Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-06-22

4 probable that you may always nnu me
a great trouble. Would 1t not be bet
ter for you to send me to my friends
| to leave me now, before it Is too late?"
He folded her wildly in his arms.
ASK anything but that, Sergia! If 1
knew you would drag me to perdition,
4 would not relinquish so much as a
hair Of your beautiful head. All my
life 1 have had a passion for playing
at dangerous games. My faith in my
own lucky star is unlimited. You are
mine now, Sergia, and you cannot turn
back, or escape from my loving arms
Some shrill- voiced newsboy, on the
pavement outside, suddenly began to
cry his evening papers.
Full particulars of the fire and loss
of life at Heron's"-
With a smothered exclamation, the
colonel leaped to his feet, ran to the
open window, and closed it hurriedly,
noisely.
what was that gamin cryins?" said
Miss Carbury.
Some political news" answered
Rivers. After the repose OF Wolfsden,
city sounds confuse me. Let Sergia go
to rest at once, Miss Carbury. She
must have strength for tomorrow. Re-
member, at nine sharp the clergyman
will be here"
| Miss Carbury rang for the maid-ser-
want who waited on the two ladies';
and the colonel took leave Of his be-
trothed, and lighting a cigar, went out
for an evening walk.
The stars were twinkling far and
bright over the city roofs. 1t was a
quiet locality. Pitt Rivers met few
pedestrians-none that gave him any
uneasiness. Through several streets
he sauntered, putting thoughtfully at
the soothing weed, and at last came
out upon bridge. where lights were
shining, and under which the black,
ripping Charles was slipping seaward.
Hardly had he reached the spot, when
a man, who had been leaning against
the railing in an attitude Of waiting,
advanced briskly, and put hand on
the colonel's arm.
my dear DR.. Bird" said Rivers,
lightly" have I kept you long?"
"Ten minutes" grumbled the other,
who was stout, smooth-shaven, and
dressed with care and elegance. Good
God! man are you mad, to stay on here
like this? could not go myself till
had exchanged a last word with you.
Cut loose from that girl, and be on now
this very hour! There are many
ways of egress from the place-rail-
ways, waterways. Choose one and 60
go so fast that you will not leave even
shadow behind you!"
Rivers laughed,
Let us hope that you overrate the
danger!"
He that was called DR.. Bird made an
impatient gesture.
1T is simply impossible to do that!
You know all that has happened at Black
River in the last few hours-you know
| that q great hue and cry has risen
about the Bullion Bank robbery-you
know that you are wanted to answer
to the charge Of abstracting Mrs. Van
Wert's jewels from their settings, and
substituting false stones, at the very
time the little widow was a guest in
your house. You are tempting Fate too
far, Geordie. I say to you again-be
Off"
| Rivers leaned against the railing of
the bridge. His face looked like a
death-mask.
Il cannot" he answered, gloomily.
81 laugh at all things that menace
me. My love for that girl overrules
fear. I will not give her up-I will not
leave her! A few hours more, and she
will be mine forever She might have
been mine already, but for a cursed
stroke of luck that has kept her Ill for
the last eight and forty hours, at the
hotel over yonder!"
The other regarded him with wrath
derision.
THAT you, Of all men, should suffer
yourself to be entrapped by a hand
some FACET is incredible! Whom
the gods design to kill, they first make
mad l find something strange, sin
lister, incomprehensible in your weak
ness. You should never have come
back to America, Geordie-even for a
clever man the risk Is tremendous. But
for old Poles daughter you would not
have taken it. You thought the sick
nabob brought you wonderful fortune
by Heaven: it looks as If the ward
he left you was destined to bring you
to utter destruction"
Rivers nodded.
1T is true" he said, huskily, Il would
never have returned to America but for
Sergia. I knew that she was beauti-
full, young, rich-I could not resist the
temptation to take possession of her.
Years of uninterrupted good fortune
made me reckless. And now / love her
| to distraction-to see her was to love
her. Bird-don't frown. Nothing risk
ed, nothing won. Her money will sup
port me in ease the rest of my life. II
will retire on my laurels, and leave you
in command Of the forces. My mar
riage license is in my pocket, the cler-
gyman will be at the hotel early in the
morning. After my marriage with Miss
Pole, will take no further chances"
DR. Bird" shrugged his shoulder.
For years you have been our leader
he answered, land hitherto We have
found you as sagacious as you were
daring. 1t is not for me, your second
in authority, to attempt to change your
plans; but l shall seek my own safely
at once-by midnight l mean to be far
away. Let us say goodby here"
They shook hands. Reflected lights
looked up from the river, a car ratified
over the bridge. boat glided under it.
"Goodby," said Pitt Rivers, where
shall we meet AGAIN."
Not on this side of the grave, l fan
cyl" replied the other. That was all.
Pitt Rivers turned and went back to-
| the West End hotel.
| Perhaps his conversation with DR..
Bird had shaken his nerves somewhat.