Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-06-02

to Ma'am wilkeson's the child Kept
the road toward the Gap, urging the
horse into a gallop as soon as he was
over the rocky hillside beyond Layne's.
Inspector Jatfray's guard duties dur
ing the remainder Of the afternoon were
of kind merely nominal. Layne was
away, and the inspector and his prisoner
had the front porch to themselves. Jaf-
fray said little, but he encouraged An
derson to talk, fitting his chair against
the side Of the house and shrouding
himself in clouds Of smoke while Lafe
told Of his life on Long mountain with
his old father; Of his courting of Willie
Godfrey; of the young girls loyalty,
and of her fathers contempt for the son
of a mountaineer. "The valley folks
don't marry with we uns, mr. we uns
with them, though I reckon they amt
no law 'gainst hit, % he said in explana-
ton, and Jaffray agreed with him.
When Layne came home, a few words
explained the situation, and the farmers
hospitality was broad enough to cover
not only his friends friend, but in this
case his friends prisoner. The inspector
unmanacled Lafe when they went in to
supper, but be put the handouts ON
again afterward, and when the early
bedtime of the family came he led the
young mountaineer into the porch bed
room and took additional precaution Of
swapping another set of irons on his
ankles.
"Not very pleasant for you, my boy, {"
he said, "but I can't help it. I mustn't t
give you a chance to slip through my
fingers"
After which the inspector went back
to his chair on the porch, where he
smoked many cigars and communed
with himself for want of better listen
er. Once his reflections slipped into
speech: "It all goes back to the same
thing in the end. We've got no manner
of right to take a man who has never
been taught the lesson Of responsibility
and put him in place where he has to
rub up against temptation every day.
That's the long and short Of it. Just the
same wish ! might have given this
youngster q shock without catching
him. That might have been the making
Of him, but this is going to ruin him
world without end.''
At 10 o'clock the inspector had seri-
ous thoughts of turning in, but before
the inclination gathered force enough
to overcome the inertia Of the tilted
chair there came a Gathering Of a
horses hoofs on the loose shingle Of the
Gap road. The rider dismounted at
Layne's gate, and the inspector lighted
fresh cigar when he eaw the figure Of
woman coming up the path toward
the house.
"This is the girl in the case Of
course" he muttered. "Now, how the
devil did she find out?'
In another moment she stood before
him, and though the cigar was burning
well enough he made it the excuse to
strike another match, in the brief flare
Of which he got glimpse Of a pair OF
flashing eyes set in face whereon grief
and resolution fought for the mastery.
you're MI. Jaffray, amt you" she
began.
ayes, and you are Willie Godfrey.
Sit down, Miss Godfrey"
She dropped into a chair as If thank
full for the permission. IT reckon you
know what I've come for. I heard you
all had taken Lafe Anderson for rob.
bin the mail, and'-
Pardon me, Miss Godfrey" inter-
rupted tho inspector. "How did you find
that out?"
"Bad news don't wait for an OK team.
I heard about it, and Two como % miles
on that hawss to keep you all from car
ryin an innocent man to Jail. Lafe
new did take anything that didn't be-
long to him, Mr.. Jaffray."
The inspector smoked in silence for q
full minute. "Supposing I were to tell
you that he has confessed?"
"It don't make any difference. He
amt tho thief"
"Thcn why should ho say he was?"
"Cayn't you sec? He just told you a
heap of lies to cover up the real one."
"And who is the real one, Miss God
frey?"
"I am."
1t was we'll for tho girls peace Of
mind that she could not see the inefface-