Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-02-07

Lucifers ghost seemed pursuing him
Again and again he looked wildly over
his shoulder, expecting to see some
thing supernatural there. The moan Of
the tide, the shadows made by the
clouds racing across the moon, even the
rustlng of the dry salt grass, set him
trembling with terror. Goaded forward
however, by a wholesome fear of Vim
cent Hawkstone, he entered the wood
AS he tramped along under the trees
wondering how he was to face Peg, the
solid earth suddenly gave way beneath
his feet. His heels flew up and his
head down, and Joe found himself
sprawling in deep hole, to which his
own dimensions fitted with appalling
correctness.
1t was an open grave.
He gave yell that made the forest
ring, and pierced even to the living
room of the Inlet House.
Peg! Peg! BY the great horn spoon,
she's dug 1t for me!-she's going to
bury me alive, the old witch! Help me
OUT" as the loose dirt ratified into his
ewes and ears. I'm nowise At for the
grave as yeti haven't repented Of my
sins!"
| Then you'd better be about it,
thundered voice, and he lifted his
dirt t-dimmed eyes and recognized Peg
herself standing on the brink above
him with vengeance written on her
dark, frowning face. Joe Derby, what
made you go for to tempt Providence
by showing yourself at this creek to-
night?"
"Lor', I didn't come of my own ac-
cord" faltered Joe. "Mr. Vincent sent
me to bring back Sarah and the little
girl"
He got upon his feet and scrambled
out of the grave.
Now, Peg, old lass" he began, in an
Iapologetic tone, don't you glar. at me
in that rampageous way, seeing there's
no call. All l want is them young
folks. Too many Of the household
seems bent on flying to you at pres
ent Naturally, Mr. Vincent objects.
He's bound to have some Of 'em back.
Now hold on, my beauty! BY my soul,
1 had to cut his ropes this morning.
Without a word she dashed at him,
like Nemesis, daughter Of NoX. He
left his sentence unfinished, and took
! to his heels. Before he had gone a
1 dc hn
nape of the neck.
You want little Bee, do you? she
hissed. And you have the hardihood
to come to the Inlet for her? Ho! no!
you're hand and glove with that scoun-
drel Vincent-he sends you on errands
to me, eh?" 'f
| For a few moments the armament
seemed falling on Mr. Derby's head.
He was thumped and beaten with mer-
ciless vigor Down he went on his
knees to the terrible Amazon, whim-
pering abjectly:
| "Lor', lor', you be a curious female
and no mistake, Peg! Hope may die
If 1 ever go contrariwise to you again.
/
but he made me! Easy now! Don't
go a-bringing down my gray hairs In
sorrer to any more open sepulchres. l
didn't know you was a-turning this
place into graveyard, old girl. Let me
off, and deuce take me if i ever come
a-nigh you again."
In answer, Nemesis whirled him to
his feet and pitched him straight into
the muddy, ice-cold creek
If you can swim, you're all right!
she cried, derisively; "if you can't, you
must drown"
Then she turned and walked away
through the wood.
Unfortunately, Mr.. Derby could not
swim. He struggled and gasped, neck
deep in mud and water, roaring vainly
for the dark Amazon to return and help
him. To his great relief, he found
the tide was ebbing out Of the creek,
and the overhanging bough Of a tree
offered him support He dragged him.
self to dry land at last, and in pitia-
BILE plight sneaked home to his own
cottage, changed his clothes, and went
up to the hall to report his mishaps
to the new master.
He found Vincent Hawkstone seated
by the drawing room fire, moodily
Iemptying a bottle of wine. He laughed
lunpleasantly when he heard Joe's
STORY.
In the morning, I'll visit that She
Ifox's den myself" he said, dryly, land
see what 1 can unearth there. Now l
want your help in another matter,
DERBY. Basil Hawkstone probably died
Iintestate-heart disease doesn't wait
for men to arrange money matters
but search must be made at once for
possible will. Come with me to the IL
brary-we shall have to intrude there
for a space, for if he has left will, 1t
will be found, Of course, among his
private papers"
They took up a lamp and crossed
the hall to the room where lay the dead
} island lord, his grand, imposing shape
mournfully outlined beneath a sheet
At the sight Vincent made step back
ward and changed color
What were the thoughts of his heart
lat that moment? How did he feel
standing there in that dimly lighted
room, staring down at the dead? How
does the murderer ever feel in the
mute. accusing presence of the MUIR
dered? Vincent HawkstOne knew only
too well that no heart disease had KILL
ed his cousin He shook with sudden
guilty fear
Great God. How tall he ISL ne
muttered, using the words of Henry
ILL., when he beheld the slain Guise
"And how terrible he looks, Derby!"
"Oh, lor. sir you haven't seen him.
= answered Derby, reassuringly. His
4 l.. ,,onrninp-n01