Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1921-01-07
gram he would have guessed Maloney

mind proper, Miss Cullison, ! expect
any of the boys will be glad to escort
you back to the house." Kite suggested
with an acid smile. -...
"What have you got to do with
this?" she famed. "Our boys took
him. They brought him here as their
prisoner. Do you think we'll let you
come over into this county and die,
tate everything we. do?" ....a .... ....
give got notion tucked away that
you're trying to do the debating your
own SELF" the Bar Double NJ man con-
tradicted. ...
"I'm not. But 1 won't stand by
while you get these boys to do mur,
der"
Kite laughed sarcastically. "You
hear your boss, boys"
"You've had yore say now, Miss
Kate. I reckon you better say good,
night" advised Buck. =
She handed Buck and his friends her
compliments in q swift flow Of femi.
nine ferocity..
Maloney pushed into the circle
"She's dead right, boys. There's moth
ing to this lynchlng game. He's only
kid" ,,..
d. The tide Of opinion was shifting
Those who had been worked up to the
lynching by the arguments of Bonfils
\ began to resent his activity. Flandrau
was their prisoner, wasn't he? No
use going off half-colked. Some of
them were discovering that they were
not half so anxious to hang him as
. they had supposed.
The girl turned to her friends and
neighbors. II oughtn't to have talked
to you that way, but you know how
worried I am about dad" she apollo
eized with catch in her breath. I'm
sure you didn't think or you would
never have done anything to trouble
me more just now. You know l didn't
half mean it,. She looked from one
to another. her eyes, shiny with tears.
81 know that no braver. or kinder men
live than you. Why, you're my folks.
I've been brought up among you. And
so you've got to forgive me-"
Some said "Sure," others. told her to
forget it, and one grass widower drew
q laugh by saying that her little spiel
reminded him of happier days.
"rm so glad you've changed your
minds. I knew you would when YOU
thought it over" she told them chat
tily and confidentially. ...gy
She was taking their assent for
granted. Now she waited. and gnrc
them a chance to chorus their agree.
ment. None Of them spoke except Ma
.onev. Kost of them we're with her In
sympathy but none wanted to be. first
,E giving way.
She looked around from, enc TO nm
other, still cheerful and sure of her
ground apparently. Two steps brought
her directly in front of one. She
caught him ny the lapels of his coat
and looket>straight into his eyes. You
have changed your mind, haven't you,
Jake?
The big Missourian twisted his hat
in embarrassment.
"Sura. WEatever's right suits me-"
"Well, you know what is right, don't
you?"
81 expect
"Then YOU won't hurt this man. our
prisoner"
ST haven't q thing against him if you
haven't"
"rhcn You won't hurt him? You
won't stand Ivy and let the other boys
do it?'
"Now, Miss Kate"
She burst into sudden tears. VI
thought you were my friend, but now
I'm in trouble you-you think only Of
making it worse"
Jake gave in Immediately and the
rest followed like Il flock Of sheep.
Two or three of the promises came
hard, but she did not stop till each
one individually had pledged, himself.
The young man she had saved could
not keep his eyes from her He would
have liked to kneel down and kiss the
edge of her dress and put his curly
head in the dust before her. The ice
in his heart had melted. In the warmth
of a great emotion. She was standing
close to him talking to Buck when he
smoke in q low voice.
II reckon can't tell you-how much
I'm obliged to you, miss:
She drew back quickly as if he had
been a snake about to strike, be" hand
instinctiyely gathering her skirts so
that they would not brush against him.
II dent want your thanks" snc told
him, and her voice was like the drench
of an icy wave.
But when she saw the hurt in his
eyes she hesitated. Perhaps she
guessed that he was human after ALL
for an impulse carried her forward to
take the rope from his neck. While
his heart beat twice her soft fingers
touched his throat and graZed his
cheek. Then she turned pnd was gone
! from the room.
1t was long time before the bunk.
house quieted. Curly faint with wehri-