Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-06-26
The STORY Telter.
REVENGE and COMPASSION.

The rain fell relentlessly, the wine
that swept in from the Golden Cat
was piercingly cold, and the poo
wretch toiling painfully up the steel
asphalt pavement staggered as b.
walked, and now and then stopped t
steady himself, pressing with hi
trembling hand against the building
that he passed. His soiled, ragget
clothes were soaking with the wet
and his emaciated features were pail
as with the chill of death. When h'
had reached the summit of Mob Hill
he paused and wrapped his arm abou
an electric light post at the corner
leaning against it for the support hi
feeble frame needed so pitifully. A
quick, firm step sounded on the pave
ment.
"For heavens sake give me money
to buy food I" said the wretch at tht
post.
The quick step ceased.
"Why don't you say say drink,
and speak the truth ?" said the man
running his gloved hand down intt
the pocket of his fur-lined overcoat.
The glare of the electric lights shont
full upon his handsome, forid face
The poor wretch caught his breath
sharply, and made a step forward
The money which the man tossed into
his outstretched hand cleaned mo
ment
IN HIS TREMBLING PALM,
And in another ratified noisily upol
the stones far out into the street.
"I want no gold of yours" said th'
wretch, with an energy that shook hi
whole frame. ~ want no gold o
yours, Henry Mason 70
The man started; his forid fac
turned livid.
"Who dares to call me Henry Ma
son ? My name is Derwent-T Thoma
Derwent," the man said hoarsrly, star
ing wildly ABOUT him into the night.
HYou are out of reach of help JUS
now, Henry Mason" said the wretch
with laugh. ~ saw the policeman
from this beat running in an opium
soaked Chinaman few moments ago
1 believe that my hour of reckoning
has come at last"
"Who are you ?"
"You knew me well enough 20 year
ago." the wretch answered.
"Howard Scott!" exclaimed tn
man.
"Oh, I though you would recall me.
And the wretch laughed again.
"What do you want?" asked the
man, unbuttoning his coat.
His voice was unsteady, and hi
hand trembling.
"Neither your money nor your life
Henry Mason" said the wretch, bitter
ly. "They will do me no good now
Listen! You live near here.
KNOW YOUR HOUSE.
Why on earth I never stopped you be
fore is a mystery. But I think it wa
more your hard, cold voice than you
looks that betrayed you."
Scott pulled a revolver from his hip
pocket. The man caught its CLEAN il
the light and started hack.
"Don't move," Scott interposed
calmly. "You are not worth it, ant
my game is not played yet. Lead OF
to your house, and dare bulge an incl
out of the way at your peril. wan
a quiet, warm place to do some writ
ing. Perhaps you did not know tina
I adopted a different profession afte
you ruined me and helped yourself tt
my money? I'm special correspon
dent when I've life enough to be any
thing at all. I haven't made much o
my life, as you see, but I can write"
eff you want money, tell me how
much" Derwent said, hoarsely.
II told you I wanted no money o
yours" said Scott, oving a step near
er. II shall be pai,, enough for my
nights job to tide over the few weeks
of life that are left me. What wan
is revenge and the chance to set my
self right in the eyes of the world
You have robbed me of my life; tha
1 cannot get back. You have stoler
my money, as you did that of many
others, and have saddled upon me
DISGRACE THAT SHOULD REST
On your own shoulders. 1t was yol
who forged that draft, and not I, ant
you know it, though I served my tern
in the penitentiary for the crime. Yol
call yourself gentleman now, Henry
Mason, and I am worse than dog
but my hour has come. Lead OF
home"
The wretch had raised his voice al
mos6 to scream, and now waved th'
revolver in the air. The man walked
on, glancing over his shoulder fur
lively.
81 told you that I should not xii
you unless you tried to escape" SAID
Scott, with a sneer. "If you speak tx
any passerby, however, you are deae
man on my word. Go on ~
The rest of the way was made IL
silence. Scott was close upon Der
vents heels when he mounted the mar
BILE steps of his stately mansion ane
turned the latch key. Within all wa
silent. The wretch had counted or