Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1893-08-25

head of DR.. R0blnett WIN sucn iolce ao
to leave his victim stretched apparently
lifeless at his feet.
Tho sbrieks of terror with which Mrs.
Moreland and Jessie flew to the Doctors
side did not deter the intruder from
brandishing his chair above their heads.
"Silence, both of you," he enjoined,
menacing them. "The least noise from
you and I'll kill all three of you'll If you
want war, you shall have it to your
hearts contentl Silence!"
His mien was so terrible that tho
mother and daughter did not dare offer a
word of response, but busted themselves
with stanching the blood which flowed
from all ugly cut over the Doctors right
ear.
sThere. that's more like I'll" cried
Radd, lowering his chair and bounding
to the door, which he opened. "Come In,
boysl We're already in full possession OF
the field, just as l promised you we
would be! Come in"
AS he came back into the sitting-room,
the mother and daughter were Mortified
to see that he was followed by Agnus
Hillington and Walt Hutchley.
They arose in terror, retreating into
the most distant corner of the apart
ment.
"The first step is to bind the Doctors
hands behind him." suggested Radd,
with a gesture toward the motionlesS
figure on the carpet. "He is not seri-
ously iujured-merely stunned-and
he'll be on his feet again In minute If
you do not bind him.
"Leave him to me-" proposed the East
Indian, with gleam of vengefulness at
the unconscious physician. "I'll soon
put it out of his power to interfere with
our little performances"
He suited the action to the word, and
then turned his burning and venomous
gaze upon Mrs Moreland and Jessie.
Until now they had stood as if par
alyzed, as indeed they were, by the in
tention of the three plotters, but now
Jessie caught up chair and hurled it
into the window nearest her, dashing
out half of its sash and glass, while she
uttered wild scream for assistance.
Enough Of that!" cried Hilllngton,
seizing her by the throat and reducing
her to instant helplessness. "Another
cry like that and III strangle youl
Quick, Radd! We must bind theml"
The task was quickly accomplished,
despite the desperate resistance Of the
mother and daughter, and the three
conspirators remained entirely the mas
ters of the situation.
"There!" proposed Hillington, as he
turned away from the helpless trio on
the floor, "let US ransack the house in
quest of the treasure, and get away with
it as soon as we find it, taking the
m other and daughter with us! Lively
The game is now all our own!"
In another moment the trio were busy
with their search for the missing treas
ure, scattering to every part OF the
house.
At least half an hour was consumed in
this quest, but not the least hint of
eventual success rewarded their efforts.
The savage and disgusted mood in
which they at length returned TO the Sit
ting-room can be imagined.
ait would take us all night to search
the walls and floors thoroughly" de-
clared Hillington, with a curse, "and it
would be FOOLS game to leave the pris-
oners here longer, We had better take
them to that sloop in the cove without
another moments delay"
"The Doctor, too?" queried Hutchley.
ESPECIALLY the Doctor" returned the
East Indian, his eyes flashing venge-
fully. "He certainly knows what has
become of that money, and I'll extract
the secret from him, even If I have to
build fire under him to get it. Let us
take all three of them to the woods. Dc
you know, Moreland, where that horse
and wagon are kept?"
Radd hastily assented.
"Then get them here as soon as you
can," enjoined Hillington. "Hutchley
will go with you. Hurry"