The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-09-06
CHAPTER III.
MORE VILLAIN Y.

Captain Hiley, verify believing that Ally
was drowned, went ashore to inform Colonel
Nichols of the fact He found the Colonel
lust coming from Mrs. Testers cottage, where
he had gone an hour before, and stunned
Amy by informing her that Ally Bell, her
lover and hero, was being carried off to sea
in the Quickstep and that she would never
see him again.
The Colonel heard Hileys story about
Allys disappearance with breathless interest
as they walked along the beach, after which
the two villains congratulated themselves
upon the boy being thus completely taken
out Of their path.
While thus discussing the matter they heard
the sound of oars, and soon saw boat ap-
preaching the shore opposite a cottage be-
longing to an old retired sailor named Nicholas
Collins, which was situated at the foot of Mrs.
Testers garden. In the boat was man, and
along with him was female, sobbing con-
vusively. Colonel Nichols, with surprise
and alarm, recognized the voice of the weeper
as that of Amy Lester. She and her COM
panion left the boat and entered the cottage,
from the windows of which a light soon
shone. Colonel Nichols and Captain Hiley
crept beneath window to spy and listen
They soon learned that Collins had rowed
Amy off to the brig in search of Ally, and
that she had there heard of his attempt to
escape and his consequent death by drowning.
Amy was vehement in her denunciations of
Colonel Nichols, and declared that If Ally was
really dead, she would raise the whole country
against his uncle, who had compassed his
death.
On attempting to rise to go home, Amy
found she was too weak to walk, and sent
| Collins tor her mother to come to her. As
soon as the old sailor left the cottage, Colonel
Nichols proposed to Hiley that he should
carry Amy off instead of Ally, and leave her
| on a plantation of his on the coast, down by
| Cape Henry, so as to silence her dangerous
tongue, and also give him a hold on her
mother. The Captain agreed to this, and they
entered the cottage, coming upon Amy SO
suddenly that, in her weak state, she was so
completely overcome that she tainted away
$50 much the BETTER" said Nichols, stoop-
ing and gathering her in his arms. ''Now
| lead the way to your boat, Hiley. On our
way you must overset Collins boat to make
him think she did it herself in wild mood "
He hurried out of the cottage, bearing his
frail burden. Hiley followed hastily, and the
two made their way to the spot where Col
Inns boat lay. 1t was but the work of mo-
ment for Hiley to push off the little craft and
overset it,
"There, they'll think the girl got wild with
grief and was drowned in an attempt to search
for Ally again" said the Colonel exultantly.
| tosoihS @hIhJ y "niVO dpIOu upon Gue Dedcl.
THAT apron will fix the matter beyond a
Doubt The wind is rising, Hiley. You had
better take advantage of it,"
The two hurried to the waiting boat. Hiley
laid the unconscious Amy in the bottom, and
then seized the oars and rowed rapidly to-
wards the brig.
Nichols, full of exultation, looked after the
boat until it was lost to view.
''My first plan was successful" he NUT
tered. "Ally is dead l am rich man
And my second plan promises like success /!
When Margaret Testers heart is nearly
broken at Amy's loss, will offer to restore
her child on condition that she will marry
me The day of my full triumph is near!" :
He looked with gloating eyes seaward, ex.
ulting in his evil success, until at last, nearly
an hour later, the sails of the QujcksteD
filed, and the brig moved swiftly towards
the sea, taking with her Margaret Testers
only comfort : the distant fathers star OF
hone