Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-06-25
CHAPTER XXXVII.
The WolFs Den.

croft, and Gwen Talcott, rushed into
the hall, and met Heron's wife de-
scending the stair.
my dear Hazel" she cried, Il have
come to take you to see the ruin OF
the mills. heard that Heron had gone
to town to search for Sergia Pole; and
that Mr.. Vivian was surrounded by
nurses and physicians. So, as neither
need you for the next hour, pray come
with me for little drive. You look
crushed, overwhelmed-you will per-
ish. self-immolated II some one does
not drag you forth for a breath OF
fresh air."
Hazel, chief nurse in Graham's cham
Der, shook her head sadly; but Gwen
was firm. She commanded a servant
to fetch Mrs. Heron's wraps, and Ha-
Eel, in spite of herself, was hurried In
to the phaeton, and the fat pony trot-
ted Off with the two into the mellow
splendor of the September afternoon.
TT seems" said Gwen Talcott, "that
every nook and corner Of Black River
has been thoroughly searched, but Mrs
Steele cannot be found. That mon
strous woman Is the sensation Of the
day! All Joe Bagley's accomplices
have been arrested at the Nest, and
paw says the Blackbird gang is now
broken UP forever"
Heaven grant IT," answered Hazel,
fervently.
They roll along the river road,
talking Of the events Of the last few
days. A charred heap Of debris alone
marked the site of the mills. The idle
river was moving sluggishly through
the afternoon light; a maple on Its
banks stood up like scarlet torch In
the sun. At the Nest, no living thing
seemed astir. All turbulency was
hushed in it's dirty lanes. The burning
of the mills, and Joe Basley's tragic
death, had thrown some spell on the
SPOT. The iron hand Of the Law, which
in one way or another, the Nest had
long defied, was resting upon 1t, In
stern remembrance.
The phaeton drew near to the preach
ing field.
Look" said Gwen .Talcott. "Who
is that party yonder?"
Along the high-road a woman was
approaching from the opposite direction.
She wore a faded shawl, a cotton gown.
a veil. tied over her straw bonnet, and
was evidently one Of Heron's poor mill
people. AS II to escape observation,
she turned abruptly into the field, and
with quickened pace skulked away into
the shadow of it's dwarf pines. Gwen
brought her pony to halt.
'Halloo, there!" she called. Don't
be afraid of us, my good woman"
But the solitary traveller did not
pause or answer. Ovens curiosity be-
gan to increase.
stop a moment!" she shouted. Are
you both blind and deaf? I want to
speak to you."
Unhearing, unheeding, the woman
pushed rapidly across the preaching
field and cleared the stone wall with a
leap that spread her old shawl on the
wind like a flag Of distress, and reveal
ed two coarse shoes, and two extreme
ly thick ankles. Then plunging into
the wood, which .gloomed betwixt the
Nest and Heroncroft, she instantly
vanished.
Dear mel" said Gwen Talcott, "the
poor creature Is as deaf as post!
Perhaps 1t is female Blackbird. She
takes to the woods as II something was
in hot pursuit"
Like myself, Gwen, you grow nerv-
Gus and imaginative in these trying
days." Hazel answered. "The sight OF
a strange woman crossing a field need
not alarm us. Now that the Law is at
work in the place, the Blackbirds' name
has lost it's terror"
THAT, fortunately, Is quite correct,
answered Gwen; and she turned her
pony's head, and started homeward. On
the road, Heron's dog-cart met them
with Heron himself seated therein. He
descended quickly, and came to the
side of the phaeton.
"Sergia is SAFE" were his first words
Il found her without difficulty, for the
police were already on the track Of Pitt
Rivers. They directed me to the house
where he was hiding his ward, and
where their marriage was to have beer
solemnized today. Miss Carbury de-
serves to be put in a lunatic asylum
for the part she has played in this out
rageous business"
But where Is Sergia now?" cried
Hazel Surely, you have brought hel
to Heroncroft?"
"No-she would not come She Is
utterly overwhelmed. At her own re-
quest, l carried her to the residence Of
a family friend in town. and left hei
there with Miss Carbury."
And Colonel Rivers?" said Gwer
Talcott.
A curious look appeared on Heron:
face.
You must prepare yourselves for
great shock" he said. I'm our friend
Rivers, the police think they have dis
covered the real leader Of the Black
birds. All the petty thefts at Wolfsdei
were perpetrated expressly to throw
dust in the eyes Of his neighbors, ant
direct suspicion from himself. Nor
yet, 1t Is said that he is the man VIII
robbed the Bullion Bank-you remem
ber the story he told about business
with his friend DIR. Bird. an archaeolo
gist who had unearthed dead Pharaoh
at Thebes? Bird is simply a profes
sional burglar. like himself-the tw'
operated together-they also stole Mrs
Van Wert's diamonds"
oh" cried Gwen Talcott. gaspin,
for breath, that man whom all the la
dies admired without stint Of measure
What a loss to good society! Don
tell us that he has escaped"
Yes. In some way he got wind o
his danger last night. and has not beel
seen since. Doubtless, he Is out o
harms reach, by this time"
Then he told of the manner in whicl