The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-09-30
CHAPTER XII-Continued.

She was thinking, plotting, preparing
to act. Her quick mind grasPed the
situation readily, the situation she had
anticipated. and which she had come
prepared to meet. She held the remedy
gold. To befriend the father OF the
man she loved in his dire extremity, to
save an honored family name from re-
!proach-would it not win the gratitude
.of the delinquent son, and gratitude
pity, and pity love?
She had other final resources in re-
serve. She had prepared plans calmly,
Systematically. This was but the first
step. Oh! she could not fail.
She arose and stole to the door; she
peered in. There sat the stern-faced,
Iimplacable lawyer. the fatal documents
spread out before him. There, too,
,waa-faced, wretched, lost, shrank the
Father of Raymond Marshall.
She stepped boldly across the thresh-
lold Of the room. Not until she had
reached the table and her shadow fell
across it did lawyer and victim glance
lup, with vivid start.
Madam!-why-"be began the former.
Il have come to purchase those docu-
.ments."
Her hand pointed to the pile Of notes
and securities, almost touching them.
In profound wonderment the lawyer re-
;garded her. With gasp Of hope, sus-
pense, dread, Colonel Marshall staH5
at her yelled face. ~
"You have come" repeated the
lawyer, vaguely.
ITO buy those documents!"
1Why-I do not understand-by what
right"
Are they for sale?"
Her voice rang out sharply.
ITO Colonel Marshall or his author
lied agent, yes, but to a stranger"
Beatrice Mercer turned to the be-
.wildered Colonel.
Il ana no stranger, but friend, she
haR--whispered in his dumfounded ear.
Isl came to save you, and then aloud:
Colonel Marshall, you authorize me to
act for you?"
The half-stunned Colonel could only
nod like an automaton.
Ten thousand dollars is the amount,
I believe" went on Beatrice, calmly.
There is the money. See that 1t is
right"
She had flashed heap Of bank-notes
of large denominations before the law
yer's sight. She took up the papers on
the table.
This is the forged $4,000 note, I be-
lieve2" she said, selecting one from the
many papers, Colonel Marshall, it
shall never trouble you again.
With two twists of her dainty but
supple wrists, she severed the fatal doc
ument in twain.
These other papers shall keep for
day or two. The amount is correct?"
she demanded Of the lawyer. Colonel
Marshall, you are free from debt and
dread alike. I trust we all know how
to keep a secret. I would like to speak
few words TO you alone"
The lawyer had witnessed some
strange scenes in his professional ca
reer, but tho denouement Of the present
tnexplicable one left him speechless.
Colonel Marshall, like one in dream,
followed the woman who had myste-
riously saved him from ruin and dis
honor from the room.
Then, realizing that he had been
snatched from the brink OF q precip:ce,
he reeled to table in the outer Office
for support, and burst into tears.
Woman, angelic deliverer!" he fairly
sotbed. Who sent you here? You
have saved to me all I hold dear on
earth. My tears, my prayers shall be
yours till my last breath. I shall teach
my own to reverence you. I shall re-
pay you dollar for dollar. What can
say, what can ! do to acknowledge, to
repay this stupendous obligation that
crushes. stuns, mystifies me2"
-One single favor.
Name it-oh! name it
ASK no questions, feel no obligations.
] only ask that tomorrow evening at
dusk you come to the hotel and to the
apartments of Miss Leslie, and bring
your son Raymond with you
She was gone like flash with the
words. The Colonel stood staring after
her as il she were some wrath. His
eyes closed and he swayed like one in
q dream. He hastened after her min
ute later to demand a more lucid ex-
PLANTATION Of her strange intercession in
his behalf, but when he reached the
street, like the fairy in the story books,
she had disappeared utterly.
Beatrice Mercer had hastened back to
the hotel. Her face was flushed, her
eyes hopeful, exultant, as she laid aside
her wraps.
$50 far all is WELL" she murmured.
confidently. Now for the most difficult
part OF the plot.
When DR.. Simms came, she led him to
sofa, and for over an hour in low,
earnest tones she conversed with him.
She told him all her plot, all her de-
sires. She startled him with her bold
ness and shrewdness, she dazzled him
with the promise Of munifcent rewards.
What a scheme!" he calculated,
arising at last, "and all for the love Of a
man whose heart is buried in the grave
OF that lost drowned girl. Beatrice, is
the game worth the candle2"
Il will have it so!" she cried, wildly.
Without Raymond Marshall, what is
wealth to me! You will help mef"
ITO the last"
You can give me the medicine to pro-
duce the effect desire. You will help
me carry out tho imposition?"
Yes. Wait till I 60 to my office"
In On hour he returned. Deep and
subtle must have been the plots Of the
fair and false siren, for, as he handed
her tiny phial, he said:
you can rely upon 1t. When Ray
mond Marshall comes to see you to-
morrow. it will be as you desire. Al
the pity Of his heart cannot fail to sc
iout to the woman VINO has saved hi
family from penury and disgrace. for, t
all seeming, through the agency OF tha
potent drug. you will be dying woman!
CHAPTER XIII.
SUBTLE PLOT
"All is ready?"
Everything. My hoIsekeeper, whor