Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1904-08-30
By WILL N. HARDEN,


lence fell-a threatening silence. The
cooking Of a revolver somewhere, in
the crowd sounded clearly.
"That's right, shoot at me, you dirty
coward" said Buckley defantly. "Here
I stand In the light. and can't pick
you out in the dark. Shoot, you cow
ardly sneak"
"Put that gun down." cried deter
mined voice in the throng. "You harm
George Buckley an I'll Dut daylight
through you"
There was a sound Of struggle.
stified oaths and the clash Of revolver
as 1t struck the pavement. It was fol.
lowed by grumbling words. hot dis.
putting and-silence.
"You are a set Of cowards," said
Buckley, running Ike pack Of wolves
after poor boy for what he said and
did when he was drunk. Now, clear
out, the last one of you! You know
who I am-and you know II there is
any one of you. or any three, that want
to hold me responsible for this step
I'll be on hand. Has any one here any
row to pick with Jeff Truitt, then let
him speak up. I'll represent him. I'm
In a fighting mood tonight and will
satisfy just as many as will apply"
"An' he'll do 1t, too, boys" said an
admiring voice. "Buckley's got the
right stuff in i'm! Come on, let's go
home. George seems friendly to the
cuss, an any friend O. his Is safe as
fur as I'm concerned"
Same here" Joined In another voice.
Buck. yo're all right, but that's a
dern slack wad yo're takin' up fer. as
shore as yo're knee high to duck"
"Well. he's my friend, and I'm bis
mothers friend" said Buckley. "A
mob like yours shan't send his corpse
home to her If I can help It."
"He'd be about as much use to 'er
that away as in bis natural condition"
laughed a man near the front "But
Of she bankers after I'm, an Buckley
wants i'm to live on, I'll withdraw my
claim. This Is the sort Of rabbit hunt
I don't much like nohow."
A laugh rose and went round. 1t was
q favorable sign. George lowered his
revolver. go home, boyu," he said
wearily. "I'm sorry I spoke as I did
Just now. You are all my friends; I
can see that. Good night"
They stood for an Linstant- as II nm
certain what step to take, but Buckley's
last words had completely disarmed
them. Slowly they disbanded and
struggled away. When they were all
lost in the darkness George closed the
door and locked it. Just then JEFF
Truitr emerged from the darkness In
the interior of the building and, with
hanging head and downcast eyes. drew
near.
"Oh, George" he faltered. Il wish
they had killed me. I'm a coward !
was afeard Of 'em-afeard Of 'en"
1T wasn't that. my boy; don't you be.
lieve it." said George cOnsoiingly. "You
were simply stampeded. The best sol.
diers are that way when they see
overwhelming numbers approaching.
You've got grit, but they tell me you
have to fill up with whisky to float It."
But you wasn't afeard Of EN-" wall
ed the boy.
Yes, l was-at first" said Buckley.
81 shook all over, and then got drunk
with rage, just like you do On whisky.
It's the same thing-just as wide as
It's long. Don't you bother; you'll
fight, Jeff. II I'd thought you were a
coward I'd never been the friend to
you am. My Lord. don't remember.
away back at the log schoolhouse, how
Press Triton bullied you all day, pinch
Ing you, calling you names, and finally,
when he began to bump your head
against the wall, you turned In and
gave him the worst licking he ever
hud? He had black eyes and puffy
laws for week. Some men are that
way-Just don't like trouble and stay
AWAY from it till it's showed on them.
How did they happen to come here for
you"
"They went home after me, reckon"
said the boy, IAN when they found out
! was here they come on to get liquor
an settle with me. Eff you was me.
George, what would you do-go home
tonight? You know the folks will be
a-worryin'."
mo: you stay here and sleep with
me-" said George. I'm not going to
risk you anywhere else tonight"
They went back to the bedroom,
Buckley carrying the light. AS they
passed the big freproof vault in the
office JEFF said, Looks like 1t would
be resky to leave jest one man here
with a whole lot O. money In safe
like that. George"
1T has combination lock-" Buck
lev told him. 1T would take an ex-
pert burglar several hours to open 1t,
and the noise would wake me. That's
why sleep here. Nearly all the poor
people in the mountains and here IN
town deposit their savings with u.s.
! It's a big responsibility, but the safe
and vault are the best In the state.
They are better than those at the bank
uptown. an that's why the people
want to deposit with us. It's lot OF
trouble, but Mr.. Hillyer likes to accom-
modate them"
| And thar's always lots O. money
in the safe, I reckon" said Jeff.
Thousands Of dollars, my boy" re-
piled Buckley; ''but it's fireproof, and
the risk is very little, as told you.
am In this room every night, and when
20 away Kenner sleeps here"
But thar's another thing you hain't
thought Of" said Jeff. Robbers some
times slip up on man, git i'm well
covered an then force i'm to open
safe. What would you do in a case
like that, GeorgeT
Buckley laughed. II haven't thought
i of that, TN admit" be answered; "but,
with the responsibility on me like 1t ds,
l believe I'd die fighting rather than
voluntarily give In"
THAT nd be foolishness," said Jen
| "What's money-eyen q fortune-to {