The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1896-10-28

thought. At my entrance he started vlo-
lently up ard gazed with wonderment,
not unmixed with anger, at me, as III
trnGed myself On his soli1cde. at once
came to the point.
Sir" I said, there are burglars
trying to force an entrance at the back. "
Now, my masters bedroom was ct
the extreme wing Of the building, 50
that had it not been for the fact that |
already knew of the contemplated req
berry he would probably have heard moth
ing of the burglars, taking for granted
that. they succeeded IL reahing the din
ing room, where the family plate-thei-
obiect-was secured.
Ee gazed at me curiously for lew
seconds and then calmly walked across
the room to his chest of drawers, which
ho opened, taking therefrom small re-
volver, which he slipped into his pocket,
handing another to ne at the same time.
Sir Mortimer took the lead, and, fol-
lowing close behind him, noiselessiy
stole along at his heels. Arrived at the
kitchen door, the sounds inside told US
We had come at The rig moment. The
baronet threw open the door. The gas
had been lighted, arQ landing IN the
middle of the room "ere the three men,
young Nh. GecTrey, ap:-' from the
other two, pallid aud haggard looking.
And then do IoJ rightly know what
happened, it was all done so quickly.
Sir Mortimer, stepping calmly into
the room, raised his revolver and fred
at his son, who was waiting for me,
who had lost all presence Of mind,
to act ca the initiative. With Il groan
he threw up his arms and fell forward
with a dull thud on the stone foor. The
other two did not wait Cor more, but
with Incredible swiftness darted through
the pantry, and, locking tho door be-
hind th>ln, made good their escape.
Just then white rabed figure appear
ed at the open kitchen door and sazed
wildly aboaJ her. AS her eyes fell on
the body Of the man lying prone and
lifeless on The floor Hiss Linda Barbi-
can, fer it was she, rushed forward and
with moan threw herself down beside
her brother, apparently dead, killed by
his fatler!
s'My sin has found me cut" she
moaned. MY sin has found ne cut"
And then, her eyes wandering to the
little pool CT blood which Nas crimson
ing the cold flags, she cried out: II can
bear it no longer! Father, father, the
forgery was my work. k''
Casting one look CT concentrated hate
and anguish on the wretched girl at his
feet, he brushed her tremblingly aside
and knelt down, moaning softly to him
self, beside the body Of his apparently
lifeIess sou.
Mr.. Geofrey did not die. His father
had shot somewhat high, and the ball
had glanced along the collar bone, max
ing a long, jagged wound. But still he
was seriously i'll, brain fever setting III
afterrard, and for some time he lay
lowering between life and death.
I explained fully to the baronet the
scheme his sen had formed for thwart-
ing the burglars, who, By the way, were
captured some weeks after the attempt
ed burglary, and Sir Mortimer's feel
ines Of remorse and sorrcw at the way
in which he had wroneed Mr. GeoErey
were terribly poignant.
As for Miss Linda, her story can be
briefly summed up in the following:
Years ago she had worthless lover,
with whom she was completely infatuat-
ed. Gambling and other forms Of excess
had left him in low water, and his
sweetheart had forged the check to give
him the, money ne had needed so sorely,
laying the blame on and weaving her
subtle net of accusation around her in
nocent brother. What ultimately became
of her never knew.
If I had only kept my presence Of
mind and carried out my instructions,
the baronet's hand might have been
staid and Mr.. Geofrey would not have
been shot. But then perhaps Miss Linda
would rot have confessed. Thank heaven,
there are nos many wcmen like her in tie
world -f!hiaaco News