Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1895-05-10

quarter Of an hour that waited did any
one appear.
At the end Of that time I made a
guarded circuit of the house, but could
not gain a glimpse Of the interior. 1t
was as if the dwelling was Theoretically
sealed against all interlopers
But that which interested me was the
light burning in en- upper room. There
the shade was partly raised, and it
would seem interesting developments
were awaiting me-
But they would never appear 30 long
as Remained on the ground. Trees were
thick all around me, and MY course was
obvious
The climbing Of one Of these trees
was an easy task, and was speedily
among the limbs at height Of 10 or 20
feet from the earth. Then turned and
looked at the window.
It was night of disappointment.
While in the act Of climbing the trunk
some one within the room lowered the
shade, shutting off my view as effectual-
ly as if the light had been extinguish-
ed. 1t was exasperating, for but for
that interruption in the lane and my
own tagging the coveted sight would
have been gained.
The faint hope that some whim
would lead to the raising of the curtain
again kept me among the limbs until
nv body was cramped. | must have
staid there for fully an hour when,
presto! all became blank darkness. The
light had either been taken from the
room or put out No use Of waiting
longer.
drew my foot from under me, mean
ing to descend the tree, when the faint
est possible whistle sounded somewhere
near me. Supporting myself with great
care, / leaned downward and peered
into the gloom. Although little vegeta-
tion was left on the branches, the shad-
ow was so dense that the keenest vision
was of little help, but while staring at
what seemed to be the dim outlines of
a trunk it moved slightly to one side.
Another misty object advanced to meet
it, and then the two became stationary.
"My friends from the old world are
holding council Of war, " was my con-
clusion, for there was no doubt that
they were the two whom l had encoun-
tered in the lane. "They are not likely
to acquaint me with their decision. "
I had been in the tree so long that |
was quite sure they were unaware of
my presence. Their action could not be
explained on any theory of my own.
They must have known what they
wanted. Why, then, not enter the house
and demand it, as they had demanded it
of me when they had me DOWN.
But had enough business Of my own
without meddling with theirs. Still it
would be foolish to clash with them,
and / waited among the branches un-
til some minutes after they had stolen
around the end of the house and vanish.
ed in the darkness. When it seemed safe
to do so, descended to the lower limbs
and dropped softly to the earth.
When my feet touched the ground,
another fact became apparent-there
were no lights on the lower floor. Every
one in the house had retired for the
night, following the custom which gen.
orally prevails in the country.
A new apprehension arose The
treacherous Asiatios whom l had run
against in the lane would remain near
the building until all within were sunk
in slumber. Then they would enter and
make their demand upon Howard for
the secret, whatever it was, they had
sought to wrest from me. He would not
give it. They would insist, and dead
ly struggle would follow. Murder was
in the air.
was still convinced that neither Of
these men, with all their subtlety, knew
of my presence-a happy piece Of good
fortune for which l could claim no
credit. The advantage, If could keep
it, was with me. I would wait and pos
sibly prevent the consummation Of a
dark deed.
Between the tree which I had climbed
and the window was another tree, much
closer. I did not use it because it could
serve me no better, and in the event of
any one of the inmates coming to the
window he or she was likely to discern
my figure among the branches.
l stepped back from the spot where
my feet first struck the earth and stood
behind q larger trunk, which / took to
be that of all oak. Its size afforded an
effectual screen for my body, and !
would naturally be on the outer circle
of the men whom ! was trying to watch
If the two contemplated any evil deed,
to carry it ont they must enter the
house. The natural way to do that was
through olIe of the doors or windows OIL
the lower door But they were sure to
be well secured, and al attempt TO use
them was liable to alarm the inmates
Nothing could be more inviting than
the upper windows, which would not
be so we'll fastened and were readily
reached by means Of the trees growing
on all sides Of the house.