Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1921-09-13

| basin. G0n had returned 10 the ISL
Pine Mountain country only that da!
and he knew nbthingabf the plans %
the Ball-Torrey faction until he wit
MESSED the mockery Of trial. Gof
was now crouching in the darkness OF
the low line of cliffs to the eastward
from the walnut tree; and not fal
behind him, we'll hidden In the blacl
laurels, watching him and watching
Bill Dale, crouched BY Heck.
Dale's guardian had not gone 70,
help, because he feared to leave Dal,
utterly unprotected in the hands q
the gang of cutthroats. He believed
that he could rescue Dale himself
When the first watch became little
more drowsy, he would steal up be
hind the tree and cut the cotton rope
Then he realized that Golf had dis
appeared entirely. He crept forward
silently, his eyes alert, and a moment
later he saw Goff stealing toward the
walnut tree. He climbed poIselessly
down over the face Of the cliff and
followed Goa like shadow. When
Goff's hands touched the tree, By Heck
was within ten feet Of It. Heck made
sure his rife was ready and took an
other step forward, watching, listen
ing.
The shyster coal man leaned around
the tree to the left. In the glow OF
the low-burned fire the blade Of a
small knife In his hand CLEANED dull
red. He whispered cautiously:
"Youre In a fix, Dale. And It's
none Of my doing, either. Give me
your word that I'll get that coal prop
erty for fifteen thousand, and III slash
the rope. How about It? Sick OF
this country, aren't your"
There came few seconds Of silence
save for the lusty snoring of the sleep
ers and the musical tinkle Of the little
creek, after which Goff muttered dis
appointedly!
"Well, then, hang!"
And Heck knew that Dale had re-
fused to sell the Moreland coal for
song even to save his life. AS Gof
stepped backward, the muzze OF the
tall hillman's rifle went against the
small Of his back, and the tall hillman
whispered hoarsely, through teeth
tightly clenched:
"Sash at rope, d--n yOre soul
Slash at rope. or ] wisht may drap
dead eff ] don't shoot yore backbone
into four thousand pieces igOd Slash
itw
Goff Strengthened in surprise. The
rifles munzle went harder against his
back and he knew 1t for exactly what
It was. He moved hand upward,
then downward and the cotton rope
was severed In half dozen places.
"Stiddy thar, noww whispered BY
Heck, and he began to back away
Come along WI me, We dadSlatted.
banjer.belled skunk. Bill he'll foller."
The three Of them hurried into the
deeper shadows. Soon Heck halted
Goff and turned to Dale.
"S'arch him fo' a gun, Bill, old boy"
Dale lifted from Henderson Goffs
right.hand coat-pocket q blued and
Stub-noSed magazine pistol.
"Dang my eyes and blast my for
rardm Heck exclaimed in q mufiled
voice. Hes plumb death on them
little popguns, amt he? Say, Goff
ef ever We shoots me with thing like
that and find 1t out, DANCED ef don't
spank ye ontel yore nose bloods; Now,
les 60, you'uns. And ef We jest cheep
out noise, Mister Goff, the buzzardS
will pick the meat often yore bones
afore tomorrer night"
"Move, shyster" frowned Bill
Dale.
BY Heck led the way to the line Of
cliffs to the westward. They had
climbed the rugged wall and were
about to set out through the pitchy
dark woodland, when a voice that
they knew well hailed them softly
from the laurels to their left:
Hold on, thar"
"John Moreland, by jiggers" NUT.
| tered Heck.
Moreland hastened soundlcsSly to
them. 81 reckon We didn't mean no
harm, By" he said In tones that OK
pressed a deep regret, "but yit shore
wlsht We hadn't ha' done It,"
Samuel Heck was very proud OF
himself. He Strengthened there in the
! darkness.
"Whatn the name O. the devil makes
We wiSht sech thing as that, John!'
he demanded in a half angry voice.
"Cause," growled the big hilman,
"yoV went and spilled HI out O the
main big picnic. We meant to wipe
out all O. them thar lowdown Balls
and Torreys, By. When they went to
hang Bill Dale in the mornin', we'd ha
had good reason fo' a-killin' 'em every
onc-the weasels! Ye see, BY, every
man Moreiand but Caleb, and every
man O. the Littlefords, is hid here III
these laurelS, and has been ever sense
that thar fool trial begun. We was
Jest a-waitin'. How did we happen
to know 1t?
"Ats easy, BY. Me and Ben Lit
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