Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-05-22
most of his fellow beings? Was he

about. There are places, even in Lon
don, where a man runs risk in goint
What shall we say Of those herding
places of humanity where a handful o
silver coin is ample compensation TO
wickedness and the risk of murder
where a frenzied cry for help would
bring out crowd Of witnesses-too low
and degraded to either help or inform
just high enough in the scale Of civ
] ilization to covet a share in the spoil:
of crime? What shall we say Of whole
streets and alleys, reeking dens Of iniq'
uity, where the experienced and ex'
pert count on doing their wicked way
so swiftly and mercilessly as to risk ne
midnight cry for .aid-vain though II
might be?
Jasper Jahnway's nearest way lay
through such a part of the great city
that night, and he took the neares,
way. He was well-dressed, with ar
excellent watch, a heavy chain, a gen.
uine diamond in his shirt front, and
the look Of man who would not be
without money He was unarmed, too
strange as it may seem. But he was
fearless. Men who could have crushed
out his life leered hungrily at him as
he passed-men, too, who would have
had no loss Of sleep for having done
It, But h;. was quietly brave, and that
counts for much, when desperate wick
edness has no time to stife It's own ma
tive cowardice and take counsel OF
cunning.
Is there an irony in Fate? He went
safely through the dangers which were
none the less real because unseen
unthreatened, unaccosted. He came
into a part of the city which was res
pectable, orderly, welllighted, and
we'll policed-a safe part Of the city
If there was one.
And then
Will you wait little, my friend, the
reader? What has been your manner
OF life? Have you stood where acci-
dent-or worse-selected it's victims
on your right hand and your left? Or
has your life been common place and
prosaic-so far as you know?
Have you ever found that marvellous
automatism which men name reflex
action promptly obeying the sudden
and cheerful command-"Hands up!
And be quick about it,"
Did you ever have some one step up
behind you, on a quiet evening, un-
heard until at your very elbow, and
without a word, lay one firm hand on
your shoulder while with a knife in
the other he attempted to reach your
heart or cut your throat?
On your answers depends something
of the appreciation you will have OF
the adventure Of Mr.. Jasper Jahnway.
Suddenly, without a moments warn
ing, a light hand, with it's long fin
gers clutching so tightly that it SEEM
ed almost like a claw, was laid on his
left shoulder. A wicked looking dag
ger, with. a point like needle and
with edges like a razor, flashed in the
segment Of a horizontal circle, the
right arm of his assailant the radius of
it, and it's height from the street level
the same as that of plane halfway
between Jahnway's shoulder and his
chin. 1t was a strong blow, and
wicked one. There was no tremor of
half heartedness in it. 1t was intend
ed to be fatal.
Fortunately for Mr.. Jahnway, he
had had some little experiences q
don't know as we need stop to particu-
larize on the when or the where, or 10
moralze over the attending circum-
stances) which had made it possible
for him to act first, and think after
ward He caught that supple wrist,
the blade of the cruel weapon barely a
half-inch from his throat when he did
it. and gave it such a wrench that his
foe let the dagger fall. uttering a cry
as the muscles relaxed under his harsh
grip and twist.
He caught the weapon as it fell, and
thrust the blade deftly up his sleeve.
He held the hilt in his hand.
Thank YOU" he said as courteously
and kindly as one would have expected
to hear him speak to a friend or a
sweetheart: thank you: l will keep
this to remember you by"
II failed" faltered Miss BannOttie,
her face white and her lips like ashes;
you may turn me over to the police;
there comes an officer now"
mo, Miss Bannotte," replied Mr.
Jahnway, Il shall not turn you over to
the authorities. And the police will
not take you Of their own accord, II
you will try to keep your senses and
look a little more like lady friend and
a little less like"
you needn't say it; think l under
stand. Do you mean that you intend
to spare me?"
Certainly: why not? l think our
little Sleight- f-hand episode was SO
rapidly executed that no one who was
looking at us-if any one had been
would have really understood it. Un-
less there were quicker eyes near us
than l think, l shall spare YOU"
A policeman passed them as he
spoke. The officer looked suspiciously
and doubtingly at them. but he said
nothing. 1t was something entirely
outside of his experience for gentle
man to engage in friendly conversa-
ton with one who had just attempted
to kill him. He did not understand
much as he might doubt, and so he
made no arrests. He walked on, try
ing. l verify believe, to look preoccu-
pied and unconscious of any thought OF
connecting evil with those he had just
passed.
Il shall spare you. Miss Bannottie,'
repeated Mr.. Jahnway.
But you betrayed me to Mr. Prier.'
she said, looking Jahnway squarely in
the face, while the color came slowly
back into her lips and cheeks, OF
Or" and flush of warm color ran
riot over her neck and face; "or you
said you did"
Il did"