Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-01-17
A guard came in with water and q pot
Of steWed beef and potatoes.

A guard came in with water and q pot
of stewed beef and potatoes.
'"Thet air g all right" said D'ri, dip
ping into 1t with spoon. .
We ate with fine relish, the guard,
sullen, silent man with a rough voice
that came out Of bristling mustache,
standing by the door.
LUX a-here," said D'ri to the guard
as we finished eating, 81 want t. ast you
q question. Ef you he'd purity COM
f'table hum on t other side, n tew
ttcusan' dollars n the bank, n hosses
n ev'rything fixed fer a good time, n
all Nv sudden ye found yerself n
sech a gol-dum dungeon es this here,
what 'u'd you dew?" ~
The guard was fixing the wick Of
his candle and made no answer.
Want ye t. think It all over" said
D'ri. "See ef ye can't think o. suthin'
soothin' t. say. God knows we need
It"
The guard went away without an.
swering. 2
Got him thinkin'." said D'ri, as hs
lighted the candle. "He can help Us
some, mebbe. Would MT wonder ef
he was good ct cipherin'." Z
III he offered to take two thousand,
l don't see how we d give 1t to him"
said I. 'He would MT take our promise
for it."
'Thet ain a-goin' t. bother US any"
said D'ri. He'd thet all figgered out
long ago."
He gave me the candle and lay down,
holding his ear close to the stone floor
and listening. Three times he shifted
his ear from one point to another.
Then he beckoned to me.
"Jest hol' yer ear there n listen.'
he whispered.
I gave him the candle, and with my
ear to the floor I could hear the flow
Of water below US. The sound went
away in the distance and then out Of
hearing. After while 1t came again.
What does it mean?" / asked.
"Cipherin' a leetle over thet air"
said he, as he made q long scratch on
the floor with his flint. Then he rubbed
his chin, looking down at It "Hain'
jest eggzac'ly med up my mind yit,"
he added.
We blew out the light and lay back.
whispering Then presently we heard
the coming of footsteps. Two men
came to the door with q candle, one
being the guard we knew.
Come, young fellow" said the lat
ter, as he unlocked the door and beck
oned to me; they want you upstairs. 7"
We both got to our feet.
mot you," he growled, waving Dri
back. mot ready fer you yet"
He laid hold Of my elbow and
snapped shackle on my wrist Then
they led me out, closing the door with
bang that echoed in the Tar reaches
of the dark alley, and tied thick cloth
over my eyes.
Good luck!" D'ri cried out as they
took me away.
"For both," answered as cheerfully
as I could.
They led me through winding pas
sages and iron doors, with that horri-
BILE clank of the prison latch, and up
flights of stone till 1 felt as lost as one
might who falls whirling in the air
from great height We soon came
out upon q walk of gravel, where I
could feel the sweet air blowing into
my face. A few minutes more and we
halted, where the guard, who had hold
Of my elbow, rang a bell. AS the door
swung open they led me in upon a
soft carpet. Through the cloth I could
see a light.
Bring him in, bring him I'M" a
voice commanded impatiently-a deep,
heavy voice the sound Of which have
not yet forgotten. The guard was
afraid Of it. His hand trembled as he
led me on.
Take of the blindfold," said that
voice again.
As 1t fell away, I found myself In a
large and beautiful room. My eyes
were dazzled by the light Of many
candles, and for little had to close
them. I stood before two men. One
sat facing me at black table OF carved
oak-a man Of middle age, in the uni
form of q British general. Stout and
handsome, with brown eyes, dark hair
and mustache now half white, and
nose aquiline by the least turn, he I'M
pressed me as have few men that
ever crossed my path. A young man
sat lounging easily in big chair be-
side him, his legs crossed, his delicate
fingers teasing thin mustache. l no
ticed that his hands were slim and
hairy. He glanced up at me as soon
as could bear the light Then he
sat looking idly at the carpet
The silence of the room was broken
only by the scratch of quill In the
hand of the general. glanced about
me. On the wall was large painting
that held my eye. I saw presently
it was that of the officer I had fought
in the woods, the one who fell before
me. turned my head; the young man
was looking up at me. A fine set
Of teeth showed between them
do you know him." he asked cool
ly.
"T have not the honor" was my re-
ply.
what is your name?" the general
demanded in the deep tone l had
heard before.
Pardon me-" said the young man,
quietly, as If he were now weary OF
the matter, 81 do not think 1t neces-
sary."
There was a bit of silence. The
general looked thoughtfully at the
young man.
"If your lordship will let me" he
went on.
"My dear Sir" the other interrupted,
in the same weary and lethargic man
ner, 'T can get more reliable knowledge
from other sources. Let the fellow go
back"
"That will do" said the general to
the gaurd, who then covered my eyes
and led me back to prison.