Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-03-12
ESTABLISHED 1865.
CHAPTER XXXIV.
The Duel.

1t had been with no little reluctance
that Solomon Mahaffy accompanied
Yancy and Cavendish to Belle Plain
he would have preferred to remain ir
Raleigh in attendance upon Judge
Price. Intimately acquainted with thu
judges mental processes, he could fol
low all the devious workings Of tina
MAGNIFICENT mind; he could fathom the
simply hellish ingenuity he was cap.
able of putting forth to accomplish
temporary benefits. Permitting his
thoughts to dwell upon the mingled
strength and weakness which was &C
curiously blended in Slocum Prices
character, he had horrid visions of tina,
great soul, free from the trammels OF
restraint, confiding his melancholy his
tory to Mr. Pegloe in the hope of boil
stering his fallen credit at the City
Tavern.
Always where the judge was con-
cerned he fuctuated between extremes
Of doubt and confidence. He felt that
under the urgent spur Of occasion his
friend could rise to any emergency
while q sustained activity made de-
mands which he could not satisfy;
then his effftiorts were discounted by
his insane desire to realize at once or
his opportunities; in his haste he was
for ever plucking unripe fruit; and
though he might keep one eye on the
main chance the other was fixed just
as resolutely on the nearest tavern.
With the great stake which fate had
suddenly introduced into their losing
game, he wished earnestly to believe
that the judge would stay quietly ir
his office and complete the task he
had set himself; that with this off his
hands the promise of excitement al
Belle Plain would compel his presence
there, where he would pass somewhat
under the restraining influence which
he was determined to exert; in short
to Solomon, life embraced just the
one vital consideration, which was
to maintain the judge in a state OF
sobriety until after the meeting with
Fentress.
The purple Of twilight was stealing
over the land when ne and his two
companions reached Belle Plain. They
learned that Tom Ware had returned
from Memphis, that the bayou had
been dragged but without results, and
that as yet nothing had been heard
from Darlington or the dogs he had
gone fer.
Presently Cavendish and Yancy Sc,
OFF across the fields. They were 60
ing to the raft. to Polly and the six
little Cavendishes, whom they had moi
seen since early morning; but they
promised to be back at Belle Plain
within an hour.
BY every nature an alien, Mahaffy
sought out a dark corner on the wide
porch that overlooked the river te
await their return. The house hac
been thrown open and supper was be-
ing served to whoever cared to stay
and partake of it. The murmur OF
idle purposeless talk drifted out to him
he was irritated and offended by 1t
There was something garish in this
indiscriminate hospitality in the very
home of tragedy. AS the moments
slipped by his sense Of displeasure in
creased, with mankind in general
with himself, and with the judge
principally with the judge-who was
to make foolish target Of himself ir
the morning. He was going to give
the man who had wrecked his life
chance to take it as well. Mahaffy's
cold logic dealt cynically with the pre-.
posterous situation his friend ha6
created.
In the midst of his angry medita-
tions he heard a clock strike in the
hall and slowly counted the strokes
It was nine o'clock. Surely Yancy
and Cavendish had been gone theil
hour! He quilted his seat and stroll.
ed restlessly about the house. He
felt deeply indignant with everybody
and everything. Human intelligence
seemed but pitiable advance on brute
instinct. A whole day had passed and
what had been accomplished? Car
rington, the judge, Yancy, Cavendisf
the four men who might have work
ed together to some purpose had wide
ly separated themselves; and here wa!
the duel, the very climax of absurdi'
ty. He resumed his dark corner ant
waited another hour. Still no Car
rington, and Yancy and Cavendisf
had not come up from the raft.
"Fools!" thought Mahaffy bitterly
"All of them fools!"
At last he decided to go back TO the
judge; and a moment later was hur'
rying down the lane in the direction o
the highroad, but jaded as he was b!
the effort he had already put fortl
that day, the walk to Raleigh made
tremendous demands on him, and /
was midnight when he entered th'
little town.
1t cannot be said that he was alto
gether surprised when he found thei
cottage dark and apparently deserted
He had half expected this. Entering
and not stopping to secure a candle
he CROPPED his way upstairs to th'
room on the second floor which he anc
the judge shared.
"Price!" he called, but this gainet
him no response, and he cursed softl!
under his breath.
He hastily descended to the kitchen
lighted a candle, and stepped into tn
adjoining room. On the table was
neat pile of papers, and topping tn
pile was the presidents letter. Beint
burdened by no false scruples, AM
thinking it might afford some clue q
the judges whereabouts, Mahaffy tool
il up and read it. Having mastered
it's contents he instantly glanced II
the direction of the City Tavern. bu
il was wrapped in darkness.
Price Is drunk somewhere" was hi
definite conclusion. But he'll be a
Boggs' the first thing in the mornin,
most likely so far gone he can hard
ly stand!"
The letter with its striking news
,nada little or no impression on hin