Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-04-24
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OUTSIDE
Bv CLARENCE BoUTELLE.
CHAPTER XXI.
The Woman Who Came and the Man
Who Sent For Her.
BY CLARENCE BoUTELLE.


but the storm made it seem as though
night was coming on at once. 1t was
dark, very dark.
a brakeman opened the door Sec
ond time, after his rude and incoher-
ent announcement had been obeyed by
those who knew, in some other way
than by his assistance, the name Of
the place, and all passengers who were
TO stop at Blankford had left the train.
This time he spoke so as to be un-
derstood docs practice make per-
fect?)
The train will 60 no further" he
said: the track beyond Is full OF
drlfted snow. Passengers can remain
in the car or go to the hotel"
There was much grumbling among
the passengers. The brakeman gave
it but little attention. 1t wasn't his
fault that the train couldn't go on. He
was used to travelling with grumblers;
ne was too much of a fatalist himself
to complain: so he let the others
growl unhindered and unanswered.
feet with so genuine a fear and griet
in her face that she had his attention
at once; on reflection, however, 1 am
not sure that it was not the beauty in
her face which gained his attention,
instead Of the fear and grief.
But sir, how long before the train
will go on?"
Little wonder she was anxious. Her
destination was only a few miles away
"a ride of two hours or so on train
running according to the time card.
But this was Saturday, March 4th,
1871. and every minutes delay was
shortening the afternoon by so much.
Not before some time tomorrow;
perhaps not so soon as that" replied
the brakeman.
DO you know anything of the cOndi-
ton of the roads in this vicinity? Can
teams pass over them?"
Il don't know. I think it's doubt
full"
Thank you." she said, sweetly.
She drew her wraps more closely
about her. She gathered up her lug
gage. She left the car.
She went at once to a livery stable.
She asked for the proprietor himself.
He came Immediately, which leads me
TO suspect that the man to whom she
had first spoken said some strong
words regarding the remarkably
handsome woman who wished to see
him.
"I want to hire a team" she said to
him.
ITO go far? It's going to be a terri
BILE night: the snow is falling fast: the
roads are drifting badly; and there
isn't a road in the vicinity that isn't
drifted full and almost impossible al
ready"
She gave him the name of town.
Take Blankford for the right angle of
q right-angled isosccles triangle. She
gave him the name of Il place at one
of the acute angles: the city to which
she meant to go was situated almost
exactly at the other acute angle. 1t
was not any Of this mans business
where she was going. and she didn't
intend he should know. But Lurline
Rannottie was not mean in little
things: she was quite willing to pay
for team to go as many miles as she
wished to go: and. besides, she want
ed to know the opinion of liveryman
as to the possibility of driving so far
that night.
The man shook his head.
II don't think any driver would be
willing to undertake such a trip to-
night: wait here until morning, and
II don't want a driver, and l cam
cidedly.
The man looked at her with undis-
guised admiration.
You don't want a driver? Surely
you do not intend to drive yourself
such night as this? Surely you do
not intend to go alone?'
Il do"
The man shook his head again.
You couldn't do it. l couldn't let
a team on such a night and for such
trip as this with only woman"
NO? You think we women are not
quite your equals, do yOu?''
We'll. in some respects"
"Ah! Well. have you any teams for
sale?"
The man laughed.
Il never refuse a good price for any
thing I own" he said promptly. DO
YOU think you'd like to buy"
Perhaps so. l must buy if l can
not hire"
"All right. think I'd rather you'd
drive your own team tonight than
mine"
We'll. what are your prices-team.
harness. sleigh, robes and-and whip?"
Il can let you have fair team and
a good sleigh for five hundred dollars
and from that up"
How much for the best? How much
for the horses with the greatest speed
and the greatest power of endurance.
and-and everything else. to match?'
The man looked at her mockingly.
Perhaps he was scarcely to blame. He
might nave lHOuSlll SilS was i'OSN
ing him.
He pOndered her question minute
or two. 4 man takes pride in owner
ship. He was putting price upon his
best team and harness and sleigh; not
a price at which to sell them, oh, no;
but a price at which to offer them-a
price to boast over the next day..
1.-TWO thousand dollars" he replied.
Very we'll. l will take it; order the
team made ready at once"
She opened and threw back her
cloak She unbuckled a very plain
and Innocent looking belt from about
her waist She unbuttOned an opening
on the inner side of it, near one end.
She raised the belt above the table in
the office, taking it by the other end,
and a shower of twentydollar gold