The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1889-09-06

l 10 ? I = II !
And starting of into the gloom OF an
adjoining street, the two confreres bent
their stops in the div ,tion of the
river, the mysterious ,.,.,adow fitting
after them, ever and anon pausing in
dark spots, and again following with q
| pertinacious spirit.
Far down among the lonely lots,
moaned about by the wind that i'm un-
impcded course sweeps over from low
lying Long Island, stood an old brick
building.
How this sad remnant of an edifice
had escaped the march of improve
ment was a mystery; possibly Satan
himself had leased the property anu
scared honest folk away, since the
house had bad name and was Stunned
by reputable people. Some avcrred
that it was haunted-at the very least
by rats ncertain it is that its massive
roof of sslates and its heavy wooden
shutters. ever forbiddingly closed. told
no tales. ~ -, ssstas
:, .Is.auu rca MAX Be,eans z...S.sns- m - -
produced n huge koy1Ih.d unlocked tho
ponderous paddock.
"Just close the dapr and slip the
holt" he said to his visitor, when they
stood within the darkcncd portals,
while run upstairs and strike light. {"
For precautionary reasons Boyden
closed the door, but omitted to shoot
tho bolt, being sufficiently coward to
feel that he would be more secure with
some rapid mode of cgrcss mt his com
mand than without it.
Then he paused and listened to tho
oppressive silence that was almost
audible by contrast with the night
sounds of the outer world, while he
inhaled tho musty. tomb-like odor of
his uncxplorcd surroundings.
Presently faint simmer of palo
yellow light became visible above,
which Increased until n rough flight of
oakcn stairs, surrounded by bare plas-
tered walls, shaped themselves out of
the darkness, and the voice of Garland
was heard saying:
"Can you see? Follow the light and
come up!"
Thus guided, Boydcn mounted the
stairs and shortly found himself in an
upper chamber rs bare and uncom-
promising rs the entrance
A common deal table, a couple of
chairs, an iron-bound keg, and n bottle,
which served as sconce for the light
cd candle, were all the furniture that
the room boastcd.
Garland stood near tho heavily
barred window, and as Boyden an
peared he asked:
did you bolt the lower door?"
"Ycs," was the reply; then, with q
glance about tho gloomy den, he asked,
"do you mean to tell me that you live
hcre?"
II receive my friends here; you
o place for the likes of you to come TO-"
1T is well enough; don't object to
They had seaSsaffts 17SF mon yuH
two wooden chairs >Ql 4 tjs6 q
of the table, and ask u 81 (teTed'
the lust words Gerland moved the
candle quickly, the better to get look
at the face of his vis-a-vis.
"What business ?" he asked with in
terest.
"Why, getting the girl, Oracle, out
of my way. l have been talking with
her this evening, and / find her as ii,-
tractable as young colt in harness.
"She's chip of the old block" OBJ
served Garland, with IL knowing smile.
at which sally they both laughed.
"Wcn," lie added, "what do you want
done with her?"
81 don't know, and care less, so long
as she never troubles me-"
"Why should she trouble you? What
does she know?"
"She knows nothing, thank Cod"
"And haven't you come into your
uncle's property, rs no will was ever
found?"
Perhaps something in the words, pos
sibly something in the mans tone, ar
rested Boyden's attention.
"By the way, Garland" he said, un-
expectedly. "whnt did you do with the
will?"
ooh, put it safely out of the way"
was the nonchalant reply.
"You destroyed it, of course?"
~ tell you ] put it safely out of the
way"
"Bnt how? Did you burn it?'
"No."
"What did you do with it, then?"
II put it away, where no living soul
but myself can ever unearth it"
You put it awayl" cried Boyden,
"you put it away when paid you your
price to destroy it? You did not dc.
stroy it?"
Certainly not"
"Why not?"
"Would you have me fly in the face
of my fortune, destroy my only stock
in trade, my only chance to secure n
living?"
"For Gods saht,- what do you mean p
II mean time will come when
shall bc in want of little money, and
when that time comes all have to do
is to produce the will, and you'll have
to dance to my tune"
He winked viciously, rs he made the
daring ayowal.
Livid with rage, Max Boyden struck
the table blow with his fist that
threatened to shiver it to atoms, and
sprang to his feet. "Youre knave and
liar!" he shrieked, scarcely able tC
contain himself.
Gently, gently, my boy" was the