The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-07-10
CHAPTER x.

Judith Kredge, who seemed to have de-
voted herself to the task Of spying upor
the cashiers daughter, entered the room
In stealthy manner, and crept to Mar.
ion 6 side. She it was who placed hel
hand upon the shoulder Of the girl as
she stood gazing into the trunk where
the strange looking pistol lay.
Dropping the lid Of the trunk with q
crash, Marion wheeled about instantly
as she felt the weight Of Judith's hand.
"You here!" she cried excitedly, as
she beheld the woman.
yes, and saw the pistol at the bot
tom Of that trunk"
You saw it2"
Yes, and it Is not the first time. !
saw you conceal it in your trunk on the
night Of your fathers murder, answered
Judith Kredge.
Woman, what awful thought is in
your mind2"
you know well enough. You under
stood me when told you YOU were In
my power" replied the woman and then
suddenly bending forward she hissed In
Marion's ear:
You killed your own father!"
This was Judith Kredge's terrible 40
cusation.
Marion staggered to the couch with
which the sleeping-room was provided
and sank down upon it. But in mo-
ment she started up again and confronted
Judith Kredge with all the dignity OF
offended innocence.
1T is false! It is O lie; o base, mon
strous liel" she cried.
Judith Kredge laughed mirthlessly.
You see what evidence sent Stuart
Harland to prison. How much stronger,
how much more terrible is the evidence
I can give against you," she said.
Judith, you are doing me an awful
wrong!"
mo, I saw you with my own eyes. /
know you had just come from the Office
in which your father lay dead when you
called at my room and pretended you
were so much alarmed because your
father had not come home"
And you who know me can believe
such an awful thing Of me?"
1T matters not how well you may play
your part, Miss Marion, am not to be
deceived. Girl, my evidence would
hang you'll"
Judith Kredge uttered the last words
in terrible voice.
DO you mean to publicly accuse me2'
That depends.
upon what7 Speak plainly. Once
and for all, you and must clearly un.
derstand each other, Judith Kredge."
IF it was made worth my while ]
might keep your secret answered Ju.
~
glance in her eyes.
"Ah, you mean that I must bribe
your"
Put it that way il you like"
The two women gazed at each other
in silence for a moment, and each was
striving to read the others most secret
thought.
Tell fne your price," said Marion:
4You have three thousand dollars?"
"Yes, and that is all have"
Very well, then you can pay me no
more. That amount will do, said Ju-
dith. with O malicious grin.
And you would thus rob me-leavs
me penniless?"
Yes, my fair lady. Ha, want to see
your pride have a fall. I'd like to see
you feel what it is to want, as I have in
my time. What are you? You are no
better than I am. Work, work as have
done or-starve," Kissed the vindictive
creature in O harsh voice.
You are an ungrateful wretch! A ser.
pent to turn and sting the hand that has
fed you. But you shall have your price.
I'll not relinquish my purpose yet" Ma
rion Oakburn answered resolutely.
Judith Kredge chuckled exultantly.
To hers elf she muttered half maud.
IDLY:
Three thousand dollars. Not had
nights work. 1t was lucky that hap
pened to be awake and see her. She
was honest when she said she only had
three thousand dollars, which knew tc
be the amount of legacy she received.
Now, who got the stolen money, won.
der. All, my dear brother Levi, you are
keeping secret from me, think; we
shall see whether you are more cunning
than AIN. or not"
One evening several days subsequent.
ly, after the remains Of John Oakburn
had been consigned TO their last resting
place and the crime Of the brokers'
office" had ceased to be the one exciting
topic of conversation, Marion Oakburn
received call.
The visitor Of the cashiers daughter
was the old gentleman called Richard
Stanmore.
The appearance Of the aged stranger
agitated Marion strangely, and she did
not regain her composure until she had
been in his presence for some moments.
In q few well-selected words Stan
more explained that he had taken
great interest in the mysterious murder
Of her father. He also asked a number
Of questions which MSrian n0AmptlF al
swered.
Thus Stanmore obtained the informa-
ton that Marion supposed her father to
be worth a small fortune and that the
money had been kept in his private
safe which stood in the rear apartment
Of the brokers' Office, which it seemed
the assassin had not opened.
This, we remember, was precisely the
Information she had given Jason Garri-
son.
Marion also in the course of the inter-
view found occason to reiterate her con-
yiction in terms most positive that
Stuart Harland was entirely innocent
of oil knowledge Of the terrible crime.
So very confident was she on thls
point that Stanmore thought:
"One would surmise that she has some
proof of Harland's innocence whiS; she
does not care to reveal.
Permit me to inquire, Miss Oakburn,
il can be Of assistance to you in any
way?" Stanmore asked, as the thought
that she might be in need of financial
helm entered his mind