Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1904-02-23

z as they turned eaStWdru ou
the pike toward home.
"They'll make the eight miles in
three-quarters Of an hour" said Judge
Briscoe proudly. He turned from his
daughter ut his side to Miss Sherwood,
who sat with Mr.. Fisbee behind them.
and pointed ahead with his whip.
"Just beyond that bend we pass through
Six Crossroads"
Miss Sherwood leaned forward eager
ly. what did you mean last night
after the lecture" she said to Fisbee.
when you asked Mr.. Martin who was
to be with Mr.. Harkless"
"Who was watching him." he an
swered.
watching him? don't under
stand"
Eyes: they have shot at him from
the woods at night and"-
"But who watches him?"
"The young men Of the town. He
has habit Of taking long walks after
dark, and he Is needless Of all remon-
STRANGE. so the young men have organ
lied a guard for him. and every even
ing cne Of them follows him until he
goes to the Office to work for the night
1t Is a different young man each night,
and the watcher follows at distance,
so that he does not suspect"
"But how many people know of this
arrangement
"Nearly every one in the county ex-
cept the Crossroads people, though it is
not improbable that they have discov-
cred it."
"And has no one told him"
mo; he would not allow 1t to con-
tinue. He will not even arm himself"
"They follow and watch him night
after night, and every one knows and
no one tells him? Oh, l must say"
cried the girl. 81 think these are good
peoplep'
The blackboard turned the bend In the
road. and they entered squalid settle
ment built raggedly about black
smith shop and saloon. "I'd hate to
have breakdown here" Briscoe re-
marked quietly.
Half q dozen shanties clustered near
the forge. q few roofs scattered through
the shiftlessly cultivated fields. four or
five barns propped by fence rails, some
sheds with gaping apertures through
which the light glanced from side to
side. squad Of thin razorback hogs.
now and then worried by gaunt hounds.
and some abused looking hens cropping
about disconsolately in the mire, a
broken topped buggy with twisted
wheel. settling into the mud Of the
middle Of the road (there was always
abundant mud here in the driest sum-
mer): dim face sneering from bro
ken window-Six Crossroads was for
bidding and forlorn enough by day.
The thought Of what might issue from
it by night was unpleasant, and the
legends Of the Crossroads, together
with an unshapen threat easily fapcird
in the atmosphere Of the place, made
Miss Sherwood shiver as though Il co!f
draft had crossed her.
1T Is 50 sinisterw she exclaimed
"And so unSpeakably mean! This
where they live. the people that hate
hin, is it? The White CapsT"
They call themselves that" replied
Briscoe. Usually White Caps are
rigilance committee in region where
the law isn't enforced. These fellows
aren't that kind. They got together to
wipe out grudges. and sometimes didn't
need any grudge-just made their raids
Tor pure devilment. There's feud be-
tween us and them that goes back into
pioneer days. and only few Of US old
folks know much about it."
And he was the first to try to stop
thcm?'
well. you see. our folks are pretty
long suffering" said Briscoe apologet-
ically. Wed sort Of got used to the
meanness Of the Crossroads. 1t took
stranger to stir things up. and he
did. He sent eight Of them to the peni-
tentiary, some for twenty years"
AS they passed the saloon a man
stepped into the doorway and looked
ut them. He was coatless and clad In
. garments worn to the color OF dust.
His bare head was curiouSly mulform-
ed, higher OH one side than on the 9th
er, and though the blackboard passed
rapidly and at distance this singular
IOpsidedneSs was plainly visible to the
occupants, lending an ugly significance
to his meager, yellow face. He was
tall, lean, hard. powerfully built. He
eyed the strangers with affected Ian
guor and then. when they had gone by.
broke into sudden loud laughter.
THAT was Bob Skillet, the worst of
the lot" said the judge. "Harkless
sent his son and one brother to prison.
and it nearly broke his heart that he
couldn't swear to Bob"
When they were beyond the village
and in the open road again Miss Sher-
wood took a deep breath. 81 think
breathe more freely. That was hid
eous laugh he sent after u.s."
The judge glanced at his guests face
and chuckled. 81 guess we won't
frighten you MUCH" he said. Young
lady, | don't believe you'd be a'' v of
many things. would you? ! IT
look like it. Besides, the CT. Ids
isn't Plattville. and the White Caps
have been too scared to do anything
much except try to get even with the
Herald for the last two years-ever
since it went for them. They're lay
ing for Harkless partly for revenge and