Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-04-16

He was willy rogue, but she saw
with a thrill of dismay, that for once
he spoke the truth. Joe BaSley was
guiltless of the Wolfsden Robbery!
Who, then, was the real culprit? Who
had stolen the story Of her fathers
shame and Miss Carbury's money and
diamond? With quickened breath she
faltered:
81 did not suppose there could be
any question about the thief-any pos
sibility of a mistake!"
That thief is a fool who doesn't
hedge himself about with a variety OF
questions!" replied Mr.. Bagley, dryly
Il see you're as innocent as a dove,
miss, but not as wise as a serpent,
You've been misled, and" with a mag
unanimous wave of the hand, Il forgive
you! Pick up your purse-it's no use
offering it to me-"
Hazel Ferrers put the thin little
purse in her pocket and started for the
door. She was pale with disappoint-
ment and perplexity-tears shone in
her dark eyes.
Pm nightly obliged to you for this
visit, miss" grinned Mr.. Bagley. Born
ladies and blazing beauties don't Of
ten come to the Nest and I count II
no end Of an honor to entertain such
under any circumstances. With your
courage and your good looks, you've
made me your friend for life! Hanged
IL wouldn't like to do you service
such as getting back them lost papers
for YOU
Another crash of crockery in the
closet brought Joe to an abrupt pause.
In a sudden panic Miss Ferrers darted
out Of the door without another word
and disappeared in the night. AS she
did so, Jael sprang from her retreat.
"You blackguard!" she cried, turn
ing angrily on Bagley. I've a mind
to fling every platter in the house at
your head for your insolence to that
girl! Oh, but you've a free tongue,
Joe, in the presence Of your betters!
What possessed you to deny all knowl-
edge of the robbery like that?"
He laughed.
"She was so pretty, couldn't lie to
her, lady-bird! You heard her story,
eh? Some things have been kept from
me, it seems. This is the first I ever
knew Of any lost papers. Come. what's
the secret? and"-with an oath-"why
wasn't admitted to a share in it?"
Don't ask me-" answered Jael,
gloomily; better inquire at head-quar-
ters."
"By the powers! would like to call
the little beauty back, and bid her talk
to your Wolfsden housekeeper. dare
say Mrs. Steele could give her tidy
bit Of information on the subject of
the papers"
Send Miss Ferrers to the bottom
less pit, but not on any errand to Mrs.
Steele" answered Jael. Goodnight,
Joe. I'll run after the young lady, and
see that she gets home safely. Ten to
one, you've frightened her with your
insolence."
Seems to me-" said Joe, you're
nightly concerned about that little
nobody, Miss Ferrers."
Jael turned on the cottage threshold,
with a queer CLEAN in her black eyes.
Just SOL" she answered; II admitted
tonight that you and Mother Sal were
my only friends, and you are; but I'd
walk over both your dead bodies to do
that girl a service-yes, I'd see the
whole Nest of Blackbirds hurled to
perdition sooner than let hair Of her
head be harmed! Put all that in your
pipe and smoke it, Joel"
The next moment Jael was out of
the house, flying down the lane, In the
track of Hazel Ferrers.
The night was dark, but at the first
turn in the way her hawk-eyes dis
covered the figure of Miss Ferrers NOV
ing rapidly off toward the high road.
Jael made no attempt to overtake
her-to be seen or recognized by Ser
gia Poles friend was something very
far from her wishes just then. With a
stealthy step she glided after her, a
self-constituted guardian, under cover
Of the darkness. Miss Ferrers hurried
by the scattered cottages and bar-room
lights of the lane-by groups Of bold,
bare-armed women and rough, loud
voiced men, quarreling in open door
ways, or lolling on rickety gates, and
the waiting maid followed. Happily
nobody spoke to either.
From the dangerous Nest the two
passed unmolested, and gained the
highway near HerOn's Mills. Jael was
then but a few yards behind Miss Fer
rers; cautiously she slackened her
own speed, lest she should be perceiv-
ed by the other.
Poor young thing" Jael muttered
to herself; "how did she manage to
steal away from the English baronet
and Miss Pole, l wonder? 1t is long
lonesome walk to Wolfsden, and she is
in great distress and disappointment
about her lost papers"
On they went, by the open field
where Vivian had preached his Sab
bath sermon. Clouds were still flying
across the stars; the wind gibbered In
the riverside sedge. Densely black
against the night loomed the gigantic
outlines of Heron's Mills. In a lower
story, one red spark, moving from win
dow to window, showed where the old
watchman. Bruce was going his rounds
Just as Miss Ferrers-a half dozen
yards, perhaps. in advance of the
waiting maid-reached the main gate
it flew open; a lantern shone upon
the gloom, and Francis Heron drove
out of the mill yard. calling aloud to
Bruce:
Lock the gate after me. man, and
let no person inside tonight"
Yes, yes-yes," answered old Bruce
Then followed the bang of the gate
the sound Of spurning hoOfs, and a
high stepping horse, attached to light
buggy, dashed into the road and passed
uo,el Eerrers who Shrank inStinctiye-