The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-06-05
I Y,


day, Malvern emerged from his room at
o'clock and wendell his way in a southeasterly
direction from Stampville, paying little, if any,
attention to an occasional pedestrian whom he
happened to meet on the almost deserted
streets.
while I do not exactly suspect any
treachery from this fellow Wreck, yet L think
it best to be prepared in case there should be
any" and Malvern drew a fine slver-mounted
revolver from his pocket, and examined it
closely. Hello, here is the place, 1 believe.
Meet me at the base of Hawk mountain, near
the Leaning Rock was the place he told me
to meet him."
Taking seat on The base of the Cleaning
Rock" Malvern was soon lost in deep study.
wondering, perhaps, what fate had in store for
him within the next few hours! Would it
bring to him his long lost little darling or was
this tramp miserable hoax? Was he soon to
look into the face and embrace the loving form
who had been so long lost to him? Surely
fate would be kind if it did restore her to his
arms, and cruel, indeed if it did not!
sit is now II O'clock" said Malvern, con-
sulting his watch by the aid of match, ''and
it is about time that they were
long, low, scarcely audible whistle caused
Malvern to start and spring to his feet A
peated three times in quick succession.
so that is them! That is the signal agreed
upon"
Malvern answered this in the same manner.
whistling three times in quick succession.
Hardly had he done SO, when the tramp
stepped boldly from out of dense thicket and
came straight up to where Malvern was stand
ing, with the simple announcement:
II am here"
$50 L see. but the girl2'
"Hand me the money"
Malvern handed him roll of greenbacks, at
the same time drawing his revolver.
The tramp proceeded at once to count the
money by the aid of ''bull's-eye" lantern,
which he drew from beneath the folds of his
ragged coat.
"You see go prepared" he said, by way of.
explanation, referring to the lantern.
After his slow, deliberate count of the
money, every moment of which time caused
Malvern'S heart to beat wildly, he arose from
the ground and called out:
"Come!"
Immediately another form started directly
towards Malvern who sprang forward to meet
1t. There were no more doubts--it was Anna
bel Cato!
In another moment the beautiful, persecu-
ted girl was weeping tears of infinite Joy,
clasped in the loving arms of her long lost,
but now happy and contented lover, Malvern
Hill
My powers of description are too limited to
attempt to picture this meeting. 1t is emf
nently better L hold to leave to the imagina-
ton of reader scene which is beyond the
power of the writer to describe.
The tramp was moving off, when Malvern
called him back and said:
Mr., Wreck, think an explanation is due
to Annabel and me, before you leave u.s."
well, as have gone so far might as
well go farther, 1 suppose" he said, taking
seat directly in front of Annabel and Malvern.
who were sitting ON the base of Leaning
Rock"
Five years ago, or thereabouts," he COM
menced, 81 was approached one night by
William Cato, who suggested this thing.
Then, as now, L was down in the world. 1
would not listen to such proposition at first
but when he offered the magnificent sum of
tiye thousand down and thousand year for
the following five years, 1 agreed to do it.
The plan of abduction was left entirely TO
me. 1t is not known, but have a home in a
cave in Hawk mountain, and it was TO
this place that 1 decided to take the
girl if 1 succeeded in getting an op-
portunity to carry out my plans. At
last, after month of the closest watching
the opportunity offered itself and my plan
worked Miss Cato had gone out into the
woods on hunt for wild flowers, and In an I'M
guarded moment placed heavily chloformed
handkerchief under her nose, and in a moment
more was on my way to the cave In the noun
tain"
AT this juncture Annabel uttered slight
scream and clasped Malverns arm tighter.
Arriving at the cave" continued the
tramp, ~ deposited my burden on q rudely
constructed couch and left her in charge of an
old negro woman, who has been my cook for a
dozen years.
"Since that time have made weekly trips
TO the cave, carrying provisions and such other
things as l thought was needed for Miss
Cato's comfort, but from that day un-
til yesterday l have never seen her,
as she will tell you 1 suppose. Many
is the time that Bill Cato has tried to
find ont where she was secreted, but l never
would tell him. That very thing was the
cause OF our finally falling out, for when he
found that l was determined on keeping that
a secret, he refused 10 make any further adj
vances and it was then / decided to come to
you and you know the rest"
Having finished his story, the tramp arose,
and without a word, silently withdrew in the
direction Of Hawk mountain, while Anna and
Malvern, happy in each others love, wendell
their way to Stampville, distant only q mile
from Leaning Rock"
The "Stampville Sun" came out with