Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1895-10-25
FROM WALL STREET TO NEWGATE.
VIA THE PRIMROSE WAY
BY AUSTIN BIDwELL.
Copyright, 1895, by the Author.
CHAPTER XI-CoNTINUED.

l resolved SOOu dS ulBu1 C1iluo W 30
out for San Miguel, watch my chance tt
enter q shop and purchase food, the1
beating hasty retreat strike out across
the country straight for San Diego, there
to find myself among friends.
I set out and without any particular
adventure arrived about 8 O'Clock a
San Miguel It proved to be hamlet
with the houses ranged close together
ON opposite sides of the streets. The
moonlight cast o deep shadow on one
side, while the opposite side was almost
like day. I stood in the deep shadow
watching. The first building was evi
IDENTIFY police or military barrack. The
door was wide open, but no one was visi
bic inside. About five doors off was 6
shop, but the door was closed, and from
where stood there appeared no sign Of
life within. Iwaited about ten minutes,
and rashly concluding that there was &c
one save the proprietor there stepped
out of the shadow into the moonlight,
and hurrying across the street put my
hand on the door, opened it and step
ping within found myself in the pres.
ence of 30 soldiers, all gossiping, smok.
ing or gambling. Belts and cartridge
boxes along with bayonets decorated the
walls or were lying about on boxes and
barrels.
All eyes were turned on me. saw
myself in fearful trap and nothing but
consummate GOODNESS could keep them
from questioning me. Ny heart beat
fast, but with an affectation Of indiffer-
ence I saluted and said, "Buenas
noches, senores. " They all returned my
salutation, but looked at each other
eagerly, each waiting for the other tc
question me.
I stepped to the counter and asked for
bread. Two loaves were given me. ]
picked up some cakes and paid for
them. From the door turned, and put
ting my dignity into bow said good
night. They all seemed held by spell,
but they looked and were dangerous as
death. I closed the door, fully realizing
my peril, feeling the storm would break
the instant was out Of sight. Fortu-
nately there was no one near, and ran
swiftly across the street into the pro-
tecting shadow and crouched down in
o dark space between two houses. The
cactuslike weeds grew there and pricked
me, but needed them not, for that in
slant the soldiers poured out Of the shop,
an angry and excited mob, bucking ON
their belts, cartridge boxes and bayonets
ns they ran. Some had their muskets,
others hastened TO get them, and all save
two stragglers rushed out of the town
In the direction from which I had en-
tered. I wondered at this, but soon dis.
covered the reason. Some few women,
hearing the tumult, came into the street,
but seeing nothing went in again. The
ttragglers all disappeared, and the street
was quiet.
came out Of my corner and hurried
in the shadow down the road in the op-
posite direction to the course followed
by my pursuers. Arriving at the last
house at the foot Of the street, I found
myself confronted by a small river,
quiet and apparently deep, with all the
space from the last house to the river
one impossible barrier Of giant cactus.
l had either to swim the river or turn
back, and I ought to have plunged in
as I was, revolver and all, the distance
over being short, and as I am an expert
swimmer I could easily have got across,
loaded down as was. But contempt
ible trifle had weight enough to cause
me to adopt the suicidal course of turn
ing back.
Twas very hungry and longed for the
cakes and bread carried, and I thought
if I swan the stream they would he
soaked and probably lost, for had them
loose in my arms. Besides was over
confident of my ability to escape my pur'
suers. They had marched by the road
that led behind the village to the bridge
crossing the river some distance up.
Evidently not seeing me, they took i
for granted I knew Of the bridge and
had gone that way.
In fatal moment retraced my steps.
AS 1 passed house three women came
out. They spoke to me, and in my ex-
citemept, instead Of saying GOOD even
ing il Spanish (Buenas noches), I said
"Good morning" (Buenas dias). They OF
course saw was stranger.
Just then four soldiers came hurried
ly into the street from the road, and
was forced to leave the women and
crouch down in my former hiding place.
Then they did what women seldom dc
betrayed the fugitive. Calling to the
soldiers, they pointed ont the place
was in. All four came running, and il
a moment were almost on top of me.
presented my revolver and snapped the
trigger twice without exploding the
cartridges. They were too close or too
excited to use their muskets, but al
four grappled with me and naturally
used me pretty roughly.
There was terrific huilab&loo as il
response to their cries their comrade
camn running in. BY tho time they hat
hustled me across the street into tn
shop there was a mob Of half a hundred
around me- Soon the commander,
captain, appeared. wish I could So.
no was gentleman, but he was not
He was little, peppery young fellow
apparently with negro blood in his vein
and dictatoral and insulting in manner
Surely I was an object-a tramp il
appearance-but with diamond rim
on my finger, which had taken from
my pocket and slipped on a revolve
strapped to my waist and splendi
chronometer IN my pocket Such an oh
iect had never before loomed on thei
horizon. Was not one glance enough t
show that I must be notable rebel