The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-05-17
CHAPTER XVII.

idly downward.
CHAPTER XVII
SPECIAL PROVIDENCE
Herei None Of that!"
With one foot out Of the bed, Cole
Winters paused and looked curiously ut
the speaker.
He was q man Of small stature, his
height being apparently something less
than FIVE feet. But what he lacked Of
the full proportions" Of Q man in that
regard was amply compensated for in
the breadth and thickness Of his
body. His arms, too, were large and
muscular, his enormous knotted hands
extending fully half way down his legs.
which were the only portion OF his body
that appeared dwarfed.
This circumstance, however, gave him
q grotesque, almost ludicrous appearance,
which brought smile to the pale lips Of
cur hero. But an instant later an awful
flood Of dark and bitter memories surged
in upon him and fairly swept It from his
face.
In tho midst Of question Cole paused
and looked searchingly sround.
He found himself In large room which
eemed to contain no furniture except O
chsir, stove, an old lounge, Q rickety
tsbls upon which stood number Of bot
ties, and the bed, where Cole half sat,
half reolined.
The floor was uncarpeted, and the light
half excluded from the one window by an
old blanket which was tackled across its
lower portion.
Amt much acquainted hereabouts7"
queried the man, whose age seemed TO be
30 years at least, as he seated himself on
the chair and assumed q hideous look,
which Cole subsequently, determined wss
intended for smile.
Il should say notl" responded the %.
tonished and bevilde7ed young man.
Probably you don't know mea"
For the apparent purpose Of aiding our
kero In identifying him, the man stood
up to the extent that his diminutivs lsgs
permitted, s.d turned his huge face full
upon his observer.
Reckon you can osll me down nov,
said he.
Il must admit that cannot
Propose to repudiate me, do your
The short man snapped this out sn4
flung himself back upon the chair.
Certainly not, returned tho now thor
oughly mystihsd young man. Tho fact
is that I don't
aThat's q fact. That's one on you,
Jer1y Moo,el You were q leetie too
small to remember me, guess.'
Where Cole had wondered before, hs
marveled now. Once more he looked at
the mesgsr appointments Of the room.
and returned his gaze to the face Of the
man who half way announced his name to
be Jerry Moore.
Il don't understand You'll have to
explain, replied he, making an effort to
rise to his feet. 1t.
None Of thatl You lie DOWN."
In q manner tiger-like. both as to
quickness and ferocity, the man sprang
forward and forced Cole back upon the
bed.
I'm in the hands OF lunatic," ="
thought the latter, who, partly as o mat
ter Of policy. but principally from feel
ing OF weakness, quietly maintained the
position into which he had fallen.
For q moment only the evil light shone
In the mans large and expressive eyes.
This subsidized as suddenly as it had
famed up, and he quietly resumed his
seat.
Lie still and I'll tell you all about it.
I'm your Uncle jerry"
Nor" replied our hero. thinking to
humor his self-announced relative.
You can gamble on it and win. But
they don't know 1t.
.No?' said Cole again.
I should say not. Do you suppose
that they are fools enough to think that
old Jerry Moore would make way with his
own flesh and blood. They think I'm
bad, and I'm leetle grain worse n they
think, hut wouldn't do that"
This was becoming interesting. Cole
Winters felt that the mystery surround
Ing him was In the way OF being
plea5ed up.
What's your name2" asked Jerry
Moore, suddenly.
4I-why you know, Uncle Jerry
That won't interfere with your telling
me. Out with it'll"
MY name is Cole Winters
To the utter astonishment OF the
speaker the other sprang forward and
seized him by the wrists in vise-like
grip.
4 moment raore and he had taken from
ono of the spacious pockets of his coat
pair Of handouts.
Don't iron mel" cried Cole in con-
sternatior.
Unjust. You're getting bad again. I
thought you'd got all over that notion"
What notion2"
THAT yon were that young murderer,
who killed old man st. Cyr."
How came here3" asked Cole, when
his companion had returned the hand
cuffs to his pocket and resumed the
chair, which he had drawn close up to
the bed.
Now your senses are coming back to
you. Lie still and I'll tell you. Just 90
you fell ont Of the window I happened
along. have great faculty Of happen.
ing along when I'm wanted. I'd had my
eye on Max Morris for better'n week
and lowed that he'd want me soon, cause