Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1890-12-20
PRICE ONE CENT

-
tered from my purpose BY a few
tear"
What would you do?'' cried che
young woman. in accents of alarm.
Make you my wife, pretty one"
She started up wildly.
Mercv, mercy" she gasped. " Kin
me at once if it must come TO that,
but don't compel me TO marry you.D
Stop her mouth, Bill,n growled
John, with an oath. THAT fool MP
stairs might hear her and then the
devil would be to pay.'
And you would lose the goose you
hope 10 pick, eh ?'' retorted the fell
low namod Bill.
Yes" sullenly.
There would be two of us against
one. anyhow
"Count me in,n cried Hetty, with
a laugh that made Philips blood
creep. I'm in love with those dia-
monds he wears on his shirt front,
and they are To he my part of the
spoil. Count me in, boys, for I'd be
quite willing to lend helping hand,
II there's trouble, for the sake Of tho
iewels.n
The diamonds will never be yours,
you beautiful devil,n muttered Philip,
between his teeth.
John was the next to speak.
we mustn't run the risk of having
any trouble. Since you have brought
that girl here, Bill, you must make
her submit quietly to your will"
She'll not be such fool us to re-
sist,o returned the man. s'Tm deter
mined to make her my wife this very
night. And, luckily, we are in posi-
ton to have things our own way'
lie looked at the girl with a jeering
laugh. She shiyered under his bale
full glance and b, anne paler than be-
fore. if that were possible
You do not mean what you say
she moaned.
!" do mean il, so stand up here.
The sooner it is over the better.''
You have no priest"
Bah " sncered the brute. John
will conduct the ceremony. He can
marry us as well as anybody else.Y
The gin drew back, trembling from
head to foot.
It's lie " she shrieked he has
ruin ~
- No, Rose; I'd be only too glad to
claim you as my wife"
That's true,n interrupted John.
" He has an eye TO your fathers money
bags, my dear. What other reason
| could have induced him TO abduct
you? As your husband, he will at
once rise into person of considerable
Importance, you see.n
Yes" put in Hetty; and IL your
cruel parent refuses to recognize his
new son-in-law, he'll have to como
down with few thousands of the
'rhlno before he can get you back
again. l comprehend Bills game per-
fectly.,s
Hold your tongue, growled Bin.
won't have any more palavering;
my plans concern myself alone. Ii
isn't your place, Het, to interfere.u
don't intend to interfere,n she
returned, dryly.
The villain now seized Rose some
what roughly by the arm.
Stand a little closer, if you please.
my dear. The ceremony will be over
in minute. Drive away, johns
He favored the person addressed
with such a dctestabIe wink that, OF
itself alone, il must have shown that
be meant mischief. Rose began TO
sob outright.
VIII nothing move you?' she
moaned. If it is money you want,
take every dollar that will ever be
mine and give me my liberty.o
Humph. Unfortunately, / can't
touch the money unless / make sure
of your pretty self in the first place.
SO let us have no further words about
it.n
The unfortunate girl now turned to
Hetty and sought to throw herself on
the bosom of the beautiful siren.
on are OF my own sex,v she cried,
You, at least. must have q heart to
pity my distress. For the love of
heaven, persuade this man to let me
go.v
Hetty pushed her rudely away.
II cannot help you," she said,
Then I am lost indeed.''
The heanrending accents in which
this last exclamation was made reused
all that was manly and noble in the
nature of Philip Vance. Hitherto, he
had listened to what was transpiring
in the kitchen in state Of bewilder-
ment that rendered him nearly help
less. Now he reused himself, dashed
open the door. and in another instant
stood by the girls side.
You are not lost 20 he shouted,
"for am here to defend you with the
last drop Of my blood, If necessary 20
There was a howl of rage and sur
prise from both the men.
It's the strangerr ~ exclaimed
John. He's heard everything. Down
| with him!p
They rushed forward like infuriated
wild beasts. Philip sprang TO the wall
and stood there at bay, facing his
Iayenous foes.
Back y he thundered "The first
man who dares to approach I'll lay a
| corpse at my feet ~
He presented a deadly rim f.steel,
before which both the villains quailed.
They saw il was sure death to 90
nearer. Hetty came into the circle,
! regarding her companions with fiery
| scOEn.
Cowards p she hissed. "It is
on'y one man, and you are two. If you
are afraid Of him, / am not %
She snatched a pistol from Johns
breast. and took deadly aim at our hero.
Ere she could pull the trigger, how
| ever, the girl Rose, uttering a wild
shrek, struck her q violent blow with
her two fettered hands on the arms.
The next instant the pistol exploded,
| and the ball turned aside by the blow,
buried itself in the brain of the villain
called Bill.
He leapcd high in the air, giving ut
terance to fearful scream, and then
| fall forxeaTd On his face efrn0Qllno in