The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-10-09
CHAPTER vi.
Continued.

CHAPTER VI.
Continued.
The young man had been much dis
appointed that the first night OF his
stay under the roof Of the Blue Lion
had passed off uneventfully. The Sec
ond, however, fully mHde up for this
lack of excitement. So fearful was he
of missing q possible vicitor by over
sleeping himself, that he never closed
his eyes at all; and he was rewarded
for his vigilance when, between two
and three o'clock, he heard slight
noise at his door, and a moment later
saw dimly that there was a figure
moving in his room.
He held his breath while the intrud-
er went softly toward the head Of the
bed, making no noise, feeling about,
STOPPING, searching. At last, when the
fic1re, which could now be discerned
as that of q woman, reached MS
clothes and began hunting. in them, the
amateur detective, allowing his ex-
citement to get the better Of him, sat
up in bed, making, in doing so, just
noise to arouse the attention of the
watchful thief. The next moment she
had darted across the room, and out
at the door. But the young man, be-
ing prepared for such a contingency as
this, sprang out of bed half-dressed,
and dashed out on to the landing In
pursuit. The woman had got the start
of him, and was by this time halfway
up the attic staircase. He followed
her, saw her open the door of the
room on the right and close it. He
heard the key turn in the lock. With
out seconds hesitation, he flung him
self with all his strength against the
door. 1t shook, it creaked; another
such blow and the rickety old frame
work would give way. Just as he
hurled his weight against the door for
the second time, however, he heard
the unmistakable sound of the throw
ing open of the window Of the room.
The next instant, the door gave way
under the force of his blows, and he
dashed into the room just in time to
see a head disappear behind the sill Of
the open window.
Dashing through the room without
a moments hesitation, the young fel-
low reached the window, and looked
out There Was the sloping roof OF
an clubhouse underneath, and although
he could see no one, he flung himself
out, slid down the tiles and found
himself precipitated quickly if not
very gently to the ground. Then he
saw a dim something moving in front
of him, under the trees, and he fol-
lowed.
The shadowy something paused. A
cry escaped him, low cry Of triumph,
as he found that he was gaining on
the creature he was pursuing. But
the next moment he uttered a cry Of
different sort, and a much louder one,
as he found himself precipitated with
great suddenness into a bath Of ice
cold water.
Not being acquainted with the geog
raphy Of the place he had walked
straight into the little river. Cries and
shouts quickly brought him assistance,
for the landlord, who had been al
ready awakened by the hammering in
of the upstairs door, came out in his
night-shirt and rescued him with
boat-hook.
1.-The thiefw sputtered the amateur
detective with chattering teeth. 1.-THE
thief; I've found her out! I've found
her,
What thief?,, said Claris, surlily,
as he dragged the shivering man to-
wards the back-door of the inn with
no gentle hand. who 90 you mean
by thief, you Anticipated rascal"'
You'll see, you'll see Tomorrow"
replied the other, undaunted, not heed
ing his own pitiful plight in his ex-
citement. Whose is the bedroom up
stairs at the back on the right?"
That's my niece's roo >" said Clar-
is. sullenly. land if you dare to say
that she had anything to do with your
FOOLS outing tonight, I'll shake such
brains as you've got out Of yer"
well, you may, and welcome, if
you don't find that she's left her room
and got away by the window. Ahw
he stopped short suddenly in the mid
die of the cabbage garden, through
which they were walking, and pointed
to a white figure which was stealing
its way into the house: 'Is that your
niece, or is it not?" roared the young
man cXcitedly, as he pointed with a
shaking finger in the direction Of the
disappearing woman.
For answer George Claris sprang
forward, and seized the girls wrist
just as she reached the shelter of the
doorway.
Nell" cried the man, in tones so
hoarse, so terrible that they sounded
like those o. stranger Tell me,
lass. what were you doing out thcre?"
But the girl only stammereh and
shook, and he waited in vain FOR an
answer.
CHAPTER VII.
If ever guilt was written on a hu-