Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1895-05-03

was in the middle of the road and
turned out barely enough to let him
pass with the wheels almost grazing my
hips This gave me the best view posi-
BILE in the gloom Of the driver, and was
almost positive that he was the one who
had taken Howard from the railway
station.
"Why don't you keep out Of the
way?' he roughly demanded, bringing
his whip down about my shoulders. 1T
would serve you right torun over you. "
I was so angered that I whipped out
my revolver and discharged one barrel.
The bullet passed close to his head, but
took care that it should not hit him.
With an exclamation of alright, he
whipped up his horse, leaning forward
to avoid my next shot, and speedily van
ished in the gloom.
Zone of the penalties of my charac-
ter" I reflected, showing the weapon
back in place. "He considers me faiZ
game, forgetting that the crushed worm
may turn. "
Itwas chance for scientific reasoning.
When the cabman passed me at first,
his animal was going on smart trot,
which was probably maintained until
he reached his destination. The time be-
tween his passing and meeting me, pro-
yided his pace had been kept up, was
sufficient for him to 90, say, half mile.
Therefore the house was seeking was
a quarter of mile distant.
There was liable to be flaw in this
logic, for he might have varied his
speed or remained awhile at the place
where his passenger alighted. A varia-
tion Of ten minutes either way would
throw my calculations out Of alignment
Furthermore, the residences were SO
numerous that they were continually
appearing on my right and left, and it
was likely that would stop short or
pass beyond the right one.
The only construction to be put upon
these stealthy visits of the Howards was
that they and perhaps others were ell
gagged in criminal business. Else why
their watchfulness against espionage:
might speculate for days as to the
nature of that business and be none the
wiser. clung to only one conclusion.
It had to do in some way with the theft
of the Mana Sahib ruby.
Clear on this point, it was fair to sup
pose that in coming to this country
place they would seek some secluded
building, with the danger Of detection
at the minimum. Consequently it was
idle to fix attention upon any of the
new, fine looking houses near the high
way. The one where they stopped was
back some way from the road and had
no occupants except such as were nec-
essary to look after it,
I slackened my pace when confident
of being near where the cab had left its
passenger and turned back. l was peer
ing to the right and left in the gloom
when I exclaimed in an undertone:
Eureka I have found itr'
1t was the very spot I had in mind.
A long lane, bordered Oh each side by
tall shade trees, led to house fully 200
yards distant from the main highway
and so hidden among trees, as soon
learned. that, except in the winter sea-
son, it could not be seen by any one
passing over the road. A more secluded
dwelling could not be found in long
search, and the starlike twinkle from
the surrounding trees showed the house
to be occupied.
I turned into the lane, the gate of
which must have been removed long be-
fore, and walked silently up the avenue
in the gloom, the conviction strong upon
mo that I was on the verge of inpor-
tant events.
To my surprise, the sound of carriage
wheels broke the stiffness. A vehicle
was coming from the house toward the
highway. I stepped to one side among
the shadow of the trees and waited.
The carriage was approaching, with
the horse on a walk, as if the driver
was uncertain Of his bearings IN tho
gloom. From that I decided that he was
not familiar with the place.
Tho obscurlty was SO deep that only
caught the outlines Of vehicle, animal
and driver as they moved past, and ell
tering the highway turned toward the
town. What saw, however, showed
that it was a cab, suoh as are seen
around the railway station at all hours
Of the day.
II was mistaken, was my copclu-