The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-09-18

his way into the room through the group
of policemen, at Pa1ton's back about
the door.
The new arrival was Stuart Harland.
He had succeeded in liberating him.
self from his prison in the cellar, and
from without the door which he was
passing stealthily, unaware of the pres
ence OF the police, he had heard all that
had just been said.
He comprehended Marion's peril,
and he felt thrill Of JOY in tho thought
that it might be given him to save her.
Hold" Stuart cried, Il was the one
to first confirm Judith Kredge's accusa-
ton of Marion Oakburn, but now de-
clare that I know she is Innocent"
DO you mean that2 Explain!" cried
Paxton in amazement.
Stuart then in few words explained
how he had been captured and impris-
oned, and In conclusion he repeated Ma
rion's soliloquy which he had overheard,
and the opening words Of her prayer.
She would not call upon her Creator
to bear witness to lie. The last shadow
of doubt is banished from my mind
now. She is innocent, and it would be
cruel to subject her to the ignominy OF
arrest, even as q measure Of compel
ling her to speak, said Paxton, and he
added:
While shadow Of doubt was tn my
mind I felt it my duty to arrest you, as I
have said. Pardon me. am glad my
purpose was not consummated before
this information was received
Then he addressed few words to his
man
There was some rurther conversation,
and then the party left the house, and
Stanmore escorted Marion to the house
of kind, motherly old lady, who, for
her lovers sake, agreed to receive Ma
rion as her daughter. The poor girl
wished to avoid Judith Kredge, and she
assured Stanmore that she felt premo.
milton Of approaching illness.
The recent experiences through which
Marion had passed had proved too terri
BILE for her to endure without evil con-
sequences resulting, and her brain
whtrled, and she felt the fire Of fever in
her veins as she told Stanmore that she
had been seized and chloroformed in her
own house by Judith and her brother,
and that she knew no more until she
awoke and found herself a captive in
strange house.
Meanwhile Levi Kredge and Judith
were exulting over the turn affairs had
taken.
Kredge believed he was safe now that
Judith had denounced Marion, and since
the pistol with which her father had been
shot had been discovered in her trunk.
The wretchas meant to sacrifice Ma.
rion. -.
Upon the occasion Of Judith's next
visit to Lewis cell, the rascally janitor
asked her the following questions:
DO you really think Marion killed her
father?"
Yes" answered Judith, confidently.
You are all wrong," said Levi with
cunning leer. Il don't think Marion
killed her father And coming close
to Judith, lie added in startling whis-
Fer: In fact, know she did not kill
him."
Judith was Intensely excited, and
seizing Lewis arm she Kissed: Then
you killed him!"
NO, you are wrong again. I've Lit.
tie secret, Judith, and I'm keeping 1t. !"
a secret!"
yes, and one shall only tell to save
my life
Judith was perplexed, and she said:
Il cannot comprehend, and I suppose
It is useless to ask an explanation, for. ]
know your stubborn nature 30 well.
Quite right, rejoined Levi.
But leaving this interesting pair, we
will turn our attention to more agreea-
BILE characters. .
The morning following the night OF
Marion's rescue, after q night OF painful
anxiety on her account, Stanmore called
at the house Of the good woman with
whom he had left her, and he was star
tied by receiving the information that
Marion had become delirious after he
had left her, and that physician who
had been summoned in haste, pro-
nounced the unfortunate girls malady
brain fever.
Stanmore was terribly alarmed, enH
he remained in the house until he saw
the physician who was attending Ma
rion, as he came to make a morning
call.
The doctor assured Stanmore that
Marion's condition was exceedingly pre-
carious, and that he could not decide on
q positive prognosis as to her recovery
as yet.
As it was thought that his presence
might further excite Marion, Stanmore
refrained from seeing her.
When Paxton visited the Chief OF
Police, to inquire about Stanmore, the
official in question in reply to the others
interrogatories said:
Il am an old md confidential friend
OF Mr.. Stanmore but under the pres
ent circumstances I think it best for him
that should confde his history to you.
You have told ME that you have dis
covered that Stanmore is only an as
sumed name. You are right. Donald
Wayburn is my friends real name.
You know that he fed from New
York some years ago, and that he was
accused Of defrauding and swindling. I
knew oil that. Stanmore has not de-
ceived me, rest assured on that point.
But tell you now that Stanmore is an
innocent man. He vas ruined by Pratt
and Weeks. He was himself deceived,
for he was young and inexperienced.
Those scoundrels put him forward as
the head Of gigantic swindle, in which
he had implicit faith. Stanmore was
made to seem to be the very prince OF
scoundrels and swtndlers, and while he
lost his fortune and his reputation, and
was obliged to leave the country to es-
cape arrest, Pratt and Weeks reaped a
harvest Of ill-gotten gains.
-Stanmore, when he fed from New
York, went to the South African dia-
mond field, where he became fortunate
digger, and soon accumulated modest
fortune. He then became a dealer in
supplies for the mines-a speculator in
claims and broker in diamonds. Sue