Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-05-21
~. ~ ~. A,A "a. A.A sAs AsA Ara
HERON'S WIFE.
By Eta w. PIERCE.


II
thief, eh? Now. who could foresee any
thing like that? OF course, she won
stop there. She'll out with the whole
story afore she's done"
Undoubtedly. Find her, Joe, ant
shoot her at sight, after which you ma!
vanish from Black River and return NJ
more. This Is the order I bring you
Sentence has been passed on the girl
and you are chosen to execute It"
There was a sudden sharp cry, ant
old Sal, rushing forward. leaned he
arms on the table, and glared at Mrs
Steele in horror and fear.
Joe is her foster brother!" she fair
ly shrieked.
THAT does not matter" replied Mrs
Steele, indifferently. IF / had ne
within reach, think could strangl'
her with these hands," holding out TIT
delicate white members in the lamp
light.
"Oh, Lord! Lord!" groaned Sal
What a heart you have. to be sure
couldn't say that, nor any other wo
man made Of flesh and blood. Jael wa
a baby when she was brought herr
and reared her like my own
You're too cruel hard on the girl
Maisie Dee-you were always hard OF
her"
"You reared her like your own?' re-
heated Mrs. Steele, paying little heet
to the change Of name. Bah! Never
was work done so badly, Mother Sal
There was always something wrong
with the creature
mo, MOI" cried Sal; never till th'
young preacher came to Black River!'
Mrs. Steele smiled wickedly.
1.-The preacher!-ah! But We canno
discuss cause and effect now-it II
enough to know that Jael has grown
unspeakably dangerous Of late. Sn'
wants only a chance to tell all that sh'
knows-her tongue Is untied-it will
keep wagging, as Joe has intimated
until it is stopped. Necessity knows
no law. To spare her, means destruc'
ton to Us all. She shall not be spared
She knew that I hated the little Ferrers
and longed to destroy her, and she de-
lliberately thwarted the work-openee
my trap, and let the prey out. migh
forgive everything else, but not tina
never that"
"Jael didn't mention names! pleadet
L
herself-she involved no one."
'"That will do for a beginning
sneered Mrs. Steele; "but how Will Il
be when she Is questioned by the younf
preacher? It's not safe to give mel
more time, I tell you. In the Blackbire
code, treachery is punishable witt
death. Jael is a traitress-let her pay
the penalty"
But Sal. with the wild gray hall
pushed back from her wretched face
pounded on the table with protesting
hands.
mo, MOI" she cried. you're wick
ed woman. Maisie Dee-so wicked
that, as the Lord hears me, you chill
the marrow in my bones. I'm clear
afraid Of you! Beat Jael-lash her, a:
you've done often enough-havent
seen the blood on her clothes-th'
scars in her flesh? But don't go to Kill
her! Joe won't do it-none OF th'
Blackbirds will do it."
But Sal had reckoned without hel
host. Joe pushed her roughly bacl
from the table.
Tut, mother-you're losing youl
wits" he said. II hope / know m!
duty. I'm strict observation-disclosures
TO Maisie herself. Jael has bowed
more than once, too" with a rount
oath, "and that's thing we can't AFFORD
to tolerate. The night we tried to burr
Heron's Mills, she foiled US. Who bu
she put Heron on his guard, that othel
night when we went to rob him? Wht
warned the Talcotts about their butle
Collins? We've shown forbearanc'
enough" his voice took a savage tone
"Tm ordered to kill Jael-well, by TIT
powers! will kill her! From thi'
minute her life isn't worth the fillil
of finger!'
With a groan, Sal recoiled from TIT
two.
You might remember who the gir
is" she faltered, feebly.
whats the use?" replied Joe. "a
things are now, we'd better forge
that"
Mrs. Steele took from her belt
watch blazing with diamonds-an ele
CANT and costly timepiece, which an
other person might have hesitated t
expose in the Bagley shanty. In draw
ing 1t forth, she flung aside her mourn
ing mantle, and Joe's sharp glance, fol
lowing the line Of her neat belt. discov
cred something more confined therein
Ia little gold mounted revolver.
"Ha! hal" he laughed. greatly divert
ed by the sight; do you wear that to,
for defense, Maisie? Perhaps yo'
think it isn't safe for you to ventur
into the Nest unarmed? Pom my SOU
it would be a bold party that dare
meddle yith you!"
> With an unmoved countenance, sh
consulted her jeweled watch.
Il came prepared to meet Jael here,
she said quietly, significantly. PAS
nine O'Clock! In the company Of oil
friends, time flies fast. So," assuming
a meditative air. that preacher Is ais
out tonight, looking for the girl? Now
was congratulating myself that h
, had left Black River, to come back n
more-that he was fairly started on hi
, journey to the other side Of the globe.
There's some hitch in the proceed
ings," answered Joe. HE stopped t
, marry Heron. and now, l dare say, he
, stay to bury the old nabob that's jus
dead at Heroncroft. I've scouts out Il
that quarter, and know all that's goin
/ on there. It's safe to say that the littl
Ferrers Is about out Of your reacf
Maisie Besides being Heron's wife
and as such, pretty well protecte
against enemies, she's to come in for
big fortune from the old fellow that