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

"That's so. I'd lost sight of that for
the moment" said the inspector grave
ly. Then he sprung all innocent little
trap that had been gradually taking
shape in his mind.
"Now, what clears up some things l
couldn't quite understand. I wonder
what Lafe did with the money"
The girl wad too new to the business
Of equivocation and she promptly be-
trayed herself. "He put it under the
hearthstone at Ma'am Wilkeson's"-
she began, and then she saw the trap.
"Ah, I seel' said the inspector. "Of
course this is merely supposition on
your part. since he never spoke to.you
about hiding the money" He smiled
under cover Of the darkness. 1t was
transparently clear now. all save one
particular detail. How did it happen
that the girl knew Anderson's confes-
sion word for word?
Jaffray was puzzled for a moment.
and then there flashed across the field of
recollection the rustling in the laurel
bush and the picture Of barelegged
boy galloping northward on Anderson's
horse. Having thus solved the puzzle,
he asked quietly, "What is it you want
me to do, Miss Godfrey"
"It seems to me like there amt but
one thing to do. Lafe hain't done any
thing and-and I have. Cayn't you all
just turn him loose and take me in
stead?"
The inspector fought good fight for
self control and lostit. "By God, young
woman, he isn't worth itl' he burst
out. But she put her hand OIL his arm
and straightway forgot her part.
"Oh, yes, indeed he is. Mr.. Jaffray!
You don't know Lafe, and you new can
know how much IL love him. Cayn't
you take me?"
"No," said the inspector roughly,
driven to the last resort Of the sorely
tempted. "You 60 back home, and I'll
see what can be done toward getting
him off easy No. don't say anything
more. You don't know what you ask. "
Before he could stretch out his hand
to prevent her she went on her knees
beside his chair.
II do know" she said piteously,
land it's such little, little thing-just
to let me go in his place. What do you
care as long as you got somebody to own
up to every thing you ask?"
"Get up, Miss Godfrey" he said
sternly. II repeat, you don't know
what you ask. The law is not to be set
aside or tampered with simply because
its workings happen to hurt some of
"Oh, no, it isn't that" she went on,
unmindful of his command. II don't
mind the hurt only for Lafe' ssake. It'll
kill him, Mr.. Jaffray. It'll spoil his
whole life, and I reckon the law don't
mean to be that hard. Oh, please take
me and let him 60, won't your"
"No, tell you, once for all. Now
get up and go home before I get angry
and say things I'll be sorry for. ;"
She felt herself refused and dismissed,
and she rose, trembling "Cayn't see
Lafe-just for minute?" she pleaded.
"No; / can't allow even that"
She went down the steps slowly and
with evident reluctance, turning on the
last one to ask softly, "Where Is he
now, Mr.. Jaffrayr"
"He's asleep in that room. Now go,
and don't ask any more questions.
She paused moment and then went
swiftly to the gate, and the inspector
sat listening until the click Of horse
shoes on stone stopped suddenly. Then
he sprang to his feet and began to talk
to his beard.
"That's what might have expected.
She cantered the horse up the hill to
make me think she's gone home, and
now she is coming back afoot to get a
word with the boy. By the Lord Harry,
I've a mind to- No; that would never
do. And YETI
He tramped up and down the porch,
this sworn officer Of the law who was
yet but man, fighting over again the
old battle between justice and mercy as
many loyal servant of justice has
fought it since the law first set itself
over against lawlessness. Then he flung
the stump of his cigar far out into the
grass and went into the porch bedroom,
where he bent over the sleeping man as
if to satisfy himself that the letters
were still in place.
Anderson stirred uneasily. "Is that
you uns, Mr.. Jaffray?" he asked.
"Yes." He took the irons from the
boys ankles. Nov you can stretch
your legs a bit. I'm going to take
chances on your running away"
Anderson laughed mirthlessly. Il
couldn It do much with these here on, !"
he said, holding up his hands.
The inspector felt the handouts on
the boys slender wrists. "They're too
tight" he said And he loosened them.
lis that better?"
"a mighty sight better, thank you. |"
Jaffray threw up the window at the
head Of the bed and listened. 1t was a
calm night, but there was sound as of
the wind rustling the dry leaves in the
little grove at the side Of the house.
The inspector heard it and turred to
take his overcoat from its peg Oh the
wall.
"What the devil did you do it for?"
he broke out savagely. "Why Oh earth
couldn't you be content with the girls
love and let other peoples property
alone?"
The handouts ratified, and though
Jaffray could see nothing in the thick
darkness he knew that the boy was try
ing to cover his face with his hands.
"Cause didn have no better sense,
r .aaIro,, Tho ipcpocfor hoard gonna