The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-09-18
and honesty, hut now know that he

and honesty, but now ! know that he
was the soul Of honesty and honor
At that moment Stanmore heard o
half -stified cry from without, and he
thought he recognized the voice OF the
man he had lett on guard without the
house.
At almost the same moment there
came the sound Of commotion in the
other part of the house, and the tramp
of heavy footsteps coming toward Ma
rion's room.
Stanmore sprang to the win dow, and
tried to open the shutters.
To his surprise and CONSERVATION, he
found that he could not open the blinds,
and he comprehended that they had been
secured on the outer side since his en-
trance through the window.
Has my companion betrayed me, or
has he been overpowered BY the mem
bers Of the mouse before ne cuulu give
an alarm?" cried Stanmore.
He believed that Marion's foes had
entrapped him.
Stanmore now heard the sound Of gruff
voices from without the window, and the
men whose footsteps he heard approach
ing the door had almost reached it.
Escape in either direction was cut of,
and Stanmore could only remain to face
what fate might have in store for him.
He resolved to make determined de-
fense, and to battle for his life desper-
ately, II he was called upon to do so.
The terrible men Of this house will
be here in q moment! Oh, to save me
you have imperiled your life, my noble
friend! I fear you are lost" cried
Marion.
Il mean to make fight said Stan
more, resolutely.
Then he dragged the bed and all the
other furniture Of the room against the
door thus barricading it.
AT this moment Of peril, when have
proven myself true friend, can you not
trust me? You are innocent. Tell me
all, and I will believe you, = said Stan
more.
This is no time for explanations. I
do not doubt your frienship or your truth,
but-oh, they are here!" cried Marion.
Stanmore placed Marion behind him.
and drawing revolver he leveled it at
the door.
The next moment there came heavy
rap on the door, followed by the sound
occasioned by the drawing Of bolt and
the removal Of bar.
Just then the window blinds, which had
been closed, were thrown open, and
Stanmore and Marion saw several police
officers guarding that avenue OF escape.
The police! They have come to ar
rest mel" screamed Marion. clinging to
Stanmore.
.Courage! Courage! I will not desert
you!" cried Stanmore, and he trembled
at the contact Of her yielding form.
The next moment there came crash
against the door, the barricade was
overthrown, and half dozen police
officers, headed by Paxton, the detective,
rushed into the room.
Stanmore and the detective confronted
each other.
It was an exciting moment.
But how came Paxton and his men to
arrive just In time to prevent Marion's
escape and surprise Stanmore?
The two men who had been instructed
by Paxton to shadow Stanmore had
faithfully discharged their duty, and by
those expert trailers Stanmore and his
guide had been tracked to the house In
which Marion was imprisoned.
While one Of the shadows remained
on watch, the other carried the informa-
ton to his principal that they had To-
Gated Mar1on's prison.
The detective laid his plans we'll.
Guided by the shadow, he fastened to
the house where Marion was captive,
accompanied by police force. The
man Stanmore had left at the window
was surprised and overpowered, and the
blinds were fastened.
Leaving several Of his men at the
window. Paxton entered the house. The
inmates fed precipitately at the sight Of
the police and the detective, and his men
made their way directly to the door OF
Marion's room.
AS he beheld Stanmore and caught
sight Of the leveled weapon in his hand
at the moment when he rushed into Ma
rion' g room, Paxton recoiled.
There was q moment Of silence while
Paxton and Stanmore stood face to face.