Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-05-02
THE GRAFTERS
Copyright. 1901. BY III. Bobb.-Meuin Company,
NcIs LYN D e


ear-piece and said "Well?" in the i'm
perious tone common to his kind. ne
evidently received 4 communication
that shocked him.
Ormsby overheard but meager half
of the wire conversation; and the ex-
citement. whatever It's nature, was at
the other end of the line. None the
less, the station agents broken ejacu-
lations were provocative Of keen in
terest in a man who had been boring
himself desperately for the better part
of a day.
Caught him doing it, you say?
Great Scott! Oh,
don't believe that, you know I"
yes - uh-huh Il hear. But
who did the shooting?" Whether the
information came or not. Ormsby did
not know, for at this conjuncture the
telegraph instruments on the table
set up a furious chattering, and the
railway man dropped the receiver and
sprang to his key.
In an instant the telegraph opera
tor dashed out Of his bay-windowed
retreat and ran up the track to the
private car. In a few minutes he was
back again, holding an excited confer
ence with the chauffeur Of the inn au-
tomobile, who was waiting to see II
the Flyer should bring him any fares
for the hotel
Ormsby saw the chauffeur turn his
car in the length Of it and send 1t
spinning down the road and across
the line into the adjoining state; heard
the mellow whistle Of the incoming
train, and saw the station man nery-
ously setting his stop signal; all with
no more than a mild desire to know
the reason for so much excitement
and haste-a desire which was content
to wait on the explanation OF events.
The explanation, such as 1t was, did
not linger. The heavy train thun-
dered in from the west; stopped barely
long enough to allow the single passen-
ger to swing up the steps of the Pull
man; and went on again to stop Sec
ond time with a jerk when 1t had
passed the sidetrack switch.
Ormsby put his head out of the win
dow and saw that the private car was
to be taken on; remarked also that
the thing was done with the utmost
celebrity. Once out OH the main line
with car Naught-seven coupled In. the
train was backed swiftly down to the
station and the small mystery OF hur-
ryings was sufficiently solved. The
governor and his party were returning.
and they did not wish to miss con-
nections.
On this particular evening David
Kent's wrath-fire was far from need
ing an additional stocking. Once more
Miss Van Brock had given proof OF
her prophetic gift. and Kent had been
moodily filling In the details OF the
picture drawn by her woman's intui-
ton. He had gone late to the house
in Alameda square. knowing that
Portia had dinner guests. And 1t was
imperative that he should have her to
himself.
You needn't tell ME anything but
the manner of its doing" she was
saying. 81 knew they would find
way 10 stop you-or make one. And
you needn't be spiteful at me-" she
added. when Kent gripped the arms
Of his chair.
T don't mind your saying I told
you So" he fumed. ITS the fact
that didn't have sense enough to see
what an easy game I was dealing
them. 1t didn't take Meigs five min
utes to shut me off,"
"Tell me about it." she said; and
he did 1t crisply.
"The quo warranto inquiry is insti-
tuted in the name CT the state; or
rather the proceedings are brought by
some person with the approval Of the
governor or the attorT ~ general, one
or both. I took to-day for obtaining
this approval because l knew Bucks
was out of town and thought could
bully Meigs."
"Aud YOU couldn't?" she said.
mot in a thousand years. At first
he said he would take the matter under
advisement: I knew that meant q con-
sultation with Bucks. Then | put the
whip on; told him a few Of the things
l know, and let him imagine a lot
more, but it was no good. He was as
smooth as oil, admitting nothing, de-
nying nothing. And what grinds me
worst is that let him put me in fault;
gave him a chance to show conclusive
ly how absurd it was for me to expect
him to take up question OF such
magnitude on the spur Of the mo-
ment."
"Of course" she said sympathetic
ally. 81 knew they would find way.
What are you doing?"
Kent laughed in spite of his sore
amour-propre.
"At this present moment am do
ing precisely what you said should:
unloading my woes upon you"
"Oh, but I didn't say that. said
you would come to me for help. Have
you?"
I'D say yes, if l didn't know so
well Just what am up against"
Miss Van Brock laughed unfeeling-
ly.
"Is it mans weakness to fight bet
ter in the dark"
1T Is a mans common sense to
know when he Is knocked out" he re-
torted.
She held him with her eyes while
she said:
Tell me what you want to accom-
plish, David; at the end of the ends, l
mean. Is it only that you wish to
save Miss Brentwoods little marriage
portion?"
He told the simple truth, as who
could help, with Portals eyes demand
ing it.
1T was that at first; I'll admit
But latterly-"
"Latterly you have begun to think
larger things?" She looked away from
him, and her next word seemed to be
part Of an unspoken thought. 81 have
been wondering if you are great
enough. David"