Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1915-01-05

| Yes, joe" said Linda
| After Joe's departure I took a bool
and sat with it on the veranda, where
I was Joined in due course by Linde
and Mr.. Petersham.
Its cool here, the only cool spot ir
the place today" remarked Peter
sham.
"Yes, and don't the spruces smell
sweet?" said Linda. Joe cut them to
give me shade"
She pointed to a row Of tall saplings
propped against the rail Of the veran-
da so as to form a close screen.
Joe always thinks Of things fol
people," she added.
Petersham glanced from me to Lin
da. "If your headache is bad you had
better lie down in the house." he said
"It is ever 90 much better, but I'll
fetch some smelling salts"
1 was about to offer to bring them
for her when I caught her fathers
eye behind her back and remained
where I was AS soon as she had gone
in Petersham stepped up to me and
whispered:
ITO give her shade" he repeated.
I looked around and nodded.
There is always shade here" he
went on. '"The sun can't get In
through the pines on this side. The
wood is thickest here"
That's true" I agreed. looking at
the close grown jumpers that stood In
front of us. Joe stacked these sap
lings against the rail for some other
reason"
"Of course. He knew that Linda
would very likely sit here, and he was
afraid"
Afraid? Of what?" said Linda
suddenly from behind US. mo one
could hurt me here. Why, 1 could
call for help and you are both here.
You could protect me-"
"Not against rifle bullet" said Pc
tersham. For my sake, go in, Linda!"
AS he said the words from far away
| came the sound Of shot. Distance
robbed it Of that acrimony with which
the modern rifle speaks, and 1t struck
a dull, even drowsy note upon the air
Of that languid afternoon Of late
spring.
What can that be?" cried Linda.
AS If In answer came the sullen far
off sound three times repeated, and
then. after an interval, a fourth.
"Shooting!" cried Linda again, very
white, her blue eyes wide with terror.
"And it's from the direction Of Senlis
lake."
Ben! Ben Puttick cared Peter
sham.
But loud as was his voice, Linda's
call rose higher.
Here I ami" We heard Puttick's
voice from inside the house, and he
ran out minute later.
I'VE heard five shots from Senils
lake" said. I'VE must start at once,
you and I. Mr.. Petersham will stay
with Miss Linda.
Puttick looked me in the eyes.
"Are you tired Of your life?" he ask
ed grimly.
I'VE have no time to think of that.
Get ready!"
There were five Shots" Puttick
said deliberately. I heard 'em myself.
That means Joe's dead, If 1t was him
they shot at If we go We'll soon be
dead too"
"Oh, you coward" cried Linda.
Puttick turned dull red. I'm no
coward. Miss Linda, but I'm no fool.
I'm a woodsman. I know"
There's a good deal Of sense in
what Ben says" I put in. II think
his best place is here with you. He
shall stay to help you in case Of need.
I'll go and find Joe. After all. it's as
likely as not that he was firing or per-
haps some one else was firing at a
bear"
1 hastened forward at the best
pace I could attain until from a ris-
ing knoll 1 caught glimpse of Senils
lake. The forest path here rose and
fell in a series Of short steep inclines.
I labored up these little hills and ran
down the slopes. Suddenly I came to
turn and was about to rush down a
sharp dip when a voice, seemingly at
my side, said:
That you. Mr.. Quaritch?"
Joe! Where are you?"
"Here!"
l followed the voice and, parting
some branches saw Joe lying on the
ground. His face was gray under its
tan, and a smear Of blood had dried
upon his forehead and cheek.
You're wounded" I cried.
His second passed through the top
Of my shoulder"
His? Whose?"
Him that shot at me-"
| Did you shoot back?"
He lies about ten PAGES west O.
that small maple"
| You saw him?''
Hardly He had a black hat. l
| saw ii move after he fired his fourth,
and l shot back. If you'll give me
your arm, Mr.. Quaritch, We'll go up
| and take look at him."
With difficulty and with many paus-
es we reached the top of the little
| ridge. The dead man lay as Joe had
said, quite near the small maple. The
| bullet had entered his throat. He
was long haired, black bearded man
of medium size.
Joe leaned against the maple tree
and looked down at him.
Il seem to know the fellows face. "
| l said
Yes: you seen him the day we
come, cutting wood by the shack"
Now. Joe, lean on me, and We'll
try to make for home" for l saw he
was very weak.
Must just look around. Mr.. Qua
ritch. See here. He was smoking
his pipe. Look at the ashes-a regu-
lar handful of them. He must "a lain
for me all of a hour before / come
along Here's his rifle-a 3030. Won
| dor u-bo ba icop loo law hack Dant :