The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1899-03-08
CHAPTER XIV.


THE ABDUCTION OF MABEL FsNToS.
About 8 o'clock in the afternoon a
cab drove up TO the door and sharp
ring followed.
Miss Fenton imp said tall, lanky
man in a hurried tone.
g Yes, sir.
The man entered.
ssNo name-she does not know me.
Say message from Captain Brett-im-
portant.
He was shown into the library, and a
few: minutes later Mabel entered.
ssMiss Fenton?" said the man inquir-
"Yes.
Deeply grieved to be bearer Of bad
news. Don't be alarmed, but. Captain
Brett met with slight accident Uncon-
scious when I left. Asked for you. !"
Mabel turned deathly white.
can accident? How? Where?"
ssNear the docks. Cannot say how
bad knock on the head-came to for a
few minutes and gave your name and
address. Total stranger-but I thought
you would wish to know-insensible
when I left. /"
A few hours before Mabel had broken
down, and it might have been expected
that further blow would have crushed
her altogether, but she faced the situa-
Ion bravely. Duncan. was hurt-how
grievousiy she dare not think. He had
sent for her; she must CO.
.'I can only thank you for your kind
ness, she said. "If you will tell me
where Captain Brett is now, I will go
at once.''
'sMy cab is at door-allow me to
drive you there-time important. !"
For a moment she hesitated, but it
was for moment only. The vaguest,
indefnable suspicion of doubt crossed
her mind, but tte next instant it was
overwhelmed with the thought that
Duncan was hurt and had sent for her.
81 will keep you scarcely minute, :"
she said.
It hardly needed longer for her to put
on hat and gloves, and without leav-
ing any message with servant she
few down stairs and hurried to the cab.
"Will you allow me to accompany
you:'' said the stranger. 81 may be Of
some use.
Mabel thankfully accepted the offer,
and together they drove off.
It was long drive, and the cab
seemed to have more than its share Of
che troubles Of four wheelers. Buses
blocked the way, pedestrians hampered
its pace, drays threatened to overturn
it, and policemen checked it in its mad
career, yet it's driver, steadfast, if not
as silent as the sphinx, held on grimly
for the final goal.
At Hyde park corner they turned
down Constitution hill, and then on
the Mall to Charing Cross, and SO tc
the embankment. So far Mabel knew
the route we'll enough, but when upper
Thames street, with its discordant jum-
Bile of traffic, was reached, she sank
back in utter weariness. She seemed to
be in a dream-a waking nightmare Of
unreality. George prisoner, sup
posed murderer, Duncan hurt, perhaps
dying, or even dead, and she a helpless
woman. torn by conflicting emotions Of
hope and despairl From the outside
were borne il upon her the shouts Of
touts and cadgers, the believing Of
draymen, the ceaseless grind of wheels,
the endless rumble Of traffic. She closed
her eyes. Her sight she could, at any
rate, control, il nothing more.
At last they stopped. Her companion
got out hurriedly, paid the driver, and
then asked her to descend. 1t was a
horrible, dirty street in a dirty and hor-
rible locality, and Mabel shrank invol-
UNFAIRLY as she looked round.
Her companion OWNED her thoughts.
every sorry, Miss Fenton, to bring