Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-03-09

theatre. Dan DeMille and his wife are
to be In my box, and we're all going
up to PettingilPs studio afterward.
I'm to give the Little Sons farewell
supper. If my calculations don't go
wrong that will be the end Of the jaunt
and we'll go home happy"
"At IL o'clock Pettingilrs studio
opened its doors to the Little Sons and
their guests, and the last Dutch
lunch" was soon under way. Brewster
had paid for it early in the evening"
and when he sat down at the head OF
the table there was not a penny in his
pockets. A year ago at the same place
and at the same hour he and the Lit
tie Sons were having a birthday feast.
A million dollars came to him on that
night. Tonight he was poorer by far
than on the other occasion, but he ex-
pected a little gift on the new ami
versary.
Around the board besides the nine
Little Sons sat six guests, among them
the DeMilles, Peggy Gray and Mary
Valentine. hopper Harrison was the
only absent Little Son, and his health
was proposed by Brewster almost be-
fore the echoes Of the toast to the bride
and groom died away.
Interruption came earlier on this oc-
casion than it did that night year
ago. Ellis did not deliver his messages
to Brewster until 8 o'clock in the morn
ing, but the A. D. T. boy who rang the
bell at Pettingilrs year later handed
him a telegram before IL o'clock.
"Congratulations are coming in, old
man." said DeMille as Monty looked
fearfully at the little envelope the boy
had given him.
MANY happy returns Of the day.
suggested Bragdon. "By Jove, it's SEN
sible of you to get married on your
birthday, Monty. 1t saves time and
expense to your friends"
Read it aloud" said Subway Smith.
1.-TWO to one it's from Hopper Harri-
son." cried Pettingill.
Brewster's fingers trembled, he knew
not why, as he opened the envelope.
There was the most desolate feeling In
his heart, the most CHASTITY premonition
that i'll news had come in this last
hour. He drew forth the telegram and
slowly, painfully, unfolded it. No one
could have told by his expression that
he felt almost that he was reading his
death warrant. 1t was from Grant q
Ripley and evidently had been follow
ing him about town for two or three
hours. The lawyers had filed it at $50
o'clock.
He read it at glance, his eyes burn
ing, his heart freezing:
Come to office Immediately. VIII
wait all night for you If necessary.
Jones has disappeared, and there is
absolutely no trace Of him.
Grant & Ripley.
Brewster sat as one paralyzed, abso-
lutely no sign of emotion in his face.
The others began to clamor for the
contents of the telegram, but his
tongue was stiff and motionless, his
ears deaf. Every drop Of blood in his
body was stilled by the shock, every
sense given him by the Creator was
centered upon eleven words in the
handwriting Of a careless telegraph op-
orator, Jones has disappeared, and
there is absolutely no trace of him."
Jones has disappeared" Those
were the words, plain and terrible in
their clearness, tremendous in their
brutality. Slowly the rest Of the mes
sage began to urge its claims upon MS
brain. Come to our office immediate
ly" and "Will wait all night" battled
for recognition. He was calm because
he had not the power to express an
emotion How he maintained control
of himself afterward he never knew.
Some powerful, kindly force asserted
itself, coming to his relief with the
timeliness Of a genie. Gradually 1t
began to dawn upon him that the 9TH
ers were waiting for him to read the
message aloud. He was not sure that
a sound would come forth when he
opened his lips to speak, but the tones
were steady, natural and cold as steel.
II am sorry I can't tell you about
this" he said, so gravely that his hear
ers were silenced. 1T is a business
matter of such vital Importance that
must ask you to excuse me for an
hour or so. 1 will explain everything
tomorrow. Please don't be uneasy. If
YOU will do me the honor to grace the
board of an absent host III be most
grateful. 1t is imperative that l go
and at once / promise to return In an
hour" He was standing, his knees as
stiff as iron.
1T is anything serious?" asked De-
Mile.
What! Has anything happened?'
came in halting, frightened tones from
Peggy.
1T concerns me alone, and it is pure
ly of a business nature. Seriously, l
can't delay going for another minute.
1t is vital. In an hour I'll return. Peg
gy, don't be worried-don't be dis
tressed about me. Go on and have
good time, everybody, and you'll find
me the jolliest fellow of all when
come back It's 12 o'clock. I'll be here
by l on the 23d of September"
Let me go with you," pleaded Peg
gy TREMENDOUSLY as she followed him
into the hallway.
81 must go alone" he answered.
Don't worry, little woman. 1t Will
be all right"
His kiss sent chill to the very bot
tom of Peggy's heart.
To be Continued
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