Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-01-12
CHAPTER Xxx.


wrights office. The old man was lock-
ing his door. l spoke to him and ne
turned about, and seeing me, merely
nodded, threw open the door and bace
me go in. Mighty glad you've got
back" he said. "They are going to
bring that trial on right away, and 1t
will be none too soon for us, assure
you. Let me open this window. Been
about as hot day as ever felt. Well
what have you got to say"
$50 much that scarcely know how
to begin"
He grunted. THE prelude to an un-
important story. But go on"
Long before l was done with my re-
cital he sat with his eyes wide open,
seeming to wonder whether my reason
had slipped cog.
wonderful" he said. mo, it is not
wonderful, nothing is wonderful. The
mere fact that thing happens proves
that there is about it no element of the
marvellous. 1t is the strange thing that
does not occur. When it does occur IT
ceases to be strange. And you say he
will be here tomorrow? Now, you let
me take charge Of him as soon as he
arrives. If you don't he will not only
get the mine for nothing, but will go
away with your eye teeth. I'll go home
tonight and study up this question, and
by tomorrow night I'll know more about
it than he does. Yes, sir, good deal
more, or at least make him think 50.
You were long-headed in deciding to
slip out there and buy more land, and
by the way, Parker is in town. No,
sir, there is no telling what may hap
pen. See Parker tonight and meet me
here tomorrow morning"
1 found ALI reading a letter which
Millie had contrived to send him. I'm
der the light of the smoky lamp his
face looked sallow and thin, but his
eyes were full Of happiness. She's got
the noblest spirit that ever suffered,
and noble spirits must suffer" he said
as he handed me the letter. See, she
begs my forgiveness for having kept
me on the glidiron. But doesn't one
letter atone for whole year Of broil-
ing? Ah, and you have been broiled,
too, haven't you, Bill? Now let them
put the balm on us. The judge tells
me that am soon to be turned out,
and I'll come out wiser than l was
when I came in, for l have improved
my time with reading. Have you heard
from the folks?"
I told him my story, and l told 1t
quietly, but it greatly excited him. and
time and again he thrust his hands
through the iron lattice to grasp me.
so YOU will go out not only wiser, but
a richer man." said. You will not
have to go into field and plow in the
blistering heat while other men are
sitting in the shade. All our trouble
has been for the best, and with deep
reverence we must acknowledge it.
And soon We will go together out to
the old place ana peacefully smoke our
pipes up under the rafters. Well, l
have left you the subject for pleas
ant dream, and must go now to look
for Parker AS said to your father
there is no telling how much money we
may get, but whatever comes we
share"
Not if it's very much, Bill. l don't
need much, wouldn't know what to
do with it. But If you could only do
one thing it would make me the hap
piest man that ever lived
Tell me what it is. It can surely be
done"
why, if 1 could only get the old
Morton place. It's about three miles
from the generals, and it used to be-
long to his grandfather One of his
aims in life has been to get it back
into the family, and if you could get
il for me"
You shall have it,"
Don't say so, Bill, unless you think
there's a chance"
It's not a chance, but a certainty.
You shall have the place. And what
a delight it will be to the general to
WISH HIS NC~u6ll(Sl SIASAS' -NO"' N'S'' =
speculate-let it be settled. Well, I'll
see you tomorrow and tell you how it's
all to turn out, but have no fears about
getting the farm"
/ found Parker at the tavern. He
told me that l might have a few acres
Of land down about the spring, but that
would have to pay little more for
it than he had paid. I'VE can't afford
TO trade for the mere fun Of it." he
said. MY father used to do such
things and they came mighty nigh hav-
ing to haul him to the poor house"
offered him a sum that pleased him.
that must, indeed, have delighted him.
for he offered TO go out and set up a
feast Of cove oysters and crackers. a
great and liberal ceremony in the cOun-
try. and over the tin plates in a gro
Gerry store the transaction was celebrat-
ed. l met him again early at morning.
and before the day was half-grown
saw our transaction spread upon the
records. And at night Cling arrived.
introduced him to COnkwright The
judge will represent me-" said |, "and
l will stand by any agreement he may
enter into with you"
"All right" Cling replied. How fal
is 1t out to the mine?"
About five miles"
Better go out tonight. Haven't any
time to lose. Get rig and we'll &c
out"
Might as we'll wait until morning
said the judge. I'VE can't do anything
tonight"
"I know, but by staying there tonight
We'll be there right early in the morn
ing. Get a rig"
They drove away and went round tc
the jail to tell Alf that the old Morton
place was rapidly coming his way.
slept but little that night and | was
nervous the next day, as l sat in the
Judges office waiting for him to return
At II o'clock he drove up alone.
Where Is Ging?" l asked as the old
man got out of the buggy.
Gone to the telegraph office. Come
in and I'll tell you all about it."