Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1919-10-03

ulastraedby byAsnnM Mgess
PICK up the bo1y, and carry it to Beau.
caire's stateroom-forward there. The
rest Of you better straighten up the
cabin, while I 60 up and talk. with
Throckmorton a, moment. After that
may want few Of you to so along
when I hunt up, Kirby. If he proves
ugly We'll know how to handle him
McAfee" ~
'Tm over here"
'T was just going to say that you
better stay, here, and keep the fellows
all quiet in the cabin. We don't want
our plan to leak out, and it will be
best to let Kirby and Carver think that
everything Is all right; that nothing is
going to be DONE"
I waited while several OF them
gently picked up the body, and bore II
forward into the shadows. slipped
away, silently gained the door, and
unobserved, emerged onto the deserted
deck without. The sudden change in
environment sobered me, and caused
me to pause and seriously consider the
Importance Of my mission. Nothing
less potent than either fear, or force
would ever make Kirby disgorge
Quite evidently the gambler had delib-
erately set out to ruin the planter, to
rob him of every dollar. Even at the
last moment he had coldly insisted on
receiving bill of sale so worded as: to
leave no possible loophole. He de-
manded all. The death of the judge,
Of course, had not been contemplated
but this in no wayNchanged the result
That was an accident, yet / imagined
might not be altogether unwelcome,
/ and could not rid my memory Of that
shining weapon in Kirby's hand, or the
thought that he would have used II
had the need arose. Would he not
then fight just as fiercely to keep, as
he had to gain? Indeed, I had but
one fact upon which might hope to
base action--every watcher believed
those cards had been stacked, and that
Beaucaire was robbed by means of a
trick. Yet, could this be proveni
Would any one of those men actually
swear that he had seen a suspicious
move? If not, then what was there
left me except a mere bluff? Abso.
lutely nothing.
Unarmed, never once dreaming Of
attack, I advanced alone along the
dark, narrow strip Of deck, leading
toward the ladder which mounted TO
the wheelhouse. There were no lights,
and was practically compelled to feel
my way by keeping one hand upon the
rail. I had reached the foot of the
ladder, my fingers blindly seeking the
iron rungsin the gloom, when a figure,
vague, suddenly emerged from some
denser shadow and confronted me. In.
deed the earliest realization I had OF
any other presence was a sharp pres.
sure against my breast, and low
voice breathing menacing threat In
my ear.
II advise you not to move, you
young fool. This is cooked pistol
tickling your ribs. Where were you
going?"
. The black night yelled his face, but
language and voice, in spite Of its low
grumble, told me the speaker was
Kirby. The very coldness of his tone
served to send chill through nae.
ITO have a word with Throckmor.
ton," I answered, angered at my own
fear, and rendered reckless by that
burst of passion. "What do you mean
by your threat? Haven't you robbed
enough men already with cards with.
out resorting to gun?"
"This is not robbery" and I knew
by the sharpness of his reply my words
had stung, "and 1t might be well for
you to keep civil tongue in your
head. I overheard what you said to
those men in the cabin. So you are
going to take care Of me, are your
There was a touch Of steel in the low
voice. "Now listen, you brainless med
dler. Joe Kirby knows exactly what
he is doing when he plays any game.
/ had nothing to do with Beaucaire's
deathA but those stakes are mine. I
hold them, and will 'kill'any man VINO
dares to interfere with me-"
Z. "You mean you refuse to return any
Of this property?"
"Every cent, every niger, every
acre-.that's my business. Beaucaire
was no child; Ee knew what he was
betting, and he lost"
That may be true. Kirby. I am
not defending his action, but surely
this is no reason, now that he is dead.
why you should not show some degree
of mercy to others totally innocent of
NA :. nEH