Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-08-04
turned and looked hard at Caleb; but
IL ln4 lnl

duu lOOhSu " at SoiCbI oe'
the latter avoided his eye.
mo, she amt found" said the old
man. I'VE had six boats out, and lights
and speaking trumpets. She ain't
found"
Perhaps some boat has already
picked her up"
Il misdoubt it, sir"
"Remember," said Bess, that Rose
was drifting long time before we set
out. She had over an hours start Of US
of course, we could not hope to over
take her, and in such a fog, too!"
Great Cod" muttered Hume, in des-
peration, what has become Of the poor
child?
"You are best able to answer that
question, sir" replied old Caleb, GRIM
ly.
"I?"
"Sartinly, for you're the person that
last saw her alive"
Hiram Duff stepped out from the
group Of fishermen. Evidently he had
been chosen to speak their sentiments
aloud.
I'm a constable" said he, land /
know my duty, Mr.. Hume. I'll free my
mind without beating about the bush.
Me and my mates amt half satisfied
with your yarn consuming Rose. This
afternoon 1 found you out yonder in
deep water, with an oar floating near,
but that don't go to prove anything.
There's a mighty bad look to this whole
affair, sir! You're a stranger in our
parts, and of late you've been a-paying
more attention to Rose than any mar
ried woman ought to receive. Now,
the question afore us all Is: Whatever
have you done with that ere grip"
Done with her?" repeated Hume. in
angry amazement. Explain yourself,
idiot"
"One of the men here swears he war
out fishing this AFTERNOON, and got
caught in the fog; and he heard wo-
mans voice a-screaming murder and
help! but he was so far off, and so
baff1ed by the burned .vapor, he
couldn't find anybody. Now, we want
to ask if sich cries came from your
boat?"
Yes" replied Hume, with perfect
composure; Il had leaped into the wa
ter for the lost oars, and Rose was
frightened to choose
her words. She did scream murder,
and she did cry for help, and the fell
low who heard her should have hurried
to our aid at once"
A ripple of excitement stirred the
group Duff's grim face grew yet more
grim.
That ere girl didn't cry murder for
he said. II scent foul play,
sir. Most likely she war a-struggling
for her life, and the boat got upset. It's
all plain enough, Rose Gaff has been
made away with"
Before Hume could utter another
word, Bess Hillyer stepped forward
and stood by his side.
Their suspicious are abominable!"
she cried, hotly, "and 1 have already
told them So I believe your story, Mr..
Hume-every word Of it! Oh, shame
upon them for thinking such things!"
She held out her hand to him, with a
glow on her cheek, a flash in her eyes.
Speak" she urged; "tell them that
you are innocent. They are stubborn,
ignorant men-they know no better
than to talk like this"
He pressed the extended hand CRATE
fully, then advanced to Hiram Duff.
You think that 1 have murdered
Rose?" he asked.
That's about it, sir"
You accuse me-" with a mirthless
smile, "of paying attention to her? l
deny both charges-of both l am en-
tirely guiltless. never gave a second
thought to Andy Gaff's wife; and why
should l harm her? In Heavens name,
be reasonable. I have told you the
story of the accident exactly as it hap
pened."
The men listened, unmoved.
"Bess may think as she likes" said
Caleb Hillyer, in a hard, dry voice,
"and the rest of us will do the same.
I'm Roses uncle-I brought her up as
my own. She's missing under suspi-
cious circumstances, Mr.. Hume, and
we're a-going to put you behind lock
and key till we find out what's become
of her. Duff here, as you've already
been told, is constable"
Just So" said Duff, stepping calmly
forward. "Mr. Hume, you're my pris-
oner!"
For a moment this unexpected turn
of affairs seemed to Hume highly ridic-
ulous; but the faces Of the men,
gloomy, threatening, warned him that
the situation was not without it's seri-
Gus side. In vain Bess tried to inter-
fere.
eft is horrible to accuse Mr.. Hume
of such a deed" she cried. How can
any one of you believe it. even for a
moment?"
We'll, as to that" answered Duff
gruff1y. "if he's innocent. he'll be let
go, and if he amt he'll have to smart
for his crime"
Hume made no resistance. Neither
did he waste his breath in protesta-
tions of innocence. He was escorted
&c the old fishhouse, where he had
danced with Rose on the night of the
ball, and locked securely into its odor-
Gus solitude.
A bed, a chair and table were hast
ilv conveyed to the place from Caleh
Hillyer's cottage, the windows made
fast, and shutters nailed over them
The stout door was doubly locked.
In a most unenviable state of nina
Hume strobe up and down his prison
# was a curious end to his three weeks
Of pleasuring. Why had he not left the
cane with Jack Harold? What demon
had tempted him to loiter on there ar
fer his friends departure?
Thoughts of the unfortunate girl
whom he had last seen drifting from
his sight into a pail Of sea fog. pressed
on him like a nightmare. His own pre-
dicament too, was not without peril.