The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-02-15
compare them with the orbs OF wild

beast hunted In the forest.
As waited for him to speak, 1t was o
long time ere the silence was broken, but
at last he turned to me.
"Joslyn, we have stood by each other
nobly, so far, and I'll be hanged II 1
haven't taken q decided liking to you,
but reckon the time has come for US to
part"
GWhy so, Colonel?" I asked, throwing
q grieved vein into my voice.
II would not ask you to follow where
1 am about to 60, and yet it seems to be
my only chance now OF eludlng these
hounds until the breeze blows over anu 1
can skip from the CITY,"
"Have I refused to go with you"
"No, no; you have stuck to me with q
warmth that commands my highest ad-
miration, Joslyn."
did not seem gratifed.
"I see now how it is, Colonel. You
have become tired of my company. Well,
can't blame you. Let US part here. "
aNo, no, my friend, you misunder-
stand me. Short as has been our &C
auaintance I have become very much
attached to you, moro so than ever re-
member of being with any man"
could not help being mollifed at this
confession.
aThen why do you wish to part?"
@Simply because do not desire to drug
you with me to an uncongenial place,
when you have 10 reason to desire to re-
main hidden"
"You don't want to be too sure about
that. But how do you know won't fol-
low you? Try and see. If can't stand
it I'll back out, that's all. Besides, II
you're going into retirement for time
you'll want to open some communication
with the onter world / can be your
means of hearing what Is going on.
He hesitated no longer.
"Joslyn, have it your own way. am
content, II you are. Como with me, and
perhaps some day, should you be hard
pressed for o secret hiding place, you
may be glad that you went to seek shol-
tor among tho dead"
His words did not encourage me, al
though at onco accompanied him.
Among the dead! What new odventr
ure was now to befall me? All manner
OF grisly phantoms, waving their skele-
ton arms in warning. seemed TO rise up
and bid me kocp on; but had made mp
my mind, and ii must be something moro
terrible than imagination that could
keep mo back now.
MY curiosity would soon be satisfied, at
any rate.
Houses that were quite respectable in
their appearance lined the streets.
We had halted before what scemed
to be an ole iron door, set in high wall.
Tho sight Of both made me think OF q
prison yard, and yet this was not such.
After his usual careful search Of tho
street, the cracksman took q key from
his pocket, and inserted it in the lock.
Some muscular exertion was neces-
sary to turn it, but could hear the
tongue slide back with a ponderous
sound.
Then the iron door was loose, and
could be pushed open with slight e1or-
tion.
Reckoning me to follow him, my COM
panion entered.
AS noar as I could mako out VIC were
in a covered way, possibly driVo OF
some sort, which extended along In the
same direction as the wsil.
When we reached tho end, looking up
could see the blue SKY.
The waving arms of great weeping
willows stood between and swept up and
down a. though in mockcry.
As lowered my eyes could not help
but start, for in tho darkness I seomed
to be surrounded by ghostly company.
Scores OF white objects lay around,
their oxact dimensions and outline being
somewhat hidden by the gloom that lay
like pail over all.
knew they were tomostones-
A cemetery in the heart OF the city.
This then was where the hunted bur-
glar meant to hide until the storm had
subsidcd and it was safo for him to ap-
pear cncc more.
conld not but admire mis- shrcwdness
In selecting such q place, whore no one
would cvsr lcok TO. him.
Is sccrat dcn its equal could hardly
bc found in al tho great city.
uo walked In and out among the tombs
o: by-sone worthless and seemed to know
Just whore he was heading, for hc made
no mistakes
Thus he Ishercd me down tho stops
sud ;ato deserted sepulchcr.
The place Was gloomy and had rather
unpleasant odor, but I was not thinking
Of this.
watched the Colonel close the door in
silence, and tkcn he struck match, light
ing candle. With curiosity I looked
around tho place which believed would
soc tho snd OF ny trail, so far as the
burglar was concerned.
T1o RE coSr1SuEp.I