Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-05-19
CHAPTER XXIII-CoNr1NUED.

Ills NISllOI was q Loh VI AOi ioA
proportions; a large man a littlt
breathed, as it seemed, by the swift
upward rush Of the elevator. Kent ad
mitted him with nod; and the gov
ernor planted himself heavily in ;
chair and begged light for his cigar
In the match-passing he gathered bit
spent breath and declared his errand
81 think We have a little score to
settle between us as man to man
Kent" he began, when Kent hao
clipped the end from his own cigar and
lighted it in stolid silence.
Possibly: that is for you to say
was the unencouraging reply.
Bucks rose deliberately, walked tc
the bathroom door, and looked be-
yond it into the bedroom.
I'VE are quite alone, II that is what
you want to make sure Of" said Kent,
in the same Indifferent tone; and the
governor came back and resumed his
chair.
II came up to see what you want
what you will take to quit" he an
nounced, crossing his legs and locking
the huge ham-like hands over his
knee. That is putting it rather abb
ruptly, but business is business. and
we can dispense with the preliminar-
les, take it."
81 told your encouragement some
time ago what l wanted, and he did not
see fit to grant it." Kent responded.
- am not sure that l want anything
now-anything you have to offer. "
This was not all he had intended to
say; but the presence Of the adversary
was breeding a stubborn antagonism
that was more potent on the moral
side than all the prickings OF con-
science.
The yellow-lidded eyes OF the gov
ernor began to close down. and the
look came into them which had been
there when he denied pardon to a
widow pleading for the life of her con-
victed son.
81 had hoped you were in the mar
ket," he demurred. 1T would be bet
ter for all concerned if you had some
thing to sell, with price attached.
know what you have been doing, and
what you think you have got hold
of. It's tissue Of mistakes and false
hoods and backbitings from beginning
to end but 1t may serve your purpose
with the newspapers. | want to buy
that package of stuff you've got slowed
away in the Security vaults"
The governors chair was on one side
of the writing-table, and Kent's was
on the other. In plain sight between
the two men lay the packet Bucks was
willing to bargain for. 1t was en-
closed in a box envelope, bearing the
imprint OF the Security bank. Kent
was looking steadily away from the
table when he said:
What II 1t isn't for sale?'
Don't you think it had better be-"
81 don't know. | hadn't thought
much about the advisable phase OF 1t"
well, the time has come when
you've got 1t to do" was the low
toned threat.
But not as a matter of compul-
sion," said Kent, coolly enough.
What is your bid?"
Bucks made it promptly.
"Ten thousand dollars: and you
promise to leave the state and stay
away for one year from the first Tues
day in November next"
THAT is, until after the state cleo
ton" Kent blew Whit of smoke to
the ceiling and shook his head slowly.
'Tt is not enough"
The governor uncrossed his legs,
crossed them the other way and said:
"I'll make it twenty thousand and
two years."
"Or thirty thousand and three
years." Kent suggested amiably. "Or
suppose we come at once to the end
Of that string and say one hundred
thousand and ten years. That would
still leave you a fair price for your
block of suburban property in Gull
ford and Hawks addition to the city
Of CASTOR, wouldn't it,
The governor set his massive jaw
with a sharp little click Of the teeth.
"You are joking on the edge of your
grave, my young friend. taught you
in CASTOR that you were not big
enough to fight me: do you think you
are big enough now?"
81 don't think; know" said Kent,
incisively. And since you have re-
ferred to the CASTOR days: let me ask
II ever gave you any reason to be-
lieve that l could be scared out?"
Keep to the point" retorted Bucks,
harshly. This state isn't broad enough
to hold you and me on opposite sides
of the fence / could make it too hot
to hold you without mixing up in 1t
myself, but choose to fight my own
battles. Will you take $4,000 spot
cash. and MacFarlane's job as circuit
Judge when I'm through with him?
Yes or no."
No"
Then what will you take?"
without committing myself in any
sense. | might say that you are get
ting off too cheaply on your most lib
eral proposition You and your friends
have looted a $70,00O,OOO railroad,
and"
'You might have stood in on that
If you had taken Guilfords offer" was
the brusk rejoinder. There was more
than a corporation lawyers salary in
sight, If you'd had sense enough to
see it."
Possibly. But l stayed out-and |
am still out"
do you want to get in? Is that
your price,"