Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1914-04-17
ESTABLISHED 1865.
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CHAPTER XXI.
a" Wanted Most-to Die

tradition. 1 smoked cigarettes and
drank what passed for rum on the
balcony of an impossible hotel, and
otherwise groped about for the path
that leads to the devil. After year
wrote to Hayden. He answered, urg-
ing me to stay away. He intimated
that the thing we had done was on
my shoulders. was ashamed, fright
fully unhappy. didn't dare write to
her. I had disgraced her. 1 asked
Hayden about her, and he wrote back
that she was shortly to marry him.
After that didn't want to come back
to Reuton. l wanted most-to die.
THE years crept by on the balcony
of that impossible hotel. Six Of them.
At last, a few months ago, wrote to
another college friend Of mine Dray-
ton, and told him the whole story.
did not know that he had been elected
prosecutor in Reuton. He answered
with kind, plying letter, and finally
knew the horrible truth. Nothing
had ever happened. The thing we had
done had never been discovered. Hay
den had lied. He had even lied about
his engagement to Myra Thornhill.
There, he had made reality out OF
what was simply his great desire-1
came north. What happened after,
you know as well as l."
"Yes, 1 think So" agreed Mr.. Ma
gee softly.
IT have told you the whole story"
Kendrick replied, and yet it seems
to me that still it is not all told. Why
should Hayden have killed himself.
He had lied to me, it is true, but life
was always sweet to him, and it hard
ly seems to me that he was the sort
to die simply because his falsehood
was discovered. Was there some 9TH
er act of cruelty-some side to the
story of which we are none of US
aware? 1 wonder"
He was silent a moment.
Anyhow, 1 have told you all 1
know" he said. Shall 1 tell it also
to the coroner? Or shall we allow
Hayden's suicide to pass as the result
Of his implication in this attempt at
bribery? 1 ask your advice, Mr.. Ma
gee"
my advice" returned Magee, "is
that you befuddle no pompous little
village doctor with the complication
OF this unhappy tale. No. let the story
be that Hayden killed himself as the
tolls closed in on him-the tolls OF
the law that Furnishes the bribe giver
now and then and occasionally. Mr..
Kendrick, you have my deepest SYM
pathy. Is it too much for me to
hope"-he glanced across the room to
where Myra Thornhill sat beside the
professor-''that the best Of your life
is yet to come that out of the wreck
this man made of it, you may yet be
happy?"
Kendrick smiled.
You are very kind" he said. Eyes,
Miss Thornhill has waited for me all
these years-waited, believing. 1t is
a loyalty of which l cannot speak
without-you understand. She knows
why went away-why / stayed away.
She is still ready to marry me. shall
go again into the Suburban office and
try to lift the road from the muck
into which it has fallen. Yes, it is not
too much for me to hope-and for
you in your kindness-that a great
happiness is still for me-"
Believe me, I'm glad" replied Ma
gee with youthful enthusiasm, holding
out his hand. I'm sorry 1 spoiled
your little game up here, but
Il understand" smiled Kendrick. Il
think none the less Of you for what you
have done. And who knows? 1t may
turn out to have been the wisest course
after all"
All, would it? Mr.. Magee walked to
the window, pondering on the odd tan
gle of events that had not yet been
completely Strengthened out. Certainly
her eyes were an honest blue as we'll
as beautiful-but who was she?
Where was she? The great figure Of
Mrs. Norton stirred restlessly near at
hand: the puffed Ids of her eyes open
ed.
Mr.. Magee," she said when she had
made out his figure by the window,
you've been a true friend as / might
say, to a couple of mad females who
ought to have been at home by their
one more favor of you. Find out when
the next train goes to Reuton. and see
that I'm d, the station an hour or two
before it pulls out"
"Ill do that, Mrs. Norton smiled
Magee. by the way, is Norton the
name?"
Yes" answered the woman, that's
my name. OF course it amt hers. /
can't tell that"
No matter" said Mr.. Magee. She'll
probably change it soon. Can't you
tell me something about her-just a
tiny bit of information-just a picture
of where she is now and what she's
doing with that small fortune l gave
herr"
Where is she nCw?" repeated Mrs.
Norton. She's home and in bed in
my second floor front unless she's gone
clear crazy. And that's where | wish
/ was this minute-in bed-thOugh it's
a question in my mind if I'll ever be
able to sleep again what with the up
roar and confusion my house is prob
ably in by this time. leaving it in
charge Of a scatter Drained girl
Why did you Gomez" prodded Mr..
Magee. Why did you leave your
house on this strange mission"
THE Lord knows" replied the wom-
an. Il certainly never intended to,
but she begged and pleaded. and tn"
first thing | knew | was on a train.
She has winning ways, that girl. May
be you've noticed?"
Il have" assented Billy Magee.
Il thought so. No. Mr.. Magee, |
can't tell you nothing about her !
amt allowed to, even you that has
been so kind. She made me promise.
He'll know soon enough she kept