Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-10-16

hang around her hour after hour? HI
often caught Hartley watching hin
with a thoughtful, half troubled con
temptation, but from Jessica Thornton
he had never received the faintest sigl
which would indicate that she knew h
considered her more than an admired
and well-liked friend. Miss Thornton
was wise young woman.
But what Of the days when sh'
would go away, back to the social tri
umphs which were her natural world
and leave him to the black isolation O
his work? At first Everard would no
think of 1t, would only drain the cuI
Of joy while his eager hands could holt
it, and when the dregs came-but III
could not admit the thought Of that
There came a day, however, when Mr.
Everard made a heroic decision. HI
would stop being a driveling idiot anc
an unreasoning lunatic! He woult
know his fate at once, brace up anc
take it like a man If she sent hin
away from her, and get away from thai
part Of the country as soon as his
work would permit.
With this tremendous resolution ir
view, Everard started out in the light
of early evening-hours were extreme
ly unconventional here-and took the
upper path toward the Thornton cot
tage. There were two of these paths
the other, leading direct from the
mines, being twenty feet below, by g
slightly slanting ledge. Everard was
about two thirds the distance to his
destination, which was in full view
when he saw Hartley on the lower
path, evidently bound for the same
place The treasurer was walking
head down in deep and seemingly trou-
bled thought; he walked with nc
knowledge of time, nor place, nor men
his hands in his pockets and his broad
shoulders swaying with a regular
rhythmic motion.
"Oh, hang, him." thought Everard
impatiently and stopped aghast "By
Jove!"
His swift glance flashed furtively to-
ward the Thornton cottage. There was
the fiutter of light dress there, as
Jessica and her father came out to
look at the heavenly afterglow Of the
sunset. A second more and their eyes
might fall on both these approaching
guests. Rival or no rival, this must
stop!
Everard took the twenty foot drop
with. a reckless succession Of scram-
bles, and landed on his feet with a
shower of loose dirt following after A
moment later the treasurer was jerked
about by heavy hand on his shoulder
stop that" commanded Everard,
sharply.
stop what?" Hartley looked at him
questioningly, but as though he had al
ready guessed the answer. His lips
twitched, a slow grayness crept over
his face. He looked like a sick man
WAS L"
you WERE" said Everard, sternly
II worked near a prison for six months
and I know that there's no mistaking a
lock-step anywhere in this world"
A quick, involuntary sigh escaped
Hartley as though in regret for all the
which had come to naught
He set his teeth with sort Of dull
bitterness, and stared blackly into the
valley below them.
IT'S the first time I've done that In
six months, and no one has ever caught
me at it before. My God, Everard,
walked lock step for three solid years
the cruelist invention a man ever
made to brand another one through all
the years of his life, and it's the only
thing that 1 can't shake off before men
I've got will enough, I can do 1t some
day, but in the meantime" Hart
ley paused suddenly. "Going to give
me up again, Everard?"
You deserve it.
do you recognize me?"
Everard stared, a trifle fastidiously
mo. I must say have never had
any friends in your line Of business
Hartley passed this; he had to.
"You done me a generous turn once
I wore your hat for months"
Everard started and peered at him
incredulously. Who would have known
this Drowned man, was splendid speci-
men of physical development, who held
men in the palm Of his hand, for the
pallid, shrinking convict who had skunk
down to the rivers edge on that hot
July afternoon?
You're Carter" he said slowly, and
there was a hard ring in the treasur-
er's voice as he answered.:
"Yes, I'm Carter No, sir, was Car
ter"
you can come back to camp with
me-" Everard ordered briefly. I'm toe
dirty to go on myself, and you-you
haven't any right to go to Thornton's.'
You can believe me or not, though
I don't suppose you consider convicts
word worth much. but since the day
YOU gave me a lift on that hand-car
I've lived as straight as you have
To be Continued.