Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-11-13

the old woman, the stage appeared to
settle on bis side.
I could make out but little in the
gloom, but this mans face was suffi-
GENTLY distinct to show resolute
character, fearless and ready in emer-
gency. He had an aggressive air, aud
the reserve of a man who was not to
be made free with. He peered into
NV face from under his heavy brows,
and then glanced at the sleeper by his
side.
couldn't quite analyze my feelings
when found this third passenger shut
up with me. That he was man not
unused to violence was apparent. AS
bravado or the leader of vigilance
committee he could readily act his
part. Which role would he incline to :?
There were still several miles to cover,
and I was interested.
I did not like the way he had OF
turning his eyes on that old woman.
I couldn't make out in the dark just
their expression. What struck me as
being rather singular was her utter
stiffness after the vigorous start she
had given. She couldn't have fallen
again into sleep as quick as that. l
confess to a creeping sensation as l
viewed this pair opposite me.
"This is dreary ride for anyone
who has reason to wish his journey
over" said the new passenger, at last
in his bass voice.
What did he mean? Did he know
about my money? Here was deep
ening of the mystery. 1t certainly
was becoming dreary ride to me. l
controlled myself, and pointing to the
woman, said: -,
"One like her might we'll call 1t So -
"How's that ?"
"Sickness at her home-perhaps
death ~ ,
"Ah 7" and he turned and looked
upon the unconscious subject of our re-
marks, the meaning of which l could
hardly fathom.
The northern lights were now shoot
| ing up in the heavens, rejecting dim
light in the stage. Their never-ceasing
change, as shifting from one quarter to
the other, they darted to the zenith in
tongues of fire, and spread midway
into sheets of flame, was typical of
nv own sensations, while the stage
went rumbling along and jolted us in
our seats.
A vision of my CHEEKY home rose to
my mind. Mother and children were
pictured in that pleasant sitting'room,
talking perhaps of father and his re-
turn. They were not expecting me so
soon, and so I was counting on pleas
ant surprise. Then I thought of the
little fortune I was carrying to them
as the result of my successful sale,
which gave me such pleasure at the
start of my ride, but which was now
the cause of anxiety and misgiving.
Should I ever see those dear ones
again? What if But my medita-
tions were interrupted by the heavy
voice of the passenger.
"Returning home, I take it, sir?"
~ am"
"You consider this a safe road, do
you not2" -,
"Never heard of any trouble here"
"It's going on around us, though.
Heard of the pull last night ?"
"The pull ?"
"The robbery on the Hanson road,
I mean."
"Robbery !" I gasped. 81 did not
hear of it,"
"Oh, yes; it's getting pretty near"
"Nothing worse, I hope"
"Murder!" and the speakers voice
sank to still deeper tone.
The old woman started in the cor
ner, as if disturbed in her dreams.
He glanced meaningly at her, and
then directing his thumb that way, he
said
"An uncommon sleeper"
"Tired out"
"Well not disturb her."
"The murderer has devilish name, !"
he said, after brief silence.
Nv nlCn
"That last robber-no, not the last
exactly, for the robber and murderer
of all is one man."
The stage entered a gully thickly
shaded with trees, and when the pas
senger said this in his abysmal voice,
my scalp crept over my head. 1t was
80 dark that not even his herculean
form could be seen.
"What was the name?" l asked, in
hush.
"Ieft-handed Dick"
The stage went very slowly at this
point, and my ear caught a movement
as if the sleeper was again uneasy, and
was adjusting her shawl.
"Why that?"
"He lost his right hand in a fight,
and he is a demon with his left"
"I'd rather tackle a dozen than a
left-hander."
"This man is equal to dozen. 1
know he has murdered as many as
that"
The impression was gaining on me
that the man before me was honest.
He struck me, moreover, as having a
purpose here in this stage known only
to himself but which l began to sus-
L. hoI