Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1896-12-09

nivance perhaps Of members Of the
guard. to slip out Of the building and
take refuge among the outlaws at the
groggery across the stream. Having
killed an Indian he had at least some
little claim, according to their theory,
to frontiersman' g respect.
Returning to the guardhouse, as he
had promised Will, Malcolm Leale was
in nowise surprised at Grafton's anxiety
and even less to learn that Graice had
begged to be allowed to have speech
with his captain.
1t was a CHASTITY face that peered out
from the dim interior of the little pris-
on in answer to the officers summons.
At sound Of footsteps on the creaking
stairway Graice had apparently hidden
in the depths Of the room and only slow
" came forward at the sound Of the
commanding voice he knew. Hangdog
and drink sodden az was his look, there
was some lingering, some revival per-
haps Of the old defiant, disdainful man.
ner he had shown to almost every man
at Frayne. Respect his captain as even
such as he was forced to do, look up to
him now as possibly his only hope and
salvation, there was yet to his clouded
intellect some warrant for vague SEN
timent of superiority.
Outcast, migrate, drunkard, murderer
though he was, he, Private Tom Graice,
born Royle Farrar, was legal owner of
all that his captain held fairest, dear
est, most precious in all the world.
Leale's love for Helen Daunton was
something the whole garrison had seen
and seen with hearty sympathy. 1t
would be something to teach this proud
and honored officer that he, the despised
and criminal tough, was, after all, a
man to be envied as the husband OF the
woman his captain could now only
vainly and hopelessly love. It was his
plan to bargain with him, to invoke his
aid, to tempt the honor of soldier and
a gentleman, but for a moment, at sight
Of that stern, sad face, he stood abashed.
"You wished to see me-" said Leale,
land will hear you DOW"
"I've got that to say I want no other
man to Know" was the reply after an
interval of few seconds. land want
your word Of honor that you will hold
1t sacred"
81 decline any promise whatever.
What do you wish to say9"
"Well, what have to tell you inter
ests you more than any man on earth,
Captain Leale. I'm in hell here; I'm
at your mercy perhaps. My life is
threatened by these hounds, because by
accident that knife went into that blind
FOOLS vitals. 1t was only self defense. /
didn't mean to hurt him.
"No. was the object, clearly un-
derstand, said Leale. $50 on"
"Well, it's az man to man ! want to
speak. You knowI never meant to harm
him. You can give me chance for JUS
tice, for life, and II can make it
worth your while"
"That will do" was the stern re-
sponse. "No more on that head. What
else have you to ask or say?"
"Listen one minute" pleaded the
prisoner. "They d kill me here if they
could get me, quick enougb-1ndians or
troopers either. must be helped away.
I know your secret. You love my wife.
Help me out Of this-here-this night
and neither she nor you will ever
"Silepce, you hound! Stink back to
your blanket where you belong. Ithank
God my friend, your father, never
lived to know the depths of your dis
gracel Not wordP' he forbade, with
uplifted hand, as the miserable fellow
strove once more to make himself heard.
"For the sake Of the name to which
you have brought only shame you shall
be protected against Indian vengeance,
but who shall defend you against your
self2 I will hear no more from you.
Tomorrow you may see your colonel, if
that will do you any good, but If you
have one atom of decency left, tell no
man living that you ore Royle Farrar, "
and with that, raging at heart, yet cold
and stern, the officer, needless of further
frantic pleas, turned and left the spot
But at the porch the captain turned
again. Wind and snow were driving
across his path. The sentries at the
front and flank Of the guardhouse, muf-
fed to their very eyes, staggered against
the force of the gale. 1t seemed cruelty
to keep honest men on post night SO
wild as that for no other reason than to
protect the life Of man so criminal.
The members Of the guard, who had re-
sumed their lounge around the redhot
stove the moment the captain disappear
ed, once more sprang to attention as he
re-entered and called the sergeant to
him.
81 am tempted to ask the officer Of
the day to relieve those sentries and let
No. come up into the hallway" said
he. II believe that, with the watch we
have on the Indians, there is no posi-
bility Of an outbreak on their part. "
"There isn't, sir, was the sergeant'a
prompt reply. "But every man in the
garrison knows by this time that it was
the captain that blackguard aimed to
kill, and it is not the Indians alone that
would do him if they could. l find that
whenever have had to leave the guard
house some of the men have talked
loud for him to herr, swearing that he
would be taken out and hanged at day
break. Others want to tempt him to try
to escape, so that they can pursue him
over to town and hammer him into a
jelly there The tower is the only place
where he can be unmolested, sir.
couldn't guarantee his safety from some
kind of assault, even if I had him right
here in the guardroom.
And just then corporal came from
the little office,