Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-11-26

land started for the shore.
Here he expected to meet some OF
1.-THE other islanders sent out by the
loverseer. AS Derby was approaching
1.-The wharf he was brought up suddenly
violently against man, who seemed
to be running along the beach, or pac-
ling 1t with tremendous strides.
Halt" cried Joe. WHO are you?
That's no affair of yours!" was the
sharp answer.
Derby grasped him by the shoulder.
Hands off, you boor!" said the 9th
Ter, fiercely; but Derby held him fast
looked at him keenly by the light OF
his lantern.
He was a young man, dark-haired
Ielegant rather than muscular, with
face as livid as chalk. His hat was
off, his garments dripped with rain
land he seemed laboring under intense
excitement.
You are no islander, 1 can swear"
said Joe Derby. Come, give an ac-
count Of yourself, and the clearer 1t Is,
why, the better for you, sir!"
Derby felt his prisoner tremble In
his hold, either with wrath or some
other emotion. He had not the physi-
cal power to break from the islander,
so he answered, shortly
You must be clean daft as the
Scotch say. I've no account to give
of myself, blockhead! Thank Heaven;
I am a stranger on this island; never
saw the cursed place before tonight,
and never want to see 1t again! My
boat has gone adrift in the storm. If
you can tell me where to find another,
lTll be infinitely obliged to you."
whats your name?" demanded
Derby.
Gabriel Ravenel!"
well, fancy you won't want a
boat again tonight, sir. You admit
you're a stranger on the Tempest.
Now strangers don't come to this is
land without purpose. What was
was yours?"
You impertinent lunatic!" cried
Gabriel Ravenel Take your hands of
me or I'll pitch you into the SEAL"
But being the weaker vessel, his threat
was an idle one, and Derby still held
him fast.
| Mr.. Ravenel," said the islander,
you're a curious sort Of person to
run against in this place and at this
particular time! BY the appearance
of your clothes, you've been rummag-
ing about a good while-not dry
thread left in 'em. should say! Now,
Sir, up at Tempest Hall there's been
foul murder tonight. We're looking for
the party that did 1t. fancy we've
got him!" gripping his prey signifi-
cantly. Just come along with mel
Ravenel gave a convulsive start.
"A murder at Tempest Hall?" he
gasped. What do you mean. man?
Not-not"-
Exactly" said Joe; "Mr. Philip
Hawkstone has been stabbed in his
bed" .
Heaven above!" cried Ravenel;
"and ten minutes ago was cursing
him with heart and voice!"
"Ha! you knew the master, then?
You wasn't a stranger to him. If you
are to the island? Come along, I say!
Here's a party ahead that'll take you
by force, If t'other way won't do"
| A detachment Of searchers appeared
in the curve of the beach. Ravenel
was instantly surrounded: He offered
no resistance, no protest
my friends" he said. calmly, Il see,
at last, the method in your madness.
You imagine me to be the murderer OF
Philip Hawkstone. Pom my soul, this
lis even more unique than losing my
boat! I'm delighted to go with you
YOU need use no compulsion-1 am as
eager to see the end of the matter as
you can desire me to be. Proceed,
idiots!"
They conducted him to Tempest
Hall. This wild-eyed stranger, hatless'
ldisheveled, found wandering about the
Island "in the dead waste and middle
of the night" Immediately became an
object of the blacklist suspicion to
lHawkstone's islanders. Harris ques-
toned him sharply. What was he do
ling on the island?
Private business alone brought me
Ihere," Ravenel answered, haughtily;
II decline to speak Of it,
He then asked to see Mrs. Hawk
stone.
DO you know the lady?" remanded
Harris.
Intimately"
"She Is Indispensable can see no
one at present"
"Win you kindly inform her that l
am here, and that she has my profound
sympathy in her trouble?" said Ra-
venel, with perfect GOODNESS, and after
that he would talk no more.
He was promptly locked into the
strongest room of the house to await
the arrival Of the officers Of the law
from the mainland.
With the capture Of Ravenel, the
main events of the night ended. The
searching parties came struggling back
empty handed, to the hall. No other
suspicious person had anywhere been
seen or heard of. By daybreak the
islanders were united in the belief that
either the fellow Ravenel was the MUIR
derer, or-terrible thought!-some par
ty, yet unknown, in the precincts OF
the hall itself.
Jetta Hawkstone, the widowed bride
remained shut in her own room. with
Ionly Salome to attend her. She knew
little Of what was passing In the house
till that dreadful ordeal-the coroners
inquest-came. To this, every member
of the household of Tempest Hall was
duly summoned.
The inquest was held in the ancient
library. The coroner took his seat al
the head Of the long table, the jury
ranged themselves around 1t. The. SER