Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-02-25
"On Saturday night. That is all we

know"
"Of how much?"
1.-Two hundred thousand dollars"
Miss Barron grew very white. She
grasped the table more firmly for sup
port. She looked straight into her faith
ers eyes; she gave no attention what
ever to the detective.
1.-TWO hundred thousand dollars!" she
gasped, family; two hundred thousand
dollars. And why, why"
She stopped short. She did not look
at her father now. She faced Prier's
eager and almost breathless watclful-
ness. Neither said a word. This time
her gaze gave way before his; this time
her powers faltered. She looked back
at her father again, saying, as she sank
into a seat at last:
why did you send for me-"
"The safe was opened by some one
who knew the combination, and"
"I see," she said; land you suspected
me?"
Her breath came in gasps. She
pressed her clinched hand firmly over
her heart. as though she would lessen
some awful tension there. Her lips
were white as snow. Her face will not
be more colorless when she Is dead than
it was then. She drew little further
away from the old man. and turned
her head aside.
Suspect you? Suspect my loved and
trusted child?" he cried, sinking upon
his knees beside her, and putting his
arms around her. Suspect you-you
good and true and dutiful one-never!"
The color came into her face again.
What was it, then, that you wish
ed?" she asked
ITO know if by any possibility-any
houghtlessness-any mistake or acci-
dent-you have allowed the knowledge
of the safe combination to pass from
you to another. That is the question
wished to ask you. And that is all"
81 am glad" she said, very, very
glad. / could not bear it II you dis
trusted me at all-in the slightest mat
ter 1 love you so, father, 1 love you
so; better than myself-better than
any one or anything else In all the
world. never told any one the secret
Of the on-never-never! You
believe that l did not? You do believe
me, don't you, father"
The old man brushed back the hair
from her forehead, and tenderly kissed
her upon her brow.
II do believe It," he said, "and have
never had one moments doubt Of YOU
Thank you for those blessed words
I was never so happy in all my life. II
the time ever comes when I can prove
my truth and devotion to you by deed
instead Of by words, I will do tt
swear 1 will do it."
Il know it, dear one and true, 1 know
it."
And now," with a sudden fierceness
showing itself. Il suppose this detec-
tive did suspect me?"
1T Is his business to suspect; he is
hired to suspect; he suspected me yes
terday."
She turned to Prier.
You suspected my father of fraud
of robbery? I will never forgive you
for it-never!"
Il am very sorry" said Prier, coldly
but politely.
And now-did you suspect me-"
Prier turned toward Mr.. Barron and
addressed himself to him:
You have agreed to question your
daughter; you have done so; if that
work is finished-if you have done, let
us go to the bank"
will you answer my question:" de-
manded the young woman; did you
suspect me-"
Il had never seen YOU" replied Prier,
and some one took the money"
And so you suspected that daugh-
ter could stoop to rob her father? Your
experiences must have been among pc
culiar people"
They have been"
And have given you peculiar ideas
of feeling and purpose"
Yes"
"Well. Mr.. Prier, 1 pity you. l for
give you, too: l excuse the injustice Of
your thoughts and suspicious; you are
now, I presume?"
Mr.. Prier half turned away his head;
he made no answer.
Are YOU satisfied Of my innocence?"
The tone was pitched upon little high
er key, and the words were little
louder and a little more filled with hot
passion than before.
And still the great detective made no
sign: still he looked another way; still
his face did not show that he had even
heard her question.
Man, man, why do you not answer?'
cried Barron; you have heard the
frank and ingenious words of this in
nocent and noble woman. You have
seen truth in her face; you have heard
it in her tones; you have felt it in her
very presence. You claim that you
do not fail: YOU claim that you can de-
termine guilt; you call yourself infal-
lible. Say that she is innocent; you
know that she is guiltless; say It,"
Prier let his head fall upon the table
again. He shook with the force of some
terrible emotion. When he raised his
face again it was wet with tears.
Il cannot say what you WISH" he
said, quietly. Il can only say that l
will follow this matter until the guilty
one meets the just reward Of crime
repeated crime; l can only say now re-
garding Miss Barron: 1 do not know"
She stopped and kissed her father
once more. Then she flashed look Of
the most supreme hate upon Prier
Il swear l am innocent and true"
she said "and that will sacrifice any