Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1886-10-20


bear the thought of parting on unfriendly
terms from Brahksonlc. l had fallen COM
pletely under the sway Of the mans char
acter, and had recognized that fascination
to which Daisy and oil others who knew him
we'll had succumbed before me- 1t was al
most hui. b that I approached him now,
and aske uim to pardon me if l had been
guilty of any indiscretion in sending the tele-
grams from Trondhjem.
He looked at me for a moment with that
searching, fearless gaze which was charac-
teristic of the man Then he spoke:
at is who ought to ask you to pardon
me, Mr. Fenton. undoubtedly was gull y
of a breach Of good manners in speaking to
you as did last night. But was agitated
to an extent Of which you can know moth
ing You ask me whether you were guilty
of an indiscresion in sending that message
to the Barton police. Ah! sir, dare not
hint even to you the terrible suspicion that
fills my mind, and that has intensified
hundred-fold my grief at the death Of my
benefactor. If you knew the feeling Of ap-
prehenson with which I am awaiting our
arrival in port, and the news we may find
there, you will not wonder that l lost con-
troll of myself last night. l can only say
now, as l said then, God grant that my
worst fears as to the possible consequences
of your act may not be verified"
What did his strong language meant 1t
was evident that he was resolved to leave
events to interpret it. Full Of troubls and
perplexity, l waited with impatence for
the moment when we should arrive in port
As we slackened speed off the entrance to
thedocks saw boat, containing the customs
and other officials Of the port, putting out to
meet us. In the PROV of the bolt was tel
egraph messenger Branksome, Fosdyke and
stood side by side, leaning over the bull
warks of the yacht and awaiting the ap-
proach of the little. craft. There was none
of that joyous excitement which usually pre-
walls on board vessel entering port after a
voyage Our tongues were silent, and our
faces showed too clearly the anxiety that
possessed our minds Above us the leaden
cloud of fog hung like pail. lis desolation
and gloom seemed to have taken possession
Of our hearts.
We heard the measured beat Of the oars as
the boat drew near, and we could see the
features Of the men occupying IT. To me
they seemed to wear an air Of stern preoccu-
patton. 1t was only the innocent little tele-
graph boy in the PROV Of the boat who
seemed altogether careless and unconcerned;
and yet, too, probably, be was the messenger
Of doom, whose coming we dreaded.
The gangway had been lowered and the
customs and health officers came quickly
aboard saluting us as they did so. They
were followed Immediately by the telegraph
messenger.
"Mr Fento1 herel" snatched from his
hand the envelope he held towards me and
without waiting to see If he had any mes
sage for Branksoms and Fosdyke I turned
away to read that addressed to myself.
It was from the chief constable at Barton
and was brief "Thanks for message. Shall
be glad Of personal interview at earliest con-
venience."
I felt relieved. After all there was nothing
very terrible in this dispatch, nothing to
Justify the dark forebodings Of Branksome.
Yet with the feeling Of relief was mingled a
sense of disappointment I had hoped that
possibly might have received message
from Daisy.
turned to look for Branksome but could
see nothing either Of him or Fosdyke. At
that moment one OF the persons who had
UOt1t ocQ uo LII tuo CuSUollS OOdV Sca'o W w
me and entered into conversation.
@Perhaps you would like to see the even
ing paper, sir. Ieot it just as we left the
landing stage. You will find in it the latest
news about the Great I.orton mystery. But,
by the way" he continued, as though a
sudden light had broken upon his mind,
"the Golden Hawk was the name Of Mr..
Mauleverer's yacht, was it nota Is it pos
sible that you are friend of hisl Have you
heard"
In an agony of impatience I interrupted
him, and asked him to allow me to look at
the newspaper.
"You will see the latest telegram there, ="
be said, indicating particular spot, as 1
took the sheet into my hands,
l saw at once that "the Great Lorton
mystery" was the leading feature of the
issue. 1t filled column Of the paper-a
column adorned with biz type and striking
head lines. carefully ran my eye down.
wards, not taking in the sense Of the words
l read, until 1 came to the place indicated
by the man, and found the following: