Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1899-05-03

"wel1 l'ank. l" cooIly remarked the
leader. lyon seem to be what you claim.
and Miss Hartman says that this letter
(handing it back to him) was written
by Captain Trenholm. but it happens
that the captain doesn't command our
company.
81 do not see what that has to do
with my case. replied the lieutenant.
who. nevertheless was quite certain Of
the drift of the words.
"You II be likely to see pretty soon.
was the significant remark Of the lead
er. "These are not the times to show
much consideration to the like of You.
I'll own that the question ism t clear in
my mind. I'll have to talk it over with
the boys While we're doing so, you
can withdraw. Stay with the women.
No doubt they'll find your company
agreeable. Bill, go along and keep an
eye on him all the time, remembering
that. if he hasn't any weapons except
his sword. the fact won't hinder him
from running. if he gets the chance. "
The soldier addressed as "Bill' mo-
toned to Oakman to follow him into
the hall. The prisoner did 80, the two
joining the three women. who were
seated near the stand or table upon
which was the candle. with their arme
folded. grim. silent and waiting. They
turned their eyes toward the couple. but
not word was spoken by any one.
All the chairs were occupied, and the
men kept their feet. Bill wished to fol-
low the debate that was going on in the
next room and placed himself near the
door that he might catch the words
spoken. an easy thing to do, since there
was little or no attempt at secrecy by
the others.
While posted thus the soldier motion
ed for Oakman to take his place in
front. that he might observe his every
movement. the guard me. while keep
ing his hand on the revolver at his hip.
Less than five minutes later scream
rang out. from Miss Hartman, and the
startled company in the adjoining room
dashed into the hall to learn its cause.
She was in her chair. gasping and strug-
Cling. with frightful attack of hys-
terics: Mrs Benware and her sister. as
white as death, sat silent. upright and
evidently on the point of swooning;
Bill. the cavalryman. was stretched on
his back. to all appearances as dead as
dead could be. The open front door left
no doubt whittier the prisoner had gone.
and with fierce imprecations the raiders
streamed outside and made for their
horses.
Not minute was to be lost. for in
the vivid moonlight he was seen in the
act Of swinging himself into the saddle
of one of the animals that had been
tied at the side Of the lane, fully alive
to the fact that his life depended upon
using every second at his command
Not doubling what the verdict Of the
men would be. Lieutenant Oakman.
while in the hall with his jailer, deter
mined to discount it. The fact that his
guard did not suspect any such wild
purpose increased the chances of the
officer. Without his motive being dis
trusted by the man whose attention
was centered upon the discussion in the
adjoining room the lieutenant stepped
up near him. The next instant he was
throttled with such lightninglike
quickness that he sank to the floor and
collapsed without being able to make
an outcry.
Lieutenant Oakman would have
strangled the life ont of him without
any compunction had he dared to linger
for that purpose, but the door at his
side was likely to open any moment.
when it would be all over with him.
As it was he came near shutting off the
wind Of the fellow for good. but. seeing
him senseless he snatched away his re-
volver. rose from his feet and tiptoed
hurriedly out of the door.
The whole thing was begun and end
ed so quickly that the daring fellow
seemed to be gone ere the women un-
derstood what it all meant. Then mo-
ment passed before they did anything.
and the form on the floor had begun to
show signs of returning animation.
when Miss Hartman uttered her pene-
trating scream. the party crowded into
the hall. and. without pausing to ask
questions. made for the fleeing prisoner.
Lieutenant Oakman was as cool as he
was active. There was no time in which
to select the best horse. and he united
the one nearest at hand. They were
partly in moonlight and partly in shad-
ow. but he saw the old building dis
gorging its terrible contents, as he
turned the head of his animal down the
lane toward the highway. and he knew
the battle for life was On. There would
be no surrender or quarter shown in
this business
The instant the animal broke into his
gallop in the middle of the lane Oak
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