Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-09-12
CHAPTER VI.
Suicide or Murder!

on the dull main street of Black
IT. Suddenly a splendid carriage
khed by the inn door. A colored
u lehman in livery occupied the drt-
IS seat. and a pale, high featured
ntleman, wrapped in costly furs'
lied upon the luxurious cushions Of
he vehicle. At the sight thought
terced old Ike's muddled brain.
Bless my soul, Mercy" he cried, in
Sudden remembrance, Rob GreNl"cK
didn't come back here last night.
Mercy Poole, with her sleeves rolled
up over her dimpled. brown elbows
and a big work-apron about her come-
Iy person. was washing the bar, and
setting the shining glasses in order
upon il. She did not turn or look.
Have you just found that OUT"
she nswered-Mercy seldom wasted
respect on her erring parent-"But
needn't ask You were 50 far gone
when YOU staggered to bed last night
that YOU didn't know who was in the
house or out of it,
"I'n own | have my failings, Mercy,
whined old Ike; but you mustn't be
hard on me-you, my own daughter.
I'm mighty glad that Bob found
lodging i'm his fathers house. There
goes the old man now, grand as lord
and stiff as a pine-tree. BlacKport
folks never liked him, and never will.
Well. it's a good thing that he's recon-
ciled. at last, to his son. Young folks
can't see with the eyes of old folks, and
| go for to say that the boy, in this
free country, had a right To choose his
own wife"
Mercy Poole left her glasses, and
stalking up to her father, stared over
his shoulder at the receding carriage.
Yes" she said. sharply, they've
made it up. or he'd have been back
before this
Did YOU wait up for him last night
Mercy"
Yes, / waited up
You were always fond O Rob" said
old Ike, and he o YOU. hope he'll
bring his wife and young 'un To the
Woods now. and make things lively
here"
The dark. fierce face of the girl grew
gray as ashes.
You talk like a fool!' she cried
finging passionately back from the
mn-keeper. and then, with great effort
she continued. "Of course he will bring
his wife and child here, why not? Do
YOU think care? But didn't suppose
il would turn out like this-l didn't
SUPPOSE his father would forgive him
So soon. He is called Q hard man."
Good md." cried old Ike, impru-
IDENTITY. "One would think from Your
tone. gal. that YOU felt sorry the gov
nor's heart had softened that much"
Into Mercy Poole's face famed
fierce crimson. She laid one strong
hand on his shoulder.
If YOU were not my father would
shake you, The 'g"v'n"r,' it seems
didn't take his forgiven SON to ride
with him this morning; he might have
done that just to show Blackport folks
that he was friends with him again"
That's So" pondered old Ike. Il
'spuse there isn't a mistake anywhere,
eh? Rob didn't come To the inn last
night and find locked doors. and $" go
off To some other lodging place, dld
hr?"
Mercy turned and went back to her
work at the bar. The two had the
room To themselves. The big stove
was redhot as usual, and the sunshin"
lay i'm bright patches ON the hoor-eN-
erything was sure I" Ice clean Where
Mercy Poole presided.
Three mOr, of these glasses crack
ed" she said holding up the damaged
vessels to the light; Il would lik" To
smash them altogether over the heads
of the old SOtS who waste their time
her--Calrb Brown in particular. The
doors were. not locked at all last night.
dad Do YOU think for the good name
of the inn that | would let such thing
happen? | waited up myself for Rob
err Grevlock. and that h. didn't come
| can take my oath, for | never closed
AN eye all night.
Ike Poole had 10y nature dull BRAN,
and the cup that inehriates had not
tended to make it more brilliant, but
something in his daughters tone made
him stare.
"Eh" Lrr' now! That was hard for
YOU. and proper friendly toward Rob-
rrt. Well. kin is kin. No doubt the
old man welcomed him with open arms.
and killed the fatted calf and all that
Now. Mercy. how is it that y"u never
think of getting married. like other
gals" | wish you'd bring man mere
To- help me look after the inn. There
plenty of Blackpurt fellows hanging
round. making eyes at y"u-take your
pick. You're smart and you're hand
soma gal like YOU oughtn't To go
longer without Il mate
she turned "n him with Il short, un-
pleasant laugh.
Let the Blackp"rt fellows hang
about and make eyes much good may
il de- them: hut when YOU see IN" mat
ed. dad. thcrrll hr ships sailing over
the salt meadows. and YOU and your
precious crumics will have ceased I"
drink grug together. | ann tn" only one
who will ever help you tax" car" "l IN"
in Marry" You'd better hr wary
hnw Won mention that subject, for 1t
srirs i'm me more demons than W"r"
eyer cast uat uf Mary Magd"l"n"'
There WAS something 81 startling IN
th- hook and tome of til" hahdS"ill'
,ix,.u rha1 old liz, was obliged tu 90