Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-06-11

ling leaps, and bread and dish crashed
together on the floor. The outlaws
name, had, at all times, curious ef-
feet on the old herder.
Bear up, HoxieI" cried Crawford
Laughing; "a man must be careful how
he mentions Black Dave in your pres
ence. You see," turning to Fleetwood
''Hoxie has got it into his head that he
is destined to die by Dawes hand some
day-all nonsense, of course. And now
that you are stronger and we can safe
ly discuss the topic, let me ask, Fleet
wood, If you have yet thought Of any
solution Of the mystery Of that ras-
calls treatment Of you?"
| mo"
well, it's the oldest thing that ever
happened to a son Of Adam! You
knock the scoundrel down-a piece OF
audacity that is enough. in itself, to
settle your fate-then you are shot and
robbed, and left for dead; and sudden
| ly, for no known reason, this highway
man, thief, cutthroat, repents, turns
back, binds up your wounds, set you
on his own beast, like the man Of Bib
lical fame, carries you carefully to
your destination, and restores to you
at parting all that of which you have
been plundered."
| mo, not ALL" corrected Fleetwood.
"Ha! what did he keep"
1.-THE only thing, strange to say, that
could be of no earthly value to him
leather case full of letters and pho
tographs, and such nonsense"
"By Jove! What a queer whim!
cried Crawford.
Hoxie came siding up to the bunk, as
II drawn thither by some irresistible
power. His wrinkled face wore a
strange, breathless look.
| Wasn't a whim, sir" he burst out;
BLACK Dave never has whims. There's
an Internal motive behind everything
he does"
you ought to know, Hoxie," said
Crawford, indulgently, seeing that you
have been on terms Of peculiar inti-
macy with the road agent"
"sWhat-Hoxie!" cried Fleetwood, In
amazement.
oh, yes; Hoxie was But never
mind. He will tell you mis- story some
day. Now, the fact that Black Dave
kept the leather case, and returned
your other possessions, seems very Sig
nificant. Pray, what did that case con-
tain?"
Letters"
BE explicit-what sort Of letters?
1.-TWO or three from my people In
Canada" replied Fleetwood; "all relat-
ing entirely to home matters, and a
half dozen, perhaps from Maud-sweet
and delightful enough, but not con-
tanning a line that could possibly in
huence Black Dave to show compassion
to Maud's lover"
Item No. LETTERS" said Crawford;
what next?"
Some railway tickets and business
cards."
go on"
|
with one Of her classmates, in a board
ing school tableau; another represent
ing her in street costume and still an
other in a balcony scene, and full even
ing dress, a la Juliet"
mo more?"
"No-yes-now that I think Of It,
there was one more, an excellent one
Of my Newfoundland dog. Punch"
"This grows absorbing. Proceed"
1.-THE case also held a lock Of Mauds
hair-a withered rose, likewise a SOU
venir Of Maud, and a ring set with an
opal-a family relic, given me by my
mother, but Of little intrinsic value.
declare these trifies to have composed
the entire contents Of the leather case
Now, which of them, do you think
softened the heart Of Black Dave?"
I'm blessed II I know" unused
Crawford. "Odd, isn't it?-deucedly
odd! What could have possessed a
road agent to keep such things in pref
erence to your money and good Eng
lish chronometer? 1t must have been
Maud's pretty face which touched his
heart, or, perhaps, her little love let
ters."
"You have a vivid imagination
Crawford Fancy Black Dave stopping
to read a girls letter by moonlight
and just after robbing stage, too!
Hoxie, what do you think Of this mat
ter?"
The old herder was eagerly drinking
in every word Of the conversation
He gave one Of his queer starts. but
answered gravely:
II think that neither Of you two gen.
tlemen has got at the truth. Dave Is
deep-devilish deep! Are you sure
Mr.. Fleetwood, that you hain't forgot
anything in the case? You've men,
toned all that you had there, eh?
You hain't been and gone, and over
looked something that might be the
key to the whole mystery"
mo, by Jove! have mott" answer
ed Fleetwood; my memory upon that
point Is clear. There wasn't another
scrap or atom Of anything else in the
case"
BLESS mel" cried Crawford; 81
would give Black Dave a hundred dol
lars out of my own pocket If he would
come here and explain himself"
my Cod" gasped the herder, with
wild, terrified look around the cabin
"Oh!" said Crawford, lightly, Il for
got that the presence Of the road
agent would scarcely be to your mind,
old man. I must leave you to talk
over the mystery with Mr.. Fleetwood,
for yonder comes Juan with the sheep"
The barking of dogs and the. tinkling
OF bells began to be heard in the dis
tance Beyond the sheds and corrals,
adown the lonely valley, covered with