Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-12-01


floor broad side, and the Aimes broth
ers, now seated at table, were "cov-
cred" with guns and pistols before they
had time to stir in their chairs. They
appeared to- be horror at see
ing Alf and me, and in moment theii
hands were in the air.
Josh" the deputy commanded, bring
us a plow line. Never mind, yor
haven't time for that. Take off thai
bed cord"
The woman had squeezed herself int,
corner, between "cubbord" and the
wall, but she came out and protested
against the use of her bed cord. "Ge
that cord!" the deputy commanded
Move that hand again, Scott Aimes
and I'll kill you. Here we are, ne
added, when the negro had tumbled OF
the bed-clothes and unfastened the
cord. Now cut it in four pieces
Fur de Lawd's sake!" the woman
shouted, you ain gwine treat er pus-
son datter way, is you? Fust da cut
~
law an cuts de bed cawd. Laws Ell
massy whut got inter dis worr nc
how"
Keep quiet" said the deputy. Here,
big man, tie their wrists and don't be
afraid of hurting them. I've had my
eve on you gentlemen for some time.
That's it, give it to them hard. Tie
their ankles, too. But we have only
four pieces of rope. Go now and get a
plOw-line, Josh.
We put back the table and the chairs
and stood our prisoners in the center
of the room, sullen and coarse-featur-
ed brutes, and waited for the negro to
come with the plow-line, and present
ly he appeared with new grass rope.
That's Just exactly what we want"
said the deputy. Cut it in four pieces,
ana, big man." he continued, speaking
to me, Il must again call on you. Tight
around the shank and no feelings con-
sidered. That's it; you go at it in the
right way-must have tied chickens
for the market. l must really beg
pardon of these gentlemen for not get
ting a warrant; we were pushed for
time, and therefore, we are trifie ir-
regular, but my dear sirs, / promise
you that you shall have warrant just
as soon as we get into Purdy. You
should be satisfied with my admitting
that 1 am irregular"
The general roared with a great
laugh. Your apology is Of the finest
feather, the most gracious down." said
he, but our friends must remember
that in an irregularity often lie some
of the most precious merits Of this
life"
IF we hadn't been huddled round this
here table you wouldn't be havin' sich
fun" said Scott Aimes, quivering under
my strong pull at the rope. I'VE new
er did ask nothin' but fair show, but
we didn't git it this time, by long
shot"
"Silence, brute" the general COM
manded. "As low as you are, you
should know better than to break in
upon the high spirits Of a gentleman.
Oh, I have understood you all along.
You were working your courage toward
me. Hush. don't you speak a word
Got them all strung?" the deputy
asked, examining the ropes. Good.
Now, Josh, you run over to my house
as fast as you can and tell my wife
that you want the two-horse wagon.
And hitch it up and come back here
as fast as YOU can. Go on; I'll pay
you for everything"
"Thankee sab. I'm gone. 1t loos-
ems er ole pusson's feet, sab, ter know
dat he gwine be paid. Hard times al
lus comm down de big road, er kickin'
up er dust"
Are you going?" the deputy storm
ed. "Confound you; I'll put you in jail
for selling whisky if you are not back
here in fifteen minutes"
Gone now" exclaimed the negro,
bounding from the door and striking
trot. "Gone!" we heard him repeat,
as he leaped over the fence.
Mr.. Parker" said Scott Aimes,
stretching his neck toward the officer,
i've jest got one favor to ask Of you.
Git that bottle over thar an give US
fellers a drink. 1t was Ticker that got
US into this here muss, an you ought
to let ticker help us a little now
"Old fellow used to keep a grocery
over at Blue Lick" the deputy remark
ed. looking at me rather than at the
prisoner, "and when a mans money
was all gone he used to say: Lord love
YOU. honey, l couldn't think Of letting
you take another drop; I'm so much
interested in your welfare that 1 don't
want to see you hurt yourself No.
Scottfield" now he looked at the
prisoner-"I am too much interested in
you to see you throw yourself away.
Don't be impatient. Just wait for the
wagon. says the old song"
The old general had sat down, but old
Lin continued to stand there, his arms
bare and his teeth hard-set. On his
countenance lay the shadow of re-
gret, and l have thought that he was
grieved at the spelling Of the fight that
he thought should have taken place
to reward him for the trouble of leav-
ing home. The prisoners WINGED under
his gaze, as his eyes leaped about from
one to another. But he said not word;
lust stood there, with his teeth hard
set.
Soon we heard the wagon, rumbling
along the road that skirted the old field,
and we began to set our prisoners near
the door, picking them up and putting
them down like upright sticks. The
wagon drew up near the door, the wo-
man held a light for us and we began
our work of loading And l was glad
when the deputy said that he no longer
needed our assistance; l was afraid
that he would ask me to drive to town
with him.
We'll" he said. gathering up the
lines and glancing back at his load,
"a pretty good haul for these hard
times. Whoa, wait a minute. Say,