Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-03-09
HOW CLIFF FOUGHT
,.. THE ROBBER.

capture him; but Cliff had no such no
ton as this. While Will and I wer
laughing, Cliff was riding, he had gon
up the creek about a mile to anothe
crossing, crossed the creek which pu
him back on the same side we wer'
now on, and on the side next to home
Here he came to fence that LEI
straight home, with little COW trail
or path that followed the fence. Alont
this path in places the brush was 81
so thick one could scarcely ride through
in a slow walk.
Now, Cliff had gone this route bu
we did not know where he had gone
and as soon as we had time to give thu
matter serious thought, for We were
almost killing ourselves laughing, go'
uneasy about Cliff.
Where do you suppose he's gomez
saws Will. 81 don't know" says /, "bu,
IL he strikes that fence on the other
side of the creek, and goes west insteao
of coming back across on this side, ne
will kill old Hays sure, for it will be
about five miles run to go around the
pasture, besides he may not know the
direction of home" .-
Bang, bang! rang out two shots
away up the creek on the east side and
nearly in the direction Of home.
Good gracious, WILL" says /, that
boy has recrossed the creek, hit thai
fence, and is going home at the rate
of a mile a minute. Old Hays is
frightened at the shooting, and he is
almost flying. I never told Mrs. Ma
hon a thing about this trick and II ne
runs I'D there scared half to death and
excited, it will frighten her into a
weeks spell of bad headache. 1t Is
barely possible that 1 might beat hin
home yet by going across these woods
to the gate, as he will likely follow the
fence all the way around which is some
farther"
With this I put spurs to my horse
and went like lightning through the
woods, leaving Will behind, ran right
into a bunch of fine deer, but never
checked my horse as was scared some
myself, now, for fear he would gel
home first. It was about two miles
home the nearest way, and when
reached the pasture gate I saw 1t was
omen. This was sufficient. knew ne
had won the race and was at the house
He had come up under whip or rather
under pistol, for he was beating Ole
Hays with the pistol every jump. lr
going from the pasture gate to the
house he had to travel about two hun
dred yards on the public road. Here
he met a man who had been down tc
the postoffice after his mail, and al
most ran over the fellow, with his hail
tfying in mid-air, his hat gone, grea,
big pistol in his hand striking his horse
at every jump, he presented "wilo
and woolly west" picture. The nex'
gate was right in front of the house
and was always kept shut The house
was off the road about one hundred
and fifty yards with little grove OF
postoak trees in front, and the gate
was on the road. Here he made nc
halt, but ran squarely against the gate
broke the latch and knocked 1t wide
open, and 1t Is useless to say left l,
in that condition. Before he got to the
gate, and just about the time he pass
ed the man he met, Mr.. Mahon saw him
and was watching and wondering what
on earth was the matter. Mr.. Mahon
said he saw the man stop his horse
turn and watch Cliff as he dashed uI
the road and over the gate.
Up he came to the yard gate, Uncle
William; Uncle William; come, come;
John is killed; John is killed. Oh
my God, he is dead, he is dead. saw
him fall; / saw him fall. Come
quick, come quick, and let's get the
Barnett boys and go kill the robbers
and get poor Johns body. Oh, Uncle
William, Uncle William; come on, come
on"
What on earth is the matter, Cliff
ton?" says Mr.. Mahon, rs John shot!
Tell me, what do you mean; where Is
John, and how did he get shot?" y
tell YOU those robbers shot him; he Is
dead, he is dead" Just at this juno
ture Edgar came out Of the house
caught his papa's eye, gave him the
wink which put him on, as Mr. Mahon
was uneasy for fear John was really
accidentally shot.
In the afternoon some time before
Will left for the creek, he saw Edgar
and told him about the plans, and, as
luck would have 1t, Edgar had gone
home and told his mama, or else she
would have been frightened, as l told
Will. into a weeks spell of sick head
ache.
Clifton" says Mr.. Mahon, that Is
lust a trick John and Will have played
on you. 1t was all sham" mo, 1t Is
not sham, Uncle William; no, it is not
Come on, If you will not go with me
will go back by myself. Oh, l know
| 1t was one OF those ropDerS. he Hdo
rifle; he and John just stood right w
and fought like tigers. 1 fired two
shots with this pistol, and saw Johr
fall, and then l ran off. I am going
back" and with this he started to gel
old Hays; but Mr. Mahon stopped him
and told him he had almost killed the
horse and must not ride him any more
I'll walk then," he said, and he started
with pistol in hand.
| AS he left the house, came in sight
We met at the first gate. He looked
wild and scarey. He had the big pisto
in his right hand The first thought
that struck me, was that he had found
out it was joke and was after re-
venge. He walked up to my horses
| laol oo,,oh+ hri6la rninC with his