Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1904-07-26
M By WILL N. HARDEN,
Al 20 Author Of
"Abner
el" "The
Land Of the
Substitute :::::;:: g.: 8: s: e: !: !:
Etc.
Bv WILL N. HARDEN,
Copyright. 1908. by HARPER q BROTHERS

I could help you, but I can't I'll settle
Buckley's hash in about two minutes
after give him sound lecture. Right
now the old devil would cut the throats
of several of the states witnesses II
he was at liberty"
"Then I'll so back to the store an
tell the boy" Hillyer sighed as be
moved to the door. dead look Of dis
appointment in his eye.
As Hlllyer was making his way
through the courtroom to the outer
door the wife Of the condemned man
reached out her hand and stopped him
She had clutched the tail Of his long
frock coat.
81 want to speak to you," she said
"Go ahead. I'm goin' outside" BE
led the way down the stairs to the yard
below and then paused to hear what
she had to say.
II seed you invite the judge out" she
began. 81 suspicioned you axed i'm
to make it fine"
"Yes, that's what called i'm out fer,
Mrs. Buckley" the merchant said,
looking down commiserately on her fat
figure clothed in dingy black calico,
"but it wasn't bit O use. He's made
up his mind to send the old man OF
for five years."
The woman nodded slowly. "Well, l
reckon it's as good as we kin expect,
she said. EFF 1t had been fine, George
would "a had to pay 1t, an I'm agin
that proposition. He's worked hard
to make his little start, an 1t amt
right fer i'm to have to give 1t up when
Mr.. Hillyer, I've heard that pore boy
beg an beg his pa to change, an ct
he's predicted this thing once he has
fifty times"
II knew that, too," replied the mer-
chant, with dark frown. but
George is jest so situated right now
Mrs. Buckley, that he'd sacrifice all he
expects to make in the next ten years
to avoid the disgrace O the sentence
He holds his own with the biggest
folks in town, an this is simply awful,
You know how some O. these blue.
blooded families look on thing like
this"
"Jest about as sensible as they look
on most things" retorted Mrs. Buck
ley philosophically, San I don't see no
use In humorin' 'em. They may know
mans a thief, but eff he hain't pub,
licly branded they don't care. But
David has broke the law; thar amt no
change to be made in i'm, an I'm agin
lettin' It hamper George, no matter
what these shallow minded aristocrats
think. What's botherin' me is another
thing"
"Y0u say 1t is, Mrs. BuckleyT And
the merchant stared eXpectantly.
Eyes. Mr.. Hillyer. George hain't got
but one weakness. an that Is, once In
a long while. when he Is In despair
he will take drink to drown his trou'
BILE. ! reckon he hain't fetched drap
but once since he's been with you"
"An' that was the time they threat
ened to Jail yore husband fer pennin
-
squashin' the charge"
Eyes. that was the time"-the old wo
man pushed back her gingham poke
bonnet and looked straight into Hill
yer's eyes-"an' l am anxious to fnd
out eff this thing has made HIM
"Not yet, Mrs. Buckley" Hillyers
voice had fallen very low; T. was al
most husky. But I've been that afeard
1t would start i'm off that hain't beer
able to sleep at night. He's IN a awful
state O. mind, Mrs. Buckley, an wher
I 20 back an tell i'm the judges e,
cision I don't know what he'll do. A
fine piece O. metal will bend jest SC
far an then it'll break"
The old woman nodded again slowly
and then said: "Well, I'll go back In
side. This is a new wrinkle on me
It's considered right an proper fel
folks to go to the grave with Their kin
an reckon thar I'D be talk eff l shirk
ed hearin' the sentence. but tell George
III come down to the store after
awhile"
"All right. Mrs. Buckley. I'll tel
i'm"
AS Hillyer turned toward the gate
to reach the little street which stretch
ed out, lined with cottages and bricl
law offices, to the red brick freight de
not at the far end, one Of the loungerE
on the grass rose and slouched toward
him.
Have they sentenced Buckley YETI
he asked. I'm witness on that barr
burnin' case. an eff it amt a-goin' II
be called tonight I'm a-goin' home"
"It's next on the docket" the mer
chant Informed him.
The man had another question ready
WHATS cotton bringin' today" h'
asked. T've got big white bale ready
! fer the GIN
Seven and three-eights," answered
Hillyer, and he walked on. On th'
main thoroughfare' Of the town he hat
to pass several brick stores where th'
| clerks and merchants stood amid th'
heaps of their wares on the narrow
brick sidewalks. and many Of then
| asked about the Buckley trial. Hillye
made short but considerate replies ant
FASTENED past. On corner of one O.
the streets running back to q railroad
sidetrack, In the rear, stood his ware
house. Here he found his negro porte
busy with rattling floor trucks loading
a box car with bags Of grain. The of
fee was q commodious room cut of
in one Of the corners Of the big brick
building next to the street. 1t con