The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-04-05
-Confusioh!-. cried Sears, at the same


time producing his pistol.
YOU'RE ksener than I imagined" said
Morris in admiring tones. You ought
to be fnancier, Mart. You're wasting
your talents on burgling."
In the meantime our here, seeing that
nothing was to be gained by further SIM
ulstion, had risen to his feet, and with
folded arms stood confronting his armed
enemies.
What have you heard?" demanded
Morris.
Don't turn fool in your old age, Max,
sneered Sears Hes heard everything,
of course!"
Il heard you say that Miss St. Cyr was
dead" faltered Cole, who had instantly
realized that he had been trapped. 1T
isn't true. I'm sure it isn't"
"Iguess you're right. Mart Bloom is q
conscientious, truthful man, but I'm
afraid his imagination was rather active
when he made that statement. My pretty
Berenice will have piece Of news to-
morrow, and, what's more, twill have
the merit of being true"
And that is -"
AN account of your deathl"
Good enough" CALCULATED Bloom,
while Morris breathed heavily through
his close-set teeth.
DO you mean to murder me?" demand
ed Cole, taking backward step and
clinching his hands.
oh, my, mol That's rough word.
We propose to remove you.
You're q lot Of miserable cowards"
You're becoming rather personal, Mr..
Winters. but I'll overlook it In view OF
your excited condition. Besides, to tell
the truth, you are about right. We are
little bit afraid to leave you running
around loose.
Cole Winters looked from the sneering
face Of the young man to the cold, i'm:
passive one Of the money-lender, and
realized that no chance for life would bs
given him.
I'll make one for myself, he decided
suddenly.
This resolution formed, he dealt young
Sears q blow which sent his revolver fy.
ing across the room, and brought him
heavily to the floor.
He was in the act OF following up hli
advantage by assaulting Morris, when
his arms we're seized from behind.
Although unusually strong and active,
our hero was ss powerless 10 move as II
scribed in the roma ances Of his boyhood.
He struggled and plunged. but the
strength Of Martin Bloom 30 far sur.
passed his own as to render his efforts en-.
tirely futile.
Than he bethought himself of his
voice.
The word was fairly driven back into
his throat by the brutal hand Of Morris,
which descended heavily upon his mouth.
LET me at himl" shouted Sears, who
had regained his feet and drawn mur.
derous knife.
"Hist!" warned Morris, raising his
hand and stepping between the enraged
young man and his intended victim.
Don't We want to get rid Of him?"
Yes, but not that way. A blow has de.
prived you of every idea save that OF
revenge"
He must die"
True, but it must be accidental"
"How?"
That's for you to decide"
I'm equal TO the emergency"
Reason had gained the supremacy over
rage, and Almon Sears laughed mock
ingly and smote his white hands to.
gether.
Good! What do you propose2"
This way"
Leaving Bloom in charge Of the prison.
or, Morris took the dark lantern and fol-
lowed the other to the rear Of the long
apartment.
Near the back wall the young man
stopped, and stopping over began tugging
at ring in the floor.
After little section Of the floor began
to move, and . moment later trap door
had been. laid back, leaving an aperture
some four feet square from which close,
almost sitting smell arose.
Whats that2" queried Morris, ct the
same time recoiling from the opening.
Its q cellar, just the place for us.
How came you to know about it2"
Mart and I brought some plunder hero
over molth ago. We spent the greater
part of a night here. like to know the
nature of my surroundings, and the differ
ent avenues Of escape in the event OF
surprise, and so surveyed the premises.
What's below2"
Nothing but foul gases and death"
But his body will never be found
there?" g..
Wont i.a I'll arrange that matter.
It will not only be found, but with it
what will he regarded as certain proof
that he was accidentally killed by falling
through the open trap. Leave that to
me. I've liking for details. This way,
Mart!"
ITo BE coNTINuEDJ