Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-12-22
CHAPTER XVI.

| CHAPTER XVI.
The sun was an hour above the tree
tops when I rode up to the livery sta
BILE, and the town was lazily astir
Merchants were sprinkling the bricl
pavemerts in front Of their stores. ant
on the public square was bonfire O.
trash swept from the court house.
hastened to the Jail, and for the frs
time the jailer hesitated when l applied
for admission. My eagerness. apparen
to every one, appeared to be mistrustet
by him, and he shook his head. I TOLD
him that he might go in with me, tina
my mission was simply to deliver {
| message.
THE man has been sentenced" sale
he. "and l don't know what good {
message can do him. l am ordered t
be very strict. Some time ago a mar
was in this Jail, sentenced to the pen
itentiary, but he didn't goa frient
came in and left him some pizen. Ant
are you sure you amt got no pizer
about YOU"
| You may search me-"
But I don't know piZen when / SEE
| it. Mans got a right to kill himself
reckon, but he amt got no right tC
rob me of my position as jailer, ant
that's what it would do. Write dowr
your message and I'll take it to him
That would take too long. The
judge has granted him new trial anc
surely he wouldn't want to kill himself
now"
We'll, reckon you're right, but still
we have to be mighty particular.
don't know, either but you might be
taking him some whisky. Mans got 6
right to drink whisky, it's true, but II
don't speak we'll for the morals ant
religious standin' of a jailer If he's got
a lot of drunken prisoners on hand; so
ii you've got a bottle about you any.
where you'd better let me take it."
i've got no bottle"
That so? Didn't know but you
might have one Prohibition has
struck this town putty hard, you Know
Search yourself and see If you hahn
got bottle"
Don't you suppose 1 know whether
I've got one or not? But if you want
one you shall have it."
"S-h-e-e! Don't talk so loud There's
nothin' that sharpens a mans ears like
prohibition. Say" he whispered, "a
good bottle costs about a dollar.
Here's your dollar. It's my last
cent, but you shall have it."
ooh, it amt my principle to rob g
man." he said as he took the money
but l do need q little Ticker this
mornin'. Why, I'm so dry I couldn't
whistle to a dog. No pizen, you un-
derstand," he added, with wink, as
he opened the door.
The drawing Of the bolts must have
aroused Alf from sleep, for when
stepped into the corridor he was sitting
on the edge of his bed, rubbing his
eyes.
"Helloa, is that you, Bill? What are
you doing here this time Of day? Why
haven't had breakfast yet"
Il have come to tell you something
and l want you to be quiet while
tell it,"
That's all right, old man. Go ahead
I can stand anything now"
told him Of the scene in the sit
ting room, Of the walk to the generals
house-told him all except that kiss al
the gate. He uttered not word; he
had taken hold Of the bars and was
standing with his head resting upon
his arms-had gradually found this
position. and now l could not see his
face. Long I stood there, waiting but
he spoke not. Suddenly he wheeled
about. fell upon his bed and sobbed
aloud. And so l left him, and ere
reached the door 1 knew that his sob
bing was a prayer, that his heart had
found peace and rest. Upon a pardon
from the governor he could have look
ed with cool indifference, for without
that girls love he cared not to live: but
now to know that through the dark she
had fled from her home, rebellious
against her fathers pride, wild with
lcve-it was mercy granted by the
governor of governors.
| went to see Conkwright and told
him Of the threat that Stuart had
made, and the old mans eyes glsten-
ed We ought to have had that gir
on the stand in the first place" he said
But il was a delicate matter and, OF
course, we didn't know that she could
bear so strongly upon the case. It's al
right-better as it is, and that boy
will get off as sure as you are sitting
there. That threat was worse than ms
standing in the road, waiting. Yes, sir
it's all right. and you may take up your
school again and go ahead with your
| work"
Il don't want to go ahead with 1t
Mr.. COnkwright. | want to study law
with you. The school was only a
makeshift any way. You are getting
old and you need some one to do the
drudgery of your office. l will come
in and work faithfully"
Don't know but you are right. Billy
Il wish, sir that you wouldn't cal
me Billy"
"All right, Colonel
And don't care TO be called Col
onel. You may call me Bill, if you
want to, but Billy"
| "A little too soft eh? All right.
don't know but you are the very man
! | want. You are faithful and you've
got a good head. Call again in a day
or two 1t has been long time since
had a partner. Yes come in again
and | think we can arrange it,"
There is something else that | want
TO speak about, and to me it is Of more
| importance than"
Love-" the old man broke in. wink
ing at me.
"I'n tell you, if you'll wait n moment
Then you may place your own estimate
upon It."
I told him OF the broken engagement
of Chyd's indifference. Of the old cou-