Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-04-30

alone, see. Any Blackbirds in the
garden?"
mot to my knowledge, sir. They've
kept mighty still since the colonel came
back-gone into retirement, I suspect
There's a strike on at Heron's Mills,
and our neighbor is getting the benefit
of their deviltry just now"
"Ah!"
"As for Joe Bagley, he hasn't shown
himself, of late-he's afraid Of the
colonel, maybe. Jael, his sweetheart,
has strict orders to jilt him; but women
are queer cattle. If that girl was In
the garden tonight, dropping such tog-
gerry as this"-indicating the blue wrap
-"rn bet my life Bagley wasn't far
away!"
Martin, is this Jael a tall, dark crea-
ture, with a head like a Medusa"
well, sir, I've no acquaintance with
Mejusta," replied honest Martin, "but
Jael is dark enough, tall enough-good-
looking, call her; but that's matter
of taste"
A sudden light broke upon Sir Griffin.
by Jove!" he muttered; "the woman
on the terrace!"
Doubtless she had met her ruffian-
lover, and he had beaten her-nothing
better was to be expected Of a Black
bird. Could the baronet accept this So
luton to the mystery?-could he be-
lieve that the moaning, writhing Great
ure of the terrace was the same lively
party that had intercepted him, few
moments later, on his walk to the sta
bles?'
"Gad!" he muttered, more puzzled
than ever, 81 can't make 1t out!"
"You look a good deal upset, sir"
said the uncomprehending Martin. "Sit
down on this bench. I've bottle OF
wine here-Tll pour you glass"
Sir Griffin absently appropriated a
seat by the stable wall. He was upset
-sorely perplexed. Martin brought
the wine, and a tolerably clean tumbler.
Mrs. Steele sent out this bottle to
comfort me in the small hours" he
said; "the coloners housekeeper has
kind heart, sir-she knows the sort OF
night that parches a mans throat"
Sir Griffin filled the glass, and emp
tied it; then made wry face.
1.-The flavor Of Mrs. Steele's wine is
abominable!" he answered. II hope
your solitary vigils may be cheered by
the stuff Martin" And as a flash of
lightning broke over the dark shrub
berry. he added: "There's tempest i'm
pending-I must face back to the
house"
Martin went to replace the bottle in
some nook known only to himself.
While doing this, noise In the garden
arrested his attention. He seized his
gun from a rack on the wall, and made
nimbly for the hedge. Nothing moved
there-the graveled paths stretched ST.
lent and empty under the black trees
a white moth flew. on dusty wings
about his lantern-the thunder NUT
tered In the sultry sky, but that was
ALL
When, after long patrol, Martin re-
turned to the stable, he found, to his
SURPRISE that Sir Griffin had not NOV
ed fro.p the bench by the wall, How
long dfi the baronet intend to embar-
rass ,,ocr Martin with his company?
1T was a false alarm" began the
servant; nothing is astir anywhere
sir"
Sir Griffin did not answer. His head
had fallen on his breast-he was
breathing deeply and heavily. Martin
ventured to touch him.
"The hour grows late" he said, "and
the rain is beginning to fall, sir-better
get under shelter at once"
But still the baronet did not move
or speak. Martin bent and looked In
his face.
Mrs. Steele's wine Of doubtful flavor
had taken swift and startling effect
upon the coloners English guest. He
lay helpless and inert against the rough
bench, and by the light Of the stable
lamp Martin saw that he was buried
deep in a drugged, unwholesome sleep.
To Be Continued