Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-04-02

not an agreeable one. His smaii eyes
narrowed into mere Sits. Take 1t 10
the courts" he repeated, IF you can
prove I've broken any law. his
ninched lips parted, showing his yell
low teeth as he chuckled softly.
The little woman, who wore Wid-
ow.s veil shrank back in her chair
as IL terrified: and the girl who hao
hitherto listened silently to the con-
versation, crossed the room and pat
ted her hand caressingly. Then she
turned her eyes on Simeon French.
They were gray eyes. clear ana cam
did. and just now a red spot sho"eo
in each, like the gleam Of the sunset
colors In a deep pool.
Mother hasn't any money to spend
in lawsuits. Mr.. French" she said SIM
ply. "And If we went to law we
couldn't prove anything. But you
know YOU borrowed the money from
father, and we know 1t; and shouio
think that was enough"
Simeon French shook his head.
The girlish simplicity Of the speech
seemed to deepen his air of sinister
enjoyment.
you're a smart girl, Lucy. l amt
denying that But even girls who go
to high school don't know everything
He leaned forward, emphasizing MS
remarks by shaking his forefinger In
her face. Now, I'm going to tell you
something. A man doesn't pay out
good money to anybody unless he can
be made to-"
"Then our errand is useless" said
the widow. She rose to her feet, ana
even Simeon French noticed the pa
thetic dignity Of her manner I'VE
came here to appeal to your honor
While I have nothing that the law
would recognize as a proof that you
had that money from my husband,
know your conscience" she broke
off with a catch in her voice. III
you will not pay me the money that
belonged to my husband" she said,
I've have no way to make you do 1t.
Not at present. that is" added
Lucy. The spark Of flame in her eyes
had kindled a conflagration. Her
whole face was ablaze. She took the
arm of the trembling little woman In
black, and led her tenderly to the
door.
Simeon French followed. rubbing
his hands. Sorry not to oblige you.
But business is business. If man
amt sharp enough to protect his own
interests, he mustn't expect that other
folks will do it for him. Mind the
step. Mrs. Barrows. That lower one
is a little shaky. Good afternoon"
Even his hard, cunning face wore
q shadow as he watched the two re-
ceding figures, the little woman put
ting her black-bordered handkerchief
furtively to her eyes, the tall girl
leaning toward her fondly. In the
long years since he had made money
his god Simeon French had become
hardened to many things, but some
thing of sensitiveness remained to
prove the manhood that once had
been. With all his greed for gain.
which more than once had led him
across the borderland into actual dis
honesty, he still valued the good opin-
ion of his neighbors. The scorn In
Lucy's blazing eyes, as she led her
mother away, had stung all the good
left i'm him. He found it necessary to
fortify himself by the frequent repe-
tition of the axiom he had hurled af-
ter the retreating figure of Mrs. Bar
rows. IF a man amt smart enough
to protect his own interests, he must
not expect other folks to do it for
him."
Simeon French and the Barrows
family had lived on adjoining places
for years. Ever since Lucy could re-
member, the little man with the bow
ed shoulders and wrinkled, leathery
face had been their only near neigh
Dor. 1t seemed hard to her now that,
while the hill shut off the home of the
Maxwell girls, whom she counted
among her best friends, and thick
maple grove hid the Bannister's pleas
ant abode, the little weather-beaten
cottage occupied by Simeon French
was always under her eyes, to remind
her of the act of dishonesty but for
which her mother could live out her
days without anxiety.
The troubled lines in Mrs. Barrows'
forehead had plainly deepened after
her interview with Simeon French.
She was so silent and abstracted the
next morning that even Lucy's buoy
ancy was not sufficient to rouse her.
The girl presently made sugges-
ton: Mother, let's drive in to town,
and spend the afternoon with Mrs.
Dixon. She's asked us often enough"
Il know, dear. But 1 don't feel
like seeing anybody"
That's just the time you need to-
Lucy declared with the air of an ora
Gle. Besides, l want Mrs. Dixon to
show me that shadow embroidery.
Please go, mother. Let's forget that
there are any such disagreeable, dis
honest people in the world as Simeon
French"
Lucy's period of forgetfulness. how
ever. was destined to be brief. When
she and her mother drove up to their
door late that afternoon, the girl pull
ed up the gray mare with something
like a gasp. The little woman by her
side looked startled. What is 1t.
Lucy? Is anything wrong?"
Mother. look at that pear tree
The faded. anxious yes followed the
gesture of Lucy's extended hand.
What is it, Lucy?" Mrs. Barrows
faltered in a tone that seemed to indi-
cate that tears would be relief.
why. mother. that tree hasn't half
the fruit it had this morning. Some
one has been here picking. l believe" "
with a fierce glance over her shoulder.
its that Simeon French"
20. Lucy, it can't be-
Yes, it can be. mother. When all
Is said. this is a little thing compared
with. his keeping thousands of dollars
halonuS tn And | re-