The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1875-09-08

"murder!'' rang out on the still night air
and raised the knife for a surer stroke. 80. !
/ In that one second of careless rage, how
| ever, he 'thoughtlessly removed his hand
from the revolver, and before the blow he
aimed could descend, a sharp report rang
out, ana he sprang back with bullet in
+ his breast. ' '-.
Roland was on hisfeet in an instant, and
/ presented the revolver at the PROSTATE
mans head. -
Zone motion, one effort to escape, and
will send a ball through your brain,' he
cried. Oh" ''..'. ....3 '.....'. ., ...
Steps were new heard approaching from
both directions, and Alnes made ono ieTre
attempt to gain his feet, but he was held
hack by the cold rim Of steel which touched
his forehead. ....H~. as... ,ss... -.,.a
! BY some strange fatality, Galen Gray
and Eugene were the first persons on the
spot. The fermer had been near the grove
/ in one of his restless ranbles, and Eugene
had already onterod the grove on his way
to seek the explanation Of Grover, which
Bertha and Fanny had refused to give.
After them came q group Of excited vii
layers, one of whom carried a lantern.
... I"What is this?' exclaimed Gray, turn
ing, deadly pale as he saw the position of
| affairs. 2na ,,r:rvr,i- p, ,,.., o., =,
| ~, "It's only, one moro unsuccessful attempt
at murder, Gnlen Gray = said Roland, mo;
| tionipg, ,twoof the mcnlwholn he recognized
in the crowd to take charge Of Ames. ' -. D..
f., "Dont let him escape" he said. "He
,tri&I 70 murder me, Just now" =, 49,,
~" -; "is be 'baiIly hrrt?" asked Gray, bending
over his unfortunate companion ip crime.
Roland drew him rudely away. .. - '..' '
| arse t6oco' AZ, c,,n1c' "a vybrd To-
gether r. he said. ''Both are implicated in
| thi; ,leadly assault" ."'1''r~.rnI"
4 "Whatido you ,nean3n" demanded Gray,
drawing back. >, ,..,. >,
- "Ask that miserable tool Of yours what I
mean" 'sir," said Roland "'iAsk him at
whose instigation he undertook to accom-
plish a deel you failed in. He cannot live
nm hour, and perhaps he will tell.''
If Rolands object was to draw confess
sion from Ames by predicting his speedy
death his ruse was successful, for he beck
onei to the village officer, who had just
arrived upon the scene, to approach him.
" ar amt a. goin' to stand this alone" he
s.iid,i in a voice plainly Heard by every one
in the little group. "Arrest Lawyer Gray
an that yoansster Standing by him. They
paid me for tliis j6b.'' ii ''.'l.''.'.''..'' ..
ht.Everr one looked surprised, for Eugene
Wall;ncford was the only one by the attor-
ney's sil". II 2"l 'hii .'r 80 =!
u knowed you'd be astenished," said
Amcs, "but amt g6n to tella lie now.
They are the ones TO 'lvme." =
"Do you mean Mr.! WilEngford ?" asked
the ofteer. aFir .. " ..
eyes" said Amas, "don't let him git
away The nian Ttricd to kill stood a-tween
him an the mill rrop operty." .',
The officer hesitated.' e -. ..
'""1aka them in charge." said Roland, 81
| can verify-hs statements @. ..-
"Irmust do my duty, gentlemen,"', said
the officer. "Is there any one here L can
.trust to take charge of these menp" he
| asked. - ,'i''I 80 .,n. .... ..-.
q. A number Of men, all friends of Roland
OR Hugh Gordon, as they supposed him
. to beat once volunteered, and Eugene
md the u at.torney, for the first time in their
! lives, were under arrest. .....-..
T. Snow that you have arrested US on this
d monstrous CHARGE" said Gray, coolly,.
/, what do you propose to do with us?" -,
krI t''You must go TO- jail, I suppose" replied
the officer .,,.;.. .,..... .......3 -.
Eugene was too astonished to say a word
in his own defense. The attempted muir
"
tempt, completely unnerved him.
A stretcaer was procured and Ames plac-
ed up,n it,
| "Rcmove him to the .arest house. said
! the officer. "and send for doctor. I will
return and take charge Of him after the
other prisoners are safe.''
As Gray anil Eugene moved away in
| chlrge Of the officer, a fresh crowd of peo-
pie, attracted by the unusual conlmotion,
I came mp.
" Eugene was Mortified to sec, among a
number of ladies', the frightened faces Of
! Fanny and Bertha He made an effort to
reach their Sides but the officer, mistaking
the movement for an attempt to escape,
drew him roughly back and and forced
pair Of handouts on his wrists. a.
You're excited now, Eugene" he said,
"bnt you will see the necessity of this by
and BY" -...''"
With flush of shame mounting his pale
face, Eugene cndeavored to force his way
into u position where the crowd would
shield him from the girls sight But they
saw him, and Fanny went straight to his
. side. - .".'.' '.: "'-....a
g "Whnt does this mean, Eugene r. she
cried, clinging to his fettered hands. "Who
has been killed, and why are these irons on
your hands z" -..... e.. ....,.
Roland stopped ferwardto try and con-
sole the sobbing girl, but, remembering his
share in the terrible scene, heagain stepped
back. ~. ,....I. ...H .>il.n.I.-it
.."You will tell me what it means, Hush7"
=; said Bertha, approaching him. "You arc
bleeding, too, who has doae this9 Tell mo!
| Can't you talk?" =, ..u..-
Roland stood before the girl he loved
with an unutterable longing to clasp her in
his arms; and yet he knew that the terri
| BILE. gulf which had separated them, was
wider now thun ever before.
"My God p he said, II can't tell you.
Bertha! Tel her, some one; it would kill
me-" . e.. . o.
"Why, YOU see, young ladies'" said the
officer, in the voice of q nan who was per.
forming n very unpleasant duty, "you see
that man lying there tried to kill Hugh
Gor,on, to. night, and he duplicates Lawyer
Gray md Eugene. We hope it will como
I out all right. for"
The scared look in Bcrtha's eyes stopped
the officer ut the very beginning Of all the
consolation he could offer her.
She stood moment like one bereft OF all
power Of Thought or motion, and then sank
slowly to the ground in deep faint. Rol-
nnl sprarg to save her, bnt was only IN
time to kneel by her side and raise her in
hS arms.
Fnnuy had heard the officers explanation,
and now clun- to her lovers neck with
| strength which bailled the officers efforts
to take her away. I.
!, "You will not take him to prison." she
cried, in piteous tones, "and know that he
is innocent. Why don't you tell them how
it is, Eugene2' she moaned. "1ts dark
! and cold alone there in the prison, and will
80 with you, my darling. if you must CO."
Bnt some one tendnrly released her
clinging arms, and Eugene and che attor-
ney were led away.
CHATTER XXI.