Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-03-10
Bv CLARENCE BoUTELLE.

Thank YOU"
Though l never trusted a THIEF yet
and would hate to trust liar" con-
cluded the detective, in an almost inau'
dible undertone, as he meditativelI
stirred his coffee.
You are making a good meal,
laughed Sem, for a man who hat
supper since we got the safe OPEN"
II didn't have supper"
You didn't? You went away to ge
supper"
II know I did. But there was some
writing which had to be done. / for
got my hunger in my attention to my
work"
Did you? What was your work."
I'll tell you-later. By-the-way,
suppose there will have to be an in
quest over Donald Barron, after all;
heard, as l came from the bank, thai
the doctors are being found fault with
and the accuracy of their conclusions
is being called in question. Do you
suppose it possible
Prier stopped just there. He was
watching Sem closely Sem got up
walked to the windows, closed the
blinds. drew down the curtains. and
came back to the table. His face was
pale. His hands shook as he tried to
pick up his knife and fork. His voice
,.hap ha
II don't know what to suppose. There
are possibilities so horrible-so horri-
ble-'
And he covered his eyes with his
hands, as though to shut out some
dreadful sight.
What possibilities"
Mind you, l accuse no one. l sup
pose old Donald Barron died alone, and
in a perfectly natural way. And yet
and yet"
Well? What is it? The night is
going fast"
Thank God for that"
For what?"
THAT the night is going fast. 1t is
horrible-horrible-a 1 cannot bear
It,"
We'll, go on with what you were
about to say"
Il will. Picture this: A man sleep
ing quietly and healthfully; an opened
door: a stealthy footstep along his
floor; a sudden awakening Of the sleep
er to life-only to find head and throat
muffied in a hot and seemingly impene-
trable covering, while some strong
wretch presses it closer and closer,
avoiding the almost aimless blows
which a blind animal instinct prompts.
Think of many long minutes of that;
think of the death which lies at the end
of it, a death without sign left be-
hind to tell how it happened think
think-Merciful God! can a human
mind picture such a horrible-fiendish
-"
Prier sprang forward. He caught
Sem by the shoulders, his fingers leav-
ing marks which were not Obliterated
for many a day. and dragged him near
ar the light.
"What-what do YOU mean? What
can you tel?" he fairly screamed into
the ears of the once cashier.
Sem sank back into the chair from
which he had risen, and covered his
face with his hands again. 1t was more
than a minute before he tried to speak.
Then he looked up, and said, brOkenly:
"You-you Surely-cannot think that
THAT killed Donald Barron"
No; l know you didn't. l haven't
told you yet where 1 spent last night;
have only told you l spent it outside
haven't told you yet how it would
have been impossible, in the state
| was in, in a state of nervous
dread and agitation. for me to have
done other than l did. The truth is,
felt the bank and it's treasures We're as
safe as they had ever been-far safer
since robbery had happened Once--and
| didn't watch there. l walked al
night long, in front of Mr.. Barron's
house: no one went in: you are inno-
cent-there. In fact, 1 am convinced
that an inquest in his case would be q
farce; he was not murdered; he died
natural death. But"
But WHAT"
But people have died in the way
YOU pictured. and remorSe has led theil
slayers, again and again, to deeds ant
looks and words which were little less
than confession. And you-yOu, Gill
bert Semi"
Priers passion mastered him then
and for a little time he could not fine
words.
He pushed a paper across the table
towards Sem.
Sign that" he said, roughly.
Sem took up the paper and read il
slowly through. his amaZement show
ing more and more on his face as ht
read. This was the paper he was ask
ed to append his name to; this is the
character he was asked to claim fol
himself:
"BOOmvile. Me,
"Wednesday Morning, Nov. 3, 1870
ITO Whom 1t May Concern: |
Gilbert Sem. in the presence of Mr.
]. b. Prier. of the city of Boston, &
detective having a considerable know
ledge of the facts, do make and sub
scribe to the following statements
And | do declare that l do so without
fear of personal violence being done
me by the said Prier; and do further
declare that | will indOrSe all whicf
is herein stated when | am brought
before the legal authorities, and tha1
l will then answer all questions which
may be asked me, and will answer
them fully and truthfully:
Il. | knew Constance Craig.
'2. / was acquainted with the ar
rangcmcnt of rooms in the house
which she occupied.
"3. | knew some Of the servants
and knew that they were sometime:
all absent.
-. | went to her house on the
evening before the morning when she
was found dead in her bed. | wen
then. rather than at any other time
because the servants were all away
I knew they would be absent. l un'
lawfully entered the sleeping room o.
Constance Craig