Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1919-10-07

ais Yer Really Awake Agin, Honey?"
close beside me stood low stool,
supporting tin basin partially filled
with water. AS 1 moved became
consciors of a dull. pain in my left
shoulder, which also discovered to
be tightly bandaged. 1,4.-ss-~- d.,
i prcsume 1t was not long yet my
thoughts were so busy it seemed as ff
I must nave been Lying there undis-
turbed for. some time, before the door
opened quietly and 1 became aware
of another occupant Of the room. Pay
iug 10 attention to me, he crossed to
the fireplace, stirred the few srnolder-
ing cmbers into flame, placing upon
these some bits of dried wood, and
then idly watched rs they caught fire.
The newcomer was negro. gray
haired but still vigorous, evidently a
powerful fellow judging from his
breadth of shoulder, and possessing
a face denoting considerable intelli-
gence. Finally he Strengthened up
and faced me, his eyes widening with
interest as he caught mine fastened
upon him, his thick lips instantly part
ing In a good-natured grin.
'De good Lord be praisedw he
CALCULATED, in undisguised delight. SIS
yer really awake agin, honey? De
doctah say he done thought ye'd cum
round by terday sure, sah."
''The doctor?" I questioned In sur
prise, my voice sounding strange and
far away. "Have l been here longf"
"Goln' on bout ten days. sab. Yer
was powerful bad hurt an out O. yer
head, I reckon"
"What was it that happened? Did
someone shoot me?"
The negro scratched his head, shut.
fling his bare feet uneasily on the dirt
floor.
'Yas, sab, Mr.. Knox" he admitted
with reluctance. "Ts sure powerful
sorry, sab, but / was de boy whut
plugged yer. Yer see, sab, it dom
happened dls-a-way," and his black
face registered genuine distress.
"Thar's mean gang O. white folks
round yere thet's took 1t inter. their
heads ter lick every free niger, an
when yer done come up ter my door
in de middle oh de night, ia-cussin',
an a-threatenin' fer ter break in,
just nat'arlly didn't wanter be licked,
an'-an' so I blazed away. rs pow
erful sorry bout 1t now, sah."
"No doubt it was more my fault
than yours. You are free negro,
then?"
"Yas, sab. I done belong Onct ter
Colonul Silas Carlton. sab, but afore
he died, just because done saved his
boy frum drownin' in de ribber, de OF
colonul he set me free, an give me a
patch o. Ian ter raise corn on"
"What is your name?
"Pete, sar. Free Pete is whut mostly
de white folks call me-" He laughed
white teeth showing and the whites
of his eyes. "Yer see thar am a pow
erful lot O. Petes round bout yere
sah."
I drew a deep breath, conscious OF
weakness as I endeavored to change
position.
call right. Pete; now I want to un
derstand things clearly. You shot me
supposing 1 was making an assault
on you. Your bullet lodged in m!
shoulder. What happened then?"
"Well, after while, sab, thar wan
no NOR noise, an l reckOned I'd el
ther done hit yer er else ye'd rul
away. An thar We wus, sab, a-lyin
on yer back like ye wus dead. JUS
so soon as I saw We knOw'd Us hoV
We never was no nigger.hunter but
stranger in desc yere parts SO
dragged ye inside de cabin, an washet
up yer hurts. But We never got no bet
tab, so I got skeered, an went hoofp