Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1914-04-10

7 ~
when he accepted the first favors, but
later the open selling of mems souls
began to disgust him. When Cargan
offered him the place of prosecutor a
few months ago Drayton assured him
that he would keep his oath of office.
1t was in me, remember he went
on, that Drayton confided his resolve
to serve the public. / was delighted
at the news. A few weeks ago he in
formed me his first opportunity was
at hand. Through one of the men in
his office he had learned that Hay
den Of the Suburban Electric was
| seeking to consolidate that road, which
had fallen into partial disrepute under
his management during the illness OF
Thornhill, the president, with the Civ
| ic. The consolidation would raise the
value Of the Suburban nearly two mil
lion dollars-at the public's expense.
Hayden had seen Cargan. Cargan
had drafted ordinance No. As and in
formed Hayden that his price for
passing it through the council would
be the sum you have juggled in your
possession on Baldpate mountain
5000, ,OOO."
"A mere trifie," remarked Magee
|sarcastically
so Cargan made Hayden see.
Through long experience in these
matters the mayor has become, care
less. He is the thing above the law,
lif not the law itself. He would have
had no fear in accepting this money
on Main street at midday. He had no
fear when he came here and found
he was being spied on.
But Hayden-there was the diff
Guilty that began the drama Of Bald
pate inn. Hayden had few scruples;
but, as events tonight have well prov
ed, Mr. Magee, he was a coward at
heart. l do not know just why he
lies on your bed upstairs at this mo-
ment a suicide. That is a matter be-
tween Kendrick and him and one
which Kendrick himself has not yet
fathpmed. AS 1 say, Hayden was
afr1id Of being caught. Andy Rut-
ter manager of Baldpate inn for the
last few summers, is in some way
mixed up in the Suburban. 1t was he
who suggested to Hayden that an alb
solutely secluded spot for passing
this large sum of money would be the
inn. The idea appealed to Hayden.
Cargan tried to laugh him out Of It.
The mayor did not relish the thought
of visit to Baldpate mountain In the
dead Of winter, particularly as he con-
sidered such precautions unnecessary.
But Hayden was firm. This spot he
pointed out, was ideal, and the mayor
at last laughingly gave in. The sum
involved was well worth taking a lit
tie trouble to gain"
Professor Bolton paused and blink
ed his dim old eyes.
80 the matter was arranged" he
continued. "Mr. Bland, a clerk In
Hayden's employ, was sent up here
with the money, which he placed in
the safe on the very night Of our ar
rival. The safe had been left open by
Rutter. Bland did not have the COM
|bination. Ha- nut the package inside.
swung shut the door and waited the
arrival of the mayor"
II was present" smiled Magee, lat
the ceremony you mention"
Yes? All these plans, as I have
said, were known to Drayton. few
nights ago he came to me. He wanted
to send an emissary to Baldpate-a
man whom Cargan had never met
one who could perhaps keep up the
pretense Of being here for osme other
reason than connection with the
bribe. He asked me to undertake the
mission, to see all 1 could and IL
possible TO secure the package OF
money. This last seemed hardly like
Ily. At any rate, l was to gather all
the evidence l could. l hesitated.
IT had loudly proclaimed my cham
pionship of civic virtue, however, and
here was a chance to serve Reuton. /
lacuuiesced. The day I was to start up
here poor Kendrick came back. He,
| too, had been q student Of mine, a
friend of both Drayton and Hayden.
Seven years ago he and Hayden were
running the Suburban together under
lThornhill's direction. The two young
men became mixed up in rather
shady business deal, which was more
of Hayden's weaving than Hendricks.
HAYDEN came to Kendrick with the
story that they were about to be
found out and suggested that one as
sumo the blame and go away. 1 am
telling you all this in confidence as
friend of my friends, the Bentleys, and
young man whom I like and trust
despite your momentary madness in
the matter Of yellow locks. We are
all susceptible.
"Kendrick went. For seven years
he stayed away in an impossible tropic
town, believing himself sought by the
law, for so Hayden wrote him. Not
long ago he discovered that the mat
ter in which he and Hayden had Of
Tended had never been disclosed after
| all. He hurried back to the states.
You can imagine his bitterness. He
had ben engaged to Myra Thornhill'
and the fact that Hayden was also in
love with her may have had some
thing to do with his treachery to his
friend"
(To be Continued)