Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1922-08-08

derS, fort. He round tile haru Guys
of want over There was not only
corn In plenty but wheat, potatoes,
pumpkins, turnlps, melons Game was
plentiful, and cattle, horses, and hogs
had multiplied on cane and buffalo
clover. Indeed, II was comparative
ly peaceful fall, and though Clark
pleaded with him, Erskine stubbornly
set his face for Virginia.
AT Williamsburg Erskine learned
many things. Colonel Dale, now a
general, was still with Washington and
Harry was with him. Hugh was with
the Virginia militia ard Dave with
Lafayetts, - y i'<. ~
Tarleton.s legion of rangers In their
white uniforms were scourging Vir-
glnia as they had scourged the Car
o!inas. Through the James. River
country they had gone with fire and
sword, burning houses, carrying OF
horses, destroying crops, burning gfaln
In the. mills, laying plnntationsH to
waste, Bar5ara's mother wac dead.
Her neighbors. had moved to safety,
but Barbara, he heard, still lived with
old NANNY and Ephraim at Red Oaks,
unless that, too, had been recer tly
put to the torch. Where, then, wOdld
he find her? .
Down the river Erskine rode with q
sod heart. At the place where he
had. fought with Grey he pulled Fire
fly to sudden halt. There was the
boundary of Red Oaks and there
started a desolation that ran Ss far
as his eye could reach. Red Oaks
hadyn been spared, and he put Fire
fly to fast gallop, with eyes strained
far ahead and his heart beating with
agonized forebodmg and savage rage.
Soon over q distant clQmp Of trees
he could see the chimneys Of Bar
bara's home-his home he thought
helplessly-and perhaps those Chin
neys were all that was left. O And
then he saw. the roof and the upper
windows and the cap sof the big col
umns unharmed, untouched, and he
pulled Flrehy in again, with over
whelming relief, and wondered at the
miracle. Again he started and again
pulled in when he caught sight of
three horses, hitched near the stiles.
Turning quickly from the road, he
hid Firefy In the underbrush.' Very
quietly he slipped along tine path by
the river, and, pushing aside through
h,,c Ae los
seen he could peer through the closely
matted hedge. He had not long to
wait. A white uniform issued from
the great hall door and another and
another-and after them Barbara
smiling. The boys blood ran hot
smiling at her enemies. Two officers
bowed, Barbara courtesied and they
wheeled on their heels and descended
the steps. The third stayed behind
moment, bowed over her hand and
kissed it. The watchers blood turned
then to liquid fire. Great God. at
what price was that noble OLD house
left standing? Grimly. swiftly Er-
sklne turned, sliding through the
bushes like q snake to the edge Of
the road along which they must pass.
He would fight the three, for his life
was worth nothing now. He heard
them laughing, talking at the stiles.
He heard them speak Barbaras
name, and two seemed TO be banter
ing the third, whose answering laugh
seemed acquiescent and triumphant.
They were coming now. The boy had
his pistols out, primed and cooked.
He was. rising on his knees, just about
to leap to his feet and out into the
road, when he fell back into q
startled, paralyzed, inactive heap.
GlimpSed through an opening in the
bushes, the leading trooper in the uni
form Of Tarleton's legion was none
other than Dane Grey, and ErskiDes
brain had worked quicker: than his
angry heart. This was d mystery
that must be solved before his pistols
spoke. He rose crouChing as the
troopers rode away. If Tarletons
men were around he would better
leave Firefy where he wass in the
"OOuS -IoF Willie. ~ Sldtlitu SuSp
behind him made him wheel pistol
once more in hand, to find negro,
mouth wide open ahd staring at him
from the rOad.e
"Marse Erskine!" he gasped. 1t
was Ephraim, the boy who had led
BarbaN's white ponies out long, long
ago, now tall, muscular lad with
an ebony face and dazzling teeth.
"Whut you doln hyeh, subj Whar'
yo' hoss? Gawd, Use 'sutnly glad to
see yuh." Erskipe pointed to an oak.
"Right by that tree. Put him in
the, stable and feed him"
The negro shook his head.
mo, sub. I'll take lie feed down
to him. Too many reicoats messin'
round heah. You bettah go In de back
day-dey might see yuh.'
wasn't one Of those soldiers who
just rode away Mr. Dane Grey?"
The negro hesitated.
"Yassuh."
"What's he doing in q British uni
form?"t ..sr r..
Tho hOy shifted his great shoulders