Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1899-08-12
THE MYSTERY OF
COUNT LANDR|N0F
Bv FRED WHISHAW.
Copyright, $780, by the American Press Association

heard of or seen any gentleman answer
ing to my description of my father.
"Speak on by all means. l said
"but no lies, mindr'
Lord have mercy. barin. would llie
to your"
cit strikes me you have done so once
already. my friend" Isaid-"that is, if
you have anything to tell me now.
"Sh hr' he said, glancing round
again. "Not go loud. barin; that was
necessary, because others were present
who might not hear, but all the while
said to myself. When it is safe, and |
can gee this good BARN alone, / will go
and tell him all the truth. and IS
promised myself. 80 have performed
Here l am"
Every well," l said. rs rubles if
your tale sounds satisfactory, and an
other if on inquiry it proves to have
been true.
The fellows eyes sparkled. "Glory to
the highesti" he said. "Then am sure
of my money.
Then the little rascal spun most
circumstantial tale Of how one day. a
very short while since
Last week2" interposed.
Eyes, last week, certainly. last
week, he said. he had been driving his
cart from the fields near the village.
when three men in the road called to
him to stop. One seemed i'll, and the
other two supported him. They asked
whether he could drive them to Balota,
to the post station. and he replied that
for a certain sum he would do so, but
the sum he mentioned was a large one,
because his horse was tired.
Drive us there in an hour. they
said. land you shall have double that /
Then, glad at heart-for money is scarce
in these parts-he drove them quickly to
Balota. At the post station they carried
the sick man in. Then one came out and
gave him the money, fou!- times as
much as be had asked, and said that
this much was paid him because there
were reasons why he should not breathe
word to living man or woman about
having driven this party of three to Ba-
lota. On the other hand, they would be
sure to know if his tongue should wag.
and, by all that was sure and terrible,
death would be his reward-a sudden
and violent death-when he least ex-
pected i'll My little informant at this
point looked so pale and so obviously
alarmed at his own temerity in telling
me the story that / could not help be-
ing impressed by it. Either he spoke the
truth or he was most consummate
actor as we'll as liar.
"Look here, my man, )" l said, wish
ing to test him further. "You are very
rash. Supposing that should prove to
be the friend of these persons who en-
ployed you. sent by them purposely to
try the good faith Of the man they had
trusted by offering bribe as though
from the other side. Why. you would
be as good as a dead man and
The wretched fellow was on his knees
in moment; tears rushed to his eyes;
he groaned and walled and moaned,
crossing himself vehemently and utter
tering inarticulate words - probably
prayers-as unmistakable picture of
abject terror as the eye could see Real
or assumed. his fear took me in at once,
and l believed his tale.
Don't be afraid, you poor fool"
said. II am no spy. 1t is my interest
to learn the truth Of these matters, and
l believe your story. Are you satisfied
l shall tell no one who informed me or
indeed that l know of all this that you
have told me. am not aware of your
name, and you need not reveal it; you
are safe. so far as I am concerned, and