Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1904-09-27

one was able to say exactly
how the thing had happened. The doc
tor, while reporting that George was
practically out of danger, had forbid
den any one to question the young
man, and all sorts Of speculations and
rumors were in the air. 1t was not
until late in the afternoon that even
Hillyer had q full explanation, for 1t
was not till then that he ran across
the letter George had written. Several
old men were in the Office at the time.
Hanks was there. and Bascom Truitt,
wiping his eyes and vowing revenge
on the miscreants who had so coward
ly attacked brave man.
Major Cranston, well wrapped in
rugs and braced by pillows, had come
down in a carriage with his negro man
servant and sat with the rest, pale of
face and weak looking, yet relieved to
discover that some valuable papers he
had left in Hillyer's keeping were in
tact. He had heard that the safe had
been opened, and then he had heard
that report contradicted and could only
rest satisfied by coming himself. weak
as he was. Hillyer had been strange
" silent all the afternoon, but when
he came upon Georges letter he rose
and began to talk in voice that sank
deep and shook with uncomfortable
emotion.
"I've Jest found the key to It," he
said, the letter in his hand, IAN I'll
bet you all will think well O that pore
wounded boy when you know what I
do. Last night three armed men slip
ped up on i'm right here in this office.
1 reckon, from what 1 gather, that
they told i'm his daddy was a convict,
an folks in general didn't expect i'm
to be honest nohow, an that ef he
didn't open the safe they'd kill i'm an
bore in it themselves. He wasn't
tempted one minute. but he wanted to
leave a line to me before he died"
Hillyer choked up and was silent for a
moment. The group bent toward him.
with working features and eyes dis
tended. $50 he told 'em all right, the
jig was up. but they'd have to give i'm
time to work out the combination.
They lowed he was doin' 1t, but In
stead he was writin' a last word to
me. He said he was tired O. liyin' any
how, the world was 80 down on I'm,
an that he'd ruther die AN take hand
in lettin' a gang o. thieves steal the
savin's O. pore folks, an so he said he
was goin' to refuse. He said he hoped
it would give the lie to the belief that
he was dishonest beca'se his old daddy
had gone wrong. Thar was another
matter he writ about, but that was
private. l want to say, though, that
George Buckley wasn't happy; he
hain't been happy fer long time.
Thar are men in this world that think
they are too good to mix an mingle
with men O. his stamp, but I've got
sech a durn contempt fer that sort O
thing that l feel like slappin' the jaws
O. folks that do in this day Of enlight-
enment."
"Same herer' said Bascom Truitt.
They were all somehow looking at
Major Cranson. Even Hanks had fixed
him with a curious stare. The invalid
stirred uneasily in his chair. One Of
his pillows fell to the floor, but the
negro man behind him forgot to restore
1t. Negroes comprehend the most dell
cate workings Of the Anglo-Saxon
brain, and this black creature knew
that his master had incurred the dis
pleasure Of his neighbors. Cranston
seemed to feel that he ought to speak,
but he did not like the expressions on
the faces Of Truitt and Hillyer, and
their voices had rung with accusing de-
fiance.
what do you think ought to be done.
Mr.. Hanks?" he asked.
81 don't know" said Hanks. II don't
know"
"Well," ventured Cranston, interlac-
ing his white, thin fingers, Il see no
harm in wiring the governor to offer q
reward for the arrest of the men. The
editor of the Citizen told me as l came
down that he'd publish anything free
of charge. If the governor would Oh
fer $500, or even three
"Governor,w snorted Truitt. do you
reckon I'd 60 to that cowardly ,skunE
to help in a matter like this? Eff we
hain't able here at home to stand be
hind a boy that offered his life to save
the money O. the widows an orphan:
in this county we ort to be whipped
"Huhw calculated Hanks suddenly
Five hundred dollars fer the man tina
shot George Buckley. I'll give S5,OO(
in cash out O. my own pocket. You tel
the editor that fer me, an tell i'm the
quicker he prints it the better it'll sui
me. Tell i'm to git out extra an
handbills an send 'em on hosses an
trains in all directions. I'll foot th'
bill" He was standing now, and hi
glance was bearing down significantlI
on the major. II never met a better
man than George Buckley. He's wuti
more to the community than forty
'leyen futed bosom ring politicians
Seems to me heard some fool woman
or other say thar was few people II
this town that tried to hold their heads
above i'm on account O his affiiction
BY gum, them sort I'D have to climb
powerful high mountain to look owe
that boys head, an don't you forge
it."
THAT'S the ticketw said Truitt. fol
lowing Hanks outside.
Seems to me-" said Cranston, III
proud lin -uuiverinG he turned I