Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1904-09-23


"Is this Hillyer's warehouse" b.
asked.
EYES," said George. Anything can
do for your
"Well, not exactly fer me-" said the
man, "but old Squire Deck-I reckon
you know him, over in Gilmer?
81 know Of him." George responded.
"Well, he sent me to ak eff you uns
would let i'm put his will in your safe
that is, CT you got one; the squire
didn't know whether you had or not"
The man was looking about the room.
81 don't See none. I'm shore"
"It's there In the vault" George ex.
planned, pointing to the big steel door.
"Oh, it's in thar? Well, I reckon it's
good an strong"
Zone of the best in the country"
George said, leaving his high stool
and opening the outer door.
"One O. them com-combination
locks"
"Yes-that's 1t. Did you bring the
paper with you? We are always glad
to accommodate people"
"No; didn't fetch it. He told me to
inquire. 1 never did like the notion o
them combination locks, as fer's I'm
concerned said the man. "Too many
folks has got the password into 'em.
Now, a good, stout key that shoves a
steel bolt into a good, strong socket is
hard to beat"
"Tm the only one about here that
knows this combination" Buckley ex-
planned politely. I'VE change it quite
often too. Even Mr.. Hillyer doesn't
keep up with it unless I'm going away"
"Oh, we'll, l reckon it will be safe
enough, an III tell the squire about 1t
when 90 back"
The man turned out Of the ware
house, crossed the railway tracks and
walked on till he was in the woods on
the edge of the village. Here he was
met by two other men who, glancing
about furtively. came out into the open
to meet him.
George had considerable work to do
that night in the office. The safe was
already closed and the front and rear
doors Of the building were locked and
barred. Countrymen often came about
the warehouse early in the evening,
and, as he wished to be undisturbed, he
closed the door to keep them from
knowing he was there. He also closed
the heavy wooden shutters Of the front
windows that the light Of his lamp
might not show through to the street.
He worked on unconscious of the pas
sage of time from o'clock until near
midnight. Suddenly he detected a
sound like the crunching Of grain OF
wheat under foot, and, looking round,
he saw three men standing behind him
with leveled revolvers.
"What does this mean?' he asked,
his eyes fixed on the rigid face Of the
man whom he recognized as his visitor
Of that afternoon. "Is this trap"
That's about the size Of 1t, young
man." was the cool reply. "Now, you
keep yore seat on that stool an don't
bat yore eye. The fool on my lefts
got a gun that's powerful easy on trig-
ger, an it's all he kin do to keep bis
finger up. Don't shoot i'm, Bill. till
I've give i'm chance"
what is it you want?" George asked.
He was not frightened, but the situa-
ton certainly was grave one, and
he felt that he had little, If any. chance
for his life.
1--WE are mountain hoosiers," said the
leader Of the men, "but we hain't fools
by long shot. We know our business
as well as you know yore'n, an thars
no need tellin' you eff you don't git O
move on yoreself an open that safe
you'll never open 1t ag'in."
That's 1t, then"
"Yes, that's it. This is one time when
you've got to knuckle ur git the wust
Of it."
George glanced toward the front
door.
"You needn't be lookin' fer a way
out" said the mountaineer, IAN you
needn't expect the night watchman to
be pacin' along by here. He's dead
drunk. 1 know. kase l furnished the
LIQUOR an seed it take effect"
$50 you think you can force me into
this thing" said George. do you
know, I'd rather die right here thar
let you rob that safe while it Is In my
care?"
"Oh, come off; you are no fool, Buck
ley. Open the safe. We are not here
to palaver. At least say positive
whether you will or not. I'll jest give
you sixty seconds by that clock uE
thar. Boys, ef he don't open the safe
in one minute from now pull down or
i'm an don't miss fer all you do. You'd
ruther die, had you. Buckley? Well
We'll see If that's so or not. He's
chip off'n the old block, boys. His
daddy couldn't keep his hands Off
other folks things, an his life WASH,
at stake. He'll wilt. all right
$50 that's the reason you thought P6
give in," said George, now quite pale
his lips quivering.
"Well. that's one reason said tht
man. But what's the use o talkln
Time is passin'. Jest another half min
ute, boys. Git ready. He may be foo
enough to want to defy u.s."
Hundreds Of thoughts flashed through
George Buckley's brain. There was
indeed, a large amount Of money IL
the safe, and thousands Of dollars OF
it. belonged to poor people who had