Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-01-02
The NATE OF THE HINDU.
ASToRY bF ADVENTURE ON LAND and SEA.
BY CAPTAIN RALPH DAVIS.

an apartment perhaps 80 feet long by
30 wide, with door leading into hall
at the back end, and midway on the
north side door which the burglar at
once decided communicated with her
ladyship's bedroom. The man had no
eyes for the elegant surroundings. but
flashed his lantern here and there until
the light fell upon the door Of an Iron
safe built into the south wall He had
heard of that safe and its contents.
That was the magnet which had drawn
him to the castle that June night
which had made him turn burglar
which was to change the current Of his
life.
In those days no house safe was pro-
tected by a combination. They were
locked or unlocked by key, and the
lock could be readily attacked by a
burglars tools and Implements Kneel.i
ing before the door, the man took a
lock pick from his bag and began work.
He was bit nervous, but nevertheless
he worked with caution and patience,
Inside of ten minutes he had shot the
bolt and he was just pulling the door
open when a hand was lid on his shoul.
der. He had placed tkeldark lantern on
chair behind him, so that the food OF
light fell full upon the door. It also
fell upon his head and fase as he worked.
"My God, Ben Johnson, but have
you come to this!'
1t was the voice OF % woman. She
had knelt beside him sand uttered the
words before he could obey the impulse
to spring up. The voice was familiar to
him, and the face Of the woman, half
brought out by the bullseye, was not
strange to him. No, not the face of a
woman, but that of ) girl not over IS
years old. 1t was very pale as he found
it within two feet of his oisn, and the
big blue eyes had look Of horror in
them as they gazed into hisolaok ones.
He had been so suddenly AMI so com
pletely surprised that he wa rendered
stupid for a moment.
"Ben! Ben! Do you know here you
are--what you are doing?' Whispered
the girl as she laid hand OF the arm
outstretohed to Pull the door oI,n.
"Aye, you mink. It's you, is it2'' he
growled as he drew breath q relief.
"Of course know what I'nf doing. I
cddI9 have Eor klon SsnuaS yyu nau
you deem asleep, but assou are hire I'll
make use of you. I suppose the old gal
is asleep in her bedroom? If sheS got
anyth ing worth taking in there, want
you tG fetch it to me-"
"Ben Johnson turned burglar J. gasp
ed tha girl "Ben johnson her IN her
ladyslhip's private rooms to rob ha On.
Ben, ! can't be awake and in my enses!
You surely haven't become so deparate
all at once"
"K4ep quiet, you fool!' he hisd as
he dropped his arm to take hold her
wrist with savage grip. II toltyou
last Sunday that nobody would gis me
a show and that I intended to for
myself. Because I've been man etugh
to take what belonged to me I've'een
sent to the Jail and outlawed. t,his
very Lord Dudley, who has no lore
right to wealth than I have, has ha me
watched and bounded aud marked twn
for bad man.
"But you turned poacher. Ben, '',he
replied, land you refused 10 worktke
other young men,"
"PoacherI Aye, that's the law o1he
country as made by these bigwigs. If
q Door man wants bit Of game sw
and then, he must risk the Jail to et
it. But what are you doirg here"
"Her ladyship is i'll tonight, ant I
am sitting up with her. Sne' is asltp
inst now, but may awake at any n
ment. Ben, listen to me. CD away. b
the way you came. and mono but )
shall ever know that you entered t.
castle. "
"Are you fool, Mary:" he savage
exclaimed. II came for the swag, ar
I'll not 90 without it'll"
"And we love each other-hsve passe
onr words and are to be married in tn
fallr' she moaned as she put out bot
hands to seize the arm he had extende
again.
"More's the reason why shoul
make the haul. / haven't had enc1g
money the past three months to pay th
wedding fee. Hands off. you idiotp'
"Ben, do you love me?"
"Hush! This is no time for mol
sensel Go fetch any stray jewels frol
the old gals room while clean OF
this box. D."
"You shall not touch it! You sha
20 away Go now-at once-or WI
, call for help!
"D'ye see this3" he Whispered as h
drew long, keen knife from its sheat
and flashed it before her eyes.
cave, | see it, Ben johnson, an
, would to God you had driven it to m
heart before learned how base and III
worthy nd wicked you had become
Father and mother were right, and
have been headstrong and obstinate
{ Both Of them have always distruste
| you-havet said that you were bad
heslt.
) II DOM care curse what they hay
thought nop for your own opinion eithe
, 1 am heR for the swae, and L
have it and your life as we'll if yc
3 trouble mt further. Hands OIL G.
D away, wen4h"
Had it b. en- another man IN the plat
of Ben johnson, the girl would ha,
+ screamed o.t at sight of him. She ha
o,.x,;n.1 bcrself rs it was, an