Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-08-03

and was very tired. He told me that
robbed the night before; that Bill Jen-
kins was suspected, and that, in con-
sequence, he was lying hid In a
house he mentioned in another part
of the city. He said that Bill had sent
for me, and mentioned ten o'clock
as the hour at which he would expect
me. Before I had time to question
him further, Franz came up with a
ready, invited Roberts to join us.
He declined, and added that he would
wait there until had finished my
meal. When I came back, he was
lying carelessly across the foot Of my
bed. / suggested to him that 1t was
unnecessary to wait until ten o'clock,
and proposed that we should go and
see Jenkins together. He replied
that he had some business which he
must attend to before that hour;
moreover, that 1t would be useless to
go sooner, because there would be a
number Of loungers about the prem
ises, and the landlord would not ad-
NIT me to the private part Of the
house. Then, giving me a password,
and directions how to find the house,
he took his hat to go. I went down
stairs with him, and, having still sew
eral hours on my hands, I took a
seat on the counter and entered into
conversation with Franz. Customers
were coming in, making small pur-
chases, and going out. Some OF
these 1 knew, and talked to them
about the news of the day and other
Indifferent matters. Toward ten
O'Clock, 1 told Franz that 1 was going
out, and, borrowing stout club that
he usually kept behind the counter
1 took the key Of the back shed and
left the house. AS 1 did so, man
with the collar of his coat turned up,
and buttoned close about his ears,
walked quickly by me. From his form
and gait, took him to be Roberts and
called him by name. He did not an
swer, and, supposing that I was mis-
taken, I walked on. 1t took me some
time, wandering about in filthy, sus-
picious locality. to find the house to
which I had been directed. Upon
knocking at the door, and giving the
password, 1 was admitted to a room
in which there were four or five men
and as many women, evidently OF the
worst description, some Of whom were
smoking and others drinking ale.
Not perceiving Jenkins among them,
1 took the landlord aside and inquired
where he was. He replied that he
had gone out about an hour before,
and left word that If any one called
for him, he must wait until his re-
turn. When this reply was made, 1
knew that the man was lying, or that
Roberts had lied. One or the other was
certain, for l could not be persuaded
that Bill Jenkins would leave the
house, after sending for me, before 1
came. Nevertheless, as did not know
what else to do, / concluded to walt,
and calling for a cracker and a mug
Of ale,. made myself apparently at
home, paying no attention 10 the
scrutinizing glances with which 1 was
conscious the other inmates Of the
room were regarding me.
81 had no means Of ascertaining the
exact time, but 1 am satisfied 1t was
after eleven o'clock when l rose,
and, saying that could wait no long
er, paid my score and prepared to de-
part. The landlord urged me to
stay insisting that Jenkins would GER
tainly, be back in half an hour. 1
cared nothing for the half hour,
and would have waited cheer
fully, If l had not been sure he was
deceiving me. In such cases 1t is
always the safest plan to do directly
the reverse of what the deceiver wish
es. He wanted me to stay for some
purpose Of his own, and for that
reason l determined to stay.
had an underlined apprehension that
mischief was afoot, and returned rap
idly to my lodging. On approaching
the house through the back alley, l
observed that my window was up.
1t had no shutter, and was fastened
by large nail driven above it. 1 re-
membered TO have seen the nall In
its place that day at dinner time.
Against the shed-room / have de-
scribed there was a pile Of lumber
reaching nearly to the roof. Upon
that roof my window opened, and by
climbing on the lumber 1t could be
easily reached. Thinking that there
might be thieves within, climbed
I'D TO the window and listened. Every
thing was still. At length L heard
what / thought was faint groan In
the other room. / entered, and strik-
ing a light went into the bedroom OF
Franz. He was lying on the floor,
in his night clothes, dead. The
groan | had heard no doubt was his
last gasp. A large stream OF blood
ran from the body, and was trickling
|
down by his side to feel his pulse
when 1 discovered that, besides deep
wound in his side, his skull was bro
ken. To be certain that the murder
ers were not still concealed In the
house, | went to search the lower
rooms l found them In their usua
state, except that the money drawer
was broken open and its contents alb
stracted returned to the room
where the dead man was lying. ant
looked around for some trace OF the
murderer. At this time | heard
knocking at the front door, and, II
the agitation of the moment, let TIT
candle fall. have seen blood shet
in many ways. 1 have slept amont
the dead upon the battlefield a.
soundly as a king in his palace, ant
II would not have believed that these