Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1902-07-30


She was riding down a rocky dehle.
Her face was flushed, her arms weary,
for she carried her pet lamb, Billy, an
obstreperous favorite, who ran away
on every possible occasion.
Billy was seasick and rehellious, and
when she stopped over her gate latch
he wriggled out of her lap and jumped
to the ground.
With an exclamation Of impatience
she dismounted and began lively but
vain chase. She was in despair when
tall figure appeared on the rocks
above, and, taking him for one of the
ranchmen, she called perelnptorily for
aid.
The newcomer darted down. A brisk,
undignified scramble ensued. and Billy
was placed, kicking and struggling, In
her arms, while she herself faced Her
bert Brownlow.
81 beg your pardon" she said coldly.
'If 1 had recognized you, would
never have given you this trouble"
"Don't apologize" returned her COM
panion cheerfully. 81 am very glad to
have come to the rescue"
'There's no question Of rescue" said
Miss Henderson ungraciously. 81
would soon have had him. Billy is al.
ways easy to catch"
every easy" murmured the other,
glancing ut his scratched hands and
frayed trousers.
"And please understand one thing"
she continued-"if you ever hear me
call for help, it doesn't mean you. It's
bad enough to live close to people who
steal from you under cover Of the
law
Here such an ominous expression
came over his face that she stopped,
rather frightened.
"Will you go on? l should like to
hear the rest of the catalogue"
"rhen you shall"' the girl cried reck.
lessly. "You have stolen tract OF
our land. Your men have cut our
fences and branded our strays."
"Are you aware" said Herbert calm.
ly, "that the man from whom your
father purchased that tract never own.
ed it; that we paid hard money for II
to the true possessor; that it was SO
proved in court? Your other charges
are equally unfounded. In fact, the
only instance round here Of selling
other peoples property has been the
case Of certain pet lamb born on my
fathers ranch"
Miss Henderson clasped the outraged
Billy closely.
"Have you the assurance to say my
lamb was stolen from your
Il could prove it If l chose. But
don't be alarmed. You are welcome
to him, only it might make you little
more generous in your remarks about
Others"
81 never heard Of anything so Inn.
pertinent" gasped Miss Henderson.
"You think because am girl you
can call me thief, but you shan't get
Off as easily as you imagine"
Two days later man presented Her.
bert with q very dirty note which ran
as follows:
| Mr.. Herbert brownlow
you are Hereby summoned to attend justice
| court on the Seventeenth instant to answer for
defamin the Character Of miss Nelly Henderson
the Case rests on the onershipp Of one white lam
the complainant has been accused OF stcalin the
| said lam to the great Injury Of her feelins and
Reputation. II you Have any Witnesses bring
| Those.
[Signed] FOSTER CAMPBELL j
Foster Campbell represented oil that
Clark county knew Of law. He owned
q large copy of the code, in which he
could not read a word, but this did not
trouble him, as an old cripple whom
he had befriended and who was term.
ed clerk read his patron to sleep on the
intricacles of the law every night.
The two principals In the trial reach
ed the court, which was situated on
the Justices piazza, at exactly the
same time.
Miss Henderson looked with dismay
at q large crowd Of spectators. II
dawned on her that 1t was Saturday
and that every ranchman within fifty
miles had taken half day to see the
trial.
What are these horrid men doing
here?" she exclaimed wrathfully as
the justice helped her to alight. 81
thought there'd be just you and me,
the witnesses, and-and Mr.. Brown.
low. I'll wait"
"Kain't do that" said the justice
decidedly.
Brownlow stepped forward.
81 told Miss Henderson she could
have the lamb. She may drop the
whole affair if she chooses"
"She kain't," said the justice firmly.
"NeIther of you kin 60 nolle prossin'
things around here like that. What
begins in my court finishes"
II intend to finish," said Miss Hen.
derson, sweeping past Brownlow and
taking the chair reserved for her.
The Justice cleared his throat.
''The first case on docket Is Miss
Henderson versus Mr.. Brownlow. Mr..
Brownlow has aggrieved the com.
plainant's feelin's by calm her a
thief'-
''That I never did," said Herbert
angrily.
'This court ia not used to Interrupt
tions," said the Justice irritably. "This
case will be determined by the lamb.
II it proves to be Miss Henderson's,
Mr.. Brownlow will pay what damages
the court sees fit. Is the lamb here"