Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1899-12-13
THE FARM IN THE HILLS.
A TALE OF MYSTERY.
Bv FLORENCE WARDEN.
Copyright, 1899, by Florence Warden.

SYNOPSIS OF PREVIOUS INsTALLMENTs
In order that new readers of THE EN-
QUIRER may begin with the following IN.
stallment of this story, and understand II
inst the same as though they had read 1t
ali from the beginning, we here give a
SYNOPSIS of that portion OF it which has
already been published:
The Rev. Granville Mason, who Is travel,
ing in Wales writes his brother, DR.. Reginald
Mason that he is about to go on an excursion
i'm the hills with u wild, uncouth; redheaded
guide After this nothing Is heard OF the cler-
gyman. DIR. Mason goes 10 MaIes, nnas as Ine ,e
that he was going to the house OF MIR. Iregar-
on. owner Of Monachlog farm, some six miles
distant, under the guidance OF man nick
named Coch Tai. Reginald starts In the a1ter-
noon and in his haste, without guide, 10
make his way in face of a snowstorm to Mon
achloe farm. Perceiving figure ahead OF
him, Reginald hastens and comes up with q
large. redheaded man, who on seeing tne aoe-
tor. shows signs fgreat terror and darts ahead.
Reginald follows, feeling sure that the man is
Coch Tai, and, overtaking him, calls him
by that name; but the man again eludes MIN.
He pursues the fugitive down ravlne tiii ne
of which comes groan. Above him he hears
q voice calling and, retracing his steps, comes
upon q farmer, who conducts him to his house.
The mans daughter Is III ana Seglnala asrees
sees ring that had belonged TO his brother.
TIL. house and the people in 1t are mysterious.
There are an old woman, the farmers young
son. Tom, and farmland called Myr1ek.
Reginald goes to the room of the sick girl,
GWyn and upon seeing him, she is struck
with horror. Reginald sleeps In the Kitchen
in O chair before the fire. During the nlght ne
awakens to find that some one has entered
the room and has evidently tried to rob him,
suspicion pointing to the farmland Myrick,
who turns out to be Coch Tai, and the farmer
turns out to be Mr.; Tregaron and the place lace
Monachlog farm. Tregaron tells Reginald ina tnat
he found the ring on o hillside near by. Reg
inald watches at Gwyn's bedside, and she
warns him to leave the place before morning.
Everything and everybody ABOUT tne pace pSe.! IS
but appears to be spying; Coch Tai IS moody,
while Gwyn is in constant terror; Reginald,
seeing Coch Tai climbing ladder 10 loit;
questions him about his missing brother.
Coch Tai admits that he was Granville Mas
sons guide and says that Mason insisted on
climbing where 1t was not safe. He dlsappeaI-
Gwyn recovers and urges Reginald to depart.
A heavy fall Of snow prevents, and he oelleves
that he will never get out Of the place alive.
While he is with Gwyn Coeh Iai CONES sn 70 Tai Tng
shows plainly that he is in love with Gwyn
and jealous OF Reginald and threatens MIN IN
case he does not depart at once. Reginald
pacifieS him and returns 70 Gwyn, VINO ois.
closes that she hates Coch Tai but evidently
fears him. Reginald feels that she possesses
the secret Of his brothers disappearance. Reg-
inald discovers pit on the place ana, whlle
examining it, see the old womans watching
him. She gives satisfied chuckle. Gwyn re-
lapses and acts strangely. Reginald, while
watching with her, falls asleep. He awakes TO
find himself bound, cloth over his head, and
hears Gwyn pleading for him.. She is telling
some one, "He loves me, and love him, and
he is going to marry me-" Then Reginald Is Is
left alone with her. Gwyn does not explain
the mystery, but the next day declares that
the attack upon him was trick to frighten
him. She does not explain why she said that
she and Reginald were to be married, but de-
clares that such must be the understanding
until she can secure his departure, when he
will be free. Tregaron congratulates Reginald.
Reginald determines to sleep in the loft with
Coch Tai. He awakens to find Coch Tai oeno,
ing over him and asking him to wake up and
help him control his desire to kill him.