Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-09-19

not move. His eye was as steady as
Tanners own. But he twitched in.
wardly with the shock.
"You recall that?"
mo. 1 never knew of that-and 1t Is
lie!"
He had broken from his spell at last
He started forward with hot menace
Thad raised his hand deprecatingly
but his grin of triumph came. He had
made his boast good to the others thai
he would crush the editor.
There was" he went on laconically
"a child born on the third day of June
in hospital on Rampant street. We
have the name. The child was baptiz.
ed on the first of August. We have thai
name-the name Of the priest; it was
taken charge Of by an institution-we
have the name Of that institution. We
have the after history Of that child
we know its identity today. Do you fol-
low me, Mr.. Curran? Do you believe
me?"
mo"
L you ADMIT
II admit nothing except that my wife
died during the yellow fever when peo-
pie were rushing out Of the city.
wrote to ask of her-to this same Ma
dame Artois, you mention-yes. But
did not desert her-and there was no
child Of this union" 49,.
He spoke steadily again. Judge Van
Hart was studying him. They all were
watching. He had impressed them.
Even Old Thad nodded appreciatiyely.
Then he went on: well, we need not
quarrel on the issue. The point is that
we, as representatives of the party, of
the honorable men and good women of
the communicates the good name of
that communicates you to withdraw
from the congressional contest. 1t is
not pretty tale, Mr.. Curran, and we
have no desire to spread 1t broadcast.
Our people, you know how they detest
a double life-a concealment-a lapse
In personal morality-the honest whole
some sense of decency in our country
people" d" .r..t-
| Wiley had raised hand. Wait" he
retorted, what II do not deny the
matter?" 49,. . ... a.
There was a pause. Ransdell, Of the
Mercury Journal muttered. Boydston
glowered. They had been gibed so Of
ten by Wiley Curran that they had
glutted their imaginations with the pic
ture of him dumfounded, crushed to
earth. - ....
mot deny the matter?" Tanner
looked up sharply.
NO" -.. ..,.. .-...,
| "You dare admit it?" =sa
| II do not admit 1t. But, gentlemen,
will tell you this: You have called me
in here in secrecy and menaced me
with this story. You have called on me
to resign under threat Of this story.
And tell you-No!" ......... ,..,.....,
! He stepped nearer, his eyes flashing.
He struck the table before the county
chairman's face. -.....'.. ..
Go ahead with your story!" He
whirled on Ransdell Of the Mercury
Journal: Il know what YOU were
brought here for! Go on-spring that
damned story tomorrow in your sheet
scatter 1t over the county! And you"
he faced Boydston-"rve called you a
thief for six years, and you've never
had the nerve to come to my office and
tell me I'm a liar! And you, Cal Rice
"a poor dog who rattles his chain
when the boss speaksi And you, Judge
Van Hart, I'm surprised at you, good
man. Yes, a good mantle most pitt
able object in American life today-a
good man who stands for other mems
crookedness. You are all a pack of
blackmailing liars!"
| Ransdell was on his feet furiously.
Boydston growled hoarsely. Judge Van
Hart arose, paling to the lips. But
quicker than all. Thad Tanner was on
his feet and between them. e
Gentlemen! Be still! This heat
this Is uncalled fori"
| IT refuse to withdraw! call your
II
story of my life-all Of 1.-THE least Of
it. And with that story I'll go before
the people Of this district and say that
| was summoned here and blackmailed.
That you bought this story Of hound
and with it tried to force me out Of
public life. You, who profess to guard
the morals Of this community! I'll pub
lish today-press day-my story. 1t
shall have all your names-all your
SNUG respectable faces-and in 1t
fish way. Judge Van Hart hastily
reached for his hat. Gentlemen" he
gasped, I'VE were not summoned here
for this! I beg of you"-his voice fail
shall tell that you brought me here and
| for a consideration, agreed to hush up
this villainous awful past Of mine-you
the Best People, tried to force and
bribe me out Of politics! That shall
be my story"
Cal Rice, of the Presbyterian church,
muttered. Boydston moved In a jelly
ed him-"let me withdraw-let me
withdraw"
Currans grim smile was on him.
Your honor, it is no place for you"
"A moment" Thad raped the table.
Let us have this clear. You refuse to
withdraw"
II do. Tell your story! I'll tell mine.
Yes, tonight-at my meeting-here
among my home people. Let any man
Of you arise tonight and accuse me
I'll admit it! And by God, I'll ask the
people what manner Of men you are.
I'll appeal to them-their sympathy,
their hearts, their reason-with just a
story of my youth-a story that might
have been any mans! The people-the
great, honest heart of the people!"
Thad was smiling coldly. But Gu
rious admiration was in his eyes. He
lifted his hand. Gentlemen, he defies
us,"
Il defy you!"
The little gray boss smiled on. Cal
Rice was wringing his hands. Boyd