Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1919-11-07

@Tim'S good fellow, an L never saw
MIN SO blame drunk afore," he said, re-
gretfulIy. "He an Kirby he'd row,
an 1 reckon thet's whut started him
drinkin'." '.."
"a row; q quarrel, you mean" for
getting myself in surprise. "Who's
Kirby?" p. .4-- To-.
"Joe Kirby; yer sure must know him
if yer river man. Slim sorter feller,
with smooth face; slickest gambler
ever wus, reckon" ..
"Why, Of course" getting control Of
myself once more. "We picked him
up, long with Fin, down river. He'd
two women with 'em, didn't theyf
runaway niggers"
tRale winked facetiously, evidently
rather proud of the exploit as It had
been related to him.
"Wal,. ther way I understan', they
want both of 'em niggers; however,
that was the story told on board. This
yere Joe Kirby is pretty slick, la me
tell you. One of 'em's white gurl,
who just pretended she wus q niger.
I reckon thet even Kirby didn't catch
on ter her game at furst; an when he
did he,wus too blame smart ter ever
let her know. She don't think he
knows yet, but she's. liable fer ter find
out mighty s0on." .- .... e.. ..
"But he cannot hold white wom-
an" I protested stoutly.
"Can't, hoy! Wal, 1 reckon there
are ways O. even doin' tibet, an If thar
be. Kirby'll find it. reckon she won't
find no chance ter raise holler fore
he's got her tied good an strong"
'Do you mean," / asked, Mortified,
"that he will compel her to marry
him?"
"Sum smart little guesser, amt yer?
reckon she's in a right smart way ter
do II, ct thet."
"And wus this the cause of the quar-.
rel between Kirby and Kennedy?"
"Wal, l. reckon it wus; leastwise
Tim wudn't be mixed up in the affair
none. They he'd it prutty blame hot,
an reckon thar'd bin a dead deputy
If hedn't bin fer me. Tim thought
wus prutty gud frien' an cum over
ycrc ter liquor, an eat. Their joke ov
1t is, he never know'd thet Joe he'd told
me all bout the fix he wuz In, afore
we cum ashore. H, It wus all fixed
I'D whut wus ter be done-only we
didn't expect the steamer wus gGin' on
north. Thar's sum boys want!n' a
drink; see yer agin."
I finished shaving, making no at.
tempt to hurry, busily thinking over
this new situation. In the first place
why had Rale told me all this? I felt
convinced the man had some purpose
in his conversation, and that he had
not finished all he intended TO say,
when the entrance of customers COM
PEELED his return to the bar. His part
ing words implied that. Perhaps the
revolt of the deputy made it necessary
for the conspirators to select another
helper to properly carry out their ne
farious scheme, and Rale had decided
that I might answer. 1 hoped this
might prove, the explanation and de.
termined to seek the earliest oppor.
tunity to impress upon that individual
the fact that / was desperately in
need of money, and decidedly indiffer.
ent as to how it was obtained.
The two soldiers, whose entrance
had interrupted our talk, remained at
the bar drinking until after had
completed my toilet, and were still
there listening to a story Rale was
telling when the siatternly white wom'
an announced that supper was ready
70 serve. Tim slept soundly, while the
other men remained engrossed in their
game Of cards. Rale glanced about
at these as though to reassure him
self that they were intent on their
play then, removing his apron, he
crossed the room and drew up chair
opposite me.
Gall right, SAL" he grunted shortly
'Bring on whut yer got"
He remained silent, staring moodily
at the fire, until after the woman had
spread out the dishes on the table be.
fore him. Then his eyes fell upon the
fare.
mice looking mess that" he
grOwled, surveying the repast with un'
disguised disgust. "No wonder we
don't do no business with tibet kind oV
q cook. No, yer needn't stay-go an
make up them beds in the other room.
I'll watch things yere."
I judged the fellow had come over
intending to resume our interrupted
conversation, but hardly knew what
he had best venture. decided to give
him lead.
81 amt got no money, myself" be.
gan to explain, apologetically, "but
Tim thar sed he'd pay my BILL"
"Sure, that's all right; I amt wor-
ryin' none. Maybe might put yer in
an easy way O. gettin' hold O. a little
coin--thet is if ye amt too blame per-
ticular."
"Me" l laughed. "Well, I reckon
I don't aim fer ter be tibet. I've bin
ten years knockin' bout between New
Orleans an Saint Louee, steamboatin'
mostly. Thet sort O. thing don't make