Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-09-23
CHAPTER xxI-continued.

They stared, astonished. The Earl
Vile editor was protesting as he arose
"Mr. Tanner, you assured me the Mer-
cury-Journal-"
.The Journal viii get its scoop. Mr.
Curran, even, viii agree to that"
The others were leaving. Wiley stood
alone watching the small figure under
the table light. At crises there was a
sort of dignity about Thaddeus Tanner
The indomitable will, the intuitive
reading of men. the assumption Of au-
thority-he was worthy Of his power.
Even Curran felt the little boss's way
with men as this slow scrutiny envel-
oped him. When he looked at Thad af-
ter the going of the others. the mask
like face was snniling-and that smile,
some way. struck a curious fear to his
heart.
His calm dry tone heightened the
impression. 'You still refuse to resign.
Mr.. Curran?"
II do. We will submit 1t to the peo-
pie. Their good sense, their honesty,
their charity" r.
The little boss sat down across from
him and sighed. Let us pass that by.
I admit admiring the fight you've
made. I've formed a different opinion
Of you during the last six months, Cur
ran. And tonight-well don't mind
saying that threw up the sponge. We
couldn't beat you've thought 1t for
weeks"
'well?" Curran was almost asham-
ed of his ungracious note.
.Nevertheless"-the boss rubbed his
thin hands-"you win resign"
II told you no."
"Yes-but you will"
The white old hand was raised to
point at him. And from that instant
Curran felt the ground slip beneath
him. He glanced at Judge Van Hart
standing pallid. oppressed. by the win
dow. .sa 5n =" r-
The little man sat back easily. He
selected cigar from his case and
lighted It. Then he stretched his legs
to reach a cushion. Let US see, Cur
ran. Imagine the case. You have
guessed that we have employed this
fellow Ladeau. / admit it. I sent him
to New Orleans. He came back yester-
day with the fragments Of your inter-
esting story. More-some extraordi-
nary features Of the matter-something
never contemplated by me. He took. in
TACT, when he went south. what appear
ed to be most improbable clue to a
theory Of his own. A trinket from a
child's necklace"
"Necklace? Curran stared wonder
ingly. . 80. "
Il imagine necklace. At any rate,
this"-and from the open drawer Of the
table Thad held up silver cross.
The other man did not answer. His
mind was cropping back. The silver
cross hung under the light, and all
about mists Of darkness gathered. Even
Thad's voice seemed like q distant bell,
so swept away was Curran's percep-
ton Of time and place.
"a silver cross in which Ladeau took
to an old silver-smith he knew in New
Orleans. An eccentric fellow, 1t seems,
who, out OF vanity, used to keep an ac-
count Of all the stuff he manufactured.
He marked them all, and from him La
deau learned exactly to whom this was
sold. It was bought by this Madame
Artois and given to your child"
Curran leaped to seize the thing un-
der the light Tanner, what are you
getting at? BY God, this was stolen
stolen by Ladeau from John Lind
strom's!"
Exactly. 1t belonged to his girl
Aurelie!"
And still the man before him CROPPED
at the unbelievable. His clutch about
the silver cross frightened. He stumbl-
ed forward and, as Tanner stepped
back, sank in the bosss chair.
do you believe me?"
Curran did not answer. Then he
whiried up. mo. you lie! This cross
what is it? There might be hun
dred like it,"
Tanner smiled again. He reached to
the desk button. Il had arranged things
with some care. I did not wish to have
this affair balk on me. And there was
no actual need Of more than you and
me to settle 1t. Sony witness!"
Curran was aware that the door had
opened. He looked up to see Old Mich
igan there, his hat of, his eyes staring
wonderingly out of his white beard. He
stumped noiselessly across Thad Tan
ner's rugs.
Mr.. Wiley"-the old rebel turned
hurt, scared eyes upon his friend-"1
didn't want to come hyar, but they had
me. The sheriff and the district attor-
ney and the judge-they could done
sent me to Jail for hundred years on
all my whisky paroles If I hadn't come
But I'd a-gone for you. Mr.. Curran, II
you'd been helped! But this Is truth
and I'm glad!"
"Glad?" Curran felt the old rough
hand closing over his own, keeping his
senses to reason. Uncle Mich!"
my little girls done found her faith
er."
From his chair the gray boss smiled
content that the drama acted out Itself
without word from him.
'Ladeau done It," went on Michigan
He just put 1t all together when he
found that little cross and chain. tolc
him all l knew Of Aurelie, just as I've
told everybody. And he knew you'c
had a child down there. And he knew
this very little cross was given to hel
by some old woman-and then he tool
the whole story to Mr.. Tanner, ant
Tanner sent him south, and he found
the silversmith-and it was all true!
Mr.. Wiley, the same little girl 1 done
bring up-river was the same one they
put in the Holy Family Asylum-youl
little girl, Mr. Wiley!"
Still the father had no word. Thac
Tanner wiped his glasses. He sighed
II might have been sympathy for the
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