Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-10-20

fearlesSly a blaze Of angry Scorn ir
his eyes. The strong nerve which this
man had once shown in court under
sentence for crime, was there still, de-
fiant and undaunted. There isn't g
mine in this state that gives its men
know 1t! And there isn't one in the
Union where the men get more con-
siderate treatment. You know that
too! l could pile up instances on YOU
until you squirmed with shame. You
never thought of making a complaint
until six weeks ago. when that sneak
ing hound over there came and began
to make trouble among you. And
you've listened to him like brainless
lunatics, and you've let him work on
the worst there is in you, and lead you
about by the nose until free country
ought to be ashamed to call you citi-
zens. If l asked you to explain where
the trouble lay this minute, you
wouldn't know what to say, until you
asked Lafferty. Whatever Lafferty
thinks you think, and whatever
Lafferty says you tune it and
sing it after him. BAH I'm ashamed
Of you! l thought we were hiring men,
and now find we have lot of sheep
to look after!"
Thornton and Everard stood with
cooked revolvers, listening with appre-
hensive amazement to the blazing
vials Of scorn which Hartley poured out
upon his men. OF all the unprecedent-
ed modes of treatment for maddened
mob! 1t was suicidal. Everard was
brave enough, even reckless on occa-
sion, but this seemed like dropping over
the edge of a volcano to see how II
felt.
But Hartley knew his men. They
were angry, stung with sullen resent
ment but an uneasy note Of shame
crept into the surging murmur OF
voices. And Hartley was not afraid OF
them: that was the beauty Of it. Then
the unsilenceable voice of Lafferty
arose again from their midst flingine
back his own gibes at the men fol
seeming to half turn, but another ex-
citement drowned him out.
On the edge Of the crowd, the man
whose arm Everard had struck down
looked on with venomous hate in his
heart and the fiercest Of aches filling
his arm and shoulder. Cautiously he
raised his left hand, steadying revol-
yer on it, and aimed full at Everard
who stood we'll forward, watching only
that tumultuous spot from which Laf-
ferty's voice came, that he might be
ready for an attack upon his compan-
ions from that quarter.
But Hartley's alert glance had caught
the deliberately hateful movement, ant
all that Everard realized in the first
moment was the sudden crack Of a re-
volver, Hartleys shoulders swiftly
hurting themselves in front of him
and Hartley's body sagging Imply fol
second before he Strengthened uI
again. Everard would have assisted
him in the house, sick and remorsefu
for he knew not what, but the eX-con.
vict shook his head.
1T is all right. l guess-I owe yor
several good turns anyway"
And amid the confusion of the mo-
ment, Everard was conscious of JUS
one coherent thought. Whatever elst
happened he would not-he could no
betray this man now.
The men had seen the quick move
ment. and were not slow to appreciate
courage A few turned for the mar
who had fired the shot, but he had fled
and never again appeared in the path
way of any of these people. Someone
in the crowd called out half shame
facedly, Good for Hartley" and ther
a silence came on them all.
Out of the woods on their right un
heard in all the confusion. men OF
horseback appeared like grim STATUES
of retributiOn. Every man had hi
Winchester and revOlvers, every ey,
was watchful and OminOus; they sa
like carved from stone. but the rioter
knew well enough that at the first move
ment the new comers would come t