones and bold as he was, he qualed
inwardly beneath the savage glances that met
his A secret voice whispered to him that it
was no errand of mercy upon which these
visitors had come.
"Strike off his chains p commanded Hen.
riquez, and dozen powerful hands obeyed
the mandate.
"Pedro Alasquez-Gonzales'- whatever
your name may be-you come with US"
"Henriquez!' muttered Gonzales, fixing
his eyes upon the speaker. "You here?"
"Ay-I am here Here to see that justice
gets its dues-to revenge the foul murder of
my child"
"And I am here" cried another, thrusting
himself forward. II have not forgotten the
score was to have settled with you four years
ago. III see that it is paid UP poH to the
full"
"And so will land l." cried dozen
voices. Gonzales stood garing at them like
a wild beast brought to bay. His black eyes
glittered like a basilisk's, his sinewy chest
heaved, and as they laid hands on him, his
white, cleaning teeth, showed themselves in
snarl of fury and defiance, as he flung them
off and rushed toward the door. Strong arms
received and held him fast, gigantic as he
was. Even his strength was but as weakness
against the combined force of so many.
Clasping and wrestling with him as he strug-
gled in their hold, they dragged him from the
cell, his mighty form writhing helpless in their
clutches. With cries of exultation, with fierce
and cruel joy, they bore him along, down to
the lower floor, out through the entrance, into
the wild black night.
"Where are you taking me7" he muttered
hoarsely, to those about him. His brute cour-
age was failing him now, and his face showed
white and ghastly in the lurid torch-light as
it tfickered upon it.
"To the Murderer's Tree" shouted the
crowd.
A cold sweat covered the prisoners limbs;
his teeth chattered, and bis voice, when next
he spoke, was faint and feeble in its utterance.
"For Gods sake, let me 60! Take me
back to thejailp
Again the hoarse response rose in concert
"Never-never! Well never let you goP
"The blood of my child cries to me from
the ground" said Henriquez, in Kissing, pant
ing accents. "Do you think I'll scruple to
spill yoursf"
Observation-Disclosures guilt and
dishonor on every side This record is yours,
does it call for mercy now?" cried another
voice.
"Mercy-mercy" groaned the miserable
wretch. Again he was answered by vindic-
tive yells and cries. Still the remorseless pro-
cesson went on its way. On, on, with ever
accelerated speed to their fearful goal! 1t
rises before them at last, solitary black OBJ
ject standing in spectral relief against the
sky!
"Bind him to it and set it on fire." shrieks
a voice.
"Cut him limb from limbp'
"Hangings too good for him"
"Tear the heart out of his bodyW
"Silence!' commands their leader, his pow
erful voice rising above the maddening tu-
multi. "We are not parcel of hyenas, but
men-we'll do our work, and we'll do it like
men. Say your last prayer, Gonzales, for
your hour has come"
Let US draw curtain over the scene that
followed. 1t vanishes from US into the dark.
ness frightful picture best obscured by the
veil of light, and buried in oblivion forever.
Just as the crowd was dispensing, two gen.