Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-03-07

was, for the moment, conscious Of no
other feeling than the instinct Of self
preservation. Even then he hoped that
his antagonist had drawn his revolver
only in a spirit Of drunken bravado.
But this hope was quickly put to fight
by Syd's erect carriage and the steadi-
ness of his aim, which was now directed
on him. sgd laughed harshly.
"This Is the moment that has been
sent in answer to my prayers" he said.
deliberately. "Thar's been a sight O.
talk about yore spunk, but never be-
lieved in 1t myself. I've always knowed
yore liver war white. Now, this heer
road is entirely too narrow fur me an
you both to travel on. You jest git into
them thar woods, ur won't leave q
piece O. yore carcass big enough to bait
a gnat on"
81 don't want to have any trouble
with you, Hart" answered Ronald, who
had still not drawn his revolver, "but I
will not allow any living man, drunk or
sober, to drive me from a public high
way"
"You won't, hey? Well. we'll see how
you like lead pills" Our hero saw the
barrel Of the revolver steady itself, and
a blue puff of smoke rise from it, fol-
lowed by q sharp report. Ronald heard
the ball whistle by him. He drew his
revolver. and, crouching down In the
road, that as little of his body might be
exposed as possible, he began 10 fire,
coolly and rapidly. His every shot was
returned by the lodging man on the
horse. which. frightened by the fire
above and in front of him, backed into
the low bushes that bordered the road
on the left. From behind these bushes
sgd cortinued to fire, and wherever
Ronald could catch sight Of him
through the foliage be coolly directed
his shots. Ronald did not know which
of his last two shots had done the work.
but suddenly he saw The horse plunge
into the road without its rider and start
down towards Carnleigh ut the speed
of q runaway. For moment Ronald re-
manned where he was; his revolver was
empty, and he did not know but that
Hart might be unharmed, hiding In am
bush waiting for him to draw nearer.
At this juncture another horseman gal
loped up. 1t was Tha6. Williams, his
long stringy locks flying in the breeze,
his revolver drawn, ready for use. lie
reined his horse in at point In the road
from whepce be could see behind the
bushes that obscured Hart from Rom
AIDS view. For fully q minute he sat
astride his snorting animal, his eyes
bufging from their sockets.
damn you. you've done 'im!" he
said, with a deep breath, and he swung
his revolver round till 1t pointed at our
hero.
mine is empty" answered Ronald.
I'm in your power"
With another oath, the stalwart fel-
low thrust his revolver into his belt and
swung his right leg over the rump OF
his horse and stood on the ground.
you've killed 'im." he gruntcd, as he
stepped towards the bushes; "dare to
come nigh i'm, an I'll let daylight
through you'll"
Ronald stood as II rooted to the spot.
He had no desire to see the man who
had fallen by his hand. A chill Like that
Of death stole over him. He had killed
man-killed a mani Then his heart
bounded suddenly-a little ray Of hope
burst upon him, for he heard Thad VIII
liams' voice, low and tender: "Are you
hurt, Sgd, old boy? Say, old chum.
come off; don't play tricks on mel"
There was q low monotonous response
TO this, and 1t continued for fully half
a minute. Then Ronald heard o gut
tural, labored coughing, and when 1t
had ceased he knew that Sydney Hart
was dead. Striding forward, he parted
the branches of the bushes. he found
Thad Williams holding the dead mans
head on his arm. as he might have held
that Of an infant.
us he dead?" Ronald asked.
The giant lowered the lolling head
with its glaring eyes to the turf and
hooked at the speaker with a glare OF
hate.
"He don't look like he's runnin' OF
foot race, do hep" he sneered, and a
sinister look took root in his face as
he went on: "Me'n him used to stan
by one another. but as you say yore
ammunition is out, reckon men you
had as we'll not take II up. Thelaw will
atten' to yore case-it ort to make It. hot
fur cold-blooded murderer"
81 shot him In self-defense," answered
Ronald, averting his eyes from the re-
pulsive sight.
"Self nothin'," sneered Williams.
Jest before he died he toP me how 1t
come about. He said you shot fust, an
that you said you had intended to slay