Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-03-03
CHAPTER VIII.


hunters were beating the swamp for tn
escaped prisoner. The coloners house
hold was under a stress OF excitemen
that wore sharply on the nerves OF tn
ladies, who momentarily expected t
hear Of the capture. Grim curiosity ha
drawn nearly all the negroes to tn
swamp, and the plantation presented
deserted aspect that had not rested up
ON II since the close of the civil wal
About noon Capt. Wrinkle, who had beer
riding, from one point Of observation t
another, came in TO rest and refres
himself al the punch-bowl OF his host.
"The rascal certainly has given then
the slip so far" he said, with unmaske'
discomfort, to the colonel and the ladie
on the yeranda. AS he spoke his glanc
was bent designedly on Evelyn's face
IT was as II he were deliberately trying
to shock her, we'll knowing how she fel
ON the matter. "The sheriff thinks b
Is lying under water somewhere will
only his nose out. They are goinl
through the swamp again after dinner
however, and then they will come hi
way. we can see II all on this side. Th'
line of men Is two miles long; and the,
have sent for a pair of bloodhounds!"
"Bloodhounds!" cried Evelyn. why
they will tear him 10 pieces"
Wrinkle smiled broadly over the sue
cess of his coarseness, but'h he said moth
ing.
know wish II were over" was Car
oline Hnsbrooke's contribution to th'
conversation; "these things are SO dis
gusting!"
Eveyr fixed the captain with con-
lemptuous gaze.
But the man may be as innocent as
you are" burst from her lips. 81
mean," she added, spitefully, "as inno-
cent as you are Of killing the old wom-
an"
Wrinkle bit his lower lip and twisted
his mustache. He gave her his eyes
threateningly for q moment, and then
took another tack.
"Fanshaw certainly Is making him.
self conspicuous enough. He's running
around shouting like ranting parson
at revival, but these sturdy men take
no notice of him whatever"
The shot told on Evelyn. In the pres
ence Of her father, she dreaded the dis
closure that Wrinkle, in his anger, might
make with regard to her intimacy with
Ronald; but the old gentleman paid no
heed to their innuendoes.
"He certainly is foolhardy," he Joined
in; "but to save me l can but admire
the fellows courage. Why" the colonel
snapped his fat fingers, IF he keeps
that sort of thing up, or tries to inter
fere when the man is caught, wouldn't
give a pinch of snuff for his life. Some
chap like sgd Hart would draw bead
on him, and be proud Of 1t till the end
Of his days"
Then Mrs. Lancaster came and pu:
her arms round Evelyn's waist.
Don't act hastily, my dear" was her
whispered warning; and she drew the
girl to the other end Of the veranda.
Don't you see what he wants?" she
asked; "he is trying to rouse your IA
ther's suspicious"
About five o'clock the occasional
shouts in the swamp grew louder and
nearer, and into them was suddenly
blended the ominous baying Of dogs.
"The houndsl" announced the
colonel, tragically.
"And they are out for business" glee-
fully added the captain; "they are
headed this way"
Evelyn and Mrs. Lancaster stood lean
ing against the balustrade, their faces
towards the swamp.
"Come inside, DEAR" said the latter.
ut will do no good TO witness It,"
But our young lady only shook her
head,
After few minutes the shouting and
baying Of the hounds died down. The
colonel gave II as his opinion that they
were off the track, but that 1t was only
a question of time before they would
catch the scent again.
Two hours passed. The sun sank be-
hind the distant mountain peaks. The
sky beyond was as red as blood. The
wisps Of clouds lying against the noun
tain-sides looked like glaciers. The
landscape took on a delicate veil OF
gray. Objects in the distance began to
assume vague shapes. The dark out
lines of the swamp were fast merging
into the night.
They have been taking zig-zag
course" proclaimed Hasbrooke from
his end of the veranda. "The rascal
will be as timber as rag when he Is
treed. There are no two ways about it;
it's all up with hint the darkness will
not be in his favor; nothing but blood
will satisfy the fury Of that mob"
"Do you mean that the sheriff will
not be able TO control them?" queried
Mrs. Lancaster, who had begun to walk
about nervously.
He'd have to have lot of backbone
to even try It," answered her host
"He'd be knocked out like a straw in a
hurricane; murderers Of old women
stand no chance with these crude An
glo-Saxons."
Ithad grown dark, save forthe light OF
the moon, which had just risen and
loomed up like huge confagration be-
yond the tree-tops. For yet half an
hour only an intermittent shout or the
sudden outburst of barking was heard
from the swamp, but each time the
sounds were nearer. Old Ephraim, as II
anticipating his masters desires, drove
round the horses and trap.
"a good idea," approved the colonel;
gentlemen, we might as we'll get near
er. think l know where they will
come out.
"By all means!" cried the captain
with enthusiasm. He was the first te
get q seat in the vehicle, and was fol
lowed by his host and Mr.. Hardy.
When the trap had gone, Miss Has
brooke retired to her room with some
complaining allusion to her nerves, and
Evelyn and Mrs. Lancaster remained on
theveranda, guarded only by the old ne
gro, who stood like sentry on duty al
the foot of the steps.
"Oh, Mrs. Lancaster!" exclaimed Ev'