The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1915-07-15
A Case of
Blacknail
Bv SADIE OLCOTT

Pietro Caracali was delberating on
a plan to extort money by sending
threatening letter to some one who
could afford to hand over the cash to
avoid trouble, when chance gave him
q fine opportunity. He was walking
past the estate of the HethrinStons
one night about II o'clock when he
espied light flash among the trees
within the inclosure.
Pietro was Of an enterprislnS turn
of mind, arguing that one can never
tell when a secret may be picked up
which may be turned into money. The
fash had revealed to him something
that he had not expected to see at
that time of night in a rich mans
grounds-namely, a gentleman carry
ing q small oblOng box under his arm.
Moreover, PietrO got a glimpse or
lady moving beside the gentleman.
Both were young, and the lady was
beautiful.
Pietro climbed the fence with the
agility of youth and, creeping through
such plants as adorn gentlemens es-
tates, made his way toward the cou-
pie, who were moving to a rear cor
ner of the grounds.
Pietro did not need to be the adept
he was at theorizing to feel sure that
this young couple were going to bury
the body of a child contained In the
box they had with them. If the little
one had died without mystery there
would have been no need Of their In
terring it at this time Of night and In
this secret manner. Stealthily he fol-
lowed the couple, who stopped at an
open space in the shrubbery. The man
dug a grave and, having put the box
in it, shoveled in the earth and smooth
ed the surface, while the lady, holding
the lantern, stood by, a picture OF mel
ancholy. A big dog stood by the lady,
viewing the burial with evident inter-
est. When it was finished and the
couple were about to return to the
house the dog pricked up his ears and
gave q low growL Pietro beat hasty
retreat The dog dashed toward him,
and Pietro got over the fence just In
time to save himself from pair OF
powerful jaws.
Pietro believed that he had a valua-
BILE secret. IL he was right In his in
ference that the body Of child had
been buried those who had Inferred 1t
would undoubtedly give a large sum
for the preservation Of the secret
Pietro was a methodical rascal and
would have visited the grave, dug up
the box and assured himself of the
truth of his inference, but he had q
wholesome dread Of the dogs jaws.
To go there in the daytime was I'M
practicable, and at night the dog was
unloosed and permitted to roam over
the grounds.
Pietro thought of going to the house
and making inquiries Of the servants
that would help him in determining
what the secret burial meant, but he
was farseeing and looked forward to
possible future arrest, in which case
to be identified as having prowled
around the place, the denizens OF which
he proposed to bleed, would prove a
great disadvantage to him. He deter
mined to proceed on the theory that
there was something to be concealed.
He learned the name Of the owners
of the place, then wrote note men-
honing what he had seen and Offering
to keep the secret on payment OF $o,-
600, giving an assumed name to be
addressed at the general delivery OF
the postoffice. In a weeks time he re-
ceived a note written in a feminine
hand imploring him not to divulge
what he had witnessed. The money
to pay for his silence was being got
together, and as soon as 1t was ready
he would be notified.
A fortnight later, not having heard
anything further in the matter, he
wrote again, demanding immediate
payment or the police would be noti-
fed that crime had been covered up.
To this he received a reply that $4,000
Of ready money had been raised and
would be tprned over to him in any
manner That he might designate.
Each year for four years $500 would
be paid him provided the secret was
kept.
This looked to Pietro like a bona
hde offer. He had not thought that
the parties would likely provide against
being called on for blackmail In future.
He accepted the proposition and ap-
pointed a meeting at certain day
and hour at a street corner near the
scene of the burial to receive his first
payment. He would wear a brown
suit and would carry book In his
left hand. ANY attempt at treachery
would result in the death Of his would
be captor.
At the time appointed man appear
ed on the scene and, seeing another In
q brown suit and book in his hand,
asked him if he were the party to be
paid for keeping a secret Pietro ad-
mitted that he was, and the other put