Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-07-24
THE RIVALS.
A Story of the Times of Aaron Burr and
Alexander Hamilton.
BY JERE CLEMENS.
CHAPTER XII-CoNTINUED.

Burr when thus left alone with tne III
favored man of crime. beneath whose
roof he was so strangely sheltered? TO
fear he was a stranger; but was there
no doubt, no mistrust, no anxiety? Not
a particle If there had been any pur-
pose to harm him, he knew that pur-
pose could have been accomplished a
hundred times over. For hours he had
been in their power There was no nee
essity for treacherous scheming to et-
feet either his death or capture Calm
and self-collected always, the prooa-
bility is that these reflections passed
through his mind more like the flashes
of instinct than the teachings Of rea-
son. Durand's good faith he could not
question, and Jenkins had not given
given him the slightest cause to haroor
suspicion. Thus far he had done pre-
cisely what his comrade had told him,
and done 1t in such way as to make
il certain that no sinister design trou-
bled his brain. Nothing OF this was
lost upon Colonel Burr, and after Du-
rands departure he took his seat COM
posedly by the fire, and began caress-
ing one of the large wolf-hounds VINO
was gnawing a bone at his feet, while
Jenkins was bringing in some addi-
tional logs to heap in the chimney. At
ter this, the outlaw placed two strong
bars across the door, and, taking a
seat, entered into friendly chat with
his guest upon subjects that offered no
chance for party disagreement. At that
period of the American Revolution 1t
was not always safe to ask much less
to answer, questions, and Jenkins was
too we'll aware of the fact to trouble
his visitor with impertinent queries;
but what he did say was friendly, and
his manner was wholly unembarrassed.
Even the dogs seemed to understand
that the stranger was to receive none
but kindly treatment, for one of them,
when he had finished his bone, laid
his huge head upon Colonel Burr's
knee, and looked wistfully up into his
face as If soliciting a caress. Colonel
Burr was passionately fond of good
dog, and an excellent judge of his
points. The deep chest and sinewy loin
of the noble animal supplied him with
a subject for conversation until Jen-
kins rose, and, saying it was time they
should go to sleep, spread blanket af-
ter blanket, and counterpane after
counterpart, on the floor, until he had
made a pallet" as soft as bed or
down upon which he invited Burr to
lie down and rest until Durands re-
turn. He then sought his own couch,
and the dogs unceremoniously dispos-
ed themselves at Burr's feet.
1t was long past midnight when Col
onel Burr was reused by fierce growl
from his four-footed sentinels. The
same sound awoke Jenkins, who,
springing from his bed, silenced the
dogs by a stern whisper, Hush,
Brute! lie down, Cash." and walking
to the door, laid his head against it to
listen. The sound of horses feet was
heard approaching over the rocky
path, and soon afterwards Alexis Du-
rand shouted at the gate, open, Bill;
it is mel
When the door opened and Durand
entered, Burr discovered that he had
added a rife. together with bullet
pouch and a powder horn, to his equip
ments. His manner, too, was hurried
like that of a man whom some danger
threatened and who was impatient to
be gone.
1T is later" he said, than 1 expect
ed it would be before my return. l had
trouble to get away, and we may meet
with more on the road. Get Mr.. Jones's
horse, Bill; we have no time to tarry
here!"
The horse was brought, and, after
bidding Jenkins a cordial, "good-by," "
the two mounted and rode down the
mountain in a direction nearly at right
angles with the road. From the many
turnings and zigzags made by his
guide, Colonel Burr soon lost all idea
of the direction they were travelling.
Now they were winding among huge
masses of white, rugged rocks; now the
bed of a mountain torrent crossed their
way; now a deep ravine, black and
gloomy, barred their passage; anon
they were skirting the base of a frown-
ing precipice, and again climbing a
steep ascent, which rose sharp and
sudden before them. Colonel Burr
could discover no sign of path, but
his conductor rode on, avoiding or sur
mounting obstacles with an unerring
certainty that proved his perfect
knowledge of every inch of the ground
Toward daylight they descended into
the plain and just as the sun was ris-
ing they emerged from thick wood
in full view of a broad and beaten
road. Here Durand refined up.
You are safe, Colonel Burr-be-
vond the danger of interruption from
our scouts That road leads to George
Washingtons headquarters, and yor
are now within a few miles of his out
posts"
Burr turned toward his preserver ant
SdlO, III d NOiSC pS CiiiONiO''S ''N
did not attempt to SUPPRESS
Mr. Durand, you have rendered mt
a great service, and l thank you from
nv heart. Not, however. for the life
YOU have probably saved, for of that
take little heed; but it concerned my
honor that the message l bear shoulc
be safely delivered. Is there nothing
1 can do to repay you?"
Il was paid in advance. The maj
who saved my mother from insult ha:
a right to work me in a chaingang, Il
he chooses"
That was an act of common hu
manity, for which l deserve no par
ticular credit"
1T was a rare one, sir, in those time:
and when forget it, hope the thun
der may strike me. We Tories are hu
man beings, although your Whit
friends seldom treat us as such. W.
have had much to make us bloody, ant
lawless. and revengeful; and we have
therefore done much at which gooC
men must shudder; still, we are bette
e., hi SaFNf