The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-07-26

|
bore was:
your deserted wife, 1sApEL.'
| CHAPTER XVII.
PRECIOUS PREY.
Ridgeton had something new 10 talk
about next day.
The woman who had been called by
Ralph Prescott to attend upon Ruth,
had told her story with dawn, and the
villagers were consequently treated to
q new bit Of gossip.
Her story was remarkable one. She
had been summoned by Prescott to the
house of the recluse, to find the pre-
tended nurse, the real Ruth, in dead
faint, she said.
She extolled Prescott for his kindness
to the sufferer, as did the attendant
physician.
Later, Paul Dalton had appeared,
and had left hurriedly. She returned
to the sick-room to find the patient in
worse swoon than before. She left her
q few minutes to 60 to her own home.
When she returned Ruth Elliott had
mysteriously disappeared.
Ralph Prescott fitted about town the
next day, apparently terribly anxious as
| to the whereabouts Of the missing girl.
He craftily circulated the story that
Paul Dalton had welded Ruth only to
gain her grandfather's fortune, and,
securing that, would disappear; that he
had undoubtedly secretly removed her
to some friends home, away from the
village.
Farmer John Elliott heard all this
in Si1anna hlt with q 1nwQrinO
| brow.
What was Ruth to him now2 What
Paul Dalton? What cared he for their
doings and intentions? They were
strangers to him henceforth and for
ever more!
So several days passed by. The false
Paul Dalton either kept closely to his
room at the hotel, or did not appear in
town at ALL.
He visited Lawyer Drew several times,
and tried toshurry up the settlement Of
the estate.g He urged that he needed
money to purchase some land to be had
at bargain.
Ralph Prescott kept pretty clear track
Of his movements. The impostor sat
awaiting his arrival early one evening.
Affairs were about to materialize, the
Bchemers felt sanguine. The impostor
Rss anxious to secure the money and
escape. ere some new complication
baked his projects. Ralph Prescott was
determined to be on hand ut the finish,
and insist on fair division OF the i'll.
gotten booty Of crime.
The false Paul Dalton had grown
terribly nervous Of late. That there
was O mystery about his past history;
that he might, If he would, explain many
q dark passage in the life Of the man he
persenated; that bis own career bad
been closely linked with that Of the im.
prisoned man, Ralph Prescott was posi-
tive, but his new colleague in craftiness
refused te divQlge bis secrets;
The latter had been a changed man
since he received that warning missive.
Chat menacing note that was signed
"Isabel:"
He started at his own shadow; he
rarely went out on the streets until after
dark, and then his movements were un-
easy and watchful. The man was
haunted. He had bribed Ralph Pres
colt to silence; he had closed the lips Of
Ruth Elliott, but there was another foe
that he feared, and he alone realized
why he 80 dreaded her.
"She means what she says, he NUT
tered concernedly, "but she has made
no move yet-has made no effort to ap-
pear. On! I must get the money. II
will buy comfort, luxury In q foreign
olime-it will place me beyond the reach
of the law fear. Why, Prescott! What
Is the natter"
The man he had been waiting for had
burst into the room abruptly.
His face was ghastly, his manner agl-
tated.
I'VE are ruined!' he gasped incoher-
emily.
The imposter looked alarmed.
Speak, mani" he exclaimed; "some-
thing has happened2"
Yes, the worst-the very worst,
groaned Prescott. Not only will you
have to fly, but myself as we'll, for now
| oil my connection with this wretched
| affair will come out"
| You mean
'The girl, Ruth"
what Of her? Not dead2"
mo. She has escaped"
The impostor reeled where he stood,
as from some terrible shock.
"Impossible!" he gasped.
1T is true. You know the night we
made our compact, removed her to the
charge of sordid old woman living in
secluded cabin in the forest?"
Yes"
She watched her, drugged her, held
her close captive. Two hours since
visited the place to see if the girl was
oil right.
And found"
Her gone, and the old woman tied
hand and foot near the open door. She
said that o woman had appeared little
before, and had demanded to see her
captive"
Which she refused"
Promptly. The woman did not wait
to argue with her. With strength that
was remarkable and effective she threw
her down and bound her, unlocked the
door OF the room in which Ruth was