Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1903-07-25
YOU see-why you didn't tell then

SLdr6u uOSSculy lutO oioAoP . AoSS'
"Stick to your farming and don't waste
your time asking professional lawyer
questions which have no bearing on
your business whatever. Now, really,
do l have to explain to you my per-
sonal reasons for not favoring the
Tompkins people with al may say
any piece of informationT
Bishop was now as white as death.
His worst suspicious were confirmed
he was q ruined man; there was no
further doubt about that. Suddenly he
felt unable to bride the contemptuous
fury that ragged within him.
81 think l know why you didn't tell
'em," was what he hurled at the law
yer.
"You think you do"
"Yes; 1t was beca'se you knowed no
road was goin' to be built You told
Pete Mosely the same tale you did me,
an Abe Tompkins unloaded on I'm.
That's a way you have O. doin' bust
ness"
Perkins stood up. He took his silk
hat from the top Of his desk and put
it on. "Oh. yes, old man." he sneered;
"I'm terribly dishonest fellow, but
I've got company in this world. Now,
really, the only thing that has wor-
ried me has been your un-Chrtstian act
In buying all that land from the Tomp-
kins heirs at such low figure when
he railroad will advance its value so
,reatly. Mr.. Bishop, l thought you
were good Methodist"
"Oh. you kin laugh an jeer all you
like" cried Bishop, "but I can handle
you fer this"
"You are not as well versed In the
law as you are In fertilizers, Mr.. Bish-
op." sneered the lawyer. I'm order to
make case against me you'd have to
publicly betray q matter I told to you
in confidence, and then what would
you gain? I doubt II the court would
force me to explain private matter
like this where the interests Of my ell
ents are concerned, and If the court
did I could simply show the letters l
have regarding the possible construc-
ton of a railroad in your section. If
you remember rightly, l did not say
the thing was an absolute certainty.
On top Of all this you'd be obliged to
prove collusion between me and the
Tompkins heirs over sale made by
their attorney, Mr.. Trabue. There is
one thing certain. Mr.. Bishop, and that
Is that you have forfeited your right
to any further confidence In this mat
ter. II the road is built, you'll find
out about it with the. rest Of your peo-
pie. You think you acted wisely In at
tacking me this way, but you have
simply cut off your nose to spite your
face. Now. l have long car ride be-
fore me, and It's growing late"
Bishop stood up. He was quivering
as with palsy. His voice shook and
rang like that of madman.
"You are a scoundrel, Perkins," he
said-"a dirty blacksnake In the grass!
I want to tell you thatT'
"Well, hope you won't make any
charge for it."
"No; it's free" Bishop turned to the
door. There was a droop upon his
whole body. He dragged his feet as
he moved out into the unlighted corri-
dor, where he paused irresolutely. So
great was his agony that he almost
obeyed an impulse to go back and fall
at the feet of Perkins and implore his
aid to rescue him and his family from
impending ruin. The lawyer was NOV
ing about the room. closing his desk
and drawing down the window shade.
"It's no use," sighed Bishop as he
made his way downstairs. "I'm ruined!
Alan an Adele hain't cent to their
names. an that devil'- Bishop paused
on the first landing like an animal at
bay. He heard the steady step Of Per-
kins on the floor above, and for mo-
ment his fingers tingled with the
thought Of waiting there In the dark
ness and choking the life out Of the
subtle scouudrel who had taken advan.
tage Of his credulity.
But with groan that was half a
prayer he went on down the steps and
out into the lighted streets. At the
first corner lpe saw a car which would
take him to his brothers. and he
hastened to catch it.
William Bishops house was a mod
ern brick structure, standing on q well
clipped lawn which held a Gothic sum.
mer house and two or three marble
statues. 1t was in the best portion Of
the avenue. Reaching it, the planter
left the car and approached the iron
gate which opened on to the granite
steps leading up the terrace. 1t was
now quite dark. Obeying a sudden
impulse, the old man irresolutely
passed by the gate and walked farther
up the street.
"Somehow | don't feel one bit like
It," he unused. 81 couldn't tell Will
liam. He'd think 1 wanted to borrow
money an 'ud git skeerd right of. He
always was afeerd I'd mismanage.
An then I'd hate to sp'ile Adele's
visit, an she could tell thar was
some'n wrong by me bein' heer in sech
a furry. I reckon I do show it. How
could a body hep It? Oh, my Lord,
have mercy! It's all gone. all-all men
Betsy has saved"
He turned at the corner Of his broth
er's property and slowly retraced his
halting steps to the gate, but he did
not pause, continuing his way back to-
ward the station. A glance at the
house showed that all the lower rooms
were lighted, as we'll as the big pris-
matte lamp that hung over the front
door pSshon saw forms in light srm-