Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1886-09-15
q Serial Stnrp.
THE BANK OF CALIFORNIA.
BY PRENTICE MULFoRD.
CHAPTER XIX.


CHAPTER XIX.
TARDY REPENTANCE
OF course, so soon as alone regretted Bit
terly my manner at parting toward Blanche,
and spent large portion of the night IN
imaginary interviews with her, in which I
acted more nationally and smoothed over all
my roughness. resolved to see her as early
as possible next day and acknowledge to her
my error. But the doors of our to-morrows
are not always those Of our to-days, and may
open on far different scenes and events on
which or in which, despite all our effort or
inclination, we must either gaze or partici-
pate
Broener arrived early that morning. l
knew that surprise was in store for him
and wondered how he would take it. knew
that he had been disappointed at not finding
Blanche at Marysville, and least of all ex-
pected to find her at Bull Bar. He showed
no signs of chagrin, however. This was
Characteristic Of him 1t was his philosophy
that care, vexation, trouble Of any sort or
from any cause, were all foes to be fought of
and beaten Off as speedily as possible. "The
actual event" he said, "was quite enough. All
dwelling in thought upon it afterward was in
substance recreation and repetition Of it
Switch the mind off on some other track and
put the trouble out of sight. 1t can be done
by training"
Of Blanche's presence said nothing. He
would visit Pratt and find out for himself
Concerning my capture and the events OF
the night I told him in the briefest possible
terms, OF the manner of my release said
simply, II got away" That left large
field for conjecture. He saw that preferred
to remain reticent and did not question me.
Uncertain as we're our social relations toward
each other we had reached that fortunate
condition where e@ch knew to hairs
breadth where the other desired to stop at
self-revelations, and acted accordingly.
Soon after breakfast he went over to
Pratts. Despite my misery was half
amused at thought thus shaping itself:
"Well, the drama progresses. wonder
what figure will be disclosed by the next
turn of the kaleidoscope" I had uncon-
sciously absorbed something Of Broener's
philosophy. mo matter what happened" !"
he said, "a man who had brain enough could
always find something Of interest in noting
that no two of life's pictures were exactly
alike, and that, as regards incident, event or
situation, every day for such man had some
new shade Of color"
He returned in about half an hour, sat
down awhile, pared his nails carefully, and
finally remarked: "This world IS all fleet
ing show; but, nevertheless, a very interest
ing one. I wonder which way the cat will
lump next. At the same time, how monot-
onous it would be if the cat jumped the same
way every time"
l could not help laughing in spite of all
"Yes," he said, as if in reply to remark OF
mine, 81 agree with you, Rolder. Quito the
nettle trouble we will find flowers Of recrea-
ton, if not OF resignation"
I Iwondered for whom he meant the term
resignation" The man had sometimes two
and even three meanings for some Of his sem
tences which it might take days, even weeks,
to make out.
"How is Prattp' I asked
"lo the ordinary beef eating mind Of Bull
Bar" he replied, ''the professional pin-ped-
dler, who practices the solemn scientific over
him included, he is no better. To one like
myself, a few degrees higher than they in the
plane Of intelligent animal development, he
will eventually mend and recover the small
fragment of mind vouchsafed him by-wen,
the Infinite: oh, woman, in her hours Of
ease, ETC."
A horseman rode up to the cabin door and
called out: "Does John Holder live here?'
81 am John Holder" replied, coming out.
This was deputy sheriff with warrant
for my arrest on charge CT assault with in
tent to kill Jedediah Pratt.
gave myself up and asked of the officer
as a favor that he would make no parade Of
me as his prisoner on the Bar. I desired
above all things not to make any semi dram
attic departure in this situation before
Blanche, or give her any notice of it what
ever ~ have friends" said to him, Civ
ing near by, and 1 don't wish they should
see me.n
II will be responsible for Mr.. Holder" said
Broener.
'.All right" said the deputy "You want
to get away quietly, know. I'll wait for
you up yonder, where the trail turns up the
Il viii 60 with you and give bail for your
appearance" said Broener.
"No," said; "Im going to Jail"
II wouldn't do that" he replied. "First,
there isn't the least necessity for it. Second,
it will hurt your case. Appearances go
long way here, and to 60 to Jail is to put
yourself in the position before the community
of man without money and without friends"
"Wen," I asked, what matters that so
long as am innocent!"
ut matters a great deal," he answered,
''from the point Of view that law is dealt out
here-or elsewhere. Plate sin with oro,' you
know, and the lance Of justice harmless
breaks. Clothe it in rags, pigmys straw
doth pierce it, How William S. did write
for posterity, with big P! Come, Holder,
don't make what's hard any harder than it
need be-"
1t was not so easy now to resist him as l
had imagined There was shade of tender
ness and feeling in his tones, and in his look
also. Some change had come over him.
What to me, was indefinable But would
60 to Jail.
''Sorry, Holder, that I've got to put tho
matter to you, then. in another light" he
said "This arrest of yours is aimed at me
as well as you. and is backed up by some
party behind Pratt, influenced by some mo-
tive other than that of mere friendship for
Pratt. The parties are, l think, those who
sent him up here to hunt for the Bank
Suppose they manage to get you in prison,
though but for time. Then you, as one Of
the Bank keepers are out of the way. Next,
they'd probably turn their batteries on me,
whoop up some prejudice against me on the
Bar as an abettor in the assassination and
cripple me by legal process in some way.
This leaves the Bank at their mercy. Their
tool here now is possibly Setter. The only
flaw in their calculations is this: The Bank
is nearly worked out Still it may be feeder
to some even richer vein. Anyway, I want
to fight this thing out. AS matter Of
simple justice, ought you not to help me in
the best way you c"a"
"Yesn
every we'll One of these best ways lies in
not going to Jail when you can get bail for
your appearance, and so keep respectable
showing for our side"
I'D as ieve 60 to Jail as stay on this bar"
replied. "It's been hell to me for weeks"
''You needn't stay on the bar, )" he answered
"Stay anywhere you like. Travel round and
amuse yourself as you like till the trial comes
ON
And leave you here with Blanche Seton,
thought
1--WE might ramble round together" he
said, after a pause Hunt more quartz
leads elsewhere We're posted in all it's signs
and indications, and there's world of that
wealth lying as yet uncovered all over this
state"
Then in mind I objected because-because
l could not be near Blanche, on the Bar, and
because, turn which way I would, Broener
seemed always getting the best of ne IN
making me act like a rational creature
Now I thoupht confOund him, he outtloes HE