The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1875-09-01
COPYRIGHT sEcURED.l -
eHeiir Of Mills.
The Attorury's Zee. :
ALFRED B. TOZER,
kCrHoR OF "BOUND HAND AND FOOT"
"WHo WAS TO BLAME" ETC, ETC.
CHAPTER XVI.
IN THE HoUsEKEEpER's ROOM.

IN THE HOCSEKEEPEA' ROOM. r
When Hugh Gor'lon left Clayson's resi-
dence he walked rs fast rs his weakened
frame would admit of in the direction OF
the Walingford house.
As he had been through the ravine be-
fore, he had no trouble in finding his way
on this occasion, although all was pitchy
dark. After entering the first passage,
however, he took short candle and bum
die Of matches from a pocket and thus
supplied himself with light.
After proceeding short distance, Hugh
found it necessary to sit down and rest.
In this way he lost considerable time, and
was, therefore, still in the upper passage
when Ames entered the lower one. Hear
ing steps below him he shrank close to the
secret door leading into the second story Of
the house and waited for the intruder to
devclopc his purpose. Previous to this he
had extnguishel his light.
As the steps came nearer and nearer he
was at loss how to act, for the landing
on which he stoud was too small to admit
of his being passed without discovery.
"The person, whoever it is, evidently in
tends to visit the ehousckeeper, he thought,
"and must be frightened back until after I
have seen her.
After some thought he hit upon the plan
which had frightened Ancs SO effectually,
and was surprised ut its success. In that
one blaze of light, which he had produced
by re-lighting his candle un lcr the shelter
of his coat, the young man recognized
Ames.
Knowing he was there for no good, and
desiring to take advantage of the stupor
into which Amcs had fallen, Hugh, think
ing that he would come to no harm, decid-
ed t" leave him where he had fallen until
he had accomplished his mission. TO pro-
vid, against all possible interference he
secured the secret door after leaving the
landing so that in case Of Ames' recovery
he could not force his way into the sitting
room formerly occupied by Mr.. Walling-
ford, and thence into the rooms from which
the housekeepcrs slecpin groom opened.
All was dark in the dcceaseds apart
mtnt, and Hugh, in order to avoid attract
ing attention thought best to extinguish
his candle. He tried the hall-door and
found it locked. He looscned the screws
in the bolt socket and stepped outside the
door to find dim light burning ut the
further end Of the hall, outside the house
keepers apartment.
He gained the door without encountering
any one and knocked d fly.
"Who is there p asked voice from
within.
"Opcn and see," replied Hugh, initiating
feminine voice.
The door was unlocked and cautiously
opened few inchcs--just enough to per-
NIT the housekeeper to look out.
She uttered low scream as her eyes
rested upon the strange figure standing
outside, and would have closed und locked
the door again had not Hugh prevented
such proceeding by throwing his whole
weight against it.
Hear me, Mrs. Ames! he said, softly,
"hear me before you shut Inc out or make
any outcry. ! assure you that you shall
come TO no harm"
"Nhut do you want ?" demanded the old
lady III !. trembling voice.
She opened the door, however, and al
lowed Hugh to enter.
"You don't remember Inc, of course, Mrs.
Amcs," said Hugh, sinking, from sheer
weakness, into Il chair You don't know
me, and yet l w;ls born in this room, and
the hands you upift i'll horror now, were
the first to hold nle."
"But one child was born in this room,"
began the housekeeper, "and-'
IL AN that chilu-Roland E. Wulling-
ford" interrupted the young man.
"lmpossible!' calculated the housckccp-
er. "rhe child you name is heir to this
house and all the Wallingford property.
Il ,,,I ~, lie
ises at such unseemly hours. But you are
hurt-bleediug Who has assaulted youY"
exclaimed the good woman, noticing the
cut on her visitors h.ud as he removed his
hat.
Hugh placed his hand on his forehead,
and withdrew it covered with blood.
"'rhe wound must have been torn open
in creeping through the vines, he said.
"Here, lie Oh this sofa and | will call
for help to dress the wound,' said Mrs.
Ames, all sympathy i'll the presence Of suf-
fering.
"No, no." said the young man hastily,
ono one must know that am in this house
Don't you know that 1 ain dead, Mrs
Ames2" he asked, with smile. "Is it
possible that you haven't heard of my &C.
cident ut Galen Gray's olcc?"
III heard of III accident to a mill hand
there, and heard that the body was stolel,'
said Mrs Amcs. Have you bcen working
in the mill Mr.. Wallingford2 and why did
you take yourself oil in that strange man
ner2"
"Ah! you believe me at last, then," said
the young man, noticing the name she had
used in addressig him. II am glad OF that.
The question you ask makes long story
necessary, but it is proper that you should
know"
So, while the motherly old Lady was car
ing for and binding up his wound, Roland,
Us we must call him hereafter, told her the
whole story.
81 couldn't consent to accept Of cent
from my uncle after mothers DEATH" he
said in conclusion, "because 1 was young
and strong, and, utter wandering around
New York Tor u year, came here, two
weeks ago, and went to workas mill hand
and under an assumed name."
"And you think that Gray meant to
kill you to make room for this other
heir who bears your - queried Mrs.
Ames.
"rhere can be no noubt of his intention,'
was the reply. 81 can't tell how fur his
client Is implicated in the affair, however"
at will be hard to make anyone here be-
lieve that Eugene had any hand in the
matter" said the housckeeper, "but sup
pose he will be in the same boat with his
lawyer when it all comes to light"
81 suppose so,' said Roland, thinking,
with pang, of the sweet girl for whom
such terrible revelations were in store.
"There is one thing that did not tell
you," said the young man, after q pause.
~ encountered Il man in the secret pas
sage, and the light l used in a little tab
leau designed to frghten him away, reveal
ed the face of your husbAnd.'
"Why does he continue to persecute
p" exclaimed the housekeepcr with q
look of disnay. 81 have no money to give
him now.''
You are safe from him tonight at least" |"
raid Roland. 81 fastened the secret door
30 that it will be impossible for him to ell
p.e;I,. I l.,Yt bu1f laoA fron,