The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1889-08-16

IN MS DedI continued the lawyer in
the same appalled, tone.
"How2" asked Hannah bred.
"He has been strangled."
But for what purpose?"
Robbery; his money and the will
are gone"
This is terrible!" she cried; "Mr.
Edgar" advancing impetuousIy upon
that gentleman, "who watched here to-
nights"
"Mrs. Hanks, the nurse"
"Whcre is sheP Why don't you ques-
ton her?"
"She is there by the fro" replied the
lawyer, "drugged."
One glance at tho old woman was
sufficient to convince the vcriest skcptic
that Mrs. Hanks had fallen victim to
dcep-laid plot.
Miss Dred turned upon Gracic, where
she stood, like figure craven in stone,
near the open door. Had Oracle not
been oblivious to her surroundings, she
could not have failed to have been star
tied by the look Hannah Drcd cast upon
her, as she said:
Mr.. Edgar, we left this girl in tho
room; we find her here still; of course
she can explain this terrible affair"
An expression of infinite pain fitted
over the lawyers face as he found him,
self forced to make an examination
which he would have given years of his
life to have escaped. As he approached
Oracle, Nicholas Garland's eyes blazed,
his lips contracted, and ho held his
breath in awful suspense.
Oracle, my child" began the law.
yer, gently.
At the sound of her name tho girl
Astarted, and turned pair of blank, un-
kecing eyes upon the gentleman.
Tell us what you have seen, what
\. know of Mr.. Clifford's DEATH" add
00cie clasped hcr hands in silent
despdkS and for the first time scalding
tears dimmed ner beautiful eyes; vet
she hesitated, aud it seemed ,as though
she had lost the power of speech.
Conc" urged the lawyer, speak,
and fear nothing"
II only know that 1 have lost my best
and dearest friend" sobbed the poor
girl.
What consumn,ate actingl" sneered
the housekeeper under her breath.
THAT is not answering my question,
pursued Mr.. Edgar; have You remained
in this room since left itp"
"Yes, SIR"
"You must know, then, that Mrs.
Hanks Las been drngged?
mo, l did not know it."
Nicholas Garland leaned forward,
drinking in every word the girl ut
tered.
"But you must at least have seen
somc one enter the room ?"
At this question Oracle started, q
violent spasm seeming to rend her very
being, while she stared in terrified
way at the accusing face of Hannah
Dred. At last, after painful effort,
she faltered, almost inaudibly:
No; L have seen no one enter this
ROOM"
Nicholas Garland drew u breath of
relief.
"And yet you are aware that your
benefactor has been murdered" the
lawyer went on.
"My God! Yes, 1 know it,"
you were here, within call, when
the deed was committed; therefore,
you, more than anybody else, must
know how it happened"
This pitiless goading, kindly inten-
toned though it was, had gone too
far. Oracle had borne all that she
could bear. With wild wave of the
arms that betrayed her desperate frame
of mind, she turned to her examiner.
"Shall / tell you all know?" she
cried, with frantic intensity; "do you
compel me to tell you all saw? Shall
give you the name of the murderer? ?"
At this, Nicholas Garland sprang
forward and faced the girl.
"Yes" he Kissed, threateningly, "who
is the murderer ?-Tell us, if you can I"
Oracle recoiled with a shuddering
Father oh, fatherl"
Lawyer Edgar turned to the house
keeper.
"You can see for yourself, Miss
Dred," he said, pitifully, "that the poor
child is half-crazed; she can tell moth
ing-eince she knows nothing"
"She can tell more than she dares,
sir" was the ruthless reply.
"What do you mean?" demanded the
gentleman in amazement.
Ask her why she listened when you
were telling me where the stolen will
was concealed"
II do not believe she was LISTENING, "
was the brave reply.
IF You were not satisfied of that, "
went on the merciless woman, task her
what she did with the bottle of opium
with which the nurse has been
drugged."
Mr.. Edgar staggered back in horror.
"HeavensP he cried, "you would not
accuse little Oracle Garland of this
dastardly crimel"
No need to accuse" came the retort !;
"when circumstantial evidence con-
demns her!"
Oracle had recovered sufficiently to
listen TO every word that was uttered.
When this awful condemnation fairly
startled the air, she turned and fled
precipitately toward the door, crying:
"Let me go! let mo gol 1 dare not
stay!"
"Stop heri Arrest herp shrieked
Hannah Dred; "if no one else has the
courage, I accuse her of the murder Of