Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-11-29

cognize. Johnson-Pollett-Andrews-
Smith-Bryan-Thompson-1 swear
that you shall be prosecuted to the
fullest extent Of the law for this
nights work."
A man had followed her closely
through the press. They were his hands
that cut the rope and laid the body OF
Jack Grier gently down at her feet.
"She Is right" he said coolly. Il be-
lieve that the man Is dead; and II he
is, this will be a hanging business for
some Of you fellows"
Get out Of the way, If he amt, and
we will finish the job" said a voice
from the crowd.
The man standing over the notion
less body Of Jack Grier turned a little,
and a pistol flashed in his hand.
"I don't ask any odds Of any man or
set of men in Bradley county," he call
ed out, land you fellows know it. You
know me end that I am acting within
my lawful rights as deputy sheriff In
ordering you to disperse. And I want
you Internal fools to know that l am
not afraid of the whole pack Of you!
I will give you just two minutes to
clear out, and the man who stays after
that will eat his breakfast in hell"
A mob is a creature Of impulse. "Hur-
rah fer Hardy" some one shouted.
"Hurrah for the next sheriff Of Brad
ley county," said another, and the mob
wayered a little. "The man is dead
anyway" some one near Lorimer whis-
pered. 1t was Cartwright. "You had
better get out Of the way, boys, as soon
as you can. You know what q fool
Hardy is"
One or two men on the outskirts OF
the crowd drifted away in the dark
ness. The example was contagious,
and others followed. Lorimer would
have held his ground, but Agnes Wat
son looked at him-once.
Hardy had forgotten Lorimer-had
forgotten the mob. He stopped and
touched the young girl on the shoul-
der.
Let me take you home, Miss Agnes"
he said softly. HE is dead. No body
with life in 1t falls as his did when
cut the rope"
"Oh, MOI" she sobbed, mot too late.
Oh, Jack-Jack!"
1T Is too late, Miss Agnes!" Hardy
was as tender hearted as he was brave
and he was crying a little and swear
ing a good deal out Of sympathy with
the young girl in her grief. He stoop-
ed again and tried to lift her away
from the silent figure on the floor.
She drew away from him and laid
her fresh, young lips on the stained
ones, under the flickering light Of the
dying torches.
"Oh, Jack-Jack!" she breathed. Il
love you-I have always loved you!"
And then she shrank away with a
little cry. The eyes so near her own
were staring blankly into her white
face. The swollen lips were whisper
ing.
"Aggie, dear, ! am not
fit, darling, Oh, Aggie, for Gods sake,
do go away, dear. while can let you
go!"
She shook her head. II am not go
ing!" she declared. Never again!"
Poor, pitiful little SOUL" he whis-
pered. II am weak, dear, and there Is
this cursed appetite-and you would
hate me afterwards" He closed his
eyes resolutely and tried to lift his
head from her clinging arms: "Har-
dy! he called again, desperately, but
Hardy did not turn. And Agnes stoop'
ed again and laid her cheek against his
lips.
-"You have given me my chance" she
whispered, "and 1 refuse to take 1t. /
will not leave you, Jack"
He got to his feet, somehow, and
held her in his arms.
Come away Jack!" she pleaded.
They will be back presently" But he
only held her the closer while the rain
still fell drearily and the smoking
| torches faded, one by one, into Dark
ness. 1t was Hardy, at last, who re-
called them to the present and its diff
| fculties.
You had better come away, Grier."
he said, sternly, although his eyes
| were wet You are still under arrest,
you know, and an unexplained crimi-
nal charge is hanging over you-one.
too, that will puzzle your lawyer to ex-
plain away"
Grier frowned.
II don't know how or why you aP.
peared so opportunely tonight, Hardy
he said, when you were supposed to
be 200 miles away and travelling in the
| opposite direction. But you were kind
! to me in the old days, and for the sake