Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-05-05


isfied him. He pressed Prier's hant
still more closely.
Yes" he said; land thank you fo
the words. On my honor as q gentle
man-so help me God"
Prier waited. Can you guess why
Can you think how hard he found /
to frame his own question-how diff
cult it was to put it in words? Aftel
more than ten years Of weary waiting
and unavailing search he might have
the key to the whole terrible mystery
in his very hand. He believed he had
But Suppose he had not? Suppose III
failed? Suppose the fruit of thu
vengeance he hoped to pluck-aided by
the answer given by Sem to the ques'
tion he was about to ask-should bt
but a fair seeming Dead Sea apple
Suppose the revenge be hungered fol
the justice whose sweetness he sc
| longed to taste-should turn to ashes
on his lips? J. can imagine, knowing
| his feelings, the emotions which must
have filled the hearts of those to whom
the fairies or gnomes or giants grant
| ed the power to make one wish, witt
the assurance that it should be grant,
ed-in those good old days before
Science slew Myth. or History over
threw Legend and Tradition.
Yes, Prier waited: l should have
waited. Would not you have done So
He looked Sem in the eyes. He be-
gan in a hesitating way. leaning doWr
until his voice. emphatic and emotion
filled though his words were was toe
low to reach any others ears thar
those of Gilbert Sem.
do you know who killed Constance
Craig?"
us that your question, Mr.. Prier?'
asked Sem.
"Yes, Mr. Sem, that is my question
Do you know who killed Constance
Craig?"
The eyes of Sem never shrank mol
faltered His grasp on the hand OF
the great detective frightened a little
perhaps; it surely did not loosen. He
lowered his voice, until the detective
stopped nearer to catch his words
lowered it until Priers thoughts went
back. involuntarily, to the time he lis
tened to the dying words Of Matilda
Webb.
"Yes, Mr. Prier, I do know who kill
ed Constance Craig" was his answer
"Ah!" cried the detective, his voice
almost the snarl of some hunted wild
beast whom the hunters have dared
follow too closely and eagerly, and who
Is at last at bay; lin Gods name, who
was it,"
Mr.. Prier," said Sem, slowly, you
asked me to answer one question;
promised. at what a cost Of pain ano
doubt and agony Of soul / will not try
to tell you. that l would answer IT
You asked your question, and / have
answered it; l have answered it truly
We are square, now, by your own
proposition. l shall tell no more"
you SHALL" shouted the detective;
"you shall, by"
No, sir; I will not
Il say you SHALL you shall, or I
Mr. Prier," said Sem, quietly, -
am in your power. l am weak. l an
scarcely more than alive. I am hun
dreds of miles from land. You are
surrounded by men who are in youl
employ. and who will, 1 presume, dc
whatever you may tell them to do
But, l have answered your question
and I am done. l shall not be coaxeo
nor frightened into telling more"
But l will know who killed Con-
stance Craig"
Yes" sadly: II presume you Will
But l will not tell you
You would have told me- would yor
not, if that had been my question?
Certainly, for 1 had promised
And you knew I might ask that?"
Il did l took that risk
And you will not tell me now"
Never. | shall take no risks again
have settled with you, on your owr
terms. l shall do no more"
Gilbert Sem, I am an honest mar
and not an ungenerous one. L ad'
mire you, and not least Of all for your
action in this matter 1t is true thai
you are in my power; but you are my
guest, and the laws Of hospitality are
sacred. 1t is true that those about me
are in my service, and that my cal
would fill this room-empty at this
moment except Of us two-with mer
willing and anxious to do my bidding
But | shall not call them in to do 9th
er toward you than kindly and friend
| ly service, and
II thank you" said Sem. brokenly
extending his hand again: Il have nc
doubt l wronged you in saying wha'
I did. beg you will believe me wher
l say l never for moment imagined
you would do what my rash words
seemed to indicate. Will you pardon
me?"
Yes, l pardon yOu-fully and freely
But Is there no way III "liicii w 'ii''f>'
your resolution? Is there no condi'
ton"
Yes. there is one way: there is one
condition. Bind yourself to grant one
demand of mine, and l will tell you
who killed Constance Craig"
You will?"
ION that condition, l will"
Il bind myself: I promise
| will you swear it?'
Il will. l do. What is the condi'
tion?"
That you will never directly or IN
directly, turn private vengeance o'
public justice, or even the suspicior
/ Of nnu ono tnWa rGlS any nerSOn DearlnE