Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-11-27

miSSal had nearly arrived Wnen IL
stalk kcd Alf with a shotgun. He nod
ded at me and took a seat far to the
rear of the room as If careful lest ht
might interrupt the closing ceremonies
And when the last child was gone my
friend came forward. shaking hi:
head.
Whats the trouble now?" / asked
! taking down my hat.
Put your hat right back there, un
less you want to wear 1t in the house
he said. Il have found out that those
fellows are laying for you, and /
won't be safe to start home now; wei
have to wait until dark. oh, they'll
get you sure If you go now. They
have been to town, l understand, ant
have come back pretty well loaded W
with whisky Oh, they are as bold a:
lions now. But We'll fix them all right
Wen wait until dark and not go by
the road. and tomorrow morning wei
go over and see what they've got tc
say"
"Alf, don't know how to express my
thanks to you. You are running g
great risk"
Don't mention that, Bill. You stood
by me, you understand-walked right
into the generals house with me, and
said to myself that If you ever got in
to a pinch that Id be on hand anc
stand with you. Did you bring a pis'
tol?"
YES, and l am very glad that
didn't meet one of those fellows as
came along. However 1 should moi
know one of them if were to meet
him in the road"
But you'll know them after while
Do these doors LOCKE"
Il think not or, at least they could
be easily forced open. Do you think
they are likely"
"They are likely to do anything
now," he broke in. And there are
Just four of them big enough to fight
Of the boys, I mean, for the old mar
has sense enough to keep out Of it."
1T is a wonder, then," said I, that
he hasn't sense enough to keep his
sons out of it, as he must know thai
no good can be the result"
That's all true enough" Alf re-
piled. but 1 have heard that you cam
argue with the instinct Of brute, and
1 know that it is useless to argue Will
red liquor. Here, let's shove the writ
ing desk against this door," he added
"Once more, shove again. That's it
Now we'll pile benches against the 9TH
er one. We can't do anything with the
windows. but must simply keep out OF
the way of them"
do you think they will shoot
through them?" l asked.
He halted with the end Of n bench
ir his grasp, and looked at me. "Bill
Il didn't know better I'd swear thai
you are not of the south. Don't yoC
know that if you enrage white trash II
IS likely to do anything? Don't yor
know that consequences are never
counted?"
"I know all that" I replied, but
was considering the incentive. l know
that if you give the Cracker a cause
he will do most anything, but have
given him a cause?"
you have given him all the excuse
he wants. One more bench. That's 1t
And now the fury Of their fight will de-
pend upon the quantity of liquor they
have with them. I didn't tell any OF
the home folks that l was coming here
told them that l might meet you and
that we might not be home until late
| wouldn't be surprised"
Out in the woods there was the blunt
bark of a shotgun, the window glass
was splintered in a circle, a sharp zir
and a piece Of the clay "chinking" flew
from the opposite wall.
What did l tell you?" said Alf
looking at me as if pleased with the
proof of his forecast. you get ovel
on that side and I'll stay here. Get
down on the floor and look through
between the logs if you can find q
place, and if you can't punch out the
dirt, but be easy: they might see you
There he is again." The glass in the
other window was shattered. That's
all right" said Alf. "They may charge
on us after a while, and then We'll lei
them have it. Have you found a place"
II have made one," l answered, lying
fiat on the floor gazing out No sho'
had been fired from my side, and l hat
begun to think that the entire force was
confronting Alf when in the SOLDERING
light I saw a man standing beside
tree not more than fifty yards distant
He appeared to be talking to some one
for l saw him look round and nod his
head. l did not want to kill him, al
though the law was plainly on my side
but a man may stand shoulder tc
shoulder with the law and yet wouno
his own conscience. Another figure
came within sight, among the bushes
appearing to rise out Of the leafy dark
ness, and then there came louo
shout: Come out of there, you cow
ard"
Don't say a word" said Alf. "They
are trying to locate you. l don't see
anybody yet, and it's getting most toe
dark now. But reckon we'd both bet
ter fire to let them know that there is
more than one of us. We don't want
to take any advantage of them, yot
know" he added, laughing.
1T doesn't look as if we were" l an
swered. Il could kill one Of them, All
1.-The devil you could! Then do 1t
Here. let me get at him."
NO" replied, waving him off from
my peep-hole. 1t is better not TO XII
him until we are forced to-"
But we are forced to now, dom
you see? They've shot at us. There
you are." They had fired a volley, II
seemed. Let me get at him." said ALI
"Tll try him." replied. And pokec
the barrel of my pistol through the
crack, pretended to take a careful ain
and fired.
Did you get him." Alf asked.
Don't know; can't see very we'll.
"Weu If find one of them he's