Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1904-08-30
c.p,,isAt. 1895. BY HARPER BROTHERS
CHAPTER XVII.

December George was alone In
the Office. He had just finished
u writing some letters when Jeh
Truitt came In and stood near the
stove. He was a slender young man,
under twenty-five, short and frail look
ing. Hfs clothing was ragged and his
sandy hair unkempt. Buckley looked
at him and smiled. "Been getting your
self Into no end of rows over home"
he remarked. my mother tells me
they sent you deaths head the other
night, and your father said somebody
shot at you In the field"
THAT'S all SO, George" said Truitt
gloomily. II reckon I've been shootn'
OF my mouth little too much"
II really thought you had more sense
than to report that desperate gang over
there for moonshining." said George
in kindly tone.
"Wouldn't "a done 1t ef I'd been
SOBER" replied Truitt. 'They made
me mad when l was full. an done
'sm all the harm I could"
SWeA, what are you going to do about
It Jenr
THAT'S what l come to az you,
George. Ma and pa are mighty nigh
crazy about 1t. an give 'em my word
I'd come an az yore advice. By gum,
they think they'll 60. to you when they
die! RI you was me would you 60
back over thar today, George? IL
got another warnIn' last night: in fact,
six or eight Of 'em was scattered all
about the place. say warnin'. but
reckon they was wuss than that; they
was to pa an ma an said ef they
ketched me they wouldn't do thing
to me-"
.WelI, there's some consolation In
that" said George dryly.
"You know I hain't afeard O any rea-
sonabie number O. men," said Truitt in
his whining voice. but when whole
regiment Of 'em comes to drink fel-
lers blood I jest git ratified an want
to make tracks. Eff I had my way.
though. I'd go back home an defy 'em,
but mas mighty nigh crazy"
"No; you'd better stay In town today
anyway, Jeff," said Buckley after q
moments" reflection. "Go up to the
Johnston House and get your breakfast
take all your meals there while you
are In town-I've got an account there;
tell them to charge 1t to me. Stay In
towr tonight anyway. TN zee you TO
morrow. I'm very busy today. DO
you think the gang would dare follow
you here?"
"They might, George. They raised .
rumpus here about a year ago. you
know-whippin' niggers In Niger.
town"
Later in the morning Buckley met
the town marshal. Joe Batey, on the
street. The officer wore broad brim-
med hat, a dark blue suit OF clothes
with brass buttons and carried a po-
hceman's club strapped to his wrist
George gravsly explained the situation
to him, but the officer refused to con.
Germ himself In the matter.
"Look y here, George Buckley" he
said do you reckon I'm paid measly
town wages to do both town and coun'
II work? Eff the sheriff cayn't keep
down them riots over thar in the noun
tains, cayn't. Fer $50 month I'm
expected to do police duty in daytime,
watchman at night an act as coroner
on special occasions Besides. Jeff
Truths gettin' entirely too numerous.
Every time he gets full he wants to
scratch some o. them daredevils' eyes
out. He's funny chap. They say
when he's drunk he'd fight swarm o
wildcats, but when he's sober he'd
scare at the sight Of baby popgun
an. on top O. that when he sobers up
he's 30 stubborn he'd die fore he would
apologize fer what he's done What
you goin' to do with man like that
Hes no ornament to the community"
"Well, I only thought I'd let you
know the situation" George smiled az
he walked on. "Al 1 want to do is te
save the fellows neck"
George saw no more Of Jeff Truitt
that day. He had some important cal
culations to make In connection with
the sale of certain large quantities ol
cotton to mills in the east and he wal
closely, occupied In his Office till pas
midnight. When he had finished ht
went to the front door Of the ware
house to get a breath Of fresh air be
fore retiring. He did not feel sleepy
Such work as he had been doing usu
ally had contrary effect on him. Sud
denly he heard a shout up the stree
In the direction Of the Johnston House
revolver was fired. and gruff voic'
cried out, Thar he goes. boys"
This was followed by a clatter o
many feet on the brick sidewalk.
storm of furious CALCULATIONS and sti
fed oaths, and then a dark human bill
low rushed down the street In Buck
ley's direction. 1t was a mob pursu
ing Jeff Truitt
Hardly knowing why he did II
George ran into his Office and secure'
his big revolver from the drawer OF hi
desk and turned back quickly to tn
door. He was just In time. for tn
mob, numbering fifty or more. was no
ten yards away. Painting and almos
out Of breath, JEFF Truitt came bound
ing along ahead of them and just GU
Of their grasp. He was making TO
the warehouse with the instinct tina
there, and there alone, lay some chanc
for escape. He gasped out something
to George and darted past him into tn
warehouse.
"Haltw George thundered. his re
volver leyeled at the man In the lead
"Halt or I'll blow your brains out!
The man fell back against those be
hind him, and the surging mass cam
to sudden pause.
"Heigh! What's this? painted maj
In the rear. "Whats this?'
"Irs me-" said Buckley calmly. Tha
toyhHs come TO Me Yor'protection, ant
he shall have it If l have to shoot 81!
Of you in your tracks"
"Oh, thunder! Come of" sneered
mon IN tho front "Git ont O. the dOOl