The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1895-03-05
TRT-WERKLY EDITION.


a rich diamond setting, and holding 1t
up before her eyes, nos opened VICE
with wonder and fright, hc cried:
"See here. Why do yuA now trea'
me with such co:daess and scorn? Sc1
three wears I have been your lover,
YOUR slave; your image has been the
ever present object of my worship, and
now lay fortune liberty, lie even, at
your feet! DO you know this ring? IL
vas presented to me by your father
wears ago, for some service l rendered
you and him in moment OF deadly
peril, when I saved you, unconscious
and bleeding as you were, from robbery
and death! Believe me that the love
which turned aside the avenging dagger
three years ago will still protect you
from every evil, If your father deemed
me worthy Of this gift why should ms
daughter refuse to extend her conn
dence?"
Thus did the infatuated man rave,
while he thrust the jewel into the white
face of the frightened woman.
A cry of horror broke from her lips
as she recognized the ring, and the ter
rible memories Of the fearful adventure
in the suburbs of Vienna three years
before came back in all their painful
distinctness and detail. With those
hateful memories was broken the spell
which had once led her to listen to the
professions of her admirer. In her eyes
he was no longer the polished courtler
and gallant companion, but the masked
assassin, the common footpad and vul-
gar thief who prow!ed stealthlly Tor
prey as the wolf hunts the harmless
and defenseless members of the flock.
She could not conceal her aversion and
when the count attempted to proceed
with his supp!ication she turned away
her head with loathing that was un-
nistakable, and waving him away be-
sought him to leave her, and enter her
presence no more.
The supplicant was not slow to per-
ceive his failure, and gieam of reason
penetrating the thick mist IN which MS
senses had been enveloped, the idea OF
his danger came upon him with such a
force that he stood appalled, as If ne
confronted it.
AS the consequences Of his rashness
rose before him the selfish passion
triumphed over all others, and turning
to the lady, his face livid with rage and
baifled passion, eyes flashing with the
terrible deadly brilliancy Of the rattle
snakes when about to strike, he hlssed
through his c!enched teeth, as he with
drew:
Woman, if you lisp word of this i
will kill you, if hunt you to the end OF
the earth? My death alone will not
save yoa, for l have hundred fol-
lowers who will know all within an
hour, and if harm comes to me you
and yours cannot hide from their ven
geauce.'
His concluding words were wasted.
for before he had finished Mrs. lngsley
had fallen back upon the sofa, appar.
entity ifeless; and when, a short time
after, an attendant entered her room,
she was still lying unconscious.
The whole house was alarmed, and
messengers sent to call physician and
apprise the lady's husband. Both ar
rived at about the same time, and met
at her bedside. To their anxious in
ouirles as to the cause of her sudden
illness she long refused to answer, re-
plying to their urgent entreaty that she
dare not. Of course this only helgh-
tened their determination, and after a
tedious struggle the secret was extorted
from her.
The matter was Immediately laid be-
fore the authorities, but the chief OF
police shook his head increduously.
He knew the count well, and declared
that it was impossible for him 10 COM
NIT such az offense.
But the accusation was positive, ano
at last it was arranged that a squad OF
officers should proceed quietly to make
the arrest and search the premises, so
if the suspicion should pro e ground
less the affair would produce no un'
pleasant scandal.
About midnight half dozen men
quietly entered the counts palace, and
placed him under arrest. A careful
search of the premises followed, and
vast quantity of plate, jewelry, and
other valuables were found, which had
been taken from waylaid travellers or
plundered from neighboring estates,
and much of it was identified.
The prisoner was soon brought to
trial. when the facts developed showed
that he had been long connected with
o band of highwaymen, and it was un-
der his direction that most of the bold
rcbberles committed during the few
preceding years had been planned and
executed. He was secret police agent
in the pay Of the government, and,
therefore, able to warn his companions
of impending danger, or turn suspicion
and pursuit away from the guilty par
ties. It was his knowledge and guild
ance that had enabled them to select
their victims with such pecuniary
profit, and his influence with the au-
thorities had paralyzed and thwarted
all efforts made for their detection and
capture.
He was convicted, executed, and his
wealth, amounting to over $4,000, 900,
conhscated. With his death his fol-
lowers, who had escaped the gallows or
the prison, dispersed, and the famous
band of outlaws ceased to exist.
Women Don't Eat Enough.