Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1895-05-15

Of life
A curious impulse came to me- 1t
was to sound the knockor on the door,
rouse the occupants and tell them whas
had occurred l could we'll claim that
had prevented the commission OF
crime and probably saved the life OF one
or more persons That such was the fact
would be so evident that Howard and
his wife, as we'll as the old couple with
whom they lodged, would be filled with
thankfulness therefor
But how explain my presence at the
critical momenty They would naturally
want to know what brought me there
at that unseemly hour If should say
that was all officer of the law who had
regarded the interlopers with suspicion,
it would hardly satisfy them. More
likely they would believe was one OF
the burglars who had quarreled with
the others and was as much to be dread
ed as they A complaint TO the authori'
ties. would put me in an unpleasant sit.
uation, and though could soon estab-
lish my identity all proceedings, so far
as concerned the couple in whom ! was
interested. would be brought to naught
1t is rarely safe for detective to act
upon impulse He must weigh each
step carefully and labor to the end IN
view with the careful calculation Of q
professor solving an intricate problem
in mathematics.
Waiting until the conspirators had
time to get we'll clear of the premises, |
moved stealthily around the end Of the
house to the front and was making my
way toward the lane when tall figure
! loomed up in the darkness, and came
face to face with man who held
shotgun in his hand.
who are your" he demanded in q
threatening voice, bringing his formida-
BILE weapon partly to level.
"A FRIEND" made haste to reply
II mean no harm.
knew instinctively that the man be.
fore me was Isaiah Bridges, the owner
of the house, and that he was making
an investigation of his own, with load
ed weapon in hand
WAS it you who fred that gun lit
tie while ago?"
"Yes; ! saw burglar trying to
climb into one Of your windows and
dropped him.
This ought to have disarmed his sus-
picion, but it did not.
And how come you to be sneaking
round here?"
1t was a natural question and the one
was expecting
II was passing along the highway,
and they entered your lane. did not
like their looks and followed. When |
saw them trying to enter the window, l
fred.
Ibid you kill the tarnal scamp?"
mo, but hurt him so badly that he
was glad to leave with the help of his
companion. They will trouble you no
more.
"But why didn't you let me know
afore they tried their tricks?"
''They are strangers to me. | could
not know they intended any wrong un-
til saw them attempt it, Then it was
too late to warn you.
"Why didn't you come round to the
house afterward and tell me?"
"You were asleep, or | supposed So. "
$50 we war, but that racket woke
us
II have just come from the rear,
where discharged my pistol and hadn't
time to wake you up."
THAT Won't do, said the old man,
his suspicion active again. "You
warn t going toward the front door. but
irving to sneak off down the lane. Con-
found you, believe you arc one Of 'enl
I've good mind to fill you full of buck
shot
81 wouldn't advise you to try that,
for there are several cartridges left in
my revolver, and before you could bring
your gun to level l would use them
all. told you was friend, but you
can consider me an enemy if you wish.
made suggestive motion with my
weapon, which he understood He ached
to let me have the contents Of his gun.
but was afraid.
"Waal, the best thing you can do is
to clear out from here as quick as you
can travel. There have been several
murders in this part Of tho country, and
the law hain't found out who done 'em,
but if you should catch it while prowl-
ing round where you've got no business
to be | won't hesitate to tell the folks
that done it. "
Nov, Mr.. Bridges. " said concili.
atingly, what is the use of our
who told you my namo?' he broke
in.
Every one in the neighborhood
! knows you as good citizen and gen
tleman like your brother Nathan. You
do me great injustice to suspect me of
any wrong intention. would no more
harm you than would my own father. "
"That talk is very nice, but don't
know you. You haven't told me your
name nor where you come from. "
Don't you know William Browning
of Rahway?"
1.-THE president of our bank?"
"Of course He knows you we'll, and
I'm his son.
''That won't work l don't know any
Mr.. Browning, and there's nobody of
that name that has anything to do with
our bank. Now know you're an i'm