Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1886-02-25

numbered 301 and 302. The street was
small one in part of the city with which
Burton had never before become acquaint
ed. Its denizens were people of the com
monest sort, and as he glanced around nov
at one or two squalid faces peering inquisi
lively into his, he congratulated himsel
upon having left Dolly at the hotel, insteat
proposed to do.
He pulled the rickety bell and dirty bo.
opened the door.
"I want to 20 to No 20, third floor, salt
Burton, wondering how a building of th
size could possibly contain as many a
"Come up," briefly said the boy, anc
slamming the door behind the visitor, hi
led up a narrow and dingy flight Of stair!
at the top of which there was long anC
still more dingy passage, lighted by one
square of glass which had the appearance o
having never been cleaned, being Opaque
with cobwebs and dust. At the extremity
of the passage was ladder, stopping at the
foot of which the boy motioned upward
with his hand.
"Up that ladder !" exclaimed Burton.
eyes. You kin easy find the room.
There's only four of 'em. It's second tc
your right" >,
"You had better come with me-" SAID
Burton.
The boy shook his head. II can't. Marin
needs me down stairs" And without cere
mony he departed.
Thus left alone, Burton stood for mo-
ment irresolute as to his next movements
for the peculiarity of his situation led him
to fear trap. He regretted that he had
not taken the precaution to provide himself
with an escort in the shape of police Off.
Ger. For although brave and cool-headed
man, he felt that he was without means ol
self defence, and would be therefore, en-
tirely at the mercy of any one who nigh,
wish to do him harm.
II may as we'll 60 up as stand here" he
decided, and, without further delay, he
climbed the ladder, which tottered most
disagreeably beneath his weight.
At the top was almost total darkness, ano
he CROPPED his way cautiously for a few steps
without having the least idea whittier he
was going. AS to finding a number on q
door, or Il door itself, there seemed little
chance of his being able to do So.
"What confounded trick is this that has
been played on me-" he muttered angrily
and taking his matchbox from his pocket
he struck light. BY its brief and fitfu
flame, he made the discovery that he was
in an unfinished loft, without apartments OF
divisions of any kind, its only probable oc'
cupants being rats, mice and cOckroaches
for there was certainly no accommodation
for dTellers Of the human species.
Burton was now convinced that he had
been decoyed there on false pretences, and
this conviction naturally filled him with
mingled indignation and alarm. He re-
traced his way down the ladder and along
the hallway, but to his surprise he could moi
find the stairs. The truth was that door
which he had not perceived on his entrance
and which stood near the top of the stair
way, had been closed and locked, thus bar
ring his passage, and it was considerable
time before he discovered this to be the
case. When at last he did so, he tried the
latch, shook and knocked upon the door
and called loudly for assistance, but for
sometime the echoes Of his own voice were
the only response that he received.
At last, lust as he was meditating the
propriety 0f smashing the little window be-
fore mentioned and giving the alarm tc
somebody in the street below, he heard the
approach of shutfling step; then an un'
steady hand tumbled at the door latch, il
swung back its creaky hinges, anda with
cred old woman stood before him.
"Why the devil have been locked in
here?" cried Burton.
The old woman put her hand to her cal
and bent forward.
"Eh ?" she responded in hoalse, wheezy
tone. "I'm deef."
"Who locked this door, say ?" said Bur.
ton raising his voice. ''1s this the way you
treat people who come to the house,"
"Locked the door," echoed the woman
"Yes-locked it. I've been trying to gel
out for qnarter of an hour"
The old crone shook her head. II dun
no nothing about the door. This amt my
house. I've come to see my sick darter."
II don't believe you've got any daugh'
ter" muttered Burton. 'Well, get out o
the way and let me pass, will you? don't
want to shove you down stairs"
"Please, master, give me few cents tc
buy some food," whined the miserable
looking creature, extending skinny hand
my poor sick darter-"
With an oath, Burton pushed her aside
and ran down stairs; he was in no mood tol
dispensing charity, especially where he
believed it to be undeserved. In high
state of excitement he made his way out o.
the front door; not living soul was ir
sight on the block, and he FASTENED to reach
a less doubtful vicinity. Anxious to re-
turn to Dolly, he hailed the first public
conveyance ne Iuet, duu Was opeeoiiS S'h
veyed to his hotel. His heart was beating
stairs. He had locked Dolly in his room
to ensure her remaining unmolested, pro
viding her with books and pictures tt
amuse her until his return. The door was
still locked, but when he opened it he found
the room empty; the child was gone.
HaSty inquiries were made Throughout
the hotel, but no one could give any eXpla
nation of Dolly's disappearance. After {
frantic and vain search, Burton went il
quest of detective and placed the matter
in his hands; nor did he fail to recount hi
own recent experience, which, he did no
doubt, bore an important relation to tn
otherevent.
1t may be we'll imagined that no sleel
visited his eyes that night; he spent tn
greater part of it in the office OF the hotel
where he had given his address,,
About three in the morning there was
ring at the office bell;a police messenge
"Is she found 2" eagerly cried the expec
tant Burton, starting forward.
"No, but there is evidence, and you ar
needed at headquarters"
Arrived at headquarters, Burton toun(
himself confronted by the same old woman
who had opened the door for him, at No
3Ol1 Susuuehanna st. She did not appea
at all deaf, but looked very wide aWak!
and alert, and quite willing to answer al
the questions put to her.
"The child? bless you, yes, gentlemen
I've seen her. A pretty little dear, witt
yellow curls and blue eyes, and face lik'
wax doll. Dressed handsome too, in mus
lin and lace; real gentleman's child, III
be bound. But she amt there-not at tina
house no, no. She's too pretty to go to
nasty ugly place like that. It's only tit TO
poor ragged folks like we: Since you''r
willing to do the real handsome thing b.