Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-05-18

apprehension. Poor, guilty creature!
Plainly she did not mean to report te
Mrs. Steele! She shot by Heron. as
though he was imperceptible to mortal
eye, and plunging headlong into the
shrubbery, disappeared in the direction
Of the high-road.
"Jael!" he cried. Hi, there! want
to speak to you" But he called In vain
the waiting maid was gone.
Heron experienced sudden unpleas-
ant thrill. In spite of her guilt, which
he laid wholly to the charge Of her long
association with the Blackbirds, he was
deeply interested in Jael. How could
he forget the service that she had rem
dered at the mills, on the night OF the
strikers visit? or the warning given to
Vivian, whereby the robbery Of Heron
croft had been averted? Surely he had
good cause to think kindly Of the girl
He followed through the shrubbery. to
which shreds Of her cotton gown clung
in witness Of her wild fight, and on to
the fence bordering the highway. There
the road described an abrupt curve,
and he could see nothing Of the fugi-
tive. Doubtless she had fed to the
Nest-her only home. He leaped the
wall, into his own grounds, and imme-
diately came upon Graham VIVIAN
pacing about under the old pear trees
of the garden.
"The seed sown by you at Black River
has borne fruit today, Vivian!" he be-
gan, slipping his arm through his
friends. "As feel sure that this de-
nouement Is due entirely to your infiu-
ence, you must be the first to hear the
story"
He told 1t briefly. In conclusion. his
voice took troubled tone.
"I am disturbed about Jael," he said,
"for 1 have an impression that, bad as
things appear on the surface. there is
something worse remaining untold
Her face, as she tore through the gar
den, looking back to Wolfsden, was
tragedy itself. She seemed to see
death's-head at her shoulder. Some
spur move powerful than the fear OF
being delivered to the police urged her
headlong flight from that house."
1--WE must find her at once!" cried
Vivian, with lively concern. I'VE must
befriend her at this crisis, Heron. She
has noble elements in her character.
All her impulses are true-generous.
She must be saved from the Black
birds-her voluntary confession Will
certainly bring her to grief, and from
this hour render the Nest unsafe for
her. She must be rescued from thieves
and vagabonds, and given a chance In
life"
Right" said Francis Heron. Il have
an urgent errand in town. When 1t Ia
done, 1 will meet you at the mills.
Meanwhile, take my best horse, and
ride down to the Nest and find Jael.
My housekeeper shall make place for
her here at Heroncroft till we can de-
eide about her future.
They turned about and started for
the stables.
do you think that Rivers and the
ladies design to enter complaint against
Jael and bring her to punishment
asked Vivian. Our neighbor has hith-
erto been very lenient with the Black
birds. Will he make an example OF
this girl, who is merely a tool in the
hands of evil associates? Will not
your cousin, Miss Pole" his voice
changing a little, "intercede for herr"
Heron's face clouded.
81 forgot to tell you that Sergia Is
i'll, and, so far as can discover, knows
nothing about the nefarious business"
"In?" echoed Vivian, in constrained
tone. mot seriously. 1 hope?"
II cannot say. You must know, Vi
Wan, that the events Of this day have
not increased my esteem for Colonel
Pitt Rivers. l told him to his face that
he was a liar and a coward. l believe
him to be BOTH"
Yes; but my poor uncle was
ment, as was plainly shown when he
trusted both his daughter and his due
ats to a perfect stranger-perhaps ar
adventurer. AS you have doubtless
heard, Rivers chanced to win his graf
itude in some railway accident abroad
Being a clever fellow, he knew how to
make the most Of his good fortune. In
his will, my uncle left him fifty thou
sand dollars and the care Of Sergia
Bah! l tell you, Vivian, the man who
can gamble with a moneyed guest, like
Sir Griffin Hopewood. and fleece him
nightly-the man who can keep for
housekeeper a dubious. dual character
like Mrs. Steele-is hardly the person
to inspire confidence in his neighbors
l am not sure that it is safe to leave
Sergia to such guardianship"
Not without strong emotion could
Graham Vivian hear the name Of the
blonde beauty who had so cruel!
scorned and flouted him. She was Ill!
The news sent a suffocatins thrill
| through his heart. He had thought
himself strong, well-disciplined; now
he knew that he was weok-unstable
as water-that the fight was not ye
fought nor the victory won.
Rivers Is the guardian appointed by
Miss Poles father" he said in a low
voice. You cannot interfere with hi:
authority, Heron"
II do not design to interfere, without
lust cause" replied Heron briefly
But, being nearest of kin to Sergia. 4
is plainly my duty to watch the polish
ed colonel, and his methods of guard
ing a ward who is both rich and beau
tiful."
He turned his gaze toward the greer
knoll, crowned with chestnuts, where
the dust-brown house stood, high above
the hollow of Heroncroft. Twilight
was now closing in. From the upper
windows Of the mansion lights begar
to twinkle.
"A mysterious house!" muttered He
ron. 81 do not half understand th'
things that have happened there o
late, One word more, Vivian, abou