Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-11-28
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yes, ma'am, 1 do hunt some" he ad-
mitted.
Miss Betty, Uncle Bob's the best
shot we got! You had ought to see
him shoot" said Hannibal.
"Mr. Yancy, If you should cross the
mountains, remember I live near
Memphis. Bell Plain is the name of
the plantation-it's not hard to find;
lust don't forget-Belle Plain"
IT won't forget, and mebby you will
see us there one of these days. Sho',
I've seen mighty little Of the world
about as far as a dog can trot in a
couple Of hours!"
Just think what it will mean to
Hannibal If you become involved fur
ther with Mr. Bladen." Betty spoke
earnestly, bending toward him, and
Yancy understood the meaning that
lay back of her words.
'Tve thought Of that, too, the
Scratch Hitler answered seriously.
Betty glanced toward the squire and
Mr.. Crenshaw. They were standing
near the bars that gave entrance to
the lane. Murrell had left them and
was walking briskly down the road
toward Crenshaw's store where his
horse was tied. She bent down and
gave Yancy her slim white hand.
"Good-by, Mr.. Yancy-lift Hannibal
so that l can kiss him!" Yancy swung
the child aloft. Il think you are such
nice little boy, Hannibal-you
mustn't forget met" And touching
her horse lightly with the whip she
rode away at a gallop.
"She sho'ly is LADY," said Yancy.
staring after her. And we mustn't
forget Memphis or Belle Plain, New
wy"
Crenshaw and the squire approach
ed.
Bob" said the merchant. "Bladen's
going to have the boy-but he made a
mistake in putting this business in the
hands of a fool like Dave Blount. I
reckon he knows that now"
Il reckon his next move will be to
send a posse of gun-toters up from
Fayetteville" said the squire.
That's just what he'll do" agreed
Crenshaw, and looked disturbed.
They certainly air an unpeaceable
lot-them Fayetteville folks! It's al
ways seemed to me they had a posi-
tive spite agin this end Of the county,"
said the squire" and he pocketed his
spectacles and refreshed himself with
a chew of tobacco. .Bladen amt
actin right, Bob. It's a year and up
wards since the old general died. He
let you go on thinking the boy was to
stay with you, and now he takes a
notion to have him."
mo, sir. It amt right nor reasona-
BILE. And what's more, he shan't have
him." said Yancy, and his tone was
final.
II don't know what kind Of a mess
you're getting yourself into. Bob, 1
declare I don't!" cried Crenshaw, who
felt that he was largely responsible
for the whole situation.
Looks like your neighbors would
stand by you," suggested the squire.
Il don't want them to stand by me.
It'll only get them into trouble, and
I amt going to do that" rejoined
Yancy, and lapsed into momentary
silence. Then he resumed meditative-
", There was old Baldy Ebersole
who shot the sheriff when they tried
to arrest him for getting drunk down
in Fayetteville and licking the tavern
keeper"
"Sho, there want no harm In
Baldy!" said the squire. with heat.
when that sheriff come along here
looking for him, l told him p'inted
that Baldy said he wouldn't be ar
rested. A more truthful man / never
knowed, and if the damn fool had
taken my word he'd been living yet"
But you-all know what trouble
killing that sheriff made for Baldy?'
said Yancy. He told me often ne
regretted it mo- than anything he'd
ever done. He said 1t was most ag-
gravatin' having to always lug gun
wherever he went. And what with
being suspicious Of strangers when
he want suspicious by nature. he
reckoned in time it would just natur-
ally wear him out"
He stood it until he was risin'
eighty" said Crenshaw.
His father lived to be ninety, John,
and as spry an old gentleman as
body'd wish to see. I don't uphold
no man for committing murder, but
I do consider the sheriff should have
waited on Baldy to get mo- reasona-
BILE, like he'd done in time If they'd
lust let him alone-but no, sir, he
reckoned the law want no respecter
of persons. He was a fine-appearin'
man, that sheriff, and just elected to
Office. I remember we had to leave
off the tail-gate to my cart to accom-
modate him. Yes, sir they pretty near
pestered Baldy into his grave-and
seein' that pore old fellow pottering
around year after year always toting
a gun was the patheticest sight l most
ever seen, and l made up my mind
then if it ever seemed necessary for
me to kill man, I'd leave the county
or maybe the state" concluded the
squire.
Don't you reckon it would be some
better to leave the state afo' you
done the killing" suggested Yancy.
We'll, a man might. l don't know
but what he'd be justified in getting
shut of his troubles like that"
When Betty Malroy rode away from
Squire Balaam's Murrell galloped al
ter her. Presently she heard the beat
of his horses hoofs as he came pound
ing along the sandy road, and glanced
back over her shoulder. With an eX-
clamation of displeasure she refined
in her horse. She had not wished to
ride to the Barony with him, yet she
had no desire to treat him with dis
courtesy, especially as the Ferrises
were disposed to like him. Murrell