Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1910-03-18


you've been in this part of the
country longer that 1 have, Hartford,
said he. Il want your advice as "a
friend. you know"
Hartford nodded and withdrew his
pipe from his lips.
Sure" said he succinctly. Whats
the row."
why, you see," said harrington,
lit seems that in filing the papers for
Jim Busby on that last mining claim
of his 1 made a slight error. 1 have
been doing a large business, you know,
Hartford-a very large business-and
it was inevitable that l should make
a mistake occasionally 1t seems that
some INSCRIPTIONS persons have ta-
ken advantage of this purely techni-
cal slip and have jumped Busby' s
claim and he is very much exercised
about it,
Il should think he might be-" Hart
ford observed.
Yes" repeated Darlington, "he is
much exercised and quite unreason-
able about it. He came into my Of
flee few moments ago and demanded
an explanation. Of course l couldn't
tell him anything except that it was
just a mistake such as any man might
make, and he said l was lying to him.
He said l was too smart to make a
fool break like that and that l was in
with the gang that were trying to do
him out of a claim that would have
made him rich. l argued with
him the best / could, but it
didn't bulge him. He said he didn't
see that il made mucn difference
whether 1 was a fool or a knave, be-
cause either way 1 hadn't any right
to live and he wound up by saying
that he'd just go down to the jolly
Dog and get few drinks to put him
in the right frame of mind anC then
he'd come back and reduce the men,
bership of the Gilt Gulch bar by one"
1t is significant of Hartford's broad
and tolerant temperament that he did
not remind Darlington that he had
previously predicted such a catastro-
phe as had now befallen. Neverthe-
less a slight glimmer of amusement
stole across his face.
so you want my advice, do you?'
he asked.
4 should appreciate it very much, "
said Darlington.
We'll, you shall have it," said Hart
ford laconically, rapping the bowl Of
his pipe against the heel of his shoe.
IF Jim Busby were out cunning for
me and l couldn't shoot any better
than you can, and l had a comfor-
table little sum saved, as you have,
and there were a pretty girl in New
England who didn't know any better
than to love me, as she does you, I'd
go east on the half past two train, and
l wouldn't hurry back.
But the trouble is," harrington ex-
planned, "Susie-Miss Cutler, that is
will be here on the train that gets
in at $50. The trains pass on the first
siding out. you know. The fact is we
are to be married day after tomorrow
at noon You'll pardon my emitting
to send you an invitation, won't you?
1t was quite unintentional. I've been
so busy
oh" Hartford broke in, with a
deprecatory wave of his arm, you
need not apologize. It's just one of
those little mistakes a busy man is
bound to make every now and then.
1 haven't Busby's disposition. I'll for
give you
Then Hartford looked at his watch
and found that it was twenty minutes
past two.
You'll have to move lively, my
boy" he said. Keep an eye open for
Jim, and if the coast is clear take tho
23O. If it isn't walk over to Sand
City and take the next one there"
But about Susie" Darlington re-
mOnstrated.
"Pshaw!" growled Hartford. That's
easy enough Leave a note for her
with the station master, telling her to
go back to Colorado Springs and you'll
meet her there. If you don't have time
10 write a note, have the station mas
ter tell her you've been called away
on a life and death matter and that
she's to go to the hotel and wait un-
til you send her word She'll prefer
slightly delayed wedding to an eX-
pedited funeral. Hurry up now.
You've Just about time to make it.
As he slipped down the main street
of Gilt Gulch on his way TO the sta
ton harrington caught a glimpse of
jim Busbys gaunt profile as he stood
at the bar of the jolly Dog, his back
toward the entrance. Barrington's in
dOlent heart rejoiced as he reflected
that the ten mile walk to Sand City
would now be unnecessary. 1t was
just twenty-eight minutes past two
when he reached the station. He gave
the necessary instructions concerning
Susie to the station master and rush
ed out upon the platform. But the
train which made up at Gilt Gulch
was not yet ready to depart. \ freight
car had left the rails, blocking the
track Five ten, fifteen minutes pass
ed and still the obstruction remained.
harrington grew uneasy. Jim BuSby
might at any moment deem that he
had imbibed quantity of liquor COM
mensurate with his contemplated task
and begin to search for him. But at
the end of twenty minutes, to his great
relief, the perspiring train crew sue
ceeded in replacing the derailed car,
and the freight train pulled slowly out
upon a siding. Even as it did so Bar
ringtOn caught sight of the $50 train
as it rounded the curve just beyond
the station.
4 moment later Susie Cutler, her
trim little figure set off by a skillful-
| ly tailored gray travelling suit and her
| face wearing the look Of determine
ton bCftting a girl who had just COM
pleted q journey nearly across the
continent alone. descended to the plat