Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-02-25
CHAPTER ".
A Peculiar Proposal.
Bv CLARENCE BoUTELLE

morning when Mr.. Prier arose. ne
went down to the parlor and waited for
Mr.. Barron, showing in his attitude
when he sat, in his gait when he rose
and walked the room. in the glitter OIL
his eyes when he made pretense OF
trying to read, that he was very, very
impatient.
He had said last evening that all
would be we'll in the morning. Had he
meant it? Did he doubt 1t?
The grim smile had not left his face;
il had grown deeper and more intense
until it seemed as though 1t were e'
graved upon his features-a thing
which would remain there until neither
life nor expression remained longer
And the casket-the casket was IN
his pocket now, and he touched II
again and again, as he waited for the
banker; touched it caressingly-lovlng-
ly-strangely; touched it as half
crazed mother might have touched the
dead face of her little child While she
waited in hiding for the murderer OF
her darling to come her way.
The great detective shut his teeth to-
gether until they could be heard 10
grind upon one another; his lips were
drawn back, showing his cruel strength
of Jaw; his nails left livid marks IN the
palms of his clinched hands.
His breath came in great gasps or
sobs. His eyes filled with tears.
AT last! at last" he muttered, brok-
enly.
This was ]. B. Prier-J. P. Prier, the
man. full of hate which was only the
more bitter for its long repression; un-
willing II wait for the vengeance which
had eluded him for so long; counting
the minutes until he should see Crime
stagger up the steps Of the gallows TO
fall again n sacrifice to the holy name
of--well, reader, between Justice ana
Revenge, you may take your choice.
A hand was laid upon the door-knoo.
In an instant the grim smile was
gone. In its place was look Of pleas
ant welcome. No tears: no harshly
drawn breath; no sharply shut teeth
nor painfully compressed lips. This
was Prier, the professional detective.
Donald Barron entered.
Good morning" he said.
Good morning" replied Prier, adding
immediately: And now let us get to
business"
will not there be time after break
fast?"
Il don't like to wait. Cannot we have
breakfast by ourselves, and talk as we
eat?"
Mr.. Barron said that could be done,
and sent messages at once to the other
members of the household asking them
TO excuse him. Breakfast for the two
men was then sent to the library.
And Prier began business as he be-
gan his steak and coffee.
The stolen money cannot be used
without great risk" he said. DO you
know of any one who would be-let us
be moderate enough to say-pleased to
see you deprived of the means of meet
ing your obligations?"
Il know of no one"
You have enemies, no doubt
Il think not"
Have you never done that which
may have made some one anxious to
injure you?'
1T may be. But know Of no person
who would have the slightest desire to
ruin me-"
Let us look in another direction,
then. What of your household? Who
constitute your family"
II am a widower. have one daugh-
ter: she has lady companion-a per-
son who has been an inmate Of the
house since my daughter was mere
child. They, with myself, make up the
family"
This young lady compartments she
considerably older than Your daugh-
ter?"
Some years; do not know how
many"
Poor, presume?'
She was. l have settled enough
money upon her. however, to make her
feel thoroughly independent"
For which she is grateful, of
course"
Thoroughly and genuinely So"
rs she jealous and envious in dispo-
sition?"
Not at all. She is the least ambi-
tious and selfish person l have ever
seen"
After your death, should she outlive
YOU, what is to become Of her them"
She is literally remembered in my
will. She will be left we'll provided for
unless l die poor"
she knows this?"
she does"
Your daughter. is She"
MY daughter is the best and noblest
woman l ever knew. She is the soul
of truth and honor From her earliest
childhood she was a wonderfully con-
scientiouS child. She has only one
fault: she could not be led into actual
sin in any way; she could be led into
unworthy action in only one way"
And what is her fault? What is the
one avenue to the latent eVll-eVil none
the less because it is slight of stature
which exists in her nature?
Don't couple evil with her name.
cannot bear that Her one fault is hel
love for me. The pathway to the less
worthy side of her character is through
that love. She would do anything and
everything-anything short of actua
wickedness and dishonor-if my gooC
seemed the probable result Of her act
Prier reached his hand across the ta'
ble and took that of Donald Barron.
a good account and good charac,
fer I congratulate you. sir. Don't tall
of ruin What is money compared to {
true and devoted love like that?"
Thank you; thank you for your re-
buke as we'll as for your kindness" salt
Mr.. Barron.
"Your servants? You trust them