Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1899-02-04
CHAPTER <.
RETRIBUTION.

RETRIBUT1ON.
had seen nothing Of Allie since l
had said good night to her the previous
evening, nor did I receive an invitation
to visit her until breakfast had been
over some time. Then Walworth enter.
ed my cabin.
"Her ladyship," he said, taking a
seat on my locker, "has sent me to say
that she would be glad to see you aft, If
you could spare few moments. Before
You 20 I want to explain the situation to
you. The matter on hand, as you may
guess, is the case of that scoundrel Ell
bington, and as he will be. present she
thinks it best that little precaution
should be observed"
"In what way do you mean?" I an
swered. "Of course am ready to do
anything she may wish, but I'd like to
have my instructions clearly explained
to me first
"Well, have been commissioned to
inform you that she thinks it would be
better in case of accident that Ebbing-
ton should suppose she has abducted
you as we'll as himself. That is to say,
instead of being her guest on board the
schooner you are her prisoner. Do you
understand"
Perfectly. She is afraid lest any
harm should occur to me, when leave
her yacht, by reason of my association
with her. 1t is like her thoughtfulness. y
"Shall we go?''
I Isignifed my assent, and we set of.
When we reached Allies cabin, we
found her reclining on couch at the
farther end, the bulldog as usual at her
feet. She held packet Of papers in her
hand, which previous to our arrival 1t
was evident she had been perusing. At
the other end, near the companion lad
der, but on the starboard side, between
two sailors stood the prisoner, Ebblng-
ton. He looked, as we'll he might, hope
lessly miserable. He opened his eyes in
astonishment when he saw me enter. l.
however, crossed the cabin with Wal
worth and stood on the port side with
out letting him see that recognized
him. Then solemn silence fell upon us
all for nearly minute. While it lasted
Allie sat with her chin on her hand,
staring steadfastly at Ebbington. Under
her gaze he lowered his eyes, and when
l noticed that his fingers twined con-
vulsively over and round each other l
could imagine the state of his mind.
The fellow was plainly as frightened as
it was possible for him to be. Then A. lie
lifted her head and spoke in voice as
soft as kittens purr.
"Mr. Ebbington, she said, "do you
know me?'
He did not answer, but I saw the first
finger and thumb of his right hand
clutch at his trousers leg md hold it
tight. That action was more significant
than any words. Again she spoke:
"Mr. Ebbington," she said, my
trusted servant, my faithful friend, my
honorable agent, ask you again do you
know me?''
Once more he refused to answer.
"You seem undecided. Well, then,
let me trespass upon your time and tell
you little story, which will perhaps
help you to remember. You may listen,
Dr.. De Normanville, if you please. You
must know, Mr.. Ebbington, that once
upon time there was woman who,
for no fault of her own, found herself at
enmity with the world. She had neces-
sarily to be continually moving from
place to place and to be always on her
ri kotroro1 rhn hoftar
therefore, to conduct her business she
engaged a man to reside in u certain
place and to supply her from time to
time with certain important informa-
tion. The man was poor; she made him
rich. He had nothing; she gave him
everything. He was despised; she made
him honored. He was in trouble; she
saved him, not once, but twice, and
made him happy.
"You. Mr.. Ebbington, who are such
an honorable man, would think that
that man would have been grateful,
wouldn't you? Well, be pretended to
be, and perhaps for little time he
really was But his feelings soon un-
derwent a change toward his benefac-
tress. When he had money, he wanted
more. He knew his employers secret,
and at last, as brilliant finale, he re-
solved to trade upon it. TheD what idea
do you think came into that faithful
servants mind? You will never guess.
Why, neither more nor less than the be-
trayal of his bcnefactress to her enc
mics And for what reward. think you:
Millions: 4 million: For half Il NIL
lion? A quarter: No, no! For the mis-
cradle sum of 60, 900. 1t seems Incredible
that Il man could be so foolish and so
base, doesn't it? But. nevertheless, 1t is