Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1880-06-24

days, and should not return to America. Al
parting he gave me his card. 1t was mod
est piece o. pasteboard, and bore the name
of "George Raleigh" in old English text
Everything at the Office went on as usual
and the 18th came at length. Law d Law
had arranged with me to go down with the
money, and had looked upon it as busl'
ness of special Importance.
ave know you are all right" remarked
the senior partner, as was about to 60;
"but want to give you word OF warming
nevertheless. Don't take any stranger into
your confidence until you have passed out the
money, and look who sits next to you.
1t was something new for him to caution
me, and I could not but wonder at it; but
in the hustle of getting aboard the train l
forgot what he said. Ordinary prudence had
induced me to place the money, which was
all in bank bills and divided into three pack
ages, under my shirt and next to my skin,
where the deft hand of a pickpocket could
not reach il.
Interested in newspaper, time flew by as
the train flew past, and at length the hoarse
voice of brakeman warned me that l had
reached Grafton. I leaped down and was
making for livery stable, when 1 heard a
familiar voice, and looked up to see Raj.
eigh. He was seated in a buggy, and had
seemingly waited for me to come in.
"Don't express your SURPRISE" he began,
as stopped at the wheel. II did intend to
90 away. I changed my mind, and like this
section so well that am going out to-day to
look at a farm with view Of purchasing
come, ride up to the hotel"
We rode up, ordered lunch, and while we
were discussing it, Mr.. Raleigh discovered
that the farm he was going to see was just
beyond that of old Grips.
How fortunate I could ride out with
him, see the farm, return in his company,
and he was greatly pleased
was also pleased. If any man had told
me that George Raleigh meant to return
with my money in his pocket and my blood
upon his hands, should have believed him
lunatic. And yet George Raleigh had
planned to do that very thing.
1t was lovely day in June, and the cool
breeze and the sight of meadows and green
groves made my heart grow larger. My
companion was very talkative, but he didn't
even hint at my errand. He talked as far
away as he could
"Oh excuse me" he exclaimed, after we
had passed mile beyond the village, and
were among the farm houses, 81 should have
offered you this before
He drew from his pocket small flask Of
wine and handed it to me. Now, l was tenn.
perate in regard to drinks. In fact, l detest-
ed the sight and smell Of anything intoxica-
ting. But I had not the moral courage to
tell him so, and hand back the flask undis-
turbed. | feared to offend him, and so |
drank perhaps three good swallows. He
called my attention to the woods on the left,
as he received back the flask, and when l
looked around again, he was just removing it
from his mouth, as if he had drank heartily.
In about Ave minutes began to feel queer.
The fence along the road seemed to grow
higher, and the trees grow longer; something
came to my ears so that the rattle of the bug
gy sounded long way off:
Chow strange! Why, I believe am going
to be sick" exclaimed, holding on to the
saat with all nv MIGHT.
"You do look strange!" he replied, snaky
smile stealing over his face: Il shouldn't won
der if it wss apoplexy."
I did not suspect the game he had played.
His words were like an echo, and his face
seemed twice as large as it was. My head be-
gan to spin, and my brain began to snap and
crack, and | was terribly frightened.
"You are badly off," he continued, looking
into my face. II will drive as fast as possible
and get doctor"
My tongue was so heavy that could not
reply. I clutched the seat, shut my eyes, and
he put his horse to his best pace. We met a
farmers ter n, and can remember that one
of the occupants of the wagon called out to
know what allied the man. Raleigh did not
reply, but urged his horse forward.
About three miles from Grafton was long
stretch of forest, and this was soon reached.
The pain in my head was not so violent, and
was not SO badly affected when opening my
eyes. I had settled into sort Of dumb STU
por, with brain so benumbed that | had to
say to myself: "This is a tree, this is a stump"
etc., before I could make sure that was not
wrong. Half mile down the road after we
struck the forest, and then Raleigh turned the
horse into road leading back into the woods.
l could not understand what he intended. l
tried to grapple with the question, but could
not solve it.
"Well, here we are?' exclaimed Raleigh,
when he had reached point forty rods from
the main road.
He stopped the horse, got out and hitched
him, and then came round to the wheel.
"You don't feel just right, but guess you
will be better soon," he said. "Come let me
help you down."
He reached up his arms, and I let 60 the
seat and fell into them. 1t seemed to me as
if weighed ton, but he carried me along
without an effort, and laid me down within a
rod of fence, which ran along on one side
of an old pasture. The effect Of the drugs
was wearing off, and I got faint suspicion
that something unusual had happened. But
1 was powerless to move limb the sensation
uas Ike that when pour foot goes to sleep.