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

dill not do it,"
"Is the girl mad!" exclaimed the
housekeeper; "did not do what Heaven
have mercy on us; some crime must
have been committed! What is it?"
Mr.. Clifford has been murdered, "
answered the solemn voice of the law
yer, appearing.
"Murdered!" gaspcd the Mortified
group of listeners.
During the awful pause, the easement
opened slowly, and Nicholas Garland
entered. Unseen by those in the room,
he folded his arms upon his breast, and
awaited further developments.
"Yes Mr.. Clifford has been murdered
in his bod!" continued tho lawyer in
the same appalled, tone.
GLOW ?" asked Hannah Dred.
"He has been strangled."
"But for what purpose?"
Robbery; his money and the will
are gone"
This ia tcrribIe!" she cried; "Mr.
Edgar" advancing impetuousIy upon
,, that gentleman, "who watched here to-
night?7
MRS. Hanks, the nurse"
"Whcrc is shcp Why don't you qucs-
tion her?"
"She is there by the fire." replied the
lawyer, "drugged."
One glance at tho old woman was
sufficient to convince the vcriest skcptic
that Mrs. Hanks had fallen n victim to
n dccp-laid plot.
Miss Drcd 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 rs 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 blazcd,
his lips contracted, and ho held his
breath in awful suspense.
"Gracic, my child" began the law
yer gently.
At the sound of her name tho girl
started, and turned pair of blank, I'M
seeing eyes upon the gentleman.
Tell us what YOU have seen, what
you know of Mr.. Clifford 5 DEATH" add
cd he.
Oracle claspcd her hands in silent
despair, and for the first time scalding
tears dimmed her beautiful eyes; yet
she hesitated, and it seemed rs though
she had lost the power of speech.
"Cumc," urged the lawyer, speak,
and fear nothing"
Il only know that l have lost my best
and dearest FRIEND" sobbcd the poor
girl.
"Whut consummatc acting!" sneered
the housekeeper under her brcuth.---
"That is not answering my question,
pursued Mr.. Edgar; "havc you remained
in this room since left itp"
Yea, sir D."
"You must know, then, that Mrs.
Hanks has been drugged?"
"No, i did not know it,"
Nicholas Garland leaned forward,
drinking i'll every word the girl ut
tered.
But you must at least have seen
some ono enter the room?"
At this question Oracle started, Il
violent spasm seeming to rcnd her very
being, while she stared in terrified
way mt the accusing face of Hannah
Drrd. At last, after Il painful effort,
she faltcrcd, almost inaudibly:
mo; l have seen no one enter this
room"
Nicholas Garland drew - breath of
relief
"And yet you are aware that your
benefactor has been murdered" the
lawyer went on.
"My God! Yes, know it,"
you were here, within call, when
the deed was committed; therefore,
you, more than anybody else, must
know how it happened"
This pitilcss Goading, kindly intcn-
toned though it was, had gone too
far. Grac;c had borne all that she
could bear. With II wild wave of tho
arms that betrayed her desperate frame
of mind, she turned to her examiner
"Shnll ! 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 murdcrcr?"
At this, Nicholas Garland sprnng
forward and faced the girl.
"Yesw he hisscd, thrcateninglv, "who
is the murderer? Tell us, if YOU can ~
Oracle rccoilcd with II shuddcring
cry.
Father oh, father"
Lawyer Edgar turned to tho house
keeper
"Iou can soc for yourself, Miss
Drrd," he said, pitifully, chat the poor
child is half-crazcd; she can tell moth
ing since she knows nothing"
she can tell more than she dares,
sir" was the ruthless reply.
"What do you mcan?" demanded the
| gentleman in amaZcmCnt.
Ask her why she listened when YOU
were telling me where the stolen will
was concealed
81 do not believe she was listening, u
was the brave reply.
"lf Won were not satisfied of that,
went on the mcrcilcss woman, "ask hel
what she did with the bottle of opium
with which the nurse has been
druGgcd.'
Mr.. Edgar staggered back in horror
"IIcavcnsH he cried, "you would not
accuse little Gracic Garland of this
lnstarlly rrimcl"