The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-07-28
CHAPTER XIV.
THE SECRET.

his whole being rising with exultation,
hope, and suspense.
Tom Cupples nodded and gasped. Then
he family articulated.
ut was a manila paper package, Mr..
Wharton gave it to mt Tuesday night"
ut is the same!" cried Dacre, trans
formed with excitement and expectancy.
Quick. man! you have it? give it to me.
1t is mine"
Cupples shook his head slowly, as if to
indicate some negation to the rapid
queries of his interlocutor. He tried to
speak and sank back, the sound gurgling
in his throat spasmodically.
Speak, I tell You!" ordered Dacre
f~iercely, amid his eagerness, losing sight
of the mans weak and helpless con-
dition. He told you to give me the
package. You have it! Mop"
The nodding head moving n%ervously
from side to side tried to answer him.
Then you know where it is?"
Oh! the plotting heart took hope, for
Cupples indicated a strong affirmative.
Where is it?'
Cupples made a motion for more water.
1t moistened his feeble vocal organs
HE gave it to me-hide it-be said"
painted the invalid, in a scarcely audible
tone.
Eyes, yes! brace up! don't weaken!
and-you hid it,"
yes"
"Where?"
TOO long to tell you'll haven't the
the strength. Far away. I thought he
so ordered it-safe place"
Tlo,o nn.,oNnac u,arn cpnl.an IN dis
iointed gasps. Upon the utterance of
each, the baleful plotter hung as if bis
life depended upon their significance.
Coming back-I had q stroke. Hurry
-excitement-did it. l never thought
to get home. l met a charcoal burner
near-near Deepford. He wrote - the
details OF the hiding-place. l feared-I
would-forget."
Wrote it?" stormed Dacre, with sud-
den alarm" "Why! he will 60 and get
it."
NO. Does not know-what is hidden.
Started for here. Another stroke. Done
up. am going to debut l obeyed-
my friend my dear friend - my dear
FRIEND ~--s
HIS eyes closed, and he subsidized into q
silence and a rightly like to that Of
death.
"Rouse ups shouted Dacre, shaking
him fercely. 1.-THE directions-the pack
aGe!"
I'm the cave-in my Docket-no-this
one left side of my coat Water-wa-
ter"
Arnold Dacre sprang to the table for
the glass. Before lie r~egained the side
of the PROSTATE man, however, with a
violent CONFUSION, the latter sank back
senseless.
Hes gone or going!" muttered the
schemer hoarsely. 'Oh! will the paper
tell. Yes. Yes, it is lere-it is here,
gloryl l have it"
From the mans inside coat pocket, he
drew forth a paper. 1t was creased and
marred with charcoal dust. About to
open it, he glanced at the door sus-
piciously.
Some one had pushed it open a trife.
He fancied he heard the low breathing
of some one lurking there
"Isthere some trap in this?" he ground
out suspiciously, mo! no! The man was
too sincere. Who are you?"
He sprang suddenly to the door and
opened it Upon its threshold stood a
stranger. He was a peculiar-looking
man, dressed in home-spun, wearing blue
spectacles, and with a face as tawny as
that of an Indian.
what do you wants" demanded Dacre,
scowling snsplciously.
The stranger regarded him fxedly and
nnabashed.
BEG pardon" he said, in a low. I'M
natural tone, 'but is this room for
rent?H
'Yes-no-Id don't know-ask the land
lady,"
He slammed the door shut and locked
1t this time, With such force that q cur
rent Of air generated struck the frail
lamp on the table. There was a sharp
snap, and the glass chimney shattered
into q dozen pieces. Endeavoring to
turn down the smoking wick, Dacre
burned his fingers badly.
'sPerdition seize it," he raved as the
smarting pain of the fiery contact caused
him to tip the lamp over on the table.
He managed to blow it out before the
oil had spread. Then he started for the
door, but he halted irresolutely.
The man was in a wild fever Of i'm
patience. 1t seemed as if hs csald not
wait till he reached his own Dom to
read the contents of the precious docu-
ment secured from Tom Cupples.
There was an open CRATE In the apart
ment. Seis.ng an armful Of old papers,
Dacre flung them into the fire place.
Snap-fare! a lucifer flashed up. He
threw the burning match on the pile.
II famed up with a fierce. sullen roa
Crouching to the hearth, Arnold
Dacre unfolded the paper with tremb-
ling banda Eagerly his eye scanned IL.
beyond Deepford." ran the rude
charcoal scrawl, 'in a cave"
At that moment, a sudden jar echoed
through the room. 1t sounded from the
door, and thither Arnold Dacre directed
a hurried glance.
The transom looking out into the hall
had moved-was some one at it watch
ing him-the mysterious blue specialized
man, perhaps?
He never knew, for just then the open
transom formed a vicious draught.
1t swept the precious document from
his band.
Ere he could recover it, a swoop sent
it straight into the blazing heap in the
crate.
lie grasped it with the frenzy Of de-
spair, to find only a brittle morsel Of
ashes in his hand.
The only clue to the missing package
was ashes, "a dead blank. Tom Cup
ples' secret was q secret still!
ITo BE CONTINUED.
Grave of Lincoln's Mother.