San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-10-15
CHAPTER TX.
THE ABDUCTION.

LIE NpbNIlIONs
The morning air was full of the SEN
satiOn of the coming nOOn-day heat,
when Flo Granger, according to her
wont, descended from her chamber, and
opening the glass doors of the sitting
room passed out into the garden to fill
her flOwer-baSket
Lovely and graceful still. yet how diff
ferent was she, how liStless her step,
to when. on that spring morning, a few
hours before she met Philip, bright and
light-hearted. she had robbed the plants
of their bloom.
Now the beds were pictures of vivid
ly blended hueS, and she had small diff
ficulty in getting what she required.
AS she was about to return to the
house, the swing of the gate attracted
her attention. 1t was a boy, a native
Australian. He held the gate partly
open, and looked round with half
doubtful, half frightened eyes,"
What is it," inquired Flo, advance
ing; do you want anyOne?"
The boy gazed at her with his large,
dark eyes, then said:
"MliSSie Granger
II AM Miss Granger. What is it?"
For answer he held out folded paper.
Taking it, Flo read, written in a
CIdIlpeu Hdllu:
Can you come to me at once. have great
news to tell you abOut-yet why need say of
whom2 am down at the Seven-tree Clump,
and pray you to come that may speak to you
alone, before tell the colonel; Your devoted
servant, ISAAC LEWIS"
From the Jew! What could he have
to say? What discovery had he madep
Something of Importance it must be,
and regarding Philip. She had no
Of hnt hnI trr-
days absent. Was there a deeper rea-
son for these absences than they
imagined. and was he about to tell her?
Flo would have suspected any before
the Jew. and not an instant did she hes
itate. Seven-tree Clump was but fifty
or sixty PAGES from the station.
Say | will come" she said to the
Australian.
AS he ran off, she looked up at the
house. Her aunt's windOw-blind was
not vet raised. The colonel she knew
was in the Outbuildings, where he would
be for the next half-hOur.
She would be back long before her
absence had been noticed. Had even a
vague suspicion of danger crossed her
mind, she would have laughed at the
idea. What danger could there be SO
near home? Her own people were with
in call.
Quickly she proceeded down the road,
and soon reached the place of rendeZ-
vouS.
1t was composed, as its name implied.
of seven trees, but beneath grew thick
underwood. A narrow path ran through
it, and into this Flo fearlesSly turned.
Lewis" she exclaimed in a low tone,
81 am herel'
no or hpn nd IN Nf
terror burst from her lips.
Some thick material had been swiftly
thrown over and mutlied round her
head to Stltle her cry.
In great alarm, yet stunned almost by
bewilderment, she struggled violently
to release herself, but with as much
chance of escape as fly from the spi-
der's web. Her hands were secured in
large powerful ones, drawn behind her,
and cord passed round the delicate
wrists.
Lewis, Lewis" she cried. Help,
help"
"Oh, yes, he'll help YOU" calculated
a gruff voice. Hold your squealing,
can't yer. There, it's no good. Hand
it over, or she'll bring the station on
u.s.
Flo felt the muffiing slightly removed.
Vrhpn a hand crracninu a hanlk phiaf
which emitted a n,ingent odor was held
tightiv over her face
In q second She Guessed if was cbloro-
form Torror rave her stramgtb for a
second She half threw off fIe hand
then the powerful drug overcame her,
and, though partly conscious, she was
the least movement the hand was held
over her face Then che WAS aware of
being raised nm before a man on horse
bacE? then fiat thew We're nroceeding
of a swift %aIInn ti'roygb the bnsh. then
ber senses left her and for a snace Che
ran,on,horod notLina 'p"
Wer cont for fbere uere two
nouer Gnwever SiocEened Snead INT
maSa FOR tho dansa nortion 81 tba hnsh
''o WIN
at the foot OF the ranges. On project
ing spur of the latter, man, who APP
parently had camped out, was RECALLING
himself upon damper and cold tea.
From the height more than once he
caught sight of the horsemen. At first
he watched them with indifference; but
soon their speed attracted his attention.
1t seemed to betoken flight. They had
entered mass of trees; but the watch
er knew they must soon come into sight
again. Lying fat on a ridge, he waited,
a telescope he had taken from his pOck-