Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1922-07-21
wIyu CHAPTER ~. rsHTyT

A long time ErSkine S { m0ti0nlesS,
wondering what allied him., He had
never liked nor trnsted Grey; he be-
heved he would have trouble with him
some day, but he had other enemies
and he did not feel toward them as he
did toward this dandy mihcing up that
beautiful broad path. With q little
grunt he turned back along the path.
Firefy whinnied to him and nipped at
him with playful restlessness as
though eager to be on J IS way to the
barn, and he stood aw lille With one
arm across his saddle, Once he reached
upward to unite the reins, and with
another grunt strobe back and went
rapidly up the path. Grey and Barbara
had disappeared, but a tall youth who
sat behind one of the big pillars saw
him> coming and rose, bewildered, but
not for long. Each recognized the other
swiftly, and Hugh came with stiff
courtesy forward, Ersklne smiled:
"You don't know me?" Hugh
bowed:
"Quite we'll" The woodsman drew
himself up with quick breath--paling
without, flaming within-but before he
could speak there was quick step
and an astonished cry within the hall
and Harry sprang out.
'Ersklne! ErskineI" he shouted,
and he leaped down the steps with
both hands outStretched. "You here!
You-you old Indan-how did you get
here" He caught Erskine by both
hands and then fell to shaking him by
the shoulders "Where's your hOrse"
Ard then he noticed the boys pale
and embarrassed face and his eyes
shifting to Hugh, who stood, still cold,
still courteous, and he checked some
hot outburst at his lips.
"Tm glad you've come, and Pm glad
you've come right now'-where's your
horse?"
"I left him hitehed at the landing"
Erskine hadPto tanSwer, and Harry
looked puzzled:
"The landing! Why, what" He
wheeled and shouted to & darky:
"Put Master Ersldne's horse in the
barn and feed him." And he led Frs
kline within-to the same room where
he had slept before, and poured out
some water in bowl.
"Take your time," he said, and he
went back to the porch. Erskine could
hear and see him through the latticed
blinds.
"Hugh," said the lad In low, cold
voice, 81 am host here, and if you don't
like this you can take that path"
"You are right" was the answer;
"but you wait until Uncle Harry gets
home"
The matter was quite plain to Frs
kline within. The presence Of Dane
Grey made it plain, and as Erskine
dfppcd both hands into the cold water
he made up his mind TO an under
standing with that young gentleman
that would be complete and final. And
so he was ready when he and Harry
were on the porch again and Bar
bara and Grey emerged from the rose
bushes and came slowly up the path.
Harry looked worried, but Erskine sat
still. with faint smile at his mouth
and In his eyes. Barbara saw him
first and she did not rush forward.
Instead. she stopped, with wide eyes,
stIfled cry, and lifting one band to-
ward her heart. Grey saw'too, flushed
rather painfully, and calmed himself.
Erskine had sprung down The steps.
"Why, have 1 changed so much?" he
cried. "Hugh didn't seem to know HE,
either" His voice was gay, friendly,
even affectionate, but his eyes danced
with strange lights that puzzled the
girl
"Of course l knew yOu," she fall
tered pallng little, but gathering her.
self rather haughtily-a fact that Frs
kline seemed not TO notice. "I0u took
Inc by surprise and you have changed
but don't know how muCh.' The
significance of this too seemed to pass
Erskine by, for lie bent over Barbara's
hand and kissed it.
"Never to you, my dear cousin" he
said gallantly, and then he bowed to
Dane Grey, not offering 70 shake
hands.
"Of course l know Mr. Grey" To
say that the gentleman was dumfound-
ed Is to put it mildly-this wild Indian
playing the cOurter with exquisite i'm
pudence and doing II well! Harry
seemed like to burst with restrained
merriment, and Barbara was sorely
put to it to keep her poise. The great
dinner bell from behind the house
doomed its summons to the woods and
fields.
"Come on" called Harry. ~ imagine
you're hungry, cousin"
81 arn," said Ersklne. "Pve had
nothing to eat since-Since early
morn" BarDara's eyes flashed upward
and Grey was plainly startled. Was
there a slight stress on those two
words? Erskine's face was as express
sionless as bronze. Harry bad bolted
into the hail.: =. -
Mrs. Dale was Visiting down the
river; so Barbara s;It in her mothers
,,1ooo u.itb, Eh.clsfyfa m nor RIGHT Grey