The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1875-09-15

aey. "Read that letter. au.l Gray tal
the forged letter from his peck, tlnl hand.
ed it to Eugene, who read it through care.
fully, and, while folding it, made motion
to the jailor who stood just outside the
barred door,
As he did so the door opened softly and
Roland entered the room.
In taking the letter from his pocket tho
attorney had drawn q bundle Of papers out
with it, and Of this the newcomer h:lstsned
to take possession. Gray tried to prevent
him, but he was not quick enough.
"Read this letter." said Eugene, handing
the forged document to his friend.
Roland glanced over the sheet, read the
name ut the bottom, and then thrust it into
his pocket.
'1t is q very bad forgery" he said, qui-
etly, Gas will prove in moment"
Then, turning to Eugene, he said, 81
told you last night that wouldn't ask you
to believe me until I produced my proofs.
You will find them all in this bundle, which
Mr.. Gray was kind enough to take charge
of that might Ilayin his Office. It contains
letters from my mother, the certiferte Of
her marriage with and letters from Mr..
Walingford. Will you look at them now ?"
Z The attorneys rage was almost ungov.
ernable.
ri will prove to you that he ies," he
cried, hoarsely. "Mr. Wallingsnra," he
continued, "help me outof this cursed ven,
and will yet prove your right to tho Wal
ingford estate. That man standing BY
your side is an impostor."
Eugene really p:tied the old attorney,
but he could do nothing for him, and he
reluctantly told him 80. "There is nothing
for you to do but to await your trial, Mr..
Gray" he said, land no one can wish you
greater success then than I. While in this
place will see that your every want is
supplied.
~ will LOOK at these papers at another
package to Roland, and turning toward the
door.
After tho departure Of bis visitors, the
attorney gave himself entirely up to his
own bitter reflections. He pondered over
his deplorable condition until nightfall, re-
fusing admittance to all who requested IN
interview, and these were not a few. for the
excitement over the affair was intense. He
could hear the hum Of voices through the
barred window all day, and he knew that
crowd Of excited and curious villagers were
hanging about the place.
After night set in he began to review
plan after plan of escape, and at length he
hit upon one which promised success. The
country prison was not very strongly built,
and the windows were particularly insecure.
He waited until all was still in the build
ing, and then drawing the table and
chair to the window, he mounted them and
began to work softly at the fastenings sf
the bars. Once or twice he thought he
heard some one creeping along the hall
outside his door, and stopped work, but he
soon resumed operations again.
It must have been nearly morning when
enough bars were removed to admit of his
passing out, and another difficulty was still
to be overcome. The cell in which he WAS
confined was in the second story of the pris-
or, and the distance from his window to the
ground was not less than twenty feet. Just
below it were the stone steps of side en-
trance.
Gray tore the bed.clothes into narrow
strips, and so supplied himself with rope.
He tied one end Of this to one of the re-
naming bars and, taking the coil in his
hand, crept carefully through the aperture.
No sooner did his whole weight come
upon the rope, however, than he saw that
some Of the knots were drawing away. Be-
fore he could save himself by clutching Mt
the window the rope parted, and with
scream Of terror the attorney darted through
the air, striking here and there against lit
tie projections, and falling with sickening
thud upon the rough steps below.
A few moments later when the TAILOR,
aroused by the falling mans cry, appeared
upon II scene, he found only manyled
and lifcless form, staring, with stony eyes,
into his own!
The plotter and would-be murderer had
ed another brief excitement in the village,
for few days, and then it was forgotten.
But not 50 the happiness of others which
he had delayed but could not defeat.
A very few days saw the great mills busy
with life again under the guidance of Eu-
gene and Grover, whose names appeared
that very day above the Office door as the
owners Of the mills. And that night Mr..
Clayson's house bloomed like rose, the oc-
casion being that of a double wedding.
The reader can guess who tho happy coup
les were.
Roland and his lovely bride settled down
in the fine old Wallingford place, and Eu.
gene and Grover were not long in erecting
q residence equally fine, close ut hand.
For Grover is content to live with his sis
ter and her devoted husband for the pres
ent, although Fanny declares that lls is al.
ready beginning to study out the plans Of
a house which would be altogether too
large for one!
Mrs. Ames still remains in charge Of the
old house which has been her home 30 long,
and Uncle Billy reigns supreme about the
spacious gardens. The secret passage was
securely fastened with brick md mortar.
In the hustle Of active business Grover
soon forgot his theory, and now laughs at
plans which once stirred him to the widest
enthusiasm.
"But they we're not without their use."
he says. occasionally, "for, but for my wild
ideas and Uncle Billy's help, my truest
friend would have died before proving him.
self The HEIR OF THE MILLs."