Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1892-11-16

"But are you doubling my words

"But are you doubling my words,
misss"
IF the Indians killed him his body
will be lying where it fell," she an
swered. "You can find the spot again
you must find it. We cannot go now,
as night is coming on, but we shall go
in the morning. If the wild beasts have
spared his body, want it for Christian
burial. If they have not, l want what
bones they may leave"
What did you fire at today9" asked
Joe as he reached for Taylor's gun and
proved by the blacking on his finger
thrust into the bore that it had been re-
Gently discharged.
"I-I fred on the Injuns, Of course"
stammered Taylor.
"Oh, you did! We thought you said
you had your gun on your back and was
climbing up mass of rock to get look
around?"
"I-I've got to lie down and think 1t
over and quiet my nerves. I've had such
a close call that I'm ratified and can't re-
member just how it all was"
AS Taylor flung himself down the
men gathered in group to discuss his
story. There was something queer about
it, but as no one knew Of his feeling
against Harkins there was no key to bis
actions. Bess sought to furnish one by
saying:
III know this man hated father, and !
could see it every time he looked at us.
Why he did do not know, but know
that he had an Ill will. If father is dead
he had something to do with It'll"
"Hush, childr" cautioned the captain
of the train. "Your father and Taylor
were good friends as far as l could see.
It is an awful charge to bring against
man-that of betraying comrade."
"But he told two or three different
stories about it," answered Joe, "and
his actions are suspicious. If he has
done this he shall"-
81 will shoot him with my own handr
sternly replied the captain. "Let every
thing rest till he awakes. It may have
been as he says-that fright and exhaus-
ton may have upset him."
"But he must guide us to the spot in
the morning." persisted Joe.
81 shall insist upon that, even if we
have to leave the camp alone" added
Bess
1T shall be so," replied the captain.
I'VE shall know all in the morning"
Bess retreated to the wagon, rent with
conflicting emotions and Frustrated by
grief and doubt, and the men went about
their duties without a word to each other.
All felt that there was something wrong
about Taylor's story, but all hesitated
to believe him guilty Of the heinous
crime Of taking the life Of comrade.
Night came down.
Taylor had hidden his face under his
blanket, but he had not closed his eyes
in sleep. He was not tortured by re-
morse. On the contrary, he was olated
over the thought that he now alone pos
sessed the secret Of the cave Of gold.
But he was troubled that he had not told
a better story. Before firing the shot
he had planned just how he would act
and what he would say. The fear which
guilt always brings had upset him and
caused him to halt and hesitate and tell
a very lame story.
Many man who has planned crime
has thought 1t all over and prepared
himself at every point only to realize
after its commission that he left loop
holes In his armor Of defense.
It was long after dark before Taylor
rose up. He had then settled on story
from which he would not vary. He told
it to the men, and he told it with such
apparent sincerity that some Of them be-
lieved him, while none disputed. Bess
had come forward to hear 1t, as was her
right. When he had finished there was
a long, painful silence, broken at last by
the girl, who said:
IF this story be true you have done
only what another might do so situated.
We shall know tomorrow. You can
find the place again, and you will lead
US there"
"I-I was dreadfully turned around,
and l mightnot be able to find the exact
spot" replied Taylor.
"You mustw answered Bess. My
fathers bones must not lie unburiedl
His death shall not go unavengedl"
"Well, I'll try, and if we all lose our
scalps In the effort cannot be held re-
sponsible. I'm sure there's an Indian
camp not far from that spot, and It's q
wonder to me we haven't been attacked
since came in. There were as many
as seven right after me for two or three
miles"
The men, and especially Joe, had
looked to see the girl break down under
the strain, but she did not She fought
against it and clung to the hope that
her father still lived, though he might
be wounded and prisoner.
Midnight came and all was quiet.
Joe went on guard at that hour, and
an: hour later, as all his rcnses were
keenly alert, he heard whistle. No
Indian would make use Of such signal.
There were no white men in the neigh
borhood. Was 1t the note Of some bird
Of night?
There it came again-a whistle Of in
quiry-as if some one was seeking to To-
cate the camp. Believing it to be some
prospector or hunter who had lost him.
self during the day, Joe answered the
signal.
It came again and nearer.
Now he heard footsteps and a moment
later a man and a woman approached
him from out of the darkness.
Halt! Who Is it?" challenged the
sentinel.
"Harkinsl' was the reply.
"Great heavens!' whispered Joe as
the pair came to halt before him.
"But this does beat me. And that is
you, Harkins, and alive"
"Yes, it is Harkins, and here Is poor
girl l rescued from camp Of white rem
egades up the valley. I've got lots to
tell. Has Taylor come INF"
eyes, and he reported you killed by
I,,J;oo,