Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-04-08

him his money back, pushed him gent
ly from the room, and so made de-
voted slave Of Tom Simson.
There was q remembrance of this II
his boyish and enthusiastic greeting
Of Mr.. Oakhurst. He had started. h
said, to go to Poker Flat to seek hi!
fortune. "Alone?" mo, not exactly
alone; in fact "a giGgQe), he had rur
away with Piney Woods. Didn't Mr.
Oakhurst remember Piney? She thai
used to wait on the table at the Tenn.
perance House? They had been en-.
gagged a long time, but old Jake Woods
had objected and so they had rur
away; and were going to Poker Flat tc
they were tnred out, and how lucky II
was they had found place to camp
and company. All this the Innocent
delivered rapidly, while Piney, a stout
comely damsel of fifteen, emerged
from behind the pine tree where she
had been blushing unseen and rode to
the side Of her lover.
Mr.. Oakhurst seldom troubled him
self with sentiment, still less with pro-
priety; but he had g. vague idea that
the situation was not fortunate. He
retained, however, his presence Of mind
sufficiently to kick Uncle Billy, who
was about to say something, and Uncle
Billy was sober enough to recognize
in Mr.. Oakhurst's kick superior
power that would not bear trifiing. He
then endeavored to dissuade Tom Sim
son from delaying further, but in vain
He even pointed out the fact that
there was no provision, nor means of
making q camp. But, unluckily, the
Innocent met this objection by assur-
ing the party that he was provided
with an extra mule loaded with provi-
sions, and by the discovery of rude
attempt at a log house near the trail.
"Piney can stay with Mrs. Oakhurst,"
said the Innocent, pointing to the
Duchess, "and can shift for myself"
Nothing but Mr.. Oakhurst's admon-
ishing foot saved Uncle Billy from
bursting into a roar Of laughter. AS II
was, he felt compelled to retire up the
canyon until he could recover his
gravity. There he confided the joke to
the tall pine trees, with many slaps of
his leg, contortions OF his face and the
usual profanity. But when he return
ed to the party he found them seated
by a fire-for the air had grown
strangely chill and the sky overcast
In apparently amicable conversation.
Piney was actually talking In an i'm
pulsive, girlish fashion to the Duchess,
who was listening with an interest and
animation she had not shown for
many days. The Innocent was holding
forth, apparently with equal effect, to
who was actually relaxing into ami
ability. 'Is this yer a id picnic?'
said Uncle Billy, with an inward scorn,
as he surveyed the sylvan group, the
glancing freight and the tethered
animals in the foreground. Suddenly
an idea mingled with the alcoholic
fumes that disturbed his brain. 1t
was apparently Of jocular nature,
for he felt impelled to slap his leg
again and cram his fist into his mouth.
AS the shadows crept slowly up the
mountain, a slight b. eeze rocked the
tops Of the pine trees and moaned
through their long and gloomy aisles.
The ruined cabin, patched and cover
the ladies. As the lovers parted they
unaffectedly exchanged kiss, so hon.
est and sincere that II might have
been heard above the swaying pines
The frail Duchess and the malevolent
Mother Shipton were probably too
stunned to remark upon this last evil
dence Of simplicity. and so turned
without q word to the hut. The fire
was replenished, the men lay down be-
fore the door, and N a few minutes
were asleep.
Mr.. Oakhurst was a light sleeper
Toward morning he awoke benumbed
and cold. AS he stirred the dying fire
the wind, which was now blowing
strongly, brought to his cheek that
which caused the blood to leave it
snow!
He started to his feet with the in
80 cln
there was no time to lose. But turn
ing to where Uncle Billy had been ly-
ing he found him gone. A suspicion
leaped to his brain and a curse to his
lips. He ran to the spot where the
mules had been tethered; they were nc
longer there. The tracks were already
rapidly disappearing in the snow.
The momentary e: element brought
Mr.. Oakhurst back to the fire with his
usual calm. He did not waken the
sleepers. The Innocent slumbered
peacefully, with smile on his good
humored, freckled face; the virgin Pi-
ney slept beside her Trailer sisters as
sweetly as though attended by celes-
tial guardians, and Mr.. Oakhurst
drawing his blanket over his shoulders
stroked his mustaches and waited 1or
the dawn. It came slowly In a whirl-
ing mist of snowfiakes that dazzled
and confused the eye. What could be
seen of the landscape appeared magi-
cally changed. He looked over the val
ley and summed up the present and
future in two words--"snowed in"
A careful inventory Of the provi-
sions, which, fortunately for the par
| ty, had been stored within the hut, and
80 escaped the felonious fingers OF
Uncle Billy disclosed the fact that
with care and prudence they might
last ten days longer. That is" said
| cent, 'if you're willing to board us. II
you ain't-and perhaps you'd better
not-you can wait TIL Uncle Billy gets
back with provision" For some oc-
cult reason Mr.. Oakhurst could no,
bring himself to disclose Uncle Billy's
rascality, and so offered the hypothe-
sis that he had wandered from the
camp and had accidentally stampedeo
the animals. He dropped a warning
to the Duchess and Mother Shipton
who Of course knew the facts of theil
the truth about us all when they fint
out anything" he added, significant
ly, and there's no good frightening
them now"
| Tom Simson not only put all his
worldly store at the disposal OF Mr.
Oakhurst, but seemed to enjoy the
prospect of their enforced seclusion
We'll have a good camp for weel
and then the snow'll melt, and We'll al
go back together" The cheerful gay
ETY. of the young man and Mr.. Oak
hurst's calm infected the others. The
Innocent, with the aid Of pine boughs
extemporized a thatch for the roofles!
cabin and the Duchess directed Piney
in the re-arrangement Of the interior
with a taste and tact that opened the
blue eyes Of that provincial maiden t
their fullest extent. Il reckon nov
you're used to fine things at Poker
Flat" said Piney. The Duchess turn
ed away sharply to conceal something
that Redeemed her cheeks through 1t!
professional tint, and Mother Shiptor
requested Piney not to chatter" Blu
when Mr.. Oakhurst returned from 6
weary search for the trail he heard tht
sound Of happy laughter echoed from
the rocks He stopped in some alarm
and his thoug ghts first naturally revert
ed to the whisky which he had pru
IDENTIFY cached. And yet 1t dom
somehow sound like whisky" said tht
gambler. 1t was not until he caugh
sight Of the blazing fire through th'
L A.