Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1910-12-16

But by this time Pete was recover
ing to some degree. "What've you
got to say about this?" he demanded
crescendo.
| I'll show you," Duncan told him in
the same quiet voice, what I've got
to say If you'll just put the soft pedal
on and tell me the amount Of that
note"
with interest and COSTS" he said
less stridently, 1T figgers up three
hundred n eighty dollars n eighty
| two cents.
There's no use denying that Duncan
| was staggered. For the moment his
poise deserted him utterly. He could
only repeat, as one who dreams
Three hundred and eighty dollars!"
His momentary CONSERVATION afford
ed Pete the opening he needed. The
room shook with his regained sense
of prestige.
Yes, three hundred n eighty dollars
| NJ Say, you look a-here!"
Again the calm forefnger touched
him and like a hypnotists pass
checked the rolling volume of noise.
Listen" begged Duncan. IF you've
got anything else to tell me please re-
tire to the opposite side Of the street
and whisper it. Meantime be quiet"
Duncan turned and made for the
| soda counter, beneath which was the
till. His scanty roll of bills was in his
right hand and there concealed. He
stepped behind the counter (old Sam
watching him with an amazement no
less absolute than Pete's), pulled out
the till, bent over it with an assured
air and pushed back the coin slide.
Then quite naturally he produced with
his right hand his four hundred and
odd dollars from the bill drawer, stood
up and counted them with great delib-
eration-
"One, two, three, four"
He smiled winningly at Pete. -Four
hundred dollars, Mr.. Sheriff. Now will
you be good enough to hand over that
note and the change and then put
yourself and that pickle you're wear
ing in your face on the other side Of
the door,"
Il amt got the note with me, Mr..
Duncan"
Then perhaps you won't mind going
to the bank for it?"
Half suffocated. Pete assented. !"Aw'I
right, I'll go and git it. Kin 1 have
the money!"
Certainly" Duncan extended the
bills, then on second thought withheld
them. 81 presume you're a regular
sheriff." he inquired.
Very proudly Pete turned back the
lapel of his coat and distended the
chest on which shone his nickel plated
badge of office. Duncan examined 1t
with grave admiration.
It's beautiful" he said, with a
sigh. Here"
Gingerly Pete grasped the bills,
thumbed them over to make sure they
were real and bolted as for his life,
his coattails level on the breeze. There
floated back to Duncan and old Sam
his valedictory, WAL, I'll be dod-
gasted,"
With short, quiet laugh Duncan
made as though to go out to the back
yard, where the new stock was being
delivered.
I'm going" he said hurriedly, ito
find me a hatchet and knock the stuff
ing out of some of those packing
cases. Want to get all that truck in
doors before nightfall, you know"
But old Sam wasn't to be put off by
any such obvious subterfuge as that.
He put himself in front of Duncan.
Nat, my boy" he said, tremulous,
Il can't let this go through. l can't
allow you
There, now," Duncan told him un-
certainly, yet kindly, don't say any
thing more. It's over and done with"
But you mustn't. I'll turn over the
store to you if
"Oh Lord" Duncan's dismay was as
genuine as his desire to escape Gra-
hams gratitude. "No-don't! Please
don't do that"
But 1 must do something, my boy.
l can't accept so great a kindness un-
less" said Graham. with a timid flash
of hope, you'll consider a partner
ship
That's it," cried Duncan, glad of
any way out of the situation. That's
the way to do it-a partnership. No;
please don't say any more about it just
now. We can settle details later.
We've got to get busy. Tell you what
I wish you'd do while I'm bursting
open those boxes. If you don't mind
going down to the station to make sure
that everything's"-
Yes, I'll go; I'll go at once" Sam
groped for Duncan's hand, caught and
held it between both his own. Tiff
fate or something hadn't brought you
here today l don't know what would
have happened to Betty and me-"
Never mind" Duncan tried to
soothe him. Just don't you think
about it."
Graham shook his head, still bewil-
dered. Perhaps" he stumbled on,
ito a gentleman of your wealth $4O0
isn't much
No" said Duncan gravely without
the flicker of an eyelash. nothing" HeI
remembered we'll the few dollars that
now represented all his worldly goods.
Then he smiled cheerfully. There,
that's all right"
ITO me it's meant everything. Ill
only hope I'll be able to repay you
some day. God bless you, my boy!
God bless you"
He managed to jam his hat awry on
his white old head and find his way
out, his hands fumbling with one an
other, his lips moving inaudibly, per-
haps in a prayer of thanksgiving.
1t was perhaps within the next thr-
ty minutes that Betty (who had been
left in charge of the store while Dun
COLLAR Of onH