Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-04-16
CHAPTER XIV.
The Author Speaks.

an unexpected honor!
Old Sal retreated hastily toward the
closet, and planted her back against
n. There she stood, glowering In
amazement.
What could one Of the Wolfsden gen.
try want in the house Of the Black
bird leader?
"Your servant, miss" said Mr.. Bag
lev with a ceremonious bow. Take
seat, miss"
Miss Ferrers declined the courtesy.
Her young face, with Its fatal gi1t
of beauty" wore a pale but fearless
look. She cast quick, curious glance
around the room, then said to Bagley:
81 am one of the Wolfsden guests
who suffered in the late robbery.
have reason to believe that certain
property of mine has fallen into your
hands. I came here tonight to talk
with you about its recovery"
Mr.. Bagley opened wide his narrow
ewes, then half closed them again.
"It,s reasonable to suppose that you
are not alone, miss?" he insinuated.
I am alone!" she replied, with dig
nifty.
"Bless you!" grinned Joe. you
have good courage!"
She looked him full in his ugly race.
"Since I ventured unattended to your
house at this hour, you can, perhaps
understand how anxious I am to re-
cover my lost papers.
"Papers!" echoed Mr.. Bagley, In
blank tone. rs that what you've lost,
miss?"
She regarded him Indignantly.
You hardly need ask the question:
sirl" and drawing from her pocket
thin little purse, she put it on Mother
Sails table. "You are called a bad
man. but 1 cannot think you will be so
cruel as to withhold from me things
that are of no possible value to your
self. Even a wicked person need not
be malicious. I have tried to think OF
some inducement that I could offer for
the return of my property" With the
color rising in her face, she touched
the little purse. All the money have
Is here. May ask you to take 1t. sir,
and restore my papers to me?"
Her voice betrayed painful fiuctua-
tions of hope and fear. 1t was no
pleasant experience for Hazel Ferrers
to find herself In the NEST" at the
hour of nine in the evening, face to
face with a rogue, a jailbird, man
suspected Of innumerable petty crimes.
Only her burning desire to regain pos
session of her mothers letters and
marriage lines" could have sustained
her courage under such circumstances.
Mr.. Bagley's ugly countenance straight
way became study.
Now, bless my SOUL" he cried, may
l ask your reasons for thinking that
l have your papers, miss?"
You were in the Wolfsden garden
on the night and at the hour Of the
robbery" she answered.
"Just SOL"
my room adjoins Miss Carbury's.
was there reading the missing docu-
ments when Martin fired on you in the
shrubbery. Being frightened and con-
fused, I dropped everything and ran
down to the door. When returned my
papers were nowhere to be found-the
thief who stole Miss Carbury's money
and ring robbed me also"
II haven't a doubt of it," assented
Mr.. Bagley, cheerfully. But who was
the thief, miss?"
"Yourself-as all Black River people
believe"
He snapped his fingers contemptu-
ously
"A fig for the Black River people!-
they are a lot of blind bats, miss. I
ask you, is it likely that I could stop
to enter your room for such trumpery
loot as papers, after Martin had sent
that shot my way? Does the affair
have a professional look to you. miss?"
A sharp cough from the corner clos
ct warned Mr.. Bagley that he was
treading on dangerous ground. Hazel
Ferrers started at the sound.
rats, miss" explained Mr.. Bagley,
with great presence Of mind; don't
notice 'emi You say that l am called
a bad man and that's not far out Of
the way; but l can tell the truth at
pinch like better folks. AS live, miss,
never, either on the night Of the rob-
berry or at any other time, set eyes on
nf halnn0-
ing to you. My word!"-his tone grow
ing decidedly gallant-"if I had any
thing Of yours in my possession, wheth-
er valuable or otherwise, I'd give 1t up
gladly for the sake of your beauty and
your pluck"
She drew back displeased.
You fill me with great perplexity
and doubt" she said, in a distressed
voice. 81 know not what to think.
Can you really look me in the face, sir,
and deny all knowledge of my lost pa
pers?"
II can look you in the face with all
the pleasure in life, miss, for hand
somer face it was never my lot to be-
hold
Crash
A piece Of crockery fell in the clos
ct The rat with the cough had taken
to breaking Mother Sails dishes. Mr..
Bagley looked disconnected for an in
slant, but continued. coolly:
Il can do more, miss-I can swear
on my honor-and you've heard. dare
say, that there is honor even among
thieves!- l had no part whatever
in the Wolfsden robbery. 1 never set
eyes on Miss Carbury's money or ring,
or anything else that was lost from
the house that night"
He clinched the statement with an
oath.
I'm short, begging your parding,
miss. you're barking up the wrong
tree" concluded Mr.. Bagley, airily.
Take a minute for reflection, and
you're clever enough to see for your
self that the party as raided your room
bot old 1i, Tarhpry'S oOuldD 4