The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-02-18
THE MYSTERIOUS GUNNER
An Exciting Story of the War
of 1912.
By JOHN r. MUSIcK.
CHAPTER XII.-(Continued.)


Mrs. Ratchet stole noiselessly away te
the room of the wounded man and found
him still quietly sleeping. Then she
returned to the piazza. Both listened to
the noise and confusion all along the
line of earthworks. There were loud
voices and the hurrying of footsteps OF
men.
The spies have again been at work,
Mrs. Hatchet."
Then they cannot charge him with
being spy
"Who?"
The deserter of the Xenophon-tha.
mysterious gunner who drove the man Of
war from the harbor.
But Jack believes he is spy"
He cannot be, for Griffith sad he was
aprisoner locked up in the guard-house,
., and it cannot be.
1T don't make no difference who it is, y
said Mrs. Hatchet; there is great danger
to u.s."
Ola agreed with her, but felt some
little relief in knowing that that strange
man in whom she had great interest was
now above suspicion.
In the noise and confusion the two wo-
men did not notice that the guard, which
had been left ut the house, had forgotten
their duty and we're hurrying down to the
parapet where the excitement and confu-
sion was. The house was entirely rnpro-
tected, and the women at the mercy OF the
naranders who might be bold enough to
enter the house.
Captain Gatrell's house, the reader will
doubtless remember, stood on the hill at
the extreme north end Of the village, and
was Just within the line Of earthworks.
There was ravine spanned by foot
bridge between the house and the village.
This isolated house was some distance
from any others, and might easily be
raiGed without any one else In the village
being any the wiser.
After while the excitement seemed to
die away. The women were about turn
ing around to 60 into the house when the
discharge of musketry in the distance was
borne to their ears.
90 What does that mean?" Ola asked.
There is fighting down there.
For a few moments sharp firing was
heard and all became still. Then came
hurried tramp of feet, aud the voice Of
the Yankee Smon was heard to say:
Come on, boys. Consarn their pic
turs, we'll make 'em think old Nicks eout
Tonight"
Ola could hear the Yankee with about
fifty others leap the breastworks and
hasten away through the woods in the
direction Of the firing.
Again all became silent and Ola and
Mrs Hatchet re-entered the house. They
stole to the invalid's room and found him
still asleep. All through the confusion
and uproar of that terrible night he had
slept
Mrs. Hatchet at last prevailed on our
heroine to 60 to her room and retire.
Days of anxiety and nights of wakeful-
ness had almost exhausted the poor girl,
and her own room seemed so neat and
Quiet when she reached it that she thought
she could sleep sweetly.
She threw herself On the bed without
removing her clothes and in few mo-
ments was unconscious. The midnight
hour came and silence still enwrapped
the Gatrell mansion.
The church clock in the steeple had
Just ceased striking twelve and the last
echo was dying away among the distant
hiHs when there came to the window that
same dark face which had peered in on
r the lovers. There was diabolical grin
upon it, and tho eyes cleaned with a
6endish delight.
The window was noiselessly opened,
and second figure appeared at his side.
Then thin ray Of light from dark
lantern appeared through the window.
The head and shoulders of man were
thrust into the room, and he roiselessly
? wriggled his way inside. His companion
r: held the lantern 80 that the rays fell upon
the face of the sleeping girl. The man,
who wore the uniform of British officer,
walked noiselessly 10 the bed where the
sleeping girl lay, and, saturating hand.
kerchief with liquid from a vial, held
1t moment to her face.
Her breathing seemed to cease, and,
lifting the apparently inGnimate form in
his strong arms, he ran to the window,
leaped through, and joined his COM
panion. They fastened with their faiI
captive to the parapet, scaled it, and
we're Fastening through the woods when
the sentry hailed them.
Come, Bill, run; they're goin' to
shoot" said the abductor. who carried the
, insensible Ola in his arms. Both set Oh
at run into the woods.