The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-05-21

~" uoPPy oho uoA DSCn La o- ~
old home, in the quiet valley at Jones
borough, and how in the springtime
she would gather flowers in the woods,
also how cruelty she had been stolen
away from all this that she so dearly
loved.
The little French clock on the man
tel just above their heads struck twelve,
which quickly sent them both to their
| rooms.
Lenora was soon lost in sweet sleep,
but Gertana was restless. and sleep
would not come to her weary, burning
eyes.
"Who mad called Sylvester away so
suddenly? What had he gone for9"
continually rang in the Italians ears.
A telegram that would call Sylvester
Eoll away from Lenora, just when he
expected to see hes 30 soon again,
must necessarily be of considerable
importance to him.
So this telegram proved.
1t was sent to Noll, at Chicago, by
man we have met before; by the un.
known, who had so suddenly disap.
peared from Sheriff Williams grasp in
that beautiful underground room at
the old log cabin in the woods neal
Jonesborough. Thanks to Johnny
Jones' skill, Swarthy Jim had not sue
c,eded in getting the papers concern
ing Lenora that we're 80 necessary to
enrich his purse, but he had left the
best man of his remaining gang, the
unknown, in charge of the old cabin;
be was also in some way to get the
papers that were in the Rice farm
house.
The unknown was very skillful at a
game of this kind, and by assuming a
humber of different characters he fin
ally succeeded in gaining the full par
ticulars of the affairs Of the Rice
family.
He had watched closely for two
months for an opportunity of rsSiding
the house and getting the papers:
Luckily for h m, one day by chance
he heard that the farmer was going
with his wife to visit some relatives
living at Koalin, and were to be there
four or five days.
They had thought it safe now to
leave their home, for they had not seen
or heard anything of that band of rob.
bers for so long that it was supposed
they had all fed from the country, or,
as they deserved to be, had been
killed.
So the unknown, taking advantage
of this good chance, stole to the little
lone farm house one dark, rainy night
during the farmers absence.
After q long and tedious search, he
found the papers in the same little
box that they had been in when
Swarthy Jim dropped them at the door
of that doomed lonely home. 1t was
indeed lonely now, since the pride and
pet of the neighborhood had so mys'
teriously disappeared.
The party who had secured these
papers was partner, or rather one OF
the members of Noll's gang, who had
supposed he would get good pay for
bis long two months work.
If not, he intended to have revenge
to be even with his unscrupulous
leader.
After the papers were safely concealed
in an overcoat pocket the unknown left
the lone house for his own abode, the
beautiful underground room of the
mysterious log cabin.
After laying the papers away in
secure place he put more wood on the
fire, drank glass of brandy, and soon
fell asleep.
It was about noon the next day be-
fore he wakened. His fire was out and
be felt hungry.
"Ah! Now r must have little lunch
and good, warm fire, for Jim will
soon be here"
About dusk of that day, as the un-
known was sitting by the fire, warming
his toes and smoking his cigar, Sylves-
ter Noll entered, in the guise OF a
Jewish peddler, with the pack on his
back, while he looked dingy and sus'
picious enough.
"Halloa, old pard, was looking fol
you about this time, and here you are.
o. k. How do you do, any way9"
ooh, I am feeling irst-rate; but We
came near losing that plucky little
beauty, after all. Have you got the
papers?"
"Yes; you may stake your last dollar
that when I say I will do thing ]
mean it. told you would stay here
and get those papers for good fail
sum. But, Jim, I am anxious to know
what happened up there at old Chi.
cago. Sit down and tell me all
about it.
II will, but I must get back to Chi
cago by tomorrow; you will under.
stand why after you hear what has
happened"
Noll lien related all that had hap
pcned since he left Jonesborough.
"Ah! the girl is a rebellious little
mink, isn't she? Is she handsome,
Jim?"
eyes, by Joe, pard; the fnsst ever
saw"
"Seeus to mo, jim, by &e way you
talk you are falling ia love, eh? I am
about right; hal"
"Now is not the time to talk of such
matters. We must proceed to busl
ness. By the way, how is that Spring
field affair going to pan out? Thina
there will be any catch in it,"
"No, Jim, there is not the slightest
suspicion; if We can succeed in getting
in that safe, we will have good round
sum, I tell YOU"
"And now I am ready to strike
harnain with Won. If YOU give me
good money I'll do the work, and you
can make love to that pretty Little