The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-07-18

the floor; he stopped and picked them
up, and once more began to draw.
But now he drew scenes he had looked
upon when abroad. He was striving to
think of something that would make him
forget his sister. But his sisters eyes
looked up at him from the white paper.
At last, in sheer despair, he resolved to
draw his sisters face. Perhaps in that
way he might be able presently to think
of something else.
Futile attempt.
The face when half drawn was laid on
the bed, and Beauchampe suddenly burst
into tears. He walked to the window,
gazing ont with tear-dimmed eyes.
Gradually he became aware OF the fact
that he was looking out on roadway.
There was a house opposite him, but
at considerable distance. Then Beau
champe discovered that the building he
was in was made of stone. And now,
he observed, there were a number OF
iron bars outside the windows. The
spaces between these bars were so small
that it was impossible for boy, let
alone a man, to squeeze through them.
Strange that all this had escaped his
notice the previous day.
If he had observed the iron bars, they
made no impression upon him. Now
they angered him.
Suddenly Beauchampe leaned for
ward. What was that between the
stones, just inside the broad stone sill,
beside the foot of one of the strong iron
bars, bedded in lead? Beauchampe
pushed the window with all his might
It was immovable. He turned, looked
at the door of his room, then, suddenly
flung himself against the window. with
both palms outspread. The jar moved
himself again.
Now the large window moved.
@It moved" Beauchampe said inward
". He succeeded in lifting it nearly two
inches. Then he put two fingers under
it, but the object he strove to reach was
as far from him as though it lay in an
other world.
Beauchampe struck his forehead re-
peatedly. If he failed to secure this
object, he would become insane. He
must have it!
He seized the wristband of his shirt
between his teeth, and tore it off. Then
he twisted the ragged edge downward,
bent one end in such way that the cor
ner would drop in the crack between the
stones, and pushing the strip under the
window, drew it along slowly until the
end was over the object he sought.
Nine times did Beauchampe repeat
this, each time jerking the strip sudden
ly inwards, and each time his face ex-
pressed bitter disappointment.
The tenth time he was very delib-
crate.
This time he was successful. Beau
champe suddenly seized the win
dow, and pulled at it, but it refused to
move. He bent his fingers until the
nails caught in the sash that was fat
and beveled towards the panes. At the
risk of tearing his nails out, he succeed
ed ip closing the window.
Then he stopped and picked up
small iron tack, such q tack as is used
in fastening carpets.
This was the object that he had e1-
erted himself to secure
Having secured it, he very deliberately
gathered up all the pieces Of paper, the
lead pencil, the pewter dish, seated him
self on his iron bed, and holding the
tack firmly between his thumb and fore
finger, began to scratch the bottom OF
the pewter plate.
At intervals he would lay the dish
aside and take up piece OF paper. And
all the while he inclined an ear lest
some one should surprise him.
He was seated thus on his bed, draw.
ing child's face, when the door opened
without warning sound, and DR.. Varek
stood before him. The door stood open.
Presently Hawkins stood near the door,
but did not enter.
The pewter dish was lying on the
floor, pieces Of paper were lying near it,
all covered with drawings.
The Doctor stopped and lifted them
one by ono, looked at them, and then
beckoned Hawkins.
Hawkins walked straight to the win.
Doctor, who advanced to his side.
!aThere is the mark Of his nails"
They both turned from the window,
then, and looked at the artist Beau.
champe returned their look, in which
suspicion was manifested as plainly as it
could be expressed in words, with af-
tected indifference.
The Doctor and his assistant looked
around the room slowly. Then Hawkins
eyes settled on the pewter dish. He
kicked it over with his foot, picked it
up, and was on the point of dropping it
upon the floor again, when his attention
was arrested.
He looked at the bottom of the dish,
compressed his lips trifle more, and
handed the dish to the Doctor, pointing
to the bottom with his forefnger.
DR.. Varek looked at the bottom OF
the dish earnestly. The perspiration
stood like beads on Beaucnampe7s fore
head now.
"very clever, indeed-very," said the
Doctor, as he looked at the artist. u
shall preserve this as specimen Of your
talent and perseverance. You have sue.
ceeded in this as well as in the drawing
on the pieces of the bowl you broke. II
is plain to US now. You found knife.
blade or a nail on toe sill there. Let
me have it,"
II have neither knffe-blade nor q
nail," said Beauchampe.
"No matter. Twill have you stripped
If you do not produce it; and when we
find it If it is, as believe, q nail, mark
my words, will compel you to swallow
it. Choose now, on the instant"
Beauchampe handed them the tack in
silence, and both started when they
saw it.
"Nevertheless, Carrick, you shall be
stripped, you head combed-shaved II
necessary. If nothing more is found, 1
will believe you made these pictures
with tack. This shall be laid away
with my silverware; it is greater Gu
riosity every way than the drawings on
the niecaS of the broken howl