Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-07-20
THE CARPETBAGGER
BY OPIE READ AND FRANK PIXLEY
Copyrighted by Publishers Rights Reserved
BY Permission of the Publishers

| Inc Governor matted ana CONFRONT
ed him. How do you know it's 6
clear case?"
why, I was at the preliminary
hearing before the justice of the
peace. 1t seems that Wiley Jones had
been in the habit Of riding. through
Old Man Reynolds plantation, an6
several times he threw down the
fences and left them for some one
else to put up. The old man, you
know. was inclined to be hot-headed
so he waited for Wiley. Here, he
said, don't you do that again OIL
there'll be trouble but the next day
the fences were down. Then the old
man went after Wiley, II you go over
my fields again, whether you throw
down the fences or not he said, I'll
put a hole through you Well, you
know the rest. Wiley was seen riding
toward the plantation again this
morning. Shortly afterward his horse
came home. Later they found Wiley
bullet hole in his head. Fences
thrown down again. Coroner's jury
said,' Old Man Reynolds Justice CT
the peace says, old Man Reynolds.
Everybody says. old Man Reynolds.
It's all one way"
YES" said the Governor, walking
up and down the room, but 1t was al
so hurried. The old man couldn't get
away. 1t looks bad. And l under
stand that his poor old wife. refusing
to be separated from him, has actu-
ally gone to the Jail with him."
Willetts was ready with what he
thought a clinching argument. But
Governor, we can't help the foolish
ness Of a silly old woman"
The Governor wheeled about
'Foolishness! Sir, 1 call it most
beautiful picture of womaniy devo-
tion."
The Governor had shown so strongly
the spirit of condemnation that Will
let's did not care to risk an argument
of the case, so he said meekly: Yes,
that's all right; but what could they
do? She would 60"
"She must be got out of there. I'll
send for her-Ill send for both of
them. 1 want to hear his story. Here"
The Governor took out note book.
wrote upon a leaf, tore it out, folded
1t, handed 1t to willetts and said.
Take this to the sheriff and have
them brought here"
Willetts began to hem and haw.
Governor, I'm not on the best of
terms with the sheriff just now. We
had little difference, and"
Take 1t to Lummers, then. Tell
him to look after it at once"
Willetts bowed and started toward
the door, and as he passed Lucy, he
whispered: "Now."
Governor" she began, II hoped to
find you in a pleasant frame Of mind
tonight. But / suppose you are both
cred a great deal, aren't you?"
They had sat down on a divan, she
beaming sweetly upon him. "Yes,"
he said, "by little things-trifles-
flies! A big thing, it would be differ
ent. You can choke a dog till its eyes
pop out, but you can't choke fly.
guess you're never bothered that way
There are no flies on you"
Her smile was radiant. She liked
him best when he was inclined to be
humorous, for then she felt her in
huence over him. Now, you are
yourself. That's better-I like you
now" She moved closer to him, with
disposition to cuddle up against
him.
do you? How much?" He looked
upon the freshness of her face, felt the
dazzle Of her smile. Surely she was
an engaging woman-and the Govern
or was not an anchorite.
More than you will ever know, ol
any one else will believe" she said
cuddling closer to him.
But how much is that?"
81 would rather show you than tc
tell you. But seriously Governor
would you do me favor-a great ia
vor-if you could do it just as we'll as
not?"
"I don't know; I might-they say
I'm about mean enough for anything
you know. But that school-book bus
mess is
"Oh, it isn't that"
MOP"
No. The state of Mississippi won't
indorse your old readers platform
we must educate, we must educate
or we must perish
NO books? What's up now?"
II want your name"
The Governor prankishly shranl
from her. "Oh, this is so sudden"
Calm your fiuttering heart" she
laughed. Il want you officially"
"Oh, only officially. 1 don't SEE
anything very fiattering in that"
Yes, officially-at present.
"And by and by?"
We'll see about that. But, now
the favor-the Midland Railway bill
"Ah, switched, have you? What:
that for?"
WELL" she said, Il think it would
be good thing"
For the state, of course" he inter
rupted. We'll, maybe you're right
AS an employer l guess the state viii
pay you better than old Steve's bool
concern. Mississippi always paid me
everything that was coming to me
and most everything has been com
ing"
We'll, why not? The state doesn'
pay its public servants what the!
really deserve"
well, no; some of US, l guess, new
er get what we really deserve"
She laughed. pleased that he wa
still in a humorous mood. But VIII!
shouldn't the state have what it de
serves? 1t wants this Midland rail
road. Why do you delay signing th'
bfl?"
There are several swamps abou
lit that l want to look into"
But the legislators have dom