Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-04-07
I h e "-,.-'-.'
| Social Bucaneer
By Frederic s. Isham
Copyright the BobbsMerrll Company.
By Frederic s. Ishom
Copyright 1910, by the sobbs Merrill Company.
CHAPTER X.
A New Environment.

sic with others pressed eXcitedly for
ward. Was he much injured, badly
burned? She had seen his hands an6
arms enveloped by the flames. None
noted the shape her inquiries took; the
excess of agitation in the girls green
ish eyes. She and a number of others
were waved back. Authority stepped
in; among the guests was a doctor.
Miss Wood, happily, proved to have
been unharmed by the flames, but Mr.
Bruce had suffered a few actual in
juries: his right hand, especially
showed several bad burns. He, how
ever, made light of it; not, apparently
through a desire to emulate the con-
ventional after-role in instances of the
kind. but rather to escape the impor-
tunities Of those who insisted on MAX
ing too much of it.
The hand was duly bound and band
aged, whereupon Bruce announced his
intention of returning to his inn in
the village. To this Mr. Wood offered
strenuous objections. The least he, Mr..
Wood, could do under the circum-
stances, he asserted, was to offer the
young man the hospitality of his home,
not far distant. To permit Bruce to
walk down to the tavern in the town,
ton: not to be thought of! The young
man needed care and attention.
To which Bruce replied he had been
looked after" already, very we'll in
deed; felt now quite able to look after
himself. Besides-he dwelt on this
were not all his little belongings at
the inn? He had with him, with a
faint attempt at jocularity, but the
clothes he had on and those were
slightly damaged. Mr.. Wood, equally
could be sent for; he would speak at
once to his man about that.
Perhaps the twinges in his hand,
arms and shoulders made Bruce less
combative, under pressure, than he
wished to be; perhaps Sir Archibald's s
unexpected Intervention at the moment
assisted further in undermining his
resolution. A remark, interjected by
the Englishman, urged the advisability
of sacrificing for that night what
would be, at best, a questionable free
dom and independence in a stuffy lit
tie inn, for the charming thraldom of
a home.
There was a CLINT behind the lazy
light ip Sir Archibald's eyes as he
voiced this sentiment; the words, we'll
modulated, drawling, were, neverthe-
less, i'm the least challenging Bruce
regarded the stolid, emotionless face
an instant; then, with a faint smile,
acquiesced. So willy -nilly, not long
after he found himself carried off, Mr..
Woods guest, and Mr.. Bolger, who
had both heard and seen, stared after
the young man when he had really
gone or been whisked away.
1t may be the detective reflected at
the moment on the mockery of fate:
the irony of circumstances. Here was
the mauvais sujet of his investigations
set on the pedestal of a Hector! II
constituted a new page in his expert
ences: anger, and chagrin mingled in
his emotions. He, too, took his de-
parture; he had no further interest in
the pearls that night. They were safe
the garden party was practically over;
this little contretemps had taken the
edge off further merry making.
Chatfield Bruce, between Miss Wood
tIa nt
the car, was whirled on. He said moth
ing, nor did they, after a few desul-
tory remarks, speak; tacit silence
seemed to have taken possession I
them. In front, the forms of Sir
Archibald and his secretary, in the
vague light, wavered this way and
that, like shadows. The Englishmar
and Senor Caglioni were. also, ir
either quiescent or reflective moods;
the latest, unlooked-for member of the
party might have wondered what
thoughts moved them during thai
journey.
But the young man leaning back
seemed oblivious of them; sitting a:
still as he might mindful, no doubt
only of physical pain. Sometimes Mis-!
Woods blue eyes turned furtively tC
regard him at her side. Once Bruce's
injured arm was thrown Slightly
against her as they encountered ru
the driver negotiated rather too quick.
ly; the young man made no sound tc
indicate the ensuing twinge that mus
have shot through him. But she saw
his lips press tightly; noted a sligh
movement of the upper muscles of th'
cheek An ornament on her breas
stirred. She bent forward quickly ant
spoke to the driver; in clear well-cOn
trolled tones told him to go mor'
slowly.
Whereupon Bruce for the first time
swerved his look to regard her, half
gratefully, half-deprecatOrily. She
however. had turned her head from
him and was gazing from the car
He saw very little of her face: but III
felt, as before, the flutter of her veil
All the strange, unreal jOurney-whicl
lasted, in truth, but a little which,
was aware of that. Out of the dark
ness and the night, amid acute sens
of pain, he had continued conscious
of the fine silk now flecking his cheel
like the touch of a butterfly; thel
whipping family against his breast.
A few more jars, slighter ones OWING
to the chauffeur's caution. turn il
the road here. another there, and tn
car drew up. AS Bruce got out he wa
dimly aware that the squall passln,
with its fierce patter of rain, had lei
the night more beautiful than before
Every cloud, every Cunvoluti0n of mis-
had been driven from the sky; tn
stars were almost too bright.
Ii was Sir Archibald who assisted
Miss Wood from the car; she went to
ward the house with him and the sec
rotary and waited at the top of tn
steps for her father and Mr.. Bruce