The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1895-01-01

To this murderous proposition all
three agreed, ard Nathan Chessmore
stole shuddering away.
Now who were the parties threatened:
he wondered; and could he be the
means of saving them!
If so, his wild dream, which mao
forced him into his presentpredlcament
might be the means of saving lnnocen'
people. A..
He quickly made his way to the
house, from which the light was giean-
ing, and knocked at the door.
Instantly the light disappeared, ana
a mans voice demanded:
"Who's there" a,,
ssIs this Mr.. Bradley's house!
Nathan inquired.
eyes. Well?'
"Can I speak 10 you inside a mo-
mentp''
"Who are you? and what do you
want?''
81 am stranger in this region, my
name is Nathan Cheesmore, and nave
something very, very important u
communicate which will admit OF ho
delay"
"Wait minute. "
Then there was noise as OF VIII
dow being cautiously opened, ana Ma
than could dimly see head protruoeo'
as if inspecting him.
Shortly after the door was opened.
but no light wse seen inside.
"Come in, si7," said the voice.
Nathan went in, and the door was
| quickly closed and bolted behind him'
':Clara, bring the light" sald 'he
voice. -. :,
At this, Nathan saw a door open al
the other side of the room, and gir
of eighteen appear, holding light Jus'
over her head and strainlng her eyes
| forward.
The light also showed the host
standing few feet from his visltor
/ with a gun in his hand, ready for al
instant shot.
81 see you are suspicious, sir" sale
Nathan, at once, 'sand you have rea-
sous to be, but not of me-
"Ex plain yourself, please?'
Nathan glanced at the approaching
girl, and thought he had never oeneie
more charming maiden.
| He then quickly proceeded to reiat'
all that be had overheard.
Il feared something of this re
sponded Bradley, when Nathan ha'
concluded, "and my daughter and sci
| feel ourselves under the deepest obllga,
| ton to you for this timely warning.
Nathan glanced at Clara and saw ne
] lovely face all aglow, as she added:
awe do indeed thank you and Zee
that we can never repay you.
..I am a hundred fold repaid al
asEeady, Miss Clara, bowed sa.1sR =
CHOW, then, to prepare for the
scoundrelsn said the father.
He and Nathan then consulted to:
gether, and soon decided upon then
course of action. -
The light was pot cut and. they
awaited the result in darkness.
At the appointed time there was q
knock at the front door. :
1t was allowed to be repeated two o.!
three times, as if the inmates were
sound asleep, before the voice of Ma
than responded, in yawning tone:
s.Who's there-and what do you
want?'
"Please, SIR" whined out a doleful
voice, "I've had a fall, and hurt my
self, 80 that I can scarcely crawl!
Please come to my assistance-qulck!'
ssWho are you--and how didit hap
penw questioned Nathan.
The man was in the act OF giving q
false explanation, when he was Startled
and stopped by the loud explosion OF a
gun on the other side of the house,
instantly followed by yells of pain, rage
and dismay.
These sounds were quickly followed
by those of fetreatiug footsteps, and
then all became still.
Bradley had sent q charge OF buck
shot into the faces Of two entering
burglars, with what effect could only
be sursnised by their sudden retreat
and traces of blood left behind them.
81 don't think they'll trouble US
again tonight" was his comment.
Nor did they, though the host ano
his guest kept watch till morning.
It was afterward ascertained thai
two men, while out cunning, had met
with serious accidents, and that one OF
them had died.
Though Thomas Bradley had his
suspicious, he did not make them
known, nor could he ever learn any
particulars to lead him to think he had
made mistake.
His life and that of his daughter, he
felt, had been saved by the timely ap'
pearance and warning Of Nathan
Chessmore, to whom he Was deeply
grateful.
So, also, was that lovely daughter
herself, and the acquaintance thus be-
gun between the two, soon resulted 10
a union which has made the lives OF
Nathan Chessmore and Clara Bradley
happier than they ever were before.