The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1889-09-13

"How could tell the difference in
the dark2 It looked like her and Z
thought it was her"
well, you've got me into a deuced
fine mess, but you've got to get me out
OF 1T. 1t was bad enough to have to
run the risk for the swag, but hang me
If I'm going to row right into the face
and eyes of the river-police with q
strange girl L don't care rap about in
the boatw
They lapsed into silence, and Oracle
had an opportunity to realize her situ-
alton.
TWAS evident that she had been mis-
taken for some victim, and that having
discovered their blunder, the rascaIs
were anxious to be rid of her.
For the moment the love of life
stirred within her, and she silently
prayed that they would not make way
with her to shield themselves from JUS
tice. Discreetly holding her peace,
she heard the man in the stern say.-...'.
ID HIyegot. il, Sandy l".erag'', ,-s.s,s,s....s
"welI?" ssNr -. .ssss-s 49, ) :
"Pull in shore and wo'll ship herr
If she comes to, she'll squeal like a
sucked pig, and get us into trouble"
"Well, make haste about it and she
won't come to before we are rid of her.
l answer for that; she's in dead faint.
I've seen lots of 'em like that"
"All right! Which shore?"
West, of course. We can't make a
landing on the Brooklyn side for mud"
Rattle went the rudder, and with
powerful strokes Sandy sent the little
craft skipping cross-wise across the
waves.
At last the keel grated upon the
shingle, Sandy rose and jumped knee
deep into the water; the boat was
drawn up 1lligh and dry, and closing
her eyes to simulate insensibility
Oracle felt herself carefully transferred
from the boat to terra firma.
In silence they laid her upon the
wind-swept grass, and paused for an
instant looking down upon her.
"By the Lord Harry" muttercd the
man whose name was not Sandy, cts
n shame tn Leave n t'reh.,. r,'-i-i-'---+'-.A
a-lyin' here unprotected"
"Oh, get along with you, you chicken
hearted fool |" growled Sandy; you're
n fine rooster to belong to the gang,
You arc! She'll not lay here ten min
utes! I reckon she'll stay at home
nights in future. Come on; we're we'll
rid of II bad job!'
And taking his companion by the
arm he pulled him down toward the
boat, and in less than ten minutes the
beat of their oars had ceased to vibrate
upon the air.
Then Gracic sat mp and Looked about
her She felt trihe dizzy and her
head was light, but otherwise she was
perfectly herself. Before her lay the
river; behind her wide expanse of
moccupied land npon the far confines
of which the massed lights of the city
glittered. She Judged that she had not
been carried far downtown, and she
was correct. --r----------=---
Strange as ii may seem, the hand of
fate had led her within n gun-shot of
the old granary where mt that moment
Max Boyden and Nicholas Garland had
met "to talk business"
She rose and filed her lungs with
the cool night air and felt refreshed
A new strength came to her, and the
fire of great resolution filled her
eyes.
"God has saved me from myself. :"
she murmured; "He has put me into
this world for some purpose, and l will
fulfill His will, cost what it may!"
Then, arranging her disorlcred attire,
she started bravely forward toward the
glimmcring lights. But she had over
rated her powers of endurance.
Frail girl that she was, ere long slio
degan to feel the remnant of her
strength descrting her, and she would
have sunk down hy the wayside to rest,
had it not been that house reared it.
self before her in the near distance
promising her rest and protection.
This was the old building
SO pulling herself together, she
trudGed on and soon paused beside the
door which swung invitingly open. Be
ing of IN easy conscience, and com
pletely exhausted, the silence and lone
liness of the place had no special terrors
for her
She felt that if she could only sleep,
she would ask no more. So she crcpt
into the darkened portal and strained
her eyes to discover what manner of
place she was in.
While she stood there, voices above
her reached her listening car-voiccs
that moved her strangely, voices that
| seemed fatally familiar to her.
With bounding heart she deserted
the dim stairway, and mounted it with
the swift, silent footballs of cat. At
the door above she paused. The voices
were raised in excited alteration.
Suddenly came the crash, succeeded
by the struggle for life and DEATH and
ere she could realize what was taking
T pfa.s:ee z, painting like 'terriTc-.!!
animal, burst out upon the landing,
brushing so close to her that she was
forced to spring aside to avoid being
| thrown to the floor
The man was Max Boyden, and it
was Gracie's rapid movement which
! Ind so terrified and put him to fight.
! She heard him crash down the stairs
and slam the door; what she did not
hear. however. was The cautious shoot
ing of the bolt upon the inside by in
visible hands. the hands of the shade "
that had tracked the two scoundrcls to
their lair.
For the space Of few moments sue
cccding the headlong exit of Boyden,
| silence reigned unbroken throughout
the building, to bc broken at last by a
| In a .,f 4. n,