Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1900-09-12

Ives Sprdng eacn 10 WIDOW anu
flung up the curtains. Yes, the dawn
was all abroad, though as yet no clear
idea Of their whereabouts could be
cleaned. But the light was sufficient
to enable them to perceive Filley, Hen
ry and Alec standing by the track side
by side, their arms pinioned behind
them and blindfolded. This, then, was
what they, too, might expect.
In q few moments noise was heard
at the front door Of the Miranda, and
almost Immediately It was flung open
with a crash that shook the car, and
then the command was given:
"Step out here, John Draper. and
pretty dunn quickw
"Don't 60! Oh, don't goT" begged
Florence, grasping his arm, to which
plant Mrs. Hurst added her plea.
Draper stood irresolute. Then quick
football was heard, and Jim Dallon ap-
peared in the curtained doorway, car
bine in' hand.
did you hear me call?" he thunder
ed. "John Draper, l want you! No
ones goin to hurt you, man! Onless
you want to be carried out you'll walk
out"
Gently releasing Flo's grasp he led
her to Mrs. Hurst and with a nod all
around stepped out ahead Of the rob-
ber leader. On the platform he was
seized by two Of the gang, who rapid
ly searched him for concealed weap-
ons, taking away even small PEN
knife, and then proceeded to pinion
his arms and blindfold him. This done
he was led to place alongside Filley
and told to keep his mouth shet"
Chester was subjected to the same
treatment, and then came Gustave's
turn. The poor Frenchman made lots
of sport for the band, falling on his
knees and begging for his life, be-
seeching them not to "coot troat," uu-
til at last he was forced to rise by a
we'll placed kick in the neither regions
and ranged alongside the FIVE other un-
happy masculines.
Sullen despair sat on Filley's counte-
nance. He saw all his plans dashed to
flinders by this untoward break In
their journey. At this instant he had
hoped to have been bound eastward on
the fastest express. and he cursed John
Draper by all his gods for having drag
ged him out west at such time. Con-
sequently he felt none Of the indigna-
ton experienced by Draper and Ives
when they were forced to stand by and
know that rough bands were being laid
on the women they loved, while they
were powerless for help or defense.
Chester ground his teeth and strained
at his bonds until they cut into his
coat sleeve. The veins In Draper's
neck and forehead swelled, and he
grew purple In the face with suppress
ed rage.
"You Internal villainsp he roared,
and then could have bitten his tongue
In half, for at that instant the voice OF
Florence Granniss became audible as
she appeared at the car door leading
the little procession Of four.
Their captors had forborne to pin
ion the ladies' arms, but they were
blindfolded like the rest, nor were they
suffered to come near their natural pro-
tectors.
81 can't stand this" exclaimed Ches-
ter, as he started to run after the wo-
men, the bandage having dropped from
his eyes during his contortions. But
he was speedily yanked backward and
downward by one Of the desperadoes,
who proceeded to sit on his chest until
Dallon himself came up an inquired:
"What's the row"
"Gettin a little obstropolus, that's
allr was the response.
"Set him up," was the command.
And then, addressing himself to Dra-
per and Chester, the captain Of the
gang thus spoke:
"You needn't be afeared that we're
goin to harm them ladies O yourn-
leastways, not yet! We've got little
matter O. business to settle with you
men first, and we're goin where we
kin talk quiet and confidential like"
"If you harm a hair Of their heads
you shall pay dearly" exclaimed Ches-
ter hotly. and in the same breath John
Draper uttered the words:
"As sure as there's a God in heaven
you shall suffer for this, you hound"
A sneering laugh was the only re-
sponse as the chief rascal gave the sig-
nal to march. The bandages were
carefully looked to, and then the entire
party set out in single file, prisoner
between every two robbers, the ladies
and the maid heading the column, with
Jim Dallon in front.
They proceeded thus in silence and
by a devious way for more than an
hour, though it seemed like four. The
road was rugged, and Its general trend
was upward. In fact, they were as
cending the bed Of dried up water
course. The pace was necessarily slow,
for the ladies being ahead they could
not proceed very fast and frequently
had to be helped and half carried over
the rougher places. Both Florence and
Madge at first Indignantly spurned all
such assistance, but when Dallon turn
ed and said, "If they kick, boys, just
carry emp they destded to accept the
lesser of the two evils. As for Mrs.
Hurst, she was too dazed and dispirit-
ed to offer any resistance.
At length a halt was called. Each
captive was half lifted, hauled or
boosted up what seemed like a steep
bank, and then, moving forward again,
their tired and weary feet sank into a
carpet of soft sand. A few PAGES more
and the bandages were removed from
their eyes, and, looking about them.
our friends discovered that they were