Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-08-20
The CARPETBAGGER
BY OPIE READ AND FRANK PIXLEY
co,vrghted by Laird Lee Pubishers-A Rights Reserved
By Permission of the Publishers

ii
enough to know anything. 1 tell you
the whole town is wild"
Then you and will set the town
a good example"
"All right" persisted Lummers,
but 1 warn you, just the same. Look
out for yourself today" He took from
pigeon hole Of his desk heavy
Colts revolver and thrust it into the
Governors hands. Keep that where
you can get at it."
The Carpetbagger gazed at the
weapon curiously and shook his head.
i've got through with that sort OF
work." he said, and, opening the left
hand drawer of his desk, he laid the
revolver in 1t and closed 1t again. A
few minutes later, he retired into his
private room. Jim came in, whisper
ed mysteriously to Lummers, and tip
toed out again to usher in Willetts.
"Is the old man." whispered the
lobbyist.
Ssh" interrupted Lummers, point
ing toward the door Of the Govern
or's den.
Have you got the Midland bill
here?" asked Willetts IN low tone.
NO. I don't know where it is. I've
looked through everything and can't
find it."
do you think the old man has it?
mo. 1 presume it's up at the
house."
well, we've got to have it and
we've got to have it quick. Under
stand? Go after it. Tell 'em the
Governor sent you"
IF it's at the house I can't get it.
"Of course you can. Go through
everything until you find it. Say the
Governor wants it. And get back
here just as quick as you can. Hur-
ry!"
II don't like to"
Nonsense. You'll never be miss
ed. 1t won't take ten minutes. Jim
can look after the office"
Lummers hurried away and Will
let's went out with him, saying he
would step up to the senate chamber
to see how matters were going.
Shortly afterward Mrs Fairburn's
card was brought in. Pardon me for
disturbing you, today" she began,
but I want to see you on a matter OF
urgent importance"
II am delighted to see you, Mrs.
Fairburn," responded the Governor.
Wont you be seated?"
MY laundress," continued the wi
dow with considerable excitement in
her speech, was the wife Of negro,
Zeb, who was found murdered in
Thompson's lumber yard. A short
time after the poor thing came to
me, half distracted, and asked me for
enough money to defray the funeral
expenses She insisted on giving me
something for security and thrust
into my hands this watch. Look at
it."
The Governor took the watch and
inspected it casually. 1T looks like
valuable timepiece," he remarked.
Probably it was stolen. You know
the colored brother doesn't always
limit himself to henroosts and water
melon patches"
Look inside Of it,
The Governor opened the case.
Presented to Wiley Jones by his
constituents. Spencer county, Mis-
sissippi, April 10. 1885," he slowly
repeated, reading an inscription.
Where did this come from?" he
hastily inquired. who had it,"
The negro, Zeb."
The Carpetbagger sprang to his
feet. It's as clear as day." he cried.
THAT black scoundrel shot Jones and
stole his watch"
Pardon me-" Interrupted Mrs.
Fairburn earnestly, but that is only
the beginning of this affair. Suppose
we take it for granted that Zeb kill
ed Wiley Jones. Who killed Zeb?"
That doesn't make any difference.
What we're after is the fellow who
murdered Jones'"
"Ah, but it does make a difference.
Listen. That negro was decoyed from
his home"
"Decoyed?"
Beyond any question. He went to
meet a man who owed him money
and never was seen again alive. His
widow believes he received the money
and on his way home was waylaid by
! robbers and killed.
quite likely.
killing of this negro, in itself may ap-
pear an insignificant thing. in these
days when human life is held so
cheap, but it holds the key of old Mr..
Reynolds innocence. I feel sure of
it. Zeb was not murdered for his
money--negroes never have money
he was killed because he knew too
much"
I'm afraid 1 don't quite follow
YOU" remarked the Governor, refec-
lively.
Why was Mr.. Jones murdered?"
Mrs. Fairburn continued. What was
the motive? Not money-he had not
enough to tempt anyone. Not rob-
bery-no one would do so desperate
deed for this watch. If Zeb killed
him he was hired to do it by some
one who wanted Jones out Of the
way. And the man who paid that
negro to commit the first crime has
silenced him forever by a knife
thrust"
The Carpetbagger carefully looked
out of the window. 1T may be worth
looking into" he said at length. I'll
send for Chief of Police Mccullough
and talk 1t over with him." Turning
to his desk he wrote a brief note,
folded it and rang for Jim.
Take this to police headquarters,
he said, land get back just as soon as
you can. By the way. where's Lum-
mers?"
'Mistah Lummers done stepped
out foh a few minutes, sah."
"All right. Hurry back"