Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-03-06

Iterrupted Sem; your words are puZ-
zle: you are an enigma"
Thank you. l read, but am never
read; 1 talk to learn, never to tell;
make friends to help myself, never to
help others, l am frank, and no one
understands me; study-study-
strike! 1 am an enigma. Thank you!'
But why"
Prier laughed again.
ASK me no questions, and shall not
be under the necessity of lying to you,
he said.
But you saw the doctor?'
"Oh, yes. 1 saw him. He said Dom
aid Barron was dead. He said the
cause was heart disease"
But doctors are mistaken, some
times" said Sem.
That remark is not original" re-
piled Prier, gravely; "they are mistak-
en- sometimes!"
There was another tap at Senn's
door. The caller was admitted. He
proved to be q messenger with a letter
IOE MI. SoeIlll. EOClll lStih t"iNS'
Then he handed it across to the detec-
tive. Let US read it, too, since his ac-
ton shows that it Is not to be personal
and private II is the second strange
thing which 1 have to record against
this day with which we are dealing
this receipt of a strange letter by Mr..
| Gilbert Sem.
The letter was as follows:
"Boomville Me-. Nov Sth 1870.
| "Mr. Gilbert Sem, Dear Sir: Ny
father was found dead in his bed this
morning. l am almost prostrated
with grief. But / know that business
must go on today, notwithstanding
what has happened, or the name of
Barron be covered with disgrace. No
one knows the condition Of the bus
iness better than you do; you have
been acquainted with its details for
many years. 1t is my wish that you
should attend to opening the bank
and meeting all demands today.
What shall come after that. must de.
pend on circumstances; 1 bind myself
to nothing whatever.
| Elise Barron-Senn.
p. 81 have forbidden the ad-
mission Of Prier to the house. If he
remains in town I shall make it eX-
| ceedingly unpleasant for him-if I
can. Il. q. ).
You'll do it," asked Prier, handing
the letter back.
Il suppose l must. It's awkward,
though, that the safe cannot be opened
at once The delay of sending for an
expert is going to be almost ruinous."
| You look at the ruin of this business
in a different way from what you did
yesterday"
'Is that unnatural? l am an owner
in it now"
Are you? Do you suppose Mrs.
Sem will give you half-interest now?
Do you suppose you'll be a partner?
| I'll venture to say you'll be discharged
from your position when night comes.
l think you are mistaken in some Of
your estimates Of the character Of the
lady who has become your wife.
Among your mistakes is the one of
supposing that she'll carry out the bar
gain her father made with you, or she
for him; she made that to save him,
and she failed in securing him long life
and happiness she has made the only
sacrifice to you she will ever make,
Push your claim, and she will fight you
to the DEATH That is the sort Of wo-
man Mrs. Elsie Barron Sem is"
"Her-her fathers death is-is-a
sort of-of advantage to her, is it?" said
Sem.
1T does away with the only reason
she ever had to make concessions to
you, l think; for 1 don't believe she
would ever have married you merely to
save the money. 1t gives her a new
line of battle. 1t makes your enmity
safe"
You think she will hate me and per-
secute me. as well. as follow you with
her hatred and persecution?"
Il do
will she dare?"
why not?"
Il don't know" faltered Sem.
NO" said Prier, positively, Il think
you don't"
Sem held out his hand.
I'VE are alike in misfortune, them
he said "and should be friends. You
are the only one l can trust"
Prier did not take Senns hand. He
turned away his head to hide the grim
smile-that one we have seen so often
which would flash up into his face
this time despite his efforts to prevent
it. His nervous hand sought his pre-
cious pocket again, as it had done so
many times before.
The only one? Are you sure you
can trust me?"
Not sure" said Sem, sadly; 'but
one must always take risks"
"Ill help you with that SAFE" said
Prier. II studied the manufacture Of
locks, once. and I think the two Of us
can find way into Donald Barron's
safe"
Thank you. Let us be going
And one must run risks, as you say"
Mr.. Prier let his hands fall, naturally
enough. into the pockets of his over
coat. There was a pair Of handcuffs in
the left hand pocket loaded revolver
in the right. Perhaps detectives are
always equipped in that way. Perhaps
| not.
think not.
|
How fast news travels. Especially
bad news! And especially in small
town. This morning Of which l am
telling was a morning long before (as
time goes in these modern high-pres-
sure days) the invention of the tele-
phone.
But BoOmville's citizens did not need
did not miss-could scarcely have
used-that coming invention.
Eight o'clock, Donald Barron was
found dead in his bed this morning.!
The milkmen knew it! The butchers
knew it. The hired girls knew 1t. And
then, suddenly, every one knew IT, ana
every one was talking of it, Every one