Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-12-18

I heard one man say: "The old soldier
made q great fight, but the odds were
against. Bet ten dollars they find him
guilty"
There's his friend over there" an
other man spoke up. Don't talk so
loud"
Cant help who's listening; moneys
here talkin'. Any takers?"
Not far away there was wooden
bridge over small stream and thither
went and leaned upon the rail, lis
tening to the murmur Of the water.
1 thought that this must be the brook
that rippled past our house, and went
down to the waters edge and bathed
my aching head. Then I remembered
that had eaten nothing since early
morning, and l thought that / would
better go to the tavern, and was turn
ing away when l heard some one cry:
THE jury is in and court has met
again." 1 scrambled up and hasten
ed toward the court house, and at the
steps l met a number of men coming
Jut. Its all over" one of them said
to me. imprisonment for life. Conk-
wright has moved for new trial and
the Judge has granted it,"
1 hastened to the Jail, whittier they
had taken Alf found him seated on
his bed He got up when he saw me.
Bill" he said, in a voice low and
steady, II am not going to the peniten-
tiary if you are my friend"
And you know that am, Alf.'
Then you will lend me your knife"
No, Alf, l can't do that-not now.
Remember that we have another
chance"
II don't mean now-I mean if that
last chance fails. Now 1 want you to
do something for me. You tell father
that he must sell his farm Immediately
and leave here. Tell him that I'll hate
him if he doesn't do as l say. You
can stay here and write to him, and If
l don't come out at the next trial, all
right, and if l do, I can go to him. 1t
may seem hard, but he's got to do 1t.
He wouldn't live here, any way. Will
you do it?"
Il will, for l don't know but it is a
good plan. No, he wouldn't live here.
He will do as you request"
We'll, go on home now and rest.
Hanged If you don't look as if you've
been on trial for your life" he added,
laughing. Tell him that I'm not crush
ed-that it has come out better than
l expected"
The night was dark, the road was
desolate, and l heard the lonesome
lowing of the cattle. And now and
then a horseman passed me, for l was
not eager to get home. At gate
near the roadside some one was stand
ing with lantern, and just behind me
came the rattle Of an old vehicle. l
turned aside to let it pass, and as l
did the light of the lantern fell upon
me and a voice asked: THAT you,
Mr.. Hawes?"
Yes" 1 answered, turning back in
to the road and following a buggy.
Il lowed So" said a man in the
buggy, for we don't grow many of
your size about here. I have-heard
that they used to, but they don't now.
Good many things have happened
since that day you come over to see
me about the school. I'm Perdue. And
by the way, there's a hundred dollars
at my house waitin' for you and II
you don't come after it I'll send 1t
over"
But you don't owe me anything yet"
l replied.
Yes, the moneys there and it's
yourn. You couldn't help not bein' in
a fix to teach. AS l say, it's there for
you, and you might as we'll have it.
Sorry for the old folks, tell 'em, but it
can't be helped"
On he drove, shouting back that he
could send the money the next day,
and my protest, if, indeed, entered
one. was weak and faltering, for of all
men in that neighborhood l thought
that I stood most in need of hundred
dollars.
Now was nearing the house. The
hour was late, but a light was burning
in the sitting room. No one came out,
though my horses hoofs fell hard
enough upon the stones to tell them
of my coming; and when got down at
the gate l found a horse tied to the
fence. Some person, eager to bear evil
tidings, had forestalled me. led my
horse to the stable, went to the house,
and had just stepped into the passage
when Parker, the deputy sheriff, came
out of the sitting room. Il thought
you'd go on back to the jail to stay
while, so l came on over to tell them.
No trouble, you know-only a short
distance out of my way"
All within was silent. l stepped in
side. The old man was standing with
his back to the Fireplace; the old wo-
man sat with her book in her lap and
Guinea stood at the window, looking
into the darkness. l sat down in ST.
lence, for l knew not what to say, and
in silence for time we remained. The
old woman sobbed, clutching more
tightly her book and the old man look
ed at her sharply and then almost flung
himself out of the room. And Few
moments later l heard him shouting:
Hike, there, Sam! Hike, there Bob!
There's plenty of light! you've got
three lanterns Hike, there! To a fin
ish, to finish!"
Mrs. Jucklin, it is no time for des-
pair" | said. and Guinea turned from
the window. I'VE have already secured
a new trial, and the next time it will
surely go in our favor That is the
history of nearly all such cases. Be
strong just a little while longer. You
have been our prop, and now you must
not let us fall"
She arose and with an old-time
courtesy bowed To me, and Guinea
came forward and held out her hand
and she must have seen sudden light
lao, into my eyes for she said: II am