Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-03-17
CHAPTER XV.'.

ABOUT her pad COOKING klAinB Tue Pris'
oners, and went, up to Ronald.
~ couldn't git heer minute earlier"
he told our hero, as he came in. "All
day yesterday was on track Of a feller
that broke Jail at Shubank. He give
me the slip at the river, an had to
give up. ! couldn't afford to miss yore
trial, besides II would a-killed my an
imal. an she's wuth more than the ten
dollars reward"
Ronald asked him II the hour for the
trial had been set.
"You bet II has," grinned Ratcliff, as
he took q fresh chew OF tobacco and
thrust the remainder Of the plug back
into his coat pocket. They tried their
level best to stave It of. but l told 'em
/ wouldn't keep you in suspense any
longer. It's a-goin' to be we'll attend
ed. I see lots O. big Ikes from out
yore way already here. Col. Hasbrooke's
in town, an Capt. Wrinkle has deviled
me mighty nigh to death with ques-
tions. By hockey, he talked like you
was guilty Of cold-blooded murder; he
said he had heard Thad Williams YER
sion of the affair"
Ronald fxed the sheriff with keen
glance.
Don't you think that the trial will
60 against me?" he questioned.
Ratcilff seemed slightly taken aback
by the pointed query. He hesitated for
q moment, and then he answered eva
sively:
"Thad Williams testimony is the big
gest thing we have to contend with.
DIR. Abe Slosn Is summoned. After the
corpse reached home the family callei
i'm in to make an examination; lie
probed for the ball. an will show it in
court"
The prisoner shuddered visibly.
"Did Col. Hasbrooke have anything
to say about the case?" he asked.
mot to me, he didn't, but when Capt.
Wrinkle was talkin' so shore about yore
conviction, he spoke up an lowed that
II was a shame to talk Of mans guilt
before his trial. He said it sharp-like,
as II he didn't have much use for
Wnikle. an I noticed that the captain
shut up like a clam. was prised
for | kinder thought the captain was
goin' to get one O. the old mans daugh-
ters."
Ronald had another question ready
what are my chances on getting
bailed out?"
ITO be perfectly candid with you"
answered Ratcliff, 81 am afraid you are
goin' to have big disappointment.
You see. accordin' to the readin' O. the
law, a justice O. the peace can't set bail
in any case whar thar is reasonable
suspicion of murder. an 1t wouldn't
surprise me (as the land lies now) for
you to have to lie in jail till the spring
term o. court. I wouldn't say this"
added the sheriff, his eyes averted, IF
] didn't think 1t Is always better to be
prepared for the worst. ! don't want
to give the prosecution chance to ex-
ult over yore looks. When told my
wife how the case stood this mornin',
she actually cried. A body never can
tell how Squire Richardson is gwine 10
act; he's little wishy-washy; he tries
to imagine he belongs to the aristoc-
racy. Jest minute ago / seed i'm in
Smiths bar a-drinkin' with Capt.
Wrinkle. I cant imagine why that
little dude Is so much concerned in
this trial. I'd bet a hoss to an empty
hens nest that he was talkin' about
this case"
"He's not a friend Of mine," ex-
planned Ronald, despopdently.
do you mean that he is a shore
'nough enemy?" questioned Ratcliff,
with some concern.
"I think he would like to see me
suffer as heavily as possible in this
matter, Mr.. Ratcliff."
THAT accounts for It, then" the
sheriff muttered an oath TO him.
self. 81 wish that Richardson was
q broader man; he thinks men
Of Wrinkles stamp are just the thing.
before we come to it: the truth is.
you've got the best criminal lawyer in
seven states; he hain't got much
schoolin', but he can speak like rips.
He's been scourin' the country to
catch up with Thad Williams; he
wants to corner i'm fore the state So
licitor does. You know Solicitor Webb
would rather win case'n to eat cake.
If he gets hold Of Williams fust. he'll
drill i'm so as nobody alive could
catch him in cross-questionin'. By the
way, Mr.. Reddin' told me to say to
you that he'd be too busy to see you
fore the trial. I'll come up to fetch
you down to the courtroom in plenty
O. time"
A few minutes before two o'clock
the sheriff came after our hero. He
had little to say, and his very reti
cence confirmed Ronald's fear that nc
new thing in his favor had turned up
since morning. The courtroom was
crowded to the doors. The first face
that fell under the notice Of the dis.
spirited prisoner was the sinister one
Of Capt. Wrinkle, who sat suspiciously
near Squire Richardson's elbow; the
next was the round, good-natured one
Of Col. Hasbrooke; but Ronald had
never seen it look quite SO pale and
downcast. The thought ran through
his mind that Wrinkle had reported
the fact Of his having been driven tc
Ratclift's by Evelyn. Yes, he was sure
Of 1t now, for nothing but the dis
coyery Of his daughters secret would
have induced q man Of Hasbrooke'i