Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1895-05-08


Igazed intently and suspected I was
mistaken.
We all know that when our gaze,
wandering over the heavens, first rests
ON the Pleiades the seven stars show
distinctly, but surveying them closely
and attempting to count them there are
but six. One modestly withdraws from
view.
It may have been somewhat the same
in this case. l had no expectation Of
seeing any person when the shadowy
outlines appeared, and when studied
the situation all became blank darkness.
It was easy to solve the question. l
might make sudden rush and be upon
the stranger before he was aware, but
il he were an innocent person what ex-
PLANTATION should I offer for my conduct?
Instead of that, l began stealing
slowly toward him. He could not see or
hear me until I made sure whether he
was reality or figment Of the imagina-
tion.
took possibly five steps in this
guarded manner, when laughed silent
ly. No person was there.
~ shouldn't feel nervous" I mutter-
ed, "for there's nothing in this business
to compare with the risks / have run
many time"
Nevertheless I remained standing for
several minutes, peering into the gloom
and listening. No suspicious sound
reached me, nor could I make out the
shadowy figure that had given me such
start. Common sense told me was
mistaken, but an odd feeling whispered
that I had never more need of being on
my guard than at that moment.
Walking softly back to the entrance
Of the avenue, again paused, with my
senses on the alert. Once more the faint
whistle Of passing engine nearly q
mile away fell upon my ear, but that
was all. From the trees surrounding the
house at the end Of the lane shone dull
light, the whole being so similar to that
which greeted me the night before that
it was hard to believe was not stand
ing on the same ground that had then
stood on.
One Of the worst failings man Of my
profession can have is impatience. It
has brought many we'll laid scheme to
naught
So profouad was the stiffness that I
heard the door of the house open and
close.
"Now, if some one comes out with
cigar and walks up and down the porch,
the resemblance will be complete.
had turred into the lane and began
walking toward the dwelling. My steps
were noiseless, the soft earth making
such precaution easy. There was norea-
con seemingly for this extreme care, but
was unmistakably nervous
looked behind me as often as to the
front and never took dozen steps
without stopping to listen. The deep
stiffness was unbroken. II any one was
shadowing me, he could be as noiseless
as myself.
had passed about half the distance
from the highway to the house when l
received my second shock. There was
no mistake this time. A man was in
front of me, standing as motionless as L
The poplars at the sides Of the avenue
threw him into such deep shadow that
could not make out the figure until
within a rod of it. There it was in the
middle Of the road like statue carved
oot of the night itself.
A creepy feeling came over me, and
slid my hand to my hip My weapon
was at instant command.
We must have seen each other at the
same instant, 80 that the halt was 81
multaneous. He was as suspicious as L
But why this mutual distrust7 We
were in civilized country and simply
meeting in the lane Of a country farm
house. We ought to pass with friend
ly greeting perhaps, but at least with
out molesting each other.
1t will be understood that with my
attention absorbed by the sight of the
figure before me I forgot that shadowy
form which I fancied had appeared in
tho other direction.
1t was idle to stand thus, and took
a step forward, meaning to make a bold
front of it.
At that moment the faintest percepti-
BILE rustling behind caused me to turn
my head. As I did so the figure Of a
man leaped out Of the gloom and bore
me resistlessly to the ground. 1t was
an Asiatic who had leaped upon me
with the stealthy fury Of jungle tiger.
TO BE CONTINUED NEXT FRIDAY.