Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1888-10-17

- IllSU 1luu Illll, C4ullS A4ehASt JAN
said. you will help me, won't you"
"Wait a Bit" he said. "We'l 60 to-
gether."
He led the mare round to the barn, took
off the saddle and the precious pad. He
shut the doors, dug out n hollow
in the side of the NOW, stuffed
the pad in and covered it over. Nell was
waiting outside. He came out.
''In call up Pont," he said. "He's
th%ree-quarters Ingin, and tracks like a
hound"
He RON in, and came back after a
minute. Nell went into the barn. Driver
stood at the rack, quite fresh and rested
now. They saddled three horses, side
saddle on Driver.
They mounted and rode away West
down the pike to the turn north. Point
got down with his lantern, and the Squire
followed. Point crossed the road from
fence to fence, searching the ground at
the turn.
"Track OBJ Massa Prent and Skylark,
goin' ont. Missy Nelly an Skylark
comm in. Sporter's black mare goin'
nord. Two strangers come from west and
gone nord."
"a At every turmoil they stopped. At the
Lindesley road they saw the tracks
of q buggy and two horses bound east.
They kept on north. At every turn the
tracks were the same. There is no turn
off In Treaclc Hollow. At the Hilbury
road they got down. Point crossed the
road, bent low.
'Skylark goin' and comm. None more
but one gone nord."
ftr...1.1a IIo11orH3 1osI thu cn11iro
"Jest what I thought"
They started back, leading the horses,
searching the road for tracks.
esquire" said Nell, "Ill ride home.
He may have gone there. I'll come
back:''
She headed Driver north, struck into q
gallon, and was off. Ten minutes later
| She turned the bend half a mile from
home. She started and gave q joyful cry.
| Out of the east window a bright light
| shone. \ little farther OH she heard a
sudden sound that drove the hope out OF
her heart-thc whinny Of n horse in O
wood to the right. She got down, tied
Driver to q tree and ran on. She crcpt in
softly through the open gate and round to
the east side.
She looked in, but she did not see
Prent. BY the safe in the corner Il mar
was kneeling, with a slouched black hat
and n suit of rough, worn clothes. His
back was toward her. Her own lamp
stood ignitcd on the top Of the safe. With
a drill and q heavy mallet, padded ut the
end, he was picking n hole in the iron
door, just above the lock. Into that safe
Prent had put, only the night before,
So, 900 and odd Of taxes taken at Carrom.
On the table just behind him lay his
pistol. She saw the copper CLEAN of the
cap under the hammer. AS she looked
the man stood up, threw off his coat and
raised the window. He took II rcd hand-
kerchicf out of his hat, wiped his forehead
and got down again to his work. The
pistol lay close by the open window now.
She crept round to the window and
peered in. The burglar was picking away
at the iron plate. Moving very eau
tiously, she raised her arm, and then, tim
ing the motion by his regular stroke, and
holding her breath, she thrust in her arm,
lifted the pistol and drew it out. She
aimed it at his head, expecting to see him
turn: but he did not hear-picked away at
the plate.
She came back to the front and watched
him. His drill went through the plate as
she looked. He worked it back and
forth-probing the opening inside. 1t
was Just above the chamber of the lock.
He picked out the hole q little larger.
Then he got up and took from the pocket
of his coat a flask and a length of fuse.
She saw him put the flask to the opening
and pour the chamber full of powder. He
--L u f-.a .-l lot fha and hono
down. Taking a match from his pocket,
he struck it. It was time to act, Nell
thought. The match flashed and went
out.
She ran round to the back. The kitchen
door stood ajar. She passed in, silent as
death, caught a match from the shelf, lit
a candle and stepped through the passage
to the door of the east ROOM. The door
was open. She held the candle outside in
her left hand, stood in the doorway and
pointed the pistol.
He had not heard her. More matches
had missed. He struck one now and held
the flame down. 1t caught and fared up
bright. He put it to the end of the fuse,
threw it down, and stood up.
He faced round and stared one instant.
A girl stood fronting him, with as brave,
calm face, white and set, as ever looked
out on peril. He saw his pistol in her
hand, aimed steady and true. He stared
one moment, then leaned quickly n
blew out the lamp. She saw the spark
glowing slowly but steadily up the fuse:
She brought the candle forward and
threw the light upon him. She stepped
forward into the room.
go back" she said; "step backward to
the wall. If you turn or lift your hand l
will kill you!"
He knew that she would. He backed
away. She advanced step by step. She
set the candle down upon the safe. She
did not move her eyes from his face. She
kept the pistol steadily aimed, her finger
on the trigger. The spark had climbed
half way along the fuse. She bent down,
drew out the fuse with her left han
With a quick backward motion she threw
It through the open sash. Then she spoke,
calm and deliberate, her eyes never leav-
ing his face, the pistol pointed straight at
his breast. Take off your hat"
AS he stood against the wall the
slouched brim shaded his face. She
wanted to see his face when he answered
her. He put up his hand and took 1t of.
"Look in my face" she said.
He lifted his eyes and looked at her
with q sullen, sheepish, v%illainous face.
"You are in my power" she went on.
IT will have two men here in fifteen min
utes, at most. You know the penalty OF
this nights work-ten years in q prison
cell. If you answer me truly I'll let you
60 your way. If you try to get away III
fire, and 1 shall not miss" She paused q
minute, then went on: "Where is the man
you waylaid?'' She never doubted that
he knew.
"Parson's got him" he said, in a low,
hoarse voice. $50.
"What do you mean? Speak plain-Iu
have no shamming."
81 amt q shammin'. Parsons got
him."
"Who's the p~arson?" "Parson's our
cap" 'Where is he now" 81 dun
know" "Where did he go?" Said he
was goin' t. Caramore."
She saw it all at a flash. "To Bath q
Westbury's storc?" eyes" "He did
not know the road?" "No." "He took
him to show it," eyes" care there
my mores" zone more" Odd they
take him on horseback?'' mo" "How"'
"In the buggy, along of the parson?"
She felt sure he told the truth. A man
can lie with q bold face, may lie with a
face more brazen than one who speaks the
truth. But he cannot look in your eyes
and lie, however boldly, exactly rs he
1uo,,11 TOLL Ir,,o Nipo ttnos ont of ten