Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1898-08-24
CHAPTER L
Copyright, 1897, by Robert Buchanan.

TaGQ6l JOuu " OOaAOAi, eAo peAAA ASA
priest If Mulrany, County Mayo, was
quietly breakfasting in the coffee room
of the Shamrock hotel, Westport, the
head waiter. Dennis Mccartney, an old
and privileged retainer of the establish
ment, thus addressed him:
you'll have come from Dublin by
the early morning train, Father John?"
81 have then, Dennis" replied the
priest, leaning back in his chair.
"Did your reverence hear the news?
Sure they'll have it in the papers this
morning, and ugly news it is entirely.
"What news, Dennis, my man? /
slept all the way in the train and drove
straight to the hotel. Z"
"Then read that, your reverence, !"
said the waiter, placing in his hands a
large handbill, moist from the press.
"They re posting them over the town,
and the peelers are sending the alarm
all over the county from here to Gal
way"
The priest adjusted his spectacles on
his nose and read as follows:
= slOO REWARD.
Last evening" as Miss Catherine Power OF
Castle Craig was being driven in her outside
car from Newport to Ballyveeny, she was at
tackled by masked men, who were lying in am
bush under the bridge on the Ballyveeny road
The driver, James Feeny, was struck down
and rendered insensible. When he recovered
his senses the horse and car were standing by
him In the road, but his mistress had diSap.
20 haC inr q
rany and gave information to the police. up
to daybreak this morning nothing has been
heard or seen Of the unfortunate lady. and 1t
is feared that she has met with foul play. ANY
person who will give such information as may
lead to the Identification of her assailants will
receive the above reward
Police Barracks, Mulrany. Jan. 6.
Saints of heavenr' cried the priest,
turning white as sheet and springing
to his feet. Am awake or dreaming?
The butchering, cowardly villains!
Have they murdered her at last?"
His plump and stalwart frame shook
like leaf, but he clinched his fist as if
to strike some invisible foe.
81 knew it would be sad news to
your reverence, said Dennis with a
QOleIul snake OI Gne uetiu
"Sad newsl It's like knife in my
heart, Dennis Mccartney My sweet
young lady, the flower Of all my flock,
the prettiest and the best lady in all
Ireland, and me away in Dublin when
I should have been watching and pray
ing by her sidel Give me my stick,
Dennis-my hat and my stick I'll
never ate and I'll never rest till I've
discovered the villains and hunted them
down.
Captain Kennedy's in the stable
yard, sir, if you d like to spake to him. T."
The priest nodded fiercely and strobe
away, brandishing his stick. AS he
passed out of the back door he came
face to face with a tall, clean shaven,
military looking man who was enter
ing the hotel. In the yard beyond was
an outside car, harnessed to which was
horse dripping with perspiration, and
close by the car was group OF hosslers
and armed police.
Whats this Captain Kennedy?
What's this?" cried the priest is it
the truth I've heard or some horrible
invintion?"
Its the truth, Father John. d" an
swered Kennedy, touching his cap.
Miss Power was attacked again last
night, and though we've been securing
the country we can t find trace of her. !"
"God help us!" gasped Father John,
with the tears streaming down his hon.
est cheeks.
Its strange affair entirely. We
found the poor lady s cloak not far from
the riverside, and the grass was all
trampled down as if there had been a
desperate struggle. Half mile away,
on the hillside, we found a small lace
handkerchief, with stains Of blood on
it. Jim Feeny says that, just as he came
to, he heard an awful scream from
down the river, but he was in dread OF
his own life and drove right away to
the barracks -
Dead! Murderedl Oh, Catherine,
Catherine, pulse of my heart, my dear
young lady"
IF she's dead. your reverence, it's
strange that we can find no trace Of the
body. We've dragged the river as far
as Ballycroy and found nothing what
ever There's just chance that it may
have been carried down to the salt wa
ter, for there was flood last night, but
that doesn seem likely"
And the scoundrels who did it2 The
butchering, numbering cowGrds?' cried
the priest, clinging tremulously to the
police captain.
Sure that's a puzzle, too. - replied
Kennedy. "There was money on the
car-the poor lady had drawn it at the
bank that morning and carried it in her
reticule-but we found the reticule
wide open and not pound note was
stolen. 1t wasn't theft the villains were
after, that's certain It's moro likely
that they wanted to be revenged on the
Door lady for some wrong she's done
them.
The eyes of the two men met. and
the same thought seemed to pass through
their minds simultaneously.
"You don't mean that" said the
priest
~ do, your reverence. answered the
officer. "There was only one man in
<ho oo,nfv who hore Miss Power any