Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-05-21
CHAPTER XVI.
Mrs. Steele.
II WAS quite true.

tended, gliding SO rapiui5
Mills. and disappearing In the nlsh'
wos No other than Colonel Riverss
bopsekeeper; and so absorbed was tha'
lady in her own thoughts that she qui''
failed to notice the two men watching
her In the opening Of the mill gate.
Along the moonless road she went
ond turned into a byway leading do"i
70 the Nest. The dark mists CURING
nn from the river hung white IN mid
oir Not a breath stirred the pines o.
the preaching field, but from the COT
tases and the dram shops arose aouh,
dant sounds of life-mostly OF KIM
oeensive to ears polite. Unfiinchingi'
Mira steele made her way straight te
the narrow, unsavory lane where $1,000
the Bagley shanty. A light SHINING
from a coarsely curtained window .o,e
her the occupants were within. Daint'
i,v she picked her way around the [e'
-fnse heaps of the place, like one famii'
Ia, with all its pitfalls, and adVaheihe
to the low door, she gave two distinct
,n,ner,ous raps. In answer, poit was
drawn. and the face of old Sal Bagies
peered out. ..-
90 knowed twas your knocks, ma
am" she said, dryly. Come in
Mrs. Steele stepped into the shanty
Che WAS dressed in widows weeds VI
ane. soft texture. Her gray puffs clus-
tered smoothly under close craps
honnet Her glasses were of, for once
and with a comprehensive glance hei
brilliant yellow eyes swept the Sii''''
bare room. ,,+,
nIael "a not here!" she said' VIII
conference.-the has not been mere.
old Sal shook her unkempt heao.
"of course not. The preacher was
Of the door just now, looking ror he'
You might have met him, ma am.
mo. MY curses on that mani" muir
INJURED Mrs. Steele. as softly as thousi
she was pronouncing a benediction,
He thought he must find her IN .ns
Nast Why should anybody thihs
tbat?" cried Sal shrilly. "Jaei knows
we can't hide her, even II we shouie
want to. She knows this is the mrs
Mace to be suspected-she wouion
come to u.s. l
The two women, one gracefui ahe
elegant, one ugly and repulsiVe' SUN
ON either side of the pine table, "heie'
ON the daily meals Of the Basieys weis
snread. and strange to say, that mar.
dened old sinner, Sal, shrank ahe
trembled before the refined Mrs. Steele
The latter began drawing the gloves
from her handsome white HANDS, d.
though preparing for business.
"where is Joe?" she asked.
Hes a-lying down, ma'am--restihe
hisseif.'
Call him!"
Old Sal shuffied across the floor, ano
onened a door communicating with al
inner room.
"Get up, Joel" she cried, and a pee
creaked. as though she was vigorously
shaking some heavy body upon II. ihei
followed a grunt and an oath' ant
soon after a few lines Of song drawlee
out in a sleepy yawning voice:
"Hev trolly lolly! A leg to the devil!
Come. answer him civil and on WIFI
your cap. 1850,
Hey troliy lolly! Be done with you
drivel-
Good morrow Sir Evil
We've finished the tap,
VIZ
not a rap!"
Leisurely Mr.. Bagley seemed to rls'
from his couch, and prepare himselt 1ol
the presence of ladies. An odor OF pae
tobacco invaded the room, ana thei
bullet headed Joe, with his hands stucf
in his breeches pockets, appeared IN INT
middle door, drawing long whins IRON
a freshly lighted clay pipe. Mrs. Steel'
made a little gesture Of disgust.
"Lout!" she said.
Beg parding!" answered Mr. Bag
lev: "I forgot was called to speak u
a true-blue lady that don't relish th'
'baccy. Well, a man must have a htti'
comfort. l was out all last night, yol
see. I'D and down, raiding orchards ant
n-roosts-small game, OF course
but not to be despised, since Blackolrd
have appetites, as we'll as other 1oiks.
He seated himself, in free and eas!
way. on the edge of the pine table.
Mrs. Steele eyed him with cold dis
approval.
orchards and hen-roosts SOUND
little trivial lust now," she sneered. Il
1t possible, Joe Bagley, that you coui'
sleep after the news that was sent yo'
today? You should be searching 10
that traitress Jael, instead Of mapping
like an idiot, on the brink of volcano.
SOFTLY" said Mr.. Bagley. Il staye'
here to wait for orders-I couldn't &C
until 1 got EN-"
Recall the oaths which bind tn
Blackbirds together. Each OF us ma
sworn to be silent and obedient-neve
on pain of death, to betray each other
10 stand by our leaders, through thic
and thin-to'-
BLESS you! L hno" IL an i9Si
rupted Bagley, with some impatienc'
"And Jael has gone and busted regula
tions. and kicked clean over oaths, lik
a frisky flly. Well, I've been expect
ing something of the kind for a spac
back. Weeks ago. warned you to 100
out for her; but you thought you ha
her well in hand, which was a trifiin
mistake of yours. That girl Is rur
one! Blood will tell" and he winke
facetiously. "Now, Madam Maisi'
I wait for you to speak. Age befor
beauty. What's going to be done abou
it?"
She stood and looked Bagley full l
the face, with a long. unwinking gaz'
Diseases desperate grown
BY desperate appliance are relieved,
she quoted. "Jael is to be killed wher
ever found!"
She spoke the diabolic words yer
softly. A stranger. listening, woul
have doubted his own ears. Not so M
Bagley, who knew the speaker well.
"Tust as supposei" he muttere(